Animus

"Alright Twilight I will go first." Rainbow volunteered.

They had just finished the preparations for the spell and had just asked for volunteers and Rainbow being the 'brave' one decided to go first.

"Alright Rainbow just lie down on the couch and we can begin." Twilight explained.

She and Shooting Star leading Rainbow over to the center, other ponies cheering her on as she settled on the couch, Twilight then let out a burst of magic as an arch covered Rainbows face. Everypony awed at the sight.

"Woah." Pinkie said.

"Okay Rainbow just close your eyes and relax it's not going to hurt in any way." Shooting Star said.

"Are you sure?" Rainbow asked slightly scared.

"Positive."

And just like Shooting Star said a big magic screen appeared meaning the spell was now in motion.

"And now we begin." Twilight said.

It starts in Ancient Jerhoofsalem according to the Animus, we see Rainbows ancestor who looked like just like her except not as 'awesome' she looked poor and was wearing rags, she was carrying saddlebags with wheat in them.

"This looks like the time when the princesses were just crowned." Twilight said.

All of a sudden the poor mare gets pinned to a wall by city guards.

"Wha- what are you doing?" the mare asked struggling to get free. "I have done nothing wrong".

The guard holding her sneered. "Majd Addin seems to think differently your under accusation of counterfeiting and you've been sentenced to death."

The mares eyes widened. "NO please." She pleaded. "I have a family."

The guard drew out a sword and prepared to end her life but not before one of the other guards shouted "ASSASSIN!"

he turned around to see one of his guards dead and standing above the corpse was a stallion with white robes on.

"KILL HIM!" the guard yelled charging to the mysterious pony.

The pony simply drew his sword and charged to the captain and the guard who was still alive.

"Is that pony crazy? He's going to get himself killed!" Rarity shouted.

The others shared Rarity's fear as the white robed stallions end approached. But the stallion simply deflected an attack caused by the captain and punched the captain away now he deflected and knocked the other guard down and drove his sword into the guards shoulder killing him instantly. All that was left was the captain who tried to grab the pony but he just twisted the captains arm and pushed him into a tower knocking it down and killing him. The robed pony walked up to Rainbows ancestor who was now relieved that this stallion saved her life.

"Thank you THANK YOU, I'll find a way to repay this kindness I swear." The pony nodded and jumped on the wall and climbed up.

Twilight ended the session due to her being so shocked and she wasn't alone, the other ponies were shocked to see that stallion murder those guards, to be fair the guards were going to take that mares life. Rainbow was now wakening up.

"What in the name of Celestia was that?" Rainbow asked.

"Who was that stallion? Twilight pondered.

"Well maybe we can get more info from another memory, any more Twi? Shooting Star asked.

"No that was the only time Rainbows ancestor encountered that stallion."

"Well horse - feathers." Shooting Star said.

"Maybe ah can help Twilight." Applejack suggested.

"Are you sure AJ?"

"Positive."

So Applejack just like Rainbow did the same steps again and the animus was once again in motion.

It was the same place again and now we see Applejacks ancestor who was just being harassed by city guards before the mysterious Stallion appeared again and was now fighting them. One of the guards tried to stab him but the deflected the shot and gave the guard a hoof to the face knocking the guard away where he drove his sword into the guards side killing him. He was then grabbed and thrown by the last guard and the ponies hood fell off.

Everypony gasped when they saw the stallions face, the ponies face looked just like Shooting Star.

"Is that Shooting Stars ancestor?" Fluttershy asked. The crowd of ponies denied it, this couldn't be Shooting Stars ancestor.... could it?

The look-a-like snarled and drew out a short blade and proceeded to slash the guard across the face not giving it time to react and drove the knife into his skull killing him. He walked up to Applejacks ancestor.

"Good thing you came when you did, another minute and they would have made off with me." She said. The pony put his hood up and ran away.

Everypony just looked at Shooting Star in shock, whilst he was in deep thought.

"There's something about that that seems... familiar." he thought, but he was interrupted by Twilight. "Shooting Star get in the animus now." Twilight ordered. She wanted to know why his ancestor was a killer.

Shooting Star quickly obeyed since he didn't want to deal with Twilights anger right now.

A hanging just took place and the ponies were cheering the stallion responsible getting them to cheer, then we see the pony from Rainbow and Applejacks encounter he was standing on a bell tower watching it. The bell rang. He was gone. He was now on the ground, advancing onto the pony responsible for the hanging, pushing through the crowd. The pony saw the robed figure and ordered the guards to stop him, that didn't phase him he just kept moving towards them and then he drew out a crossbow and shot one of the guards another tried to attack but the figure ducked and slammed his crossbow into the other guards back he then jumped up to the pony and activated a blade hidden in his hoof which the ponies outside the animus realized a part of its cut off.

