//------------------------------// // Morning after // Story: Daring Do and the search for the Winter Pearl // by DemonWriterX //------------------------------// CH 5 Morning After CH. 5. "secrets" Daring Do couldn’t sleep. How could she with her arch enemy sleeping just a few feet away? She glanced up at Ahuizotl. He decided to sleep in the most unusual way, sitting up. It was a little strange and creepy. He almost looked like a stone gargoyle. She asked him about it when he settled into place before drifting off to sleep. “I am a light sleeper. I will know if somepony tries to disturb our campsite.” “Really?” Daring asked, laying down close to the kindling fire. They used her dress as the kindle. “I have wonderful selective hearing.” Daring couldn’t help but to roll her eyes at his sense of pride. She knew he really wasn’t such a light sleeper. For years, she spied on Ahuizotl at night. It was usually because he stole an artifact from her. She wanted to map his habits and to figure out where he hid the treasures. Most of the time, she would set up above him. Either hidden on top of a tree branch or above a tent. He never suspected a thing. She turned back to her book, turning the page. Since she couldn’t sleep, she decided to read. She wanted to read more on the legend of the Winter Pearl. The creation of the pearl was centered around magic but by earth ponies, not unicorns. That fact surprised her. It told of a story about a shaman, who during a great drought, created the pearl to bring down snow. It was a blunder on the shaman’s part because he wanted rain, not snow. Yet, it had the same effect. She turned the page and read about a short ritual, involving two lovers, who gave up their lives to save their tribe. Their blood activated the full potential of the pearl. She rubbed her temple and scowled. She wanted instruction as to how to locate the pearl, like a spell or even a counter spell just in case it became activated. But instead she read a warning, if the pearl is put into use for a second time, it will bring devastation. Not salvation as it did before. The blood sacrifice was a hint to the type of magic the shaman used. Black Magic. Daring sighed and closed the book. She tries to stay away from black magic yet, when she first read about the pearl. She realized it wasn’t going to be safe in an abandoned temple. She thought she was the only one who knew about it. She couldn’t believe how wrong she was. She rested her head on her forearms and sighed again. All she could think about is the pearl. The winter solstice was only two and half weeks away. She has to find it before some nut case destroys Equestria. She felt her arms begin to shake. She lifted her head up in a jolt. She body began to seize up. She held herself. She was letting fear overwhelm her. She closed her eyes and let out a breath. She immediately calmed herself down. She needed to have a clear mind. Fear makes her hesitate. Fear creates mistakes. She can’t afford to make a mistake. “What is wrong?” She turned to Ahuizotl. His gold eyes penetrating the dark, like a cat’s. His eyes shifted back and forth at the tree line behind her. “Did you heard something?” He said, softly. He kept his voice low as if there was somepony listening in. She shook her head. “No.” She whispered, and pushed her book back inside her satchel. “I heard you breathing strangely. I assumed-“ “You didn’t hear anything.” Daring said and settled her head back down to her foreleg. She turned her head away from him. “I was just reading.” She heard him hum. “I see.” She shifted slightly and closed her eyes. One eye shot open when she felt Ahuizotl walk up beside her. She sputtered and lifted her head up at him in boredom. He threw a bit of wood at the fire, making the flames grow in size. “You haven’t slept.” He said. “Like I said...I was reading.” She leaned against her hoof and with her other, shooed him away. “But don’t let me interrupt your beauty rest.” He snorted at her. “You need to rest.” She stared at him. “I can remain awake if you-“ “I don’t need you to-!” She rubbed her forehead, feeling it crease in annoyance. “No thanks. I'm just going to sleep for a few hours. It’s almost morning anyway.” She turned away from him and rested her head down. Ahuizotl said nothing, instead he stared at the fire, until his eyes became heavy. A stream of light broke through the trees and hit Daring Do’s face. She stirred, then mumbled. She rubbed her eyes feeling the heat becoming unbearable. Her movements caused Ahuizotl to slowly opens his eyes causing him to looked down his vision still blurry. He saw a yellow object in his arms. He moves his hands down to feel the feathers in between his fingers. He let out a sniff, and felt hairs tickle his snout. Daring’s