A face you'll never see

One month later

        I look through my binoculars scouting the royal castle. I look from the gates to the gardens, and then to the floors above. While scouting I counted 75 guards. 25 are spread out in the garden. Another 25 are posted outside of the palace but inside the walls. The rest are pegasi patrolling the air around multiple floors of the castle. The castle itself was built poorly in war designs, but very beautiful in cultural aspects. The castle’s foundation was built upon crystal caves, and if that wasn’t bad enough on one side of the castle’s view is blocked because of the top of the mountain.

“These ponies seem to have no experience with war. That just makes this easier.” I lower my binoculars looking down to a map of the castle grounds that I ‘borrowed’ from Princess Twilight’s castle. The first floor was mainly a greeting hall which then moved into the throne room. I look to the second floor map to see what to expect.

After looking all the way to the top floor I find what I’m looking for. In a room directly down the hall from Princess Celestia’s room was a research room which happens to have all of my gear in it. I fold the maps to fit in my suitcase’s secret department, planning to slip by unnoticed.

“Here comes the thunder,” I grab my suitcase while I jump to the building next to mine. Looking around I scout for pegasi patrols. I run across the rooftops while taking a fake tail (custom made) and strapping it just above my waistline. I adjust the fake ears as well trying to get them to stay still. Soon I reach my drop point into an alleyway leading to the streets. I drop my suitcase into a dumpster while I swing my body over the edge. I scale the building making it to the alley when I hear a noise from behind me.

I whip around bringing my knife up to a fighting position, but I was meet with a mare no older the 17 staring at me in fear. I realize the fear was from the knife, as slowly as I can I sheath the knife. I come out of my fighting stance to make me look less frightening to the girl. I assume that she was still afraid of my but her gaze turned from fear to curiosity.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” I look to the mare again to notice that her hair was a deep hazel nut brown. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of blue. Her skin (or now as I found out, is fur) was a alluring slick shade of midnight black. Her appearance was almost stunning to look at. The only thing that kept my jaw from dropping was because she looks as if she hasn’t eaten for days. It was then that I notice a scar running across her throat.

“.....” Can she not talk?

“Umm… I’m sorry to ask this, but can you talk?” The look on her face says it all. She sat down and curled up, and then proceed to cry. Me being a sucker for crying women I just had to help her. I check my watch to see the  time, 10:46. Crap crap crap! I’m almost out of time! I run to the dumpster and grabbed my suitcase. I then wrenched it open trying to find what I needed. I find a slip of paper and a few bits. I glance over my shoulder to see the mare still crying. I sigh as I’m about to take a big risk. I reach for my pen writing a note to the mare.

“Miss ?, It has come to my attention that you are mute, but I offer you a choice. I will admit that when I first saw you I had to keep my jaw off the ground. I will aslo like to say that I see the scars that you wear but do not let them hold you down. Now on to my choice. I will give an address to my safehouse in Stalliongrad. If you choose to go there you need to have the password. Once inside I ask you to make yourself at home. If you decide not to go then I need you to burn this note and throw it away. The password for my house is *********** and for the address *** ****** **** **. I have one last thing to write before I leaves this with you.

Do you want to learn how to make those scars fade?

Sincerely Raven

I place the note beside the mare as I pack up everything. I walk out into the crowd casting one last glance to the mare seeing that she is reading my note. I face away from the mare as I continue to walk towards the castle. While walking I decide to survey the area looking for possible escape routes, for when I leave the castle and worst case scenario happens. I decide on a roof escape since most of some of the castle windows are level with the roofs of the buildings.

I soon make it to the castle gates with multiple escapes and scenarios playing through my mind. That is the curse of being an assassin. You can’t stop think of escapes and stuff like that while on a job or not.

“Halt! Do you have an appointment?” I look to the guard on my right and reply to him with a friendly smile.

“Why of course sir. I believe it is under Mr. Ravenclaw.” I wait patiently as he checks the appointments. I feel the other guards gaze on my but I do not pay heed to it.

“Alright, here’s your name Mr. Ravenclaw. I will lead you to the throne room.” I step back as they open the gates. I follow the guard to the front doors watching as a servant opens them for us. I thank the servant as I pass him and step into the greeting hall. The guard leads me up the stairs leading to the throne room, but before we enter the other guards’ view I push my plan into action.

“Oh dear, this is not good.” I halt and back track while pretending to scan the floor.

“What is it sir?” I mentally grin.

“Oh it seems I dropped my coin pouch on the way here. Could you possible help me in locating it. I am sure that I dropped it somewhere between the stairs to in here.” I scurry around some more to try and convince the guard to ‘help’ me.

“Very well sir, but we need to hurry. Your appointment is in a couple of minutes.” I start to lead us back towards the stairs watching for anymore guards who decided to show up.

