The Bounty of Evil

"What do you mean Twilight." Flash sentry asked. "Look I'll explain everything later but we need to head back to Canterlot right away, also at the bottom floor there this a damaged drone. I want to bring it with us because I think it could shed some light on the whereabouts of Sionis." Twilight said responding to Flash.

"Alright then my men will bring the drone for us now we should hurry. the charity is waiting for us." Flash said as they all headed to the front of the prison where they got into the charity and flew off to Canterlot with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy following behind, leaving behind the ruined prison.

15 minutes later

The mane six arrived to Canterlot as they all headed to the capital and upon entering they see princess Celestia sitting on her throne. Upon seeing Celestia Twilight ran up and hugged her as Celestia returned the hug, thankful that her faithful student was okay. "Twilight, it's good to see you and your friends back her all safe and sound, so does that mean that you stopped Sionis." Celestia said then asked Twilight as she frowned and looked up to her teacher and responded "No she got away, and it appears that we wont be able to celebrate Christmas just yet." Spike then asked Twilight why after he welcomed back the mane six.

"When we where at the prison trying to stop Black mask we found out that she took commissioner Loeb hostage and we tried to save him but we were to late, she killed him." Twilight said sorrowfully as she still remembered the chocking breath of the commissioner. As Twilight looked back to her friends her were all still remembering, especially Rainbow Dash who was still cursing herself. Then Twilight looked back up to princess Celestia who had a sorry look on her face as Twilight decided to continue "We ran into a pony-shaped crocodile- who told us that Black mask hired assassins to kill us."

Upon hearing this, Celestia was shocked and outraged "What! How could she do this, first leading a prison breakout, killing the commissioner and now she has hired assassins on you, she has gone to far this time!"

"Wait princess Celestia don't you know where she leaves." Applejack asked.

Celestia, after calming down said "No she is hard to pinpoint down, even if I know that she owns the down town still mill she won't reside there and I don't know where her safe house is." Upon that moment they hear the front doors open to see Flash Sentry as his guards were carrying the damaged drone that Twilight requested to be brought with.

Upon seeing the damaged drone, Celestia asked her student what is exactly is that thing and why did she have Flash bring it, as Twilight answered "That is robotic drone, I had it brought here because I think I can get it to show us the whereabouts of Black mask and get it to show us what she is planning." Amazed upon hearing this Celestia asked Twilight how as Flash and the rest of the mane six want to know also." Twilight cleared her throat and explained "Well if I can use my magic to access the drone's memory core, I can get it to show us all the recorded data that it might have on Sionis."

"That's awesome egghead but one question, how exactly are you going to use your magic on the core, I mean is there a magical switch on it or something." Rainbow Dash asked, still confused as Twilight let out a sigh as she showed them how.

She walked up to the drone and pressed a button that opened a hatch, reveling the memory core, then her horn glowed and a purple aura surrounded the drone. At first nothing happened until the one eye that was on the drone flickered on as it projected a big screen in front of everypony, as they all ohhh and aaahhhh at the projection as Twilight smiled and said "Now lets see what on the drone's memory core and to shed some light on these assassins."

"Wait a minute Twilight, did you say Assassin's, like you mean there's more then one." asked Spike as he was still worried about his bestfriend/sister. "That's right Spike." Twilight said. "And you heard this from the muzzle of a crocodile pony." Spike asked as the projection changed and it showed images of the same crocodile pony smashing through the prison gates. "It says hear, his name is Killer Croc and he is already behind bars."

"Whoah.....I pity his cellmate." Rarity said as she remembered the horrible smell that surrounded Killer Croc but Rainbow Dash looked at the image and said "I don't, come on lets see what else is on the memory core." As twilight shifted the image they now see Sionis, in her office at her still mill with her mask on as she was surrounded by her goons as she was ordering them "Each one of them gets one of these envelopes, I need them delivered-Tonight!" As Sionis handed out the 7 envelopes to seven of her goons the image changed again showing a picture of the bounty poster, as all of there jaws dropped to see the poster say one night deadline and a picture of the mane six. But what shocked the mane six as well as Celestia, Spike and Flash Sentry was the prize money as it was rewarded at 50, 000, 000 bits for the bounty. As they all got there act together and reassured themselves Twilight shifted the image and said "It says here they're all hired killers-the best in the business. Black mask isn't messing around, here is a list of the 6 assassins that she hired."

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Assassin #1-Lightning Dust AKA Deathstroke

Gender: Female

Kind: Pegasus

Age:18

Eye colour: Brilliant gamboge

Currant occupation: Mercenary

Upon seeing the picture of her former friend, Rainbow Dash exclaimed "Lightning Dust! Why would she be one of the assassins!" Rainbow Dash asked Twilight as she was shocked to know that her former friend was now one of the assassins that were hired to kill them. Twilight answered Rainbow Dash by saying "It says here, a few weeks after she was dismissed from the Wonderbolt academy she used her skills and areal combat and became an assassin, she is fast and dangerous and she is now know as Deathstroke." The image shows Lightning dust AKA Deathstroke take out 20 henchponies on her own with a long metal bowstaff as she dealt with the thugs easily. Once she took care of them, one of Black masks goons, who was watching handed her an envelope and walked away, leaving as she opened it up and smiled seeing the picture of the mane six epically Rainbow Dash with the bounty prize of 50, 000, 000 bits.

