I was terrified.
The scary mare was coming for me; I knew it. I could hear her hooves clopping across the street, making small echoes off the enclosed walls. I didn't think any pony else was here, that I was alone in this deserted piece of city. It was just an alley between two stores, filled with boxes and crates of old things. It echoed my voice when I talked, but that was it. Nothing special about it. At least, not to most ponies.
I used to love this alley. Mommy or Daddy would bring me here often, and I'd start making strange noises, just so the alley would make them back. They came back all funny, like some pony was trying to copy me. I always laughed at it. Maybe I would have laughed at the mare making echoes when she walked.
Not anymore though, now I just want it to stop.
My eyes looked up, and saw the boxes I was hiding behind. Well, it was really more a bunch of stacks. But maybe that was worse, I couldn't peak over them and see who was after me. They were to close together for me to look in between.
I didn't know if she brought anything, or even what she wanted. I might not have found out anyway, but It would still make me feel better to know where she was. The echoes made everything confusing, and I only knew she was there. And that she wouldn't go away.
I shivered and hugged myself tighter, it wasn't usually this cold.
"Please..." I whispered.
The scary mare stopped, she'd heard me. I shut my mouth, to scared to say anything else. I hope I didn't make it worse, mommy always said that if I tell every pony please and thank you, it makes them happy.
Is that what the mare wanted me to do? If I made her happy, maybe she would do want I wanted. All I wanted was for her to go away, she was scaring me and I didn't like it.
I counted all the boxes in front of me, waiting for her to say something, anything. It was hard to forget how scary she was, especially when the alley was so dark and cold. Everything seemed creepy, and even if I didn't hear anything all night I think she would still be there, waiting for the right moment to strike. I didn't stop straining my ears for noise. Not until she spoke up.
"Why don't you come out?" She asked. Her voice sounded sweet, like she was trying too hard to be nice.
I didn't answer.
"..."
She spoke again, this time her voice sounded angry and mean. "You don't want to make me come look for you."
Oh no... I'd made her mad. I didn't want her to be mad at me.
Whimpers escaped my throat as I huddled closer to the corner I'd tucked myself in. If I hadn't spoken out, it would take her longer to find me. But I knew that wasn't any use; eventually she'd just look behind the boxes and see me. There was no way I could sneak out unnoticed. She knew I was in this alley because she followed me in here. I don't know why, maybe I didn't want to. The answer wouldn't change anything.
My eyes were getting blurry. Silent tears ran down my cheeks as I waited for her to come. The only thing I could really do was stay quiet, and even though it seemed impossible, I tried my best anyway. Maybe she would go away if she thought she couldn't find me.
But then the echoes began again, and I started sobbing.
"There, there..." she cooed, her voice once again full of its forced sweetness. "I promise I won't hurt you."
My only response was to sob harder.
She gave an angry grunt, and I heard some trash cans falling over not far from my hiding place. Some of the garbage fell out, and came rolling over to the boxes. She would follow it soon, I didn't want to find out what would happen when she did. Small pieces trash bumped into me, and despite myself, I glanced down.
It was frozen.
I curled up as small as I could and shut my eyes.
--SMASH--
The stacks in front of me all crashed to the ground.
My hooves flew over my head in a feeble attempt to shield myself from the barrage of flying wood. I protected my eyes, but I felt it cut against the rest of my skin, covering my body in scratches from head to hoof. It hurt really bad, I don't think all of it was paper cuts.
The echoes came to a stop...
Right in front of me.
Slowly, I looked up.
There, in front of me, what the mare I'd been hiding from. Fear washed over me, and I started shivering. It felt like the temperature had dropped from cold to freezing. I wanted to take my eyes away from her, but I couldn't. Something wouldn't let me.
Her head was tilted down, she looked evil and unforgiving. Her mane was long and black, almost going past her midsection. It was straight, but uneven on the bottom, like some pony did a hack-job cutting it. Her coat had a dark blue sheen, the same color as the night sky. It was almost like she had a dark aura, I felt a sense of foreboding just being this close. The air surrounding us was turning more frigid by the second; I could already see my breath.
The mare took a step forward, lifted her head, and met my gaze.
Her eyes... They...
They were nothing.
In their place where two empty black holes, darker than anything I'd ever seen. They were infinite, but contained no soul. It was like looking in a bottomless pit. They held me trapped, unable to move. I couldn't have screamed if I tried.
