Invasion

The ponies looked with grim faces at Armanii

“S...Slaughter March...?”

He sighed.

“Sadly...yes. It is the March of Slaughter...only the highest generals can call for it...”

“What can we do about it?”

“Nothing...”

“So we’re doomed is what you’re saying.”

“Unless I get a miracle from above yes...I’m afraid we are...”

Rainbow Dash flew above the others and looked to Armanii.

“Listen bub. We might be doomed, but I ain’t giving up on Equestria yet! I got some fight in me! We will not let these mechanic monsters destroy this land! This is our home, not theirs! Let’s send those...Cazaxxas back to their swine hole!”

Armanii looked back to her and smiled.

“Don’t say words that you don’t know the meaning of.” He giggled.

“It apparently is a very common insult among your people.”

“It’s not, it means something very odd when translated. Trust me you don’t want to know.”

“Alright. Well...”

“Well?”

“I’ll be the first to apologize for snapping at you...we really do need your help.”

“Apology accepted Ms. Dash. However I still need another plan...”

“Well...It is getting late...we should rest.”

“I refuse to sleep without a plan...go to bed, I will stay here and think.”

“Alright Armanii...I guess we’ll see you in the morning.”

“Indeed you shall.”

The ponies and Princesses walked out to their respective rooms. Armanii stayed in the throne room and thought over the situation till the moon was high in the sky. He pondered through most of the night, but to no avail. With no plan and the moon nearing the end of its cycle, he decided to finally go to bed.

He walked up the stairs, into his bedroom, and jumped onto the soft bed. As he laid there, he thought to himself.

“Perhaps it will come in my sleep...”

And he dozed off, still in his day clothes, and he slept.

When Armanii awoke, he immediately jumped down the stairs to greet the others, but upon arriving in the throne room, he found it empty, not even any guards...

There was no sound in the room, only the sound of Armaniis footsteps as he walked around the empty room. His sounds echoed throughout the hall, and he wondered why no one was there.

He checked his watch, it read noon, strangly odd for neither princess to be awake...

He walked around for an hour, doing nothing but walking. Eventually taking a rest in the throne. He reclined back and relaxed, but it wasn’t long before he heard footsteps from across the hall. He bolted up and ran to the center of the hall, so as to avoid being it trouble for sitting in the royal throne. The footsteps got louder and louder, and then they stopped.

“What the...?”

There was nobody there, ghost footsteps...

Suddenly, he saw a dark figure out of the corner of his eye. He swirved around to try and get a better look at it, but it disappeared.

“Princess?” but there was no answer.

He saw the figure again, this time it was closer.

“Who’s there?”

Again the figure bolted from his vision. But as it appeared, it got closer, and closer. Soon it was upon him, and it grabbed him.

“Hey!”

The black figure pushed Armanii to the ground, and looked at him.

Armaniis eyes focussed more on the figure as it moved. He began to see the detailed of it was his eyes woke up.

It was a black robed human with a mechanical eye-comm and a silver face mask. Armanii stared at the man, it couldn’t possibly be who he thought it was...or WHAT he thought it was...

With a dark voice the robed man spoke. One word only.

“Rahtz.”

Armanii stood up, the man drew a plasma blade with a symbol on it. It was small enough that Armanii couldn’t see it well with his still adjusting eyes.

“Rahtz.” He said again, waiting patiently.

“Fine, I’ll fight...” Armanii drew his gun and fired a bolt of plasma.

The man did a backflip backward, dodging the shot. He landed on the ground and charged at Armanii, but as he ran, he made no sound, not even with his feet. Armanii had more than a good idea of that this man was...but there was something missing...that one piece of evidence...

Armanii rolled to one side to get out of the way. He then proceeded to attempt to trip the robed man, but he jumped over it and landed away from Armanii, his back facing him. Armanii got a good long look at this back, exactly what he wanted.

There he saw the sight that he had feared. The symbol that all men fear. On the back of his black robes sat a red hourglass. It is known as the Mark of the Widow...

A Silver Assassin...

The greatest assassins in the world, even greater than Talomanzan assassins, and that my friends is saying something. A world group of assassins from all nations of the world. This one just happened to be Talomanzan...

Armanii stood and aimed his gun at the Assassin, but as he fired the assassin dodged once again and turned. He ran at him once more, this time moving quickly to the right at the last second as Armanii dodged, catching him off guard. He slit Armaniis arm using the blade. He fell over in agony that the energy blade had caused. His arm was near useless, as the blade had nearly gone through his arm, almost cutting it off, but stopping midway through. Armanii was quick to regain his focus from the pain.

