Chapters Pony's Creed, Rainbow Revolution
Prologue
20th September, 2011
The Royal Castle in Canterlot isn't normally an easy place to sneak in to. This however didn't stop Siren. Despite his name Siren was a master contract killer and had only been caught once. Since then he has only been able to see through his right eye and is extra careful when inside the royal city. After all, It isn't hard to pick out a pony with an eye patch from a crowd.
Siren peered through the key hole to the Captain Of The Royal Guard's chamber. This was a huge risk as he only had one working eye and would not be able to see anypony who so happened to walk down the hallway next to him. He searched the chamber for any sign of the Captain. He didn't see anyone. he did however notice the long curtain blowing into the room. After months of planning and reviewing the castle he realised that the balcony must be behind it. This would be prefect. Just push his unexpecting victim from the balcony and it wouldn't be an assassination... it would be an unfortunate accident due to lack of railings on balconies. Siren smirked. He took out his screwdriver and bobby-pin from a small saddle bag he had used to cover his cutie-mark. It would have given him away if he hadn't hid it and along with the eye patch the guards would know who he was.
He inserted both objects into the key hole. Making sure to tightly fit the screw-driver at a pressure point at the bottom he then pushed up violently with the other. he heard a small click and opened the door.
Siren look around again making sure he hadn't missed anything, he skimmed the room but fell short when he saw a shadowy outline of a figure behind the curtain. Siren took a few paces back and lowered his head, he was going to try and ram the figure out of the balcony instead of pushing him, the shock of the ram would leave him speechless... no time to scream. he lowered his head lower and charged forward.
Siren expected to feel a slight bump and was taken a back when he was half way across the room, luckily he'd landed on the bed but had hit his head on the mirror that was behind it. the figure moved from the curtain... he had a long mane with bright red hair and a violet coat with a white circle on his leg. the figure drew a golden hilted sword and ran at siren. Siren was in an awkward position on the bed but still managed to kick the sword sideways on, making the figure drop it. he scrambled to grab it again. This gave Siren a gap just big enough to grab a shard or the broken mirror. But when tried to get off the bed he found a great pain in his leg. There was a large cut just under his thigh. He put all his weight on his other leg and attempted to make a strong stab on the targets neck... only to find he wasn't there anymore. He was on Siren's right and just as he spotted him the figure stabbed siren in the hoof and prised forward, as if trying to rip his hoof off with his sword. Siren hadn't noticed the pain and tackled the figure with the remaining strength onto the balcony. He pushed the target off the ledge only to find that he was still clinging onto the hilt of the sword that was embedded into Siren's hoof.
"Im not going alone" the target said, "Ive been with Equestria to long to die in such a weak manner to an untrained excuse of a murder like you!"
"It's nothing personal mate', its just the way things are nowadays" said Siren.
He quickly grabbed the sword and ripped it out of his hoof. The target feel to a short and painless death... Siren peered over the ledge, already ponies had rushed over to help but It was too late. Siren turned back round and to his surprise found a young filly staring in shock. Their eyes met and the filly ran for the doorway but didn't manage to get far. Shining armor had just walked in with another pony who looked to be high ranking in the Royal Guards. It only took a few second for them to pin the weak and wounded killer. Siren just lay there and faded in and out of consciousness as the two ponies called for help and beat him at the same time. Whilst the filly was crying in the doorway.
An Assassin's life did not tend to be long anyway...
Pony's Creed, Rainbow Revolution
Quick Silver wasn't a lucky pony. Despite his best efforts he would always fail his training mission and never got on with anyone other than his brother, Axel. Because of his trait of independence Sheared Brass or the grand assassin as know to most took him under his wing to teach him. 3 years into Quick's training a message was intercepted from Equestria. It was sent to the government of Codex.
Quick awoke. His brother had been yelling for him to get up for the past 20 minutes and it was starting to annoy him.
"What?" Quick said sleepily, "Were not meant to see Sheared until sundown".
"Then it seems we need to be there now!"
Quick got off his bed and walked over towards the window. The sun was only just above the snowy horizon and the sky was already dark orange.
"Get you uniform on and meet me at the Minor Hall" said Axel as he walked out the door.
Quick got dressed quickly and rushed out of the room, he knew his master didn't like to be kept waiting and he was eager himself to hear what he had to say. Probably another training mission he thought.
