Chapters Chapter 1 - Privilege
The boy panted hard as he sprinted through the streets of the small rural town he had found himself in. Not five steps into the place and he had been confronted by a local gang demanding their 'fee'. He had ran not out of fear, but as he saw this as a good chance at some exercise. The shouts of the gangsters giving chase was enough to send anybody running in terror. The boy counted five of them at the very least. His brown cloak fluttered gracefully around him as he continued his flight from fight. The same graceful cloak decided it was best that it catch itself on a nail, successfully halting the fleeing boy. Not wanting to ruin his best cloak he tutted and began to unhook the fabric from the protruding metal stump. By the time he had freed himself from the trap, the gang had closed the gap. Never before had he seen an uglier gang of high school rejects, skin-heads and tattoos all around. The boy smirked, they had no idea what they were doing.
"Lookie what we got here boys." One member said. "A little runt who thinks he can escape his dues."
"Yeah." Another jeered. "Me thinks this little prick needs to be taught just who folks answer to around these parts."
"So what's it gonna be boy? You gonna get on your knees and beg for forgiveness, or do we gotta kick the apology into you?"
The cloaked boy stepped forwards, his hand sliding under his cloak. A flash of movement and he was standing behind the biggest gangster with his hand still under his cloak. The bloated pause hung in the air as the remaining four tried to understand what had just happened.
"Yo, Buggy what the hell? Mess that prick up already." Buggy was motionless. "Buggy?"
The slow dripping sound rung out through the night. Each thump of liquid on gravel exploded into the ears of the remaining gang members. Blood began to flow from Buggy's neck and the man collapsed face first into the dirt.
The boy turned to face the gang. "He is dead, slit from ear to ear. Either you leave me alone, or you end up like him."
"Get 'im! Get the fucker!" The boy shrugged his cloak off to reveal a two and a half foot blade strapped to the right side of his body, his left hand still around the hilt. A smile graced his lips as the gang ran at him with clubs and shivs. This was going to be too easy.
They ran at him with false hope, each wishing that they could land the killing blow with whatever makeshift weapon they were clutching. The boy unsheathed the blade, the steel glinting in the moonlight. The first strikes began to rain down on him, each attack was parried artfully by the boy. He struck out at a woman holding a shiv and his sword dug into her chest. Taking the opportunity to attack the boy another gang member took a swing with his bar. Still showing the grace and poise of a true swordsman, the boy ducked and kicked out, shattering the legs of his would be killer. He then followed through by slashing the falling man's throat with the shiv the woman had dropped. It hadn't even been a minute and already three were dead. The final two looked fearfully at the boy as he pulled his sword from the limp woman. The steel blade flashed hungrily as the boy wiped the blood from it, humming calmly as if killing were nothing more than a small hindrance. One of them, a dirty faced girl, turned to run. Before she had even taken a step in the opposite direction the blade soared through the air and lodged itself in her neck. The boy had thrown it like it where nothing more than a ball of cotton. There was only one now.
The boy picked his cloak up off the ground brushing away some dust that had found its way onto the fabric. His eyes locked onto the only person that posed a threat to him anymore. The last remaining gangster dropped his shiv and hit the floor.
"P-Please man don't do this to me!" He begged. "I never wanted to kill no on, you saw right? I was never trying to hit you! I was just faking so they wouldn't hurt me. So wadda you say huh? Let me go and I will never bother you again, deal?"
The boy pulled his hood over his face. "Let you go? So you can join another gang, beat and rape even more innocents? Why would I do that?"
"I promise man I wont do nothing bad ever again, just let me go!" The boy circled around to retrieve his sword from the corpse it had lodged in.He looked at the grovelling man before him, taken from high and mighty to low and weak in a matter of seconds.Why grant him pity?
"Get up and walk away wretch." The boy whispered.
"Thank you! Thank you sir!" The grovelling man took no wasted time and fled instantly. The boy smirked and reached back under his cloak, this time pulling out a loaded pistol.
He began to mutter to himself. "I have seen you for what you truly are. No amount of earthly atonement can suffice for your sins as I have seen into the very heart of your evil. You do not deserve the gift of life, I am here to revoke that privilege from you. Go with the false hope you were born from, filth of this world." Not hesitating for another moment, the boy took aim at the running mans's head, and pulled the trigger.
ONE MONTH LATER
Tabitha Sparx - Twilight Sparkle to her friends - sat in her favourite armchair with a mug of cocoa and the morning paper. Her violet hair falling softly down her front as she read the bleak title on the front page.
The Reaper of Gangs Strikes Again!
The land is still in fear as yet again a large number of people have been found dead. The murder of the Cotton gang in Holton not one month ago is still fresh in our minds and the death of the Trottingham Bandit only one week ago, it would appear that the death is not going to stop here. The Wesley Brothers, the leaders of Canterlot's biggest problem gang The Wes Front were found dead in an isolated warehouse along with every member of their forty man gang. While it would seem like this is nothing more than gang violence or a police raid, it is much further from the truth. The circumstances of their deaths are strikingly similar to the deaths of the Cotton gang. Every single member except for the Wesley Brothers were confirmed to have been killed with blade strikes to vital areas of their bodies, mainly their necks or hearts. The Wesley Brothers however were both killed by a single gunshot to the head, just like the leader of the Cotton gang and the Trottingham Bandit. The bodies were discovered when an anonymous tip was sent to the police detailing the location of the eliminated gang. The call was never traced to a location so the identity of the tipster may never be discovered. The only hint as to who could have eliminated this gang is the same clue that has been found at the discovery point of every murder so far. A note that simply states, 'I am the one who will revoke the greatest privilege of all from those who do not deserve it.'
The penmanship is identical to the the last two notes discovered so we are facing the possibility of a mass murderer. But not one that targets the innocent. We have no idea who this man or woman is, or even if they are working alone, but we can confirm that they are armed and extremely dangerous. So if you see this person, hold your thanks, because they could turn their blade on you at anytime.
Twilight sighed as she put the newspaper aside; Equestria had never been a perfect land but this kind of event was uncommon. Mass murder hadn't taken place anywhere in the world in well over two hundred years. Now Equestria was at the heart of the biggest political story of the time. Twilight was just happy that nothing was going wrong in Ponyville. The peaceful rural town had never been the target of anything that had ended in tragedy. Nightmare Moon had been defeated with little damage and Discord's attack on the world was halted before anything major happened. It had all been through the co-operation of Tabitha Sparx and her five friends, Catherine Dash, Elisabeth Rare, Fiona Shy, Diane Pinkamena and Jackie Apple. The six of them each represented an ancient magic power known as an Element of Harmony, when the original five (Honesty, Laughter, Kindness, Loyalty, Generosity) were brought into contact with the sixth (Magic) they became powerful tools of magic. They had only been used twice before. Twilight was hoping they would never have to be used again, but with a possible mass murderer on the loose she couldn't tell what was going to happen anymore. The world as she knew it was starting to move on, and Twilight wasn't sure she could keep up.
She sipped at the mug of chocolaty goodness while her negative thoughts threatened to overflow into the world around her. The door to her house - a library built into an old tree - opened with a small jingle as the bell above the frame was knocked around. A boy with dark green hair and equally dark green eyes strode into the library with a lavender hoddie thrown over one shoulder. Twilight smiled and greeted him with a hug, the boy returned the affection. His name was Patrick Sikes - Spike to his friends - a young Draco that had pledged himself as Twilight's assistant. A Draco is a human that was born not as an Earth-Dweller, a Unicorn or a Pegasi but instead as a strange mix of human and Dragon DNA. Draco children are only ever born once every fifty years under the Dragon star, a star said to be infused with Dragon magic. As a Draco Spike could breathe fire, had a second pair of transparent eyelids, was highly resistant to all kinds of fire and had developed very tough teeth and nails. As well as a strange addiction to the consumption of gemstones. He had become Twilight's assistant many years ago when he was taken in by the Sparx family after his parents had died. The two had been the best of friends ever since.
Spike pushed Twilight away with a faded smile. "Twi' are you alright? You seem like something is bothering you."
"Its nothing Spike." Twilight lied.
Spike saw the newspaper Twilight had put aside. "Its the guy who's killing those people ain't it?" Twilight's jaw tightened. "Don't worry Twi', that guy wont ever come to Ponyville. What's he gonna kill, the horses?" Twilight giggled at her assistant's offhand comment. Patrick always knew just what to say to her.
Twilight ruffled Spike's hair and the Draco gave her one last squeeze before retreating to his bedroom. Twilight left a note on the table, she was going shopping for his fifteenth birthday gift. Not that she wrote that on the note. She stepped out of the door of the library with her head hung. She wasn't really in the mood for looking jolly today. Twilight took two steps forward and smacked her head into something that felt like a warm brick wall. She stumbled backwards nursing her head from the impact.
"You okay there girl?" somebody said. Twilight looked up at her obstacle. It was a boy, about eighteen years of age, with jet black hair and ruby red eyes. His soft complexion was tainted by a single long scar that ran underneath his right eye. He was wearing a long brown cloak that was swept back over his left shoulder the reveal a sword strapped to his waist with a single pistol holstered just above it. Twilight felt unnerved by his appearance, he looked like trouble. "I said, are you alright? I didn't hurt you did I?"
Twilight regained her composure. "No No, I'm fine Mister...?"
"Riley." He said. "Riley Alexander. A pleasure to meet you Tabitha."
Twilight's breathing halted. "How do you know my name?"
"This flier at the train-station said that a spare room was being offered by a Miss Tabitha Sparx. The directions said that Tabitha Sparx was the local librarian and I should talk to her, you look far too young to be a librarian, but if its what you love I'm not here to stop you."
"How do you know I'm the librarian?" Twilight challenged, trying to catch the boy out.
"Simple really." Riley said with a smirk. "That key-chain around your belt has a key marked 'Ponyville library' and only the librarian would have that."
Twilight couldn't argue with that logic. "Well what do you want with the spare room?"
"Well I want to rent it of course! Why else would I be asking?"
Twilight felt stupid for having raised such an idiotic point. "If you say so, but can you come back in about twenty minutes? I'm going shopping."
"Why don't I come with you and help? It could be a great time for us to get to know one another." Riley still looked like trouble to Twilight. Something about him just seemed a little off. However he looked sincere enough in his intent. Even if it was a bit scary having a total stranger that was armed to the teeth accompanying her on a shopping trip.
"Okay then Riley, you can come. But please keep your weapons hidden so that you don't frighten to townsfolk."
