> A Raider's Adventure
>  by Aruzo Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Come back, thief!!"  the guards yelled at the top their lungs as they chased me down the busy streets of the local bazaar. Some of the merchants booed and hissed at me, while others tossed rotten fruits and vegetables at both me and the guards for frighting their customers, while others actually cheered me on. I laughed at the guards for not being able to catch up to me, even though I was being weighed down by a pair of heavy saddle bags full of golden bits. After running a few laps around the bazaar and waving at some of the cute mares I decide to end my fun when I saw more guards coming to join the wild goose chase. I looked around and spotted a closed alleyway on the far side of the bazaar and decided it was the perfect place to perform my daring escape. As I began to make my way to the alley I reached into the left pouch of the saddle bag and pulled a hoof full of bits and tossed them into the air. Within seconds I disappear in a massive dog pile of greedy ponies trying get their hooves on as many bits as they could. Hidden from the guards, I turned my attention to the ten foot tall wall that closed the alley and began to search for my solution. I reached into the saddle bag once more and pulled out a gauntlet with strange inscriptions engraved into the metal and four metallic griffon-like claws at the tip to fight with, but I use it more to free-run with. I snapped on the gauntlet with haste for I saw the crowd behind me starting to disperse and could see more guards converging on the other side of the pile. I quickly climbed over the wall without any trouble thanks to the gauntlet. By the time the guards were able to pass through the crowd I had disappeared into thin air... or the other side of the wall. I quietly landed on the other side, using the saddle bags as cushion, and paused for a while to catch my breath.
"He's gone! AHHH!! Get some poster of that thieving scum's face all over the city!" one commanded. 
"But sir, I didn't see his face or a cutie mark or even the color of his coat. He was wearing a shemagh and a duster coat." one replied.
"I've heard enough." I thought to myself, I placed the bags on my back and removed the shemagh from my face. To try not to draw any negative attention I swiftly but calmly made my way to my destination just a couple of blocks way.



As I drew near to my destination, I was beginning to get looks of recognition by friendly neighbors that greeted me with a "Hello" or "How're your doin". I greeted them back out good manners, but didn't stop to chat for I had places to be. After a little while longer of walking, I could see a large building that had the appearance of a inn at the distance and a hanging sign that read "Orphanage", I sighed with relief knowing that I was nearly there. As I walked near to the building's entrance doors, I stopped to look in all directions to see if I was being followed by anyone or if any guards were around the area. Seeing that the coast was clear I walked up to the door. I could hear a very familiar kind and gentle voice emerging from inside the building, I could tell that she was story telling again. I slowly opened the wooden doors and entered quietly, not wanting to rudely disturb her, I saw an elderly mare sitting on a wooden stool at the center of semi-circle of little colts and fillies. They  gasped to her every word unaware that I had entered. "And when the hero saved the princess from the dreadful dragon-" 
"They lived happily ever after." I finished, all the children's heads turned simultaneously to see who had finish the phrase to the greatest story they ever heard. "RAIDER!!" they cheered with much joy, I soon found myself surrounded by several kids clamoring for my undivided attention, some tapping at my gauntlet in curiosity, and others admiring my red dusty shemagh.
"Now now children settle down," she said trying to calm the kids.
"You best listen to Mother or else their won't be any dessert for tonight," I proclaimed. Within seconds the children sat down and stayed shushed.
"Don't scare them like that," she said while slapping my shoulder, "or its you who's not getting any dessert."
I laughed at what she said and that only got me another slap on the shoulder, the fillies and colts laughed at my punishment. I was going to say something but a loud knock on the door interrupted me."It's a guard," Mother said as she looked through the window, chills ran down my spine when she said that. I took the shemagh, duster, gauntlet, and saddle bag off and hid them under an alter of our Ruler and quickly put on my apron that was resting on a chair and pretend to be the helper everypony thinks I am. Thankfully, Mother saw my panicked behavior and took her time to open the doors. There stood a guard with a young mare at his side with a dark blue scarf around her neck which she wore like a shemagh. I immediately recognized the mare as being the second oldest pony here at the orphanage behind me by three years, that plus she is the only one besides Mother, who knows of what I really do for a living. Dammit Sapphire, what the hell did you do this time. "Can I help you, officer?" Mother asked, the guard shoved Sapphire to the floor and looked at Mother with a disgusting expression.
"Yes, I caught your brat trying to steal some apples. You better put her on a leash-"
"You should be the one wearing a leash! YOU SON OF A BI-" Mother slapped Sapphire across the face to shut her up before she got into more trouble. The children and I were left in shock for we have never seen Mother do such an act of violence before. As Sapphire sniffed on the floor, the guard smiled with sick and twisted pleasure and enjoyed seeing her suffer in agonizing pain. "I think that would teach her to show more respect," He said delighted and handed to Mother a "Wanted" poster, with the drawing of a masked thief, " Also if you see this scum tell us. He's wanted for stealing twenty thousand bits." and with that said he left. Mother examined the poster and realized who this thief was, "Okay children go upstairs and get clean, while I prepare supper. Raider can you help me?" I knew she wanted to talk about something, and so did I, the children obeyed and without a word or complaint went upstairs. Sapphire got up from the floor and ran to her room, I tried to stop her but she shoved me to the side and left upstairs crying. I made my way to the kitchen where Mother was waiting already chopping vegetables and boiling water. I inhaled a deep breath and prepared to confront Mother. "Raider... Why?" she asked in a rather disappointed tone. 
"I can ask you the same thing. Why?! Why in the world did you slap Sapphire! That was uncalled for!" I ranted, she lifted her face and looked into my eyes, she could see that I wasn't upset but concern for Sapphire."I...I don't know why." she said with a heavy heart, her answer hit my right in the guts. I knew she didn't meant to hurt Sapphire or me, she tried her best to save Sapphire from something worst. Mother knows best I said to myself as I collected my thoughts. I grabbed some fruits and began chopping them for dessert.  An awkward silence filled the kitchen while we cooked, it wasn't till I was setting the plates that Mother broke the silence by questioning me once more.
"So, Raider why did you steal twenty thousand bits?" she asked
"Why not. We can do a lot with the money. We can buy more food for the children, fix the orphanage, and even buy each child a present for this year Hearth Warm Eve," I explained, Mother smiled but knew that there was more to this for all that would require less than half of twenty thousand,"...And maybe save up to go on a trip."
"Where?"
"I don't know...somewhere far from here. Maybe Prance or across the sea to Equestria." Mother and I laughed at my wild dreams.
"I just worry that stealing that amount would only get you caught. Promise me this the last time you'll steal from the city." 
"I promise, but come on... Catch me?! Bahh, those guards wouldn't catch me even if I walked into a cell myself...while hogtied with chains. Heck, No guard, captain, prince, headhunter, or God would ever catch me, for I am the greatest raider that ever lived!" I said with bravado as I stood on a table for more dramatic effect. Mother just rolled her eyes. We heard some clapping coming from the staircase and there sat Sapphire cheering to my bragging speech. I climbed down from the table and walked up to her to see if she okay. "Hey, how are you feeling?" I asked, but before she could answer Mother interrupted asking for her forgiveness. Sapphire forgave Mother for slapping her, she knew she only tried to protect her. She took this chance as well to apologize for getting in trouble. After a few hugs and tears were exchanged and before I could talk to Sapphire, Mother told me to finish setting the rest of the plates while she and Sapphire called the children for supper. After dinner, I didn't get a chance to talk to Sapphire at all for Mother walked away with her upstairs with the children to put them to sleep and left me to do the dishes alone...again. "It seems like Mother is trying to prevent me from coming near Sapphire. I wonder why?" I repeated to myself over and over again, throughout the two long hours of dish washing. I really need to steal a dishwasher. Once finish I got my belongings from under the alter, but left the money there for it wasn't save to take it out just yet. I knew guards were still going to be looking for it. As I went to my room, I saw that the children were fast asleep and that Mother or Sapphire were nowhere to be seen, they must have already went to bed. "I can tear some of the 'Wanted' posters and before I know it people would have already forgotten of my crime." I plotted. I waited till the stroke of midnight before I go outside as I planned. I sat on my bed trying my best to prevent me from sleeping, waiting till it was dead silent and making plans of how many poster I can tear off by morning.



The clock tower marked midnight, but not single noise was heard for the past three hours, I assumed everypony was asleep by then, but I decided to play it smart. I put on my duster and gauntlet, and opened the window of my room. I could already see some poster nearby from the window view, I paused for a sec and looked at the rooftops of neighboring buildings to see if any guards were there. "Clear... Good... Hmmm I better go to the roof and get a better view maybe I'll spy more posters." I murmured to myself. I quietly began to climb up the side of the orphanage to the roof, careful to not make any noise. After climbing the edge of rooftop, I glanced around to give a second inspection for any authority, but not a single speck of live could be seen. I walked around the top to see the block and notice at least fifteen posters on this block alone. I decided to just clear this block and tomorrow night I'll go clear the market area and so on so forth until the guards and people forget of my crime. I leapt from the roof of the orphanage to a nearby building and used my gauntlet to claw down to my first poster of the night. I tried my best to stay off the ground where guards or anything could easily spot me, but since most of the posters were placed at ground level I had to walk it most often than not. I stopped several times and hid behind anything that can provide cover and trembled with fear whenever I heard the slightest sound or imagine that I was being followed by a guard or worst... Suarians. I was very much afraid of the dark alone when I was a young foal, but Mother only made it worst with her story about lizard-like creatures that stand on two legs and have arm that can stretch forever and a tongue in the shape of a sharp edged needle that will kidnap little foals and eat them. I knew this time was the perfect hour to not get caught so I had to man up and leave childish nightmares aside. After a much filled wall running, tiptoeing, poster ripping, one paranoia filled hour later it was finally time for me to return  home. I end up at the roof of a shop that was at the edge of the market, I scanned the area and notice a couple of guards at their post asleep... and at minimum twelve posters. I could easily sneak around the guards but I can feel my eye lids growing heavy and sleepiness blurring my concentration. "I'll do it tomorrow." I yawned, as I turned around to head home something caught my eye... something... big. The clouds that filled the night sky were being torn apart by the massive structure of a travel blimp. The unique paint job on the side and massive size of the ship allowed me to conclude that blimp was not from here. Although small merchant blimps are common here, huge massive travel blimps are a rare sight and for a blimp like that to arrive at midnight even rarer. "What would a blimp of that size be hulling" Fueled by pure curiosity I decided to go forth and investigate the massive vessel and see what it bore in its hull and whom did it belong to.



