A Shattered Brotherhood

What is death? Some say it is the end of things, others say it is the beginning of something new. In the case of Humble Pie, it was the latter. Having just committed the first murder in over a millennia may have been the end of his former life but now, now it was the beginning of a new one, not just for him, but for Equestria as well.

“Buck, buck, buck!” growled Daring as she maneuvered through the oncoming snowstorm of the Manehattan winter night. “How did this bucking happen?” Looking down at Humble, who just hanged hung with dead weight, she sighed. “Oh, yeah.” She stopped and surveyed the area.  “Hmm, that should do.” After flying down towards a trash filled alley she made sure Humble was well hidden among the garbage before checking to see if any police were coming. Hearing no sirens made her breathe easier. Looking back she saw Humble staring at his hooves. “Humble? Are you alright?”

Humble didn’t respond. All he did was continue to look at his hoofs hooves, as if they were about to say something.

This answer of silence worried Daring.  As she started heading towards Humble, out of nowhere a silver flash came from the corner of her eye. As it hit the ground, she saw it was a knife. “Huh—” A rush of air made her instincts kick in. Leaping forward with lighting speed, Daring dodged the Assassin Stormbreaker’s air attack. “Who are you!?” she cried.

Storm’s only reply was the sound of his hidden blade being drawn.“Heyah!” cried Storm as he flew towards Daring like a bullet.

Daring rolled her eyes, she jumped to the side, dodging his attack. Feeling a small pain, she looked and saw that one of her feathers had been damaged. “Really?”

Storm stopped before he could hit the alleys wall, and as he looked back he snorted. “Oh, it’s on now.” Holding his hoof up, a mini crossbow was revealed. The crossbow clicked and the bolt flew right at Daring, but she was quicker. Grabbing the top to a trash bin, she deflected the bolt and soared at Storm. Storm just looked on in amazement. Nopony ever— But his thinking cost him the fight as Daring slammed the trash bin’s top right into the Assassin. Flying through the air, Storm he landed on top of a pile of trash, and fell unconscious.

Daring smirked as she saw the stallion’s legs go limp. “That’s what you get for attacking us. you You alright Humble—?“ Daring’s eyes widened as she took in the sight before her.

“Stand down missy,” said another Assassin, whose face was covered. He held his hidden blade against the throat of Humble. “Or your friend here gets it.” He pressed the blade closer to Humble’s throat, as with Humby only stared blankly at a wall.

Daring felt like snapping the Assassin in two, but saw that he had the advantage. “Fine.” Dropping the bin lid, she snorted. “Now put him down.”

The Assassin shook his head. “I’ll put him down when I want too to.”

“Put him down now NOW, initiate!” cried a familiar voice. Looking up, Daring saw Octavia Melody leaping down from the rooftops.

The initiate shrugged, but pushed Humble towards Daring who caught him. “Humble! Are you alright?”

Humble just stared and stared without speaking a word.

“Don’t worry, I’m gonna get you some help.” Looking back at Octavia, Daring frowned. “I should’ve known it was you! You’re working for Humble’s abductors, aren’t you!?”

“Now, Miss Yearling, I can explain this, but I need you and Humble to come with me.” Octavia slid off her hood and looked at Daring with pleading eyes. “We can help him.”

Daring snorted. “And why should I trust you? A few minutes ago your friends here—” she pointed at Storm who was slowly gaining consciousness and the leering assassin. “—tried to kill me and Humble.”

“They did?” Octavia sighed. “Of course they did. Listen, I know it looks bad, but I can assure you these two disobeyed my direct orders, which were for me to talk to you two first.”

Orders? Daring got into her attack position. “Who are you really?”

A siren interrupted Octavia. “I can tell you more, but we have to go now! Is Humble able to travel?” She made a step closer but a glare from Daring made her back off.

Looking down at Humble, Daring got on her hoofs hooves. “Humble?” No reply. “Humble, it’s me, Dazzle.”

Humble slowly turned his head toward Daring. “Dazzle? W-what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to help you,” Daring said in a gentle tone. “Can you walk?”

Humble rubbed his forelegs and nodded slowly. “I t-think so.”

“Come on.”  Helping Humble to his hooves, Daring glanced at Storm, who had been watching the event unfold, and the Assassin initiate, “What about them?”

Octavia grinned. “Don’t worry about them, those two boneheads are always impulsive. Now come on!” Rushing towards the other end of the alley, Octavia ran up the side wall and flipped over a fence. She looked back at Daring and the others with frustration. “Hurry!”

