Dusk to Dawnby Izzy GChaptersPart One: HomecomingPart Two: The OrderPart Three: DawnPart One: HomecomingA silver mare looked at herself in the mirror through turquoise eyes. She stood taller than she used to, her dark mane no longer mere inches from dragging on the ground. With a smile, she extended her wings and had to marvel at how she had grown. She had become much more mature over the past few years, her black cloak no longer dragging on the ground. Although the same sort of purity shone in her eyes, she was different. She knew it. She was wiser. More experienced. Still just as innocent, but nowhere near as naïve as before. More able to take on the world. Stronger, in not just body but mind as well. She couldn't help but smile as she folded in her wings and thought over the years that had passed. She certainly had changed. She walked with a sort of pride that no pony other the ones she had loved over the span of time understood. Although still so seemingly young, she was wise beyond her years. Her eyes were shadowed with the burden of the knowledge she had, but at the same time glittered brightly in knowing the good she could do with it. There were still traces of the naïve apprentice she used to be. She still used her first sword from her master. She still had that same bandoleer of throwing knives. She smiled and looked over her shoulder at the sleeping stallion in bed. And she still had her love from that long time ago. He was the one constant that she fought her very hardest to keep. So much had happened. So much had nearly stolen him from her. All because of the red crescent moon they both bore. But she never regretted anything. She never wished she could have gone back and prevented her younger self from turning that corner and bumping into the dark stallion that changed her life drastically. No. She would never hope to change a thing that had lead her to where she was now. But despite the pride in her eyes, she was worried. Being a full fledged Bleeding Moons assassin was not the only thing that had changed. She was a wife now, a guardian, she had a future. And this contract worried her. Regardless, she had agreed and she was always one to live up to her word. Sighing, she went over to the bed and nuzzled the sleeping stallion gently, who only stirred for a moment before falling back asleep. She smiled softly and whispered, “Sleep well, Night Wind,” before turning and leaving. It was dark when Ink Flash found her way into Canterlot. The wind whipped at her hood that hid her turquoise eyes and she squinted as tears hazed her vision. Even for night time, the streets were oddly empty. Doors were bolted shut. Windows were sealed off to even the shadows. There was no pony to be found anywhere as she walked down the main road. Ink couldn't help but bite her lip nervously. This was beyond wrong. She had been told by Princess Celestia herself that things were bad in the capital city, but Ink would have never imagined them to be this bad. Even for one accustomed to the shadows and silence, this was almost unbearable. Even worse so when the sun began to peak over the horizon. Ink sighed and looked down at the ground, tossing her head to lower her hood. No fresh tracks, from either cartwheels or hooves. No trading had been done in a long time. Even the castle in the distance seemed to be darker than before. She had to honestly wonder if it was too late for her to do anything. She played with the idea of returning to Ponyville to ask Silent Shadow for help, but she shook her head. This was her mission. Besides, he was watching Thunder Strike for her while she was away and Ink didn't trust the young filly with anypony else. So she was on her own for now. Ink sighed. This was what she wanted those years ago. She had wanted to prove her worth. To prove the validity of her cutie mark. That day long ago, she looked Silent in the eyes and promised that she would defend those in need. Now was her time to live up to those words. Even now, she was just beginning to realize the weight of those words, the responsibility that came with that solemn oath. If this went as she feared it would, she realized it would be her first time killing in large numbers. She had gone on half a dozen missions before now, but they had always been along the lines of dispelling conspiracies and overseeing the travels of prominent nobles. There was a killing here and there, but never to the extent that she saw this getting to. This was more than the murder of a leader for some underground operation and watching as the followers left. For any group, or pony, to hold the capital city of Equestria in such fear, there would be much more blood on her hooves than ever before. She wondered if she could even return home after this. No, she had to return home. She promised she would take care of the unicorn filly waiting for her. She promised should would never leave Silent alone again. Too many promises had been made to just walk away. But then again, what if it was safer for Thunder Strike if Ink stayed away? She shook her head, her short mane falling in her eyes. With a sigh, she paused and looked behind her at the tracks she had left in the dust. The prints of her front hooves were slightly more defined than those of her back ones due to the blades on them, but there was nothing else out of the ordinary. As she watched, a light breeze kicked up and blew the dust back into place, erasing the tracks from existence. Like she had never been there. Just as she turned to walk to the castle, there was a sharp pain in her shoulder. With a muffled shout of pain, Ink looked to see a small dart, no longer than a nail, embedded in her front left shoulder. Just as her mind registered what was happening, her head began to swim. No... she shook her head and ripped the dart out of her skin, stumbling. I have to... The ground rose up from beneath her. It didn't even hurt as she collapsed in the dust, breathing heavily and struggling to stay awake against her drooping eyelids. Her heart raced. Her vision blurred. She felt heavy. It was getting harder to breathe. Ink fully slumped to the ground as there was the clomping of hooves approaching her. She looked up to see a familiar, dark stallion with a light mane standing over her with a soft smile. “Welcome home, Ink,” he whispered right as the darkness overtook her. Part Two: The OrderInk was alive, but for a moment, she couldn't tell if she was awake or asleep. The sounds around her were all muffled. She felt heavy. She tried to move, but couldn't. She could barely breathe. For a moment, it seemed panic would set it in, but she forced herself to draw in the deepest breaths she could manage. Much to her relief, the numbness slowly receded into just tingling in her limbs. Ink was almost mortified to feel a low moan escape her lips. “Ah good, you're awake,” came a rough voice, sounding completely calm despite the controlled panic she felt. Ink struggled to open her eyes against the lingering stupor, but managed to open them enough to see the world through a blurry haze. She couldn't help but gasp. Perhaps she had been expecting the dark basement of a rotting building, filled with puddles of unidentifiable fluids and rats. Perhaps she had been expecting darkness. Maybe she had spent too many nights staying up and reading worn out murder novels. Whatever she had expected, this definitely was not it. She lay on a soft daybed in a brightly lit, cavernous room. She had been stripped of her weapons and cloak, but they were neatly arranged on a table nearby- easily in view as if to reassure her. All around her hung red tapestries adorned with silver embroidery. Imported elaborate area rugs. Shelves filled with books. Racks of well cared-for weapons lined the smooth, white walls. Ink Flash looked up to see a large, doomed ceiling carved into what looked like stone. She guessed this place was underground from the lack of natural lighting. Then she turned her attention to the black, stallion pegasus that stood beside her bed. His mane and tail were cropped short, a similar color to her coat. He had a thin line