Assassin of Kings and Queens

Chapter 4

"Sleep Well?"

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes. A plain white ceiling filled her view, save for a single light bulb flickering in the center. She silently observed a moth fly up to the light, only to die upon contact, falling to land on the floor. Dead... Rainbow thought morosely, eyes still plastered on the ceiling. Rainbow realized that she was tucked into a bed, cream comforter pulled up to her chin, her wings tucked comfortably under her back.

“You’re awake.” Rainbow turned her head to the left at Andromeda’s voice. Andromeda was lying stoically in a bed next to Rainbow, also gazing up at the light bulb.

“Do you know where we are?” Rainbow asked, returning her attention to the ceiling.

“We're in a motel in Manehattan. After we passed out-”

“Wait, you blacked out too?”

“Our minds were linked. Hence the ability to use telepathy. Apparently, your body was unable to handle all of the physical augmentations I had provided for such an extended period of time, and you passed out. And because of our mental link, I followed suit.”

Rainbow frowned. Andromeda made it sound like it was her fault that the two of them had blacked out.

“Before we could fall into the ocean,” Andromeda continued,” Twilight used her magic to levitate us to the boat. We arrived at Manehattan two hours later. Jerry left to attend to personal matters. Twilight got us a room at a motel, such as to not acquire unwanted attention. When I awoke, Twilight explained to me what happened while we were unconscious. She went to the market to acquire food thirty minutes before you woke up. Any further questions?”

“...Is Ferrum really...?” Andromeda hesitated before answering.

“Twilight said that she saw his body fall into the ocean. She had been too far away to offer any meaningful kind of assistance.”

“I'm so sorry...” Rainbow said.

“Why? You had nothing to do with his demise." The two lay in silence, listening to the buzz of the light bulb.

They turned simultaneously at the sound of a door unlocking, observing Twilight as she walked inside, sporting two large brown paper bags.

“Hey, you two. Hungry?”

___________________________________~*~___________________________________

The trio ate in silence at a small, round, wooden table. Twilight had found some dandelion tea in the market, and had brewed everyone a cup. Rainbow, unable to take the silence any longer, spoke up.

“So, what are our plans for today?”

“Well...” began Twilight, who was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Andromeda looked up from her tea, her face an impassive mask, and stated monotonously,” It appears we have a visitor.” She got up and walked towards the door, wings hanging limply against her back.

She opened the freshly-painted brown door to reveal a familiar-looking griffon.

“Ironbeak?” Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle inquired simultaneously.

They seem to know him… hm...thought Andromeda as she returned to her seat.

“The one and only!” replied Ironbeak cheerfully, only to frown when he counted the number of ponies at the table.

“Say, where’s Ferrum? I'd hoped to meet up with him. You know, to talk business... Is he out? Should I come back later?” Ironbeak observed the reactions of the ponies closely. He wasn't an idiot (even though pretending to be one had several benefits), and he began to piece together a relatively accurate assumption of what happened based on the reactions to his question. Dash’s distraught face, Sparkle’s slouch, and that gray pegasus's...actually, her expression didn't change. He should play poker with her sometime.  Regardless, Rainbow Dash and the Twilight's reactions, stemming from the mention of Ferrum...

“He’s not coming, is he?” It was more of a statement than a question, but the trio nodded in response anyway.

The Ironbeak stood silently for a moment, grieving the only one whom he'd been willing to call “friend.” Ironbeak shook his head to clear his thoughts, then addressed the ponies.

“First off, introductions are needed.” He turned to Andromeda, who was staring into the dredges of her tea.

“My name is Ironbeak, General Informant Second Class, Captain of the Griffland branch of the National Assassin’s Guild, and former colleague of Ferrum Latet. Now, who might you be?”

“I am Andromeda, Demon Blade Third Class, assassin in partnership with Rainbow Dash, and the daughter of Ferrum Latet,” Andromeda replied impassively, eyes still fixed on her cup.

Ironbeak stood in flustered silence for a couple seconds, then managed to gasp,” Holy bucking shit! He had a daughter?!”

Twilight stiffened at the excessively vulgar language, while Rainbow smirked. Andromeda kept her mask of impassivity. Ironbeak coughed into his fist.

“Uh, sorry. I'm just sorta...surprised.”

“You don't say,” said Rainbow casually, still smirking.

“Well, Ferrum never mentioned a daughter,” Ironbeak, shifting nervously from paw to paw.

“He talked about a…” Understanding dawned on Ironbeak’s face.

“Oh. Never mind,” Ironbeak said hastily, eliciting raised eyebrows from his companions. Rubbing his hands together, he decided to change the subject.

