Assassin's Creed IV: Black Wing

“Alright, remember how it goes. Step back, step right, parry, kick, step forward strike. Just like we’ve done twenty times now.”

I was starting to doubt Bon Bon’s teaching methods after she made me go hoof-to-hoof with a trained sailor with only half an hour’s worth of combat training. Sure, we were only using sticks, but those sticks really hurt! I had bruises all over my flank! Not to mention that I was being constantly knocked to the ground and humiliated like a schoolyard filly.

Oh great, here he comes again. Was there no end to this?! The sailor took a swing, narrowly missing my face as I took a step back. He was quick to recover and lunged out to strike me in the chest. I kicked my legs out to the side and darted to the right, the sailor losing his balance as his swing hit nothing but empty space.

What was next? Oh, parry!

The sailor didn’t look very happy with the sudden turn of events. He spun around and attempted to strike at my forelegs with his stick.

I parried! My stick intercepted his strike and forced him to lose balance. I’d never actually gotten this far in the training. Without thinking I gave his hind leg a swift kick which sent him tumbling to the ground. His stick fell from his jaw and rolled down the deck and far from his reach.

I had done it! Now to strike! I raised my stick and prepared to bring it down on his head. Ha ha, now he’ll know what it feels like to lose! This is what he gets for being such and big, dumb, mean-

“Whoah girl, he’s down.” Bon Bon said as she stepped in-between me and my fallen opponent. “You’ve won.”

I let the stick drop from my mouth, taking a step back while I regained my composure. Closed eyes, deep breaths, calm and collected. But then I realized… I was trying to hurt him, even after he was down. I was trying to beat a pony while he had no means of defending himself.

“I- I… ” I felt like I was going to have another emotional breakdown in front of everypony. “I’m so sorry.”

Bon Bon placed a comforting hoof on my shoulder, easing my nerves for a brief second. “After the beating he gave you, he probably deserved a lot worse.” She and the sailor shot angry glares with one another. “Most ponies wouldn’t have thought twice about pounding his sorry flank, but you have to think differently.”

Bon Bon took my hoof and began to lead my back towards the helm, her smile slowly fading as her gaze wandered off onto the horizon. “At some point, Fluttershy, you might be forced to… end another pony.” The impact of her own words suddenly hit her and she quickly stepped back. “I’m not saying that you will, it’s just that- Look, when that day comes you need to remember that we only kill when we have no other choice. Only when there’s no other chance of survival. Understand?”

I nodded, although I could feel my hooves beginning to shake and my body start to quiver.

Bon Bon let out a deep breath she was holding, relaxing slightly. “Good. Maybe we should write down some guidelines - a code of sorts. Go get something to eat and meet me in my quarters. We need to lay down some rules if we’re going to go looking for your friends.”

She sounded just like Twilight.

“Rule… number… 1.” Bon Bon recited with each flick of the quill. Her hoof- err, mouth writing wasn’t the smoothest I’d ever seen. It’s not ‘Rainbow Dash’ bad, but it’s certainly up there. Bon Bon rested the quill back in its inkwell while she took a moment to think. “Okay, how about avoiding the local guards? Keeping a low profile and all that?”

“I thought the guards were supposed to protect ponies?”

“Back in Canterlot they were, but these ponies are under the employment of the local Governors. They’re bullies and murderers who care more about coin than upholding the law.” Bon Bon grew visibly angrier with each word, which caused me to shrink down a little behind her desk. “But… a pony’s a pony. We don’t kill them unless, you know, they give us no choice. For now let’s just stick to avoiding them.” She picked the quill back up and scribbled on the first rule.

“That brings us to rule number two though; don’t kill unless you have no other choice.” I nodded again, watching as she took a great care to emphasize the word “NO”.

I couldn’t kill again. No pony could make me endure that hell again. The knowledge that you could ended a life with your very hooves was unbearable. The blood of a pony was stained into my coat and no water could wash it off. I would have spoken up but I knew exactly what Bon Bon would say - ‘It gets easier over time.’ I didn’t want it to get easier, I didn’t want to kill at all.

“You still there, girl?” Bon Bon waved a hoof in front of my face, causing me to blink a few times in confusion.

“Wha- Oh, sorry. Yes, only when necessary.” She seemed to be okay with that response, quickly finishing off the line with a flick of the quill. Small droplets of ink blotched the desk, staining the otherwise clean surface.

“Rule three,” Another flick, another splotch on the parchment. “Stay away from pirates and thieves.”

Pirates?! Pirates!!! There were pirates here! “W-w-what do you mean p-pirates?” Murderous, cutthroat, terrifying pirates! I was hyperventilating, I couldn’t stop it!

“Whoa whoa whoa. Fluttershy, calm down. You’ll probably never see a pirate in the city. They just hang around that pigsty called Neighssau and some of the naval trade routes.” She placed a comforting hoof on my shoulder, attempting to ease me back into my chair. “You’re perfectly safe in Hoovana. It’s well guarded, well-funded, and no pirate is setting hoof in that place.”

