Chapters A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
Fluttershy was utterly terrified. she had returned to her cottage in the hopes of it being safer, but ended up being in far more danger than if she had done otherwise. Though before everything she had become calm and tranquil, it was not worth it being attacked by three soldiers and then watched them be killed by the reason she had escaped such a gruesome and unruly scene, only to be involved in another just 2 hours later. She did not know what to do seeing a skilled murderer standing over three guards he had ironically saved her from.
"W-W Why did you save me?" asked Fluttershy shaking in fear behind a couch pillow
"Because they would have killed you," answered the stallion plainly from under his hood.
"B-but w why would somepony with such violent intentions want to save anypony?" asked Fluttershy curious of his intentions
"Just because I killed somepony doesn't make me evil or deranged," answered the pony calmly while smiling under his hood, "my motives were for the better of equestria and he was not, whether you believe me or otherwise."
"W-What do you mean by that? What makes it so that you decide if somepony is better for equestria or not?" snapped back Fluttershy becoming confused by what the stallion was saying.
"He may have seemed like a great guy at first when he was still distant from the public, but once settled in, he would have molded equestria in his image and favor, creating a living hell for those like us on the lower part of the food chain, most likely killing the princesses discretely so he wouldn't cause commotion and there would be no major power standing in his way to make his 'perfect world,' but now he is thankfully gone, and a heartbroken princess is far better than a dead one."
Fluttershy pondered on this for a moment, "but what if somepony took your special somepony away like you have done to Princess Celestia?"
The stallion all of a sudden became more distant, "it wouldn't be my first time," he muttered.
"I-I I'm so sorry for asking," regretted Fluttershy, afraid of the dangerous pony's next course of action.
He took off his hood smiling, "I wasn't there when she was killed, so only our happier memories reside." The stallion that Fluttershy could see now was a well built earth pony with broad shoulders and a thick torso. He had a dark black coat with a bright and shiny silver mane, and had a scar over his snout and one curving just on the inside of is eye from his forehead to his cheek, and he had navy blue eyes. The radiant stallion smiled, "To properly introduce myself, my name is Silvershade, I can't tell you my last name because of business reasons."
"I-I'm Fluttershy Carington, and this is my home," said Fluttershy feebly reaching out to shake the stallion's hand.
"Nice to meet you Fluttershy, now you have no need to be afraid, I am not going to kill you, at least not under these current circumstances."
"O-ok, I think," said fluttershy quietly, wondering what Silvershade had meant by "these current circumstances."
"Now let's discuss this mystery of the three dead ponies lying on your floor."
"W-Well you killed them of course," said Fluttershy timidly
"Yes I was there for that part, but why were they trying to kill you?" said Silvershade asking himself.
"Well I just had thought that they were drunk," said fluttershy shrugging her shoulders
"No, no they were far to coordinated and weren't talking in any sort of slurred language, there would have been a reason. Did they say anything to you that caught you attention?"
"Well yes maybe, I think one said that I was under arrest for murdering the king and other royal guards."
"ah yep I know exactly what is going on here," said the earth pony now pacing the room working out the kinks to his theory.
"W-what is it? did I do something to cause this?"
"Probably, what did you do right after I killed the new king?"
"I-I just came straight here," said fluttershy becoming confused.
"After I killed her fiancé, Celestia probably became hysterical, then this turned to anger, which she would put into anypony possible, and you disappearing from the scene so quickly probably rose her suspicions enough for her to snap on somepony, who happened to be you."
"D-do you really think so? I mean seems kinda unlikely,"
"trust me I have seen this happen many times, and I have done this myself sadly, but once the person is calm enough to think straight, they will apologize, or fix what ever there is that they had done wrong, so until then, you must hide while Celestia's rage passes over you."
"So where should I hide?" asked Fluttershy nervously at silvershade's plan.
"Probably in a tree, and nearby too, to avoid stirring up any more suspicions."
"What about the bodies?"
"I'll take care of them, meanwhile you clean up the blood."
...
"Thank you for your help Silvershade, though you are a murderer, if it weren't for you I would be dead right now," said the shy yellow Pegasus, awkwardly giving the assassin a hug of gratitude.
"Don't mention it, really don't mention any of this." said silvershade as he walked for the back door,
"Wait! W-when will I be able to see you again?"
"How about next sunday at the abandoned church at the edge of the evergreen forest to the east, there are some things I want to talk to you about, you have a deep passion and determination for things of interest, something that ponies like me look for in somepony," answered the stallion with a smirk. "Now go and hide till Celestia's overreaction has passed."
"Ok, wait Silvershade! but..." however the dark black stallion was gone through the door into the dying night, leaving Fluttershy with a smile across her lips.
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
"Princess are you alright now?"
"Y-yes I'm fine thank you," replied Celestia standing from her chair which was place on the porch of the town hall, she lifted her head to show some fake strength for the guard, she didn't need to and she knew that, the guard would certainly understand, but is a reflex after a thousand years of leadership to show that no matter what she was strong enough to withstand. She shook her tears and any other signs of grieve from her body and addressed the guard before her, "what is needed of me?"
"Well ma'am, a number of things, we need some men to gather any evidence from around the town, someponies need to clean the hall,"
"Yes anypony will do, them over there, have four of them clean the hall, and the others scan the town for any clues."
"Ok, and you need to give your ball organizer a general idea of the funeral, nothing specific she said, other wise it would be too emotional to get anything done,"
"Oh, w-w-well I guess I can do that," said the princess timidly, looking at the ground in sorrow. The guard noticed that he wasn't helping her emotional state in any way, and could probably ask somepony else.
"Ma'am, I apologize, we do not need to do this right now if you do not wish to," said the guard feeling bad for the surprisingly innocent looking princess who was 6 inches taller than him at the least.
The princess jolted her head upright, "No, no I am just fine, we can carry on soldier,"
"Very well. you just have one thing left and that is ummm, oh, the arrest you ordered last night,"
"What arrest? I did no such thing," said the princess in surprise, she was so sleep deprived and exhausted that she must have forgotten.
"Yes you did princess, I wrote down the record as it happened, uhh lets see, yep right hear, the arrest of miss Fluttershy Carington ma'am."
"Oh no," celestia whispered, her heart sank as she remembered the order, as she yelled at Twilight, telling the guards that they had permission to kill the most innocent of all ponies, and an element of harmony at that. The princess began to walk down the steps from the town hall, "Did the guards I sent ever come back?"
"uh no ma'am, we found them dead in a corn field."
This rose celestia's suspicion of the mare, "how far from miss Carington's house were they found?"
"About two miles away."
This nocked the suspicion away immediately, there was no way fluttershy could have dragged three bodies of grown, built, and armored stallions 2 miles across ponyville, past all the dozens of guards patrolling the small town, and then out into a corn field, unnoticed. She came to the conclusion that they had probably gone to her house and she hid in the dark, being the small mare that she is, and the guards met the vigilante somewhere between here and there on their way back, she came to this knowing the location of the other two killed guards and time frame in which that happened, so they would have missed him on their way there. She noticed that all of this thinking was helping to take her mind off of the murder of her fiancé and was making her more at peace, but she felt worried that she had frightened the poor little mare out of her fur, and she had to apologize.
"guard, take fluttershy off of the wanted list, I was hysterical at the time and didn't know what I was saying," said the princess confidently and with a determined expression,
the stallion in front of celestia was surprised at her sudden burst of seriousness, "y-yes ma'am" he said giving her a salute as she walked down the street towards fluttershy's house.
...
Fluttershy could see the long shadows of two ponies approaching her house from the tree she had perched herself in for the rest of the previous night, she grew anxious as the ponies came closer until they walked right underneath, she recognized the two as her friends Rartiy and Twilight, who looked around nervously and moved quickly towards Fluttershy's cottage. Figuring that they worried for her safety, after Celestia blamed the first person she could think of while she grew angry with grief, Fluttershy looked through the tree's branches trying to see if anypony else was present on her dirt road, and once she declared it clear, she hovered to the ground behind her friends, who had passed the tree, and nervously greeted them hoping for a warm embrace.
"H-hello guys,"
"hmm? oh my dear fluttershy we were so worried about you, those guards never came back and we were worried that the murderer had gotten them and that they had killed you!" exclaimed rarity running over to her friend and hugging her, relieved she was safe and sound.
"yes we were so worried, you shouldn't have run off like that, Celestia was so heart broken that she sent..."
"yes I know," interrupted Fluttershy as politely as she could manage,
"how did you find out?" asked twilight curiously
"well, when the guards nocked on the door I didn't answer because they sounded aggravated, and I got scared so I went out the back door and hid in this tree," replied fluttershy pointing to the oak tree planted behind her, "Then they went into my house found nothing, and I heard them talking about Celestia wanting me arrested and other stuff," ended fluttershy, lying throughout her entire explanation.
"I am so sorry for putting you through that very frightening experience fluttershy," Fluttershy turned around to find the source of the solemn voice, and she found herself looking up to a white alicorn,
"Oh h-hi Princess, funny seeing you hear!" said twilight awkwardly poker-faced,
"Not really Twilight, I came to apologize to fluttershy here," said the princess, who then looked down to the frightened yellow pegasus, "Fluttershy, I am so very sorry for putting you into such danger, I was hysterical and angry and sad and my emotions took over me, I've cleared this whole thing up, and all I need now is you to forgive me, if you are able, if not I will understand," said the princess, a glint of disappointment of herself in her eye, and a worried look on her face, even though she was taller and more powerful than fluttershy in every way, she was at the mercy of the pink-manned mare now.
"Princess after everything you've been through, how could I not forgive you," smiled fluttershy in response.
...
He stood in the attic of the abandoned church, and it being so old he could see through to the peers and the entrance, where he could see a mare's shadow approaching gradually. It was sunday and he was about to prove his theory of the young mare to himself, and if he was correct she could fight along side him one day, and he wanted that, she reminded him so much of her, and he seemed to already know this yellow mare by heart, as if he knew her before. The pegasus was now in the door.
"H-h-hello!, um its uh me, fluttershy, t-the one that you saved!" softly shouted the mare from the entryway.
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
"Hello! a-are you here!" shouted Fluttershy in hopes that the mysterious stallion was there. She knew she shouldn't but she really wanted to see her savior again, even though he was a murderer and not the safest to be around, him being the danger, or her possibility of getting caught with the most wanted stallion in all of equestria. But the thing that bothered her the most was celestia's apology. It sparked Fluttershy's suspicion of something else in the back of celestia's mind, something that doubted fluttershy's abstance after the murder, to be her usual easily startled nature. It seemed too rushed to fluttershy, too, too, odd. Of course maybe fluttershy was thinking way to much about it, and the princess was just desperate to get the whole thing past them, without any more thought so things could be normal, and she felt bad. However she talked like a child, quickly making excuses too their parents, which now made fluttershy uncomfortable, fillies do that when they try to hide something, either prominent or a deep secret, and this was not prominent in any way, at least not to fluttershy.
"S-Silvershade was it?" she stood there awkwardly, waiting for the vigilante to appear, if he was even there. She was then startled by a deep voice behind her.
"hey fluttershy, you made it, I doubted you'd want to, I thought you would be afraid, you seem like one of those cautious quiet types, those are some of my favorite, ponies, calm, soothing, quick thinkers in tight situations," Fluttershy stood there awkwardly, wondering why the stallion she just met was going on like this, "and they have a rare quality to have the strongest desire to live, no matter what circumstances, and no matter who wishes to defy that quality of yours, in order to kill or harm you." said the silver manned stallion who stood with his hood off.
"Oh, w-well thank you, I don't really see my self as that though I don't think about some things enough, like letting those guards in, I kept thinking to myself that they were drunk but I let them in anyway, and I cant fight very well, o-or at all for that matter."
"That is one bad excuse, everything you did was merely common sense! you were being yelled at by the royal guard, which anyone would answer to, and your not the most stubborn pony when it comes to arguments from what I have seen, but physically you are as defiant as and ass! it took three trained royal guards to restrain you."
Fluttershy blushed as he complimented her, "T-thanks, I-I guess that's true," she said covering her face with her bangs and grinned to the old wooden floor of the church. Silvershade took a step closer to her, putting a hand on her shoulder and lifting up her chin with his finger.
"Don't doubt yourself fluttershy, and definitely don't doubt yourself to cover up embarrassment from someone's praise of you, you are great and don't be embarrassed from someone pointing it out. Alright?"
"O-okay, I can do that," said fluttershy shyly, and pushing her hair behind her ear.
"Perfect. Now!" said silvershade clapping his hands and sitting on a nearby crate crossing his hooves, "Lets get down to business, I know that you need something from me, so ladies first, what is your question?"
"Oh, w-well, I was curious of Celestia's apology..."
"good so she did apologize," said silvershade for confirmation.
"Yes, but to me it seemed odd, I mean it was completely genuine, but it was talking differently, like she was professional about it like she would,"
"Well how do you figure?"
"She talked really fast and short like a child, as if she was giving excuses, and I know that when children do this, they normally try and cover something up, you know."
"Sort of, so what you are thinking is that she hiding something from you? and that you are getting this from how quickly she said her apology?"
"Yes, but, uh um... oh, when you put it like that it just sounds completely stupid," sighed fluttershy in shameful defeat.
"yep," said silvershade as he walked over to fluttershy and put his worn hands on her shoulders, "but not illogical. You can never be too cautious of something. Plus, I wasn't there," he said reassuringly, then sat on his crate again. "So let me break this down, and correct me if I'm wrong, you she is hiding something by being over dramatic, and Celestia is a smart woman no doubt, so she would play it off professionally in her right and logical mind." Fluttershy looked at the earthpony in amazement at how he was figuring out her thoughts from scratch. "However, she was probably nervous, causing her to talk rapidly to get the conversation over with ASAP. So what would this secret be?"
"W-well I was thinking doubt," said Fluttershy answering Silvershade's question, "like doubting that I wasn't involved, even though all of the evidence showed otherwise,"
"Maybe, but if that is the case, she probably would convince her self otherwise, since all the evidence and common sense says that she is wrong. So overall, I wouldn't worry about it, her harmless conspiracy that will undo itself as she finds nothing to back it up with," said silvershade simply to the yellow mare.
"Sorry to ask," said Fluttershy, changing the subject after agreeing with the black ponies very logical theories, "are you some sort of psychologist as your day job? because you seem to know an awful lot about pony mentalities and what not."
Silvershade chuckled at her curiosity, "No, I'm just around crazy and dramatic ponies for long periods of time, doing very traumatic work in frightening environments, so you tend to catch on to some traits."
"Well I can't imagine what your day job is," stated fluttershy, with a spark of more curiosity.
"Ha! I wouldn't either, but I can, and well, I guess its this!, this is one of the more calmer jobs I do of course, but well, its unique I'll give it that."
"How would you define this job's objective then? talking to complete strangers about their problems, along with assassinating important figures, seems to me like a pretty wide range of professions."
"Not at all Fluttershy, I would define it as recruiting."
"W-wait, what? recruiting for what?"
"You explained my job quite perfectly just now, so what is your guess?"
"Waaaait, no, no no no no no, m-me? surely there are other ponies far more qualified for this job, and..."
"No. I want you, unless you have a job already?"
fluttershy blushed with embarrassment at the fact that she didn't have a job that actually made any money "W-w-well I don'..."
"That's what I had thought," said silvershade chuckling, fluttershy was looking to the ground again, covering face with her long pink bangs, silvershade had to move them again and lift up her head to make eye contact. "I'm not forcing this on you, ok? you don't have to, there is a lot more to this profession of mine than just killing, and the killing that we do is for the better of Equestria, and my organization was created by Princess Luna thousands of years ago you know."
At that remark, fluttershy felt better about the whole thing, to a certain extent, a lot can change over thousands of years, "W-well I'm still not so sure, I probably won't be any good at the killing, or anything else you do. I-I wouldn't be able to kill anypony any way."
"Fluttershy, I wouldn't be offering this if you didn't have so much potential, but you do and that is a fact, training will change you for the better, and the people you will kill with either want to kill you, or will want to make you and others suffer, for their own gain," replied silvershade sternly, and reassuringly.
Fluttershy was running out of reasons not to, Silvershade was being awfully persuasive with her. "Uh uh, I-I would like to have more details o-on the rest of this organization that you are willing me to blindly join."
"That is some info I'll have to leave ya in the dark on until you except for privacy and safety reasons, because if I do and you don't join I'll have to kill you, because you would be holding secret information, and I really don't want to have to do that," replied the stallion, mustering a fake smile. "Please trust me on this, if you join you will have amazing skills to protect yourself and others, plus allies who will protect you, it is a good cause, and if it wasn't here today, everyone would be suffering worse than the Crystal Empire did when that one asshole was in charge." Said Silvershade almost getting to his knees and begging.
Fluttershy stood there for minutes, thinking of what she should do, she realized that she was surprisingly not afraid like she would be otherwise, but instead confused, she needed time to think such a big decision over. "I'll have to think on it for a while ok Silvershade."
"perfect! how about in two weeks we meet back here about it okay?" he asked excitedly.
"O-okay, alright, that's a deal," what the hell are you getting yourself into fluttershy?
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
"Ugh! what am I going to do Angel?!" exclaimed Fluttershy exasperatedly to her pet bunny, "I mean I sort of want to, but I also don't, and I know that it's the wrong choice, but really? like, what else am I going to do with my life?!" she said in one breath, then collapsed onto her bed. "I love doing this, taking care of all of you," she said to Angel as if he could understand her, and though he couldn't configure the details, he knew what she meant as she continued, "but the thing is, I don't get paid for this, I can barely keep this place in one piece along with all the animals."
Fluttershy was now lying down on her bed when Angel jumped up onto her stomach so he could listen more directly, and talk to her, which was a sequence of squeaks that told her to get a normal job in town. "I know I know, a job right in town would be a lot easier for everyone including me, but I wouldn't go anywhere from here, and that's the way it would stay."
Angel squeaked some more in a sorrowful response, "and I will miss you too, a lot, and the most, but I feel that my life needs to start being about me." Angel now squeaked with the "wft really?" face.
"I'm trying not to think of it like that, I know that it may seem that way, but Silvershade clearly said only those who wish to harm any in anyway will be 'dealt with' as I think he put it."
Fluttershy began to pace around the room consumed in her frustrating contradiction, and tried to get down to the reality of this proposition she had been given. If she actually went through with this, then she would be completely crazy, she was saved by a hooded stallion who just an hour before had killed one of the three highest leaders in equestria, met up with him again so that he could convince her that he was somehow the good guy, then work with him just two weeks later. If she didn't, then everything would be normal again, plain, simple. Fluttershy felt trapped though, she didn't want this job, but she did.
