Pony's Creed 2

After some time of tedious travel, Octavia spoke up.

“We should be close,” she said.

“Grazie a dio,” Silver Spoon sighed. Just then, Trixie and several guards walked into the path.

“Buongiorno, Octavia,” Trixie said. Octavia stopped walking. “How could you leave Baltimare without saying a proper goodbye?” trixie asked.

“Octavia!” Silver Spoon cried. A guard circled the family and Octavia brought them closer.

“What do you want, Trixie?” Octavia asked.

“So many things,” Trixie responded. She began to list them off. “A larger palazzo, two new guards, a prettier bride, oh and yes. Your life.” Trixie drew her sword and motioned for a guard to attack Octavia.

“My condolences for the loss of your father, brother, and sister,” Trixie said. “What will happen now that there's no one left to help you? I have such wonderful things in store for your mother and sister.” Octavia killed the guard quickly with her hidden blade. Trixie fumed.

“I grow tired of this game,” she said. “Finish her! And do not spare the mares.” As more guards moved to attack, throwing knives suddenly struck them in the back, killing them.

“What sorcery is this?!” Trixie cried. A hidden voice laughed out.

“Not sorcery, girl,” the voice said. “Skill.”

“Show yourself!” Trixie demanded.

“As you wish,” the voice agreed. Another throwing knife flew through the air, knocking Trixie's sword out of her hoof. A tinted yellow mare with a pink flowing mane ran out of the woods, followed my several mercenaries. She threw Octavia a sword.

“Here,” the mare said. “Use this.”

“Kill them!” Trixie cried. “Kill them all!” The mare drew her sword and moved on Trixie. Trixie backed away and ran off, back to Baltimare. The rest of the guards attacked Octavia and the mare. Octavia used the sword she had been given to fight back. Once or twice, she glanced at the mare who had given her the sword. She was a very skilled fighter, and easily took out many guards. When the guards were nothing but bloody corpses on the ground, Octavia knelt before the mare and gave back the sword.

“You have my thanks,” Octavia said.

“Keep the sword, Octavia,” the mare said.

“Do I know you from somewhere?” Octavia asked.

“Don't you recognize me?” the mare asked. “It's me, Fluttershy!” Octavia was in shock.

“Aunt Fluttershy?” she pondered.

“It's been too long, nipota,” Flutttershy happily cried, as she gave Octavia a death hug. “Far too long.” She put down Octavia then got sympathetic. “I heard what happened in Baltimare. Terrible. Come. Let's get you all away from here.” Fluttershy led Octavia and her family to her Appleloosa Villa.

“Here we are!” Fluttershy said. “Casa dolce casa. So, what do you think?”

“It's most impressive,” Octavia admired.

“She's seen better days, I suppose,” Fluttershy said. “Believe me, I'd have her shining again if only I had the time. Now that you've had the tour, nipota, you should go and outfit yourself. My mares in the market are expecting you. Return here when you're finished, and we'll begin.”

“Begin?” Octavia asked. “Begin what?”

“I thought you'd come here to train,” Fluttershy said.

“No,” Octavia said. “I came here to escape Baltimare, and I intend to take my family further still.”

“But what about your father,” Fluttershy asked. “He'd want you to finish his work.”

“What work?” Octavia inquired. “My father was a banker.”

“Wait,” Fluttershy realized. “He did not tell you?”

“I have no idea what you're talking about,” Octavia said.

“Ma che mi combini, Frederick,” Fluttershy mumbled to herself. “Where to even begin? Go and fetch the gear in the market. It will give me time to think.”

“But...” Octavia started.

“But that's that,” Fluttershy interuppted. “We'll talk more later.” Fluttershy gave Octavia some florins. “Some spending money, should you need it,” Fluttershy said. “And if you are in need of rest, I've prepared a room for you on the top floor of the villa.” Octavia left for the markets. To her surprise, there were only two open shops. A blacksmith and a doctor. Octavia visited the blacksmith's and bought a pair of greaves for her back hooves, and a dagger. At the doctor's, she purchased some medicine. She returned to the villa and spoke to Silver Spoon and Carlotta.

“Don't worry,” Octavia said. “We're only staying for a little while.”

“I don't like it here,” Silver Spoon complained. “I want to go home.”

“I know,” Octavia agreed. She left and went to talk to Fluttershy.

“Salute,” Octavia said. “I did as you asked.”

