Another cold, moist and cloudy day in the bustling market. It was just the typical weather to expect in the Gryphon Kingdom. Never the less the market area was bustling with activity. Traders sold both their useful and questionable wares, Criers shouting the latest grim news, and the orphans ran rampant through the cluttered streets. Even the bodies of last days execution hung limply, only to be gently pushed by the wind like wind chimes. Every Gryphon, Minotaur and pony went about their own business whether it be sales, guard duty or... Being someone's slave.
The streets were littered with them. Every day they were sent to do the tasks no one wanted to do. Garbage disposal, Dung removal, groceries and the like. Most beard the chains and bruises from their master's abuse in plain sight. They were miserable and soulless at the same time. For proof one had to look no further then their eyes.
Many have said that the eyes are the doors to the soul. If this were true then these slave ponies have none. Their irises are cold and uncaring, only carrying a fragment of their once bright spirits. They have been tortured and broken down to the point that they no longer know themselves. In a simpler explanation, they are machines. They do not feel and they do not think. They are but tools, instruments to complete undesirable tasks and when they brake. They are discarded and replaced like so many candles.
"Once enslaved you are the property of the one who bought you." One of the laws of an ancient gryphon king. Every king since him has stuck to this rule like glue on paper. It was deemed too "profitable" for the crown to over rule.
Over time the citizens believed that slavery was a way of life. One that can not be changed...
Or so they thought.
"Cabbages!" Boomed the voice of a Minotaur. "Can't get big an' strong without your Cabbages!" He flexed his muscles, ripping his shirt.
"No! My carrots are far superior!" Proclaimed the confident voice of a orange Unicorn.
The Minotaur glared at his robed rival. "You can't best this cabbages with your flimsy sticks!"
The stallion snorted. "I beg to differ!"
They approached each other and press their foreheads together. A small crowd of regulars had already gathered at the familiar scene.
"There they go again." Sighed a gryphon.
An old grey stallion gave a hearty laugh while leaning on his walking stick. "They're like an old married couple."
A white filly in the crowd adorned in rags and chains stared impassively at the nameless Minotaur. She held an empty reed basket in one hand and a small sack in the other. An older blue mare caught sight of her and knelt beside her.
"It's OK, little Courage will be along shortly." She comforted. "Then you can get what you need."
The filly continued to look forward emotionless. She did not know who this "Courage" was and she did not care. All that mattered was completing the task at hand. However whether she likes it or not, things are about to change.
Just then a small colt vaulted onto a create and used the Minotaur as a stepping stone to leap over the crowd. He soared high above them with a grin plastered on his short muzzle.
"Thanks for the cabbages and carrots!" He beamed from above.
Both vendors eyes' widened in realization. In his right hand was a bushel of carrots and in the other a bag of cabbages. The boy's smirk only grew.
"Hey you gotta pay for those!" The Minotaur roared.
The boy dropped the cabbages in the chained fillies basket just before landing. He quickly took off sprinting while waving back at the Minotaur. "I left your pay at your booths as usual!" He called back.
The two vendors looked back to their stands to see a few shiny bits on their wooden surface. AS they returned to their sides of the streets the small slave could only stare at the boy's back. Never had anypony just given things to her and yet here she was with a basket full of cabbages. A small flicker appeared in her eyes and a small smile crept onto her face. Without even knowing why she weakly waved at the fleeing boy.
Further down the street Courage ran. He knew the city's streets like the back of his hand. He turned into alleyways, ducked into abandoned buildings and skillfully dogged every passerby. He ran with a purpose today. It was a task of great importance, one that would cost him his life if any of the king's loyalists were to get a hold of it.
"Hey Courage!" Called a squeaky voice.
Courage stopped but jogged in spot. To his left was a group of familiar children he lived with at the orphanage. He waved and the others came running over to him. The voice that addressed him first was a small gryphon.
"Hey Squeak." Courage ruffled his feathers with a smile. "What's up?"
A pink filly piped up. "Were playing Ninjas!"
'Of course.' Courage cringed.
"Ya!" Cheered another foal. "You wanna play?!"
All the children of varying height and species leaned in close with glittering eyes.
"Ah gee I would love to but..." Courage searched his mind for an excuse.
"Y-You don't want to play?" Squeak hung his head and the others soon followed.
Courage smirked. "Actually I have a mission for a bunch of young ninjas like yourselves."
"R-Really!" Shouted three foals in unison.
"You bet! I need you all to stealthily bring this vital cargo yo Cherry." He held up the bag of carrots.
"That's not important cargo!" Proclaimed another gryphon. "Those are just carrots."
"Just carrots?!" Courage shouted. "These are life preserving material! Without them we will have a meager diner. Surly you remember the brussel sprout broth!"