Riley clapped his hands. "So THAT must be why I was getting all those weird looks when I was walking over her from the train-station! Sorry, its just that the last town I was in had a bit of a gang problem. So keeping a weapon exposed was a way of warding off trouble."
"Well in this little town we don't have any trouble, so don't start any." Twilight said sharply. "Now come on we need to get to the market before they close for the day."
"As you say Tabitha, lead the way!" Riley said enthusiastically. Twilight started to walk swiftly in the direction of the market, Riley bounding along behind her. He may seem trustworthy, but Twilight was keeping her eye on the new boy for now.
Chapter 2 - Memory
Twilight strolled calmly through the town market. The day was in full swing, stall-owners were bartering with customers and children were rushing back and forth between different confectionery stalls. The pleasant scent of fresh-made cakes, cookies, bread, pies, tarts, buns and more drifted through the air to Twilight and promptly invaded her senses. Every single thing about Ponyville's market was familiar. Everything except for the raven haired boy beside her. Riley's eyes were open in wonder as he absorbed every single detail of the market. His cloak billowed open as he spun, revealing his weaponry to the shoppers on numerous occasions. Twilight no longer cared to try and stop Riley from flashing his blade as it was clear the boy would never listen to her words. She tried to block him from her mind and continued to search for a gift to get Spike. The boy was fairly easy to please. The only things he ever needed were gemstones and clothes, however Twilight wanted to get him something special for his fifteenth. So she continued to trawl the stalls looking for a gift suiting a adolescent Draco. Riley wasn't helping.
"Look at that." He cooed. "I've never seen that kind of design on a blanket before. That too! Who knew that talented artists could be found anywhere in this world?"
Twilight tried to strike up a conversation. "Sooooo, Riley was it? What brings you to Ponyville?"
"Work."
"What?" Twilight said, feeling a little hacked off at Riley's short answer.
"Work." Riley repeated. "I'm in a line of work that involves a lot of moving around the country, sometimes the world!"
Twilight became skeptical. "What could you possibly do that requires so much movement?"
Riley gave her a hearty grin. "I'm a thief!"
"What did you just say?" Twilight giggled. So this guy was a clown after all.
"I am a thief, look I've stolen your money." Twilight's hand snapped to her leg, her money pouch was gone, Riley was spinning it on the end of his finger. Twilight nearly called for help when Riley threw it into her chest. "Don't worry your little cotton socks about it, I'm not here to rob people. I just needed to get away for a little while, the big city is killer on your nerves." Twilight could barely comprehend what this boy was saying to her. What kind of thief tells their marks who they are? Furthermore what kind of thief gives back what they stole?
"Riley." She said quietly. "Why are you in this town?"
"Like I said I needed a break from the big city. Canterlot was too much work and the gang violence was just awful. But from what I here the Wesley brothers got a taste of their own medicine." Riley flashed a dangerous smile. "The bastards had it coming,"
Twilight's pulse stepped up a beat, Riley had a scary smile. She slowly chewed at her bottom lip as she tried to bring the outing back around to the original objective. Finding a teenager's birthday present. She has joked with herself about getting Spike a massive stack of pornography for his fifteenth. Now that most of the gift stalls had been cleared out and what was left had no value to somebody like Spike, she was seriously considering the idea. Riley began to eye a small trinket on one of the stalls. He pointed it out to Twilight and her eyes shone. It was a small gold band with two sapphires and one ruby, the perfect gift for Spike. She happily skipped over to the stall and asked the owner how much.
"One hundred bits. What's it for?" The woman behind the stall simpered, she gave Riley an ogle. "Or who is it for?"
"Its for my friend, its his fifteenth birthday in two days." Twilight said rummaging through her pouch for money.
"A birthday eh? Then how about you give me a hundred fifty?"
Twilight looked up, shocked. "I'm sorry?"
"A hundred fifty or the band goes nowhere."
"B-But you can't do that!"
The crooked shop-keeper chuckled. "My stock, my rules."
"Excuse me Tabitha, is this woman giving you grief?" Riley asked, a hint of irritation is his voice.
"I ain't giving her nothing unless she pays up!"
Riley walked forwards and placed his hands on the counter. "Now why would you be acting so high and mighty all of a sudden? Do you feel powerful by extorting your customers in their times of need? Does the thought of ill-gotten gains make you sleep better at night?" Riley's eyes became subtly darker. "Or do you see every lie you weave as foolproof ever since you made your husband believe that you staying behind to work late; was your way of saying I'm fucking the blacksmith's assistant behind your back?" The stall-owners face dropped from smug to terrified in an instant.
"How did you..!" She started.
"Irrelevant, either you cut the price down to eighty bits or your husband finds out you don't like commitment." Riley smiled. "Your call bitch."
"Fine, fine! Just don't tell him until my divorce comes through!" Twilight stayed gawping like a rabbit in the path of an oncoming car. Riley took her money and counted out the appropriate level of coin. He then snatched the band from the stall.
"A pleasure." He mocked. Twilight's brain was no longer functioning at normal levels. In a matter of seconds Riley had spun the entire situation around. Causing a person who's very profession was to get the best deal for them, to lose face to an adversary. A person who was dumb enough to say he was a thief in public had proven to be a master of coercion. The same idiot thief tapped Twilight on the shoulder. "We best head home now." Twilight tried to say something. "We had better head home before she notices her sudden change in stock."
Twilight's brain began to function once again and she gave Riley a look that said 'what?' The red-eyed boy pointed at the stall. Most of what had been there previously had vanished, replaced by a single rose. Riley jangled a bag in front of Twilight's nose. "I told you I was a thief, race you back to the tree-house!" Before Twilight could interject Riley bolted with his bag of loot. As she saw the stall-owner begin to search for her goods, she decided to join Riley in his haste.
*
He sat opposite Twilight with the bag of stolen goods on his lap. Twilight would be sure to hex everything in the library when she got the chance. The young thief had stolen everything from the stall that wasn't nailed down. Twilight was worried that her prediction about his talents had been false. So she had let the boy, who steals everything in sight, into her home and was now finalizing the deal to let him rent the spare room. Her famed intellect was clearly shining through as a beacon to everybody around her. But the boy that sat opposite would no no doubt get himself killed if he we're to be allowed to walk the streets. He may be quick-fingered but the town-guard all had training in combat arts, a thief had no chance against them. Now that he was in a relaxed environment Riley had taken off his cloak. Underneath was a simple white button up shirt and black trousers, the most out of place thing were his large black leather hiking boots. Twilight allowed herself to partake in a private joke, if Elizabeth saw Riley's clothing she would go nuts. Something along the lines of 'an offence to fashion' would be her wording no doubt. But Rare wasn't here, Tabitha Sparx was and she saw no immediate problems with her new lodger's attire.
Riley still refused to remove the sword and gun from his person. He claimed that it was to be ready for anything. Twilight was one of the Unikai, a Unicorn. A human being born with the ability to manipulate the force of magic that was in the world, so she felt certain that she could trump Riley in combat. For many years however the Unikai had ruled over Equestria with their magic. It wasn't until the revolt of the first age that they were toppled from their unjust throne. Ever since then a government made from all three of the sub-races of humanity (Earth-dwellers, Pegasi and Unikai) ruled Equestria with the immortal sisters, Marilyn Celestia and Sophia Luna, keeping the eldest laws in place. The system had been in place since the start of the second age. Even now in the fourth age, over a thousand years since the revolt, the Equestrian government had ruled fairly and justly. But even in the light of such a rule certain undesirables - such as murderers, rapists, racists and thieves - still held sway even in the grand capital of Canterlot. The world outside of Equestria faced similar problems even among their governments. So despite all of the worries that Twilight had about the recent killings she was assured (strangely) by the knowledge that in another land they have it worse.
Riley marked the final bit of legislation with an enthusiastic signature. His smile was still leaking through despite how close he was to be hauled away by the law. What was it that was fueling his emotions? Twilight was as curious as she was mildly frightened. One moment Riley has been prancing about the market with his head in the clouds. The very next he had pushed somebody into a corner with obviously delicate information. Such a mercurial mood was most unfitting to someone such as Riley. His entire attitude was just too relaxed for him to make sense when he was angry. Twilight had a hard time imagining him using the weapons he carried. Even his gemstone ruby eyes were far too kind for the colour that was most linked to violence and death. Twilight flattened her skirt (a dark purple knee length) and tried to look normal. But as painful as it was to admit it, Riley was highly attractive to her. His red eyes were tucked perfectly behind the shroud that his black hair created as it fell softly past his eye-line. His face was practically spotless, ruined slightly by the long scar that ran beneath his right eye. That scar might be the only evidence that Riley's blade had ever been used. If Twilight allowed her eyes to drift further down she was greeted by a shirt that was missing the top two buttons to reveal the perfect little peephole into Riley's shirt. A finely toned chest beneath the fabric was the reward, a small dusting of hair across the upper-half. Better yet, Riley's body didn't look like he was an airbrushed model with heavily sculptured muscles. It was not perfect, but in its imperfection it was better than what was normally seen as the best. Twilight stopped her eyes from exploring the rest of Riley's body as to decrease the odds of being caught staring, not that she would care that much if she was.
Having lost the cloak it was clear that Riley was not a Pegasi as he lacked the wings. Picking up the form on the table, Twilight scanned down to the box marked 'race.' In bold pen was Human, Earth-Dweller . So Riley wasn't able to use magic, a fact that Twilight tucked away into her mind for future reference. The magicless being in question started to fidget in his seat.
"Hey Tabitha, not to complain but I feel really uncomfortable." Riley muttered.
Twilight gave him a dismissive wave. "I have to file this stuff away, so go ahead and check out the room while I get dinner ready."
"I get fed too? I guess I can put up with that." Riley bounded away once again as Twilight rolled her eyes. He was the most air-headed person she had ever met. Except maybe for Diane, she was like a balloon for the amount of air in her head.
*
The boy stroked his cloak softly, assessing the fabric for any damage that he may have missed. He placed his sword and gun on the desk, a small pot of ink and a quill already prepared for him. He smiled jovially at the now setting sun, the orb of flame that hung like a fattened pig in the sky. As the orb dropped below his line of perception in the distance the pig's blood spilled across the land in a burst of reds and oranges. His smile broadened at his uncommon link. The pig in the sky would bleed.
She would bleed until her veins ran dry.
The boy looked out of the window into the town he had arrived in this day. A quaint little place. A town made famous, and then named for, its use of horses in work and entertainment.