eyes shot open feeling something ruffling her feathers, when she looked up, she saw Ahuizotl. He must have gotten cold in the middle of the night and grabbed the closest thing that gave him warmth. She let out a blush feeling his fingers stroke the middle of her spine, separating her wings. Her eyes narrowed angrily. “What. are. you. doing?” she said through her teeth. Her voice was enough to startle him. He pulled away in a panic. “Heiole!” he exclaimed only to fall into the water nearby. Daring sat up and flapped her wings, trying to get the feel of Ahuizotl’s hands off of her. Ahuizotl popped his head out of the water, sputtering and spitting. He put his hands on the edge trying to pull himself. He looked up to see a very angry Daring Do. "Next time, stay on your side!" she snarled and gave him a punch on the top of his skull. Ahuizotl let out a shout of pain as Daring turned away to retrieve her hat. He rubbed the top of his head, feeling a bump begin to form on his cranium. He dragged himself out of the water, grumbling angrily. He glared hatefully at Daring Do who placed her pith helmet on her head before slipping on her shirt and strapping on her whip. "I'm going to find some breakfast." she said, with a bit of anger in her voice. "Fine." he snorted. "Do what you want.” Daring flew into the forest flying to the top of the trees, out of sight from Ahuizotl. He shook his body letting the water slid off. He digged into his saddle bag getting out his own breakfast. It was wrapped in paper held together with one piece of twine. He unties it revealing a large piece of bread mixed with mushrooms.He licked his lips, enjoying the savory taste of his meal. His ears twitched when he heard a set of hooves hit the ground. He swallowed and turned around. Daring dropped an assortment of fruits and vegetables, she had found a few oranges, some bananas and mushrooms. She looked up at Ahuizotl, who stared at her as if startled. "What?" she asked, irritate. She sat down taking an orange. "Don't think I'm going to share with you.” "I do not want any" he retorted. "I already ate, you be greedy as much as you want, your flank shows it.” he sniffed and turned away from her. "Are you calling me fat?!" she accused, she unconsciously look behind her before back at him, finding a grin across his face. Her cheeks grew red, she took an orange ignoring him as she ate her breakfast. "Whatever…." she muttered quietly. "I'm not fat.” Ahuizotl chuckled silently to himself as he took out the tickets from the saddle bag, giving it one last look. He read over the tickets, seeing where the train station is located in Manhattan and the type of train they should take, but underneath it there was a small print. He bought the tickets closer to his eyes as he read it over, he cursed loudly, causing Daring to look at him. "What?" she muffled; her cheeks full of banana and orange. He turned back at her, showing her the tickets. "We have a slight problem" -------------------------------------------------------------------- "I can't believe I am actually doing this." Daring said to herself as she and Ahuizotl stood in front of a chapel, titled Fifteen minutes or less, Swift Weddings. She and Ahuizotl were in disguise in the middle of the city of Manhattan. Daring wore a pair of large sunglasses, a bright green coat and wore a yellow fall hat. Ahuizotl was in his pony form, wearing a black wool hat, a thick jacket and a bright blue scarf covering his mouth. He put his hoof at the door. "Let's go." he said. "Wait!" she shouted, stopping his hoof from opening the door. "Are you sure we have too?...Can't we just get a forged document? I mean, a wedding certificate! Don't they have some in the black market?!" "For the last hundred times, no! and wedding documents are very difficult to forge and not sought after, it is a very easy plan, we get married today and present the document to the official when we go to the train in twelve hours….now let's go.” He reached out to take her hoof only for Daring to retract it away from him. "Touch me….and I will break your hoof.” "Be reasonable!" he shouted, slamming his hoof down. "I am reasonable!" She argued. "Then be logical!" Daring let out a scoff. "Logical?...what's logical about what we are doing? Getting married?" "If you are so worried about the engagement rings, I have already purchased them." “You did what?!” He reached into his saddle bag and pulled out a black box and opened it. Inside there was two golden rings attached to thin silver chains. Daring reeled back, the worst thing was seeing her name engraved in the inside of the ring. "When did you have the time-! Nevermind! That's not what I mean!" "oh….I understand it now" he slowly started," its because I am an earth pony, you prefer