"Let’s get down to business."

The ponies looked at Ironbeak with interest, even Andromeda.

“You're all going to the Games, I presume?”

Both Andromeda and Rainbow Dash looked expectantly at Twilight, who sighed in resignation.

“Yes...”

“Marvelous!” exclaimed Ironbeak, clapping his hands together.

“I think I shall accompany you!”

Twilight narrowed her eyes. As much as she…tolerated Ironbeak, and appreciated his help in finding Ferrum’s house, she was uncertain of the griffon’s motives.

“Why?” she asked innocently.

Ironbeak feigned insult.

“What, don’t you enjoy my company?”

“What?! No! It’s not that! I just-“

“Don't you find me useful?” Ironbeak smirked.

“NO!!”

“Well, if I’m not useful…”

Twilight paled. Things were quickly getting out of hand, and every word she uttered seemed to dig her grave a little deeper.

“We would be honored if you would accompany us to the Celestine Games,” interrupted Andromeda, who had gotten bored of the conversation.

Ironbeak turned to Andromeda, smiling pleasantly. He had enjoyed pestering Twilight, but he knew better than to get on a demon's bad side.

“As you wish.” He turned back to Twilight, who had regained her normal pallor.

“Any who,” Ironbeak continued,” I won’t pester you the whole time. After the Games, the Guild is holding a meeting to discuss…” He hesitated, obviously uncomfortable.

“New developments,” he finally said.

“What developments?” inquired Rainbow Dash. Andromeda remained silent, eyes fixated on Ironbeak’s face.

“Well, I guess you should know,” he sighed.

“We've had reports of an increase of changeling activity.”

Silence permeated the room, save for the buzz of the lightbulb.

“Say, Twilight, did you know about this?” Once more, Rainbow Dash looked expectantly at Twilight, who shifted.

“Yes. That’s why I wanted you and Ferrum to come back. I…thought I saw one. In Canterlot. I wanted to investigate, but the Princess forbade me from doing so. Then Luna left…I couldn't think of anyone else to turn to…” Twilight looked expectantly at Rainbow, who just shrugged.

“‘S OK. So what now?”

"Actually..." Ironbeak said, rubbing his hands together," I think there's someone you three should meet."

___________________________________~*~___________________________________

Ironbeak led the three ponies to the Town Hall, a large, majestic structure in the center of the city. White marble columns decorated the outside, a large red flag with Celestia's Cutie mark emblazoned on it hung over a pair of huge oaken doors. Royal Guards patrolled the streets, golden armor glistening in the evening sun, spears held at the ready.

"Even after the peace treaty was signed," Ironbeak explained to Rainbow Dash and Andromeda," many ponies were still hostile against us griffons. As such, the Guards were sent to all the major cities to preserve order."

"Why?" Rainbow Dash asked, confused.

"Weren't the griffons just under Nocturne's control? Why are most ponies still hostile?"

"You forget," replied Twilight," that Nocturne's involvement wasn't widely publicized. The order for all male alicorns to be banished was..." Twilight searched for the right way to put it, eventually deciding on,"...a covert operation. As such, many believe the griffons to be fully responsible for the war. Also, this is the second war we've fought with them, and in the first war, the griffons were one hundred percent responsible. Also, considering all the atrocities the griffons committed..."

"What atrocities?" inquired Andromeda impassively.

"The griffons responsible for the war were charged with murder, torture, and...rape," Twilight said quietly.

Andromeda nodded in understanding, then the four continued in silence.

Ironbeak led them into an alleyway just behind the Hall, explaining," The pony we're going to meet was an old friend of mine, as well as a reliable contact of Ferrum's."

He called out," Yo, Moe! You got company!"

A haggard, purple pony in a black trench coat crawled out from underneath a brown tarp, brushing his unkempt bright green hair from out of his face. He gazed fearfully at the ponies behind the griffon then turned back to Ironbeak.

"Yo, Ron, we had a deal. I said I'd only talk to you and Ferrum, and I meant it. I don't do well with the 'thorities, dude. I've already met my quota of getting the shit beaten out o' me. I'm pushing it as it is bein' here-"

"Moe, take it easy. These ponies can be trusted. Even the purple one," Ironbeak said reassuringly, taking into account Moe's panicked glances at Twilight.

Ironbeak whispered something in Moe's ear and he instantly sobered, almost as if the whole thing had been an act. He stood up, brushed himself off, and offered a grimy hand to the ponies.

"Mushroom Moe, at your service," he said.

Twilight put on her best poker face and shook his hand, but something must have shown, because he seemed to be smiling at her discomfort.

