Fair Flight

Chapters

Chapter 1: First Encounters (Scarlet)
Chapter 1: First Encounters (Faith)
Chapter 2: The Couch (Faith)
Chapter 2: The Couch (Scarlet)
Chapter 3: Competition (Faith)
Chapter 3: Competition (Scarlet)
Chapter 4: Old Bonds (Scarlet)
Chapter 4: Old Bonds (Faith)
Chapter 4: Best Laid Plans (Creed)
Chapter 5: And then they Bucked (Scarlet) [NSFW]
Chapter 5: And then they Bucked (Faith) [NSFW]
Chapter 6: Reverie (Faith)
Chapter 6: Reverie (Scarlet)
Chapter 7: Fair Flight (Scarlet)
Chapter 7: Fair Flight (Faith)
Chapter 8: Traitorous Blood (Creed)
Chapter 9: Dirty Deals (Scarlet)
Chapter 9: Dirty Deals (Faith)
Chapter 10: End of a Master (Scarlet)
Chapter 10: End of a Master (Faith)
Chapter 8: Realizations (Scarlet)
Chapter 8: Realizations (Faith)

Chapter 1: First Encounters (Scarlet)

Everything was set. The Creed assassin was on her trail. Pegasi were always so confident of their abilities to kill and that was usually their downfall. Scarlet knew that, giving her high card over anything a Creed assassin could bring to the battle. As an operative of the TWOS, she specialized on working solo, an exceptional case for the group. It was usually necessary for a carefully planned operation and execution of a minimum of three members to eliminate an elite Creed. However, she had proven more than competent in the past few years to do it herself. Scarlet Blast was her own setter, planner and lure.

However, this had been no ordinary encounter from the start. Any Creed member would have tried killing her without blinking. Not this one. The events of that day had already been strange enough, and to top it up, this odd character made it even stranger. Not for long though, she was nearly on the edge of her playground. She hoped to have a bit of fun before the killing’s been done. The Creed only hired amateurs these days…

***

“Eliminate all hostiles” That was the mission. “Terminate all Creed members in town” That was the objective. “Tear down every unit of their organization.” That was the incentive. “The Creed must fall.” That was the imperative. It was nearly impossible, for a borderline city like Fair-Feather. One of the main economical centers on the edge of the Equestrian Empire and a vital trade route with the Griffin Highlands, it was also a flourishing center of corruption and one of the largest black market branches. The name now stood more as an irony rather than a testimony.

Fair-Feather’s atmosphere was one of mistrust and suspicion. The business was being run by the Trade Guild, an international organization of bankers and merchants, which worked with everything from drug dealing to transportation of weapons. It didn’t matter who you were or what you wanted done… For the right price, anything was possible.

Apart from the Traders, who were the detached economical leaders and only bowed down before bits, two other organizations were vying for control over the Empire. Playing a game of smoke and deceit, a game of blood and betrayal for ages, their conflict was present even in this blooming backwater metropolis.

The Pegasus Creed, an organization of assassins trained from a very young age, was clearly running the show. Its economic prowess was only surpassed by its cunning and agile elite and by their recruitment force. Bureaucrats infiltrated in the country’s system worked through a large network of hospitals, orphanages and help houses. Any child, boy or girl could be taken in, but the ones who survived the training were the ones deemed for destinies as assassins. Spread throughout Equestria, little was known about the way they operated, only the higher-ups detaining such knowledge.

The underdog of the war, the Terra-Wasser-Ogon-Sora, a heavily militarized strike force had been valiantly holding against the recent onslaught of assassinations and turncoats. As weak as they were, they still held technological supremacy over the Creed. For every minor technology stolen, the scientists discovered two more major ones. Always on the run for the new, holding the latest devices in bomb arming and disposal, the medieval traps of the Creed were pointless against a TWOS operative. However, it was a rough time and recruits were few and far between, especially ones like Scarlet. She never found a reason for such a name, but she never did question that kind of stuff.

The pegasus had been doing her job properly. In fact, in the past month, two commanding members and a pack of other inferior killers had gone missing. The grip of the Creed was growing weaker over Fair-Feather. They even hired the Guild to take care of Scarlet, but she had her own deal. Every time they sent someone for her, she’d pay higher to lure him in. The rest was her business. A land mine, or a tripwire detonator, a thermal charge or a bullet to the head. They all ended up the same: dead. When the Creed started resorting to the elites, she was ready for them. First, plant some obvious traps, in which she’d lure them in. Then, when avoiding the obvious ones, they would slip in a maze with no way out. It was a win-win situation.

However, the assassin she was stalking now was different. She made it obvious she had been stalking him for quite a while, trying to get him in one of her classical traps: an old building, full of her most basic designs, concealing the true identity of the killer: A two-stage thermal detonator, built to incinerate a building and everyone inside in less than a minute. However, the assassin was either too dumb, or too confident of himself. She watched him from a distance go on a back alley, meeting another cloaked pony. The two exchanged words for several seconds

Then, something unexpected happened. The latter drew his blade shortly and slashed at his “houseguest”. Moving like a shadow in his cloak, the other assassin parried the blade sliding under the first one. Moments later, blood was gushing out of a fresh wound below his jawbone, as the figure slowly shook and limped to the floor. The element of surprise is mine. Diving towards the figure, the orange pegasus landed in front of her prey. It was only when Scarlet landed in front of the cloaked pony that she saw: the pegasus in front of her was a mare.

It made no difference. She was a Creed member, she had to die. The red pegasus locked her target and fired three consecutive shots at the cloaked figure. Surprisingly enough, she had underestimated the mare’s agility, managing to dodge all three bullets, only one of them puncturing a hole in her cape. Her wings, weaving a deathly dance in the air, in complete resonance with her whole body. That damn amateur, who couldn’t figure out Scarlet was following her for half an hour was finally going to put her down.

Yet the killing blow never came. The blade stopped a few millimeters away from her neck. A blade she hadn’t seen, until it was too late, was now edging close to her throat, ready to strike. The Creed assassin hesitated! Looking her in the eyes, all she could see was the cold eyes of a killer. The calculated look, much like her own, determined her next move. “Creed scum.” Scarlet hissed through her teeth, firing her gun. The shot was point blank. Scarlet never, ever missed a point blank shot. By now, the TWOS operative was wondering if it was her own faulty aim or the speed with which the pegasus executed her dodge that deflected the bullet from its destination.

The bladed pony sidestepped next to the orange mare, keeping the bracer blade close, but still not striking her down. She seemed as confused and stricken as her, and asked her in a low, almost whispered voice “What’s so special about you anyways?” Her hood was now down, and Scarlet looked for her glaring features. However, she matched none of the Creed members she had been tasked to eliminate. It doesn’t matter. Now’s my chance.

Raising her wing, Scarlet revealed a strap containing several hoof-held explosives. “Me? I’m the one who kills you!” With a single, flawlessly executed beat, she sent a hoof grenade, armed and ticking towards the assassin’s hood. 20… 19… The techie never knew what happened next, for in the time she took to blink, she found herself with a blade at her throat, her wings being held tightly by a strong, slender, hoof.

“Dead ponies don't get answers and I've got far too many questions.”

What? Does she seriously believe what she’s saying? Damn amateur. The grenade… Quickly taking a look around, she saw the explosive not too far away from their hooves. 11… 10 Just stall a bit… “And what makes you think I’m the one to answer them?”

“You're on the other side of an elite kill order. Best place to sta…” Her last word was covered by the grenade’s explosion, knocking both pegasi to the ground. Only expected… Scarlet broke free from the assassin’s grip, flipping over her body, landing upright a few feet away from her opponent.

“Sorry to disappoint. I'm no turncoat.” She raised her gun, strapped to her hoof and aimed for the head. A certain kill. Come on, Scar. You’ve done this loads of time before. Pull the trigger. Yet her hoof remained raised, on the gun’s button. She had never killed a mare before, she thought. Upset with herself, she lowered the gun as the assassin tried to bring herself upwards. Maybe she’s more fun than the rest. It’s been a while since I used my toys fully. “You want answers? Come get them!”

Moments later, the chase was on. She had set a few booby traps on the road to her main surprise as well. Left. Down. Turn. Left. Navigating the slums of Fair-Feather in flight was a challenge, especially when every wall had somehow been wired by her before. There was no way that upstart assassin could avoid them all. And if she did… Then it’s just gonna get better.

***

Five minutes have passed, yet she hasn’t set anything off yet. She might actually be one to face her end in a blaze of glory. Scarlet monitored the area from above, in the shadows. None of her obvious traps had been set off, so her follower was not another of the idiots she had faced so many times before. Yet, thinking back upon it, something bothered her.

Why didn’t I pull the trigger? I could have ended it right there. And since when do Creed members take prisoners for interrogation? Maybe they really are desperate for Fair-feather. Even having dissensions in their own ranks, that’s unprecedented in their history. I need to consult HQ about this.

While lost in the stream of her own thoughts, she saw smoke coming from somewhere in the northwest. The thermal detonator had been ignited, there was no way one could detect the sensors in the building. Yet she needed to make sure. Four minutes until the fire brigade arrive. There was more than enough time left for a quick check. Landing besides the rubble and smoke, she set a gas mask on her face, patiently going in the smokescreen.

Looking around, all she saw was rubble and debris. But there was something more. A bracer blade, sticking out through the ruined blocks could be seen clearly. It might’ve fell off during the panic. No assassin ever leaves without it. She must be dead, somewhere in there. Assured she had made a good job, Scarlet took the bracer, putting it in one of her backpacks, turning away with a smile. She was right about one thing. Dead ponies don’t get answers.

Chapter 1: First Encounters (Faith)

“Silly pony, you can’t even imagine what’s on the other side of those questions.” Of course, those had been the last words he would have ever spoken and the beginning of her deadly dance with a clock. All she had now, was the familiar bit of paper she had taken from him. A kill order, on the other end of that was her next clue. A name, a face, and a stalker. Okay, the last one wasn’t so much to do with the kill order.

She bit, and held her breath, counting carefully. 4, 5, 6. The blood washed into her mouth, the usual metallic taste gaining an acidic quality to it. 10, 11, 12. She continued trying to coax more of the horrid substance out. It was poorly mixed, and barely qualified as a paralytic. 17, 18, 19. No good, her tongue was starting to get numb from it. She had underestimated the amount of time it had had to spread. She wasn’t going to get it all. 22, 23... She was finally forced to remove her mouth, blood dripping down her hoof and spat out of her mouth. Any longer and she would have ended up ingesting it, with much the same undesired effect as having it inside her.

It wasn’t all of it, but it was enough to slow the spread considerably. She had time now, time enough to worry about her two other concerns. One rested on the piece of paper, the other was more immediate. So, with little time to read the full information on the kill order, she settled for a cursory glance at the pony that had become her next target. It was a mare, above average by many accounts, but nothing that Faith hadn’t killed before.

It wasn’t more than a few moments later that Faith was forced to deal with her other problem. She supposed it was too much to ask the pony who had been stalking her incompetent prey to simply go home. Then again, as she looked over her stalker, sometimes gifts do just fall out of the sky. The very target of the kill order was actually in front of her. Poisoned or no, it was cocky of her to assume she could stand toe to toe with an elite fighter, but it was also just what Faith had been hoping for. The sincere smile on her face completely masked by the shadows cast by the hood she could never let herself remove.

As the cocky mare in front of her drew, Faith’s breathing found a new synchronization. Exhale, dash, exhale, turn, exhale, revolve, it was a dance that critically sped up her clock, but her opponent wasn’t aiming to miss. By this time, instincts kicked in, she danced and wove with the aid of her wings, breathing effortlessly in time with her opponent's movements. Before she even took a moment to mentally blink she had already let the spring loaded blade attached to her hoof extend. Within feet, a few careful dance steps, she would have the blade dug into her partner’s supple throat.

Except, she did something completely unbecoming. She hesitated. Not a slight hesitation that might turn a killing blow into a scrape. A full hesitation that could cost her life. How many times had that very blade tasted blood without error? More times than she could even count anymore, but it wasn’t a blade to do anything but kill. Dead ponies didn’t answer questions. Dead ponies, did, however, hesitate.

Painstaking moments raced by, the blade held taught a mere dance’s breath away from its precious reward. Faith carefully searched the eyes, then features of her partner. There had to be something there, another method or path without the blade severing another thread of fate.

“Creed scum,” It was instant, and displayed the full force of a rage Faith didn’t have time to understand as the bullet unloaded point blank. The breath that had been held perilously long exhaled as she dashed. To most it would have been an unparalleled feat of agility to dodge the bullet, to Faith it was a twofold disaster. Killers didn’t let their prey fire a second time, and elites didn’t let a feather get grazed by a bullet.

She circled slightly, every nerve telling her to bring the blade down and every thought fighting that. A second look over, this time lingering. Good aim, a few nice tricks, but what made a mare like this worthy of a kill order? She had the first important question, fight or no, “What makes you so special, anyway?”

A quick flash, barely registering in her eyes, “Me? I’m the one who kills you!” It was only a heartbeat, but it was enough. The explosive launched towards her and instinct took over again. Adrenaline pushing the remaining toxin faster and faster, forcing her body to perfect action. She ducked the grenade and dashed forward wrapping her hooves delicately around her partner’s wings and bringing the blade back to its place of honor. Another hesitation, father would be ashamed of her refusal to end it.

“Dead ponies don’t get answers and I’ve got far too many questions,” That’s right, that’s the only reason you hesitate. Precious seconds ticked by, her hoof tingling, screaming for some kind of relief. She should have paid more attention to the explosive, a third mistake would just be foolish.

“What makes you think I’m the one to answer them?”

“You’re on the other side of an elite kill order. Best place to sta....” Stupid, stupid, stupid. The explosion wrung up, throwing both of them and completely knocking the wind out of Faith. Before she could fully recover the mare was already out of her grip and away. Worse yet, her vision felt as if it had been stabbed by three carrots and a halberd.

“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not turncoat.” The voice, focus on the voice, the sounds of breathing. Faith tried to imagine that she could still dodge effectively with only blurry sight, but her enemy was near perfect aim. Even paying close attention to the sounds, she would only have the sound of the trigger to warn her and by then it would be too late. But, the sound never came.

“You want answers, come and get them!” The voice wrung out, clear as day. Why would such unbridled hatred give her a second chance? Even like that, though, she lost every advantage she could have in the forty-five seconds before her vision stabilized. The deadly clock continuing to tick down from her hoof as she gave chase.

Trip wire, blasting cap, pressure sensor on the next wall. Gah! The hoof itched, this time twitching involuntarily and almost triggering yet another trap. She stopped, rubbing the small scrape and subsequent bite marks. The traps were rudimentary and obviously placed, a textbook to avoid, but Faith was on a clock now. Her last clue was running and she couldn’t afford to break back to deal with her little problem. A cold trail at this point might as well mean starting from square one all over again. Then again, another spasm like that and, obvious or no, she might be looking for her answers from the grave. No, death would have to wait just a little bit longer.

“Death answers to the Creed, Faith, remember that.” Father had taught that, Creed mastered death. They mastered every aspect and nuance, employing it like a second-rate carpenter. The movements of a Creed were what gave that death elegance. And, by the same movements, they made themselves immortal. And yet, she was alone now, completely alone. But, she was still everything she had been trained to be.

That left one option, one she desperately didn’t like, but it was the fastest route. No pony goes to this trouble to not check the efficiency of their work. Two blocks forward, and a few extra maneuvers later, the optimal point was located. A thermal charge attached to a more or less condemned building. It was far better concealed than the rest of the devices, likely the true target of the chase. The vantage points were perfect too, with a little repositioning, and a few additives she had found lying around on the trip, this would be a light show the entire city would see.

Finally, the trip wire was set next to the detonator. She pulled the wire to the front of the building, standing for only a few seconds to admire her handy work. Standing was becoming difficult now, her one hoof being almost unable to withstand any force put on it. No, she was not going to let some pathetically weak toxin developed by a useless dead pony be the end of her. She would finish this in time, she had to. Finally, she pulled.

Seconds later the entire building erupted in flames and ash signalling what would surely be an unrivalled victory. Large chunks of rubble cascaded downwards from three of the sides leaving only her side intact. The dust and smoke from the collapse helped to create her perfect playground. Visibility would be less than a pony length soon, enough to make up for her slowing movements.

Even as the flames danced in her eyes, the clock continued to tick down. 28, 29, 30. It was a simple trick, but sometimes they are the most effective. Slow the breath, slow the blood, slow the spread. She turned, watching amidst the panic and rubble, scanning for the figure she expected. More than that, she still had one thing left to do.

It hurt more than she imagined, not because of the toxin, but because she almost never removed her blade on a mission. As she tossed it into the rubble, just so that the fire would catch the reflective edge of the bangle, the message was clear. For her, I’ll do this without killing. For her prey, The pony is dead. For the both of them, I can take you without a weapon.

Chapter 2: The Couch (Faith)

Her stomach growled in protest as another pill was quickly retrieved from her bags. It had no taste, but, of course, it wouldn’t light itself on fire either. In reality it was a potent mix, good for staving off malnutrition and hunger for eight hours at a time, a Creed soldier’s greatest weapon. They didn’t have to get hungry, and if needed, could stave off drowsiness as well. For a dead pony like Faith, this was a necessity.

Over the last day and a half, she had relentlessly tracked her prey. This was far different than simple rooftop following, Faith was better than that. She was the shadow in the nook between buildings, the mare on the side corner carefully selecting roses, or the blind colt begging for a few bits for his morning meal. All the while memorizing patterns, setting points, and preparing. This confrontation was going to be different. She’d promised herself, no killing.

As the sun set over her second day like that she checked all the preparations. Her carefully rigged entrance let right into her prey’s ceiling, it had been set to be silent. She loaded two simple darts into the hoof mounted device. It was elegant in its simplicity, capable of loading six darts at a time, each carrying the payload with lethal accuracy. These two, however, were all she needed. The mare would be asleep before she felt the prick. Even the building had been rigged in case plan A failed, nothing was left to chance.

Bathrooms had simple gas canisters rigged, hallways were lined with paralytics, even the couch had been painstakingly coated with an adhesive today. This was her perfect element and she never failed twice.

The minutes ticked by until the shadowy assassin finally heard the familiar clicks of latches turning. She had intended to fire off the darts the second that mare was within view, but fate had other plans. The mare had secluded herself in the bathroom before Faith had time for an accurate shot. The poor thing must have been planning to unwind. Well, she would have to unwind into a drug induced sleep. Still, never overestimate yourself. That was rule 2.

There was only one safe zone left, even if her prey made it out of the trap, the door out. Faith silently drifted down, landing without more than a silent plop in front of it. She had effectively sealed the mare’s one refuge into a nightmare of traps and terror. Seconds later the familiar hiss of the canisters was accompanied by a frenzied rush. The door to the washroom burst open with the still soaked pegasus in a full panic.

Faith had to admit, if not for the gas mask now adorning her face, it wouldn’t have been a bad sight. But, this time Faith wasn’t about to hesitate. Her hoof shot up, flexing instinctively to trigger the pressure switch on the inside. It was a fluid motion, releasing the dart in an instance as it flew towards the soaked mare.

If she hadn’t stopped and turned the dart would have embedded itself squarely into her neck, but Faith could only admire as it whipped only hairs from her and through that still soaked mane. This mare definitely had fluid movement and agility, almost as good as her own. That meant very little, though. This was still a playground of hidden traps she was darting into. The paralytics were next.

Panic does things to even the most seasoned veterans, this was no different. This soaked and panicked mare rushed straight onto one of the caltrops before noticing them at all. It was almost poetic, that hoof would be entirely useless in less than a minute, and yet she still ran. The last dart was unloaded, more for the fear factor than to actually end this. It was little surprise when it found itself in the door. Then again, Faith was inside her opponent’s mind now. The path was obvious, dart for the window, use the couch for extra push considering the crippled hoof. The couch which had been so thoroughly prepared. It was almost fun for her to take the slow walk to the door, with the struggling taking place on the other side.

There was an obvious hiss of anger as the door creaked open, “You did NOT just mess with my favourite couch!”

Of course she had, she had messed with the entire apartment, and yet the couch deserved this kind of hatred? Faith would never understand some mares. Even so, she wanted this to be a bit more comfortable, well, comfortable looking. She took careful precision to remove the gas mask softly and with compassion, peeling it gracefully away from the mare’s features. She then placed a hoof and forced her into a more comfortable looking sitting position rather than standing on the couch. Of course, the adhesive meant she would be stuck fast and less comfortable than normal. But, it was more comfortable for Faith to look at and gave her prey the illusion of a normal situation. Interrogation Rule 1: Make your target feel comfortable and safe.

“Relax, you’re quite lucky, you know.”

“Lucky? Just let me out of here. You'll be the lucky one if your body is still in one piece after you messed with Bubbles.” Okay, making her feel comfortable might be a little harder than she imagined. What kind of a pony names a couch, anyway? The same kind who attempted to tackle a pony while firmly stuck to a couch.

Faith thought strongly about laughing in the mare’s face, but that wasn’t likely to endear the two of them. Maybe a different route was in order? A small glass of water was pulled out of her bags from which she began to drink slowly until the thrashing began to settle down a bit, “Would you like some?”

Wrong path, definitely wrong path. The struggling picked up again, leaving Faith to drink in silence until it started to die down again, “Look, this doesn’t have to be hard. I just want a few answers.”

“Then you’ll kill me?” Normally, yes. Her anger was understandable, but it didn’t make the process any easier between the two. Back and forth quips were not going to solve anything. On the other hand, she was slowly calming down. Reason couldn’t be that far behind, could it, “I don’t need to answer to mares like you.”

“No, you’re really quite lucky in that respect.” Faith wasn’t lying. She really had no desire to kill the mare in front of her. Now, all she had to do was convince her of the same thing.

“I don’t believe you. You’re Creed. Now, just finish it.” Okay, this was getting tiresome. Even worse, every time this pony said Creed Faith got an earful of the hatred she held. It shouldn’t have bothered her that much, but everything was different now. There was a part of her that understood the anger, and a different part that desperately wanted to cut out the mares tongue. She refrained from the latter, though.

“You get to be the first pony who's ever walked away from an elite kill order,” She wanted to be a kinder hostess, offering the water for another time. Of course, it actually ended more along the lines of shoving the water down the already soaked orange mare’s mouth. Maybe she wasn’t completely over everything, “So, why not just co-operate?”

She spat the water back out with vigour, thoroughly covering Faith’s hoof and a bit of her chest, “What the hell is this? Fridge, all the door drawer is full of it. Bring over one bottle, then we talk.” Okay, maybe the spitting was moderately deserved, but since when did captives demand their own treatment? It didn’t matter, though. Information first, anger later.

“I try to be hospitable and I get spit on. I’ll never understand mares.” It was more for dramatic flair than it was to make any kind of point. Faith hoped she could at least get some sympathy out of the mare. That could easily work in her favour. But, instead, nothing as she left the room. It really would have been too much to ask for this to go smoothly. On top of it all, it seemed most of the fridge’s contents were various types of liquor.

Another thing I’ll never understand. Liquor only dulls the senses. Still, she grudgingly took a clear bottle with an interesting label out of the fridge. She gave it a cursory sniff and proceeded to close the cap back tightly. There was no way that was worth trying, but if it helped the situation. Well, she would return with it anyway.

“So, can we try this again now,” The door creaked shut behind her and she made her way back over to the couch, brandishing the gaudy liquid, “Or do we have to do this the normal way?”

The normal way, for reference, usually involved flaying off little patches of flesh in an ever more eccentric pattern until the subject gave up the information or passed out. It was most Creed’s favourite interrogation method, but it often fell short in comparison to what Faith had been taught.

“Is the creed really that desperate. Tracking down the only killer in Fair-feather just to ask her of her welfare and info, then just let me live?”

Faith set the bottle down with a loud slam in an effort to detract from the questions. There was little point in giving up information, “What do you know about the Hooftail division of Creed?”

It was a simple question. Honestly, it was to test the waters, to see if she could even be useful at all. That, and, Faith wanted a trip down memory lane, “Not much. They operate here in Fair-feather, along with the Shadowbrands.”

“Hooftail and Shadowbrand have been given operating dominion over the Griffon border, starting with Fair-feather. Not like we’ll ever have the honor of running into such esteemed groups out here in the boonies.” It had been a joke, of course. Lore was an elite division. An elite division cloaked in a cover of a cover of a simple intelligence section. But, father had always had a very modest sense of humour.

The strong liquid graced the pegasus’ mouth, allowing her to drink while the next question was posed, “And, what about Lore division?”

“Much better.” She drank down the horrid substance in a way Faith would never understand before continuing, “They’re intel gatherers. But I guess you knew that already.”

“Yeah, I suppose I did,” Of course this was, at best, a half truth. Memory lane was a cruel mistress. And she paused with the memories.

“A Creed serves Equestria above all else. We do the things others can not. More importantly, to take the life of another Creed member is our biggest taboo.” Father again, he always spoke so eloquently. So, where was all that heroic talk now? Where was the strong and noble Creed and what had this Creed done to it? No matter, she could still remember the kill order she found clear as day. She would commit the taboo, but she would not have been the first.

“Well, that's enough about the past, I suppose. Let's go with something easy. A meeting place or gathering ground for anypony in Hooftail?”

“You're the Creed member. You tell me.”

Of course this wasn’t going to be easy. Nothing with this damnable mare ever was, “I’m not here to explain myself. I’m here for information.”

Okay, that one came out a lot sterner than she had hoped for. The memories that led her here were still a little fresh in her mind. Instead of an impartial executioner, this time had made her an instrument of retribution. It was harder to maintain composure like that, “Information I don’t have. I just pick them off one by one.”

“Then I suppose you’re useless to me,” Faith had to get this conversation back. She tried offering another drink, readily accepted, in order to coax even the slightest morsel of information. A little bit could start the process, “Just tell me what you do know. Any decently high ranked member.”

“I’m sorry, I would rather die before I do that.”

That damnable mare! She didn’t get it at all. No, of course she didn’t. No pony could get something that had never been explained to them. The rage subsided again and she tried being calming once more, “You would rather die before giving up a Creed member?”

“I'd rather die before giving info to a creed. What's up with you, anyway? Civil war?”

There it was again. She was trying to steer the conversation. But, this line of questioning might be perfect to score a little sympathy. No, a Creed is a Creed is a Creed. No outsider was going to understand what it meant to have every pony you knew and grew up with slaughtered on a kill order. No amount of telling a story was going to get rid of her hate, “It. It isn’t important.”

“Then why do you want to know?” She pushed for the information, harder, and yet gentler this time. But, there wasn’t anything that was going to change Faith’s mind.

“That's my business. Besides, you shouldn't look a gift pony in the mouth.” Nothing. This pony was stubborn to a fault. What was left. What could Faith exploit?

“So I guess that's it then?” That last little bit of inspiration finally struck. She didn’t like the idea, mostly because it felt stupid, but it was the best shot at her information.

“I suppose,” A small dagger was quickly drawn from her bags. Not as elegant as the hoof bracer, but it would serve a very effective purpose as it dangled above the couch. That precious couch, Mr. Bubbles, “You sure you don’t have anything to tell me?”

That was it, all the mare’s bravado and questioning broke down in an inelegant squeal as she feared for, of all things, a couch, “No...Not Bubbles! You wouldn’t dare!”

Faith would never understand mares. But, she couldn’t help the giggles from erupting. It had been so long since she’d had the leisure to laugh, even if it was a short one, ”I will never, never, understand mares.”

She paused briefly, trying to compose herself from the giggling fit before placing the tip of her dagger to the couch as if she was going to kill some pony who might hide inside, “Come on, think about it. You get to keep the couch and help your cause at the same time.”

“Don't touch it! I'll... I'll... Fine” Faith had done it. She’d won a battle of wits with a couch. Not her finest moment, but she would take any victory she could get.

“I took out two of the Hooftail elites, but their master is still around.” It was impressive to hear of a single pegasus, no matter who they worked for, taking out two elites. On the other hand, from what Faith had experienced the other night, these elites certainly didn’t live up to the name.

“A location would be nice.”

“I don't know where he is, but when he walks around, he's escorted by a detachment of upstarts. At least thirty,” What arrogance. Faith had never heard of a master who would be stupid enough to bring escorts. Creed were assassins, to parade them around was sheer lunacy, “He's also accompanied by the three specialists in the order.”

“Normally I would assume I wouldn't be able to tell the escorts from regular ponies,” There wasn’t any point in this, but she felt better verbally belittling such actions, “But they don't seem that skilled here.”

“I suppose that’s all you’ve got for me, right?” Faith tried prodding again, just a little reminder that there was always more to be said. She didn’t even really need the knife anymore.

“The Trade Guild has a two sided deal. The Shadowbrand’s spin massive amounts of money to bring in new recruits and weapons. Even poison material,” It didn’t really surprise her. Even if Shadowbrand wasn’t her target, they would likely have to be dealt with eventually, “However, they never sold me out. I'm too small of a problem and casualties make profit.”

She should be thankful, it was the perfect amount of information and just enough to allow her to keep out of having to face two divisions at once. This mare, she might have been weird, but at least she was helpful, “I’ll deal with them later. But, maybe I can make use of them. In either case, you’ve given me enough to track them. Thank you.”

Oh, this was a red letter day. Faith was not only going to let this mare live, but she even thanked her. There must have been something wrong in her mind. Of course, planning to eliminate two divisions on your own might have been the first clue.

“Yeah yeah. If you're so desperate to kill them, then why not let me do my damn work?”

“ I've got my reasons. Just like I've got my reasons for letting you live.” Those reasons...Hell if I know what they are. It wasn’t a full lie. Honestly, she did have one reason for letting that orange mare live, but it felt more like an excuse than the real reason.

“Name one of each.” Pushing again, but this time Faith was more than happy to oblige an answer.

“I'm about to destroy a taint and become something horrible in the process. If you want a reason for you to live, it's because Hooftail wants you dead.” It was true, to some extents. She did see Hooftail as completely tainted. The orders from such a division might as well have gone against Creed doctrine itself. But, wasn’t all that just an excuse? Surely, killing this mare meant less than nothing to an experienced and elite Creed.

“You know... Next time we meet, we're still enemies.” We are, aren’t we?

She finally removed the solvent bottle from her bags and dumped it all over the mare and the couch to remove the adhesive. It was slow acting, designed that way to give her a long enough head start, “It should take about an hour, maybe less if you're lucky.”

Of course, part of it was a lie. There was no reason to dump the solvent over her captive, just pouring on the couch where she was attached would have done the trick. Maybe she just looks better with a wet mane, “I'm killing you for what you did to bubbles...”

“If I wanted advice, I'd have went to church a long time ago,” Religion had no place on the battlefield, but the message was clear. She had no intention of leaving, whether it was safe or not, “I'm leaving when the creed are dead. Including you, couch profaner.”

Faith turned away, leaving her conversation buddy to wallow while the solvent worked, “Take it easy. When I'm done they will be.”