After a long run on various rooftops and shops, I finally caught up with the blimp that landed at the east port of the city. I hid at the edge of a rooftop nearest to the port to get a better view of what was happening. A posse of earth ponies and zebras with similar uniforms unload several crates and bags of many sizes off the deck of the ship, by the looks of it they look like camp equipment: shovel and pickaxes, as well as food and other necessities. After assuming that they were just bring more supplies for the city, a unicorn started yelling out orders to rest. Indeed, this was bizarre for unicorns weren't common in our city, just like peguases, and griffons. I wasn't able to hear what she was saying so I decided to take a risk by getting closer to the site. I climbed down and hid at the corner of a building and perked up an ear to listen, "Hurry up slackers! Unload those crates! Hurry we have to get all this stuff to the desert by tonight! Hurry," she began to crack her whip at the workers that weren't moving fast enough, "Come on! Or not Master Ahuizotl will have your head for trophies!" she yelled out, when the workers heard the name Ahuizotl they began working twice as hard, "Hurry, we need to leave the city before that wench, Daring Do, arrives!". "Who's Ahuizotl and who is she talking about?" I asked myself, I looked over the corner and notice the mare with the whip looking at the clock tower OHH SHOOT!! It's three a'clock. I need to get back home. I didn't think staying any longer was a good idea anyways, plus I had a lot of ground to cover before I make it home so I climbed to the roof headed for my bed. "HEY YOU STOP!!" SHIT!! They saw me, I ducked and turned around to see who caught me, but it turns out I wasn't the only one spying on them. I saw a silhouette run away from the scene and disappeared into the direction I was heading too, I ignore them and went leaping back home.
My soul was begging for rest when I arrived to the orphanage, I tried to open the front door but remembered that it was closed. It was clear that sleepiness and weariness were weighing me down as dragged my hooves on the floor. I circled the orphanage twice looking for my bedroom window before I found it. I began climbing up the wall, exhausted, until finally arriving to the window's edge. I lightly tapped on the window glass trying to open it, but it wouldn't budge not matter how hard I pushed. After a few minutes of constant pushing it came to my exhausted mind that maybe I wasn't on the right window all this time, the sole thought of that depressed me from my last ounce of strength left me hanging on a window sill. I was just about to let go an drop two stories down to a hard dirt road, when I heard whispers coming from the building's top, I dragged myself to the top to see who was making that noise. When I stumbled onto the roof I saw Sapphire staring at the beautiful night sky with her scarf on her neck and a saddle bag full with goods laying on her side, "What are you doing?" I asked her, wiping my eyes to see a little better, She froze on the spot and dared not to turn. "Nothing." She said shoving the saddle bags aside, she found the courage to turn around to see who had asked and saw me, she lets out sigh of relief when she saw a familiar face. I stumbled towards her saddle bags and inspected the goods that it contained: a shovel, some camp equipment, and a familiar uniform that I've seen before. "So you were the other one at the port." I said, I turned to look at her, she looked surprised that I guessed correctly of where she was. "How do you know?! Were...you there too?" I nodded in response to her question, I sat besides her and explained everything I have done tonight, stopping several time to yawn and blink. After my explanation, she confessed that she was out stealing from the shipping dock to resell items and make a profit for the orphanage and trying to be like me... her hero, I blushed when he said that. "Sapphire I'm no hero. I'm a thief, a raider, a low life of society." I assured her, but she was in complete denial and shook her head in disagreement.
"I have seen how the children admire you when you bring in money to the orphanage." she bickered, "Yes. True, but they don't know I steal it from temples," I admitted. " They cheer because they know every 'shipment' means more food or cloths. They like me because I'm always there to help them with whatever problem they have and fix it." I said, I saw Sapphire's eyes beginning to water and her face grew bright red with anger as tears began running down her cheeks. I hugged her to provide her some comfort, I could feel her tears shower my shoulder, "It's just that when I try to be like you... it seems that everypony hates me for doing so well of course I'm a thief. Like the kids in the afternoon... Did you see the face they made when Mother slapped me,". Actually, I didn't notice them, I was in shock of Mother's action and worrying for you. I allowed her to cry on my shoulder and let her get it all out of her system, "*Sniff* you really are there to help with everypony's problem *Sniff*." she said as she started to let go of me. Z...z...z *POP* "Huh! Yeah. You know me always there to help." I yawned, I was sad of having to let go of Sapphire, for her shoulder was very comfy. She blushes as she stares at the alluring stars and took in a deep breath, "You know now that we are confessing and all. I have to confess something to you.... I like you more than just a brother.... That's why mother was focused on keeping me away from you today...and probably tomorrow as well, I'm not sure how she found out though. I'd understand if we're related but I've asked her before and she says no, we aren't related. I know it sounds kind of weird but I just couldn't keep hiding my feelings any more... And I too worry for you whenever you go off raiding and don't come till dark...............Raider?" she stops gazing at the star and looks to her side to discover an out-cold Raider fast sleep with his mouth open, and legs twitching, she sighs in relief, thankful that her crush did not hear her confession. She giggles at the unconscious pony, unravels her scarf and covers him with it, like it was a blanket, and with a good night kiss leaves the pony to rest.



Somewhere out in the desert
"Master Ahuizotl, the equipment has arrived and our captain, Miss La Tiga, is returning home. She sends this letter and her regards." The soldier declared as he enter into his master's tent, who was sitting on a fine leather seat with his collection of tamed wild cats behind an imported wooden desk. Ahuizotl stretched out from his desk to grasp the letter from his soldier hoof, who's to afraid to come any closer due to his panther watching him with hungry eyes. 

Dear Master Ahuizotl

I have come to know that our enemy, Daring Do, is arriving tomorrow morning with the professor. I'll love to join you in your annihilation of Daring, but I have other business to attend to in Prance. I have my own target to kill, I think you've met him before, Con Mane, I'm sure you have.
P.S. Till next time. La Tiga 

