Through My Eyes.

Chapter Four: Clean-up.

“Can you believe it? The great assassin Falchion. Falling to a single blade.”  Says a white stallion, as he slowly works away the ashes of the old tavern.

“Will you hush up about that already? We ain’t here to gab around. We just clean up, and go. You got the body, right?” A gray mare replies, as she drags out whatever remains of the fallen stallion.

“I know. I know. . But, this is a stallion of legend! We only heard stories of him during our time at the guild. The untouchable assassin. The Phantom Blade Falchion. If we were here on different terms, I might actually feel sad over his lose. But you’re right. Let’s finish cleaning this mess up before any pony arrives. That would only make this clean up harder.” The stallion sighs out, looking at the charred body of the stallion.

“That’s true. He was apparently the best of the best. The lords protege must be really. . . Talented, to bring him down.” The mare says, as she skilfully wraps the stallions body into a bag.

“I’m more than just talented. I was trained by him. He took me in. He turned all my raw, unrefined energy, into deadly skills of precision.” A mare walks out from the shadows, azure fur, and darker azure mane. With matching dark azure eyes. “The likes of which became his demise. He always tried to hold me back. And, I showed him the power I am capable of. Now, quite your talking, and finish cleaning. Before you meet the same fate as him.” And, in her azure grasp, was the long, wavy sword. “This blade craves blood as much as I do. Do not tempt me into feasting on a co-operative to the lords cause.”

“Yes, Lady Creese.” The mare whimpers out as she stands, and looks at her with fear as she steps close. Quickly moving out of her way.Watching her walk into  what was once the  tavern, was now barely a frame, and ashes on the ground.

She steps through the ashes, until she reaches the bar table. “Hmm. My flames didn't even affect this.” She closes her eyes, and lets her aura surround the bar. “An enchantment. A strong one. What are you hiding, Falchion?”

She brings her blade up. A low hum could be heard. She closes her and lets her magic energy flow out, more and more, all going into the blade. “You taught me to well, old master. I know everything. This spell should do just the trick.” She chuckles to herself. After concentrating longer, she opens her mouth and speaks words full of power.

“Secrets you know, secrets you have. Secrets you conceal, and secrets you hide. All shall be seen, and all shall be known. With one simple touch, I’ll see what’s inside.”

The mare brings her blade down swiftly. Stopping the moment it touches the bar table. She stands for a moment, slowly opening her eyes, giving a crooked frown. “Hm? That should’ve-” She’s silenced the moment the bar splinters, and explodes into thousands, and thousands of pieces. “Shit!” She yelps, as she covers her face, feeling the splinters wize by her. It’s cutting pieces stinging her. “Hmph. I should’ve known you would’ve put a counter spell on this.” She mumbles to herself.

“Great Faust! That’s Creese!” The mere whispers to the stallion.

“Who?” He asks with a confused gaze.

“You don’t know who. . .” The mare sighs. “She’s the lords protege! His personal student. . She’s the one who killed Falchion.” She continues in whispers.

“Her?! She’s doesn't even look like she comes close to being the same age as us! She’s so young.” He says, almost shouting out in his surprise.

“Well. Looks are deceiving. She’s older than both of us. Not by much though. Only by a couple years or two.” The mare shrugs. “Anyways. Let’s hurry and finish-.” Before the mare can finish her sentence, they both her the small explosion from the bar table. Both feeling, and hearing, as the splinters fly by them. Cutting them up. “Fuck! That hurt! What was that!?”

“I don’t know. But, damn Celestia, that hurt.” The stallions says, as he looks over all the small cuts that now litter his body.

“Everything is fine. Don’t worry. . But. . “ Creese speaks from inside, looking down at the ground where the bare table once stood. “It seems my old master wants what ever he is hiding, to stay hidden. The table was under two protective spells. And this.” She points down, motioning to the large ground safe, that must’ve been hidden under the bar. “Has another one on it. Probably should’ve been destroyed. But, my spell negated the first, and most of the second. That explosion  would’ve been far, far worse than just a couple splinters.”

