Chapters Finding Hope: Hope is Lost
Welcome to the Militairy!
"There! All signed up!" Shining Armor happily announced "We just need to make armor that fits you and we will be good!" Shining took me down to the black smith's forge to get armor made for me.
Oh! I almost forgot to introduce myself! My name is Joshua Fowls. Im six feet tall. I'm also 22 years old. I just joined the Canterlot Royal Guard. I am a human. How I got in Equestria im not entirely sure. Last thing I remember was I went to be d one night and when I woke up I was in a Canterlot hospital bed. That was little more than a year ago.
We approached the blacksmith. He was a brown stallion with a black mane just a little shorter than my friend (and now boss) Shining Armor. His cutie mark was a hammer and anvil. The wall behind him was full of weapons and armor.
"Ah Shining! Good ta see ya!" The stalllion stepped over to us "Ah is this that creature you were talkin bout?"
"Yeah, this is Josh. He is a human," Shining exlaimed
"Nice ta meet ya Josh! My name's Ebony Mane!" He announced "Now It'll take some time befor your armor is ready but you can pick out your weapon from the shelf."
"Most of the guards get spears or war axes," Shining announced
I walked up to the shelf gazing over each weapon. None of them really appealed to me. Near the end of the wall though something caught my eye. It was a small sword, three quarters the size of my arm.
"How about this one?" I asked
"Ah the small sword. Easily conceled but deadly weapon," Ebony said "Tose go for about 20 bits but since its your first weapon you can have it."
"Thanks!" I strapped its sheeth to my belt.
"Well now we can go to the barracks,"Shining said "Heres your key."
We headed out into the hallway and continued down towards the barracks. It was a large room with six sets of bunk beds, a few wooden tables and a small stone fireplace. It may not be much but after being a homeless alien creature in Canterlot for a year it was pretty much everything.
"Well your armor should be ready in half an hour," Shining exclaimed "After you go pick it up you can head out to the courtyard where we are working on drills then you will be assigned to your first assignment."
"Alrighty then captain!" I saluted as taught in training.
Shinign left. I unpacked my stuff and placed them in the chest infront of my bed. It wasn't much, just an extra blanket, some casual clothing and a gold heart shaped locket the size of my palm.
In the locket there where pictures of two very beutiful human women. One with dark brown hair and emerald green eyes and a hypnotizing light blue dress. The other had curly blonde hair and saphire blue eyes and she wore a casual tee-shirt and jeans. I don't know why I kept the locket, I guess it just had some conections to who I used to be and maybe I can get my memories back.
When I finally looked down at my watch I realized 20 minutes had passed and I better go down to pick up my armor. The guards would wave at me and say "Welcome to the herd, Newblood." which was their way of saying Hello to the new recruits. As I approached the smithery I could see Ebony working away on some armor.
"Hey there Newblood!" He greeted me as I entered "Still working on your guantlets. I've never really worked on human hands before so these will take much longer."
"How much longer?" I asked "A few more hours?"
"Try days!" Ebony Explained "I didnt have enough metal to give you the regualr gurd attire so I did the next best thin and gave you a humanized version of our assassin armor."
I looked over to the human mannequin holding some armor. It was still amde from the regular Gold-Steel alloy as the other armor but less of it. It had a short cape made from brown fabric. The same fabric drapped down both sides of the waist where he would most likey conceal his sword in. It didnt include a helmet rather a brown fabric hood.
"This is some really cool stuff Ebony!" I complimented
"Whoah there your in the Royal Canterlot Army now," Ebony stated "You gotta go by codemanes!"
"Okay, whats mine?" I aksed
"What are ya, a parasprite?" Ebony said "Newblood, New recruits get the name Newblood until a new Newblood comes along then you make your own codename, Captains code name is Big Dipper and his right hand commander is the Little Dipper. An apprentice blacksmith is Ironblood while a mastered one is Steelblood and a heavily experienced one like me is Golden Arms. Now you should be filled in."
