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RogerDodger
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2000–8000
Curse You!
“And now I shall use the Mask of Chalchiu to spread disease and plague throughout the entire valley!” Ahuizotl cackled to the sky.
“You’ll never get away with this!” Daring Do said as she struggled with her bindings. Her eyes darted between Ahuizotl’s band of cats as they slowly circled around her.
A condescending chuckle rumbled through Ahuizotl. “And who will stop me? Once the sunlight reaches the Mask at high noon and ritual is complete, no pony will be safe!” A devilish grin crept across his face. “It’s a shame you won’t be around to see it.” The hand at the end of his tail snapped.
Ahuizotl’s lynx leapt for Daring Do with a vicious glint in its eyes. With a forceful tug, Daring Do pulled a forelimb free and struck the cat away. She smiled as she quickly shrugged the ropes off.
“What?!” Ahuizotl turned to rest of his cats. “Stop her!”
Daring Do shot for the air, only to be denied by the limber panther striking her back to the ground. The cheetah and tiger bared their fangs and pushed her against a wall. The white house cat hissed and pawed at her menacingly. Ahuizotl watched as the beam of light crept across the floor from the skylight. His chest heaved with each ragged breath.
“You are too late, Daring Do! Victory is mine!”
Daring Do broke through the circle of cats and took to the air. She seemed to be hiding something behind her back, and the smile she was wearing did nothing to comfort him. With calculated aim, she threw the house cat straight at Ahuizotl’s face. It attacked in a blind frenzy, swiping and clawing at anything in reach.
“Ahh! No!” Ahuizotl thrashed around in a futile attempt to get the angry cat off of him. His tail reached around and threw the cat away. Once he was able to reorient himself, he found that the Mask had been removed from its pedestal.
“Better luck next time, Ahuizotl,” Daring Do called from above. She placed the Mask into her saddlebag and gave him a taunting salute.
“No!” Ahuizotl bellowed as she flew through the skylight. “Curse you, Daring Do!”
“You will not defeat me this time, Daring Do!” Ahuizotl leered down at the adventurer held in place by two ponies with vacant stares. “With the power of the Xipetotec Sceptre, I shall command an army of ponies who will bend to my every whim!” His tail held a tight grip on the Sceptre.
“You give yourself up now, and I might just go easy on you,” Daring Do said as she tried to pull herself free.
“Defiant to the end as always, I see.” The Sceptre began to glow with a sickening green light. “I am certain this will make you more compliant.”
Ahuizotl slowly brought the Sceptre closer and closer to Daring Do’s face, relishing the certainty of his victory.
Daring Do kicked her leg out from under her, knocking the staff out of his grip. It clattered against the floor until it collided with the temple wall. The ponies who had been holding her let go as the light returned to their eyes.
“No!” Ahuizotl yelled as he lunged for the Sceptre. Daring Do swooped into action and snatched it away before he could reach it.
“Should’ve quit while you were ahead, Ahuizotl!” She gave him another salute as she disappeared, leaving a grayscale rainbow in her wake.
Ahuizotl slammed his fists into the floor, shaking the entire temple. “Curse you, Daring Do!”
Ahuizotl admired the amulet from the top of the temple, watching the light dance off of the gemstones embedded in it. He held it up to the sky to capture the sunlight at the perfect angle.
“Now that I possess the Amulet of Huitzilo, I shall rain fire from the skies until—”
A golden blur blew past Ahuizotl’s head, and the amulet was gone.
“What?!” He turned his gaze up to see Daring Do smirking down at him, idling tossing the amulet in her hoof. “Daring Do?! But how?!”
“Oh, Ahuizotl,” she said sweetly, “you should know it’d take more than a tank full of electric eels to stop me.”
Ahuizotl roared as he threw everything within reach at her—spears, rocks, even some of the masonry that made up the temple.
Daring Do nimbly flew around the aerial assault as she gave him her signature salute. She dashed off with the amulet dangling from her hoof, the light of the setting sun still glistening on its gems.
Ahuizotl threw one last stone at her in vain. “Curse you, Daring Do!”
“The Idol of Atlacoya is mine, Daring Do, and with it, I shall… I shall…” Ahuizotl turned to the adventurer chained down to a chair. “What does this one do again?”
“When bathed in the fire of the burning altar, it will unleash an unstoppable drought upon the valley for half a millennium.”
“Really?” Ahuizotl raised an eyebrow at the fire next to him. “Why would a pony build something like this? Oh, never mind…
“I shall use the Idol of Atlacoya to unleash a drought for five-hundred years!” His laughter howled throughout the ruins as he held the Idol over the flame.
“Not if I have anything to say about it!” With a forceful jerk backwards, she fell onto to the chair and broke it to pieces.
“Impressive move, but it changes nothing!” Ahuizotl let go of the Idol and watched it fall toward the fire hungrily licking up at it. Before the flames could make contact, a length of chain quickly coiled itself around the Idol and snagged it away. Ahuizotl’s head snapped forward to see Daring Do holding the chains in her teeth and wielding it like a whip. She spat the chain out and picked up the Idol.
“Thanks for the help, Ahuizotl,” she said with a smirk. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Ahuizotl lunged for her. Daring Do shot into the air with the Idol held tight against her. She took one last look at him before giving him a salute. Dust and cobwebs scattered with her departure.
Ahuizotl panted in an unsuccessful attempt to calm himself. He shot a fist into the air as he cried out, “Curse you, Daring Do!”
He let his fist fall with a sigh.
Ahuizotl trudged up the walkway to the modest cottage with a pet carrier gripped in his tail. The clear night sky set his surroundings in a cool shade of blue that blended well with his coat. He pushed open the door and quietly shut it behind him after he went inside. His tail set down the pet carrier and opened its door while he started taking off his bracelets and necklace. The little white cat stepped out as Ahuizotl took off his earring.
“Ahuizotl,” a gentle voice called. Cihuacoatl emerged from around the corner. Ahuizotl’s weary eyes softened at the sight of his wife. They ran to each other and collided in a tight embrace.
“Oh, my dear, sweet Cihuacoatl,” Ahuizotl whispered to her. “How I have missed you.”
“And I have missed you, my love.” Their two tails snaked together and held each other’s hands. She pulled back and looked deep into his eyes. “What troubles you, Ahuizotl? You look exhausted. Is it your work that has taxed you so?”
“Worry not, my dear. It was… business as usual.” The rapid sound of footsteps descending the stairs made them both look up.
“Papa!” Quetzalcoatl leapt into Ahuizotl’s arms. He hugged his son tight before holding him up toward the ceiling.
