No Turning Back: An Assassin's Story
Introduction: My Name is Sketch
My name is Sketch, a seventeen year old pegasus pony, assassin, and most wanted criminal in all of Equestria. I am currently living in a empty apartment trying hard to keep my sanity. Every pony in my life that I have ever cared for has either died, abandoned me, or been used against me. This is my story. But before we begin, allow me to tell you how I got here.
I was born in Manehatten into a seemingly perfect pegasi family. My dad, Trueshot, was a member of the Royal Guard, My mom, Artrista, was a successful artist, my older sister, Ember, was a bratty little filly who constantly picked on me, and I was an innocent little colt with a genetic disorder with my eyes. We were a very happy family before all this started.
I was a little pegasus colt. I had a unkempt black mane and tail, dark grey coat and bright red eyes. My eyes were naturally red when I was born. It was due to some really weird genetic disorder that effects the pigment of the eyes, it basically made your eye color different than it was originally suppose to be. Mine just happened to make me look like the foal of the pony devil himself. I was feared and picked on in school due to my unnatural eye color and didn't have any friends because of it. I was one of those colts who sat at the lunch tables alone and was either avoided or picked on by others because he was considered a freak. I didn't mind this though. After all I had my big sister, Ember.
Ember was the only friend I had, she defended me at school and was always there for me whenever I needed her. Ember was a pegasus filly who was about three years older than me, her coat was a light yellow, her short straight mane and tail were red with a pink stripe, her eyes were amber like mom's, and her cuti-mark was a finish line with a checker flag. Her special talent was racing. She was good at other sports and enjoyed them all as much, but she seemed to be the best at racing. No filly nor colt in the school could beat Ember in a race, no matter if it was on the ground or in the sky. I was very envious of my sister, she was better than me at almost everything, I wanted to be good everything like she was.
When I finally got my cuti-mark at age seven I was disappointed, it was a pencil with a sketch book which showed my special talent was drawing, this added to my envy of Ember thinking I would never be as good as her at anything. But she showed me it wasn't all that bad by proving how bad of an artist she was, showing me that there was something that I could do better than her, it definitely made me feel a little better about myself.
My father was middle aged pegasus stallion, with a dark grey coat, black mane and tail and green eyes. If I had to guess where most of my traits from, my answer would be him. He, as I said before, was a member of the Royal Guard. Sadly, this meant that he was away from home most of the time. But the income he made kept us afloat and he still spent as much time as he could spare with us. It was good enough.
My mother was a middle aged pegasus mare with a yellow coat, straight lightish red mane and tail, and amber eyes. If you put Ember and mom side by side, Ember would almost look like the young filly version of mom. My mom, also as I said before, was an artist. She made beautiful paintings of different objects, environments, animals and other ponies. She did a painting of me once, it was a based off a picture of me playing with a toy sword. I thought it was pretty damn awesome when I first saw it, I would say cute now if it weren't for the red eyes, but awesome none the less.
Everything was perfect, I had a loving mother and father, an awesome big sister, and a great childhood. Well, that was until everything went straight to pony hell. When I was eight years old, my father was discharged from the Royal Guard after being falsely accused of accepting a bribe. This put all the financial pressure on my mother who ended up working day and night, barely making ends meet, as my dad was desperately looking for another job. My dad couldn't find a job due to his false "criminal past." So, out of desperation, he became one.
Our financial conditions improved and we began to live normally again, but almost every other night my dad would come home battered and bruised. It didn't take long for mom to put the pieces together and figure out what dad was up to. They argued and screamed at each other with their different points of views. Dad arguing they don't have any other options at this point and mom arguing that it was a bad influence for me and Ember to have a father who was a criminal. At this point mom and dad began to grow distant over the next few years.
When I turned eleven years old everything went into absolute chaos. My mother had another argument with my dad and hurtful things were said. My mom stormed out of the house, my dad stayed in the house to calm down a bit before going after her. Neither of them returned home for another three days, leaving my sister to take care of ourselves for the time being. My sister was more pissed off, more than I had ever seen her before in my entire life, when dad finally came home. She scolded him for leaving us like this without even saying a word. She then notices mom wasn't present. She then demanded to know where mom was. Dad didn't answer us, he went and locked himself in his and mom's room. My sister, becoming increasingly upset, continued to demand answers until she finally got tired of screaming and decided to wait for him to come out. At the time I wasn't quite sure what was going on, but everyone seemed to be extremely upset and I felt it best to stay out of it. Despite not wanting to be apart of it, my sister continues to quietly vent her frustration to me, telling me how much crap this all was.
