Assassin's Creed IV: Black Wing

Finally! Off that Celestia forsaken ship. I could just kiss the ground!

Bon Bon and her crew were unloading cargo and I was still trying to regain my bearings. A couple of days out at sea can be … disorientating. Your legs wobble and groan, your stomach churns like the water around you, not to mention that the ground is always moving like some sick carnival ride you can’t get off. I thought I’d just avoid ships from now on, just to be safe.

The first thing I noticed about Hoovana was the piercing glare of the sun. I covered my eyes with my hoof as the light tore into my pupils like daggers. I flicked on my hood and I was finally able to see through the bright haze.

It was already mid-morning and the city was in full flight. Ponies of all different shades and colours, even a few zebras, walked the cobblestone streets of the shorefront, some stopping briefly to idly browse the market stalls. Many ponies were dressed in extravagant outfits with cloaks, leotards, funny hats, and anything else you could think of. It was like I’d accidentally stepped into a school play.

There were also plenty of guards. They marched in pairs up and down the street, keeping an eye out for any trouble makers. Some of them were perched on roof tops, they were big, but each carrying an even larger gun. All of them were dressed in the same steel armour, although their underclothes were a bright yellow with red trim.

I made a mental note to avoid these ponies at all times. Bon Bon said they couldn’t be trusted and I wasn’t about to question her judgement. I kept my head low, hiding my eyes under my hood while still making sure I knew where each guard was.

“Alright, we’re just about done unloading.” Came a familiar mare's voice from behind me. “Let's leave the stallions to their work and we can get started on this mission.”

I momentarily drew my gaze away from the guards as I spoke. “Alright, we should start by locating the Governor’s Villa. It shouldn’t be too hard, we just need to-”

“Oi, you lot!” Came a gruff call. Both of us quickly turned to see two of the guards approaching, both of them looking at us like we were common trash. “Is this your shipment of goods?”

Bon Bon wasn’t having a bar of it. “As a matter of fact it is. What about it?”

The larger of the two guards narrowed his eyes as he responded. “Keep up that attitude and it’s a night in a cell for you. The harbour master doesn’t have either of you two on record as the owner of this ship - we’re here by his request.”

“What? I am the co-owner of this ship. Well, we sort of own this ship, and only for certain times in the year.”

“The owner of this ship, as shown on our records, is one Lyra Heartstrings. Since neither of you are the owner of this ship the guard will be stepping in to investigate.”

Bon Bon was stunned on the spot. “You- you can’t do that! This is my ship and my cargo!”

The other guard had a small chuckle, earning a death glare from the distressed mare. “Technically it’s our cargo now. We’ll be relieving all your assets till we’re satisfied with everything.” He raised his hoof and signalled a bunch of guards to start hauling away all of Bon Bon’s crates of goods.

Bon Bon looked like she was about to have a mental breakdown. “You- you can’t just- Arrgh!” She turned away in a huff, storming back towards the ship. “You coming, Fluttershy?” She said with a slight tinge of venom in her voice.

“Go on, scamper.” One of the guards joked followed by a chorus of laughter from the others as I quickly turned and cantered back to Bon Bon’s side.

She was pacing up and down the deck in an attempt to cool her temper. Her eyes were bulging and the vein on her forehead looked like it was going to burst. “Those prissy, treacherous, conniving, little … bastards! They think they’re so untouchable; oh, I’ll show them just how untouchable they are!”

Her outburst managed to gain the attention of much of the ship. I silently tiptoed closer, trying my best not to set her off again. “It’s okay Bon Bon, we can try and get your stuff back.”

She laughed at that. “Fat chance. Even if you find out where they’re hauling it, what are you going to do? Reason with them? They’re a bunch of bullies who only listen to gold, something we don’t have.”

Gold? Wait, that gave me an idea. “Or we could do just that.” I had an idea, and it was a great idea! Oh yes, this was totally going to work.

“What are you talking about? That cargo was the only way of making that kind of money, and it was just taken by those thugs.”

“But,” I pulled out the letter from my saddlebag, the one from Governor Swift Torrent. “I know a stallion already willing to give us the gold.”

Bon Bon suddenly realized what I was trying to say, and she wasn’t happy. “No, you mean-?”

“One of us pretends to be “Miss Wallpole”, makes the exchange, and we leave with the reward. Once we have the gold we can pay for the guards to release your… your… What exactly are you selling?”

“Alcohol, rum, booze, whatever. We receive the shipments of sugar, refine it, and sell it for profit. I bet those pigs are already getting piss drunk, wasting all my hard work and coin.” Bon Bon flicked off the question. “Back to the matter at hoof; Fluttershy, that’s a crazy plan. How do you know that no pony at this meeting hasn’t already met this “Wallpole”? I’m not going to jail just to get my goods back.”

I hadn’t thought about that, but I felt sure of the plan. I needed the information and she needed the gold; it was the best plan we had. “Don’t worry, there’s no chance of you getting caught, because … because I’ll do it.”

This caught Bon Bon off guard, even forcing her to take a couple of steps back. “You’re serious?”

I nodded. “Yes. I’ll pose as Wallpole, find out the location of my friends and the Elements of Harmony, and get the reward.” Saying it outloud gave me a rush of confidence; I liked it.