****

After a time of leading them through alley ways and over buildings, Octavia finally brought them to the den front: Barb’s Fauna.

After explaining to Barb what happened, the griffon let Octavia and the others into the den. Where Humble was brought to the medical room.

“Look up,” said a mare in scrubs, pointing a flashlight in Humble’s eyes. “Now down.”

“Is this really necessary?” said Humble, a quiver in his throat. “I mean, I didn’t get hurt or anything.”

“Humble,” said Daring. He looked over to her. “Please, just listen to the doctor.”

Humble nodded. “Alright, I will.”

After writing something down on her medical board, the mare in scrubs nodded. “Your You’re fine physically, but we’ll need to do further exams to see if you’re your mental health is fine though also.” A silent reply from Humble was her answer. “I’ll, uh, give you two some privacy.” Leaving the room, she gave a sympathetic smile to Daring.

Daring and Humble just looked down, glancing at each other occasionally.

“I killed him,” said Humble, sniffling at the last word. “I killed that stallion.”

“No, no, Humble you didn’t.” Daring put her hoof on Humble’s shoulder. “You were trying to save him, but what exactly happened?”

“Well You mean that Stormbreaker fellow?” Daring nodded. “He was about to kill him when I pushed him out of the way, then I used this thing.” Humble held up the hidden blade he was still wearing, the blood already drying.

Daring’s eyes widened. “Oh.”

“ ‘Oh?’ ‘Oh’!?” Humble leapt off the medical bed and turned to Daring. “I committed the first murder in Equestria in over a thousand years, failed to save Green, learned that Octavia is a possible murderer, and now we may be hostages to a bunch of white robbed fanatics of sorts! And all you can say is ‘oh’?”

“Well...what do you want me to say, Humble?”

“I don’t know!” Humble fell to the floor and curled up into a fetal position. “I just want everything to be normal again.” A sniffle was heard from him.

“Oh, Humble.” Daring put a wing over him. “It’s going to be alright. We’ll talk to Princess Twilight and explain things.”

“Oh no, what is Pinkie gonna think!?” Humble started sobbing uncontrollably. “I-I can’t f-face m-m-my niece as a b-bucking m-mur- murderer!”

“Humble!” shouted Daring as she grabbed his muzzle. “Listen to me, it’s going to be alright. Do you hear me? It’s going to be alright.”

Humble nodded, one last tear rolling down his cheek. “I do.”

A knock on the door was heard. “Hello? Humble and Dazzle?”

“Yeah?”

The door opened to reveal Octavia. “I need you two to come with me.”

“Wait just a moment.” Humble scrambled to his hooves and stomped over to Octavia. “Before we go one more bucking hoof, I want to know the truth: who are you!?”

Octavia sighed. “Alright, sit down.” She closed the door. “This is going to take some time.”

“I have all the time in the world.” Humble sat on the bed next to Daring.

“Ok, I want you to first of know that, yes, I was going to kill Mr. Green tonight.”

Humble snorted. “I knew it.”

“But he needed to die.”

Humble’s eyes bulged. “‘Needed’? Nopony ‘needs’ to die!”

“Yes he did!” Octavia’s reply shocked Humble and Daring. “He enslaved ponies and took foals’ parents away.”

Humble blinked in surprise. “Say what?”

“Mr. Green was part of an organization known as the Templar Order, and I am part of a rival order known as the Assassin Brotherhood.”

Daring was taken back. “‘Templars’? I think I’ve heard of those. They’re supposed to be some sort of myth though, aren’t they?”

“So are we.” Octavia leaned against the wall. “For over two thousand five hundred years, the Templars and Assassins have been at war with each other. The Templars are ponies who think the world needs to be controlled and will do anything to do it.”

Humble squinted his eyes. “Like kill ponies?”

“Yes, but unlike them we don't kill civilians or enslave ponies, we Assassin's believe that ponies need to be free to decide their lives. Freedom of speech, for instance, is a big goal of ours.”

Humble shook his head. “So far all I’m hearing is your side of the story. How do I know your you’re telling the truth?”

“Then look at these.” Octavia took out of her robe’s pocket a yellow file. “This file shows that Mr. Green was the one who provided the resources to abduct you.”

Humble grabbed the file and tore it open. Looking at the contents Humble sighed. “So he was the one responsible for this.”

“Humble, you didn’t know.” Daring rubbed his back.

