10th of August, 2352

I haven’t written anything here in ages! I’ve been too busy for that. The year was filled with misfortune as we fled from one ruin to another, seeking artefacts, gold, or even just food. It was all in vain and my ‘friends’ fell prey to illnesses, beasts, traps, or simply left to try braving the jungle on their own. Until now.

Today we found what we thought was yet another desolate temple of some forgotten deity, but, after entering, found it inhabited with some bird-like creatures. Normally we’d flee. However, the riches we saw from just peeking in the entrance filled us with renewed vigour, and the brutality with which the pegasi fought left me speechless. Had they fought like that when I tried subjugating them all that time ago, I would’ve surely failed. Despite our losses, the temple with all its wealth now belongs to us.

I don’t even recognise their god or anything about them, really. The jungle holds many secrets even from its own, it seems. Still, the gold inside is welcome, as with it one can bring nearly as much destruction to a city as an ancient curse. Daring Do can’t just steal such a pile either, so that’s a bonus. I can’t wait to see her try!

Yeah, I tried alright.

21st of August, 2352

Never underestimate the power of bits. One can go and hire anypony to do anything for him! All it takes is going to the less reputable taverns in the city and telling the more ‘shady’ customers that you have an offer for them and that they should bring their friends. After less than a week, I had several well supplied raiding parties and even a ship with crew! How can one destroy a city? Cut it off from the rest of the world and watch as it devolves into a ghetto filled with poverty!

No trade, no goods, no money. Not as good as eight centuries of sweltering heat – I can only keep this up until the word reaches the capital and they send troops here – but I suppose it’ll have to do. Eight centuries is overdoing it a bit anyway. The sight of Parfait going through garbage to find something to eat will satisfy me well enough, even if it should only last a while. An eye for an eye, humiliation for humiliation. Furthermore, if we manage to intercept every messenger and force any travellers inside the city, it could be as much as a year before anyone notices, seeing how remote this place is. Better yet, if many ponies are kept inside, the situation will worsen even faster. I’m a genius!

Fine, you had a good idea for once. So what? Doesn’t give you bragging rights.

25th of August, 2352

Hah! I have barely started, yet I’m triumphant already! The famed Daring Do is sitting in my cell, caught and helpless like a moth in a jar. I didn’t even have to build any traps; she just walked straight up to my men and got captured!

How was I supposed to know Broken Flask was working for you? He owed me some money for a game of darts, and when I came to pick it up, he and several of his friends jumped me! It was just unfair. I didn’t even know you were behind those bandits before that!

I don’t feel like ending her just yet. I mean where’s the satisfaction in that? There are far better things to do with your enemy. Just seeing the defeat in her face is priceless! Hearing all the insults from her mouth not so much, but she’ll tire of it eventually, or I’ll cut back on her food rations.

I nearly starved to death, dumbass! You could’ve at least told me it was because of the insults!

I wonder what else to do with her, however. Having such a trophy is nice and creates this pleasant, warm feeling in my chest, yet there ought to be yet better uses. But what?

That’s it! I’ll have her write a book about me, about my magnificent victory, and then have it published. My victory will be utter, and her humiliation complete.

Daring rolled her eyes. I’d rather cut off both my front legs than to write something like that. ‘Make sure to mention I’m handsome. And smart. And that while I come from humble origins, I have achieved great things. And that I rose from ashes like a phoenix and returned with renewed vigour. Also that I’m strong and dress with great taste. Oh, and don’t forget...’ No. Just... no.

30th of August, 2352

She’s stubborn. Everything she writes is either satire or an outright mockery. I still didn’t get to describe my teary past to her; she botched up even the prologue about her capture! ‘Writer’s block’ my buttocks, she just refuses to cooperate! At least the plan with the city is working; I hear the more uncommon goods like spices or sugar have already ran out in there.

3rd of September, 2352

Sat down with her today and had a lengthy discussion on a variety of topics. I admit I’m rather impressed – she’s proven to know a fair bit about culture and art. Rather unexpected, considering how she presents herself, but I’ll be the first one to admit that looks can deceive. Little progress on the writing side of things, but at least the insults have stopped and she said my name right for the first time. Maybe she has come to respect me after all?

5th of September, 2352

Had another talk with her, this time in a calm and polite manner. Perhaps she wasn’t lying about the writer’s block. After all, the cell is a rather uninspiring place and I know that one can’t create art on a whim. The mockery was uncalled for, but I did tell her that unless she writes me a paper, she won’t get any food or water. I’ll see if I can arrange some kind of improvement. A stroll outside might just be enough to kick-start her artistic side.

The corners of her mouth twitched.

You’re so gullible it’s almost cute, Ahuizotl.

