Only the Daring - Act II

Daring's eyes fluttered open to see the same dark surroundings when they were closed. Not even the floor beneath her bare knees was visible, but she could feel the unsanded wood scrape at them. Once her senses returned to her, the cool air brushing up against her naked body became more apparent. She also noticed her arms pulled tight above her head, a length of rope around her wrists keeping her in place.

 

        Daring looked up towards her arms to see if she could do something, but the lack of light barely let her see past her nose. She yanked on the rope and tried to twist out of it. She desperately searched for any advantage to get her out of this situation, but nothing would help her out of the compromising position. Daring gripped onto the rope and tried to pull herself to a standing position, but a warm hand slid between her shoulder and her neck. Against her best efforts, she was forced back down into a kneeling position. She was surprised by how easily she was forced back down; either she was incredibly weak, or whoever was holding her had immense strength.

 

        Daring breathing quickened as the feeling of helplessness overtook her. She looked behind her to see who her captor was, but the darkness didn't allow it.

 

        Daring had to take a deep breath to keep herself from yelling. "Who are you? What do you want?"

 

        No answer came. A finger traced it's way across her bare shoulders, pulling her hair up and then letting it fall across her bare back once the hand moved away. The feeling sent chills across her body as her hair settled against her.

 

        Daring bit her lip and closed her eyes tightly. That familiar lump started to form in her throat and her heart pounded in her chest. She thought back to the cave. She remembered seeing whooves leave for firewood, then falling asleep, but everything after that was just a blank.

 

        She felt herself get restless at the prospect of being at the mercy of this stranger. What if Gilda had found her and was circling her right now?

 

        Daring thrashed against her bonds again. "Let me go!"

 

        The rope showed no signs of giving in, so Daring fell limp against them, panting from the exertion. She hung her head, ready to get whatever they wanted to do to her overwith.

 

        A single finger pressed to the underside of her chin, then coerced her head forward. The finger slid up the side of her cheek until the hand was holding her face by her chin. She was pulled in either direction, as if her captor was looking her over. Daring gazed into the darkness ahead of her, but no face materialized. Daring grit her teeth and gave the dark an indignant expression.

 

        "What are you doing here?" A voice asked. She couldn't make out the gender from the dull, distant whisper. It sounded like it was from across the room, but right inside her ear at the same time.

 

        "Why should I tell you? Do you work for Gilda?" Daring glared into the dark to find eyes to stare into, to try to pressure into an answer. She could never find any.

 

        Another hand found it's way between her legs, brushing up against her folds then down her thigh. Daring's breath caught in her throat as she jumped away from the contact. She was no stranger to her enemies trying to get a piece of her, but never in a position where she hardly had a chance.

 

        The hand holding her face pulled her closer. "Why are you here?" Fear started to grip at her as the whisper became more intense. She could feel an occasional cool wind that might have been warm breath to a normal human.

 

        "I-I'm here to protect Equestria."

 

        There was a pause, then the hand left her chin. "Your heart betrays you."

 

        Daring mouthed the questioningly words 'my heart' with a confused expression. Before she could ask, a pair of hands pulled her by her hips backwards, making her let out a tiny yelp. A cock pressed up against her slit, making her heart pound even louder in her ears. The dick primed itself at her entrance, but didn't go any further.

 

        This was leagues different than any other man she had been with. The cock waiting to enter her pulsated and moved with some kind of warm energy, but didn't feel like it had any mass behind it; almost as if it was just a pocket of air that wouldn't yield to her flesh.

 

        Daring tried to pull away, but the hands on her hips held her securely in place. Daring tried to look back to see her captor, but a hand pulled her face forward again. Now she knew she was outnumbered. She closed her eyes and attempted to ease her breathing.

 

        "Why do you risk your life to come here? Why not let your people deal with their own problems?" The voice whispered to her.

 

        "B-Because I... they... I don't want something to happen that I can prevent." Daring was finding it harder to concentrate with the dick ready to thrust inside of her.

 

        "No." Daring's eyes darted around the darkness incredulously. /What do you mean no?!/ she wanted to shout. "Look inside your heart. Why is it that you've come here? Why must you constantly put yourself in danger?"

 

        "What? I do it because I n--Ah!" Before she could get another word out, whoever was behind her pushed his hips forward, filling her with his cock. He pushed it in slowly until he reached her cervix.