"Wow. Thats a little confusing but I think I got it!" I said "Well i'll be of to training, see ya later Golden."
"Come back wednesday for your guantlets,Newblood!" I hollered as I ran through the palace towards the courtyard. It was quite the workout on its own. The courtyard was located on the opposite side of the palace. When I arrived I saw about a dozen groups of three or more all training in a different way.
"Ah Newblood! Have you familiarized yourself with the codename system yet?" Shining came running up behind me.
"Yes I have Big Dipper!" I chuckled at myself even saying the name
"Good, I'll be introducing you to your team in a moment and you will need to know the system." He announced as a group of four ponies stepped up behind him "This is Little Dipper, My second in command. She will be dicaplining your group."
"So you better watch your back maggot!" The small grey furred pegasus mare had a surprizingly masculen voice.
"My name is Jade Hoof but everybody just calls me Firework!" A green pegasus mare from behind the group called up "It's because im kindof an explosions expert!"
"The names lock'n'load and I have a PHD in Forensic and Physiologist sciences." A unicorn stallion with light blue fur trotted to the front.
"And i'm lone wolf. Just shut up and mind your own buisness and us two will get along fine." A scary voice from behind me came bomming, she was an earth pony, white fur and a black mane "Oh and my special talent is camofluage, hiding and spying. Generally sneaky stuff."
"Well hi guys! I'm Josh er... um Newblood and I like to specialize in Strategic positioning and single handed combat."
"Well and that bad maggot because im alredy this groups stratigist, so why dont you take your toothpick of a sword and LISTEN TO ME, GOT THAT MAGGOT?!?!?!" Little Dipper hollered right in my face.
"Eep!" was all I could get out. This was going to be a long day!
Finding Hope: Hope is Lost
All day I had been training with my group. Working as a group was much harder than I had expected. Lone Wolf wouldn't cooperate, lock'n'load took forever to analyze the practise dummies weaknesses, and firework ended up blowing up the test coarse. Which we had to repair in the morning. In the end it didnt pay off as it was pretty much firework taking it down on her own.
Lock'n'loadand I were on their way back to the Stallions sleeping quarters in the barracks. Even if he couldn't really get much done in the nick of time he was a pretty interesting guy. He had grown up on a rock farm. His parents died when he was young so he went to live with his cousins the Pie's.
"So you don't remember anything before you woke up in the hospital a year ago?" Lock asked "Thats gotta suck."
"It's not to bad. I just think if my life sucked balls then I'm pretty well off if I don't remember it!" I exclaimed
"But what if it didnt suck? Then what?" Lock looked up at me curiously, he seemd to be really interested in me, maybe because he was developing a psychological profile of me?
"We'll every now and then I seem to get a new memory of my past but I don't completely understand it," I explained "Why are you so interested?"
"Oh sorry if I was being too nosey, my curiosity gets the best of me sometimes." He replied.
"Ah it's alright, see ya tommorow!" I said as I climbed into bed
"Yep!" He went to use the washroom
It was a long and tiring day and I really needed to sleep. For the day ahead tommorow I'm gonna need it. My legs ached and my arms were numb. I was the one taking most of the damge from the training automaton. Bruises covered most of my chest. However Lock had a pain killer spell so it wasn't as bad as it would've been.
I fell asleep almost instantly. Sleeping like a child. I usually dreamed about regular stuff like luxury and that but this dream was out of the ordinary. I was in a forest in during midnight. Was Luna entering my dream? I heard what that is like and it seemed to be happening.
"Hello? Who's there?" I called out
"Don't be afraid," a male voice answered me "I here to talk to you." He was a dark mysterious creature. He had a dark flowing mane and a body black as night. Wait he wasn't a pony, nor griffin.
"What are you?" I asked
"Do you not recognize what species I am? How of ton do you look in the mirror!" He joked, wait he's hinting to being the same as me... He was human.
