A golden streak shot out of the inky temple depths and into the light, its shadow racing across the weathered stonework as the streak resolved into a gray-maned pegasus, her wings beating frantically as she darted up and away into the clear, blue sky. Moments later, a grinding roar emanated from below the pyramid and the surrounding trees shook as the ancient stone walls buckled and fell in on themselves. In seconds, the ancient stone temple was reduced into a pile of rubble, and a massive cloud of dust rose up, hanging in the air as the last pebble clattered to a stop. All around a hush descended, as if the the jungle held its breath in shock and wary anticipation.

Long seconds passed before the stillness was broken, when a blue-furred hand poked up between two of the fallen stone slabs. It quested around for a few seconds, before, finding nothing, all but the central finger folded back into a fist. Thus configured, the hand waved around at the sky for a bit, before retreating back underground.

Up above, Daring Do adjusted her pith helmet and descended, her wingbeats chasing away the lingering dust until she settled atop a still-intact granite column, the golden idol cradled protectively in her hoof. She blinked and looked around, peering down at the rubble before taking wing once more. For several minutes, she flitted across the ruins in such a manner until she finally spotted movement among the broken stones below.

The stone shook again and muttering came from below before a wisp of magic eeled through the cracks and a mighty heave sent the granite block tumbling back. A vaguely canine form stood, blinking in the light as it turned around and surveyed the wreckage, it's long face drawn back in a thunderous scowl.

Daring grinned as Ahuizotl's eyes fixed on her, burning topaz in a sea of ultramarine. He took a deep breath and raised a clenched fist to the sky – then paused.

He looked at her for a moment, then his overlong lips drew up in a pout, and he exhaled gustily.

“No. I'm not saying it.”

Daring blinked. “What?”

Ahuizotl fixed her with a glare. “The curse, etcetera. Not saying it.”

“But you always say it.”

“Not this time.”

Daring cocked her head. “Really? Not even a little curse?”

He crossed his arms and looked away.

“No vengeance?” She said, flitting over to a block in front of him. “I thought eternal revenge was kind of your thing.”

“Oh, what's the point?” He said, gesticulating wildly, “The Sapphire Statue, the Eternal Flower, the Rings of Scorchero. It feels like I'm always just making a fool out of myself. These days some of my minions are even in your book club. You can still write whatever you want in your stories – it's not like I can stop you or anything.”

Daring shuffled her hooves. “It's just not the same.” she said, before trying an unconvincing smile. “Um, for what it's worth, I'm always very intimidated.”

“Really?” Ahuizotl looked up at her face a moment before snorting. “No, you're just saying that to try and make me feel better.”

Daring frowned and sat quietly for several long moments, idly rolling the idol between her hooves before she finally sighed. “Well, what if I split some of the publishing royalties with you?”

Ahuizotl's eyes widened, and he looked up at her in surprise.

“Look, not all my adventures are fit to print.”

There was an audible thunk as his mouth fell open, and his eyes had taken on a faintly glazed look.

Daring colored as she backed up and sputtered. “Not like that!”

She took a moment to settle her wings before continuing. “You really are a high-class nemesis. You wouldn't believe some of the two-bit villains I have to deal with these days. Why, one of them just tied me up and left instead of monologuing. You need to give yourself more credit.”

“You mean that? Really?”

The smile on her lips was genuine. “Really.”

Ahuizotl was looking at her calculatingly now. “So, about those royalties. Say, fifteen percent?”

“Five. Net.”

The jungle was shocked into silence once more as a guttural roar echoed up among the treetops. “Curse you Daring Do!”