Eagle Eye

by BioBoy619

First published 5th of May, 2013

Eagle Eye. Once a simple stallion, he shall have to become more than just that. This is the story of his rise to becoming the Assassin.

Eagle Eye was just like every other ordinary stallion in Equestria. But, one night, the night of a fatal attack by the Dark Flames of Heaven, everything changes. This one event will leave Eagle Eye a changed stallion. He is out for revenge, and with the help of his best friend Sharp Side, he aims to achieve it. But, Sharp Side isn't the only pony to help Eagle Eye along the way. Having been reunited with his ex-marefriend Rainbow Dash, he will learn to love all over again. Eagle Eye's life will be changed. He will have to become something greater for the good of Equestria. He will have to become the Assassin. Delve into the origins of the greatest assassin in Equestria. This is the tale of Eagle Eye.

Just to make it clear, this is not an Assassin's Creed Crossover. Eagle Eye just becomes an assassin. Just wanted to point that out.

This story is rated teen for violent scenes of action that include some gore, and scenes that include sexual references.

Credit for the cover art goes to my good buddy Trailblazer.

Prologue: Before the Storm

The night was calm. The city of Manehattan was bustling with life, even this late. Ponies walked through the streets, performing the same activities that could be performed during the day. Some took to their homes, whether for the comfort of sleep, or the comfort of another. Bars and pubs were teeming with life, overrun by hyped up drunkies and potheads. The city was in its normal state of existence.

But, crime is also a factor of the night. This night was no different from the rest. Minor muggings were not rare, happening practically every night. In one place or another, some random pony was being mugged for Celestia knows why. But, this night held something even more dastardly in store.

From the outskirts of Manehattan, a strong, armored unicorn stallion looked over to a district of the city, filled with life and excitement. It disgusted him. These ponies that threw themselves away in such manners made him sick. He could only think of how the world would truly be a better place once they had been dealt with. Another stallion walked up to the leader and bowed his head.

“Master, all preparations have been completed. We await your order.” The Master was pleased with this news. Although, one thing was still in the back of his mind.

“You are to make sure he is not harmed. If anything should happen to him, he who caused him any harm shall be put to death. Am I understood?” he asked sternly. His voice was grounded and deep, proving that he was most certainly a strong stallion. He considered himself the alpha male of not just the Unicorns, but of everypony in Equestria. The stallion soldier simply nodded.

“Master, with all due respect, are you sure that he will be able to survive?”

“He has faced many challenges in his life. I have no doubt he will be able to survive. He just can’t get any ideas of saving the day or anypony in attendance. But, regardless, I pray to the Dark Flames that he shall be safe. Now go! Prepare yourself! We attack on my signal,” the Master said. The stallion nodded his head to his Master.

“May the Dark Flames of Heaven guide us, Master,” the stallion said, as he bowed his head and walked back to ready the rest of the men. The Master could only look out to the district that would soon be reduced to rubble. Attacks such as this were not routine, although, it was not uncommon for this… group, to attack civilian populations. At least, populations deemed unworthy by the Master.

‘I pray to you Dark Flames! Please, give him strength, and protect him!’ the Master thought to himself. Should anything happen to this unnamed pony, the Master would be unable to forgive himself. But, these thoughts were quickly drowned out as the Master turned to the large force amassed behind him. He looked over his followers and believers, and smiled. From the table that was next to him, he lifted his helmet and placed it on his head, covering his face completely. The helmet was made perfectly to hold in his mane, and it even provided protection for his horn. As the helmet was placed completely on his head, the eyes lit up a powerful shade of purple. The Master, in a full suit of armor, was now ready for the assault to begin. But, before he could commence the attack, he had to speak to his men.

“Fellow Ashes of the Flames,” he began. “Tonight, we usher in the beginning of a glorious rebirth! We have been waiting many long months for this moment. We have grown strong since the beginning, planning attack after attack, until we were ready for this night. On this night, we shall truly be realized for who we are. Not as terrorists, not as monsters, not as murderers, but as revolutionaries and bringers of peace! We shall be known as we always have been. The Dark Flames of Heaven!” The Master’s men cheered of the Dark Flames that would soon be spread across the district.

“As we release our Flames upon the city, the unworthy shall be burned, and they shall be reborn in the image of the Heavens. It is time that we reveal that the great Princess Celestia is nothing but a fraud! It is the Dark Flames that truly guide us. We shall show Equestria once and for all that we are the truly enlightened ones, and that we are truly destined for greatness!” More cheers erupted from the Ashes, and the Master reveled in it all.

“Your actions tonight shall only be the beginning! We shall spread our Flames throughout Equestria, until we have finally spread the Flames to the very heart of Princess Celestia! But, do not think that you are killing worthless scum. These thoughts cannot cloud your minds, though they rarely ever do. Think only that you are truly bringing new life to this crumbling world. With the Dark Flames as our guide, we shall lead Equestria to greatness!” The men were bursting with energy, wanting only to commence the assault.

“I can tell you are getting desperate, but do not be hasty. Such things can corrupt the Flames, and there is more than enough corruption in this world already. Tonight, as I have said, we shall truly begin the cleansing process. After tonight, our other, minor, cleansing processes shall be nothing but memories. Tonight is the beginning!” The men just continued to cheer to no end. “Need I say more?” the Master asked, but the cheers told him he would have to do no such thing.

“Very well then!” he started, only making the men even more ecstatic. “However,” the Master jumped in. “There is one stallion in particular tonight that just so happens to be in this very district. I have made it clear to your superior officers, as well as my most trusted men, that he is NOT to be harmed. Should any of you harm him, in any way, shape, or form, I shall personally cut your head off and throw it into the Flames myself. Am I understood?” The men all responded in the same way.

“Should it please the Master, then it shall be so!” The Master nodded.

“Good! Now, prepare yourselves men! We have a long night ahead of us!” the Master finished. He turned back to look at the city one more time. What was once a disgusting, filth ridden hell hole would soon be cleansed and turned into something more. The Master raised his right hoof.

“BEGIN THE ASSAULT!” he commanded, lowering his hoof to the ground. And so, it began.

Author's Notes:

And so begins the story of Eagle Eye, my OC. I am proud to present this to you good people. This story has been in my mind for a while now, and I'm finally gonna get to do it.

Just a little note, the group is called the Dark Flames of Heaven, but the members are known as the Ashes of the Flames. This was pointed out, but I just wanted to make it clear.

I changed the group from Blue Flames to Dark Flames for a reason. Why? Because it sounds cooler.

Chapter 1: Life is Good

The sun rose over the city of Manehattan. Already the streets were bustling with ponies going about their daily lives in the big city. Whether they be going to work, shopping, hanging out, or anything else, life was good for the ponies of Manehattan. Some ponies took to more practical things like trying their luck at daytime robberies and thieveries, but the local authorities would always handle such things. Life was just as it always should be in Manehattan.

Some ponies, however, lived life a little better in Manehattan. One such pony was Eagle Eye. The twenty year old Pegasus stallion lied in bed, deep in his sleep. Even though the sun was beginning to rise, he had no plans for the morning except to sleep in. He lightly snored in his sleep. He was quite the heavy sleeper, but the one thing that could always wake him up was his younger Unicorn sister, Ruby. Eagle Eye was awoken by a knock on the door.

“Wha… who is it?” he said. He didn’t like being woken up, especially when he didn’t have anything to do but sleep. Ruby entered the room and used her magic to move shades to let in the sunlight. Eagle shielded his eyes from the sudden light entering his room. “Ruby, what are you doing?” The light red mare stood in front of her brother. She was levitating a brush, using it to brush out her purple and green highlighted mane.

“You promised me you would take me out to help look for a dress for my date,” she said. Ruby was two years younger than Eagle Eye, but she still sometimes acted a little childish. She continued to brush her hair as Eagle looked back to her.

“Yeah, I promised I would take you at like three o’clock, not eleven in the morning. Let me sleep.” Seeing as though he was already awake, Eagle Eye sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. “Seriously, what is the big deal anyway?” Ruby looked at him crossly with her dark green eyes.

“The big deal, big brother, is that I have a date tomorrow, and I still don’t have a dress!” Ruby replied. Her voice almost screeched a bit, but she managed to contain herself. Eagle groaned a bit before trying to get out of bed.

“Alright, alright, I just don’t see why you had to wake me up.”

“I want to go now. I remember passing a store yesterday on my way home with a perfect dress, but a lot of other mares were looking at it too. I want to be able to get it!”

“Ok, why not have Mom or Dad take you?” he asked.

“Well, Mom went out for a morning walk with Sharp Side’s mother, and Dad still isn’t home,” Ruby replied, finishing brushing her hair.

“What?! He said he would be home last night! I mean, yeah, by the time we were all asleep, but still, he said last night! Damn.” Eagle always got pissed when his father stayed away on trips. He would always promise to come home at some point, only to wind up coming home two days later, or sometimes even a full week after.

“Eagle, you know he’s a busy stallion.”

“I know that, it just seems that he’s always too busy. I guess that’s part of being a grown stallion. Oh well, I guess since I’m up I might as well take you to get your precious dress. Just let me have some breakfast and then we can get going.” Ruby smiled and kissed her brother on the cheek before trotting out of his room and downstairs to the kitchen.

The white stallion was left in his room alone. He picked himself up off of his bed and walked over to his full body mirror. He quickly brushed his red, lion-like mane out. Eagle would always suffer from bad bed hair. But, he easily became a pro at fixing his mane up in a perfect way that suited him just fine. He took a moment to straighten out his chin hair, which was also red, just like his mane. He gave his neck a few quick twists, stretched out his wings, and finally went down to the kitchen.

Ruby was waiting for him with a stack of hay seed waffles waiting for him. She smiled at him and presented him his breakfast. He awkwardly smiled back to her.

“What are doing?” he asked her. She stopped smiling and pulled him over to his seat.

“Can you just eat already?! I wanna go and get that dress!”

“Yeah, you made that clear in my room. Just let me watch some of the news and eat my breakfast. I’m sure the dress will be there,” Eagle replied.

“Fine.” Ruby turned on the TV and turned it to the news. There was apparently some breaking news regarding an on rise terrorist group.

“The organization known as the Dark Flames of Heaven has struck once again, this time in southern Fillydelphia. The group of about five hundred men managed to destroy a small neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. Sadly, no ponies are reported to have survived the attack. All that remained of the attack were the ominous purple colored flames. The same flames had been left behind in the other attacks of the organization. The Equestria Royal Guard is still working on tracking down this terrorist group and destroying them. We will have more information on this story as it develops.” Eagle turned off the TV shortly after the report finished.

“Hey, what’s up?” Ruby asked.

“I’m sick and tired of hearing about those bastards! They kill innocent ponies and nopony can stop them. It’s driving me insane! I swear, I just want to do something myself about these guys!”

“Eagle, you may be a good fighter and have a really nice aim with an assault rifle, but you’re no killer. Besides, we don’t need you to do any of those sorts of things. We all love you just the way you are.” Ruby kissed him on the cheek again. He started to calm down and smiled to his sister.

“Although you can sometimes be a brat, you always do manage to liven me up. Thanks little sister,” he said, and he ruffled her mane a bit. She started to laugh.

“Hey, hey, don’t mess up my mane, I just finished brushing it.”

“Yeah, right in the middle of my room!” Eagle responded jokingly. The two continued to laugh as Eagle finished his breakfast. He was a bit of a quick eater anyway, which made his sister very happy. She quickly levitated his dish into the sink and dragged him out the door.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Do you even have enough bits to buy this dress?”

“As a matter of fact I do, now come on!” she replied, and continued to drag him down the street to the local dress shop.

Only a few meters of walking left Eagle feeling a little beat. He had gotten home a little late the night before and had planned to sleep until at least one o’clock. He had plans to get something to eat with his best friend Sharp Side at two, but seeing as though he was already out, he would probably just meet up with Sharp Side a little early. Eagle continued to yawn as he and Ruby walked down the street. She started to get a little annoyed.

“Stop yawning!”

“Hey, it’s not my fault you woke me up so damn early.”

“It’s not my fault you decided to get home at two in the morning,” she retorted. Eagle was about to say something, but instead groaned in slight defeat. Ruby lightly chuckled as her brother turned his head away from her. “Look, I’m sorry I woke you, but I just really want to have a good date tomorrow.”

“What is so important about this date?” Eagle asked. Ruby stopped dead in her tracks.

“Eagle Eye, I have been waiting to go on a date with Sharp Side for way too long. I had practically hounded him down until he finally said yes. I just want everything to be perfect.” Eagle rolled his eyes at his sister. He still didn’t see what she saw in Sharp Side. Yes, he had been Eagle’s best friend since colthood, but Sharp Side wasn’t the coolest stallion around. That’s not to say Sharp Side was an outcast. He was, in fact, anything but. Eagle and Sharp were actually two very well-known stallions around their area. Eagle was very well known in Flight Camp, and Sharp Side made a name for himself in Magic School. The two couldn’t be closer as friends. Eagle Eye just thought that Sharp Side didn’t seem to fit right with Ruby. Call it brotherly love or something else. But, Eagle didn’t think too much about it, and Sharp Side actually seemed to have a thing for Ruby. It may have taken a while for it to come to that, but it still happened.

“Alright, alright, I get it. Sheesh, I am so glad I am not mare.”

“You always say that,” Ruby responded.

“Because it’s true!” Ruby laughed at his response. Eagle couldn’t help but smile and chuckle. He loved to see his sister happy. His family meant the world to him. Even though his father was, a little distant, Eagle loved him no less. His mother was probably one of the greatest mothers around Manehattan. Basically, Eagle Eye loved his family to no end.

Continuing down the street, Eagle and Ruby finally reached the dress shop. The dress Ruby had seen was still available, and she shrieked at the sight of it. Eagle covered his ears from the high pitched sound.

“Sweet Celestia, it’s just a dress! Besides, I think you’ve worn prettier dresses before,” Eagle said. Ruby practically heard him and rushed inside to buy the dress. Eagle sighed and trotted in.

The shop had the scent of a million perfumes. There were dresses as far as the eye could see. Eagle Eye had been in some pretty girly stores before, but this one took the cake. He walked up to Ruby, he was talking to one of the employees about the dress. Ruby started to hop in place as the employee said that the dress was available and ready for purchase.

“I’ll take it!” Ruby said, containing herself to not shriek. Eagle made her stop hopping and raised an eyebrow at her. Ruby awkwardly smiled at him and then back to the employee.

“Um, please,” Ruby added. Eagle Eye smiled and chuckled. He liked to make sure that his sister kept her manners when in public, no matter how much it embarrassed either of them. The employee got the dress, wrapped it up, and brought it to the counter. Ruby got out her bits and payed for the dress. She felt like the happiest mare in Manehattan. She was too excited to even speak.

“Thank you,” Eagle Eye said for his sister. He led Ruby out of the shop with her dress. She was a ball of joy, letting out a screech of happiness as they started back home. “Calm yourself, please! You got your damn dress!”

“I’m sorry, I’m just so happy!” The dress was really nice. It was a dark shade of blue, and along the rims of the dress, there were sapphire stones engraved into the stitching. The dress literally sparkled in the sunlight. Ruby could only imagine what it would do in the moonlight. Eagle didn’t care much for the dress, but he had to admit that it was beautiful.

“You’re getting too worked up over this. I’m sure Sharp Side will be glad to be with you no matter what you wear,” Eagle Eye said.

“I know that, but I just want to impress him.”

“You do know that you have known him for just as long I have right? I hope you realize who you are trying to impress.” Ruby raised an eyebrow at him.

“I don’t care if he enjoys playing with knives more than you do, or has a brain the size of Equestria. I want to impress him.” Eagle rolled his eyes and they continued to walk back home. Sharp Side was anything but stupid. He was in fact one of the smartest stallions in Manehattan. But, along with that, Sharp Side had a huge thing for knives, so much so that his cutie mark was a butterfly knife. Eagle Eye sometimes didn’t know what to think of his best friend.

Entering their home, Ruby walked up to her room, still levitating her dress. Eagle sighed and followed her up the stairs. He went into his room. After being awoken, he had planned to meet Sharp Side earlier, but it was too early. Sharp Side was probably still asleep. Eagle opted to continue writing parts of his novel.

Although Eagle had a small need for speed at times and a fighter’s spirit, he loved to write. He had written two short stories, and was now working on a full novel. During his school days, he would often be found writing down ideas for stories and books. But, unlike other authors, Eagle Eye didn’t sign his works with his signature. Instead, he signed them with a symbol. He described it as an unfinished, upside-down heart. To put the whole description in short, he called it his Crest. Eagle’s Crest.

Think of a heart. From the bottom, the heart moves upward. But, where the lines would join to complete the heart, there is a small space left empty. Also, the curves of the heart are a little bit more drawn out. They could sort of be called jagged, but not very much so. The space left unfinished would have a small, crescent moon-like shape. But, in the center, there was a jut in the crescent that went into the space in the heart. Now, take that whole shape, and flip it. Add on a pair of eagle wings, and you have Eagle’s Crest. This Crest became a part of Eagle Eye, and it would ultimately become his cutie mark.

Eagle Eye’s story was basically about a love-struck stallion who had been chasing after the mare of his dreams since colthood. But, the mare passes away in a terrible accident. It is revealed to have not been an accident at all. It was actually the coltfriend of the mare. The stallion sets out for revenge, and in the end, kills the stallion that murdered the mare of his dreams. But, Eagle Eye was stuck, almost in a stage of writer’s block. He had finished the act of the love-struck stallion killing the mare’s coltfriend, but he couldn’t figure out where to go from there. Eagle thought for about 20 minutes, but he ultimately decided to just leave his work alone. He sighed and left his room.

Walking down the stairs, Eagle heard the door opening. He saw his mother, Sky Dove, enter the house. She was a Pegasus pony, just like Eagle Eye. She had a light blue coat, light purple mane, and dark blue eyes. She was middle aged, about 48 years old. Her cutie mark was a heart with a pair of wings, which symbolized her care for her family, and her love for the sky. The way the traits got tossed around in this family was weird though. Eagle Eye got his being a Pegasus and blue eyes from his mother, but his red mane and white coat from his father. His father, Fire Streak, was a Unicorn. Hence, Ruby was born a Unicorn as well. She inherited her mother’s purple hair, but her father’s green eyes. Her cutie mark, however, mimicked her father’s in a way. Hers was a ruby stone, but in the center was a small flame. The genome tree in this family was certainly something unique. They weren’t at all a weird family, it’s just that they had a wide variety, so to speak.

Sky Dove smiled at her son as he walked up to her. She kissed him on the cheek, and he returned the kiss.

“Good morning Eagle, sleep well?” she asked her son.

“Not really. Ruby woke me up at eleven to go shopping for her dress. She wound up buying one, but because she was so worried that it wouldn’t be there at three o’clock, we just had to go now,” Eagle Eye responded.

“At least you kept your promise to her.”

“Yeah, a few hours too soon though,” Eagle responded. Dove smiled and kissed him on the cheek again.

“You really are a great brother to her, you know that right?”

“Of course I do Mom. For me, family comes first. I do whatever I have to do to keep us all safe and happy. Wow, would you listen to me? I sound more like a father than Dad.” Eagle Eye immediately regretted saying that. “I… crap.”

“Don’t worry Eagle Eye. I know that you love him, and he knows it too. He can’t help it if his work always needs him. Besides, were it not for his work, we wouldn’t be living in such a great home, or have all of the great things that we have.”

“I know, I know. I just wish that he could be around more.”

“Well, he should be getting back today. He’ll probably get back by the time you are finished with lunch with Sharp Side. Are you two going to discuss… the date?” As Dove finished her sentence, she quieted down a bit, hoping Ruby didn’t hear her.

“Probably, but don’t worry, I’m not gonna try to talk him out of it or anything. I’m actually probably gonna try to encourage him a bit more. He isn’t hesitant or anything, but I think I may need to give him a little more umph is all.” Dove smiled at her son and walked into the kitchen.

“Well, what time will you be leaving?” she asked from the kitchen. He followed her to find she was making something for lunch.

“Actually, I should be going in about ten minutes. I’ll probably just go now. So, I’ll see you later I guess,” Eagle replied. Dove nodded.

“Alright. Just please don’t go hounding anymore mares than you two already have.”

“Mom! I don’t “hound” mares! Besides, he already has a date with Ruby tomorrow.” Dove simply laughed at her son’s overreaction.

“I’m joking Eagle. Just go out and have a good lunch.” Eagle chuckled and smiled to his mother.

“Gotcha. See you later,” he said, and he walked out the door.

Sharp Side tinkered in his workshop, which was really just his backyard garage. Sharp Side was the same age as Eagle Eye, but he was born a few months younger than his best friend, making Eagle Eye older. He knew a great many things about knives and building things, but his passion was mostly for the knives. He was trying to get his new twin-blade butterfly knife to work properly.

“If I just move the second blade here…” he mumbled to himself. “Oh, oh, hot daddy, I think I’ve got it!” he shouted out, quickly toning himself down. He slid the blade as he imagined to a better position. Finishing his modification, he closed up the blade. He tried to make it fly open, only to have the second knife fly out and fall to the floor with a clang. Sharp Side moaned in defeat.

“You know, it would help to actually clamp the knife down to the rotator in the mechanism,” Sharp Side heard a voice say. He turned to see Eagle Eye. He looked back to his knife. The green Unicorn stallion face hoofed himself and ran his hoof through his blue and orange highlighted hair.

“Well buck me up the flank, no wonder it flew off. I guess I forgot to secure it.”

“You’re sense of profanity never ceases to amuse me Sharpy,” Eagle Eye said jokingly. He picked up the knife in his mouth and dropped it on Sharp Side’s work bench. “Now stop playing with your knives. I wanna go get some lunch already.”

“Fair enough I suppose,” Sharp Side replied, placing his knife model down on the bench. As he placed it down, Eagle Eye spotted a black… thing.

“What the heck is that?” he asked, pointing to whatever the mechanism was.

“Oh, it’s a gun model I’ve been working on.”

“That’s a gun? All I see is a stock with a freaking hole in it. It’s like something a desperate stallion shoves his junk into,” Eagle replied. They both started to laugh.

“And you say my profanity is amusing. Man, we really need to stop being so rude,” Sharp Side replied. They looked at each other, only to burst out in laughter once again. The laughter died down shortly after. “Anyway, it’s a gun model I’ve been working on. I realized that trigger weapons are a pain in the flank to use. It’s just an idea, but we can discuss that later. Come on, you saying that you’re hungry is making me hungry,” Sharp finished. Sharp opened the garage door and led Eagle Eye out to the front of the house. They started to walk down the street into the city.

Carriages zoomed through the streets of downtown Manehattan. Busy ponies bustled on the sidewalks, not caring who they bumped into. Street vendors sold whatever they had to the ponies dumb enough to buy the cheap products. Eagle Eye and Sharp Side were right where they belonged.

They arrived at their favorite eatery, Home of 100 Pizzas. This place served whatever kind of pizza a pony could think of. Personally, Eagle Eye would always prefer some regular cheese pizza. Sharp Side on the other hand was always adventurous, always opting to eat the uncommon choices. His favorite, however, was the apple pizza.

The two picked up two slices of their respective favorites and sat down in some of the outside seats to eat. Although Eagle Eye’s mother said that they shouldn’t hound any mares, she didn’t say that they couldn’t look. Sharp Side didn’t care much about having a marefriend, but he was cool with going out with Ruby. Eagle Eye, on the other hand, really wanted to find that special somepony. They started to observe some of the slow walkers in the crowds.

“Hey, what about her Eagle?” Sharp Side asked, pointing to a pink mare with blue hair.

“Nah, not my type,” Eagle replied.

“Dude, that’s your excuse for everypony I point out to you. Eagle, you really need to lower your priorities a bit.”

“My priorities are quite fair. Besides, I know the kind of mare I want to be with. Hell, I was with that mare for a while too.”

“Yeah, but she left you, so you need to move on from that kind of mare. What if you get stuck with somepony like her and the same thing happens again?” Sharp Side asked his friend.

“She didn’t leave me, I left her. She was a great mare, but she was just too, I don’t know, intense for me.”

“Well, from what you have told me, she was the most competitive mare at Flight Camp. I still can’t believe you two were a thing at that age.”

“Well, neither can I. I guess we didn’t think of it that way at first, but as we got older, we sort of realized it. But, she wanted to become a Wonderbolt and stay loyal to Ponyville so badly that I just couldn’t really stay with her,” Eagle said.

“I don’t get what your deal is with Ponyville,” Sharp replied.

“Ponyville isn’t the problem, it’s just that I live in the city, and she lives there. Going back and forth is bothersome for me.”

“You are one of the fastest flyers around, and from what you tell me, she is the fastest in Equestria. Although I find that hard to believe, it’s what you told me.”

“Well, she is. Dude, have you ever heard of any other pony performing a Sonic Rainboom? I think not,” Eagle said in a bit of a boisterous tone.

“Eagle, I didn’t know what a Sonic Rainboom was until two years ago, and you told me about her six years ago. You assumed I knew already, until you finally showed me in that book,” Sharp responded, finishing his first slice of pizza.

“Well it’s not my fault you don’t know Pegasus stuff. Aside from that, I hear she’s one of the Elements of Harmony now,” Eagle said, taking a bite of his pizza.

“See, I know what those are. I don’t suppose you know which one?”

“Sadly, I don’t. All I know is that she is one… I think.” Sharp Side couldn’t help but laugh at Eagle’s uncertainty. “Yeah, yeah, laugh at Eagle Eye for not knowing every single thing there is to know about the most powerful artifacts in Equestria,” Eagle said, finishing his first slice.

“Whatever man. Anyway, how’s Ruby doing? She ready for tomorrow?” Sharp asked.

“You have no freaking idea. She woke me up at eleven to go buy a freaking dress.”

“She’s wearing a dress?” Sharp asked.

“It wasn’t the fanciest thing ever, but it was really pretty. She wants to impress you,” Eagle said, waving his hooves in the air.

“Wow, I guess I should dress up a bit then.” Eagle Eye immediately face hoofed himself.

“That’s not the point. She is trying too hard to impress you, even though you two have known each other for so long.”

“Well, I did deny her requests to go out with me about two other times. So, I can imagine that she wants to make sure I stay. Honestly, I have kind of lightened up to her. She really is a great mare to hang around. I think I can make it all work out.”

“Man, you’ve come a long way from not liking her that much,” Eagle replied, finishing his first slice of pizza, while Sharp was finishing up his second already.

“Yeah, I guess so. Hey, what are you doing after this? My mom is trying to get me to help her with this huge work project, and I want to stay out of the house as long as I possibly can,” Sharp Side said.

“I’m not doing much. You can come over if you want. My mom said my dad should be home by the time we get back though, so I’ll probably take a few minutes with him. You can hang in my room for a bit while we talk, that is, if he is even home when we get there.” Eagle Eye was confident his father wouldn’t be home.

“You really think he neglects you guys don’t you?” Sharp asked.

“It’s not that man, it’s just that he is never around. I get that he is a busy stallion and all, but I just wish he would spend more time with us when he actually is home. I don’t know, I guess I’ll talk to him if he’s home,” Eagle said, finishing his second slice of pizza.

“Well, you want to go now?” Sharp Side asked.

“Yeah, why not,” Eagle replied. They payed for their pizza and headed back to Eagle Eye’s house.

Walking into the house, Eagle Eye and Sharp Side were greeted by Sky Dove and Ruby. They seemed to be waiting for Eagle Eye to come home, and they were smiling at him as he and Sharp Side entered. At the first sight of Sharp Side, Ruby started to blush. She gave him a little wave hello, which he returned. Sky Dove simply giggled at her daughter, but kept smiling at Eagle Eye.

“What?” Eagle Eye simply asked.

“Honey, you can come in now,” Sky Dove called into the kitchen. From the kitchen entered Fire Streak, Eagle Eye’s father. Eagle Eye immediately smiled and rushed to hug his father.

“I missed you too son,” he said, chuckling a bit. Eagle Eye refused to let go of the grey colored stallion. His mane was a very dark shade of red, and his eyes were dark green. His voice had a certain quality to it that made it so comforting. His name rang true, as his cutie mark was a powerful flame with a streak of smoke trailing off of it. Fire Streak was also middle aged, about three years older than Sky Dove. He held his son close to himself.

“Sorry Dad, I just missed you,” Eagle Eye said, letting his father go. “It’s good to see you again Dad.”

“It’s good to see you too son. I missed you all so much,” Fire Streak replied. “Mother tells me you are doing well.”

“Yeah, for the most part. My damn novel hasn’t been going anywhere since I came to this one spot, but I’m working around it,” Eagle Eye said. His father nodded and turned to Sharp Side.

“It is good to see you again Sharp Side. My wife tells me you are taking my daughter out for a date tomorrow.” Sharp Side blushed slightly.

“Yes sir, I am,” Sharp Side replied.

“Well, I hope it all goes well. I better not hear anything bad about it though.”

“You won’t have a thing to worry about sir,” Sharp Side assured. Fire Streak smiled and nodded. He turned back to his son.

“Well, I guess you will want to talk, won’t you?”

“Yeah,” Eagle Eye replied.

“Um, I’ll just go upstairs. I’ll wait for you Eagle,” Sharp Side said. He headed upstairs to Eagle’s room, giving Ruby a small wink as he passed her. She smiled back to him.

“We are actually going to go out for a while Fire. We are going to buy something for dinner. We shouldn’t be too long,” Sky Dove said. She kissed her husband on the cheek. “It’s good to have you back dear.” Fire Streak returned the kiss.

“It’s great to be back darling,” he replied. “We’ll see you when you get back.” Sky Dove and Ruby headed out to the market, leaving Eagle Eye with his father. Fire Streak turned to Eagle Eye, who proceeded to the kitchen.

“Well, are you going to ask?” Fire Streak questioned.

“I make it that obvious?” Eagle replied.

“Son, it’s no mystery that you ask me every time I come home. It’s almost more obvious than that I will actually be leaving again soon. Go ahead, ask.” Eagle Eye sighed and turned to his father, who had entered the kitchen.

“When are you leaving again?” Eagle Eye asked.

“In five days,” Fire Streak replied. Eagle Eye rolled his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. “Son, it isn’t my fault. The company needs me to go on these trips. If I could make it so I wouldn’t have to be leaving all the time, I would make it so, but I can’t. I’m sorry Eagle Eye.”

“It’s not just that Dad. Even when you have time to spend with your family, you don’t spend it with us. You usually spend it working more than you should have to,” Eagle responded.

“Son, I’m sorry, truly I am. But, I promise you, after this next trip, things will be different. The company thinks that this may be my last big trip. I may be able to start working solely in Manehattan. Then, we can spend as much time together as you want. In fact, the only thing I have to do work related before I leave is right now. I’m meeting somepony downtown in a few minutes. But, after that, I will be free for the rest of my time here. If you want to do something together, we can do it.” Eagle Eye looked to his father.

“Anything?”

“Anything.” Eagle Eye smiled.

“Well, the Wonderbolts are actually going to be performing at the Coliseum on Monday. Sharp Side can’t go, not that he would really want to go anyway. Ruby doesn’t want to go, and Mom has to work on Monday.” Eagle Eye’s mother was a nurse at a local hospital. She was very gifted at her career, and it is why she has the heart in the center of her cutie mark. “Can we go?” Eagle finished.

“Son, of course we can go. Will we need tickets?” Fire asked.

“I already got them,” Eagle quickly replied.

“You already got two tickets? Who would the second one have been for?”

“Well, I figured I could just sell it at the Coliseum if I couldn’t bring anypony else. But, now that you’re going, I won’t need to sell it. Thanks Dad.” Fire Streak smiled at his son.

“Of course son, anything to make you happy.” They hugged each other. Eagle Eye didn’t hate his father in the slightest. He loved him with all his heart, just as much as the rest of his family. Eagle really felt safe in his father’s arms, and he honestly felt that there was no other pony he could trust more. Fire Streak released his son.

“Now, I should get going. My co-workers don’t like to be kept waiting. Don’t worry, we will spend the night together, as a family. I promise son.”

“Thanks Dad,” Eagle replied. They gave each other another quick hug. Fire Streak ruffled Eagle’s mane before walking out the door. “Man I love that guy,” Eagle said softly to himself. He made his way up to his room.

Upon entering his room, Eagle found Sharp Side reading his unfinished novel.

“Enjoying the story?” Eagle asked, startling Sharp Side.

“Well, yeah, actually. You finally got to the big death scene for the murderer. You said before that you were stuck?” Sharp Side asked.

“Yeah. I don’t know where to make the story go. I don’t want the main character to get in trouble or anything, but it seems like that will have to happen. I’m just really stuck.”

“What if he ran away?” Sharp Side asked. Eagle Eye immediately face hoofed himself.

“Why the buck didn’t I think of that?” Sharp Side started to laugh.

“I see you decided to put your Crest on the story finally.”

“Of course I put that on the story. My Crest is my signature dude. You of all ponies should know that.”

“I know that, I was just surprised when the last time I read this, it wasn’t there.”

“Yeah, I don’t know why I forgot about it, but at least it’s there now.” Sharp Side got up out of Eagle Eye’s desk. He lounged himself on Eagle Eye’s bed and let out a sigh. “Yeah, make yourself at home you shmuck,” Eagle Eye said jokingly.

“Hey, I can’t help it. You have a really comfortable bed.”

“Yeah, I know. I guess I could write a bit. Hell, you came up with the idea for the continuation. Why don’t you help me a bit more?” Eagle asked. Sharp Side sat up in Eagle’s bed and started to think.

“Well, seeing as though you’re up to the part where the whole revenge killing happens, you need to make a transition. I noticed that you just left it at the main character killing the coltfriend of the mare. Maybe you could make the main character feel regret or guilt for what he has done, and then he runs off.” Sharp Side’s suggestions were great. They were exactly what Eagle Eye needed to continue his story.

“Dude, you are a genius.”

“I know,” Sharp Side said, basking in his own “greatness.”

“Don’t let it go to your head. Anyway, I guess I’ll write for a bit.” Eagle Eye began to continue his story. With these new ideas, the story was finally progressing after the one week of Eagle Eye suffering from writer’s block. Sharp Side watched his friend write away, until suddenly, they heard a knocking on the front door. Eagle Eye stopped writing, and Sharp Side got up from the bed.

“Who’s that?” he asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s the mailpony,” Eagle replied. He got up from his desk and headed downstairs to the front door. Sharp Side followed, but stayed on the steps to upstairs. Eagle Eye opened the door and was greeted by the mailpony.

“Hello there. I have a letter addressed to Eagle Eye. Are you him?” the mailpony asked.

“Yeah, that’s me,” Eagle replied. Eagle took the mail from the mailpony.

“There you go. Have a nice day,” the mailpony called back as he started to walk away.

“You too, and thank you,” Eagle called back, closing the door.

“Who’s it from?” Sharp Side asked.

“Let’s go get my mail opener in my room and find out.” Eagle and Sharp went back into Eagle’s room. Eagle opened the letter and started to read it.

“Well, what is it? Who’s it from?” Sharp Side asked.

“It’s a letter, from…” but Eagle Eye stopped dead as he noticed the name of the sender.

“Who?” Sharp Side asked again. Eagle Eye lowered the letter and looked at Sharp Side with a surprised expression.

“Rainbow Dash.”

Author's Notes:

Wow, this was a long chapter, and it's only the first one. For me, at least, this was long. I plan for most of the parts for this story to be about this long. I want a minimum of 3000 words per part. Anyway, this part is obviously to show how Eagle Eye's life is. It's supposed to give you the general description of who he is and how he is doing. The following chapters will definitely be more exciting and not as, well, normal.

Just to give you all the general reminder if it was unclear, Eagle Eye and his mother Sky Dove are Pegasi, and Ruby and the father Fire Streak and Unicorns. I hope I made the descriptions of each of them clear.

And just to make it clear, Eagle Eye's Crest and cutie mark are basically my avatar with actual wings instead of the ones in my avatar. In other words, the Crest and mark are the Assassin's Crest with eagle wings. On my user page, Eagle Eye has my avatar for a cutie mark, but in this story, there are actual wings instead of the ones in my avatar. I think I've made that clear enough.

Chapter 2: An Old Friend

“Wait, did you just say Rainbow Dash?” Sharp Side asked. Eagle Eye glanced back at the letter in amazement. It couldn’t have been Rainbow Dash. But, there, in his hooves, was a letter in her writing. How could it not be her?

“Yes! I… I didn’t even think she remembered me. I’m surprised she even remembered my mailing address. I can’t believe it’s really from her!” Eagle finally replied.

“What’s it say?” Sharp asked. Eagle scanned the letter over once more.

“Well, she was wondering if I got an invitation to the Flight Camp Reunion. As a matter of fact, I did, but I can’t believe I completely forgot that she was in my class. I guess I’ll be seeing her next Friday night.”

“Looks like you’ve got a marefriend to see again,” Sharp Side said jokingly, nudging Eagle Eye. Eagle simply pushed his friend to the floor.

“You know as well as I do that we aren’t a thing anymore numbnuts. Although, it’s gonna be awesome to see her again. I’ve only been able to hypothesize how her life has been. I can’t wait to hear it from her.” Eagle Eye was full of joy, knowing that his ex was going to be in attendance at the reunion.

“Hey, what was her friend’s name?” Sharp Side asked. Eagle Eye looked to his friend and helped him up off the floor.

“Friend? Oh, you mean… crap, what was her name?” Eagle asked himself. “Oh yeah, Fluttershy. Why?”

“Well, wasn’t she in your class too?”

“True. I bet she’ll be in attendance as well, unless of course she is still as shy as ever. I guess that’s why her name is Fluttershy. Man, I can still remember how Dash and I would always defend her from the bullies at Flight Camp. The three of us were the closest friends, but Dash and I were obviously something a little more.” Sharp Side smiled and put his hoof on his friend’s shoulder.

“Looks like you’ve got a big day next Friday then my friend.”

“Indeed I do,” Eagle replied, nodding his head. He looked at the letter once more and smiled. ‘Rainbow Dash,’ he thought to himself. “Anyway, let’s get back to my novel. I don’t want the creative flow to be interrupted any more than it already has been.” Sharp Side nodded and reassumed his position on Eagle Eye’s bed. Eagle simply rolled his eyes and sat back down at his desk. He kept the letter on the corner of the desk, hoping to reminisce on his favorite mare a little later.

Eagle Eye and Sharp Side continued to write for another half hour, until Sharp Side finally decided to leave. He made his way downstairs to the door. Before he left, Eagle Eye wished him good luck for his date the next day. Eagle and Sharp wouldn’t be seeing each other beforehand, so Eagle had to give his best friend some good luck. Sharp Side nodded and gave his friend a hoof bump. The green stallion walked out the door and headed home.

A few moments later, Sky Dove and Ruby walked back into the house, their bags filled with groceries for dinner. Eagle Eye heard the sound of the door opening, but he was too focused on his writing still to greet them. Sky Dove entered Eagle’s room.

“Hello Eagle. I see you got your creative juices flowing again,” Sky Dove greeted him.

“Yeah, Sharp Side came up with an obvious, yet brilliant way for the story to progress. But, that’s not the only thing that happened while you were out.” Eagle Eye gestured to the letter on the corner of his desk. Sky Dove picked up the letter in her hoof and read it. Eagle Eye noticed her mouth fly open and her eyes widen.

“Eagle Eye, is it really from her?” Sky Dove asked. Eagle Eye nodded.

“Is what from who?” Ruby called to her mother, walking up the steps. Sky Dove looked at her daughter, and then back to Eagle Eye.

“You can show her Mom.” Sky Dove handed the letter to Ruby. She read it over, and shortly after, grabbed Eagle Eye in a bear hug.

“Eagle Eye! You’re getting back together with Rainbow Dash!” Eagle Eye let out a faint cough, which told Ruby to stop hugging him so forcefully. Eagle Eye caught his breath before speaking.

“Actually Ruby, if you read the letter, you would know that she just wanted to know if I was attending the Flight Camp Reunion, which I am.”

“Oh wow, I completely forgot about that. It’s next Friday right?” Ruby asked.

“Yep, and now, I have even more of a reason to go,” Eagle replied.

“What about her friend?” Sky Dove asked.

“Fluttershy? Well, if Dash and Flutters are still as close as they were back then, then I’m sure Fluttershy will be there. I just hope that if all punks from Flight Camp attend this thing that they have at least matured over the past few years. Those guys were jerks.” Sky Dove simply giggled to herself.

“I’m sure they have changed Eagle. Now, come on, I want you to help us make dinner. Where is your father by the way?” she asked.

“He had to go meet somepony downtown. He said he would be back in about an hour, so I assume he’ll be home soon,” Eagle said. His mother nodded as he got up from his desk and followed her and his sister down to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

As if on cue, Fire Streak walked in through the door as the three ponies walked into the kitchen.

“There you are darling,” Sky Dove greeted her husband. “We were just about to start making dinner. Care to join us?” she asked.

“Of course I would darling,” he responded, walking into the kitchen. “Eagle, did you get any further on your story while I was gone?”

“As a matter of fact I did. Sharp Side helped with a simple but awesome idea. And, I also got a letter from an old friend,” Eagle Eye responded.

“Who?” Fire asked.

“Rainbow Dash.” Fire Streak looked at his son with wide eyes.

“You mean the mare you went out with during Flight Camp?”

“The very same mare. She wanted to know if I was going to be attending the Flight Camp Reunion next Friday, which I am. I can’t wait to see her, and most likely Fluttershy, again.” Eagle Eye was full of happiness, but his father seemed to be a little edgy. “Something wrong Dad?” Fire Streak shook himself out of his small trance.

“Oh, no, it’s nothing. I’m just worried that those bullies from your class will be in attendance is all,” Fire responded. Eagle raised an eyebrow at his father.

“Dad, you know that if they give me trouble, I can handle them.”

“I know that very well Eagle. I just want you to have a good time, not having to worry about the shenanigans of a few punks.” Eagle Eye chuckled at his father’s high amounts of unneeded concern.

“Everything will be fine Dad. Besides, it’s not until next week, so I’ve got time to plan everything out. Come on, I’m getting hungry with all of this food out. Let’s make some dinner,” Eagle Eye finished, and he started to chop away at some vegetables with a knife. Fire Streak nodded and did the same, levitating his knife with his magic.

It didn’t take long for Eagle Eye and his family to prepare their dinner. They all sat down, ate, talked, and just enjoyed each other’s company. They really were a great family. Eagle Eye felt, and literally was, right at home with them. He felt like nothing could go wrong with them. If something ever did go wrong, he would protect them and keep them safe. His family really did mean the world to him. He could only hope that someday he would have his own family. He had no hopes of Rainbow Dash being his soul mate, but he always kept her in his thoughts.

Eagle Eye helped his father clean up all of the dishes and the table. Afterwards, he returned to his room to continue writing. But, Eagle was stopped by the letter on his desk. He stopped writing, pulled the letter in front of him, and just read it once again.

Eagle Eye chuckled as he read her signature once again. He would always call her Rainbow Danger Dash for her insanely dangerous attitude and personality. When they starting dating, Eagle mostly referred to her as Dash, but his original name for her always stuck. To see that she remembered that made Eagle Eye one happy stallion. His thoughts of his novel started to fade as they were replaced by thoughts of the first day they met each other.

The sun was high and bright in the sky. The clouds that made up the Summer Flight Camp were as white as ever, perfect for the daily activities of the young Pegasi. Fillies and Colts were already practicing out on the field. This day, a new group would be joining them.

The newest group of the Flight Camp gathered at the main racing track. There were about 15 Pegasi in total, each about the same age, which would be about 12 to 14 years old. The group’s teacher started to take a head count of his group, going by alphabetical order in the names. He went up the list to the letter E.

“Eagle Eye?” the teacher called.

“Here,” the young Eagle Eye responded. Right after him was a shy yellow filly.

“Fluttershy?” the teacher continued.

“Here,” she responded, in a very hushed tone. Continuing down the list, he made his way to the R’s.

“Rainbow Dash?”

“Here, and ready to fly!” the cyan blue filly replied. Eagle Eye let out a soft chuckle at the overenthusiastic filly. The teacher finished his role call and let the young fillies get acquainted with the camp, which would practically become their home for the whole summer. Eagle Eye started to walk by himself, only to be greeted by the filly known as Rainbow Dash.

“You think something’s funny pal?” she asked him, getting in his face a bit.

“Um, no. Could you please get out of my way?” he replied. She only moved closer towards him.

“No! What were you laughing at?” Rainbow continued. Eagle Eye couldn’t help but crack a smirk.

“Sheesh, are you always this obnoxious Rainbow?” Eagle asked jokingly. Rainbow backed up from Eagle and gave him some space, but she didn’t change her attitude one bit.

“Only to the guys that get on my nerves, and you just so happen to be one of those guys.”

“All I did was chuckle at you being excited to fly.”

“What’s so funny about that?” Rainbow asked, once again getting in Eagle’s face. He gently pushed her back.

“Nothing, it’s just the way you said it.” Eagle Eye couldn’t help but crack another smirk at the overreacting filly. He didn’t really care, but she was just so… passionate in arguing against him.

“Man, you colts are all the same,” she said, and she turned and bluffed her tail in his muzzle. Eagle Eye suddenly got serious.

“I know you didn’t just do that,” he said, his tone getting more serious.

“And what if I did?” Rainbow replied, turning her head back to him. She backed up and waved her tail in his muzzle again. Now he was getting a little angry.

“Let me just tell you something Rainbow. Nopony bluffs their tale in my face. I don’t like it when ponies do that to me. I don’t need to smell where your tail has been. Now, because you’re a girl, I can’t, and won’t, hurt you, but if you do that again, somepony may wake up with a new hairstyle or color,” Eagle threatened.

“Oooooh, I’m so afraid. What are you gonna do, paint my mane and tale blonde?” she said, both mockingly and sarcastically.

“Try me,” Eagle Eye responded. He looked her dead in the eyes. She must have gotten the message, because she backed off from Eagle pretty quickly.

“Um, ok, I’ll stop. Sorry.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Eagle Eye responded. Rainbow started to back away, only to hear a faint snicker from Eagle.

“What?” she asked. Eagle burst out in laughter, falling to the floor.

“You should have seen your face! You were like, “AAAAH,” it was priceless!” Eagle mocked, still laughing. Rainbow let out a huff.

“I was not!” she cried out, but Eagle kept laughing. “Stop laughing at me!” Eagle looked up, stopped laughing, and picked himself up.

“Alright, alright, sheesh. I’m sorry, alright. I’m just joking around is all,” Eagle Eye said, wiping a small tear from his eye. Rainbow didn’t look at all amused. “Look, I think we got off on the wrong hoof here. Why don’t we start over? I’m Eagle Eye,” he said, and he extended his hoof forward. Rainbow Dash looked at it for a moment. She didn’t know whether or not to trust this guy. Something told her that he was alright. She let out a faint smile and extended her hoof.

“I’m Rainbow Dash,” she replied. Instead of hoof shaking, they actually hoof bump. Eagle Eye smiled back to the cyan blue filly.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Rainbow Dash. See, now why didn’t you greet me like that in the first place?” Eagle asked sarcastically. Rainbow let out a small giggle.

“Because you laughed at me,” she responded.

“Yeah, but now look. You’re laughing too.” Rainbow could only keep laughing as Eagle’s smile grew wider. “Hey, you wanna hang out for a while before we start all the training stuff?” Eagle asked. Rainbow looked at Eagle and smiled.

“Sure, why not?” she responded.

“Cool,” Eagle finished. He started to walk to the Mess Hall, and Rainbow followed him. Little did the two little ponies know that this would be the start of a real relationship.

Eagle Eye was snapped out of his thoughts of Rainbow Dash by a knock at the door.

“Huh, oh, uh, come in,” he called out. Ruby entered his room. “What’s up Ruby?”

“What did you two talk about?” she quickly asked.

“Huh?”

“You and Sharp Side, what did you talk about? Did you talk about tomorrow? What did he say? Is he nervous, cause I think I’m getting nervous. Do I look nervous?” she asked. Her questions were spoken rapidly, and she started to breathe a bit faster.

“Uh, yes. Sit on my bed Ruby, I think we should talk,” Eagle responded. She quickly made her way to her brother’s bed. She lied down on his comfortable bed and relaxed.

“Sorry, I’m just getting worried about tomorrow. I’ve been waiting for so long to go on a date with him, and tomorrow, it’s finally going to happen. I just don’t want to mess anything up. I want him to like me, cause I really like him,” Ruby said. Eagle Eye could tell that she was nervous.

“Yeah, it’s called love little sister. Don’t worry, everything will be fine. Truthfully, he said he was looking forward to it. He told me that he had really lightened up to you. He sort of has a thing for you now even, so you’re in luck. Just calm down and think of how great it will be. Just you and him, together.” Ruby started to think of that very thing. She sighed and let out a soft smile.

“Thanks Eagle. You always know how to cheer me up.”

“Well yeah, it’s my job to make sure my little sister is happy and safe. Just one thing though.”

“What?” she asked.

“Please, do not let him talk you into having sex with him, or vice versa,” Eagle Eye said, starting to laugh.

“Eagle Eye! What kind of mare do you think I am?!” Ruby responded, less than amused by Eagle’s comment. He could only continue laughing.

“I’m joking, I’m joking. Don’t worry, he won’t do anything like that. I can expect the same thing from you, right?”

“Yes, Eagle, you can. I won’t do anything with him. We are just going to go on a date, that’s it,” Ruby responded. Eagle stopped laughing and just smiled at his sister.

“Good. Man, I can’t believe my little sister is going on a date.”

“I’ve gone on tons of dates before Eagle,” she replied, raising an eyebrow at her brother.

“Yeah, but not with my best friend,” he replied. They both started to laugh.

“That’s true. Anyway, thanks Eagle,” she said.

“Anything for you sis,” he replied. She got up, kissed him on the head, and walked out of his room. He smiled to himself and looked back to his book. “Alright, let’s get back to work,” he said to himself. Eagle lost himself in his novel once again.

Another hour of work left Eagle Eye beat. He was out of energy and had fully exhausted his creative juices. He had managed to get to a decent point in the story, and was ready to just pass out. He quickly showered, brushed his teeth, and dropped dead in his bed. His memories of Flight Camp once again consumed his thoughts as he slept.

Eagle Eye’s group was now one month into their Flight Camp session. Eagle and Rainbow Dash had become best friends, partnering up for every activity that required partners. They started to do everything together, from racing to playing to even eating together. They didn’t look at it as a relationship though. They looked at it as just friendship.

At that time, Eagle Eye and his family lived in Cloudsdale, which allowed him to see Rainbow Dash much more often. The day that Eagle Eye introduced Rainbow Dash to his family was probably the most embarrassing day in his life. His mother assumed that they were an item, and Eagle Eye kept moaning and face hoofing. Rainbow Dash couldn’t stop laughing. Ruby really enjoyed Rainbow Dash’s mane and tail, and Fire Streak seemed quite impressed by Rainbow’s loyalty and courage. Eagle Eye simply took her to his room. He just had to get away from his family. But, even so, Rainbow Dash was basically a part of Eagle Eye’s day to day lifestyle now.

Seeing as though that was the case, Rainbow Dash got involved with a few bullies at Flight Camp. This ultimately got Eagle Eye involved with them as well. They would always call Rainbow Dash Rainbow Crash, and Eagle Eye was given the name Eagle Cry. Although, Eagle Eye would always present a very valid argument. Eagle Cry isn’t very insulting. To him, an eagle’s cry is one of the coolest animal sounds that could ever be made. But, the bullies were too arrogant to give a damn, and they would always persist with annoying both Eagle and Rainbow. They got over it rather quickly, but one day, Eagle and Rainbow found those same bullies picking on a shy yellow filly.

Eagle Eye and Rainbow Dash had just finished their lunch and were exiting the Mess Hall. They were both in hysterical laughter at a joke Eagle Eye had made. But, over their own laughter, they heard the laughter of the two bullies. They were picking on the filly known as Fluttershy.

“Heh, nice goin Cluttsershy,” one of them said. “They ought a ground you permanently.”

“Yeah, my baby brother can fly better than you,” the second one jumped in. They continued to laugh at the shy filly. But, moments later, Rainbow Dash swooped in to defend Fluttershy.

“Leave her alone!” she demanded.

“Oh, what are you gonna do Rainbow Crash?!” one of the kids replied. Eagle Eye dropped down next to Rainbow.

“Keep making fun of them and find out buck for brains,” he insulted. Now, these bullies would always get on Eagle Eye’s nerves, but around the Flight Camp, Eagle Eye was known to be a really good fighter. But, these bullies would always risk it just for the laughs. They started to back up a bit from him and Rainbow, but they weren’t running away.

“You two think you’re so tough. Why don’t you prove it?!” one of them fought back.

“What do you have in mind?” Rainbow asked.

Moments later, the four young Pegasi were lined up at a racing line. Fluttershy was at the start point with a flag. Rainbow and Eagle eyed each other, smiled and nodded to each other, then faced forward again. Fluttershy waved the flag, and the four Pegasi rushed off, causing her to fall off her little cloud.

Rainbow Dash and those two bullies kept racing, but Eagle Eye caught notice of the falling Fluttershy. He quickly diverted from the race path to save the shy filly. She was getting closer to the ground, so Eagle picked up his speed. But, moments before he could get to her, a flock of butterflies caught her. Eagle Eye quickly slowed his speed and landed on the ground, watching the yellow filly being carried by the butterflies. He watched her take in all of her surroundings. She was completely mesmerized.

A few moments later, Eagle Eye heard her start to sing. He had no idea that this shy little filly could sing. She had a beautiful voice. She started to sing of how she absolutely loved everything about being on the ground. She loved the animals, the colors, everything. It was like she was in a new world.

Suddenly, from behind them, a giant explosion erupted through the sky, followed by a rainbow. Fluttershy noticed it, but her attention was quickly drawn to her new animal friends, which had all run for cover. Eagle Eye, on the other hand, knew exactly what had just happened. Rainbow Dash had just pulled off the impossible. She pulled off a Sonic Rainboom.

Eagle Eye was about to fly back up to the Flight Camp, but he noticed Fluttershy comforting all of the animals. He noticed her flank started to glow, and shortly after, three pink butterflies formed on her flank. He smiled at her and walked over to her.

“Hey, Fluttershy right?” he asked. “Take a look at your flank.” Fluttershy turned to look. Her face beamed with joy and happiness. She had just earned her cutie mark. She didn’t want to frighten her new friends, but she couldn’t help but jump up and start to fly. It amazed Eagle Eye how just getting her cutie mark made this little filly better at flying. He sat next to her.

“Hey, if those bullies ever give you a hard time again, just find either me or Rainbow Dash. I’m Eagle Eye, by the way. You must have some talent, talking to animals and all.” Fluttershy hid behind her hair. Eagle Eye simply chuckled. “No need to be afraid. Listen, I’ll let you be with your new friends, but like I said, if you need either Rainbow Dash or me, just try to find us. I’m gonna get going. See you later Fluttershy.” He patted her on the head, which made her smile.

“Thank you Eagle Eye,” she said as he walked away. He turned to her and smiled. He turned back and flew back to the camp. He just witnessed that little filly earn her cutie mark, but what came next, he wasn’t expecting.

Landing on the cloud where Rainbow Dash was relishing in her victory, Eagle took notice of the rainbow colored lightning bolt on her flank. Had she just earned her cutie mark too?

“Yeah, I know, you’re jealous! Hey, what happened back there?” Rainbow asked, walking up to Eagle Eye.

“Well, I saw Fluttershy falling from her little cloud, so I raced to save her. But, she was caught by some butterflies. Your Sonic Rainboom frightened all of the animals that were surrounding her, and she got them all to come out of hiding. Moments later, she earned her cutie mark.”

“Seriously?! Wow, that’s awesome! Where is she?”

“She stayed on the ground. She really likes it down there,” Eagle Eye said, looking back down to the ground from the edge of the cloud.

“What was her special talent?” Rainbow asked.

“Apparently talking to animals. I think she can literally talk to them. Her cutie mark was three pink butterflies, which really accompanies her pink hair. But, anyway, congrats on getting your cutie mark as well Dash,” Eagle finished. Rainbow chuckled and smirked, continuing to gloat.

“Yeah, thanks. I must be that awesome. I just knew I could pull that off, I just knew it! And now, I’ve got the cutie mark to prove it!” Rainbow was a little ball of pride and joy. Eagle Eye could only smile at her.

Eagle Eye then noticed that they were actually alone. They were on one of the more isolated clouds. He was surprised even more so because Dash had just managed to pull off a Sonic Rainboom. Where was everypony? But, he didn’t really care at that moment.

Something told Eagle Eye to pull Rainbow closer to him. She was still staring at her cutie mark, and she was caught completely off guard by him. Within seconds, Eagle Eye kissed her on the lips. Rainbow was completely surprised. But, even to her own surprise, she didn’t back out of it. She enjoyed it. It was, after all, her first kiss. It was the first kiss for Eagle Eye too. They held that kiss for a good 30 seconds. When they finally released, they stared into each other’s eyes.

“Best day ever,” Rainbow said.

“You got that right,” Eagle replied.

Eagle Eye was awakened by the sound of birds chirping from outside his room. He slowly opened his eyes and turned to the window. He got out of bed and walked to the window. Opening his curtains, he found that the sun was shining bright in the sky, and that the day seemed to already be in full motion.

“What time is it?” Eagle asked himself. Turning to his clock, he found that it was four o’clock in the afternoon. “Wow, I slept that long? Well, at least no one interrupted my sleep.” Eagle sat back down on his bed. He started to think of Rainbow Dash. He wondered if she still had feelings for him, or if she had found another stallion to be with. Eagle Eye didn’t think about it for too long. He got out of bed and started his day, which would in fact be a very short day. But, before he left his room, he said one more thing to himself.

