Chapters Sequence 10
Ditzy and Rainbow Dash got back into Ponyville about mid afternoon. Not knowing on what to really do, they figured the Tempmares must be trying to use the Apple around town since the Summer Sun banquet in Ponyville was the next night and would be the perfect time to free Nightmare Moon. They split up to find any clues around Ponyville and agree to meet back at Dash's place by sundown.
"So what did you find out," Rainbow asked as they looked at the map spread out across her bed.
"Nothing," Ditzy replied, "You?"
"I actually found a unicorn around town, saying that I needed to get back to clearing out the clouds, " Rainbow said, "but I happen to see her notes as I flew by and saw something about Nightmare Moon."
"Where is she?"
"She's hanging out at the Library and, of course, Pinkie Pie is throwing her a party, so I bet I can talk to her then.'
"Alright, let head over there... by the way, whose Pinkie?"
"Oddly enough, she started hanging around here after Pinkamena died and, she may be annoying at times by talking to the sky, is a pretty fun pony to be around... why do you ask?"
"No reason," Ditzy replied as they flew towards the center of town.
They made it to Pinkie Pie's party just as the unicorn Rainbow ran into walked in with a baby dragon. Just going along with the crowed, they yelled surprise as a a hyper pink pony started talking fast to the unicorn.
"That's Pinkie," Ditzy asked, but with a slight growl in her voice "she's kind of... cute."
"Cute?! Mare, you better be straight," Rainbow exclaimed.
"I am," Ditzy glared, "but Whooves told me about her, saying she's his number one patient because she's a little off."
"I'll vouch for that," Rainbow chuckled, then connect two and two while her playful expression turned into a sly grin, "Oh, I see. You're jealous."
"What are you talking about," Ditzy snapped, "I don't get jealous."
"Denial's the first stage, sister," Rainbow smirked, "before you know it, you'll be moving on to anger."
"One, I think your getting it confused with grief, and second, I am not jealous," Ditzy said, but then realized she was yelling.
"That was quick," Rainbow chuckled.
"Buck you," Ditzy lowered her voice, "just try to find out any connection the unicorn has with Nightmare."
"Yes sir, Mr. Jealous sir," Rainbow teased then doing what she was told before Ditzy could react.
"Honestly, it's like I'm working with a foal," Ditzy murmured.
Ditzy walked around the party and saw no Tempmares amongst the crowd. She figured she might as well enjoy the party, but when she turned around, she came cross-eyed to eye with...
"Whooves," Ditzy exclaimed.
"Ditzy," the earth pony exclaimed as his face lit up when he saw her, "I'm so glad you're ok! Those ponies told me who they were, who you were, and that they killed you! I was so angry I was able to fight my way out, and came here looking for you. I'm just glad you're ok!"
"I'm glad you're ok too," Ditzy smiled as until she was interrupted by a smug pegasus.
"And then you find out there wasn't any reason to be jealous at all," Rainbow chuckled as Ditzy turned around to see her "So who's this fella?"'
"Dash, this is Doctor Whooves. Whooves this is an annoying piece of junk, also known as my sister, Rainbow Dash," Ditzy said.
"I didn't know you were Ditzy's sister," Whooves said, as she shook Rainbow's hoof.
"Well, we just have the same godmother," Rainbow replied.
"That's right, Ditzy told me about that."
"Enough with the chit chat," Ditzy interjected, "you find out anything Dash?"
"Not much, but I'll hang around with the unicorn, Twilight I should say, for a while though," Rainbow smirked as she made way for the crowd, "So I'll leave you two alone."
Ditzy glared at Rainbow, but couldn't help to smile as she knew Rainbow was actually being nice.
"So, I think I still owe you a date," Ditzy said as she turned back to Whooves.
"You sure do," Whooves smiled, "it's a beautiful night, wanna head up to the balcony?"
"Sounds good," Ditzy nodded.
They headed up to the balcony, away from everypony. Whooves had his hoof around Ditzy while they sat underneath the moonlight.
"So how did you escape the ponies," Ditzy asked as they leaned up against one another.
"Well, after they revealed the whole Tempmare-Assassin war to me, they tried to persuade me to join them and activate the Apple. I was going to say yes, but I asked about you. They told me you were an Assassin and you were a bad pony, you were just pretending to like me so you could use me."
"You didn't believe them, did you?"
"Of course not, but they realized they couldn't convince me, and as a last effort, told me they killed you. It only angered me and I fought my way out, then made it back here to find you, hoping they were just lying to me, and I'm glad they were. You are such a good pony and I was so relieved to know you were ok."
"I'm glad to know you're ok too. I panicked when you got taken and was so scared for you. I wanted to find you so badly because I love you so..." Ditzy covered her mouth and blushed at what she just said.
Whooves looked at her in shook for a second, then smiled as he moved her hoof out of the way and said, "I love you to."
Ditzy weakly smiled, but it faded as their face slowly inched towards each other. Their lips only met briefly as they lightly kissed then they broke apart blushing.
"How much do you love me," Ditzy cooed.
"More than you'll ever know," Whooves smiled as he pulled her into a deeper kiss. They stayed like that for a moment, letting the feeling of each other's locked lips drive them wild before breaking apart.
"Wow," Ditzy sighed at her first kiss, "that was amazing."
"Why stop," Whooves grinned as they kissed again and again and...
"Ok, that's enough, DF," Pinkie exclaimed from downstairs to the ceiling, "This is Pony's Creed not Ditzy's Love Story."
"It's good to have you back, Pinkie," a voice chuckled.
"It sure is, after the Dishonored adventure we had..."
"I'll have to stop you right there," the voice interrupted, "Chronologically, we should have lived through it, but the readers don't know what happened yet since I haven't finished telling the story, so no spoilers."
"Ah man," Pinkie pouted.
(To Be Continued...)
Sequence 11
"Thanks for walking me home, Whooves," Ditzy said as she and Whooves approached the door of Rainbow's home.
"No problem," Whooves nodded as Ditzy opened the door and walked inside but turned around to face him.
"Maybe we could do this again," Ditzy smiled.
"I hope so," Whooves chuckled, "goodnight."
"Goodnight," Ditzy replied as they shared a quick goodnight kiss before saying goodbye.
Ditzy sighed as she thought only to be interrupted by the sound of Rainbow clearing her throat.
"So," Rainbow smirked, "He's not your coltfriend, huh?"
Ditzy was going to argue back, but chuckled and said, "You know what Dash? He is my coltfriend and I'm not afraid to say it. Anyways, you find out anything?"
"Nothing, except the unicorn we're dealing with is an egg head," Rainbow replied.
"Well," Ditzy paused to yawn, "I'm exhausted. We need some sleep."
"Ditto my cross-eyed friend," Rainbow smiled as she headed up the stairs, "I put two pillows on the couch because I thought you would have brought Whooves inside and get a little..."
"Shut up," Ditzy yelled, but blushed, as Rainbow laughed at Ditzy's embarrassment.
"I'm just teasing you," Rainbow chuckled as she wiped a tear from her face, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight you little piece of..."
Ditzy was woken up by Rainbow nudging her awake and off the couch. Ditzy shook her head causing her mane to poof up. She pushed it back down into place and rubbed her eyes.
"Get up Derpy before your breakfast gets cold," Rainbow said as she presented a plate of eggs and grass pancakes before Ditzy then headed back into the kitchen to clean up.
"You can cook," Ditzy asked as she grabbed a fork and knife and cut out a piece of her pancakes.
"I had to when we had to poison a Tempmare who loved to eat," Rainbow replied, making Ditzy stop before the fork reached her mouth and set it down, "I just normally don't do it in front of other ponies, only the ones I trust to keep secrets."
"So you're saying you trust me," Ditzy said, picking up her fork again.
"Yes and don't make me regret it," Rainbow threatened, "Or your next meal will be your last."
Ditzy paused again, then set her for back down as she said, "I'm not that hungry."
"Suite yourself," Rainbow said as she grabbed the plate and started eating as Ditzy stifled a curse.
"Alright," Rainbow muffled through her breakfast, "tonight's the Summer Sun Banquet, so everypony will be out and would be completely vulnerable to an attack from Nightmare Moon, so we got to stop them before they can use the Apple. So here's the plan, I'll stick around Twilight for a little while longer. She kept rambling on last night about something called the Elements of Harmony, so I looked into it, and found out they might be what we need to bring down our enemies once and for all. Meanwhile, be on the look out for any Tempmares, they might be sneaking around town hall. Get rid of Gari before she can use the Apple, but if you can't, then I'll always got the back up Element plan.
"Got it," Ditzy nodded, "let's go."
"Whoa," Rainbow exclaimed, "The banquet isn't until tonight, so we still got sometime."
"Oh... what are we going to do until then?"
"I'll be hanging out with Fluttershy. You do whatever as long as we meet back at town hall to finish our plan," Rainbow replied as she set down her unfinished meal and headed out the door, "See ya."
Ditzy looked at the pancakes and saw that engraved in the half Rainbow didn't eat was the word, 'Edible.' Ditzy chuckled as she finished what was left. After breakfast, the sun was high in the sky, so Ditzy figured she might as well do some snooping around town. She put her Assassin robes under her wing just in case, checked to make sure her cutie mark was bubbles, then walked out into town.
On her way though, she just so happen to run into Connor departing from the train station.
"Oh, hey uncle Connor," Ditzy smiled as she approached him.
"Hey, how are you doing," He replied.
"Just trying to relax I guess," Ditzy said but made sure she didn't say the wrong thing, remembering what Pinkamena said about Connor being a mole without him realizing it, "What are you doing here?"
"I was bored, so I figured I might as well accompany my favorite niece," Connor said.
"Well, I was going to head to town hall and arrive early for the banquet. Want to join me?"
"Sure."
Ditzy also figured the best place to look for clues is at town hall, since she's got to meet Rainbow there anyway, so she and Connor entered to find a white coated unicorn hanging up decorations.
"Hello," Ditzy said but the unicorn just held up her hoof.
"Sorry to be rude," the unicorn explained, "But I must get these finishing touches just right so can you be a dear and wait just a moment."
Ditzy nodded as the unicorn adjusted the ribbons around the upper balcony to were they perfectly mirrored one aonother.
"There," the purpled mane mare declared with her back to them still, "Now, who might you be."
"My names Derpy," Ditzy replied and introduced Connor with the first name that popped in her head, "and this is... Haythem."
Connor looked up a little then at Ditzy as she mouthed 'Sorry' to him. Connor glared daggers at her, but stopped when the mare turned around.
"Nice to meet you Derpy and Haythem. Rainbow Dash told me a lot about you two," the unicorn smiled, "By the way, I'm Rarity."
"Good to meet you, and you know Rainbow?"
"Of course," Rarity replied, "I've known her ever since she moved here three years ago. Not too long after those wretched, cloak ponies took this town."
"Cool," Ditzy nodded, "But there was something I wanted to ask you."
"Anything deary," Rarity replied as she used her magic to lift bows and place them on top the point the ribbon she was hanging up met, "Any friend of Rainbow's is a friend of mine."
"I was just wondering if you seen any suspicious characters around here."
"I don't believe s... well, there was actually a hooded pony sneaking around here last night when I was locking up town hall. I didn't really pay any attention, but I do recall her holding a very large sphere. That's all that I can tell you though."
"Can you tell me where you saw her?"
"Of course, she was out back."
"Thanks," Ditzy said as they headed for the back door.
"No problem," Rarity called, "and say hi to Rainbow for me if you get a chance."
Ditzy and Connor walked outside and took a long time of looking around before they found anything. The sun already set. as they heard the banquet starting inside, when they found hoof prints in the dirt leading to ladder that went up to the top of the building.
"Come on Connor," Ditzy said, but Connor didn't follow.
"Wait, those tracks are fresh," He grunted.
"Of course they're fresh " Ditzy replied, "they were made last night."
"No... they were made just a few hours ago... were being ambushed!"
The moment he said that, five Tempmares appeared from nearby bushes with ready swords and three unicorns appeared from atop the building, where the ladder led up, with levitating, bayonet muskets aimed at the two. Connor and Ditzy stood back to back, (on four hooves), as Connor pulled out his tomahawk and pivot balde combination while Ditzy only pulled out a rope dart.
"A rope dart," Connor whispered as they were surround by the five Tempmares on the ground, "Really?"
"Hey," Ditzy grinned, "You've never seen a rope dart being properly used until you seen me do it... I had a lot of practice stealing muffins."
"Figures," Connor smiled
All the five Tempmares tried to stab them at once but Connor teleported while Ditzy ducked and swung the dart around, leaving bad scratches on the ponies legs. Connor appeared behind the three Tempmares on the roof. They all turned around as one tried to stab him, but Connor stopped it with his magic and struck his tomahawk in his head while using his magic to steal the musket, stab the next one, pull the trigger to kill the last one, remove the tomahawk before the Tempmare fell, and reload the musket
Ditzy, having startled the other five with her rope dart, threw it at one's neck before pulling it out and using it to block a blade coming down on her. She used here hidden blade to kill one while another tried to strike Ditzy but failed when she used her rope dart by throwing it in his head and using another one to kill the Tempmare she blocked earlier. Ditzy quickly counted in her head, then realized...
"Duck," Connor yelled as he aimed his rifle at her. Ditzy ducked as she felt the breeze of a passing sword barley cut the tip of her mane while Connor pulled the trigger, killing the owner of the balde that failed to carry out it's master's whishes.
"Thanks Connor," Ditzy chuckled.
Connor nodded but he was then stabbed in the back as he let out an agonizing scream.
"Connor," Ditzy exclaimed as she flew up to him. When she landed, she saw her uncle with a blade coming out his chest, while behind him, a smug Gari pulled it out, letting Connor fall to the ground.
"Gari! You bucking bi... I hope you go to Tartarus," Ditzy yelled.
"Oh that won't be anytime soon,"Gari chuckled, then took off her cloak to reveal she was no longer a unicorn, but an alicorn.
"Bu-But how," Ditzy said, stunned.
"The Apple grants me the power to become an alicorn," Gari laughed.
"But how did you do it!"
"All I need was the blood of a sage to activate it," Gari explained with an evil grin, "Your little coltfriend comes from a long line of sages and he never knew! However, he didn't want to oblige and escaped us... but not without an injury. One of my Tempmares cut him in the side, allowing us to steal his blood before he escaped and activate the Apple's power. Only an alicorn can free Nightmare Moon, and now I am one!"
"You won't be able to free her without me putting up a fight," Ditzy growled.
"I already did," Gari laughed.
Ditzy was surprised Gari's statement and looked up at the moon to see the normal shadow to be gone as she heard screams come from inside the building followed by the menacing voice of Nightmare Moon.
"Your little fight earlier bought me enough time to move the stars and free her," Gari smirked, "Now if you'll excuse me, I must stand by our leader's side as her loyal princess... ah!"
While Gari was talking, she didn't notice Connor take his bow off and shoot an arrow at her, but giving that he was next to death, he was only able to hit her in the hoof.
"What the buck... just die already you annoying... ah!"
Gari was interrupted again by a rope dart Ditzy threw at her side.
"Enough," Gari exclaimed as she used her magic to blow away Ditzy as she landed on her stomach next to Connor.
"I should finish you off," Gari let out a gasp of pain as the dart in her side caused her more pain, "You know what punks, it's you lucky day. I'm out of here, Nightmare Moon can wait."
With that, Gari teleported away from the two as Ditzy got up.
"Good riddance," Ditzy yelled after her as she brushed off some dirt bit then heard Connor gasping for air, "Connor?"
"Ditzy," Connor said as he held the hole in his chest.
"Connor," Ditzy exclaimed, rushing to his side, "Ok, ok, we..." Ditzy couldn't finish as she just looked at her uncle with sadness.
"Ditzy," Connor smiled, "I don't think some alcohol and a bandage is going to save me this time."
"I know," Ditzy chuckled, but tears were falling off her face.
"Come here," Connor said as Ditzy came closer and was surprised by a hug, "I love you, Ditzy."
"I love you too, Connor," Ditzy cried as she hugged him back.
"Now go get Gari," Connor smiled as his breath quickened, "I'll say hi to your father for you."
Ditzy nodded with a smile back but it faded as Connor took a final breath... then stopped. Tears fell off Ditzy's face as she closed Connor's eyes, took his Assassin robes, and put him on her shoulder.
(To Be Continued...)
Sequence 12
Ditzy walked all the way back to Rainbow's place and found Celestia, Rainbow, and...
"Nightmare Moon," Ditzy exclaimed.
"No no," Celestia said, "She is no longer Nightmare Moon, she is my dear sister Luna, thanks to Rainbow and her knew found friends."
"I still can't believe you foresaw all of this, making Gari think she won and the us six would find each other," Rainbow smirked.
"Well I'm glad you have a good story," Ditzy huffed as she gently set Connor down on the couch out of view from the others.
"Derpy... what's wrong," Rainbow asked.
"Nothing," Ditzy snapped as she put on her Assassin robes, "and quit calling me Derpy!"
"Ditzy," Celestia said soothingly, "calm down."
"I am calm," Ditzy yelled as she packed some food in a small bag.
"Ditzy," Celestia said sharply, "Don't you talk that way to me."
"Oh you know what then?! Why don't you tell Connor that I need some attitude adjustment. No wait you can't!"
"What are you talking about," Celestia demanded but not as harshly.
Ditzy just glared at Celestia as tears came out of Ditzy's eyes. She wiped them off and opened the door.
"Why the buck do you care?! Why would anypony care," Ditzy yelled, then walked outside and slammed the doors shut with her hind legs.
"What was that about," Rainbow said, but Celestia didn't answer, she just got up and walked over to the couch. She just stared at something the others could not see as she shaking raised her hoof as a slight tear came to her eyes. Celestia wiped the tear from her eye and made way for the door,
"Where are you going," Rainbow asked.
"I can't look at..." Celestia went quiet.
Rainbow walked around the couch and gasped to see Connor, dead, then looked back at Celestia.
"We got to go find Ditzy," Celestia declared, "Stay here Luna."
"Alright," Luna replied.
Celestia and Rainbow walked around town and asked if anypony has seen Ditzy but couldn't get a straight answer. They gave up after the fifteenth time a pony just bowed at Celestia's hooves and didn't say anything. They sat down and was about to give up until they looked up into the sky and saw something fast move across it.
"Oh boy," Celestia said as she and Rainbow got up, "I don't remember the last time I worked my wings."
Celestia flapped her wings then sped up as she and Rainbow rose and chased off after the fast object. They were starting to lose ground until all of a sudden, the blur took a sharp dive for the ground. They followed as they landed gently on the ground around the area the blur did. They looked around and realized they were at a graveyard. They quietly walked around and noticed a figure sitting at a grave. Celestia was going to approach it, but stopped when they heard the voice of Ditzy.
"Celestia, Rainbow! What are you doing," Ditzy hissed.
They turned around to see Ditzy behind them, then looked back to see the figure noticed and spread it's wings and flew away.
"What the buck," Ditzy yelled "You two already ruin my life, but you had to make it worse and let Gari get away!"
"That was Gari," Rainbow exclaimed
"Yes," Ditzy continued, "Now I have to track her down again! Thanks for nothing!"
"Ditzy," Celestia said.
"No Celestia," Ditzy flared, "I don't want to hear it!"
"Ditzy, calm down."
"No Celestia!"
"Ditzy!"
"No Celestia! I'm not listening and I don't have to, your not even my real mom!"
Celestia was taken back at what Ditzy said while Rainbow Dash stared with mouth agape. Celestia's eyes just stared at Ditzy, a tear slowing falling from it as she remembered something...
(Many years ago)
"Hey Dinky," Celestia said as she met a lighter-than-Ditzy gray coat pegasus and a little young Ditzy, "You wanted to see me."