Ponyville.
The boy was happy that his journey had brought him here. He picked up the sword and launched a few stabs at the wall, an unknown man was holding a young girl in his arms in the freeze-frame of memory. No doubt a small bit of memorabilia that belonged to the owner of the establishment he found himself residing in. He slashed the blade as close to the picture frame as he dared. Memories were precious things. Even the bad ones held great significance to the person who's head contains them. The boy loved memories. His own were not as happy as he would like them to be. So he liked other people's memories, they were always fun to delve into and even more fun to use against them. Nothing was secret to the boy. You can hide anything as well as you can. He was able to defeat any mental barriers a person would raise. To find a memory no matter how repressed it was. He could find it, and destroy you with it.
He placed the sword back in its scabbard and holstered his pistol. His cloak was draped over his right shoulder keeping his weaponry in full view. He didn't care what he had been told, he would stay alert at all times. Ready for the first sign of aggression from the denizens of Ponyville. He hoped that it wouldn't turn to violence, but if it did he would try to minimize the fatalities of the innocents. His ears twitched, his hostess was calling him.
"Alexander, dinner is ready!" She called. The boy allowed another grin to split on his face. At least he could get a good meal in him before he went out to revoke life from those who did not deserve the gift that it was.
*
Twilight finished arranging the plates on the table, with Spike helping her get everything in position. The timer in the kitchen buzzed.
"Spike could you get that? I need to call Riley." Twilight asked. Spike gave a quick nod to let Twilight know he was. Leaving her assistant to prepare what food remained, Twilight stood at the bottom of the stairs. "Alexander!" She called. "Dinner is ready!" She then hurriedly made her way back to the kitchen to stop Spike from destroying what they were going to be eating. The Draco boy had never been good with food. When she reentered the dining room with two plates she found Riley, leaning back on his chair with his gun drawn. He pretended to take shots at the books that lined that walls of Twilight's house and library. Twilight coughed loudly to get his attention.
Riley didn't stop aiming his gun. "So what's for dinner then Tabitha?" He asked.
"Well you don't mix your words do you?" Twilight huffed. "A please would have been nice!"
"PLEASE, may you tell me what is for dinner Tabitha?"
"Sausages and chips."
"Creative, but I doubt I could do better." Twilight ignored his half-insult and set the plate down in front of Riley. He had picked up his cutlery and began to eat before Twilight had fully placed the plate on the table. Twilight gave his barbarism a small tut as she sat down with her own food. Spike was slightly late to enter; having stopped off to fill one side of his plate with amethysts. By the time the Draco had sat down, Riley was finished with his food and on his feet.
Twilight felt a little huffy. "I spent time making that and you didn't even give it a chance."
"I gave it a chance, I liked it, I ate it." Riley said with a lazy flick of his wrist.
"Your a real charmer you know that? I'm surprised you didn't turn up here with your girlfriend, its obvious that you have women leaping at you in admiration."
Riley laughed heartily. "I find it so cute that girls always assume that a man is straight, its really funny that they never think about the other possibility." Twilight flushed. "I'm just pulling yer chain Tabitha. I'm straight." Riley gave Spike a quick glance. "Who's your friend?"
"Names Patrick Sikes mate." Spike said through a mouthful of amethyst dust. "I'mma Draco before you ask."
"Nice to meet you Patrick, I am Riley Alexander, traveler and thief. But rest assured that your possessions are safe from me, I only rob challenging marks."
Spike grunted. "As if you could rob me without we noticing." Riley shook his head and smiled. He then walked across the room to the door.
"If you don't mind I'm going to go for a walk, to clear my head."
Okay then Riley, just be back before nine." Twilight said, still a little peeved that Riley had left the table so quickly.
"I will Tabitha." Riley reached into his pocket. "Patrick might want this back by the way." Riley threw a small wallet across the room where it landed with a 'thud' on the table. Spike's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "I knew I could rob you Patrick, and Tabitha." Twilight looked up at Riley. "Based on what I said beforehand about guys, Patrick there has something he wants to tell you. I just thought I would give a boost and tell him that you would support him no matter what. Ta-Ta!"
The door snapped shut behind Riley as he left, with Patrick nearly choking on his gemstones. Twilight could feel her cheek muscles becoming tighter.
"Patrick." She said trying to suppress a giggle. "What do you have to tell me?"
Spike clenched his fists from both relief and anger. "That son of a bitch....."
Chapter 3 - Promise
Catherine Dash had always seen herself as the best of the best. There were people who thought she was cool and morons as far as the Pegasus girl was concerned. She had always tried to impress, to stand out, every second of her life was spent admiring the Wonderbolts or trying to get admired herself. She had gone as far as to dye her hair six colours of the spectrum at age seven in an attempt to be a stand out from the crowd. That had not been enough for the closet ego-freak. She had set her goal nothing short of total perfection. Perfection was being known, getting that next big deal, having your name become known all around the land. Being THE Catherine Dash, THE elite flier, THE Rainbow Dash. She would not halt until everybody in the whole world knew of her. That determination was ironically what was causing her to give up. For ten years since her debut on the flying scene she had tried to be the best. Catherine would always show off. Catherine would always be the one to jump to action instead of thought. If it wanted to work at a different pace to Catherine Dash then it wasn't worth her time. Why would anybody need to bother with something that was trying to slow them down. It was a waste of time to bother with something so trivial. Either you get on the same level as the best, or you get left behind by the best. Catherine Dash was the best as far as Catherine Dash was concerned. Nobody could compare to her pure awesomeness. Nobody was as daring, as brave, as amazingly talented as the spectrum haired Pegasus girl from Cloudsdale. So that is why, in her eyes, nothing could ever go wrong when she was flying.
She was indeed fast. Nothing more than a cyan bolt as she launched herself from rooftop to rooftop with quick flits of her wings. The two blue appendages would drop the occasional feather as Catherine continued her newest daredevil routine. A race from on side of Ponyville to the other, the only rules were that she couldn't touch the ground or stay airborne with the assistance of her wings. Being too 'awesome' to think her route through, Catherine was hardly aware that she had landed on the same rooftop five times so far. Her navigation around town was below standard when at such a low altitude; she still thought her navigation was perfect. It was this foolish idea of her actions so far being perfect, combined with her obsession with performance, that would set the wheels of fate turning. Catherine wanted to push the limit with her next move. She wanted to make the imaginary crowd roar in delight. So she picked up the pace and aimed for the gap in the two rows of buildings that ran parallel down main street. Taking no time for thought, she launched herself over the gap with a single powerful swing of her wings. The dimming light of day had rendered her sight below standard. So the cables hanging overhead were invisible to an eye that was not looking for detail. In other words, the eye of Catherine Dash.
At full speed a single wing caught on the threat. At full speed Catherine continued her journey through the air. At full speed; her wing was ripped from its socket. She screamed and spun out of control, the earth was now a sneering threat below. Waiting for the plummeting Pegasus to shatter against it. The Pegasus girl became a howling, bleeding mess as her rag-doll body continued its journey across the gap. Catherine could do nothing but increase the volume of her pained screeching as her person closed in on its destination. A solid brick wall. She didn't know what to do anymore, her one working wing was jerking spasmodically as she tried to gain flight. Bone jutted from her shoulder from where her wing had detached itself from muscle and tendon, blood leaking from the multiple puncture wounds that had formed. The world was falling apart around her, the sudden stop that would be the wall was approaching faster and faster. Each moment was being carved into her mind as she became ever closer to the moment that would cut her life short and reduce the great Rainbow Dash to nothing more than a spectrum smear on the pavement. The hopelessness began to set in and Catherine Dash, her throat raw from screaming, closed her eyes and put her life in fate's hands.
Fate ruled that she live another day.
A silver flash arced across the skyline. Rainbow hit the wall with a painful crunch; several bones cracked under the force of the impact. But instead of continuing her fatal journey, Rainbow stayed stuck to the wall. Hanging over a killer drop she remained. Rainbow's head was hazy, both from the impact on the wall and the slow blood loss she was now experiencing. Moving her head back ever so sightly Rainbow looked above her for a sign of her sudden stop. It was right there, a visible show of her cheating death. A steel blade wedged in the wall had hooked onto her hood and pinned her in place. The blade was dug impressively far into the brickwork; at least two foot of steel had vanished into the side of the building. Rainbow's head drooped and her vision progressively blurred. A small gathering of people had begun the spill out onto the street. Somebody pointed at Rainbow and shouted something lost in the buzzing that had replaced her basic hearing functions. More and more people came running from their homes to look for the source of the screams. They could all see her. Rainbow wasn't even glad that she had been found. All she could think of was her failure. How she had failed to complete her task. How she had failed to clear the gap. How she had failed herself by screaming like a frightened child. It was pointless to be found by the masses, they would mock her for failing at something so simple. A small trickle of dust sprinkled her hair; Rainbow looked up once again. A boy in a long brown cloak was perched on the edge of the building, a goofy smile across his face.
"Hi there, need anymore help?" He asked. Rainbow looked at him for another second before closing her eyes and drifting into the realm of sleep. With the blade still supporting her life.
*
Bleach. The air stank of bleach and sickness. Riley continued to shuffle the deck of cards he had 'borrowed' from a passing nurse. The spectrum haired Pegasus in the bed was still totally doped out of her mind. A lingering effect of critical condition surgery. Her wing had been shredded beyond recognition when he had brought her into the hospital, now it looked more like a cart had crushed it but it was a definite improvement on the previous state it had been in. Riley checked his watch; five minutes had passed since he had sent the message to Tabitha. He had expected her response to be faster. Maybe he had misjudged her after all. The door the hospital room practically exploded off the frame and five girls, one of whom was carrying a boy, barreled into the room one after the other. They breezed past Riley as he reshuffled the deck for the tenth time. They immediately crowded around the drugged out Pegasus girl that was lying in bed. Most of them clutching small gifts that they had no doubt intended for their sick friend. Riley, not wanting to draw attention to himself, stayed where her was and observed the new targets. Amoungst them were two familiar faces that belonged to Tabitha Sparx and Patrick Sikes. The rest were new, Riley liked new people.