“I’ll see you in six days Dash.”

Author's Notes:

Another slow chapter, but now you guys can get an idea of the bond between Eagle Eye and Rainbow Dash. That becomes pretty important later on in the story. The next chapter is when things start to get interesting.

Chapter 3: The Right Place at the Wrong Time

Eagle spent the rest of his day doing nothing really. He had some lunch, talked to his mother, and just hung around his house. His sister was already out on her date with Sharp Side, so he eagerly awaited her return. At about seven o’clock at night, she finally arrived. Eagle Eye had been up in his room, but he knew it was her entering the home. He rushed down to greet her.

“Well?” was all he said. Ruby was smiling harder than she ever had before. There was absolutely no way of ruining her joy.

“Well what?” she replied teasingly. Eagle Eye chuckled in return.

“You know what I mean sis. How did it go?” Ruby ran up the stairs and dragged Eagle Eye back into his room. She lounged on his bed and squirmed around in joy.

“It was amazing! Oh Eagle Eye, you never told me how much of a charmer Sharp Side was! Being with him was just great! And, guess what?”

“What?” Eagle replied.

“He kissed me!” she answered, followed by a girlish shriek. Eagle covered his ears to block out the heinous sound.

“Really?” he asked, once she had calmed down.

“Yeah! He kissed me right on the cheek. We were walking home from the park, and out of nowhere, he kissed me.”

“What did you do?” Eagle Eye asked, his curiosity now peaked.

“Well, first, I stopped walking. Then, he turned to look at me and smiled. I was absolutely speechless. I just lifted my hoof to my cheek and he continued to smile at me. I smiled back at him and just said thank you. Oh Eagle Eye, it was just amazing!”

“You didn’t kiss him back?” Eagle jumped in.

“Well, no. I didn’t want to be too sudden. But, he did say that we would have to go on another date soon, preferably tomorrow actually. I immediately said yes to that! I have fallen in love big brother!” she said, putting her hooves over her heart.

“Yeah, you kinda fell in love with him a long time ago.” Ruby simply giggled at his remark. “Anyway, I’m happy for you sis. I’m going to have to thank Sharp Side myself.” Ruby got up from the bed, walked over to Eagle Eye, and hugged him. “What’s this for?”

“For having an amazing best friend,” Ruby replied. Eagle Eye chuckled and returned the embrace of his little sister. “I love you big brother.”

“I love you too little sister.”

Eagle Eye was truly happy for his sister. That Sunday brought Ruby another date with Sharp Side. She told Eagle Eye how she received another kiss from the lovely stallion, as well as bestowing her own kiss to him. Apparently, the two met eyes after Ruby’s kiss, and they started to make out. Thankfully for the two of them, they were not being watched in the park while doing so. At least, that’s what Eagle Eye was told. But, regardless, he couldn’t be more proud of and happy for his sister.

The following day (Monday) brought for Ruby another date. Eagle Eye, however, would have to wait to hear about it later that night. Today, he had a show to go see with his father.

Eagle Eye and Fire Streak arrived at the Coliseum, which was already packed with ponies. Whether they were Wonderbolts fans or just flying fans in general, everypony was roaring with excitement to see the Wonderbolts perform. Eagle Eye never aspired to be a Wonderbolt like his ex-marefriend, but he still admired them to a very high degree. Eagle Eye’s father didn’t care much for the flying group, but to spend time with his son, he would do anything.

Eagle Eye and Fire Streak found their seats easily enough. Eagle Eye managed to get two decent seats, located right in the middle row of the circular arena. Eagle Eye had already brought with him snacks and drinks. Even though you weren’t supposed to, Eagle Eye was a master at hiding things under his wings. Security even asked him to unfold his wings to check, but they found nothing. Eagle Eye was quite proud of his abilities. His father seemed to enjoy said abilities as well.

“I must say son, you did a bang up job at getting us some good seats. And your skills at hiding these snacks are amazing. How’d you get so good at that anyway?” Fire Streak asked.

“Years of practice Dad. You know what they say, practice makes perfect.”

“Amongst other things,” Fire Streak replied. Eagle Eye and his father shared a laugh, and the show finally started. The first Wonderbolt to enter was Spitfire, who just happened to be Eagle Eye’s favorite. She was followed by Soarin, Fleetfoot, and Rapidfire followed behind her. Shortly after, Misty Fly and Lightning Streak followed those three. The six Wonderbolts flew through the air, performing super cool stunts that left the crowd in awe. Eagle Eye took a moment to point out a little snippet of information to his father.

“You know, there actually is a Wonderbolt with your name Dad?” Eagle Eye said.

“Really? A Wonderbolt with my exact name?” Fire Streak replied.

“Yep, but technically, he stole it from you. You’re older than him, so that basically means you are the original.”

“Well, I’m sure there have been many Fire Streaks before the both of us, but good eye there son,” Fire complimented his son. Eagle Eye wasn’t trying to boast any knowledge. He just wanted to point out a funny fact.

The Wonderbolts continued performing their amazing stunts and tricks, mesmerizing the crowd. At last, the Wonderbolts performed their most daring trick of them all, The Wing Blazer. Normally, the Wonderbolts left lightning cloud trails behind them. But, with this trick, those trails turned to flames. The Wonderbolts flew that fast that the trick was made possible. Five of the Wonderbolts made a huge ring of flames with their trails, only for it to be burst as Spitfire flew up the middle. The crowd cheered as the flames started to disappear.

“YEAH, GO SPITFIRE!” Eagle Eye heard a voice call out from the crowd. He knew that voice. It was coming from all the way across the coliseum. Eagle started to try to pinpoint the source, but there were too many ponies for him to find her. Fire Streak caught Eagle Eye being all perceptive.

“Something wrong son?” he asked.

“No, I just thought I heard somepony,” Eagle responded. Now, Eagle Eye had a special… talent. He was able to heighten his senses to incredible levels through extreme focus. Every one of his senses was heightened when he did this. Not only that, but it also gave him a cool trick. His eyes would change from their normal shade of blue to a shade of red, similar to that of his mane. This trick in changing eye color was actually something Eagle Eye could do without increasing his senses. But, if he did increase his senses, the eye color change was certain to follow.

Eagle Eye felt every sense heighten as he continued to search through the crowd. Within moments, he spotted her. Rainbow Dash. His ex-marefriend was right there, across the stadium. She was almost like a dot in the crowd, but she was made all the more obvious by her colors. She was jumping up and down from her seat in excitement. Eagle Eye could only stare at the beautiful mare, her mane still just as colorful and messy as he remembered it.

“What is it son?” Fire Streak interrupted. Eagle Eye snapped out of his trance and looked to his father. He simply smiled.

“Nothing Dad, I’m just happy to be here with you is all,” Eagle replied.

“You sure?” Fire Streak persisted. Eagle put his hoof on his father’s shoulder.

“I’m positive. Come on, we should probably get going before the walkways start to get overly crowded,” Eagle said. His father completely obliged to that sentiment.

“Good thinking son. Lead the way.” Eagle quickly led his father out of the stadium. They encountered a small amount of the passing crowd on their way out. It wasn’t too much of a problem, but when they looked back to see how many ponies were now leaving, they were glad they left when they did.

Finally outside of the Coliseum, Eagle Eye started to look around frantically for Rainbow Dash. He couldn’t find her, and he couldn’t try to heighten his sense again. Doing so just once could really tax Eagle Eye, so he didn’t want to risk hurting himself. But, finally, he managed to find her again. She was with two other mares. One of them was orange, wearing a Stetson hat. She had three apples for a cutie mark. The other mare Eagle Eye recognized in seconds. It was Fluttershy. She still seemed just as shy as ever. Eagle Eye could only argue with himself whether or not to go and greet his two friends. But, the rush of the crowd prevented him from doing so.

“Damn it,” Eagle muttered to himself.

“What’s wrong son? You are hiding something from me. Please, you can tell me Eagle. What is it?” Fire Streak asked. Eagle saw no reason to hide it anymore.

“Rainbow Dash is here.” Fire Streak was a little surprised.

“Really? Well, why don’t you go and talk to her. How many years has it been since you last saw her?”

“Too many to count. I just don’t think it’s right. I think I can wait a few more days to say hi to her again. Don’t worry, it’s fine Dad.” Fire Streak simply nodded and led his son to the main streets of the city.

“Well, I must say son, this has truly been quite a day. I enjoyed those Wonderbolts far more than I expected I would. We should do this again sometime. I especially like the one called Soarin, but I am very intrigued to see the other Fire Streak. I assume his mane is much like a flame?” Fire Streak asked.

“Actually, it is. He’s actually the only Wonderbolt whose trail is naturally a flame. There is also Blaze, but she’s not as good as Fire Streak. At least, I think so.” Eagle’s father simply started to laugh. “And what’s so funny?”

“Well, son, nopony is better than me,” Fire Streak joked. Eagle Eye joined his father in laughter. It was moments like those that made Eagle Eye realize that his father wasn’t at all a terrible stallion. Fire Streak loved his family more than anything, just like Eagle Eye. Sure, Fire Streak could get busy, but everything he did was for his family. Eagle Eye truly did love his father.

“Thanks for coming with me today Dad, it means a lot to me,” Eagle Eye said.

“Anything for you son. That’s what fathers are for right?”

“Right,” Eagle replied. The two started to walk back home. Although Eagle Eye was thinking of how much of a great time he had with his father, the thought of finally seeing Rainbow Dash again still lingered in the back of his mind. Only four more days remained.

‘I’ll see you soon Dash,’ Eagle thought to himself.

The day had finally arrived. The Friday night of the Summer Flight Camp Reunion. Eagle Eye was ecstatic for this night. He was also a little nervous, but mostly ecstatic. All he could wish was that his father was there to wish him luck. He had left the Wednesday prior to that Friday night. It was a very warm goodbye, even though Eagle Eye went through these things quite often. But, it didn’t bother Eagle Eye as much as he thought it would. He was all dressed up, ready to finally see Rainbow Dash again. This occasion, however, wasn’t extremely formal, so Eagle Eye simply wore a nice black vest. Walking down from his room, he was greeted by his sister, who had been on two other dates with Sharp Side in those few days.

“Wow, you look great Eagle. Rainbow Dash is going to be so surprised to see you again. I mean, yeah, you already saw her on Monday, but she didn’t see you. Just think of how great it will be to actually meet with her again,” Ruby said, her voice filled with joy.

“Yeah, I know what you mean. I’m just a little nervous is all. I can’t help but wonder what she thinks of me,” Eagle replied.

“Well, she did send you a letter asking you if you would be going to this thing, so she obviously must still care about you,” Ruby said. That brought a smile to Eagle Eye’s face.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Well, I won’t find out until I get there,” Eagle said. Sky Dove walked out from the living room shortly after.

“Well then, are we all ready to go?” she asked.

“Wait, what?” Eagle asked. His mother had just asked if they were “all” ready to go.

“I thought I told you Eagle. Your sister and I actually have dinner reservations at a restaurant in the same area as the club you are going to. We figured we could all go together. Is that alright with you?” Sky Dove asked.

“Oh, well, yeah, that’s fine. I guess I forgot about that is all. Well, I guess I’ll answer your question. Yes, I’m ready to go. How about you Ruby?” he asked his sister.

“You bet,” she replied. Nodding to his mother and sister, Eagle Eye opened the door for the two of them and followed them to the East District of Manehattan.

The East District of Manehattan wasn’t that bad of a walk for the three ponies, but it wasn’t a fun walk either. Thankfully, Eagle Eye managed to not get too worked up from the walk, and neither did his mother and sister. They were all in high spirits for what the evening had planned for them all. Eagle Eye would be able to see Rainbow Dash, and probably Fluttershy, again, and Ruby and Sky Dove were going to enjoy a great dinner at one of the finer restaurants in Manehattan. The club that the Reunion was being held at came up first in the walk. Eagle Eye stopped at the main entrance and turned to his family.

“Well, wish me luck,” he said. Sky Dove walked up to her son and kissed his cheek.

“Have fun Eagle. And don’t worry, Rainbow is sure to be happy to see you again. Maybe you two can pick things up again,” Sky Dove said. Eagle Eye smiled and hugged his mother.

“Thanks Mom,” he said. She returned the hug. Ruby walked up to her brother as he and Sky Dove released their hug.

“Don’t mess this up, okay brother. I’ve got my special somepony, and now I think it’s time you get yours back,” Ruby said, bringing Eagle Eye in for a hug. He chuckled and held his sister close.

“Thanks Ruby. Maybe you guys are right. Maybe I should see if I can start something with her again,” he said, releasing his sister. “I guess I’ll just have to find out. I’ll see you two back home later.” Before he could turn to enter the club, Sky Dove kissed his cheek again.

“We love you Eagle Eye. Have fun son,” she said. Eagle Eye smiled to her and Ruby.

“I love you guys too,” he replied. He waved goodbye to them as he turned to enter the club. They waved back as they walked down the street, continuing on to the restaurant. Eagle Eye took a short moment to breathe. Letting out a heavy breath, he entered the club.

Eagle Eye entered a world of music, food, and partying ponies, all of which were Pegasi. There weren’t just Pegasi from his own group, but other groups as well. But, all of the Pegasi were from the same year of Summer Flight Camp. Eagle Eye looked on in amazement, immediately recognizing almost everypony in attendance. Eagle Eye felt a wave of nostalgia overtake him, but he continued through the large crowd of Pegasi.

He greeted old friends that he hadn’t seen in years, whether he wanted to or not. To see all of these familiar faces again brought warmth to his heart. But, he persisted on, trying to find Rainbow Dash. Eagle Eye took a moment to take everything in, deciding to ultimately heighten his senses to find the cyan blue mare. It worked, because within moments, he found Rainbow Dash, sitting with Fluttershy. The two were just chatting and enjoying some drinks. Eagle Eye pushed his way through the crowd until he finally met her eyes. He smiled right at her, and she smiled back to him.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Rainbow “Danger” Dash,” Eagle said jokingly, advancing towards the two Pegasi. Rainbow giggled at his remark.

“Heh, good to see you too Eagle Eye,” Rainbow said, getting up and greeting him with a warm hug. He returned the hug with all his passion. “I’m not gonna lie Eagle, I missed you, a lot,” Rainbow said.

“Yeah, I got that,” Eagle replied, releasing the hug to look into her eyes again. They just smiled at each other, until Eagle Eye’s attention was drawn to Fluttershy.

“How’s it going Fluttershy?” he asked. The normally shy mare got up and greeted Eagle Eye the same way Rainbow Dash did, with a warm hug. “I’ll take that as good.”

“What Rainbow Dash said was true. She wasn’t the only one to miss you. But, I’m sure she missed you more than I did,” Fluttershy said, releasing Eagle Eye from the hug. All he could do was smile at the two mares. Aside from Sharp Side, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were Eagle Eye’s closest friends, Rainbow Dash obviously more so than Fluttershy.

“So, what have you two been up to lately?” Eagle asked.

“Oh not much, just saving Equestria and continuing my training to become a Wonderbolt,” Rainbow replied.

“Um, the saving Equestria part goes for me too, but I obviously haven’t been training to become a Wonderbolt,” Fluttershy chimed in.

“Save Equestria? Oh yeah, you two are Bearers of the Elements of Harmony. I forgot about that. Yeah, don’t think that all of that Nightmare Moon and Discord crap went unnoticed by Manehattan. You two did a good job with stopping those two by the way. I know that Nightmare Moon has returned to being Princess Luna, but where’s Discord at now?” Eagle asked.

“Oh, well, with some of my help, we managed to reform him. Now, he uses his magic for good instead of chaos,” Fluttershy answered. Eagle Eye was slightly surprised by this, but knowing Fluttershy, he knew that she was probably right. Fluttershy was the most kind-spirited pony he had ever met. If anypony could reform the unpredictable Discord, it was her.

“Well, that’s something. Hey, I don’t suppose you two were here on Monday for a certain Wonderbolts performance were you?” Eagle asked, hinting at something.

“Yeah. Wait, were you there?” Rainbow responded.

“I was actually. I heard you cheering for Spitfire in the crowd. So, I decided to find you. I knew well enough that it was you, but finding you in that crowd was a pain. When everypony exited the Coliseum, I saw you with Fluttershy and an orange Earth Pony. I feel like I know her from somewhere. What’s her name?”

“Applejack,” Rainbow answered. Eagle Eye nodded as if a light bulb had gone off.

“Now I remember. She’s one of your Ponyville friends, right?” Rainbow and Fluttershy nodded in response. “Yeah, I remember her. I knew her for a while, but I don’t remember much. All I remember was that she was dedicated to her apple farm and family, and that she was the Element of…” but Eagle had forgotten which one.

“Honesty,” Fluttershy jumped in.

“Thanks.” The three joined together in laughter.

“Well, enough about us, what’s new in the life of the great Eagle Eye?” Rainbow asked, nudging Eagle Eye.

“Well, not much honestly. I’ve been doing some writing. I actually am three quarters through my first actual novel. I think it’s going along very well. Aside from that, not much else is different.”

“I see you’re still rocking that sick Crest for your cutie mark,” Rainbow said.

“Well, duh. You can’t change your cutie mark Dash,” Eagle responded.

“Um, Eagle Eye, what did you get your cutie mark for again?” Fluttershy asked.

“Oh, well, this Crest became something like my signature that I put on all of my work. I didn’t sign with my name, but instead with this Crest. It sort of became a part of me, and it is now my cutie mark.” Fluttershy smiled and nodded. She started to remember one of the short stories Eagle Eye had shared with her and Rainbow Dash when they were younger. She distinctively remembered that Crest on the back page of the story.

“Well, when are you gonna get this thing published already. While I may not be into reading, unless it’s some Daring Do books, I’d love to read the wonderful fantasies of my ex-coltfriend,” Rainbow said, her voice very playful.

“It’s not a fantasy Dash, it’s a love story,” Eagle Eye started, but before he could continue, Rainbow cut him off.

“Oh yeah, I probably won’t read that.”

“Thanks,” Eagle replied, sounding unamused. Rainbow and Fluttershy started to laugh, and Eagle Eye joined in on the laughter. The three ponies decided to sit down shortly after.

“Well, if it means anything to you Eagle Eye, I’d love to read your story,” Fluttershy said.

“Why thank you Fluttershy. At least somepony seems interested,” Eagle said, shooting a glare at Rainbow Dash, who simply chuckled at him.

“Oh calm down Eagle. I’d probably read it… if you really persuade me.” Eagle rolled his eyes and shook his head, smiling at her. The three continued to talk to each other, enjoying their drinks and whatever food was served to them. The club actually had great food, and the three ate practically everything that was served. Eagle Eye really enjoyed the company of those two mares. After not seeing them for so long, it was just great to be able to catch up with them.

After a while, the DJ started to pick up the pace with some really nice dancing music. Almost everypony in the club rushed to the dance floor and started to dance. Eagle Eye looked to the two mares sitting with him.

“Ladies?” he said gesturing to the dance floor.

“Oh, I’m quite alright. You two can go dance. I’ll just sit here,” Fluttershy said.

“Come on Flutters, you gotta dance,” Rainbow jumped in. Fluttershy simply hid behind her hair. “Are you sure?” Fluttershy simply nodded in response. “Fair enough. Come on Eagle, I wanna see if you still dance like crap,” Rainbow teased.

“Hey, I had some good moves back then. And, if I may say so myself, I still got the moves. I’ll show you Dash, come on,” Eagle responded, taking Rainbow to the dance floor. Fluttershy peaked through her hair and smiled at the two. She really hoped that they would get back together. She shared the same feelings as Eagle Eye’s mother and sister, but of course, she didn’t know that.

Eagle Eye began to demonstrate his more than amazing dance moves. Rainbow knew he could dance, but she always teased him and would say he danced like a nut. Rainbow was truthfully impressed now though but the skills Eagle Eye presented to her. He spun around on one of his forehooves, spiraled into the air with his wings, and managed to do some pretty amazing flips. Dash was really digging his style.

“Alright showoff, now it’s my turn,” Rainbow said. She began to show off her own moves, immediately ousting Eagle Eye. He did in fact though enjoy watching her dance how she was. He always loved to watch her dance. At any party the two went to, he and Rainbow Dash would always dance together, and he would always be amazed by her amazing moves. Being an athlete really helped her in that aspect. He wasn’t looking at her in any perverted ways, he just enjoyed watching her dance.

“Alright, alright, I’ll admit, you still got moves Dash. But, I think it’s time for me to unleash my full potential.”

“If by full potential you mean pushing yourself so hard that you fart, then please don’t,” Rainbow joked. Eagle started to laugh along with her.

“Quite the opposite. You want to revisit that old routine?” he asked. She stopped dancing and looked him dead in the eye.

“Will you be leading?” Rainbow asked.

“As always,” Eagle responded. Rainbow smirked at him, and he smirked back at her. “DJ!” Eagle cried out. The music stopped shortly after, and everypony looked to Eagle Eye and Rainbow Dash. “Do you by any chance have the song “Die For You” in stock?” Eagle asked. Eagle looked to the DJ who nodded. “Then hit it!” The DJ simply slid the record with said song onto his turn table and started to play it.

A sick rock/techno rhythm started to play, and shortly after, a slamming guitar sound started to play, along with the lyrics. Eagle led Dash into the dance routine that they had perfected when they were younger. That they still had it memorized was incredible.

The dance they did consisted of multiple spins, flips, turns, and begging from Eagle Eye. The whole song was basically the singer professing how he would do anything for some mare, even though she hated him. She would always turn away from him, no matter how hard he tried. Eagle and Rainbow took that and turned it into a dance routine. Eagle would basically beg to Rainbow Dash, and she would turn him away. At every “OH!” in the song, Eagle would throw his head back and shout it out. He mouthed the lyrics to Dash as she would look back at him with a teasing, seductive look. That was all a part of the dance though. Everypony in the crowd was cheering for the two. By the end, Eagle was on the floor with his hooves on his heart, pretending to be dead.

Everypony was cheering in excitement for the two, even Fluttershy, who had made her way to the dance floor to watch. She rushed out and hugged Rainbow Dash. The two started to laugh and smile as they hugged each other. Eagle Eye got up and joined the two, smiling all the while. He and Rainbow Dash bowed to the crowd of Pegasus Ponies, who seemed to have really enjoyed the show. But now, Rainbow Dash and Eagle Eye were beat. That routine always did take a lot out of them. They made their way back to their table along with Fluttershy, throwing themselves into their chairs.

“Wow!” Eagle Eye started. “I can’t believe we actually still remembered that whole thing! That was amazing Dash,” Eagle said, lying back in his chair.

“Neither can I Eagle. That really was awesome! I never thought I would ever get to do that again. Boy am I glad you actually came here tonight!” Rainbow replied.

“Of course Dash. I had planned to come here anyway, but when I figured out you were coming, it was a done deal.” Eagle let out a heavy sigh. “It really is great to see you again Dash,” he continued, taking a sip from his drink. He let out a satisfied “Ah” and rested in his chair. Rainbow did the same shortly after. Fluttershy giggled at her friends’ antics.

“You two were really amazing out there. I don’t think I ever saw you two do that,” she said.

“Well, we liked to keep it on the down low,” Rainbow said.

“Yeah, it was sort of a private thing we did. But damn am I glad that we got to do it again,” Eagle said, his voice full of joy. He and Rainbow Dash let out heavy sighs, fully satisfied with how the night had been going so far.

The three Pegasi continued to chat. Fluttershy and Rainbow told Eagle Eye of their grand adventure in defeating Discord, seeing as though he seemed to know most of the Discord story. He was truly impressed by what the two managed to do. Hell, he was impressed by who they had become in general. They told him stories of their most recent adventures in Ponyville. Eagle Eye was really intrigued by the tale of Rainbow Dash trying to be a hero and being outshone by the hero known as Mare-Do-Well, who was really Fluttershy and the rest of Rainbow’s friends. Shortly after, the three were greeted by another member of their Flight Camp group.

“Uh, hey, Fluttershy. I was just wondering, if would you like to dance?” the stallion asked. Fluttershy blushed and hid behind her hair. She looked to her friends, who only gestured for her to go with the stallion and dance. She smiled at her friends and then to the stallion.

“I would love to dance,” she replied. The stallion smiled and took her by the hoof, leading her to the dance floor. Looking back, Eagle Eye and Rainbow Dash winked at her. She smiled back and started to dance with the stallion. She wasn’t a bad dancer at all. Rainbow couldn’t help but call out to Fluttershy.

“Yeah, go Fluttershy!” Fluttershy couldn’t help but laugh as she continued to dance with the stallion, who spun her around and generally enjoyed being with her. “Man, look at good old Flutters, actually dancing with somepony other than her normal friends,” Rainbow said back to Eagle Eye.

“Come on Dash, she’s a shy mare. I don’t blame her, so why should you?” Eagle asked her.

“I don’t blame her! It’s just nice to see her loosening up a bit. We, on the other hand, have been doing stuff like this forever. We would always dance together, and we would always get other ponies to join us.”

“That’s true. We really were, and still are, great dancers,” Eagle replied. The two started to laugh, continuing to eat and drink as they pleased. The music started to slow down, and a sort of silence fell between the two. Rainbow decided to break the silence.

“So, Eagle?” she started.

“Yeah?” he replied.

“What do you… think of me?” she asked. Eagle wasn’t necessarily surprised by the question, but it did catch him off guard a bit.

“Well, uh… alright, I’m going to be honest with you Dash. I… I do still kind of have feelings for you,” he said, staring into her eyes.

“Really?” she responded. Eagle Eye nodded.

“What do you think of me?”

“The same thing, I guess,” Rainbow replied. The two stared into each other’s eyes. “It’s just… why’d you have to leave?” she asked. Eagle sighed and dropped his head. He hated talking about this.

“Dash, look, I’m sorry about leaving you. You know I tried to get my parents to let us stay in Cloudsdale, but they wanted to move to Manehattan, and so did my sister. I even wanted to come live here too, but I would have stayed back in Cloudsdale for you. But, my parents persisted in moving here to Manehattan, so I had to comply.” Rainbow looked away from him.

“Did you not want to be with me anymore?” Eagle moved his head back a bit in shock.

“Dash, I never wanted to leave you. I loved you, and…” he stopped himself. Rainbow looked back to him.

“And what?” she asked. Eagle took a moment to think about what to say, and then, he said it.

“I still do love you.” Rainbow was left speechless. She looked right into his blue eyes, and he looked back into her red eyes.

“Really?” she asked. He nodded and smiled in response. She gave him a soft smile. He returned the same smile back to her. The two started to lean in towards each other, closing their eyes. They were inches away from each other’s lips.

‘Don’t lose it now Eagle! She’s right there! Do it!’ But, something stopped him. He opened his eyes and listened. Rainbow Dash must have noticed.

“What?” she asked him.

“Do you hear that?” he asked. She listened hard, but all she heard was the loud music of the club. But, moments later, the music was replaced by a loud explosion from behind the DJ station. A giant hole had been created in the club, and rubble lay all over the floor, crushing the DJ and any ponies close to his position. The explosion left clouds of smoke and a few flames in its wake. Rainbow and Eagle turned to the sudden wreck, their perfect moment completely stolen. They looked back to each other. Rainbow was afraid, and Eagle could tell.

But, before he could do anything, another projectile flew straight through the hole in the club wall, heading straight for Eagle and Rainbow. Quickly reacting, Eagle tackled Rainbow to the floor, just barely getting her out of the way of the explosion that followed. The rocket didn’t impact them directly, but the blast sent them skidding across the floor.

“Rainbow Dash! Eagle Eye!” Fluttershy cried out. She rushed through the panicking crowd to get to her friends. She knelt down to them. “Rainbow, Eagle, are you two alright?” she asked, helping them get up.

“I’m fine,” Rainbow replied. “Eagle, how you doing?” she asked.

“That bucking hurt! What the hell is happening?!” Before anypony could answer, more screams from the ponies, both inside and outside the club, drowned the ears of the three Pegasi. Whoever was attacking wasn’t just attacking this club. They were attacking the entire district.

From outside, Eagle Eye, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy could hear gun shots, magic beams, and the cries of ponies ring out through the district. Alarms were sounding all around. Inside the club, fires had erupted, and ponies were dying. The three Pegasi quickly reacted. They tried to take to the air, but there was too much smoke from the fires. They resorted to running to the nearest, and also safest, exit.

Managing to get lucky enough to make it out, Rainbow Dash and Eagle Eye comforted Fluttershy before making a unanimous decision to head back in.

“You two can’t go back in there! You’ll die!” Fluttershy said.

“Where’s the stallion you were with?” Eagle Eye quickly asked. Fluttershy simply started to cry. “Don’t worry. We’re going to make sure nothing like that happens to anypony else still trapped in there. Just stay here, but stay safe. Go hide in that alleyway behind the club,” Eagle Eye said, pointing to an alleyway a few feet away. Fluttershy quickly got up and ran to the alley, looking back at her friends.

Rainbow and Eagle looked at each other and nodded.

“You get the right, I’ll get the left,” Rainbow said. Eagle nodded in response.

“One, two, three, GO!” he said, and the two rushed in, not even second guessing their decision.

Eagle Eye swerved through the burning building. The floor above the room that the Flight Camp Reunion was being held in had collapsed into the first floor, making it even more difficult for Eagle Eye to maneuver. But, he was skilled getting around in tough situations. He was quite agile for a stallion of his size. He would often hop across rooftops and trees with ease, without the use of his wings too.

Quickly, Eagle Eye managed to find four Pegasi. He quickly led them back outside, pointing to where they should head to. The city was in chaos. Eagle took a moment to glance at the whole situation. Buildings were burning, trees were toppling, and sparks were flying. Rubble was scattered across the streets. Eagle Eye couldn’t believe his eyes. A thought shook him out of his trance. Rainbow Dash was still in there.

He rushed back into the club, moving towards the area Rainbow was searching. Eagle found that this area of the club had been hit much, much worse. The flames were much stronger here, and a lot more of the second floor had collapsed on this side. Coughing from all of the smoke intake, Eagle Eye continued through the burning club.

“Rainbow Dash, where are you?!’ he called out, but no answer. What he got in response was the sound of a struggling mare. Eagle Eye quickly followed the sound to find Rainbow trapped under a fallen support beam. Her right wing had gotten caught, and she couldn’t push the beam off of it. But, what Eagle Eye saw next sent fear throughout his body.

He noticed that from across the street on a rooftop, an armed stallion was watching Rainbow Dash struggle. The stallion was clad in a black set of armor, with purple flames all over it. What the stallion did gave Eagle Eye even more to be afraid of. The stallion pulled out a rifle. Guns were still pretty new to Equestria, but this rifle looked like it had been amped up and enchanted by magic. Eagle Eye had only a split second to think as the stallion took aim for Rainbow Dash.

Eagle Eye flew as fast as he could, not caring for all of the smoke in the air. He flew right towards Rainbow Dash.

“Eagle Eye!” she cried out. But it was too late. The armored stallion shot a bullet from his rifle that left a trail of purple in its wake. That standard assault rifle had just fired off an enchanted bullet. Within seconds, Eagle Eye felt pain rush through his body. The bullet had impacted right into the middle of his right side, sending him flying into Rainbow Dash. The impact freed her wing, but the two tumbled back on the floor. Eagle Eye lied on the ground, motionless. Rainbow rushed to his side.

“EAGLE EYE! No! Don’t you die on me! Eagle Eye please, I love you! Please don’t die!” she screamed, turning his head to look at her. She held his hoof in her own. His breathing started to slow down.

“I… I love you too, Dash,” he said, and he fell into unconsciousness. The bullet hadn’t gone completely through Eagle Eye, but the damage had been done. Rainbow started to cry uncontrollably, but her attention was drawn back to the shooter. As he readied to fire again, another stallion pushed the shooter onward to continue their murderous spree elsewhere. Rainbow didn’t care where they went. She had a dying stallion to worry about.

Using all of her strength, Rainbow picked up Eagle Eye onto her back and rushed for the exit. To her own luck, she had no problem getting out. She found Fluttershy in the alleyway Eagle Eye had told her to stay in.

“Oh my goodness! What happened to him Dashie?!” Fluttershy asked.

“No time! We need to get out of here!” Rainbow responded.

“Where will we go?” Fluttershy asked. Rainbow looked all around her. Clearly, anywhere above ground wouldn’t be safe, and she had no time to try to find a hospital in all of this. Her attention was quickly drawn to a manhole cover. Fluttershy managed to catch Rainbow’s eyes.

“No, please Dashie, not down there!”

“We don’t have a choice Fluttershy! Come on!” Rainbow said, and she rushed over to the sewer cover. Fluttershy helped her lift the cover up. “Help me lower him down. I’ll go first, then you follow,” she said. She placed Eagle down, sliding his body down towards the hole. Dash grabbed his hind legs as she descended into the sewers. Fluttershy followed, carrying his front legs as she floated down into the sewer. Fluttershy helped Rainbow set him down, but shortly went back up to cover up the hole in the ground. Floating back down, Rainbow wouldn’t leave Eagle Eye’s side. She just continued to call for him.

“Eagle Eye, come on dude! You gotta wake up! I told you Eagle, I love you! That’s gotta be enough right! You aren’t gonna leave me now! You said it too, that you love me! Please… Eagle Eye,” she said, her voice starting to die down. Rainbow was losing the only stallion she ever truly loved. All she could do was cry into his motionless body. Fluttershy held her friend close and started to cry as well. They both looked at the fallen stallion. His white coat had been stained by the blood pouring out of the hole in his side. Rainbow started to take action.

“What are you doing?” Fluttershy asked.

“As disgusting as it is, I’m going to try to remove the bullet from his side with my wings,” Rainbow responded. “I will not let him die!” Rainbow held the hole open so she could try to dig her feathers into the bleeding hole. Rainbow Dash started to squirm as she felt Eagle’s warm blood seep onto her feathers. She was really disgusted by it all, but she kept going through it. He had openly re-confessed his feelings for her, and she had done the same. She was not about to lose him again.

After a few more moments of digging, Dash finally managed to dig out the bullet. It was in the shape of a pointed cylinder, and was covered in strange markings. Rainbow narrowed it down to the enchantment. It didn’t seem to be causing any effects on Eagle Eye. The bullet had moved at an incredible speed though, and Dash was surprised it hadn’t passed through him and hit her as well. He moved with such speed that she had never seen before. Putting all of that behind her, she continued to check on Eagle Eye.

“Eagle Eye! Please, just wake up man! I got the stupid bullet out! You can wake up now Eagle!” All she heard was the dripping of the water in the sewer and the screams, explosions, and gunfire from above. “Eagle Eye?” Rainbow called to him. But again, she was given no response. All she saw was him breathing, but just barely. His breathing was erratic, happening only about every ten seconds. His breaths were incomplete, showing that he really was in terrible condition.

Rainbow continued to cry, and Fluttershy joined her friend again in weeping. The two mares cried into each other. Was Eagle Eye really gone, or could they save him? They would have to wait. Rainbow Dash looked again to her fallen hero.

“Please, don’t leave me Eagle Eye. Not again.”

Author's Notes:

Now, I understand that the emotions that Rainbow Dash expresses might make the love between her and Eagle Eye seem rushed, but you need to understand that these two had been together for a long time. From my point of view, their emotions towards each other are very valid and reasonable.

Also, I am well aware that the song "Die For You" is a song by Red, which is a human band. You can argue that the song shouldn't exist in this world, but I just started listening to it while writing and it got me thinking that these two could have a kick ass dance routine to it. So, there you go.

Finally, I found out while writing this chapter that there is in fact a Wonderbolt named Fire Streak. At first, I was pissed. I kept thinking of how I would have to revise every spot I used Fire Streak for Eagle Eye's father's name. But, I just decided to add that little section where Eagle Eye tells his father about the other Fire Streak. In the end, I think it all worked out.

Finally, shit will now start to really get interesting. Nuff said.

Chapter 4: The Price We Pay

The Master watched as his soldiers began to attack the East District of Manehattan. The first things to fire were heavy cannons, which effectively leveled three buildings. These cannons were enchanted by strong spells, leaving trails of purple flames in their wake. The cannon shots continued for one minute, and then, the soldiers began to attack.

The soldiers began to sack every building they could get into. They killed anypony they saw on sight, not caring for who it was. The screams and cries of innocent mares and stallions, along with the sounds of crumbling buildings, echoed through the streets of Manehattan. The only stallion the soldiers had to be on the lookout for had only been named once by the Master.

A few minutes into the attack, one of the stallions decided to go have a little fun at the nightclub. He observed as one cyan blue mare with a rainbow colored mane was trapped beneath a support beam. The soldier simply smiled to himself and took aim with his rifle. But, as he took his shot, a white stallion rushed in front of the shot. Before the soldier could take another shot at the mare, another soldier pushed him onward to continue the attack. What that soldier didn’t know was who he just shot.

The Master took a position on a rooftop of a soon to be destroyed skyscraper. He looked out into the burning District, quite pleased with his work so far. This process of cleansing was his greatest success thus far, and things would only get better from here on out. He took in a deep breath and let it out, smiling from under his helmet. Moments later, he was greeted by his first lieutenant, Ice Storm.

“Ice Storm, report,” the Master ordered.

“Master, the attack is going as planned. Casualties have been reported to have already reached numbers of 300 and above. We should have this District completely leveled within one hour,” Ice Storm reported.

“Excellent.” The Master kept his back turned to Ice Storm, but he was quite a perceptive stallion. Ice Storm had spoken in a tone that seemed like he was not finished speaking. “Is there something else you would like to report Ice Storm?” the Master questioned. Ice Storm simply turned his head to a soldier behind him.

“Tell him soldier,” Ice Storm ordered. The soldier bowed his head as the Master turned to both him and Ice Storm. The soldier shivered as the Master stared down on him.

“M-Master. I-I wish to report that…” The soldier couldn’t finish his statement. He was filled with fear, and every word he spoke revealed it.

“Speak!” the Master ordered.

“The s-stallion you wanted to be kept s-safe has been…” but the soldier stopped again. But, the Master didn’t need to hear anymore to know what was going on.

“You mean to tell me that Eagle Eye has been injured?!” the Master shouted.

“It was not of my own doing Master! I was trying to eliminate another mare, but he threw himself in front of her and intercepted my shot! Please Master, understand that I did not mean to do this!” The stallion quickly covered his mouth. Had he just ordered the Master? The Master simply stared at the soldier through his helmet. The shine of the purple eyes provided by his helmet glowed even brighter. The soldier was about to speak, but was cut off by the Master as he charged his horn.

“SILENCE!” the Master shouted, and he blasted the soldier to oblivion. Ice Storm simply looked on at the whole scene, showing no emotion for what had just happened. “The fool! Eagle Eye is crucial for our plans for the future. His skills are untamed and unnoticed, but with the right training, he will become our greatest weapon! Ice Storm, where is he now?!”

“Our scouts report that the mare he saved, along with another cream yellow mare, took him into the sewers. That is as much as I know. Should I have some of our scouts retrieve them?”

“No, leave them. Just make sure that the men do not enter the sewers. Continue the assault above ground. I am returning to base. I want this District leveled within a half hour Ice Storm!” the Master ordered.

“It will be done Master,” Ice Storm responded. The Unicorn stallion charged his magic, and shortly after, disappeared. The Master was left alone. But, before he could leave, his attention was drawn to the ground below. Amongst the hundreds of dead ponies, along with all of the rubble, glass, and fires, two mares stuck out to him. The Master was normally quite perceptive, but with his full suit of armor, his perception was greatly increased. The technology in his helmet made him knowledgeable of most things in his environment. The two mares were holding each other close. They were both dead. The Master knew as much to know that the light blue Pegasus was the mother of the light red Unicorn. The Master simply took his eyes off of the two and teleported back to the base of the Dark Flames of Heaven. And, within a half hour, the East District of Manehattan had been completed destroyed.

Eagle Eye began to stir awake from his slumber. He thought he had been killed, but apparently, he was safe and sound in a hospital bed. How had he gotten here? Where were Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy? What had happened to the city? So many thoughts rushed through his mind, but a new one suddenly formed, one that he couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought about during the attack.

‘Where are my mother and sister?’ he thought to himself. But, before he could think more on his whole situation, the door to his room opened. It was the doctor, along with both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. All three of them were surprised to see Eagle Eye slowly waking up from his one month long sleep. Rainbow Dash rushed to his side.

“Oh my gosh, Eagle Eye! Finally, you’re awake! I thought we lost you dude!” Rainbow said, hugging Eagle Eye. He was a little surprised, but he returned the hug.

“I’m fine Dash, really. Wait… I feel fine.” He let go of Rainbow and observed himself. He only felt a slight amount of pain, even from the spot of his wound. The doctor started to inform Eagle of his condition.

“Well, Eagle Eye, you were asleep for one month after all,” the doctor said, making Eagle Eye drop his jaw. Rainbow closed his mouth for him and chuckled. “We actually thought we lost you. But, what amazed us all very much was that your body managed to heal itself in a matter of three weeks. I was wondering if you knew anything about that?” the doctor asked.

“Well, this actually isn’t the first time that I’ve been out for an extremely long period of time. And, this isn’t the first time I’ve suffered a gunshot wound. I learned a technique for situations like this. Basically, I am able to keep myself knocked out. In doing so, my body is allowed to heal itself at a much faster rate. The reason that the bullet didn’t go so deep was because I tensed the shit out of my muscles, so as to keep the bullet from really passing through me. As you can see, everything I did seems to have worked pretty well.” The doctor simply nodded at Eagle Eye.

“Well, considering that you are in fact in good health, I am considering releasing you from the hospital.” Eagle Eye immediately smiled to hear that.

“That would be nice. I assume that there will be some paperwork for you to do before that though?” Eagle asked.

“Sadly yes. But, in that time, I will allow you to catch up with your friends. This may take a while, and I’m sure you’ll want to know just what happened that night after all. I’ll leave you three alone. I should be back in about a half hour,” the doctor said, and he left the room. Eagle Eye looked to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.

“Alright then, what happened?” Eagle asked. Rainbow and Fluttershy looked at each other. Fluttershy simply nodded to Rainbow, and she began to speak.

“Well, Eagle, it was all part of an attack by…” Fluttershy started, but she was cut by Eagle Eye.

“The Dark Flames of Heaven?” Fluttershy nodded. Eagle eye simply sighed.

“Yeah, you may not like this next part. Eagle, they managed to level the entire East District of Manehattan. Everything is gone over there,” Rainbow said. Eagle simply let out another sigh.

“Do you know where my sister and mother are?” Eagle asked.

“I’m sorry Eagle, but we don’t know. You’re father came to see you, but we weren’t here when he did,” Fluttershy said. Eagle immediately perked up at the mention of his father.

“Wait, he came home?” he asked.

“Yeah, but we were just told that he visited, we never saw him,” Rainbow answered. “But, Eagle Eye, I just have to say… thanks.”

“Dash, I’m sure you would have done the same for me. But, in any case, your welcome,” Eagle replied. Rainbow gave him another hug, and Fluttershy did the same. He held the two mares close, feeling their warm embrace. A moment later, Fluttershy decided to step out and give the two of them some privacy. Now that they were alone, Eagle and Rainbow could chat about some personal things.

“So…” Rainbow started.

“Yeah, um… Did we actually say “I love you” to each other?” Eagle asked.

“Uh, yeah, we did,” Rainbow responded.

“And you meant it?”

“Only if you did Eagle.” He looked into her eyes as she smiled softly at him. He pulled her in close and kissed her on the lips. The kiss was warm and loving, and they both savored every moment of it. Finally breaking the kiss, Rainbow was in complete shock, but Eagle Eye just smirked at her.

“Does that answer your question?” he asked, chuckling a bit. She was now blushing a bright shade of red, but she smiled back at him.

“Yeah, heh, I guess it does. Thanks Eagle Eye,” she said.

“No problem Dash. So, um, does this mean we’re a thing again?” he asked.

“Well, yeah, if you want us to be?” she responded. He simply smiled and nodded. She did the same, and once again, they kissed.

Eagle Eye was let out of the hospital a while after his moment with Rainbow Dash. They both filled Fluttershy in on what had happened between the two of them. She was so happy for the both of them. Her best friend had finally found love again. Eagle Eye was just as happy as Fluttershy, if not happier. He had finally reunited with the mare of his dreams. Rainbow Dash had always been the perfect mare for him, and now, she was his once again. Nothing could ruin this moment.

Eagle Eye walked out of the hospital, not even requiring any assistance in doing so. To his own surprise, he was greeted by his father. He was smiling at his fully recovered son. Eagle Eye ran up to Fire Streak and was greeted by a warm hug. It felt good knowing that his father was there for him.

“I’m so glad you’re alright son. I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost you too,” Fire Streak said. He then realized what he had said. Eagle Eye noticed too, and he let go of his father. Fire Streak looked at his son with a heavy heart.

“What do you mean?” Eagle asked. He started to look around. “Where’s Mom, and Ruby?” When Fire Streak didn’t answer, Eagle Eye knew what had happened. “N-No… No… NO! Dad, don’t tell me that they’re gone!” Fire Streak only looked at his son with tear filled eyes. Eagle Eye broke down into a tear filled mess seconds later. He and his father held each other close and cried. “Mom… Ruby… they’re really gone?” Eagle asked through his tears.

“I… I’m sorry son,” Fire Streak responded. All that Eagle Eye could do was cry his heart out. He heard from behind him that both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had started to cry to. But Eagle didn’t turn to face them. He just held his father close and cried. That was all he could do.

Author's Notes:

This is just a short chapter to give you a sense of darkness to the story. I didn't mean to rush this at all, it was just easy for me to write up. I felt like breaking the flow a bit with a little sadness. Why do you think I tried to build up the relationships between Eagle Eye and his family so much?

Also, please enjoy the song that I have linked in the chapter title. I think if fits pretty well, don't you think?

Chapter 5: Change

From that moment forward, Eagle Eye became a changed stallion. His father took him to visit the graves of Sky Dove and Ruby. The funeral had already taken place two weeks ago, and Eagle Eye was in the hospital at the time. But, just seeing those graves madehim cry like a child. No matter what Fire Streak tried to do, Eagle couldn’t stop crying. Eagle Eye kept calling to them from the great beyond, only for his calls to be responded to by silence. He didn’t just lose his family, but also a part of himself. Eagle Eye had changed.

He was no longer a happy stallion, living an ordinary life with no complaints. Eagle considered himself very lucky to live the great life he led. He had family, friends, a job that got him money, and he lived in a great place. He had everything he could need. But, the Dark Flames of Heaven took away from him what he cared about most. They took his family. Sure, he still had his father, but Fire Streak was just one stallion. Eagle Eye cried every night for his mother and sister for an entire week.

Even Rainbow Dash could not help Eagle. They had just been reunited, and not even that thought was enough to keep him going. He was now once again in a relationship with the mare of his dreams, but it did nothing to help his condition. The first time she paid a visit to his house wasn’t what Rainbow Dash was expecting. Instead of being greeted by a loving stallion, she was greeted with only silence and a stallion looking out his bedroom window. Rainbow thought it best to just leave him be.

However, at the end of the first week, Rainbow Dash paid another visit to Eagle Eye, but this time, she was going to get him to speak. She entered his room after being let into the house by Fire Streak. Rainbow sat next to Eagle on his bed as he stared out the window. His concentration was broken, and he turned to face her, only to stare at the floor moments later.

“Eagle Eye?” Rainbow spoke. He just continued to look to the floor. “Hey, I’m here for you,” she continued. She rested her head on his shoulder. Moments later, he started to cry.

“Dash… they’re gone. I don’t know what to do anymore. I haven’t left my room in one week. I haven’t touched my novel, I’ve barely spoken to my father and Sharp Side, and all I can do is look out this bucking window and cry.”

“You lost your mother and sister Eagle. Nopony blames you for being sad. I know you Eagle, but I’ve never seen you like this. The stallion I knew was a strong, devoted, and loving stallion. But, now, I just can’t help but feel that I’ve lost the old Eagle Eye.” Eagle turned to look at Rainbow Dash as she rested on his shoulder. He rested his head next to her and continued to cry.

“I’m sorry Dash. I just don’t feel the same. Those damn Dark Flames took from me what I cared the most about. I loved my mother and sister like no other ponies in all of Equestria. They meant so much to me. I did whatever I had to do to make sure that they were safe and happy. I wasn’t there to save them though, and now they’re gone. I can’t do anything about that, and just knowing that is tearing me apart.” Rainbow wrapped her right wing around him, holding him close. She looked up to him, and he looked back down to her.

“Eagle, just know that, if you need somepony, I’m here for you,” Rainbow said, smiling up to him. Her crimson eyes started to sparkle as tears started to form. Eagle Eye couldn’t help but crack a smile.

“I didn’t know you could be so compassionate,” Eagle joked. She playfully nudged him with her elbow.

“Well, I am the Element of Loyalty after all. Part of that means being loyal to my friends, especially the ones I’m closest with. I know we’ve only just gotten back together, but it feels like just yesterday that we broke up. I love you Eagle Eye, and I’m here for you no matter what.” Eagle Eye smiled into her gleaming eyes.

“Thanks Dash. I love you too.” Eagle felt himself lying down on his bed. It was pretty late in the day, and now he was getting tired. Rainbow unwrapped her wing from around Eagle Eye and lied down next to him. They snuggled together under the covers of Eagle Eye’s bed.

“How have you been sleeping?” Rainbow asked.

“Not good. I’ve been having nonstop nightmares, and I barely get any sleep,” he responded.

“Well, I’m here for you now. Just fall asleep,” Rainbow said. Her words soothed Eagle into a deep slumber. Rainbow fell asleep shortly after. They fell asleep in each other’s arms. That night would be the best sleep Eagle Eye had gotten during that whole week.

That one night of sleep with Rainbow Dash rejuvenated Eagle Eye, but he still wasn’t back to his old self. He never would get back to being his old self, but now, he was a little better. Rainbow Dash started to visit Eagle Eye daily, and little by little, he got better. This went on for one entire month. But, the morning that followed the night that Eagle and Rainbow fell asleep together, Eagle decided to pay a visit to his best friend Sharp Side.

Sharp Side hadn’t been holding up well either. He had just started a relationship with Ruby, only to lose her within the first few days of the relationship. What made it worse was that Sharp Side had developed genuine feelings of love for Ruby. For her to suddenly be taken away like how she was devastated Sharp Side, but not nearly as much as Eagle Eye.

Eagle headed to Sharp Side’s garage to find him skulking over his knives. To Eagle Eye, it looked like his best friend was doing okay. It had been a month since Eagle had seen Sharp Side, but even so, Sharp Side looked fine. He didn’t look perfect, but good enough. Eagle greeted his friend.

“Hey, Sharp Side,” he said. Sharp Side turned to see his best friend standing before him.

“Eagle Eye, I…” Sharp Side started, but his words were lost in amazement.

“You alright?” Eagle asked.

“Yeah, I’m just surprised to see you again. Look man, I’m sorry for what happened to your mother and…” Sharp Side couldn’t say her name.

“Ruby?”

“Yeah, Ruby.” Eagle Eye noticed a tear roll down Sharp Side’s cheek. “I loved her Eagle. For her to be taken like that, it wasn’t fair. But who am I to say that I miss her more than you do? She was your sister, and I was just the stallion she was dating.”

“You were anything but just the stallion she was dating Sharp Side. She loved you just as much as she loved her family. To know that you actually loved her as much as you did makes me happy for the both of you,” Eagle responded. Sharp Side smiled at him.

“Thanks Eagle. I really couldn’t ask for a better best friend than you,” Sharp Side said. Eagle Eye walked over to him. They wrapped each other in a brotherly hug. It didn’t feel weird to them at all. They were practically brothers, and they had both lost somepony very important to them. Releasing from their hug, Eagle started to look over everything that was on Sharp Side’s workbench.

“I see you’ve been getting a lot done,” Eagle said sarcastically.

“Yeah, not really. I haven’t been able to concentrate at all lately. With everything that’s happened, I can’t think straight. My thoughts are always clouded with anger and hatred. All I want is to do something, but I’m not a fighter,” Sharp Side responded. Suddenly, Eagle Eye’s mind sparked with thoughts of an idea, revenge, and hatred.

“But I am,” he said. Sharp Side turned to Eagle.

“What?” he asked.

“Sharp Side, you know as well as anypony else that knows me that I have wanted to do something about the Dark Flames of Heaven for a long time now. I was always talked down by my family, and of course, I never had a reason to go after them. I knew well enough that I wouldn’t have a chance against them. But, now, I have a reason to go after them. I have a reason to fight. So, why don’t we fight them? Let’s do something about this Sharp Side. Let’s make a change in the world and put an end to these bastards once and for all.” Eagle spoke with so much confidence that Sharp Side had never heard before.

“Eagle, you’re just one stallion. What good can you do alone?” Sharp Side asked.

“I’ve heard many tales of great and powerful armies falling to a single pony. Whether they fought with guns-a-blazing or they took out the armies sneakily and quietly, armies have fallen to the hooves of one pony alone. I for one enjoy being silent and stealthy, but I’m good enough of a fighter that I can take down multiple opponents without breaking a sweat. With some training and kick flank equipment, I can become something better. I can take down the Dark Flames of Heaven.” Eagle Eye’s words started to inspire Sharp Side.

“Well, I do have a talent at making cool equipment. But, why not just be a hero or something then?”

“Two reasons: One, being a hero is cliché, and Two, heroes don’t kill. I intend to kill every last one of these buckers.”

“Eagle, you’re not a killer.”

“Ponies can change Sharp Side.”

“Alright, but what would you call yourself?” Eagle Eye looked to the sky and thought on a title. The best thing he could come up with was what he was going to become.

“The Assassin,” he answered. Sharp Side smiled and nodded.

“I like it. So, when do we get started?”

And so, an entire month went by. The first few days after Eagle Eye’s plan was unveiled to Sharp Side were spent by the two discussing what they would be doing in the future, like tactics, targets, and other assassin things. The day would be spent by Eagle at Sharp Side’s house, and then at night, Rainbow Dash would visit and keep him company. And little by little, Eagle was actually becoming whole again.

What made everything great as well was that Fire Streak didn’t suspect a thing about Eagle Eye. Fire Streak in fact thought that this was Eagle getting himself back to normal. He was right, in a sense. However, Fire Streak still got occupied with work. He didn’t have much time to spend with Eagle now, but Eagle didn’t really care. He was too busy planning his courses of action.

One of the more exciting days spent by Eagle and Sharp Side during that month was the day that the two discussed Eagle Eye’s equipment and gear. It was a normal meeting between Sharp Side and Eagle Eye. Eagle entered Sharp’s garage and closed the door behind him.

“Alright Sharp Side, what’s on the menu for today?” Eagle asked, approaching his friend.

“I’m glad you asked my friend. Today, we will be discussing your equipment, such as weapons, tools, and an outfit.” Eagle perked up.

“Sweet. So, what have we got so far?” Eagle approached Sharp Side’s workbench.

“I’ve got quite a bit to work with so far. First off, I have by far what I consider to be my coolest knife design yet. It’s basically a blade that you can slide in and out of a sheath on your hoof.” Eagle Eye just looked at Sharp Side confusedly. “Let me show you.” Sharp Side strapped on a leather bracer with what appeared to be a knife attached to it. Shortly after, Sharp Side slapped his forehoof out, and a double-edged blade slid out of the sheath. Eagle Eye’s mouth and eyes flew and shot open respectively.

“I want one,” was all Eagle Eye had to say.

“I knew you would,” Sharp Side responded. He slid the blade back into the sheath by simply lifting his forehoof. “But, why stop with one?” Sharp Side used his magic to bring up another blade. Eagle smiled at the two weapons.

“Man, that is bucking awesome. So, how do they work?” Eagle asked.

“I’m glad you asked my friend! Let old Sharp Side show you how to work the hidden blade!”

“That’s what you’re calling them?”

“Yeah. I think it fits the ticket, don’t you?” Eagle couldn’t help but agree. It really was the perfect name. The blades were concealed beyond belief, and from what Eagle Eye could tell, they were sharp as hell.

“Alright, just show me how to work them.” Sharp Side helped Eagle strap on one of the blades to his left hoof.

“Ok, so basically, the blade works with your hoof motions. By forcefully flicking your forehoof once, the blade will slide out. Try it.” Eagle did as Sharp Side had instructed, and quite suddenly, the sharp blade slid out of the mechanism. “Now, if you do the same thing again, you will slide out a secondary sheath to the blade.”

“What?” Eagle asked confusedly.

“Just do it.” Eagle simply shrugged and flicked his hoof again. Another blade slid over the first blade. But, this blade was a bit thicker, and instead of being sharp at the tip, there was a hook.

“What’s with the hook?”

“I call it the hookblade. The right blade does the same thing. I basically took into consideration how these things could be used for navigation. The hooks have an amazing grip, and can basically latch onto just about anything, or anypony.” Eagle Eye raised a curious eyebrow at his friend.

“Anypony you say?”

“Yep. Along with the secondary sheath for the hookblade being as sharp as the normal hidden blade, the hook itself is quite lethal. You can grab ponies with it and pull them in for a deadly strike. Or, for navigational purposes, you could use a clothes line in the skylines to zip line across the rooftops. You could also simply use the blade to trip or flip over somepony. The blade really does have a lot of applications to it.”

“What about climbing?” Eagle asked.

“Like I said, it can latch onto just about anything. If you find grab points for climbing, you could surely use the blades to climb. But, you’re a Pegasus, so why would you need to climb?” Sharp Side asked.