“Oh, there is my beautiful boy!” He lowered him to look into his eyes. “Why are you still awake? Don’t you have school in the morning?”
“Mama told me you’d be coming home tonight, so I stayed up to see you!”
Ahuizotl pulled his family in close and gave them a warm hug.
“I have missed you both so much,” he said. “Being away from you two is truly the hardest part of my work.”
“We missed you, too, Papa.”
“Indeed,” Cihuacoatl agreed. “These last few weeks have been difficult without you.”
Ahuizotl freed them from his embrace. “I am sorry that my work takes me away from you both—”
Cihuacoatl brought a finger to his lips. “The work you do is important, and no one could it better.” She smiled to him and lowered her finger away when he started smiling back. She turned to the bright eyes of their son at their feet. “Come now, Quetzalcoatl—your father is tired, and you need your sleep.”
His eyes seemed to grow to nearly twice their natural size. “But, Papa just got here…”
Ahuizotl scratched behind his son’s ears, and Quetzalcoatl smiled at his father’s touch. “Your mother is right, son, but do not worry. We will have plenty of time together now that I am back.”
His ears flattened against his head, but he allowed Cihuacoatl to lead him back upstairs.
“Good night, Papa,” Quetzalcoatl called from the top of the stairs.
“Sleep well, son,” he replied.
Cihuacoatl tapped her child on the shoulder to direct him to his room before turning to her husband. “Your mail is in your study, as always. Come join me in bed when you are ready.” She offered him a smile.
“Thank you, my dear. I shall not keep you waiting.”
Cihuacoatl disappeared down the hall as Ahuizotl made his way into his study. Among the books scattered on his desk was a stack of letters. He sat down, flipped the stack of letters over to start with the oldest letters first, and began the process of sorting the mail that accumulated in his absence. His white cat jumped into his lap, and his tail absently began stroking its back. Most of it was meaningless junk mail that he simply tossed to the corner of his desk, until he came across one from the Equestrian Publishing Company.
He tore it open and skimmed over the letter. It was nothing out of the ordinary: more thanks for his continued work with A. K. Yearling, as well as thanks for the permission to use his name and likeness in their publications. He reached back inside the envelope and pulled out a check—his share of the profits and royalties from the latest installment of the Daring Do series. He smiled to himself as he placed the check in a drawer for safekeeping, and resumed shuffling through his mail.
At the bottom of the stack was a personal letter marked from a family friend. He opened it and began to read:
Dear Ahuizotl,
I’m happy to hear that your father has made a full recovery and will be leaving the hospital soon. I’m sure the news came as quite a relief to all of you.
I’d like to personally thank you for putting in a lot of good work this season. I should have more than enough material to work with, so feel free to enjoy some time off for the next few months while I’m writing. You can expect a bonus check from the publishers when the new book comes out.
Please pass along on my greetings and well wishes to Cihuacoatl and Quetzalcoatl, and be sure to spend some time with your family.
Sincerely,
A. K. Yearling
Daring Do
Ahuizotl reached for a quill with his tail and grabbed a sheet of paper. He let his arm take his tail’s place in petting the cat as he began to write.
Dear Daring Do,
It was quite a scare for us all, but thankfully, a scare was all it was. He has always had a heart like a bull, so a full recovery comes as no surprise. My father wanted me to thank you for the flowers you sent. He says they were lovely.
How you manage to find a way out of everything I can come up with continues to baffle me. You can be sure I will be devoting a portion of my time in devising new and even greater schemes against you. I plan to push you to your very limits.
But rest assured that a majority of my time will be spent with my family, as they deserve. They send their love, and wish you well with your new book.
Warm regards,
Ahuizotl
He folded up his letter and placed it in an envelope. With a sigh, he pushed himself away from the desk, prompting the cat to jump to the floor. Mailing the letter could wait until the morning.
Ahuizotl quietly got into bed beside Cihuacoatl, causing her to turn over and wrap herself around him. Ahuizotl’s tail found hers and held her hand. Her hand squeezed his as she smiled to him.
“Welcome back, my love,” she said as she nuzzled him.
“Thank you, my dear,” he said as he closed his eyes. He focused on the feeling of her heartbeat against his body. He had gone without it for far too long.
“Will you tell me now what troubles you?”
Ahuizotl took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. “I am beginning to question my work. It is starting to feel so futile, and it takes me so far away from you and our son. A family needs stability, yet after just a few short months, my work pulls me away for weeks. I am certain they could find someone else to—”
Cihuacoatl moved into his line of sight to cut him off. “Ahuizotl, it is true that your son and I miss you when you are gone. But you love your work, I know you do. And no one could replace you.” She lowered her head to his chest when she was certain she had his attention. “You are an incredible villain. We all knew what it would mean for you to become a villain, but look at what you have accomplished: you are Ahuizotl. Anyone who has read the Daring Do books knows and fears your name. You make us both very proud.”
Ahuizotl smiled to his wife. “You have always supported me, Cihuacoatl, and for that, I shall forever be thankful. But the struggle of being a villain weighs on me. I do not know how much longer I can continue.”
“Do not lose heart, my love,” she said softly, closing her eyes. “Perhaps you should talk to our friend.”
Ahuizotl remained silent as he thought about his situation. It was only when he realized that she had fallen asleep on top of him that he closed his eyes again.
Quetzalcoatl opened the door to the study. “Hello, Papa.”
Ahuizotl turned away from his book. “Hello, son. How was school today?”
“School was fine,” he answered as he walked up to the desk. “What are you doing?”
“Research,” he explained. “I will need to have a new villainous plan ready for when Miss Yearling finishes her book. I have already decided what artifact to go after next, and now I am learning more about the ruins that surround it. I will need a new way to trap her and a new way to put her life in peril.”
Quetzalcoatl looked back and forth between his father and the book. “Will you have the jungle cats with you?”
“Yes, of course, son, but I need something more. My work must be able to inspire Miss Yearling so she can write an enthralling tale. That is why I need new tricks—something she has never faced before.” Ahuizotl tented his fingers as his eyes narrowed in thought. “It must be dangerous, but not deadly. The fear and emotions she feels must be real for her to write a story that feels real to the reader. But every time she thwarts one of my plans, it becomes harder to think of something new for next time.”
“Do you think your next plan will succeed?” Quetzalcoatl asked with a tilt of his head.
Ahuizotl turned to look at his son. He smiled as he placed a hand on the child’s head. “No, Quetzalcoatl, I do not.” Ahuizotl was prepared for the look of shock and confusion on his son’s face. He started scratching his ears until his expression calmed back down. “I am a professional villain, son. My job is not to succeed in my plans. Do you remember Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny?”