"Well," Dinky looked at Ditzy and sent her away for a second, before turning back to Celestia, "Tisudo had a vision. Many years from now, him and I won't be around anymore. Ditzy should be an adult by then but... we want you to be her godmother."
"Why?"
"She has a liking for you... watch... Ditzy come here," Dinky said as Ditzy came up to her, "Who is your mom?"
"You," Ditzy said pointing to Dinky... then to Celestia, "And you."
Celestia smiled and felt her eyes get watery as she looked at the adorable little filly.
(Present)
Celestia was yet again tearing up from what Ditzy said, but felt her heart broke instead of filling up with joy.
Ditzy saw the pain in Celestia and tried to say something but Celestia just stepped back in horror and then ran off crying.
Ditzy looked at Celestia as she got consumed by the fog. She turned to Rainbow who just looked at her with disapproving looks.
"You know, I may be the one who normally teases ponies, and you may be hurt right now, but what you did... I'm glad you feel that way, so I don't have to call you a sister," with that Rainbow ran after Celestia.
Ditzy watched as Rainbow was consumed as well. She continued to stare then hung her head... but then looked back up with anger.
"Fine," Ditzy growled, "if you want to be like that... I don't need a bunch of weaklings."
The moment she finished, she tore off her Assassin robes and threw them to the ground as her flank flashed a bright white light... and left a red Tempmare cross across her flank.
(To Be Continued...)
Sequence 13
Celestia didn’t know where she was going, but she just ran, ran until she couldn’t no more and just fell down, crying, next to a river. Rainbow Dash caught up with her and approached as Celestia’s sobbing started to die down.
“You alright, Celestia,” Rainbow asked.
“Ditzy doesn’t love me anymore,” Celestia blankly replied, just staring at her reflection in the river.
“She does love you,” Rainbow replied, “She’s just a little hurt, that’s all.”
“But she looked me in the eyes and said I wasn’t her mother… and she’s right… why does the truth hurt so much?”
“Because it’s not true,” Rainbow assured, “You are just as much of a mother to us as our real moms were, and they wouldn’t have chosen you to be our godparent if they didn’t think so either.”
“Now you’re just saying what I want to hear.”
“I’m not lying. I may not say it enough, but I’m proud to call you my mom. I love that you’ll care for me and am there for me when I’m hurt.”
“There is no way I’m all that.”
Rainbow looked at Celestia and laid down next to her before saying, “When my parents and sister died, and I was just a little filly, alone, with no living blood family left, who was there for me?”
Celestia wiped away a few tears but still looked at the river as Rainbow continued.
“When those two pegasi were bullying me at flight school, who taught me how to stand up, not only for myself, but for others as well… When I got sick with the feather flu, who was there by my bedside every day, tending to my every need… When my first coltfriend dumped me, whose shoulder was there for me to cry on… ”
Rainbow used her hoof to get Celestia to look at her and smiled, “When I get myself in a tight spot with some Tempmares, which we both know is often, who will always be there to save me?”
“Me,” Celestia chuckled as a smile came to her face.
“That’s right. Now, Derpy need some space after what just happened, but sooner or later, she’ll come around.”
“Thanks Rainbow,” Celestia said as she got up, “never knew you could be so caring.”
“I’m a mare of many things,” Rainbow grinned as she and Celestia headed back home, “just don’t tell anypony, especially Edward.”
“You have my word,” Celestia smiled.
They made it to the graveyard as they talked.
“So what are we going to do about Connor,” Rainbow asked.
“Well, we’re going to have to break the news to Edward and have a small ceremony, obviously, and… wait, what is that?”
Celestia and Rainbow approached a bundle on the ground to see that it was an Assassin robe.
“I-Is that Derpy’s,” Rainbow gasped.
Celestia used her magic to lift it into the air as she got a closer look.
“It is,” Celestia replied, “and we got to find her before she makes a terrible mistake!”
Ditzy was flying through the sky as the lights of Ponyville faded in the distance. Her face getting pelted by raindrops as a storm started to roll in and her shadow appearing on the trees of the Everfree forest when lightning struck nearby. Her mind was filled with mixed emotions, but in her heart, only one thing was left… revenge.
Ditzy landed at the mouth of the cave… a cave a group of ponies will explore in search for another the next New Year’s Day… a cave rumored is where the first ponies of Ponyville lived… a cave where an alicorn was banis-
“Get on with it!”
“Thanks for ruining the mood, Pinkie!”
Ditzy walked into the cave as it twisted and turned, but then came across an open area with torches and painted Tempmare crosses all along the wall. In the middle was the chair guarded by two ponies along with Gari next to the chair
Ditzy walked to the center as the chair spun around to reveal a red coat, black mane, alicorn filly with a purple bow in her hair. The two guards were about to charge until Ditzy threw two knives at the ponies’ sides, injuring, but not killing them from attacking.
“State your business here,” the filly alicorn declared.
“Revenge,” Ditzy glared.
“You can’t kill me,” Gari smirked, “My skills easily out match yours.”
“That is true, Gari,” the filly alicorn replied, then pulled out a pistol and shot Gari in the hoof, making her yell in pain as she fell to the ground, “but fail me one more time, and I’ll be the one to finish you.”
“No,” Ditzy interjected, “I want revenge on Celestia.”
“Celestia,” the alicorn repeated, “now this I can work with… alright Ditzy I’m listening…”
(To Be Continued…)
Sequence 14
Celestia and Rainbow Dash flew as fast as they could back to Rainbow’s place. Rainbow gathered up her gear while Celestia carried Connor.
“Sister,” Luna, who was waiting back at Rainbow’s place, “what is going on?”
“A lot has happen since you have been gone, Luna,” Celestia replied as the three of them headed towards the door, “I’ll explain when we make it to Canterlot.”
“Of course.”
When Celestia’s carriage pulled by two pegasi guards arrived, Celestia gently set down Connor while Luna and Rainbow got in.
“Alright you two,” Celestia told the pegasi, “make sure they make it out of here without any trouble.”
“Yes mam,” they replied.
“You’re not coming,” Rainbow asked.
“I need to find Ditzy,” Celestia replied.
“Then let me come with you.”
“I’m sorry Dash, but you need to protect Luna and tell Edward about what happened.”
“But I need to help you.”
“No Dash. I’ll be fine,” Celestia assured, then grinned, “You don’t think you are the only one with training, do you?”
“Alright,” Rainbow reluctantly nodded, “but be careful. I don’t want to lose another mom.”
“You won’t,” Celestia replied as she watched the carriage fly off. She then turned around and flew off, “and I’m not going to let you lose another sister.”
Celestia flew in the direction of the Everfree forest, landing at the edge of the dark trees as she whistled loudly. There was a moment of silence as Celestia waited… then a whistle came back as a hooded zebra came out from the bushes.
“Hello Princess, it’s good to see you,” she said as she flicked her head back to reveal her striped face, “but I fear you bring the worst of news.”
“I do, Zecora,” Celestia replied, “I fear Ditzy has had a change in heart. Have you seen her?”
“I have in fact seen the cross-eyed mare, heading straight for our enemies’ lair.”
“Lair?”
“Yes, the lair is one you have seen before, where a family member is forevermore.”
“Eclipse?! They are hiding in her cave! I can’t go in there, or I’ll get trapped too.”
“It would be unwise to go inside… but maybe you can turn the tides.”
“What do you mean?”
“See to it that she is free, and soon to follow is Ditzy.”
“Free Eclipse? But… there’s got to be another way.”
“There are many paths to one place,” Zecora said as she put her brown hood back up and made way back into the forest, “but I suggested the smartest way.”
Celestia stared at Zecora as she disappeared into the fog. Celestia’s mind was in twists at what Zecora said, wondering if Zecora’s plan was the only way… until she concluded that there was only one way to save Ditzy.
‘I’ll free her,’ Celestia thought as she flew off towards Canterlot, ‘somehow.’
Ditzy sat atop a cloud above Ponyville as she saw the sun rise, watching as she knew who was responsible for the new day.
“So,” she said out loud as she turned to look at Canterlot in the distance, “Celestia made it home… what happened to the deal Gari?”
“Patience, Ditzy,” Gari replied as she and Ditzy looked at each other distrustfully, “We’ll get you Celestia… and it all starts, with these.”
Gari pulled out two golden tickets as Ditzy continue to just stare at Gari.
“How’d you get them,” Ditzy asked.
“Nicked them from a letter on the way to Celestia from her student yesterday,” Gari smirked, “Never underestimate alicorn magic.”
“Apparently your magic wasn’t strong enough to kill me at our little run-in during the Summer Sun banquet,” Ditzy glared.
“Watch it,” Gari growled as she got up into flight position, “Just keep your head down and stick around Ponyville.”
“I’m guessing you’re still not going to fill me in?”
“You’re too chaotic to trust,” was Gari’s only response as she flew off towards the Everfree forest, leaving Ditzy to wonder what it meant.
(To Be Continued…)
Sequence 15
Months have passed since the search for Ditzy began. Rainbow would keep her eyes peeled when she would fly around Ponyville, but never would catch sight of her. One time, however, during the Winter Rap Up, she saw Ditzy spreading some seeds. She tried to slip away from her current job, but a big commotion happened and she lost her in the crowd. Later, she tried to find the team with the seed job only to find the mare she saw had a purple mane.
Anyways, Rainbow was at Rarity's shop as she and her friends got ready for the upcoming Gala. While the others were talking about the big plans they had, Rainbow was not as excited as she originally was.
"Something wrong dear," Rarity asked.
"I'm fine," Rainbow replied, trying to slip into her dress.
"Now come on, Rainbow," Rarity smiled, "I know you and something is obviously bothering you... is it the dress?"
"The dress is fine, rad and not flashy," Rainbow smiled
"I remember when you used to be all about fashion, Rainbow," Pinkie interjected.
"I was never into fashion," Rainbow replied, slightly raising her eyebrow.
"Yes you were," Pinkie teased, "It was when Ponyville was a little more... girlish... and I used the word 'Pink' to describe everything."
The others looked at each other then Applejack asked, "What's a girl?"
"Oh, just think of filly when somepony says it."
"Why didn't ya say filly?"
"Cause fillyish is little harder to say, silly," Pinkie giggled, opening the door, "Now come on, we got a party to go to!"
The six went on to the carriage as Spike took to the reigns. He was about to take off when he thought he heard noises from a bush nearby. Spike looked that way for a second, then shrugged as he whipped the reigns.
"Ha, that's funny," one of the stallions that were pulling the carriage laughed as they began their trip, "but don't do that again."
As the carriage disappeared amongst the hills and became nothing but a dot on the road, Ditzy walked out from the bushes.
"They're gone," she declared turning to the bush as Gari appeared, "you're lucky Spike's empty-minded, or we would have gotten caught."
"It's not my fault," Gari flared, as she and Ditzy began walk the direction the carriage was going, "if you hadn't poked me with your blade, I wouldn't have jumped."
"Then don't sit so close," Ditzy defended, "You know my blade doesn't have a cover."
"Just hurry up," Gari glared, "before they get out of sight."
Ditzy took a deep breath and then shot up in the air, soon followed by Gari.
They followed the carriage from the sky all the way to Canterlot. Once they neared the castle, the two descended in front and blended into the crowed as they entered the castle.
"You know where the dungeon is right," Gari asked.
"Of course Gari," Ditzy whispered back, "but we can't be seen by... her."
Ditzy's voice growled as she and Gari saw Princess Celestia greeting the guest as they entered the party.
"Easy there," Gari smirked, "You can get her later, now's not the time."
"I could do it you know; end her before she even sees me coming," Ditzy declared as she led Gari to a door away from everypony.
"You could. Then guards would be on you almost instantly... and our so called leader would end your life," Gari growled.
"You still peeved at that," Ditzy said as she opened the door to a spiral staircase.
"Of course I am," Gari exclaimed, closing the door as they made there way down the steps, "Our whole organization was built around Nightmare Moon gaining control over Equestria. We sacrificed so much for our mother and she turn to the good side?! All the years we wasted was in vein!"
"What about Eclipse?"
"We'll have to get rid of her."
"Getting rid of the one who started the Tempmares? What will you do without her?"
"I'll lead," Gari declared as she followed Ditzy down a hallway, "I'm the one who carries all the weight anyways, while Eclipse does nothing except barks orders and sits on her fat plot... If we just killed Twilight like I wanted to, we would have had Equestria by the ropes, but no, we had to keep her 'precious' daughter alive!"
"Keep it down," Ditzy hissed as they slowed their walking, "There are two guards."
The two peeked around a corner and saw two royal guards standing in front of a metal door.
"I call left," Ditzy declared as she and Gari appeared from the corner and both threw knives at them. The guards, however, quickly used there armor to protect themselves.
"Looks like we got a fight," Gari chuckled, then the two guards charged at the two who merely jumped to the side and kicked them into each other, "or not."
Ditzy and Gari jumped the two guards and killed them in a matter of seconds with their blades.
"Celestia must have been low on funds to hire these two weaklings," Gari laughed as Ditzy took a set of key from one of the guards.
They unlocked the steel door and walked down a few floors down to the bottom where two big doors were at the end of the hallway. Ditzy opened the door slowly and peek inside to find it empty.
"What the buck," Ditzy exclaimed as she flung the door wide open.
"I thought you said he'd be here," Gari yelled.
"I thought he was, but apparently he isn't," Ditzy flared.
"Then where is he?!"
Up on ground level, Flash Sentry, an orange pegasus Tempmare the Assassins captured a while back, was sitting out, with ropes holding down his wings, in a hidden part of the castle garden along with Fluttershy sharpening her knife, Shining Armor making sure his blades were in proper condition, and Edward using his wings to bounce around a leaf.
"How much longer do we have to wait," Edward complained as he let the leaf fall and stretched out his hooves, "If we wait any longer we'd have waited through my retirement."
"They'll be here," Flash nodded, "just be patient."
"You better be right," Shining said before activating his blades, "or you'll be sorry."
"You're saying that to the stallion you stabbed multiple time," Flash glared, "I think I already paid."
Shining let out a grunt before getting up and saying, "I'm going to go see if I can find them, Edward come with me. Fluttershy, you stay."
"What," Fluttershy exclaimed jumping out of her seat and dropping her knife, "You are not leaving me here with... him."
"I can hear you clearly," Flash said.
"You said whatever happened is over," Shining said.
"I know I said that, but he did save me," Fluttershy said.
"From an attack he organized. I'm telling you Fluttershy, he's a pony who will turn on you in a second."
"I still have ears," Flash said.
"Ponies change Shining," Fluttershy defended, "you of all ponies should know."
"Don't you dare bring my mom into this," Shining growled, making Fluttershy back off a little, "Just watch this sorry excuse for a fighter."
"You bucki-" Flash exclaimed, "I AM HERE!!!"
Shining and Edward ignored him, went out of the hidden area, and entered the castle, leaving Fluttershy and Flash by themselves.
"So," Flash said, "How've you been?"
Fluttershy didn't reply, only looked at him coldly as she sat back down and went back to sharpening her knife.
"I've been alright," Flash continued, "just been a little lonely."
"That's your fault," Fluttershy growled.
"Come on babe..."
"Don't 'babe' me," Fluttershy shot back.
"Don't deny it," Flash grinned scooting over to her and wrapping his hoof around her, "I know you still got feelings for me."
"I don't," Fluttershy replied, pushing his hoof off and scooting away.
"You know, for a good pony, you sure like to play hard to get," Flash smirked.
"I'm not playing hard to get," Fluttershy said, "I am OVER you, understand."
"I understand you like me," Flash continued to swoon, "and that you like my kisses."
"So," Fluttershy bashfully flared, but slightly blushed.
"You like bad colts," Flash smirked, getting close to her again, "and I'm as bad as they get."
"I... might," Fluttershy blushed a little harder.
"You especially like it when they steal things for you," Flash said.
Fluttershy tensed up a little when Flash put his hoof on her face and said, "and I think I'm gonna steal a kiss."
Fluttershy sat still as Flash's lips met hers. She wanted to push him away, but couldn't as she loved his taste inside her mouth. It felt so good to do this again... she didn't want to stop it.
She let her self loosen up as Flash trailed the kiss down to her neck. Fluttershy let out a little sigh as he began to suck on her neck. He did that for a few minutes before coming back up. Fluttershy couldn't help but match Flash's tongue movement as she wrapped her hooves around him to pull him closer.
"I missed this," Fluttershy cooed as Flash picked her up and laid her down on the ground before going back to kissing her neck, "It's been so long."
"Yet you still taste the way I remembered," Flash grinned as he took Fluttershy's mouth again.
Fluttershy arched her back as she pulled Flash's body against hers. She felt her mind saying this was wrong, but she couldn't stop. It was just so great... The last time she and Flash did this was when he...
"Betrayed me," Fluttershy yelped, pushing Flash off.
"What are you talking about," Flash asked as Fluttershy got up and looked angrily down at him.
"The only reason you did this was to distract me," Fluttershy yelled, then looked up and said, "and I am right."
"What are you...," Flash looked up into the tree nearby and saw Gari and Ditzy in it, "You two!"
"Don't mind us," Gari smirked as they jumped down, "just here to destroy all of Equestria."
"I should have known you would still use me," Fluttershy yelled at Flash.
"I promise I had nothing to do with this," Flash replied.
"I highly doubt that," Fluttershy flared, "you have always used me! I can't believe I actually thought for a second you would change. But you're nothing but a bucking son of a bi-"
"He's telling the truth," Ditzy interjected.
"And you," Fluttershy growled, "How could you turn our back on us?!"
"That's for me to know," Ditzy shot back.
"Anyways," Gari declared, "It's three on one, you don't stand a chance."
They advanced on Fluttershy as she tried to reach down for her sword, but grabbed nothing. She looked down and realized she wasn't in her Assassin robes but her Gala dress.
"Oh shoot," Fluttershy muttered under her breath as she backed up a little.
"No where to run," Gari smirked.
Fluttershy, now backed up against the wall, had nothing to fight with as she desperately tried to find a way out.
"Get her Flash," Gari smirked... only nothing happen.
"What's the hold up," Gari said as she turned around to see Flash standing there as he stared at Fluttershy, "Get her!"
Flash looked around and saw Fluttershy's knife on the ground. He grabbed it and moved towards Fluttershy, who braced herself for an attack.
"I'm sorry," Flash said, then spun the knife in his hoof... and gave the hilt to Fluttershy, "For all I've done."
"Flash," Gari exclaimed, "I said kill her!"
"I had enough," Flash barked spinning around, "You messed with my family, my friends, everypony I ever cared about, but I've had enough. This is the final straw."
"Bad move," Gari said she pulled out her sword and put the point on his neck. Flash stiffened up.
"No, you made a bad move," a voice behind her said.
Gari turned around and saw Shining and Edward come out from the bushes.
Immediately, Shining pulled out a gun and pointed at Gari, who pulled one each on Shining and Edward, and Ditzy had hers on Shining. Edward then pulled one on Gari, making Ditzy pull one on Edward, making Shining pull one out on Ditzy and causing Edward to pull one on Shining; making Shining looked at Edward weirdly as he shrugged.
They stayed like that for a moment, then began to chuckle, as they each slowly lowered their guns before stopping the laughter and repositioning the guns.
"It'd be unwise to have come here," Edward said, pointing both guns at Gari.
"Yet we are here," Ditzy said, pointing both of hers at Edward, making him move one on Ditzy.
"And you're surrounded," Shining said, pointing both at Ditzy as Gari point both at him.
They all remained like that, nopony making a move, and each side watching each other carefully.
"So... is anypony going to shoot," Ditzy asked.
Nopony responded.
"Ok..." Ditzy continued... she then pulled both of her triggers... and nothing happen but a click; same with the others.
"No ammo," Gari chuckled.
"Guess we were all bluffing," Shining grinned.
