Clouds slowly moved overhead as drops of rain pattered against the trees and foliage of the Tenochtitlan Basin. Daring’s eyes fluttered as she slowly opened them, moving a hoof to her muzzle to wipe away the cold beads of water as they poured onto her from the dark, gray sky. Her muscles ached in protest as she stood, groaning from the pain of her cuts and bruises. She looked around the makeshift campsite and noticed Crystal Rune talking to Black Arrow.

Looking to her side, she saw Roughneck still asleep, snoring deeply as he laid on his side. Shaking her head, she made her way to the dark green unicorn while looking up to the dark and dreary early morning. ‘Well, so much for a dry morning.’ She looked back to see Rune had turned around and was walking towards her. Stopping a few feet away from where Rune stood, she inquired, “Anything happen while me and Roughneck were out?”

Crystal shook her head. “Nothing eventful. Everything has been pretty quiet.” The dark green unicorn looked over Daring’s cuts and bruises and murmured. “How you holding up?”

Daring looked down to her sides with a grimace, but she waved off her concern. “I’m fine. Nothing that I can’t handle.” Rune nodded and walked over to Roughneck, nudging his shoulder with a hoof. The dark grey stallion awoke with a grunt before getting to his hooves. He groaned in pain, but shook himself off.

“What a cold morning this is.” He stated, looking around the small open area before facing Crystal. “So, find any lead on where our case is at?”

“Black Arrow came back and said he found a trail next to a river. Sounds like the area you and those Neighland ponies were at.” The unicorn confirmed, waving the maroon pegasus over.

“Did you find anything else?” Daring inquired, turning to face him.

“Only the tracks they left behind.” The stallion chuckled before adding. “For such a professional company, they sure do leave quite the set of tracks behind.”

“Alright, everypony.” Rune announced, walking to the front of the group. “We need to get over to the facility these Neighland ponies were talking about. We don’t have any idea what they intend for the monster we were carrying around, but judging by how anxious they were to get their hooves on it, I’d say they don’t have any good intentions on how they're going to use the creature.”

“And when we do find this facility, we’ll break in, locate the creature, and kill it.” Black Arrow added with a nod before continuing, “We’ll also have to consider using stealth. Those Neighland Ponies don’t seem to screw around when it comes to the force of guards they have. Last time we saw them, they were carrying crossbows more advanced than mine and were back up by unicorns and ponies who look like they’ve been hitting the gym way too hard.”

“Did you ever find the facility?” Roughneck asked this time, moving to Daring Do’s side.

“No. I found the trail and made my way back. After all, we do have another creature on the loose out there, and it seems to be more frightening and quiet than Ahuizotl could ever be.” Arrow grimaced, looking around the tree line cautiously for any sign of movement.

“Well then, let’s get a move on. If we want to keep the element of surprise, we need to make it there while its still dark out.” Crystal said, trotting through the brush. The others following suite.

Walking through the forest, the eerie silence followed by the pattering of the rain as it got heavier unsettled the group. Each pony looking at the treetops above, wondering whether the creature that ambushed Daring Do and Roughneck was following them. After the short trek, Arrow led them to the Neighland ponies’ trail. “See, what did I say? These blokes are just a messy bunch. Funny how they have all this technology, yet the one thing they don’t think about is covering up their trail.” The pegasus chuckled afterwards, moving farther ahead.

Crystal Rune followed close behind as Daring and Roughneck scanned the area. The memory of yesterday’s brutal struggle played back in their minds. “I can’t wait to get back at those guys.” Roughneck murmured, his brow furrowing as he slowly took in the scenery of the area.

“You and me both.” Daring called over her shoulder, glaring as she shuddered with the ghostly remnant of iron in her muzzle.‘When I find those ponies… they’re going to regret what they tried to do.'

The ponies left the desolate area and followed the trail left behind by the Neighland ponies. The walk seemed to go on and on as the group made their way through the jungle. The misty droplets intensified into a downpour as the ponies continued their trek through the moist forest. The ponies’ quick and steady pace was now reduced to an agonizingly slow walk as the forest floor’s grass and dirt covered surface turned into slippery mud.

“How long does this trail go on for? It feels like it’s been hours!” Roughneck piped up, slipping in the mud and falling on his side. Cursing silently, he got back up and continued on.

“Don’t gripe, Roughneck. This trail can’t go on forever.” Black Arrow reassured, pushing through the thick foliage as the group moved on.

Daring looked up into the sky, only to notice a faint light shining in the stormy sky that lit the clouds above the treeline. “Hey, look up.” The light gold pegasus announced as she pointed upwards, drawing the others’ attention to monster. “I’d like to guess that would be the guys we’re looking for.”