“Come on! Seriously?” Daring Do thrashed around like a wounded caterpillar, her whole body tied up with a thick rope that enveloped her from neck to hooves.

“Boss said no risks,” a burly stallion, who introduced himself as None-of-your-business, said while carrying her on his back.

“I know, but... don’t you think this a bit too much?”

“Do I look like I care?”

Daring pouted. “Ahuizotl also said that I’m supposed to gather some inspiration in here.” She looked across the barren, rocky surroundings. “Does this look like a place for it?”

He puffed and threw her down on the ground.

“Ouch!”

“Seems like as good a place as any. You’ll just paint something sad and dark or whatever it is you’re supposed to do.”

“Write!” She jerked herself into a sitting position and scowled at him. “And sad isn’t going to work. He wants me to write a book about how great his victory is and what not. It can’t be all weepy!”

“Yeah, well, too bad. He didn’t say anything about that to me, just that I should bring you outside.” He sat down and pulled out a sandwich. “Look around as long as you wish. I have plenty of time.”

Daring Do sighed. “Look, you’re angry that you gotta baby-sit me; I get that. You probably want to do something much more entertaining instead.”

“You got that one right.” He nodded. “A casino opened in the base yesterday, and they have some nice looking waitresses!”

“Uh... Riiight...”

“Like the one in that blue outfit – you should’ve seen how hot her–”

“I don’t need to hear the details!” She frowned while he chuckled. “Look, the point is that if I don’t get inspired today, you’ll have to bring me outside again tomorrow. You’d lose another day of... whatever it is you want to do.”

He rubbed his chin. “Nah. He’d just dump it on somepony else.”

“Not if I tell him that you seem to wake... artistic urges in me or something.” She sneered and waggled her eyebrows.

He chewed for a few more seconds before his brows clashed together. “Oh, to hay with this!” He threw away the rest of his sandwich. “Fine! Where in Tartarus do you want to go?”

“The Orchid Burrow has always inspired me.”

“What? Do you have any idea just how bloody far that is? That’s half a day of travel!”

Daring gasped. “Is it? I had no idea at all. It’s a good thing you’ll carry me on your back the whole way then.” She smirked.

“Like hay I will!” He grabbed her by the tail and started dragging her away. “Pretty sure you’ll get inspired soon!”

“Ow!” While the rope protected her from the rocky road, pieces of gravel and pebbles still got through the gaps and bruised bits of her skin. “Stop it, pea-brain! Ahuizotl won’t like it if I return half-dead!”

“Ugh!” He let go of her. “I’m not carrying you all the way over there. Find something closer.”

“Sorry, but I can feel that only that place can inspire me. But...” Daring furrowed her brow. “You know... there’s another option. You could just untie my legs and let me walk on my own.”

“Yeah, so you could run away. Who do you take me for, an idiot?” He shook his head. “No can do.”

“Come on. You could just... I don’t know. Put me on a leash or something.”

He cocked his brow and smiled. “You mean like a dog?”

She blushed. “That’s... not the word I’d–”

“Yeah... Yeah, that’s sounds like a great idea! Let me leash you like pet you are, because that’s all there is to you – a little doggy for boss’s amusement, kept in her cage!” He laughed and started untying the rope.

The moment he unwrapped her hind legs, she kneed him in the head and jumped on her hooves. The thug got back up and charged her like a bull seeing red, roaring and cursing. She dove and smashed into his legs, knocking them away like bowling pins and sending him head-first into the nearest boulder.

She rolled over and cut herself free with his knife. He was still breathing; he’d be fine. Probably.

Now to put an end to my dear nemesis’s bandit racket.

“Okay, so, tell me why I shouldn’t just turn you over to Ahuizotl and get a nice bonus to my pay,” the brown, scarred stallion said.

“Well, for starters, you owe me an apology for turning me over the first time.” Daring Do sat on a stool in an ugly, desolated hovel of the equally ugly pony. “I mean come on, Broken Flask. You know that what you did was rather mean. But I’ll be the bigger mare here and even write off that dart debt.”

“I think I’ll much rather get paid for capturing you. Again.”

“Don’t you know friends are more important than money?”

He smirked. “Bits are my best friends and I feel like hanging out with a lot of them.” He stood up and reached for a rope. “So, if you hit yourself on the head or something and think I’ll help you out of the infinite goodness of my heart...”

Daring started examining her foreleg, turning and flexing it in the light. “Then there’s that minor thing with enormous riches you could get if you help me. More than you’d ever earn from working under Ahuizotl. Nothing compared to my friendship, of course.”

Broken Flask smiled. “Now that sounds interesting.” He started fiddling with the rope. “I just doubt you have such a treasure. I heard that all those bits you earned from your writing are gone now.”