"We could still use them as clubs," Edward suggested, but only got looks in response.
"Since you got nothing," Ditzy smirked, "we are out of here."
Ditzy and Gari shot up into the sky.
"Get back here," Edward exclaimed, about to go after them until Shining stop him.
"They'll be back," he assured.
"Thanks for saving my flank you two," Fluttershy smiled.
"No problem," Shining nodded, then turned to Flash, "So you held up your end, I guess we should too."
Shining pulled his sword and sliced the ropes holding Flash's wings. Flash opened and closed his wings a few times.
"So good to move them again," Flash sighed with relief.
"So you're just going to let him go," Fluttershy asked Shining.
"We had a deal," Shining said, "He shows us what the Tempmares are up to for his freedom."
"I have a better idea," Fluttershy said walking over to Flash who stood still as she stood inches from his face... and punched it.
"That's for cheating on me," Fluttershy said as Flash got back up only to get punched again, "That's for using me..."
Fluttershy grabbed her knife and stabbed Flash's shoulder, who howled in pain.
"And that was the heat of the moment, sorry about that," Fluttershy apologized, but couldn't help smile as she pulled the knife out.
"I probably deserved it," Flash gasped as blood started to escape his wound.
"Hold still," Shining said as he used his magic to bandage up Flash's shoulder.
"So," Edward said as Shining finished, "should we tell Celestia."
"Not yet," Flash replied as he got up "He's not free."
"How can you be sure," Shining questioned.
"Cause they didn't kill me," Flash chuckled as he felt around is neck, "but they did take the necklace."
"How long do you think we have?"
"A few weeks," Flash said, "It takes time for the process to work."
"Is there anyway we could stop it," Edward asked.
"Nope, just try and stop Him when He's free."
"Then it's something for Celestia to know," Shining said, "She can put a stop to Him."
Flash shook his head and said, "Not if she's dead..."
Meanwhile, inside the castle, Celestia was greeting the guest as they entered the Gala. Her beloved student, Twilight Sparkle, was at her side as well.
Celestia knew that Twilight wanted to spend sometime together, but she also knew that it would leave her vulnerable and endangered Twilight.
As time went on, less and less guest arrived, and when nopony else showed up, Celestia and Twilight walked towards the ballroom... to find it in chaos. Celestia and Twilight looked around in shock as everypony was running around in panic... except, Celestia noticed, for one... a gray one...
"Run," Celestia hissed to Twilight as she called her friends to get out of there. The moment they were out sight, the gray pony got up and started walking straight for Celestia, who took a couple of steps back before running down the halls of the castle and up the stairs to her bedroom. She breathed heavily before slipping off her shoes and throwing her crown aside.
She used her horn to break a lock holding a chest. She open it and inside was an assortment of weapons and a robe... made for an Assassin
"Hello old friend," Celestia said as she levitated the Assassin robe in front of her, "never thought I'd put you on again."
Celestia pushed her hair down the back of her neck as she put on her robe and her hood up. She grabbed two hidden blades from the chest and slipped them on her front hooves and put two swords across her back.
As she grabbed the last of her equipment, she looked up and out her window. She could see her sister's bedroom tower, with a dim light coming from it, on the other side of the castle.
"Stay safe my sister," Celestia whispered aloud.
"It's too late for that," a voice said when Celestia's door opened.
Celestia turned around and saw Gari and Ditzy walk in along with a two big stallions who were holding Luna as captive.
"and it's too late for you," Gari continued.
"Let her go," Celestia demanded.
"You see, now that's a problem," Gari smirked, "Cause Ditzy here has recently lost a family member of her own... at your hoof."
"What are you talking about," Celestia glared, "I would never do something like that."
"That's a bunch of horseapples," Ditzy exclaimed, "If it wasn't for you, Connor would still be alive."
"That's not my fault," Celestia tried to reason, "That's Gari's."
"She wasn't the one who gave up the Apple!"
"I had too!"
"For what! Just so you can free your sister?! Look what that cost you and me!"
"I didn't expect you two to interfere."
"Well maybe you should have thought of that!"
"Don't do this Ditzy," Celestia warned as Ditzy started to approach her with a sword at hoof, "I don't want to have to kill you."
"Too bad," Ditzy replied, "Cause I want to kill yo-..."
Ditzy was about to attack Celestia until two agonizing yell stopped her. The two guards that were holding Luna were killed by Shining and Edward from behind as they barged into the room.
Gari and Ditzy were caught off guard as they took a few steps back.
"Give up you two," Shining ordered, "It's over."
"Not yet," Gari yelld grabbing Ditzy and Luna as her horn started to glow.
"No," Celestia exclaimed as she jumped for the three and disappearing with them.
(To Be Continued...)
Sequence 16
Ditzy, Gari, Luna, and Celestia all appeared in a flat, grassy field somewhere outside Canterlot.
The moment they all got up, Gari blew Celestia back with a magic pulse before grabbing Luna and holding a sword across her neck.
Celestia shook her head and stood up, but Ditzy stood between her and the other two.
"I said I don't want to kill you," Celestia said.
"Then you won't get the chance," Ditzy replied as she spun her sword in her hoof.
"If it must be this way," Celestia sighed as she grabbed one of her swords.
They both took a stance and took a step forward, each pointing their sword at their opponent.
Ditzy was first to jab and Celestia mirrored it with defense. The sound of the two swords' contact ringing through the night as each obeyed it's master's wishes only to get blocked by the other.
Seeing that she couldn't get the advantage, Celestia used her magic to pull out her other sword. She swung it around at Ditzy's side, but Ditzy used her eye advantage to block it, then spun around as she used her hind leg to sweep Celestia off her hooves.
"You taught me well," Ditzy chuckled as she raised her sword.
"Not well enough," Celestia replied as she used a magic pulse to send Ditzy sky high.
Celestia got up as Ditzy used her wings to gain balance in the air. Once she recovered, Ditzy took a nose dive right at Celestia.
Celestia jumped out of the way, causing Ditzy to pull up, but not in time to keep her sword from jamming into the ground.
Celestia levitated her two swords and Ditzy's sword around her before shooting up into the sky. Ditzy was ready to defend herself as Celestia sent Ditzy's sword at her... but it stopped in mid-air and floated in front of Ditzy, to her surprise.
"We fight with honor," Celestia explained as Ditzy took her sword, "Which is something I hope you still remember."
"Honor is nothing to me anymore," Ditzy replied as Celestia grabbed her two swords in each front hoof, "it leads to weakness."
"You're still blinded by anger," Celestia sighed as she shook her head, "You got to see that Connor died for a good cause, he died with honor."
"He wouldn't have had to die if it wasn't for you," Ditzy yelled as she swung her sword.
"Ditzy," Celestia shouted over the sound of the metal clanging, "You may not want to forgive cause I know it's tough to lose a close family member, but understand that I am sorry! I truly am sorry!"
"You're... sorry?"
"Yes Ditzy," Celestia shouted as she spun around with her sword but failed, "I'm sorry!"
Ditzy and Celestia stopped trading attacks as they lowered their swords.
"I'm sorry," Celestia repeated as she sheathed her sword.
"Well... so am I," Ditzy growled and kicked Celestia in the side, sending her straight for the ground.
Celestia used her wings to slow down, but couldn't pull up in time and slammed into the ground.
Ditzy slowly descended to the ground as Celestia got up, coughing a couple of times before shaking her head and getting refocused.
"Ditzy," Celestia exclaimed as she ducked from Ditzy's sword, "Why do you blame me?"
"Because your the reason Connor's dead," Ditzy yelled as she vertically slashed only for Celestia to roll out of the way.
Celestia used her wings to blast off the ground and back flip in the air to escape combat as the two stood off. Celestia reach for her sword... and grabbed nothing. She looked to her back and saw her two swords missing then looked around to see they landed into the ground when she fell.
Ditzy took a charge at Celestia and swung her sword, but Celestia used her hidden blades to block... but unfortunately, one hard swing by Ditzy broke Celestia's blade, however, the impact did dishooved Ditzy, sending her sword sky high.
The two looked at each other for a second than shot up chasing the sword. As it reached it's peak, Ditzy kicked Celestia again. She fell to the ground as Ditzy grabbed her sword and then flew down and held Celestia down with sword's tip on her chest.
"It's over," Ditzy said, breathing heavily.
"Think about what your doing, Ditzy," Celestia said, breathing just as hard, "Kill me, then what?"
"Then Connor is avenge," Ditzy replied.
"Connor wouldn't want it this way."
"How would you know," Ditzy said, but her eyes started to tear, "You didn't know him like I did."
"I know he would want the best for you," Celestia continued, "He'd want you to know that he didn't die for nothing."
"I...I..." Ditzy stuttered as the tears escaped her eyes... she sheathed her sword and got up as she began to cry a little. Celestia got up as well, then glared at Gari who still holding Luna.
"Release her," Celestia demanded, "You can't fight me."
"... Fine I'll release her... from this world," Gari yelled, then spun her sword and drove it through Luna's back, coming out the other side as Luna screamed out in pain.
"LUNA," Celestia exclaimed, running at her aid as Gari backed away with a grin.
"Till next time," Gari chuckled, than disappeared in a flash of light.
"Ce...les...tia," Luna gasped as she began to bleed out.
"No," Celestia began to cry, "Luna! Stay with me!"
"I l-love you sis," Luna smiled.
"Don't say that," Celestia begged, "I know of a way... just don't talk, conserve your breath."
Luna's breathing quickened... then stopped...
(To Be Continued...)
"I l-love you sis," Luna smiled.
"Don't say that," Celestia begged, "I know of a way... just don't talk, conserve your breath... My crown! Ditzy, Hold on!"
Ditzy grabbed Celestia's hoof and teleported with her back to Celestia's room. Celestia gentally set down Luna then franticly ransacked her room for her crown.
"Where is it," Celestia yelled as Luna's breath quickened, "Where the buck is it!"
"Here," Ditzy exclaimed, taking it from Celestia's bed and throwing it to her.
Celestia caught it then pulled out a knife. She held the knife against her hoof, then to the shock of Ditzy, sliced her hoof followed by a grunt in pain.
"What are you doing," Ditzy exclaimed as Celestia rubbed her blood on the crown.
"Just wait a minute," Celestia shakingly growled, trying to keep from snapping at Ditzy.
Ditzy took the hint and hushed up as the crown began to slightly glow. As it glowed, Celestia put the crown on the fading Luna.
Luna's breath quickened... the crown's glow transferred to her... then it stopped and Luna jolted awake, the hole in her chest was gone.
"Luna," Celestia cried as she wrapped her hooves around Luna in a hug.
"What just happened," Luna said in shock, "I thought I was dead... did you two die?"
"No, far from it little sis," Celestia replied after releasing her Luna, but then looked at her an seriously, "But I need you to answer me this; are you seeing any strange things , do you feel sad, or anything that seems out of the ordinary."
"No."
"I have a question," Ditzy interjected, "What the hay just happened!!!"
"I revived her," Celestia replied, "With my Apple."
"Apple? I thought the Tempmares had that."
"There is more than one Apple, each holding it's own special ability; however, power doesn't come without a price. For example, my crown has the ability to save ponies from death, but there is a chance that it can cause emotional instability or terrible hallucinations. Luckily, all it seems to have done this time was change Luna's mane."
"My mane," Luna repeated, then looked and saw that her mane had transformed from its ponylike, horsehair mane to a misty ,wavy mane, like her sister's, "Wow, this... this is different."
"You get use to it, but be glad your not seeing hallucinations."
"Wait, back it up a bit," Ditzy realized and had a slight anger in her voice, "You have a magical object that can revive ponies!"
"I know what you're thinking," Celestia soothingly said, "but I said that it can save ponies from death, not revive them... You do know I truly am sorry about that."
Ditzy let out a sigh, "I know. I wish there could have been a way to save him... oh well, no point on dreading what could have been. I'm going to go home."
"I should probably find Twilight and her friends ," Celestia declared, "Just to make sure nothing has happened to them."
Ditzy nodded and started to walk down the stairs. She continued her way down until Shining and Edward came from downstairs and bumped into her.
"You," Shining exclaimed and pulled out his pistol.
"Relax," Ditzy said, "I'm not your enemy anymore... hey, wasn't that empty?"
Shining looked at his gun, then, in embarrassment, put it back in its holster.
"Where's Celestia," Edward asked.
"Up in her room with Luna," Ditzy replied, "Why?"
"We got something to tell her," Shining said.
"What?"
"Discord is free."
(To be Continued...)
Sequence 18
Discord is free and an attack was following. With the help of Zecora, that was confirmed. An attack, by sea, on Manehatten was drawing near.
Celestia, however, has planned a defense, fighting the attack by open sea with a little navy fleet of her own, using her airships (balloons cut off for sea battle) and some of the Royal Guard Army.
"You sure you're ready to come out of retirement," Celestia asked Edward, who agreed to donate the Jackdaw and his crew only if he gets to lead.
"Sure as ever," Edward nodded, "Retirement is just too quiet for my taste. Right, Anne?"
"Sure is," Anne, a rose-red, pegasus mare who is Edward's quartermaster, agreed, "I'd rather be plundering cities and stealing gold then sitting in a house all day."
"That doesn't surprise me," Celestia chuckled, "A pirate's thirst for adventure is never quenched."
"In more ways than one," Edward grinned at Celestia, giving her a wink.
"I told you before," Celestia rolled her eyes, "You're not my type; however, I'll give you A for effort.
"Thought I'd give it one last try," Edward chuckled, "Just in case..."
Meanwhile, over on the ship next to them called the E.N. (Equestrian Navy) Protector , Shining was talking to a gray unicorn with a black mane. He had a very strong build and his cutie mark was a long, silver sword.
"I tell you, Captain," Shining stretched his hooves, "This has been one heck of a year."
"I agree Lieutenant," Broad chuckled, "Although, I think you've gotten the worse of it."
"Oh really," Shining grinned, "So being Captain of the Royal Guards is a lot easier than being Lieutenant?"
"If the Lieutenant is an Assassin, then yes, your job easily outmatches mine," Broad laughed.
"I sure missed you buddy," Shining laughed too, "Remember when we first met at the Royal Guard Academy?"
"And we both hated each other," Broad added.
"So everything we did was to try and out do what the other did...."
"All for the affection of Cadance..."
Many years ago, when Shining first arrived at the Royal Guard Academy, he met Broad Sword. At first, things between them were neutral, Shining didn't bother Broad, and Broad didn't bother Shining. Until one day, Princess Celestia came by with a surprise visit with her niece, who was a teenager at the time, Princess Cadance, who was at the Academy to learn about the roles of being a Princess by a private instructor. Broad was smitten by Cadance's beauty and automatically introduced himself the moment the chance appeared. Cadance, being trained in manners, politely smiled back and introduced herself. Then, Shining passed by to say hello to Cadance. Since they already knew each other through Twilight, Cadance ignored Broad to talked to Shining, sending a deep hatred for Shining in Broad.
From then on, Broad tried his best to win Cadance's affection and vowed to beat Shining at anything. One day, while practicing hoof-to-hoof combat, Cadance walked by with a few foreign Princesses. All the colts training saw them and immediately tried to show off, but none did more than Broad. He called Shining out and the two faced each other in the middle of their fellow classmates. The two were pretty evenly matched, but Broad started to fight dirty by throwing dirt in Shining's eyes and kidney punches. Shining exclaimed that Broad was cheating, but their instructor only shook his head and said that all's fair in war. Furious, Shining let his anger out on Broad. The two lashed it out for a good half an hour, but as the time wore on, the two ponies wore out, until finally collapsing from fatigue.
They sat there, breathing heavily, until finally looking around and realizing everypony was gone.
"What the," Shining said, breathless.
"Where is everypony," Broad asked just as breathless.
"You think class is over," Shining suggested.
"I don't know, what time is it?"
Shining looked up at the Academy's clock tower and saw that class has in fact finish and lunch break was upon them.
"Ah man, we're going to miss lunch," Shining grumbled as he and Broad got up.
"I'm sorry, Shining, this is all my fault. I let jealousy get the best of me," Broad sighed, "We both know we can't both have Cadance, so since you've known her longer, I think you should be with her."
"Really," Shining questioned, "Thanks Broad, that takes one heck of a stallion to admit that."
"You're welcome," Broad chuckled, but his cheer faded as the realization of defeat sunk in.
"Hey, don't get down," Shining assured, "You're a pretty good guy. I mean, your looks may not be as good as mine, but any mare would easily want you."
"Thanks, I needed that," Broad smiled, "Hey, I know how to get some pudding from the cafeteria. If we hurry, we can still get some."
"Awesome," Shining smiled, "Let's go."
(Present)
"That sure was good pudding," Shining joked.
"It sure was," Broad chuckled, "but I never found a mare."
"Don't worry, Broad, you will."
"I don't know," Broad sighed, "That seemed true at first, but now it's seems hopeless."
"Come on, Broad," Shining reassured, "There's a pony for everypony. I mean, one of my cross-eyed friend has met a stallion who understands her."
"I guess you're right," Broad smiled, "Speaking of, where is Ditzy?"
"Probably with Whooves on the Jackdaw, which is where I should be," Shining said as he got up, "See you later, Broad."
"See you later, Shining."
Meanwhile, Ditzy and Whooves were watching a storm off in the distance as it rolled over the horizon.
After rejoining the Assassins, Ditzy went back to Ponyville to find Whooves. It took a few days, but Ditzy found him. After a very heart warming reunion, Ditzy explained to him on what has happened and the wrong choices she had made. Although a little shocked at what Ditzy had done, Whooves smiled and forgave her. Now, with three months of dating, the two stand as couple.
"What are you thinking about," Ditzy asked Whooves, who seemed a little out of it.
"It's... nothing," Whooves replied.
"Don't lie to me, Whooves" Ditzy smiled while she nuzzled him, "I know something's on your mind."
"I'm just a little worried, that's all."
"Because we're about to fight for our lives?"
"Well, yes, but also, I was worried about the future... You see, Ditzy, today could be our last day, and if it isn't, maybe the next. If not then, then maybe the day after that. This is going to keep going on until...well, until the day we die."
"You are right," Ditzy replied, "but that is the choice we have made. When we joined the Assassins, we knew that death was going to be chasing us."
"I know," Whooves sighed, "and don't get me wrong, I'm not questioning our way of life; however, I'm a bit concerned about us."
"Why?"
"We're just so far apart most of the time that I'm constantly worried about you, and I know you can't tell me that you're not worried about me."
"I guess you're right," Ditzy admitted, "but I don't really see where you're going with this."
"Ditzy, I love you with all my heart. I never want anything bad to happen to either of us... that's why I must ask you," Whooves declared, then to the shock of Ditzy, knelt down on one hoof, pulled out a small box from his recently acquired Assassin Robes. He opened it to reveal a small, golden ring as he asked, "will you marry me?"
"N-now," Ditzy stuttered, still in shock from the question.
"Maybe not now," Whooves replied, "but soon."
"... Well," Ditzy thought very hard about it. This would change everything, not for her, but for everypony else too... then again, she does get worried sick about him when she's away on her missions while he's getting his training, "... my answer's..."
"Hey you two, what's going...," Celestia walked in to see the proposal as her mouth dropped, "A-are you... are you doing what I think you're doing."
The two started to blush fiercely as Ditzy slowly replied, "Yes."
Celestia looked at Ditzy, then the ring, then at Whooves, then back to Ditzy again.
"And," Celestia continued, still trying to process all this.
"And," Ditzy looked back at Whooves, who still had the box opened at hoof, and said, "My answer's..."
"What is going on," Edward walked over to see what had Celestia so shocked only to get shocked himself, "Oh Faust! Is that what I think it is!"
"Yes it is," Ditzy replied, with a hint of frustration in her voice, "And I was about to say that my answer is..."
