Second Attempt

March 24, border of Ponyville

Temperature: -38 degrees fahrenheit

Time: 6:49 A.M.

Luna and Shadow landed down outside of Ponyville, a puff of snow coming off as they hopped off the carriage. The guards started to take the harnesses attached to the carriage off.

“That won’t be necessary, stallions. I want to make sure that Dead Eye, here, can actually do what he is intended to do. Go back to the palace, we will be back when the meeting is over.” Luna said. The royal guards glared at Shadow as he walked with Luna into the white haze surrounding them.

“Luna is crazy for trusting him, he tried to kill her, how can she possibly even consider putting her life in his hooves?” One of the royal guards said as he put the harness back on.

“It has me confused too, but we have our orders from the princess, let’s just head back to the palace.” The other Royal guard said. They took off from the ground and started flying back to Canterlot, the wind blowing heavily and snow falling down hard on Ponyville.

______________________________________________________________________

“So you don’t know if the Saints are actually setting up an assassination?” Shadow asked Luna as they walked through the streets of Ponyville. A small amount of ponies wandered the streets, almost all of them wearing a heavy winter jacket. The snow and wind had let up a bit, the houses and other buildings now visible through the snowfall.

“I have only heard that they are rumors, but if it is an actual event they are planning, then I’ll have you at my side.” Luna said.

“Alright then. Where is the meeting taking place?”

“One of the six ponies’ house, Miss Twilight Sparkle, I believe. That’s it up there.” Luna said. A large tree stood at the end of the street, a slight glow coming from the candles lit inside of it. Luna walked up to the door and knocked on it.

“Come in, Luna.” Celestia said from inside. A slight giggling came from inside as Luna opened the door, but seized as Shadow stepped into the tree house. The six ponies and Celestia were standing in a circle in the middle of the room, a small table in the middle of the ring with refreshments on it. The six ponies stared at Shadow Rider intently as he walked over to the window at the bottom of the stairs.

“Ah, Shadow. It’s nice to see you again. I suspect you have been keeping my sister safe?” Celestia asked as Shadow took off his cloak and hung it from a hook on the wall. Shadow’s sniper was slung around his body, a full magazine in it.

“It’s my first day on the job, Princess Celestia. You’ll get a first hoof demonstration of my abilities if the rumors about the assassination are true.” Shadow said, siting down on the steps and looking out the window. The six ponies looked back at Luna in slight surprise.

“You mean the Equestrian Saints are going to try again? Luna, what are doing here, it’s dangerous!” Twilight Sparkle said, turning her head to Luna.

“The was a meeting planned today and I saw to be here as I intended. Besides, I have the notorious “Dead Eye” to help prevent anything from happening to me.” Luna said, motioning her head over to Shadow. The ponies turned again to Shadow, who was lost in thought as he stared out the window at the snowy landscape.

“You mean... that’s the stallion that tried to...” Applejack started to say.

“Yes. That would be the stallion that attempted to take Luna’s life away. But, despite his actions, he seems to be looking for redemption and revenge by joining the royal guard service as a personal guard for Luna. He may only be an earth-pony, but he seems to be more capable at defending anything than the royal guards. Well armed with the fastest reaction times I have ever seen, as accurate as the sniper rifles he uses, and stronger than more than two of our royal guards, he sure carries out the “Dead Eye” name. I’m sure he’ll be a perfect guard for Luna.” Celestia said. The ponies stared at Shadow with amazement and anger. He was the one that would have killed Luna if the sniper hadn’t have been tampered with, but he was also one of the most elite ponies in the art of stealth, accuracy, and strength. Shadow still stared out the window, looking at something through the scope of his sniper.

“Now then, shall we get the meeting underway?” Celestia asked. The ponies nodded and turned back to the table.

“Luna, you are causing hundreds, thousands of ponies to starve and freeze to death! We need the sun to melt the snow and ice, all you need to do is prolong that sun exposure to the world so it can melt. For the sake of the pony race, can you just give us that?” Celestia asked.

“I know that I am causing the winter to continue like this, but I refuse to stop the day and night cycle! You stripped me of the night’s power and have given it back to me. I intend to see that it does not miss a single cycle as long as I am in control of it!” Luna said.

“Can one of you toss me a book?” Shadow asked nonchalantly, ignoring the argument between the two sisters. Twilight used her magic to lightly throw a book over at Shadow. He lifted a hoof up and caught the book, nodding at Twilight in thanks.

“Luna, you cannot let this rage on any further, the winter has to end or else everypony will die!” Celestia said. Luna turned away from Celestia.

“Luna, please, all we ask is a few weeks, just to melt the snow and ice. Nothing more.” Rainbow Dash said. Luna stood in silence for a moment.