“Well, the last time I went to Canterlot, some of the Royal Guards were wearing these, well, blades on their wings. They were literally wing blades. They fanned in and out just like their normal wings, and they looked to be sharp as hell. I was wondering if you could make me a set.” Sharp Side was really interested in this idea. He had never heard of blades that could be worn on a Pegasus’ wings.

“I could definitely try to make you a set. I can work out a design to fit you, and sharpness isn’t a problem for me. But, now I see why you were wondering about the climbing. I’m going to assume that the wing blades will tamper with your flying.”

“From what I saw, it was a slight problem. The Pegasi guards could fly, but they were limited. I won’t be able to fly my fastest with the blades on, so I will need to be able to get around in some other ways. The hookblades will be good for navigation, like you said.” Sharp Side nodded to his friend and continued to review some of the other aspects of Eagle Eye’s equipment.

“Now, what about concealment?” Sharp Side asked.

“Well, I was always a fan of wearing a hood. My problem was that my mane would always keep my hoods from staying on for long periods of time. I would always have to readjust. Can you think of anything?” Eagle asked.

“Well, a hood won’t be enough. A balaclava would only make your mane uncomfortable,” Sharp Side started. He took a moment to ponder on some ideas. A light bulb suddenly went off in his head. “I think I got it. A balaclava won’t do much to protect your face either, so I can make you a metal mask to cover your muzzle. If I can manage it though, I should be able to work out a way for you to clip the mask onto your face, and at the same time, have it sort of jut out with a mechanism to hold your mane down, comfortably of course. However, what is your preference for your eyes?” Sharp Side asked.

“I’d rather that they be revealed. I can use my eye color change trick to make my eyes red when I go out on missions so nopony will know my real eye color. This whole idea of yours though does sound pretty cool. If you can make it work, I would be glad to use it,” Eagle responded. Sharp Side nodded and moved on to another important aspect.

“What about your body?” he asked.

“Well, to get a hood, I will need something like a sweatshirt. My old one would work fine, and it has a perfect hood. It’s pure white, which I like. But, I think I might strap on two tail ends to cover my hind legs. They could be red too, just for a bit of accent.”

“Alright. I could probably find some lightweight padding for you to protect your body from bullets and knife swipes. I can also make some bracers for the blades to protect your hooves. Oh, and I just remembered, we will need something for your tail. I can probably make a set of lightweight chain mail for you, if that’s alright?” Eagle nodded in response. “Alright then, are we missing anything else?” Sharp Side asked. Eagle Eye looked to him with a weird smile.

“Do you still have that weird gun model?” Eagle Eye asked.

“Uh, yeah, it’s over there.” Sharp Side pointed to the still unfinished gun model. Eagle Eye observed the weapon and finalized his idea.

“I think I’m going to design my own rifle,” Eagle said.

“Eagle, designing a gun is a complex process. Are you sure you’re up to doing that?”

“I’ve decided to risk my life to get some revenge by being an assassin, and you’re asking me if I’m up to making a gun design?” Sharp Side realized the stupidity in his question, so he simply nodded.

“Very well then. You make the design, and I can build the gun. You can, of course, help me along the way. But, aside from all of this, I think we have covered everything we need to get you going. We’ve got your battle strategies down, your sneaky moves are excellent, and your targets are set. All we need to really do now is get your gear and equipment ready for use. This should take us at least three weeks to do. Hopefully, by the end of this month, you’ll be ready to take the fight to the Dark Flames.” Sharp Side’s words could only make Eagle Eye even happier.

“Awesome,” Eagle responded. He looked back to the workbench. “I say we get started now.”

“I agree,” Sharp Side responded.

After that day, the steady process of readying Eagle Eye’s equipment began. Eagle worked on his outfit and his gun design. He had dubbed his design to be for what he called a sniper rifle. Eagle Eye had one of the best shots with a gun, but common rifles didn’t do much for his aim. So, he designed a gun that had never been seen before. The rifle was meant to be able to shoot extremely long distances. Eagle had designed for it a scope that would have multiple zooms on it. The overall idea had never been heard of before in Equestria, and so Eagle Eye dubbed himself the creator of the sniper rifle.

Sharp Side worked on the rest of Eagle Eye’s gear. He perfected the hidden/hookblades, completed the mask, and worked on the redesigned sweatshirt that Eagle would be wearing. To avoid Eagle being revealed, Sharp Side added a certain kind of lock to the whole outfit. Basically, it would only come undone by Eagle Eye’s touch. Nopony else would be able to remove the outfit from Eagle, thus keeping his identity safe. The outfit wasn’t just meant for looks and protection, but also to conceal his cutie mark.

But, while Eagle Eye and Sharp Side had that one fun day discussing weapons and other equipment, Eagle Eye spent an interesting night with Rainbow Dash as well. It wasn’t interesting in the sense of the two doing anything sexual, but Rainbow Dash was much more straightforward with Eagle. It all began the same way it had for the recent nights. Rainbow Dash was greeted by Fire Streak at the door. She headed up to greet Eagle Eye in his room.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Rainbow asked Eagle, peeking into his room through his half opened door. He quickly covered up his notes and shoved them in the drawer of the desk.

“Nothing,” he responded, giving her an awkward smile. She raised an eyebrow at him and giggled.

“Yeah right,” she said, entering his room. “What was it? Were you drawing you and me doing something funny?” she asked, presenting herself in a seductive manner.

“No, I was not, Rainbow Dash. Besides, if I was that desperate, I wouldn’t need to draw it, I would be doing it,” he responded. Rainbow was surprised by his response. She pushed him over in his chair and started to laugh.

“In your dreams Eagle.”

“Hey, I thought we were a thing again. Isn’t that what ponies like us do when the relationship gets interesting?” Eagle asked rhetorically. She simply looked at him with an eyebrow raised.

“Man, you really are one desperate stallion. I knew you wanted me Eagle, but not that badly.” She helped him up off the floor and sat him down on his bed. She looked at him seductively.

“What are you doing?” he asked her.

“I thought you wanted this?” she said, pushing him to lie down on his bed. She lied down next to him and started to move herself over his body. Before she could do so, he quickly scrambled back up and moved against the wall.

“I said that I didn’t need to draw stuff like that. I didn’t say that I wanted to do it.”

“Yeah, but I know you do,” Rainbow teased. Eagle swallowed and looked to the mare. She moved towards him, sliding her hooves up his back. “Come on, we’ve known each other for so long, and you never even asked me to do this.”

“Well… ok, that’s true, but now it just feels rushed. We just got back together Dash, and I don’t want to rush into these things.” Eagle looked to Rainbow as she brought her lips to his. He lost himself in the kiss. It was so passionate and true. He couldn’t help but move his hooves to her head. Rainbow broke the kiss to look into his eyes.

“Alright,” she said.

“Huh?”

“We can wait to do this. I can take the hint that you aren’t ready for all that the great Rainbow Dash can provide for you,” she said. Her boisterous tone stuck true to the mare it belonged to. Eagle nodded to her.

“Thanks Dash,” he said. But, to her own surprise, he brought her back into another kiss. Breaking the kiss, Dash raised an eyebrow at him.

“I thought we were waiting?” she said.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t make out. Besides, I know you want these lips,” he replied teasingly. She simply giggled and started to make out with him again. They lied down in his bed together, still kissing. Rainbow started to tease Eagle’s wings, which made him moan a bit. He broke the kiss and saw Rainbow laughing at him.

“Oh you think that’s funny now do you?” he said. He flipped her onto her back and started to tickle her on the sides. She was laughing uncontrollably. “I didn’t know you were ticklish.”

“I’m not!” she said, taking a moment to just laugh. “Stop it Eagle!” But he didn’t stop. He kept tickling her as she continued to laugh. He finally started to slow down. When she stopped laughing, she was still smiling at him. He smiled back at her. She pulled him in for another kiss. Kissing Rainbow Dash never got old for Eagle Eye. Each kiss was literally like making out with a rainbow.

Eagle used his wings to move the bed covers over the two Pegasi. They broke the kiss and snuggled together. Rainbow rested her head on Eagle Eye’s chest and started to doze off.

“I love you Eagle Eye.”

“I love you too Rainbow Dash, and I promise that this time around, I will never leave you,” he responded to her. He meant that. He was going to make sure that he never left her again.

“I promise too,” she said.

“Why should you have to promise that? I was the one who left you after all.”

“I just want you to know that I will always be there for you. I lost you once, and I almost lost you twice. I don’t want to lose you anymore Eagle. Ever since those days at Flight Camp, you really were the only stallion that understood how awesome I am.”

“You really are an egotistical little mare aren’t you?”

“I wouldn’t be the same if I wasn’t,” she responded playfully. The two shared a quick laugh before falling asleep in each other’s arms.

The night passed, and soon, another week had passed, ending the first month of Eagle’s path for revenge. But, by the end of the month, everything was ready. Eagle Eye waited until about eight o’clock at night to head to Sharp Side’s house. Eagle would have to play his new assassin tactics smart and use the shadows. What better time to use the shadows then the night?

Eagle entered Sharp Side’s garage to find Sharp Side waiting for him. Eagle had brought with him his completed outfit and sniper rifle. He had been keeping the finished product at his own home, and tonight, he was finally going to get to test it out.

“Alright, are you ready Eagle?” Sharp Side asked. Eagle placed his rifle on the workbench and strapped on his new outfit. It was a white sweatshirt, but just as Sharp Side had promised, it was now suited with lightweight paddings for body protection. The pads didn’t bulge out or tamper with Eagle Eye’s mobility, so he was fine with it. The outfit covered his entire body, and with the tail attachments that Eagle had added on, his hind legs were also covered. The tail ends were red, and they flowed in whatever pattern they chose, which Eagle Eye actually liked. It added more of a free flowing feel to the entire outfit. Eagle Eye activated the small lock on the underside of the outfit.

“You’re sure that this thing won’t open unless I do it myself?” Eagle asked Sharp Side.

“Positive. No matter how much force anypony tries to use, that thing won’t come off. Thankfully, the hind end of the outfit is tight enough that it won’t fly up and reveal your cutie mark.”

“Among other things,” Eagle Eye responded. They both shared a quick laugh and moved on to the rest of the equipment.

“I’ve perfected the blades so that they won’t shatter or anything. Just remember, one flick for blade, two flicks for hookblade, and one light flick to retract the blades. It’s simple enough.” Eagle strapped on the hidden blades. Shortly after, he strapped on two leather bracers over the blades for protection of his hooves. The bracers were lightweight and would allow Eagle to block attacks with his hooves if his blades wouldn’t do the trick. Sharp Side pulled out the finalized wing blades.

“I hope you know how much of a pain it was to make these things Eagle!” Sharp Side said. The blades were sleek, stainless steel. They were quite bulky however, and would most definitely hinder Eagle Eye’s ability to fly. Eagle strapped on the wing blades with Sharp Side’s help.

“Ok, so these things will expand and retract just as your wings do. The size of them won’t really allow you to get any great flight speeds, but you can still fly nonetheless.” Eagle examined the blades. The blades fit like a charm. They were just as sharp as any other blade Sharp Side could create. The insides, which were practically like feathers, mimicked just how feathers looked. There were about four separate blades on the inside, and the outer sheath which covered the bone of Eagle Eye’s wings was also covered with a sharp blade. The inner blades were connected with other mechanics that allowed them to fold along with the rest of his wing.

“Alright, now we move on to your mask,” Sharp Side said, pulling out a black, metal mask.

“So, how does it work?” Eagle asked.

“Put it on first,” Sharp Side responded. Eagle took the mask and placed it over his muzzle. It completely covered his mouth and nose. It really covered most of the frontal portion of his face, aside from his forehead and eyes. The mask fit like a glove, and it felt comfortable. Eagle could move his muzzle around just fine with it on.

“Nice, but how do I cover up my mane?” he asked.

“Push it inward,” Sharp Side responded. Eagle just looked at him with a confused look. “Just do it.” Eagle saw no reason to deny it. He pushed the mask inward, and suddenly, it started to extend. The mask ran down to the back of Eagle’s neck, and it made its way up to the top of his head, leaving his ears free. It completely covered up his mane, ending just at the start of his forehead. Eagle was completely stunned.

“That is the coolest thing ever! How the hell did you make this?” Eagle asked.

“It wasn’t easy. Basically, just that simple click will send the whole mask to cover your mane and head up. It’s lightweight enough that it can provide a good amount of protection to your head, but also so that you can still move your head in any direction. How does your mane feel?”

“It actually feels fine. I bet now I can keep my hood on without any problems.”

“That was the point my friend. Also, this mask works the same way as your outfit. It won’t come off unless you take it off yourself.”

“You really do know how to make the best stuff don’t you?” Eagle asked rhetorically. Sharp Side simply smiled. He noticed Eagle's rifle.

“Ok, so now that we’ve finished this rifle of yours, I just want you to explain to me one more time how it works. I need you to also test a few rounds out with it.”

“Ok, the whole thing works so that I can shoot with both speed and accuracy. I’ve got a strap on the whole rifle. It works so that I can leave the rifle on my back with the stock just about here, next to the left side of my head.” Eagle gestured to the spot where he was talking about. He strapped the rifle over his head and demonstrated. It worked just as he said it would. “The strap is flexible enough so that I can reach over with my right hoof and shoulder the rifle. From there, I place my right hoof under the gun a bit forward from the stock. My left hoof will go in the hole on the left side of the base of the gun.” Normally where a cocking mechanism would be, there was a hoof-sized hole on it. “I insert my hoof, lock it in, and just pull back to fire. It shoots as fast as I can pull back on this thing. When I need to reload, I just click the button on the stock. The used clip will fall out, I load a new one, and just close the hatch to lock in the mag. No need to cock the gun or anything.”

“I have to say Eagle, I’m impressed. I never would have expected you to create a genuine gun model like this. I like the title too. Sniper rifle. It sounds so perfect.”

“Damn straight. It’s designed to be quick, deadly, and accurate. The scope has two zoom modes, one for mid-range, and one for long range. I will however have to work on a way to make it more silent.”

“Why not add a silencer?” Sharp Side asked.

“I tried, but it kept messing up the gun’s accuracy. I can look into it later. For the time being, it should be silent enough.” Eagle Eye threw the rifle back over his back. It was placed well enough that it wouldn’t fall off. Eagle flipped up his hood. “Man, this mask and/or helmet thing really grips with my hood.”

“I used a material to make the mask that would most likely keep the hood in place. You really shouldn’t suffer any problems with your hood falling off.” Eagle Eye nodded to Sharp Side. Sharp Side helped Eagle Eye strap on the chain mail for his tail. It wasn’t the lightest thing around, but it definitely did the trick in both concealing and protecting his tail. They would have to find something better later on.

“Alright, are you ready?” Sharp Side asked. Eagle Eye looked to his friend. He closed his eyes, only to open them moments later. His eyes were now crimson red.

“The real question is if Manehattan is ready to meet the Assassin?” Sharp Side nodded to his friend.

“Then let’s get you out there.”

Eagle Eye flew over the city of Manehattan. He was high above the clouds, but he could still see the beautiful city. He never had a real reason to fly this high, but now, he wish he had done this before. Sharp Side had given Eagle Eye an earpiece for his missions. Sharp Side called to his friend.

“How does the city look from up there buddy?”

“Amazing,” Eagle Eye responded.

“Nice. Alright, so, I can hear everything you can hear with this earpiece. In your mask, I’ve inserted to cameras, which allow me to see everything you see. I’ll give you as much support as I can. What’s good about this is that any sound that comes from this earpiece can only be heard by you. There isn’t any residual sound for anypony else to pick up while you are being sneaky.” Sharp Side watched as Eagle Eye continued to fly over the city. “Alright, land on that approaching rooftop.” Eagle Eye complied and landed. He stood at the edge of the tall building. He was now standing on one of the taller skyscrapers in the city. Eagle Eye could see everything from up there.

“Alright, so, where is my target?” Eagle asked Sharp Side.

“From the data I’ve gathered, this guy has managed to jump at least fifteen mares in the last week. In total, he’s managed at least one hundred jumps, and the local authorities haven’t been able to catch him. I’ve actually got a read on him. He’s a few blocks away from your location. You ready to take down this punk Eagle Eye?”

“Who’s Eagle Eye?” he responded. Sharp Side chuckled over the mic. He understood what Eagle meant. On that rooftop, there no longer stood the stallion known as Eagle. During the night, Eagle Eye was now non-existent. In the night, there was now a stallion who took Eagle Eye’s place.

“Eagle Eye is gone from the night, Sharp Side. Call me the Assassin.”

Author's Notes:

Sorry it took me a while to post this chapter. I kind of just got lazy and didn't feel like writing. Thankfully, I wrote this in shifts though, so it wasn't all in one go. I hope it was worth the wait, because now the fun can begin.

Chapter 6: In the Night

Eagle Eye jumped from his position on the rooftop and flew off into the night. Following the directions that Sharp Side was feeding him, Eagle flew about five blocks until he finally dropped. He used his hookblades to latch onto points as he descended, until he finally landed on the ground.

Eagle found himself in a dark alleyway, perfect for remaining hidden. Even though his outfit was a shade of pure white, he seamlessly blended with the shadows. He watched out onto the streets as the night going ponies bustled around the city.

“Alright, your target should be somewhere close. He has a dark blue coat. He should be wearing a cap on his head backwards, and he might have a bandana around his neck.” Eagle looked for a stallion matching the description given by Sharp Side. Within seconds, Eagle managed to nail his target.

“I’ve got him. From what I can tell, he’s following an unsuspecting mare. He’s really got his eye on her. I guess it’s time for me to follow him.”

“How are you going to proceed?” Sharp Side asked. Eagle thought for a moment and made his decision.

“The crowd is thick enough that he won’t be able to see me. I may look a little suspicious, but if I act normal, I shouldn’t raise too many suspicions.”

“Yeah, you do realize that you have on a set of wing blades and are carrying a sniper rifle?” Sharp Side asked.

“I’m well aware,” Eagle responded. He didn’t care, as he marched through the crowd. He kept his eyes focused on his target as he moved through the ponies which provided him with a sort of natural cover. Eagle watched the target follow the mare into a side street. Eagle made his move, running through the crowd and into another dark alleyway. Eagle began to climb up a small building. Once he reached the top, he found his target again.

The mare must have caught notice of her follower, because her pace started to pick up. But it was no use. The stallion grabbed the mare and dragged her into another alleyway. Eagle made his move, moving from one position to another. He stood at the edge of a rooftop, watching the stallion do as he pleased with the mare.

“Come on baby, I know you want some of this!” the stallion mocked her.

“Somepony help me, please!” the mare cried out. The stallion covered her mouth with his hoof and started to feel around her body. Eagle Eye had seen enough. He jumped down, using his hookblade to slow his decent. He landed with a loud thud, surprising both the stallion and the mare. The stallion threw the mare to the ground and faced Eagle Eye.

“And just who are you, and what’s with the stupid get up?” the stallion asked. Eagle didn’t respond. His head was lowered when he landed, so he raised his head up and looked the stallion dead in the eyes. Eagle could notice the stallion was shot with fear.

“Oh screw this!” the stallion shouted out. He was wearing a vest that had a holster for a pistol on the front. The stallion drew the gun in his mouth. But, before he could even raise his head and aim the weapon, Eagle Eye had him up against the wall. Eagle Eye buried his elbow into the stallion’s throat, making him drop the pistol. The stallion could only choke as Eagle slowly suffocated him. The mare looked up to him.

“W-Who are you?” she asked. Eagle took his eyes off of the stallion to look to her.

“I’m the Assassin. If I may, you might want to either turn away or just leave, because what comes next for this stallion won’t be pretty.” The mare looked to this new stallion with concern.

“Heh, what are you gonna do, kill me?” the stallion managed to speak out. Eagle Eye returned his gaze to the helpless stallion.

“Well… yes,” Eagle plainly answered. With his left hoof still free, he slid out his hidden blade. The mare immediately got up and ran from the scene. But, she turned back just for one moment more to see her savior. Eagle caught her gaze.

“Like I said miss, you may want to leave. This might get a little ugly.” And with that, the mare took off, probably for home. Eagle Eye was in the clear.

“Wait, please, you don’t have to kill me. A stallion can’t just have his way every once in a while?” the stallion cried out through his mangled throat.

“You’ve been having your way for long enough.” Eagle shot the stallion a deadly look. Before the stallion could even respond, Eagle Eye drove his hidden blade into the stallion’s throat. Blood seeped out onto the blade as the stallion choked and gurgled up blood. Eagle removed his blade and dropped the stallion to the ground.

Eagle watched as the defiler gagged on his own blood. No pony would miss this stallion any time soon. Manehattan’s criminal population had been reduced by one. A small number to Eagle Eye, but with time, that number would increase. With one last gag, the stallion died. Blood started to pour out of his mouth, as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Eagle knelt down next to the stallion.

“The joys of life are meant to be savored, not abused. You made this mistake, and for that, you pay the price,” Eagle Eye began. He took a moment to think. “Requiescat in pace,” he finished. He closed the stallion’s eyes with his right hoof.

“What the hell was that?” Sharp Side asked over the mic.

“It was something I just made up. I think I just invented a new way to say “Rest in Peace.” If I do say so myself, it has a nice ring to it.” Sharp Side nodded to himself.

“Yeah, I won’t lie, it does. Anyway, good job on your first kill Eagle. It’s certainly just a small start, but with practice, your skills will improve, and we can focus on our true enemy.” Eagle groaned to himself, but Sharp Side caught the sound. “Don’t worry Eagle, we will take them down. But, you and I both know that you can’t just charge in and attack the Dark Flames of Heaven. Plus, we don’t even know where their headquarters is yet. We’ve got some time Eagle, so let’s spend a bit of it helping the city out. Why don’t you come on back?” Sharp Side finished.

“Come on Sharp Side, the night is still young. Can’t you track somepony else that needs to die?” Eagle asked. Sharp Side was a little concerned with Eagle Eye’s eagerness to kill.

“Are you sure? I mean, you literally just killed somepony. Don’t you feel anything?” Sharp Side asked.

“I feel a bit of remorse. I never expected I would need to ever kill somepony, but this is something I’m going to have to get used to now. It’s a sad truth my friend, but it’s still the truth.” Sharp Side had to admit it to himself that Eagle Eye was right. If they were both going to continue with this line of work, death would have to become something that they could get used to.

“Alright, fair enough. Let’s see here,” Sharp Side said, the last bit mostly to himself. He scanned his computer monitors to find anypony else that had been doing wrong in the most recent weeks. “Okay, I’ve got something that may provide a bit more of a challenge. How would you like to take down a small group of illegal arms dealers?” Sharp Side asked.

“Depends, have they killed anypony recently?”

“Oh yes they have. To obtain their merchandise, these guys have actually killed off about fifty other ponies. Not all of those ponies were necessarily nice, but most of them were just simple gun sellers, nothing illegal or wrong. The way I see it, these guys deserve to die,” Sharp Side said. Eagle smiled to himself as he slowly flew back up to the rooftops. He flew back into the central part of the city, landing on a higher rooftop.

“Okay, so where am I heading?” Eagle asked.

“One of the old smithing warehouse districts. These guys are a pretty shady bunch, often dealing in the dark. They are currently checking out their newest batch of stolen goods. From your position, you need to head about one mile east,” Sharp Side directed. Eagle used his better judgment to figure out his flight path. Shortly after, he took off in the given direction.

Eagle found himself as an abandoned warehouse district. He landed on a rooftop that bordered the warehouses. All he could see were old, rusted buildings, just waiting to crumble to the ground. Some of the buildings had holes in the roofs, and others had windows that had been completely shattered. Eagle Eye could understand why these gun dealers would set up here. No pony would dare to go into this district. At least, that was until the Assassin was born.

Eagle Eye flew into the warehouse district, keeping his eyes out for anypony. The night kept him hidden even though he was high in the sky. He quickly spotted two stallions carrying a large box. They stopped in front of one of the warehouses when another stallion walked out. He was wearing a white suit, and had a small pistol strapped to his chest. He opened the crate and observed his new merchandise.

“Excellent! You two did a fine job for some random ponies we picked off the streets,” the stallion said.

“So, are you going to let us join you now Hammerhead?” one of the two stallions asked.

“Yeah, you said we could join if we got you what you wanted,” the other stallion asked. The stallion identified as Hammerhead simply smirked. Two guard ponies walked out with assault rifles. They both shot the two stallions dead, filling them each with about five bullets. Eagle couldn’t believe that this, Hammerhead, just had two stallions killed for doing their job. Sure, they might not have been good ponies at heart, but they did as they were told, and that was no reason to kill them. Eagle landed on a far off warehouse and watched the two guard ponies take the crate inside as Hammerhead led them in.

Once the doors to the warehouse were shut, Eagle flew over to the two dead stallions. They were dripping blood from their multiple gunshot wounds. One of them was definitely dead, but Eagle heard one of them quivering in pain. Eagle knelt down to the stallion. He was shaking in fear.

“Keep still. I shall end your suffering,” Eagle said to the stallion.

“P-Please,” the stallion begged. Eagle slid out his hidden blade and drove it into the stallion’s neck. He gagged for a moment, and died. Eagle drew his blade out and closed the stallion’s eyes. He walked to the other stallion and did the same.

“While you may have done wrong in your lives, you have been wrongly killed. You were both undeserving of your deaths. May you both find the peace you were seeking. Requiescat in pace,” Eagle Eye finished. He stood up and walked to the entrance.

“Hold on there Eagle. Those ponies are sure to be armed, so I wouldn’t recommend walking in head on,” Sharp Side called over the mic.

“Good idea,” Eagle responded. He began to survey the warehouse. He quickly found a shattered window. The warehouse was big enough that even if Eagle entered from there, no pony would be able to see him. He decided to climb up to the opening with his hookblades. Although he climbed well enough, climbing was something he would have to work on.

Eagle perched himself perfectly on the window. The room was dark, except for the ground floor, where Hammerhead was observing his cargo.

“Now this is some good merchandise. Those two scrubs actually did good. I kind of feel bad that we killed them, but that’s life,” Hammerhead said. He spoke in a gruff, emotionless tone. It sickened Eagle Eye, only increasing his willingness to kill this piece of trash. Eagle flew up to one of the support beams to survey the room.

Eagle Eye managed to spot at least ten guards, all of which were armed. There were another five off to the side. They were all unarmed, unless of course they managed to pick up some weapons. Eagle drew his rifle. He locked his hoof into the side hole and shouldered his rifle. He planned a path for taking out his targets. He would quickly take out the fifteen thugs, disappear again, and take out Hammerhead moments later.

Eagle Eye shot off ten rounds from his rifle. Each bullet met its target as Eagle Eye quickly went from thug to thug. Within seconds, Eagle Eye had taken out all ten of the armed thugs. Hammerhead and the rest of the thugs noticed the sudden loss of men. The five unarmed guards armed themselves and started shooting to the ceiling. They had been shooting at air. This mysterious killer was gone.

“What the hell’s going on?!” Hammerhead shouted. Eagle Eye reappeared behind the five guards. He quickly stabbed two in their heads with his hidden blades. The next two tried to jump him from behind, but he simply stabbed them in their hearts with his wing blades. Eagle removed his blades from their respective targets and focused on the last guard. The guard simply stood there in fear. Before he could even make a move, Eagle Eye drew his rifle and shot a bullet straight through the guard’s skull. Hammerhead noticed that the guard was now missing an eyeball, as blood seeped through the wound.

“Get the hell out of here!” Hammerhead shouted. He pulled out his gun and shot off six rounds where Eagle Eye had been standing moments ago. Hammerhead was actually scared. He walked over to the dead guards. They had all been sliced. Two of them had been stabbed in their skulls, and the other two were stabbed in their chests. Blood now covered the floor, and Hammerhead started to spin around in search of this strange stallion.

“Where are you?!” he shouted out, dropping his gun.

“Right behind you.” Hammerhead spun around, but it was too late. Eagle Eye jumped onto Hammerhead and drove his left hidden blade into his skull. Hammerhead’s eyes rolled into the back of his skull as blood poured out onto the floor and Eagle Eye’s blade. He drew the blade out and shut Hammerhead’s eyes.

“To make a profit off of the deaths of others is a terrible crime, one that cannot go unpunished. Whereas you once caused the deaths of others, I am the cause of your death. Requiescat in pace.” Eagle Eye stood up over Hammerhead’s body. Giving the body one last look, he jumped up and flew out into the night.

“That was awesome dude! I can’t believe you actually did it. And, might I say that I love how philosophical you get after each kill. That has got to be your thing now!”

“Duh, why else would I be doing it? Anyway, I think I’ve satisfied myself for the night. I’m gonna head back now. I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Eagle Eye said.

“Copy that. See you in a few,” Sharp Side responded. He rested in his chair to wait for his friend’s return. But, Eagle Eye didn’t want to make it a quick trip. He took his time flying over the city, taking in every sound, light, and pony he could notice. Eagle Eye had never noticed how great the city could be. He would have to do this more often. He soon found himself hovering over Sharp Side’s home. Thankfully, it was late enough that no pony was out in this part of Manehattan. Eagle Eye landed at the back entrance to the garage and knocked on the door.

“About time,” Sharp Side greeted his friend, as he opened the door to let Eagle Eye enter. “How do you feel buddy?”

“I feel empowered! I’ve never felt this great in my entire life! It’s not that I enjoy the killings, it’s that I feel like I’m actually making a difference in this world. I went from killing a simple rapist to taking out a small group of illegal arms dealers.” Eagle Eye was getting a little full of himself, but he had every right to do so. Sharp Side enjoyed seeing his friend in such a good mood.

“Well, like I said before, it’s a small start, but it’ll all add up in time. With a few more missions like this, you should be ready to start tracking down the Dark Flames in no time,” Sharp Side said.

“Right, and we can finally avenge those who have fallen to those murderers. I can only imagine of how much better the world will be when their gone. No pony will have to fear about being attacked or worry that they will be scorched in some purple flames ever again. The world will be at peace, or at least, as close to peace as we can get. Let’s just say that we’ll be much closer to peace with those buckheads gone.” Sharp Side joined Eagle Eye in a quick laugh.

“Well said my friend. Anyway, let’s get you out of that outfit. I’ll give it a cleanup before you go out tomorrow night. You are gonna go out tomorrow night right?”

“Well, provided you have something for me to do when I go out, then yes, I will be going out tomorrow night.”

“Awesome. Maybe we can work on something so you can keep the gear at your place. Something to think about at least,” Sharp Side said.

“Yeah, but we just need to make sure my dad doesn’t catch wind of this. I’m not so sure he would like to find out that his son is a killer.”

“Good point, but still, we can figure something out. Come on,” Sharp Side finished. Eagle Eye removed his outfit and the rest of his gear. He gave his wings and neck a quick stretch. He gave Sharp Side one last hoof bump before heading home. Eagle Eye was actually proud of himself though. As he flew back home, he could only think about when the day would come when he would plunge his blade into the throat of the leader of the Dark Flames of Heaven, and be rid of them forever. It was a thought of pure bliss for Eagle Eye.

Eagle Eye returned home with no problems. His father was going to be getting home a lot later than the time Eagle had even arrived home. Eagle took a look at the clock in the kitchen. It was only 1:30 in the morning, which gave Eagle a generous amount of time to sleep.

He walked upstairs, took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and went straight to bed. He literally threw himself onto his bed. Eagle was just beat from his escapades of the night. Killing sixteen ponies in one night was quite a feat for himself, but he didn’t so much feel any remorse anymore. He now felt even prouder because of his actions. Sure, there was slight remorse, but the ponies that had fallen to his blades and rifle were rightfully killed. That was, at least, in the eyes of Eagle Eye, but he was sure that many other ponies would agree.

However, Eagle Eye’s dreams were not as peaceful as he expected them to be. He found himself in a white sky. The environment around him seemed as peaceful as you could get. There were a few clouds here and there, which only helped make the ambient sky more serene. However, Eagle started to hear voices.

“Brother, where are you?” one of the voices called out. Eagle Eye knew this voice though.

“Ruby? Ruby, is that you? Where are you?” he called back to his sister. She suddenly appeared in front of him. She was the same as when he had last seen her. She wasn’t wearing the same dress as she was that night, but she still looked beautiful.

“Eagle Eye, why didn’t you protect me? You promised you would protect me no matter what, so why didn’t you?” she asked him. He stepped back from her. Her words ate away at him, leaving him with a feeling of never-ending guilt.

“Ruby, I wanted to, really I did. But, I couldn’t. I had to save Rainbow Dash. She would have died.”

“But aren’t we more important to you. She is just some mare, and we are your family,” she continued. Her usage of the word “we” confused Eagle Eye. That quickly faded when Sky Dove appeared next to Ruby.

“Son, where were you when we needed you the most?”

“Mom? No, please, try to understand that I would have if I could. I had to save Rainbow, but in doing so, I nearly got myself killed. Please, I wanted to save you!” His voice was starting to crack as he started to tear up.

“You didn’t protect us Eagle Eye. Why didn’t you protect us?” both Sky Dove and Ruby spoke together. The sky started to turn blood red, and the shadows of the two mares engulfed Eagle Eye. The sky faded away, and Eagle Eye started to fall. He couldn’t find the strength to fly. He was too petrified by what had just happened to do anything. He just fell.

“NO!” Eagle Eye shot up in his bed, covered in sweat. His breathing was heavy, and he was shaking in fear. He looked to his clock to see that it was twelve in the afternoon. That one nightmare lasted for what seemed to be a few minutes, but in reality, it lasted the entire night. Eagle Eye’s breathing started to level off as he calmed himself down. He rested his head back on his pillow and looked up to the ceiling.

“What the hell was that?” he asked himself. He wiped his face off and slowly got out of bed. His body was aching all over, so he quickly stretched out his body, which seemed to do the trick. He walked down to the kitchen to be met by his father.

“Hello son, sleep well?” Fire Streak asked. Eagle Eye just looked to his father, which seemed to be a good enough of an answer. “What happened?”

“I had a nightmare, that’s what happened,” Eagle responded, his tone sounding unamused.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Fire Streak asked. Eagle simply shook his head and sat down at the table. Fire Streak simply turned back to the TV. There was another report of how the Dark Flames of Heaven had struck again, this time in Los Pegasus. According to the report, the number of soldiers in the Dark Flames had grown quite a bit since their last attack, which was the one on Manehattan. Even though the report was about the recent attack in Los Pegasus, another report came on about Manehattan. Before it even could get started, Eagle Eye got up and shut off the TV. Fire Streak looked at his son with a concerned look.

“Eagle, I understand what you’re feeling, but just try to relax,” he said, walking over to his son. Fire Streak put a hoof on Eagle Eye’s shoulder. He simply swatted his father away and looked at him with distaste.

“Try to relax? How the buck can I relax knowing that those killers are still allowed to run loose like this?! They killed our family Dad, and you don’t really seem to care that much about it! Why is it that I was always the one to take care of them, and you simply shrugged them off to go on your Celestia’s forsaken work trips?! Why was I more of a father than you?!” Eagle Eye was pissed, and Fire Streak knew it. But, no pony spoke to him in that way. Fire Streak smacked Eagle Eye across the face. He was returned with a hateful look from Eagle Eye.

“How dare you speak to me that way?! I have provided so much for you, and this is how you repay me?! I am your father, and you will treat me as such! I cared for your mother and sister as best as I could. I tried my hardest son, but with you, it was, and never will be, enough. I did care for them, and I sorry for the fact that they are gone. That does not mean I have the right to go screaming through the streets of the city on a childish temper tantrum. I know how you feel my son, because I miss them just as much as you do!” Eagle Eye simply glared at his father. “I’m sorry Eagle, but this is just how things are now. We both miss them dearly, but there is nothing we can do to bring them back. Try to understand that I am sorry.”

“Don’t worry, I get it. I’m sorry too, I guess.” Eagle turned away and shook his head. “Look, I’ll be out for a while. I need to clear my head.” He walked past his father and to the front door. But, before he walked out the door, Eagle faced his father once again. “Oh, and if you ever hit me like that again, you can be damn sure that I will hit back.” And on that note, Eagle Eye walked out the door.

Eagle walked through the city, not having anywhere to go or anypony to see. He just walked. He didn’t care who bumped into him or who got in his way. He was just a mess. He had awoken from a terrible nightmare, only to be greeted by an uncaring father. Eagle’s life was truly shit at that moment.

Eagle Eye found himself at the train station after a while of walking. He had no idea how he had wound up there, but frankly, he didn’t care. He watched as ponies got on and off of the trains entering and leaving the station. An announcement suddenly came over the station.

“The next train to Ponyville will be leaving in one minute.” Eagle Eye got an idea in his head. He managed to find the train rather quickly. He hopped on and took a seat in the last train car. The train left the station shortly after.

Stepping out from the train, Eagle Eye was greeted with a familiar sight. Ponyville. It had been too long since he had last been here. It certainly wasn’t as big as Manehattan, but it was probably much more colorful. There were just as many ponies out and about as he would see on a daily basis in the city. The ponies were so lively and cheery, with not a care in the world. Weather teams high in the sky kept the skies clear to ensure a sunny day. Everything was so peaceful, and Eagle Eye loved it.

But, he didn’t come here just for the buck of it. He came here to find Rainbow Dash. He knew that she lived in Cloudsdale, but she spent most of her time in Ponyville with her friends, Fluttershy included. It had been a few days since Rainbow Dash had visited Eagle Eye anyway, and he figured that he might as well be a gentlecolt and visit her for a change.

Eagle Eye left the train station, only to find himself at the heart of Ponyville within minutes. He didn’t have as many memories of living in Ponyville as he did in Cloudsdale, but being in Ponyville sure did bring back some old memories. But, before he could even start to remember, he was greeted by an overly excited pink pony, with a mane that anypony unused to seeing it would mistake for cotton candy.

“Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie, and I just met you, which means you’re new to Ponyville. You see, I know anypony and everypony in Ponyville, and since I’ve never seen you before, that means that you’re new here. So, welcome to Ponyville! What’s your name?” the pony known as Pinkie Pie asked. Eagle Eye simply stared at the pony with a deadpanned expression. That pony literally just spat out that entire phrase in one breath at the speed of lighting. Coming to reality with what had just happened, Eagle Eye managed to respond.

“Um, I’m Eagle Eye. Nice to meet you Pinkie Pie.” The pink pony quickly appeared right at his side. She wrapped her hoof around his neck and started leading him through Ponyville.

“It’s nice to meet you too Eagle Eye. I love making new friends, and I’m sure my friends would love to meet you! But first, I need to give you the grand tour of Ponyville. First, we have…” but she was cut off by Eagle Eye putting his hoof to her mouth. Pinkie Pie stopped talking.

“Sorry, but you say that you know everypony in Ponyville. I don’t suppose you would happen to know a mare by the name of Rainbow Dash?” Pinkie Pie’s eyes widened, she jumped up into the air, and she let out a loud gasp.

“You know Rainbow Dash? Are you her coltfriend, huh, huh, huh?”

“Well, actually, I am. Do you know her?”

“She’s only one of my bestest friends in all of Equestria. And if you’re her coltfriend, that makes you my friend too. Oh this is so exciting. Hold on, I know how to get her over here.” Pinkie suddenly pulled out a megaphone out of nowhere.

“Rainbow Dash, where are you?!” she shouted into the megaphone. Eagle Eye immediately cupped his ears, as well as everypony else within the close proximity to the pink mare. Within seconds, however, a rainbow colored blur appeared in the sky above both Eagle Eye and Pinkie Pie.

“Sheesh Pinkie Pie, could you get any louder? I’m busy napping, so what is it?” Rainbow called down.

“Well, that’s no way to treat your friends now is it?” Eagle called back to her. She immediately recognized the voice.

“Eagle Eye!” She sped down to the ground and wrapped him in a tight hug. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to Ponyville you knuckle head.”

“Because I didn’t know I was even coming here when I woke up this morning. I was walking through the city and wound up at the train station, so I figured I might as well come here to see my favorite mare. I’ve already met your pink friend here, so no introductions are required.” Rainbow Dash released her coltfriend from her grip and gave Pinkie Pie a nudge.

“Thanks for waking me up Pinks.”

“No problem Dashie. But, why didn’t you tell us that you had a coltfriend?” Pinkie asked, her happy tone slightly lessening.

“Well, I kind of wanted to keep it a secret for a bit longer. I guess that’s out of the question. Thanks a lot Eagle,” she said, shooting him a glare.

“Oh yeah, sure, blame me for not telling your friends about your coltfriend,” he said, giving her a soft push. She simply giggled.

“Yeah, yeah. Anyway, Pinks, I’m sorry. Hey, would you mind giving the two of us some time alone?” Rainbow asked Pinkie Pie. The pink mare simply nodded, smiled, and hopped away. Eagle could only chuckle to himself.

“Is she always that happy?” he asked Rainbow.

“Yeah, pretty much, unless you do something to really tick her off, like breaking one of her Pinkie Promises.”

“What’s a Pinkie Promise?”

“I’ll tell you later. Anyway, what brings you to Ponyville?”

“Like I said, I just wound up coming here unexpectedly. I also kind of figured that I should come visit you for a change.”

“Aw, aren’t you cute,” she said playfully. She gave him a soft kiss on his cheek.

“Yes, I know, I’m amazing,” he playfully responded. She simply gave him a soft push. They started to walk down the street to a bridge that crossed over a small stream. They stood together, watching the water flow on by. Rainbow caught notice of Eagle Eye’s weird behavior though.

“Hey, is something wrong? You seem a little quiet, and you know I don’t like to have things kept from me.” She tried to get his eyes to look at hers, but he didn’t look to her. “Hey, Eagle.” He snapped out of his trance and turned to her.

“Sorry, I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

“Well, last night, I had a nightmare, probably the worst one I’ve ever had. I was standing on a cloud in the sky, and it was so peaceful and enjoyable. But, both my mother and sister appeared in front of me. They started asking why I hadn’t protected them that night of the attack in Manehattan. They made me feel guilty, and I woke up covered in sweat and shivering. The dream lasted for literally one minute, yet I woke at twelve in the afternoon.” Rainbow looked back down to the water.

“Oh, well, I guess you’re not really doing that well then huh?”

“Yeah, not really. My dad didn’t do much to help either. A story came up on the television about another Dark Flames attack in Los Pegasus. I turned off the TV just as the report went to the attack on Manehattan and how the city was being repaired. All that my dad did was tell me to calm down. I spoke out against him, only to receive a bucking smack in the face. He just pissed me off, so I left. I want to love him, but sometimes, he just makes it so I can’t.” Eagle Eye let out a heavy sigh. Rainbow watched him looking down at the water. She found herself wrapping Eagle Eye with her left wing.

“Hey, your dad probably just misses your mother and sister as much as you do. But, if I was you in that situation, I probably would have hit him back,” Rainbow said, giving Eagle Eye a soft punch. He simply chuckled at her.

“Well, I did tell him that if he ever hits me like that again that I would hit back.”

“Now that’s the Eagle Eye that I know. He’s tough and doesn’t let anypony beat him. Don’t let it get you down. Parents are just like that sometimes.”

“Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, it’s been a few days since I last saw you. What’s new?” Eagle asked his marefriend. Rainbow quickly shot up into the air and started flying about.

“Not much, except that this pony beat Applejack in another Iron Pony competition!” Rainbow was so full of herself, and Eagle Eye just loved that about her.

“Another Iron Pony competition? Did I miss the first one?”

“Yeah, you did. Neither of us won that one, but this time, we played it all fair, and I won. I mean, if you were there, I would undoubtedly win with you cheering me on, but I still won anyway.” Eagle rolled his eyes.

“Have you ever considered that you might be slightly narcissistic?” Eagle asked her. She simply flew down, lifted him over the bridge, and sent him into the water. He sat up, shook out the water from his mane, and looked to her. She was hovering in the air, laughing at him. “Oh, you’re dead.”

“You gotta catch me first tough guy,” she playfully responded. She flew off into the clouds. Eagle Eye jumped up and flew after her. They swerved in and out of the clouds in their playful little chase. Rainbow looked back to see that Eagle Eye was gone. She looked ahead and chuckled to herself. She soon found herself being tackled through the clouds by Eagle Eye.

“Gotcha,” he said to her. They landed on a patch of clouds, tumbling across and laughing all the way. When they stopped, they were lying next to each other, still laughing. Eagle Eye sat up and looked down to the exposed mare. She looked back to him with a mischievous look. He shook his head and looked away.

“Sorry about that.”

“Hey, you’re allowed to look at me. Well, actually, you can do more than just look,” she responded, pulling Eagle down and placing herself on top of him.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Rainbow, stop. As much as I would love to do this, I just can’t right now.”

“Dude, protection is for wimps,” Rainbow responded. Eagle couldn’t help but laugh.

“No, I don’t mean that. What I mean is that I can’t do this right now, in my current situation. I’ve got too much shit going on in my life to get mixed up like this. We can, of course, be together, but I’m not ready to do…” He looked down and gestured to their areas. “This,” he finished. Rainbow simply looked back to him and frowned.

“Well, can we do this?” She brought her head down and started to kiss him. He felt her tongue move into his mouth, and he loved it. Breaking the kiss, he looked into her eyes.

“Yeah, I would say that we can do stuff like this. Hey, would you run that by me again?” he asked her. She giggled and looked back into his eyes.

“Sure,” she said, kissing him again, this time with more passion. She started to run her hoof through his mane. He found himself doing the same thing to her. They broke the kiss and stared into each other’s eyes, smiling.

“I love you Eagle Eye.”

“I love you too Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow smiled, rested her head on his shoulder, wrapped him in her wings, and started to fall asleep. Eagle kissed her forehead and started to fall asleep as well, wrapping her in his wings as well. It wasn’t late enough to start sleeping, but the amount of comfort that the two felt from being with each other just made them feel at peace. This also made them kind of sleepy, but they didn’t really care. They shared one more short kiss before finally falling asleep.

Author's Notes:

Wow, I managed to get this one up quicker than the last one, and that's good for me. I guess I got a sudden urge to write stuff again. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. If the whole thing with Eagle Eye killing off all of those guys seems overpowered, then don't worry, you have the right mind set. It seems overpowered now, but that's how it's supposed to be. Eagle Eye is starting out with simple thugs and stuff. Later on, he won't seem as overpowered. Who cares though, violence is fun no matter how overpowered you get. Yay violence! :D

Chapter 7: Making Your Mark

Eagle Eye slowly got up from his position cuddling Rainbow Dash. It was pretty late in the night, and Eagle had a date with some of the scum of Manehattan. He gently flew Rainbow back to her home and tucked her into bed. Surprisingly enough, she didn’t wake up the entire time. He knew she was a heavy sleeper, but not like this.

Eagle caught a train back to Manehattan and made his way to Sharp Side’s house. Upon arrival, Sharp Side was already prepping all of Eagle Eye’s gear.

“There you are dude, where’ve you been all day?” Sharp Side asked.

“I paid a visit to Ponyville, and more specifically…”

“Rainbow Dash?”

“Yep.” They shared a quick laugh as Sharp Side continued to prep the gear. “So, is everything ready yet?” Eagle asked.

“Just about, and I actually did something cool with your mask. I managed to give it a metallic white paint job without messing up any of the mechanics. Here, take a look for yourself.” Sharp Side passed Eagle his mask. Eagle examined the mask, and much to his enjoyment, it was now colored stark white.

“Damn, that’s pretty good, and everything on it is white you said?”

“Yep, just clip it on and let it cover your mane and you’ll see.” Eagle strapped on the mask. After it extended out and covered his mane, he checked a mirror to find that the entire thing was white.

“Nice,” Eagle said in approval. He looked to the rest of his gear to see that Sharp Side was finished. Eagle geared up and checked everything over.

“Oh, I actually managed to make the removal of your gear even simpler now. I removed the clumsy locks that I had in place and just put some spells on the gear. You are now the only person that can remove your base outfit and mask. Hell, I even added a spell so that your hood can only be removed by you removing it. Basically, the wind or anything else won’t pull it off.”

“Yeah, I was wondering why you didn’t think of that in the first place,” Eagle responded. After one more check of his gear, Eagle set out into the city.

Sharp Side gave one check to make sure the mic and camera systems were working. As he finished his check, Eagle landed on a tall skyscraper. He scanned the city for any potential threats, but on this night, everything seemed rather calm.

“Okay Sharp, everything’s a little too quiet and peaceful, have you found me a target yet?” Eagle asked his friend.

“As a matter of fact I have. This particular stallion has been selling that good stuff illegally for the past few months, but upon further research, I found that he also killed a cop. Apparently the authorities have been tracking him, but to no avail. Tonight, we put a stop to this stallion’s illegal business.”

“Alright, I get all of that, but why did you say he was selling the “good stuff.” You don’t do drugs do you Sharp Side?” Eagle asked accusingly.

“Absolutely not! I was just using a metaphor!” Eagle couldn’t help but laugh at Sharp Side’s overreaction.

“Calm yourself, I was joking. Anyway, where is this stallion?”

“He is approximately twelve blocks west from your current location.” On that note, Eagle took to the skies of Manehattan. As he neared the approximate location, Eagle used his heightened senses to locate his target amongst the thick crowd. This stallion sure knew how to be discreet, as he made his way into an alleyway. Eagle took note and landed on a rooftop.

Eagle watched the stallion meet with another stallion. Business was pretty good for this illegal drug dealer, as he quickly racked up 100 bits for his products. The second stallion quickly ran off, hoping to not be seen, while the drug dealer stood there to count his money. Now was the time to act.

Without any reason for the drama, Eagle dropped down from the rooftop. As he descended towards the stallion, Eagle slid out his left hidden blade, ready to strike. Within seconds, Eagle landed on top of the stallion and plunged his knife into his neck. The stallion gagged and hacked up blood as Eagle kept his blade in position for a few seconds. With one final gag, the stallion died.

“While some may have forgotten or thanked you for your deeds, they are wrong, and to take a life in the process leaves you with even less honor. Requiescat in pace.” Eagle shut the eyes of the stallion. But, even though Eagle knew he wasn’t a thief or stealer, he quickly snatched up the pouch of bits that had been paid to the drug dealer.

“Aren’t you going to return that?” Sharp Side asked over the mic.

“I’ve killed about ten stallions, so I don’t think taking a few bits is that bad,” Eagle responded. Sharp Side nodded to himself in slight agreement. Theft wasn’t so bad when compared to the grand scheme of things.

Eagle stood up and started to climb back up to the rooftops. While he had gotten slightly better, Eagle still needed some personal time to practice his climbing. But, that didn’t mean the hookblades didn’t work. They, in fact, worked to perfection. They would latch onto every nook and cranny that Eagle could find. While it wasn’t as quick as flying, it sure was fun.

Finally reaching the rooftop, Eagle looked out to the city once again. He took pride in himself for once again ridding the world of an evil soul. But, before Eagle could ask Sharp Side for another target, the sounds of sirens started to ring out through the night. The sirens were coming from the Manehattan Guard.

“What’s going on Sharp Side?” Eagle asked.

“Hold on, I’ll tap into the Guard’s communications.” Sharp Side went to work on getting access into the local authority’s radio links. Within seconds, Sharp Side had gotten the link.

“Attention all units, we have a chase in progress. Target is moving fast on foot after robbing a local jewelry store. We are requesting backup and a blockade around our current perimeter.” The communications were cut off when Sharp Side could no longer hold the signal.

“You get all that Eagle?” Sharp Side asked.

“Got it, and I already have the cops and the runner in sight. I’ll get him.” And with that, Eagle took to the skies. The sounds and sights of the Manehattan Guard made it easy for Eagle to follow the trail, and with his heightened senses, Eagle managed to pin the culprit.

The stallion tried to ditch his pursuers by running onto a side street, but he quickly noticed that a blockade had been made a few blocks down. He quickly ducked into an alleyway, which apparently worked to lose some of the Guards. Running back into the streets and into another alleyway, the stallion stopped to catch his breath.

“Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to steal?” a mysterious voice called to the stallion. His head shot up and he looked around. Suddenly, out of the shadows of the alleyway, came a hooded stallion.

“Who the hell are you?” the stallion asked. Without any hesitation, Eagle Eye lunged forward. The stallion was quick though, and he flipped Eagle over himself and onto his back. He tried to run, only to be met with a bullet to the hind leg.

“GAH, WHAT THE HELL!” the stallion cried out. He fell to the ground and held his leg in pain. Eagle threw his rifle back over his back and walked over to the stallion. “Who are you? Just leave me alone!”

“I can’t do that, for you have wronged the people of Manehattan.” Eagle stood over the stallion and put his knife to his throat. “Tell me, have you ever killed an innocent?” Eagle asked.

“M-Maybe,” the stallion replied.

“Who?”

“The same bitch that told me not to steal.” And with that, Eagle slit the robber’s throat, leaving him gagging and spitting out blood. From the cut in his throat, blood spilled out onto the ground. The stallion continued to gag and spasm, until he finally died.

“Theft and murder will never grant you peace, yet, I hope you find the peace you were searching for. Requiescat in pace.” Eagle closed the stallion’s eyes and retrieved what he had stolen. “I should leave this here for the authorities to find.” But, as Eagle went to place the stolen goods in a convenient spot, he was met with bright lights and a few guns.

“Halt! By the order of the Manehattan Guard, you are hereby under arrest!” a guard called out. “Put your weapons on the ground and your hooves up!” Eagle simply sighed.

“Your culprit is lying dead on the ground right behind me. The stolen goods are right here. I’m not the stallion you are after.” Regardless, the guards continued to point their weapons towards Eagle.

“I said, put your weapons on the ground and your hooves up!” Eagle simply shook his head. He quickly pulled out a smoke bomb and threw it on the ground. Immediately after, the guards opened fire on the position where hooded stallion had been standing. When the smoke cleared, he was gone.

“Captain, what do we do? Should we go after him?” another guard asked the Captain. The Captain searched around the area, but could find no signs of the stallion. He gave a quick look to the skies, but nothing.

“All units, fan out and look for a red eyed, white hooded stallion wearing a metal mask. We’ll find this killer.” And on that note, all of the guards started their search for the hooded stallion. But, Eagle Eye was long gone. The Assassin had done his job for the night and was already on his way home.

Eagle soon arrived back at Sharp Side’s house. Sharp Side greeted his friend with a hoof bump.

“The Assassin killed two targets and avoided the local authorities in one night. Well done my friend, well done,” Sharp Side complimented.

“I try,” Eagle responded. “However, if the authorities know my… look, now, I’ve got to be more careful. It’s a good thing I wear the mask, or they would know my face too.”

“Your red eye trick helps too. No pony really has red eyes. Along with that, there’s a large number white coated ponies in the city, so they’ll be searching for a long time,” Sharp Side added. Eagle nodded in agreement and began to remove his equipment.

“Yeah, but we can be sure to see or hear about me in the news tomorrow morning.”

“Is that bad?” Sharp Side asked.

“Yes and no. Yes, because if my name gets out too much, I won’t be so much of a secret anymore. No, because the more my name gets out, the more ponies will fear me. It’s a fifty-fifty situation I guess,” Eagle responded.

“Whatever, the important thing is that you’re making a name for yourself.” Eagle removed the last bit of his gear and let out a relaxed sigh.

“Damn right. Anyway, I’m gonna head home. I need a shower.”

“Yeah, and hopefully your dad is in a better mood than before,” Sharp Side added.

“Yeah… hopefully.”

Eagle managed to get home without a problem. Entering his home was even easier, as his father was already asleep. How did he know? Eagle could make out his father’s snoring any day of the week. He took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and went to bed, hoping that he wouldn’t have another nightmare.

Eagle eye woke the next morning feeling fresh and rejuvenated. His dreams were nightmare free. They were, in fact, filled with images of him and Rainbow Dash flying together in the sky. Eagle stretched out his legs and wings and got up from his bed. He gave his neck a few cracks and headed downstairs.

Eagle found a note on the counter from his father. Apparently, Fire Streak had an urgent business matter to attend to, and he would be out for until about one o’clock.

“Of course you’ll be out doing something work related, you dick,” Eagle said to himself. He turned on the TV and made himself some eggs. Eagle flipped to the news to find a report on a mysterious, hooded stallion.

“Last night, the Manehattan Guard began a chase with a jewel robber late in the night. The authorities lost the culprit, but upon finding him, they were supposedly greeted by a, quote, “hooded stallion, with red eyes and a white mask.” The authorities continued to search throughout the night for the stallion after he reportedly threw down a smoke bomb and vanished. The Captain of the Guard advises anypony who comes in contact with this dangerous stallion to call the authorities and not to try to engage him in any way, shape, or form.”

As the report continued, Eagle smiled to himself as he sat and ate his eggs. His name was in the news, or rather, the Assassin’s name was in the news. Thankfully, no pony knew that this “mysterious stallion” was named the Assassin, yet. Eagle would have to talk with Sharp Side if revealing his name would be a wise choice. All that mattered at this point was that the Assassin had made his mark.

Author's Notes:

Wow, I'm gone for two weeks, and I come back with this short chapter. Bleh! Meh, I guess it will have to do. Anyway, the next chapter will be much longer. I apologize for my absence, but my computer died on me, so I couldn't really write anything. But, don't worry, I'm back now, and the story can continue on.

Chapter 8: Keeping Secrets

Eagle Eye had been the Assassin for one whole month now. In that time, he had been making a name for himself and had truly left his mark. Almost every morning when Eagle turned on the TV, a story involving the Assassin would show up. The city was wrapped in conflict, arguing whether the Assassin was a hero or just a vigilante out to prove a point. Eagle could care less what they thought of him. He was doing this to keep not just Manehattan, but all of Equestria safe. He wasn’t at the point of Equestrian Hero just yet, but he would get to that point soon enough.