The first had bubblegum pink hair and bounced around like she was being supplied with constant adrenal injections. The second had blonde hair tied in a ponytail and a Stetson hat that was pulled forward on her head, she also had a pistol strapped to her waist. The third had lavender curls - why did all the girls in this town have weird hair colours? - that looked like they had been washed obsessively. Riley made a note of her broach, it was glowing faintly indicating that it was a Unicorn's wand. So the lavender one was a Unicorn. The fourth was a Pegasus with yellow wings, her hair was longer than the other members of the group and a pale pink colour. The final unknown face was the one that Riley had gone through all the effort to save. The cyan winged Pegasus that was still in the process of tripping total balls from the dosage of morphine that had been supplied to her. Riley completed his mental note of the group and filed away the information for use at a later date. It was time for the thief to do what a thief does best. Taking the most valuable thing from his mark.
"Excuse me." He said softly; garnering a good response from the gaggle of girls. "I do believe most of us have yet to meet."
The first to respond was Spike. "Riley!!!" He shouted. "You son of a bitch! Do you realise what you did?!"
"I'm sorry Patrick, I thought I was helping you to tell your best friend of a new stage in your life."
Surprisingly, the blonde spoke. "I always though that Spike here wasn't like that, I was suspecting the opposite from the little guy."
"A-A-Applejack!!" Spike stammered.
"Yeah!" The hyperactive girl squealed. "We were certain that he didn't go THAT way!"
"GUUUUUUUUUUUUUYSSSS!!!!!"
"I fully support Spikey-Wikey on his new found lifestyle." The Unicorn said. "I never though he was inclined in that direction however."
"Even you Rarity....?"
"I'm just proud of Spike on finding who he really is." The Pegasus, who wasn't passed out on a hospital bed, whispered. "I hope he enjoys himself and finds his special somebody in due time."
"GAAAAAAH!" Spike groaned. "Why meeeeeee?!"
Riley felt like it was time for him to intervene. "Can I ask what this is about?"
"Its about you plantin' the wrong idea in Twi's head!" Spike growled. "I've had nothing but trouble all day!"
"What idea do you mean?"
"The idea that I like dudes!!!"
Riley stared at the teenage Draco for a second. "What?"
"Don't you remember what you said?"
"I remember saying that Twilight would support you no matter what, at no point did I say that you like guys." Riley paused. "Do any of you know a girl who might go under the name Bloom?"
The blonde girl raised a hand. "She's my lil' sis. Why?"
Riley could no longer contain his joy. "Oh me oh my! I really have clouded the issue haven't I? Never before has something been so miraculously misconceived!"
"What in the heck are you talkin' about?" The blonde girl asked.
"Spike doesn't like guys." A collective sigh from the group of girls punctured by a 'hey!' from Spike. "However he does have something else."
"What would that be?"
"I think you might want to tell her Patrick, sooner rather than later." Spike looked around desperately; hoping for an escape route. There was nothing available.
"Applejack..." He began; all the while looking for the smallest chance to escape. "I'm kinda.. Dating your sister..."
Quiet. The most awkward and glorious quiet to ever grace Equestria. The lack of sound was so great that you could almost hear Applejack's eye twitching. Riley was having internal giggle fits; as a side effect from the total deviation of the situation from his original goal. Applejack removed her hat and spun it betwixt her fingers. She was in deep thought, or as Riley would put it, the perfect target.
"Excuse me?" Riley said as he moved in for the kill. "Could you tell me your name?"
"Me?" The blonde murmured, still fiddling with her Stetson.
"Yes you, as a formality to you all I think it is fair to introduce myself." Riley wiped some invisible dirt from his cloak. "My name is Riley Alexander. For the time being I will be residing in Miss Sparx's home, until I move on or find a home of my own. But for the duration of my stay I was hoping to make some..." Riley paused, his eyes darkened. "...Friends; that I can..." Another pause. "...Get to know a little better." The cloaked boy coughed hard into his hand, a small smattering of blood was on his palm. Riley slid his hand back under his cloak to hide the red stain. Applejack continued to twist her hat into various shapes; her eyes darting all around the room. Twilight's attention was drawn to her companion's sudden shift in mood. The previously active Earth-Dweller was starting to fall into herself. Riley's ruby eyes were dyed a bloody red; his hand constantly stroking his gun as if he were anticipating something.
"I ask you again what is your name?"
No reply.
"What is your name?"
Applejack's heart pumped faster and faster.
"One last chance; what is your name?"
That's when the screaming started.
*
"C'mon Jackie, we're gonna be late!"
"Ah'm coming Dana, Ah'm coming!"
"Well move it slowpoke!"
I continued my run up the side of the mountain. The wind was a cooling ripple on my face and the birdsong was my own personal choir. Dana ran ahead of me; brandishing her Stetson hat in one hand and a rope in the other. It was time once again for us to watch the sunrise. We did it every Saturday without fail. I would wake up before the cock even had a chance to prepare his beak for calling. It had become somewhat of an obsession on our part to get the best possible views for the rising of the sun.
Me and my friend Dana.
Our search had brought us all over Ponyville. From the top of my family's barn to the bottom of the creek and even to the top of mount Sera. We had to find all of the best places to see the magnificent ball of fire rise above the horizon. It had become less of a game and more of a task. Each week we had to find a new place to look at the rising sun. Today we had decided on Purgatory Rock, a monolithic stone just outside of Ponyville. The legend about the stone was that in the dawn of The Age of the Immortal Sisters several traitors to the law that had been enforced were executed as an example to those who may think of inciting another rebellion. Because that's how the world works, the noble rebels that fought for freewill deny another kind of freewill to the one they enforce. I dragged my way out of the depressing thought pattern I had discovered by keeping my eye in the path ahead. It was so close now. The sunrise waited at the peak of Purgatory Rock.
Dana was several times more athletic than me; already at the peak she inhaled the crisp winter air. Her magnificent frame illuminated by the approaching dawn.
"Hurry Jackie, its starting!" Dana called. I covered the last few steps to reach the top. Just in time. The light of dawn flowed forth onto the land. Each ray of light beckoning the start of the day; purging the shadows that held faith in the night. Birdsong started a crescendo of tweets and twitters, the occasional dart of movement as one took flight. Fawns nosed their way out of the brush with vigilant does flanked by stags with impressive horns. This was the land of Equestria as it should be; peaceful beyond words. This was my world. I was gonna seize it with both hands. Me and Dana, together forever. Dana's face cracked into her wicked smile. Yeah, the world better be ready for us.
"Hey Dana?" I asked.
"Yeah Jackie?"
"Have you ever thought about, love?"
Dana's laugh chimed. "I know we're good buddies Jack but I just don't feel that way."
"That is not what I meant!" I said sharply. "I mean have you ever thought about what you see as love?"
"Darn it Jackie, we don't need to think 'bout that kinda crap yet! We're barely even outta school!"
"I guess your right Dana." Jackie tugged at her short blonde hair. "Its just been buggin' me that's all."
Dana clapped me on the back. "Why? Your only eighteen Jackie; that kinda grief shouldn't bother you. Yet." Dana continued her smiling. "'Sides what's the hurry to find love nowadays? People just need to slow it up and learn to enjoy the time you got to yourself. Before you gotta devote yourself to another." I looked Dana in the eyes; her green bulbs stared back. For all of her aestheticism and obsession with fitness, she knew just what to say to me.
The sun had risen high enough into the sky for us to call our mission a success. We had once again watched the sunset from a new location in Ponyville. Now come the climb back down.
"We better head home Dana, careful now, this place don't look all that stable."
"Now where is the fun in that?" Dana laughed. "Race ya down!" She was off like a rocket; charging her way down the side of the massive stone formation.
"D-Dana! Don't do that!" I shrieked."You're gonna get hurt!" But she was still flying down the cliff-face. It was now that I understood the scale of where we were. All along the path jagged stakes jutted from the surface of the rock. It was a deathtrap if you weren't taking the right care. Dana was clearly not taking that care. "DANA!!" I screamed. "FOR FUCK SAKE STOP IT!"
"Don't fret Jackie! What's the worst..."
That was the last thing she said before she tripped. It was like something out of a nightmare. One second Dana was smiling and happy; streaking down the side of Purgatory Rock. The next Dana was in the air; a hideously out of place smile still across her face. Her body dropped out of view. Oh my god. No. This wasn't right, this wasn't what was supposed to happen! This is a dream. Gonna wake up any second.
A scream. A single, mind-shattering, soul-rending scream. I was off so fast I was imitating a bolt of lightning. All of the cautionary words I had supplied Dana with were now just hypocritical memos in the back of my head. I didn't give a fuck if I followed her in the same way; I was getting to Dana. The crack in the ground that Dana failed to see nearly felled me in a similar manner. It was by chance that I stepped over it. No precision, no planning. Luck had separated me from the same fate as Dana. But as I saw the drop she had suffered my blood ran cold. It was a gigantic fall. We hadn't taken this way up for a good reason; that being that it was a fatal fall and we had no climbing gear.
Dana had fallen down that same drop.
I followed gingerly, finding what little handholds were on the sheer wall of rock.
This was fear. This was how I was going to die.
The minutes crept by like hours. Nothing was in the air now. The birds had stopped their singing and the air was still. Even the regular barbs of the early winter morning air had faded away. The world as in suspense. I was constantly aware that if I lost my grip for a second; it was over. My decent was at no point speeding up from the steady crawl that it was. The ground wasn't far now; but why risk it? Dana had risked it and look at what had had happened to her. Oh god Dana; why didn't you listen to me? The barbarically long climb finally came to an end, my feet planted firmly on the ground. Now I look for Dana. A search that didn't last very long. A slowly expanding sticky puddle was at the bottom of the cliff. I simply followed it with my eyes; Dana was at the origin. I lost it. My thoughts, my stomach, my nerve, my sanity. If it was there I lost it at the sight of Dana. Her body. Her fantastically crafted body. Oh my god.
I felt ashamed for doing it, but I vomited at the sight of her. What had once been beauty had been mangled into a grotesque state of blood and bone. Her legs were totally destroyed, bones jutting out from impossible angles beneath her skin, like demented spears that her body had made. One of her arms was clearly dislocated from every possible joint it could have locked into. The other had escaped the worst of the fall but still looked vile. Dana's face was the worst, with one half having been ripped beyond recognition. This wasn't happening. It was a dream that I was just taking extra long to wake up from. I had missed my alarm and Dana was probably on her way to the farm to scold me for breaking our tradition that we had upheld for so long. Yeah, that was it. Dana wasn't hurt. She was fine. Dana can't die. She can't die!
"Jackie, is that you?"
No way. "D-Dana?" I choked through the growing tears.
"Yeah." She answered weakly. "Its me ya knuckle-head... How you doing?"