The assassin turned back for another blow, Armanii ducked and tried to dodge him, but the assassin was too fast, and once again the blade struck, this time slicing his legs open and crippling him to the ground. He fell to the ground with a loud thud, his legs in immense pain. The Silver Assassin reared around from the final blow.

“Too easy, even against my sloppy form you are weak.”

Armanii laid on the ground in agony, his arm and legs bleeding terribly. He screamed for help at the top of his lungs, but there was no answer.

The assassin walked slowly up to Armanii and stared over him, his hand tightly gripping his plasma blade. He held it and prepared for the final blow on Armaniis neck.

“Any last words?”

Armanii gulped and answered.

“Who hired you...?”

“You don't get to know.”

“Fine...Do it...Assassin...”

“Farewell Sergeant, Sithis guide you.”

Armanii closed his eyes as the assassin brought the blade down, but the blade didn’t make contact. Armanii sat for a few seconds, awaiting his demise, before realizing that he still was breathing. He opened his eyes to find yellow aura holding back the assassin’s blade. The assassin struggled to move it, but it would not budge. Armanii looked past him to see Princess Celestia and the others holding the man at bay.

The assassin dropped his grip on his blade and reached for his belt. From a pouch on his side he threw 3 plasma daggers, each aimed for Celestia. Celestia dropped her grip on the blade to catch the daggers as they flew.

The plasma blade clashed to the ground, falling near Armanii. He reached to grab it with the one arm he could move freely.

The Silver Assassin focussed his attention on Celestia. Drawing a second blade from his robe sleeve, he flipped over Celestia, landing directly behind her. He swung his blade as fast as lightning, and Celestia shut her eyes in fear. If it hadn’t been for Luna, the assassin would have killed the Princess. Lunas powerful magic held the assassins blade just centimeters from Celestia’s neck. Celestia opened her eyes and reared around. Usiing her magic, she reinforced Luna’s grip and also held the assassin himself in place.

Armanii grabbed the blade and attempted to stand. Through the agonizing pain, he stood up on his 2 legs, and slowly hobbled to the princesses.

“Armanii! You’re bleeding!”

“Never mind that...This assassin must be dealt with...”

He walked up to the assassin and put the blade to his neck.

“Any last words?”

The Silver Assassin turned to Armanii, and spoke.”

“3 Assassins.”

Armanii kept the blade at the assassins neck, debating with himself on whether or not to kill this hired blade. What did he mean by 3 assassins? Is that a code? Is there more than 1 assassin coming after him or the Princesses? He mentioned he was sloppy today...but he could have killed him...imagine the other assassins skill...

He finally reached a decision, and he lowered the blade.

“Tie this scum up, with chains and cuffs, we’ll interrogate him.”

“Yes Armanii. We’ll get right on it.”

Armanii felt his legs growing weaker with the pain. He collapsed to the ground, hitting his head on the tile floor, knocking him unconscious...

When Armanii awoke, he was greeted by a pink pony standing over him. She wore a red cross on her hat and coat, and had large blue eyes. Armanii looked down to see his legs bandaged.

“Oh thank goodness, you’re awake.”

“Ugh...where am I...?”

“You’re in the medical ward, you took quite a slashing. I can’t imagine what, The princess wouldn’t tell me.

“Is the assassin still there?”

“Assassin? What assassin?”

“Never mind, it must have been my imagination...”

It was an outright lie, but he couldn’t get the ponies worried, some of them didn’t even know about the war...

“How are my legs?”

“They'll be fine. You took quite a slashing though...the doctors magic had a hard time healing it. Try and stay off of them...and try not to hurt yourself again.

“Yes ma’am.”

“I have you some medicine to ease the pain, you’ll be fully healed by the end of the week I believe. I’ve never seen such wounds...they were almost like burn marks, but they were slashes that went inches deep...it also didn’t help that i’ve never seen your anatomy before.”

“Good work then.

“Thank you”

“How long was I out?”

“Hmm...I’d say at least 4 hours...maybe 6 from the time I found you. Who knows how long you were passed out in the throne room.”

“Shit! I need to get there!”

Armanii tried to stand up, but the pain in his legs came back quickly, and he sat back down before he fell over again.

