Assassin's Creed IV: Black Wing

What was I doing?

It’s all become so blurry, like trying to remember a dream from long ago. Pictures, faces, voices are all fading in my mind. A sickly feeling was pooling up in my stomach, I could barely keep my hooves from shaking and my jaw from chattering. If I was alone I might…

No, that’s right. I wasn’t alone. Rainbow Dash was there, she was always there. I can remember the dirt under my hooves, the smell of pine and damp. I can feel a wing draped over me, pulling me closer into an embrace. It was strange but… comforting.

Rainbow was looking at me again. I could tell by her eyes she was concerned about me. She was always concerned about me. They brimmed with confidence, but there was a certain sadness behind them.

“You holding up, ‘Shy?” Her voice spoke. I can hear it. The breeze whistling past my ears, the soft patter of synchronised hoofsteps. Even as all these thoughts came rushing back I began to speak up.

“O-of course. Right as rain.” She didn’t believe me, but it was good enough for now. She knew that I hadn’t taken the news well at first. I guess I’ve just become better at hiding things over time. Rainbow was only trying to help, she was always trying to help.

My head was hung low. I could only watch as my hooves took each slow step forward. I knew we were nearly there - I could tell by Rainbow’s sudden hesitation. We’d come to a stop. She just stood there, looking blankly towards the oakwood door.

Whatever weight had been hanging over her head had just come crashing down, rooting her in place. It had been weeks since any of us had set hoof inside Golden Oaks Library, not since that day. Twilight would have refused to leave if Pinkie hadn’t of been there. Then it was just life as normal to her. She fell back into the same routine as if it were any other day, although there were certain holes that could never be filled. I guess we all have our own way of coping.

I gave Rainbow a light nuzzle, distracting her gaze from the looming door. “It’ll be okay. Filly steps…”

She seemed to respond to that. Taking a deep breath, Rainbow edged herself towards the door. I felt her wing begin to tighten around me, pulling me as close as she could. We didn’t even have to knock, Twilight was already welcoming us in.

“Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy! It’s about time you two showed up. Everypony else is waiting inside.” Her tone was surprisingly… energetic. She even had a spring in her step. Maybe spending time with Pinkie was helping her.

Rainbow scratched the back of her head nervously. “Yeah, sorry about that. I was just... helping Fluttershy with some stuff.” I said nothing. She was uncomfortable enough already.

Twilight seemed to accept this. She nodded and invited us in. “It’s fine. But now that you are here, I can reveal the news.”

Rainbow relinquished her hold of me and withdrew her wing to her side. I already felt exposed. We both trotted inside to see all our friends waiting patiently at the table Twilight had arranged in the main room. Rarity and Applejack sat quietly at one end, smiling as we joined them. Pinkie could be heard from the other room as she hastily prepared some snacks for everypony.

Rarity was the first to speak up, inviting me to sit down next to her. “Darling, it’s so good to see you here. I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been rather worried about you after everything.”

I shook my head dismissively, but I still moved to sit down next to her. “No, I’m fine. I just… needed some time.” That wasn’t entirely a lie. Just as I sat down the others rejoined us, Pinkie bearing a variety of baked goods from cookies to cupcakes. I wasn’t feeling up to eating right now, but maybe soon.

Twilight sat down and took the time to thank everypony for coming on such short notice. She made doubly sure to explain the importance of their next task. “Despite recent events, Celestia is more than confident that we’ll be able to cope with this next assignment. But this is more than just a simple test; this may lead us to the ponies who broke in and…” Twilight’s voice began to trail off, but we all knew what she was going to say.

“Tried ta… murder ya.” Applejack spoke up. Even in moments like these she could be rather blunt. Or maybe she was just braver than everypony else.

Twilight took a deep breath before continuing. “Yes, that. I will admit that I was rather distraught after what happened. Losing Spike was hard on me… on all of us. Had it not been for you girls I… I don’t know what I would have done.” Clearing her throat Twilight pressed on with the matter of hoof. “He gave his life to protect me, it only seems fitting that we be the ones to bring the ponies responsible to justice.”

“So what did the Princess tell you?” Rainbow asked rather quickly, still choking a bit on her words. I knew she didn’t really want to talk about what happened, it all seemed so foreign to her.

Twilight levitated out a small scroll tied in the tradition red ribbon and sealed by the royal crest. She laid it out on the table and began to read it out loud for us.

My most Faithful Student,

Once again you have my deepest sympathy for your loss. I know that Spike was a dear friend to you and I understand that the hole he has left may never again be filled. I also apologise for not being able to attend the funeral service, although I hear that everything went well. It seems even I cannot escape my responsibilities.

This news may seem awfully soon, but we have managed to uncover some news that may interest you and your friends. The assassin responsible for Spike’s death and the attempt on your life has been confirmed to be part of an organisation operating to the far south, beyond the badlands and lying on the coast. This is sadly as much as we know as of this moment, but it is a lead I would like you to pursue.

I have already sent officials who are awaiting your arrival. They will be there to assist in any matter necessary, be in diplomatic or otherwise. However, do not be surprised if the locals don’t take your arrival too kindly. They are a rowdy lot and need some familiarisation with Equestrian Law.