of silver spots that ran across his nose and as she looked closely, she could see that he was missing the tips of both ears. He watched her with stern eyes that were the same color as her own and he also had the same brilliant red hooves. “Star Strike.” He rolled his eyes, “You could at least call me your father.” Ink let out a hard laugh as she carefully got up, legs still wobbling from the anesthetic in the dart. “After what you put me through, no. Besides,” she tossed her mane out of her eyes, “you disowned me after I declared myself apprentice to Night, remember? You claimed I was turning my back on everything the Order stood for and chose not to recognize me as your daughter anymore.” The stallion glared at her, “And after I bring you here so you could be safe...” “My alliance is no longer solely with the Order, Star Strike,” Ink walked over to the table and picked up her cloak, putting it back on. “I'm a Bleeding Moon now.” “I can see that,” he growled. “But understand this, Ink Flash, no matter how skilled you've gotten over the past few years, you'll never be able to handle this alone. Nopony can. So for now, you'll have to control your pride long enough to work with us.” Ink only nodded, strapping on all of her weapons. A black and white kodachi on her back. A bandoleer of throwing knives across her chest, the blades placed high enough on the strap to be hidden under her cloak. Her hoof blades, the edges of the blades made with diamond and cased in leather to keep her hoof-steps quiet. She paused and looked around with confusion when she realized a main part of her arsenal was missing. “Where is my dagger?” she asked in a low voice that somehow still managed to echo off the walls of the room. “What are you talking about?” He sighed at his daughter's distrustful gaze, “I'm not lying, Ink, when I say those are all we found you with in the street.” Ink was surprised to hear actual concern in her father's voice. “Are you saying you had the family dagger with you?” Ink nodded slowly, trying to think over what she chose to bring. Perhaps she did not wear it in its holster and that was why she couldn't find it. She opened the leather satchel that sat next to the table and rummaged through it. More throwing knives. A map. A picture of a pale, tan unicorn filly sleeping as a bright blue stallion unicorn kept watch nearby. Another of Silent Shadow, face coated with sweat as he bent over a superheated metal blank in the forge. Bandages. But her dagger was nowhere to be found. Her face creased with worry. Surely there had to be some mistake. No. There were no holes in her bag, so it couldn't have fallen out on the way here. “Did you stop for the night somewhere?” Her father suggested, voice steeped in worry. Ink only shook her head and sat back on her haunches, rubbing the spot between her eyes with one hoof and letting the other trail down her neck absently. For a moment, she paused and was alarmed that she did not feel the thin chain that usually hung there. Her heart rate immediately picked up.“Did you find me with a necklace on that looked like my cutie mark?” Her father nodded and left the room for a moment before returning and hoofing her a slightly tarnished silver chain. From it hung the pendant of a blue sapphire heart with a sword through it. Ink hastily put the necklace back on, tucking it under the collar of her cloak. “At least I know one powerful relic I carry is safe,” she grumbled, putting her things back in her satchel. “Is it precious to you?” Ink nodded. “An ex of mine gave it to me after he found it tucked in one of his family's old journals with a poem saying how the one who bears a cutie mark similar to the pendant can use it for temporary, but powerful, magic. I never used it or wore it when I was younger because I was always afraid of magic. I grew to be slightly more accepting as the years passed.” She nervously, almost absent-mindedly, clutched the pendant with one hoof. “Of course only I can use it, but I still wear it for safe keeping.” Star Strike nodded, a soft, knowing smile on his lips. Ink shook her head, “But that's not the point right now.” She sighed, “As much as it pains me to say it, yes, I know I'll have to work with you. I was toying with the idea of going home to get Night, but even then...” She hook her head. “That, and I don't want to involve him. Or Thunder.” She smiled softly at the mention of the filly, her thoughts drifting back to more innocent times she spent with the filly's father. Her smile grew deeper as her thoughts drifted farther, all the way to her former master and how their relationship had changed over the years. She looked at her father to see what she thought was annoyance in his eyes at the way his daughter spoke so fondly of this stallion whom he saw as unfit to carry the title of “assassin.” Of course the two had grown close during the year and few months she was his apprentice. It was almost impossible not to, especially when Ink's only ambition for the longest time was to get a proud smile out of her master. She wanted nothing more than to make him proud, and it remained that way today. If she were speaking to anypony else, she would have called him her husband. But that would be a title she couldn't give him in front of her father, even if was true. She needed Star Strike to cooperate with her, and vice versa. There was no point in one making the other mad simply because of past disagreements. As the two sat there in silence, Ink could see her father trying to control she thought was his anger. Even after all this time, she was sure he remained bitter that she had left him. She had chosen to learn from another pony that she had only known for a short time before he offered to train her. But she had her reasons, and Star Strike tried to understand that. He tried to see the way things seemed to be through Ink's eyes. She had been miserable. She had felt like a slave, a victim. He had been impatient with her, too hasty. When he looked at her training under his guidance that way, it was painfully obvious why she chose to leave him for Silent Shadow. Star Strike had to hide the smile that was slowly twisting its way across his face when Ink turned to look at him. He had always loved his daughter, never had he been so hard on her because he didn't. He had wanted her to be the best, to prove that she did not have to be a colt to live up to the family tradition. And in a way, he had to admit, she had done that and much more. The only thorn in his side was that she did it all under the banner of the Bleeding Moons. And that was a stigma alone, even just for him. “Wise choice,” he spoke up softly. “I can tell you love him very much.” He held up a hoof to tell her to wait, “And I have to admit, from what I've heard, he did a wonderful job training you. I'm interested to see what the others will think of you-” The door to the hideout creaked open and both fell quiet instantly. There was the clopping of two sets of hooves on stone steps in another room. With a sigh, Star Strike went to the door of the room he and Ink were in and pushed it open, motioning for her to follow him. Cautiously, Ink crept over as her father pushed the door open and revealed a much larger room that resembled the grand hall of a mansion. It was decorated in a similar fashion to the other room. In the middle of the hall stood one pegasus mare, only slightly younger than Ink, and a younger stallion unicorn. They were bickering over something, their white robes dusty and torn in places to reveal angry looking wounds. Even from where she stood, Ink could tell the mare was barely standing. As she and her father walked into the room, the two stopped bickering. Both sets of eyes fell on Ink Flash, on her black cloak and red hooves that matched her father's. Of course both who knew who she was. Ink had no doubt that everypony here would know who she was, but she was unsure of what they had been told about her. Had they been told the stories of brutality that she often heard whispered on the wind? The twisted stories of exploits that actually belonged to her old master? Or