"Adomia…" I heard a voice say, almost silent. Then I heard it again, "Adomia… Open your eyes."
the voice sounded ghostly, and very scratchy. Hearing it sent a shiver up my spine, wait a second?

A shiver went up my spine? How could it! I don't even have a spine anymore, I'm dead! Gone,
deceased, killed, I don't have a body anymore, do I?

I opened my eyes to see a wooden roof above me, now I have eyes? What strange illusion is this!?

I couldn't process at all what was happening, last time I checked I was dead, so how could I have eyes,
ears, and a spine, am I in some sort of greater plane of existence? I heard some hoofsteps coming
from outside and getting closer, when the door opened I saw a familiar lavender coated mare standing
there with a bowl of a brown liquid on her hoof.

She looked at me and her pupils contrasted. She slowly inched toward me and said, "Adomia…? Are
you… awake?"

I recognized this pony, Twilight Sparkle, Celestia's apprentice and advisor; I finally realized what had
happened, I'm alive! But how?! I was stabbed in the heart by Luna's tentacles, I felt myself die, so
then how could I still be alive, and how could my wings and heart come out unscathed?

I sat up and replied with complete shock in my voice, "Yes Twilight, looks like I am… awake."

I saw tears starting to build up in her eyes; she dropped the liquid and jumped onto me, and started to
hug me, really hard. I couldn't process what I was feeling right there, happiness, sadness,
embarrassment, who knows? But that didn't matter to me; all that mattered was that I was alive, with
my structural integrity intact.

After about ten seconds of hugging me, and crying tears of joy into my mane (which was now really
long, drooping down until it started to gather on the bed) looked up and a firey red blush flared into life on her face, she shoved herself off me in embarrassment, I didn't want to say it, but I thought that she always did look a little cute when she was embarrassed.

Her voice a little shaky she said, "I-I thought you were dead, everypony did! But Fl-"she shoved her hoofs
into her mouth, stopping herself from finishing. She whispered to herself something that I couldn't
hear; she cleared her throat and continued, "Celestia has asked me to bring you to her when you
awoke. Are you fit for travel?"

I was bewildered by this statement and asked, "Wait how did she know I would live? Also, I think the
better question is, HOW AM I ALIVE?!"

"I don't know, but Celestia did, and she wanted me to bring you to her after you awoke. That's all I
know, I swear!" She said the final words with a bit of fear in her voice.

I sighed, I guess a break will have to wait for later. I took a scan at myself and found that
besides the new size of my mane, nothing else was different. Same charcoal coat, mane still dark red,
same red eyes, same X dagger Cutie Mark, tail still the same color as my mane, but suffered the same
fate, now dragging on floor as I got up. All of my wounds seemed to have disappeared, my wings were
working fine, and putting a hoof to my chest I felt the familiar beat of my own heart. It was like I never
fought, and that made me feel worried, had it all been a dream? Is Luna still alive? millions of
questions were buzzing through my head, but I had to save them for later.

So I turned to Twilight and said, "Looks like I don't really have a choice do I?" She shook her head, and I
sighed. "Alright let's go see the princess."

I followed Twilight out of the house, and realized I was on Applejack's farm, strange that she was
hanging out there. I thought.

It was a typical bright and sunny day in Equestria, not a cloud in the sky, and for once I felt serenity in
the sights, looking up at the bright noon sky, I saw Celestia's sun hanging right above me, birds flying
through the air, and overall everything seemed perfect.

While we were trotting I decided to let one of my questions out of the door, and asked Twilight, "So
Twilight, how long was I out?" a small question to get things started, then I'll dive deeper

Twilight answered with, "About nine days… Could you hold your questions for later Adomia? I still
need to get over the fact that you're alive." She had a smile on her face.

I felt a bit of happiness swell up inside, So much for that, but does that pony actually care about me? I smiled a bit as
we continued down the dirt road.

We arrived at the castle about three hours of non-stop trotting, the sun was just starting to go down. We entered
the Throne room to see the true ruler of Equestria sitting there, and surrounded by her Honor Guards.
She turned to greet us, and she looked better than the day of the battle. Her mane was flowing in an
invisible wind, and she radiated in health.

The two finished a trivial conversation and Celestia said to Twilight, "Twilight, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave. This is business between me and Adomia."

