Dusk to Dawn

A 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.