"Dana, please don't talk we need to get you some help!"
Dana did what I assume was shaking her head. "Nah girl, its no use. I'm done."
"DON'T SAY THAT!" I screamed, the tears finally breaking through. "DANA DON'T SAY THAT! YOU ARE GOING TO BE FINE OKAY? Okay..?"
"Jackie." Dana whispered. "Shut up and come here." I obeyed her without question. "Now listen to me Jackie and listen good. You and me both know that I don't got anytime left. That little stunt I just did is gonna cost me my life." I was sobbing freely now. "But you listen to me alright? Don't let it consume you. What happened here wasn't your fault girl. You were telling me the honest to god truth and I chose to ignore that."
"D-D-Dana.."
"Jackie!" Dana hacked up a small glob of blood. "Listen to me! What you said to me up there coulda saved me; had I chose to pay attention to you. Now I've known you for so many years, since we were running around in our small clothes at birhday parties. Not once have you ever lied to me about anything. Not when you stole from people, not when you hurt people, not even when you tried to sabotage my science project out of jealousy." Dana laughed, a lagged pained laugh. "We've been bestest buds no matter the odds, all cause I could always rely on you to pull me out of a jam." Dana's closed her eyes. "Jackie." She muttered. "I don't wanna die."
"Nobody does Dana." I said though my weeping. "Nobody does."
"But I don't wanna leave you. Not now and not ever." Dana's breathing became slower and slower. "Jackie, I know its not your birthday yet but I have a gift for ya."
"What are you talking about Dana?"
Dana's only working hand began to move. She was clearly in pain while doing this. Clutched in that hand though, was her Stetson hat. Dana moved it labourisly over to my chest and pushed it firmly onto my person. Her fading green eyes began to open and shut rhythmically, but they stayed locked to my face.
"Why do you keep your hair short like that Jackie? I think... you would look bea... beautiful with longer hair... Keep that hat darlin', a last gift from me..." Dana started to slacken.
"Don't you ever.. Forget about me.. Jackie..."
With that final statement; Dana's body became still.
My world became a haze, my tears still tumbling down my face. This would be the part in books where the saddened character would bury their head in there hands and bawl like a baby. Dana wouldn't want that from me. So I cried. I cried more than I have or ever will cry. But I never screamed into the heavens; cursing them for stealing Dana away. I did the only thing I could do. I placed her Stetson hat on my head to try and cover the streaming tears. Then I mustered up my courage and scooped up Dana's ruined body. Yeah, she stank of blood and shite. Yeah, she was dead and looked horrific. But she was my Dana. My beautiful friend Dana.
I will never forget you Dana. Not now, not never.
*
Riley stumbled away from Applejack with a satisfied grimace on his face. That was a good one. But not good enough, he needed one that could make even the strongest man quake in their boots. Applejack's sobbing could be heard clearly as she kept her face buried in her hat. The group was trying to console her.
"AJ! I know this is sudden but I didn't think that finding out would make you cry!" Spike yelped.
"Oh oh oh! Unless she's crying out of joy in which case, hooray for Applejack!" The pink haired one whooped
Applejack's sobbing turned to a slow giggle. "Yeah, yeah. I guess I am cryin' cause I'm happy." She removed her hat from her face and looked up at Riley. "Now I don't know who the heck you are mister, but y'all just helped me a great deal. I was about to break a promise I made a long time back." Applejack held out a hand to Riley. He shook it with a grin. "My name is Jackie Apple, Applejack to most. Let me be the first to say thank you for everything you have done for us already."
"I am flattered, really, but I haven't done anything." Riley said.
"Y'all brought in Rainbow to the hospital when she got hurt and now I can remember somebody I swore never to forget. I don't know what kind of help you think you need to give, but this is just fine."
The pink one nearly took in a whole atmosphere; her inhalation was so large. "soyouarenew?That'sgreatcauseIlovenewpeopleintowncausetheystillhavetomeetmeandIstillhavetomeetthemsowhenwemeetinthestreetIcangreetandthenwecaneatsomethingsweetandgettoknoweachotherandPARTY!!!" She burst in one flowing sentence. Riley wasn't too sure how to react to her hyperactive explosion. Did she have ADHD or something? Before Riley could even open his mouth she grabbed him by the wrist. "C'mon! I need to go introduce you to everybody in town!"
"Whu-What!?" Riley gasped as he was dragged out of the room by the surprisingly strong girl.
Applejack laughed. "I better follow them and keep that poor guy safe. Say hi to Rainbow for me when she wakes up."
Riley continued to struggle against his captor's vice like grip. This was not a good time, he was weakened and he didn't want to draw attention to himself. This pink-headed dunce could ruin everything! So against his better will Riley chose to say the first thing that popped into his head.
"Do you like swords?"
When the his pink-haired captor's smile grew even wider; he knew he had just made a massive mistake.
Chapter 4
Laughing Blades
Diane Pinkameana - the pink haired girls name - was still dragging Riley through the streets of Ponyville. She was stronger than Riley had anticipated, as strong as a small dragon almost. Every time somebody passed by Diane would introduce them to Riley before resuming her forceful tour of the town. The brown-cloaked boy had long given up in his attempts to escape Diane's vice-like grip. He was instead going with the flow. They took what seemed like another round of the village square before Diane set her sights on the final part of the course. A large bakery with huge loopy lettering on the front; with every letter attached to a large cupcake:
SugarCube Corner.
The sign could no doubt be seen from a mile away, all the better for rounding up customers. The hyperactive girl guided Riley into the open doors of the bakery. Immediately Riley was invaded by some of the most pleasant scents that have ever been created by man. Pies, cookies, cupcakes, bread, biscuits, buns, chocolate, candy canes and sugar galore were among a few of them. His arm was finally released from its lock.
"Welcome to SugarCube Corner!" Diane whooped; quite obviously excited to have brought somebody new into the establishment. She fished behind the counter, grabbed a cupcake from display, and jammed it into Riley's face. "Here you go buddy; that is my little confectionery gift to you."
Riley bit it cautiously; half expecting it be pumped full of drugs. "Soooooo....." He began. "Any particular reason you dragged me into a bakery, besides the cupcake?"
Pinkie grinned. "Oh Riley, I love new people." She flashed a deadly grin. "I love them oh so much." The small cake in Riley's hand suddenly gained weight as a cold chill rushed down his spine. Pinkie's bubblegum pink hair bounced up and down as she jumped up and down. She giggled darkly. "I have a big secret to share with you! All you have to do; is love me back!"
Riley's hand clenched his sword tightly, his basic primal senses were going haywire.
"Diane..." Riley growled. "What the fuck are you paying at?"
Pinkie waggled her finger. "Now now Riley, no need to get your hand so close to that blade."
"What?" Riley was certain that he hadn't exposed his sword to her. "What are you talking about?"
"I prefer something with a bit more weight, but if you're into long-swords who am I to complain?" Pinkie reached behind the counter once again; pulling out another cupcake and a set of keys. "Wanna see that secret now?"
"Why not?" Riley asked with narrowed eyes.
Pinkie leaped over the counter - she really liked that counter - and beckoned for Riley to follow. Taking the more civil approach of walking around the counter with not as much as a mutter. Pinkie flung open the door nearest to her and bounded down a flight of stairs, Riley rolled his eyes at her childishness. The dust coated stairwell creaked rhythmically as Riley followed the pink ball of energy into the level beneath the bakery. This was the moment in the horror books where the character would either run away or walk blindly to their doom. Riley was hoping that his blind walking wouldn't take him to doom, doom sucked nearly as much as Yamcha. Riley shoved the memories of the last book he had read out of his mind; focusing on the creaking of wood beneath him.
From somewhere within came a giggle. That single echoing chirrup made Riley draw his blade. Something about the scale of the sound had been, unnerving. He fiddled with something under his shirt. Riley made a motion to bring something out from underneath the fabric only to pause and dive to the right, further into the cellar. The stairwell he had been on splintered under the weight of the blow delivered to it.
"Dammit Riley." Diane giggled. "Quit moving."
Drawing the blade in his hand he took aim into the darkness hoping to catch a glimpse of his assailant. Another 'fwip' of air and another dive-roll later and he knew he was in dire need of light. Riley drew his pistol, six shots in a cylinder, and fired once. The moment of illumination revealed enough.
Six feet in front was a lamp.
He swiftly made his way over; blade in hand to counter whatever may come his way. He felt outwards and his hand came to rest on something warm.
Warm and pulsing.
The lamp-flame pulsed into life in Diane's hand to show a face devoid of emotion with bubblegum hair lank along the sides of her head. One hand held the lamp, the other a gleaming pink sword that looked to be the size of a person, the other hand was resting on her breast. Riley's hand was resting on her breast.
"Naughty boy Ri." She teased. "I never said you could."
With that she swung the blade into Riley's arm. There was a terrific clang of metal meeting metal as the boy was hurled away from the force of the strike. Riley collided with a nearby wall and was on his feet in a second. Diane raised a quizzical brow to probably question why the boy before her still had an arm.
Riley got to his feet slowly; his blade still hanging loosely in his right hand. His face was set in stone. This was an enemy before him.
Pacification was the main priority.
Deadly force? Always an option.
Riley gently lifted his cloak from his body, followed by his shirt.
What lay underneath was something expected but still oddly unfitting.
His right arm was totally devoid of any armour while his left, hinting to its survival, was covered in a thick steel skin-fitting cocoon enveloping every inch of skin with an aegis to ward off attack. Hanging from his neck was a bone pendant that had been intricately carved to resemble the Grim Reaper, complete with rubies for eyes. The neck-wear gave off an aura of pure evil covered by innocence, hope and dreams. For the second that Diane looked into it; she could feel herself drifting into her own mind. Drifting as if to find something.
She shook her head around to dispel this feeling and raised her own blade to come level with Riley's skull.
"Are you ready?" She whispered.
Silence.
"I am." He replied just as quietly.
Diane put the lamp onto the table where it would cast a glow that covered enough of the cellar to allow the combat about to take place. There was no starting pistol, no warning to prepare or begin. There was just the rush of bodies and the thwack of blade meeting blade to signify the start of the battle between Diane Pinkameana and Riley Alexander.
The first few flurries were nothing more than strikes thrown by the boy to test the girl's defences. She was strong, but slow. A typical tank-fighter. The boy took a stance that closely resembled how one would prepare to start a sprint race. The girl took a chance and swung.
The fight was over.