Of course, what she had meant to say was, Don’t die. Not that it mattered, but there was not a pony left in this world to even name the grave she would leave behind. A little memory wouldn’t have been a bad thing at all. Even if they never would meet again.

Chapter 2: The Couch (Scarlet)

Chapter 2- Scarlet

The following day and a half had been uneventful for Scarlet. For one, she liquidated two more Creed members in a single run, making them trip on her sawblade launcher, set at the edge of the town. Fair-feather had become a dangerous place. You never knew when the next disaster would occur, so you had to be prepared at every turn. It didn’t hurt planning traps ahead, did it?

The caffeine pills she had been taking were starting to show their toll. After two days of sleepless nights, the techie was almost finished with her own bracer blade prototype. Using parts from all the bracers she acquired, she managed to rig her hoof gun to the frame taken from the latest elite kill. Elite bracers had lighter frames and thus were more efficient to work on. Before long, Scarlet made a simple bracer blade into a blade and multi-purpose projectile launcher. From mini-bombs to bullets, smokescreens and smart missiles, it was a heaven of choices. However, the launcher only supported one modification at a time, making it bulky to change during combat. Maybe she’d make it perfect later.

However, now it was time for some sleep. Not even the caffeine helped anymore. Scarlet was tired and everyone could see it. Leaving her workbench early, the techie headed to the only place she could call home: a makeshift apartment in an old house, with a bit of rebuilding it had become a rich colt’s dream: Self-flushing bathrooms, a radio set for VinylFm, and a very comfy water couch. She could just feel herself sink in it… I think I can afford sleeping until… Tomorrow evening. The Creed can wait.

Removing the deadlock, she entered the apartment. Ahh… Home sweet home! First of all, Scar checked for an answer to the message sent to HQ. None had been received. Lazy flanked bureaucrats… The next thing she wanted to do was take a warm bubble bath. Leaving her saddlebag by the tub, she sunk in as the water started pouring. It felt so good, she’d have never left the bathroom. At least, not for the next few hours.

However, something was wrong… Looking around, something had been changed since she last was here… A feeling of unease caught up to her whilst scanning the surroundings. The canisters. They were not here before. Before she could realize, a thick, green gas started pouring out of them. There was no time to think. Jumping out of the tub, still wet, mane hanging, she reached for the gas mask in her saddlebag. And not a moment too soon, for the gas engulfed her right after the filter was on.

Not thinking twice, she jolted for the entrance, without taking her bags. Turning towards the door, she saw… Her. This… This can’t be! Turning her head, Scarlet could hear the dart ring past her ear. Hadn’t she moved, it would have found its place in the side of her neck. It didn’t matter, she had to escape. The window was the obvious choice. Running down the hallway, she didn’t see the small, paralytic caltrops until it was too late. One had dug into her hoof. The light poison started making its effect as she continued running, avoiding the rest of the spikes and stumbling in her own hooves.

She was almost there. Closing the door to the living room behind, she heard yet another dart stick in the closed door. She was saved. The window was open, as always. Her couch usually served pretty well as a trampoline. Jumping on it, Scarlet spread her wings and… Fell back to her couch. She tried standing up, yet none of her limbs listened. She was glued to it, literally. She heard the assassin walk up behind her, and spat with a tone full of despise “You did NOT just mess with my favorite couch!”

“Relax, you’re quite lucky, you know?” the voice echoed. Steady, calculated, as always. Scarlet tried to fight the grip of her beloved couch, yet she only sunk more inside. The assassin inched closer, clipping off her gas mask and removing it over her face. It was then when she could finally take a good look at her assailant. She was a brown pegasus, roughly the same age as her. Her short mane complemented her coat gracefully in black and blue. Scarlet was amazed: not only was she the first assassin worthy of her job, she was also good looking!

Her steady hoof pushed Scarlet on the couch, making her sit down. The adhesive stuck to her wings and tail as well. Stuck like a fly on sticky paper. She didn’t have the time to react to all this. She was shocked, no, enraged of what she had done with her couch “Lucky? Just let me out of here. You'll be the lucky one if your body is still in one piece after you messed with Bubbles.” Struggling, Scarlet lunged for the assassin, sticking her mane to the back of the couch.

The cloaked mare took out a glass of liquid from her backpack, and started sipping. The initial wave of rage had dissipated, as the assassin pony addressed her again “Would you like some?” Her cold voice was enough to get Scarlet boiling with rage again, attempting another lunge for her, struggling fruitlessly out of her beloved couches’ grip “Look, this doesn’t have to be hard. I just want a few answers.”

Yeah right. I’ve heard the methods you guys use to get answers. “Then you’ll kill me?” The techie started calming down, knowing she didn’t have much of a choice. She was hopeless. “I don’t need to answer to mares like you.” She had lost everything, soon her life as well. She could still remain with her integrity and dignity.

“No, you’re really quite lucky in that respect.” Does this mare take me for an idiot? Creed never take prisoners. They’re no ponies. They’re tools. If it weren’t for them… They’d still be alive. Yet, her voice was changed. The pegasus showed compassion and in some aspect… mercy. Scarlet was actually ready to believe what the mare said, but yet she was not fully convinced.

“I don’t believe you. You’re Creed. Now, just finish it.” Bowing her head, to the extent she could, she managed to extrude all her spite on that single word. She hated them, she hated her, but now it didn’t matter. It was only a matter of time before the pegasus ran a blade through her throat. Yet the kind voice betrayed her captor’s true intentions, when she spoke.

“You get to be the first pony who's ever walked away from an elite kill order, so why not just co-operate?” It was more of a promise, but then that damned mare approached, sticking the glass of water down her throat. Choking on the unexpected stream of water, Scarlet spat it backwards, wetting Faith from head to toe.

She calls this a drink? What the hay is this rubbish? I only use this to brush teeth in the morning and for baths. Water is not for drinking… Vodka is. “What the hell is this? Fridge, all the door drawer is full of it. Bring over one bottle, then we talk.” It was all she said. And to prove she was serious, the techie looked away and sealed her lips.

Cleaning herself, the assassin went towards the door, going as directed. With what appeared to be a hurt voice, she answered. “I try to be hospitable and I get spit on. I’ll never understand mares.” While she was away, Scarlet couldn’t help mimicking her voice, also poking her tongue out at the unsuspecting pegasus. She returned moments later with a bottle of her cheapest vodka. I guess this will do. I hate non-connoisseurs. “So, can we try this again now, or do we have to do this the normal way?”

Scarlet’s first reflex was to make fun of the situation. This wasn’t the creed she had heard so many tales about. It was a ragtag militia, not even organized enough to support order in their own ranks. “Is the creed really that desperate. Tracking down the only killer in Fair-feather just to ask her of her welfare and info, then just let me live?”

That had obviously upset her, and not in the good way. The brown pegasus slammed the bottle into the table, almost shattering it from the force of the impact. She was trying to avoid the question, using her superiority as the interrogator to obtain her goals. “What do you know about the Hooftail division of Creed?”

Um… Duh. Have you been living in Fair-feather for more than two hours? Damn idiot. I know where they take dumps, let alone whom to kill. The answer came a bit more gracefully “Not much. They operate here in Fair-feather, along with the Shadowbrands.” She had every detail on the two divisions, but she wasn’t planning on giving them away.

Seconds later, the aroma of the liquid invaded her mouth as she took one large drink from the bottle. It feels like I’m drinking sanitary alcohol… But hell it feels good. “And, what about Lore division?” came the next question, without further pause.

This was an actually tricky question. One of the most hidden groups, it had been a pain in the flank for Ogon command for the past century. Lore assassins were never caught alive, neither had their technology and abilities ever been fully recorded. It was better to go with their cover story. The less she appeared to know, the more chances there were she’d get out of this alive and sooner. “Much better”, referring to the vodka, as the burning liquid ran down her throat. “Their intel gatherers. But I guess you knew that already.” That’s right, play dumb. She’s so smugly superior anyways.

“Yeah, I suppose I did,” came the cold, flat answer again. Scarlet was annoyed so much by this type of answers she’d have killed the brown pony where she stood, if she could. “Well, that's enough about the past, I suppose. Let's go with something easy. A meeting place or gathering ground for anypony in Hooftail?”

“You're the Creed member. You tell me.” Of course, let’s see what she knows already.

“I’m not here to explain myself. I’m here for information.” Blunt answer. Somepony, please kill her now. I promise I’ll be a good mare afterwards… Let’s see if she enjoys her own coin back at her, for a change. “Information I don’t have. I just pick them off one by one.”

Apparently, this worked, to her surprise. The interrogator looked down, somehow disappointed. Scarlet thought it’d be harder to fool an elite Creed member. She was wrong yet again, it seems. “Then I suppose you’re useless to me,” Yes! Yes! I’m free. And I’m coming to hunt you down! ““Just tell me what you do know. Any decently high ranked member.”

“I’m sorry, I would rather die before I do that.” She was serious, for the first time in that conversation. She’d have put her life on the line against that information, hooves down. However, the brown mare seemed very dissatisfied with the answer.

“You would rather die before giving up a Creed member?”

Now that you put it that way... No. Still not giving a damn. “I'd rather die before giving info to a Creed. What's up with you, anyway? Civil war?” This actually started to make her a bit curious. Did the Creed have any conflict in its midst? If so, Scarlet could exploit that to her own advantage. Yet, there was something in the pony’s eyes that changed. Her cold look changed to one of sorrow, a moment of weakness in her adversary’s careful defense.

“It. It isn’t important.”

“Then why do you want to know?” This time, she tried adding compassion. She was so close to getting the answers she had been looking for. She was so close to giving away her precious little secret. But the answer came, blunt and dry as a steel hammer hitting a desert dune.

“That's my business. Besides, you shouldn't look a gift pony in the mouth.” Another answer like the former ones. Only expected, by now Scarlet figured her opponent wasn’t dumb. Sadly, she did have a lot of valuable info she wasn’t willing to give.

“So I guess that's it then?”

“I suppose.” Scarlet was waiting for the moment she’d be unstuck again, but the glimmer in the brown mare’s eyes spoke otherwise. Removing a dagger from the bag she had, the abominable assassin turned her attention to the one thing in the room more important than the orange pegasus: Bubbles. Her evil smile betrayed her intentions “You sure you don’t have anything to tell me?”

Yes, her life meant nothing now. Not even her integrity. If she hadn’t been stuck to the couch, the techie would have fell back onto it, light headed. She tried shouting at her to stop, but all that came out was a timid squeal of fear and insecurity. “No...Not Bubbles! You wouldn’t dare!”

The obnoxious creature in the form of a pony burst out in a malefic giggle, as if understanding she had finally found her soft spot. The giggle went on for quite a few seconds, and when the brown mare finally subsided she put the tip of the dagger, without warning on the surface of the couch. “Come on, think about it. You get to keep the couch and help your cause at the same time.”

The next part of the conversation went automatically for Scarlet. Her conservation instincts kicked in, “Don't touch it! I'll... I'll... Fine” ,but she still held onto the important information with her teeth. Not even Bubbles was worth all the intel she had gathered along the month. However, she still couldn’t believe how much the pegasus would get in such a short amount of time. “I took out two of the Hooftail elites, but their master is still around.”

“A location would be nice.”

“I don't know where he is, but when he walks around, he's escorted by a detachment of upstarts. At least thirty,” That was partially a lie. She knew the Hooftail hideouts by heart, but she couldn’t guess the one in which the master was in. “He's also accompanied by the three specialists in the order.” Also a part truth. There were three, but they didn’t always get around with him: the Master of Arms, Master of Shadows and Master of Poisons. The three were the pillars of balance, should the master die unexpectedly.

“Normally I would assume I wouldn't be able to tell the escorts from regular ponies. But they don't seem that skilled here.”

“I suppose that’s all you’ve got for me, right?” The assassin prodded her couch again. One day, I’m going to kill you. She suspected telling her about the Shadowbrands wouldn’t hurt either, since she was after both of them.

“The Trade Guild has a two sided deal. The Shadowbrand’s spin massive amounts of money to bring in new recruits and weapons. Even poison material. However, they never sold me out. I'm too small of a problem and casualties make profit.” That’s all I’m giving her. It should be enough to get a few of their units off my hooves. Scarlet would have almost asked her for help, she wanted to see the mare in action. But she was too proud for that. All in all, she did also ruin her couch as well.

“I’ll deal with them later. But, maybe I can make use of them. In either case, you’ve given me enough to track them. Thank you.” She just… Thanked me? For information I would’ve given up either way in a normal torture? The hell is wrong with Creed these days? They must’ve gotten soft.

This almost gave Scarlet a feat of superiority: “Yeah yeah. If you're so desperate to kill them, then why not let me do my damn work?” The assassin hesitated, again.

“I've got my reasons. Just like I've got my reasons for letting you live.”

You’re not getting away that easily from this one. Give me one proper goddamn answer! “Name one of each.”

“I'm about to destroy a taint and become something horrible in the process. If you want a reason for you to live, it's because Hooftail wants you dead.” I guess those were good enough reasons. She’d have left her alive for the exact same ones as well. But was that true in her own aspect? Or did she want more… No, what could I want more from a Creed? It’s good that they’re pulling out their eyes out as it is.

But Scarlet wanted a parting shot. She wasn’t ready to forgive an attack on her couch so easily. “You know... Next time we meet, we're still enemies.”

The mare took a bottle out of her bags, expressionlessly, and poured it fully onto Scarlet. Gah… Was this really necessary? “It should take about an hour, maybe less if you're lucky.” Yeah, I bet I’m going to be a very lucky mare after today.

“I'm killing you for what you did to Bubbles...” The grudge just wouldn’t go away. She was half joking, half serious. One day, when they met again, she’d make the assassin apologize to him for trying to hurt him. I’m gonna need to dry clean him. Oh, mystery pony, you don’t know who you’re messing with.

“Take it easy, that's the dissolving agent. So, take my advice. For all intents and purposes, you are dead now. Pack up your things, and leave. Find a nice new place and make a life. This place is about to become a hell hole.” Yeah, right. And miss out on a chance to take out two groups by myself? Before I know it, I’ll be the new Sora command.

As an expansion, the TWOS were split in five divisions, each with a special purpose: Terra, which usually got with the logistics and hoof to hoof battles. They were the caravan walkers and usually developed speed enhancements and close range weapons. Wasser was the backbone of the economic expansion. Even though they didn’t match the Creed, their prosperity came from dealing with overseas nations.

In the end, Ogon and Sora, the fighting divisions, were the ones in charge. Always in competition, the two raced in kill orders and Creed elimination, their rivalry sometimes threatening to erupt out of control. Luckily, the Conflux division was the one to keep things running. Conflux, or HQ, were the ones calling the shots and wether they liked it or not, everyone had to obey.

Scarlet wasn’t going to kick this chance over for anything in the world. “If I wanted advice, I'd have gone to church a long time ago. I'm leaving when the creed are dead. Including you, couch profaner.”This should make my message clear. Again, something not entirely true. She no longer had the intention to kill the brown mare.

The shadowy assailant turned away, leaving her final words behind. “Take it easy. When I'm done they will be.” Wait. I can help. No, she wouldn’t give her that satisfaction. Assassins work alone, and so do I. Either way, I would’ve liked to know her name. The techie fell in a deep state of contemplation, as the solvent did its work. I survived an elite kill order…

Chapter 3: Competition (Faith)

2:30. Preparation was everything to an assassin. Creed were skilled fighters and unbelievably agile, but above all else they were tacticians. Faith had been given an opponent who was studious to a fault, a Creed who believed himself untouchable. His strict schedule was perfect, though, and now she only had to wait.

Slips of paper were laid onto the ground in front of her. She had time, time enough to play a little game. One by one each paper was turned over, from the back they looked rather plain. Each of them marked with the familiar brand of a different, valid, backing company. All of them except one, of couse, but she purposefully arranged the papers allowing that one to be last. The rest she mixed up, not caring particularly about the order.

Raintail. The first paper was flipped over revealing the mottled grey pegasus’ dossier. He had always been simple to a fault, she still remembered how proud he had been when he got his first solo mission. But, he’d always seemed to belong in the sky more. Dawn Blade. This one was a little tougher to look at. She’d always been as much a rival as a sister. Honestly, it could have been just as easily her sitting there instead of Faith.

Star Dancer, Mist, Crash Down. Order after order was flipped. She hated to admit it, but it got easier as they went along. It became more ritual than commemoration. Each thought getting shorter and shorter. Once or twice, she even had to pause, forcing herself to remember these weren’t just ordinary kill orders.

2:40. Just Faith. She finally reached her own paper. It was pointless to recount memories about oneself, so she glanced over it instead. The picture was old, maybe a year or two, from just after that deep cover job. Her mane had been so much longer then; begrudgingly she had to admit it looked more appropriate for her build. But, she wasn’t a mare, she was a Creed. Even the Dossier spoke of that.

Elite assassin: Class X1. Security clearance; Lore Division clearance Specialist. Read into active programs: Dawnbringer, Candy Stripe, Discord, Catfish, and Blademaster. Physical level: Top Conditioning. Specialization: Hoof-to-hoof combat and herbology. Expected to succeed current master of Lore Division. Recommended dispatch method: Wide area explosive charge with low level members as bait.

2:45. Faith finally moved away from her paper. The past was pointless, remembering that she was only a pile of skills and abilities was just as pointless. Scarlet Blast. That was right, that pegasus’ kill order was here as well. In all honesty, Faith had never actually read it, just enough for the basics. Why not? It was the last order before the ending and she had time. One thing had to be admitted. Even if it was just from the pictures, there was no competition for the mare. Her own picture had been taken just after a cover where she had been expected to be highly attractive and yet she felt ashamed putting them in the same context. This Scarlet on the other hoof, was only photographed coming out of what seemed to be a bakery. Red on blue, and a mane that looked like, well, was there actually a way to properly describe that? Wait, an assassin doesn’t care about appearances. Not that thinking that made it any easier, but it did allow her to go back to the actual dossier.

TWOS operative under Sora command. Highly proficient with explosive charges and traps. Expected above average tactical capacity. Physical level: Non-threatening. Critical knowledge: Not suspected. Recommended dispatch method: Poisoned food or baited physical combat. Do not allow prey to lead you.

These kill orders were getting amateurish. Faith knew from experience already they were lacking most from this one. It wasn’t surprising this mare had survived as long as she had. That being said, that night Faith took this order probably would have been her last night breathing.

2:55. The last order was finally flipped over. Father. Faith had thought she had been ready, but she was wrong. This wasn’t the time, she still wasn’t ready to come to terms with the kill order for her master. These weren’t just kill orders any more, though. They were gravestones. Important objects of memory for those that left no memory. She would be their memory, and their memorial would be the destruction of Hooftail.

3:00. It was time, she didn’t even have to watch by now. She knew the schedule by heartbeat. The alley she had been standing in was exited with no particular hurry. She was a simple school filly, for the time being. 1, 2, 3. She walked past the first few escorts, clad almost perfectly in Creed gear, then pretended to stumble, knocking into the fourth.

“Watch it, don’t you have any respect?” The colt seemed furious and shoved her away, into guard number 3. The plan was without flaw, as she stumbled into the guard her newly constructed bracer extended. It wasn’t as good as the one she had given up to rubble, but it would do the job. The guard didn’t even feel it, the blade sliced into his side. He wouldn’t even be dead for another full minute.

“I wonder what kind of fun we could have with a school filly like this!” He grabbed her, the blade completely concealed again and threw her further into the group. Faith’s eyes mimicked the fear her cover demanded out of her, pleas and whimpers escaping until just the right moment. The guard from earlier collapsed into his own blood.

There was a commotion, scrambling and mad searching. Some pony had dared to take a guard out while they were focusing on tormenting their prey. Of course, not a one seemed to realize, she was about to extend the blade again and remove their master in broad daylight.

Understand, you are powerless against retribution. Have all your power and fearsome presence erased in one blade strike. It no longer mattered if the rest of the plan went properly. Faith was going to provide a show Hooftail could never recover from. She could die afterwards if need be.

Moments later a dart embedded itself into the pony’s neck, his visage whipping around to check on the location of their assailant. Not now, not like this. His twisting and contorting didn’t matter, the blade found his neck with no problem. What did matter, however, was that Faith didn’t want to be attributed to anypony else. She would deal with her accomplice later.

The black cloak of her target and her own disguised became stained in blood, she quickly grabbed the dart out of the elderly pony’s neck. This was her job. Let that mare brag about it to her command all she wanted, but Faith’s work wasn’t about to be chopped up to some other organization. The wrapped up piece of paper slipped off revealing the cocky words imprinted on it. Kill Count? Hell, I’ll show you a kill count.

Not that anger and bravado mattered at this point. The damage had already been done. The words rang out from the group, “SNIP...” Faith wasn’t playing for bits, two more of the escort fell as the remaining tried to rally around her. Soon afterwards explosions littered the rooftops, launching rubble into the already tense fray.

Several of the less agile members of the guard were crushed underneath the rubble while the rest of the group became separated. Small squads began forming to try and take out their targets, but the confusion was working against them. Groups came at her over the rubble, two or three at a time, but it wasn’t enough. Amidst explosions and dins akin to a war zone ponies breathed their last breaths from the single blade. It worked to her advantage quite well. Honestly, twenty-eight at once would have been a little tough, but small groups like this...Well, she was up to thirteen now, and it was about to be 17.

Shing! Metal slid along the edge of her blade seconds before she descended upon the next group. The pony had wasted no time in parrying her blade, still panting from the forced descent, but Faith still had a lot left in her. Carefully controlled, timed stabs arced out. Each one targeted a completely different vital area with deadly efficiency. This wasn’t showy, like most swordplay, but was meant for one thing; killing. Most of the ponies so far hadn’t survived past the second strike, but this one managed, barely, to parry every one.

By the end of the onslaught he was covered in small wounds, but had managed to avoid any vital damage. A pony on par with her skills, a specialist, was the only option behind that hood. Probably one of those three that she had heard about. Normally, even a specialist in a group like this wouldn’t have been an issue, but her blade was buckling more with each successive parry. It was of inferior quality and couldn’t stand up in the same way a proper bracer blade could. Two, no three strikes. I have to decide it in these next movements or else.

She feigned to the left, a larger wound covering her opponent’s forehoof on that side, and he moved to parry. As her form shifted to the right the cloaked pony stumbled on the wounded hoof. Just as expected! It would have been perfect, except his left wing shot up releasing one of the numerous daggers lining the underside of his scarred wing. She had fallen directly into his trap! Bracer blade instantly parried the dagger, redirecting the path to a small gash along her side and wings, but the damage was already done. The blade cracked and broke along the middle. It wouldn’t last another blow.

Faith wanted to scream in gutteral rage for being baited into such an obvious trap, but she had neither the time, nor the luxury of such a frivolous act. Her opponent launched a flurry of daggers from his wing. She could no longer block, only dodge the best she could. Her smaller frame and higher agility meant it was easier, but several blades sliced into her wings and sides. The pain was nothing in comparison to the shame and anger she had coursing through her body.

As the last dagger passed inches below her upside down head her precious other hoof shot out. She had intended not to use that in this fight, but pride was more important than concealment. One, two, four darts shot out. To his credit, the specialist actually dodged two of them, even in his current condition, but Faith was a better aim. She tracked every movement and predicted perfectly, the last two darts embedding in his flank and neck respectively. He was dead as his limp body hit the ground.

She had barely had enough time to catch her breath, forget about surveying the scene, before another dart collided with the ground in front of her. Instinctively she whipped around ready to take on whichever assailant tried to kill her this time, but found only a single pony who could have shot it. That damnable mare again. Faith was aware she should drop her right then and there, but something tugged at her. The mare was left alone as she turned to the dart again, carefully unwrapping the note.

31 kills, southern rooftop. Admittedly Faith was at 14, not nearly as wonderful of a number, but she didn’t care. Everything had almost been ruined by an orange pegasus with an ego the size of the couch she loved dearly. Worse yet, Faith might as well have been thought a TWOS operative instead of her true drive. Wounds or no wounds, she was going to make her way up to the roof and show up that mare yet another time.

“You did take your time, there.” Those words, what right did that pegasus have to act like she was Faith’s superior? It was taunting, she was practically begging to be killed. In fact, not killing her was quickly turning into a decision she was bound to regret, “You couldn't have scored more than... say, half. There were 50 in the escort, and you know my count.”

Faith finally touched down on the rooftop, wings aching from the wounds. Still, she wasn’t planning on letting her opponent have the satisfaction of seeing that weakness, “And, you pretty much ruined everything. Besides, count isn't everything. I had a combat specialist. If it wasn't for me, you'd have ended up with your head off.”

“I see that you have a deathwish as well,” It was partially true, and that actually kind of hurt. Who was this pony to judge Faith’s intentions? She looked haughty and confident, but she knew nothing about her, “You think you could handle a score assassins, even upstarts?”

Yes, no, does it even matter? Was there a point in trying to answer a question like that? In reality, with no specialist in the group, she had a fifty-fifty chance to actually take them all out. But, the odds weren’t the point. The point lay in the fact that she had done something unforgivable, “Does it matter what I think?”

“I see somepony is pretty pissed on their numbers.” Oh, she was just determined to draw every ounce of hatred out now. The number really didn’t matter, but that elite had been more danger than he should have been. It wasn’t really the mare’s fault, but Faith had been careless and dredging it up put the anger squarely at a new target.

“I would just have loved to see you up against that. Bet you wouldn't have lasted a minute.”

“It doesn't matter. The master of the Hooftail is dead. As for your bet. I can last longer against you,” Damn right, he was dead. But, Faith couldn’t stand the thought that his death would now be attributed to TWOS. How was the point supposed to get across when it seemed as though it was just another casualty in the war? Not that it mattered as the mare seductively slid on her goggles...Wait, there was nothing seductive about it. They were just goggles, weren’t they, “It's on.”

In the aftermath of trying to shake the thought of seductiveness out of her head a smoke bomb exploded into life. Eyesight was almost useless now, but that was less than a hindrance to an experienced assassin. She had many other perfectly fine senses. Still, danger flushed out the detrimental mental state and replaced it with the last emotion, anger.

“He was mine to kill! Not yours!” Faith screamed as she charged towards the pegasus. It was reckless and foolish, but damn did it feel good. She wanted to unload all that frustration on the mare. All that frustration, all the anger, all the pain, she wanted it gone. She wanted something else.

The charge was completely uncharacteristic, so it really shouldn’t have come as any surprise when the pegasus dodged it and landed a hoof squarely in her side. It hurt, but it also brought the reality of the situation crashing down. A fight was a fight, if she caught herself up like that, she would die. Cute pegasus or no, “We both have our reasons to want him dead. Mine were quicker.”

She was better now, at least a little bit. She was able to react quickly enough to bring her hoof around to land on her opponent. But, the attack lacked its usual bite. There were countless options she had, but she had forgone all of them, leaving only something barely akin to a tap for her. She could play it off, though, pretend it was just a warning, “You really are that arrogant, aren't you?”

“Sweet Luna you're pissed. That barely even hurt.” Scarlet, no, that mare was intent on rubbing as much salt in the wound as possible.

“You're lucky you're even alive. You should be counting your blessings instead of taunting the pony who already spared your life.” But, why did she keep sparing her life? Scarlet should have been dead twice now. Once in the initial meeting, that was acceptable as Faith didn’t have information yet, and a second at the apartment.

“I told you I'd get revenege for the couch,” Of course, the couch again. On the list of things Faith didn’t understand, that couch would have a wondrous place of honor. That was, until she went back and removed its existence. Wait, was she actually planning to assassinate a couch?

What could possibly come next? Backing up, that’s what. A trained killer was actually backing up a few steps. There was no good reason, Faith could turn this fight around in a split second, she knew that, “The couch that I didn't damage and even removed the adhesive from?”

“The couch you put adhesive on in the first place,” A lunge? Come on, read the mood, I put distance between us. Scarlet closed the gap in seconds, bowling Faith over and providing a strangely crafted bracer blade to the neck. She should have been expecting the killing blow, but she wasn’t. She should have been planning a counter, but she wasn’t. Something, completely unfamiliar stopped her there. There was almost little doubt in her mind that Scarlet wasn’t going to kill her.

So, she laughed, “Oh well, it's not you can beat me anyway.” It was part bravado and part something else. Some other part of her mind was pushing for something else. Part was pushing for Scarlet to lose utterly and completely.

Scarlet. It had been only a few moments but her mind had completely switched to using her name. Targets weren’t supposed to have names, names meant a connection. Connections meant mistakes. So, using her name was a mistake.

“One slip and I would.” The blade dug lightly into her neck, attempting to signal Scarlet’s intentions. But, Faith would have none of it. It seemed almost like there was something else at play behind those words.

“You're forgetting one thing.”

“What is that?” You know how to turn this around. It would be simple, right? The eyes again, what was it that kept her looking there instead of making a quicker move? It didn’t matter, she locked on those eyes and slowly moved a hoof to the bracer pushing it back just enough that she could lean up.

“Assassins play dirty,” It was true, assassin’s did whatever it took to win. That included the kiss Faith planted squarely on Scarlet. She held it for a few moments, letting the depth of it sink in. As her prey, no, Scarlet, buckled slightly under it she slid her leg up and threw her completely off. Her face burning with a completely alien sensation.

It was definitely effective in getting her free, but Scarlet seemed completely dropped by it. The poor mare was still stuttering on the floor beside her. Had the push been that hard, “Wh...What the hell was that?”

Yes, what was that exactly? Faith’s cheeks still flushed with that alien burning as she got to her hooves, but she kept the feeling under control. An assassin doesn’t lose control. She wouldn’t again, “I told you, assassins play dirty. Whatever it takes.”

“No. No, no, no. You didn't just do that.”

Faith drew in closer, a few breath lengths away now, “What? You didn't enjoy it?” Do it again! That’s the key. That strange corner of her mind screamed out again. But, it had all been to get free. She was free, therefore another time served no purpose. Right?

“No. I mean, why? Why did you do that?” Scarlet was choking on her own words now. Somewhere in the back of Faith’s mind fear registered and she felt like she was winning, but in the forefront only two things remained. Why did I do that? and She even makes trembling look good.

The killer slipped effortlessly around behind her prey and embraced her. It was light and barely counted as a hold, more of a caress. The disturbed part of her mind getting louder, You liked it too. You wanted to do it, “To distract you. Or, was that your first?”

The pony in her embrace was breaking down now, Scarlet was in tears. It actually hurt, at least it sort of felt like it should hurt, “No, I'm not talking about this... with an assassin.”

That’s right, a Creed is a Creed is a Creed. Faith was harshly snapped back to who she really was. She released the embrace and began backing away slowly. She didn’t know why, she just felt like it needed to be done, “Relax. The big bad Creed isn't going to force you into anything,” She still felt the burning in her cheeks and the alien feelings, but they weren’t important, “I told you, though, you didn't stand a chance.”