“Here you take the left, I’ll take the right,” I told the guard. I watch as he moves forward to look for my ‘coin pouch’. I look around for any extra guards patrols. Satisfied that none were watching, I move my right hand to the back of my left side grabbing my knife. I slowly walk toward my prey as he is distracted. I raise my knife to a striking position, and plunge.

I grab his mouth to shut out any screams or cries for help as I drag my knife across his throat. While cutting my thoughts drifted to the mare with the scar. I shake it off and finish. During his final moments of life I drag him to a maid closet a little ways away from the kill site. I throw him into the closet while I look around one more time. I walk in closing the door behind me.

I come out of the closet in a full guard’s uniform (I even managed to clear out the blood stains). I head back towards the stairs to try and reach the top floor. After about ten minutes of climbing I hear voices coming down the stairs.

“Really Shining I have no problem with your sister. She’s the one that came on to me.” I look around for a hiding place. I spot a nice one, but it was already too late. I snap to attention hoping to appear like a normal soldier.

“Sir!” I salute the captain of the royal guard, but I don’t know who the other man was.

“At ease private.” I took my leave as I started to climb faster and faster.

Shining P.O.V

“Hey Flash.” I call to my subordinate.

“Yes sir?” I recall the guard we meet on the way down, but I can’t shake this feeling.

“Do you remember that guard we passed awhile ago?” I look forward to the throne room doors.

“Yes sir why?” We stop just outside of the doors to continue.

“Did he seem weird to you?” I look to the other guards posted outside finding nothing wrong.

“No sir, but he did seem a little jumpy to me.” I sigh.

“I don’t know who he is, but I’ll ask the Princesses.” I turn back to the doors and push.

Raven’s P.O.V

 10 minutes later

I reach the final step of the stairs coughing. I now see why they use magic for everything. I try to righten my breath enough to walk to a chair. I sit in the chair for a little while trying to not pass out. I stand up determined to walk to my goal. I turn down the hallway to see a big set of doors with a sun emblem on them. Must be Princess Celestia’s room. I walk forward to stop at a door just a little ways down from the sun doors. This door didn't look all that special compared to the others, but when you find out the technology hidden behind this door you would cry. I grab the knob only for it to shock me. I grumble as I reach my hand up to do it again. I grab the knob again to be shocked once more, but this shock was a lot less painful. I wait there holding on to the door knob looking like an idiot waiting till it stops.

After the shocks stop I open the door. Inside was a research table lined with my gear. The hidden blade, sniper rifle, and my phone were taken apart piece by piece. I hurry over the the blade so I could fix it and the others. After what feels like forever I manage to put my hidden blade and sniper rifle back together. My phone though is a different story. I throw all of my phones parts into my suitcase and headed for the door.

Once through the door my attention is drawn once again to the golden doors. I look to the guards outside of the doors to see what rank they were. I then check my own rank. This is totally uncalled for, but I want to mess with Celestia. I grin under my helmet as I start to walk to the doors. I call to the guard on the right of the doors.

“I am here to take you post. You’re relieved.” I look to see if he bought it. The guard breathes a happy sigh and starts to leave when the other guard stops him.

“On whose orders are you here?” He’s not as dumb as he looks.

“I am here under the captain’s orders.” I hold my breath as the guard tries to see if I’m telling the truth or not. The other guard starts to grow nervous beside him, shuffling from one foot to the other. After what feels like a lifetime the guard lets up.

“Ok then. Your orders are to stand there until relieved. Is that understood?” I mentally sigh as I walk over to my post. I wait a minute or two for the other guard to walk out of hearing range. I then raise my right arm pointing at the guard as I ready the poison dart.

“What are you doing?” I chuckle out loud as I fire the dart straight into his throat. I watch as the guard tried to tear out the dart only to start foaming at the mouth and fall to the floor. I peek inside Celestia’s chambers to see if sunbutt was in her room. Satisfied I lift the body of the guard of the floor and onto my shoulder. I lay him on the floor as I grab a chair and position it to face the door. I look around for a piece of paper and a pen. I find some on Celestia’s desk right next to some shipping records. I reach for the paper and pen but my attention was drawn back to the shipping papers. I set the paper and pen aside as I shuffle through the documents. I come across mostly boring shipments, but one caught my attention.

I put all of the other papers aside while I scan the paper in my hand. While reading over I came across weapon shipments from Equestria to a place named Draconika. In the shipments where lists of different types of magic enhancements in huge amounts. While checking the papers I hear a door close outside. I fold the shipment paper and place it in my bag with my rifle. I grab the paper and pen that I sat aside earlier. I write a quick note, and then pinned it on too the guard in the chair. I walk past the chair catching one last glance at the note. I grin as I walk to the balcony doors. I open the doors to reveal a less satisfying sight. In front of me was the city of Canterlot with its snoob nobles. I grab the rail as I jump of the balcony.

Dear Celestia,

You need some better guards, and you might want to check the maid closet under the stairs on the first floor. Maybe this will teach you a lesson not to steal my stuff and then lock it in your castle. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Sincerely Raven