Ezio vs Harmony

Ezio had done it again.

He woke up after being in his drunken stupor. Whatever the hell was in those muffins sure was strong. Damn, the hangover was bad.

Derpy had left him a letter. It could contain any number of things, so he tore it open to find out immediately. You can never be too safe.

The letter read:

Ezio,

I have to get back to my job of mail-carrying. Boss says I took a liiittle too much time off the clock. I'll see you soon, though!

XOXO

Derpy

Well, Derpy was gone for the moment, the day wasn't over, and Ezio just got over his hangover (He has really high tolerance). He got up, got out of this damned suit, picked up his blades, and got re-dressed into his Assassin wear.

He went into the throne room, which turned out to be some very bad timing. The Princess, or the sobbing mess he could call the Princess, was sitting next to an open letter on the ground.

"Is now a bad time?" he asked, prepared to run if she shouted at him.

"I couldn't stop her, Ezio."

"What? Explain this situation."

"Rainbow Dash... she's..."

Ezio thought he knew where this was going.

"I swear I have nothing to do with--"

"Don't worry, I know it couldn't be you. It was her."

"Her?"

"She... she sent me this letter. It's talking about some pretty depressing things, like that she can't take it anymore, she can't live with herself. I think she's not feeling all too great right now..."

"... I wish I knew what to say, but I honestly don't. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful here, after all I've done..."

"No, you don't need to say anything, Ezio." said the Princess, standing up, "You have a job that has been long belated."

"Just tell me what I need to do. You keep saying it's dangerous, why is that?"

"One word: dragons."

Ezio just stared. That was what she thought was so dangerous?

He burst out in laughter.

"Dragons? Jeez, It's been a long time. Hahaha! Oh, we had some good times. My group and the Dragons have a pact. We give them more gems than they know what to do with, and they provide sufficient defense for our outposts. Oh, it'll be nice to see them again. We used to go around to Templar camps and just bur--"

He realized the Princess didn't care, given the look on her face.

"Ahem... sorry. What I mean is that won't be a problem."

"So it seems. Anyway, what you will need to get from them is a few of their scales. There's more things left to collect after that, so you have to hurry back. No time for idle chit-chat. Go. Now."

Ezio did as he was told.

Convincing dragons was always easy because they always wanted the same things: gems. particularly cut gemstones. Ezio was surprised that you could just dig up gemstones here. Back in Italia, you actually had to cut the darn things yourself. It actually made no sense that these pre-cut gemstones were just lying around in Equestria. He didn't care, though: it just made his job that much easier.

Collecting things was one of his least favorite parts of tasks like these. However, he couldn't wait to meet those dragons.

I don't think you'll like the dragons in Equestria. They don't like ponies in general, so this is going to be a hard bargain.

Dammit, I told you never to contact me like this!

Firstly, I can and I will contact you in whatever manner I please. Secondly, at least you can talk to me this time. Thirdly, apologize about your behavior.

Oh well EXCUUUUUUUSE me, Princess. Soooo sorry.

That may be the first time he had ever spoken to the Princess like any other pony.

Just go there and do the trade. It might take you a while to get to their den.

He continued his collecting until his saddlebags were full of gems. He started his journey to the Dragon's Den. It took him about three whole minutes. Long and arduous? Hardly.

"Hey! Pony! Stop right there!"

Dragons surrounded Ezio, staring at him with angry eyes.

"Get out of here! This is dragon territory!" shouted one.

The rest started shouting similar things.

"Gentlemen, please. I have a proposition for you."

"Oh yeah? What's that? Rob more of our land away from us?"

"No, no. I'm a pony of Italia. I'm here to take your land."

"Then what are you here to do?" asked one, calmly.

"I have need of some of your scales. 10 will do. And in exchange..."

He dumped the gemstones onto the ground.

"You get all these."

"Hm... you make a tempting trade here, pony. All right, we'll go through with this."

"Wondrous."

They accepted the trade? Good. Now, I'll need five red scales and five orange ones. See if you can't get that amount.