Quetzalcoatl nodded slowly as Ahuizotl pulled his hand away.
“I had Daring Do bound and at the mercy of the jungle cats. But instead of attacking her, I had her brought into the temple to face the climbing piranha pool. It is not my job to succeed, son, but to make success as difficult as possible for Daring Do. It is my job to come so close to victory that the reader believes Daring Do might actually fail. But since I am the villain, it is my job to be defeated so Daring Do can save the day. That lets Miss Yearling do her job: writing an exciting story for her readers. Do you understand now, Quetzalcoatl?”
“I think I do,” he said slowly. “Is it hard always being the villain?”
Ahuizotl sighed quietly through his nostrils. “It can be a challenge, at times. My work demands that I be many things: a skilled actor, a creative mind, a strong adversary, a diligent researcher—all while staying within my budget.” He smiled at his joke, but it fell as he continued. “It also requires travel, and that keeps me away from what matters most to me: you and your mother.”
Quetzalcoatl leapt forward and wrapped his arms around his father. He looked up to meet Ahuizotl’s confused expression. “I think you’re the best villain ever, Papa.”
Ahuizotl returned his son’s hug. “Thank you, Quetzalcoatl. You and your mother are what inspire me to continue my work.”
“I have you now, Daring Do!” Ahuizotl said with his tail on the lever mounted to the wall.
“It’ll take more than some rope to stop me!” Daring Do shouted back, hanging from the ceiling. She writhed and twisted in an effort to escape her bindings.
“Tell me: what do you think of this?!” He pulled the lever down.
The floor opened up beneath her, revealing a pool teeming with alligators far below the dangling adventurer. The grinding of gears brought her attention back to the roof as she slowly began descending. She fought with the ropes around her with a renewed sense of urgency.
Ahuizotl considered his next course of action. It was usually at this point that he would leave for the artifact and continue with his plan, but he felt compelled to try a something new.
“So,” he said casually, “how are your wings?”
“They’re-they’re still a little sore from last time,” Daring Do answered, still working to free herself.
He nodded slowly. “It was the chains, wasn’t it?”
Daring Do stopped to look up at him. “Is that why you went back to rope? I thought it was because I used the chain to get the Idol last time.”
“I did not wish to make your wings any worse.”
“Well, the alligators are a nice touch.” She looked down as they slowly circled below her.
“Thank you,” he said with a bow. “How is your aunt doing, by the way? Is she still taking those night classes?”
“Yeah, she says her classes are… going… well.” She tried to get a limb free from the ropes with forceful tugs.
“Good, good,” Ahuizotl nodded to himself. “Oh, my wife wanted me to ask: do you think your aunt would be willing to give up her recipe for those oatmeal chocolate chip cookies you sent us?”
“For Hearth’s Warming? Sure, I can ask her.” The gears above her grinded loudly and dropped her few more feet. She quickly realized she was being lowered faster than before. “Cihuacoatl really liked them, huh?”
“Oh, yes. They were quite popular at our Hearth’s Warming party,” he said, casually leaning against the lever. “She has been hoping to make them herself ever since.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to that,” she said, finally freeing a hoof. She got to work trying to get another hoof out.
“No worries, Daring Do. Everyone makes plans for Hearth’s Warming.”
“If the invitation’s still open for this year, I’ll try to make it next time.”
“Our doors are always open to you, my friend.”
“Thanks.” With a strain, she was able to free another hoof as the gears gave another loud crunch. She plummeted another few feet before coming to a jarring stop. The alligators below snapped with impatience, jumping up to try to claim their meal. “Rowdy bunch…”
“You may wish to hurry.”
“I know, I know.” She attempted to slip out of the binding. “Since you mentioned her, how are Cihuacoatl and Quetzalcoatl doing?”
“They are well, and they wonder when you shall be visiting again. My wife insists on cooking dinner for you.”
“I might just take you up on that.” The rope holding her snapped and she fell to the hungry alligators waiting below. She kicked the bindings off of her and shot upwards, leaving a frustrated alligator with only an unsatisfying mouthful of rope.
“Daring Do! But how?!” Ahuizotl gritted his teeth. “My alligators should have eaten you alive!”
“Oh, Ahuizotl, you know a magician never reveals her secrets. Now, if you’ll excuse me”—she flew past him and sped down a hallway—“there’s an artifact here with my name on it.”
He chased after her, only to find the next room had what appeared to be a bottomless chasm separating him from the other side of the room. Daring Do turned around as she flew over the abyss, giving him a farewell salute.
“Curse you, Daring Do!” he bellowed.
As soon as she was gone, Ahuizotl started smiling to himself.
Ahuizotl stepped inside his home and began to remove his jewelry. Quetzalcoatl came to greet him at the door.
“Papa, you’re home!” He rushed to give his father a hug. Ahuizotl hugged him tight before holding him out at arm’s length.
“Who is this young man and what has he done with the little boy I once knew?” He smiled to his son. “How have you managed to grow so much in just a few weeks? Soon you shall be strong enough to lift me off the ground.” Quetzalcoatl laughed as Ahuizotl pulled him back in for another hug.
Cihuacoatl entered the room and joined the embrace. “Welcome home, Ahuizotl.”
He wrapped his arm around her and nuzzled her. “I cannot tell you how happy I am to be back.”
“Come,” Cihuacoatl said, “dinner is waiting.”
Quetzalcoatl rushed off to the dining room, but Ahuizotl was stopped short by Cihuacoatl.
“How was work?” she asked. “You appear to be in higher spirits than before, my love.”
"It was… better.” He gave her smile. “I took your advice.”
Ahuizotl’s tail joined hands with Cihuacoatl’s as they made their way to the dining room.
“Give up, Daring Do!” Ahuizotl demanded. “Once I place the Metzi Ring around your hoof, you will fall into a deep slumber and not wake for thirty years!”
“Oh, for me?” Daring Do said sarcastically. “And I didn’t get you anything.” The tiger roared into her face at her insolence.
“All I need is my revenge, and victory will be mine!”
“But giving me a ring? What would your wife think?”
Ahuizotl’s shoulders slumped. “Daring Do, we have talked about this.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” she quickly said. “I won’t put that in the book.”
“No worries, my friend.”
Daring Do reached out and started petting the tiger. The tiger rubbed its face against her hoof, enjoying the sensation.
“We’ve been at this for a while, haven’t we?”
“Indeed,” Ahuizotl said. “Have you put any thought into how the series shall end?”
“I’ve thought about it, but…” She lowered her hoof, much to the disappointment of the tiger. “It’s such a big part of my life now.”
“The writing or the adventures?”
Daring Do suddenly found the floor to be very interesting.