“Doesn’t look too far off. What do you think, Arrow?” Rune looked over to her right as she spoke to the maroon pegasus.

“I’d guess about at least a quarter of a mile.” Black Arrow suggested.

The mercenaries looked to one another, nodding before they continued on with a new sense of vigor as they closed in on their target. Minutes later, they came to a hilltop, the group looking around before they all spotted the object at the same time. Sitting out in the distance was a large compound-like station, bright blue lights shimmered all over the building, with pale yellow spotlights lighting the air and surrounding jungle. Daring looked to the right of the building and noticed another one. Unlike the Neighland facility, it lacked any lights and was made of stone. “This is an ancient temple, but way out here?” Daring murmured, the other ponies turning to follow her stare. The pyramid rose from the center of the site, the ancient hieroglyphics depicting an ancient race from long ago.

“What are they doing with an ancient temple?” Roughneck raised a single eyebrow as he looked between the compound and the temple.

“Who knows, but look at the security detail on that compound.” Crystal pointed out, pointing back to the compound. The same masked ponies from before were there, many carrying the same automatic crossbows.

“Wow… that’s quite the tough looking security detail. Reminds me of that one job we had in Vanhoover.” Black Arrow recalled, staring wide-eyed.

“Yeah, well, those ponies weren’t carrying around high powered weapons like these.” Rune pointed out, looking down at the compound. She looked over to the temple and didn’t notice any movement. “Hey. I don’t see any guards making their rounds at the ancient temple.”

“Yeah.” Black Arrow murmured, looking to the others. “We’ll head down that way. They won’t notice us if we sneak in through the ruined temple.” The others nodded. With that, the group made their way down the hill, hurrying their pace as they neared the ruins.

Up above on the pinnacle of the pyramid, the alien stood tall, scanning the compound in search of its prize. It noticed all the guards moving through their patrols. Its vision changed with a green flash as it adjusted the visual setting of its mask, turning everything a shade darker. As it looked through the building, it could see a small, faint green blur inside the compound. Clicking in interest, it zoomed in on the small shape, a familiar shape, one that it saw before.

Snarling with satisfaction, it knew that it found the Serpent. The snapping of twigs alerted its audio receptors, and its head snapped to the side as its eyes scanned for the source of a sudden noise. It noticed four ponies walking up to the ancient building beneath its feet. It growled in annoyance, seeing these ponies as just another nuisance that would get in the way. While observing the ponies, it recognized two of them from earlier. It was interested in the resilience of these two ponies, recalling how weak they were from the scuffle it saw earlier.

If they were resilient enough to recover so quickly, then these two and their companions once again qualified as worthy prey. It growled at the seemingly bountiful challenge it was presented with, even if they were nothing more than just a simple obstacle or annoyance. They were obviously after the Serpent as well and, therefore, had to be eliminated.

Pressing a sequence of buttons on its gauntlet, it turned itself invisible. As it crouched low, it noticed faint movement somewhere far off from the group. Wondering what such a creature was creating this disturbance, it leaped from the top of the temple, crashing into the treetops below before heading towards the unknown creature.

Making their way through the ruins, the group came to a ledge that overlooked the facility. Black Arrow scouted the facility, Daring looked around the area and shivered. ‘That thing… I know I saw Rugged Muzzle’s skull. How could a creature like that do such a thing? Why is it hunting us?’

“How old do you think this building is?” Roughneck asked as they passed by it.

“Must be centuries, at least. I can’t imagine why these ponies have set up near a place like this.” Rune murmured, looking up to the ancient building next to them.

Black Arrow quickly returned, moving towards the dark unicorn. “Haven’t seen anything as far as a pony. I did, however, find a way down that brings us closer to the compound.”

“Alright then. Let’s get a move on. We need to get inside before we lose the cover of darkness.” Rune announced, following Arrow as he led them through the temple. Daring looked back towards the entrance before gazing at the compound. It was so close now, but with the spotlights hovering around, she saw no way to get past them. Sighing, she quickly caught up with the others.

The darkness around the group unsettled the ponies, seeing nothing that could be distinguishable within the shadows of the ancient building. Making their way out of the building, Daring rushed to Rune’s side, “Hey, Rune… who’s the client you’re working for? It wasn’t Fancy Pants, was it?”