"Your human? How did you get here?" The questions continued to flow through me.
"The same as you, however I can't tell you, you'll just have to find out. I'm just here to tell you that your future holds great fortune for you. Gold, fame, glory, love and a new family. I just ask you to stay in the militairy, it is your first step towards these dreams." He explained.
"Who are you?" I asked for what would probably be my final question.
"That you may find out soon. For now Joshua Fowls I say goodbye." And with that I awoke in my bed to the raising of Celestias sun.
I look out the window to the chaotic training coarse I will have to clean up today.
"I hate Mondays." Was all I said joking as I looked at the calendar beside my bed.
Finding Hope: Hope is Lost
The entire royal guard was called down for attendance today, save for the few who had more important jobs to do. Lined up against the wall of the cafeteria were guards of all types, Pegasi, Unicorns and even the rare earth pony guard.
"Why do you think Little Dipper called us all down here?" Firework asked me. She was standing to the right of me. Nopony had much time to put on their royal armor, so many just were casually dressed, for many that was no clothing what so ever. Firework was wearing a red sweater.
"I don't know, rumor has it that nephew of the princesses is looking for a new team of guards," Firework answered "Apperently he got a paper cut and blamed his last crew, nopony has heard from them since."
"Hmmm. Would make a good campfire story!" I exclaimed "The princesses nephew you say? What's he like?"
"We'll Princess Celestia had not allowed him to be on the royal council during the day court so he is part of the nobility. He is a snobbish bastard if you ask anypony who has met him," Firework answered "His snobbish grates are said to have come from his father."
"And who is that?" I asked.
"Actually not many ponies know, as a foal he was raised by his Aunt Celestia," firework explained "Along with his much kinder sister, Princess mi amore something or other."
"Hmmm... Wasn't she that one that got married a few years back?" I aksed, before firework could work out a reply, the booming hoof steps of Little Dipper trotting in the room.
"LISTEN UP MAGGOTS. THE NEPHEW OF THE PRINCESSES NEEDS A NEW TROOP OF GUARDS. THIS MAY BE YOUR BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CARREER, MAYBE LIFE. SO DONE SCRW THIS UP." She hollered in a voice that could rival the Royal Canterlot voice
"YOU, HUMAN!" She hollered at me, trotting up to me slowly "The little bastard probably won't even pick you, if he does well... There goes another prince."
"Ma'am! He's approaching the door!" A guard near the door informed the bitch of a pony.
"Good. EVERYPONY LOOK GOOD AND SHUT UP!" She hollered again.
All the guards ponies were quite. The only noise was the sound of the prince coming down the hallway to this room. Tlot-tlot, tlot-tlot. All the way down the hallway he went. Finally reaching the door he effortlessly pushed it open with his magic.
"Commander! I request you give me your finest guards!" His voice filled with the snobbish traits of a "Canterlot Noble". He looked groomed, like a prize pet. His fancy mane, well cut coat. On his chest he dawned a rose and Bowtie.
"We'll your majesty I have had all the guards brought down just for you," Little Dipper explained "You may have your pick."
I watched as he examined each guard, he was slowly making his way to my end of the room. It was probably gonna be a while.
I dozed off thinking of me in downtown Canterlot. I walked the streets. I was wearing a casual teeshirt and jeans much like I am now. Walking down the street. The birds above chirped and there seemed to be some smog emanating from the city. Wait smog? Canterlot doesn't have smog! I continued down the street to a four way stop. The street lights showed red. I could cross, when I did a whole bunch of other people joined me. Wait other humans? What is this? I kept on thinking.
Then the thought went black, their stood the dark figure from before. I took this time to examine him more. He had pale skin but certainly more tan than I. Waving black hair. And he seemed to have robes of a charcoal color.
"The city, eh? I never much liked it myself." He said, obviously commenting on my vision
"Huh?" I just looked at him dumbfounded.