“Let that be a problem for another day. For now, you have a villain to defeat.” Ahuizotl offered her a smile. “Unless you want the valley to suffer beneath my rule!” The tiger snarled at Daring Do.
Daring Do narrowed her eyes. “Not today, Ahuizotl!” With tight maneuvering, she found an opening and knocked the Ring out of Ahuizotl’s grip with a snap of her tail. The two made a mad scramble for the Ring, but Daring Do was able to catch it in her teeth. She took to the air and flicked it into her saddlebag.
“Thanks for the Ring, Ahuizotl,” she teased. “Maybe next time you can find me a matching necklace!” She left a grey streak behind her as she flew away.
“Curse you—” Ahuizotl thumped his chest and cleared his throat. “Curse you, Daring Do!”
A piece of paper slowly drifted down to him. His tail snatched it out of the air and brought it up to his eyes.
“ ‘Two cups of oats, one teaspoon of vanilla…’ ” Ahuizotl turned to the sky. “Thank you, Daring Do.”
Ahuizotl regarded the golden pony skull in the grip of his tail, his leg idly kicking over the side of the throne. Daring Do burst into the room, panting from exhaustion and barely able to hold herself up.
“Ahh, Daring Do,” he said casually without looking up, “I have been expecting you.”
Daring Do took a few breaths before speaking. “Just… give me a minute.”
Ahuizotl turned away from the skull, his brows furrowed in concern. “Is something wrong, my friend?”
“No, no—it’s just… that was quite a trap you set for me.”
“The spiders were Quetzalcoatl’s idea.”
“He’s a real… chip off the ol’ block, isn’t he?” she managed with a smile. “He’ll be starting high school soon, right?”
“Yes, in less than a year. They grow up so fast.”
Her breathing slowly grew steadier. “How’s he doing? In school, that is.”
“Oh, mathematics still proves to be a challenge, but he has shown quite an interest in Ancient History.” His lips curled into a smile.
She let out a chuckle. “I wonder where he gets that from.”
Ahuizotl allowed himself a laugh, but his face slowly fell. “Daring Do, I must remind you again: we are not as young as we used to be. We have had far too many close calls, and you know as well as I do that I cannot start going easy on you.” He closed his eyes, tightening his grip on the golden pony skull. “I fear the consequences if we do not end this soon.”
Daring Do hung her head. “I know. You’re right. I just—”
“Just what, Daring Do?” he demanded. “What is there left to accomplish? Tell me, and I promise I shall help you. My family fears my departure for these adventures, not for my sake, but for yours, Daring Do. You have become family to them, to all of us, but you insist on continuing these adventures and risking your life.”
She winced at his words. “I… I just need more time.”
A deep shadow fell over his eyes. “Very well, my friend.”
Ahuizotl stood up from the throne and tossed the skull to her hooves. She noticed that the impact warped the soft metal as it clattered to a stop.
“Curse you, Daring Do.”
“We have stood against each other for years, Daring Do, but it all ends today! Only one of us can leave this dungeon!” Ahuizotl tried to control the tremors in his body. “And you are not strong enough to hold down the wheel to keep the door open.” The walls of the temple groaned and rumbled around them.
“Ahuizotl, please! We have to get out of here!” She looked around in a panic. “This place is falling apart!”
“It is the only way, Daring Do!” He grabbed the spokes of the wheel and turned it downward. The heavy door slowly climbed upwards. “Go, my friend! Go now!”
“I’m not leaving you behind! There has to be another way.” She looked around frantically. “There has to be something we can use to keep it open.”
“There is nothing!”
Ahuizotl let out a cry of pain as the wheel slipped from his grip. The wheel quickly spun back up, slamming the door back to the ground. The walls let out another groan as cracks formed in the ceiling.
“Ahuizotl, I’m sorry. I should’ve listened to you. This is all my fault—”
“Not now, Daring Do!” He pushed himself back up and grabbed the wheel again. “You must leave now!” He strained as he forced the wheel to turn downward. His tail lifted a whistle to lips. A shrill screech rang throughout the ruins until he spat the whistle out. “My cats will show you the way. Leave while you still can!”
“But what about your family? Cihuacoatl? Quetzalcoatl? What will they do without you?” Ahuizotl’s cats appeared on the other side of the door.
“They will be able to tell their own stories. The world will need you to tell mine.” His tail grabbed her by her collar and threw her out of the room.
“Ahuizotl!” The panther caught the back of her shirt in its mouth and ran off with her.
Ahuizotl closed his eyes tight. “Good-bye, Daring Do.”
She held out a hoof as she watched the door crash into the ground.
The cats rushed out of the temple with Daring Do as it collapsed into a pile of rubble. She tilted her pith helmet back and stared at the wreckage in disbelief.
“Ahuizotl!” she yelled out. She ran to the debris and started pushing it out of the way. “Ahui-Ahuizotl!” She fought through the pain in her hooves and through the blurriness building in her vision.
The white house cat walked up to her and started pawing at the ground. It sniffed around before looking up at her with trembling eyes.
Daring Do buckled to her knees and held the cat, her body shaking as she choked on her sobs. The other cats slowly gathered around them as they all began mourning the loss of their friend.
The loss of the greatest villain they had ever known.
“Please do not blame yourself, Miss Yearling.” Cihuacoatl’s tail dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “He would not have wanted it that way.”
Daring Do turned to face Quetzalcoatl, all at once a young boy wanting to cry for his father and a young man trying to stay strong for his mother. Daring Do saw so much of his father in him. He had inherited so much of his father’s strength.
“I wouldn’t blame you if hated me, or never wanted to see me again,” Daring Do said to him.
Quetzalcoatl turned to face her and drew a shuddering breath. “How could I possibly hate the one my father gave up so much to save?” He blinked hard and took another breath. “You are the greatest friend this family has ever had.”
Daring Do squeezed her eyes tight and nodded in thanks. When she opened her eyes again, they opened the doors and walked into the room together.
The service was short and few were in attendance. Not many knew the secret of A. K. Yearling, and even fewer knew the truth about Ahuizotl.
Daring Do stood up and took her place at the podium. She looked at the wreath that framed a picture of Ahuizotl before taking a calming breath to begin.
“Ahuizotl was many things: a loving husband, a devoted father. He was an artist, and he was a friend. But to me, he will always be the greatest villain I could ever hope to face. He challenged me. He made me grow as an adventurer, as a writer, and as a pony. I owe… so much of my success to him. I owe him my life. I could never ask for a better villain, or a better friend.” She placed a copy of her newest book next to his picture: Daring Do and the Life of Ahuizotl. She closed her eyes to keep the wetness from escaping, but a tear managed to squeeze itself through and trickle down her cheek.
