//------------------------------// // The unexpected // Story: The Amulet of Anubis // by DemonWriterX //------------------------------// Daring do and the amulet of Anubis Ch.1 It was unexpected, finding Ahuizotl in A.K. Yearling's own humble cottage. Though her name was just a cover for the writer, who was secretly an avid adventurer and archeologist. She made a living writing her adventures, under the alias A.K. Yearling, under the works of fiction to keep her true name and identity, Daring Do, secret from her enemies. Yet, standing before her in her living room, was one of her bitter and most dangerous enemies. Ahuizotl. It was unexpected. Throughout her career, she had made sure that nopony knew where she lived, not even her publisher. She cursed herself mentally, now having to find another place to live. Ahuizotl's presence gave Daring Do a sense of a flight or fight response. She took the second option. She threw open her cabinet door, that hanged on the wall behind her, and grabbed her leather whip- her weapon of choice. She held it close to her, ready to fight for her life against her hated enemy. The one who tried to kill her in his methodical traps, the one who sadistacally tortured her, going as far as to break her right wing. She couldn't fly for a month. He stood in his place in the middle of the room, not flinching at the sight of her weapon. He could unarm her in an instant. He was larger and stronger, which are some of the reasons why he was the leader of his tribe of blood-thirsty warriors. But he was not here to kill his rival. "I need your assistance," he said slowly, as if not believing the words that came out of his mouth. Daring Do tightened her grip on the handle of the whip. She whipped her glasses off to eye him carefully and looked behind him, expecting to see a certain white cat fly towards her to claw her eyes out. She blinked as her grip loosened. He had none of his deadly cats with him: the tiger, the lynx, the panther, the leapord, even the White House cat, were not there. Ahuizotl never went anywhere without them. "Where are they?" she asked lowly, clutching her whip tightly again, wondering if it was another one of his traps. She imagined herself surrounded by his tribe-ponies, their spears and arrows ready to impale her. "I did not bring them-" he answered. "I came on my own, peacefully." "Peacefully, my flank!" she spat. "How did you find out where I live?" She demanded. "I followed your scent." He lifted up his hand-tail which was clenched into a fist. She recoiled her whip and snapped it instinctively, letting out a loud crack. He paused, and slowly reached his tail out towards her. His fingers opened, dropping a piece of green cloth on the floor. She took a step back, her heart rate slowing down as he retracted his tail back behind him. She looked at the cloth; it looked like it was torn from a piece of clothing, one far too recognizable to her. It was a piece of her camo vest. "I recieved it from our last battle when you stole The Eye of Hera from me," he said bitterly. "The last time I checked, you stole it from her tomb," she said accusingly. "Why are you here?...Want to finish me off yourself?" "I have no malicious intentions to harm you..." he began. "At least not today; I need your help Miss Do." "What makes you think I'll help you?" She questioned. "Hear my pleas... please," he said in an almost pleading tone, but gruff enough to not sound weak. She blinked at him and slowly set down her whip, but did not let go of it. "Fine..." she growled. "Say it." "There is a killer in my tribe," he began darkly. "A killer in a group of violent warriors?" She questioned. "...ch'! I figured that was a common occurance." His eyes narrowed at her, his lips pressed in annoyance and irritation. "Not as you might think; my tribe ponies follow and are loyal only to me... for one of them to go against me, to kill one of our brothers- it is unthinkable... without my blessing," he replied bluntly. Her brow arched. She wasn't sure what was more horrifying; a pony murdering others, or the thought that Ahuizotl would allow permission. Yet, from the years she had come to know her enemy, he was right. No pony in his tribe would disobey him, either in fear or in respect. Their loyalty to him was deep enough for them to give their lives to their leader. Just a hint of disobedience resulted in immediate incarsaration or death- under the hands of Ahuizotl. Luckily no such thing had happened. Until now... if what he is saying is true. "Why-" she started, as she walked up to her desk that held her binary typewriter. She opened her drawer, taking out a glass bottle of pineapple juice and placing it on the desk along with two shot glasses, and poured in the yellow liquid. "-do you think I'll help... you?" She gulped down her drink and let out a sniff. Pineapple helped her calm her nerves. She shook the other glass at Ahuizotl. "Care for a shot?" He let out a smirk. "You doubt