"A human city, toying with your mind I found some distant locked away memory of yours." This man was kindof freaky, ability to see my mind and make me rember random things?
"Who are you?" I asked the same question from before.
"Like I told you befor, I will not answer that question. I merely want to hint it to you. Your first step, to finding out? Well... Lets see..." The whole image disappeared as I seemed to have awoken, still standing and The prince almost near me.
"Ugh! What in the name of King Tartarious is that!" The prince (by the looks of it) just noticed I'm standing here "It looks dangerous! Wait... Dangerous... Commander! I woulid like to have five more of these!"
"I'm sorry your highness but this is the only one!" Little dipper followed behind the royal.
I almost spoke up but I heard the faint voice of the dark human "No! Don't mess this up!" I stood there for a good two or three minutes while the two continued to insult me. He finally resided with having my team.
"Alright, they will begin to guard you after lunch, okay my prince?" Little Dipper asked the stuck up prince.
"Yes, That will do." And with that he left with Little Dipper, everypony else began to converse with each, other for the last few minutes until lunch started. I suddenly felt an immidiat pain in the back of my head.
"Way to go,just landed us the worst possible job." Lone had obviously hit me upside the head.
Finding Hope: Hope is Lost
Day court and Exclusive Intel
It had been about three days since Blueblood employed Me and my team for guard. Lone, Firework and I hated it but Lock'n'load seemed to stay pretty optimistic. He probably just liked the idea of somepony new to develop a profile on.
lock'n'load and I worked the day shift while the mares did the night. Most of the work either included standing guard outside of the Prince's door or following him around when he left the castle. Blueblood also had us do stupid tasks such as deliver him a small bite of cake (as was the royal family's favorite snack) and get him new mane brushes and combs as they would break.
"GUARDS!" The prince screened from inside his room. His voice sounded full of fear. We burst through the door. "Thank you for breaking the door. I require a new mirror as well as the previously mentioned door!" He explained pointing to a shattered mirror.
"Whats your story on how it broke this time?" I asked.
"The mirror insulted my mane brushing skills," he huffed "I then had to excuse it."
The prince was just a big stick in the mud. Constantly spouting his racism against anything not a unicorn or alicorn. I was the target of most of his insults, not directly of coarse. The prince probably thought of me too stupid to get the reference's.
By the time Lock'n'load and I cleaned up the mess and replaced the mirror, it was about 9:30. Quitting time! Me and lock'n'load were then heading back to the stallions barracks, passing by Lone and Firework who take the nightshift of guarding Blueblood. Poor girls...
Me and lock'n'load went straight to bed. A day of listening to Blueblood talk is tiring. Made me almost wish I had the nightshift. That is if he didnt snore.
Putting my armor and sword into the chest at the end of my bed I slipped into bed. Thinking on how much I disliked Blublood, for obvious reasons. Eventually falling asleep.
This dream seemed to revolve around Blublood. He was crying. He had been humiliated in front of the Cnterlot nobility! Hah! Serves him right! But then I saw something else, me. I was standing their, not making fun of him, but goofing to aid him and tell the other to stop making fun of him. I just passed it off as staying true to me guard duties.
I woke up to the sun hitting my face through the window. I new Blueblood would need us soon so I quickly put on my royal guard attire and woke up lock'n'load.
"Hay!" I shoved him a little to wake him up "Wake up!"
"Ugh," he mumbled "Ma, I don't wanna bake cookies I wanna..." He trailed off, obviously still mostly asleep.
"C'mon wake up!" I was getting inpatient and shoved him hard enough he fell out of his bed.
"Okay! Okay! I'm up! Just let me put my armor on!" He retorted.
"Okay, I'll be outside bluebloods room if you need me." I exited the barracks, heading to the snobbish prince's quarters. Stopping to grab a quick bowl of oatmeal on the way there.
