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.”
Humble launched himself at Octavia, toppling both of them to the floor.
“You did this! You made me lose my niece!” Humble shook Octavia till he felt a thrust of force in his side, Octavia had punched him.
“Calm down right now!” said Octavia, kicking Humble off her.
Humble swayed backwards into Daring’s arms, a feeling of numbness was felt throughout his body, but he shook it off and would’ve tried to attack Octavia again if not for Daring holding him back. “Let me go!”
“No!” Daring threw Humble onto the bed and pinned him. “Trying to kill Octavia is not going to help any pony.”
Humble saw the futility of struggling against Daring’s iron grip and snorted. “How do we know she and her little robed friends didn’t abduct them?”
Octavia was taken back. Does Humble really think I would do something like that?. She decided to set the record straight. “Humble, I swear on my cutie mark, nor I or my brotherhood have taken Pinkie and the others, in fact, I asked they be protected.”
“…Fine,” said Humble with a sigh. Looking toward Daring, he blushed slightly. “Um, Dazzle? Would you mind getting off me?”
Daring looked around and realized what kind of position they were in and blushed deeply. “S-sure.” Getting off Humble she looked over towards Octavia. “Um, so, what now?”
“Now, you follow me.” Octavia saw that Humble was still wearing the outfit he ‘borrowed’ from her the night before. “Can I have that back?”
*****
Octavia led the two ponies through a dark dimly lit corridor, the walls of which were made of carved stone with the occasional wooden pillar along the way. Eventfully the corridor ended at a high and wide wooden door with the same symbol of the brotherhood on it. Stopping suddenly, Octavia turned to face the two. “Now listen closely, we learned Pinkie and her friends disappeared from our informants in the guards, since this is a very bad situation we have decided to call a meeting. Don’t speak unless asked to, and let me do the talking. Got it?” Humble and Daring nodded their heads. “Good, let's head in.” Octavia opened the doors to a circular room, a bunch of balconies overlooked the room, at the center was a basin of water.
“What do you think they do here?” whispered Humble.
Daring shrugged. “Wouldn’t know, I only heard a bit about the assassin brotherhood in my adventures, but not much.”
“Silence!” shouted a booming stallion’s voice from the balcony. Looking up, Humble saw loom out of the shadows figures in white robes, their faces hidden from view.
Humble was startled at the sudden noise but after a moment felt something familiar about it.
“You are Humble Pie and Artemis Knowing Yearling correct?” said another voice that Humble felt something familiar about. “You may speak.”
“Yes,” said both ponies in unison.
“Humble Pie,” spoke a voice Humble didn't recall. “You are accused of compromising the brotherhood—“
“Objection!” Octave stepped forward.
A series of grumbles and mumbling was heard from above “Silence!”: said the booming voice again. “You may speak Octavia.”
It was at this moment Humble realized this wasn’t a meeting to decide on how to find Pinkie but rather a trial. “They’re arguing over me right now!?” hissed Humble to Daring.
Daring gave a sad nod. “They probably want to deal with you first. Don’t worry, we’ll find Pinkie.” A shush from Octavia made both of them be quite.
Octavia looked back up at the robed figures. “The accused is an innocent nor a member of the brotherhood, therefore the tenets don’t apply in this situation.”
“Hmm, understood,” grumbled the accusing voice. “However, the simple fact is the accused had been abducted to known Templar mercenaries and later just happened to kill a Templar a few days later? Highly suspicious.”
“Um, if I may.” Humble came forward while Octavia facehooved. “I was unaware that Stale Crumbs and Lemon Squeeze, the ponies who abducted, me were part of these Templars, as for Mr. Green I was in the middle of trying to save him from, uh, well, a unknown-“
“Humble, it’s okay. They know it was me.” Octavia looked up with her eyes closed.
“Octavia will be dealt with soon , as for you Miss Yearling.”
Daring took a step forward. “My defense is that I helped Humble escape.”
“And therefore prevented him from being questioned by the guards and possibly causing a nationwide search for our members,” added Octavia.