All the children shivered at the memory. "C-Come on guys this is an emergency!" The bushel of carrots was snatched from Courage's hands and the other orphans scurried off.
Courage waited until they were out of sight before continuing his journey. He quickly turned down an alleyway. He had lost some time so he took off in a full on sprint, in an attempt to make up for it. Others cursed when he bumped into them but he paid them no mind. Where ever he ran he was followed by a slight breeze. He was fast. So fast he could not stop the collision between him and a gryphon guard.
-BAME-
Courage stumbled back, holding his snout. "OW! Ma nozs."
Before he could resume his sprint he was secured by one gryphon while the other gave a impassive look.
"You little shit!" Snarled one and threw him against a wall. "You street rats need to know your place." Courage spat on his face.
The guard behind him raised a brow and chuckled. "Brave one isn't he?" He stopped chucking when his partner punched the child into the ground.
"Nah just stupid." He laughed.
He gave Courage no time to recover. He felt the barrage of blows upon his small frame taking its toll only after a few seconds. He was bleeding from the claw marks in his fur as well as his bruises. It hurt, but her refused to cry. If he cried then they won and they would not get that satisfaction. Not from him.
-CRASH-
Courage's body smashed into yet another crate in the on streets. A small crowd had gathered to witness the brutality. Many seethed with anger but dared not acted against the kings men. The young colt slowly picked his body up. He was beaten and bloody but not broken... yet.
"Why you little rat!" Snarled the guard. "Just stay down!"
The other guard halted him. "Here let me show you how it's done."
He slowly marched up to the child who staggered trying to keep his balance. The crowds faces grew grim, expecting a public execution of a defenseless foal. Courage weakly flailed at the guard but it was useless. He was far too weak. His attack bounced harmlessly off him. The gryphon only continue his soulless glare before placing his claws around his head. Courage was lifted three feet off the ground by his superior strength. The crowd murmured amoungst themselves without taking their regretful eyes away from the beaten child. He hanged limp in his grasp while this red blood flowed freely onto the stone road. Some believed him to be dead already.
"Well boy let me tell you something good!" He said with an eerily cheerful voice. "I'm not goanna kill you."
Silence. After what he had said there was only dead silence. It would have been easy to hear a pin drop.
"But you watch it kid." He warned still wearing his eerie smile. "The true horrors lurk in the shadows and descend upon wings of death. Always searching for their target, that they had already found." His grip tightened around the foal's skull, drawing blood. Courage whimpered and covered his claws with his hands. "They stalk and play with you making you believe you are safe until..." He raised Courage higher. "They crush your spirit."
With his speech of fear finished he threw his body into another crate, resulting in another loud crash. His face returned to a stone cold expression, sending chills down everyone's spines. Even his brutal partner looked nervous.
"Let's go Furry." He called as he passed him.
"R-Right!" The other stammered, speed walking after him and leaving the boy behind.
The entire crowd dispersed to resume their duties, except for one. A brown stallion I his teens sporting a pair of wings and tattered clothing, ran over to the child. He expected to a broken boy unconscious and in need of a doctor but he found something odd. He found a broken conscious boy in need of a doctor.
To most that would not be unexpected but the frail body was smiling. And not just a weak smile of someone on his death bed, but a wide grin.
The two guards that had just beaten Courage to a bloody pulp, continued their patrol down the street. One had the stone wall expression while the other squeamishly glanced at his partner. An uncomfortable silence surrounded the two for thirty minutes before one sighed.
"Alright Furry what's up?" He sighed.
The guard known as Furry stiffened. "B-Back there." He gulped.
"Back where... Oh you mean with the kid?" Furry nodded. "Ya what about it?"
"You said some scary... No. Horrifying things back there."
"Did I?" He asked, disbelief painting his face. "I didn't think it was that scary."
The duo rounded a corner.
"I don't know how you can say that with all that has been going on in the past three weeks." Furry shook his head with disgust. "Three weeks ago something started. Something unnatural."
"Aw come on." He pleaded. "Don't tell me your talking about the Ninjas." Furry nodded. "Oh for pits sakes! They don't exist!"
"How can you say that? Since three weeks ago the royal guard has lost 60% of their supplies in their raids. Overall gryphon power has been reduced to two thirds of what it was before. Every time they strike they leave no survivors greatly reducing our numbers."
The other guard rolled his eyes. "OK. Let's say they do exist. How in the seven hells have we not killed one yet?"
Furry gulped. "The locals say that they are immortal and vengeful wraiths."
"More senseless superstition."