had they been told of the simple assassin just trying to make a living for herself and her adopted daughter? The mare was the first to speak up, “Are you-?” The unicorn nudged her nervously and shot her a warning glance. Ink smiled, finding her own voice and stepping out from behind her father. “Yes, I am Ink Flash. I don't know what you've been told, but I'm not a ruthless killer. Within the Order or no, I have morals.” “I know that,” the mare smiled, her emerald eyes sparkling, “My brother is the one who believes all those crazy stories of you going on rampages or whatever.” Ink couldn't help but chuckle. “Stories like that are often created out nothing but ignorant fear. Such as the ones about my own master.” She smiled, “Now, your names are..?” “Moonshine,” the mare spoke up, “Because of my dark mane.” She looked at the unicorn, who took a step behind her. Ink couldn't help but smile. Celestia only knew what these two had been told about her. And while Moonshine saw that Ink's words about not being a ruthless killer were true, her brother was not so sure. Ink smiled and peered around Moonshine at him, eyes gentle. “What have you been told about me, little one, that makes you so scared of just my name?” He shook his head, golden eyes wide in fear. “Y-you killed fifty other ponies with no r-real p-p-problem...and y-you-” Ink held up a hoof. “The most I've fought at once was ten. And it was one of the worst fights I've been in.” She held up the tails of her cloak to show a thin, pink line that ran through her cutie mark. “It was my first mission without Silent. He decided I was experienced enough to handle it on my own.” She sighed and let her cloak fall back into place, hanging her head, “I was severely out numbered.” She shivered as she thought about it, “I couldn't even move afterwards. I was collapsed on the ground, one enemy left, staring at me with contempt in her eyes as my own started to flutter shut. Just as I thought I was done for, Silent appeared just as his name suggests and saved me.” She laughed harshly and closed her eyes. “I'm not the invincible wraith ponies make me out to be. They only fear me because of the red moon on my back, because of the stories associated with it. No pony knows me for me.” Silence fell on the room. Star Strike eventually sighed and came to stand beside his daughter. “It doesn't matter where her loyalty lies. She is my daughter, a high ranking member of the Order,” he looked at Ink with a smile, “and I trust her.” Part Three: DawnThe passing pony would have barely noticed the darkly cloaked mare leading a small group of three others into the thickest part of the city that night. There was the muffled clinking of hooves on the tiled roofs, the creaking of wood boards that barely hung onto windows by rusted nails as a breeze blew over the city, but otherwise there was silence. Ink Flash slowly crept through the city, staying to the lower buildings and clinging to the shadows. Moonshine was following from a slightly higher level. Moonstruck, the unicorn, followed from the ground along with Star Strike. Ink tried to keep herself calm. It was an honor to lead this expedition and she felt the weight of the responsibility bearing down on her. She was in charge of three other lives, ones that she did not wish to get involved in the first place. Sighing, she paused at the edge of a wide alley. For a moment, she couldn't help but smile. As she watched, a ghost-like version of her younger self tried to jump the gap, but slipped as her back hooves didn't reach the next ledge. She let out of a muffled gasp, but Silent rushed forward grabbed her and pulled her up with a patient smile on his face. Moonshine came to stand beside her. “Something wrong?” she spoke in a low voice, almost inaudible. Ink shook her head. “Just lost in memories.” Smiling softly, she unfurled her wings and took several steps back before running forward and jumping over the large gap. Grabbing the ledge of the other roof tightly, she pulled herself up with no problem. Her smile grew slightly proud as she folded her wings in. If only you could see me now, love... she thought as she looked back at the other ledge at Moonshine. The mare hesitated, judging the distance. Ink sighed and flapped her wings hintingly while looking around to make sure no pony else was watching. Fear widened Moonshine's eyes as she took a couple steps back then ran to the ledge and jumped. Knowing she wasn't going to make it from the beginning, she unfurled her wings as soon as she took to the air and glided over the ledge to land next to Ink. “Sorry,” she smiled nervously, folding in her wings, “I haven't quite gotten the hang of jumping gaps yet.” Ink shook her head, turning back in the direction they were headed. “Good thing you're a pegasus. I had the same problem at your age. I was so small that my master just started allowing me to rely on my wings for large gaps during training. Now c'mon. Keep close to the shadows and stay within earshot of me.” Moonshine nodded as Ink hurried up the side of a taller building, hoping for a better vantage point. What she got was a view into what she thought Hell must look like. The main square was crowded with tents of all sizes and colors. A few fires still burned from dinner earlier in the evening. Ink withdrew as soon as she as she had appeared, ducking behind a corner and grabbing Moonshine as she did so. She held a hoof to her lips and and motioned around the corner, letting Moonshine steal a glance at the square. She stifled a gasp and looked back at Ink. “What do we do?” she mouthed, emerald eyes wide and tearing slightly from fear. She was shaking. Ink motioned down to the smaller courtyard where Moonstruck and Star Strike were waiting. Nodding, Moonshine followed Ink as she jumped down and used her wings to slow her fall, catching Moonshine when she landed clumsily. She smiled as she set the mare down, folding her wings in and turning to the others. “Alright,” Ink kept her voice low. “There are at least ten tents in the square, and Celestia knows how many in each tent, or whom we are even dealing with. I could find no colors or crest that would show who these invaders are but-” There was a slight whistling sound as a throwing knife whizzed past Ink's nose and impaled itself in the wall beside her. Ink, out of reflex, pushed Moonshine behind her and her eyes flew to the roofs and her father positioned himself in front of Moonstruck. Dark chuckling sounded off the walls around them, but Ink found it nearly impossible to pinpoint where it was coming from due to the echo. After what seemed like forever, a light blue mare stepped out of the shadows of a surrounding building and stood just on the edge of the roof. “Ah, Ink Flash, the notorious student of that crazed Silent Shadow,” the mare let a grin twist her face as Ink bristled, muscles tensing. “It's so nice to meet you after hearing about you for so long. It seems you have met my group already, so I'll keep the introductions short.” “What do you want, Dawn?” Ink growled in a low voice, pressing the back of her front, right hoof into the ground. As the blade obediently slid out, she slowly wiggled her hoof until the blade was hidden in the dust. Dawn smiled, “Need we be so testy with each other? We are old friends after all,” she tossed her head to get her long, lavender mane out of her eyes. “Shouldn't we catch up on old times?” Ink only braced herself in answer. Dawn sighed in a bored fashion and rolled her eyes, “Pity I have to kill you.” “Try it,” Ink growled, wanting nothing more than to rip out Dawn's windpipe and watch with pleasure as she stared at Ink in surprise and bled out for only a few painful last seconds. Dawn shook her head, “You never learn, do you? I guess Silent didn't teach you as well as they say he did.” Ink tensed even more, but tried to keep calm. Her eyes scanned the rooftops of the nearby buildings anxiously, struggling to listen for the clinking of hooves on the tiles or weapons over the howling of the wind. She nodded just slightly, hoping her father still remembered that signal from her