The sun rose on Eagle Eye’s home, thus awakening the white stallion. He got up from bed, gave himself a quick stretch, fixed his mane, and went downstairs for breakfast. Fire Streak was already sitting at the table. The tensions between the two stallions had eased up a bit, but they still found themselves arguing a bit. Regardless, Fire Streak greeted his son, who responded the same way as he made himself a slice of Prench Toast.

Fire Streak had already been watching the news, and not to Eagle’s surprise, but another story on the Assassin was on.

“The most recent escapades of the Assassin occurred last night. The Assassin saved a group of three teenage mares from five older stallions. The stallions sought to physically abuse the mares, but the Assassin was close by as always to kill the offenders. Shortly after the act, the authorities arrived on the scene, only to find the three mares holding each other close and the five stallions dead. Two of them were reported to have been eliminated by gunshot, and the other three were killed via the Assassin’s blades. The authorities continue to advise that all citizens avoid contact with the Assassin.”

As the story continued, Eagle smiled to himself as he finished making his Prench Toast. He sat at the table and began to eat, but his smile caught the attention of his father, which was quite normal as of late.

“I see you’re smiling once again at the escapades of your favorite vigilante,” Fire Streak said.

“Of course I am. I love hearing how this guy manages to take out groups of bad ponies single hoofedly. Ever since he showed up, the crime rate in the city has seriously decreased. I just don’t get why someponies think of him as a murderer or a vigilante. The way I see, he’s just a stallion out to do the right thing.”

“I didn’t know you thought killing other ponies was the right thing,” Fire Streak said.

“It’s not the killing, it’s that he’s saving the innocent ponies of the city from harm. He’s not like the Dark Flames. He doesn’t kill innocent ponies, he kills those who, I guess in his eyes, deserve to die. Has there been a story on the news yet that he’s killed an innocent pony?” Eagle asked rhetorically. “No there has not.”

“I suppose you’re right, but what would happen if he, per say, snapped one day, and went on a killing spree? What if Manehattan’s newest “hero” joined the Dark Flames of Heaven?” Eagle felt those words cut at him a bit. “I don’t mean to get you down son, but you need to keep in mind all possible outcomes.” Eagle simply shrugged in response.

“Alright, enough Assassin talk for one morning,” Eagle said, finishing his Prench Toast. “I need your advice.”

“On what?” Fire Streak asked.

“I need a gift for Rainbow Dash. Tomorrow’s our one month anniversary, and I feel like I should get her something.”

“To be honest with you son, I would say that just being with her is enough of a gift. If you really wanted to get her something, perhaps some flowers or…”

“I’ll just stop you right there Dad,” Eagle said, putting his hoof up to silence his father. “Rainbow isn’t the kind of mare that wants all that mushy stuff. She likes to have fun, she’s adventurous, and she’s always showing off.”

“A shirt that says “I’m the Best!” on it?” Fire Streak playfully suggested. Eagle let out a quick laugh.

“She doesn’t wear shirts. I don’t know, maybe you’re right about just being with her. I’ll think on it some more.” Eagle got up and put his dish in the sink. “Anyway, I’m meeting Sharp Side downtown in a while, but I might as well get a head start on the walk there. I’ll talk to you later Dad.”

“Alright, have fun Eagle,” Fire Streak responded, as Eagle walked out the door. Fire Streak was left alone with his thoughts.

‘If only you saw, Eagle, what the Assassin truly is. He is a killer that must be dealt with. Only time will tell if the righteous rise up against his tyranny.’

Eagle slowly walked through the city streets to his destination. He looked around to the newsstands to see that almost every paper was filled with talk of the Assassin and his deeds as of late. He overheard conversations as to whether or not the Assassin should be trusted. A few Guard patrols walked through the streets, watching out for any signs of the killer. Eagle let out a soft sigh and smiled to himself.

But, all of these deeds had been distracting Eagle from his true purpose for becoming the Assassin. Since that first day he made his decision, Eagle had never lost sight of his true goal and target. For that entire month, clues or traces of the Dark Flames were scarce. Not even Sharp Side could track any supposed members of the Dark Flames. The point to all of the recent acts of the Assassin were so that Eagle could train himself a bit more to better combat the Dark Flames, but now that he finally felt he was more ready to find them, he couldn’t find them at all. It hurt Eagle to know that his true targets were somewhere in Equestria.

One problem was that ever since the Assassin had become a known figure, the Dark Flames had become quiet. Whereas Eagle hated to hear about their attacks, it was like he needed one to happen so he could have a place to start looking. But, recently, attacks were very scarce, almost unnoticeable. If any attacks did happen, they were too small for Eagle Eye and Sharp Side to use as points of reference. Eagle was just hoping for a bit of good news when he met up with Sharp Side.

As Eagle neared the Manehattan Plaza, he quickly spotted Sharp Side. The two friends greeted each other with a hoof bump. They sat down on a bench and began to talk, quietly.

“Anything?” Eagle asked.

“As a matter of fact, you’re in luck Eagle. I think I’ve managed to find a potential target who just happens to be a member of the Dark Flames,” Sharp Side replied happily.

“You think, or you know?”

“Think, I think I’ve found somepony. I’m not entirely sure, but what I do know for sure is that the target is hiding out in Ponyville. What I also know for sure is that he will be making a trip to Manehattan tomorrow, but unfortunately, it will be during the day. The way I see it, you should wait for him during the day, tail him to wherever it is he will be going, and eliminate him and whoever else will most likely be meeting with when we know we don’t need him anymore.”

“Wait, you said tomorrow?” Eagle asked, receiving a nod from Sharp Side in response. “Buck! I’m going out with Rainbow Dash tomorrow.”

“I know, but isn’t that at night?” Sharp Side asked.

“Well, yeah, but who knows how long this entire thing will take, or even if we have the right pony?”

“Look, do you want to take down the Dark Flames or not? I’m sure you’ll be able to finish the mission and still meet up with Rainbow Dash for your date.” Eagle thought everything over. He possibly had a chance to finally get a start on tracking down the Dark Flames, but he would be running the possible risk of missing his anniversary date with Rainbow Dash.

“Alright, let’s do it,” Eagle said.

“Awesome. We can plan a few tactics tonight, unless you want to go for a little run and take out a few minor targets I’ve got?” Sharp Side said.

“Nah, I’ll save my strength for tomorrow. Celestia knows that I’ll need it.” Sharp Side nodded in agreement. The two stallions got up from the bench and headed to the spot where they would be having lunch. But, before they could reach their destination, a familiar cyan blue mare caught their attention.

“Hey Eagle, wait up!” Rainbow called from behind them. They turned to see Eagle’s marefriend flying towards them. She landed and kissed Eagle Eye on the cheek. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Yeah, um, why are you in Manehattan?” Eagle asked.

“Well, Rarity over there needed to go check out a few stores to see if they had her special fabrics and stuff, and I offered to come with her. I was bored anyway, so I figured why not.” Eagle shrugged in agreement.

“Makes sense I guess. Wait, then why aren’t you with her?” Eagle asked.

“Two things: One, I found you, and two, I realized that this is almost even more boring than just doing nothing.” Eagle and Sharp both laughed together at the mare. She simply gave Eagle a soft punch on the shoulder.

“Well, I think I’ll just step over there for a bit,” Sharp Side said, continuing to the lunch spot, which was a few meters away, leaving Rainbow and Eagle alone.

“So, what’s up?” Rainbow asked.

“Not much. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Oh, that reminds me though. I realize it might be stupid to ask you, but do you want anything?” Eagle asked.

“Why, were you thinking about getting me something?! I mean, you don’t have to get me anything, but if you did, I would totally like some Wonderbolts tickets!” Rainbow was getting a little excited now at the mention of Eagle probably getting her a gift.

“Oh yeah, they’re performing in Cloudsdale soon right? I guess I could get those, although now, it won’t be so much of a surprise for you.”

“Eagle, you know I could care less as long as I get me some Wonderbolts tickets,” Rainbow responded, kissing him on the cheek.

“Alright then, Wonderbolts tickets it is. I’ll check the local ticket seller to see if they’ve got any later. Anyway, would you like to…” Eagle started, but he was cut off by a white mare calling to Rainbow.

“Rainbow Dash, I’ve got everything I need darling. We can go now if you’d like,” the mare called out. She trotted up to her friend, only to start looking at Eagle Eye. “Is this the mysterious Eagle Eye you, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy have been telling us about?”

“As a matter of fact Rares, it is… err, I mean, he is. Eagle Eye, this is Rarity. Rarity, Eagle Eye,” Rainbow introduced the two.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Rarity,” Eagle said, giving her a quaint nod.

“The pleasure is all mine, darling. I can see why Rainbow Dash has taken a liking to you,” she said, nudging Rainbow a bit. Rainbow simply shot Rarity an aggravated expression, which only received a bit of laughter from the two white ponies.

“Well, I don’t mean to break up the little meeting, but my buddy Sharp Side is waiting for me. It was nice meeting you Rarity.”

“Likewise Eagle Eye. I hope to see you again in the future,” Rarity responded. Rainbow gave Eagle another quick kiss before she left for the train station with Rarity. Eagle walked over and sat down with Sharp Side.

“Man, your marefriend sure does have a wonderful batch of friends,” Sharp Side said sarcastically.

“Yeah, and your friends are where?” Eagle retorted.

“That doof is sitting right in front of me,” Sharp responded. The two simply joined each other in laughter as they waited to be serviced.

The rest of the day passed like a breeze, and before Eagle knew it, it was the day of his one month anniversary with Rainbow Dash. However, it was also the day that Eagle would finally get down to some serious Assassin business. He woke up and headed downstairs to find his father already out to work, which was perfect for Eagle. In the recent month, Eagle and Sharp Side had developed a way for Eagle to secretly keep his Assassin gear in his own home. In the spot where Eagle’s dresser stood, Sharp Side installed a secret panel that holds all of Eagle Eye’s gear. The whole thing even helped Eagle put on his gear manually, and a secret hatch led directly outside. Eagle geared up and headed for Sharp Side’s house.

Eagle had only been on one other daytime mission, and he only managed to kill one target before attracting the attention of the Manehattan Guard and getting into a chase. After that day, the profile on the Assassin was a white coated Pegasus stallion with red eyes, a set of robes, white mask, and is heavily armed. Eagle and Sharp never considered the outfit to be a set of robes, but it almost made sense. They aimed to make the outfit more concealing in the future, but it could wait.

Sharp Side was already prepping his computers and communications systems when Eagle walked in. They greeted each other with the usual hoof bump as Sharp Side began to go over the mission details.

“Alright, the target should be arriving in about twenty minutes, which gives you more than enough time to get to the train station. Just be careful out there today, we don’t want the same outcome as your last daytime mission.”

“Noted. Anyway, are you all set?” Eagle asked. Sharp Side put on his headset and sat down at his computer. With that, Eagle took off for the train station.

Standing atop a building a few yards away from the train station, Eagle waited for his target to arrive from Ponyville. Eagle could already feel his blades slicing and cutting away at the Dark Flames soldier, and whoever he was meeting with. It felt like an eternity to Eagle, but his patience did not falter.

Soon enough, the train from Ponyville arrived. From the train came a large crowd of ponies. Eagle heightened his senses and spotted his target. The stallion was a Unicorn, with a dark red coat and an orange mane. His eyes were a shade of green that just shouted out that this guy was evil. His cutie mark was a skull with two crossed knives. This stallion was an eyesore in the peaceful city of Manehattan, and Eagle would use that to his advantage. With his target in view, Eagle began to follow the stallion from the rooftops as the stallion made his way through the crowded city streets.

This stallion seemed to be in a rush, pushing and shoving his way through the crowd. Many other ponies gave him glares as he pushed them aside, but he didn’t care. The stallion seemed to be a perfect candidate for the Dark Flames when Eagle first saw him, but his actions just made it even more obvious.

The stallion took to an alleyway, but Eagle Eye kept on him from the rooftops. Reentering onto the city streets, the stallion headed over to one of the few remaining blacksmiths. In the old days, blacksmiths were quite common in the city, but now, you would probably find just about one in each main district of the city. From the shop walked out a dark grey stallion with a snow white mane. His eyes were even a shade of white, which sent Eagle a bad message.

Eagle pulled out his sniper rifle to get a closer look. He could now see that the stallion had a blizzard for a cutie mark. The two stallions began to talk, quietly.

“Can you pick up any of what they’re saying Sharp Side?” Eagle asked over the mic.

“Not really. You may have to get a bit closer to pick anything up, but stay hidden.” Eagle nodded to himself and threw his rifle back over his back. Eagle maneuvered his was across the rooftops so that the stallions wouldn’t see him. He lowered himself into an alleyway. He was now close enough to hear in on the conversation.

“I told you Ice Storm, the Master wants those weapons by the end of the week. Can’t you get your blacksmith friend to work any quicker?” the red stallion asked. Ice Storm looked back with a hateful look.

“Do not raise your tone with me, boy. My friend will work at the pace he works at. He works with steel and iron, not bullets and guns. I already told the Master that he is not a miracle worker,” Ice Storm responded, hovering over the other stallion. The red stallion backed away a bit.

“I understand, but you know how the Master can get. He is getting even more impatient nowadays, what with this, Assassin, running loose.”

“Do you think I am not aware of that?! Our operations in the city have been tampered with since the day that foolish stallion showed up. I still remain in awe as to how the Master wants the Assassin to join our ranks.” Those last few words shocked Eagle. The Master of the Dark Flames wanted the Assassin to join their ranks.

‘Not a chance,’ Eagle thought to himself.

“With all due respect, the Assassin is quite a powerful foe, with obvious skill. If we could recruit him, he would be a great asset to our cause,” the red stallion said. Ice Storm simply grumbled.

“Where is the Master now?” he asked.

“I do not know. He is most likely still here in the city, keeping his cover. I believe he will be returning to our headquarters in a few days to discuss our next assault.” Ice Storm nodded.

“Very well. I have a few weapons ready for pickup now, unless you would rather wait for the entire order.”

“Let me see what you have already, and I will decide,” the red stallion responded. The two walked into the shop, leaving Eagle Eye to ponder.

“Wow, those bastards actually want you to join their ranks,” Sharp Side called to Eagle.

“Yeah, but I can almost see why. I am quite a force to be reckoned with, and they’re right when they say I would be a valuable asset, but they must really be stupid to think that I’d ever join their pathetic ranks. Anyway, I think I’d like to see these weapons,” Eagle finished.

“Well, I don’t exactly think you’ll be able to get in there on your own.” Eagle thought to himself for a moment of a way to get in there.

“What if you hacked into the cameras in the shop?” he asked. Sharp Side smiled to himself.

“Look at you, coming up with awesome ideas,” he replied. Eagle smiled to himself as he waited for Sharp Side. Eagle peeked out into the streets to make sure nopony was watching him, and to make sure that the local authorities weren’t around. When he knew the coast was clear, he hid back in the alleyway.

“Alright, I’ve got the feed. From what I can see, they’ve got about fifty swords and about twenty axes ready for use. If that’s just the beginning of the order, I would really hate to see the finished order,” Sharp Side relayed to Eagle.

“Agreed. Does it look like our target is going to be leaving with the merchandise?” But, before Sharp Side could answer, the two stallions walked back outside.

“I will return when you have finished the order, Ice Storm. Besides, I will need more men to get everything back to base. My magic is not well versed enough to take everything myself,” the red stallion said.

“Very well. I shall send word when the weapons have been completed. Return to your hideout in Ponyville, and wait about two hours before returning to the headquarters,” Ice Storm ordered. The two placed one forehoof over their chests and spoke.

“May the Dark Flames of Heaven guide us,” they spoke in unison. On that note, the red stallion left for the train station. Eagle had to decide whether to head inside and eliminate Ice Storm, or to follow the red stallion and possibly get a little more Intel on the location of the Dark Flames’ headquarters. Eagle went with the second choice.

The red stallion boarded the train back to Ponyville. Eagle couldn’t obviously get to Ponyville by getting on the train, so he waited for it to leave the station. As it did, Eagle flew down from a rooftop onto the top of the train, making sure to remain hidden. The train took off for Ponyville.

The train came to a screeching halt at the Ponyville Train Station. The ride for Eagle wasn’t bad at all, in fact, it felt good to take in the wind as the train raced on by along the tracks. But now, it was time to get back to work.

The Assassin was an unknown entity in Ponyville, as far as Eagle Eye knew. He waited for the red stallion to get off the train and get a bit of distance. Seeing as though most of the buildings in Ponyville were low lying and not very concealing, Eagle simply took to the streets. He used the crowd to his advantage as a personal system of cover.

The red stallion must have gotten that feeling of being watched, because he turned around to see if anypony was following him. To his relief, he was alone, aside from the ponies going about their daily lives. That, and of course the Assassin. Eagle had managed to make himself look like he was looking over a market stall, seamlessly blending with two other ponies doing the same. Thankfully, they didn’t draw too much attention to him, as the red stallion continued on his way without noticing the hidden Assassin. Eagle continued to follow.

After a few more minutes, and a few more quick blends to keep Eagle Eye hidden, the red stallion arrived at a little shack. It wasn’t necessarily a dump, but it surely wasn’t perfect. Eagle walked towards the shack, but then he realized something.

‘That stallion might not be alone in there. Hmm, I better check it out first,’ he thought to himself. He into a leafy tree nearby that concealed him pretty well. He shouldered his rifle and looked in through the windows. The stallion was simply getting himself a drink and reading over some notes. Further checking over the shack, Eagle found no signs of any other ponies present in the shack.

“Now then, how to enter?” he asked himself.

“How big is the window?” Sharp Side asked. Eagle looked over the window and made up his mind. Jumping from his perch, Eagle flew straight in through the window, shattering it, and tackling the surprised stallion to the ground. “Well, I guess that answers my question,” Sharp Side said, as Eagle began to punch away at the stallion.

“Nice try,” the stallion said, knocking Eagle off and into a wall. The stallion had quite a buck, and Eagle felt like he had gotten the wind knocked out of him. The stallion grabbed a knife from the table in his mouth and lunged at Eagle. He managed to block the strike with his wing blades, but as he went for the killing blow, the stallion punched Eagle right in the chest. Eagle faltered a bit, but managed to dodge a punch to the face.

The stallion had managed to lodge his hoof right into the wall. Eagle slid out his hidden blade and stabbed the stallion in the gut, but he didn’t fall. He drew his hoof out from the wall and sent Eagle to the floor with a powerful punch. The stallion walked over to Eagle, his blood pouring out from his open wound.

“What the hell?” Eagle asked himself.

“Surprised? Ashamed that your strike didn’t kill your target, Assassin?” the stallion said, picking back up his knife in his mouth. The stallion lunged at Eagle and managed to clip his chest. Thankfully for Eagle, his body armor protected him from too much damage, but he was definitely cut, and his robes would need a good stitching.

Eagle got to his feet and readied himself. The stallion lunged again, only to be met by Eagle’s chainmail protected tail. The stallion was sent flying across the room, smashing into an old TV. But, before the stallion could get back up, Eagle pinned him to the ground and drove his blade into his throat. The stallion dropped his knife and tried to fight back, but Eagle simply drove his second blade into the stallion’s heart. The stallion hacked up blood, as the red liquid flooded out from his wounds and onto Eagle’s blades. Yet, the stallion continued to try to fight back.

“Oh just die already,” Eagle said, sending his wing blades through the stallion’s skull. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he died. Eagle removed all of his blades and flicked them a few times to remove as much blood as he could. Examining his wing blades, he noticed a few pieces of the stallion’s brain had gotten stuck to the steel. Eagle simply brushed the fragments off and looked back to the stallion.

“You are the first to fall on my quest for vengeance. One by one, I will cut down your ranks with all of my fury. Requiescat in pace, bastard,” Eagle said, standing up from his position over the stallion.

He walked over to the table and examined the note that the stallion had been reading. It mentioned that the stallion was to deliver the first shipment of weapons to the headquarters at sundown. The location of the base was unmentioned, which only angered Eagle Eye. But, a little hatch door caught Eagle’s attention. He placed the note down and walked over to the hatch.

Opening the hatch, Eagle lowered himself into a cellar. What he found was shocking. An entire army’s worth of rifles had been stocked in the basement. Eagle was surprised that the red stallion and the one called Ice Storm hadn’t mentioned any of this before. But, Eagle couldn’t leave all of these weapons available for use.

“Sharp Side, I’m going to take a look around. If you spot anything explosive, tell me,” Eagle said, beginning his search. He examined a few of the rifles, each marked with unique markings. There must have been enchantments on the weapons that made them so lethal. Continuing his search, Sharp Side called to Eagle Eye.

“Hey, over on that table over there, there are a few explosives just waiting to be primed. Activate them and then get the hell out of there,” Sharp Side said. Eagle didn’t need to be told twice. He spread the explosives across the room and primed them. With all his speed, he got out of the house and made sure he was far away to watch the explosion.

“In 3, 2, 1,” Eagle said. “Boom.” The old shack, along with whatever was in it, lit up like a stream of fireworks on the night of the Grand Galloping Gala. Eagle had managed to eliminate a member of the Dark Flames, and destroy a sizeable amount of their weapons. But, Eagle then realized something else.

“Shit man, I didn’t interrogate the guy. Buck me, I’m an idiot!” he said, letting out his anger.

“Calm down dude, no biggy. Hey, we finally took out a Dark Flames guy, and you destroyed their merchandise. It’s a good start. Hey, at least we know the name and location of Ice Storm, and that the Master keeps his cover in the city.” This bit of news did well to cheer Eagle Eye up.

“I guess you’re right, but I’m sure that after this little mission I pulled off, Ice Storm may take to a different location. But, we do know one of his benefactors. I’ll have to have a little chat with that blacksmith sometime soon.” Eagle landed in the field and let out a deep breath. The sun was starting to go down, and he was proud of his work. And then, it hit him.

“Shit! My date with Rainbow Dash!”

“Oh buck man, what time was that supposed to be?!” Sharp Side asked. “It’s almost 8:30 right now.”

“Buck! I was supposed to meet her a half hour ago! She’s gonna kill me!” Eagle said, readying himself to take off into the skies. He flew off back for the city, but suddenly, he collided with somepony else. The speed at which the pony had been flying sent him back to the ground with a thud. “Oh, buck that hurt,” he said, picking himself up.

“Hehe, sorry about that!” the pony called from the sky. The voice was female, and Eagle sadly knew it all too well. He looked up to the sky.

‘Rainbow Dash,’ he thought to himself, as his marefriend lowered herself down to ground level.

“You okay?” she asked. He simply nodded in return. “Cool. Hey, what’s with the weird outfit, and what happened over here? Everypony in town heard a huge explosion, so I came to check it out. You didn’t have anything to do with it, did you?” she said, leaning in a bit on the hooded stallion. She examined him over, looking at his weapons, mask, robes, and whatever else he had on him. Her eyes widened as the sudden realization hit her. “Hey, you’re the Assassin!” she said, backing away from him. “Don’t hurt me, I won’t tell anypony about you, I swear.” Eagle simply chuckled to himself.

“You have nothing to fear, I will not harm you. Although, I will have to ask you to keep quiet about this little meeting. Nopony in Ponyville really knows who I am, and I’d like to keep it that way.” The cyan blue mare eased up a little and walked back toward the stallion.

“So, Mister Assassin, why’d you blow up that shack?” she asked.

“That’s… private. I’m sorry, but I can’t exactly tell anypony what my affairs are. I just had some business to deal with here in Ponyville. I was actually leaving before you collided into me.” Rainbow giggled to herself.

“Yeah, sorry about that. Hey, were you heading back to the city?” she asked. He nodded in return. “Would you mind flying with me? I’m heading there myself to deal with my coltfriend.” Those words shot a bit of fear through Eagle Eye, but thankfully, he didn’t show it.

“Why’s that?” he asked.

“We had an anniversary date tonight, but he’s late, and he is never late. He promised me tickets to see the Wonderbolts too, and I want those tickets!” Eagle muttered something under his breath.

“I didn’t promise those tickets,” he said quietly.

“Huh?”

“Oh, nothing, just thinking something over. Anyway, I don’t exactly think that you arriving in the city with me is a good idea. If the authorities saw us, they would be after you as well. Why don’t you let me get into the city first, and you could wait a few more minutes. Maybe your coltfriend will arrive. If he doesn’t, then you can head into the city.” Rainbow saw the fairness with this plan of action. She nodded and walked away, leaving Eagle to fly back home.

‘Oh buck me, I gotta be quick. Curse these wing blades for making me fly slower!’ he thought to himself as he flew home. He needed speed at the moment, but with his gear, speed wasn’t something he could get.

“You better hurry dude, or she’s gonna be pissed. Did you actually get those tickets?” Sharp Side asked.

“I did, but I didn’t promise I would get them. Thank Celestia I got them though. Anyway, we’re done for tonight. You can cut the communication line. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Good luck Eagle. Celestia knows that you’ll need it,” Sharp Side said, cutting the communications. Eagle continued to fly home, hoping that he would make it in time.

Eagle finally arrived home after a fifteen minute flight back home. His father wasn’t home, thankfully. He entered his home through his secret entrance, had his gear removed, and went to get his things ready. He was tired from the flying, and his having to rush everything wasn’t helping. Plus, he was in bad shape, having fought with that member of the Dark Flames. He would have to worry about his cuts and bruises later. He ran downstairs and headed into the kitchen for a glass of water. But, as he was about to leave, he heard a knock at the door.

“Crap,” he said to himself. He slowly walked to the door. Before opening it, he took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh. Opening the door, Rainbow Dash was staring at him angrily. Eagle tried to give her a little smile, but it was of no use. He sighed and lowered his head.

“I’ve got some explaining to do don’t I?”

“You think?” The two Pegasi walked into the house and up to Eagle’s room. Eagle really did have a bit of explaining to do.

Author's Notes:

Wow, look at me. I was gone for two weeks, and now I'm on a bit of a role with this new chapter. It feels good to be back in the swing of things. Anyway, now that Eagle royally fucked up with Rainbow Dash, he's got some explaining to do. Will he tell her, or will he keep it all a secret? You'll just have to read the next chapter.

Chapter 9: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

“How could you forget Eagle?!” Rainbow lashed out at Eagle. “One day! One day is all that you needed to give up for the sake of our relationship, and you couldn’t even get that right!” Eagle could clearly tell that she was pissed, and she had every right to be. Eagle held his head in his hooves as he let Rainbow lash out at him.

“I know, and I’m sorry Dash. Something just came up suddenly and I had to deal with it,” Eagle responded, trying to make himself sound convincing.

“What did you have to do Eagle that it was more important than our anniversary date?!” Now Eagle was up against the wall, figuratively and literally. Rainbow had backed him up against the wall his bed was up against, and the question she had asked him gave him very few options for a response.

“Well, I… you know… had to see Sharp Side… in the hospital.” Eagle could only imagine how stupid that sounded.

“Yeah right, I stopped by his place on my way over here, and he was there. He told me you should have been home, and he was right. If anything, I would say you were out getting into a street fight, on account of all of your bruises and cuts. Seriously, did you really have to just go out and fight for no reason just to miss our date?!” Eagle face-hoofed himself and sighed. He couldn’t find any possible excuse to come up with. Except for, of course, the truth. Eagle let out one more sigh and looked up to Rainbow Dash.

“Alright Dash, I’ll tell you.” She raised an eyebrow at him and waited for him to say something. “I… I’m the Assassin.” Rainbow gave it a moment before bursting out in laughter. “Why are you laughing?”

“Because, that’s the stupidest thing you could ever say!” Rainbow could barely control herself. She couldn’t imagine Eagle as a brutal killer like the Assassin. Eagle sighed and got up. He walked over to his dresser, which hid his gear behind it. He activated the panel and revealed his gear to Rainbow Dash, who upon looking at the gear stopped laughing and only looked at the stallion.

“Eagle?” She was speechless.

“Now do you believe me?” She got up from the floor and walked over to the equipment. She looked over everything, noticing every cut in the robe set that she had noticed before. She looked at Eagle and matched up the cuts. She stepped back in fear. “Dash, please, try to understand that…” but Eagle was stopped by a smack to the face. He looked back at Rainbow in surprise.

“This is what you’ve been spending your time doing?! You’ve been playing the part of a killer?! Eagle, while I’ll admit, that outfit is cool and all, how could you be so stupid?!” If Rainbow was pissed before, that paled in comparison to how pissed she was now.

“Dash, I’m sorry, but nopony could know about this. If I told anypony, I would risk their safety, which is especially why I didn’t tell you.” Eagle was about to continue, only to be met with a passionate kiss from Rainbow Dash. Eagle was caught completely off guard, but he loosened up and returned the passion that Rainbow was kissing with. Breaking the kiss, Eagle looked into her eyes. “I’m confused.”

“Yes, I am pissed that you’ve been lying to me, and yes, I’m concerned as to why you’re being a killer, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop loving you. I just don’t get why you didn’t tell me.”

“Were you not listening? I don’t want anypony other than Sharp Side getting involved.” Rainbow looked at him confusedly.

“Sharp Side’s in on this too?” Eagle simply nodded. “So you could tell your best friend but not your marefriend?!”

“I told him because he’s my partner in all of this. He helped me make my gear, he helps me on missions, and he knows how to keep a secret.”

“I can keep secrets,” Rainbow argued.

“Yeah, not really. But, seriously, if anypony else got involved, it would put them in harm’s way, and I don’t want that. If you were to get hurt because of your involvement with me, I could never forgive myself.”

“Eagle, if you know me, then you should know that nothing can hurt me. I’m Rainbow Dash after all, the greatest flyer in Equestria!”

“Then you should remember what happened that night, how you almost died at the hooves of one of the members of the Dark Flames. What if I hadn’t been there to save you Dash, what then?!” Now, Rainbow had been beaten. She couldn’t think of a logical answer.

“Okay, I guess you’re right, but, I know now, so what makes this different from telling me before?”

“Because now, I didn’t really have a choice but to tell you.” Eagle lowered his head in shame. He had been deliberately lying to Rainbow Dash, his marefriend, and now he was paying for it. But, when Rainbow simply kissed him again, he was shocked.

“Eagle, like I said, I don’t care if you’re the Assassin. I just care that you’re my coltfriend, and that we’re together. That’s it.” She wrapped him in a passionate hug. “I love you Eagle, and nothing will change that.” Eagle smiled to himself and returned the hug.

“I love you too Dash. Thanks.” The two broke the hug after thirty seconds. Dash looked at Eagle with a smile.

“Oh yeah, I did a few calculations, and I actually think it’s been three months since we’ve been dating.”

“Really?” Eagle asked.

“Yeah, because we got back together on… that night. You were asleep for one month, then there was that one month for your mental recovery with me coming here at night and you going to Sharp Side’s during the day, and then, there was that first month of you being the Assassin I guess. You have been acting weird this past month, so I guess that’s what’s been making you act funny.” Eagle let everything run through his mind and came to the conclusion that she was right.

“Wow, I can’t believe you managed to figure that out. I had no idea you were smart,” Eagle said jokingly. Rainbow gave him a little shove and laughed.

“Whatever, did you get us the Wonderbolts tickets?”

“Wow, way to change the topic suddenly, but yes, I did get them,” Eagle said, reaching over to his desk and showing her the two tickets. Her face beamed with joy as she wrapped him in another hug.

“Awesome! Now, I think it’s time I show you what I got you.” Rainbow unfolded her wings and reached for something under her right wing.

“Nice place to hide a gift, but seriously, you didn’t have to get me anything… what did you get me?” Rainbow pulled out a small baggie. “Dash, what did you get me?” Eagle asked again, this time with a hint of concern in his voice.

“Something special,” she responded, giving him a seductive look. From the bag, she pulled out a wrapped, circular piece of plastic. Eagle gave her a deadpanned look.

“Um, is that a…” Eagle started to ask.

“Condom?” Rainbow finished for him.

“Uh, yeah… why did you… how long have you wanted to do this?”

“I won’t lie, since we first met at the nightclub that night three months ago.” Rainbow started to blush but didn’t stop looking at Eagle with her seductive look.

“Just one question,” Eagle said.

“What?”

“Are you on the pill?” Rainbow nodded in return, which only made Eagle smile. “Then help me strap that little guy on and we can get started.” Rainbow ripped off the packaging, threw Eagle on the bed, strapped on the covering over his member, and laid herself over him.

“Ready to lose that V-Card of yours?” Rainbow asked seductively.

“I could ask you the same thing,” Eagle responded. Eagle reached over to his lamp and shut the light off. Shortly after, the fun began for the two Pegasi.

Eagle Eye woke the next morning with Rainbow Dash right beside him. He found his member still inside the young mare’s marehood. He chuckled to himself before slowly pulling out, which only managed to wake up the mare. She looked at her lover with a smile.

“Good morning,” she said.

“Good morning, sleep well?”

“I did, especially since I was here with you,” Rainbow responded. Eagle smiled and gave her a kiss. He looked under his covers to look at the bed sheets.

“Well, that’s a mess,” Eagle said plainly. Rainbow merely snickered to herself and kissed him on the head.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you can get them cleaned in no time.” Eagle looked back to the mare.

“Among other things.” They shared a quick laugh before kissing each other. Rainbow started to move herself over Eagle again, which he complied with. Round two sounded good right about now, until a knock came from the door.

“Eagle Eye, are you awake son?” It was Eagle’s father. Thankfully, Fire Streak hadn’t arrived home until very late in the night. Eagle and Rainbow were fast asleep before he arrived home, so he overheard none of the previous night’s events. He might not have even known that Rainbow was with Eagle. “If you are, I’m just letting you know that I’m heading out. I should be back by one.” Rainbow and Eagle heard Fire Streak walk back downstairs and head out the door.

“Well, now that he’s gone…” Rainbow said, returning to kiss Eagle. He gladly returned her kisses, but he stopped her momentarily to look at the clock.

“Ah crap, it’s already twelve?! I’m supposed to meet Sharp Side in half an hour!”

“More Assassin stuff?” Rainbow asked. Eagle looked back to her. She was now frowning a bit, and looked a little disappointed.

“I’m sorry Dash, but remember how you found me yesterday near that destroyed shack?” Rainbow nodded in response. “Well, I had tracked a member of the Dark Flames of Heaven to that shack. I killed him, but I managed to gather some intel beforehand as to one of Flames’ benefactors. I need to find this stallion and find out what he knows.”

“Oh to hell with that, you can be a little late now can’t you?” Rainbow asked, giving Eagle a sort of puppy dog face. Eagle couldn’t resist his lust for the mare.

“I’m sure Sharp Side won’t mind,” Eagle responded. Rainbow gave him a seductive smile and began to kiss him again. Breaking the kiss, Eagle Eye spoke. “Time for round two.”

Eagle Eye flew through the sky with his gear at the ready. After his second round with Rainbow Dash, the two had a short breakfast, and then Eagle Eye sent Rainbow on her way home. He was late at this point, but he figured Sharp Side wouldn’t care. The two stallions would have all the time in the world to get the mission done. Eagle flew through the skies towards Sharp Side’s house, in quite a good mood.

‘Who knew that mare could buck like that?’ he thought to himself. He finally arrived at Sharp Side’s house and headed for the garage. Opening the door, Eagle was met with an angry look from his best friend.

“Dude, you’re late!” Sharp Side said in a less-than-amused tone.

“Sorry. Dash stayed late last night and we kinda…”

“You had sex with her didn’t you?” Eagle simply nodded, showing no shame for what he had done. “Meh, fair enough I guess. Anyway, you ready?” Eagle chuckled to himself at how quickly Sharp Side had just given up being angry.

“Yeah, I’m ready to go. Let’s find out what this smithy knows about the Dark Flames.” Sharp Side readied his computer as Eagle headed back out for the blacksmith shop he was at the previous day.

Arriving at the blacksmith shop, Eagle scoped out the surrounding area. He quickly found that there were a few guards patrolling the area. They weren’t there for any particular reason, just to patrol another area. Eagle planned out his method of entry into the shop, which wasn’t that difficult. He would use the back entrance, and hopefully, there wouldn’t be any members of the Dark Flames in the shop. Thankfully, the windows in the front of the shop weren’t too revealing, but Eagle would most likely take the smithy of the shop into the back.

Eagle initiated his attack, sneaking down to street level and into the back alleyway behind the shop. He snuck to the back entrance and entered the shop undetected. Upon entering, Eagle felt the temperature rise, obviously from the forge that was being used. Eagle wanted to cough, but he had to hold it in, unless he wanted to give himself away. He made his way to a spot to hide near the front of the shop, where he saw the blacksmith.

The stallion was middle aged, with a long, pointed beard. His mane was grey, and he had a white coat that was covered with smolder and ash. He had a blacksmith hammer for a cutie mark, which made sense. The stallion was currently hammering away at a blade, a very good looking blade at that. He stopped hammering to let the steel sizzle in the water for a second, and then brought it back out to hammer it again. After a few more hammer swings, he held up the blade in his hooves and sighed to himself.

“Finally, this blade is finished,” he said, holding up the sword. It was a beautiful piece of metalwork. It was double-edged, and it had quite a good length, being at least twenty inches long. Closer to where the handle was, the blade broke off into small, jagged edges, which looked quite deadly. The blade, overall, was a gleaming piece of steel, ready to pierce the heart of any pony foolish enough to stand in the way of it.

“The Master should be quite pleased with his new blade. I’ll be sure to get that bonus now,” the stallion said to himself. He was starting to clean off the blade with a cloth. But, his mentioning of the Master only managed to piss of the stallion that was watching him. Eagle snuck around the smithy and waited for the right moment to strike. The old stallion had no idea he was being watched.

Eagle noticed that the front windows to the shop had shades that could completely cover them. Using this to his advantage, Eagle clipped the holdings on the shades and let them cover up the windows. The shop was now completely hidden from the view of anypony outside. But, the stallion took immediate notice of this, jumping from his chair.

“Hello? Who’s there? Show yourself!”

“If you insist,” Eagle replied. He delivered a powerful uppercut to the stallion’s chin and sent him, and the blade, to the ground. Eagle kicked the blade aside and walked over to the stallion. “Tell me what you know of the Dark Flames of Heaven,” he demanded.

“The who? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” the stallion responded. He was a poor liar.

“Nice try, but I heard you say how that blade is for the Master, and I know that smithies don’t have Masters. I also know that you met with the one known as Ice Storm. Now, I’ll ask again, what do you know of the Dark Flames?!” Eagle asked again, this time with more of an aggressive tone.

“Alright, alright, I’ll tell you what I know! I only make weapons for them. They pay me, and I do what they tell me to. They promised that my shop would be free from harm if I helped them, and that I would reborn as the greatest blacksmith in the world.”

“And you are actually skeptical enough to believe that? There is no rebirth you fool, there is only death with these killers. Your shop will not be spared, and you will not be the greatest blacksmith in the world. You have been lied to.”

“That’s what you think, Assassin. Yes, we know who you are, don’t be so surprised. They’re coming for you, you know? They will have your head. As for me, I am safe. I will live a prosperous life, with more bits than I could ever need. You, you will die a painful death at the hooves of the Master, thanks to my smithing skills.”

“You are referring to your blade?” The stallion nodded. Eagle walked over and slammed his hooves down on the blade, snapping it in two. “Now, what will happen when the Dark Flames discover that their weapons were made from a mediocre smith? Your craftsmanship isn’t as great as you think it is, smithy.” Eagle looked to the blacksmith. “Where has Ice Storm gone?”

“I don’t know, he never tells me, but even if I did, he wouldn’t be in the same spot for long. You’ll never find him, or the Master. They will find you, Assassin!”

“And when they do, I’ll kill them all. Now, all I need to decide is what to do with you.” Eagle looked to the blacksmith.

“Just you wait Assassin! They will have your head when I tell them what you’ve done to me!” the stallion shouted.

“Oh, they will indeed discover what I’ve done, but I highly doubt they’ll give two shits about it. Tell me something smithy, do you have an apprentice?” Eagle asked. The stallion looked at him in confusion.

“Yes, but he doesn’t know anything about what I do. Why would you care though?” Eagle walked over to the stallion, who was still on the floor.

“Because he’s about to inherit your business.” Eagle slid out his hidden blade and drove it into the stallion’s throat. The stallion tried to fight back, but he couldn’t do anything. All he could do was gag from the blood in his throat. His body started to spasm, and shortly after, he died, his blood still falling onto the floor.

“You aligned yourself with stallions of hate and death. Now, you pay the price for it. Requiescat in pace.” Eagle closed the stallions eyes, removed his blade from his throat, and stood up.

“Did you really have to kill him?” Sharp Side asked Eagle from over the mic system.

“Yes, I did. Had I not, he would have reported back to the Dark Flames on what has occurred here.”

“True, but nopony in the city knew that this stallion was allied with the Dark Flames. When the authorities find that stallion’s body, they’ll think that somepony, meaning you, killed an innocent stallion.” Sharp Side’s words held a powerful truth to them. Eagle now realized that he had killed, in the eyes of the public, an innocent stallion. He and Sharp Side knew that this stallion was anything but, but the public didn’t know that.

“It’s too late to turn back now Sharp Side. The deed is done, and now, this stallion is dead. This was practically a waste of our time. He didn’t know where Ice Storm has gone, and now we’re right back where we started. We’re right back at a Celestia’s forsaken dead end.”

“Maybe, for now. But, what I would recommend you do now is search the shop for the weapons that the blacksmith was building for the Dark Flames. Even if the weapons are of cheap make, it won’t help us to know that the Dark Flames have more weapons.” Eagle Eye nodded to himself and searched for a cellar door. He went into the back and found said door. Opening it and heading down, Eagle Eye found about 800 completed swords.

“Wow, that’s a lot of swords. I won’t be able to pull the same stunt I pulled in Ponyville. I need to destroy these weapons a different way.” Eagle began to look around, but found nothing that could be of use.

“Stop searching dude. Why do you think I gave you those concentrated explosives before you left?” Sharp Side called to his friend. Eagle face hoofed himself and reached into his pouch. He found ten mini-explosive devices. Eagle began to spread the explosives across the room.

“Now let’s just hope that we don’t burn the place down. Detonate them when you’re ready Sharp Side,” Eagle said, exiting the cellar and shutting the hatch. Eagle covered his ears and waited for the explosion. He heard a boom come from the cellar. Opening the door, Eagle found the room to be a mess. Every piece of steel was destroyed, with fragments of the swords scattered across the room. The room itself was generally untouched, still looking to be in pretty good shape, but far from perfect. Eagle nodded at his and Sharp Side’s handy work and left the shop via the back door.

Eagle arrived back at Sharp Side’s home shortly after. Eagle removed his hood and mask. He threw the mask aside and smashed his hoof on the ground.

“Dude, what’s wrong?” Sharp Side asked.

“Our one good lead, gone! We spent two months doing this shit, and for what?! We are right back to the beginning Sharp Side. Everything we’ve done is practically worthless now.”

“Not true. We managed to destroy two shipments of weapons for the Dark Flames,” Sharp Side said, trying to reassure his friend.

“They’ll get more weapons regardless!” Eagle retaliated. He sat in a chair and held his head in anger.

“Eagle, don’t worry. We’ll get another lead on these guys. We both knew that this would take some time when we started this thing.” Eagle sighed and nodded in agreement.

“I guess so. For now, I guess all we can do is continue with more simple missions. I’ll continue to take down the criminals of the city for now until we can get a solid lead on the Dark Flames again. I just hope that we get a new lead soon.” Sharp Side nodded to his friend and continued working on his computer. Eagle Eye decided to hang out for a while before heading home.

Eagle needed some rest from the events of the past two days. He entered via his secret entrance, had his gear removed, and rested on his bed. He checked the clock to see it was now two o’clock.

“Weird. Dad said he would be home by one. He’s never… wait, what am I saying, he’s always late. Oh well,” Eagle said to himself, laying his head on his pillow. Eagle would need all his strength in the coming days, for now, things were starting to get serious.

The last two months were spent by Eagle Eye and Sharp Side just doing simple missions. Not one single lead could be found on the Dark Flames of Heaven. Even after they landed a small attack on Baltimare, no leads could be found. Eagle investigated the very attack sight, but nothing came from it. Eagle became more and more frustrated with how things were going, but Sharp Side and Rainbow Dash kept him sane.

Things between Rainbow and Eagle had actually gotten a lot better. Thankfully, after that one night of fun, Rainbow hadn’t gotten pregnant, which was music to Eagle’s ears. The two continued their relationship, and it somehow seemed to be strengthened by the whole Assassin thing. Regardless, the love between the two Pegasi was unbreakable, and Eagle loved Rainbow Dash to pieces.

The Assassin himself had gotten a few upgrades in the recent months. Sharp Side had found a way to simplify the hookblades. Instead of having to do multiple flicks of the hoof to extend the hookblade, Eagle would now just extend the hookblade every time. When he went to stab something, the hookblade would retract as Eagle drove his blade into whatever it was he was stabbing, leaving the sharp hidden blade to do its work.

Eagle Eye’s overall robe outfit had been made to look more like an actual set of robes. Now, instead of just the two tail ends, there were also a few low-hanging pieces of robes to conceal more of Eagle’s body. His front legs were now slightly covered with nicely designed coverings. The overall outfit had also received an intricate design, outlined with trails and designs that made the Assassin look more menacing. Most of the designs were accented in the color of blood red.

The biggest updates were to the hood and hidden blade bracers. The hood and bracers had been given Eagle designs on them. There was now an Eagle with its wings full span on the hood and bracers, and it looked amazing. Everything else about the Assassin’s look remained the same, for now at least.

Today, however, held in store an upgrade to the newly named sniper rifle of Eagle Eye. He and Sharp Side found it appropriate to name the rifle, and they came up with a suitable name. They decided on the Avenger.

Eagle entered Sharp Side’s garage and set his rifle on the workbench. Sharp Side slid over in his chair with a silencer in hoof.

“So, Eagle, let me ask you something. How many kills have you racked up with the Avenger?” Sharp Side asked.

“At least seventy-five,” Eagle answered.

“Uh huh, and out of that number of kills, how many times were you detected after taking the killing shot?”

“Every time.”

“Well, that shall happen no more, because I have finally managed to find a way to add a silencer to your rifle without lessening its quality and performance,” Sharp Side said, showing Eagle the silencer. It was a sleek piece of black metal, matching the color of Eagle’s rifle. “With this puppy, every shot you take will be dead silent.” Eagle watched Sharp Side slip the silencer over the rifle barrel.

“And you’re sure this will make the rifle as “dead silent” as you say it will?” Eagle Eye asked.

“Only one way to find out my friend,” Sharp Side responded, handing Eagle the rifle. Eagle shouldered his rifle, inserted his hoof into the shooting slot, and pulled back. He barely heard a sound, but noticed that the red target had a large hole in it. The silencer worked to perfection.

“Bang bang,” Eagle said in approval.

“Indeed. You will be able to retain your rate of fire, and the penetrating power of each bullet will remain the same. We can continue to find ways to upgrade the Avenger later on, but right now, you’ve got a mission to do.”

“Right. Have you been tracking the High Rollers?” Eagle asked. Recently, Eagle and Sharp had been tracking down a notorious gang known as the High Rollers. Their most recent crime involved robbing a bank. But, just to top it off, they killed everypony in the bank. Just hearing that story made Eagle cringe, and he knew he had a new set of targets to eliminate.

“I have, and I know exactly where they’ll be tonight. Right now, they’re at the docks, moving a shipment of weapons back to their hideout. It should take them the duration of the daytime. You, of course, will be waiting for them when they arrive. We’ve got a few hours though, so I see no reason to rush anything.” Eagle nodded and checked over his gear a bit more. He really did love his new look and improvements to his gear.

“Hey, have you been working on any new methods of protection for me?” Eagle asked.

“Actually, I have. I’ve been working on making a lightweight set of metal armor for you that will form to your body’s shape. It’s a work in progress, but I’ll figure something out,” Sharp Side replied. Eagle nodded and continued to examine his gear. The two stallions waited two more hours before Eagle set off for the base of the High Rollers.

The night was quiet, the streets were empty, and everything was as it should be. But, tonight, blood would be spilled. Eagle stood on the rooftop right outside the hideout of the High Rollers, waiting for their return. They were located in an old apartment building, but Sharp Side discovered that there was a secret underground hideout used by the gang. Eagle would follow the gang down to said base and blow it to smithereens. What was great was that the apartment building had been vacant for years now, but nopony really knew. The place was perfect for a hideout, but this also meant that Eagle could destroy the place without killing any innocent ponies. The building was only about three stories tall as well, and the area it was located in wasn’t heavily populated. This late at night, nopony would get hurt by the building tumbling to the ground.

After waiting a short while, the High Rollers finally drove up in an armored truck. The boss of the gang, Big Money, got out of the front passenger seat. His goons exited from the truck and began to unload the weapons, with the help of a few other gang members that had come out from the apartment building. Big Money watched his weapons being taken into the hideout, smiling and nodding as every box passed him. Eagle Eye could only imagine the joy he would get from driving his blade into that tainted stallion’s throat.

As the last box entered the elevator into the apartment building, Eagle stealthily made his way down to the street level. The gang members followed Big Money into the building and down the elevator into the hideout. Eagle managed to slip in unnoticed and quickly managed to hop onto the top of the elevator as it descended into the hideout. As it neared the bottom, Eagle hopped off and snuck in the hideout through a ventilation shaft. Upon entering the hideout, Eagle saw that the place was filled to the brim with decent tech and gang members. Eagle watched Big Money and his men enter with the weapons. The men cheered as their leader presented the merchandise.

“Men, we’ve returned with the loot. With these weapons, nopony can stop us! Within a few months, we’ll take the West District of this city by force, and everypony will know who the High Rollers are!” Big Money’s small speech granted him the praise of his men. He sent them back to work and went to his desk.

“What a piece of shit,” Sharp Side said over the mic. “Hey, before you go in there and eliminate these buckers, do a slow scan of the room.”

“Yeah, I know, to check for how many guys are in here,” Eagle replied quietly.

“Well, that, and because I want to see if I can tap in and see the schematics to the tech they’ve got in there. They’ve got some pretty decent tech, much better than my stuff. If I can get the schematics for all that stuff, our technical, and tactical, capabilities during missions should seriously increase.” Eagle complied and began his scan of the room. Sharp Side noted every piece of tech he saw from his computer. He noted to Eagle when he was finished, and Eagle Eye began to plan his attack.

Eagle noted that out of the fifty stallions within the hideout, seventeen of them were armed with assault rifles. Eagle shouldered his own rifle and began his assault. He fired off silent rounds at each of the armed thugs, taking out each of them with a headshot. He didn’t stay in the same position either, moving from beam to beam after every four shots or so. Eagle had quickly eliminated 17 of the men in the room, and that number slowly increased, as Eagle continued to drop the men with his rifle. He took a quick moment to reload a new clip with 25 bullets, which was a new upgrade from the standard 20.

Eagle took out another five goons before throwing his rifle over his back. Eagle had still not been found by the High Rollers, but Big Money had begun to fire off rounds into the ceiling like a mad dog. Eagle moved over to a fuse box and killed the lights. The men didn’t fire off any bullets, but a few pulled out flashlights. Eagle used his heightened senses as a sort of night vision, being able to see every remaining thug. There were about 28 thugs left to eliminate, which wouldn’t be a problem.

Eagle hopped onto one of the tables and landed on top of two thugs, driving his hidden blades into their skulls. One thug tried to move his flashlight over to the spot, but Eagle quickly used his hookblade to pull the goon over and stabbed him in the chest with his other blade. He took the thug’s rifle and started to gun down some of the other soldiers, eliminating four of them. He dropped the rifle when it ran out of bullets, and lunged for another goon. He drove his right wing blade into the thug’s throat, spun around, sliced another thug’s throat, and pulled another thug over by the throat with his hookblade. Eagle flipped the thug over as he stabbed him in the chest.

The lights suddenly came back on, and all eyes were on the Assassin. None of the remaining thugs were armed with rifles, except for Big Money, who opted to stand back as his eighteen remaining thugs charged for the hooded stallion. Eagle dodged the knife of one goon, grabbed the goon by the muzzle, and drove that same knife into the skull of another goon. Eagle then snapped the neck of the thug with the knife, and then performed one of his coolest new tricks. As he was surrounded by five thugs, Eagle spun around with his wing blades out, slicing the throats of the goons. He even managed to decapitate one of them, sending the skull flying through the air with blood trailing along with it. And that blood was only a small percentage of the blood covering the room now.

“Eleven more to go, who’s next?” Eagle taunted. The remaining thugs charged Eagle with knifes and clubs, all of which were poor choices. Eagle dodged one of the clubs, disarmed the thug, and swung the club into his skull, easily shattering it. He continued to spin and killed another two of the thugs by shattering their skulls. Eagle threw the club aside and blocked two knife strikes with his wing blades. He pushed the knives out of the mouths of the stallions holding them and stabbed the two in their skulls. Pulling his blades out, more blood covered the floor. Eagle gave himself a smile and spun around to block another knife blow. He hooked the knife with his hookblade and delivered a blow that managed to snap the neck of the stallion.

Eagle turned to see the five remaining guards quivering in fear. They were all standing together, waiting for a moment to strike. This was extremely stupid, as Eagle jumped towards them and sent his wing blades across their throats, sending their blood through the air. Eagle gave himself another smile as the five fell to the ground, gagging and coughing up blood. But, he was sent to the floor by a bullet to the side.

“You think you can come into my hideout and take out my men like that?! Guess again!” Big Money said. Thankfully, Eagle’s padding was resistant enough to block the bullet from doing any real damage, as he quickly got back up.

“Well, then how is it I literally just eliminated every single one of you goons in three minutes flat, give or take?” Eagle taunted back. Big Money took out his pistol again and tried shooting at the Assassin, who simply flew up into the air and disappeared.

“Stop hiding!”

“Very well.” Eagle dropped down and sent his wing blades into the skull of Big Money. The stallion fell to the ground and died, his skull now with two large holes in them. The stallion’s blood was spilling across the floor, as his body lay up against table. Eagle knelt down in front of the stallion.

“You have made thievery and murder a fetish. Stallions like you deserve no pity. Requiescat in pace.” Eagle went to close Big Money’s eyes, only to find that his eyes were gone. “Serves you right, bastard.”

“Damn, that’s some killing you just did. I think that’s a record, for both the amount of ponies you killed in one mission, and the time you did it in,” Sharp Side called to Eagle Eye. Eagle chuckled to himself and got up. He pulled out a heavy explosive from his pouch and found a spot to set it up.

“Alright, so I’ve got how long before this thing goes off?”

“About a minute and a half, more than enough time to get out of there. I already have a path lined out for you, so just follow my directions.” Eagle nodded and planted the explosive device. Sharp Side guided Eagle out of the hideout and back outside. Eagle stood on the rooftop that he had been standing on a while ago. After hearing a noticeable boom, the former hideout of the High Rollers was leveled completely. Eagle smiled at his work and turned to head home. But, before he could go anywhere, a bullet zoomed past him.

“Assassin, do not move! We have you surrounded!” the Captain of the Manehattan Guard called out over a microphone. Suddenly, search lights were pointed on the hooded stallion by the Pegasi flying above. Eagle covered his eyes, but he was able to notice when about twenty other Pegasi guards flew up to the rooftop and surrounded him. He looked around to see he was, once again, outnumbered.

“Well this is bucked,” Sharp Side called from over the mic. “My advice… get the buck out of there!” With that, Eagle shot up into the sky and flew off.

“After him!” the Captain ordered. Every guard on the rooftop pursued the Assassin, flying as fast as they could. They began to shoot with their pistols at the fleeing stallion, but Eagle managed to dodge every one. Eagle made a sudden move when he dive-bombed to the street level and began to run through the streets. The pursuing guards did the same, but they clumsily bumped into all the pedestrians that Eagle had knocked over as a kind of chase breaker. Eagle ran into another alley and began to climb, due to his wings being tired out from flying so fast with the wing blades on. As he reached the rooftop, he was once again surrounded by the Pegasi guards. The rooftop this time, however, was too small for Eagle to try to fly away. The guards had surrounded him too closely, and would be able to pull him back down if he tried to fly away. So, Eagle opted to take his battle stance.

“Give up now, Assassin, and you will not be harmed,” the Captain called to the Assassin. But, the hooded stallion stayed in his battle position, ready to fight. “This is your last chance! Surrender yourself now, or we will use force.” Eagle had no intentions on giving up. His training had left him ready to take on anypony, even the Manehattan Guard, who had received military-like training. Eagle knew better than to kill these stallions, but if he had to crack some skulls, he would. “Very well then. Attack!” the Captain ordered.

Two guards charged forward towards Eagle from opposite sides, ready to punch the hooded stallion. He ducked under one punch and delivered an uppercut to the first stallion, then swept the second one by his legs and took him to the ground. Getting up, Eagle blocked another punch with his bracer, grabbed the stallion by the collar, and head butted him. He then sidestepped to dodge another blow, turned around, and whipped the guard with his armored tail. Eagle was doing pretty well with just his hooves, but he wanted to step up his game a bit.

As another guard moved in for a punch, Eagle pulled him towards himself a bit, chopped the guard in the next, gave him a punch to the face that sent the guard back a bit, kicked in the guard’s leg, and delivered a knee to the head. The guard was sent to the floor in pain. Next up, Eagle blocked another punch from behind, turned around, and delivered four consecutive punches to the guard’s face, the last blow sending the guard to the floor. Now Eagle was on fire.

But, just as he was getting his groove going, Eagle was sent to the floor by a bullet to his side. His protective padding kept the bullet from penetrating his skin, but Eagle was now seriously hurt. Getting up, he met the hoof of another guard, which sent him sliding across the rooftop. Before another guard could hit him though, he instinctively bucked the guard back across the rooftop. But, there were still many other guards.

