Ezio - Fate lies within

Ezio

Chapter 2

~Hidden Dangers~

Ezio cowered in fear, unable to understand this new world he saw. Maybe, he was just having a nightmare. No, that wasn't right either. Ezio had no idea why he was here. He drew his blade, and made a small cut on his foreleg, wincing a bit from the stinging sensation. This definitely was no dream, and his blades had never been sharper. The sound of the village was strong in his new and sensitive ears. He would start there, finding nourishment, as it felt that he had not eaten for weeks.

Ezio walked through the multiple trees, soon chancing upon a straw roof house. He hated these things. Above anything else, these had the most slippery footing. He also hated it because it meant staying low to the ground. Low to the ground, meant that guards could easily see him. He didn't know if the Templar Guard were in this village, and he certainly didn't want to arouse any suspicion.

Eyeing the town square, Ezio saw many Horse...ish animals all walking around the square talking. All multicolored. What kind of Freakshow Circus was this? What were these things? Was he one of them? Why was he able to ask so many questions? First thing to catch his eye was a peddlers booth. A message on the banner above read: "Finest Apples In Equestria." Fruit. A good start, mainly because it had sugars.

Ezio stood up from his hiding place and walked towards the stand, drawing his hood over his face. Halfway across the Square he heard a voice scream: "INCOMING!!!"

Slam.

He had no time to react. Ezio flew unmercifully across the square, legs flailing wildly, eyes as big as dinner plates. This wasn't flying, this was horror. A wall suddenly took up his attention.

A Rainbow Colored mare galloped over and helped him up. He got up shakily.

"Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh, I am soooo sorry! Are you alright?"

Ezio shook his head clear of the pretty little birdies that were circling his head.

"Oh yes, sure, I’m feeling great! After all, I just flew into a wall!"

Ezio stumbled off, not quite sure if what he said was true. The Rainbow Colored mare with wings of all things just stood watching him as he stumbled away.

After he had rounded a corner, he looked back to see if the mare was following. Instead, she stood there, a suspicious look on her face, then trotted off.

She trotted off in the direction of a tree just outside the town. Ezio was still recovering from that disgraceful introduction.

Ezio watched as his Surrogate Father sparred with a fellow Assassin. His father, A Disciple of D'Sparil, was the best of them all. None could match his skill in the ring, and even champions would fall before him. Ezio was 18 now, and was in his prime as an Assassin. Ezio was also undefeated, only his father having an advantage over him. Only once had he gotten the upperhand, quickly to be fooled, and have the tables turned on him. That was the biggest lesson. Only a fool would think they had  the upperhand, and then become clumsy.

Romanico was a Mentor, Father, and above all, a Hero to Ezio. He couldn't ask for more. Romanico, a good teacher, was quick to notice habits, and implemented them in techniques. It seemed that Ezio had this natural gift as well, and always used it in a spar. When he and his Father sparred, they would both use this tactic, and more often than not, the match would go on for hours. Lately, there had been no defeats, just a draw at the end of each session. The bright young mind of Ezio would invent new techniques, upon which he would tell his father, who would perfect them himself and teach to Ezio.

Nothing could be better until one fateful day...

Ezio lay in the sun against a tree, sleeping deeply. After a crash like that he needed it badly. But alas, it was not to last.

*bonk*

He woke up with a start, rubbing his head. He noticed an apple lying on the ground, two feet away. He hadn't even noticed that he was under an apple tree when he got here. He grabbed the apple and took a bite.

Tarturus be damned. This apple was a taste of heaven itself. And Ezio had just taken a bite of it.

"I tell ya' Big Macintosh, this years crop oughta take us straight up yonder to Canterlot this year. As long as Applebloom don't manage to mess things up again."

Ezio almost choked, quickly leaping onto the branch of the tree above him.

"Eeyup."

"I just hope I can manage to buck all these apples in time."

"Now just a minute AJ. I may be a little sore, but you can't buck all these apples alone, and you know that."

"Is that a challenge?!"

"Now now AJ. Remember what happened last year? Besides, The Grand Market isn't for a month yet."

The tone in the feminine voice calmed, even becoming slightly ashamed.

"I suppose yer right Big Mac. I'll just buck what I can and leave the rest for you when ya'll get better."

The deep voice softened, taking on a "OH THANK GOD" tone.

