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?”