The creature neatly folded the letter and placed in his pocket for save keeping. "Sir, what would you like us to do?" the soldier asked, waiting for his master's reply. He was running his claws through his white cat's soft silk fur and smiled devilishly. "Rest for now for tomorrow we will attack and when that happens all the world would fear the name, Ahuizotl!! HAHA!!" He stood up from his chair, launching his cat away, to add more dreadfulness to his phrase.
"And what about Daring Do?" the soldier asked with a Prussian cat  stuck on his head, Ahuizotl slammed his hands to his desk, "After tomorrow. She won't be a problem." he assured, as he stabbed a dagger into the picture of his nemesis.
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey, come on get up it's morning already. We got chores to do." Sapphire violently shook my body hoping that I'd awaken from my deep slumber, but no dice I wished to remain asleep.
"Five more minutes."  I mumbled and shifted to my side placing the scarf over my eyes to block the sun's rays. Sapphire yanked the scarf away, but that did her no good when I covered my eyes with the gauntlet. Sapphire paused to think for a moment.  When she came up with a plan, a devious smirked appeared on her face. She lifted the arm that wore the gauntlet and centered her aim on my face, after reaching my full arm span she let go off the gauntlet and let gravity do its work... *SMACK*. "AAHHH!!" I woke up in a flash rubbing my cheek which had an awful red imprint of the gauntlet.
Sapphire chuckled at me as I rolled on the floor trying to sooth the pain away, "Come on get up, Mother is waiting for you downstairs.  I'll meet up with you there... And you may want take a shower, you smell like sweat.  I opened your bedroom window so you can sneak in."  She said before I could recover from her surprise attack, I sat up straight and took a small whiff from my pits damn, I do need a shower.  I walked to the edge of the building where my bedroom window was open thanks to Sapphire, and climbed down. Once inside I took a quick rinse in the shower, replaced my raider equipment for my apron, and headed down stairs, where Mother was waiting for me with a scroll.
"Morning Mother, are those my chores for today?"  I asked, praying that she'd say no.
"No," Thank you.  She handed me a much larger paper and I could see that it was a grocery list with several items listed down. I was puzzled for Mother never trusted me with the shopping, because I would always steal or forget everything, whichever came first.
"Since you brought that money to buy 'more food', then you're going to buy more food."
Sapphire came down the flight of stairs with a smile, holding a couple of saddle bags, "Morning Mother."  She said blissfully.  I'll never figure out how she does it to be so happy early in the morning.  "Morning Raider."
I greeted her with a, "Good morning" and a brotherly hug, but Mother kept looking at Sapphire with a concerned look on her face.
"Sapphire, you'll stay here and help me watch the children, while Raider goes and gets the groceries."
"What," Sapphire shouted in shock, "But Mother, Raider has never gone to get the groceries because he always steals them or forgets them altogether. Let me go with him so I can keep an eye on him, please."
"No means no. Now be a dear and go wake up the children." Sapphire went upstairs, pissed, and I headed for the front door. "Raider," Mother called out before I opened the door, "Remember your promise."  I crossed my heart and smiled, as I exited for the local bazaar.
________________________________________
Even though it was bright and early in the morning the bazaar was already crowded with ponies and merchants alike.  The bazaar was filled with ponies bumping into each other, merchants screaming out to the crowd telling them about how fresh his merchandise is, street performers performing death defying acts to make a living, scamps alluring suckers with talk of their miracle potions and lucky talismans, and guards on high alert looking for yesterday's thief.
I squeezed my way to the center of the bazaar and glimpsed at the first item of the list, "Lettuce." I looked around until I spotted a stand selling all sorts of vegetables and a crowd formed in front of it, "Okay, let me just... oh wait that's right no stealing. No matter, this will be easy. I'll probably finish this list in no time," I said confidently as I gazed at the violent crowd, "Yep, no time."  A raider has only one rule, always tell the truth, and truth be told THAT WAS HARD. I was pick-pocketed by some thief, got punched in the face for grinding on some father's daughter, stopped by a guard because he thought that I was stealing to soon, and worst of all harassed by a harlot.  Actually I think that was the only good thing that came out of it. I returned to the center of the bazaar horny, bloody, and bruised holding a single lettuce leaf in my hoof, "Lettuce, check.  What’s next item on the list... tomatoes." I turned my head sharply and gazed at the stand I was just at and there sitting next to the lettuce were the tomatoes. I was going to burst with rage and steal those god damn tomatoes, when a set of hooves wrapped around my head and blinded me. "What the- who is this?" I asked while trying to remove the hooves from my face.
"Nah ah, guess who." My heart filled with glee and my mind with perverted thoughts.
"Is it the harlot!"
"WHAT!!" wrong answer? Whoever it was removed their hooves from my eyes and turned me around, there stood Sapphire with wrath burning in her pupils.
"SAPPHIRE?! HEY! How is it... uhmm. What are you..."
"Uh huh."
"...Don't tell Mother." she paused and placed a hoof on her chin to think.
"Fine. I won't tell Mother. If you promise not to tell her I was here with you."  She blackmailed, not seeing any down side to this deal I accepted.
"What are you doing here anyways?" I asked.
"I figured that you might need some help so came by to help out," she explained as she grabbed the list out my hoof, "Want me to help you?"
"Please." I begged.  What would have taken me an eternity to do, only took Sapphire half an hour to complete. Once finished with the grocery shopping and having some time to spare, we sat on a bench to take a much deserved rest before we returned back home.
We sat in silence for a while, watching ponies walk around, until Sapphire spoke.  "Uhm... Raider I was meaning to ask you something," she timidly said.
"Yeah, what's in your mind."
"It’s about yesterday night.  Did you hear what I said last night when we were talking?"  My blood froze for I had completely forgotten what she said last night.
"Oh, of course I did. I heard every last word you said last night." I bluffed, she started to blush when she heard me.
"So you understand, I hope that you don't find it weird."
"I do understand and no. It’s not weird at all. I know you’re just trying to be like me that's all." Sapphire stared at me with a puzzled look.
"What? That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking after that."  She said, I gulped in shame and decided to confess.
"Okay the truth is I fell asleep after that part. I'm sorry about that, but I'm here right now so you can tell me what's in your mind." she took a deep breath and looked at me.
"What I'm trying to tell you is that-" the rest of her words were drowned out by another voice, "Miss Daring I just know-".  I turned around to see who said that name and saw a pony with a white beard and mane, walking next to an orange pegasus. "Raider?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you even hear what I said?" Sapphire asked.
"I need to check this out, follow me. We'll talk back at the house, I promise." We placed the bags on our backs and began to follow the pegasus and her companion. We kept close behind the couple trying to overhear their conversation.
"Miss Daring, I'm glad you came to help my expedition. With you here there is no doubt will be able to get into those temples once I decipher their locations." The bearded pony proclaimed.
"Jeez, thanks Doc, but I'm just glad I can help an old friend," Daring remarked, "So where is your expedition camp at, Doc?"
"The Scorpio Seas. We will leave this afternoon and arrive by nightfall."  After following them to a nearby inn, we decided to return home before Mother began to get worried for us.
________________________________________
When we arrived to the orphanage, we saw that Mother was talking with the landlord at the front door, tapping his hoof impatiently, ranting aggressively, and with a bottle in one of his hoofs. "You have until the end of this week to pay." He shouted.
"But where can I get that much money. Please don't close my business. Think about the children, where are they going to sleep, what are they going to eat or wear, or who's going to care for them." Mother cried, hoping that the landlord will see reason through his drunken state of mind.
"I don't wanna hear it! I don't care about the children! Either you pay up or I'll kick you out the building myself!" He threatened. Mother threw herself to the ground and grabbed him by the hoof, "Please! I beg of you don't close the orphanage. Please!"
"Agghh! Get off me you stupid old hag!" He raised the bottle to the air and swung for Mother's face.
"MOTHER!!" Sapphire screamed in horror.
"*SNAP* WHAT THE-" The landlord looked to the side only to see an enraged Raider grabbing his hoof, halfway through his strike, "Let go of me!"  I only tightened my grip crushing his wrist and forcing him to drop his bottle and bend his foreleg back.
"Don't you ever DARE touch my mother again."  I grabbed him by the chest with my other hoof, spun to get some momentum, and tossed his drunken ass to the middle of the dirt street, where he landed with a heavy thud.
"You'll pay dearly for this, kid!" He stumbled left and right as he got up. Pushing Sapphire aside the drunken idiot left to the market to cause more trouble. Sapphire ran to help me pick up Mother from the ground and brought her inside where the children were crying after bearing witness to everything.
After several hours of concerned neighbors coming over to see if Mother was okay and calming down the orphans, the morning gave way to the afternoon. Soon after the visitors left and the last child was upstairs Sapphire and I sat down with Mother, who was still very depressed.
"Mother, is something wrong?" Sapphire asked as she tried to comfort her, Mother simply nodded.
"Is it about the landlord?"  Once again Mother just nodded, refusing to speak.
"Mother, we've been told before that he is the owner of the building so you have to pay him whether we like it or not." I reminded her.  Sapphire nudged me in the shoulder signaling me to take it easy on her.
Mother sighed and gestured for us to sit down, "Children, the landlord came to tell me that the city is going to buy this building and unless we can pay full price for it, we are going to lose everything." she sighed.
"That's no problem. Just pay him with the money that's under the alter. How much does he want?  Two thousand, three thousand?" I suggested.
"One hundred thousand by the end of the week." I felt my heart sink deep within me when I heard the outrageous amount and little time given to accumulate it, but that didn't slow Sapphire.
"No problem, Raider can easily steal that amount... or more by tomorrow morning. Right, Raider?"
I kept silent and dwelled on my thoughts of the expedition and how there might be some gold or jewels there.  "No.  No more stealing from the city, I'm afraid you might get caught." Mother pleaded as she grabbed my hoof.
"But, Mother..."
"No, Sapphire.  We will think of other ways of getting the money, but no stealing. Now it's noon and there is no lunch for the children to eat. Raider give me the groceries and help me cook an-"
"Sorry, Mother but I'm not feeling well. You don't mind if Sapphire helps you," I interrupted, "I just don't feel good."
"Okay, in that case Sapphire help me cook and will call the children in little while."
I headed for my room upstairs, but as I made my way up I saw an orphans sitting at the top, listening to the whole conversation.
" Nibs, what are you doing here. go to your room." I said as pushed him to the side so Mother wouldn't see him.  Nibs is the youngest member of the family and thinks of me more as father than a brother.
"Raider, are we really going to lose everything?".  As much as I thought of it I couldn't give him a answer, which only made his eyes tear up.
"Hey, now," I acted fast giving him a hug and a fake smile, "Don't cry, look Mother said we'll get the money some other way."
"But, how?"
"Look, I'll take care of it. Don't worry." I assured him, I could see a smile roll across his face.
"Really!"
"Yep."
"You promise."
We crossed our hearts and touched hoofs to show him that I was committed, he started to jump around in circles and walked up to me to give me a big hug.
"Your the best, Raider." I felt a tear roll down my cheek and hugged him back.
"Go to your room and get clean supper is almost done." I said, he trotted off to his room excitedly.
As made way to my room, I kept thinking of the expedition, my promise with Nibs, and on how we were going to be able to pay the landlord. By the time I reached my room, sat down on my bed, and stared at my raider equipment for a while my mind was set. I Must!
I began pulling out several maps of all sorts I had piled on a flimsy bookshelf of treasure maps, dungeon maps, temple maps, and a city map. After constant digging through piles of scrolls, I finally came upon the map I was looking for, "Ahh, here we go, The Sea of Sand Map."  I unfolded the enormous map and placed it down on my bed, which took up most of it. I scanned the map several times to see if I could find The Scorpio Seas, until I heard somepony enter my room.
"Supper is ready." Sapphire said as she entered my room. She looked at the mess of map and saw a pack with my raider equipment poorly stuffed in it.
"So you’re going to raid the expedition?"
"Do I have a choice?  If I don't we will lose everything we worked so hard on building." I said as I searched for the location on the map.
Sapphire walked over to my side and started to pack my equipment properly, "What if you get caught?"
"That won't happen.  I cannot afford to get caught, plus... remember who you’re talking too." I joked to lighten up the mood.  She smiled and hoofed me the pack and pointed to "The Scorpio Seas" on the map, I marked the location down and opened the window to head on my way.
"Raider, can I ask you something before you leave?"  She asked timidly.
"Yeah, what is it."
"What do you consider me as?  How do I fit in your life?"
I paused and thought of my answer carefully, "I consider you the pony I keep in both mind and heart always."
"Really!?"  Her eyes widened when she heard that.
"Of course.  You’re my dear sister."  I remarked with a smile
"Oh," I saw her face turn glum and could tell that wasn't the answer she hoping for, "I'll tell Mother that you’re asleep.  That should buy you some time."
"Thanks."  I began to climb down from the window and once on the floor I trotted towards the inn. I had a strange urge to look back and saw Sapphire looking out the window, saying something to herself I think. When she finished, she waved goodbye to me and closed the window. I headed for the inn where Daring and the Doc were embarking from, praying that they haven't left yet.
________________________________________
It seems odd, but as I made my way to the inn I had a feeling as though I was being watched from every nook and cranny of the city.  I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me because I thought I saw one of those ponies with the uniform from last night on one of the roofs, he spotted me first and hid before I could tell.  I decided to ignore it, but still I could feel being stared at by somepony.  I began to walk under some shop tarps and through heavy crowds to make my way to the inn, hoping that he'd lose sight of me, and it worked.  I could see at the corner of my eye that he, whoever he was, kept a close eye on crowds and shops looking for anypony that looked similar to me or acted suspicious in anyway.
After dodging several guard squads and several more watch ponies I made my way to the inn.  Much to my surprise a fully loaded supply cart was parked just outside the inn's entrance. I gazed around to see if anypony was looking and climbed aboard, covering myself with the tarp. As I patiently waited for the cart to depart, I started to equip my gear and took a second glance at the map and measured the distance between "The Scorpio Seas" and the city.
"Hmm... If it takes from afternoon to nightfall on cart," I thought to myself, "Then it will probably take me till morning to arrive at the city on hoof if I sprint.  It also depends on how much I'm carrying with me."
I suddenly felt the cart jerk back and forth and bounce up and down, which made me hit my head on it several times.  After everything was done I peeked from under the tarp to see what was happening and saw two big ponies wearing harnesses tugging the supply cart. It’s just the cart pullers.  Great, we are on our way then I thought to myself.  I heard the voice of Daring circle the cart, speaking of a certain familiar event.
"Why did that guard ask you if the blimp from last night was yours?"  Daring asked as she boarded the cart.
"Like I told the guard, that wasn't one of our blimps. Strange, though he said that they were unloading camp equipment. We didn't receive word of an early delivery of supplies."  The Doc explained as he struggled to board to the cart, "But he said that they were shipping it to camp at the desert. Do you think that there may be somepony else exploring the desert?"
"I can take a guess that I know this 'somepony'," Daring suggested.
"Who."
"Alhuizolt."
"Bah. Don't worry about that, we have guards at the camp site.  Plus, we haven't seen any of Alhuizolt’s henchmen around the city" the Doc said confidently.  Cause you ain't looking hard enough I thought.  The cart began to move towards the city gates, to exit into the desert.  I was starting to believe that Alhuizolt and Daring had met before and not in a good way, the blimp from last night and all the lookout ponies were no mere coincidence.
________________________________________
After several hours of traveling over sand dunes and through small sand storms, nightfall soon shrouded the desert landscape and sky with beautiful stars.  Through the long trip, the Doc shared stories of his most recent expedition and discoveries.  This would have been useful to hear, but since the Doc started with the anatomy of pegasai I decided to sleep it through it.  I mean who wants to listen to an old pony talk about the anatomy of winged ponies, he only got my attention once when he said that pegasus mares can climax if you stroke their wings... 'gently'. Either way by the time I fell back asleep and woke up the expedition site was near and the Doc had ran out of stories to tell.
When the cart came to a full stop I peeked to see the size of the camp site and where they were they keeping the treasure, but all I saw were guards, guards everywhere.  They kept vigilant for any sign of trouble, Alhuizolt, or for idiot tomb raiders.  Like this idiot, I was starting to consider if this was good idea at all.  Still I kept looking everywhere for signs treasure and noticed a pair of guards at the mouth of a tunnel that when down into the ground.
"Wonder where that leads to?" I asked myself, I felt the cart rock and saw that Daring and the Doc have gotten off of it.
"Wow Doc, pretty impressive.  I didn't think you'd have this many guards," Daring complemented.  That makes two of us I thought silently.
"Thank you, Daring.  I don’t want any pesky raiders stealing from my campsite.  I mean what raider would be stupid enough to try and steal anything from here?"  The Doc said mockingly.  Me, I’m the stupid raider.
Daring chuckled at the Doc's cocky ego and walked over to the cart, right next to where I was peeking from, "Do you need help unloading the supplies?"  Daring asked as she slapped the cart's cargo, A.K.A my face.  PLEASE SAY NO.
"No," THANK YOU the Doc said, "We'll unload tomorrow.  Right now I want to show you the tomb we've uncovered."  When he said the word 'tomb', all I heard was treasure, gold, and jewels.  "Seems I'm in my natural element hehehe."
As the two entered the tunnel, I patiently waited for the guards to go to sleep and for those two to leave the tunnel.  After some while they exited the tunnel and after a small chat Daring left to her tent.  I saw the Doc tell both of the guards standing outside something and soon he left to his tent as well.  One of the guards pulled out a small whistle from his pocket and blew it, soon all the guards that were around the camp stopped and headed to their tents to rest.  It didn't take long before everything was silent, only the crack and pops of the torches's flames filled the air.  Perfect it's time to move hehe. What the? I was barely going to climb out, when I noticed a guard snooping around the tents.  What is he doing?  He kept sneaking around the tents, tiptoeing, and keeping an eye out, as if he didn't want anypony to see him.  After sneaking to the edge of the camp the guard trotted off into the desert, where he disappeared in the dunes, "Well that was strange," I said to myself, "Whatever he gone, so it's time to raid."
I climbed out of the cart, pulled on the shemagh, and began to make my way to the tunnel. I would have checked out the tents, but the Doc's tent was still lit and I didn't wanted to risk it, not in these conditions.  I walked into the entrance tunnel only to see that it was shorter than what I expected, "What no booby traps.  No trap doors. Nothing."  I said, carefully inspecting the walls, floor, and ceiling.  At the end of the tunnel I could see a stone sarcophagus marked with ancient hieroglyphics of some sort of pony king holding a staff in the center while others around bowed in mercy or respect.  Walking closer to the stone tomb seemed to only reveal more wonders, since all the room's walls were engraved with three temples, one on each wall, holding something in the center.  The engraving on the left wall, pictured a temple with guards, a running river, and at the far top left-side a rising sun, as for the item in the center it was hard to tell what was drawn on because it was clawed off.  Strange but I was quite sure that temple looked familiar.  The wall on the far right pictured a temple with a setting sun, plant life, water, grass, and by the looks of it maybe even fruit trees, the item in the middle of the temple was the staff the pony king was holding, but something about it seemed different.  But the center wall was the most breath taking of all, a massive temple with two Anubis guards standing boldly beside the entrance where the sun was laying inside the temple. After admiring the art it was time to get to business.  I looked at the sarcophagus with wide eyes, hoping that inside there might be some gold or jewelry to pay the landlord with.  I looked around to see if there was anything I could use to pry it open with, luckily one of the diggers forgot his shovel.
"Excuse me, your majesty, but it's for good intentions," I drove the shovel between the tomb slab and coffin, "Nothing personal."  I began to wedge the slab to pry it open, but it didn't matter how much strength I used on it, it wouldn't budge.  "Damn whatever is inside better be worth the effort,” I told myself.   I continued on for several minutes not paying attention if somepony was coming, since I was focused on not coming back home empty hoofed, "Come on, open up."
"HEY! WHO ARE YOU!"
I dropped the shovel and looked behind me, there stood Daring and the Doc, who was holding some books.
"Dear Celestia, a raider! GUARDS! GUARDS!"  The Doc exclaimed as he ran out the tunnel.
"BUCK! I gotta get out here!"  I said to myself, or so I thought since Daring heard me.
"You’re not going anywhere unless you go through me first!"  She said and took a crouched stance.  I didn't want to hurt anypony, but I have no choice, I can't get caught.
I poised myself and prepared to fight, "Bring it."
Daring used her wings to lunge herself at break neck speed, but like said I'm in my element.  I used my acrobatic skills to leap over Daring, aim my hind legs to her back, and buck her into the stone tomb, launching me into a front flip.
"AH!! MY WING!!"  Daring screamed in pain, when I landed I looked over my shoulder to see the sand covered in blood and her wing bending in an abnormal way. I didn't want to hurt her, but I can't get caught, not now.  I cut my losses and galloped towards the exit, where I could run off into the desert back home.  But it was too late by the time I made it to the mouth of the tunnel an army of guards had already surrounded the area.
"Don't let him escape!"  The Doc commanded, the guards slowly moved forward with their lances leveled at me.  I started to panic.  My heart pounded rapidly out of fear of being caught and my mind raced with thoughts of how I let down Mother, Nibs, and Sapphire. The thoughts started to make me shed tears of sadness and fear, I started to breath heavily with each stepped the guards took knowing that it’s all over... IT’S ALL OVER.
"HEY!"
"HUH!?"
Everything stopped in a cold sudden moment, as laid on the cold sand of the night, in a puddle of blood.  I could hear a faint ringing in my ear and I could feel blood slowly seep out of it, my vision grew hazy and dimmer with each blink, and I could see all the guards cheering, but all I heard were the breaths I took as they became weaker and weaker. I felt somepony turn me over to my side and there stood Daring with a bloody shovel in her hooves.
"That's for breaking my wing," I saw her lift the shovel high to the air ready to finish the job. I tried to reach for it, but it was pointless.
"AND THIS IS PERSONAL!"...............
"Daring, you don't look good. Go with the guards back to the city so you can see a doctor to heal your wound before it gets infected and while you’re there throw that scum into jail."...........
"Don't worry about the temple’s location.  With these books I'll be done no time, I'll probably figure it out by the time you come back."...............
Mother, I'm sorry.
________________________________________
At Ahuizotl's Campsite
"Master, our inside pony just arrived with report that Daring Do is at the campsite."  A pony in uniform, with bandages on his head, reported to his master.
"Excellent."  Ahuizotl said rubbing his hands together devilishly, as his wild cats began to circle the frightened solider.
"Also, he reports that the temple’s location might be decoded by tomorrow morning."  The mercenary shuddered as he felt the leopard lick his leg.
"Good, good."  Ahuizotl said, ignoring his leopard’s rude behavior.  
"What do you want us to do, Master."  The solider tried to speak as clearly as possible, not wanting to scream in horror.
Ahuizotl gave a grin that frightened his lackey, "Prepare for war." He said as he pulled back to burst into a maniacal, villainous laugh.
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I woke up in strange land, there was nothing to be seen for miles away but darkness.  No sand. No moon. No stars. Nothing.  Only a single beam of light shining far above me in the sky was all that illuminated the dark plain where I stood.  I could feel a faint breeze running down my mane and coat, shivering with the feeling that I was lost, alone, and hopeless.
"Where am I?" I said to myself, looking around for anyone or anything that would hint where I was.
"Raider, why?"  The voice of a familiar female voice cried.  I turned around to look for the source and in the distance I could see another light beaming down on an elderly mare sitting down in front of a stone.
"Mother? Mother! Its me, Raider, where are we?" I shouted as I ran to meet up with her, but she didn't look up as if she didn't hear me even though my voice echoed.  When I got next to her she didn't bother looking up, I thought she was still upset with me.
"Oh Raider, why," Mother kept crying as I stood next to her.  I build up the courage to answer her, but still it pain me to say it.
"I know Mother. I was foolish. I just-"
"My dear son, why." Mother repeated, shedding many tears, but she didn't look up.
I kneeled down beside her and spoke in a shaken voice muffled by guilt, feeling tears slip out my eyes.  "Mother, please forgive me."  I tried to hug her, but to my surprise as I wrapped my arms around they phased through her leaving behind a trail of sandy mist.  "What the? Mother?"  I looked at her, but she ignored me and only cried.  She reached out to touch the stone I had ignored.  I examined the stone through watery eyes and discovered something that left me paralyzed in fear. The stone was actually a gravestone that read "R.I.P... Raider."  It took me a moment to comprehend that it was my grave.  I was in complete denial, I didn’t want to accept what I just read.
"It can't be. I'm still here. Mother!" I turned around to face Mother to tell her I was still very much alive, but when I looked back she was gone, "Mother...", I felt something dissolve in my hoof.  When I turned to see what it was, the gravestone was gone and a few grains of sand were on my hoof.  "What?" I was baffled, but whatever was happening, I didn't have a good feeling about.  I looked around for anything or anypony else
.
"Turn around you’re under arrest!" A thick voice command.
"What? Why?"
"For housing a criminal. That's why!"  I looked behind me and saw the orphanage, Mother was being taken away by two guards, and the rest of the orphans forced out by more guards.  The orphans were running away from the scene, not knowing where they were going, or what was going to happen to them, crying out for help.
"HEY!! Leave them alone!"  I ran towards the orphanage, enrage by the barbaric force of law, only to be stopped cold in my tracks.  "What?" I felt myself weighed down by something heavy, but I couldn't see what it was.  Something was preventing me from turning my head.  I heard a loud crash from the orphanage and saw the guards were tossing everything, clothing, beds, kitchenware, and a mirror that landed in front of me sending sharp fragments flying in my direction.  I couldn't rise a hoof or jump back to dodge the pieces of sharp glass, but as I squinted my eyes to flinch in pain I could see the fragmented glass vaporize into sand as they touched my body. By the time I realized it, the orphanage, the guards, and orphans had all vanished, all that remained was the broken mirror.  
I cautiously struggled to walk over to the mirror, still unsure what was going on or where I was.  I could hear heavy chains dragging on the floor, echoing loudly around me.  It wasn't until I got close enough to what remained of the shattered mirror that I figured out what was causing the noise.  A massive neck brace was cuffed on me. I picked up a shard of mirror and tried to tilt the glass with my mouth, cutting my tongue several times, to see what else was weighing me down.  Surprisingly the glass didn't turn into sand which gave me the chance to manipulate it.  A body brace, four rusty shackles clamped on each leg, and a massive set of chains dragging behind me.  They appeared to extend forever.  As I kept examining the cuffs the small piece of glass finally exploded into sand, blinding me.
I felt something scurrying through my legs and after clearing the sand out of my eyes I saw sand drifting in all directions forming small piles on the floor and some of them in mid-air defying gravity itself.  I was terrified of what was going on and before I knew it I was surround by piles of sand in every direction.  All I could hear was my heart beating rapidly from fear.  The sand piles began to change color, swirl, and float in place forming small figures.  As the sand began to settle I could see that the figures formed bodies of little foals.  Some were crying and begging for money, others were covered in blood and bruised.  A few laid sick and starving, but most of them laid dead, on the ground motionless.
Instead of crying in sorrow, I dropped to the floor with an agonizing pain ripping deep within me, like it was eating my soul, knowing that their suffering, pain, hunger, and death were my fault.  I crawled on the floor flinching in pain, until I saw a small set of legs standing in front of me.  I looked up and there stood Nibs with watery eyes, cuts and scrapes on his fragile little body, and with a look of disappointment on his face.  "Nibs?" I groaned, grabbing my chest as the pain intensified.
"You promised me that you'd fix it all."  Nibs cried, shedding a single tear.
"Nibs... I'm sorry. I'll fix this, I promise." I crossed my heart and reached out to him to complete the promise, but he stepped back in disgust.
"You liar! Last time you promised.  You never came back!  Mother was taken!  All my friends died!  And Sapphire left us!"  He cried, running off into the darkness until he disappeared out of sight.
"NIBS!! NIBS!!" I called out in tears, but it was too late he was gone and was never going to return.  The figures shattered, just like my heart, back into sand.  I laid there on a small mound of sand shedding tears, without letting out a single sigh or sob.  I could feel my heart sinking in a dark void of depression, slowly drowning in tears of sorrow and shame.  I was being buried with the heavy stones of guilt.  I was nothing but a broken husk of a dead colt rotting away in guilt and sorrow whose soul burned to nothing more but a pile of forgotten ashes.
I could feel the sand under me whisk away and see that in the distance it was forming another figure.  I closed my eyes and hid my face behind the rusty shackles, not wanting see what horror was to form this time.  Please let it stop.  But the soft sobbing of a mare made me look up, there sat Sapphire under a lit street lamp, shivering in the cold as she covered herself tightly with a red, stained fabric.  I stood up and looked closer, the fabric was my shemagh stained repeatedly with blood.
I started to walk towards her at a snail’s pace, due to the weight of the chains, but sand below me flew ahead creating another figure.  I paused to see what it was and saw the sand form the body of somepony wearing a hood.  The sand sculpture came to life and stared at me with a disturbing concentration, I couldn't see any face within the hood's shadow, it gave me a queasy feeling.  After a minute of staring he turn his attention to Sapphire, who seemed unaware of his existence, and approached her.
"Hey! You better get away from her!" I warned him, but he continued on ignoring me threat.  I fought against the weight to reach Sapphire first, but he was already way ahead of me.  I could see sand swirl around his hoof and collect together, making the shape of a dagger.  "Sapphire! Run!" I shouted as I tried to run towards her as fast as I could.  The figure started to walk at a faster pace always staying well ahead of me.  It was only when the hooded pony was only feet away from Sapphire, did she looked up towards the hooded demon and began to panic when she saw the dagger.  The world slowed down as I saw the hooded pony  stab Sapphire, crying for her life, several times without mercy.  Once finished he stepped to the side to show me Sapphire's bloody body, holding my shemagh in her hoof as if praying for me to rescue her.  A devious smile appeared within the hood taunting me with misery.
Reason?  Gone.  Mercy?  What is that.  Emotion?  Wrath!  Solution?  Death.  Vengeance... You better fucking believe it.  Fueled by anger I easily lifted the shackles like if they were nothing but cheap oversized jewelry, galloping at full speed towards the hooded pony, who still wore a smile on his hidden face.  Once I reached him I lunged into the air, ready to use the shackles to hammer his skull into oblivion.  Only when I was near enough to touch his hood did the chains pull back making me stumble over Sapphire's body, making it dissolve back into sand, and painfully falling to the ground.  I quickly recovered and swung again and again at the culprit, almost grazing the tip of his hood every single time.  Exhausted, my hoofs finally gave out and dropped to the floor with a thud, sending sand into the air.  "WHY DID YOU KILL HER!!" I shouted still very much enraged.
The pony leveled his head with mine and spoke in a distorted voice , "You."
"What?" I murmured, he stepped back, placed a hoof on his hood, and relieved his identity.  The hood fell to the floor along with my sanity, there in front of me stood... ME!  A replica of me, but he was no longer pony but demon.  His eyes were gone, his chest had an open wound going across it, and a dark repulsive ooze constantly bled out of it.
I could feel chains pulling me up as he (or I?) got closer to me.  He reached out and grabbed me by the neck brace, as the chains started to lift me, he shouted, "YOU KILLED THEM!!!"  Causing the whole world to shake with the power of his voice.  His eyes and wound gushed blood, and images of dead orphans appeared, reaching out to grab me.  The chains suddenly jerked up, sending me flying straight up towards the light up in the dark sky.  I screamed in terror as I passed orphan ghosts reaching out to grab me, crying for help. I could see the chains disappear as the light grew brighter and brighter until it blinded me, I closed my eyes praying that whatever was to come let it not be death or least not as horrifying as what I just experienced.






