The muffled sounds of guards could be heard underneath the patrons of the tavern below me. "Shame, I thought we'd have more time" I sigh. "The griffons have gotten better at this, wouldn't you say Striker?" I say with mock pride as I lock the door. This was my third time dealing with a target in the griffin kingdom in three months. "Is it possible that they might save you?" The sounds of a bar fight filled the room, removing that possibility. "My condolences Lord Striker third seat of the griffin throne, but you wont survive much longer." I smurk knowing all to well that I have won.
"Do you now my creed Lord Striker?" I ask only now truly regarding the bound and gagged griffin laying before me. "No? well than I'll tell you good sir." I rise from my chair slowly "There is no truth, only desertion" I slowly made my way toward the deposed griffin 'noble'. "There is no peace, there is only war." I draw my blade with a wide sadistic grin. "There is no harmony, only chaos." My blade plunges in to the griffins chest with a muffled cry of agony. "The path I tread is paved in blood." I twist the blade slowly before pulling it back.
The bar fight beneath me was in full swing, the sound of several windows shattering was heard effortlessly. "Now how to make my escape? out the window, or fight through the brawl down stairs?" Stealth or show, they know I was sent to assassinate Striker. Namely due to my calling card, "a trail of bread crumbs" they call it. Although there are two trails one to me, the other is a red herring. "I have an appointment in a day or two." I sigh "The window it is then." Sickly green flames consume me, leaving a stately griffin in my place.
fling out the window the griffin turned to see the bar brawl just as a gray feathered griffin was throne through a window. he lay there as he sang a drunken tune.
"ah tide be a comen red as crimson,
ah tide be a comen for ye an me,
ah tide be a comen prey n't to ye gods,
for they can n't save ye."
the stately griffin started to sing as well.
"a tide is coming red as crimson,
a tide is coming for you and me,
a tide is coming prey not to your gods,
for they can not save you."
[}><><|><><{]
The news of the phantom had spread, yet another noble has died by his blade. just as the lady Lilith and Commissar Red Beak before him. "The train to Equestria is now boarding." the conductor called from the platform. The train only has three stops Stalliongrad, Ponyville, and Canterlot. Taking a secluded booth near the caboose I dropped my guise as the stately griffin. "Abidon you clever changeling, yet another job well done" I boast to myself pulling out a small square mirror. "Now then, if I re-call a certain princess is having trouble in paradise" I activate the spell in the mirror and wait for her to answer the call. "Hello? oh Abidon it's you. is everything alright?" Twilight said in a chipper mood. "Yes, I called to make sure we still had an appointment"
"Oh, yes we will be at home the day we scheduled with you." she replied almost ...eagerly? "Thank you for your time princess that was all I needed, good day to you." I drop the call and close my eyes, it was about four hours to Stalliongrad, an hour to my office in Asylum, and another three hours to Ponyville. Might as well sleep till Stalliongrad then right... "Abidon, on train? it is divine provenance, no?" a thick griffin accent announced it's self much to my displeasure.
"On the clock Wraith?" I ask with annoyance
"Ah, yes prince Blueblood" Wraith replied calmly
"Train wreck?" I inquire.
"Train wreck" He said, even with my eyes closed I know he was grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"BBBBUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!!" I yell as the train de-rails.
[}><><|><><{]
"Oh come on it was not that bad" the griffin called after me as we walked to Asylum. "Yuri you killed over seventy ponies and griffins, and that was in the derailing alone!" I yell in a disbelieving tone. "And let us not forget the three complete rolls and following the explosion" The griffin laughed at my recount of his work. "Ha, seeker is pleased no? I did job, killed train and pony target." This griffin, he sleeps with a different girl every night and has six kids that he knows of! He's never touched the bottle in his life!?! He just killed five hundred people and he's fine!?!
"So, Abidon you mirage counselor?"
