Pony Creed: Last of the Assassins
It was a fine and sunny day in Sweet Apples Acres. Applejack and her family was doing their chores like normal and Applejack and Apple Bloom hang out with their friends from time to time. Today Applejack life change when she discover family history and learns to live out her life as an Assassin.
Applejack just buck the last tree and all the Apples fell into the basket around it. See turn to see Big Mac pulling the cart up and wipe her head.
"Whoo wee! That was a lot of Apples to buck, right Big Mac?" Applejack said and ask.
"Eeeeyp!" He agreed.
"Well, these apples ain't going to get to to the farm by themselves." Applejack said and started to place the basket in the cart.
The work took ten minutes and they were about to head back when they heard some voices.
"Nice going! You kick the ball into the tree!" One voice said.
"I warn you that you were throwing it too hard!" The other argue.
Applejack walk over to the voices and saw two Fillies arguing.
"Hold on now, you two.", "Applejack said as she step up, "What's all the fighting about?"
"Well, we were playing ball and Sweet Tooth threw the ball to hard..." One filly said.
"...And Strong Legs kick our ball into your trees." Sweet Tooth finish.
"I see, Which tree did it land in?" Applejack ask.
"It a little hard to tell, there too many trees." Strong Legs answer, looking at the trees.
Applejack look into the tree as well and narrow her eyes, then something happen, Applejack watch as everything, except the fillies and Big Mac turn black and they turn blue. Applejack was then able to spot a golden orb in the tallest tree in the court yard. When she un-narrow her eyes, color flow back in. She shook her head before walking over to the tree and looking up.
"Great! It too high! We might go get a pegasus to get it down..." Sweet Tooth started to say before Applejack started to climb the tree.
Applejack hop from branch to branch as she got closer to the ball and the top of the tree. She reach the ball and and pick it up. When she look up, she could see all of the court yard and her farm. Applejack could tell that she was high and she felt like a eagle for some reason.
"Hey Applejack!" She heard and look back down.
"How long are you goin' to stay up there?" Big Mac ask.
Applejack look around and saw a pile of hay close by. She jump off and dive towards it, flipping her body so her back land in the hay first. She climb out and saw the fillies and Big Mac walk up to her.
"That was too cool!" Strong Legs said excited.
"How did you do that?" Sweet Tooth ask.
"Ah don't know, it felt natural. Like I done it before." Applejack answer and give them their ball.
"Really? Well thanks. Come on Strong Legs and this time don't kick too hard." Sweet Tooth said as they walk away.
"As long as you don't throw so hard." Strong Legs said back.
"Applejack, when did you climb trees?" Big Mac ask, knowing ponies can't climb.
"It was the same as that jump I just did, it felt natural." Applejack answer as they walk back to the cart full with Apples.
When they reach there, they spotted Snips and Snails eating a few of them.
"HEY!" Applejack shouted, cause the two to jump up and run.
"Get back here you thievin' vermin's!" Applejack shouted and give case.
Applejack was fast, but Snips and Snails was able to stay head thanks to slipping through roots and in between trees. Applejack started to think that the two was going to get away and once more climb up a tree and started to run on the branches as if she done it many times before. Thanks to that, Applejack was able to catch up and get in front of them and stop a few branches away. She waited until they come into view and jump off the branch and pin them down with her hooves. Luckily, she let off on some of her strength so she wouldn't hurt them. Doing so case them to drop their bags fill with Apples.
"So mind telling me why you been eating apples from my farm?" Applejack ask them.
"We were hungry." Snails said.
"Yeah! We are tired of the same old thing! We just wanted some apples." Snips added.
Applejack got off them and walk over to the two bags and pick them up.
"Next time fellers, ask me before you eat any." She said through her teeth and walked away, but not before kicking two apples toward them.
As she walk, she notices want she just did. She ran on top the trees and just pin two fillies to the ground just by jumping on them. Earlier she was able to see a ball by narrower her eyes and climb up a tree and then free fall into a pile of hay.
What up with me? When could I do those things?She ask in thought.
Later that night, Applejack was in the attic thinking about what has happen that day, she found it too weird. She decide that she was going to see Twilight tomorrow to see if she can find anything about this. Applejack stood up and the light blew out.
"Gosh dang it!" Applejack muttered under breath.
It was too dark to see and she didn't want to hurt herself. Applejack narrow her eyes again and this time she was able to make out shapes and a box highlight in gold. She walk over to it and pull it off the self, as she open it, the moon shine in and Applejack could see a white robe with red on it and a symbol on it. She lift it up and saw that it had a hood and look to be her size. She set it aside and pull out two hoof bands and place them on her hooves. When she move her hooves around and a blade from each of them shot out almost cutting her. She look on the bands and saw the same symbol. She move her hooves again and the blades retract. Applejack looked back in the chest and pull out a paper that look like training schedule. When she look closer she could see that the times was the same as her chores!
