Braveheart: The Untold Stories Episode 4: Legacy of the Creed

It was one week after I saw the attack on Equestria from the Apple. It was near dawn. I had stayed up all night, watching the window, waiting. Waiting on the assault that was to come. After seeing the event from the Apple, I've been a nervous wreck. As the dawn spread throughout Equestria, I stepped downstairs, ever careful. I opened up my fridge and pulled out an apple. I heard a knock on the door, and I opened it up. A black, insectoid pony stood there, pointed teeth barred in a wicked smile. Caught by surprise, I jumped back, dropping my apple. The pony had holes in its legs, a curved black horn, and translucent wings. It's mane and tail were webbed. I suddenly realized that this was a Changeling, and it was creepy.

“You're one ugly mother-fucker,” I mumbled. The Changeling hissed and tackled me. It tried to bite me and pound me to the ground. I held it back as best as I could, but it was surprisingly strong. I knocked it to the floor with my Terminator hoof and held it there. I quickly raised my left hoof, extended my hidden blade, and brought it down. The Changeling avoided the strike and knocked me off my feet. It bit into my living leg, causing me to wince in pain. I hit it hard in the head with my other hoof, breaking my leg free. The Changeling fell to the ground, unconscious. I ran to my bathroom and got my first aid kit. I wrapped a bandage around my bite wound and put away the kit. I flew back downstairs and picked up the Changeling. I threw it into the armory and restrained it on a chair. This was the first Changeling I had ever seen, and I was curious to find out more about it. The Changeling woke up and started to thrash about. It made metallic hissing as it tried to get at me. It thrashed its head, trying to bite me again. I waited for about 10 minutes before it finally calmed down. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural and unhealthy green. It seemed to be in pain. I only knew one simple fact about Changelings. They fed on love. I carefully put out my hoof, trying to show it I didn't mean any harm. The Changeling didn't try to bite this time. I put my hoof to its head. It felt cold and hard.

“I don't want to hurt you,” I whispered. “It's OK.” I felt something drain from me. It was ever so slight, but I still felt it. The Changeling was feeding on the mutual love I showed towards it. The green glow faded from its eyes, and they returned to a sky blue. I pulled my hoof away, and looked into the Changeling's eyes.

“What are you here for?” I asked. “Who sent you?”

“I came alone, under the Queen's orders,” the Changeling said. “I work as a spy for the hive. I came to kill you.” Something seemed off.

“You're awfully quick to answer my questions,” I said. “What's going on?”

“That blow to the head damaged my way of speaking through the one voice of the hive,” the Changeling said. “The hive speaks through the head as one voice. I can't send these messages anymore, but I can still recieve. I'm free. Now let me go.”

“If I let you go, you'll just try to kill me again,” I denied. The Changeling shook its head.

“I only attacked because I was controlled by the Queen,” it said. “I have no intention of hurting an innocent. It's against Changeling law.” I took this to consideration. I made up my mind. I extended my hidden blade. The Changeling turned away in fear. I stepped behind it and cut the ropes. The bonds fell away, and the Changeling opened one eye. I stepped in front of it and retracted my blade. The Changeling stood up.

“What are you going to do now?” I asked.

“I am in your debt,” the Changeling said. “Let me stay. I can help you. Since I can still receive the hive's telepathic messages, I can help you anticipate attacks.” I was hesitant to let a Changeling help me. It said it itself, it can still receive those messages. Those orders to attack. But it would make a valuable asset to the Assassin order.

“All right,” I said. “I accept your help. Wait here, and change to somepony else, will you? I don't want your cover blown to another pony. I'll be right back.” I flew out of the armory and to Ponyville. I landed at Sweet Apple Acres and pounded on the farm door. Granny Smith opened it.

“Well, hi there,” she enthusiastically said, in a raspy voice. “You must be friends of Applejack and Applebloom.”

“Yes ma'am,” I said. “Are they here?”

“They sure are,” Granny Smith said. “APPLEJACK!!! APPLEBLOOM!!!” I winced at the old mare's volume. She was probably heard all the way from the furthest corner of Ponyville. Applejack and Applebloom came down the stairs. I noticed the bracers were still on their hooves.

“Sheesh, Granny,” Applejack said. “You haven't been this loud since Zap Apple season. Somethin' the matter?”

“Your friend is here,” Granny Smith said, her volume back to normal. She left the door.

“Oh, hey Braveheart,” Applebloom said. “Is the attack comin'?”

“Not yet,” I said. “But I have a feeling it will soon. I need you to come to Canterlot. We have another Assassin to recruit.”

“Not sure Ah can afford it,” Applejack said. “It's almost Applebuck season, and we're down to our last few bits.”

“I can take care of that,” I said. “Meet me at the station, and wear your robes.” I flew up to Rainbow Dash's place and gave her the same news. Sweetie Belle was last. I flew to the Carousel Boutique and knocked on the door. Rarity came into sight.

“Well, hello Braveheart,” she said.

“Hi,” I said back. “Is Sweetie Belle here?”

“No,” Rarity said. “She's at her clubhouse.”

“Thanks,” I said. I left for the CMC clubhouse. I opened the door and saw Sweetie Belle alone, honing her skills.

“Hi, Braveheart,” she said. “Is the attack here?”

