The first thing that indicated my life hadn’t ceased, was the sound of air rushing past my ears, as well as the feeling of falling, from a unknown height in the air. This confused me greatly as my eyes opened, only to widen them when I realized I was falling from high in the air, heading straight for an unknown land. And the first thing I could think of doing, was panic.
My arms flailed as I tried to figure out how this even happened to me, all the while I was also trying to find a possible spot that’d save my life. And to my great and undying relief, there was, a single lake in a massive forest that seemed to be very deep in view. This was not expected, but the second thing will most likely save my life.
With a deep breath, I flipped through the air, and then positioned myself for the dive, hands placed together, and my entire body straightening as my descent sped up immensely. I took a few quick breaths as I knew the water was just a few miles or yards away, and this was most likely not going to be the end of my confusion. And then I felt the water explode around me, before sealing immediately.
I quickly found out it was far deeper than expected, because I seemed to only go down halfway from the fall, not like it matters at the current time, but better to note everything than to be blind.
I soon used my arms to push me upwards, while kicking my way up through the water, swimming at the fastest speed I could muster, until I finally reached the top, and gasped for breath. I then swam to shore, and collapsed to the ground.
Alright, this was very confusing for sure, waking up high in the air, heading straight for a massive lake, and then finding myself almost out of breath and in the middle of a dark, damp, and strangely silent forest. It was confusing, the forest, not revealing any of the sun filled sky except over the water where no trees could block it. As for the walls of the forest, it was the thickest amount of shrubbery and vegetation I’ve ever seen. And I thought the West Indies were thick on their islands.
I also noticed that all I had were my robes, equipment, and a couple bottles of Mead. How the hell did I even get those bottles?
Taking a quick note around, I noticed that it was far quieter than I’d ever like, too quiet for sure. So, I lifted my hands over my eyes, and looked around… only to go completely still, and lower my hands to my face.
And then I screamed.
What stood in front of my eyes was a lone, white stump, almost like a horse’s hoof. It scared me even more when I actually MOVED it! I was a horse!
I began to pat my body in an attempt to find out what’s what, and it was confirmed when I found big, floppy ears, a muzzle, and a long, black tail. I grabbed the tail, and stared at it as I began to hyperventilate… on the verge of screaming again, only to sigh heavily, and toss it over my shoulder. “Oh forget it, screaming won’t get me anywhere.”
I stared at the ground, very unhappy with my new body and, to my greater disappointment, different gear, and kicked some of the dirt into the air. I wanted to scream, I truly did, but my mentor always told me to expect the unexpected… even if this wasn’t what he meant.
After a few hours, I rubbed my eyes, and looked up at the hole in the forest, seeing that night was coming, and I had to find a place to stay, or possibly make camp. Oh god, can I still eat meat?!
I shook my head as I looked around, got to my… hooves, and immediately tripped when I attempted to move, collapsing to the ground, and gave out a groan. I puffed out some air, and tried again, earning another collapse to the ground, only this time one of my satchels fell off. I pushed myself to a sitting position, and tried to grab the satchel, only for it to slip out of my hooves, and I gave out a growl. I tried again, and again, and again, until finally I settled with biting onto it, and put it on with my mouth, since I had no opposable thumbs anymore.
After a few times of fumbling with the satchel, I was pleased to have it back against my flank, and looked at the forest again. Only to hear the sound of a wolf howling, which made my eyes widen, and fear ran up my spine. If I was in my old body, I wouldn’t be so scared, but given I am in a new body, I was going to have to improvise, and let my adrenaline take over.
I quickly got to my hooves, and felt them tremble ever so slightly, before I shook myself, and put on a brave face, knowing I had to ignore this feeling of fear, just like my mentor would tell me. Never fear the enemy.
With a brief feeling of bravery, I took my first step forward, and immediately fell face-first into the ground. Still need to learn about walking before I could actually move.
And that was when they came out.
