Daring Do and the search for the Winter Pearl

by DemonWriterX


Petite


Daring Do CH 9




An ear-piercing whistle screamed loudly, announcing the arrival of the train to the citizens of Maris. Once the train doors opened, the station was flooded by the elite and upper class couples, who were greeted by the impressed stares of the citizens.


Daring and Ahuizotl stood on the cobblestone road as they watched the employees direct the couples towards their next and final destination. Daring shifted her gaze to the couples being corralled like sheep. She moved her beret back, pretending to fix it as she counted how many couples there were left. Originally there were twenty-five couples and due to some “unscheduled stops”, ponies were forced off the train for failure to “complete documentation,” as quoted by Jemina when addressing the less than furious couples. Counting Ahuizotl and herself, only fifteen couples remained.


“Look there.” Ahuizotl whispered as he looked down at their suitcases, not wanting to draw anypony’s suspicions, before he casually pointed. In the distance, dragging his hooves, was Blanco. He had his head low--any lower and his muzzle would have touched the ground. His head was unkempt and loose, and even his suit was wrinkled, with his tie out of place. The only thing missing was a grey cloud over his head. He was walking ahead of the guests, heading towards the hotel where they would be staying at.


“Wow…” Daring started. “He looks depressed.”


“Let him sulk,” Ahuizotl replied harshly, not wanting to waste any sort of charity onto him. “It seems we must head towards the hotel.”


The city of Maris was a marvel of artistic quality that left Daring awestruck. The streets were paved with cobblestones and the buildings stood side by side with a red brick foundation adorned with metal roofs. However, the greatest marvel was the Tower of Maris, made entirely out of black metal, criss-crossed with supporting beams as it stood with the height of a mountain. Even the smell was warm and heavenly, coming from fresh baked bread being taken out of ovens and the fine cheeses displayed at windows. It was enough to make Daring’s mouth salivate. She noticed that most of the citizens were wearing the finest accessories and clothing. From the look of things, it seems that the city gathered an assortment of the wealthy.


With Ahuizotl dragging the bags, they both entered through the hotel doors, outlined with gold. Inside was even more luxurious. Everywhere they turned, there were red carpet floors and fine furniture. The ceiling was decorated with works of art while marble pillars held up the foundation of the six-floor building. As the guests stood in line in the lobby, receiving their keys, Daring noticed that a room was being hidden behind a black curtain with five ponies in black suits standing guard. Her eyes narrowed slightly towards a sign on the curtain titled, “Showroom, not to be open until 6:00 pm."


Her ear twitched once she felt Ahuizotl's hot breath as he whispered, "I counted twenty-five guards...It might be difficult to retrieve the pearl, if it's here. "


She bit the inside of her lip and rotated her head, getting a good look at the lobby. The other twenty guards were scattered in the lobby, surrounding the guests as they carefully watched them. She mentally cataloged each of their faces and where they were stationed.


"They are going to show the artifacts--so the pearl must be here," she replied with a flat tone, trying not to think of a darker intention of the heightened security. "Maybe they are here to get rid of wannabe thieves."


She watched as an old couple walked passed them. An old stallion wearing a monocle and handlebar mustache made eye contact with her and gruffed happily, giving her a small smile, along with his wife, who wore a pearl necklace. Daring gave them a polite smile before they turned away, heading to the front of the lobby.


She heard Ahuizotl crack his neck, loosening his shoulders as he tried to relax. He felt as if they walked into a trap--no, they did walked into a trap. There was no paparazzi, no reporters, no cameras...and no witnesses. It was all private and only he and Daring were the only ones who knew of the dangers. With only three days before the Winter Solstice, finding the pearl was becoming crucial.


"May I have everypony's attention, please?" called Jemina loudly over the ponies' conversations. Ahuizotl and Daring glanced at each other as they stood at the end of the group, listening intently towards her, with eyes to the exit, just in case something went awry.


"I would like to present the pony in charge of this museum!" she began with a fake smile. Daring brows arched in concern, looking into the griffin's eyes that she could have sworn they were glossy. Jemina stepped to the side, letting a pony walk up. "Monsieur Petite!"


Daring felt her breath hitch once she saw Petite walk into the room, coming up behind Jemina. He was a tall colt, taller than Ahuizotl, with slim long legs, but he was built. His coat was blacker than coal and his mane was shades of grey, pulled back loosely with the appearance of ash. He wore a dark blood suit with a white collar. He had golden eyes narrowed in a stony expression that it would make anypony shiver in fear. He blinked slowly and dipped his chin down in greeting.