a pegasus like yourself!" "Are you being dense?! I mean this whole situation! I don’t want to get married, not with you anyway." he rolled his eyes, putting the rings away in his saddle bag. "We will get a divorce as soon as we destroy the pearl, I do not wish being married to you as much as you do not wish to be married to me. "Fine, but when everything is back to normal, we will never tell anyone or bring it up ever again!" "Agreed, now shall we go in?" he said motioning her to the door. "I thought the stallion was suppose to open the door for the lady." She questioned, snarkily. "For the love of-!" he grabbed the handle and yanked the door open. A small bell ‘tinged’ as Daring and Ahuizotl walked inside. "Hello," A young mare wearing a red tie and purple collar greeted. "My name is Coco Pommel, how may I help you?" She asked sweetly. "Hello," Daring Do replied with a strained smile, "My…dear sweetheart and I want to get m-married." she said, grabbing Ahuizotls arm. "We are… e-eloping? And we need- er want to get married as soon as possible." "Oh how romantic..." Coco sighed as she stared dreamily off into space. With a shake of her head she was back to reality, "I'll be happy to get you fitted for your dress while your colt-friend gets into his tux." "M-my d-dress?" Daring stuttered as Coco pushed her towards a door marked 'Fillies Only'. "Of course! I work here part-time; most of the dresses here are mine!" She closed the door behind them, while Ahuizotl was taken into another room by her male co-worker. She pulled Daring Do onto a platform and looked her over, running through the catalogue of dresses in her mind. "I think I have the perfect one for you, free of charge of course." One quick change later, Daring stood in front of a three sided mirror, completely dumbstruck at her reflection. The dress was a ball gown if she ever did see one. The neckline curved out and down like a heart, not too revealing but just enough to be risqué. The front of the dress was adorned with diamond-cut emeralds, and a green ribbon wrapped around her waist in a pretty little bow. Daring stared at her reflection and frowned. Which didn’t go unnoticed by Coco. "Are you okay?" she asked. Daring just stared at her hooves, all the confidence that she usually stood with gone. "I look… silly" she muttered. "Oh no,” Coco fretted, “I’m so sorry! Is it the dress? Is it not your style? Should I-" "I-it's not your fault!" Daring said quickly. "It's-it’s me. I'm just… not the type of mare that looks good in a dress. Especially a wedding dress." she murmured, holding out the dress’ hem forlornly. "Hmm,” Coco tapped her hoof on her chin, “I think I know what the problem is. You just don't feel like a bride. I think I have just the thing to fix that!” She started to head towards the back room, but stopped and faced Daring Do, “Would you mind closing your eyes for me?" Daring complied and heard Coco Pommel run across the room and back. She felt her hair being pulled back and split into three sections and then tied after a minute or two. Once her hair was back in place she felt Coco place something over her head and then take a step back to admire her work. "Okay… you can open them now." Daring Do opened her eyes and gasped. Her hair was delicately braided and placed over her right shoulder and she wore a veil over her face. As she stared at her reflection her view of the dress began to change. Daring felt her eyes start to tear up, she blinked rapidly to prevent them from spilling over, to no avail. As they slid down the side of her cheek she shook her head and hastily wiped a hoof across her face. She turned away from the mirror and saw Coco smiling gently up at her. "You look beautiful" she said softly. Daring Do inhaled sharply. Why am I getting so emotional over a stupid dress!? Daring Do doesn’t cry. Not ever. She looked back at the mirror. She always wore her smelly shirt and hat, her coat was always caked in dried mud and sweat from the humidity of the rainforest. She always thought it’d be impossible to get her into a fancy dress, let alone a wedding dress. And yet here she was, about to get married; not out of love but under false pretenses, and definitely not with a special somepony. Despite this, she let out a small smile. Looking at herself one more, all done up, she felt like she was truly beautiful. "T-thank you." Daring’s voiced hitched, “I-I love it.” Coco smiled widely and clapped her hooves, "Oh I’m so glad you liked it!” She grabbed Daring Do’s arm and pulled her towards the door, “Let's hurry and take you to the altar, I'm sure your future husband just can’t wait to see you!" "Oh joy…" Daring Do muttered under her breath. She was forced into a hallway where she saw Ahuizotl pulling at his tuxedo collar