I was just about as shocked as she was, Does Celestia not trust her own apprentice?! But
Twilight knew it was best not to argue and left the room. After she heard the grand doors shut she
turned to her guards and whispered, "That means you too, captain." The ever vigilant guard looked at
her, confused look on her face. But, like Twilight, she followed obediently, the guards behind her.

She turned to face me and said, "Adomia, normally I would have you executed for all the murders
you've committed, including Luna's death." She paused, and I felt a bit nervous as she regained some
of her thoughts, "But, instead I'm going to let it slide, as it was all Luna's intentions, and as she said, you indeed were a pawn in the grand scheme, but you righted your wrongs with killing her, and I cannot thank you
enough for that." I sighed with relief and she continued, "In fact, I'm recruiting you to become my own
personal assassin."

It felt like I was slammed to the ground by Luna's tentacles, Did she just say she wanted me to be
HER assassin!? I questioned.

I was about to ask her, but she waved her hoof to say, "Not now" and started again, "I know
this is shocking for you, and I know you just woke up from being dead, but hear me out. After an
event like this, I know now that not everything is peaceful in Equestria, and I need a lethal killer like
you to uphold the peace. One who knows his in's and out's of this world, and one with exceptional skill.
Adomia, that one is you."

She paused for a breath and continued, "Think about it Adomia, your special talent is killing, and this
offer only comes around once in a lifetime. You would still be paid for contracts, probably more than
Luna paid, and have the rank as Honor Guard in Canterlot. You could live in Ponyville since I cleared
your name, and I would keep you hidden as best as I can. So what do you say?"

I thought about all the contracts I fulfilled for Luna, all the training, everything she taught me, and
every kill. Oh, how could I resist such an offer, to be able to keep pushing my skills for a living? As well
as making this world a better place! What more could I want!

I nodded my head in agreement, but something came up in my mind, and I decided to say to Celestia,
"I accept, but know this Celestia, if I catch one word that you are using me for the wrong reason. I will
without hesitation kill you in the midst of night, and that means I would use my true element to kill you, stealth. I was right up in her face, "You got that?"

She said calmly, "Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way. You may leave now."

I turned and exited the door to a waiting Twilight, who had her head pressed to the door trying to hear
what was going on. I opened the door and she fell flat on her face, I laughed at this and said, "Nosey
there much?"

She got up and rubbed her muzzle a little bit and said, "Sorry, I just had to listen in! It's not every day
that somepony goes in to see the princess."

"That's Ok," I replied, "I'll fill you in on the way back."

It was dusk by the time I arrived back to Ponyville, and Twilight suggested we go to Sugarcube Corner
to fill everyone in. I had to admit I felt shy going into the town, with everypony able to see me. I guess
it's a habit when being an assassin; you always want to remain unseen.

We arrived into a loud, and lightened up Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie Pie came bouncing over, and when I
asked her what was going on she laughed and said, "Duh! It's a victory party! It's been long overdue
with you being out for so long! Then Applejack came by and said you were awake! So, I brought
everypony here who helped out with the battle!"

I felt overwhelmed by all of this, since I had never been at a party in my entire life. I was turning to ask
Twilight something, but she went over and engaged in a conversation between Her, Pinky, and Rarity.

I heard a voice behind me, "So you're the pony I was making all of those armor and weapons for?"
I turned to see a dark green mare standing eye-level with me. She had a short light green mane, and
had a medium sized tail with an anvil for a Cutie Mark, the bottom half of her forelegs were of charcoal
color. She saw me looking at them and said, "A little reminder of being a blacksmith, I have to admit I
was resilient in giving you those weapons, due to you being a criminal, but Pinky convinced me
otherwise, and look at what you have done!" She put her hoof to her head and continued, "Come to
think of it, you basically saved Equestria! My name is Farrar, pleased to meet you."

I bowed my head in respect and replied, "Likewise, the name's Adomia, and I cannot thank you
enough Farrar, if you hadn't helped us with the gear. Then I have no idea where we would be, possibly
in a grave."

We chatted for a little bit about how the battle went, and about Farrar's tales as a blacksmith. After we finished a conversation, which ended with us laughing she said, "I gotta go Adomia, business and whatnot, see you around!"

I watched her leave, and I turned to see Rainbow Dash standing there by herself, deep in thought.

I trotted over to where she was standing and I asked her, "Hey Rainbow... Something on your mind?"

She shrugged and replied with hostility in her voice, "Not anything I would tell you Assassin."

I could already tell I wasn't accepted by her and backed off.

