The Assassins of Equestria

The Birthday GirlWritten by: Ballpoint

"...tooo yooou." Spells finished jokingly, me smiling in a drunken haze as I blew out the small candle on the slightly larger cupcake, dabs of pink wax dotted the white frosting. It was my birthday, and I chose to celebrate my twenty fifth birthday at a bar with my former college roommate, Spells, at our favorite bar. I'd gotten out of school a few months ago but Spells was still in for a few more years, trying to get a doctorate in the arcane arts. We were very close friends, first meeting during high school and it just stuck that way, we always kept in touch. But every since I finished college, we haven't been able to see each other as much, him with his tests and me trying to find a job. Fortunately, it was the weekend and my birthday was more like a reunion, us being able to catch up.

Unfortunately, I chose to get drunk for the hell of it, so I smiled meekly and went muzzle first into the chocolate cupcake, taking a gaping bite in the small pastry,"Geez, the first time you every seen a cupcake?" Not paying attention, I savored the rich chocolatey taste of the baked good before lifting my head, frosting and black crumbs stuck to my lips for only a fraction of a second before I licked lips, effectively cleaning my mouth,"Man it is so good to see you again." I hiccuped, making the stallion next to me chuckle lightly, despite the fact that we reunited a few hours ago and now the bar was starting to become quieter, its occupants beginning to be only us.

"So hows school, Spells?" I asked, my eyes half lidded, I, drunkenly, but genuinely wanting to hear his answer.

The unicorn sighed, skidding a glass of carrot juice between his hooves,"Its been a bitch, I have one of the most important test in my entire life in a few days. I've been cramming every chance I get. But it will be worth it in the end." I was still looking into his red eyes, the alcohol delaying my reaction, making him shift uneasily.

Finally I answered,"Worth whut?" I was now genuinely interested, despite my wobbly composure and the whiff of life water that Spells probably smelled as I breathed. He cringed a bit but smirked.

"Its just spell." He seemed a bit nervous, gulping down the small portion of the orange liquid he had left.

"Ah, come un," I pleaded, nudging him,"its not like top secret anything right?" He shook his head, sighing once again,"So what is it, is like another teleportation spell, like when you got the guys a few years back." He nodded and gave a force laugh odd.

"Nah, it's nothing like that, well its kinda like that, ugh how can I explain it..." He trailed off before continuing,"Okay think of how far your family goes back, like to the very beginning." Hm, that's something to think about, which I actually did for a minute, trying to dig deep in what I knew about my family, but couldn't get much in my blurry state.

"Yeah?"

"So think that you will be able to see what your ancestors saw in there time and relive what they did."

"Whoa, interesting. You tried it on anyone yet?" He gave a grim look.

"No!" He answered quickly,"I mean other than on a few test runs, I haven't tried it on any pony yet." There was a moment of silence,"You wanna be the first?"

"Huh," I questioned,"am I just drunk or did you just say..." He nodded a mischievous grin on his face," Is it even safe?"

"Yeah its completely safe, I would never ask you If you could be hurt." His reassurance and confidence did well to soothe my weary mind.

"This might be the alcohol talking but yup, I'll do it."

Spells was took aback as if not expecting my answer,"Really, your sure about this? Are you really interested in you ancestors?"

"Yes and yes." I cocked my head as the cheap beer was starting drain from system, along with it influence,"You don't want me to be part of this?"

"Uh..."

"Hey," I put a hoof around his neck, and felt him ease," if you never wanted me to do this, then you should have never told me, remember, I'm Faith 'Iron' Wings, the mare that climbed the top of the university because of the stupidest dare of all time." He chuckled lightly as he took a short trip down memory lane.

"Okay 'Iron' Wings, what time you want to do it?"

"I got nothing to do tomorrow, so come by in the morning." With that we stayed at the bar for a few more hours, telling each other how are live are outside of the classroom, stuff like that, played some billiards and darts, just enjoying each others company.

We found ourselves about to depart from the bar, Spells planning to take me home, me in no fit state to walk as I had a few more beers, when my friend stopped me,"Wait a minute, almost forgot to give you this." I saw his horn glow blue and his saddlebag opening, a white fabric now levitating in the space between us both. Soon it spread it self to reveal it was a white hoodie with red trim,"Happy Birthday Faith."