"Hey! Get up!"  The guard's command was followed with a strike to the wound on the side of my head.  I woke up in searing pain holding my head between my hoofs, as the guard hid behind a cover.  I didn't know whether to hate him or thank him for waking me up from such a brutal nightmare.  I struggled to get to my legs and saw that I was in a cage covered by an old dust tarp, and I could hear a loud mutter from behind the cover.
"Where am I?" I asked myself.  The sound of trumpets filled the air as they announced the arrival of a royal, "Royalty? What's going on?" I continue to ask myself.
I heard somepony clear his throat and began to speak out, as if addressing a crowd, "Mares and gentlecolts!  For a long time now we have been suffering in the hoofs of a thief stealing our hard earn money, raiding our ancient's sanctuaries, and may have courted with our innocent daughters."
What! I’ve never slept with anypony!  Sheesh, I haven't even gotten my first kiss.  I thought as I felt for my duster or gauntlet.
"And now with the help of the brave archaeologist, Daring Do, this criminal scum will be brought to justice!"  I could hear a crowd clap and cheer, "now now, settle down. It brings me great joy to show you the low-life scum that’s been evading the law for so long!"
I heard trumpets blow and the tarp flew off the cage letting the sunlight in.  I blinked, even in the morning the sun was still very bright.  After letting my eyes adjust to the light, I stood in shock to see that I was being presented in the main plaza of the city, where everypony usually passed through.  Thankfully, It was still rather early, for only few ponies and shopkeepers were in the plaza.  I sighed in relief as I didn't see anypony that I knew and yet at the same time I yearned for them, to see if they were well.  I looked to the side and saw Daring Do wearing my duster, with a guard holding a saddlebag containing my gauntlet and shemagh.
"Hey You! That's my duster, give it here!"  I don’t know why I thought that was a good idea.  The guard struck me with the blunt end of his spear causing me to fall over.  Another decided to take a shot and knocked the air out of me, but the general stopped them before they got out of control.
"That's enough! Take him to jail. We'll prosecute him later," the general said.
"Wait."  Daring commanded as she walked closer, "don't take him just yet I've got a few question for him before you send him to the big house."  Daring and the general left together chatting, while I was stuck in the plaza with two abusive guards.
Not fifteen minutes passed before both of the guards left.  They didn't say anything they just left, maybe for lunch. Time passed, I laid on the floor with ponies every randomly walking up to me to take a look, to see if they knew me.  The little brats that passed by threw stones at me before they’d run off, they're lucky I'm chained down or I would've chased them down.
The sun rose just a bit over the horizon and I still didn’t see any sign of the guards nor Daring Do.  I could hear my stomach growl loudly, since I hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon, this isn't anything new to me, even in the past I had to starve myself so the orphans had something to eat.  But I was weak and I need the food to regain the strength I lost last night in my failed escape.  *Sigh* I tried not to think of food, but I was trapped in the plaza where most food stands were set up and when jerks hear you’re hungry they only taunt you with food.  I covered my face in my hoof so I wouldn’t see any food, but still the aroma found its way through.
*Growl* I whimpered as I clenched my stomach in pain.
"Psst! Here." I looked up and saw a piece of bread in front of me, but I was more happy to see the mare that gave it to me.
"Sapphire?" I said in disbelief.  The mare turned to the sound of her name and gasped to see me in the cage.
"Raider!? Wh-"  I didn't even let her finish as I scampered over to the edge of the cage and hugged her through the bars, crying to see that she was still alive and safe.  She blushed and hugged me back, surprised for never had she seen me cry.  "Raider, what happened?"
I looked at her and had to admit the obvious and swallow my pride, "Sapphire... I failed.  I failed you, Mother, Nibs, and everyone at the orphanage."
"That's not true, there’s still hope, I can probably free you... Just give me a sec."  She said trying to pick the cage's lock, but I reached and grabbed her hoof to stop her.
"Sapphire, don't."
"Don't?! Raider?" She said still picking the lock.
"Please listen," I said, turning her face towards me, "Sapphire, I failed and you can’t risk it.  You’re in charge of seeing that the orphanage isn't taken away from us, don't let our hard work be for nothing."  I could see her eyes watering, for she knew where I was going with this.  "Now listen, I want you to go the orphanage and sell everything that's in my room.  All my maps. My bed.  Everything, even the window if you have too."
"What if Mother asks questions?"
"Just tell her that I won't be coming home."  Sapphire was going to dash back home, but I reached out for her before she left, "Sapphire, please don't tell Mother you saw me here."  Sapphire didn't reply and just left towards the orphanage.  Only after Sapphire left did the guards finally return, with a full bellies.  I quickly ate the piece of bread before the guards could take it away.