Dad finally came back out after 3 hours. My sister was ready to scold him again about not telling us what was going on. Dad stopped her before she began. He told me to go to my room so he could talk to my sister alone. I left to my room, went to my bedroom, lied down on my bed, and waited for permission to leave. I heard talking in the other room, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I lied in my bed for another minute before my sister busted into the room, briskly trotted for her bed, and buried herself under the covers. She seemed upset. Concerned, for I had never seen my sister like this, I jumped off my bed and trotted to my sister to ask her what was wrong. She didn't respond, just stayed under her covers. I looked over to the door to see my dad standing there in the door way, he looked as upset as she was. Without another word, he sighed and closed the door.
It wasn't until the next day my sister told me what dad told her. Mom wasn't coming back. She had been killed in an "accident." I only later learned that she was murdered and the murderer was a rival of my dad's current boss.
My dad began taking me and my sister out to teach us how to defend ourselves. He had became increasingly paranoid ever since our mother's death. He taught me and my sister a few tricks in hoof to hoof combat that he learned while he was in the Royal Guard. My sister picked it up rather quickly while I was a bit slow. I figured out the basics easy enough but I wasn't good at it. When he had me fight against my sister I lost almost every time. She did have the advantage over me being bigger and older than me, but in all honesty I just sucked at it all together. My dad notices this and tries training me harder than my sister, but he simply couldn't make me as good as my sister.
However it turns out I did have one strong point when it came to combat, range. When he started training us with a old crossbow he had in his year of the guards, I turned out to be a marksman while my sister couldn't hit the side of a barn. I could hit a bullseye 100 yards away while my sister would be lucky if she hit the target from 40. My dad was satisfied with this. This training continued for three more years before he disappeared.
Before he disappeared he was acting more paranoid then usual. It went from using the back window as the new front door to moving constantly to new apartments every month or so. At this point me and my sister thought we understood why, but it was really starting to scare us. At first we took everything with us when we moved, including personal items such as old toys, photo albums, old dishes, stuff like that. But, slowly and surly, we began to destroy and leave stuff behind every time we moved. The painting of me that mom made, the photo albums, and our old toys were among the things that were destroyed.
We continued this until we were down to basic necessities for living, things such as sleeping bags, food, water, equipment, and weapons that my dad owned. The only personal item I was allowed to keep was my sketchbook, for my sister it was the last surviving picture of our family.
The day before dad disappeared, we had a mysterious visit from a strange mare covered completely with black. Dad told us to hide before answering the door. Me and my sister hid in a position where we could still see who it was. Dad did not look happy to see her. He followed her outside and closed the door behind him. A harsh conversation occurred and the mare left. Dad walked back inside, it looked like something was bothering him. He walks up to my sister and tells her something I couldn't hear. My sister looked confused and somewhat concerned. He repeated himself loud enough for me to hear this time. He said that we were to pack up all our things and move to an empty apartment upstairs. He then said he would meet up with us tomorrow. Dad then left the apartment. My sister walked up to me and repeats what he said to me. I knew something was wrong, but I couldn't tell what. We moved in to the apartment he told us about and waited for him.
It took us three days to piece together the fact that he had no intention of returning to us. There was already food stocked up in this apartment, there was a bag of bits that was enough to buy necessities and pay the bill for a few months, and finally there was a letter from dad. The only thing that letter said was "I'm so sorry. Don't try to find me. I don't want you two involved in this." He had abandoned us. I am not sure about my sister, but I felt betrayed. It angered me that dad took care of us this long after mom's death just to drop us when thing got tough. I still haven't forgiven him for that.
We lived in that apartment for 2 months, further confirming that that dad was not coming back. The bits were depleting quickly and we needed to find jobs if we here going to continue to live here, at this point we didn't know what else to do. I was only fourteen years old at the time, so I couldn't get a real job legally, it was up to my sister to support us. She ended up searching for four weeks before finally getting a job as a waiter for a restaurant. It definitely wasn't a job suited for her special talent. but it was the only job she could find. The problem was it wasn't going to be enough. if she was living by herself perhaps, but with me in tow it wasn't going to be possible. I wanted to help. She assured me that we were going to be fine, and that may have been true. But being the stubborn colt I was at the time, I sneaked out and wandered the streets to see what small jobs I could do for bits.
I looked around for several hours but I couldn't find any pony who was willing to give me a small job, it was probably because of my appearance. As it started to become very late I began to head home. As I was walking I notice a stallion running a fruit stand watching me. He waves me over and asks me if I wanted a job. I trot over to without a second thought, I wasn't suspicious of him at the time. All I was thinking was that he offered a job and I was going to claim it and help my sister with the rent. I stopped in front of him and asked what kind of job it was. He smiles and tells me they needed a new cleaner since their last one quit. I was completely oblivious to what a "cleaner" actually was and he knew it. When he asks for my name I told him. He raises and eyebrow and gives a unsettling smile. I become nervous at this point and slowly began backing off, it became apparent that I had unknowingly just told him something he wanted to hear. He then says he knows someone who would like to speak to me. At that same time some pony came up from behind and hit me in the back of the head with a bat before I had a chance to run. The last thing I heard before blacking out was...