“And quickly too,” Fluttershy noticed. “Ben fatto! Now, let's teach you how to fight.”

“No,” Octavia rejected. “As I said, we're leaving.”

“Octavia!” Fluttershy cried. “You barely held your own against Trixie.  You won't survive a week on the road. If you want to leave, so be it, but at least do so armed with the skills and knowledge necessary to defend yourself. If not for me, for your mother and sister.”

“Fine,” Octavia agreed.

“Ottimo!” Fluttershy cried. In the next two years, Fluttershy taught Octavia how to fight. She showed how to counter, quick step, and overall use a sword. Octavia learned quickly, and after being challenged by Fluttershy, defeated her.

“Well done, nipota,” Fluttershy congratulated, exhausted. “You've really come into your own.”

“Thank you,” Octavia said. “For all you have given me.”

“You're family,” Fluttershy said. “Such is my duty and my desire.”

“I'm glad you had me stay,” Octavia thanked.

“Good,” Fluttershy exclaimed. “You've reconsidered leaving.” Octavia shook her head.

“We sail for Spain in three days,” Octavia said.

“But nipota,” Fluttershy said. “I have given you these skills that you might be better prepared to strike against our enemies…”

“And if they find me, I will,” Octavia said.

“You want to leave, Octavia,” Fluttershy raged. “To throw away everything your father fought and died for? To deny your heritage?! Fine! Come vuoi. Arrivederci e buona fortuna.” Fluttershy stormed off towards the villa.

“Fluttershy, wait!” Octavia called. She turned to a nearby mercenary. “Why is she so upset?”

“How can she not be?” the mercenary said. “Trixie's been harassing us ever since you first arrived. To be expected I supposed, given her heritage.” Octavia wanted to apologize. She ran into the villa to find Fluttershy. She walked into her library, but Fluttershy wasn't there.

“Fluttershy?” Octavia called. “Where is everyone?”

“They ride for San Gimignano to slay that snake, Trixie,” a mercenary said.

“I wish to join them,” Octavia said.

“You will find what you need when you get there,” the mercenary said. Octavia ran off to find Fluttershy, and help her kill Trixie. She found her at a small farm near San Gimignano.

“Octavia,” Fluttershy cried. “What are you doing here?”

“Taking responsibility,” Octavia responded. “Trixie troubles you because of me.” Fluttershy chuckled.

“Trixie troubles us because she is a Templar,” Fluttershy corrected. “And we are Assassins.”

“Either way,” Octavia said. “I wish to help.”

“Va bene,” Fluttershy agreed. “Then listen close. First we must find a way inside the city. Though it seems Trixie expects us. She has sealed the gates, and sent her mares to guard them. Fortunately for us, the city is larger than its host. The southern gate suffers for it, so this is where we'll strike. Pronti?” Under the cover of night, Octavia, Fluttershy, and a group of mercenaries traveled to San Gimignano. When they reached the southern gate, it was sealed, just as Fluttershy had said.

“Alright, Octavia,” Fluttershy said. “Here's how it is going to work. My mares and I will distract the guards. Once we've engaged them, get yourself over the wall, and find a way to open the gate. Take these throwing knives. Use them to dispatch the archers.”

“I'm ready when you are,” Octavia said.

“Then let us begin,” Fluttershy agreed. She and the mercenaries ran at the guards, yelling “All'attacco!” While the guards at the gate were busy, Octavia climbed the wall and threw her newly acquired knives at the archers. They went down and fell off the roofs. Once the last guard had fallen, Octavia opened up the gate. Fluttershy and her mercenaries had just finished off the guards.

“Well done, Octavia,” Fluttershy congratulated. “We're in! Come on!” The mercenaries ran in and followed Fluttershy and Octavia. They soon came upon some unsuspecting guards.

“I want you to distract those guards,” Fluttershy told Octavia. “Keep them from raising the alarm. That should buy me enough time to find and silence Trixie.”

“Va bene,” Octavia agreed.

“Wait, nipota,” Fluttershy stopped. “Take some of my mares with you, just to be safe. Come join me once they're dealt with.” Octavia told the mercenaries she had with her to wait. She ran close to the guards, but not close enough to be detected. Some of the guards were talking.

“What's Trixie up to now?” the first one asked.

“Nopony knows,” the second said. “But something has her on edge. How else to explain all the patrols?”

“We're meant to be soldiers,” a third guard complained. “Instead she's turned us into nursemares. And why?”