I was about to go talk to Twilight about something when I heard Pinky say, "Listen up everypony!" Everyone stopped what they were doing, and she continued, "The song I'm about to play is the song I helped Vinyl Scratch make, she hasn't given me a title, but she says it turned out REEEALLY good!"

The song I started to hear intrigued me, and I found it to be a remix of some sort, kind of a mix of techno, and sea chanty with it's cello in the background.

Wait a second, how the heck do I know what techno is? I wasn't even a big fan of music I questioned myself. The thought dropped in my mind and I immersed myself back into the music, at the end of it Pinky said, "Well? Did everypony like it."

She was treated to the stomping of hooves by Applejack, and some hollers of delight from the other girls, I didn't partake in it. Not the way I roll I guess.

The party lasted for another hour or so, and by the time it was over everypony was tired, including myself, one can only eat so much cake.

I flew back to my nice home in the clouds, and I thought, Now that I'm staying in Ponyville I think I'll get a house on the ground. But I can focus on that later.

I went to bed, and as I lay there I felt like something was off inside me, I thought about some of the
feelings I had today. Overall I felt happy that I was alive, I guess that was normal, but when felt
Twilight's care for me, I realized that wasn't who I was, normally I would do my best to separate from the bookwormish unicorn, but I found myself drawn to her for some strange reason. It felt right to be next to her, and I started thinking, Could I be... In... Love... with her?

I tried as hard as i could to shove that thought out of my mind, but it stuck, and I kept dwelling on it. I remembered my actions a few days before the battle, when I was taking her home after she fell asleep on me halfway through enchanting our gear.

All through that trip I couldn't help but notice how... cute... she looked. Even when sleeping, then the situation in her room that same night. I can't believe I almost kissed her, how in the world could you have let this happen Adomia! You've learned to block out love all your life, but now, NOW, it has to hit you full force? I sighed and continued my thoughts, Have I always been in love with her? Tracing back to my days as a young colt, under Luna's wing, I remember seeing her there in the library, and I couldn't get my mind off her for so long. Who knows, maybe in time I'll forget about all of this, love business.

I closed my eyes, and let my body rest.
---
I awoke to a knock on my cloud door, and heard a cheery voice yell, "Special Delivery!"

I slowly got out of bed and trotted over to the door, and when I opened it I saw a grey mare with a
blonde mane standing there, her two eyes pointing in different directions How in the world does
this pony see things? I thought.

She said, "I have a package here for a… Adomia Fetter?"

"Yeah, it's just Adomia by the way" I replied.

She put the package on the floor inside the doorway and was taking off, but I asked her, "Wait! Don't
you want a tip or something?"

She looked at me with a smile and said, "Nope I get paid fine, unless… Do you happen to have a muffin
by any chance?"

"A muffin? No I don't, sorry." I replied a hint of confusion in my voice.

She took off, and I took the package in, and opened it up. A grin grew on my face as I saw what was in
the box.

There was a little wooden crossbow, sleek and shiny, made out of crimson maple sitting there, along
with a mask of made out of steel designed to look like a skull, even the eyes were red lenses. Making
it look very intimidating.

Removing the contents revealed a scroll sitting there near the bottom. I
opened it up to see that it was a letter from the princess and it read,

To Adomia,

I have given you these items to help you get started with becoming my assassin. The mask you should
find is enchanted to increase your hearing and sight capabilities, along with a transparency enchant
that should make it seem like it isn't there. The bow is meant to be used with one hoof, and is
designed for a quick draw, or a far range kill. The string is enchanted to spawn arrows when pulled
back a certain distance, the arrows it fires will not fall down due to gravity. Thus giving this bow have
more range than any other crossbow of its kind. I hope you find it useful. You need to be as versatile
as possible if you are to succeed Adomia. Be prepared for anything, I shall send you more items to
work with as I come up with them. Your first contract is in the bottom of the box.

From,

Princess Celestia.

I felt pure joy from getting these new items. I picked up the crossbow and pulled the string back,
sure enough a little bolt of black light, looking much like Luna's shattered death orbs, spawned out of
thin air. Scanning the area I found an apple just sitting on my counter, I took aim and fired. The arrow took only a fraction of a second to reach its destination, and pierced the apple right where I aimed it.