"Was that really necessary?"
I woke up in what appeared to be a warehouse. The only thing that illuminated the room was a few small lights around me. In front of me were 5 ponies, only two in in which I recognized. The strange mare in the black cloak and the stallion at the fruit stand, still wearing that unsettling smile. I soon realized I wasn't bounded by any restrains besides for my wings. I stand up and face the ponies who were all staring at me.
The one in the middle speaks up and tells me why I am here. He tells me that I am here because my father ran away and disappeared and now I was here to replace him. At first I try to deny the fact that I would be any use to them, but the mare in cloak claims to have already seen me use a crossbow. She says that my skill with it was above average and that I would be a perfect replacement assassin. At this point I was trying to fight a losing battle. My last attempt was to refuse. At his point they warn me of the consequence of refusing, they threatened to kill Ember.
The anger inside of me began to boil. I wanted to hurt them in the worst ways possible for threatening my sister, but I knew I couldn't do anything about it. Even after all the training our father gave us, there was no way it would help me and Ember's situation now. So I told them I would accept, but only on one condition. They would leave Ember out of this.
They agreed but explained there were conditions in which I had to meet to guarantee Ember's safety. I am not allowed to use my real name anymore, my name now was Darksky. I was not allowed to reveal any of the identities of my "employers" nor the identities of any I "work with", If I did, the deal would be off and they would kill us both. I was not allowed to leave Equestria unless told to do so. Lastly I was not allowed to see my sister again, to ensure I didn't warn her of what was happening. I was to become their slave, their tool in which they would use to kill whoever they may please.
They proceeded to fake my death so Ember nor any other pony could find me, they did this by firebombing the apartment we lived in while Ember was at work. A investigation was launched by the Royal Guard to find out the cause of the fire. With a few bribes and the help of a few of their contacts inside of the Royal Guard, The investigation was closed with me being declared killed in fire that was due to a complete accident. I could only imagine what my sister was going though at the time. She had just lost the last of her family. It was difficult to accept the fact I was never going to see her again, but I had to. If not for my sake, then for hers.
This is how I got here...
This is why I am alone...
This is why I do this...
This is why there is no turning back...
This is where my story begins...
No Turning Back: An Assassin's Story
A/N: OK, lets try this again without making it a total Mary Sue! I Apologize for that, I didn't realized where I was going wrong. Hopefully this rewrite will be a bit better. Please let me know in the comments below if you find anything else wrong, I would really appreciate it. :)
Note for those who have read the original version of chapter one: The storyline has been almost completely changed since the last version, most of the stuff you will read here will be completely new. There will be some similar events that occur in this version that were in the original version as well, but most of it will be different. I hope it is a good change instead of a bad change.
Other than that, I hope you guys enjoy this rewrite.
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I watched the earth pony stallion walking with a covered wagon in tow from a cloud up above the rarely traveled road to Ponyville. Not sure what business he had down here nor why he took this road instead of the train, all I know was that this was a pony that some other pony wanted dead and I was the one to get the job done. According to the contract, this stallion by the name of Good Trade borrowed a lot of bits from the client and he was never going to be able to pay him back, so now my client wants him dead. I was extremely nervous about this contract, it was my first real one after all.
I continue to watch from above waiting for the perfect moment to strike. As the Good Trade began to pass under the cloud I was on, I made my move. Loading crossbow bolt into my modified crossbow and took aim at the target. I hesitated for a moment as I evaluated my current situation. I was about to take the life of a pony I never even knew. For all I knew he could have been a very nice pony and was just in an unfortunate situation as I was, but I couldn't hesitate now. Not with my sister's life on the line.
As I start to pull the trigger I notice that he was no longer alone. A mare, who I presume was his wife or marefriend, step off the back of the covered wagon and obliviously stepped into the line of fire. I panicked and jerk the crossbow slightly in attempt to miss the mare and the crossbow accidentally fires, hitting the side of the wagon alerting both of them to my presents.
“Dammit!” I cursed to myself as I quickly loaded another crossbow bolt into the crossbow and took aim yet again.
The mare and Good Trade looked frantically for the source of the last crossbow bolt. As my sights lined up on Good trade again the mare notices me, her eyes turned to pinpricks as I pull the trigger once again. Before the bolt could reach its attended target she steps in the way yet again, on purpose this time. The bolt drives itself into her chest and through her heart, killing her almost instantly.
“No! God dammit!” I cursed to myself yet again, growing increasingly frustrated as nothing was going as planned, but I still had to finish the job. I load my last bolt into my crossbow and lined up my sites one last time.
Good Trade was standing over his now deceased wife, with tears poring out of his eyes. He looks up at me sitting in the cloud with my crossbow trained on him. He says something I couldn't hear, but it looked somewhat like “Please don't.”
