After Rainbow Dash left, I decided to think about who else I should ask to join the Assassins. I pulled out a notepad and quill and listed off ponies. I had to ask Applebloom, because she was the one who translated the book for me. I owed her, and not just the bits. I should probably ask Applejack as well. I could use her physical and mental strength to further improve the Creed. Rarity? No. She'd faint before she even got her mark. Pinkie Pie was too wild. She'd never take this seriously. Possibly Twilight Sparkle, after all I did find Altair in her library. Fluttershy? Maybe. I'd probably have to talk her into it. And it would take a lot of effort to do so. I seemed at a dead end. Only three other ponies to ask. That would never be enough. I hit my head on the table. I heard the doorbell ring. I got up and opened the door. Sweetie Belle and Rarity were standing there. Sweetie Belle had grown up just as much as Applebloom.
“Hi, Braveheart,” Sweetie Belle chirped.
“Hey, Sweetie Belle,” I said. “Rarity. What are you two doing here?”
“Rainbow Dash told Rarity you lived here,” Sweetie Belle said. “Rarity wanted to see the place, and she let me come with her.”
“Nice to know,” I said. “Please, come in.” Rarity and Sweetie Belle walked inside.
“Now, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity reminded. “Mind your manners. We are guests here.”
“I know that, sis,” Sweetie Belle grumbled. “I'm not a little filly anymore. I'm growing up. I have my cutie mark now.”
“I figured as much from a bright young mare like you,” I said, walking into the kitchen. “What's your talent?”
“Guess,” Sweetie Belle smirked. I put a bit of thought into it. I changed the subject for a moment.
“You girls want something to drink?” I asked.
“Tea, if you have it,” Rarity said.
“I'm good,” Sweetie Belle said. I turned to the fridge.
“Iced tea or hot tea?” I asked Rarity.
“Hot tea,” she said. “With a dash of sugar, if you please.” I went back to thinking what Sweetie Belle's talent would be. I made Rarity her tea and leaned against the wall and let my guests have the table.
“Have you guessed yet?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“No,” I said. “I give up. What is it?”
“Singing,” Sweetie Belle said. “My cutie mark is a microphone.”
“She has the most dazzling voice,” Rarity commented. “She sang at a small club the other night, and she was glorious. I was in tears.”
“Wish I could have been there,” I said. “Sounds like you had a good time. But I've been extremely busy with things.”
“With what, dear?” Rarity questioned.
“Fixing up the place,” I listed. “Dealing with annoying stallions.” I mumbled the last one to myself. “Wondering who to ask to join the Creed.”
“What was that?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Nothing,” I lied.
“Excuse me for asking,” Rarity apologized. “But where is the restroom?”
“Second floor,” I said. “First door on your right after you reach the top of the stairs.”
“Thank you,” Rarity said. She stood up and left the room. When she was out of sight, Sweetie Belle stood up and leaned close.
“I know about the book,” she whispered. “The one Applebloom gave you.”
“How much did she tell you?” I whispered back.
“Only about the book,” Sweetie Belle responded. “Nothing else. But I want to know. What is this about?”
“Meet me at the Ponyville station tonight,” I said. “Bring Applebloom. Tell her to bring her sister. We'll come back here, and I'll explain everything. Say nothing to Rarity, or Scootaloo for that matter. Got it?”
“Got it,” Sweetie Belle agreed. She sat back down at the table, and I heard Rarity come down the stairs. I looked up and saw her disgusted face.
“What?” I asked. “Something wrong?”
“The colors in your restroom are so tacky,” Rarity said. “You should consider changing them.”
“Sis!” Sweetie Belle scolded. “I thought you said for me to mind my manners. Did that not apply to you as well?” Rarity blushed sheepishly.
“We need to go, Sweetie Belle,” she said. “I have a big order to fill out, and I'm behind schedule. Thank you for your hospitality, Braveheart, and forgive me for my rudeness.”