Time passed slowly and morning was barely turning into early afternoon, and still Daring hasn't returned.  I thought that she saw no use for me and left without bothering to ask me her questions.  "When is the general coming back?  I'm bored here.  Why can't we just throw his ass in jail and get this over with."  He said, nudging my shoulder with his spear, waking me from my nap.
"I know. I would have already sentence him to death. You know, why bother."
Just hearing that brought me down knowing that right now I could be at home with Mother, eating breakfast and doing chores.  I placed my head on the shackle to rest my head, but something caught my attention.  I saw two little hooves holding on the edge of the cage and the small grunts of a foal could be heard.
"Raider?". Nibs?!
I crawled to the edge, not wanting the guards to notice me, I peered to the side and saw Nibs dangling from the cage. I grabbed him and held him in place so he could reach.  "Nibs, what are you doing here?" I whispered.
"We came to see you," he responded.
"We?" he nodded and pointed west where a large group of children were following Sapphire and Mother, with my mix of emotions, I accidentally dropped Nibs to the floor. When they came closer I could see the children with shocked faces, surprised to see me behind bars.  As for Mother she approached the cage with a blank expression on her face, I couldn't tell if she was mad for ignoring her plea or glad to see that I was still alive.  "Mother, I-" Mother put her hoof on my mouth to shush me, I could feel my ears drop down in shame.
"I know.  Sapphire told me everything.  And no I'm not upset, I know you only did it for good reasons," she said looking at the children.  One of the foals walked up to Mother and asked her why was I chained, but before Mother could answer the guard interrupted her.
"Because he's a thief.  That’s why, kid.  So you’d better not steal."  Mother simply agreed with him, pretending to not know me.  The children gasped in horror knowing that their beloved brother and caretaker was a good-for-nothing thief, but one didn't agree.
"No, he's not! He’s a hero!"  Nibs shouted in my defense, Sapphire quickly grabbed him before he could say another word, but the guard simply laughed at Nibs’ comment.  "Kid, the day this thief becomes a hero that'll be the day I lose my job." he rebutted.
"In that case you're fired," we turned around to see the general walking with Daring Do, who had a stained bandage on her broken wing, "Or not quite. You see, we’re willing to work out a deal."  The general walked up to the cage door and unlocked it, commanding the guards to hold the chains as I walked out.
I couldn't help but question him, "what do you mean?"
"Miss Daring is in search of your master, Ahuizotl, and if you’re willing to help her find him we 'might' set you free."
"Might?"
"Yes. It all depends on her judgement.  If she is not pleased with your aid, we lock you up.  But, if she see that you're willing to cooperate, we’ll set you free.  Simple as that."
"How can I know that you’re not lying to me."
"I'm a general, I'm a stallion of my word." Strangely enough I did believe him.
"What about her," I pointed at Daring, "How can I trust that she won't judge me unfairly."
"Don't worry. I'll judge fairly. I'll just keep 'this' as a side note." She gestured to her broken wing.
I looked at the general, "What are my other options?".
"Be stuck in jail for the rest of your miserable life or... Nope that's it. Those are your options."
"I got a fairer chance fighting a Scorpio."
"That can be arranged." He replied.  I should have chosen my words a little more carefully, I thought.
This your last and only chance for freedom.  Don't do it for yourself... Do it for them. You can still fix all of this, I thought to myself.  I looked over to Mother and the orphans to help me make my decision.
"Well. What's it going to be."
*Sigh* “Deal. But under two conditions."
"What are they?" The general asked, Daring didn't seem happy to hear him say that.
"One, I need some medical aid for my head wound. If not, it could get infected and I'll probably die before I can help her." I demanded.
"Deal. What else."
"And two, I want my equipment back. My shemagh, coat, and gauntlet."
"Gauntlet? You won't need that."
"Then it seem that you don't need my help."
"Ha! You are no position to make such threats. We can easily replace you." He scolded.
"And may I ask with who."
"That's none of your concern." I knew that he was bluffing. There was no replacement, I was there only lead.
"Come on, general. Both you and I know that there is no other pony," I could see the general starting to get nervous, a sign that I was playing my cards right, "And plus by the time you find another pony it'll be to late."
"Fine," Yes, it worked, "But you can only use the gauntlet when Daring spots any signs of danger. You are no use to us dead."
I paused to think, coming up with a plan already, "Fair enough.", I answered.
"Very well. Take him to a doctor to clean his wound and prepare them a cart."  The general commanded, as they dragged me to a doctor.






After receiving the medical aid I demand, and so desperately needed, the general hoofed me my coat and shemagh, but gave Daring the gauntlet. I was released from my chains only to be strapped down again, this time to a cart with some supplies, and was forced to be the cart puller under Daring’s command.  I waited patiently for Daring, as she and the general discussed what to do if she found Ahuizotl's camp.  When all the supplies were loaded the guards returned to their posts leaving me behind to wait for Daring.
"Raider." Sapphire called as she sneaked beside the cart.
"What are you doing?" I whispered.
"Raider, I don't think you should go." She suggested.
"Sapphire, trust me.  Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"I do trust you, but I don't trust her that's all."
"Neither do I, but I promise I can still fix this."  I crossed my heart.
"It’s just that..." She mumbled.
"It’s just... What?"
"Raider, I almost lost you once. I don't want to lose you again." She said.
"... I?"
"I meant 'we'.  My bad," she replied with a bright blush on her cheeks.
I ignored the awkward answer and continued the conversation, "Look, all I have to do is help her find this Ahuizotl fella and I'm free.  Easy," I explained.
"But you don't know who or where this 'Ahuizotl' is," she remarked.  I was going to explain her my plan, but I could see that Daring was closing in.
"You’d better go." I told Sapphire.
"Okay... Good luck, Raider." Before I could reply I felt Sapphire kiss me on the side of my cheek right under my ear, and left running, leaving me confused. What... was that?  Before I could think more on Sapphire's behavior I felt the cart shift as Daring climbed onto it.
"Come on. Lets go.  The Doc wanted me back by morning," she commanded.  I decided not to argue since I was still pretty puzzled about Sapphire and it was still too early to deploy my escape plan.  I slowly began to pull the heavy cart towards the gates to enter the desert to make our journey to the Doc's campsite, not knowing what the hell I had gotten myself into.
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I constantly looked over my shoulders every time we got to the top of a sand dune to see the city in the distance, soon the city disappeared behind the dunes.  My mind was still distracted with Sapphire's kiss.  Was it for good luck?  Was it just a simple gesture of sisterly affection?  What if she...?  Nah!  Or maybe.  My mind went back and forth unable to find an answer for my question.  Before I could ponder more on Sapphire, Daring brought me back to reality.

"So tell me, what's Ahuizotl’s plan this time?" She asked seriously.  I tried to remember as much as possible from the night I spied the blimp to answer her question.

"Uh..." I was idiotically stuck on the realization that the unicorn didn't mention anything about their plans.  I didn't want to blow my cover so I decided to make up a lie, but my conscience and the raider code wouldn't permit me.

You have to understand, a long time ago, the greatest raider who ever lived was captured along with his gang.  His cohorts lied about everything, blaming all of their thieving on the great raider.  The authorities believed them, after all, he was such a legendary raider they believed he actually could rob three tombs at the same time.  At the gallows he cursed his former friends and every raider thereafter: who ever lied when captured would be cursed to live a life without friends, joy, or wealth. Having already experienced a terrifying near-tragedy and endless nightmares in my early years of raiding, I and many others have come to respect, fear, and strongly believe this accursed omen.

"I don't know," I answered truthfully, choking myself in my mind for being a completely honest moron.  Daring just stared at me for a while and then slouched back, letting out a long sigh.

"Why doesn't he tell his minions his plans? That'd make my job so much easier," She complained, rubbing her forehead to ease the stress.  "And I wouldn't have to deal with any of this," she gestured to me and her broken wing.  I stayed quiet thinking of the perfect time to deploy my escape plan and to get my gauntlet back.  Before she figured out I'm not one of Ahuizotl's henchponies.

"So tell me. What do you know?" She asked again.  I was having an internal mental battle: to tell a lie, or to tell the truth, as the code demand.  It was impossible for me to change my way of life, I was raised that way.  Not even when the ones I love are in dire need of me, I couldn't defy the raider code. Not wanting to tell her everything I knew, I decided to use her complaints to my advantage.

"Look, Daring.  I know you don't want to deal with me at all."

"Is it that obvious?" She remarked.

"Lets be honest.  Both you and I are reasonable ponies.  Aren't we?"

"Don't tell me. You want to work out a deal with me, so you can go free.  Don't ya," She said rolling her eyes.  "Let me take a guess what are you going to offer me.  Money, power, information, or something absolutely stupid that I don't need?  Get to the point."

"Okay.  I'll tell you all I know about Ahuizotl and in return you give me my gauntlet.  Deal?" I bargained.

"Your gauntlet?  That's all?  No freedom or money?"

"Nope.  Just my gauntlet." I said, Daring stopped to think it through.

"Fine. Tell me what you know and I'll give you your gauntlet back." She said, placing the gauntlet next to her.  Well played, Daring, but in the end I'll have the last laugh!

"Very well." I began to tell her about the night the blimp was being emptied out at the port.  I told her how many ponies I saw there.  How many crates.  What the crates were carrying.  That they were being taken to the camp out in the desert.  She asked me who was in charge of the unloading.  I answered her that a unicorn mare with a whip kept giving out orders, not giving any details about her since I didn't see any myself.  But when she heard 'unicorn mare with a whip', she immediately named her out as, 'La Tiga.'  By the sound of her exotic name, I guessed that she must be foreign.  I gave her all the information I could milk out from the blimp scene.  Perfectly omitting how I was involved during the whole explanation.  Daring’s face held a semi-pleased expression with my information and she seemed to be willing to keep her word.
Thirty minutes soon passed and I was finished giving Daring what she wanted, everything I knew about Ahuizotl.  I was eagerly waiting for Daring to hoof me my gauntlet, but she was still busy absorbing everything, and I could see that something was bothering her.  "I have one question," she finally said.

"What is it?" I would have told her that 'That was everything I know' but doing so might just put me in a tight spot.

"You said that you didn't know what his plan was, right?"

"Correct." I didn't know where she was going with this question, but I decided to play along.

"Then, why on earth were you in our campsite if you didn't know what Ahuizotl is planning?" She asked.

"Oh... Uhm..."

I didn't see that coming and already I could feel the words of truth traveling up my throat, ready to tell her that I'm a fraud and that I was trying to steal from the tomb to save the orphanage.  I bit my lips in order to keep my mouth sealed, causing me to stop pulling the cart.  I tried fighting the urge, but it was a battle I wasn't going to win.

"Hey, are you going to answer me or not?" Daring said, climbing down the cart with my gauntlet in a bag.  I couldn't hold on any longer I was going to suffocate on the truth.  I took a deep breath to tell her the honest truth, but something dark in the skies of the horizon, emitting from the direction of where the Doc's camp was caught my attention.  "Smoke?!"

"What? Smokes?"