"Wow, its just, wow. Thank you Spells." I embraced him with the hoodie between us, him a bit unprepared for a hug. Unfortunately, I neglected to realize I was just putting all my weigh on the lightly build colt, making him grunt, so I let up," Sorry."

"Its okay, you want me to help you put it on?" I nodded eagerly, allowing him to wrap the attire around me, but struggled a bit to get my wings through, I had a physical disability and my wings were under developed, allowing me to only fly for very short distances. I felt the zipper slide up to my throat and Spells magic disappear, allowing me to feel the soft cotton of the sweater, it was about a size too large but I was a nice gift.

I wrapped my fore hooves around him again, this time he returned the gesture,"It was so good to see you again."

"You too Faith." We broke the embrace and then the aqua unicorn widened his stance,"You ready?" I shook my head a bit, waking myself up for the coming departure then I nodded. He closed his eyes tight, his horn glowing, increasing its brightness every second, until I had to shut my own eyes. Then I felt a strange sensation all over my body, and then it gone along with my conscious.

***

"Gah!" I gasped, quickly looking at my surroundings. I was in my bed at my apartment, sprawled out like a starfish, I'll never get used to that teleportation crap. I yawned, realizing how tired I was, I moved into a more comfortable position, lowered my head and drifted on into a dreamless sleep.

***

I woke up on my own accord and was welcomed to the conscious world with a splitting headache, making me grunt sharply, rubbing my hooves on my temples, catching a glimpse of a white sweater sleeve, What, I slept in this?. As my headache began to let up I got up on all fours, a bit uneasily as the surface I stood on was little more than cotton and springs, stretching my legs and whipping my mane a few times, a few bronze strands getting in my eyes, making me blink erratically.

"Finally you're awake." In utter surprise, I gasped sharply, back peddled, falling off my bed, shaking my head on the oak floor, worsening my hangover. Once I got up and my headache was once again under control, I glared at the familiar unicorn that sat on the small chair on the far side in a corner, sipping some coffee which floated next to him.

"What the, what are you doing here?" I began to ponder his reasoning for breaking into my apartment, but nothing I could conjure up answered my question,"Wait don't tell me yet, I got the worst hangover. Let me go take a shower first." Spells obliged, taking another sipping his brew. Taking a moment to stretch my wings, I trotted out into my living room and was rewarded with two more intruders, a black colt with beige, slicked back mane and a brown mare unicorn with a dirty blonde mane. The mare was about to say something but I raised my hoof, effectively shutting her up,"Shower first, talk later. Just in pain right now." She was going to object but then I winced, so she nodded and resumed the small talk with the the earth pony next to her.

Satisfied, I walked over to the bathroom door, hung my birthday present onto the hook and took a headache soothing shower, still wanting to know what was going on but with a clear head.

***

"So you guys are some of Spells college buds?" They both nodded while they hooked up various machinery to a recliner looking construct, ugh it looked uncomfortable. What struck me as odd is that it had straps on were I suppose my legs would go. Hm."Whats Spells doing?" I asked the mare as I looked at the unicorn in question who was sitting next to the recliner construct, his eyes shut, as if thinking deeply.

The mare put down a metal box under the chair before facing me to answer,"He has to conserve all the energy he can, arcanic magic is a lot more powerful and harder to control then the regular stuff." She levitated a white bandana over her head and tied it around her skull,"The names Dream, Dream Charmer. My friend over there is Bran." I looked over her shoulder to see Bran, lifting some cardboard boxes on his back over to my coffee table, which I didn't mind. I then resumed eye contact with Dream, who held out her hoof, which I took and shook it.

"Faith Wings." I gave my name and the unicorn smiled.

"Nice sweater ya got there." She noted, me half noticing I was even wearing it.

I lifted a sleeved fore leg to my vision, noting its superb hems,"Thanks, Spells got it for me yesterday."

"Hm." She made a mischievous grin which took me a second to pick up on.

"Hey it not like that!" My voice cracked, my face feeling hot,"Its a birthday present." She still had a mischievous grin about her as she walked away, What a.... I sighed and sat on the futon, watching Spells crew fix up the setup. I saw heath monitors be erected, with no vitals to read, which I assumed would be mine. I watched as more and more bulky machines and monitors were practically piled high around the recliner, soon towering over it. Soon, I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into or did Spells take my invitation out of context? I mean I woke up to see him watching me sleep, and how the hay did he get into my apartment, maybe it was my super. And how did he get all this equipment in here, there was more equipment than furniture in my apartment.

