Hand of the Master

The time is just a few days after Discord was released by Twilight and her friends, in a village far away, screams are heard and a village burns. Guards call for reinforcements. A metal pony comes running, slicing a guard in two and stands there as a little foal screams. The metal pony doesn't think twice but stabs the little foal in the chest, lifts it up staring as it takes its final breath. Music plays throughout the town causing every pony to fight against each other. When the smoke cleared and the screams stop, the figures appear in the moon light. A Unicorn male, and a Pegasus female walk throughout the village making sure no one is left alive.

Marry, the Pegasus, walks around the burning village, her metal doll following next to her. She looks at Pied who is playing his flute in front of a town day guard. The guard pulls out his boot knife and slices his own throat, falling to the ground bleeding out.

"Well is this how you spend your time, Pied? We don't have time for you to enjoy every kill," Marry said, looking at Pied.

Marry than looks at her lifeless metal doll. Her metal doll is one of her best creations, modeled after the Grim Reaper. She uses it as an artistic way of killing. She has many other dolls, but this one just seems right. Who would be scared of a wooden scarecrow, or even her dancer doll? Pied on the other hand loved music, and he had found a way to infuse his magic with his flute. He called it his own art. Physical harm was great but tormenting a soul before it kills itself had a little more pleasure. Pied was an egotist that way.

Pied tucked his flute into his jacket. "My Dear sister, you know i love to enjoy my work. Besides i found out where our target is." His voice has an elegance that could entice even the most strong willed mare. "He seems to be a lap dog for some flashlight princess," he spits. "Disgraceful, to think a lord could fall so far." he kisses Marry's cheek as he walks away from her.

Marry blushes as her doll sinks into the ground and she walks behind him. "So where are we heading now, my brother?"

Pied smiles "A little place called Ponyville."

~~~~~~~~

"Twi, wanna go to the festival? I hear Rarity made a dress for ya." Apple Jack opens Twilight's tree house door. She sees a royal guard talking to Twilight. "Everything ok?"

Twilight nods at the guard and turns to Apple Jack as the guard walks out and flies off. "Everything's fine. The guard was just delivering a letter to me from my brother. Apparently there's a group killing off villages. There have been 3 attacks this month, and every time a guard finds out, the group leaves no trace.... And no survivors."

"Thats just plain stupid Twi. I mean if they show up here we can just zap them right?" Applejack stuck her tongue out at Twi.

"AJ, it's not Ponyville I'm worried about, it's my brother." Twilight grabbed a book, "Here take a look. The signs at every village are the same.... which makes me think its the quartet, a group that... For them, killing is an art"

Applejack laughs "Sugercube, that group died out like hundreds of years ago." Applejack pats twilight

Twilight smiles, "Your Right."

~~~~~~~~

Pied, and Marry step off the train in Canterlot.

"Well brother, looks like this is Canterlot." Marry looks at the sign. "And it looks there throwing a Festival, For the Sun."

Pied smiles as the train assistant walks over.

"Welcome to Canterlot. Here for the summer sun Celebration?"

Pied pulls out his flute. He makes it play with his magic and starts to play for the Pony as her eyes turn a grey color.

"You really shouldn't approach strangers. It's deadly for you health"

The pony pulls out its pen. Marry stops her. "Brother, why not use her? We need a guide." Marry rubs the pony and winks at her brother.

Pied sighs, "Fine I won't kill her, but leave me out of your crazy game tonight. I'm still recovering from your game 3 nights ago."

The three ponys walk along. Pied watched as marry talked to the other female pony as if one of her dolls. Pied indulged his sister seeing as he doesn't get to visit a big city too often. After hours of shopping and dealing with his sister screaming over every shop, they finally get to an inn. Pied opened the door and laid on the bed. Marry jumped on top of him, nuzzled up to him and kissed his cheek. Pied ignored her advances.

"Sister enough, i have a lot on my mind." Pied looked at Marry as she sighed. As she started to fall asleep, Pied grinned devilish. "Were close. One more train days ride, and I'll have the lords head in a bag."

~~~~~~~

That same night, we are in the head quarters of the royal guard. Shining Armour is seen talking to a hooded black figured Pegasus. In front of them is a map of equestria. Shinings helmet is laying next to the map.

"I can't beleive we were late again. This is the 3rd village." Shining slams his hoof into the table, knocking over a glass. The hooded figure catches it with his magic and sets it back up and puts the liquid back in it. "Thanks."

The hooded figure flaps his wings. "It's alright, my friend. You should get some sleep. Besides, I heard your wife came to town. She could use a little bow chika bow wow." The hooded figure laughed as Shining threw his helmet at him. "Hey, there is no need for this. You called me here, remember? If you dont want to give it to her i will!" A glowing wink came from under the hooded figures hood.

"Really, your lucky. We are old Friend, and lord Astral asked for you to come here. Speaking of which, how do you know the lord?"

"We go a while back." the figure removed his hood. "It takes a fallen Prince to understand a fallen Prince." Under the hood a horn is shown. The pony yhas a white right eye, with a green glow coming off of it and a black and bluish left eye.

Shining jumps a bit. "Bro that eye of yours, it's freaky."

"Yeah, well it's a gift from that changeling Queen. She took my sight in it after i chased her down when she attacked us here in canterlot. When I found her I was going to kill her, But she gave me a changeling eye. Now I can see in ways others can't." he chuckles

Shining shakes his head and looks at the map. He yells loudly. "I THINK I KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING." He grabs a marker and makes a line from the first village to the second, to the recent one. "They're heading here. They could be after the elements." Shining rubs his chin "Or, they're after Twily and her friends."

~~~~~~~