 

        Daring let out a slow, even whine as she was penetrated. She could hardly think straight as a dark blush crossed her face and her expression softened at the feeling. the cock pulsated and flowed with some strange power, vibrating against her insides. She couldn't help but let out a soft moan as he pulled out and slowly started pumping into her.

 

        Daring could feel herself grow wet to help her captor along. The gentle heat of the dick and the steady pace turned her mind blank with pleasure. She tried to resist, pull against the bonds or pull out of the hands on her hips, but the more his cock thrusted into her, the more she felt like butter in his hands.

 

        The hand pulled her head up by her chin again. "Answer us," the whisper demanded.

 

        She bounced with every stroke, and couldn't think enough for a proper answer. "Ah... What do you want to--mmm--hear?" Daring tried to let out between moans. She didn't know what to say to get them to stop. Now she didn't know if she wanted them to.

 

        "The truth."

 

        Daring bit her lip and tried to stifle her moans. She tried everything she could to bring up an answer, but her mind was clouded with pleasure. Only the most basic thoughts crossed her mind, along with the growing instict to push her hips backwards. She struggled to blurt out an answer, but all that escaped her lips was a strained moan.

 

        The hands on her hips moved up to explore her. She felt a forearm wrap around her and bring her closer to her captor. The other hand traced it's way around her chest, casually caressing her along any sensitive areas it could find. The heat between her legs made her squirm under the touch. She could feel her own fluids start to drip down her thighs.

 

        Daring felt herself come closer to the edge with every thrust. She no longer had any control over the pleasured moans coming out of her mouth. Right before she could climax, the body behind her disappeared without even a whisper.

 

        Daring slumped against the rope. She panted and grimaced at the storm of feelings moving through her body. She could feel sweat clinging to her hair and rolling down her bare skin. Frustration built up inside of her at the feeling of being deprived, but she took a few deep breaths to quell the feeling; she had more important things to do.

 

        "Do you have an answer?"

 

        The respite allowed her to think clearly again once her own body calmed down. She shut her eyes tightly, trying to think of what they might want her to say. Nothing came to her. It looked like she was going to tough it out and fin something to capitilize on.

 

        "I'm here to make sure every one is safe from people like you," she said indignantly. She expected some angered response or some kind of abuse. What she received was the harsh feeling of lonliness inside an empty room.

 

        A long moment passed of nothing but a cool breeze brushing across Daring's bare skin. The feeling on her heated body made her uncomfortable and sent a wave of chills down her spine again. The silence gnawed at her. She almost wanted something to happen, just to break the uncomfortable stillness around her.

 

        The rope above her head pulled upwards, slowly coaxing her into a standing position. It stopped only when her toes could barely make contact with the floor.

 

        The voice whispered in her mind again. "Tell us. What do you get from being here?"

 

        Daring frowned and tried to pull away from the heat in front of her. Whatever answer she could give them wasn't going to be something they wanted to hear. She resigned to silence.

 

        A pair of hands grabbed her by her hips once again. This time they pulled her backwards until she couldn't touch the ground. The same cock slid it's way across her slit, soaking up her excitement for another ride. He easily slipped back inside of her, making her gasp at the feeling. He started off slowly, making her feel every inch as it pushed it's way inside of her. Every bump or pulse of the dick inside of her sent a shock of pleasure through her hips, causing her to close her eyes and open her mouth for the beginning of a moan.

 

        As she opened her mouth, something else made it's way inside. Another cock of the same pulsating warmth slipped by her lips and placed itself in her mouth. Daring opened her eyes to try to see what was happening in front of her, but even at this close distance, nothing materialized. She started to think that this wasn't as much about seeing them as it was about the feelings they were forcing on her.

 

        A hand traced it's way across her cheek and placed itself on the back of Daring's head. The cock in her mouth drove forward and gently poked at the back of her throat before pulling back to do it again. There was no taste as the cock thrusted into her mouth, but the warmth and texture of skin were still apparent.

       

        The hands on her hips drifted along her sides in different directions. One hand placed itself between her legs, idly rubbing her clit as he continued to drive into her. The other moved to grope her; it kneaded her breast and played with her nipple and piled on the pleasure she was feeling.

 

        Daring's eyes rolled back. She moaned and hummed her pleasure around the dick in her mouth, filling the room with her muffled noises.