"You have six children with six different women"
"That is truth, how steep is price"
"YURI I will kill you if you even try it!!"
|}{]<>|<>[}{|
The room was dark, the only as light provided by a single solitary candle resting on a ponies skull. "I warned them" an elegant voice sounded from the darkness "the Crimson Tide has come" the candle's light flickered in a non-existent draft. "the rivers run red with sweet crimson blood" the voice moaned in pleasure. "Faust herself couldn't stop this now" The flame is snuffed out my a pale white hoof.
Asylum a quaint town bigger than Ponyville, yet smaller than manehatten. Asylum played host to all the members of the infamous Crimson Four, the hooves of the seeker. We live and work in the town built around the Van El Asylum. the people of the town are diverse, the culture and mental well being is as well. point of reference Yuri.
"Abidon, why Steam Punk building?" Yuri asked, I assume to break the silence between us. " The entire town is Steam Punk Yuri, it has been sense you came here and it will be till you die." I explain once again to the daft griffin I work with. "bha, come to workshop, have new toy. you like this one." Yuri called as he wondered off to Empress knows where. "I have.... ten hours so office, then Yuri's, home, and finally the..." TRAIN!?! Oh gods no!
"Calm down Ponyville is a six hour trot from here, you can still make it if you skip the house you... never use."
[}><><|><><{]
My office, the west-end pent house, rarely sees patients so i live there. plenty of space to live in and run an office why wast it. Unlocking the door I could hear the radio playing. heading toward the privet office I notice something strange, there was a odd yet pleasant smell about the place. The office was, more or less, as I left it. The worthless rifle I bought resting on the desk. A diamond dog long rifle, a lever action signal shoot piece of junk. Don't git me wrong its a good gun just not on it's own. leaning on the side of my desk was it's partner a griffin repeater, lever action with fourteen rounds, it picked up the long rifle's slack.
What was out of place was the glass of crimson red wine on the desk with the long rifle. "So that was to smell." I realize upon seeing the glass "My dear Cherry was here." Many changeling can't notice the smell of strong emotions, only the taste of them. The love of any living thing has it's own fragrance and taste, for my Cherry its well cherries. "I must have just missed her." I sigh knowing I can't go see her. Taking a sip I gather what I came for, Twilight's file.
" obsessive, eager to please, well educated, dogmatic, born to opportunity" This mare, should I be impressed... or ashamed?
[}><><|><><{]
The walk to Yuri's went with out trouble... if you don't count the current company. "yo 'don how's it goin' dude" An annoying drake called form a known drug ally. "Not now Puff I'm busy." I growl in seething anger. "Oh come on man, let Uncle Puff help you out" the so called 'magic dragon' pleads. " Puff I don't want any thing you sell ever, got it!" I whisper in his ear with my blade to his throat. "yes" he squeaks out. "Now leave me alone Puff!" I turn to Yuri's workshop to get this toy I'd like.
Yuri's shop surprisingly didn't reek of, well B.O. and oil as most workshops did. "Ah, Abidon just in time" The griffin called from the back room. " Come see what I make for you." Stepping over the clutter of children's toys I join Yuri in.... a gun range? "Mosin-Nagant bolt action rifle from mother land" He said before handing me the rifle "Try hit target." Said target was about at ten meters down range!?! "Yuri how is this range in you back room?" I as... "don't ask Question."
The rifle hit any mark I went for with little margin of error. " I like." Yuri burst in to joyous laughter at my admission "how much are parts and ammo"
[}><><|><><{]
With little time to spare I left Asylum with my new rifle. I have about six and a half hours to get to ponyville, if I don't run in to trouble I can make with time to spare. The thing is I always run in to trouble at some point. Hell I meet Cherry During a gang war, that she started! on purpose!
"a flood of death waits,
it wants us all,
young and old,
the tide takes all."
"a tide is coming red as crimson,
a tide is coming for you and me,
a tide is coming prey not to your gods,
for they can not save you."
"Well look here boys, we've got our selves a bug" Bandits? That's rather tame for the Ever Free." now give us ye shinny bits and we kills ye all quicks like." A diamond dog calls form behind me. "I think not." The rifle on my back takes the dog's leg off. "Now why don't we paint the the ground crimson." The helpless cries of bandits flood the air along with the sweet sent of fresh blood. ponyville can wait a few minutes.