She grinned, and spoke my name.
"Poison."
I froze.
There's one they say you can't defeat,
A mare whose heart is frozen.
Whose justice lies with blind deceit,
The mare whose known as poison...
The house is silent. It's somewhere past midnight, and everyone is asleep. The lights are off and moon is empty, leaving everything in a impenetrable darkness. I've already disabled the alarms; no one knows i'm here.
Just how I like it.
I walk to a door at the end of the hallway, pausing every few moments to feel the vibrations through the walls and floor. That was one good thing about being an earth pony, I had a special connection with nature. While it's a common belief we don't posses magic, most of us use it every day. Call it intuition. We just feel what should happen. It's the primary reason we make such good farmers.
The vibrations are a negative, meaning he hasn't woken up. As long as things stay that way, it won't take me more than five minutes. If not, i'll be done in three.
Slowly, I push the door open.
A stallion lay on a bed in the far corner, snoring softly as he slept. I step forward, careful to avoid to weak floorboards I knew would creek.
On a table near his head, was a half-empty bottle of extremely fine wine. My face turns to one of disgust as I was yet again, reminded of how the monarchy's alleged government spent their days. Wasting money on expensive drinks, while the rest of the populace lived in fear for their lives.
I push that thought away, and make room for another; studying his face, I realize why I have been tasked with this assignment. Before me lies one of the worst; for this particular stallion enjoyed watching them in all their misery. The ponies of Equestria feared because of others like him. Others that payed to see them die. You'd be surprised at all the different ways you could mutilate and/or murder a pony. Even I was surprised at their... creativity. However, I didn't share his amusement.
I draw my blade from its sheath, and creep forward. Oblivious, he snores again, and I raise my dagger high.
In one quick motion, it's done.
Pony's have said my heart is frozen, that I show no mercy to my victims. Maybe it's true; after all, I rarely leave a witness. Honestly, I don't really need to, not for their sake. They know who I am. The clue I always leave behind ensure's it.
After making sure my blade is safely tucked away, I turn to my victim one last time, fishing an object out of my saddle bags.
A symbol you could say, one of my cutie mark.
A dark lavender rose.
Gently, I place it over his heart.
*
I slip through the window, not bothering to close it behind me. The cops would be here soon enough.
At a glance, the streets seemed bare, but I knew better. There was a always a gang of muggers out this time of night. Even if you couldn't see them, they always saw you. Hidden in dark alleyways, waiting for some unsuspecting fool to pass by. In the morning, authorities would find ponies tied up and stuffed in garbage bins, as was custom for the average gang. All of that unfortunate pony's possessions would be gone, including the clothes on their back if they had any.
I sent out another round of vibrations, and like I anticipated, they came back positive. Such a gang was hiding out no more than a block away. Given how still they were, I could tell they'd already spotted me. They likely assumed I was just another idiot wandering around.
And honestly, I hope they do. Not for my sake, but theirs.
I didn't walk, but trotted in their direction. If they attacked, I wanted to get it over with quick, otherwise I'd have to deal with the police too. It wasn't like I couldn't manage it, but the less authorities knew about my tactics, the better.
I turn my attention back to the gang in alley, sending more vibrations. They'd shifted slightly closer to the street light. I still couldn't see them, not close enough yet. They wouldn't spring until I was in front of their muzzles. I pick up the speed, glancing at the alley through the corner of my eye. In a few moments... there. I'm seeing silhouettes.
They had crowded around the entrance by now. Too bad for them, i'm much more trouble than it's worth. Looks like i'm teaching that the hard way.
As they jump out, I jump in, knocking two of them back. They look up in surprise. One of them tries grabbing at me. I jump out of reach, glancing around for a quick head count. Three stallions are running at me full speed. Adding the two I knocked down, that makes five. I blow the bangs away from my eyes, hardly a challenge.
I swing my hoof into an uppercut just moments before they make contact. The one I hit stumbles from the blow, but doesn't impede the others. I drop to the ground and roll on my back, kicking up my hindleg and hitting a face, then rolling back over my shoulder to land on my hooves. I duck before the last one can reach my throat, and feel a breeze rush past my neck. I jab into his stomach then knock my elbow into the side of his head. He back peddles; disoriented, but not defeated. I strike again, this time aiming for his ribs. He catches my hoof in his, redirecting my punch to the side.