One of the Pegasi holding a search light flew in and blinded Eagle, causing him to falter backwards. He turned to get his eyes away from the light, only to get punched in the face again by another guard. Eagle was sent to the floor again by another bullet to his side. This one hurt a lot more. It had managed to slightly enter his skin, and he was now bleeding out a bit. Eagle slowly stood back up, but he didn’t stay there long. The Captain walked up and sent him to the floor with a night stick. Eagle’s breathing was heavy now, and he so badly wanted to get up and fly away, but there was no way he could do so. The Captain walked over to the Assassin and knelt down beside him.

“I’m gonna put you behind bars for a long time Assassin. Your days of murder are over,” the Captain said, standing up. Eagle looked up one more time before the Captain knocked him out.

“Eagle, no!” Sharp Side called over the mic system, but it was too late. The Manehattan Guard had finally managed to capture the Assassin, as they began to fly him to the MGD Station. Sharp Side could only watch from Eagle Eye’s still active camera as his best friend was taken away. The Assassin had been defeated.

Chapter 10: Behind Bars

Sharp Side watched as Eagle was being flown to the MGD Station. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Eagle Eye, his best friend, the Assassin, had been defeated. He so badly wanted to help, but had no way of doing so.

“Eagle, wake up man!” Sharp Side tried to call to wake up his fallen friend, but nothing worked. Sharp Side was stressing out. His friend was helpless, and all he could do was watch it all happen. He felt terrible, but there was nothing he could do now. All Sharp Side could do was be thankful that Eagle’s father wasn’t home. Fire Streak was away for a work trip in upper Manehattan, and he would be out of town for four more days. Sharp Side would need to think of a plan in that time to get Eagle Eye out of prison.

“Celestia knows how much this shit’s gonna get on the news.”

Fire Streak walked through the streets of upper Manehattan, going about his own business. He had just concluded his business with a few of his clients, and was on his way to a local coffee shop for a good drink.

Fire Streak made his way through the busy streets. This area of the city was much busier than his home area of Manehattan, but it still felt like Manehattan. Ponies were just as busy, the smells were all the same, the buildings were just about the same height, all in all, it was Manehattan.

Fire Streak finally arrived at the coffee shop. The smell of freshly brewed coffee greeted his nose as he entered the shop. It was a pleasant smell for the working stallion. He made his way to the counter and ordered the usual cup of coffee he would get back home. He could only wonder how much different, or similar, it would taste. Paying for his drink, he sat down at a table and relaxed. The Manehattan News was on, and the headline story immediately caught his attention.

“After months of searching and hunting, the Manehattan Guard has finally captured the hooded stallion known as the Assassin. As most of you know, this stallion has been delivering death in the night for months now, and last night, it all came to an end. After the Assassin managed to eliminate the gang known as the High Rollers, the authorities surrounded the Assassin. A chase ensued afterwards, in which the Guard managed to surround him once again on a rooftop. The authorities reported to have engaged the Assassin, in which they defeated him and took him into custody. The Assassin is currently being held behind bars, awaiting interrogation.”

The story sounded like music to Fire Streak’s ears.

‘At last,’ he thought to himself, taking one last sip of his coffee. He stood up, threw out his cup, and walked out the door.

Rainbow Dash flew through the skies of Ponyville, free as a bird. She had just finished her cloud clearing duties, and was now free from responsibility for the rest of the day, which was still young. She practiced some of her moves, doing flips, spins, and such while flying through the air. She noticed her Pegasus friend Fluttershy walking along back home, and as her best friend, Rainbow figured she’d drop by and see how her friend was doing.

As Fluttershy continued to walk to her front door, Rainbow started to fly down to the ground. Landing, Rainbow Dash trotted up to Fluttershy.

“Hey Fluttershy,” Rainbow greeted. The only thing she got in return was a surprised “eep” from Fluttershy. Turning around, Fluttershy saw it was only Rainbow Dash.

“Oh, hello Rainbow,” Fluttershy responded, having gotten over her initial surprise. “What brings you here?”

“Oh you know, just thought I’d see how my best friend is doing, Rainbow responded. The two continued walking to Fluttershy’s cottage. Upon entering, Rainbow Dash flew over to Fluttershy’s couch and decided to lounge around a bit.

“So, how are things with Eagle Eye going?” Fluttershy asked.

“Awesome. He’s a lot better at this relationship thing than I thought he would be. Just think, next month, we’ll be celebrating our six month anniversary. Let’s hope he doesn’t miss that one though.” The two Pegasi giggled at the joke. Fluttershy knew how Eagle missed the one month anniversary, but she paid no mind to it. It wasn’t much of her business anyway.

“That’s great Dashie. I knew you two were perfect together.”

“Yeah, we are aren’t we? Hey, wanna watch some TV?” Rainbow asked.

“Sure, let me just find the remote,” Fluttershy responded, beginning her short search for the remote. After finding it, she turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. Fluttershy passed over the news channel, but Rainbow managed to catch what the story was.

“Wait, go back!” she said, grabbing the remote and going back to the news.

“What is it?” Fluttershy asked. As Rainbow flipped back over to the news, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Manehattan News coming back to you with the capture of the Assassin. While previously, only Guard reports were given, we now have eyewitness confirmation that the Assassin has in fact been captured. Eyewitness reports state that the Assassin was still waiting to be interrogated when they saw him. As previously reported, the Assassin was captured last night after killing off the High Rollers and their leader, Big Money. We will bring more on this story after the Assassin’s interrogation has been completed.”

The story had been all over the news, and this was the first Rainbow Dash had heard of it. She couldn’t believe her eyes or ears. The Assassin, her Eagle Eye, had been defeated and captured by the Manehattan Guard. All she wanted to do was bolt out of that cottage and go save him, but she couldn’t let her friends know that she was dating a killer.

“What’s wrong Dashie? Aren’t you glad they finally captured that mean Assassin?” Fluttershy asked, not understanding Rainbow’s predicament. The cyan blue mare turned to her friend with worried eyes.

“What?! Oh, um, well… no, not really,” Rainbow responded, giving a short, awkward chuckle. “I kinda like the guy. He’s been cleaning up the streets of Manehattan, and he even has killed a few crooks in Ponyville too. I think he’s more of a good guy than a bad guy.”

“But who is he to say he has the right to decide somepony’s fate?” Fluttershy asked.

“The ponies that he’s killed were all bad and evil dudes, Fluttershy! Why shouldn’t they be killed?” Rainbow responded. She almost couldn’t believe her words. Rainbow Dash wasn’t a huge fan of hearing or seeing death, but Eagle Eye was doing good, not evil, so she had to support him.

“I guess that makes a little sense, but still, I think he’s going about it the wrong way. I think he deserves to be punished for killing as many as he has,” Fluttershy stated. Rainbow sat back on the couch and changed the channel again. All she could think about now was Eagle Eye and how he was doing behind bars.

‘Don’t let them beat you Eagle. Please…’

“Hit him again,” the Captain of the Manehattan Guard commanded. The soldier delivered another hard punch to the face of the Assassin. This had been going on for twenty minutes now, but Eagle Eye wouldn’t let them break him. They could keep hitting him, but he wouldn’t talk.

“Again!” Another punch was given, this one seeming to be just the same as the rest. Eagle now had a black eye and had bled out on the floor a bit. Luckily, the spells put in place on his robes, mask, and hood kept the guards from removing any gear, thus keeping his identity safe. However, that didn’t stop them from pounding the shit out of him. While Eagle was strong willed and boned, these guards knew how to beat up somepony.

“Why do you persist on remaining silent?” the Captain asked. Eagle just lifted his head back up and looked at him with his red eyes. While Eagle was still able to keep that trick up, if he received any more of a beating, he might lose focus, and his eyes would turn back to their normal shade of blue. But, before Eagle was hit again, the Captain lifted his chin up and looked him in the eyes.

“What are you hiding, Assassin?” Eagle simply looked into the Captain’s eyes and remained silent. The Captain growled and took a step back. “Hit him again!” Another punch was delivered. And another. And another. At this rate, Eagle would be broken, so he figured he might as well let them break him now.

“Alright,” he started. “What do you want?” The Captain snickered and walked up to him.

“What are you after, Assassin?”

“I’m afraid I don’t follow, Captain.”

“How long have you been at this, three, four months? All this time, you’ve persisted on eliminating the criminals of the city and pretending to be a hero. I want to know why?” The Captain spoke with a stern voice. He was not in a mood for playing games.

“First off, I’m not a hero. Secondly, I’m just trying to protect the city from the scum that you and your men seem to have a problem with detaining. I’d say I’m just doing your job, but better.” The Captain drove his hoof into Eagle’s gut with a powerful punch.

“Nopony does our job better than us. It is not our right to say who deserves to die or live. We keep the peace, as is our duty, but not by seamlessly murdering those that do not deserve death.”

“So you feel that all the ponies I’ve eliminated shouldn’t have died? Need I remind you that each and every one of my targets were killers. The way I see it, if you take a life, you pay with your own.” Eagle spoke with so much passion that it almost scared the Captain. Almost.

“Well, if my records are correct, then that means you owe your life at least one hundred times. What makes you different from those you have killed?” the Captain asked.

“Because I kill for the greater good, not because I feel it best suits me or my own personal gain.” The Captain snorted and began circling Eagle.

“It seems that your gear has been spelled so that we can’t remove it.”

“I wouldn’t want anypony figuring out who I am now would I?” Eagle responded.

“Well, last time I checked, you aren’t a Unicorn or an Alicorn, so that means you’re not working alone. Who are you working with?”

“I work alone,” Eagle lied. He knew very well that he didn’t work alone, but he couldn’t let the Guard know that Sharp Side was a part of all this. “I simply… persuaded, a Unicorn to cast the spells on my gear.” The Captain leaned in and looked into Eagle’s eyes again.

“I think you’re lying.”

“That’s your problem, not mine. If you don’t want to believe the truth, I can’t help you with that.” The Captain simply smacked Eagle across the face.

“You really should watch your tongue, Assassin.”

“And you really should watch who you’re hitting, Captain. You’re lucky that you’re the Captain of the Guard. I don’t kill the innocent, or those who do good, such as yourself.”

“Are you trying to threaten me Assassin, because it’s not working,” the Captain responded smugly.

“Oh no, not threaten, but warn. Should I get the chance, my hoof just might find its way to your face.” Eagle looked to the Captain sternly, and the Captain returned the look.

“Now then, what I want to know, is why you and your guards have persisted on apprehending me?”

“Because you are a dangerous vigilante that needed to be stopped, and that’s just what we’ve done. Your escapades of murder and death end here Assassin, because it’s time for you to put an end to all of this.”

“Sorry Captain, but I won’t stop fighting until my true targets have been eliminated,” Eagle responded, hinting at the anger he was feeling.

“And who might those ponies be?” the Captain asked.

“The same ponies you failed to stop that fateful night five months ago.” Eagle was referring to the Dark Flames and their attack on Manehattan, the same attack that cause the deaths of his sister and mother. The Captain looked at the Assassin with a look of surprise. He simply snorted again and turned his back on Eagle.

“I’ll be back for you later. We’re not done yet, Assassin,” the Captain said, knocking on the door for the guards to let him out of the interrogation room. Eagle Eye was left alone to think and plan. He lowered his head, but shortly after, he felt a tear fall from his cheek. Looking up, Eagle saw an apparition of his sister, Ruby. She was smiling at him, but she didn’t stay for long. She turned and walked away, fading into nothingness. Eagle lowered his head once again and began to silently cry.

The Master entered the War Room of the Dark Flames of Heaven’s headquarters. Having also hearing the news of the Assassin’s capture, he now had the perfect moment to strike and see if the Assassin was truly ready to join the ranks of the Dark Flames. Entering the room, Ice Storm and several other high ranking soldiers stood around a table with a map of Manehattan.

“Ice Storm, have we a plan for our assault on the MGD Station yet?” the Master said, removing his helmet and placing it on the table.

“We have a plan, Master. Seeing as though the MGD Station is in a heavily populated area, we will be unable to have our forces rally anywhere in secret on the ground level. Our proposed plan is to use cloaked ships to land on surrounding rooftops, unload our soldiers and catapults, and assault the building. Our spies have reported that the Assassin is still alive in there, and that he seems to still have his gear on, most likely a spell preventing any other ponies from removing his gear. His weapons, however, have been taken to the armory.”

“He will be able to acquire those, with some assistance, of course,” another soldier spoke. The Master nodded and smiled. The plan seemed perfect. The Manehattan Guard would be unable to realize they were under attack until the last second, the Assassin would be able to prove himself at last, and the Master could finally meet the infamous killer. He looked to Ice Storm.

“Are you prepared to die, Ice Storm?” the Master asked.

“If it should benefit our cause, yes, I am ready to die, in the name of the Dark Flames of Heaven. Should I die in vain, I hope to meet the soul of the one responsible for my death in Hell.” The Master nodded.

“Very well then. Men, ready the ships! It’s time to see if the Assassin is ready.”

Author's Notes:

Yeah, another short chapter, but this is basically the build up for the next chapter. Time to see the Assassin put out some Flames. Bu dum bing... Ok, that was terrible, and I apologize.

Chapter 11: Ready or Not...

The Captain walked through the MGD Building, still thinking over his chat with the Assassin. He didn’t want to believe that the Assassin was trying to do good, because in the mind of the Captain, the Assassin wasn’t doing good. He was killing other ponies. It was not his right to say who deserved to live or die.

‘So why is it I feel like he is right?’ the Captain thought to himself. He walked into his office and took a sip of his coffee. It had been a long past three days, and they were just going to get longer. Time seemed to pass slowly. For the Captain, he at least had some work to do. However, the Assassin only got to sit in an empty room.

Eagle Eye still had his head lowered after his chat with the Captain. He was crying over his memories of that night in the East District of Manehattan. He remembered how he lost his sister and mother. Eagle’s loss still weighed heavily upon him, and everything he had been doing had only been able to ease that pain slightly. But, Eagle raised his head at a sudden voice.

“Eagle…” the voice spoke. Looking up, Eagle saw the apparition of his sister. He wanted to speak, but he wouldn’t dare. He knew he was being monitored, and if he spoke at all, the Guard could use anything he said as evidence against him.

“Eagle, I’ve missed you so much. Why don’t you just stop fighting? Join mother and I in death. We need you with us Eagle, we need you…” Ruby spoke, the last bit sounding a bit demonic. Eagle tried to back away as Ruby stepped closer to him, but he was securely strapped to a chair. But, just as Ruby was about to touch his cheek with her hoof, she disappeared.

Eagle let out a soft cough as he shook his head after what he had witnessed. He had no idea if that was real or not, but he didn’t care, because it still scared the crap out of him. Over the past few months, Eagle had been having more nightmares in which his mother and sister would torment his mind, trying to blame him for their deaths. He knew he wasn’t responsible, but they would continue to torment and torture his mind. He couldn’t do anything to stop the dreams. All he could hope for was that he would soon be able to stop the Dark Flames of Heaven.

The cloaked carrier ships of the Dark Flames flew above the MGD Building, undetected by anything or anypony in the city. The Flames had brought five ships, each carrying fifty soldiers, ready to fight and die for the good of their cause. In the main carrier ship, the Master and Ice Storm stood in the bridge. Ice Storm, along with many other soldiers, awaited the Master’s order to attack.

“We await you call, Master. Say the word, and the Ashes of the Flames will descend,” Ice Storm said. The Master turned to Ice Storm. Turning back to his command system, he pressed an intercom button that connected the bridge of his ship to all the other ships.

“All ships, prepare battle cannons to strike the station. We shall invade the station after the initial bombardment,” the Master ordered. On command, the other ships of the small fleet readied their cannons.

“Fire!”

Explosions burst all around the MGD Building. Missile strikes erupted at every corner of the station. Guards were being flung around here and there. The scale of the attack was massive, and the Guard never suspected a thing. The Master’s plan was working to perfection. He turned to Ice Storm. Without even ordering anything, Ice Storm went to prepare.

However, even with his outfit completely on, Eagle Eye was completely unprepared for what was happening. He felt the building shake and erupt all around him. He was trapped and helpless. He started to struggle to get free of the hoof cuffs, but they were on too tight. So, he tried to shimmy his way through the room and break them off with something. This didn’t work either.

Whether it was a stroke of good or bad luck, an explosion suddenly erupted on the wall that was behind him, sending Eagle to the floor. The blast hurt like hell, but it managed to break his cuffs. Eagle quickly sat up as four Ashes of the Flames stepped into the room.

“It’s the Assassin!” one of them said.

“Should we kill him?” another asked.

“We must see if he is worthy. Ashes of the Flames, attack!” one of them ordered.

On command, three of the soldiers charged for Eagle. Quickly getting to his hooves, Eagle turned around and blocked a sword strike with his chain mail covered tail. He managed to knock the sword out of the soldier’s magical grasp. Eagle turned around and delivered an uppercut to the soldier, sending him flying backwards and to the floor.

Another soldier tried to charge his sword through Eagle’s chest, but Eagle managed to side step the attack. This soldier was a Pegasus, and was holding the sword in his mouth. Using this to his advantage, Eagle brought the soldier into a choke hold, and quickly snapped his neck. Eagle threw the soldier to the floor, but wasn’t quick enough to stop another one of the soldiers from smashing him backwards with a warhammer.

Eagle slowly got to his hooves, but was met with a powerful punch to the face. Faltering back, he got to his hooves and quickly managed to duck under another swing of the hammer. Eagle tackled the soldier to the floor and started to punch his face in. The soldier was able to push Eagle off, but it wasn’t enough to stop Eagle from grabbing the hammer and smashing the soldier’s skull in. It was almost as if a blood bomb had erupted, because the soldier’s blood and brains were splattered across the walls and floor.

Eagle dropped the hammer and looked to the fourth soldier, who was now aiming a rifle at him. The soldier began to fire off rounds at Eagle, who managed to dodge most of them. However, while trying to advance, two bullets hit Eagle in the chest. His protective padding wasn’t enough to stop the bullets from reaching his skin however. The bullets weren’t far in, but Eagle noticed that he was now bleeding. The soldier started to reload his rifle, but he wasn’t quick enough, as Eagle managed to get back up and elbow the soldier’s head into the wall, knocking him out.

“Well, that was different,” Eagle said to himself, breathing heavily now. That was honestly one of his toughest battles, and he only fought four of those guys. These soldiers were clearly trained to perfection, however, perfection wasn’t enough to save them. While incredibly skilled, Eagle had been training for months now, and his skills had greatly increased. But, after that fight, he realized that he would need more training to eliminate every member of the Dark Flames.

Eagle managed to pull the bullets out of his chest, with a minimal amount of pain. Throwing the bullets to the ground and stepping over the bodies of the soldiers, he stepped into a hallway. He heard all the alarms buzzing, and saw all the lights going off. The hallway was filled with smoke. Clearing some of the smoke, Eagle saw that a few of the guards had been crushed beneath the walls of the building. One guard was unfortunate to have gotten a shard of glass lodged straight through his skull. There weren’t many dead guards in the hallway, but there were enough to make any other pony sick.

Eagle looked past all of this and set out to find the armory. He needed to get his gear back, and he figured the armory was the best place to start. Walking through the halls of the building, which was no longer being bombarded by missile strikes, Eagle could hear the screams of the guards being slaughtered at the hooves of the soldiers of the Dark Flames. Hearing all of those screams and cries made Eagle feel like he should do something, but without his weapons, he wouldn’t be of much help.

Continuing through the halls, Eagle stayed hidden as a few of the guards ran through the building. He was sure they would still try to kill him if they got the chance, so he tried to remain hidden from them, as well as the Dark Flames. All he had to do was get his weapons, and he would be set to fight.

However, Eagle had no such luck, as he managed to bump into two guards. They were both Unicorns, armed with pistols. They aimed at Eagle, who had come to a stop.

“Halt, Assassin!” one of the guards called out. But, suddenly, that same guard had his brains splattered against the wall. The bullet came from behind Eagle. He turned to see another member of the Dark Flames, aiming a rifle at Eagle and the remaining guard. Eagle jumped into the air and flew into the soldier. This caused the soldier to drop his rifle, which Eagle quickly picked up in his hooves. He fired off two bullets into the soldier, then aimed the rifle at the guard.

“Don’t follow me,” Eagle said, dropping the rifle and running off. The guard did as he was told.

Continuing towards the armory, Eagle continued to dodge the sight of the Ashes of the Flames and the Manehattan Guard. But, coming up on an area with a heavy amount of smoke, Eagle heightened his senses to see through the thick layer of smoke. His mask helped him to breathe, so that wasn’t a problem, but the smoke was heavy enough to blind Eagle. However, his heightened vision was strong enough to see straight through it all.

Getting through the smoke, Eagle happened to stumble upon the armory. Smiling and nodding to himself, Eagle walked in and quickly managed to find his weapons. He made a mental note for Sharp Side to enchant his weapons the same way as his robes.

Strapping on his hidden blades, Eagle tested both out to make sure they worked. Finishing that, he strapped on his wing blades, flashing them a few times to make sure they had their normal amount of articulation. After that was done, Eagle threw his rifle over his back and gave himself one last check over.

After he finished that though, he took a moment to get a general feeling for the scope of the armory. It was on the ground floor of the ten story building, and it was even able to house an armed chariot. There were weapons scattered all around the room, many of which Eagle had never seen before. Anything from guns to melee weapons could be found in there. Eagle wouldn’t have minded taking a few of them for his own use, and maybe for Sharp Side’s entertainment, but he didn’t have time for that. It was time to get out of there.

But, before Eagle could get out of the armory, a large explosion erupted from across the large room. A cloud of smoke formed, blocking Eagle’s vision of what had caused the explosion. Through the smoke came another blast. The shot destroyed the armed chariot that Eagle had spotted a few seconds ago. With that, the room was now filled with even more smoke. Eagle quickly took cover behind three heavy crates as more blasts entered the room, destroying many of the weapons.

Once the blasts had stopped, Eagle took a moment to peak out from the corner of one of the crates. He quickly spotted three soldiers of the Dark Flames, two of which were normal, earth pony soldiers. The third, however, was a Unicorn. The Unicorn removed his helmet to reveal that it was Ice Storm, the same stallion that had been eluding Eagle Eye for the past few months.

‘How the hell didn’t I realize he was a Unicorn the first time I saw him?’ Eagle thought to himself. ‘Must’ve missed it.’

Ice Storm ran one of his hooves through his sweaty white mane, pulling it back from over his eyes. He started to look around the room, as if he were looking for something in particular.

“The Assassin must be in here. He would have to come here for his weapons, unless he has already found them and left. Continue the search,” Ice Storm ordered. As ordered, the two earth pony soldiers began to walk through the armory, in search of Eagle.

Luckily, there was still a decent amount of smoke in the room. Eagle used this to his advantage, using it as a source of cover from his enemies. However, it still blinded him a bit, so he heightened his vision and hearing. He would be able to see the soldiers, as well as hear anything that might try to jump out and attack him.

Sneaking up on one of the soldiers, Eagle put a hoof over the soldier’s mouth, stopping him from calling out for help. Pulling him back, Eagle slid out his left hidden blade and stabbed the soldier through the head, lowering the body to the ground. Eagle removed his blade and flew up to one of the support beams in the room. He shouldered his rifle and aimed at the second soldier. Marking his target, he fired. The bullet passed straight through the soldier’s skull, splattering his blood on the floor.

Ice Storm took immediate notice of this and looked up to the ceiling. He was able to jump out of the way as Eagle tried to pounce on him. Eagle stared down Ice Storm as the Unicorn magicked his longsword. It was quite an impressive blade, and it seemed like Ice Storm had every intention to drive that blade through Eagle Eye’s skull. Eagle readied his wing blades and slid out his left hidden blade.

“You honestly think you can beat me, Assassin?” Ice Storm mocked.

“Why not?” Eagle retorted.

“It is time to see if you are truly worthy,” Ice Storm said, charging towards Eagle. He was quick, and Eagle was taken by surprise, as Ice Storm gave Eagle a clean slice across the chest with the blade. He fell to the floor, his blood dripping out of his chest. Eagle covered the wound and started to groan in pain. He let out a quick cough and turned back to Ice Storm.

Eagle was just quick enough to roll out of the way, as Ice Storm tried to drive his blade through Eagle Eye’s skull. Eagle tried to slice at Ice Storm with his wing blades, but the Unicorn simply used his magic to create a shield. Ice Storm then caused an explosion to erupt from the magical barrier, sending Eagle Eye across the floor. Getting back up, Eagle drew out his rifle and quickly fired off five rounds at Ice Storm. He managed to dodge three of them, but one of the bullets clipped his chest, and the other dug itself into Ice Storm’s front right hoof.

“Damn you!” he shouted, using his magic to pull out the bullet. But, while doing this, Eagle had taken off straight towards Ice Storm. Eagle managed to tackle Ice Storm to the ground. Holding down the Unicorn by the horn, Eagle raised his hidden blade, ready to plunge it into Ice Storm’s throat. But, the Unicorn managed to punch Eagle off.

Ice Storm stood up and started to charge his magic. Before Eagle could make a move, Ice Storm let out a blast of snow from his horn. The blast hit Eagle directly in the chest, sending him flying against the wall. Falling to the floor, Eagle gripped his chest and let out a violent cough. Not only was the attack powerful, but he was now shivering at how cold it was.

Ice Storm lunged forward with his sword in his magical grip. Eagle sluggishly ducked out of the way, but he wasn’t quick enough to stop Ice Storm from delivering a powerful uppercut. Eagle found himself on the floor again, coughing in immense pain. Ice Storm didn’t ease off though. As Eagle tried to hold himself up, Ice Storm elbowed Eagle’s skull, sending him back to the floor.

“You are so weak,” Ice Storm mocked, kicking Eagle across the floor. He readied his blade once again and charged for the fallen Assassin. But, Eagle just barely managed to counter, using his wing blade to send the blade flying into the air. Ice Storm was momentarily stunned, and Eagle used this to his advantage. He got up and started to pound away at Ice Storm’s face, delivering punch after punch. Eagle managed to land a powerful slice to the Unicorn’s chest with his wing blades, managing to strike past the set of armor Ice Storm was wearing.

The Unicorn fell back, coughing out blood. Eagle gave him another punch, then slid out his hidden blade. Aiming right for the spot where his wing blades had sliced, Eagle drove his blade into the open section of Ice Storm’s armor, plunging his blade through the Unicorn’s chest. He let out a short grunt from the strike. Eagle was quick enough to throw Ice Storm in the path of his descending blade. Looking up, Ice Storm felt a sudden shock in his back. His blade had landed right in his back.

Still in shock, Ice Storm started to groan in pain, but he didn’t seem to be too fazed by the pain. Eagle on the other hoof was ready to finish this piece of trash. Eagle rushed up and ducked under a weak punch. He delivered two punches and a slice to the face with his hidden blade. Ice Storm looked back, still not wanting to give up. Eagle gave him another uppercut, causing Ice Storm to stumble back a bit. Eagle then jumped into the air directly over Ice Storm, who was too weak to do anything. Eagle dove right down to the Unicorn, punching the blade straight through his back. He even managed to get the tip of the blade stuck in the floor.

“GAAAH!” Ice Storm cried out in pain. With his own blade firmly lodged straight through his back, Ice Storm’s hooves gave out, causing him to slide down his blade to the floor. He started to cry and squirm in pain, trying to get himself free. Eagle Eye wasn’t about to let that happen.

“You probably should’ve kept your helmet on,” Eagle mocked, right before he drove his left hidden blade through the skull of Ice Storm. The Unicorn stopped moving and crying as he instantly died. Eagle removed his blade, and Ice Storm’s head fell to the floor. His blood began to spill out onto the floor. But, Eagle Eye was still in pain. He fell back and started to cough in pain again, hacking up a little blood. He looked over his chest, which had now taken a bullet from a guard and a slice from Ice Storm. He wasn’t fairing too well.

Eagle suddenly heard the soft clomping of a hoof behind him, the same area where Ice Storm and the other two soldiers had entered. Slowly turning around, Eagle was faced with a fully armor clad Unicorn, his purple eyes seeming to beam right through Eagle Eye. He got to his hooves and stood ready to fight. The Unicorn ceased his hoof clomping and chuckled.

“You don’t exactly seem to be in the best shape to fight me, Assassin,” the Unicorn said. He started to examine the white robed stallion that stood before him, and Eagle did the same to the armor clad Unicorn. The armor was quite bulky, but it seemed like this Unicorn had no trouble moving around in it. It was colored dark purple, with golden accents. The entire body of the Unicorn was covered, either in armor or a secondary layer of chain mail. The torso was made up of a large, layered piece of armor. His legs were also covered with layered armor, but at the hooves, three sharp looking blades ran buck up the stallion’s legs for the lengths of the lower halves of his legs. His tail was covered in a similar way to Eagle Eye’s. The helmet was almost scary to look at. The eyes glowed a dark shade of purple, but the rest of the helmet wasn’t good either. It had a space for the Unicorn’s horn, but the layering around it made it as sharp as any other blade. The rest of the helmet was round with similar layering to the rest of the armor. Eagle seemed to be able to figure out who this stallion was based on what he was.

“You must be the Master of the Dark Flames of Heaven,” he said.

“My, my, you do catch on quickly. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Assassin,” he said, his tone almost mocking to Eagle Eye.

“Shut up!” Eagle shouted. The Master simply let out another chuckle.

“Well now, what’s the reason for that?” the Master asked mockingly.

“You were a fool to come here. Now, I shall take your life!” Eagle said, readying his blades.

“Will you?” the Master said. “I come here not to fight Assassin. I come here with an offer.”

“Yeah, well the answer’s no!”

“And why is that?!” the Master said back, his tone becoming a bit angrier. “You seem to think yourself different from the Dark Flames of Heaven. You have been doing the same thing we have been doing all along Assassin.”

“I have not been killing innocent ponies that do not deserve death. The ponies I have killed all deserved to die. You seem to find enjoyment out of slaughtering and murdering thousands of innocent ponies, and for what?!”

“So that this world may be cleansed by the Dark Flames, you arrogant fool!” the Master fought back.

“Oh, I’m the fool?! You think because you are doing the right thing, but you aren’t!”

“And who are you to judge?” the Master asked. “Many in the city of Manehattan view your work as unjust and cruel, even if you are killing off the ponies that are most despised by the world. You are no better than the ponies you have killed,” the Master continued, his tone now a bit more calm.

“On the contrary,” Eagle started. “I am far greater than any of the ponies I’ve killed. I have truly been cleansing this city of the scum that taints it every night and day. I have saved innocent lives, rather than destroy them. I am the true good here, not you!” Through the Master’s helmet, Eagle could hear groans of anger.

“You had better watch your tongue, boy,” he said, pulling out a grandmaster sword. The blade was smithed to near perfection, and it intimidated Eagle greatly. He even took a small step back as the Master readied it.

“I will ask you one more time, and you had better answer wisely. Will you join the Dark Flames of Heaven?” The Master waited eagerly for the Assassin’s answer. Before Eagle Eye spoke, he flashed his blades one more time.

“I’ll see to it that you burn in your own flames, you monster.”

The Master only snickered to himself before dashing straight towards Eagle Eye. To Eagle’s own surprise, the Master was extremely agile, regardless of the armor he was wearing. Eagle barely managed to duck under a swing from the Master’s sword, but he couldn’t stop the two powerful punches that came afterward. The Master then turned around and bucked Eagle so hard he flew into a few crates about halfway across the room.

Eagle tried to get up, but his strength was failing him. It took him too long to get up, and as he did, he was sliced in his left front leg by the Master’s sword. He let out a cry of pain as he fell back down, only to be knocked back again by another powerful uppercut.

Eagle slowly got up and tried to do a double slice with his wing blades. The Master simply used a protective ward spell, and then blasted Eagle back across the floor with a powerful beam of magic. The Master then started to charge his horn. Eagle could notice a dark purple flame beginning to form around the horn. The Master then unleashed a torrent of flames towards Eagle Eye. He barely managed to get out of the way. When Eagle looked back, the flames that had been left behind didn’t seem to even start to fade away.

“I bet you’re curious about the spell. You see, all of the Ashes of the Flames that are Unicorns are taught the Dark Flame spell, a flame spell that allows the flames to burn forever, or at least until the caster of the spells eliminates the flames him or herself.” Eagle could care less about the spell. He only cared to not step near those flames, because they didn’t look too good. Stepping in them wouldn’t end well.

The Master lunged towards Eagle again, his sword still in his magical grip. He slammed the blade down as Eagle managed to side step the attack. Eagle slid out his right hookblade, latched it onto the Master’s front right leg, pulled him forward, and set him to the ground with an elbow to the back. However, the Master wasn’t fazed at all, and he simply knocked Eagle over and got back to his own hooves.

He raised the sword high above the both of them, but before he could slam it down on the wounded Assassin, Eagle Eye managed to land a powerful buck on the Master’s chin. Eagle could hear a few bones cracking from that kick. The Master faltered back a bit from the attack, but remained ready to fight. He simply gave his neck a loud crack and stood ready.

Eagle got back to his hooves, but he showed obvious signs of himself getting weaker. The Master took advantage of this and started to swing relentlessly at Eagle. He managed to duck under a few of them, but the Master landed a deadly strike on Eagle’s chest, right in the same spot as before. Eagle fell back to the floor and started to cough up blood. He quickly slid open his mask to let himself spit it all out, then slid the mask back over before the Master could see who he was.

The Master walked over to Eagle Eye, but he was quick to react. He used his tail to whip the Master to the floor. Eagle got to his hooves as quick as he could and lunged for the Master, but he was simply shot back by a beam of magic. His protective padding had now been ruined, and it could no longer truly protect Eagle from any of the attacks that the Master could dish out. He had to be careful.

The Master got back to his hooves, but this time, he didn’t attack. He just stood there, as if he was waiting for the Assassin to make another move. Eagle just stared him down, waiting.

“I thought you were supposed to be good at fighting,” the Master said mockingly. Eagle simply cracked his neck and lunged forward.

He managed to actually catch the Master off guard, as he ducked under a sword swipe and slashed at his chest with his wing blades. His strike managed to crack some of the armor, which gave Eagle an idea. He flew backwards, shouldered his rifle, and fired off two rounds right at the spot where he had slashed the Master. Both bullets met their mark, and they sent the Master to the floor.

The Master stood back up and growled. He charged his horn again, but was interrupted by another bullet to the leg. The bullet didn’t pass through, but the impact sent a sudden shock through the Master’s hoof that caused him to falter. Eagle used this to his advantage and got in close.

Eagle immediately spotted numerous points of connection in the Master’s armor. He used these as striking points. Eagle began to slide his hidden blades into the connection points, managing to stab and slice away at the Master. He tried to fight back, but Eagle kept his assault going. But, the Master got a lucky hit on Eagle, punching him straight in the chest. He tried to swing his sword, but before he could, Eagle jumped over and grabbed him by the tail.

Eagle then pulled the Master in, slid out his hidden blade, and used it to completely rip off a large chunk of armor protecting the Master’s right side. Eagle drove his blade into the Master, but as the Master started to groan in pain, Eagle caught notice of the cutie mark that adorned the Master’s flank. It was a powerful flame with a streak of smoke trailing off of it, the same cutie mark as his father.

‘No…’ Eagle thought to himself, but taking that small moment gave the Master a chance to retaliate. Eagle pulled out his blade, but he wasn’t quick enough to stop the Master from elbowing him in the face and causing him to fall to the floor. He stood over the Assassin with his blade ready to finish him.

“This… ends… here,” the Master said, breathing heavily now. But, before he could do drive his blade through Eagle’s throat, the Master heard the voices of numerous Manehattan Guard members approaching the armory. The Master had no time to properly finish his enemy, so he left the Assassin with something to remember him by. He slammed his hoof against Eagle’s right wing, causing the wing blade to break off and snap in two.

“We will finish this another time, Assassin. You had better be ready,” the Master said, leaving the Assassin there at the mercy of the approaching guards. The Master used his magic to teleport out of the room and back to his command ship. Disregarding the surprised looks of his soldiers, he walked up to the intercom set that would link to his soldiers in the MGD Building.

“All soldiers, fall back to your ships. We are finished here,” the Master ordered.

Down in the building, any and all soldiers that were fighting began to retreat. Most of the Unicorns simply used their magic to teleport out of the building. The Pegasi soldiers flew out of the building, while the earth pony soldiers ran for ropes that could be used to climb back up to the ships. Within a few minutes, the Dark Flames of Heaven were gone.

Eagle Eye tried to get back to his hooves, as he knew the guards were getting closer. He took notice of the entrance used by Ice Storm and the Master, so he opted to use it. Getting on his hooves, Eagle removed the mechanism for his wing blades and smashed them into pieces. He didn’t want to leave anything for the Manehattan Guard to use.

Slowly running towards the hole in wall, Eagle turned around to see the guards had arrived.

“There’s the Assassin. Kill him!” one guard ordered.

Eagle quickly managed to get out of the armory. He flew for one of the openings in the building’s walls. He jumped out onto the streets. Luckily for him, nopony was out on the streets after what had just happened. A few guards were outside, and took notice of the Assassin. But, before they could even get an aim on him, Eagle jumped into the air and flew off. A few guards began to fire off rounds at him, but he was long gone already.

But, Eagle knew he couldn’t stay in the city, not in his condition. He had to go somewhere else that was safe. He knew exactly where to go, but it would be a long flight. He would have to risk it. Eagle was off to Ponyville, and more specifically, Rainbow Dash.

Eagle had been flying for what felt like hours, but it had only been a mere forty minutes. In his condition, he couldn’t fly very fast, but he had to make it to Ponyville at least. He noticed that his chest was dripping blood, and he had removed his mask and lowered his hood so that he could spit out all the blood that was coming up from his gut.

Finally, Eagle could make out Ponyville in the distance. But, as soon as he saw it, the vision of the town began to blur out. Eagle was beginning to fade out of consciousness.

“No… not yet,” he said to himself, continuing to fly. He was so close, yet so far away. He managed to reach the outskirts of the town, but just as he did, he fell. Eagle impacted with the ground and began to tumble along the grassy fields that made up the outskirts of Ponyville. When he stopped, Eagle laid himself out on his back, breathing heavily and still coughing up blood. His chest was bleeding out to a dangerous level now. But, he knew that if anypony found him like this, he would be discovered. He quickly strapped his mask back on and threw his hood over his head. Those actions however used up all his remaining strength.

But, just before he passed out, he heard the flapping of wings and a familiar voice.

“Eagle Eye!” the voice cried out, sounding almost like an echo. Eagle managed to roll his head over to see the blurred image of Rainbow Dash. That was the last thing he saw before he passed out.

Author's Notes:

Wow, this felt like forever. Writing this one felt fun, but at the same time, it felt very tedious. Maybe it's because I've been writing too much action stuff lately. I hope this chapter was enjoyable enough. After all, I did make a big semi-reveal towards the end of it didn't I?

Chapter 12: Nightmare

Eagle slowly opened his eyes. He was in an incredible amount of pain, with his head still throbbing, yet feeling very light at the same time. He let out a low groan, which made him start to cough a bit. He wanted to lift up one of his hooves to massage his head, but he was too weak. He had lost too much blood during his battle with the Master.

‘The Master…’ Eagle had revealed the cutie mark of that very stallion moments before he was forced to fly off to Ponyville. That cutie mark was the same one as his father’s.

‘My father couldn’t be…’ Eagle thought to himself. He let out another moan. He decided to think on it more when he wasn’t in immense pain. He took this time now to figure out where he was. Looking around, he saw that the walls, and even the bed he was laying on, were made of clouds. He must have been in Cloudsdale, and more specifically, the home of Rainbow Dash. He just knew it was her place from all the posters of the Wonderbolts hanging up.

Eagle then looked down to the rest of his body. His chest had about three large cuts through it, and two small holes where he had been shot. He tried to get a better look by moving his head, but it just brought him even more pain. He tried to move his wings, but his right wing was still in pain from the strike of the Master. That same strike left Eagle Eye without his wing blades. But, aside from the major injuries, all Eagle really had on him were a lot of cuts and bruises. His eyes were no doubt still black from the beating he received from the Captain of the Manehattan Guard. Eagle let his head rest back on the soft pillow and sighed.

“About time you woke up,” a familiar voice said. It came from the doorway. Standing there was Rainbow Dash. Eagle turned his head and gave her a weak smile.

“Hey Dash,” Eagle said. He didn’t know what else to say to her.

“How you feeling?”

“What do you think?” Eagle asked back.

“I could probably get a better idea if you weren’t wearing all your stuff,” Rainbow said. Eagle gave her a confused look, then looked back down to his body. He completely missed the fact that he was still in his robes. His hidden blades had been removed, and his rifle wasn’t on his back, but everything else was still there.

“Oh, hehe, right, Sharp Side’s spell…” Eagle said, looking at Rainbow. “He made it so only I can remove my robes and stuff. It’s so if I’m ever captured, nopony can figure out who I am,” Eagle explained.

“Well it sure makes helping you a lot tougher too.” Using what little strength he had, Eagle lifted his right hoof up and removed his hood and mask. Rainbow Dash then cringed a bit at what she saw.

“Yeah, I know, not pretty,” Eagle said, dropping his hoof back down and letting his mask fall on the floor. Rainbow walked over and sat on the bed next to him.

“I hope you know that I was really worried about you,” Rainbow said, giving him a gentle nudge.

“I am well aware Rainbow, don’t you worry, and I’m sorry. Getting captured by the Manehattan Guard was one thing, but for the MGD Building to be attacked by the Dark Flames as well was just a little too much.” Rainbow let out a sigh and laid herself down next to him in the bed.

“So, how long was I out?” Eagle asked.

“Well… about three days,” Rainbow said, giving him a sheepish smile. He let out a heavy exhale and looked to the ceiling.

“Damn…” was all he could say. “Was there anything you could do to help me?”

“Not much. I tried to heal up your chest, but I couldn’t do much with your robes on. Your face was untouchable too with your mask on. I was able to stop any bleeding you may have suffered, but as far as healing your visible injuries, there wasn’t much to be done.” Eagle nodded and looked to her.

“Hey, at least you tried, and that’s what matters. Thanks Dash,” he said. She leaned in and softly kissed him.

“Just don’t scare me like that again, okay?”

“Not so sure about that, but I can most certainly try,” he said, putting on a smile for her. She giggled and kissed him again.

“Now, how about we try to get this stuff off of you so we can see how bad you are?” Rainbow asked.

“Sure, just give me a minute,” Eagle said, slowly sitting up. Doing so made him start to breathe a bit more heavily, but it wasn’t too serious. Using what strength he had, he started to undo any straps on him. Getting off the main part of the robes was easy, but the under parts were a bit more tricky. They had to be taken off over Eagle’s head, which hurt him a bit. But, after a few minutes, Eagle and Rainbow managed to get off all of his gear.

Taking a look at how bad Eagle really was, Rainbow let out a soft gasp. The cuts on Eagle’s chest were much bigger than he believed, his torso was badly bruised, and his face seemed to look even worse now.

“Why do you have to put yourself in danger like this?” Rainbow asked.

“Like you’ve never put yourself in danger,” Eagle responded. Rainbow let out a huff and walked out of the room. She returned shortly after with a health kit. She opened it and pulled out some of the gauze. She firstly bandaged up Eagle’s wing. She then pulled out some bandages and antibiotic ointment.

“This might sting a bit,” she said. She started to spread the ointment on Eagle’s chest. He immediately cringed and let out a loud groan. Once the painful part was over, Rainbow put a few bandages over the cuts, then finished by wrapping gauze around his chest.

With the worst behind him, he helped Rainbow finish patching him up, placing bandages over his multiple cuts and scars. She gave him an icepack for his eyes, which he held in place for about ten minutes before it became a bit too much to hold, at least with the amount of strength he had in him. Rainbow held it in place for him. Doing so, however, brought her eyes to meet with his. He looked right into her eyes and smiled.

“Hey, um, can you change your eyes back?” Rainbow asked. Eagle let out a soft chuckle, closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, they were blue again.

“Better?” he asked.

“Much,” she responded, bringing him into a passionate kiss. Eagle broke the kiss and looked out the window. He took a moment to breathe and think.

“Look Dash, I know we haven’t been seeing each other a lot as of late, but I gotta get going,” Eagle said, trying to get up. He was quickly pushed back down onto the bed by Rainbow.

“You aren’t going anywhere mister. Not only have we not been seeing each other, but you’re way to hurt to not only go back to Manehattan, but to go out in public,” Rainbow responded. “You’re staying here with me until you’re better.” Eagle gave her a deadpanned look and just blinked.

“But…”

“Not buts, Eagle. You’re staying with me until you’re fully healed, or at least don’t look like road kill,” Rainbow said, giggling at her own joke. Eagle let out a defeated sigh, but then perked up a bit.

“Maybe I could use a break. I mean, I have been risking my neck for Manehattan for a while now after all. I deserve some time off,” Eagle said.

“There you go. So what do you say we go have something to eat?” Rainbow asked.

“Please tell me you’re not cooking.” She gave him a little shove as he began to laugh.

“No, I’m not cooking. I had some leftover pizza from yesterday, so I figured we could eat that,” Rainbow said, standing up from her bed.

“Well that all depends on the time.”

“Why?”

“Because, I don’t want pizza for breakfast,” Eagle said, letting out a short chuckle.

“If you couldn’t tell by looking out the window, it’s the nighttime. If you looked at the clock, you’d know that it’s seven pm.” Eagle looked back out the window, now realizing that the stars were out.

“Man I am really not doing good right now,” he said, letting his head fall back onto the pillow. Rainbow giggled again and started to walk out the door. Eagle lifted his head back up and stopped her.

“What, you’re not going to help me?” he asked her. She let out a sigh and walked back.

“You’re so lazy,” she said, helping him off the bed.

“Only sometimes,” Eagle said. They both laughed as they headed out of Rainbow’s room and to the kitchen.

Rainbow already had the pizza box on the table. Eagle opened the box to find three slices left. They weren’t warm, but they weren’t extremely cold, so they didn’t need to be heated. Rainbow helped him to sit down and then sat across from him. They both took one slice each and started to eat.

“Even a little cold, pizza is still good,” Eagle said, swallowing his first bite.

“Duh,” Rainbow said. As they continued to eat, Eagle found himself getting lost in the sight of Rainbow Dash. She seemed to be unaware of his gaze. He hadn’t seen her in a while, especially like this. He hadn’t been able to get a good look at her. Doing so now helped him realize what he already knew. She was awesome.

“Looking for something?” she asked, catching his gaze. Eagle shook his head and broke his stare. He looked at her, and she looked back with a smile.

“Eh, no, it’s just I haven’t seen you in a while. You look great, as usual.” Rainbow simply rolled her eyes and took another bite of her pizza. “What?” Eagle asked, chuckling after.

“You’re so stupid sometimes,” Rainbow said.

“Yeah, but I’m your stupid.”

“You do realize that doesn’t make any sense?”

“So does your face!” Eagle started to laugh, while Rainbow got up from her seat, walked over to him, and gave him a light smack on the head.

“Stop talking please,” Rainbow said, giggling.

“Nah, I know how much you like it,” Eagle responded, laughing and finishing his pizza.

“Not as much as I like this…” Rainbow brought Eagle into another passionate kiss. That kiss turned into a lip lock for dominance. They both started to push against each, moving their tongues into each other’s mouths. Eagle managed to bring one hoof behind Rainbow and held her close. Rainbow did the same, but she soon started to run her hoof through his red, lion-like mane. They broke the kiss and started to pant a bit.

“I see you haven’t gotten any worse at that,” Eagle said with a smile.

“That’s not the only thing…” Rainbow gave him a seductive smile, but Eagle quickly caught on to what she was getting at.

“Oh no, Dash, you said it yourself. I am hurt, and am in no condition to… you know,” Eagle said, pushing her away a bit.

“Don’t be a baby,” she said, moving back towards him.

“You want this blood all over you?” With that, Rainbow looked at his chest and backed away. “That’s what I thought.”

“Yeah, yeah, just try to make yourself heal quicker,” Rainbow said, almost in a complaining type of tone.

“Yeah, because I totally have Unicorn powers,” Eagle joked. Rainbow simply gave him a shove and sat back in her seat. She quickly finished her first slice then looked to the remaining one. Eagle did the same. They then looked at each other.

“Split it?” Eagle asked.

“You wish,” Rainbow said, grabbing the slice and taking a bite. Eagle watched her eat up that slice of pizza, until she had two bites left. “Just for you, you get one bite.” Rainbow held the slice in front of Eagle, but as he went to take a bite, she pulled it back.

“Seriously?” The only response Eagle got was Rainbow taking another bite and walking over to him. Eagle soon found himself once again locking lips with Rainbow Dash. After a moment, he felt something go into his mouth, but it wasn’t her tongue. Breaking the kiss, Eagle started to chew.

“Well?” Rainbow asked.

“That was both clever and delicious, thank you,” he said, giving her a smile and a chuckle. She finished the slice and then sat back down.

“You’re welcome,” Rainbow finally said. “So, now that we’re done with our sexual antics for the day, you wanna tell me what the hay happened at the MGD Building?” Rainbow asked. Eagle’s smile immediately faded and turned into a defeated look. He looked away from her and just thought.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“No, no, it’s fine, I’m just trying to think where to start,” Eagle said, interrupting her. He let out an exhale and started to speak.

“Well, I guess I should start with how I got captured…” Eagle went on to tell Rainbow Dash of how he had stopped the High Roller gang in Manehattan. After that, he was tailed and captured by the Manehattan Guard. He told her of his beating from the Captain of the Guard and how he thought that the Assassin was nothing but a criminal and a vigilante. Then came the attack. Eagle told Rainbow of how he had to get through the station and get his gear. He told her of his taxing fight with Ice Storm, and then the fight with the Master.

“Here’s the part that may surprise you…”

“Oh yeah, like the rest wasn’t surprising, just tell me,” Rainbow responded.

“As I was fighting the Master, I managed to remove a chunk of his armor that was protecting his lower torso and flank. But, as I stabbed him with my blade, I noticed his cutie mark. It was the same one as my father’s.” Rainbow looked at Eagle with a shocked expression.

“You don’t think…”

“I don’t know Dash. I’m hoping that what I saw wasn’t true, and that I was just imagining it, or maybe it just looked like my father’s cutie mark. I’ll just have to piece it all together when I get home.” Eagle rubbed his eyes and lowered his head.

“Well, whether or not it was your father, at least you have a lead for finding the Master,” Rainbow said, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

“I guess so…” Eagle had no idea what to think of it. He didn’t want it to be true, but the overlying facts made it so difficult for it not to be. “Well, I guess that’s all there is to tell. After that point, the Master nearly killed me, but more of the Guards were coming, so he retreated. I flew out of the city and came here.” With his story finished, Rainbow nodded and stood up.

“Well, seeing as though it’s getting late, you wanna hit the hay?” she asked.

“Sure, that sounds nice.” Rainbow smiled and led Eagle Eye back to her room. The two got into the bed and snuggled up together.

“I love you Eagle Eye. Don’t leave me,” Rainbow said.

“I love you too Rainbow Dash, and I promise, I will never leave you.” With those last few words, the two fell asleep.

Eagle found himself alone, in the ruins of the East District of Manehattan. He looked around, confused as to how he got there. It all felt so real to him, yet at the same time, he still felt as though he were in a dream. He looked at his body to see that he was still scarred and beaten, but he felt fine. Everything just seemed so strange.

Suddenly, a path lit up in front of Eagle Eye. It trailed through the ruinous streets of the East District. Eagle saw this light trail through a path filled with destroyed buildings, broken glass, rusty bars, and most importantly, the bodies of dead ponies. Eagle took a large gulp and slowly began to walk through the city.

Eagle hopped over any large pieces of debris, making sure not to hurt himself. While he felt fine, he knew getting hurt wouldn’t do him any good. He made sure to steer clear of any rusty pieces of metal, and not to step on any of the sharp shards of broken glass. But, the hardest thing to avoid was almost the easiest. It was all the dead ponies. Staying away from them was simple, but Eagle just couldn’t keep his eyes off of the bodies. There were so many of them that it just tore away at him.

Eagle started to get the feeling as though he were being watched. He kept avoiding any dangerous things in the environment, but what started to happen was terrifying. The heads of the dead ponies all started to turn to Eagle Eye. Their eyes opened to reveal bright, glowing red eyes. They were all staring him down with hellish looks that would scare a foal to death, literally. Eagle could even feel himself shaking at the glares.

“The Assassin is just a vigilante,” one mare spoke.

“He doesn’t care about us,” said one stallion.

“He wasn’t there to save us.”

“He let us all die at the hooves of the Dark Flames of Heaven.”

“Where were you then Assassin?”

“Why did you let us all die?”

The taunts and cries from all these dead ponies ate away at Eagle Eye, and they all seemed very familiar. He had heard very similar words such as these from the visions of his mother and sister. But now, he was hearing everything on a different level. These voices couldn’t even belong to a pony. They were demonic and cryptic, and they sent chills down not just Eagle’s spine, but his whole body as well.

But, even with all of these voices calling to him, and dead ponies staring at him, Eagle kept walking through the destroyed city. But, he started to hear something from behind him. He turned to see an average sized building was now standing tall behind him. It was completely intact, with not a scratch on it. It was so out of place in this environment, so why was it there? Eagle’s answer came when it started to tip over. Eagle was quick to react, as he took off in the opposite direction. The ominous sound of the tall building toppling over kept getting closer and closer, until it finally hit the ground. Eagle was sent flying through the streets of the city, landing with a painful thud on the hard ground.

Eagle shook his head and stood up, coughing through the dust that had formed from the crashing of the building. When the dust cleared, Eagle looked himself over, finding that he was now covered in dirt and shards of glass. What came next though nearly paralyzed him. The bodies of the dead ponies started to rise up from the ruins of the building. They all looked at him with their demonic red eyes. In a split second, they all jumped towards Eagle. Before he could even try to stop them, he put his hooves in front of his face to protect himself. When nothing seemed to happen, Eagle lowered his hooves.

Eagle suddenly found himself in a dark, dry field. He looked around, seeing nothing but dry, tan pieces of grass. Every piece felt weird under his hooves. There were no remnants of the destroyed East District in sight, and now Eagle was confused beyond belief. He shook his head and decided to start walking through the field. He could feel every piece of grass starting to break under the weight of his hooves. He just kept walking, until two tombstones came in his path. The names read Sky Dove and Ruby.

“Celestia no,” Eagle said, slowing down his pace. He stopped in front of the tombstones, and got a closer look at the horrid writings on them.

Sky Dove’s tombstone read, “You killed us,” while Ruby’s read, “Why didn’t you save us?” Eagle started to hyperventilate, and he wanted to back away, but he just couldn’t. He felt an invisible force stopping him from moving. Suddenly, he saw the torn, beaten bodies of his mother and sister rise up from the ground. They were just as beaten and charred as the previous bodies he had seen, but their eyes were even more piercing and demonic than the others. They shot straight through Eagle, and he was now truly paralyzed by their glares.

“You’re the worst brother ever!” Ruby shouted at him.

“You are not my son!” Sky Dove shouted as well.

Eagle wanted to move away so badly, but he couldn’t. He stood there as these two demonic beings kept walking towards him.

“You are weak, Assassin!” a voice called from behind. Eagle turned to see the Master of the Dark Flames of Heaven. His eyes were no longer the shade of purple that Eagle remembered, but the shade of red he had been seeing throughout this nightmare. But, when the Master removed his helmet, he revealed himself as Fire Streak. Eagle could literally feel his heart both drop and break all in the same moment. But, while still heartbroken, he was also petrified at what he was seeing. While his father wasn’t as demonic and beaten as the others, he was still just as terrifying, maybe even more so.

“No…” Eagle said.

“You are pathetic and weak. You are no son of mine. I tried to convince you, but you denied my offer to become one of us! Now die, like your mother and sister!” Fire Streak shouted. The two mares pounced on Eagle from behind. Eagle tried to get them off, but suddenly, charred hooves started to reach out of the ground and grab onto him. He struggled to get free, but to no avail. With his mother and sister pressing him into the ground, the hooves that were coming from the ground started to drag Eagle Eye into the dirt.

“No, let me go!” Eagle shouted, still trying to struggle. But he couldn’t break free. It was useless. Just before he was fully buried, he looked back to his armor clad father, only to see him laughing.

“Goodbye, “son”,” Fire Streak said, putting a demonic touch on the word son. Everything suddenly went black. With his last breath, Eagle shouted out.

“NOOOO!”

“NOOOO!” Eagle shouted again, shooting up in the bed. He was hyperventilating beyond belief, and started to feel around his body with his hooves. He was shaking uncontrollably and letting out short, uneven panting noises. Rainbow Dash woke up next to him.

“Eagle, what’s wrong?!” she asked, sitting up and holding him. She tried to look into his eyes, but he was shaking too much for her to do so.

“Th-They... th-the ponies… M-Mom… R-Ruby…” Eagle said, now rocking himself back and forth. He started to whimper like a colt. Rainbow held him close in her arms and started to rub his mane.

“Hey, don’t worry, it was just a dream. Focus on me,” she said, trying to comfort him. He looked her dead in the eyes.

“This w-wasn’t… a-a dream…” He started to cry and let his head fall into Rainbow’s chest. She ran her hoof through his mane, still trying to comfort him.

“I’m here for you Eagle. Just let it out.” Eagle did just that and continued to cry. Never before in his life had Eagle been as scared as he was then and there. What he had just been through was the most terrifying thing he had ever been put through. The two Pegasi didn’t fall asleep again for another two hours. Rainbow held Eagle close the entire time, while Eagle simply cried. This was one nightmare he would not soon forget.