Quick ran out the doors of his dorm building and made his way to the Minor hall which was only some few 100 meters away. The icy air stabbed him through his fur and even his uniform wasn't doing much to protect him from the cold weather. Still, he couldn't really complain, some of the other ponies in his dorm had to get up 2 hours before sunrise and run laps around the Assassin's Complex.
He entered the Minor hall and spotted Axel waiting outside a oak framed door with a small window. They could hear voices from inside. Suddenly the door swung open smashing Axel into the face and 3 ponies came walking out angrily.
"Hey watch it!" shouted Quick.
The ponies turned round towards Quick.
"Shut the fuck up you prick" said the one that had smashed open the door.
The pony to his right side barged Quick into the wall and they all laughed. Another pulled Quick's hood over his head and tripped him up. The last pony was about to drag him outside until Axel got up laid a punch on him. The pony fell to the ground, the pony to Axel's right grabbed him and the remaining pony got up from Quick and walked over to Axel. Just then a figure emerged from the door and looked over the scene. The three ponies ran out the door leaving Axel with a broken and bloody nose and Quick with the torn hood of his uniform.
"I'll punish them later"
He threw a small white towel to Axel and invited them into his office.
Quick nodded a sign of gratitude towards Axel and they both walked in...
"I presume you've heard of Equestria?" said Sheared as he took a seat behind his desk.
Quick and Axel both nodded unsurely, Axel had started dabbling his nose with the towel, it didn't seem to be stopping the bleeding.
"What about the revolution that took place there?"
Axel nodded again but Quick blinked and showed no sign of understanding. Sheared looked in Quick's direction and then turned back to Axel
"Axel would you kindly inform your brother of the events that have occurred there in the past few years?"
"The errr, Rainbow revolution. It took place about 2 or 3 years ago. This res-"
"Do you know why it happened Axel?" Sheared quickly interrupted
"No, we errr, weren't told"
"About 10 years ago we sent a pony to assassinate a traitor of the order. He was going to tell the Equestrian government about our plans for missions that will take place in the next 5 years in Equestria. We dont know why most likely a bribe or something of that nature. The target was killed but sadly our assassin was captured and killed. The assassin's only son abandoned the order to make an attempt to kill the Equestrian captain of the royal guards".
"Thats a mouthful" Quick interrupted whilst yawning.
Sheared rolled his eyes and continued. "The young assassin had had 8 years of elite training and had vital information on our forces, if he had been captured and tortured who knows what could have happened. Anyway, from what we heard he managed to get into the Royal Castle in Canterlot but instead of killing the Head of the royal guards he killed Equestria's grand traider. Yet again we have no idea why he was in Equestria at the time. He was the leading trader of medicinal ingredients and thousands died in that year's winter due to fever. The pony was captured, the Equestrian government thought he was Equestrian and executed him. But due to the amount of deaths it was declared that all ponies that were not Royalty or part of the elements of harmony-"
"Elements of harmony?" Quick said unsurly.
"Quick you really need to do you research on these things, they're important" Sheared said sternly.
"Anyway where was I? Yes, so to add on to the mess The Captain Of the Royal Guards was imprisoned in his own private dungeon and the rest of the un coloured population were from there on out know as outcasts. They weren't allowed jobs, public privileges or private properties".
"I know the rest" said Axel, "but the princesses wouldn't do something like that!"
"Yes your correct, have you heard of a magic transfer".
Both Axel and Quick shook their heads.
"Quick I wouldn't expect you to know, just being that your a pegasus and that, but you Axel, i've had thought youd know a bit on the topic".
Axel looked up at his horn in slight shame being that he usually knew all the facts their were to know in conversation like these. Whilst quick looked at his wings as if he'd never seen them before".
"The princess gave three quarters of their overall power to one pony, don't ask me I have no idea what they must have been thinking but none the less it was done, once they transferred it there was no getting it back. They pony with the power declared himself as 'The Colonel' and since then has lead Equestria into misery, Axel would you like to finish?"
"The Rainbow Revolution took place but being heavily outnumbered non coloured were defeated with a great number in casualties.
Even less privileges were given to non coloured and eventually slavery took place... since then its kinda been the sa-"
"Why do you want to talk to us?" Quick said out of nowhere
"I need you both, we got hold of a distress message that was to be sent to the Codex government. We figured they would just move their troops and capture Equestria whilst its in this state of uncertainty. The message described what was going on there. Bodies on the streets, so much injustice. I need both of yous to kill some of the head politics over there. Thats all, just a few assassinations and your done".