“True, I don’t have that kind of money.” Daring grinned. “But Ahuizotl does. And there’s a certain mare who he ordered to capture at any cost. So, if I were to fly by the treasury...”

“...the guards would all go after you, and the room would be ready for plunder!” His eyes sparkled like two golden coins in the sunlight.

“Precisely! And if you bring a few friends to carry it all away, Ahuizotl won’t have any funds left to get back at you! Nopony’s going to work for him for free. Well, maybe those weird pegasi he brought with him, but there’s not many of them.”

Broken Flask rubbed his chin. “What about the boss himself? What if he comes? Off him?”

“No way!” Daring recoiled the moment the words left her mouth, furrowing her brow.

“Why not?

“Because... uh… because he looks kind of tough. He could hold you off long enough for the reinforcements to come. If he interrupts you while you’re looting, just run with what you have – don’t fight. I can always try again.”

He nodded. “Sounds reasonable. Let’s do this. I’ll be ready in two hours.” He laid down the rope and walked out of the room.

I couldn’t really have had Ahuizotl get killed back then, could I? What would I write about? A hero is nothing without her villain. Even if the villain employs a spear-throwing maniac that just manages to score a lucky hit! I can’t believe I had to go to the hospital. Worst two months of my life – I swear even Ahuizotl fed me better than they did! At least I stopped the raiding and took all his bits. She frowned. Come to think of it, I was a hero. I deserved better food! ‘Rations’ my flank, they had two months to restock! I’m definitely mentioning it in my next book.

7th of September, 2352

I have no words. What has happened yesterday – how? I had her! I had her! She was tied up and locked in a cell and the city was suffering! Everything was perfect.

Why did I go all soft on her? I must have lost my mind. Of course she fled! I was practically asking for it! I’m an idiot!

A large inkblot in a vague shape of a giant hand stained the rest of the page.

Wow, calm down. You should be used to defeat by now.

Wonderful. That’s a quill ruined. Just the thing to fix my mood. I suppose I could easily buy a dozen new ones, if my men hadn’t stolen every single bit I had left! Curse them! When I get my hands on them, I’ll–

Positive thoughts. I have to stay positive. I still have the ruin and the pegasi, and the plan wasn’t a complete failure. The city was on the brink of starvation, from what I’ve heard. I didn’t get to enjoy seeing Parfait on her knees, but I suppose the knowledge she probably did suffer somewhat will have to do. I refuse to waste any more time with it; my revenge now has a new target. What Daring Do did was distasteful. I showed her my good will, and this is what I get in turn? It’s personal now.

You also imprisoned me and demanded some stupid paper on how great you were! Sorry for not being more appreciative.

From now on, I shall devote all my efforts on getting back at her. I can’t very well let her run around and go south myself anyway – should she spot me there, I’d immediately be imprisoned. I doubt my former acquaintances would care to talk, seeing how they’d touch the subject of their banditry, and nopony else has actually seen me up close after I left the city. And before that... well, before that I wasn’t a wanted criminal – they can’t arrest me for being the same species as the ‘villain that led the raiding parties that we have a vague description of.’ Not without a witness that could confirm that him and me are one and the same.

From now on it’s you and me, Daring Do. Be assured that I won’t underestimate you the next time we meet.

Come to think of it, that’s probably the root of the problem – I kept underestimating her because I still saw her as Parfait deep down. I saw her as a petty, narrow-minded bigot that doesn’t see further ahead than on the tip of her muzzle, just like everypony else in that place.

“Stop comparing me to your crush! If you need somepony to take it out on, use her, not me! Like it’s my fault we look similar.” She huffed. “If I’m to be hated, I’d rather it was for something I did, not some cheap lookalike. Didn’t he say she had an ugly nose earlier or something? Do I have an ugly nose?”

She reached to her muzzle.

“Of course not! Idiot. To think I actually pitied him a bit!”

Daring Do is different, however. She’s not Parfait – only after our talks lately did I finally wrap my mind around something so obvious! I was defending against somepony she’s not; of course I failed.

About time.

Daring Do, despite the seeming dopiness...

Hey!

...is actually rather intelligent and crafty. Unlike Parfait and her ilk, she has no problems dealing with those below her, as she’s shown yesterday, and is, above all, brave. Combined with her undeniable physical prowess, she truly is a great opponent and a complete opposite of the city’s regular denizens.

Daring Do blushed. Well... I guess he got at least something right.

It’s a shame we’re on the opposite sides of the battlefield. Had I a second-in-command as capable as her, the city would probably be nothing but a smoking ruin right now. With things the way they are and with her betraying my trust the way she did, however, I’ll have to dispose of her completely.