Daring checked the address and name on the sheet of paper the sketchy stallion had given her. Everything checked out, and the massive house looked like something a powerful mobster would live in. There was a tall fence all around the perimeter, the only way through being a gate out in front. Behind it, daring could see a huge house befitting a king. The grounds of the house were well kept, and as Daring moved around back, she could see an Olympic sized swimming pool just behind the house.

Daring needed to get through, but without something to sell she wouldn't even make it through the gate. She took another walk around the fence, noticing security cameras as she went. Stopping by one side of the house, she decided that where she stood would be the perfect place for a break-in. The wall of the house was close enough to the fence that Daring could easily cross unnoticed. There were no security cameras here, and there was a window near the roof, Daring assumed it was the second or third floor. The best part was that Daring didn't even need to climb the wall.

She spread her wings, now that she was keeping nothing in them. Daring flapped vigorously, so she could move swiftly into the house before she was noticed. She easily scaled the wall, and moved in close to the window. Grasping the window, Daring flapped harder to move the glass pane up and out of the way.

She quietly drifted in and landed in a quiet, empty room. Daring Do closed the window behind her to avoid drawing attention to the room. Looking around, Daring could see that it was a bathroom. The bath was to her left, and the sink and toilet were to her right. Daring needed to find somewhere to hide and see the action when Richmond arrived. She turned on the lights in the bathroom and looked under the sink. She hoped she would find a fire escape route. Since this place would have many people and a huge staff, Daring assumed that they would need one. She was not disappointed, and found the escape plans for the house. Each room was labelled, and she quickly found the one labelled “Office”. It was on the same floor she was on, just on the other side of the house. Daring needed a way to get to the other side.

The door knob began to jiggle as someone on the other side fought with it to get into the bathroom. Daring quickly ducked into the bath tub and shifted the curtain in front of her. A stallion walked into the bathroom and went straight to the mirror. Daring peeked out as he closed the door behind him and stared at himself in the mirror. He was wearing a collared shirt, tie, and a black jacket with a radio sticking out of one pocket. He wore a pair of dark glasses as he gazed at himself in the mirror.

“You are a majestic stallion.” He told himself. “The world is your oyster. All you have to do is go out and get it.”

He was psyching himself out. Daring could tell he was security, and obviously didn't like his job. Daring saw this as a golden opportunity and took it. When the stallion started to splash his face with water from the sink, Daring slipped out of the bath tub and sneaked up behind the security stallion. They were about the same size. Daring moved to one side while the stallion had his face in the sink. She whistled to get his attention, and when he pulled his head out of the sink, she bucked it with her powerful hind legs, and knocked him out cold.

When he hit the ground, Daring got right to work. She took his shirt, tie and jacket and replaced her signature green jacket with them. She dropped her pith helmet and jacket on the floor next to the window and slipped on the sunglasses. Daring looked at herself in the mirror for a moment.

“I am a magnificent stallion.” Daring mocked before rolling the unconscious pony into the bath tub and exiting the room. She locked the door behind her to ensure no one would find him.

Exiting the bathroom, she straightened her new jacket and got her bearings. She knew where the office was, she just had to get there without anyone seeing through her stolen disguise. Sure, breaking and entering was a crime, and so was assault. But what these mobsters and Rishmond had done was a crime too. They had stolen an artifact that was thousands of years old with untold power. Daring couldn't help but imagine what crimes they could commit if they had that kind of power in their hands. Not to mention Daring's personal vendetta against Richmond.

Daring moved quickly but steadily over to where the plans had indicated the office was located. When she arrived, she looked over her shoulder to be sure that no one was following her before letting herself into the room.

The office was massive. It had an old English feeling to it, with a wood decor and a large oak desk in front of a large window overlooking the yard. The walls were lined with shelves covered in various trinkets and trophies. Daring recognized many of them as historical artifacts. If Richmond would be able to sell the pearl to anyone, it would be this guy. Daring Do took her time looking at all of these treasures, no doubt stolen from digs, never to be seen in any textbook or museum.

Suddenly, she heard voices coming towards the office. She needed to find a place to hide. Her eyes darting around the room, Daring quickly noticed the large, heavy curtains handing on either side of the window.

“Bingo.” She smirked, darting in behind them and making sure they fell to the floor, covering her hooves. Daring did her best to lie flat against the wall, so as not to make the curtains seem bulkier than usual. The door to the office swung open with a bang, and she heard two ponies enter the room.

“Mister Richmond.” The voice of a stallion said. “Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”

“The pleasure is all mine.” The familiar voice of Richmond replied.

“So, do you have the piece with you?” The other stallion asked.

“Of course I do.” Richmond answered as their voices drew nearer to the desk.