"This seems to be a bit more important than you making it out to be, we've only had like 2 years training an-"
"2 years private training is the equivalent to 5 years normal training, that plus you've been training with me, that totals to about 8 years public training... yous are both ready to do this..."
Quick had lost his attempt to argue back and Axel had gone a pale white colour.
"Follow me" said Sheared as he got up from his chair and walked out the door.
Pony's Creed, Rainbow Revolution
Sheared walked out of his office and made a left turn and made his way to a staircase, Quick and Axel both followed unsure of what to expect.
"Where are you taking us" Quick asked as they made their down the stone-slabbed staircase. Axel looked at Quick and shook his head indicating for him to be quiet.
"You'll need some 'gear' for you journey wont you?" Sheared said as he opened a small door at the bottom of the staircase. The door led to a massive spiral staircase. it was almost pitch black but there was a faint light coming from the very bottom of the staircase. Sheared teleported to the bottom and Axel as well, leaving Quick to fly down.
"Dont you think thats a bit of a waste?" Quick said looking up.
"Of what?" Sheared said curiously.
"Stone, I mean you put so much detail into the staircase, and no one seems to use it".
"Only Assassin Officials are meant to be down here, and 12 out of 36 of them are Earth ponies".
Axel was about to join in on the conversation but before he could Sheared had walked over to a large metal door with a bolted stone border. He took out a small highly detailed knife out of his uniform and slide it into a small slot in the door, and then turned. The door slide to the side and he took the knife out again. Both Quick and Axel stared in amazement as the door gave way to a massive armory.
"Not bad eh?" Sheared said proudly.
Quick and Axel walked through the meter wide doorway, their faces still filled with amazement.
"It's... It's" Axel began in a trembling voice, he was unable to finish.
Sheared nodded in satisfaction. "This is the Assassin's Armory Vault. Over 500,000 different hoof crafted weapons all fully loaded and tested. Your time has come to pick your own. This will be your first important mission and you must be prepared. That means a full layer or armor, one or more ranged weapons, one sword, a new uniform- Sheared looked at Quicks hood and smiled slightly, -, two small weapons and many many other things.
"May I?" Quick said smiling.
"Course'!" Sheared said laughing.
Both Quick and Axel ran further into the room running around the different shelves of weapons and armor.
"Oh and before I loose in here make sure to come back to this spot, I have suprise!"
Axel and Quick both met at a point in between the ranged weapons and the armor shelves.
"What are you gona pick?" Axel asked
"I'm thinking speed, strike fast ya' know?"
"These weapons are going to be our main line of defence you know, I mean we were gonna need to depend on these for our lives.
"I know, but I still wanna make my mark when I perform an assassination, like a signature only in a weapon form".
Axel sighed and made his way to the swords shelf. Meanwhile Quick had changed his mind. He had decided stealth was his best option. He didn't know much about Equestria but he knew about some of the main towns, Mainhattan for example, a bustling urban city. He'd need to be able to blend in with the crown and become invisible at the same time. Quick looked around for a fire-arm. His eyes were fixed upon a matching set of ranged weapons. A short and small cross bow and a flintlock pistol. Both had a steel frame and were reddish in colour. The border was a yellowy colour. Quick picked both up and put them in his saddle bag.
Half an hour later
Axel heard a loud call coming from the entrance. He made his way back there only to find Sheared and Quick standing waiting for him.
"Empty your bags" Sheared said happily.
Axel and Quick both emptied their saddle bags on crimson coloured pillows. Axel had chosen a bow and a duel lock pistol, a short sword and a few knives. Same with Quick, nothing too fancy.
"Not bad choices" Sheared said "Now, I told you of a surprise didn't I?" He set two other saddle bags down beside him.
Quick and Axel both picked them up. Quick had gotten a pair of hidden blades disguised as black dyed leather gloves, a new uniform and most strangely an Iron bladed tomahawk. Axel had again got two arm bracers, a new uniform but this time a beautifully crafted Dagger.
Before the two ponies could say anything Sheared said
"Now, get changed, we have to get yous to Equestria, meet me at my office after you get some sleep".
Pony's Creed, Rainbow Revolution
It had been a long day. Sleep was the only thing that made both Quick and Axel leave the armory and retreat to their beds. They made their way up the stairs and outside the Minor Hall doors. It had started snowing heavily and the trail back up to the dorms was buried under a thick 20cm layer of snow.
"Is it cold in Equestria?" Quick asked as he trudged through the snow.