"Hey, Princess Celestia," Shining said as he came over from the E.N. Protector, "You wouldn't happen to have any... Whoa! Is that..."
"Yes, it is," Ditzy finally snapped, then tried to say quickly, "My answer is..."
"Ah, there you are Shining," Flash came up from below deck, "I've been looking for... Oh, am I interrupting something?"
"Yes! You are, and before anypony else says something," she turned to Whooves, "My answer's YES!"
"Finally," Whooves grimaced, then unclipped the ring before clipping it back on to Ditzy's wing as everypony cheered. The two laughed and shared a kiss before congratulations were given to the both of them.
"Do you really think now's the best time to get engaged," Celestia asked Ditzy offside after everything calmed down a bit.
"Probably not," Ditzy shrugged, "But it was one of those now or never kind of things."
"I guess you're right," Celestia chuckled, "Anyways, congratulations."
"Thanks," Ditzy smiled... then flung her arms around Celestia, throwing her off guard a bit as Ditzy cried a little.
"What's wrong," Celestia asked, "I thought this is suppose to make you happy."
"Oh, I'm happy," Ditzy said through her quiet sobs, "I'm so happy. Happy to have a new fiancé, happy to have such a great family... happy to be lucky to have such a great godmother."
At these words, an overwhelming feeling of joy went through Celestia as she hugged Ditzy back, crying a bit herself.
"I'm happy to have such a great godfoal as well," Celestia replied.
After a few minutes, the two let go as they wiped away a few tears from their faces as they looked at each other with warm smiles.
"Come on," Celestia finally said, "Let's go join the others."
The two gave each other another, but quicker, hug before rejoining the group.
"Ok," Edward declared as he set down a map on a crate that he, Celestia, Shining, Flash, Anne, Ditzy, And Whooves sat around, "First off, congratulations Ditzy and Whooves."
"Thanks," they both replied as they both held their hooves together.
"Second off, we still got a mission to do. Defend Manehatten. Now we're here," Edward pointed somewhere not too far from Manehattan's shore, "There's a big wind coming behind us from West to East. So our best guess is that the Tempmares will take the water current and try to attack from the East-South-East as they pass by. So our best bet would be to face them head on, considering the wind still stays in our favor. Unfortunately, the reason why we have such a good advantage is because a vicious storm is heading our way, and I've had first hoof experience with a vicious storm at sea, and it's not pretty, especially in battle."
Anne gave a shudder and said, "It felt like the sea itself wanted to kill us."
"Wait, if the storm is that bad, then why don't we just let it deal with the Tempmares," Shining suggested.
"Come on Shining, think," Edward replied, "One storm isn't going to kill off a Tempmare ship. I mean, if it can't destroy us, then it's not going to destroy them."
"Well...," Celestia started.
"What," Edward deadpanned.
"No offense, but your ship is a little... old."
"This coming from the hundreds, no, thousands of years old alicorn."
"I'm only one thousand three hundred twenty-six thank you very much," Celestia growled.
"My apologize," Edward backed off, then grinned, "that you got to buy so many candles."
"Why you," Celestia exclaimed.
"Ship spotted," yelled the pegasus from the crow's nest above.
"Saved by the bell," Celestia glared at the smug Edward... who's grin quickly faded.
The one ship turned into two... then eight... then thirteen... then twenty-five... it kept going until there was literally dozens of ships. Most of the ships had the Bitish flag, but two had the Tempmare cross, and they were leading the entire fleet right at the blockade of ten.
"Holy sh-," Edward said as he looked on from the wheel.
"That has to be the entire Bitish Red Colt Navy," Celestia slowly declared.
"Oh my Faust," Shining gasped.
"C-Captain," Anne slightly trembled, "Orders?"
Edward looked around at the nine other ready-for-battle ships. He then looked at Celestia, who only looked back as unsurely as he was.
"I... I don't know," Edward blankly stated, "I honestly don't know this time."
"Isn't it obvious," Flash exclaimed, "we have to retreat."
"We can't," Ditzy joined in, "What about Manehatten?!"
"What about us?! I don't want to sound selfish, but we can't take on that!"
"Neither can Manehatten," Ditzy flared, "we got to protect it! That's our job, right? Protecting ponies!"
The others looked uneasily at each other, until Edward finally stood tall, "She's right. That is our job, our Creed. We will fight, or die trying. For Honor."
"For Life," Celestia added, saying it a little louder.
"For Victory," Shining followed, raising his voice.
"For the Helpless," Whooves said, doing the same.
"For the Innocent," Ditzy did the same as well.
"And! For the Creed," they all shouted in unison.
Those words sent a new spark of hope, not only through them, but through the entire crew, then spread to the other vessels.
"Full sail," Edward ordered as all ten ships open their sails in perfect sync, "Load the cannon and get your weapons ready! If they want a fight, then we'll give it to them!"
All the ponies let out a big yell, getting filled with the courage to fight, and with a strong wind on their side, they charged the Bitish fleet... then all Tarturs broke lose.
"Edward, they're firing," Anne shouted as the two Tempmare ships leading the fleet fired mortar shots at them.
"We're too close together," Edward realized, "Tell the others to..."
Edward wasn't able to finish, for the next thing they knew they got showered with mortar shots. The ship next to them got a direct hit near the back, hitting the pony at the wheel... hitting the Captain of the Royal Guards.
"Broad," Shining cried out, then without warning, teleported to the Protector to help him out.
"Buck," Edward cursed, "Anne! Tell the others to split off!"
"Yes sir," Anne replied as she did what she was told, sending the ships farther apart.
Shining ran up to the wheel to find Broad moaning in pain on the floor. Shining got to his side and saw him clutch his abdomen as blood started to slip through his hooves. He looked up and saw Shining, then weakly smiled.
"Hey, Shining," Broad coughed out some blood, "Good to see a my best frenemy will be there for me."
"I always will," Shining smiled back.
"Hey, remember how you told me there's a pony for everypony," Broad asked.
"Yeah."
"You were right," Broad continued, "I did find a special somepony, and not too long after our newly founded friendship."
"Really?"
"Yep, met her at the Academy's dance. She was one of the foreign Princesses, her name was Princess Summer; and boy was she gorgeous. Maybe even more beautiful than Cadance, no offense."
"None taken," Shining chuckled.
"However, she died not too long after from the Feather Flu."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Shining said.
"Sorry?! I'm happy," Broad exclaimed, "You see Shining, I got to see her right before she died. She looked at me with her amazing smile, her lovely eyes, and told me something that I want to tell you."
"What?"
Broad coughed up blood one more time before he said, "She said, 'Don't you worry, I'll be there when you are ready'... well, I'm ready now... You hear that my love? I'm coming for you...," Broad looked at Shining one last time and said, "And I'll be waiting for you."
"I'm looking forward to it," Shining smiled as Broad nodded before laying his head down, closing his eyes, and taking his last breath, "I'm looking forward to it, buddy."
Shining got up turned around to the wheel. He looked over to the Jackdaw and saw the others look on with empathy.
Shining then grabbed the Protector's wheel and shouted, "Load the mortars!"
"Yes Lieutenant," the ponies replied as they followed orders.
"You ready, Edward," Shining called.
"Sure am," Edward chuckled, then turned to his crew as he and Shining each raised a hoof.
"Let's return their call, stallions," they both said in unison as the mortars angled for the two Tempmare ships.
"Fire!!!"
(To Be Continued...)
Sequence 19
A floor-shaking blast followed an order of attack. The E.N Protector, now under the command of Shining Armor, and the Jackdaw, under the command of Edward Kenway, both fired a fury of mortar shots as an answer to two Tempmare ship's call for battle.
As the attack rained down on the Tempmares, the Protector and the Jackdaw, with all their courage and strength, set full sail for the uncountable Bitish fleet, more specifically, the two Tempmare ships leading.
"Load the cannons," Shining ordered as the Royal Navy followed their Lieutenant's command, "and throw away any doubt you may have, for today we fight for the fallen and the poor!"
The four ships met in open sea as their reinforcements stayed behind. The Protector and the Jackdaw both turned in ninety degrees in opposite directions as the two Tempmare ships did the same.
"Cannons are ready, sir," one of stallions of Edward's crew confirmed.
"Their mistake was giving us the perfect shot," Edward chuckled as the Tempmare ship across from them presented their entire side, "Fire!"
The Jackdaw lit up the Tempmare ship as it got bombarded with cannon balls, chipping away at the outer hull only to do little damage.
"Dang it," Edward punched the wheel, "Should have known they'd come with armor..."
"They're firing sir," another stallion pointed out as their enemies cannon poked through their covers, pointing right at the Jackdaw.
"Brace yourselves," Edward yelled as he ducked down, everypony else following his lead as they waited for the cannon fire to seize.
Once it was done, they popped back up as Edward steered the ship away from enemy fire and angled the ship's broadside cannons near the back of the Tempmare ship.
"Cannons are loaded," Anne notified Edward as he nodded and raised his hoof in the air.
"Fire!"
The moment the cannons let loose, Edward veered the Jackdaw into a sharp turn and ramming it into the back of the ship. They hit dead center before Edward steered his ship around.
"Throw the fire barrels," he roared as barrels filled with gunpowder were lit on fire and thrown in the water near the Tempmare ship, "Let 'em have it!"
At this, a pony at the swivel aimed the small cannon at one of the barrels, firing. The barrel exploded on impact, creating a blast that set off the others as wells. From this, the Tempmare ship was left stunned as the Jackdaw pulled up beside.
"Draw swords," Edward ordered as everypony did as told, "Let's go gut some Temp-"
"Brace," Ditzy exclaimed as all of a sudden, the other Tempmare ship rammed into the side of the Jackdaw only to get rammed by the Protector.
"Board it," Shining ordered as he pulled his hood up and joined his crew into boarding the ship they rammed, "Make every last one of them pay!"
Shining jumped across to the Tempmare ship as he pulled a sword and killed the first Tempmare he saw. Soon followed by his crew, Shining fought and killed anypony that dared stand in his way. He kept going until he reached the wheel to face the leader. The leader was a dark blue pegasus who was much bigger than he was, but Shining didn't care. Shining charged him with a sword drawn as the two battled it out.
"This is for Broad," Shining yelled as he swung his sword right at the Tempmare.
It was blocked and countered, but Shining easily defended himself. The two continued trading attacks until Shining finally dishooved the Tempmare. Shining then cornered him against the railing, throwing punches across his face until the Tempmare finally fell to the floor with blood coming out of his nose. Shining used his magic to stand him back up and hold him near the railing as he pulled his hoof back.
"See you in Tartarus," Shining growled before slugging the Tempmare across the face and into the sea as lightning struck nearby.
Meanwhile, the Jackdaw and the other Tempmare ship were duking it out as they boarded each other. The storm had caught up with the battle as the waves grew angry, violently tossing around the two ships.
The Assassins pulled their hoods up as Edward used his wings to blast up into the air and onto the Jackdaw as Anne followed.
"You think you can still take care of yourself, old stallion," Anne grinned as she pulled her sword.
"Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't have any fight left in me," Edward smirked, then pulled out his two swords and blocked a Tempmare's sword, throwing him off guard, then running a sword straight through his chest, "In fact, I think I've never been stronger."
Anne laughed, then ran off to help aid in the fight, killing any challengers that dare try to take her.
Ditzy and Whooves were defending the Jackdaw as Tempmares tried to board it. The two fought along side by side as any Tempmare that tried to kill them only got killed themselves.
"Hey, Whooves," Ditzy said above the noise as she blocked at Tempmare and sliced his neck, "I've been thinking."
"About what," Whooves replied as he swept an attacker off his hooves before bring his sword down to end him.
"What if we go married right now?"
"Right now," Whooves exclaimed as he dishooved a Tempmare, then ramming his shoulder into him, throwing him overboard, "Is now really the appropriate time?"
"Now might be the only time," Ditzy reasoned as she split opened a Tempmare's chest as he fell to the ground in agony before bleeding out, "Like you said, this could be our last day."
"But how would we even get..." Whooves and Ditzy grabbed each other's hooves and pulled each other behind them as they killed two ponies simultaneously before pulling back together, "married? We need somepony who can officiate."
The two thought for a second as they each pulled out a pistol and fired at a couple of ponies who were coming up behind each of them, then exclaimed, "Celestia!"
"Hey, Celestia," they called.
"What," Celestia angrily replied as she tried to hold off three ponies at once with her two swords.
"Marry us."
"I'm a bit busy right now," Celestia yelled as her magic strained under three other swords that locked with hers.
Ditzy and Whooves looked behind each other as one defended the other from an attack before ending the attacker for threating their special somepony.
"Celestia!"
Celestia sliced two Tempmares with her swords and ran her hidden blade through the last one before jumping on to a box then snapping, "Fine!"
Whooves put his hoof around Ditzy as they happily looked up at Celestia as she continued.
"Ladies and Gentlestallions! We are gathered her on this fine day to bring together these two souls in holy matr-"
A Tempmare yelled out as he charged at Celestia, who blocked him with her sword. Ditzy and Whooves also remembered where they were as they split apart for a second to kill a few Tempmares before coming back together.
"Ditzy Doo," Whooves declared as they grasped each other hooves, "Do you take me, Doctor Whooves, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I...," Ditzy threw a poison dart at a Tempmare's neck as the victim grabbed his neck and fell backwards off the ship, "... do. And Doctor Whooves, do you take me, Ditzy Doo, to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do," Whooves smiled as they parted for a second to fight, then came back together again.
"I now pronounce you, husband and wife," Celestia yelled as she tried to defend herself from a wave of Tempmares, "You may..."
Celestia was pushed off the box as she use her wings to go to air and come back down on one of her attackers as she ran her sword through him.
"You may..."
She was cut off short again as the other attackers tried to jump her, but were blown back by magic pulse. Ditzy and Whooves were trying their best to listen while still trying to defend themselves. They blocked swing after swing until accidently blocking each other.
"Just kiss," Celestia exclaimed as she tried to defend against the ponies she blew back.
Ditzy and Whooves lowered their swords and pulled each other close together as they sealed the marriage with the kiss. When they broke apart, they smiled, and kissed again.
"Sure would like some help," Celestia deadpanned at the two as they broke apart again, laughed, and went to help Celestia.
They found her trying her best to fight off the attackers at the wheel. Shining soon came over from the other Tempmare ship as he left the Royal Navy deal with whoever was left. Together, the four worked strategically together as they exterminated their Tempmare pests.
Shining, with sword at magic, broke one of the Tempmares defense before upper cutting him. The hit pushed him back a little as he was then body checked by Shining and thrown overboard. Shining triumphantly smiled until a hoof grabbed him on the shoulder and spun him around to face a much bigger, muscular Tempmare. The brute had a humongous axe at hoof, which he used to push Shining down the steps and on his back.
Shining dropped his sword as the Tempmare easily kicked it aside and approached Shining. Shining pulled out his flint stock pistol and pulled the trigger... only to get a click.
"Again?! Why aren't you loaded when I need you," Shining yelled at the gun before looking up and seeing the Tempmare raise his axe.
Shining, thinking quickly, rolled out of the way and got up before charging the Tempmare and slugged the Tempmare across the face using the wooden handle of his gun.
"Well what do you know," Shining chuckled as he hit the brute in the back of the head, knocking him out, "Edward was right, this is effective..."
Back at the wheel, Ditzy, Whooves, and Celestia were finishing off the final Tempmares that boarded.
Ditzy used her sword to deflect an attack on Whooves as he did the same for her before killing the attacker. Celestia joined in by running in and assassinating a clueless Tempmare that was about to attack Ditzy. The three stood back-to-back-to-back as a few more surround them.
One tried Celestia, who blocked it, grabbed his hoof, and flung him at Ditzy who delivered the final blow. She then used him as a defense from another before driving both off the Jackdaw.
Whooves dodged an attack and then used his teeth to throw a rope dart at the attacker. He pulled him close and used him as a shield from a bullet from another Tempmare, making sure his death was quick, before Whooves did the same by slitting the Tempmare's throat... assuming he wanted him to.
With that, the final Tempmare on board was killed as they yelled out a battle cry and charged to board the Tempmare ship back... only to find it empty.
"What's going on, Edward," Celestia asked as she found him come from below deck.
"They're nopony else," Edward replied, as he looked around at all the other Tempmares they had took lives from, then realized what the Bitish Navy was doing, "Look! They're turning back! We won!!!"
"We did it," Shining questioned as a few looked at each other unsurely, "That... that was easy."
"Speak for yourself," Flash grunted as he flew down with a rifle at hoof, "I was scared every moment, I'm glad we won this one quickly."
"How?! You were up in the safety of the crow's nest shooting," Anne exclaimed, "While we were here risking our lives!"
"He's right, though," Edward reasoned, "Maybe it's good this one ended."
"I guess you're right," Shining shrugged, "Just chalk it up as another victory for the Assassins."
"Let's go home," Celestia declared, "I got to check on how the Discord situation is being taking care of and see if all of this wasn't for nothing.
Everypony nodded in agreement as they got back on to the Jackdaw and the Protector... except for Ditzy.
"Come on, Ditzy," Edward called, "What are you waiting on, an invitation?"
"I don't know," Ditzy replied, "Something telling me to stay on this ship."
"Well tell it to stop," Shining said, "This storm is getting worse and it's going to keep on doing so."
"I can't," Ditzy replied, "I... I keep hearing a whisper telling me to stay."
Suddenly, Celestia perked up and turned around to yell, "Get off the ship! That voice isn't in your head! It's..."
All of a sudden, a giant, green wall of energy appeared around the Tempmare ship, shocking everypony as a menacingly laugh was heard over the pouring raining.
"What's going on," Ditzy exclaimed.
A flash of green light appeared at the wheel, leaving a cloaked figure as it disappeared.
"Oh no," Celestia stammered.
"Oh no," Whooves repeated, "What does that mean? Is she in danger!"
"She is more than just in danger," the figure evilly laughed, "She's dead where she stands."
"Who are you," Ditzy demanded.
"Your executioner," the figure replied with a heart wrenching chuckle.
The figure then pulled off the cloak to reveal herself to be none other then Gari; however, she had a full body armor on, covering her head to hoof in iron plating with a big Tempmare cross on her chest. She had an axe at magic as she slowly approached Ditzy.
"Oh Faust," Ditzy muttered as Gari swung the axe around in intimidation.
"Ditzy," Whooves called out as he was about to try and jump to the ship only to be caught by Shining's magic.
"What are you doing," Edward excliamed.
"What aren't you doing," Whooves shot back, "Ditzy's in trouble! We have to help."
"We can't," Celestia sighed, "That force field isn't going down easy, and it'd take to long to break through. All we can do now is hope Ditzy is ready."
"Ready?! You knew this was going to happen," Whooves growled.
"I knew these two would face off eventually," Celestia tried to calm Whooves down, "Just didn't know when... don't worry Whooves, she'll pull through. Just try to stay calm and hope for the best."
"... Fine," Whooves reluctantly sighed.
Meanwhile, Ditzy had sword readied as she waited for Gari to make a move, but Gari only laughed.
"What's so funny," Ditzy snarled.
"You're so much like your parents," Gari smirked darkly, "Brave, but stupid... Which made them so much easier to kill."
"What," Ditzy questioned, taken aback.
"That's right Ditzy, I killed your parents."
"No... No! I don't believe you," Ditzy yelled, "You're just trying to mess with my head!"
"Believe what you want, but I took their life... They sure didn't go without a fight, no, they gave me a run for my bits; but in the end, I killed them."
"Shut up," Ditzy angrily growled, "I don't believe you."
"Would you like to know how they died? How I beaten both of them to a pulp, leaving them helpless on the ground? How your mother's horrified face was when I stabbed Tisudo, before turning to her? They were stubborn little buckers, didn't want to die when I stabbed them, so I decided to let them bleed out... I guess their love let them live for a few more minutes, but even that couldn't save them, for I always triumph over the weak," Gari smirked, then lowered her voice to a whisper, "Like your parents."