“Bless you, Ahuizotl.”
“You’ll never get away with this!” Daring Do said as she struggled with her bindings. Her eyes darted between Ahuizotl’s band of cats as they slowly circled around her.
A condescending chuckle rumbled through Ahuizotl. “And who will stop me? Once the sunlight reaches the Mask at high noon and ritual is complete, no pony will be safe!” A devilish grin crept across his face. “It’s a shame you won’t be around to see it.” The hand at the end of his tail snapped.
Ahuizotl’s lynx leapt for Daring Do with a vicious glint in its eyes. With a forceful tug, Daring Do pulled a forelimb free and struck the cat away. She smiled as she quickly shrugged the ropes off.
“What?!” Ahuizotl turned to rest of his cats. “Stop her!”
Daring Do shot for the air, only to be denied by the limber panther striking her back to the ground. The cheetah and tiger bared their fangs and pushed her against a wall. The white house cat hissed and pawed at her menacingly. Ahuizotl watched as the beam of light crept across the floor from the skylight. His chest heaved with each ragged breath.
“You are too late, Daring Do! Victory is mine!”
Daring Do broke through the circle of cats and took to the air. She seemed to be hiding something behind her back, and the smile she was wearing did nothing to comfort him. With calculated aim, she threw the house cat straight at Ahuizotl’s face. It attacked in a blind frenzy, swiping and clawing at anything in reach.
“Ahh! No!” Ahuizotl thrashed around in a futile attempt to get the angry cat off of him. His tail reached around and threw the cat away. Once he was able to reorient himself, he found that the Mask had been removed from its pedestal.
“Better luck next time, Ahuizotl,” Daring Do called from above. She placed the Mask into her saddlebag and gave him a taunting salute.
“No!” Ahuizotl bellowed as she flew through the skylight. “Curse you, Daring Do!”
“You will not defeat me this time, Daring Do!” Ahuizotl leered down at the adventurer held in place by two ponies with vacant stares. “With the power of the Xipetotec Sceptre, I shall command an army of ponies who will bend to my every whim!” His tail held a tight grip on the Sceptre.
“You give yourself up now, and I might just go easy on you,” Daring Do said as she tried to pull herself free.
“Defiant to the end as always, I see.” The Sceptre began to glow with a sickening green light. “I am certain this will make you more compliant.”
Ahuizotl slowly brought the Sceptre closer and closer to Daring Do’s face, relishing the certainty of his victory.
Daring Do kicked her leg out from under her, knocking the staff out of his grip. It clattered against the floor until it collided with the temple wall. The ponies who had been holding her let go as the light returned to their eyes.
“No!” Ahuizotl yelled as he lunged for the Sceptre. Daring Do swooped into action and snatched it away before he could reach it.
“Should’ve quit while you were ahead, Ahuizotl!” She gave him another salute as she disappeared, leaving a grayscale rainbow in her wake.
Ahuizotl slammed his fists into the floor, shaking the entire temple. “Curse you, Daring Do!”
Ahuizotl admired the amulet from the top of the temple, watching the light dance off of the gemstones embedded in it. He held it up to the sky to capture the sunlight at the perfect angle.
“Now that I possess the Amulet of Huitzilo, I shall rain fire from the skies until—”
A golden blur blew past Ahuizotl’s head, and the amulet was gone.
“What?!” He turned his gaze up to see Daring Do smirking down at him, idling tossing the amulet in her hoof. “Daring Do?! But how?!”
“Oh, Ahuizotl,” she said sweetly, “you should know it’d take more than a tank full of electric eels to stop me.”
Ahuizotl roared as he threw everything within reach at her—spears, rocks, even some of the masonry that made up the temple.
Daring Do nimbly flew around the aerial assault as she gave him her signature salute. She dashed off with the amulet dangling from her hoof, the light of the setting sun still glistening on its gems.
Ahuizotl threw one last stone at her in vain. “Curse you, Daring Do!”
“The Idol of Atlacoya is mine, Daring Do, and with it, I shall… I shall…” Ahuizotl turned to the adventurer chained down to a chair. “What does this one do again?”
“When bathed in the fire of the burning altar, it will unleash an unstoppable drought upon the valley for half a millennium.”
“Really?” Ahuizotl raised an eyebrow at the fire next to him. “Why would a pony build something like this? Oh, never mind…
“I shall use the Idol of Atlacoya to unleash a drought for five-hundred years!” His laughter howled throughout the ruins as he held the Idol over the flame.
“Not if I have anything to say about it!” With a forceful jerk backwards, she fell onto to the chair and broke it to pieces.
“Impressive move, but it changes nothing!” Ahuizotl let go of the Idol and watched it fall toward the fire hungrily licking up at it. Before the flames could make contact, a length of chain quickly coiled itself around the Idol and snagged it away. Ahuizotl’s head snapped forward to see Daring Do holding the chains in her teeth and wielding it like a whip. She spat the chain out and picked up the Idol.
“Thanks for the help, Ahuizotl,” she said with a smirk. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Ahuizotl lunged for her. Daring Do shot into the air with the Idol held tight against her. She took one last look at him before giving him a salute. Dust and cobwebs scattered with her departure.
Ahuizotl panted in an unsuccessful attempt to calm himself. He shot a fist into the air as he cried out, “Curse you, Daring Do!”
He let his fist fall with a sigh.
Ahuizotl trudged up the walkway to the modest cottage with a pet carrier gripped in his tail. The clear night sky set his surroundings in a cool shade of blue that blended well with his coat. He pushed open the door and quietly shut it behind him after he went inside. His tail set down the pet carrier and opened its door while he started taking off his bracelets and necklace. The little white cat stepped out as Ahuizotl took off his earring.
“Ahuizotl,” a gentle voice called. Cihuacoatl emerged from around the corner. Ahuizotl’s weary eyes softened at the sight of his wife. They ran to each other and collided in a tight embrace.
“Oh, my dear, sweet Cihuacoatl,” Ahuizotl whispered to her. “How I have missed you.”
“And I have missed you, my love.” Their two tails snaked together and held each other’s hands. She pulled back and looked deep into his eyes. “What troubles you, Ahuizotl? You look exhausted. Is it your work that has taxed you so?”
“Worry not, my dear. It was… business as usual.” The rapid sound of footsteps descending the stairs made them both look up.
“Papa!” Quetzalcoatl leapt into Ahuizotl’s arms. He hugged his son tight before holding him up toward the ceiling.
“Oh, there is my beautiful boy!” He lowered him to look into his eyes. “Why are you still awake? Don’t you have school in the morning?”