"No.  Smoke, look," I pointed to the smoke trail in the clouds.

"That's coming from the Doc's camp!  Come on follow me!" Daring ordered as she trotted in the direction of the smoke.

"Wait!  Give me my gauntlet!  I told you everything I know.  That was the deal."

Daring turned around and shout, "I lied.  I wasn't really going to give it to you, but if you still want it. Come and get it."

"That bitch!" I said to myself as I chased Daring.





Daring always stayed ahead of me by a few feet, making it hard for me to reach out and snatch the bag.  It wasn’t long before we arrived and could clearly see the campsite was destroyed.  All the tents were torn open and flattened, most of them were on fire.  Only the checkpoint tower, near the encampment entrance, was still standing but it too was burning.

“Look!” Daring shouted, pointing to something crawling on the ground in the middle of the chaos.  It was the Doc laying in the middle of the campsite, near the tomb entrance, beaten up pretty badly by the size of blood stains on his shirt.

“Daring...” I couldn’t make out the rest of what he said over the loud crackling of the fire.

“Doc! Hold on!” Daring trotted faster to aid the Doc.  Already I could feel something wasn’t right, “Where’s everypony else?”

Where were the guards from the previous night?  Something was definitely not right here.  I galloped behind Daring, warning her that something was odd about the situation.  But she just ignored me, too focused on the Doc’s well being.  I kept reaching for the bag not wanting to stay any longer, but Daring caught me in the act and trotted even faster leaving me behind again.

“Damn it,” I said as we quickly passed the torched tower.

“Doc, I’m here!” Daring screamed as she galloped towards him, throwing the bag down.

The Doc looked up and waved at her to turn around, “Daring! Run! Its a trap!” The Doc tried to warn her. 

A deafening crash erupted from behind me, I looked over to see the tower had toppled over.  Two of Ahuizotl’s goons hoof-pounded each other, proud of their violent work, and disappeared behind the cliff’s edge.  The tower created an impenetrable wall of fire, blocking our exit. Daring was looking around to see if there was any other way out, but it was pointless. Ahuizotl’s minions had surrounded the area with fire.  And Daring couldn’t fly away with the wounded Doc on her back.

“Well, if it isn’t Daring Do.”  This strange looking beast said as it walked up to the edge of the cliff, petting a white kitten, staring at me and Daring with piercing eyes.

“Ahuizotl!” Daring shouted. The terror from seeing Ahuizotl in the flesh, had over-powered my common sense, it made me forget that I was still undercover.

“THAT’S AHUIZOTL!” I blurt out loud mindlessly, realizing that both Ahuizotl and Daring could  hear me.

“What!?” She said, confused that I didn’t recognize my own master when I saw him.

“Who’s that? Your newest recruit. It’s a shame that he has to die on his first mission.”

“WHAT?!” Daring responded, realizing I was a fraud, and not the minion she thought I was.

“I would love to stay and dispose of you two myself, but I have other places to be,” Ahuizotl pulled out a strange looking whistle in the shape of a cat, with his bizarre tail. 

The whistle emitted a loud ‘meow,’ that echoed for a bit.  Daring took a fighting pose prepared for what’s to come as I looked around frantically for what his signal caused or called to.  As soon as the meow faded, four massive cats leaped from behind Ahuizotl and into the ring of fire to butcher us.  Before we could react, they landed and began to circle around, kicking up sand to blind us. I pulled the shemagh over my face to block out most of the dirt from entering my eyes and mouth, I could hear Daring coughing and wheezing as the sand got in her throat.

The dust slowly floated down to reveal a panther, a tiger, a jaguar, and a cheetah, surrounding us and circling slowly.  Ahuizotl had disappeared.  I noticed the bag with my gauntlet on the floor, next to the Doc.  I started to walk backwards towards the bag to reach for the only weapon keeping my eye on the predators, as the cats began to close in.  Once I was near enough I blindly fished into the bag, not wanting to take my eye off the jaguar, but when I felt another hoof grabbing my gauntlet I couldn’t help but turn around to see Daring.  She had gotten the same idea as I, but I wasn’t going to let her take it again, I looked past her and saw the panther pounce towards Daring. Fearing that the jaguar had done the same, I shoved Daring the ground and snapped the gauntlet into place.

The panther’s powerful paws threw me off balance, sending me flying backwards towards the jaguar, leaping over Daring.  As fell back I saw the jaguar had mimicked the panther and pounced as well, giving me the upper hoof in the fight. I placed my hind legs on the panther’s chest, as soon as I hit the ground I used the thrust from the impact to counter the panther’s attack. The jaguar clashed with the massive panther in mid air, sending it flying over the wall of fire, disappearing behind the flames. The panther landed just a few inches away from the fire, quickly recovering to its feet and leaped once again, roaring in rage.

As I dodge back to avoid his second strike, with the gauntlet I tossed a pile of sand to his face. The panther passed through the cloud of dirt, coughing and rubbing his eyes.  I leaped into the air and punched him in the back of his head with the gauntlet, burying his face in even more sand.  Pissed, he began to swipe blindly in front of him, hoping to catch me with a lucky shot. I quickly evaded to his left side, and once again jumped into the air to land a hammer-fist on his back.  Blind, confused, and impaired I wrapped my forelegs around him and bear hugged the air out of him, being careful not to get bitten or scratched. I pulled back to stand on two legs, still squeezing the air out of him as panther thrashed and hissed struggling to get free.  It took several agonizing moments before the panther began to slowly lose consciousness.  Knowing that he was ready to pass out, I jumped backwards and jerked back, pile driving the panther to the ground, sending sand flying upwards from the impact.

I rolled sideways away from the panther, exhausted but stared in amazement to see that the panther was still barely conscious, looking back at me.  I quickly got up, remembering that there was still a cheetah and leopard to take care off.  I was scared to see that the leopard was lying on the ground, with the bag over it’s head, and that Daring was pinned to the ground by the cheetah, struggling to get it off of her. I dashed my way over to her, but fell down when a weight crashed onto my back.  I squirmed to get back up but something was pinning me to the ground.  I felt a set of claws gash my back, easily cutting through my thick duster.  I back-elbowed whatever had clawed my back and flopped around to conceal the bleeding wound, to see my cheap-shot attacker.  I found the jaguar, with his fur completely torched, stagger back and pounce at me.  His paws crushed into my chest, preventing me from breathing or squirming loose, while he aimed to bite my jugular.  I stuffed my gauntlet between his jaw and my neck, protecting my throat from being ripped open by an undercooked jaguar.  I could hear his teeth grind against the metal of the gauntlet, as he tried to close his mouth to deliver the final fatal blow.  As I lost my breath I looked over to Daring, still struggling with the cheetah, it was pretty clear that we were both done for.

I could feel the razor-sharp fangs penetrating through the skin, drawing out beads of blood, only giving the jaguar the taste for more.  As I and Daring struggled to delay our death, a sharp meow whistled through the air, causing the cats to immediately stop fighting.  Both the jaguar and cheetah quickly leaped off of us and hurried to their fallen comrade. The cheetah carried the leopard on his back and scurried over to catch up with the jaguar and panther, who were kicking sand to make a breach in the wall of fire.  As quickly as they appeared the cats disappeared into the desert responding to their master’s call.

“That was... lucky.” I said joking, grateful that I was still alive.  Daring wasn’t amused. She tackled me to the floor, squeezing my throat with her hooves.

“You think this some kind of joke?  Because of your lying, I have no leads to where he is or clues to what he’s planning.  You just put the world in jeopardy!”  I would have shot back that everything I said was true, but her hooves weren’t letting me.  Daring finally let go when my face had turned dark blue in color.  She looked over to the opening in the fire and saw the paws of the cats making a trail that led into the desert, her only chance to get Ahuizotl before it was too late.  Thinking on the fly, Daring quickly went over to the Doc.  “Doc, what are my chance of survival if I follow those tracks out into the desert?”  The Doc simply stared at her, too weak to even speak. 

*Cough* “Duh, like everything else you will die, or get eaten.” I interrupted, soothing the pain on my throat.  Daring stared at me menacingly and then turned back to the Doc, who was nodding at her not to do it. 

“I’m sorry, Doc.  But if I don’t, I’ll lose Ahuizotl for good this time. Just wait here.  I’m sure help is on its way.”  Daring crossed the dying flames and stared at the tracks leading into the desert, probably leading to her certain doom. 

“What about me?” I asked, as I prepared for the long walk back to the city.

“YOU! You can burn in hell, rot in jail, or get lost in the desert for all I care! You good-for-nothing thief. ”

“Does that mean, I’m free to go?”

“You're unbelievable!” She said in disgust. I didn’t care for all I know that sounded like a “yes” to me and once again I was a free pony.  Daring trotted into the desert leaving me behind with the smoldering remains of a campsite just waiting to be raided by somepony. 





It didn’t take long for much raiding to happen, I found myself with some new re-sellable goods that had been left behind.  With my fortune, it was time for me to head home, where Sapphire, Nibs, and Mother were waiting for me.  I felt proud of myself for making it out alive and staying true to my word to fix this mess.  With my hoof filled with loot, I looked around to see if I could find anything to carry it with and spotted the bag that had held my gauntlet next to the injured Doc.

I made my way over to the bag and the Doc, still bleeding badly from his wounds.  I loaded the goods inside the bag but I kept staring at the Doc, breathing heavily in pain with tears leaking from the corners of his eyes.  I tossed the bag over my back and slowly walked away from him, but a sense of guilt rapidly ate away at me.  Never in my life had I ever walked away from somepony in such need.  It was in my nature to help them when they need help, with the foolish idea that they would have done the same for me, when clearly they wouldn’t have.  I looked at the distance, in the direction of where the city was and looked for any signs of a rescue or delivery crew, but saw nothing.  I blocked the memory of Doc calling the guards to arrest me and walked back towards him.  I tore a piece of cloth from the back of my shredded duster and began to wrap it around his arm, where he still had an open wound.

He looked at me with surprise, “Why?”  He murmured in a weak tone.  I didn’t answer him, for I didn’t know why either, and continued to cover his wounds with strips of my clothing. After a while, all his wounds were bandaged and cleaned out. Feeling good about myself, I walked over to my bag of loot, but felt the Doc’s hoof grasp my leg.

I shook his hoof off and looked at him, “What!?” I asked in strict voice, not wanting to stay any longer. 

“Please,” He begged, crawling over to me.

“Please?” I didn’t understand what he was asking from me.

“Please,” he repeated, looking at the tracks Daring left behind, slowly disappearing as the winds began to pick up, a sandstorm was approaching. 

“Nah ah.  I told her that she was going to die.  That’s what she chose, plus she nearly killed me with a shovel,” I remind the Doc.  I got my bag and jumped over the fallen tower, not wanting to waste any more time.

“If I sprint it back to the city I’ll arrive by nightfall, giving me the advantage to sneak back to the orphanage unseen,” I planned, tightening my shemagh for the sandstorm to come. I looked back at the Doc and saw him crying to a picture inside a heart-shaped pendant, that he produced from within his shirt.  The picture showed the Doc, when he was much younger, carrying a small filly in his arms, wearing a explorer's hat that was way too big for her.  It didn’t take me long to figure out the filly in the picture was Daring.  Seeing the Doc reminded me of myself when I cried for those who I lost in that horrid nightmare. I looked at Daring’s tracks, leading away from the city, and back to the direction the city was at. I didn’t think twice before I knew what I was about to do. Damn my kind heart.  I dropped the bag and began to run in the direction Daring had headed, hoping that I could catch up to her before she found Ahuizotl, or something worse.
> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 “Come on, where did they go?” I grunted. I was blindly cutting through the thick winds of the sandstorm, trotting in the direction where I last saw the panther's footprints on the sand before they vanished. Unprepared, lost, and short on time, I pressed onwards unwilling to let Ahuizotl escape. The world was at stake and my reputation was on the line. Not once in my entire career had I let Ahuizotl even come near to accomplishing his villainous plots, and I wasn't going to start. Ahuizotl escaping from me is a deadly nightmare that may come true and without any real details of his true plan. I knew that if Ahuizotl managed to escape he'll try execute his plan as fast as possible, without leaving a trail, and once completed no one will be able to stop him.

Even though the sun wasn’t visible anymore, I could still feel it’s overwhelming heat slowly draining me away with every step I took, but that was no excuse to turn back. Even if I did I wouldn't be able to find my way out of this sandstorm, so I kept moving.
I continued to wander aimlessly for several minutes, perhaps hour searching for any clues that Ahuizotl may have left behind. All the while the sun’s overwhelming heat sapped me of energy. 