I clasped my chest and tried to slow my breathing. My eyes were so wide I was afraid they would pop out of my skull. “You… you promise?” I pleaded with her.

The sandy yellow mare hesitated for a moment, closing her eyes as she spoke. “I promise that you won't see any pirates... but you have to promise me something. You’ll do exactly as I say; no wandering off, no causing trouble, and no making friends.”

Nothing much really happened after that. Bon Bon ended up spilling ink all over the parchment so we scrapped the idea of a written code. I think I remember most of the rules anyway, all I had to do was listen to Bon Bon and stay down.

I don’t feel ready, but having Bon Bon around made me feel a bit safer, maybe even slightly confident. I reckoned I could get a decent night’s sleep at this rate. I carefully rested myself down on the old mattress Bon Bon the crew had dragged out for me. I could ignore all its bumps, lumps, and broken springs, I could ignore the crashing of waves against the hull, I could even ignore the racket of the crew as they squabble and laughed above deck. After all, I had a bed; a real bed.

‘Sure beats a cave.’ I thought as I made myself comfortable, trying my best to avoid lying on my injured wing. I elected not to use the blankets given to me (they looked really itchy and filthy), instead keeping my robes on for the night. They were surprisingly warm and comfortable, and didn't restrict mobility. I could see why the hooded mare would choose to wear them; they would have been great for travelling or adventuring. I guess that’s what she was - some kind of adventurer.
Something jabbed at my side. I let out a slight yelp as I felt the object press into my bruised ribs. Oh, I think I was still wearing my sword. I sat up in my bed as I unbuckled the hilt, a reasonably difficult task for a pony without magic.

It wasn't a very elegant sword, just an old cutlass Bon Bon found lying around. The blade was dull and lifeless, none of its original sheen left. The hilt itself was made of iron and wrapped in beaten and weathered leather. She thought it would be a good idea to have it on me, just in case. I hope I never really have to use it.

I softly placed it on the floorboards and settled back into my comfy position. My mind wandered to the next day when we land in the city, thoughts of both hope and doubt surfacing as I tried to formulate some kind of plan. Did I even have a plan? Maybe I should just listen to Bon Bon, do as she does. She always knows what to do. I let my eyes close slowly.

I wonder what Twilight would have done? She was always the mare with the plan, always thinking before rushing in. I’d give anything for her help right now.

Maybe I’ll see them again tomorrow.

“Land ho!” Came the cries from on deck, although I was reasonably stunned to learn that sailors actually did say that. After washing my mane and coat I cantered back up to the main deck, Bon Bon already there waiting for me.

“Great, you’re up.” She greeted me warmly. “Look, you can see the city from here.”

I trotted up to the edge of the deck where Bon Bon stood. I peered over the railing and far into the distance. The morning had brought a fresh mist over the water, the rising sun painting it an orange hue. The wine dark waves glistened and shimmered in the light, like a sea of gems or rubies.

Barely visible through the mist I could make out the silhouette of the city, becoming clearer as we drew nearer. The tiled rooftops glowed a bright orange and there were so many towers and cathedrals stretching towards the sky. The whole city was encompassed in a ring off lush hills and forests, the sun lightning them up like a great bonfire. It was beautiful.

“Welcome to the city of Hoovana, Fluttershy - the crossroads of the Mareibbean. I’ll take us into port just over there and we can start unloading my cargo.” She turned back towards the helm. “After that’s done, we can look at meeting with this Governor of yours.”

Bon Bon trotted back up the steps while I just continued to rest on the parapet, taking the weight off my aching hooves. It didn't bother me, I was excited. We were finally here, the one place where I could find answers. Soon we would meet with the Governor, he would tell us where to find our friends, we pick them up, I get to be a hero for once, Rainbow Dash will think I’m cool, and hey presto, we’re off on our merry way. I could already imagine it.

Rainbow Dash might have even called me “cool” or “awesome”. Ooo, I liked that. Fluttershy the Awesome; a true hero of the Mareibbean.

I wasn’t scared of pirates.

...

Okay, that was a lie. I- I was terrified of them, but I wasn’t always like that.

Rainbow Dash and I used to always pretend to be pirates back when we were fillies. Captain Rainbow "Dasher" and her trusty crew.

Okay, that was a lie as well. I wasn't part of her crew; I was just the victim, the damsel, the prize. I would get into trouble and Rainbow would come swinging in to save me, picking me up in her hooves and flying to safety.

But it wasn't Dash’s fault, not at all. She offered for me to join her crew but I always said no. I don’t really know why - it just felt wrong. Dash was the hero, not me.

I always thought she would have been a great pirate. She was brave, heroic, and strong. That’s what we always though pirates were supposed to be; symbols of freedom and adventure.

It was a stupid dream…

And sometimes you've just gotta wake up.