It killed me inside as I pull the trigger sending my last bolt through his chest and into his heart. He falls to the ground and twitches a few times before dying. I let out a deep sigh and tears welded up in my eyes. I felt terrible for what I just done. Not only have I just taken the life of my target, but also this mare who wasn't even apart of this. I felt like a monster.
I put away the crossbow and deploy my hoof claws. I needed to go down to clean up the evidence, see if they were still alive, and finish them off if necessary. I fly down to the couple and land a small distance away from them. I trot up to them and lightly kick the bodies with one of my front hoofs. After a few seconds I determine that they are dead. I retrieved my crossbow bolts and cleaned up any evidence that proved I was here. Before flying off, I look at the mare. I felt terrible she had to die such a pointless death, to save somepony that could not be saved.
"You poor fool.” I muttered before turning around to take off.
However I turn around to see something that will haunt me for the rest of my life, a young colt staring back at me. He had a short brown mane with a tan coat and light blue eyes. Tears were flowing from his eyes and his entire body was shaking. After I put the pieces together I figured out this was their son, at this point I truly felt like a monster. The little colt finally spoke up.
“What did you do to my parents?” he asked in a trembling voice.
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I woke up partially damp with cold sweat. That was a dream I was most definitely not looking forward to. The nightmare I just had was of my first contract 5 years ago, it was meant as a sort of training mission for me to get me used to the idea of killing. It was supposed to be an easy job. All I had to do was kill the target, clean up the evidence, and get out. However somepony screwed up and I was not informed that he was traveling with his family.
I still remember the look on that kid's face. Hell, I don't think he even knew that his parents were dead, he must of figured I beat them up really bad and that I was going to do the same with him. I made sure the colt made it back to Ponyville safe and sound, but to this day it still bothers the hell out of me. I took his parents and quite possibly his childhood away from him just like that. It made me feel no better than that pony who killed my mother all those years ago. I never wanted to see that kid again, he reminds me to much of myself at his age, but my dreams seem to have other plans for me.
I slip out of my sleeping bag then looked around the almost barren room. I am currently living is one of my temporary apartments issued by my boss in my hometown Manehattan. I was ordered to move every once in a while to ensure that any enemies I may have made can't find me. This was one of the many reasons I have never had friends. It got very lonely sometimes. I missed my big sister.
Not having Ember around to talk to really got to me sometimes. Over the years I began to talk to myself as if she was there to listen, even though I knew she wasn't. I would almost give anything to see her again, but I know it will never be possible. Not without putting her at risk.
The last time I heard anything about her was when she moved to Ponyville and became a weather pony for the town, that was five years ago, a few weeks after my "death". I was happy for her, she was living a normal life that she should be, but at the same time I also envied her. Here I was killing and murdering at the will of my employer to keep her alive while she lives her normal life, unknowingly at my expense. Having friends, a honest job, a house, belongings of her own, and perhaps a family. Despite my envy, it all boils down to one thing for me. I made a choice between my life and her life, and for my sister's sake, I don't regret my choice it one bit. She cared for me my entire life, now it was my turn to repay the favor.
This apartment doesn't have any furniture to speak of, not even a bed. I tend to keep any belongings I have to a minimum, it made it easier to move in and out of places. I guess I picked up the old habit from my dad. The apartment had a small living room, a small bathroom, and another small room I consider a bedroom. Due to the lack of bed I sleep on the floor in my sleeping bag, it has never done me any favors for my back, but it is comfortable enough.
I get up, leave the bedroom, and head for the bathroom. I wash my face in the sink and look at myself in the mirror. What I saw was a very unrecognizable and tired pegasus. He had a black mane and tail with a dark gray coat. His eyes were bright red. His cuti-mark was a sketchpad with a pencil. He was about seventeen years of age but looked a lot older due to the constant use and abuse of his body. He had a couple of scars from past contracts he had the misfortune of participating in, one on his left cheek and another across his chest. His unkempt mane and tail were frazzled all to hell and his eyes were completely bloodshot. His appearance was extremely intimidating, he wasn't a Pegasus you wanted to walk up and say "hi" to, much less hold a conversation with. This was a pegasus who had lost any innocence he had left years ago. This pegasus is a constant reminder of what I really am now. I was no longer a pony, I was no longer an innocent little colt, I was a weaponized monster. I avoid the temptation to punch the mirror while I finish up my business in the bathroom.
I exit the bathroom and head for the kitchen to see what I could have for breakfast. I open the refrigerator to find it to be as barren as this apartment. I give out a deep sigh and head back to the bedroom to grab my saddlebags, I am going to have to do some shopping. My employer used to send other ponies to do shopping for me when I was younger and more recognizable. Only after I had gotten older, my sister moved, and my appearance changed was I allowed to go outside and take care of myself. However I was required to wear black sun-glasses and a fake cuti-mark everywhere I went, just incase any pony recognized me.