“Shooting her mouth off again, no doubt,” the second replied. “Angering the wrong sorts of people, and so now we pay the price.”

“Careful.” the first warned. “Or do you want us dragged before him like Flash Sentry was?”

“Poor bastard,” the second sighed. “I heard Trixie took his eyes.”

“I'd like to keep mine,” the first guard said. “So let's end this conversation.” Octavia heard what she needed to, and called for the mercenaries to attack. Octavia and the mercenaries took the guards by surprise, and the guards were quickly defeated. Octavia went on to the square. On the way, she found a mercenary wounded, lying against a well.

“Octavia,” the mercenary managed. “Your aunt is under attack and needs help! Go to her!” Octavia dashed forward to the city square. When she arrived, she and her mercenaries found a large battle taking place, and Fluttershy was right in the middle of it.

“Ah, nipota! There you are!” Fluttershy cried as she sidestepped a guard's attack. “It seems my plan has hit something of a snag. Trixie's mares ambushed us, and now we've got our hooves full.” Fluttershy killed an attacking guard. “My sisters and I will deal with these guards. I want you to go on and root up that snake. See that justice is served.” As Octavia ran onto a rooftop to find Trixie, she found her. Along with her Lulamoon family, as well as the red-cloaked mare. The family was planning something.

“It's settled,” the cloaked mare said. “Trixie, you will remain here to coordinate the mercenari. Amethyst will organize our forces in the city and send word when it's time to strike. Pinkamena, your job is to calm the citizens once the deed is done.”

“What about that ubriacone, Fluttershy,” Trixie asked. “She continues to harass my forces, and I fear she'll discover what we intend.”

“She's always been trouble,” Amethyst agreed. “Just like that bastardo brother of hers.”

“Then let me reunite them mother,” Trixie pleaded.

“There will be plenty of time to clean up the rifiuti when we're finished,” the cloaked mare assured. “Now, is there anything else?” There was no answer. “Muy bien.” Octavia looked on in silence. Strike what? Calm the citizens after what deed? Octavia was both worried and confused.

“May the celestial mother guide you,” the cloaked mare said.

“May the celestial mother guide you,” the Lulamoon family repeated. As the cloaked mare, Amethyst, and Pinkamena left, a guard called out to Trixie.

“Comandante! Comandante!” the guard cried.

“What?” Trixie asked, annoyed.

“Fluttershy Melody has invaded the city,” the guard informed. “She comes for you!” Trixie chuckled.

“Then let's not keep her waiting,” she suggested. She stationed guards to stop Fluttershy, then ran off to a nearby wall tower. She climbed to the top and watched the battle unfold. Octavia saw her chance and slipped over the rooftops. She climbed up the tower and hung from the ledge, as not to be noticed by Trixie. Two heavily armored guards were with Trixie. Octavia jumped onto the tower and assassinated both guards.

“Ah,” Trixie sighed. “There you are. I've been looking forward to this for a long, long time. Don't worry, Octavia. I will make sure your death comes quickly.” Trixie and Octavia fought on the tower, both trying to kill each other. Octavia countered an attack and extended her hidden blade. She thrust it into Trixie's chest, finishing her. As Trixie fell to the ground, Octavia held her by the collar.

“What are you and your allies planning?” Octavia demanded. “Is this what my father discovered? Is this why he was killed!?”

“I'm sorry,” Trixie said. “Were you hoping for a confession?” As Trixie died, Octavia unleashed her rage. She shook Trixie's dead body and cursed at her.

“Pezzo di merda!” Octavia yelled. “Vorrei solo che avessi sofferto di più! Hai avuto la fine che meritavi! Spero che bru...”

“Enough, Octavia,” Fluttershy scolded. “Show some respect.” Octavia threw Trixie's corpse on the floor and stood up.

“Respect?” she asked. “After all that's happened? Do you think she would have shown either of us such kindness?!”

“You are not Trixie,” Fluttershy reminded. “Do not become her.” She walked over to Trixie's dead body and knelt down.

“Che la morte ti dia la pace che cercavi,” Fluttershy prayed. “Requiescat in Pace.” She closed Trixie's eyes and took a letter from her corpse. She gave it to Octavia.

“Take this,” she said. “Read it when you have the time. Our work here is finished. Let us return to the villa.” Fluttershy and Octavia jumped down the tower, leaving Trixie's body. A threat to Octavia's family had been dealt with, with mixed emotions from Octavia and Fluttershy.