training. To her relief, she heard the slight creak of metal then a click. Ink couldn't help but smile. If he had enough bolts, her father could easily take out the guards on the surrounding buildings and get the other two to safety, leaving Ink to take care of Dawn. “Injure, but try not to kill. Leave them handicapped,” she whispered in an extremely quiet voice, barely moving her lips. Dawn sighed. “This has been most fun, my dear Ink Flash, but I must bid you adieu. Your dear princesses are in need of my attention.” Ink didn't flinch. “Now,” she whispered and pushed Moonshine out of the way, then grabbed a low window on a nearby building and used the motion to get her high enough off the ground to give a solid down-stroke and land on the roof. Acting on muscle memory from her training, she dove into a crack between two buildings and clung to the shadows as one of Dawn's minions hurried by. For several moments, Ink pressed herself against the wall and held her breath, listening as ten clicks of a small crossbow were followed each by ten muffled thuds. She could hear Dawn cry out angrily. “Cheap tricks, Ink Flash! Cheap tricks!” She laughed as she thought about it, “A trick fitting for one under the banner of the red moon.” Ink kept her breathing even, pressing her hoof-blade back into place and instead drawing several throwing knives. Carefully, she crept to the edge of the alley and threw one in Dawn's direction, the flame-like blade carving a deep line in her neck before embedding itself in a wall. Dawn stifled a scream of pain and pressed a hoof against the wound. “You continue to prove me right, Ink Flash! You are nothing but a coward! Face me fairly, you sorry excuse for an assassin!” Keep to the shadows, use them to your advantage. Never let your emotions rule you in a fight. Use whatever tactics necessary to survive. Just as Ink was about to reach for her kodachi, a scream of pain echoed from the courtyard. No...father... Ink cursed to herself, thinking over the situation carefully but quickly. Dawn chuckled, and there was the hiss of metal against stone. “Pity your daughter is such a coward, Star Strike. It would have been fun to kill both of you at once.” Ink peered around the corner to find Dawn standing over her father, gripping a crystal hilted dagger. A sadistic grin snaked its way across her face as she watched the dark stallion writhe in pain, blood leaking from the deep wound in his chest and staining the ground of the small courtyard a deep red. Ink bit her lip and pulled out another knife, pulling back her leg to throw it, when she was forced to the ground from behind. As soon as she hit the ground, she rolled on her back, forcing her attacker off. In front of her stood a white unicorn with a pale brown mane, pale red eyes glowing hatefully. Ink hurried to her hooves and drew her kodachi, bracing herself. The unicorn drew a kukri, a large curved knife, with inscriptions along the blade. Ink almost laughed. It looked like the blade she gave Silent those many months ago. He stepped forward, then seemingly disappeared. Ink didn't even flinch as she listened closely and followed the slight clink of metal. The unicorn was trying to use a technique originally designed for a blade along the lines of her own kodachi, not the oddly shaped blade of a kukri. After-shadows of the unicorn surrounded her and for a moment, Ink almost lost track of the actual unicorn. But not quite. He stepped forward to attack, but hesitated for too long and ruined the effect caused by his after-shadows. Ink immediately struck, hitting the unicorn's hoof with the pommel of her blade and making him drop his own. She quickly kicked it out of reach and swung the sword around to carve a large gash up the unicorn's chest. Blood sprayed out of the wound and he only had a few moments to stare at Ink in disbelief before he collapsed. Ink sighed and put her kodachi back in its scabbard and kneeling to close the unicorn's eyes. Old habits die hard... “Rest in peace,” she whispered and stood, going to look at the scene playing out in the courtyard. Her father had managed to get back on his hooves, although Ink could tell he wouldn't last much longer. Taking a deep breath, she pulled out one of her throwing knives and ran to the edge of the building overlooking the courtyard. Without pausing, she threw it and smiled when it hit Dawn square in her left flank. Dawn screamed out in agony, ripping the knife out, and turned to face Ink with murder in her eyes. “So you finally face me.” “Moonshine,” Ink called, ignoring Dawn's taunts, “get my father out of here. Moonstruck, go with them.” Moonshine appeared like a wraith from a nearby alley and helped Star Strike out of the courtyard, then disappearing just as quickly. Her brother quickly followed, casting an uneasy glance at Ink. Dawn didn't even make a move to stop them. Her eyes were all for the prize, for the silver pegasus now perched on the rooftop. She loved the anger in Ink's eyes, loved that she knew she had genuinely angered the assassin that was notoriously cold in battle. There were joking rumors that the heart in her cutie mark was not crystal, but ice. The two only glared at each other for the longest time, neither pony making a move. Both knew that the second either did, it would be over. The space between them crackled with energy, and Ink itched to draw a throwing knife and see how many sparks would fly when she threw it. She watched as Dawn reached over and picked up a dagger with a crystal handle, her eyes watching Ink with interest. “I hear you've lost something, Ink Flash.” “It's a blade. Everything I own can be replaced,” she intoned in a hollow voice, forcing herself to be numb. “Pity, though, that you did not use it the way it was supposed to be used. I wonder how well your fool of a father will be with poison coursing through him.” Ink tensed. Stay calm, Ink. Never show your emotions. You never know what's a bluff and what's true. Worry about now. Ink only took a slow, deep breath and spoke up in the same hollow voice from before. “Half a year ago, you and your little troop attacked me in the woods. While I was able to defeat your minions, I was pretty sure I would be dead were it not for the fact that -unknown to me- my now husband had tailed me. I have no idea what he did to you after I passed out, but I'm guessing it wasn't pleasant.” Anger set Dawn's eyes ablaze. “You will never know the pain I suffered because of him. Not only did he break my horn, I was shamed by my family for failing to kill you.” Ink snorted with a chuckle. “No wonder you can't do anything yourself anymore. You always did rely on your magic.” “And you rely on your stupid tricks! We are no better than one another!” Ink glared at Dawn, pouring every ounce of hate in her small form into her turquoise eyes. “I do not use tricks,” she growled. “I only use skill.” She felt some sense of gratification that Dawn actually shrunk away slightly as a gust blew through the courtyard, making Ink's cloak flare as if to punctuate her words. She calmed down, taking a deep breath. “Now, die here or run and never utter my name, or those of my father or master, ever again.” Dawn only laughed. “What are you going to do if I-?” “Die.” Ink whispered coldly and swiftly jumped down, pulling her kodachi out in the same motion and running it across Dawn's throat the second she touched ground. Ink smiled for the shortest moment when blood poured out of the wound before Dawn fell to the ground. Sighing, Ink sheathed her blade and turned to the mare to catch her last words. “I-I nev-ver p-poisoned h-him, I-i-ink,” she gasped, eyes fluttering shut, “And I-i t-take it b-back you a-a-re ver-ry g-” she never got to finish that last word as her eyes grew glassy and she turned limp. Ink let a relieved smile cross her lips as she knelt and closed Dawn's eyes. “May you find the peace your restless soul was searching for. Rest well, my old friend.” With a sigh, Ink picked up the dagger and wiped it off on her cloak before slipping it in its proper holster on her bandoleer. Smiling, Ink turned to face the rising Sun before disappearing into the shadows.