If Fluttershy wisely avoided this mysterious opportunity, she would live like normal and probably live a lot longer. However, she didn't want that, her life has always been about animals, in and out, she has given so much and all she gets is their happiness, which as you can imagine, looses it's value. Fluttershy felt afraid, in both ways, she didn't want to be a trained killer, she couldn't ever imagine herself as such, she was scared that she would become this horrible killer and hurt those around her. She also felt afraid this chance would slip away, her rare chance to make something of herself, other than lonely fluttershy who cares only for animals, and always will, which was something she definitely didn't want.
knock* knock* knock*
Fluttershy was lying face first into her bed, with Angel resting on her shiny pink mane when she was nocked from her trance, she got up and went to investigate the knocks form downstairs, that had ruined her train of thought. She was at the last few stairs when the pony at her door knocked again.
"Coming!" she called softly as she walked to the door and cracked it open, "Hello?" she said in a shy but friendly tone.
"Hi Fluttershy, I just got done with a really good novel, but I got the post story boredom/depression thing goin' on, so I decided to see what you were up to." replied Twilight to Fluttershy's cautious greeting.
"Oh well, I'm sorry to here that," said Fluttershy awkwardly as she let in the purple mare, and they walked over to the living room to sit down.
"Should I brew up some tea?" asked Fluttershy
"No, I can do it, I am intruding randomly after all," responded Twilight with a smile.
"W-wait but..." said Fluttershy trying to intervene when she was interrupted by her guest.
"Nope, I can do it ok, don't stress yourself about it alright," said Twilight before Fluttershy could resist any more, and with a concerned look on her face, as if she could see the waves of stress and frustration flowing from her yellow friend, "besides, it's only tea!"
Fluttershy quietly groaned impatiently, as she waited for the tea. She flipped through a magazine looking for a picture interesting enough for her to focus on and not think, she found nothing and plopped it onto the coffee table in front of her. She looked around the room for something her brain could do, nothing in her peaceful little cabin seemed appealing, she began to shift around uncomfortably on her couch, she fiddled her fingers, bit her lip, shook her leg, and tapped her foot, all symptoms of the decision that currently tormented her.
Twilight walked in with a small wooden tray of tea, "Hey Fluttershy..." said Twilight looking at her twitching and unsettled friend, "are you feeling alright? is something wrong?"
Fluttershy snapped back to reality, and her calm gathered appearance returned, to a certain extant. "Oh! twilight y-you have the tea, good," said Fluttershy as she reoriented her thoughts, "I-I'm sorry, did you ask me something?"
Twilight looked at her friend suspiciously, worried about what was troubling her, "Fluttershy," said Twilight calmly as she placed a hand on Fluttershy's shoulder, "I ask you if something was wrong, or if anything was troubling you."
"What?! oh no! not me hehe, I'm just fine, nothing wrong with me!" said Fluttershy as quickly as possible, and presenting a horrid poker face in an attempt to cover her lies.
Twlight stared Fluttershy down in an attempt to gain results, "Fluttershy." she stated sternly, "What. Is. Wrong?"
Fluttershy knew she wouldn't wiggle her way out of this one, instead of lying again, she decided to buckle under the pressure, but vaguely explain her situation, so that any knowledge of her meetings with Silvershade wouldn't slip.
Fluttershy let out a sy, "Have you ever been in a situation where you have to choose between two things, but if you choose one, you loose the other?"
"Well yeah sure, it happens in magic sometimes."
"No, like life decisions, something that will change your life and who you are as a pony."
Twilight thought for a moment, "Well I guess whether or not I were to live here, or stay in Canterlot, I knew I should have stayed in Canterlot at the time so that I could resume my studies properly, but on the other hand, I would miss out on adventure, and friendship, and being able to have a life about me, not the library."
Fluttershy couldn't believe the connection between her's, and Twilight's stories, and they both had to choose between the old or the new, the boring or the fun, and life being about her, or not.
Twilight continued, "And well, I obviously chose the path where I could live, not just plainly live, if that makes any sense."
Fluttershy knew her choice, it was stupid, but Twilight reinforced the fact that to really live your life, you must live.
"Did that answer your question Fluttershy?"
"Yes it did Twilight, thank you." said Fluttershy as she leaned in and hugged her purple friend, "now I now my own answer to the question."
"I'm glad, so what is troubling you Fluttershy? you didn't really tell me," asked Twilight, now only curious since fluttershy was in a better mood.
"Nothing now Twilight," answered Fluttershy with an honest smile, "Nothing at all."
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
"Angel you need to go home, we already talked about this," said Fluttershy to her pet bunny, who insisted on accompanying her to wherever she was going. The Bunny gave some squeaks and facial expressions as his response.
"No, you know very well what I am doing, and so do I, so don't worry, I can trust him." she said confident but doubtful of whether she could trust Silvershade or not. She began walking again away from the cottage, and when Angel tried to pursue, Fluttershy spun around looking sternly into Angel's eyes and stood there untill he received the message that her decision was final, and hopped moodily back to the cottage. Fluttershy felt bad that she was doing this to the little guy, and all of the animals for that matter. They depended on her and she new that, but they need to learn how to take care of themselves, as wild animals should do, and for her chickens and pigs, Applejack was more than happy to take them in.
Fluttershy continued down the path to the old church which lay a couple of miles away from across the town, it was the middle of the day, so she had plenty of time to get there. She didn't know what Silvershade's reaction was going to be, will he be happy? Well he did seem pretty excited, but what if he changed his mind? No, nope, she couldn't be thinking those things, she had to stay positive. She finally made it to town, which she had to pass through to get to the church. It was about noon, and all the normal hustle and bustle of ponyville was back after that night at town hall, many ponies didn't even know the King's name, but his death was still tragic, especially seeing Celestia that way. As Fluttershy neared the market she caught a glimpse of a white mare with a smaller one struggling behind in an effort to keep up, as she balanced many rolls of colored fabrics on her back.
"Rarity, can't you just carry all of this with your magic?"
"Well of course not Sweetie Belle, if I do then it might all knock into something and ruin the rolls."
"Fiiine, but can't you carry them? I mean you are the stronger and bigger one."
"Sweetie Belle! are you calling me fat?"
"What!? no- I uh um, its just uh... yoouu're taller. yeah that's it, your taller."
"No matter, anyway those specific fabrics would just ruin my coat right now."
Fluttershy chuckled at her friend's common dispute with her little sister, and waved to them in a greeting from across the street. She finally made it to the outskirts of town, after traveling through greeting some of her friends on the way, and getting sucked into a Pinkie Pie rant about something totally irrelevant. Fluttershy was trying to pass it off as if she was doing nothing out of the ordinary, nothing weird or suspicious, just contempt little Fluttershy taking a normal walk on a normal day, so she wouldn't attract any unwanted attention.
She found the old abandoned church where it always had been, rusting and rotting away in peace, and more so with every passing day. The church sat on the very edge of the evergreen forest, halfway into the treeline, slowly being engulfed in the foliage surrounding it, with vines and roots stretching across it's sides. Fluttershy moved in closer to the open front of the church to properly view it, but not just view it, in a way consume it, mentally, sort of using all of her senses to observe every aspect of the old building, and even the area around, from the smell of a blade of grass, to sound of the wind pushing the church. She did not know if this was normal or not, or whether she should care either, and it was what made her love the forest, being able to take in everything that nature has to offer at once, and really feel the forest. This was Fluttershy's one little secret, that she always had ever since she was a child, but now she had a second, and it sat waiting for her, in the church she now walked into.
"Hello? Are you here? Silvershade?" called out Fluttershy in all directions, as her acquaintance was a very good hider.
Silvershade dropped silently from the attic above without being noticed. "Hello there Fluttershy."
The mare jumped with a squeak after her friend startled her, but she realized who it was and returned to her normal posture. "Oh, hi Silvershade, I-I didn't see you there."
"So I noticed, anyway, how have you been lately?" asked the black stallion, trying to make Fluttershy comfortable before he became serious and turned on his job's personality.
"W-well it was nice, no rain or anything, just clear skies," responded the yellow mare awkwardly. "But your proposition was tempering my brain for a while until I came to my decision on the whole thing."
"Oh? and what might that decision be?"
"W-well I was so dead set on it, but now that it's the moment of choice I'm having second thoughts," said Fluttershy nervously looking at the ground trying to avoid eye contact. She thought about why she was doing this; if she said yes she would start killing ponies for a living, but if she didn't, then her life would be all boring again. It was the same internal argument from before, now she was having it again, and at the very moment when she had to make her decision completely final!
"Fluttershy." The mare looked up to see Silvershade standing rather close to her, she stopped thinking immediately, and looked deep into his eyes. "I know what you were doing outside the church, just a couple of minutes ago."
Fluttershy was very confused, what did he mean? all she was doing was looking at the church, but wait, no he wouldn't notice that, would he? "I don't understand, I-I wasn't doing anything."
"Ah, but you were. Yes, you were just looking at the this church, but not just that, you were hearing it, smelling it, tasting it, and feeling it, everything all at once, so you can break down every inch of your surroundings in detail and if trained, use them to your advantage in some scenarios. This makes you one of us, I can do it too, that's how I noticed that you had it, you are literally made for privilege I've given you. We call it Eagle vision in the field, and ultimately, the vision of a predator."
Fluttershy was absolutely amazed that there was somepony else that could do what she can, a bunch of other ponies too by the sounds of it. "I-I don't know what to say, now I'm at a cross roads."
"You don't have to say anything, except for two words: yes, or no."
The mare studied her choices for a mere second, regretting and rejoicing her next word. "Y-yes."
Silvershade took off his hood, reveling his shiny silver mane, and hugged the timid little mare in front of him with a humble smile. "Welcome to the brotherhood Fluttershy. You are now a Assassin of the Creed, and a hidden holder of peace."
"T-thank you." Fluttershy was dumbfounded and couldn't think straight, she held her breath as she sensed Silvershade about to say something else.
A simple phrase escaped him. "Nothing is true, everything is permitted."
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
"Well I guess your not really in it for real now are you?" said Silvershade, taking a step back in contemplation, "You are just a trainee now, and I don't even know if you'll pass to be one."
Fluttershy was startled with fear, "but you said I would be in your little thing now!"
"Well yeah, but you can't just take the application for this job Fluttershy, it's a lot more than that, you have to be worthy of becoming an Assassin, and unfortunately I am not qualified to pass such a judgement, and then you have to survive years of training and traveling before you can become a true Assassin of our Creed."
"Wait, What!? what do you mean years! how many?"
"My training took about eight years before I was allowed field access, ah but what the hell am I worrying about, you'll be fine."
Fluttershy was growing unnaturally loud for her usual posture and it seemed a little out of place, but it was necessary, "How are you so sure?! you can't just say one thing and get me all worried then say the opposite!"
"Fluttershy calm down I forgot about two contributing factors that will probably guarantee your entry," replied Silvershade calmly and serious. The small mare saw this and quieted down her nerves.
"A-and what's that?"
"Well for one, the Creed has been looking thin lately, that's why I'm out here, looking for recruits, along with of course killing that false king a couple weeks back."
"So are there other ponies searching for recruits?"
"A couple,"
"so is that why you are worried about me getting in?"
"No I guess I was just anticipating your recruitment to be as intense as mine was. Since I joined at a larger time, the choices were a little more picky and very competitive, but your situation is different."
"Oh, and the other reason?"
"Well your eagle sense of course! that's a very rare attribute that is valued a lot with the Assassins, so that's definitely a big bump up in the charts."
Fluttershy was trying to absorb all this information, and getting ready for far more, silvershade hadn't even explained who the Assassins or their "Creed" actually was, and now she was expected to train for eight years away from home! She wanted to know what was next, when she could start everything, and she grew anxious just standing there, but she remained contempt on the outside as always.
"So where do we start?" asked Fluttershy cheerfully
"Well I checked the train schedule and the train that we need leaves in two weeks,"
"mmmhmm"
"So in the mean time, I think we should get you in shape!"
"Oh, g-great," said Fluttershy nervously.
"So you know what that means!"
"a lot and a lot of flying?" said Fluttershy fearfully
"Haha nooo, that's against our rules, you run everywhere unless completely necessary for the mission, or staying alive longer, so for the next two weeks you''ll be running into shape and sprinting into discipline!"
Fluttershy was not looking forward to this, physical exercise had always been low on her list of priorities, "you seem far to excited about this,"
"I know!" said Silvershade putting his hood on, "it's called sarcastic optimism! now get a good sleep I'll see ya at six sharp in the morning," and at that he disappeared into the church's shadows.
Fluttershy saw this as the beginning of her training, and with a little hesitation, she started. Her and Silvershade ran for what seemed forever, with the stallion barely breaking a sweat and Fluttershy struggling to stay alive just behind, they started low, and as she grew used to it from the many hours a day, they went further and faster. Once they ran out of trail to run out of town they began running through and around, with silvershade running separately on the roofs Fluttershy kept going as hard as she could so that she wouldn't disappoint her trainer who watched her the entire time. The yellow mare grew odd looks from her acquaintances in town, since she had never done any public exercise before, normally she would be too embarrassed, but by this time she was too exhausted to care.
She gained a free day at the end of the first week where she could see the differences, she was more fit and skinnier, her leg muscles increased in size and she felt better. It was also on this day that silvershade told her the story of the Assassins and their struggle against the Templars, and why their plans must always be put to rest, he taught her the Creed's basic history, telling her to take notes, as there was much, much more to learn. He told her of the most infamous of Assassins, and the two families that made it what it is today: the Kenways and the Auditores, and how they did so. But that was all the history she received that day, for she needed the rest for the next five long days.
...
Twilight sat in a leather chair set meticulously in the living room of Rarity's home, who sat with the alicorn as they drank tea.
"Twilight have you seen Fluttershy recently?" questioned Rarity curiously
"Well yes I have, everyday in fact to busy to even give a simple hello, it is very odd of her. What have you not seen her?"
"I've seen her every day as well, just running! endlessly through the streets, without any notice of the ponies around her, just looking focused and exhausted," replied Rarity with a concerned and curiously look on her face, "Just yesterday I had said hello to her and she just passed it off with a grunt of acknowledgement and her gaze unfazed."
"Hmmm, I wonder why she would be so determined to do this all of a sudden, she is far from the exercising type, and now all of a sudden it's as if that's all she wants to do." Pondered Twilight
"Yes, it is very odd, I mean it's fine that she's focused on jogging now but at least take that quick moment to look over and give a simple wave!" pouted Rarity in frustration for her best friend's sudden detachment.
...
"I'm very sorry Fluttershy, but you have higher priorities right now than being with your friends, the this weekend you can be with them and say your goodbyes, but now you are doing what you need to to survive this new life you are choosing," explained Silvershade sternly to his trainee.
Fluttershy was struggling not to tear up, "C-can I at least tell them that I'm leaving so they can plan something for my departure?" asked the yellow Pegasus innocently.
"Fine," said Silvershade defeated by her sad gaze, and making fluttershy relieved, "but you have to do it today before it gets dark so we can start again early tomorrow."
"Y-yes okay okay, thank you Silvershade!" squeaked fluttershy thankfully, then ran out the cottage door throwing her jacket on.
She could hear silvershade yelling out her door, "don't forget to make up a realistic excuse! otherwise we're both screwed!"
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
Fluttershy jogged steadily through Ponyville in the direction of Twilight's library, for it would be faster to have spike call a meeting between her friends than to have her find every one of the mares personally. The sun lay about 2 hours past noon, and a slight breeze cooled the late summer air, Fluttershy always wondered why the Pegasi up in Cloudsdale couldn't coordinate the gentle breeze to flow all summer. The streets still teamed with life, outside restaurants bustled and multiple shops and stands kept ponies moving, while the smell of dirt and fresh food floated about, along with the sound of hooves and many voices creating an inviting white noise throughout the streets.
Eventually the yellow mare made it to Twilight's, lightly knocking on the large oak door and waited for a response from inside. Fluttershy could hear a soft and quick scuttling towards the door, which opened to reveal the small baby dragon spike.
"Hi there Fluttershy!" said the small reptile cheerfully, and with a small glint of happiness that was sparked by Spike finally having an excuse to take a break from his chores.
"Oh hello there Spike, uh is Twilight around? I need to ask her something," said the Pegasus, who leaned into the doorway slightly in an attempt to spot her purple friend.
"Yeah I think she's upstairs reading a book as usual," stated the small dragon, who rolled his eyes, "I'll go get her for you, meanwhile come in and make yourself at home."
"Okay, thank you,"
Fluttershy sat on the couch in the living room and listened to the mumbling of discussion coming from upstairs, then listened to it stop and two pairs of footsteps coming down the stairs. Twilight came into the living room and exchanged a greeting and a hug with her sheepish friend, then sat down in a chair across from Fluttershy. Twilight could tell that her friend was on edge about something, the word nervous plastered her facial expressions, and Twilight couldn't figure out what it could possibly be? Why would fluttershy be so nervous around one of her best friends?
"Fluttershy is something wrong? you seem edgy,"
"O-oh well y-yes," stuttered Fluttershy, unsure of her words, "I-I'd prefer if all of our immediate friends were h-here before I explain,"
"Oh okay, no problem," responded Twilight, curious to what the yellow little mare wanted to say. "Hey spike?"
"Yeah? oh! do you want me to send a quick letter to the others?"
"that would be preferable," she could tell that spike was a little suspicious about fluttershy too, but without hesitation he sent the letters.
Oh Celestia, what are they going to say? will they be mad? I don't want them to start asking too many questions or else they might think I'm lying! Then what? could they come looking for me and find out that I'm training to kill ponies!
Fluttershy went calm to regretful and nervous in seconds, persuaded that the worst would happen by her own mind. She started thinking about how much they would miss her and how much she would miss them, and if she never saw them again, or if she died alone. A tear spawned out of her left eye, leaving a crusty wet streak in her short fur. She could feel Twilight's worried gaze burning into her, pondering the tear's reason, and fluttershy could only wait till her friends would come.
"Alright, what is this random 'meeting' for? I was hard at work on a new design when this interrupted my conscience," demanded Rarity as she and the others busted through the doorway.
"Yeah what's this all 'bout ya'll, I need ta be workin' on pickin' my appl-" they noticed the teared up Fluttershy, and worried Twilight sitting quietly in the tree's living room. Twilight gave them a nod to usher them over and be quiet.
"Fluttershy what's wrong? are you ok?" asked Pinkiepie
"Guys, this meeting was called so that Fluttershy could tell us something very important," clarified twilight in a motherly tone, and trying to fill her other friends with some sympathy. "Fluttershy, can you tell us what you are so worked up about."
The yellow pegasus' eye's dotted around, as if she was literally looking for the words through her sorrow. She spoke finally, choking up
"Guys, I-I'm going to be leaving for a while."
This shocked the five other ponies, they thought that Angle must have died or all the animals disappeared, but this was a shocker.
