Assassin in Yellow

The shroud of night had hardly fallen, the ground smelled of fresh rain...but I still paused, thinking maybe if I just never went down the hill they would forget. I used to be the element of kindness, but now...I don't know.

I closed my eyes and just let the wind rush over me and the tears fall. I can't face them...If they find out, I mean they used to be my friends but that was two years ago.

For the first time all night I sat down to think.

"Whoa! Fluttershy? when did you get back," Dash asked, raising a cloud of dust with her landing.

For the first time all week I felt safe, happy, and finally accepted that everything might turn out all right after all.

"What's in the bag," I asked, feeling like a ton of weight was removed every step we took towards the old village. Home.

"You're not the only one who needed a little space ya know," she paused as if debating how much she should tell me, "I'll tell you later okay? Just...I want to forget for a while."

I could definitely relate to that.

"So, how was Las Pegasus?"

The question caught me off guard. I started to panic I didn't have a cover story!

"Um...," I knew Dash would see through anything I could concoct in the few seconds I had. "Exciting! very exciting," I blurted out hoping that would be good enough.

"Okay what aren't you telling me, Fluttershy," it wasn't a demand, but it felt like an execution order.

"I...um, well..." I couldn't take them hating me, I just couldn't. I felt like running, locking myself in a closet and never coming out.

"If you don't tell me--"

"I'll tell all of you later," I almost shouted, picking up my pace a little.

Bam! my face smashed into the apple stand, sending the red projectiles rolling across the dirt floor of the market.

"Why, of all the careless--"

"I'm sorry! Please don't hate me," I squeaked, cowering away from the angry Applejack. some Assassin I turned out to be.

"Is-is that really you," she sounded shaken almost...sad did she want me to stay away?

"Is something wrong AJ," Dash asked sounding confused.

"You didn't hear? I thought y'all would've been told," wait Applejack was defending me?

"Well, I don't really get any news being stationed in Canterlot," Dash retorted, sounding irritated suddenly.

"Yeah, I heard the princess keeps you real busy," AJ muttered sarcastically, pulling me to my hooves.

"Hey! It's not my fault she got away," Dash defended, now full on angry.

"I'm sure it wasn't," I interjected, hoping to defuse the situation, "which princess do you work for?" the question was more of a polite redirection of conversation than actual curiosity.

"Well...I'm kind of not allowed to say," Dash answered, suddenly fascinated by the ground.

"Hey, AJ! Are you still open," Twilight called from across the market. Great, another one of the ponies I didn't want to meet yet.

"For you Twi? always," AJ answered without hesitation.

Twilight was flanked by a pair of large pegasi guards who shared the standard lack of expression...and the red cross as the guards in Las Pegasus!

I felt my pulse spike and the adrenaline rush came back like an old friend. I didn't want to fight here...maybe they won't notice me?

They saluted Dash and then slowly started circling the stand.

They were getting behind me. No! relax. you haven't done anything wrong so they can't hurt me...right?

"Watch the nervous one," one whispered to the other.

His brown maned friend nodded.

'They know who I am! I have to get out of here. I don't want them to hurt my friends.' I couldn't form full thoughts anymore and now I was sweating like a stallion.

"Hey, are you okay," somepony asked, I couldn't tell. It was like the time Pinkie had stuffed cotton candy in my ears.

"Fluttershy what's..." I didn't hear the rest of it.

The chains rattled. another sentry down.

I dragged the body out of sight, 'the convoy is coming,' I reminded myself.

The rain thudded against my cowl as I crouched on the roof, watching the road with the intensity of a hawk.

'There it is!' I whistled to the revolutionaries on the road. The signal.

Instantly the leaped into position, blocking the progress of the Templar guards. I allowed myself a small grin while I watched them rip the convoy to shreds. The "soldiers" who weren't taken down fled; their loot will fund the revolution for months.

"Fluttershy! wake up!"

The Strip faded into the library, more specifically the guest room. (Twilight had grown an addition when I left)

"What? what happened," I asked, pushing myself up ti a sitting position.

"You totally freaked out," Dash pointed out, "I mean I've seen you freak out before, but this was a little weird."

"...and I found these in your saddlebag," Twilight added, dumping the contents of my luggage on the floor.

My blades clattered to the wooden floor, followed by my unwashed jacket.

"Whoa!" Dash exclaimed, jumping back from the items.

"Something tells me that ain't tomato paste," Applejack commented, poking the garment like a rotten pumpkin.

"Girls. there's something I have to tell you..."