Part One: HomecomingA silver mare looked at herself in the mirror through turquoise eyes. She stood taller than she used to, her dark mane no longer mere inches from dragging on the ground. With a smile, she extended her wings and had to marvel at how she had grown. She had become much more mature over the past few years, her black cloak no longer dragging on the ground. Although the same sort of purity shone in her eyes, she was different. She knew it. She was wiser. More experienced. Still just as innocent, but nowhere near as naïve as before. More able to take on the world. Stronger, in not just body but mind as well. She couldn't help but smile as she folded in her wings and thought over the years that had passed. She certainly had changed. She walked with a sort of pride that no pony other the ones she had loved over the span of time understood. Although still so seemingly young, she was wise beyond her years. Her eyes were shadowed with the burden of the knowledge she had, but at the same time glittered brightly in knowing the good she could do with it. There were still traces of the naïve apprentice she used to be. She still used her first sword from her master. She still had that same bandoleer of throwing knives. She smiled and looked over her shoulder at the sleeping stallion in bed. And she still had her love from that long time ago. He was the one constant that she fought her very hardest to keep. So much had happened. So much had nearly stolen him from her. All because of the red crescent moon they both bore. But she never regretted anything. She never wished she could have gone back and prevented her younger self from turning that corner and bumping into the dark stallion that changed her life drastically. No. She would never hope to change a thing that had lead her to where she was now. But despite the pride in her eyes, she was worried. Being a full fledged Bleeding Moons assassin was not the only thing that had changed. She was a wife now, a guardian, she had a future. And this contract worried her. Regardless, she had agreed and she was always one to live up to her word. Sighing, she went over to the bed and nuzzled the sleeping stallion gently, who only stirred for a moment before falling back asleep. She smiled softly and whispered, “Sleep well, Night Wind,” before turning and leaving. It was dark when Ink Flash found her way into Canterlot. The wind whipped at her hood that hid her turquoise eyes and she squinted as tears hazed her vision. Even for night time, the streets were oddly empty. Doors were bolted shut. Windows were sealed off to even the shadows. There was no pony to be found anywhere as she walked down the main road. Ink couldn't help but bite her lip nervously. This was beyond wrong. She had been told by Princess Celestia herself that things were bad in the capital city, but Ink would have never imagined them to be this bad. Even for one accustomed to the shadows and silence, this was almost unbearable. Even worse so when the sun began to peak over the horizon. Ink sighed and looked down at the ground, tossing her head to lower her hood. No fresh tracks, from either cartwheels or hooves. No trading had been done in a long time. Even the castle in the distance seemed to be darker than before. She had to honestly wonder if it was too late for her to do anything. She played with the idea of returning to Ponyville to ask Silent Shadow for help, but she shook her head. This was her mission. Besides, he was watching Thunder Strike for her while she was away and Ink didn't trust the young filly with anypony else. So she was on her own for now. Ink sighed. This was what she wanted those years ago. She had wanted to prove her worth. To prove the validity of her cutie mark. That day long ago, she looked Silent in the eyes and promised that she would defend those in need. Now was her time to live up to those words. Even now, she was just beginning to realize the weight of those words, the responsibility that came with that solemn oath. If this went as she feared it would, she realized it would be her first time killing in large numbers. She had gone on half a dozen missions before now, but they had always been along the lines of dispelling conspiracies and overseeing the travels of prominent nobles. There was a killing here and there, but never to the extent that she saw this getting to. This was more than the murder of a leader for some underground operation and watching as the followers left. For any group, or pony, to hold the capital city of Equestria in such fear, there would be much more blood on her hooves than ever before. She wondered if she could even return home after this. No, she had to return home. She promised she would take care of the unicorn filly waiting for her. She promised should would never leave Silent alone again. Too many promises had been made to just walk away. But then again, what if it was safer for Thunder Strike if Ink stayed away? She shook her head, her short mane falling in her eyes. With a sigh, she paused and looked behind her at the tracks she had left in the dust. The prints of her front hooves were slightly more defined than those of her back ones due to the blades on them, but there was nothing else out of the ordinary. As she watched, a light breeze kicked up and blew the dust back into place, erasing the tracks from existence. Like she had never been there. Just as she turned to walk to the castle, there was a sharp pain in her shoulder. With a muffled shout of pain, Ink looked to see a small dart, no longer than a nail, embedded in her front left shoulder. Just as her mind registered what was happening, her head began to swim. No... she shook her head and ripped the dart out of her skin, stumbling. I have to... The ground rose up from beneath her. It didn't even hurt as she collapsed in the dust, breathing heavily and struggling to stay awake against her drooping eyelids. Her heart raced. Her vision blurred. She felt heavy. It was getting harder to breathe. Ink fully slumped to the ground as there was the clomping of hooves approaching her. She looked up to see a familiar, dark stallion with a light mane standing over her with a soft smile. “Welcome home, Ink,” he whispered right as the darkness overtook her.
Part Two: The OrderInk was alive, but for a moment, she couldn't tell if she was awake or asleep. The sounds around her were all muffled. She felt heavy. She tried to move, but couldn't. She could barely breathe. For a moment, it seemed panic would set it in, but she forced herself to draw in the deepest breaths she could manage. Much to her relief, the numbness slowly receded into just tingling in her limbs. Ink was almost mortified to feel a low moan escape her lips. “Ah good, you're awake,” came a rough voice, sounding completely calm despite the controlled panic she felt. Ink struggled to open her eyes against the lingering stupor, but managed to open them enough to see the world through a blurry haze. She couldn't help but gasp. Perhaps she had been expecting the dark basement of a rotting building, filled with puddles of unidentifiable fluids and rats. Perhaps she had been expecting darkness. Maybe she had spent too many nights staying up and reading worn out murder novels. Whatever she had expected, this definitely was not it. She lay on a soft daybed in a brightly lit, cavernous room. She had been stripped of her weapons and cloak, but they were neatly arranged on a table nearby- easily in view as if to reassure her. All around her hung red tapestries adorned with silver embroidery. Imported elaborate area rugs. Shelves filled with books. Racks of well cared-for weapons lined the smooth, white walls. Ink Flash looked up to see a large, doomed ceiling carved into what looked like stone. She guessed this place was underground from the lack of natural lighting. Then she turned her attention to the black, stallion pegasus that stood beside her bed. His mane and tail were cropped short, a similar color to her coat. He had a thin line of silver spots that ran across his nose