“I see.” The booming voice was silent for a moment. “Do you have any further evidence in your defense?” The three ponies shook their heads. “Very well, we have take a recess to decide your three’s fate.” Doors above opened and the robed figures shuffled out of it till the only ponies left were the three of them.
“Humble turned to Daring and Octavia. “So what about Pinkie?”
Daring put her hoof on Humble’s shoulder. “Don’t worry we’ll find her, right Octavia?”
“Huh?” Octavia stopped chewing on her hoof. “Oh, yes, we’ll find her.” Turning away, she resumed biting her hoof. I hope.
An hour filled with tension passed until the doors above reopened and the white robes returned.
“Humble Pie, Miss Yearling, and Octavia, please step forward!” said the booming voice again.
Taking a step forward Daring and Humble shot each other comforting looks.
“We find you all innocent of all charges brought against you.”
“Whoo.” Humble wiped the sweat from his brow. “Thank you your, um, honors?”
“Now this meeting will move onto the more pressing matter at hoof, the disappearance of the elements of harmony and the just recently heard disappearance of her majesty's Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.:”
“What?!” Humble, Daring, and Octavia’s eyes widened like saucer plates.
The booming stallion nodded solemnly. “Indeed they are, we have no word this involves a plot by some creature from tartarus or outside of Equestria though.” He looked over to another robed pony and nodded.
Clearing her throat the robed mare spoke. “We have however find the recent events to be odd though, the leaders of the guards just happen to be called away? Very suspicious.” She nodded toward another robed pony.
“We find the most likely explanation that the Templar Order as taken captive the elements of harmony and the princesses for reason currently unknown.”
“Which,” spoke the booming stallion. “Is why we wish to ask you Humble Pie to help us. Seeing as how current;y have no allies in the government we wish to offer you a chance at…redemption.”
Humble looked over to Daring who just shrugged. Looking up at the booming stallion he sighed. “And just what would you ask of me?”
The booming stallion looked around the balconies, each robed figure giving a shake of their heads. Looking down at Humble, he cleared his throat. “You have committed the first public murder in over a millennia, the Templars now associate you with us most likely. But this gives us an opportunity to regain our foothold in this land. We ask that you become an assassin and hunt down the Templar leaders for us.”
Humble blinked in surprise, the idea that just yesterday he was a writer seemed like a dim memory, now he was being asked to become a professional killer? Looking over at Daring, who was as equally surprise he whispered, “Should I do it?”
Daring looked down in thought. “I’ll stick by you no matter what,” she said, giving Humble a determined look.
Octavia on the other hoof was surprised. Why would they ask for Humble?
“What is your answer?” said the booming voice.
Thinking about the past few days only increased Humble’s curiosity for answers. so with a nod to Daring and Octavia, he stepped forward. “I accept your offer.”
“And I’m joining too!” said Daring, to the astonishment of the room.
“Dazzle , what are you doing!?” said Humble. “You can’t join these-“
“I know what I’m doing Humble.” Was Daring’s answer.
“You need not join Miss Yearling-“
“My grandfather is well connected with many influential ponies, I can see if he can help you. Also you’d be surprised on how well I can fight.”
The booming stallion looked at the room, getting another majority of nods. “Very well, I hereby give you both the rank of recruit!”
****
“Are you sure about this Dazzle?” After the meeting was over, Humble and Daring had been taken by a few assassins to the den’s armory, so that they might in the booming station’s words, “lose those rags.”
“I’m sure Humble,” said Daring looking at the variety of weapons on the walls. “I want to get Pinkie back as much as you do.”
“Will you two hurry up please?” said the elder donkey Rolf, the den master.. “We need you to get outfitted and ready for your first assignments.” He held his hoof up and pointed at a door. “You’ll find our designs for robes or longboats in there, pick carefully, you only get to choose once.” Looking at Humble he frowned. “And would you take off that outfit son! I understand that females clothing can be nice but it’s not yours!”
Humble looked down and blushed when he realized he was still wearing Octavia’s robes. “Eh, sorry.” He started taking off the outfit when he heard a gasp.