"I said SHUT UP," Ditzy yelled, then swung her sword at Gari.
Gari easily used her axe to deflected it, then used her iron hoof to punch Ditzy in the head. Ditzy took a couple of steps back and rubbed where she got hit while Gari swung the axe above her head before bringing it down on Ditzy, who rolled out of the way. Ditzy then ran up and attempted to slash at Gari again, but Gari just stood there as the sword bounced off her armor and flying out of her hoof.
Ditzy rolled out of the way from an attack and picked up her sword. Gari swung her axe and Ditzy would block it every time. It kept going and going until Ditzy lost her sword again.
"You've got no chance," Gari darkly laughed as Ditzy ran and collected her sword only to sheath it, "With this armor, I'm invincible."
"But not untouchable," Ditzy replied as she rolled underneath Gari's axe and punched her in the head.
The punch hurt Ditzy's hoof badly while only slightly dazing Gari. Ditzy rubbed her hoof a little before getting ready to dodge another attack. She did so successfully and punched another area only to get the same results.
"You're dumber than I thought," Gari chuckled, "Don't you get it? You can't hurt me."
Ditzy didn't respond as Gari tried to use her axe again, but Ditzy used the same strategy, dodging then hit, dodging then hit, but each time resulted in Ditzy getting a hurt hoof.
"What is she doing," Flash asked as the rest only watched, for it was all they could do.
"I don't know," Edward shrugged, "She's just hurting herself."
"But why would she... well I'll be," Celestia suddenly said in epiphany as a proud smile came to her, "She's looking for a weak spot."
Right after Celestia finished, Ditzy hit a part of the armor that actually hurt Gari this time. Ditzy smirked, and activated her hidden blade, cutting through the armor.
Gari was shocked at the hole now in her chest plate. In anger, she raise her axe and swung down, but Ditzy dodged it and increased the small hole in Gari's armor. Gari was left stunned at what Ditzy was doing, and in her moment of hesitation, cut the armor right down the middle, splitting it in half.
"What the," Gari yelped as her armor split in two.
Gari got even more irritated and chunked the axe at Ditzy, but missed.
"Well, well," Gari declared as she took off her helmet, hoof armor, and what ever was left of her chest plate to reveal Gari's equipment underneath, "Look like you've learned a few thing. Your parents would have been proud... but of course, you probably didn't get to feel that often."
"Stop trying to get in my head, Gari," Ditzy snarled, "It won't work."
"I'm just saying," Gari continued with her sneer, "Did you ever stop and think? Realize you're a disappointment? Being born with strabismus just brought dishonor to your family. They despised you the day you came into their lives and tried to hide you from the world. To them, you were just a mistake."
Ditzy thought for a second at what Gari said then shook her head, "No! You're lying!"
"Am I? Ever wondered why they never took you out? Ever wondered why they never left you alone? They hated you. They hated the fact that they had an imperfection in their family. You're so called 'brotherhoof' is no different. They thought you were weak. They left you behind when they did all the work, did they not?"
Ditzy thought again as Gari started to get through to her, until Whooves yelled, "Don't listen to her, Ditzy! She's trying to mess with you! You're not a disappointment to anypony!"
Ditzy looked at Whooves, who warmly smiled back to her. Ditzy smiled back, then stood back against Gari.
"You're wrong," Ditzy declared, "My family loves me! My parents loved me and so do my fellow Assassins!"
Gari only brushed the words aside and pulled her sword, "You're going to need more than love to defeat me."
"We'll see," Ditzy replied as she pulled her sword.
Ditzy swung her sword, getting blocked as another lightning bolt struck nearby.
Gari used her magic to rip out the axe from the board as she floated her sword and the axe. She swung her axe around at Ditzy, who rolled out of the way and came up to stab Gari only to fail. Gari swung the axe down as Ditzy rolled again, but was unaware of a board that was ripped from the floor, by Gari's magic, and rammed into the back of her head.
Ditzy was stunned, and taking advantage, Gari let go of the axe and lifted Ditzy into the air. She then slammed her against floor and flung her at the stairs, causing her to painfully roll down them.
Gari darkly chuckled as she sheathed her sword and used her hooves to pull Ditzy up, only to throw punch after punch into Ditzy's stomach, ending with an uppercut that pushed her back and onto the floor.
At this point, Gari was just having fun as she used her magic to levitate her, then send her flying through the stairs' railing as it snapped.
"Ditzy," Whooves cried out.
"Oh my," Anne covered his eyes.
"That's got to hurt," Flash cringed.
"Hang in there, Ditzy," Edward cringed as well.
"Gari... you... you monster," Celestia whispered as she watched the horrific event in terror.
Gari towered over Ditzy as she just blankly starred up at her, speechless from the agony that is upon her.
"Stubborn," Gari said, then Gari took out her sword again and raised it up. Ditzy, through all the pain, gathered enough strength to push out of the way, "Real stubborn."
Gari sheathed her sword and used her magic on Ditzy's neck as she closed Ditzy's throat.
Ditzy grabbed her neck as she was raised up, choking for air. Ditzy vision started to go dark as she tried to find a way out. Then suddenly grabbed a knife from her belt and threw it at Gari.
Gari had to release Ditzy as she dodged it and used her magic to take it from the floor.
"Is that it," Gari chuckled, "Did you really resort to..."
There was a sudden flash of lighting as a terrible scream was heard. The knife's green aura disappeared and fell back to the floor. The next thing they knew, the force field flickered away as the rain grew harder, making it impossible for the others to see.
Meanwhile, on the Tempmare ship, Ditzy breathed heavily as she held the axe at hoof while Gari held the top of her head... where her horn used to be.
"You, Ahh, cut off my horn," Gari yelled in agony as the severed top rolled around on the ship.
"You say we are weak," Ditzy replied, "But without your magic, you're nothing. It's over."
Gari looked at Ditzy, then chuckled, "So you finally did it, huh? Defeated me... so you are ready."
"... Ready? For what?"
Gari pulled out a photo and gave it to Ditzy. Ditzy looked at it to see a dark pink, unicorn filly with a marron-ish purple mane.
"That is my daughter, Amethyst Star," Gari explained, "Yet, she doesn't know who I am. I had to leave her at an orphanage at Ponyville to keep her safe. But ever since we lost control over the town, I can't keep an eye on her... that's where you come in... I want you to adopt her."
Ditzy looked at the photo then back at Gari and said, "Why are you trusting me, of all ponies, to take care of your daughter?"
"The Tempmares are about to fall, Ditzy. A rebellion is about to start and it's against Solar Eclipse... Ditzy, there are many secrets in this world, some I don't understand, but know lead to great power. Amethyst is one. I need somepony who is even better than me, which you have proven, to take care of her and protect her from every twist, secret, and lie there may be."
"... and if you are lying?"
"You won't truly believe me until it happens. Even I don't believe based on what little I know. However, as a dying wish, I want you to protect Amethyst... train her to become an Assassin."
Ditzy was taken back at the last words that came out of Gari's mouth, but nodded and said, "I promise."
"Good," Gari smiled, then used whatever magic she can muster out of the stump of her horn to weakly levitate the knife to Ditzy.
Ditzy smiled as she grabbed the knife, "You know, for a Tempmare, you're not all that bad."
"Ditto," Gari chuckled.
Ditzy laughed a little then pressed the knife against Gari's chest, then pressed forward, causing Gari to gasp in pain a little, but then slowly lay her head back down as her eyes stared into the raining sky above, empty.
Ditzy thought about the promise she just made Gari. She, a Tempmare, wants her daughter to become an Assassin... Then again, Gari wasn't as bad as she appeared to be. Just another puppet in this maddening world... However, Solar is soon to be thrown out of power... So, who's pulling the strings...
(To Be Continued...)
Epilogue
Control is a funny thing. It can drive ponies to madness and send them to be a ruthless ruler... but without it, the world would be thrown into chaos and destruction. Everypony needs the control, but few are willing to take on the burdens, and even fewer turn to be good... that's where the Creed comes in.
When those who try and take too much control, try to imprison all in a pen like livestock, we rebel. We fight for those who cannot defend themselves. We fight for a better future.
I myself still stay loyal to my kingdom... but what Gari has told me has kept me on my hooftips. Wondering what secrets might lay ahead...
I granted Gari's wish and took Amethyst in as my own. Not too long after, Whooves and I decided for another one. Sweet little Amy was overjoyed when her new sister, Dinky, in honor of my mom, came into our lives. I too was overjoyed... but was worried, for Dinky's flank was... unmarked...
Everypony was shocked at this news, shocked to find that after a long line of Assassins, it stopped at me... doesn't mean I loved the two any less...
Anyways, I decided to retire, coming back only in desperate measure. I became a personal mail mare, taking jobs as they came and went, so I put way my mark for good... my mark of the Assassin symbol outlined by a shield was permanently replaced with bubbles...
My name is Ditzy Doo. I am a protector of those who are innocent and a protector of my family. I will kill those who ridicule the weak, and aid in those who fight for freedom. I believe that everypony deserves the right to be free from oppression and poverty... I am an Assassin...
(Many Years After The Attack On Manehatten...)
Celestia was leaning back on the side of her bed in her room with empty bottles of Cheery Wine all over the place. A book with the title of "The Royal Family Tree: Private" laid next to her.
There was a knock at the door as the clearly hung-over Celestia sheepishly raised her head and numbly called, "Come In."
"Hello sist-... Oh, sorry," Luna apologized.
"No," Celestia hiccupped, "No need. So, you need something?"
"It's not important, just wanted to let you know the sun needs to be raised in an hour... still miss them."
"Duh," Celestia hiccupped again as she gestured to all the empty bottles with a half empty one in her hoof, "What, you think I just get drunk just to get drunk. I need to numb the pain."
"I know sis," Luna sighed, "But you should really think about letting your emotions out another way, try to move on. Ezio would have wanted you too."
"Don't talk about him," Celestia yelled as she tried to get up, but tumbled back down as the floor moved from underneath her, then she began to sob loudly as Luna looked on with sadness.
"Tia," Luna soothingly said as Celestia sobbing died down, "I know the pain hurts. I know it hurts to lose somepony you hold dear, I was with you when mom and dad died... but you got to look on the brighter side."
"What brighter side," Celestia said, "My foal's are dead, My husband's dead, My parents are dead...
"Enough already," Luna cut her off, a little more sternly, "I'm not dead. You're godfoal's not dead. You're granddaughter's not dead."
"She doesn't even know I'm her grandmother," Celestia pointed out.
"Just try to be happy Celestia," Luna sighed as she used her magic to conjure a trash can as she levitated the bottles into it, "At least try to be happy for me. I'm getting married soon, so try to focus on that then what has happen in the past!"
Celestia shook her head and shakingly got up. She sobered up a bit and levitated the book that laid beside her. She opened it and only focused on one thing.
Luna knew what she was fixated on and let out another sigh as she sent the trash away, "I'm sorry. I guess that was a little harsh."
"It's alright," Celestia replied, as she set the book down on her bed, "In fact, thank you. I need somepony to get me out of my funk."
"You're welcome," Luna smiled, "Let's go downstairs and get some breakfast."
"Sounds good," Celestia smiled back as she followed her sister, closing the door behind her as she left the book open.
The book she left remained opened as it showed Celestia's family tree. It was one of two books. It's twin "The Royal Family Tree: Open" was available to the public for anypony to see. This one, however, was only meant for the eyes of Royalty.
It did tell of the non-blood family: Princess Mia Mora Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor, Princess Twilight Sparkle, Prince Blueblood, Ditzy, now with Whooves, Amethyst, and Dinky, even Edward was a part of it. But it also did tell of the Royal family tree that was connected by blood: Princess Luna, her and her sister's parents, and Celestia.
Celestia did have a branch of her own, and this was only in the Private version. It told that Celestia had in fact had a husband, Ezio Auditore da Firenze , a very light brown pegasus who was apart of the Assassins. They had two pegasi, a son named Marcello Auditore and a daughter named Flavia Auditore. Below their daughter, however, the tree continued into yet another pair of foals... one was a little smudged while the other was... Rainbow Dash...
(The End)
Sequence 1
My name is Ditzy Doo, but what you should call me, for protection reasons, is Derpy Hooves... and I am an assassin.
Do you not believe me? Does my clumsy state say otherwise? Well it should, for it is my cover. Ponies who have mistakenly seen me as a fool... let's just say some aren't around anymore... but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let us start from the very beginning...
A very tired mare, having just given birth, was laying in a hospital bed while her husband was sitting next to her, smiling.
"You did it Dinky," the stallion said.
"We did it, Tisudo," the mare replied.
A doctor walked in with a little foal all wrapped in a blanket, "Congratulations Misses Doo, you gave birth to a filly... but..."
"But what," they both asked worried.
"She... she has strabismus, meaning her eyes are stuck crossed, and... she has a cutie mark."
"Sh-she has strabismus," Tistudo repeated.
"You did also hear the cutie mark part right?"
"Oh... yes of course... umm... can we see her?"
"Of course."
The doctor hand over the small bundle to Dinky. Dinky looked at the little gray foal who opened her eyes. A tear fell down Dinky's face as she see saw the filly's eyes were in fact crossed.
"So... have you two thought of a name," the doctor asked.
Tistudo wiped the tear from Dinky's face, then said, "we have in fact. We will call her Ditzy... Ditzy Doo..."
...and so my story begins. A filly born with a cutie mark and has strabismus. Those are pretty amazing things... I mean, being born with my cutie mark... it's... amazing, unheard of, but... it was never my true destiny...
My parents were... the greatest parents ever. They adored me and... talking about them now is a little hard... and when they died... apart of me died with them... I was only seventeen... So young and I lose both of my parents... They gave me so much joy and love... they always hid something though...
They never me outside without their supervision. I always thought it was because of my eye problem but... there was a bigger reason... one I never expected... and I never found out till the day of their burial...
Ditzy was at her parents caskets looking at the photo of the two standing together with a younger Ditzy in front of them. A single tear fell off her face as she closed her eyes.
"You ok Ditzy," Princess Celestia asked. She attended for unknown reasons at the time... but Ditzy never gave it much thought.
"Yes your majesty," Ditzy replied, with her eyes still shut.
"Hush now child, there is no need for properly addressing me," Celestia scolded, "just call me Celestia."
"Alright," Ditzy said.
"By the way," Princess Celestia took a moment to look around, raising Ditzy's suspicions but not enough to open her eyes, then continued in a whisper, "come by my castle after the ceremony. Then you'll find out what your cutie mark means."
"What are you..." Ditzy opened her eyes and turned around, but Celestia was gone, "where did you go..."
"Hey Derpy," exclaimed a tomboyish voice, making her jump.
"Hey Rainbow Dash," Ditzy replied, "and I thought I told you to quit calling me Derpy!"
"Ehh, I like the name," Rainbow Dash shrugged, but then got serious, "you ok?"
"Yeah," Ditzy replied.
"Well alright, but if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, you got mine... just try to not go too mushy. Got a reputation to uphold."
"Pride always came first with you," Ditzy smiled.
"You know it, catch you later," Rainbow smirked, then took her seat among the crowd.
The ceremony continued without a dry eye. Ditzy's aunt and uncle from her mother's side was the first to say a few words, then her grandparents, then her very close uncles, Connor and Edward from her father's side. Connor was a blood relative, he had a brown coat and black mane, spoke with a buffalo indian accent, and had a tomahawk with a strange symbol as the blade. Edward was a distant cousin, more of a good friend then anything. He had a very light tan, almost white, coat and a blond mane. He said he works as a privateer in the navy, which explained why he spoke with a Marebbean accent and a flag as his cutie mark, but never explained why it was a black flag with the same symbol as the blade on Connor's tomahawk mark, but with a skull and crosswords inside. Finnaly, Ditzy stood up to say a few words.
"I would like to thank all of you for coming. I am so touched by how many have turned up for these two ponies, and I am sure they both would have been touched too. My parents were the greatest parents a filly could ask for. They were honest, loyal, generous, kind, and always brought a smile to our face. They also brought the magic in our lives... and now... now they are gone." Ditzy couldn't take it anymore and fell to the ground crying in her hooves. Immediately, Connor, Edward, and Rainbow shot up to go and help her down from the podium and into her seat.
"Hey," Connor kindly said while hugging her, "it's alright Ditzy. It's alright. Let it all out."
Ditzy continued crying while the caskets were buried. Then one by one, family and friends left. Ditzy stayed there at the edge of the graves, while Connor, Edward, and Rainbow sat next to her.
"You three really don't have too stay," Ditzy told them.
"It's alright Derpy," Rainbow replied.
"Ay, we won't leave until you decide to say goodbye," Edward added while Connor nodded in agreement.
"Thank you all," Ditzy said, as tears started running down her face, "just... thank you."
The four ponies continued to sit as they remembered there time with the two ponies now underneath their hooves. After about an hour, Ditzy broke the silence with a sigh and said a final fairwell to them.
"Goodbye mom and dad. I will never forget you."
The three escorted Ditzy out after their final words to Dinky and Tisudo.
"So now what Ditzy," Connor asked.
"Well, Princess Celestia wanted me to head to her castle for some reason that has to do with my cutie mark," Ditzy replied, looking at it.
"Already," Edward asked concerned.
"I agree way to early," Connor nodded in agreement.
"Why are we letting her in," Rainbow asked.
"Shut up," Connor and Edward growled at Rainbow.
"What are you three going on about," Ditzy asked.
"Nothing," they all exclaimed, "just give us a moment"
"Alright," Ditzy replied as the three huddled together in whispering to each other.
They continued whispering at each other in different tones, yelling and then trying to hush up so Ditzy couldn't hear them, and every now and then would look up at her. Finally, they all nodded as if in agreement and approached Ditzy.
"Hey Derpy," Rainbow asked, "do you mind if I tag along?"
Ditzy was taken by surprise, but replied, "Sure, but may I ask why?"
"I don't know, I'm bored I guess. Plus, I need the exercise. I've been slacking off a little and my awesomeness is paying for it."
"I thought you need it first before you can lose it," Edward grinned as Connor tried his best not to laugh.
"Real funny, Edward," Rainbow sarcastically said, then growled, "let's see how funny my punch in your side is?"
"Hey, hey, calm down, Ms. no fun," Edward said, "You two probably should go ahead and fly off. We have to head home anyways."
"Alright, by guys," Ditzy said, hugging both Connor and Edward.
"Bye Ditzy," they bothe replied.
Ditzy and Rainbow flew off towards Canterlot, however, when they left, Ditzy looked back to wave bye, but when she did, Connor and Edward were already gone.
'They must have been in a rush,' Ditzy thought as she looked back foward to catch up to Rainbow.
(To Be Continued...)
Sequence 2
Ditzy and Rainbow Dash, having agreed to stop at a little restaurant for a rest, were eating some lunch and making conversation.
"So whatcha been up to Derpy," Rainbow muffled through a mouthful of Daisy sandwich.
"Not much really," Ditzy admitted, "I tryed to find some work, but the Weather factory won't accept me. They don't trust my eyes an the same is with the Wonderbolts academy."
"Ah, don't sweat it Derps, you'll find something," Rainbow assured
"I don't know Dash, I mean look at my cutie mark, a few bubbles! I'd probably have a better time at finding job then trying to figure out what bubbles mean."
"You have no idea," Dash muttered under her breath before taking the final sips from her cup. When she put the cup down, she looked at Ditzy for one second, then her eye slightly widen and she took another glanced at her cup. Ditzy looked at the cup as well to see what Dash was looking at and saw a red cross that split at each of its four ends.
"What wrong Dash," Ditzy asked confused.
