No Task Too Big!

“I see, well then Taskmaster, perhaps you’d like to explain yourself?” The princess pondered gesturing for me to explain myself.

“Well, where to begin? I land in a strange world, in a wasteland, for no apparent reason. Then, I’m harassed by a couple of your guards, and when I defend myself they attack me.” I raise my arms into the air in a motion of disbelief and exasperation. “The next thing I know, I’m struck in the back of my head and wake up in this dark, dank, depressing, hole in the ground. If you ask me princess, I believe I’m owed an apology.” I finish, crossing my arms and tapping my foot condescendingly.

“That story differs quite a bit from what my loyal guards reported. According to them, you insulted them for seemingly no reason. When they confronted you, they were met with resistance and violence. So, how am I to trust your word over theirs?” She requested, crossing her own limbs calmly.

I couldn't help but laugh, it was just so stupid, she actually thinks I give a damn about her opinion, or that I can’t see through her poker face. Well if she wants to play it that way, I’m more than game.

“I fail to see what’s so funny; would you care to share the joke with me?” Stepping forward, she cocked her head in confusion of my outburst.

“Oh, that’s simple. The joke is you think it wise to lock up an asset like me, for no clear reason.” I chuckle lightly, walking up to the cell door and wrapping my hands around a pair of the thick iron bars.

“Hmm, well if you’d like to elaborate on what makes you so much of an asset, then I’m listening, my cocky confident friend.” Celestia stated her smile only growing slyer as she spoke.

“Gladly, but I have a question in exchange.” Her eyebrow rose but she didn’t stop me, so I continued eagerly. “I have many thoughts running through my head, but the one that really interests me is this. Why did you not take my possessions when imprisoning me? It seems foolish to leave a supposed criminal with all he has, wouldn’t you agree, Celestia?” I confess, turning away from the cage door and taking several paces into the dim prison.

“A fair point, though, the jailers did in fact try removing your wares. But I highly doubt they expected such a powerful magic to protect you. So, until me or my sister had the time to remove it ourselves. They decided it best to merely hide you away, and keep a close eye on you from behind cell bars.” Her answer caught me off guard. Magic? I didn’t have any magic…the mask, it had to be, ever since dawning it, I’d become someone new, someone I had no intention of changing back from.

“So, I answered your question, in return I believe you owe me an explanation, correct?” Celestia pointed out, eyeing me a look of control never wavering from her gaze.

“True, so let’s see, where to begin? I’m a simple individual, with a particular set of skills. If someone can do a job, well then, I can do it better.” This caught the sun princess’s attention; she even seemed a bit troubled by this news. “So, as you can imagine, I am quite a useful guy to have on your side. Hell, to your advantage, I even come at a reasonable price too.” I boast, pointing a thumb toward my chest in a confident manner.

“I see, that is a very interesting skill, a talent like that could be quite a useful tool. Though I’m curious, what are you normally hired for, being you can do anything, if what you say is true that is?” She wondered meeting my gaze with a stare that seemed to stare right into my heart.

“I’m hirable for nearly anything, for the right price. Mostly though I’m a hired blade, assassinations, coups, spec ops, whatever the wealthy want done.” I shrug casually returning to the cell entrance huffing in a bored state. It feels like I’ve given this shpeal like this a million times. At this rate “Taskmaster” is going to completely take over my actions. No! even if I do take up his mantle, I refuse to be erased, I will be here, this is my damn body after all.

“In that case, I’m afraid you and I have nothing further to discuss.” The solar monarch announced, giving a disappointed shake of her head before turning around and walking away.

“Hold on, what do you mean? You’re a princess, it’s not like you can’t afford my services.” I shout after her, gripping the rust covered bars of my cage and shaking them hard.

Turning her head to face me, she stopped for just a moment. “Your price is not why I’m leaving.” I calmed slightly confusion coursing through my mind. “The issue is I have no use for hired-killers. Mercenaries, no matter how skilled are nothing but savages, who enjoy hurting others. As the ruler of this land, I cannot condone those that would harm another living creature for profit. So, for the foreseeable future, make yourself at home. Maybe a few months in the royal dungeon will do you some good. Oh, as for the magic that surrounds you, tomorrow I will be back to remove it, who knows, once done, maybe you’ll see the error of your ways. Until tomorrow Taskmaster, I wish you a pleasant farewell.” Without giving me a chance to respond, she turned and continued her journey out and away from the dungeons.

“Well…Damn! Guess I have to escape, or risk losing this new power of mine.” Turning on my heels, I shot my leg out hard into the iron bars that held me from freedom. The aged metal creaked but held. I delivered kick after kick, but the bars stood true throughout my assault.

Several hours later, I sat against the far wall of my cage, my forehead against one of my knees. Sulking about how strong those blasted bars were. What the hell do I do now? I’m trapped, with no weapons, and that goddamn door refuses to break. Yawning loudly, I slowly fell into a fatigue induced sleep.