"Velcome, my friends." His voice was like gravel, deep and strong. "I hope you enjoyed the train trip, and continue to do so during your stay in the hotel. Your room keys will be handed out by the staff, and by six, I will reveal most of my artifacts that I had gathered over the years."


"I think he meant stole..." Daring said under her breath, low enough for Ahuizotl to hear. Everything about Petite was putting up warning flags. He looked shady and he sounded like a liar. This was the pony that they were looking for, the one that wanted the pearl's power. The couples clapped politely to their host before settling down, waiting for their room keys to be passed out by the bell hops. She and Ahuizotl waited patiently for their room key, but the bell hops went passed them as if they were invisible. She let out a small scowl as they deliberately ignored her and Ahuizotl. She watched as the crowd began to disperse, heading onto the golden elevators.


"Excuse me, Sir and Madam."


Daring and Ahuizotl were startled as they were met by Petite, and the atmosphere immediately went heavy. She was completely off-guard. He had walked up to them so silently that she did not see or hear him coming. From up close he stood a head above Ahuizotl, his height so overwhelming that Ahuizotl had the urge to take a step back. Yet, he stood stilll, puffing out his chest slightly, not wanting to be challenged.


"I am here to present you with this special key," he stated, putting out his hoof towards them. In his hoof was a golden key, with a golden tag to match. In the tag the number 2 was engraved into it. "Congratulations, those are one of the best rooms in the hotel, along with the other two I passed out."


"Only three?" Ahuizotl questioned, narrowing his eyes at the key suspiciously before lifting his gaze up onto Petite. "Whatever for?"


Petite let out a deep chuckle, as if he heard a joke. "You two won, correct? Jemina expressed how you two passed in a game with the highest points. The winners get the top floor suites."


Daring shot Ahuizotl a glance, reading each other's expressions. She let out a small smile towards Petite.


"Oh how extremely generous," Daring sighed happily, taking the key out of Petite's hoof. She flinched slightly from how cold he was. "Tell me, who were the other two lucky, lucky winners?"


"To a lovely old couple, the stallion had a monocle..." Daring swallowed and felt her hair stand on end. Her eyes darted to the elevators and found the couple inside of one. chattering happily to each other on the room they won. "...And a couple wearing matching outfits." With her eyes still on the elevator she saw the next couple. They were both wearing white and blue. She felt herself tense up as the doors slowly began to close. The two couples had smiles so large, that it seemed as if it was happiest time of their lives. It made her stomach lurch. She wanted to shout to them of the dangers she was uncovering. The pool suddenly became smaller....They were the finalists for an unknown threat. The doors closed, cutting off any chance she wanted to take, and heard Petite's voice before moving on as he said with a small smirk:


"I hope you enjoy your stay....I promise it will be the happiest time of our lives."


They felt the elevator come to a complete stop, but as the doors opened, there was hesitation. Daring was chewing the inside of her cheek, feeling it becoming swollen. Ahuizotl bent his knees slightly in a stance as he stared at the empty hallway in front of them.


"We are near the flames...Miss Do." Ahuizotl said solemnly. She let out a small hum, the key tight around her hoof she pushed forward, entering the hallway. Ahuizotl was soon by her side, checking their surroundings before the elevator doors closed. The hallway was dim, for there were no windows towards the outside world. Yellow lamps lit their way down, revealing three doors. Their room, labeled with gold, was at the end with the other two rooms at the left and right walls. It was like they entered into a box. Daring entered their key into the lock with prejudice, letting out a scoff from the intense atmosphere. She let out a long and calming breath, turning the key, propping open the door.


"There is nothing wrong here,” She said as she walks into the room. "The museum viewing is in five hours and until then we....we..."


Her eyes widened, noticing how large their room was. It was as if she entered into an apartment. At the left side there was a large Queen size bed with white silk sheets and large French doors leading to a stone balcony outside with the view of the Tower of Maris. The floors were hardwood with fine furniture, complete with a large vanity mirror and stone fireplace, and a full size kitchen with a fridge on the right side. Immediately Ahuizotl dropped the bags inside, heading straight for the fridge.


"This is full of food!" he exclaimed, opening the fridge doors and examining the contents inside.


