Daring Do and the Paramour's Tomb

Sound

The only sense still registering in her brain. The sound of air rushing past her as she fell. She had no idea how long she has been falling, all she could see was darkness. It could have been, seconds, or minutes, she didn’t care. The great Daring Do had given up. She had failed, and was soundlessly falling toward her end. She didn’t know when she blacked out, but she remembered coming to traveling back up.

She was flying, somehow. As her senses came back to her, she realized she wasn’t flying, not be herself. She was being carried. There was something behind her that was holding her, carrying her to safety. She still couldn’t see any light above her yet, had no idea how long she had been falling, or when her mystery savior had caught her. Regaining some of her strength, she shifted restlessly, uncomfortable with being carried by who knows what. His hooves were digging into her armpits.

“Stop fidgeting.” was what the creature countered her movement with. Daring analyzed the voice. It was male, probably a pony. He didn’t sound evil, or like he would do her harm. He did sound strained though. She had no idea how long he had been carrying her; he must have extremely strong wing muscles.

“Do you want me to try to flap too?” she asked, hoping for a chance to do something to help the mystery pony.
“Only with your good wing, and only if you think you can handle it.” Was that annoyance that crept into his voice along with the relief? She couldn’t tell. She started flapping her good wing in rhythm with his wings, but only succeeded in throwing him off balance with his flying. On the bright side, they were moving at a slightly faster pace.

She could see a little light now, details started coming into focus. She could see the sides of the pit, and the walkway from which she fell. They fly up to safety slowly and he set her down as gently as he could. She appreciated it. Relief flooded through her with the feeling of solid ground beneath her. Now, in the light from burning torches, she could finally gaze upon her rescuer. He was a gray pegasus pony with a darker gray mane. His hair was tossed around his head, almost playfully. She sat up to get a better view of him. He was stretching from the long flight, his powerful wings extended. His wing feathers, it seemed, were layered perfectly. He obviously took very good care of himself. His legs were sturdy, yet not heavily built. His cutie mark was of 3 puzzle pieces; she wondered what that could mean. He was slim, toned, and lean. She couldn’t help admiring his frame. He had on a dull green vest with several pockets. Then she got to his face. He was handsome, there was no doubt about that. He had natural laughter lines in his face, as if he must have been smiling for his whole life. She also felt drawn to look into his blue eyes, such a rich color.

Thoughtlessly her own wings start to extend, causing her a sharp prick of pain. Embarrassment crept through her, she forced her wings closed without removing him from her sight. She was so caught up staring at him that she didn’t notice that he had begun staring back. She quickly looked away in embarrassment, as did he. The silence of the tomb is broken by his voice.
“Horsefeathers, we are on the wrong side.”
“No we are not,” she argued,”this is the side that goes deeper into the tomb.”

He brought his face around to look at her again, “That’s what I meant. We need to be heading for the exit, which is on the other side of the pit we barely just crossed.” He let a hint of annoyance creep into his voice, while he set his face sternly.

Jack may have looked like he was staring her in the eyes, but really he was examining the mare in front of him. Despite her apparent injuries she looked very fit. She had obviously been active and athletic for a long time, and it shown in her appearance. She had a very good body. And, he noted, she was pretty cute too. Her hair was colored in grayscale, and his previous observation about her coat being gold was correct. Her cutie mark was of a compass rose.

She had just said something, but he was distracted admiring her. “What?” he asked.
“I said, the tomb collapsed behind us, there is no way back.” The significance of her words set in, he knew she was right. But another thing occurred to him.
“Well you are hurt, pretty badly. And you shouldn’t even be here. If you hadn’t wandered into this tomb, you wouldn’t have set off the trap that caused the cave-in.” He remembered Ahuizotl, “And you have no idea what is lurking around in this tomb.”

Daring was taken aback; this mystery pony was blaming this all on her. She let the fact that he knew it was her who caused the cave-in slide off her. “I have no idea?” she thought he must have been stupid. He doesn’t know that the worst thing in the tomb isn’t the traps, it’s Ahuizotl. “It is you that doesn’t know what really ‘lurks’ in this tomb. I have every right to be here. Who are you?”
That is a reasonable question, the gray pony admitted to himself. He hadn’t thought about asking for her name, he thought guiltily.

My name is Jack Stone. You could call me a treasure hunter, or an adventurer. I journey into tombs and crypts to bring artifacts back for researchers and museums. I sell some of the items as well, but just enough to keep myself stocked and comfortable. Who are you?

“I am Daring Do.” she said, like it should have been obvious.
Jack had heard that name before. “Like from the adventure books?”
“Yeah, why? Have you read them?”
“I might have flipped through a few pages on occasion.” Jack had the full collection.