The stallion drove the blade into the hangers neck killing him. He closed his eyes. Realizing that the guards were chasing him, he quickly retreated pushing past other ponies trying to lose the guards sight only to catch the attention of another guard who tried to attack him but the robed pony jumped onto platforms onto the rooftops where he run along it before jumping down and killing another guard with the hidden blade where he ran into a dead end.

The guards thinking that they have got him quickly surround him, the pony just smirks and the gates open coming out are old colts who are dressed in a similar fashion to the pony where he disappears, the guards trying to find him but its no use he was long gone.

The crowd of ponies were looking worried because the screen kept flashing red and showing random landmarks.

"We've got a problem, I can't anchor him to the memory, too much psychological trauma, he's rejecting it. Twilight said. " Spike try and calm him down." she called out to Spike who was really worried for his friend.

"Uh, Shooting Star, we need you to try and relax." Spike stuttered since he didn't know what to do.

"Let me try" Twilight said. "Focus, take in your surroundings, they are not real, just a picture of the past." She explained but it didn't seemed to be working. Shooting Stars breathing became rapid.

"We're losing him." Twilight whispered, unfortunately the ponies seemed to hear her.

"That's enough Twilight." Rarity called out.

"That's it, Shooting Star I'm ending the spell so you can get out." Twilight said to him and surely enough the screen disappeared and the alicorn was regaining consciousness.

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked him while he gasped for breath. "Maybe we should stop." She suggested.

However Shooting Star refused. "I need to see it again, there's something about that pony that seems familiar the robes, the hidden blade, the guards so please Twi lets continue." He replied.

Twilight widened her eyes. "He knows what that blade is called." She thought. "Alright let's continue."

As she activated the spell again, Shooting Star decided to ask about the problem. "So mind telling me what it was that caused me to do that?" He asked.

"Yes, this is the memory we tried to access." She explained as she pointed to a strand of DNA. "But when we tried to get in it pushed you back into a more stable one."

"Why?" Shooting Star asked.

"It's your subconscious, it's resisting. It's the same with ponies who undergo hypnosis, they can't jump into the problem, they need to be eased in." She explained.

"So how do we fix it?" He asked.

"We find a memory you can synchronize with, and we go on from there, you'll get used to it, this is the closest we can get so it's where we have to start." Twilight replied again pointing to a strand of DNA. As she activated it the screen changed to a cave where there was an old stallion who looked terrified.

Suddenly there was a voice. "Altair wait, there must be another way. This one need not die."

The pony from before, who must be Altair pushed the old stallion down and killed him with the hidden blade. Two stallions with robes like Altairs came running behind him.

"An excellent kill, fortune favors your blade." One praised.

"Not fortune, Skill. Watch a while longer and you might learn something." Altair corrected.

"This pony is cockier than Rainbow Dash." Applejack huffed.

"HEY!" Rainbow whined.

"Indeed, he will teach you how to disregard everything the master taught us." The other said, clearly not happy with Altair.

"And how would you have done it Malik?" Altair questioned.

"I would not draw attention to us, I would not have taken the life of an innocent, what I would have done is follow the creed." Malik explained.

This caught the crowd off guard. What did he mean by 'innocents'. Was there only certain ponies they are supposed to kill?

"Nothing is true, Everything is permitted. Understand these words, that is not how we complete our task." Altair lectured.

"But this is not the wa-" Malik started to say.

"My way is better." Altair interrupted.

Sighing, Malik said "I'm going to scout ahead try not to dishonor us any further." With that thought he walked the other way.

"What is the mission?" The other stallion asked. "My brother will say nothing to me, only be honored to be invited."

"The master believes the Templars have found something beneath the temple mount." Altair explained.

"Treasure?" The pony asked.

"I do not know." Altair replied. "But the master deems it important, else he would not have asked me to retrieve it."

The crowd were impressed with these ponies and their skills at free galloping, as they hopped to one beam to another they arrived at a doorway.

"There, that must be the ark." Malik said.

"The ark, of the covenant?" The other pony asked.

"Don't be silly there is no such thing, it's just a story." Altair huffed.

"Then what is it?" Malik asked.

"Quiet someponys coming." The other stallion hushed.

Coming out the entrance was a bald earth pony accompanied by two guards. They all wore a symbol of a red cross. The bald stallion seemed to have a frhaynch accent. (I apologize for this scene I couldn't understand him.)

"I want it down by sunrise, the sooner we possess it, the sooner we can turn our attention to those jackals in Canterlot." He ordered.

"Canterlot?" Pinkie questioned. "But princess Celestia lives there."

"Not in this era Pinkie." Twilight explained. "She and Luna lived in the royal sisters palace in the everfree forest."