“Mama told me you’d be coming home tonight, so I stayed up to see you!”
Ahuizotl pulled his family in close and gave them a warm hug.
“I have missed you both so much,” he said. “Being away from you two is truly the hardest part of my work.”
“We missed you, too, Papa.”
“Indeed,” Cihuacoatl agreed. “These last few weeks have been difficult without you.”
Ahuizotl freed them from his embrace. “I am sorry that my work takes me away from you both—”
Cihuacoatl brought a finger to his lips. “The work you do is important, and no one could it better.” She smiled to him and lowered her finger away when he started smiling back. She turned to the bright eyes of their son at their feet. “Come now, Quetzalcoatl—your father is tired, and you need your sleep.”
His eyes seemed to grow to nearly twice their natural size. “But, Papa just got here…”
Ahuizotl scratched behind his son’s ears, and Quetzalcoatl smiled at his father’s touch. “Your mother is right, son, but do not worry. We will have plenty of time together now that I am back.”
His ears flattened against his head, but he allowed Cihuacoatl to lead him back upstairs.
“Good night, Papa,” Quetzalcoatl called from the top of the stairs.
“Sleep well, son,” he replied.
Cihuacoatl tapped her child on the shoulder to direct him to his room before turning to her husband. “Your mail is in your study, as always. Come join me in bed when you are ready.” She offered him a smile.
“Thank you, my dear. I shall not keep you waiting.”
Cihuacoatl disappeared down the hall as Ahuizotl made his way into his study. Among the books scattered on his desk was a stack of letters. He sat down, flipped the stack of letters over to start with the oldest letters first, and began the process of sorting the mail that accumulated in his absence. His white cat jumped into his lap, and his tail absently began stroking its back. Most of it was meaningless junk mail that he simply tossed to the corner of his desk, until he came across one from the Equestrian Publishing Company.
He tore it open and skimmed over the letter. It was nothing out of the ordinary: more thanks for his continued work with A. K. Yearling, as well as thanks for the permission to use his name and likeness in their publications. He reached back inside the envelope and pulled out a check—his share of the profits and royalties from the latest installment of the Daring Do series. He smiled to himself as he placed the check in a drawer for safekeeping, and resumed shuffling through his mail.
At the bottom of the stack was a personal letter marked from a family friend. He opened it and began to read:
Dear Ahuizotl,
I’m happy to hear that your father has made a full recovery and will be leaving the hospital soon. I’m sure the news came as quite a relief to all of you.
I’d like to personally thank you for putting in a lot of good work this season. I should have more than enough material to work with, so feel free to enjoy some time off for the next few months while I’m writing. You can expect a bonus check from the publishers when the new book comes out.
Please pass along on my greetings and well wishes to Cihuacoatl and Quetzalcoatl, and be sure to spend some time with your family.
Sincerely,
A. K. Yearling
Daring Do
Ahuizotl reached for a quill with his tail and grabbed a sheet of paper. He let his arm take his tail’s place in petting the cat as he began to write.
Dear Daring Do,
It was quite a scare for us all, but thankfully, a scare was all it was. He has always had a heart like a bull, so a full recovery comes as no surprise. My father wanted me to thank you for the flowers you sent. He says they were lovely.
How you manage to find a way out of everything I can come up with continues to baffle me. You can be sure I will be devoting a portion of my time in devising new and even greater schemes against you. I plan to push you to your very limits.
But rest assured that a majority of my time will be spent with my family, as they deserve. They send their love, and wish you well with your new book.
Warm regards,
Ahuizotl
He folded up his letter and placed it in an envelope. With a sigh, he pushed himself away from the desk, prompting the cat to jump to the floor. Mailing the letter could wait until the morning.
Ahuizotl quietly got into bed beside Cihuacoatl, causing her to turn over and wrap herself around him. Ahuizotl’s tail found hers and held her hand. Her hand squeezed his as she smiled to him.
“Welcome back, my love,” she said as she nuzzled him.
“Thank you, my dear,” he said as he closed his eyes. He focused on the feeling of her heartbeat against his body. He had gone without it for far too long.
“Will you tell me now what troubles you?”
Ahuizotl took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. “I am beginning to question my work. It is starting to feel so futile, and it takes me so far away from you and our son. A family needs stability, yet after just a few short months, my work pulls me away for weeks. I am certain they could find someone else to—”
Cihuacoatl moved into his line of sight to cut him off. “Ahuizotl, it is true that your son and I miss you when you are gone. But you love your work, I know you do. And no one could replace you.” She lowered her head to his chest when she was certain she had his attention. “You are an incredible villain. We all knew what it would mean for you to become a villain, but look at what you have accomplished: you are Ahuizotl. Anyone who has read the Daring Do books knows and fears your name. You make us both very proud.”
Ahuizotl smiled to his wife. “You have always supported me, Cihuacoatl, and for that, I shall forever be thankful. But the struggle of being a villain weighs on me. I do not know how much longer I can continue.”
“Do not lose heart, my love,” she said softly, closing her eyes. “Perhaps you should talk to our friend.”
Ahuizotl remained silent as he thought about his situation. It was only when he realized that she had fallen asleep on top of him that he closed his eyes again.
Quetzalcoatl opened the door to the study. “Hello, Papa.”
Ahuizotl turned away from his book. “Hello, son. How was school today?”
“School was fine,” he answered as he walked up to the desk. “What are you doing?”
“Research,” he explained. “I will need to have a new villainous plan ready for when Miss Yearling finishes her book. I have already decided what artifact to go after next, and now I am learning more about the ruins that surround it. I will need a new way to trap her and a new way to put her life in peril.”
Quetzalcoatl looked back and forth between his father and the book. “Will you have the jungle cats with you?”
“Yes, of course, son, but I need something more. My work must be able to inspire Miss Yearling so she can write an enthralling tale. That is why I need new tricks—something she has never faced before.” Ahuizotl tented his fingers as his eyes narrowed in thought. “It must be dangerous, but not deadly. The fear and emotions she feels must be real for her to write a story that feels real to the reader. But every time she thwarts one of my plans, it becomes harder to think of something new for next time.”
“Do you think your next plan will succeed?” Quetzalcoatl asked with a tilt of his head.
Ahuizotl turned to look at his son. He smiled as he placed a hand on the child’s head. “No, Quetzalcoatl, I do not.” Ahuizotl was prepared for the look of shock and confusion on his son’s face. He started scratching his ears until his expression calmed back down. “I am a professional villain, son. My job is not to succeed in my plans. Do you remember Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny?”
Quetzalcoatl nodded slowly as Ahuizotl pulled his hand away.