The boy launched himself forwards and sunk his blade into the girl's leg, she howled in pain and tried to move only to be carried by her previous clumsy swing. He then brought up his hands to deliver six punches to the skull followed by a knee strike. As the girl recovered from her blunder there was a echoing 'click' of a hammer being pulled back and she felt the soulless barrel of a gun being pressed against the back of her skull.
"Game over Diane. You played to win and left with nothing. Now you pay the price."
A single gunshot was heard, roaring from the basement of SugarCube Corner.
Now Mrs Cake, first name Daisy, had always known that Diane had been odd so when she had brought a boy into the bakery, shoved a cupcake into his face and lead him into the cellar she had hardly batted an eye.
Two gunshots and a scream later and she was practically jumping the entire length of the staircase down into the depths. What she found was the boy with a smoking revolver, and Diane laying motionless on the floor with a sword in her leg. Her lungs prepared to shriek in fear.
Just as Diane bolted up from the floor with a cheer.
"AWESOME GAME RILEY!" She boomed in glee. "Oh hey Mrs Cake, this is Riley!"
Mrs Cake didn't say a word. She just turned and went back to work.
Riley knelt down and holstered his gun, the bullet was lodged in the floor just the left of Diane. He didn't say much, he simply yanked his blade from her leg and made towards to exit.
A hand grabbed his trouser leg. "Forgetting something?"
Diane pointed at his discarded clothing. Riley nodded at her before making his way over to the garments. There was a lingering silence as he redressed in front of the injured girl. Neither party wished to say the first word.
"You're kind of cute." They both said in tandem.
Silence.
"I don't mean I'm coming onto you." Was the next unified phrase.
Silence.
"How about the cans on the pink haired pegasus?" Came the next synchronised speech.
Silence.
Both Diane and Riley burst into fits of laughter.
It was unconditional, irrational, weird and downright out of place. But it was beautiful childish laughter. Diane rolled onto her back and started to giggle with immense intakes of air, Riley was trying not to be as unrefined but failing. A trickle of blood run from Diane's nose and she wiped it off, stopping her giggles for a second to mewl in pain. Riley dug a hand into a cloak pocket and took out a small vial marked '--pain'. He handed it to Diane, who gave him a puzzled look. In his laughter he mimed drinking to which she copied by swallowing the contents of the vial. Her bloody nose's flow was stemmed and the buzzing feeling of pain in both her leg and nose stopped. She mimed thanks to allow her to resume her giggle fits.
How the two had gone from at one another's necks to giggling and speaking in tandem was anybody's guess.
But one might say it was because laughter was alive in the room.
Chapter 5
Cherilee's History Lesson
"But why d'we have to have a crummy history lesson?!" Applebloom complained for what seemed the billionth time.
"Now now Candy." Miss Cherilee said. "History is important! We could all learn a thing or two from the people of the past!"
"Okay then, but why is he here?" Applebloom said pointing to Riley, who was sitting on Cherilee's desk.
He waved at the assorted children. "Ms Sparx thinks I should get out more, so she made me volunteer at the school."
Cherilee beamed at the children. "From what he says Mr Alexander is somewhat of a historian so he should be a big help in this topic." Cherilee scrawled something on the blackboard, it read 'The History of Harmony and the Rise of the Celestial Twins.'
A collective groan from the crowd and mutters of how boring that topic sounded. Riley took notice of this and chuckled.
"Allow me to open lil' lady."
Cherilee blushed for a second at Riley's comment. He rolled backwards on the desk and launched into the air, landing on the floor with a thump.
"The year is thirteen hundred BC. The land of Neofortis is divided into three separate factions, the Union of Pegasi, Earth's Children and the Unicorn Confederacy. For many years they have lived in an uneasy truce with only a hairline preventing war. Then on the day of February tenth of that year the Confederacy suffered a final strike to light the flames of war."
Riley whipped his gun from his belt and fired a shot into the ceiling causing several members of the room to yelp in shock.
"The princess Melody Bossinger is shot dead by a weapon that only the Pegasi are in possession of, the first kind of gun to be produced in all of Equestria. The Unicorn of course blamed the Pegasi, but the Pegasi claimed that the prototype weapon had been stolen by the Children, with so many accusations flying about war was inevitable. As such on the day of February the thirteenth, war was declared between the three nations."
Riley started to pace at the front of the enraptured class.
"For three hundred years the nations fought a bloody conflict. While one could say that the Unicorn's magic would have given them an edge you would be very much wrong. The Unicorn might have had magic but the Pegasi had wings and technology while the Earth Dwellers had huge numbers and a strength unlike any that the other nations possessed."
A hand raised. "Yes dear?"
"What kind of strength?" A young girl asked.
"The Earth Dwellers had inner strength. Whereas a Unicorn or Pegasi might be discharged from duty because of injury an Earth Dweller would willingly fight on, or should they become wounded on the battlefield they wouldn't simply call for a medic and wait to be patched up as most Earth Dwellers had the will to fight through the pain. So for every ten Pegasi that fell in battle only two Earth Dwellers would fall." Riley drew his blade and began to slash the air. "On the day of April ninth nine-hundred and ninety-six BC the three nations came together on the Fields of Solace for what would be the final battle of the war. For hours the sides clashed together until only three soldiers remained. Nostradamis of the Pegasi, Valentine of the Unicorn and Simon of the Earth Dwellers."
Riley sheathed both his weapons and sat back on the desk. "While the facts around their encounter are a little hazy we know that only one warrior left that confrontation, or should I say one nation? Yeah, one nation." He grinned at the confused faces. "While we don't know exactly what was said we know that the three warriors all looked into one another's hearts and saw nothing but anguish. So all three set down their arms and sat there, in the middle of a bloody wasteland they cast aside their weapons and sat down. For the first time in over three hundred years members of the three nations sat down to have a friendly chat. When the search parties were sent out to find them they were amazed at what they saw. To see the nations in such close proximity without a skirmish was unthinkable in such a time! Yet here it was."
Riley began to scribble on a piece of paper. "It was then that through those three warriors, nothing more than grunts mind you, that the nations leaders agreed that they would sit down and talk. That talk is known as the founding of the modern realm. It was the day that the three nations united under a single flag, a day where they promised never to allow such a barbaric conflict to happen again. It was the day that..." He turned the paper around to show a picture of the flag of their nation. "Our fair nation was born. Now whenever somebody asks 'why is our nation called Harmony?' you answer with 'because harmony is better than strife."
Riley looked at the children in the class. Many of them looked almost excited after his recounting of their heritage. "For anybody confused." He said. "Our continent is Equestia, our nation is Harmony." He then gave a large grin. "Over to you madam."
Cherilee had to shake herself out of the historical trance that Riley had placed her in. His way of 'teaching' was rather enticing. "Umm yes! Right, I uh... The Celestial Twins correct? So ummm..." She rushed to the front and coughed softly as she tried to regain her composure. "So at the dawning of the Celestial Age, or the year 1 BC, there came a terrible threat to not only Harmony but all of Equestria. During an archaeological dig in the Badlands an artefact we now call The Heart of Chaos was unearthed. At the time we had no idea as to what its purpose was, so it was taken to Canterlot for study. A week into the observations there came a red-light alarm from the labs its was being held inside. Whatever the heart was it was not safe. So the military stormed the laboratory to find the staff either dead or driven mad by hallucinations of their greatest fears."
Cherilee tried to do something interesting with her hands, only to fall flat in front of the children. She had never lots confidence while teaching before. A hand lowered onto her shoulder, it was comforting.
"Then," Began Riley. "As one team attempted to figure out what was going on a booming laughter was heard." Riley imitated a stereotypical evil laugh. "The military men began to break down as their worst nightmares flooded into the room to torment them like fear incarnate!"
Riley then spun Cherilee around and leant in close to her face. "It was then that the beast who called itself Discord took soldier Elizabeth Cradle and told her 'I am fear, I am chaos, I am Discord.' Then with a final cackle...." Riley gave Cherilee a quick peck on the mouth. "He kissed her, and she fell into a fitful sleep.."
Cherilee (helped by the giggling children) played along with this game and threw a faint, with flush red cheeks and some very mixed feelings. Riley continued to spin his tale. The next parts were fairly dull as he detailed the slow spread of chaos after Elizabeth awoke and were only kept interesting by his acting.
Then once more it hit the interesting parts.
"Now that Elizabeth's claims were seen as true, that a 'King if Chaos' had arisen, the governing body decided they must act before the creature ran out of control." Riley pulled Cherilee to her feet. "So they called on two of the best they had, twin sisters called Carol and Lily Celest." He leaned back to back with Cherilee as if to make out that they were these twins.
"One controlled the ancient power of shadow-magic, the one called Lily." The teacher said taking on the persona of the first sibling.
"The other held sway over the equally old art of light-magic, the one called Carol." Riley gave an impressive spin and unsheathed his blade, holding it skyward. "Together they were The Celestial Twins. Unicorns gifted with superb control over the forces of magic unlike that of anyone else ever born. If they couldn't stop the King of Chaos then the world as we know it would be doomed."
Riley held that pause with a flourish of sheathing his blade. The class waited the next stage of the tale.
"It was all in vain." He whispered. "Even with their control over two of the most powerful elements of magic known to our kind, they were no match for the raw power of Discord and his chaos-magic. The battle raged for over three weeks, with either party only taking pause to momentarily catch their breath." Riley sombrely began to rub something beneath his shirt. "It was said that the sister's were on the verge of defeat with Carol barely protecting her dying sister from Discord's assault. All of Harmony, no, all of Equestria and the world beyond would fall to the elder magic of Discord."
Riley took a moment to gather his thoughts, it wasn't showing but the retelling of this story taxed him deeply.
"Then came the Amulet of Harmony." He said.
A hand rose. "Mr Alexander, don't you mean the Elements of Harmony?" A young boy with a camera on his desk asked.
"No my boy, the Elements come later." Riley went to the board and, using pink chalk, sketched a crude diagram of what looked like a heart with two roses wrapped around it.
"While this might just look like a regular ornate amulet; I assure you that it is so much more. The Amulet of Harmony is an artefact that is still around today but just less heard of as it is shadowed by the Elements. What this essentially is is the catalyst that allowed the Elements, famed for defeating Discord and Nightmare, to be created."
Riley took to the front of the class again.
"Now the Amulet in question was a device of unknown power. All the scholars in Canterlot told Carol that it had strength only nobody knew how to access it. She took a chance by taking it to her confrontation with the King of Chaos, a chance that paid off."
