Ahuizotl's lair was buzzing! Everyone knew Daring was to be held captive and was on the run, so all of the lair were hunting her down!

Daring was lying low. She'd been finding spots to stand still as a statue or to call after herself, and then to run the other way; she'd make a quick disguise to fool her chasers; she'd even pretended to be Ahuizotl once, and then had given orders to stop chasing her... and it had worked... for a while.

Currently Daring had found a nice place to hide in and was desperate: how was she to escape?! She was also losing time: Stealth Pun was probably half his way to the lamp! Of course he couldn't have wished for anything without her... but neither could she, for that matter! When he found the lamp, it should be over, and they both should have to meet each other and to make wishes together! O, if only she could have been the only mistress!..

By the way, it was possible: Gee just had to grant her exclusive rights... But he had refused and left her to her misery!

Daring was fuming: that was!.. That!!..

She'd whispered for him to come... but he just wouldn't! It, in all honesty, gave her chills and made her heart race: what, if Stealth Pun had already found the lamp?!

As for Stealth Pun, meanwhile he was indeed on his way to Daring Do's house... only he was not alone. Right in his steps Ahuizotl was following him.

Stealth Pun was scared: his boss had called him out on his little ruse. Of course they both were headed for the lamp, and his boss was going to get it, so why would he be scared?

...Oh, yeah, right: that lamp was real! Unimaginable might! Unfathomable power! With all that his boss should become unstoppable! And, while Stealth trusted his boss, the thought of being dependent on his boss' whims nagged him...

He glanced at his boss: the latter was gloating about what should happen, when he got the lamp. Ahuizotl was relishing in his thoughts!.. Although he was very specific about what he'd do... He'd never mention his being omnipotent, for example... Why? Was the lamp just a trinket to him? But Daring Do had told, it was real! And Ahuizotl had too! So?? What was going on??

Stealth was nervous: when they both reached Daring Do's house, what should they find? He was sure Daring Do had told the truth about where she hid the lamp -- but he was unsure about if his boss must get it. And the boss didn't know where Daring Do hid the lamp exactly. However he might find it! While Stealth knew exactly where and could snatch it. But, if his boss caught him... Stealth Pun shivered. He durst not disobey his master!

However there was still a chance Daring Do had lied about it, thinking, perhaps, that she could avoid being punished for lying. Of course, assured Stealth himself, she could not... But, if she had lied... In that case it'd be safe for Stealth to try to snatch the lamp -- only it'd be of no use to him! And, well, neither for Ahuizotl too. But then they'd have to return and to torture her! Her loss, really -- but then Ahuizotl might find out the lamp's real location! And he'd get the lamp!.. And Stealth wasn't sure, if... he wanted that that much any more...

And... it might be, Daring Do had lied, lured them out of their fortress... so she could escape. Because... maybe, she could!?

Stealth stopped. "We may be wasting our time finding the lamp where it's not anyway, and she may be escaping!"

"Boss! Boss!" -- he called.

"Huh?.. What!? SILENCE! Can't you see I'm monologuing?!"

"Can Daring Do escape us?!" -- asked Stealth bluntly right away.

"Huh?.. What?! Do you think my security system is NOT strong enough to hold her?!!"

"I think, she's lied and set us astray, so she!.."

"THAT'S IMPO!.. Wait... You think?"

"That's a possibility, boss", -- replied Stealth obediently.

Ahuizotl stopped as well and contemplated.

"H-m-m. Perhaps, you're right... But, maybe... -- he squinted slyly. -- Maybe, you should go and... check on her?.. Eh? While I, in case she hasn't, shall go search her house? Eh?"

Stealth froze. He'd preferred it to be the other way!

"What is the matter, Stealth? -- grinned Ahuizotl. -- Is it not alright with you? Will you disobey me and try to GET THE LAMP INSTEAD?!!"

The henchpony hung his head:

"No... boss..."

His heart sank. He might only hope Ahuizotl shouldn't find the place!.. Or that the lamp should be fake! In any case, things were taking an undesired route!

"Then GO and WATCH HER, LEST SHE ESCAPE!!!" -- bellowed Ahuizotl.

Stealth flinched and shrank, and then ran back. A bad feeling would not leave him...

And meanwhile Daring Do had almost reached the exit. It was too bad it was guarded...