It was quite a ways there, his room was located on the complete opposite end of the castle. I passed a few easily recognizable doors. The first two small iron doors on the left, the royal kitchen, and across from it, two large golden doors with various pictures of food, the royal dinning room. The nest pair of doors, large siler doors with not much decor, just an empty bedroom. Across from that were two large glass doors revealing many shelves of books, obviously the library. Then two of the most important rooms, Amazingly huge Golden doors with diamonds and gems at the top in the shape of a sun, Princess Celestias Bedroom. Accross from it sat equally large ebony doors with glowing gems in the shape of the moon, Princess Luna's Bedchambers.
"There you are!" A familiar voice snapped me out of my day dreaming "We need to go attend the day court!" Blublood came out of his room
"Of coarse your majesty." I said with obvious sarcasm.
We walked down the hall to the center of the castle were the throne room was located. We entered and seemd to be early as only two other nobles were there.
"Blueblood! Your sure here early!" Greeted one, he had a light blue mane and tail. His cutie mark showed three crowns in a triangle shape. He wore a suit and Bowtie along with a monocle.
"Hello Fancypants! Well I wanted to be here before auntie so I could figure out what to debat," Blueblood addressed the stallion "I think I'm going to address the horrible state of the Canterlot Hoofball stadium."
"Blueblood, you must see the real problems with our fair city. I'm going to try and bring the problem of poverty to the princess." Fancypants announced, I really started to like him. Fr one he wasn't too greedy.
"Hello Nobles!" Princess Celestia entered the room "What do you have to bring to my attention today?" She asked. Her voice was delicate but strong, Elegant and Regal.
"Hello Auntie! Today I would like to bring to your attention the horrible state of the hoofball stadium..." I started to ingots Blublood and thought of other things. I wonder if he's gonna drag me to this day court tommorrow.
"I never like Blueblood that much either, nopony has I don't think." The voice of the dark human entered my mind.
"Hah tell me about it. I'm sure the world would be better off without him." I exclaimed.
"Yes. Right now though he is vital to your future." The voice continued.
"What exactly is my future?" I asked.
"That is for me to know and you to find out." He was very mysterious. He seemed all knowing.
Before I knew it he had snapped me out of my trance and I was fully aware and back in the day court.
"So if we force all the homeless and jobless ponies out of the city, we can make way for ponies who hold more potential! Solving the cities poverty problem and not to mention a large increase in jobs!" Fancypants was trying to prove his point now.
"Well, Where will the poverty live? In the Everfree forest? I'll let you think that over. I suppose that wraps up today's day court, I will see you gentle stallions tommorrow." The princess teleported away.
"Well, I better get back home. Good day, Blueblood!" Called Fancypants.
"Yes! To you too!" Blueblood replied.
I left to have my lunch break before returning to Bluebloods room. Waking over to the Guards cafeteria I picked out a PB&J with some water. Sitting down near a window over looking the city and the small town to the south.
As I was eating my vision began to blur. My hearing went deaf and all my other senses soon followed into the similar state. What the? I was taken by surprise at my sudden state of unconsciousness.
"Relax," I heard the voice of the dark human again "I merely took control over your body. I just need to speak with you."
"Alright, Fred," I decided to refer to him as Fred "What do wanna talk about?"
"Fred? Really? You couldn't have come up with something more creative?" He sounded annoyed at the name "Ah! Your getting me distracted!"
"Sorry." Was all I could say.
"Anyways, there is going to be an assassination attempt on Prince Blueblood. The assassination are going to kidnap him, and you are going to let them. When he has been kidnapped you will rescue him," He explained "Trust me. I can't give you anymore information."
"What if I allow Prince Blueblood to be killed?" I ask "Nopony really likes him."
"Yes that's true, he's an unlovable bastard, but this can change that." He said
"Why are you telling me these things?" I asked
"You will found out soon." And with that I retook control of my body. I was laying in my bed with the moon shining on my face.
"I'm crazy." Was all I said before I fell asleep. This time on my own.