"That’s a good Idea AJ."

"How 'bout I make you some soup inside Mac? That sound good to you?"

"Eeyup."

The two ponies trotted away, traveling directly beneath the branch Ezio was perched on. The female stopped, looking at the ground. Lying there was Ezio’s apple, a single bite taken out of it. Ezio froze, not daring to breath. Never had he been so careless. The pony picked up the apple and looked at it.

"Con'sarn it Applebloom. I keep telling her to eat the entire apple but everytime I keep coming out to the orchard I find this. APPLEBLOOOOOMMM!!!"

The pony trotted away again, and Ezio breathed a sigh of relief. He reached for another apple and took a bite of heaven itself...

Ezio cried, holding the limp and lifeless form of his father in an embrace. Romanico was dead, ambushed by fellow brethren. Their jealousy and hatred for Romanicos skills had driven them to kill the very one who had taught them all. A single Assassin crouched behind Ezio, a hand on his shoulder.

"Ezio. Listen to me. It's not your fault. It never was-"

Ezio cut the Assassin off, eyes filled with fire.

"That does not matter Taiya. I loved him more than I loved my mother when she was alive. This man was everything to me. I can't just let him go!"

Taiya sighed.

"You have been holding his body for hours now. Its time to move on, So that you can avenge your father."

Ezio looked at the face of his father, tears blurring his vision, making his father appear angelic in the moonlight.

"He was sent to me. If not an angel, he was sent by one. I owe my life to him."

"Ezio. I know this is hard for you. But we will give him the farewell only an angel could deserve. Many still love him, and he cannot rest in peace until you avenge his death. He would do the same for you."

Ezio wiped away the tears in his eyes, and stood up, struggling under the dead weight of the body. The docks were close, and Ezio headed towards them. Taiya followed, wondering what he had in mind. Ezio reached the docks, and getting on a boat, lay his father down on a flat surface. Ezio raised the sails, and leaving a slow burn rope, cast the boat off. In the bay, the boat burst into flames, sending Romanico on a final journey.

"Peace be with you father. Be it above, or be it below, may you always find rest."

Ezio turned and headed home, Taiya following him down the lonely pathway...

Ezio skirted the shadows of a building, being careful to avoid attention. The town square was in full view again, but this time he was going to be more alert. He walked into view, and travelled in the direction of a pastry shop. He passed a pony, quickly swiping from them, and reached the door holding a bag of money. This would be easier than he thought. Too easy almost. He opened the door of the shop and went inside, heading for the counter.

Pastries filled the shop as if it was a dream. It was like a confectionary from his hometown. He stood staring at all the goods, mouth agape.

And then, rather suddenly, he heard a voice behind him.

"Can I help you?"

Ezio screamed and turned so quickly he fell flat on his face. Accident #2. His head had received enough brutality for one day. He got up.

"Where did you come from?" He asked incredulously.

"From the back kitchen silly- Wait a second, I don't remember seeing you around here before! Are you new in town?"

Ezio was surprised by the pink pony’s energy. Maybe she ate too much of the sweets in the shop.

"I suppose you could say that, yes."

The pony before him started to rise in the air. Before he could say anything more, the pony changed shape and color before his eyes, then shot out the front doors in a matter of milliseconds.

Ezio stood watching the front door in dumbfound awe, his right eye twitching a bit, jaw hanging slack once more.

"Sorry about that."

Ezio screamed again, spinning around once more only to fall on his face again. Why? Of all beings, why him? He didn't deserve this pain! A yellowish Stallion wearing a small hat peered down at him.

"Oh! Uh, sorry about that too. You ok down there?"

Ezio stood up, his eyes rolling in different directions. He shook his head to get rid of those pesky little bird.

"Yea, I'm fine. I think."

"I'm so sorry. Pinkie Pie is like that."

"Pinkie Pie? That’s her name? How did she do that?"

"We can't explain it really. The only explanation is that it’s just, 'Pinkie Pie.' Nothing more, nothing less. Can I get you a couple muffins? We just took them out of the oven, and I think you should have some of them to make up for your first meeting with Pinkie."

"I would appreciate that thanks."

"Just sit over there and I'll bring them out to you."

Ezio sat down at a table by the window gratefully. What a day this was turning out to be...

~~~~~