Nothing she said anymore mattered, Scarlet was just in tears. Faith had been required to kiss, to play, to kill, by missions for as long as she could remember. Why was this one different? Why did it actually matter? There was little to no real difference. Leaving a crying mare was still winning. So, why did she want to console her?

“Oh, come on,” The only words that would come out. The only words that felt appropriate. She was just an assassin, right?

“Just, forget it.” With those words Scarlet was gone. She dove off the building and started her flight away.

Part of Faith desperately wanted to chase after, but that was pointless. Why would a killer chase after the pony she had just beat? That’s all Faith was, after all, just a killer. You wanted it too.

All she had left in her was to laugh and put on her best bravado, “I will never, never, never understand mares.”

Not Scarlet, names are connections. Connections are pointless.

Chapter 3: Competition (Scarlet)

Fifteen minutes until contact. Scarlet had been watching the square carefully for nearly one hour. As the clock ticked by, the techie checked her final preparations. Her rooftop was ready for a blazing show, which would end with the death of almost a score Creed, including the master of the Hooftail order. Everything was set: The neurotoxin dart rifle, specifically engineered for slow killing of the dreaded master. He had to suffer, for all he had done. It was also necessary. Without Hooftail support, Shadowbrands had no control over the city by themselves.

The next stage was a series of controlled explosions, meant to separate groups of guards, preparing them for the next phase. The more who died, the better it was for her plan. And this is where her self-engineered blade came into play. She had managed to adapt three weapon modules to the bracer, except for the dagger itself. Her choice for the day was the smart rocket launcher, a strapped pistol with a 15 bullet cartridge and a smokescreen creator.

The last was indispensable for her. She could not overpower a Creed by sheer force, but wearing a gas mask in a smokescreen made all the difference in the world. By the time she’d have to use them, though, less than a pack would be left.

Ten minutes to contact. The guards started positioning as Scarlet had expected. Four on the right: will die in the second detonation. Five below her rooftop, after detonation 1 they will group near the toxin canisters. Death occurs in less than 30 seconds since first inhalation. The personal escort, yet to come: Small groups to be taken out by her thermal rockets. The three specialists and their guards: Bullets to the head. None would be in the mood to dodge bullets with all the panic enlisted. She had doubts regarding this plan, but her auxiliary detonation packs would be able to cope with crowd control.

She looked upon the scene. If she was right, such a move would clear all innocents from the streets, leaving her playground set for the slaughter to come. She could only smile in anticipation, knowing her job would be almost done after such a coup.

Five minutes to contact. The streets had been cleared. Only a parade of cloaked ponies marched the street. Man, they do like to show off their dominion around here. All the more, this is their downfall. As the assassins of old used to say: “Requiescat in pace”… bitch.

The main nucleus of the escort was approaching, she could see from afar. In less than two minutes, her arrow would reach its destination, she hoped, flawlessly. Upon approach, there were a few signs of activity near the escort. From afar, it seemed like a school filly was lost between the guards. The cloaked ponies pushed her around from one another, making their intentions clear. It was only a minute later, when one of them collapsed, that she realized: The poor filly was none other than the one who broke into her house a couple of days ago.

As the filly dropped her cover, moving in towards the escort, now in full alert, Scarlet took her time to write a small note, wrapping it around her deadly payload. “Kill count?” Not taking more, she loaded the dart inside the rifle, and aimed for the one pony in the middle of the escort, dressed in a black cape.

Contact. Everything was going according to plan. As the dart reached its target, the circle tensed around what was for two more minutes their master. Listening to the beat of the panic, Scarlet relished in a well executed plan and the music of desperate screams. The rogue assassin hurried for the convulsing black cloak, slashing his throat in a single blow. However, it was too late for her to claim the kill, as the ponies closer to the corpse were now looking towards her, raising a hoof “SNIP…” The voice was muffled with a gurgle as blood poured from his throat.

Stage one. The three main explosions were set off on the rooftops, making rocks and rubble fall on the unsuspecting guards. As expected, the first one only squashed one of the five below, who hurried towards her toxin emitters. The second was bigger, burying five with the debris. The third was more for show rather than effect, blocking the way ahead and still killing two of them

In the meantime, the brown mare was busy herself. She has killed another four more of the inner circle and was moving for more of them. This will make my job a whole lot easier. Stage two. Out of fear and panic, the assassin escort grouped in tight spaces, trying to make a shoot at either Scarlet or their traitor. Loading the rockets on her wrist, Scarlet fired the four smart payloads, one at a time. Each was targeted to one of the group, with the possibility of killing more. Three… Two… Three… Oh, come on, just one? Disappointing, if you ask me… That makes a total of 19. There’s more of them than I expected.

Looking back at her rival, she had done a pretty good job as well. At least a dozen were lying on the ground and a few more were shaking, following to end up like the others. She was not far behind. Switching to the gun module, Scarlet started picking off the remaining survivors. Her marksmanship was not to be questioned, killing ten out of the fifteen bullets she fired. Landing near two wounded guards, she took the liberty of testing the bracer blade. It dug into the neck, severing the head clean from the rest of their bodies. And that’s 31.

The job was almost done. Scarlet looked around at the carnage she caused along with the renegade assassin. At least fifty were lying dead, to her satisfaction. The only thing to move now was the deathly storm of swords created by the brown mare and the last remaining cloaked pony. A specialist, I presume. Scarlet decided to sit by and watch. She believed that her former interrogator had the skills necessary to terminate the last one standing. Sitting herself upon a rooftop, she watched as the dance between the two continued, their blades shifting in perfect unison with each other, eyes locking into each other. Until… One of them slipped.

To her surprise, it was the mare that made an almost deadly mistake. From a distance, Scarlet could see the brown pegasus jump away, trying to dodge an onslaught of knives thrown by the cloaked killer. A few of the daggers scraped her, leaving a few cuts along her body. Right after the steeled projectiles finished, the pony limped to the ground. Looking at the sleek posture of the mare, she realized instantly what had happened: Poison darts.

Let’s see if she can take any more. Writing another note quickly, the orange pegasus loaded another dart in her rifle firing it directly in front of her competitor. “31 kills, southern rooftop.” There was literally no time to waste. The techie didn’t have any hand to hand proficiency, but her gadgets would give her the upper hand. Taking out a pair of heat goggles, she mounted them lightly on her forehead. Two smoke bombs. This should be enough. As the smoke lacked much of its choking potency, it compensated in the dense gray color it emanated. Her opponent would be blind.

As the brown mare landed, Scarlet could taste her own victory. They both knew who had won their small competition. Yet, she was prepared to taunt faith until the end with it, even if it meant breaking out into a fight. Actually, the techie expected that, longed for that. I told her I’d make her pay for Bubbles. “You did take your time, there. You couldn't have scored more than... say, half. There were 50 in the escort, and you know my count.”

The short maned pegasus landed in front of her, impetuous and arrogant as always. Trying to undermine her efforts with every word, as Scarlet expected her to do. “And, you pretty much ruined everything. Besides, count isn't everything. I had a combat specialist. If it wasn't for me, you'd have ended up with your head off.” I what now? I was the one to make this thing work in the first place! Arrogant s… Calm down, Scar. She’s yours. I wonder which one of the three she killed. It might be the master of Arms. No matter. I took out the other two.

“I see that you have a deathwish as well,” That “as well” was a fatal slip, Scarlet realized. The memories kept coming back, now was definitely not the time to start thinking about her memories. She turned to a more calm, condescending tone. “You think you could handle a score assassins, even upstarts?”

The renegade Creed looked away, thinking for a couple of seconds before answering, in her old-fashioned manner. “Does it matter what I think?” It matters that you attacked my couch. She could feel the anger building up in her conversation partner with every word, and Scarlet was not going to give up now. An enemy clouded by rage is bound to make mistakes.

“I see somepony is pretty pissed on their numbers.” The techie snickered. Her own words were spiteful at her address, though, honestly speaking, she would’ve liked to bury the hatchet. Not before I show her who’s in charge of the operation, though.

“I would just have loved to see you up against that. Bet you wouldn't have lasted a minute.” And now she had brought her exactly in the spot she wanted to. The assassin was getting ready for a battle, the tension between the two being almost palpable. Scarlet checked her smoke grenades again. Locked and loaded.

“It doesn't matter. The master of the Hooftail is dead. As for your bet. I can last longer against you,” And we both know whose merits will be recognized for this. I’m the one explosives specialist around. This will give me some rep with Conflux and a bounty on my head by the Creed, more than certain. Sliding her goggles on her eyes, she started up the heat sensors, preparing to launch her trump card “It's on.”

The smoke grenades went flying, spreading a dense gray fume all around the rooftop. They were supposed to last five minutes, enough to impose her authority on the situation. She could see the brown assassin perfectly: The heat sensors were displaying her normally, red over blue, right in front of her. She knew she was trying to find a point of balance, and Scarlet wasn’t going to give her that.

Making the slightest noise and giving away her position, she coiled up as her opponent charged in towards her, with a concentrated dose of anger in her voice. “He was mine to kill! Not yours!” For once, the orange mare could feel their common ground. They both wanted the Hooftails dead, with the same ardent fervor burning from two different reasons. Scarlet dodged, arching her hoof towards the brown mare’s side, hitting her mercilessly. She almost wish she weren’t that harsh.

“We both have our reasons to want him dead. Mine were quicker.”

The mare turned in an agile move, enough to impress even the goggles themselves, making them show static for a couple of seconds. “You really are that arrogant, aren't you?” A hoof hit her wing. It almost felt as soft as a feather, not having the push of normal attacks. Scarlet was curious to this situation, yet she knew the battle had to end fast, before the smoke was gone.

“Sweet Luna you're pissed. That barely even hurt.” This is so amusing, I could go on like this for ages. Spark Dust used to like being nagged… Don’t think of that. That’s not your problem right now.

“You're lucky you're even alive. You should be counting your blessings instead of taunting the pony who already spared your life.” She was going to go for the Good Samaritan attitude all the way, wasn’t she? Well, at least she could seem grateful for that… Later.

“I told you I'd get revenege for the couch,” After all, Bubbles was the main reason she was here, fighting this delicious pegasus. What? Delicious? Where the heck did that come from? Focus on the couch. Couch… Adhesive… Delicio… No. Couch, couch, couch.

The assassin was going into submission. The smoke was dissipating, and it wouldn’t have been long before she was visible again. The brown Creed member was now backing off, hoping to buy some time. “The couch that I didn't damage and even removed the adhesive from?” This needs to end. Now

Scarlet sprung her bracer blade from her ingenious mechanism. It was a bit more bulky, but compensated with the gun mods she would’ve been dead without. “The couch you put adhesive on in the first place,” Lunging towards her target, she managed to knock her over and draw the bracer blade close to her neck. She had finally won.

“Oh well, it's not you can beat me anyway.” The damned mare laughed. I can’t beat you? I just frickin’ did. What does this look like, partial defeat? Yet, she admired the strong point her counterpart made. She was going to fight until the end. Scarlet was determined not to kill her. It was the least she could do after sparing her once and helping her with her assignment.

“One slip and I would.” Her triumphant voice sounded as she pushed the blade closer to her throat. A small mark, so she can remember who she’s messing with. Yet the assassin never feared for her life. In fact, she seemed more confident than ever as the smoke subsided.

“You're forgetting one thing.”

“What is that?” Her hoof slipped, as the brown mare removed it from her neck. The techie, confused, tried to make another push for her neck, but it was too late, as her opponent was leaning clean over her, moving in to what seemed to be…

“Assassins play dirty,” Scarlet knew that for a fact, but she never thought one would go as far as to kiss her on the lips. As the mare’s tongue slipped inside her mouth, Scarlet felt all the memories flood inside her mind. The caravan, the bomb, the night… Her friends. It was more than she could take. As the pegasus finished her job, making Scarlet fall over to the ground, the poor orange mare was left in a vortex of confusion.

“Wh...What the hell was that?”

Her mind was in overdrive, her heat sensors showing the mare as being all warmed up. She was hot, in the literal sense of the word. “I told you, assassins play dirty. Whatever it takes.” No, this is not a game. You can’t do that just to win a stupid battle! Scarlet felt her face flush up with rage, and mostly… pain.

“No. No, no, no. You didn't just do that.” She felt herself reliving the past, as her eyes filled up with tears, while the unsuspecting mare approached. For her, it would’ve been the same if she just took a dagger and slid it in her heart. That would have been by far less painful.

“What? You didn't enjoy it?”

“No. I mean, why? Why did you do that?” The confusion reached maximum, and Scarlet started choking on her words. Her head hurt, and mostly, it seemed as her friend didn’t even know what she’d done. Probably that was what hurt most: the nameless brown mare was more of a friend than she’d ever have again.

“To distract you. Or, was that your first?” The pegasus was now holding her, rather than gripping. Her embrace was weak, yet she was trying to be reassuring. Scarlet tried to break off the hug, her choking now turned into a full wail of sadness.

How… How can she? That… That bastard. She doesn’t care about it. Why would she? She’s just a damned assassin. “No, I'm not talking about this... with an assassin.”

She got the message, apparently. Breaking the so-called hug, the brown mare backed off, leaving Scarlet to her own, still watching from a small distance. “Relax. The big bad Creed isn't going to force you into anything. I told you, though, you didn't stand a chance.”

For Scarlet, this was no longer a game. Her memories were now surfacing, and all she wanted to do was go drown them away in a bottle of her most expensive liqueur. It was good that her goggles were still on, she didn’t want the assassin to see her eyes in that situation. “Oh, come on,”

I never did expect her to have a heart. The words never came out. “Just, forget it.” It was all she said before diving off the building. She needed to be back home, alone with her bubble bath and water couch. Bubbles always knew how to make her feel better.

She never heard the mare’s last words. Whether it was an apology or a snide comment, she didn’t care. All she wanted now was to forget.

Chapter 4: Old Bonds (Scarlet)

The wind blew through the open window in her apartment. Scarlet was sitting on her water couch, with a bottle of a strange, orange liqueur called “Applejack Daniel’s”. Whatever her trouble was, two bottles of the strong concoction would throw them all into oblivion by the time she was awake again. The headache in the morning never mattered. It was just a cruel reminder of what needed to be done.

The Hooftail were finally gone. Without their master, the upstarts would scatter, making them an easy prey for her traps and games spread throughout Fair-feather. But that didn’t matter either, Scarlet thought in between tears. Just reminiscing the last night she had with her only friends was too much to bear. And somehow, she didn’t exactly know how, or why, that damned mare brought it all back.

~The caravan was due to arrive in less than 12 hours. The final preparations were being made. Spark Dust, one of my friends, had been assigned to mount up a CIV detonator. The explosion would not only clear the surface, it also pierced the ground below, leveling everything on a radius of two hundred meters. It was everything we needed to stop that damned Hooftail caravan.~

Scarlet took another swig of the bitter liquid. She hated remembering, but it was the best thing she could do. In the end, the past haunts us forever. How could she bring this back? I’ve been kissed before, even after the incident. Why is she so special? The question remained unanswered. She wanted to go back to that rooftop, wait for the brown mare to come back and apologize for everything. But that wouldn’t have served any purpose. She would never come back, she lost her forever.
Downing the last sip of her first bottle, the techie lazily stretched for the other one, opening it in one hoofswing. You’re an idiot, Scar. But I guess you already knew that. Taking another drink from her bottle, all there was to do now was add an assassin without a name to her list of dear and dreaded memories.

~A magic trigger, typical. That’s what they use unicorns for. Arming requires finesse, especially when talking about heavy ordinance equipment like the Class IV. We all knew that Spark was the only one in the group capable of that. So he just stood there, the whole night, mounting that damned bomb. Shrapnel was lazier. Even if he had finished his work, he never double checked. That was always mine to do.~ Scarlet smiled a bit to herself, before bursting into tears again. Taking another drink, she could finally feel the effects of the first bottle doing its magic.

~And then, when we were done, he offered to play a game of Hooflocker. I was undefeated… Heh, I never suspected him to be the smart type, but he enjoyed this specific game.~ Taking a glance at her drawers, Scarlet could see the dusty box containing her once favorite game. ~And… Yeah, he beat me. For once, someone immune to my bluffs, it was nice to lose, even if it meant giving away a bit of my pride. Then, we spent the night talking and…~

Her stream of thoughts was cut loose by an annoying beeping sound. Conflux sure take their time. It’s not like they have anything better to do. Her send-receive terminal was bleeping, waiting to be accessed. The mare took one final drink from her bottle, feeling the dizziness amplify with each passing minute. Gathering all of her clear thoughts she had left, the techie sat at her terminal and typed in.

SORA DIVISION 501. AUTHENTIFICATION: SCARLET BLAST. LOCATION: FAIR-FEATHER OUTPOST 035. SECURITY CODE: THETA LIMA 095.

Silence for the next five minutes. Typical. They went ringing, then went dead until one decided to read the input on their damn screen.

WELCOME BACK. MISSION REPORT COMPILED SUCCESSFULLY. ADDENDUMS?

Yes, you know, there was this renegade mare assassin, that I basically found very attractive. I never admitted it to myself, yet when she kissed me I broke down like a kindergarten filly. Other than that, the master is dead and the Hooftail are soon to collapse order.

NO ADDENDUMS REQUIRED.

REPORTS INDICATE HOOFTAIL MASTER STILL ALIVE. CONFIRM.

That was not possible. She had shot him with her own rifle, then saw him cut up by that damned brown mare she adored so much. This only left room for one answer. Conflux hardly ever got their information wrong, mostly bought for big money from the Trade Guild. But how could’ve they found out the termination had failed so soon, if it did?

NEGATIVE. TARGET WAS SHOT DOWN USING TWO NEUROTOXIN DARTS. ENTIRE ESCORT WAS KILLED, INCLUDING THE THREE SPECIALISTS.
NEGATIVE. MASTER OF SHADOWS SPOTTED EARLIER THIS EVENING BY OGON SCOUTING SQUAD 9. PLEASE CONFIRM STATUS OF HOOFTAIL MASTER.

Damned idiots! They sent squad 9 to compete with her? She’ll show them all who they were messing with. Now she was no longer in a posture of superiority. Even though she had taken out an entire patrol, it counted for nothing now. The main targets weren’t dead, at least not all of them. There was no use in trying to hide behind a hoof now.

UNABLE TO CONFIRM STATUS OF HOOFTAIL MASTER YET. CARRYING ON MISSION UNTIL ALL DEATHS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR.

NEW DIRECTIVE CONFIRMED. ELIMINATE ALL HOOFTAIL AND SHADOWBRAND IN THE TOWN. OGON 9 WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MISSION SEPARATELY.

No. There was no way in hell Scarlet would let Ogon 9 take her glory for this victory. Yet she was certain of one thing. To finish her job properly, she needed help. The assassin had been a great help in her previous assignment, and wanted to have her around as a friend rather than a rival. It was time for her to forget the past and focus on the present.

REQUESTING DENIAL OF HELP FROM OGON 9.

REQUEST DENIED.

REQUEST LACK OF INTERFERENCE WITH OGON 9. IF THEY ARE TO WORK ON THE SAME MISSION WITH ME, I RESIGN FROM CURRENT MISSION DIRECTIVES.

Two minute silence.

REQUEST APPROVED.

TRANSMISSION TERMINATED. SORA 501 SIGNING OUT.

Good. At least we have that. Now, to focus on other matters. Ugh… Maybe in the morning. The headache started getting to her. Alcohol was both friend or foe, and now it was turning hostile. Nothing a little sleep won’t fix. In the morning, she would go find the mare. Or let herself be found by her, either way.

Chapter 4: Old Bonds (Faith)

The familiar jingle of the bell signalled the opening of the shop door and, likely, another customer. Rose sauntered her way out of the back room to personally greet the new arrival. She could have easily afforded to hire staff to do these sort of duties for her, but customer interaction was one of the things that had convinced her to keep the shop open all these years. Rose Wares was a shop filled with curiosities, unique wares, and rare items and Rose, herself, treasured every minute she could discuss them with potential customers. Not to mention, it was especially hard to find help that would be able to handle some of her more demanding clientele.

As she came out from behind a rack of traditional Zebra items all composure the pony had dropped as she dashed to the pony in the doorway, “Justy!” The hug was immediate and barely gave the brown mare a moment to prepare. Still, it wasn’t entirely unexpected, “It’s been far too long.”

“You know that isn’t my name,” Faith tried to pry herself out of the steeled pony’s grip, but was more likely to gain the upper hand on a dragon. Even in the past years it seemed nothing had changed between them. Somehow that was comforting.

“Fine,” The older mare finally released her grip, still beaming with pride, “Justice Ann Faith, then.”

“I prefer Faith.”

“You prefer a lot of things,” The sobering conversation. It was the reason why Faith had put off coming to Rose for so long. But, this was the one pony who could get the kind of things Faith needed without betrayal, “But, Herb always was proud of that name he gave you. I’d sooner honor his memory than your silly notions.”

“Then, you already knew?” It was a silly question, of course she already knew. Rose Breaker was not the type of pony to not have that kind of information. Her knowledge often rivalled that of the Creed information network, though how she got it was a closely guarded secret.

“Yes, it was a horrible shame what happened,” Rose hovered closely as Faith shifted from rack to rack, inspecting wares. None of it was what the mare was here for, but looking at the objects helped distance the pain, “I thought I would never see you again either.”

“I got lucky, I was on a deep cover mission,” It was probably the first time since it all happened that Faith had recounted her own story. Why she was alive hardly mattered when everypony else was dead, “I was the enforcer trainer for Poni prevoskhodstvo. I never would have thought they would be the ones to intercept the Creed Hooftail sent for me.”

They both shared a good strong laugh about it. The idea that her cover had actually served to save her was an interesting notion. In truth, even after finding out who she really was, the higher ups in Poni prevoskhodstvo had asked her to stay in her position. “A pony without a family left, that is truly sad. Why not stay, be our family?” Nicoli wasn’t as elegant as father, but he seemed to care. Though, revenge was the only thing Faith could think of at the time.

“Then, the mess in Fair-feather, that was you as well, right?” Faith set down a woolen cloak, obviously designed for ponies venturing into Griffon lands. Rose wasn’t asking because she wanted to know, she already knew and wanted to give Faith an option to come clean about everything. She was rather annoying like that, almost like how Faith imagined a mother should be.

“Yes, though it wasn’t just me,” Faith carefully recounted much of the details of what happened, purposefully omitting every detail about her accomplice and the fight that had ensued after the elimination.

“You’re aware that wasn’t the actual master of Hooftail?” Faith had considered the possibility. It had only grown more likely considering the fact that she wasn’t dead already. It was okay, she already knew her job wasn’t done, she just needed to do more.

“Yes.”

Silence, there wasn’t much left to be said actually. Faith stopped the uninterested browsing and started going through some of the plants lining a couple of shelves. Rose had the best selection of rare plants and herbs short of Canterlot or a Creed storehouse. Everything Faith could need for the next phases was sitting right on these shelves.

“I’m going to need everything to stock a safe...” She was instantly cut off. Rose had something different in mind for the direction of their conversation.

“So, what’s his name?”

“W..What?” Faith stumbled around and the older rose coloured mare peered boundlessly into the depths of Faith’s soul. She had been supplying Creed for decades, longer than Faith could imagine.

“I know you Justice. I’ve known you since you were this high,” The mare made a considerable effort to place a height barely above the ground. Honestly, it was doubtful any filly was ever that small, but the point was plain, “And, I know that kind of look. You have a special somepony.”

Faith purposefully avoided silly words like ‘special somepony’. Those kinds of words served no purpose. Even now, they only served to anger her, “No, it’s nothing like that. She,” The pause spoke volumes about what happened. It would be surprising if Rose didn’t get everything she needed from just that pause, “It was an accident. Nothing more.”

“There are no accidents...” Rose did, for the first time in her life, a double take. It actually looked hilarious on a refined and concerned mare like her, “Wait, did you say SHE?”

It took a few seconds of uncomfortable silence while Rose recomposed herself, but she was finally ready to continue her line of questioning, “You know, I never took you for the mare type. Always thought you’d end up falling for some colt. But, I guess even Rose Breaker can be wrong sometimes.”

“I’m a Creed. We don’t fall for anypony.” Arguing against Rose was almost always useless, she always held all the cards. Still, Faith didn’t want to concede this point.

“Okay then, but you do like this mare. So, what is her name?” Rose insisted, she didn’t plead, she manipulated.

“Look, it doesn’t matter,” Faith tried to protest, but was cut short by a hoof from Rose. A single gesture managed to bring her back into line, all information easily accessible, “Scarlet, okay? Not like it matters.”

“Much better, now I imagine we have a lot to talk about. Why don’t we take care of your shopping list at the same time? You’re going to need a fully stocked safehouse, obviously in Fair-feather. Anything else?”

“A new bracer blade,” Faith mumbled lowly enough she hoped to avoid the shame of needing one, but the shame was completely cast over. Instead the magenta glow of Rose’s magic quickly brought over a few mirrors and her absolutely pristine measuring tape. A fitting from Rose was, thorough, to say the least.

“Well, of course you do, look at how much you’ve grown since the last time,” Rose started measuring each hoof, back lengths, inseams, undersides, everything was dutifully recorded, “I dare say we’re going to need to redo all your equipment. This is what you get for not coming for years.”

“Are you sure? Won’t you draw some attention commissioning so much from the Creed weaponsmiths?”

“Oh sweetie, I wouldn’t trust those bunglers with something of this quality. No, this has to be the finest quality for you Justy. I’ll even make sure to do the runes myself. The charge should last at least a couple of years, but after that any half-decent unicorn should be able to charge them for you.”

“But, you won’t get in...”

“Trouble? Sweetie, I’ve been supplying Creed since Herb was just a young apprentice. I think I know a thing or two about covering my tracks. Besides, I choose who I work for, and I always liked Lore best. You especially,” There Rose went, reading minds again, “Now, we have plenty of measurements ahead. Tell me everything about your Scarlet. I’m dieing to know”

The next hour was spent in deep explanation. Every time Faith didn’t explain something perfectly Rose demanded she stop and provide more detail. Not just the events were forced out, but appearances, and even some feelings despite how Faith tried to keep them away.

“It’s not like it matters, a Creed is a Creed is a Creed,” Faith had finally reached the end of her story. Only excuses were left, “And, she has more than enough reason to hate Creed.”

Rose finally let Faith relax, most of the measurements and designs completed. Instead, she levitated out a couple of cups of tea to soothe the parched throat and tired mind, “A Creed is a Creed is a Creed. You have no idea how right you are about that Justy. And, you are the closest to a real Creed I have ever seen. I know Herb saw it as well.”

She left Faith to her tea and memories while she went and grabbed an old musty book from one of the back shelves. It was rather plain, contained no title, or even noticeable marks anywhere. It seemed almost like it should be entirely empty. As she returned the hostess shoved the book into Faith’s face.

“What is it?”

“Creed. Just do old Rose Breaker a favour and read it one day soon. You’re going to have a few days before everything is ready anyway. Any idea what you’re going to do?” More tea was poured as the book was placed in Faith’s saddlebags.

“I need to get back to Fair-feather. Convince them to pull out before, or even just as, I take out Hooftail and Shadowbrand,” Faith had thought about this part in detail. She had no idea how she was going to convince an organization that hated her to do this, but she knew she had to. She was going to give the mare one last favour, one last act of sparing.

“So, you have figured it out then,” Rose gently sipped her tea as it levitated in front of her. She seemed solemn, but the act being proposed probably would have made any mother figure feel that way.

“Reaper,” Faith had long since stopped drinking. She didn’t much care for pleasantries at this point, “If a division gets taken out, let alone two, headquarters will definitely dispatch a cleanup crew. Least I can do, I suppose, is get them out of there. I always planned to be the one to take the responsibility anyway.”

“You could always try to unite them, raise an army, destroy Reaper.”

“Reaper isn’t like that. It’s like nothing they’ve ever fought before. A division of murderers who are happy to kill indiscriminately. A large army would just be a playground.”

The hug again. This time it was far softer than anything Rose had ever given before, “Justice Ann Faith, you always make me more and more proud and sad every time I see you.” Was it her imagination, or was Rose actually crying in the hug? Did Rose actually have the ability to cry? All of a sudden, the image of Rose crying as she received the news about father became a very real possibility, “Just promise me you’ll tell her first.”

“What?”

“Tell that mare how you feel at least. Sometimes things don’t always have to be as black and white. And, you, you are exactly what Herb had hoped you might be.” Rose kept talking like father had wanted something different. But, Faith was exactly what he had taught her to be, an assassin and killer. Romanticizing it would just leave her thinking she wasn’t worthy of the hate she had directed at her.

Still, Rose was all Faith had left, and so she would obey the old mare. It felt almost like fulfilling an old wish of her father, “I promise.”

“Good, now everything will be ready in a few days in Fair-feather. I’ll make sure to send word of the location via the usual courrier method. Be safe, Justy.”

Chapter 4: Best Laid Plans (Creed)

The two cloaked ponies observed the carnage around them. None dared walk the street that day. Anyone who trespassed before the Hooftail cleared their own dead was to be killed on sight. The two knew the real purpose for the caravan was to bait one of the operatives of TWOS. Minimal casualties were to be expected, all but the death of one of their specialists.

“Shame…” A tall, slender mare with a dark coat was the first to talk. In only one word, she managed to mock the dead and express her despise of a poorly executed plan. If it were for the planner to be still alive, the deadly venom addressed to him in that word would have most certainly killed him.

The colt besides her shared her disrespect, but didn’t express it as colorful as his counterpart. Whilst walking over one of the blasted giblets of a corpse, he observed. “This makes us look like a bunch of amateurs.” That was true, for them. Any of the specialists or elite would feel humiliated to be put on the same rank as this catastrophe. “ And, they didn't manage to catch the one responsible?”

“They weren’t,” The mare let out a loud chortle, playing around amidst the bodies before finally turning her attention back, “Come on Astra. You’ve known me that long, haven’t you?”

The bodies seemed to be taunting the both of them, one after another was turned over, more carefully on the colt’s part than the mare’s. Still they went through the guise of pretending to care, “Okay then,” Astra’s cold laugh continued on chilling the air, “What do you have then?”

“Two,” Astra finally removed his hood. It was hot, and smelled of death. The colt hated the sweat seeping into his greenish mane, he hated sweat period, “Quite an odd couple, I might say.”

“A couple? Since when is a squad only two, anyway?” At long last the colt had located the one body in this rubbish he cared about. The final member of their little clan was present for the meeting as the body was rolled over. The wounds were bad, but hardly anything Seal hadn’t been used to before. What did interest the stalwart pony were the little marks at the flank and neck. He even took the time to reach down and lick at them before spitting loudly.

It was obvious, yet the colt seemed to miss something the mare already knew. She reached a hoof and slapped him lightly across the face, with a devilish grin. “You always were slower, Astra. Look at the deaths. What do you see?” First, she pointed at the giblets, then at the lacerations on others, then at the debris covering another. Trying to make a point with Astra was hard, but as slow as he got it at first, his mind started rolling afterwards towards the same outcome.

