Ezio vs Harmony

It was quiet. The night drew around Ezio like a dark cloak.  He was in no rush, but yet he ran. He knew that whatever Applejack saw wasn't Pinkie.... no, it couldn't have been. She was dead. There was no denying that. However, he just got  a vital piece of information: the library holds all the answers. Honestly, he should've gone there first. Everything is always at the library.

The library held the one thing he'd need: a background of these Templars.  He always knew what to say about his targets in his hometown, but this foreign place was just that. Foreign.  If he could know more, then it would help him in all of these next assassinations. He arrived at the library, and he threw the door open.

So. Many. Books.

Ezio didn't even know where to start. If he wanted to know everything he could, he would read all of them, but there were just... so... many...

"How does one even go about obtaining this many books?" he asked himself.

He picked up the closest one and read the title: "A Unicorn's Guide to Teleportation".

If he knew his houses right, this would be Twilight's, so... things were going to be a lot harder if she knew how to teleport.

He searched for a book that might give him a good idea of the personal life of these ponies. He found a photo album and quickly peered through its contents. He was surprised to see that there were only pictures from town, not anywhere else. He saw a picture of what looked like a young Twilight and the Princess Celestia. So she also had a mentor, and of course it's the very Princess herself.

Things were looking quite impossible for future Ezio.

He looked through the book some more and found multiple pictures of the six possessors of the Elements of Harmony. It figures that they would be closely connected. He wondered why there were no pictures of anything... incriminating.  Not a single thing that linked them to the Templars. He wondered if Derpy (or was it Ditzy?) had this information. If so, then the answers he need were elsewhere. He needed to know all the personal things about them: their lives, their family, their goals. Everything.

That's when he found the one thing he had hoped he would never have to read. He sighed as he picked it up and put it in his bag. It would have plenty of info, but....

He put the other books back in their places. No need to leave the place a mess. He closed the door silently behind him and trotted off.

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Trixie watched as Ezio left the library.  She wanted to try to stop him, but now was not the time.

He was getting a little too close to the truth, but so far, he didn't really seem to know it.  Or care, for the matter. He was just another loyal Assassin: killing all he needed to and never questioning it.

She would keep an eye on him for now. Any suspicious movement, and she would show him the real power of the Templars.

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The investigator woke up that morning feeling like crap. His biggest lead to the murder was dead. He sighed, pulled off the covers and got into his suit. His little lie from last night was in the back of his mind, calming him only a little when he became doubtful of solving the mystery.  He began to make some breakfast when he heard a knock on his door. Probably just the investigation squad.

He opened the door.

"Sir! We've found more hoofprints near the site, sir. We think we've got an idea of who we're looking for here."

The investigator was wide awake now.

"Yes? And who is it?"

"It's not a specific pony, but we have an idea of where he came from. Italia. He must've crossed the border sometime this week, and started his killings as soon as he arrived."

"Interesting. I'll be sure to get the guards notified."

"They already know, sir."

"Even better. Let me know when you find him. I need to be the one to interrogate this guy."

"Yes, sir."

The guard left and the investigator closed the door.  When he turned around, he saw a hooded pony standing behind him.

"Looking for someone?" he asked.

"Who are you?! What are you doing in my hou--"

The investigator was cut off by the pain in his front legs. He looked down to see that the pony in front of him had stabbed through them. He yelled in pain.

"You give up on this case right now, and I'll let you live. You don't, and I think you know just what will happen to you. You're a logical colt, make the logical decision."

The investigator writhed in pain n the ground. He looked up at the attacker.

"You're right. I am a logical colt. And there's only one logical decision."

The investigator looked at the door.

"I'm still on the case."

Guards burst through the door.

"Halt! You're under arrest! Hooves against the wall, NOW!"

The attacker saw he was outmatched by all the guards: there were at least 10 of them, and one of him. These guards were unicorns, and obviously that made him scared.

"You win this time, Mr. Wright, but in the end, I will succeed."

The attacker dropped a smoke bomb.

The guards coughed and waved the smoke away.

"Situation 1-7-8! Lost sight on the target! TRACK HIM DOWN!!"

The guards ran off and some paramedics entered the scene. They put the investigator on a stretcher and carried him off.

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That was ridiculous.

Ezio had stupidly gone in without a plan to kill the investigator. A very bad idea. However, it should've worked. The investigator wasn't protected, and he was one of the easiest targets here. However, somebody must've known he was there and called for the guards.  Those guards were still searching around, and would be for a while. He could hide until they gave up looking for him. He just needed the right place to do so. Far away was preferable, a place very overlooked and ignored, possibly like the pony living in that place...

