A Shadow's Creed

by Dleifragcat

First published 15th of January, 2012

An Assassin's Creed crossover with an OC. Shadow Mark, is one of the last members of the Assassin Order in protecting Equestria from tyranny. Following many tragic events in his life, will his quest for revenge consume him before it's too l

An Assassin's Creed Crossover with both Dark and Comedic Elements.
Shadow Mark is a young, inexperienced assassin and the last of his order. With the death of his family, his assassin brothers and sisters and anything that gave him meaning in life is ripped away from him forever. Shadow seeks revenge on the monster who did all this, Balthazar, leader of the Templar Order and the High Duke of Equestria. With an army of Templars at his disposal, he will stop at nothing to corrupt Equestria and take it for his own.
After a mission gone awry Shadow finds himself to be in the loving embrace of Ponyville's citizens and is accepted as one of their own. Despite his past and the road to his future, can Shadow save himself from his own revenge before it consumes him and stop the Templars from dominating all of Equestria?

Chapter 1: Falling

Chapter 2: Memories- The Past

Memories are the images of the past, the decisions for the future, both with happy and tragic moments.
Memories are what define a pony and make them who they are.

*HEADSMASH*

It was a cool summer afternoon, no clouds in the sky and the sun gradually making its way down the steep skyline when the twilight part of the day will appear in the soaring sky leading to nightfall.

*HOOF-SLAP*

Yep, prettiest sight in all of Ponitaly. Well… besides from these group of bandits trying to rob me.

*KER-KICK*

Though I might not have a lot of fighting skill, at least I know more about hitting where they are than these clowns, as I smashed another one in his face.

There were about 4 of them and one of me, an almost even challenge.

But these guys were fighting dirty, as one threw sand in my eyes temporarily blinding me. I desperately tried to rub it from my eyes expecting to get hoofed to the ground from my distracted state.

Just then I heard a voice, a voice I knew only too well.

“SHADOW! I’ve brought some friends!”

Free-runner my dearest brother, always had a never-fear moment.

As I wiped the sand from my eye I stepped closer to the blur that is my brother.

Icy-blue mane check, wings check, climbing cutie-mark check and one of the biggest grins to ever witness on the face of Equestria, triple check.

“Brother it’s so good to see you. Where did you find these people?” I asked him.

“It’s amazing what a few favors and some virtue can do, huh?” replied Free-runner with a laugh.

“Come now brother while they're distracted. Maybe we can return home without being late and avoid a scolding from our father,” said Free-runner.

“Just a second, let me wash my eyes in the fountain around the corner,” I said as we fled the scene.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

*Splash*

"Ah it’s so refreshing, finally I'm able to see without all that dirt impacting my eyes… *crowd noises* -wait what was that?" we heard a commotion coming from behind the fountain.

It was a doctor but he looked rather strange: he was red, short brown mane, lab coat (so we couldn’t see his cutie mark), wearing a magnifier on his head, and had an incredibly huge supply of mushrooms behind him. The doctor was tossing out oversized pills and coloured mushrooms to the populace of Ponitaly.

“AH HA! I have the best medicine in the entire galaxy! And who do you have to thank? Its ‘A me MAR-!” shouted the doctor just before he was confronted by the city guard.

“I think we should leave, Shadow,” said Free-runner.

I know that doctor, but I can’t remember who he was...

We escaped the plaza and walked down a not-to crowded alley.

“Come on brother, how about a little race, since were bound to get scolded anyways we should have some fun.”

“Ok, I accept your challenge.” I replied.

“How about roof of that tower?" he pointed to a typical building tower that was common among Ponitaly, "3-2-1 GO!” said Free-runner as he dashed away leaving me in his dust.

“HEY! No fair!” I shouted back at him as I began my own sprint.

The roof to the tower looked pretty complex but we done this so many times that it almost felt natural to upscale a building and use support beams to jump to other cracks in the wall.

Eventually I reached the top of the roof where my brother casually said to me, “I’ve been waiting 5 minutes for you Shadow. YOU’RE TOO SLOW!”

“Well that’s why your name is Free-runner, I’m Shadow Mark, so unlike you I didn’t alert all those guards down below us. But you did,” I said with a fiendish smile.

Noticing the guards surrounding the tower and the fact we’re completely isolated Free-runner says with a glint in his eye, “Well, guess there’s only one way off this roof now!” Free-runner ran straight for the edge and leapt right of the roof.
I peered down to see he was safely alive in a bale of hay.

For you see Free-runner had a condition with his pegasus wing as he can never fly, ever. Instead he took to activities that gave him near-flight experiances.

"Honestly, I prefer this way than to just glide off," I thought as I took a running leap from the roof.

*LEAP OF FAITH*

After our near brush with the law my brother and I await at our front door of our villa praying to Celestia that father won’t make us do courier duty again to punish us for being 6 hours late.

There is absolutely no way he will be mad at us.... aw who am I trying to kid? We're screwed.

I opened the door and right there was our father standing two hoof-steps from the doorway as if he has been waiting for us to arrive with a stern look on his face.

“Come with me,” he said coldly.

*GULP* we both went.

“I’ve heard about your little encounter Shadow, I’m hoping you are safe, since your brother had to rescue you… again,” he said to me while looking towards Free-runner.

“It was my pleasure, father,” saluted Free-runner.

“Then I heard about how two young stallions who climbed the tower of the Banking Lab and leaped off the roof with nowhere to be found,” father said looking directly at Free-runner.

“Ya it was my bad, but you know me… FREE-RUNNER!” he said adding jazzhoofs towards the end.

Rage was building up within my father's face while clenching his hoof, “It… IT…. It reminds me when I was your age,” laughed our father.

“So we’re not in trouble?” I asked.

“HAHAHA! Big time….” said our father as he handed some documents to us.

----------- Morning next day-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grabbing the ledge of a near building, I hauled myself up to the roof and looked west of the sun's position.

Four more roofs till I reach the first contact. Strange how these documents seem to be larger than the ones I normally carry, and the urgency of my father’s voice.

“These documents are of the utmost importance, my son.”

“You can count on me father!”

“Good, because if you drop these, I’m going to turn you inside out…. HAVE FUN!”

Before leaving the house my mother prepped my bag and said sternly, “Come back as soon as you’re done. And bring Free-runner too. There are some things we need to discuss. Now don't get mugged Shadow!”

I jumped from a chimney stack to the next building as I arrived at my first location, the pigeon coop. There was a pink mare there wearing white robes leaning on the coop.

She noticed me and said calmly, “You been followed?”

“No? That’s a strange question to ask. You’re strange,” I replied to the stranger.

“*grumble* littleinsignifgant *grumble*

"Just give me the package, and tell him that we are moving with the plan and he should as well,” she whispered to me as she took the package and ran off.

“WAIT! My coin purse is on the box!” I shouted, knowing she already was a mile away.

I sighed and ran towards the next destination.

This time it was at the town fountain where I escaped with my brother yesterday. I looked at the letter and started to read the name, “Doctor…” I stopped.

Seriously? Him!?

I walked up to the Doctor who was still at his stand from the day before and thrust the letter in his face.
“Here you go Doc-“I said, just as he cut me off.

“AH! THANK YOU MY FRIEND!” he enthusiastically shouted 4 inches into my face while shaking my hoof like crazy.

“Now go tell your father I’ve received the letter, when you are done delivering the rest of your mail,” whispered the doctor, (in the loudest whispering volume available to him which wasn't at all a whispering volume).

“Ok... Wait What?” But just as before he was gone.

“He knew my name” I pondered. This day keeps getting weirder and weirder. OK so what’s the next location, I thought while grabbing the next parcel.

Two hours later I arrived at the marketplace.

“I wonder who my target was” I thought turning my attention to the box I carried.

The card on the box read, “To my most trusted friend, Le Duck.”

I dropped the box.

Le Duck, as in THE Le Duck? The pony, the master thief, the one who broke into the homes of every upper-class family and shoved all their furniture into barrels and was never caught once!?

I looked at the box on the ground. Just then a thought went into my mind.

“AH CRAP! My dad’s going to turn me inside out!” I shouted, as passers-by turned to look at me.

“Looks like my package might be broken,” said a voice behind me.

I turned and there he was, Le Duck a medium built chestnut body of a Pegasus, with a goatee wearing a menacing orange hood and matching robes. I was transfixed by his sight.

“It’s a shame, I was going to use this tonight at a reception.” Le Duck said solemly.

I’m so screwed! I can’t imagine what type of sick weapon is in that box!

“The tea-set is probably broken,” he sadly said.

OH, the horror! He’s going to impale me with fine china! Goodbye sweet Ponitaly! I curse this package!

“Well I thought this would happen, at least I can fix it. Go home now, and don’t worry you did a pretty decent job delivering all those documents,” he chuckled as he picked up the box onto his back and melted into the crowd.

Wait? WHAT!? I’m not dead? Good job? Documents?

Feeling the confused rage building up inside me, I hollered at the top of my voice, “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON! AAARRRRRRGGGHHHH!”

Passers-by noticed me and turned towards me.
“Mommy is there something wrong with him?”
“Just keep walking dear, don’t look at him.”

Well that was pretty incognito. Argh my legs, guess it’s time to head home.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Walking up towards the stone steps of my house I notice something was not right. The front door was fully open with two city guards at the front entrance. Luckily for my over-paranoia personality I constructed ways to get into my villa other than the front door.

It’s called “Second floor window”.

Climbing my way in I tiptoed on the carpet towards the sound of ponies in the living room. Sounds that were not at all familiar. A scream pierced the halls, it was my mother, followed by my brother.
I peered through the door without arousing suspicion to see who was speaking.

That image will forever stay burned in my head.

My mother and Free-runner lay dead with blood splattered across the floor. A huge light-blue stallion covered in noble attire with a hoof drapped over his head, a black star was emblazed on his rump as he held a sword to my wounded father sprawled across the floor clutching his side as blood poured from an open gash.

“You assassins have always been a thorn in our side, filth to be cleansed from this world,” said the stallion coldly and with a slight hint of disgust.

Father… an Assassin?

“Arg, you who seek to enslave all of ponykind to use us as machines to crown you leader and worship you? Look in a mirror, that’s the real filth,” choked my father while gripping his side.

My father noticed me hiding around the door and gave a slight smile and reached into his pocket and discreetly pulled out a letter without Balthazar noticing.

“As long as there are ponies who see the truth, we will never give up and we will defeat you Balthazar,” said my father weakly from pain but proudly towards the malicious stallion.

“I grow tired my old acquaintance.”

“Arrivederci!” Shouted Balthazar as he plunged his sword deep into my father’s back as he let out a shout of pain and slumped to the ground.

I cringed.

Moments later Balthazar left addressing the two guards at the front of the villa, “Avec!”

“FATHER!”

I rushed to my father’s side, he opened his eyes and smiled at me, weakly he said, “Read… this… Shadow... I'm sorry.” Giving me the letter and the blade from his arm and he was gone from my life.... forever.

I open the letter addressed to me, I was fumbling witht he flaps from the impact of emotions I was trying to keep from making me snap.

“Dear Shadow, if you are reading this then it is too late. I’ve always feared this day would come, but not this soon, not until you knew the truth and be ready to face it. I only wish I could have spent more time with my family instead of my work, my real work. Seek out Le Duck at the town gate, (I know you dropped the package and I was deeply disappointed)."

"I guess it’s too late to be sarcastic now, but I want you to know that I never wanted you or your brother to be hurt and was keeping my work a secret for the time, how foolish I was. I am sorry towards everything that’s happened, but it’s imperative to meet Le Duck as soon as possible.”

Nothing is True, Everything is permitted.
From your loving father.

]Emotions welling up inside me, thoughts racing, Assassins, Le Duck, Balthazar… Balthazar… He will pay for what he has done! I WILL HUNT HIM DOWN AND MURDER THAT BASTARDO!
But.... first I... I need to get to Le Duck as quickly as possible.

Running towards the door, I put on my father’s blade. Suddenly the door opened and a guard strolled in.

“Well, well, well look who we have here,” he smiled as he pulled out his sword.

With anger still inside me I shouted, “GET OUT OF MY WAY!” I open the blade and jump on him as I stab him in the neck.
He squirms a bit before going still, I stand up from his lifeless body and look at the blood that covered my hoof with the blade.

I just killed someone. Guess those lessons with my father went well. Father...." I shook my head, "I need to get out of here.

Running up the side of the wall I grab onto a brick and work my way up and my way to the city gate.

I can’t think straight. Assassins, this “hidden” blade, and Balthazar. Who was he? What was this organization? Le Duck would explain everything I guess.

Now with the city gate in site I walk up to Le Duck, he sees the sadness in my eyes and my father’s blade and gives a sigh, “Come now. Let’s get you to somewhere safe,” he said with reassurance, a hoof around my shoulder.

------A Few Hours Later------------------------------------------------------------

“Your father is… was an assassin just like me. He believed that ponies should have free-will and forge their own path. That is what we fight for, we are the Assassin Brotherhood. There are ponies out there that want to take that freedom away and instead force us to obey them like robots,” said Le Duck.

“Balthazar…”

“Yes, he’s the leader of that group. The Templars. We have been fighting this background war for centuries maybe even millennia. Your family’s death is an example of how they force the ponies to submit. They are the ones who pull the strings while we’re here to prevent them.”

“Did you get any training?” asked Le Duck.

“Only the basics of fighting, the rest I improvise,” I replied still saddened by this whole ordeal.

“Pity you didn’t get more training, how about climbing? I know as a Pegasus it might not seem relevant but-“

“Oh yes, I’m great! My brother and I do it all the time… I mean... used to do it,” I sadly corrected myself as I leaned my head down.

“Hey kid. You’re lucky to have experienced such close ties towards your family. I was an orphan with only my brother by my side, but soon we had to part due to our reasons. By your age I was picking pockets for a living and running from the law daily. But enough about me, I’m sure just like Free-runner your name will live up to its potential” smiled Le Duck.

“Anyways, here we are!” he said stopping in front of a wooden door imbedded on the side of the mountain.

“Wait a mountain!? There was a mountain here this whole time?” I exclaimed.

“Really Shadow… you can see it from your bedroom window and no don’t ask me how I know.”

“Now before we go inside I need to ask you… Do you want to become an assassin and safeguard ponykind from these difficult times?”

I didn’t need to think.

“Yes.” I answered.

“Well that was easy, welcome to the Assassin’s Headquarters. Welcome to Sanctuary.” He said opening the door.

We entered into the light of the passage.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ow, my head. I could still feel my arrow and stab wounds.
But they’re bandaged? Where am I?

I slowly open my eyes as the sun shined through the window, blinding me until I got out of bed and sat upright.

Wait a bed? Also why does this room smell like apples?
It then clicked: falling, apple trees, bandages, apple smelling room.

Just then the door flew wide open showing an orange coloured mare wearing a rancher’s hat.

“How y’all feeling today sleepy-head?” she cheerfully asked.

“Apples,” I replied.

Chapter 3: New Beginnings

All I know is that a few moments ago I was falling and now I’m sitting on a bed in a pony’s house that smells like apples. Tasty.

While pondering to myself I noticed the orange mare looking a bit defensive, she let an unknown stranger into her house and cared for me (noticing the bandages) when she could have left me where I was as most ponies would have do.

She’s looking anxious, time to break the ice with some Ponitalian charm.

“Hello. I am grateful for your caring and hospitality considering I’m a complete stranger,” I said with thanks.

“Well, Howdy to you too! My name’s Applejack what’s yours?” she asked while shaking my hoof with an incredibly fast rhythm.

My arm’s going to fall off if I don’t say something.

“Mm-myyy name ii-ss-sss Sha-adddo-www,” I said still shaking her hoof.

She let go, Oh thank Celestia! “Well howdy’do Shadow! And if you don’t mind me asking: what’s with the getup, why are you injured, and you know you’ve been out for two days right?”

“Well you see- TWO DAYS?” I exclaimed.

“Yup, good thing you weren’t worse, of course you had two arrows sticking out in your body, a stab wound, a few crushed ribs and a lot of blood loss,” said Applejack with concern in her voice but also one with an inquisitive tone.

“Lucky me.” I said looking at my broken wing.

“Doc said that wing will never heal. You can’t fly ever again, I'm sorry. This must be so hard for you,” said a saddened Applejack.

“Nah, it’s fine I never flew much to begin with.” I replied.

Ok I should, end this conversation before I reveal any of my true intentions and blow my cover.

“Thank you for your hospitality, but I really must be-“ I said standing up from the bed only to have fallen to my knees due to the agonizing pain of my body.

“Whoa! Easy there pardner,” she said while picking me up.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but you have to calm down, most of your injuries are still there, and I know this was no accident so don’t bother lying to me. I can see through anything for what it is.”

“Forgive me. I think I just need some fresh air, and maybe go see that doctor for more medicine.” I said with a sheepish smile.

“Well, I guess you’ve need some air. Ok I’ll show you ‘round town and then you can tell me about your…accident,” she winked.

“Deal.” I replied contently.

We moved downstairs with me leaning on Applejack’s shoulder, I noticed two other ponies a big burly red one and a small filly with a bow.

“Big Mac, Apple Bloom, this here is Shadow. You know, our patient.”

“Eeyup,” replied the red one. “Why howdy there!” replied the filly.

“I’m going to show Shadow our town and maybe figure out how he got this way,” Applejack said advancing towards the door.

“I’ve been meaning to ask where are we?” I asked.

Applejack opened the door.

“Ponyville!”

All I saw was a bunch of apple trees and a hill, I have to admit it was a nice hill. A very nice hill.

“Umm.. ya we’re here on the farm and Ponyville is on the otherside just a few hoofsteps away,” sheepishly said Applejack.

“If these hills are nice looking I’m pretty sure Ponyville will look wonderful.” I replied.

------A Few Minutes of Walking------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“*Ahem*, well here we are, Ponyville!”

Cue the musical choir playing in g-major. Honestly Ponyville looked so colourful and new, compared to the century old buildings I experienced in Ponitaly.

“Now then, let’s find that doctor, can’t have you falling now can we,” said Applejack with a smug grin.

“I feel great! Let’s go-“ I said as I tripped falling face-first into a pile of mud.

Ohhhh the emotional pain! THE EMOTIONAL PAIN!

After I cleaned myself off, we approached a cart carrying vast amounts of different mushrooms.

Wait… (I breathe in) ..... Mushrooms?

Just then a red stallion wearing a white doctor’s coat appeared from behind the cart.

“ALLO! DON'T YOU REMEMBER ME?” shouted the strange doctor.

“Oh… it’s you…” I blankly said while slapping my head in shame.

“MAREIO!” shouted the doctor.

“Uh, Shadow you two know each other?” asked Applejack with a confused look in her face.

“Ya, we met in Ponitaly a few times, I barely know him.” I replied.

“Ponitaly that’s exotic, isn’t it Shadow?” she said with a grin and an overconvincing voice.

Ah crap, I told her where I’m from! Well at least she doesn’t know-

“SHADOW! I’m hurt, you know I’ma the guy getting all the contracts and healing you every single time at the Guild! How could you have a forgotten me!”

Noticing my bandages he sighed and shouted, “MAMA MIA SHADOW! AGAIN!? Balthazar is too strong for you and I see your hidden blade is broken too, need I go on!?”

Honestly Mario, just tell her everything, tell her I’m on a rage mission to brutally murder the duke, and while you’re at it tell her I’m an Assassin. Oh wait: Balthazar, hidden blade, guild.
Mareio you really know how to keep a secret, don't you!?

As if reading my thoughts Mareio pulled me towards him and whispered in my ear, “Shadow. I know your trying to stay incognito, but these ponies are friendly, if you open your heart to them you can then find enough star power to save the galaxy.”

“What?”

“Now take this mushroom and go rest, because you’re going to feel like crap in the morning.” Mareio said handing me a red mushroom. “And remember don’t touch the purple ones.”

Images flashing through my head, purple mushroom, those... those poor villagers! NO!

I snapped out of my state and started eating the red mushroom as I walked back to where Applejack was waiting for me.

“So… Balthazar, hidden blade, quite an “accident”," Applejack cunningly said.

“Um… ya maybe when I’m done eating this mushroom,” I said taking a bite out of this red fungus as my eyes widened and a feeling of euphoria washed over me.

Power going through me, adrenaline filling my veins, pain no longer existent...

“YAHOO!” I shouted while jumping through the air.

As soon as I said that a pink blur ran towards me and also shouted, “YAHOO!”

“A NEW PONY! Ohmygosh! Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie!” said the pink mare ecstatically.

“Hey there Pinkie, this here is Shadow, you know the one who was injured for two days,” said Applejack.

“And now your BETTER! OOOhhh, we should throw you a super-awesome-mega-tastic-you-just-got-better-and-welcome-to-Ponyville PARTY!”

“That mushroom might have helped me but I think I’m still too injured to attend a party,” I apologetically said.

“Then we could throw a GET WELL WELCOME PARTY HORRAY, YAY!”
“Meet me at sugar-cube corner tomorrow at noon and don't be late! I'LL BRING MY PARTY CANNON!” she said excitingly as she bounced towards a gingerbread-house.

I don’t know if it was the mushroom, or my adrenaline, but parties are nice! Also is that a gingerbread house? Wow Ponyville is technologically inovative! Too bad most of my recent ones ended… unexpectedly. *hee hee* Also a Party Cannon? Guess this pony loves explosives.

“Yep that’s Pinkie Pie alright. Now let’s go see Twilight at the tree house maybe she can fix your… butter-knife,” said Applejack nearly bursting out in laughter, before calming herself down a bit and stifleing a few chuckles.

Crap, she’s almost piecing this together. Maybe I should listen to what Mareio said and just tell them. Then I remembered his speech on how he saved the galaxy by collecting 424 stars...
Nah, maybe some other day.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Approaching the tree house, Applejack knocked on the door. The door opened with a little lizard-creature standing there.

“Hey Applejack, who’s that?” asked the strange lizard.

“Howdy Spike this pony here is Shadow, is Twilight in?” asked Applejack.

“Hey Shadow. Ya you can find her by the edge of the library doing some studying,” he said showing us inside.

This creature with scaly skin, a tail, hard shell-like exterior, and claws. I wonder if Mareio was right about all those creatures he fought in his youth.

“Twilight! You’ve got visitors!” shouted Spike.

“Damn it Spike! Don’t bother me when I’m studying the Elements of Harmony- oh sorry about that Applejack” shouted a purple unicorn before quickly apologizing.

Elements of Harmony? Piece of Harmony, the Apple? No it couldn’t be. A connection?

“Twilight, this here’s Shadow.”

“Ooo a foreigner! I’m Twilight Sparkle number one apprentice to Princess Celestia,” she said cheerfully.

The Princess!? I wonder if she knows about this war we waged in the shadows.
I doubt it, unlikely that Celestia would even tell her own sister, Luna.

“Twilight, I was wondering if you could fix this… improvised utensil doohickey,” said Applejack showing Twilight my blade on my arm.

“Wow! I never seen anything so improvised! This is amazing! Can I study it? PLEEASE!” pleaded Twilight.

“Go right on ahead,” I said while handing my blade over to Twilight.

“Fascinating, a spring, it uses a paperclip mechinism and an unknown metal,” Twilight mumbled to herself, deep in thought.

“Ok then she'll be busy for the next few hours or so, let’s go see Fluttershy, she’s over by the Whitetail Forest,” said Applejack as we quickly exited the house.

Interesting a pony reading about the elements, apprenticed to Celestia and oppressive over inventions. What’s more interesting is how Applejack covered for me. “Improvised utensil doohickey” I chuckled, what a terrible liar she is.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few minutes of walking and we finally reached a house covered in flowers, plants and animals.

“She’s probably in her garden.” Said Applejack as we turned around the corner of the house.

Sure enough there was a yellow Pegasus mare with a pink mane hiding her eyes; she was trying to coax a rabbit to eat a carrot.

We were right behind her when I said, “Hello there!”

“EEP!” she squeaked while jumping into the air and taking shelter under a patio.

“Hey Fluttershy don’t be nervous this here’s Shadow,” reassuringly said Applejack.

“Oh you must be that poor pony who had a bunch of wounds and a broken wing that will never heal…Oop..sorry I didn’t mean to make you sad, you’re not sad are you?” she asked me with her eyes getting as big as the moon and a werid uncontrollable amount of d'awww heading my way.

“Uh. No it’s alright no need to get sad it was my fault to begin with. I never will open my wings during a 10,000 mile drop ever again,” I reassured her.

“10,000 mile drop!?” both Applejack and Fluttershy exclaimed with worry in their eyes.

Damn it more details! I wish I was as trained as well as Le Duck.

Le Duck my mentor, pain just went through my heart.

I quickly shook away the negetive feelings and changed the subject, “So Fluttershy are you a veterinarian?”

“Oh yes, I love taking care of animals as well as these plants.” She said showing her garden.

“Wow are those Trilliums, and is that a Euphorbia pulcherrima?” I asked.

“Wow I never thought anyone else would know the scientific name for poinsettias!”

“Here this plant makes a pungent smell when you add sulfur to it,” she said holding up a yellow plant.

Interesting, she knows a lot about healing and the properties of plants to make certain potions and poisons I bet.

“So you can use it like a smoke bomb then. If you ever need to protect yourself from timberwolves.” I said.

“TIMBERWOLVES! WHERE!?” she said as she flew back under the patio, no more unlikely to come out.

“Come on Shadow let’s go to Rarity’s, maybe she can give you some tips about… blending in,” said Applejack again with a weird grin on her face.

Oh crap she’s almost figured out everything. I just hope I can trust her not to tell everyone until the time is right. And even if she does promise I don’t know if she can lie to her friends. She’s a terrible liar.

Now approaching a froo-froo looking house my jaw dropped. “There is no way I’m entering a clothing store as frilly as that; my outfit is fine thank you very much,” I said while remembering the fashions from Ponitaly. The horrible, horrible designer store mishaps....

SO MUCH FRILLS! NO I DON’T NEED ANOTHER HANKERCHIEF ONTOP OF MY OTHER TWO. THESE TIGHTS ARE TOO TIGHT!!

I planted my feet firmly on the ground, and removed that mental image.

“Come on Shadow, Rarity is a bit froo-froo but there’s nothing to be scared about.” She assured be.

“I don’t see you having to try on blouse after blouse after blouse after blouse after blouse aft-“
I said until she snapped my mouth shut and with pure intent looked me straight in the eyes.

“Shadow, you are going to go in that store, if you do, I won’t tell my friends who you really are are deal?”

“Fine,” I said walking towards the door and opening the handle.

It wasn’t as bad as I thought I guess the outside just looks frilly. I walked in and saw two mares an icy-white coloured one with an extravagant purple mane and Twilight from before.

“Darling you’re finally here! Twilight told me you would come eventually. We are just finishing your device. I’m Rarity," said the purple-haired mare with a classy politeness.

Ah a mare in a class as fine as this, needs some of the Ponitalian charm.

“Ah bella madona! A flower as beautiful as you and a heart as generous as the sun, I thank you for your craftmareship on an item so important to me,” I said kissing her hoof.

“Oh, a gentlecolt and a kind spirit. I love seeing such new fashions from exotic places,” replied Rarity feeling my fabric.

“Ok that’s enough you two, now Shadow here is from Ponitaly and he-“ Applejack said.

“PONITALY!” screamed Rarity.

“WOW that place is EXOTIC! But… isn’t it gone now…?” asked Rarity trying to make a less impact on me.

“Gone you say?” asked Applejack looking at me suspisiously.

“Um ya, there was a warring siege on the city and the mountain by the High Duke of Equestria, luckily some the townsponies escaped," I leaned my head down with my hood, "Some."

Applejack saw this and gave me a comforting hug.

“I’m so sorry Shadow, I had no idea. But here is your tool anyways,” said Twilight handing over my blade.

I attached it to my hoof and forced my hoof out, sure enough the blade came out and I retracted it back inside.
I noticed Applejack was fixated on it when I tested it.

“Such an interesting design. Also what is that symbol on your robe?” asked Rarity pointing to my insignia.

“Um, it’s just something to make me remember what I lost,” I replied while looking at the symbol of the Assassins.

“Well it’s been a long day I should head back with Applejack, right?”

“Sure Shadow, but eventually you need to get your own place to live.” Said Applejack.

“Of course. I wouldn’t dream of overstaying my welcome. I greatly appreciate it,” I replied.

After making our goodbyes, Applejack and I headed back towards the farm. I noticed the clock tower in the middle of town and thought I saw something move at the top, something with wings and a beak. I also noticed Doctor Maerio peddling his cart of mushrooms.
Talking to Applejack I confessed my story,

“Well, I guess I can tell you who I am, I’m an Ass-“

*PHOOMP*

I was interrupted as something blue or rather somepony who’s blue slammed into me making me fall right into Doctor Mareio’s cart scattering his mushrooms all across the town streets.

“OH NO! AHH! THE BLUE COLOUR! BLUE SHELL! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!” said Dr. Mareio screamed while flailing his arms and running in circles as his cart was toppled.

The thing that crashed into me went over to me, I noticed it was a light blue mare with a rainbow mane and she was laughing hysterically at me.

I looked on my lap and noticed a purple mushroom in a glass container…

“AHHHHHHHHH! NOT THE PURPLE MUSHROOM! GET IT OFF ME! WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!” I shouted as memories of that day surged through my head.

“Wooh, dude chill, no need to get upset over a purple mushroom,” she said to me.

“IT”S EVIL! ABSOLUTE EVIL! CELESTIA DAMN IT TO TARTARUS!”

Purple mushroom, purple mushroom, purple mushroom, purple mushroom. Very, very, very, bad ,bad, bad ,bad, bad...

I wasn't usually like this, I was sane but also a bit insane you could say. Let's just say that memory is the most "what the hell" I've ever experianced in my lifetime, and WILL ever be experainced.

Once I was out of my mental breakdown, I turned to the mare and said with a stern look in my eye, “You’re lucky this... abomination already slightly spoiled and is inside this container, oh if it was ripe, if it was outside and it landed on anything, oh then we’re screwed. Now, I’m pretty sure you have a good reason for knocking me into that cart and nearly making Ponyville the living APOCALYPSE!”

“I was testing out a new game, I call it Rainbow Dash DASH!” she said shouting “Dash” with as much emphasis as possible.

“Rainbow, you can’t just hit ponies for fun, it’s wrong and besides Shadow is hurt,” said Applejack helping me up to my hooves and pointing to the bandages.

“Wow your pretty fast I got to admit that, but I bet you’re not as fast as me,” I said to Rainbow Dash, knowing she would fall into my trap.

“Are you kidding me? I’m the fastest flier in all of Equestria! I’ll race you to the top of the clock tower!” challenged Rainbow.

“Hey hold on there! Shadow is hurt, and besides he can’t fly, EVER.” Said Applejack sternly.

“A Pegasus that can’t fly, what’s up with that!?” said Rainbow Dash with me giving a grimacing expression.

“I don’t need to fly,” I said while picking up a red mushroom from the cart and eating it to gain some energy.
Instantly adrenaline flowed through my body.

“Well, ok but I’m sure you won’t win before I do!” said Rainbow Dash as we went towards the clock tower's base.

“3, 2, 1..”

“GO!” shouted Rainbow Dash propelling herself at quite a speed.

I knew I wasn’t a match for a Pegasus that moves at that speed. I wonder if she had more training… no I can’t get these ponies involved in my war, for my revenge. I at least owe them that much.

Grabbing ledge and ledge I hauled myself up at a constant rhythm while using the flapping motion of my wings to give me boost in every step. Surprisingly I noticed Rainbow Dash right next to me; she turned to me with a look of surprise on her face. She was a formidable opponent, but just as I knew it from the beginning I lost.

“HA! I beat you! But I have to admit you’re not bad. How did you learn to do that?” she asked me.

“Maybe some other time,” I said looking around the tower.

“Huh? That’s it? What’s with you!?”

An eagle swoops down and lands on my shoulder.
“I knew that was you up here.” I smiled to the eagle, Rainbow Dash was dumbfounded.

“Rainbow Dash meet my friend, Ace," I showed her my friend.

*SCREE* said Ace as he flew off my shoulder towards his makeshift nest on the tower.

Ace, was my best friend when I joined the Assassins, for you see he was a member himself. Whenever there was a team that needed coordination, Ace would always let out a screech signaling an attack. If it weren’t for him I would be dead. I guess he must have been following me all these years and keeping an eye out. I can always depend on him.

“Wait? You knew he was here? You tricked me!” an outburst from Rainbow.

“Speed matters both physically and mentally, I won one you won the other. So it’s a tie,” I smirked causing Rainbow to puff out her mouth.

After whispering to Ace telling him I’ll be back I went over to the edge of the tower and looked down, a hay bale next to the front doors of the tower entrance was a convenience.

Turning around to Rainbow with me still on the edge I calmly said, “Race you to the bottom!” and I fell down back-first.

*LEAP OF FAITH*

I picked myself up from the hay and dusted my robes off. Not a scratch.

I heard Rainbow Dash call down, “THAT WAS AWESOME!”

And I heard Applejack running towards me shouting, “THAT WAS STUPID!”

“Don’t worry I do it all the time AJ, I’m an expert among experts,” I boasted with a smug grin.

“You are going to my home right now mister. Who knows what those mushroom’s side effects are and the strain of all that climbing and fallin’,” Applejack said while pushing me towards the direction to her orchard.

“See you later Shadow!” waved Rainbow Dash.

Amazing speed. And a devoted heart. With proper training she can easily be the fastest pony around.

-------At the Farm-----------------------------------------------------------------

When will she let go of me? She’s been dragging me for hours! Those mushrooms are fine I feel absolutely nothing at all! At least the farm is right there. “HELLO HILL!” I pretended to shout. “Hello,” it replied back. Those mushrooms were really good not to mention I’m exhausted.

Pushing me through the door and up the stairs, Applejack brought me back to the place where I had laid unconscious for the past two days.

“You mister, need to get some rest!” she said putting me into the bed.

“I’m sorry Applejack. I didn’t mean to scare you, but you must understand that I’ve been doing this for a long time.”

“Finally, I’ve been waiting to hear this all day.” Applejack smiled.

“Well, you see I’m an Assassin.”

I continued the story of my life to Applejack, telling her about my family’s death, Balthazar, joining the Assassins and plotting for my revenge, a part of Ponitaly's fall and my visit to Balthazar's flagship zepplin.

At the end of my story, Applejack was surprised. “My, and here I thought you were a lying, cunning, theivin', murderer. I’m sorry I made you tell me, I never could have imagined-“

“Please do not feel sorry these were my choices and I’ll accept the consequences. All of them, they will forever haunt me and I do not wish or anyone else to suffer what I have suffered so long ago.”

“So the reason you’re here is because you charged after Balthazar without any plan? That’s stupid,” she said with her hoofs crossed.

“Yes I know, but please I don’t want to involve you townsfolk. Or the same fate will befall your village just like Ponitaly. Now if you please, have a pleasant night, I’m sure the numbing effects of the Shrooms will wear off soon.”

“Well ok then, Goodnight Shadow.” Said Applejack closing the door.

“Goodnight.”

Staying awake in the bed without any chance for sleep, these thoughts were torturing my mind.

I can’t involve these ponies, these… friends. Dr. Mareio isn’t an assassin but he is a member and Ace isn’t enough. Each pony I met today had a unique talent that would make our cause more foreseeable maybe even ending the Templar crusades.

But I can’t.

If I stay here I’m only endangering the lives of the innocent.

I walked towards the window and opened it. I leaned out and looked at the height to the ground and back to my damaged wing.

I almost forgot why I was here in the first place.

Almost.

Chapter 4: Memories- Sanctuary

“Interesting… so the mountain is actually the Assassin’s headquarters?” I asked Le Duck as we were walking through the dimly lit passageway.

“Yes, it was originally built about a few hundred years after Equestria was formed and run by a legal/democratic system. Our ancestors wanted to keep Equestria safe and help its ponies to prosper and grow. Unfortunately, back then as well many ponies wanted to claim global dominance and rule pony kind with an iron fist.”

“Wait? What about Princess Celestia?” I asked.

We all worship her, she can banish anyone with the snap of her tail, and she controls the very foundation we live on!

“Unlike those other ponies, the Princess gives us the freedom of choice, and also if you’re no doubt aware… SHE CAN CONTROL THE SUN!”

“Ok, geez sorry Le Duck. Man, how long is this passageway anyway?” I apologetically asked.

“You should give this place more respect Shadow. For every 10 steps you take, that equals one year to shovel by hoof. Of course, with the invention of the jackhammer the process took less time to make.”

Up ahead I noticed a white light glowing brightly at the end of the hall.

FINALLY!

I started to run towards it, but as soon as I did Le Duck held me back with his arm. He smiles at me and pushes a stone in the wall marking with a strange symbol. The wall suddenly opens up showing a second passageway.

Le Duck pointed to the light and said to me, “This is a trap for anyone who isn’t or wasn’t contacted by the assassins.”

He took a rock from the ground and threw it towards the light. Instantly flames shot out from holes in the wall and burned everything to a crisp.

Shockingly I shouted, “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!? COULD YOU TELL ME THE NEXT TIME I’LL BE ROASTED ALIVE!?”

“Motion sensor.” He said pointing to the light.

“Now let’s get going, can’t be too far now,” chuckled Le Duck leading the way into the second corridor.

Seriously… what the hell man? No one would do that… well except maybe 5 people, but Batmare doesn’t count!

I followed Le Duck through the corridor and sure enough we appeared in a large open courtyard.
I looked up and saw the sun was rising.

Wow, all-nighter, first the deliveries, then my family, then the way to the door of the corridor, then the actual corridor itself, then a second corridor hidden in the first corridor… Wow I need some sleep.

Le Duck noticed how tired I looked and ushered me inside a glass-glazed door, “Come Shadow, let’s get you some sleep and we’ll pick up where we were once you feel refreshed.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bed, Bed. Warm snuggly wuggly bed. I can’t wait to begin my training and become an assassin like my father: saving the world, breaking heads, free running, Balthazar… Balthazar…..

*SNAP*

BALTHAZAR! HE WILL PAY FOR THIS! FOR EVERYTHING! I WILL HAVE MY VENGENCE!

Then again, revenge can wait. This bed is too snuggly, and I’ve been walking for about 15 hours today. “I deserve some rest” I thought closing my eyes.

------12 hours later-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I opened my eyes to find Le Duck sitting next to me on a chair reading a romance novel.

“Dude, haven’t you dated?” I asked him.

Startled he fell off the chair and dropped the book. Picking himself up he looked at me and said, “Glad to see your awake now. An assassin’s life can be a lonely one too.”

“Huh, well how long did I sleep for?” I asked.

“12 hours.” He simply replied.

“That’s nice… wait? 12 HOURS!?”

“Yep, now let’s hurry, can’t keep the Observer waiting!” He said pulling me up from bed.

“The Observer?”

Walking out the door and across the hallway Le Duck told me, “He’s the leader of the Assassins; he’s greatly trained and very wise. He also takes pride in keeping our tenants sacred and places them beyond everything we do.”

“Well that’s nice for him.”

“He’s also the one who will finally initiate you as an Assassin. He will give you contracts offered by that guy over there.” Le Duck said pointing to a strangely familiar pony with a mustache wearing a white coat hauling a bunch of mushrooms behind him.

“Oh no.” I said blankly, as the pony walked over to us knowing Le Duck pointed at him.

“ALLO! DUCK! IT’SA ME! MAREIO!” ecstatically said the doctor while hugging Le Duck.

“AND HELLO TO YOU TOO SHADOW! SMALL GALAXY, HUH?” said Mareio shaking my hoof.

“Shadow, I trust you already know who this guy is. Mareio here supplies the guild with contracts, contacts, commodities and mushrooms from all over Equestria. He’s not an assassin per ‘say but he is nonetheless the perfect guild member.” Smiled Le Duck.

Noticing his carts and especially the purple mushroom sitting in a glass safe I asked Mareio, “Hey? Why’s this mushroom locked in a cage?”

“DON”T TOUCH THAT!” he said quickly pushing me away from his stand.

“This mushroom, this MONSTROOM can be the END OF ALL of Equestria if it were EVER released!” shouted Mareio.

“It’s just a mushroom. Why don’t you destroy it if you hate it so much?” I asked.

“MAMA MIA! THAT’S JUST WHAT IT WANTS YOU TO THINK!”

“Umm… Shadow, he’s not joking. I’ve heard the legends of how most of Equestria was nearly destroyed.” Told Le Duck.

“And Mareio, it was good seeing you again. But my protégée here is about to join our ranks.”
Le Duck said dragging me off to a big circular door.

“OKEY-DOKEY! SEE YOU NEXT TIME!” waved Mareio.

-----------At the Great Door-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Le Duck opened the door and the room came into view.

Books lined the walls, the floor made of shining marble and a stone staircase leading to a mahogany desk filled the atmosphere with a sense of knowledge and responsibility.

At the desk sat an old grey stallion with a white beard wearing black robes and a hood covering up to his forehead. We approached him and Le Duck started to say, “Observer, here is-“

“CAN’T AN OLD MAN GET SOME QUIET? AS YOU CAN SEE… IM “OBSERVING” SOME DOCUMENTS RIGHT NOW- oh it’s you Le Duck and this must be your protégée. How enjoyed I was to hear of your arrival!”

What… I don’t even…So loud and angry then so calm and jolly. I need to sit down.

I walked to a bench on the side of the Observer’s Desk and sat, hands in my face trying to comprehend what just happened.

“Observer I’m sorry we had to distract you from your duties-“ said Le Duck before he was cut off from a signal of the Observer’s hand.

“Please Le Duck it’s no trouble at all, I only wish that these, DOCUMENTS DO AS THEY WERE TOLD TO DO!" shouted the Observer.

*SLAM*

The Observer hit his arm on the sheets of paper scattering them everywhere. With rage in his eyes he hollers, “GOD DAMN TAX PAPERS! ARRRGGG!”

Shocked. I’m shocked. This was the Observer? THIS was the head of the Assassins? TAXES!? When do we pay taxes if we live in a FRIGGAN MOUNTAIN!

Le Duck walked over to me with the Observer raging around in a circle and quietly whispered to me, “I know the Observer can seem a bit… strange, but he has been here longer than you and seen things most ponies can’t comprehend. Really he’s a nice guy, so come on and let’s get you initiated.”

I stood up and followed Le Duck back to the Observer who seemed to have quieted down a bit. Only by a bit.

“GRRRrrr…. Hello Shadow! So you want to join the Assassins, eh?”

“Umm… yes sir.”

“PLEASE! Call me Observer.”

“Ok then… Observer.”

“THAT’S THE SPIRIT! Now before I let you join our cause there are some things we need to clear up.” Said the Observer grabbing a list from the table.

*AHEM*

After clearing his throat he opened the list and page after page unfolded until the paper reached the end of the room.

“Now the 150 tenants of our guild starting from the least important to the most important rules to follow, and make sure you listen to every single one with the utmost care.” Said the Observer taking a deep breath in.

“Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep.” Le Duck whispered in my ear.

“TENANT 150: PLACE GARBAGE IN THE GARBAGE BIN THE HEADQUARTERS IS NOT A TRASH CAN.”

“TENANT 149: DON’T……………….”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“TENANT 81: DON’T ROB PEDESTRIANS WHEN THERE IS A PERFECTLY RICH GUARD OVER THERE”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“TENANT 69: WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT TENANT 69.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“TENANT 13: AGAIN I CAN"T STRESS THIS ENOUGH. DO NOT, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT TOUCH THE PURPLE MUSHROOM. DAMN IT IF I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“TENANT 4: WHEN TROLLING OTHERS GIVE SOME THOUGHT ABOUT IT INSTEAD OF QUOTING IT FROM A PONYTUBE VIDEO, MMMMMMMMMMM?”

“FINALLY TENANTS 3, 2, AND 1, DON’T COMPROMISE THE GUILD OR INNOCIENTS, STRIKE DISCREETLY, AND OUR MOTTO.”

Everypony in the room said it at once, “NOTHING IS TRUE, EVERYTHING IS PERMITED.”

“AND WE’RE…. done!” ending the Observer.

Oh Thank Celestia that’s over, I don’t think I can remember another-

“Now recite tenants 130, 68, 13, and 1.” Cheerfully said the Observer.

WHAT! CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP! I FELL ASLEEP THROUGH 130-15! ARRRRGGGHHH!

Just then my savior appeared. No it wasn’t Le Duck he was snoozing on the bench after saying his line. No it was… an eagle?

The eagle flew in from an open window behind the Observer and landed on his shoulder. The eagle then flew towards me and landed on my shoulder.

Aw how cu- ARGH!

The eagle’s claws were burrowing into my skin.

“AW I THINK HE LIKES YOU!” very cheerfully said the Observer.

“HAHAHA… NOW GET ON THE DESK ACE. I got some documents for you to get "rid" of.” He said waving the papers at the eagle.

The eagle swooped onto his desk and gave a very loud screech. *SCREE*

“Look, I know you hate documents as much as me… wait… no one hates documents as much as me… well anyways I need you to send these to the Princess.”

*SCREE*

“Come ON! Now you’re just being unreasonable! Ok… When she finishes reading the letters then you can… SHREAD THE DAMN BASTERDS!” he shouted throwing the documents on the table.

Ace gave a slight nod and grabbed the letters and flew out the window.

“So nice to see him again… anyways where were we?” the Observer asked me.

“Um… we finished the tenants.” I replied, not telling him I had to do my parts.

“Great! Would you like to listen to them again?” he said unrolling the tenant paper.

“NO!” shouted everyone in the room, causing Le Duck to fall off the bench who quickly scrambled up back to my side.

“Well, you don’t need to shout.” He said grabbing some stuff from a closet.

“Here you go Shadow your robes and I see you have your father’s hidden blade. Greg was a good pony.” He said handing me my robes.

“GREG!? THAT’S MY FATHER’S NAME!?” I burst out.

“Sure Greg was one of our best. He didn’t say his name a lot so I reminded him whenever I saw him.” Smiled the Observer.

Well, no wonder he seemed so pissed off when I asked what his name was.

“Now back then, the Assassin’s Guild used to cut off the left pony’s hoof when becoming an assassin. We don’t do that anymore, we like having 4 legs. Instead we put our symbol on the robes. HUZZAH!” he said pointing to the insignia on the robe.

“Thank you very much Observer.” I asked, pride now filling my eyes.

“Now like tradition whenever someone becomes an Assassin they need to take a leap of faith.”
He said while bringing me to the window.

“I realise that just like your father and your brother you have a passion for... falling off high buildings.” He said while opening the giant window.

“So I have one thing to say to you… BYE!” He cheerfully said.

He pushed me and I fell.

“ARGHHHHHHH! YOU DICK!” I shouted to him as I was falling down.

“HAHAHAHAHAHahahaha….” Laughed the maniacal Observer getting further away as I fell.

I looked behind me and sure enough a hay bale below me. I thought what the hell, might as well.

*LEAP OF FAITH*

The last thing I remembered before landing was…

Greg… lol.

Chapter 5: Renovations

Overlooking Applejack’s farm from the window of the 2nd floor, I stood on the windowsill looking at the grass ground below me as a gust of wind rippled across my robes, threatening to fell my escape.

Despite my injuries, this height is a cake walk.

I jumped off the windowsill and landed in a flawless roll execution. Patting my clothes clean I looked up towards the second story window I leaped from.

I’m sorry Applejack. But Balthazar is my problem, not yours or any other ponies. I don’t want to see you or any of my friends hurt. Celestia forbid this place to end up like Ponitaly.

I noticed the hill from before and took a moment to contemplate my thoughts, "Well… I can’t really leave here now. I’m still too injured to travel and I’m pretty sure those hallucinogenic mushrooms will wear off soon leaving me completely helpless. These ponies have helped me so much… I might as well watch over them, for now at least. I owe them that much."

As I began to trot away from the Apple family's farm a sudden realization hit me.

Wait.

I am not alone… Ace is still here! That must mean there are others out there! Our cause goes beyond reality and the boundary of morality. Those Templars would rid this village whether I’m here or not!

Of course exposing myself more than I need to would lead the Templars straight through Ponyville. After preparation and planning- maybe... maybe then Balthazar would fall and peace return to Equestria. It sounds too simple, it isn't. First I need to figure out a reliable base of operations, someplace no pony would ever figure out or even want to go to.

A devilish smile spread across my lips.

I know just where to set it all up…

--------At the Abandoned Clock Tower----------------------------------------------------------------

Making sure i wasn't watched by any prying eyes I tested the door knob of the ancient tower with my hoof.

Locked.

"That means this tower doesn’t get much use. It’s perfect for a hideout. Now how to get in?" I paced around looking for any alternative entrances but found there were none on ground level. "I think I remember a hatch on the roof, maybe it leads into the chamber below"?
"Still there is only one way to get up there."

I cracked my hoofs with anticipation and took a running jump onto the wall.

Ever since the race with Rainbow Dash I noticed how this building was easy to climb. Lots of out of place bricks, wooden beams, and even the outside clock handles work nicely if you're quick enough. It would be terrible if the clock handle went vertically parallel. My hoof slipped off the handle as it went vertical, releasing a panicked breath from me but I managed to grab onto the hour hand to prevent my falling demise.

"Whew...", I sighed with relief from my hanging position.

Either this clock tower is very old… or the ponies who built this didn’t know how to read a blueprint. Whatever the case, time kills.

Hauling myself onto the stoney roof I noticed an eagle was sleeping, nestled in his makeshift nest of paper and twigs. I let my better judgement take over and gave Ace a light pet and not a 'Good morning, it is not morning at all, how are you Ace!?', my eyes would've been clawed out by a sleep-deprived avian if I did.
I trotted over to the hatch of the roof, my hoof grabbed it's handle and lifted up as dust rolled off it from not being opened for so long, a creek revealed a darkened inner chamber connected via a ladder. Going flank first I descended my way down the wooden step holders to the inner dwelling of the clock tower.

Everything looked magical from what somepony could expect to see from a clock tower that hasen't been used in decades. Apart from the dustiness, sacks, crates lying everywhere, and bugs- lots and lots of bugs- there were a few plus sides that I was lucky to notice.

The place was completely insulated so it was the perfect room temperature all the time, inside the sacks were potatoes, "YAY!", and the glass window around the clock itself allowed natural light to fill the room with the glow of the night moon cascading down into this abandoned yet beautiful tower.

Why would anypony let this place get in such a run-down state. What a shame for something that could be so much more.

Oddly enough, the light was shining in such a way where it was possible to see everything in Ponyville; from Applejack’s farm to Fluttershy’s house by the woods.

When I looked up at the clock tower before racing Rainbow, I couldn’t see through or inside the glass windows. This building is completely abandoned from top to bottom. BENE!

I emptied some sacks and found straw in a few crates and made it into a makeshift bed, despite the cheapness of it, it was the best makeshift bed I've made in a while. The moment I laid my head onto the hay-filled pillow, feeling it's wonderful comforting sensations as all my troubles seemed to just wander away, the mushroom effects wore off.

“MY LEGS! MY ARMS! MY TAILBONE!” I shouted, knowing that no one would hear my agonizing cries.

*SCRAWK*

Or so I thought… nonetheless I shouted like a filly for the rest of the 4 hours before sleep overtook me.

----------Morning-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ooh, my body still feels like crap. What does Dr. Mareio put in those things?

I looked over to the glass window wearily and saw the morning light streaking through it, my head fumped back on the pillow in annoyance.

Morning already? That was quick, maybe Princess Celestia is messing with somepony again. Hehehe…

Hauling myself out of the poor excuse for a bed, my hoofsteps leqd me towards the clock window. Giving a loud yawn and a quick stretch as something in my body snapped receiving an unsatisfied grunt from my mouth.

Everypony was waking up to the sweet chirping birds flying through the summer wind. It was quite the sight, quite-

*SCREE*

The chirping stopped.

Forgetting that Ace needed to catch his breakfast every morning, I looked towards Sweet Apple Acres and despite how far it was, this place was definately the best for observing anything and everything in Ponyville.

No doubt Applejack is an early riser, but if she cared for me for the 2 days she must be exhausted. Guess my status is still incognito… eugh, what’s that sickening odor?

I sniffed at the air, then at the potatoes, then my clothes. It was my clothes- and me…

Great, now I can be the most odorous assassin in Equestria. I can’t just break into anypony’s house and use their shower...... or can I?

Noticing a lake near Fluttershy’s home I a simple thought came to mind, so simple yet so clever, “Hmmmm interesting…”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I knocked my grey hoof on Fluttershy’s cottage door, I heard frantic hoofsteps and a few moments later she answered.

“Oh hello Shado- AAAHHH!” shouted Fluttershy. She brought her hoofs towards her mouth stopping the screams of terror before quiety saying, "Sh-Shadow?"

I was covered from head to hoof in mud, to her I must've looked like a swamp monster, I quickly wipd a bit off splashing on her doorway as a smile formed on my mouth.

Honestly, you need to see the big picture.

Next to the lake was land, so in between there would be the semi-wet stuff, mud. Seriously, to bathe in a lake without any soap plus the threat of leeches sucking onto my skin left me nauseated. I need my blood!

Second, using the trigonomic ratios to pinpoint the distance from AJ’s farm to Fluttershy’s house and the fact that Fluttershy is quite shy so few ponies would come to her due to their shyness, I determined that I can make it to the lake then to Fluttershy’s house before Applejack told all her friends.

Yes I know I over-exploited Fluttershy, but like tenant 128 says, “Over-exploitation is for the weak and helpless, so be creative!”

Now feeling the withdrawel symptoms of the mushrooms, I was weaker and helpless than any pony in Ponyville.

And Fluttershy helps the weak and helpless.

Though I’m still inexperienced than most other assassins, after falling for 10,000 miles it can really clear your head. Make you think more about what you have in the world. A family, Assassin siblings, a city to call home.....

I have nothing.

“HAIL FLUTTERSHY!" I said eagerly to her before pretending to cough as if I was sick and plagued with a horrible respitory infection. "The medicine Dr. Mareio gave me had terrible side-effects!” I made myself sound so convincing that I was dying, this cheerful attitude is the perfect disguise!

“As you can see I’m covered in mud and I don’t know how that happened, so it is alright if I may use your shower very quickly to wash the mud off?” I said adding a smile towards the end.

“Well… I’m expecting Applejack… I hope you don’t mind… she’ll be here in a couple minutes. But I can’t turn down a poor hurt creature such as yourself, you can use my shower and when you get back I’ll give you some herbal remedies I made.” she timidly said showing me inside.

“Molto Grazie Fluttershy.” I said bowing before heading in after her.