"I require some certain color of scales, if you will. 5 red and 5 orange."

"What? Why do you need those colors?"

Don't tell them. Try to avoid that unless you have to say it.

"That doesn't matter, the only thing that matters is the fact tat I need them. Sorry, but if I explained, it might waste your time for eating those gems."

"True. Alright, this had better be your last request, though."

The dragon ripped five red scales from his friend and five orange from another. "That will teach you to steal from my gem pile again. Now take your share of gems."

Well, for big, mighty beings, they sure  had a way of showing it. These materialistic dragons always made Ezio roll his eyes.

And so he did.

Big. Mistake.

"Hey! That pony was lookin' at you sideways, Crunk!"

"What?! Nopony looks at me that way!"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"You rolled your eyes and you know it. You think we're stupid, don't you?"

"You're just like all the rest!"

The dragons started shouting at Ezio, who kept his composure.

Dammit, you just had to piss them off, didn't you?

Don't worry, I've got this.

"Hey, I didn't mean anything by it, ok? Can't you just let it go?"

"Oh, no. I've put up with you ponies long enough. If you want your scales here, you're gonna have to fight me, one on one."

"And if I win?"

"Then you get your scales, but if you lose, I'm gonna dance around in your chest cavity. Got it?"

Ezio, as he and all the Assassins were taught, didn't fear death.

"Bring it." said Ezio.

The dragon charged at him. He stood at least 7 hooves tall, maybe even 8, and he was pretty muscular. Ezio dodged his charge, but the dragon was still fast enough to trip Ezio with his tail. Ezio fell to the ground, and the dragons laughed. He spat some blood at the ground and got back up. He really did underestimate them.

God dammit, Ezio! See, this is what you get for being a such a goddamn idiot!

Princess Twilight really set Ezio off with that one. "I'm not done with you yet, bastardo!"

Ezio ran at the foe. He dodged the creature's claws, and sliced the dragon's underbelly. The problem with that: The dragon was falling over onto him. Ezio ran out from under him and watched as he fell face first on the ground.

"Jeez... man... why didn't you say... you would cut me if I did't give these?"

"Who goes around telling people he's going to stab them before he does it, hm?"

"Nopony, I guess... Look, just take the damn scales and leave me alone."

Ezio wondered if it was really that easy to just outright destroy a dragon's self-confidence.

"You must be joking."

"I'm not."

"That's a lie! I can see what happens when I pick up those scales: you and every dragon here lunges."

"Okay, buddy... we might not be the nicest things on this planet, but that... that doesn't mean that we don't bluff when we say we're gonna eat ya... just take them." he shoved the scales into Eio's bag and put it on Ezio's back.

"How...? Look, this all seems like some kind of trap."

"I can see it in your eyes, buddy: you don't trust the Princess. We don't trust the Princess. Between you and I, there's no difference as to our stance on this world."

Ezio was shocked. How did he know? Holy shit, I really do underestimate their intelligence, he thought.

"Alright. I will leave. Before I go, I have only one thing to say: you dragons will get the equality you deserve, be it tomorrow or in a hundred years, I swear."

The dragons nodded and Ezio turned to the entrance.

That was too easy, he thought. Everypony should know what really happened there. All you have to do is get a little too close, and they give up.

He felt bad for all those who didn't understand.

Well... uh... good job... I guess.

I'm not entirely sure if I deserved that thanks.

Look, you almost have everything. There's just one more thing I need.

Tell me what it is

Ezio, I need you to steal something for me.

And why must I resort to petty theft for this?

Because you can't get it otherwise... just head to the Burned Forest. There's... something there that I think only you can retrieve.

Which way?

You can see it just past the sunset.

Ezio looked over, shielding his eyes from the radiance of the sun. There were some blackened tree stumps over about a mile away. Ezio hurried over there. The trip only took him 6 minutes. He saw the sun disappearing behind the horizon, even so.

In this place, it's always night, and not even Luna knows why. However, there's a rumor that a great magic lies within. If you find it, your task is complete.