"What is all this?" Applejack ask as she look them again.
She place the stuff back in the chest and carry out of the attic and into her kitchen were the rest of her family was waiting.
"Hey Applejack, what you got there?" Apple Bloom ask.
"A chest that has a strange robe and and a schedule that looks like mine." She said and step it on the table and open it.
They look and was quiet surprise. Granny Smith was quiet as Applejack pull out the robe and lay it on the table. Apple Bloom and Big Mac look at it before Apple Bloom notices the hoof bands on her hooves.
"Applejack where did you get those?" She ask.
Applejack look and saw she still had the bands on.
"Oh, they came with the chest. They make these blades pop up from them." Applejack said and move her hooves until the blades shot out.
"Whoa!", Apple Bloom said as Applejack had them draw back in, "what are those?"
They are call hidden blades.", Granny Smith spoke up, "they are use by Assassins."
"Assassins? As in ponies that kill?" Apple Bloom ask scare.
"In a way, but these Assassins are different. They have one thing along them, 'Nothing is true, Everything is Permitted'. They're also know for wearing white robes that covers them and three rules. Stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent. Hide in plain sight, be one with the crowd. Never compromise the Brotherhood." Granny Smith explain.
"How do you know something like that?" Applejack asked.
"Because Applejack, our ancestor was an Assassin.", Granny Smith said, "and he took part in the Assassin-Templar War."
"The what war?" Apple Bloom ask.
"The Assassin-Templar War was fought in shadows of history. The conflict was largely fought by proxy through the manipulation of governments and organisations in order to achieve each Order's various aims. It was rare for the conflict to ever become particularly conspicuous, although there were occasions, such as the Third Crusade, where the Assassins and Templars openly fought alongside those they were manipulating." Granny Smith explain once more.
"The Third Crusade?", Applejack asked, "isn't that the time the Princesses was born?"
"True, but the war was hidden in secret, most don't know about it. The war is already over, but both the Assassins and Templars had gone into hiding." Granny Smith agree and told them.
"Who are the Templars?" Apple Bloom ask.
"A organization known as the Templar Order was likely founded by Chain, whose 'cutie mark' was later adopted as the Templars crest. Despite their aims being aligned, a difference in ideology quickly led to the Templars becoming an archenemy of the Assassins, who, as opposed to the Templars, sought to allow the ponies to retain free will." Granny Smith explain.
"So, your sayin' that all of us are Assassins?" Applejack asked.
"For now, it just you Applejack." Granny Smith told her.
"Huh?" Apple Bloom ask.
"Big Mac never had the training and Apple Bloom is too young. You are the only one that had, but we did it in secret." Granny Smith explain again.
Applejack was quiet for a few seconds, taking in everything.
"But that's enough for one night. Applejack, you can't tell any-pony. If the Templars come out of hiding and know who you are, can get all of us in trouble." Granny Smith said.
Applejack just sat there. She find it hard to believe that she was an Assassin. She look back on the robe and lift it up. She fold it up and place in her saddlebags and carry it to her room where she fell asleep.
The next morning, Applejack heads off to Twilight's hoping she has something about what she was told. Applejack just couldn't get that she was an Assassin. Is was too much, but so little. There was one thing that ran through her head, Nothing is true, Everything is Permitted. What did that mean? She wasn't sure, but thinks Twilight might have the answer. She reach Ponyville Library and saw Twilight leaving.
Where is she goin'? Applejack thought and started to following her.
Ponyville was livery today and there was lot of Ponies out. Which surprise Applejack, still she had find out where Twilight was going. Sticking in the crowd, she saw Twilight head into the Quill and Scroll shop. She wait outside until Twilight came out. She quickly hide behind the corner as Twilight look around. After seeing no-pony around, she move on. Applejack follow again until Twilight reach the Train Station. Applejack got in line and heard Twilight order a ticket to Canterlot. Twilight left the line and got on the train. As the Train pull out Applejack jump on the next cart and took a seat. She open her saddlebags and pull out the robes. After look over it for while, she took off her bands and hat and place the robes on and place her hat in her saddlebags. The train soon stop and she got off. She was now at Canterlot. She spotted Twilight with a few Guards. She lean on a wall and listen.
"Twilight Sparkle, thank you for coming. My name is Cross Guard, I'm Princess Celestia's new royal guild." The teal pony said.
"Thank you. I take Princess Celestia is waiting for me?" Twilight ask.
"Yes, come along." Cross Guard said and lead Twilight away from the Train Station.