I rushed off to the shower room and locked the door before another word was spoken. Surprisingly Fluttershy had a washer/dryer in the bathroom so I chucked my clothes into it

Turning on the shower I thought to myself biting my lip in frustration, "Merda! Applejack is going to be here soon. Which means when she notices I’m gone she’s going to run here faster to alert Fluttershy!"

I got the soap and quickly lathered and lathered as much as I can down my body until the smell of my fur sweat and all the mud residue was gone. With the shower still running I grabbed my robes from the washer and threw them into the dryer as fast as I could.

I quickly cleaned myself off with a towel, a ding was heard and I hastily grabbed my now puffy dry robes from the dryer and put the outfit on correctly, from robes to vambrace to boots. As soon as I finished I heard light tapping on the door.

“Shadow? Applejacks downstairs she wants to know… if your done… if umm its… not a bother,” said the voice of Fluttershy.

Crap, knowing in a few seconds Applejack herself will kick that door down, how can I escape- oh a window! A window in the washroom? Whatever, I’ll take what I can get.

“NO!” I shouted my panicked answer through the door as I hastily climbed out the window.

Immediately I was out, sprinting with all the might and speed I had.

If the Templars don’t kill me it would be Applejack… Damn mushrooms!

I felt a cramp in my leg and it was BAD.

I need to improvise; I can’t hide in a hay stack. I need to be creative…... wait that’s it!

I noticed a bridge leading from Fluttershy’s house back to town, and then I looked under the bridge, a suitable hiding place.

Perfect.

I dove under the bridge and waited, trying to slow down my rapid breathing and stay as quiet as I can. Hoofsteps could be heard from Fluttershy's and I pressed myself closr towards the brick wall of the bridge's underside as the sound of galloping came over me.

*CLIP-CLOP* *CLIP-CLOP* *clip-clop* *cli-op*

Breathing a sigh of relief and resting for a short bit from that excitement, I came up from the bridge and ran back to Ponyville.

------------------------------------------------

Pulling my hood over my head I sat down on a bench outside the “Quill and Couch” store.
I closed my eyes and focused my hearing so I can hear everything in the general vicinity. My ears perked and twitched as I was brought to a new world to see through. The world of sound.

“That will be 4 bits." "Dang I don’t have enough, let me go home to get some more.”

“Mommy? Why am I a unicorn when you and dad are earth ponies?” "Well sweetie..... umm...."

Eventually I tuned myself from the conversations until I heard the voice of Twilight. I zoomed in my litening and overheard that she was talking to her 5 friends and Spike.

“Ok! We’ll split up and look around town. I’m pretty sure Shadow must be in town still because he’s still hurt. It’s only a matter of time before he’s well, he will then abandon us and this town and not likely ever come ba-“

“AND PROBABLY GET KILLED!” shouted Applejack seething with rage, hoping I was listening. I was, and a gulping noise escaped my throat.

“Applejack you need to stay quiet- for all we know he can be listening to us right now. Shh...”

“We all know what Shadow is and even if he is his last kind, I’m pretty sure our skills don’t match his,” she said tapping on something.

“A book?” I thought. “Maybe I should see what it is later…”

“WAIT!” shouted Pinkie Pie. “Now is his Get-Well Party! He can’t afford to miss that!” said Pinkie pie in determination as she hopped towards Sugarcube corner.

“PINKIE!" Twilight shouted after her but sighed as Pinkie was already long gone. "Ok, you 4 spread out while me and Spike try to get more information. Somepony's got to know if they seen him. No pony is invisible.”

I tuned my sound fields back around to me and opened my eyes.

Well, I never break promises. If the Assassins weren't invisible, we couldn't do our jobs. That's why to maintain our secracy we used to put our symbol outside the headuarters in big visible banners for all of Euetria to gaze down upon........ Alright maybe we're slightly invisible... metaphorically speaking. I should go and see Pinkie and make sure she DOESN'T see me.

Getting up from the bench I made my way towards Sugarcube Corner.
I passed from group to group of ponies, my chin raised upwards as I noticed Rainbow Dash flying overhead.

She can’t see me… she needs to work on that.

Up ahead I noticed Rarity was inspecting everyone going through that street, like a checkpoint.

Damn… I forgot how Rarity can notice foreign materials a mile away. I need to move fast.

Scanning around me I noticed an alleyway, I quickly weaved my way around the ponies towards it.

Dark and dank. Ah, almost like Ponitaly.

I looked up at the roofs overlooking me now safely concealed in shadow.

Ha ha, now I see. If I try to do any building climbing or free-running Rainbow would notice me right away. Luckily Sugarcube corner was right at the end of this alley.

Popping myself out from the alley I quickly dashed around the back of the gingerbread house building and noticed a basement hatch. I opened it and made my way down to a nicely lit basement.

There was baking materials everywhere I looked. Flour, wheat, frosting, eggs, everything needed to make delicious pastry dishes.

I found a pencil and some paper and wrote a note:

Dear Pinkie Pie,

I’m sorry I couldn’t attend your party today. But if you read this then it means I did come over to the best of my abilities. Right now, you and all your friends are out looking for me. Sure, I accept your challenge! Finding me will not be a cakewalk (haha cake…) and make sure you show your friends this next part.

My friends, I’m sorry I’ve been so secretive. I’m sure by now Applejack or Twilight would have told you who I am or you figured it out by yourselves. Know that I do my job for the greater good of all ponies. And that Balthazar has stolen something that can rip the foundations of life, not even Princess Celestia can stop. Again, I apologize for my erratic behaviour and showing of my skill. Just know that it was great to find new friends so far away from home even if it was for a short while…for my time being I’ll be watching over Ponyville, protecting it and all its citizens, this place truely is a haven.

When the TIME comes, then all will be made clear.

Nothing is true, everything is permitted.

Shadow-mark

P.s I left something in here for you Pinkie.

Putting a firecracker into the letter and rolling it up, I sneaked upstairs to the 1st floor.

I saw a sad grey Pinkie, her mane was deflated and tears were forming in her eyes, wearing a party hat in the decorated store. It tugged my heartstrings, I haven't felt this is a long time.

Taking the letter, my hoof tossed the letter in front of her and I quickly jumped through an open window as to not be seen by her. But I know her reaction will be what I expect.

A few moments later…

*POP*

“HEHEHEHEHEHE! THANKS SHADOW!” shouted Pinkie hoping that the near-invisible foreign pony was still somewhere around to hear her words.

--------------------------------------------------

I walked back to where Twilight addressed the group and sure enough she was still there with Spike holding the book looking bored, he yawned ready for a nap rather than standing around interrogating/questioning any passing ponies.

I grabbed a rock I considered to be equal the size of that book and walked behind Spike. Where I found this size of a rock on short notice is a mystery but do not question the forces behind it. This rock holds many powers indeed, including the one of gravity acting on a heavy freaking rock I'm trying to steathily swap.
Twilight was engaged in reading a book about “The Dark Arts” and didn’t notice me or Spike for that matter.

Ahh… a classic novel. True story really, now to carefully switch…

My hoof reached out behind the scaley dragon, persperation dropped down from my brow. I bit my lip in anticipation as my hoof lightly grasped the book. The beads of sweat were rolling down my cheeks, now was the time to act. With a lightning flash movement of pure reflex, I switched the book in Spike’s hand with the useless rock subtitute.

SUCCESS!

Ducking back into cover with both of them not knowing what just happened, my hoofs took the trip back towards the clock tower door with the book tucked under my good wing.

I can’t climb the building without attracting Rainbow’s attention. Wait… I saw Le Duck do this once on a locked chest.

I extended my blade into the building’s lock and fumbled around the tumblers a bit. Eventually the lock itself fell off as if it was the most pickable lock to ever be picked.

I’m a master lock picker!

I looked closely at the lock and found that it was actually slashed in half by my blade from my crude friction method and lack of skill.

What a shame. Guess my skills didn't level up..... I must pick more often, next time a Templar bank perhaps!

I opened the door and appeared on the first floor of the tower. I went up the stairs until the path was cut off.

Literally the stairs weren’t there anymore, only a bunch of wooden beams and remnants of stair handles were still left in place.

FREE RUNNING TIME!

I hopped to the 1st wooden beam sticking out from the side. Instead of there being normal stairs this was a makeshift staircase of beams and handles, that weren’t that difficult but rather fun.

Now seeing a ladder I leaped for the platform and just barely managed to hang off from it. I pulled myself up and up the ladder.

I appeared in the same chamber that I spent the night in before. My pathetic straw bed caught my sights and instantly a wave of exhaustion hit me. I took of my hood wearily and collapsed onto my bed.

Pulling out the book I exchanged a rock for from Spike, my hoofs skimmed over some diagrams, skipping them from being overly detailed but I stop immediately as my eyes noticed some key components.

I read the pages.

Assassins, Templars, The Observer, and designs of weird contraptions.
Wait is that....?

It was a sketch of a hidden blade, MY hidden blade. It showed how to make them, the background information of how they're used and what they were intended for.

Skimming through the pages more with my hoof I noticed a rather strange vehicle, I angled the book left, then right, and upside down too.
It looked like a giant bat with oversized wings.

I wouldn’t want to come across that thing in the dark.

Huh, Twilight did a lot of work in just one day. I wonder if she can handle contracts and letters.

Nah, it’s probably Spike writing everything down. He's diligent but he really should work on his own esteem and independance. Even if he is a baby, he seems pretty grown up for his age. Reminds me of myself.

I put the book aside and closed my eyes on my hay pillow, it was not comfortable and not one I expected from a bed made of potato sacks and decade-old hay.

------------------------------------------------

I woke up hazily and noticed the sun was gone and replaced by the moon instead, shining through the glass window.

Strange, I feel refreshed and it’s the dead of night. Insomnia perhaps?
I looked at the reverse clock handles and counted the time. 10pm.

Guess it’s safe to get out then, Rainbow Dash properly wouldn’t see anything running around at night.

I went to the roof via the ladder and looked over to Ace's nest which was occupied by the gallant eagle. He was snoozing peacefully.

Awwwwww.

Then I noticed the pile of bird carcasses on the other side of him.

Aw…Ewwwwwwww.

I looked over Ponyville and scanned it from left to right but suddenly my ears pick up on something .

*AIIIIEEEEEE!* GET AWAY YOU SONS OF A-

Someone is in danger! Where, oh where… THERE!

I saw Dr. Mareio surrounded by 3 bandits at the town square. He was beaten up and his cart completely wrecked.

I spread out my wings and jumped.

Sure I can’t fly but at least I can glide. Glad I practiced this before my “wing” incident.

Heading straight for a bandit I dived towards them and reached my hooves out for the impact, 3..2..1.

My hoofs collided with his face as he was sent flying though the street and collided further with a streetlamp.

“What!? NO! You’ll pay for that!” said a big green coloured bandit pulling out a sword from his sheath.

A slightly smaller purple coloured bandit pulled out a dagger.

“What are you nervous? ARE YOU?” snickered the purple bandit as he waved his small sharp object at me.

I ran up to the purple pony and kneed him in the chest. I pulled his cloak over his head and stuck his dagger through it into the ground, his head was trapped and to no avail of his struggles, he couldn't escape with the dagger wedged in the ground.

Seeing how his friend was stuck the big green pony charged me with his sword drawn to the side.

“YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT!” he said approaching his target, bringing his sword down.

“No. You are.” I responded stepping on his sword, canceling his attack.

Immediately, I reached out for his hoof and grabbed it.

*SNAP*

“ARRRGGGHH! MY ARM!”

I threw him down and landed my back hoof on his chest.

*CRACK*

“AGRH! MY RIBS!”

I stood over his helpless body and arced my hoof fist-like.

*PAUNCH*

A knock-out.

The smaller purple pony now freed himself by ripping his cloak and noticed the other bandits. One was knocked out with broken ribs and a leg, while the other had made a dent in the streetlamp.

“I…I.. can still take you!” he nervously said.

I pulled out my hidden blade and showed him it's glimmering metallic luster within the moonlight, a raised eyebrow was all it took to break him.

“NO! I don’t want to die!” he shouted running away from Ponyville and never to return.

My hidden blade retracted into it's vambrace as I went over to help Dr. Mareio back to his hooves. We picked up all his remaining mushrooms, making sure not to directly touch the purple one which was sealed inside a glass box. We both knew of the consequences should it re-open.

That is one memory I wish to forget.

“THANK YOU SHADOW! YOU’VE BEEN A GREAT HELP TO ME!” shouted Mareio.

I noticed a crowd of ponies forming around us and more importantly I saw her, Applejack within them.

“HI APPLEJACK!” I waved to her non-chalantly.

“Ok Mareio here’s your chance to get some customers.” I whispered to him before giving him a friendly pat on the back.

Seconds later, his shouts echoed through the town, “50% OFF EVERYTHING!”

A mass of ponies filled the space between me and Applejack and I dashed into an alleyway.
Knowing Applejack would follow me I quickly climbed the building till I reached its roof.

Hopping from building to building I reached my safe house and went to the door. The door-knob didn't budge, I slammed my body against the door and it still didn't.

Locked once again.

What? Didn't I break it? Ok then, the roof I must go.

Reaching the top of the tower (it was much faster now that I done it a few times but for some reason, wait why is there grass here?), I opened the hatch and cautiously dropped down with my hidden blade out to what awaited me below.
The room was pitch-black, my vision didn't have enough time to adjust as I bumped my hoof against a chair, receiving a mutter of a Ponitalian swear under my breath.

Immediately lights flooded the room, blinding me.

“SURPRISE!”

I was greeted by 6 ponies in a nicely decorated interior adorned with Assassin logo banners, a more comfortable bed, fireplace, a desk made out of mahogany, and many more sets of furniture and decorations that I could not comprehend how uikly everything was set up. My mouth hang agape.

“Were you surprised? Were you? Were you?” said Pinkie as she jumped up and down next to me.

“I…I’m shocked…H-How?”

“Well you see yesterday when you left Pinkie that letter we had to do something.” Said Rainbow Dash.

“So we all went together and got stuff for the new hideout.” Said Applejack.

“I got the desk, books and paper!” said Twilight.

“Oh, speaking of books.” I said giving her book back to her, a confused expression caught her face as she wondered how I obtained it to begin with.

“I did the décor you see.” Said Rarity pointing towards the banners and atmosphere of the room.

“I..I got you the roof garden.. do you like it?” nervously asked Fluttershy.

“I took out all those boring potatoes and replaced it with real food! ALSO CRAFTING TABLES!” ecstatically said Pinkie.

“And I made everything 20% cooler!” Rainbow Dash said feeling quite highly of herself.

“Wow I really appreciate this… from all of you, but why me?” I asked, this kindness I haven't experianced in ages.

“That’s what friends do! When we need help we don’t run away, we stay and work together!” said Applejack bringing her hoofs out to remind me what they all did to the room.

“I noticed all your skills and you’d all make great specialist assassins but I couldn’t bear to see my friends get hurt like last time."
"This is real killing, meaning you will actually MURDER somepony."

"This isn’t a game.” I coldly said.

“Well of course not, sugar cube! After hearing your story and your letter, we can’t allow these… Templars to take over Equestria.” Said Applejack.

“It would make everyone UN-HAPPY!” protested Pinkie.

“This is about making sacrifices. That’s why we all want to be assassins. Princess Celestia even recommended it!” said Twilight, receiving some gasps including from

Wow! The Princess herself, maybe things are worse than I thought… well then.

“Ok then! I will train you in the arts of my lineage to be assassins. Together, we will win."

*YEAH!*

“First, we still need to do some more……………..Renovations.”

Chapter 6: Memories- First Contract

Dear Celestia! What is wrong with the Observer? His split personality and his insanity nearly killed me! Why would the assassins be led by that maniacal dictator!? Seriously, is everyone here insane!?

I was lying face first in a pile of hay; I looked up towards the window to where I was thrown off from. Then I noticed the distance between the window and the hay bale, I turned around to find myself halfway down Ponitaly’s rocky mountain.

It’s amazing how I fell down half the mountain and landed in this 3 metre stack of hay unscathed. Is… is the Observer really that skilled?......Nah, I’ve always been aerodynamic. Besides Free-runner could have done that without skipping a heartbeat.
Free-runner… I’m sorry.

I sat on the hay pile contemplating my thoughts for what appeared to be ten minutes until I saw Le Duck casually walking from the side road.

“Get up! We have a long hike back up to the headquarters!” he shouted motioning me to come over to him.

Still in shock I rushed over toward Le Duck and gave him a hug with my face pressed within his robe shouting and crying.

“Wow… I didn’t think the initiation would hurt you so much.” Said a surprised Le Duck.

I released all the emotions I had endured for the past week.

“MY ENTIRE FAMILY IS DEAD! FATHER, MOTHER, FREE-RUNNER! WHY HIM? HE NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG! BALTHAZAR IS A SICK BASTERD! I WISH HE’D JUST DIE! I WANT TO AVENGE MY FAMILY! AND ALL YOU GUYS DO IS SPEAK ABOUT USELESS TENANTS, USELESS MUSHROOMS AND THE PERSON IN CHARGE IS AN INSANE HOMICIDAL JERK WHO THROWS ASSASSINS OFF CLIFFS FOR NO REASON! AND-“

“ENOUGH!” shouted Le Duck.

“You may not realise this but the Observer has more skill than you can possibly imagine. The tenants were made with specific purposes in mind that don’t just aid you but the guild as well as the citizens of Equestria! Just like you I was thrown from the very same window ledge overlooking the same cliff and the same amount of hay and I’m Alive aren’t I?” said Le Duck.

“And Shadow.” He said looking at me at eye level.

“Not all your family is dead….. You still got the Assassin’s Guild as well as me.”

Wait… did I just see the faintest hesitation from Le Duck?

“What about Dr. Mareio?” I asked.

“Oh, praise Celestia he’s not. He’s not really a member of the family. Let’s say…. he’s…. like your…. Your next door Neighbor!”

We both laughed the pain in my heart easing.

“Shadow.” Said Le Duck placing his arm around me. “We’ll get Balthazar. But you need to see that revenge isn’t the answer. You don’t want to let it consume you and control your life. Believe me, I experienced that.”

Le Duck going ballistic over revenge? What could have made him go over the edge?

“It’s getting late; let’s head back to the guild, Assassin.” Smiled Le Duck.

Great I can’t wait to get inside my warm snuggly bed. Falling like that can take a lot out for somepony who witnessed his family’s murder. I hope I won’t fall like that anytime soon.
Who knows? Instead of 5,000 feet it could be 10,000 feet.
Ha! No way will that happen!

We hiked back up the mountainside along the way I noticed a magnificent waterfall flowing through a forest brimming with exotic colourful creatures ranging from toucans to birds of paradise. I saw a group of eagles together, a family.

I wonder if they’re Ace’s family as well. In this area I guess everyone’s family.

Looking up, I saw the Assassin’s headquarters from the outside. It looked like a fortress with an enormous cross-hatched gate. Fortifications ran the walls and the inside of the fort features a wide open field adorned with a central fountain and stone walkways.

“On your left is the training hall and armory and on your right is the guild library.” Said Le Duck pointing first towards a dirt patch surrounded by a low stone wall, then to a tall triangular tower with stained glass windows.

A stereotypical training location and a wizard’s tower, not bad. I could learn more about the Assassins at the library, and I could train at the training grounds (duh). Who would train me though? The Observer? Celestia I hope not. Dr Mareio? AH! THAT’S EVEN WORSE!

I turned to Le Duck and asked him, “Who will train me?”

“Don’t worry Shadow, I will train you! I’ve seen your skills around Ponitaly, I know that you can free run but I’ll teach you everything else to become a true Assassin.” Cheerfully said Le Duck.

“Awesome.” I said as we entered the Guild hall and turned to the barracks.

“Goodnight Shadow.”

“Goodnight Le Duck.” I said closing the door to my room.

I jumped on the bed and saw the romance novel Le Duck was reading before.

Well, I`m not that tired yet… let`s see.

I flipped open the book and read a part from the 3rd chapter where Le Duck left his bookmark.

Edzeo leaned closer to Catherina and whispered in her ear, “Would you like to see my hidden blade?”

“Oh Yes!” shouted Catherina.

Edzeo took out his “hidden blade”.

“Oooo, Impressive…”

“I’m rather fond of it myself.”

I closed the book before it would scar me for life and tucked it under my bed.

I’ll get rid of you later, now I can see why going to sleep is good for you.

I closed my eyes and let the wave of unconsciousness overtake me.

----------------------------------------------

*One Week Later*

I ran up to Le Duck at the training grounds who was impatiently waiting for me.

“15 minutes.” He grumpily said.

“Yes I know mentor, but-”

“NO EXCUSES!” shouted Le Duck.

“I know you’re caught up in your reading but-“ said Le Duck pulling something out from his sleeve.

“THIS! IS NOT AN EXCUSE!” he said showing me a burnt romance novel.

Damn! I was sure the flame trap would have finished it off. WHY DO YOU STILL EXSIST!

“Now then today-“ Le Duck started.

He was interrupted by an assassin running towards us.

“Whew, Shadow-mark, Le Duck. The Observer wants to see you, something about Shadow’s first contract?” said the assassin.

“Thanks Paul. Well, well Shadow looks like it’s finally time for you to spread your wings.”

I nodded and we went towards the Observer’s office.

Entering the pristine office I noticed the Observer shouting at Ace.

As usual…

I then noticed a pink coloured assassin wearing her white robes leaning on the wall with a bow on her back near the Observer.

Wait… I know her… but from where?

We approached the Observer’s desk just as his hoof hit the desk.

*WHAP*

“Ace listen to me…very…closely……YOU WILL SUBMIT TO MY IDEA OF LOCALIZATION , SO HELP ME CELESTIA THAT I WILL TEAR YOUR WINGS OFF AND STUFF YOU AS AN ORNAMENT UPON MY DESK! … Oh, well hello there Shadow!"
"I and Ace here were simply discussing philosophical boundaries between time, space, and accounting principles. Eh…What do you need?” softy said the Observer.

“Umm… you wanted to see me about my first contract?” I asked.

“What? Hmmmmm… AH! Of course! You need to kill a corrupt minister by the name of- Fumbles… or was it Rumbles? I don’t know. He is in Ponitaly so make it as quick as you can! You will have a partner to accompany you,” he said with both hooves pointing towards the leaning assassin on the wall.

I went over to her and asked, “Did we meet before? Because I’m sure I gave you something or something?”

“We met when you gave me the package back in Ponitaly. Well just to save time, I’m Sniper-shot and you’d better not be in my way when I strike. Meet me at the Church of Domes, assuming you even know where that is… newbie.” she said to me as she gently shoved me aside with her hoof and left the office.

Well that was rude. And NEWBIE? Ohohohoho, with my rebelious teenage past and a no-nonsense training from Le Duck, I was far from being a lower level!

“Well? What are you waiting for newbie? I’m not going to kill this guy for you!” said the Observer.

It’s Time….

“Hey Observer! Do you want to know what I have right here for you?” I taunted him.

“OOOOOOOOOOH! I LOVE SURPRISES!” cheerfully clapped the Observer.

“REVENGE!” I shouted performing a jump kick towards his head.

In an instant I went from attacking the Observer to lying on my back with the Observer overtop me. He pulled out not 1 but 2 hidden blades from opposite hands and brought it towards my neck.

“You should have learned Shadow, that at my skill I could kill you in 25… 26 different ways right now.” He whispered to me.

I gulped.

“Thats without my hidden blades… and someday if you keep training you can get… 2 BLADES AT THE SAME TIME!" he cheerfully said while pulling me back to my feet.

He brought me to the window around his desk and cheerfully said, “But until then you are stuck training and studying like the rest of the assassins! And Shadow?”

“Umm… ya?” I nervously said, still shocked from the near-death experience.”

He opened the window and said to me, “You ever do that again… I’LL GET ACE TO CLAW OUT YOUR INTESTINES SO I CAN JUMP ROPE WITH THEM WHILE BALANCING MY WORKSHEET!....... Understand?”

“YES SIR!” I saluted him.

“Good, now then… GOOD LUCK!” he said throwing me out the window.

Crap. Here we go again.

This time I didn’t scream down and I distinctively thought I heard “Newbie” in the distance.

I landed in the hay stack as squarely as the first time. Instead of taking the long way to Ponitaly I simply scaled the mountain downwards until I found another haystack. Approaching the city gates, I arrived back to where it began.

My home.

The villa was completely ruined, the windows were broken, the house was ransacked and almost everything was burned to the ground. It was as if my family died in a horrible house fire. If only the truth wasn’t worse. I couldn’t find my family among the carnage of the wreaked house. To be expected I suppose, after all I'm the only one who knows where they've gone. The city would never know and everypony would be left clueless and continue their days as if nothing happened.
All I found was a book with images of seals on the cover. I carefully opened the near destroyed book and read the contents.

It explained how there were 6 hidden crypts scattered all across Equestria and each one contained a seal.

It means there has to be something that requires those seals. How peculiar… Interesting there is a mention of the crypt hidden under Ponitaly.

I read the last visible line of the book,
“When all are made whole, will the reward appear where it first began.”

This seems important I might as well take it. I stored the book in my robe. Now the fastest way to the Church would be the rooftops, simple enough.

-----------5 minutes later-----------------

“GET THE BASTERD!” shouted a city guard.

Seriously? How was I supposed to know they stationed more guards on the roofs?

I dashed across a balcony and grabbed onto a lamp swinging me to the other side. Continuing jumping across various barrels, wooden beams and ivy bars I made my way back up to the rooftops of Ponitaly. I looked behind me and saw no one chasing me.

“Whew, I lost them.” I panted.

“NOPE!”

A guard snuck behind me and tried to stab me with his rapier. I counter-dodged and flung my hidden blade into the base of his skull. His body fell down in a heap.

“Damn, at least that’s the last-“

“MURDERER!” shouted another guard accompanied by 2 others, rage filling their eyes.

Crap! Wait I’m in Ponitaly… merde!

Suddenly the 3 guards stopped in their tracks and dropped dead. Arrows sticking out in all their backs.

“Noob.” Said an all-too familiar voice.

Sniper-shot yanked the arrows out of the guards and quivered them.

“Seriously Shadow? Tenants 77, 13, and 2!?”

“Hey I didn’t hit that old lady! And excu-use me prin-“

“Tenant 4.” Said Sniper-shot shaking her head.

“Argh, enough, let’s just get this guy Fumbles was it?” I asked her.

“Guild master was right, Fumbles is a corrupt minister who passed many laws allowing the Templar organization better access around the city, such as couriers and these extra guard patrols.” She said kicking to the body of the deceased guard.

“Do you know where he is?” I asked.

“When I was looking around the dome waiting for you, I found out that a group of key Templar personal are having a secret meeting under this very church. Of course they won’t just let us in and I’m sure they are in a hidden room to ensure maximum protection.”

“Wait. I think there are catacombs that run under the city, there might be a passage that leads to the hidden area.” I explained to her.

“MIGHT?” she asked.

“It’s our only option if we want to know what their meeting is about.” I reasoned with her.

“Fine. I’m sure that sewer grate over there leads towards the catacombs.” She said pointing to a grate on the city floor.

--------Under the City-----------------------

“Yuck there are dead ponies everywhere!” I said nearly tripping on a skull of a unicorn.

“SHH! Do you hear that?” she said motioning me with her hoof.

Around the corner were 4 guards, 2 regular militia, a captain and one wearing a winged cap.

A Scout, damn I hate scouts. The only ponies that can actually run faster than me, not for Free-runner though.

I carefully sneaked with Sniper-shot around the corner until we could hear what they’re saying.

“- and that’s why we’re stuck here for the next 2 hours, Luigi. If you leave now then we won’t be paid.” Said the guard captain to the scout.

“Very well, but if I hear anything I’ll run to the other guard post so help me Celestia!” said the scout as he went away towards an open gate.

“Any ideas?” I asked Sniper-shot.

“I’ll take the captain out with my arrow then you run straight for the scout before he reports to the other base.” She said drawing out an arrow.

*Zing*

The arrow went through the captain’s head and he fell. The 2 militia guards were stunned and the scout began to run.

“SHADOW AFTER HIM! I”LL TAKE CARE OF THESE 2 GUARDS!” shouted Sniper-shot pulling out her sword.

I sprinted as fast as I could; shoving the 2 guards out of the way I go through the wooden gate.

With the wind rushing through my hood I see the scout run towards a second gate and flip a lever closing the gate behind him. I chose an alternate path and scaled a wall onto a platform, where I can see the scout running though the floor underneath me. I jump trying to land an air assassination.

Missed.

He runs now jumping onto old stairs which crumble beneath him. I notice a lamp and jump towards it as it swings onto a wall I climb my way up. I thought I lost distance from doing that but I was closer to the scout than he realised.

Unfortunately for my luck a boulder fell from the ceiling and landed in between him and an opening. I noticed some boxes to the left and jumped on those to reach a small gap in the wall behind. I dove through and saw the scout was almost to the other guard post. I sprinted with all my might to a platform directly above him.

Let’s hope it works this time.

Running out of platform I leaped in the air onto the scout and stabbed him in the neck. He lay dead.

*Whew*

I reach the guard post and noticed they were in a middle of playing a card game.

“Got any unicorns?” “Go Pony.”

I sneaked my way around and came towards a small door; I opened it and found myself in a dimly lit room with voices in the distance. I edged my way to the voices, which I found where on the floor below me. I looked through a hole in the wall and saw a group of various ponies all from different places around Equestria.

“So Fumbles, I trust you convinced the city council to ignore our plans.” Asked a light blue stallion with a dark-blood-brown mane, covered in fine robes of a nobel and with a black star cutie mark towards a yellow pony.

Balthazar…

“Yes my master. The council was easily swayed by my… contributions.” Answered Fumbles

“Volcanous and Je Suis, what do you have?” asked the stallion to a bulky red stallion with a blacksmith hammer and a darker blue unicorn wearing a monocle.

“Oui Master. We have everything your troops require: weapons, armor, and technology. With all la finest craftsmareship from Maris and Gerpony.” Answered the dark blue unicorn.

“Gut Work.” Said Balthazar towards the red one who smiled hearing Gerponian so far from home.

“And what about you Dave?... Dave?” asked the light-blue stallion talking to an icy-white unicorn wearing glasses, a casual white shirt, black jeans and a business tie. A pony with a low-ranking business position that I ever saw. He was looking right at me through the hole.

He smiled.

I darted my head back just realizing my cover was blown.

“Dave? Are you ok?” I heard Fumbles ask.

“Yes.... I thought it was the wind. Now if you’d all excuse me.”

*CRACK* *WHOOSH*

I quickly popped my head back up to the hole and saw Dave was gone from the rest of the group.

“HE IS’D VERY ODD ACCOUNTANT!” boomed the red stallion.

“Be careful what you say Volcanous. He is much more powerful than you think. Besides you should be honored he took out some of his time to see the rest of us!” said a dark green hooded pegasus mare.

“Silence, WingBlade! I know as his personal guard you speak highly of him, but now is not a time to quarrel. Now is the time to PLOT!” enforced Balthazar with a stamlp of his hoof.

“MWA MWA MWAHAHAHAHA!” laughed the light blue stallion.

“HAIL BALTHAZAR! HAIL THE TEMPLARS!” shouted every pony in unison.

Either it was the shout or I thought the wall behind me jiggled a bit. I examined it and fell through a revolving stone door. A chamber sprawled across my view with a statue of a pony holding something in its hoof.

A seal?

I picked up the seal and stowed it away in my other pocket. I saw a sewer grate above me and I climbed to the surface of a street corner. I immediately noticed Sniper-shot pacing around back and forth under a streetlamp as I closed the grate.

I walked over to her and said, “There were many ponies all together, I think they were all Templars. They said something about weapons for troops and bribing the city to ignore them. It looked like they were all lead by Balthazar.”

“BALTHAZAR!? HE'S HERE!? We need to see the Observer NOW!” shouted Sniper-shot as she dashed away from me.

“WHAT ABOUT FUMBLES?” I chased at her.

“F**K FUMBLES!”

Was it really that easy to quit a contract?

Chapter 7: Training

----------A couple of days later…-----------------

I’m sitting at my mahogany desk writing off the list of things needed to completely call this an Assassin Hideout.

Enough hidden blades and assassin robes for everyone…

I looked over to the weapons counter and saw several shining blades and assassin clothing, courtesy of Rarity who got the designs from Twilight’s book.

Check.
These are really good quality. I’m impressed with Rarity’s attention to detail.

I headed towards the door where we recently installed the broken stairway of the clock tower.
As of today, the stairway has been repaired so instead of having to climb broken railings, wooden beams and scaffolds we can easily climb up the new stairs.

Check.

I headed back towards the centre of the main chamber and looked around me. There were 7 stations (including my desk, my mahogany desk) each tailored to their respective ponies.

Twilight’s station had a built in library lined with assassin tomes and invention sketches, there is even a little workspace for Spike who can do most of the bookkeeping.
Fluttershy had a miniature garden and assortment of flowers and plants. If need be she can also collect ingredients from the roof garden as well as various areas around Ponyville. She also has a cabinet filled with alchemic devices, medicines and poisons.

Pinkie Pie’s area featured a sign specifically saying, “DANGEROUS MATERIALS! DON”T MAKE ANYTHING NEW WITHOUT APPROVING WITH SHADOW-MARK. THAT INCLUDES YOU PINKIE.”
Besides the giant warning sign there were cabinets lined with various substances and bombs. From simple smoke bombs to shrapnel shells, Pinkie had pretty much everything to make anything.

Pray Celestia, we don’t get a hole in the wall… Or something worse…

EPIC FORESHADOWING

Rarity’s station had everything needed to repair anything you need. She can even make weapons with pristine accuracy and attention to detail; turning a butter-knife into a dangerous rapier. There is no questioning, there is only…Rarity. Asides from a repair station she also has a huge contact list for everypony whose anypony on her desk.

Rainbow-Dash’s station is where our armory is located as well as our weapons cache. Her station has maps from everywhere around Equestria. It’s a bit barren but only because she prefers to work outside.

Or nap on a cloud for the whole day.

Applejack had told me in the beginning that she just wanted a desk and nothing too fancy. So her station ended up looking even more barren than Rainbow’s. Rarity couldn’t stand to see it like that, by adding a few couches and a pygmy apple tree Applejack’s station looked better than it did before.

Finally there was my office at the front of the glass window of the clock tower. It was pretty basic as far as everything else. I had 2 small bookshelves on each side of the window, a puffy bed with a real pillow this time at the edge of the window. But most importantly my desk. My beautiful, beautiful mahogany desk.

Everyone had a desk or worktable of their own, but theirs was made of maple. Mine is the true mahogany…

Finally the most important thing of all in the entire hideout, and no it’s not Ace’s quarters (we gave him a sheltered coop with connects to our chamber below).

I looked down and felt it against my hooves.

CARPET!

Checking of the last of my list I carefully shuffle my way across to my bed and lie my head down.

Training begins tomorrow, how exciting! I just hope everyone will be here on time or else my strict training schedule will be useless. Now to go over the plan 1 more time…

-------5am--------------

“ATTENTION!” I looked at the 6 ponies and dragon in front of me as I addressed them from my desk.

Twilight had bags under her eyes and was carrying a full sack of books with her with Spike sleeping on her back.
Applejack was raised on a farm so it was a cakewalk to wake up this early in the day.
Pinkie was peppy and bouncing across the room.

Must be the sugar.

Fluttershy was nudging Rainbow Dash who was fast asleep.

“Rainbow… Rainbow…” nudged Fluttershy.

“Huh? *YAWN*” stretched Rainbow Dash.

“Why are we here so early in the morning anyway?” she asked me.

“SILENCE MAGGOT!” I shouted in my commander voice.

Everyone went quiet.

“You are here because YOU want to be an assassin. Well… IT’S NOT THAT EASY!” I slammed my hoof on the table.

“Your body and mind needs to be disciplined in such a way that can utilize both your skills and your unique talents!”

“By following Shadow’s NO-NONSENSE TRAINING PROGRAM, you can have the necessary skills needed to become an assassin.”

“Now I know how scary it is to commit murder. BUT! In doing so do we save the lives of hundreds of thousands of ponies! I’m not expecting you to just run around and start killing ponies, no you all need to realise this is for the greater good! The good of Equestria! The good-“

“WE GET IT!” shouted everypony.

Perhaps I gone a little overboard, maybe I should start off with something easy.

“Very well, training begins… NOW!”

“YA! Let’s start fighting!” shouted Rainbow Dash.

“No Rainbow, before we fight, we need to learn. Applejack do you have that apple I asked for?”

“Umm… ya but I don’t know why’d you need one of em.” She said passing the apple to me.

“Being an assassin is always about improvisation, planning ahead and staying true to our creed. Now turn around so I can hide the apple.” I motioned the ponies.

They all turned around and when I made sure they weren’t looking I hid the apple in my hiding place.

“Ok, you can turn back now. I’ve hidden the apple somewhere in this room. Your first test is to find it.” I told them.

“This will be easy as pie!” said Pinkie.

-----------10 minutes later----------------------

Boxes were overturned everywhere, everyone’s workstation was a mess, and documents were spread all over the carpet. Had we kept the potato sacks, we’d be having French fries and mashed potatoes for dinner.

“ARG! I CAN’T FIND IT!” shouted Rainbow Dash.

“Keep looking, it’s got to be here somewhere.” Said Applejack shoving her face in a desk drawer.

They’ll get it soon enough it’s only a matter of time-

“Wait! It must be with Shadow!” shouted Twilight.

Everypony ran towards me at lightning speed.

Uh Oh. This can’t end well.

*CRASH*

We were all paved out on the floor tired and exhausted.

“PLEASE! Just tell us where it is!” pleaded Rarity.

“Ok! Since you asked.” I cheerfully smiled.

“WHAT? JUST LIKE THAT!?”

I walked over to Applejack’s pocket and pulled out the apple where it was originally stored.

Everypony had their mouths open.

“For an assassin the easy way will get you killed, the hardest way will cost you the most time, while the best is what others won’t notice.” I said a line from the How to be an Assassin guidebook.

“Looking everywhere had cost you time and thinking it was me was a step in the right direction, but the simplest answers lie in front while the improvising lies behind.” I said pointing to my flank.

“But how did you..?” asked Twilight.

“Like I said an assassin needs to think on the spot. Now get up all of you. We’ll do the next lesson outside.” I said while we helped each other to our hooves.

----Outside-----------------

“Ok everyone! It is 6:00am right now and for the next 4 hours I will teach you the basics of free running which is the stuff I showed you how to easily get from one place to another.” I said to everyone with the sun rising past the horizon.

“Now before we begin I need to ask you something. How did you all get to the clock tower chamber in the first place? I mean the stairs were out and I’m pretty sure most of you didn’t climb.” I asked them.

“Well as a Pegasus that CAN fly; I flew onto the rooftop with Fluttershy.” Boasted Rainbow Dash.

Oh no she didn’t! But seriously that hurt a bit.

“Me and Rarity used our unicorn magic to teleport to the top of the tower.” Said Twilight.

“What about Ace? Didn’t he try to stop you?” I asked them suspiciously.

“You have a nice eagle Shadow. I was talking to it and asking what it was doing on the tower in the first place.” Said Fluttershy.

“Well he went, *swack*. Oh, but what he was saying was, he was waiting for you.” She answered.

Ace was waiting? How did he know I would fail in my mission? Guess that eagle is smarter than I thought. Guess the old Observer really did train him well.

I looked towards Pinkie and Applejack and asked, “How did you two get up? You don’t have wings or magic.”

“Unlike everypony, I did go through the broken-down stairs and climbed my way up there.” Said Applejack.

Really!? Applejack seems to have more athletic skill than I thought and the way how shes honest to everypony and stubborn towards every challenge that lies before her. She has the true makings of an assassin.

“I BROKE THE 4th WALL!” cheerfully shouted Pinkie.

“Well that’s a useful skill; I’m surprised you know how to do it.” I said casually.

“WHAT!?” everypony shouted.

“Yes, the old assassin leader, the Observer did it all the time. He has...had great skill and wisdom… I only wish he was alive so he could share it with us.” I said sadly.

I looked to the sky and noticed a cloud. It was unlike any cloud I’ve seen before. It…it was the Observer.

“HEY SHADOW!”

“AHH! HE’S HAUNTING ME FROM THE DEAD!” I terrifyingly shouted.

“Hey Shadow! Chill out!” said Rainbow Dash.

Whew, it was Rainbow. At least I’m not being haunted-
“YOU EVER FORGET WHO I AM AND I WILL START HAUNTING YOU! Now go have some fun!”

What the fu-----------

I warped myself back to reality and said to the 6 who were all impatient from waiting, “OK! Let’s Free RUN!”

“First you need to run towards your wall not jump on it, then you reach out……..”

--------2 hours later-------------------

“Not bad Twilight!”
“You need to reach further Rarity!”
“Fluttershy stop hiding, and climb the damn wall!”
“Pinkie?... You know what I’m not even going to ask.”

“HEY Shadow! Why do I need to learn how to climb, when I can just fly?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“In some cases, there are places where you can’t fly and if you should ever hurt your wing you will at least know how to do this.” I told her.

“I’m Rainbow Dash! I doubt even you can hurt my wing!” she boasted yet again.

I pointed to the dented streetlamp on the other side of the road then to the hospital from the bandit attack.

“Darlin, you don’t remember how you hurt your wing during the pet race? Or the time when your wing caught on fire from doing a sonic rainboom that one time, and that other time-“
Said Applejack to Rainbow Dash.

“OK! OK! I’ll do the climbing, sheesh!” she said interrupting Applejack, and gets back to climbing the wall before her.

-------------------------------------------

*WHEW* *HUFF-PUFF*

“Ok everypony! I think you are ready to face my 2nd test.” I said with a grin.

“I call this the Great Chase! Whoever is able to tackle me down, I will teach them the tricks to unlocking their special assassin talent.” I said.

Their ears perked up.

Good they’re interested. Let’s see if they can figure this test out before it gets too out of hoof.

“Now here are the rules, I will stay in Ponyville this includes the land around it, but I won’t go into the forests or houses. You can use magic ONLY if you’re falling from a building, and flying is not permitted, you can only glide to make things… fair.” I said looking at Rainbow Dash.

“I’ll use any techniques I learned to evade you as best I can, but don’t worry I won’t kill you.
Now you have 2 hours to catch me…good luck!” I said while dropping a smoke bomb at my feet.

I ran towards an alley and out onto the noticeable Ponyville streets. I sat on a bench with 2 ponies with grey fur.

Excellent, now to focus my hearing.

*BUZZ*

“-Ok, how are we going to catch Shadow?” said Rarity.

“The last time we completely messed up. If we didn’t have that letter than we would have never found him.” Said Twilight.

“Ok, listen girls I got a plan…I….working….left around…..strike….” quietly said Applejack.

Bah! Too much interference. I guess Applejack figured out how to keep the group silent. That’s good. I better change position before they find me here.

“HEY SHADOW!”

“Oh hey Pinkie….SHIT!” I ran from the bench as soon as I noticed Pinkie sitting next to me.

I ran across the groups of ponies who were starting out their routine mornings. I saw a shadow on the roof next to me and I immediately stopped. Fluttershy dropped down in front of me.

“Oh. Shoot.” She said.

“Next time try sidling next to the building and duck more lower.” I said as I darted around the corner of a post office.

I saw Twilight and Rarity guarding the path around the corner.

I shouted at them, “Why turn when I can go over?”

I flipped onto Twilight’s back and vaulted myself across and ran past them as they were dumbstruck at what just happened.

“DASH!” I heard a voice behind me.

Rainbow was dashing as much as a rainbow could dash while dashing a rainbow.

I saw stacks of boxes piled on top of each other and jumped on them onto the roof of a tall building
Rainbow Dash slipped on the boxes and fell harmlessly to the ground.

“I told you! You need to train more!” I shouted over my shoulder.

Applejack appeared on my side after climbing the building where Rainbow had failed and was ready to tackle me. We were running towards the edge of the building.

“I’m impressed! But sometimes you need to have faith in these situations!” I said jumping of the tall building.

Applejack stopped in her tracks before she fell over the edge and looked down. I fell into a cart filled with hay being pulled by a pony.

“Ah, excuse me signore.” I said to the pony as I jumped off his cart and ran towards the lake.

I looked behind me and saw the 6 ponies were gaining on me taking formation to trap me around at the lake. I stopped on a small hill overlooking the lake with the 6 ponies forming around me, slowly closing the gap.

“Nowhere left to run!” they all said.

“Sometimes you need to do things that others aren’t willing to do.” I said turning towards the lake.

I dived into the lake.

“Shadow! Gets a 6!” shouted Pinkie while holding a sign.

I resurfaced at the middle of the lake.

“Only a 6? What did I do wrong?” I shouted back to her.

“It’s because there’s a giant water snake right next to you and you landed his tail.” She happily said.

I looked to my side and saw a massive 50 foot pissed off snake glaring at me. It stuck out its mouth revealing his gleaming white fangs.

“Sorry Mr. Snake. I’ll be going now.” I said before fear took over me.

“ARRGHHHHHHHHHHH!” I screamed and paddled so fast across the lake I didn’t feel water under me.
The snake had grabbed me by my leg and threw me across the lake with me landing on the other side.

*HUFF-PUFF* *COUGH*

I was exhausted from the running, swimming, and the snake throwing me a mile, but I continued to run towards Apple Acres. I ran to Applejack’s barn and tried to open the door.

Locked.

I turned around and saw the 6 mares upon me. I slumped to the ground and sighed.

Guess I was right. These ponies are ready to work as a team. All according to plan.

They all placed a hoof on my chest at the same time.

“WE ALL WON!” they shouted, exhausted but happy.

“Well, I knew you were all good with teamwork. As assassins we may appear alone, but we work as a team.” I panted.

“SPIKE!” I shouted.

Spike came around the corner of the barn carrying 6 hidden blades.

“I got you the stuff you asked Shadow and I set up the dummies.” Said Spike.

“SPIKE? What are you doing here? What dummies?” asked Twilight still tired from running.

“Oh, Shadow led you all here so you can start part three of your training.” Answered Spike.

The ponies once again, have seen the incomprehensible thinking power that is Shadow-mark.

“Thanks Spike.” I said taking the blades from him and giving them to the ponies.

“Now we will learn about what we assassins actually do…. Assassinate.”

--------------------------------------------------

“Alright ponies! I know you’re all tired, but this is part of my no-nonsense training program. You will see how this will benefit you all. Now there are many different ways to go about killing your target.” I said to the ponies, still with exhaustion in my voice.

“You can simply walk up and stab your target.” I poked the target in the chest.

“Or if you want to be a little less discreet.” I ran towards the target jumping on it and impaling my blade into its head.

“Those are the basic skills, now there are many trick skills you can also do to effectively eliminate a target or a guard.” I said, while some ponies paid attention, Twilight was writing notes, and Pinkie Pie was being, Pinkie.

“First the ledge assassination-” I ran up to the ledge of the barn roof where Spike put a dummy there previously, stabbed it and threw it down.

“HEY! It was hard getting that up there!” shouted Spike from below.

“NOW! THE AIR ASSASSINATION!” I called down, noticing some of the ponies were taking a breather.

I jumped and landed on the training dummy I had thrown off and stabbed it in the head.

Everyone who was relaxing got up and looked at me, impressed.

“Note how I used their body to cushion my fall while inflicting theirs. Now-“ I said ducking into a hay bale near the dummy.

I reached out and stabbed the dummy in the neck and finished by pulling its body into the hay bale.

“And that’s the hidden assassination. Any questions?” I asked the stunned ponies.

“No? Good, then let’s get started.” I ushered the ponies.

“THAT”S WHAT YOU SAID THE LAST 2 TIMES!”

Training started and I saw some progress. After the trainees finished toying with the blades they gave it a try on the dummies. That is everyone except for Fluttershy.

I walked over to her to see what was wrong, “Fluttershy is something the matter?”

“I…I…. I CAN’T DO THIS! I CAN’T KILL SOMEPONY! I’M A DOCTOR NOT A MURDERER!” Fluttershy outbursts.

She was crying with tears rolling down her cheek. I wrapped my wing around her and whispered to her, “Fluttershy, you are not a murderer. You are an Assassin; we do this because there isn’t any other choice. These Templars want to hurt innocent ponies, and not just the ponies but the animals too.”

“The…*sniff*… the animals?” she asked.

“Yes, these horrible ponies won’t rest until they have global dominance meaning, THEY WILL BURN DOWN THE FORESTS AND ALL THEIR INHABITANTS! YOUR RABBIT, ANGEL WON’T HAVE ANYWHERE TO LIVE. THEY WILL EXTINCT EVERY SINGLE SPECIES THROUGH POLLUTION OR WORSE….hunting.” I said encouraging her.

“Those…big….dumb….MEANIES!” she shouted while slicing the head off of the straw dummy with her hidden blade.

Everypony else noticed Fluttershy’s rage including Spike who noticed the sliced head of straw lying on the ground and fainted.

After Spike recovered and the ponies continued to train until satisfied with their skills, we retired back at the hideout.

--------At the Hideout---------------

It’s amazing how fast these ponies can learn, especially Applejack. She made everything look like the basics.
That’s it I decided.

“Everybody! Gather around.” I said motioning them to come closer.

“You all did great work today, but remember the 2nd trial?”

“Oh oh oh! I do I do! You will help us with our special talents!” jumped Pinkie.

“Exactly. Now for the 2 weeks I’ve been here I’ve been observing each one of you hoping to see what specialist you all are.”

*Ahem*

“Now then, Rainbow Dash I noticed your speed and agility.”

“Duh.” Said Rainbow rolling her eyes.

“And that you covered ground in a short amount of time and mapped out places, thus you shall be the Scout.”

“Rarity.” I said looking at her.

“Your attention to detail is unmatched, you make wonderful items and have many contacts all around Equestria and you shall be the CraftsMare of our guild.”

“Fluttershy, you heal the wounded and have the best knowledge for plants and ingredients. What’s best is that you have a kind heart, therefore you will be our Apothecary, or Doctor.”

“Twilight, I’ve seen or rather heard your intuitiveness and organization, you have a great passion for information and with the help of Spike your specialty will be that much better. I dub thee, Bookkeeper!”

Twilight had a big grin on her face when I said books; Spike moaned and slapped his forehead.

“Pinkie Pie, your cheerful and explosive personality has left an imprint of laughter within our hearts. You shall be our explosives specialist or Pyro or “Bombardier” and Pinkie… just be careful.”

“YIPPEE!”

“Finally Applejack, yours is a talent I can’t really explain. You’re honest and you always fight to protect the truth. You’re more stubborn than me and you can adapt to any situation. That is why, Applejack I ask you to be my 2nd in command. If I ever leave the guild for some contract, quest or some shit. I’ll trust you to keep the guild running when I’m gone. Do you accept?” I asked Applejack.

“I..I don’t know what to say….Yes! Yes I will be your 2nd in command!” saluted Applejack.

“Thank you Applejack and thank you everyone. With a team like us the Templars won’t know what hit them!”

*HERE-HERE*

“Do you know what we need? A PARTY!” said Pinkie as she ran off towards her station.

“Well I was thinking the leap of faith ceremony but ok, we can do that later!” I said to everypony else.

Moments later she dragged something…something…big and covered by a sheet.

“HERES YOUR PRESENT!” she said pulling the sheet of her “present”.

“WHOE NELLY!”
“WHAT IN THE?”
“I’m scared.”
“MY WORD!”
"I...I..Don't..."

“Well? Do you like it?” Pinkie smiled.

“Umm… Pinkie…” I started.

“Where…. Where did you get that…. Nuke?”

Chapter 8: The Assassins Reborn

A nuke stretching from the floor of the room reaching almost to the top of the ceiling was standing vertically next to an overenthusiastic Pinkie.

“I got it off the INTERNET!” said Pinkie.

“You can get stuff like THAT off the internet!?” surprised Rainbow dash.

“Well… I got the casing. I had to get my OWN materials to put into the nuke!” answered Pinkie.

“WHAT!? IT’S ACTIVE!?” We all shouted.

“YUP! Here let me show you!” she said pushing a button on the side of the nuke.

“NOOOO!” We all shouted as we jumped on Pinkie, but it was too late.

The nuke has been activated.

Come on! THEY’RE NOT EVEN ASSASSINS YET! WE WERE ALL SUPPOSED TO DO THE LEAP OF FAITH!
Why did I make her the pyro!? Why… why… WHY!

We all huddled together, trying to seek comfort in these last few seconds of our life. While Pinkie was jumping around us in a circle.

“3…2….1!” counted Pinkie.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

We were all dead.

At least until-

“SURPRISE!” shouted Pinkie from the carnage.

“What? How are we still alive?” I asked amazed that we weren’t vaporized from existence.

Then I noticed the cupcakes and cake mix decorating the entire room. Everything was covered in batter: the walls, the books, and the carpet.

NO! THE CARPET!

As well as everyone’s workstation (including Pinkies), the giant glass window, and worst of all. My desk.

NO! MY BEAUTIFUL DESK! WHY!?

“I call it the, SUPER AWESOME CUPCAKE NUKE OF FUN!” said Pinkie cheerfully.

“……..”

“DAMN IT PINKIE!” I shouted.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Cupcakes… I should have known. Dear Celestia my back hurts from clearing up this mess. I’m glad we can finally put this mess behind us. Pinkie wouldn’t really bring a live nuke to our base.
HAHAhaha…ha….

Would she?

I looked around the room, which seemed to be back to the way it was before Pinkie’s “nuke” accident. Aside from the room smelling like a pastry factory I can finally be relieved that noticing worse can happen.

Yet...

A mob of 5 angry ponies were forming around Pinkie.

“Honestly Pinkie, what were you thinking!?” Applejack said to Pinkie.

“My mane could have been ruined!” shouted Rarity.

“That was so AWESOME!” said Rainbow Dash.

“You startled me…” said Fluttershy.

“Pinkie don’t you know how much cake you used? We can’t use Spike as a vacuum whenever you blow something up!” said Twilight.

“So…much…cake…*Burp*” said a plump Spike as he fell on his back and passed out.

“WHY PINKIE? WHY WHY WHY PINKIE PIE! BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA Bla….”

Ok, this is getting out of hand. Again.

I pushed myself through the mob of anti-Pinkie ponies until I was in the middle of the mob with Pinkie.

“ENOUGH!” I shouted, startling the ponies as they all went quiet.

“Yes, I know that Pinkie pretended to blow up Ponyville with a nuclear device filled with cupcakes and baking materials. BUT! As assassins you all need to see this from different perspectives.”

