Braveheart: The Untold Stories Episode 2: Mark of the Creed
I walked out of the broken house and flew to the Everfree Forest. I knocked on the door of Zecora's hut and walked in.
“Zecora?” I called. “You in here?”
“She went to git some herbs,” Applebloom said looking up from Altair's book. She had said 'herbs' with the H.
“Herbs, Applebloom,” I corrected. “With a silent H.”
“Whatever,” Applebloom said. “Ya need somethin'?”
“I was wondering if you had the cost of the book expenses,” I asked.
“Ah sure do,” Applebloom said. “It'll be 75 bits.”
“Done,” I nodded. I pulled out my bag and gave Applebloom the fee. Applebloom put them in her saddlebag.
“Ah can get the book to ya by next week,” Applebloom said.
“Thanks,” I said. I left the hut and flew to the nearest hardware store. I bought what I needed to fix the house and left. I got to the house, laid down my equipment and tools, and got to work. There was a lot of damage to the structure. I was surprised it was still standing. I fixed the holes, threw out corpses, (yes, you heard that right) painted the walls, rewired lights, replaced appliances and furniture, and repaired anything else that was broken. One week later, I finally got the house looking brand new. The renovation would have taken less time, but it was a two story house. I was exhausted. I flopped on the upstairs bed and caught my breath. I dozed off.
I abruptly awoke to the sound of loud knocking. I got up and walked downstairs. I opened the door and saw Applebloom standing there.
“Oh, hey,” I mumbled.
“You alright?” Applebloom asked. “Ya look like ya haven't slept in a week.”
“I haven't,” I said. “I've been fixing up the place all week.”
“Maybe you should get some sleep,” Applebloom suggested. “Here's the book, by the way.” Applebloom gave me the translated book.
“Thanks,” I said. “If you want to drop by, I'll be here.”
“Cool,” Applebloom smiled. “Ah'd best be headin' back to the clubhouse. Sweetie Belle an' Scootaloo are probably waitin' for me.” She waved goodbye and left. I walked back upstairs and laid down on my bed. I closed my eyes and gave myself some well deserved rest.
I woke up two days later, feeling much better. I walked downstairs and opened up my new refrigerator. Not much to eat. I grabbed an apple and sat down at my two-seater table. As I munched on my apple, I heard my doorbell ring. I put down my apple, got up, and walked over to the door. I opened it to see an official looking stallion standing there.
“I'm the head of the Canterlot Building of Health,” he said. “This building is declared condemned. You do know that, right?”
“No,” I lied. “Also, I object to that declaration. Do come in. I'll make you some coffee.” I walked inside my kitchen and started a pot of coffee. I didn't drink it myself, I just kept it around in case somepony came in who did. The Head of Health was hesitant to come inside. He cautiously walked in, checking every corner while wearing a paper respirator. I looked back to see the respirator.
“Oh, for the love of Celestia,” I murmured. I poured a cup of coffee and gave it to the official. I sat down at the table and he sat in the other chair. “Sir,” I said. “That respirator isn't necessary. I spent a week thoroughly cleaning and repairing this place. I'm quite certain you'll be able to breathe just fine.” The health inspector carefully removed his respirator. When he found he could breathe, he put the mask away and took a sip of his coffee.
“Do you have a permit to live here?” he asked me.
“I found this building in terrible shape, and spent a fortune to get it fixed,” I explained. “Is that not permit enough?”
“The Canterlot law states that you must have a residence permit to live in a personal house,” the health inspector opposed. I sighed in annoyance.
“Did the royal guard not say anything?” I asked. “Have you not noticed that the Princesses are dead? That the castle is burnt to the ground? Are you oblivious to the fact that I myself ordered that the castle remains be left there, as tribute to the fallen royalty? If you still don't believe me, here is proof of all this.” I pulled out my letter from Celestia before she died and gave it to the inspector. He read it thoroughly and checked Celestia's signature. He gave me back the letter.
“I'd like to get that signature authorized,” he said. “I don't believe Princess Celestia would sign off the responsibility of ruling Equestria to a kid like you.” I gave the inspector a hard glare.
“Very well,” I grumbled. “But you'll be wasting your time.” The health inspector pulled out his cell phone and called up a book store. I walked to the kitchen and pulled a soda out of the fridge. I leaned against the counter and waited for the authorization official. She arrived about 10 minutes later. I let her inside and offered her some coffee. She declined and asked to see the signature. The health inspector gave her the letter and she looked it over. I waited impatiently, because I wanted the health inspector out of my house. The authorization official finally spoke up.
“It's authentic,” she said. “This letter was indeed written and signed by the Princess herself.” The mare packed up her things and left. As she closed the door, I gave the health inspector a hard look.
“Authentic,” I repeated. “Now get out of my house before I throw you out.” The health inspector left the building, leaving the empty coffee cup on the table. I picked up the cup and put it in the dishwasher. I heard another ring of my doorbell.
“I told you to beat it!” I yelled as I approached the door. “Don't you know how to take a...” I stopped as I saw Rainbow Dash there.
“You OK?” she asked. “You sound pissed.”
“Sorry,” I said. “Health inspector was just here. He was...oh never mind. So what are you doing here?”
“Thought I'd drop by, see the place,” Rainbow Dash said. “It looks great by the way.” She took a sniff of the air. “Smells better too.”