I wasn’t sure if I should feel fear, or confusion when I saw the seven wooden wolves, who all glared at me and began to surround me. Trying to ignore the absurdity of these creature’s bodies, I tried to get to my hooves, and just barely made it. I took a few calming breaths, and watched as each of the wolves kept their gazes on me, waiting for me to make the first move. I tried my best to think of a way to get past them, but was immediately stopped when one leaped forward.
I pushed myself out of the way, almost jumping as the wolf caught itself before it’s jaws could slam into the dirt, and it glared at me. I gulped as I stepped back, almost tripping again, and then felt my leg scream in pain when a pair of wooden teeth ripped through the cloth of the pant leg, and I screamed.
I kicked the wolf off after a bit of pain, and limped backwards, away from the wolves, until my back was towards the lake, giving me full view of the wolves. They looked very hungry now, and the one that bit me had even more hunger than the rest. Fuck’s sake…
Just then I heard the sound of wings flapping, which made my eyes widen, while the wolves howled in fear, running for their lives towards the forest, and leaving me even more confused then before.
Then I heard a female voice behind me. “Are you alright?”
I casted my glance behind me, and my pupils shrunk to the size of pinpricks when I saw a white horse standing right behind me, elegant wings, and a long horn upon her features. She had a kind and gentle smile as she looked at me.
“Are you alright, my little pony?”
My response, was a scream.
I began galloping towards the forest, hoping to get out of the place, only to trip over my wounded leg, and I collapsed to the ground, feeling dirt rise in the air as I did so.
There was a great silence, before the… mare? Spoke in a softer tone. “Please, don’t be frightened. I wish to help you.”
I coughed out a little dirt as I knew I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere, so I was sure as bloody hell stuck here. “What do you want?”
There was more silence upon hearing my question, before the white mare stood in front of me, and she offered a soft smile again. “I saw you falling through the air from Canterlot, and was both worried and surprised at the thought. I was worried because I thought the fall would kill you. But for my surprise, I do not see any wings on you, only a horn.”
I gave another cough as I glanced up at the horn on my forehead. “Why does this keep getting more and more confusing?”
She smiled again. “I honestly do not know, but it may be best to get you back to Canterlot for treatment. I promise to make sure nothing bad happens to you, you have my word.”
I stayed silent in response, thinking of my odds of refusing and accepting, before liking the higher one more. “Alright, I also should say I have no idea how to walk… I’ll explain later.”
She simply nodded, quite confused by what I said. “Very well then. Hold still.”
I did just that, and almost screamed again when I was lifted off the air, all the while feeling some kind of warm force going around my body. I flailed my forelegs at this, before she spoke again. “Please relax, or else it may hurt more.” And at that, I stopped.
What have I gotten myself into?
Once the mare had taken me through a lot of the land, she took me through a set of golden doors, then placed me on a nearby medical bed, giving a nod to a couple doctors, while looking at me. “Please remove your outfit so they’d have a better shot at the wound.”
I immediately grew worried at that, but simply nodded as I began to unbuckle my satchels with my mouth, dropping said satchels onto the ground, then pulling off my two hidden blades, my blowtube, my bow, and my two swords that were set across my flank. All of them seemed to be completely hidden under my figure I guess, if the continuous widening eyes were any indication. I pulled off the pieces of leather and bone armor off, pulled off two flintlock pistols, tossed a couple knives into the pile, a silver arrow, and finally a pile of bombs. I then bit onto my black n’ red assassin’s robes, pulled it off somehow, and tossed it over the pile of equipment.
The mare then spoke. “Where did you get all that… weaponry?”
I gulped slightly, deciding not to tell. “I come from a… very dangerous line of work.”
Her eyes narrowed. “And what exactly is this work you do?”
I began to feel sweat beading down my face. “Um… it’s nothing special really, but it requires me to be very well armed.”
“Again, what is the job?”
I scooted back in my bed. “I can’t say.”
“Please, tell me what it is you do.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
I felt my control waver greatly. “BECAUSE I CAN’T!!!”