Author's Notes:

This has got to be the most demonic, darkest thing I have ever written. I literally went from a semi-happy tone, to full on cryptic. I seriously hope you guys enjoyed Eagle's little nightmare, because I certainly enjoyed writing it, as weird as that may sound.

Chapter 13: Being with the One You Love

Eagle awoke the next day, still shivering slightly in Rainbow Dash’s grasp. The two had been cuddling the whole night after Eagle’s nightmare. He could only lie there on the soft, cloud bed and see those haunting images again. Those ponies reaching out for him. The destroyed city. His mother and sister. And worst of all, his father, wearing the armor of the Master.

‘It was just a dream Eagle… a really, really, really, realistic and scary dream,’ Eagle told himself. He slowly freed himself from Rainbow and sat up in the bed. He wiped his face off to get what remaining sweat was there. He then let out a heavy sigh, loud enough to stir the Pegasus next to him. Rainbow let out a cute little yawn before opening her eyes.

“Morning Eagle,” she said. He turned to her.

“Morning Dash,” he replied, lying back down and kissing her on the lips.

“Sleep any better?” Rainbow asked him. Eagle simply shook his head. “Well, you shouldn’t have to worry about it. It was just a dream, right?” Eagle could only nod at her optimism towards the situation.

“It was just so real,” Eagle said, letting out another sigh.

“I know, but it was just a dream. I’m real, so focus on me.” Eagle did just that. He stared into her beautiful, crimson eyes. She stared right back into his dark blue eyes. Before Eagle could say anything to her, she brought her lips to his for a passionate kiss. Eagle could feel himself getting into it, slowly sliding his tongue into her mouth. Rainbow let him continue, starting to wrestle his tongue with her own. She let out a few stifled moans before they broke the kiss. Eagle started to smile.

“Alright, I think I’ve got a firm grasp on what’s real again,” he said, giving her another short kiss.

“Good, cause I don’t want a crazy, psychopathic coltfriend,” Rainbow teased.

“Hey, at least I’m not egotistical,” Eagle joked back. She gave him a shove as the two started to laugh.

“Well, I guess we should get up now. I can make us something for breakfast if you want, or we can head down to Ponyville and get something at Sugarcube Corner,” Rainbow said, sitting up in bed over Eagle. He thought for a moment on what to do.

“Well, knowing how much you suck at cooking and baking and what not, I think we’ll be heading down to Sugarcube Corner,” Eagle joked.

“Hey, I’m not that bad.”

“I’ve seen you cook, and you most certainly are that bad.” Rainbow mustered up enough strength to shove the stallion out of the bed and onto the floor. She soon found herself rolling on the bed in laughter.

“Oh yeah, let’s see how funny you think this is!” Eagle said, getting back onto the bed. He got on top of Rainbow and started to tickle her.

“Haha! Stop it! You know I’m ticklish!”

“I know no such thing.” Eagle continued to tickle the cyan blue mare as she continued to laugh hysterically. Slowing down, Eagle started to peck at Rainbow’s neck. She couldn’t help but let out short, yet very sexy moans.

“Mmm, Eagle, stop it, it’s too early to do this,” Rainbow said, holding his head.

“Hey, I’m just kissing you.”

“Yeah, but you’re doing too good of a job.” Eagle decided to stop. He got off of Rainbow and sat beside her. “Anyway, if you want to head out for Sugarcube Corner, we should go now. Pinkie’s not as energetic in the morning,” Rainbow said.

“Well, when I met her, she presented herself as the kind of pony that is energetic all the time,” Eagle said.

“Well, she kind of is. She’s energetic in the morning, just not so much as during the day.” Eagle nodded and got out of bed. He gave his back and wings a stretch and then gave his neck a few loud cracks.

“Well that didn’t sound good,” he said, letting out a chuckle. He tried to walk forward, but found himself on the floor on his front knees. Rainbow rushed to his side and picked him up.

“Hey, hey, slow it down. You’re still in no condition to be moving so fast,” Rainbow said, leading him out into the hallway.

“I’m fine, honestly,” Eagle insisted, yet he kept walking with a limp.

“Yeah right, you got three huge cuts across your chest and two gunshot wounds, not to mention your injured wing. I don’t want you to go pushing it,” Rainbow said.

“Oh, so I can’t push it, but whenever you got yourself hurt, you were allowed to push it?” Eagle asked jokingly.

“Those injuries weren’t this bad you knucklehead,” Rainbow joked back.

“Whatever, I’m just hungry. Let’s go get some food,” Eagle said, as they made their way out the door and into Cloudsdale. The sky city was beautiful in the morning. Even at this hour, there were ponies flying all over the place. Eagle rarely ever saw this many Pegasi in one place at one time. Living in the city, he would see Pegasi, but they weren’t always flying. And aside from that, most of the ponies he saw were Unicorns.

“Man, I really wish I had a place up here. Almost like a vacation home,” Eagle said.

“Well, consider my place your vacation home in Cloudsdale then,” Rainbow said, nudging him a bit. He smiled and gave her a kiss. They started to slowly fly down to Ponyville.

“Man, you better heal up quick Eagle, cause I can’t fly this slow all the time,” Rainbow said. Her tone sounded a bit annoyed, but Eagle could understand that she hated flying at this pace.

“Well maybe if somepony let go of me and just let me fly, we wouldn’t be going this slow,” Eagle joked.

“Yeah, I could let go of you, but then you’d fall to the ground,” Rainbow responded. Eagle simply rolled his eyes as the two continued to descend to Ponyville. Upon landing on the ground, they were almost immediately greeted by Pinkie Pie.

“Hey you two! Wow, I haven’t seen you in a while Eagle Eye! How’ve you been? Where you been? How are things with Rainbow? Why do you look like you’re about to die? Oh, oh, let me guess! You… got in a bar fight… got mugged by bandits… oh, oh, you were captured by the Manehattan Guard because it turns out you’re the Assassin, but those big bad Dark Flames of Heaven attacked the station and you fought the First Lieutenant and the Master of the organization?!?!?!”

The jaws of both Eagle Eye and Rainbow Dash flew open.

“Um… no,” Eagle said dumbfoundedly.

“Oh, okay, just making sure. Anyway, you two look hungry. I’ll take you to Sugarcube Corner,” the pink pony said, bouncing on her way to the sweet eatery. Eagle and Rainbow looked at each other with the same, stupid expression.

“You don’t think…” Eagle started.

“No, of course not. It’s just Pinkie being Pinkie,” Rainbow replied. “And besides, if she did know, she wouldn’t tell. While you might not think so, Pinkie is really good at keeping secrets.” Eagle simply shrugged as he and Rainbow started to follow Pinkie Pie.

Arriving at Sugarcube Corner, Rainbow and Eagle took their seats at one of the tables inside. Eagle rested his back against the chair, while Rainbow started to casually sip at the chocolate milk that Pinkie had brought out for them. Pinkie was trying to make everything romantic, so she brought out one big glass with two straws in the cup for the two Pegasi to share.

“I’ll be right back out with your food,” Pinkie said, going into the kitchen.

“But, we didn’t order anything yet,” Eagle said, but Pinkie was already in the kitchen, baking away at the breakfast.

“Don’t worry, whatever Pinkie makes, it’ll be good. Trust me,” Rainbow said. Eagle shrugged, sat up, and took a sip of the chocolate milk. The taste was so relaxing for him. With everything he was going through, the taste of simple chocolate milk seemed to really soothe Eagle Eye. Rainbow took a sip at the same time, all the while looking into his eyes. He couldn’t help but look back at her.

“This is kind of romantic, isn’t it?” Eagle asked.

“Hehe, yeah, I guess it is,” Rainbow said, reaching across and giving Eagle a kiss.

“You know, Sharp Side is probably really worried about me.”

“Well, he’ll just have to wait, because until you’re fully healed, I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Eagle rolled his eyes and continued to sip away at the drink. A moment later, Pinkie Pie walked out with two trays of apple waffles.

“Damn, those look good,” Eagle said, salivating a little bit.

“That’s because they are good, numbnuts,” Rainbow joked. Eagle gave her a less than amused smile, then looked back to Pinkie.

“Can we eat now, I’m hungry?” Eagle asked.

“Sure, here you go,” Pinkie said, placing the trays on the table. “I’ll leave you two to your romantic breakfast,” Pinkie said, hopping away.

“Uh, it’s not exactly romantic…” Eagle said, but Pinkie was gone.

“And why not?” Rainbow asked.

“Eh, I dunno. Let’s just eat, huh?” Rainbow simply smiled and started to eat. Eagle took a bite out of one of his waffles, and he immediately felt his taste buds being overrun with flavor.

“Damn, these are good!” he said, more than willing to gobble down the first waffle. Rainbow chuckled and continued to eat.

“It’s almost like the first time I tried pizza up in Cloudsdale,” Rainbow said, giggling a bit.

“Yeah, except you couldn’t gobble the pizza down cause it was too hot,” Eagle joked. Rainbow gave him a little shove as she continued to eat. Within a few minutes, both Eagle and Rainbow were finished eating. They both let out little burps, laughing a bit afterwards.

“Wow that was good,” Eagle said, sitting back in his chair.

“Yeah, one of Pinkie’s best batches by far,” Rainbow added, taking the last sip of the chocolate milk. “Anyway, you wanna get going?”

“Shouldn’t we pay first?”

“Nah, Pinkie gives her friends special discounts, which basically means free food. At least, she does when she doesn’t get in trouble for it. Which means, we should scoot now before the Cakes figure out.”

“Who?” Eagle asked.

“The owners of the place,” Rainbow said, standing up. “Pinkie, we’re going now!” she called back to the kitchen.

“Gotcha,” Pinkie said, walking out and quickly grabbing the trays and dishes. She sped back into the kitchen and started to clean everything off. Eagle looked at Rainbow with another dumbfounded look.

“That is one weird mare,” Eagle joked. Rainbow giggled a bit as she led Eagle back out into Ponyville.

Eagle just had to take a long breath of the fresh air. He had been living in the heavily industrial city for so long, he practically forgot what fresh air smelt and tasted like. He started to look around to see all the ponies of Ponyville just going about their business. Some ponies were at the market, little fillies and colts were playing about the streets, other ponies were tending gardens, and there were a few Pegasi flying around and racing. There was so much life to this town, life that Eagle rarely saw in the city.

“What’s up?” Rainbow asked, taking notice of Eagle scanning the town.

“Nothing. It’s just that this town is so lively, and so early too. I don’t really see a lot of things like this in the city. Most of the time, ponies are just trying to get to work, or are in some hurry or another. This place has a different feeling to it, and I love it.” Rainbow let out a little giggle, making Eagle turn to her with a confused look.

“What?” he asked.

“That was so sappy,” Rainbow joked, now laughing outright. Eagle gave her a little push and ran off away from her. At least, he tried to run, but the pain he was in stopped him from going very fast. He started to think to himself on making the pain go away. Using a lot of concentration, he did just that. In a few moments, all the pain he was feeling was numbed to a certain degree. Now, Eagle was running off at a much faster speed.

“Yeah, nice try tough guy, but you’re not getting away that easily,” Rainbow called to him, now chasing after him. They passed a few ponies on the streets, but those same ponies didn’t look surprised or frightened by the chase. They looked happy to see it in fact. Two ponies that are in love were having a fun little chase. It wasn’t frowned upon, and it wasn’t thought of as childish or stupid. Well, maybe it was childish, but not in a bad way. Eagle needed to get a place in Ponyville.

Eagle continued to flee from his rainbow-maned marefriend, but Rainbow was quickly gaining some ground on him. Eagle decided to take to the skies, unfurling his wings and taking off the ground. Rainbow did the same almost immediately, and now she was gaining on him even faster than before. Eagle picked up his speed as best he could, but his injured wing wouldn’t allow him to fly very fast. He started to descend to the ground in pain, but Rainbow could care less. Finally catching up to him, Rainbow tackled Eagle to the ground as easily as she could. They tumbled over each other in laughter. When they stopped, they were lying side by side.

“This feels kind of familiar,” Eagle said playfully, still laughing as well.

“Yeah, a little, but still fun,” Rainbow replied. They were now lying together out in a field of green, just on the outskirts of Ponyville. Eagle was aching in pain a bit, but it wasn’t too bad for him. Rainbow decided to sit him up.

“What are you doing?”

“Helping you.” Rainbow sat behind him and started to preen his feathers. Eagle cringed a bit at the sudden pain, but it started to go away as he started to relax a little. Rainbow’s hooves running over his wings felt good to him. Eagle was now fully relaxed and at the mercy of the soothing massage his wings were receiving.

“How’s that?” Rainbow asked.

“Really nice,” Eagle responded. Rainbow turned his head around and kissed him. They broke the kiss and looked into each other’s eyes. And then, they kissed again. And again. And again. And before they knew it, Eagle Eye had forced himself on top of Rainbow Dash. He smiled down to her, and she smiled back up to him. She was giving him a bit of a seductive smile.

“You know, there are better places to rut your mare,” Rainbow joked.

“Very funny, but contrary to your belief, I do not abuse mares.” Rainbow rolled her eyes and pulled Eagle’s head down for another kiss. She reached around his back and continued to play with his wings. She received low groans of pleasure from her coltfriend, so she increased her efforts. The pleasure he was receiving caused Eagle to break the kiss.

“You know, if you keep doing that, I just might be forced to rut you where you lay,” Eagle joked.

“I wouldn’t stop you,” Rainbow joked back, letting out a giggle. Eagle simply shook his head and rolled off onto his side next to Rainbow. She turned on her side as well and stared at him.

“I could stare at you forever, and I don’t think it would ever get old,” Eagle said.

“Right back at ya,” Rainbow replied. They nuzzled each other as Rainbow cuddled up against her stallion. She nuzzled her head perfectly under Eagle’s chin, resting herself in his forelegs. He placed a kiss on her head as he held her against his chest.

“I could fall asleep right here, and I wouldn’t even mind,” Rainbow said. Eagle let out a little chuckle as he kissed her head again.

“Yeah, but you do realize that it’s not even noon yet?” Eagle asked jokingly. Rainbow pushed herself away from Eagle, causing him to roll over.

“Way to kill the mood,” she said playfully, standing up and fluttering her wings. “Anyway, wanna head to the lake for a while for a swim?”

“You bet.”

Eagle and Rainbow made their way to the lake. Once they arrived, Eagle took notice of a lounge chair that was already in place, and two towels that were on the ground next to the chair. He looked over to Rainbow, raising an eyebrow.

“Why does it seem like you planned this?” he asked her.

“I didn’t. I just always keep a chair and a few towels out here. This is my one of my prime hang out spots.” Eagle raised his eyebrow even more. “What?! A mare can’t be prepared?!” Eagle simply started to laugh as he walked over to the water. He dipped his hoof in to find that it wasn’t too cold for him.

“Wanna join me?” he asked Rainbow.

“Nah, I’ll watch you for a bit.” With that, Rainbow walked over to her chair and lounged out, watching her coltfriend take a few steps back. Eagle ran as fast as his body would allow him to. He leaped into the air and landed in the water with a huge splash, managing to soak Rainbow Dash as well. She looked at him as he surfaced from underwater.

“Did you really just do that to get me wet?” she asked him.

“I would be lying if I said no,” Eagle responded. Rainbow started to laugh as she ran into the water after him. Eagle started to splash water in Rainbow’s direction, trying to slow her down. But, it was to no avail, as Rainbow was quickly right next to Eagle. She started to attack him with a torrent of waves and splashes, which Eagle quickly returned. They were both laughing all the while.

Eagle unleashed one powerful splash onto Rainbow, causing her to fall back into the water. Eagle jumped over to her, picked her up, and managed to toss her a few inches away. He then fell back into the water himself, starting now to laugh. Rainbow got back up and rushed him, tackling him into the water. She tried to keep him under, but she was quickly pushed back by Eagle. When she sat back up, the two were just laughing.

“You ever think we act too much like children?” Eagle asked jokingly.

“Nah, I think we’re fine. Besides, we’re love struck ponies that are just trying to show our affections towards each other. What’s wrong with that?” Rainbow asked. Eagle couldn’t help but fall back laughing. “What?!”

“That sounded so stupid!” Rainbow got up and pounced on top of Eagle, still laughing. He pushed her off again and flew to get out of the water. Rainbow followed after him though, once again tackling him to the ground. She rested on top of him as they both continued to laugh.

Once the laughter died down, the two Pegasi were left staring into each other’s eyes once again. But, what caught Eagle Eye’s attention even more so now was Rainbow Dash’s glistening mane and coat. He really would have been lying if he said he didn’t want to get her wet. Rainbow was gorgeous when she was soaked like this, but Eagle hadn’t seen her like this in years. Her mane was dripping from the water, and so was her tail. Her coat seemed to sparkle a little bit in the sunlight, almost giving off a little rainbow itself. She was absolutely beautiful.

Rainbow Dash looked at Eagle Eye in the same way. With his mane as wet as it was, it was simply slapped against his head, but it looked so attractive to her. Even his little chin hairs were wet, sticking to his lower chin. His tail was laid against the ground, soaked just the same as his mane and coat. Even Eagle Eye’s coat seemed to sparkle in the sunlight.

This moment was perfect for the two Pegasi. Their lips met once again in a heavily passionate kiss. Eagle could feel his hooves moving up Rainbow’s body, heading straight to her soaking wings. He started to rub her wet feathers around, managing to get a few sexy moans out of her. Eagle had his wings sprawled out against the ground, so Rainbow took advantage of this and started to play with them as well. The two were now both moaning into each other’s mouths as they kissed and played with each other’s wings. As they broke the kiss, they stopped playing with their wings.

“Man, we really need to stop getting all horny in public, don’t we?” Rainbow asked playfully.

“Technically, we’re not in public. But, I guess you’re right. If we’re gonna do stuff like this, we should do it somewhere more private,” Eagle responded, sitting up with Rainbow in his lap. He reached over and grabbed one of the towels. He wrapped the both of them in the same towel, which was quite large for one pony. Rainbow nuzzled Eagle as she let the towel and his warmth dry her off. Eagle fell back on the ground, letting Rainbow rest on top of him.

“I love you Eagle Eye,” Rainbow said, planting a kiss on his cheek.

“I love you too Rainbow Dash,” Eagle replied, kissing her on the lips. As early as it was, the two decided to take a mid-day nap. They most certainly had earned it.

Eagle awoke from his slumber with Rainbow Dash cuddling with him. The two had now spent one whole week together, and Eagle’s wounds had almost completely healed. He was certainly much better than when he arrived in Ponyville, but he was fully healed just yet. He could now move as well as before though, with his injuries not hindering him in the slightest.

The slight stirring that Eagle had done also managed to wake Rainbow Dash up. The two Pegasi had a… fun night, and Rainbow had slept quite heavily. She woke to the smiling face of Eagle Eye, kissing him on the lips.

“I never knew you could rut like that Eagle,” Rainbow said with a giggle.

“I never knew you could talk dirty like that,” Eagle replied.

“Hey, when you make a mare beg, she’ll say anything to get it.” Eagle couldn’t help but chuckle at that. Their session of love-making was more than eventful. Of course they were safe while doing it, but it was still an eventful night for the two. Even the day before was eventful.

Pinkie Pie had decided to throw a huge party in celebration of Eagle Eye’s and Rainbow Dash’s relationship. All of Rainbow’s friends attended, and Eagle got to know each of them really well. He was particularly interested in how Twilight Sparkle knew Princess Celestia, and was a personal student to the Princess. Eagle had already met Rarity in the city that one day, and he knew Fluttershy from way back. Applejack seemed like a truly hard working pony at heart, and Eagle knew just by listening to her tell her stories that she was a family mare. Rainbow Dash certainly did have a wide array of friends.

Sitting up and wiping his eyes off, Eagle gave his neck a few cracks before looking down to his marefriend. He let out a sigh.

“What?” she asked him.

“Well, I figure since I’m feeling a lot better now, I think I should head back to Manehattan. Sharp Side has got to be worried about me, and who’s to say what my father will say when I arrive home like this. I don’t want to leave you, but I think it’s time I get going.” Rainbow gave him a little frown.

“Are you sure. With everything that we did this week, I would think that you would want to stay a little longer. I mean, come on, just last night we made love like we never have before, and you just want to leave?” Rainbow asked, now sounding a little aggravated.

“Dash, come on. You know I have other responsibilities now to handle. I can’t just stay with your like this forever, at least not until my work is finished. With the attack that just happened, I feel like I should get back to being the Assassin, and tracking down the Dark Flames of Heaven.” Rainbow gave him a frustrated look.

“You don’t have to be such a bummer about it,” she said, turning on her side away from him. Eagle let out a sigh and pulled her back over.

“Hey, you know I love you, and that I would never leave you like I did all those years ago. I will never leave you again. I just want to get back to hunting them down. I’m close to ending it all, I can feel it. Hell, the Master could very well be the stallion that’s living with me in my own home. I just need to get solid proof. And then, once I’m done, I’ll come live with you. We can be together, forever.” Eagle’s words seemed to soothe Rainbow Dash into a sense of calmness. She gave him a nod and a smile.

“Alright. I guess you have a big job to do. Just… don’t stay gone for too long, okay?” Rainbow said. Eagle kissed her on the cheek. “And you can expect me to be visiting you a lot in the city now, cause I’m just gonna take a wild guess and say that you won’t be coming here a lot.” Eagle smiled and gave her a kiss on the lips.

“Who knows, maybe my work will bring me to Ponyville at some point. I actually had a mission that sent me to Fillydelphia at one point,” Eagle said.

“Really? How’d that turn out?” Rainbow asked.

“Well… fun, to say the least.” Rainbow giggled and gave Eagle one last kiss. “Alright, I guess I’ll get going now while it’s early. Hopefully, Sharp Side is awake and at his computer or workbench right now,” Eagle said, getting out of the bed and stretching his limbs. Rainbow got up as well and went to gather Eagle Eye’s gear and equipment. She helped Eagle put on his robes and strap on the rest of his gear. Before Eagle flipped up his hood and put on his mask, he looked into Rainbow’s eyes one more time.

“You have the most beautiful eyes, you know that?” Eagle asked. Rainbow could feel a slight blush coming on.

“Just go already, would ya,” she said playfully. Eagle pulled her in and gave her a long, passionate kiss on the lips. As they broke the kiss, Eagle smiled to her. He put on his mask and clicked it so that it unfolded to cover up his mane.

“That is so cool,” Rainbow said. Eagle Eye smiled and nodded his head.

“I know. All of this is really thanks to Sharp Side. But, anyway, I guess I’ll get going then,” Eagle said. Rainbow flipped up his hood for him.

“I love you,” she said.

“I love you too. I’ll see you soon,” Eagle replied, as he headed for the window. Rainbow watched as he stepped up onto the windowsill. He looked back to her and winked his right eye. She smiled to him as he jumped out and flew off for Manehattan.

Author's Notes:

Wow, and it only took me so long to get this out. Hooray for my laziness! But, anyway, I don't view this chapter as a filler chapter. I view it as a chapter that really helps emphasize the relationship between Eagle Eye and Rainbow Dash. I didn't write this for the sexual stuff, or just because I had nothing else to write. I wrote this to show how important these two are to each other. Basically, it was all in the name of love.

Oh, and it is because of this chapter that I will be adding a sex tag to the story. I really wasn't intending to have all the sexual stuff, but from what I did write, I realize that it would be useful to put the tag on the story. That, plus, a few times earlier in the story, they did sexual things.

Chapter 14: Realization

Sharp Side sat at his workbench patiently. He had been trying to connect with Eagle Eye for hours, but nothing seemed to be working. He knew for sure that Eagle had to be hurt. Sharp Side wasn’t even sure though if Eagle had survived the attack on the MGD Station. The attack was all over the news. Lives had been lost, blood had been shed, and the building that housed the protectors of the city was partially in ruin. Surprisingly, the building managed to survive the brutal onslaught of the Dark Flames of Heaven, but it didn’t stop the loss of life.

Sharp Side heard a quite knock on the back door to his garage. He immediately looked to the door in surprise. He got up and walked over to the door. Upon opening it, he was greeted by a battered Eagle Eye. Eagle had been much worse though, so Sharp Side had no idea of the true extent of Eagle’s injuries.

“Eagle!” Sharp Side said in surprise. He was about to wrap his best friend in a bear hug, but he remembered how bad of a shape Eagle was in, so he refrained himself from doing so.

“Hey Sharpy,” Eagle greeted. Eagle walked past his friend and sat down on one of the chairs in the garage. Sharp Side looked to his friend with a surprised expression.

“What the hell is that? “Hey Sharpy?” You almost die, you’re gone for a whole week, and you come back looking like this, and all you can say to me is “Hey Sharpy”?” Sharp Side asked, his tone bursting with annoyance.

“Well… yeah,” Eagle answered simply. Sharp Side shook his head.

“Shit. Talk about abrupt.”

“Hey I’m sorry, okay. I’ve had a few near-death-experiences as of late, so as you can probably imagine, I’m not in the greatest of moods. Although, the one week I spent with Rainbow Dash sure did help.”

“So that’s where you were!” Sharp Side said in relief. “I thought you were starving out in the Everfree Forest or something.”

“No, no, nothing like that. I flew straight to Ponyville when the Dark Flames began to retreat from the MGD Building. Everything was chaos in there. And… I think my father might be the Master of the Dark Flames.” Those last words left Sharp Side speechless. The two stallions stared into each other’s eyes, Sharp Side with a look of disbelief, and Eagle with a look of sorrow.

“That… that can’t be true.”

“I knocked off a piece of the Master’s armor, and revealed his cutie mark. It was the same as my father’s. I’m not sure if what I saw was real, but as far as I’m concerned, the Master of those bucking terrorists is the same stallion that lives in my own home.” Sharp Side still couldn’t say much on the subject. How could Eagle’s father be the leader of the Dark Flames of Heaven?

“Well… I won’t second guess your judgment, albeit a little questionable at the moment. But, I believe you. It would have been a lot easier to do so though if I could have seen what you were doing during the attack,” Sharp Side said.

“Yeah. I don’t know why the camera and mic weren’t working. I tried to get you on the line a few times, but nothing happened.”

“The MGD is surrounded by spells that block out unwanted communications. That would include our communications. I tried getting past the spells, but nothing worked,” Sharp Side explained.

“Well, that makes sense… wait, how do you know that?” Eagle asked.

“My brother is in the MGD, remember? It thought I told you that.”

“Hmm, maybe you did. Man, I haven’t talked to him in a while. Where’s he been?” Eagle asked.

“He’s been away in Baltimare working with the forces there for two years now. He was slated to be there for only a few months, but the training got more rigorous, and he got into it all a lot. So, he opted to stay,” Sharp Side informed.

“Hmm. Well, alright then. But, I guess we should get back to business,” Eagle said.

“Right. So, if you really think your father is the Master, why don’t you just end all of this tonight. So far, you father hasn’t suspected a thing about you being the Assassin. He’d never think that he would be targeted like this. He believes that he’s been safe from being discovered, but we’ve discovered him now.”

“True, and now that I’m thinking on it, every time my father went away on a “business trip”, an attack by the Dark Flames would happen. Those trips were probably just him going on missions with his shite terrorist group.” Sharp Side nodded in agreement.

“That really does make sense doesn’t it? Even during the attack on Manehattan that one night, he wasn’t here for it. He was away.” Sharp Side was about to continue, but he suddenly realized something. And Eagle realized it too.

“If he’s the Master,” Eagle started. He looked at Sharp Side, his eyes starting to tear up a bit. “That makes him responsible for the deaths of my mother and sister.” Sharp Side’s eyes were also starting to tear up a bit.

“Eagle, I think we both know what needs to be done.” Eagle didn’t want to admit it, but he knew it to be true. He had to kill his father.

“I’ll do it. I’ll stay here until tonight. I’ll head home… and I’ll kill him… tonight. But, wait, is my father even home?” Eagle asked.

“He is, actually. He came over before and asked if I had seen you. I was witty enough to say you were in Ponyville with Rainbow Dash. He just thanked me and went on his way. I guess that wasn’t a lie after all,” Sharp Side said, letting out a little chuckle.

“Yeah… I guess it’s settled then,” Eagle stated simply.

“Yep,” Sharp Side replied. The two decided to lounge back in their chairs and wait for the night to fall.

As the night finally fell upon Manehattan, Eagle sat up in his chair and readied himself. Sharp Side got his computer ready and managed to reconnect with Eagle Eye’s mic set. The two shared an abrupt goodbye as Eagle set off for his home.

Eagle landed on the roof of his home with a soft landing. He didn’t know if his father was asleep or not. If he was, Eagle would have the perfect chance to kill him. Fire Streak was quite the heavy sleeper, and he wouldn’t wake up at the sound of Eagle Eye’s soft, sneaky hoofsteps. Eagle peered in through the window to Fire Streak’s room to find his father fast asleep.

“Perfect,” Sharp Side called to Eagle. “Just sneak in and kill him. It’ll be easy.”

“Yeah… easy.” Eagle slowly opened the window and snuck into the room. He didn’t bother to close it, seeing as though he might need an exit window… literally. Eagle stood up fully above his father. If this stallion truly was the murderer of Eagle’s mother and sister, then he deserved death. Eagle raised his left front hoof, extending his hidden blade.

“You, my own father, took from me what was most precious. They were your own, and you betrayed them. I have no forgiveness. Requiescat in pace father,” Eagle thought to himself, as he readied his blade for the plunge. But, staring down at the stallion, Eagle realized something.

This wasn’t right. He couldn’t do it.

Eagle slowly lowered his hidden blade and re-sheathed. He let a tear roll down his face and turned around to the window.

“Eagle! What are you doing?!” Sharp Side called to his friend. Eagle didn’t respond. He simply jumped out the window and hovered outside the room. He closed the window and flew off into the city of Manehattan. He needed to be alone. If he was truly going to kill his father, he would need more time to come to terms with it.

“Not yet… father.”

Author's Notes:

I am fully aware that this chapter is a lot shorter than the previous ones, but they can't all be super long. Hey, at least I got a chapter out for this story. This is mostly just a chapter to build up what is to come. I'll just say it right now that the next chapter will take place six months after this point in the story. That's all I got for now. GO NUTS!

Chapter 15: Steel, Blood, and Fire

An entire six months passed after that night, making it one whole year since the night of the attack on Manehattan by the Dark Flames of Heaven. One whole year since Eagle lost his mother and sister. One whole year since the Dark Flames gave him a reason to truly go after them. And, just about one whole year since the rise of the Assassin. Eagle had truly changed since then.

Eagle hadn’t lost all of the joy in his life. He had Rainbow Dash and Sharp Side, and that was more than enough for him. His relationship with his father, however, was turning into nothing short of a war zone. Every time the two spoke to each other, they argued. Even the simplest things had the two stallions at each other’s throats.

Everything was made worse by the fact that Fire Streak was the Master of the Dark Flames of Heaven. Through more investigation by Eagle Eye and Sharp Side, they confirmed that Fire Streak was in fact the Master. Yet, even with this knowledge, Eagle just couldn’t bring himself to kill his father. He was the only family Eagle had left, even if he was a worthless piece of shit. Eagle told himself that one night that his father’s time hadn’t come yet. Eagle wasn’t ready to kill Fire Streak just yet.

But, nonetheless, Eagle Eye kept up his routine of being the Assassin. And all the while, he kept his relationship with Rainbow Dash alive and healthy. In fact, over the course of six months, their bond had grown much stronger. Eagle would visit Rainbow much more often, and vice versa. Most visits consisted of the two just hanging out, amongst… other, fun activities. They had only been together for about one year, yet they already were considering to truly start a family. And that was even with Eagle being the Assassin. Eagle had promised Rainbow that once everything with the Dark Flames was done, he would stop being the Assassin, and that was a promise he intended to keep to the note.

Along with all of this, Eagle had finally moved out of his home. He couldn’t stand being with his father any longer, so he decided to get his own apartment. He actually managed to get himself the penthouse-esque apartment of a 24 story building. It was once a penthouse, but was now just a rather large apartment. For Eagle, buying the apartment was the hard part. Paying the rent for it was simple. Even though he didn’t have an actual job, the money he looted from his targets was more than enough to pay the rent.

The apartment clearly used to be a penthouse, but had been seriously toned down. It had the feeling of that kind of apartment, and Eagle liked that. It was more than enough space for him. He had asked Rainbow Dash to move in with him, but she was pretty set on staying in Cloudsdale. She wanted to be close with her friends as well, and Eagle understood that. But, he and Sharp Side had actually planned something out for a large chunk of the apartment. Nothing was set in stone just yet, but the idea was definitely a good one, and it could definitely happen in good time.

To add on to all of that, Eagle Eye, or rather the Assassin, had received a number of huge upgrades. For starters, Sharp Side had managed to create an alloy that was as hard as steel, yet it would form around the wearers body. And, the metal was as light as a feather. So, Eagle’s torso was completely covered by this lightweight and durable armor, and it was completely covered by his robes. The only armor that showed was the chest plate. The chest plate was made of the same material, but it had an amazing eagle design on it. What made the armor even cooler was its metallic silver coloring. It was the armor of a true killer.

This armor could also be applied to Eagle’s tail. No longer did he wear the clumsy chainmail. Sharp Side made a set of armor specifically for Eagle’s tail. It really just looked like Eagle had a silver tail. This allowed Eagle to use his tail even more effectively as a weapon, making it light to swing, and a hard hitter.

Eagle’s bracers had also received a similar upgrade. They were made of the same armoring as well, and they also had eagle designs on them. On Eagle’s forelegs, his hookblades would attach to the bracers. His hindlegs also had these bracers, but of course, no blades. Eagle and Sharp had actually considered that, but decided against it.

But, out of all the upgrades, Eagle’s new and improved wing blades were by far the greatest upgrade of them all. Really, you might not even be able to call them wing blades. Sharp Side had managed to create a serum for Eagle to drink. Running just about every test he could, Sharp Side finally made a formula for “built in” wing blades. The serum allowed Eagle’s own wings to become as sharp and sturdy as the strongest blade you could find in Equestria. At first, Eagle thought Sharp Side was joking, but when he drank the serum and figured out it was true, Eagle couldn’t stop thanking Sharp Side.

All Eagle had to do to make turn his wings into blades was to focus a bit of energy on his wings for a moment. With a quick and simple stretch, Eagle’s wings could turn into full-fledged wing blades. The serum caused every feather to attach to the main tendon of Eagle’s wings, and caused those feathers to sharpen up. Even the tendon and bone structures of Eagle’s wings became sharp.

These wing blades had even more mobility than Eagle’s old ones, and these, of course, didn’t at all hinder his mobility. Turning his wings back into normal wings was just as easy as turning them into blades. All Eagle had to do was simply apply another surge of energy to his wings and relax them. It worked to perfection, literally. Sharp Side made sure that the serum wouldn’t have any negative effects on Eagle or his health. Sharp Side tested the serum for one whole month before giving it to Eagle. And when the time came, Eagle was granted with a beautiful new pair of weapons.

But, aside from all of that, from the upgrades to the apartment, and from Eagle’s relationship with Rainbow Dash to his relationship with his father, a lot of shit had changed in six months. And of course, Eagle’s hunt for the Dark Flames’ main operating base was still at large. Even in those six months, Eagle could barely pick up any leads. Anything that came up turned out to be a dead end. Eagle would find a member of the Dark Flames, try to interrogate him, but would never get anything. It was becoming increasingly frustrating.

So, to try to keep their minds off of it, Eagle Eye and Sharp Side kept themselves busy with other missions for Eagle to complete, such as hunting down crime bosses or hostile gangs. Of course, even with all of his heroic deeds, the Manehattan Guard still treated the Assassin like a criminal and a vigilante. It was getting on Eagle’s nerves so much that it almost brought him to killing an officer that tried to pursue him one night. But, Eagle knew that if he did that, the city as a whole would treat him as a criminal. So, he put up with it.

On this particular night, the Assassin had targeted a newly created mare cult, known as the Blood Sisters. They had been around for about two months now, but Eagle and Sharp Side never had the time to deal with them. This little cult, in the time span of only two months, had managed to bloodily murder over 100 ponies, stallion or mare. It didn’t matter to these blood-thirsty murderers. They were just out for blood, literally. Wherever these mares struck, they would leave their mark in blood. The corpses of their victims would be sucked dry of their blood. The authorities didn’t know what to make of it. All they knew was that these mares were addicted to drinking the blood of other ponies.

Eagle Eye and Sharp Side had considered the possibility of vamponies, but they quickly ruled that out on account of how stupid it sounded. Along with that, Eagle managed to kill one of the cult members one night while returning from a mission. Through her, he managed to find out the location of their hideout and who their leader was. She was a mare, like the rest of the Blood Sisters, by the name of True Blood. This mare in particular was rumored to drink nothing but blood, and on occasion, dine of the flesh of other ponies. Just hearing all of this, even if it wasn’t true, sickened Eagle Eye and his brainy friend. It had to be stopped.

Eagle flew through the night sky of Manehattan, en route for the hideout of the Blood Sisters. With all of his new upgrades and gear in toll, and Sharp Side monitoring and backing up him up from the garage, Eagle had every intention to silence these mares. He had never had to deal with a group of murderers that were all mares, but at least it was something to spice up all the killing that Eagle did. He would have shown remorse for what he was going to do if not for the fact of how sickening these mares were. And that’s saying something, considering Eagle Eye’s main focus throughout one entire year was the Dark Flames of Heaven.

Eagle landed atop a rooftop, just about one mile away from the hideout. He gave himself a quick look-over to make sure he had everything he would need. More recently, Sharp Side had upgraded Eagle’s mask to form completely around his neck as well. The mask was hardly a mask anymore, and was becoming more of a very cool helmet. But, for posterity’s sake, they kept it as a mask. Eagle would definitely need this upgrade. Every victim of the Blood Sisters was said to have had their throat slit open. And the gashes were big. Very, very big.

“You ready to put down a group of blood-crazed mares my friend?” Sharp Side asked his friend.

“Damn right. It’ll be interesting to see how these mares fair against me.”

“Are you expecting a challenge?”

“Eh, kind of. But honestly, I’ve put down gangs of nothing but stallions larger than this little cult, and those stallions had guns. These mares seem to use nothing but knives and the like,” Eagle said.

“I know I’ve already asked, but are you sure you’re alright with killing all of these mares. Keep in mind, they are mares, not stallions,” Sharp Side asked.

“Like I said before, I would’ve probably felt bad about this if these mares weren’t so disgustingly brutal with their victims. I have no sympathy for them. If they want blood, then that’s what I’ll give them,” Eagle answered. It was an answer that was good enough for Sharp Side. He nodded to himself and watched as Eagle set back off for the hideout.

In a matter of a few minutes, Eagle was hovering above the hideout of the Blood Sisters. It was a mansion on the outskirts of the city. It was a nice looking place, perfect for a cult such as the Blood Sisters. Eagle Eye descended onto the highest structure of the mansion, perching himself precariously above the rest of the building. Just as he landed, two of the Blood Sisters walked outside. At that same moment, a small carriage arrived in the front of the mansion. Out from it stepped four other mares. The two mares that had walked out from the mansion placed down a small cloth mat for a fifth mare to step onto.

“That’s True Blood,” Sharp Side informed Eagle. The Unicorn mare looked much more malevolent than the other mares, and her blood red coat and mane helped make her looked quite formidable. Even her eyes were blood red, much like Eagle’s when he wanted them to be. She wore a crimson red dress that seemed to blend perfectly with the rest of her body. All of the mares down below headed back inside the mansion, leaving the Assassin to figure out a way inside.

“Sharp Side, find me a way in.” Sharp Side began to scan over the mansion. He managed to find several entrances, but all of them would lead to Eagle being discovered. The safest route for Eagle turned out to be through a shack in the back that led into the basement of the mansion. Sharp Side informed his friend of the shack’s location. Eagle turned to look at it and spotted two Blood Sisters on patrol.

“They’re all yours. My scans show no others in the area,” Sharp Side informed. With that, Eagle dove off from his perch and headed for the unsuspecting mares. They turned too late to stop Eagle from plunging his hidden blades through their throats. He could hear their feminine moans as they began to die. Hearing them like that cause Eagle to feel a small bit of regret. But nothing too much. As the mares took their final breaths, Eagle removed his blades from their throats and entered the shack.

Finding his way around, he found a hatch that led to a tunnel. The tunnel led straight to the basement of the mansion. Eagle started to walk through the tunnel, when suddenly, torches along the wall started to light up. But, the lights came from the opposite direction that Eagle was walking. At the end of the tunnel, Eagle could see one mare walking towards him. He quickly got to the ground and drew the Avenger. Eagle shouldered his rifle and took aim on the mare’s skull. As the torch lights lit up around Eagle, he pulled back on the handle to fire off a round, a silenced round at that. The Avenger had been perfected recently for both silence and lethality, now including a sharp bayonet on the end of the barrel. Now, the rifle barely made a sound upon being fired.

The bullet passed straight through the mare’s skull, leaving a hole in her head. She fell to the floor as blood began to drip from the hole. Eagle got up, threw his rifle over his back, and continued through the tunnel. He gave the limp corpse a shove as he passed by it. As Eagle arrived at the hatch that presumably opened into the basement of the mansion, the torches behind him began to die out.

Eagle opened the hatch and found himself in the mansion’s basement. Doing a quick scan, he found that it was empty. That was, until the door that led to the main floor of the mansion opened, revealing two more mares. Eagle quickly hid in the abundant shadows of the basement, concealing himself from the mares. They both passed by him without so much as looking back. They opened the hatch to the tunnel and entered. They were in for a surprise, both when they entered, and when they came back out. Eagle positioned himself behind the hatch and waited. As the mares came back up from the tunnel in a hurry, their throats were penetrated by Eagle’s hidden blades. He pulled his blades out and left them to die.

Heading up to the main floor of the mansion, Eagle now found that the space was mostly lit. He needed to be stealthy here, or he would be found. If that happened, he’d have every Blood Sister on him in an instant. Eagle quickly moved into what he presumed to be the dining hall. He was making his way to what Sharp Side informed him to be the master bedroom. As Eagle moved through the dining hall, he ducked under the large table as five mares entered. He stayed quiet as they passed and headed into the main living room. Eagle quickly got back up and headed one floor up.

On his way up, he saw three more mares pass by, but they didn’t notice him. He silently flew up behind them. Landing, he sharpened his wings into wing blades and sliced down two of them. The third turned around just in time to meet Eagle’s hidden blade. Eagle kept moving though, leaving the three mares where they lie. Sharp Side led Eagle through the mansion to the master bedroom. Eagle entered the room to find it empty.

Inside was a mirror that could be used by five ponies at once, a door that led to a master bathroom, chests upon chests that were most likely filled with bits, three dressers, two closets, and many other things that Eagle expected to find in the master bedroom of a mare. But, what caught Eagle’s attention the most were the multiple vials of blood that were spread across the room. Some of them were empty, with nothing but drops left. And even more to his surprise were the few plates that had pieces of pony flesh on them. It almost made Eagle vomit. Almost.

Eagle started to walk around the room, taking in every bit of the disgustingness that it contained.

“What kind of creature would do this?” he asked Sharp Side.

“A sick one, that much is true,” Sharp Side responded. “Any signs of True Blood?”

“No. She hasn’t come up here yet. But, her bed does have a curtain around it. I’ll wait there until she comes in.” Eagle did just that. He went onto the bed, hiding behind the curtain that went around the entire length of the bed. He sat there, ready to strike in an instant.

After about twenty minutes of waiting, the door to the room slowly opened. Eagle managed to peek through the curtain to see that it was True Blood. She was followed by two other mares, who she quickly dismissed. One of the mares closed the door behind her, leaving True Blood alone in her bedroom. Or at least, so she thought.

True Blood looked at herself in her mirror. She picked up a comb with her magic and ran it through her mane. She then levitated a vial of blood over to her, uncorked it, and drank the contents of the bottle entirely. She threw the bottle aside with her magic and let out a satisfied “ah.”

“Delicious,” she said, sounding completely satisfied with her drink. Hearing her voice managed to send a slight chill down Eagle’s spine. Her voice was a little haunting to listen to. She sounded so vile. But after all, she was vile. After a moment, she surrounded herself in a magical aura. Eagle didn’t know what she was doing, but he had to assume it wasn’t good. But now, he had seen enough. He readied himself to strike.

“Come to kill me at last, Assassin?” True Blood spoke. Hearing her say that surprised Eagle entirely. She used her magic to remove the curtain, leaving Eagle in complete sight of True Blood. She turned around to face him. “Come now darling, you couldn’t have thought that I didn’t see the bodies littering my abode.”

“Maybe not my finest work, but nonetheless, I get the job done,” Eagle responded. “And I’m sorry to say that you will share the same fate as you little cultists.”

“Oh, isn’t that cute. You truly believe you can kill me. Do you know why we drink blood, Assassin?” True Blood asked.

“The question has been boggling my mind for some time now, but I don’t very much care. It’s a sick practice, just as much as eating pony flesh.”

“Oh please, flesh just adds on to the amazing taste. You should try it some time,” True Blood said, letting out an evil giggle.

“Enough of your games! You die now!” With that, Eagle lunged towards her, his wings sharpened and ready to kill. But, just as he was about to strike her down, she pulled out a dagger from behind her and blocked his attack. She pushed Eagle back, and the two were now in a standoff.

“Oh how I will enjoy dining on your flesh and drinking your blood. I expect great things from you,” she mocked. Eagle remained silent, focusing on any move she made. This helped him out, as she tried to strike her dagger down on him. She went for a swipe at his throat, but Eagle didn’t even need to block it. His mask handled it pretty well. True Blood looked in surprise.

“I’m sorry, were you expecting me to actually get hurt by that,” Eagle mocked, lunging forward with his wing blades. True Blood ducked under one swipe, but she wasn’t quick enough to stop Eagle from slicing her right leg open. Her leg now had a huge gash in it, and she was bleeding heavily onto the floor.

“No! Not now!” she cried out. She didn’t even look at Eagle as she dropped to the floor and started to lick up the blood. Eagle watched the little scene before him. It was sickening. As Eagle was about to finish her off though, she bucked him with all her might against the wall. Eagle regained himself just in time to dodge her dagger. He grabbed her by the head and slammed it into the wall. Eagle then took the dagger in his hoof and drove it through her chest. Her body fell limp, and Eagle dropped her to the floor.

“Your desire for blood will earn you no pity,” Eagle started. He knelt down by the dying mare as she took her final breath. But, just as he was about to utter his iconic “Requiescat in pace,” True Blood’s eyes lit up. Then, she suddenly used her magic to grip Eagle by the throat. She lifted him up, all the while getting back to her own hooves. As she stood tall, she let out an evil laugh. She forcefully threw Eagle into the mirror, shattering it to pieces. Eagle was left with shards of glass across his body.

True Blood didn’t stop there. She lunged towards Eagle, but he was quick enough to get out of the way. As they once again stood in a standoff, Eagle noticed that her eyes were glowing now.

“What are you?” Eagle asked.

“I am simply a mare who has found the secret of immortality!” True Blood spoke.

“That’s why you drink blood.”

“Of course you fool. But, drinking blood and eating flesh isn’t enough. The spell you saw me use is the key. Using it allows me to turn the blood and flesh that I consume into life essence. Through that, it revitalizes me, and grants me immortality.” But, as True Blood stood ready to fight, Eagle noticed that she seemed to be panting lightly.

“Yeah, but something tells me that your little spell hasn’t been completed,” Eagle said.

“The process takes years to take full effect, but I have all the time in the world. Nopony can stop me! Not even you! The Blood Sisters shall live forever!” With that, True Blood teleported out of Eagle’s vision. She reappeared behind him, but Eagle was quick enough to catch her attack. He pushed the blade aside and drove both of his hidden blades through True Blood’s chest. She let out a quick cry of pain, but she didn’t stop. Eagle had to finish this.

“Requiescat in pace you monster,” he said. He drove his wing blades through her skull, immediately silencing her. Her body once again fell to the ground, limp and lifeless. Just to make sure, Eagle pulled out his rifle, drove the bayonet through True Blood’s skull, and shot one round.

“What a bitch,” Sharp Side said to Eagle. Eagle couldn’t help but laugh, as he pulled out the bayonet. But, just as he was about to throw the rifle over his back, three mares entered the room. They stood ready to battle, with daggers in their mouths. They attacked Eagle, but he managed to slice two of them across their chests with his bayonet. The third almost hit him, but he managed to stop her attack. Eagle used the stock of his rifle to hit the mare in the head twice, then slapped the bayonet onto her neck. With all his might, Eagle pulled the blade across her throat, slicing it open. The mares were left to die just like that.

With his targets now dead, Eagle had two more objectives to complete. First off, Eagle headed over to the chests that he spotted earlier. He opened them up to find pouches upon pouches of bits.

“Jackpot,” he called to his Sharp Side.

“Nice! That should help us out with our plan for your apartment,” Sharp Side responded. Eagle put about twenty pouches of bits into his own pouches. Judging by the weight, there was a lot of money in those pouches.

“Damn right it should. Now then, onto our other matter of business.”

“Right. You’ve got those charges right?” Sharp Side asked.

“Do I have the charges you ask. Of course I have the charges. I just need to go around the mansion and place them. And, you’re sure that the ones I’ve placed around the property on other nights are still there?” Eagle asked. This wasn’t actually his first visit to the mansion. He had made a few other trips to carefully place explosives around the property.

“Yep, all the charges are in place. You just gotta set up the charges inside the mansion,” Sharp Side confirmed.

“No problem.” With that, Eagle headed to the door. But, something on the body of True Blood caught his attention. He noticed a hint of purple on the inside on her dress. Eagle went over to her body and moved her dress around to find out what it was.

Pinned to True Blood’s dress was the insignia of the Dark Flames of Heaven.

“Is that…” Sharp Side started.

“Yeah… it is…” Eagle responded. “This bitch was with the Dark Flames. Damnit! She could have known something!” Eagle slammed his fist on the floor in anger.

“Hey, hey, not all hope is lost. Search the room for a… a note, something, I don’t know,” Sharp Side said to his angered friend. Eagle began to do just that. He started searching around the room, but found nothing. He then looked back to True Blood. He now noticed that there was a small pouch on True Blood’s body. He started to search through it, and managed to find a note.

Miss True Blood,

I understand that you and your cult are in need of some assistance. I can assure you, the Dark Flames of Heaven are more than willing to support your cause. Our efforts as of late are being hindered on account of the Assassin. Your cult would certainly slow him down in pursuing us. As long as you continue to work in Manehattan as you have, we shall supply you with whatever you need to commit your… deeds. Meet me on the outskirts of the Everfree Forest so we may discuss these terms further.

Eagle lowered the letter and thought over what he had read.

“If my father wanted to meet her on the outskirts of the Everfree Forest, that might be a place to look for the headquarters of the Dark Flames. We’ll have to act on this as soon as we can,” Eagle thought to himself.

“Hey, Eagle, you there?” Sharp Side called.

“Y-Yeah, I’m good. I’ll go get those charges set.” With that, Eagle got up and headed through the mansion to set up the charges. He dispatched any Blood Sisters that got in his way. When he was finished, he exited through the front door of the mansion.

“Are all the remaining Blood Sisters in the mansion? There aren’t any out in the city right?” Eagle asked.

“No, they’re all in there. I’ve been scanning the city for any mares that were affiliated with the Blood Sisters. Nothing came up. They’re all in there,” Sharp Side answered.

“Good. Level the place.” As Eagle uttered the order, Sharp Side set off all the charges set up around the mansion. Eagle turned around when nothing happened.

“What the buck man?” he called to Sharp Side. Then, he heard an explosion coming from behind the mansion. Then, one explosion went off inside the mansion. Eagle smiled to himself. He turned and walked away from the mansion as the rest of the charges went off.

Eagle then took off for Sharp Side’s home. The fly took Eagle about 45 minutes. When he arrived, Sharp Side greeted him with a concerned look.

“What are you thinking Eagle?” Sharp Side asked.

“I’m thinking we may actually have a lead on the Dark Flames of Heaven. If my father wanted to meet True Blood on the outskirts of the Everfree Forest, that must mean that the headquarters for the Dark Flames is in the Forest,” Eagle answered.

“Eagle, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the base is in the Forest. I’ve done a few scans of that Forest, and nothing has ever come up. Nothing but trees and a few ruins of old castles,” Sharp Side responded.

“Well, you’ve only scanned the Forest. You never actually went in there. I’m going into the Forest, and I’m going to find that base,” Eagle said, with a great deal of determination in his voice.

“Well, if you say so man. I just hope you don’t get yourself killed by… well, whatever the buck lives in that forest.” Eagle nodded to himself as he and Sharp Side shared a hoof bump. After that, Eagle set off for his apartment. He didn’t know when, but he was going to be paying a visit to Ponyville. Soon.

Author's Notes:

Wow, what a time jump huh? Yeah, sorry if most of this chapter is explanations. But hey, you can't expect Eagle to just have the same stuff for six months. Even if some of that stuff is farfetched, it's still cool. And honestly, who wouldn't want wings that can turn into blades. Oh, and just for the record, his wings stay white. They don't turn into literal swords. They just become as sharp as swords. I'm sure you all get the point. And I hope you all got a little sick by reading about all the stuff in that master bedroom, cause I got a little sick just writing it.

And for those of you that might be thinking this, no, the title of the chapter is not a reference to Earth, Wind, and Fire.

So yeah, I hope you all enjoyed this fun chapter. Next up... well, I'm not telling.

Chapter 16: Discoveries

Eagle woke the next day from another nightmare. These terrible dreams had become more common since the first one, and they became increasingly vivid and realistic as well. At certain moments in the nightmares, Eagle may receive a stab or jab from out of nowhere. Every one of those hits felt real, and in the morning, when Eagle woke up, he would still feel the pain. But what really got to Eagle were the lingering voices of his mother and sister.

Eagle sat up in his bed and rubbed out his eyes. These nightmares didn’t grant him the luxury of getting much sleep. Every morning that he woke up from a nightmare, he would feel like crap for the rest of the day. He gave his neck a quick crack, but didn’t move from his spot in bed.

“Sleep well Eagle?” He looked to his right to see Ruby standing next to his bed. He immediately looked away and shook his head violently. Then, pain shot through Eagle’s head. But, he had gotten used to this. Seeing the apparitions of his mother and sister had become a basic happening after the nightmares, and Eagle had surprisingly gotten used to it. However, that didn’t mean he liked it, or that it left him unharmed mentally.

“Go away…” Eagle said. When he looked again, Ruby was gone. Eagle let out a sigh and got out of bed. He stepped out of his room and into the living room of his apartment. It was a spacious apartment, with enough space to house about ten ponies at once. Everything Eagle could need was there. But, he and Sharp Side were sticking to their plan to “renovate” the apartment later on. However, it would need to wait.

Eagle made himself breakfast and turned the TV on to the news. Low and behold, the news was filled with the buzz of the previous night’s events.

“Late last night, at an old, abandoned mansion, multiple explosions erupted out of nowhere, engulfing the entire building, and the surrounding property, in flames and smoke. When all the smoke cleared, nothing was left of the mansion. Manehattan Guard investigation has led to the discovery that the mansion was being used as a hideout for the nefarious mare cult known as the Blood Sisters. Authorities believe that the destruction of the mansion, and the cult itself, are to be the actions of the Assassin. No confirmation has been given yet, but the Guard have assured the public that they shall continue to investigate.”

As the story continued, Eagle took a deep breath in and let out a soft smile.

“Serves those bastards right,” he said to himself. Finishing his breakfast up rather quickly, Eagle watched the news for a little while longer. After that, he got up, threw his dishes in the sink, and headed into his room. He activated a secret panel that hid his Assassin gear. He prepped himself up and turned on his mic.

“Hey, Sharp Side, you up yet buddy?” Eagle called to his friend. Eagle’s response came as a soft snoring sound. Eagle rolled his eyes and set out from a secret hatch he and Sharp Side had built in the roof.

Arriving at Sharp Side’s, Eagle found his friend still asleep at his computer. Eagle walked over to his sleeping friend and tapped his head.

“Hey, Sharp Side, wake up!” Eagle said, continuing to poke Sharp Side. The sleepy Unicorn woke from his slumber with an unsatisfied groan.

“Not cool Eagle, not cool,” he said, rubbing his eyes.

“Sorry, but I want to get started already.” Sharp Side looked over to his clock to see it was only noon.

“Dude, it’s not even two yet. I thought that was our minimum time to start missions,” Sharp Side whined.

“Well this mission is a little different,” Eagle responded. “I stopped by my place before I came here. My dad wasn’t home, which leads me to believe he may be with the Dark Flames right now. I need to get to Ponyville, and more specifically, the Everfree Forest.” Sharp Side stood up and gave his back a stretch.

“Alright, fine.” Sharp Side started to scan over Eagle he was checking over his gear. Sharp Side could tell something was wrong.

“Another nightmare?” he asked.

“It’s getting that obvious huh?” Eagle asked.

“Sorry, it’s just hard not to notice it. I don’t like seeing you this way Eagle. You’re my friend, and it’s killing me that I can’t do anything about it,” Sharp Side said.

“Hey, you’re doing enough by helping me out with everything. Besides, I’ve got Dash for moral support,” Eagle joked.

“And I’m what, chopped liver?” Sharp Side replied. The two shared a quick laugh before getting back to business.

“Don’t worry about me Sharp Side. I’ll be fine. Now, I’ve gotta get going. I’ll be in touch.” With that, Eagle turned back and headed out into the skies. Sharp Side shrugged to himself and sat back down at his desk.