Daring cursed under her breath. What to do?!..

Then she got an idea...

She scanned the area and found a crumbling statue. A piece had fallen off. She took it stealthily and, when no one was looking, threw it in the nearby window.

Crash!

"Hey! Who's there?!"

"Get her! She's escaping, numb-nuts!" -- barked Daring in a gruff voice, praying she should not be noticed.

"Spirits help us all! Boss shan't be happy, no!" -- the creatures guarding the door yelped and squeezed outside.

Daring bolted right after them...

"Stop! She's escaping! Who's left the doors open?!" -- yelled someone else behind her!

Daring almost had a stroke!.. But the guards hadn't turned, as they were sure she was outside already. So Daring had managed to sneak out!

And now -- away!..

"GET HER!!!"

Uh-oh... She thought they'd not notice her... They had...

"Let the chase begin..." -- thought Daring to herself bitterly -- and ran!

As Daring was making her escape, and Stealth was hurrying to prevent her, Ahuizotl wasn't wasting his time too. He'd almost reached Daring Do's house, where the real lamp was supposed to be.

In his mind he was cursing: not only had he fallen victim to that damn pony's trick!.. but he'd revealed accidentally the lamp was real! And he'd hoped to be the ONLY one to know that!

Naturally he could not have rested: at any moment his trusty henchpony could have turned his back on him and betrayed him! But not now! Now his minion was far away! And... even if he were not, Ahuizotl flattered himself to be very hasty! Soon the lamp should be his! And even if that pony had lied and the lamp was not in her house -- well! Stealth would tell her his boss had not found it, so she'd have NO choice but to crack!

Here Ahuizotl stopped and pondered. Indeed, he thought, his minion might have had something on his mind. He might have known where the lamp was! So, fearful of his boss -- Ahuizotl grinned -- he'd thought he could have tricked him into returning, while the minion would have gotten the lamp. But -- ha! He'd been outsmarted! Indeed, thought Ahuizotl joyfully, what would he do? Daring Do would not tell him, anyway, so... even if he, Ahuizotl, were pursuing his goal in vain... that couldn't hurt, could it? Maybe, the lamp was indeed in the house!

Unless!..

A horrifying thought occurred to Ahuizotl: what, if that... snake!.. had known where the lamp was actually, all along!.. And... had TOLD him it was in the OTHER place, rather than where it WAS!!! So now he'd run away, probably on his way to!..

Blood boiled in the villain. He turned, clenching his fists:

"STEALTH PUN!!! You sneaky!.. DAMN YOU!!!"

He ran after his minion. "I must catch up with him, -- he thought, -- before that swindler FIND THE LAMP!"

The forest could not be at rest, even though the time was right to prepare for the night. For yells could be heard throughout the woods at that time! Yells of... "Get her!" and "She's run that way!"

Those screams foreboded nothing good for those, who were chased. Nor did they for Daring... for it was her, who was chased!

The forest was dangerous at that time of the day. The night had not yet descended -- yet the daylight was giving way to twilight. Somewhere to the West the sun was setting. In other words, the day was ending.

And for Daring it was ending on a bad note. Under the trees' canopy, where the sunlight could not penetrate, shadows had overthrown Celestia's reign and had already set sails for communism -- not, that shadows could actually know what that word meant. The wild life resembled a communist society really not so much. Actually it was more of a capitalist one...

But Daring had really no time for speculations on the intricacies of how sociology should be adapted to the nature's laws. Really. All she could be concerned about was how to make it to safety!

She considered running in some direction from the place she was hidden in -- it should not matter for her, as she could find her way back home, for she was a pegasus, and pegasi, as surprising, as it might seem to some, could fly. And flight could really assist one, were one to have gotten lost. So Daring did not fear that. She did, however, fear being discovered! For that reason she'd sought shelter in the trees' shade, after all, and was making her way home by hoof.

It may be, she could have run away from Ahuizotl's minions... Maybe...

Unfortunately, as she was doing so... she ran into somepony.

She would have cursed, if she hadn't wanted to remain unnoticed. She did grumble something in a whisper, though.

She rose on her hooves to resume her running as soon, as possible...

But she heard... Ahuizotl screaming from afar!

"Uh-oh!" -- she thought to herself, but no sooner did she, than her obstacle gripped her by her hind legs and made her trip, so she nearly face-planted on the earth!