“First, were we all surprised?” I asked the mob.

“Umm… sure, we were all surprised when Pinkie brought in that nuke.” Said Applejack.

“And therefore she completed her objective, just like an assassin would.” I said.

“What!? You can’t be serious!” said an annoyed Rainbow Dash.

“Which brings me to the next perspective; I assume no pony is physically hurt.”

The ponies looked at themselves checking for any signs of damage.

“Besides us covered in cake mix everyone is fine.” Answered Twilight.

“Which brings me to the last perspective I’ve chosen, we can use Pinkie’s errr… SACNOF (Super Awesome Cupcake Nuke Of Fun) as a weapon to distract the Templars in an upcoming contract I’m hoping to plan.”

“Assuming you can replace the cake mix with something a little more… hardening.” I turned to Pinkie.

“Wait a contract? That means-“started Applejack.

“Yes you’re all assassins now, basic specialist assassins but still assassins. We still need to do the ceremony. So everyone grab a robe and I’ll see you on the roof.” I said moving towards the roof exit.

---------------------------------------------

The 6 ponies are all lined up wearing their white assassin robes looking towards me at what they will eventually have to do.

“I’ve gathered you all up here for the last test of an assassin, the test of faith.” I said to them.

“Now before I do that, I am bound to recite the 150 tenants of our creed so this is also a test of patience.”

“150!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.

*Ahem*

“TENANT 150: PLACE GARBAGE….”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“And Finally TENANT 1: NOTHING IS TRUE, EVERYTHING IS PERMITTED.” I ended.

Most ponies were either nodding off from this exhausting day and speech or like Rainbow Dash taking a snooze. Twilight on the other hand was completely focused on every word I said as she took notes.

“Now EVERYONE! Let’s say the last tenant TOGETHER!” I shouted trying to revamp the ponies that were nearly asleep.

“Nothing is *yawn* true, but everything is… *snore*”

Wow, how pathetic was that? Then again I did make them chase me around town and stab stuff for 6 hours. I should cut them some slack.

“That was GREAT! Now we can do the leap of faith ceremony!” I said waking all the ponies.

“It’s easy, all you need to do is jump of this perch,” I said pointing to a small wooden perch we made during the renovations.

“And land in that hay pile below.” I pointed to the hay at the very bottom of the clock tower.

“Finally, now are there any questions before we proceed?” I finished.

“Uh… Shadow? I know we’d all love to jump of the highest point in Ponyville and land in a pile of hay, but why?” asked Twilight.

“Excellent question Twilight! This is to show that we can count on you to protect the brotherhood and to trust us to catch you and back you up.” I explained.

“Hey! We all trust each other, don’t you trust us?” butted in Rainbow Dash.

“Of course, but this is procedure and we must follow the initiation to the list. Right Twilight?” I said gesturing to her notebook.

“He’s right it’s in the rules.” Tiredly answered Twilight to Rainbow Dash.

“Oh well….. RACE YOU TO THE BOTTOM!” shouted Rainbow Dash as she jumped of the perch.

“Hey wait for me!” exciting jumped Pinkie.

“As a lady I do have my standards for… jumping of buildings, but for the guild I’ll do it.” Said Rarity as she pranced her way off the perch.

“Wait! Where do I put my books and notes!” confused Twilight.

“Here Twilight let me take them off your hooves.” I said feeling the weight of the books and stacks of paper she handed to me.

Oof, how can she carry these around!? Is the Princess trying to kill her?

After Twilight did her jump, all that was left was Applejack and Fluttershy.

“I can’t… I’m…. scared.” Nervously said Fluttershy as she looked over the edge.

“Listen darling, it’s only one itty bitty jump. You fell down from worse.” Applejack comforted Fluttershy.

Fluttershy didn’t budge. However a certain assassin eagle had just woken up and noticed Fluttershy before he did his night hunting.

*Scree* said Ace.

“Oh, hello Ace how are you this night?” Fluttershy said to Ace.

“*Scree* Scee* Sceee* *SWACK*” answered Ace as he slowly flew backwards towards the perch.

“Oh… wow… You hate documents that much? It must be dreadful having to fly to Celestia back and forth all the time.” Said Fluttershy as she began moving too.

When Ace had Fluttershy where he wanted, he simply let out, “*Swehehe*” and flew off.

“Look down?” Fluttershy said looking below her.

She was directly off the perch and floating mid-air.

“Uh Oh…. AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEEE!” she shouted as she fell from the air and landed squarely in the perch.

Ace you brilliant genius. What would the guild do without you?

Applejack just simply nodded and jumped off the tower. I deposited Twilight’s stuff next to Spike below deck. I went back to the roof and performed the final leap of faith for the day.

*LEAP OF FAITH*

Another perfect landing. I looked around and saw that the ponies looked more confident than before they jumped, including Fluttershy.

“Ok girls, you don’t need to wear the robes in Ponyville. You can wear them when we go to a different town or city or for ceremonial purposes. So for tomorrow take the day off to rest and enjoy the no-nonsense training I offered.” I said to them.

After getting Spike up from the top floor and rolling him down the stairs, Rainbow Dash and Applejack offered to help Twilight with her Spike vacuum and her books.

“Uhhhh… it still hurts…..” mumbled Spike as they all departed.

I retired to my bed and let the wave of tiredness lull me to sleep.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*CRASH*

Startled I woke up and silently crouched over to the noise, readying my hidden blade.

An intruder? Could it be a Templar? NO! Then it means I’ve failed in protecting this town. Just like how I failed to protect Ponitaly.

I inched over to Pinkie’s workstation and saw a blank outline shuffling through the cupboards.
I slipped on some cake I forget to clean up and landed with a thud on the floor.

The figure noticed me and walked towards my direction holding an object that looked like a cupcake.

The figure shouts, “HELLO! SHADOW! I’VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND YOU!”

“ARG! DAMN IT PINK-….. Dr. Mareio?”

“HO HO! YES IT IS ME! NUMBA 1 DOCTOR! YAHOO!” shouted Mareio.

I noticed the cupcake in his hand was actually a green mushroom.

“Um… Mareio what did you need from me?” I asked pulling myself up from the floor.

“Well, it is my job to stock the Assassins with high quality SHROOMS! Also do not forget I’ve been trying to find those ponies you seek.” He replied.

“YOU FOUND ONE!?” I shouted and he nodded. “YES!”

Finally, after so much time… I can complete the work I’ve failed to do before!

“YES! But… I still need to verify some things. Why don’t you go outside for a few hours and come back to me once I’m done sorting through these contracts.” He said patting me on the back and then pulling out about 50 sheets of paper from his back pocket.

“Ok then do your thing and I’ll see if I can help this town in some way.” I said leaving him to ponder the contracts.

I went to the roof and saw Ace talking with a red cardinal.

“Ooooh Ace made a whittle friend!” I said adorably.

*SCREE*

Ace drove his talons into the cardinal’s chest and ripped a hole out.

*SWACK* yelled the cardinal as it started to limp away.

Ace swoops down on top of the bird and finishes him off.

*SCRUNCK*

Oh my dear Celestia… THERE’S BLOOD EVERYWHERE!

Ace laughed, at least I thought he sounded like he did and presumed to feast on his trophy of the morning to stay full. At least until the afternoon…

I took a running leap off the tower and unfolded my wings as I glided down to Ponyville below me. I saw a metabolised Spike carrying a bunch of books from Twilight’s house as I headed towards him.

I feel a bit sore from yesterday; I can’t imagine how sore the others must be.

“Hey Spike need any help?” I asked as I landed next to him.

“Oh Shadow great timing! Twilight wants me to return these books from ponies all over Ponyville, but I think the cake last night didn’t sit too well inside me. Can you help return these books to the school and the train station?” asked Spike.

“Sure no problem Spike, it would be my pleasure.” I said taking 3 books from him and tucking them into my pockets.

I climbed and ran up Twilight’s tree until I reached the top.

Ok, I think that is the school house over there and the train station is on the other side. Piece of Harmony…

Oh crap. I forgot to tell them about the Pieces of Harmony.

Well, maybe before the 1st contract Dr. Mareio will give us.

From the tree I proportionally aimed myself towards the school house; until I was a little distance away then I would walk. I reached the door of the school and knocked.

A purplish cheery pony opened the door and said, “Yes can I help you, I’m trying to teach a class.” she pointed inside to the students who were wreaking havoc inside the classroom.

“I came to return these books, but I see that you have much bigger problems.” I said handing her 2 books.

“I know, but I don’t know why their acting like this today.” She said looking depressed and not cheerful anymore.

“Here let’s see if I can help.” I said as she let me inside.

“SILENZIO CHILDREN… silenzio.” I assertively stated.

The children quieted down as they heard my foreign language and interestingly looked at me with their big eyes.

“When I was your age, we always had a saying… Work hard and the rewards shall follow. Ignore the teacher and consequences can happen.” I calmly warned the children.

An orange filly with a purple mane with no cutie mark raised her hand. I motioned her to speak.

“Umm… who are you?” she asked.

“I am Shadow-mark da Ponitaly, but please call me Shadow.” I bowed.

“PONITALY! WOW!” said all the excited ponies.

I was bombarded with questions on who I was and how far Ponitaly is from Ponyville and why I speak slightly differently than the other ponies.

Until then I was saved by the teacher, “Students! Mr. Shadow, I’m sure he needs to head out to something important.”

“AWWWWWWWWWW!”

“Well I do have time for 1 more question.” I said pointing to a white filly, I recognized as Rarity’s sister.

“Thank you Shadow! How did you hurt your wing?” she said pointing to my slightly scared right wing.

“Ah…well… I was in a flying accident and I hurt my wing, maybe if I listened to my teacher then maybe I would be able to fly today.” I lied but not really lied.

“As I said before ignoring your teacher can bring consequences.” I said showing them my wing.

“I don’t think they’ll be a problem for a while.” I whispered to the teacher.

“Wow Shadow, thank you! But just who are you exactly?” she silently asked me.

“I’m a student as well as a teacher, Ms….?”

“Cheerlie! And do come back again soon Shadow, I’m sure these students can learn more about Ponitalian history.” She said to me as she ushered me towards the door.

“Well, Madonna Cheerlie. It would be my pleasure.” I said to her just before I left for the train station.

Quite an interesting teacher and those children were so cute. I can see why she’s so happy.

I approached the train station which was a small trot from the school. I went up to the forepony and handed him the book.

“Thank you kindly, sir!” he said.

I asked the forepony, “How far do the train tracks go?”

“They go pretty much ANYWHERE! From Canterlot to Manehatten you can reach any major destination.”

“Grazie.” I said to him before heading back to the hideout.

--------------------------------------------------

I saw Mareio looking at a map of Equestria with papers scattered everywhere on my desk.

“So Mareio did you find any-“

“GOOD NEWS! CELESTIA HAS APPROVED OUR CONTRACT! NOW WE CAN FINALLY DO WORK! Asides from my football, soccer, golf, go-kart, swimming, tennis, hockey, platforming, baseball and my mushroom cart and…”

“MAREIO! Who is the target what is the location?” I asked hoping to quiet him down.

“Well Shadow… you and the other assassins are going to…. MARIS!”

“French capital of the world?” I inquired.

Then it hit me. Maris…French…No it couldn’t be…

“YES! And your target is Je Suis!” excitingly said Mareio.

I thought we would go with someone easy, but then again no one is easy. But Je Suis? Without proper planning its suicide.

“Alright then, but get Ace and tell the other assassins to meet up here as soon as possible.” I told him.

“We’ll need all the help we can get.”

Chapter 9: Je Suis

----An hour later------------

All the assassins were in attendance at the hideout. Everyone was still sore from the training the day before, however the ponies and the eagle quit complaining when they saw the serious expression sprawled on my face.

I took a deep breath and began.

“Assassins. I and Dr. Mareio had found us a target, corrupted by greed; blind ambition and vanity… believe me when I say we aren’t ready to go after him.” I strongly said.

“Then why bother telling us?” confused Rainbow Dash.

“Here let me rephrase that. We aren’t ready to after him…yet.”

“The ponies we hunt today are the ones I failed to get in my past life.” I admitted.

Everyone looked shocked.

“So what? We’re just here to clean up your mess?” said an annoyed Rainbow Dash.

“Quiet Rainbow!” Applejack shouted.

“Now I know Rainbow was rude, but she’s also right. Are we all here just to help you for your quest of revenge?” Applejack asked me.

Revenge… It’s been such a while since I’ve felt it. Ponyville may have softened the blow, but my heart is still filled with guilt and hate. Maybe Applejack is right?

No…

I looked back at Applejack then to everyone and said, “Even though I want vengeance for the slaughter of my family, I do this to also protect other families from the Templar’s reach. I said that when I first told you I was an assassin.”

“But how is killing individuals going to help us?” Twilight asked me.

“You see, the Templars have main components to each other. Take those pieces out and their machine won’t work. However…” I said.

“What is it?” asked Fluttershy.

“The Templars stole a very important device from the Assassins. We wanted to destroy it but we couldn’t and we weren’t able to hide it.”

“The next day Ponitaly and the Assassins were wiped from existence.” I simply stated.

“The Templars did THAT!?” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.

“What could they have wanted so badly to destroy fair Ponitaly?” asked Rarity.

“*Sigh* The Templars wanted… stole from us a Piece of Harmony, called the Apple.” I admitted at last.

“A PIECE OF HARMONY!?” shouted an astonished Pinkie.

“What’s a piece of harmony?” she asked.

“A Piece of Harmony is just like the Elements of Harmony. However there’s a huge difference between the two. While the Elements of Harmony are non-physical forms that reside within ponies such as us, a Piece of Harmony is a physical object that can demonstrate the same or different powers.” Stated Twilight.

“Well I can see why you’ll want them Pieces of Harmony but why in tarnation is this…Apple so important?” asked Applejack.

“As Twilight explained the Pieces of Harmony can be freely wielded by anyone. Unlike the Elements of Harmony which uses friendship to harmonize Equestria, these Pieces can be used to give ponies what they harmonize the most.
Put it in the hands of a corrupt lunatic and then his harmony would be a living hell.”

“As Twilight also mentioned these Pieces of Harmony can have different powers involved. With the case of the Apple it can control ponies’ minds and make them bend to their will.” I said.

“You think the Templars would want to brainwash all these ponies and get them to serve them?” asked Twilight.

I nodded.

“Well that’s just awful. I wouldn’t like to be brainwashed.” Commented Fluttershy.

“And we won’t let them!” I said confidently.

“Luckily Mareio has found us a target, who if we took him out and his operation would be a death blow to the Templars. Now the target is in Maris so-“

Rarity cut in, “MARIS! As in THE French capital of Equestria!?”

“Um… that’s correct Rarity. We’re going after a stallion by the name of Je Suis-“

“JE SUIS!?” Rarity cut in once again.

“Why who is he?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Well if you must know, he’s the head of Purifier Industries. They’re the leading company in technology and medical science.
Everything they make is extremely expensive and high-tech. Their main office is at Maris as well as their armory.
I hear that Je Suis always visits the various company stations once a year.” Said Rarity.

“Yes, but as you all heard from Rarity, our target would be heavily protected and if we mess this up we can lose a whole year waiting for him to show again, or worse…get one of you killed.” I said.

“Well we can’t just sit here doing nothing. I say we attack their headquarters!” confidently said Rainbow Dash.

“Of course, by train it would take us 3 days to get to Maris and if Dr. Mareio’s sources are correct-“

“THEY ARE ALWAYS CORRECT!” shouted Mareio.

“Then we can strike Je Suis when he makes a press conference at the front of the headquarters.” I finished.

“Ok everyone, get your essentials ready for tomorrow and meet me at the train station. Also Pinkie and Twilight can I speak with you two?” I asked as the other ponies and Ace left to prepare their things

“Yes Shadow, what is it?” they asked.

“Before we kill Je Suis we need to have a distraction to draw away his guards and the crowd.”

“OH! You want to use my FUN NUKES!” excited Pinkie.

“Yes, and also Twilight are you still working on your bat thing?” I said turning my head to Twilight.

“Umm… yes but’s it’s not ready yet.” She apologetically said.

“Can you bring the bat with you to Maris? We can all work on it and our plans when we get to Maris in 3 days.” I asked.

“Well… ok then, but we need a big cabin and those things are expensive. Also Spike should stay here and keep an eye on the place. He’s a baby dragon after all.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll think of a way.” I winked.

-----------The Next Day-------------------

After getting Twilight’s “Science Project” into the train we were all seated comfortably in the train as it was getting ready to depart.

“Hey sugarcube! Isn’t Dr. Mareio coming with us?” asked Applejack pointing to the waving Mareio outside our window.

“He said he will drive there and that he has some contacts he needs to speak with.” I told her.

“Wow this train cart is simply large and divine, how did you afford all of this Shadow?” asked Rarity admiring the built in carpet.

Everyone looked at me as I began to explain.

“Well….”

-----3 hours before boarding the train-------------

“Hello! Can I get the Super-Deluxe Cabin please?” I asked the train clerk.

“Sorry sir, but I sold the last ticket to that pony over there.” She said pointing to a bright yellow pony heading towards a washroom.

“Would you like to get a ticket for a later time?” she asked me.

“No thank you. But thanks for the wonderful service you do here.” I charmly said.

I headed for the washroom, opened the door and closed it behind me.

“…”

*KER-KICK*

A few moments later I came out of the washroom tucking the ticket into my sleeve.

--------------------------------------------------------

“Dr. Mareio knows many ponies in high places and I got this ticket on….sale.” I lied.

The group bought it and we began to work on Twilight’s bat as the train departed the station.

“Ok, this part goes here and this… PINKIE!”
“GIVE ME BACK THE GLUE!”
“THAT DOESN’T GO OVER THERE!”
“WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS! MY INSTRUCTIONS!”

“Oops sorry Twilight.” Said Pinkie handing back the glue which was attached to a book, a tuba, her own hidden blade, and a confused Fluttershy.

“Did I do something wrong?” asked Fluttershy.

After ungluing everything and getting back to work I needed to ask Pinkie something.

“Uh Pinkie?” I started.

“Yes Shadow?”

“Can you get me a laptop with internet connection?” I asked knowing she can break the fourth wall.

“Here you go!” she said handing me a laptop she was hiding behind her back.

Pinkie. If I never knew how crazy the Observer was, then I would freak out every single time you broke the fourth-wall.

Ah space-time physics… how you mean so little in this world.

I sat down in a chair and actually took a glimpse at the train cabin I “purchased”.
A plush carpet lined the floors, we had 2 windows and there were 8 beds, one for each of us.

If you forgot that Ace was still with us going on this trip then… SHAME!

Really the cabin looked like something the Princess would ride in all the time.

I’m sure she doesn’t “actually” purchase the tickets. Damn us lesser ponies.

I relaxed in my chair and opened the laptop. Immediately I looked for as information as I can find on Je Suis, his company, and the conference we’re planning to crash.

I scrolled through the information; cutting and pasting anything I could find that can be some use to us. I then came across a map of his headquarters layout.

It showed the area in front of a mansion sized building where the conference would take place and behind it was the armory for their technology and I assumed their weapons as well. Two office buildings lined that area so there was a bit of room between the armory and the field everything was built on.

If I can’t get him in the mansion I can lure him into the armory, interesting.

I looked at a clock and saw there was still a lot of time left and everyone was either helping Twilight with the bat or lazing around.

Why not?

I surfed the web and explored everything it had to offer.

------------------------------

No! Moonlight! You can’t leave her, you just can’t!

I was reading a romance fan-fic of a popular kids TV show that I saw a few times when I was younger.

I was trying my best to hide my tears and to stop hyperventilating.

After my emotional breakdown, I went to a different story and I read all of it. I wish I didn’t.
The story was about a pastry-chef making gourmet dishes out of her best friends and wearing their skin and bones.

I looked over at Pinkie.
She turned her head and had a great big smile stretched across her face.

I got up from my seat and closed my computer screen which was still on. Ace was sleeping peacefully on his bed.

“Excuse me.” I simply said to everyone as I went to the bathroom stall at the other end of the train.

*ARRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHH!!*

Pinkie…no…evil smile… bagel… bagel… bagel bagel. ARH! Why did I make her the PYRO!

I knew I would be haunted from that story for a few days, I just hope that it didn’t distract me from my task at hand.

I came back to the other ponies that all had shocked expressions on their faces including Ace who slapped me with his wing and flew back to his warm bed.

“What in tarnation was that?” asked Applejack.

“Oh, uhhh…… when I opened the door I saw 2 ponies in the washroom fighting over a...a…. Toilet, TOILET PAPER! AND THEY WERE ALL OUT OF IT AND THEY YELLED THEN I DID!”

The ponies didn’t look convinced, so instead I went to help Twilight with her project. A few hours later and we all went to sleep.

------Morning----------------------------

I had very bad dreams, very, very bad dreams. I’m going to pretend I never slept in the first place.

I got up from my bed and went over to the computer I left lying on the chair. I opened it and realised I forgot to close it the night before.

But there was something strange on the computer…. It looked like someone made changes to the stuff I copied down. I scrolled down the page of information and came across the map.

The map was covered in red dots and below it said “Guards”. I went down to the bottom of the page and I saw some text I didn’t add.

“GOOD LUCK……..”

Good Luck? Did someone hack the computer? Why would they help us by giving the guard locations? Very strange indeed.

I closed the computer, properly this time and went over to Twilight’s bat project. The bat was brown coloured and was covered in thin sheets of leather and paper. Only a wing remained unfinished.

Another day and we’ll be done, and when the bat dries for day 3 then I can tell the others about my plan.

I started working on the bat’s wing and eventually the others woke up and helped too. After many hours of stitching, gluing and drying the bat was complete. Even if it was a little… moist.
We packed up for the night and went back to sleep.

--------------------------------------------------

On the 3rd and final day, the last day of the trip and the night when Je Suis will die I talked to the group and explained the plan.

“Ok Rainbow, when you’re done scouting the area with Ace report back to us.” I said to Rainbow.

“Then we’ll split into 2 groups while Pinkie is in the crowd with her… nuke. I’ll be on the Tower of Iron, Maris's tallest landmark with the bat helping Pinkie cause the distraction.”

“Wait? You’re going to jump off the Tower of Iron? Isn’t that suicide? We need to test it first!” said Rarity not wanting to see me plunge down from the tower towards my death.

“Do not worry, that is the test!” I boldly said.

While Rarity shook her head I continued, “I will drop smoke bombs down below to cover you from the guards who I think will be carrying guns… or worse.”

"I’m sure with that commotion Je Suis will run to the safety of the mansion. But if I should fail to kill him in there I need you all to get the guards on the roof of these office buildings here.” I said pointing to my map.

“We’ll then lure him into the armory if necessary where he’ll be trapped and I can finish him.” I finished.

“Um... I have a question Shadow… that is if you don’t mind.” Said Fluttershy.

“Not at all, go ahead.”

“How will we get the scary bat on the tower in the first place? Also how can Pinkie hide a nuke in the crowd?
I mean I’m not judging your vision but I’m sure they’ll all see Pinkie’s warhead and go absolutely ballistic and I don’t want them to do that too soon.” Said Fluttershy.

Crap. Nuke in a crowd, nuke in a crowd…. I GOT IT!

“Pinkie will bring in a “war monument”, activate it by “mistake” and get out before it blows.” I cleverly said.

“Well, it can’t be an accident when I “push” the button.” Pinkie joked.

“Ah Pinkie…” I shook my head.

I regained my focus and continued.

“For the bat let me handle it from here.” I said to everyone who looked unsure.

“Don’t worry, it will work… I hope.” I said as the train reached its destination, Maris.

----------------------------------------------------------

I hauled the bat which was about 2 sizes bigger than me from the train station towards the Tower of Iron.

Shit this thing is heavy! Only a few more blocks. I hope the city ponies don’t notice.

“Mommy? Why is that pony carrying a giant bat on his back?”
“DON’T LOOK AT HIM!”

Eventually I made it to the entrance of the Tower of Iron. Luckily the ponies weren’t fixed on my giant bat but were watching something more interesting.

A fight.

*OOF* *POW* *KICK*

An old lime-green stallion wearing a curator’s uniform was being beaten by guard ponies with high-tech equipment, body armor and guns.

“Why do you do this to me? I just work the tower, I`ve done nothing wrong!” shouted the old stallion.

“Shad-up vous!” said a guard as he kneed the old stallion in the chest.

“We know you work for Le Red Fox! Un traitor!” a second guard shouted as he started beating up the old stallion with his gun.

I couldn’t watch any longer, I dropped the bat glider and ran straight for the guard beating up the stallion and threw him up towards a wall while grabbing his gun. I shot the other two guard’s guns and broke the third one in half with my knee.

“Guns are so boring!” I provoked them as I threw the gun pieces to the ground.

“GET LE BASTARD!” shouted the closest guard as he ran towards me.

I stopped him from running by grabbing his waist and threw him down behind me on his head breaking his neck.

As the guard that was beating up the old pony got to his feet I ran towards the other guard and grabbed his leg.

*CRACK*

I didn’t leave him time to yell in pain as I pulled him towards a wall and began punching his body multiple times in the head then in the chest. I finished by disemboweling him and he slumped down the wall and lay there with his head down.

The last guard was enraged and pulled out a military knife and rushed towards me.

“At least now we can play fair,” I said pulling out my hidden blade and ran towards him.

*STAB*

Blood fell down to the floor... as well as the military knife.

I had stabbed him in his arm. As he looked at me in shock through his blast shades, I flipped him over to his back and stabbed him in the neck.

I went over to the old stallion who was recovering and I helped him to his feet.

“Wow, thank you kind sir. No one had ever stood up for me before.” He said shaking my hand.

“Why were they attacking you?” I asked.

“These dogs are always pushing businesses like us around. Because we don’t want to join Je Suis company. He’s trying to take over Maris!”

“Who is this Red Fox they spoke of?” I asked.

“He is a shadowy character that helps the poor and helpless all over Equestria. Don’t tell the guards but I think he does good work. If you ever need help don’t be afraid to ask.” He said.

“Well, I was wondering if I bring my “kite” to the highest point of the tower.” I said gesturing to my giant bat.

“Ahh, a “kite” I’m sure the winds are faring this night… You may go, friend.” He said opening the express elevator with his master control key.

“Ah thank you or should I say merci?” I said to him as I picked up my bat and went into the elevator.

I brought the bat to the highest point of the tower and looked towards the Purifier headquarters. I jumped off the building and glided my way down to the meeting spot for Rainbow’s report.

I saw everyone together including Rainbow Dash and Ace. I also saw Pinkie pulling a FUN nuke standing on a stone pedestal marked, “War of the 3rd Crusade”.

“Ok I put the bat in the tower what about you girls?” I asked them.

“I made the FUN DOUGH! Now everyone’s sure to stick around!” cheered Pinkie.

“The engraving was my idea.” Said Rarity.

“Great, Rainbow Dash what do we have?”

“The good news, the guards are shifting to the front where Je Suis will do his speech.” She said.

“The bad news?” I was afraid to ask.

“They still got a ton of guards everywhere. Getting in might not be the problem, but getting out. You got me there Shadow.” Said Rainbow Dash.

“Don’t worry when the time comes… improvise.” I simply said.

“OK! LET’S DO THIS!” I shouted a bit too loud.

“Mommy? Why is he-“
“DON”T LOOK AT HIM!”

-----Nightfall-------------------------------------------------------------

I was stationed at the tower looking towards the conference.
I closed my eyes and focused my hearing on the meeting.

“Attention ladies and gentlecolts! Now introducing our beloved chairman of Purifier Industries, JE SUIS!”

*Cheers*

“Merci merci mes amies! Je suis Je Suis. And I thankez vous for attending this conference.” Said Je Suis.

*Ponies shouting*

“Ah yes! We at Purifier Industries are working on a secret nous projet. In time ve will show everyone this product of our labor and hope you might enjoy it as much as ve do.” Je Suis said.

A project? Could it have to do something with the apple? Maybe I can find out… after I kill him.

“Yes! And we also have a new line of le military attack heli- …. What is a nuke doing here? NON! NE PUSHEZ LE BUTTON SI VOUS PLAIT!”

*BOOOOOOOM*

“AHH THERES CAKE EVERYWHERE!”
“I’M STUCK! I CAN’T MOVE!”

Guess it’s my turn to fly. I just hope Twilight’s calculations were correct.

I grabbed the bat and ran off the tower as fast as I could as I performed one last jump before I started falling to the ground. I pulled the bat upwards and sure enough I was gliding.

I grabbed the smoke bombs from my pouch and dropped them over the crowd.

I just had to let out a hearty, “YAHOO!”

As smoke engulfed the crowd I saw some guards trying to escape. I swooped down on my prey as I saw Ace do many times before and knocked them out with my hind-hoofs.

“AHHH! WHAT IS THAT THING!”

“I CAN’T SEE A THING!”

“I’M STILL COVERED IN CAKE!"

I went straight to the roof of the mansion and jumped off with the glider crashing into a rooftop guard sending him over the ledge and to his death. I opened a window on the roof and by open I shattered it with my elbow and fell inside.

No one noticed my crash as they were too distracted by what was going on outside. I sneaked to the first floor while dispatching 2 patrolling guards and saw Je Suis talking with some other pony. I thrust myself against a pillar and peered my head over to get a better look.

“Vous don’t understand Dave! There are les assassins trying to kill me!” Je Suis said while talking to an icy-white unicorn wearing glasses, a plaid shirt, and jeans. An accountant.

Wait an accountant? That must mean…

“Je Suis you need to learn to relax. The assassins know who you are and they will get you. It’s only a matter of time.” He said looking towards a clock.

“Dave. Tu etes un morte?” Je Suis said to the accountant giving him a death stare.

“As much as you want to kill me, you need to realise something. The assassin has come for you.” He said pointing to my hiding place.

Crap! How?

“MERDE MERDE MERDE!” shouted Je Suis as he raced towards the back exit.

I immediately gave chase and as soon as I was past Dave he said, “Good Luck….Shadow.”

Damn! He knows who I am and how did he see me in my hiding place? I can’t focus on him right now I need to kill Je Suis.

I opened the door after Je Suis and chased him out to a courtyard. He kept running on the path towards the armory. I began chase, but then…

*BOOM*

An explosion appeared at my side, followed by another and another. I looked up and saw the roof guards of the office buildings had RPGs.

RPGS!? HOW MUCH SHIT DID THIS GUY MAKE!?

I had to keep running through the explosions and hope none of them would hit me.

*Boom* *Boom* *ARRGHH*

Then about halfway through the courtyard everything stopped. I looked up to the roofs still running and I saw the 2 assassin groups clearing the roof of guards. I pursued Je Suis with confidence strengthening my speed.

He was almost at the door when Applejack the Assassin jumped from the roof and stabbed him in the arm. The height made her stumble and gave Je Suis a little extra push sending him into the armory.

“ARG!” shouted Je Suis as he entered the door and tried to close it behind him.

I got enough speed and jumped through the crack between the door and landed inside with the blast-door closing shut behind me.

I looked around the only room of the armory. A large room with a large computer and a large map of Equestia was displayed on its screen.

This isn’t an armory!? What’s with the giant computer? Is that the world of Equestria?

Je Suis was crawling towards the machine with his stabbed arm. I took a throwing knife and chucked it at his leg.

*Ching*

“ARRG! MY LEG!” he said falling down, now crawling on his side towards the computer.

I rushed towards him at lightning speed but I was too late. Je Suis got to the machine controls and pushed a big red button.

“SELF-DESTRUCT WILL BE ACTIVATED IN 5 MINUTES.” Said an automated voice.

I reached over to Je Suis and I stabbed him in the chest.

“*Cough* Do not think that vous winnez assassin. Our plan is already in motion. Neither you nor Celestia can stop us now! *Cough* *Cough*” said the nearly dead Je Suis with broken monocle, and ripped suit.

“What plan? Is that the project? Tell me!” I grabbed Je Suis’ neck collar.

“Project Purify has begun. Now before I die, I have something to say to you... assassin…”

“Vous gaspillée deux minutes de traduire cela.” He said in French.

“Huh?” I asked.

“Here use my Phony,” he said giving me his high tech phone.

After inputting the message I got, “You wasted 2 minutes translating this.”

“You DI…” I started to shout at him, but saw he was already dead.

I only have 1 minute to escape this armory. I try the doors but they’re locked down.

Wow I never thought I would die in a place like this. Ah Maris you can never be Ponitaly…

Suddenly the roof exploded open and I saw an attack helicopter. It hovered near me and I saw everyone except of Ace riding inside it.

“I STOLE A HELICOPTER SHADOW! GET IN BEFORE YOU DIE!” shouted Pinkie who was driving the helicopter.

I jumped inside and got pulled in my the other ponies as Pinkie flew out of the supercomputer room. A few seconds later.

*BOOM*

The armory exploded and so did the entire headquarters. I breathed a sigh of relief until I noticed something.

“Ok Pinkie one where did you get this and two YOUR DRIVING!?” I asked her.

“Oh there were 2 of them outside the office building and YUP!” she replied.

As soon as she finished I spotted the other helicopter flying behind us with military guards firing RPGs.

“Pinkie fly higher! I’m going to do something I might regret!” I said lowing myself to the helicopter’s skiffs until I was hanging down about a few hundred metres from the ground.

“OOKIE DOKIE!” she replied increasing the helicopter’s height.

When the height was perfect I jumped from the helicopter and landed on the windshield of the other one. The driver was completely shocked. I stabbed my blade through the glass and killed the pilot. I jumped off and glided towards the ground as the helicopter behind me fell and burst into flames. I came in too fast and landed on the ground HARD. I felt like I broke a leg.

I looked up and saw that Pinkie was losing control of the helicopter and they had to abandon it and jump. They all landed pretty hard but not as bad as me. They helped me stand up and we limped towards a road.

2 unmarked vans showed up. The 1st opened up bringing a bunch of angry ponies outside as well as the old stallion in charge of the Tower of Iron.

He went over to me and urgently said, “Don’t worry, the Red Fox’s men will stall the guards and police just get to the other van and run!”

We went to the 2nd van as fast as we could and the door opened revealing a happy doctor.

“HELLO! IT’SA ME! GET IN EVERYBODY!” shouted Dr. Mareio with Ace on his shoulder.

Without saying anything we got in the back of the van and drove off back to Ponyville. Back to home.

------------------------------------------

As everypony was chatting with each other, Applejack noticed my grim expression.

“Hey sugercube, why so glum? You did kill Je Suis after all.” She comforted me.

“Yes, but before he died he told me of a project the Templars are making calling it, “Project Purity”. And Dave damn…. Wasn’t expecting him.”

“Project? Dave? Who’s Dave?” she asked me.

“Later Applejack, I need to rest and think a while.” I said closing my eyes.

Project Purity, even the name sounds ominous. I know they plan to use the Apple but how?

Red Fox is also strange. He fights for the people, could he be… no.

Dave… The way he said “Good Luck” as if he wanted us to kill Je Suis.
But isn’t he a Templar as well?

Damn it Dave…what game are you playing? Are you just as bad or worse than Balthazar?

No. No one is worse than him.

Chapter 10: Memories- Purple Mushroom

Sniper-shot was running towards the guild at an astonishing pace with me following closely behind.

I’m so glad I ran with Free-runner all those times before. Without him I would still be at the city gates. Or dead.

We approached the mountain outside Ponitaly and went straight to the secret passage that ran through the mountain to the Assassin’s headquarters. Just as before the path was long and when Sniper-shot got to the motion sensor trap, she desperately was looking for the secret panel that opens the door.

“Here I got this.” I said pushing the button that had the Assassin logo embedded in it.

She looked embarrassed as the hidden door flipped open. We reached the end of the second cave passage and stood at the great hall of the headquarters. Sniper-shot and I dashed towards the great doors leading into the Observer’s “lair”.

Inside the Observer was standing in front of his mahogany desk with a tremendous amount of impatience on his face, that I could feel it at the front of the door.
We went up the stairs nervously and awaited for the Observer to speak first.

“…well? Aren’t you going to say anything? I’ve been waiting here for I don’t know… 5 HOURS!” the Observer boomed.

“I was sure you could handle Fumbles with a little less… time, because IT’S FREAKING FUMBLES! EVEN HIS NAME SOUNDS LIKE HE WILL FALL OFF A CLIFF!” shouted the disappointed Observer.

“Wait, just a second Observer!” interrupted Sniper-shot.

“Very well…I’m listening.” Replied the Observer.

“We found Balthazar in the city!” she exclaimed.

“…So?” said the Observer.

“W-WHAT!?” shouted Sniper-shot.

“Please, not so loud I have a large headache from writing these documents for 5 hours straight.” He shut her up.

“Now the reason I don’t care about this is, one we kill him now and Equestria falls into WORLD WAR A-12… and two I already knew he was here in Ponitaly… EVERYONE DOES!” the Observer answered.

“What? How?” asked Sniper-shot.

The Observer handed her a pamphlet with the cover reading, “BALTHAZAR, DUKE OF EQUESTRIA VISITS PONITALY!”

Sniper-shot was shocked; she was so shocked that she tore up the pamphlet in a fit of anger.

“Tsk tsk Snipey. I really expected more from you, the time frame and even this…” he said pointing to the torn bits of the pamphlet.

“I understand Shadow as being the newest assassin in our guild… but you? Your one of our most experienced initiates, but if you can’t handle this…” the Observer started to shake his head.

“What a newbie…” he muttered.

In a fit of rage Sniper-shot stepped forward and blasted, “I’M NOT A NEWBIE!”
She charged towards the Observer.

Bad idea.

And just like that out the window and falling down an entire mountain into a hay bale at the bottom. The Observer clapped his hands clean and closed the window just before Ace flew in with a letter.

“Now Shadow… I trust you have more?” he smiled towards me.

“Well you see there were these other Templars…”

-----------------------------------------

“DAVE WAS THERE!? AND MORE IMPORTANTLY YOU LET FUMBLES ESCAPE!?” surprised the Observer.

“But I couldn’t at the time, Sniper-shot…”

“NO EXCUSES!” he quieted me.

“FUMBLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! NOW WE’RE SURE TO SUFFER!”

“EVEN MORESO!”

Ace now tired of holding the letter in his mouth flew to the Observer’s shoulder and buried his claws deep within his flesh.

“Oh… hey Ace when did you get here? What’s that you have here?” he said talking the letter from Ace.

“Fumbles… yadda yadda… fled… *mumble*…Poni town?” he read the letter to himself.

The Observer finishes the letter and places it on the table then turns to me and asks, “Would you like to correct your mistake? Of course you do…”

“Fumbles has fled to a small village on the outskirts of the outskirts of Ponitaly called Poni town. I’ll send you, Le Duck and….. DR. MAREIO! Yes he will do nicely and you will finally kill Fumbles.” He finished.

“YES SIR!” I saluted him.

Ace who looked a little queasy upchucked onto the Observer’s documents ruining all of the paperwork.

3…2…1

“ARG! YOU CRAZY FOWL! I SHOULD BANISH YOU TO THE PITS OF THE UNDERWORLD! MY ACCOUNTING NOW IS UNACCOUNTABLE! THIS SHALL BE YOUR LAST MISTAKE! FOREVER!” shouted the Observer in a demonic voice.

Oh crap! I don’t want to die!

I ran to the door as fast as I could ever run in my life, charged the door open and shut it behind me. I stepped back from the doorway and a moment later…

*KER-BOOM*

The doors were slightly bent from the explosion and smoke came from underneath the doorway. I was shocked, but some of the more experienced assassins shrugged it off and went back to their daily duties.

I’m so glad that wasn’t me just now. At least I can now find Le Duck and… Dr…. Mareio… oh this is going to be a long day.

I found Dr. Mareio selling some of his “produce” to the other assassins in the grand hall and Le Duck was outside in the training yard slicing a wooden target in half with his sword.
I briefed them both on the mission and just before we left…

“Did you guys hear the explosion from the guild?” I asked pointing behind me to the guild fort.

“Honestly Shadow, it happens so often that I don’t even notice anymore.” Said Le Duck.

“IT HAPPENS ONCE A WEEK!” cheerfully said Dr. Mareio.

“Did any of the Observer’s outbursts… kill anyone?” I nervously asked.

Le Duck deeply thought.

“Hmm… oh ya! There was that pony what was his name…. Main Pony! That’s it!” said Le Duck.

“What happened?” I asked not wanting to know.

“He originally broke the Observers mahogany table in half and replaced it with an oak. Some kind of Fool’s day prank or something.”

“BUT IT WASN’T ON FOOLS DAY! SO HE THREW THE UNICORN UP THE MOON! TO SEE WHERE MAIN PONY’S HORN WILL LAND!” shouted Mareio.

“And..?”

“He never came back down.” Smiled Mareio.

Some damn throwing arm that Observer has. I wonder if Main Pony is even alive.

“Enough grim talk for now, if we hurry we can reach Poni Town by night-fall.” Said Le Duck.

We began walking towards the direction on Poni Town.

----Many long hours of walking later--------------------------------------------------

“HOW MANY MUSHROOMS DO I HAVE? A RED ONE, A BLUE ONE, AND A GREEN!”

We were all tired and bored. Dr. Mareio was singing mushroom songs, while Le Duck read from the 2nd book of his Romantic series.

“I still don’t understand why you like those books?” I whispered to him.

“A YELLOW ONE…” sung Mareio.

“I think it is because I relate to this character a lot. He’s and Assassin, I’m an Assassin. He’s single, I’m single. He’s…”

“Ok Le Duck I get it, but most of the content is innuendo. I don’t get why you like that.”

“Innuendo? Really Shadow I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Here what about this line…” he said flipping to a random page.

“And Edzeo took a leap of faith upon Catherina and pulled open his parachute as they went sailing over the rising sun. The ocean spray of Edzeo's…”

“ENOUGH! I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!” I shouted at Le Duck.

Dr. Mareio looked hurt. “You don’t like my songs hmmm, then Doctor Mareio won’t help until you say sorry!”

“Uh… sorry Mareio, I meant that to Le Duck here, who can’t understand WHY THIS BOOK IS SO WRONG!”

“WELL YOU HAVE A DIRTY MIND! I DON’T SEE ANY PROBLEMS IN MY BOOK I…”

“Wait did you hear that?” whispered Le Duck who stood still listening to the wind.

I scanned the area, we were off the road and exposed on the hill surrounded by bushes.

*Rustle*

A bush moved and we all prepared our hidden blades and Dr. Mareio holding a mushroom.

A group of 4 ponies came out from the bushes smoking vegetables and wearing optical illusion shirts.

"DUDE! PEACE GUYS! Chillz..." said one of the ponies who smoked a cucumber.

“TEMPLARS! .... Right?” I asked.

“No, their hippies they...”

“DIE YOU HIPPIE ASSASSINS!” I said plunging my blade into the hippie in front of me in the chest.

I ran around stabbed the 2nd hippie in the neck, then turned to the 3rd and 4th hippies and grabbed their legs and snapped them.

“Dude…why?” they calmy said falling to the ground.

“NO! SHADOW!” shouted Le Duck.

But it was too late I crushed one hippie’s neck with my hoof and stabbed the last one in the back.
A pile of dead hippies lay around me and I was covered in blood.

“Shadow…. Those ponies… weren’t…. Templars.” Le Duck nervously said.

“WHAT! YOU SAID THEY WERE HIPPIES I THOUGHT THAT WAS A SPECIALIST TYPE OF TEMPLAR! I KILLED INNOCIENTS! NOOOO!” I shouted dismayed over what I’ve done.

“Well… they weren’t innocent exactly. They just like to smoke various vegetables and wear optical illusions. If they were in a city, they would have been a danger to themselves and to others depending on how high they were.” Le Duck explained.

“THIS NEVER HAPPENED!” said Dr. Mareio.

“Agreed.” I and Le Duck said.

------------------------------------------------------------

We reached the village of Poni Town in the dead of night.

Finally now we can kill Fumbles (assuming he’s not dead already).

I looked at Le Duck and he nodded. He flew off towards the village rooftops while I was left behind with Dr. Mareio.

“Ok Dr. Mareio I need your… salespony intuition to distract the citizens and draw a crowd, hopefully this will lure Fumbles out of his hiding place and we can then strike.” I carefully said to him not wanting him to blow his top.

“OKEY-DOKIE! I SHALL DISTRACT EVERYONE AND MAKE TONS OF MONEY! AT THE SAME TIME! YAHOO!” shouted the overly excited doctor.

Ponies started to wake up from the commotion that Dr. Mareio made when he yelled.
He ran towards the town square and popped open his portable mushroom stock table and arranged his rainbow variety of mushrooms.

I saw Le Duck on a rooftop opposite of the town square. I took my position on a nearby bench so I would be in reach of the crowd without drawing attention to myself.

That would be Mareio’s job.

“HELLO EVERYPONY! IT’S A ME, DOCTOR MAREIO! HIGH-QUALITY SHROOMS!”

Ponies from around the small village went outside to see who was shouting at 2 o’clock in the morning. A small crowd had formed around Dr. Mareio and some ponies who were still droopy from the lack of sleep had bought his mushrooms.

“10…20…30! COME PONIES I HAVE A GREAT SELECTION!”

Ok… now if I can tune the sound out a bit like Le Duck showed me. I can maybe hear conversations, maybe even Fumbles himself…

I strained my hearing trying to focus on the mass of voices in front of me.

Focus……

Focus……

ARHG……. THERE!

“Look what I got mom!”
“Don’t touch that!”
“Hey, I’ll trade my blue mushroom for your yellow one.”
“No way! I like yellow!”

“Hey? Who’s that yellow pony with the guards there?”

“Dunno.”

But I do… Fumbles and his entourage no less.

I focused my hearing on the general direction of the guards and Fumbles.

“Why did you wake me from my beauty sleep? A stallion must get his routine snooze.” Said Fumbles.

“Sorry… my senator. We heard shouting and numerous complaints of loud noises. All of them were from you.” Answered a guard pony.

“Well, we better teach this nuisance a lesson shouldn’t we?” Fumbles said sadistically cracking his hooves.

“HEY THERE PAL WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUY SOME SHROOMS?” shouted Mareio to Fumbles and his guards now in audiable range.

“BY ORDER OF THE SENATOR, WE SHALL BE CONFISCATING THESE GOODS!” shouted a guard pony in a commanding voice.

“WHAT!? Why would you do a thing like that? I’m a DOCTOR!” shouted Mareio in confusion.

“Because I can…” said Fumbles grabbing a crate of mushrooms from the table.

“This is MY MERCHANDISE!” shouted Dr. Mareio grabbing onto the crate and pulling it towards himself.

“I WANT IT!” shouted Fumbles pulling the crate towards himself.

“IT’S MINE!”

“NO! MINE!”

After many tugging and pulling later Fumbles tripped onto the table slamming head-first into Dr. Mareio who fell on his back and the glass security box containing the purple mushroom fell out from his coat.

Fumble’s guards helped him to his feet. He went over to Dr. Mareio and picked up the purple mushroom container.

“I’m taking this at least.” Said Fumbles leaving Mareio in the dust.

“NO! YOU FOOL! IF YOU RELEASE THAT MONSTROSITY THE WHOLE WORLD OF EQUESTRIA WILL BE ENGULFED IN AN AREA OF DARKNESS AND DECAY!” pleaded Dr. Mareio with tears in his eyes.

“Hmmm… darkness. Ya I like it! Guards kill this pony so I can get back to sleep today.” He said brushing off the container and staring into the mushroom.

Not on my watch.

I stood up from my bench spot and weaved through what was left of the crowd. Before the guard punched Mareio I was behind him.

*STAB*

The guard fell down in a bloody mess.

Panic arose around Poni Town including the second guard and Fumbles who had stopped petting the container. They ran towards a building.

“AHH! I DON’T WANT TO DIE YET!” shouted Fumbles as he ran for the door.

Le Duck jumped from the building and landed in front of the door blocking Fumble’s escape. Before Le Duck could have stabbed Fumbles he took a sharp right turn towards a hill with a tree.

“Quickly snap this box in half!” said Fumbles to his last guard.

“But we…”

“DO IT!”

The guard brought his sword down upon the glass container shattering it and sending the mushroom falling to the ground.

Dr. Mareio who just caught up with us shouted with agony, “NOOOOOOOOOO!”

The mushroom hit the ground.

………

………..nothing

Then Fumbles tripped, “Oops!” landing headfirst onto the mushroom.
He got up and the mushroom was imbedded in his skull.

“OW! That…hurt?....”

"..."

“ASSUMING CONTROL.” Boomed an ominous voice.

-------------------------------------------------

We were shaken back by what we just heard.
Fumble’s skin started to turn a ghostly purple colour and green spots formed around his body. His mane fell off and was replaced with purple mushrooms.
His eyes now blood red had taken the place of his white eyeballs and his eye colour shifted to a bright yellow with no pupil in sight.

He looked at us with a menacing power eradiating from him.

What….what is this thing?

“WE ARE LEGION. YOU CANNOT RESIST. YOU WILL JOIN US.” Boomed the ominous voice which was centred around Fumbles.

He reached towards the scared guard and touched him on his head. A purple mushroom grew out from the guard’s head as he cried out in agony. Like Fumbles he started to morph and turn purple.
After his transformation was complete the two purple mushroom ponies faced towards us and started walking.

They're decaying the ground they walk upon! Nothing will grow there anymore!
I need to stop them before they harm the villagers!

I started to run towards them with my hidden blade but Dr. Mareio grabbed me and held me back shaking his head.

“It’s too late… Equestria is doomed.” Sadly said the doctor.

“It’s never too late! If we can’t touch them then we can range ‘em!” said Le Duck taking a throwing knife and aiming at Fumbles.

“NO! THAT’S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO!” shouted Dr. Mareio.

But it was too late, the knife plunged into the Mushroom Fumble’s left eye and he fell.
Only to get back up again leaving a pile of mushrooms on the ground.

“WHEN ONE FALLS A THOUSAND SHALL REPLACE IT.” Boomed Fumbles and the guard pony in unison.

The mushrooms left behind started to move strangely and morph into Fumbles shape. In only a matter of seconds an army of purple Fumbles and mushponies had formed.

“How many?” I asked Le Duck who was good at observing.

“One thousand… and two.” Nervously said Le Duck.

“EVERYBODY RUN!” we all shouted at once.

--------------------------------

(The mushponies who acted like zombies didn’t run like 80’s zombies. No, they saw the new trend and chasing other ponies down is in style.)

We headed inwards to Poni Town and found the house that Fumbles tried to get in. We entered and quickly locked the door behind us.

“Whew… that should buy us some..” I began to say.

A purple hoof burst through the door paneling trying to grab at us.

“ARG!” shouted Docter Mareio shoving a red mushroom into the hole.

Why?

He noticed our confused expressions and calmly said, “Mushrooms decompose, so decomposing a mushroom would take a longer time to decompose, right?”

“Ok Dr. Mareio you know these things, how can we destroy them?”

“We…we can’t.” Mareio said with his head down.

“WHAT!? How can we save Poni Town then? Equestria?” I asked.

“We CAN’T! They’re indestructible and feed off life power on everything that lives!” clarified Mareio.

The door started to bend inwards as Mareio placed more shrooms in the holes, trying to buy us some time.

“THERE IS NO ESCAPE. YOU WILL SUBMIT.”

I went to the corner and went into fetal position as my mind shattered and my body turned into a helpless shell.

No… No… No. This can’t be happening… THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING! This is all a dream right? When I close my eyes… why am I still here?

Mareio is using mushrooms but he will soon run out and we will all turn into mushrooms. Hehehe...

Purple…Purple Mushrooms…Equestria is doomed.

I’m sorry father! Mother! FREE-RUNNER! Not even you can run from this menace. AND YOUR DEAD!

~~CRAP I’M GOING TO DIE EVERYONES GOING TO DIE IN PONI TOWN!~~

“SHADOW SNAP OUT OF IT!” Le Duck shook me trying to wake me from my traumatized state to no avail.

This is real. I’m going to die.

“SHADOW! We need to survive we need to save the citizens of Poni Town. WE ARE ASSASSINS!”

Assassins….... ASSASSINS! I AM SHADOW-MARK! WE CAN STILL FIGHT!

My mind snapped back together and I stood up from my spot.

“Your right mentor, I`ll scan the town on the roof and see if anypony is still alive.” I said heading to the roof.

I got outside and saw the carnage of the village. Houses were on fire, buildings were decayed and purple mushrooms sprouted up from everywhere.

Everywhere I looked I saw and heard the screams of ponies as they mushified into those purple monsters..

“DO NOT FEAR. THERE IS NO PAIN. ONLY SALVATION.” Boomed the purple mushroom voice.

I ran back downstairs and told Le Duck the situation.

“The village is nearly destroyed *sigh* let’s go Mareio we need to get out of here!”

We ran up back to the roof of the building which was now being swarmed by mushponies. We jumped off the roof hovering towards the ground carrying Mareio in our arms.

We ran to the spot where this mess had all happened, the hill with the tree which was now decayed and the ground devoid of life.

I looked back and saw a swarm of mushponies marching towards us.

“We’re trapped… at least the sun’s coming up.” Acknowledged Doctor Mareio.

The sun broke over the horizon.

*FLASH*

A blinding light appeared before us in the sky. I rubbed my eyes to get a closer look. I couldn't believe it.

The Observer… in the sky? ......he can fly? He’s an EARTH PONY!

And is that….... Princess Celestia?

WHAT THE ************ is going on!?

They landed in front of us and the Princess who spread her wings open said to the Observer, “Ok focus your magic like last time.”

MAGIC? HE’S NOT A UNICORN! AN EARTH PONY-- EARTH PONY!
AND LAST TIME? WHAT LAST TIME? THIS IS THE APOCALYPSE!

….I’m so confused.

The Princess and the Observer focused their magic within themselves and when they were completely full of power.

*BOOM*

A giant glass rectangle engulfed Poni Town with all the mushponies (no more citizens) and the buildings were trapped inside.

Great now we can have a museum or a zoo!

My museum idea ended as a dark portal appeared.

*CRACK* *WHOOSH*

Wait… everything is… gone.

-----------------------------------

The Princess and the Observer now drained of power turned to us.

“You must be the new apprentice my friend has told me all about, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you Shadow.” She said trying to not show the exhaustion in her voice.

“Umm…. Princess…. You…. You heard of me? I’m flattered.” I scampered.

“Yes Shadow, and I’m sorry you had to experience this ordeal.” She said bringing a glass container with a purple mushroom inside it.

What? Didn’t she get rid of all of them?

“Here Doctor Mareio… I trust you can keep this safe, maybe longer perhaps?” Celestia joked giving the container to Mareio.