uncomfortably. Coco pulled out a bouquet of white roses and placed them in her hoof before leaving them alone. Daring strolled up to Ahuizotl and he turned to look at her. His bored expression instantly vanished once he got a look at Daring Do in her dress. Ahuizotl’s eyes widened and his jaw made an audible ‘pop’ as it dropped open. He quickly looked away and faced the door that led to the altar. He felt like the room suddenly became about ten degrees hotter as sweat ran down the side of his face. "So what are we waiting for?" she asked dully. "T-there i-is a c-couple of p-ponies inside." He stuttered as he fanned himself with a pamphlet. She raised her brow at him. "Are you okay? You're sweating. Is the tux too tight or something?" He tugged at his collar and nodded, refusing to look at her. "You’re not going to faint, right? Do you want to change in a bigger tux?" she asked pulling at his sleeve. He stepped away from her. "Do. Not. Touch me." he said. She lowered her eyes and let out a huff. "Well saw-ree, your highness!" she said sarcastically, "That's the last time I'll ask if you’re okay, stupid half-donkey!" "Youlookbeautiful." As soon as the words were spoken he clapped a hoof over his mouth. Ahuizotl mentally slapped himself for blabbing. Daring Do whirled around and saw him rubbing his face in embarrassment. She looked down, pulling the bouquet close to her chest. "R-really?" she asked quietly. Ahuizotl grunted and nodded his head. "Yes…" he started, staring at the oak doors. "You look like a bride, it suits you." He could practically feel his brain facepalm itself. estupido, estupido, estupido! Why did you say that? He was growing impatient with the couple inside. Fifteen minutes or less it says, Fifteen! Shouldn't they be done by now? "Thank… you?" she replied. "You too… but like a groom, I mean." Before he could respond, the door burst open and a couple walked out; giggling with content as they held their marriage certificates in their hooves. Daring peeked inside the chapel and saw a very strangely dressed pony standing behind the altar. He was wearing a large, extravagant black wig, a shiny, diamond encrusted white jumpsuit, and dark sunglasses. He beckoned them to enter. Daring Do and Ahuizotl looked at each other in surprise, then at the pony, and back to each other. With a shrug, Ahuizotl took Daring Do’s arm and began to walk her down the red carpet as an old mare began playing the wedding march on the organ. "Is this how ponies get married in cities?" Ahuizotl whispered. "Not particularly," Daring replied, "Ponies usually only come to these types of chapels if they want a quick wedding. Didn’t you know that?" "Of course not! This is beyond ridiculous, where is the blood sacrifice? The goblet of wine? The seven virgins that accompany the bride to confuse evil spirits? Don’t you ponies know anything?" Daring Do gave him a confused look, “... Ok, you and I have completely different weddings in mind." Soon, they reached the altar and faced the officiant. He gave the couple a kind smile before clearing his throat, "Names?" he asked, looking at the documents in front of him, pen in hoof. "Maybelle." Daring Do answered. "Q-Quinn." Ahuizotl responded. The officiant scribbled their names down and placed a large leather bound book over the papers. "All right, face each other" Daring and Ahuizotl followed the directions that followed. "We are gathered here today to join these two ponies in holy matrimony….Now, I'm sure the groom has the rings?"Ahuizotl pulls out the box, taking out the two rings, giving Daring his own ring as he held onto hers. "Very good, now…Do you, Quinn take Maybelle to be your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold, love and cherish till death do you part?" "I do." Ahuizotl said sternly. Daring let out a blush but quickly looked down hoping that he wouldn't notice. She was acting like a school-filly, it's not like she was really getting married. "Place the ring over her head." The officiant instructed, Ahuizotl gently placed the necklace over her. Daring saw the gold ring fall, shining in the light as she saw her name, beautifully inscribed in it. She held it in her hoof, cherishing it silently, even if it was Ahuizotl who gave it to her. "Now do you, Maybelle, take Quinn, to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, for better and for worse, till death do you part?" "I-I do" Daring said, placing the ring over Ahuizotl's lowered head. The officiant close the book in a slam before saying the last line. "You may now kiss the bride." Suddenly everything screeches into a stop, Daring mentally hit herself in the head. She had forgotten about that! She looked up at Ahuizotl and felt his hooves lift her veil up placing it behind her head and leans in. Oh feathers! he’s really going to do it!? She shut her eyes and reacted on instinct. Ahuizotl was on the floor clutching his swelling cheek, Daring slowly opened her eye and let out a gasp finding her hoof, extended in a punch. The officiant eyes widened and took off his glasses doing a double take on the bride and on the cursing groom who was suffering. "M-maybe…we should skip the kiss, shall we?" he smiled nervously. