Chapter Seven:
Thieves and assassins

While Applejack explained to Twilight just what had happened, Jing and Kir helped the poor mare and her child to their feet, and helped her to collect the letters that had fallen from her bag. "There you go miss, that should be the last one." Jing said as he handed her the letter.

"Thank you very much for your help, I don't know what I would have done if my poor little muffin got hurt." She said as she nuzzled the little filly. "Thank you mister for saving me and my mommy." The small child said as she gave them a smile that could melt a heart of iron.

"Are ya sure you're alright miss, your eyes do seem a little crooked." Kir asked as he examined her. "They've been like that since birth."
The mare told him flatly. "Ohh.... Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it." Kir apologized. "That's alright, you didn't know." She said with a small smile.

"Ditzy, are you and Dinky alright?" Twilight asked as she approached them. "Yes Twilight, we're fine thank you." Ditzy told her.

"Alright, well I've sent word to Princess Celestia to have some guards come and collect this one." Twilight said as she motioned towards the stallion who was now tied up firmly thanks to Applejack. "I'm sure that they will want to come get your statement later if that is alright with you." Twilight said with a smile, to which the grey pegasus agreed before continuing her deliveries with her daughter.

"Thanks for helping them you two, not many would have stood up to him like that." The purple unicorn said as she faced Jing and Kir.

"It's quite alright Twilight, I can't stand guys like him." Jing dismissed. "Well I'm sure that the princesses will want to see to it that you're rewarded for your actions." Twilight said with a smile. "Ohh a reward? Hear that Jing? We're going to be rewarded for our bravery by the beautiful princesses." Kir said as he lost himself in his daydream. "I heard Kir, I'm sure it would be a great honor." Jing told them.

"Hey Jing, can ah talk to ya for a minute?" Applejack asked as the thug was eventually collected and taken away by the guards.

"Umm, sure Applejack, what is it?" Jing asked her, though he had his suspicions what it was about. No doubt she had seen him take his knife.

"Well before when ah asked you about yer talent.... Ah noticed that ya seemed to be hesitatin, and then during the fight...." AJ began to say.

"*Sigh* I guess it would have been found out eventually." Jing said, not really wanting to have this conversation, but knowing it was unavoidable. "Ah see... Y'all haven't..." She began to say until Jing interrupted her. "No, I would never steal from you or your family Applejack, or any of your friends for that matter." Jing told her flatly. "Alright, ah just felt ah needed to ask." AJ told him.

"I understand." He replied.

"Aren't you going to turn us in now that you know?" Asked Kir. "Well normally yes, but y'all don't seem the type to just take from anybody or do something without a reason." Applejack voiced her observations.

From behind one of the nearby buildings, a hooded figure watched the three of them talk. Observing, waiting, silently stalking her prey. 'This one is going to be tough to deal with' She thought to herself as she kept to the shadows.

She would wait for nightfall before striking. Failure was not an option.

For the rest of the day, Jing occasionally felt as though he was being watched, though he would never see anything when he looked.

"You ok buddy?" Kir asked. "Hm? Oh yeah, just a little bit distracted." Jing answered as they walked towards the library.

"Alright, so then what are we doing here?" Kir once again asked his companion. "Well, I thought it would be a good idea to do a little research."
Jing told him. "Research huh, and what are we researching?" Kir continued to question as Jing knocked on the door. "Why historical artifacts of course Kir." Jing informed him, causing a small twinkle of understanding in Kir's eyes just as the door was opened by a small drake.

"Oh hello, you must be Jing and Kir. What can I do for you?" Spike asked the pair. "We were wondering if we could borrow a few books to look at." Jing asked. "Oh, well alright, come on in. Twilight's just up stairs if you need her. Are you looking for anything in particular?" The baby dragon asked. "Do you have anything on artifacts?" Jing questioned. "Sure, anything specific?" He asked as he looked over the library shelves.

"What do you have on items that have known to exist or are of great worth?" Jing said as he examined the contents of one book.

Going over the shelves, Spike produces quite a few of the tomes that the pair would find relevant.

It was getting late in the day as Jing and Kir left the tree library. "Thanks Spike, I'll see you around." Jing said as he waved goodbye, turning around and making his way back to Sweet Apple Acres. "Who would have guessed that this place had so many treasures just laying around."
Kir said as they made their way, but Jing was too distracted to answer, that feeling of being watched was back, and a certain feeling of malice was accompanying it. "I don't think that we're alone Kir..." He said to his partner quietly. "Where are they?" He replied in a hushed tone, his eyes scanning all around but keeping his head facing forward so as not to alert whoever was tailing them.

A knife being thrown in their direction answered the question.

Author's Note

Chapter Seven folks.
Until next time!