“Stupid sandstorm. Stupid sun. Stupid lying thief," I scolded as I started to slow down, "I can’t... lose … Ahuizotl.” I gasped, finally collapsing in exhaustion. It was impossible to breath any clean air with the sandstorm picking up so much dust, but I didn't have a choice. I could've easily flown above and stayed ahead of the storm, and maybe even caught Ahuizotl by surprise, but thanks to that damn thief for breaking my wing I'm going to die here. I laid on the ground staring up into the sand covered skies, regarding for ever venturing out here in the first place and not heeding the Doc’s warning.

“I’m sorry, Doc! I’m sorry world for letting you down! I’m sorry!” I yelled in frustration, as I started to feel light headed. I couldn’t comprehend that I was starting to suffer badly from dehydration, when I began to see silhouettes whisk left and right, followed by the unworldly whistling of the wind and a faint voice saying “Daring.”

“HUH! Who’s there?” I called out as the shadows disappeared and reappeared closer to me, blurring out of sight every time I looked for them, and hearing the voice grew louder. Fearing that it was Ahuizotl’s ponies that had found me, or something far worse. I laid on the ground and kept silent, hoping that whatever it was would leave me alone. But my surroundings were getting the best of me as my eyelids grew heavy and began to close. I could feel my life slipping away with every heavy breath I took. Truly, this couldn’t be the end for me. 

"No! I'm going to die here."

“Daring!” The faint voice had grown into a shout, creeping ever closer towards me. All I could do was close my eyes and lay there, hoping that whatever it was would just pass me by. I was too weak and tried to even get up and fight back or run away.

I laid there in a moment of paralyzing fear, as I heard someone or something walk towards me.

“Found you.” I dared to look up, and even in the blistering heat, I could feel my blood freeze in fear. A shadowy figure towered over me and stared back down. Slowly reaching out to grab me with five massive claws and a huge palm. I could only assume that it was Ahuizotl, taking my weak body away for all sorts of punishing torture as a form of vengeance. I could barely stay awake as I was being dragged away to my impending doom, fighting to stay conscious for a minute longer.

“No...” I murmured as I finally fainted in exhaustion, with my final thought being, What's going to happen to me

---------------------------------------------------------------------------



I stared at Daring's unconscious body, as the Doc kept talking to her hoping that she would soon wake up, secretly so did I. I didn't want my efforts rescuing Daring from the sandstorm to amount to nothing, also because I hate to see anypony lose a family member. Plus, if she died I won't be able to be set free by the General, without her saying so.

"Oh, Daring. Please wake up." Doc pleaded while holding her hoof. As if answering his prayer, Daring slowly fluttered her eyes open and was greeted with the Doc's familiar smile.
"Where am I?" Daring said, as she tried to sit up straight. Doc tried to keep her resting for her own good, but she insisted on sitting up. 

"You're back in the encampment." said the Doc, as he pointed outside. Daring gazed around and saw that she was inside a tent, with a bundle of medical supplies scattered on the floor and some medics treating other patients. She was able to get a peek outside the tent, through the tent’s flaps. Indeed, she was back at the campsite only this time it was flooded with soldiers, guards, and medics, looking left and right for clues under every torn tent, toppled pillar, and burned piles of tarp, trying to figure out what happen here.

“Daring, good to see that you're well,” said the General, as he walked in to check up with Daring and Doc. "I hope that your are well rested."

“General, what's going on and when did you get here?” Daring asked, as she climbed out of her bed with the Doc’s aid.

“We arrived at the same time you were being drag back here. I must say it was pretty bold of you to venture out into a sandstorm, but stupid nonetheless.” he said. I chuckled at the General's insult and thought of how humiliating it must be to be scolded at like a little foal getting in trouble for mischief.

"Yeah. I admitted too. But what did you mean by 'dragged back?’ I was pretty sure that Ahuizotl caught me..."

"Not, Ahuizotl. Him." Daring tilted her head in confusion as he pointed to me, finally acknowledging that I was in the same tent with her, getting my gashes cleaned and bandaged. I put on my duster and shemagh, once the medics finished, but before I could grabbed my gauntlet the General cuffed my hoof to the bed where I was sitting on.

“WHAT THE!! What this for!?” I asked as I frantically jerked the cuff trying to break free. The General just stood there and shushed me like an unruly colt.

“You?!” Daring shouted in disbelief, thinking that the General was playing some cruel prank, "Why?"

“So you'll tell the General to set me free, that's why!” I replied on instinct flashing her the cuff, but I didn’t want to admit the true reason why.

“As if. Because of you I lost Ahuizotl and have no true intel on his plan."
I couldn't believe that even after I selflessly gave up my freedom and loot, saved the the Doc's life, told her all I knew about Ahuizotl, and fought by her side, she was still being an ungrateful pegasus that thought I was a good-for-nothing lying thief. And now I'm going to be sent to jail all thanks to her.

“That's not completely true, Daring. See, when I was held captive by Ahuizotl I manage to hear some of Ahuizotl's evil scheme.”

"Really!?" Daring said excitedly.

"Indeed. But I didn't get away unscathed." He said, rubbing a bandaged cut on his leg.

"So tell us, Doc," the General asked, "I'll like to know what happened to my guards."

"Right."


The Doc explained that Ahuizotl ambushed the camp last night, looking for Daring and a scroll that contained a fraction of the details showing how to reach one of the temples. Ahuizotl apparently captured all of the General's guards and took them elsewhere, saying that he had need of them later, but the Doc never did hear for what exactly or where they were being taken to. Doc mention that Ahuizotl had some of his hench ponies trying to open the coffin inside the tomb, but they failed. The Doc said it was still unclear why they were trying to open it, but he knew was that whatever was inside, Ahuizotl wanted it badly. Immediately, the General sent a crew into the tomb to see if they could open the sarcophagus. Doc finished his explanation, "But before I was punished for listening. I heard Ahuizotl say, 'Staff of Souls'. Which I assume is the staff mentioned on the tomb's hieroglyphics." After hearing all of this I couldn't help myself but be interested on the conversation and just like Daring, Doc, and the General also question, What on earth is Ahuizotl planning?

"Well that gives us a lot of information, but none of it helps us get any closer to Ahuizotl." the General mused as he trotted back and forth. "Doc, by any chance do you remember the details on how to reach the temple you mentioned?"

"Yeah, that'll give us at least a place where to start looking," Daring agreed.

"Of course I do." Doc replied.



"Let see. How did it go... Ohh right! 'Follow the path towards the rising star and let it shed its light.  Between a valley in the sleeping sands, it lays. Hidden from sight, only to shine and guide in morning's time. Inside the temple you will find that which grants you desert's life'. "

"Why do they always write it in riddles? Was that like their way of having fun while building tombs?" Daring questioned. I asked myself the same thing.

"Very well. Towards the rising star... Rising star? They must be talking about the sun and ‘Follow the path towards it’, means... Go east from here. Sleeping sands and a valley?" the General pondered, “I think we’ll need a map for that.” The General pulled out a map from one of the bags thrown on the floor and started to search for such a place that fit such a description. I couldn’t stop thinking that I’ve been to such a place before, but I couldn’t remember, my memory was hazy.

"Did you find any place that's east from here that fits the description?" Daring asked, as she scanned another map helping the General with his search.

"No. I-"

"General," a guard barged in sweating and panting heavily, looking like he was about to pass out, holding a small piece of torn scroll, "We... Found...".

"Breathe! Soldier! Breathe! Catch your breath and speak clearly," the soldier huffed and puffed until finally he caught his breath, "What is it, soldier?"

"Sir, we were finally able to open the tomb.There wasn’t a body inside the tomb, but only this piece of paper." Well at least now I know it was a waste to come here in the first place.

"Good job, soldier. You and the rest take a break for your effort." the General said. The soldier hoofed over the paper and left with a smile, eager to tell the rest the good news.

"What is it?" Daring asked, as the General inspected the piece. The General tilted the paper in various angles, before giving up on it.
"It seems to be some sort of writing." the General hoofed the torn script to Daring and Doc.


Doc and Daring inspected the piece of torn scroll for awhile, trying to  decipher the writing, while the General continued his search on the maps, but their efforts were in vain.

"I'm ashamed to say, but I can't translate the writing. Not without my reference books." Doc said.

"What happen to them?" Daring asked.

"Ahuizotl stolen them."

"Maybe I can help," I spoke up,"I can decipher it for you. If you're willing to help me out too."

"Really?"  The Doc said, intrigued at my offer.

"Don't listen to him, Doc. He's full of it. He probably doesn't know anything." Daring scolded.

"Hold on, Daring. In my many years of being a guard I came to learn that all thieves share something in common with one another. And that is that they cannot lie while in custody because of some silly old curse, or so I’ve heard. Am I correct?" the General explained.

"Yes. It’s called the ‘Raider’s Curse’." I answered honestly, proving his point.

"So tell me, can you decipher it?" the General asked.

"Yes, I can. Pass it here, but I expect something return." I said gesturing to the cuff.

"If you decipher it. I might consider it." the General said hoofing over the old torn paper.

"Let's see... thats an 'E'. That one there is a 'W'." I wrote down the letters on the sheet of the bed to keep track of which symbols I had already deciphered.

"It's says, Devil's Maw." I replied.

"DEVIL'S MAW? What does that mean?" Everypony questioned.

"The Devil's Maw. It’s where the temple is located." I replied, remembering why those drawings looked familiar.

"That’s where the temple is located?" Daring exclaimed, "I'll look for it on the map."

"You won't find it in any of your maps." I told them, before they wasted their time searching.

"Why is that?" the General asked.

"Because you’d need a map that is at least one-thousand years old."

"Do you have one?" The General asked, wisely using The Raider's Curse to his advantage.

"Yeah. But I left it behind in the supply cart I snuck in. The map alone won't do you any good either. You need somepony that has already been there to guide you or else you’ll fall to your death." I explained giving out more information than I wanted too, but being bound to the Raider’s Curse, I must answer with absolute honesty or suffer the worst.

"So tell me: have you been to that temple before and do you know how to get there?" Doc asked. 

"Yes. I remember finding it by accident, but I still know where it is." I answered having a flashback as I did.


I was running down a desert plain, where there was no wind, clouds, or hills at all. The plains were barren and dull, as if all life just suddenly died off or never even existed. The most strange and unsettling part yet was how the sand would fall straight down when you tossed it into the air, even when one could feel an eerie breeze running through their mane. It was unnatural, unnerving and down right frightening, as if some looming evil was nearby... stalking you. But then you remembered you’re all alone, which only makes it more disturbing. When I finished explaining to them, the General seemed unphased, Doc was quivering in fright and holding onto Daring’s hoof, but intrigued and fascinated nonetheless, and as for Daring, she wore an eager grin of excitement just on the thought of going into this haunted lands. Undeterred by what I just said, she was ready to run into those sands head first. Blind and completely oblivious to the dangers of journeying into them unprepared.

“Suddenly, I fell down a hidden valley and landed on giant pile of sand and when I looked up there it was. That exact same temple.” I finished trying to remember more about what happened afterwards, but I just couldn't. I shook it off and began to shake my cuff, "So what are you waiting for? Set me free. A promise is a promise."

"I said 'I might consider it', but if you help us reach the temple and Ahuizotl. I'll set you free for good."

"That wasn't the part of the deal," I proclaimed refusing to hear another word, "I deciphered the paper for you and you would consider letting me go. I told you more than enough information to make up for my previous lies. So there! Now set me free."

"You don't understand. You have to help us." I was starting to get irritated by the General’s constant persuasion.

"I don't have to help you at all! In fact, I should've already been set free by now for saving their lives! This whole 'we-gotta-stop-Ahuizotl' is your problem! Not mine!" I ranted.

"That may be true, but listen. If-"

"No! You listen me! You owe me... No! I deserve to be set free! Now!" I demanded not even letting him explain.

I kept shouting over the General’s explanation, preventing from being able to finish a single sentence, until finally he couldn't take it and snapped.

"Would you shut up! You're annoying, ignorant brat! I'm trying to help you here, but you keep acting like a witty foal throwing a tantrum! If you would just listen I would've warned you that it wouldn't matter if I let you go! Because if you don't help us, you and the world will probably be dead by tomorrow morning!" the General shouted at the top of his lungs. Not a single noise was heard throughout the whole camp as the General's rampage echoed. We were all left in shock and stared at the General, truly surprised, for none of us would ever expect such an outburst from him.

"I apologize for that." he finally spoke up, clearing his throat, trying to be the adult of the situation and pretend that nothing had happened.

"What do you mean, 'it wouldn't matter’?" I asked in a shaky voice, playing along, and letting this incident be a by gone.

"Ahuizotl will probably take over the world by tomorrow morning if you don’t help us," He began to explain in a calm and collect tone. "Since you already interfered with his plans by saving them both," He said pointing at Daring and Doc, "He will not hesitate to kill you and anypony that you know. Do you understand what will be the consequences if you don't help us?" He finished, honestly I didn't know how to respond.