 

        She writhed as she felt herself close to cumming again. She swung back and forth with every thrust of the dick inside her, pushing her deeper onto the one in her mouth. Daring pulled her legs back to try to get a hold on legs behind her, but they only swatted at thin air.

 

        The cock pumping into her picked up it's pace and the hand between her legs followed. The cock in her mouth pulled out, letting her sing her pleasure into the darkness. Every quick thrust inside of her pushed out all of her thoughts; nothing but pleasure crossed through her mind. The pressure inside of her built up until it threatened to burst. Finally, Daring let out a strained moan and curled her toes as her inner walls convulsed around the cock inside her. She strained against her bonds as her muscles tightened and waves of her orgasm washed across her body.

 

        Something warm washed through her inner walls and multiplied the pleasure exponentially, almost to the point of being unbearable.

 

        Unlike most orgasms, this one didn't stop. Her body didn't relax and flow into any afterglow; the pleasure assaulted her until her excited moans turned pained. No matter how she squirmed or lashed out, her folds sent out shockwaves of pleasure to her entire body, paralyzing her from doing anything but endure.

 

        She fought against the rope and whimpered as if she was being shocked. Only the most primal urges came to mind; the base of all her desires were pulled front and center.

 

        "Why?" the voice whispered to her.

 

        "Ahh! The thrill!" she yelled without thinking.

 

        At once, the cock pulled out of her and the hands fell away. The rope holding her up went slack and she fell back to her hands and knees as her binds draped across her back and fell to the floor. She panted and felt sweat fall freely from her body. Her muscles ached terribly, but she was relieved to finally be free.

 

        "I... I do it for the adrenaline fix... Because being in danger is the only way I feel alive..."

 

        Only silence met her admission. "The fear... It's what drives me..."

 

        A few still moments passed before she heard anything. "That's all we wanted to hear," the voice said to her.

 

        The fatigue in her body finally caught up to her. Daring slumped to the floor and lost consciousness.

 

        ________________________________________________________________________________

 

        Daring's vision returned to her through an unfocused haze. A headache pulsated in her brain, and she struggled to regain her senses. She groaned and tried to sit up, but a weight on top of her kept her in place.

 

        The feeling of unsanded wood underneather her bare body was the first thing that her senses filled in. Once her sight cleared, the picture of a marked woman tracing her hands across her body came into view.

 

        Daring looked down to her torso. Without the strength to react, she could only watch as the woman drew strange symbols across her body. A dull gray painted lines across her entire body from her fingertips to her navel where the woman was drawing them with her fingers now. The slow, deliberate designs painted on her were contrasted by the sharp, jagged ones etched into the dark-skinned woman sitting atop her.

 

        A strange, green glow emenated from her eyes and hands as they moved across her body. Finally her fingertips connected below Daring's sternum, sending a shock of strange energy throughout her body. Daring jolted upright, feeling all of her senses and strength completely returning to her. She crawled out from under the woman until her back hit a wall.

 

        She was ready to take a defensive stance, but the woman merely stayed in place on her knees where Daring once lied. "Wh-what the hell are you doing?"

 

        She didn't say anything. The green light faded from her eyes, and she could see her looking her form over. Daring looked down and turned her hands over to look at the markings she had put on her. All the way down her thighs they connected; but as soon as she took them all in, the markings started to fade until nothing but her tanned skin remained.

 

        "What did you see?" She let out in an indigenious accent.

 

        Daring looked her over incredulously. She could barely see her face from under her hood, but it was serious nonetheless.

 

        "What are you talking about?"

 

        The woman stood up, and Daring got a better look at her face. She started to remember what happened in the cave before she had woken up. "While you slept. Surely there is some memory that you kept?"

 

        Daring looked up at her, confused. She couldn't pin down any dream, but feelings started to rush back to her. Lonliness, fear, confusion, pleasure, frustration, and finally realization all passed over her in waves, but she couldn't pin down any events in her mind to pair them with. She knew something had happened, but she had no recollection of what.

 

        "I... uh..." Daring searched her mind; the event was at the tip of her tongue, but every attempt to materialize the events turned into nothing but the feelings again.

 

        "Do not worry if you cannot yet make these ties. They have spoken to you, I can see it in your eyes."

 

        /How did she know?/ Daring pondered. Before the question could linger any longer, the woman took a step towards her. Daring jumped up into a defensive stance, ready for a fight. The woman simply looked over her nude figure and laughed. She turned around and started to dig in an open chest.