“It's all right,” I said. Rarity walked out the door. Before Sweetie Belle did, she looked back at me.
“Remember,” I whispered. “I'll be at the Ponyville station at sundown. Don't forget about Applebloom and Applejack.” Sweetie Belle nodded. She followed Rarity and closed the door. I flew upstairs and out my window. Rainbow Dash needed to know about this meeting. I flew over the city and into Ponyville. I flew to Rainbow Dash's house and knocked on the door. A short while later, Rainbow Dash opened the door.
“Hey, Braveheart,” she said, seemingly out of breath. “What business do you have here?”
“I need you to meet me, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, and Applebloom at the station tonight at sundown,” I said. “Wear your Assassin robes.”
“Come inside,” Rainbow Dash said. I walked in and sat down on her couch. “Why the robes?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“I'm recruiting a few more Assassins,” I explained. “Sweetie Belle knows about the book. Applebloom must have told her. I'm hoping Applejack will help as well. With what Altair said in the book, I may need all the help I can get. He said the world would end, but I don't know how or when. Can you help me recruit them?” Rainbow Dash nodded.
“Ponyville station at sundown,” she repeated. “Got it.”
“Thanks,” I said. “See you then. I left the house and flew back to my own. I pulled away the rug and opened up the hatch. I climbed into the armory and lit the torches. I closed the hatch and scanned the robes and blades. I chose out the ones I needed and laid them aside. I looked back at the glowing sphere. It sparked my curiosity. I opened up the translated book and looked through the chapters. I found one marked “Pieces of Eden”. I read through the chapter. I found a picture of the glowing sphere with a caption beneath it. The caption read “Apple of Eden”. I read the section associated with the picture.
“The Apples of Eden were some of the many Pieces of Eden,” the article said. “They were a part of the First Civilization, and possess god-like powers. Seeing into the future was one of these such powers. The Apples could only be wielded by a very strong minded being. Combined with the Papal Staff, the Apple could open the vault, but only by the prophet.”
I stopped reading. I'd read enough. I put the book away and put on my Assassin robes. I left the armory and sealed it back up. Looking out the window, it was nearly sundown. I left my house and flew to the Ponyville train station. Rainbow Dash was waiting for me.
“About time you got here,” she whispered.
“Sorry,” I said. “I was busy reading the book, learning more. Listen, that glowing sphere, it's called the Apple of Eden. It can create lifelike projections, control the minds of others, and can let the wielder see the future. The Apple might be the key to finally knowing what the threat to the world is.”
“Maybe,” Rainbow Dash said. “For now, let's focus on getting these new recruits to understand our intentions.” Applejack, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle walked up to the station, right in front of me and Rainbow Dash.
“Braveheart?” Applebloom quietly called. “Ya here?”
“Right behind you,” I said. The group jumped and turned around. I removed my hood so they could see my face. Applejack gave me the stink eye.
“Dagnabbit, Braveheart,” Applejack cursed. “Don't do that. You could'a scared Applebloom.” Applebloom elbowed her sister. I put my hood back on.
“Come on,” I said. “Let's go.” We got on the train and left for Canterlot. We arrived a few hours later, and we walked to my house. I walked inside with Rainbow Dash.
“Impressive place you've got here, Braveheart,” Applejack said. “How much did it cost ya?”
“Couple thousand bits to renovate it myself,” I said. Applejack whistled. “Then again, it would have cost more to buy it,” I added.
“So, um, who's your partner?” Sweetie Belle asked. I looked at Rainbow Dash and nodded. Rainbow Dash pulled off her hood. Applejack's eyes grew wide.
“Rainbow Dash?!” she gasped. “You're part of Braveheart's entourage?” Rainbow Dash nodded.
“It's not just for show, Applejack,” she explained. “We're trying to prevent world-wide destruction.”
“What 'world-wide destruction'?” Applejack asked.