The story-teller historian swooped across the room to reach the climax of this tale.
"The amulet gave way to a brand new power that hadn't ever been seen before, even as she lay dying over the motionless body of her sister with Discord slowly shattering her last defence. Carol Celest became stronger than ever. The Amulet of Harmony gave her the power of heart-magic."
A collective murmur of unknowing.
"Heart-magic is the most powerful magic known to our kind. It is thought to be a combination of every single form of natural magic in existence." Cherilee said, trying to make some input.
"Right you are my lovely assistant." Riley whispered to only the teacher. "Your teacher is correct!" He boomed to the rest of the class. "Heart was so powerful that even on her death bed Carol was able to deflect the strikes of the King of Chaos and seal him away in stone once more."
The bell rang shrilly to signal the end of the lesson. It took some time but eventually the class managed to filter their way out.
Cherilee bounced over to her amazing helper.
"That was fantastic Mr Alexander!" She said with a beam. "I have never seen them so interested in history, or anything, before!"
"Well what can I say Ms Che-"
"Samantha."
"What?" Riley asked with a bit of confusion as to why he had been cut off.
"My name is Samantha Mr Alex-"
"Riley. My name is Riley... Samantha." Riley gave her a wicked grin, that made Cherilee's stomach bubble. "Now then I must be getting back to the library to tutor Patrick in swordsmanship." He made a movement towards the door, only to stop halfway there. Riley then turned and gave Cherilee yet another sly grin.
"But how about you meet me in town tomorrow, two o'clock at the square?"
Cherilee's eyes grew wide, was this man... Flirting with her?
"I will take your wide-eyed silence as a yes, see you then Samantha."
It was with that last line that Riley left the schoolhouse, leaving behind a butterfly stomached, slightly flushed Ms Samantha Cherilee.
Chapter 6
Death in the Family
I can’t take this anymore. Does anybody actually take a single fucking moment to consider how somebody else might feel? No, of course they bloody well don’t. These tossers don’t care about me. I’m just their sentient delivery boy. Tabitha gives me enough attention so that I don’t wither away and die, that’s about it really. Don’t even get me started on the rest of them. Elizabeth doesn’t pay the slightest bit of attention to me save for when she needs somebody to model here ‘newest most fabulous range of gentlemen’s wear.’ A little shred of me regrets growing up and quitting her, and then I remember what a bitch she was to me.
Catherine ‘head so far up my rear my hair should be brown’ Dash. I could write a book on things about that girl that annoys me. She, for one, seems convinced that she’s some kind of second coming. Hell if we could combine her ego and her dick-headedness then use magic to turn it the mix into food nobody on this planet for the next millennia would go hungry ever again.
Then we have Diane. Two words shut up. That is all I want to say to her. Not everybody WANTS to keep on being happy, not for one moment giving time to their less joyful emotions. Can’t she get that into her thick skull? Fiona just rocks my nerves. Don’t get me wrong I’m sure she means well only it’s hard to see that through the blind condescending attitude and total lack of spinal nerves or bones. Finally we rest on ‘good ‘ol Jackie’ of Sweet Apple Acres. More like Sweet Inbred Acres, I don’t think I’ve seen a dimmer collection of rednecks since that time me and Twi’ went further south. It also doesn’t help that they all have apples for their marks and look the fucking same!
I will give Twi’ my respect. After all she has taken care of me for the last fourteen years as well as tutored me in most fields of knowledge. So as far as everyone in this town I know goes; she’s the only one who has so far earned my respect.
Now there’s this Riley kid. He looks and acts far older than he seems. He also happens to be the only person in the whole town who carries both a blade and a fully loaded revolver at all times. Seriously I’ve seen him sleep with those things still strapped to his body. Then there is that amulet
I’ve only seen it once but the chills it gave me were indescribable. It looks like its metal, wood, bone and gemstone all at once like the material can’t decide what it wants to be. Then the shape of it damn it the shape. I remember what it is when I look but whenever it’s not in my line of sight it is everything and nothing.
It’s almost as if the amulet doesn’t want to be remembered.
Something about that thing wants to hide itself away.
I’ve never seen him take it off. He wears it twenty-four seven, more than he keeps his bade by his side. Riley is hiding something. He’s not just any ordinary thief is he? He wants something special. I just have to find out what....
*
Riley rubbed his eyes until they stopped stinging and the blood was cleared away. He cursed slightly as he backed away from Spike’s bedroom door; he was getting worse at it.
Something was starting to interfere with his powers.
After all just then he had attempted to review the memory of Spike and Twilight’s first meeting, only to be greeted with Spike’s most recent thoughts. It was a worry that the little boy was becoming all too inquisitive but Riley didn’t worry about that, he had other issues.
Downstairs Twilight was looking at the newspaper with a deep worried frown. She was reading over another article.
Another gang had turned up dead in Canterlot.
*
The Boy walked calmly through the streets of Canterlot. His cloak billowed softly in the hushed evening breeze as the last of the street’s occupants made their way home. The Boy took a moment to assist an elderly man who was struggling with getting some crates up a flight of stairs. The old man gave him a hearty handshake and thanked him for being such a kind soul. The Boy smiled at the delicious irony of him being called kind, a smile that was taken for thanks by the elderly man who once more gave his thanks. The Boy took no more detours. He stepped quietly towards the ‘Robinson Museum of Natural History’ with hardly a sound. Not even his steady breathing would disturb the quiet dusk air.
Two women were standing out front. Many would write them off as security or just people loitering about because they had nowhere else to go. The Boy knew better. He took a list, stained with a few drops of blood, from his pocket. He ran his finger down the paper until he found ‘The McCarthy Gang.’ He made sure that he was definitely targeting the correct order.
“What goes there?” He called out to the women, both of them took a moment to analyse the source of the noise.
“Nothing my brother for that is our way now and forever.” They both responded. The Boy smiled having just been given an oral signing on the death warrants for everyone inside the museum. For now he tucked the list back into his pocket and reached under his cloak. He removed a loaded pistol with his left hand and checked the cylinder, three bullets left for three skulls. He placed the pistol back into its holster, but kept his hand under his cloak while approaching the front of the building.
The drab grey bricking echoed with the sound of The Boy’s now weighted footfall, somewhere in the distance a cat hissed loudly as it warned off an attacker. The two women in front of the building didn’t give a moment’s notice to the person who had returned their call-sign because they were gullible like that. The Boy stepped between them and, slowly moving his hand, gave a grim smile.
“To ashes you fall.” He whispered.
The blade swiped through the air decapitating the two guards, they hit the floor before their mouths could even move to form the scream that never came. The Boy swung his left hand in a clean arc to test his blade; he was satisfied with its polish. Continuing his walk he entered the museum with the blade still baying for the slaughter of more semi-innocent people. The scene inside was hardly surprising to The Boy at this stage in his quest.
Tables had been set up for people to play cards on and snort Glow-Dust and take other varying narcotics at their leisure. Several areas had been arranged so that party goers and gang members alike could do whatever they so wished, including betting on fights, drinking to excess, wrestling competitions and acts of a sexual nature.
The Boy still found their actions as filthy as when he has started this journey, unclean the lot of them.
It was time to cleanse them.
The Boy continued to walk deeper into the den of depravity without a beat being added to his heart rate. His face was a like a blank canvas and the blood he was prepared to spill would become the paint. The Boy saw it as an extension of their blindness in the face of lesser instincts and heightened depravities that not a soul had seen him yet despite him having nearly reached the centre point of the room. The Boy came to a slow stop so he could observe the room he was in.
It was much like any standard museum atrium, the grand front doors leading to a wide open space that was watched over by the skeletal remains of some sort of old world giant on a podium. The rest of the space had been filled with various items of furniture that would allow for the McCarthy Gang to enjoy their hiring of a public domain to the fullest.
Because that’s what gangsters do nowadays, they hire museums out so they can have drug-fuelled orgies in the skeleton of a Gigaloth and play dice using Wendigo knuckles they painted numbers onto.
Such honourable citizens, as if the world would even care for their passing.
The Boy raised his blade high into the air and, despite the noise, his voice sounded clearly over the ruckus of the atrium and rooms beyond.
“My name is of no importance to you people. Leave now and I will not follow you, you will be free to live your lives on with the knowledge that we may never meet again. Stay here to defend your leaders however and you will die like the rodents you are, exterminated by a force far higher than you in this world.” The Boy took on a strange stance that looked confused and unbalanced. “Choose rodents, face my blade or face your cowardice.”
Muffled rap music played in the distance. Not a word was said, not a muscle was moved unless it was towards a weapon. The Boy closed his eyes solemnly.
“So be it.” He whispered, his eyes burst open to reveal deep orange irises “Prepare yourselves rodents!”
The Boy was fast, blindingly so. Each strike he delivered didn’t even cut that deep but the ferocity and speed in the delivery of them raked flesh away from the skin of his victims. The first five didn’t even have time to blink as he rushed forwards to end their lives. Pulling a rifle from the deceased hands of a half-naked female The Boy spun into the air like a deranged twister firing shots at random that always landed with deadly accuracy. When the volley of shots ended and the weapon was discarded by The Boy over half of the room lay dead, not a single hand had risen to fight back whether it be from fear, stupidity, slow-movement or drunkenness.
The Boy knelt perched on the skull of a Gigaloth as the remaining members of McCarthy present started to move into gear. He gave a bloodthirsty grin and slowly licked a line of red vital fluid from his blade, now was when the real sport began.
He inched his head to the right to allow an off-target handgun round to fly past his face and lodge itself into a nearby painting. The Boy sprung from the skull as rifle fire tore into his last position turning the skull into a dusty mess. The remaining gangsters attempted to get a clear shot on The Boy, only he wasn’t making their job any easier than he needed.
The hyperactive swordsman bounded across the atrium so he could rend two more cattle into bloody scraps as their screams echoed around the slowly emptying atrium. Those who remained tried to escape only to be cut down by the Angel of Death that had descended upon them all. It was over faster than it had started; The Boy checked his pocket-watch.
Twenty-three seconds to eliminate twelve people, not bad in his well practiced opinion.
With blade dripping gore across the formerly well-polished floor The Boy began to trot deeper into the museum so he could find his targets, the McCarthy Sisters.
They were the next beings that needed their life privileges revoked.