“Slow down there commander Hurricane. Stand up slowly and you won’t slit your muscles again.”

He rose slowly to his feet, gripping the edge of the bed for support. When he was standing straight once again he thanked the nurse and quickly hobbled out the door and to the throne room. With his legs bandaged he couldn’t bend his knees, so as he walked his legs were stiff.

He opened the doors of the throne room quickly and walked inside. There he saw the ponies, gathered around the Silver Assassin, who was handcuffed, or rather, hoofcuffed to a chair by his feet, and his hands handcuffed behind his back.

“Ah Armanii, you’re ok, thank goodness!”

“I am fine, is he secure?”

The assassin looked up and spoke.

“I think you will find me quite tied up at the moment.” he said with a chuckle

“Dealing with your kind is a pain, so I have been told.”

“Dealing with your kind has always been a pain.”

“Is that an insult to the both of us?”

“Of course it is Talomanzan!”

“You insult your own people?”

“You fight against them, why can I not insult our peoples government and society?”

“Fair point.”

“Of course it is, not all of us are happy under your hammer and sickle!”

“I will not dwell on this subject any longer, let us get started with the basics.”

“Ask away, I’ll be as vague as possible.” he said with a twisted grin

“First off, why were you sent here to kill us?”

The assassin scoffed.

“I hardly call THAT a basic question, you haven’t even asked me my name.”

Armanii exhaled in frustration.

“Fine! What is your name?”

“I do not have one.”

Fluttershy stepped forward.

“Surely you have a name?”

“No. I do not.”

Armanii turned to her.

“These assassins are somewhat nameless, but they DO have a codename, isn’t that right?”

“You’ve done your research on us, at least as much as the military cazzaxas know. Your kind knows nothing about us, but we know everything about you, Armanii.”

“How do you know my name?”

“It’s simple, I did my research. I know everything about you since the day you were born. For example, when you were 4 you were terrified of the sea, and at 13 you found out you had a fear of heights, which still carries to this day, it’s what kept you from being a pilot, you’re dream job since you were 7.”

“That’s enough, I get the point.”

“Go ahead, what else do you have?”

“You never answered my question, you do have a codename right?”

“Emerald Impaler, ranked number 1 assassin in S.A.D-T.”

“S.A.D-T?”

“Silver Assassin Division Talomanza.”

“So they sent the best after me?”

“Not you in particular Armanii, originally I came here for the princesses. I just heard a LOT about you.”

“So we captured the best.”

“Well, today I was being sloppy, and the only reason you are not dead is because I was not told that Princesses wielded magic.”

“Use whatever excuse that lets you sleep at night.”

“You think you are invincible huh?”

“I most certainly-”

“Do you?”

“No”

“DO YOU?”

“I do not!”

“What would you do if I were to stand up right now?”

“You couldn’t, you are tied to the chair.”

“Am I?”

“You are.”

“Check your facts Mr. Sve.”

Emerald Impaler took his hands, now free, from behind his back, folded his fingers and put his hands in his lap, while allowing his now free legs to rest on top of each other.

Armanii fell over and the ponies stepped back.

“Do not kill me!” Armanii said, shivering.

The Emerald Impaler didn’t move.

“Remember Armanii, the jaws of death clamp down fastest on those who do not fear them.”

Armanii looked up at Emerald Impaler, but remained sitting on the floor.

“Ask me what you will, no more games.”

Armanii looked confused.

“Twilight, can you get a chair for me please...”

Twilight went and pushed a chair over for Armanii to sit in, positioned right in front of Emerald Impaler.

“Fine then, what did you mean by 3 assassins?”

“There will be 2 assassins coming for you if I do not return, a total of 3 assassins. The first was me, and if I do not return word of success within the past hour, they will send another, which may be soon. If the last does not make it, then a third will be sent. The client paid us handsomely for this job.”

“How much?”

“300 million smickles each, to my knowledge.”

“Who are the other assassins?”

“I do not know, I was not informed, I only know one that hails from S.A.D-J”

“Silver Assassin Division...?”

“Japan.”

“I see”

“I hope you realize that after this interrogation I am going to kill you.”

“Could we pay you off?”

“Unlikely, you’d need a LOT of money to pay ME off.”

Armanii turned to Applejack.

“Applejack, what currency do you use here?”

“Bits.”

“Bring me the biggest bags you can find. I need great amounts of money!”

Applejack ran off.