Finding Hope: Hope is Lost
It had been three days or so since I had sat in on day court. Ever since then I kept coming back daily to get a feel for the way it worked. Maybe I could quit working for Blueblood and become a noble! I laughed at the thought. Rather than serving the jerk I'd have to work with him as an equal. Honestly, not a happy thought as I delved further into it.
As I was spending what was to be my free time a certain stallion with a white coat and blonde mane politely knocked on the door to the barracks. I could hear him whispering “Ugh, this part of the palace is disgusting!”
“Who is it?” I sarcastically asked, awaiting Bluebloods reply.
“It is your boss! Blueblood!” He replied “Open this icky door so I do not need to touch it!”
“Blueblood? Not Prince Blueblood? 'Bout time they denounced your title!”
“Oh shut up you filth!” Hollering through the door now “Open this door or i'll have the captain of the guard fire you!”
The captain would never listen to Blueblood. Still I did as he asked. Opening the “icky door” for him.
“Good, now clean yourself up! Day court is in fifteen minutes!” The prince barged in and quickly wandered around the room.
“What? Day court begins at noon ya doofus!” I laughed.
“Are you featherbrained or something? Aunty is leaving to meet with the Gryphon emperor you nincompoop! Day court was rescheduled to 10:00 today!”
Well if my watch was correct as well as my judgment of time then not only was he right about fifteen minutes, but we had just wasted three. With that I darted towards the guards bathroom and quickly yet sloppily brushed my teeth, combed my hair and put on pants (having only been wearing boxers and a t shirt). Then all I had was to slip my armor on and we were off to the throne room.
-The Solar Throne Room half a minute later-
Celestia entered the room and sat down a the throne. She bore the same serene (probably fake) smile that she put on every time. “Good morning everypony! Now today I'd like things to get along as quickly as possible so I've decided to start day court backwards.”
I could hear several moans from the nobles “Great! We get to listen to the commoners problems! Pfft.” Blueblood mumbled.
However I felt it would be interesting to stay for the actual “court” part of day court. Blueblood as well as most nobles usually leave before the second part so I don't get to stay and watch. First was the trial of the Apple/Carrot farmers issue from a small town named Ponyville. The Apple family farmers had a monopoly on farming all throughout Equestria. The Carrot family is struggling as the Apples “get too many customers” and the Carrots want the Apples right to farm taken away.
“Well, I can't simply take away their right to farm. What do you suppose I do?” Celestia waved her hoof. She had a smile that seemed to say she had this whole situation planned out.
“Do... something!” The one known as Carrot Top replied “They have a monopoly and it has to stop!”
“How about this. Y'all shut up and let us farm!” an orange pony with a blonde mane sarcastically announced “You can go do somethin else than farmin and we keep doin what we do.”
“Applejack, I can't do that. If I did then i'd have to do it to both of you.” Celestia explained “Applejack your family pools money from all your farms together, shared profits correct?”
“Yes yer majesty! It's how we keep other farms out of debt and failin ones a floatin! Like cousin Rotten Apple, he’s always been bad at apple farmin so we send the young-uns out to work for a few months and...”
Celestia cut off Applejack “I am aware of Rotten Apple's situation. What I'd like to do is stop the Apple family from pooling profits.”
“What?! Ya can't do that! Farms would go out of business and Apple's would have to find other work!” Applejack roared back.
What? I couldn't believe it, the princesses idea seemed too harsh, especially on Apple's who weren't even involved with this situation. “Excuse me,” I spoke up, getting the attention of both parties, as well as Princess Celestia “But what you have just suggested doesn't really make much sense to me. A few Apple family members are controlling all business in their area as most apples do, then the Carrots, a relatively small family, based in ponyville wants to challenge the local Apples for business, both ask you, the princess for help, so you completely break apart the Apple family business? That seems like it would hurt more Apple family members that aren't even involved with this issue.”
