Pony's Creed 2

Back at the Villa Melody, the remaining mercenaries that fought alongside Fluttershy were drinking and celebrating their victory. Fluttershy saw Octavia come up.

“And here she is!” Fluttershy announced. “Our campione, Octavia!”

“All hail Octavia!” the mercenaries cheered.

“I see you've wasted no time starting the celebration,” Octavia said.

“And why not?” Fluttershy happily said. “You've done us all a great favor, nipota. With Trixie dead, Appleloosa will grow quiet once more. Do you know what that means?”

“Basta lavorare!” a mercenary said.

“Si passa tutto il giorno a bere!” another agreed.

“E a puttane!” a third added. The rest of the group gave him a strange look. “What?” the mercenary asked. “It's true.” The mercenaries laughed.

“Come, Octavia,” Fluttershy said. “Walk with me.”

“Yes, Fluttershy,” Octavia said. As they walked, Octavia told Fluttershy her findings. “The Lulamoons answer to another,” Octavia said. “An alicorn.”

“She is Celestia,” Fluttershy explained. “One of the most powerful mares in all of Equestria. And leader of the Templar order.”

“Which makes her responsible for the murder of my father, sister, and brother,” Octavia concluded.

“Yes,” Fluttershy agreed. “And she will kill you too, given the chance.”

“Then I must stand against her, if I wish to be free,” Octavia said. “But not until every other Templar has fallen to my blade. Father's list will guide me.”

“Where will you go next?” Fluttershy asked.

“Baltimare,” Octavia answered. “Amethyst de Lulamoon will share the fate of her daughter.”

“A sensible next step,” Fluttershy said. “No doubt she intends evil for the city. All right, that's enough grim talk for one night. I'll be in my study if you need me.” Fluttershy left for her study, and Octavia stayed in the main lobby, thinking. She decided to go talk to Fluttershy some more. She walked into the study and found Fluttershy staring at a wall.

“Look familiar?” Fluttershy asked.

“More codex pages,” Octavia said.

“Yes,” Fluttershy agreed. “Your father managed to find and translate a few before she...” Octavia gave Fluttershy the codex page from her hidden blade.

“Here,” she said. Fluttershy opened the scroll and looked over the page.

“This is not your father's work,” she realized. “Somepony else has translated it.”

“Applebloom,” Octavia explained. “A friend.” Fluttershy put the codex page on the wall with the others.

“Do you see the way the words cross from one page to the next?” she asked.

“There is something underneath it all,” Octavia said. “A kind of map. Where is it supposed to lead?”

“Your father and I managed to gather bits of a prophesy sprawled across the pages,” Fluttershy explained. “It was written by an Assassin like us, who long ago held a Piece of Eden. Her name was Vinyl. She spoke of something powerful, and ancient, beneath the land.”

“What is it?” Octavia asked.

“What indeed!” Fluttershy said. “Solving this little mystery is exactly why we collected these pages.”

“Then let me help,” Octavia asked. “It's time I take on my father's work. All of it. I'll start with the page I took from Trixie. Applebloom will decode it for us.”

“Bene,” Fluttershy said. “Return here when time permits, and we'll add it to the wall.” Octavia left the room and returned to Baltimare.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The date was April 20, 1478. Octavia had returned to Baltimare to seek out Applebloom for her help in decoding the codex page. She knocked on the workshop door and walked in. Applebloom turned around and saw her friend.

“Octavia!” she exclaimed. “You are still alive!” Applebloom gave Octavia a modest hug. Octavia marveled at the room.

“Look at this place,” she said. “The past two years have been kind to you.”

“But you are not the same at all, are you?” Applebloom asked. Octavia shook her head.

“I was hoping you could help me with something,” she asked.

“Anything for you, my friend,” Applebloom agreed. Octavia pulled out the codex page.

“Aha!” Applebloom cried. “You've found another one. How exciting!”  She took the scroll over to her desk and opened it up. She looked it over. “Hm,” she thought. “This one is tricky to break. Clever in its use of ancient languages. Maybe if I just...oh. Oh! It seems to be a manual of some sort for different assassination techniques.”

“May I see it?” Octavia asked.

“Wait! What's that?” Applebloom wondered. “It's not so much a design this time, just a series of sketches. Hmm. What to make of all this?” Applebloom realized something. “Oh ho! Of course! And why not? What an inspired idea!”