Dash didn't answer but looked across the room. Ditzy followed her gaze to see an orange pegasus reading from a newspaper that had the strange mark Connor and Edward had, a strange water drop was what Ditzy concluded, as the cover picture. The pegasus lowered the paper to reveal a red mane and green eyes. He checked his watch and gave a small nod towards it. He then slipped underneath the table as two big, cloaked, scratched up stallions came out from the kitchen and started clearing out the restaurant.
"Derpy," Rainbow whispered, looking back at her, "I want you to go to the restroom and climb out the window."
"Wh-"
"Just do it," Rainbow hissed.
"Alright," Ditzy said, doing what she said.
Ditzy went into the restroom, about to close the door behind her until curiosity got the best of her and she left it ajar as she peek through, trying to see what was going on.
After the stallions cleared the room, one approached Rainbow, who was now standing out of her seat, as the other stood guard at the door.
"It looks like another one is going down today," the stallion who approached Rainbow said, he had a red coat, orange mane and... a green apple as a cutie mark.
"Sorry Big Mac," Rainbow snarled, "but the brotherhoof never dies."
"Is that so," Mac grinned.
"It is so," Rainbow growled.
Ditzy watched as the two stood in locked eyes until, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the orange pegasus slowly creep up behind Big Mac.
"Well, it seems two ponies 'flight accidents' will have to prove otherwise."
"Sorry, but she's long gone by now."
"I wasn't talking about your gray friend," Mac grinned again, then spun around, grabbed the orange pegasus who just a foot from him then pinned him to the ground and pulled out a sword underneath his cloak and held it to the pegasus's neck, "I was talking about your orange one."
"Lightning," Rainbow exclaimed taking a step towards them until Mac barked, "Don't take a step closer!"
Rainbow stopped and watched as Big Mac teased Lightning's neck by moving the tip of his sword up and down Lightning's throat.
"You know Rainbow, if I didn't know any better, I'd say this here pegasus is your coltfriend... it would be tragic if I 'cut' his life short," Big Mac chuckled.
"You wouldn't dare," Rainbow growled.
"Would I," Mac grinned, pressing the tip of the sword slightly into the victim's neck.
"You wouldn't," said an Buffalo voice.
"Ay, take one of our lives, and the two of you go down," said a Marebbean one.
Big Mac turned around to see a blood trail up his partner's left front leg leading to a knife jammed into his shoulder; a hood pegasus covered his mouth while a hooded unicorn levitated a notched arrow ready to fire at command at Big Mac.
"Now," the Marebbean accent pegasus continued, "let go of Lightning and we'll let you and your chum here get out of here, alive."
"So here we are again," Big Mac said, still with a grin, "two ponies from opposite sides, not at each other throats, but st the throat of others. Odd, don't you think? How our standoffs always involve other ponies at harm."
"The odds are against you, mate. Four on two? I know you're a country colt, but you must know four is bigger than two."
"You may be right, but they call me Big for a reason."
"The bigger they are, the harder they fall, isn't that why?"
Big Mac and the hooded pegasus continued to glare at each other, until Big Mac got up, allowing his hostage to get up as well, with his sword still pointing at Lightning, "let him go."
The pegasus let the stallion go as he took the knife out of the stallion's shoulder, making him gasp in pain. The hooded ponies and Big Mac glared at each other as they walked in a circle around the room. When they have made a 180° path around the room, Big Mac scooped his partner onto his back and slowly walked backwords towards the door.
"Until next time Big Mac," the hooded pegasus chuckled as the unicorn lowered his bow.
"We'll see," Big Mac replied, then in one motion, pulled out a flintlock pistol and fired at Lighting as he ran out the door with a successful hit; Lightning feel to the ground with a yell. The hooded pegasus was about too chase after Big Mac untilthe other hooded pony held him back with a shake of his head that told him it wasn't worth it.
"Lighting," Rainbow screamed.
"I'm ok Dashie," Lightning said, "he just grazed my leg."
Rainbow looked at Lightning's hind leg and saw that the bullet hit dead on, causing a small puddle of blood to grow around it,
"We need to get him to a doctor," Rainbow cried.
"We'll get him to a doctor," the pegasus said, "you need to make sure Ditzy makes it to Canterlot."
"TO TARTARUS WITH DERPY!!! Lightning is the one that's hurt," Rainbow flared.
"Rainbow, we promise you, we'll make sure Lightning will make it alive."
"Yeah Dashie, I've gotten hit by worse," Lightning chuckled getting up with the help of the hooded ponies.
"I-I-"
"Rainbow," Lightning smiled, "it'll be okay. I'll live, but you need to make sure Ditzy makes it through to the castle... come here."
Rainbow stepped to Lighting, there faces and inch from each other as he continued, "Promise me you'll look out after Ditzy."
"I promise," Rainbow said.
"Good, now go, I'll see you later. "
"Hold on," Rainbow smiled, "your not leaving without your kiss."
"Never would forget," Lightning chuckled as their lips locked for a few seconds then broke apart, Rainbow smiled then kissed Lightning again. When they broke apart, Lightning grinned, "what was that one for?
"One for the rode," Rainbow swooned.
"We better go," the pegasus interjected, "before Romeo here bleeds out or more Tempmares come back."
"Alright," Rainbow sighed, "See you guys later."
"Bye Rainbow," they replied before leaving the restaurant.
Rainbow smiled, then looked at the restroom Ditzy was hiding and said, "you can come back in, it's safe, but you would have been safer if you crawled out the window."
"How did you know," Ditzy asked surprise.
"I'm trained Derpy, let's leave it at that. Now let's get out of here before more show up,"
Ditzy and Rainbow left the empty restaurant and flew back onto their original plan, heading straight for Canterlot.
Meanwhile, in a cave in an unknown location, Big Mac was walking through the stone corridor's coming upon a round room lined with torches and the red cross symbol everywhere. In the middle of the room was a big chair, facing away from the entrance as two, heavily armed ponies stood guard on either side.
"Did you get the information I need," said a mare's voice form the chair.
"Eeyup," Big Mac replied.
"Then tell me," the voice asked.
"The next assassin is Ditzy... Ditzy Doo."
"Ditzy Doo... I should have known... tell word to the rest of the Tempmares. Tell them, our next kill is in reach."
(To Be Continued...)
Sequence 3
Ditzy and Rainbow arrived outside the castle and, the moment they landed, the doors where blown opened to the great hall as all around, trumpets were playing and royal guards bowed at their hooves.
"I love my job," Rainbow murmured to herself as she and Ditzy walked down the red carpet.
"What job," Ditzy asked whispered.
"You'll see."
"Greetings Ditzy, I'm so glad you could make it," Celestia declared while bowing before Ditzy as well
"Yo-your bowing to me," Ditzy asked in daze.
"A Princess bows before assassins," a buffalo accent voice said from behind Celestia.
"Ay, and so do the guards," said a Marrebean one as the two hooded ponies from the restaurant incident walked out from behind.
"What," Rainbow exclaimed, "there is no way you two were able to beat us here!"
"Just admit it Rainbow, your skills are starting to lack," Marrebean pony chuckled
"Buck you!"
"Dash," Ditzy exclaimed, "show some respect, these two hooded ponies saved us!"
"Actually, we saved you and Ms. Dumbplot here hundreds of times," the Marrebean pegasus explained. Then the two hooded ponies took off their hoods to reveal two familar and family faces.
"Connor, Edward?"
"Good to see you Ditzy," Edward smiled.
"What is going on? Why is everypony bowing to us? What is... wait, did you say assassin?"
"That he did," Celestia replied getting up, "it's time that you learn the truth about your ancestry Ditzy. Follow me."
Ditzy followed Celestia down a hall and to the door that would someday hold the Elements of Harmony. Celestia inserted her horn into the lock, but instead of of opening, it faded into a door with the strange water drop symbol on it.
"What is that symbol Celestia," Ditzy asked.
"That's the mark of an assassain," Celestia replied, opening the door. When she did, it revealed a long hallway with stained glass windows on each side with each window having a hooded pony in different situations. There were hoods in front of each window as well.
"What is this," Ditzy asked.
"This is a hall of memorial Assassins," Celestia replied, "Here's Rainbow's grandfather, Ezio. He was a good one and lived a good life in retirement. There's Connor fighting the Red Colts for the Mareicans, and Edward on his airship the Jackdaw..."
"He's a pirate?!"
"The best," Celestia smiled, "He even knew Blackmane."
They continued to walk down the hallway until they came across a blank window but with a hood already in front of it.
"Whose this hood?"
Celestia chuckled then said, "Yours. It was sewn by your father for you. Tisudo was overjoyed when I let you in... I'm just sorry the Tempmares killed them before I got to you."
"Wow... wait, my parents died in a fight accident... and who are theTempmares?!"
"Murder is no accident Ditzy. You see, long ago, my sister Luna saw the pain of every filly and colt after Discord was defeated. She pleaded that we make another kingdom, one that will live in prosperity. I foolishly prohibited the idea. This changed something in Luna. She took as many foals as she could and hid them in an unknown location. She then became more resistant to me and started to push others away. Days became months, and months became years until finally, she tried to overthrow me by becoming Nightmare Moon. I banished her, but somehow, her 'Foals of the Night' found out... and were angered. They started the organization called the Tempmares and swore revenge. I, however, created the brotherhoof, Pony's Creed; later nicknamed the Assassins. Generation after generations, the Assassins were able to defeat the Tempmares, then, it was quiet... up until last year. You see Ditzy, the Tempmares have a new goal. They want to kill every Assassin so they can get to me. They think by killing me, they'll be able to give rise to Luna and start a 'New Equestrian Order'."
"But, what would I do in the Assassins?"
"Well, first, your going to need some training..."
"Uhh, sorry to interrupt, " said a voice behind them who turned out to be Rainbow, "but we got a BIG problem... she's back."
"What," Celestia exclaimed.
"Yeah, so we might want to head to the main hall... Now!"
The three ran down the hallway and into the mane hall, where a barricade was a set up at the entrance, holding something from the outside trying to bust through.
"All Guards report to the rear entrance," Celestia ordered.
"Yes mam," Celestia's entire army replied, following orders.
"Stay hidden Ditzy," Celestia said as Ditzy took refuge behind Celestia's throne.
"We're comin' in one way or another, Celestia," yelled a country voice from the other side.
Ditzy watched as a few more thumps hit as Edward and Connor tried to hold the door back while Rainbow put a black hood on with a crossbow on her back.
"Horseapples," Rainbow hissed, "where are my blades!"
"You left them in Cloudsdale, dumbplot," Edward whispered loudly.
"Buck!"
"Shoot," Connor joined in, "I left my tomahawk at home as well!"
"What," Celestia hissed, "are you bucking kidding me? You are bucking Assassins for crying out loud!"
The other three just looked at Celestia who replied, "What?!"
"I never heard you curse before," Rainbow whispered in amazement.
"Well I wouldn't have to if someponies didn't forget their gear!"
"Hey, it's not our fault. We didn't expect that they would attack today! Now go hide behind your throne with Derpy like you always do."
"Watch it Rainbow," Celestia growled as she hid with Ditzy.
Connor, Edward, and Rainbow backed up and put some distance between them and the door as the intruders continued to ram it.
"Ready to pull another miracle," Rainbow whispered
(Bang)
"I bet Lee wouldn't have gone to this kind of measures, " Connor said.
(Bang)
"Alright, here we go," Edward declared, pulling out his two swords.
(Bang)
"One more time boys," the country voice yelled from the other side.
With one strong and solid hit, the door gave away and shattered into pieces as a light fog of dust filled the room.
Two ponies walked in first, then stepped to the side and allowed another two ponies to step forward. One was Big Mac while the other was...
"Pinkamena," Rainbow said.
"Hello, Rainbow," replied Pinkamena in a lower voice than Pinkie's as her straight hair and darker pink coat became visible.
"It's been a while," Rainbow said.
"It's sure been, care for a... cupcake," Pinkamena smirked as she presented an orange cupcake with sprinkles of a lightningbolt in font of a hoofball, "I'm sure you'll 'love' the taste."
Rainbow just glared at Pinkamena as she chuckled and took a bite out of the cupcake.
"Eh, I prefer non-feathered ones," Pinkamena grinned letting the cupcake fall to the floor and stepping on it as she walked towards the three, followed by Big Mac and a few other ponies, "Now, you are going to tell us where Ditzy and Celestia are or I'll have to reopen my cookbook for Assassins."
The three ponies just continued to glare at the Tempmares as Ditzy and Celestia watched from a distance.
"Fine, have it your way. Attack!"
The ponies charged the three as Pinkamena and Big Mac stood back.
Edward gave his each of his two swords to Connor and Rainbow as he pulled two flintstock pistols from his chest and fired them at the ponies. Two front ones fell as Connor and Rainbow ran straight for the rest. Rainbow jumped, using her wings to gain some height and fell straight into a pony in the middle, stabbing her in the back as Rainbow came down on her, then pulled the sword out and parried an attack from her left as she spun around and slit the throat of the attacker.
Connor came up from behind Rainbow and, using her back as a boost, jumped into the air and killing another on the way down as Rainbow swung her sword above Connor to decapitate one that was about to strike him.
Three ponies advanced on Edward with bayoneted rifles. One tried to stab him, but Edward pushed the gun down and, while grabbing her around the neck, used his hidden blades to stab her in the side as the other two aimed their guns at Edward, who used the pony he stabbed as a shield. He then grabbed a pistol from the pony and fired it at one while throwing a rope dart at the other, pulling him in to use his hidden blade to finish him off.
"Wow," Ditzy said as Rainbow fired her crossbow at one behind her and then swinging it back around to knock a pony to the ground before using her sword to deliver the death blow, "they're good."
"One of the best," Celestia smiled.
Rainbow passed her sword to Edward as she grabbed a pony to snap his neck before grabbing another one and spinning him around while Edward ran his sword through the pony's chest and Connor strangled the final one with his bow string.
The three then looked up at Pinkamena and, with mouth agape, Big Mac. They started to advance on them until Pinkamena chuckled and threw a tiny black ball to the ground, causing it to explode into a thick, dark gray smoke, hiding the two. Connor and Rainbow fired an arrow each at the cloud of smoke as it cleared away only to hit nothing but ground.
Rainbow and Edward cautiously approached the door and looked around outside to see that the two have escaped. They called to Celestia, saying it's safe, as she and Ditzy appeared from the chair.
"How did you do all that," Ditzy asked in bewilderment
"It's just what we do," Rainbow smirked.
"We protect p-ugh-ponies" Connor grunted holding his side.
"What's wrong Connor," Ditzy asked concerned.
Connor moved his hoof out of the way to reveal a growing blood stain through his hood coming from a bad cut in his side.
"Ju-Just a little scratch," Connor shakingly said as he started to wobble back and forward.
"I got you," Edward said catching him before he fell to the ground.
"Thanks," Connor smiled as Edward slowly set him down.
"Here," Ditzy interjected pulling out a tiny blue box from her wings and opening it, revealing an assortment of white rolled up bandages and medicines, "bite down on this." Connor bit down on a strait rod Ditzy put in his mouth while she pulled from the box a bottle labeled alcohol and a cotton ball.
"This might sting," Ditzy said, pouring some of the liquid on the cotton ball while pulling out one of the white bandage rolls. She applied the the cotton ball to the wound as the other watched closely. Connor had a straight face at first, but it turned into strain as Ditzy applied more alcohol to the cut. She finally was able to completely clean Connor's side and wrapped his abdomen in the white bandage before using her mouth to cut it off and tucking it underneath itself. Connor was able to stand up as Ditzy packed up the box and returning it under her wing. Ditzy turned around to see the other three: Rainbow, Edward, and Celestia, staring at her.
"What?"
"Where did you learned medicine like that," Rainbow asked.
"My mom taught me," Ditzy replied, "she was one who gave me my medical kit too... It's pretty much all I have left from her."
"That sure would be useful in battle," Edward stated.
"Which is more of a reason to let her in... right Rainbow," Celestia grinned.
"I never said she shouldn't join," Rainbow defended.
"I beg to differ," Edward said.
"Shut up, Edward," Rainbow growled.
"So this really is going to happen, huh. I'm going to become an Assassin?"
"Of course, why wouldn't you want to," Rainbow exclaimed, "it's awesome. "
"Well, I'm not sure if I can really do anything. I mean, look at my eyes."
"Ditzy," Celestia warmly smiled, "you'll be great. It's in your blood, but first we have to initiate you in."
After the grand hall was cleared, Ditzy stood before Princess Celestia as she Knighted Ditzy with her horn before putting the Assassins robe on her, which is when Ditzy's flank flashed a bright, white light...
Pinkamena and Big Mac entered the cave with the mysterious seat guarded by two ponies and Tempmare crosses all over the walls.
"Did you get it done," asked the mare's voice from the chair.
"You tell me," Pinkamena smirked.
There was a moment of silence before a green beam hit the wall. When the green beam hit the wall, a projection of Ditzy, Rainbow, and Edward celebrating Ditzy's initiation into the brotherhoof with some of Edward's "borrowed" rum.
"Yo-," Edward hiccupped from drinking and, from the projections view, looked like he was looking at the cave, "you want some Connor?"
"No thanks," Connor declined, even though he couldn't be seen.
"Co-hic-Come on Con. When your grandfather offers you a drink, you don't decline," Edward chuckled.
"Your hi-his grandfather," Rainbow and Ditzy asked, clearly drunk
"Yeah," Connor said, still couldn't be seen.
"Awesome," Rainbow smiled awkwardly before tripping over a rock.
"Ok D-Dash," Ditzy said, "Your drunk."
"Nah, your drunk Edw... who said that," Rainbow asked, before a failed attempt at getting up.
"I said what," Edward said before passing out on the ground.
Connor's voice sighed as Ditzy fell over too, snoring, "this is why I don't drink."
The three passed out ponies where lifted in the air by somepony's magic as the projection started to walk towards the castle.
"Alright you three, let's get home," Connor's voice said.
Back in the cave, the mare in the chair was laughing evilly
"I expect my payment," Pinkamena said.
"Here," the mare said before a bag of bits was thrown over the chair.
"Hey! This isn't all of it," Pinkamena exclaimed.
"You'll receive the rest when your job is done."
"I did my job!"
"You did part of your job but you will be needed later. That should satisfy you till then. For now, we wait as our pawn is moving."
Back in Canterlot, Connor was using his unicorn magic to carry a passed out Edward, Rainbow, and Ditzy back to the castle while back in the cave, the mare continue to laugh menacingly.
(To Be Continued...)
Author's Note
Seriously Bronies/Pegasisters, Edward is Connor's grandfather, I'm not making that up. Edward's son is Haytham Kenway who, in Assassin Creed III, was converted into a Templar and had a son, Connor Kenway (or Ratonhnhaké:ton), with Kaniehtí:io, a Kanien'kehá:ka woman from the village of Kanatahséton.
Sequence 4
Ditzy was in her room as the rays of early morning broke through her castle bedroom window. She and Rainbow were fast asleep in the guest room they had to share. Rainbow was dreaming about... things... with Lighting, let's leave it at that. Ditzy, on the contrary, kept tossing and turning while mumbling something.
"No... no... NO," Ditzy screamed, automatically sitting up and making Rainbow hit her head on the bed frame.
"Ow," Rainbow exclaimed, rubbing her head, "What the buck, Derpy!!! I was having a good dream!"
"Sorry, Sorry," Ditzy apologized, "just another nightmare."
"Again? What was it this time?"
"Well, I dreamed Equestria was in flames but the sky was completely dark and that mare was holding the Apple. "
"Same as last time, huh?It's alright Derpy, the Apple is long gone... well since were up, might as well get breakfast," Rainbow said, getting out and digging around in the room's drawer for something.
