The wind howled and the blizzard lashed at her as she clambered up the rugged mountain. The peak was close, Daring Do pressed on, digging her hooves into the sinking snow, much like quicksand. Her wings were fully imprisoned in ice, unable to move them, but the raging wind was too strong anyway. Although she was numb, each step caused a fresh shoot of agonising pain, but this didn't stop Do. She reached her frozen hooves up to the peak in which a cave awaited her, when she suddenly slipped on some ice and skidded off of the cliff. She was falling into a cloud of sharp icicles, each one piercing her body. She was sure oblivion was her fate, when she remembered her rope. Do had excellent directional skills, and she judged that the invisible mountain was about 108 degrees anticlockwise, roughly. She span round, aware of how little time she had. Reaching for her rope, Do lassoed it through the wall of snow and wind, but the roaring wind just spat it back to her. She was panicking now, something she mustn't do. Gripping the lasso tightly in her trembling jaws, Do swung it with all of her remaining strength at the cliff. By some mere chance the rope found a sturdy tree branch, long since dead. Do hung in mid air, thanking no one in particular, then she fought the pain as she climbed the rope that was dancing madly in the storm.
A few hours later, Do had reached the peak, again. She rested in the cave, and lit a blazing fire to warm her. She soon felt the strength return to her, and fresh pain with it. A few minutes later, Do bundled a handful of sticks together to use as a torch. She lit them, then kicked the fire out and covered it with snow. She staggered through the cave, venturing deeper into the unknown. A swarm of bats squeaked from above her and surrounded her, clawing at her body. She remembered that her wings had melted now, and she stretched them out, scaring many of the bats. She took her knife out and lashed out at the remaining. She killed one, which scared the others off.
"I hate bats," Do growled.
Despite her aching muscles, screaming her to stop, she pushed on. She glanced at her grey mane. It was torn, bloody and soaked, as was her tail. Do realized how draughty the cave was, and she shivered as a cool breeze swept over her. Suddenly she felt her mane stick up, and she slowly turned around, expecting to see a dark figure stalking her. However, nopony was there. She shivered again, this time with nothing to do with the plummeting temperatures. She just hoped that what she came for was worth it.
The Pegasus Pendant, Do thought to herself. The ultimate weapon. But what does it do? Her thoughts we halted when she heard something behind her. Probably just a bat, Do, she told herself. Nevertheless, she quickened to a trot. Without warning a four fingered hand whipped her hooves, heaving her to the rough ground.
"Daring Dooo!" Rasped a high-pitched voice. Do knew that voice anywhere.
"Ahuizotl!" She gasped. "What're YOU doing here?"
"Well, I'm here to take the Pegasus Pendant of course, and destroy this world," he crackled boastfully.
"I'll never let you."
"Catch me if you can, Daring Do," Ahuizotl slithered.
She raced ahead to see him duck behind a wall that was closing, and fast. Gripping her tattered hat, Do sprinted at the door, now only meter high. She gracefully skidded on some wet mud and limboed beneath the gap, which had fully closed now. She'd lost Ahuizotl, but she wasn't about to give up. Peering through the gloomy tunnel, Do galloped, ignoring the countless bats cascading around her. She emerged into a bright room that was alight with candles. Where was Ahuizotl? Her gleaming violet eyes swept the room, eagerly searching for any traps. She saw none. However, Do wasn't that naive; she knew there'd be dozens of traps, stalking her every move. Taking several steps back, she anxiously trotted towards the door on the opposite side, not ten meters away. WOOSH. An army of arrows silently flew across her face. Instinctively, she ducked her head down just in time to see a swooping axe on a pendulum narrowly missing her head. She cartwheeled over a dozen spears and back-flipped over a sword, ablaze with scorching fire. Exhausted, Do breathlessly galloped on, earnest to catch up with Ahuizotl.
"It's mine! The Pegasus Pendant," Ahuitzotl cackled. Clutching a diamond encrusted chest in his greedy hands, he ran for the exit.
"Stop right there!" It was the pegasus. Do snatched the rope from her hat and slung it towards the beast; but he was too quick. He caught it and reeled her in, laughing at the pitiful pony. Now Do was just inches from his scabbed face, and she could smell his breath like vomit. He pushed her to the ground, and soon Do was surrounded by snakes, snapping their deadly fangs at her, eager for fresh meat. She glanced at Ahuitzotl who was clambering out of the simmering cave into the fresh, snowy air. He winked at her and pushed a large rock in front of the exit with the help of his cats. Do remembered the snakes, and swung wildly with the torch at the sounds of their approaching hisses. She stepped on one and lost her balance, stumbling on a nest of angry Pit Vipers. One sprang at her and bit her in the leg, sinking it's venom deep into her veins. She screamed in agony as the viper released its grip, and then thrashed at them with the torch and ran for cover, fighting the toxins in her bloodstream.
Do collapsed in exhaustion before a tiny gap in the wall, seeing the white of the snow, inviting her out. She scrambled through the crack, tearing many feathers off of her wings. In about two minutes, she had done it. Wasting no time with the snake bite, Do gulped before sucking on the wound on her leg before scabbing began. The taste was horrific, but at least the toxins had been released. She swallowed some snow to clean her mouth, and then just lay there in defeat.
Thanks to everypony who has read this so far. Thanks to Prince Luna for help with naming and assistance with the story.