He noticed a small cottage near the outskirts of town. He realized it was right next to the forest, so he wouldn't have trouble stashing his clothes so he would look normal. The reason he didn't want to stay in the woods was mostly because giant wooden wolves that wanted to kill him were there. If he wanted to be ribbons for the next celebration, he would go in the woods.  He quickly and quietly stashed his clothes and went up to the cottage.

Perhaps the cottage was abandoned. He tried the door.

It wouldn't budge.

On the other hand, maybe it wasn't so abandoned...

Ezio knew the guards would be here soon. They checked every house, and they must've already cleared out the majority of the town by now. He didn't have much time to get into this house...

Well, there were two options: one, turn himself over to the guards (something he'd never do unless it was absolutely necessary) and two, get into this house one way or another.

He saw an old dead branch of a tree from the forest hanging low nearby. It was gonna hurt, but at least he'd get inside...

Maybe...

He had no time to question it. He rushed up to the branch, bit onto it, and pulled as hard as he could. Honestly, that was probably the one thing he shouldn't have done. Not only was the branch dead, but the entire tree was rotting, and it fell directly in his direction. Ezio sprung to the left of it, but his leg got caught.

And damn, did it hurt.

"Help!" he yelled.

A yellow pony with a pink mane dashed out of the house and pulled him out of the self-created mess. Ezio was slightly satisfied that his plan worked, and mostly in pain because of what he did. He was lucky that the tree didn't crush him, or even cripple him for the matter. The wound he had taken wasn't serious, but it wasn't just a simple fix either.

The yellow pony saw his wounded leg.

"Oh, no! Are you hurt? Here, you've got to get inside the house right away!"

The pony helped him up and they walked to the house together.

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Mr. Wright woke up in a hospital. His forelegs ached, probably because they had just sustained two giant puncture wounds. He looked around to see the nurse nearby.

"How long was I out?" he asked.

The nurse jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Oh! You're awake! You've been out for only a half hour, sir."

"A half hour?"

"That's right, sir."

"Who knew this would happen?"

"Somebody named Maya, apparently.  She was the pony who called in for this attack."

"Figures."

"It's funny though.  She called in five minutes before the attack happened."

"That's Maya for you.  Always ahead of the game."

"Hm."

"So... how long am I going have to heal?"

"Depends on your recovery.  It could take anywhere from a month to four months."

"Darn. I was hoping I could get back to the investigation."

"Investigation? What investigation?"

"Well..."

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"Oh, I knew that tree going to fall soon, but not this soon! I should've put up a sign at the very least!"

"It's not your fault.  Please, stop crying!"

It had been like this for a half hour.  Ezio was trying to comfort this clearly sorry mare.  His words did little to help the situation.

"Sir, I am so sorry! I don't know what I was thinking!"

"You've apologized more than you need to. You did nothing wrong!  You can't control when a tree falls! Besides, you've already patched my wound! Everything is okay!"

"I'm sorry!"

Why was it so hard for me to comfort her? he questioned in his mind. All she says is that she is sorry!

"I forgive you."

"I'm-- what was that?"

"I. Forgive. You."

"But sir I--"

"Look, you've been apologizing a lot. The least I can do is forgive you if that is what you truly want to hear, and from the sound of it, you do. You are forgiven."

The mare was silent for a moment. Ezio didn't know why. Maybe he upset her. Maybe he hurt her feelings. Maybe--

Before he could come up with more ideas as to what happened, the mare hugged him.

"I'M SORRY!" she cried.

Well, it seems this is going to last a little while longer.

"I don't think we've been properly introduced." Ezio said quietly, trying to change the subject, "I mean, I don't really know your name."

"It's..." she mumbled something inaudible.

"What was that? I'm sorry, I just couldn't hear you."

"It's... Fluttershy." she said in a little more than a whisper.

Ezio felt his heart skip a beat as shock ran over him. This shy mare was one of the holders of the Elements of Harmony! But she saved him, right? She's bad, right? That's what all Templars were!

Ezio shook himself out of his trance.

"I.. I thank you for all you've done. I have to leave. There's a... uh... something back in town I have to check on! Thanks! Bye now!"

Ezio ran out of the house. God, he hoped he hadn't hurt her feelings like that. Not that he believed in God.

No time for thinking about atheism! He needed answers! There was no way, NO POSSIBLE WAY, that she was a Templar!

He ran into the library (silently as he could, since it was a library) and tore down the books from the shelves. The answer he was looking for was here, but not in it's books. Not in everything they had for him, in all their contents.

After he removed the books, he pushed the bookcase aside. Impossible. What he saw was impossible.

The wall behind the bookcase was written on with blood.

It read one thing.

You're making a big mistake.

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Trixie saw him enter the library. He had already been there before, why would he go back?

She heard noises from inside the place. He must be wrecking everything inside. Trixie smiled that this little, angry Assassin would go so low as to vandalize the place. She wondered if that was all he was there to do.