“Um… pardon me Princess… but where did those mushponies go and why is “that” still here.” I said pointing to the container.

“You see Shadow, those “mushponies” can’t be destroyed so I sent them to a place in between time and space. This… *points to container*... is the connection which keeps the mushrooms trapped within the nexus between time and space.” She explained.

“Now I must be going, duty calls!” she said as she teleported herself back to Canterlot.

“AH! It’s so great to see the Princess again after sending so much… documents.” Began the Observer while disgusted by uttering the "D" word.

“And Shadow….. all of this is your fault.” Smiled the Observer.

“WHAT! ME!?” I said shocked.

“Oh Shadow my boy, if you’ve killed Fumbles back in Ponitaly… Then this mess would have never happened.” He shook his head in disappointment.

“ARE YOU SERIOUS!? THIS WAS YOUR FAULT! YOU SENT MAREIO YOU—“

“PETULANT CHILD! I SENT MAREIO TO ENFORCE TRADE IN THIS VILLAGE! AND THIS ISN’T HOW YOU RAGE…” he shouted gathering power for his next verbal assult.

The winds shook and the grass blew away from the Observer’s hooves as he was surrounded in a dark red aura outlining his body.

“THIS IS HOW YOU… RAAAAAAGGGGGGEEEE!!” he shouted with tremendous velocity and volume as dark clouds swirled around in a typhoon in the sky and a lightning bolt flashed against the sky.

*KER-SPLOSION*

The ground below the Observer exploded leaving a crater with the Observer standing at the centre and us being knocked back.

“Now then Shadow… I assume you’ve learned your lesson because your grounded.” Cheerfully said the Observer as he turned away from us.

“OBSERVER… AWAY!” he shouted jumping off from the ground.

He propelled himself into the air and flew across the morning sky.

FLEW across the sky. No wings or magic.

We were all shocked. First the purple mushrooms, then Celestia, now…. this.

I took a deep breath in and let my thoughts explode.

THE PURPLE MUSHROOMS WERE MY FAULT!?

PRINCESS CELESTIA KNOWS ME?

THE OBSERVER’S RAGE AND HE FLIES?

HE’S AN EARTH PONY IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE!

Chapter 11: Rest and Pain

“And then we all safely returned home with no complications besides my broken leg.

-Shadow-mark”

I let out a sigh of relief and put down my quill on top of my mahogany desk.
We were all back at our hideout safe and sound after 3 days of driving in a mushroom van and it was high noon as off now.

I turned down and looked at my leg. It was bandaged and in a cast fixed by our doctor Fluttershy.

Lucky we didn’t suffer anything worse than a broken leg.

I still can’t believe we were riding in a stuffy van for 3 days straight. And that time Pinkie got carsick making everyone carsick. Thank Mareio that he gave us health and stamina shrooms.

I chuckled.

I’m glad I was mostly unconscious during that time; I just wish I didn’t have to recall that mushroom dream. I thought I put it behind me a long time ago.
But more or less we’re back and I can finally send my letters to the Princess.

I looked at the pile of documents and reports on my table totaling a grand 40 pages considering I started to make these about 6 hours ago.

I reveled in the glory that was my finished paperwork until Twilight walked over to me.

“Twilight… did you find how much money they needed to manufacture those high-tech weapons and vehicles?” I asked.

“Yes Shadow… let’s just say it was a lot.” Nervously said Twilight not wanting to reveal the sum.

“Come on….there must be something more than that,” I said trying to work my Ponitalian charm.

“Fine. The exact number is…”bringing her mouth to my ear.

*whisper*

“REALLY, THAT MUCH!? ARE THEY CRAZY OR SOMETHING!?” I shouted startling the other ponies.

Fluttershy flew under her desk with Spike, Rarity mis-stiched an outfit, Rainbow Dash who was fighting some training dummies ended up punching her hoof on the stone wall, and lastly Pinkie Pie was mixing some dangerous chemicals together and added to much sulfur causing her bomb to make a tiny explosion filling the room with smoke.

Applejack was at her farm bucking apples for the day so she didn’t have to suffer like the rest of us.

“SORRY!” shouted Pinkie over the smoke.

After the smoke cleared and I apologized to everypony I added a page to my letter to Princess Celestia.

“If you turn your castle into solid gold then it still wouldn’t be enough.”

“This is a big blow to the Templars and they won’t recover so easily from this, we should hit them now while their defenses have been breached!” I confidently said standing up too fast from my chair.

“OW! My leg.” I yelped in pain as I fell to the floor.

“Shadow you need to rest and so do us. We just went to another country and did a huge amount of damage towards the Templars. We can attack another of their main operations some other day.” Said Twilight helping me back into my chair.

Spike who noticed my fall came to help me back up as well.

“Hey Shadow, you ok?” asked Spike.

“Yes Spike don’t worry it’s only a broken leg.” I reassured him.

“Great! So… are you ready to send the report?” he asked.

“Yep, here you go.” I said pointing to my stack of documents.

Spike took a deep breath in.

“WAIT!” butted in Twilight.

Spike ignored Twilight releasing a green fire onto the documents. They didn’t teleport instead all 40 document pages were burned to ash, unable to be recovered.

“SPIKE! We needed to use special scrolls to send letters to the princess, these are just paper sheets!” shocked Twilight.

“Eh… oops.” Shrugged Spike.

“Uh oh.” Said everypony in the room.

I slammed my hooves on the desk and stood up not feeling the pain in my legs, but the rage that was building inside of me.

My eye twitched.

“If you’d excuse me everyone.” I casually said as I walked out of the room and onto the roof.

Ace was eating his lunch as I charged off the roof and glided as far as I can as fast as I can away from Ponyville and looked for any place devoid of life before my rage explodes.

I spot a flat field with nothing in sight and I make my landing there.

I planted my hooves firmly on the ground as the wind starts to push away from my body and a dark red aura engulfs me.

“HRNNNNGG….” I grunted trying to contain my rage.

Crap…can’t….hold…it….Grrrrrrr…

“AAAAARRRRRRRAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGG!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.

*KER-SMALLSION*

---------------------------------

A crater had formed around me, but unlike the Observer’s rage explosions this one was smaller and didn’t involve the demonic clouds and lightning strikes.

I marveled at the sight of a crater… that I made.

Wow, I can understand why the Observer had so much passion for hating documents.

My thoughts were interrupted when… something snuck up behind me and growled over my shoulder. I turned and I stood face to knee of an Ursa Major, a gargantuan bear constellation.

And she looked pissed.

But so was I.

With the dark red aura still engulfed around me I shouted at the bear in a slightly demonic voice, “I don’t have time to deal with you now! LEAVE ME BE.”

The Ursa Major was unfazed and let out a large roar, “GRRRROOOOWWWW!!” as spit slammed into my face.

“YOU WANT TO GO? I’LL SEND YOU BACK TO THE SKY WHERE YOU BELONG!” I shouted as I began to charge the Ursa Major at lightning speed.

Just before I hit the Ursa Major into the heavens above I saw something in her eyes.

Fear.

*KER-UPPERCUT!*

The Ursa flew into the noon sky where she eventually disappeared from sight only to re-emerge as a daytime constellation for all to see.

The rage now leaving my body I came back to my senses and realised what I’ve just done.

“I vanquished an Ursa Major! YAHOO!” I jumped.

I jumped… with a broken leg and with no rage to quell the pain I was going to regret this.

*crack* went my leg as it touched the ground.

“OW! Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow!” I cried out in pain as I held my broken leg and jumped around on my other.

-------------------------------------------------

Somehow I managed to crawl… CRAWL back to Ponyville and the hideout without drawing attention to myself.

Guess that’s why I’m called Shadow. Ow I need to get to rest soon.

I reached the guild room (don’t bother asking me about how I went up the stairs) and silently crawled on the guild carpet.

“OW! CARPET BURN!” I shouted out in pain alerting the other ponies.

“Shadow, are you ok?” “Do you need me to get some ice?” “I told you’d needed to relax!”

“Just get me to my desk I need to rest a bit.” I weakly said as they helped me to my hooves.

I relax in my mahogany desk chair and begin writing the new documents for the Princess.

40 pages here we go again…

Twilight and Spike came over to my desk and removed my paper and quill from my hoofs.

“YOU need to rest Shadow. I and Spike will write the report to Princess Celestia, ok?” asked Twilight taking my stuff with her magic.

“Ok Twilight I trust you with this. Make sure to get in the cost of manufacturing those… guns.”

Rainbow Dash overheard us and interrupted, “GUNS ARE BORING!”

We all nodded in agreement.

But cannons? Now that’s progress!

While Twilight and Spike went to work on the report I called in Pinkie who was doing something with a cupcake.

“Pinkie… what’s that? No. I don’t want to ruin the surprise. Anyways do you still have that laptop with you?” I asked.

“Sure here ya go!” she said dropping the laptop in my hooves.

Ok time to rest and relax….

The moment I opened the laptop a message appeared on the screen.

It read, “Sorry about your leg Shadow, Get well soon!, Love Dave.”

I looked at the message then back to Pinkie, “Do you need this?”

“No why?” she asked.

I snapped the laptop in half and discarded the pieces.

“Oh it just had a … little virus.”

----------------------------------------------

I was still waiting at my desk doing absolutely nothing. Occasionally some ponies came to check up on me.

“Oh… Shadow I made you this crutch so at least you can walk properaly and don’t have to crawl everywhere you go.” Said Fluttershy.

“Grazie Fluttershy.”

Rarity also came to me asking about all the foreign places I’ve been too and been planning to go to as well.

“Shadow, I hear the Assassins down south have curved blades, CURVED BLADES. How can they stab ponies with a rounded edge?” Asked Rarirty.

“Ah yes, the curved hidden blade. I never seen one myself but I think they use it more for climbing and practical purposes. I bet they have other tricks up their sleeve… among other things.” I said.

-------------------------------------------------------

After many hours and with the sun almost setting I can finally say that I’m…

Bored. My butt is so numb from sitting on this chair all day. Plus the fact I was semi-conscious for about 3 days on mushrooms.
DAMN THIS LEG!

Twilight and Spike came back to me from their report writing. I noticed that Spike’s left and right hands were stuck in a way best described as “Writer’s Cramp”.

Then I noticed the stack of papers that were supposed to be 40 pages long were much, much longer than that.

“Umm... Twilight how long is it?” I said afraid to ask.

“80 pages, 2 paragraphs, and 3 sentences long. Would you like to read it?” she excitingly asked me.

What would the Assassin code do in a time like this… think… think…

“Umm… AHA! I can’t read it once the documents are 100% done and judging by this amount I say it is. You know how it is Twilight with “for her majesty’s eyes only” we need to protect the secrecy of the Assassin Brotherhood!” I said to her about something I’ve read in an outdated assassin handbook a few years ago.

“Oh that’s too bad. Tenant 53 is really strict on that. Okay Spike you can send the letters!”

“Will do Twilight!” Spike saluted while gathering up air inside him.

*Fwoosh*

And all the documents and letters were gone, about to drop on top of the Princess in a big heap.

Oh Crap…..

-------Outside--------------------------------

I convinced Fluttershy to let me out for the rest of the day which was about 2 hours before night falls.

Now, what can I do for 2 hours without hurting my leg?

I slipped my hoof into a pony’s pocket as I passed them and pulled out a few bits.

Pickpocket… YAY!

I weaved through the crowds of people returning home before darkness fell.
4 bits here, 3 bits there. Eventually I got around 200 bits from spare change.
I looked at the semi-medium pouch of bits I’ve collected and thought.

Do I really need all this money? All the renovations are done and we have plenty of materials and food. Hmmm… what am I going to do with this?

I noticed a small stand that had a big sign reading, “Building Charity for the Habitat of Ponies”
And it was run by 3 young fillies. All who I recognized from the school.

“Hey Applejack, Scootaloo, SweetieBell what’cha doing?” I asked them.

“Oh HI SHADOW!” excitingly said Applebloom.

“We’re trying to find our cutie-marks still!” said Scootaloo.

“That’s why we’re….” prepared SweetieBell.

“CUTIE-MARK CRUSADERS CHARITY ORGANIZERS!” they all shouted in unison.

“Well that’s great, did you raise any money?” I asked them.

“No…” they all sadly said with their heads down.

“Here maybe I can help a bit.” I said tossing the coin purse towards them.

“WOW! THANK YOU SHADOW!” they all said excitingly marveling at the sight of my donation.

“Anytime!” I said turning around.

“Well that was a kind thing to do Shadow.” Said a recognizable voice in front of me.

“Applejack… how long have you been following me?” I asked the orange pony amazed at her stealth.

“It was easy considering y’all have a crutch there.” She said pointing to my wooden crutch.

“And I’m mighty surprised you didn’t use those bits you stole for yourself.” She sneered.

“Ah yes, can’t afford to get rusty now can I?” I chuckled.

“Of course Applejack, nowadays I depend on other ponies’ generosity and I feel that I should return the favor.” I said.

“How noble Shadow, stealin from the rich to give to the needy.” She said with sarcasm.

“Applejack, you know as well as I do that I only take what ponies don’t want or use unwisely. You don’t mind me taking this apple no?” I asked holding out a red apple I took from Applejack’s pocket.

“HEY? How’d you do that? I’m not wearing any clothes!” she holstered.

“Assassin Magic.” I said taking a bite from the apple.

-------------------------------------------------------

We walked for a few minutes talking about the past days and my “abilities” when we heard a scream coming from the outside of the Quills and Couches shop. We hurried there as fast as we can.

POWER-CRUTCHING!

I saw 4 ponies harassing the teacher Cheerlie who was a huge stack of text books.

“Hey, Hey, Hey! What’cha doin with all them books Teach?” said a huge brown stallion wearing a bandana.

“Please don’t hurt me I’m just a school teacher! I’m trying to help my students.”

“Ya well, why don’t you help us with our cash problem.” Said a skinny white pony with yellow teeth.

“Those textbooks seem very expensive.” Said 2 identical magenta mares who looked more like teasing the teacher rather than mugging her.

“BASTA!” I shouted moving towards them using my crutch.

“Yo, did he just call you a bastard? Want me to take care of cane-y here?” said the skinny white colt to the fat brown stallion.

“Nah man. He’s just a BROKEN DOWN OLD PONY THAT SHOULD MIND HIS OWN BUSINESS!” the brown stallion taunted me.

“ARG! Your all so culturally impoverished…” I shook my head.

“NOW LISTEN UP! WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO MUG THIS MARE LIKE THAT? DON’T YOU HAVE ANY RESPECT?” I shouted at them.

The two identical mares looked at each other then said, “Look we were just teasing her, we’re not in any mugging. Come on let’s go.”

2 down and I’m sure the big one won’t back down and his lackey would follow him anywhere.

“YO MAN! I A’INT LISTENING TO SOME WHINY BROKEN LEG GUY. BIG T DON’T GIVE A SHIT!” said the fat brown stallion.

Applejack started to get closer, I signaled her to stop and let me handle this.

“YA T! YOU SHOW THIS GUY WHO YOUR MESSING WITH!” said the skinny pony.

“FOO! LEARN SOME GRAMMER!” the stallion shouted at the skinny pony.

He turned to me and shouted, “TIME TO GET THE TASTE OF THE T!”

The stallion charged me and arced his hoof out to land a big punch.

I stopped it with my hoof while holding my crutch in my other hoof without moving an inch.

My menacing eyes, hood and the fact I stopped his attack with only one hoof had him scared and shaking.
I pulled him closer to my face and stared at him with my scarlet eyes. I whispered to him so only he can hear what I was saying.

“I can break 7 of your body parts with this hand… right… now. I’m pretty sure you don’t want to end up in a hospital bed for 8 months wondering how a pony with a broken leg had severed your spine. Now you go over to that teacher and you apologize.” I said with a monotone death voice.

“Uhh..uhhh yes sir whatever you want.” He nervously replied.

“Good and when you’re done, don’t bother coming back to this town. Because by then my leg would have healed and my 7 turns into a 23…” I said with a devious smile.

I released him and he ran towards the teacher.

“I’M SO SORRY! I DON’T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER ME! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!” he said bursting out in tears.

“Umm… I forgive you?” responded Cheerlie who was very confused at the moment.

“Come on! WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE!” shouted the brown stallion grabbing the skinny white pony and running out of Ponyville.

I went over to Cheerlie and comforted her, “Are you alright Cheerlie? Did those rude ponies hurt you?

“No… I’m fine Shadow. I was just startled that’s all.”

“Would you like us to walk you home?” I offered.

“No thanks Shadow I think I can manage..." she said picking up her textbooks.

"Before I go however let me thank you.” She said giving me a short kiss on my cheek.

“Stay safe Cheerlie!” shouted Applejack.

“Wow Shadow, I’m impressed you took on those thugs without having to beat up one of them.”

“Well Applejack, wounds can heal while words are always printed.” I said.

“Oh no not these puns again. Do all the assassins use these quotes?” she asked me.

“It all started from one seed and grew into a tree… an apple tree of knowledge.”

“This is going to be a long night.” Sighed Applejack.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

We approached the guild room and I was still talking.

“And oranges are the scourge of scurvy, while bananas bring forth…”

“ENOUGH SHADOW!” said an annoyed Applejack.

"..."

“more bananas…” I finished quietly.

We entered the room and I was instantly surrounded by worried ponies.

“Shadow darling, we thought you were hurt.” Said Rarity.

“We were all like, WOOH WHERE’S SHADOW? When you didn’t return for a few hours.” Said Pinkie.

"I wasn't worried I knew you'd be fine." boasted Rainbow Dash.

“Don’t worry everypony I’m fine. Like I said just stretching my legs.” I mock stretched.

“—and your mouth too.” Added in Applejack.

We all laughed.

I don’t get it.

A piece of paper fell from my heart coat pocket and landed on the floor from my laughter.
Twilight picked it up and looked at it.

“Shadow… are these…”

“Yes. They are the targets I‘ve failed to eliminate in my past.” I confessed.

“Well there are only a few left,” she said crossing out Je Suis’s name.

Everypony and Spike huddled around the list.

Twilight read out the short list, “Volcanous, WingBlade, Dave the accountant?”

“Trust me. He’s BAD.” I said.

“And finally in bold, Balthazar… not much of a list if you ask me.” Said Twilight.

“I plan to add more names when the time comes, in the meantime we can focus our efforts on… Volcanous.” I decided.

“Volcanous?” asked Rarity.
“Isn’t he a commander of the Gerponian army now? And aren’t they about to go to war with the Belponians? I’ve seen it in the news.”

“Yes and Yes Rarity. Luckily they will only be armed with swords; however it’s about 100,000 soldies to 8 Assassins.” I said.

If you forgot about Ace…. Erg!

“We’ll need lots of planning and lots of diversions.” I said looking to everypony.

“Let’s go stop a war!” I confidently shouted bringing my bad hoof down to a stomp.

*crack*

“ARG! Ok… maybe later… there’s still plenty of time...”

I just hope this time will go a bit smoother than with Je Suis.

Pray Celestia that Dave doesn’t show up again…

Chapter 12: Seals- The Fort

“Look Fluttershy I understand that your worried about my leg. But can’t I just climb?” I pleaded.

Fluttershy shook her head, “Shadow it’s only been two days, a broken leg can take up to 4 weeks to heal.”

“Fluttershy, I’ve been sitting on my ass on that chair for 3 days now. Can’t I do some light climbing activity?” I complained.

“Shadow you need to listen to me. Taking on a scary… Ursa Major then cracking your leg twice, is the reason why you need to stop moving and just rest.” She said pushing me towards my bed.

“But Fluttershy…” I whined.

“No buts.” She said shoving me into my bed and wrapping me like I was some kind of burrito.

“But it’s the middle of the afternoon!” I exclaimed.

“Hush now quiet now, it’s time to lay your sleepy head.” She started to sing.

“Fluttershy…. What are you doing?” I asked confused about what she was trying to do.

She continued to ignore my questions and kept on singing

-----1 hour later----------------

“Go to sleep now….. Are you asleep yet?” Asked Fluttershy who was exhausted for singing for such a long time.

“…no” I responded.

“But you want to know what I’m feeling right now?”I asked her with an annoyed look on my face.

“What is it Shadow, is it something joyful?” asked Fluttershy.

“BOREDOM!” I shouted jumping out of bed.

“Shadow your leg!” exclaimed Fluttershy.

I landed... and nothing happened.

“Trust me Fluttershy I heal fast, I don’t even need that crutch anymore.” I reassured her.

“HEY! DID I HEAR YOU WERE BORED?” shouted Pinkie from across the room that then stood up to me face to face.

“Because Shadow you can help me with my Cupcake BOMBS!” she excitingly shouted.

Testing out… PINKIE BOMBS? NO WAY!

Twilight came over to see what the commotion was about, “Um... sorry Pinkie but I need to ask Shadow about something. Hey, why don’t you get Spike to help you?”

THANK YOU TWILIGHT… and sorry Spike…

“GREAT IDEA TWILIGHT! SPIKE CATCH!” she said throwing one of her cupcake bombs at Spike.

“Huh?” said a confused Spike.

*boom*

"Ah!" shouted Spike.

Smoke filled the room and Spike was knocked out from the artillery cupcake.

With Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy attending to Spike’s injuries Twilight came over to me, “Shadow. I understand your looking for these “Seals”.

“WHAT? How would you know?” I asked her.

“Oh I borrowed your book about the seals from your coat pocket. Now then I understand there are 6…”

Twilight you little thief. I’m so proud!

“…And by cross referencing these I determined that there are a bunch of them hidden around Ponyville and other places.” She finished.

“I’ve found one but I left it in Ponitaly and are you sure there’s one hidden in Ponyville right now?” I asked wanting to know if she was correct on this.

She nodded.

“There’s no doubt about it, it’s hidden in an abandoned fort.”

“Well what are we waiting for let’s go get it!” I said.

“It’s in the… Everfree Forest.” she nervously said.

Crap.

------------------------------------------------------------

We were walking in the dark forest despite the fact that it was still in the afternoon. The sun didn’t have enough power to pierce through the fog or the bog of the forest’s structure.
Vegetation was abundant everywhere I looked.

If this is the plant life I can’t imagine the animals that live in here.

I just hope that Applejack can keep the guild intact while we’re gone.

-----10 minutes before-----

“Hey Applejack! I and Twilight are going treasure hunting so can you make sure that the place doesn’t get burned down by Pinkie… thanks, bye!”

---------------------------------

Ya she’ll be fine.

*rustle*

I signaled Twilight and turned around towards the noise which leads into a bush.

“Could it be a Cerberus? Or a cockatrice!?” said Twilight who was shaking from fear.

The bushes continued to rustle; I got closer to the bush and carefully put my hands on opposite sides of the shrubbery. I pulled the bush apart quickly and we saw the mysterious creature of the dark forest.

A grey rabbit.

“Whew…” we breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m just glad a Manticore didn’t come out and own me.” I chuckled to Twilight.

*POW*

A paw came out from the other side of the clearing and rammed against my face sending me flying down the path.
I wiped the blood from my lip and saw what had attacked me.

A Manticore.
Ask and you shall receive… Tenant 27.

I climbed back up to my hooves and saw the winged beast charging towards Twilight.
I was fast, but I was faster.
Despite my broken leg injury I propelled myself to Twilight shoving her out of the Manticore’s path of destruction.

The Manticore turned around and huffed at me readying another charge attack.

Fighting him head on is useless, I just need a little…lift.

The Manticore roared and charged at me this time with Twilight safely out of the way. I began to charge at him too. Just before we collided I stuck my hidden blade out and used it to stab a side in its mane and for me to climb up onto its back.

“RIDE EM MANTI!” I shouted trying to imitate what Applejack would say.

The beast was confused and began to get enraged trying to shake me off. When that failed he tries to impale me with his scorpion tail. I dodged left and right around his body until the stinger had pierced the Manticore’s own back.

He yelled out in pain, but was still determined to get me.

I can’t kill him but I have to finish this.

I jumped from the Manticore and grabbed his tail with me as I landed behind him.

“YOU THINK THAT WAS PAINFUL? WHAT ABOUT…THIS!” I said sticking the Manticore’s tail into an uncomfortable place.

He yelped out in pain and awkwardly ran into the thick forest.

“Shadow… did you?” Twilight said as I helped her up.

“Yep…” I said turning to the where the Manticore disappeared.

“RIGHT UP YOUR ASS!” I shouted into the forest.

---------------------------------------------------

We crossed a bridge that lead into a broken down fort.

“Wow I haven’t been here ever since we defeated Nightmare Moon a long time ago.” Acknowledged Twilight.

We entered the broken fort and made our way into a room with a pedestal of the 6 Elements of Harmony.

“Now my book says that there should be a secret chamber underneath this room.” Said Twilight as she looked around the walls and floors.

I looked at the pedestal and I looked at it very closely.
There near the bottom of the stone monument I saw a symbol.

The Assassin’s logo?

I examined it more closely and saw that it was indeed the Assassin’s insignia and there was a small hole in the middle of it.
Twilight came over to me to see what I was doing.
I stuck out my hidden blade and inserted it into the insignia’s opening while turning my wrist to see if it was some kind of lock mechanism.

*click*

The pedestal started to move outwards from the centre of the room until it revealed a big hole leading into pitch darkness.

“After you.” Offered Twilight.

I jumped down the dark hole and landed into the chamber below.

“Oof,” uttered Twilight as she landed next to me.

“What in the…” said Twilight with an astonished tone.

----------------------------------------------

The chamber we landed in wasn’t just a chamber it was a cavern. Dim lights decorated the stony walls of this enormous cavern.

A natural waterfall was made at the edge of the cavern accompanied by a flowing river. I and Twilight stood at an edge where a pathway had broken up leading to a centre platform in the middle of the river had taken place. What was worse was that platform was elevated by a precarious stalagmite supporting the rocky platform and underneath span a raging whirlpool.

I took a closer look at the platform and saw a pony statue holding a round object in its hoof.

A seal.

I scanned the cavern looking for a route to use to get me across to the centre platform.
I noticed many rocks were out of place and many scaffolds (probably used for excavating this cave) were still intact.

“Ok Twilight I’m going to get that seal on the statue over there.” I told her.

“How? There’s no direct route.”

Now I know my leg’s broken but I was wondering can you use your magic to give my leg lift as I scale the cavern’s wall.” I asked.

“Well… ok Shadow, but just be careful alright?” she said as a purple light enveloped my leg making my broken leg feel better than normal.

“Don’t worry Twilight, I will.” I told one last glance to Twilight before I ran up a wall and grabbed the edge of a small hole.

I hauled myself up until I found a secure piece of scaffolding to hang off of.

Why would they hide these seals in places like this? Who would hide these seals?
I guess I’ll get my answer when I’ve collected all of them.

I swung from the scaffolding and landed on an outcrop off the wall. I pushed myself off the wall just barely reaching a wooden scaffold imbedded in the wall.

It started to break off and fall into the raging river below. I quickly scampered my way up as best I could then the whole thing came down. I thought I heard a yelp from Twilight as I grabbed onto a wooden block at the last second just before I could fall in the river with the rest of the scaffold.

Let’s try this again.

I worked my way upwards using as much stone placements and cracks than the rickety wooden scaffoldings. I continued to go higher and higher until I've reached the ceiling of the cavern. I looked behind me and saw the platform was a big drop below me and it was still pretty far.

If this height can help me though...

I push my legs off the cavern wall with all my strength and fell towards the river. I stuck out my hoof which was then caught by the centre platform’s edge as the rest of my body dangled above the raging currents and whirlpool.

Carefully I climbed up to the platform’s dusty rock floor.
I picked myself up and went over to the statue and finally in a sigh I pick up the seal.

Finally, now… how to get back?

*FWOOSH*

Twilight had teleported next to me on the platform scaring the daylights out of me.

“Why didn’t I just teleport us across from the beginning?” asked Twilight.

“It would spoil the fun also…” I started to talk before the platform’s precarious stalagmite holding up this weight gave away.

*Snap*

"That..."

The rocky platform fell into the river and we started to go downstream at a high velocity.

“AHHHHH!” screamed Twilight who didn’t want to fall in the river or get slammed into the cavern wall.

“YOU FORGOT TO PUT A “Y” IN FRONT OF THAT!” I shouted over the rapids.

The platform crashed from wall to wall spinning us in a circle as pieces of the platform started to break off I could hear Twilight panicking.

Then it just stopped.

We felt daylight on our fur as the speed of the river ride subsided and we were just casually floating on a small platform with a pony statue.

“All right Twilight! We’ve got the seal now if we can only find our way back..”

*crack* my leg snapped, as Twilight’s spell wore off.

“HOME!” I yelled out in pain as I sat down and held my poor broken leg.

“Teleport?”

“Teleport.” I weakly asked.

----------------------------------------------

In a poof we appeared back in our hideout.

Sweet…sweet… cupcakes?

We landed on a gooey batch of cupcake residue. I looked around and saw the room in chaos.

There are Cupcakes EVERYWHERE!
And what’s with all the rainbows drawn on the walls? IS IT WASHABLE?
What is…is that? A giraffe?

Animals from all over Equestia were everywhere in the room eating cupcakes from the floor as well as making their own…
I noticed Rarity with a broom frantically sweeping the mess away from her workstation, “First cupcakes, then the animals, NOW THIS!?”
Spike was running around trying to get letters and documents back from the animals.

Applejack saw me and quickly galloped towards me with a sad expression on her face.
“Shadow, I’m so sorry first Pinkie’s bombs then the animals, I tried getting Dr. Mareio to help but he only made things worse!” She shouted point towards Dr. Mareio who was giving a chimp a green mushroom.

“That comes to 3 bits… thank you come again soon! … AH SHADOW! Business is wonderful! Who knew these animals were so civil when bartering for goods. Would you like to buy one Shadow… Shadow?”

I started to grind my teeth then I stopped breathed out and said calmly, “Ok everyone let’s just get this mess cleaned up. Then we can talk about…”

*CRACK*

An elephant had snapped my mahogany desk… in half.

“Wooh Nellie, “said Applejack taking off her hat and diving under a table.

“EVERY’A BODY DOWN!” shouted Dr. Mareio as loud as he can bringing all the assassins together under the same desk Applejack hid under.

My… My… Desk.

“When a mahogany tree snaps somewhere in the world a desk has been as well.” I recalled from Le Duck, after seeing for myself what happens when an Observer's mahogany desk breaks.
Mahogany…

A dark red veil surrounded the desk then surrounded me.

“My… desk.” I said turning around so everyone can see the tear falling down my cheek.

All the animals stopped. Everyone can feel the change in the air and I can feel the change within myself.

I spread my wings open and inhaled deeply,

“RAGE…”

A wind bellowed towards me as I said the first word.

“FOR…”

This time the wind pushed back so hard that a hole had appeared at the end of the room.
Everyone knew what was going to happen next and they bunkered down.

“DA!!”

I shouted at the top of my voice as a huge gust of wind escaped through my mouth blowing all the cupcakes, graffiti, and animals out the hole in the wall to who knows where.

I let my rage pass by me and picked myself emotionally back up.

“Ok everyone! Let’s fix the hideout!” I cheerfully said knowing that I’ve done about half off the work already.

Everyone looked shocked by my sudden change of attitude.

----------------------------------------------

After fixing the hole and cleaned up around the place some more. I retired at my desk.

Rarity had fixed it so well that you can’t even tell that I was shattered in half by an elephant.
“Ok everyone great work! Gather up!” I shouted around the room as the ponies started to converge.

“Now that, that mess is cleared up let’s talk about the next one we have to clean up as well. Mareio?” I said gesturing to the doctor.

“YES SHADOW! We found Volcanous is currently in GERPONY!” he said with a tune.

“Great now, we’ll need an edge to help us against him as I’m already aware he has about 100,000 ponies on standby.”

“How would you go about it?” asked Rainbow Dash. “I would just charge in but I’m sure you all aren’t as fast as me!”

“I’VE GOT AN IDEA!” Dr. Mareio shouted out.

“THE RED FOX!”

“The Red Fox? Who’s he?” asked Applejack.

“He’s a RENEGADE! Help the people prosper and yadda yadda.” Answered Dr. Mareio to Applejack and the others.

“I can arrange a meeting with him!” he said excitingly.

“Excellent Mareio… now about transportation. We need a ride that can carry our crafting stuff and ingredients so we can make the necessary preparations. I don’t think a train cart would allow such things.” I wondered out loud.

“LOOK OUT THE WINDOW!” shouted Mareio.

We all turned around my desk and went on my bed to get a better look out of the window..

“Ehh... Mareio is that a…”

“NUKE!... That’s what you’ve said the last time Shadow!” Pinkie burst in.

“Ahem…. Is that a… Zeppelin?” I asked.

“SILLY SHADOW! ------- It’s a MUSHROOM!” Dr. Mareio corrected me.

Chapter 13: Blimp Trip!

I stared gingerly at the floating contraption in front of me as the others went up to the roof of the hideout. A spotted giant red mushroom was floating just under the height of the clock tower.

“Mareio… where…” I started as I looked at Mareio dumfounded.

He turned his head to me with a great smile that would even rival Pinkie’s,
“SILLY SHADOW! You cannot tell? I MADE THE MUSHROOM!”

We were all shocked by Mareio’s answer. Except for Pinkie Pie who was too busy bouncing back and forth from the roof to the wooden observation deck on the mushroom blimp and didn’t notice Mareio’s remark.

“You… MADE THIS!?” I said astonished as Dr. Mareio nodded his head.

“What does your mushroom blimp run on?” asked Twilight who was intrigued by the design and the overall function of a mushroom vehicle.

“Same as all my other mushroom vehicles. STAR-POWER!”

Star-Power?
How could this pony get his hands on star-power?
Isn’t that stuff in the far reaches of space?

“SMALL GALAXY WE LIVE IN HUH?” I recalled Mareio saying.

Well… at least he’s on our side…

As I was probing my thoughts Dr. Mareio ignored all the questions everypony kept asking about his mushroom and “star-power”. Instead he calmly said (and by calmly said I mean shout like a maniac),
“EVERYPONY GET YOUR THINGS! GERPONY AWAITS!”

Everyone retreated down below to gather up their supplies including Dr. Mareio who went down and only a few moments later came up carrying all our tables and work equipment as we all boarded the mushroom blimp.

“DR. MAREIO WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” I shouted at him as he dropped all our worktables and etcetera in front of him.

“Gerpony is 4 days away by mushroom and we need all the help we can get or make...… CATCH!”

Dr. Mareio threw a 20 pound mahogany desk in my direction. I couldn’t risk losing the one symbol of my office so I grabbed the desk just before it hit me, I fell to the ground and the desk crushed my leg, breaking it once more.

“AAAAHHH! COME ON! WHY!” I shouted in extraordinary pain.

But that didn’t end there. The rest of our furniture and workstations were being thrown onto the blimp by Dr. Mareio himself.

In my pained state I thought,

Wow… there go Twilight’s books… and Rarity’s crafting table… Fluttershy’s plants… Rainbow’s weapons… Applejack’s miniature apple tree.... and Pinkie’s bombs……..

PINKIE’S BOMBS!?

I saw through my blurred vision Pinkie jumping and bouncing all over the blimp to catch her cupcake bombs. Ace was laughing at us… until a bird lounger chucked by Dr. Mareio hit him from behind sending him crashing to the observation desk’s wooden floor.

After 5 minutes Dr. Mareio ran out of stuff to throw and we were stuck in a pile of our stuff.

Rainbow who was stuck in a maze of swords, battleaxes and maps yelled at Dr. Mareio, “HEY! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO, KILL US?”

“YOU’RE TOO SLOW!” mocked Dr. Mareio in a personality unlike himself.

After we recovered ourselves from the carnage and set everything up on the observation deck as well as the interior of the mushroom, we were ready to head off.

Except for one.

Spike was pleading with me to join us on our trip, “But Shadow… it’s going to be so boring here, can’t I come, please?”

“Look Spike, this is extremely dangerous. We are entering a war which is likely to break out, and I don’t want you to…”

Spike exploded from anger, “TWILIGHT IS GOING INTO DANGER TOO AND I WANT TO BE THERE FOR HER!”

I can’t keep doing this; we’re running out of time.

“Fine Spike, you may come…BUT… you will need to listen to everything Twilight says. Everyday life is a suicide-mission and the last thing I want is a baby dragon adapting to that lifestyle. Understand?”

“YES, SIR!” Spike saluted me as he ran over to Twilight’s side.

I assembled everyone onto the observation deck with all of them wearing their assassin robes.

“Everyone! Getting to Gerpony will take 4 days so use that time to plan and make anything that can give us an edge over what we might face. ARE YOU READY!?” I shouted with charisma.

“YES WE ARE!” everyone shouted back.

“Good, let’s go-whoa!” I started to say before the pain in my leg made me trip and land face-first onto the wooden floor.

“OKIE-DOKIE-LOKIE!” shouted both Pinkie and Dr. Mareio in unison as the doctor went to the steering wheel and set the speed to max.

*BOOM*

The mushroom blimp shot into the air in the afternoon sky at an amazing speed. Though we were moving at approximately just below Rainbow Dash’s max speed I didn’t feel any wind change in the mushroom itself.

“Mareio, why isn’t there any wind trying to blow us off from the mushroom?” I asked as Rarity came over to me and helped me up from my broken leg.

“STAR-POWER MAKES GRAVITY BUBBLES!” exciting responded Dr. Mareio taking his hooves off the steering wheel.

The blimp started to tumble until Mareio regained control of it as he placed his hooves at 4 and 6.

“Doctor, don’t you have anything for this poor, poor stallion’s leg? It’s been broken for about 4 weeks now.” asked Rarity to the doctor.

“I told you,” shouted Fluttershy from across the deck.

“I might just’a have the thing you’a need,” said Dr. Mareio as he reached into his left pocket of his doctor’s uniform and pulled out a yellow mushroom.

“Great now I can finally stop feeling this pain…arg.” I commented as a pain rushed up through my leg.

“OK Shadow! But as your doctor I must warn you of the side-effects…”

“SCREW THE SIDE-EFFECTS! GIVE ME THE DAMN MUSHROOM!”

Mareio shrugged and shoved the mushroom into my mouth. I chewed and swallowed the yellow fungus. Instantly my leg filled with energy and the pain was no more.

“YOU CURED ME DOCTOR! YOU…”

I fell to the floor once more startling Rarity but the doctor was unfazed. My legs felt like jelly and I couldn’t move them at all.

I looked at Mareio as he looked down on me and cheerfully said, “Now you can’t move your legs for 3 days!”

“WHAT!? I shouted in disbelief.

I sighed and looked at Mareio straight in his blue eyes, “Any other side-effects you want to tell me?”

“Only 1….. PAINFUL URINATION!”

These 3 days are going to be so joyful.

--------------------------------------------------

Everyone was working on their projects and plans until an unpony-like shout originated from the mushroom’s latrine.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Dr. Mareio who was showing Pinkie how to fly the blimp shook his head from the shout of pain, “I’va warned him…”

I fell from the porcelain toilet onto the bathroom floor, clinging to my bladder as tears went down my cheeks.

Dear Celestia that was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced.

I crawled inch by inch to a pair of arm crutches Fluttershy had made at her workstation which had fallen over further than where I left. I grasped my hooves around the handles and hauled my body up using the strength in my arms.

My bladder still boiling from the extreme pain that yellow mushroom had brought into my system ached every time I took a step with my crutches. I took a very long and grueling time to get up the stairs leading to the observations deck.

As I got up everypony looked at me with remorse as I seated myself at my mahogany desk which was bolted to the deck. I took a minute to just relax and work out the pain from my broken leg which had transferred and manifested into even more pain in my bladder.

I hunched over my desk and started to write a journal for our time to Gerpony.

Day 1: Mareio fed me a yellow mushroom which jellied my legs and gave me combustible urination problems. Apart from that everypony is working on their projects. I’ll get over to Rainbow Dash and see the layout of Gerpony.

Just then a pink head popped out underneath my quill and shouted, “HI SHADOW! WHAT’S UP!”

“AAH PINKIE!” I startled as I almost fell from my chair which was also bolted to the ground and had armrests.

I regained myself and answered to the awaiting smiling Pinkie, “I’m just starting a journal for our trip to Gerpony. What are you doing Pinkie?”

“MAREIO IS TEACHING ME HOW TO FLY!” shouted Pinkie with the utmost excitement.

“Wait if you’re here…” I said before looking to the blimp wheel not being piloted.

“CRAP!” I power-crutched as fast as I could over to the empty wheel and stabilized the mushroom before it began to dive.

“Oof!” Pinkie butted me from the wheel and took control just as Dr. Mareio appeared from the stairs from the lower deck.

“EXCELLENT JOB PINKIE!” he shouted across the observation deck.

“Ugh…” I facehoofed.

------------------------------------------------------------

I was in the middle of writing some taxation documents when Rarity and Twilight showed up carrying a hidden blade with a protective brace.

“Hey girls, what’s up?” I asked them as I stored my quill back in the ink bottle.

“I’ve been looking up on Assassin weapons and tactics and I’ve stumbled on an idea, that you can use TWO hidden blades at the same time!” Twilight excitingly said.

“And then I thought that this blade can look much more extravagant with some steel guards,” pointed in Rarity.

“Thank you so much… I remember the Observer had two hidden blades of his own. I also remember he nearly killed me the day I saw him use his blades.” I joked to them as they had shocked expressions on their faces.

I took the blade from Rarity and attached it to my right arm. I tested the blade out as it popped out instantly and retracted with ease.

“Thank you Rarity, once again your work amazes me beyond belief.” I said charmingly as Rarity blushed and returned to her station.

Twilight was beginning to go too but I stopped her, “Wait Twilight.”

“Yes Shadow?”

“I understand you want to learn more about the Assassins and my guess is you want to know about the Observer himself.”

“Yes…” she said trying to figure out where this is going.

"..."

“Well… what are you waiting for? Pull up a chair!” I said eagerly.

------------------------------------------

“And that’s the last of the Observer before we were betrayed by one of our own.” I finished my story noticing that Applejack and Rainbow Dash had joined in listening to my story as well.

“Wait so he threw you off a cliff… HOW MANY TIMES?” said an astonished Rainbow Dash.

“Did you find the good-for nothin betrayer?” asked Applejack.

“Yes…” I answered solemnly.

“Well what in tarnation happened? Did… did you…”

I never knew. No one knew. We were all so blind.

I moved my eyes down to my side not making eye-contact with anypony and more importantly to hide a tear forming in my right eye.

“Oh…”

“That must have been hard,” admitted Rainbow Dash.

“Just one more question Shadow, I noticed you mentioned a purple mushroom then skipped over it. What happened?” asked Twilight who was very intrigued.

Images flooded into my mind.

Purple mushrooms… mushponies…

Breaking down… all my fault… the suffering

“YOU CANNOT ESCAPE. WE ARE YOUR SALVATION.”

“Shadow? SHADOW!” snapped Applejack as I returned back to reality.

“Shadow what’s wrong with you? You look pale,” noted Twilight as I sat back upright in my seat.

I thought long and hard and gave them an answer.

“You ever heard of Poni Town?” I asked the three ponies listening to me.

“No?” They all said wondering about the name.

“Exactly…”

--------------------------------------------------------

I rolled into my bed below deck with all the other ponies in their respective rooms. Ace flew in and nestled up comfortably on my stomach. I petted him with my left hoof while I tested out my second hidden blade on my right arm.

I’m getting better at this. Soon I can kill two at once. I might need to change my fighting style a bit.
Maybe in the morning…

I closed my eyes and recounted the stories of my past.

---------------------------------------------------------

I woke up drenched in sweat my eyes dilating as I desperately tried to get my crutches to leave my room. I knocked Ace over who was sleeping nicely on the edge of my bed and woke up with an annoyed attitude.

*Swack*

“Sorry Ace, I’VE GOT TO GO!” I shouted rushing towards the washroom as fast as I could.

Wait.

I stopped at the door with my hoof on the handle.

It’s going to hurt like hell. I don’t think I have enough mental power to withstand that pain again.

“HEYA SHADOW!” shouted Dr. Mareio from across the hall as he started to walk towards me.

He continued on walking past me and whispered in my ear very quickly, “It’s going to hurt more the longer you wait…”

I rushed into the washroom and released my anger and pain.

-----------------------------------------------

I recovered with just as much pain in my bladder as yesterday. I weakly get up onto the observation deck and take a seat at my desk as I’ve done the day before.
I open my journal and I make a new entry.

Day 2: The second time was much worse than the first. Luckily Twilight and Rarity crafted a second hidden blade for me to use. I’m sure it will come in handy. I miss the good old days with the Observer throwing me out the window and Le Duck and I going on missions. Then again I like how my life ended up with my friends.
I just wish I won’t suffer the same pain as I did when I lost my family and the Assassins.

I finished the entry and crutched my way over to Fluttershy who was watering her plants.

“Hey Fluttershy! Do you have any fruit I can have? It feels like I haven’t eaten anything for the past 4 weeks…” I asked her as she put the watering can down.

“Hi Shadow… I’m sure I have something here…oh will this do?” she asked me as she held out an orange.

“Yes thank you Fluttershy,” taking the orange from her and starting to eat it.

Dr. Mareio came over as he noticed my orange he said, “Shadow wouldn’t you rather have one of these?” he asked holding out a red mushroom.

“NEVER AGAIN YOU CRAZY MUSHROOM DOCTOR!” I shouted in rage scaring Fluttershy who ducked under her potions table, while the doctor looked unfazed.

“Well, I though you wanted some of my breakfast… oh well.” He said taking a bite out of the mushroom.

As soon as I finished the orange Mareio smiled and said to me, “Shadow… CITRUS BURNS!”

OH SHOOT! Should have seen that coming.

An idea pooped up in my mind. I raced over to Rainbow Dash who was punching a wooden dummy.

“Yo Rainbow! Mind if I train with you?”

“Sure, I could always use a sparring partner. But aren’t you a little… jelly?” she asked me pointing towards my gelatin-like legs.

“Trust me; I know what I’m doing.”

-----4 hours later------------------------------------

*POW*

“Seriously Shadow, you COUD’VE DODGED!” Rainbow shouted at me as I tried to get myself back up to my feet after suffering yet another blow to my chest.

I was covered in sweat with every drop smelling of citrus.

Perfect step 1 is complete... now for Rainbow Dash…

“Come at me again!” I challenged her huffing from the exhaustion.

“Fine, but this isn’t going anywhere…” said Rainbow as she planted her feet and charged at me with a tired pace.

As soon as she was close I jumped from my spot using my crutches and landed firmly on her back.

“Hey! What are you doing?” she turned her head behind me and saw me lounging on her back.

“Nothin… just chilling.” I said casually looking at my blades.

Rainbow was fuming and begun to fly upwards while I still hung from her back a crutch fell down onto the observation deck below.

“Get off me!” she shouted trying to see if I was still hanging on.

“Nope.”

“ARG!” Rainbow Dash was now absolutely furious and she dashed towards the pile of map boxes she brought along for the trip.

*CRASH*

The boxes fell all over the place spilling their contents including a confused exhausted Rainbow Dash. I lightly glided down towards her still gripping a crutch to support myself.

I had jumped off the moment she charged for the boxes.

In an over-exhausted voice I huffed, “Remember Rainbow… if someone’s too strong…*huff*... then confuse and tire them before you strike. *whew* Just… just remember not to… tire… yourself…”

I fell from exhaustion onto the wooden floor and passed out.

----------------------------------------

It all went according to plan. While I was busy teaching Rainbow a lesson on fighting, I purposely let myself sweat profusely. Getting rid of the excess water may help with my bladder combustion as well as to see where my limits changed due to my broken leg.

I groggily opened my eyes with blurred vision to what I think was my room on the mushroom blimp. I looked around the room and saw Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were dozing off on a couch. Pinkie’s pink hair looked a shade of grey and Rainbow Dash’s mane was ruffled and she had bags under her eyes.

I rubbed my eyes trying to adjust my vision until I realised I didn’t have my hidden blade on.

I feel a bit naked.

I looked at my right hoof and noticed my other hidden blade was missing too. I looked at my gray furred chest and saw that I wasn’t wearing my robes.

I turned my head to the left of my room and saw my clothing which was greatly cleaned and puffed out as well as my hidden blades.
I tried to get out of my bed but as soon as I did the bed springs made a slight creak noise.

“HEY EVERYONE! SHADOW’S AWAKE!” shouted Pinkie who had bounced over the bed and landed on me giving me a great bear-hug.

“*zhonk* …huh? Shadow...? SHADOW YOUR AWAKE!” woke up Rainbow Dash who zoomed over to me and Pinkie and also gave me a bear-hug.

The door burst open and my room was filled with more ponies and a dragon all trying to hug me as hard as possible.
I couldn’t breathe so I did the next best thing, I pretended to die.

“AAH SHADOW NOOO!” shouted everypony releasing their grip on me.

As soon as everyone let go in shock I stood up and patted the dirt off myself, “Relax everyone, I’m fine.”

“Shadow…” said Applejack pointing to my legs.

I looked down at my legs which were standing upright underneath me.

I was standing.

“So that means three days passed? I was passed out for a day then… huh.” I thought while scratching my head.

I went over to my stuff and started to dress myself, but before I finished Pinkie stuck a hoof at my cutie mark, “SO THAT’S YOUR CUTIE MARK! …what is it?”

I looked down at my cutie mark; it was an angelic white Pegasus wing covered around a shadowy hole.

“Oh it means that I never give up hope even in the darkest situations. If you notice closely you can see the wing is actually floating over the darkness and it uses the darkness in order to float and give itself hope.” I said to everypony who looked confused at my metaphoric explanation.

“An example would be, I always improvise something even in the direst of times or I use anything in an environment to help give me an edge.” I said from a practical viewpoint.

I clothed myself and saw Dr. Mareio was also in the cabin. I reached out and gave him a big hug.

“Thank you for your help, Doctor.”

"It'sa nothing."

Then I noticed something. Something wasn’t right. Something was horribly wrong.

“Ummm… Mareio if you’re HERE and Pinkie’s also HERE… Who’s flying the mushroom?”

“ACE!” he excitingly shouted.

Now we’re screwed.

We ran up to the observation deck and saw Ace reading a magazine in his bird lounger. The blimp suddenly banked towards the ground at the same Rainbow Dash speed.

“EVERYONE GRAB ONTO SOMETHING!” I shouted at the top of my voice as I grabbed a railing.

*CRASH*

I crawled out of the mushroom wreckage and onto a countryside surrounded by flat grasslands and shrubs.
Minutes pass and more ponies pull themselves out of the wreckage. Spike was pulled out with a giant glob of mush-blimp stuck in his mouth. Ace climbed out of my hood, but Mareio didn’t show.

“MAREIO!” I shouted into the smoldering wreck.

"..."

*BEEP* *BEEP*

A van dove right out from the charred blimp and halted to a screech in front of us. The door opened and a happy Mareio was seen driving the van.

“My mushroom is a mess but my stock is OKAY! GET IN!” he chuckled as he motioned with his arm to get in the back of his van.

Still dizzy from the crash we clumsily got to his van with some supplies we scavenged from the blimp accident. I shut the door behind us and listened to Mareio giving us the directions, “GERPONY IS OVER THAT HILL!”

“Hey Mareio? Where are the seat belts?” asked Applejack as she failed to find any.

“NO SEATBELTS EVERYONE!” cheerfully said Mareio as he floored his van.

Day 3-4: My sweat plan worked and I can finally walk again, bad thing I was unconsious for a day or so. The blimp crashed and we’re heading to Gerpony in a mushroom storage van without any type of safety equipment…

I think my legs are going to break again…

Chapter 14: Gerpony

“MAREIO! Can you drive slower I think Pinkie is going to puke!”

We were tumbling in a mushroom van which smelled of medication and sanitisation smells one would experience at a hospital. A doctor floored the vehicle on the bumpy road with a cheery expression on his face, while a pink coloured passenger started to turn green.

“There is no time! Gerpony’s gates are just past this border checkpoint!” shouted the doctor over his shoulder to the rest of us.

“Shadow… I don’t feel so good…” sickly said Pinkie as I held her head across my lap trying to keep the motion sickness from affecting her.

“Shh Pinkie… we’re almost there…” comforted Fluttershy while patting Pinkie’s forehead.

The movement of the truck halted to a stop.

“Mareio, why are we stopping?” asked Applejack.

“BORDER GUARDS!”

------------------------------------------

Two ponies wearing dark green outfits fitted with a small hat of the same colour approached the window of the van. One peered inside our van and looked cautiously.

For his perspective we must look like mushroom junkies trying to smuggle contraband into Gerpony. This is a great disguise for our true intentions but I need to think of something while they’re distracted.

Think…

“WHATZ DIE HAVE IN DIE VAN! SPRECH!” shouted the Gerponian border guard in an unbelievably heavy accent.

Think, THINK! …. GOT IT!

I silently motioned to Rarity to copy what I was about to do.

“OH THANK YOU SIRS! Our friend here is very sick; we need to save her before passes out into a sleep that she’ll never wake up from!” I pleaded with a high pitched voice in distress trying to annoy the guards as best I could.

Thank you Ponitalian acting classes!

Rarity noticed what I was doing and joined in, “Please, only you brave guards can save our friend!”

“It would mean SO MUCH TO ME!” pleaded Rarity giving the guards big round cute eyes which seemed to have worked.

“FRITZ HELP DIE LADY!” shouted the border guard to the other border guard.

The guard went around the van and opened the back doors. We hauled the green Pinkie out of the van and carefully moved her to the border outpost building. The guards entered first, I gave a nod to Rarity and we went in after with a sick Pinkie over our shoulders.

*SLAP*

*POW*

*UUURRRRRRPPPP*

We exited the outpost followed by a vibrant jumping Pinkie Pie.

“WEEE! Carsickness was fun let’s do it again— OOOOOOHHHHH! I GOT AN IDEA!” shouted Pinkie as she charged into the van at a lightning speed.

Confused I and Rarity entered the back of the van and closed the door. As soon as I did Mareio floored the van once more.
I saw Pinkie fumbling with a miniature version of her FUN nuke.

The day she discovers Plutonium is the day we’re screwed…

Ignoring Pinkie’s science project I looked around the van. Surprisingly the back of a mushroom containment vehicle was roomier than I expected. In total eight ponies, a dragon, and an eagle somehow managed to fit in a van stockpiled with mushrooms of varying sizes and colours.

After driving for a few more minutes and admiring the countryside Mareio stopped the van just slightly out of view from the city gates of Gerpony right behind a giant bush. We peered through the window and saw the entrance was heavily guarded by six Gerponian soldiers all carrying swords.