“Humble!’ Everypony followed Daring’s hoof towards Humble’s flank and all except Rolf’s eyes widened. “Your cutie mark changed!”
What had once been a image of a comedy and tragedy mask separated by a pencil had now been replaced with a picture of a hawk with it’s wings spread wide.
“How did that happen?” said Humble, rubbing the new cutie mark in awe. “Gary! He must’ve done this!”
Rolf and Octavia looked at each other. “Who’s Gary?”
“Nopony!” Daring took hold of Humble and started running to the door Rolf pointed at. “We’ll be out in a sec.” Closing the door to a surprised Rolf and Octavia, Daring faced Humble. “Okay, by Luna’s stars, what is going on?”
Humble put his hoofs on a table next to a few design of robes. “I don’t know, maybe it’s that mark I keep telling you about.”
“Do you feel any different?”
“Not really. Listen let’s just focus on finding outfits alright?” Humble started tossing drawings of longcoat around the room before looking back at Daring. “Alright?”
Daring sighed and nodded. “Alright, but we’re talking about this later.”
Outside the room Octavia was explaining to Rolf about the cutie mark.
“…And that’s why it’s weird to see a new one.”
Rolf just snorted. “Sounds like magic to me. So what’s your opinion on this whole business?”
Octavia looked downward and sighed before giving a shrug. “I don’t know, i mean well, it just, well, Humble’s not exactly the best at fighting unless it’s anything made of stone.” Rolf looked at her weirdly. “I tell you later, so what’s your opinion?”
Rolf snorted and walked over to a bookcase with a collection of strategic novels. “Eh, the mentor means well, but I swear he cares more on how we look rather than how we get things done and he always trying to make this our golden age, but to be honest the last few years haven’t been kind to the brotherhood.”
Octavia sucked in her lips and waned over to Rolf. “I know we aren’t as needed these days, but remember, we’ve helped keep Equestria safe and united for two thousand years.”
“Times are changing Oct, ponies don’t care about ideals as much as they used too, and the Templars well, they seem to grow stronger each year.”
Octavia shook her head. “No Rolf, ponies care more about ideals than ever, maybe not in the same way they used to but just as strong as ever.”
Rolf looked at the collection of books and thought for a few seconds. “Perhaps, but don’t you think-“
“Ready!” said Daring as she came out, she peered back into the room with the drawings. “Humble, you found what you want yet?”
“I think so!” Humble grew a smile as he looked at the design. It had taken awhile but he finally found the right one. “Coming!” Emerging from the room, he held the drawing up for everypony to see. “Huh, huh, what do you think?”
The three ponies just stared blankly at the picture, Rolf gave Octavia a bump forward. Clearing her throat, Octavia rubbed her neck. “Um, Humble? That’s the cover of a Magazine.”
Humble kept on smiling. “I know that, but look at the outfit on the front!”
“Humble, that’s a hoodie.” Octavia tapped on the cover art of a fashion magazine with the words, ‘Urban Attire’ on it. “It’s not exactly, um, well. Unique.”
Humble shrugged. “It’s practical and comfy. My cousin Rocky from Fillydelphia gave me his old one for my twentieth birthday. It was so comfy.”
“Eh, let the kid wear what he wants.” Rolf spat on the ground. “Somepony needs to use that design once at least.”
Humble gave the design over to the den’s tailor. “You do realize we’re pretty much the same age right?”
Rolf shrugged, nodding at the tailor to get to work he looked at the two new recruits. “While they do that we might as well see how you do physically. Follow me.” He led the three down a hallway into a large, high room where straw stuffed bags were being attacked by a bunch of novices, thick bars of metal stuck out of the walls with ponies leaping on and across them. “This here is the training room, Yearling!”
Daring stood up like a guard being reprimanded. “Yes sir?”
“How good are you at fighting?”
Daring smirked. “Come at me.”
Rolf nodded his head.