Grabbing the hoof that s lapped him, brutally laying it down; Astra responded “I see several things the master isn't going to like.” At least you got that right, Raven thought. He examined the bodies close to him, before pronouncing himself again “Blade wounds, all vital shots, bullet holes, just as accurate, and Seal is dead, looks like a very effective poison. That's why I'm asking...” Yes, darling. There’s no way a either a Creed or a TWOS did this separately.

The mare slowly approached Seal’s body, looking at the dart marks that had killed him, and abruptly changing the subject “Tell me, since when do Creed and TWOS work together?” She never removed her hood. For a Master of Shadows, there was no greater dishonor than to fully reveal one’s head and let the one who saw it live to tell the tale

Displeased, the colt growled lightly. He didn’t like the looks of it. Two against fifty and a specialist and the odds were against them. “They don't... Since when would Creed try to take out Creed?” He was actually concerned that the recent termination of the Lore division was going to come back and haunt them. “Are are you saying there's a kill order out on Hooftail?”

“No. I'm saying somepony didn't do his job properly,” Raven made a show of kicking Seal sending small bits of dried blood onto both of them. You couldn’t make a point to a dead pony, but Raven hardly seemed to care about something like that, “Lore is out to get us.”

Lore, the lore? The one that was supposed to have been eliminated already, “No, there is no way. Lore is dead. I mean, I saw the master's body myself.” That was right, Astra hadn’t been in the actual kill, but he had come in later in order to help with the clean up and check. They had all died.

But, Raven hardly seemed to be interested in quibbling semantics. A shame, semantics were the best part of a poisoner’s job, “Did you see every body on that damn kill order?” She was determined to prove a point she already knew. Nothing was ever impossible, Astra, was well aware of that. Even if it was Lore, wasn’t this still a little much?

“No, but a good deal of them.” Astra had seen everypony at Creed HQ, leaving only three or four currently out on deep cover missions. He knew they were elite, but Hooftail had the element of surprise. None of them should have even realized what was happening before dieing. No pony ever expected to be betrayed from within.

“Of all the morons out there, he failed to kill the master's protegee. His daughter," Damn, that pony had been one of the ones on the deep cover list, hadn’t she? Everything Raven said easily matched up with the facts. Still, there had to be some flaw, some obvious glaring mistake. A Creed elite teaming up, and in only a group of two? This was a complete departure, “And now, that little brat teamed up with a TWOS operative. We can not have this.”

“If this gets out,” No, Astra was not going to be humiliated by one operative and a rogue Creed. He had worked too hard to be beaten by an upstart. Dust drifted into the air along with more dried blood as he stomped at the ground, “No, all we have to do is kill them. Neither of them can be that good.”

“There’s more to it,” Raven still had more to go, Astra could only imagine the smug looks she was giving under that hood. There were a few moments when he desperately wanted to paralyze her with a toxin for a few hours just so that he could rip off that hood along with her smug smile, “You might enjoy this part. Guess what. The two are actually involved.”

Madness, sheer and utter lunacy! “You sure your eyes aren't going? The protege of Lore, involved?” Astra nearly choked on his own laughter trying desperately to take Raven seriously, but it just seemed like a complete farce, “Creed don't do that.”

“I know what I saw.” Once again, he felt like she was looking down on him. Damn I want to tear that hood off of her and show her that bravado is useless. It would be easy, too. He could do whatever he wanted to her. No, back to the task at hand.

“Then she's fallen quite a ways. Just makes it easier, though, doesn't it?” He put the thought of having his way with the mare on the back burner for now. He replaced it with the image of holding the TWOS operative hostage. Ropes holding her taught, watching as her precious partner is killed in front of her. Forced to do...I really need to get laid.

“Easier? Complicated? Who knows?” No no no, the image that he had built up wasn’t going to go away so easily. It was fun, it was...okay, it was a little disturbing, but there was nothing wrong with enjoying what you do.

“Think about it, how much fun it will be to take the other mare,” Take her like...No, bad thoughts. He tried to come back from the idea, at least long enough to explain the full scope of the plan, “We can slaughter that Lore right in front of her.” And then, I could make you gasp on top of...No, wrong direction again, “I'm sure I can come up with a suitably painful poison for her.” And, a nice aphrodisiac for you. Begging would be something to hear out of that mouth of yours.

“Remember. We made a mistake once by underestimating her. Let us not repeat that.” Why not, you’re already underestimating what I’m going to do to you when...She’s looking, can she read minds? No, that was just silly. There was no way Raven knew what was going on in his mind at that moment, or the several issues of Playpony he intended to put to shame when these two were finally disposed of.

“You have a better plan?”

This question annoyed Astra for a second Of course I… have no idea, for once. The master will have our coats if we screw up again. We’re between the Lore protégé and our own. Think, Raven, think. “Not yet. We need to consult the master regarding this. Simple kill orders won't do.”

“He really isn't going to be happy.” No hay, Sherlock? Do you think I like it? Raven was so annoyed at Astra she couldn’t even think properly. Yet, he is quite good looking. If I slipped an amnesiac in his drink tonight I bet he’ll be quite a colt toy in bed. No Raven, snap out of it. Yet, you don’t have to remove your cloak for a one night stand, do you?

“He hasn't got a choice. If it weren't for the poor idiot to come with the trap, he'd be dead.” The bravado she was making held. It was only normal, she had fooled smarter. But the thought of seeing Astra’s cape on the floor was more and more persistent.

“You might want to check that attitude. Unless you want to find your head separated from your body. I don't think the master will take too kindly to insinuating his incompetence.” Lecture me one more time, and I might just have to discipline you… my way. I’m going to enjoy it more than you ever will. The thoughts were strange for her training, yet the lust was getting more and more unbearable.

“His incompetence brought him his death. I don't care that he was the master's favorite. It doesn't make any difference. He's dead.” Instinctively, Raven moved away from the body and approached Astra, slowly touching his cape. She could feel by his shivering he was having dirty thoughts as well. This gave her quite a neat idea. Nopony would know if they both kept their mouths shut.

The colt sighed as her hoof touched him, as if releasing him from a great burden, his frown still making him look concerned with the problem at hoof. “Creed against Creed. This war just got a lot more troublesome. Let's just get this done before more members die.”

Raven moves in for a kiss on the lips, sliding one of her hooves along his back. Nopony is watching, right? Who said Creed don’t know how to have fun never got laid with one and lived to tell the tale. “It's going to get messy before it's over.”

Buck it, she’s begging for it anyway. All other thoughts and plans would have to wait for now. Astra pulled in tighter, embracing his counterpart and at the same time silently pulling out a tiny needle. He didn’t want distracting thoughts for a rare opportunity like this, poking first himself and then her lightly. The feelings were instant, the normal thoughts almost instantly subdued by his darker desires. He couldn’t handle it anymore, he was going to finally rip off that smug hood.

I’ve always secretly wanted to see what kind of a face you would make. No distractions tonight. They can die tomorrow.

Chapter 5: And then they Bucked (Scarlet) [NSFW]

The next morning found Scarlet lying on the floor, next to her couch. It was quite an unpleasant process coming back after such a night. She remembered some of the talk with Conflux, but it was still hazy in her memory. Her hooves wouldn’t listen as she tried to get up, as she stumbled and fell, hitting her head on an empty bottle.

That hurt… Water first, piece memories together later. As she was headed for the bathroom, an unusual thing happened. Somepony rang at her door. She had no friends, family, nopony whom she knew or cared about. Perhaps it was just a door-to-door salespony. “Go away!” Scarlet shouted from her bathroom, as she poked her head inside a cold shower.

The salespony was persistent. With a desperate sigh, Scarlet gathered all her strength to get out of the shower. Water, swear at salespony, then piece last night together… With aher wet mane dripping, she slowly headed for the door, half asleep, half hungover. The cold water was getting to her, as the chilling wind only made her even more alert as the annoying blaring of the alarm went off. Flinging open the door, Scarlet pointed a toy gun at what she supposed was an annoying bidder, hoping to scare him away “I said go…”

And there she was. The same, brown, pegasus wearing the same hood marking her trade was at her doorstep raising her hooves at a toy gun. Scarlet immediately looked for any weapons, but she had none. It was strange for an assassin to be unarmed, especially since the two were now number 1 on the Hooftail blacklist. “Hello.” Scarlet was confused, sleepy and… She could swear she saw the mare blushing. What the hell is wrong with Fair-feather these days???

She tried to exercise all her rage on the mare in front of her. Yet, all she could do was pull of a resigned sigh. She wasn’t upset on her, why should she act like that. The mare deserved a chance. However, the Creed member did not. “If you want to come in, leave the cape outside.” Without any addition, she let the door open, walking inside the house. “And close the door behind you.”

Walking down the hallway, she listened for the door. There was quite a moment’s hesitation before the mare decided on coming in. As she closed the door, the techie took a quick glance behind. Her short tail matched the mane in style and color. Her battle scars on her body curiously complemented her slender curves, making her look… attractive? No, it wasn’t that, but Scarlet looked a while longer than she should have at her flank… tail. She wasn’t sure which of the two statements was true.

As the assassin turned towards her, Scarlet looked back, hiding the fact that she had been shamelessly staring at her. She wondered if her blush was visible in her light orange coat. Only one pony had been able to distinguish it in her entire existence. A serious voice came from down the corridor. “Listen, I came here to discuss something with you.”

Discussions could wait. Scarlet had a question she had going for far too long, and she wanted an answer. At least she wanted to know who she was talking to before a serious “discussion” took place. Entering her living room, she lied on Bubbles, her mane dripping on the water-filled pillows of the couch. Looking back on the assassin, she noticed her face was red. You have no idea how close I am to laying you on the floor, nameless pony. Please don’t give me a reason to. “Name.”

She doubted the assassin would say anything at all. Their identities were to remain secrets until death. Yet, the red faced Pegasus managed to peep “I’m…” She hesitated. It was only natural, but this gave Scarlet the impression she was actually going to say the truth. “Just Faith.” She saw no reason for such a name to be made up. Yet again, it might have been her alter-ego.

The techie took another look at Faith’s flank. Her cutie mark resembled the sigil of the Pegasus Creed interlocked with that of the Lore division. The chevron symbolic to the Creed, colored bright silver, was posed under the black form of an owl sitting upon a scroll. To her surprise, she wasn’t much different herself. Her mark was the TWOS brand of elemental balance, upon which Sora Division’s blood red falcon stood with its wings spread and talons arched, as if ready to attack. The lightning above also suggested a thunderstorm, the wrath of the sky.

It disappointed her to know that. It almost seemed as two destinies cut out to be in an endless fight had been drawn together. But what for? Such callings were so different from one another, and yet they were bound closer and closer. Scarlet wanted to be near her more. To learn her dance of death and teach her every tiny detail she slipped from her technology classes. It almost seemed the two fitted perfectly, both in harmony and in antagonism. In the back of the mind, a question started forming “What does the future hold?”

She is so sexy without that cape that I… Am I… checking her flank again? Scarlet looked back into Faith’s eyes and noticed she was doing the same. The moment of embarrassment following afterwards somehow managed to cover all her clean and dirty thoughts alike. She tried to come back on subject with the only thing she could. “Just Faith? Why just Faith? Don’t you have another name, like most ponies do?” Scarlet, you’re a smooth idiot.

The awkwardness in the air was rising, and they both knew it. Come on Scarlet, just admit you’re sexually attracted to a mare, do it on the floor, in the kitchen, on the couch, by the fridge, and in bed, then you can ask her to help you with the mission. She couldn’t do any of those, for the mare spoke “No, that is my name. Just Faith. Good enough?”

The arousal and hangover were getting to her. She understood the first time, there was no need to say it again. “Okay, okay. I’ll just call you Faith. You don’t need to be that specific about it. If you don’t want to tell me, I understand.”

Scarlet almost wanted to tell the assassin to go get her cape back on. The staring was getting annoying and she felt as if the mare didn’t like it either. Or she could just start touching, instead of looking. Mentally slapping herself, the mare tried to focus on Faith’s answer. “No. It really is Just Faith. First name Just. Last name... Would you please put on a bucking towel already?!”

Scarlet spent the next minute trying to figure out what had happened. She was not one for relationships or sexual stuff, but that was the reaction of someone who had been staring at her for about the same duration she had been staring back. “Okay, if that is your wish.” The craziest of thoughts ran through her mind. It is a good idea to taunt her. Let her want me more! Getting off the couch, she made a move with her hooves and hips as to give Faith a good, first seat view of all her backside: flank, tail and marehood. Going for the bathroom, she thought: If that doesn’t set her off, nothing will.

Returning to the living room with a towel around her waist, she tossed one to Faith as well. “There, better?” The posture she chose to sat in, however, was one from which everything could be seen as clear as broad daylight. Scarlet was going to give Faith a hard time admitting it.

The brown mare rapidly took the towel and tried to wrap it up around her. It was hilarious to see how she would go through so much effort to keep a large amount of her absolutely delicious body covered. The scars only made it better: the icing on the cake. In the end, she ended up putting it around her waist, successfully managing to cover all of Scarlet’s points of interest. “Not really.”

Another moment of silence enlisted between the two, only this time it felt far less awkward and far more tension building in between. They both wanted each other, Scarlet was sure of it. This mare looked and behaved so much like Spark… She would never admit her true desires, even if it meant taking them to the grave with her. Scarlet was not going to let the mistake happen twice in her lifetime. She arched her hooves in anticipation. Her eyes were glimmering with the desperation of an unknown situation, trying to find a way out. There is no way out, Faith. Embrace it!

As if reading her thoughts, the chocolate mare licked her lips with what Scarlet thought was the most sensual flick of a tongue she had ever seen. Her voice supported the rest of her body, asking her in an untypical, squeaky voice “So, any other questions? Or, can we get down to it?”

That was all the mare had been waiting for. Spreading her wings, Scarlet lunged towards Faith and pinned her down, holding her hooves tightly against the floor. “I’m glad you finally came clean. It would have been pointless to try to take it out of you.” And then… She kissed Faith. The kiss that only one day ago made Scarlet break down crying now seemed all too natural. As their lips met, the orange pegasus left no room for Faith back up, sliding her tongue deep inside her mouth.

She held the kiss for a good several seconds, wrapping her tongue around Faith’s. She was responsive as well, since as Scarlet left her mouth to look at her, the mare only squeaked in dismay. Her hooves behind left no doubt. She wanted it just as much. Scarlet saw no reason to keep her waiting. Her roof running down Faith’s chest, she asked a rhetorical “Well?” before sliding the hoof all the way downward.

It stopped in exactly the right place. Not too low, as to not make her submit to the pleasure but yet not very high, for her to be able to enjoy the moment as well. Faith, first class Lore division assassin, was now rubbing her in the same manner. She had read about the Creed’s seduction techniques, yet nothing seemed more vivid then the image at hand. The other pegasus seemed uncertain, almost timid about her next move. She wanted to say something. “But…”

This was not a time for words, as they both knew. Scarlet wanted, needed more right now. There was no turning back. Her instincts took hold, as her hoof slid closer and closer to Faith’s underside, feeling the heat, the sweat in her coat. The brown mare was panting heavily, her lower lips becoming more and more receptive to Scarlet’s hoof. “Please…” Faith whispered. She wants it so badly, she’s actually pleading for it. Steadily reaching, Faith pulled Scarlet closer, and again into the kiss they both enjoyed so much. It was her turn to curiously roam inside Scarlet, exploring her taste. The orange pegasus only lightly pushed back with her own tongue, letting Faith enjoy her time as well.

As the kiss ended, Scarlet let out a murmur of pleasure, looking in her partner’s eyes. She now knew it: that mare was special. After this morning, she would have a hard time letting go of her. Deciding to push that thought away, she pushed her hoof for the first time inside Faith, teasing her lightly “Do you have anything in mind, or does the floor work for you as well?” Her hoof continued sliding in tenderly, trying not to force it too much inside. The moans of pleasure following signaled what she hoped for.

Her partner was enjoying it, even more than she was. Faith’s panting in her ear turned her on even more, feeling her own wetness below as the brown mare rolled her over. Scarlet was now on the bottom, her hoof still sticking inside Faith, who was now displaying one of the most perverted smiles she had ever seen. “I don’t think I could actually make it anywhere else.” Her hips started grinding on the hoof, making Faith moan in pleasure with every slide, making Scarlet crave it more second by second. The brown mare started kissing her neck, at first slowly, moving on towards a flurry of small, quick kisses heading straight for her chest.

As Faith lingered with the kisses, Scarlet tried positioning her hoof better, while holding onto Faith’s flank tightly with the other. She needed to be satisfied, and the endless moans and kisses planted by the pegasus were not helping her case. “Would you please be so kind as to… you know, rut me as well? Please?”

She did manage to get a reaction. Her partner looked up at her, looking determined to tease her a bit more. Scarlet tried looking at her as pleadingly as possible, making it clear that she wanted all the attention she could give her. The heat built up inside her was too much, feeling as Faith got closer and closer to her lower side. The mare slowly removed Scarlet’s hoof from herself, letting out a whimper, somewhat displeased of the fact she no longer felt her warmth down below. Faith tried pinning her down weakly, but there was no need for that, Scarlet was at her whim.

Scarlet was completely taken by surprise as of what came next. The pegasus was staring at her lower parts, licking her lips in anticipation. She’s gonna… She’s gonna lick inside there? I hope by all… “You know, I’ve never done this kind of thing with a mare before,” she spoke in her exposed slit, the vibrations of the air shooting scarlet like jolts of electricity throughout the body. Slow breaths invaded the space between her legs, making her tighten her back hooves around Faith’s neck. “But, I’ve been wanting to taste this since you first waved it at me.” She didn’t care what would come next; she wanted her in, now.

A light, long, lick followed, slurping all of her wetness off the surface. Scarlet was on cloud nine, not being able to talk anymore. The first was followed by another, and another. The licking intensified as Faith gently spread her folds with the tongue, sending wave after wave of pleasure inside her. She was reaching for one of Scarlet’s most sensitive spots. She wanted to tell her to stop, trying to gesture as she put her teeth gently around the nub at the upper side of her lips. Buy it was too later.

Faith started sucking on it, intensely, leaving Scarlet to scream out in pleasure. Both pain and pleasure coursed from below, letting the mare lie on the ground, dried out of any other reactions. It was more than she could take. Continuous moans of pleasure were showing Faith she was doing her best job down there, letting the orange pegasus arch her back outwards, exposing herself even more.

She didn’t need to ask more, spreading her hooves was invitation enough for Faith. Releasing the gentle bite, she thrusted her mouth deeply inside Scarlet’s slit, forcing in and digging deeply. If Scarlet had any strength left, she would have probably begged. Her stamina was quickly draining and with each lick Faith gave her deeper and deeper inside another moan escaped her mouth. By the time she was fully inside, Scarlet couldn’t bear it anymore.

It was then when Faith struck gold. As her tongue rested onto Scarlet’s sweet spot, even for just a fraction of a second, the mare let herself go. All of her juices released into Faith’s mouth and onto her face, covering it in a clear, sticky liquid. Her moans and pants fully covered any sound Faith might have made in the meantime. Scarlet almost hated herself for lasting so little. She would have enjoyed more of the mare’s act, but now it was her turn to help Faith out. And she had no idea how to do that. Timidly panting, she managed to ask in a frail, squeaky voice “Um... Would you fancy anything… special?”

Her partner took a short break. She wanted it badly, as Scarlet could tell from her eyes. But the request never came. Only their heavy breathing remained, for a good minute. Scarlet found the strength to look up into Faith’s sad eyes, as her response finally broke the painful silence “No.” Her shaky voice betrayed everything that came with that word: regret, remorse and a hidden desire to say the contrary. However, she seemed more than convinced to get to a point. “That’s okay. I’m glad you enjoyed it, though.”

Faith stood up, not looking into Scarlet’s eyes. The orange pegasus was hit by a torrent of confusion and fear: Faith was going to leave. Determined to do everything in her strength to make her say what was on her mind, Scarlet shot up to her feet instantly and walked besides her troubled friend “Faith? What’s wrong? Did I do something bad?” She almost felt like crying, but maintaining a strong attitude was going to be the key in making her stay. For her, another abandon was unconceivable.

The brown pegasus seemed almost confident in her words. Backing off a few more steps sent Scarlet a shiver down her spine. She was just going to pick up and leave like that? There had to be something she could do. “No, yes, no,” Faith was trying to pick her words, so unlikely for an assassin who usually had everything planned. There was something on her mind, something she wanted to share. All she needed was a little impulse. “Listen. You need to leave. Get your entire organization to leave. Gather up anypony who means anything to you and leave.”

“If that were that simple, perhaps I would. There are some things you don’t understand, Faith.”

“There are a lot of things you don’t understand,” Even after this, she was going to try to get all the work on her beautifully thin shoulders, trying to look like the ruthless, cold blooded killer she was trained to be. But that wasn’t the point. Faith was missing everything Scarlet was trying to say, and she somehow figured it out. With something between a resigned sigh and a reserved groan, Faith asked “Just. Say what you have to say.”

If it were that simple, Faith… “I’m not going to leave. My duty is here. Conflux sent Ogon to compete against me and I won’t rest until the Hooftails and the Shadowbrands are dead…” Then she hesitated. Some unknown force lead her to the one place on the drawer that she dreaded. The small box, containing a game she once, long ago cherished. “Also, I don’t have anypony to mean something to me.”

She turned towards the shelf, touching the cardboard box. That moment was so far away, yet she could relive it every day, every single moment of existence. That game was there to stand proof of why she was there. She never asked for someone to be there for her. She just wanted to take down as many Creed before… “Can’t you see I’m trying to save your life here?!” Okay, totally unexpected. Turning back towards the mare, something struck her.

Faith, fully fledged Creed assassin of the Lore division was crying. Then, there, she finally understood. That brown mare actually cared for her. Her death would’ve meant something… If only… Faith took a minute to calm down before speaking again. “If you have to, stick around till their dead, claim whatever credit you want to. But, leave, then and there.” She is simply magnificent. The simplicity with which she sees me is striking.

No second thoughts, Scarlet turned towards Faith and gave her a big hug. She had no idea why, but for a second, it made her feel warm and fuzzy inside, like her life finally had a meaning once more. “You really don’ get it. It’s not the credit I’m after. I think we’re both after the same thing. I finally understand now… Liberation.”

Scarlet was not sure if Faith’s silence was mocking or just meditating upon her words. She was still sad, sniffing in her mane. The pleasant feeling was getting more and more diminished by Faith’s worry. “I don’t want, deserve, liberation. I deserve whatever comes.” We are, after all hunting for the same purpose. It is the Reaper division she is after. Maybe we could make our last stand together. As if reading her thoughts, the brown mare embraced Scarlet even harder. “What I want is you not to die. I want you to live, for my own selfish reasons,” Another pause followed, in which Faith actually choked on her words. “…Because I actually like you.”

Scarlet appreciated her honesty. She knew how hard it was for Creed members to get attached. However, she was in the same situation. How could she not tell Faith that she was not as important as she claimed? Sora command… She knew she’d never get into Conflux, even by eliminating two Creed divisions it was impossible. She knew what most didn’t even dream about. Yet that was all she was ever going to be: a field agent.

Her objective, however, needed to remain that. Appearances were what mattered in this world, and aiming high was what everyone expected of her. Appearances didn’t have their place in a talk with somepony she had grown to like “You’re afraid of the Reapers. Death itself is liberation enough for what I’ve done. If there’s someone who should leave when the job is done, it’s you. I’m not made for a commander’s life. It’s always been my destiny to die fighting my bitter enemy.”

She could barely feel the tears in her eyes. Every regret she ever had would be cleansed in the fires of her final battle. In the end, they would all be together again. As a team. “Going out whilst taking at least 20 Reapers by myself would be, as an ultimatum, my form of liberation.”

“Death is never liberation” Faith fired back, with her former coldness in her voice. “Corpses are just that, corpses. There isn’t anything grand about it.” She turned away, her tears dripping on the floor. Scarlet would never understand her reasons. Faith was still in between worlds, her two sides both talking at the same time. One was the calculated assassin and the other…. The other was the mare she liked. “You can die and become a martyr, but all that earns you is a shinier coffin and a few more ponies at the procession. I’m not doing this because I’m afraid, or because I want to be liberated and see everypony they killed again.”

Scarlet wanted to go hug her again, explain everything she meant. But now it was Faith the assassin talking. “I’m doing it because I’ve already committed the most horrible taboo possible. I’ll do it again, and not regret it.” Scarlet could feel nothing in those words. Empty; that was it. However, Faith the pony would not let those hollow words go out without her own. “If you have something worth being liberated for, then live. Live, because dying won’t accomplish anything.”

Scarlet knew what had to be done. Taking a slow walk to the kitchen, she took one of the smaller bottles of rum out of her fridge, along with two glasses. Setting them on the table, she pointed towards a chair nearby her couch for Faith. “I think we need to get to know each other a little better before talking about this.” She sat on the couch, opening the bottle and pouring a glass for each of them. “Unless the warning is the only thing you came for.”

Faith sat on the chair, looking defeated. She was clearly displeased with the fact that she had to talk, moreover of herself. “I don’t…” the sentence remained cut in the middle as Faith downed her drink in one go. Apparently the concentration was much bigger than she anticipated, for she started coughing right away. Scarlet followed, trying not to choke on the strong liquid.

“Well then, tell me more about yourself.”

Chapter 5: And then they Bucked (Faith) [NSFW]

Faith paced back and forth in front of the old building. Since when had this type of this been this hard? She was only coming to relay her important warning. Well, she would also do what she had promised, but surely she couldn’t expect anything more than hatred in response. Certainty shouldn’t have been this difficult.

In all fairness, the assassin had considered the idea of using her previously constructed entrance to the home, but had forgone it. The front door, she determined it would be at least a little more trustworthy to appear like that. Trustworthy, who was she kidding, trustworthy wasn’t something a pony thought when they considered a Creed.

Ring. She buzzed the bell lightly, feeling considerably more naked than she would have liked. No equipment at all, and she had even lowered the hood on her cloak. In all fairness, she didn’t own anything other than the cloak yet and she wasn’t quite the type of pony comfortable walking around without clothes. Even her disguises always had clothes.

“Go away!” It was barely audible, seemed the mare didn’t even want to bother with crossing the distance to the door. It was moderately annoying, but also felt like the exact kind of response she would garner from a face to face confrontation. She deserved it, but rang again without hesitation. At least let me save your damned life before you kick me out.

Faith could hear the scrambling on the other side of the door. Good, she was finally going to be answered. It was another few seconds of random noises and what seemed like dripping before the door flung upon revealing a gun and a perfectly wet, grumpy, mare, “I said go...” Scarlet, that mare, seemed to have a natural attraction to water on the level that, if there was even a drop in the room, she would not only find it, but bathe in it before any form of meeting between the two could take place. It was like she intimately knew Faith’s weakness.

“Hello?” She knew it was a toy gun, she raised her forehooves anyways. Partially to reveal the fact that she had no weapons and partially to try and hide the blush.

There was a mountain of things Faith expected. Being shot on sight wouldn’t have much surprised her. The soaked position her compatriot was in, she was slowly beginning to realize it was impossible for that to have been any other way. For the love of everything at least use a towel, and quickly. What she was not expected was the resigned sigh and, worse yet, the next words, “If you want to come in, leave the cape outside.”

No clothes?! Surely, she was joking. Okay, most ponies didn’t wear clothes on most days, but that was neither here nor there. Or, maybe it was here, but it certainly wasn’t there. And, it certainly didn’t seem to be up for conversation as the mare was already walking away, “And close the door behind you.”

Moments of hesitation and nervousness followed before Faith finally settled on an appropriate path. She obviously wasn’t going to get anywhere in the hallway, and certainly wasn’t going to get anywhere wearing the cloak. She would just have to suck it up. Well, she would have to take off the cloak anyway.

The heavy piece of material dropped to the ground in the hallway as she awkwardly stepped into the room, shutting the door behind her. I’m naked, Very, very naked. Put on a towel already! The thoughts stung the back of her mind. It was hard to concentrate on the task at hand. She needed to, say something? That’s right, she wasn’t here just to gripe about a towel.

“Listen, I came here to discuss something with you.”

Okay, she was desperately trying to look at something, anything other than the dripping mare. The ceiling first, then the bathroom door, then the fridge, then back to Scarlet, then immediately away. Wait, was she looking? Do I look that bad without the cloak? Faith suddenly felt very conscious of her own appearance and a little ashamed of it. She could feel the embarrassment burning in her cheeks along with a slight bit of appreciation for how effortless the mare made it look.

It took a few seconds before she realized the mare had left her behind. By then she nearly tripped over herself trying to take a moderately appropriate position. Honestly, it was on the other side of the room, hoping that the mares eyesight was bad enough that she didn’t look completely bad from there, “Name.”

Seriously? Name? Do you have any idea that you are laying out on a couch completely soaked? Her mind screamed against the damn pose, she needed to stare at...her own hooves. Yes, that was about the farthest thing from a provocatively posed wet mare. They were rough and completely the opposite, right?

“I’m,” Nopony, the thought of using that was stopped dead. Honestly, it would have been all too easy to go the nameless route, but it felt almost like a betrayal of the promise she had made to Rose. Do non existent ponies say things like that? Probably not, “Just Faith.”

Hooves, hooves, hooves, couch. Couch, hoof, leg, tail...Why does her tail have to look good when wet too? For an awkward second Faith’s eyes tried darting anywhere but that still soaked tail. Chest, no good, leg of the couch, didn’t stick. Cutie mark? Cutie mark it was, she looked it over, trying to pretend it interested her more than the water droplets beading off the mare. Part of it was, it was unique to consider finding another whose mark represented an organization so perfectly.

Unfortunately, it was also a bit of a shame. Faith had already served in betraying everything hers stood for and was trying to desperately convince herself that she wasn’t hopelessly engrossed in one completely the opposite of her. Her eyes darted anywhere, Scarlet’s face. Wait, she had been looking? She had seen Faith checking out her flank! This, this was why you wore clothes.

More awkward silence and desperately glaring at her hooves until finally a bit more came out of the conversation, “Just Faith? Why just Faith? Don’t you have another name, like most ponies do?” It wasn’t the first time this little exchange had happened. After a while she had just started referring to herself as Faith and leaving out the first part. Why hadn’t she done that this time?

“No, that is my name. Just,” She emphasized this part as much as she could, drawing it out. She was thankful for just about any distraction from the soaking pile of...Nope, think of hooves. Not her hooves either, your hooves, “Faith. Good enough?” There was a good chance by the end of this completely useless conversation Faith would either throw the mare on the ground, maybe to towel her off maybe for another reason, or she would have a hoof fetish. She hoped for the hoof fetish.