“I don’t think we can get through these guys as easily as we did back at the border outpost,” whispered Rarity trying not to alert the guards who were 15 feet from our window.

“IT’S DONE!” cheerfully shouted Pinkie as she held up a miniature version of her FUN nuke as a grenade.

“SSHHHH!” we all hushed her but it was too late, the soldiers noticed our van hidden behind the bushes and started to approach us with swords drawn.

Pinkie went ballistic and threw the mini-nuke grenade right in front of a guard.

“DON’T LOOK AT IT!” she urgently shouted while covering all of us from the view of her grenade.

Except for Spike.

“Whoa… the colours are so… uhhhh…” Spike was looking straight at the grenade and his face had turned completely green.

A second later he vomited on the dashboard and passed out.

----------------------------------

We waited a minute before we knew the grenade’s effects have worn out. I opened the back of the van and we all came out except for Twilight and Dr. Mareio who had to nurse Spike back to health.
I went to where the grenade had landed. Six green-paled guards were unconscious with a smell of bile and waste emitting from their mouths.

“Pinkie? What the hell was that!?” I asked wondering how I can over-exploit this useful bomb.

“We’ll you know how I had a FUN Nuke right? And when I was really really sick from riding in that mushroom van, I realised just how distracted I was, then I went OOH when I found out I can get other ponies to do the same!
Just attach some fun blinking lights and a disco ball and you get a P.U.K.E!” said Pinkie who was eagerly bouncing up and down from the success of her bomb.

“P.U.K.E?” asked Applejack who was completely confused on what Pinkie was talking about.

“Puke… Puke… AHA! It’s an anagram: Ponies UpchucK Everywhere!” I answered using my collective intuition and the fact that I’ve seen the results of one of these bombs.

“YAY! You win! Now Gerpony awaits us!” cheered Pinkie as she bounced towards the gates.

-------------------------------------------

Wow… this place is so…

Sad.

What I saw shocked me as well as the other assassins. Gerpony was nothing like the books I’ve read about it. I heard it was supposed to be a fun happy city, with chocolate rivers pouring down the streets and the smells of market fresh produce and baked goods.

Instead what I saw was the most miserable spot in the world. Broken glass and trash littered the streets, the houses were broken-down and grey and they appeared to be slouching over. Cracks filled the road and clouds overhanged the city which didn’t allow Celestia's sun to shine through leaving the city feeling… empty.

Empty?

“Where are all the ponies?” asked Applejack with a worried face.

No city should be empty like this… wait what’s that smell?

*Sniff*

Death…

----------------------------------------------------

We kept on walking until we heard an angry ruckus coming from the centre of the city.
We ran as fast as we could so we can see the ponies that were supposed to be seen on the streets.
The closer we got the stronger the scent of blood and decay filled my snout.

We arrived at a place that feature a great gallows stand and it was surrounded by many ponies, maybe even the entire population. On the stand however I saw a bulky red figure shouting at a white coloured unicorn and the stage was surrounded by many Gerponian soldiers.

I motioned the group to split up and blend within the crowd. I pushed my way through until I could get to listening distance. I looked up and saw who the bulky figure was. It was a red stallion with a brown coloured mane with a full-line beard. He was wearing a blood splattered blacksmith outfit and was carrying a finely crafted iron blacksmith hammer.

He let out a menacing hearty laugh.

Volcanous…

“YOU THING! HORRIBLE TRAITOR! DIE SHNEIDER!” shouted Volcanous to the white unicorn who had his horn broken in half and was covered in his own blood.

He kicked the unicorn and the unicorn shouted out in pain, “Why! I’ve done nothing wrong!”

The unicorn coughed up blood and Volcanous raised his arms to the citizens, “Why?......WHY!? It IST not my fault I’m here, IT’S YOURS!” he gave a blow to the unicorn’s leg using his hammer. It cracked and bent the other way, the unicorn screamed in pain.

“RED FOX? Oh we knoz about him… And you’re die REBEL!” shouted Volcanous to the defenseless unicorn.

“It’s true I serve the Red Fox, but I believe that he can bring this tyranny of yours down!” backlashed the white unicorn.

The unicorn turned to the audience and shouted as loud as he can, “GOOD GERPONIANS! STAY STRONG, WE WILL HAVE OUR FREEDOM AGAIN! WE WILL----“

*CLANG*

Volcanous brought his hammer down upon the unicorns head with full force before he finished his speech. The unicorn fell down never to move again, his head squished into the stage as blood splattered on Volcanous and the front row.

“THIS IS WHAT WE DO TO TRAITORS!” Vulcanous pulled the hammer from the unicorn’s head and brought it down upon it again.

I closed my eyes not wanting to see what would happen next.

*CLANG*

The blood splattered more so onto Volcanous as his face was now drenched in specks of the unicorns blood. He had a sinister smile when he took his hammer out from the non-recognizable unicorn and showed the crowd his blood-stained hammer and the unicorn’s exposed skull.

“NO, FRED!” shouted a distressed purple earth pony from the front row as she charged towards the stage she was caught by a guard.

Volcanous looked at her with an unmerciful smile.

“Kill her…” he said to the guards before leaving the stage.

The soldier nodded and a sword came out from the mare’s chest, he pulled it out and the mare dropped to the ground.

These monsters! THESE PONIES ARE INNOCIENT! I need to stop him… I need..

A shout erupted from the crowd as many ponies wearing green armbands and held swords jumped into the soldiers’ area and violently attacked them. The citizens of Gerpony fled from the fear they witnessed as fighting broke loose.

A distraction....

Show-time, let’s get this shit started.

I cracked my hooves.

I ran towards the front of the stage where the first protester was fighting against a much larger soldier.
I pulled out my hidden blade and charged into the soldier who was about to kill the first arm-band pony, I stabbed him in his chest twice and helped the “rebel” to his feet.

“You’a fight for us?” said the stallion who had a giant brown mustache and brown mane, green fur, and had a Ponitalian accent.

I nodded as I picked up the sword the soldier had dropped and went towards another soldier.

As for the other assassins: Applejack had already taken down two soldiers while Rainbow Dash and Pinkie went behind the stage to prevent any soldiers from fleeing also for Ace to lure some soldiers in their direction . Rarity, who was completely disgusted by what just happened, stabbed the pony that killed the purple mare. Fluttershy had found a bow dropped by one of the rebels and took a few shots at the soldiers.

1..2...…6 guards were down when Fluttershy needed to reload.

I snapped a soldier’s arm and flipped him to the ground while stabbing him in the neck. Two soldiers approached me with their swords drawn thinking I couldn’t handle them at the same time.

How could they ever be so wrong….

I pulled out my second hidden blade and jumped on both of them digging my blades into their skulls. I immediately rolled to a soldier and thrust his own sword arm into his back after I slashed a solder in the face with my second blade while spinning I stuck my final blade combo into the chest of the third soldier.

The fighting stopped as all the soldiers now lay dead with their bodies and bodies of the rebels covering the streets.
Cheers erupted from the crowd as the rest of my assassins formed around me with Ace landing on my wing.

The Ponitalian rebel I helped came over to me and bowed solemnly, “We’A thank you kind warriors of the shadow, without your help we…”

“PONIGI!” shouted an all too familiar doctor’s voice.

No way…

I turned around and saw Dr. Mareio running quickly towards us with Twilight behind him holding Spike on her back.

“Mareio? …. MAREIO!” shouted the green pony as he ran towards Mareio in open arms.

They hugged each other and they cried tears of joy.

I think they know each other.

While they were having their “moment” I asked Twilight about Spike, “So… how is he?”

“He’ll be fine, that’s just what bright colours would do to scramble up a brain!”

“FIRST IT’S SO SAD, THEN IT’S SO HAPPY!” cried Pinkie who gushed tears from seeing these two ponies being reunited.

After the heart-filled tears and the hugs were exchanged I went over to Mareio and Ponigi.

“I’m assuming you know each other?” I asked them.

“YES! For you see we are…” Ponigi answered breaking off into a dramatic pause.

In unison they shouted, “THE MUSHROOM BROS!”

“Mushroom bros?” wondered Rainbow Dash.

“YES! For you see Ponigi here is my contact for the Red Fox… ISIN’T THAT SUPER!” said Mareio who was overly enthusiastic.

“SI! Now I’m sure you all want to meet the Red Fox… LET’S A GO!” shouted Ponigi leading the way through the city.

As if one wasn’t enough… sheesh

We walked for an hour with Mareio and Ponigi telling stories of the good old school days until we stopped at a bar with a Ponitalian name.

“Nessun volpe per voi? What’s that?” curiously asked Twilight.

“It means, No Fox for you in Ponitalian. Clever how the Gerponian soldiers don’t know anything about a destroyed culture.” I translated, not realising I mentioned Ponitaly’s destruction out loud.

“Ponitaly… SHE’S DEAD!?” shouted Ponigi.

I sadly nodded my head and Ponigi burst out in tears as Mareio comforted him with a hug.

-------------------------------------------

A minute later and Ponigi was feeling better… almost too better.

“OH WELL! Let’s see the Red Fox now, YAHOO!”

We entered the bar and saw it was empty except for a senior grey coloured bartender smoking a cigar while washing a cup.

“Hey, what’s up!” said Ponigi to the disgruntled barkeep.

“I was wondering where everyone left to.” He replied still washing the cup.

Ponigi was walking towards a closet and put his hoof on the handle when the bartender smashed his glass cup on the table. We were all startled including Fluttershy who hid behind Rainbow Dash.

“HEY! What was that for?” said an annoyed Rainbow who flew over in front of the bartender’s face.

“Any new personal needs to sign his or her name in the book, no if’s ands or buts.” He grumpily said while pulling out a giant brown book and a pencil from under the serving table.

I went over to the book and wrote a fake name.
The bartender slammed the book together with my hoof still stuck inside.

“OOOOUUUCCCCHHHHH!" I shouted out in pain as I took my hoof out of the book.

The bartender was shaking his head back and forth, “Now I know your name aint “Bob”.”

I grabbed the pencil again and tried to write my name in the book. The bartender took his cigar out and pushed it into my hoof.

“OWWW! WWWHHHYYY!”

“Tsk tsk, only I get to write in this book. Now then your names…” he said grabbing the pencil and spinning the book around to him.

“Shadow-mark, Mareio, Ace, Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and… Rainbow Dash.” He said out loud writing down our names in the book grinning devilishly at Rainbow when he ended with her name.

“How… how did you?” asked Applejack.

“Easy, they don’t call me Name-writer for nothing.” He said showing us his cutie mark of a quill writing in ink.

“Now go on through!” he motioned to Ponigi to open the closet door.

In the closet was a ladder leading down to what I thought was the basement.

I was never so wrong.

-------------------------------------------

A huge brightly lit bustling carnival was under this depressing shit-hole of a town.

“WHAT! NO WONDER EVERYTHING IS SO SAD ABOVE. THE PARTY’S DOWN HERE! WAHOOOOO!” Pinkie ecstatically shouted before running into the crowds of the townspeople.

“I would have never believed it…” astonished Applejack.

“Wow everything looks quite fabulous!” Rarity commented.

“IS THAT A FERRIS WHEEL!?” shouted Rainbow Dash.

“Oh… there is so much noise…” distressed Fluttershy.

“How I don’t even…” said Twilight.

*ScreeO*

“MAMA MIA!” shouted Mareio.

“Euuuuhhhhhhh,” groaned Spike who was still nauseous.

It is unbelievable. But I need to know where the Red Fox is…

I saw banners of a red fox sprawled across the underground carnival and at the end of it was a bigger one than the rest.

So clichéd…

I ran out ahead onto the carnival streets and in a moment I vanished from the other ponies’ sights. Every pony I passed by on my way to the Red Fox looked cheery and happy, but….

I know they are feeling hatred and sadness inside…

I cut threw a quartet into a back alley and I’ve ended up about half-way from my destination.

Who knew there was a city this big hidden under a city?

The sights and smells of freshly baked bread and 5-pound chocolate bars were pleasing to enjoy but I needed to focus. Ignoring the bustle of the streets below, I took to the rooftops and free-runned my way to a platform overlooking the city below. I tried to climb over the railing but I was exhausted from running a city length non-stop.

“Here, let me help you.” A chestnut coloured hoof grabbed mine and hauled me over the edge of the railing and onto the platform.

“Thanks.” I said looking to see who helped me.

It was a chestnut coloured Pegasus wearing a dark faded orange hooded robe, he had a goatee and his left eye was scarred giving the Pegasus a menacing blind eye. He smiled at me.

Who is he?

The rest of the assassins showed up a minute later. Mareio noticed the stallion in front of me and waved to him. The stallion slightly nodded to Mareio.

“Well, Shadow you see me before you, I am the Red Fox.” He bowed.

“Do I know you from somewhere?” I bluntly asked.

He looked shocked, “Really? You don’t remember who I am?”

He looks so familiar… why can’t I remember who he his!
I KNOW HIM!

“Here maybe this can help jog your memory, Shadow.” He said handing me a charred book.

I flipped over the pages until I could read something legible.

Edzeo put his hidden blade into the Maiden’s Tower control mechanism. He twisted carefully not wanting the lock to break under the strength of his blade. A moment later and the floodgates of the Maiden’s Tower opened drenching all the soldiers with…

“AAH! YOU SICK PERV!” I shouted throwing the book on the ground.

Then my mind snapped.

No… it can’t be… he’s dead.
Against 15 soldiers not even the Observer could have…

My thoughts ebbed away from me and I looked at the smiling chestnut stallion and I saw the assassin insignia on the end of his faded robe.

I looked straight at him with tears forming in my eyes.

“Le…Le Duck?”

He nodded.

Chapter 15: Volcanous

I ran towards Le Duck with his arms outstretched expecting a hug from me.

*HEAD-SMASH*

I head-butted Le Duck and he recoiled in pain from the attack I gave him.

“Why didn’t I hear from you? WHY DID YOU ABANDON ME IN PONITALY? WHY!?”
I shouted at Le Duck and he noticed the rage in my face and was confused by my reaction of seeing him after all this time.

“Shadow, I didn’t expect this from you. You know that I will always be watching over you.” He said regaining his balance.

“Ya I know, “A Duck will always be watching you, that’s Anatidaephobia.” That’s the last thing you said to me before the passageway caved in and the last time I saw you…. until now.”

“And I have, I’ve heard your progress of remaking the Assassin Brotherhood, all on your own too. That’s something even I couldn’t have done easily, I’m very impressed.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere… Uncle.” I said coldly to Le Duck.

“Shadow… I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’ve deceived you all these years and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that our family isn’t entirely gone.” he had a sad expression on his face.

I was shocked, in all my time training with Le Duck never have I once heard him apologize so solemnly.

I ran up to Le Duck and hugged him with all my might, “Uncle… I forgive you, you didn’t have a choice. You had to save the other assassins.”

He hugged me back, “Shadow… I see you’re here, Ace and Mareio I'm sure others surveived maybe even "her".
Did you…?”

I looked at Le Duck with tears in my eyes, “No… I couldn’t save her.”

I burst out in tears as I remembered the siege on Ponitaly and "that" memory was repressed at the back of my mind.

Her pure white fur and long pink mane.
A Pegasus who loved me and I loved her.
Taken away from me by Balthazar.

Flora… I’m sorry…

-----------------------------------------------------------

After the agonizing minutes of reliving the constant pain I’ve suffered I manned up and looked at the group of assassins and the Mushroom Bros who all witnessed my somewhat happy reunion.

“Everyone, this is Le Duck. He is my mentor and my uncle.” I introduced Le Duck to my friends.

Pinkie immediately ran up until she was eye to eye with Le Duck, “HI! I’M PINKIE PIE!”

“Ehh… Hello?” responded Le Duck whose personal bubble space was feeling a bit violated.

After the rest of the assassins introduced themselves to Le Duck, Dr. Mareio and Ponigi walked up to him.

“Ah Mareio I’m so glad you’re safe, and even more so to see the Mushroom Bros reunited.” Le Duck said to the Mushroom Bros.

“YAHA!” Dr. Mareio and Ponigi high-hoofed each other.

“Now with the introductions out of the way, how about we enjoy the rest of this day and save the business for the morning.” Le Duck said to the group.

“Last one to the Ferris wheel is a smelly lizard!” Rainbow Dash shouted before launching herself towards the carnival below the platform.

“I resent that…” muttered Spike.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Le Duck and I were walking around the carnival tents with the rest of the group split up all across the Gerponian carnival.

“I’m amazed Le Duck, how does Volcanous’s soldiers not know of this place?” I asked Le Duck as we were passing a donut shop.

“You know how you entered through a closet door right? You see there’s a special magical lock on each opening into this underground city with some certain fire-breathing motion sensors and if your name isn’t inside a lock-book then….”

“Ya you don’t need to finish.” I interrupted him.

“Shadow… I’ve noticed your wing. You can’t fly can you?” Le Duck asked me.

I nodded, “Another thing Balthazar took from me…”

“Shadow, you cannot let revenge cloud your mind. Believe me… I have made that mistake and I’m not just the only one paying for it.” He urgently told me, trying to convince me to let go.

I won’t forgive him… not now not ever.

“Let’s change the subject, why the Red Fox?”

Le Duck thought for a moment and then answered, “I took the character from my book. I understood that for the assassins to gain any kind of advantage against the Templars we needed the support of the ponies. That’s why I’ve spread my operation all over Equestria and I try to help as many ponies as I can from corruption and the greed of the Templars.”

“You might remember when you were hunting down Je Suis. The getaway vans and troops were from you aiding the ponies of Maris, or in this case helping that curator of the Tower of Iron. Simple deeds like that can help you immensely.”

I see… if we help the ponies then tyranny can be overthrown.
It makes sense, but what if the ponies helping us get hurt?

Then it would be entirely our fault... again...

As I pondered my thoughts we came around to the centre of the carnival which stood a large well.

“Hey Le Duck, why are we stopping here? Also how can you tell what time it is?”

“Really Shadow, you don’t have a watch?” he said showing me the time on his digital watch. It was late in the evening.

“Also this “well” is actually a secret tunnel system that runs all over Gerpony.”

-----Later---------

We waited until we’ve assembled the assassins together near the well. As soon as everypony showed up Le Duck climbed into the well and we followed.

The well tunnels were damp and dark; it was so confined I thought how we could all even squeeze into the stony walls in the first place.

What felt like hours turned out to be only 5 minutes as we appeared in a huge spaced room adorned with furniture, books, a fireplace and doors leading into even more rooms.

“A SECRET ROOM!” excitedly said Pinkie.

“Wow, first a city under a city and now a house under the city that’s under the city. Gerponian architecture is so complex, and beautiful.” Rarity commented as she was awed by the Gerponian designs and architecture.

“Le Duck, can I read some of your books?” asked Twilight.

“Of course, what good is knowledge if it can’t be shared?” replied Le Duck pointing the way to his extensive library.

Mareio approached Le Duck with a sad look on his face, “Le Duck… I’m sorry I’a didn’t mention this sooner. The Mushroom… she is fallen.”

“Well that’s a shame… I’ll send some of my ponies to fix it. Don’t worry Mareio, she will fly again. You have my word.” Le Duck put his hoof on Mareio’s shoulder.

“WE A THANK’A YOU!” both Mareio and Ponigi cheerfully thanked with smiles beaming on their faces.

I’m glad everyone’s enjoying this… but tomorrow…
Volcanous will die, no longer will he harm these innocient ponies.

“I’m going to bed.” I boldly said, heading into a random room.

“SHADOW NO!” Le Duck shouted.

I opened the door and a beam of fire appeared in front of me.
“AH!” I shouted in shock as I quickly closed the door before my fur would be singed.

“Shadow, that’s our incinerator…”

“Oops…” I said scratching my mane in embarrassment.

---------------------------------------------------

I lie awake in bed, the past was haunting my thoughts preventing me from sleeping.

My mind is a wreck and my heart is heavy.
Ever since I became an Assassin all I’ve done was help others.
But… everything I did… everything I was…
It’s my fault the guild is destroyed… all because of that THING.

The apple…

Balthazar’s greed has no bounds, if I never brought that thing back, maybe the other assassins would still be alive and Ponitaly not destroyed.

Flora… if it wasn’t for me than you’d still be alive too...

I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…

-----Morning-------------------------------------------------------

I stepped out of my room into the main fireplace area with all 10 assassin members waiting around an un-proportionally small coffee table with a map laid out.

“Hey there sleepy-head how y’all feeling today?” Applejack asked me as I stretched and stifled a yawn.

“Apples.” I said.

We both laughed while the other ponies looked confused.

“I don’t get it,” said Rainbow Dash.

I walked over to the table and I asked a question to Le Duck who was lounging in a recliner with Ace sleeping on his shoulder, “So what’s up? Are you planning how we’re going to kill Volcanous?”

“Well… the thing is…” Twilight started.

“We can’t find him now. He’s either in the city or in the Gerponian barracks outside of the city,” Le Duck finished.

“Well that’s not that difficult, I say we split into a few teams and scout the areas.” I said to everypony and Le Duck noticed my quick resolution to this problem, a grin of pride appeared on his muzzle.

“Ok, so me and Applejack will head for the roofs of Gerpony and take out any patrolling soldiers.” I looked at Applejack who nodded her head.

“Twilight and Rarity I want you two to scour the ground and ask any citizens who have the whereabouts of Volcanous, also try to be discreet I bet the Gerponian military have reinforced the city since the rebel attack,” Twilight and Rarity nodded.

“Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy head over to the barracks and scout what you can, avoid combat as much as possible. I don’t want Volcanous to catch wind of what we’re planning.”

“You can count on us!” Rainbow saluted while Fluttershy looked nervous about flying into a heavily armed military compound filled with blood-thirsty corrupt soldiers who wouldn’t pause in killing an innocent pony.

She’ll be fine…

“Finally Pinkie I want you to create a signal bomb or something like that and possibly something that can cause a nice distraction.” I said to Pinkie.

“Why’a do you need a signal bomb?” asked Ponigi.

“Ah… that’s the beauty of this plan. I want you two to rally the rebels and perhaps even the citizens and scatter them throughout the city. When I send the signal the rebels will create a ruckus all over Gerpony.
Wherever Volcanous is he will have to spread out his troops all over Gerpony thus leaving his position more weakened whether he’s at the barracks or not.” I explained to Ponigi and Mareio.

“You can always count on… THE MUSHROOM BROS!”

“Hey Shadow, what can I do?” asked Spike who felt a bit left out.

Le Duck stepped in, “Well Spike you can help me in documenting the reports to the Princess and maybe even write a speech to calm the citizens once the deed has been done.”

Spike smiled and nodded his head enthusiastically.

“Great, meet back here in five hours and then we’ll begin.” I ended.

“So how the hay do we get back to the surface?” asked Applejack, the back route would take too long and it was reasonably cramped.

“Well, you can always just climb out the fireplace, but you can—,” Le Duck started to say until I cut him off.

“We don’t have TIME!” I grabbed a bucket of water from the emergency “in case of fire” shelf and threw the water over the fireplace dousing the flames.

I toss the bucket aside and I begin climbing through the sooty chimney.

*Cough* I spat out a black dust cloud.

If Le Duck said to use this then why isn’t it cleaner!?

I crawled through the confined chimney space upwards using the bricks until I’ve reached the opening at the other end. The Gerponian clouds still haven’t moved away from the city.

*COUGH* *COUGH*

Ah finally made it…

I jumped from the top of the chimney to the street below as soon as I landed I was greeted by a group of ponies.

“My goodness Shadow you look terrible.” Rarity said to me.

I was in shock, “How did you get up here so fast I thought you can only get up this quickly by chimney!”

“Just after you climbed through that chimney, Le Duck told us of a nice escalator leading to a door that leads right outside this building,” Twilight said with an amused look on her face.

Le Duck… you just want me to make you wanna… ARG!

“Ok everypony you know what to do. Applejack follow me!” I said just as I ran up a rickety old house and started to climb.

The five departed and Applejack followed me up to the roof. I helped her over the edge and we began to run across Gerpony.

-------------------------------------------------

After running what felt like an hour I stopped Applejack and pointed her in the direction in front of us. There were 2 soldiers smoking on the building opposite to us and are too distracted to notice us creep over to a ledge above them.
I signaled Applejack and she nodded her head. We both jump at the same time and strike the soldiers opposite from each other by air assassination.
I pick up a body and I dump it in an alcove on the roof, Applejack slowly drags the body into the same place as the other.

I motioned her and we continued to run across Gerpony.

After a while of running Applejack breaks into conversation, “So Shadow… you seem to be slightly quieter these days…”

I jumped on a wooden beam, “Really? Maybe it was because I was screaming in pain every time I needed to use the washroom for 3 days and the fact that my leg broke just about every ten minutes. But beyond that… I just have a lot on my mind.”

I and Applejack ran across a rope wire, “Well… if something’s troubling ya’ll then I’ll listen.”

I stopped on a roof to give Applejack a breather, “If I’m completely honest… I’m just thinking about all the work we do. As soon as we stop one Templar another would be put into place, I just can’t see this war ending at all.”

“Well Shadow that is a heavy thought… what I think is the more ponies we help the better their lives would be. And maybe just maybe the Templars can end their silly game of world domination and see that we all need to have peace.”

“That or the Templars would sprout like weeds and take over everypony.” Applejack said.

“Then we better get mowing.” I joked.

*AAAAAAHHHHHHHH*

Applejack and I turned our heads down below us and saw five soldiers ganging up on a mother holding a child.

“If you can’t pay taxes then you can’t keep the child,” one of the soldiers said with an evil smirk.

I motioned Applejack to get that one and protect the family while I distract the other soldiers.

She jumped and landed right on top of the guard harassing the mother and stabbed him in the neck. I followed up by extending both my hidden blades and jumping on two others killing them instantly.
Everything happened to fast for the other two soldiers to react, I stabbed one in his upper spine and Applejack finished of the last soldier with a swift buck to the head.

I didn’t think she killed him so I went over to the unconscious guard and pointed my knife downwards on his throut.

“NO!” Applejack grabbed my arm and pulled it away before I could puncture the soldier's throat.
“You can’t just kill him. He’s as much a victim of Volcanous as they are.” Applejack said pointing to the mother and child.

A victim… I never thought of these soldiers like that… still I can’t have this pony alert any others.

I went over to the family and said to the mother, “Hurry home the streets aren’t safe.”

“Thank you kind stranger!” she said as he headed quickly back to her home.

I went back to the unconscious body of the soldier and I hauled him over my back.Applejack and I walked across the empty street and I saw what I needed.
I placed the soldier in front of a bar and placed him in such a way that when waking up he would think he had too many beers.

“Clever…” Applejack smiled at me.

“I always try to think outside the chimney.” I laughed.

------------------------------------------------------------------

After a few more hours of roof clearing I could see that Applejack was a bit drained.

“Come on AJ! I can’t carry your arse back to the base, it might break my leg!” I joked.

“Oh hardy har har---“

Applejack’s sarcastic laugh was cut off by shouting and clanging about a street length away.
We quickly sprinted to the source of the noise and saw Twilight and Rarity.

They were both exhausted and were surrounded by 8 soldiers in which three were already dead. Without waiting I jumped from my height off the rooftop and landed smoothly on two guards killing them with my blades.

“SHADOW!” Twilight and Rarity exclaimed with joy radiating of their faces.

A soldier noticed my back was turned to him and he charged straight for me, before he can slash me with his sword Applejack landed right on top of him crushing his spine.

The last two got scared and began to run, but Twilight and Rarity threw a throwing knife each and they both landed squarely on the soldier’s fleeing backs. They fell down with a thud and didn’t move. I approached them and saw they were both dead, I pull the knives out of their corpses and head towards Rarity and Twilight.

“Ladies, I believe these are yours.” I said to them with my Ponitalian charm and they both blushed, Applejack just .
face hoofed.

“Any news on Balthazar’s movements?” I asked Rarity and Twilight.

“No, we looked all over the city and most of the citizens say they didn’t see him since the execution,” replied Rarity.

Maybe Rainbow and Fluttershy would have gotten something.

“Ok everyone I think we’ve done enough for now, let’s get back to Le Duck’s house. Hopefully tonight we can use the darkness to our advantage.” I said as we all started to walk down the street in the direction to Le Duck’s base.

A few minutes of walking passed by until Twilight asked me a question, “Shadow when you were…“reunited” with Le Duck who were you talking about? Who couldn’t you save?”

Wow Twilight you and your awkward questions…

I thought for a bit then I said calmly, “Someone I held very dear, until Balthazar took her from me.”

“Well can’t we find her? I bet we can get---”

“Forever.” I bluntly said with a slightly harsher tone, Twilight's face went shocked.

“Oh… Shadow I didn’t—.” Twilight started to apologize.

“It’s ok.” I cut her off. “It was Balthazar’s fault… but it was mostly mine.”

“Come on everyone we’re nearly there.” I pointed to the corner that leads to Le Duck’s base.

-----At the Base------------------

We entered the lobby of Le Duck’s place and I saw that the rest of the assassins were assembled.

I looked over to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, “Did you see Balthazar at the barracks?”

“Yes… but—,” Fluttershy started to speak until she was interrupted by Rainbow Dash.

“There were like a thousand soldiers, A THOUSAND SOLDIERS!”

“That is troubling…” Le Duck thought out loud.

I looked over to Mareio and Ponigi, “Did you rally the rebels and tell them of our plan?”

“YES! Right about’a now they must be all ov’a the city!” Mareio claimed and I nodded in approval.

“Good, now Pinkie do you have the signal bomb… thing?” I turned to Pinkie.

She handed me a relatively small firecracker and Pinkie saw my “what the hell is this” expression, “BIG things come in SMALL packages!”

*Swack Screek* Ace replied stifling a laugh.

I’m assuming that’s one on those, “That’s what she said jokes”.

“I see that everything is going accordingly, while I’ll go set off this flare I want the rest of you to get to the barracks and silently take out any stragglers around the battlements,” I said to the assassins who nodded in reply.

-----------------------------------------------

I thought Gerpony looked different underground, but up here I can’t image how to could have turned into such a desolate place.

I was at the very top of the highest point in Gerpony, a huge monumental church. I took out the small firecracker and I threw it up into the air as high as I can possibly throw it.

A second later…

*POP*

The night sky was covered in a vary amount of lights that exploded outwards from the firecracker. It filled the sky completely around the church tower, seconds passed and I heard clanging of steel and fighting from the city below me.

Then the firecracker fell down still blazing out lights as it headed straight for me.

“CRAP!” I shouted quickly running off the building to where I noticed a bale of hay below.

*LEAP OF FAITH*

I crawled out of the hay and started to run north of the city to where the barracks are. I passed through fighting groups of soldiers and rebels alike each side fighting to claim dominance over Gerpony, a civil war. I ignored them and ran to the rooftops using a barrel to aid me so I can avoid the clash on the streets below.

As I was running I looked over to the execution area and I saw a pony… the same pony that I saw countless times before, a unicorn surrounded by mystery and immense power.

Dave? What’s he doing here?

Dave was walking calmly around the battlefield munching on an apple completely oblivious to the carnage and warfare that was happening around him. A soldier shoved Dave and the apple fell to the ground. Dave turned to the soldier and stabbed him in the chest, I couldn’t see what weapon he used.

A rebel that noticed Dave stab the soldier gave a cheer, which was then silenced by Dave who had impaled his blade into the rebel’s face.

That’s when I saw what weapon Dave had.

A hidden blade? No… there’s something different about it.

It’s a pen…?

He’s stabbing ponies with a pen-blade!?

Dave retracted his pen into his hidden pen vambrace and walked towards the apple that he dropped, it was half submerged in a pool of murky grey water.
He pulled it out and started to eat the half that wasn’t dirty and he continued his leisurely stroll through the battlefield.

I can’t deal with him now… I need to get to Volcanous and save this poor city from this terror.

I ran to the outside of Gerpony and saw the Gerponian Military barracks a short distance away.
Using the cover of night I climbed over the battlements and onto the roofs of the military encampment.
I saw some shadows move on the other side of the fort.

Good they’re here…

My thoughts were interrupted when a hearty Gerponian voice boomed throughout the fort, “SEND MORZ SOLDIERS! THEZE REBELS MUST DIE!”

I looked down below and I saw Volcanous carrying his iron hammer which was still stained with blood from the unicorn addressing a group of soldiers.

As soon as his speech ended the soldiers dispersed outside the fort and Volcanous went around the barracks until he reached a blacksmith station and entered an abnormally large shed. I glided down the stone walls of the battlements to a shadow covered corner of the blacksmith area.

A few minutes later and Volcanous emerged from the shed wiping his hands which were covered in machine oil. He sat on a small stool and began to hammer a piece of metal on an anvil.

Time to strike, but there isn’t any cover in his smithy area.

With Volcanous’s back turned busily hammering an ingot I snuck as quickly and as quietly as I could behind him, I was near inches away from his neck.

I pulled out my hidden blade, as soon as I did Volcanous swung his hammer around to me dodging me by a few inches.

“AHA! I KNEW YOU PUNY ASSASSIN WOULD COME!” Volcanous shouted pulling his hammer over his shoulder.

Without hesitation I ran to his armed hoof and slashed through his skin with my blade.
Blood poured from the wound but Volcanous was unfazed he grabbed me, “Try again, Assassin.”

What!?

He threw me with his unarmed hoof and I toppled over the sandy dirt of the smithy area.

I picked myself up quickly and I ran to him again, Volcanous swung his hammer in around in an arc; I slide underneath his hammer and put two hidden blades in his back.

Volcanous grunted and swung his hammer around back and made contact with my ribs. I was sent flying from the impact and landed with a thud.

Urg… my ribs...

This pony’s strength is incredible; he shrugs off pain as if it wasn’t there.

Better go long-range.

I took out a throwing knife and I aimed it directly at Volcanous, it pierced his shoulder and was stuck inside his flesh.

“HA! YOU THINK THESE PUNY TOOTHPICKS CAN STOP ME!?” Volcanous laughed as he pulled out the knife from his shoulder and tossed it to the ground without reacting to any pain.

What is with this pony!?

I can’t hurt him with these attacks I need a mortal wound.

But how? I need a distraction…

*SCREE*

We both looked up and saw Ace circling around Volcanous from the sky.

Perfect.

Volcanous saw my grin and laughed, “A bird? A BIRD!? OH HOHOHOHO--- ARG!”

An arrow landed on Volcanous’s back and another followed piercing through his backleg all the way through.
Volcanous fell down on one knee and tried to recover, but before he could…

*ZING*

Throwing knifes appeared from all over the blacksmith area and landed into Volcanous.
All the members of my assassin group showed up from the shadows around the barracks.

Fluttershy was very enraged, “YOU WILL NOT HURT MY FRIEND!”

Volcanous just sat there on one knee unmoving. I wasn’t going to risk it so I ran up to him and stabbed him in his chest, a large spot of blood stained his blacksmith outfit.
I held his head with my hoof and he began to speak.

“You assassins are all the same… “freeing” the ponies. Ha…”

“Unlike you we don’t spread fear into the hearts of Gerpony’s citizens as well as her military.” I said to him, Volcanous merely shook his head in disapproval.

“Oh silly Assassin… Die cannot think this was ALL our army… no. This was just the beginning…” Volcanous coughed.

“The beginning? Beginning of what!? Is it part of project Purify?” I demanded from the defeated Volcanous.

“You will see soon enough *cough*…”

“Requiestat en pace…” I said to him as I brought my hoof over his eyes.

“FOOL!” Volcanous shouted at me as threw me off of him, he rose to his hooves.

He pulled out as much knives and arrows as he could and began to limp towards the shed.

“TAKE HIM DOWN!” I shouted at everypony.

Fluttershy aimed an arrow at Volcanous’s back while Twilight and Rarity threw knives. The arrows and steel blades stuck into Volcanous’s back and he only studdered, his destination in sight as headed towards the shed.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash ran in front of him to block his escape.

“RAAAAHHHH!” with a burst of strength Volcanous charged through them and violently shoved them to the ground. His strength increased his speed and he was almost at the shed.

“PINKIE!” I shouted, but she didn’t answer, she was nowhere to be seen in the smithy.

As Volcanous entered the shed the steel door closed shut behind him.

“DAMN IT PINKIE!” I shouted at the top of my voice.

A few seconds later and the steel door of the shed burst open as a black armored tank ran through it, it was labeled
“Iron Vulcan” and was adorned with the Purifier Industries logo.

I could see Volcanous driving the tank as he passed us he shouted, “JE SUIS MAY HAVE BEEN WEAK BUT AT LEAST HE’S NOT A FOOL! O HOHOHOHOHO!”

Volcanous continued to laugh as his tank crashed through the wall of the battlements. It drove quickly at a fast speed towards the sunrise.

“We can’t catch him now…” Applejack said sighing from the exhaustion.

Pinkie appeared from the destroyed shed hauling a nuke on a launch pad, “We can’t catch him, but THIS CAN!”

“Pinkie I don’t think a party nuke can help us here.” I pointed out.

Pinkie shook her head, “Don’t worry Shadow! When I was sneaking around the shed I found this strange powder I think it was called PLU-TON-IUM, what a funny name!”

“Anyways I filled up this nuke with a whole ton off that stuff, so I think that this nuke will be even better than my first one! OOOHH! I’ll call it PLUTONIFUN!” Pinkie shouted out in joy as her hoof came ever closer to the launch button.

“PINKIE NO!” We all shouted.

“FIRE!” Pinkie said with excitement as she pushed the button.

The nuke sailed into the sky and started to fall on a downward arc towards Volcanous’s tank.

“TWILIGHT GET US AS FAR AS POSSIBLE FROM HERE!” I shouted at her urgently.

A purple glow emanated from her horn and with a *crack* we all appeared on the top of the church tower in Gerpony.

I saw the nuke sail through the sky until it found its target, the Iron Vulcan.

*BOOOOOOM*

A large mushroom cloud formed around Volcanous’s truck and a few seconds later we were buffeted by a strong wind.

After the smoke from the mushroom cloud cleared Pinkie ecstatically shouted. “WOW! HOW NEAT WAS THAT!?”

“Oh Pinkie…” I face hoofed.

At least that’s the end of Volcanous…

----Nuke Crash Site--------------------------------------------

Burning embers surrounded the ravaged landscape with nothing left alive.

The Iron Vulcan was destroyed and various pieces of the wreck were scattered around the crash site.

“………………………..”

“………………………..”

“………………………..”

From the centre of the nuke’s landing area a pile of rubble began to shift.

As the shaking from the rubble got more erratic, a charred red hoof burst up from the ground

It was grasping an iron hammer.

Chapter 16: Seals- The Return Trip

“YOU WHAT!?”

We were all back at Le Duck’s base and I was the unlucky soul to tell Le Duck about what had happened ten minutes ago.

“Uhh… ya Le duck, Pinkie did…fire a… nuclear… type… missile filled with Plutonium at Volcanous’s tank,” I responded to Le Duck trying to make the story sound less guilty, he just shook his head in absolute disappointment.

“YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT! IT WAS HUGE!” Pinkie ecstatically shouted as she bounced around Le Duck.

“IT WAS THE MOST AWESOMEST THING I’VE EVER SEEN!” Rainbow commented while flailing her arms to demonstrate just how awesome it was.

“I think it was the most DUMMEST thing I’ve ever seen. Pinkie I really think you should think through your bomb plans before you nearly blow up a country,” Applejack said disappointingly to Pinkie Pie who was still excited that a mushroom cloud could reach 2km into the sky.

“Why? What do you mean?” Pinkie looked puzzled as if she’d done something wrong.

“Well for starters, there’s a three mile hole right outside of Gerpony and don’t let me get started on the fallout—,” Applejack started to lecture Pinkie until she was interrupted by Rainbow Dash.

“I LOVE THAT GAME!”

As soon as Rainbow Dash interrupted the rest of the ponies interrupted as well.

Mareio and Ponigi were confused for they never saw a “mushroom cloud”, who then asked Twilight what a mushroom cloud was, who was in the middle of writing a letter to the princess and had spilled ink all over Rarity ruining her assassin outfit who then yelled out loudly scaring Fluttershy under a desk who has already developed a fear towards explosions and nuclear devices.

Ace was on Le Duck’s shoulder laughing maniacally at the scene before us.

Just stay calm… everything will be fine…

Spike came over to me and tugged my shirt, “Shadow can you read over all these documents to see if I made any spelling errors? Thanks!”

He handed me about 40 pages of size 5 font writing. My eye twitched.

Le Duck noticed and muttered, “Oh no…”

Documents? … DOCUMENTS!?

“QUUUIIIIIEEEEEEETTTTTTT!!!!!!” I yelled at the top of my voice while shredding in half all 40 pages of documents together with my bare hoofs.

Everyone immediately stopped for a second….... then they continued to argue.

I walked over to Pinkie’s rucksack and I pull out a P.U.K.E grenade.

“OK EVERYPONY!” I shouted in a demonic voice and brought my hoof to the pin ready to pull.

“SHADOW STOP! We’ll stop arguing, JUST DON’T PULL THE PIN!” everypony shouted.

“TOO LATE!” I pulled the pin.

“NO! NOT AGAIN!” Spike shouted trying to hide behind somepony before the grenade activates.

“…”

“…”

Nothing.

I chucked the grenade behind me, “Good now that I’ve got your attention with the grenade decoy, we can focus on our next steps… back home.”

Everybody let out a sigh of relief.

“But how are we’a supposed to get’a back home? The mushroom is crashed,” Mareio said to me not fearing my bombing attempt from before.

“Well then I suppose you want to look outside Gerpony then Mareio,” Le Duck said heading for the escalator to the ground floor.

-------------------------------------------------------

“SHE’S ALIVE!” Mareio and Ponigi jumped for joy.

The colossal red mushroom blimp was restored; it looked even shinier than it did before the accident. Mareio then realised what needed to happen, he looked to Ponigi and he nodded.

In a split second they were hugging together and crying out loudly from both tears of joy as well as sorrow.

It’s so sad… after all this time they meet again and for a few days they need to part ways.
They are a classic example of Ponitalian family values.

“I guess this is where we also say goodbye,” Le Duck put a hoof on my shoulder.

I turned around and gave him a hug, “For now, at least.”

After our farewells we all boarded the mushroom blimp (Rainbow and Rarity needed to separate Mareio and Ponigi from each other using force as well as words of comfort).

Mareio put his hooves on the steering wheel and shouted, “LET’S A GO!”

The mushroom flew up into the sky and a second later the engine underneath it activated as it shot us across Gerpony’s sky.

I looked over the edge to Gerpony and saw a mass celebration, the town was being re-painted, revamped and everyone was enjoying life. Some soldiers had even joined the party and helped move the underground carnival to the top of Gerpony.

I guess everyone was a victim. I’m glad to see an example of what good the assassins can do.

I turned my gaze to the nuclear impact site which was a giant crater.

Wow, I haven’t properly killed a target in a while, first Je Suis died before I could give him the last rites and Volcanous… well he’s the most toughest son of a bitch I’ve ever seen.

I have a feeling that none of my targets are just going to simply die.

I continued to watched at the crater and saw something move.

… No… it can’t be.

I looked back again and saw nothing; sweat was dripping down from my face.

It must be my imagination, not even Volcanous can survive a nuclear strike!

Laughing quietly to myself about Volcanous’s “survival” I slumped into my desk which was still intact since the crash and I begin to write my letter to the princess.

Dear Princess Celestia:

Our mission to Gerpony was a success even though there might be some media speculation about certain events that have happened… such as a nuclear strike.

That would be Pinkie Pie’s idea.

Aside from that I have discovered that the armies Volcanous had used were not his true intent, but a “sample” as he said.

I will continue to investigate Project Purify and keep the rest of the assassins as safe as possible.

-Shadow-mark

I rolled up the paper and I walk over to Twilight who was also writing her letter to the princess. Before alerting her to my letter I peeked at her writing.

Dear Princess Celestia:

I’ve learned that friendship can make anyone stronger but I’ve encountered a pony that completely relied upon himself and his ruthlessness to win, he was tough but not as tough as a nuclear missile (Shadow will fill you in about it).
I also find that Shadow is experiencing slight trauma and revenge issues that may have originated from repressed memor----

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” Twilight stopped writing and turned to see me staring at her paper, she had a very angry look on her face.

Pinkie noticed us and said, “OOOO CAN I STARE TOO!?”

I quickly recovered my status by handing her the letter, “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to disturb your letter to the Princess. I know just how important it is to get the format right.”

Twilight grasped the letter from my hoof, “Well at least you didn’t see any spoilers.”

*Hmph* she walked across the observation deck to the stairs leading below deck to finish her letter in peace and without anyone staring at it… except for Pinkie who followed her and continued to stare.

I thought hardly about the state Twilight said I was in as I walked for my desk, but I somehow ended up bumping into Applejack who was busy practicing on a training dummy.

*OOF*

We both fell to the floor and Applejack said annoyingly, “HAY! Watch where ya’ll goin!”

“Oh Applejack! Mi dispiace, I’m sorry,” I apologized as I helped her up.

“You know Shadow you’ve been acting a mighty different lately. Is there something wrong?”

“No nothing…” I lied.

Applejack studied my face knowing that I was lying, “We’ll I’m sure you just need sum rest, you practically been to two counties in the past week alone! You’ve got your ribs cracked by that Volcanous fella and your legs been broken for who knows how long!”

“Ya… I guess it is the stress, I’ll try to relax when we get back to Ponyville,” I promised her as I walked to the downstairs level and head towards my room.

That…. As well as the guilt…

I laid down on my double-sized bed still in my assassins robes and took a nap, hoping that the nightmares would stay away.

------------------------------

NO! FATHER, MOTHER, FREE-RUNNER!

The corpses of my family were spiked on top of the wall of the Assassin’s Headquarters. Their blood washed down the windows and stained the glass red.

A dark menacing figure on top of the roof was laughing maniacally as darkness started to form around me, the blood of my family encased inside the swirling vortex.

“ARG! BALTHAZAR!”

“You killed everyone I’ve held dear!”

“AND I SHALL KILL EVERYONE ELSE!” Laughed the shadow Balthazar as he held out the Apple and lifted it towards my face.

I saw the images of my assassins… my friends inside the orb; Le Duck, Mareio and Ace were also in there, Ponyville appeared next, then all of Equestria.

Balthazar shattered the Apple in his hoof and I heard the agonizing screams of pain of my friends surrounding me.

"WHY!?"

"I THOUGHT YOU WOULD PROTECT US!"

"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"

A figure that I’ve seen to many times forms around Balthazar, it was Dave who looked as he always did in his accounting outfit came into the swirling vortex clapping his hoofs together.

“How does it feel knowing that all of this was your fault?” Dave sneered at me.

He teleported to my side in a poof of black magic, “Shadow… all of this” he said pointing to the burning buildings of the Assassin’s Headquarters then the scene changed to all of Ponyville, “Is your fault…”

“NO! I will stop this… I will stop Balthazar.”

Dave sighed, “Oh dear oh dear… Don't go over your head. Looks like I have a meeting to catch.” He pulled out his
pen-blade.

“Wakey Wakey Shadow…” he sneered at me a shadowy smile appeared on his face.

Dave stabbed me in the chest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I woke up covered in sweat, my breath was rushed and I felt dizzy.

Celestia… not another nightmare…
Is it really all my fault?

Maybe when I kill Balthazar I’ll have the answers.

Putting my thoughts behind me I climbed out of my bed and headed for the observation deck, it was night and I could only see Dr. Mareio piloting the mushroom while Ace flew in a large arc in the mushroom’s bubbled force field.

I approached from behind him and he heard my hoofsteps, “Ah Shadow! Nice’a time for a flight, no?”

“Yes Mareio… the night does look wonderful,” I replied to him as I turned my gaze upwards and saw Luna’s moon and the stars.

“You know I’va been up there.”

I quickly turned my head back to Mareio and shockingly said, “Really!? Celestia banished you to the moon!?”

“Oh no no no no no… I mean UP’A THERE!” he said pointing his hoof directly upwards to a dark patch of space surrounded by stars.

“Space?”

He nodded his head and I face hoofed

Oh Mareio… you and your stories…

As I went away from Mareio and explored the observation deck at night I noticed a book labeled “Seals” on Twilight’s desk.
I went over to it and flipped through the pages examining every detail about the seals and their locations.

After what felt like hours my trail of thought was interrupted when a purple unicorn went *AHEM* in front of the desk I was sitting in.

I closed the book and I saw Twilight with an angry scowl on her face, “Oh hey Twilight…” then I noticed the sun pointing down from the middle of the sky, “Wow its noon… WAIT WHAT!?”

I sputtered out of the desk and I fell to the floor I felt that I had a cramp in my leg from sitting for six hours.

Twilight helping me to my hooves and before she could antagonize me about sitting in her desk I quickly said, “I think there’s a seal on the way back to Ponyville!”

“What!?”

“Ya see… there’s a Templar castle on the extreme far outskirts of Ponyville and this newspaper you found and put into the book said a group of ponies found a strange artifact and brought it there. It must be a seal!”

I was ecstatic and jumped around like Pinkie while Twilight looked confused. The rest of the ponies joined in and Pinkie was bouncing alongside me.

“Hey everypony! I forgot that I bought a funny magazine from Gerpony!” Pinkie shouted as she enthusiastically pulled out a magazine with a blank white cover.

We all looked into it and we were all disgusted (except for Pinkie who was laughing).

“What is that?”

“Oh it’s going into her eye!”

“EW how much stallions are on top of her!?”

“Uh… I think I’m going to be sick…”

Mareio came over and said, “HELLO! What are all’a you reading?”

I took the magazine from Pinkie and I blankly looked at Mareio, “Mareio… get back to the wheel.”

“OKIE-DOKIE!”

“Pinkie you don’t know what this is, but it’s very wrong… It’s called a ClopMag.” I said to Pinkie.

“A ClopMag? What’s that?” said Pinkie who was too pure to understand.

“You don’t wanna know,” I shredded the magazine with my hidden blade and threw the pieces over the edge of the mushroom.

A piece however didn’t fly over the edge and had landed on Spike’s eyes just as he came up from below deck.

“Hey guys what’s… *Whack* huh? AAAAHHHHHHH! MY EYES!”

Twilight and Fluttershy ran over to Spike to help him recover from the emotionally scarring moment of his life.
While they were distracted I looked over the edge and I saw the Templar castle a few thousand feet below the mushroom blimp.

I turned to the rest of the ponies and I said, “Ok I’m going to go to that castle down there, anyone else want to join me?”

Rainbow Dash dashed towards my right side, “YES! I`ve been waiting to do something awesome since Pinkie`s nuke explosion!”

“Great! So Applejack make sure the mushroom doesn’t go on fire. BYE!”

I jumped off the mushroom headfirst and I fell towards the castle, I saw Rainbow Dash next to me a few seconds later.

“Ok Shadow, what’s your plan to get rid of the Templars at the castle?”

“Well seeing that we’re falling down thousands of feet with no cover, no stealth and that the sun is completely shining meaning we lose the element of darkness I guess that means we just beat the crap out of everyone.” I smiled to her.

Dash’s eyes lit up and she said excitingly, “AWESOME! Ok I’m going to do something completely cool, don’t blink!

Rainbow zoomed straight down towards the castle and a cone formed around her. I saw some terrified faces on the ground as I knew what was about to happen.

*BOOOOM*

A colourful rainbow mushroom cloud appeared over the castle with many Templars flying through the air.

Huh… a Sonic Rain-nuke… last time I saw that was when the Observer
found that Templar Spy in the guild… poor bastard.

I landed on a guard to cushion my fall and I saw that the entire place was leveled except for some of the main stone towers.

Rainbow came up from the dust and she said to me while coughing, “What did you think?”

“Awesome.”

With the outside clear of enemies we entered the main tower and saw two flights of stairs.

“I’ll go down you clear the top.” I said to Rainbow Dash, she nodded and I descended into the basement of the castle.

The moment I stepped into the basement I was absolutely amazed.

“HOLY ****”

There was an enormous topaz coloured dragon chained to some kind of dragon trapping device. The jailer of the dragon turned his head around as he heard my shout.

“Away with you Assassin, I do not wish to fight you.” the jailer said to me as I menacingly stepped over to him.

“Me neither…” I pulled out my blade.

*STAB*

The jailer fell with a wound through his skull.
I went over to the dragon that had tears forming in his eyes and looked absolutely sad, lonely and afraid.

“Aww… poor guy…” I petted the dragon on the head.

“SHADOW SHADOW!” Rainbow Dash appeared at the doorway to the stairs.

“The captain has the seal he’s getting away he’s…. HOLY SHIT!” she shouted noticing me petting the trapped dragon.

“Don’t worry Rainbow… he won’t get far…” I looked at the dragon’s eyes with a devilish grin forming across my face.

-------------------------------------------

“THIS IS AWESOME!”

Rainbow Dash and I were flying our topaz friend outside of the evergreen forest chasing the Templar Captain with the seal the castle was completely destroyed as soon as I released the trapped Templar victim.

I CAN’T WAIT TO TELL LE DUCK!

Our dragon dived onto the captain and grabbed him with his talons.

“AAAAHHHHHHHH! NO DON’T EAT ME!” the captain shouted as the dragon hauling him high above the ground of Equestria.

“Then give me the seal, NOW!” I shouted at him from my seat on the dragon.

“Here, HERE TAKE IT! JUST LET ME GO!” the captain handed me the seal and an evil look appeared on my face.

“As you wish…”

The dragon let go and the Templar captain fell through the sky. A moment later I saw him flying behind us, he was a Pegasus.

“OH NO YOU DON’T!” I shouted at the Templar as I threw a knife into his wing sticking it together with his body and he fell to the ground.

“HA!” Rainbow laughed.

---------------------------------------

After everything calmed down we were sailing through the skies directly towards Ponyville on our kick-ass topaz beast.

I then noticed Rainbow Dash looking at me with big cute eyes, I shook my head,
“Rainbow… we can’t keep him…”

“AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WHY!?” Rainbow shouted disappointingly as she crossed her arms.

“I know… but he’s a dragon he needs to be free… don’t ch’ya Sparky.” I petted the dragon and he roared in reply.

Sparky the topaz dragon flew us over a hill and on the horizon I could see the Assassin’s home.. my home...

My home…Ponyville…

It’s great to be back!

Chapter 17:Memories- The Apple

Oh Dear Celestia, what does the Observer want me to do now?

A few months of dedicated training had passed and I was a more experienced assassin. But compared to everyone else I’m still a newbie. I was heading towards the Observer’s work chamber to receive a new contract.

Since the “Purple” incident the Observer hasn’t trusted me to take out high priority targets. I usually got the grunt work such as sneaking, eavesdropping and pickpocketing.