Looking up Humble could see an assassin right above Daring, just as he was about to say something, the assassin leapt off a support and bam! Throwing her right back leg upwards, hitting the assassin right in the stomach.
“Egh!” The assassin fell to the floor, clutching his stomach in pain.
Daring looked back at Rolf and grinned. “How’s that?”
Rolf glared at her before whispering something in Octavia’s ear. “It’s alright, let’s see how you do at parkour. In the meantime, Humble!”
Humble helped put the injured assassin on a bench and looked at Rolf. “Yeah?”
“Your turn. Let’s see how you can do on counter attacking.”
Humble’s eyes widen. “Counter attacking? I’m not exactly good at fighting.”
“Or exercising,” said Rolf, patting Humble’s stomach. “Gotta lay off the sweets.” He nodded his head at one of the assassins behind Humble.
“Wait, just give me a sec—Ggggg!” Falling to the ground, Humble started flailing around the place to the shock of everypony.
“Humble!” Daring rushed over to his side and bowed down. “He’s having a seizure!”
“Sono sempre pronto!” said Humble before blacking out.
*****
Huh? Where am I? A blinding flash was Humble’s answer. What’s going on? The light died and revealed a hawke. Gary? The hawke looked at him for a second before flying off. Wait a second, hawkes land on high places. Darting his eyes downward, Humble made the one mistake nopony should in his situation. Opening his eyes in the first place. Far below him the streets of Trottingham welcomed his gaze. Okay, so how did I get up here? Looking forward he saw an even more bizarre sight. Where’s the statue of harmony? And why do all the buildings look short—
“Hey Four Leaf!” said a thick south Manehattan accent. Looking to the source, Humble saw another assassin, this one a stallion pegasus on a gargoyle. “Are we going or not? The Tangerines aren’t gonna rest while you look at the skyline.”
Humble was about to open his mouth in protest, but something else came out. “Yeah, yeah Ice. Now why don’t ya stop bitchin and start flappin.” The voice sounded sound very Emerald island like.
The assassin named Ice laughed. “Always staring at the sunset one second, cussing the next. That’s what I love about you fellas. I really should visit your home city.” Ice spread his wings. “Whenever you're ready.”
Whenever I’m ready? What am I doing? Humble, or rather Four Lead, turned his head down to the street.o what now?
“My, oh my, you really do need someone to hold your hoof do you?” said a familiar voice.
Gary? Where are you? What’s happening?
“Well on a metaphysical scale I’m everywhere, but on a geological scale I’m currently inside your head. Now as for what’s going on, well remember when I marked you? That mark in addition to changing your cutie mark it allows you to at crucial moments to experience moments in past lives of various creatures. It also gives you their skills, this way you can have years of experience in the time span of a few minutes. Make sense?”
Humble scratched his head. I think so, but what do I do now?
“Jump, we are currently in old Trottingham when gangs used to rule the street, your mission is to take the leader of one down.”
Humble looked down at the streets again and took a deep breath. Um, is there anyway I can do this without jumping?....Gary? Nopony replied. Ok, so jumping huh? He looked down again, the sight of hundreds of ponies making him feel queasy. Ok, I can do this, I can do this. Taking one step he lost his hoofing and fell. Oh dear Celestia why did I listen to a bucking bird! Just as he was midway down the side of the building he felt a sudden pull. Huh?
“Nice catch Ice!” said Humble’s host, looking up at their catcher.
“Ice groaned. “By Celestia you need to lose some weight!”
Humble looked to see that the pegasus named Ice was heading down ward to what appeared to be a factory.
“Okay, this is where I leave you!”
Leave me? What does he mean by leavi—Shiiiiiiiiiit! screamed Humble as he fell from the sky. Oh Celestia, oh Celestia— Four Leaf’s instincts kicked in and Humble bent his legs and rolled across the factory roof with barely a scratch. Huh, well that happened.
“Okay, time to find to find that arsehole Orange Whip,” grumbled Four Lead.
Looking over the ledge, Humble saw a stallion entering the factory, a orange coated, white maned stallion. Is that Orange Whip?