Neither the stallion or mare standing on the outside of the courage to speak up to her. “If you’re wondering how I’m going to open this one, I’m going to need some help.” They watch as she places her blade to the side of herself, and vanishes into thin air. “What? Surprised that I can do that? Remember, I was trained by Falchion, the Phantom Blade. I was able to learn some of his greatest abilities. Now, you.” She points at the stallion, and motions him over.

slowly, he walks up to her. Feeling the soft ashes under his hooves. Limping slightly from one large splinter in his leg. “Mm. You poor thing. That must hurt.” She says. But, instead of true concern, She only gives  of a cold humor. “Help me open up this safe, and I’ll help the pain in that go away.” He is struck with instant fear, just being this close to her presence. “What’s your name?” She asks with a coy little smile.

“D-Deterge. L-lady Creese.” He stammers out, and she laughs.

“What a lovely name. What you need to do, is simple. All that you need to do, is stand at the safe, and channel some magic energy into it. Should be simple, at least. Can you do it?” Her voice becomes firm, and commanding. he nods slowly, and walks to the safe. “A little closer. As close as possible, really. For this to work.” She calls to him, and he practically stands above the safe. “Perfect.” She says to herself, and licks her lips.

She watches as he charges up his horn, slowly watching his white energy flow into the safe. The mare charges up her own horn. Looking back at the gray mare, Creese puts her hoof to her mouth, mouthing a ‘shh’ to the gray mare.

The gray mare watches, in complete silence and horror, as the azure mare summons her blade, and quickly jabs it through her stallion comrade. He lets out a yelp, and she watches as the blade disappears further, and further, into his body. Until it sticks through out of his chest. He slumps over slowly, falling to the ground. The blade left floating in its position in the air. The azure mare smiles, and watches as the stallions blood slowly flows around the safe. She brings her blade up, and licks it clean, a cold cruel smile on her face.

A small glow appears around the safe, and a loud click could be heard as it unlocks. “I’m sorry about your friend, or whoever he was to you. But, his sacrifice was very worthy to our lords cause. You’ll understand. Now. Come and clean this up, before I open the safe.”

The gray mare nods in complice, completely in fear that she will meet the same fate as the stallion. They weren't friends, she thought. She barely knew him from the guild, and she was the one who convinced him to quit the assassins guild with her, and join the Union of the Blood Lord. She was asked to bring as many ponies as she could with her when she was offered to join in. She could honestly care less about his death. But, just seeing some pony die in front of her, and have the one that killed said pony stand behind her, was very nerve wracking.

“Say, what’s your name?” She her’s the stallions murder, the azure mare, Creese speak to her. She gulps, having being asked the same question that the stallion was asked, only mere moments before his swift death.

“V-Vanilla. Lady Creese. Vanilla is my name.” She speaks out, as she finishes cleaning up the blood, where the stallions body once was. Now slumped over in a bag next to the other one.

“Vanilla. What a cute name, to a cute mare. What do you say about becoming my personal assistant, Vanilla? You seem very compliant, and you would be nice to keep around. Plus, my last assistant. . . Well, I was less than pleased with his performance. And, his fate was worse than either of theirs.” She says as she points to the two body bags. “So. Do not disappoint me, Vanilla.”

She was literally given an offer she can’t refuse. “That. . That sounds great, Lady Creese. I would love to be your assistant.” Vanilla smiles, trying to hide her fear away. Creese walks up to her, and places her hoof on her cheek.

“Vanilla. You have no reason to be afraid of me. Just as long as you listen to every order, and follow them. You should have no problems. Plus, I reward compliant servants greatly.” Creese closes her eyes, and kisses the gray mare softly. “Mm. Your name also seems to imply your scent, and taste, other than just your talent.”

Creese laughs to herself. “Go ahead and finish cleaning up her. I will be back at the Unions sanctuary, in my room. You are invited to come stay there at your leisure. I’ll even have a bed set up for you there. . Though, you’ll most likely be sharing mine.” Creese licks her lips as she walks away slowly.

“And remember. Do not disappoint me.” She leaves with that final warning, Vanilla still stood there in shock.

Vanilla figures she shouldn't ever bring up the fact that she isn’t into mares to Creese. Guessing that she will just have to learn how to. She closes her eyes, regains her composure, and starts to finish up her job.