I went into my bedroom and found my saddlebags in the locked safe in my closet along with the rest of my belongings. My black cloak and black bandana mask, my two pairs of fake cuti-marks, my crossbow, my retractable hoof claws, and my sketch book.
My black cloak and mask was something I commonly wore during assassination missions I was assigned. Apparently this cloak was my father's when he first joined up with them, and now it is mine. Its ironic, my father claimed to not want us to be apart of this and yet I ended up replacing him after he ran off. I have always wondered what in pony hell he was thinking. That they would go after him and leave us alone after he ran away? I don't know anymore.
My two pairs of fake cuti-marks were for casual and job-related appearances. My casual cuti-mark was a art book with a pencil and quill, I wore this when I am walking around town. My job-related cuti-mark was a crossbow with a crossbow bolt, I wore this when I was on the job. Nothing really special about them.
My crossbow was the old crossbow my father trained me and Ember with. It reminded me of the good times I had with it, despite our situation. I remembered how much I teased Ember about her horrible aim, I remember the shock on both Ember's and Dads faces when I hit a bullseye on the first shot, and I remembered when Ember became increasingly frustrated with her horrible aim. It was genuinely the most fun I had since our moms death. Those were great times. However, over time, its good memories became tainted with the blood of the ponies I've had to killed with it.
The retractable hoof claws were issued to me by my employers, they were my least favorite weapons. Not only because I am only so good at up close and personal situations, but also because things were messy and overall disgusting weapons. Lets just say there was no way to walk away from a fight without having the blood of your enemy sprayed all over you using these things. The only benefits of it was that is was that fact that they were easily disguisable/concealable and could kill quickly if used properly.
Finally my sketch book, the last surviving object of my childhood. Sketching is my special talent, I've always been very good at it and was something I did in my free time. However, what used to be an book filled with innocent doodles of different things became a way to remember my victims. After my first contract, I felt so terrible about myself for taking away the parents of that little kid that I drew them all together, as one big happy family, like a family like I used to have. I did this so I would never forget what I did to them, the pain I afflicted upon them and the more permanent suffering I caused that kid. Ever since then I have drew my victims from every contract I had ever done.
After gathering everything I needed in my saddlebag, I strap the bags on my back, placed my fake cuti-marks over my original ones, put on my sunglasses, and exit the apartment. As I leave the apartment building I noticed it was a cloudy day today. I sigh at thought of how many ponies were going to be questioning my sunglasses on a day like this before taking off into the sky towards the marketplace.
The marketplace took about 15 minutes to get to from my apartment. Once I got there, the first stand I went to the vegetable stand. As I trot up to the stand its earth pony stallion owner gives me a smile. I was a regular at his store so knew me. His name was Veggi, only Celestia know why he was named that, but I really can't complain. Especially when I have a name such as Darksky, at least his name made sense.
"Ah Darksky, nice to see you well! What will it be today?" he asks me.
"Just the usual, Mr. Veggi." I said bluntly
If he was irritated by my bluntness then he definitely didn't show it as he began to fill a bag with carrots, potatoes, and other various vegetables. I really don't mean to be blunt, but being social was never my strong suit. Being locked up in different apartments for 3 years, being considered a freak due to my unusual eye color, and being trained to be a killer didn't exactly help me with my social skills.
He finishes loading the vegetables in the bag and hands it over to me, I then put it in my saddlebags and pay for it. Before I turn to leave, Veggi asked me the one question I saw coming a mile away.
"You know, you've been a regular customer of mine for 2 years now, and never once I have never seen you without those sunglasses. I know its probably none of my business, but why do you need them? Especially on a day like this?" He asked motioning to the clouds above.
I honestly expected this question to pop up sometime, almost every pony in the past two years has asked me about my sunglasses except for him. Whenever ponies asked I usually tell them it isn't any of their business, but this time was different. I've known Mr. Veggi for two years now, he has never wronged me and has always been nice to me. So I figured he earned a small explanation, even though it wasn't the complete truth.
"Lets just say I have some condition with my eyes and I am required to wear these sunglasses." I replied.
He gave a somewhat dissatisfied smile in response as I turned to leave, I really couldn't blame him. Ever since he has known me he has been trying to get me to open up. It always seemed to bother him how secretive and blunt I was in our conversations, this would have to be the first time he has really succeeded in getting any information out of me. He really wanted to get to know me and to be my friend.
However, I knew better than to make friends, friends was a bad thing in my current line of business. Friends meant the risk of discovery and/or more to lose. Sooner or later they will either figure out who and what I really am and be killed because of it, or they will get caught up in my business and be used against me along side my sister. I knew making friends was a bad idea.
I stop at various other stands to get other different items. Unlike Veggi the other stand owners didn't treat me that nicely. I guess they really didn't like the shady look of me and my bluntness. Although they didn't particularly like me, they did tolerate me. That was really all I can ask for.