They pushed threw a larger crowd in one of the markets all the while Furry went on about the Ninjas. Over the span of two hours he had said: They can turn invisible, fly, burrow, phase threw walls, cut a gryphon's head clean off (with their fists) and many other ridiculous abilities. When the two arrived outside a tavern named "The boot", signifying the end of their patrol, He had finished a tale of a guard who witnessed all the horrors the ninja could do.
"Alright I am going to poke a big hole in that story." He proclaimed. "If the ninjas leave no survivors then how did you hear that story from a guard who was there during the raid?"
"..."Furry said nothing.
"That's what I thought." He stretched and let out a yawn. "You going to The Boot Later?"
"Unfortunately no." Furry said. "I have been posted to the castle tonight."
"Oh long day then." He whistled.
"Ya so I'm goanna go home make sure my dumb bitch of a slave got those cabbages and then beat her."
The other guard snorted. "Good to see you got your priorities straight."
"You know it. See ya Silver." Furry waved and rounded another corner.
Silver held his smile till he disappeared. When he was gone so was his fake smile. Silver spat on the ground that Furry walked on.
"I doubt I'll be seeing you Furry." He mumbled. "Tonight the castle is a chess board and you're on the team that only has pawns." He glanced down at the small scroll in his claws. "Thanks for the message kid... and sorry for being so rough. Had to look convincing."
With that Silver walked into The Boot, ready to drink away his pay.
-Who's ready for ninjas? No one, they're ninjas.- Ross Scot "Freeman's Mind".
"How was she?" Asked the heavenly voice of Celestia in the dark throne room.
"She was..." The pegasus paused. "Less then pleased princess."
Celestia sighed. "I expected as much, but this is necessary. She needs to understand that nothing is more powerful then friendship."
"But what about your sister princess?"
Celestia looked remorseful but her warm smile returned. "I am sure Twilight is more then capable to succeed."
"I'm sure you are right princess but about the gryphons..."
"Yes continue your report." She nodded.
The stallion cleared his throat. "As usual Victicus the Vile has continued his executions and slave trades." Celestia winced. "However he surprisingly has also increased the number of guards surrounding him by 57%."
"How is that surprising?"
"He is scared princess." Celestia raised an eye brow. "For the past three weeks something in the shadows has been hitting his guards, caravans, public execution and other things hard. He has lost a third of his guard in such a short time princess."
"Do we know who this group is?"
The stallion shook his head. "No. Not even our best spies can find them."
"I see. What of the citizens."
A small smile grew on his face. "Even after all the things their king has put them through they are getting happier."
"How?"
"Ever since that group have been in operation executions have gone down and the number of freed slaves has increased."
"Hmm." Celestia was deep in thought. "The world is moving in a mysterious way."
A mare with a red mane and white coat looked down at me. The sky behind her was a bright and lovely blue sky. I could feel the gentle breeze blow over me as the thin blades of grass tickled my skin.
"Umm, Sir?" She asked nervously. "Are you OK?"
The scene blurred and the colors faded. They soon returned but I was standing upright on a dirt path.
"So your name's Nick?" I nodded. "Well it's nice to meet you nick my name is Blossom."
She smiled and the scene shifted again. The scenes continued to change rapidly almost all of which contained the mare known as Blossom. Every time she spoke it was in the sweetest tone that could melt any cold heart.
"I treat them all as if they were my children."
"This city is hurting so I'm going to do my best to help it!"
"Now Courage it's not nice to stare."
"What are you carving... Is that a wolf face?"
"Nick could you go get the plats please?"
"I know your not a pony Nick but you are the nicest stallion I've ever met."
"Do you think we could..."
Everything went black. I waited patiently for the next scene. The next scene erupted around me in a raging fire. The orphanage burned around me. I knew this place all to well. They day it happed it was etched into my mind in excruciating detail.
My fist clenched around my blood soaked tanto. My clothing was stained with the blood of the dozen or so guards that littered the burning floor. In my other arm was Blossom. Her breathing was weak and laboured, she lightly gripped the spear head that protruded from her stomach as she smiled at me. I felt myself shaking violently as my vision blurred. However the burning orphanage did not vanish. I was crying. My tears covered her face but her smile did not waver. She reached a hand up to my face and stroked my cheek.
"It's alright Nick." She reassured. "Could you do something for me as my dying wish?"
I Grasped her hand tight and Shook my head, causing more tears to fall. "Do it yourself I'm not letting you die here!"
She wheezed. "Please Nick... I need you to heal this country." I continued to cry but did so in silence. "This country needs you Nick. Nick... Don't do this for revenge, don't do it fore me. Do it for the children of the future." She gasped for air. "So that they can have a better future... Nick I lo..." Her arm went limp and her breathing stopped.
