Balanced as Everything Should Be

(Canterlot) (Canterlot belltower) Longbow PoV
"This place gives me the chills." Said Breakpoint with fear.

Carefully stepping into the dark and dreary bell tower we all felt like we were being watched. The guard captain wanted to send about half of the troops to Appleloosa to search for any signs of the enemy. Or, their enemy, but as I was saying... We got pretty lucky that we weren't sent to the crime scene. Today was our day off so we were pretty happy that our meeting would go off without a hitch.

Adjusting my hood over my head I start sweating, I just wanted to get this over with so I can understand what the mission is. Everypony now knows about the puppetmaster's lieutenant, and a few sketch artists even drew a wanted poster for her! It didn't seem like anypony was here so I was considering the option of leaving.

"So I guess we should sit and wait?" Asked Sharpsword looking around.

"Is that even a option? The royal guard is checking almost every single inch of Equestria to find the League." Said Quick Chase while looking around rapidly.

"At least we know we're popular." Said a female voice with a dangerous edge.

Turning our heads we saw two shadows, one tall and one taller. I turned my head and beckoned the other four to line up with me. As soon as we got together the two shadows stepped forward and sure enough, it was the "Ashe" figure, standing beside her was the big robotic bodyguard she had with her.

Even when we knew what she looked like some of our eyes had widened at the strange figure of the new species. It was always surprising for a completely new kind of creature to just show up out of thin air. The top investigators have been trying to figure out what they are and where they came from.

"You're the five that the Puppet Master met am I right?" Ashe asked slinging her weapon over her shoulder.

Peeking a glance at her large companion I said somewhat nervously, "Yes we are, and I'm pretty sure that you're the lieutenant everyone's been talking about."

"That I am, anyways, I was already informed about your identities. Your names don't truly matter to me, but if you join the family... Then I'll care. As you have pointed out, I'm the Lieutenant that you've heard about, and I'm sure that you all know of the incident at Dodge Junction right?" Asked Ashe staring at all of us.

"That would be correct... What exactly is your name?" Asked Silver Shield lightly scratching at his beard.

"Names Ashe, and if you're all planning on joining in you're all gonna be referring to me by Lieutenant understood? But as I was saying, this is your final choice... Are you in? Or out?" Ashe asked with finality. To show she was serious she lifted her, "Thunder stick" as the guards have nicknamed.

Tightening my bottom lip in nervousness I for the first time truly considered the weight of the choice. This is the final moment if I chose to betray my country or not. Even though the original cause isn't worth it anymore I can't help but feel guilt from it. Anymore moments I have will be wasted with the, "Royal Guard" so its now or never!

"I'll join..." I said with certainty. As soon as I was done speaking the five ponies In the room turned to me in surprise, for they did not expect me to be so ready for this choice. There were two roads to go down and I just know that I took the right one.

Or perhaps I took the left, but left is always right!

"I'll join too!" Said Breakpoint stepping forward with an intrepid expression.

She held her head high to show no weakness in front of her soon to be superior. She was still sweating bullets under the hood and everypony could tell. I looked to her with a kind smile and she smiled back, she really is a good friend.

"It's time to be somepony! You can count me in!" Sharp Sword said stepping forward and looking at Ashe's companion with certain scrutiny. It's impressive that she doesn't seem nervous or scared in front of Ashe, and that's good since we're going to be working for her soon. Unless something bad happens that is.

"I may be called a veteran, but I know for a fact that... That matters no longer. I'm an old stallion and I want to accept change. I'll join!" Silver Shield said with the most confidence I have ever heard from him.

After our strong admission promises we all just stood there waiting for a fifth voice to speak up. And it just continued to stay like that until we actually looked at the final young stallion standing there and looking at the floor. My face turned even more bleach white when I realized why he wasn't saying anything. Just by looking at Ashe I could easily tell that she didn't like what he was doing, or more like not doing. It seemed that she didn't like betrayal or chickening out.

"Mind if I ask why you're not speaking? Partner?" Ashe asked slowly approaching Quick Chase.

"I-I u-uh... I-I just d-don't really... I don't think this is such a good idea anymore..." Quick Chase said shying away.

Ashe narrowed her eyes and glared at the young stallion in disappointment, and she slowly raised her weapon keeping her glare trained on him.

"Excuse me?" Said Ashe bending down a little.

Quick was trying to make himself look as small as possible as if he was attempting to disappear. Ashe was constantly glaring at Quick and she suddenly got on one knee. Extending her hand she reached for his chin to raise his gaze up to her face.

"Listen buddy, when we got here I saw that there were holes dug out in every single wall here. It was as if somepony wanted to set up an ambush, cause every single pocket was just about big enough to fit a pony." Ashe said glaring with even more malevolence.

Quick Chase seemed even more nervous and afraid and tried to shy away further, but her hand had kept him in place, thus she continued to speak.

"Would you happen to know somethin' about that?" Ashe said with a stronger cowgirl accent.