I looked inside the box for the contract and found another scroll, however when I opened it some newspaper clippings fell out. It read,

To Adomia,

This contract is a simple 'kill without a trace' contract. Looks like, from the newspaper article I sent you,
that two ponies have been causing an awful amount of crime in Manehattan. Ranging from murder, to
transport of illegal substances, I need you to see that these ponies are… brought to justice. You're job
is to infiltrate their base of operations in the… undesirable part of Manehattan, find and kill the
targets. Be warned, there will be a decent amount of other ponies that will stand and protect them. So
I do not advise a full frontal approach. Pictures, of these two ponies are included. Good luck!

From,
Princess Celestia.

Sounds easy enough… I thought, I'm assuming their guards will have either melee
weapons, or crossbows. I don't think I should try and limit casualties here, need to make a statement.

Taking a look at the pictures, I saw two light yellow ponies holding up a sign of some sort, Mug shot I said to myself. One had their mane divided into many different corn rows, and was a pegasus, and the other, who looked bigger than I was, had a short cropped mane, and was also a pegasus. Both of their manes were black, and overall they looked pretty vicious. The article said how they were causing crime in Manehattan, and the police can't do anything about it.

Well, let's get ready. I thought.
---
Dusk arrived, and I was in my traditional charcoal cloak, hood drawn over my head, and mask on my
face. My hidden blades were on my forelegs, and my new crossbow just hanging in a holster on my back.

I took off straight for Manehattan, and arrived on top of a roof just a few blocks away from the slums.
I looked up at the moon, and images of Luna started to rush back to me. I still haven't gotten over her
betrayal; it really did leave an impact on me. I still think I haven't redeemed myself for the death of Fluttershy and all the other innocents I killed, especially that innocent at the Young Fliers competition.

I dismissed this thought, and focused on the contract at hand, flying from roof to roof above Manehattan was quite the sight, even though it was night, the streets were still bustling with all different types of ponies.

A city that never sleeps… I thought.

I arrived at the… undesirable part of town, and felt like there were ponies watching me, even though I was in the air. The stench was not horrible, but it felt like the ponies here slept in their own waste, and that smell perfectly reflected the ponies that were sneaking around town. All of them had a hostile aura, and I even saw a pony killed in an alleyway for some reason I couldn't hear. That filled me with rage, seeing what looked like an innocent die right there, their corpse left there, not even closing their eyes so that they can rest in some semblance of peace.

I arrived on a roof of a small building, and found an open air duct. I managed to slip inside the building
in complete silence, and saw that none of the upper floors were being used, not a pony in sight.

Traveling down a small flight of stairs I heard a voice come from one of the doors. Opening it slightly I
found the two targets, along with nine other ponies, all wielding clubs, or crossbows surrounding one
chestnut colored mare, she had complete fear in her eyes, and her aggressors had a look of death in theirs.

The pony with the cornrows spoke up, "Do you actually think we're idiots or somethin'?"

She didn't respond, and was slapped in the face by the corn rowed colt, "Answer me! Stupid mule!"

She finally replied looking down at the ground almost inaudibly, "No… sir."

Another slap by him knocked her to the ground, "You know what? You're not even worth it; I would've thought that we could make some money with the substances you were supposed to deliver. But, looks like your boss didn't hold up his end." He had his guards hold her up as he brought out a steel coated crossbow.

they wouldn't dare! I screamed to myself.

He said to her, "I think your head will do quite nicely as to send the message. Along with a note saying,
'don't screw around with us'"

I wanted to run in there and kill this... creature with a stab to the head, but I held myself back. I had to wait for the perfect moment.

He pointed the crossbow right up to her forehead and pulled the trigger, the arrow pierced her skull, and she slumped. The guards tossed her body away, and left it there.

The murderer said to one of his guards, "Man, me and my brother here are a little bit thirsty. Go get us
a drink; there should be one in the cooler."

The guard went off into the shadows, and so did I. Now I knew it was the time, and as the
stallion opened the cooler I dropped down from the shadows and killed him inaudibly.

However his weapon dropped to the ground and made a loud clanking noise.
I could see their eyes pointing in my direction; however it was way too dark for them to see me. One
of them said, "What was that?"

The brother of the leader said, "I don't know shit for brains, but I suggest the rest of you go find out.
Go! Move!"

All eight of them slowly trotted into the darkness, where I was waiting, and enjoying this as much as I
enjoyed killing Fluttershy on that night. Adrenaline was pumping, and I could detect their fear, I just
hovered there in the shadows, waiting for them to make the wrong move.

