An Assassin's Life for Me

Five days have past since Sea Worthy had gotten the letter form the Princess. Five days since the recruits had accepted his offer to join them. Edward had trained the new recruits well, or at least as well as he could. Their techniques had to be altered for the body of the ponies. They have proven useful for the most part, they had sailed the captured ship to several ports to run errands and they thought that it was a good way to help since the assassins would be feared, being humans didn't help them in that aspect. In fact they had even convinced a blacksmith to live in the fort with the assassins. The blacksmith was having some trouble with his business, him crafting knives and blade and maces didn't get much attention in a land where violence isn't necessary nor is it smiled upon. So when they had expressed interest and a need for his services he had gladly accepted the offer to join us, he didn't want to fight though, so he didn't need training. The blacksmith had introduced himself as Fire Forge, and had been able to make modifications to the basic hidden blades to be used  by ponies. Edward knew that the rulers of this land would be coming, and he had secretly set up the final test for these ponies behind all of their backs and was going to have them perform the test in front of their princesses. He was grinning with glee at wondering how they would react. This was going to be fun.

He had sent the four of them to a port to find a suitable designer to convince to live at the fort. They still had enough room for a few more services to be present on the island. He was awaiting their return in his office when he heard something he was hoping to hear for hours now.

"SHIP HO!! Coming up from the south! She's a Man O' War! She aint one of ours!" Shouted the watchman.

Edward got up from his seat and put on his under-shirt and his robes with a smile growing on his face. He went onto the balcony of his room and shouted to the assassins below. "To your stations men! Raise the flag! Make them piss 'emselves!" The all ran to get to where they were needed. Edward looked at the flag poll and saw his signature flag being raised to the top and he heard the cannons being rolled out from his ship. He knew his crew wouldn't fire without his order. He jumped off of the balcony and landed on the roof of the adjacent building, jumped off that and landed in the main courtyard, he ran to the docks to greet his new guests.

As he got to the gates he decided to stay in the building that had to be passed through if they wanted to get to the rest of the fort. He looked down at the docks and saw Sea Worthy standing there, most likely awaiting his superior.  Edward scoffed at this, he never understood how you could respect someone without them proving themselves in a situation that demanded their full range of skills. Anne came up behind him.

"Get everyone out of sight, that princess of theirs doesn't need to know how many we have." Anne silently nodded and left to tell the assassins to get scarce.

Edward was ready, he knew that whoever this was knew about him. And they feared him.

A few hours passed before the ship finally came in on the opposite side of the Jackdaw. A set of stairs were lowered from the deck and  four soldiers walked down them and formed a line on the deck. After they had set up a line on the deck eight others stepped off the ship he recognized three of them from Sea Worthy's description. The first one was Celestia (the one that almost pissed herself already), Luna the second (princess of the night, HA), and the third was Twilight Sparkle (most recent of the crowned and holder of the element of magic, fair enough). The other five he had no idea, he didn't care much either. He saw the sweat forming on Celestia's and Luna's faces. The look on Twilight's face was odd though, she seemed to be confident. Confidence was an emotion he had grown use to see in his targets before they saw him. He was hidden in the shadows of the room after all. The others just seemed happy to be there.... huh, perhaps the have not been told.

When they had taken up formation behind the guards they walked towards Sea Worthy who was about four meters from the door. That's my cue. Edward thought. He went down the stairs and waited behind the door, he was in earshot of Sea Worthy, so when they started talking he could listen. He was going to wait for the perfect moment, he had given the order to make them piss themselves after all.

Celestia was afraid when she saw that flag being raised. She had instructed her guards and the others to stay in formation. The elements thought she was over reacting but Twilight and Luna understood her. She was afraid when the guards stepped off the ship, from previous experience this either meant that they were giving her a chance to talk, or a chance to run. She can't see any of the brotherhood, but the captain was standing there as if nothing was wrong. They approached him and he bowed.

"It is excellent to see you again princess, and my apologies again for the emergency teleport." Sea Worthy said, still bowing.

"That is quite alright captain, you thought it was best. But.... where are they?....." Celestia noticed that her voice had gone up an octave or two. She attempted to calm herself.