and as she looked closely, she could see that he was missing the tips of both ears. He watched her with stern eyes that were the same color as her own and he also had the same brilliant red hooves. “Star Strike.” He rolled his eyes, “You could at least call me your father.” Ink let out a hard laugh as she carefully got up, legs still wobbling from the anesthetic in the dart. “After what you put me through, no. Besides,” she tossed her mane out of her eyes, “you disowned me after I declared myself apprentice to Night, remember? You claimed I was turning my back on everything the Order stood for and chose not to recognize me as your daughter anymore.” The stallion glared at her, “And after I bring you here so you could be safe...” “My alliance is no longer solely with the Order, Star Strike,” Ink walked over to the table and picked up her cloak, putting it back on. “I'm a Bleeding Moon now.” “I can see that,” he growled. “But understand this, Ink Flash, no matter how skilled you've gotten over the past few years, you'll never be able to handle this alone. Nopony can. So for now, you'll have to control your pride long enough to work with us.” Ink only nodded, strapping on all of her weapons. A black and white kodachi on her back. A bandoleer of throwing knives across her chest, the blades placed high enough on the strap to be hidden under her cloak. Her hoof blades, the edges of the blades made with diamond and cased in leather to keep her hoof-steps quiet. She paused and looked around with confusion when she realized a main part of her arsenal was missing. “Where is my dagger?” she asked in a low voice that somehow still managed to echo off the walls of the room. “What are you talking about?” He sighed at his daughter's distrustful gaze, “I'm not lying, Ink, when I say those are all we found you with in the street.” Ink was surprised to hear actual concern in her father's voice. “Are you saying you had the family dagger with you?” Ink nodded slowly, trying to think over what she chose to bring. Perhaps she did not wear it in its holster and that was why she couldn't find it. She opened the leather satchel that sat next to the table and rummaged through it. More throwing knives. A map. A picture of a pale, tan unicorn filly sleeping as a bright blue stallion unicorn kept watch nearby. Another of Silent Shadow, face coated with sweat as he bent over a superheated metal blank in the forge. Bandages. But her dagger was nowhere to be found. Her face creased with worry. Surely there had to be some mistake. No. There were no holes in her bag, so it couldn't have fallen out on the way here. “Did you stop for the night somewhere?” Her father suggested, voice steeped in worry. Ink only shook her head and sat back on her haunches, rubbing the spot between her eyes with one hoof and letting the other trail down her neck absently. For a moment, she paused and was alarmed that she did not feel the thin chain that usually hung there. Her heart rate immediately picked up.“Did you find me with a necklace on that looked like my cutie mark?” Her father nodded and left the room for a moment before returning and hoofing her a slightly tarnished silver chain. From it hung the pendant of a blue sapphire heart with a sword through it. Ink hastily put the necklace back on, tucking it under the collar of her cloak. “At least I know one powerful relic I carry is safe,” she grumbled, putting her things back in her satchel. “Is it precious to you?” Ink nodded. “An ex of mine gave it to me after he found it tucked in one of his family's old journals with a poem saying how the one who bears a cutie mark similar to the pendant can use it for temporary, but powerful, magic. I never used it or wore it when I was younger because I was always afraid of magic. I grew to be slightly more accepting as the years passed.” She nervously, almost absent-mindedly, clutched the pendant with one hoof. “Of course only I can use it, but I still wear it for safe keeping.” Star Strike nodded, a soft, knowing smile on his lips. Ink shook her head, “But that's not the point right now.” She sighed, “As much as it pains me to say it, yes, I know I'll have to work with you. I was toying with the idea of going home to get Night, but even then...” She hook her head. “That, and I don't want to involve him. Or Thunder.” She smiled softly at the mention of the filly, her thoughts drifting back to more innocent times she spent with the filly's father. Her smile grew deeper as her thoughts drifted farther, all the way to her former master and how their relationship had changed over the years. She looked at her father to see what she thought was annoyance in his eyes at the way his daughter spoke so fondly of this stallion whom he saw as unfit to carry the title of “assassin.” Of course the two had grown close during the year and few months she was his apprentice. It was almost impossible not to, especially when Ink's only ambition for the longest time was to get a proud smile out of her master. She wanted nothing more than to make him proud, and it remained that way today. If she were speaking to anypony else, she would have called him her husband. But that would be a title she couldn't give him in front of her father, even if was true. She needed Star Strike to cooperate with her, and vice versa. There was no point in one making the other mad simply because of past disagreements. As the two sat there in silence, Ink could see her father trying to control she thought was his anger. Even after all this time, she was sure he remained bitter that she had left him. She had chosen to learn from another pony that she had only known for a short time before he offered to train her. But she had her reasons, and Star Strike tried to understand that. He tried to see the way things seemed to be through Ink's eyes. She had been miserable. She had felt like a slave, a victim. He had been impatient with her, too hasty. When he looked at her training under his guidance that way, it was painfully obvious why she chose to leave him for Silent Shadow. Star Strike had to hide the smile that was slowly twisting its way across his face when Ink turned to look at him. He had always loved his daughter, never had he been so hard on her because he didn't. He had wanted her to be the best, to prove that she did not have to be a colt to live up to the family tradition. And in a way, he had to admit, she had done that and much more. The only thorn in his side was that she did it all under the banner of the Bleeding Moons. And that was a stigma alone, even just for him. “Wise choice,” he spoke up softly. “I can tell you love him very much.” He held up a hoof to tell her to wait, “And I have to admit, from what I've heard, he did a wonderful job training you. I'm interested to see what the others will think of you-” The door to the hideout creaked open and both fell quiet instantly. There was the clopping of two sets of hooves on stone steps in another room. With a sigh, Star Strike went to the door of the room he and Ink were in and pushed it open, motioning for her to follow him. Cautiously, Ink crept over as her father pushed the door open and revealed a much larger room that resembled the grand hall of a mansion. It was decorated in a similar fashion to the other room. In the middle of the hall stood one pegasus mare, only slightly younger than Ink, and a younger stallion unicorn. They were bickering over something, their white robes dusty and torn in places to reveal angry looking wounds. Even from where she stood, Ink could tell the mare was barely standing. As she and her father walked into the room, the two stopped bickering. Both sets of eyes fell on Ink Flash, on her black cloak and red hooves that matched her father's. Of course both who knew who she was. Ink had no doubt that everypony here would know who she was, but she was unsure of what they had been told about her. Had they been told the stories of brutality that she often heard whispered on the wind? The twisted stories of exploits that actually belonged to her old master? Or had they been told of the simple assassin