Faith began shifting awkwardly again. The feeling of being watched was not helping her self conscious opinions about her own appearance. Even thinking about her own hooves had lost effectiveness when the image of Scarlet licking those very hooves danced across her mind. She was currently stuck somewhere in between feeling completely naked, and trying to name off the last thirty commanders of Anima division in order, “Okay, okay. I’ll just call you Faith. You don’t need to be that specific about it. If you don’t want to tell me, I understand.”

No, no, no. She did not have the clarity of thought to have this kind of a conversation. The shifting only intensified as she sighed heavily trying to pretend exasperation was the only thing on her mind, “No. It really is Just Faith. First name Just. Last name...”

That was it, her mind finally snapped. Awkward, naked, attracted, it picked the first thing it could think of and blurted it out, “Would you please put on a bucking towel already?!” She still felt awkward, unbelievably more so actually, as she blushed without the ability to stop it.

“Okay, if that’s your wish,” This was good, right? The mare was going to finally get rid of that ridiculously attractive wet mane. She was going to get up and...No, definitely not good. The mare seemed intent to taunt her. Even the act of getting to the bathroom seemed unnecessarily erotic. Or, was that just from the burning feeling Faith could feel in her body? No, assassin’s weren’t so easily distracted by...She caught a momentary glimpse of the Scarlet, in all her glory, and her mind stopped dead in it’s tracks.

Well, the tracks had been more or less redirected. This time back towards that area where the image of Scarlet and the licking resided. No, no, no. She tried to jerk herself away, and it worked a little. It also helped when the drier mare returned and threw a towel over to Faith. It was small, and served no purpose as clothing, but she could distract herself with it. Actually, she could try to fidget with it constantly attempting to find a position where it covered enough of her body that she didn’t feel bad about it any more.

“There, better?” Sort of, you don’t happen to have a bigger towel do you? It was physically impossible to cover every scar or ugly patch on Faith’s body with just the one small towel. She eventually settled with wrapping it around her midsection, the area she felt the most conscious about, but couldn’t keep herself from adjusting it repeatedly.

“Not really,” Towel, towel, towel, couch, crotch. Seriously?! Who sits like that?! And her face was back to blushing again. She wanted to burst out about that too, but that would also involve admitting that she had looked at it at least once. Truth be told, she wanted to look at it again, but focused on Scarlet’s eyes instead, a slight slurping noise involuntarily escaping her lips, “So, any other questions? Or, can we get down to it?” Not it, not that it! The conversation, never that it! I definitely didn’t mean...TOWEL!

She instantly thought about retracting her statement, trying to clear up what she had meant, but there was no time. The orange mare was instantly upon her, towels cast to the side in the hurried tackle. Pinned, she was pinned, her mind going into traditional reflex mode. Faith’s body shuddered, her eyes tightly closed, waiting for the inevitable killing blow. She had let her guard down too much, this was punishment. Except, the killing blow didn’t come, “I’m glad you finally came clean. It would have been pointless to try to take it out of you.”

Begin

“I,” Faith tried to raise an objection. She planned to clarify everything. She still had an important point coming here, right? Then her mouth was invaded. Invaded and conquered by the amazingly forceful tongue now wrapping around hers. All the reasoning seemed to drain away, syphoned up by that tongue. All that was left as the intruder finally left was a complacent whimper from Faith, her body slightly relaxing while she blushed harder and harder. This wasn’t like her, she wasn’t complacent, she didn’t forget objectives, and she certainly didn’t willfully splay out her back hooves like this. Still, her mind screamed for it and only it.

Scarlet’s hoof traced down her chest, eliciting only panting and cloudier thoughts from Faith’s mind. The hoof paused there, just far enough down to bring the heat to her loins again, but high enough up that she felt frustration growing with each passing second, “Well?”

It might as well have been an order for the precedence it placed on the mare’s mind. She tried to consider the implications, her own hoof casually sliding along Scarlet’s sleek body, the curves in all the most perfect places, “But...” Scarlet’s hoof descended further, driving the fire in her to new heights, questions and concerns alike were thrown aside. She wanted that kiss back. She wanted that closeness.

“Please,” she whispered between heavy pants pulling her hooves gently around Scarlet’s back, just under her wings and dragging the mare back into a kiss. This time it was Faith’s tongue probing into her mouth. Part of her never wanted to let it go, the other part was driving her to see if she could elicit the same type of whimper from the seemingly powerful mare.

The kiss lasted only a few precious moments. The feeling, the taste, of the inside of her mouth was something nearly indescribable. As their mouths finally separated Faith could feel herself licking her lips again. She wanted more of that taste, to hay with the consequences. Finally, she heard it, the slight whimper that spurred her on. They were both definitely feeling the exact same thing. Then came the hoof she had almost forgot about during the kiss. The intruder slid further down, finally finding and capturing her sweet spot.

The pressure was undeniable and Faith gave no resistance, letting the hoof slip inside. Gentle, this was more gentle than any time before. Ideally, Faith had never been with a mare before, but the feeling of a hoof inside her exposed slit was undeniable and unbelievable. It moved with perfect precision, drawing a loud gasp and louder desires, “Do you have anything in mind, or does the floor work for you as well?”

Buck it, Faith played the complacent card to its fullest, panting heavily next to the mares ear for a few second before tightening her embrace around Scarlet. In an instant she had rolled the two and sat perched on top of the mare. Her lips trying to imitate the best sultry smile she had ever seen her hips began to grind slightly on the hoof she had kept firmly in place during the roll, “I don’t think I could actually make it anywhere else.”

She tried to act in control, but the heavy breathing and minute escaped whimpers betrayed her feelings. The path finally settled on was to begin to pepper the perfect orange mare with kisses. First the neck, then chest was assaulted by the light and furious onslaught. The heat from her partner only spurring her on as she ignored the rising panting from them both. Chest to tummy, slowly working down, no place left unassaulted until, “Would you please be so kind as to… you know, rut me as well? Please?”

Oh, it was so cute, Faith just had to look up at her for a second. The voice sounded at least a little confident, but her face now painted a completely different picture. She didn’t just want the attention from Faith, she needed it, her face pleading in a contortion of pleasure and torture. And, Faith would be more than happy to give it to her, but not in the way she might have imagined.

Slowly, and a little shakily, Faith forced the hoof out of her own precious slit. As the wonderful feeling left she whimpered a little, but she had bigger plans. Sliding down the length of the mare she kept Scarlet down with what little force was actually left in her forehooves. Finally, she found herself laying between Scarlet’s splayed legs, staring affectionately at those wonderful folds. She’d been licking her lips involuntarily since the first glimpse she had, now she was doing it completely of her own volition.

“You know, I’ve never done this kind of thing with a mare before,” she spoke directly into her partner’s exposed nethers, sliding in little light blows and watching the wonderful reactions, “But, I’ve been wanting to taste this since you first waved it at me.” Finally Faith stopped blowing and dived in. First, a cursory lick up the length of that wondrous entrance that so entranced her, light and long. It was soaked, anticipating, begging, but she wanted to do this right.

A few shorter, stronger, licks followed as she worked up the length of Scarlet’s wonderful taste. It was amazing, different, totally worthy of the slurping desire she had had earlier. Finally the licks placed her in front of the little nub she had been aiming for from the start. A little flick of her tongue around the nub prepared it as she closed on it and began her light long sucks.

Her subject began to moan at first, soon erupting into the kind of screams Faith had only ever imagined. It was pure primal pleasure and as scream after scream errupted Faith only spurred herself on more. She sucked harder, longer, and began to add small flicks of the tongue, anything to drive the mare beneath her further. And, further the mare went her folds practically trembling until she arched her back, splaying her legs even more.

Faith didn’t need more of an invitation that that. The precious button was instantly released in favour of shoving her snout hungrily in. She pushed as far into the amazing smell of Scarlet’s wetness and when she could get no further her tongue extended out like a snake. She assaulted the walls and fleshy amazement, each taste and smell driving her further into depravity. A small puddle quickly forming on the floor of her own nethers was all the proof needed that the mare was quickly losing herself in the act and feelings she had never imagined.

Pain, pleasure, taste, smell, they were all the same reaction. She was going to continue to drive into the mare until she had nothing left. Soon she found it, that one little place that sent the mare over the edge. Faith could feel the quivering, the spasming, the pure pleasure the mare finally released and she helped Scarlet ride that wave, dutifully lapping at the tasty flood that ensued until it finally overwhelmed her, forcing out her mouth for a breath of air. And there the mare lay, perfectly panting and completely amazing, “Um... Would you fancy anything… special?”

It was, well, perfect could never have been a strong enough word for that. She’d finally given into the feelings, her own juices covering the floor beneath her, signalling everything she wanted to tell Scarlet to do to her. But, the words just wouldn’t come. Pant after pant, heave after heave, something became perfectly clear. She was only a few seconds away from never wanting to leave this. No, she was already there, but it was going to be harder and harder to go the longer she stayed.

End

“No,” The voice was shaky, regretful, but stern. Faith immediately regretted saying it, but she knew she would regret not saying it more, “That’s okay. I’m glad you enjoyed it, though.”

She was already shakily getting to her hooves. The normal visage of the killer looked like it might collapse under its own weight, but it didn’t matter. You came here to get her to leave, not to fall for her.

Faith was still trying to steady her own resolve when her compatriot was already beside her. For how exhausted she seemed earlier Scarlet must have had amazing recuperative prowess. Another thing about the mare to be attracted to, but that wasn’t the point here, “Faith? What’s wrong? Did I do something bad?”

How did one usually start something like this, it isn’t you it’s me? No, that was pathetic. I’m planning on taking all the blame so you don’t end up dead? Well, it was certainly to the point and truthful, but hardly exactly what should have been said. Besides that, Faith couldn’t seem to bring those words together, or most words together for that matter.

“No, yes, no,” She stuttered, trying to put some distance between them, even a few hoofsteps was better. But, even then, the words still didn’t come easily. There was so much worth explaining, but none of it changed anything. Words, words didn’t mean anything. She settled on cold, “Listen. You need to leave. Get your entire organization to leave. Gather up anypony who means anything to you and leave.”

“If that were that simple, perhaps I would. There are some things you don’t understand, Faith.” The words rung out, an unbearable feeling starting to set down. Doesn’t she get it? I’m trying to save her life here. The reality was starting to sink in, how many more times was she going to have to stress this point? How much was the mare going to hate her at the end?

“There are a lot of things you don’t understand,” Like what? What words go next? Her voice trembled again, faltering on the next words. Little barks set out, falling down in register as she tried to compose herself again. She turned, big mistake there. She was staring into Scarlet’s eyes again, watching the concern she held and feeling like that mare could see everything she was thinking, “Just. Say what you have to say.”

Nothing good ever came from listening to somepony else’s explanation.

The mare opposite her was starting to look more and more uncomfortable, but that was the point. Harshness wasn’t going to work, kindness was just getting Faith hurt. Uncomfortable, that might be the best shot, “I’m not going to leave. My duty is here. Conflux sent Ogon to compete against me and I won’t rest until the Hooftails and the Shadowbrands are dead…”

A brief pause, long enough for Faith to formulate her next words. If she could hold together her tone then everything could go the way it needed, right? Only, the mare beat her to the punch again, as she drifted back from whatever had occupied her mind, “Also, I don’t have anypony to mean something to me.” Come on, don’t play that card. Please don’t play that card, it isn’t fair.

It wasn’t entirely clear why, but she felt responsible. Standing before her were the consequences that a lifetime of killing had placed on her. Faith knew it wasn’t her fault in specific, that didn’t mean it made it any easier. The words choked up again, trying to escape properly. Be convincing. Be tough. Every pony wants to live a happy life. Every pony wants to live, “Can’t you see I’m trying to save your life here?!”

Not good, she broke down. A few tears and several moments were needed to compose herself. Even then, it wasn’t easy to pretend it never happened. She continued, forcing back the sniffles, trying to be the cold hearted killer offering redemption. A different approach, appeal to pride. You can work that, “If you have to, stick around till they’re dead, claim whatever credit you want to. But, leave, then and there.”

There were a million different reactions possible. Faith braced herself for the very real possibility of being hit, or yelled at in anger, or some other kind of negative reaction. She was trying to prove a point, not be graceful. She was trying to get it out, but she never expected what came next. What was it about those words that provoked the orange mare to hug her? It was wonderful, like something you dream before waking up. That’s exactly what this was, a dream.

The mare had started going on about something, words were lost in this dream. Only, it wasn’t a dream. Faith had to pull herself out of it, this was reality. Words had meaning in reality, an embrace wasn’t going to solve everything, “...I think we’re both after the same thing. I finally understand now… Liberation.”

Liberation, a funny concept. Faith drifted, a strong part of her wanting that liberation. It desired to be right here and to have that not be wrong. However, she forced that part aside with the inevitable image of this pony embracing her dead. She sniffed again, “I don’t want, deserve, liberation. I deserve whatever comes.” Lies for the most part.

Faith faltered, clearing her throat and starting again, embracing the pony in the process, “What I want is you not to die. I want you to live, for my own selfish reasons,” Another creeping pause before answering the question she wasn’t even aware enough to know if had been asked, “Because I actually like you.”

Rose would be proud of sap like that. There was no going back from honesty like that. Saying it out loud, for some reason it seemed to change everything. Not in the good sense, but at least it could give Faith an idea of what she was fighting for or, at least, against. The marred silence continued until her audience finally broke through.

“You’re afraid of the Reapers. Death itself is liberation enough for what I’ve done. If there’s someone who should leave when the job is done, it’s you. I’m not made for a commander’s life. It’s always been my destiny to die fighting my bitter enemy.”

The words were wrong, everything about them was wrong. Faith choked back her own anger at those words. The embrace was lost, replaced in it’s stead was something different. I confess to you and you go about talking about fear and death, “Going out whilst taking at least 20 Reapers by myself would be, as an ultimatum, my form of liberation.”

“Death is never liberation,” Faith didn’t even bother wasting a single breath of silence. She wanted this fresh in Scarlet’s mind, “Corpses are just that, corpses. There isn’t anything grand about it.”

She turned away again, tears starting to drop again. Death was something she knew intimately, “You can die and become a martyr, but all that earns you is a shinier coffin and a few more ponies at the procession. I’m not doing this because I’m afriad, or because I want to be liberated and see everypony they killed again.”

Stupid, she let out a little too much. Scarlet didn’t need to know her reasons, she didn’t need pity or understanding. She needed it to sink in, “I’m doing it because I’ve already committed the most horrible taboo possible. I’ll do it again, and not regret it. If you have something worth being liberated for, then live. Live, because dying won’t accomplish anything.”

Hoofsteps, doors, clinking, Scarlet was doing something but Faith wasn’t about to turn around. Turning around meant seeing, seeing could mean understanding, understanding could mean worse things. Maybe trying to explain this was pointless. Maybe saying something like, ‘I like you’ meant nothing. Maybe a Creed really was just a Creed. The idea that maybe she had done something so horrible that she couldn’t even die properly was a strong one indeed.

Finally the sound of objects hitting a table jolted her reverie. She glanced over, involuntarily to the twin glasses and another of those bottles Scarlet seemed so fond of. The mare pointed to a chair, her voice still seemed so damn confident, “I think we need to get to know each other a little better before talking about this.”

I said my piece. Leaving would be better. The voice quelled pointlessly. There was no power behind it anymore. She could leave in a few minutes, hours, even after a day. Her place wouldn’t be ready for a while and the honesty seemed to make it nearly impossible. Faith took the chair, albeit uncomfortably, watching as the liquid sloshed into the two cups, “Unless the warning is the only thing you came for.”

It was, but that seemed like a pointless point now. Too much had changed from the original plan. For certain the original plan hadn’t involved being naked or burying her snout in the mare’s nethers. It would have been nice if the original plan had worked out, but at least she wasn’t quite as self conscious about being naked anymore, quite. She shifted again.

“I don’t,” Faith paused, staring at the liquid in one of the glasses. To hell with etiquette, to hay with the horrid taste, to wherever with the consequences. There was nothing about this day that probably couldn’t be solved with a good old glass of poison. Well, most ponies didn’t call it poison, but most also didn’t grab it and down it in one gulp.

A coughing fit erupted afterwards. It was stronger than the mare was prepared for, and it still burned in her throat as she hacked. Really, it was amazing ponies actually chose to drink it of their own volition.

“Well then, tell me more about yourself.”

Chapter 6: Reverie (Faith)

Anypony could become an excellent assassin, that was one of the founding principles of membership. True, some had the potential to become amazing, but they could all be excellent. Creed never went out of its way to recruit a member like this. They took the easy ones, the ones no pony missed, or even saw. They took the ones they could from hospitals, the parents expecting complications. Divisions, especially, never had to get their own members. They would select from pre picked ponies. Elite divisions had their picks, whichever pony they wanted, even ones already in other divisions.

It was important to remember that, because there were some times exceptions. Exceptions such as finding a completely orphaned filly in the aftermath of a warzone. It was a small scale warzone, the remains of Mazetail after the failed griffon invasion, but the simple point was that there was no pony left. No pony except the little filly who had been hiding under the rubble of a small house, assumably her own, and who had somehow survived the past week in hell.

In the years since that filly had come to be a part of his division, Herb had revisted that day countless times. She had been much older than the traditional recruit at the time, at least four or five. But, the circumstances had been advantageous enough to allow her to fit in. The filly had forcefully repressed any memories from before their meeting, most likely to not have to relive losing her family. In either case, she hadn’t even had a name, nor had she spoke for much of the first year.

Later on, long after Herb had given her a name, he had discovered her real name and even that of her family. Wall Shine, he had thought about telling that filly all about what he had found out. But, she never seemed to care about her past. For her, Justice Ann Faith, that was her only name and he was her only family.

The old colt chuckled to himself for a minute. Justice and faith; it was a pathetic pun. It was worse to name a young mare who would grow up as a killer with those kinds of virtues. It hadn’t taken long for it to get shortened to Just Faith, another pathetic joke Herb had come up with. But, that joke had always made the filly smile.

“Okay, how about we call you Just Faith instead?”

“Why Just Faith?”

“Because you are my Faith. Just my Faith.”

It had been so long ago that there were less that half a dozen who knew that little filly’s full name now. She seemed to like it better this way, anyway. Of course, the filly had been calling him father for longer than she’d actually had a name. It wasn’t impossible to understand, he’d rescued her and provided for her. She’d repressed her real parents, so she replaced them with him.

Other members didn’t have this problem, they’d never had parents. They were taught from birth to refer to masters appropriately. No matter how much chastising Herb did in public, she never failed to call him such in private, and he didn’t hate it either. He should have, it wasn’t professional, but he couldn’t fault her for it. She was determined, talented, and sharp as a spur. He couldn’t have asked for a better daughter if she was actually his.

The quill was picked up again, the book finally opened. Words danced across the back two pages. For having started later than most, that little filly had grown up remarkably quickly. Herb had taught her combat and the art of all sorts of substances. In just a few years she had become a pony that could pick up any weapon and still stand on an equal ground. But, there were some things that couldn’t be accomplished by a blade or a poison.

That’s where Rose had come in. Rose Breaker was an expert in just about anything that required subtlety or finesse. She wasn’t entirely enthralled by Creed, but that filly had captured her heart the first time Herb had brought her to the store. Faith’s lessons with Rose settled around the finer arts, etiquette, acting, and presentation amongst them. Creed hardly considered these to be important, a killer could kill without knowing which fork went into the salad. But, these kinds of talents were vital on deep cover operations. Besides, Herb had ulterior motives.

Once or twice he had caught Rose prattling on about the romanticized real world during the lessons. It was painfully obvious she had done it more than just those few times, and that suited his wishes just fine. Rose, was the perfect mother figure to teach that child what Creed would never allow her to learn. Some of those lessons, though, didn’t sink in as well as he had hoped.

She was no longer an apprentice by fourteen, a feat very few ponies could attest to. Her first solo kill, her graduation exam as it was, was a little tougher than he would have liked to give her. She’d come back with more than a few wounds, even a chunk missing from her left ear. It was a necessary evil, Herb couldn’t keep her holed up her entire life. More importantly, she wanted to be more. No matter what stories she heard, that little filly only wanted to be helpful.

In the years that had passed since then, Faith had grown only more skilled and determined. She had put any notions Rose might have given her out of her mind, but kept the skills. Herb could deal with that. It did hurt, though, that she kept moving further and further away from herself. It had been a habit of hers, as of late, to refer to mares as if she wasn’t even one. Maybe it was some kind of a coping mechanism, or it could have just been her repressing another more difficult fact. In the end, it hardly mattered.

He set down the quill, closing the dusty bindings of the book and sighing. The book took it’s place in an empty saddlebag. Faith was good, maybe too good. Sometimes he wished he could get the little filly who used to smile when he rubbed her back, or the one who could barely pick up a throwing dagger, much less spear a pony in the heart with one at one hundred paces. But, progression was inevitable and he had started those wheels turning oh so long ago.

The knocking echoed through the door. Minutes, or maybe even hours, passed as Herb waited on the other side. The night air was bitter, it felt a lot like that day, except there were no burning buildings to radiate their heat. Finally the door to the modest building opened, revealing the crimson maned mare on the other side.

“Herb? What are doing around at this forsaken hour?”

“I think we both know the answer to something like that Rose,” His voice fidgeted as he waited for the inevitable invitation. They both knew it was coming. Rose couldn’t ignore a request from an old friend, even if it was 2am.

“All right then, come on in,” The mare stopped blocking the doorway allowing him to finally step into the modest home. You never mix business with pleasure, it was a silly little rule, but Rose refused to use most of the bits she made on herself. Besides, she always claimed she was perfectly comfortable in this tiny home, “I’ll put on some tea if you would like some.”

“Of course,” You never discuss important business without tea, another silly rule, but at least Rose made excellent tea. It was a few minutes of pleasantries and awkward catching up before the mare finally levitated out the pot along with two of her larger tea cups. The intention was simple, this was going to take a while and she didn’t want to repour a lot.

“So, Herb,” She paused, letting the aroma of the tea fill her nostrils before taking a sip. It was a delicious blend this time, something that seemed to be from pretty far east, “You didn’t just come here to catch up and have a good old romp. What is it that’s eating you, sweetie?”

“Do you ever think, Rose? Just, think?”

“Of course I think sweetie. In my line of work I think all the time,” Herb finally took a sip of his own tea. Truthfully he was never much a fan of tea, a trait he had passed on to Faith, but he cherished every cup he could afford during visits like this.

“How long have we known each other?”

“Long enough for me to know what’s bothering you,” She didn’t much care for the meandering topic. But, they both knew exactly what this visit was for already, “It’s been awhile since you’ve waxed philosophic for me, Herb.”

“I’ve been doing it a lot lately. One of the curses of getting old I suppose.”

“If that’s a curse, then I’ll take it every day,” She paused, letting the sombre air grow between them, “And twice on Sunday.”

“Do you remember when I first brought Faith to meet you?”

A small laugh escaped those elegantly parted lips. How could she not? The filly had spent half the time cowering behind Herb and the other half running around touching just about every item in the store, “As much as I love a good trip down memory lane, sweetie, why don’t you get down to the point?”

The old book was finally removed from his saddlebag and placed next to the pot of tea, “I never could argue semantics with you Rose. I have a favour to ask of you.”

The mare glanced over the book before going right back to her tea. She wanted no more of that dreadful tome, “So, you came here to ask me to dispose of that horrid thing once and for all?”

“Close, I came here to ask you to give it to Faith when she’s ready.”

“Isn’t that supposed to be a job for the master,” Rose had already known exactly what he planned, she always knew Herb. That didn’t mean she liked the idea any more, “You know, from master to apprentice passed down?”

“Maybe it is, but I imagine you would do a far better job than me.”

“So then you plan to force it onto her just like it was forced onto you? I thought you were different than that Herb.”

It was finally his turn to laugh with a bit of mirth. The book had indeed been forced onto him a long time ago when he inherited it from his master. A sordid tale of history that had never been or could never be, “It is different this time around. Take a look.”

He flipped over the book to the final pages, the fresh ink on the very last page displaying his greatest accomplishment, “No more pages,” The words had almost as much pride as the day he found that filly, “From here out, she makes her own history now.”

“You damn colt,” She shared in his laugh if only for a moment, “Even after all these years you still have a few tricks up your sleeve.”

“All good fathers do.”

“So,” The tea was set aside, the book taken to the back room by her crimson magical glow, and one last question was asked, “Think you have time for one last romp for old times sake?”

**************

“Ally, did you get it?” The heavily influenced accent called out across the hall. Xander, that pony just did not know how to give up.

“You mean the snack? Yes, they were quite delicious,” Of all the accents she had to use, Faith wasn’t particularly happy with the Stalliongrad one. It made her sound like she was either trying to seduce everypony or eat them. Most colts couldn’t pull it off either, leaving only a few in this entire organization that didn’t leave her wanting to bash her head into a tree just from having a conversation with them. Xander was not one of those few, “And, I told you to call me Alexa, not Ally.”

“Those roses were supposed to be a gift. To ask you out,” Of course they were, Faith wasn’t stupid. She also wasn’t interested. Eating them was a solution to at least two potential problems.

“I told you before Xander. I’m not going to date one of my trainees,” It was the best excuse she had in an organization like this. Hell, you’d think half these colts had never seen a mare before her. Or, that all the mares they had seen were completely backwards. Okay, considering the few others Faith had interacted with in the last few months, she could understand the enamorment.

“Then, if I become a full enforcer,” The poor pony was delusional. But, this entire organization was delusional. Poni prevoskhodstvo, a group dedicated to liberating Stalliongrad and gaining their autonomy. It sounded like a wonderful dream, too bad half of the backers were common thugs and crime syndicates. Even if they ever did manage to succeed, the new country would just become a haven for crooks bilking every bit out of the ponies who lived there, “I’m definitely going to get that date out of you Ally.”

“You keep thinking that,” Faith was cut off by another pony in front of her. Nova, that pitch black unicorn, had been her very first trainee when she’d arrived. Unlike most of them, he’d had obvious skills. Now, he was one of the best in the entire organization. You could say countless things about how there was no way they were ever going to succeed, but Nicoli had a way of attracting some really talented ponies to his side. It was that ability that had warranted him being watched by Lore in the first place. One day the order would come in to execute him as well.

“Alexa, Nicoli needs to discuss something very important with you.” Unlike many of the others Nova was never really enamored with her. Even as a trainee he managed to keep the relationship mostly professional. Faith could respect that about the pony. He would have made a half decent Creed in another life. She almost wished there was a way to not have to kill him when the time came. Almost.

As the two walked from the general quarters into the great hall silence was golden. It was so much easier to deal with ponies when they preferred not to talk. The great hall itself was only allowed to upper echelon members. It was amazing to think how much this group had grown to trust her in just the last 18 months. Faith had been allowed access only three months after she had joined. But, Nicoli had been impressed by the ability she had. Not to mention the highly trustworthy ponies who had vouched for her. Anything could be bought or coerced.

To the right, on the far end, one of the average meeting rooms. Of course, average had a different meaning to the ponies in Stalliongrad. The hall was intricately designed and could have accommodated the princess’ personal carriage. The room was likewise uselessly ornate. For an interrogation room, things like chandeliers were pointless to a fault. Of course, it wasn’t usually an interrogation room, but today it was doubling as one.

In the middle of the room, underneath the ornate glass chandelier, was a cloaked and robed pony tied to an equally posh chair. He didn’t look worse for wear, but these weren’t torturers. They were too kind for that type of nasty business. Still, the cloak was instantly obvious. Creed, they had caught a Creed. The obvious reality, they had caught one delivering the kill order to Faith. But, the meetings were never like this, and never with members in assassin gear.

“One of our enforcers you trained found this pony planting explosives around the perimeter,” Nicoli spoke up from behind the chair. He was a short earth pony, unremarkable by many standards, with only a short black mane and a strangely mangled tail to offset the ridiculous concept of his cutie mark. Faith knew she should be worried, but at the same time she felt some pride in her work. To be able to catch a Creed was no small feat, even for the ponies she trained. Then it came, Nicoli set down the piece of paper she had been expecting, only it wasn’t what Faith had been expecting.

“He had this on him,” Faith stared dumbfounded at the piece of paper for a few seconds. Instead of the kill order for Nicoli, it was her own kill order. This Creed had come here specifically to kill her. It didn’t make sense, not even in the slightest. He mind tried to snap back, she was still in cover, betrayal wasn’t something the ponies around here should see from her, “Do you have something to tell me Alexa?”

Nicoli, for all his funny looks and posturing was only a few years older than Faith, maybe five or six. That cutie mark that looked so hilariously out of place on his frame was perfectly understandable when he talked, the royal sceptre of Stalliongrad. For a pony that looked like him, that was as young as him, when Nicoli spoke ponies listened. He had a voice very similar to father in some ways. He always knew enough to know what he was looking for in the conversation and was wise enough to steer if how he wanted. It was hardly surprising, when you took this into account, that he commanded the respect he did.

“Yes,” Faith was backed into a corner. Nicoli already knew the truth, trying to keep the cover wasn’t going to accomplish anything. Creed had a target on her head for one reason or another. There was nothing left, except to explain the truth and try to figure out the next move from there, “What you see there, it’s all true. I am indeed a Creed assassin of Lore division. I’ve been undercover here since the first day you met me, watching and waiting to see if they would put a kill order on your head Nicoli.”

She was weaponless and in a room with three of her previous graduates. Faith could maybe take a couple out, maybe even all of them, but she wasn’t going to leave the grounds alive if Nicoli didn’t want it, “Thank you.”

The words were sincere from Nicoli. Truth was something he valued. It wasn’t likely he was happy about being deceived, but he gave her the opportunity to come clean. Now, he was walking around to the tied up Creed. He carefully removed the ponies hood and smiled hopefully at him, “Now, my friend. Would you care to repeat, for her, what you told us?”

“Lore division,” The pony laughed, he laughed heartily, “Lore division is gone. They’re all dead. We killed them all, and that little Alexa of yours is next. Not like it matters, you’ll kill her yourself.”

Nicoli was normally a patient man. He had obviously been patient with this Creed and broken him in his own special way, with words. Words were effective for some ponies, sometimes more effective than the strongest blade or the most amazing spell. Besides that, there was little reason to doubt the words of the Creed. He was going to die, and he was right, they would kill Faith themselves. At least, Faith truly believed that right up until Nicoli slapped the pony right across his jawline.

“We will deal with things in our own way,” Nicoli’s words didn’t matter. Faith was already on the verge of losing control. Her mind flipped through it all. Lore, all of Lore, had been targeted by a kill order? Her entire family was dead, even father? She knew a killer wasn’t supposed to have emotions, but she could feel the tears streaming down. She could feel the fire in her hoof as she raced over and punched the Creed. The next few moments were a blur of hatred and righteous fury until she found herself outside the room, with Nicoli beside her.

“Hooftail took my entire family away,” She seethed with anger. The mark of the division was clear enough on the order. In reality, there was some part of her that knew Hooftail wouldn’t have planned this type of thing on their own. The orders probably came from higher up, but anger was all she had left now. She wanted somepony to be responsible, to die, “They want me dead, you want me dead Nicoli.”