“I had Daring Do bound and at the mercy of the jungle cats. But instead of attacking her, I had her brought into the temple to face the climbing piranha pool. It is not my job to succeed, son, but to make success as difficult as possible for Daring Do. It is my job to come so close to victory that the reader believes Daring Do might actually fail. But since I am the villain, it is my job to be defeated so Daring Do can save the day. That lets Miss Yearling do her job: writing an exciting story for her readers. Do you understand now, Quetzalcoatl?”
“I think I do,” he said slowly. “Is it hard always being the villain?”
Ahuizotl sighed quietly through his nostrils. “It can be a challenge, at times. My work demands that I be many things: a skilled actor, a creative mind, a strong adversary, a diligent researcher—all while staying within my budget.” He smiled at his joke, but it fell as he continued. “It also requires travel, and that keeps me away from what matters most to me: you and your mother.”
Quetzalcoatl leapt forward and wrapped his arms around his father. He looked up to meet Ahuizotl’s confused expression. “I think you’re the best villain ever, Papa.”
Ahuizotl returned his son’s hug. “Thank you, Quetzalcoatl. You and your mother are what inspire me to continue my work.”
“I have you now, Daring Do!” Ahuizotl said with his tail on the lever mounted to the wall.
“It’ll take more than some rope to stop me!” Daring Do shouted back, hanging from the ceiling. She writhed and twisted in an effort to escape her bindings.
“Tell me: what do you think of this?!” He pulled the lever down.
The floor opened up beneath her, revealing a pool teeming with alligators far below the dangling adventurer. The grinding of gears brought her attention back to the roof as she slowly began descending. She fought with the ropes around her with a renewed sense of urgency.
Ahuizotl considered his next course of action. It was usually at this point that he would leave for the artifact and continue with his plan, but he felt compelled to try a something new.
“So,” he said casually, “how are your wings?”
“They’re-they’re still a little sore from last time,” Daring Do answered, still working to free herself.
He nodded slowly. “It was the chains, wasn’t it?”
Daring Do stopped to look up at him. “Is that why you went back to rope? I thought it was because I used the chain to get the Idol last time.”
“I did not wish to make your wings any worse.”
“Well, the alligators are a nice touch.” She looked down as they slowly circled below her.
“Thank you,” he said with a bow. “How is your aunt doing, by the way? Is she still taking those night classes?”
“Yeah, she says her classes are… going… well.” She tried to get a limb free from the ropes with forceful tugs.
“Good, good,” Ahuizotl nodded to himself. “Oh, my wife wanted me to ask: do you think your aunt would be willing to give up her recipe for those oatmeal chocolate chip cookies you sent us?”
“For Hearth’s Warming? Sure, I can ask her.” The gears above her grinded loudly and dropped her few more feet. She quickly realized she was being lowered faster than before. “Cihuacoatl really liked them, huh?”
“Oh, yes. They were quite popular at our Hearth’s Warming party,” he said, casually leaning against the lever. “She has been hoping to make them herself ever since.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to that,” she said, finally freeing a hoof. She got to work trying to get another hoof out.
“No worries, Daring Do. Everyone makes plans for Hearth’s Warming.”
“If the invitation’s still open for this year, I’ll try to make it next time.”
“Our doors are always open to you, my friend.”
“Thanks.” With a strain, she was able to free another hoof as the gears gave another loud crunch. She plummeted another few feet before coming to a jarring stop. The alligators below snapped with impatience, jumping up to try to claim their meal. “Rowdy bunch…”
“You may wish to hurry.”
“I know, I know.” She attempted to slip out of the binding. “Since you mentioned her, how are Cihuacoatl and Quetzalcoatl doing?”
“They are well, and they wonder when you shall be visiting again. My wife insists on cooking dinner for you.”
“I might just take you up on that.” The rope holding her snapped and she fell to the hungry alligators waiting below. She kicked the bindings off of her and shot upwards, leaving a frustrated alligator with only an unsatisfying mouthful of rope.
“Daring Do! But how?!” Ahuizotl gritted his teeth. “My alligators should have eaten you alive!”
“Oh, Ahuizotl, you know a magician never reveals her secrets. Now, if you’ll excuse me”—she flew past him and sped down a hallway—“there’s an artifact here with my name on it.”
He chased after her, only to find the next room had what appeared to be a bottomless chasm separating him from the other side of the room. Daring Do turned around as she flew over the abyss, giving him a farewell salute.
“Curse you, Daring Do!” he bellowed.
As soon as she was gone, Ahuizotl started smiling to himself.
Ahuizotl stepped inside his home and began to remove his jewelry. Quetzalcoatl came to greet him at the door.
“Papa, you’re home!” He rushed to give his father a hug. Ahuizotl hugged him tight before holding him out at arm’s length.
“Who is this young man and what has he done with the little boy I once knew?” He smiled to his son. “How have you managed to grow so much in just a few weeks? Soon you shall be strong enough to lift me off the ground.” Quetzalcoatl laughed as Ahuizotl pulled him back in for another hug.
Cihuacoatl entered the room and joined the embrace. “Welcome home, Ahuizotl.”
He wrapped his arm around her and nuzzled her. “I cannot tell you how happy I am to be back.”
“Come,” Cihuacoatl said, “dinner is waiting.”
Quetzalcoatl rushed off to the dining room, but Ahuizotl was stopped short by Cihuacoatl.
“How was work?” she asked. “You appear to be in higher spirits than before, my love.”
"It was… better.” He gave her smile. “I took your advice.”
Ahuizotl’s tail joined hands with Cihuacoatl’s as they made their way to the dining room.
“Give up, Daring Do!” Ahuizotl demanded. “Once I place the Metzi Ring around your hoof, you will fall into a deep slumber and not wake for thirty years!”
“Oh, for me?” Daring Do said sarcastically. “And I didn’t get you anything.” The tiger roared into her face at her insolence.
“All I need is my revenge, and victory will be mine!”
“But giving me a ring? What would your wife think?”
Ahuizotl’s shoulders slumped. “Daring Do, we have talked about this.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” she quickly said. “I won’t put that in the book.”
“No worries, my friend.”
Daring Do reached out and started petting the tiger. The tiger rubbed its face against her hoof, enjoying the sensation.
“We’ve been at this for a while, haven’t we?”
“Indeed,” Ahuizotl said. “Have you put any thought into how the series shall end?”
“I’ve thought about it, but…” She lowered her hoof, much to the disappointment of the tiger. “It’s such a big part of my life now.”
“The writing or the adventures?”
Daring Do suddenly found the floor to be very interesting.
“Let that be a problem for another day. For now, you have a villain to defeat.” Ahuizotl offered her a smile. “Unless you want the valley to suffer beneath my rule!” The tiger snarled at Daring Do.