 

        Daring didn't drop her gaurd, but felt a bit embarrassed at any rate. She could feel a tiny blush cross her face as she spared a quick glance down at herself. That certainly would have been the first time she'd ever have to fight naked.

 

        The woman turned around and threw Daring her clothes and boots. She snatched her shirt and shorts out of the air and let her boots land with a thud on the floorboards in front of her. She gave the woman another incredulous look.

 

        "What were you doing to me?" Daring asked as she stepped into her pants. Even as she looked across her skin again, every trace of the paint that once covered her was gone.

 

        "I'm not here to make you my prey. I'm only here to send you on your way."

 

        "What is that supposed to--Why are you rhyming?" The confusion only grew on Daring's face. The woman in front of her seemed almost cheery as she chuckled at Daring's question. Whatever horrible things Daring imagined her doing to her unconscious body didn't seem to be much of a threat with her as her captor. Daring moved to start buttoning up her shirt, but never took her eyes off the strange woman.

 

        "Please, one question at a time, if you may. My name is Zecora, by the way."

 

        Daring shook her head. "Alright, what were you doing with me?"

 

        Zecora took a deep breath. "I saw you come into the forest near me, bringing quite a hostile following you see. I followed you, wary of what your arrival might mean. I apologize if our introduction was unforseen."

 

        Daring leaned down to lace up her boots, but kept a watchful eye trained on Zecora as she spoke.

 

        "But you must understand, not much good comes from visitors from outside this land. I had to bring you in asleep, so that I might search your soul without so much as a peep." Daring found her voice very engaging for some reason, enough to keep paying attention for more than her own protection. "What I found amazed me so. Tell me, do you know what it means when these marks glow?" Zecora asked, tracing a finger across her own bare abdomen where white streaks were, and motioning to Daring as well.

 

        Daring pulled the strings on her boots tight, completing her outfit, so she stood up to come to eye level with her. "No, I'm not very familiar with the culture around here."

 

        "It means you've been touched by the ancients long passed. Many of my people mark themselves in hopes of being part of this caste. The spirits have seen something in you they've deemed worth their appearance. Personally, I don't believe this is just hapenstance."

 

        Daring didn't believe in spirits or prophecies, but all this about 'her people' made her sure that Zecora was the one that could help. She put on an interested facade and went along with it. "What do you mean? What do they want from me?"

 

        "That, I do not know. That is something the ancients themselves must show. I am only the messenger here, the one to show you where you must peer."

 

        "So where is it that I have to go to ask these spirits what they want?" Now she was getting somewhere. This was turning out to be much easier than she had thought.

 

        "Follow the river as far as you can north. There, if you are truly worthy, my people will come forth."

 

        Daring nodded and glanced towards the door. Zecora took notice and walked towards the door and opened it for her. "I will not hinder you on your path. You have more important things to worry about than my wrath. Just know that many travelers have been down this same road. Death is all that awaits you if all you desire is gold."

 

        "I can assure you my desires aren't so selfish," Daring said, moving towards the door. She kept her distance from Zecora, just in case.

 

        "If you say so. I do have one last bit of advice before you go."

 

        Daring raised an eybrow. "And that is?"

 

        "To please those who appear, you must show them what you truly hold dear."

 

        "Got it. Thank you for your help, Zecora," Daring said as she stepped out of her doorway out into the humid jungle once again. Zecora spoke up one last time.

 

        "Do not thank me yet. Your worst enemy, you haven't even met." With that, Zecora shut the door to her hut behind Daring, leaving her to wonder what she meant.

 

        Daring looked back to Zecora's hut with a puzzled expression. The oddly decorated, hollowed-out tree was strange enough, but trying to put together what she really wanted with her is what was strange.

       

        Daring stopped to try to make sense of what she'd just heard. She rolled her eyes and shrugged it off. /Ancients? Spirits? Next thing you know they're going to make me their god... Or sacrifice me./ Daring laughed to herself and walked into jungle, eager to get Whooves and go on their way.

 

        She just had to find out where she was first.

 

        _______________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

        After a couple of hours, Daring finally found the stream that led to the waterfall they'd found yesterday. Daring followed it downstream until it dropped off into the waterfall. The length that Zecora dragged her through the woods was impressive. She didn't seem to be all that strong, but Daring knew looks could be deceiving.