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daring and Ahuizotl walked down the streets of Manehattan, dressed into their normal disguises. Ahuizotl had the marriage document in his saddle bag as they both silently walked down the bustling city. He had an ice pack strapped to his right cheek, his eyes lowered in anger as they both tried to get back to their hotel. Daring walked silently behind him, he hadn't talked to her in over thirty minutes. She scratched her mane awkwardly, she trotted beside him giving his a small smile. "Hey….you still mad?" she asks innocently. He let out a grunt in response refusing to acknowledge her. "Come on, its not that bad, it will go away in a day…maybe two?" They both made it to their hotel, entering into the privacy of their room. Daring locked the door behind her, watching Ahuizotl go into the bathroom. She followed behind seeing him take off the ice back to reveal a deep purple bruise on his cheek now three times its normal size. She took an exhaled of air through her teeth wincing slightly. Ahuizotl touched his cheek and let out a whimper flinching from the pain, he opens his mouth and reached in with his hoof taking out a molar. His eyes widened and he whirls at Daring in a glare. She let out a nervous chuckle. "A-at least it was….one?" she said. Ahuizotl eye twitch. "One?...." he starts in a chuckle. He chucks the molar to the floor. "One?! this is the fifth tooth you knocked out of my mouth in the years we know each other!" "Well can you blame me!?" she shouts from his verbal attack."How many times did you put me in your stupid dungeons and traps?!" "That is completely different to what happened!" he yelled, going up to her. "What?!....what happened?! Oh! You mean when you tried to kiss me! There was no kissing, we didn't agree to kissing! And you were going to do it!" she accused poking him in the chest. "Of course I was!" he said as he slapped her hoof away. "Isn't that what you do at weddings?!" "Yes, but ours was fake! F.A.K.E.! Fake!" she turned away from him in a huff going to one of the two beds. "I can't wait till this is over so I can get a divorce from you!" "Ha! That would prove difficult Miss Do, since we would have to get a divorce a year from now" he sneers. Daring turned to him, seeing his grin. "Oh yes! A year! You are stuck with me, the great Ahuizotl for one year!" "W-what?...you, you lied to me! You said we would get divorce once we get the pearl!" "If I told you the truth you would'ent have complied to the marriage" "Why you-! You dirty little-! You…y-you…you!...." she pulled her mane in a frustrated anger. "I HATE YOU!" she throws the only thing that was close, a pillow. It hit Ahuizotl on his head bouncing off of him in a soft flop. He frowned with a brow raised towards Daring, who let out a inchorehabtle shout before going under the blankets her face, down on her other pillow. Ahuizotl stomped back to the bathroom, snatching his ice pack and placing it back on his cheek. He stared at the mirror in front of him, seeing the reflection of Daring's form under the blanket. He let out a small frown, putting the ice pack down. He rubbed his head and let out a small smirk coming up with an idea. He silently walks out of the bathroom and tipped toed towards Daring. He licked his lips and gave her a shove, making her fall off the edge. He let out a snort of laughter, seeing Daring stood up in surprise. She looked at him seeing him laughing to himself. She let out a smile grabbing her pillow and slammed it across his side making him stumble back onto his own bed. She quickly began hitting him repeatedly stifling out a set of giggles hearing him continue to laugh at her soft hits. "S-stop laughing!" she laughed. She threw the pillow on his chest and laid on top it. Ahuizotl looked at her, getting out a few laughs. She tilted her head on the pillow towards him. "…..I-I'm sorry, for….you know, hitting you at the altar, it was….instinctual" she said embarrassedly. "Fair enough, I apologize for not telling you about the divorce year and for….trying to kiss you" he responded, looking at the side. Daring put out her hoof and gently touched his swollen cheek. He blinked back at her in surprise and saw her let out a small smile. "You always knew how to take a hit." she said jokingly. He stifled out another chuckle.