“No,” I assured. “But we do have another Assassin to recruit. Meet the group at the Ponyville station.”

“Will do,” Sweetie Belle said. I left the clubhouse and waited at the Ponyville station. Within minutes, the Assassins arrived, clothed in their robes.

“Ready to go,” Rainbow Dash said. I nodded. I picked up Applebloom and Sweetie Belle and lifted up into the air.

“We don't have time to take the train,” I said. “We need to get to my place fast.” Rainbow Dash caught my drift and picked up Applejack. We flew to my house and entered the armory. The Changeling was disguised as somepony else. I nodded, and the Changeling morphed back to its original form. The other Assassins gasped.

“Changeling!” Rainbow Dash cried. “Kill it!” The Assassins lunged at the Changeling. Rainbow Dash raised her extended blade and brought it down. I jumped in the way and blocked the attack with my bracer. I knocked Rainbow Dash back as Applejack and Applebloom attacked. I reacted quickly and banged their heads together. Sweetie Belle jumped into the air, ready to strike. I jumped up and kicked Sweetie Belle in the gut, knocking her to the floor. I breathed heavily as the Assassins lay on the ground. They got up, ready to attack again.

“Don't touch him,” I ordered. “He is the new recruit.”

“Ah don't believe it,” Applebloom denied.

“Neither do I,” Applejack agreed.

“Whose side are you on anyway?” Rainbow Dash demanded.

“Let me at it!” Sweetie Belle cried. I shoved her back.

“What's gotten into you, Braveheart?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I'm letting him live,” I explained. “He was assigned to kill me, but in defending myself, I freed him of his hive's bonds. He said that he owes me. That he can help anticipate attacks. I'm giving him a second chance. And so will you.”

“What makes you say that?” Rainbow Dash demanded. She wasn't budging on her opinion.

“He said that he would never hurt an innocent,” I said.

“You have a damned bandage on your hoof!” Sweetie Belle cried. “It appears to me that he hurt you!”

“In his attack, he bit me,” I said. “But only because he was under his Queen's control. I damaged his telepathic voice. He can only receive other Changelings' messages. He poses no threat whatsoever.”

“If that thing so much as puts a bruise on anypony, I will show no mercy towards it,” Rainbow Dash threatened. I extended my blade and pointed it to Rainbow Dash's throat.

“Do that, and you will not only be expelled from the order, but executed as well,” I threatened back. “Assassin code.” I retracted the blade and stepped back. “Now, lets get the initiation started.”

“Fine,” Rainbow Dash grumbled. I gave the Changeling his robe and hidden blade. He put them on as I opened the glass case and touched the Apple of Eden. The Assassin projections appeared and we stood into place.

“Niente è vero. Tutto è permesso,” Altair said. “Where other ponies blindly follow the truth, remember...”

“Nothing is true,” the Changeling said.

“Where other ponies are limited by morality or law,” Altair said. “Remember...”

“Everything is permitted,” the Changeling said.

“We work in the dark to serve the light,” Altair continued. “We are Assassins.”

“Nothing is true,” Me, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle said. “Everything is permitted.” The projections faded. I walked up to the Changeling and held out my hoof.

“Welcome to the Creed,” I said with a smile. The Changeling smiled back and shook my hoof. I felt the slight drain again. “You need a name,” I suggested.

“Back at the hive, I was called #826,” the Changeling said, sort of embarrassed. I did a bit of thinking.

“Did you have a nickname in the hive?” I asked.

“Yeah,” the Changeling nodded. “It was Sparks, because I loved to play pranks on other Changelings by causing a big spark behind them. It was loud too, so that was the prank.”

“Sparks it is,” I shrugged. “Welcome to the Creed, Sparks.” We shook hooves again. Rainbow Dash growled and flew away. Applejack followed her with a scowl on her face. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle left as well. I felt bad for Sparks.

“Don't mind them,” I said. “They all just have bad experiences with Changelings. The attack on Canterlot years ago.”

“I know,” Sparks said. “I was there. Got blasted away, just like the rest of my kind. Took us years for all of the Changelings to find our Queen and rebuild.” Sparks suddenly went still and stared straight ahead.

“What is it?” I asked. “Something from the hive?”

“Yes,” Sparks said. “The Queen just ordered the attack. The Changeling warriors are spreading out over Equestria.” Rainbow Dash suddenly burst into the room.

“Braveheart!” she cried. “We have a problem outside.” Sparks and I pulled our hoods over our heads and left the armory. I shut it and pulled the rug back over the door. I met Sparks and Rainbow Dash back outside, and I couldn't believe what I saw. The sky was swarming with Changeling warriors, and they were bombing the streets.

“You brought 'em here!” Applejack screamed. I held her back as she tried to attack Sparks.

“Sparks has nothing to do with this,” I said. “He was alone on an assassination mission. I damaged his telepathy. He can't relay messages anymore.”

“Unless he was just tryin' ta gain your trust,” Applebloom said.

“I was under the Queen's control,” Sparks reasoned. “I swear! I didn't even tell other Changelings that I was doing this!”

“Enough!” I yelled. “We don't have time to argue. The assault on Equestria has begun, and it's up to us to end it. Victory to the Assassins!”

“Victory to the Assassins!” Everypony else cried, including Sparks. We extended our hidden blades and got ready to end this conflict once and for all.