//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - Menace in the dark // Story: Daring Do and the Wrath of the Elders // by Pankrazius //------------------------------// Tremors. The spider got lured up of her thoughts. As far as shady dreams of flies and bugs being trapped before eaten could count as thouhgts. She opened her twelve eyes and startet searching for the well of this vibrations. First it was the reflection of flickering light. A torch - however the spider had never seen an actual torch, nor knew she was this was in the first place. The light was followed by some realy realy big creatures - holding said light in one hand. She had never seen anything like this. As far as she could remember she hadn't seen anything bigger then a rat down here. This was... exciting! So she crawled out of her webbed hiding onto the sturdy strings of her web - the spider was quite proud of it, but the ocasions to brag about were fairly limited - eager to learn more about this visitors. The first creature was blueish, with a big protrubing head and massive jaws. Small eyes, evil looking. A long neck and a wide upperchest, narrowing to small but muscular flanks. Sturdy feet and a tail ending in a further hand aswell. Nothing too unusual - due to her lack of direct comparisons. It was followed by two four-legged fellows, wich lacking hands at all. "At last! I feared this cave never would come to an end....", Ahuizotl, standing in triumph, the waved torch casting a flickering pattern of light and shadows. After all this months of resarch, of hopes and fails. Finaylly. The temples state of ruin was worse then expected - but the statue had survived. And more important - Tlalocs Key shimmered golden in the light! "I zaid we'll find zhe relik here. My studies on zis subject were advanzed, if I may say so, Herr Ahuizotl.", the doglike blue being tilted his head towards his minion. Doktor von Marstall, had proven to be an extraordinary helper the last months. The grey coated dark maned scientist, had revealed some very important hints, leading to this immense tresaure. Mostly by intimidation and blackmaling - but no one could object his results. "What ever the doctor said.", the other companion rolled with his eyes in visible annoyance. It was no secret to Ahuizotl, that Manefred Pommel despised everything about the doctor. Starting by his arrogance up to his immense success in finding lost treasures. "I even don't zink zat your friend Daring Do would have found zis plaz....", Ahuizotl felt stricken by a lightning. "NEVER! NEVER say her name. DO you understand! Not at such a sacred place!" Ahuizotl span around, threatening this arrogant bastard with his finger, glaring furiosly. Slowly Ahuizotl approached the depiction of Tlaloc, holding back his underlings with a stern gesture. No one should near himself this statue, before him. The head with the protrubing tentacle-like beard. The big all-seeing eyes. A strong body to lead and defend his subjects. "It has been a long time, I had last seen you in all your grandeur, -" he had dimmed his normaly barking voice to a low growling murmur. "- My Lord." Yes, this one was the only king Ahuizotl would accept to bow for. The lord of his ancestors. Father of his kin. What knew his pesky henchponies, bowing for royal sisters. Aeons before them, real rulers of the mortal walked this world. "Forgive me, my lord, for I have to sin. Under your very eyes I have to take the key, you guarded for all this centuries. But you know the truth. This is no act of greed, but a deed to raise your glory.", torn between incredible triumph and the fear of devine punishment, Ahuizotl hesitated. His fingers only inches away from the golden object, held between the statues hands. Basically in a wedge form, engraved with the old language of his folk. Not many ponies, roaming the world nowadays, were able to read the sacred pictograms. For him it were songs of blessing and warning as prayers to the old gods. "Herr Ahuizotl, why do you hezitate? We need zis object for our plan to work.", the doctor spoke. "Leave him, von Marstall. He knews better than you, what to do.", Pommel grumbled from behind. The spider had rappeled herself just above the head of the blue creature. It was far more interesting then anything ever happened here - and she wouldn't miss any moment of this. Growling the intruder grabbed the golden thing and pulled hefty. Some moments later, he ripped the item off the statues hands, tumbled a half step backwards. "Ah ahahahhaha! Here it is!", the blue thing vibrated. Moments after the tremor of scrapping stone was sensed. The statutes hands had clutched together with a cracking erruption of her web. But wait. She felt more vibrations. A deep, disturbing rumbling from beneath, waked her alertness. This was not good. The cave shouldn't rumble like this! Even the three intruders yelled something, she coulnd't understand because of the noise rippling through the expanding threads of her home. Impromptu, the spider did the only thing, she considered usefull and capped the string she hung on. No moment to late, as the blue creature was whirling around and run after his companions. Out of the finally colapsing cave. * * * "Gentlecolts, our last venture turned out as an incredibble success.", Ahuizotls exotic appereance was a strong contrast to the medieval vaulted hall he stood in. Bookshelfs and small desks, holding precious historical artifacts surrounded the walls. Paintings of long gone masters were covering the stone walls. Moonlight shimmered through the large arched windows, added to the few torches, filling the room with gloomy reddish light. Gently Ahuizotl placed Tlalocs Key under a glass dome. "But -" he proceeded "- This is just the first step, to our goal." "After finding the key we need the lock.", von Marstall toughtfully answered over his glass of champaign. Ahuizotl walked back to the desk in the middle of the room, in whose front his minions waited. Sitting down he mustered the two ponies. They knew parts of his plan. They knew of some of the dangers it would bring uppon ponyhood. But nevertheless they were willing to help him. Manefred Pomnel were no mysterie to Ahuizotl. His motive was money - and a nice place in a future Equestria. An advocate - through and through. Addaptive and opportunistic - but at least loyal, as long as the odds stood for Ahuizotls plan. Von Marstall. He was some kind of a riddle. A scientist from Germaneigh. Ruthless, egocentric and arrogant. Nevertheless a genius. His motive? Money - and the opportunity to see his ideas come to live. At least he said that. But for now Ahuizotl had not the slightest evidence, to mistrust the doctor. And as long as it stayed this way, he was way to usefull. "Anyway. We will find the lock. We will find the temple and we will free all its secrets.", Ahuizotl declared, watching his helpers over his joined fingertips. "As long as Daring Do don't interfere with your plans, Ahuizotl.", Pommel spoke low, pulling his shirt collar uneasy. "WHAT did you just say?!", Ahuizotl leaped up, bringing his face just an inch in front of his. "I...-", gaining confidence, Manefred proceededd "- I have to warn you. Even if you hate Daring Do. IF she gets wind of our plan - and I am certain she will, after von Marstall pressed answers from half of the archeological society - she might become a major problem for our project." Anger builded up in Ahuizotl. How could this cretin dare! But just as his furor impended to take over, he focused. It was undeniable. Fierce hate and despise described his feelings for Daring Do at best. How many times she had crossed his plots, had stolen the sole artifact or otherwise intereferred. And even if the urge to hurt Pommel burnt - his warning was not false. "YOU! You. Have. A. Point." concentrating on staying calm, his body tense he answered. "We have to deal with her. We have to stop, whatever she is planning against us. Pomnel. This will be your task. If you sense any action from Daring Do - stop her." "As you wish, Ahuizotl.", Pommel responded, lightly bowing. Somewhere in a dark corner of the hall, a lucky spider spun a new set of stury threads and builded a web. This new home was so much more exciting than the last one!