I stop at one last stand before heading home. However this stand was owned by a certain earth pony stallion that I didn't like what so ever, owner of this fruit stand was one of the ponies who kidnapped me and was one of those who forced me into this profession five years ago, the stallion with the unsettling smile. His name was Charms and I could see why, he had a way with words. Charms was a professional con artist, he tricked many oblivious ponies out of their hard earned bits and framed others for crimes our little organization committed. In my opinion, he was a slimy little rodent that needed to be stomped.
Hesitantly, I trot up to the stand as he continues to watch me with that stupid little smile on his face.
"Why hello there Darksky my dear friend! Out shopping today I see." Charms says with his energetic salesman voice.
I was already becoming irritated by his stupid little smile and voice. You would never understand how much I wanted to buck his teeth down his throat and strangle him with a piano wire.
"I believed I already explained how I am not your friend, Charms. Now are you going to sell me fruit or continue to waste my time?" I asked in a irritated tone.
This just made his smile grow bigger and more irritating than ever.
"Ohhhh... touché this morning are we? Is it the fact that you are wearing those sun glasses on a cloudy day? I can understand how irritating that can be. Have you tried taking them off? Oh, wait... That's right... You're not allowed to." He mocked that doushbag smile still on his face.
I swear to Celestia I wanted to kill this little bastard in the most slow and painful way possible, forget the teeth bucking and piano wire, I wanted to throw him in a acid bath and watch him dissolve. Not only has he taken my life away without a second thought, but he was now taunting me about it. I barely keep myself from storming off to get the acid bath ready.
"Are you going to sell me fruit or not?" I asked darkly
He brushed his chin with his hoof as if he was thinking about it.
"Sure! anything for a friend right." He replied cheerfully.
I decided to stop talking at this point, despite my frustration. For anything else I had to say at this point he would come up with another way to taunt me. He packed up my fruits and handed them to me. A wonderful yet pitiful idea came to mind. I grab my bag of fruits and pack it in my saddlebag, I then proceeded to throw the bits I owed him in his face and take off. I looked back to see a very unamused stallion. Had had the look that said "You are going to pay for that."
It definitely lightened the mood for me a little bit, but somehow, I had a feeling I was going to regret it later. I maybe one of their favorite little assassins, but it didn't mean I could get away with everything. Charms will most likely hire a few thugs to teach me a lesson.
As I was nearly back to my apartment I notice a group consisting of four pegasi were following me. I guess my prediction was correct after all for they appeared to be hired thugs. I guess I should have thought about that little act of frustration a little more before acting. Either way I had no plans on fighting a group of four pegasi, especially without my crossbow or hoof claws. My first attempt to lose them was by turning sharp around a corner into an alley and flying out the other side. This only worked for about a minute before they found me again. They figured out I was trying to lose them and pursued me more aggressively, making my other attempts fruitless. Now it was time to do this the hard way.
I land in an alleyway nearby and waited for the pegasi pursuers to land. I had no weapons on me at the moment, so this was definitely going to be a hard fight. As the pegasi land 20 feet away from me I remove saddle bags and prepared for what was to come. I was never great at hoof to hoof combat, I was decent, but not decent enough to fight some pony who was trained. Thankfully I wasn't going to be fighting skilled warriors, but they still outnumbered me by three.
Although it was ill advised by my boss, I remove my glasses to reveal my bright red eyes. I was hoping I could scare them off and avoid the fight all together. They were definitely intimidated by my appearance but showed no sigh of backing off. I decided to add some words of encouragement.
"You ponies best go home now, before I have to send you home in a box." I suggested darkly
One of the ponies started to back off.
"Oh hell no, I didn't sign up to fight spawns of hell, I'm out of here!" He said as he took off out of the alleyway.
"Get back here you coward!" One of them shouted at him.
The fleeing showed no sign of returning. So now I was only outnumbered by two, it still didn't look good for me. One of the pegasi speaks up.
"OK freak, challenge accepted." He said.
They all charged me at once, one of them taking flight while the other two stayed on the ground. My first reaction was to take off and go for the one in the sky, he would be easier to pick him off first. I used my speed, weight and momentum to hit him directly in the gut with my right front hoof, It knocked the wind out of him and he fell to the ground. By this time, the two other pegasi had taken flight and came after me. I kicked one of them with my back hooves in the chest, it knocked him out of the sky but he almost immediately recovered. The other one tackled me to the ground and punched me once in the face with his right front hoof. I kicked him off and attempted to get back up, but his two other friends joined in and proceeded to beat away at me. I was losing this battle.
"Not so tough now are you?" One of them taunted as he kicked me in the gut.