"Robert de Sable." Altair whispered with gritted teeth. "His life is mine."

"No, we were asked to retrieve the treasure and deal with Robert only if necessary." Malik protested.

"He stands between us and it, I think its necessary." Altair replied.

"Digression." Malik hissed.

"More like cowardliness, that stallion is our greatest enemy, and here we have a chance to be rid of him." Altair stubbornly replied.

"You have already broken two tenants of our creed, now you would break the third. Do not compromise the brotherhood." Malik Lectured.

"I am your superior, in both title and ability. You should know better than to question me." Altair ended the conversation by dropping down to where Robert was followed by the other two.

"Halt Templars, your not the only one with business here." Altair yelled.

"Ah, well this explains my missing stallion, and what is it you want?" Robert asked.

"Blood." Altair replied before lunging at him, Malik tried to stop him but it was too late. Robert punched Altair and restrained his front hooves. Altair activated his hidden blade trying to reach for the frhaynch ponies neck but couldn't

.

"You not know the things you meddle with assassin, I spare you only to return to your master to deliver a message. The holy land is lost to him and he should flee now while he has the chance. Stay, and all of you will die." He said before throwing Altair through some beams breaking them and sealing the part he got thrown out of.

Realizing there is nothing he can do, he galloped out the cave back to Canterlot to tell his master the bad news.

He got to Canterlot in record time, he was then greeted by a fellow assassin.

"Altair, you have returned." The pegasus said.

"Raouf." Altair greeted.

"It is good to see you unharmed, I trust your mission was a success?" He praised.

"Is master Starswirl in his tower?" Altair asked.

"Starswirl the bearded?" Twilight whispered with wide eyes.

"Yes yes, buried in his books as always, no doubt he expects you." Raouf explained.

"My thanks brother." Altair thanked.

"Safety and Peace Altair." Raouf recited the assassin greeting.

"On you as well." Altair replied.

As he walked through Canterlot he saw the assassin guild where Starswirl was.

Twilight was amazed by the architecture on early day Canterlot, as was Everypony else.

As Altair galloped up the staircase he saw somepony else. A Unicorn like himself.

"Ah, he returns at last." The pony says with fake cheer.

"Abbas." Altair said with venom in his voice.

"Where are the others?" Abbas asked realizing that the other two weren't there. "Did you gallop ahead hoping to be the first one here, I Know that your known to share the glory."

Altair said nothing but glared at Abbas.

"Silence is just another form of sin." he spat.

"Have you nothing better to do?" Altair asked ready to punch this stallion.

"I bring word from the master, he waits for you in the library." he explained but then started being sarcastic. "Best hurry, no doubt your eager to put your tongue in his boot(.)"

"Another word and it will be my blade through your throat." Altair replied.

"There will be plenty of time for that in training, brother." He spat the last word, it's clear these two hate each other.

Altair ran up to the library where he saw an old stallion in black robes, he was an alicorn like Shooting Star but his coat was white and he had one eye pure white.

"Altair." The alicorn greeted.

"Master Starswirl." Altair bowed.

"Come forward, tell me of your mission. I trust you have recovered the Templars treasure." He said.

"There was some trouble master, Robert de Sable was not alone." Altair explained.

"When does our work ever go as expected?" Starswirl replied. "It's our ability to adapt that makes us who we are."

"This time it was not enough." Altair said.

"What do you mean?" Starswirl asked.

"I have failed you." Altair bowed his head in shame.

"The treasure?" Starswirl asked.

"Lost to us."

"And Robert?"

"Escaped."

Altair knew Starswirl was angry his eyes said it all.

"I send you, my best stallion to complete a mission more important than any before, and you return with nothing but apologies and excuses?" Starswirl yelled.

"I di-" Altair started to say.

"Do not speak, not another word. This I did not expect, we will have to mount another force." Starswirl muttered.

"I will find him, I can-" Altair said.

"No, you do nothing." Starswirl ordered. "You have done enough. Where are Malik and Cadarr?"

"Dead." Altair simply said.

"No, not dead." Maliks voice came he looked  a real mess, his front left hoof was all bloody.

"Malik?" Starswirl asked bewildered.

"I still live at least."

"And your brother?"

"Gone, because of YOU!" he yelled pointing at Altair.

"Robert threw me from the room, there was no way back, nothing I could do." Altair explained.

"Because you did not heed my warning, all of this could have been avoided!" Malik yelled. "And my brother, my brother would still be alive, your arrogance nearly cost us victory today."

"Nearly?" Starswirl asked.

"I got what he couldn't find, here." Malik said gesturing to a pegasus walking with an artifact.

"Though it seems I returned with more than just their treasure." Malik continued.

An earth pony came bounding in. "Robert de Sable proceeds to Canterlot village."