“...I... I cannot... Night has been my only responsibility, and I let it slip out of hoof by letting it’s power take over me... I will see to it that I am in full control of it for as long as I live!” Luna yelled.

“Luna get down!” Shadow yelled. A bullet raced past Shadow’s head and planted itself in the floor next to Luna, who jumped to side after the bullet landed. Celestia, Luna, and the six ponies got down on the floor and covered their heads. Shadow fired a bullet out the window. The bullet soared through the air and a red mist appeared in the distance, followed by a distant grunting noise. A silhouette in the distance whipped backwards and fell from the tree it was in.

“Luna, stay here. I’m going to go check on our little assassin...” Shadow said as he quickly put his cloak on.

“What!? What if they come in here!?” Rarity yelled, uncovering one of her eyes and looking over at Shadow.

“Don’t worry, they’re not going far...” Shadow said, as he put on his face mask. He walked out the door and slammed it behind him.

“Revenge is sweet...” Shadow thought to himself as he ran towards the edge of the Everfree forest.

______________________________________________________________________

Shadow walked up to the tree that the sniper was in. A trail of blood was in the snow, leading further into the Everfree forest.

“You’re mine now.” Shadow said quietly. He followed the smears in the snow from the assassin dragging itself along the ground, a trail of blood mixed in with the snow. An extra indent was in the snow along the trail, the outline of a wing being dragged along. The snow fall was suppressed in the forest, only a thin layer falling from the leaves in the heavy canopy above. Shadow stopped walking and looked up from the trail of blood. A pegasus laid against the tree, holding her shoulder. Blood was coming from the hole in her jacket, flowing down the sleeve and on to the forest floor. She had a mask on her face, heavy puffs of breath coming from it. Her wing was slightly clipped, a small chunk taken out of the edge of her left wing.

“You should be lucky that I missed intentionally, or your head would be all over the ground and in the leaves of the tree back there. “ Shadow said as he slowly walked up to the injured pegasus. Shadow knelt down and put his face in front of the pegasi’s face, puffs of breath coming from his face mask.

“You have the eyes of someone I used to work with. Simple and innocent, the eyes of a pony bred for helping others, not war.” Shadow said. The pegasus watched as Shadow took out his knife from it’s sheath. Shadow thrusted the knife into the tree trunk behind her, the knife handle sticking out next to her head. The pegasus flinched and stared at Shadow angrily. Shadow chuckled to himself lightly.

“Feel that? The surge of adrenaline going through your veins? I feel it every time I take out a target, right before the trigger goes back.” Shadow said. The pegasus kept silent, staring at Shadow.

“Before I kill you, let’s have a look at that pretty little face of yours...” Shadow said. He lifted his hoof up to the pegasi’s face mask and pulled it down.

Shadow’s eyes widen and he stood in awe, not able to breathe. The pegasi stared at Shadow.

“...Number... Four?” Shadow said, the words barely coming out of his mouth. Four’s eyes also opened wide, realizing who had almost taken her life.

“Three?” Four said, watching as Shadow backed up from her.

“No... you... you were executed for treason! How are you... alive? I thought I was the only one to come out of the operation!” Shadow said, stopping as he backed up into a tree.

“I thought you were dead, as well! How did YOU survive?” Four asked as Shadow took off his face mask. Shadow put a hoof on his forehead and sat down, overwhelmed that she was alive.

“I think we both owe each other an explanation...” Shadow said, shifting his eyes up to Four.

______________________________________________________________________

March 24, inside the border of Everfree forest and Ponyville

Temperature: -30 degrees fahrenheit

Time: 7:27 A.M.

Shadow wrapped a bandage around Four’s shoulder and around the injured part of her wing.

“I’m sorry. If I had known it was you I wouldn’t have fired.” Shadow said as he tied the bandages together.

“It’s alright, I should just be happy that you decided to miss.” Four said, looking back and smiling at Shadow.

“So what is your name? I never really got to know it.” Shadow asked, tearing off the excess of the bandage on her shoulder.

“Dusk. My name is Dusk.” She said as she got up, Shadow helping her. Dusk put pressure on her leg and lifted it up almost immediately.

“Ouch... You really know how to place a shot, don’t you?” Dusk said, smiling weakly.

“Sorry about that. I don’t think you would be able to fly, at least right now, would you?” Shadow asked, looking at her wing.

“Probably not, you got it pretty good.” She said, flapping it up and down weakly. Shadow walked over to the tree and took the knife out of the trunk.

“You really want to strike fear into the heart of your victims before you kill them, don’t you?” Dusk asked as Shadow put his knife back in it’s sheath.