me, Miss do?" he asked. She gave him a half-way smile. "Of course not, Ahuizotl~" she gently said. He let out a small scoff and tilted his head towards the drink. "Why the drink?" "I'm just being a polite house guest." "I see." He nods letting out a small chuckle. Daring shrugged her shoulders laughing along with him. His laughter ceased and gave her a glare. She stopped, her grip tightening on her whip, intently focusing on a range of options to defend herself. His eyes wandered up and down her, until falling to the bottle and shot glass. "I am no fool, Miss Do," he began gruffly. "From my life in the rainforest, I know what pineapple juice does to a pony if given more than... two shots- you want the truth out of me, Miss Do?" She bit the inside of her cheek and set the glass back down on the desk. "You've lied to me before," she coldly states. He let out a toothy grin in agreement. He put his hand out towards her. She gave him a wary look as he turned his palm faced up. "I will need the bottle." She countinued to stare at him, looking straight into his yellow eyes for any hint that he might make a grab at her. She took the bottle in her hoof and placed it firmly on his palm. His left hand shot out grabbing her right hoof that held her whip. She froze, finding his face and inch away from her. "Tch, Tch, tch..." He clicked. "So many openings, Miss Do." She held her breath as he let out another one of his chuckles. Deep and arrogant. She gave him a glare and flicked her mane back. "I know you are not afraid of me... but I had so many, so many chances to disarm you, to wrap my hand around your little neck and finally do away with you." She felt his hand-tail grab the top of her black hat before throwing it aside. She kept her head still as he ran his index finger down her cranium through her hair, imagining her scalp plastered on the wall. She watched him as he closed his eyes and inhaled, taking in her scent. She recoiled, letting out a snarl. "But I didn't..." He sighed tilting his head at her, he takes the bottle and chugs it down in front of her, until not a single drop was left. He let out a satisfying sigh and crushed the bottle, dropping the shards on the floor. He stretched out his fingers, as his blood fell staining her floors. He gave a small smile at her and shoved her away. She stumbled back, catching her footing. He sat down on all fours, almost cat-like. "I need your help because you are the only one with enough intelligence to solve this..." he said with seriousness in his voice. "There is no one else." "My... is that a compliment?" she asked, taking a step back; from now on she would keep her distance. "Why me? You know me, I am an archeologist, not a detective." "But you have the skills of one," he retorted. "You can find the deepest of lost caverns, buried temples that have been lost for thousands of years, artifacts, mummies, and so on, all with just your intelligence." "I think logically," she responded; even if what he said was more than true, flattery would not get to her, even if it's the pineapple juice talking. "Give me a riddle, I'll solve it, give me a map, I'll find anything." "Then I am giving you this," he growled, his patience thinning. "Two ponies have been killed, and I do not mean by another pony." "What do you mean not by another pony?" she repeated slowly. He let out a tired sigh and rubbed his temple. Daring noticed that he had dark circles under his eyes, like he hadn't slept in days. "I do not even know myself," he admitted. "It is best if you come and see for yourself." "How do I know I can trust you? For all I know, pineapple juice does not effect you. Maybe this is just another one of your tricks- maybe I do go with you only to get speared by one of your tribe-ponies." "Hmm- a valid assumption," he mused. "But I am telling the truth, I swear it." He lifted up his hand, in a scout's honor fashion. Until his mood suddenly went dark. "There is a killer in my tribe, that killed two of my brothers, murdered them!" He stated angrily, as he rose. Daring's eyes widened slightly, his large gait blocking her front door. "And I was powerless to stop it!" he said, slamming his fist against the floor. Daring stumbled to the side as her home shook from his fearful strength. She balanced herself as she saw Ahuizotl breathing heavily, trying to calm himself. She knew how he gets when he becomes angry. "It..." he emphasized with a hiss. "will kill again... I lost two of my warriors, my comrades, my brothers." She blinked hearing the hurt in his words, something that she had never heard him speak with. "I do not want to lose anymore of my people... that is why you must come with me, to stop this." Daring did not know what to think. He would never ask for her help, yet he stood in front of her, pleading for it. He was desperate. She looped her whip and took off her disguise, revealing her camo vest and pith helmet. She placed the whip on her side. "When do we leave?"