“Can you build it for me while I try what is in that manual fragment?” Octavia asked.

“Take it,” Applebloom said. “I'll have my assistant set up some dummies for you to practice with. Hey! Babs Seed!”

Octavia walked outside into the courtyard and saw the dummies already set up. She looked at the decoded page. One dummy was standing near a cart of hay. Octavia read over the page, then jumped into the hay pile. The technique instructed her how to assassinate from a hiding place. Octavia quietly jumped out of the hay, stabbed her blade into the dummy's throat, then pulled the dummy inside the hay. Her technique was flawless. Another technique showed Octavia how to assassinate from a ledge. She climbed up onto the edge of a balcony where a dummy was. Octavia drove her blade into the dummy's stomach and pulled it off the ledge. Another flawless technique. The third and final technique was Octavia's favorite. It was an assassination from the air. Octavia climbed onto some high boxes overlooking another dummy. Octavia readied her hidden blade and jumped. She landed on the dummy as she drove the blade into the dummy's throat. Octavia had learned the techniques of the codex page. She walked back inside the workshop.

“I've done it,” Applebloom announced. “Come quickly. Look.” Octavia walked over to the desk. Applebloom gave her another hidden blade. “Take it,” she said. “Try it.” Octavia fitted the blade onto her empty hoof.

“Thank you, Applebloom,” she said.

“Non c'è di che!” Applebloom replied.

“There's somepony I need to see while I'm here,” Octavia remembered. “I cannot approach her publicly. Would you know a way...” Applebloom stopped her.

“La Volpe,” she whispered.

“The Fox…?” Octavia began, but Applebloom hurriedly shushed her.

“Capisco,” Octavia said. “But do you know where a fox might roam?”

“Perhaps in the Mercato,” Applebloom quietly suggested. “Where the thieves dwell.” Octavia nodded. “Sta attento, amico,” Applebloom said. Octavia left the workshop and traveled to the market. When she arrived, a thief ran up and nicked her. Octavia looked down to see her money gone.

“Hey,” she said. “My pouch. My money!”

“Oh, your money?” the thief denied. “I don't have your money.” The thief ran off and Octavia chased him. She finally tackled him on a rooftop.

“I really have no interest in hurting you,” she assured. “So just give me back my money and we'll call it even.”

“Not so fast,” a voice said. Octavia whipped around to see a mare in a light brown cloak.

“What do you want?” Octavia muttered. “Who are you?”

“They call me many things,” the mare answered. “Murderer, Tagliagole, Thief, but you may call me La Volpe. At your service, Miss Octavia.”

“How do you know my name?” Octavia asked.

“It is my business to know everything in this city,” La Volpe explained. “Isn't that why you're here?”

“Indeed,” Octavia said. “I need to find somepony. You'll know where she'll be before even she does.”

“Who?” Volpe asked.

“Amethyst de Lulamoon,” Octavia said.

“There's word on the street that a caravan just arrived from Ponyville,” Volpe said. “A secret meeting at sunset tonight. You can learn something about Amethyst's whereabouts there.”

“Do you know where it is to be held?” Octavia asked.

“Ma certo,” Volpe said. “Let me know when you're ready, and we'll go. Ah yes. Here is your money.” Volpe took the pouch from the thief and threw it back to Octavia. Octavia put it back on her belt and scowled. She walked up to Volpe.

“Follow me,” Volpe said. “But we must move fast. Think you can keep up?”

“Nessun problema,” Octavia said. Volpe climbed up a wall and onto the roof of the building. Volpe ran off.

“What are you doing back there?” she asked. “I said to keep up with me.” Octavia followed Volpe to the Santa Maria Novella. When they arrived, Octavia was panting heavily.

“Here we are,” Volpe said. “Amethyst de Lulamoon is meeting her ponies inside that church.”

“How do I join them?” Octavia inquired.

“There are catacombs that run under the city,” Volpe explained. “They will lead you to a place where you can eavesdrop on the meeting.” Volpe pointed to a handle shaped like the Assassin's symbol with a skull in the center. “Grip that stone handle,” she instructed. “Turn it, then slide it down.”

“Thank you for all your help, Volpe,” Octavia said.

“Buona Fortuna,” Volpe said. She walked away as Octavia jumped off the building. Octavia walked over to the stone handle. She checked to make sure nopony was around, then activated the switch. A door opened underneath her, and Octavia climbed down into the catacombs.