"Wolf"
A figure clad in black shot it's head up. He was sitting in the agura position in with his face hidden behind his usual wolf mask. It glistened white and red in the orange glow of the torches. His gazed focused on another hand clad if black. It held a small scroll down to him. Wolf accepted the small parchment and stood up. He felt five pairs of eyes on him as he opened the scroll. On the page was no words or numbers just a simple green circle. A smile appeared behind the wolf mask and he cast the note into the fire pit. All eyes were upon him awaiting his word.
"We strike tonight. Be ready in three hours."
With that four more dark figures stepped out of the shadows and made their way down the dimly light halls.
"So it's time." Said a deep gruff voice. "I'll be sure to bring my best gear,"
Wolf shook his head. "Your not coming."
"What was that boy?" He asked in an almost threatening tone.
"Please Ancient." He pleaded. "I need you to go and make sure Cherry and the orphans get loaded onto the boat with no problems."
Ancient sighed. "I understand."
"Thank you. it means a lot."
The figure nodded and joined the others at the weapon racks. They each equipped themselves accordingly to the plan that they had been going over for three days. Everyone was equipped with at least one ninjaken and five shurikens and three kunais. After those everyone took gear specific to what they were doing tonight.
The two smallest and feminine figures had just finished attaching the ashiko to their feet and were loading their quivers full of arrows for their bows. One with a... larger chest handed a grappling hook to the other and she accepted.
"Thanks sis."
The tall masculine figure with the gruff voice approached them. He knelt down and put a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Promise me you two will be safe out there."
"It's ok grandpa we got Soulless after all."
Ancient scowled at the mention of the name but gave them a curt nod before setting off.
The one Ancient was not happy to hear about finished equipping his second kusari-gama and was reaching for a rather interesting choice of weaponry. It was a large metal fan known as a Tessen. This particular fan had sharpened edges so it could not only club when closed but slice as well.
"That is a peculiar choice." Chuckled a stiff accent.
Soulless did not even glace at the ninja and continued to inspect his gear.
The ninja sighed. "As unsociable as ever."
He turned away and continued to strap on his extra padding and protective gear. He was the most muscular of the group but the extra armor made him look like a heavy duty warrior. Under normal circumstances he would have dressed light like the others. However because of his part in the plan to do that would be hazardous to his life.
"Make sure those straps are tight." Wolf ordered. "Don't want you burning alive."
The large man chuckled as he took 5 spheres and attached them to his belts.
"Alright you all know the plan and your rolls. Head to your positions!"
Night had fallen and coated the country in darkness. Street lamps lit small sections of road and homes but left large segments covered in shadows. The only natural light came from the moon and the brilliant stars resting in the night's cold vast blanket. Even with the moon's light there were many shadows for things to lurk in.
Even inside the castle grounds there where still shadows that could harbor the creature of the night. Although because of the kings paranoia twice as many fires were burning, prototype searchlights were installed and many runes and spells to create light were set in place. Hundreds of guards patrolled the halls and grounds in large groups and every door had stationed guards as well. As the halls got closer to the thrown room the number of patrols increased. All in all there was about three hundred fifty guards on duty and all of which were undesirable.
The first guards to confront the enemy in the darkness would be at the castle's rear, closest to the keep. The twins, or Dread and Regret, were scaling the wall above the cliff face and nearing the battlements. They could hear the clanking of the guards' armor as they marched back and forth on the walls. They could also hear their general complaints about the cold and the patrols.
A collective smile grew on their faces as they rested just below the battlements. Regret could see the breath of one guard just above her. She quietly drew a kunai and waited patiently for a patrol to pass. When the noise finally ceased Dread flipped her slender body over. The guard barely even registered her prescience before Regret lunged up and sunk her blade into his throat. He gagged and Dread round house kicked him off the wall. His body plumed and spiraled as he headed for the rocks below.
Dread had already got started on the rest of his friends and when Regret got up she had dispatched of the last with a flick of her sword. their bodies lay cold and dead on the floor with their blood decorating the grey stone in large splashes. It looked like a painter had taken a few buckets of red paint and went wild.
The pair wasted no time and immediately threw the bodies over the side. Though they doubted it would help because of all the blood it would be harder to spot from a distance thus giving them slightly more time before the bells go off.
Meanwhile at the main gate things were about to get started. Soulless sheathed his sword and opened the gate for wolf and the large man known as Hate. They quickly leaped over the bodies of the the guards who had the misfortune to guard the gate. Hate and Wolf were only two steps into the grounds before they pressed their bodies against the stone wall.
A small troop of guards glided past them with fierce looks on their faces. The two figures clad in black held their breaths allowing them to pass. Hate's and Wolf's breathing returned to normal when they were gone.
"See you later Hate." Wolf took off for the keep.