Eagle stood at the entrance to the Everfree Forest. Now he could tell why nopony ever went in there. It amazed him even more to know that there was a zebra that lived in there. At least, that’s what Rainbow Dash had told him.

“Having second thoughts?” Sharp Side called to his friend.

“Hardly. But, I’ll have to be careful in there for sure. I can already tell that I won’t be having fun in there,” Eagle replied. After a moment of preparation, Eagle started to make his way through the dark, dank forest.

From the moment he stepped into the forest, Eagle felt like everything around him was out of touch with Equestria. Everything felt strange and weird, and none of it felt right. Every step Eagle took felt weird. The ground was mostly muddy from what Eagle could tell, and there were barely and trails to pick up on. The plant life was unlike anything Eagle had ever seen. From the look of it, Eagle could tell that some of these plants were even alive.

And what made matters worse was that Eagle had only been complaining to himself about the environment. He hadn’t even met any of the dangerous creatures of the forest yet. Eagle knew well enough what dangers lurked around in the darkness of the forest, but he only hoped he wouldn’t have to meet any of them. But, even if he did, he was more than well equipped to fight them off. And, if worst came to worst, he could just fly away, or use his environment to parkour his way through all of the trees.

Wandering around for about 45 minutes left Sharp Side bored out of his mind. Eagle Eye was analyzing every little detail in the environment on the other hoof.

“Dude, you’ve been searching for almost one whole hour now. I’m telling you, there’s nothing in there,” Sharp Side called.

“And I already told you before that I’m not leaving until I find something,” Eagle responded. Sharp Side sighed to himself and left Eagle to his tracking. However, as Eagle continued his mission, the overwhelming sense of pointlessness in the mission became more apparent. As the mission timer that Sharp Side had reached the one hour and thirty minute mark, Eagle stopped in his tracks and sighed.

“Damnit,” Eagle said.

“I’m sorry Eagle,” Sharp Side called. “Maybe we could continue looking around in the city. Or, I’ve got news that says the Dark Flames attacked somewhere in Hoofington. We could maybe get something out of that,” Sharp Side said, trying to cheer up his friend.

“No I’m fine. Maybe I’ll just pay Dash a visit while I’m in the area,” Eagle replied. He slowly turned around, taking one last scan of the area, before giving up and walking away. But, suddenly, Eagle heard a crack from a distance. He quickly braced himself and got low to the ground. He quickly scanned the area to find what caused the noise. It seemed to originate from an area of less foliage. Eagle made his way to the patch of open earth to find a snapped twig.

“Gettin paranoid huh?” Sharp Side joked.

“It’s nothing, don’t worry,” Eagle said, turning again to walk away. When he turned around, he was met with a foul stench. He tried to fan away the smell, but it continued to come towards him. Then, Eagle saw a pair of green eyes coming from the bushes. Out from the bushes erupted a Timberwolf. Following it came two more.

“Buck,” Eagle said promptly. Just as he said that, one of the Timberwolves pounced towards him. Eagle was quick enough to dodge the attack and buck the Timberwolf in the head, sending it to the ground. The other two advanced on Eagle, but he was quick enough to slice them down with his hidden blades. They tried to get up, but Eagle immediately began to tear off pieces of wood with his hookblades. The first Timberwolf, however, caught Eagle off guard, and sent him flying into a nearby tree.

“Eagle, you alright?” Sharp Side called. Eagle groggily got back to his hooves.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Eagle replied. That blow left him a little winded. But, before he charged back into the fray, he noticed a small marking on the tree. It looked like a small arrow. But, Eagle had little time to examine it, as the Timberwolf charged at him again. Eagle ducked under the attack and used his wing blades to stab the Timberwolf in its skull. The wooden beast fell to the floor, but the other two were now back up and ready to go again.

Eagle flew over them with the Avenger at the ready. He fired off six rounds, three for each Timberwolf. The Timberwolves were sent back to the floor, but quickly regained themselves as Eagle landed on the ground. He threw his rifle back over his back and stood ready with his blades.

As one Timberwolf charged, Eagle used his hookblade to gain leverage on the beast and flip over it. He then pounced towards the other Timberwolf and drove his hidden blade through its wooden throat. The beast gagged for a bit, but quickly clawed Eagle off, sending him to the floor. Before Eagle could get back up, he was pinned by the Timberwolf. He ducked his head to the side to avoid having it chomped off.

“Get off!” Eagle shouted. He drove his hidden blades into the gut of the Timberwolf and sent it flying to the ground. As it hit the ground, it broke into individual pieces of wood. As Eagle quickly got back up, one of the other Timberwolves charged towards him. Eagle sidestepped the beast, grabbed it with his hookblade, pulled it back to the floor, and stomped its skull in. After that, the Timberwolf broke apart like the other one. Eagle glared at the final Timberwolf, sending fear through the wooden beast’s body. It ran off quickly before any more damage could be done.

With the threat eliminated, Eagle dusted himself off and kicked a few of the wood pieces aside. He walked back over to the tree he had seen before. He started to examine the marking, which most definitely was an arrow.

“Where is it pointing to?” Sharp Side asked.

“I have no idea, but it certainly isn’t a coincidence that this is here. It has to lead to something,” Eagle replied. He lined up the arrow with a clear path that seemed to lead to nowhere in particular. Eagle simply shrugged and decided to follow the path. He followed it for about twenty minutes until he came upon a wall of trees. There was no way through or around it. It was a dead end.

“No… no this can’t be it,” Eagle said.

“Eagle, it’s a wall of freakin trees. There’s nothing here,” Sharp Side responded. Eagle felt his anger rising up now.

“This can’t be it!” Eagle shouted, running towards the wall of trees, ready to punch a hole through one of the trees. To Eagle’s surprise, not just his hoof, but his whole body went straight through. He fell to the ground on the other side of the wall. He looked behind him in surprise.

“What the buck?” Sharp Side asked. “Eagle, you alright?”

“Yeah… just confused.” He got back up and ran his hoof across the trees. His hoof simply passed through.

“It’s an image projector. Somepony in the forest is trying to hide something. I bet one thousand bits that we know who it is,” Sharp Side said. Eagle turned around and started to see lights. Moving through a bit of foliage, he soon came upon something he never would have expected, even for the Dark Flames of Heaven.

The headquarters of the Dark Flames of Heaven stood to be at least three hundred stories tall. And that was just the tallest building. The entirety of the complex had to take up at least one thousand acres land. There were thousands of soldiers, stationed at every point of the complex. In the air, hundreds of air ships, along with a massive mothership, hovered over the complex. Everything that Eagle saw couldn’t have been hidden so easily. He was amazed at how well the Dark Flames had managed to hide it all.

“If the Dark Flames of Heaven have this much space for their headquarters and an air fleet like that, then that means two things. One, that their numbers must have grown significantly over the recent months, and two, that their planning something big,” Sharp Side informed Eagle.

“Really? I never would have guessed,” Eagle replied sarcastically.

“Eagle, this is serious.”

“I know Sharp Side. This is, indeed, serious… just a lot more serious than we originally thought,” Eagle said. He watched from behind his cover as hundreds of soldiers wandered the headquarter grounds. Some were attending target practice, while others patrolled the area. A few were standing around and chatting about, while others were listening to their commanders. Eagle tried to look up to the tallest structure of the complex. He pulled out his rifle and zoomed in on the scope.

“Can you see anything up there?” Sharp Side asked.

“Yeah…” Standing on a platform, high above the complex, was Eagle’s father. Fire Streak stood from atop the grand complex in his armor, with his helmet removed however. He oversaw everything that went on, and nothing got past his eyes. He turned around suddenly. Eagle guessed that he was talking to a soldier. Eagle threw his rifle over his back and started to back away from the complex and back into the forest.

Passing through the wall of trees again, Eagle walked with his head lowered and his heart heavy.

“Eagle?” Sharp Side called. “What are we gonna do?”

“I… I don’t know. When we started this, I thought I would be able to take them all on. But, after seeing this… there’s no way. We can’t do this.”

“What’s the big deal? You can stealth your way through just about anything. All you need to do is get to the top of the complex and finish your father off for good.”

“Sharp Side, it’s not just my father we need to deal with. We need to destroy the Dark Flames of Heaven entirely, and I’m pretty sure we don’t have the fire, and ponypower to do that,” Eagle said, hating every word of it. Sharp Side let out a sigh. Then, a thought crossed his mind.

“Well, maybe we don’t have that kind of power, but I think we might know somepony who does,” Sharp Side said. Eagle couldn’t think of anypony that they knew with that kind of power.

“Who?” he asked.

“Princess Celestia,” Sharp Side answered.

“What?! Are you insane?! How are we supposed to get Princess Celestia to help?!” Eagle asked, completely baffled by Sharp Side’s idea.

“Hey, even she has to admit that the Dark Flames of Heaven are a threat that needs to be ended,” Sharp Side said. Eagle nodded his head to himself. “The only thing we have that she doesn’t is where to find them… well, that, and all of our equipment,” Sharp Side added.

“True… maybe this’ll work after all. But even still, how do we get to her. I don’t think she just takes visits from very well-known killers such as myself.”

“Well, all we have to do is sneak you into Canterlot. And, seeing as though she’s the Princess, we should assume that secrecy will get you nowhere. You can sneak in there with your gear, but when the time comes, you should reveal yourself to her. She deserves to know who Equestria’s savior will be,” Sharp Side said. Eagle smiled to himself under his mask and nodded.

“You know… this all might actually work. Not only is Celestia all-powerful, but she has at her disposal the strongest military force in Equestria. Nopony messes with the Equestrian Guard,” Eagle replied.

“Exactly. I think we finally have a way to take down the Dark Flames of Heaven my friend. But, first things first. We need to be able to find this place again. That’s why I gave you those trackers just in case before you left. You need to place four of them around the general area of the complex. That might take you a while though,” Sharp Side informed.

“Whatever. If it helps us take these bastards down, it’ll be worth it.” At that, Eagle pulled out one of the trackers and placed it on a nearby tree. He would need at least three more in a circular area around the complex.

It took him about a half hour, but Eagle finished placing the necessary trackers around the complex. With that finished, Sharp Side was able to draw up coordinates of the exact location of the complex. With the location locked, Eagle was finally able to exit the forest. He had seen enough of that place for one day.

Upon exiting the forest, he looked out at Ponyville to see that there was still some time left in the day. He wanted to pay a visit to Rainbow Dash.

“Hey, I’ll be home in a few hours. I’m gonna go hang out with Dash,” Eagle called to Sharp Side.

“Alright, but don’t stay overnight. When you get back, we gotta start mapping out a plan to infiltrate Canterlot Castle,” Sharp Side replied.

“Got it. I’ll see you later,” Eagle said.

“Later.” With that, Eagle took off towards Cloudsdale. Upon arriving in the cloud city, he snuck his way through to Rainbow Dash’s house. Looking into her room through her window, he found her sleeping soundly.

“You always find a time to sleep, don’t you Dash?” Eagle thought to himself. He carefully opened up the window and stepped inside. He quietly removed all of his gear and placed it neatly in the corner of Rainbow’s room. He then kneeled down next to Rainbow’s bed and looked at her. He smiled as he watched her sleep, yet couldn’t escape the feeling of his actions being the slightest bit creepy. He ultimately decided to poke her nose.

“Wha… huh?” she said upon waking up.

“Hey you,” Eagle said. Rainbow jumped a little, but quickly calmed down when she realized it was Eagle.

“Don’t scare me like that!” she said, lightly punching his shoulder.

“You, scared? I didn’t think that was possible,” Eagle joked.

“Very funny. Get in here,” Rainbow said, beckoning Eagle to join her in bed. He got in and snuggled up with her.

“I can’t stay overnight tonight. Sharp Side and I have some work to do.”

“Ooh, what is it this time?” Rainbow Dash asked in excitement.

“Well… we found the headquarters of the Dark Flames of Heaven,” Eagle informed her.

“Really?! So, are you gonna finally pound those losers into the dirt?!” Rainbow asked with joy.

“Well… not exactly. The complex is huge, and I can’t do it alone. So, Sharp Side and I figured we would enlist the aid of Princess Celestia and the Equestrian Guard.” Rainbow looked at him with a surprised look.

“Wow… it must be pretty bad,” she said.

“You have no idea,” Eagle replied.

“Well, you can deal with that later. Right now, I just want to be with you,” Rainbow said, resting her head on his chest.

“I’m right here Dash,” Eagle replied, wrapping his wings around her. She did the same to him, and slowly, she started to move her hoof down to his nether regions. Eagle felt a light tap on his stallionhood and looked down into Rainbow’s lustful eyes.

“Please?” she asked.

“You got any condoms?”

“No, but I don’t want you to use one. Please? It won’t hurt, and we’ve done it before like this,” Rainbow begged. Eagle sighed and smiled at her. In a kinky kind of way, he loved to see her like this.

“Alright then Dash, let’s do it.” A sexy smile ran across Rainbow’s face as she threw her lips onto Eagle’s. Before anything got too serious, Eagle reached over to close the blinds of the window for a little more privacy.

Author's Notes:

The end is near my friends! Soon, the final battle shall commence!

If you want to imagine the DFoH headquarters as being much more complex, go right ahead. I figure if I went into too much detail, I would be writing exposition. Just think of a huge complex with lots of high tech stuff. It works.

And on another note, at the beginning of the chapter, we see how Eagle is sloooooowly losing his sanity. That's all I'll say on the matter.

Chapter 17: Acquiring Some Assistance

Eagle opened his eyes to find himself still snuggling with Rainbow Dash in her bed. They both were extremely exhausted from the previous night’s activities. Rainbow was snoring lightly in her sleep, causing Eagle to chuckle to himself. He gave her a kiss on her forehead, which effectively woke her from her slumber.

“Morning,” Rainbow said.

“Hey,” Eagle replied simply.

“Really? “Hey”? That’s it?”

“What?”

“We just made love last night, slept like animals, and now, as we’re waking up, all you’ve got is “hey”?” Rainbow asked amusingly.

“Well… yeah,” Eagle answered. Rainbow rolled her eyes and gave him a light shove as the two started to laugh. They kissed each other once before they sat up in the bed. Eagle wiped his eyes out and let out a manticore-like yawn.

“Whoa,” Rainbow said in surprise.

“Yeah, sorry about that.”

“No, no, I actually liked that. It sounded really cool. Do it again!”

“I don’t think I can really make myself yawn like that,” Eagle replied. Yet, the moment after he said that, he let out another yawn. “Never mind.” Rainbow shoved him again as she got out of bed. Eagle followed suit, but as Rainbow went for the door, he started to gear up again.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Rainbow asked him.

“Yeah, uh, I can’t really stay. I’ve gotta head up to Canterlot, remember. I didn’t plan on staying overnight, but after what we did last night, I was just too exhausted. So seriously, I gotta get going. In broad daylight, it’ll be much harder to get into the castle,” Eagle explained.

“I don’t get it. Why do you have to sneak in? I’m sure if you just show up, the guards will just take you to Celestia.”

“Have you been watching the news at all since I started being the Assassin? The Manehattan Guard don’t have the right mind to kill me on sight, but I’m sure the Equestrian Guard might think differently. I need to be careful.” Rainbow let out an annoyed sigh.

“Fine,” she said, still annoyed at how quickly Eagle Eye was leaving her. With everything on except his mask and hood, Eagle walked over to her and lifted her chin so she was looking into his eyes.

“Hey, how ‘bout I come straight back here when I’m done? We’ll spend a few days together before I head off to destroy the Dark Flames. I’ll need all the moral support I can get too. What do you say?” Eagle asked. Rainbow looked at him still with an annoyed look, but it changed to a soft smile.

“Fine. But you better not keep me waiting,” Rainbow said.

“I don’t plan too.” With that, Eagle put on his mask and pulled up his hood. He stood at the window for a moment. He looked back at Rainbow with his blue eyes in one moment, closed his eyes, and then looked at her with his now red eyes.

“I still think that’s a little creepy,” Rainbow said.

“Eh, I think it’s cool,” Eagle said. The two laughed before Eagle jumped out the window and flew through the skies. Rainbow ran over to the window and watched as Eagle flew off to Canterlot.

The fly to Canterlot took Eagle Eye about thirty minutes. It wasn’t necessarily a far distance to fly, but the wind wasn’t being to kind to Eagle on this day. The breeze was powerful, and wanted only to fight against Eagle. He wouldn’t have it though. With a small amount of effort, Eagle finally arrived at Canterlot.

He arrived on the edge of the city. There were a few guard patrols around the city, all of which were Equestrian Guard members.

“This might not be as hard as I thought,” Eagle thought to himself. As one more patrol passed by his position, he snuck behind them across the street. He then climbed up to the rooftop of the building he was next to using his hookblades. Even though Eagle could just fly up, he still found great joy from climbing up.

From the rooftop, Eagle could scan most of the area he was in. There was a good distance between his position and the castle. But, if he started to fly, he would be much easier to spot. And of course, while being on the rooftops wouldn’t exactly make him invisible, it would certainly be much stealthier than flying or walking on the ground.

With his destination set, Eagle started running across the rooftops. He hopped across gaps, hurtled over the shorter smoke stacks, climbed over the taller ones, and flew over wide gaps. It was always exhilarating for Eagle to run across the rooftops like this. Canterlot was new territory too, which made the experience even more fun. He didn’t know what to expect, which made it more of a challenge, which in turn made it more fun.

The run to the castle didn’t take very long, much to Eagle’s surprise. He stood on a rooftop just outside the castle’s gate. Scanning over the castle, Eagle could see guards posted at every position of interest. Infiltrating it would be no easy task. However, being a Pegasus, getting over the gate would be much easier for Eagle.

Mapping out a plan of infiltration, Eagle took off from his perch point and flew over the gate. He was careful not to draw unneeded attention to himself. Now that he was over the gate, he didn’t want to risk being spotted in the skies. So, to make things a little easier, he landed on the ground and started to sneak around the main courtyard.

Dodging patrols along the way, and using whatever cover he could find, Eagle found himself in the Statue Garden of the castle. There were statues everywhere, each one representing something different. Eagle quickly noticed an entrance directly into the castle, but there were guards at the entrance. Maneuvering around the garden, Eagle made his way to a safe spot to observe the guards. He needed to get them away from the door, but he didn’t want to kill them either.

Looking around, Eagle found a large sized rock, one that would easily cause a well-placed distraction. Eagle picked up the rock in his hoof and quickly chucked it at one of the guards. It hit the guard square in his helmet, and quickly earned the guard’s attention.

“What the heck?” the guard said in surprise.

“What,” the other guard asked.

“I just got nailed in the head by this rock,” the guard said, kneeling down to look at it. “It came from over there,” he continued, pointing towards where Eagle was.

“You’re just paranoid,” the other guard said.

“I’m gonna check it out.”

“You’re wasting your time.” But it was of no use. The guard was already walking over to where Eagle was. As soon as the guard turned the corner, Eagle jumped out, locked the guard in a sleeper hold, and knocked him out. Eagle tried not to make a sound, but with the guard’s bulky armor, it was difficult to stay silent.

“Hey, what happened?” the second guard called over. Eagle jumped up and hovered in place as the second guard came around the corner. All he found was his partner knocked out on the ground. Before he could react, Eagle dropped down and knocked him out.

“Well, that was easy,” Eagle said to himself. With the entrance clear, Eagle Eye entered the castle. It was much larger than he had expected, but he should probably have expected more than he did. This was, after all, the castle of Princesses Celestia and Luna.

Getting over the sudden surprise of everything, Eagle started to make his way through the castle. He was heading for the Throne Room, where he would hopefully find Princess Celestia. But, Eagle soon figured out that sneaking around on the floor of the castle wouldn’t work. There were guards stationed at almost every set of doors. Eagle had to think of something else.

Looking up, Eagle noticed multiple beams and bars that held the castle together. They could most certainly be used to sneak through the castle. Silently, Eagle flew up to the roof and landed on one of the beams. From there, he started to jump through the castle across the various beams and bars.

Soon enough, Eagle managed to find the Throne Room. The entrance doors were quite large, and there were five guards stationed outside. There was no way Eagle could get in through that door.

“Think Eagle. You managed to take out two. Maybe five won’t be so bad. Or, of course, I could leave them. There seems to be a few windows that I could take to get back outside, and I would most likely be able to get back in there using a window in the Throne Room. Hmm, decisions, decisions,” Eagle thought to himself. He certainly did have a few options to approach this. But, the stealth option seemed more plausible. The Equestrian Guard had much better training than that of the Manehattan Guard.

Using the windows in the hallway, Eagle snuck back outside. He then used one of the windows to the Throne Room to sneak into the large yet beautiful room. It was so elegant, much more so than Eagle expected. He really needed to step up his expectations for this place.

Making his way to the center of the roof above the room, he saw Princess Celestia sitting on her throne. Eagle Eye had never seen the Princess in person. He had seen images of her, but never the real pony. She was every bit as beautiful as the images portrayed. But with her mane actually flowing, she looked even better. Again, Eagle needed to step up some of his expectations. He didn’t expect her to be this elegant.

But, Eagle had no time to admire the ruler of Equestria. He still needed her help. But, for him to talk to her, he would obviously need to reveal himself. The only option he really had was to drop down and present himself.

“Well… here goes nothing,” Eagle thought to himself. Jumping off his perch point, Eagle dropped to the floor, slowing his descent with his wings as he landed. Immediately, the guards in the room took notice of the robed stallion. They all drew their weapons, ready to combat the threat. The Princess too was surprised by the sudden intruder to her Throne Room.

“You must be the Assassin. I have heard a great deal about you. I am surprised you were daring enough to try to assassinate me though. I’m afraid you will have no such luck. Guards, engage!” Celestia ordered. Eagle quickly took notice of the guards as they charged towards him.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Eagle shouted, raising his hoofs up to try to stop them. Celestia raised her hoof to stop the guards. They all stopped in place, waiting for another order.

“I’m not here to kill you,” Eagle said.

“Is that so? Then tell me, what has brought you here Assassin?” Celestia asked. Eagle quickly decided that if he was to gain Celestia’s trust, he would need to reveal his identity. He had been thinking that the entire time he was getting to the castle. Now, he had to make the choice. The decision was obvious for Eagle however. He removed his hood and mask and revealed himself for who he really was.

“Please, call me Eagle Eye. As I said, I am not here to kill you. I have a favor to ask in fact. Actually, it might not even be a favor. You might consider it a service to Equestria,” Eagle started.

“Explain,” Celestia responded.

“You see, your highness, one year ago, my mother and sister were killed in the fatal attack on Manehattan by the Dark Flames of Heaven. I decided to dedicate myself to bring about their downfall. Just yesterday, I discovered the location of the headquarters of the Dark Flames of Heaven. It has been kept hidden within the Everfree Forest. They have been using the technology at their disposal to mask their location, using a large and convincing image projector. I wasn’t expecting much from the headquarters, but what I found was quite daunting,” Eagle explained.

“How daunting exactly?” Celestia asked.

“Quite, to say the least. The entirety of the headquarters probably takes up at least one thousand acres, and the tallest structure was about three hundred stories tall. There were soldiers scattered around the place, and their numbers have to be ten times as much as they had during the attack on Manehattan. They have airships all around the air space of the complex. Believe me when I say that they are planning something bad. With the forces at their master’s disposal, how could they not be?”

Everything Eagle had said was the truth, but that didn’t necessarily mean that the Princess would believe him. And, quite frankly, she didn’t.

“Why should I believe you, Eagle Eye?” she asked him.

“Why? Well… uh… I didn’t actually think this far ahead. Well, if anything, you should believe me because I’m your first real lead on where the Dark Flames are. If you need reason to believe what I’ve said, think of that. I know that you have had the Equestrian Guard searching for the Dark Flames for years now, longer than I have. Now, you don’t even have just a lead to them, but you have their exact location,” Eagle explained. “Plus, remember back to the attack on the Manehattan Guard Department Station. I was in there during that attack. Hell, I was the reason for the attack. The right hoof pony to the Master, Ice Storm, and the Master himself, both made appearances. I fought against both of them, managing to kill Ice Storm, and discover the Master’s identity.”

“Really? Who might the Master be then?” Celestia asked.

“My father,” Eagle answered simply. As his words sunk in, the Princess started to scan over the stallion before her. Either he had a really good poker face, or he was really telling the truth. Eagle Eye was looking at her with great conviction. Something told her that he was telling the truth.

“Very well Eagle Eye. I believe you,” she said.

“Wait… really? You do?”

“Yes. The evidence you have provided me is quite impressive. As you said, the Equestrian Guard has been searching long and hard for these murderers. If we could finally be rid of them, it would be quite a boon for Equestria. But, I have one more question.”

“Shoot,” Eagle said.

“How do I know that you are not one of them?” The question came as a bit of a shock to Eagle. He had never been asked that by anypony. And even in Manehattan, nopony ever considered him to be a soldier of the Dark Flames of Heaven, even the Manehattan Guard. Eagle didn’t have a real answer to the question.

“Well, aside from me not wearing their armor, I have always been opposed to their methods, ideals, and doings. I despise them with all of my heart. Believe me when I say that I would do anything to see them destroyed. They took my mother and sister away from me. Why wouldn't I want them gone?” Eagle’s argument wasn’t perfect, but for Princess Celestia, it was good enough.

“Very well then. What is it you require?” Celestia asked.

“Well, we’ll need at least ten thousand Equestrian Guards. That’s about the number of soldiers the Dark Flames have. And, you’ll need some sort of air support. If you want to take out their airships, you’ll need it. You need to have your guards armed with the most powerful weapons you have, and they need to be wearing fire-proof armor. The spell that the Dark Flames’ Unicorn soldiers use is quite dangerous. I would actually consider that you and your sister attend the battle. Your powers would be quite useful. I know that everything I’m requesting of you may seem a bit drastic, if not suspicious even, but believe me when I say that you’ll need all the firepower and ponypower you can get.” Celestia nodded her head in recognition.

“I’ll see to it at once. Perhaps my sister could lend the aid of the Lunar Guard as well. We shall most certainly be in attendance during the battle. I would also expect you to be there. Am I correct?” Celestia asked.

“Yes. Amidst the chaos of the battle, I’ll make my way through the complex, find my father, and silence him forever. And then, we eliminate any remaining soldiers of the Dark Flames of Heaven.” Eagle’s tone had become much more serious rather than defensive. He knew that now he had the Princess on his side, so it was most certainly time to take everything with a lot more of a serious attitude.

“I understand. When shall we attack then?” the Princess asked.

“Hmm… well, you will most certainly need a few days to prepare your soldiers. I suppose I could return here and lead you all straight to the complex when the time comes.”

“I may have a better idea. As my sister and I prepare our soldiers, we shall begin to move soldiers to the outskirts of the forest. If we all move at once, it may draw the wrong kind of attention. We need to move on their position in steady increments. Once all of our men are in position, we shall wait until you arrive at our camp. It will be easy for you to find, yet quite difficult for our enemies to find. I have a spell that will be able to shield our presence from those with evil in their hearts,” Celestia explained.

“Wow, that’s cool. But yeah, I think that may work better. So, you’ll move the soldiers as you see fit, and then you’ll wait for me?” Eagle asked.

“Correct,” Celestia answered.

“Then I guess we’re set. So, I’ll meet up with you again in one week.”

“Very well. I suggest you prepare whatever you deem necessary. If the battle ahead of us is as grand as you make it out to be, we will all need to be prepared.”

“Indeed,” Eagle said, putting his mask back on and pulling up his hood. “See you in one week then,” Eagle finished, turning and walking over towards the window he entered from.

“Hold one moment, Eagle Eye,” Celestia said, stopping him. “One more question.” Eagle turned around to face her. “Are you sure you will be up to the task? If what you say is true, then you will be eliminating your own father.”

“Your highness, I have been ready to kill him since the day I discovered who he truly was. I’ve just been waiting for the right time to do it.” With that, Eagle climbed up to the window and flew out into the skies, heading back to Ponyville.

Author's Notes:

It's almost here everyone! The final battle! Will Eagle Eye's plan lead him to his father? Will Eagle finally be able to claim vengeance on the murderers of his family? Will there be a truly epic battle?! You'll have to wait for the first two questions, but the third one is a definite YES!

Chapter 18: Every Moment Counts

Eagle Eye finally arrived back in Ponyville. He landed on top of the library, making sure not to be seen. By now, the sun had gone down, and Luna had raised the moon into the sky. Eagle scanned the ground once more before landing down below and walking through the town. There were very few ponies out at this hour, and those that were out could easily be avoided. Maneuvering his way through the town, Eagle made it to the outskirts of Ponyville.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Sharp Side called to his friend.

“Just thinking,” answered Eagle.

“About what?” Sharp Side asked.

“My life as a whole,” Eagle answered. He started walking along the grass, just thinking about anything that came to mind. To his slight surprise, Sharp Side didn’t ask any further questions. As it turned out, Sharp Side decided to leave his friend be, signing off from his computers and going to bed for the night, leaving the Assassin to ponder his thoughts.

“Am I doing the right thing? What am I saying, of course I am. He’s responsible for their deaths. He deserves to die,” Eagle thought to himself. “Yet, then why do I feel like it’s the wrong thing to do?”

He stopped walking and sat down. His mind had never suffered from contrasting ideals such as these. Killing his father would finish his quest, yet, in doing so, he would lose his family entirely. Eagle knew that deep down, his father needed to die. He was responsible for the death of Sky Dove and Ruby, and he had to pay for it. But, at the same time, this was Eagle’s father. This was the stallion that had raised him from day one. He wasn’t great at it, but nonetheless.

Eagle shook his head in frustration and continued on his undecided path.

“What’s the matter?! I even said to the Princess that I’ve been ready to do this! Why am I having such a hard time submitting to that now?” Eagle argued with himself. He stopped in his tracks and stomped the ground out of anger. He removed his mask and pulled down his hood. He turned his eyes back to blue and sighed.

“What do I do?” he asked himself out loud. “Kill him or not, this attack has to happen. They have to be destroyed. He has to die! Why can’t I just get that through my head now?! Sweet Celestia, what do I do?!” Eagle shouted.

“For starters, stop making such a fuss over it,” a voice answered. Eagle turned around and looked up to see Rainbow Dash laying on a small cloud above him. She lowered the cloud, jumped off, and landed next to him.

“Oh… hey,” Eagle greeted dumbly. Rainbow Dash just sighed.

“Eagle, you told me a while ago that you would be able to kill him if you ever had the chance. You had a lot of chances, but you pussied out. Now, you’re going to have to go against his, what, thousands of soldiers, and him. You know what you gotta do, so suck it up and do it!” Rainbow said confidently. Eagle just looked at her with a dumbfounded expression.

“Uh…” Eagle replied, not knowing what to say. Rainbow sighed again.

“For Celestia’s sake, Eagle!” she shouted at him.

“What?!” he answered with a bit of anger in his tone.

“Stop being such a prick about this!”

“Okay Dash, fine. You tell me that you’ve lost your family, and that your father was responsible for it! Tell me that you could kill him with no remorse or doubt in the deed! Tell me that you would do it, and you would do so only for the sole purpose of getting revenge! Tell me all that, and then I’ll buck up!” Eagle shouted to her. Rainbow had retreated from her confident stance and had now backed away from her coltfriend a bit. Eagle was panting out of frustration, but he saw the slight fear in Dash’s eyes. He calmed down, lowered his head, and lied down on the ground.

“I felt like I could do it Dash. Now, I feel like I won’t be able to bring myself to doing it,” Eagle said. Rainbow lied down next to him and nuzzled his neck.

“Eagle, it’s alright. I get it. This is something big for you to do. I know that you’ve gotta be hurting right now. But think back to what he did. You know as well as I do that that punk should die, and you know I don’t think about death a lot. I’d never wish it upon anypony for them to be killed, but the Dark Flames of Heaven are one huge exception,” Rainbow said, looking up to Eagle. He looked back down to her and smiled.

“You know, you have a very unique way of cheering ponies up.”

“I try my best.” They shared a quick laugh, followed by them getting up, laying back on the cloud, and floating up to the sky.

“You can do it Eagle. I know you can. How many ponies have you killed up until now?” Rainbow asked.

“About… you know, I don’t think I could tell you,” Eagle answered.

“Exactly.” They smiled at each other and shared a quick kiss.

“Thanks Dash.”

“No problem Eagle.” With that, the two started to dose off, until they finally fell asleep.

Eagle had been staying in Ponyville for two days now. He decided some time for relaxation was just what he needed, so he was going to spend this week in Ponyville, staying with Rainbow Dash at her house. The first two days consisted of just Rainbow and Eagle hanging out, but for the next few days, they decided that they would spend some time with the rest of Rainbow Dash’s friends.

Eagle walked down the streets of Ponyville, passing by all the ponies that were out and about. He always loved coming to Ponyville. He had started to visit so often, he had made a few new friends there. As he passed by them all, he would wave hello, and they would wave back. He felt as though he should be living here rather than in the city. But he had become greatly attached to Manehattan, and he couldn’t leave it behind him so easily.

Eagle’s destination was the Carousel Boutique, where he would be meeting up with Rainbow Dash and Rarity. Rarity had hooked Rainbow Dash into modeling a new dress that she had created. None of the other girls were available, leaving Rainbow Dash to take the spot.

As Eagle entered the dress shop, he couldn’t help but chuckle at what he saw. Rainbow Dash was wearing, by far, the most un-Rainbow Dash-ish dress ever. It was all poofy and regal, and it clearly didn’t fit the model’s taste. Rainbow Dash wore a look of distaste the entire time. When Eagle entered, her look changed to a scowl.

“Not. One. Word,” she said angrily.

“W-What?” Eagle replied, trying to hold back his laughter. “It looks… g-great on you…” Eagle continued. But, to no avail of his attempts, he couldn’t hold back his laughter, and burst into hysterical laughter outright. Rainbow Dash lowered her head in agony.

“Oh don’t look so glum Rainbow Dash. You look fine,” Rarity commented.

“Yeah, if she were the attending the “Wonderbolts Rejects Party”,” Eagle joked, continuing to laugh. Rarity rolled her eyes and continued her work.

“Can we please hurry this up?! I have somepony to pound into the ground!” Rainbow said angrily, glaring at Eagle. He stopped laughing for a moment, but quickly went right back to laughing. It was clearly too much for him to handle.

“Almost done…” Rarity said, making a few last additions. “And… done!” she shouted. She started to carefully remove the dress from Rainbow’s body. By the time that was finished, Eagle had stopped laughing, and was waiting for the two mares to finish up. As Rainbow stepped down from the stand she was on, she glared at Eagle.

“Oh, you’re gonna get it!” she said, still glaring at him.

“Gotta catch me first!” Eagle replied, darting out the door. Rainbow looked to Rarity for a quick second.

“Well Rarity, I can say without a doubt that this was one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had,” Rainbow said plainly.

“Oh come now, it wasn’t that bad,” Rarity replied. Rainbow just raised an eyebrow at her. “Okay maybe it wasn’t great for you, but at least you helped me out. Anyway, I thank you for what you’ve done. As for now, you’ve got a stallion to catch.”

“You bet I do. Later!” Rainbow finished, hovering above the ground for a moment, just before darting out the door.

Eagle Eye already had a good head start on Rainbow Dash, but she managed to quickly catch up to him. When Eagle realized his marefriend was right on his tail, he soared up into the sky. Rainbow tailed him closely, almost biting his tail.

“Gotta move quicker than that to catch me!” he yelled back to her, darting off ahead. She caught up to him again, now right beside him. “Uh oh.” She bumped into him, causing him to spiral for a moment. As he regained his balance, she tackled into him, pulling him down to the ground. Just as they were about to hit, she pulled up and flew a few meters away from the ground. They soon came close to the swimming pond. Just as they flew over, Rainbow dropped Eagle right into the water.

“How you like that Eagle?” Rainbow asked mockingly, hovering over her coltfriend, who had just surfaced from underwater.

“Not as much as you’ll like it!” Eagle said, soaring upward and grabbing Rainbow Dash. He held her tight as they plummeted back into the water. As the two came back to the surface, they started to laugh and splash each other.

“Oh, fun! I’m in!” a voice yelled over to them. “Cannonball!” Eagle and Rainbow looked to the sky to see one pink mare, curled up in a ball and plummeting straight towards them. They quickly got out of the way as Pinkie Pie splashed down. When she came back up, she smiled at the two.

“Hi guys!” Pinkie greeted them.

“Hey Pinkie,” Rainbow and Eagle said simultaneously.

“I can see you two are havin some fun! I saw you swoop by a few minutes ago, so I decided to follow. What’s up?!” Pinkie asked.

“Dash was modeling for Rarity in the most ridiculous dress ever. I had a hilarious outburst, so Dash decided she was going to get me back for that,” Eagle answered.

“And I did,” Rainbow added.

“Yeah, sure,” Eagle joked. He was met with another splash from the cyan mare. She rolled her eyes at him as he chuckled to himself.

“Well, if you’d like Dashie, I could help you out with that,” Pinkie said.

“I’d like nothing more…” Rainbow replied. The two mares looked at Eagle, who looked back in pretend fear.

“Uh oh…” The two mares started splashing him with everything they had. Eagle tried to splash back, but the waves that were being sent his way were too much. At least, too much in a playful way. He could have easily fought back, but he was having too much fun to do so. So, he dove under the water, snuck under Rainbow Dash, and lifted her up. With one big toss, he threw her a few inches forward, with her landing with a splash.

“Oooh, me next, me next!” Pinkie cried out. Eagle chuckled as Pinkie jumped over to him. He caught her and tossed her next to where Rainbow had landed. The two mares looked at Eagle and started to laugh. Eagle couldn’t help but join them in the laughter.

“Yeah, I definitely needed this relaxation time.”

Now into his fifth day in Ponyville, Eagle Eye had had himself a strong amount of fun during his stay. On his third day, he, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack had themselves a mini Iron Pony competition. The winner was Applejack this time, on account of her strict no wings rule. Still, overall, it was fun for the three ponies. On the fourth day, Eagle attended one of the many pet play dates that the girls had from time to time. Even though Eagle didn’t have a pet, it was still fun for him to be there. He took a considerable liking to Rainbow’s pet, Tank. Maybe it was just because he was Rainbow Dash’s pet. It didn’t matter.

Now, on his fifth day in Ponyville, the girls and Eagle Eye were just going to hang out at Sugarcube Corner. Nothing special. Just six mares and one stallion, hanging out as friends. Well, technically five mares and two lovers, but they didn’t care.

As Eagle and Rainbow Dash entered Sugarcube Corner, they were greeted by the rest of their friends. They all started conversing and chatting up, taking seats around the room. Eventually, Rarity brought up an interesting topic to get everypony’s attention.

“Did you girls hear that somepony thinks they saw the Assassin coming out of the Everfree Forest the other day?” Rarity asked the group. Eagle couldn’t help but smirk a little.

“Actually I have,” Twilight answered. “Whether or not it’s true, I got to thinking that maybe the Assassin’s possible hideout is located in the forest,” she added.

“That’s crazy talk Twilight. Everypony knows that the Assassin works mostly in Manehattan. Sure, he visits other areas of Equestria, but mostly Manehattan,” Rainbow spoke up.

“Ah reckon he had some business to git to in the forest,” Applejack chimed in.

“What would he have to do in the forest?” Fluttershy asked.

“Well… ya know, Ah don’t know.”

“Maybe it was something so important that he decided to just take whatever his business was and move it to the forest!” Pinkie spoke up. The girls and Eagle looked at her in confusion. “What?”

“Why would he ever want to attend to business in the Everfree Forest? As brave and courageous as he may be, that forest isn’t for anypony,” Rarity said.

“Maybe he had a target that he tailed into the forest,” Twilight said. Talk about the Assassin continued to circle the room, eventually getting to a point where the girls started stating their opinions on the Assassin. Mostly, the girls all thought he was a true hero. Eagle loved hearing that. Finally, the girls all looked to Eagle Eye, wondering why he hadn’t said anything yet.

“What do you think Eagle?” Rarity asked.

“Yea. Ya haven’t said a thing since we brought em up,” Applejack added.

“Eh, I just like hearing what other ponies have to say about him. I’m used to hearing his name being slandered all the time in the city. That’s not as common as it used to be, but still. I guess I just wanted to hear some new opinions,” Eagle answered.

“Yeah, every time I visit Manehattan, I hear a whole bunch of different things about the Assassin. Some ponies think he’s a hero, and others think he’s a criminal,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Well if you ask me he is certainly a true hero, something you don’t find much of nowadays. I especially love his robes. I would love to design something just for him. I’m sure I could make many great changes to those already beautiful robes,” Rarity said. Eagle and Rainbow chuckled together, leaving Rarity confused.

“Yeah, maybe you could add a nice regal collar to it,” Rainbow joked.

“Laugh if you wish, but I still think he’d appreciate the help.”

“Ah think he looks fine jus the way he is,” Applejack chimed in.

“I wonder what he’d look like in pink?!” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully. “Ooooh I can already see it!”

“Of course you can Pinkie,” Eagle joked. They all shared a quick, collective laugh before Twilight spoke up again.

“I still think he’s a little too mysterious. I mean, yeah, he’s surely been in the news a lot, but there’s still so much about him that nopony knows. I’m sure the biggest question is who is he? I’d like to ask how he managed to be able to make his wings turn into blades. Certainly he couldn’t have done that by himself,” she said.

“Do you think he works alone?” Fluttershy asked.

“Probably not. He’s got so much advanced gear, and he seems a bit too brute-like to be smart enough to make any of that gear. I’d say he has somepony smart working with him,” Twilight answered. Eagle felt a little hurt by that comment, but he quickly dropped it.

“All I know is that he went into that forest and probably kicked some flank!” Rainbow spoke up.

“An wha’s that?” Applejack asked.

“Because wherever the Assassin goes, pain is sure to follow,” Rainbow answered.

“Ain’t that the truth,” Eagle added. Another collective laugh was shared, followed by more talk of the Assassin. The topic changed after a little while, and soon enough, the sun had set. The ponies all said their goodbyes and went home to their respective houses. Pinkie of course stayed put.

When Eagle and Rainbow arrived at Dash’s home, they headed straight to bed. They were a little too tired to do anything else. They snuggled up together, feeling each other’s warmth as they got cozy.

“How many more days?” Rainbow asked.

“About two, if I’m correct,” Eagle answered.

“You think you’re ready?”

“I know I’m ready. After these past few days, I now know I have something more to fight for. You can bet your bits that I’m going to win this. Not just for me, but for Equestria as well.” Rainbow kissed Eagle and smiled at him.

“That’s what I like to hear. Now let’s get some sleep.” With that said, the two Pegasi closed their eyes. Eagle wrapped Rainbow in his wings, holding her close. He kissed her once on the forehead before they both fell asleep.

Eagle awoke from his slumber. He watched his marefriend sleeping peacefully, her mane in a bit of a mess. He felt his stallionhood still caressed inside Rainbow’s tight marehood. The previous night had been quite enjoyable for the two. They figured that this could have been the last night that they would spend together, so they made it enjoyable.

Shortly after Eagle woke up, Rainbow’s eyes opened.

“Hey you,” she said, letting out a cute yawn.

“Morning,” Eagle replied, kissing her. “Some night huh?”

“Damn right.” They both looked down at the mess they had made. Eagle couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Man, that’s messy,” he said.

“You think?” Rainbow joked. Eagle pulled out slowly, sending a slight sensation through Rainbow’s body. The two then decided to get up and went to take a quick shower. However, that quick shower wasn’t as quick as they hoped. And it wasn’t even because of anything sexual.

“Are you sure you can do this Eagle?” Rainbow asked, resting in his hooves as the water fell over them.

“I promise I’ll be fine. After it’s all over, I’ll come right back here and tell you all about it,” Eagle said. They were both sitting on the floor of the bathtub, letting the shower water wash over them. “Hell, you’ll probably see and hear all the explosions coming from the forest.”

“I know… I just want you to come back to me. Alive.”

“I will. You can be sure of that.” Rainbow looked up to him and kissed him passionately. They finished up their shower after resting there for a few minutes more. They headed to the kitchen, had a quick breakfast, and then headed back into Rainbow Dash’s room.

Eagle started to get his gear ready. He started with his armor. He put on all of the protective plating that went under his robes, letting it mold to the shape of whatever area the armor was for. Then, he put on the metal sheath for his tail. It molded perfectly with every hair of his red tail. Then, he started putting on his robes. He strapped everything on, making sure it was all in place. Then came his hidden blades. He strapped them on, and then put on his bracers. Next, he threw his rifle over his shoulder, checking the bayonet and making sure it had a full clip before doing so. Next, he put on his chest plate. After that simply came his hood and mask.

But, before he put them on, he looked to Rainbow Dash. She walked up to him and kissed him with more passion than ever before. When she broke the kiss, she looked into his eyes, which were now red.

“Go do what you gotta do.”

“I plan to.”

Eagle put on his mask, allowing it to convert to its helmet-like mode. When his head and neck were covered, he pulled up his hood. He walked over to the window, but before he jumped out, he looked back to Rainbow Dash. She nodded to him, and he nodded back. He jumped out and soared through the sky, heading for the Everfree Forest. Rainbow Dash was left with only the hope that he would come back alive.

As Eagle flew to the Everfree Forest, only one thought came to mind.

“Time to finish this.”

Author's Notes:

Holy crap! I finally wrote a new chapter! Took me long enough. Yeah, next chapter is the beginning of the final battle. The battle is gonna be broken up into two parts. You'll figure out what those parts are soon enough.

Also, does anyone think that the sexual references I make are a little... much? I don't, just wondering if you guys do.

Chapter 19: The Time Has Come

Eagle Eye flew quickly and stealthily into the Everfree Forest, heading for the rendezvous point where he would meet up with Celestia, Luna, and their Guards. Eagle could only hope that the combined power of the Royal and Lunar Guards would be enough to topple the Dark Flames of Heaven. He thought about his plan over and over again in his head.

“Okay, first, we initiate the attack. That’ll cause a huge amount of disorder and chaos. While all of that is going on, I’ll make my way through the complex, making sure to take out as many forces as I can. Then, I’ll reach the top of the complex and battle against my father. Simple enough… I think.”

In Eagle’s mind, the plan was quite simple. But in reality, it would be extremely complicated. Eagle knew firsthoof just how skilled the Dark Flames’ soldiers were. Along with their already impressive combat skills, the Unicorns amongst the ranks had managed to perfect a dangerous spell that only the Dark Flames’ knew. And then of course there were the multiple airships that littered the skies above the massive complex. And, to top it all off, Eagle’s father was their leader. That alone gave Eagle cause for concern.

Yet, even with all of these factors coming into play, Eagle wasn’t afraid. He knew what had to be done, and he was going to see that it was finished to the end. He wasn’t afraid anymore to kill the hundreds upon thousands of soldiers. He wasn’t afraid of the massive airships. And most of all, he wasn’t afraid to kill his father. Eagle Eye wasn’t afraid of anything.

And with his mind cleared, he arrived at the rendezvous point. Upon his arrival, Eagle was greeted by the sight of thousands of soldiers. The combined numbers of Royal and Lunar Guards was astounding. Eagle had never seen so many soldiers in one place before, and he was surprised as to how the Royal Sisters had managed to get them all into the forest so well.

Making his way through the ranks of soldiers, Eagle received multiple nods and pats on the back from them. He had never felt more accepted during his career as the Assassin. It was different, and Eagle would be lying if he said he didn’t like it. And when Eagle looked to the skies, he was greeted by the sight of multiple chariots, driven and rode by heavily armored soldiers. Finally reaching the front of the crowds, Eagle met up with the Princesses.

Both Celestia and Luna were clad in unique suits of armor, each set made specifically for each sister. Celestia’s set was a bright gold color, and her armor covered her legs, hooves, and most of her torso. Luna was adorned in similar armor, but the colors were blue and black. The manes of the Princesses were tied up in warlike fashions. Both wore sharp spears atop their horns, and at their sides were large greatswords.

“Sister, the Assassin has arrived,” Luna called to Celestia, giving Eagle Eye a once-over. Celestia finished her chat with a platoon of guards and turned to greet Eagle.

“Greetings Eagle Eye. I hope you are ready. We begin our assault in less than ten minutes,” Celestia explained. Eagle nodded his head to her.

“I hope you know what you’re getting us into,” Luna said, a slight amount of concern in her voice.

“I wouldn’t be too worried. Given the number of soldiers that you’ve amassed, I know we’ll be able to win this. All that matters to me though is that I kill my father,” Eagle said. The Princesses nodded to each other and continued about their business.

Eagle decided to mix himself amongst the ranks of the guards. He didn’t want to make his presence on the battlefield noticeable until the very last minute possible. When he found a suitable location to charge in from, he began to look over his equipment.

He checked out his rifle first, making sure that his sights and barrel were clean. Next, he checked out the bayonet of the rifle. Just as sharp as when he left from Manehattan. Finally, he checked the magazine of the gun. It was full and ready for firing. Eagle threw his rifle onto his back and started checking over his blades.

The hooks of the hookblades were as sharp as ever, and the hidden blades themselves were just as sharp. Eagle gave both of his blades a quick cleaning with a rag he had in one of his pouches. Once his blades were clean, he slid the sharp edges up against each other, trying to get them to be as sharp as possible.

With his hidden blades in good condition, Eagle sharpened up his wings to make his wing blades. He was used to the feeling by now, but there was still just a slight tingle, and a small ounce of pain when he did it. But, much as Eagle suspected, his wings were as sharp as his hidden blades. They would definitely come in handy.

Eagle finished up his quick examination by making sure his armor was locked onto his body. He gave himself one last glance before turning on the mic in his mask. He tuned it to the frequency he and Sharp Side used and talked into it.

“Sharp Side, you there buddy?” Eagle called to his friend.

“I’m here bro, and I read you loud and clear,” Sharp Side answered, working a few things on his computer systems. “You ready to do this?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t,” Eagle answered. He took a deep breath in and exhaled. And then again. And again. And again.

“Members of the Equestrian Guard!” Celestia shouted, gaining everypony’s attention. Eagle turned to look at the Royal Sisters, who stood ready to battle.

“Speech time. I’ll call you back when we’re about to attack,” Eagle told Sharp Side.

“For the past few years, Equestria has been haunted by the existence of the Dark Flames of Heaven,” Celestia began, her voice powerful and attention-grabbing. “Thousands have fallen at their hooves, and yet they have remained untouched. Today, we shall finally put an end to it all!”

The soldiers let out loud battle cries.

“Equestria has suffered for far too long because of them. It is time for them to pay for their crimes!” Celestia continued. “And I know that what lies ahead may prove to be a true challenge. And I know that some of us here today may not return home. But rest assured, your sacrifices shall not be in vain!”

More battle cries.

“So ready yourselves warriors! For today, in the name of peace and tranquility, we take the battle to them!” Celestia finished, earning a loud uproar from every soldier in attendance. Celestia and Luna faced themselves towards the entrance to the complex, opening their wings and floating above the ranks of soldiers.

“Chariots, you shall be the first to enter along with my sister and I,” Luna commanded. After the first wave of chariots has entered, all ground troops engage.”

“Well brother, this is it,” Eagle called to Sharp Side.

“On my mark!” Celestia shouted.

“Good luck bro. Makes those Dark Flames of Heaven remember the day they crossed the Assassin,” Sharp Side replied to his friend.

Eagle readied himself and waited for the mark.

Silence fell over the army for a moment, until…

“Charge!” Celestia cried out, flying in with Luna at her side and the first wave of fifty chariots. As soon as the forces had finished entering, the ground troops began their charge. And with them, so did Eagle.

The soldiers amongst the Dark Flames of Heaven continued their normal patrols as usual. The titanic warships hovered above the complex. Whatever tasks had to be done around the area, they were getting done. A pair of guards working the barrier that contained the image projector which shadowed the complex stood at their usual post.

“You ever wonder why we’re here?” the first guard asked his partner.

“It’s one of life’s great mysteries isn’t it?” the other guard responded. “Why are we here? Are we the product of some cosmic coincidence or… is there really a Faust, watching everything? You know… with a plan for us and stuff. I don’t know dude… but it keeps me up at night.” The first guard looked at his partner in complete and utter confusion.

“W-What?! I mean why are we out here?! In the Everfree Forest?!”

“Oh… well… I guess because it’s the most inconspicuous of places to hide a secret base for the Dark Flames of Heaven. I mean, we’re in the most dangerous place in Equestria after all. Who would come looking for us?”

“But we have a holographic projector that hides the base. We didn’t have to set up in the flank-end of the world.”

“Come on dude. You gotta learn to be one with nature.”

“The nature of the Everfree Forest can kiss my cock.”

“Well that certainly isn’t very nice.”

The conversation going on between the two stallions was interrupted by some strange noises coming from the other side of the barrier. Unfortunately for the Dark Flames of Heaven, the projector did not allow them to see outside of the complex, or at least, not very well. It also blocked off sounds coming from the other side, which was a huge problem that they aimed to fix.

However, they didn’t get to fixing it soon enough. The two guards were surprised when they saw Princesses Celestia and Luna fly overhead, immediately raining down powerful blasts of magic from their horns. The contact of the beams of magic with the ground created huge explosions, scattering the forces on the ground. Right behind the Royal Sisters were fifty flying chariots that began hammering the airships that flew above.

“Uh, dude…” the first guard said.

“Yeah… uh…” the second guard said. The disbelief the two were suffering from was baffling.

They weren’t quick enough to turn back around to stop the ground soldiers that charged at them with spears. Before they knew it, they were skewered on the tips of two of the Equestrian Guards’ spears. They rested motionless on the ground, lying in pools of their own blood.

And in a matter of moments, all hell had broken loose upon the secret base of the Dark Flames of Heaven. Gunfire sounded off in throughout the area from the rifles used by the Dark Flames, explosions erupted from magical blasts, flames covered parts of the landscape, and already from the air came parts of a destroyed airship.

Amid all of the chaos, one white robed stallion made his way through it all. Eagle was flying through the air, firing off rounds from his rifle at any soldiers who crossed his path. He descended to the ground, ramming his bayonet through the neck of an unsuspecting soldier. Eagle pulled the knife out and left the soldier for dead.

But before Eagle could continue his advance, he was jumped by a group of five soldiers. Eagle twirled his rifle in a circle above his head, managing to slice up two of the soldiers. He placed his rifle on his back and sharpened his wings and slid out his hidden blades.

Using his heightened senses, Eagle blocked an attack from behind with his wing blades, tripped up the attacking soldier with his hind legs, and smashed the soldier’s skull in using his armor-coated tail. As another soldier attacked, Eagle blocked with his hidden blades, hooked the soldier’s leg, tripped him up, and stabbed him in the face through his helmet.

The final soldier was a Unicorn, who took his distance and used the Dark Flame Spell. The flames burned high and hot, but Eagle was quick enough to dodge the barrage of flames without suffering one bit. He sped in towards the undefended soldier and cut him down with his hidden blades. The group of soldiers was left dead, riddling the ground with their blood.

“Requiescat in pace,” Eagle said, advancing towards the main building of the complex.

After cutting down twenty or so more soldiers, using whatever means he found useful, Eagle arrived at the entrance to the complex. Entering, Eagle found the space to be mostly empty. He assumed that most of the soldiers that would normally be in the building were outside, holding back the Equestrian Guard. Eagle decided to keep quiet and moved through the base.

Coming to a corner, Eagle looked around the bend. At the end of the hallway was another intersection, which multiple soldiers were running through. Eagle ducked behind cover as one soldier came running his way, unknowing of the robed-stallion that hid behind the corner.

As the soldier neared, Eagle jumped out of his cover and drove his hidden blade through the soldier’s throat. He gagged for a moment, trying to push Eagle off of him. But soon enough, he died. Eagle then looked up to be faced with three more soldiers. He quickly pulled out his rifle and shot them all down, nailing each of them with headshots. Eagle changed out the clip of the rifle, then threw it over his back.

“Now then, let’s see if we can find a faster way up,” Eagle said to himself.

“Eagle, if you take down the holographic projector surrounding the base, I can hack in to the systems and help you find your way around,” Sharp Side called to his friend.

“Sounds good. Where are the controls?” Eagle asked.

“Okay, you’ve gotta head about three floors up from where you are. That floor is where all the controls are.” With his destination made, Eagle continued his way through the complex. After killing a few more soldiers, stealthily of course, Eagle Eye found a flight of steps, leading up to the fourth floor.

As Eagle entered the fourth floor’s hallways, he found it to be mostly empty. Making his way through the passages, Eagle found a roomed filled with equipment and computers. He entered the room and started the look around at what he saw.

“Alright, any idea which of these is the right one?” Eagle asked.

“Well, just keep looking around. I should be able to figure it out via the camera feed from your mask,” Sharp Side said. Eagle continued to search, but all the while, Sharp Side had nothing to offer.

“Anything?” Eagle asked.

“Nope. It must be in a different room,” Sharp Side said. But before Eagle left, his attention was caught by an unchecked computer. He walked over and examined it closely.

“Eagle, that’s it!” Sharp Side said excitedly.

“Awesome. So, how do I turn it off?” Eagle asked.

“Hmm… maybe, punch it?”

“Works for me.” Eagle drove his fist into the screen of the computer, reaching around and shattering the insides. He pulled out multiple cords and wires, which sent sparks flying. Putting in for good measure, Eagle rattled off a few rounds into the remaining systems of the room.

Back outside, all of the soldiers engaged in combat took notice of the evaporation of the hologram. The once hidden base of the Dark Flames of Heaven was now revealed to the world. And surely enough, the citizens in Ponyville took immediate notice of this.

Everypony in Ponyville watched in awe as the headquarters of the Dark Flames of Heaven was revealed to them. Nopony ever really suspected it to be in the forest, but what they saw proved it. Along with the base itself, the sounds of the explosions and gunfire could be made out, and the flying airships and chariots could be made out clearly.