 

        The sound of rushing water and the distant caws of various birds was almost relaxing. If it wasn't for the near-unbearable humidity of the jungle, Daring might actually enjoy the long hikes to her destinations. Now more than ever it gave her time to think. Despite all that Zecora said, Daring was hung up the most on the feeling of realization from her dream, or whatever Zecora put her into. The message was at the tip of her tongue, but Daring couldn't understand what it meant. She knew it was important; the feeling made her feel ashamed of herself, like she was more selfish than she wanted to believe. Daring resigned to push the feeling out of her mind.

 

        Daring knelt down and jumped off the mossy stone of the small cliff next to the waterfall. She landed with a soft thud in the brush below, and quickly brushed herself off. She took a deep breath and hoped for the best; even though everything seemed peaceful, she had been gone all night. There was no telling what might have happened to Whooves in her absence, especially if Gilda didn't give up.

 

        She passed under the stone path into the waterfall, drenching her hair and making it stick to her face and shirt. Daring brushed the wet hair out of her eyes and looked around the dark cave. Nothing. Even in the small light flowing through the waterfall, the cave was completely empty. Daring sighed and took a step to turn around.

 

        A forearm wrapped around her neck and yanked her backwards. Before Daring could retaliate a knife positioned itself next to her throat. Her knife. Daring looked at it quizzically. /Who would have--/

 

        Daring noticed the hand didn't have a good grasp on it before she finished the thought. Whoever was holding it just ran into the wrong girl.

 

        "Don't move a mu--Woah!" Daring darted her hands forward and snapped the knife out of the man's hand. With the knife no longer a factor, she reached behind her and grabbed her assailants arm and threw him over her back. The man landed onto the ground with a pathetic wheeze, clutching his back and groaning in pain. Once Daring got a look at his face, she let go of his arm and laughed.

 

        "You never were much of a fighter, Turner," Daring said with a chuckle.

 

        Whooves turned over and let out a feeble groan. Daring could tell she'd knocked the air out of him. "Did you really have to throw me so hard?"

 

        "In my defense, you did look like you were about to kill me."

 

        Daring looked over to the corner of the cave and found what Zecora didn't drag with her: her pithe helmet, backpack, and lighter. She slipped her pack back on and positioned the rest of her gear into her belt and onto her head. She felt much less naked once her hat was in its proper place.

 

        Whooves pulled himself up to his knees and let out a few coughs as he tried to catch his breath.

 

        "You alright?" Daring said. She put a hand out to help him up. He took it and promptly leaned against the rock wall to keep himself upright.

 

        "Ugh... Where were you all night, Daring?"

 

        Daring shrugged. "Oh, you know. Got kidnapped by the local witchdoctor and did some fingerpainting. The usual stuff."

 

        Whooves gave her a frustrated glare. "What? Your night not as exciting?" Daring asked.

 

        "With the panic attack I had when I came back to find you gone? Having to stay up all night listening to soldiers shouting and walking by? Worrying that I might die at any second?! Oh no, it was plenty exciting," Whooves said, anger building up in his tone.

 

        "Easy, killer. I found the lady the girl in the bar was talking about. I know where to find our next stop." Daring gave Whooves a reassuring smile and a pat on the shoulder. "You're still alive, right?"

 

        Whooves sighed and put one hand on his face and the other on his hip. "This is just a bit more stress than I'm used to. Getting killed isn't usually something I have to deal with."

 

        "Look at it this way: We've only got one ancient temple to find and we're pretty much done. Then we can have you back in Canterlot sipping expensive tea," Daring said, making a mocking gesture of drinking from a teacup.

 

        Whooves rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Let's just get this overwith. If only to be through with your childish teasing."

 

        Daring smiled. She turned towards the waterfall and waved for him to follow. "Try and keep up."

 

        Daring noticed Whooves' lethargic movements quickly. She had to slow down just to keep a steady pace with him. She didn't mind the slower speed much; they weren't in any immediate danger, so taking their time was probably for the best.

 

        Sunlight peaked through open sections in the tall canopy over the river, illuminating their path. The riverbank was a nice break from the dense brush of the jungle. Daring could only hope the rest of the journey was this easy.

 

        Daring looked over at Whooves and gave him a light push. "Hey, you gonna make it?" He was slumped over and didn't seem very interested in the path in front of him.

 

        "