Behind Bows and Arrows

"Is that her house?" My comrade asked me.

"Indeed, you don't want to know what I had to do to get that information." I replied.

"Good then... We'll strike tonight, when that pegasus has been dealt with."

Today was a strange day right off the bat. When I woke up, I was blessed to hear nothing but silence, no yelling Vinyl or dubstep of any kind. I looked at my clock to see it was 10:17 AM, and my body certainly felt like it. For the first time in a while my muscles were relaxed, and I felt well rested. However my mane certainly reflected it, instead of it being its long, flowing self. My late sleep had caused it to become a scraggly short mess.

After a refreshing shower, and a fruit salad with a note on the plate saying:

Sorry Octy, going to be at a Dubstep convention all day, take this as an apology.

-Vinyl

That note just made me laugh, it wasn't perticularly funny, but it seemed like Vinyl would always cook something up as an apology. She's just the strangest pony, but one of the best roommates I could have, I mean, free food is always a plus.

I put on some saddlebags with a bag of bits inside and headed to my front door. But as I was about to go outside, Adomia flashed through my mind, would he be waiting for me? Worry started to grip at my nerves and I had a hard time thinking whether I should go out or not.

Octavia, you can't let those two things dictate your life! You're your own pony, and no stallion will ever say otherwise! I thought, and my worry washed away, with a deep breath I pushed open the door and headed outside to get some groceries since our pantry and fridge were low.

Adomia POV

It's been around twelve days, and no signs of griffin activity. I'm starting to get a little doubtful, why have they been waiting for so long? Keeping complete eye contact of Octavia has grown tiresome, even messing with her has been a bore. I know I have to protect her, but for how long? It's only a matter of time before she takes her role, a deciding factor in this silent war.

I watched as the grey coated mare walked down the many paths of Ponyville, her attention ever so focused on whatever trivial thing she was doing. I sighed as I finished off an apple, and let my wings spread wide, light seeping through the small holes. I watched almost with envy at her, she had life perfect for her, she didn't have to live in this dark world. Where your deeds are never mentioned, she did something she truly enjoyed. While I was forced into this life of stealth and trickery, but... Somepony had to do it, why not me? Besides, her precious life would be taken away soon, maybe for good, maybe for only a few months. I'm not the one to judge, fate shall do that for me.

But... I wonder about her story, I've already concluded that her parents are dead. How much has she lost though? I can see much in those sad, amethyst eyes. Pain and suffering, just like me, perhaps we have more in common than I originally thought.

Octavia POV

My saddlebags were filled with all of the food they could carry, and on the way home I couldn't help but have that feeling of being watched.

He's probably behind me on the roofs I thought, and almost instantly a plan formed in my head, one that would get me the answers I so deserve. I will not stand to be the jewel of some crazy pegasus stalker.

Instead of going home I went the opposite way, to the field that I trotted to yesterday.

I let my saddle bags fall off and land on the ground. Putting my head on my hooves for support and crossing my hind legs for comfort I waited for him to fly overhead.

The wait was agonizing, and it seemed like an eternity before I heard the rustling of grass and the flapping of wings, I could feel him getting closer and closer, and even hear him breathing.

The tree shook a little when he put his weight on it, and I could feel his cloak rub on my coat, Now, while he's down. A voice in my head commanded.

In the fraction of a second I flipped over on top of him and pinned his hooves to the ground, his wings flared from the shock and I almost laughed at the surprised expression on his face. Like he never expected me to pin him so easily.

"What are you doing!?" He shouted out.

In an unladylike manner I took my right hoof and slammed it across his face, drawing blood, "I think I should be the one asking that question! Why have you been stalking me!?"

He scowled at me, and his eyes shot daggers into mine. "That's none of your business!"

"None of my business? What do you mean by that!?" I shouted in reply, "How is it not!? You're the one who's following me you... you!" I couldn't think of a name to call him, my mind blanked out.

I found my weight being reversed and myself tilting over, and before I knew it he was on top of me, with my hooves pinned to the ground. I could feel his anger from how hard he was pressing, as if I was his precious little gem. "You have no idea Octavia..."

My anger boiled past it's limit, and I pushed out from under him. I was back on all fours, restraining myself from just pouncing him like some wild animal. "I'm sure I don't! Seeing how you keep popping up in my life, what do you gain out of this? Something pretty to look at?! Or perhaps that's your special talent isn't it? Being a nosy, uncouth, bum of a pony!" I got right up in his bloodied face, "Stop following me Adomia Fetter. It's not your place, and it's not your job. Go bother somepony else!" I started to trot away, "Oh, and if I find you following me again, know that the authorities will be there to arrest you, and lock you up for good, you idiotic pile of filth."

I was shocked at my own words, I had never been that angry before. The shock must have carried onto him, because his face was full of it. Soon though, I could see a hint of anger in it, and I didn't stop trotting as he began to yell at me. "If that's how you feel, then fine! See how long you will live without me guarding you! I can guarantee you Octavia, you will die without my protection... I hope you realize that you signed your own death warrant."

With the rush of wings and air, he was gone, high into the sky where I couldn't see him. Truthfully I was glad he was gone, but his words lingered in my mind all the way home, with the saddlebags placed on the table to be stored away, I grabbed my cello case and headed for the train station. I still had a show to perform back at the Wine & Roses, and hopefully get those words out of my mind.

My gig went on with no problems, and in the end I did think it was one of my best. My drive to prove that pegasus wrong affected my playing, and made me sound beautiful, in my mind at least. The pay was a bit bigger, turns out the manager thought so too.