So you want me to, quite literally, take a shot in the dark and say this rumor is true?

Yeah, basically. I know you'll find it. Only you can do it.

Ezio moved slowly into the dark. The Princess was right about him. Even though all was dark, he closed his eyes, and saw the world through Eagle vision. He only had one thought:

OH. MY. GOD.

This new world had a golden aura about it, the whole place beautifully covered in amber light that danced through the non-existant treetops. Ezio had no time to enjoy this sight, or lack thereof, and kept moving. He saw something glowing light blue in the distance...

It looked like a shining, blue ball of light. Ezio picked it up and the world around him turned blood red. The leaves fell from the trees, and he could see in this imaginary world that they had started on fire.

"What are you doing?! No! The forest! Please, put it back! PUT IT BACK!"

It was the voice of a filly, eyes filled with tears. Ezio put it back and the fires stopped, the leaves falling upwards, back into place.

"Why would you do that?"

"I had no idea... why did that happen, anyway?"

"I don't know. Every time, they never put it back, but you did. They wanted it for the power, they wanted it for everything it had to offer. But then there's you."

Ezio had an idea about what was going on here.

"Tell me... how long has it been since the forest burned down?"

"Well, a few seconds ago--"

"No. When did it permanently, completely brun down?"

"Never. That never happened."

"You're in denial."

"What?"

Ezio turned and faced the landscape.

"This world is a lie. Everything looks peaceful, intact, alive. But it is not so in reality. This world you are in, son,must be trapped in time. The only way to fix that is for that" he pointed to the ball of light "to be taken from here. It's time to face reality. It's time for you to see the truth!"

Ezio took the ball and ran.

"Wait! NO! COME BACK!"

Ezio didn't listen. The trees were burning again, this time a lot faster than before. Each tree Ezio passed burned up behind him.

He yelled as he jumped out of the forest. He opened his eyes.

What the hell.... Ezio! What the hell just happened?? We lost contact there!

Princess, do me a favor.

Yeah?

Don't send anypony in there ever again.

Why?

Ezio didn't respond. He started his way back to the castle.

Because I remember that day...

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"PAPA! MAMA! THE FOREST IS BURNING!" called Ezio's older brother, a seven-year-old filly.

"What?!" yelled his father rushing out to see the sight. "Where's Ezio? Where is he?!"

"He's trapped in the forest! I can't get him out!"

Ezio's father ran to the woods.

"Ezio! EZIO!"

"PAPA!"

He saw Ezio stuck under a tree branch that had fallen, still burning.

"HELP!"

Ezio's father rushed into the blazing fire, horn casting as much heat resistance magic as it could. He got to the tree branch and lifted it off. He put Ezio on his back and ran out again. The trees collapsed behind him, and the whole forest began to fall apart.

"Ezio! Ezio, are you all right?"

The four-year-old colt was crying.

"Ezio, it's okay. You're not in any trouble. You're safe."

****************************************************************************

I had run away from home, and some of the Pazzi colts were chasing me. They used their magic to start the fire the burned down that forest. I remember it too well, but... that was back in Italia. Why would I see that here in Equestria?

Strange things happen Ezio, especially when magic is involved. There's no explaining why you saw that, but at least you got that item I wanted you to grab.

Ezio was still holding the ball in his pack. He took it out.

It was a black orb, with little black shadows floating around it. Was this really the same thing he had picked up in the forest?

Well, my work here is done. It's time for you to save your friends from death, right?

As soon as you get back to the castle.

Ezio dashed like never before. He was so close to freedom now, he could taste it. So close...

********************************************************************************

Twilight put a flower down on the grave. She should've read the letter sooner. Rainbow Dash had sent it only hours before she...

...

Twilight didn't want to think about it. Besides, she'd be back before she knew it, right?

Right?

She didn't want to think about that either. It was just a mistake, a fixable mistake...

One that cost Rainbow her life...

Twilight had no more time. Ezio would be back at the castle soon. She'd need to be there before then. So, she teleported away, leaving only her feelings behind.