Chapter Eight:
No choice

Jing dodged the knife with a quick jump to the side as it buried itself in the soil. "Finally come out to play?" He said as the hooded figure appeared from the shadows. "You should have just stood still and made this easier on the both of us." She said as she took a pair of trench knife style daggers from her sides and held them using her talons. "So then, do I get the common courtesy of knowing who sent you?" Jing asked as he drew his wrist blade. "Tell you what dweeb, if you get lucky and beat me I'll let you know." The female griffin said as she shot forward and their blades connected.

"Hey Mac, y'all seen Jing around? He should have been back by now." Applejack asked her brother. "Nnope." Came his single word answer.

Applejack stood on their front porch looking down the small road leading away from their home and towards the town.

"Y'all don't think he left do ya?" She asked, quite obviously worried. "Ah'm sure he'll be back soon, but if yer that worried, why don't ya go look for him? Ah'm sure he can't be far away." Big Mac told his sister. "Yeah, ah think ah will. Ah'l be back soon." She said as she trotted off down the road to look for their house guest.

Back at the fight, Jing was able to deflect or dodge every one of the assassins attacks so far, but he hadn't tried to make an offensive move of his own the entire time. "What's the matter kid? Can't handle a real fighter?" She said as he managed to parry yet another of her strikes.

'How is this kid that fast? I've been hitting him from every angle and he hasn't even gotten a scratch on him.' She thought, a little more worried in her mind than she put on. "Hey Jing, quit fooling around will ya, we're going to be late for dinner." Kir called from his perch atop a street lamp. "Well hey, why don't you go on ahead buddy, I can always catch up when I'm done." Jing responded with a smile on his face.

"Why you little..." The griffin scowled as she became more aggressive in her attacks, but nothing seemed to get through his defense.

"WHAT IN TARNATION?" Shouted the familiar voice of Applejack as she arrived. "Oh, hello miss Applejack, sorry we're not back yet, kind of got a little busy." Kir explained as he flew down and landed on her back. "What are y'all two doin? Who is that?" Applejack asked.

"Oh nothing to worry about, Jing here just picked up an admirer." Kir joked. "How can y'all joke at a time like this, Jing's in danger." AJ pointed out. "Easy, because danger is what usually finds us in our line of work." He simply stated. "Line of work?..." AJ trailed off as she watched.

"Well this has been fun my fair lady, but the hour grows late, and we must end this fine dance." Jing teased. "Dance? You have to be joking."
She replied. "Not at all, you are quite a lovely dancer." He said as he winked to her, causing her to falter slightly. Jing was quick to take advantage of this, and with one swipe of his blade, knocked the daggers from her talons. "Well then, what do you say we call this a night?"
He asked as his blade was leveled to her face. 'Damn it, what do I do? He's been toying with me this entire time, and if I run he'll probably just use that bird to blast me out of the sky.' Seeing no other choice, the failed assassin conceded defeat.

After Applejack had found some rope and they had tied her up, the three of them decided to bring her to Twilight, so she could have the princesses send the guard once again. Upon arrival, they discovered something about the rouge that none of them had expected.

"G-Gilda?" Twilight exclaimed as she removed the hood. "Yeah it's me ya little purple pain in the rear." Gilda grumbled.

"You ladies know her?" Kir asked. "Yeah, she and Dash used to be pals, then she went and caused a heap of trouble fer us." AJ explained.
"Well, that doesn't explain why you were trying to kill me earlier miss Gilda, and since you did say you would tell me who you're working for if I beat you, you have some explaining to do." Jing told her as he took a chair and sat on it in front of her.

"Well since I'm going to die anyway for failing, I may as well enlighten you losers." Gilda said. "The guy who sent me was none other than the good prince Blueblood." She explained. "Blueblood? But why? That makes no sense." Twilight stated. "Hey, I didn't ask questions, I didn't even want the job but he didn't leave me much of an alternative." Gilda said as a grim expression fell on her face.

"What do you mean?" Jing said as he leaned forwards. Gilda looked him right in the eyes. "He has my sister, Minerva."

Author's Note

Chapter eight is finally done, plot twist, Gilda has a sister! Why is coming up with names for ponies so easy but so hard for the other races? Anyway, hope you all enjoyed it, stay tuned for chapter nine.