“No, I wont let you risk yourself for that.” Bon Bon said in a serious tone, putting her hoof down as if to draw the line here. “Remember the rules? Not to mention you are an Element of Harmony. What happens if they discover who you are? There’s a bounty on your head, remember?”

“I know the rules and I know the risks, but we don’t have much of a choice.” She didn’t seem to respond for a while. “Are you with me?”

She took a deep breath before looking back up. “Fine, I’m in. But I’m going to be the pony at the meeting. I won't let you risk your life again, especially since you’re one of the Elements. You still have a price on your head..”

“No, I can do this!” I covered my mouth when I realised how loud that actually came out. “I- I mean … sorry. This is something I have to do. I have so many questions that need answering, and I think this pony might be the only one who can. I need to do this.”

“I still don’t feel good about this,” Bon Bon added. “But if you think you’re ready then there’s not much time to waste. Let’s get moving.”

‘La Villa de Oro’ - House of the Rt. H. Governor Swift Torrent de Hoovana

That’s what the plaque said. It honestly didn't take us too long to find this place considering how big the villa was. The whole area was surrounded by a large sandstone wall, so big and tall you could see it from the middle of the city, and the entrance blocked by an even more impressive gate.

Oh, did I tell you about the gardens? The gardens inside were lush and filled with wild flowers, trees and beautifully carved statues. So many shades of purple and blue and green. There were birds and monkeys and even animals I’d never heard of before living in there. It was so wonderful and breath taking. I pressed my eyes to the bronze gate as I tried to get a better look.

Bon Bon gave an impressed whistle. “Nice wall.”

Reluctantly I peeled myself away from the bars and returned to the mission at hoof, but not before letting out a deep sigh. “I guess it’s time.”

“Nervous?” Bon Bon asked, maybe in some attempt to lighten the mood.

What I wanted to say was ‘Are you kidding?! I’ve never been more nervous in my life! I’m under prepared, under equipped, and about go strolling into Bad Guy Central without so much as a real plan and you’re asking if I’m a little nervous?!’

“A bit.” I replied.

Bon Bon could tell I was flipping out on the inside, I knew she could. “Alright, just remember what we talked about. If something goes wrong just … get out of there as fast as you can, alright?”

No backup. “I’ll just have to improvise.”

She seemed satisfied with that, but I could still see the worry in her face. “Good. Ready to get started?”

Okay, I just had to calm down. I had to do this, there was no other option. I was doing this to save my friends and to help Bon Bon, I couldn’t let them down. This was my chance to be the hero. “I’m ready.”

Once I’d presented the letter to the guards the gate was opened and they allowed me to pass. They seemed a bit confused at first by my... physique, but my outfit was apparently all the proof I needed.

I was inside the grounds, slowly making my way up the main staircase to the main courtyard where the guards had instructed me to head. I kept my hood up and shielding my eyes just in case any of the ponies here had met Miss Wallpole before. My heart was beating through my ears, thundering around my skull and disorientating my vision. My blood was surging through my system and a hundred miles per hour, my body ready to turn and flee at a moments notice.

I could hear new voices from the top of the stairs. Just out of sight I could hear a group of ponies talking and chatting. I couldn’t really make out anything, but they sounded like they were having a good time. One last deep breath and here I go.

I froze, my hooves locked in place. I couldn’t go up there, I couldn’t. They would have recognized me as soon as I showed my face. I- I couldn’t. I needed to breathe.

No, I could do this. I just needed to be more careful. If any pony recognized me … it was all over. My eyes darted towards a nearby bush, a place where I could hide just for a moment. Quietly I galloped towards it, out of sight of the guards.

My mane was a dead giveaway, it had to go. I guess… it had to go. I kept telling myself this was necessary but my mind wasn’t listening. I grabbed my hood and pulled it back to expose my tangled pink mane. Another deep breath as I drew out the cutlas Bon Bon gave to me, taking a small moment to gaze at the dull bladed edge. It was better than nothing.

I grabbed a hooful of my mane and raised my cutlas just above where I held it. Without giving myself time to object I cut through the hair with relative ease, locks of pink falling to the dirt. I quickly grabbed another hooful, and then another, and another. I held my eyes shut, like I was trying to stop myself from crying.

I think that was it. I tentatively ran a free hoof through my new mane - It wasn’t my best work. It didn’t feel any longer than Rainbow Dash’s, and probably even messier. I knew it would grow back eventually, it always did, but it didn’t make me feel any better.

Oh great, I still had the tail left to do. I let out a reluctant sigh as I positioned myself so I could have a better reach. It was… awkward. I would have tumbled headfirst out of the bush if I hadn’t managed to quickly regain my balance.

It was a mess when I was finished. The ends were frayed and jagged, still slick with salt from days at sea. It wasn’t pretty, but the alternative was being recognized and possibly captured. I still had to dispose of the hair, which wasn’t very difficult; I just had to bury it here and nopony would find it.

Okay, I felt slightly more ready at this point. Another deep breath as I stepped back out into the open and quickly making my way back to the path. I could still hear those ponies in the courtyard just up ahead, the Governor might be up there with them.

Okay.

Okay.

It's now or never, Fluttershy.