“A pony without a family left, that is truly sad,” Nicoli completely ignored the last part. He had no intention of killing her. Why, Faith herself was in no condition to figure out. She was hardly in the mood to listen to Nicoli, “Why not stay, be our family? As Alexa, or as Faith.”

“Why,” The words were harder now, choking up with anger. But, Nicoli never had that problem. How could he remain cool in situations when a cold blooded killer couldn’t, “Why would you offer me such a thing?”

“Because, whether we realize it or not, we all deserve to be happy.”

Happy, happiness was one of those emotions assassins didn’t have. Killers had no use for happy, but Nicoli always saw one step deeper, “I’m sorry Nicoli, I can’t accept something like that. Hooftail took everything from me. The least I can do is take everything from them.”

“Then what will you do, Faith?”

“I’ll go, confirm what he said with my own eyes,” She turned away. Alexa was gone, the accent was gone, compassion was gone. She was still crying, but she had every intent to eliminate Hooftail, maybe more than that. Maybe she wouldn’t stop till she destroyed Anima on her own. She didn’t even know, “If it’s true, I’ll destroy Hooftail with my own hooves. I’ll make them pay.”

“You know, you could always have a family here if you don’t find your happiness at the bottom of a pool of blood.”

“That was pretty much everything. Revenge is easier than life. I’m doing the things I was taught never to do because I don’t have anything left. All I know is killing. Even if I didn’t die here, I don’t know happiness. I don’t know if I ever will.”

Chapter 6: Reverie (Scarlet)

“Ten bits says my next guess is a hit” The now tense game was nearing its conclusion, as the two were now finally down to one mine. The entire game room of the TWOS was now focused on the intense game now in progress between Scarlet Blast and Spark Dust. Nopony had ever got this close to beating Scarlet before, let alone score a single match against her. In expectation, none of the small crowd dared make any sound to disturb the focused contestants, waiting in expectation for Spark’s move.

“Hmm… I raise. Double that says that even if you do, I’ll win” the ever so confident response came. Looking the grey unicorn in his eyes, giving him a triumphant smirk, Scarlet added “Hint: Your first guess should be C-3.” She picked up a red peg and waited for her opponent to name a coordinate. At this point, everypony around stilled their breath in anticipation, wondering if Spark would actually listen to the mare.

The unicorn reassessed the situation. The perfect pattern his pegasus opponent had traced on the game board left him with few places to hide his three-square-length Depth Charge. However, in a lucky streak, he might have survived a few more turns. However, his messy offence left a lot of places were Scarlet’s two-squared detonator could be, basically, anywhere. If he wanted to win, he had to trust her. With a somewhat desperate sigh, he said “Fine. Let’s go with this one. C-3.”

Scarlet laid the peg down on the board “It’s a hit.” She distinguished a flicker of surprise in Spark Dust’s eyes as a large part of the group started shouting “No way!” or congratulating the unicorn for his apparent victory. However, there was still one more blow to be struck before the game would be finished.

As the silence in the room was restored, Spark focused on his remaining options: it’s really not that big a challenge. Scarlet always places her mines with logic. B-3 and D-3 are already shot down, so that only leaves me to choose between C-2 and C-4. It’s the obvious one. Always the obvious one… Breaking the silence, Dust cleared his throat and in a confident tone said “C…” Wait! That’s exactly what she wants me to believe! Smart move, Scar, but not smart enough. “… two. C-2.”

The bright orange coated pegasus raised a green peg and put it on the board, then turning it to face Spark Dust “You nearly had me there.” The unicorn looked in dismay as he saw her game board, the tiny detonator placed at the following coordinates: C-3 and C-4. “It was fun, though. Now, your depth charge starts at H-6 and goes all the way down to J-6. Mine, locked.” The crowd gathered around them all gazed upon the gray unicorn’s game board. Unmistakably, his final mine, the depth charge was located at the exact coordinates Scarlet had named. “Better luck next time, Sparky. See you in our quarters. I’m a bit tired myself.”

“But… But… Gah, I knew it!” Spark Dust’s cheeks were flushing in embarrassment as the pegasus walked away. The crowd around them disbanded, gleefully commenting the match. Another pegasus approached him, with a wide grin on his face. “Oh, shut it, Blaze. I’m really not in the mood for you right now.” Dust pushed away the still grinning pegasus.

“Well, that was quite a show she put on for you. You know I absolutely hate telling you that I told you so, but… No, actually I enjoy it very much. I told you she’ll beat up your flank so bad, every Iron Hoof is going to talk about you humiliating defeat for at least a week from now on.” The pegasus couldn’t help displaying his satisfaction.

Spark Dust was usually easy to annoy, and this made no exception “So not true. I’m sure everyone forgot the second Scar left.” He had barely finish his sentence, when a couple of ponies passed by, commenting “She humiliated him. Humiliated him, I tell you!” With this remark, Shrapnel Blaze burst out into laughter, rolling on the floor “Yeah… Ha… Ha. You’re so very funny. I’d like to see you beat her one day.”

“Nah, you know me… I don’t like fighting a lost cause. Besides, I’m almost sure there’s a way to beat her, and it looks like you’re getting close. Maybe, someday soon, you’ll be the first to figure her out.” As much as he was a pain in the flank at times, Shrapnel was just as supportive when it came to being serious. Patting a hoof on his back, he pushed Dust towards the exit “Come on, hotshot. We’ve got a big day of planning ahead of us tomorrow. We could use some sleep.”

“Yeah… I suppose you’re right.” Heading towards the team’s quarters, the two continued talking about the game, then moving on to their inside jokes, then discussing how they would have improved their performance on several other missions, as almost another couple of hours passed. Dust had always wanted to ask Blaze for help in Scarlet’s direction, yet he never got the courage to ask. He might make fun of his feelings. But he could manage on his own, Spark thought.

They reached the room, and seeing the lights were out, Shrapnel slowly opened the door. Scarlet was asleep, and none of the two wished to disturb her. She was usually the one to sound the wake up call, but also went to bed early, a thing the two never really did understand why she was so off-phased. Maybe that’s what kept the team running. However, nothing mattered, for them. They considered themselves more like brothers, the best squad Conflux ever had.

TWOS was a splinter organization, created ages ago, seeking to usurp the Creed, locked in an endless battle against them. The authority was still deeply entrenched in the moral ground; however the ever growing base of operations had a somewhat different composition. As the Creed usually took cannon fodder, so did TWOS only take the ones truly capable of the designated job. Mercantilism and diplomacy were a must for Wasser, brute strength and perception for the Terras, and so on.

On the other hoof, their elite, the Sora and Ogon squads were comprised of ponies, brought up from a very young age for this task. They would all undergo rigorous training, while still maintaining an affinity for their own special talent. Scarlet, Shrapnel and Spark were such a group. They literally lived their entire life together, except for their various training courses. Even after sixteen years, they were still the best of friends and one of the best operative groups TWOS ever had.

Even if the two would have stayed up a bit more, they decided to follow her lead and go to sleep as well. After all, the next day would be a busy one. Shrapnel just gave a quick “Good night” before jumping in his bed, turning around and dozing off in a matter of minutes, dreaming of the explosives he was going to detonate during the next mission, and basically anything involving the destruction and demolition he so cherished.

However, Spark Dust was in no mood for sleeping right now. He just sat on his bed, looking at the sleeping pegasus, admiring her long mane, smiling to himself. Damn it… Why am I stuck with loving the only mare I know who’s smarter than me? Heh… I’ll be the first to figure her out, someday. I think … I think Blaze knows… He’s not that stupid as he likes to make others believe. I should thank him for sticking up with me, even regarding this matter… maybe. With a sigh, the grey unicorn turned around in his bed and whispered softly, so that nopony would hear him, in the event one of them would’ve been awake “Good night, Scar.”

***

It was early in the morning, yet Scarlet was used to this kind of wake-up times. She got up, and watched her two friends still sleeping, sometimes even muttering in their sleep. It was too early to wake them up, she figured. It would be at least another hour until the whole cell started brimming with activity. There was not much time to lose, as she well knew.

Life in an TWOS camp was governed by a strict set of rules, but yet if somepony abided by them, they would have an easy, even fun time in such a base camp. The zone was well fortified and a siege upon the compound would take months to bring it down. Creed sabotage was also out of question, since the daily check-ins made it impossible for agents to sneak in. Apart from the very tight schedule imposed regarding outgoing, such a base had pretty much anypony could wish for. The small army, gathered in time by instigation and persuasion, was now so big the base looked more like a medium-sized forest town, rather than a top secret military base.

Scarlet and her friends were assigned somewhere in the eastern section. Each part of the base had its own mess hall, activity room, habitation quarters and other basic facilities. However, the core equipment, stored in the command hub, communication centre and armory were all concentrated in the middle of the base, and were the most prized and defended buildings in the base. It was one’s duty to die destroying those landmarks before them falling into Creed hands, should the encampment fall.

After a quick stroll to the mess hall and a daisy salad later, she returned to her quarters and sat at the workbench. There wasn’t too much for her to do, except for wrapping up the file for their latest undertaking. And what a magnificent mission it was! They had managed to make a cathedral’s chapel give in, sealing in an entire detachment of assassins, also snatching all their supplies outside in the process using only a dozen sticks of dynamite and a few well timed triggers, crippling the Creed’s activity in the area greatly.

For the past couple of decades, the TWOS had been trying to evict the Creed forces from Phillydelphia, one of Equestria’s major cities. The ragtag militia and saboteurs in the Phillydelphia cell had finally managed to push out most of the Creed, after long interminable and somewhat unprofitable deals with the Trade Guild, almost wiping them out completely. Only a few forces remained, and they knew soon enough the time for conquering their first major city would come.

However something was about to turn the tide in the Creed’s favor. From classified documents, Scarlet had found out a turncoat of the TWOS science squad had fed the Creed an experimental weapon Conflux was developing. More details on this secret weapon were “top secret” and the clearance level for this information was more than Scarlet could hack into the data files. The message was clear, the weapon was not to fall into their hands.

Scarlet was sure this was their mission. Nopony in the local branch was more prepared than Spark, Blaze and herself. And there could be nothing else Conflux could refer to as a “highly classified assignment”. Checking her watch again, only half an hour had passed. Taking out a map of the region, she would start looking for any routes the caravan would follow. If it was indeed, their mission, it wouldn’t hurt planning ahead.

The Nomad division is renowned far and wide for their tactics and terrain choosing. They know the importance of a road off the beaten track, and a caravan this big would be very noticeable in the open. Even with their fighting skills, they wouldn’t last long in the open. The lakeside road is the barest route they can take, thus making it a very risky trip. However this one will get them faster to their destination.

On the other hand, the mountain pass is safer, but they can’t afford to lose too much time. By my understanding, the schematics are complex enough and they wish to start working on it immediately. By then, our war will be won; they can’t afford losing such an important city for so long. This only leaves one other logical option.

The forest track offers a perfect balance between cover and swiftness. That’s probably the road they’re going to take. It will be longer than lakeside, but will still deliver the cargo in time. Hmm… I wonder if they actually have a minesweeper in that band of theirs. If so, and if he’s skilled enough then there’s little we can do to overthrow the caravan. However, if we can get our hooves on the CIV... Then the board is pretty much set in our favor.

She started sketching on the map swiftly, tracing possible routes, calculating ranges, length of the actual caravan, everything that could go wrong and every fix to make a flawless plan. However important a good plan might’ve been, it didn’t matter much. The execution was what mattered. Giving the map one more look, she set the pencil down, and turned to look at the two sleeping colts.

Hmm… Let’s see what’s on the menu today. Thinking for a bit, she decided to go for the classical method. Taking her alarm clock, she set it to ring after one minute, and put it between the two ponies’ beds. As soon as the alarm starting blaring, Blaze slammed it with his hoof, silencing the buzzing sound. Sticking his head deeper inside his pillow, he groaned “Just five more minutes!” Spark had no reaction whatsoever, still fast asleep. It usually took both Scarlet and Blaze to get him to wake up, and even that was complicated.

The orange pegasus sighed “Guys, come on… We don’t have time for this. We’re supposed to receive our briefing in…” Looking again at the clock, Scarlet gasped in shock “Five minutes? That’s enough. Get up, guys!” The mare grabbed the nearest bottle of water, completely pouring it onto Blaze’s head. While the helpless pegasus was coughing and choking, urgently sitting upright, Scarlet proceeded to do the same to Spark Dust.

“What the hay was THAT for? You could’ve just asked nicely. What’s the hurry, anyway?” Shrapnel yawned, looking at Scarlet lazily. As he took notice of the clock she was shoving in his face, he got more and more agitated. “Oh, now you’re telling me? Let’s go!” Without waiting another second, he jumped out of bed and instinctively grabbed Spark Dust, dragging the half asleep, fully confused unicorn towards the Communication Centre.

Scarlet hurried behind them, shouting as Shrapnel approached the exit of their housing compound “Blaze, wait! The door, it’s made of…” But it was already too late, as a loud thud signaled the two ramming in what appeared as an invisible wall, with a doorknob “… reinforced glass. You guys are just hopeless…” Scarlet sighed, as she opened the door, moving quickly past the two dazed colts.

***

As the three burst into the tall building with a radar dish on top, the colt at the desk looked at the group while they were catching their breath “Team Sora… Two-zero-nine… Appointment with… High command…” were the only words Blaze could make out before collapsing to the floor, panting. The officer looked at the register with an immovable face, then raised his head towards the three, and again looking downwards, writing something.

“You’re late. Go along now; don’t keep him waiting any longer than he already has.” Scarlet quickly glanced at the watch. Three minutes late. This was going to look bad on her record… However, this would be but a small inconvenience, if she was correct. They walked up to the tower, where they entered a small, dimly lit, circular room. In the centre, a rich blue crystal stood, connected to some kind of apparatus. This device was the apex in communication technology, a perfect blend between scientific ingenuity and the simple flair of magic.

Once the connection was established, the crystals on both sides created an image of the contents of the room on the other side, thus recreating a replica of whoever they would be talking to, and sending an image of theirs somewhere across Equestria in a similar room. The blue figure materialized in the room. A well built, hooded colt appeared on the other side. Even though the image was very clear, the technology could not reconstruct what was under the hood, so building a generic face. However, the smile was his, Scarlet could tell. A very suave and comforting smile, yet she knew that something was hiding behind it. She never would have wanted to meet such a pony in her life, for that very smile made her feel threatened.

“Scarlet, Shrapnel, Spark. How’s my star team been doing recently? I heard about your success at the cathedral. Surprised? Well, what can I say? News really does travel fast” In a few hoofsteps, the figure walked slowly near the three, raising a hoof as to touch Scarlet’s head. As she instinctively backed off, the silhouette, burst out into laughter “Come on now, I won’t bite. I just wanted to congratulate you for bringing that down. Creed morale has never been lower, and I truly believe we have a chance of conquering Phillydelphia from the Core division. For good.”

The figure started circling the room, as he continued with his speech “This would’ve never been possible without your help. However, there is one more thing I need to ask of you. As you might be aware, the Nomads are preparing to move out of the city, with a most precious cargo. We can’t permit that to happen, now can we?” I knew it! We’re going to get the mission. Blasted… The odds are stacked up against us, and he knows that as well.

“Your next assignment, and probably the last in quite a long time, will be eliminating the Nomad division’s caravan. As Scarlet may have studied, there are three possible routes the caravan can take.” What the…? How in the world could he know that? “You and two other teams will be sent to set up an ambush on each of the roads. However, it is your choice which one you’ll pick, since you did such a great job. I’m sure you’re just as eager as us all to conquer the city.”

Even though Scarlet would’ve done anything for the TWOS, she had her doubts about the mission “The Creed are bound to have a few demolitions experts. It would take an idiot not to notice the standard equipment placed as to blow up two hundred assassins. This sounds more of a suicide mission. I think we’d like to sit this one out, sir. No offence, but I don’t think there’s anything we can do, with our expertise.”

The hooded pony’s expression remained calm, his unnerving smile making Scarlet wonder whatever it was that he found amusing. He looked very much like a Creed agent, making her trust falter every passing second. “Who said anything about standard equipment? We’re granting you access to the Class Four Massive Ordinance Daisy-cutter. And I will personally consider your application in Conflux, Scarlet. Isn’t that what you always wanted? I can make sure your friends get in as well.” The reassuring smile perished, replaced by a wide grin of satisfaction “So, Sora two-zero-nine, what’s your stand on this?”

Scarlet was silent. The amount of information High Command gave and the short amount of time in which he did it was simply overwhelming. If the mission would succeed, he said, they would have a chance at fulfilling her life-long dream. There was nothing more she had ever wanted than to have a chance to see the outside world, to run the big stages, deep cover missions and everything involved in being a Conflux agent. However, she could not forget her friends. Looking at Blaze, then at Spark, she could see the same glimmer of hope in their eyes.

Altogether, a seemingly impossible mission was now made trivial. A bomb with such force as the Class Four, or C-IV, would wipe out anything on a radius of at least 300 meters. When a minesweeper would find it, it would already be too late. However, the CIV was very bulky, needed to be assembled on location and required the magic affinity of an unicorn to arm. It would be a risky mission, but nonetheless it would be their greatest. However, Scarlet still doubted the figure that they called High Command’s intentions. “We’ll take the forest road. To make sure, we should send a team to block the mountain path. Maybe this can be achieved by blowing up one of the cliffs. As for the lakeside road… Is there any way to ambush them if they decide for it?”

“That’s my girl! Don’t worry about the lakeside. The events which will take place in the following days will compel the Creed to take the forest route. The caravan is set to leave in five days since now. Tell officer Sanders outside to check in with me on that daisy-cutter.”

The figure turned away, suddenly hanging his head. One would say that he looked pained of what he was about to do, but Scarlet knew the smile was still there. Ponies like him usually had no remorse in doing what needed to be done, even if it meant breaking a promise. Even High Command’s plans had plans, and this was unmistakably one of them. “I have all the confidence that you’ll get your job done. I wish the three of you good luck. And guys” addressing himself specifically to Spark and Blaze “I’d prefer you not telling anypony of our little… arrangement. It might not be the wisest of choices.”

The two raised a hoof to their head and saluted “Sir, yes sir!” High command started chuckling, turning into a chilling laughter as his image slowly faded away. The three were left alone in the communications room. “Did he really think he meant it? That they’d let us go when this is all done?” Spark asked, both hopeful and afraid. The other two remained quiet, looking at each other, then at Spark. Turning away, the three left the room, meeting the officer at the desk again.

“We need a requisition for item 104. High Command’s orders.” Scarlet was too nervous, she thought to herself. “We received authorization for the Class Four. Make sure the package is ready by tomorrow… sir.” The uniformed pony’s usually placid face was now struck by awe and distrust. “Go along now; don’t keep him waiting any longer than he already has.” The orange pegasus couldn’t help smiling as her two companions burst out into laughter while the officer jolted upstairs towards the comms room.

This was going to get tough before it was over.

***

The next few days, Scarlet didn’t leave her desk, even staying up late in front of the map. Shrapnel and Spark were getting worried; she had never been so focused on a plan before. Day by day, the paperwork piled up on the desk, while the two prepared all the materials they needed for the mission. Apart from the CIV’s heavy bulk, they needed the whole arsenal they usually carried. Smoke bombs, flash-bangs, dynamite, detonators, tripwires, triggers, perimeter delimitations and many more were being loaded in their saddlebags and carriages. On the last night, while Spark was studying the plans made by Scarlet and the schematics for the bomb, Scarlet had been finishing the placement and delimitation of the areas in which the Creed would enter.

Blaze didn’t have much to do, since everything was basically set up for leaving. Not having anything to do, he was just lying in his bed, watching Scarlet work “You know, you should get some sleep. Four hours a day is not enough, even for me. And I can see what that’s been doing to your attitude.”

For the first time in hours, Scarlet put the pencil down, turning to face the black and crimson pegasus. “I can’t say I like doing this. But think of it, we’ll be Conflux agents! Then we’re free to go wherever we want to. I never thought I’d want it so much, but now that the opportunity is here… And for that, this mission has to be perfect. I’ll get my rest when we’re finally done with this.”

“Hey, you ran the sketches over and over again. There’s nothing you could have missed. All your plans were superb. I’m sure this one makes no difference. Plus, there isn’t much to do. Go there, plant the CIV, detonate, go back. In my opinion, we had much tougher errands in our training exams. This one’s going to be a cakewalk. Now get to sleep before I make you do it.”

Scarlet got up from her workbench, returning Blaze a quick smile “Is that a threat, or a promise?” The black pony, who usually had a sharp tongue could only blush and look away, without answering the question. “Well, I suppose you’re right. It’s been quite tiring, these days.” With those words, Scarlet lay on the bed, looking back towards Blaze, then back at the photo on the counter.

Reminiscing the day they took that photo could only bring a smile to Scar’s face. Taken before the mass recruitment started, it was the one thing they couldn’t take away from them: their past. It was a solid and undeniable testimony that true friendship lasted, no matter what happens in between, no matter how far apart they would be. Their different training specialties broke them apart for several years, without them ever hoping to see each other again. But yet by some odd turn of events, here they were: the best of the best, so assigned without ever having a choice. “I think… I really hope we’re going to make it.”

***

The three left the base as on every standard, routine mission, filing in a ton of paperwork for all the equipment they were going to use. As bulky as the CIV was, so was the form needed to be completed before checking out with it. The road was very quiet, unlike their usual chatty spurs. In the several hours that they spent walking, they hardly even talked to each other, all of them being very nervous. So the hours passed, and they finally reached their destination, where they set up the camp and slept for the night.

A quite uneventful day, one might say. However, the next morning the lot got up and started working on their assignment. The caravan was due to pass their location the next day, so they had to move fast. None of them wasted time, as the whole lot started setting up their perimeter. Throughout the day, Blaze and Scar worked on arranging the laser tripwires, setting the auxiliary mines, rigging the detonators and installing the decoys.

In the meantime, Spark was carefully assembling the various pieces of the CIV, first starting with the perpetual magic mechanism. This was the thing that gave the bomb such a blast force; the combination between finely attuned magic and peak explosive technology. The device created a perpetuum mobilae inside, and while every other component added was another link to the rotating mechanism around the energy spark, amplifying its potency.

During the midday, when Shrapnel Blaze and Scarlet were done with their part, a component in the CIV faultily installed by Spark locked the mechanism and made the energy dissipate, thus making his whole work in vain “Damn it! How can I ever finish this rubbish in time? The assembly manual looks like friggin IKEA instructions!” As he set the first ring around a new energy spark, he started shouting profanities to the sky, carefully restarting to piece together the explosive outer casing…

Chapter 7: Fair Flight (Scarlet)

“Well, yeah. That’s where it all started… Or ended. It doesn’t matter how you say it, the outcome is always the same. Spark had to work all night to assemble the CIV bomb. Me and Blaze just sat all night and talked about stuff. How it would be to lead a normal life… He was actually determined the three of us should go missing in action, when the job was done. We played a game of Hooflocker while at it. I don’t know how, he beat me, but it didn’t matter. Maybe it was the drink or something… I just remember we both kinda… You know, what we did on the floor.”

“The next morning, I was certain that whatever Blaze wanted to do, I would follow him. I think I was in love… I never got to answer those questions. Spark walked in on us and obviously, he was a bit shocked. I tried to shrug it off, so did Blaze.” We prepared the final tripwires for the assault. And then… Then I don’t know, it’s all so stupid. The CIV had a malfunction, and both Blaze and Spark went to fix it. Blaze had left his radio transmitter open by accident, so I could hear everything the two talked about. I had been so stupid… Of course I never knew Spark loves me. He was just a friend.”

“The two argued on about me while fixing the CIV. I was awestruck, listening. I didn’t see the caravan approach, until it was too late. One of the tripwires had been activated, and the console started the detonation process of all the perimeter. They… They didn’t make it. Caught at the core of the CIV, not the most pleasant way to die. And it was all my fault…”

Scarlet couldn’t hold it inside anymore. Bursting out into tears, she tried to cover her face, not looking at Faith. “However I made sure the mission was complete. The device was destroyed. Several hours later, a detachment of Reapers came to inspect the zone. Whatever it was, they wanted it badly. Without anything left to salvage, they left. But if a high quality weapon couldn’t survive the explosion, neither could they. And it was all my fault!”

Faith understood her perfectly. She had just told her how it was like to lose a family, how she lost a father. A father Scarlet never had. Her compassionate hug was perhaps more Scarlet had ever wished for from somepony. She never expected to find that in a Creed assassin. Scarlet was lonely, with only Faith to understand her grief.

That’s when she did it. From the position she was in, Faith’s lips were only a few inches away. She laid a small kiss, devoid of any sexual tendencies. It was the least she could do to repay her. That kiss was her way of telling Faith that she wanted to put her life in her hooves without a second thought, for thanking her that she had risked her life to tell her to get out of town. But it was too late for that; Scarlet was going to help her to the world’s end to get rid of the Creed.

“That was…” A short pause. Oh, come on. It can’t have been that bad. “Nice.” Really? Is that all you’re going to say about the kiss? Scarlet was somehow upset on the fact that Faith responded the way she did. She was just going to say it was nice? Another stream of tears filled her eyes in disappointment, burying her head in her hooves.

Faith’s confusion only amplified, leaving her stuttering a series of indiscernible words, trailing off into scarlet’s hopeless tears. The pegasus tried comforting her again, but to no avail. Suddenly, Scarlet felt her hooves removed from her face, and before she knew it Faith was kissing her again. Her lips were somewhat stronger than her first kiss, while still maintaining a somewhat innate power Faith had of soothing. It was all scarlet had been hoping for: a sign that she wasn’t the only one feeling this way, something to show her a little bit of affection in return. Between her tears, she weakly gripped Faith from behind, making her hold the kiss a little while longer, before breaking off. “Nice? That was amazing. You are amazing.”

Her partner had finally recovered her words as well. Her words sounded tranquil, calm, unlike her usual attitude. “It really was amazing. You have no idea what even that first one meant to me. I’m…” The pause let Scarlet understand one thing: Faith was going to accept her as a friend, if not more. Her eyes were speaking more than she ever could. “I’m sorry if what I had said wasn’t enough. I’m sorry, I’m not enough.”

Scarlet quickly took a hoof to her mouth, silencing whatever she wanted to say next “Shhh… Listen. I’m not leaving you. You’re the only thing I have left on this world. I know it’s crazy, that one week ago I would have killed you on sight. But it seems we share more than a common goal.” Her tears were finally drying out as she took her hoof from Faith’s mouth to her own hoof. “I want to help you with Fair-feather, even if it kills me.” Slowly standing off the couch, she opened the window and signaled Faith outside. “Come on, fly with me.”

Without further ado, Scarlet jumped out the window, spreading her wings in free flight. Faith was not too far behind her, and the broad daylight gave the city a totally different view. Everypony was out on the busy street, the markets were brimming with energy and the general atmosphere that usually lead the city was somehow missing up here. In flight, you could feel what the city would never cease to repress: A sense of liberty to do whatever you want, safety and tranquility.

The city was one view, one Scarlet liked to see in the evening or by night rather than midday. The quiet streets, dimly lit gave Fair-feather an aura that no other major city could replicate. Towns like Phillydelphia or Canterlot usually had busy streets during nighttime as well. However, a trade city like Fair-feather would not only be untouched, but the flocks of griffins going around the city were also a sight to see. With perfectly timed choreography, the caravans at the edge of the city never seemed to cease during the night.

Scarlet was suddenly awoken from her daydream by a very active Faith, dashing around and twirling at her side. She’s trying to impress. This will prove quite a challenge for her. The orange pegasus charged a bit, her speed matching Faith’s and smiled “Quite impressive, I must say.” Folding her wings around her, Scarlet dove downwards towards one of the passages she used to escape Creed members. Down, left, right, left again, back up!The agility with which she navigated the streets was, as she thought, unmatched. None of the Creed had ever managed to catch her on the side streets, giving her time to plan her next move. This time was purely to prove to Faith she can do better. Her smile met Faith’s. “Well?”

At this point, the brown mare suddenly broke off her flight patter, as if something had hit her wing. She tumbled towards the ground, which left Scarlet panicking for a few seconds. Faith was already out of her reach, but she darted for her anyway. It was only a few meters off the ground when Faith sprung back to life, executing a few maneuvers and slaloming through the busy street. I’m so getting you back, Faith. As Faith’s trick was nearing an end, Scarlet’s was only just beginning.

Following Faith’s dodges and turns precisely, the orange pegasus tagged her, slowing down her flight. She used the tag as a boost, bursting out in full speed towards the sky. She was going to risk everything to win their small competition. Going upwards, she quickly reached a bit above the clouds, through the stands installed by pegasi above the city. When the air was hardly breathable, she aimed for one of the larger clouds and started her dive. In her rapid, eagle-like descent, she darted downwards in free fall, only spreading her wings as she reached the cloud. The force of the impact caused a thunder, as she headed for the plaza.

Small droplets of rain started pouring, as her flight settled, landing quietly in the plaza in which Faith was awaiting. She didn’t know how she figured out where she would land, nor did she care. Her triumphant smile targeted her as the rain started intensifying. “Making it rain is fun. You should try some day as well.”

Faith looked away awkwardly. She was obviously not delighted by the rain; Scarlet would never understand what she had against water. “Yeah, maybe…” She pulled no attempt at raising her trick. “I think I might just watch you. At least you look good doing it.”

Scarlet was satisfied, but also disappointed. She wanted to see more of Faith in action. However, she knew that this would attract some unwanted attention, and avoiding it was key to their well-being. “I suppose that’s it for now. We don’t want the Creed finding us during our “alone time”, do we?”

“Alone time?” Faith was getting more and more uncomfortable, her usual courage dissipating with every word Scarlet spoke. Maybe it was too soon to talk to her like that. Scarlet backed off slowly, waiting to see what Faith wanted to say exactly.

“Oh, you know… Never mind, I guess. It was fun though… Do you want to go back to my place and discuss the approach on our problem?”

Faith looked embarrassed rather than concerned. However, she did agree to her on this matter. “Yeah, that would probably be a good thing,” she said, looking around at all the ponies minding their own business. She was out of place without her cloak on, Scarlet figured. “It might be nice to be somewhere everypony can’t look at. Well, me.”

Scarlet laughed, and took of slowly back for her house. She knew Faith wouldn’t be far behind. Some words remained untold that day, however. Perhaps it wasn’t the time, nor the place for it, but she knew that one day she might regret missing out on such an occasion.
***
Not long before they were back in her apartment and both dried out, the two were already putting the plans together on eliminating the Hooftails and the Shadowbrands. “You’re really planning to go through with this?” Faith was more concerned than Scarlet would have liked. Faith valued her life more than she did her own, and that was going to be a problem. However, without each other, Scarlet was sure the plan would be complete suicide.