Assassin #2- Sparks AKA Firefly

Gender: Male

Kind: Pegasus

Age:20

Eye colour: Brown

Current occupation: Hired killer

As Twilight shifted the image to the second assassin they see a Pegasus pony who had his whole body covered in a brown flame-retardant suit and a helmet that covers his face with a yellow visor as he carry's a costume flamethrower as he proceeds to burn down a building and claim the envelope, that was sent from Black mask. "His name is Sparks AKA Firefly, it says here that he was a pyromaniac. He eventually burned on 90 percent of his body and he know wears that suit as he was driven into madness and plans to burn everything, we defiantly need to watch out for him." Twilight said after reading the bio of Firefly, as she couldn't believe but almost feel bad for the sick minded pony. "I feel bad for him, But that is no excise for him to wear the horrible outfit." Rarity said as she was giving her fashion critic on Firefly as everypony ignored her as Twilight Shifted the image to the third assassin.

Assassin #3- Copperhead

Gender: Female

Kind: changeling

Age:18

Eye Colour: yellow

Current occupation: Contract Killer

As the image shifted to the third assassin they see three of Black masks goons walking down an alleyway as one of them had the envelope. they continued walking, as the goon with the envelope walked ahead, until he heard noises coming from behind him as he looked to see to of his buds were on the floor dead. The goon started to panic as he looked back to the front only to see a changeling in front of him who had yellow eyes, yellow mane, long-snake like fangs and a reptilian forked tongue . The goon shuddered at the sight of the changeling but knew that this was Copperhead and handed her the envelope that was sent from Black mask. As Copperhead presided to open it up and accepted the bounty, the goon ran away for his life as it all was cut off by the shifting of the image by Twilight as she seen enough and was shocked as well as everypony else to see one of the assassins was a changeling. The image changed to  give a picture and a bio on Copperhead as Twilight read for the group "It says here that she likes working alone and that is why she abandoned Queen Chrysalis and left the hive, it also says here that she mixed her own blood with rattlesnakes to make herself poisoners. She kills all of her victims with a powerful and deadly poison called neurotoxin." "Neurotoxin, I know that poison I used to treat poor animals that got bite buy poisonous rattlesnakes, I think I can make an antidote for it......if you want." Fluttershy said the shy fully asked as Twilight said that could be great. She knew that they need to be careful around Copperhead.

Assassin #4- Trixie AKA Deadshot

Gender: Female

Kind: Unicorn

Age:18

Eye colour: Dark grayish violet

Current occupation: mercenary/assassin

As the image shifted to the fourth assassin, the mane six especially Twilight gasped to see Trixie as she was wearing a dark cloak and wearing the same Alicorn Amulet that she used to beat Twilight in a duel a month ago. Upon seeing Trixie, Twilight exclaimed "Trixie! She is one of the assassins but why, I mean I know I stopped her from taking over ponyville a month ago and she is angry at me for that but still I had no idea she would go this far for her revenge against me." As Flash Sentry, Celestia, Spike and the rest of the mane six were trying to calm her down, Rainbow Dash got Twilights attention as she pointed to the image now showing a picture of Trixie and a bio of her as she says to Twilight and the rest of the group "Well it says here on her bio that after you stopped her in ponyville a month ago, she tried to go back to doing stand-up magic shows but no one would watch her and she was sick and tired of using magic tricks, until she discovered that she was a really good shoot with sniper rifles. She decided to use the Alicorn Amulet and her new found talent of sharpshooting and became an assassin, she is dangerous but reckless." After Rainbow Dash read the bio the image changed again to show Trixie shooting her rifle and killing 7 attackers by hitting the first four attackers and the and letting the bullet ricochet of the wall and hitting the rest of the attackers, killing them. Upon standing over her defeated opponents one of Black masks goons walks up to her and hands her an envelope that was sent by Black masks, as she opened it she had an evil smile on her face as she was reading the 50, 000, 000 bit bounty that Black mask placed on Twilight and her friends. The image then changed to show the fifth assassin but Twilight was still worried because she knows that Trixie would stop at nothing to hunt down Twilight and claim her prize and to have her revenge.

Assassin #5-  Volt AKA Electrocutioner

Gender: Male

Kind: Earth pony

Age:20

Eye colour: brown

Current occupation: Contract Killer

As the image shifted to the fifth assassin who was an earth pony who had a light brown coat and no mane as it appears to be burned off. Then the picture showed one of Black masks goons handed him one of the envelopes but Volt just turned around and electrocuted the goon with what appeared to be custom-made weaponized gloves that pack a powerful electrical discharge. As the bio came up it said the Volt was more brawns than brains and was just a big loud mouth. Twilight wasn't as worried about this assassin as the other ones, knowing she can handle an idiot like Volt.