"I dont really know, I mean, I haven't really been there have I? Axel replied looking strait at the dorms, "After all I think it would depend on what city we are in, Equestria is a big place and it stretches from north to south, there are deserts and frozen mountain ranges".
Quick was about to reply but they had reached the dorms. Axel moved forward to open the door but when he grasped the handle and pulled nothing happened.
"Let me try" said Quick tiredly. The door still stayed firm.
"Its locked" Axel said gloomily.
"Bloody hell!" Quick shouted. "Lets go round to our window, I think the locks broken".
They made their way further along the building.
"Our rooms on the second floor, you wanna climb?" Axel asked Quick who was already annoyed enough.
Quick laughed a little as he flew up to the window, he looked back at Axel who was looking shocked beyond belief.
"Aren't you meant to be the smart one? Quick laughed.
Axel didn't reply, he was more focused on the wall leading up to their dorm room, there was a rope leading from the ground right up into the dorm room. Quick opened the window further and took the crossbow out of his saddlebag.
"I dont think thats a good idea Quick" Axel said nervously.
Quick ignored him and flew into the room slowly. He made his way to a light switch and flicked it on. The room had been trashed. Holes in the walls and bullet shells littered the room, yet... no blood. Quicks hand had started shaking a bit. He say something written on the mirror. The words Codex, all powerful, Codex, almighty, Codex, always watching The word were written in a sticky black ink that had stained part of the carpet as well. He read the words over and over again, it must have been his 12th time re reading when something caught the corner of his eye. It was another pegasus, the pony had a Codexian uniform and with a dark red body and a dark yellow mane. He was holding some kind of dagger and was approaching Quick slowly.
Quick turned round and fired an arrow, it hit the desk lamp beside Axel's bed. The pony lashed out at Quick with his dagger whilst quick made an attempt to butt the figure with the end of his crossbow. The pony dodged Quick's attempts. He grabbed Quick and pushed him against a small table. Quick hadn't noticed it earlier but the pony seemed to be wearing a mask, It had a black base with a red set of eyes, 1 seemed to be glowing at him. Quick made an attempt to dodge his attack but it was too late. The pony had stabbed a diagonal line through Quicks right wing. Quick screamed in agony and tried to free himself desperately from the pony's. grip. He managed to free 1 of his arms and reached for the arrow that had hit the lamp. He got a grip and pulled it out of the wall. The pony didn't seem to notice as he tried to stab Quick's throat. Quick jammed the arrow through the side of the pony's head, His corpse fell ontop of Quick. Quick pushed him under the bed and held his wing. It had began bleeding badly.
Before Quick thought of what to do he wondered why Quick hadn't helped him. He slowly realised that Quick was still on the ground, 2 stories below. Quick ran for the window and jumped out expecting to glide down. He fell... two ponies, both wearing masks and in uniform were trying to put a sack over Axel's head. Quick launched for one of them and slammed one of the pony's head against the walls several time. The remaining pony had caught Quick off guard and pinned him on a thick layer of snow. The pony drew a blade to Quick's neck but what came next came both unexpected and surprising.
Sheared had fired a shot at the pony from about 20 feet away. This time however the corpse fell to the side of Quick and not on him.
Axel tooked the sack off of his head. He was very pale and looked as if to be in shock.
"You ok?" Sheared asked
Quick didn't pay attention to Sheared and was looking at the Minor Hall, it was in flames and part of the roof had caved in.
"Grab your brother, I need to get yous out of here".
Quick pulled Axel up and followed Sheared to a small track with a few small carts. There was nothing more than 5 seats, a storage trunk and a break at the front.
"Are these safe?" Quick asked
"Were not sure, yous will be the first to test them" Sheared said quickly. They heard gunshots not to far away. "We need to hurry, load you things into the back and lets go".
Quick pulled Axel into the middle seat with Sheared in the front and Quick behind him, they made their way to wherever the hell they were going.
About an hour later they reached a small coastal town.
They had stopped in a small harbor. with a few ponies waiting in line to get on a small wooden boat.
"Put on your uniforms and equip your weapons" Sheared said, "Don't let anyone follow you when you get off and make your way to a small village called Ponyville. There will be a few more assassins to greet you".
Quick and Axel both nodded, they were too tired to talk. They made their way to the boat when Axel stopped,
"Thank you..."
Quick looked back at Sheared. He nodded and got on the boat, payed the sailor and prayed that they'd make it to Equestria.
They were only getting started...