Dawn

It started with a pain gnawing at the back of her eyes.

Ink paused and sat back on her haunches, rubbing her head with a groan. Maybe she was just tired. Maybe it was the anxiety finally getting to her. She sighed, shaking her head with something of a grumble and going to stand up but instead stumbling forward as the ground rose up to meet her.

She lay there for a moment, fighting back the dizziness that now had a hold on her. Ink lifted her head weakly, trying to control the nausea that rose up as the world violently shifted around her. She couldn't help it as a whimper escaped her throat. She was alone and helpless. And she had no idea how to get any help, or if anypony would pass by soon enough to even realize she needed help.

Biting her lip, she tried to get to her hooves but only fell back down with something of a rough exhale. A sob rose up in her throat, but she held it back until it became a painful lump in her throat. After a few moments, she closed her eyes and rested her head on her front hooves, trying to see if she could wait the dizzy spell out.

She may have dozed off. She may not have. But eventually became painfully aware of the fact that she was not alone as a rough kick connected with her side. Ink snapped to attention, coughing out of reaction and following the motion of the kick before clumsily getting to her hooves again.

Again the world shifted. Again she felt nausea creep up on her. Her body was heavy as she faced her attacker, trying to stand proud although she could barely even keep on her hooves, or even her head up for that matter. A rough laugh followed her challenge, echoing from the shadows of the forest around her.

“Come out and face me!” Ink managed to squeak out, trying her hardest to summon the master Assassin inside her but only managing the same, weak voice she first spoke to Silent with. She inwardly shuddered at her weakness.

But was it really weakness? Was she really that powerless? Maybe it was just sickness from being wet for so long. She had taken her robes off a long time ago, but her coat was still damp. Her mane still dripped slightly. The rain had calmed and it was slightly warmer, but there was still a slight chill to the air. Ink felt her teeth clattering as she shook slightly, unsure if she afraid or simply cold. Another laugh reached her and a pale blue unicorn stepped out of the shadows, grinning as her eyes sparkled.

“Ink Flash!” She grinned as if greeting an old friend, “Fancy meeting you here in the forest! What a pleasant surprise!” She tossed a lock of lavender mane out of her eyes and laughed as Ink tried to brace herself to fight but only stumbled from the effort. “Awww...what's wrong little Bleeding Moon? Can't find your hoofing? What a shame.”

“What do you want, Dawn?” Ink spat, trying to put all her hate into her blue eyes.

Dawn knew it was just posturing, she knew Ink was just playing tough and trying to save face. That was the way Ink was. That was the way she was. The two of them were not so different, but nothing alike. Dawn grew up knowing she would be in Ink's shadow, knowing she would be trained in ways similar to Ink was within the Order in order to take revenge for a murder Ink's family was responsible for years past. She knew everything Ink knew about fighting, or so she tried to tell herself.

She had been taught all she could be, but she knew that Ink was still better. That's why she held the novice Bleeding Moon under this spell, not letting her get the chance to land a clean hit on Dawn. It was nothing personal, and honestly, Dawn could care less for the young Assassina who stood before her. Ink was nothing to her. She was just some old blood Dawn's family had thrown on her. In fact, Dawn almost felt sorry for Ink.

She had a lover. A daughter. A group of close friends who loved and adored her. A bright future. Dawn bit her lip and fought back a sting of jealousy that nipped at the back of her mind. Ink had everything she didn't. Everything she wanted.

And she would destroy that.

That would be the spark that let her make this moon set.

Dawn snorted, “Talk's cheap, Ink Flash, but can you even do anything? I noticed you left Digger for that other stallion. What's his name again....Silent Shadow?” She laughed as Ink bristled, but worry slowly chipped away at her confident air when she felt Ink's resolve start to break though her spell.

Magic is just a battle of wills, Ink.

Ink would lose that fight.

Screaming. Ripping. Her wings were broken. Pain. Searing pain. Was she burning her? What was happening? Something else snapped. Pain in her eyes. Swollen shut. Can't breathe.

Coughs. Desperation. Screaming. She screamed out weakly. Pain. She could only feel pain. The world slipped away. She was falling. Crying. Emptiness for a moment. Then more pain.

Darkness.

Ink snapped awake at the sound of a high pitched scream of pain, weakly relieved to realize it didn't come from her own throat. One eye swollen shut, she could barely make out the figure of a darker, pegasus stallion standing over a unicorn mare who gripped her forehead as tears poured down her face. A darker liquid stained the mare's pale, blue face and she whimpered pitifully as she looked up at the pegasus, who stood with his back turned to Ink.

The pegasus' posture was defensive, standing in front of Ink with wings spread as if to hide her. He was crouched low, as if to pounce, and something of a growl echoed from within his chest. Even through the haze that fogged Ink's mind, her heartbeat quickened at the sound of the pegasus' voice.

“If you ever come near her again,” a low, serious voice almost growled at the unicorn, “I swear to all both holy and unholy that you will lose much more than your horn.” The unicorn whimpered and nodded. Ink realized one eye was swollen shut and one of her front legs was broken at an odd angle. “Then go,” the pegasus growled and watched as the former unicorn stumbled to her hooves and limped off into the darkness.

After several tense moments, he turned back to Ink, worry filling his dark blue eyes. “Ink...” his voice lost all of its edge, suddenly frail and scared. “Sweetheart,” he gently stroked the side of her face as he knelt to her level, “You have to stay with me, my dear...c'mon...”

His lips were moving past then, but she couldn't hear the words they formed. The haze pulled her back under, her breathing grower rougher. She was vaguely aware of him picking her up and holding her between his wings. Vaguely aware of being moved. With an empty gaze, she stared up at the night sky and a weak smile crossed her face the edges of her vision darkened.

The last thing she saw was a crescent moon.

Darkness.