He just remained silent for a few moments until, he just turned around and bust into a full sprint and tried to run towards the doors. We thought he would get away but she fired off her weapon causing the room to light up for just the fewest of moments. But we didn't pay attention to that when we saw the right foreleg of his cloak starting to have blood soaking through it.

"Ahhhh! No please no!" Quick Chase said with liquid tears running down his face.

Ashe slowly stepped over to him and when he saw her he tried to crawl away, but she didn't allow that. She turned him over onto his back and placed a firm boot upon his chest. But what worried us the most was when she placed the end of the barrel of her weapon into his forehead.

"Talk... Or I'll splatter your brains all over the floor." Ashe threatened with a dark voice.

Crying and trying to speak he managed to squeak out a few words, "I-I c-changed my mind yesterday..." He said with tears.

"I-I wanted to tell the princesses, b-but the n-nobles wouldn't let me into the royal court no matter what I-I said." He confessed reluctantly slightly crying less.

"Does anyone know about these fours' relation to the League? Don't lie, I will know." Said Ashe pressing the weapon into his head.

"N-no I didn't I swear I didn't! I tried to prepare an ambush scene and I warned the guards of the meeting, but they were too scared to come! I only told them that suspects of the League of Injustice were going to meet at the bell tower! P-please don't kill me! I just want to live!" Said Quick Chase once again bursting into tears.

It truly was a pathetic sight, sure we all felt anger and hurt at his betrayal but he was only eighteen! He was a young and new guard begging somepony to not take his life. Thus my base instinct had kicked in... Running over to the two I step beside Ashe and begun to speak.

"Wait! Hold on don't kill him! He said that he didn't tell anypony of our partnership!" I pointed out holding a hoof towards her.

"Yeah, but that don't mean he wont tell them later..." She said about to pull the trigger.

In a desperate situation I said the last thing I could think of before she would end his life, traitor or not.

"Wait what if we erase his memory!" I said with a desperate tone.

She seemed to hesitate but she listened nonetheless, "Explain, and do it quick." She said glancing at me.

"The Puppetmaster seems to be proficient in magic right? If he's strong enough he should be able to alter his memories so he won't remember any of this right?!" I asked quickly.

Please listen! He's still young and has a future to look forward to.

"I suppose he can do that..." Ashe said looking at Quick Chase a final time.

He was looking up at her fearfully and dreading his fate, and I only hope that life would have mercy upon him. Everypony was quietly looking on fearing the result of such a situation. Fear in the form of sweat was slowly falling down my neck while standing there forced to watch Ashe make a decision.

"Why would you want to help him? He betrayed you, and I don't like turncoats." Ashe said glaring at me this time causing me to recoil a little.

"Yeah he's a turncoat, but in the end... He's still my friend." I said with certainty.

Quick Chase then slowly stopped crying and sniffling, and just looked at me with disbelief wondering why I would ever want to spare him from certain death. Time just seemed to stand still for the littlest of moments, but we all suddenly heard the sound of the flapping of wings and shouting from outside.

"Attention criminals of the League of Injustice! Surrender and you will be unharmed." A guard shouted through a voice amplifier.

"Bob do something!!" Ashe said beckoning her head to the door.

Before the squads could bust through the door Bob rushed forward holding a large wooden crate in his arms and placed it in front of the door. The sound of heavy ramming against the doors soon followed after they tried to open them. The way it looked I estimated that we had about five minutes before they got in.

"Well... I guess we're pressed for time." Ashe said raising her weapon.

She then turned around and started to talk to herself, but we suddenly realized that she was talking through a magical link. If that faint red smoke in her hand had any kind of symbolism to it. We could faintly hear her speaking to, "Glados" and saying, "I hate you." She suddenly turned around with an annoyed expression.

"Okay, here's the details. I'm gonna take the traitor to HQ to have his memory erased, and you all." She said pointing to every one of us.

"You're all gonna go through this portal back to your barracks. I suggest you go to sleep once you're there." Ashe suggested pointing towards a newly created portal behind her.

"What about our meeting?" Sharp Sword asked with curiosity.

I was wondering that as well.

"Don't worry, we'll continue this another time. I can promise you all that." Ashe said slamming the butt of her weapon against Quick Chase's head knocking him out.

A second portal had suddenly formed for her to step through, before she could completely enter she threw us all four silver objects. Each of us picked a single one up and examined it, it was a beautiful work of art... A combination of a dragon like figure and multiple shapes made from a silver like material.

"It's called the Mark of Akatosh, it's a confirmation of your loyalty to the League. Welcome to the fold everyone!" She said tipping her hat to us before the portal fully closed.

We couldn't take anymore time when we realized the guards would enter any second now. So we all just ran through the portal for our escape, and good thing too because I think they busted in the second the portal closed. The barracks were deserted so we quickly threw our cloaks and League badges into the vault behind the false painting.

"Holy shit I cant believe that just happened. This is so much more crazier than when we met the Puppetmaster." Breakpoint said putting both her hind hooves against each side of her head.

"We should follow the orders of our new superior, lights out everypony!" I said approaching my bunk bed.

Everyone else followed and got into their beds. Closing our eyes I could tell we all had the same thought.

What's next?