just trying to make a living for herself and her adopted daughter? The mare was the first to speak up, “Are you-?” The unicorn nudged her nervously and shot her a warning glance. Ink smiled, finding her own voice and stepping out from behind her father. “Yes, I am Ink Flash. I don't know what you've been told, but I'm not a ruthless killer. Within the Order or no, I have morals.” “I know that,” the mare smiled, her emerald eyes sparkling, “My brother is the one who believes all those crazy stories of you going on rampages or whatever.” Ink couldn't help but chuckle. “Stories like that are often created out nothing but ignorant fear. Such as the ones about my own master.” She smiled, “Now, your names are..?” “Moonshine,” the mare spoke up, “Because of my dark mane.” She looked at the unicorn, who took a step behind her. Ink couldn't help but smile. Celestia only knew what these two had been told about her. And while Moonshine saw that Ink's words about not being a ruthless killer were true, her brother was not so sure. Ink smiled and peered around Moonshine at him, eyes gentle. “What have you been told about me, little one, that makes you so scared of just my name?” He shook his head, golden eyes wide in fear. “Y-you killed fifty other ponies with no r-real p-p-problem...and y-you-” Ink held up a hoof. “The most I've fought at once was ten. And it was one of the worst fights I've been in.” She held up the tails of her cloak to show a thin, pink line that ran through her cutie mark. “It was my first mission without Silent. He decided I was experienced enough to handle it on my own.” She sighed and let her cloak fall back into place, hanging her head, “I was severely out numbered.” She shivered as she thought about it, “I couldn't even move afterwards. I was collapsed on the ground, one enemy left, staring at me with contempt in her eyes as my own started to flutter shut. Just as I thought I was done for, Silent appeared just as his name suggests and saved me.” She laughed harshly and closed her eyes. “I'm not the invincible wraith ponies make me out to be. They only fear me because of the red moon on my back, because of the stories associated with it. No pony knows me for me.” Silence fell on the room. Star Strike eventually sighed and came to stand beside his daughter. “It doesn't matter where her loyalty lies. She is my daughter, a high ranking member of the Order,” he looked at Ink with a smile, “and I trust her.”
Part Three: DawnThe passing pony would have barely noticed the darkly cloaked mare leading a small group of three others into the thickest part of the city that night. There was the muffled clinking of hooves on the tiled roofs, the creaking of wood boards that barely hung onto windows by rusted nails as a breeze blew over the city, but otherwise there was silence. Ink Flash slowly crept through the city, staying to the lower buildings and clinging to the shadows. Moonshine was following from a slightly higher level. Moonstruck, the unicorn, followed from the ground along with Star Strike. Ink tried to keep herself calm. It was an honor to lead this expedition and she felt the weight of the responsibility bearing down on her. She was in charge of three other lives, ones that she did not wish to get involved in the first place. Sighing, she paused at the edge of a wide alley. For a moment, she couldn't help but smile. As she watched, a ghost-like version of her younger self tried to jump the gap, but slipped as her back hooves didn't reach the next ledge. She let out of a muffled gasp, but Silent rushed forward grabbed her and pulled her up with a patient smile on his face. Moonshine came to stand beside her. “Something wrong?” she spoke in a low voice, almost inaudible. Ink shook her head. “Just lost in memories.” Smiling softly, she unfurled her wings and took several steps back before running forward and jumping over the large gap. Grabbing the ledge of the other roof tightly, she pulled herself up with no problem. Her smile grew slightly proud as she folded her wings in. If only you could see me now, love... she thought as she looked back at the other ledge at Moonshine. The mare hesitated, judging the distance. Ink sighed and flapped her wings hintingly while looking around to make sure no pony else was watching. Fear widened Moonshine's eyes as she took a couple steps back then ran to the ledge and jumped. Knowing she wasn't going to make it from the beginning, she unfurled her wings as soon as she took to the air and glided over the ledge to land next to Ink. “Sorry,” she smiled nervously, folding in her wings, “I haven't quite gotten the hang of jumping gaps yet.” Ink shook her head, turning back in the direction they were headed. “Good thing you're a pegasus. I had the same problem at your age. I was so small that my master just started allowing me to rely on my wings for large gaps during training. Now c'mon. Keep close to the shadows and stay within earshot of me.” Moonshine nodded as Ink hurried up the side of a taller building, hoping for a better vantage point. What she got was a view into what she thought Hell must look like. The main square was crowded with tents of all sizes and colors. A few fires still burned from dinner earlier in the evening. Ink withdrew as soon as she as she had appeared, ducking behind a corner and grabbing Moonshine as she did so. She held a hoof to her lips and and motioned around the corner, letting Moonshine steal a glance at the square. She stifled a gasp and looked back at Ink. “What do we do?” she mouthed, emerald eyes wide and tearing slightly from fear. She was shaking. Ink motioned down to the smaller courtyard where Moonstruck and Star Strike were waiting. Nodding, Moonshine followed Ink as she jumped down and used her wings to slow her fall, catching Moonshine when she landed clumsily. She smiled as she set the mare down, folding her wings in and turning to the others. “Alright,” Ink kept her voice low. “There are at least ten tents in the square, and Celestia knows how many in each tent, or whom we are even dealing with. I could find no colors or crest that would show who these invaders are but-” There was a slight whistling sound as a throwing knife whizzed past Ink's nose and impaled itself in the wall beside her. Ink, out of reflex, pushed Moonshine behind her and her eyes flew to the roofs and her father positioned himself in front of Moonstruck. Dark chuckling sounded off the walls around them, but Ink found it nearly impossible to pinpoint where it was coming from due to the echo. After what seemed like forever, a light blue mare stepped out of the shadows of a surrounding building and stood just on the edge of the roof. “Ah, Ink Flash, the notorious student of that crazed Silent Shadow,” the mare let a grin twist her face as Ink bristled, muscles tensing. “It's so nice to meet you after hearing about you for so long. It seems you have met my group already, so I'll keep the introductions short.” “What do you want, Dawn?” Ink growled in a low voice, pressing the back of her front, right hoof into the ground. As the blade obediently slid out, she slowly wiggled her hoof until the blade was hidden in the dust. Dawn smiled, “Need we be so testy with each other? We are old friends after all,” she tossed her head to get her long, lavender mane out of her eyes. “Shouldn't we catch up on old times?” Ink only braced herself in answer. Dawn sighed in a bored fashion and rolled her eyes, “Pity I have to kill you.” “Try it,” Ink growled, wanting nothing more than to rip out Dawn's windpipe and watch with pleasure as she stared at Ink in surprise and bled out for only a few painful last seconds. Dawn shook her head, “You never learn, do you? I guess Silent didn't teach you as well as they say he did.” Ink tensed even more, but tried to keep calm. Her eyes scanned the rooftops of the nearby buildings anxiously, struggling to listen for the clinking of hooves on the tiles or weapons over the howling of the wind. She nodded just slightly, hoping her father still remembered that signal from her training. To her relief, she heard the slight