Forty-Eight Hours

"So... what are we supposed to do with this thing?"

The voice ringed in the ears of the small group of griffins, causing one to flinch as it bounced and echoed throughout the dimly lit cavern. The feathery perpetrator of the query cocked its head towards the lifeless being currently strapped down, looking it over with a slight frown.

"Just wait for the boss," another male voice said, this one more stout and rough than the other. He took a step away from the four-limbed creature, keeping his head bowed down towards the ground. "Just gotta do as we're told, then we're outta' here."

The original griffin kept his gaze locked onto the creature still, only shrugging as the second griffon finished his statement. Maybe it was best to just wait for the boss, maybe not, but this creature really was something else-- it was something the young griffon had ever seen or heard of. Dark brown hair covered the top of what looked to be its head, and its whole body was covered in an assortment of fabrics and cloths, covering the pale tone of the being. The griffon leaned closer to the strapped and knocked out creature, hoping to get a better look, but would unfortunately be interrupted by a new voice.

"Alright, we're starting!"

The statement was accompanied by a new figure stepping forward out of the dark depths of the cavern. As it entered the light, the figure could clearly made out to be a diamond dog, holding a pale ruby in its hand. The diamond dog itself had blotches of its fur missing, one ear, and only half a tail, something the griffons had became used to as they worked for him.

All the griffons backed away as the boss approached, sending each other worried glances. The boss, giving a short chuckle, held the palm-sized ruby high in the air. "This, with the creature that you've captured for me, is the key to our goal. Thanks to Star's rule of magical balance, the chaos that this human will cause will surely distract those who wish to uphold the 'justice' in the area." He lowered the ruby, giving another short chuckle before kneeling down next to the human. "Now watch, as you'll be the first to witness this glory!"

In one swift movement, the ruby was brought downwards to the human, being shoved towards its facial area. As it made contact, the ruby seemed to latch on to the creature, which made one of the griffons gasp. Like quicksand, the ruby looked like it was being engulfed by the creature's head. The boss took a step back, smirking with his work.

"Ha-"

"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!"

A louder-than-life scream echoed through the cavern, causing the griffons and diamond dog to fall down due to the sound-cannon like sound. The human's eyes shot open as it began to flail around, still screaming. As the ruby began to glow,s mall red streaks of magic could be seen shooting from the human's body.

"HELP ME! OH SHIT, SOMEONE PLEASE!"

One of the griffons forced itself up, gritting its teeth in pain as the full shrill of the human's scream attacked his ears once again. It fared its wings, launching itself towards the human with the speed of a train.

"What are you doing!?"

The griffon ignored the barely hearable diamond dog, readying its talons and aiming them straight at the screaming human. With one swipe, there would no longer be any headache causing nuisance.

Though, to its surprise, it wasn't exactly moving anymore.

With little time to react, the griffon was only able to glance behind him before a hoof was sent straight up to its torso. The griffon released a grunt as it was sent into one of the cavern walls, the whip that was once wrapped around its leg now with the owner. A orange pegasus now stood between the other two griffons and the diamond dog, glaring at each with its raspberry red eyes. With her ears stuffed in her tan hat, and a whip by her side, this was an all-too-common sight for the three in front of her.

"D-Daring Do!? How!?" The diamond dog flared its teeth in rage as it stood, snarling towards the mare. With his paws covering his ears, the diamond dog used his two hind legs to charge at Daring, running headfirst in an attempt to headbutt her. A whip was quickly sent around his leg, making him fall face first onto the ground, before he was shortly after sent flying towards the two remaining griffons. They ducked, barely missing their cannonball-like boss, but wasted no time in following after him with nervous expressions.

The first griffon, now seeing that his comrades left him, sent a glare towards Daring Do before staggering up. With haste, he too fled with the other three, leaving only Daring Do and the still human.

"-ET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT THE FUCK OFF ME!"

To Daring's surprise, the creature was no longer confined, but rather staggering around with its hands clawing at its face. The rope that was used to bind the creature was now laying on the cavern floor, on fire. The human was noticeably larger now, and the once small streaks of magic were now surrounding his body, creating an aura of magic around it.

One glimpse at the ruby attached to the human's forehead made Daring's face go pale, although she already had an idea-- it just confirmed her suspicions. She knew she had to do something, get that ruby off, fast.

With not a moment to lose, Daring cocked her whip back, and sent it flying at the ruby. The whip, just as planned, hit the ruby-- but rather than fly off the human, the ruby cracked from the impact. The human was also shook to his knees as the whip hit, stopping his screaming for a moment to let out a grunt of pain. Even cracked, the ruby still continued to glow, and the human began to bring himself up. The aura had mostly faded, and the human had shrunk down back a bit.

"P-PLEASE! OH, GOD, PLEASE HELP ME!"

Seeing this as her only chance, Daring Do flew towards the human like a lightning bolt. She turned around at the last second, lifted her haunch high in the air, and kicked the ruby with all her strength. The ruby was instantly decimated, with bits and shards flying and bouncing off of the cavern walls. The human was sent flying back, and landed on the ground with a hefty thud. It quickly regained its normal size, and the aura was completely gone, although now it was probably knocked out since it ceased its yelling.

Still full of adrenaline, Daring quickly made her way to the creature, eyeing the spot where the ruby had latched on to. What she saw didn't surprise, but it scared her.

A mark that might might as well represent death itself, right on the human's head. Something, like the creature itself, had only been heard of in myths and stories.

A round circle, with small triangles being on the outline. A star in the middle, and a small "B" in the middle of it all. There was no mistaking it.

Shock set in as the adrenaline wore down, and Daring found her breath caught in her throat. Two things which clearly shouldn't exist were now right in front of her, practically mocking reality. She could only stare in shock, letting herself fall down on her haunches. She gave a breath, shaking her head, "I'm going... crazy."

She closed her eyes, trying to figure out... exactly what this all was. What could a bozo diamond dog like Rider doing with stuff like this? It was to no doubt cause harm, but you don't just... get this kind of stuff out of nowhere... Whatever, I'll catch him soon enough. I can just force the answers out of 'em then.

With a "tch," Daring reopened her eyes...

To find the human staring back at her.