“Thanks,” I said as Rainbow Dash sat down. “Want something to drink?”
“A soda sounds nice,” Rainbow Dash replied. I floated a soda can to her, and she promptly popped it open. I grabbed another and sat down at the table.
“So how's weather business?” I asked.
“Doing fine,” Rainbow Dash said. “Everything's being kept in check by yours truly. So, Scootaloo told me that Applebloom had given you a book. What's that about?”
“Excuse me?” I asked. “Scootaloo did what?”
“She said that Applebloom had given you a book,” Rainbow Dash repeated. “What's that about?” I slowly facehooved. How in Equestria did Scootaloo know? Did Applebloom tell her? Sweetie Belle probably knew as well if Scootaloo did. But they more than likely didn't understand. I looked back at Rainbow Dash.
“If I tell you, you promise not to tell anypony else unless I say?” I requested. “Swear?”
“Why?” Rainbow Dash asked. “What's...”
“Swear?!” I cried. Rainbow Dash got quiet and nodded. I sighed and told Rainbow Dash my story. Told her about the chamber with Altair's remains, the armory underneath my house, and how Applebloom translated the book. I pulled out the original copy to show Rainbow Dash. She looked at it and frowned.
“What do these words say?” she asked.
“That's why I needed Applebloom's help,” I said. “I can't read them myself.” Rainbow Dash gave back the book, and I put it away. “I need your help Rainbow,” I said. “Altair warned of an evil that would destroy the world, and only this book gives the answers. Please, join the Assassin's Creed.” Rainbow Dash nodded. I nodded back.
“What needs to be done?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Come with me,” I said. I closed all the curtains in the house, and pulled a rug out of its place, revealing the hatch to the armory. I jumped into the armory, and Rainbow Dash followed me. I lit the torches, closed the hatch, and pulled out the translated book. I turned to the chapter marked “Welcoming Recruits” and read it over. I walked over to the Assassin robes and matched one with the image in the book. It was a snowy white with leather armor. I took it off the hook.
“Here,” I said, giving it to Rainbow Dash. “Put this on.” I spawned a privacy screen and Rainbow Dash stepped behind it. I turned back to the book and read it further. I walked over to the hidden blade rack and took one. They were all identical, so it didn't matter which one was chosen. When I turned around, a hooded Rainbow Dash stood there.
“How do I look?” she asked, nervously.
“Intimidating,” I shuddered. “Are you right or left hooved?”
“Left hooved,” Rainbow Dash said. I gave her the hidden blade.
“Put that on your left hoof,” I instructed. Rainbow Dash did so, and I looked back at the book. It showed how to work the hidden blade. There was a mechanism that attached to the wrist of the hoof. I followed the procedure and properly attached the hidden blade to both my and Rainbow's hooves. I looked at the book again. It instructed to tilt your hoof back, and the blade would extend. To retract the blade, straighten out your hoof and tilt it back again. I tried this. I tilted my hoof back, and the blade rocketed out of the casing. It locked in place and wouldn't budge. I straightened out my hoof, careful not to stab myself, and tilted it back again. The blade sprung back into the casing and locked. I took an Assassin's uniform myself and slipped it on. I looked at the book again. It said that a group of Assassins had to be present for the initiation. I got stuck there. The golden sphere started to glow, and a blinding flash caught us off guard. When we recovered, we were standing in the center of a ring of Assassins, with Altair in front of us.
“Niente è vero. Tutto è permesso,” he said. “Where other ponies blindly follow the truth, remember…” I quickly showed Rainbow Dash what we were to say.
“Nothing is true,” we said in unison.
“Where other ponies are limited by morality or law,” Altair said. “Remember...”
“Everything is permitted,” Rainbow Dash and I said.
“We work in the dark to serve the light,” Altair continued. “We are Assassins.” The other Assassins joined him in saying “Everything is true. Nothing is permitted.” With that, Altair and the Assassins disappeared, and we were back in the armory. Rainbow Dash and I looked at each other. I held out my hoof.
“Welcome to the Creed, Rainbow Dash,” I said. Rainbow Dash shook my hoof.
“Welcome to the Creed, Braveheart,” she returned. I looked at the book one last time, and cringed at what I read.
“Oh,” I sighed. “I'm not going that far.”
“What's wrong?” Rainbow Dash asked. I looked at her with disgust and concern.
“Says here we have to either brand our hoof, or remove the front completely,” I said. Rainbow Dash winced.
“Why don't we just get a tattoo instead?” she suggested. I nodded in agreement.
“Same place the brand would be,” I added. We exited the armory, left my house, and went to find a tattoo place.
We came back to the house an hour later, the mark of the Creed on our hooves.
“Damn,” Rainbow Dash grumbled. “My hoof still hurts.”
“It will for a bit,” I said. “The artist said so herself. If you want to leave, you can. But tell nopony else unless I give you the OK. All right?”
“You got it,” Rainbow Dash agreed. “See ya!” I waved as Rainbow Dash left the house. With the Creed rebuilding, I hoped Altair's spirit felt more secure. Then again, I wasn't sure how or when the world would end. But I would rebuild the order and stop whatever threat the future held. I would recruit more ponies who were willing to help. I would restore the Assassin's Creed.