“Oh… the client’s name? It wasn’t Fancy Pants. He came to us a few days before you showed up at Fancy Pants’ and told us about the job. He told us that we were to escort somepony as they retrieved something and then to take them out as soon as they got it before bringing it back to him. He didn’t exactly give his name out and I didn’t see him in person, but I’d recognize that voice anywhere. It was-”

A loud roar interrupted her as she and the others turned around, backing up as something jumped onto the ground in front of them. Dust flew up as a large figure stood on its hind legs, roaring at the group. Daring shielded her eyes from the dust, and let her hoof down. She gasped, before groaning in annoyance. “Not you again.”

“I am tired of you disrupting all my plans, Daring Do! No longer will you be a nuisance to me! I will destroy you all, here and now!” Ahuizotl launched himself into the air, lunging right towards Daring Do.

A flap of wings sounded from the adventurer’s right side, and Daring turned to see Black Arrow bolt from the ground, crossbow in his hooves. He yelled as he kicked Ahuizotl in the chest, flipping before his crossbow’s butt met canine-like face with a loud crack.

Their aggressor was knocked to the ground, landing on his feet as he roared at the group of ponies. “Anypony got any bright ideas?” Roughneck asked, unsheathing both daggers and crouching low, one dagger on his right hoof and the other in his mouth.

“We can’t lead this guy to the compound, he’ll just complicate things.” Rune scowled, her horn glowing with a pale ice blue aura.

“So then, we take him on and drive him back?” Daring inquired, glancing at the magic’s aura. Rune nodded, smirking as she fired a beam of magic at Ahuizotl, sending the creature skidding back.

Daring chuckled slightly before smiling. “This is going to be fun.” Flapping her wings, she lifted off the ground and sped off towards Ahuizotl. The creature stared at her, fangs bared behind a quivering scowl. With a guttural roar that echoed through the jungle, he charged her, the two going head to head as they rapidly closed the ground between themselves.

Black Arrow flew in front of her and shot a bolt off. Ahuizotl rolled out of the way and sprinted at the maroon pegasus with a cocked arm, smashing the pegasus's chest as they made contact. Arrow grunted as he was sent tumbling across the ground, coming to a halt. He lifted himself up shakily, pushing himself up with his fore legs.

Seeing an opening, Daring dashed towards Ahuizotl with a swift right hook to his jaw, twirling him around in daze. Roughneck charged towards Ahuizotl and bucked him in the chest before spinning around to slash at his arms.

Ahuizotl howled in pain before turning on the dark grey stallion. He yowled in anger and knocked him aside with a sudden burst of strength, flinging the earth pony through the air and into a tree with a loud thud. Roughneck slid down against the wall for a brief moment before crashing down to the ground with another thud. “Roughneck!” Daring called out. Grinding her teeth, she took flight and sped towards Ahuizotl again.

Bringing her right foreleg back again, she aimed it at Ahuizotl. Hitting him once more, she smiled but gasped as he turned and grabbed her. Struggling against his grip, she grunted as she tried to pry herself free. Ahuizotl laughed at the pony’s vain struggle and gloated, “You cannot go anywhere now, Daring Do! I have you right where I want you.”

He lifted her into the air until Daring felt the wind rush through her mane. Closing her eyes, she awaited the inevitable feeling of the ground beneath her, but felt Ahuizotl’s grip loosen. Daring crashed to the ground, grunting as she scrambled to her hooves. Daring turned to face her nemesis, only to see Crystal Rune repeatedly blasting Ahuizotl with pale blue beams of magic.

She looked back after seeing Daring get up from the ground. “You okay?” She called to the pegasus. The adventurer looked up and nodded. She watched as Rune turned back, only for her to be suddenly launched into the air, yowling in pain. Her magic flickered out when she slammed back to the ground, moaning as she tried to rise.

“No!” Daring yelled out, turning towards her nemesis with a scowl.

“I won’t be stopped this time!” Ahuizotl roared, charging Daring once more. She got up and stood her ground. Dust whipped up into the air in front of her suddenly, stopping Ahuizotl's charge as he stared at the new being with wide eyes.

Daring slowly backed away, recognizing the blurry figure from last night’s encounter. “No… it’s back.” She murmured to herself, hurrying to Crystal’s side. She helped her up and stared back as the other ponies made their way back to the group.

“Why is it just standing there?” Roughneck whispered, keeping his gaze locked on the figure standing in front of Ahuizotl.

A blue wave of energy shimmered around the form before the creature became visible. Clicking as it stared at the blue creature, it tilted its head to the side, staring in interest at this seemingly formidable opponent. It watched the battle from the treetops, intrigued by the way it fought. If something like this was able to hold off four ponies, it was definitely a worthy foe to fight. It didn’t unsheathe its blades from its gauntlets, rather wanting to take this creature on fist to fist. “How dare you interrupt our fight!? You will pay for your insolence!”