"B-but why? are you moving?" asked Rainbow Dash desperately
"My father in Bostallion has become very ill, and my mother needs help with him and around their house," lied the Pegasus, "and I don't know how long I'll be there, it could be a couple weeks, or even a couple years, just till my mother can manage it on her own."
"Wait, darling did you say years?!" questioned Rarity
"Y-yes," the more fluttershy spoke the more her posture reformed and she became comfortable, "so for now, this is goodbye to all of you, and ponyville, but I'll be back," she began to choke up again, "don't you worry about that."
"I can't believe it, it's going to be tough with you leaving, for all of us, but we-we understand that you have some duties elsewhere, so we'll be waiting for you," said Twilight, barely making it through the sentence; the others nodded in agreement.
"Yeah! and we can come and visit you every once and a while! right?"
"Um yeah, depending on the current situation out there that could happen," pondered Fluttershy sketchily, wondering if that was true or not. "If not I'll write all the time, every other day about everything," she stated with a warm smile, knowing that this was the last weekend she would be seeing them for a long time.
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
A train whistled in the raining distance as Fluttershy and Silvershade stood separately on the station platform, awaiting the arrival of Fluttershy's friends to say their goodbyes' to the shy little Pegasus. A few other soaking ponies stood on the platform as well, but not many, for the destination of this next train was remotely placed in the countryside, and on the far side of the vast Evergreen forest. The smoke stack of the train slowly grew closer and visible as five mares stepped onto the platform, eyes stuck to the wet ground in sorrow. They did not understand why they would only be able to visit periodically and not as often as preferred, but they understood Fluttershy and her nature of few words to send her message, so they respectfully did not pursue an answer. Silvershade stood ideally by with a trench coat over his robes and hand in pocket, waiting for the train to come, and the rain to leave.
"I got you all some presents before I leave," stated Fluttershy, tearing up with a smile. She handed each of them a necklace accordingly to their mane color, which each had a crystal clear orb shaped gem at the center, Fluttershy placed her own around her neck.
"Oh dear they're beautiful! but a little plain don't you believe so?"
"W-well yes Rarity I know they're not as fashionable as you prefer, but these are special. put them on." said Fluttershy with a warm smile. At that they placed the necklaces around their necks, which then decided to glow brightly in the center. "They are presence gems, so when one is near another it will glow, but I had Zeckora tune yours a little bit to only act when mine is near, so when you come to visit you can find me."
"That's sick! I'll have to get one for tank, he been wandering recently, it's kind of annoying."
"I also think it's ah wonderful idier there sugarcube, now we can find ya too!"
Slivershade felt disappointed that he would be changing the life of such an innocent mare to something far less so, he thought it was cute to see Fluttershy act so nice with her friends, it was definitely an odd sight fore his eyes. He wondered if she knew what she was getting herself into, completely. She would not be able to meet her friends as often as she expected, and continue to live a life of secrecy and danger, so for such a sweet little mare he saw it odd.
Silvershade watched the ponies across the platform cry, hug, and mourn Fluttershy's departure, but they understood well and said their goodbyes. Silvershade only saw this from a distance but it seemed serious; Man, whatever excuse Fluttershy made must have been a convincing one, they don't look skeptical at all. I'd expect Fluttershy to start shuddering suspiciously, since she does that in any situation; thought the stallion, catching himself in a stare and regaining his posture.
Air hissed onto the platform as the train slowed to a stop, making Silvershades apprentice realize the time. She hugged her friends again, saying some heart-felt words that were out of Silvershade's radar, all he heard was "I'll write to all of you!" as Fluttershy handed her bags to the conductor and boarded the train. Silvershade walked aboard with his single handbag containing only and extra robe, money, and supplies, and looked for the small Pegasus, who seemed to have seated herself in the row to Silvershade's left. She chose a spot where the few other passengers were out of regular listening distance, and viewed the green rolling fields of the land across from the station. Silvershade sat himself across from Fluttershy, placing his bag under the small table that separated the two ponies.
"So, I never asked what that excuse of yours was for your sudden leaving," said the black stallion, unfolding the week's newspaper from his bag.
Fluttershy looked up from her purse, in which she was focused on, "O-oh, it was... I said that my father was really sick, and I had to go help out my mother with him in Bostallion."
"ah, very good."
"good how? I thought you would say your usual 'oh, you should have done this and this, not this and this, but it's ok, it doesn't matter' thing," replied the mare, trying to mock his voice in a deeper tone.
"Well good being that you will probably be able to get visits from your friends, since you won't endanger revealing the creed 40 miles away, and there is a shit-ton more stuff to do there than where were going... and I don't sound like that by the way missy."
...
Twilight stood in her library, walking aimlessly around trying to think of something else; it was three days since fluttershy had left and she couldn't believe that one of her best friends would be gone for who knows how long. Thankfully she heard a firm knock on the door to jog her brain as she quickly answered it. Standing there was a stocky royal guard with an exasperate look on his face.
"Yes? what is it?" asked Twilight curiously
"Ma'am, I'm the guard from crime investigation, remember?"
"Oh oh oh yeah yep, I remember, any news on that symbol?"
"Yes ma'am, I went into the old library as you suggested, and though it took weeks to find something, we well, found something."
"Yes and and?"
"we blew the whole case wide open, and it is far, far, far bigger than what we had anticipated, and I don't think we can do anything to stop or solve it completely."
"Really? and what do you exactly mean by that soldier?" questioned twilight, who was now very much intrigued.
"Princess, we're about to get into a secret war over equestria."
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
Fluttershy looked out the window of the train to look at the vast expanse of fields that stretched out for miles. Ponyville was long gone and out of sight, and was to be that way for many years to come, but Fluttershy had gotten her crying out no matter how sad this might be, and it was only opportunity and a new life from here. They had been traveling for two days now, traveling around the expansive evergreen forest, which never faltered from the view out the left side of the train, the right however changed from plains to mountains, from mountains to calm trees, and from trees to plains again, creating an enjoyable character to the countryside, unlike the evergreen forest. Fluttershy looked at the dark stallion that slept across from her, and how in that passed two months or so they had gotten fairly close, though she didn't know everything about him yet, his home, his life, his story, and the little kinks and oddities in his personality, but she knew that over the years to come, they would get to know each other.
Fluttershy looked at the map and the train schedule, they still had another two days of travel ahead, and eight stops in between. She closed the pamphlets and placed them gently in her bag, making her charmed necklace hang in her face. She held it and tried to look deep into it, hoping for a slight purr of light, but as she suspected, there was nothing, it made her wander how her friends were fairing with the fact she was gone, and what life would be like for them without her, but she stopped her thoughts as she could feel tears brewing and focused again on the window.
"What is that?"
Fluttershy jumped in surprise at Silvershades weary voice laden with sleep, "Wha- oh! its its a charm necklace, my friends and I have matching ones."
"Cute," stated Silvershade as he nestled himself back into his seat to continue sleeping, "Keep it close, for its the only thing you'll be seeing of them for a while."
Fluttershy rued the thought, and said quietly, "I know." Fluttershy then slowly drifted into sleep hoping that she wouldn't be gone for long.
Fluttershy woke later confused and startled to the loud rustling and horns pounding her ears. She opened her fussy eyes many ponies loading carry-on bags into the containers above the surrounding seats all talking inbetween themselves, however one seemed to be talking directly at her
"Ma'am, excuse me ma'am?" It was a stallion who seemed to be rather annoyed for some reason, but she soon heard another voice which she recognized as Silvershade, who proceded to talk to the other pony.
"I'm sorry sir but is there a problem?"
"Well yes your little companion here seems to be in my seat." Stated the stallion stirnly.
"Oh sorry, we've had a long trip around the whole of the forest, let me get her out of the way,"
"Yeah yeah it's just fine, I just advise you to hurry, there a huge group of more ponies comin, all of us are the early birds here."
"Oh shit really?" replied silvershade in a pause from organizing fluttershy's things, who then moved to wake the mare herself.
Fluttershy felt two warm hands shake her shoulders a little, and a quiet voice to follow, "Fluttershy, Fluttershy it's time to wake up, we're here." however the only reply he got in return was a grunt of a sleep deprived little mare, so silvershade resorted to more physical means of waking her, so he simply lifted her eyelids with one hand and plugged her snout with the other and soon enough fluttershy was wide awake gasping for air.
"Why the hell did you do that?" Asked fluttershy angrily.
Silvershade replied mockingly, "your a heavy sleeper, but I've found that harmless suffocation can wake up anything."
"Fair enough, why'd you wake me up anyway?"
"Well we're here believe it or not, you did sleep an entire day after all."
"An entire day! Why didnt you wake me up! I mean at least for food or something."
"Nah, you looked too cute sleeping there all sloppy like,"
Fluttershy blushed at that, it was rare for her to be complimented by stallions, since she generally avoided them, "y-your a weirdo, y-you know that?"
"Me? A weirdo? you we're sitting right across from me so how could I not look at you?"
"Alright seriously can you two ponies move the hell out of the way so that I can sit down," bursted out the stallion who was still standing there waiting.
"oh-oh yeah sorry about that, we'll get out of your way now," said Silvershade
"bout damn time, weird kids."
At that the two assassins gathered their things and halled it and themselves from the now crammed train. They looked out from the creaky old platform and saw only one street that was littered with houses and businesses alIke, which only went for about a mile, and stopped at a bright green hill, which rose randomly from the flat plains of which the little town sat. Atop the hill rose a large estate, covering 50 acres and was guarded by a 13 foot wall of stone, the only clear detail you could see from the platform was the tall bronze green gate that marked the entrance and center of the estate.
"So this is it? I-I was expecting like a big huge town where everyone was apart of the creed and what not," spoke fluttershy, confused that the mighty assassin base is a little underdeveloped town in the middle of nowhere.
Silvershade chuckled at her remark, " don't worry, I felt the same at first too, but it's all a lot more than it seems, trust me."
"W-well if you say so."
They walked together through town, taking periodic breaks so fluttershy could rest her arms from carrying her luggage. The town was very lively despite its size, children playing and a few stallions laughing together at the saloon, but still it was tiny, making her wonder where all of those ponies on the train could have come from.
"Hey Silvershade, why were all those ponies here? I mean it's so small."
"Tourism"
"For what?"
"The Evergreen forest, it is the clearest here and not dangerous at all, so ponies come every year to camp and hike through it without a worry."
"Hm, odd compared to what I'm used to, normally ponies avoi-"
"ah shoosh we're here," Fluttershy hadn't even noticed that they were now standing in front of the old green gate, which had the assassins' symbol engraved into the copper core, making it bright compared to the rest of the gate. Silvershade knocked stirnly on the gate, waited a second then gave another knock, a voice spoke, seeming to come from the gate, but also from nowhere at all, then, it slowly spoke a single question:
"What, is the truth, of life?"
Silvershade spoke back with equal clarity and speed. "Nothing is true, and everything is permitted."
They waited about thirty seconds till the copper doors slowly creaked open, and revealed the compound that lay within the stone walls of the estate, revealing to Fluttershy, the setting of her life for the years to come.
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
Fluttershy walked in to an open courtyard covered in lush grass and large oak trees, which made the place feel welcoming. The main path led thirty feet through the miniature forest to two flights of stairs that parted at the bottom, and wrapped around a fountain that sat on the next story. Fluttershy saw that the cylinder shaped base which held the fountain also showed the Assassins' symbol, but was much larger than that of the entrance.
Fluttershy and Silvershade slowly neared the stairs as their bags seemed, in a way, to have gotten heavier after dragging them for miles from the platform. They soon began to hear voices from the upper level of the estate up the fountain, and as they grew closer up the stairs they discovered it was actually yelling and frantic instructions being spat out. As they rose to the second story they saw that two fairly built stallions were in intense hand to hand combat where the fountain should have been, however it was empty, with only hard packed earth and violence to fill it.
A few other stallions stood at the edge of the fountain cheering their bets, but one, who seemed to be an instructor of some sort was forcefully shouting orders to both combatants about what to do. The two arrivals from Ponyville decided to watch till the end, which didn't take very long, one stallion ducked under the punch of the other and punched him in the groin, then while bent over in pain the other grabbed him by the mane and kneed him in the face, knocking the stallion unconscious.
Everyone cheered at the victory, but were soon quieted down by the instructor, who stepped into the fountain, congratulated the victor, and woke the loser with a bucket of water on his face.
"hows the nose?" asked the instructor
"Just fine sir," smiled the stallion as he sat and regained his senses
"That's what I like to here, now come on, up you go," at that the instructor helped the stallion rise to his hooves and walk out of the fountain. The instructor had noticed that Fluttershy and Silvershade were standing at the edge watching, which made her a little nervous. He was a large Unicorn with a gray coat and short white mane, cut all even and blocky in a military style. He wore a jacket that fell just past his knees and was outlined with gold designs on the edges, and on his head sat a cylinder hat with designs matching that of his jacket. His pants matched the rest of his clothes from what you could tell, surprisingly enough. On his hip sat a large axe which was probably used originally for chopping large trees, however you could tell it had been altered for other purposes, and on the left side of his hip swung a oversized double barrel flintlock pistol.
"That, little girl, is for sticky situations." Fluttershy heart skipped as she noticed that the stallion she was studying was now somehow standing directly in front of her, and must had noticed her staring at his pistol. His voice was deep and thorough, with a strong northern accent (Russian to us), and as she looked up to his face which towered two feet above hers, she saw that the voice matched its owner very well.
Fluttershy nervously said the first thing that came to mind, "I-I-I can tell." Fluttershy internally face-palmed, of all the things she could of said that was the oddest thing, so she thought.
Fluttershy was completely surprised when the huge unicorn gave a deep bellowing laugh, "HAHAHA! oh boy I like you already little mare! You sure know how to pick 'em Silvershade! AAaaah yes, yes she will make a good wife one day boy." The grizzly unicorn gave Silvershade a very stern pat on the back.
"Yeah I know, she's grea- Wait what!" shouted Silvershade embarrassingly, "I-I-its not like that!"
"HAHAHA! yes yes I know, it was a joke my boy! Anyway, little mare, my name is Boris Bogrof, but you being a trainee, you will address me as Sir, Master, or simply Bo, as I normally prefer, is that clear? good? end of story!"
Bo looked at Fluttershy implying her to respond, "Oh! uh, uh B-Bo?"
"Yes little filly?"
"M-my name is Fluttershy C-Carington, but Fluttershy is fine, I-if you mind! that is," replied fluttershy nervously, almost forgetting what her name was."
Bo stuck out his big gray hand to shake fluttershy's, who responded accordingly, "Well Fluttershy, your name matches you very well, for I have heard that I am not too intimidating, but in all aspects, it is very nice to meet you." He then leaned down and kissed her little hand, making her give a quick blushing smile and nod to the large Unicorn.
"Well, you two have a good day, for I must return to training these foolish boys, till next time," said Bo as he smiled and walked off.
"W-Well he seemed nice enough." observed Fluttershy
Silvershade answered as if annoyed, "Oh trust me, you'll get tired of it soon enough, and when he's training he doesn't act like that at all."
They started walking towards the large main building that looked like a mansion.
"He can't be that bad, can he?"
"Oh yeah, more than you can imagine."
They soon made it to the doorstep of the Mansion through a nice flower garden enveloping the entrance path, where two big oak doors lead inside. There, marble pillars held up the second floor, which was up a wide staircase that posed at the center of the large entry-hall--all of which was made of grey-veined marble flooring, as were the stairs.
"This place seems a little too fancy for an organization of assassins and what not," stated Fluttershy curiously.
"Hmm? oh all this? Yeah this is just the front, all the real operations happen in the back, we'll get there soon."
"Oh, so now where to?"
"Straight up the stairs."
At the top of the stairs there was another set of double doors, leading into another room, which seemed to Fluttershy to be very important.
"So what's in the there?" pointed the little mare nervously.
"This, is where we make you official."
"O-Official, I-I don't like the sound of that."
"Hehe don't worry, he's a nice guy, just for now don't say anything unless spoken too, otherwise simply stay quiet and let me do the talking. Should be easy enough for you, right?"
"Right."
"You ready?"
"R-ready."
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."
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
The bronze gate slowly opened for Fluttershy and Silvershade after weeks of hunting a Templar. Exhausted, they wearily walked in. Over the past years, Fluttershy and Silvershade have created a notorious reputation for themselves as very talented assassins within the brotherhood. This is especially the case for Fluttershy, considering how she was still an apprentice and, of course, her size and timid nature at first glance.
They walked up the old stone steps to the empty fountain, expecting a welcome back, but were instead greeted with the silence of their comrades' abstinence. The fountain and the courtyard stretching out to the estate was empty, rather than being full of training ponies.
well this is odd, where is everypony , wondered Fluttershy as her and Silvershade made their way into the mansion. Once inside they were finally greeted by Bo, who had a look of despair stricken onto his face.
"Hey, hey Bo!" shouted Silvershade, who jogged over to the master curiously, with Fluttershy in step just behind. "Bo what's going on? Where is everypony?"
"The apprentices are all in their dorms, and as for the other assassins, they are having a meeting,"
"For what?" asked Fluttershy.
"They are about to vote to determine the new house master, in replacement for master Achilles," stated Bo sorrowfully.
" Wait, a-are you saying that Achillies has passed!?" said Fluttershy, painfully squeezing the words from her throat, tearing up simply at the thought.
"No, not yet. The old fool is hanging on so far, but I wouldn't know, he's asked to be left alone untill you two arrived, it sounded important so we left him be. I'd make haste to him now while he is still with us."
They nodded to Bo and without a word quickly made their way their master's room, Fluttershy gave a soft knock on the doors to the house master's quarters, and patiently awaited a response from inside. They heard a weary voice come from inside, sounding to barely be a whisper. "Come in my children."
They opened the doors and calmly walked to the side of the bed where Achilles lay, "Welcome back you two, I presume your contract went well?"
"Yes master, there were some bumps but we did what had to be done," answered Silvershade unwavering.
"Good, good, *sigh* it must be diminishing to see me in this pitiful state."
"N-not at all sir, everypony will reach a moment like this in their lifetime, one way or another," stated Fluttershy, in an attempt to be encouraging.
"Ah yes, of course. Though such truth does not keep me from being any more disappointed having to join the greater beyond. Aside from such discouraging talk however, I have important things to fulfill for the two of you."
"What is it?" Asked the pair.
"Out of any of you skilled ponies here, I have found the most pride in the two of you. The two of you have become the children that I was never given the chance to have, as if fate had noticed and gifted you to me to fill the void. That is why I have decided to gift you in my passing. Normally we would have a ceremony for these events but in this case, in the interest of time, I shall promote you two here and now."
"What!? You really mean that master?"
"Of course, nothing would make me happier than to see you both excel a little bit more in my last hours."
"Thank you master, we promise we'll make you proud," said the two assassin's as they began to lightly tear up.