Daring paused for a moment to consider this new information. She wasn’t sure if this Jack Stone was to be trusted. But his story sounded convincing, and he DID save her life. She decided to dig for more information.

She decided to be blunt, “So you are here for the Enchanter’s Crown too?”

At the mentioning of his goal, Jack lapsed into educator mode. “Yes, the Enchanter’s Crown. It is said that whoever wears it can perform great acts of magic, even if they don’t have a horn. Their power is limitless; they can even enchant items with different spells and incantations. To have it fall into the wrong hands, well, I’m not going to let that happen.”
“But you are going to sell it!” Daring's previous run-ins with treasure hunters usually ended badly, what could make this one different. Once this was over, his friendly facade could easily dissolve into thin air as the greedy pegasus emerges.
Jack was surprised by her accusation. “NO! An artifact like this is too powerful. I am not some greedy amateur. I have a special place for the crown to go where no one will be able to get it.”
It could have been a bluff. But he sounded so... truthful. “Where could you possibly put something that powerful that nopony could find it?”
Jack smirked at the mare, clearly relishing in the moment of intellectual superiority, “Well, that is for me to know, and fictional characters to wonder about, now isn’t it?”

“Not if I get to it first!” she made a break for the next tunnel, only to not make it 2 steps before stumbling, landing hard on the ground. She lied painfully on the ground for the second time that day, and the red tinge of embarrassment creeped onto her face. Jack, reminded again of her injuries, rushed to her side and held her down with his hooves. Surprised, she retaliated, throwing herself around, trying to get him off her.

Briskly, he yelled, “Hold still! Buck, would you stop struggling I’m trying to help!” The mare stilled herself, momentarily shocked by the tone he took with her. Who did he think he was, talking to her like that? Now that she was lying still, he inspected her injuries, mumbling softly to himself.

“Scraped wing, minor, needs wrapping. Leg, badly bruised, but not broken. Needs splint, and rest.” He let out a drawn out sigh. “One problem at a time.” He reached into his vest and took out the necessary supplies. Jack bandaged her wing and made a splint for her leg, giving it support to help it heal properly. All the while she lay still, internally fuming. She was not happy with this self-proclaimed ‘treasure hunter’.
Not happy at all.

After he finished he helped her to her hooves, and the silence continued until broken. “I don’t suppose you will be heading anywhere near the exit, will you?” She shot him a steely look, giving him all the answer he needed. He conceded tot eh gold mare, “Alright, let’s get going then.” She took a step and stumbled, only for him to catch her.

“Stop. Here, lean on me. It’ll make things easier.” They set off down the next tunnel, her grunts and growls echoing off the tunnel walls. She was still silently fuming, and he picked up on it. After a little ways he stopped, moved a step away from her, and sat down against the tunnel wall. “Alright,” he said is a voice of surrender, “let’s have it.” He knew what was coming; she needed to get it out of her system. The gold coated mare exploded
“WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, RAISING YOUR VOICE TO ME LIKE THAT? YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO FOLLOW ME INOT A DANGEROUS TOMB AND HOLD ME ON THE GROUND! LET ALONE FEEL ME UP LIKE A PERVERT, WASTE VALUABLE BANDAGES ON ME, THEN TELLING ME WE SHOULD GO BACK THE WAY WE CAME! WHO ELECTED YOU THE EMPEROR OF THIS TOMB! I SWEAR IF I WASN’T SUCH A NICE PONY I WOULD BEAT THE CRABAPPLES OUT OF YOU, YOU HEAR? NOW I GOTTA GET THE REST OF THE WAY THROUGH THIS PLACE WHILE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE YOU ARE INJURED! GAAHHH!!!”

The echoes of her outburst hang in the air of the tomb only to slowly be replaced by the sound of her heavy breathing. As she panted, momentarily exhausted by her own outburst, she made a shocking revelation. In the seconds of silence after she finished, she realized that she was referring to herself. He wasn’t injured, she was. She was just venting out of anger of her own mistakes over the day, and expressing her worry over the future. This time, she didn’t try to hide the feelings that washed over her face. Meanwhile, Jack sat unflinching through the whole ordeal. A feeling of understanding came over him. Now, he was no people-pony, and wasn’t exactly comfortable in social and personal situations. But this pony, this mare in front of him, he understood perfectly. He couldn’t say he wouldn’t have acted the same way in her circumstances.

The seconds go by as they got their feelings in check. Just above a whisper, she said, “Okay, I’m good. Let’s get going again.”
The gray pegasus rose to his hooves and moved to her side so she could lean on him again. As they started walking, he said in a calm, even voice,
“Don’t you worry Daring. I won’t let anything else happen to you.” His words touched her deeply, they sounded truthful. Astonishingly, she believed him.
As they continued into the tomb, she hid a smile under her hat, thinking positive thoughts.