"Around. They have asked me to let them reveal themselves." He stood back up.

That sent a shiver down Celestia's spine, she knew that they didn't want her here. Yet there she was. She looked back to see Luna seemed as afraid as she was, but Twilight seemed confident, this couldn't be good. "Well, uh, I suppose that we shouldn't keep them waiting then." Celestia began to move forward towards the set of doors.

"You're right." The doors burst open to reveal the human Celestia assumed was Kenway. "It's not polite to keep people waiting." He said with a smirk. He did a sarcastic bow. "Welcome to the new head bureau, of the assassins!" Kenway gave a small nod and an instant later, two others came up behind him. In an instant they were surrounded by them. Celestia was afraid for all of them, it didn't help when she heard a thump behind her, she feared the worst. When shy turned she was relieved to see that it was just Fluttershy, fainting. She looked over the rest of them, they all had fear plastered on their faces now, except one. Pinkie Pie was completely unaffected.

"Hey do you guys like cake?" Pinkie asked innocently. Celestia looked back at the human, he had dead-panned still in his fake bow.

"Wha-" Kenway was cut off.

"I love cake, oh don't worry you'll get some at your 'Welcome-to-Equestria-Assassins-party!' it's all good. Ooooooooo, we can even have it after you and Celestia make your deal and after Twilight shows you the App---" Pinkie was stopped by a purple hoof in her mouth. It didn't stop her talking only made it tolerable.

"Uh, hehe sorry about her. She's a bit.... excessive." Twilight said, with some more sweat forming on her face, and a large apologetic smile on her face.

Kenway had broken out of his stupor. "Uh. Alright then, come in! Come in! We have rooms for you princesses and friends, but the soldiers will have to sleep on the ship. We don't have enough room for a man o' war sized crew." Kenway turned and went into the main yard of the fort. The princess was ushered in by the closing assassins. I hope he has a bone in his body that will be willing to see eye to eye with us. Celestia thought as she walked into the yard.

"Your guards aren't needed any more, the can be dismissed." Edward said looking back at Celestia'. He was close to getting her humiliated.

"Wh-what? Why would they no longer be needed? They need to be here to set up patrols when this fort is once again under our control." Edward could see that she immediately silenced herself after she finished. He stopped and turned to face her. He was a head taller than she was.

"And who exactly said that this fort is going back to you? I've seen the way you look at us, the fear in your eyes was clear from the start. Well, that and the fact you broke a spyglass when you saw me. You know you can't beat us. For all you know there are a thousand of us hiding in that haystack over there," He pointed and indeed there was a haystack. "or over there in the blacksmith shop with Fire Forge." He gestured again at the newly set up shop, with a pony inside grinding away at some blades. "or simply hiding right in front of you." He returned his hands to his sides. "Now, dismiss, your, guards."

"If what you say is true, then my guards will stay here." Celestia didn't take well to threats.

"Ugh," Edward rubbed the bridge of his nose. "MUSKETS!" He yelled. Two assassins came out from the haystack he had motioned towards, another came from the blacksmith, and another dropped down from somewhere Celestia couldn't see. Each one had a musket trained on one of the four guards. "Now, we are going to do it this way. Either, you dismiss your guards, so they can go and take a good long deserved rest and wake in a few hours. Or you can carry some bodies with you back to your ship, that won't be waking back up."

Celestia instantly regretted what she had said. Now she had brought her subjects into a battle that didn't need to happen and she had just angered the head of this group of assassins. She lowered her head. "Guards, you are dismissed until further notice." The four guards looked up at her with surprised expressions. Edward stopped massaging his nose and smirked.

"Go on then,you will be notified of up coming events." Edward said mockingly. They left without a word. "Excellent, now all of you, show them to their rooms please, we will continue this tomorrow." Eight assassins stepped forward and directed them to their rooms in the main fort.

"Ship coming in captain. It's our new recruits." An assassin said stepping forward.

"Just in time, make sure they get a good rest, and tell them that their final test will be tomorrow at noon." Edward said. The assassin nodded and left to tend to the incoming ship.

If she knows who we are, then she will be in for a treat. If she's forgotten, then this will remind her. Edward thought as he headed of to his chambers.