Two days later, Daring Do was perched high amongst the jungle trees, peering through the camouflaged binoculars at Ahuitzotl's house on a baron, desolate island. Do could see the mote crawling with hidden creatures lurking in it's depths. She could see the barbed wire coiled hastily around the solid brick wall. She could taste Death's scent in the humid air. Zooming in to get a better look, Do found that the windows were tinted so she couldn't plan anything from here. She would have to improvise one whilst exploring. Now she had to find a way in. The entrance was too heavily guarded, so the only other way was the roof, assuming that there was an entrance there. She took off, spreading her tanned wings out as she glided towards the roof.
Seeing a trapdoor, Do opened it and peered into blackness. She dived head first into it. She gasped as a foul, moist stench pierced her nose. Before her lay a pony who's light brown coat was barely visible as it was covered in - blood. His wings were bent and crooked and he looked in agony. Do ran over to the unconscious stallion as he stirred in his sleep.
"Wake up!" She pleaded.
The pegasus woke suddenly, as if Do had just shouted in his ear. His eyes widened at the sight of her.
"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you," she said. Do tried to smile warmly, but the pony seemed to get the wrong impression.
Backing away, he tripped over his arm and yelped with pain. Do rushed over to him and carefully took his injured arm, wrapping it gently in a bandage she found in her bag. He winced slightly as she covered a gaping wound that was seeping blood, but he seemed to have calmed down. He sat there while she cleaned out his wounds and watched her.
"Thanks," the pony said quietly when she had finished.
Do examined the pony, who's long, matted mane was probably chocolate brown under the splashes of blood. His hazel-brown eyes twinkled at her as if tears were welling up and his telescope cutie-mark was barely visible under the musky darkness of the prison-like room. His lighter-brown coated body quivered and shivered in fear of the new stranger, still somewhat suspicious of her.
Extending a hoof, she said, "No probs. I'm Daring Do."
"I'm Stellar Spike ," he smiled, taking her hoof more confidently now. He could sense that she was a friend, not a foe.
"Mind if I call you Stell?"
"Sure," he grinned.
"What happened to you? Is Ahuitzotl holding you prisoner for something?"
Stell hesitated before answering. "Yeah."
Do glared into his innocent, hazel, inquisitive eyes. He was hiding something from her.
"Okay, I'm on a mission to take this thing from Ahuitzotl that he took from me called the Pegasus Pendant. It's like... err -"
"A weapon?" Stell asked.
"Yeah," Do replied, "how do you know?"
"Because I know what it is," he said with a sly smile. "And I overheard him raging at it."
Do narrowed her violet eyes. "Raging?"
"Yeah. He can't manipulate it because he isn't a pegasus; only pegasi can wield the weapon. I assume that's why he was angry."
Despite his innocent smile, she didn't trust this pegasus. But maybe he could help...
"I don't suppose you know where Ahuitzotl's keeping it, do you?"
"Probably in his bedroom, still lying in some jewelled chest."
"Hey, Stell... Er, would you like to err, help me find it?" Do sighed to herself. She always worked alone, always! But she had to admit to herself that with the place so heavily guarded that even she couldn't do it herself.
"Sure!" He smiled.
"How long have you been here, Stell ?"
"Ever since he found out about the Pendant. He kept me prisoner here to get information out of me."
"Did you tell him anything?" Do asked eagerly.
"No. He beat me until I was drenched with my own blood."
Do wasn't the kind of pony who took pity on others, but she had to give him some kind of sympathy.
"How about you come with me once I escape with the Pendant? Do you have a home?"
He sad eyes suddenly lit up with joy. "Seriously? I can come with you?"
"Err..." That had not been what Do had meant, but she didn't see why not. "Sure," she sighed.
Without warning Stell wrapped his hooves around her excitedly, thanking her. Do wasn't used to being hugged by anypony, let alone a boy! She didn't know how to respond, but after a few hesitant seconds she embraced him back. They broke apart and looked awkwardly at each other.
"So, Stell, let's go!"
Keeping close to the shadows of the walls, Stell leading the way. After several minutes, they heard a rough growl from behind them. Poised as if to leap were two snarling tigers, white teeth bared and gleaming like the Sun's deathly rays. Do leapt to the side to avoid dagger-like claws that tore at the air beside her. She glanced at Stell who was wrapped up in his own fight with the other tiger. Do whipped out her dagger and somersaulted over another swipe, landing gracefully behind it. The tiger span around, wildly slashing it's claws at her. She cursed as blood seeped through a fresh, gaping gash in her chest. The tiger growled, as if grinning an evil smile at her. Once again it leapt, but Do was ready; she countered the attack by grabbing the beasts paw in mid-air, ducked beneath it's swipe and lunged the blade deep into it's heart.
"DO!" Stell screamed.
She span around, expecting to see him being wrestled by a tiger three times his size. She was wrong. She had a split second to see an eight foot tiger tearing at her with desire in it's eyes. Next thing she knew, she was on the floor, being knocked over by Stell who was now slashing at the tiger with her own ruby-encrusted dagger. Do jumped up and sprang at the beast with her rope, encasing it in coils.
"Quick! Finish it of!"
The beast was shaking madly in attempt to free itself.
"I- I... can't."
The dagger clattered to the floor. Was he really too scared to kill? Do threw the rope to Stell who caught it. Then she scooped up the blade and drove it into the tiger's upper chest.
She let go of the dagger. She had to find some bandages soon, otherwise she would bleed to death. She was getting faint too, and could feel her temperature plummet.
After a few moments of panting, Stell said, "Sorry," and Do could see him going red.
"It's okay. It doesn't matter if you're scared to kill something." She tried to smile, but failed.
"No, it's not that. It's this."
And he drove the blade into her chest.