Apparently one of them at least knows how to fight.
By now the rest have recovered, and are closing me in a circle. I duck away from a hoof thrown by the stallion I had just punched, eyeing the two I originally knocked down. Though I knew they couldn't compare to my skill, I hadn't yet seen them in action, and was curious to see what they knew.
However, just before they were about to pounce, some pony behind me held up their hoof. All of them paused in their attack.
"Well miss, seem's we underestimated you."
It was one of the three I fought who said this. The vibrations of his movement gave it away.
I just stood there, waiting for something to happen.
The stallion who managed to block me smirks. "But that doesn't mean you can win. Just hand over the saddle bags and we'll be on our way."
I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. "I don't you'd like the authorities catching you with them."
It was true, my bags consisted of my signature weapons and symbol. And by that, I mean it had various poisons, unscripted daggers, and of course, a few dark lavender roses. They be killed on the spot by anyone working in the monarchy.
He narrowed his eyes, obviously not pleased with my response. "I'm not gonna ask you again. Hand over the saddle bags."
I was about to reply when I hear the faint sound of sirens in the distance. Considering my previous mission, I know it's time for me to leave.
I look him in the eye. "Why don't I show you what's inside?"
Before anything more can be said, I've whipped out my knife and sliced his foreleg.
Instantly, he jerks back with a surprised look on his face, hissing in pain. While he's distracted, I go for the others. Angered by my sudden attack, one aims his hoof for my face, throwing his whole body into the punch. Quickly, I dodge to the side, jabbing him in the shoulder and knock him off balance. As he begins to fall, I bring my hindleg up and kick him savagely in the head. I leave him to reel backwards into the ground, and direct my attention to the others.
I turned to find the only stallion left is one of first three that charged me. The other two whom I never fought had already started running from the alley. Presumably when I first pulled out my dagger.
By now, 'the fighter', as I feel inclined to call him, had recovered enough to challenge me again. I slide my knife back into my bags, opting to use my hooves this time. The two remaining stallions ignore their groaning companion on the ground, and circle around me. By some unspoken signal, they attack as one. The fighter kicks out, probably intending to sweep out my legs, while the other aims high, coming near to my face.
Grinning, I go into action, my movements blurring.
Nimbly, I jump, twisting mid air to kick the chin of one stallion, while using the back of the fighter to push off. I land behind him and using my hoofs, begin a series a rapid jabs across his lower body, all aimed at vital pressure points. Gasping, he sinks to the ground, his legs useless.
After seeing what I've done, the last stallion tries to make a run for it, like his earlier comrades. But because of how much closer the sirens have gotten, I grab him and swiftly hit the back of his neck, rendering him unconscious. It will only cause more annoyance if the authorities start rushing over.
I feel for the vibrations in the ground again. No pony is nearby, unless you count the approaching police. And the stallions who ran off give fading signals with each second.
I contemplate for a moment on the current witnesses on the ground around me. It doesn't matter that they've seen me; I'm unrecognizable in the dark. And as far as I know, they've done nothing but rob ponies of their wealth. I have no reason to kill them.
Satisfied, I walk near the first one I took out. He lay on the ground, indecisively trying to clutch both his head and shoulder. His eyes go wide when he notices me standing over him. Shakily, he looks me over.
With the dim light of distant street lamps behind me, I imagine i'm no more than an eerie silhouette in his eyes. Something that I allow a small smile for. Whoever the leader of this gang is, he's lost his followers by now. And it doesn't help that this one is practically shivering at the sight of me.
A small noise to my left distracts me, and I glance over to see the fighter clutching his wound.
I step closer. Not close enough for him to lash out, but enough that I can hear his words.
He squints at me through the darkness. "How did you defeat us so easily?"
I glance at the other conscious stallion, who is no doubt annoyed by him admitting their defeat. As one fighter to another, it seems I am the only one who can appreciate his honesty.
I look back to him. "I fight for a cause."
For a moment, he just stares at me, still trying to ease the bleeding in his foreleg.
"Who... are you?" he finally asks.
I take out another dark purple rose, placing it in front of him. Understanding and recognition fills his eyes.
I gaze at him calmly, speaking once more. "Only the guilty will die."
I turn away, I've done what I came to do.
The sirens can now be heard around the corner, but I've disappeared.