As another one was about to strike me again, a floating knife surrounded by a orange aura plunged into his chest. He didn't even have a chance to scream before the blade quickly twisted and exited, killing him instantly. The other two looked in horror as their companion fell lifeless to the ground. The floating knife then proceeded to move to its next victim's throat, slicing it open to make a red smiley, turning his yells into gurgles within less than a second. The last one tries to fly off, but the knife swiped in a perfect motion to cut a wing clean off the pegasus. He crashes into a wall and falls to the ground. Before the pegasus could plea for his life, the blade plunges into his chest and quickly twists to instantly kill him. It didn't take me long to figure out what happed as a giggling mare in a black cloak trots out from the shadows, with the floating knife beside her. She then proceeds to wipe the blood off her blade on one of the dead pegasi's coat and place it back in her sheath under her cloak. She stops giggling and looks at me laying on the ground.
"So, how was your day?" She asked with a smile
This was shade, a unicorn assassin and my current mentor. She was the one mare who was with my dad last before he disappeared and one of the ponies responsible for taking away my life. I didn't particularly like her due to this fact, but I didn't particularly hate her either. She never commented nor taunted me about my situation, all she has ever done was teach me the tricks on how to be a better assassin. I fear her more than I hate her.
Upon meeting her face to face for the first time nothing appeared to be wrong with her, but her cutesy simile and innocent personality only masked the psychopath she really was. In my five years of working with her I've learned three things about her. One, She is a complete cold blooded killer. She will kill any pony, regardless of age, without hesitation if they are in the way of her target or objective. Two, she is a absolute nutcase. She seem to enjoy herself a little to much, giggling hysterically the entire time, as she killed her victims. It's like it's a hobby to her, a very twisted and sick hobby. And three, if she wanted you dead you wouldn't know until it was to late. She could talk to a target face to face for hours on end before suddenly turning on a dime and begin to kill them when the time was right, while still holding the conversation. She's just plain scary.
All I can say is that mare has problems. I am not sure what happened to her to make her like this and I am not sure I really want to know either. What ever it was, it was probably very bad and best be kept a secret. All I can say is I am glad I am not her enemy.
She continued to stare at me, her face turning from happy to confused.
"Well are you just going to lay there all day or are you going to help me dump these bodies in the trashcan?" She asked motioning towards at the trashcan.
Her lack of moral conflict always disturbed me, she had just killed 3 ponies she didn't even know and now was going to dispose of them as if they were common trash. Sure they were definitely not innocent, but no pony deserved this. I questioned if she believed trash was the value of other ponies lives.
I get up and start helping her dump the bodies. My body was swore all around my torso which made it really hurt to move, but I proceeded none the less. After all of the bodies were disposed of In the trashcan, Shade turned to speak to me.
"I knew you were bad at close up situations but geez, I thought you would have at least knocked out one of them." She teased.
I only responded with a grunt as I put my glasses back on.
"So what were these guys after you for anyways? Is it going to be a problem?" She asked seriously
I shook my head.
"I don't think it is going to be, I believe they were just some thugs hired by Charms to come after me."
She raised an eyebrow and smirked a little
"Now why would Charms send thugs after you?" She asked curiously.
I hesitated before answering. Telling her this meant telling her I lost control of my emotions again, controlling my emotions was a lesson she has been trying to hammer into my head for the past five years. It kinda made her a hypocrite, but at least she could control herself when it counts.
"I threw bits in his face." I replied bluntly.
I waited for the scolding that was to come, but it never came. Instead her smirk grew into a smile before she burst out laughing. I was a bit confused by this.
"AHAHAHAHA! I can't believe it! He lost his cool only to a few bits in the face! That is just hysterical! Do you know how long I've been trying to set him off? Years for buck sake! And all it really took was a few bits in the face? You'd think he'd love that sort of thing! Oh my Celestia, he is never going to hear the end of this one from me." She said still laughing
After a half a minute she finally calmed down.
Despite the situation, I found a bit of humor in this. I succeeded somewhere in which my teacher could not, even if it was small. It reminded me of the time I was envious of my sister due to the fact she was better than me in everything, until I realize she wasn't.
"Well as Charming as this conversation may be, I think we should get out of her before the Royal Guard arrive. I'll meet you back at your apartment later, there is something we needed to discuss." She said before disappearing in a orange flash.
She was right, some pony must have heard all the commotion and went to get the guards. I didn't want to be here when they arrive. So I put my saddle bags back on and began to make my back to my apartment.
I dreaded the entire trip back to the apartment building. Not only because I was hurting all over my body, but also because Shade wanted to discuss something with me. This usually meant one of two things, either this meant that I was going to get a scolding for doing something wrong or it meant I was being assigned another contract, neither possibility I liked. I arrive back at my apartment without any further incident. As promised, Shade was here.
Although I locked the door and it was still locked, she still managed to break in. I assume it was though teleportation or some other type of magic I don't know of. I don't know why she doesn't just wait until I get back, but I found it to be wise not to question the crazy mare who could kill anypony with the slight flick of her blade.
As I enter the apartment and close the door behind me she begins.