The next move was to be made in the dark; none of them had the information required for another strike at the master. This was where her planning skills had to be put to work. Scarlet always thought one step ahead of the plan to be made “I’m carrying through with this, whether you want it or not. Plus, we’re going to need TWOS funding for our next step. I know you will hate this, but we must cut a deal with the Trade Guild.”

Faith was truly displeased. She hated that band of thugs more than anything else. They both knew the guild couldn’t be trusted, but Scarlet figured there’d be no other option “You’re right, I don’t like it. What exactly do you expect out of them?”

“Everything, and nothing. Traders would sell their own mothers to the highest bidder. And they don’t hold too much love for the Creed, since they “short changed” them on a few deals. With the proper money, they will help us take the Creed down. All we have to do is obtain equipment and money to carry out the job.”

“I’ll trust you. Besides, my stuff probably won’t be delivered for a couple of days.” Faith was reluctant to agree with the plan, but she saw no other choice. They were flying blind into hostile ground and the least they could do was be prepared. “Just, be careful who you deal with. Even if the guild isn’t on the best terms with Creed doesn’t mean some of the members aren’t. It’s cheaper to pay off three members than an entire guild.”

Scarlet knew that very well. She had her own contacts in the guild, but just because they had business before, it didn’t mean that they would discount. Business was business. However, intel from them was always reliable, even though not fully transmitted. By the end of tomorrow, she’d have found out when and where her desired targets would be. “Don’t worry, I have it covered. Speaking of which, I’ve been waiting for some time to put my hooves on some Creed poisons. I think I can make some good vapor bombs out of them. Think you can help me out with that?”

“I make most of it myself. Depending on what I get in the shipment, maybe we could whip something up for you.” Another thing Faith impressed with was her posture. She never took things for granted. Scarlet admired such a trait in ponies. Going for her shelf, she removed the modified brace blade and put it on the table in front of Faith.

“Thanks, I guess. I think I can give this thing another tweak before we do our next move. It has room for another mod, but it’s going to be a bit more bulky. I’d rather have your opinion first before I go tampering with it again. After all, it was yours before it ended up on my hooves.”

The mare put on a mortified expression as Scarlet presented the bracer blade. Her thoughts were running through her head, and Scarlet knew she had done something wrong. The time for words was nigh, however. She could do nothing to undo it, Faith was understanding of that. However, she did help her on the design “The weight balance is off. It will probably need more weight around there. Even so, I’m not sure how much use the blade will be. It would be pretty awkward with all this extra weight and a few well placed strikes might actually just snap it off.”

She carefully weighed the bracer’s mechanism, and added “Although, I can’t really say much about the other stuff you’ve put on here. Sorry.” She let go off her modified bracer, trying to look away from it. Whatever she did, Scarlet felt guilty for hurting Faith’s feelings. Yes, she knew the blade was something almost sacred for an assassin. But she never considered Faith’s feelings in the process of tampering with it.

“I… I’m sorry, Faith. I never meant to hurt you. When I thought you dead I figured… you wouldn’t need it anymore. But thanks for the advice. I’ll make sure to put it to good use while I’m at it.” Scarlet looked away in dismay at the computer screen. Her message should have been received by now and was debated by Conflux. Whatever happened, she would have the answer by midnight.

Faith tried her best to show compassion for the orange mare. She took the bracer and put it in her hoof, nudging her slightly “Listen, I didn’t mean it to come out like that,” The smile on her face showed that she took that to heart. “This thing went through alot with me. It’s kind of a reminder of who I am. I gave it up for a decoy, but this time I’d rather give it right. I can’t think of anypony who should have a piece of my past, except one.”
Her smile was now full and Scarlet couldn’t help smiling back at her. Faith took her hoof out of Scarlet’s and added. “Besides, I’ve been needing a new one for a long time now. Guess I just needed a kick in the flank to get it done.” Scarlet was almost in tears of joy. Faith tried her best to make her feel comfortable, and it was not the gesture, but the effort which made Scarlet happy.
“Thanks, Faith.” She put the device on the table and stood up, moving slowly towards the brown pegasus and kissing her lightly on the cheek. “It means a lot to me. I wish I could give you something back… To remind you of me while you’re away.” She already felt both guilty and relieved, and was grateful Faith wouldn’t hold the profanity of her bracer blade against her. “I wonder…” Scarlet sat back on the chair, contemplating what would be an appropriate gift for the mare.
Before long, she figured that their first meeting would hold importance for Faith. Approaching the couch slightly, she took one of its precious water pillows and threw it at Faith gently. “I know it’s not much, but you might find it comfy at your place. I know it doesn’t match with yours bbut… Hey, at least it’s something.”

The tears in Faith’s eyes confirmed that Scarlet’s gift was well received. Without any further words, the brown pegasus tried out the squishy, watery treat Scarlet so much enjoyed. “Thank you, it means alot. You really didn’t have to, but thank you anyways.” Scarlet knew of the tales about the Creed warehouses: mostly uncomfortable. Assassins didn’t value comfort as much as they should have. It was only natural Faith would like the small token of appreciation she gave to her.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Bubbles agrees too, and it would be nice for you to have a bit of decent sleep once in a while.” Looking outside, Scarlet knew it was going to be dark soon. “If you have no place to go now, you can take the couch. I can manage on the floor for one night. We’ve got days of planning ahead of us, you know?”

Faith hesitated, as if she wanted to take her up on the offer right away but something stopped her, with an obvious wince in her hooves. A short pause enlisted as the brown pegasus contemplated the offer before offering an answer accompanied by a sad smile “That’s okay, I’ve got a place to stay,” The fact that she tried to hide her eyes while saying this indicated it was a blatant lie. “Thank you, though. I’ll see you in the morning?”

Scarlet knew better than to go further. A refuse was a refuse, no matter how you took it. Maybe it was too early. It was stupid of me to try. We don’t even know where we stand right now… She returned Faith’s sad smile in turn and told her “The morning it is then. I guess… Sleep well, Faith.”

Chapter 7: Fair Flight (Faith)

It was difficult. Difficult to relive her family and what had happened. Difficult to not want to jump out that door and slaughter Hooftail all over again. But, she had kept her cool and listened. Everything was different and somehow similar with Scarlet. Her words held an entrancing quality, not the same as Nicoli or father, but a quality that could only be garnered from a completely different perspective.

She spoke of love like it was a commonplace thing, like it was something that could be garnered and understood. Love wasn’t something Faith could play with. If happiness was a box killers kept locked up then love was held behind impenetrable steel walls. More than once during Scalet’s closing words Faith felt herself imagining what it might be like. She imagined it might be nice, to have a pony that loved you and actually feel the same way, to receive a gift and actually have it mean something more. It was nice to imagine love was an emotion killers were afforded. Of course, Faith didn’t much relish the position it put Scarlet in either.

They had both been through many similar things. Faith understood all too well the feeling of being responsible. She still felt guilty, like there should have been some way she could have protected her own family. But, she kept that feeling blocked off with the desire for revenge. Scarlet didn’t have any revenge left, all the ponies she could get revenge on were already dead. All she had left were tears.

There were a million responses. The cold, killer instinct wanted to push out the harsher realities she used on herself; The dead don’t come back, It doesn’t matter whose fault it is, and her personal favourite We leave behind the only ponies who create a gravestone for us. None of those seemed appropriate, none of those could help the hysterical mare. She wanted to be more comforting than that, like how Nicoli had tried to be for her. But, she wasn’t good with words like he was. All she could do was imitate the one thing she could imitate. She wrapped her hooves around the mare just like Nicoli had done for her. Of course, he had also taken her out of the room at the time, but that seemed less necessary in this situation.

There were many, countless really, better ways to try and do this. Faith was devoid of words, unable to think of even a single sentence that could be in the slightest bit useful. She imagined all she was doing was annoying the mare. For a second she contemplated letting go and apologizing, then it happened. It was innocent enough, maybe even a mistake, but Scarlet’s lips brushed up against her own. It was just a momentary kiss, right? Nothing horribly amazing.

At the same time, that little brush was completely different. For the first time it felt kind of like what she had been imagining during the story. Nice, that is, that nice feeling of having even the slightest bit of feeling that could be returned. The normally troublesome mind Faith possessed was simply quiet for a time, nice was simply enough. There didn’t have to be meaning or intent, worry or anger, killing or sorrow, nice was simply enough. Then it was done, and Faith was back in a reality where she had her hooves wrapped around another mare. This was an awkward silence, wasn’t it?

“That was,” She tried to break the silence, unsure if she could, or even should, let go of the mare. The entire time she could feel that fire burning in her cheeks. It definitely would have been easier to just leave earlier. She definitely wasn’t good with this sort of thing, “Nice.” Stupid, because there is a point in saying something like that.

Scarlet seemingly burst into tears again the second Faith had spoken. The pressure to find a solution to the situation mounted. There was something driving her, something felt like it physically hurt. Three words, three bucking words, and you break into tears again? I will never, never, never, never understand mares. Of course, words like that hardly helped her think clearer.

She uttered a string of nonsensical words, trying to get back onto topic. Each one just felt like an excuse, the hurting driving more and more. No thought ever got more than two words out before being redacted and a new thought replacing them. Crying, Faith could handle crying, crying because it was somehow her fault was unbearable.

Maybe nice wasn’t right. I mean, what do I mean? I could have, what could I have done? ARGH! Buck it, just buck it! There might very well have been little pillars of black smoke pouring out of her ears, even the scarred one, as her brain went into destruction overdrive. She did the only thing she had left, short of uttering strings of syllables without any actual words. Faith pried the hooves away from the mares face and planted a kiss onto her. It was a little more forceful than the previous innocent one, mostly out of mental desperation, but it was also infused with just about everything Faith couldn’t bring herself to say. It was amazing, something I’ve never had before, something I don’t even deserve. It hurts to see you cry, let alone to see you hurt. Gah, these are things I’m not supposed to be thinking.

The kiss wasn’t something Faith had planned, nor was it something she truly understood. She didn’t know how long it was supposed to last, only that it felt better, nice. Nice, even if it was a word Scarlet didn’t like, it was a word that spoke volumes to the mare. Before long Faith felt a pair of hooves around her as well, pulling her into the kiss. There was no fear from the grip, only that overwhelming feeling of nice. And so, the mares continued into the kiss letting it last until they finally broke apart.

“Nice? That was amazing. You are amazing.” Scarlet might have been the first one to speak, but words were slowly returning to Faith as well. They weren’t easy, maybe they never would be easy, but it was still something. Something was better than nothing.

“It really was amazing. You have no idea idea what even that first one meant to me. I’m,” She paused, letting the full weight of what she wanted to say sink into her, “I’m sorry if what I had said wasn’t enough. I’m sorry, I’m not enough.”

There was more, there was always more to say. Only, Scarlet seemed to understand Faith better and better with each second. Before the droning on about dying and revenge could begin there was a hoof to her mouth, silencing her. Words filled into her head, but at least they didn’t have to escape, “Shhh… Listen. I’m not leaving you. You’re the only thing I have left on this world. I know it’s crazy, that one week ago I would have killed you on sight. But it seems we share more than a common goal.”

The words were still piling up, but it was difficult. What happens when you don’t find your happiness at the bottom of a barrell of blood? This, this could be happiness, right? Happiness could be right here. She had come here to get the mare out of the city. That had failed, true, but she wasn’t just going to resign her life either.

Her hoof tugged, pulling her back to reality. Scarlet was motioning to her, the silencing hoof long since relocated to hold her own, “I want to help you with Fair Feather, even if it kills me,” Slowly the mare opened the window, once again leaving no room for those horrid thoughts. Faith could contemplate her death, Scarlet’s death, everypony’s death, but she would do it later. Now, now she had something else entrancing her, “Come on, fly with me.”

Neither mare needed much more prodding than that. Scarlet took off first, clearing the window in one go. It was her window, after all, and Faith needed a slower take off to clear it properly. Still, the view from behind wasn’t bad either. The wind in her wings, the sunlight on her mane, oh sweet hay, she was still naked! No, that didn’t matter, it was more freeing this way. And, there was only one pony watching her anyway.

Her mind wandered in mid flight. For the first time she understood why Raintail had always loved flying so much. It really felt completely different when you didn’t have twenty pounds of gear weighing down her wings. Having a pony to watch didn’t hurt it much either. Scarlet was, she was magnificent in flight. Maybe it was just the fresh rush from the boldness of her kiss, but Faith had no words other than magnificent for the image in front of her. Well, in front of her briefly. If twenty pounds of assassins gear was good for anything, it certainly built up flight speed.

Faith played around in the air, corkscrewing around the magnificent mare until she was just barely ahead. She would never admit it herself, but she twirled around like that to get the full view. It was never meant to be a challenge, but the pegasus at her side seemed to take it as one. Scarlet’s wingbeats quickened until the two were neck and neck, an amazing feeling to fly in tune with another.

“Quite impressive, I must say,” The words from the mare actually elicited the tiniest of blushes from Faith. She hadn’t been meaning to do anything great, but the praise somehow felt almost as good as the wind rushing past the two. That was, until Scarlet folded her wings into the dive. One second the mare was right beside her, the next she was dodging into one of the side streets.

Faith watched from above, landings and corners alike were expertly handled with little to no effort. Forget speed, tight corners like that were hard to bank at a stand still. More than once she felt herself worry about the potential of the mare crashing, but the orange blur never even came close. Eventually, with a bit of a slowdown, her face turned up to meet Faith’s, a cocky grin exploding from the middle, “Well?”

The words weren’t audible in the distance, but the challenge was obvious, not that she actually felt much like competing. It was the thrill, the complete opposite of anything she had ever been taught that got her going. To do something like this for no other reason than to show off, it felt good. And, the next trick was planned to completely floor the mare.

Faith’s right wing flared, breaking her speed almost immediately and sending her into a tumble. Within seconds she was hurtling, rolling, at the ground. It was a trick she loved to play on pursuers when needed, act like you get hit, tumble to the ground and completely turn the tides. She almost wished she could see Scarlet’s face during the fall, but her eyes were tightly closed instinctively moving her body from the image of the streets she kept. Left, left, right. She dodged wires, clotheslines, and even a balcony while continuing her faux tumble.

A few dozen feet from the ground she finally opened her eyes, wings kicking in full force taking the spins out of her tumble and angling her at the ground. Even a seconds hesitation at this point and she would impact, but her wings instinctively angled again parallel to the. A wing length, that was how much room she left between her and the deadly street as she turned that downward spiral into forward momentum. Pony, pony, clothesline, fruit stand, fruit, another pony. It was a problem with flying that low to the ground, she had a lot of angry ponies to dodge. It didn’t matter, she arced around some, banked others, jumped off one or two, and zoomed along the sidestreet.

Faith’s breathing slowed, letting the rushing heartbeat fill her ears. She glanced around, looking for some sign of the mare, desperately hoping she hadn’t gone too far with that trick. Her head whipped to and fro until she felt the force of hooves on her. In real combat that kind of distraction would have earned her death, here it gave her the best view in the city. It was a split second, but she enjoyed every moment as Scarlet pushed off her and pulled up and away.

Faith’s wings slowed her speed till she landed on the ground at a trot, watching the orange blur aim for the clouds. She counted wing beats and speed, guessing Scarlet’s maximum altitude as best she could. A lot of her assumptions were based on tricks she’d seen other ponies do. The idea was Scarlet would go up and come back down in a straight line, probably for some showy trick. Going on those assumptions Faith trotted around to the square off the side street, assuming that would be the landing zone. Of course, it could have just as easily been a field on the other side of the city.

A few seconds later, she got her response. The clouds roared to life with a loud thunderclap preceding the sounds of rain falling to the ground. Grumbles could be heard from all around Faith, “Stupid weather department, it wasn’t supposed to rain today.” But, Faith’s attention was solely captured by the prismatic orange blur falling down with the water. Water, it just always had to be water. Of course, it looked damn good falling like that, hues of orange vibrating against the refractive qualities of the droplets she fell with, right up until the second she slowed and landed gracefully on the ground.

“Making it rain is fun. You should try some day as well.” Faith would never admit it, but weather manipulation was not exactly a skill on her list. She was expected to know a great many things in case they were needed for a cover, but weather manipulation had never been on that list. It took a place very near cooking on the list of things that were more likely to explode rather than go right. She was not a good excuse for a mare.

“Yeah, maybe,” Her words flowed easier this time. Something about having had her head between Scarlet’s legs made it easier to ogle a wet mare and maintain a little composure. Okay, she was definitely still feeling awkward about being naked, but ogling helped, “I think I might just watch you. At least you look good doing it.”

“I suppose that’s it for now. We don’t want the Creed finding us during our “alone time”, do we?”

“Alone time?” Faith flustered, trying to think of a different way to think of it. They had just spent hours technically alone with no implications. Well, there were implications, but they seemed different. Still, why was it that those words seemed to carry such a dangerous connotation?

“Oh, you know… Never mind, I guess. It was fun though… Do you want to go back to my place and discuss the approach on our problem?” It wasn’t supposed to be that difficult, was it? Wasn’t she just thinking about pushing all those worries aside for the time being? Were all these feelings supposed to be this difficult? No, no, and no. Faith wasn’t about to let herself fall into some pathetic habit. Not right now. Worries later, when she actually had the gear she needed.

“Yeah, that would probably be a good thing,” This rain was not doing wonders for her resolve to be less bothered. Being naked wasn’t helping that either, but she pressed on anyway. Maybe some honesty would help, “It might be nice to be somewhere everypony can’t look at. Well, me.” She probably figured it out already anyway.

A small, elegant laugh escaped Scarlet’s lips before she turned and began their little treck back. It was difficult; Faith was slowly coming to terms with a very obvious conflict. Like, like was okay, but what happened when it was more than just liking the mare? She wasn’t yet ready to deal with what the consequences of that and what it would mean for her killer’s aura. For now, she wanted like to be enough. For now.

*************

“You’re really planning to go through with this?” Concern wrang through Faith’s voice. They had both long since arrived back, Scarlet had at least allowed her to dry off before the sombre topic had been broached again. Taking out an entire Creed division, let alone two, was bordering on the crazy. The first plan had been possible, or so Faith thought, only because Creed shouldn’t have been expecting it. That wasn’t the case anymore, they knew she was still alive and gunning for them by now.

She sat down, this time more comfortably than ever before and this time the drink that faced her was actually water. It wasn’t as if they didn’t have any advantages. The board contained a few things in their favour. Faith knew how Creed liked to operate, especially in dangerous situations. Scarlet was incredibly ingenious, from what she had seen, and likely had access to a decent supply of equipment of her own. There were obviously options, but, as she glanced over the mare opposite her, Faith didn’t have the ability to make any plans at the moment. She lacked the intel and, more importantly, she didn’t even know what tools she would have to work with when they came in. That left listening, and maybe helping for now.

“I’m carrying through with this, whether you like it or not,” The words were a little harsher than Faith would have liked, but it was to be expected. She let the issue fall by the wayside, for now. It would be easier to not argue and simply let that pony have her way, “Plus, we’re going to need TWOS funding for our next step. I know you will hate this, but we must cut a deal with the Trade Guild.”

Hate was an understatement. Faith took a drink, and then another, and then another, trying to drown out the anger before she responded. Water was good for that, unlike the Trade Guild. Really, any guild that would do something for money was bad news. Information could never be trusted, moles were prevalent, even the members could not trust each other. Whether Scarlet realized it or not, there was a good possibility that her trade guild had supplied the information that had kept the master of Hooftail alive.

“You’re right, I don’t like it,” She tried being calmer. For now Scarlet had the reins, she would hear out the plan and make revisions when she understood everything, “What exactly do you expect out of them?”

“I’ll trust you,” That wasn’t her at all. Trusting the guild would be foolish and Faith knew it, but she wanted to believe in her plan, “Besides, my stuff probably won’t be delivered for a couple of days.”

“Just, be careful who you deal with. Even if the guild isn’t on the best terms with Creed doesn’t mean some of the members aren’t. It’s cheaper to pay off three members than an entire guild.” She was sidestepping a few more important pieces. But, despite how much she trusted Scarlet, there were a few things she wasn’t quite ready to reveal yet. At least she had a way to check any information they did get.

“Don’t worry, I have it covered. Speaking of which, I’ve been waiting for some time to put my hooves on some Creed poisons. I think I can make some good vapor bombs out of them. Think you can help me out with that?” At least they were getting off the uncomfortable topic. The idea of seeing what Scarlet could do with a few of her creations was intriguing to say the least.

“I make most of it myself. Depending on what I get in the shipment, maybe we could whip something up for you.” Faith imagined a fully stocked safe house in Rose’s mind would probably have had the kinds of plants she could only dream of. Who knew what she might have the opportunity to concoct.

While Faith dreamt of poisons and curalls, tinctures and tonics, salves and hallucinogens, Scarlet was moving over to a shelf. Something, Faith didn’t quite know what was removed and she strode back over producing what had once been her bracer, “Thanks, I guess. I think I can give this thing another tweak before we do our next move,” Faith let out a tiny whimper looking at the thing. Rose had been completely right, three years had been too long and it had been inadequate. That didn’t mean, however, that Faith didn’t still hold the device in high regard, “It has room for another mod, but it’s going to be a bit more bulky. I’d rather have your opinion first before I go tampering with it again. After all, it was yours before it ended up on my hooves.”

Faith tried to recompose herself. The once elegant bracer had lost any of its original grace. Elegance in simplicity, the tool had stood for hundreds of years with only minor tweaks primarily because it was entirely effective in what it did. What sat in front of her was a conglomeration; the end results of ponies trying to get one device to do everything. Jack of all trades, master of none. The words danced into her mind, that was exactly what she thought of when she saw this deformed creation. Still, those kinds of words were unnecessary here. Scarlet didn’t share the same vision about those kinds of things.

She snatched up the bracer in one hoof, testing it and turning it around and around, “The weight balance is off,” Faith indicated to a small point on the underside of the bracer, “It will probably need more weight around there. Even so, I’m not sure how much use the blade will be. It would be pretty awkward with all this extra weight and a few well placed strikes might actually just snap it off.”

She wasn’t lying either, as Faith played with the extending mechanism being careful to avoid the modifications she didn’t understand. All the extra weight added to the base of a normally small and flexible blade made it more of a shield than a sword, but the blade was designed to parry, not to block. Without the damage protection wards that elite bracers often had charged on them, it probably wouldn’t stand up as an actual blade. She couldn’t really say much about its other functions though, “Although, I can’t really say much about the other stuff you’ve put on here. Sorry.”

“I… I’m sorry, Faith,” The words stung a little. Faith had tried her best to hide the bits of anger she held over the device, but had apparently failed. She didn’t exactly hate the reaction, an apology seeming almost fitting, but at the same time she could understand what Scarlet had done as well. There was nothing wrong with modifying a dead enemy’s gear, “I never meant to hurt you. When I thought you dead I figured,” Dead enemy, that’s all Faith had been at the time, right, “You wouldn’t need it anymore. But thanks for the advice. I’ll make sure to put it to good use while I’m at it.”

Scarlet couldn’t even bring herself to look at either Faith or the device anymore. The noticeable guilt hurt. It felt appropriate and wrong all in the same breath. Losing the bracer was her own choice at the time, one that couldn’t be taken back, but let her move forward. Now, she needed to properly move forward, without excuses this time.

She gently got up off her seat and circled around to the distraught mare. First, taking one of her hooves in her own, then placing the bracer into the grasped hoof, “Listen, I didn’t mean it to come out like that,” She tried smiling as best she could, “This thing went through alot with me. It’s kind of a reminder of who I am. I gave it up for a decoy, but this time I’d rather give it right. I can’t think of anypony who should have a piece of my past, except one.”

She smiled, she desperately hoped she didn’t need to explain who that pony was as she removed her hoof leaving the device in Scarlet’s hoof. It was obviously that mare, “Besides, I’ve been needing a new one for a long time now. Guess I just needed a kick in the flank to get it done.”

“Thanks, Faith,” It was amazing how great those two simple words could make a mare feel. The pride of cheering up the orange pegasus mixed with the relief of moving forward and the gentle blush that accompanied a kiss on the cheek. It was, nice. Yes, that word kept creeping into her vocabulary, but nice was the best thing in the world for her, “It means a lot to me. I wish I could give you something back… To remind you of me while you’re away. I wonder...”

The two took up their respective chairs again, Faith watching intently as Scarlet got lost in thought. It was more than a little cute, watching a mare put as much brainpower into this as she would into overthrowing two divisions. Or, maybe only Faith found that sort of thing cute. Still, she wasn’t really expecting it when one of the sloshy pillows from that perilous couch came flying at her head.

“I know it’s not much, but you might find it comfy at your place. I know it doesn’t match with yours but… Hey, at least it’s something.” It was a horrid gesture really. Faith had contemplated destroying that couch on more than one occasion and still didn’t understand Scarlet’s attachment to it. So, why was it that the gesture brought a tear to her eye? It did more than that, really.

Faith pulled the pillow off her head and tried it out, laying her head lightly on it. Just as she thought, it was rather difficult to get used to and felt almost like being on a boat. Still, she already knew she would use it, even if it meant getting seasick every night, “Thank you, it means alot. You really didn’t have to, but thank you anyways.” It helped matters that most safehouses she had ever had prepared for her lacked furniture, or any amenities. Then again, she really never knew what was in store for her when she asked a favour.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Bubbles agrees too, and it would be nice for you to have a bit of decent sleep once in awhile,” A named couch, that was something she was never going to get used to. No matter how many nice things happened, no matter how much she enjoyed the mare, she would never call a couch Bubbles, “If you have no place to go now, you can take the couch. I can manage on the floor for one night. We’ve got days of planning ahead of us, you know?”

The light was slowly waning. Scarlet was too intuitive for her own good, she had already figured out Faith had no place to stay right now. Faith wouldn’t take the couch, but a floor was a good idea, wasn’t it? The image of herself curling up next to Scarlet, hoof wrapped around the sleeping orange mare, appeared like a ton of bricks.

I don’t. That wouldn’t happen, we aren’t like that. But, what are we? The words didn’t answer anything. Faith wasn’t sure what the answer was right now. Things seemed to move too fast, then reset with the two of them. For a mare who thought Nice was still something special, she just didn’t know where to place anything. She didn’t know what to accept, not yet, and sleeping might have been too much to ask yet.

“That’s okay, I’ve got a place to stay,” An obvious lie, but she wasn’t sure what her next move really was. She got to her legs again, making an obvious effort of a smile, “Thank you, though. I’ll see you in the morning?”

“The morning it is then. I guess,” Faith could imagine by now what Scarlet was thinking. Lies and excuses, was she even capable of the truth anymore? Then again, nothing was easy at this point. She considered kissing the mare, she considered what popped into her mind, she considered a lot of things. The only thing she actually did was turn for the door, “Sleep well, Faith.”

Outside the door, her heavy cloak still waited for her. It was welcoming and easy, simple and it understood her. None of this would have happened if she had never taken it off. But, she had. She could only hide behind it for so much longer. At least for tonight it would be something warm for her, no match for a warm body, but good enough.

Of course, the outside weather proved her wrong. Even in the waning light the cold already dug into her. Lying about having a place to stay seemed like a bad idea all of a sudden. Smart, Faith. This is going to be a long night. Next time you think about something stupid like that, just imagine a giant boulder. And, she did, for about two seconds. Then, the giant boulder gained the mare on top of it, splayed out again. Scarlet’s nethers seemed to have a rather hallucinogenic effect. It would have almost been worth studying, if the idea of studying it didn’t turn into more similar images. She blushed, and vowed to start bashing her head into walls more often. Surely walls would solve the mental image problem more effectively than...She blushed again. This was going to be a long night.

Chapter 8: Traitorous Blood (Creed)

The fire crackled lowly, flitting small embers of it’s warmth onto Astra’s coat. Across the fire, and eternally out of the light, his compatriot lounged. God forsaken cold, secluded meeting places. The wind was biting and only intensified by the straight lines the buildings created, funnelling more and more of the chilling darkness into them. Why Umbral chose meeting places like this was something beyond him, but it was out of the way, even by Hooftail standards.

“We're not making any progress. The master will not be pleased,” Next time pick a damn hotel. Astra glanced at his counterpart a small jovial laugh escaping his pursed lips, letting the night air steal a bit more warmth from him.

If she was going to drive him into a dark back alley to tell him something useless, he was not going to stop making fun of her the entire time, “You're telling me the Master of Shadows can't find two lowly ponies in this city?”

False move, Astra. Raven slapped him hard across the face, without anything but her hoof reaching out of the shadows. She was frustrated that two ponies, out of which one appeared she liked the attention of a superstar, managed to evade her for a whole day. By now, she would have had a lead. Rainy days were usually uneventful, though. “It’s been hard. The damn assassin knows how to cover the tracks.” And soon she’ll be on ours if we don’t act quickly.

The colt rubbed his cheek lightly where she had slapped him, apparently oblivious to the issue at hand. “The Creed, fine. I could imagine she would be harder to track. You can't find that other pony though?” Sometimes, you’re such a moron, Astra… That’s why I’m in charge of the operations around here… At least I don’t have to do them myself.

Raven shouted, perhaps a bit louder than she would’ve liked. “If I could find her, I would have found the other one as well!” Calm down, Raven. Attachment leads to mistakes and sooner or later she will slip. Though it might be too late… Unless… Raven put her head in her hooves, apparently hopeless. The plan she was brewing, however, spun a dangerous game. Now she needed to decide if Astra could be trusted.

The numbers were not ticking down in their favour. One annoying pony was nothing, but two was getting a little conspicuous. Not to mention what it meant for the reputation of two highly skilled assassins, “Well, that only leaves so many options then.”

Once again, the shadow let out a small bit of emotion. This time a slight chuckle, “Heh,” A pause as she composed herself to the next words. A chill ran down Astra’s side, he was not going to like what came next, “I've got one. But it really depends on how far you're willing to go.”

“As far as it takes, always.” Astra observed a lot of freedom within the organization, in no small part because of his skill and plotting. He wasn’t happy with flowing into Umbral’s pace, but she was the only one who could keep him from losing that much standing given the situation.

“Meaning?” The cold voice seemed almost impatient. She wasn’t playing games this time around. A pity, games are fun.

“Meaning, tell me your idea. I might have a trick or two up my hoof as well.” Raven didn’t know what to say, for once. She wanted to trust him, but the situation was uncertain. And she wanted to make sure he understood he was expendable.

“You know this will end up with your death should you not co-operate. I'm just giving you a heads up because I like to have someone good in the sack at my side.”

“This ends up with both of our deaths if we don't have good news for the master soon...” Good, at least he understands that. “Really, I wish I could just stick to poisons” If this works, you’ll go way beyond poisons, Astra. If not… you won’t go far beyond your grave.

“You know who's next in hierarchy after the master, right?” A wide grin appeared on Raven’s face. Astra could only guess what she was brewing. However, it was too good a plan to not relish in its glory.