"Good, that's what I like to here, now, let's get down to it. Silvershade, may you please take this key to my safe over there." The old stallion handed an old key to the black pony, and pointed to a large steel safe inside the wall to his left. Silvershade went and unlocked the safe, which contained only a single object: a small wooden box with a silver decorative assassins symbol on the lid.
Achilles's voice wavered a little, "come boy, bring it here," he said as he reached out over his bed. Silvershade carefully brought the ancient looking box over to the old stallion, who grabbed it slowly with shaky hands. Achilles unlocked the box and reached in, bringing out a silver chain necklace with the Brotherhood's symbol attached.
"Silvershade you will be first." The Assassin walked over the the side of the bed close to Achilles. "I need not say a word, young stallion," said the Master. "For if you have reached this milestone and title, you already know the words that bind you to our Brotherhood, and the duties that you must carry out in its name. Do you understand Silvershade?"
"I do," replied Silvershade solemnly.
"And will you, even at the cost of your life, serve for the safety of Equestria and the well being of your comrades?"
"I will."
"Then by the authority gifted to me by my own Master, I grant you, Silvershade Moonstride, the ultimate title of Master Assassin," said Achilles, as proudfully as possible in his current state. Then Silvershade, smile cocked on his face, bent down as Achilles placed the necklace around his neck.
Silvershade's voice wavered with joy, "Thank you Master." Achilles simply smiled and nodded in response.
"Fluttershy my dear, come," said the Master as he waved the young pony over to him.
"Hmm? O-oh yes Master," stuttered Fluttershy as she walked to the side of the bed.
From the ancient box Achilles pulled out a small silver ring with the Brotherhood's symbol on it in bronze.
"This ring symbolizes your title as an Assassin, and is to be worn every day until you pass on to the greater beyond. Of course you can take it off every once in a while, just to clear it up, I remember an assassin a while back who thought you could never take it off. They ended up gaining some weight and their finger actually died and had to be removed! Haah how about that!" The old pony let out a feeble chuckle.
"Well y-yes sir very funny, but may we get back on task?"
"Hmm? Oh yes my apologies, back to it. Do you, Fluttershy Carington, solemnly swear to abide by the rules of our creed, and protect those of Equestria who cannot protect themselves?"
"I do."
"And do you, even at the cost of your life, swear to protect our ideals and your comrades?"
"I do."
"Then by your word and my authority, I gift you with the title of Assassin, and this ring as the symbol of your title."
"Thank you, Master Achilles," said Fluttershy tearing up.
"And one more thing, Fluttershy."
"What is it?"
"Here," said Achilles who handed a pamphlet to the young little mare, "an assignment I've saved just for you."
"T-thanks, but what's so special about it?"
"To other people, nothing at all, but to you, I believe it'll be gift and an opportunity. Good luck my dear."
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
"Silvershade, why does it always rain at funerals?"
"I don't know Flutters, the pegasi don't operate out here, so maybe there's something else out there that knows."
"There has to be right? even when it's sunny out, there's always rain at a funeral." A tear ran down Fluttershy's cheek.
"Very true," said Silvershade as he leaned over to hug a teared up Fluttershy, "we'll be alright, he taught us how to survive anything, and that's what we're going to do."
"I know, I know, but that doesn't make me miss him any less."
The assassins mournfully stood over the grave of their recently deceased master, Achillies. The funeral had ended only an hour ago, and everypony had left by now except for Fluttershy and Silvershade. There was a calm and gray sprinkling of rain dropping on the cemetery, making the pair hide under an umbrella.
"Have you read that pamphlet he gave you yet?" asked Silvershade, shifting his gaze from the grave to Fluttershy.
"No... should I read it?" asked Fluttershy, looking up to Silvershade.
"Well yeah, I don't see why not, and I bet Achilles would like to see your reaction. He said it was a gift."
"Yeah, that makes sense," said Fluttershy, her voice wavering from her previous crying.
She reached into her handbag and pulled out the pamphlet, then opened it to find about twenty contract forms.
"Contracts? how are contracts a gift?" asked Fluttershy confused by what Achilles motives might have been.
"I don't know... here let me see one of those," said Silvershade as he plucked a single form from the pamphlet, he then began to read it very closely.
Fluttershy looked to him waiting for an answer, "Well? did you find something yet?" questioned the mare impatiently.
"I think sooo, here! look at this," said Silvershade as he handed the form to Fluttershy, "other than the date, what is the same about all of these contracts?" he asked rhetorically.
"I-I don't know, they're all Templars?"
"No you idiot!" yelled Silvershade frustrated. He then pointed to a single line at the bottom of the page, just above where a signature belonged, "The location. They're all at the same place."
Fluttershy then read it, "Ponyville." She looked up to Silvershade with wide eyes, "Ponyville! I-I'm going back!" she squealed excitedly, however, after a moment of thought she hung her head in realization, "but I'll also be leaving."
Silvershade looked down at Fluttershy surprised, he had thought that this was what she had wanted for years now. However, he could understand her conflicted feelings, considering she's been at the brotherhood for so long. He knew he had to convince her to go, and he knew she wanted to, but the challenge was to make her think for herself for once. The little mare was still wallowing in thought under the umbrella, staring at Achilles' tombstone. Silvershade raised her chin, as he always did when Fluttershy was sad, and looked her in the eye, getting up close to where their muzzles were almost touching.
"If you want to stay because of me, then don't, I'll be alright without you for a while," said Silvershade calmly.
Fluttershy looked away slightly, trying to brake from his powerful gaze. "Well yeah I know, it's just I'm worried I'll be a little lost, and what if one of us gets hurt while we're separated."
"Hey, hey, hey," said Silvershade in a reassuring tone, "nothing's going to happen, to either of us, we've still got the brotherhood behind us and that's what matters. No matter where you go, you've got a family behind you, you'll be safe even without me around."
"I-I know, I just..."
"You're an assassin now Fluttershy, not an apprentice. I trained you to survive, and if I know anything about you, it's that you'll do exactly that," stated the Stallion sternly, looking her straight in the eye. "Can you promise me you'll have a little confidence while alone for once?"
"Y-yes, I can do that," said Fluttershy, giving a slight smile, "I'll miss you though..."
Silvershade simply rolled his eyes, he knew that with Fluttershy like this they were just going to keep going in circles, unless he did something drastic. "Ugh you little... you always do that," said Silvershade, acting frustrated, even though he thought it was kind of cute when she got all awkward and indecisive.
Fluttershy looked up confused, "d-do what? what did I do?"
"Your going make me do this aren't you?"
"No but I-I don't understand."
"Just answer me this: Are you still in doubt about leaving because of me? yes or no," stated Silvershade plainly.
Fluttershy had a conflicted look on her face, "um, uh oh I uh... yes?"
"UGH," sighed Silvershade.
"Well I mean I do want to go but I also don't a-and jus-" Fluttershy's rambling was suddenly interrupted by a deep kissing embrace from Silvershade, as he grabbed and held her tightly. At first Fluttershy was rigged and in shock from the unannounced fair of affection, but she soon realized what was happening and relaxed her body, putting her arms around him and closing her eyes. They held each other for a couple minutes before breaking off, but still held each other tightly. Fluttershy buried her snout in Silvershade's chest.
"Feel better?" asked Silvershade with a grin.
"Mmmhmm."
"Now are you going to go?"
"Mmmhmm, sure," said said Fluttershy calmly with a smile.
"Good."
"But on one condition," said Fluttershy sternly as she looked up.
"What now?"
"You have to come and visit me."
Silvershade gave a little chuckle, "Of course Fluttershy."
Fluttershy smiled and hugged the stallion again as Silvershade rested his chin on her head. They stood there like this for a while under the umbrella as the light drizzling rain petered out. Silvershade then put the umbrella away and shook it out as the dew settled in the grass, then looked to Fluttershy.
"When do you think you'll be leaving?"
Fluttershy looked at him with a surprised and conflicted face, "I-I don't really know, w-when should I?"
"Mmm, I don't know, soon."
"How soon?"
"how about, in couple days."
"What? Why?" asked Fluttershy, confused
"haha, so that you don't have enough time to think about it and change your mind."
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
The train seemed more crowded than before. The same amount of ponies, all sitting where they usually would, but this time stress and uncertainty squeezed Fluttershy's chest. She was making the long treak back to her home town and after seven years, it had begun to fade further back into her mind, but always lingering. In the creed, there was nothing but the present for her, for anything else would drag her down from the task at hand. Thus, leaving out of the blue, her master's passing, and a romantic interest growing, leaving was a sudden weight. As always though, she chose to focus on what was in front of her, in order to keep herself in check, and in reality.
Flutter shy walked aboard wearing a long and light pink sundress and woven sun hat, in an attempt to look as innocent as possible (which was her typical persona out of the creed). She moved to her booth to find three stallions seated at the table, one on his own, occupying the aisle seat.
"Excuse me sir?" she asked politely
"Huh? what is it missy?" slurred the male, apparently intoxicated in an attempt to shorten the train ride.
"Might you scooch over for me? the window seat gives me terrible motion sickness."
"Ha! not today! I *burp* need the leg room! but if you sit on my *hick* lap for this first bumpy part I might change my mind. HAHaAhahA!" Him and the other two stallions laughed in drunken unison.
Flutter shy was beginning to grow impatient. "Preferably not" said Fluttershy with a fake chuckle, " but if you could let me sit here at first so I can get used to the train, we could switch off if it means so much."
"Are you gunna make me repeat myself! What? Just because you're a pretty-" The drunk was swiftly interrupted by a knee to the face. He flew back into the seat unconscious. The other stallions were utterly shocked by Fluttershy's sudden burst of violence. She simply smiled at them as if nothing happened, "He was spitting on my dress," she stated calmly. Fluttershy sat down and tried her best to sit the unconscious male upright, but left him slumped over the table.
As the ride dragged on, the stallions ignoring her and her deceptive vibe, Fluttershy began to wonder what the town would be like. A place can change a lot in seven years, especially after everything that had happened before and after her departure. She wondered what her friends were up to, since the the letters had stopped coming, and she had stopped sending them. Over the years she had only heard general news, Twilight getting her own palace and guards, Rainbow Dash coming in first in many pony racing tournaments, etc. After hearing some news she would write to congratulate them, but never getting an answer. Presently, she simply hoped an in-person reunion might bring out any old friendships between them.
The train began to slow as it pulled into the station. Fluttershy could hear far more noise at the station than she remembered, making her suspicious. She walked out onto the platform and into Ponyville in shock, finding the small modest town she had left had become a city. Tall buildings stretching out over the prairies that used to be, and new farms standing in place of some removed forest, with Twilights crystal tree palace standing tall as the city's pinnacle in the distance.
Fluttershy walked her bags over to a carriage, telling the driver to take her bags to her address, so that she could investigate the heavily changed Ponyville--something more alien that she'd hoped. It grew even more so as she walked around, noticing many posters of warning and propaganda jargon, focusing on the "Shadowed Menace." The phrase meant little to Fluttershy, but it was the associated symbol that chilled her to the bone: The Brotherhood symbol. Fluttershy decided to ask someone for an explanation of the posters.
"E-excuse me? Ma'am?" implied Fluttershy, catching a vendor's attention.
"Yeah?"
"What is this 'Shadowed Menace' from the posters?"
"Ugh, some gang of murderin' bastards after any honest government official, that's why the princess is so heavily guarded. We're all peaceful ponies around here, so why they feel the need to stir up such trouble is beyond me. So are you from out of town?"
Fluttershy felt as if she was going to explode from so much exposure to ignorance, but she couldn't blame the mare, or any resident of Ponyville. The truth of the Brotherhood was entirely confidential to them and themselves only, and for good reason too. If the Brotherhood were a public existence, than their actions in retaliation to Templars would be highly frowned upon and rued, thus would them act in close relation to the Templar's tactics (something not even remotely acceptable).
"Oh! yes sorry," Fluttershy realized she hadn't answered the vendor, "thanks for clearing that up for me." She then bought an apple from the mare and moved on into the city, a slight nervous shake plaguing her hands as she realized how intense of enemy territory she was walking through.
I need to know more on this city wide issue... Thought Fluttershy. She was confused as to how the Brotherhood was still such a prominent thought in Ponyville, since the last official Assassin contract in the city was seven years ago involving Silvershade. The only way she could uncover anything more and concrete was from the smartest pony she knew, and the current princess of Ponyville: Twilight...
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
Though molded over the past years to be otherwise, Fluttershy has always been just as her name describes: Shy. Social situations of unfamiliar characteristics or exasperate dealings of emotions did not come to her naturally, thus an emotion induced social gathering of some significance was a mental apocalypse. She didn't know what to do, what to say, how to act, or how to feel. Therefore meeting her previously close friend, whom also happens to be the princess of an entire city, drew closer to a task rather than a happy reunion. Taking that into mind, Fluttershy addressed it as such, for when faced with a task revolving around "work," she was a different, and much more collected pony. However, in cases like this, she typically let Silvershade do the talking. This is not to be confused with the idea that she was bad at talking with strangers, it was just that he was much better, so Fluttershy never grasped a significant amount of practice in that field. Simply put, she's better at killing them than talking with them (them meaning targets or their subordinates).
Fluttershy stood unmoving in front of Twilight Sparkle's grand Oak Tree, that was now made of crystals and was much bigger. Physically it was impressive and intimidating, a true fit for a ruler attempting such presentability, but as you walked closer it developed more of the inviting personality in relation to the owner. However, as Fluttershy crept closer, she felt a polarity. Though the atmosphere of the many ponies walking by was rather cheerful, her eagle vision told a different story. Guards, everywhere. Four at the main entrance, six armed with muskets in the canopy, three walking regulatory patrols throughout the perimeter, and not to mention the standard seven-man street patrols passing every five to ten minutes.
For a fairly well rounded city the security is extremely intense, and I doubt that's the reason for it to be so peaceful she thought, her short fur standing on end. If she was to ever operate then it would have to be at night away--from any patrolling guard's view. However, some missions will have to be operated during daylight, depending on the target window... Hmm. I should find out more of these posters before I make any further assumptions, but either way, I should modify a sun dress or two for work in the future.
At that Fluttershy started her approach towards the front guards. She swallowed nervously in an attempt to suppress her distress; However, as she walked closer she could feel the weight musket barrels aiming at her from above, and she could hear the stationed patrols stop behind her. She felt utterly vulnerable unarmed, and it made her sick to her stomach. Of course, if need be she could take at least the four front guards down with her, that is before the muskets and patrols would get her. Stop thinking you idiot! The more you overthink the more you fuck up! Thought Fluttershy, scolding herself for paying too much attention to the irrelevant, for though the guards were intimidating, they had zero reason to attack her.
The four front guards finally took notice to her approach. "Ma'am please state you business before you move any closer," said one of the guards sternly, "otherwise we will have to act aggressively."
His sudden stern address surprised Fluttershy, as she expected herself to speak first. She spoke with a lightly quivering voice, "I-I would like an audience with Twilight please," she responded sternly as well, in an attempt to match the guard's tone.
"On these sacred grounds you will address the Princess by her full title!"
The guard's outburst was startling, but most of all confusing. Sacred Ground? To my knowledge Twilight was never even remotely religious, let alone pressing anything of the sort onto other ponies... This is all very odd. Fluttershy decided to oblige. If there was anything that she learned from Silvershade, it was kissing ass out of a situation. The thought crossing her mind made her chuckle, as she remembered many times where they'd play Achilles' soft side to get out of trouble. "M-My apologies, I wish to have an audience with Princess Twilight Sparkle," oh there has to be something else in her title now a-days! "Keeper of Knowledge?" A wild guess...
The speaking guard glanced back at the others, then back to Fluttershy. "Where are you from little mare?" Asked the guard with a smirk, apparently amused by her pitiful guess.
Fluttershy gave a slight sarcastic smirk and her left eye twitched in frustration towards herself. Keeper of Knowledge? what the hell does that even mean? A royal librarian maybe? Now that I think on it, it'd be a good fit considering she's still the same Twilight that I left haha. "Well I am originally from here, b-but I moved away seven years ago on uh uh family business."
"What's your intent with speaking with her today?"
"I uh, used to be fairly close friends with her before I moved away, s-so I was hoping to catch up with her..." Fluttershy had more to say but trailed off.
"Uh huh." responded the guard suspiciously. "Well considering that's true you'll have to go to the town hall and schedule an appointment with the Princess. She's a very busy pony, and I don't think that she would appreciate timid and spacey mares such as yourself interrupting her."
The Stallion was lying. Fluttershy could tell simply from his change of tone and physical mannerisms. She knew how this would go if she took the standard route and signed up, and that she wouldn't get any answers for another month. She had to find something to persuade them, so she used her eagle vision to try and find anything of significance.
Looking around she saw an iron plaque in the tile beneath the guards, etched in it were five names and pony marks with a message. "This plaque is dedicated to the hard work and dedication of these five ponies, for without their help this symbol of the city would not exist." The five names of course were Fluttershy and the others.
It's worth a shot... Thought Fluttershy. "W-well you see I believe my presence would be quite the contrary. My name is on that plaque."
"HA! Yeah right, you'd reply think I'd believe that!" The other guards chuckled with their spokesman.
Fluttershy felt as if her head was about to explode. "D-don't laugh at me! I can prove it with my mark!"
"Oh? well show us then."
Fluttershy began to blush as she realized what she had gotten herself into, for her mark rested on her upper thigh. "W-well can we go somewhere a little m-more private?" she asked quietly, averting her eyes to the ground in embarrassment.
"No can do miss, we can't leave our post, plus we need the plaque to compare, and it's not moving."
"F-fine..." Fluttershy could almost feel a stroke coming on, and the city around her wasn't helping. Fluttershy slowly lifted one side of her dress and showed the Guards, all the while captivated by the ground in an attempt to suppress the embarrassment.
"Oh yeah would you look at that! The Mare wasn't lying.."
"I-If you're done please stop staring!"
"Alright alright, I guess we could make an exception for you Ms..." The guard paused to look at her name, "Carington?"
Fluttershy was relieved she could finally meet her old friend, but at the moment even happier she let her dress down. "Yes that's right, thank you."
"And sorry for the pestering, it was only protocol."
"Oh it's fine, you were only doing your job," responded Fluttershy with a fake smile. You're lucky I didn't decide to kill you and your pals...
Fluttershy entered Twilight's great oak anticipating many city officials to be busy at work, but instead walked into the main room to an emptiness. The only living presence were two guards posted at the base of each of the rooms circular staircase. The staircases which started at each side of the room lead up to a balcony and another door beyond that. Below the balcony sat an amethyst throne, and the same plaque as outside lay at its feet.
She asked one of the guards for directions. "Excuse me, where would I find the princess?" The guard pointed with his eyes up the stairs, "Through the door?" He nodded. "Thank you."
Fluttershy knocked on the door, hoping for an answer, but nothing came. She knocked again but waited longer. Still no answer.