“Hell, I thought I was actually going to kill you and finally get some sort of revenge against the Spec Ops. Speaking of, why exactly did you join the Equestrian Saints?” Shadow asked, squinting slightly as Dusk.

“They were the ones that rescued me at the execution. I wasn’t just going to walk away from the ponies that saved my life.” Dusk said. Shadow laughed slightly.

“What’s so funny?” Dusk asked.

“Did you ever wonder why the mission went hay-wire, and that it ended up killing almost all of us?”

“Not really, no. I thought the Princesses had set up a trap for us, or, that’s what the Saints told me...”

“They lied to us. They told us that in order to stop the winter, we would need to kill Luna. While that may be true, the mission was a set up. The operation wasn’t meant for Luna. It was meant for me.”

“...The Spec Ops... wanted to kill... you?”

“They said that the Dead Eye name was too deadly to be carried on any further, that it would be too much of a risk to let me live any longer. They wanted to discontinue the Dead Eye name by killing the last known one to possess it, me. You five were just expendables, variables that were supposed to make me believe that the operation was actually an operation and not just a trap.”

“Well, it looks like they haven’t stopped trying...”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“The details of the mission weren’t to kill Luna. They were to kill her guard.”

______________________________________________________________________

[7 hours earlier]

March 24, administration office in Equestrian Saint’s headquarters

Temperature: -40 degrees fahrenheit

Time: 12:27 A.M.

Dusk walked into the office of administration.

“You wanted to see me, sir?” Dusk asked as she walked up to the edge of the desk at the other side of the room. The stallion looked up from his paper work at her.

“Ah, yes. I called you here for an operation. You are one of the six that were assigned to Operation “Revival” a few months back, are you not?” The stallion asked.

“Um... yes I am, but what does that-”

“Good. You will be going in solo to assassinate Princess Luna’s personal guard. We got word that he was recruited not too long ago.”

“Sir, if I could... maybe be told why I am doing this alone, rather, doing this in the first place?”

“That is confidential and not for the operatives to know. The meeting between the six ponies, Celestia, Luna and her guard will take place at 7:00 A.M. in Ponyville. They will be in one of the six ponies’ house, the house of Twilight Sparkle, we believe. You will be expected to complete the mission without detection. If you proceed to fail the operation, your failure will be dealt with when you return to headquarters. Here is the paper work, good luck.” The stallion handed Dusk a thin folder.

“Sir, couldn’t you just tell me who it is I am shooting, and why I am doing it? I am a medic, not a sharpshooter.” Dusk said, taking the folder from the stallion.

“You will be told that after the operation has been completed. Do not let any pony know about this operation. If we figure out that you have been telling non-operatives and others outside of the Saints, you will be dealt with accordingly. You are dismissed.” Dusk rolled the folder and put it in her jacket pocket.

“Why is administration being so secretive about the operation?” Dusk thought to herself as she walked out of the administration office.

______________________________________________________________________

March 24, inside the border of Everfree forest and Ponyville

Temperature: -30 degrees fahrenheit

Time: 7:29 A.M.

“...and now I’m here with a bandage around my shoulder and a clipped wing.” Dusk said, moving her wing up and down.

“I should’ve known recruiting for Luna’s guard would have brought a lot of attention towards myself.” Shadow said. Dusk walked over to the tree she was sitting against and picked up her sniper.

“When the Saints find out I didn’t kill you, I can tell you now, they aren’t going to be happy. I can’t go back, Shadow, you have to help me!” Dusk said with a slight sense of pleading in her voice, walking up to him. Shadow stood in thought. The Saints would eventually find out that Dusk had failed the mission, and no doubt that they would come after her. A chance for revenge.

“Come into Ponyville with me, the princesses and ponies won’t know that you were the assassin. As for the Saints, you can leave them to me.” Shadow said.

“Oh thank you, Shadow. I owe my life to you.” Dusk said, putting a hoof on Shadow’s chin.

“Don’t get too attached, Dusk. You are a part of the Saints, just remember that.” Shadow said, lightly hitting Dusk’s hoof away. Shadow started walking along the path that he followed. Dusk walked after him, heading back into the winter landscape.

______________________________________________________________________

Shadow kicked open the door, the door hitting the wall with a slam. The ponies and the two princesses jumped at the sound of it, turning to face the door. They were sitting in a circle around the table. Shadow and Dusk walked in, Dusk wearing Shadow’s cloak. Her wing was tucked into it, the bandage around her wing and shoulder not visible.

“Sorry about that.” Shadow said as he put his sniper against the wall.

“Who is this?” Luna asked, pointing at Dusk.

“An old friend of mine, we used to work together. She’s new to Ponyville.” Shadow said. Dusk meekly waved at the group in the middle of the room.