“He still didn’t need to die. The guards-“

“Look at the other paper in the file.” Octavia pointed at the remaining document.

“Why do I need to—” A quick reading of the file made Humble’s nostrils flare. “Oh, those sonsabitches.” Humble threw the file to the ground and hit the medical bed. “Dammit!”

“What does the file say?” said Daring, wanting to know the cause of Humble’s distress.

“It says that the two guard captains who were in charge of my case were taking bribes from Green to not arrest the two mercs who abducted me.” Humble put his head into his hoofs hooves. “So what do you want, Octavia?”

“Nothing. Despite my lying to you, Humble, I do consider you a friend. That’s why with your permission of course, I will take you to Pinkie and Twilight. And I’ll back you up on your claims. Without compromising the brotherhood,” she added.

Daring rubbed her foreheads. “You're really going to help us?”

“Yes.” Octavia looked at Humble. “So what do you say?”

Humble stared downward at his hooves.  “You’ll really help us? Even with the possibility that I might expose you and your little organization?”

Octavia nodded. “Yes.”

Maybe I was wrong about you,Octavia Melody. Humble nodded. “We'll do it.”

“It’s too dangerous right now. We’ll get you there in the morning.”

“”””

That night Humble found himself unable to sleep. The cots they had given to him and Daring weren’t as comfortable as his warm bed at home.

“Ugh.” Shaking his head, Humble look to his side. After letting his eyes adjust to the pitch blackness, he saw Daring sleeping soundly on the cot next to him. The sight made him smile. Despite everything, it’s good to know that Dazzle’s fine.

“Greetings,” said a soft whisper.

Humble’s heart skipped a beat at the sound. “H-hello?”

“I sense you are frightened; perhaps it’s best if we speak in private.”

“In private-“ A feeling of relaxedness came over Humble. As he felt himself suddenly becoming drowsy, the cot's itchy feeling no longer bothered him. Falling backwards, the last thing he heard was the gentle sound of birds tweeting.

“Huh?” Humble’s eyes popped wide open as he felt a ticklish feeling around him. “Who’s poking m—Whoah.” Humble looked all around him and saw that he was in a giant bird’s nest. Looking up he saw the ceiling replaced with a odd looking sky. What usually was bright blue had now been replaced by what seemed to be clay in liquid form, winding itself across the sky in shades of grey, black, and white. “Where am I?” Getting up, he walked up the edge and looked down. The sight made his blood run cold. All below him was a sea of birds of all kinds: pigeons, owls, condors, vultures, eagles, canaries and more. “What in the world?”

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” remarked a strange voice. The voice sound made Humble tumble to the center of the nest. “Oh, I’m sorry,” said the voice.

Humble felt too scared to look up, but mustering his remaining courage he stared upwards. The image he saw was seared into his head for the rest of his days. A creature that looked unlike anything he had ever seen was staring at him. It appeared to be a giant hawk, but instead of brown and white, as its colors was were instead gold, silver, and purple. The eyes of the enormous hawk seemed to be made of white fire as it stared blankly at Humble. The talons of the gigantic bird were made of what appeared to be metal, glimmering deadly into Humble’s eyes.

Humble didn't know what to say. “Uh, hi?”

The hawk leaned in. “Such good manners, a rare occurrence these days.” The voice was a odd one, indescribable yet somehow familiar. The hawk pecked at its feathers for a moment before staring back at Humble. “So, I suppose introductions are in order. Would you like to go first?”

Humble had never spoken to a giant talking bird before, at least none that weren’t griffons, so he was a little bit jarred at the idea of making small talk to one. “Um, my name is Humble Pie, writer, uncle to a hero, and-”

“A murderer,” said the hawk casually, to Humble’s surprise.

“How did you-”

“Oh, Humble, you’ll learn I know quite a few things about you.” The hawk unfurled its wings, showing its entire plumage of silver tipped feathers. “As for me, you may call me, GARY!” its last word shaking the entire nest.

Humble squinted his eyes. “Gary?”

The hawk leaned the left side of its face towards Humble. Like a flashlight, the fiery white eye pointed at him. “Is something wrong with my name?” the hawk asked.

Humble threw his hooves forward and waved them. “Oh, no, no!” he said, trying to save the so far civil conversation. “It’s just, well, you look like some kind of spirit and you know, spirits tend to have more, um, spirit names?”