"So explain to me what the Apple is again," Ditzy said as she got out and noticed her Assassins robes were on the ground. She picked them up and put them on but left the hood down as Rainbow talked.
"Well, the Apple has been missing for decades. It was what the Tempmares tried to steal from the castle, they were going to use it to free Nightmare Moon, but were unable to find it. Many years went by and the Apple just disappeared like any other mystery."
"Huh, interesting."
"You said a mare was in your dream, was it the same one as last time?"
"Yeah, but I still don't know what she looks like. She still was wearing her cloak and all I could see were glowing white eyes."
"Hm, strange... ah! here it is," Rainbow smiled, pulling out a piece of paper, "I've been dying to use this. Ok let's go... you know you don't have to wear those robes all the time anymore. Just the first couple of weeks of training so you can get use to moving around in them."
"That's true, but I still feel weird moving around in them, so I think I still need to get used to it."
"Alright, what ever floats your boat," Rainbow shrugged, "anyways, I've been wanting to use this coupon Edward gave me. Cheapskate doesn't even want to give a proper birthday gift... Oh well, it probably the most I'll ever get out of him and it expires tomorrow, so might as well use it today."
"What's it for?"
"A little café down the street."
"Alright, let's go."
The mares arrived at the café and started to chat as they waited for their food. Once they started eating, a purpled unicorn came in and started to reading a book.
"Looks like we got an egghead," Rainbow smirked, nodding over to the unicorn.
"Leave her alone, Dash," Ditzy scowled.
"Whatever," Rainbow chuckled, "I got you to tease... Ditzy don't turn around but somepony is approaching that unicorn. Huh, kind of reminds me of Lightning, but with a blue mane... No wait, he backed out. Wuss!"
"Dash," Ditzy exclaimed, looking around to see of anypony noticed.
"No wait! here comes another one... He's talking to her... wait, I think he's making her move... uh-oh."
"What is it," Ditzy asked concerned.
"Don't turn around, but I think that pony is a Tempmare," Rainbow whispered, "Take off your robes."
Without attracting attention, Ditzy was able to slip out of her Assassin robes and gave them to Rainbow under the table.
"Another one is sitting down and that orange pegasus is standing guard. I think the white one is a leader and the other is his partner," Rainbow hissed, "it looks like it's your lucky day, you get to have some on field training."
"So you want me to eavesdrop on them?"
"Not exactly, this is what I want you to do," Rainbow deviously smiled, slightly frightening Ditzy. Rainbow leaned over and whispered something into Ditzy's ear. When she finished, Ditzy's eyes were widen and it looked like she wanted to scream, but she was able to hold it in and hissed back, "There is no way that I am doing that."
"You have to," Rainbow said with a smug look.
"Why don't you do it? You're a mare."
"I have a coltfriend, and I highly doubt your going to get one anytime soon."
"Buck you, Dash," Ditzy muttered when she got up.
"Wait! Your cutie mark."
Ditzy looked at it, and then waved her wing in front of it, changing back into bubbles.
"That is just so awesome," Rainbow chuckled, "and watching you do this is going to be hilarious. I can't wait to tell Edward and Connor."
"Yeah, Yeah," Ditzy growled, "Enjoy the comedy show, Jackplot."
Ditzy straighten up and approached the two stallions talking. The orange pegasus noticed Ditzy and took a step between Ditzy and two stallions, "I'm sorry mam, but you'll have to find another seat."
"Aww, can't I have this seat," Ditzy grinned while getting close to him and stroking his mane slowly, "I promise I'll do whatever you say."
The pegasus just continue to glare at her and repeated, "Mam, I'm going to ask you again to please sit somewhere else."
"Let her through, Flash," the white stallion said, taking notice of Ditzy, "where's your gentlecolt ship?"
"Yes sir," Flash said, stepping aside, but continued to glare at Ditzy as she walked by him.
Ditzy sat next to the white stallion as he looked at her, "Now don't be shy, Come sit in Santa Claws lap and tell me what you want."
Ditzy could see out of the corner of her eye that Rainbow was watching, snickering. Ditzy used her hoof that couldn't be seen by the other stallions to make a rude gesture to her.
Ditzy smirked at the stallion as she slowly ran her other hoof up and down the stallions shoulder, "now I don't think you can handle me Santa, I've been a pretty bad filly."
"I never said I'm an angel," the stallion chuckled.
"Oooo, and what would be my little outlaw's name," Ditzy swooned.
"I'd be..."
"Shining," the other pony hissed, making the two look at him, "sorry to interrupt you and you friend here but we have more important stuff to talk about."
"Excuse my rude friend here," Shining said, "but Braeburn is right. So I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"Aw, but you seemed a bit tense. I was hoping to come to your place and help you... 'relax'," Ditzy grinned.
This made Braeburn give a sick look at Ditzy and groan, "We'll talk about this later."
"This afternoon here," Shining asked.
"Fine, come on Flash," Braeburn huffed as he got up.
"Come on," Shining asked, making a gestures for a name.
"Derpy," Ditzy hastily replied, picking the first name she can think of.
"Derpy, I don't live far from here," Shining grinned as he got up and followed Braeburn and Flash.
"Coming handsome," Ditzy swooned, then behind his back mouthed 'Buck You' to the ready to explode in laughter Rainbow.
Shining and Ditzy followed Braeburn and Flash outside then parted from them in a different direction. They walked down a alleyway somewhere near the castle before Shining spun around, grabbed Ditzy around the mouth and pinned her up against the alleyway wall.
"I know who you are,"Shining glared, as he slowly removed his hoof from Ditzy's mouth.
"I-I don't know what your talking about," Ditzy smiled nervously.
Shining sighed before saying,"amateur. "
"What were you talking about," Ditzy asked.
"Her," Shining groaned before pointing to the sky.
Ditzy looked up and saw Rainbow hovering to the ground and laughing.
"Good work, Shining," Rainbow laughed and was slowly clapping, "the stud, yet again, picks up another mare."
"Shut up, Rainbow," Shining growled, "I almost got Braeburn to spill the beans and you barge in and send Ditzy to interrupt! You jeopardized the entire mission! Your lucky I was able to get her and me out of there without raising suspicion or revealing that there were three Assassins in that café."
"Your an Assassin," Ditzy exclaimed.
"Yeah," Shining replied, "and I was suppose to get information from the Tempmares until Rainbow ruined it!"
"You knew and you sent me to do all that creepy stuff! Yo-You... UGH," Ditzy yelled, while pretending to strangle Rainbow with her hooves.
"Alright, Alright, calm down," Rainbow exclaimed, "I only did it to same your sorry plot, Shining."
"What are you talking about," Shining asked.
"Listen, Braeburn was going to kill you. He knows your an Assassin but doesn't know Derpy is one. We need to eliminate Braeburn, but we had to get you out first...your welcome by the way!"
"Why do we need to eliminate Braeburn?! He the only one who knows about the Tempmare's plans."
"The Tempmares have him around the neck. Unless he kills you, they're killing his famiy. That's why we need to eliminate him."
"Why do we have to kill him? Why can't we just save his family?"
"Because we don't know where they are, and it's too late to look for them."
"I know where they are," Ditzy said.
"You do," Rainbow and Shining exclaimed.
"Yeah, look," Ditzy took a map out from her mane and showed it to them, "took it from Braeburn."
"Heh, looks like you have Edward's pickpocketing skills," Rainbow chuckled.
"Anyways, it's the location to a Tempmare base not far from here."
"Wow! That great, they have to be there," Rainbow exclaimed, "where is it?"
"A place... let's see... it says a place called... Ponyville."
(To Be Continued...)
Ditzy was in her room as the rays of early morning broke through her castle bedroom window. She and Rainbow were fast asleep in the guest room they had to share. Rainbow was dreaming about... things... with Lighting, let's leave it at that. Ditzy, on the contrary, kept tossing and turning while mumbling something.
"No... no... NO," Ditzy screamed, automatically sitting up and making Rainbow hit her head on the bed frame.
"Ow," Rainbow exclaimed, rubbing her head, "What the buck, Derpy!!! I was having a good dream!"
"Sorry, Sorry," Ditzy apologized, "just another nightmare."
"Again? What was it this time?"
"Well, I dreamed Equestria was in flames but the sky was completely dark and that mare was holding the Apple. "
"Same as last time, huh?It's alright Derpy, the Apple is long gone... well since were up, might as well get breakfast," Rainbow said, getting out and digging around in the room's drawer for something.
"So explain to me what the Apple is again," Ditzy said as she got out and noticed her Assassins robes were on the ground. She picked them up and put them on but left the hood down as Rainbow talked.
"Well, the Apple has been missing for decades. It was what the Tempmares tried to steal from the castle, they were going to use it to free Nightmare Moon, but were unable to find it. Many years went by and the Apple just disappeared like any other mystery."
"Huh, interesting."
"You said a mare was in your dream, was it the same one as last time?"
"Yeah, but I still don't know what she looks like. She still was wearing her cloak and all I could see were glowing white eyes."
"Hm, strange... ah! here it is," Rainbow smiled, pulling out a piece of paper, "I've been dying to use this. Ok let's go... you know you don't have to wear those robes all the time anymore. Just the first couple of weeks of training so you can get use to moving around in them."
"That's true, but I still feel weird moving around in them, so I think I still need to get used to it."
"Alright, what ever floats your boat," Rainbow shrugged, "anyways, I've been wanting to use this coupon Edward gave me. Cheapskate doesn't even want to give a proper birthday gift... Oh well, it probably the most I'll ever get out of him and it expires tomorrow, so might as well use it today."
"What's it for?"
"A little café down the street."
"Alright, let's go."
The mares arrived at the café and started to chat as they waited for their food. Once they started eating, a purpled unicorn came in and started to reading a book.
"Looks like we got an egghead," Rainbow smirked, nodding over to the unicorn.
"Leave her alone, Dash," Ditzy scowled.
"Whatever," Rainbow chuckled, "I got you to tease... Ditzy don't turn around but somepony is approaching that unicorn. Huh, kind of reminds me of Lightning, but with a blue mane... No wait, he backed out. Wuss!"
"Dash," Ditzy exclaimed, looking around to see of anypony noticed.
"No wait! here comes another one... He's talking to her... wait, I think he's making her move... uh-oh."
"What is it," Ditzy asked concerned.
"Don't turn around, but I think that pony is a Tempmare," Rainbow whispered, "Take off your robes."
Without attracting attention, Ditzy was able to slip out of her Assassin robes and gave them to Rainbow under the table.
"Another one is sitting down and that orange pegasus is standing guard. I think the white one is a leader and the other is his partner," Rainbow hissed, "it looks like it's your lucky day, you get to have some on field training."
"So you want me to eavesdrop on them?"
"Not exactly, this is what I want you to do," Rainbow deviously smiled, slightly frightening Ditzy. Rainbow leaned over and whispered something into Ditzy's ear. When she finished, Ditzy's eyes were widen and it looked like she wanted to scream, but she was able to hold it in and hissed back, "There is no way that I am doing that."
"You have to," Rainbow said with a smug look.
"Why don't you do it? You're a mare."
"I have a coltfriend, and I highly doubt your going to get one anytime soon."
"Buck you, Dash," Ditzy muttered when she got up.
"Wait! Your cutie mark."
Ditzy looked at it, and then waved her wing in front of it, changing back into bubbles.
"That is just so awesome," Rainbow chuckled, "and watching you do this is going to be hilarious. I can't wait to tell Edward and Connor."
"Yeah, Yeah," Ditzy growled, "Enjoy the comedy show, Jackplot."
Ditzy straighten up and approached the two stallions talking. The orange pegasus noticed Ditzy and took a step between Ditzy and two stallions, "I'm sorry mam, but you'll have to find another seat."
"Aww, can't I have this seat," Ditzy grinned while getting close to him and stroking his mane slowly, "I promise I'll do whatever you say."
The pegasus just continue to glare at her and repeated, "Mam, I'm going to ask you again to please sit somewhere else."
"Let her through, Flash," the white stallion said, taking notice of Ditzy, "where's your gentlecolt ship?"
"Yes sir," Flash said, stepping aside, but continued to glare at Ditzy as she walked by him.
Ditzy sat next to the white stallion as he looked at her, "Now don't be shy, Come sit in Santa Claws lap and tell me what you want."
Ditzy could see out of the corner of her eye that Rainbow was watching, snickering. Ditzy used her hoof that couldn't be seen by the other stallions to make a rude gesture to her.
Ditzy smirked at the stallion as she slowly ran her other hoof up and down the stallions shoulder, "now I don't think you can handle me Santa, I've been a pretty bad filly."
"I never said I'm an angel," the stallion chuckled.
"Oooo, and what would be my little outlaw's name," Ditzy swooned.
"I'd be..."
"Shining," the other pony hissed, making the two look at him, "sorry to interrupt you and you friend here but we have more important stuff to talk about."
"Excuse my rude friend here," Shining said, "but Braeburn is right. So I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"Aw, but you seemed a bit tense. I was hoping to come to your place and help you... 'relax'," Ditzy grinned.
This made Braeburn give a sick look at Ditzy and groan, "We'll talk about this later."
"This afternoon here," Shining asked.
"Fine, come on Flash," Braeburn huffed as he got up.
"Come on," Shining asked, making a gestures for a name.
"Derpy," Ditzy hastily replied, picking the first name she can think of.
"Derpy, I don't live far from here," Shining grinned as he got up and followed Braeburn and Flash.
"Coming handsome," Ditzy swooned, then behind his back mouthed 'Buck You' to the ready to explode in laughter Rainbow.
Shining and Ditzy followed Braeburn and Flash outside then parted from them in a different direction. They walked down a alleyway somewhere near the castle before Shining spun around, grabbed Ditzy around the mouth and pinned her up against the alleyway wall.
"I know who you are,"Shining glared, as he slowly removed his mouth from Ditzy's mouth.
"I-I don't know what your talking about," Ditzy smiled nervously.
Shining sighed before saying,"amateur. "
"What were you talking about," Ditzy asked.
"Her," Shining groaned before pointing to the sky.
Ditzy looked up and saw Rainbow hovering to the ground and laughing.
"Good work, Shining," Rainbow laughed and was slowly clapping, "the stud, yet again, picks up another made."
"Shut up, Rainbow," Shining growled, "I almost got Braeburn to spill the beans and you barge in and send Ditzy to interrupt! You jeopardized the entire mission! Your lucky I was able to get her and me out of there without raising suspicion or revealing that there were three Assassins in that café."
"Your and Assassin," Ditzy exclaimed.
"Yeah," Shining replied, "and I was suppose to get information from the Tempmares until Rainbow ruined it!"
"You knew and you sent me to do all that creepy stuff! Yo-You... UGH," Ditzy yelled, while pretending to strangle Rainbow with her hooves.
"Alright, Alright, calm down," Rainbow exclaimed, "I only did it to same your sorry plot, Shining."
"What are you talking about," Shining asked.
"Listen, Braeburn was going to kill you. He knows your an Assassin but doesn't know Derpy is one. We need to eliminate Braeburn, but we had to get you out first...your welcome by the way!"
"Why do we need to eliminate Braeburn?! He's on our side!"
"The Tempmares have him around the neck. Unless he kills you, they're killing his family."
"He's corrupted!"
"Yes and that's why we need to eliminate him."
"Why do we have to kill him? Why can't we just save his family?"
"Because we don't know where they are, and it's too late to look for them."
"I know where they are," Ditzy said.
"You do," Rainbow and Shining exclaimed.
"Yeah, look," Ditzy took a map out from her mane and showed it to them, "took it from Braeburn."
"Heh, looks like you have Edward's pickpocketing skills," Rainbow chuckled.
"Anyways, it's the location to a Tempmare base not far from here."
"Wow! That great, they have to be there," Rainbow exclaimed, "where is it?"
"A place... let's see... it says a place called... Ponyville."
(To Be Continued...)
Sequence 5
Shining met up with Braeburn and his 'partner' Flash, or should I say stallion who will notify the other Tempmares if Braeburn didn't kill Shining, at the same café later that afternoon. Ditzy, or to Braeburn and Flash, Derpy, the bar mare Shining was able to score, came with him. Rainbow had her Assassin robes on and was sitting at the other side of the café, staying out of view of the others.
"So, Shining," Braeburn smirked, "did you have fun?"
"Sure did," Shining smiled as Ditzy pretended to have a satisfied look on her face.
"Good... You know Shining, you'll always be my friend... and I can tell you anything right?"
"Of course," Shining said, but noticed Braeburn started to get a little anxious.
"Well, then I'm sorry," Braeburn replied, aiming a gun underneath the table at Shining.
"You can't shoot me," Shining chuckled, "we are in a crowded café, and the moment you pull the trigger, everypony will be thrown in a state of panic."
"You don't think we forgot about that, did you," Braeburn replied.
"Well, you know the Tempmares will always hold your parents captive," Shining grinned, drawing Flash's attention.
"How do you know about this," Braeburn demanded, putting the gun against Shining's stomach underneath the table.
"Come on Braeburn, you're better than this," Shining reasoned, while Rainbow got out from her seat, put her hood up, and started weaving in and out amongst the crowd.
"They will kill them if I don't end you," Braeburn said, but Shining saw that his words were starting to get through.
"They will kill them either way," Shining said, "let us help you Braeburn, we'll save them, just lower your gun."
Braeburn thought about this for a moment, then dropped the gun; the moment he did, Flash instantly turned around and pulled out a sword from his armor and held it to Shining's neck and said, "If he didn't end you, then I could."
"I don't suppose I can convince you other wise," Shining replied.
"Nope," Flash smirked.
"Too bad... Now!"
Rainbow, who had snuck up behind Flash, hit him hard in the side of his head, knocking him out. Rainbow activated her hidden balde and made a move towards Flash, until Shining said otherwise.
"We still need him," Shining said, and Rainbow replied by reluctantly putting her blade away and putting Flash hoof around her shoulder, so anypony who happen to look over will just think Flash might have had just a little too much.
"What's going on," Braeburn asked confused, "I thought you said you were going to save my family!"
"We are, but we need this here colt to tell us exactly how to get in," Shining chuckled.
Rainbow carried Flash back to the castle followed by Shining, Ditzy, and Braeburn. The moment they entered, they were confronted by Connor, Edward, and a furious Celestia.
"Where the hay were you," Celestia exclaimed, "and why did you bring two Tempmares here?!"
"and a hello to you too, Celestia," Rainbow sarcastically replied, throwing the unconscious Flash to the ground.
"Watch that attitude, Rainbow," Celestia growled, "now somepony better start explaining!"
"Braeburn is on our side now, but the Tempmares have his family," Shining replied, "we are not completely sure, but believe they are being held somewhere in a place called Ponyville and plan on saving them."
"Ponyville? That place is crawling with Tempmares, it's too risky. Besides, you said it yourself, you're not sure if they're there."
"That's why we have him," Shining nodded to Flash, "he'll confirm it."
"You don't think he is just going to give you that kind of information?"
Shining didn't respond as he and Celestia stared at each other, as if having a conversation using silence, until Celestia face went horrified.
"Are you mad, Shining," Celestia exclaimed, "that is not our way!"
"What choice do we have," Shining defended, "if we don't save them tonight, they'll be dead by morning!"
"What is he talking about," Ditzy asked.
Celestia looked at her, judging whether or not to tell her the truth, but sighed and came clean, "torture."
"What," Ditzy exclaimed, staring at Shining with the same horrified expression Celestia did, "No! there has to be another way!"
"What do you suggest then," Shining yelled.
Ditzy opened her mouth, but unable to think of an idea, retreated to just giving a disapproving stare at Shining.
"I'm not proud to say or do it," Shining sighed, "but unless he is willing to just tell us, we're going to have to take action."
"Well what are you going to do then," Celestia asked.
"What ever it takes to break him," Shining replied.