"So he seeks a battle, very well I will not deny him, go prepare make sure the fortress is prepared. As for you Altair, our discussion will have to wait. You must make for the village, destroy these invaders, fight them from our home." Starswirl ordered.

"It will be done." Altair obeyed.

As Altair galloped out the guild he was asked by one of the other assassins to distract the templars whilst they save the villagers. It was easy to take out the templars, they were no match for Altairs experience. Then he heard somepony shout

"Return to Canterlot, Starswirl commands it." heeding the call he galloped back.

"Altair come, Strarswirl is ot done with us yet, we have a surprise planned for our guests. It should become clear soon enough."

Altair climbed up some ladders to the watch tower, where there were some planks of wood, he climbed onto one and stayed there.

"Heritique, return what you have stolen from me." Robert yelled.

"You have no claim for it Robert, clear away from here before I am forced to thin your ranks further." Starswirl replied.

"You played a dangerous game." Robert yelled.

"I assure you this is no game." Starswirl assured.

"So be it, bring forth the hostage." Robert ordered.

Two Templars brung forth Cadarr and plunged a sword to his side killing him instantly.

"Your village is in ruins, and your stores have been raided. How long before your fortress crumbles from within, how good will your stallions remain when the wells run dry and the food is gone." Robert questioned.

"My stallions do not fear death Robert, they welcome it and the awards it brings." Starswirl explained.

"Good they can have death all round." Robert yells back.

"Follow me, but do so without hesitation." Raouff whispers.

"Show these foolish knights what it means to have no fear, GO TO GOD!"

That was the signal, all three of them jumped off of their respective platforms into bales of hay.

Altair climbed out of his bale and walked over to Raouff who was tending to the other assassin who broke his hind legs.

"You will have to go ahead without us, the ropes there will bring you to a trap we have set. Go and release it, bring death upon our enemies." Raouff sent Altair off.

Altair ran along the ropes with ease and made it to the trap which was held by a beam, he broke it with his sword and sent logs to the Templars crushing them and forcing them to retreat.

They were back in the guild where Altair and the other Assassins were with Starswirl.

"You did well Altair on driving Robert from our home, his forces are broken. It shall be a while before he troubles us again, tell me. Do you know why you were successful?

Not getting a reply Starswirl answered. "Because you listened, if you listened in Sombras temple Altair, all of this would have been avoided."

"I did as I was asked." Altair pointed out.

"No you did as you pleased." Starswirl corrected. "Malik told me of the arrogance you displayed, the disregard for our ways." He nodded and two Assassins restrained Altair.

"What are you doing?" Altair asked.

"There are rules, we are nothing if we don't abide by the assassins creed, three simple tenants which you seem to forget. I will remind you." Starswirl explained.

"First and foremost, stay your blade." He continued.

"From the flesh of an innocent, I know." Altair interrupted.

Starswirl backhoofed Altair. "And stay your tongue, unless I give you leave to use it, if you are so familiar with this tenant then why did you kill the old stallion in the temple. He was innocent, he did not need to die." Starswirl composed himself before continuing.

"Your insolence knows no bounds, they crumble your heart foal, or I swear I will tear it with my own hooves, the second tenant is which gives us strength. Hide from plain sight, let the ponies mask you so you become one with the crowd.

"Do you remember, because as I hear you chose to expose yourself, throwing attention before you struck. The third and final tenant the worst of all your betrayals. Never compromise the brotherhood." He recited the last tenant.

"It's meaning should be obvious your actions should not bring harm to us, direct or indirect. Yet your selfish act in jerhoofsalem put us all in danger. Worse still you brought the enemy to our home."He kept on lecturing Altair "Everypony we lost today was lost because of you."

Sighing he took out a dagger from his robes. "I'm sorry truly I am. But I cannot abide a traitor." He apologized.

"I am not a traitor." Altair protested.

"Your actions say otherwise." Starswirl retorted. "So you leave me no choice, peace be upon you Altair." He then stabbed

Altairs gut causing him intense pain.

The session ended and both Twilight and Shooting Star looked exhausted, meanwhile all the ponies were shocked.

"Wow those ponies are more skilled than the royal guards." Rarity said in awe.

"I think thats enough for today, right you two?" Fluttershy said gesturing to the unicorn and alicorn.

"Right I'm going to turn in for the night." Shooting Star said.

"Me too." Twilight chimed in.

And a very good idea because it was sunset, all the ponies started turning in for the night.

In Golden oaks library Spike turned into his bed followed by Twilight. Shooting star just stayed there because all those ponies seem familiar.

"Altair, Hidden blade all these sound familiar. could this be my past? No no stupid Shooting Star I'm not a killer but then again it feels like I've done this before. Ah I'll Think about it tomorrow." So he too turned in for the night.