Celestia looked at me. Now with a more surprised look, but with a more honest yet judgemental smile. What? Was it what I said? Was it the fact I even said something? My thoughts seem to scream out for answers only to receive nothing. I was alone without knowing what to expect.
“Well mister Fowls,” She addressed me by name, which surprised me(I had no Idea she knew of me) “What do you suggest we do to fix this situation?”
I gulped, Celestia had now put me under the spotlight and rather than me simply challenging someone else's ideas, I know had to form my own, completely! “Well... From what I understand, the Carrot family is in need of either financial aid to properly compete with the Apple's or to have the Apple's 'slowed down' in a sense to match the Carrot's. The second Idea sounds just dumb so I think we should have the government publicly fund the Carrot farm.”
Equestria although having a mixed economy, the government had never directly took control and publically funded a business before (At least a buisness not related to healthcare, education, etc.). However history never states problems arising when the royal family got involved before.
“Hmm... Applejack would you be okay with this? Me publicly funding the Carrot farm and thus indirectly owning one of your competitors?” Celestia queried.
“Goin into business against the princess? Well, we been through tougher situations so I don't see why not.”
“Carrot Top? Are you okay with this?”
“Heck yes!” Carrot Top bellowed.
“Very well, Carrot Farms will now be publicly funded and owned by the government of equestria.” Celestia sat waved the two families out before the next case came.
-Two hours later-
“Well that was a waste of time! Why did you not wake me up when the commoners were done complaining about their slop troughs or whatever?” Blueblood had been yelling at me for the past hour since day court ended.
“You just looked so cute I couldn't bare to wake you!” I replied, riddled with sarcasm.
“Agh! You-you... Fuck it!” Blueblood was known to swear horribly when in private, and very angry. “You owe me, escort me to the finest drinking establishment in Canterlot, you will pay for me.”
-Nine hours later a few blocks away from Bluebloods mansion-
“Yo-you know whut? Yer not so bad, guy!” Blueblood smiled at me. I didn't pay much attention. Drunk, sober, happy, sad, mean or nice he was still Blueblood. “I should hic should give you a ra-raise hic... Fer bein good!” He exclaimed before falling over.
“Blueblood... We gotta go home, you're drunk.” I exclaimed “Hey what are you planning to bullshit about next day court?”
Silence.
“Blueblood?” I turn around to the empty street behind me. Blueblood nowhere in sight. “Fuck a big big bag.”
Finding Hope: Hope is Lost
Within a griffin settlement of miners, north of the crystal empire. Two griffons, a dragon and an earth pony were playing a simple game of go fish. So far the pony had been winning.
The pony had no mane or tail and singed gray fur. He wore a fedora, casting a shadow over his eyes. He was well known around this area as a skilled assassin. He was quick to temper, and to pull his gun. So the other three he was playing with we're smart not to overreact when the started to lose to him.
"We'll I guess I win boys!" He bragged "Would any of you like a retry?"
"Nah, need to go mining," said the smaller of the two griffins.
"I've got to get back to smelting the ores from the mines." The dragon left
"Yeah I should get back to mining too." The other griffin announced, leaving only thepony.
He got up and walked around his temporary home, which was just one of many temporary safe houses. Admiring some of his trophies. But one of his most favorite prizes, a photo of him. Standing proud nest to a young filly, bearing both wings and a horn. She had crimson red hair and pristine white fur. She wore raggedy cloth in the shape of a cloak and had no cutie mark.
He continued down until he reached his bedroom. He jumped onto his bed looking at the ceiling. Today had been a rather bore for him. He had nothing much to do. These days ponies or griffins alike didnt hire assassins as much and his usual employer who just went by "The King" hadn't contacted him in nearly a decade.
He had almost fallen asleep when a letter appeared above him in red smoke. Of coarse he picked it up.
"Dear, Night Eye..." He ailed off skimming through to the end. Suddenly going wide eyed and smirking "... Syncerly, your King!" He exclaimed "Well this is going to be fun!"