"We've been assigned a new contract, I know, that nothing new. However this one is a bit different, this will be your first big contract. No more fooling around here, we are talking about first class assassination contract." she said enthusiastically
I instantly became nervous about this, for a few reasons. First of all, in this organization, a 'First class assassination contract' was a high risk contract who's targets are fairly important individuals. This means I could be being ordered to kill anypony as high ranking as a member of the royal family. Second of all, this was my first big contract, this is the first time I would have taken on something this big. I know I've successfully pulled off every contract I've been assigned, but those were usually simple and very low risk contracts. It bothered me to think that they thought I was ready for such a job. Lastly, she said 'we'. This meant I was going to be working with her on this contract. Although she's experienced in this sort of thing, I can't say I am very comfortable with the idea of her being with me on this. Her violent tendencies and behavioral switches was enough to set me on edge.
Shade pulls out the folder contract from her saddlebags and began to read.
"It appears that our target is a unicorn by the name of Twilight Sparkle, student of Princess Celestia herself. Hmm.. Well... That's interesting..." She continued, sounding somewhat surprised and confused.
This made me even more nervous. Not only because we were going to be killing the student of Princess Celestia herself, but because Shade seemed surprised and confused by this. That usually meant something was wrong.
"Something wrong?" I ask.
She looks up from the contract to me.
"No, I don't think so... It's just... there doesn't appear to be a reason she is wanted dead. Whoever gave us this contract didn't put down a reason. I just found it strange because almost every contract I've ever had given a reason. Hmm... I guess there is a first time for everything, right?" She mused
I was becoming increasingly concerned by my teacher's confusion.
"Is it going to be a problem?" I asked.
She thought about the question for a minute before answering.
"No, I don't think it's going to be a problem. The boss did pass it on to us himself, so it couldn't be a trap. All I can guess is that either the client doesn't have a reason, which is highly unlikely, or he has a reason and doesn't want to tell us. It not unheard of, its just I've never had a contract like that." She explained.
This did sound a bit strange and unusual. In every past contract I've had, just like her, there was always a given reason. Whether it would be as simple as owing some pony money or big as revenge. I couldn't get my mind around why this client wouldn't want us to know why, could it really be so bad that not even we would accept it? Shade, although very surprised and confused by this, didn't seem to have worries about it. Either that or she was very good at hiding them.
She returned her attention to the file.
"Well, with reason or without, we were assigned this contract and now we need to complete it without fail." She stated before continuing to read the file.
I couldn't entirely agree with that statement. It may be easy for her to kill without reason, but for me it felt wrong in every way possible. For all I know, I could be killing some pony who hasn't done anything wrong in their entire lives. But then again, I don't have any say in the matter, I'm to do what I am told without question. I most I can do for myself is try not to think about it, however that was still almost impossible for me. Even after five years of this shit, I still have a conscience.
"The contract requires us to kill Twilight next to Princess Celestia herself, well that is definitely going to be interesting to pull off. According to the information we were provided with, the best opportunity to do so is at the Grand Galloping Gala in two days. She is going to be next to princess Celestia the entire night and will give us the best window of opportunity. So basically we have two days to plan to crash a party full snobby rich ponies by killing what appears one of their guests of honor right in front of them. Now that should be fun!" She mused as she finished reading.
I simply nodded in response. Questions were forming in my mind. Why beside the princess? Wouldn't the student's death already be bad enough? What was the client's real intention? Was it to send a message? Was it to weaken her in some way? Was it to prove something? Was it all the above? These questions I couldn't answer, and it was really starting to drive me insane. Not knowing the reason behind this was like a poison in my mind. If I was going to kill somepony, I would at least like to know why.
Shade continued to speak, interrupting my train of thought.
"Well, I've got a plan to throw together. Mean time, you should go buy some nice clothes to wear. You can't go to a rich pony party just looking like that. I'll also see what we can do about hiding your eyes, I don't think sunglasses gonna cut it this time. I'll come by tomorrow or the next day when I get a decent plan in mind." She told me with a smile as she repacked her things.
Not even a second later she disappeared in a orange flash.
Well this was an interesting day to say the least. I went to the store, threw bits in Charm's face, got mugged because of it, got saved from said mugging by Shade, unexpectedly made Shade laugh her flank off, and got a really suspicious first class assassination contract that is really starting to drive me crazy. Today was most definitely a interesting day.
If I wasn't hurting so badly right now I'd probably take Shade's advise and go shopping for some clothes, but right now I was not in the shape or mood to be going anywhere. I decided it'd be best to spend the rest of the day taking it easy, I'd go clothes shopping tomorrow when moving didn't feel like being stabbed repeatedly. So I made myself a early dinner and turned in for the day.
As I slip into my sleeping bag and got into a comfortable position, I closed my eyes to let myself drift to sleep. I began wonder what dream it would be tonight before passing out.