“Girls, are you seeing this?!” Twilight asked her friends.

“Ah don’t believe it,” Applejack said in shock.

“W-Where did it c-come from?” Fluttershy asked shakily.

“How did they ever manage to hide such a thing?” Rarity added.

“Who’s winning?! Who’s winning?!” Pinkie asked excitedly.

Rainbow Dash said nothing and only watched in anxiousness.

“Come on Eagle. You can win!” she thought to herself. All that was left to do for Ponyville was to wait for the battle to end.

“You did it bro! The field is down!” Sharp Side called triumphantly to Eagle.

“Sweet. Now help me out here. I need to pay my father a visit,” Eagle said.

“I’m on it.” Sharp Side began hacking in to the computers and systems of the complex. He looked through the schematics and found just what Eagle needed.

“Alright, if you head up two more floors, there’ll be an elevator that’ll take you fifty-four floors up from the sixth floor. That’s where they dock the smaller aircraft. You can take one of their smaller ships up to the top, and maybe cause some good damage along the way,” Sharp Side informed Eagle.

“Good shit bro, good shit. Onward then!” Eagle said in a gallant voice.

“What up with the voice?” Sharp Side asked.

“Dramatic effect,” Eagle answered. They both chuckled as Eagle continued up to the sixth floor.

Upon entering the sixth floor, Eagle went into a pure stealth mode. The halls were littered with soldiers, both dead and alive. A few caught sight of Eagle and engaged him. They swiped at him with swords, but any that were foolish enough to get too close were cut down by Eagle’s hidden and wing blades. The remaining soldiers tried to shoot Eagle down, but he simply moved in to slice their throats. With those few dealt with, Eagle made his way to the elevator that Sharp Side had mentioned.

Eagle entered the elevator and made his way up to the sixtieth floor. Upon his arrival, Eagle went back into stealth mode to dodge being sighted by the guards. Many of them were entering the few remaining ships that were left, flying off into battle. Eagle needed one of those ships.

Sneaking over to one of the ships, Eagle silently took out a soldier that was readying himself for flight. Quickly entering the ship, Eagle closed the cockpit. Luckily, the ship was already on. As for flying it, that was a different story.

“Sharp Side, a little help,” Eagle called to his friend.

“Don’t worry. I’ve hacked into the ship. I’ll be able to control it from here,” Sharp Side answered.

“Kind of defeats the purpose of me flying doesn’t it.”

“You think you can fly that thing?” Eagle decided not to argue and let his friend take control, as he was starting to get shot at. The ship took off into the air, initially bombarding a section of the complex that was untouched. To add on to the damage being caused by the ship, Sharp Side fired off a few rounds from the primary cannon at some of the ground troops, leaving them dead.

“Alright, you’ve had your fun. Now get me to the top. My dad is surely there waiting on me,” Eagle told Sharp Side.

“Got it. Top floor, here we come!” Sharp Side flew the ship up to the top floor, where Eagle opened the cockpit and hopped out onto the disc that was the top floor. Simply put, the top floor was nothing more than an outside observation deck, looking over the entirety of the complex.

“Alright, you’re there. But, where’s your dad?” Sharp Side asked.

“Don’t know. I’ll call you back when I’m done though,” Eagle said.

“I’ll see what I can do with my new toy. Good luck bro.” Sharp Side flew the ship away from the tower, leaving Eagle alone atop the massive headquarters.

“Where are you father?” Suddenly, a hatch in the floor opened up, and from it emerged Fire Streak, fully geared up and armor clad. With his helmet on, his eyes were a shade of dark purple that tore through Eagle Eye’s soul. But Eagle maintained his vigilance and stared back at his father with his own blood red eyes.

“So, you’ve finally arrived Assassin. I actually thought you’d get here much sooner. I see you’ve brought some friends,” the Master said, chuckling at the sight below. His voice was metallic almost, obviously due to the helmet. That metallic voice carried over the yard’s worth of distance between Eagle Eye and his father, as the roof was quite large.

“It’s time to pay for everything you’ve done, Master,” Eagle said with anger in his voice.

“So sure of yourself, are you? I must say, I’ve been looking forward to this moment for quite some time now. And now that we’re finally here… it almost brings a tear to my eye.”

“Shut up!” Eagle demanded.

“Where are your manners, Assassin?” the Master asked, his metallic voice absent of all emotion. “Why can’t we just have a little talk before we come to blows?”

“You know, I would think that you of all ponies would want to get this over with already.”

“So did I, for a time. But now that we’ve actually arrived at this moment, I want to savor it before I finally kill you. In fact, seeing as though one of us won’t be leaving her alive…” The Master looked to the sky, pondering on an idea. “I say that we finish this like true stallions. No more disguises. No more hiding behind masks and helmets. Let one of us die knowing who their killer was.”

And without another word, the Master removed his helmet. With his mane blowing in the wind, Fire Streak stood proudly.

“I am Fire Streak, leader of the Dark Flames of Heaven.”

“I know who you are,” Eagle said. Fire Streak looked at the Assassin in confusion.

“Do you?”

“Very well in fact.”

To start off his reveal, Eagle closed his eyes and changed them from red to blue. That immediately gained him a surprised look from Fire Streak.

“It… it’s not possible.”

Eagle continued by removing his hood. At the same time, he removed his mask, allowing his mane to flow freely. The Assassin’s identity had finally been revealed to Fire Streak. And he couldn’t believe it at all. Eagle Eye stood with his head held high, with Fire Streak in pure shock.

“I am Eagle Eye, the Assassin.”

And as Eagle Eye and Fire Streak stood there, both of their minds swimming with different thoughts, the battle below raged on. This was where and how it all would end.

Author's Notes:

WHAMMY! What a chapter to return to! This chapter was super fun to write! Eagle Eye is finally back, and it's time to finish the fight against the Dark Flames of Heaven. I'm dedicating an entire chapter to the battle between Eagle and Fire Streak, and it's gonna be good! Get pumped!

And I know you guys loved that Red vs. Blue reference! And hell, I even threw a Transformers reference in there! I love it!

Chapter 20: The Final Battle

Fire Streak stared at his son in shock, and Eagle Eye stared at his father in hatred.

“No… it… it’s not possible,” Fire Streak said out of disbelief.

“Is it really, father?” Eagle said, his voice filled with rage.

“How? How could you?” Eagle snickered.

“Yeah, how could I? Buck that! How could you is the real question Dad!”

“Son…”

“Shut up!” Eagle shouted. Fire Streak looked angrily at his son. “How dare you call me your son? Do you know what you did? Who am I kidding, of course you do. Do you know why I’m here, father? Do you?!” Eagle was shaking in rage.

“Eagle Eye, please…” Fire Streak said, trying to calm his son.

“Don’t try to justify what you did! You killed them!”

“I did not! They fell by the hooves of others! I had no knowledge that they would be there that night!”

“Bullshit! Your excuses mean nothing to me! And think of all the countless others that you’ve had your soldiers slaughter! What about all of them?! And that’s not even mentioning Mom and Ruby!” Eagle was barely holding onto himself. He was losing himself to his rage, but he didn’t care in the slightest.

“Do you honestly believe I wanted them to be killed?! I loved them more than anypony, Eagle Eye! They were my whole world!” Fire Streak protested, as he and Eagle Eye now circling each other around the surface of the roof.

“Really? Because, from my perspective, I was more of a father than you ever were! I said it before, and I’ll keep saying it until the day I die! You were never there for them! You practically shunned us from your life! It was always “business trips” this, and “murdering other ponies” that! You are a monster!” Eagle shouted to his father. His rage was raw and powerful, and Fire Streak felt the strength of Eagle’s words.

“You know nothing! I loved them Eagle Eye, why can’t you see that?!” Fire Streak asked his son, his voice just as angry as his son’s.

“Because it’s your fault that they’re dead!”

They stopped circling each other and fell into silence. They just stared at each other, their eyes filled with pure and utter rage. Eagle Eye broke the silence.

“How could you live with yourself?” he asked. To his surprise, Fire Streak smiled.

“Because I know, soon enough, our family shall be reborn. The Dark Flames of Heaven shall lift them up from their deaths, and they shall be with us yet again. Nopony has been lost, Eagle Eye. Our crusades have been to usher in a new era of pony kind. So tell me, how does all of that sound to you?” Fire Streak asked.

“It sounds like the biggest pack of lies I’ve ever heard. I don’t know what has brought you to believe all of this father, but it isn’t true. And, it doesn’t change the fact that my mother and sister, your wife and daughter, are dead. And it’s all your fault.

“Son, please…”

“Don’t call me son. I am not your son, and you are not my father. Not anymore,” Eagle said, staring at his father with eyes that were almost starting to tear up. Fire Streak sighed.

“Then… I will not regret your demise. I suppose it is time that you joined your mother and sister in the cycle of rebirth. May the Dark Flames of Heaven guide you Eagle Eye.” With that, Fire Streak used his magic to draw his mighty blade.

“Fine. Let’s finish this.” Eagle Eye sharpened his wing blades and slid out his left hidden blade.

The two warriors stared each other for one moment more. And then, they charged.

Fire Streak’s blade met Eagle’s wing blades with a clang, as Eagle protected his face with his wings. He pushed his father back and swiped at his chest, but the hidden blade only managed to scrape Fire’s thick armor. With a powerful punch, Fire Streak sent Eagle backwards.

The punch had managed to leave a noticeable dent in Eagle Eye’s chestplate, and it had even made Eagle cough up a small amount of blood. Eagle looked at the Master of the Dark Flames in anger, as he readied himself to strike down his father.

Eagle charged forward, flying fast towards his father with both hidden blades at the ready. Fire Streak blocked the strike with his sword, but Eagle managed to hook one of Fire’s frontal hooves and tripped him to the ground. Eagle pulled the sword out of Fire Streak’s magical grip and tried to drive his hidden blade into his throat, but the Master was too quick for the Assassin.

Fire Streak blasted Eagle Eye in the face with a quick beam of magic, sending the white stallion back again. The red coated father got back up, gripped his sword with his magic, and tried to bring the blade down onto Eagle. Luckily, Eagle was quick enough to roll out of the way.

Eagle pulled out his rifle and sliced his father in the face with the bayonet, leaving Fire Streak with a trickle of blood running down his cheek, and an angry glare beaming at Eagle Eye. He shot a powerful stream of purple flames at Eagle with his magic, but Eagle flew up into the air just in time.

The Assassin began to rain down bullets on the Master, two of which managed to connect. But, the bullets were only strong enough to bruise Fire Streak, rather than pass through his armor. Fire Streak blasted Eagle once again with magic, which sent the robed stallion back to the surface of the roof.

“I have to get past that armor,” Eagle thought to himself, as he got back up in time to dodge another swing of Fire Streak’s blade. Eagle put his rifle on his back and blocked another strike with his hidden blade, hooked his father with the other blade, and pulled him in close. Eagle punched his father in the face multiple times before punching him one final time. The final punch sent Fire Streak to the ground.

Eagle jumped onto his father and started tearing away at his armor with his hidden blades. Eagle managed to use his hookblades to latch onto the shoulder plates of Fire Streak’s armor, and with forceful pulls, he yanked them off. Fire Streak retaliated with a powerful punch to Eagle’s face.

Fire Streak got to his hooves and swung his blade at Eagle Eye once again. This time, it managed to connect. Eagle had managed to protect his face from the strike with his bracers, but the sheer power of the attack managed to cut the bracer right down the middle. It didn’t fall off, but Eagle’s left hoof received a deep cut, and was bleeding heavily.

Fire Streak then used his magic to teleport out of Eagle’s sight. Eagle was holding his left hoof in pain, anticipating where his father may appear next. He wasn’t quick enough to stop the Master from pouncing on him from behind. He used the handle of his sword to slam Eagle’s neck, receiving a loud gagging sound from his son. Eagle coughed up more blood before knocking his father over.

Both stallions got to their hooves, Fire Streak doing much better than Eagle Eye. The Assassin wasn’t doing so well. He needed to get under that armor some more to do some real damage.

Eagle used his quick speed to practically disappear from sight. He reappeared right on top of Fire Streak and yanked off the portion of armor protecting his back. But, the dark stallion was quick enough to buck Eagle right in the gut, sending him to the floor.

As Fire Streak lunged towards Eagle Eye, the Assassin stopped the blade that was nearing his face with his wing blades. Pushing his father back, Eagle Eye sliced his father’s chest with his wing blades, managing to cut through the thick and powerful armor. Then, using his bayonet, Eagle fully removed the chestplate of Fire Streak’s armor set. Eagle Eye’s reward for doing so, however, was a swift right hook to the face.

“Why do you continue to resist the inevitable, you foolish colt?” Fire Streak asked his son in a mocking tone. Eagle Eye shakily stood there, trying to defend himself from the punches and blows he was receiving. One last punch to the side sent Eagle to the floor once more.

“You shall not win this fight Eagle Eye, let me assure you.” Fire Streak walked over to his fallen son, but was quickly tripped up by Eagle Eye, who got back to his hooves.

“I’m not done… until you’re dead…” Eagle said, breathing heavily. This fight was taking a lot out of the young stallion, as he could barely stand anymore. But he persisted in the fight, lunging towards Fire Streak once again.

The Master managed to block the weak attack with his blade. Fire Streak then sliced through Eagle’s armor and cut his chest open. The wound was of a decent size, and Eagle was clutching his chest in immense pain now. He fell to his knees and coughed up large amounts of blood. He spat on the floor and looked to his father.

“Give up Eagle Eye. You have lost.”

Eagle just got right back up.

Fire Streak responded with a swift uppercut to Eagle’s jaw, sending him flying to the ground.

“Not… giving up…” Eagle barely managed to spit out. Fire Streak stepped over to his son, but then they both felt the building starting to shake. The battle that raged below was having an effect on the structure. Explosions erupted from the central building of the complex. One blast sent Fire Streak over the edge of the roof, with debris scraping him and leaving small cuts over his face and exposed fur.

Eagle got back up and walked steadily over to the edge. He looked over to find his father clinging on for his life. Eagle simply watched, making ready to kick his father to the ground. But he wasn’t fast enough to do the deed, as Fire Streak used his magic to blast Eagle in the chest with a powerful Dark Flame spell.

“AAAAGH!” Eagle cried out, falling back to the floor a few feet away from Fire Streak. The Master pulled himself back up onto the roof, now weak and damaged. Both father and son were bloody and wounded, and only one of them was going to win.

Fire Streak shakily crawled towards his son, wanting to finish the job. Eagle started crawling towards his father, his blades ready to kill the murderer of his family.

“Surrender… and I will spare you,” Eagle said. He raised his hoof, with his hidden blade ready. Fire Streak stopped him and pushed Eagle onto his back.

“Brave words… from a stallion about to die,” Fire Streak said, resting on top of Eagle Eye.

“You fair no better!” Fire Streak wrapped his hooves around Eagle’s neck, choking the life out of him.

“All those times when you appeared triumphant, and still, we rose again. Do you know why son? It is because the Dark Flames of Heaven are born of a realization. We have been enlightened, and sent on the path to righteousness. We are the change that this world truly needs. All we need is that the world be as it is, so that we may change it for the better. And this, my son, is why the Dark Flames of Heaven, will never be destroyed.”

Fire Streak tightened his grip around his son’s throat, waiting for Eagle Eye to finally die. But, with one last push, Eagle slid out his left hidden blade and drove it through Fire Streak’s throat. Fire Streak let out a short grunt, let go of Eagle, and put his hoof on his open wound.

Fire Streak stepped back and looked at his bloody hoof. He then replaced it on the wound and looked at his son.

“Don’t think I have any intention of caressing your cheek and saying I was wrong,” Fire Streak started, taking a breath. “I will not weep, and wonder what might have been. I’m sure you understand.” He fell to his knees. “Still… I’m proud of you in a way. You’ve proven yourself to be a true warrior. You’ve shown great conviction, strength, courage, responsibility. All noble qualities.”

Fire Streak looked at Eagle Eye one last time.

“You’ve grown to become just the stallion I was hoping you’d become. Sadly, you were on the wrong side of the coin.” And with one last breath, Fire Streak spoke his last words.

“Farewell my son.” And with that, Fire Streak fell to the floor, passing from the world. Eagle Eye groggily got back to his hooves and walked over to his father. He knelt down and closed Fire Streak’s open eyes.

“Requiescat in pace… father.”

Eagle Eye stood up and walked away from where his father’s body rested. He found the hatch that led down to the control tower of the entire complex. The room was empty, other than the dead soldiers that littered the room. Eagle turned on his communicator.

“Sharp Side…” Eagle called to his friend.

“Eagle! You’re alive! Which, I guess means…” Sharp Side said, his excited tone falling into silence.

“My father is finally dead. My mother and sister have finally been avenged.” Eagle stood alone in the room, resting against a wall, not feeling as triumphant as he imagined.

“So… now what?” Sharp Side asked.

“I don’t know,” Eagle Eye answered. He listened to the war that continued to rage on outside. He didn’t have the strength in him to keep fighting alongside his allies, so he slid down the wall and rested for a moment.

“Eagle, you can’t stay there. If you do, you might not survive your wounds. You need to get out of there.”

“I can’t Sharp Side. I’ve got nothing left in me.”

“Just try to fly back to Ponyville, something! You need medical attention according to my readings.”

“Sharp Side, I just killed my father. Doesn’t that entitle me to a breather?” Eagle said, chuckling. Sharp Side couldn’t help but chuckle as well.

“I guess. But, just try to stand back up,” Sharp Side said. Eagle shakily got back to his hooves and looked out the window.

Judging from what Eagle could see, the forces of Equestria were driving the Dark Flames of Heaven into the ground. Eagle Eye’s quest was finally being fulfilled. The entire air fleet that the Dark Flames had amassed was destroyed. Thousands of Dark Flames of Heaven soldiers had fallen to the Equestrian Guard. Truly, this was a glorious day.

Eagle then watched as Celestia and Luna flew high into the sky and began to combine their magic. In a beautiful streak of light, they unleashed their magic to the ground, enveloping all remaining forces that stood. Their magic was something else, as it not only eliminated the soldiers of the Dark Flames of Heaven, but it also protected the Equestrian Guard soldiers. It must have been a safeguard of the magic they used.

“Sharp Side, I wish you could see this.”

“You forget that I can see it, bro.”

“No, I mean for real. It’s amazing.”

“Damn right.”

And as the magic of the Princesses subsided, all that was left were the victorious Equestrian Guard. The Princesses hovered to where Eagle was watching. They both smiled at him, and he nodded his head to them. But as his smile started to fade away, so did his consciousness. He fell to the floor, his head feeling extremely light. The Princesses teleported inside the room and started to tend to him.

“Eagle Eye, can you hear me?!” Princess Celestia asked, holding his head up.

“It’s over… we won…” Eagle said, feeling himself fade away.

“Rest now, child. We shall see that you are properly tended to,” Luna told him. Eagle nodded his head and fell asleep.

In that moment, Eagle Eye didn’t care what happened to him. All he knew was that he had avenged the memory of his mother and sister, and that he, along with the Royal Sisters and the Equestrian Guard, had saved Equestria. The Dark Flames of Heaven had finally been defeated for good.

Author's Notes:

Anyone else like how I ripped most of that dialogue from Assassin's Creed 3 and used it here?

Like I said in the last chapter, I wanted this fight to have its own chapter. That, and I wanted to include the beginning dialogue between Eagle Eye and Fire Streak. It added a degree of drama to the whole situation.

So yeah, Eagle Eye finally won. Does that mean this story is done? No. I've got a few more chapters for the story. So, you've got some stuff to look forward to.

Chapter 21: The Aftermath

Eagle Eye slowly opened his eyes to the warm light seeping into the room through the curtains. He let out a soft moan of exhaustion and tried to turn his head. He felt extremely sore, and was barely able to twist his head around to look around the room. He had no idea where he was, and it hurt his head even more to try to figure that out. So, he rested his head on the pillow and spoke out softly.

“Hello?” he said, waiting for a response. Nothing. “Is anypony there?” Still no answer.

Eagle looked down to his body, which was banged up in many areas. His armor was scraped up, dented, and in some areas, completely cracked open. His chest was especially bad, with a huge gash left behind by his father. Thankfully, it had been bandaged and healed, for the most part. On many other areas of his body, his fur had been partially lost, and he had suffered from many other scars and cuts. His entire body felt like a mass of pain, and if not that, then he was just too sore to do anything.

Eagle then heard the door to the room open. He slowly turned his head to see who had entered. It was Princess Luna.

“Finally awake,” she said, walking over to him. Eagle nodded and managed to crack a small smile.

“Yeah. I’m just so bucking sore,” Eagle said, letting out another moan of annoyance.

“I apologize. Our medical staff was only able to do so much,” Luna told him. Eagle’s eyes shot open when he realized he was not wearing his mask or hood.

“Uh… how many ponies saw my face?”

“None. My sister and I used a spell on the medics so that they would forget your identity. We know how important secrecy is to you.” Eagle sighed a pleasant sigh of relief.

“So… we won.”

“Indeed we did, Eagle Eye. After you defeated your father, the forces of the Dark Flames of Heaven practically crumbled under out assault. We are still hunting down the remnants of the group, but hopefully, within a few more days, they shall be completely eliminated.” Eagle’s smile grew a little larger as he looked up to the ceiling.

“So, I take it nopony has come to visit me.”

“No. We assumed you wanted your identity to remain a complete secret, so we made sure that nopony knew you were here.”

“Princess Luna, do you think I could have a visitor?” Eagle asked.

“Of course. But, who would that be?” Luna responded.

“Rainbow Dash,” Eagle said. Luna raised an eyebrow to him.

“I thought you didn’t want anypony to know your identity.”

“She already knows. It’s fine, trust me. Just, please bring her here. I told her I would go to her after the battle. She probably thinks I’m dead right now.” Luna nodded to Eagle with a warm smile on her face. She turned around and headed for the door. But, before she left, she asked him one last question.

“Was it easy?” she asked.

“To kill my father…” Eagle thought for a moment on what to say. He knew his answer. “Yes. I would be lying if I said it was difficult for me to kill him.”

Luna nodded and exited the room.

A few hours later, a knock came from the door to Eagle’s room. Eagle looked over to the door to see it slowly open. Standing there were Princess Celestia and Rainbow Dash.

“Hello Eagle Eye. I believe somepony is here to see you,” Princess Celestia said, smiling at him. The expression on Rainbow Dash’s face was a mixture of happiness and sadness. She was crying tears of joy to see him. She jolted over to him and wrapped him in a tight hug.

“Uh, Dash… hurting me!” Eagle managed to croak out from under her vice grip. She let go and smiled at him.

“Sorry. I just can’t believe you’re alive. I thought you were dead. After that whole complex was destroyed, nopony in Ponyville knew what to think,” Rainbow said, which caught Eagle’s attention.

“Wait… the complex was destroyed?” Eagle asked. He turned his gaze to Celestia.

“After we finished dealing with the soldiers, we had our soldiers demolish the headquarters. Nothing but rubble lies in the wake of the Dark Flames of Heaven,” Celestia explained. Eagle simply nodded and looked back to Rainbow Dash.

“Cool,” he said, smiling at her. Rainbow giggled.

“Cool? More like awesome! Eagle, don’t you realize what this means?!” she asked ecstatically.

“Um… no?”

“Their gone forever! You saved the world! Heck, all of Equestria thinks you’re a hero now!” Eagle gave her a confused stare.

“My confusion seems to have no end today. Care to explain?” Eagle asked Rainbow Dash.

“The Princesses made sure that you were given proper credit for your actions. The Equestrian newspapers were filled with details about the battle, and the biggest part of it all was the presence of the Assassin on the battlefield! You’re a hero!” Rainbow said happily, kissing him on the lips. Eagle was still confused.

“Wait, Princess, you made me out to be a hero?” Eagle asked.

“My sister and I thought it was the right thing to do,” Celestia said. “In fact, we added a statue of the Assassin in the Statue Gardens to commemorate your heroic deeds,” Celestia told him.

“Princess, I appreciate everything, really. But, I’m just not the hero type.”

“Eagle, just shut up and let it be. You’re a hero! Why aren’t you freaking out over this?!” Rainbow asked.

“Because it was never really my aim to become a hero,” Eagle answered.

“Well that sucks, because you’re a hero now.” There was no way around Rainbow’s perspective on the matter, so Eagle simply sighed and rolled his eyes at her. She giggled at him and kissed him again.

“I’ll leave you two to yourselves,” Celestia said, leaving the room. She closed the door, giving Eagle Eye and Rainbow Dash some privacy. The two Pegasi stared into each other’s eyes for a moment before bringing their lips together for a passionate kiss.

“Do you have any idea how scared I was?!” Rainbow Dash asked her coltfriend.

“Rainbow Dash, scared? Who are you and what have you done with the real Dash?” Eagle joked.

“Seriously! I thought you were dead!”

“I’m sorry, honestly. I kind of got my flank kicked by my father, and then I wound up passing out in the top floor of the headquarters.” Rainbow rolled her eyes and kissed Eagle again.

“I’m just glad you’re okay,” she said.

“Thanks Dash,” Eagle responded. The two kissed once more.

“So, what was it like?” Rainbow asked.

“The whole thing? Well, to be honest, it was a complete rush of adrenaline. There was never a moment where I wasn’t doing something. We started by rushing the base completely. Then, I broke off from the main group of soldiers and infiltrated the base. Then, I turned off that hologram thing that they used so Sharp Side could help me get to the top floor a bit quicker.”

“So that’s why everypony in Ponyville could see the headquarters!” Rainbow cut him off.

“I guess so. What was that like?” Eagle asked.

“It was crazy. Literally everypony in Ponyville stopped what they were doing to watch the fireworks. It was so sweet!” Eagle chuckled as she squished her face.

“Yeah, I can imagine. After that, I got to the top floor and fought my father. We had a little dramatic moment where we both revealed our identities to each other. And then… we fought… and I won.”

“Was it hard to kill him?” Rainbow asked. Eagle looked into her eyes with in every manner of seriousness.

“No, it wasn’t. He was strangling me, and I quickly stabbed him in the neck. It was easy. And, something about it made it enjoyable for me,” Eagle confessed to her. Rainbow simply nodded to him.

“Well, it’s over now. The Dark Flames of Heaven are gone, Equestria is safe, and we’re together,” she said, wrapping him in a soft hug. Eagle kissed her on the cheek and smiled.

“You’re right. It’s over.” Rainbow let go of him and the two kissed each other once again.

“I love you Eagle Eye.”

“I love you too Rainbow Dash.”

A large theoretical weight had just been lifted from Eagle’s shoulders. And, for the first time since the day Eagle Eye became the Assassin, his life seemed to be turning out for the better.

Author's Notes:

This is just a sweet little transitional chapter from the battle into what comes next. This story isn't over just yet. There's still a little bit left for Eagle Eye to go through. So, get ready for the technical second act of the story, which will last for probably only three to four chapters. And, these next few chapters probably won't be that long either. So, to simplify: story not done, a few more chapters to come, and stuff! Whoopie!

Chapter 22: The Master Assassin

It took a while, but eventually, the Dark Flames of Heaven were completely eliminated. By the time Eagle Eye turned twenty-two, they were gone from the world. From that point, it seemed like the Assassin would be put to rest, so to speak. However, Eagle Eye and Sharp Side had no idea how much influence the Assassin would gain over the four years that followed the defeat of the Dark Flames of Heaven.

Aside from the initial hero label that the Assassin received, he also earned himself a great deal of respect from both enemies and allies. He even gained some allies in the process. Now, Eagle Eye could practically count the Captain of the Manehattan Guard as a close friend.

As for his enemies, most of the criminals that remained in Manehattan ditched their old habits of crime-doing. Granted, Eagle still had a lot to deal with in the city, but not as much as he used to. Some big shots would try to fight back, but it would always end the same. But regardless of whom it was, they knew to either fear or respect the Assassin.

Along with some new friends and well-earned respect, the Assassin had given himself some major upgrades. After his father’s death, Eagle Eye had to find his own place to live. About one year after his father’s death, he found an apartment penthouse on the North side of Manehattan. It wasn’t necessarily on the outskirts of the city, but it wasn’t too far in that his identity as the Assassin could be discovered.

Of course, Eagle loved his new home. He suited it up with plenty of furnishings that would suit his needs. But, for Eagle, it was too much space. So, he and Sharp Side devised the ultimate plan to turn a sizeable amount of the penthouse into Eagle’s very own personal hidden base of operations.

Eagle Eye took to calling his new hideout the Nest. Whether or not it was looked at as a play-on-words, the Nest was just what the Assassin needed. The entire process took just about one year. By the time Eagle turned twenty-two, the Nest was completed.

The entrance to the hideout was a small door that was hidden beyond Eagle’s fireplace. The fireplace could offer heat when needed, but with a simple twist of a knob on the wall, the heat given off from the flames faded away, and the door to the Nest could be accessed.

The hideout had everything that Eagle could need. Ranging from the latest technology for computers and small scale surveillance systems, to a small training ring and workbench, the Nest had it all. One of Eagle’s personal favorites of the Nest was the storage unit he had for his robes and gear. Along with practically everything else he could want, Eagle and Sharp Side installed a small hatch in the roof of the building to act as a secret exit/entrance from and to the Nest.

Eagle Eye’s work load seemed to only increase thanks to his new computer systems though. With all of the equipment he now had, Eagle could track down targets with ease, along with the traditional sneaking and eavesdropping missions. Along with this, Eagle could receive and accept contracts by communicating with others that had access to this kind of technology. And the pay was never short of incredible.

This also led to Eagle’s work taking him all over Equestria. The Assassin was no longer just a Manehattan hero. Now, the Assassin was known across all of Equestria. He had gained notoriety in Los Pegasus, Trottingham, Hoofington, Baltimare, pretty much any major city in Equestria now knew the name of the Assassin.

And the fun didn’t stop for Eagle even after the Nest was completed. For all of this new work, the Assassin needed some new upgrades to deal with it all. However, most of these upgrades turned out to be small tweaks. For one, Eagle’s rifle, the Avenger, had undergone a major change in how it was handled. No longer did it have its unique firing style. The rifle had been changed to follow a more traditional trigger type, such as most other rifles used during the time. But this turned out to be extremely useful, as the rifle could now fire as fast as Eagle could pull the trigger.

As for appearance, the mask that Eagle wore had earned a small, and what some might consider frightening, addition. The metal mask that hid Eagle’s identity no longer just covered his muzzle. It now covered his eyes as well. Truthfully, it had almost become a full helmet. Just like when it was created, it would fold out to cover the rest of Eagle’s head and neck, providing him with much needed protection.

As for the addition of the visor, it was quite simple for Sharp Side to do. And the results were simply awesome. The mask now covered Eagle’s face completely. When the mask was initially placed on Eagle’s face, it had no color. But once it locked into place, the visor would turn on and flash a dark red color. If Eagle’s enemies were unlucky enough to see it, they would be struck to the bone with fear.

Luckily for Eagle, the visor didn’t let off too much light that he could be discovered. The visor was just a simple line that crossed over Eagle’s eyes, but Sharp Side had been able to work the visor so that Eagle would be able to see completely as if he wasn’t wearing anything.

And of course, Eagle had to get his armor fixed up a little better. Although his armor was already light, Sharp Side had figured out a way to make it just a bit lighter, while making it even more durable. Now, the Assassin’s armor could withstand heavy bullet fire and strong slashes and hacks from blades and such.

And with Eagle Eye at the age of twenty five, his career as the Assassin was at its peak. The Assassin had become a true master at what he did, and nopony could deny that simple fact. As for white coated stallion himself, his life couldn’t be better.

Except, unfortunately, for the fact that Eagle Eye was starting to lose his mind. Ever since the day that Eagle killed his father, the young stallion had been having even more horrible nightmares. Every time he had a nightmare, it seemed even worse than the last one he would go through. And what made it all worse was that sometimes his nightmares enjoyed visiting him during the day.

Eagle was starting to see his fallen family members as if they were right there with him. And whenever they would pay him a visit, they would cause him to suffer from unbearable headaches. Often at times, these visits would leave Eagle Eye rocking himself back and forth on the floor of his apartment. And nopony would ever be there to help him.

Sky Dove, Ruby, and Fire Streak would always find some new horrible things to say to Eagle Eye. They would curse him for what he has done, they would tell him to give up the fight he has been going through over the past years, or Sky Dove and Ruby would call him a terrible son and brother, respectively. Fire Streak would mock his son, often calling him a murderer. Everything that they said found a way to hurt Eagle Eye more and more.

But, the young stallion still managed to find happiness in his life. His relationship with Rainbow Dash was at its best, and Eagle could only tell that it was almost time to propose to his lover. Rainbow Dash knew that he would ask her any day now. She just had to wait for that day to come.

Eagle Eye’s life had changed so much over the course of these five years. He had lost his mother and sister, gotten back together with his former marefriend, taken on the mantle of the Assassin, killed his father, became viewed as a hero as the Assassin, and had somehow managed to take his life back into his own hooves. So, as a whole, Eagle thought he was living a good life.

What Eagle didn’t foresee was how quickly it all would change once again.

It was a cold November night. The wind was softly howling, the streets of Manehattan were bustling as usual, and the stars of Luna’s night sky were shining brightly. Eagle Eye, watching over the city as the Assassin, stood atop a random skyscraper with his robes blowing in the air. His rifle rested on his back, his blades rested in their sheathes on his forelegs, his armor pieces were covering his body in their specific places, and his eyes panned over the city behind his mask.

Sharp Side, now in his own apartment as well (still in Eagle Eye’s old neighborhood however), using the same new tech that Eagle had received, called to his friend.

“Alright brother, Razor is supposedly still in the area. Thanks to the tracker you managed to plant on him, I’m seeing that he’s just a few blocks away from you.” Sharp Side’s call reached Eagle’s ears through the communication system built into Eagle’s mask. The data that Sharp Side had spoken about popped up in front of Eagle’s face on the inside of his mask (another added perk to the upgraded mask of the Assassin).

“Nice. Tonight, this guy will understand why it’s wrong to mess with the ponies of Manehattan,” Eagle replied. Razor, a new killer in the city of Manehattan, had been active for around two weeks now. He had been on an insane killing spree, taking the lives of over thirty innocent ponies. Eagle Eye and Sharp Side had been tailing the killer for days now, but only on the previous night were they able to plant a tracking device on him. Now, it was time for him to pay.

Eagle took flight towards his destination. He pulled up some data on Razor that he had been reading before he left the Nest to begin his mission. Eagle had managed to learn pretty much everything there was to learn about this crazed killer, but he wanted to check everything over one more time.

Razor was known mostly because of the heinous crimes he had committed, but even more than that were his methods. He would mutilate his victims, five of which he had chopped of limbs before finishing the deed. One of his victims had been decapitated, and it was reported that another victim had her eyeballs ripped out.

“I feel like puking just from reading this stuff,” Eagle told Sharp Side.

“I’m right there with you bro,” Sharp Side replied.

Eagle arrived at his destination in no time, landing on the top of a small building. He arrived just in time to see Razor exit his little home, which was nothing more than a tiny homemade completely out of boxes. The brown coated stallion pulled out a bloodied knife and ran it through his dark red mane. Razor then brandished his knife in front of his face and licked a dried line of blood off of it.

“I wonder who my next victim will be tonight,” Razor said to himself. Eagle cringed at hearing the psychopath’s twisted voice. Eagle readied his rifle as Razor made his way down the street, skipping merrily to his own demented tune.

“Time to die,” Eagle said, pulling the trigger. The bullet passed right through Razor’s chest, sending the stallion sprawling to the floor. He tried to crawl away, but Eagle quickly jumped from the rooftop and pounced on him.

“I hope you had fun Razor, because it all ends here,” Eagle said, his red visor managing quite well to earn him a fearful gaze from Razor.

“Y-You can’t kill me! I’m Razor! Nopony kills me!” the psychopath cried out.

“Sorry to disappoint.” Eagle slid out his left hidden blade and drove it into the stallion’s neck, making him gag and cough up large amounts of blood. Eagle left the murderer’s lifeless corpse in a puddle of blood.

“You will receive no pity from me. May your soul burn for an eternity. Requiescat in pace, punk.” Eagle shut Razor’s eyes and walked away.

“You know, it amazes me how after five years of being the Assassin, you still manage to come up with those short little monologues that you give after you kill a target,” Sharp Side called to Eagle Eye.

“It’s not that hard really. I just say something based on the actions of the target. Plus, I’ve reused some of my lines from time to time. How have you not noticed that?” Eagle asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe I’m always just too caught up in the fact that you successfully killed your target. But, whatever the case, another contract fulfilled. I’m sure that stallion that contacted us will be glad to pay you the sum you discussed about with him.”

“Truthfully, I almost don’t want his money. He lost his daughter to Razor, and that’s a pain that nopony should ever suffer from. But, if he insists, I’ll accept the bits.”

Eagle flew off into the night sky, gazing over the brightly lit city. He was headed home, where he would be meeting up with Rainbow Dash for a romantic evening, including a dinner cooked by Eagle, an action filled movie, and probably sex. Eagle checked the time by bringing it up via his mask.

“Alright brother, I’m heading home for the night,” Eagle told Sharp Side.

“Tell Rainbow Dash I said hello,” Sharp Side responded. With that, the two shut off their communication devices and went about their own business.

Eagle arrived at his apartment and stealthily entered the Nest through the secret hatch in the roof. Entering his base of operations, he went straight to his computer to confirm the death of Razor, reporting it to the Manehattan Guard and the stallion that he received the contract from. After that, Eagle pulled up his robe mannequin and removed his gear, placing it all neatly in place. Once he finished with that, he exited his base and entered his living room through the fireplace.

Rather than enter through the front door, Rainbow Dash decided to knock on Eagle’s window. The knock was loud enough of course to gain Eagle’s attention.

“Hey, open up!” Rainbow called from outside. Eagle chuckled as he walked over and opened the window.

“Why hello you,” he greeted his marefriend.

“Nice timing.”

“Oh, you saw me coming home?”

“Of course I did. I followed you actually. How could you not notice?”

“I was just thinking about how much fun we’re going to have tonight.” Eagle drew a smirk on his face and pulled Rainbow into the apartment. She giggled and began to kiss him. But, Eagle was quick to stop her.

“Now, now, let’s save some for the movie and for desert,” Eagle said, chuckling. Rainbow kissed his cheek and smiled at him.

“I think there’ll be plenty left over,” Rainbow said, walking into the living room and lying down on the soft couch. Eagle rested next to her and wrapped an arm around her.

“Ahem, aren’t you supposed to be making dinner?” Rainbow Dash joked.

“In a while. No need to rush,” Eagle replied. And then, the two Pegasi heard a growl coming from Eagle’s stomach. The white-coated stallion chuckled. “I guess I’ll get on that then.” Rainbow giggled and watched her stallion enter the kitchen.

A few hours after their dinner and movie, Eagle Eye and Rainbow Dash found themselves in bed with each other. They tossed and turned, making out and bucking like animals. The bedroom filled with the scents of their sex and their moans and cries.

After their session of love making ended, the two quickly passed out. Luckily for Eagle, the comfort of his lover kept his nightmares away for the night. But, upon waking up the next morning, Eagle was greeted by the sight of his sister standing on the floor behind Rainbow Dash.

“Eagle, why did you protect her? I’m your little sister. You should have protected me!” Ruby shouted at him. Of course, only Eagle heard her. He tried his best to ignore her, and soon enough, she vanished, just as Rainbow Dash woke up. She saw the worried look in her stallion’s eyes.

“Eagle. Who was it?” she asked. Eagle rested his head against Rainbow’s.

“It was Ruby this time.”

“What did she say?” Eagle didn’t answer. Rainbow simply sighed and cuddled closer to her coltfriend. “Don’t worry, I’m here.” Eagle did the same as her and cuddled closer.

A little while after, the two got out of bed and took a quick shower to clean themselves up from the previous night’s activities. This was followed by a quick breakfast. Afterwards, the couple said their goodbyes. Rainbow Dash was needed back in Ponyville for the day, but she promised Eagle Eye that she would be back the next day. They kissed once more, Rainbow exited out the window, and Eagle was left alone once again.

“Son…” a voice said behind Eagle. He didn’t dare to turn around. Eagle simply opened the window once again. “You can’t ignore us forever son.” The young stallion put his frontal hooves on the rim of the window.

“Just shut up Dad,” Eagle said, jumping out the window, closing it behind him, without looking at his father of course, and flew off towards Sharp Side’s house.

“You alright Eagle?” Sharp Side asked his friend as he entered the apartment.

“My sister and father paid me another visit,” Eagle told his green coated friend. Eagle entered the decently sized apartment and laid himself out on the couch. Sharp Side looked to his hypothetical brother with great concern.

“Eagle, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this for a while now. I think it’s time we end all of this Assassin business,” Sharp Side said, earning a look of both surprise and confusion from Eagle Eye.

“What?” was all Eagle could say.

“You heard me. I think it’s time that the Assassin’s career was put to an end.” Eagle was baffled. He couldn’t believe what Sharp Side was saying.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

“Sharp, look at what I’ve done as the Assassin. Look at what we’ve accomplished together! We’ve done so much for Equestria! We can’t just end it all in one foul swoop.” Eagle was now standing and facing his friend with all seriousness.

“Eagle, the Assassin has practically become nothing but a mercenary. He was a hero at first, but now, he’s just a super cool Guard of Equestria. The message that we set out with in the beginning with the Assassin was hope. We accomplished all of that. We don’t need to keep doing this anymore. And, think about Rainbow Dash. You’re going to propose to her any day now. You think she wants her husband to be risking his life every day just for thrills?”

Eagle was starting to get aggravated with his friend. Sharp Side had come up with a lot of crazy ideas in the past, but this one took the cake. It wasn’t even an idea. To Eagle, it seemed like a plan. A plan to destroy everything that the two had accomplished over the past five years.

“I’m sorry Sharp Side, but that’s not going to happen. Rainbow Dash understands what I do, and she’s fine with it. If we ever have children, then sure, I’ll stop. But for now, I’m not done being the Assassin. End of discussion.”

“No, it’s not the end of the discussion. You shouldn’t have to keep doing this Eagle. Remember that I told you I was working on a new suit for myself? Well, I’m practically done with it. I could take over for you,” Sharp Side told his friend. For the past two years, Sharp Side had been creating a mechanical suit of armor. He hoped that he would one day be able to join his friend on missions. Now, he wanted to use it as a way to help his friend in a very different way than originally planned.

“Why would you do that?” Eagle asked. “We agreed that you were going to use that armor to help me on missions, not take over my work completely.”

“Eagle, you’ve got somepony to love,” Sharp Side said.

“So do you! You still have a family!”

“Eagle, my mother isn’t going to be around for much longer. Her illness is beating her. And my brother is barely ever around. Ever since he was promoted into the Equestrian Guard, he never has time to come home. Hell, you’re my family too Eagle. We’re brothers, and I don’t want to lose my brother.” Eagle let out an annoyed sigh.

“Sharp Side, I’m sorry, but as of now, I’m not done being the Assassin. Like I said before, end of discussion.” Sharp Side saw no way to change Eagle’s outlook. He was set on being the Assassin for a while longer, and he could do nothing about it.

“If that’s what you want, fine.” With the discussion ended, the two stallions sat together in silence. Eagle broke the silence after a few moments though.

“How is your brother anyway?” he asked.

“He’s doing alright. Like I said, new Equestrian Guard and all. I just wish I got to see him more often,” Sharp Side replied.

“Well, the next time he’s around, invite me over to chill. I don’t think I’ve ever met him.”

“Really? You never met him?”

“Not that I recall.”

“Well, I guess we’ll have to fix that the next time he’s home.”

After a while, the tension created between the dissipated, and they were playing video games together and sharing tons of laughs. Just like any best friends would.

Author's Notes:

I re-posted this chapter with a small update. All I did was erase the end portion. Otherwise, nothing is different. This is so that I can finally finish the story.

Man this was a hard chapter to write. Mostly because of the beginning portion. It's nothing but descriptions and what's new with Eagle Eye. I hope all of that stuff made sense, was bearable and made Eagle Eye/The Assassin seem much cooler.

As for everything else, it was pretty easy to do. So now, we see that the Assassin is more awesome, Eagle and Rainbow Dash are probably going to marry soon, and Sharp Side wants Eagle to quit.

Oh yeah, and if you want to know how Eagle's mask works, just think of Iron Man's helmet and how it works in the movies. That's basically how Eagle's mask works.

Chapter 23: The Hero's Path

Eagle woke the next day, surprisingly okay. He had gone through the night without any nightmares, and he wasn’t sweating profusely as he normally would be on some nights. In fact, his dreams were filled with visions of him being together with Rainbow Dash. What made the dreams so much better was the small filly that followed the two through the skies. It was a daughter for the two Pegasi. Eagle could only wish for that day to come true.

Soon enough, Eagle was going to propose to Rainbow Dash. He knew that it would happen in the coming days, he just knew it. All he had to plan out was when and where he would do it. But as far as he was concerned, sooner or later, he would ask her. And she would say yes. And they would be married.

And then, just maybe, he could let go of the Assassin once and for all.

Eagle pulled himself out of bed and headed straight for the Nest. He did a quick check of how his city was doing. Everything seemed to be in order. Just the way Eagle liked to start his mornings. Eagle exited the Nest and headed into the kitchen.

Shortly after preparing breakfast, a knock came from the door. Eagle answered it to find Sharp Side at his doorstep. The two stallions greeted each other in their usual way as Eagle allowed his friend to enter the apartment. Eagle noticed that there was a grey and white briefcase on Sharp Side’s back, drawing a great deal of curiosity from the Pegasus. The Unicorn laid the briefcase down on the table and then sat down on the couch.

“Um, hey?” Eagle greeted, slightly confused.

“I’ve got good news my friend. I finished my armor,” Sharp Side informed his friend. Eagle raised an eyebrow.

“Huh? How’d you do that so quickly?”

“I figured that I needed to finish it sooner or later. This way, you can stop being the Assassin, and I can start being my own hero. I’ll determine a name later on.” Eagle let out a chuckle, to which Sharp Side raised his eyebrow.

“Sharp, I’m not finished being the Assassin. When are you gonna get it through your head?”

“I’m not. I can’t. If you won’t stop being the Assassin, I’ll give you a reason to do so.”

Sharp Side used his magic to place the briefcase on the floor. He stood up and stomped on the top of the case, starting a chain reaction. The briefcase started contorting around Sharp Side’s body, creating armor for the Unicorn. The plating was a mixture of grey and white, and it seemed to be quite heavy. For Sharp Side though, the materials were extremely light.

Once the armor had finished forming, a large gun mounted itself on Sharp Side’s back. On one side was a machine gun, while on the other was a small rocket launcher. Sharp Side then used the suits propulsion system to float in the air. He then slid out two sharp blades from the tips of his front hooves. As he finished showing off his weapons, a helmet formed over his face, with nothing but two piercing red eyes.

“You like?” Sharp Side asked, his voice slightly mechanical now.

“Um… well, yeah, I guess. But I don’t think you understand. Just because you’ve got some cool armor and a few new toys doesn’t mean I’m going to stop being the Assassin,” Eagle told his friend. Sharp Side let out a heavy sigh.

“I was afraid you’d say that. Allow me to demonstrate then.” Without warning, Sharp Side flew towards Eagle Eye, catching him completely off guard. The armored Unicorn crashed his friend into the wall, knocking the wind out of Eagle Eye.

“Are you crazy?!” Eagle ruthlessly tried to knee his friend in the gut, but he only managed to hurt himself by trying to attack the armored pony. “What the hell is that stuff?!”

“Tough huh? It’s completely made of titanium metal, and enhanced with incredibly strong magical properties. It’s much more resilient than your armor. Which, by the way, you won’t be needing anymore.” Sharp Side aimed his rocket launcher towards the Nest. But Eagle was quick to throw Sharp Side to the ground. He then pulled the Unicorn over to the window and threw him out, smashing it to pieces. Sharp Side recovered by floating in the air.

“What’s wrong Eagle Eye?! Afraid you’ve finally met your match?!” Sharp Side asked mockingly.

“Sharp Side, what the hell has gotten into you?!” Eagle asked angrily.

“You have, you bucking moron! You’re arrogance is going to cost you your life! And if that won’t do it, I will! Either you stop with your heroics, or I’ll end it for you!” Eagle didn’t want to fight his friend, but he couldn’t give up his mantle either. The choice was clear.

Eagle rushed into the Nest, quickly putting on his gear and readying himself for the battle to come. He flew outside using the exit in the roof, but was quickly met with gunfire from Sharp Side. He was quick enough to close the gap between the two flying adversaries.

Eagle unleashed a flurry of fast punches to the armored stallion, but Sharp Side simply smashed his head into Eagles and stunned the Pegasus. Sliding out one of his arm blades, Sharp Side began to slash away at Eagle Eye. But the hooded Assassin was quick to defend himself with his own hidden blades.

Having been more experienced with the blades, Eagle had a far better advantage in this respect. He moved Sharp Side’s blade to the side and began slashing away at his armor. Not even a scratch was delivered. Eagle was only met with a wicked slash across the chest. He began to plummet, but quickly recomposed himself.

“Sharp Side, this is insane! Stop this, please!” Eagle shouted. His answer came in the form of rocket fire. Multiple rockets came flying towards the Pegasus, but Eagle was quick to act. He flew out of the way of two of the rockets, then shot the rest out of the sky with his sniper rifle. He was then quick enough to block a slash from Sharp Side with his bayonet.

Pushing the armored stallion away, Eagle began firing off bullets at his hovering foe. The bullets did nothing but bounce off the armor. Sharp Side flew forward and tackled his adversary to the ground. Sharp Side then began to pummel away at the Assassin.

“You’re done Eagle Eye! The age of the Assassin is over!” he shouted.

“Sharp Side… please stop…” Eagle said, barely able to breathe. His beating didn’t end. Sharp Side continued to pound away at the Assassin. Sharp Side then lifted one hoof in the air and slid out one of his blades. He was ready to end the life of his best friend, right then and there.

Eagle was barely quick enough to use his wing blades to block the attack. Then, without having to think, he slid out his hookblade, pulled off Sharp Side’s helmet, and drove the blade into his friend’s throat. Sharp Side’s eyes widened in surprise as he started to gag and spit up blood. Eagle then fully realized what he had done.

Sharp Side fell to the ground, his armor starting to retract from his body all of a sudden. The armor broke apart into multiple pieces at first, and then evaporated into nothing. The Assassin shakily got up and held the head of his dying best friend.

“Nonononononono! Sharp Side, I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I didn’t… I didn’t… I swear I didn’t…” Eagle couldn’t even utter a complete sentence. Sharp Side held his friend’s hoof in his own.

“It… it’s alright Eagle. This is my fault. I went insane trying to get you to quit. It was wrong of me. I deserve this…” Sharp Side said.

“No, no you don’t. You were only thinking about what was best for me. I’m gonna get help for you.” Eagle threw off his mask and looked into his best friend’s eyes. “You hear me?”

“Eagle… it’s alright. Just please… stop being the Assassin…” Sharp Side was practically begging at this point.

“I…… I can’t.” Eagle’s response weighed heavily on his dying friend. “That doesn’t matter! I’m not letting you die on me! No way!”

“It’s over Eagle Eye. We’ve been through a lot these past few years. It’s been a hell of a time. Good luck with Rainbow Dash. You’ll make a fine father someday.” Eagle couldn’t hold back the tears. “Come on, don’t be a pussy,” Sharp Side joked. Eagle let out a chuckle from behind his tears.

“Just… don’t ever let her…” Sharp Side never got to finish his sentence, as he took his final breath. The green stallion rested in Eagle Eye’s arms, lifeless. Eagle cried even harder, then let out a shout of anguish. His best friend was gone.

In the coming days, a service was held for the fallen stallion. Sharp Side’s mother and brother were there to mourn their fallen family member. All of Sharp Side’s relatives were there as well. Even Rainbow Dash attended. But the one pony who wasn’t in attendance was the one who killed him.

And that same stallion had been branded a murderer. Or at least, his alter ego had been branded as such. The news was all over the story. The Assassin had murdered an innocent stallion, in cold blood, so the story went. No pony truly knew what had transpired the morning that Sharp Side was killed.

Now, the Assassin had lost a great deal of respect. Not just from Manehattan, but from all of Equestria. Some ponies knew that the Assassin was still a hero at heart, but others thought that this kill was a sign of the Assassin’s true nature. This was a new age for the Assassin. One he would get through, somehow.

Eagle Eye rested in his apartment, sitting on his couch, doing nothing. He was just moping around. The guilt that now rested in Eagle’s heart had been practically tripled at this point. He had lost everypony he held dear. All except for Rainbow Dash. And as it just so happened, she was on her way to Eagle Eye’s apartment.

A knock came from the door, signaling Eagle’s attention towards the source of the noise.

“It’s open,” he said without energy. The door opened and Rainbow Dash entered, closing the door behind her.

“Hey,” Rainbow greeted her coltfriend quietly.

“Hey,” Eagle Eye replied.

“You know that today was Sharp Side’s funeral, right?” she asked him. Eagle nodded. “Why weren’t you there? You could have at least watched from afar, cliché as that may have been.”

“I killed him Rainbow Dash. You think I’d want to go to the funeral of the stallion I killed. He was my best friend! You think I can live with that?!”

“I don’t expect you to. I’m just saying, the least you could have done was attended his service.”

“Dash, he’s dead because of me! Because I was too stubborn to let go of my bucking responsibilities!”

“Then why won’t you let go now?!” Rainbow was becoming agitated with her lover now. Eagle stood up and looked angrily at her. Rainbow didn’t step back. In fact, she got closer to him, trying to stare him down.

“Because it is still my responsibility to be the Assassin,” Eagle answered.

“No. No it isn’t. Not anymore Eagle Eye,” Rainbow said, her tone completely serious.

“Yes, it is!” Eagle shouted stomping his hoof on the ground. Eagle then randomly picked up Rainbow Dash and flew out with her into the skies of Manehattan.

“Eagle, what are you doing?!” she shouted at him, trying to break free of his grip. He didn’t let go.

Once Eagle had found a nice spot to set themselves down, he did just that. He dropped down on a rooftop, to which he received a swift punch in the gut.

“What is wrong with you?!” Rainbow shouted.

“My life, that’s what!” Eagle and Rainbow stared into each other’s eyes, neither of them faltering for a second. But then, suddenly, Eagle broke down in tears. “I can’t do this anymore Rainbow Dash. I just can’t.” Rainbow moved over to his side and wrapped her wings around him.

“Hey, it’s alright. You don’t have to do this anymore. The Assassin is finished. He’s in the past. You did what you had to do. And now, you can move on.” Eagle pushed her away.

“No… Dash, you don’t understand. I can’t do… this anymore,” Eagle said, gesturing back and forth between himself and Rainbow Dash. Rainbow didn’t understand.

“W-What?” she asked.

“I can’t be with you anymore!” Eagle said quickly, his words like bullets to Rainbow Dash.

“W-Why?” she asked, on the verge of tears herself.

“I just can’t. If I ever hurt you, or if you were ever hurt because my enemies knew about you… I… I could never forgive myself.”

“Eagle, all you have to do is stop being the Assassin. It’s easy.”

“No. I can’t give up being the Assassin. It’s my destiny to protect this world. It’s who I am now Dash. I can’t give that up. But what I have to give up is you. I’m sorry.” Rainbow couldn’t hold back her tears. She threw herself at Eagle Eye, trying to find comfort in his arms. But he rejected her.

“Please… don’t say that Eagle Eye. I love you! I love you so much! I want to be with you forever!” she confessed.

“M-Me too Rainbow Dash…” Eagle replied, pulling out from his wings a ring. Rainbow’s spine tingled with joy and sadness. “I want to be with you forever too… but I can’t.” Eagle threw the ring off the building. Rainbow watched it until it disappeared.

“Eagle… please don’t say this is over. P-Please don’t,” Rainbow begged, her voice cracking twice. Eagle turned his head away from her.

“I’m so sorry Rainbow Dash… but I have to.” But as Rainbow threw herself at him once again, he allowed it one last time. She cried heavily into his fur.

“I love you Eagle Eye! Please don’t leave me!” Rainbow begged.

“I love you too Rainbow Dash,” Eagle started, lifting her head up and kissing her on the lips. “But that’s why I have to let you go.” Eagle walked away and stepped onto the edge of the rooftop. He looked back at Rainbow Dash one more time. Rainbow took a deep breath and nodded at him, even managing to crack a small smile at him. Eagle did the same, lowering his head for a moment as he continued to cry.

Before anymore words could be spoken, Eagle flew off into the skies of Manehattan. At the same time, Rainbow Dash flew off back to Ponyville. Rainbow looked back to see Eagle flying to his apartment, then suddenly coming back out after having dawned his Assassin attire.

Something deep down inside Rainbow Dash told her that this was how it had to be, as much as she hated to admit that fact. The Assassin couldn’t just disappear. Equestria needed him. Rainbow Dash needed him. She knew who he was deep down.

She knew that he was the Assassin, now and forever. But more importantly, she knew who he truly was.

Author's Notes:

It's finished! I finally finished it! Eagle Eye is complete!

I apologize for being lazy and ending the story like this, rather than finishing it like I truly intended to do so. But, sadly, I just do not have the ambition to do so. I hope that this ending is suitable for the purposes of the story.

Regardless of my laziness, this story truly was a blast to write, given all the ups and downs. I regard this as being one of my best stories, given the time I actually did put into writing this. So, to all of you who have followed the story, I thank you all very much and hope you enjoyed the tale of Eagle Eye.