Applejack got off the wall and follow them. She stop quickly as a few guards stood in front of the path she needed to follow. Thinking that her robes could get in trouble, she thought it best to stay out of their line of sight. She look around and notice a few windows near house that going over the path. Applejack climb up them and ran along the roofs until she catch up with Twilight and Cross Guard. As she follow them she listen even more.
"So, Princess Celestia speaks highly of you. Say's you're her prize pupil." He said.
"Well, I..." Twilight said blushing a bit.
"And your have been sending Friendship Reports if I recall hearing." Cross Guard said again.
"Yes, me and my friends been send them. If it wasn't for them, I never learn how great it wonder be to have friends." Twilight said.
"Ah friends. Well, we must continue. We can talk later." Cross Guard said.
"Ok." Twilight said.
Applejack follow them the whole way. They soon enter the castle doors and Applejack lean on the side of the roof, looking over castle.
I know I been in the castle many times, but I think it not wise to go in looking like this. I guess I have to sneak my way in. Better not hurt any guards or alert them., Applejack thought.
Applejack look around and saw a haystack and what she did before play in her mind. She walk toward the end and jump off and into the hay. She jump out and walk toward the wall and started to climb with out the guards looking. Applejack was still confuse on how she could climb. Ponies were not climbers, she knew that much. She reach an window and found it open and slip inside. She quickly hid behind an pillar as two day guards walk push her. Applejack move from her hiding spot and started to walk towards Canterlot Castle Library. A few times, she hid behind pillars until the guards pass. She reach the library, but before entering, she heard more voices.
"Your student is very nice, Princess."
"Thank you Cross Guard. "
Applejack walk over to an door and look over an rail to see Princess Celestia talking to Cross Guard. She listen in careful.
"I must say you train the right pony to lead someday." Cross guard said.
"I chose Twilight to help her learn about friendship, not to lead." Celestia said.
"Well, I guess she won't be much of an problem then." Cross Guard said, getting Applejack ready for anything.
"What do you mean?" Celestia ask confuse, but ready.
"You have falsely lead the ponies for many years, it time for us to return and lead the ponies the right way." Cross Guard said as two guards step up.
"Us?" Celestia ask, as Applejack thought the same thing.
"Yes, Us. We are members the Templars. We been hiding along side the ponies and now we are coming out of hiding.", Cross Guard said and turn to the two guards, "Kill her."
Applejack was surprise to heard that they were Templars and was about to kill Celestia. She had to stop them. She knew what she had to do. She get on the rail and waited until the two guards was in sight. Once they were, she drop down with her hidden blades out. She land on them with her blades entering their necks. Because they were wearing armor, a small noise was heard. Cross Guard turn and saw an white robe pony stood up. He watch as the blades disappear in it hooves. But the one thing catch his eyes was the symbol on her belt, the symbol of the Assassin's!
"Impossible! You're an Assassin!" He shouted, surprising Celestia.
Applejack said nothing as Cross Guard drew an knife and charge at her. Applejack duck under the knife and push him back with her body. Cross Guard swing his knife again and this time Applejack block with her hidden blade and disarm him, before pushing him against a wall.
"Leave the princess alone." She said in a deep voice.
She hit Cross Guard in the head, knocking him out. She release him and turn to Celestia. She said nothing else and turn to walk away.
"Wait." Celestia said, stopping Applejack.
"Why did you help me?" She ask.
"Because I'm an different type of an Assassin." She said still using her deep voice.
Celestia watch as the "Assassin" walk into the shadows and disappear. She was confused on who the Templars and Assassin's were. But something told her that this wasn't the last she seen of them.
Applejack stop at a inn and order some Apple Cider. She was still in her Assassin robes, but pay no mind. She had lots to think about. She decide wait until she has more information before telling the others. Her cider was place in front of her and took a sip. She didn't know that her time as an Assassin was about to play a much bigger role.
Deep in secret place hidden from the rest of Equestria, six ponies sat at a table talking about relieving themselves.
"We have hidden long enough, it time to return to our land!" One of them said.
"We must wait for a while longer until the false rule die by our spy hooves." Another said.
"Grand Master!" Another pony said running up to an pony in a black robe and hand him an note.
The Grand-Master open and read it. He was surprise on what he read first before smiling.
"My brothers, it appears we may have to show ourselves even with our spy failure." He said.
"Our spy fail? How?!" Another one shouted.
"An Assassin has also revile itself." The Grand Master said.
"Then we must move now. If the Assassin's are reliving themselves, then we must move." An third said.
"Very well. Our meeting is over." The Grand Master said as they stood up.
"May the Father of understanding guide us." The Grand Master said.
"May the Father of understanding guide us." The others said.