But today, I feel something different will happen.

I still can’t believe that Frank was a Templar spy... despite that I pitied how the Observer sonic rain-nuked the poor fool…

I still can’t believe how the Observer can fly through the air without wings…
HE’S AN EARTH PONY, THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS!

I arrived at the door took a deep breath and entered the chamber. Before me I saw a group of experienced assassins including Sniper-shot, Mareio, Le Duck and the Observer huddled around the table.
They were whispering about something and didn’t notice me enter the room and sneak towards them; I could just make out the words they were saying.

“Really? It’s there?”

“No shit Sher—.”

“SHH! Do you want anyone else to hear us?”

“Are you sure about this? I mean I don’t…”

“Relax he’ll be fine, besides he’s doing a good job listening to us speak about him,” said the Observer.

Instantly everyone turned around and saw me peering over their backs.

“Hey… what’cha got there?” I asked in the most creepiest voice I could do.

“Shadow! Don’t you know it’s rude to eavesdrop on ponies?” Le Duck asked me.

“It’s an assassin’s duty to collect as much information as possible,” I saluted remembering what Le Duck said during one of our training sessions.

“Good lad!” he placed a hoof on my shoulder.

Sniper-shot blurted out to the Observer, “Don’t you think he’s… I don’t know, a little… inexperienced?”

“SILENCE! YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE FORCES I CONTEND WITH! ….. Besides if he does this than he apparently would have more experience than you would!” the Observer replied in both of his tones.

*Grumble* *Grumble* Sniper-shot muttered to herself as he left the room.

Ok now I’m confused. All I got was important mission, me being better than Sniper-shot, and… wait a minute… AN IMPORTANT MISSION!?

YES!!

Casually refraining from jumping with excitement I asked the Observer, “So what’s the mission I need to do for the guild?”

“Well Shadow I’m glad you asked, for you see…"

"We want you to retrieve an ancient artifact loaded with power and surrounded in mystery from a dangerous mountain in the northern reaches of Equestria, the wind is as cold as ice freezing a bone and the challenges that lie ahead are enough to make anypony break down in fear with their head between their hooves."

"At the very peak lies a place called SkyPoint Temple which is surrounded by blinding blizzards and vicious wildlife."

"Shadow my boy… are you up to the task?” the Observer said in a heroic voice.

“I… well... is there…” I stuttered.

“GREAT! I’ll get Mareio and Le Duck to load you up with baggage and assorted commodities,” he pointed to Dr. Mareio and Le Duck.

Just as he finished Ace flew through the window carrying a tiny package. He dropped it at the Observer’s feet and flew onto his shoulder.

“Oh what’s this? Can it be?” the Observer asked himself as he picked up the cardboard box and ripped it open with his hooves.

“YES! MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED!” he pulled out a pink Princess Celestia calculator with scientific function buttons and displayed it for all to see.

“FINALLY, ALL MY ACCOUNTING WILL ACTUALLY…”

Ace slaps the calculator out of the Observer’s hoof and it falls to the ground shattering into multiple pieces.

“…be….done…”

"..."

The Observer looks down at the broken pieces and picks them up, he starts squishing the plastic shards together with his hooves.

What is he doing? Is he trying to… oh no… OH NO!

From the pieces of metal and plastic the Observer had formed a miniature toaster and aimed it at Ace who began to circle around the room.

“You know what they say…” he cranked the handle.

“All toasters toast TOAST!”

The Observer fired a flaming piece of bread from the appliance and nearly hit Ace, the bread stuck to the wall of the Observer’s chamber.

He continued firing his toaster all over the room, strangely none of the pieces of bread hit us and we took that as our queue to leave.

We emerged from the Observer’s office and barricaded the door behind us with desks and wooden chairs.

After we finished protecting the rest of the hideout I asked Le Duck, “Where did he get the bread!?”

“You don’t want to know…” Mareio replied instead.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Le Duck had given me everything I needed for the trip: a sword, throwing knives, provisions, and most importantly my hidden blade.

While Dr. Mareio gave me a bunch of green and red mushrooms which he claims will give me stamina and health boosts.

I doubt it; I think it’s just laced with a different type of drug. I'll toss em later...

I stood at the gate to the Assassin Headquarters and just before I left on my journey Le Duck pulls me towards him and gives me a hug.

“Stay safe Shadow, the roads are dangerous at night…”

“I know....… I am.” I smiled devilishly.

Mareio patted me on my back and I was off.

--------5 hours later------------------------

Wow when the Observer said it was far, he ment it!

I was walking along a dirt path my hooves were tired and sore, I was surrounded by a forest brimming with life and as I looked behind me I swore that I’ve heard some leaves rustle, but I dismissed it as my paranoia.

About 10 minutes later I heard the noise again, this time it was closer. I spun around and looked at the bush.

I pulled out my sword and shouted into the forest, “Come! Show yourselves you cowards!”

And slowly, very slowly a group of 3 ponies emerged from the undergrowth they were smoking blunts which smelled of tree leaves and cucumbers and they wore mesmerizing coloured tie-dyes.

Oh Hippies, not again!

“Dude, you should try some of this stuff,” said a hippie pony who was smoking a blunt.

“Ah, no thanks I don’t smoke shit,” I replied coldly drawing my sword into my sheath.

“Come on man… we’re gonna smoke the shit out of this forest,” said another hippie and from that a murmur of agreement went across the other hippies.

“Well… you see… I can’t let you do that…” I said scraping my hooves on the ground.

“Screw you! We can smoke anyth--,” he was cut short by a kick in his chest by me.

The hippie slumped to the ground crying out in pain, the reaction times of the other hippies were diminished so I swung around behind another and grabbed him. I flipped him around and made him land on his neck, hard.

As the hippie I first struck recovered in pain the third hippie ran at me shouting, “DUDE! NOT COOL!”

He reached out to punch me but I blocked his hoof, I twisted it and he fell to the earthy ground. To keep him down I grabbed his leg and snapped it in the other direction.

“ARRRHHHH…ah.....” the hippie shouted before falling unconscious.

The first hippie I’ve hi in the beginning of the fightt had up righted himself up but was still not fit to attack me, instead he grabbed a leaf from a nearby plant and lit it with his lighter.

Just before he smoked it I grasped him and held him in the air with both of my hooves, the bruning leaf dropped to the ground and I stepped on it, extiguishing the flame.

“You are sick… SICK!” the hippie shouted at me, I just shook my head in disappointment.

I kneed him in the chest again and he slumped to the ground holding his stomach, Getting into my philosophical state I say to all the injured hippies, “Ponies who claim to love nature then proceed to destroy it are the very evil that they fight against.”

I left the hippies lying on the ground and I proceeded out of the forest.

------2 hours later-------------

I looked up and saw the sun dip below the horizon and the moon rise above from the other side.

Wow, have I’ve seriously been walking for 7 hours?
At least I can see the mountain over that hill on the horizon; I’d better set up camp for now.

I go out looking for timber and any bedding I can make and upon returning I made a makeshift campsite with a small fire and a small pile of leaves that are supposed to be my bed.

This is the best campfire for miles around!
Now to get some rest… I just hope nothing with attack me tonight…

--------------------------------------------

*Snore* *Snor-UNK*

“Huh? What the…” I opened my eyes lazily and I saw something small and brown sleeping beside me.

A Timber wolf… or rather a Timber wolf pup.

“Aw you’re so cute! Where did you come from?” I asked the pup who had just woken up and gave a great big cute yawn.

D’AWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

The small timber wolf pup turned around and looked at me with his big adorable eyes, he tried to stand up, but I noticed a limp in his right paw.

“Oh, come here you.” I picked up the pup and I placed him down on my lap, I then opened my rucksack and reached in.

I pulled out a first-aid kit and got out the bandages, I wrapped it around the poor pup’s paw and he smiled content that I helped him.

I carried him as to not put pressure on the paw and a minute later I heard howling.
I spun around and I saw piercing yellow eyes glowing from the bushes, a group of Timber wolves had surrounded my campsite.

They looked hungry, tired and had a blood thirst in their eyes.

I stepped back while still holding the pup in my hooves as the Timber wolves advanced towards me their teeth barred, ready to sink into my flesh should they attack.

Before they could get any closer my pup jumped from my grasp and landed on the ground, he began to bark at the other Timber wolves and they stopped.

*Bark*

*Bark BARK… Bark*

*woof…*

*AHUUUUU*

Many of the group dissipated into the night while a larger than average Timber wolf approached me.

The Alpha Male… I hope he doesn’t gore me…

He went right next to me and stuck his paw out towards my hoof, I grabbed it and we shook.

Wow… I can’t believe I’m shaking hands with a Timber wolf, this is so cool!

I wonder if he can communicate more…

I asked the wolf, “Why is your pack is such bad shape? Did someone do this to you guys?”

The Alpha Male took the pup by the scruff off his neck and placed him on top of his back he turned around and did a slight point with his head in a direction, he barked at me and began to run.

Maybe he’s leading me to whoever had done this to his pack.

I chased after the Alpha Male in the dead of night.

---------------------------------------------------

We stopped at a low hill and he crept to the top ever so quietly and slowly, I followed suit and I saw what was over that hill.

Smoke pillaged the air but through it I saw a small ditch covered in a few tents and inhabited by ponies wearing animal skins and furs, they were toasting and most of them were drunk.
I peered closer and I saw a figure being served a drink.

Poachers! These ponies are animals killing innocent animals for their own selfish gain!
And that over there must be their leader…

I scanned the area looking for a place to sneak up on the poachers.

Damn, there’s some cover but there are too much ponies for it to be effective!

I looked over to my Alpha Male friend and I motioned him to regroup at the bottom of the hill.
Once down I said to him, “We can’t attack them, there’s too many.”

He immediately took a deep breath and howled in the moonlit night.

Swiftly a large pack of Timber wolves appeared all around us, they were angry and ready to fight.

Excellent, this is just what we need…

--------------------------------------------

We were all positioned around the poachers’ campsite, I nodded my head to the Alpha Male and he howled fiercely and loudly.

Pack among packs of wolves swarmed the campsite; the poachers were alarmed and confused.
Before they regained themselves and fought back against the pack, about half of them were already down or fleeing.

I observed the campsite before it was my time to strike, I found the Poacher leader taking on two wolves at once. He took them both down with his hunter’s scimitar and I took that as my queue to strike.

I jumped from my place in the shadows and charged the leader; before he could block me I grabbed the sword in his hand and stabbed him in the same hand so I could grab the scimitar.

He grunted but then pulled out a small knife with his other hoof and charged me, I sidestepped his attack and grabbed his armed hoof pointing the knife away from my direction.

*SNAP*

“ARRGG!” the poacher leader screamed out in pain as he fell towards the ground.

Before he was able to right himself up, I stomped on his knee to prevent him, he squirmed on the ground in pain.

“AAAAHH! YOU BASTARD! I HOPE TO SEE YOU DEAD, ALONG WITH ALL THESE MANGY MUTTS!”

The camp had gotten silent all the poachers were either dead or had fled from the fight, what only remained was about 25 hungry angry wolves eyeing down the monster that starved them, hunted them and pelted them.

I stepped back from the leader and I sent out my hooves giving them the “Do what you will” gesture.

Immediately the pack jumped all over the poacher leader, he screamed in pain and agony but it was nothing compared to what these poor wolves had to endure.

Not wanting to watch anymore I turned around and started to head back to my own camp.
The Alpha Male dove under my belly and lifted me up onto his back so that I was riding him.

He started to run towards my campsite and I held the injured timber wolf pup in my hooves.
I shrugged.

I’m riding a Timber wolf… ehh what the hell?

We arrived back at my campsite and I began to fill my rucksack with my essentials, the sun was starting to rise over a new day of Equestria.

I looked at the long distance to the mountain then back to the Timber wolf Alpha Male, “I don’t suppose you could give me a lift to that nearby mountain over there?”

------------------------------------------

We’ve reached the base of the tallest mountain in Equestria, the weather slightly changed to a light snow showering the base of the mountainside. I dismounted my wolf friend and I waved to him as he departed back to his pack.

I turned my gaze back towards the mountain peak.

How in Celestia’s name am I supposed to climb this damn mountain!

“Well howdy there pardner! Somethin on your mind?”

I quickly turned around to see who spoke; it was a bright yellow stallion wearing a cowboy hat and a matching vest.

“Um… ya, do you know a way that leads to the top of this mountain?”

“Sure do buddy! But before I show you can you help me with an itsy-bitsy favor?” he pleaded.

“Okay, what is it?”

“I need you to get my fishin rod from that there Fishmonger on the other side of town on the base of this here mountain. Easy as can be!”

“Well… alright, I’ll get your fishing rod then…”

-------3 hours later-----------

Easy as can be… YA RIGHT!

I rushed back to the pony and took the fishing rod from my rucksack.

“Well howdy, how goes the--,” he started to talk but I interrupted him.

“Ok I killed the Goblin Priest to get her eye which I gave to the Doctor who gave me a textbook which I gave to the school teacher who gave me an axe to give to the blacksmith who let me haul 3 boxes of apples to a farmer on the outskirts of this town, then she gave me a jar of honey to give to neighborhood dragon who had a sore throat who then left his cave so the Pegasus ponies can make the clouds rain, then the Pegasi gave me some rainbow in a bottle to give to the tailor so he can give me a quota of the fish counts which I gave to the fishmonger who gave me your fishing rod and here...
I AM GIVING THIS TO YOU!”

I shoved the fishing rod in his face and while I was still fuming I asked him, no….
I demanded from him, “TELL ME HOW TO GET UP THE GOD-DAMN MOUNTAIN!”

“Alright alright geeze, there’s a stairway that leads up to two-thirds of the mountain and rest of the way you have to hike through blizzard like conditions.”

“I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE CONDITIONS! Also…. THERE ARE STAIRS!?” I shook the pony who became fazed from my violent shaking. I dropped him and I shot up the stairs using my rage as fuel.

I HATE SIDE-QUESTS!

--------------------------------------------

Stepping from the last step and onto cold snow, I advanced through the thick blizzard and continued my way upward.
I shielded myself as best I could from the onslaught of pelting snow and hail on my skin.

While wading through thick snow and getting stung by hail the size of marbles I noticed a huge stone temple ahead of me.

Ah this must be it… almost there I just need to push through this storm…

I stepped closer to the temple and the wind stopped, the snowflakes and hail were transfixed in the air. I pushed one and it gently moved the way I touched it, it was if gravity no longer applied to this precipitation. I picked up a pile of snow and tossed it up.

It didn’t come back down.

I look at the entrance to the temple; there were no doors just a giant rectangular hole in the stony architecture. I stepped into the entrance and I stepped closer to my goal.

--------------------------------------------

The temple was in fact just 1 large room surrounded by torches and stacks of bookshelves lined with tomes to the brim.

*Scribble*

I heard quill writing on paper and I climbed up a minor stairway and reached something I wasn’t expecting to see.

A Pony.

This bearded gray stallion was wearing a bright white hooded robe lined with red velvet and a golden lace making a pattern of design appear on his robes, he was writing in a book on a mahogany desk.

Without looking up he spoke, “Welcome Shadow-mark… I have been waiting patiently for you to arrive.”

He… he knows my name?

“Of course I do Shadow and I know why you’re here,” he closed his book and went over to a nearby shelf.

“Who are you? What are you?” I demanded from him reaching for my sword, but it wasn’t there.

“Shadow you need to relax, revenge won’t get you anywhere…” he pulled my sword out from the bookself.

I walked over to the mahogany desk and I saw the title of the book we was writing in, “The Rise and Fall of Ponitaly.”

He put something round in his back pocket and walked towards me, he handed back my sword and said, “Let’s just say I’m a friend… after all isn’t that what we Assassins are supposed to be to one another?”

"Your an Assassin?" I asked, he nodded.

“So now that we’ve discussed the who, let’s discuss what you came here for…” the strange stallion said, I still didn’t get to see his eyes because of the hood he was wearing.

He reached for his back pocket and pulled out a glowing golden orb its light was eradiating across the room.

What… what is it? It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen or heard of even in fiction stories.

“This Shadow is called the “Apple”, it is a Piece of Harmony imbued with divine power that any pony wielding it can possess.”

I was transfixed on the orb, its light was far beyond pure magic it was in its own class of power.

“Well? Go on take it! I’m not going to stand here waiting with your mouth open,” the stallion held to orb in front of me and in a second I nervously take the artifact.

I could feel the power of the Apple trying to channel itself into my body, but I resisted the temptation to wield this deadly power, I was in control.

“Ah very good Shadow, you see this is exactly what we Assassins fight for...."
"First you protected the environment from those savage hippies, then you saved the innocent Timber wolf pack, you’ve helped a market economy in the small village below this mountain and when I offered you this artifact, instead of giving in to its power you resisted.”

He sat down at his desk, “Nothing is true, everything is permitted.”

Interesting... so I am a cause for good...

“So what? Do I just go now?” I asked, the stallion chuckled.

“Ah yes of course, this being your average not-so ordinary temple whenever anyone leaves this place they will be sent back to the place their heart calls home. Now if you would excuse me I need to write another chapter…” after saying that he pulled out a different book and began writing again.

I stored the artifact in a small pouch on my side and I began to head towards the exit until the stallion shouted across the room.

“Shadow, though the past may be hard look forward and never give up on hope, your redemption through the void will lead you to a new life.”

The past… never give up… the void… new life?
What is this? First the Apple, now a prophecy thing? I need to go see Le Duck and the Observer…

I stepped out from the entrance of the temple and I appeared before a fountain in a town square in the moonlit night.

Ponitaly, home sweet home…

I turned around and saw that the temple had disappeared.

Looking around to see if there was anypony watching I took out the Apple and I gazed at it, it gave off a small yellow glow as I held it in my hoof.

Divine power… it makes sense that the assassins should keep it safe and not the Templars.

I stared into the orb and it grew brighter.

“What secrets are you hiding, you Piece of Harmony?”

Chapter 18: Mushrooms and Relaxation

“Umm Rainbow? I don’t think landing in the town square was a good idea…”

Our rather large topaz dragon Sparky was taking a long drink from a nearby fountain while the citizens of Ponyville were freaking out.

“AHH! IT’S GOING TO EAT US!”

“CELESTIA HELP US!”

“WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST!”

“SCREW THAT! IT’S EVERYPONY FOR THEMSELVES!”

“RUN!!”

Wow… it’s like these ponies never saw a 30 foot dragon before.

Ponies locked their doors and retreated to the insides of their houses peering through cracks and closed curtains wondering why the dragon came all this way to drink the town’s water supply.

Once Sparky had his thirst quenched he gave a slight nod and I gave a quick wave, he shot up into the sky and flew towards the mountains.

“AW Shadow, WHY CAN’T WE KEEP HIM!?” Rainbow Dash asked me hoping I might reconsider.

I stepped a few hooves back and I spread my arms open showing her the empty desolate place Ponyville had become.

“Oh…”

-----At the Hideout-----------------------------------

“YOU WHAT!?” the ponies all gathered around Rainbow Dash who told the story of Sparky the dragon and how he was rescued from tyranny.

Meanwhile I was at my desk trying to get some last minute work in, but I was distracted by the ponies’ conversations.

“So then we were like falling, then I did a Sonic Rain-nuke and we found Sparky…” Rainbow started.

“Sparky?” Rarity asked not wanting to know the answer.

“Ya the dragon we named…. Anyways, so we freed him and then we chased….”

What the couple of weeks this has been…
First Je Suis and his high-tech weaponry, then Volcanous… I’m not sure what to think of that pony, what did he mean by “this isn’t all our army… this is only the beginning”?"

The beginning of what? Is it related to that map of Equestria I saw back in Je Suis’s computer room…

What are you planning Balthazar…?

“Then he flew away but besides that everything was…. AWESOME!” Rainbow did her awesome face.

“Rainbow wait a moment… did you say you landed the dragon in Ponyville?” Twilight asked.

“I LIKE THE PART WITH THE SONIC RAIN-NUKE!” Pinkie shouted.

“I’m glad you saved that poor dragon… even if things did get… violent…” Fluttershy commented.

With everyone chatting about today’s events Applejack walked over to my desk, “Wow… the stories Rainbow tells are just something.”

I folded a letter in half and pulled out the seal me and Rainbow had gotten from the Templar captain, “Ya, some story…”

Applejack’s eyes went big for a few seconds realising the whole “dragon” thing really did happen and that Rainbow was not over-exaggerating.

I looked back at the group and I saw Twilight arguing with Rainbow.

“Well we couldn’t just let him leave without getting a drink!” Rainbow shouted.

“WELL Rainbow, you don’t LAND a dragon in the middle of Ponyville! Think about the psychological trauma you and Shadow had put through everypony.”

Their argument was cut off when the doors swung open revealing an ecstatic doctor hauling a cart of mushrooms and mushroom accessories.

“HELLO EVERYBODY! IT’S A ME--.”

We all interrupted him, “MAREIO!”

He started hauling his mushroom cart to the centre of the room where we all assembled around it; piles of different colours of the rainbow (not including purple) littered the cart.

“Mareio… what is--,” I started.

He interrupted me by shouting the one word that made the day unbelievably better.

“LUNCH!”

Cheers and applause came from all around.

I reached over and took a red mushroom but Mareio slapped it out of my hoof and it fell back in the cart.

“Not so fast for you see I’va made SPECIALTY SHROOMS!”

Specialty Shrooms? I hope it wasn’t as “Special” as that yellow one I had back on the blimp…

From a secret compartment on the side of his cart he pulled out a mushroom for each of us, including Ace, Spike, myself, and even one for Mareio.
One by one he handed out the mushrooms individually and we all took some time to gaze upon what we were about to feast on.

Applejack had gotten a red mushroom that strangely looked like an apple, she looked confused if Mareio had tricked her with a real apple.

“What does it look like?” Mareio asked.

“An apple…” Applejack replied.

“What does it smell like?”

“Like Apples…”

“What does it taste like?” Mareio said with a small grin.

Applejack bit a small piece of the mush-apple, “Well… its tastes like a…. MUSHROOM!?”

With a satisfied smile Mareio says loudly, “YA-HOO!”

Rarity had gotten a completely white mushroom, she poked it and it sagged.

Mareio enlightened her, “It’s a Marsh-room.”

“Oh, very funny I’m laughing my sides out,” she replied sarcastically taking a bite into the marshmello body.

Rainbow Dash had gotten a rainbow-striped mushroom and she just simply said, “Awesome.”

Mareio came to Fluttershy and held out a hoof to her showing nothing. Fluttershy asked wondering where her special mushroom was, “Um… I don’t see anything…”

“EXACTLY!” Mareio flipped his hoof on top of Flutershy’s and I saw a small imprint on her hoof.

“It’s invisible?” she asked taking a bite into the air around her hoof and then her face lit up with happiness from the taste.

Pinkie had received a very delicious-looking cupcake muffin from Mareio she commented, “This isn’t a mushroom… IT’S A CUPCAKE!”

She bit into the cupcake-shroom and she stopped chewing almost instantly fire shot out from her ears and mouth, we were all shocked and Mareio had a great big smile on his face as he took a bottle of hot sauce out from his doctor’s coat.

“SURPRISE!” shouted Mareio, Pinkie just started laughing and fell to the floor holding her sides from the funny prank Mareio just did.

Who knew Pinkie was such a good sport when pranking?

Mareio placed a golden mushroom in Twilight’s hoof, “This mushroom came from the tree of’a knowledge!”

Twilight with a confused look ate the mushroom and her body gave off a dim yellow light.

“あなたはこれを読んで五分を浪費している!” Twilight said looking puzzled at what she just said in Japonese.

Hang on a second; let me get my mental translator…

…

You’ve got to be joking…

Ace got a mushroom with wings and Spike had gotten a purple one with dragon spikes, he ate it and gave a happy burp from his lunch.

All that was left was my mushroom; it was dark in colour like a shadow but there was something… off with it.

I took a bite and I smiled in delight from the foamy texture of the inside had tasted like a heavenly divine caressing my tastebuds with the gentle touch of the mushroomy texture.

“Mareio… THIS IS THE BEST MUSHROOM EVER!” I shouted in amazement.

“YES SHADOW! This’a mushroom is delicious by how much work I’ve put into making it as you have done too!”

Mareio smiled at me and I smiled at him then with a large thunderous voice he shouted, “GOODNIGHT!”

What…

The room began to spin, I fell to the carpet floor with a thud and the last thing I saw before I blacked out was Dr. Mareio taking a bite out of a Red Hatted Mushroom.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Damn it! I knew there was something strange about him!
Well with Dr. Mareio everything he does is strange…

I was floating in an empty colourful void which I assumed was my subconscious.
Then I realised something that I haven’t been experiencing lately…

Peace and Quiet…

There aren’t any nightmares of my failures or any revenge dreams, I’m just… floating… relaxing is more like it.

Oh… so that was his plan all along… clever.

When I regain consciousness I’ll thank Mareio for this chance to finally relax.

As I floated in space for a while longer I saw a deep blue tidal wave rushing towards my space, I couldn’t move or swim away in this state and so I let the wave crash into my body.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*SPLASH*

“Eurgh…” I mumbled feeling something cold and wet splash across my face.

“Do it again he’s waking up!” somepony shouted.

*SPLASH*

“AHHH! I’m awake I’M AWAKE!” I shouted from the cold water drenching my upper hood and I took it off my head.

I looked up and saw Twilight levitating an empty bucket with everypony huddled around me except for Mareio who wasn’t in the room anymore.

“What happened? All I remember was eating that shroom and then all black…” I asked as Applejack helped me to my hooves.

“You fell asleep from Mareio’s mushroom he said it would help you relax, both physically and mentally? I’m not really sure what he ment by that.” Twilight said putting the bucket back in storage.

“Ok then, remind me to thank him later… Anyways how long have I been out for?”

“A few hours the sun’s not goin down soon but it’ll be evening later.” Applejack answered my question as I dusted myself off.

“Um... Shadow… I hope I’m not interrupting but… we all worry that you still need to rest.” Fluttershy said with concern in her eyes.

“Yes, darling you must take some time to just relax you already took down the french Je Suis and then that ruthless Volcanous fellow.” Rarity said with a concerned tone to her voice.

I sighed, “Well at least the targets I could find are gone at least…”

“What do you mean?” asked Rainbow Dash as the ponies all crowded around me to hear my explanation.

“You see, I only had 5 names on that list at the time: Je Suis and Volcanous are dead, but there still is Balthazar who we can’t get to without getting rid of many other ponies including Dave the accountant who is already nearly impossible to find as well as WingBlade, his personal bodyguard/assassin/bootlicker.”

“Well we only need to get a corrupt duke, a mediocre accountant and an even less cool bodyguard. How hard can that be?” Rainbow boasted thinking that we were powerful enough to take them on.

I shook my head, “Balthazar is way too powerful now, and Dave… I don’t know there’s something with that pony that I can’t put my hoof on, all I know is that he shows up and does something I don’t expect a Templar to do and he has as much unbelievable power as the Apple.”

Dave… just who are you?

“What about the bodyguard, I’m sure that she can’t be as elusive as Dave.” Twilight said after pondering the possibilities of finding the targets.

“I was thinking the same thing but just like Dave she wouldn’t be seen freely roaming Equestria. I say that we save this for another day and just relax for the rest of today as well as tomorrow. I’m sure that you all have your own jobs and duties you need to do.” I proposed my idea and many ponies nodded in agreement.

“Now if you’d excuse me I need to go outside for a bit…” I said as I tried to casually move towards the ladder to the roof.

I was stopped by Fluttershy who said assertively, “Shadow you need to rest. Now.”

She moved me to my desk and sat me down I sighed and said, “All right, I’ll try to relax but really all of you should be relaxing too. We need to be our best when we go after any other these 3 dangerous ponies.”

Everyone looked relieved and proceeded to leave the hideout, I waved them goodbye and the door closed with a creak.

I leaned back in my chair and looked up at the ceiling.

Okay… gotta relax… really need to relax now…

"..."

After 2 minutes I stood up from my chair and said aloud to myself, “I’M BORED!”

I rushed out from my chair and headed straight for the roof, as I opened the hatch I saw Ace guarding the exit and he squawked at me.

“Look Ace, I know I need to be relaxing now but free running helps clear my head and it reminds me about the good old days of Ponitaly,” I said my sad tale to Ace as he too remembered the times we went on missions in our home city.

He flew off the building and began to glide around Ponyville enjoying the flight.

Even stone-cold eagles can experience home-sickness, maybe I’ll go back one day…

I looked over the edge of the clock tower and leaped from the top of the tower straight into the bale of hay on the ground.

A better leap of faith can’t be achieved unless I jump from a mountain or a zeppelin… fat chance that’ll happen again.

I stepped out from the hay bale and onto the streets of Ponyville, I dusted myself off from the pieces of hay still sticking to my outfit and made my way to the centre of town.
As I entered the plaza in front of the Mayor’s office I saw two rich smug looking unicorns walking towards my direction.

Great these ponies are from Canterlot, I`m sure they won`t miss a few bits…

As they were of noble class they didn`t step out of the way when I “accidentally” bumped into them and “happened to take their coin-purse.

The opulent unicorn stallion was surprised, “My word! I believe I got touched by a Pegasus… from Ponyville no less!”

The stallion’s wife who was also a unicorn looked at me with disgust, “I do say darling, I think Ponyville has set the standards… at a bare minimum…”

Oh… first I was being nice about taking a only a few bits but now…

They turned their heads and went *hmph*, they were so busy being uptight and snooty that they didn’t realise me sneak up behind them and completely empty their pockets of bits.

I went around to a dark alleyway and opened the bags of money.

100…200… WHOA! THEY GOT 500 bits here!

Pleased with my pickpocketing success I headed towards the marketplace of Ponyville.
On the way I kept pondering about how much money I had and what I was going to do with it.

We don’t really need anything at the guild since we usually find or make our own materials.

Maybe I should do what Le Duck had done and give back to the town.
Ya… I think that would be best, considering how much danger I put through everypony.

I stopped at a store called “Repair’s for You” I looked at my money pouch and thought why not.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Thank you again kind sir! And please, come back anytime!” the owner of the shop waved to me as I left his store after investing 300 bits.

It feels good to give now I need to…

I looked over down the street towards an alley and I saw a gray pegasus pony with tears in her eyes being harassed by 3 other ponies covered in tattered brown robes, there was a green one, a small purple pony and a dark yellow pony with a cast on his head, he was also a unicron.

Wait aren’t those the bandits I beat up a few weeks ago?
That yellow one I think was the one I knocked out with that streetlamp.
Maybe I should do an even more aggressive entrance since my leg isn’t broken this time.

I saw a nearby building and I began to run up it and scale the wall, while keeping an ear on what the confrontation was below.

“Please, leave me and the mail alone!” sobbed the gray Pegasus.

“Ooh… did I make the baby cry?” the purple bandit said while ripping a letter.

“Please Stop!” shouted the Pegasus as she saw the mail getting destroyed.

The green bandit stepped on a shredded letter and squished it into the ground with his hoof.

“Sorry girl, but no one is gonna save you. We’re in the middle of a dark alley and nobody’s gonna hear you scream.” The green bandit said with a sadistic smile.

*HEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPPPP MEEEEEEEE!” shouted the Pegasus as loud as possible hoping somepony would hear her.

“Sorry, but it’s not like someone is just gonna fall from the sky—,” the dark yellow pony started to say until…

*OOMF!*

I landed right on his head with my hooves where I had previously jumped from the top of the roof. I heard a distinct snap coming from his horn as I stepped up from his unconscious body.

The other bandits looked at me and fear filled their faces as they remembered who I was, “OH CRAP! QUICK GET HIM WHILE I GET MY THING READY!” the green pony shouted to the purple pony.

The purple pony nodded and pulled out a small dagger from his satchel and ran towards me rather quickly but it wasn’t something I couldn’t handle.

Just as he lunged at me trying to cut into my gray fur, I grabbed his arm and took the dagger from his hoof. I swung his robe around him and tied him into a burrito shape; I placed the dagger through the cloth so he couldn’t escape.

Standing up he realised what I was about to do, “NO DON’T DO IT!” he pleaded but it was too late. I kicked him and he rolled out of the alley, getting hurt everytime he rolled on a rock.

“Hold it right there!”

I turned around and I saw the green pony pointing a gun towards the gray Pegasus as she cowered in fear.

“Don’t you move a muscle or this pretty little thing is going to have her brains splattered all over the floor…” the green pony said seriously with hate in his voice.

“SHADOW!”

I looked behind me and I saw Cheerlie at the entrance to the alley, she dropped a bunch of textbooks and she looked mortified at the scene in front of her.

I promised her, “Don’t worry, she’ll be fine…”

I looked to the ground in front of me and I saw an intact letter I bent over to pick it up.

“Hey hey! What are you doing!” the green bandit shouted at me.

As I picked up the letter I secretly slid a throwing knife underneath it so it couldn’t be seen.

“You know what? I hate you more hooded freak! Have fun in hell!” the green bandit laughed as he pointed the gun towards me.

In an instant I whipped the throwing knife which was concealed by the letter on the underside; it flew straight at the barrel of the gun and stuck in there. The green bandit pulled the trigger just as the knife entered.

*BANG*

Cheerlie shielded her eyes afraid that the bandit shot me, she nervously opened them and saw that the bandit’s gun was completely blown apart and his hoof was charred from the resulting small explosion.

That's why you don't mess with my town.

Now with the enemies all incapacitated I held out a hoof to the cross-eyed Pegasus who was shocked by what happened.

“Are you ok Miss...?” I asked her as I helped her up to her hooves.

“Derpy! That’s my name! I’m the mail-mare of Ponyville … at least I was…” she notice the piles of destroyed letters on the ground and her cross-eyed expression changing to an unbelievably sad look.

Hmm… AHA!

“Derpy why don’t you take these letters to the Repair’s for You store. Just tell them Shadow sent you and they will fix those letters up in a second!”

“Wow! Thank you so much! I’m going to tell everypony about you!” she said excitingly as she shoved the ruined letters into her bags and skipped into town.

It feels good to help… wait… EVERPONY!?

A second later I heard a loud voice saying, “THE SHADOW OF PONYVILLE SAVED ME!”

I face hoofed and Cheerlie noticed and asked, “What’s wrong? I thought you would be glad to hear praise from the ponies.”

“Well you see it’s complicated… I’m…” I said trying to hide my Assassin origins.

“You’re what?”

“I’m… actually very shy around ponies and I’m not cut out to be a celebrity…” I lied, partially.

“Well, I need to be going back to the school, it was nice seeing you again,” she started to walk off but I interrupted her.

“Wait, I’m heading that way too, would you like me to help carry the books?” I asked her, trying to work my Ponitalian charm.

“Okay, I could use the help and the company would be nice…” she said unloading more than half her book bags onto my shoulders.

OH DEAR CELESTIA THESE ARE HEAVY!
Not as heavy as the tax reports I’ll have to do soon…

We walked off towards the school talking about what happened during the past week.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“And then Sweetie Bell said, “But aren’t those two things different?” Hahaha!” we both laughed.

“What about you Shadow? I haven’t seen you this past week and a half…”

“Well you see I went traveling to Gerpony with Twilight and her friends so we could study their culture and do something about a friendship report or something like that. I would’ve brought some Gerponian cuisine back with me but Spike ate it all.”

“Gerpony? Wasn’t that the place that was going to go to war until that nuke exploded?” Cheerlie asked, trying to figure out if I had something to do with it.

“Well you see I’ve…”

“ALLO SHADOW!” a booming voice shouted from behind us.

I curved my head and I saw Dr. Mareio waving at me from his mushroom stand with a crowd of customers surrounding him.

“Mareio! Thank you for that mushroom it really helped my rest issue,” I hugged Mareio.

“AH Ms. Cheerlie how are you!?” Mareio asked Cheerlie shaking her hoof.

“Oh hi doctor, I’m fine just letting Shadow help me carry my books to the schoolhouse.”

“OOH! HOW ROMANTIC!” Mareio shouted alerting most of the other ponies.

I blushed and I noticed Cheerlie also blushed too.

Mareio pulled me aside and whispered to me, “So I’ve been hearing a lot about “The Shadow of Ponyville” trying to follow in your uncle’s footsteps hmm?”

“Really? How many ponies know?” I asked, he just pointed to his crowd and motioned me to listen.

“Yo did you hear about the Shadow of Ponyville?”

“I’ve heard but I think he’s just a myth like the Red Fox.”

“Still, I’m glad he’s helping out Ponyville just like the Mare-do-well.”

“MY WALLET IS MISSING!” shouted a Canterlot unicorn.

Mareio pulled me back, “You see Shadow, YOU’RE A HERO!”

“SHHH! We can’t let anyone know that the Assassins are here, or else they would come here and burn this place down like they did to Ponitaly. Would you want that?” I whispered rather coldly to Mareio to get him to shut up.

The Shadow of Ponyville…
Is it a good thing or a bad thing?
I'm helping ponies and my identity itself hasn't been compromised.

I just hope this doesn’t come to bite my ass later…

Chapter 19: Memories- The Fall of the Assassins

------------------------------------------------

After spending some quality time in Ponitaly I rushed back to the Assassin’s Headquarters holding the pouch in which the Apple was stored in. Under the moonlit night I burst through the doors of the main building and quickly hurried to the Observer’s office.

I turned around a corner too sharply and bumped into somepony.

*OOF*

“MAMA-MIA!”

A rain of mushrooms fell down over me and immediately I noticed who I bumped into.

“MAREIO! Have you seen the Observer? Is he still in his office?” I asked quickly to the dazed doctor.

“YES! He is--,”

“Thankyougottagobye!” I shouted back to him as I sprinted to the Observer’s office which was now within my reach.

I slammed the doors open with my hooves and I saw the same group of ponies I’ve seen before I went on my quest. Le Duck was leaning on a statuette reading his… “subliminal” fiction novel, the other experienced assassins were enjoying a conversation, the Observer was at his desk arguing with Ace about who should compensate for the toaster incident and Sniper-shot had her hooves crossed and was waiting impatiently for my arrival.

“Well, there you are. It took you long enough.” Sniper-shot remarked in a harsher tone of voice than usual.

I then noticed something about Sniper-shot…

She’s sweating even though it’s not hot outside and no one would train at this time of night. She’s hiding something…

Before I could figure out what was wrong the Observer long jumped over his desk and grasped me with his hooves as he gave me a huge bone-shattering hug.

“D’AH!”

“OH SHADOW MY BOY, YOUR BACK! We all thought you were eaten by a dragon or slaughtered by a pack of ice wolves. Anyways… WELCOME BACK!” he shouted with enthusiasm tightening his grip around me.

“Gre…to…be…ack…” I struggled to say to the Observer who then let go and let me regain my breath.

“So Shadow, did you find what the Observer wanted you to find?” asked Le Duck as he closed his novel and joined in on the conversation.

“Yes, I have it right here…” I said reaching for my pouch.

I pulled out the Apple and held it in my hoof, a faint yellow glow emanated from the artifact.

All the ponies in the room stopped whatever they were doing and hung their mouths open to the beautiful sight of the orb I was carrying, even the Observer looked a little surprised.

You can fly without wings and stop purple mushrooms and those doesn’t faze you…
WHAT IS THIS THING I’M HOLDING!?

After a few more moments of gawking at the orb in my hoof and my arm about to go numb from holding it for so long the Observer took the Apple from my grasp and placed it on his mahogany desk.

“What are you all gawking at? It’s like you’ve never seen an ancient glowing artifact before,” the Observer said, reawakening anypony who was still transfixed on the Apple.

“What is it?” asked Sniper-Shot with slightly more enthusiasm.

“Oh this?” the Observer said holding up the orb in his right hoof.

“This is nothing special really this is practically the only thing THAT CAN MAKE THE TEMPLARS TAKE OVER ALL OF EQUESTRIA AND SUBJECT US AS THEIR SLAVES WHILE THE TYRANTS OF POWER MISUSE THIS ANCIENT POWER FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH GAIN!” the Observer shouted with sarcastic rage.

“Oh but this specific artifact is called, “The Apple” and these artifacts are what the ancient ponies called “Pieces of Harmony” which I believe was around the same time the Elements were born… but I wouldn’t know BECAUSE I’M NOT A HISTORY TEXTBOOK!? HONESTLY WHAT DO THEY TEACH YOU KIDS NOWADAYS!? AAARRRRRRGGGG!” the Observer banged his desk as hard as he could without damaging the mahogany or the artifact.

*tap*

Well that didn’t seem very Observer for the Observer…

Then the Observer channeled his energy and hoofed the wall next to him. A small hole leading to the outside air showed up, he just noted, “Window…”

Now that was the Observer we all know and… admire?

He places the Apple on the table and walks over to me, “Sooooooooo Shadow…. Did you “find” the temple alright? HMMMMMMMMMM?”

“Um… ya I had a few misadventures but in the end I did find Skypoint temple on the top of the mountain.” I asked confused about what he really meant.

“AHA! AND THAT RIGHT THERE SHADOW IS WHY YOU'RE… special…” the Observer creepily said.

“Why’s Shadow so special than the rest of us assassins? Aren’t we good enough to protect Equestria?” Sniper-Shot aggressively asked the Observer.

“Sadly, I didn’t think that we Assassins would be able to end this war with the Templars on our own. With this artifact and for any future ones we find, we can protect the innocents from the plight of the Templars who would use these for their own selfish gains.”

“And TWO… Shadow was able to find Skypoint Temple. For you see, if the average pony went to the top of the highest mountain they wouldn’t be able to find anything. But… those with special roles or destinies can see the temple and enter it when it is necessary for them too.
I thought I was the only one who could enter the temple, but it seems that our fledging as turned into a rising eagle.”

A special role?
Only the Observer could see it before, did no other alive today see it?
I just want to get revenge on Balthazar for killing my family, once that deed’s done that’s it.

“Then why not send me as well? Maybe I would’ve seen--,” Sniper-shot questioned but was silenced.

“If you recall Sniper-shot… I SENT YOU TO THE DAMN MOUNTAIN ALREADY A LONG TIME BEFORE! YOU DIDN’T SEE ANYTHING AND THEREFORE THE TEMPLE WASN’T OPEN TO YOU!”

“IT’S NOT FAIR! WE REGULAR ASSASSINS STRUGGLE THROUGH OUR DAILY LIVES AND ALL YOU DO IS SIT IN YOUR CHAIR ALL DAY ARGUING WITH A BIRD!” she vented at him as she angrily slammed the doors open breaking the hinges and stomped out the office.

“What’s her problem?” the Observer asked shaking his head until a shocked look went into his eyes.

He let out a gasp and clutched his chest as he kneeled over onto the floor.

“Observer!” we all shouted as we helped him back to his feet.

“Terrible things are going to happen…. we won’t be able… I won’t be able…” the Observer started mumbling while we dragged him to his chair.

He slumped in it and we gave a sigh, “Dude, don’t scare us again like that,” I sighed with relief.

“Something terrible is going to happen, Shadow YOU MUST MAKE SURE THIS DOESN’T GET INTO THE TEMPLAR’S HOOVES!” he shouted holding up the shining Apple to my face.

“Observer you must rest… you’ve been through a lot today--,” Le Duck tried to reason with the Observer.

“Fine… but Shadow this will be for you tomorrow after all I can’t give you your birthday present today!” the Observer cheerfully said.

Oh Crap! I can’t believe I’d forgotten about my own birthday! With all this work I didn’t even notice.

“Well I think Shadow needs to get to sleep for his big day tomorrow don’t you agree?” Le Duck asked me with a pat on my back.

I nodded and he laughed, we made our way outside the office and into the main hallway.

“Shadow… I’ve been meaning to tell you something. Something I’ve been hiding away until the time was right.”

Le Duck hid something from me? It wouldn’t have been the first time…

“You see Shadow, you have family here: the Assassins, Ace, and me. What I didn’t tell you was that I am your un--,”

We were about to head for the dormitories when a loud voice interrupted us across the room.

“LE DUCK! I NEED YOUR HELP! I DON’T KNOW HOW TO BAKE!” said the voice which I recognized as Mareios’.

“Oh Dear Celestia, MAREIO DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING OR YOU’LL BLOW UP THE ROOF LIKE LAST TIME!” Le Duck shouted back as he rushed towards the kitchen.

Oh well… maybe he will tell me tomorrow…

On my way to my room I was stopped in the middle of a hallway by Sniper-shot.

“Hey, Snipe what up?” I casually said.

“Shadow… you need to leave, now. I don’t care where you go but it needs to be as far away from this place as possible. Take your girlfriend with you and leave, please.” She said coldly to me.

“Why? Is it because of that thing with the Observer a few minutes back? Look I’m sorry but I’m not abandoning the Assassins and Flora is safely in her home in Ponitaly.”

“Not for long…”

What does she mean about that?

“Fine… enjoy this pathetic rat’s nest you call an Order.” She said coldly turning around and walking away.

Sniper-shot…
What happened to my partner?

-------The Next day---------------------

I was fast asleep in my bed until something that smelled delicious woke me. I looked outside a window and saw that it was the crack of dawn. I turned around from my bed and saw a birthday cake; it had a picture of me sprayed into the cake and the words,
“Happy Birthday Shadow-mark!” engraved with blue icing.

Just as I stood up to get my outfit on and to taste the succulent cake something smashed through the ceiling and landed on my cake.

“WHAT THE HELL!?” I shouted in confusion.

There on my cake lay a large stone cannonball, immediately after I felt more rumbling and crashing noises around the room. I quickly put my stuff on and rushed towards the entrance to the Hideout. I swung the doors open and stood in shock.

What… how in Equestria...

----------------------------------------------

(Epic Music)

Fires were all around the large Assassin courtyard with cannonball impacts covering the ground. I saw an assassin pulling another assassin from a ditch, he was dead.

“WHAT’S GOING ON!?” I shouted at the top of my voice.

Mareio came rushing towards me with a sack of healing mushrooms, “SHADOW! THE TEMPLARS ARE HERE! THE TEMPLARS ARE HERE!”

“What? How did they find us?” I asked.

“I DON’T KNOW! YOU NEED TO MAN A CANNON OR DO SOMETHING! I NEED TO SAVE LIVES!” Mareio shouted at me as he quickly jumped towards an injured assassin.

The Templars? How did they find us?

I shook my head and headed for the battlements. A cannonball wised past my head and landed behind me creating a small crater. I flew towards the ladder I scampered my way up the top of the battlements.
I reached the top to see Le Duck swinging his sword against two Pegasus Templars; I ran behind one of them and stuck my blade in their chest as Le Duck slashed the other one.

As I looked around the mountain we were standing on I saw hordes of guards and Templars surrounding the mountain with siege towers and cannons. Assassins lined the battlements with arrows and crossbows.

“GET DOWN!” Le Duck jumped on me as an RPG rocket wised past my head and hit the headquarters, collapsing a tower.

“Le Duck… how did--?”

“They must have stormed around the mountain during the night. I’ll deal with the Pegasi while you attack the ones on the ground with the cannon,” he said pointing to the cannon.

I manned the cannon and took aim at an RPG party.

*BOOM*

A mass of enemies appeared marching towards the gate. I turned the crank so I could aim at the end of the group, I pulled the trigger.

*BOOM*

The bottom half of the large group of enemies were down and the Assassin archers fired at the remaining group. As I finished reloading another cannonball a Templar flew straight into me knocking me over. I recovered and hoofed him in the face as he flew back towards the end of my cannon. I leaped for the trigger and pulled it.

The Templar sailed into the sky with a cannonball wedged in his chest as he made contact with a gunpowder group.

*BOOOOM* the group scattered throughout the sky as the explosion rocked around.

“Not bad,” commented Le Duck as he threw two non-pegasi off the battlement wall.

“Where’s the Observer?”

Le Duck pointed to the top of the Headquarters and I saw the Observer standing on the roof holding the Apple in his hooves. A bright light emanated from his position and a crackling ray of energy was sent straight from the Apple piercing a siege tower as it engulfed into flames and crumbled away.

Just before we could celebrate a cannonball shot through the air and broke the platform I was standing on. I fell to the courtyard below and landed in a pile of hay.

“THEY BROKE THROUGH THE GATES!”

Hordes of guards poured through the entrance followed by the group of ponies I saw in the secret chamber back at Ponitaly, including Balthazar. An assassin ran up to Balthazar trying to stab him but the bulky red pony Volcanous swung his hammer at the assassin cracking his skull and killing him.

“SILENCE!” shouted Balthazar.

Everypony stopped fighting and listened to the Templar leader. The Templar guards retreated to cover the walls with no escape for us.

Balthazar turned his head over to the Observer who was still standing on the roof holding the Apple, “HELLO MY OLD ACQUAINTANCE! Why don’t you hand over the Apple like the good Observer you are and we will spare Ponitaly.”

The Observer turned his head to look at Ponitaly, he held the Apple out and said, “Balthazar… you can’t win… as long as there is still one assassin left WE WILL WIN!”

“Unfortunately for you my old friend, there won’t be any left…”

Dave who was standing next to Balthazar lit his horn with black magic as he smiled sadistically.

*CRACK*

A huge black portal appeared over the skies of the Headquarters and a moment later it dissipated revealing a large lead blimp carrying high-tech soldiers and weapons.

“HAH! YOU THINK THAT WILL STOP US? YOU…. think…I…”

The Observer fell from the roof and landed on the ground with a thud and dropped the Apple on the ground.
An arrow had pierced right through his heart.

NOOO! He can’t be dead… HE CAN’T DIE!

I looked at the rooftop again and I saw Sniper-shot holding her bow out with a smug look on her face.

Sniper-shot? No... my partner, she can’t be a traitor!

A dark blue unicorn wearing a monocle that I recognized as Je Suis, he levitated the Apple to Balthazar and he grasped it.

A sadistic smile appeared on his face and after another *CRACK* a dark swirling portal appeared behind him with Dave gesturing him in.

Very quietly but still audible Balthazar started laughing then his laughter got louder and louder until it became a menacing mad-pony's laugh.

"..."

“Kill them…” he said as he stepped through the portal.

The portal closed and chaos erupted.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Immediately the blimp started dropping off ponies wearing high-tech armor and electric swords as they surrounded the courtyard. The regular guards charged in with the Assassins defending themselves. I got out from my hay stack and looked around the battlefield; a soldier noticed me and ran up to attack me.

Why… why would Sniper-shot do this to us…
The Observer’s dead and the rest of us are going to die.
Because of him…

I stopped the soldier’s sword arm with my hoof. I squeezed my hoof and his arm snapped as he dropped the sword. Rage filled throughout my body as I pulled out my blade and stabbed the guard 4 times in the chest. A dark red aura surrounded me and I charged a group of Elite Ponies who were finishing off a couple of assassins.

“RAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!”

As I made contact with them a blast of energy erupted from my impact sending the ponies flying across the battlefield. They were all dead.

“SHADOW!”

I turned around and my raging sprit softened as I saw Le Duck approach me.

“We need to go back we need to retreat!” he said urgently to me.

“But Balthazar just… the Observer… he’s…”

“Shadow you need to forget that for now, if Balthazar was telling the truth Ponitaly may be under attack as well.”

Ponitaly…
OH DEAR CELESTIA NO!

We rushed towards the nearly destroyed headquarters, I noticed Volcanous taking on 10 assassins and he threw all of them from his back and smashed them with his hammer.
Any other assassins trying to flee or fly away were cut down by WingBlade’s sharp metallic wings. Je Suis was eating a croissant while his Elite ponies took down anyone who tried to get close to him.

We entered the main hall which was about half destroyed, cannonball debris scattered the room, but fortunately the underground stairs were fine.

(End Music)

Before we got a chance to enter the steps leading to the hidden passageway a figure appeared from around a corner clapping his hooves together.

*Clap*

*Clap*

“Excellent show out there, a shame the Observer had to die. We had so much in common…” said an icy white unicorn wearing bold glasses, a white shirt and black jeans.

“DAVE! Why are you doing this? I thought you of all ponies would want to preserve balance not wreak chaos!?” Le Duck shouted at Dave.

Dave chuckled while shaking his head, “Oh Le Duck… as always you never think 10 steps ahead. I determined that the best way to create balance would be to destroy the assassins, I know it doesn’t make sense but it time it will.”

Le Duck pulled out his sword and Dave laughed, “You honestly think you can defeat me? We both know what would happen if you try…”

What does he mean? How does Le Duck know Dave?
WHY IS EVERYTHING SO CONFUSING!?

“Unfortunately for you two I have to do some accounting…” he snapped his hoof.

*CRACK*

A dark portal appeared behind him sending a gust of wind rushing towards us.

“Oh, and don’t worry Shadow we’ll meet soon again…” he said with a smirk as he entered the portal.

*WOOSH*

The portal closed behind him. Immediately the windows to the main hall were smashed open and 15 Elite ponies entered the room waving their electric swords in front of us.

“Target in site, preparing to engage,” an Elite talked into a headset.

“Shadow… go,” Le Duck whispered to me has he raised his sword to the enemies.

“Le Duck…I…”

“BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!”

He shoved me down the steps and into the underground chamber as the Elite ponies surrounded the outside of the passageway. We ran to the hidden wall leading to the other passageway out of the mountain I went through to the other side but Le Duck stayed behind.

“Shadow… whatever happens just know that a duck will always be watching you, that’s Anatidaephobia,” he laughed.

“Le Duck…” I urged him to run with me.

“Go Shadow… know that you are my most favourite nephew and I was glad to be your uncle…”

He flipped a hidden switch and the tunnel between us started to cave in.

“LE DUCK! NO!” I shouted at him, but he just stood there and smiled as the rocks covered the door.

He was… my uncle…

I started walking down the passageway with fog clouding my mind and my steps were shaky and I stumbled as I headed for the door at the end of the stony passageway.

I still had a family member… and Balthazar took him.

He took my father, my mother, my brother, my uncle Le Duck, the Observer, the Assassins…

He stole my family he stole everypony I’ve ever loved…

A thought came to my head.

Everypony I’ve ever loved… NO!
Dear Celestia...

No no no no no no!

I ran towards the door as fast as I could and stepped outside.

“NO!” I shouted in fear and disbelief.

Ponitaly was being sieged by war machines and the remnants of Balthazar’s forces; the city was crumbling and masses of civilians poured out from the city gates.

“FLORA!!” I shouted as loud as I could as I entered the war-torn city I once called home.

------------------------------------------------

The sun was setting on this horrible day. This atrocious day that was placed on my birthday, will be a constant reminder of what I lost.

But I have nothing left now, nothing to live for, nothing to fight for.

The only drive I experience is the rage flowing through my veins, the hate I have for the Templars, the hate of what they have done, and the enormous hatred of the pony that started it all.