Ahuizotl charged, grabbing its shoulders to push it across the ground. The alien fought back with its strength, stopping Ahuizotl in his path before grabbing his arm and throwing him to the side. Ahuizotl landed on his feet before charging again.

The alien pulled his fist back and smashed Ahuizotl’s face with a loud crack, sending him skidding across the ground. It walked towards the downed Ahuizotl and grabbed him by the throat. He hit Ahuizotl’s jaw again before repeatedly striking his face with a clenched fist, sending bloody teeth flying out of Ahuizotl’s mouth with each blow.

Ahuizotl roared and reached his tail-hand over his head, tightly gripping the alien’s mask. The creature grabbed hold of the tail and pulled it, yanking its grasp free from the mask. It punched Ahuizotl in the face again before bringing another clawed hand to the tail and breaking it.

Ahuizotl screamed in pain, yanking his tail from the grasp of the alien. It quickly grabbed Ahuizotl’s neck and lifted him into the air, eliciting a choked cry from the blue-furred monster.

“Come on, we need to get out of here!” Rune yelled to the group, spinning before taking off with the other two mercenaries. Daring looked back and ran with the others, catching up to them before turning around again.

The alien creature slammed Ahuizotl into the ground, growling as it gripped his neck tighter. Ahuizotl choked as he grabbed at the clawed hands, gasping as the alien tightened its grip. The bones in Ahuizotl’s neck crackled and popped from the strain and his flesh began to tear. The alien jerked at Ahuizotl’s neck again, causing him to cough up blood. Accompanied by the awful sound of ripping flesh, the alien roared as he pulled one last time. Blood erupted from Ahuizotl’s neck as his head and spine were wrenched from his body.

Daring gasped as she saw Ahuizotl’s headless form collapse on the temple floor, his blood pooling around his body. Ahuizotl, her nemesis, who always tried to kill her and create chaos in the Tenochtitlan Basin, was dead. It was something she just couldn’t believe, yet, there was his head, clutched in the creature’s claws.

The alien roared in triumph, raising Ahuizotl’s head and spinal column to the heavens as blood dripped onto its mask. It brought his head back down and looked over it, running a clawed hand over his face, looking at the newest head to add to its collection.

Daring couldn’t help but just stare at Ahuizotl’s head in the grasp of this alien. As she watched with disbelieving eyes, she slowly shook her head. She felt a hoof on her shoulder and turned to see Crystal Rune. “Come on, Daring, we need to get out of here.”

The light gold pegasus hesitated for a moment before following behind the dark green unicorn. As the ponies ran off, the alien creature turned to watch them. Lowering the head of Ahuizotl, it stashed it in the black mesh sack on its left side, giving his head its own place amongst the others before pressing a few buttons on its gauntlet and jumping into the treetops.

The group hurried as they ran towards the loading bay. As they neared, they overheard the Neighland ponies as they drew closer to their position. Black Arrow looked around quickly and spotted an area of brush near the gates. Directing the others, they quickly took shelter, watching as the guards ran past them.

“Did you hear that?” One of the guards asked as they walked by in a hurry.

“Yeah. Never heard anything that sounded like that before.” Another guard murmured.

“Doesn’t sound friendly, that’s for sure.” A third guard said.

“Should we call it in?” The second guard asked.

“Let’s see what it is first so we know what to call it in as.” The first said before rushing in the direction of the ruins with the other two following behind him.

Watching the three guards until they finally disappeared, the group snuck into the loading bay. Carefully making their way in, they looked around at the plethora of crates, shipping equipment, and other various cargo. “Come on, let’s get out of this area, we’re too exposed.” Black Arrow whispered, quickly leading the group towards the door at the end of the hanger. They went through door, leaving the cargo bay behind and making their way inside, searching for their prize.

Author's Notes:

Thanks for waiting patiently guys. Chapter XI was fun to write and I hope you enjoyed it. The contest for who shall survive is officially over. Here are the results for the contest.
Ahuizotl: 1
Black Arrow: 0
Crystal Rune: 4
Daring Do: 7
Roughneck: 2
Alien: 1 (Apparently the Alien just got his own vote).

Thanks to those who have participated in this contest. I shall announce the winner for this contest at the end of this story, so be patient. Also, I still would like to keep thanking DiabloGuapo and TehSporkBandit for their amazing help. And of course, I hope you all have a good morning, afternoon, evening and night. Oh and of course, have a happy Halloween! And to add to my happy Halloween wishes... sweet dreams...