She moved in closer and peered through the window.

"I've killed them. I... ended their lives. Their lives! The ones with meaning! They had families! Friends! And it was all a hoax! some trick to make me kill innocent ponies! I swear I will find those who tricked me, and I will KILL THEM!"

Trixie didn't like the sound of that. Perhaps it was time. She ran off to tell the guards who was the killer.

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Ezio was enraged. Fooled! Most likely some Templar, wishing the mess with his mind! He hated himself for his deeds. The Elements couldn't be used without all the holders present! If he had killed one, the Templars would have already won! Now that he has done more than enough, they will probably seek to kill him now.

"There he is! Assassin!"

Ezio turned around to see a guard. Never had he been so afraid to see one before. He had no weapons at the moment, so he had to flee this fight.

The guard saw him attempt to take off.

"Oh, no you don't!"

He created a magical wall surrounding them.

"Ezio Auditore da Firenze! You are charged with the murder of the ones known as Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Your sentence is death by execution. Have you anything to say in your defense, before I kill you?"

"One thing."

"That is?"

"Your tail is on fire."

The guard fell for the distraction. Ezio rushed him, knocking him to the ground. He saw the magical wall disappear, and with that he made his escape.

Unfortunately, he had gone from the pan and into the fire. More guards awaited him outside, all with weapons. Ezio was thankful that none of them were unicorns. He ran up to the first, lept, and kicked him in the face. He dodged the next, rolling past him. The next swung out a spear, but Ezio got down just in time. He snapped the attacker's neck. He picked up the spear and sliced the next guard in the side. He took that guard's sword and used it to deflect another oncoming sword on his left. He flipped the guard around and stabbed him in the back. Why use your own weapons when you can use the enemy's, right? There were still more guards all around him. He was surrounded.

"Give up Assassin! You have nowhere to run!"

Ezio didn't see a way out of this one. It seemed like all was lost...

That's when Mr. Wright appeared on the scene.

"HOLD IT!" he shouted.

"Sir! I didn't see you there--"

"This man is innocent! He was framed!"

"What?"

"Ezio Auditore is the culprit, right? He comes from Italia, correct? This pony is neither one of those things! Speak for us and I wil prove your innocence!"

"I am not the person you are looking for." Ezio lied. His voice... it was different. He spoke with some sort of a lack of accent. Like an Equestrian.

"See? Ezio is known to have a strong accent, one he cannot mask! Tell me, if this is the culprit, then why doesn't he sound like the culprit?"

"But.. he killed a guard! Snapped his neck! He attempted to escape capture because of it!"

"OBJECTION! That guard is still alive. He only slapped him in the face, and it cricked his neck. He wounded a lot of them, but he did not kill anypony here. Exactly what I'd expect from a scared pony who wants no trouble with the law."

Ezio was surprised that guard was still alive. He had full intentions to kill him, as well as teh others he stabbed. How in the world did they survive? Luckily, they didn't know that.

"Well... it seems he got away again. We'll do a thorough search of the town, make sure we we didn't miss any place. GUARDS! FAN OUT!"

The guards left.  Ezio turned to Mr.Wright.

"Why did you--"

"Ezio, I know that what you did was wrong. I know you... ended... those ponies' lives, but I also know you weren't behind the killings. You were taking orders from somepony, weren't you?"

"Yes, but I know they are the enemy now. I thought somepony from my group had found out about some pretty evil powers in this place, and I was sent to kill them."

"Now, I'm letting you off the hook this time for one reason and one reason only: the ponies you killed can be brought back."

"Surely you must be joking. Dead ponies are dead, and that is that."

"One: my name is Phoenix, not Shirley.  Two: that's not true. you can bring them back from the dead."

"Tell me."

"I have some powerful connections, and so long as you aren't hunting her, she can help."

"Who?"

"You'll see. I scheduled a train for you to meet her. She'll be waiting for you. Also, I picked up these in the woods."

Phoenix handed Ezio some clothes. They were the ones Ezio hid earlier.

"I'm pretty sure she'll want to have you clothed."

"You're not coming with me?"

"No, my friend, I will stay here to confirm that you are missing. And to find out who put you up to this."

"A question, Phoenix. Do you know of my group?"

"I know of their good intentions, and that is all I need to know."

"One more thing before I leave.  How do you know me? And why have I never heard of you?"

"Well, that would require breaking down a certain wall, and I don't think it would be good if that wall came down. I mean, you already killed Pinkie Pie, so I'm not entirely sure that would be the greatest idea anyway."

The two were silent for a moment, and Phoenix could see that his explanation flew right over Ezio's head.

"You'd better get going. Train's leaving soon."

"...Thank you. Be safe."

"You as well, Ezio."

Ezio ran off and Phoenix shook his head at him. "Never seen a stranger pony."

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