“You are wasting your time.” Said Emerald Impaler.

“Have you done your research on Equestria Mr. Impaler?”

“First, do not call me ‘Mr. Impaler’, second, somewhat, the computer only gave me directions and my targets.”

“I haven’t been here long, but I do know that many things here may surprise you.”

“There are things in the depths of Talomanza that may surprise YOU Armanii. For instance, did you know that Master General Gritz daughter, Aerga Gritz, has a marriage arranged to the son of Glitkaz Moroh?”

“I...didn’t know that...”

“Well now you do. But you are wasting your time sergeant. No amount of money you can bring from this land is worth more than the Talomanzan Smickle.”

“Applejack will return shortly, we shall see what we can do.”

“Fine, take your false hope.”

“I still have more questions. Who hired you? I bet it was Galog.”

“Galog? Ishmaam? I’m afraid not Mr. Sve, he had nothing to do with me. Perhaps you seek a higher power.”

“Chairman Moroh?”

“HAH! Moroh doesn’t have the guts to even write with a ballpoint pen for fear of making mistakes. No, I talk of military power.”

“Gritz...”

“Right on the money. Speaking of money...”

Applejack ran in with three giant bags on her back, Armanii took them and laid them by his side.

“This is heavy Applejack...”

“I never said bits were light.”

Emerald Impaler looked with a grin.

“You’re wasting your time.”

Armanii took one of the bags and tipped it over onto the floor, revealing the vast amount of money that was within. Emerald Impaler took one look at the money and went slack jawed. He stepped out of the chair and bent over the pile of money.

“It’s...it’s all gold?” Armanii and Emerald Impaler said at once.

Emerald impaler took one gold bit and put it inside a device on his arm. The device read ‘Gold-Natural-Pure’

“It’s...it’s solid gold...”

Emerald impaler took hold of one of the other bags.

“This really IS heavy...hm...about a good 50 pounds here, per bag...with the ever rising price of gold...”

“What is it?”

“This is much more than I could have hoped for...”

“Isn’t gold worth $1500 an ounce?”

“To the United States it is, but with the ever decreasing amount of gold due to Talomanzan gold factories, natural gold is worth more than ever!”

“Gold factories?”

“You haven’t heard? Talomanzan businessmen have begun with making their own gold, using medieval techniques. However, it creates a substance known to Talomanzans as “Midas Gold”. It’s impure, and is actually worth less. The problem is that a lot of these companies are using the natural gold they get to smelt it into Midas Gold...”

“So natural gold is rare?”

“It is, the Talomanzan Government holds 90 percent of the worlds pure, natural gold, the rest of the world has been tricked with this Midas Gold. Midas Gold was outlawed in Talomanza a good 3 years ago.”

“Which means that this gold...”

“Is worth almost 10 times what the rest of the world and Talomanza has.”

“So...You won’t kill us?”

“Kill you?! I could kiss you! You not only paid me another 300 million smickles, you overpaid me by almost 1 billion!”

“I...have?”

Emerald Impaler knelt before Armanii

“Armanii Sve. Emerald Impaler of the Silver Assassins at your service.”

Armanii looked around, confused.

“Uh...rise Emerald Impaler...”

Emerald Impaler rose.

“By the way, that second assassin I mentioned.”

“Yes?”

“It’s here.”

“It?”

There was a crash from the window, they turned to face black robed blue pegasus. The black robe bore a red hourglass where the cutie mark should be, and the pony’s face was covered by the Silver Assassin mask and Comm.

“ARMANII SVE!” She said with a dark voice.

“A pony? They sent a pony?”

“You mock me yes, but fear not. You shall be joined with Sithis soon.”

She turned to Emerald Impaler.

“I finally get to meet the infamous Emerald Impaler. Ziigazii.”

“Ziigazii to you as well.” He said with a chuckle.

“You are unbound, may I request help?”

“Handle this yourself miss Blade Rider, prove to them what assassins are capable of.”

“Yes sir.”

She turned to the ground and swung a plasma blade out from under her robe, she flew in the air darted towards Armanii.

“SHIT!”

He ducked, but the assassin reared around and headed back.

“Rainbow Dash! Help!”

“A failed excuse for a wonderbolt trainee cannot stop the will of Poison Blade!”

Blade Rider swung her blade as she flew, but with her hooves she missed Armanii’s neck, but instead clocked him with her back legs, knocking him on the ground.

She landed on the ground and turned.