For a moment The Boy stumbled as his headaches returned, they were becoming far more frequent now. He shook the pain out of his head and continued to press onwards with his divine task. By now the music in the distance had been silenced and the remaining grunts were no doubt converging towards the entrance hall of the museum. The Boy picked up a ‘discarded’ handgun from a severed hand and checked the clip, eight shots.
Before he had been an elitist only killing the leaders with bullets however the larger, more dangerous gangs called for a change in tactics. The unclean would still be cleansed by holy-revolver rounds but the rest would fall in any way he deemed fitting.
No matter how brutal those means happened to be.
Double doors on the upper level burst open and a group lead by Lindsey McCarthy flooded into the room. The Boy took no time for rest; he simply leapt up to the next level and vaulted the railing. The eight shots quickly became naught from The Boy’s quick and lethal trigger finger. Lindsey’s entire entourage was dead before they hit the ground.
The McCarthy sister turned on a pivot with her scattergun raised the trigger half-pulled. At this range The Boy didn’t have a chance to dodge with his normal athleticism so instead he dove inwards brashly. The pellets roared past his head with but an inch between them turning The Boy’s head into a pulpy mess. He knocked the scattergun aside as to leave Lindsey defenceless. Before she could respond with more violence The Boy gripped her throat with his free hand while sheathing his blade.
Holding the sinner at arm’s length The Boy replaced the sword in his left hand with his revolver, seemingly lacking any acknowledgement to the McCarthy kicking his stomach with what strength she had left to muster.
“My name is not important as you will not live to remember it sinner.” The Boy said monotone as he pressed the barrel of the gun to Lindsey’s forehead. “I am the one who has come to reclaim what many do not deserve, call me a killer if you must but my goal remains righteous.” The hammer began to click backwards as The Boy’s thumb moved it slowly. “I am the Angel of Death, a messenger from hell itself; I will revoke life from all who do not deserve it.” The hammer finished its journey backwards and remained there for a brief but powerful time.
“Now pass from this world with grace, sinner.”
The hammer thundered forwards and the revolver screeched sending out a plume of heat and a single divine round destined to reduce Lindsey McCarthy’s face to nothingness. Bone, cartilage and blood painted the walls a brand new colour of sin as the smoking barrel cooled a small distance away from the warped husk that was once a fairly pretty face.
The Boy dropped the corpse and continued his mission.
*
Riley sat at Twilight’s side for a good ten minutes trying to consol her. The young lady was strangely distraught at the news she had been reading prior to Riley’s venture downstairs. Her main worries were that a killer was on the loose and he or she showed no signs of being caught easily, mainly because their actions were totally unpredictable. Riley laughed these claims off and made one thing clear to Twilight.
It was impossible that it was a single person doing these things, after all how would one man be able to wreak such havoc?
*
The Boy sprinted through the waterfall on bullets, each projectile missing him just so that it gave the illusion he was moving at lightning speeds. While it was true that he was exceptionally fast, it was mostly due to The Boy’s intelligence that he was unscathed. A simple flick of the head, a slight alteration of how bent his knees were. That was all it took to avoid most of the bullets coming towards him.
Leading the firing squad was the second of the McCarthy’s, Susan McCarthy.
She was clutching a rifle the size of a person while trying to hit The Boy making fast pace towards her position. She honed her senses and took aim, pulled the trigger and watched.
The Boy was hit.
The bullet shredded along his left arm and a spray of blood danced out of his veins as a clear sign he was indeed capable of being hit despite his extreme skill.
That meant this demon of a man was killable.
This almost phantom shred of information imbued the firing squad with new hope so they doubled their efforts to kill the attacker. Alas it was in vain. The Boy had in turn tripled his efforts to make it through the deluge of metal shards trying to slay him.
Hurdling over a display case The Boy launched himself off of the shoulder of a man reloading his firearm, revolver in hand. Putting on a dextrous display of daredevil mid-air spirals and spins The Boy took aim at the skull of Susan McCarthy and quickly recited the base part of his mantra.
“Pass from this world with grace, sinner.”
The revolver fired its divine payload directly through the head of the second McCarthy sister, her death cry something between an overconfident sneer and a stutter of disbelief at what her assailant had done. Switching between his revolver and sword with fine-tuned skill The Boy fell back to the ground driving his blade through the eye of an unlucky gangster.
The room this had all unfolded inside had formerly been a room celebrating the burial rites and rituals of an ancient people, after this event it had a new, rather fitting purpose to fulfil.
It was to become the tomb for this band of the McCarthy gang to reside within.
*
Twilight remained unconvinced at Riley’s reasoning. He was simply preaching about how they were lucky the people were dying at the hands of maybe more than a single man. What use was the number when innocent lives were at risk?
Once more the cloaked boy attempted to calm the panicked Unicorn female with something or the other. His argument this time was that the victims would hopefully have died with little pain or suffering, this was based on the wounds many sustained having been instantly fatal.
It was a strange thing to admit to but Twilight had to agree.
At the very least nobody had suffered for very long.
*
The Boy clucked his tongue impatiently as he twisted the blade deeper into the shoulder of his captive.
“Simply tell me where I can find Mary McCarthy and this will all be over.” He sighed in boredom.
“M-Monster! Evil and vile demon of a man!” The wreck beneath The Boy squealed as his body was racked with pain.
“That really didn't answer my question. Where is McCarthy you worm?”
“I am here monster!”
The Boy turned his head, ignoring the whimpering captive underneath him. Standing proudly in the east exit was Mary McCarthy, flanked by her two most loyal bodyguards the Andersons. The Andersons were humongous sacks of muscle and bones. They were a classic case of lacking brains but making up for it with more brawn than a pissed-off troll.
“You must be the one who killed all of my men.” Mary snarled in disgust.
The Boy stood up, slashing the crying man's neck open. “That would be me, the name is not important but I assure you I am here to kill you.”
“Such arrogance in the face of a superior force; I must admit I like you somewhat Mr Killer. Now would you kindly explain why you saw it as clever to kill my sisters?”
“They needed to die, as do you.”
Mary laughed hollowly. “Oh how the arrogant fall the quickest. Anderson brothers, kill him as painfully as you wish.” Mary turned around and walked away from The Boy as the hulking Anderson brothers lumbered their way towards him. The Boy rolled his eyes at just how thick-headed some people could be.
The first Anderson brother lunged pitifully in The Boy's direction, losing his head in the process. The second however showed a remarkable presence of skill. As The Boy hacked at his knee the Anderson jumped up and kicked out, knocking The Boy backwards with a bleeding nose. Trying to recover from that hit was like trying to keep chocolate solid in lava, impossible. Anderson grabbed his quarry by the throat and slammed it into the wall multiple times before slinging it across the room into another display. The Boy's blade skittered across the room, far out of reach to its owner.
The Boy got drunkenly to his feet with hands grabbed whatever felt stable enough to support him. He seized a pole of some sorts only to have it give way and send him tumbling back to the ground. The Anderson lumbered over to his prey without a single shred of confidence becoming larger than needed; this was a fight that needed to be treated with delicate care. A lesson his now dead brother had failed to learn for the last time. He struck The Boy across the back with a powerful jab as the still dazed fighter tried to regain some sense. The Anderson gripped The Boy by the neck, lifted him into the air and began to tighten his hold.
The Boy started to gasp for air as his throat constricted under the intense pressure of the Anderson's grip. He couldn't give in, not after all of this.
The pole he had fallen on.
It was still clutched firmly in his hand.
Bringing his arm back with what energy remained in his dying body The Boy took unknowing aim and thrust the pole home. Instantly the Anderson roared in pain and released his grip from around The Boy's neck. As The Boy hit the floor with his lungs flooding themselves in delicious air the Anderson stumbled away trying to remove the thing stuck in his side. Threatening to be violently sick The Boy's body was on the verge of giving in after the brutal assault from the Anderson brother. The thick haze cleared from the eyes of the worse off combatant so he could take a look at the flailing Anderson.
The pole had been a ceremonial spear that had been on display in the case he had been thrown into. The Boy thanked all the stars in the sky for the luck he had been granted and groggily got to his feet. The spear was jammed into the Anderson's body just underneath the ribcage, a few more inches and it would puncture the heart.
The Boy had has method primed and ready.
Starting up a half-dead sprint The Boy crossed the distance between him and the Anderson brother. Reeling his foot far back for maximum effect; he punted what was left visible of the spear. The shaft ripped out of the neck of the Anderson shifting his cries of pain into garbled grunts that sloshed blood around his insides at every syllable. The hulking man remained in agonised life for another ten seconds before his body shut down and he fell like a great tree felled by the tiny lumberjack. The Boy limped across the room to where his sword laid, glinting 'welcome back master' to its beaten owner.
Taking his blade in hand The Boy willed his body onwards to the final stage of tonight's holy mission.
One shot remained to be fired.
Following the corridor that Mary McCarthy had walked down The Boy took some time to assess the damage. A reflective enough display case showed clear bruising around his neck, his left arm had been bleeding steadily since Susan had landed a shot on it and he had broken at least two ribs.
It was lucky he was still alive.
He had become sloppy, it had been far too long since he had flexed his talents like this and the lack of practice was starting to show. He needed to get out more. If only he has no obstructions outside of work it would be all too easy.
He eventually stumbled his way to the end of the corridor to a door marked 'manager'. He kicked the wooden barrier open to reveal Mary McCarthy waiting calmly behind the manager's desk with a revolver placed on the table.
“I presume the Anderson brothers failed in their task?” She asked.
“Correct.” The Boy responded.
“So they are dead?”
“Correct.”
Mary sighed solemnly to herself and gestured at the seat opposite her. The Boy carefully sat down.
“I know why you are here my boy.” She whispered. “You are the one who has been killing so many others like me.”
“You are correct.”
“Why do you do what you do?”
The Boy took a moment to think about this. “It is my purpose in life. I am alive to hunt those who do not deserve life themselves and revoke the privilege they have.”
“Who are you to say whether or not a person lives or dies? Is that not up to a higher force?”
“I am the higher force you speak of Ms McCarthy. I am the Angel of Death. I am here to revoke your life from you.”
Mary McCarthy looked down at the table, reaching out for her revolver.
The Boy reached for his.
They both took aim as quickly as they could.
Two shots, two hits, one more death in the family caused by the Angel of Death known simply as The Boy.
The Boy sat calmly opposite the faceless form of Mary McCarthy with his revolver smoking. He was unsure of what to do now, something about the last actions of that woman had shaken him. He pawed the burnt hole in his shoulder where Mary's last fired shot had gone and arose from the seat.
He had to be elsewhere come sunrise.