//------------------------------// // 8. "Behind Closed Doors" Writeoff entry // Story: Fuzzy Fluffy Fables // by Fuzzyfurvert //------------------------------// “Ms. Yearling, those speleothems over there look fragile.” A.K. Yearling tipped back her safari hat and sat up to look her partner in the eye. “Maud, two things. One: call me Daring Do in the field, and two: what are speleothems?” Her partner, and geologist extraordinaire, Maud stared back at her in that same flat expression that had won them the poker championship back in Caribul, which in turn got her hooves one step closer to finding the golden Bridle of Liath Macha. Her dark blue-grey coloration made it hard to pick her out from the surrounding stone of the cavern. That had been an important part of their strategy to get past the zombified horse-eaters in the tomb of the Mares of Diomedes. Right now, those qualities were just annoying. Maud sighed finally and rolled her eyes. “Stalactites. Kick them and they will fall to the ground.” “What about the natives?” Maud craned her head up to look over the short wall that they were kneeling behind. She ducked again as several spears flew over it and clattered against the stone behind their hiding spot. “Still there. Still angry.” Daring smirked. “How is it that they never seem to run out of those to throw at us?” “I suggest you knock down the stalactites on top of them.” “That plan has a fatal flaw, Maud.” Daring tapped herself with a hoof. “Namely, me dying due to overexposure to spears.” “I will create a diversion.” Maud looked down at the ledge they were taking cover on and ran her hoof over the stone. “I can collapse this ledge.” Daring bit her lip and grumbled to herself as she thought out the scenario. Even with the distraction, she was going to be out in the open for a few seconds as she raced to the other end of the cavern. It would take all she had to reach the stalactites and keep from getting perforated by a pointy stick. The chance of success was low. If they messed up even a small part, it would lead to their very possible painful deaths or capture at the hooves of some very uncivilized blokes. On the other hoof, if it worked, the way would be cleared and they would finally reach the final chamber. It would also sell a lot of copies for her next memoir. Daring Do grinned and climbed to her hooves. “Maud Pie, I like the way you think. Let’s do this!” Daring Do gasped as the black hood over her head was yanked away and she reflexively snapped at the nearest hoof that wasn’t her own. The ropes binding her still held tight and her snap threw her completely off balance. Thankfully, wherever they had been abducted too had a plentiful amount of cushions strewn across the floor. “Maud, that was the dumbest idea you’ve ever had!” The pegasus struggled against her bindings and rolled over to glare at her earth pony partner. “Who hides behind a rock when they are being chased through the streets of Rideyadh by a bunch of burly stallions in dark sunglasses?!” “Ms. Do, were you aware that taking a seat before royalty is an offense punishable by death?” “Did you realize that kidnapping is an offense punishable by my hoof...” Daring rolled back the other direction and lifted her head. “...to your...your face? Oh.” “Greetings. You are the world famous explorer, Daring Do, correct?” A tall and stately mare, draped in translucent silks and gold, stepped forward from a phalanx of beshaded stallion bodyguards. She had the exotic look of a noble Saddle Arabian, tiny hooves, long graceful legs and elongated snout. “I’m sorry that this how we have to meet, but I am afraid I could not contact you through normal channels.” Daring eyed the bodyguards and looked sideways at Maud for a moment. “Ok, I can buy that. Think you could get one of your goons to untie us? My wings are starting to cramp, and Maud looks uncomfortable.” Maud stood there, still as a stone and blinked slowly. “And let me tell you, you wouldn’t like Maud when she’s uncomfortable. We went easy on your boys out there, but at any moment, Maud could flip out and tear down the walls of your...whatever this building is.” The tall mare snickered and nodded her head and her bodyguards swarmed forward as a single unit. In a blur of hooves and chorus of grunts, Daring Do found herself free of ropes and standing once more. Maud straightened her frock and then picked up the safari hat from where it had fallen off and passed it back to her. “Ok, princess, how about you start by telling us what’s going on here?” The silk covered mare’s eyes widened for a moment. “Oh! You know who I am?” “Uh,” Daring grinned nervously and rubbed the back of her ankle against her leg, “I actually meant ‘princess’ in a condescending way. But you’re telling me you’re an actual princess?” The Arabian mare nodded again, but if it was in response to her question, or some other silent command to her hovering stallions, she wasn’t sure. The bodyguards moved suddenly and a low table was brought in from some adjacent room and set before them. It was loaded with platters of cheeses and breads and goblets of clear water and ice. There were bowls filled with grapes and apples and figs and dozens of other fruits Daring couldn’t name off the top of her head. The Arabian mare took a seat at the table and then gestured at the opposite side. “Now you may sit. I am truly sorry for having you brought here so roughly. I need your help, so allow me to start making amends by offering you this meal. Later I can see to it that you have comfortable lodging and access to bathing facilities.” Daring looked over the table and grimaced when her stomach betrayed her with an audible grumble. It had been a week since her last significant meal. Stale bread crusts and the occasional apple slice kept a pony alive and functioning, but it wasn’t what she called living. With a grumble, she dropped back down onto a cushion and plucked out a toothpick with her feathers and speared a couple of cheese cubes. “So...you know who I am. Not a surprise, when you’re a celebrity like me.” She flashed the winning smile that made her editors swoon when she pitched her books. “But I don’t know who you are, and I try to make it my business to know all the pretty mares in the room.” “Oh?” Their hostess looked pointedly at Maud. “Do you make it your business to know her? I do not know who she is. Is this your partner?” Daring’s ears perked up. The way she said ‘partner’ sounded like she meant something more than a two mares with a business arrangement. Daring shot Maud a look but the quiet mare looked unmoved by the conversation and took a small rock from her pocket and placed it on the table. “Uh, no! No, I mean, yes, we are partners, but not like that!” she chuckled and patted Maud on the back with a wing. “Maud is a business partner! She’s an expert in geology. Tell her, Maud.” Maud looked down at the rock she had placed on the table and scooped some of the bread off the plate and brushed it around the rock. She sat in silence for a long moment before looking up. “It’s Boulder's feeding time.” Their hostess looked back and forth between them and Daring shrugged. “I study rocks.”