“Wonderful.” The other stallion stated, then he came closer to the window. “It is rather warm in here, no? Allow me to open the window.”

The sound of the creaky window opening filled the office. Daring held her breath, hoping to Celestia that the mobster would not see her. He did not, and moved back to his desk, where Daring heard him take a seat.

“So, Mister Richmond.” The Mobster said. “Name your price for the gem.”

Daring lost interest at that point. She did not care for how much the stolen artifact was being sold for, she just wanted to steal it back. After waiting through their long conversation about money and other shared interests, she heard the pearl hit the desk and the mobster stood up.

“Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of a piece of history.” Richmond laughed.

“In honour of our business, would you care for a drink, Mister Richmond?” The mobster chuckled.

“I would be delighted.” Richmond replied.

Daring listened for the two stallions to leave the office. After the door clicked shut, she waited until their voices became inaudible before she moved out of her hiding place.

There it was, the pearl. The God of Night's gem. Daring moved in close to the desk, her eyes darting around the room to be sure she was alone and safe. Taking the pearl in her hooves, she quickly dropped eyed it, making sure it was the same one from the tomb. Upon realizing it was the real deal, she felt relieved that the gem was back in capable hands.

Daring Do She froze when she heard the door to the office reopening and two laughing stallions stepping in. She turned to see Richmond and the stallion she assumed was the mobster standing in the doorway.

“What is she doing here?” Richmond hissed, going slightly pale.

“What's the matter, Richie?” Daring cocked her head. “You look like you've seen a ghost.”

The mobster looked down at the pearl she held in her hands. “Thief! Unhand the pearl or I will call the police!”

“The police?” Daring laughed. “Somehow, I don't think you want them stepping foot in here. Go ahead and call. Make my day.”

“Professor.” Richmond began. “We are two and you are one. Check your odds.”

“Check your math.” Daring reached onto the desk and took a large, knife shaped letter opener in her hoof. She dropped the pearl into one of her pockets and held out the knife threateningly. “I like my odds.”

“If it is money you want, I can pay you.” The mobster noted.

“I don't want your money!” Daring growled. “This artifact is stolen. It belongs in a museum, not in your collection. Or at least back in the tomb where it came from, out of your reach.”

“I can't let you do that.” The mobster replied. “That is mine, and it will remain so.” He pulled a knife out of his pocket and pointed it at the Pegasus. Richmond stepped out of the mobsters way, almost cowering.

A strong wind blew through the window and Daring flinched for a moment. She took a menacing pace forward at the mobster. The Mobster and Richmond recoiled in fear. Daring felt empowered by their fear of her. The mobster dropped his knife and almost screamed as he pushed past Richmond to get out of the room. Richmond stuttered, attempting to speak before running out of the room.

“I need to get me one of these.” Daring smirked at the letter opener.

Daring saw something move out of the corner of her eye and turned towards the window. What she saw almost made her run screaming like Richmond and the mobster.

What stood before her was hideous. To call it a skeleton would be an understatement, to call it a body would be an exaggeration. She could see straight through the creature, but there were still remnants of skin and muscle on the bones. Where eyes had been only lay empty cavities. All that remained was the deflated, yet beating heart of the creature. Muscles were still visibly attached to the body parts necessary for basic movement. The flesh was decayed and the muscles were frayed at the attachments to the bones.

Daring dropped the letter opener to the floor and gaped at the creature before her. The creature screeched something in ancient Egyptian that Daring could not understand. It pointed a bony, fetid hoof at her jacket and screeched louder. Daring looked down at the pocket, the one that housed the pearl. At that point, Daring could hardly think at the moment, still coming to term with the horrid creature before her.

Daring ran as fast as she could out of the office. As she ran through the halls, she did not care what the security or others thought. She needed to get out of there. Daring found herself back at the bathroom door. She tried the knob before remembering that she had locked it. Peering over her shoulder, Daring saw the creature coming out of the office. She did not have the time to fight with the lock, deciding to turn and buck the door. An almighty crack resounded as the wooden door shattered from its hinges and fell to the floor.

Inside the bathroom, the stallion who had been knocked out was coming to in the bath tub. Daring charged through the room, grabbing her jacket and hat which were still lying on the floor. Daring pulled her pith helmet on and looked over to the stallion in the bath tub.

“Sorry about the trouble.” Daring apologized as she charged towards the window.

She smashed through the glass pane and glided down to the road below. Looking back up to the window, she saw the creature standing in the bathroom, looking directly at her. Daring's gaze locked on the creature for a moment, before it turned to sand and blew away. She was confused and mortified by the sudden transformation and darted down the road, away from the massive house.

Author's Note

Now the spooky twist comes into the story, and Daring has to face the facts.
Thanks for reading
-Cog out.