This process was repeated Rainbow Dash and Andromeda. Moe paused at Andromeda, then leaned in and whispered something in her ear. Andromeda reeled back, then stated flatly," I'll be at the motel." She wheeled around and flew into the smog-filled sky, eliciting exclamations of surprise from passerby.

Rainbow turned to Moe, frowning.

"What did you say?" she asked menacingly, eyes narrowed.

"I told her the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Just as I promised Ferrum," Moe stated calmly, smiling slightly.

"And now I must do the same to you." He raised a finger in warning at Rainbow's hand slowly reaching behind her back.

"No weapons, please. I'm allergic to being brutally murdered." Rainbow slowly brought her hand out from behind her back and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Before I begin, there's something you should know. First off, I'm a world renowned drug dealer. I provide drugs, both medicinal and not, to ponies around the globe. I am a necessary member of this nation's economy. Second, I don't do drugs. That would be bad for my reputation as a business pony. Three, I live on the streets by choice. I find it easier to relate to ponies after I've lived in their shoes. And lastly..."

Moe's body erupted into green flame, blinding everyone else in the alleyway. When the flames subsided, a pony-like creature stood where Moe had been moments before, chitinous skin carapace glistening as the last of the flames faded away, holes dotting it's arms and legs, emerald eyes gleaming with mischief.

"I'm a changeling." For a moment, nothing happened.

Rainbow's hand quickly made for the knife behind her back, only to realize too late that she had dropped it in the locker room in Tartarus. Before she could make a move to tackle the changeling, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Twilight smiling reassuringly at her.

"Twilight, don't you see?! He's a changeling!" Dash cried, exasperated.

"And Ironbeak trusts him, as did Ferrum," replied Twilight calmly. Moe laughed.

"Dash, you of all people should know that I can read emotions, especially if they pertain to me."

"How do you know my name?" Rainbow Dash growled, knowing full well she hadn't introduced herself.

"You are Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty, Ferrum's former apprentice, Andromeda's Partner, and the only pony in modern history to perform a Sonic Rainboom. I pride myself on being informed," said Moe calmly, arms crossed over his chest.

"Anyway," Moe continued," Twilight here would like nothing better than to crush my head under her hoof. But you guys came to me for information. So she's being a good little pony and holding back."

"Now, there's only so much that I'm willing to tell you, but I'm not gonna lie to you. I find that lying is bad for an informant's health." Moe paused to let his words sink in, then continued.

"The Celestine Games are a perversion. The whole basis that they're meant to keep the peace by 'releasing pent up aggression' is only a half truth. The contestants are actually war criminals, sent to fight each other to the death in the Everfree Forest. The winner gets to live out the rest of his or her life under permanent house arrest. The losers...don't get to go back to prison."

The four stood in silence for a time.

"Celestia...did this?" Twilight asked quietly.

"Yes, she commissioned the games, and even had the games named after her," said Moe in an even tone as her reverted to his pony form.

"Sorry, I gotta go. I'm pushing my luck as it is," Moe said quietly, walking out into the already-dark streets, disappearing into the gloom.

"Welp, that was enlightening," declared Ironbeak as he led the ponies out of the dark alleyway.

"Let's get to the motel," agreed Twilight. "We need to tell Andromeda all that we've learned. With more than two weeks left, maybe we can put a stop to this."

"Just as long as we don't have to deal with any more changelings," grumbled Rainbow Dash. Her companions chuckled as they made their way to the room.

___________________________________~*~___________________________________

A black pony opened his eyes, observing the elaborate gold chandelier swinging above his head. The chandelier is swinging, yet I'm not being affected by motion sickness...intriguing... He was lying comfortably in a king sized bed, though he noticed one of his wings was bandaged under the blankets, as well as the fact that his horn was throbbing painfully. His ruby eyes shifted around, contemplating how being electrocuted and falling eleven thousand feet into the ocean hadn't killed him. A voice interrupted his thoughts.

"I see you're awake. You took a rather nasty fall there. It's a miracle you didn't die, isn't it?" Ferrum's eyes widened as he searched quickly for the source of that all-too-familiar voice.

His eyes came to rest upon a pony leaning casually against the far wall, slacks and dress shirt obscuring much of the pony's ghostly white fur.  His white and blue mane was cropped short, save for a clump of white hair hanging over his right eye. His icy blue eyes sparkled as he smiled pleasantly at the alicorn in bed. Ferrum looked in horror at the figure's wings and horn, and cursed himself for being foolish enough to try to pacify the storm alone. Now he was face-to-face with one of the ponies he feared the most.

"Hello, brother," the white alicorn said pleasantly.

"Sleep well?"