"M-ph-m-m!" -- she mumbled into the dirt, though she would rather it had actually come out as an angry yell.

"Now, you -- hold still!" -- hissed that pony she'd run into.

Daring didn't like the way the pony was trying to hold her... Very much. In fact, her guts were telling her he was an enemy!

With vigour she tried to buck. The enemy wouldn't let go!

She turned her head to spit the soil that'd gotten into her mouth, right in his face... only to stop: that pony was familiar!

Let us go back a couple of steps, though, shall we?

As Daring was hiding in the forest and trying to outwit her catchers, Stealth Pun approached the fortress.

He was torn between running back to his boss to monitor, how the lamp search went, and interfering with whatever Daring Do might have planned. The thoughts of his boss finding the lamp and probably doing some nasty things to him with his newfound power -- and having been tricked into leaving their prisoner unsupervised -- fought in him. The fight was relentless; the opposing thoughts would not concede!

By the time Stealth had gotten close enough to hear screams the thoughts, infuriated, switched to artillery and were about to lay waste to the lush fields of Stealth's concerned mind! So the screams of Ahuizotl's minions, naturally, only added to Stealth's worries.

"As if that weren't enough", -- he thought irritably.

Knowing Daring Do was on the run boosted him. His run, however, was interrupted by somepony, before it had barely started.

Naturally he would have cursed... if he hadn't seen whom he'd just run into!

Lying at his hooves before him was... the very pony he was trying to stop! Daring Do!

At that time he was about to exclaim: "Ugh! You! It's you! No way you're running away now!" -- but no sooner (and actually later) would he do that, than he heard Ahuizotl's unmistakable shriek!

He smacked himself over his lips, before a word could escape. The word let out a curse in annoyance, pounded its fist and turned to go back into the throat. Laughter should greet the unfortunate run-away! The word cast its final glance at the shut orifice and muttered under its breath: "It's not over yet! One day I'll be free!" -- and left ultimately.

And Stealth? His mind was racing: why had his boss returned? Judging by what he was yelling... Oh! He was, apparently, seeking his henchpony! And that scared Stealth!

Was it because his boss had found the promised lamp and was about to find a unfortunate victim to his wishes?!

Then all must have been lost!..

Then immediately after that another thought occurred to him: "Actually wait. He's mad at me, isn't he? But why? What have I done?.. Oh, is it because of the lamp?.."

"What might he do? -- he thought frantically. -- I'd better hide, whatever that be!.. Oh! But Daring Do! She's escaped, hasn't she?! Curses! I mustn't let her go!"

With those thoughts he thrust himself at the pony, who had risen and was about to scram, caught her by her legs and stopped her, before she served him a nice bowl of dust for a meal.

They both fell.

The pony yelled, though it did sound like a muffled mumble.

"Now, you -- hold still!" -- hissed Stealth to Daring.

But she would not! Stealth used all the force he could -- but Daring resisted furiously! She bucked!

Eventually, as Stealth was considering hitting her on her head once more, the struggle ceased suddenly. He saw she had turned her head and was looking at him with venom -- but also with surprise.

She spat the dirt that had, apparently, gotten into her mouth and that nearly hit Stealth in his face, and then she raised her voice:

"Wait... You!.. How did your name go?!.. Uh-h-h..."

"Sh-h-h!" -- shushed Stealth her and pressed his hoof to her lips.

Daring shook in his grip, trying to pry his hooves off of her face.

"Sh-h-h!" -- one more time did Stealth warn her, and then loosened his grip a bit.

"Get OFF!!!" -- she shrieked in a whisper, trying to slap his hooves -- and along with that his cheek.

Stealth did get off -- but held onto Daring as to control her movements.

But she had something else in her mind -- otherwise why would she struggle against him so viciously?

He hadn't let her go in the end: Ahuizotl raised his voice again, this time so close it was a wonder, how he hadn't heard the commotion!

Both ponies froze each in other's grip and came down very slowly, their faces both showing the agony of awaiting the inevitable to happen!..

They both lay on the ground side by side, watching for Ahuizotl to appear (and hoping he didn't).

"Wh't d'y'need?" -- whispered Daring, paying close attention to keeping her lips unmoving. Virtually.

Stealth only nodded in his boss' direction and pronounced likewise:

"L'sten".