But as I trotted back to the train station, fear began to grip on my nerves. I could feel my heart racing, and my muscles twitched with anxiety. All because of the fear of Adomia popping out of nowhere, eager to kill me. I let out a deep breath when I got onto the train, he couldn't kill me here, and my mind began to question him. Was he really protecting me? Or was he just the stalker my mind thought he was? All these questions and none of the answers, and it drove me crazy. I've always liked to have my answers straight forward, I never liked it when people spared me details. If I was supposed to know something, I was supposed to know it.

You have no idea Octavia...

Idea of what? What am I not grasping here? What's the key to this puzzle? My mind eventually gave up, and I laid back in the chair to rest, temporarily forgetting all of my doubts, and fears.

When the train rolled up and screeched to a halt, I knew my relief was over, and my nerves were on high end again. Every sudden sound caused me to look around in fear, I kept looking back and forth at the darkened corners and alleyway's, the moon being my only source of light.

I finally got back to my home, and I had never been so happy to see lights on, indicating Vinyl was back home. I needed somepony to talk to, bad...

Everything was quiet in the house, strange, considering Vinyl's glasses were on the table along with bits of food. No noise besides my own breathing.

"Vinyl?"

I could faintly hear something, it sounded like Vinyl, only no words were being produced, just sound... Like a... scream.

The pupils in my eyes contrasted as I comprehended what I just heard, and I began to gallop upstairs at a frightening speed, adrenaline pumping, fears flowing through my frayed mind. I entered the darkened room and saw a bloody Vinyl, covered in brusies, panting. With another creature that I couldn't even imagine what it was standing over her, with it's long razor-sharp talons at her throat, ready to slice.

"What's going on in-!" I was cut off when a talon clamped over my mouth, and another poked at my throat lightly, but still drew blood.

Adomia POV an hour before

My body woke with a racking pain at my side and head, I could feel one of my eyes swollen shut, and the ground was sticky with blood.

"Oh Celestia, how long have I been out?" I thought out loud.

Then my memories came back to me like a tidal wave, the griffins found me on the roofs. They knocked me out when they beat me to the ground. It was strange, if they were intending to kill me, then they would've done so while I was down. The scenario rushed through my head a million times, and I quickly thought of their motives, what could they want from me?

The answer hit me like a bolt from a crossbow, Octavia! They intended to keep me unconscious while they attempt to kill Octavia... They must have been spying on us when she snapped at me, and used it as a perfect time to strike.

I remember losing her when she went into the Wine & Roses in Canterlot. I was getting tired, these days have been draining a lot out of me, and my body demanded rest when she went inside, then I woke up to a talon tearing at my side. The battle was short, I remember that, but what exactly happened I have no clue. It didn't ring any bells, and the pain in my head didn't help either.

I looked over to Ponyville, it would take around an hour to fly there, even going as fast as I could. But duty calls I guess...

After making sure I had my crossbow and Hidden Blade I took off into the sky, with only the thought of the grey mare scared out of her mind, and pain all throughout her body until she died.

Present, Octavia POV

I knew I was about to die, the pain the two creatures brought onto me was almost unbearable. I could feel blood leaving in almost dangerous quantities, Vinyl didn't look any better, but I noticed the fire in her eyes that said, Don't worry, we'll get out of this.

I tried to keep my hopes up, but I was running out of things that could save us, we were beat, but the only thing in my mind besides the fear and pain. Was confusion, why would these things even attack me and Vinyl? What do they want?

"I think we're done here..." One of them said, and he stood in front of me. I could fully see what he was, he had the head of an eagle, and his body resembled that of a lion, and something jogged in my memory. A griffin, that's what they called it. I recalled a troublesome one in Ponyville not to long ago, she was a troublesome one, but never harmed anypony like this.

"You should have died in that fire all those years ago Octavia, now it's time for you to die."

I closed my eyes, tears flowing freely, as I waited for the strike that would end my life.

But it never came... When I opened my eyes I could see the griffin's eyes were stuck open, he fell to the ground and I could hear a second body hit the ground.

What happened? Why did they just fall over? I shook myself of their limp grip, and turned on the light. When my eyes adjusted I could see a lone pegasus, standing at our doorway, panting, and blood dripping from his side, a small device in his hoof.

"Told you, you couldn't even last a full day eh?" He said with a weak chuckle.

My mouth fell agape, how could he just brush this off like it was no big deal?! I felt Vinyl get in front of me, and even though she was broken and bloodied, she still protected me...

"Who are you?!" She shouted.

Adomia let out a sigh, "I can't explain now, but what I can say is that Octavia needs to come with me."

"What!" My voice finally decided to work, and I felt him grip my hoof with his.

"You're in danger Octavia, you need to be taken away from here. Vinyl, I want you to get out of here as well, not forever, just get to a hospital and get patched up, but don't mention how you got your wounds. Say a Timber Wolf attacked you." He said.

I struggled as he tried to pull me away from the room, "No! Not until I get an answer, who are you!? Why do you want me so bad?!"

He stopped and turned to face me, "My name is Adomia Fetter, I am Luna's personal assassin, and you Octavia... You're going to be my new partner."

Those were the last words I heard as my knees buckled, and I gave into the wounds and exhaustion.

To be continued...

(Authors Notes: Okay if you had read my previous story, you would've known where this was going. Yes, I have decided to take this route, thanks very much for the people behind all the Octavia Creed pics)