Balthazar.

After paying my respects I crouched down into a beautiful garden of flowers, the garden where I had experienced true love for the first time… and the last…

I laid a pure white rose in the centre of the garden which had a freshly made dirt mound; I had also placed a slab of ivory with some writing engraved into it onto the grave in front of me.

I stood up from the grave and placed my hood over my head, I turned around not looking back.

Chapter 20: The Shadow of Ponyville

Me and Cheerlie arrived at the schoolhouse a while after we said goodbye to Dr. Mareio.
I looked up into the sky and saw that the sun had already set and replaced by the moon.

Damn all that time and I still didn’t get to do any running…

I dropped the books I was carrying by Cheerlie and she did the same.

“Thank you Shadow, I wasn’t sure I would have carried all these books by myself,” Cheerlie thanked me.

I did a slight bow, “Cheerlie, it was my pleasure to help you in need.”

She blushed a little bit and petted her mane which looked adorable.

I think she is falling for me.
But…. am I falling for her?

“Um… Shadow? I was wondering… if you’d like to…” she stuttered.

Oh no, I think she’s going to ask me out.
If I had gotten Balthazar before then things would work, but… I can’t let her be caught up in a war that she has no part in.
Course it is just a harmless date, what harm would come of that?

“Shadow?”

Ponitaly was destroyed along with everypony I’ve ever loved.
No, I can’t do this to her.
Flora died because of me and I don’t think I would…

“SHADOW!” Cheerlie shouted into my ear.

“AHH! WHAT!?”

“You just kind of zoned out for a second, I asked you if you could come by the schoolhouse someday and teach the students more about the various cultures you’ve experienced.”

Oh great it’s not a date!
Still… she hasn’t found out my secret and by keeping it secret it would do her more good.

“Ah, sure I’d love to teach the children about the places I’ve been too!” I excitingly said.

“Great! And thank you Shadow from before…” she reached out with her hooves and hugged me.

“Like I said, it was my pleasure.”

I departed from the school and went straight back to the centre of Ponyville, the nightlife was beginning to open all around and ponies began to enjoy the dim evening.

Knowing that I would be able to hide myself better in the dark, I walked to a nearby alley and started climbing towards the rooftop. I was about halfway up when I noticed a perfectly good ladder two feet from me.
I shrugged my shoulders and ascended towards the roofs of Ponyville.

I looked ahead of me and saw that most of the houses were tightly packed, I started to rub my hooves together and made sure my hood stayed on properly.

Let’s do some Free-Running…

In the memory of my brother I sprinted towards the edge of the roof and leaped towards the opposite building and landed firmly on the other side. I looked up and saw a rope line attached from a tall building to a much shorter building across the street. I scaled the building and observed the rope.

I heard that down south the Assassins would use these to get around the city 20% faster.

I gripped the rope and began to shimmy down the line. The rope burned into my grey hooves every time I moved down.

*Creak*

I looked behind me and saw that the line was about to give away.

Merda!

Ignoring the searing rope burns I pushed myself faster and faster to get across. Suddenly the line snapped and I plummeted to the ground below me.

Fortunately the ground below me was in fact the small building. I nodded my head from my accomplishment and continued running across Ponyville.

------45 minutes later--------

THIS FEELS GREAT!

I dashed from rooftop to rooftop enjoying the wind rushing through my hood. I was near a little outcropped house as I jumped from its chimney to the top of a building that gave a great view of Ponyville.
I sat down and enjoyed the view as I regained my breath.

Ponyville is truly amazing…
I’m glad that I fell out from the sky that day…

I then heard hoofsteps, I quickly got up and turned around to only be tackled by an orange blur.

“HA! GOT’CHA VARMIT!”

I looked up and I saw Applejack wearing her assassin robe, she had pinned me by all fours and we were on the rooftop… alone.

“Oh Applejack, I thought even you would have resisted my charms… it seems I was wrong…” I said rather seductively to Applejack.

“SHADOW!?” she leaped off of me realising how sexually explicit this was.

I had a seductive look and my face and Applejack was blushing immensely, “I…I couldn’t see… I thought you was a…”

“Relax Applejack, I’m just teasing you.” I said as I brushed the roof dust from my clothes.

“Anyways, why are you up here Applejack?”

“I could ask you the very same thing, I heard from Derpy an hour ago hollering about “The Shadow of Ponyville” or something running around Ponyville. Did you see anypony like that?”

I face hoofed, “Applejack… are you serious?”

“Uh ya, why?”

I took a deep breath, “Okay Applejack, what did you say about what the Shadow of Ponyville was doing?”

“Running around Ponyville, probably doing bad things.”

Quite the Opposite in fact.

“Who did you find running around the rooftops?”

“You…”

“And finally what is my name?”

“Why your Shadow-mark sugarcu-- Oh….” She face hoofed.

-------------------------------------------

I explained to her how I rescued Derpy from the group of bandits and how I economically improved the town.

“But you still STOLE from em!” she argued.

“Those Canterlot ponies weren’t doing anything with it and they certainly didn’t like the town. I thought that with a ‘small’ contribution Ponyville would benefit from their tourism.”

“Small? YOU TOOK EVERY DARN BIT THEY HAD!”

“Then Ponyville benefited even more!” I contradicted her, she just turned around from me.

I put an arm on Applejack’s shoulder, “Applejack… you need to understand that what we’re doing is helping Ponyville. I never stolen from anypony that that needed those bits, and every bit I take I give back to the ponies that NEED it.”

“Looks like you’ve still got sum left,” she pointed to my pouch of leftover bits.

I threw the pouch to her, “Fine then you can go invest these, just remember with a store you need to be… persuasive, make friends with them and they will probably give you a discount or something useful.”

“Another lesson from Le Duck?” she asked me.

“Number 11.” I grinned.

We dropped down to the streets of Ponyville and began walking trying to find good store to invest in. In the meantime Applejack asked me questions about Le Duck.

“How long did you know him?”

“He was there right after my family… ya and basically from that up to now, except for those 2 years that I thought he was dead.”

“Ouch, I understand why ya’ll head-butted him back in Gerpony, speaking about Gerpony how’s the city?” she asked me.

“I’ll need to check back with Mareio on that later…”

“Also why did Le Duck call himself the Red Fox?” she asked me to continue the conversation.

“I think it was his alias after Balthazar destroyed the Assassin`s Headquarters. What`s worse is that I think it came from one of his subliminal Assassin books.” I shuddered from the thoughts about the explicit books.

“Hey Shadow, do you think this one’s any good?” she asked me as we arrived at a local bank.

“Banks are good; they might let us get some steady income for the Assassins.” I said as we entered the bank.

It was small and there were only 3 bank tellers, I noticed Dr. Mareio was on the one in the far right.

“What would you like to withdraw?”

“MUSHROOMS!”

“How many?”

“ALL OF THEM!” the doctor demanded.

We got to a teller and Applejack began investing, “Ah hi! We would like to…”

*SLAM*

“NOBODY MOVE THIS IS A ROBBERY!” shouted an angry voice from the front of the bank.

We turned around and saw 4 ponies wearing ski masks and knives burst through the doors.
Applejack turned her head to me and I silently told her protect the citizens. I advanced my way towards the knife-wielding robbers and before I knew it I was surrounded by all of them.

“Oh look who we have here! A pony who wants to play hero, let’s shown him what we do to troublemakers,” a robber said pulling his knife out towards me.

He lunged and I immediately grabbed his arm and twisted it, he dropped the knife from the agonizing pain. A robber ran behind me with intent to stab, I shoved the robber I hurt out of the way and dropped a smoke bomb. The area around the robbers became engulfed in smoke.

“Hey! Where did he… AAAHHHH!”

The smoke cleared and only three robbers were seen in the bank.

“Hey man, where did Charley go?” the injured robber nervously asked.

“THERE!” the robber pointed to the pony I knocked out and hung from the wall.

They approached the wall and didn’t notice me hiding above the room on a wooden beam.
I snuck around behind them as they tried getting their friend down.

“How did… NOOO!” a robber shouted as I whisked him away to the ceiling.

“Not again! We need to find him and take him down!”

As soon as the robber on the ground finished speaking I attached a rope to the unconscious robber and threw him over the beam.

“Where oh where is… AAH!” a robber shouted as the body of his friend dangled from the ceiling with a rope tied around his back.

As he cut him down the other robber ran to rejoin with his ally, he wasn’t fast enough.

*POW*

The robber heard the thud of his friend and noticed he was the last one standing. I panic he ran towards the group of people Applejack was protecting and took a mare as a hostage.

“SHOW YOURSELF, OR ELSE THIS MARE’S GONNA DIE!” he barred his knife across her throat.

“Gladly,” I whispered from behind him as I grabbed his arm and hoof-locked him.

He dropped the knife and the hostage and turned his body towards me with fear in his eyes as he views me in my menacing hood.

“What are you?”

I grabbed him with one hoof and held the other in a fist.

“I’m the Shadow.”

*KER-HOOF*

As the last robber fell unconscious on the bank floor applause erupted from the group of patrons and bank tellers.

Sure I’ve exposed myself, but at least no pony will recognize me.

“HOORAY FOR THE SHADOW OF PONYVILLE!” everypony cheered.

Applejack came over to me and quietly said, “That was amazing Shadow, the way you moved around the room and took out all those thieves was… wow.”

“You should see how Le Duck would have done it, or better yet the Observer. Anyways you should go invest the money, I bet with this we’ll get even more benefits.”

Just as I was about to leave I remembered something, “Applejack? Do you need any help at the farm? I need to know that our work doesn’t interfere with your daily lives.”

“Sure Shadow, come by bright an early and we’ll get you to work!” she cheerfully said.

And with that I fled the scene as the ponies showered me with praise.

-----------------------------------------

I still had some energy so I climbed to the top of the clock tower where I met a sleeping eagle.

Aw… Ace looks like such an angel when he sleeps...

Without wanting to wake him I crept to the ladder and descended below to the Assassin chamber. I rolled into my bed only taking my hood off my head and slept the rest of the night.

---------In the Morning------------------

I woke up to beautiful sounds of chirping birds telling that they day has started.

Then they stopped, I looked out the window and saw Ace dive bombing a couple of birds for his breakfast. I dismissed his intent on a murderous diet and collected myself off the bed. I looked outside and saw the sun had just risen.

Applejack should probably be awake right now…

As I collected my things and tidied myself up I noticed a package of papers on the desk, on the top there laid a card. I picked it up and read it, “WingBlade and Dave. Status: Nothing yet!” on the back was a mushroom stamp.
I placed the card back down on the documents.

Damn still no leads…
I wonder, maybe if I be a little less discreet they would come out of hiding and try to attack me.

I pondered the idea in my head for a while but then I found a major contradiction.

They wouldn’t just attack me they would attack the rest of the Assassins as well as Ponyville.

Perhaps I should stay a bit incognito with the whole “Shadow of Ponyville” fiasco.

After all, it’s only a matter of time…

I climbed to the roof of the clock tower and spread my wings; a minor pain came from my damaged right wing reminding myself that I can’t fly, ever. I plunge my body over the edge and glide across a great distance to Applejack’s farm.

A few minutes later I landed on a lumpy mass of hill, the same hill I first saw and the one that I had hallucinations with. I walked a bit from the hill and saw a small body print indented in the ground next to the hill.

Wow… it has been a while.

I turned to the hill and shouted, “Why you no catch me before!?”

The hill stayed disinterestedly silent.

I ignored my crazy outburst and made my way to Applejack’s farm.

-------------------------------------

“WELL HOWDY SHADOW!” Applejack shouted from across a row of trees as I went near the red farmhouse.

I waved to her and quickly ran up next to her, “Alright Applejack I’m here, what do you want me to do?”

“Well you can start by helpin us buck them apple trees,” she pointed to the mass orchard.

“ALL OF THEM!?” I shouted surprisingly.

“Nah, not all of em just the south field over there, come I’ll show ya,” she said leading the way.

We got to the south field and Applejack wanted to see if I could buck a tree properly.

“No problem,” I said getting my back hoofs ready.

*KICK*

The tree only wobbled a bit and no apples dropped.

“Try again!” Applejack encouraged me.

*BUCK*

The tree shacked a little bit more but alas only one apple fell out.

“Time for some Ponitalian street bucking!” I said tensing my back legs.

*KER-KICK*

The tree violently shacked and all the apples fell out this time.

“Alright Shadow you did it! Now I need to work over there, I’ll check back on you in an hour or so,” she said as she trotted down the row of apple trees.

For the next couple of minutes I continued bucking every apple tree with my signature kick, trouble it my kicks are usually centred on ponies and trees are denser. After one more tree I bucked, I laid my back on the trunk to catch my strength back.

As I relaxed I saw a big red pony bucking a few apple trees near me, it was Applejack’s brother Big Mac.

“Hey Big Mac! You on apple bucking duty?” I shouted across to him.

“Eeyup.”

“Do you think I bucked more trees than Applejack today?”

“Nope.”

Ok time for something different than a yes or no question...

“Big Mac, how would you rate the economy of Ponyville considering the long-term effects of a diminishing market gap influx on a marginal cost outtake considering that the Princess hires subordinates to calculate monthly gross revenue at a ratio of current assets not equalling to their owner’s equity?”

“….”

“….”

“…I win,” I smugly said.

After my brief rest I bucked a few more trees and then Applejack arrived with Big Mac, “Shadow you’ve done well for today, but now the reason why you here…”

-------------------------------------

This tree is HUGE!

I was standing at the base of an abnormally large apple tree in the middle of the orchard.

“Shadow meet Steve the Stubborn, he’s been here for generations but for some reason whenever we try to buck his apples off he just doesn’t give. I tried doing it and so did Big Mac but whatever we did was worthless.”

“And you think I can buck Steve?” I asked and she nodded.

“Well alright then…” I said getting my back hoofs ready.

“Steve you ain’t so stubborn,” I said to myself trying to gain myself morale.

*KER-KICK*

The tree didn’t budge, I was speechless.

“See told you he’s a stubborn one,” Applejack implied.

This is going to need drastic measures…

I ran to the tree and started punching it repeatedly with my front hooves.

“Ah, Shadow? That’s not gonna work.”

“IT’S GOING TO WORK!” I shouted with rage building up within me.

After striking the tree countless times I noticed a dark red aura start to form around me, it didn’t look as powerful as the time my desk got broken or when my 60 page report was burned by Spike, but it still gave me strength.

“LET’S TRY THIS ONE MORE TIME!” I shouted with a slight demonic voice as I rushed back from the tree and sprinted with all my might and my hoof clenched in a fist.

*KER-HOOF*

A small explosion of air erupted from the tree and sent Applejack’s hat flying; the stubborn apple tree had a large gash from my impact.
I looked up at an apple on Steve’s branches and it still didn’t fall.

“OH COME ON!” I shouted in denial.

*Fump*

The apple landed in a basket.

A large grin appeared on my face, until the crack in the tree started to spread and Steve fell uprooting himself from the earth never to be stubborn to anypony else ever again.
Big Mac went over to the destroyed tree and picked up an apple, he looked at it and a manly tear dropped onto the apple.

“Uh Shadow? Maybe you should help some other ponies for a while…” Applejack quietly whispered in my ear.

“Got’cha, also sorry about Steve,” I said to her as I tried to get out from the orchard as fast as possible before Big Mac goes on a hunting spree.

---------------------------------------------

Whew… I think I’m far enough. Where am I anyway?

I turned around and saw a giant gingerbread house in the middle of Ponyville, Sugarcube corner.

Well I might as well help Pinkie considering she did make those bombs for us and destroyed Volcanous.

I entered the pastry and biscuit shop and was greeted by two little baby ponies.

“Aw aren’t you two just the cutest!” I bent over to them and rubbed their heads.

The babies smiled and laughed at me.

I guess nopony is resistant to the Ponitalian charm…

“HEY SHADOW!” shouted a voice right behind me.

“AAH! PINKIE!?” I turned around to see the pink pony staring directly at me.

“Yes that’s me! So what are you doing here Shadow? I know that you have a bunch of icky work to do, OH I KNOW! YOU WANT A PARTY RIGHT!?”

“Ah no Pinkie, I was just wondering if you needed help with anything. I’m trying to kill time as finding WingBlade or Dave is a near impossibility,” I said.

“NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! You just need to hope, and hope and hope and hope and POW! Enough about work, time to get BAKING!”

“Baking? Pinkie I’m a terrible cook,” I admitted remembering a time me and Mareio baked George the Eternal.

There was pancake batter everywhere and the roof was gone!
Oh, those were the good times…

“Don’t worry, we’re making CUPCAKES! It’ll be easy and FUN!” she bounced to the kitchen.

“Alright but I’ve warned you…”

---------10 minutes later---------------

“Ok what about this batch?” I said handing a tray of burnt cupcakes to Pinkie who began to gobble them up.

“OOH! Even better than the last one!” she said with a mouthful of ruined cupcakes.

I took a piece of the cupcake and examined it, “Pinkie the last one was green and the one before spontaneously combusted.”

“So?”

Just then Dr. Mareio crashed through the wall of the kitchen, “Shadow… are you BAKING!?”

“Uh you see Mareio we were just…”

“WITHOUT A ME!?” he quickly jumped towards the oven and began mixing batter.

Oh no, this is why we never allowed Mareio to be in a different kitchen than his mushroom one.

“Mareio what are you… No you wouldn’t, YOU COULDN’T!”

“I A HAVE!”

“Do what?” Pinkie asked us.

“Let’s just say Mareio is trying to make something called George the Eternal and we can’t stop him…”

“George sounds FUN, why is he eternal?”

“It’s a part of Dr. Mareio’s mind, whenever there’s a chance to make baked goods he goes crazy for some reason and tries to make the largest thing he can possibly make, George. I was there the last time and I even helped him…”

“HE IS ALMOST DONE!” shouted Mareio as he loaded up the oven.

Celestia save us all…

-----5 minutes later-------------

*SPLOOSH*

The entire gingerbread house was filled with cake batter; it seeped through the windows and the doorway. Me, Pinkie Pie, Dr. Mareio and the toddlers were flung outside onto the street as we marveled at the sight before us.

“GEORGE THE ETERNAL IS ETERNAL!” Mareio shouted with triumph.

At least he didn’t put in the Life Mushroom this time…

“So now what?” I asked them.

“WE EAT IT!” they both shouted.

They turned to the streets and shouted, “HEY EVERYPONY, FREE PANCAKES!”

A mass of ponies rushed from across town to savor the fine crusine that is George the Eternal. With the large crowd blocking the gingerbread house I ungooped myself and headed towards Twilight’s tree house.

I’m sure a calm, logical pony like Twilight will give me something less suicidal to do.

I knocked on the door of the tree house and the door creaked open, it was unlocked.

“Uh Twilight? Anyone?” I shouted into the house.

“I’m over here Shadow!” I heard Twilight’s voice and so I entered the house.

Wow… what the hell is all of this?

Books that were supposed to be on the shelves were instead all laid out on the floor, in fact there was no floor I was standing on a pile of books. The pile beneath me began to shift and then a purple scaly hand shot out from the pile of books.

“Spike?” I reached the hand and pulled out a pale baby dragon.

“Light! I’M SAVED!” shouted Spike as he ran outside for fresh air.

I continued down a hall until I saw Twilight reading a book on a podium.

“Hey Twilight, what’s with the books?”

“Oh those? I was just studying a bit on Templar and Assasin history, also I’ve been trying to find anything about WingBlade or Dave, but so far nothing,” she said sadly.

“Also Shadow, the Princess would like to see you one day and deliver a report to her in person.”

Just then a crazy sadistic thought went in my head.

“Twilight, remember the giant bat thing we used for Je Suis? I was wondering if there could be a modification,” I asked.

“What do you have in mind?”

“A cannon…”

Twilight burst out laughing and dropped her book; I saw the cover was the same cover that Le Duck’s book had. I quickly snatch the book away and tuck it into my robe pocket to save Twilight from subliminal explication.

Once Twilight recovered she asked me, “Are you serious? Maybe we should find WingBlade or Dave first and then worry about your cannon project.”

“Alright then, I see you don’t need any help from me so I’ll just be going now…” I said as I headed towards a nearby window.

The window got a purple light around it and it shut, “Shadow, would you like to help tidy all these books with Spike?” Twilight said with a smile.

“Okay Twilight… also sorry in advance,” I said.

“Sorry for wha--?”

*CRASH*

I jumped through the window smashing the glass around me as I landed outside, I sprinted as fast as possible away from Twilight’s magic range.

“SHADOW!” shouted Twilight from her house.

Damn I am so screwed today…

----------------------------------------------------------------

After running for what seemed like an hour I arrived at Rarity’s shop, the Carousal Boutique.
I headed towards the door and knocked.

Please don’t let it be outfitting, please don’t let it be outfitting…

Rarity opened the door and a smile appeared on her face as she pulled me inside, “OH SHADOW! WHAT A SURPRISE! COME IN! MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME!”

“Uh Rarity do you want some help?” I offered.

“Oh Shadow, there is absolutely nothing I could hide from you. You see I’m having a bit of a… fashion block. I just can’t think of any new designs. I need something MODERN, something EXOTIC, something that is… you.” she said pointing to my clothes.

“I would like to give you some ideas Rarity, really I would but I have no idea about fashion sense. I know a lot about charm and passion but asides from that I don’t…”

“THAT’S IT! PASSION! CHARM! Those two elements were what was missing from design, now if I can get a…”

*AIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEE*

Me and Rarity tensed up from the loud shriek, I instantly recognized the shriek belonging to Fluttershy’s voice. Without waiting I jumped through a window display, breaking the glass once more and ran towards the direction of the scream.

I arrived to where Fluttershy had screamed I saw her trying to help Rainbow Dash who was unconscious and had bleeding slash wounds coming from her wings.

“Fluttershy what happened?” I asked her just as Rarity caught up to us.

“Rainbow Dash!” she worryingly said.

“Shadow… there was this… frightening green Pegasus wearing a darker green hood.”

Realization hit my face.

“Fluttershy, what were her wings like?”

“They were silvery and metallic… she used her wings to cut through Rainbow Dash like this,” she looked back towards Rainbow.

I heaved the unconscious Rainbow onto my back, “Come on we need to get to the hospital quickly, before she hurts anymore ponies!”

“She?” Rarity and Fluttershy asked.

“WingBlade… she's here and she found us…”

Chapter 21: WingBlade Part 1

We ran as fast as we could to the hospital, the ponies we all passed by recoiled in shock of the wounded and bleeding Rainbow Dash. Her wings had large red slashes through them and her body was also deeply cut. With her on my back I could feel her blood starting to stain my robe and my fur.

Rainbow started to mumble on my back just as we had gotten sight of the hospital.

“Rainbow stay with us! We’re almost there!” I tried to keep her unconscious but all she let out was a small weak, “Thank you…”

Rarity and Fluttershy held the doors open as I rushed in the hospital towards the receptionist.

“Hello how may I… AAH!” she screamed at the sight of Rainbow Dash and me covered in her blood.

“Please you’ve got to help her…” I said exhaustingly with Rainbow on my back.

“MEDIC!” she yelled down the hall and a moment later a stretcher came to pick up Rainbow.

I placed her in the linen stretcher and watched her leave as the medical personal took her to the operating room.

Fluttershy and Rarity took a seat in the waiting room chairs while I just stood in the middle of the waiting room thinking about WingBlade’s attack.

It’s my fault… Rainbow was hurt because she was an assassin… because I was arrogant

I’m the reason WingBlade is here…

“Um excuse me sir? But can you please sit down?” the receptionist said to me.

I ignored her; I was too deep into my thoughts to notice or even care.

The hospital doors swung open and there came in Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, Dr. Mareio and Ace.

“Shadow what happened? All we heard was a rainbow coloured pony was seen being carried off by a shadowy figure.” Twilight asked me.

“Why are you covered in red stuff?” Pinkie said to me refereeing to the blood.

I ignored their questions and shut my eyes tight from the guilt.

If she attacked Rainbow then she knows about us, about the rest of my friends.
Ponyville too…

Dear Celestia… if she tells Balthazar…

It’ll be my fault again, Ponitaly, Flora, Rainbow, the rest of the assassins, Ponyville.

Heck, because Balthazar has the Apple I found, Equestria is also doomed…

“Shadow?” Applejack attempted to put a hoof on my shoulder.

*CRACK*

I sent a bone-shattering punch to the white-bricked hospital wall and it got a medium sized hole.

“IT’S ALL MY FUCKING FAULT!” I cursed loudly; tears began to drip from my hood.

Everypony stood silent until I regained myself I turned to Applejack and said quietly, “WingBlade is here… protect Rainbow…”

I headed towards the door but I was stopped by Dr. Mareio, and he said softly, “Don’t worry Shadow, I’ll a help her…”

I threw his hoof off my shoulder and charged though the glass door not bothering to open it. As soon as I was in the rays of the sun I ran straight for the hideout.

------HOSPITAL POINT OF VIEW----------------------

“What was that all about?” Twilight asked the other ponies who were just as stunned at Shadow’s outburst.

“I don’t know really, but Shadow said to protect Rainbow from WingBlade,” Appljack told her.

“Wait… WingBlade? She’s here?” Twilight asked with interest.

“Yes darling, at least that’s what Fluttershy told us who did that awful thing to Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said and Fluttershy gulped.

“It was so scary… while I was getting some plants with Rainbow to make some potions… somepony swooped down and tried to attack me…. Instead Rainbow shielded me and now she’s in the hospital…” Fluttershy explained.

“So I’m guessing the blood on Shadow was Rainbow Dash’s,” Applejack inquired and Fluttershy nodded her head.

“Still that doesn’t really explain why Shadow went all enraged like that,” Twilight pondered with her friends.

Mareio came over to them and said, “Sit down. I’ll a explain.” He then whispered in Ace’s ear and Ace immediately took off and left the hospital.

As soon as everypony was seated Mareio explained the story of Shadow, “You see… it was a while ago when Shadow’s parents and brother died. They truly an example of a happy Ponitalian family.”

“What was the cause of death?” Twilight asked.

“Balthazar…”

----Shadow-mark’s POV----------

I climbed to the top of the hideout to where I could get a clear view of all of Ponyville.

I know that WingBlade would never skip out on a job as big as this.
If I can’t find her then it’s all over…

I scanned the city around me with no luck from my observation skills.

Damn it! Where are you!?

*SHHHHHH*

I heard the movement of wind behind me and I immediately turned around and put my hooves out in front of me. WingBlade was diving towards me with her wings unsheathed, I blocked her wings with my hooves but the force of her impact sent us over the roof.

“Assassin, I have found you…” she said with a snake-like tongue as she grabbed me with her hoofs.

We started falling towards the ground and I could only do one thing to save my life.

*KER-HOOF*

--------Hospital POV------------

“So Balthazar is why Shadow is so obsessed with revenge…” Rarity commented after hearing Mareio’s story.

Mareio continued, “Because Shadow found the Apple he’s believes that the attack on the Assassin Headquarters was’a his fault. Continuing onwards with Ponitaly and his wife…”

“WIFE!?” everyone said in shock.

Mareio nodded sadly.

“Her name was Flora…. such an early marriage to be ruined by such a horrible TEMPLAR!” Mareio shouted in rage.

“So he believes that all of that was his fault… wow I never thought just how much he was suffering…” Pinkie said with a frown.

“And now Shadow thinks WingBlade would turn Ponyville into Ponitaly!” Rarity anxiously said.

“I get it, so when Rainbow was hurt he blamed himself because he made us Assassins…” Twilight said solemnly.

“It’s just awful,” Fluttershy said very sadly.

“IT’S SO SAD, WAAH!” Pinkie shouted with tears coming from her eyes as she took out a tissue.

“Well what’re we waiting for? Let’s go help him!” Applejack said as he got out from her chair.

“NO!” Mareio shouted putting Applejack back in her seat.

“Shadow will come back in one hour he’s just scouting. Now all off you don’t go anywhere I’MA HELP RAINBOW DASH!” Mareio shouted as he went towards the operating doors.

The receptionist stopped Mareio at the operating doors, “Sorry sir but only doctors are allowed…”

*SLAM*

“I’MA DOCTOR! DOCTOR MAREIO, THE MUSHROOM DOCTOR!” he shouted as he swung the operating rooms doors open.

“That was… odd?” Twilight remarked.

“I just hope Shadow is alright…” Fluttershy quietly said.

“Don’t worry Mareio said things will be fine,” Applejack reassured her.

-------Shadow’s POV---------

THINGS ARE DEFINITELY NOT FINE!

We were still falling from the plunge off the clock tower and WingBlade had me positioned under her so I couldn’t see the ground.

And probabley to get crushed…

“First I’m going to kill you then I’m going to tell Balthazar all about your “friends” and this pathetic town,” she said nastily.

“Screw that!” I raised my hoof and punched her in the face.

She’s not a lady… she’s a monster!

She just shrugged it off and tried to bring her wing towards my neck.

“Game over kid….”

*SCREE*

“For you…” I said smugly.

*HEAD-SMASH*

She recoiled in pain and released me, I immediately opened my wings and glided towards the hospital to get
back-up.

“WHAT IS THIS, A BIRD!?” she confusingly shouted.

3…2…1…

*SWACK*

“AAH MY EYES! IT’S PECKING MY EYES!”

I looked back and saw WingBlade throw Ace away from her as she flew at an astonishing speed towards Ponyville and ignored me.

I was a few metres gliding from outside the hospital when I saw the entrance door. However there wasn’t any intention to use it. I had another entry in mind…

*CRASH*

I flew through the hospital window shattering the glass all around me and slid down the floor to where I saw my friends sitting in the waiting room.

“Shadow?” Twilight asked.

“No time! WingBlade is here and she flew into Ponyville!” I quickly explained and everypony franticly stood up from their chairs.

“Applejack and Pinkie I want you two to stay here and guard Rainbow in case WingBlade will come back to finish her. The rest of you follow me we need to search Ponyville,” I ordered them as me, Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy left the hospital while Applejack and Pinkie guarded the hospital.

We walked into a shadowy alleyway to prevent WingBlade from seeing us all together and blow our cover.

Besides I’m sure if she knew Rainbow Dash was an Assassin then she knows we all are, but she won’t be expecting all of us at the same time…

I huddled my group together with my hooves, “Ok team, we need to find WingBlade who is still somewhere in Ponyville hunting for us. What we need is stealth and patience if we’ll ever catch her.”

“Capture her?” Rarity asked me.

I nodded, “At least that’s what I would like to happen because since she’s Dave’s personal bodyguard…”

“Then she would lead us straight to Dave!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Exactly. Now, we need to divide Ponyville up so you and Rarity can search for her with your magic. As Wingblade is highly dangerous I figure it was best to split up for 2 ponies per group.”

“Oh… Shadow?” Fluttershy asked me, I nodded for her to continue.

“How can we get her if we don’t have anything to defend ourselves? I don’t want to be…cut by those… scary… metal… razor-sharp wings…” Fluttershy frightfully said noticing that they didn’t have any hidden blades or their robes.

“Like I said, we need to capture her. I know that magic can be used to restrain ponies and I also know that you can hear any odd noises like WingBlade’s wind streak. So I’ll protect Twilight and do the search in the market district while you stay with Rarity and search in the housing areas.”

With that Fluttershy and Rarity departed from the alley while we went around to the other side.

--------An hour in-----------------

Twilight was on the ground scanning the markets and stores using a book as a cover while I followed her up on the rooftops and used any shadows to hide me from the sun’s glaring view.

I kept sneaking around the rooftops and the alleyways while Twilight still scanned everything she could see.

A few more minutes and we were done searching the market district. I jumped down from a small balcony and landed beside her.

“Did you get anything?” I asked her.

“No…” she shook her head disappointingly.

“That’s a shame… maybe Rarity and Flutt--,”

*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH*

The scream came from the housing area and it was followed by many more screams.

“Twilight!” I shouted to her.

She nodded and her horn lit up, a second later we appeared next to Rarity and Fluttershy in a poof of purple smoke.

“Fluttershy Rarity, what happened!?” I urged them to tell me but then I saw the sight lying next to them, Twilight wrenched back in fear.

Two ponies were slaughtered in the middle of the street. They had cuts and slash marks going all over them, dark thick blood fell from the open wounds and stained the ground around them.
I looked closer and I saw that these two ponies were the Canterlot unicorns I robbed from before. I couldn’t tell they were unicorns because their horns were completely cut off from the rest of their body.

“Damn it WingBlade…” I muttered, disgusted by what she had done.

“Why would anypony do something as horrible as this?” Rarity exclaimed.

“I…I don’t…” Twilight began to shudder and Fluttershy comforted her.

“We’ll get her back, I promise.” Fluttershy coldly said.

WHOA! When did Fluttershy become such a badass!?
Still this does look like WingBlade’s work; even it is a touch small from her usual…

I went over to the dead bodies and closed their eyes, “Requistcat in pace.”

My thoughts were interrupted as something punched me in the back of my skull. I recoiled in pain but turned to see the attacker standing behind us.

“My my… there are more of you? Maybe I should tell Balthazar your all here… or better yet I’ll cut all your delicate little bodies for fun and leave your bodies to fill the streets with your own blood,” WingBlade said with an evil smile as she pulled out her metal wings.

“Twilight… *cough*… Rarity…” I choked on the pain.

They instantly shot out entrapping spells towards WingBlade who merely yawned and reflected the magic back to Twilight and Rarity with her shining metal wings.
Purple and light blue bubbles formed around Twilight and Rarity trapping themselves inside.

“WHAT!?” everyone shouted in surprise.

“With wings as beautiful and pristine as mine, I take very good care of them. And they take good care of me,” she smiled deviously as she rushed towards Fluttershy with her wings unsheathed.

“NO!” I shouted as I did a large leap towards Fluttershy and pushed her out of harm’s way.

“ARG!” I shouted in pain.

I looked to my shoulder and saw that my outfit had a tear and blood was coming out from a gash in my fur. WingBlade was laughing and in a slight anger pushed me up from the ground and I took out my hidden blades protecting Fluttershy.

“Oh don’t think there will be a nice ending for you whelp! I’ll cut you so much that by the time I’m finished you’ll be begging me to kill you.” she licked my blood off from her metal wing.

I stood my ground and got my hidden blades ready for whatever came next.

“CHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“What the…*POW*” WingBlade started to say but was then hit by a rainbow mane square in the chest.

“Rainbow Dash!?” we all shouted in surprise.

She pointed over to WingBlade who was trying to right herself up but an orange hoof kicked her and she tumbled down the street.

“Howdy everypony!” Applejack greeted us.

“Wow you all came here… wait, where’s Pinkie Pie?” I asked.

“HERE I AM!” a garbage can next to me opened up and Pinkie was inside it startling me.

We all grouped up together and I asked the bandaged Rainbow Dash, “How did you get out of the hospital so quickly.”

“Dr. Mareio…” she began telling the story.

-------Rainbow’s POV---------------

Rainbow was brought into the hospital’s operating room where the doctors immediately began the surgery on her slash marks.

“Scapel…” a doctor asked

“Scapel.” a doctor gave him the tool.

*SLAM* the doors swung wide open and there stood a weird red pony with a mustache and a white doctor’s coat, the receptionist was behind him trying to get him to leave.

“I’MA DOCTOR! DOCTOR MAREIO, THE MUSHROOM DOCTOR!” the strange doctor pony shouted as he came across the room to the unconscious Rainbow Dash.

“Sir I don’t know who you are, but I need to ask you to leave, we need to save this pony’s life!” the operating doctor said.

“YOUR’A NOT DOING IT RIGHT!” Mareio shouted with a cheerful attitude.

He shoved the doctor out of the way and examined Rainbow Dash.

“MAMMA MIA! This looks like a time for LIFE SHROOM!” he shouted in triumph as he took out a mushroom with a heart design imbedded on it.

“What is he gonna…?” the doctor started but didn’t finish as Dr. Mareio lodged the mushroom down Rainbow’s throat.

“AAH, ARE YOU MAD!?” the doctor shouted at Mareio but he raised a hoof to the air.

*SLAP*

“LEARN YOUR A FREAKIN PLACE!,” Mareio said with less cheer in his voice to the doctor after bitch-slapping him.

Rainbow swallowed the mushroom and a moment later she woke up gasping for air.

“WHAT DID YOU PUT IN THAT, BARF!?"

"SUCCESS!" Mareio shouted.

The doctors were amazed by Mareio’s medical breakthrough and began bandaging Rainbow Dash’s wounds which had also receded in blood and healed a bit.

*CRASH*

“Was that a window?” a doctor asked wrapping a bandage over Dash's wing.

“Nope,” Mareio said with a dumbfounded look on his face.

-----------Later-------------

While Mareio was teaching the doctors his superior vast intellect of pony and mushroom biology and Rainbow Dash was recovering a loud scream was heard throughout Ponyville.

“FLUTTERSHY!” she shouted as she got out of bed and raced out the hospital, joined by Applejack and Pinkie.

---------Shadow’s POV----------------------------

“And then I tackled her and here we are!” Rainbow finished.

“I liked the part with the mushroom!” Pinkie commented.

“IF YOU’RE DONE TALKING CAN YOU HELP US OUT!?”

We turned around and almost forgot Twilight and Rarity were still stuck in the magic bubbles.

Wait a moment… where is…

“YOU FOOLS!” WingBlade’s voice boomed above us.

We all looked up and Rainbow shouted, “I’ll get her!” as she jumped into the air then fell forgetting her wings were bandaged.

“You whelps are beginning to be a nuisance to me. Now I no longer want to toy with you, that’s most of what that idiot Dave’s been doing. I’ll head back to Balthazar and his mighty army will destroy this pathetic town and you along with it!” she shouted just before flapping her metal wings and shooting herself across the noon sky until we couldn’t see her past the horizon.

“DAMN IT!” I punched my hoof to the ground. “NOW WE’LL NEVER FIND HER!”

“She’s going to Manehatten.” Pinkie simply said.

"..."

“What… how…?” I asked her how she knew.

“Pinkie Sense!” she cheerfully said, everyone face hoofed and I was left confused.

Pinkie Sense? Is it like how the Observer sensed all those stuff before it happened?
What did he say… “DON'T ASK QUESTIONS, IT’S TRUE!”

“Alright then Pinkie, let’s get our stuff and you can lead the way.”

We'll find you WingBlade and we'll stop you.

By any means nessesary...

Chapter 22: WingBlade Part 2

*Click*

My hidden blade opened followed by the clicks of the other assassin’s blades, then we all retracted and went to our respected areas. I picked up a couple of throwing knives from the weapons counter and tucked them in my shoulder sleeve. I looked around the hideout and saw the rest of the assassins grabbing their stuff and putting on their robes.

Let’s see… Applejack is bringing a rope that’s good…
Rainbow re-bandaged her wing.
Twilight and Rarity seem to be ready with their unicorn magic…
Fluttershy is trying to find her bow and Pinkie is….. where’s Pinkie?

“PARTY NUKES!” Pinkie shouted from behind me as she took out two rather large nuclear warheads from under my desk.

“AAH! Dammit Pinkie, don’t scare me like that!” I shouted in annoyance.

“But scaring ponies is so much FUN!!” she said with a goofy large smile.

“Ok Pinkie *ahem* let’s be professional about this…. NUKES!? NUKES IN MANEHATTEN!? DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN!?”

“No, what?” she asked cheerfully.

I face hoofed, “They will lock us in a room, separate us and interrogate us individually until we tell them about the assassins,” I explained to her about how far Templar corruption went.

‘Well that doesn’t sound so bad!”

Everyone face hoofed, I went up to her and whispered to her, “No fun….”

Her bright pink mane shot straight down and she turned a rather somber grey colour. I could see that she was greatly hurt by this and before she goes crazy and kill us all I took a P.U.K.E from her explosives backpack.

“We can’t use party nukes but we can use these!” I cheerfully said handing the vomiting grenade to her.

Her face lit up like a light bulb and her colour returned back to its original pink fluffiness.

“YIPPEE!”

Once she was done bouncing around we all assembled around the room with our stuff ready and us willing to hunt down WingBlade.

“Okay everypony! I’m just going to put this out but Manehatten is a big place, but if Pinkie can sense her then it should be easy to track WingBlade. Unfortunately we’re also at a disadvantage.” I stated.

“What are ya’ll talking about?” Applejack asked me followed by many nodding heads.

“Well you didn’t see before but because of WingBlade’s err… wings, she can deflect magic. Also with Rainbow Dash’s wings broken we have to chase her down on foot as I’m pretty sure Fluttershy you wouldn’t want to do any 400mph flight speeds, do you?”

“Um… no Shadow, I really wouldn’t want to…” she said nervously.

“So she can fly and is resistant to magic… quite a combination if you ask me. Anyways that means we need to use practical assassinations and fighting techniques and I’m pretty sure one of us will get a broken leg at the end of the day from doing so much free-running and roof jumping.”

I mainly pointed to myself and everypony gave a slight chuckle.

“Any questions….? GOOD! LET’S DO THIS!” I encouraged them as we started to march out the door.

*SLAM*

The door was thrown open and a small purple dragon ran quickly inside.

“Did I miss it, am I too late?” Spike asked.

“Sorry Spike, but you can’t come with us. It’s much too dangerous for you.” Twilight said sweetly to her baby dragon, which merely shook its head.

“BUT I WANNA GO!!” he shouted at all of us.

I went over to Twilight and I whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry let me handle this…”

I walked over to Spike and kneeled down to his eyelevel and I began to speak, “Hello Spike.”

“Uhh… hi?”

I leaned closer to him to make him feel uncomfortably uncomfortable, “We’re going to Manehatten to catch a Templar by the name of WingBlade.”

“Oh cool! Can I--,”

“Her wings are made of solid steel and she uses them to cut her way into the flesh of her victims, she has already killed two here and wounded Rainbow Dash. I know that you don’t have your wings yet and we’re going to be chasing her up on 50 floor rooftops with the possibility that she will throw you off the building towards your doom. She will, if she gets a chance to completely turn you inside out and show you your own heart before she finishes you off."

“Now, I know that you are a brave dragon, so why don’t you join us on this lovely trip?” I said with a weird cheerful voice.

“Uhh…. Maybe I’ll stay here and help Ace and Dr. Mareio.” He said as he ran underneath a table from fright.

“Oh that’s too bad… LET’S GO EVERYPONY!” I shouted as I stepped towards the door.

“I don’t know, maybe I should stay…” Fluttershy squeaked.

“EVERYPONY!” I went back and grabbed her as I shoved her out the door along with everypony else.

-----An hour of walking later-----------

“Pinkie do you still have her signal?” Twilight asked her.

“IT’S OKIE DOKIE LOKIE!” she smiled back.

Just then I remembered something rather important.

“Um.. girls?” I asked with a confused look.

“Yes Shadow?” they replied as we all stopped on the dirt path.

“I didn’t see him at the hideout, but uh… Where’s Dr. Mareio?”

-----Mareio’s POV------------

Mareio was seen in the reception room getting swarmed by the hospital doctors and nurses.

“Oh Doctor Mareio, your medical experience is a true inspiration to us all!” shouted a nurse.

“You have upgraded the medicine technology by 50 years!” exclaimed a doctor.

“Oh it was nothing. After all… IT’S A ME!” Mareio laughed and the other ponies laughed too.

Suddenly a nurse ran around the corner holding a clipboard and she shouted, “Doctor! There’s a patient in the E.R!”

Mareio stopped joking around with the doctors and walked over to the nurse. He held out a hoof in the air and shouted confidently, “LET’S A GO!” just before running towards the E.R.

The other doctors and nurses quickly pursued Mareio.

“MUSHROOM!” a shout came from the emergency room’s closed doors.

A few moments later and applause erupted from the room as the doors swung open with Mareio and the patient being held high in the air by the hospital staff.

“You cured me doctor!” the patient said in a healthy voice.

“MAREIO! MAREIO! MAREIO!” the staff chanted in unison.

That was when Dr. Mareio had remembered all the times he has helped somepony or treated someone nicely, or just put a smile on somepony’s face, he took a deep breath in and shouted at the top of his lungs.

“YAHOO!!”

-------Shadow’s POV--------------

“I’m sure whatever he’s doing won’t bring us any trouble,” Applejack reassured me.

“I hope you’re right AJ,” I replied as I took a step on a slab of concrete.

Ahead of us the bustling city of Manehatten roared at our arrival. Carriages of ponies swarmed the streets as every corner was filled with their contraptions.
I focused my view upward and saw the tall high-rise buildings and skyscrapers covering the sky from view.

Pinkie Pie was so entrapped by the sights and sounds of this big city that she didn’t notice herself stepping off the sidewalk and into the carriage lane.

“PINKIE!” I shouted as I grabbed her from the lane before she got hit with a carriage.

“HEY! MOVE IT BUDDY!” the angry driver shouted back at us while I helped Pinkie recover.

“YOU WATCH IT!” shouted Rainbow with an angry hoof shaking in the air.

This city sucks; I remember the last time I went here…
Almost got run over by a truck and nearly mugged those two times.
Also can’t forget that these buildings are SO FRIGGAN TALL!

I got the group together and we carefully crossed the street and walked into the city of Manehatten.

-----A few minutes of walking later-----------

“Wow… this place is so… huge,” Fluttershy said just as a rather loud bus honked past her and she jumped up and landed on Rarity’s back from fright.

“Darling, you can’t be scared of every little noise. That’s what Manehatten is based upon,” Rarity said to Fluttershy has she helped her off her back.

Applejack said aloud, “This city is huge; I remember the time I went here when I was a filly. I must’ve gotten lost a whole bunch of times.”

“Say Pinkie how’s your radar?” I asked her as she was leading the way down the street.

“It’s OKIE DOKIE… lokie?”

Immediately her body started to spaz out as she made fluttering, twitching and jumping movements with all her body parts.

After she finished her pupils dilated and she jumped towards us shouting, “WATCH OUT!”

*CRASH*

A window smashed right where we were standing, it would have crushed us if we didn’t get saved by Pinkie.

“Thanks Pinkie,” I sighed with relief.

“Uh-oh…” she said just as her body started to jump up and down.

She expanded into a balloon and her knee’s started to shake as she then experienced body movements that I couldn’t even explain.

“Trash can, mugging, car moving, window-cleaners, pigeon poop, WHY IS THERE SO MUCH GOING ON RIGHT NOW!?” Pinkie shouted in despair as she laid her head down to the ground and began to weep.

Pinkie was in dire pain and we rushed over to her side, “Pinkie you need to turn off your sense! Manehatten has too much crap going on!” I tried to reason with her but she shook her head.

“I CAN’T TURN IT OFF! MAKE IT STOP!” she shouted out in pain as she slapped me in the face.

“OW! Twilight! Cast a spell or something!” I asked her rubbing my cheek from the impact.

Twilight’s horn grew purple and a small light enveloped Pinkie’s body, her movements dulled and eventually she stopped moving altogether and stood firmly on the ground with a smile.
Many passersby stared in awe by our presence and Pinkie’s body spasms.

“Ok, so now we can’t use Pinkie Sense or fly over the city.” Rainbow grumbled.

Still feeling the pain in my cheek I asked Pinkie quietly, “Why did you slap me?”

“Car Chase!” she said happily.

A car chase?

Just then police sirens were heard around the corner of the street as a brown convertible rode down the street with two ponies riding in the front.
A second later, five police cars showed up and pursued the car down the street.

The passenger of the convertible who was wearing a plaid shirt shouted to the driver,
“SHIT NICKEL! IT’S THE COPS!”

The driver who was wearing a brown vest and had a thuggish appearance shouted back to the passenger, “SHUT UP NORMAN! WE’LL GET TO THE DAMN BOWLING ALLEY!”

The car passed us as well as the police cars, while the pedestrians were distracted I motioned the group to slip away into a nearby alley.

When I was sure we weren’t followed I sat down on a small stony stairway with a hoof in my cheek as I tried to think how we were going to find WingBlade.

We can’t use Pinkie Sense anymore and Rainbow Dash can’t scout over the city, and I couldn’t bear to see Fluttershy go up over the city alone. These buildings are too tall to climb and we’ll take too long going over each one. We can’t split up or else we’ll get lost or worse if WingBlade picks us off one by one.

A magic search might work but over the size of this city would be impossible to do, and the police wouldn’t help us anyhow and the longer I stay here and think the more time WingBlade has to escape.

What am I going to do!?

“SHADOW!” Applejack shouted in my face and broke me from my trance.

“Eh… sorry Applejack, I was trying to figure out how we can catch her, so far I’ve got nothing,” I shook my head and stood up from the stairway

“Come on Shadow, there has to be a way,” Applejack tried to encourage me.

Well Le Duck did say the best information is from the people and your observations, and maybe seeing all of Manehatten from one roof can help… THAT’S IT!

“Twilight!” I shouted over to her as she was just helping Rarity get a discarded banana peel off her back hoof.

“Do you know the highest building in Manehatten?” I asked her.

“Yes, it’s the Pony State Building I think.”

“Can you and Rarity teleport all of us there?”

A purple and blue light enveloped all of us as in an instant we appeared on the roof of a staggering tall skyscraper overlooking the entire city.

I stood at the edge and closed my eyes.

“Uh… Shadow?” everpony asked but I shushed them.

“I’m listening for the changes in air pressure, WingBlade is probably flying above ground and I might be able to hear her air current,” I returned my attention on the city.

---------------------------------

A few minutes passed until my ears picked up on a small abnormal breeze coming from near the skyscraper.

“THERE!” I shouted and alerted everypony as I jumped off the roof and opened my grey wings.

I glided while focusing on the anomaly with my hearing as I got closer and closer to the source. I looked down below me and saw WingBlade casually flying beneath me by some distance.

I folded my wings and dived straight down towards WingBlade.

“GAH!” she shouted as I plunged onto her back and grabbed her tight as we both fell towards the ground.

“WingBlade… you’re not getting away from us…” I coldly said to her while keeping a tight grip on her wings so she couldn’t open them.

“Assassin… I’m surprised you have found me, this all makes my day that more interesting…” she hissed at me as she tried to pull her wings open and cut into my flesh.

With a devious look she tore open a wing from my grasp and tried to slice me with it, but I countered it with my hidden blade.

As we continued to fall through the sky, my strength in my right hoof was getting weaker from her wing’s strength; I had to level the playing field.

I tried stabbing the wing but the steel was too strong and WingBlade just laughed sadisticly.

“OH THAT’S IT!” I shouted back at her as I got my head ready.

*HEAD-SMASH*

She recoiled in pain and didn’t notice how close we were to the ground. We slammed into the concrete surface on an angle as we both rolled from the impact and landed in a back alley. We both immediately stood up to our hooves as we both unsheathed our weapons.

My blades vs her wings.

“You’ll pay for that you little brat!” she shouted as she charged me with her wings.

I held my blades in a defensive stance as the first impact of her wing hit my blades. She kept slashing and hammering her wings at me and I countered and blocked all of them.

“WHY AREN’T YOU DYING!?” she shouted with rage has her barrage increased.

“Easy… these blades are made of PLATIRON!”

I saw a gap in her attack and stabbed her left wing with my blade which only appeared to bounce off and do absolutely nothing. WingBlade laughed and as she continued her barrage of wing attacks upon me.

That’s it… just a little more….

Then she did something I didn’t expect her to do, she stopped.

She took a step back and Rainbow Dash appeared from the air with her blade out and missed her air assassination.
The rest of the assassins appeared from around the corners and walls of the alley regrouped behind me.

“So… you have brought the rest of your pathetic squabble. It’s not my job to fight you, it’s my job to ruin your lives and all the lives that reside in Ponyville,” she said with a sinister grin as she turned around and started to run while flapping her wings.

“NO YOU DON’T!” I said as I threw a throwing knife at her left wing and the knife pierced through her wing.

“ARG!” she shouted in dismay and confusion as she noticed her beautiful wing had blood coming out from the knife wound.

She ripped the knife out with her teeth and shouted at us, “My wing… you’ll all pay for this! I will make you all SUFFER!” She ran around the corner and we gave chase.

Good thing Rarity made those gem-encrusted knives and also how she didn’t notice my blades making a crack in her wing plating.

We went around the corner and saw her enter a subway train. I ran as fast as I could to the door, but it closed. I slammed my hoof against the door and on the other side she stuck out her tongue as the train started to leave.

“Shadow, we can’t catch her and teleporting into a moving train would be suicide,” Twilight explained to me.

“SCREW THAT!” I shouted with adventure in my voice as I got ready for what I was about to do next.

“Shadow what are you…” Fluttershy started to speak but was cut off.

I leapt from the subway platform and onto the back of the train’s railing while it was still moving. I climbed to the roof of the train and crawled my way over to an escape hatch. I opened it and as I hauled myself down I saw a tunnel that the train was going into.

“SHIT!” I said as I dived into the hatch.

I landed in the subway car and heads turned and gasps were heard as I fell onto the floor.
I got to my hooves and saw the green clothed pony at the other end of the car; she noticed me and began to run towards the end of the train.

I sprinted over as fast as I could while shoving other ponies out of the way. When I entered the next train car WingBlade was holding a small filly by the throat of her neck and brought her sharp edged wing towards her neck. The rest of the passengers were in shock by what they were seeing.

I took a cautious step forward to WingBlade and reached for another throwing knife and she raised a hoof, “Uh uh uh Assassin… you don’t want this precious filly to not she her next birthday won’t you?”

“Please….help….” the filly croaked.

What can I do…? Come on Shadow! THINK!

*CLANG*

A lead pipe appeared out of nowhere and slammed right into WingBlade’s skull. She released the filly and she slumped over a pole. I looked over to see who had aided me and saw a familiar brown vested pony.

“Thanks dude,” I tried to speak in a Manehatten accent.

“Neit problem—GACK!”

WingBlade recovered from the pipe smack and stabbed her wing through the chest of the brown-vested pony. She pulled her wing out with a sickening sound as the pony fell to the floor and started to bleed heavily.

With rage I charged at her but she slashed her wings up at the ceiling and made a hole leading to the top of the train. I jumped outside with her and we stood a few hooves from each other as the train continued to move.
\

(Cue Chase Music)

I jumped towards her with my hidden blade and she took a side-step as my blade pierced into the train car. She tried to slash me with her wing but I blocked it with my right hoof and pulled my blade from the train hull.

She spun her wings in an arc as I dodged and gave her a roundhouse kick in the side. She slightly budged and punched me in my face. I fell over to the edge of the train car and held onto its side skirt with dear life.

“Oh… look who can’t get up…” she said just before striking her wings next to my hooves gripping the train.

I hauled myself over to the roof of the train without getting hit by the steel wings and started to charge.