Daring paid heed.

Ahuizotl was spouting curses addressing a certain henchpony, who'd apparently plotted something against him. Daring had to listen for some time, before she heard Ahuizotl state, that Stealth must have set out for the lamp, ditching his master!

She turned her head slightly toward the accused:

"Tr'e?"

Stealth shook his head so it might have fallen off.

Daring raised an eyebrow.

Stealth gazed into her eyes pleadingly.

Daring cast a bemused look.

"Pl'se! -- whispered Stealth desperately. -- H'lp!!"

Daring looked incredulous as to ask: "How??"

The pony only continued staring.

"Ah' w'sh t' be s'fe", -- mumbled Daring at last.

"'nd j'st h'w 'm Ah' s'posed t' s't'sfah' th't?" -- mumbled another voice.

Daring would have never admitted to it in her book -- but she would have wetted herself -- so sudden the voice was! Her heart had almost stopped and hadn't, only because she'd recognised the voice as that of...

"Gee, damn you!" -- she whispered in distress, fuming.

Stealth didn't seem to have noticed anything.

"Nice company we have, eh?" -- asked Gee playfully, nodding at the other pony.

"Huh?! WHO'S THAT?!!" -- rang out Ahuizotl's shriek, as he had, apparently, heard the genie...

"A-a-a! Gee, pl'se he-e-elp!.." -- Daring almost squeaked in terror.

"SHOW YOURSELF!.. Oh. No one's here, huh? Well? WHERE in the name of spirits IS THAT DAMNED PONY?!!"

Neither Gee, nor Daring and nor even Stealth had heard Ahuizotl scream that. All of them had disappeared right from-under his nose, so to speak, and rematerialised in Daring's dining room, although not much free space was there for the three of them.

"Where, o, where shall we dine now?" -- lamented Gee the moment they had re-appeared, -- if there is no dining room for us all to be fit!? O-o-o!.."

"I'LL LOCK YOU BACK WHERE YOU'VE COME FROM!!! -- went off Daring. -- Gee!!! Why?!!.."

Gee only cast her a disappointed look:

"You're welcome!.. -- he grumbled. -- I'm sorry I can't thank you back!"

Daring took a huge breath, inhaling, then exhaling...

"I... just can't BELIEVE it!!" -- chimed in Stealth, who'd been silent since he'd asked Daring to help him.

Daring almost jumped all the way till the ceiling: so intensely had she been startled!

"Hello, -- waved Gee at him. -- I see, you are new here, am I right!?" He floated closely to the pony and extended his "hand" for him to shake it, from which Stealth flinched away: "Let me introduce myself: I'm a genie! Name's Gee! But you may call me your master! After all, -- he added, -- it's not, as if you were mine, huh?"

"Ge... Gee!.. Uh..." -- Daring was at a loss. Of course! What was Gee even doing??

"Yes? What?" -- he replied, turning to face her.

For a while Daring couldn't say anything. Just... nothing! Everything was going haywire! Repeat, haywire!..

The first one to speak was Stealth:

"Wow!.. Here we go, then?" He jumped suddenly in excitement: "Whee! Here he is! The genie himself! I just!.." -- he screamed of excitement.

"Well... Here we are, huh?" -- announced Gee, shrugging slightly. "I can only imagine, -- added he after that, -- how excited the readers shall be!"

Stealth stopped his excited jumping:

"Huh? What readers?"

"Why, Daring Do's book readers, of course, that's who!" -- he replied, smiling mysteriously.

"Oh... Her books..." -- said Stealth, a tint of irritation in his voice.

"What, not a fan?" -- enquired Gee.

"You have no idea..." -- grumbled the pony.

"...No idea, who my boss is to her..."

And in the mean time... All of Ahuizotl's minions were trembling in fear!..

For he had found out about Daring Do's escape and was SO furious, if he'd exploded, he would have eliminated every soul in the entire forest!

Author's Note

Everything is going haywire indeed! Stealth has met the genie, Ahuizotl suspects his henchpony highly and now thinks he's joined forces with Daring; while Daring is in control of the situation no longer! What has Gee done? And, more importantly, who will deal with the mess and how?

Can Daring and Stealth work together? Stealth may want the lamp to himself!

And what about Ahuizotl??

Interested to find out? Tune in for more!