"Um Twilight? I'm coming in ok?!" Stilll nothing, odd...
She was now entering the trunk of the tree, for a large cylindrical library rose up four stories. A staircase wove around the room, all the way to the roof and another door. That must be her room up there. No wonder she didn't open the door.
"Hello? Twilight? Are you up there?" Fluttershy then flew up to the door to Twilights room. This time she didn't knock or give warning in the hope that she could happly surprise her friend, plus Fluttershy's movement these days were extremely unnoticeable.
She slowly opened the door with a childish smirk, however a loud creak sounded from the door. Dammit!
"Whoever is there please go! I'm very busy at the moment! Oh, and next time learn to knock!" Twilight was leaned over a large desk, her back to the door, swiftly writing notes of some sort.
Why am I not surprised. "Oh my apologies, it's only been a measly seven years since I've seen you." Said Fluttershy sarcastically, and in a wishful tone.
Twilight stopped moving and lifted her head. "You. You sound extremely familiar but I can't quite put my finger on it." Twilight turned around to see her visitor, and after a moment her sleepless eyes widened. "Fl-Fluttershy? Is that you?"
"Mmhm" Fluttershy nodded with a smile.
"O-Oh my God! What in Celestia are you doing here!" Twilight exclaimed happily, rushing over to hug her long lost friend.
Fluttershy could feel her ribs cracking, "W-well I'm m-moving back!" she answered in a weazy voice and a smile. Twilight was now the size of Princess Luna, with the corresponding strength.
"I-I can't even find the words! After the writing stopped I never really considered you to come back." Twilight was genuinely happy, that much Fluttershy could tell, but Twilight's smile turned angry, confusing Fluttershy.
"W-what's wrong?" asked Fluttershy sheepishly.
"You should have sent a message! I would have made this a very special occasion, rather than you returning to a sleep deprived and unprepared princess."
Fluttershy chuckled at Twilight's exasperate behavior. "It seems you care much more about those things than you used to."
"Oh well yes," Twilight rolled her eyes. "It sort of comes with the job per se, the stress of appearance."
They both sat down with tea and caught up on their lives over the past years. Fluttershy unfortunately having to lie about the most part, but was a well rehearsed lie she had used many times, including the day of her departure. Fluttershy learned that the city began to sprout as the assassination buzz died down a bit, and thus, Twilight was extremely busy. So much so that she had become as detached from their friends almost as much as Fluttershy, only really staying in touch with Rarity.
"I must admit that is unfortunate."
"Yes, but they have gone their ways as well. All their businesses exploded after the town grew into a city. Pinkie took over the bakery, Applejack began growing much more than just apples, Rarity became the region's top designer, and Rainbow is the captain of the Ponyville Wonderbolts. Now don't get me wrong, we still to all talk and have tea from time to time, but I guess you would it has all been, reduced"
"That's amazing! It almost makes me feel as if I've fallen behind." Said Fluttershy in a sorrowful but fake tone, trying to integrate herself back into the giving arms of the city's princess. Fluttershy had known Twilight for a very long time and was very close friends, but a lot of trust can be lost over seven years, and such a thing was very important to Fluttershy. This is considering the many posters slandering the Brotherhood as thugs in the shadows, so the best way to gain such trust would be through pity.
"Oh don't get down on yourself Fluttershy. Duty calls, and to your family first, and if you were to have stayed here, I don't doubt at all that you would have been successful in the new Ponyville too."
"Yeah that's true. Thank you Twilight." Fluttershy smiled subtly in response. "Well I feel I should go and leave you to your work. Plus I'd like to say hello to our other friends."
"Oh yes I nearly forgot what I was doing! I'm sorry but I must get back to it!"
Fluttershy chuckled, "Oh yes yes of course." Fluttershy then proceeded out the door, but stopped halfway after she remembered her real purpose for meeting up with Twilight. "I'm sorry, but I forgot to ask you something."
Twilight turned back to Fluttershy curiously, "Of course. What is It?"
"What is this chatter about assassins?"
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
"Oh that? It's just like you to get so worried about such renegades," Scoffed Twilight lightheartedly. "I assure you they only target politicians and figures of that caliber, you have nothing to be afraid of."
Its not them Im afraid of... thought Fluttershy. She had hoped Twilight would answer the question about assassins more seriously (as she should as a princess) but Fluttershy shrugged it off. She didn't want to drastically change the mood of the conversation for it might rouse some suspicion.
"Oh well that's relieving, I wanted to ask you because it seems like a lock-and-key sort of subject around town," Said Fluttershy in an innocent voice, trying to maintain the persona that Twilight was used to seeing. She decided to press more into the subject. " So what have they done exactly? They must have done something pretty significant to get such attention from the whole of Ponyville's guard." About this Fluttershy was most curious, especially since there was no creed missions conducted after Silvershade's work involving Celestia's fiancé. If anything had happened recently it must have been a fake, or there might be a large political witch hunt happening around the city; Though either way, this could prove problematic for Fluttershy.
"Oh right you missed the paper two weeks ago, many property and business owners have been killed in the recent months. Not just any ponies either, but owners and managers of large industrial operations or and businesses, such as farmers or factory owners. Because of all this Applejack and her family have been placed under protective custody at their home, along with many others fitting the victims' trademark."
Fluttershy was confused, there didn't seem to be anything referring to creed involvement, there has to be something... "How does that bring up the subject of assassins? It all sounds like a simple yet aggressive business campaign to get property."
At this remark, Fluttershy could tell that Twilights friendly mood had darkened a degree. "There is always a mark whenever the assassins make a kill, thus whenever we see it at a scene, our city-wide, even nation-wide search continues for these bloodthirsty murderers."
Fluttershy's blood warmed a bit at Twilight's last bit of words, but she had to keep her composure. "A mark?" she asked.
"Yes. The mark they left at their first kill in this city, which I'm sure you remember."
"Yes... Of course." Dammit Silvershade, always having to show off. Thought Fluttershy angrily. "That triangular looking symbol on the posters?"
"Indeed. Ever since that fateful night all those years ago, whenever that mark appears we know exactly who we're looking for. Right after the first incident, I gathered some of the most renown detectives across Equestria, as well as Princess Luna, and searched the entire Royal library for anything related to the symbol, and what we found was astounding. A hidden war has been waged for centuries upon centuries. The Templars and this Brotherhood have been fighting continuously throughout the years, as well as un-named related factions which existed far before any records too, I presume. These records, written by the Templars heavily express the determination and tenacity of the assassins, and their constant struggles for similar achievements as the Templars. Yet their methods differed greatly, which was the greatest cause for conflict in later years. The brotherhood, as you can imagine, was and is the more aggressive of the two, using more violent action and direct involvement to reach their goals. It is for this reason, and their personal act upon me and my friends that I cannot allow them to continue to conduct themselves freely, and in such a manner. As for the Templars... they seem just as devious as the Assassins, yet they do not act in an expressive way, so their is no way to find them. Alas, the only prominent threat myself and my advisors can see is the Brotherhood. So far we have put away eleven such members of their Brotherhood, and in correlation to their crimes six others have been put to death." Twilight finished her lecture proudly.
Fluttershy was shocked as a shiver ran down her spine. Twilight... She's been conducting witch hunts for assassins, though none have ever been active here except for an informant; However, they've been in hiding while creating and investigating all of the Ponyville contracts. Plus her knowledge on everything is pretty spot on, and I'm thankful she doesn't seem to have taken sides; yet I can't say that I'm at all surprised. Fluttershy became startled by the old friend standing in front of her, for her over-committed nature seemed to have taken over even more with the pressure of ruling a large city. In the past Twilight would get such a mindset over magic research and things of the sort, but Fluttershy could tell from her body language and heart rate that Twilight had changed into something more intimidating than an extremely smart pony. She had become obsessed in finding the Creed over the years and this had made her different. Twilight was excellent at hiding it, her anger, her desire, her stress, her fascination, but Fluttershy could see it all. Though small reactions, she could see and feel them: a surge in her heartbeat at mentions of certain details, ears twitching, fists clenching, tail movements, teeth grinding, magic growing in her horn subconsciously. After seeing all of this resonating from Twilight, Fluttershy began to grow frightened upon realizing how much danger she was actually in there in the Great Oak, and she felt an instinctive urge to flee. However, she knew she had to stay and press on, this would probably be her only opportunity to get such information with causing suspicion.
"W-wow, you've been quite busy so it seems. I can't even think of a way you could start searching for them, they seem so... Oh what's the word..."
"Professional?" Interjected Twilight.
"Yes! w-well something along those lines at least." Fluttershy was growing increasingly satisfied with herself as she was luring Twilight into a vocal trap. By making herself seem completely uneducated on the subject, it made Twilight's boastful nature itch like mad, but it would be impossible for Fluttershy to pull off if she didn't know her friend so well. "I mean, the detectives must be so skilled along with you and Princess Luna to find such ancient information. All to say the least, I could never figure something out like that..."
Twilight fell for it. "Well actually it's typically general sightings or suspicious neighbors that bring them to light. These reports lead to a pony, and then we crack them through interrogation. In that way we get all the details and even more names, but as you can probably guess, not a lot of them crack so easily; typically piggybacking the 'I don't know anything why are you doing this' guilt trip."
"Amazing. That's pretty efficient I presume." Fluttershy felt as if her jaw was about to drop. It's worse than I thought. She's not even investigating these like I thought she would! She just goes off of random tips around the city! Plus I would find it hard to believe that these interrogations they're conducting are at all peaceful like any normal investigation, I bet they torture the poor souls to the point they'll admit to anything. Fluttershy had gathered all she could without seeming pushy, and when on such a subject being pushy could get her killed. She needed to close off the conversation, especially since she had more to do before the sun went down.
"Yes, it works very well I must admit."
"Well I have to say, I am oddly proud of you Twilight. You've grown into a fine ruler over the years."
"Thank you Fluttershy. That means a lot coming from you. I'm so happy that you're moving, I'll be sure to send messages to the others letting them know your back, and from the news they'll probably come right over to see you. That'll save you the trouble of going out to seem them all, so you can focus on moving back in." Twilight was acting completely normal again oddly enough.
This was the Twilight that Fluttershy was used to, very kind, thoughtful, and especially thorough. "Thanks I appreciate that," Fluttershy smiled at the reappearance of the real Twilight. She then took a fake glance at the clock so that she could leave punctually, her spine still tingling from Twilight's frightening aura. "Oh! Would you look at the time. I'm sorry Twilight but if I stay any longer my luggage wagon will be waiting, I should head off."
"Oh why yes of course. Do you need any help moving in? I can't come myself of course, the Guard Captain simply wouldn't allow it, but I could send over some stallions to help move your heavier things."
"Oh no no it's fine, I have all that stuff set up already for the most part. Thank you though." At that Fluttershy started for the door, but was stopped by a firm hand on her shoulder. Fluttershy's muscles tensed as she unconsciously prepared for an attack, but she came to her senses and turned to Twilight.
Fluttershy turned to a worried and serious face. "Fluttershy, be careful when walking around, do it for me, please. This town isn't the same one you left seven years ago, you could say it's... Darker."
This town isn't the only thing that has changed over the years. Trust me Twilight, your head will be spinning now that a the actual Creed will be at work. "O-of course thank you. I'll be sure to take that to heart." Fluttershy then headed out the door, only stopping again quickly to exchange goodbyes with Twilight.
Fluttershy walked briskly out of the great oak, her fur still on end from Twilight's intimidating persona. She looked at the sun's position in the sky to figure what time it was. She would probably be late to meet the wagon driver, but if she hurried she might just make it. No matter how much she wanted to go and personally meet the others, getting moved in her old house was her highest priority. Her home base was necessary for working, though starting to kill ponies left and right just after she moved would be foolish with such an on-edge guard force. Thus she would have to keep to investigating her contracts for the time being, and find a way to contact the Creed's informant somewhere in the the area.
Fluttershy then headed off towards her home, Twilight's odd mood still lingering in the back of her mind, and her guard completely up.
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
Despite the rapid growth of the city, Fluttershy's house still stood lonely at the edge of the forest; However the forest was now much more farmland than wilderness. The animals that flocked to Fluttershy were now gone, and Angel probably passed due to old age. The paint had withered and the gardens were overgrown, but the house still stood strong and unhindered. The inside was surprisingly orderly... Too orderly to be completely abandoned.
What in the world... Thought Fluttershy; She began to worry that her old home was not her home anymore. However, as she investigated her bedroom she was met with a note placed on a well made bed, her name written delicately on the envelope. Fluttershy looked at the note skeptically, her face contorted in a confused manner.
She opened it to a pleasant surprise from Silvershade.
The note simply read, "My portion of the move-in: A clean home is a relaxing one."
Fluttershy blushed at the note, and at the thought that Silvershade was looking out for her.
Fluttershy began the long task of unpacking her things: normal and not. Her clothes went away relatively easily, for over her years at the brotherhood her personal belongings dwindled, so she'd have to make a trip to the market the next day to change that. If her alibi as the old, cute, and innocent Fluttershy was going to work she was going to have to play the part as closely as possible: belongings, attitude, wardrobe, and all. However, as her cases of normal belongings and clothes dwindled, so did the sunlight.
The next morning she woke abruptly to noise outside her door. She looked down from her second-story window to the sight of two familiar mares: The two Fluttershy feared would show considering their hyper and selfless personalities. They would insist to help her unpack, and what she had left to unpack were things no pony would be able to see and live.
Fluttershy bolted as quietly as she could downstairs, her only hope was to convince the two that she was all done with her packing. Struggling to hide her things down in the basement, the doorbell continued to ring and voices rang out urgently requesting Fluttershy to show herself. Finally she moved to last suitcase down the stairs, but on her assent up the stairs she stubbed her hoof urging her to scream. She had to muffle herself in order to save herself from an extra question. As Fluttershy ran to the door to meet the now rapid and obnoxious doorbell, she caught a glimpse of herself in her living room mirror, and a frightening glimpse it was. She had already ran so much through the house that she forgot she had just woken up, and she looked like it.
Fluttershy looked at the mirror, at the front door, then back again, considering if she had the time or conviction to fix herself up. Fluttershy debated for another second before deciding.
Fuck it... thought Fluttershy as she flung open the door. She was promptly met with hyper girlish squealing that hurt Fluttershy's ears.
"Pinkie Pie! Rarity!" Fluttershy exclaimed half excited and half annoyed that they decided to visit at 8 in the morning. "How are you guys!"
"We're great! we both have our own businesses now! I took over the bakery and it is sooo great! But never mind that I just can't believe your actually here! I mean you literally just fell of the face of the earth without a trace, I thought for a while that is was a conspiracy-like the assassins captured you and had you tell them everything about us six friends like war secrets and..." Luckily Rarity cut off Pinkie Pie's rant to save everyone from the near accurate conspiracy theory.
"What she means to say is that she's happy to have you back, as am I! I hope the move back in went smoothly for you?"
"O-oh yes it was just fine, I uh... I asked the wagon driver for some help yesterday so I actually got everything unpacked already," lied Fluttershy.
"Really? well isn't that great! mind if we come in? catch up some?" inquired Rarity. She was personally astonished that everything was already unpacked, considering Rarity's personal standards on how much clothing a mare should own (which is a LOT).
"Sure come on in, I'll fix us some tea."
"Oh! Oh! Fluttershy! Can I brush your hair? it looks like you just woke up," giggled Pinkie Pie.
"Uh y-yeah sure, let me get the tea first."
The three mares walked in and the two guests sat excitedly on Fluttershy's old, quant couch.
"Ah this place brings back memories," remarked Pinkie Pie. "The only thing that's really different is the lack of cute little creatures crawling everywhere."
Fluttershy responded from the kitchen, "Yes well it's been quite a long time, I wouldn't expect anything but bugs to stick around."
That caught Rarity's attention, "Yes that actually is something rather odd about the house; It's rather clean and clear in here isn't it? I can't imagine you unpacked AND cleaned the whole half day you've been back here."
Fluttershy flinched a little whilst captivated with the tea kettle. Dammit Silvershade...
"Uuuhhhhh yes about that... w-well before I boarded my train here I called ahead for some cleaners to come and dust everything off for me. Save me from a brunt portion of the work you could say," lied Fluttershy as she walked into the living room with the tea. "Well enough about me, what have you guys been up to?"
And so the three friends caught up on their lost years, talked about work, family, Stallions who have come and gone, the development of ponyville, and brushed each other. Fluttershy felt genuinely like her old self, and it saddened her to think that, no matter what, that pony she was is now buried deep down and abandoned; Replaced by the justified killer that she is now. With this thought in mind, the conversation with her oldest friends began to bore and frustrate her, so she decided to get some work from it.
Pinkie Pie began to stir as she looked at the clock, "I'm sorry guys but I have to get to the bakery! I forget all the time and my apprentice with have my tail if I'm late again haha! I'll see you guys later!" stated Pinkie Pie with misplaced excitement.
"O-okay, good luck at work," said Rarity, put off by Pinkie Pie's abrupt absence.
"BYE!" said Pinkie Pie, her head quickly peaking back in and out of the doorway.
Fluttershy giggled, "No matter how old we get she never does change."
"Hm, perhaps your right. At this rate it seems she'll die an elderly child."
The two remaining mares laughed together.
Fluttershy had caught a stroke of luck: Rarity alone, and ripe with gossip (gossip that Fluttershy would need)
"So Rarity, you said earlier that your store has been doing very well, to the point you have employees now?" Inquired Fluttershy.
"Yes that's correct, and I've gotten quite a few connections now in the more famous territories." Boasted Rarity proudly. Fluttershy realized how perfect this could be, for Templars are notoriously individuals with great influence--individuals that Rarity might know closely. That thought aside, Fluttershy was also immensely happy for her friend who was desperate for such recognition for as long as they had known each other.
"Really!? thats great! so who do you know?"
Rarity was unknowingly caught in Fluttershy's interrogation. "Well I found that I would go nowhere trying to get recognition with the other fashion deities, they're all just selfish and want to snuff out any possible competition. So as Ponyville began to grow we started getting many local celebrities: Actors, singers, Wonderbolt members who moved here, some popular politicians, and Twilight of course."
Fluttershy was honestly astonished by how wide Rarity's scope actually was. "O-oh my, that is a lot... But even politicians? I just can imagine anyone really following what those ponies are wearing."
Rarity and Fluttershy continued their discussion rather extensively thanks to Rarity's unrivaled pride in her work, which taught Fluttershy the names and roles of the most famous ponies in Ponyville nowadays. One of which caught her attention...
"Rainbow Dash is a Wonderbolt now?!"
"Indeed she is, one of the best actually. Haven't you seen the papers the past couple years?"
"No I guess i haven't"
'Well she's quite the celebrity around here, autographs and all. She's even involved with some big businesses as a advertiser. I can't imagine her liking such serious things though, it's just not like her..." Rarity's face almost turned sour as she looked down in thought.