“That classy looking fellow must be him. You don’t go strutting around dressed like that unless you got something to hide. Now how do I get in?”
Looking to the right Humble grinned. That’ll work. Opening a ceiling hatch, Humbled dropped down onto a catwalk. Well that wasn’t that har-What the? Everywhere Humble looked he saw dozens of melancholy workers, a few smaller than they should be. Some had scars earned from sparks hitting them repeatedly, others had legs missing, ears torn, and a majority had swollen hooves. Oh dear, this is, this is just awful! How would Celestia ever let this place existed? Focus Humble, you can’t help these ponies now, but you can find out who did this.
Trotting along the catwalk, all while trying to keep quiet, Humble heard a posh sounding accent. “Foreman! Come here!” shouted Orange Whip, fondling his suits button.
A lean stallion appeared before Orange Whip and bowed. “Your worship, what brings you here today?”
Orange Whip stamped his hoof and a member of his entourage approached with a folder. “If you read these documents, provided you can read, you’ll see that output is starting to decrease while input of ore is staying the same. Explain.”
“Um, well, you see my worship, uh. A bead of sweat rolled down the foreman's forehead. “We thought that since the recent earthquakes that we should but more iron deposits into the girders.”
“I see.” Orange looked over to one of his guards and nodded. The guard grabbed the foreman and started making his way to the mixing vat while the foreman struggled. “Perhaps we should add more reinforcement into the girders.”
“Oh, Celestia no!” screamed the foreman.
Humble couldn’t believe what he was seeing, and neither did Four Leaf. “That Templar bastard!”
“Please, I’ll start using less iron!” pleaded the foreman as he was hung over the melting vat.
“Sorry’s not good enough anymore, we’ll send your widow a fruit basket,” said Orange with malice.
Humble’s mind raced on a way to stop the madness below when an idea surfaced. Running across the catwalk he got right above the mook holding the foreman. Oh Celestia, I hope this works. Jumping down Humble landed right on the mook and killed him. Huh, what do you know. That worked. Looking up he saw the foreman mouthing thank you before scurrying away.
“Assassin!” Orange Whip glanced side to side at the rest of the group and groaned. “Kill him you lumbering mountains!”
The largest of the group rushed Humble with a girder. Dammit! What do I do-Hmph. jumping to the side just as the large mook got to him, Humble grabbed hold of a rope with a pointed metal edge and threw it at the mook, pulling him forward he knocked him out. Humble jumped back as the last mook threw his sword forward. Oh no you don’t. He headbutted the mook and threw his hidden blade into the stomach. You don’t get to win. Twisting the blade the mook went limp.
“Now then,” said Four Lead, taking over again. “Your tur-Huh?”
“You won’t catch me assassin!” shouted Orange as he galloped away.
“Erghhh! Coward!”
Humble found himself in control again and started racing after Orange. Come back now! But saw that Orange had already gotten a head start on his carriage. Dammit! Looking to the right he saw a bunch of boxes topping one another. Hmmm.
*****
Running across the rooftops of Trottingham would have tired out most ponies but Humble or rather Four Lead was not most ponies, jumping across two buildings Humble saw Oranges carriage, unfortunately another problem presented itself. How am I gonna find that Templar in this crowd?
“Use my gifts.”
Gary? What are you talking about? Isn’t this the gift?”
“Focus, use all your senses.”
All my-Well okay I guess. Closing his eyes Humble focused on an image of Orange until a small squawk from Gary made him open his eyes. Wow, what in Celestia is this?
“This is my gift, an extra sense that view have. It will allow you to never be in doubt when it comes to others. When they shine red they are your foe, blue is your allies, gold is your target, and white is a pony of note.”
And those who are shaded?
“They’re not really important at the moment. Now then, this will be the last time we talk for quite awhile, so I wish you luck. Farewell.”
Hmm, okay, so red is my enemy huh? Alot of enemies then, but where is-There he is! Humble looked on as he saw Orange entering what appeared to be a pub and rushed across the plaza, entering the pub from a second story window. Okay, now where are you? Turning on his extra sense he grinned. Right inside the next room. Throwing open the door he came to the sight of Orange eating a apple.