“Wait… what are you,” she said but she didn’t finish as I rammed my body into hers, we both flew off the train and landed in a small park.

We both grunted in pain as we got to our hooves, I was faster and managed to strike her damaged wing again at the same spot causing a larger hole to form on her wing.

She winced in pain and began to run away from me.

I sprinted after her, even though she had those heavy wings she was still pretty fast. We ran into the middle of the street as cars and carriages sped to a halt and crashed into one another. I jumped off the roof of a taxi and landed on a sidewalk.

WingBlade tossed garbage cans, newspaper stands and even a pedestrian in front of me to slow my pursuit. I simply jumped over each obstacle and gained precious distance as she turned around a corner.

I came around to the corner to where a crane was in the middle of the street and stood there in confusion, there was no sign of WingBlade anywhere.
I looked at the building next to me and saw the company logo.

Purifier Industries of course…

As it was still a chase I burst through the glass window and saw a group of security guards armed with assault rifles aiming down at me. I took cover behind a desk before they opened fire.

Crap, I really wish I had something with me I could use!

*POOF*

“ARG MY EYES!”

“THE COLOURS”

“BLARG!”

Wait…. Was that a…

I glanced over from the desk and saw the guards were incapacitated, vomit covered the ground and they were all pale green and unconscious a small blue grenade lay open on the floor. A pink figure bounced over to me and shouted, “SURPRISE!”

“Pinkie?”

“Who else silly? Come on! The rest of us got your back get WingBlade!” Pinkie shouted at me as another wave of guards appeared from a door.

“Thank you,” I said to her just before running towards the stairs.

---------------------------------------

I dashed down an empty hallway chasing WingBlade’s trail, that was until a guard showed up at the end pointing at me with his gun.

*Zing*

An arrow flew straight into his head and he fell to the ground, I looked behind me and saw Fluttershy aiming with her bow, I gave her a wave and continued running through the building.

The next room I entered had Twilight and Rarity making a magical square box around the guards who were then trapped within. I went past them to see Rainbow taking on 5 guards at the same time.

“COME ON BRING IT!” she shouted at them.

The moment one moved she kicked him in the chest and shouted with a confident laugh, “TASTE THE RAINBOW!”

She proceeded to beat the crap out of them as I noticed Applejack running quickly up a few stairs, I chased her to the top letting the other assassins take care of themselves. As I reached the top of the plight of stairs I see her and WingBlade hoof to hoof trying to push each other away.

WingBlade reflected a ray of light from her wing into Applejack’s eye, distracting her as WingBlade kicked her and jumped through a window and landed on the crane outside.

I rushed over to Applejack’s side to help her out but she just shook her head and pointed to WingBlade who was escaping. I jumped out from the broken window and landed on the construction crane.

WingBlade was running towards the edge of the crane while trying to flap her wings.

She’s going to fly!? Not on my watch!

I sprinted as fast as I could just as she clumsily took flight over the crane, I jumped from the edge of the platform high above the ground and reached for her.

I grabbed her bottom hoof and we began to fall.

“You fool we’ll BOTH fall!” she shouted over to me as she tried to kick me off.

“The only one falling is YOU!” I stabbed my blade into her damaged wing.

She screamed out in agony as every time I struck her wing she began to descend faster and faster with more and more blood being lost.
With one final push I thrust my blade into her wing, pierced it and sliced it all the way across.

*SNAP*

Her wing snapped in half as she screamed out in blistering pain as her and her wing fell towards an alley, I opened my wings and glided down after.

(End music)

Her body lay slumped in the middle of the alley as her cut off wing landed next to her in a pool of blood. I trotted over to her to see if she was alive.

*Cough*

I pull out my hidden blade and advanced towards her.

I reached over to her other wing and impaled my blade into her steel flesh, she screamed out in pain as her wing was punctured. I stabbed more times into her wing, the blood splattered across my robes.

“You bitch…. You treat us and everypony you meet like a piece of meat. Toying around with them and cutting them up for your own sick sport. I’ll make sure you never slay another pony as long as you live.”

“SHADOW STOP!”

I turned around and saw the rest of the assassins, my friends, they were in shock at what lay before them, a tired blood-covered pony sticking a blade out towards a pony with barely no wings left and was crying out in pain.

“Shadow this isn’t you, you aren’t her!” Applejack shouted at me.

I looked over to the no-winged WingBlade who was suffering on the ground and had fear in her eyes as I observed her.

No… I’m not a monster; I won’t stoop down to her or Balthazar’s level.

I leaned over to her and interrogated her, “Where… is…Dave?”

She slapped me and tried to stand up but was tackled by Rainbow Dash.

“Please Shadow, allow me,” she said to me before turning her attention on WingBlade.

“WHERE *SLAP* IS *SLAP* DAVE!?”

“That traitorous swine? *cough* I don’t know where he is *cough* for most of the time. What makes you think…”

*Clap*

*Clap*

*Clap*

An accountant appeared from a dark corner clapping his hoofs in a mocking rhythm, his glasses gleamed through the dark alley lighting and his icy pelt did the same.

“Oh very good Shadow, now that was an enjoyable performance if I do so say myself,” the pony laughed, still clapping.

“Dave…” I grunted at him.

“Come now Shadow, don’t let me believe you don’t enjoy my presence? After all isn’t that why you chased after my traitorous assassin?” he said as he walked over to us.

“I’m a traitor? YOU’RE THE TRAITOR DAVE!” WingBlade shouted at Dave, but he merely shook his head in disappointment.

“Oh WingBlade, you do realise that it was you who went against my order in the first place...”

“But I was trying to find the assassins I was trying to help Balthazar,” WingBlade choked on her pain.

“The irony of all this…. WingBlade, I already knew the location of the assassins.” Dave chuckled, and we all got surprised looks.

“What you mean you knew!?” Twilight shouted out in confused rage.

“Well of course…Twilight,” she gasped as her name was mentioned by Dave.

“I know all about you and everyone here, after all isn’t that what an accountant must do? Find information and use it efficiently and effectively to acquire a balanced statement?” Dave said while straightening his business tie.

“But you Dave… why didn’t *GACK*,” WingBlade choked on her words as she levitated slightly into the air surrounded by a black aura coming from Dave’s horn.

He ran his hoof through his black mane, “Unlike you WingBlade I think 10 steps ahead. I have no longer use for you…”

*SNAP*

WingBlade fell to the ground, dead.

“You horrible pony! How could you have done that to her!?” Rarity said enraged at Dave.

“Well Rarity you see: she called me a traitor, ignored my orders, had complete incompetence, and come on! She doesn’t have her wings left; I felt that she was too ironic and too useless to continue in our endeavor,” Dave slowly walked over to her and she backed away.

He shrugs, “Shadow I really don’t know how you get the ladies.”

“Dave… what is your game?” I coldly asked him.

“Game? Oh, no game,” he started to pace around us. “You know my goals; I just want to have absolute balance throughout the whole world. If you want to know more just ask Le Duck.”

“He’ll tell you all about it, or maybe he even wrote a book! I just don’t like his choice in literature, it’s a bit too… subliminal,” he joked.

Le Duck? Why would Le Duck know any of this?

“What you call balance is chaos!” Twilight shouted at Dave who continued to pace back and forth.

“No not chaos… that would be Discord’s thing, not mine. Though I did meet him countless times, he really is an enjoyable fellow once you get to know him, “ he smiled at her with his dark purple-blue eyes and a look of disgust went across her face.

Discord? Might have to ask Twilight later…
But really is all that Dave wants is balance? Is he fighting for what we’re fighting for?
His methods are different that's for sure.

“Now sorry to be a downer but you really must excuse me… I have to do some… accounting…” he said menacingly while snapping his hoof in the air.

*CRACK* A dark swirling vortex formed behind him and casually he began to walk towards the portal.

“YOU’RE NOT GETTING AWAY!” Rainbow shouted as she ran towards him, but a transparent black cube appeared in front of her and she slammed into it.

“Don’t worry… we will meet again, very soon…” He took a step into the portal and stopped he then said, “Oh! And don’t worry about your secrets, it’s not part of my plan to tell Balthazar where Ponyville is,” he chuckled as he stepped into the swirling black void.

*WHOOSH* It vanished from existence.

We were all left in shock with a decaying Pegasus lying next to us and an accountant that knew who were were, where we lived and who had extrordinary power.

Dave… just what are you?

Chapter 23: An Ominous Stalker

“AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

I woke up covered in sweat in my bed back at the Assassin’s Hideout.

Crap! Not another nightmare! Okay Dave where are you!?

I looked around the night-dark room with my hidden blade drawn and realized I was the only one here. Lying back down on the bed I gave a sigh of relief.

It’s okay, he’s not here…
Dave didn’t tell Balthazar where we are…. yet…

I don’t care if Dave says he’ll keep our promise, I don’t trust him and neither do the rest of the assassins.

A tear rolled down my cheek with the last thought I had before I went to sleep.

I don’t want Ponyville to end up like Ponitaly.
I don’t want it to be my fault… again.

--------------------------------------------

This time the sun was shining in my face when I next woke up from my rough sleep.
I reached over for my clothes and my second hidden blade (I always sleep with one) and put the clothing over my grey body.

There were some glass shards imbedded into my outfit from yesterday’s chase with WingBlade along with a couple of slash marks and a small tear in my right shoulder.

Guess I’ll get Rartiy to fix these for me later.

I took some of the glass shards out and placed them upon my mahogany desk, also on the magnificent wood laid a blank scroll and a quill with ink. I knew immediately that I still had to update the Princess on what the assassins are doing.
I took a seat in my chair, picked up the quill in my right hoof and began writing.

Dear Princess Celestia,

We were able to chase WingBlade out of Ponyville and killed her at Manehatten before she revealed our location and identities to Balthazar.

Though we should celebrate, we cannot because while she didn’t give anypony that information the other Templar Dave (though I’m confused if he really is a Templar), or rather their accountant, had knew long before we chased WingBlade our identities, hideout and even what we were going to do and with that information he says he wasn’t going to do anything with it, which I consider a lie and if he does… let’s just hope that ordeal won’t happen again.

Right now I don’t consider any moles or treachery within the Assassin Order, but this pony Dave is… different. I recommend to you Princess that you keep a close eye on Dave as I’m sure his plan to “Balance” Equestia is the same plan the Templars want to do, I am of course referring to “Project Purify” which we still are trying to find what information we can.

Currently Balthazar still has control of the Apple and I’m positive that Dave would know about it as well as he is armed with both powers and cunning intellect.

Though I know that you can’t aid us (being your political position and all) can you at least do a search for Dave? He disappears into portals and can use magic that I would never dream of and if we were to take him on, we would need more information if it is to be successful.

Again, thank you if you can we’ll continue to search here in Ponyville.

-Shadow-mark

I placed the quill back in the ink can and rolled the scroll up with my two hooves.

I’m sure that the rest of the assassins would come around here throughout the day; I’d better write a note for Twilight to get Spike to send this.

With my scroll firmly rolled neatly I reached back over to the quill and just as I was taking it out of the ink the can rolled over and poured thick black ink all over my scroll and my desk.

My eye twitched, but then I thought of a better idea.
I wiped any ink from the quill and placed the now dry quill over the desk. I wrote through the ink so it left noticeable letters in the mess.

“To Twilight, send letter to Celestia and also know how to clean ink off a desk?”

With a slight smile I left my message in the ink and walked over to the ladder towards the roof.

While Ace was still snoozing on the rooftop I took a leap of faith from the roof-tower and then went to a random location in Ponyville.

-----------------------------------------

Though there was a bright shining sun overlooking Ponyville it was still relatively early in the morning and Ponyville was just waking up to a brand new day.

Considering yesterday those two Canterlot ponies were brutally murdered.
Hopefully nobody saw us when we were chasing after WingBlade.
Hmm… I wonder.

I started making my way towards the spot where WingBlade had killed the unicorns.
Upon arriving I noticed some police tape surrounding chalked outlines of two figures and a pony I didn’t get a good at who then left the scene.

Ignoring the bystander that just left, I went under the tape and examined the murder scene closely. The spots on the ground where the outlines of the deceased laid were still stained with blood.

I still can’t believe that some ponies can just do this.
But… am I no different? I don’t kill my targets like this but still I kill…
Is there any morality in that?

I then noticed a quick blur running towards an alley; it looked like the same pony I saw before.
I took at least two steps towards the alley before…

“HELLO SHADOW!”

“AHHH!” I turned around and saw the happy goofy looking Dr. Mareio, with a sigh of relief I said to him, “Damnit Mareio… you shouldn’t sneak up on me like that.”

“So how was’a your trip? Did you get WingBlade and save Equestria from evil?” Mareio whispered in a heroic voice.

“And you’a forgot me…” Mareio said with a sad ominous frown.

“Um… well… you see…” I stuttered until Mareio changed from his frown to a happy laughing smile.

“I’ma just joking Shadow, ho ho ho!” he laughed as he placed a hoof around my shoulder and we began to walk.

While we were talking about yesterday’s events I looked back to the alley and saw that the pony was gone.

Strange…

-------------------------------

“I WAS A HERO!” Mareio shouted at the top of his voice waking up the rest of the town.

“…at least until they saw my bill,” he sheepishly smiled.

“Really how much was it?” I asked cautiously.

“Ah Shadow, a doctor never reveals client information with another. But I will say to you that it was SO MUCH that I gave them a discount!” he shook his hoof and held up a weird electronic device.

“What is it?”

“IT’SA MY PONY-BOI!”

Oh damn… video games, I never had one and I never will want one.
The moment your hooked BAM! Templars take over.

Mareio started to dance randomly and was attracting a crowd around us who awed in joy to see such a funny thing so early in the morning.
Taking this as my cue I weaved through the crowd until I had gotten to a bench that was rather far from where Mareio and the bystanders were.

Might as well see what I missed from yesterday, maybe I can even find clues for certain things.

I pricked my ears open and closed my eyes shut as I listened to the many voices of the morning Ponyvillians.

*Static*

*Static*

“…and I said that’s not my hoof.”

“OH YOU SLY PONY!”

I switched to a different part of Ponyville and focused my hearing there.

“Did you hear? Two ponies from Canterlot were murdered, right in front of my house!”

“Wow that’s shameful… where was the Shadow of Ponyville this time? Or even Mare-do-well?”

“You don’t think that the Shadow would have…. done it… would you?”

“I don’t know anymore, we are living in strange times indeed…”

“…”

“Hello Shadow I know you can hear me…” said an all-too familiar voice.

Dave.

I snapped myself back to reality and started gasping in shock; a pony who sat next to me on the bench reached over to my hyperventilating body and tried to help me.

“Are you okay?” the brown stallion said to me.

I righted myself back up and stood from the bench, “Umm… yes thank you.”

I immediately stood from the bench and looked over to where Mareio was dancing; he was still being ambushed and adored by his fans.

Damnit Mareio! I need to find someone so we can go after Dave…. I know, Rarity!

I started to sprint towards the Carousel Boutique but didn’t notice the dark figure watching me from the rooftops.

--------------------------------------------

*KNOCK*

*KNOCK*

“RARITY!” I shouted through the door.

A clatter of sounds came from behind the door and it opened revealing a distraught alabaster unicorn.

“WHAT!? WHAT IS IT!? ….Oh it’s you Shadow come in come in!” Rarity answered as she dragged me inside her house.

I looked everywhere around her house and saw that everything was cluttered smashed and destroyed, it looked like a hurricane had hit the inside of Rarity’s house. I turned to her and saw that her mane was frizzled and it looked like she had just recently gotten out of bed.

“Um... Rarity… everything alright?” I asked her.

“Oh whatever do you mean Shadow? Of course everything is alright but look at you! Those cuts and sears on your outfit are simply off-putting your natural physique,” she pointed over to the holes in my outfit.

“Ah yes Rarity, I wanted to ask you about that but before I…”

She put a hoof to my mouth and said, “Say no more I’ll fix your fashion problem even if it’s the last thing I do!”

With Dave running around… it probably is…

-------Half an Hour Later---------------

“So Rarity now that you’re almost finished can I ask you why your house looks so trashed?” I said while I relaxed on a couch.

“It was inspiration, now wait… just one… more… THERE!” she held up my fixed armor with her magic into the air and it appeared radiant in the glow.

I quickly put my armor back on and went over to a mirror, “It looks good Rarity, it looks… looks...”

“What Shadow? What’s wrong with it?” she came over to the mirror and saw me shaking.

“Shadow?”

I looked at the mirror to where Rarity had just come to the mirror and on the reflection I saw Dave’s cheery face that looked like he was right behind me and he was pulling out his pen-blade.

“LOOK OUT!” I shouted to Rarity as I turned around and shot a throwing knife behind me.

“AIE!” Rarity screamed in shock.

The knife was wedged into the wall with no sign of Dave anywhere to be seen.

“WHAT WAS THAT SHADOW!?” Rarity very unladylike shouted at me.

“I…I thought… ARG!” I took the knife from the wall and stored it in my knife belt.

With a sigh I turned back to the shocked Rarity, “I thought Dave was here in Ponyville., I saw his reflection in the mirror.”

“Dave? You mean that pony yesterday who knew all about us?” she asked me, I nodded in reply.

Immediately her horn lit up a beautiful light blue and a few seconds later she stopped, “I used a scan spell and I can’t find Dave anywhere. Maybe we should get you back to the hideout.”

“That might be a good idea Rarity. It must be the stress again,” I said as we left her house and trotted towards the hideout.

--------------------------------

“SHADOW! DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO WASH INK!?”

We were back at the hideout and the first thing that hit me was a washcloth thrown by an annoyed purple unicorn. The second thing she threw at me was Spike.

“YOUR MESS YOUR WORK!” Twilight angrily said to us and we just nodded our heads.

We went over to my desk and began to scrub the dry black ink from the mahogany.

“Shadow, why did you leave ink all over your desk and the scroll?” Spike said as he helped me wipe a corner.

“I wanted to troll Twilight and see if she would actually clean my desk,” I joked.

“HAH! That is funny!” Spike laughed.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Twilight was confused as why Spike was laughing.

“IT’S NOTHING, REALLY TWILIGHT!” I shouted over the room and then muffled my laughs.

As we were washing my table the rest of the Mane 6 showed up and we all exchanged pleasant hellos and good mornings.
I looked back at my table and saw that the ink was turning red; I frantically started to scrub the ink which now turned into the colour of blood.

I scrubbed harder and harder trying to remove the ink as fast as I could.
I stopped and looked at the bloody mess, there were letters written within the bloody ink.

“Scared Shadow?” they read.

What? How can Dave do this? This doesn’t make any sense!?

“… shadow”

“Shadow…”

“SHADOW!”

I looked up and saw my friends and Spike with worried looks on their faces, I looked back down at the table and saw that most of the ink was gone and the rest that was there was left was black as any normal ink would be.

A hoof landed on my shoulder and I saw it was Applejack’s, “Are you okay sugarcube?”

“I… I... don’t know, this whole thing with Dave and…. and I see him everywhere but he isn’t there… I don’t want him to tell Balthazar where we are… I don’t know why he’s doing all these mind-games! I just…. I just… don’t want to lose anypony else,” I admitted with my head down, I was on the verge of tears but I wanted to appear brave.

“Dave? That stallion that killed WingBlade? You think he’s here?” Twilight asked me, this time Rarity nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell us sooner, this is a serious problem!?” Fluttershy said.

“You made me wash the desk and…” I dropped the washcloth as I looked back at the desk.

They all turned their heads to the desk and gasped.
The desk was completely clean and the only thing on top of it was a sealed envelope and one of that Pony-boi’s I seen Mareio use.

I nervously picked up the electronic device and clicked the start button; an image appeared on the screen. It was a picture of Dave.

“HELLO SHADOW! Sorry for messing with your head today, but it was essential for the last phase of my plan,” the electronic Dave smiled at us.

“What is it Dave? What do you want!?” I shouted at the screen.

“And Shadow, this is a pre-recorded message so shouting would get you nowhere,” he waved his pixilated head back and forth.

“Now then, in the envelope I placed a few necessary things for you to find this,” he held up a round object which I recognized as a seal.

A Seal? How would he know about something like that? Things aren’t adding up.

“Also know that I’ll be waiting for you there and maybe I’ll tell you a bit more about my plan…” he looks over at a clock on his hoof, “You better hurry Shadow, I got a lot of work to do… and so do you…” the pixilated Dave left the screen.

We all were in shock from his minor scare speech, but Rainbow Dash quickly ran for the letter and opened it up, the contents included: a map, compass, and a small note.

Rainbow took the note and read aloud, “Also that Pony-boi is a bomb….you got 5 minutes.”

“A BOMB!?” we all shouted.

“WEEEEEEEEEEE!!” Pinkie shouted as she took the Pony-boi and started to hug it.

“Pinkie stop being a Pyro and get rid of the bomb!” I shouted to her.

“OKIE DOKIE LOKIE!” she tossed the Pony-boi into the hands of Spike.

“AAH!” he tossed the Pony-boi into the air.

“CATCH IT!” we all shouted as it fell towards the ground.

Applejack quickly caught it and asked in confusion, “Uh… where do I put this?”

“Give it to me I’ll get it out in a dash!” Rainbow flew a little too fast into Applejack and the bomb was knocked from her hooves and fell into the middle of the room.

Immediately everypony except for me jumped towards it and began fighting for it.
Ace from the falcon entrance to the roof flew down and landed on my shoulder, he saw the scene and began to laugh.

“EVERYPONY STOP!”

Everyone immediately stopped, except for Ace who was still laughing at the whole situation.

I went over to their pretzel tangled bodies and took the bomb which was grasped in Pinkie’s hoof, the Pony-boi began to beep violently and I quickly threw it towards the clock window shattering the glass as the bomb started to fall.

*BOOM*

A searing fireball engulfed on the outside of the clock tower and I was pushed back from the window and tumbled over to the other side of the hideout.

Dazed I looked at what I grasped in my hooves before the blast happened, the map to the 4th seal.

The map to Dave.

Chapter 24: Seals- The Underwater Cave

A smoky gray smoke cloud filled the room as well as outside where the bomb had exploded.
We were all covered in soot and all the glass from the clock window was blown off and scattered all over the hideout’s red carpet.

“Is everypony alright?” Applejack said non-visibly from the smoke covered room.

“*COUGH* I CAN’T SEE I CAN’T SEE!” Fluttershy started to panic.

“EVERYPONY! GET DOWN BELOW THE SMOKE!” I shouted throughout the room as I laid on my stomach so I was below the smoke cloud.

After a few seconds I saw everyone else crouched to the ground with their stomachs to the ground.

“AAH! I CAN’T SEE!” shouted Spike who was still head-up in smoke.

I grabbed his leg and pulled him down towards the ground.

“To the door, NOW!”

We crouched our way towards the door leading to the rest of the clock tower. As soon as we made it to the bottom of the smoke-free area we all gave a sigh of relief.

“Whew… am I glad to be out of that,” Applejack sighed with relief.

“It wouldn’t have happened if Applejack kept her hoof on the bomb!” Rainbow angrily said.

“ME!? You flew in too fast! Anyways Twilight, Rarity where were you!?”

“US!? You think this to be our fault? I can assure you I’m not to blame….. it was Twilight’s fault,” Rarity said with her nose up.

“WHAT!? HOW IS IT MY FAULT!? PINKIE THREW THE BOMB TO BEGIN WITH!”

“No it’s your fault!” Pinkie shouted back at Twilight, which then made the group burst out into fits of arguing and confusion.

What’s with these ponies!? Where’s the teamwork in all of this!? Unacceptable!

I clenched my hoof and said through gritted teeth, “ENOUGH! IT WAS ALL OUR FAULTS!”

Everyone shut up and then began to ponder my outburst.

“Teamwork is essential for the Assassin Brotherhood, and what I see here is a clear example on how NOT a team works!” I said angrily.

“Shadow take it easy,” Rainbow tried to calm me down but failed.

“TEAMWORK is what makes us strong without it we’d all be dead right now! When you were initiated as Assassins by taking the Leap you’ve shown me that I can trust you and that you can trust us. And what I see here is a bunch of Disorganized, Arguing, Sloppy fillies that nearly got everypony killed!”

Everyone was saddened by my painful realisation.

“Without trust is…. is without hope,” I sadly said as I leaned my head down remembering Sniper-Shot’s betrayal.

“Shadow… I… we’re,” Applejack began to say but I hushed her.

“Guess I’m going to have to give you part two of Shadow’s No Nonsense Training,” I said with a small smile.

They may have been disorganized right now, but I won’t lose hope on them.
Never.

“Alright then! We need to go after Dave before he does one of these things again, and I’m sure that if I didn’t take all you along it would be suicide,” I joked.

They saluted me and I turned around to the clock-tower’s main door and opened it wide.

The hell is this?

-------------------------------------------------------

“WHY WAS THERE AN EXPLOSION!?”

“ARE YOU TESTING MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS HERE IN PONYVILLE?”

“IS IT A CONSPIRACY!? BECAUSE I KNOW ALL ABOUT IT!”

“THERE’S GLASS IN MY EYE! ARRRRRRGGGG!”

Practically all the citizens of Ponyville were outside our doorstep shouting out about the recent explosion. All the ponies went quiet when a sandy mare with a grey coloured mane who looked rather important stepped up towards us.

“I am the Mayor of Ponyville and I demand to know who you are and why there was an explosion just now!” she said with her mayoral voice.

Oh crap what do I do? I can’t say it was Dave or it would blow our whole cover plus Ponyville did protect me all this time, I might as well be honest for once.

I stepped forward to here from my group and said with my Ponitalian charm, “Oh where are my manners? I am Shadow-Mark, if this pleases your first question Madame Mayor.”

She merely looked disgusted by my charm while the other rioting ponies grew intrigued with my class, “Shadow-Mark, I’ll be sure to keep a record on that name…. Now why was there an explosion at the clock-tower? Also why are you here? This tower is strictly off-limits for foreigners without permits--.”

“WAIT!” Twilight shouted from behind me.

“Ms. Mayor we already talked about the arrangements for us to use the tower and Shadow here is a member of our team, as for the explosion…,” she trotted over to the mayor.

“I DID IT! I MADE THE EXPLOSION!” Pinkie shouted at the top of her lungs to the group of rioters.

“What!?”

“Oh come on! I went all this way for nothing!?”

“Pinkie… I knew it was Pinkie….”

The rioters grumpily dispersed and all that was left was the Mayor.

“Well… Pinkie don’t let the happen again,” the Mayor said with a stern tone, and Pinkie saluted her.

“As for YOU!” she turned her head to me. “I’m keeping an eye on you… Shadow-Mark…”

The Mayor left us and began to trot back to town. I let out a sigh and pulled out the map Dave gave us.

Ok, if we’re here… then that must be….
A lake?

Then it hit me.

Oh… THAT lake…

I folded the map away and turned to the girls, “Alright everypony we ran into a riot, but unfortunately now we need to head to the lake near Fluttershy’s house. Hopefully we’ll be able to find out where Dave is from there.”

------------------------------------------------------

As soon as we all left Spike came to the soot covered remains of our Hideout, with all the smoke clear he began to clean a table from the black dust.
About five minutes in Spike had a rather bad stomach ache and burped green fire revealing a scroll covered in the word “URGENT”.

“Urgent huh? Let’s see what’s so urgent from the Princess…” Spike opened the letter and he began to read out loud.

“Shadow-Mark whatever you do don’t engage Dave. I repeat, DO NOT ENGAGE DAVE! He has as much power as Discord and he can alter reality…”

“WHAT!?” Spike dropped the letter. “DISCORD!? I better tell Shadow before he gets to the lake!” Spike said out loud and ran for the stairs with Ace flying casually behind him.

He tripped on a loose screw and began to fall down the stairs, “OH NO!”

*OUCH*

Ace fell to the floor squawking with laughter.

---------------------------------------

After walking for some time with the map held in my hoofs we arrived at the lake.

Ok… so if the lake is here then where would Dave be? I can't see him at all.

I was confused as only a large body of water was the only thing I could see, Dave wasn’t there at all and I couldn’t think of anything except the water.

“Here Rainbow, since you’re so good with maps why don’t you figure out where we’re supposed to go from this point,” I hoofed the map to her.

“On it Shadow!” Rainbow began to look at the map extensively.

While Rainbow was reading the map with some help from the rest of the assassins I approached the lake shore and peered my head over to the light blue water.

Maybe….

Taking a breath I swan-dived into the lake and very carefully opened my eyes so I could see the environment around me. Behind me was the wall where the lake met the ground but everywhere else was shrouded in the light blue water. My eyes looked down and met with nothing but a vast void of empty water. I tried to focus my sight closer to the bottom and for a brief second everything flashed darker. I closed my eyes to stop the stinging sensation I felt. I reopened my eyes a second later and everything was fine.

Arg, my eyes must’ve screwed up for a second.
Wow, this lake is deep… I wonder what’s at the bottom.

Suddenly a dark long figure swam a few metres below me. I panicked slightly but it was enough for me to gasp for air. Forgetting I’m still underwater my lungs desperately started to choke on the water and I desperately swam back towards the glowing surface of the lake.

*GASP*

I coughed the water out from my lungs and weakly stood up at the lake bank with my clothes drenched.

“Shadow! Are you ok?” Fluttershy came to my side and supported me as I coughed the rest of the lake water out. “Rainbow Dash said she found a tunnel somewhere in the lake.”

“A tunnel? *cough* Really?”

The rest of the mares joined up with me and Twilight spoke to me, “Yes, while you were ‘swimming’ I came up with a spell that can make us breath underwater and keep us nice and dry.”

She noticed my wet clothes and said with a smirk, “At least most of us.”

“Alright then Twilight, though I think there was something swimming in that deep water.”

Fluttershy had a panicked look on her face, “Something…. Something swimming?”

“Duh Fluttershy there are fish in the lake,” Rainbow told her before bringing me over to her map. “So Shadow, there’s this tunnel right here see?”

“Got it, but judging by the placement of the tunnel it seems likely it’s at the bottom of the lake near the bottom.” I said pointing to the mark on the map.

“Ok now that ya’ll done drowning yourself and scaring each other with fish stories, why don’t you let Twilight do her unicorn magic,” Applejack said a little impatiently.

We all formed a circle around Twilight and her horn glowed a bright purple colour and moments later we were all covered in some weird transparent bubble suits.

“Even though I feel a bit bulky at least my gorgeous mane won’t get wet,” Rarity said with a smile.

“Twilight? If these are bubble suits than anything sharp would burst them?” I asked her.

“Correct, these suits can store plenty of oxygen, combat water pressure, and help us swim more easily underwater. But if anything sharp connects with it the suit will pop and bad things will happen,” Twilight shuddered not wanting to think about a suit being popped 50 feet below the surface.

Well there goes my hidden blades and pretty much everything else.
Though I wonder why Dave would be at the bottom of a lake.

There must be more to this.

“Alright then everyone… Move out!” I said as I jumped into the lukewarm waters. Everypony else followed me in.

With the bubble suit on my clothes I couldn’t feel the water, at least on the outside of my suit.
We all descended downwards getting deeper and deeper towards the bottom of the lake.

“Hey look over there!” Pinkie pointed towards a semi-large hole in the ground.

“That must be the tunnel then, the question is, is Dave on the other side?” I said as we went over to the mouth of the tunnel.

“Only one way to find out!” Rainbow said bolting towards the hole with us following behind her.

----------------------------------------------

“How much further is it? I hope we have enough oxygen,” Twilight said as we swam through the underwater tunnel.

“It’s been some time Twi I’d say we got about 15 minutes left,” Applejack reassured her.

“Hopefully this tunnel isn’t too long, I can’t wait to find Dave and teach him a lesson for nearly blowing up Ponyville,” Rainbow said looking back at Pinkie.

“Ya that mean pony didn’t follow the guideline when making bombs. I ALWAYS follow the guidelines, going outside them would be crazy!” Pinkie replied.

“Pinkie… Nevermind,” Twilight facehoofed.

I do know that Dave is powerful and I know that he’ll do anything to bring his perfect balance to Equestria, but why does he want to meet us under a lake!? More importantly why does he have a Seal?

Maybe I get more answers when I…

We reached the end of the tunnel and came to a vast column of a cave; we were at its ceiling.
I looked down and saw nothing but dark water; I couldn’t even see the bottom as there was almost no sun going through the cave.

Dear Celestia.....

“Wow… this place is so huge!” Pinkie said with a giggle.

“It’s so… deep,” Fluttershy said with a bit of fear.

“Ok Rainbow where does the map say to go now?” I asked her.

She pulled the map from behind her mane in the bubble suit and looked at it carefully, she gasped.

“Hey sugarcube what is it?” Applejack asked her with a puzzling look.

“The map…. it… it.”

“Rainbow what’s the problem?” I swam over to her and looked at the map.

How…. what!?

The map had changed its design from Ponyville and the lake to a large circle with various fish and objects on it, the most distinct was a big bold arrow pointing downwards in the centre of the circle.

“I guess we’re going down then,” I chuckled slightly holding back my fear.

“You mean down there? Where it’s all… dark?” Fluttershy cowered while pointing directly below us.

I looked directly down and I saw something enormous and long moving through the black water and my fear of depth rose up to my chest making myself feel nauseous.

Come on I can do this! I won’t let my fear keep me from doing my mission.

“OK everypony this isn’t going to be easy, though we lost most of our oxygen and I have no idea how far down this cave goes and we won’t be able to see which way is up when we’re down there, plus there might be some creatures down here we don’t want to meet, and…..”

“WE GET IT!” the six shouted at me.

I cleared my throat, “We’ll use the wall to get our way to the bottom with Twilight and Rarity using their magic to make light. But that might be bad considering we’ll be attracting a lot fish towards us…. or something much worse.”

We swam our way to the nearby wall of the cave and sinking our fears we descended downward towards the abyss.
The lighting around us started to get weaker and weaker until it was so dark that I couldn’t see my hoof in front of my face.

“Everyone,” I whispered not wanting to alert any hearing-sensitive fish. “Put your hoof on the wall and use that as a guide, follow my voice I think we're about halfway down.”

“EEEEEEEEEEK!” Fluttershy screamed. “Something swam by my leg!”

We all screamed too when something slippery slid past our bodies.

“Twilight! Light!” I shouted behind to the darkness.

Instantly our area grew to a bright purple and before us was a simple fish.

Flutteshy still screamed.

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”

“GLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

The fish screamed and puffed up into a spiky ball as it swam away, we all laughed including Fluttershy.

Suddenly my eyes began to sting again and the area in front of me flashed, I saw an enormous serpent-like body swimming a few feet away outlined in red. My eyes readjusted and I looked in front of me and saw only blackness.

The hell was that? It looked like the snake that threw me that one time when I was giving assassin training to the mares… But why was it red? Was it my eyes?

Am I having….. vision problems?

No way am I eating another one of Mareio’s body correction shrooms, speaking of which I wonder how he’s doing…

--------At the Assassin Hideout------------

Mareio whistled a merry familiar tune as he entered the clock tower on the ground floor. He didn’t notice Spike who was still lying on the floor with a broken arm and tripped over him landing on his face.

*SQUACK CAW CAW!* Ace laughed who didn’t bother to help Spike as the other assassins were away.

“MAMMA MIA! Spike what are’a you doing on the ground?” Mareio helped Spike up to his feet but Spike immediately fell down after and clutched his arm in pain.

“AH! THE PAIN! I think it’s broken, but Mareio you gotta listen to me! You need to warn--,” Spike started to say but Dr. Mareio shoved a yellow mushroom into Spike’s mouth.

Spike swallowed it and said with disgust, “Eueh that’s nasty but… hey I can stand again and my arm's all better!"

He got up to his feet and shouted with might, "I HAVE THE POWER!”

Dr. Mareio had a smile that looked almost sinister, “Wait for it….”

Spike's arms sagged to his sides he desperately tried to move his arms up but they only swung around like a spaghetti string.

“AAH! I can’t move my arms!? What is this…. Wait…… you didn’t give me THAT shroom did you? Please tell me you didn’t!” Spike pleaded to Mareio who merely laughed.

“PAINFUL URINATION!” Mareio shouted with happiness.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”

-------------------------------------------------------------

We descended down even further until we actually reached the bottom of the cave.

“Ok girls, I think there should be another tunnel nearby. Twilight and Rarity can you both focus your magic to illuminate the floor as much as you can?” I asked them.

Almost immediately the entire floor of the cave lit up and I saw a hole a few metres away from where we were. The problem was it was surrounded by sharks and a slightly pissed of sea serpent that hates me, a lot.

“Everypony swim! SWIM AS FAST AS YOU CAN!” I shouted as the creatures swam towards their prey, us.

We rushed towards the hole narrowly getting eaten by a passing great-white, I hoofed a shark in the nose and it swam away in pain but the other sharks started to circle around me.

“SHADOW HURRY!” everyone said from the safety of the hole.

I was about to swim their direction but a 50 foot snake headed straight towards me with its mouth wide open and it’s glistening teeth shining through the fading light of Twilight’s spell.

"WHY DO YOU HATE ME SO MUCH!?" I shouted at the snake as it engulfed me with it's open mouth.

It closed its jaws together with a snap.

“SHADOW!” everypony shouted in shock.

The serpent licked it's lips and did a smile of satisfaction.

"No it can't be... it just can't be!" Applejack started to cry.

"Oh Shadow..." Rarity said with sadness. "He had so much good planned for this world."

Without giving the ponies a chance to mourn the serpent swam towards them looking for more prey to eat.

Suddenly it's eyes went wide the serpent’s mouth opened with Shadow holding the serpent’s teeth open to prevent it from closing with his hooves, two on the top two on the bottom his bubble suit was broken.

“SINCE WHEN DO SNAKES HAVE TEETH!?” I joked at the ponies as the snake plunged its head into the hole with me along with it.

I released my hold on the snake and swam outward into the tunnel with the rest of my friends just as it’s jaws clamped shut. It started to wiggle and drive it's head back into the hole, it snapped it's white sharp teeth at us which was merely a few inches from my muzzle.

“It’s too big! It can’t get in!” Rarity noted.

The serpent gave on last final push and thrust his head towards us making a current in the water.

“AAAAHH!” we all shouted as the current pushed us further down the tunnel and my suit popped from the pressure.

---------------------------------------------

I opened my eyes and found that I was still breathing even though my bubble suit was destroyed and that the other’s suits were also destroyed and they were all safe too, more importantly we were on solid ground with no water.

"SHADOW!" Applejack hugged me hard and I fell to the ground.

I gave her a reassuring smile and she blushed slightly hugging me tighter, it followed by with hugs from the other ponies who dog-piled ontop of me.

"Too...much...hugs..." I said weakly with 6 poines all ontop of me crushing my lungs.

“Where in tarnation are we?” Applejack got up to her hooves followed by everyone else after the confirmation that I wasn't eatten.

I looked around us and saw that we were in a brightly lit cave; the walls were covered in torches and behind us stood a tunnel with water floating behind a weird magical wall.

“Glad you all made it out ok, did you have a nice trip?” said a voice behind us.

I quickly turned back in front of me and saw Dave typing on a laptop while sitting on a flat stone the Seal was by his side. He readjusted his bold glasses and he gave a sinister smile.

“I was wondering when you’d show up.... Assassins.”

Author's note: I apologize for how long I took for this chapter, playing Mass Effect 3 had it's costs but I did finish it in 4 days so my writing schedule will hopefully improve back to normal as I have a lot of ideas I want to get out, plus a fight scene I want to try. Again any feedback is accepted as it'll make this story better in the long run. And my plan so far says it is long.

Chapter 25: The Accountant

{Picture of Dave for those wondering what he looks like, but might go and change him once I make a few changes or so}

(Dave's Theme Music)

“Dave, why are you here!?” I shouted over to him as he still typed on his laptop.

“Hmm?” he looked up from his laptop, “Some late accounting work that I needed to prep… as well as something else,” he chuckled while busily typing on his keyboard.

“But why Dave? Why drag us down to an underwater cave, and what about that seal? How could you have known about them in the first place?” I pointed over to the seal behind him.

“Oh come now Shadow, I didn’t force you to come to this cave. No, all I did was persuade you with a few ‘minor’ tricks. After all isn’t that how you assassins work nowadays?”

Applejack stepped up and stomper her hoof on the cave ground, “Minor? MINOR? You blew up our base! And now you tempt us with one of them seals? I don't know who you are but I know for certain you’re not an assassin Dave, and you never will be!”

“… Feisty mare you have there Shadow, I see why you made her your second in command. Though with that stubborn attitude of hers… I don’t know how you manage that,” Dave shrugged his shoulders.

“Dave…. What are you really after?” I asked him while preparing a throwing knife.

He stood up to his hind-hoofs and made his laptop disappear into thin air. Dave used his magic to pick up the seal onto his hoof and flashed it towards us.

“Shadow, I already told you what I want... what I need to know is, what do YOU want?” he held the seal in the palm of his hoof.

What I want? What is he talking about?

The seal in his hoof started to glow and a flash of light engulfed the room. I shielded my eyes and the rest of the assassins did the same. Once the bright light dissipated I looked over to what Dave held in his hoof.

No…. it can’t be…

It was the Apple.

How... Wait!
This is my only chance; I need to take the shot!

I whipped the throwing knife I prepped at Dave as it sailed right towards his chest.
He took his other hoof and grabbed the knife mid-flight, a few inches from his chest.

Dave shook his head disappointingly, “Tsk tsk Shadow, do you really believe you can win a fight against me? Just like that and your goals in life…” the Apple he held glowed as white light streaks surrounded it revealing the seal in it's place.

“Are an illusion at best,” he smiled evilly as the seal itself disappeared in a black light.

“RAAAH!” I shouted at him as I ran towards him with my hidden blade with the intent to end his life right there.

I stabbed to where Dave was but my blade hit nothing but air. I looked around the room trying to find Dave and he appeared a few seconds later; streaks of light dissipated around him as he sat on a boulder.

“Well Shadow if you truly want to fight me what right do I have from stopping you?” he jumped down from the boulder and readjusted his glasses.

“Don’t worry Shadow we got your back! We’ll defeat him...”

“TOGETHER!” everypony shouted.

I’m so glad I have my team with me, otherwise I’d probably die…

Instantly a white transparent box surrounded the other assassins.

“Hey what is this?” Applejack asked realising they were trapped.

"This looks like a barrier of some kind, but I've never seen anything like it," Twlight pressed a hoof against the box.

Rainbow Dash punched a wall and it didn’t budge, “We can’t break free!”

Dave merely laughed, “Of course, after all we don’t want you to interfere with our fight now? How can Shadow take down the Templars if he can’t even defend himself?”

“Don’t worry girls; I’ll buy you some time! Just get out of that box while I deal with Dave,” I shouted over to my friends not taking my eyes off Dave.

“Shadow are you crazy!? We can only do this together! You said so yourself!” Twilight shouted from the box as she helplessly watched me and Dave prepare to fight.

“Don’t worry Twilight! I’m not going to kill him; Shadow still has purpose for this world!” Dave shouted to Twilight. “Maybe I'll beat him to an inch of his life and gather my data. I just need to test him…” he said sinisterly to me.

I pulled out both my hidden blades and got into my battle stance.

“Engarde Shadow!” Dave shouted as he snapped his hooves.

----------------------------------------------------------------

(Battle Music)

Wait… since when can Ponies snap their hoofs?
Enough about that, its do or die time!

“Mares fist Shadow,” Dave taughted me with a slight laugh.

Without replying I rushed towards him and swiped my blade vertically but he sidestepped behind me and kicked me down. I quickly got up from the ground and turned back to Dave who did a mock yawn.

“Come on Shadow I said ‘engarde’ it means fight me, not get your ass kicked in the first 5 seconds.”

Ignoring his insult I closed the distance between us and stabbed him with my blades which only connected with air, Dave had dodged my attacks but he was still in my range. I continued to stab wildly around him in hopes to break his defense. Dave ducked down as he nearly got a horizontal swipe from my blade, I followed with a thrust and Dave jumped backwards.

“Now that’s better Shadow, you just need to work on your aim. Here let me show you…” he smiled fiendishly as he snapped his hoof.

From nowhere a group of pens appeared and floated around Dave in a large circle, he smiled at me and shot his hoof out. The pens shot straight at me at near bullet speeds; I rolled to my right as the pens missed me by inches and embedded themselves into the cave's wall. I looked at the pens which suddenly disappeared in a black light, unicorn magic obviously.

He’s completely in control of his magic, he could even rival the Princess’s magical power…

“GAH!”

While I was distracted Dave had shot an extra pen into the back of my right shoulder.

“Shadow you need to focus! Or a pen in your back will leave you dead like a tack!”

Dave snapped his hoof and even more pens appeared, he launched them towards me but I was ready this time. Using my hidden blades I deflected the pens and slashed them mid-flight. As the barrage of pens started to waver I grabbed a pen with my hoof while it was still flying spun around with all my strength and tossed it back towards Dave.

Checkmate bitch!

Dave crossed his hoofs and gave a smirk; the pen disappeared right before it could hit him.

“Better Shadow! You now have more skill than a kindergartener… whoa!” Dave started to mock me but quickly disappeared into streaks of light as my throwing knife nearly lodged into his eye instread it harmlessly got stuck in the wall.

“Behind you,” a voice whispered from behind.

I turned around to slash Dave but instead I got bitch-slapped with his tie.

“A tie!? Come on!”

“Improvisation Shadow, now…” Dave took a couple of steps back as his right hoof started to flash a black light and what appeared on his hoof was his signature pen-blade, emblazed with the Assassin’s logo and the Templar’s logo together.

Is he a Templar or an Assassin? Is this his idea of world balance…

“Ah you like my pen-blade? I do like your assassin designs and the Templar's cunning initiative. I guess you’re wondering about why I have both symbols on here, you can say it makes it more… balanced.” Dave gave a small chuckle.

“Course I won’t tell you anymore right now as you need to learn things for yourself. Plus it’ll ruin the fun!” Dave joked while calibrating his blade.

It doesn’t matter who or what he is, if I can kill him now that’ll make everyponies lives easier.

Without waiting for him to finish I charge him with my blades, he doesn't react fast enough and I managed to tear a cut on his black jeans as he jumped backwards.

“Now it gets serious,” Dave said coldly pulling out his pen-blade, his smile turned into a blank expression.

I charged him once more hoping to stab him in his chest but he deflected my blade with his. He cleared his throat and with quick speed he countered with a hoof in my chest and punched me in the face after. I fell to the ground and scampered to my hooves as Dave lunged at me with his blade. I tried to block his blade with mine but his strength was too great and his attacks were relentless.
I was losing my defense and was getting tired from this fight, which surprised me.

Come on… just hold out a little more…

*SNAP*

Dave had slashed through my left blade breaking the steel then followed with a roundhouse kick to my chest. I tumbled to the floor and tried to get up, exhaustion pulling me back every second.
My body felt like stone from the exhaustion and the best I could do was get on my knees.

Dave approached me with his blade and held his pen-blade out to one side of his body; preparing the finishing blow.

I closed my eyes and awaited my fate.

I didn’t imagine to die like this: helpless, alone and weak. If I couldn’t beat Dave now, how could I save Equestria? I failed so much in life and I'll continue to fail in my death. I'm sorry to everypony that I forced this war upon, they didn't need to get mixed up in all this.

I failed Ponitaly, I failed my family, I failed Ponyville and Equestria. Most importantly I failed my friends...

Maybe I'll be able to seek redemption, at least I’ll join my family, wherever they are…

"..."

*SMACK*

Dave slapped me across the face with his pen and I fell over to my side in both pain and shock.

“OW!?” I shouted in confused pain as my lip started to bleed.

“Shadow, like I said you still have purpose and I won’t kill you… yet,” Dave said to me though my blurred vision.

“SHADOW!”

I looked over to my side and saw that my friends escaped through the box through a large hole, they all circled around Dave with their hidden blades unsheathed, ready to attack the fiend that hurt their friend.

“Don’t… he’s too…. strong,” I weakly coughed as blood dripped down from my lip.

“Shadow, shut up. And you Dave! You’re goin down!” Applejack shouted at Dave with rage, the rest of the assassins nodded their heads in approval.

Dave mearly shrugged and with a sigh he said, "Applejack, I think this is going to be a waste of time but I guess I can spare a few more minutes to brutaly humiliate all of you." His glasses flashed and his smile came back.

"Bring it."

With a battle cry they all jumped towards Dave.

I can’t bear to watch…

(End Music)

------2 minutes later-------------------------

Everyone lay on the floor exhausted and beaten; Dave overlooked us and laughed in pity.

“You’re all weak! Especially you Shadow, this is your team so I expected a lot more but instead I got to fight the most disorganized group of ponies I’ve ever seen. Therefore you’re weak and a complete disgrace to your assassin ancestors.”

“Why…you…” I tried to stand up but failed.

“See Shadow, why don’t you come back when you’re a little more mmmmmmmm… stronger?”

He saw the pain in my eyes and sighed, “Well I’m not a cold-heartless pony like the other Templars so I might tell you a bit about myself since your whole life has been dominated by fear and guilt and I pretty much messed with your head today. Afterall it’s only fair, *Ahem*,” he cleared his throat.

“What Balthazar is planning is big, both Project Purify and the Apple will be used and let’s just say that
every... single... pony in Equestria will obey the Templars once his plan succeeds. As for me I see his plan as a way to provide balance to Equestria though I have been watching you for some time Shadow and I am interested about your methods to end Balthazar and claim the Apple.
So after some research I came up with a plan provided with the best possible balance for Equestria and for myself."

"The only variable is you."

Me?

“So you’re not aligned with the Templars?” Rarity asked through painful bruises.

“Oh… I am but it’s fun to watch you try to figure out my puzzling foreshadowing,” Dave laughed at his joke.

“Shadow before I forget…” Dave pitifully dropped the Seal he had sent away before the fight right into the ground in front of my muzzle.

“If you want to know more about these, why don’t you ask Le Duck? I bet he know all about THIS and more.” he sneered at us as he turned around and began to walk away.

Le Duck? What would he know about these Seals or even Dave for that matter?

“Plus Shadow I’d love for you and Le Duck to see my dimension, it’s quite homey if I do say so myself, after all it’s only a matter of time…” he snapped his hoof and a dark vortex appeared in front of him.

Before he stepped in he turned his head around and said to us, “Me and Balthazar are planning something soon, you should join us when we’re done. I’ll send an invite,” he cheerfully said as he stepped in the portal.

“Ta-ta assassins,” the portal closed behind him.

“DAAAAAAAAAVVVVVVEEEEEEE!” I shouted at the top of my lungs in fury but quieted down as I used up the last amount of my energy.

But he is right, we are weak… I’m weak. I just hope some retraining will reteach the girls with better assassin skills. But what about me? How would I improve? Still, I don’t understand Dave… did he go to a different dimension? How is that even possible? I need to shut up with the questions, I can’t think straight now I need to help my friends.

I turned to the exhausted assassins and shouted over to them, “Everypony alright?”

“We’re bruised and exhausted but apart from that we’re fine,” Twilight answered. "I think you have the most servere wounds out of all of us."

“Good… that’s… good…” my voice started to trail off.

“Shadow…..? Shadow?” Applejack tried to ask me but I was falling unconscious.

“Shadow! Stay with me!” she crawled over to my side despite the aches and pain.

I could see the pain and exhaustion in her eyes but I couldn’t hold myself conscious anymore, “Heh… Applejack, sorry but I… gotta write some documents…” I joked and closed my eyes.

I start to hear rushing water but before Applejack or I could say anything I passed out.

Chapter 26: Memories- A Shadow's Revenge

--------Two years after the Siege of Ponitaly----------

I sat on a barstool at an inn called, “The Sleeping Cerberus”. It was a rather nice wooden lodge with not too many customers showing up as it was on the far outskirts of Stallongrad, a major trading hub a while up north from the ruins of Ponitaly. My robes were slightly tattered from the years of use and hunting for those responsible for the fall of my once great city, Ponitaly.

Ponitaly… not a day has gone by since I left….
The screams, the fires… everything destroyed…
Everyone...

“So what’ll you have?” the innkeeper said to me interrupting my thoughts, he was a sandy coloured earth pony with a brown scruffy beard and a shaggy short brown mane.

“You know me Bill, stop joking around,” I laughed a bit despite how feeble I sounded.

“Aha, gotcha Shadow! Water it is!” Bill went over to the tap and poured the clear crystal water in one glass, went to the tap next to it and poured a dark orange coloured beverage for himself.

I never touch that stuff… it tastes absolutely foul.

Bill gets back to the bar stand and hoofs me the drink from across the stand, I tip my head to him in thanks and chugged the water down quenching my thirst.

Wow… who knew that a flavorless liquid would taste so good?

“Hey Shadow don’t drink all of it at once, wouldn’t want my regular to bust the urinal again!” Bill laughed as he joined me by chugging down his own drink.

“Hey Bill, that was one time!” I said holding up a hoof in protest.

“Well I still need to thank you for beating up those good for nothing bandits, even if it did cost me a toilet…”

“Please, it was no trouble at all. Let’s just call it even,” I said holding out a hoof towards Bill.

Bill grasped my hoof and shook, “Agreed."

After many minutes of friendly conversation about the weather Bill asked me while taking a sip of his drink, “So Shadow how was your trip to Hoofington a while back?”

“It was…. interesting…”

-------Hoofington------------

“PLEASE! STOP!”

I punched the battered and bleeding unicorn ambassador right across his face. I let go of him and he sulked to the floor coughing out a thick wad of crimson blood from his throat.

“I won’t stop till you tell me where he is…”

I kicked him in the stomach and the rest of his body fell to the ground.

“ARG! YOU SAVAGE!” the unicorn shouted out in pain as he clutched his side.

I picked him up by the throat of his neck and readied my hidden blade against his cheek there was a faint dark red glow emanating from my body but I didn't notice or care.

“I’m not going to ask again, TELL ME WHERE HE IS!” I shouted at him while aggressively poking my knife into his skin.

“WHO!?”

“Balthazar…” I replied coldly.

“I don’t know where he is! I’m just an ambassador!”

“Wrong answer…” I said plunging my blade into the diplomat.

“GAH!”

-----------------------------------------------

Politians and diplomats always say the wrong things at the wrong times; they’re always a threat to ponies. Even when they comply they will still corrupt the ponies of the cities that they serve, or rather... serve them.

It doesn't matter which position they fill or who they are, there is no safety once corruption takes hold...

-----Fillydelphia----------

I silently arrived at the Minister of Defence’s office which was located at the top section of a tower overlooking the city, my hoofs had slight rope burn from the cables I climbed earlier.

The elevator was busted but really who needs a working elevator?