An airship will be landing in Ponyville in two days. You have till then to prepare.

Princess Celestia

Twilight levitated the scroll away and began to address us all again. She seemed very determined, at least that’s what I noticed. Anyway, she has every right to be.

“So that's our mission; to bring these criminals to justice and peace to the area.”

Applejack raised a questioning hoof. “I still can’t figure out somethin’. Where exactly are we goin’? She didn't mention a name?” The others seemed to agree.

Twilight seemed more than prepared with an answer. “Ah yes. I've done a bit of research, and I believe I've managed to work out where Celestia will be sending us.” She levitated a few random bits of paper from the opposite desk and flicked through them till she found what she was looking for. A map, only this one extended beyond any other map we’d seen before. It was certainly larger. I don’t know why, but I couldn't help but feel rather… small. It's silly really.

Her hoof gestured to the far south of the map, an area filled with islands of various shapes and sizes. “Here it is. The Mareibbean.”

And then I woke up. At least I think I did.

The world still felt so surreal. I was laying on my back, I could tell that much. But before I even had a chance to open my eyes I felt the pain surge through my body. I felt like I was on fire. I could feel my head throbbing, my legs aching.

My eyes nervously slid open and were greeted by glaring sunlight. I felt like they were being seared in my own skull.

The pain began to subside, and slowly I began to feel the ground around me. It was… sand. There was sand everywhere. I was on a beach. I could even feel the tide lapping at my hind legs. I let my hooves sink into the ground and paw at the surface.

It all seemed so real.

My head was still in agony. It was like something was trying to escape from my skull, it was horrible. What happened to me? How did I get here? I can remember bits and pieces but it’s all so fragmented. I was a stranger in my own memories.

Then my eyes shot wide open. Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash… my friends. They were there, I was with them. Their faces are still fresh in my mind. I was… I- I can’t remember. There was a ship, and- I just don’t know. My head was burning.

I just lay there, on the shores of a strange beach, looking up at the sky as if the rescue was already here. They would rescue me. I knew they would. Rainbow Dash would swoop in and rescue me, just like when we were fillies.

Whatever happened to me… all I had to do was wait for my friends and they would explain it. We’d go home and this whole thing would be over.

Click

Hoofsteps, and breathing. Somepony else was here. They were right behind me. My mind didn’t know whether to feel panic or relief.

I turned my head around slowly. My eyes were so wide that they might have popped out of their sockets. Right in front of me… a gun was aimed at my head.

I stopped breathing.

The mare was clutching the pistol in her teeth. I couldn’t see her face clearly past her hood, but I could see her chestnut mane and weathered yellow coat. She wore a white and blue outfit, some kind of robes, although the blue had long since faded to grey. She seemed angry. If her mouth wasn’t being used to hold her gun I swear she would be snarling at me. She was alike a wild dog, frightened and a long way from home.

Surprisingly, I spoke first. “S-s-sorry, was there anything I could- help you with?”

She spat at the ground and spoke a gristly and disgusted tone. “You’re one of ‘em, ‘aint ya? The Elements?” I gave a slow nod in response. I still don't know if her smile was a good sign. “You’re the one they was gonna kill. They put a pretty price on your little head.”

Somepony wanted me dead..? Somepony wanted me dead!?

I swore she chuckled at the thought. “Looks like you’ll be comin’ with me to Hoovana. After the… unfortunate loss of my ship and crew, I’ll be needing some coin to replace it with.” She ran her hoof along by jawline. I felt like a was going to be sick. “You’ll do just fine.”

I couldn't do this. I just couldn't do this.

I lurched out with my forelegs, catching the hooded mare off-guard and knocking the gun from her mouth. She tumbled head over heals into the sand. But she was... laughing? I couldn't tell. The sounds from her mouth were eccentric and pained. "Oh, you'll pay for that one you bitch."

But she was down! I had a chance! My hooves hit the sand and started galloping inland, a lush and green jungle just ahead. I swear I'd never galloped faster in my life. If I could just fly over and-

Bang!

I fell headfirst into the sand. My entire body was filled with the same sickly pain, all of it pooling in my left wing. I’d been shot! Oh Celestia, I’d been shot! I could taste the iron in my mouth! My entire left side clenched up as I came to a tumbling halt. I was in so much pain.

I could hear her reloading. Her pistol only had one shot, one chance to hit me. I still had time!

I tried picking myself back up but my body kept protesting. My limbs felt week, my wing was on fire, my head still throbbed and moaned. I had to keep going. Somehow I had to find the strength.

I did it! I was standing on my own hooves and I was moving! The jungle was just ahead!

"Let's see ya try and escape with a bullet in ya skull!" Another gunshot ricocheted off a nearby palm tree only a few inches from my head. But I didn't stop to look back, I just kept going. I had to find somewhere safe.

I could hear the hooded mare yelling after me. She was still coming! She wasn't giving up! I began to hear her hoofsteps chasing after me!

I ran for my own life... because I knew my friends couldn't save it.