Once again, I found myself going back and forth in my mind battle, thinking of the ups and downs of helping them. Half of me believed that if I helped them out they might let me go and I'll return home with my loot. Leaving this whole problem behind me and maybe even getting some sort of reward for helping out. But the other half wasn't agreeing. I just couldn't hoof over my trust to them and not expect for him to backstab me. He might represent justice and honesty, but I had my doubts.

"Now you have the choice of leaving here, taking your bag of loot, pretending none of this ever happened, and enjoying the last few hours you got,” He said as he unlocking the cuff and hoofed over my gauntlet to me, “Or help us stop this and finally in your life become somepony. A hero! Like that little colt mentioned at the city. Remember?" Nibs!? "There's a reason he called you a 'hero'. Truly, I don't why, but he might have been right about you. Don't you want to prove him right?"

I lowered my head in disappointment, because for a moment I had forgotten about him and everypony else I know. Even after seeing me in a cage shackled, beaten, told that I was a thief, a monster, and a low-life. He still stood up for me and believed better of me by saying that I was his 'hero' and probably everypony else in the orphanage thought so too. I also remembered the night I spent with Sapphire, who confessed to me that I was her hero too. Even after I told her myself that I was no hero she still stood strong to her belief.  Now that I had a chance to become one, how could I say no? And if I did, I wouldn't live long enough to see my horrible mistake and neither would they. Making my mind up and remembering what I truly stood for and believed in, I looked up at the General and confidently said, "I'll help you."


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At The Devil's Maw


"Master Ahuizotl, we lost two of your sand sliders, four of our ponies, the twelve soldiers we brought as slaves, and two days worth of supplies." One of the minions reported to Ahuizotl, as they both walked up to the wreckage of his two sand sliders that had fallen to the bottom of the valley and several carcasses that scattered the area.

"Idiotas!! No sirven para nada!!" Ahuizotl ranted in his native language, truly outraged.

"Pardon, master?"

"Nothing! Lead the rest of my sliders down through the valley's entrance and have some ponies scavenge anything useful from the remains of the others." Ahuizotl commanded.

"Yes, master. Right way, but what about the bodies?"

"Leave them to buzzards. I have no sympathy for idiots. And lets hurry up! Get some dynamite and blow open this temple door! Hurry! We need to get every Soul artifact before Daring finds us!" Ahuizotl ordered, rushing his hench ponies to get working.

"But, master. I'm pretty sure we lost her back in the sandstorm." His minion assured.

"For the meantime we have. But don't be fooled, I know that she will eventually find us. Of that I'm certain. So get working. I'll be in my tent." Ahuizotl told his minion.


Ahuizotl retreated to his tent, sat on his fine leather chair and spread out a large burned map across his desk, with a mark on the Scorpio Sea.

"I can't believe that I almost burned such a beautiful map," He said as he began to circle his desk to examine the whole map.

"You and your new partner may have survived my brilliant trap, but mark my words, this the last time I underestimate you, Daring Do.Trust me that once I get my hands on the three Soul Artifacts. Nothing in the world will stop me! Not even you! MWAHHH!"



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> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

We stepped out of the medical tent, and the General immediately barked out the command to his soldiers to load everything back on the carts. The soldiers quickly obeyed, and began to bring down tents and carry supply bags to the entrance of the encampment. Within a matter of minutes, the General's troops loaded everything into the carts, then stood at attention at the encampment exit, awaiting the General's next order. The soldiers left nothing behind except the piles of smoldering ashes, torn tents, and the toppled pillars of a ruined campsite for the for the elements to erase.

"We’re set to leave, Sir." A soldier reported to the General, as the last bags were being loaded into a cart.

"Great, all we need now is for you to guide us to the Temple and back home," the General told me, as we walked to the lead of the column. "After doing so, you’re free to go."

“Sure thing.” I still doubted him, but beggars can’t be choosers.

It was settled. If I guided them to the Temple, and possibly Ahuizotl, I would regain my freedom. The General and I shook hooves, forming a temporary alliance with separate goals. Them: stop Ahuizotl and save the world. Me: protect the ones I love and save the orphanage. Even with our carefully laid plans, we had little time, but if everypony worked diligently and stayed focused on their assigned task we would be able to reach our destination... Or so said the General in his inspiring speech to his troops, but it didn’t matter what he said, it wouldn’t change the fact that we only had a few precious grains of sand left in the hourglass.

Although we had made peace, Daring still didn’t trust me, but having no other options, she had to accept our alliance. No matter what I said or did, I knew Daring didn’t trust me. In fact, she even suggested that I be cuffed throughout the whole venture, but the General and Doc rejected that idea. I had a feeling there would be bad blood between us. On the other hoof, Doc had full confidence in me. After witnessing my true colors, he saw me in a more positive light. He thanked me for saving his life and Daring’s, even though I had the chance to walk away. He apologized for calling me a "scoundrel" when I was unconscious. I kept a calm face while he admitted this, but inside I was overwhelmed with glee knowing that somepony here actually trusted me. The General may have said the same, but there’s a noticeable difference when one means it and when one doesn't.

"Okay, all I need is the map I had with me when I was arrested," I responded, stretching my hoof over to Daring.

Daring shrugged, "What? I don't have your map. All you had was your shemagh, the duster, and gauntlet. That’s all."

"What! No! I did have a map on me! It was like the size of a freakin’ bedsheet! How could you miss it!?" I asked frantically, while patting myself down to see if I had the map in my duster's pockets.

"Trust me, if you had a paper mache bed cover on you, we would have found it," she joked, but this wasn't a laughing matter.

"Try to remember the last time you saw it." Doc suggested. Taking his advice I closed my eyes and unconsciously stuck my tongue out from the corner of my mouth.

"I remember sitting in the back of the supply cart. We were still at the inn, and I opened it to see how long it would take to reach the encampment. So it must still be there!" I exclaimed, looking around for the cart.

"Bad news then," Doc said, taking a glance at a pile of charred wood planks. "If it was in the supply cart like you said then there’s only two possible things that could have happened to it. It was either torched or stolen. Ahuizotl came with the intent of stealing anything useful or burning it so nopony could use it."

My thousand year old map, gone. Everything I had to do to get my hooves on such a rare map, all the begging, borrowing, and stealing, all my efforts went up in smoke or worse. So much of my time and effort, gone in mere seconds. Thinking of all my hard work gone to waste, I fell to my knees in tears. "That's alright. We don't need that map," Daring assured us. "If he truly knows where the temple is, he can still get us there, with or without the map. That is, if he's not lying."

"I can still take you there," I answered through clenched teeth, trying not to get mad at her accusation. "But without the map, it will be more dangerous, because we won't know where the gorge opening is."

This couldn't get any worse.

SCREECH!

We all turned our heads to the origin of the cry, emitting from far above us. It was a falcon, with a long red ribbon flowing behind him, circling above us. The General drew a hoof to his lips and whistled to the falcon. The falcon quickly dove into a wicked nosedive and centered his aim at the General, who extended his foreleg for its landing. Only a split second before reaching the General’s forearm did it recover for a soft, delicate, regal landing. The falcon unraveled the long red ribbon tied to the heel of his foot to release the small scroll intertwined within the knot. Catching the scroll with it's beak, the falcon presented it to the General, with a bow!?

"It's an urgent message from our lord," The General announced, so that all his troops could hear.

"What does it say," Doc asked, leaning forward to get even the slightest glimpse of the letter. The General’s eyes scanned the urgent message. His expression grew more worrisome the more he read. The General let out a sigh when he finished and faced his troops to address them.

"General?" Daring asked with concern.

"Our Lord has given the order that we return to the city with haste!" He declared.

"WHAT!" the word echoed throughout the massive crowd.

"Yes! As you heard, our Lord wants us to return back to the city. He’s aware of Ahuizotl's presence and his mercenaries running around within the city walls. He orders that we stay and protect the city at all cost, for he fears that Ahuizotl might attack the city and his citizens." He paused for a brief moment to allow his soldiers to mull over the decision.

"He also requested for you personally, Doc,” the general took a deep breath, then continued, ”So that you may return with us and inform Equestria about this dilemma, so that we can send for help. He wrote, 'We will needed it.'", The general turned around to address Daring, "Daring, he wishes for you to pursue Ahuizotl," he said, directing his attention to her. "He knows of your previous victories against Ahuizotl and his forces. He wishes you the best of luck. That is all...."

We stayed quiet for a moment, as we all took in the abrupt change in our plans.

"Well, you heard it soldiers. We have a new course. Back to the city, ASAP," the General shouted, breaking the silence and releasing the falcon to inform our lord of his return.

"Doc, I want you to ride along side with me on the front of the march. We need to speak of important matters. You! Private! Unloaded two fully equipped saddle bags, pronto!” the General command, staring into the direction to where the city lay.

"General, what are you doing?" Daring asked as if the answer wasn’t obvious.

"Change of plans," he answered, gesturing us closer so we huddled in.

"Doc and I are returning to the city," he explained, "While you and your partner go after Ahuizotl."

"Partner?" Daring asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Him," The General answered, pointing to me. This can't be happening.

"What!? Partner!? Him? Why!?" she complained.

"Because he’s the only one that knows where the temple is, that's why." Doc answered for the General, who was too busy getting the pair of saddlebags from his minion.

"Doc, I know somepony better for a partner. One with a lot more experience in the field. Let me just call HQ to send him over," Daring tried bargaining.

"Daring, there’s no time and he’s our only hope to reach Ahuizotl, trust me. Have some faith in him," Doc assured, but Daring just shook her head.

"But Doc, I don't trust him. What if he tries to kill me... or worse!" she exclaimed.

"First of all, I’m a raider and nothing more. Second, I will never stoop that low. Finally, don't flatter yourself," I remarked, taking a step back to look at her plot.

Doc rolled his eyes at Daring’s assumptions and my retort. Doc, stood over us, like a father watching two bickering siblings. "Daring, that’s not going to happen because our agreement won't work. So, I'm changing it back to our old one," the General said.

"Which one?" I asked, trying to remember our previous agreements.

"I guarantee that I'll stay true to my word. Since I won't be there to make sure that you help us, we’re going to use our old deal," He explained. I simply shrugged as a response. I didn’t know which one he was talking about.

"It's your co-operation and Daring's judgement that will determine your fate. Prison or freedom. So you better bring Daring back safe and sound. Got it? She’s your ticket to freedom. Same rules apply," He reminded me. Oh, that one. I hate that one. I thought to myself.

"What if she dies because of her own stupidity?" I asked. I could feel Daring's menacing stare drilling into the side of my skull.

"Then you’d better keep a close eye on her. Now here," he answered, tossing us each our saddlebag. "Best of luck to you."

“What about giving us some reinforcements. At least a soldier or two wouldn’t hurt, right?” Daring implored.

“Sorry Daring, but my hooves are tied. I can’t disobey our Lord,” The General said. ”Doc, you should probably say goodbye. I’ll give you a few minutes.”

Doc nodded as he brought Daring in for a hug. “Daring, please be careful out there. I don’t want to lose you again, you hear me?” Doc tightened his hug as a tear trickled down his face.

“Don’t worry, Doc. I’ll back before you know it, I promise. Maybe then we can travel and see the world in peace, or you can help me with my novels back home. We haven’t done that in a while. How does that sound?” Daring promised with a smile, wrapping her forearms around him to close the embrace. 

“Sounds like a brilliant idea, kiddo.” Doc let go of Daring and walked up to me, “Can I ask for another favor from you?”

“I’m listening,” I responded.

“Bring her back to me, safe. That all I’m asking. I don’t want to lose my only family. I’ll pay you anything, but just bring her back safe,” he plead. For a moment I remembered the agony and suffering that burned deep within my soul when I witness the death of Sapphire in that horrid dream. For him to experience such pain would surely kill him.

“Sure thing, Doc. I’ll bring her back. Free of charge,” I joked, crossing my heart. “I promise.”

“Doc, we must go,” the General said. 

“Right, we must hurry. We have our task and you have yours,” Doc said, as he began to follow the General, who commanded his troops to start marching back towards the city. 

Daring waved goodbye to Doc and then turned around to issue me her own set of commands. “Hey, come on, lead the way. Also, grab my bag; I don’t want the strap to hurt my wing.”

“Sure, we got quite some distance to cover before we reach the Forbidden Sands. Do you think you can keep up?” I asked her, as I grabbed both our bags.

“Hmmp, funny. Do you think you can stay ahead of me?” she mocked.

“Lets find out.”

Our hooves kicked up a dusty cloud of sand as we began our journey into the deeper, unexplored, and deadliest regions of the Sea of Scorpio, with the hope of catching Ahuizotl before he could accomplish his evil plans. We're unsure of what we'll come to face ahead on our journey, but one thing was for certain; no adventure is complete without its dangers. 



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