Octavia dropped into a room filled with rats. She heard voices. She noticed a small barred window near the floor. She knelt down and saw Amethyst, Pinkamena, and two other ponies. One of them was Amethyst's father. He was finishing a prayer.

“Et benedictio Dei omnipotantis,” he said. “Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti descendat super vos et maneat semper.”

“Thank you, father,” Amethyst said. “Raindrop?”

“It's all here,” Raindrop said. “Swords, staves, axes, armor, bows. Our mares will want for nothing.”

“I take this gift to mean the Pope concents?” Amethyst's father asked. Celestia walked into the room.

“She gave her blessing to the operation,” Celestia said. “As long as nopony is killed.”

“We're all set for the Duomo in the morning, Signora,” Amethyst said. “The bait's been laid, but it wasn't easy. Her fool sister keeps changing her plans.”

“Si,” Raindrop agreed. “We'll need to be on hoof to make sure Sweetie Belle even gets out of bed for church tomorrow.” The Templars laughed at this. Pinkamena wanted to say something.

“What is it, Pinkamena?” Celestia asked. “Do you think they suspect something?” Pinkamena began to speak, but Amethyst cut her off.

“Impossible,” she said. “The La Moda are to arrogant or too stupid to even notice. Likely a bit of both.” Amethyst and some of the Templars laughed again.

“Do not underestimate our enemies, Amethyst,” Pinkamena warned. “Or have you already forgotten how your daughter was murdered?” Amethyst turned to Celestia.

“We'll have no such surprises this time, Maestra,” she said. “You have my word.”

“Molto bene,” Celestia said. “I should be off. I have some other business to attend to before I return to Ponyville. Fillies and gentlecolts, tomorrow, a new sun rises over Baltimare. May the celestial mother guide us.”

“May the celestial mother guide us,” the Templars repeated. Octavia stood up as the Templars left the room. She crawled out of a drainage pipe and back into the fresh night air. She found La Volpe sitting on a nearby bench, awaiting Octavia's finds. Octavia sat down.

“I know where Amethyst will be and when,” Octavia informed. “But…”

“What is it?” Volpe asked.

“I overheard something,” Octavia said. “They have weapons. Enough for a battalion. Even the Pope has given support.”

“Hm,” Volpe pondered. “Typical of Sixtus.  But...what the hell are they planning?”

“I couldn't understand the specifics,” Octavia replied. “But it involves the La Moda, and it begins tomorrow morning at the Duomo.”

“The La Moda will all be there for Sunday service,” Volpe said. She suddenly realized something. “Along with the rest of Baltimare!” she cried. They are going to do it right in the middle of high mass.”

“But it's also a chance for me to blend with the crowd, get close, and stop this madness,” Octavia said.

“If they succeed,” Volpe said. “If we lose Rarity and Baltimare falls to the Lulamoons...”

“It will not come to that,” Octavia assured. “I promise.”

“I hope you are right,” Volpe worried. Octavia stood up and climbed up the side of the building. She spent the rest of the night waiting for the next morning.

When the sun finally came up over Balitmare, Octavia woke up from a snooze. She positioned herself on the roof and waited. She didn't have to wait long, because the Sunday service was about to start. Octavia spotted Rarity.

“There's Rarity,” she said to herself. “And her husband.” she looked around for other members of the La Moda family. “There's Sweetie Belle,” Octavia said. “Rarity's sister. But where's Amethyst?” Octavia saw Amethyst push her way to the front of the crowd with Raindrop. “There she is,” Octavia muttered. “Time to strike.” Octavia jumped off the roof and blended in with the crowd. She slowly made her way to the front. Raindrop pulled out a knife and attacked Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle avoided the first swing, but Raindrop stabbed again and caught Sweetie Belle in the chest. As Sweetie Belle tried to run, Amethyst stopped her and Amethyst's father grabbed her. Rarity heard and turned around.

“Sweetie Belle?” she cried. “No!” Rarity was attacked by another rouge priest, and Rarity fought her back. Amethyst and Raindrop continued to attack Sweetie Belle, who put up a decent fight. Raindrop caught Sweetie Belle multiple times, and knocked her to the ground.

“No!” Sweetie Belle cried in pain. “In nome di Dio, vi scongiuro! Pietà!” Amethyst didn't listen to Sweetie Belle's plea for mercy, and she stabbed her many times.