Daring walked towards a small table, seeing a personal gift basket for them. Wrapped in a red velvet bow and held in a hoof woven basket, it contained two loaves of banquettes, a wheel of white cheddar and a champagne bottle with pink liquid inside, with no tag or title of what type it was. Not that it mattered to Daring, as she greedily took it out of the basket. With a clear thought, she sighed as she set it off to the side. As much as she hated to admit, she needed to have a clear head when preparing her plan for the winter pearl.

Locking the door and dragging Ahuizotl out of the kitchen, they began planning and figuring out a plan.


"If the winter pearl is guarded, it will prove difficult to grab, or get close to it," Ahuizotl said before taking a satisfying bite into an apple.


Daring nodded as she stroke under her chin. “We need to watch the guards, watch their routine, find an opening and take it.”


“Anmf afmhar?” Ahuizotl muttered earning a puzzled look from Daring. He swallowed. “And after?”


“Run?”


“Very amusing, we won’t get far, what if it’s connected to an alarm? it will alert the guards, or if we do manage to get the pearl the possibility of a guard seeing us is high.”


“Then what do you suggest?” she said coyly, crossing her arms over her chest.


“If I had my cats then we-”


“But we don’t, now do we?” she teased.


“If I had my army-”


“And we don’t-”


“We need a distraction.” He placed a hoof over his mouth as he stared at the ground in thought while he bounced the half-eaten apple in the air. “If we have a distraction, something that make the guards leave their post, we can grab the pearl and destroy it at the spot….then escape.”


“A distraction huh?” Daring swiped the apple once it was mid-air, biting into it before Ahuizotl had the chance to take it back. “Sounds good-” She swallowed. “But what type of distraction?”


“I suppose if something were to happen with….Petite?” He grinned, with a swift motion he takes back his apple, a crunch ringing between them.


“Kidnap him?” Daring let out a smirk and smacked his hoof the apple, now one-third its size, just enough for one more bite, land in her open hoof. “That might work-” She stuffed the apple into her mouth staring at Ahuizotl who gave her a scowl. She stifled out a laugh before she was silence with a knock on her door.

Her eyes narrowed as she went into character, with a calm stride and swallowing the last of the apple she answered the door.

She was greeted with a pitiful sight. A tall, flimsy-looking sand-colored Unicorn stallion stood before her, with thick glasses as big as plates, and wearing a “size-too-big” brown suit with a blue bowtie shamelessly crooked. His cutie mark was three bamboo reeds in a blue china pot. An archaeologist or a record-keeper if Daring had to guess. He held a clip-board underneath his left arm as he shakily fixed his glasses in front of her.


“H-hello Madam-” He muttered, suffering from an apparent stutter. “I-I am Monsieur Petite’s partner, N-Neve.”


“Neve?” she repeated her eyes lower in boredom at his mono-toned voice, she was afraid if he continue talking she might fall asleep.


“Y-yes, I am just here...to uh g-greet you, and y-your husband and to remind you t-that the reveal starts at 6:00 at night.”


“Yes, thank you-” she strained giving him a smile. She was starting to doze off.


“O-oh good, and h-how are you liking your stay?”


“Oh I and Quinn love it so much, especially these rooms...and our privacy.” She said, adding more intensity on the last word. Hoping that he will take a hint. He fixed his glasses clumsy and fumbled for his clipboard. His eyes gaze down the white piece of paper attached.


“I-I see, Ah! y-you are M-Maybelle and Q-quinn...the newlyweds.” He cleared his throat and pulled at his collar. “H-how long were you married exactly?”


“A couple of weeks-” she answered quickly. “But we knew each other for months!”


“O-oh how wonderful. I hope t-to meet a mare as pretty as you.” he smiled awkwardly making her roll her eyes mentally.


:”I’m sure you will, now if that’s everything I really must get ready.” she said slowly closing the door.


“O-oh yes, of course, M-miss!” he stammered nervously, his head tilting towards the door following it as he kept his white eyes at Daring. “I-I really must get back anyhow, P-please enjoy the complimentary Champagne, I-its non-alcoholic and have a g-good day Mi-!”

She closed the door before she could hear the last word and let out a groan.


“Ugh-weirdo.” she said letting out a shiver as she heads back to Ahuizotl. “Guy gives me the creep, not to mention that he sounds annoying.”


“A strange pony-” Ahuizotl agreed. “But he seems harmless and very weak, we should not worry about him.”


“Yeah, Petite is the one we should be thinking about and I already have a plan for a distraction.”