An hour before sundown, Flash was thrown into a hidden area inside the castle's dungeon. Shining and Rainbow didn't want Ditzy to go down with them, saying that Flash, being a Tempmare, could easily twist up Ditzy's mind to convince her to let him go. However, unwilling to sit aside, Ditzy said her mind is not as weak as they think and can keep sight on what is true.
Flash was hung from his front hooves, inches from the ground, and his wings were wrapped tightly by a rope while Shining walked around and around him as the Connor, Edward, Ditzy, and Rainbow watched.
"So, Flash," Shining said, his face showing no emotion, let alone apathy, "I'm just going to ask you straightforward; is Braeburn's family at the Tempmare base in Ponyville?"
"Why would you trust what I have to say," Flash replied, holding the same sort of poker face Shining had.
"Because," Shining hit Flash hard across the face,"I think you'll find that cooperating will become easier and easier as we go along. Now tell us, are they or are they not there?"
Flash spat on the ground then looked backed at Shining, "It's going to take more than that."
"I thought it might," Shining replied, as he continued to hit Flash multiple time across the face. Ditzy watched, wanting to scream, just end it, but held it in as Shining gave one more strike, making Flash's nose bleed.
"Ready to talk," Shining said.
Flash didn't respond, but only spat, blood this time, on Shining.
"So be it," Shining said, wiping it off. He then grabbed his knife from it's holster before stabbing it into one of Flash's front legs, making him let out a yell in pain. Shining took the knife out, then stabbed the other leg followed by another yell. When it was removed, blood started to flow down Flash's side from the two deep cuts near his hooves.
"Tell us," Shining demanded.
"Buck you," Flash glared, but gasped in pain between the words.
Shining flung the tip of his knife across Flash's left cheek. Flash didn't yell, but only grunted once the knife cut underneath his eye.
"You know, we could always take a chance. We don't exactly need the information, so we can just kill you now," Shining said.
"Then why don't you," Flash smirked, "have one less Tempmare to deal with."
"Then again, we do have a few hours before we need to head out," Shining continued before grabbing his gun around the barrel and smashing the tip of Flash's hoof accompanied by an agonizing yell, "so we could keep this up for a while."
"You know when a stallion is bluffing," Flash asked, then pulled up his hind legs to kick Shining in the head before saying, "when he is in control."
Rainbow got up and was about to do the job herself until Shining held up his hoof, signaling her to stay back, before wiping his face upon where he got hit.
"You sure are a stubborn little bucker aren't you," Shining chuckled, "then how about this, tell us where they are or we will have to harm another."
"Who could you possibly harm that I care about," Flash replied.
"Her," Shining nodded at the door as a white, pegasus Royal Guard brought in a struggling, gagged, and blindfolded mare that had rope tied around her wings. The guard removed the blindfold to reveal two terrified teal eyes of Fluttershy, Flash's ex-marefriend he still had feeling for.
"Don't you dare lay a hoof on here," Flash yelled, shaking the chains and trying to jump at Shining.
"If you tell us, we will let her go, but if you don't," Shining held his knife to Fluttershy's neck, "she'll be leaving another way."
Fluttershy's eyes looked at Flash in horror as Flash glared at Shining. They remained that way for a few seconds, before Flash reluctantly said, "They are at Sweet Apple Acres, Big Mac has them held captive in their barn."
"That's all we needed to know," Shining said, the. removed the gagged from Fluttershy's mouth and letting her go.
"Go Fluttershy, run," Flash pleaded.
"I'm sorry, Flash," Fluttershy replied sadly, as she used her hidden blades to cut the rope off her wings and taking out her rolled up Assassin robes from underneath them, "I truly am sorry."
"Wh-What," Flash stuttered, astonished, then yelled, "Shining! I knew you were bluffing you bucking bas-"
Flash was knocked out by Rainbow, again, then said, "even though he is a Tempmare, I still feel kind of sorry for him. Alright Derpy, bandage him up."
"Alright, just know it might be a while," Ditzy replied, "so you guys might have to wait,"
The rest looked at each other unsurely before Rainbow said, "You see, Derps, about that... you're not coming."
"What?! Why not," Ditzy exclaimed, outraged.
"Well, you've only been training for two weeks and... how can I put this nicely... not really, reliable."
"Reliable," Ditzy flared, "so it's ok for me to eavesdrop on Tempmares, but not on for me to be along side my friends?!"
"Well, Shining was there if something went wrong," Edward explained.
"Aren't you all going to be with me," Ditzy asked, her tone not as enraged, but still had a hint of anger.
"Well, we are going pretty deep into Tempmare territory, and we wouldn't be able to focus if we were worried about you," Connor reasoned.
Ditzy thought for a moment, then said, "you all feel this way?"
Hesitantly, the others nodded as an answer. Ditzy sighed then started to clean Flash's wounds while saying, "Fine, maybe you guys are right. Maybe I'm not ready."
The others looked at each other, feeling slightly guilty, but knew it was for the best.
"So, I guess we'll see you later," Rainbow said as she and the others made for the door, "maybe you'll have enough training next time."
"Whatever," Ditzy brushed off.
"So, yeah... bye... I guess," Rainbow said, before following the others to head to Ponyville.
"I guess I was wrong," Ditzy said as she started to cover up Flash's cuts, "they still treat me like I'm helpless... just like mom and dad."
(To Be Continued...)
Sequence 6
Ditzy patched up the unconscious Flash and was instructed to lock him up in a cell. Once done, she was able to find Celestia preparing to lower the sun and raise the moon.
"Hello Ditzy," Celestia smiled.
"Sorry, didn't mean to intrude," Ditzy said
"Nonsense, I've always got time for my favorite godfoal, " Celestia replied. Yes this is true, Tisudo and Dinky, much to the dismay of Connor, asked Celestia to be Ditzy's godparent.
"No, it's alright, I'll come back later," Ditzy said, making way for the door.
"Now don't you walk out that door," Celestia scolded, "wait a moment."
Celestia rose into the air and focused as the sun disappeared beyond the mountains and made way for its opposite. When Celestia was done, she descend back to the ground and turned around to Ditzy.
"Now, you seemed troubled young one," Celestia declared, "what may be your problem?"
"Well... I'm starting to questioned my role. I mean, the others still treat me like I can't do anything myself. All because of my bucking eyes," Ditzy yelled, punching the wall, "and in some ways, they're right. I'm worthless. I can't even train without my eyes getting in the way."
"I see. You're saying your eyes are preventing you from accomplishing something that seems not accomplishable. Well, let me tell you a story Ditzy."
"What, is it a story about how a mare can't do anything because her eyes are in the way? Yeah, that's really comforting," Ditzy said sarcasticly.
"Yes actually, just hear me out. Let me tell you a story that happened many years ago, before Nightmare Moon, before the Tempmares, even before the tyranny of Him. A mare, was brought upon Cloudsdale, a mare named Snowdrop. She had eye problems too, but only, she was blind. She felt like everybody thought she was helpless, but didn't want to help her. She wasn't completely helpless though, in fact, she had an advantage. She could hear things no others could hear. From tiniest drop of snow to the twinkle of the stars. She could hear those stars so well, that she was able to create the beautiful snow we know of today. But you see Ditzy, if her eyes didn't get in the way, her advantage would never have been discovered and her legacy would never have been born."
"But I'm not blind, I'm..."
"Cross eyed."
"Yeah, so what do I have?"
Celestia thought for a second, but then approached Ditzy from her right and attempted to punch Ditzy. Instinctively, Ditzy blocked it with her right hoof, but out of her right eye, she saw a book, controlled by Celestia's magic, head straight for her. Yet again, Ditzy was able to block it by spinning around and kicking it with her hind legs.
"Hey," Ditzy exclaimed "what was that for?!"
"There's your advantage Ditzy," Celestia smiled.
"What? Kicking books?"
"No, your advantage is being able to see things that regular Assassins can only assume they are there. You can see two directions at once."
"I-I guess your right, I'm not totally worthless," Ditzy smiled, but was replace by her sad mood returning, "but, if that's true, then why am I here instead of out there with my friends?"
"Because, you may have an advantage, but that alone can't succeed, you need to practice and train. Take a look at Snowdrop again. She may have been able to hear the stars twinkle, but her first, snowflake she called it, was not the best one she has ever made. It took hard work and dedication for her to achieve her goal. Same goes for you. You need to understand that you have a long ways to go, but you will be able to do great things one day."
"Wow, I never thought of it that way," Ditzy said, "You know what, your right, I will train harder! I will become a great Assassin. Thanks Cel-"
"Celestia!"
They both turned around to see a beat up Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy carrying a knocked out Braeburn and what Ditzy assumed to be his family.
"Celestia," Rainbow gasped, breathing heavily, "we were... ambushed. They got... Edward, Connor, and Shining."
"Breath Rainbow, breath," Celestia replied as Rainbow's breathing slowed, "now tell me, what happened."
"Well, we found Braeburn's family, but the moment we untied them, we were surrounded by Tempmares. We escaped thanks to the boys sacrificing themselves, but they have them," Rainbow said, than slumped to the ground, she had bad cuts on her side and hind legs. Fluttershy, who seemed to be in better condition, rushed to Rainbow's side and pulled out a box from her wing, but only opened it to find it empty.
"Oh no," Fluttershy yelped, "I left my medical supplies at home."
"Here, take mine," Ditzy said, giving her blue medical box to Fluttershy as she began to tend to Rainbow's injuries.
"Well Ditzy, it looks like your training's over for now," Celestia declared, "it looks like we got some friends to save."
(To Be Continued...)
Sequence 7
Ditzy and Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash was considered too injured to go with, were hiding in the caboose of the train heading to Ponyville later that night.
"Remember the plan," Fluttershy whispered. She had her legs holding her up on the ceiling above the doorway.
Ditzy nodded from behind a seat as the doors of the caboose were opened and two Tempmares wearing a black, hooded cloak walked in.
One walked into the center of the train car while the other stood guard at the door.
"All clear," the one in the center declared, then turned around to see Ditzy stab him in the chest.
Alarmed by the noise, the other pony turned around and walked in to be killed by Fluttershy falling on top of him and running her hidden blade through his neck.
"I thought you said we weren't suppose to damage the cloaks," Ditzy hissed, taking the cloak off the one she killed and carrying him to the back of the caboose.
"We only need one, since your the prisoner," Fluttershy replied, following Ditzy with the other pony.
"No, your the prisoner," Ditzy replied as they both threw the dead Tempmares off the train.
"What?! why," Fluttershy said, taking the cloak from Ditzy.
"Because they know your an Assassin," Ditzy replied, taking the cloak back.
"Oh... my bad," Fluttershy said as Ditzy rolled up her Assassin robes and slipped them underneath her wing along with her hidden blades before putting on the Tempmare cloak.
Fluttershy and Ditzy, who was pointing a bayonet rifle she grabbed from the caboose at Fluttershy, walked out of the caboose and into the train car two cars ahead of them, where they found a bunch of Tempmares with drinks and having a good time.
"Howdy," an earth pony approached. She had an orange coat, blond hair, and three apples as her cutie mark, "who you got there?"
"I found this one hiding in the back," Ditzy replied while Fluttershy kept her hood up and head low.
"An Assassin ah suppose; you can just tie her up with some rope," the mare said.
"Alright," Ditzy replied, tying a rope around Fluttershy just loose enough for her to escape is she needed to.
"Big Mac would be pleased to know we got another one," the mare chuckled, "by the way, I'm Applejack."
"I'm Derpy Hooves," Ditzy replied, "but you can call me Derpy."
"Pleasure to meet you, Derpy... ugh, it's been a long day," Applejack groaned, sliding into the seat across from Ditzy. She offered her wine bottle to Ditzy and said, "you want the rest? I don't feel like finishing it.
"Sure," Ditzy replied.
Fluttershy watched Ditzy take a few gulps of her drink; her mouth starting to feel dry while she wondered why she didn't drink something before they left. Ditzy noticed and, while Applejack grabbed her sword she dropped underneath the table, slipped some of the wine into Fluttershy's mouth, who thanked her with a nod
"I tell ya, Derpy," Applejack said after reappearing from underneath the table, "I can't wait till we finally can use the Apple."
"The Apple," Ditzy questioned, trying to stay calm.
"Yeah, we've located the Apple near Princess Celestia's castle."
Fluttershy and Ditzy glanced at each other for a second before Applejack grinned, "So, you enjoyed your wine?"
"Of course," Ditzy sighed, glad Applejack changed the subject.
"That's good... Ditzy," Applejack smirked.
"What are yo-you tal-king about," Ditzy stuttered sheepishly, then slowly closed her eyes and started snoring followed by Fluttershy.
"We got 'em, boys," Applejack exclaimed as some Tempmares tied up the passed out Ditzy and, while tightening the ropes around her, passed out Fluttershy, "put 'em in the front."
Ditzy and Fluttershy were taken to the car right behind the engine of the train. The Tempmares splashed water on them to wake them.
"Alright," Applejack declared, "I'll watch over them."
"Yes mam," the other Tempmares saluted before heading back the way they came.
Applejack turned around to Fluttershy and Ditzy, quickly untied them, and said, "We got five minutes till Ponyville, sneak out of the car through the roof and blend into the crowed. Today's New Years Eve, so everypony will be out. Once we arrive, I'm going to tell them y'all attacked me and got away; they'll be on high alert so be careful, good luck."
"Thanks AJ," Ditzy smiled.
"Hey, now we're even. Now go, I can already see the town from here."
Ditzy and Fluttershy slipped on top of the train car when it pulled into the station. They climbed down the ladder and ran across into some bushed watching from afar. They saw Applejack talking to Big Mac, who was angry at her for losing two Assassins.
Fluttershy put her hood down and said, "Alright, AJ said they'll be at the barn. Sweet Apple Acres is heavily guarded, so we can't just barge in there. We got three hours, that's what AJ said they'll be executed."
"Sheesh, put more pressure on me why don't you," Ditzy complained.
Fluttershy and Ditzy walked out into the crowed to scout out the area. Even though they knew this area was run my Tempmares, they noticed everypony was pretty nice and wouldn't mind living here if they had to.
"Alright, I'm going to head over to Sweet Apple Acres," Fluttershy whispered into Ditzy's ear, "meet me at the front of town hall in two hours."
"Ok," Ditzy replied as Fluttershy disappeared amongst the crowd.
Ditzy walked around in the Tempmare cloak and tried talking to ponies, but every time she would, they would stuttered and try to get away from her.
What is going on," Ditzy told herself, "why is everypony on ed-"
Ditzy was interrupted by a brown pony who bumped into her
"I'm so sorry! Don't hurt me," the earth pony cowered behind a book he was reading.
"Hurt you," Ditzy questioned, "why would I hurt you?"
"Your one of them," the pony trembled.
"One of who?"
"The ponies that took over Ponyville. Just leave us alone!"
"I'm not going to hurt you," Ditzy assured, "I'm not one of them."
"Y-Your not?"
"No, now stop hiding behind that book, it's rude."
The pony moved the book out of the way to reveal blue eyes and brown hair that Ditzy found... attractive.
'Oh my... he's pretty handsome,' Ditzy thought, then noticed he was staring back at her.
"Something wrong," Ditzy asked.
"Wh-what," the pony shook his head.
"You were staring," Ditzy replied.
"Oh... sorry," the pony blushed.
"No, I don't mind. You are pretty cute your-," Ditzy covered her mouth before she could finish and was blushing from what she said.
"You think I'm... cute," the pony asked shocked.
"Oh, well, you know, um," Ditzy blushed.
"Wow, a mare never told me that before; especially one a pretty as you," the pony replied, then covered his mouth too.
"You think I'm pretty?"
"Well, yeah... you seem nice too," the pony smiled, seeming more confident, "Hey, would you like a drink?"
Ditzy took a glance at the clock and saw she had and hour and a half before she had to meet Fluttershy.
"Sure, by the way, I'm...," Ditzy paused for a second. She was going to say her fake name, but something about him... just something, "I'm... Ditzy Doo."
"I'm Doctor Whooves, but you can call me Whooves," the pony replied.
"Doctor? Like medical," Ditzy asked as she followed Whooves to a nearby bar, "Never see the day I'd see a doctor drink."
"No actually," Whooves replied, "I'm a Psychiatrists, but I don't drink."
"Really? Eh, I don't mind a glass or two," Ditzy chuckled.
"Well then," Whooves turned to the bar tender, "I'll take some apple cider and some wine for the lady."
"Sure thing," the tender replied, putting two glasses in front of the two and filling them with the requested drinks.
"Thanks," Whooves smiled, giving Ditzy her drink, "Cheers to the New Year."
"Cheers," Ditzy chuckled as their glasses came together before they took a sip.
"So," Whooves said after drinking some of the cider, "I don't see you around here and you're not one of the cloak ponies, why are you here?"
"I'm on some business for my godmother," Ditzy said.
"Godmother? You don't have your parents?"
"No," Ditzy said, feeling slightly down, "they passed away a few weeks ago."
"I'm so sorry... at least you got to know your parents," Whooves smiled.
"What do you mean," Ditzy asked.
Whooves smile faded when he said, "I don't know who my parents are. I was found in a strange box... but that's alright, I least I met somepony I can relate that with now."
"Nice save," Ditzy grinned.
"Why thank you," Whooves said with a bow.
"Your funny," Ditzy chuckled, "I like that in a stallion."
Whooves blushed at the complement, then said, "'so enough about me, what about you, you have any hobbies?"
"Nah, my eyes don't allow me to do anything really," Ditzy replied.
"That's hard to believe, because your eyes are so beautiful," Whooves smiled.
"Really," Ditzy blushed, "I've never been told that before."
"I'll be here to bring it up more often," Whooves chuckled, then looked at the clock as it was about to struck midnight, as his cheeks went red and he started to get nervous, "You know, there is a tradition here, when the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve."
"What might that me," Ditzy asked.
"Well, your suppose to kiss your date to the party... and nopony came with me so I was hoping... you know... you could be my date," Whooves nervously asked.
Ditzy blushing harder than before as she anxiously played with her mane and tried to hide her face behind it, "Um... well..."
Before she could finish, Ditzy was interrupted by the clock's bell signal that Midnight has arrived.
Ditzy looked at the clock, then looked back at Whooves, who was as red as she was. They stared at each other for second before their faces slowly inched towards to each other. They were close enough to feel each other's breath until Ditzy, to the surprise of Whooves, pulled back, rambling on about something.
"Mother of Celestia," Ditzy exclaimed, getting out her seat, "I'm so sorry Whooves, I got to go. I'm... I'm just sorry."
Ditzy ran out into the crowd, leaving a stunned Whooves at the bar.
Ditzy ran out to town hall to see something that left her horrified. Edward, Connor, Fluttershy, Shining, and a pony with pink hair and brown coat standing on an elevated platform while many others watched.
"Attention all ponies," A voice boomed, the voice of Big Mac, "These five ponies are outlaws to Ponyville. They attempted to overthrow the ponies that care for you, allow you to survive. Shining Armor, Edward Kenway, Connor Kenway, Fluttershy, and Mayor Mare."
The crowd was shouting, not at the five ponies, but at Big Mac, booing and hissing at him.
"These five ponies are sentence to be hanged for attempt at murder," Big Mac continued as Applejack reluctantly put the noose around each of the five prisoner's neck. Ditzy shook her head then realized she still had the cloak on and started to weave through the crowd.
"Ready Big Mac," Applejack huffed as Big Mac walked over to a lever.
"You lose, Edward," Big Mac chuckled, then pulled the lever.
(To Be Continued...)
Sequence 8
Fluttershy slowly open her eyes to see she was in a small wooden box that was moving a long a bumpy road while Shining was sitting across from her.
Sequence 9
Ditzy and Rainbow Dash made it back to Celestia's castle in record time as they barged into her bedroom doors.