“Nessuna pìetà, cane maledetto!” Amethyst yelled, enraged. “Muori! Muori! Muori!” Amethyst stuck her dagger into Sweetie Belle's bloody corpse. Rarity had fought off her attackers, and Amethyst ran over to her, sword drawn. Rarity and Amethyst stood, facing each other.

“Your day is done, Rarity,” Amethyst cried. “Your entire family dies by my sword!” Civilians had panicked and ran away from the scene. Octavia was the only one left, and her sword was drawn. She attacked and killed the guards that were attacking Rarity. Amethyst ran off.

“You saved my life,” Rarity thanked.

“It's nothing,” Octavia said. “But the mare who did this to you has to pay.”

“Not now,” Rarity said, as she winced. “I need help...to my home...ponies I trust there...can you…?” Rarity picked up her sword and follwed Octavia to her home. When they reached the building, Octavia pounded on the door.

“Rarity's been wounded,” she cried. “Aprite la porta!”

“What's the password?” the door guard asked.

“Berry Punch!” Rarity cried. “Open the maledetta porta!”

“By the Thrice Greatest!” Berry Punch cried. “Come in. Quickly! The city is at war! Hurry!” Octavia helped Rarity inside, then turned to leave.

“Wait,” Rarity called. “I am in your debt. Tell me, why did you help me?”

“You are not the only one who has lost a sister to the Lulamoons,” Octavia explained. “My name is Octavia Melody.”

“Ah,” Rarity realized. “You're Frederick's daughter.” Octavia nodded. “Your father was a good stallion,” Rarity said. “He understood honor. Loyalty.” Another guard suddenly burst into the room.

“The Lulamoon thugs are storming the Palazzo della Signoria!” he cried. “We cannot hold them off much longer.”

“No!” Berry Punch cried. “If they get inside, they'll murder our supporters, and put their own devils in power.”

“Then my survival would mean nothing,” Rarity said. She stood up. “I have to...” Rarity suddenly dropped to the floor, in pain from her wound. Octavia helped her back onto her seat.

“Amethyst de Lulamoon,” Rarity growled. “Help save our city, Melody. Kill her.” Rarity waved off Octavia, and Octavia walked toward the door. When she got outside, she heard the clanging of swords. She climbed onto a rooftop to get her bearings. She saw Amethyst standing on a ledge of the Palazzo della Signoria. Amethyst saw her.

“You again?” she cried. “Why aren't you dead? Slaughter her!” Octavia jumped down and climped the palazzo. When she reached Amethyst, she found herself surrounded by guards. Octavia quickly killed them all.

“Guards!” Amethyst cried. “Guards!!”

“Nopony is coming,” Octavia said. “It's just us now.” Amethyst climbed onto the ledge.

“Meledetto!” Amethyst yelled. “Che il diavolo ti porti! Stammi lontano!” Amethyst jumped off the tall building and landed in a hay pile. Octavia followed her. Amethyst climbed a building and got onto the roof, but Octavia was upon her. Octavia drove her hidden blade into Amethyst's heart and brought her to the ground.

“Now Baltimare will judge you for what you've done,” Octavia said.

“It's over,” Amethyst moaned. “It's all over...” Amethyst Lulamoon died in that moment.

“Meglio essere felici in questa vita che aspirare a esserlo nella prossima,” Octavia prayed. “Requiescat in Pace.” Octavia secretly carried Amethyst's body back to the palazzo. Supporters of the Lulamoon's were gathered, and chanting.

“Libertà! Libertà! Libertà!” the crowd cried out. Pinkamena joined them.

“Libertà!” she cried. “Libertà! Libertà! Popolo e libertà!” Another group of voices was heard.

“Libertà!” a group of La Moda supporters yelled. They threw the stripped body of Amethyst down from the ledge of the Palazzo della Signoria. A rope around the corpse's neck horrified the Lulamoon crowd. Pinkamena turned around and saw the ghastly body.

“Amethyst?” she gasped. The body was lifeless, and looked terrifying suspended there. The group of La Moda supporters cheered from on top of the Palazzo della Signoria. Pinkamena rode away as Octavia looked on. She was satisfied that Amethyst de Lulamoon was finally dead. Octavia jumped off the building and landed in a pile of hay. She traveled underneath the cover of night, pleased.