Assassin #6- Sunset Shimmer

Gender: Female

Kind: Unicorn

Age:18

Eye colour: Moderate cyan

Current occupation: Professional Criminal

As the image shifted to the final assassin that was hired by Black mask, they see a group of Black masks toughest thugs get taken down by one unicorn mare who's coat was a light amber with the colour of her mane being Vivid crimson with brilliant yellow stripes. Twilight did not know who she was as well as the rest of the mane six, but as Twilight looked back to Princess Celestia Twilight the utter shock that was on her face. "What is wrong princess Celestia, do you know her." Twilight asked her teacher. Celestia looked at Twilight and noticed the whole was now looking at her with worried expressions. Celestia sighed then answered " Her name is Sunset Shimmer and she was a former student of mine, she began her studies the same time you did. However, when she didn't get what she desired quickly enough, she turned cruel and dishonest, eventually abandoning her studies and left to pursue her own path."

"Wait a minute, if you say that she studied with me then why don't I remember her." Twilight asked, confused by all this. "Probably because the last time your saw her was 7 years ago when both of you were filly's around the age of ten. So if you don't remember then do not worry about it, anyway can I see her bio, I want to know what she's been up to for the past seven years." Celestia said as Twilight as she shifted the image to her bio, still unsure about her not remembering Sunset Shimmer. As the bio of Sunset Shimmer came in the image, Twilight began to read it to Celestia and the rest of the group. "It says her that after she left Canterlot she wanted to be a leader, so she started her own group of dangerous mercerises as she is now leader to them. She has also discovered a new form of magic spell called venom, not a lot of details about it but is does say if makes the hosts magic even stronger then before." As Twilight was done reading she looks back to Celestia who still a worried and sadden look, the same look that she had when she heard hat Sionis was leading the prison breakout at Blackgate, Twilight thought that it was a little bit convent.

As it appears to be the last thing that was in the memory core they finally see one more image. This image taking place back in Sionis's office at the still mill as they see two of Black masks goons entering the office holding to the Warden of Blackgate Law. Upon seeing law Pinkie asked "Hey isn't that Warden Law." As they continue to watch they see the goons bring Law down to his hind hoofs in front of the one and only: Black Mask. As Warden Law looked up to see her, she looked down as one of her goons lighted up a match and handed it to her as she holed it with her magic, surrounding it in a crimson red aura as she looked down and faced Law eye to eye as her goons holed him as she brought the match and close up to his eye. What happened next shocked and horrified the whole group as the witness Sionis pressing the match into Law's eye scorching it as they the Warden scream, Even though Sionis was wearing her mask they can tell that she was enjoying herself by the look in her red crimson eyes. After that the image was cut off, showing that it was all the drone had. After knowing that the drone had nothing else to show she removed her magic around the memory core, shutting down the drone once more, still couldn't believe what she had witness from seeing Sionis torture Law and enjoying it but Flash Sentry then spoke up "Well I guess that's how she got into Blackgate prison. She uses torture for intimidation- and for entertainment." Spike then asked Twilight with a scared look "Six assassins are after you guys. What are you going to do." Before Twilight could answer, Rainbow Dash answered for her with a stern voice and a angry look on her face "We are going to find Black Mask- and put a stop to her."

Meanwhile

Downtown of Manehattan was the still mill, owned by Sionis as it was guarded by hundreds of her goons and in her office Sionis was standing in front of her office window, looking out into the cold night sky with her mask off as her face was reflecting from the glass showing off her long beautiful black mane and her whit fur. She decided that she was getting to hot and took off the bottom part of her suit reviling her tail and cutie mark which was a Black pony skull and the money sign right next to it. She also decided to leave the top part of her white suit on also leaving on her black shirt under the white dress jacket and white tie, so she would look formal in front of her goons. She then returned back to the window and continued to look through it until she heard the door open and a voice behind her saying "Ummm boss can I talk to you about something." Groaning she turned around sate at her desk and faced the masked thug "Yeah what is it." Sionis asked.

"well some of the guys were talking and they want to know what's going on." Upon hearing this, Sionis's eyebrow raised and said "O really now, please go on." "Well the guys want to know what's going on, I mean aren't you worried about Princess Celestia or the Elements of Harmony coming after you for putting up that Bounty on the Elements of Harmony heads." asked the goon who was now nerves to ask her but he was surprised to see her chuckle then laugh as was standing there, still nerves on what she might do. After coming down Sionis looked at the goon and said with an evil grin "Me worried no. I am acutely counting on them coming after me because I know for a fact that they wont let the assassins cause havoc in Manehattan to attract there attention and to let me walk away from what I did back at Blackgate . So they will come and when they do, Before this night is over- they will realize that this will be to big for them to handle and then Twilight Sparkle will then learn of what true evil means."