I stood in an endless white nothingness, facing none other than Taskmaster himself. He for one looked very unhappy, his arms crossed and his stony eyes glaring daggers at me. “So is this how you plan to lose? Or are you gonna grow a spine and fight?” He barked thrusting an arm out and pointing at me condemningly.

“What, i-I, what do you want me to do? I’m trapped?’ I gulped shrinking under his angry view.

“Listen to yourself; you’re supposed to be me, right? Then stop being a little wimp and start acting like it.” He demanded, stomping his foot in his frustration.

Taking a moment to soak in his words, I nodded in acceptance. “You’re right, I put on your mask, I wield your gift, and if I’m going to be a Taskmaster, I need to act like one!

“He nodded sagely, “that’s more like it. Now that that’s settled you need to wake the hell up, and escape the dump you’re stuck in.” He walked forward placing a hand on my shoulder.

“Okay but how?” I asked him.

“You’ll see, now wake up, wake up-“

HEY! Wake up already.” My head jolted up, my mind reeling.

“Huh, what-who’s there. What do you want?” I grumbled, barely registering the equine that stood in front of my cell door.

“Get up; we don’t have time for you to be this out of it,” the pony at the gate retorted sarcastically.

Standing, I cracked my neck to the side, receiving a sharp satisfying crack in return. “Who the hell are you, and what makes you think you can tell me what to do?” I asked stiffly.

“I’m your only hope in getting out of this cell, smartass. Now come on, we have a long way to go, and no time to waste.” He huffed, opening the gate, it swinging open with a harsh squeal.

Walking through the threshold of the gate, I turned and gave my stallion rescuer a once over. A grey coat, a pale green mane, and shifty brown eyes, made up all of his distinguishable features. “So, you gonna tell em why your helping me?” I asked him as he turned and started down the dark hall.

“My name is unimportant, my master wished to meet you; she thinks you may be useful.” He whispered, swiftly stalking through the shadows with expert skill. I might just have to borrow that prowess of yours. I idly thought as we came to the entrance that led to the stairs, that would hopefully lead to our escape.

Creeping up the stairs in silence, we slowly plodded our way to the first level of the castle. When we exited through a jarred door, I noticed a pair of unconscious guards. “I take it, you did this?’” I snickered as we slowly snuck form shadow to shadow, in the nearly empty castle halls. I’m really glad it’s so late; otherwise, this could’ve been a whole lot harder. I think thankfully.

“Yes, as I said my master wants you, and if she wants then you, that’s what she will get.” He hissed, moving across an intersected crossway.

“That’s some dedication man, I respect that.” I whistled appreciatively.

“Shh, guards up ahead, he warned, flattening hard against a wall and shimming on.
Not wanting to risk words, I merely nod and join him in the shadows of the wall. I’m beginning to suspect who this guy’s master might be. If I’m right this could either be really bad, or really fun. I hope it’s the latter. Coming to the corner, we both looked just over the edge seeing two guards standing at attention in front of some door. You know, if it wasn’t a pair of these idiots that got me into this mess, I might feel bad the castle guards, and how bored they must be. Oh, and I don’t even want to think about how little these guys get paid.

“I’m going to go distract them, when they’re facing away from you, sneak up and know them out.” My comrade whispered, then ran out into the open.

Watching mindfully, I observed him proceed to run out, say something just below my hearing range, fall to the floor, and have the pair of guards approach him hurriedly. Following through on my part, I swept up behind the bewildered soldiers and grabbing one of my hands in the other, slam it hard into one of their helmeted heads. He fell like a sack of bricks, landing hard, drawing the attention of the other sentry to me. He only had enough time to take in what he was looking at before he two crumpled to the floor. My grey coated ally smirked as his arms fell back to his sides.

“Nice hit,” I chuckled, kneeling down beside one of the incapacitated guards.

“Not bad yourself, but what’re you doing?” He mused, putting his arms on his hips in impatience.

Standing back up, with a sheathed sword now firmly strapped to my left hip, I gestured grinning smugly. “I thought getting a weapon might be useful, if we get spotted.” I reason sagely.

“Fair enough, now we’re almost at our exit. So let’s go, before you have to put your theory to the test.” He compromised, dashing off quietly, me following just behind him.

Fortunately, we avoided finding any other guards. After several minutes of our sneaking, we arrived at our destination. Both of us approaching, I looked down from the window; the ground was roughly ten feet below us. My partner motioned for me to proceed. Huffing I obliged, and took a sharp breath before jumping through into the cool night air. After landing on my knees I growled at the short burst of pain from landing hard on the well-kept gardens. Only a few seconds later, the grey stallion joined me, having landed on his hooves, only a few feet from me.

Standing, I gave him a wry look. “So, where to now?”