“Well, we don't know,” Rainbow Dash admitted. “But we're going to find out tonight. And we need your three's help. Will you join the Assassin's Creed?” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle stepped forward.
“We will,” they said in unison. Applejack held back.
“Wait, think about this, you two,” she said. “We don't know what this threat is, and Ah don't want you two ta get hurt. You're still learnin' ta take care of yourselves in Ponyville. This adds a whole new level of danger.”
“Sis,” Applebloom said. “Ah'm the one who found out about all this first. The Assassins' histr'y, the Pieces of Eden, this threat ta Equestria. Ah translated a book that said everythin' for Braveheart. Ah should at least help in any way Ah can.”
“And I'm still her friend,” Sweetie Belle said. “We stand by each other, even if the Cutie Mark Crusaders' days of crusading are over. I'm going to help too.” Applejack shrugged.
“Oh, what the hay?” she sighed. “Ah'm in.” I nodded and pulled away the rug. I opened up the hatch and jumped down. Rainbow Dash, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Applejack followed. I lit the torches.
“Whoa,” Sweetie Belle gasped. Rainbow Dash put her hood back on, and I picked up the robes and blades I had chosen. I gave them to the group.
“Put the robes on,” I said. “Put the bracer narrow side up on your dominant hoof. I'll secure the mechanism for them to work properly.” I turned away and pulled out the book. I needed to remember the motif of the Creed. When I had memorized them, I turned back around and saw three more Assassins in front of me.
“Well?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Rarity would not approve,” I blatantly said. “She'd throw a fit if she saw these robes. In her words, they look unnecessary. In my words, they look perfect.” I opened the case containing the Apple of Eden. I thought in my mind what I needed visible, and the Apple lit up, projecting Altair and the ring of Assassins. Rainbow Dash and I took two places. Applejack, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle stayed in the middle. Altair began the ritual.
“Niente è vero. Tutto è permesso,” he said. “Where other ponies blindly follow the truth, remember...”
“Nothing is true,” the group of three said.
“Where other ponies are limited by morality or law,” Altair said. “Remember...”
“Everything is permitted,” the group said.
“We work in the dark to serve the light,” Altair continued. “We are Assassins.”
“Nothing is true. Everything is permitted,” Rainbow Dash and I said with the ring of Assassins. The projections faded, and I stepped in front of the group.
“Welcome to the Assassin's Creed,” I said. I fitted the hidden blade mechanisms into place and magically placed a tattoo of the Creed's symbol on their hooves.
“So now what?” Applejack asked.
“Now, we see what this threat is,” Rainbow Dash said. I picked up the Apple of Eden and brought it to the center. I placed it on the floor and stood back. It projected a view of Canterlot under siege. The view changed to other locations of Equestria, all of them in ruin. It zoomed into Canterlot, and zoomed in further on a tall, insectoid figure. Her trademark laugh echoed through the armory, and the projections faded. I looked at everypony with utter terror. This couldn't be happening.
“Why her?” Applejack asked. “She was blown away years ago, along with the rest of her kind.”
“They must be regathering for a massive assault on Equestria,” I proposed. “This is what Altair saw, and needed to restore the order.”
“Then we fight,” Rainbow Dash said. “Right to the bitter end. We'll stop this assault, and end this once and for all.” I nodded and dismissed the group. Everypony left, and I went to sleep, but those endeavors were pointless. I'm not sure any of us could sleep after what we just saw. I tried as best I could, trying not to think.
~~~
In the Palomino Desert, a shadowed figure stepped into his master's cave. He stepped up to the rocky throne and removed his navy blue helmet.
“My queen,” he said in a metallic voice. “Our warriors are ready for the attack. We await your order.”
“Good,” the queen said. “I will give the order myself when the time comes.” She waved off the shadowed figure, and he left. As the figure left, the queen gave an evil laugh, then monologued to herself.
“Soon, Equestria will see it's end,” she hissed. “Celestia will meet her doom, and I will rule.” She gave another evil laugh as another figure left the cave.