Fluttershy found this confusing as well, the Rainbow Dash that she knew would try her hardest to avoid such business-oriented things. It might be my paranoia, but with the shear amount of contracts in I've got in the city, this behavior by Dash is suspicious, thought Fluttershy. I'll have to look into those business assassinations first, and if Rainbow Dash's is advertising for the unaffected companies it might be something to look into.
Rarity broke Fluttershy's train of thought, "Anyway, I was thinking how empty your home is right now! My guess is you weren't able to bring to much back with you from Bostallion."
Fluttershy struggled a little to re-focus on Rarity, "Y-yes actually I was planning on doing some shopping tomorrow for some cute trinkets and decorations."
"Ooooh yes! a shopping trip for old time's sake! I'll make some time tomorrow if you'll have me along?"
"Of course, that'd be great!"
And with that Rarity said her goodbyes and left her friend to rest, Queuing Fluttershy to finish the last of her unpacking.
It's official, considered Fluttershy, the next part of my life has begun.
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
Leaves fell on the mossy ground, leaving a trail throughout the floor of the evergreen forest. The canopy above shook as a blur of robes drifted rapidly through the branches, making the only disturbance the forest had seen in weeks. Fluttershy had missed the relaxing feeling of free running through the trees, for throughout her training it was where she learned to do so-and was at her best there.
The evergreen forest, ever since its original growth the bulk of it stood unwavering in the face of pony civilization. It has been shaven for room by urban and agricultural growth throughout the years, but its endlessness made it touch or surround most cities and towns in Equestria. As such, it's a home to most creatures in the country-the friendly and dangerous-as well as a harboring mother for much of the Equestria underground's movements and activities. Thus, the forest had gained a negative reputation over the years as a dark and dangerous place(though it definitely could at times), and such a reputation made the evergreens a very secluded and empty place at times. Even before she had joined the Brotherhood, it was the seclusion of the forest that had always attracted Fluttershy into the trees. In her younger years it was what sparked her love for animals and the like, but now its void-like presence helped her to escape the many stresses of her dangerous lifestyle.
However, no matter how good the fresh air felt through the seems of her robes, or how nostalgic the gentle clank of her equipment was with every stride, Fluttershy was still working...
...
Yesterday...
"As always Fluttershy, I can never understand your taste in decor," prodded Rarity as the two walked through town shopping. Rarity had been picking up new fabrics for her shop, and Fluttershy was looking for decorations to fill her oddly empty home.
"That's because you are not the rustic type Rarity. If I had everything pristine and shiny like your house nothing would match."
"Yes perhaps your right darling, it is true that you see your interior more than myself. But still... it all seems so elderly to me." Rarity said so as she peered into the small wagon that trailed behind Fluttershy. It was filled with various antique trinkets, woven throw-pillows, hand-made quilts, and other things that would belong in a cottage.
"I know you're not satisfied with the rustic-cottage scene, but trust me, anything flashy would look terribly off." As Fluttershy spoke Rarity couldn't help but look at her in a sort of awe. She was realizing just how different Fluttershy was the more she talked. Her nervous stuttering was all but gone, and she talked considerably louder (normal speech) and with confidence. Rarity couldn't help but be joyful, for one could say her oldest friend was over her inadvertent fear of life. Rarity decided to comment on it, for however good of a development this was, it made her curious.
"I am so happy. Do you know why Fluttershy?" asked Rarity with a proud gaze.
"Hm? Why's that?"
"I'm happy because you have grown up. Your not afraid of your shadow, and your not timid at the slightest hint of attention."
"R-really? You think so?" Asked Fluttershy inquisitively, confused by Rarity's sudden statement.
"Why yes darling. You seem much more mature, and you are actually confident in your opinion. I think you trip to Bostallion did very well to expose you to the world per-say."
"Well thanks Rarity that means a lot coming from you." Fluttershy smiled at her friend's compliments. Though she was in town mainly for work, she was extremely glad that she could still get along so well with her old friends. She only wished she could meet Applejack and Rainbow Dash again; However, Applejack was in some sort of witness protection program considering the recent business murders, and Rainbow Dash was far to busy with her Wonderbolt duties to make the time (that was something that bothered Fluttershy considerably).
The two mare's grew near Fluttershy's cottage, for Rarity had offered to help Fluttershy in putting up her new decor. Given Rarity's expertise in fashion, and unprecedented persistence into fashion related business, Fluttershy could hardly refuse her.
They reached the cottage unhindered, but as Fluttershy shuffled her handbag for the keys, she noticed an inconspicuous corner of paper sticking out from under the door. Luckily, Rarity had not noticed, she was busy rambling about her plans for the inside of Fluttershy's house. Fluttershy knew the note would be important, for not many ponies would take the effort to go out to her cottage simply to slip a note under her door. She'd have to conceal the note somehow while opening the door, or risk Rarity seeing it and having her press into what it was, worse yet, Rarity seeing a note that could quite possibly have the Brotherhood seal on it.
Fluttershy pulled the house keys from her bag, and as she turned to the door she purposefully knocked a hoof into her trinket-filled wagon. It wasn't enough to knock it over, just enough to some to the quilts on top to plop onto the ground and distract Rarity for a second.
Rarity let out a yelp of terror as the linens hit the dirt. "Aah! oh dear Fluttershy they'll get all dirty and ruined!" Rarity cried out as she frantically gathered it all up.
"Oh dear Rarity, I'm so clumsy!" Fluttershy expressed her fake concerns as she opened the door, "here let me get this open so we can bring them right inside." At that Fluttershy opened the door and pushed the note under the couch with a flap of her wing, then aided Rarity in bringing everything inside.
...
Present...
The note was indeed from the Brotherhood, an official wax seal and everything. It was Fluttershy's contact in Ponyville, and the pony who had sent the contracts to Achilles in the first place. For all that Fluttershy knew, this was her only true ally out there, and though she had her friends like Rarity and Twilight, they still couldn't be trusted fully. She hoped it was somepony with a reasonable attitude, for if a pony is sent on an assignment as long as her contact was, they can develop a certain, per-say, insanity to them. Fluttershy was especially concerned about this considering how far into the evergreen forest they requested to meet; Their meeting spot was at the base of a certain waterfall deep in the forest. Fluttershy knew the place well enough, but it was a solid multiple mile trek to it, and by foot it took quite a while.
As Fluttershy went on her way she suddenly heard a loud explosion up above her, causing her to stop in a hurry. She squatted on a branch wide-eyed, using her eagle vision trying to pinpoint the source of the loud boom, but the forest all around her was totally empty. What the hell was that? She thought, frantically searching her mind for an answer. No creature I know of can make an explosion like that, so it must have been a pony...
Fluttershy decided to peak above the canopy of the forest with the hope of spotting smoke, for whatever it was, it was very loud and definitely would have left a crater. She ran up ahead to a much taller tree and leapt up to the canopy, poking her hooded, shadowy head into the open air. Since she had left so early in the morning, and had been concealed by the evergreens the whole time, she had not noticed what a clear day it was-not a single cloud in the sky accept one small one just overhead. To Fluttershy's astonishment their was not a single sign of an explosion, no smoke or anything to see.
As Fluttershy looked out above the trees perplexed, another explosion shook her from her robes, but this time she could prominently tell where it was coming from. Fluttershy looked up from under hood to see ponies flying in rapid formations, and as she looked closer she could recognize the Wonderbolts' uniforms. So those weren't explosions, but instead were sonic booms... She thought as she watched the athletes fly about. Fluttershy immediately thought of Rainbow Dash, who, to her knowledge, was the only pegasus to ever pull off a sonic boom. She hoped that Rainbow Dash was up there fulfilling her dream, but wished she would take some time to visit her. The life of a celebrity I guess.
As Fluttershy watched the ponies buzz around up above, she caught something out of the corner of her eye. The top of a head was peering out over the small cloud just her, staring at her. Unfortunately, the glare from the sun kept Fluttershy from recognizing the pony, but her instincts told her that she definitely shouldn't stick around to find out...
...
Up above...
Rainbow Dash sat on her cloud watching her peers practice. They used to practice above Ponyville, but due to the increased air traffic and the racket of their sonic booms, they now practiced above the forest with no interruptions. She enjoyed watching the tree's rustle furiously from the sonic shockwaves, which made the canopy of the evergreens look like a green ocean. However, as she peered down to get a view as her teammates set another off, Rainbow Dash saw something poking out from the canopy of a taller evergreen. It was a little white hooded creature looking up at the other Wonderbolts, but as Rainbow began to study it more it noticed her and peering over her cloud and ducked back into the trees.
"Wait!" Called out Rainbow Dash, whose curiosity had driven her to follow whatever it was she saw.
"Wait up! I just wanna talk to you!" yelled Rainbow, as she too ducked under the canopy after the figure. She could see it up ahead running through the trees so she flew faster, weaving through the branches like a snake. As she gained she realized that it was in fact a hooded pony that she was chasing after, and so she called out again but to no response. Why is there some pony running around out here? And how the hell are they so fast!?
This caught Rainbow Dash off guard just as much as the pony being there. Though they were running, she was having a great deal of trouble keeping up: The hooded pony was just far too fast to be normal.
...
Up ahead...
Really? A Wonderbolt is chasing me!? Fluttershy was in top gear now, basically sprinting with her wings through the forest, and the Wonderbolt ducking through the branches just behind. Fluttershy was trying to escape at any cost, for the sake of her pursuer. If they were to catch up and catch her somehow, she'd have to take drastic measures, and she really did not feel like killing somepony today. However, it wasn't any normal pony behind her, this was a Wonderbolt: a professional athlete built for speed and maneuverability. If Fluttershy was going to lose them she'd have to do something.
As she was thinking of a plan Fluttershy heard a very familiar and scratchy voice behind her.
"Hold up! why are you running!? I just wanna say hi!" The voice yelled.
Oh fuck that's Rainbow isn't it! I'm glad to see you but this is literally the worst time! Screamed Fluttershy in her head. Fluttershy grew conflicted at the sight of her old friend. She wanted to stop and give her a hug, but every other part of her being told her not to, and she knew she definitely couldn't.
Fluttershy was growing tired from so much sprinting, so she knew she'd have to come up with something fast.
...
Behind...
The Pony ahead of Rainbow Dash was beginning to slow down, allowing her to catch up and get a better look. They were wearing white and green robes, with many leather tassels and armor looking pieces, but as she grew even closer she realized what she was chasing. This pony was armed, heavily . Rainbow Dash grew scared, and unconsciously began to back off; However, she remembered the posters plastered all over town, and got an idea of what this might be in front of her. One of those murderers? She thought, if that's the case then I can't let them get away. At that, Rainbow Dash had newfound courage to face to armed pony ahead of her.
Rainbow Dash looked ahead and saw the forest was a little thinner down further. It was a grove of younger growth, so the trees were a reasonable height, but were much, much thinner. They can't run on those trees, I can probably catch them up there, she thought confidently.
Rainbow Dash was now just yards away from the suspicious pony as they came upon the younger growth. I've got you now! She thought, about to tackle the pony as they jumped to the ground. However, the pony jumped and latched onto one of the thinner trees, and spun around it by her hands like a flagpole. The maneuver caught Rainbow Dash off guard, and her missed tackle put her off balance. As she was vulnerable, the hooded pony swung around the tree back to Rainbow Dash feet first, and kicked her square in the ribs, nocking the Wonderbolt to the forest floor. The pony landed on her feet just next Rainbow Dash, but she was winded from the kick and the fall, which left her incapacitated and wheezing in the wet grass.
Rainbow Dash was still awake as she watched the assailant run off into the dense foliage, but as she lost consciousness, she could have sworn she heard a faint voice from the pony. Did they say sorry? Thought the confused and disoriented Wonderbolt, whose vision slowly clouded, and blacked out.
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
The water thundered down the cliffs of the waterfall, making the evergreens more mossy than ever from the mist. The cool, damp air felt delightful against Fluttershy's face and ran through her hair. It had been a while since her last visit to the falls, and she was glad that they were seemingly untouched by the recent progression of Ponyville. Fluttershy sat on a rock at the edge of the pool below the falls, dipping her hooves into the cold water, and waiting for any sign of her informant.
That was far too close back there... Fluttershy thought, recalling her chance encounter with Rainbow Dash just a few hours ago. She was worried about the consequences of what happened, for the last thing that Fluttershy needed was the city guard having her description, or Rainbow recognizing her when the two Pegasi finally meet. I really did kick the shit out of her didn't I? This feels horrible... Fluttershy hated the emotion settling in her stomach, that of resentment. To act violently towards her childhood role model did not sit well with her, and it made her worry how her work will affect her other friends in the future as well. If Fluttershy was to stay close with them as she had in the past, it could result in the other's getting involved involuntarily or hurt. I can't let that happen to them because of my actions, and to do that I'll have to distance myself from them... Thought Fluttershy, who's heart sank at the revelation-despite its truth.
"Ahh sitting in deep thought and reflection, that is something only taught by one's soul to my recollection."
Fluttershy's ears flinched at the sudden voice behind her, and she spun around to meet the stranger. The robbed figure walked ever closer despite Fluttershy's armaments.
"Are we here perhaps for the same reason?" Inquired Fluttershy, hoping the pony in front of her was her informant.
"We are indeed, both sisters to the same creed."
Fluttershy now recognized the rhymed speech. "Zecora?"
The zebra removed her hood and nodded at the notion "Come."
...
Miles away...
Rainbow Dash awoke to a flurry of concerned voices around her. The other Wonderbolts had found her unconscious on the forest floor, and were in a heated discussion as to how she might have ended up there. Rainbow sat up to collect her thoughts as to what happened, but was instead met with frantic questioning from her peers.
"Captain are you alright?!"
"What happened to you?!"
"Why are you way over here?!"
"Did you run into a tree or something!?"
Rainbow's brow stressed as the questions grew increasingly annoying, and along with her mental fog and the recent strike to her rib cage, the blue pony snapped.
"WOULD YOU GUYS SHUT UP!" The other Wonderbolts quickly grew silent, "J-just gimme a minute would ya?"
A few pony's said a quiet apology as Rainbow Dash lay back down and rubbed her temples. After another minute or so one stallion drew the courage to ask.
"So what happened Captain?"
Rainbow Dash sighed, "As you guys were practicing I saw somepony peeking their head out of the canopy. I thought it was weird so I flew after them, but they were super fast and running through the trees."
"Running? How do you even do that?"
"I don't know exactly, but as I got closer they swung around a tree and kicked me out of the air. It knocked me out cold and now here we are."
The other Wonderbolts conversed about the unique occasion, wondering about why the pony didn't want to be followed. Rainbow decided to leave out the other details, such as the weapons and the hood, but she knew deep down that somepony had to be told.
Rainbow Dash finally stood up, "Alright Wonderbolts, practice is over so lets head back to town."
"But what about this? We're not going to tell anypony?" Asked a peer, confused as to Rainbow's intentions.
"I'll go report it to the city guard, I might not be the first pony to have met this assailant."
...
Zecora's hut...
It was needless to say that Fluttershy was nothing but shocked, but not at all surprised, that Zecora was the informant. As she had ran through the forest to the falls the notion did cross her mind, but she didn't take the assumption to heart.
They had made it to Zecora's hut and went inside. Zecora walked over to her makeshift kitchen of sorts to brew tea, and Fluttershy sat in an old rocking chair at the corner of the hut. Fluttershy laid her weapons on a stump next to her and removed her hood, relaxing into the chair.
"Long day perhaps?" Inquired Zecora, her gaze drifting back to Fluttershy as the tea had begun to brew. Fluttershy, who's eyes were closed as she leant back, simply responded with a grunt of agreement.
"Apologies for a meeting so far out. I'm most suspicious that our foes are growing ambitious."
"It's alright, if it were anypony else I'd think it were a little audacious, but I understand. I don't exactly remember you being so far out here though."
"Yes well, Ponyville has begun to swell, and of the ponies who enjoy their privacy I have no parallel."
"Indeed." Fluttershy smiled at the nostalgia of their conversation, for she never thought she'd meet the old Zebra again.
"I must admit to my surprise my little mare, the new you and the old you I simply cannot compare." Zecora now brought over the herbal tea, a curious expression across her face. "And when I heard that Silvershade had taken your hand, I was certainly skeptical if you could handle the Creed's brand."
Fluttershy took a sip from her tea, and Zecora's mix woke her up rather instantly. "Silvershade made me realize that the way I was living had no meaning, other than my time with my close friends that is, so I chose to make something of my time with the living."
"For such a timid mare that's quite the revelation, it could not have been easy to make such a transformation."
Zecora's comment made Fluttershy remember the fear she felt during the early stages of her training. They were the greatest and most traumatic fears she had ever felt, and for a time one could say they had broken her. "No... no it wasn't."
Zecora realized she may have gone somewhere she shouldn't have, so she changed the subject.
"Onto the work at hand sister?" Said Zecora, urging Fluttershy to join her at her table. Fluttershy went over, and pulled out the written contracts from her satchel.
"Well," said Fluttershy as she opened the envelope, "you've been here much longer, so where should we start?"
Zecora pulled out her own documents, one of which was a sort of list. "Achilles told me quite a long time ago that you would be coming, so I have been working on an order to our culling."
The list, as Fluttershy had inferred, was a variety of names. "So what do you think?"
"Start small, then grow tall."
Fluttershy frowned at her striped comrade. Though she understood the background of Zecora's accent, her rhyming often got in the way of conversation. "You've already lost me."
"Sorry," Zecora gave a weak smile, "If we are to target the biggest rat, the lesser ones will quickly hide from the presence of us-the cat. Thus, start small and work our way up, that way the others will stay as ignorant as a pup."
"Oh, like putting out a fire from the base?"
"Indeed sister."
"So what ponies did you have in mind to start?"
Zecora pointed to two ponies of the younger caliber according to the contract form. "Them to start, their deaths will help us build an important relationship. One needed to move up our chart."
Fluttershy picked up the forms and read them carefully. "So who are they exactly?"
"Crimson Breeze, a Pegasus; and Harvus, an Earth Pony. Both stallions in Ponyville's very own branch of the Opium mob."
"The mob is here!?" Fluttershy was taken aback. Typically the Brotherhood and the mob would stay neutral for mutual benefits, but the relationship was historically unstable. The thought that such thugs were making a home in Ponyville was disturbing Fluttershy to say the least.
"Indeed they are, since the region is farmable near and far. That aside, I've created an alliance with them that we should abide. Our targets are important grunts with access to much of the mob's activities, but the mob has suspected betrayal despite their allegiances; Therefore, the Brotherhood and the Mob have a similar goal to shoot for."
Fluttershy nodded in approval. "If we're already in the alliance can I just jump into this?" Fluttershy asked, anxious to start. It had been many months since her last solo mission, and she wanted to test herself again after a spell of inactivity.