He pointed toward the far side of the gardens. “My…friends should be waiting oat the back of the gardens. Now come on, we don’t have long before those guards are noticed?” He elaborated quickly rushing off through the brush.

I followed my wily guide, ducking and weaving through bushes, and around trees. When we arrived at out allotted rendezvous, we were met by four large Pegasi who were hitched to a rather sizable carriage, and a unicorn mare.

“So, I take it you’re our ride out of here?” I asked rhetorically.

“Yes, we are, now if you would board the vehicle, we can be on our way,” the mare confirmed walking, with my prior companion to the carriage. Well, I guess there’s no turning back now. Hell, it’s either this, or going back to prison. Accepting the situation, I boarded the carriage and took a seat facing the mare.

“I’m glad, you decided to join us, I’m sure our master shall be very pleased. But now that Canterlot is behind us, I should explain who we are.” She spoke cheerily.

“You’re changelings, right?” The mare’s jaw dropped a look of sheer disbelief washing over her.

“Ho-how did-“ I interrupted her question, raising a hand to stop her.

“Long story, and I doubt you’d believe me if I told you. Let’s just say, I’ve seen your lot before.

“Even so, how did you know we were changelings?” My first ally asked, dropping his disguise and taking on the insect-like form he was born to.

“Celestia has very few enemies, and even fewer who could pull off something like this. So it was merely a matter of narrowing down the list until, I found a match.” I offered, shrugging at my equation. Thank you Bronies, who knew watching a little girls T.V. show could be so useful?

“So, knowing what we were, you joined us anyway? You didn’t even question our reasoning?” The mare mulled rubbing her temples to try and her confusion.

“Why would I? You were offering freedom, I took the offer. Plus, if your queen wanted me so bad, then she probably has a job offer right?” I ventured, shifting into a more comfortable position, crossing a leg over my opposite knee, and putting both my hands behind my neck.

Sighing, the mare merely nodded. “Yes, she has an offer, though it’d be best to have our queen explain herself.

With that, the trip became rather placid. So, it was Chrysalis that wanted to free me. I just hope it’s not for something creepy, like a love farm or some shit…yep, it’s official, I’ve read way too many fanfics. Well, regardless, if there is a profit to be made, I can at least hear her out.

When the transport finally came to a stop, our trio exited quickly. We appeared to be in sort of large cavern, looking up I saw several skylights, each shining with the light of the moon.

The mare departed ahead of the rest of us, most likely to alert her queen of our arrival. When we finally did arrive at what I can only assume was the throne room, we were quickly ushered in by a group of very unfriendly looking guards. The large ornate door swung wide, revealing a large black throne, where Chrysalis sat regally. Upon seeing her quarry, a pleased smile snaked its way across her face. The male I’d escaped from the castle with continued forward, stopping only a few paces from the throne, and kneeled before his queen. I followed suit and kneeled though my gaze never left the waiting monarch.

“I see you managed to free our guest after all, my dear Lichen. I am very pleased with your performance.” Chrysalis smiled down at her subject.

“So, now that Lichen, got me here, would you mind filling in the blanks as to why?” I asked flatly, standing back to my full height and crossing my arms.

Several guards trundled up from behind me, as if to detain me. However, Chrysalis let out a short fit of laughter, which surprised not only me but the rest of the room’s occupants as well.

“You are exactly as described, brash, arrogant, and bold. Normally, this would annoy me, but if what my subjects heard of you is accurate, then your ego is well deserved.” She eluded standing from her throne and descending to stand in front of me.

Looking the queen over, she stood only an inch or two shorter than me, and the images of her from the show were rather accurate if they were anthrotized. “The reason you are here, is to help me destroy those who have posed a threat to me for far too long.”

“That would be, Celestia, Luna, Cadence, or what?” I asked wanting more information on my possible job.

“No, I will deal with them accordingly, but first I wish to destroy the Element bearers.” She seethed clenching her hands in rage at the memory of her prior defeat.

“So, you want me to kill the elements?” I asked for verification.

“If you wish to take that road, then yes. But even just securing the Elements would be enough, as would be capturing the bearer’s themselves.” She instructed, “So the question now is, will you accept my contract?”

“That depends, how much are you paying?” I quipped puffing up my chest and leaning forward to stare the Changeling queen eye to eye.

Meeting my glare with one of her own, she ushered for another waiting changeling female to pull open a curtain. Curiosity getting the better of me, I walked away from the royal to investigate what was behind curtain number one. My eyes went wide, my brain nearly shutting down from the mountain of gold and gems that lumbered over me. Not believing the mound of loot, I turned back to the waiting monarch, a smug grin etched across her face.

“So, when do we begin?” I stuttered barely capable of even the most basic speach.

“Effective immediately,” she stated her smile growing even wider.

“Chrysalis, I like your style.”