A Newly Hooded Road to Walk

Silvershade gradually opened the large doors to a fairly large room, rowed with shelves of old books of many sorts, at the back was a large window that overlooked a courtyard which was surrounded by the estate. In front of the glass sat a desk, behind it sat an old brown stallion with a scraggly navy blue mane, he wore a brown suit jacket with a gray and white vest underneath, and atop his head sat a large leather sun hat with a small point stretching out in the front.

Fluttershy and Silvershade stood in the center of the room with their hands behind their backs, ready to address the pony. He stood slowly from his chair and walked towards them slowly, hunched over and a simple wood cane in hand. Once in front of them he spoke clearly and unwavered unlike a normal pony his age, which caught Fluttershy off guard.

"Welcome home Silvershade, I hope you had an enjoyable trip back to us," said the old stallion with a smile.

"Yes master Achillies, it was decent enough."

"Good, good, and I see you brought us a new sister? Now what might her name be," said Achillies looking a Fluttershy implying that she was to answer.

"O-oh, my uh my name, I-its f-Fluttershy sir, o-or Master! or sensei, or whatever," stuttered Fluttershy, as red as a cherry.

"Haha, your quite the nervous one aren't you! I've heard quite a bit about you from Silvershade's letters, a strong, meticulous, silent type might be a fairly useful to the creed, not to mention your skill with the eagle vision. Something I presume Silvershade has explained to you?"

"Y-yes sir,"

"Master is fine my dear."

"O-oh sorry, Master."

"Think nothing of it, now, down to business, come come sit down the both of you," said the old stallion ushering the two guests to sit at his desk with him. "Now Fluttershy, I am going to evaluate you, any questions I ask just answer truthfully and realistically. There is no right or wrong, so don't worry, it will merely decide where you belong in our faction. Understand?"

"Y-Yes, however I am confused, when I first met Silvershade he mentioned that joining your ranks would be somewhat of a challenge, instead of just doing simple paper work."

"Well you are indeed correct, anypony can't just walk in and become an assassin no strings attached, they must work for it, fight for it against ponies with similar goals and ideals, and must be able to give everything up to become one of us as we all did so in the past. However Fluttershy, you are not just anypony, your sixth sense makes you a jewel among us, just like Silvershade here."

"R-really? I didn't know that, why didn't you tell me?"

"Well you never asked."

"Still don't you think that's an important piece of info for me to know?!"

"Well yeah I guess, maybe."

"ugh"

"That's enough. Now Silvershade may you please step outside while I evaluate our new apprentice?"

"Yes Master."

Once Silvershade had left the room Achillies pulled a large book out of the desk as well as some reading glasses, and once he adjusted him self properly he spoke, "Fluttershy what is your last name?"

"C-carington"

"When were you born?"

Fluttershy looked down in sorrow and disgrace, "I-I don't know."

"Why is that my dear?" asked Achillies surprised

"No one ever told me Master."

"Not even you parents?"

"No"

"Well that's odd, what are your parents names?"

"I don't know, I've never met them," this was one of Fluttershy's oldest secrets that she never told anypony in the past, "I was given to the orphanage in Ponyville when I was a small infant, with only a blanket and a small note saying my first name, Then once I grew older, the owner of the orphanage gave me that last name, based on my personality while on her death bed, and Ive kept it ever since."

Achillies looked at the sorrowful mare with pity, "You poor little mare, never having a parental warmth guiding you, living a meticulous and cautious life to survive; However, you now have a family now my dear, a family that will die for you if necessary. Continue your cautious wellbeing, for with our help, you can make it a powerful tool and an unfathomable strength."

Fluttershy looked up with tears in her eyes, "Th-thank you master, I-in the years to come I'll try to make that a reality."

"Good, good. Now, let us continue."

...

"I-Is that all Master?" asked Fluttershy anxiously hoping the grueling questions were finally over.

"Yes now I will decide as too which training exercises you will be overcoming in the years to come. First however..." said the old assassin before calling in Silvershade to hear Fluttershy's training. The black stallion walked in with a confused look in his eyes.

"What is it Master?" asked Silvershade

"Well as Fluttershy's general training Master you should hear what training she will be doing."

"But master I'm not even a full Master Assassin yet, there are surely others far more qualified. I'm speaking merely for the betterment of Fluttershy of course."

"Being the jack of many traits that you are Silvershade, I feel that you are a perfect Master for Fluttershy, needless to say that she would probably melt with nervousness if paired with a more serious and unfamiliar trainer than yourself."

"T-that's a very good point Master, I will happily train Fluttershy."

Achillies then spoke to Fluttershy. "Now Fluttershy, I have found you to be a very cautious, and timid little mare, afraid of any risk involving anything of danger or, well, everything else. However, if taught to overcome these fears, and maintain your innocence, you can utilize your humble nature into a strength against your foes."

"H-how so?"

"Manipulation my dear, pity can leave a pony entirely defenseless against you making you a dangerous tool against guarded areas and entrences, or getting out of a tight situation."

"Very clever," imputed Silvershade.

"Now, referring to your physical stature, no matter how strong and fast you become, open combat will never be a strong suit of yours. Of course you will be trained for it because of its inevitability and become very skilled in it, but your size comes with many restrictions against a grown stallion who is armored and trained to kill. In turn, your stature comes with a wide range of advantages in the field of stealth and silence, that is why your Master, being Silvershade, will teach you to become the best of friends with the shadows, and to the point where you might as well surpass him in the that field."

"Master, what of my training with Eagle Vision?" asked Fluttershy speaking to Achillies.

Silvershade answered instead, "Outdoor meditation, blind folded combat, free running exercises, and so on."

"Yes, and speaking of free running you will lastly participate in the standard training exercises of all Assassins concerning stamina, agility, climbing, free running, and many other miscellaneous skills you will need to survive. Understood?"

"Y-Yes master."

"Good, now go with Silvershade to the armory and he will outfit you with the proper weapons concerning your skillset," stated Achillies as they both stood up and headed for the door, "Oh, and Fluttershy..."

"Wha-what is it Master."

"Welcome to the Family."