“What about the assassin?” Celestia asked.

“You can be sure that you won’t be seeing him again. The Saints’ll think twice next time they plan an operation.” Shadow said. The ponies and two princesses sighed with relief.

“You didn’t actually... kill him, did you?” Fluttershy asked as she got up. Shadow shifted his eyes over to Dusk and smiled slightly.

“Let’s just say he won’t be getting put on any missions soon.” Shadow said, slightly nodding at Dusk.

“That’s a relief. Even though the assassin is... not going to be seen around any time soon, I still think it is too dangerous to be here. Celestia, if we are done here, could I go back to the palace?” Luna asked.

“That is fine, Luna. Dusk, do you need a place to stay?” Celestia asked, turning to Dusk.

“She can stay with me, your highness.” Shadow said.

“Then that problem is settled. The royal guards will be here to pick you three up and take you back to Canterlot, I will stay here in Ponyville for a while.” Celestia said.

“Sounds good to me. Come on, Shadow.” Luna said as she walked out the door. Shadow and Dusk waved goodbye to Celestia and the ponies and followed Luna.

“You realize the Saints are going to try to kill you when they find out that the operation wasn’t completed.” Dusk whispered to Shadow.

“That’s what I’m planning on...” Shadow said.

______________________________________________________________________

March 24, inside Luna’s bedroom in the royal palace

Temperature: -43 degrees fahrenheit

Time: 8:03 P.M.

After arriving in Canterlot, Shadow and Dusk were asked to stay with Luna for the remainder of the day to make sure that she was safe. The winter landscape outside was calm, a tiny snowfall coming down on Canterlot.

“Shadow, Dusk, I think you can go home now. If the guards ask, tell them I sent you out.” Luna said from her bed.

“Yes ma’am. Will I be needed tomorrow?” Shadow asked as he got up off the floor.

“No, you can take the day off. I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere.” Luna said.

“Then I will see you next time you need me. Come on, Dusk.” Shadow said, motioning his hoof for Dusk to follow. Dusk got up off the chair in the corner and followed Shadow out of Luna’s room.

“You’d think she’d be a little scared that some pony just tried to take her life.” Dusk said as they walked down the hallway.

“She may not be expressing it, but I can tell from the look in her eyes that she was trembling inside...” Shadow said.

______________________________________________________________________

Shadow pushed the door to his house open, the cold air from outside rushing into the living room.

“Make yourself at home. I haven’t moved anything around, so do whatever you want with the place. Just try not to destroy it completely.” Shadow said as he set his sniper against the wall next to the door.

“Wow, Canterlot does a pretty good job with their housing.” Dusk said as she admired one of the painting on the wall. Dusk took the cloak around her off and set it down next to the fireplace. Shadow was putting wood into the fireplace, taking fire wood from the stack next to it. Dusk put a hoof on Shadow’s hind leg.

“What are you doing, Dusk?” Shadow asked, shifting his eyes over to her.

“Oh nothing...” Dusk said. She lifted her hoof up higher on his leg. Shadow hit her hoof away and continued to put the wood in the fireplace.

“Oh come on, you and Clarity are over, aren’t you two? You know I’ve always found that aim of yours attractive...” Dusk said. A feeling of anger spiked in Shadow’s mind and his heartbeat grew faster.

“Clarity is dead, Dusk. Try not to bring her up...” Shadow said as he dropped a match in the fireplace.

“Dead? I think you are mistaken, Shadow.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Dusk paused for a second.

“She’s not dead, Shadow. She’s a Saint operative.”

Shadow stood in shock.

“Clarity... is alive?”

______________________________________________________________________

March 24, administration office in Equestrian Saint’s headquarters

Temperature: -42 degrees fahrenheit

Time: 8:05 P.M.

“Miss Clarity. Nice to see you again.” The stallion behind the desk said.

“I was called here for an operation, is that right?” Clarity asked, walking up to the edge of the desk.

“Yes. Dusk has not returned from her operation, so we assume that she has deserted.”

“What do you want me to do about it?”

“We want you to kill Dusk.”

“Is that it? Just a simple assassination?

“We also believe that your ex-boyfriend, Shadow "Dead Eye" Rider, is with her. We want you to kill them both.”

“Shadow is alive? Why was I not told this!?”

“We figured it was best that you didn’t find out. You will be-”

“No! I will not do this! I cannot kill them both!” Clarity slammed her hoof down on the desk.

“If you refuse, you do realize the consequences.”

Clarity stopped and stared at the stallion at the sound of a gun clicking behind her.

“You will be leaving in two days. We look forward to the succession of the mission.” Next Chapter: A Helpful Hoof Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 58 Minutes