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

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.