Daring Do narrowed her eyes. “Not today, Ahuizotl!” With tight maneuvering, she found an opening and knocked the Ring out of Ahuizotl’s grip with a snap of her tail. The two made a mad scramble for the Ring, but Daring Do was able to catch it in her teeth. She took to the air and flicked it into her saddlebag.
“Thanks for the Ring, Ahuizotl,” she teased. “Maybe next time you can find me a matching necklace!” She left a grey streak behind her as she flew away.
“Curse you—” Ahuizotl thumped his chest and cleared his throat. “Curse you, Daring Do!”
A piece of paper slowly drifted down to him. His tail snatched it out of the air and brought it up to his eyes.
“ ‘Two cups of oats, one teaspoon of vanilla…’ ” Ahuizotl turned to the sky. “Thank you, Daring Do.”
Ahuizotl regarded the golden pony skull in the grip of his tail, his leg idly kicking over the side of the throne. Daring Do burst into the room, panting from exhaustion and barely able to hold herself up.
“Ahh, Daring Do,” he said casually without looking up, “I have been expecting you.”
Daring Do took a few breaths before speaking. “Just… give me a minute.”
Ahuizotl turned away from the skull, his brows furrowed in concern. “Is something wrong, my friend?”
“No, no—it’s just… that was quite a trap you set for me.”
“The spiders were Quetzalcoatl’s idea.”
“He’s a real… chip off the ol’ block, isn’t he?” she managed with a smile. “He’ll be starting high school soon, right?”
“Yes, in less than a year. They grow up so fast.”
Her breathing slowly grew steadier. “How’s he doing? In school, that is.”
“Oh, mathematics still proves to be a challenge, but he has shown quite an interest in Ancient History.” His lips curled into a smile.
She let out a chuckle. “I wonder where he gets that from.”
Ahuizotl allowed himself a laugh, but his face slowly fell. “Daring Do, I must remind you again: we are not as young as we used to be. We have had far too many close calls, and you know as well as I do that I cannot start going easy on you.” He closed his eyes, tightening his grip on the golden pony skull. “I fear the consequences if we do not end this soon.”
Daring Do hung her head. “I know. You’re right. I just—”
“Just what, Daring Do?” he demanded. “What is there left to accomplish? Tell me, and I promise I shall help you. My family fears my departure for these adventures, not for my sake, but for yours, Daring Do. You have become family to them, to all of us, but you insist on continuing these adventures and risking your life.”
She winced at his words. “I… I just need more time.”
A deep shadow fell over his eyes. “Very well, my friend.”
Ahuizotl stood up from the throne and tossed the skull to her hooves. She noticed that the impact warped the soft metal as it clattered to a stop.
“Curse you, Daring Do.”
“We have stood against each other for years, Daring Do, but it all ends today! Only one of us can leave this dungeon!” Ahuizotl tried to control the tremors in his body. “And you are not strong enough to hold down the wheel to keep the door open.” The walls of the temple groaned and rumbled around them.
“Ahuizotl, please! We have to get out of here!” She looked around in a panic. “This place is falling apart!”
“It is the only way, Daring Do!” He grabbed the spokes of the wheel and turned it downward. The heavy door slowly climbed upwards. “Go, my friend! Go now!”
“I’m not leaving you behind! There has to be another way.” She looked around frantically. “There has to be something we can use to keep it open.”
“There is nothing!”
Ahuizotl let out a cry of pain as the wheel slipped from his grip. The wheel quickly spun back up, slamming the door back to the ground. The walls let out another groan as cracks formed in the ceiling.
“Ahuizotl, I’m sorry. I should’ve listened to you. This is all my fault—”
“Not now, Daring Do!” He pushed himself back up and grabbed the wheel again. “You must leave now!” He strained as he forced the wheel to turn downward. His tail lifted a whistle to lips. A shrill screech rang throughout the ruins until he spat the whistle out. “My cats will show you the way. Leave while you still can!”
“But what about your family? Cihuacoatl? Quetzalcoatl? What will they do without you?” Ahuizotl’s cats appeared on the other side of the door.
“They will be able to tell their own stories. The world will need you to tell mine.” His tail grabbed her by her collar and threw her out of the room.
“Ahuizotl!” The panther caught the back of her shirt in its mouth and ran off with her.
Ahuizotl closed his eyes tight. “Good-bye, Daring Do.”
She held out a hoof as she watched the door crash into the ground.
The cats rushed out of the temple with Daring Do as it collapsed into a pile of rubble. She tilted her pith helmet back and stared at the wreckage in disbelief.
“Ahuizotl!” she yelled out. She ran to the debris and started pushing it out of the way. “Ahui-Ahuizotl!” She fought through the pain in her hooves and through the blurriness building in her vision.
The white house cat walked up to her and started pawing at the ground. It sniffed around before looking up at her with trembling eyes.
Daring Do buckled to her knees and held the cat, her body shaking as she choked on her sobs. The other cats slowly gathered around them as they all began mourning the loss of their friend.
The loss of the greatest villain they had ever known.
“Please do not blame yourself, Miss Yearling.” Cihuacoatl’s tail dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “He would not have wanted it that way.”
Daring Do turned to face Quetzalcoatl, all at once a young boy wanting to cry for his father and a young man trying to stay strong for his mother. Daring Do saw so much of his father in him. He had inherited so much of his father’s strength.
“I wouldn’t blame you if hated me, or never wanted to see me again,” Daring Do said to him.
Quetzalcoatl turned to face her and drew a shuddering breath. “How could I possibly hate the one my father gave up so much to save?” He blinked hard and took another breath. “You are the greatest friend this family has ever had.”
Daring Do squeezed her eyes tight and nodded in thanks. When she opened her eyes again, they opened the doors and walked into the room together.
The service was short and few were in attendance. Not many knew the secret of A. K. Yearling, and even fewer knew the truth about Ahuizotl.
Daring Do stood up and took her place at the podium. She looked at the wreath that framed a picture of Ahuizotl before taking a calming breath to begin.
“Ahuizotl was many things: a loving husband, a devoted father. He was an artist, and he was a friend. But to me, he will always be the greatest villain I could ever hope to face. He challenged me. He made me grow as an adventurer, as a writer, and as a pony. I owe… so much of my success to him. I owe him my life. I could never ask for a better villain, or a better friend.” She placed a copy of her newest book next to his picture: Daring Do and the Life of Ahuizotl. She closed her eyes to keep the wetness from escaping, but a tear managed to squeeze itself through and trickle down her cheek.
“Bless you, Ahuizotl.”