creak of metal then a click. Ink couldn't help but smile. If he had enough bolts, her father could easily take out the guards on the surrounding buildings and get the other two to safety, leaving Ink to take care of Dawn. “Injure, but try not to kill. Leave them handicapped,” she whispered in an extremely quiet voice, barely moving her lips. Dawn sighed. “This has been most fun, my dear Ink Flash, but I must bid you adieu. Your dear princesses are in need of my attention.” Ink didn't flinch. “Now,” she whispered and pushed Moonshine out of the way, then grabbed a low window on a nearby building and used the motion to get her high enough off the ground to give a solid down-stroke and land on the roof. Acting on muscle memory from her training, she dove into a crack between two buildings and clung to the shadows as one of Dawn's minions hurried by. For several moments, Ink pressed herself against the wall and held her breath, listening as ten clicks of a small crossbow were followed each by ten muffled thuds. She could hear Dawn cry out angrily. “Cheap tricks, Ink Flash! Cheap tricks!” She laughed as she thought about it, “A trick fitting for one under the banner of the red moon.” Ink kept her breathing even, pressing her hoof-blade back into place and instead drawing several throwing knives. Carefully, she crept to the edge of the alley and threw one in Dawn's direction, the flame-like blade carving a deep line in her neck before embedding itself in a wall. Dawn stifled a scream of pain and pressed a hoof against the wound. “You continue to prove me right, Ink Flash! You are nothing but a coward! Face me fairly, you sorry excuse for an assassin!” Keep to the shadows, use them to your advantage. Never let your emotions rule you in a fight. Use whatever tactics necessary to survive. Just as Ink was about to reach for her kodachi, a scream of pain echoed from the courtyard. No...father... Ink cursed to herself, thinking over the situation carefully but quickly. Dawn chuckled, and there was the hiss of metal against stone. “Pity your daughter is such a coward, Star Strike. It would have been fun to kill both of you at once.” Ink peered around the corner to find Dawn standing over her father, gripping a crystal hilted dagger. A sadistic grin snaked its way across her face as she watched the dark stallion writhe in pain, blood leaking from the deep wound in his chest and staining the ground of the small courtyard a deep red. Ink bit her lip and pulled out another knife, pulling back her leg to throw it, when she was forced to the ground from behind. As soon as she hit the ground, she rolled on her back, forcing her attacker off. In front of her stood a white unicorn with a pale brown mane, pale red eyes glowing hatefully. Ink hurried to her hooves and drew her kodachi, bracing herself. The unicorn drew a kukri, a large curved knife, with inscriptions along the blade. Ink almost laughed. It looked like the blade she gave Silent those many months ago. He stepped forward, then seemingly disappeared. Ink didn't even flinch as she listened closely and followed the slight clink of metal. The unicorn was trying to use a technique originally designed for a blade along the lines of her own kodachi, not the oddly shaped blade of a kukri. After-shadows of the unicorn surrounded her and for a moment, Ink almost lost track of the actual unicorn. But not quite. He stepped forward to attack, but hesitated for too long and ruined the effect caused by his after-shadows. Ink immediately struck, hitting the unicorn's hoof with the pommel of her blade and making him drop his own. She quickly kicked it out of reach and swung the sword around to carve a large gash up the unicorn's chest. Blood sprayed out of the wound and he only had a few moments to stare at Ink in disbelief before he collapsed. Ink sighed and put her kodachi back in its scabbard and kneeling to close the unicorn's eyes. Old habits die hard... “Rest in peace,” she whispered and stood, going to look at the scene playing out in the courtyard. Her father had managed to get back on his hooves, although Ink could tell he wouldn't last much longer. Taking a deep breath, she pulled out one of her throwing knives and ran to the edge of the building overlooking the courtyard. Without pausing, she threw it and smiled when it hit Dawn square in her left flank. Dawn screamed out in agony, ripping the knife out, and turned to face Ink with murder in her eyes. “So you finally face me.” “Moonshine,” Ink called, ignoring Dawn's taunts, “get my father out of here. Moonstruck, go with them.” Moonshine appeared like a wraith from a nearby alley and helped Star Strike out of the courtyard, then disappearing just as quickly. Her brother quickly followed, casting an uneasy glance at Ink. Dawn didn't even make a move to stop them. Her eyes were all for the prize, for the silver pegasus now perched on the rooftop. She loved the anger in Ink's eyes, loved that she knew she had genuinely angered the assassin that was notoriously cold in battle. There were joking rumors that the heart in her cutie mark was not crystal, but ice. The two only glared at each other for the longest time, neither pony making a move. Both knew that the second either did, it would be over. The space between them crackled with energy, and Ink itched to draw a throwing knife and see how many sparks would fly when she threw it. She watched as Dawn reached over and picked up a dagger with a crystal handle, her eyes watching Ink with interest. “I hear you've lost something, Ink Flash.” “It's a blade. Everything I own can be replaced,” she intoned in a hollow voice, forcing herself to be numb. “Pity, though, that you did not use it the way it was supposed to be used. I wonder how well your fool of a father will be with poison coursing through him.” Ink tensed. Stay calm, Ink. Never show your emotions. You never know what's a bluff and what's true. Worry about now. Ink only took a slow, deep breath and spoke up in the same hollow voice from before. “Half a year ago, you and your little troop attacked me in the woods. While I was able to defeat your minions, I was pretty sure I would be dead were it not for the fact that -unknown to me- my now husband had tailed me. I have no idea what he did to you after I passed out, but I'm guessing it wasn't pleasant.” Anger set Dawn's eyes ablaze. “You will never know the pain I suffered because of him. Not only did he break my horn, I was shamed by my family for failing to kill you.” Ink snorted with a chuckle. “No wonder you can't do anything yourself anymore. You always did rely on your magic.” “And you rely on your stupid tricks! We are no better than one another!” Ink glared at Dawn, pouring every ounce of hate in her small form into her turquoise eyes. “I do not use tricks,” she growled. “I only use skill.” She felt some sense of gratification that Dawn actually shrunk away slightly as a gust blew through the courtyard, making Ink's cloak flare as if to punctuate her words. She calmed down, taking a deep breath. “Now, die here or run and never utter my name, or those of my father or master, ever again.” Dawn only laughed. “What are you going to do if I-?” “Die.” Ink whispered coldly and swiftly jumped down, pulling her kodachi out in the same motion and running it across Dawn's throat the second she touched ground. Ink smiled for the shortest moment when blood poured out of the wound before Dawn fell to the ground. Sighing, Ink sheathed her blade and turned to the mare to catch her last words. “I-I nev-ver p-poisoned h-him, I-i-ink,” she gasped, eyes fluttering shut, “And I-i t-take it b-back you a-a-re ver-ry g-” she never got to finish that last word as her eyes grew glassy and she turned limp. Ink let a relieved smile cross her lips as she knelt and closed Dawn's eyes. “May you find the peace your restless soul was searching for. Rest well, my old friend.” With a sigh, Ink picked up the dagger and wiped it off on her cloak before slipping it in its proper holster on her bandoleer. Smiling, Ink turned to face the rising Sun before disappearing into the shadows.