There was a great amount of silence as I now wanted to curl up and try to calm down, but it was stopped when the mare placed a hoof in front of me, and looked me straight in the eye. “If you wish to be safe and healed, then you will have to tell us. Otherwise we’ll send you back to the forest.”
My eyes widened at what she said, and I felt all hopes diminish now, knowing it was either tell her or die.
“I…” I looked around. “I…” Now everypony was looking right at me. “I…” A sigh escaped my lips, my head slumping as my ears hung. “I’m an assassin.”
There were multiple gasps from the nurses and doctors, while the mare was shocked by my answer, and the guards around me immediately drew their weapons, aiming them straight at me. This made me wince greatly as I began to tremble.
Then the mare spoke. “You killed people.”
I quickly shook my head. “Not everyone! I only kill… ponies who work for the Templars.”
Now everyone around him was confused as the mare raised an eyebrow. “Templars?”
I quickly nodded. “Yes! The Templars! Um… they worked to try and enslave everyone back home, as well as rule with an iron fist. But, the Assassins fight for freedom and liberation. We don’t kill innocents, and only kill those affiliated with the Templars. One of the great sayings in the Creed was ‘Nothing is true, everything is permitted.’ Never draw the blood of an innocent, and do whatever means necessary to stop the Templars from world domination.”
They were all shocked by this, looking between each other, until the mare spoke. “So, you never killed an innocent pony?”
“No! Whoever did would be greatly punished by the Grand Master of the current part of the Creed. It’s also all about Brotherhood.”
The mare stayed silent at this, before looking at my weapons. “Do you plan on using these?”
“Aside from defending myself with them, no, not at all. But if I go without them, then I would be… well… naked in a way.”
She couldn’t help but smirk at the way I put it, and nodded. “Very well, if you don’t plan on using them, then you may keep them. BUT, if you hurt a single one of my ponies-”
“If they aren’t Templars, or don’t plan on taking away liberty and freedom, then they are safe from me.”
She stayed silent, before slowly nodded. “Very well, but I will be keeping my eye on you.” I quickly nodded, while she turned to her guards. “Stand down, everypony. Give him some time to calm down and be treated.” She looked at me. “I will be back in a few hours to check up on the progress.” I nodded as she soon made her way for the door, then stopped to look at me. “I would suggest not telling anypony about your… occupation.”
I nodded immediately in agreement, and then she was gone. This made me sigh heavily in relief, and laid down in the bed, wincing as my leg hurt again, while the ponies began to use that strange force, which made my leg seem to slowly, very slowly heal.
Why did this happen to me?
After a long few hours of the feeling, as well as being given a strange drink that tasted like rotten milk, I laid in the bed, almost fast asleep as I laid there. It was strange, here I was in a new world, with a new body, and new peop-er… ponies, to talk to, and I was basically something that didn’t exist for 3000 years. My job was… there wasn’t really a point in my job now, so what was I supposed to do?
Just then I heard the mare’s voice again, as she most likely came in earlier. “So, do you have a name, by any chance?”
I nodded. “Yeah, Johnathan Kelvrey.”
The mare smiled in response. “My name is Celestia, Princess Celestia at that.”
I gave out a small nod. “I would bow in respect, but I feel so tired.”
“It is alright, you most likely went through a lot, and the healing potions would do that to you.” She then stepped into my vision. “I wished to speak to you about something.” I nodded. “I will be having a lot on my plate throughout these years, and I wished to see if you would be interested in becoming one of my royal leads. You will do what is necessary to protect my land, and also do what I wish for you to do. Things like protecting ponies and the such. I am sure you would be very interested, right?”
I simply raised an eyebrow at her. “Why would you offer this to an assassin like me? I just showed up here.”
“True, but you are the only one who actually has the job I know of. You are the only assassin ever since three decades ago known. If you accept, I will teach you how to walk and the such, while I will also allow you permission to train your body for how it used to work.”
I stayed silent in response, ready to refuse, but knew better than that. So I gave a nod. “Very well, I accept.”
She smiled in response. “Wonderful. I am sure you will love it here.”