It look like it would take a whole team of movers to get this stuff in a small apartment like this, and even then it would take a few hours. Were they here overnight?

While pondering the topics of interest I failed to notice that my living room had been converted into a laboratory, wires criss crossed the floor, monitors, and other tech lined my walls. I had no ideas where my television was, probable under the dense cover of tech. Yeah, Spells took this out of context and beyond, but it was already set and this stuff will be gone when its over, so I let it be. Hopping down from the futon, I carefully gazed at the walls of computers, their functions unknown to me but still aroused my curiosity.

"Hey." I gasped but exhaled when I realized it was just Bran,"Were ready for you." I nodded and was lead over to the chair, with Spells waiting by the chair.

"Hello Faith." He said very monotone

.

"Before we start can you explain what all this stuff is." I insisted,"I thought this was just some spell."

"It is but these machines are just here to keep you alive while..."

"Wait,wait,wait,wait,wait." I stammered,"I thought you said this was safe."

"It is, with these." He pointed a hoof at a monitor, arguing about it is pointless, so I just asked another question.

"Okay but what's that?" I nodded at the odd recliner I saw earlier this morning, him turning to see my object of interest then looked back.

"That is the Animus, its a conduit of arcane magic and will help simulate the environments you will be experiencing." I never heard Spells talk like that, sounding like machine. Maybe its was stress, this seemed like a very delicate procedure,"If you will." He sidestepped, giving me a clear view of the chair.

"Well lets do this." So I took my seat on the cumbersome chair, Dream coming to strap me in.

"Eh sorry about earlier, I was just kidding." She smiled as her magical veil tightened the straps on my fore hooves, making me grunt lightly.

"Its alright, but if you don't mind me asking, what will you be doing while I'm in the 'Antamus'." The mare giggled softly.

"Its the 'Animus' and I'll be right over there, monitoring your vitals." She pointed over to a small station with what looked to be about five monitors hooked put to make one image. Finally I was completely immobile, and found the seat not as uncomfortable as I thought, it was rather soft," You ready to start?" I looked around for a bit, seeing only Spells, who stood to my right, his horn glowing in preparation and Dream levitating a small remote, numerous buttons and dials adorned on it.

"Yes." Taking a deep breath, the Animus began to decline, reaching its limits once I was in a lying on my back. Soon, a visor of glass slid across my vision, it hard distinguish the stainless glass from the ceiling that I looked up at. The visor then began to glow aqua blue, then displayed some kind of logo, like three parallelograms were interlocking together with the word loading underneath. I felt nervous, I mean they said it was safe but I still had my doubts.

The screen now displayed numerous strands of what seemed to be DNA strands, each spinning slowly and the one I now faced was highlighted but read memory locked. There were a few minutes of silence other then the sound of clicking keys until, Bran now towered over me, checking over the display plastered on the visor

.

"What are these?" I asked, nervousness in my voice, which the earth pony refused to acknowledge.

"These are DNA imprints from past generations," He began to explain,"they are the genetic memories of you ancestors. Each pony is born with the past sets of memories passed down through genetics, much like animal instincts. But arcane magic is able to unlock the barriers that the mind sets up, so you could relive any moment in their lives." Well thats sure a glorified version of Spells explanation, but it helped. He observed the glass of several more minutes before talking again,"You see this imprint over here?" He tapped a hoof past my peripheral vision, so I turned to see a smaller version of the DNA strands I saw earlier but when this one highlighted it read unlocked memory.

"Yeah."

"This is memory that is going to be our starting point, it is the only memory that seems to be open. You must complete this memory to unlock more because you will learn more and more about your ancestors."

"Do you know who's memories I will be reliving." Bran gave it a minute.

"No, we cannot know whose memory you will be reliving until you have lived it. Also, after each memory, we will pull you out of Animus for a quick summary on who and what you relieved. Got it?" I nodded, still not exactly cementing the stream of information that spouted from the stallions mouth. After my lesson, he walked out of my vision,"Run Tutorial Program. Animus version 1.0." Those were the last word I heard before I felt electricity run through my veins, irritating but not painful.

Soon the void came.

Knowledege of your current happenings can only result in benefits...