"No, this is the mob so you'll have to meet our comrades for the go. If not we'd be going after mob members, unblessed by their Don. A no-no."
"Ugh." sighed Fluttershy, for she had hoped that a mission would finally exclude social interaction. "So who do I have to meet?"
"The Don: Quagmire 'Flat Head' Holm."
...
Somewhere in Ponyville, deep in the night...
Rainbow Dash flew silently over the Ponyville streets, making her way to one in particular. Below her passed the city, all lights except the streetlights were off, and the streets were virtually empty. As Rainbow Dash hovered by she studied the street names, and hoped she was headed in the right direction.
There it is, She thought, and flew down to the street. It was as dark as it could be, but Rainbow pressed on into the black street. She was scheduled to meet somepony, but she didn't exactly know specifically where they were supposed to meet-only the street name was given to her.
Rainbow called out into the dark, "Hello? I'm here!" She was met with no response after a decent amount of waiting.
"So you are who I'm waiting for?" The deep voice came from behind Rainbow, and she jumped back in response. The dark, nearly malevolent, presence before her made her tremble, and the fact that she couldn't see the stallion did not help her discomfort.
A rare shriveling voice responded to the deep one, "I-I-I think so..."
"So give me the information you promised."
Rainbow struggled to find the words, "Y-yeah sure... I-I think I met an assassin early today, and I think I know who it is."
"...Explain."
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
The warehouse before Fluttershy was shrouded by night with the exception of a dimly lit door in the back-hidden from the view of the street. Despite the lack of activity outside, Fluttershy detected a hive of activity going on inside. Knowing the mob, its hardly likely anything legal is going on in there, thought Fluttershy as she studied the area from a nearby rooftop; that said, my work isn't exactly legal either.
Fluttershy proceeded onto the roof of the warehouse to get a better idea of what was going on inside. It was multiple ponies working on something, but Fluttershy doubted it was opium since it was such a populated area around the building. Fluttershy then pressed her ear to the roof, but even so she couldn't tell; Though she could tell exactly where each pony was inside, and that they were all stallions but one. Well I won't find out this way, I wonder why they wanted to meet here?
At that Fluttershy jumped down to the illuminated back door and gave it a firm nock.
"Who the fuck are you?" came a rough voice from behind the door.
Fluttershy said no word in response, instead she flashed her brotherhood ring to the glass peep-hole above her. She heard a sort of grunt and then silence until the door unlatched with a loud thud. A second later, the door slowly drifted open to reveal a large earth-pony wielding a large war hammer strapped to his back. Fluttershy peered from under her hood to meet his gaze, when they made eye-contact the brute nodded, and Fluttershy walked past as he closed the door behind her.
"He's just inside, you'll see him," said the brute as Fluttershy walked by.
Fluttershy brought herself to the warehouse floor where multiple stallions were doing work on carriages. She thought it was odd but figured she shouldn't ask. To her right was a small office, at which another brutish stallion beckoned her over with a flick of his snout. Fluttershy walked over, and was let in by the stallion.
Her entrance into the office interrupted an ongoing conversation.
"I don't see why we gotta bring in someone else to deal with these assholes. Just let me grab four of my guys, and we'll hit 'em in their sleep all quiet like."
"No. There's more intricate shit going on here alright! We need-" The stallion talking paused his sentence at the appearance of the hooded figure in his office, "We need exactly that!" Exclaimed the stallion. He stood up from behind his desk and extended a hand to greet Fluttershy, who firmly shook it and met his eyes from under her hood.
"I'm glad the striped one out in the woods finally sent an agent, we can finally get some work done!" said the stallion, still shaking Fluttershy's hand.
"I agree," responded Fluttershy quietly but confidently.
"I believe some introductions are in order eh? As you already know I'm Flathead, the Don." Fluttershy now understood the precedence behind such a title; The Don seemed to be a unicorn by birth, but his horn was cleanly cut off leaving a flat disk on his head-thus giving him the name Flathead. Other than that distinct feature, Flathead was rather bland in appearance, and simply had a grey coat with a brown mane cut short.
The Don continued, "to my left is Tanian, she's my aid of sorts," she was a beautiful purple mare sporting a tight white dress. Fluttershy nodded and Tanian gave a casual bow, is she foreign? thought Fluttershy. "and to your right is my obnoxious son." Fluttershy extended a hand in greeting but was denied by the Don's son, who ignored her and spoke to his father across the desk.
"Pops are you seriously choosing this shrimp of a mare to do our spring cleaning!? I could break her like a twig! Or is it that you don't trust me?" The stallion glared across the desk with discontent, but the Don laughed at his son's sudden outburst.
"Boy, if you are gonna be running this branch in the future, you gotta understand some complicated and traditional things, and this is one of see, the difference between her and you, is that I trust that she could probably kill all of us right now if she so desired to, and luckily for us, she doesn't. She's from the Assassin's, those ponies all over the posters? You probably at least know that, huh?"
The Don's son began to sulk in the face of his lecture, "Yes sir."
"And it just so happens that the two fuckers we want dead are also wanted dead by our little friend here. Now if that's not a friendship in the making, then I don't know what is." Flathead sat down again with a large sigh. "Now, before my son so rudely interrupted, you can refer to him as Holm to keep it simple."
Fluttershy decided to use her rhyming alias, "please call me Butterfly." Silvershade had thought it up years ago in reference to her cutie mark, but it just so happened to rhyme as well. "I'd prefer to get to work as soon as possible."
Flathead stood again and gestured out the door, "great! then we should head somewhere more suitable for discussion, my apologies for meeting in such a crowded place. Son, I trust you can finish things here?" Holm nodded to his father in response. "Good, lets go." At that Flathead and Tanian left the office with Fluttershy in tow, boarded a carriage outside the warehouse, and the three were off into the city.
The carriage ride was silent. Fluttershy awkwardly twiddled her thumbs in an attempt to occupy her body during the ride; However, the silence was broken by Tanian.
"Butterfly dear, how did such a small mare join the cult of assassin's anyhow? You hardly seem like a prime choice, no offense intended."
Fluttershy's mood soured a little, for if anything annoyed her the most, it would be meddlers on the job. It's a hatred drawn up by Silvershade's loud mouth early on in Fluttershy's training, as well as by ponies involved in her work temporarily...like Tanian.
"I'd rather not indulge into my personal affairs Ms. Tanian," said Fluttershy firmly, "And I recommend that you do the same."
A frown came to Tanian's face, "Well you're no fun, have you just spent your life a scrooge whilst killing ponies here and there?"
Flathead then decided to butt in, "Enough. Tanian, shut your trap or you won't be talking again. Though our company is female, it doesn't mean your free game to chat with them. Understand?"
Tanian gave a "hmph" and stared out the window in angrily.
After what felt like a year to Fluttershy, the carriage finally stopped. They were at a large mansion just out of town, with crop fields surrounding it for acres.
"Tanian go freshen up somewhere, we have business to discuss," said Flathead, gesturing to Fluttershy and himself.
...
"Might I ask why you had us meet at some street-side warehouse in the middle of the city?" said Fluttershy in frustration, "It was exposed, and five blocks from the Guardsmen's barracks." She glared across Flathead's large desk, confused by the Don's negligence to meet at his headquarter's in the first place.
"I've got more business than just you sweetheart. Business that needed me there at the time, so don't fuss about it." The Don leaned back in his leather chair as he lit a cigarette, "now, ask me some more relevant questions to the business at hand wouldja?"
Fluttershy gritted her teeth, "Fine, where are Crimson Breeze and Harvus anyway?"
"We don't know."
"You don't-" Fluttershy rubbed the ridge of her snout in frustration, "How do you not know? Aren't they some of your men?"
"Not anymore, they've gone into hiding after they were exposed. They've been rerouting our products to an anonymous player." Said Flathead as he ashed his cigarette, "and until we get our hands on at least one of these fuckers, we'll be swinging in the dark against our nameless competition."
Fluttershy wondered why Flathead was suspicious that Templars were at work; This whole situation sounded like the typical gang dispute with a new opium distributor. "So what makes you think that its the Templars?"
"I've been a Don for while now, and in this business for even longer, so believe me when I tell you that these are Templars."
Fluttershy found this outrageous, and let out loud sigh. "You've better explain your reasoning or give me proof that they're Templars, because I will not do your dirty work for you. Your son seemed more than willing to do it."
Flathead leant on his elbow in thought, then looked Fluttershy in the eye. "What does that propaganda against you all over the city show to you? huh? That it's just some scared town? an overprotective princess?"
Fluttershy fidgeted in her seat. "Possibly," she said, averting her eyes somewhere else.
"Ha! well if that's the case then this damn city has been scared shitless of you for nearly a decade. Now you and I both know that's bullshit. My boys and I have admittedly done more damage to this town than you have ten times over, but you don't see warnings of us plastered up on the streets."
Fluttershy already understood this, and understood that Templars were clearly at work in Ponyville. "But how does this correlate to you losing product? It could still be another gang."
Flathead leaned forward, and put his finished cigarette in the ash tray on his desk. "That's impossible."
"Why?" In response to Fluttershy Flathead opened a drawer in his desk, and pulled out a pamphlet filled with files, then plopped it in front of Fluttershy. Fluttershy opened it whilst looking at Flathead, "What's this?"
"Records. Records of sales, quantities, and revenue from virtually every section of the city. If there was a rival gang here, then these records would show it like a map. If there were other opium dealers getting my shit, then they'd be stolen in a concentrated area of the city: Their territory. Except my shit's getting stolen everywhere, and I would've noticed a gang with that kind of man power month's, if not years ago."
Fluttershy understood Flathead's suspicion. "So you're just putting two and two together?"
"Yes. There's obviously Templars in the city, and some nameless ghost ponies are fucking with my shit. So it's gotta be these Templars finally making moves."
"So what do you think they're doing with these shipments?" Fluttershy was getting sidetracked from the targets at hand, but felt that this was valuable information either way.
"That's the other thing that brought the Templars to mind. If it was a gang stealing from me, they'd be flipping it on the streets and stealing my buyers. But our revenue hasn't dropped, and by people around the city haven't seen other dealers out there."
"So the thieves are using the opium for something else... What tho?"
"Hell if I know."
Fluttershy finally understood the situation, but to get anywhere else, she needed to chat with Crimson Breeze and Harvus. "Where should I start looking for the targets?"
"Both were from the shitty part of the city, have family there so it's worth the look. We haven't done much searching since they fled, I figured you'd be a little quieter than my boys." Flathead then gave Fluttershy a small card, "and this has their addresses if you want to look there."
Fluttershy stood up and took the card. "Thank you for the help."
Flathead stood up as well and shook Fluttershy's hand. "Likewise, I'm sure you can show yourself out?"
Fluttershy nodded, then headed to the door of the office. As she opened the door Flathead interrupted her.
"Oh and assassin," he said in a wholesome tone, "I believe in honest business, if you pull this through I'd be willing to aid in any future business."
Fluttershy glanced back and nodded again from under her hood, then left into the city.
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
The rustic room was filled with the stench of fresh blood. The floorboards creaked as Fluttershy walked about, and the moonlight showed through the patchy roofing of the house that seemed more like a shack. The home sat on the outskirts of Ponyville, where the city met the farms, and where the real-estate was pretty enough to only attract the per-say, "Bottom of the Barrel." As Fluttershy remembered Flat-Head had so kindly put it, "the shitty part of town." None of the streets were paved like the majority of the city, so only ruts, dirt, and mud distinguished the blocks of residents. Plus, with the sewers only covering certain sections of this part of town, it smelled like you would expect it to.
Fluttershy inspected the home of the pegasus Crimson Breeze, who, to Fluttershy's surprise and frustration, lay dead on his own floor. With his death not being at her own hand, she couldn't formally confirm who Crimson's killer was, despite her suspicions pointing to her rivals. The possibility of one of Flat-head's henchmen withholding information and taking matters into their own hands was still prevalent, and in the end, it didn't matter to her much either way. The pegasus was still dead in a gruesome manner, and Fluttershy was still none the wiser since she left the Mob's estate.
Crimson's death was caused by multiple blows to the skull and face with something blunt but pointed, A rifle stock? Thought Fluttershy. The rest of his body was beaten in the same fashion as well, Was he interrogated? However, with the walls of the shack being so thin and other shacks so close, Fluttershy found the possibility of somepony interrogating Crimson here to be slim, since he was bound to scream in pain. Lastly, Crimson's wings had been cut off in a rough fashion, a classic message used by the mob. However, Fluttershy was no idiot, and suspected that the post-mortem wounds were probably inflicted to throw off authorities and pin the murder on Flat-head's mob.
Dammit, thought Fluttershy, if our elusive opium thieves got Crimson Breeze, then it's only a matter of time before they get Harvus; Considering the chance they haven't already . Fluttershy let out a long sigh, and stepped over the dead pegasus to look for more clues that may have been left behind. Her eagle vision didn't reveal much to her, just dusty corners and Crimson Breeze's personal belongings, but as Fluttershy walked next to the bed she could feel a light sense of heat from the night stand. She grabbed the drawer handle and it felt warm, and as she opened it, it revealed a roughing of the Brotherhood symbol in ash from Crimson's ash tray, where some of the coals were still lightly smoking.
Fluttershy brow crinkled as frustration grew within her, for she had been stiffly taught that such slandering against the Brotherhood was intolerable to a mortal degree. Fluttershy slapped away the ashes in anger, knocking the drawer from its rails in the process. I guess that confirms the murderer's identity.
With the hunch that there was nothing else for her in the shack, Fluttershy stormed out the door into the moon-lit city. However, just as she flung the door open, it knocked into someone on the other side. She heard a thud and a slight grunt as whoever she hit with the door fell into the dark and muddy street. Fluttershy opened the door fully to see a now very dirty earth-pony. He was young, and Fluttershy noticed he fit the description of her other objective.
"Do you need something Harvus?" Asked Fluttershy in an empty tone.
The young stallion froze in his effort to get up, and gave Fluttershy a look of shock with a hint of terror. After a second of Harvus struggling to find Fluttershy's face under her shadowed hood, he bolted down the street in a last ditch effort to escape. Fluttershy figured she might have scared him, with her full garb she looked like a murderous phantom of sorts, especially on a night like this.
Harvus was young, and fast, but not fast enough. As soon as he started running, he looked over his shoulder to see Fluttershy on the roofs to his right with little lag, which only made him run faster. Fluttershy, being within striking range from the start thanks to her wings, waited for an alley to show on their left, since her anonymity would be best kept beating Harvus in a dark alleyway.
Soon the opportunity appeared, and Fluttershy launched herself at Harvus with a jump supported by a single flap of her wings. She landed her knees squarely on Harvus' shoulders, launching him forward into the adjacent alleyway. Fluttershy flapped her wings one more time to balance herself, and landed on her hooves. She rushed over to subdue the young stallion but he countered quickly, throwing out the jab of a switchblade with his right hand as he got up, only to narrowly miss Fluttershy's cheek as she dodged. In response, Fluttershy grabbed Harvus' extended arm with her right, and extended her hidden blade into his wrist, making sure she had a good grip on him. She then ducked under his arm, and in the process twisted his stabbed arm upward, causing him to yelp in pain. With her newfound leverage, Fluttershy grabbed the shoulder of Harvus' twisted arm making him bend forward, and spun him around head first into the old brick wall behind her. Fluttershy disengaged on impact as Harvus slumped to the ground; The wall where he struck his head was slightly cracked, and blood ran down his face from the new gash on his forehead.
Harvus was still conscious (though barely), and Fluttershy still needed answers, so she nudged his shoulder with her hoof to turn him onto his back. With the stallion still writhing in pain, Fluttershy grabbed him by the haunches of his jacket and lent him up against the wall which he struck. With Harvus leaning on the wall, Fluttershy dropped to one knee to meet his eyes at the same level, placing her down knee on his uninjured hand, and one of her double barrel flintlock pistols to his throat. Fluttershy noticed Harvus was bleeding profusely from his injured wrist, so she felt she should get this interrogation underway in the case that he bled out.
"I have some very important questions Harvus, I hope after our little exchange just now you'll make the wise choice of cooperating with me." Fluttershy said so in a kind tone, attempting to establish her good cop persona. This pony shouldn't be too hard to crack given his circumstances, thought Fluttershy. "So what's it going to be?"
Harvus was obviously concussed, and feeling the full extent of it. However, Fluttershy couldn't give him the privilege of gathering his thoughts. She gave him a slap to the cheek and a shake to his shoulders to gar him back to reality. Harvus' eyes widened as he came to realize his situation, and the pistol under his chin.
"O-okay, okay, what do you want?! Are y-you one of the Don's guys?" Harvus shook as he spoke, and some of the blood from his forehead had dripped into his left eye, skewing his vision beyond the already dark alley.
Fluttershy grabbed Harvus stiffly by his cheeks, twisting his head upward and closely looking him in the eye.
"You're in no position to ask questions boy," Fluttershy stated sharply.
Harvus gave a short and frantic nod whilst locked by Fluttershy's stare.
"Good. Now tell me, who gave you the bright idea of stealing from your own Don? Huh? Some rich stallion?" She let go of his face, but increase the pressure on his neck from her pistol.
"What? Do think I really fuckin' met the guy?! We only did dead-drops of the stuff ya' know? Just leave a wagon full of dope in some warehouse, and come back to see a bag of cash in its place, that kinda deal!" Harvus' eyes were tightly squinted from his bloody face, and he seemed to be loopy. Fluttershy figured that would be the case considering who she was really dealing with.
"So how the hell did you set up this deal?"
"Shit I can't remember! Crimson set that shit up and I just hopped on!"
"You better remember something bud, or else you'll be the new street paint on these bricks."
Harvus breathing grew faster, "F-fuck! Alright, alright..." Fluttershy turned the pistol a bit, causing the earth pony to recoil back a little. "T-there was this one time I dropped off a load a little late, a-and as I was walking away, I saw somepony d-driving the carriage down the street just after I had dropped it off..."
"Describe. him." Said Fluttershy in a menacing tone. "You're straining my patience, and if you haven't noticed you're bleeding quite a bit."
Harvus gave a quick glance to his stabbed wrist, then back to Fluttershy's shadowed eyes. "H-he didn't stand out a whole lot, I-I-I mean, he had a gray coat and a short reddish mane-I think. Like them military cuts, he was dressed all pretty too," Stuttered Harvus.
"Hm," Fluttershy furrowed her brow. "Where was this warehouse Harvus?" Her tone became to soothing now that Harvus was cooperating.
"It's 'bout four blocks from that church," said Harvus, who then pointed at the church tower which reached above the rooftops to the south of them. "It's t-the one with all of the lumber shit on the front."
Fluttershy smiled and loosened the pressure off Harvus' neck slightly. "I appreciate your cooperation Harvus, I'll be sure to send Flat-head your regards."