The giant eyelid of the hawk blinked a couple of times. “Fair answer.” Humble wiped his sweaty forehead as Gary straightened himself. “My real name is not Gary, but I tend to find the real one too posh for my liking. But moving on, you’re probably wondering why you’re in an alien like dimension.”

Humble nodded.

“Well, it’s quite simple really, I need you to join these Assassins of yours and kill some ponies for me,” Gary said, as simply as if he was asking Humble to bring him a chair.

Humble frowned. “And would you like them stabbed or crushed?” He shook his head. “Why on Celestia’s green earth would I join a bunch of murderers and kill for you?”

The area around Humble started to shift and change. The sky turned a dark red and out of nowhere a murder of crows swarmed around the nest, each one of them with tendons hanging from their beaks. Gary took a step forward towards Humble. His appearance seemingly changing seemed to change with the color of the land: where there once was beautiful plumage there now was a were dreary old grey feathers and his eyes became blood colored eyes. “Because if you don’t do it, I will kill you and your precious Equestria.”

Humble stared in terror at the sight before him. It was like looking into the face of pure evil, a demented creature of darkness. At least until he heard a snicker. “Huh?” Looking at Gary he saw the hawk’s appearance had reverted back to its more cheery look and the crows had disappeared along with the red sky.

“Just joking, I rarely kill ponies. I detest killing.”

Humble’s terror had now been replaced by annoyance. “Didn’t you just ask me to kill ponies for you?”

Gary tilted his head to the side. “Did I? I have such a bad memory. Oh well.” He flew over to the ledge of the nest. “What I meant was, I need you to neutralize some ponies for me.”

Humble scratched his head in confusion. “Isn’t that the same as killing them?”

“Only if you make it so, and when I mean for me, I mean for the Brotherhood."

Humble walked over to Gary and sat down near him. “Just how do you know these Assassins? And how do they know you?”

Gary squawked, “Oh, they don’t know anything about me, but I know plenty about them.” A few moments of silence passed until Humble spoke.

“So, are you going to tell me or-”

Gary took right of off and hovered above the nest. “‘Tell you’? ‘Tell you’?!...I can’t tell you.”

Humble sighed. “Why not?”

“Because I forgot. I tend to forget, didn’t I already tell you that?”

Humble facehooved at the absurdity of the answer. “Ok,” he said putting his hooves forward. “Is there anything else you’ve got to say?”

“I don’t know, my little grey friend.” Gary planted himself on the ground and brought Humble closer with his wing. “Now listen, I got places to be and things to do, but I’m going to leave you with a little gift to help you on your journey.”

Humble grew more confused with each passing second. “Journey? What journey?”

“Here you go!” Gary lightly pecked at Humble’s head for a few seconds. “Now you're marked!”

Humble rubbed his head for any injuries. “Marked? What does that mean?”

“I, uh, hmmm.” Gary pecked at his right wing. “I forgot, but it will help you...I think.” He started walking over towards the ledge and unfolded his wings. Looking back at Humble, he smiled. “Remember, sometimes you need to take a leap of faith.” And with that he plummeted downward.

Humble watched him soar off into the distance. Easy for you to say, bird.

*****

“So, you’re telling me that a giant hawk named Gary spoke to you and told you to help the Assassins kill ponies?” said Daring, wiping her muzzle of milk.

After the dream last night, Humble had decided to confide in Daring, hoping she could give him an idea what to do. Now sitting in their rooms to have breakfast, he realized that the idea of a giant, talking hawk named Gary seemed a little far fetched.

Humble filled his lips with orange juice and slowly swallowed it drip by drip, all the while thinking on how to answer Daring’s question. “Hmmm.” He gulped down the rest. “Yeah, pretty much.”

Daring stared at Humble with a puzzled expression. “Wasn’t the plan to talk to Twilight?”

Humble frowned and took a bite of his omelette. “It still is. I never said I was going to do it, what the hawk suggested, I just thought you should know.”

Daring put on her red glasses and nodded. “Thanks, I, uh, appreciate it.” Looking away she blushed.

The sound of a door opening caught their attention. “Hello?” said Octavia, peering inside. “Is everypony awake?”

“Yep.” Humble licked a shred of cheese of off his muzzle. “You ready to take us to Twilight?”

Octavia didn’t respond.

“Is something wrong?”

Sighing, Octavia walked in and closed the door. “You may want to sit down for this.”

Instead, Humble stood and marched over to Octavia. “What happened?”

Looking downward, Octavia rubbed her eyes. “Twilight, Pinkie, and the rest are missing.”