“Hello Orange,” hissed Four Leaf taking over the body again, closing the door behind him he trotted over to the terrified Orange. “How long has it been?” Grabbing the apple he stuck a dagger into it and stuffed it into Orange’s mouth much to his displeasure. “Eat it.” A crunch was heard from Orange. “Good.” Four Lead saw Orange’s body go limp, the poison taking instantly.
“So, the Assassins have now decided to wage a war against progression have they?” coughed Orange, blood seeping out of his mouth. “Typical naivete.”
“We care for progression, but what you do is cruelty.”
“Sometimes one must be cruel to be kind, a lesson that our majesty knows very well.”
Four Leaf’s brow burrowed. “Don’t you dare speak of her majesty, you do her shame is what you do.”
Orange chuckled weakly. “Shame? I do her shame? She does us shame! Weeping for her sister while gangs rove the streets? Disgusting.”
“Your one to talk! You and your Templar compatriots believe in order, but all you do now is cause chaos! Senseless chaos!”
“Chaos? Is that what you think all this is? This my dear boy is progression, Templars are not bound by things such as your ‘ethics’. While you talk of freedom we talk of the future. One where we have a strong leader, one who isn’t afraid to do the things that must be done to provide us a better future.” He coughed up bile. “But you wouldn’t know anything about that would you?”
Four Leaf felt Orange go limp, he was dead. “May you find that future you seek in the land beyond this one.”
Humble felt a jolt as he regained control over his body, but ignored it as he thought about what he just saw. Why have I never heard about gangs running Trottingham before? I know there was a dark period after Nightmare Moon was banished but I didn’t think it was this bad. So, what do I do now? A flash of light was his answer.
****
“Huh? Where am I now?”
“You're still on the training floor,” said Rolf as Daring helped Humble up. “You had a seizure and then, well.” Rolf turned his head to the training grounds. “You did that.”
Humble glanced to where Rolf was looking at and gasped. “I d-did that?” All around the training grounds was filled with the pained groanings of assassins in training.
“Yep, you were flying all over the place like some mad stallion, speaking all sorts of nonsense about gangs, factories, and some fella named Gary.”
Octavia smiled. “Whatever happened it proved you're more than ready for the big leagues.”
“What’s the big leagues?” said Coil Spark, examining a hidden blade.
“Oh, well it’s—” The room froze and everypony snapped their heads toward Coil. “What the buck!?”
Humble rushed over to Coil and embraced him. “Coil how did you get in here!?”
Coil waved his hoof. “Pfft, Gary told me were you where after he explained why you killed a stallion.”
“Okay, who the tartarus is this Gary?” said Rolf, putting away his hidden blade.
“A friend and I can’t tell you anything else.”
Rolf face hoofed before looking at Octavia. “You wanna help here?”
Octavia shrugged. “Coil, what did this Gary tell you to do?”
“He told me to help Humble.”
“....And?”
“That’s it,” Coil said, causing Rolf and Octavia to groan.
Humble slumped his foreleg over Coil and pulled him close. “I trust Coil and if he want’s to help I say let him.”
Daring nodded. “I agree.”
Rolf wrinkled his nose for a moment and thought. “What the hell, not like we can just let him leave anyway. How did you even find us?”
“The pigeons told me.”
“Whatever, well are you good at fighting?”
Coil looked up in thought for a moment before shaking his head. “I can build stuff if that helps.”
Octavia stuck out her foreleg. “It’s true, he fixed my hidden blade once.”
Rolf nodded. “I suppose we could use another repair stallion. Now if there’s nothing left to do, it’s time we give you your first mission.”
Humble raised his hoof slowly. “How are we going to get out of the city without being seen?”
“We already made arrangements to smuggle you out. Are you ready?”
Humble looked at Coil and Daring, both giving a nod. “If it help return things to normal. We’re in.”
"Good, your first stop, Griffonstone."