“What’s the matter, can’t take on a flier?”

She rose into the air again, and dashed forward.

A rainbow flash stopped her in her tracks.

“No one hurts my friends, and NO ONE insults me!”

“Oh pity pity Rainbow Dash. You’ve made the wrong move!”

She stabbed Rainbow Dash through the stomach with the blade.

“You’ve got a SHARP tongue, but I think you get the POINT!”

She kicked Rainbow Dash off of her, and in a heap Rainbow Dash fell to the ground, groaning and screaming in pain.

“This was easier than I thought. Who’s next?”

Fluttershy had quickly gone to help her friend Rainbow Dash, bending over her to try and help her up. Blade Rider saw her...

“HEY! Pink stuff!”

Fluttershy turned.

“Naughty Mare!” she charged with her blade. Fluttershy cowered as Blade Rider drew near...

A familiar blue hoof knocked the blade out of the assassins hooves. Rainbow Dash stood up through the pain and smacked her across the face with her hoof.

“You’re dead meat. No one hurts Fluttershy...”

She dashed forward with a rainbow flash, smashing Blade Rider against the wall. Rainbow Dash repeatedly struck Blade Rider with her hooves, punching her in the face multiple times. Blade Rider kicked her off and struck her own blows. They flew into the air and fought like dogs, biting and hitting and tearing.

Slowly, Armanii was standing up, upon seeing the fight, he reached for his gun.

He took aim at Blade Rider, but the constant fighting between Rainbow Dash and her wouldn’t allow him to get a good shot.

“It is a gamble, but I must take it.”

Emerald Impaler looked to him.

“A Silver Assassin will never stop fighting, you better hope you hit her head.”

Armanii went back to his aim.

“I am taking the shot.”

“Dont’! You’ll hit Rainbow Dash!” came a distressed Pinkie Pie

“If I do not then we are all dead!”

“Don’t!”

“I must!”

Armanii shot.

The fighting stopped. Both Rainbow Dash and Blade Rider stopped in mid flight, Blade Rider crashed to the ground, a massive hole through her wing. Rainbow Dash landed and soon fell to the ground in pain from her stab wound.

Armanii walked over to Blade Rider and put his gun against her head.

“I have had enough for one day. You should die right now, you know this.”

“Go ahead two legs! I already sent my distress signal, the third assassin will be on his way! Kill me if you must but remember that I will never stop searching for you.”

“True...you’ll still fight...”

Blade Rider sneered.

“But you can’t fly without those wings...”

Her sneer turned to a face of concern.

“Wha...what?”

Armanii picked up Blade Riders blade and held the searing plasma against the base of her wings.

“NO! NOT MY WINGS!”

“It’s either this or I kill you. Or you try to run.”

“The Talomanzans raised you well...but don’t be a heartless monster...”

“Die or run.”

“I need that money the Talomanzans are paying me...”

“For what? Answer me now.”

“They’ve kidnapped my family... my only hope is to get this money so I can maybe pay the military off...”

Emerald Impaler burst out in laughter.

“You are a VERY convincing liar Blade Rider! HAHA! That was lie number 351, an oldie but a goodie eh? Armanii, she isn’t worth it. Let her go.”

Armanii looked to Blade Rider, her wings in one hand and the blade in the other. He looked to the other ponies for advice, but they offered none.

“No assassin will ever get the drop on us again.”

He turned to Blade Rider, and softly whispered.

“You earned this...”

With a swipe he dismembered her wings from her back, she collapsed in pain and screams, blood staining the back of her black robes.

“GUARDS! Take Blade Rider to the dungeon. And...try and re-attach these...”

The guard, reluctantly, took the bloody wings in his mouth and the other lifted up Blade Rider to escort her out of the throne room.

“Armanii...that was uncalled for...” Twilight said with a strong face of concern

“You can’t deal with killers with friendship...”

“But cutting off her wings!? You’ve seriously maimed her!”

“Tough, I’m not a nice guy when I’m fed up.”

From across the hall came a soft voice

“Still....in pain over here...”

They ran over to Rainbow Dash, who had nearly bled out.

Armanii stood and ran to the hallway.

“WE NEED A DOCTOR! WE NEED A DOCTOR!”

He ran back and knelt by Rainbow Dash.

“Did I win?” she said softly

“Yes, you won. And do not worry Rainbow Dash...”

He looked into her eyes.

“You are going to be okay...”