The proceeding gunshot rung Fluttershy's ears, and made her flinch backwards. Harvus was no longer alive, and Fluttershy had a lead. Her first priority however was to get as much distance between her and Harvus' body.
...
Fluttershy's work clothes didn't exactly match the furnishings of her home, and since her return she had felt completely out of place in her old home. It didn't quite match the person she was now, which made her uncomfortable in her own skin. The thought of the old Fluttershy being erased made her shiver, but there was no helping that now.
She sat on her couch in full garb, blood stains on her sleeve, and some splattered on her cheek from the gunshot. She did not wish to kill the young stallion. He was at least eight years younger than her, and she believed it to be a waste. Much of her killing over the past years were formal and efficient, with no questions or sympathy.
Fluttershy's hands were shaking as she peered at them from under her hood, but there was no excuse she could find to put her nerves at ease. She pitied Harvus, for he was probably forced into such messy business; but sympathy or not, he had to die according to the contract she was given. Not that given by the Don, but rather, the importance of his death as established by the Assassin's Creed. Even though she couldn't see why she had to kill him, she had to trust it was the right course of action.
Though she went through this fact in her head, it didn't help to stop her hands from shaking. It was the relieved look he gave her in his last moment that haunted her: The guilt of breaking his sudden trust in her to let him live.
A tear fell from under Fluttershy's bowing hood, mixing with the blood on the back of her hand.
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
Author's Note
This is not a new story by any means. This story is originally being written on Fanfiction.net but I just recently found this community so I decided to spread it to everyone here. The story is under an alternate author name "thatguywiththeonebamfstory," I changed my name here because it seemed a little egotistical, (regardless I am the original author). I have been working on this for years but never pulled through to finish it, however I am rebooting it to finish it.Ze fluttermensk for helping with said dicey grammar (the man from all the deleted comments).
Chapter 1
"Oh w-well I don't know Rarity, you know how I am at social gatherings, especially important ones such as this," said Fluttershy as Rarity swiftly shuffled through her mass of dresses, straining her nervous yet excited fingers.
"Please Fluttershy, you can't pass up an opportunity like this it would simply be, well excuse my language but, stupid darling, now which one," replied Rarity as she held up two dresses.
"The green and white one, if you don't mind,"
"Agreed it matches you for some reason, it shouldn't, but it does. Maybe its your personality talking to me? Anyway, this was my top choice for you so you could look your best. Ah, the revealing of Celestia's new husband and our new king, such a wonderous occasion, and how our little town was decided to host this momentous event is beyond me. Don't you think Fluttershy?"
"Yes," said Fluttershy. Being a mare of very few words, she never felt really engaged in affairs that Rarity flips out about, but Rarity was her best friend anyway. They both were very neat and girlish in a peculiar way, and Fluttershy somehow felt safer around her, possibly because Rarity was far more assertive than Fluttershy, and was startled by things far less easily; She was still was frightened by many things such as mud, or insects, but was not startled. There is a difference and Fluttershy was definitely a strong suitor in both.
"Oh dear Fluttershy! the event is in 2 hours and I haven't even started on myself! My apologies darling but I must prepare my own image, you can slip into that on your own right?"
"hmhm, yes Rarity I think I'll be just fine thank you," said Fluttershy giving a little chuckle at Rarity's overly desperate face.
"Oh good, I'll see you later at Twilight's library, is that fine dear?"
"Yes," at that Rarity rushed up her stairs to get ready, leaving Fluttershy privacy to dress.
Once Fluttershy had put her dress on she walked over to the mirror to look at herself. She wore a short and semi-tight dress that fit her figure perfectly and came down her knees, with green and white designs running across it. She had to admit, she was rather attractive, and felt discouraged about herself that she had never had a boyfriend; Mainly because if a stallion tried to talk to her, she would squeak and hide under her arms.
When she was done inspecting herself, she put her pink sweatshirt on over her dress and began her walk to the library. The streets were empty except for some shop and stand owners closing up for the big event, thus, the majority of the commotion was coming from the stage preparations a couple of blocks away. Fluttershy didn't like this emptiness, she only enjoyed the calm yet filling commotions of the common shoppers in the market, and along the streets. This emptiness was especially awkward because of the time, which read around 3:00--normally the busy time of the day. She knew that everyone was inside preparing for the King's revealing, but she felt afraid for some reason, like someone was watching her. However, she managed to brush it off as she made it to Twilight's Library.
Fluttershy gave a soft knock on the door, she waited as she heard two hooves walking towards the door and a muffled yell saying " I'll get it!" She recognized its humble tone to be Applejack's as the door opened.
"Well hey ther sugarcube we were jus a thinkin' you'd be showin' up bout now, come awn in," said Applejack with a merry tone
"Thanks," said Fluttershy as the two mares walked into the tree. Twilight sat on a couch infront of her coffee table sipping a cup of tea and talking to Rainbow dash who hovered on her back just above. They both said their greetings to Fluttershy as she sat on the couch next to Twilight and AJ sat in an arm chair opposite.
"So Fluttershy," asked Twilight "Are you ready for tonight? It seems that Rarity helped you out with that pretty dress."
"Oh well I guess, I'm not really one for large social gatherings, especially not one this important."
"Eh you'll be fine, it's not like you have to get up and talk. We'll just be part of the crowd, anyway you look hot with that dress on," said Rainbow, her lesbianism poking out as Fluttershy took her jacket off.
"Thank you, but that's the thing, I feel like everyone will be looking at me."
"Ah don't cha worry bout that sugarcube, everybody is wearin thangs like that, yal will just blend in," said AJ reassuringly
"Yeah that's true, I guess," said Fluttershy lightening up, "anyway, since you're a princess now Twilight, will you be up their with Celestia?"
" I think so, but I'll have to ask, hey Spike!"
"yeah!"
"write Princess Celestia a letter asking if I should be on stage with her tonight!"
"roger that!"
"Speaking of princesses I finally have gotten used to my crown and wings, and can sorta fly,"
"Nice! we should have a race one of these days!" said Rainbow excitedly
" Rainbow I have trouble hovering, so I doubt it happening any time soon."
Then a belching noise came from the other room, "The Princess says yes so you'll be official instead of a bystander!"
"Alright thanks Spike!"
Suddenly two mares barged through the door to the library, "We're heeeeere!" sang Rarity and Pinkie Pie as they walked in, both wearing their dresses, everybody then said their greetings to their 2 friends as they too sat on the couch.
"Well everybody lets get going! And you three still don't have your dresses on! You must hurry or else we will be late and loose any good views,"
"But we got ah whole hour there sugarcube,"
"Oh dear only and hour! than we really must rush! Come come, we have lots of work to do for you all to be ready!"
"uuuggh" said Twilight, AJ, and Rainbow knowing that she was right this time, and wasn't going to leave them alone.
"Oh hush you little whiners," said Rarity in response as they all walked upstairs, kicking Spike out of his bed.
They all entered the town hall and found a good spot near the front, then Twilight separated and went to the stage of the town hall. Fluttershy watched as the building began to crowd and fill at every corner, including one figure in particular that somehow made it past the guards outside. He wore thinly armored and hooded robes (Edward Kenway's outfit from black flag), and many weapons adorned him such as swords and multiple pistols strapped to his chest and waste. Fluttershy's curiosity made her forget about why she was there, and had her focus on this shadowy figure hiding at the edges of the crowd. As ponies around her cheered as the new king walked out waving, she grew weary as the white mysterious hood began to move quickly towards the stage...
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
"Twilight! sweetheart, we need some help," yelled Rarity as she and Pinkie Pie ran up to the stage.
"Halt!" stated two guards patrolling the front of the stage,
"It's okay sirs they are with me, said Twilight calmly
"Yes princess"
"Pinkie Rarity what's going on now?"
Pinkie was unfortunately the one to respond, "when the new king was killed you know, everybody was al like 'AAAAAAHH!' and all freakin the hell out and then everybody ran away and out of the town hall, and then we all found each other outside and regrouped except for Fluttershy and then we saw her running away into the night all crazy mopey like and then applejack goes 'hey sugercube! where are y'all goin'!' and then all she said was 'I-I I don't know,' and then she was gone in the darkness!" Pinkie had finally ran out of breath and was gasping for air.
"Yes darling, as Pinkie Pie had explain so 'clearly,' Fluttershy is missing, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash were in search for her, but they were both sent back by Royal guards, and they were rather cautious for their safety, since their is a killer on the loose."
"okay okay everypony slow down, she probably just went back to her house."
"or maybe that's just what she wants you to think!"
"Wait, what?!" said the three other ponies in confusion, looking to the figure behind Twilight.
"She just wants you to think that she is retreating back to her home, while she goes and meets with her accomplice the murderer!" yelled Celestia, her sadness turning into a desperate fury to point fingers at anypony.
"Uh yeah, hehe, Celestia you do realize we're talking about cute little Fluttershy who is afraid of her own shadow, right? like the pony who would never possibly think of murdering somepony, even let alone pinch them, right?" said twilight, timid of the response.
"It seems to me like the perfect cover up! acting all innocent and timid while she plots with her fellow vigilantes!"
"Princess you can't be serious! I know you're all choked up and all but you can't just point fingers at random ponies."
"I do not see her as random, running off into the dark with no explanation or hesitation, it seems like enough evidence for me!"
"But Princess this is!..."
"Enough, I do not need any further explanation for who killed my fiancé, or at least one of the ponies. You three guards!"
"yes princess," responded three guards across the room,
"I need the three of you to go to the home of Fluttershy Carington and arrest her for murder of Royalty and the Royal Guard, and if she struggles or does anything tricky, do not hesitate to kill her by any means."
"Celestia, you can't! she is one of our closest friends!" wailed Rarity, " my closest friend!"
" My decision is final, now go!"
...
Fluttershy sat on her couch with Angel on her lap, eyes wide and teacup wearily shaking of anxiety. She was calm and felt safe, but the images from the night would not leave her eyelids, and the memories could not be subdued, nothing else was thought about, no matter how many times she had told herself to go to her happy place.
"Angel, how I am glad you didn't have to be there and witness such a bloody scheptacle, it would have frightened you from your fur, at least, that's how I felt," talking to angel helped her gradually forget about it, she was breathing slower and had stopped shaking. She was thinking about what she was going to wear tomorrow, when she hear a firm nock on the door, she squeaked and shrunk back behind a couch pillow, another nock sounded but along with a deep voice.
"Miss Carington, this is the Royal Guard, you must open this door,"
Fluttershy forced herself to slowly stand up and begin to walk to the door.
"Fluttershy we know you are in there, now please open the door or else we will break it down."
Just then she open the door and the guards lunged for her, nocking her over onto her back, then they flipped her over to hand cuff her,
"W-W What are you doing?!" screamed fluttershy, she began to flap her wings rapidly trying to force the guards off of her and maybe fly off, but the three of the guards easily restrained her.
"You are under arrest for murder of Royalty and the Royal Guard, we have permission to kill you!"
She only kicked and screamed louder and harder, when it came to her Fight or Flight instincts, flying wasn't her strong suit, and neither was giving up.
The larger guard began holding her began to grow annoyed by her continuous thrashing, "one of you dumbasses wound her or something, I am growing tired of this unnecessary struggling."
At that one of the other guards stood up with his spear and aimed for Fluttershy's shoulder so she would stop her fighting, but she was moving far to much to be accurate and avoid her heart.
"Well come on do it already,"
"I can't!
"Well why the hell not"
"she is shaking too much, I don't want to stab her in the heart!"
Just then a hodded stallion ran through the door and stabbed the guard holding the spear with two swords, lifting him up in the air and slamming him back down killing him instantly, he then turned and kicked off the guard restraining Fluttershy and stabbed him in the neck while recovering from the blow on the ground, the third guard lunged at the assassin with his sword, but was easily blocked by the assassin's crossed swords, who then counter acted by kicking the guard in the groin, then stabbed him through the back as he stood bent over in pain, the assassin then flipped his swords in a stylish fashion and sheathed them.
The stallion in utter concern walked over and helped Fluttershy to her feet. Once she had stabilized, and with some help, she hugged her savior as tears ran down her face.
"Oh thank you thank you thank you!" she then detached from her hug "how will I ever repay you for saving me from those drunken..."
She noticed who she had just hugged and was now thanking for saving her, and she lunged back in fear on her couch behind a pillow shaking.
"y-y your the murderer a-aren't you?" she asked in a voice of silent and fearful realization.
A voice came out from under the stallion's hood. "You can just call me Silver Shade."
A Newly Hooded Road to Walk
Seven years Later...
In her last seven years with the brotherhood, Fluttershy has grown into a differently shaped and more capable pony than she had been before. Just two years ago she earned her robes and weapons, which represented her independence as a predator of many prey, but has not yet earned the title "Assassin." Her robes are colored white with green accents down the sides and on the hood (Connor's robes, just different colors), strapped to her back is a bow and arrows, at her hips sat a pair of double barrel flintlock pistols on each side, a tomahawk at her right, and two sharpened knives at her left. She's become a force to be reckoned with, as are all assassins. She has become proud to wield the dangerous skills that she has acquired, rather than reject them as she did earlier in her training. Soon, she will become a true assassin, and soon, her charmed necklace may shine again.
"Flutters come on! we've got to make it to the camp before the target moves again!" Yelled Silvershade as he sprinted through the trees, in a clearer area of the evergreen forest, "We can't let this sneaky bastard get away again, we're late as is."
"Silver I know, can't you see me running next to you?" Stated Fluttershy, frustrated by his tunnel-vision that occurs when he runs, "I am better and faster at this kind of thing remember?"
This was true in a genetic aspect. An earth pony or unicorn free running was nothing compared to that of the agility and accuracy of a pegasus, who use their wings to boost there distance and height when jumping.
The two ponies ran quickly side by side through the damp, mossy forest, which dampened their robes and to the point where their moves were slower and more lethargic than usual. The evergreens here were a much larger breed, the size of redwoods, but with branches spanning their entire trunks, making it easy to travel through them. Below the two assassins was a narrow dirt road, which they were following to find a militia camp supposedly harboring a Templar military figure, who had been causing trouble in the Brotherhood's side of Canterlot. Fluttershy, who is now an arch-apprentice, and her "master" Silvershade had been tracking this Templar for weeks, and now finally had his solid whereabouts.
"Silvershade, do you have any idea what this camp might look like? are we headed to a sort of outpost or a full-on battle-ready basecamp?" Asked Fluttershy anxiously.
"I honesty have no idea, we didn't get too many details out of that guy did we?"
"Well maybe if somepony didn't stab him in the chest before talking to him, we might have gotten some of those details!"
Silvershade merely chuckled in response.
"What is it your laughing about? This is serious! What if we came underprepared!"
"hehehe its just, Im thinking about how you don't shutter and get so nervous about this stuff anymore, it feels weird now that I'm paying attention to it."
"I-is that bad?"
"No no its good, it means your not scared or jittery anymore... even though you just stuttered two seconds ago."
"I-I did not!"
"Yep, you did, just now too."
"You are so... oh just shut up," said Fluttershy, exhaling angrily. "Hey wait, I hear something," whispered the small mare
"Yeah, I can here it too, something is coming down the road towards us." They stopped and stood in the trees motionless, without a sound, patiently waiting for the source of the sound to come into view. Soon a small passenger carriage came into sight with six guards walking along side as protection, and moving gradually towards the assassins.
"Not very common to see a little passenger wagon in the middle of nowhere like this, and even odder to see heavily armed guards with it," stated Fluttershy suspiciously.
"Yes indeed. are you thinking what I'm thinking Flutters?" asked Silvershade, looking over to Fluttershy who was focusing her eyes intensely at the wagon as it slowly drifted under them. "Hellooo. wakey wakey Flutters."
Fluttershy then snapped back to reality and looked to her partner, "There's only a single pony in the wagon, but we're to high up for me to get a clear identity."
"Yeah, same here. Alright you go down and follow the wagon in the foliage and try and get the passenger's identity. I'll stay up here and follow from above, waiting for your signal. If its the target, Ill take out the wagon driver with a rope dart and take out the two in front, then you've got the two back and the two middle. Got it?"
"Yeah, sounds simple enough, I'll give a thumbs up if its our guy, anything other than that show its not our guy."
"Good, lets do this quick, clean, and quietly. We might be in hearing range of their camp for a shot to be heard so be smooth as butter with those guards."
Fluttershy nodded to Silvershade in response.
"Excellent. lets get to it." At that Fluttershy quickly glided to the foliage near the road bellow, and began to shift through the forest towards the wagon. Silvershade slowly crept towards the wagon, still keeping his distance, keeping an eye out for Fluttershys signal.
Fluttershy crept up close to the wagon on a bend completely hidden from sight and used her eagle vision to try and see into the carriage. Her being so small helped her to excel in stealth, and has branded her a ghost assassin, one who entirely focuses on stealth and silence, making this a trivial task. As she focused in closer to the stallion in the carriage she could hear him talking to the driver.
"Ha! those hooded cowards will be in for a surprise when another lead to me comes up short, and this time they'll have to fight a whole regiment! Hahaha! boy, I surprise myself at how brilliant I am."
"Mmmhmm yes sir," said the driver sluggishly, obviously tired of lugging the annoyance in his wagon around.
What a stuck up old fool, oblivious to the fact he's leaving on the same road he came in on, so he was bound to run into us sooner or later , thought Fluttershy. The bend in the road then straightened out into a ravine with 30 foot cliffs on each side, which gradually rose from the ground. Fluttershy noticed the perfect ambush point and quickly climbed up the steady slope up the side to the peak of the cliff on the right side of the road. She looked for Silvershade who was catching up through the trees, and gave him the signal once she was sure he noticed the vantage points, he then leaped onto a fallen tree that stuck out of the left cliff and readied a rope dart.
Once the Carriage was just beneath them, Silvershade threw his dart and jumped down onto the carriage, simultaneously hanging the driver on the log, who pulled the carriage to a stop on his way up. Silvershade now sat in the drivers seat, waiting to here Fluttershy's ambush so he could take out the front two guards without getting noticed, and shot in the back by the middle guards.
Fluttershy saw Silvershade take out the driver, and noticed the guards in the back about to charge up front. She quickly hovered over top of them with her wings, then let go of the air and dropped onto the two guards. She used them as shock absorbers, impaling them in the back's of their necks with her hidden blades. The middle guards looked back to see what the commotion was, but before they could react, one was hit by a poison dart and the other tripped by a rope dart. Knowing the other would die shortly the little mare walked up to the rope dart victim writhing in pain, and struck him in the head with her tomahawk.
Fluttershy walked around to the front to find the two front guards cut down, but no sign of Silvershade. All of a sudden the military officer was thrown out of the carriage, after being stabbed in the heart with a cutlass. Silvershade then walked out of the carriage casually and up to fluttershy.
"Nice work Flutters, now lets get the hell out of here I'm starving."