One of them went over to his fallen comrade and said, "Boss! Looks like he was killed by-"

He was cut off by my own blade sinking into his skull, the ponies started to slash wildly and fire blindly
into the darkness. Their aim was off by a whole yard, I laughed at this, and jumped right on top of one
of them, and said, "Boo!"

He screamed for about a millisecond, but my blade cut him short. I realized I was able to be seen and
the rest of the guards surrounded me, luckily the rest of them were using melee weapons. So I took
my simple strategy of counter, and kill.

One of them tried to break my skull with an overhead swing of his club; I took my left foreleg and
blocked it, then proceeded to start stabbing him wildly with my hidden blade. He slumped over dead
and I could hear the muscles of a pony behind me start to move, due to the mask's increased hearing. I jumped up, dodging the arc of steel, and landed, blade first, on his head. The rest just turned tail and ran, knowing they couldn't win.

They could only get around five yards away before they were riddled with black bolts, my doing of course.

The two targets didn't even move, but the bigger pegasus took his brother's crossbow and reloaded it. He
fired as soon the bolt was secure out of fear, and it flew past my head.

so close, but now it's my turn. I thought.

I pulled out my new crossbow, and pulled the string back. I fired right at the pegasus and pegged a
magical bolt right through his eye, and heading out the other eye.

The boss looked over at his brother, and before he knew it I pinned him to the ground, blade extended.

Now fear was in his eyes, and he exclaimed, "Wait! Don't kill me! I'm just an innocent pony!"

I laughed at this and said, "Innocent? You call killing a defenseless mare innocent, sorry, but I don't buy that one bit."

"Who are you!" he yelled more than questioned.

"Heh, just a simple harbinger of death" I retorted.

He tried to say something to change my mind, but I didn't want to hear it, I plunged my already bloodied blade right into his throat. The scarlet liquid started gushing out, and he eventually slumped.

I closed his eyes and whispered, "May my cold blade give you peace on this black night."
I proceeded to start cutting one of his ears off, Sorry, but I'm going to need this to prove of your death.

I arrived back at my house at the crack of dawn, and let everything I had drop to the floor.

I'll give this to Celestia after a little nap.
---
It was noon when I woke back up, and I felt fully refreshed and ready to travel to Canterlot.

I picked up everything I would need. I felt my stomach growl and I needed something to eat. Normally I would get an apple or something simple, but today my stomach wanted something called an Apple Turnover.

I have never heard of that before, but…I have I was confused by this, seeing as how I remembered it, but I also didn't remember it.

I looked in my drawers to find some pots and pans in there, I was confused to as why they were there, but none the less I let my little cloud stove heat up, and everything went on auto pilot.

After about ten minutes I had a delicious looking Apple Turnover sitting on my plate. I stuffed my face in and I tasted as good as it looked,

where in the world has this been all my life! I thought.

Finishing up with a cup of sweet tea, I had a feeling of being... off, the feeling that remembering something like an Apple Turnover, let alone being able to cook it with extreme ease made me realize that it wasn't who I was.

With a full feeling in my gut I set out to go to Canterlot, and arrived at the castle after around two hours of flying.

I went into the throne room, and Celestia dismissed her guards. She turned to me and said, "I assume
you're here because you got the job done?"

"Indeed" I replied, feeling quite proud, "I brought you back a little souvenir" I tossed the ear to her, and she picked it up and a disgusted look settled on her face, "Thanks, I guess." She said a little bit
awkwardly,

"But bringing back things like this won't be required, unless I say so."

I was confused by this and asked why, she tossed me a paper and I read it and it said,

Threat averted! Manehattan's trouble gone!
Late last night, a pony found the leader of the esteemed crime group, The High Rolling Colts, dead on the floor of his own base. Police have reported that the wounds that killed him were the same wounds, which killed an innocent pegasus named Fluttershy. Ponies are starting to believe that the ex-criminal is now working on the side of the law, and Manehattan couldn't be more thankful.

I stopped there knowing enough, and Celestia said to me, "Good work Adomia, I believe this is a start of a new beginning." She tossed me a large bag of bits.

"All too easy princess." I replied, and trotted out of the room. When I arrived back home I couldn't help but feel happy for what I had done, and she was right. There is a new beginning for me, and this time I knew I was going to help the world, one way or another.

To be continued…

Next Chapter: Concert of Unexpectancy Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 42 Minutes