“Noo, not at all,” He dripped his voice in sarcasm, letting the weight of the situation go for a moment. Stupid questions were getting nowhere and the fire was starting to die out, ashes scattered quickly by the horrid wind.

“The idea is simple, really,” She didn’t even seem to care about his sarcasm. The plan at hoof was far more interesting than anything the pony could offer, “Even you could carry it out. We need an information spill on the master's whereabouts. To the trade guild, I'm guessing.”

“Then, we are planning the exact same thing,” He tried searching around for another piece of wood, or scrap of flammable material, anything to bring the fire back to life, “We've always got a few of them who do side deals for me, I'm sure a few extra bits will get the information that authentic feeling.”

“No. I mean it.” Raven was starting to get irate. The tone of her insistence feeling worse and worse, “Give the two the location of the master. We know nothing about this, find them in the master's chambers, with him murdered. We'll be prepared for intruders, kill the two, and assume command.”

You’re serious about this? Ambition was one thing, ambition was many things, but to try and change everything. Astra didn’t exactly feel one for the responsibility, but he did like a desperate mare. Through a heavy sigh he started playing out his words, “You know, I'm not much of one for that kind of a job,” Leaving a pause while he pretended to contemplate the implications. He really didn’t care about the implications, if they succeeded Raven would be in his pocket for all eternity, “But, for you, I'll make sure they are caught with bells on.”

“After this, there'll be no place to hide for them. Hell, even the Shadowbrands will have every member trying to track them down.” The plan was flawless. There was no way any hideout would remain unturned after a master’s death. The killers would be caught and executed. Umbral Raven never really liked the old master. It is time the old stallion actually did something useful.”

“Like turn this city into a complete warzone?” You’re not as stupid as I thought, Astra... His laughter proved that he did like the plan as well, no matter how absurd it seemed. An inside job was never attempted in the same division before. “You always do dream big.” I think global. I kill local.

“A warzone, yes. But our war zone.” The thought simply made Raven smile. Hooftail would reign supreme, under her grip. Neither renegades, nor their aeon-long rivals could stop it. “It's two against the world. How long can they evade two divisions. Lore never could, and they were some of the best”

Warzone’s, supremacy, Raven was barking up the wrong tree if she was trying to coerce her partner. Still, he wasn’t entirely against the idea, “As long as I get a place to work, and a nice mare to tend with I'll get you your power.”

“Oh, so I'm not good enough, then?” It was hard to tell with the shadows cast by the fire, but Astra imagined the mare smiling from his comments. Exactly what he wanted, and he intended to push it. A scrap was thrown onto the fire, eliciting only the slightest bit of revival from the dying embers.

“I was talking about you, my fair mare.”

“Nice save, Astra. But remember, we are professionals,” She could protest things like that all she wanted, but Astra knew she enjoyed it. Not only that, but he was well aware that after sharing this plan she was hardly in a position to object to him, “Just because you got to see what's under my hood it doesn't mean you can also show it to the others.”

“Like I said, as long as I get to keep seeing it, I'm happy enough.” Mostly. He also wanted the chance to continue working in peace, and enjoying the comforts he often bought from the trade guild. A life was nothing if you couldn’t enjoy it properly. Raven was the last piece of his utter enjoyment.

“You've fallen out of line, Astra. What is it that got you so soft?” I’m a different kind of soft.

“I'm not soft, I just know how to have fun. I rather like fun.” He laughed a bit into the wind. Astra should have known a pony like that wouldn’t be able to really get where he was coming from. Working as an assassin was great, but it was more worth it to play the odds and have a life of actual enjoyment. Why not pad a few pockets, pay some lip service, and live it up properly? A Creed was living on borrowed time anyway.

“Mhmm. I'd rather have fun than listen to that old grump,” Was she actually agreeing with him? Was there actually hope for that cold pony yet? Astra would have resolved right then and there to take her to a club, but there were more important issues at hoof.

“Exactly my point,” In the end he settled for letting that slide till another time. He could teach her how to have fun any time he wanted. As long as they both survived the next few days. And, she settled for striding over and ruffling his mane like some kind of deranged master.

“Good boy.”

Oh, she was going to pay for that comment later. Maybe a lot later, but he could imagine the whimpers now as he laughed it off, “I feel like I'm trading one master for another. At least this one is sexy.” The air hung a few seconds before Astra spoke up again, dragging the topic back on track, “I'll take care of getting them the information, you just need to make sure they aren't caught before they find him.”

“Just give me some sleep poison and I'll take care of the rest.” At least she was good for one thing. Well, three things if you also counted that thing she did with her tail. But, the matter at hand was that she could be trusted to get her job done. Soon, a small blueish vial found it’s way through the air to Umbral, guided by Astra’s expert hoof.

“You know me, I’ve always got the good stuff.” Let’s hope you had better stuff than Seal. At least you’re better than him in bed.

With a swift move, Umbral tucked the vial inside the folds of her cloak. “Good. Get your part done and probably you'll get a nice reward, if I'm in the mood for it.” Approaching the embers slowly, she kissed Astra lightly on the lips. I have to admit, I like it as well. He’s fun, sometimes.

Chapter 9: Dirty Deals (Scarlet)

The trade Guild member set the meeting on one of Fair-feather’s many dark alleys. The alley usually lead into a much larger complex of tunnels which eventually took you to the main Guild building. Nopony actually knew where in Fair-feather this main centre was, nor did they want to find out. Out of every organization in the city, the Guild knew best how to protect its secrets it didn’t sell.

Scarlet was early at the meeting point, and the first one to arrive. Her black cloak resembled one of the Creed’s assassins black robes, a brand of the Hooftail elite. She could’ve passed by easily as a Creed member, until further stopping for interrogation. She still had to work on the posture before she could match Faith’s, perhaps years. But somehow she felt ready to make the sacrifice.

Guild members usually had the reputation of being late. They also had quite a bad record on letting debtors escape. Nothing was reliable with the Traders without a good contact, and Scarlet had just that. Her contact never disappointed her, in all the missions she had ever ran. The request this time was greater, and he was sure to take more caution while approaching her. At the corner of the street, she would see the colt approaching from more than thirty meters. What she wouldn’t see, however, was the assassin diving towards her. She was too slow to dodge, as the all too familiar blade slid to her neck.

The embrace was very familiar. Even though it was tighter and more brutal, it still maintained her grace. “Where are your reinforcements?” Thevoice was undoubtfully hers. What the… What is Faith doing? Suddenly she remembered, making her want to facehoof. The cloak… This even tricks the best of the best…

“Right behind me.” Scarlet waited for a reaction on the other mare’s side.

“Scarlet?” There was a first for everything. Surprising Faith, however, was not on Scarlet’s to-do list. The surprise in her voice was quickly replaced by a shadow of shame as Faith retracted her bracer blade as quickly as it came into contact with her skin. “How? Why? I mean. Sorry, for attacking you.” The stuttering went on quite funny and if it weren’t for the situation at hand.

“Yeah… I never thought I’d get to be attacked by you. The cloak may have been a bad idea, but it was too good an irony to let it slide. If we’re to do this, I want them to know it was you who paid them back for… your family.” She fixed Faith in the eyes, with a timid smile. “It’s Lore’s hour of retribution. I can take my credit later.”

“Thank you,” Faith was grateful for her attempt at a cheer-up. She remained silent for quite a while, not knowing what to do again. “You really didn’t need to do something like that.” That hurt… Now I understand what all you guys felt… She doesn’t know, or she doesn’t want to. “You really didn’t need to do something like that.”

The cloak… Scarlet looked away, her smile perishing from her face. “Yeah, it’s really nothing special. I didn’t get the time, nor the skill to do anything with it…special. You know, like yours is. You seem a bit better fitted for this kind of outfit.

“I really don’t think I could have talked my, err, supplier out of doing something like this. She never gives me a choice,” Scarlet couldn’t imagine how some Creed members had such aesthetic values as to make a beautiful battle cloak. She did admire every bit of it, though, from the white cape to the emblem she now represented. “When this whole thing is over we have something to talk about, don’t we?”

“I suppose.” The unrest between the two intensified. Oh great, what do I do now. “One of my acquaintances from Ogon 8 kissed me two nights ago.” Why the hell did I just say that? As the words escaped her mouth, she felt both relieved and guilty. Scarlet felt like she had just dropped the anvil on her back onto Faith’s head… “Sorry.” And then she apologized for it. It had to come out sooner or later. She needs to know… I mean… It’s better sooner than later, right?... Right? Faith’s face somehow respectfully disagreed with her thoughts.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s only natural, right?” The words hurt. Faith didn’t really care, did she? “You didn’t have anything to apologize for.” There it was again. Scarlet couldn’t take it anymore. It was all she could do not to burst out shouting in the dark alley.

“Yes, I do! I never wanted it to happen, especially after I met you. He just kissed me without asking, and I liked it! I just didn’t want to lose you, and eventually you would’ve found out one way or another. I just hoped this would be a better way to say it than for you to find out when we’re in a serious relationship.” Definetely not the way to react to that. “…Too much?”

That has got to be the most idiotic way to tell somepony you like them… Faith’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. Faith was technically wordless. The torrent of words Scarlet had just subjected Faith to was apparently you much for her to understand. “Serious relationship?” Okay, at least she got the main idea. “Wait, serious relationship?” …That’s what I just said. Please don’t be mad at me. “But, does that mean...With who?” Aaaand she totally missed it.

“Just what am I to you?!” The question hung heavily in the air. There was no answer at hand. You’re my friend. Yes, that was true, but “friend” wasn’t something Scarlet wanted to say in such a posture. You’re my only friend. Also true. You’re the one I love. This is exactly what she wanted to say, but the words never came out. Instead, she moved in towards Faith and kissed her deeply. It only lasted for a few seconds, but as she broke the embrace, the blush flushing her cheeks fully.

“Ladies. Crimson is waiting for you.” Worst timing of all. Ever. Of all the moments in the world this could happen, it had to be then. Scarlet looked back at Faith, who looked at the trader, who was in turn eyeing Scarlet. I guess there’s not much of a choice. Scarlet distanced herself a bit from Faith, as she glared angrily at the intruder.

“I suppose it would be rude to keep him waiting?” The unknown trader nodded and started leading the two through the complex network of alleys and slums scattered across Fair-feather. While the three of them navigated, it dawned upon the orange mare that for once she could make Faith happy.

Revealing the reconditioned bracer blade, she sprung the blade out of its locket, showing it to her. “I know it may not be exactly the same, but I decided to keep it intact. A gift from you should be made to be kept, not ruined.”

The hug she received was probably the least she expected from the pony beside her. Scarlet almost tripped into her own hooves as she was embraced with warmth by her companion. “You did something like that?” She radiated joy, from every part of her body. The kiss was the same: gleeful, quick and sweet. “I, I don’t know what to say.”

“I thought I’d learn to use it one day… From you. You’re the best I’ve seen with this thing on. And I’ve seen quite a few. I figured I can never thank you enough for accepting me the way I am. Hell, you’re the only person I loved since I lost my mates.”

“Love?” A smile took shape onto Faith’s face, something Scarlet had never seen before on her. She had that dumb, smile anyone gets when receiving a long awaited news or accomplishing something. As much effort as she tried to remove it, the smug grin was still there. “I...I’d be more than happy to help you with anything, anytime. After all, I’m the one who doesn’t deserve it. I’ll always be lucky enough that you didn’t just want me dead. To think you could...”

“Shh.” It just… feels right. She’s here, and that’s all I need. “You deserve someone to love you, just like everybody else. It doesn’t matter who he or she is. It might not be me in a couple of years, but remember that f we part ways, I… I love you, Faith.”

It was everything she could say. Not that she wanted to add anything else. Scarlet knew Faith’s presence was everything she wanted. She was never, ever going to let go of that mare. She was… She was crying? Their lips touched again in their sweet, passionate, embrace. “I love you too. Which is why, no matter what happens, I’m going to be the one to protect you always. Because, we are always getting out of this.”

Scarlet wanted to strengthen her own words of love, but they were out of time “Um… Ladies, we’re here. ”The building was imposing, to say the least. Scarlet wouldn’t have known where it was, since the last few minutes the three had been navigating the tunnels of Fair-feather. If she were to guess, she would have located the Guild a bit north of the last incursion. The grim atmosphere was present all around them, and the dimly lit corridor made it clear the Guild did not welcome guests.

The two were lead into a small room, with a single door and no windows. Inside, a red pony was waiting, behind a table and two empty chairs. “Welcome, Just Faith, Scarlet Blast. I’ve been… expecting you.” His voice always had a different accent. This time, Scarlet was not sure if it was plain Canterlot or a Minotaur influence. “Please, have a seat. I’ve been waiting to talk to the two of you for a long time.”

“Just get to the point, Crimson. You know what we’re here for.”

Faith also intervened “I like this chair, think I can get three of them to go?” Wait… What the…? Both ponies looked back at Faith, somewhat confused. Neither broke the silence for a good minute. Crimson did not seem amused, nor intimidated by Faith’s display.

“Trade rules. The same ones where you go and sell information about us as soon as we leave?” The red maned stallion looked at Faith, displeased. She’s missing the point… This is where we want them. But Faith was already ahead of her “Fine, no more snide remarks from me.” Damn it, where did she learn to read minds?

“That’s better,” Crimson smiled smugly. His temporary upper hand over Faith gave him a smidgen of confidence to continue his bravado. “Besides, fifteen hundred bits is a bargain for this kind of information. You might be able to take out Hooftail easily with it.”

Scarlet looked at Faith: She’s going to kill him one day. Best if they never meet again in the nearby future… Or ever again. Meanwhile, soldering through her saddlebags, she put the bag of remaining coins on the table. “I only have one thousand. I consider this is enough for you to give us what you know. I don’t believe anything you’re going to give me is worth more than that.”

“I’m sorry, Scarlet, but do I look like a bazaar pony to you? My prices are fixed, and nothing is going to change with that. Fifteen. Hundred. Otherwise, you get nothing.” Scarlet knew he was serious, but there was nothing she could do. These were literally her last money. Starting tomorrow, she would have to live off bread and liqueur until the next pay-day. Giving Faith a desperate look, her eyes pleaded for another solution.

Faith in turn took out a bag herself and tossed it on the table near Scarlet’s. “There.” She made sure that whilst raising her hoof she showed off her own bracer blade. It seemed a bit larger than Scarlet’s, and much more ornate. The runes seemed to be glimmering with energy, unlike the faint glow the pony that activated hers left with. I just hope it can get its job done properly. “That should be good enough. But, if I’m not satisfied, I will take whatever I figure you owe us out of your flank.”

“My, such a violent temper. You might want to control her, Scarlet.” This phrase was enough to spark a wildfire inside Scarlet. She could take anything Crimson was going to throw at her, but under no circumstances was she going to let him pick on Faith. The pony opened the bag and proceeded to briefly counting the bits. First time he traded with somepony unknown he always did that. Leaving a small bonus also got him to be trustier of her. “At least it does seem to be all there.”

“Well then, on to your information,” Crimson drew a map out of nowhere and spread it on the table in front of them. Scarlet tried to visualize the city, and all the circled zone on Crimson’s map. “That is the current base of operations. Of course, they have others, but that is where the master is running things out of right now.” Scarlet pictured the site. She calculated the defense perimeter possibilities, how many guards it would take and weak vantage points that were hardly defendable. In the meantime, Crimson continues explaining. “As you can imagine, security is quite tight,” Obviously… This is not a candy shop we want to break in. “And, if the alarm gets raised, there are at least a dozen escape tunnels for the master. But, you are quite in luck that you chose me.” He was right. There were no weak spots in the perimeter. Anything could be ruled out by adding a couple more guards to the extra norm.

“Three to three-thirty in the morning. The guard shifts are set up that you would only have to take out three in the back entrance.” It can’t be that easy as to just backdoor them. Yet, this was a possibility. The back door was secluded and if the shifts were changing it meant the night shift was probably mostly asleep or preparing to go to bed while the day shift would just be drinking their coffee. “If you can get them down without raising the alarm, well, I don’t think I have to tell you what happens next.”

“Security on the inside doesn’t exist. It’s assumed that if you get inside, you are one of them,” answered Faith, looking emptily at the map. Three guards, back door, and then we’re walking on Faith’s memories inside the lion’s den. There’s little I can do to help with that… Except probably for those booby traps. They always come in handy.

“Exactly, my dear. And, as an added bonus, the master likes to sleep until at least six in the morning. Every morning.” Two and a half hours were more than enough to get the job done. Even though she knew they wouldn’t get that much, Scarlet was satisfied with the information. Getting in was going to be easy. Getting out, however, required a bit of her planning ahead. The three corpses will most likely be found by the time we finish our incursion, so the back door will be swamped with reinforcements. We can always take the window.

“It probably won’t be easy, but everything that comes after will be tougher. If it’s together, no problem.” This was it. The moment both of them had been waiting for. Even if the next couple of weeks would be hell for them, Creed dominance over Fair-feather was going to come to an end.

Chapter 9: Dirty Deals (Faith)

There were a great deal of things weighing heavily on Faith’s mind, not the least of which was this meeting. Trusting the trade Guild wasn’t high on her list of priorities. Though, it did feel good to lose herself in the lifestyle again. Killer’s tools lined her form, weighed down her wings, and even pressed on her mind. It felt like home, but also strangely alien. A Creed is a Creed is a Creed, that mantra had been her scapegoat ever since her first meeting with Rose. Now, though, she was a Creed who killed other Creeds and no longer even wore the insignia of the organization. What did that make her?

A killer. For now, an answer like that would be good enough. Creed or no, inadequate words or not, she was still, at the very least, a killer. She dropped down from the sky silently towards the meeting place, eyes scanning; judging. Crude and hard to defend positions littered the back alley. If there was an ambush, or worse, it would be difficult to escape let alone secure Scarlet’s safety. There it was again, that feeling that she had to worry about Scarlet before anything else. Is that what it meant to care about somepony?

Finally she noticed it, the sickening black cloak in the alley. Every nerve immediately screamed ambush. Before she knew it, Faith was scanning for potential vantage points, hiding places for reinforcements, and potential traps. But, something was off about it, everything was off.

Faith had spent time pouring over the dossier book Rose had left, familiarizing herself with the details. It was just another poor attempt to distract herself, but it had given her the insides of Hooftail. The figure on the ground seemed wrong, or just off enough, for one of the few elites she had read about. Still, she could nitpick all day or she could finish this before Scarlet had a chance to show up. The feeling again, the old Faith would have taken the time to quell the worries about the situation. The new Faith, this new Faith, was too preoccupied with keeping Scarlet out of potential dangers.

Wings folded completely to her side as she dropped the final few feet directly behind the Creed. Blade was readied before she even hit the ground, legs taking the impact without so much as a grunt. She wanted this over with fast, “Where are your reinforcements?”

“Right behind me,” The voice hit like a sledgehammer, along with the shame.

“Scarlet?” Faith chastised herself as she quickly dropped her hoof, retracting the blade back into the bracer in one fluid movement. She made a rookie mistake, charging in, and almost attacked the pony she had been dead set on protecting. The guilt was a little hard to hold back from her voice, “How? Why? I mean. Sorry, for attacking you.”

“Yeah… I never thought I’d get to be attacked by you. The cloak may have been a bad idea, but it was too good an irony to let it slide. If we’re to do this, I want them to know it was you who paid them back for… your family.” Faith felt the shame burning still. The mention of her family hurt, too. What would they think of her what she was turning into, “It’s Lore’s hour of retribution. I can take my credit later.”

I couldn’t care less about paying them back! Not as long as... She wanted to scream those words out at the top of her lungs, she wanted to get them out. But, like everything else, she couldn’t. It was a wonderful sentiment, to be able to avenge what had happened to her family. She owed them that much, didn’t she? She owed them that much and more, but she didn’t know what she owed herself.

“Thank you,” Somewhere deep down, she was laughing, laughing at what father would have thought. Under any other circumstances those two would still be enemies, but here she was trying to honour the memory of a family she would have tried to kill. Faith wanted to kiss her for...No, no, no, not those thoughts again, “You really didn’t need to do something like that.”

Change the topic, change the topic to anything else, “It looks good on you, though.” No, not that. Why did you change it to that?

“Yeah, it’s really nothing special. I didn’t get the time, nor the skill to do anything with it…special. You know, like yours is. You seem a bit better fitted for this kind of outfit.” This conversation was only going to get more awkward as the two danced around the elephant in the room that was currently attempting to swan dive into the kitchen sink. Small talk, small talk did not in any way befit two mares in this line of work, but neither seemed to be able to pry themselves out of it to say what needed to be said.

“I really don’t think I could have talked my, err, supplier out of doing something like this. She never gives me a choice,” Faith’s mind drifted to Rose, then the dresses, crazy as they were, then to her family. Seeing her in a dress not for a cover, actually she had only worn a dress for a cover once, probably would have killed them. Then, it went back to the coffee before finally setting on a disturbing topic. No, not now. Definitely not now, “When this whole thing is over we have something to talk about, don’t we?”

What am I to you? She couldn’t get those words out of her head. Even after fourteen cups of coffee, several of which had been home brewed and tasted mostly like dirt that had been lit on fire several times and then put out with antiseptic, she still hadn’t been able to drown that.

“I suppose,” The words sort of stung, not as bad as the realization from the coffee shop, but it still hurt. The main problem was, Faith didn’t really understand why they hurt, “One of my acquaintances from Ogon 8 kissed me two nights ago.” There it was, or was it?

Faith had been telling herself these feelings were pointless the entire time. She had called herself out on Scarlet never being able to care. So, why did it feel like she had been blindsided by this kind of revelation? It was natural, right? A Creed is a Creed is a Creed, it would be natural to choose the companion over that. You know, there are only so many times you can use the word natural before it loses all meaning, “Sorry.”

Faith glanced away, she didn’t know why she did it and, if she did, it probably would have also explained why it hurt to find out something you already supposedly knew, “Don’t worry about it. It’s only natural, right?” There it was again, natural. If she lived long enough, Faith would ensure that the definition of that word changed, “You didn’t have anything to apologize for.”

Natural: Adjective. An inexplicable pain in one’s chest caused without any discernible reason.

“Yes, I do! I never wanted it to happen, especially after I met you. He just kissed me without asking, and I liked it! I just didn’t want to lose you, and eventually you would’ve found out one way or another. I just hoped this would be a better way to say it than for you to find out when we’re in a serious relationship,” Wait, was Faith seriously being yelled at for, for whatever it was she had tried to do, “...Too much?”

Too much? Nah, just one question. WHAT WAS THAT? Seconds ticked by as Faith, mouth slightly agape, tried to comprehend exactly what had just happened. Pony talks about kissing one of her comrades? Check. Painful acceptance to the fact she never had a chance? Check. Getting yelled at? Nope still didn’t make sense.

“Serious relationship?” Faith wasn’t even fully aware she had asked the question out loud. She was still trying to work through the words. What serious relationship? Had she meant, but no, “Wait, serious relationship?” This time it was intentional, she was slowly gathering her thoughts together, “But, does that mean...With who?”

“Just what am I to you?!” That was it, the final straw. Forget decorum, screw appropriate times, adios dangerous missions. That question just wasn’t going to stay inside anymore. She wanted to preface it, to give Scarlet more like, ‘Just say I don’t mean anything. Say something.’ But, nothing else could come out but her own heavy breathing.

That was, her breathing for a few precious seconds. After that a set of lips invaded her precious space, sealing themselves onto her mouth. It wasn’t the perfect answer Faith would have preferred, but it was wonderful. After the seconds ended and the kiss disappeared the warm sensation continued to fill her. She still felt insecure, wanting to hear the words she assumed the kiss spoke, but they could wait. She could hear the words another time. Not like she had much of a choice.

“Ladies. Crimson is waiting for you.” That was right, they were here to take care of something. Faith shook herself off for a second to stare at the new arrival. She could put on a strong bravado, good enough to play with him, but the heat wasn’t going away anytime soon.

She affixed the intruder with, what she hoped was, a powerful glare. Honestly, she was just a little angry that the moment had to be over, “I suppose it would be rude to keep him waiting?”

The threesome began the perilous journey down the countless side streets and passages heading for the unknown heart of the meeting. Faith tried to maintain at least some semblance of grim demeanor during the trip. Once or twice, though, she felt the beginnings of a blush forming on her visage. This was like a date, wasn’t it? Then the thought hit her, well, the reality hit her. I’m horrible at dates, aren’t I?

As Faith struggled with the concept of her pseudo-date and saving it a blade took shape in front of her eyes. It took a few seconds to register, but then she immediately snapped back into reality, “I know it may not be exactly the same, but I decided to keep it intact. A gift from you should be made to be kept, not ruined.”

The blade, it was her old one and back mostly to how it had been before. It shouldn’t have meant much of anything, really, but it felt wonderful, like a part of her was actually with Scarlet. At that moment her guise didn’t matter, that was gone. All that mattered was that she was embracing the pony she cared about. Hugging her, maybe a little too strongly, “You did something like that?” A kiss, a short but happy kiss, “I, I don’t know what to say.”

I’m not that bad at dates. I could be worse...I really need to work on my definition of date.

“Love?” Hearing those words gave Faith just about as much satisfaction as she’d hoped for. She couldn’t have stopped the grin on her face if she tried to. For now, well, it was enough to just be happy. The nagging feeling was strangely absent for now, perhaps it had forgotten about the date, “I...I’d be more than happy to help you with anything, anytime. After all, I’m the one who doesn’t deserve it. I’ll always be lucky enough that you didn’t just want me dead. To think you could...”

“Shh,” Before Faith could continue stumbling through her words Scarlet was there and so was a rather strong hoof silencing her, “You deserve someone to love you, just like everybody else. It doesn’t matter who he or she is. It might not be me in a couple of years, but remember that if we part ways, I… I love you, Faith.”

It was awkward and unprofessional and a million other things Faith never dreamed of deserving. It was wonderful and, in that moment there were only those two ponies. For that moment, Creed stopped existing, TWOS was never created, Fair-feather was still just a gleam in its founder’s eye, and even Celestia’s sun had never been brought into existence. In that moment, Faith broke down, shed her tears, kissed the amazing, beautiful, wonderful pony who accepted her and made a vow without fully understanding what the words meant, “I love you too. Which is why, no matter what happens, I’m going to be the one to protect you always. Because, we are always getting out of this.”

And then, reality dawned yet again. I’m going to have to kill that guide later.

“Umm...Ladies, we’re here,” Yeah, that guide was definitely going to die. The building the pony had guided them to was about what Faith had come to expect from organizations like the trade guild, large and impractical, but designed to intimidate. Big imposing buildings were difficult to maintain and harder to defend in the event of an insurgance. It was unlikely the guild even had the ponies needed to maintain security. Still, they made it look as fearsome as possible. For Faith, it looked rather nice. Everything looked rather nice right now.

As their guide snaked them through corridors, flights of stairs, and more corridors Faith had to continually update her mental escape plan. She had made a vow, she didn’t take that bit lightly. Finally, the door opened into the dimly lit room. It was vaguely reminiscent of a Creed interrogation room sans torture implements and screaming. Okay, it was only vaguely like a Creed interrogation room. Still, it did the job of providing only one way in or out, meaning the red pony sitting at the table in the middle held all the power for the time being.

“Welcome, Just Faith, Scarlet Blast. I’ve been… expecting you.” How he knew her name was a bit of a mystery, but Faith was more than enough aware that anything could be bought with bits. It was even equally possible Scarlet had provided it when she negotiated this meeting, “Please, have a seat. I’ve been waiting to talk to the two of you for a long time.”

Bah, he was by far the third, no fourth, worst intimidator Faith had ever encountered. The chair was slightly uncomfortable, though, those fiends. Surely, uncomfortable chairs and posturing ponies were the weak points of any pony who dealt with the trade guild, “Just get to the point, Crimson. You know what we’re here for.”

Was it natural to think that the demanding tone Scarlet took was cute, even in the middle of a potentially lethal meeting? Probably not, but it was likely not normal to say, “I like this chair, think I can get three of them to go?” Keep your opponent off guard, now she just had to hope they didn’t actually give her three of them to lug away.

“As a matter of fact, I know what you’re here for. And I’m willing to give it to you… for a price. When the two of you are ready to pay up, I will give you the goods. Trade rules, if you know what I mean,” Her bravado hadn’t phased the stallion as much as she had hoped, but Faith wasn’t one to be discouraged.

“Trade rules. The same ones where you go and sell information about us as soon as we leave?” Faith sighed heavily, she wasn’t here to argue with the pony. She was here because Scarlet trusted him and that had to be good enough, for now, “Fine, no more snide remarks from me.”

“That’s better,” The pony seemed confident enough in his victory over Faith’s unruly mouth. The question about how confident he would have been if this was done on Faith’s terms eliciting at least a little joy from the dejected mare, “Besides, fifteen hundred bits is a bargain for this kind of information. You might be able to take out Hooftail easily with it.”

As if. Faith held her tongue, barely, as Scarlet rummaged around for what she could, “I only have one thousand. I consider this is enough for you to give us what you know. I don’t believe anything you’re going to give me is worth more than that.”

“I’m sorry, Scarlet, but do I look like a bazaar pony to you? My prices are fixed, and nothing is going to change with that. Fifteen. Hundred. Otherwise, you get nothing,” Faith momentarily contemplated releasing her blade and playing with this stallion until he begged for forgiveness. Unfortunately for her, Scarlet’s eyes were holding the mare hostage, pleading for a more civil solution. Well, civil was a relative term.

Faith fiddled under her cloak, bits weren’t something she normally kept around, but this wasn’t the first negotiation she had ever dealt with. Luckily the amount she had brought, a considerable chunk of the money left in the lockbox, was around seven hundred bits. Although, you never took the time to count bits in a meeting like this, meaning he was going to get a bit of a bonus, grudgingly.

“There,” Her bag jingled to the table as she made sure to emphasize the bracer on her hoof, “That should be good enough. But, if I’m not satisfied, I will take whatever I figure you owe us out of your flank.” She wasn’t joking either, she would much rather carve him up than squabble over useless bits.

“My, such a violent temper. You might want to control her Scarlet,” Apparently Faith was wrong, ponies did count bits in this type of deal. At least, this Crimson certainly did as he painstakingly counted Faith’s bag. Doubting a pony who desperately wanted to at least cut him was probably not his smartest move, “At least it does seem to be all there.” Doesn’t even mention that it’s overpaid.

“Well then, on to your information,” The stallion postured, trying to make himself seem more important as he pulled out a map of the city and pointed to a nice circled location, a small building that likely hid a larger underground complex, “That is the current base of operations. Of course, they have others, but that is where the master is running things out of right now.”

“As you can imagine, security is quite tight,” Crimson started playing with a couple of bits tossing them between hooves, “And, if the alarm gets raised, there are at least a dozen escape tunnels for the master. But, you are quite in luck that you chose me.”

His arrogance was astounding, but he was good for one thing, “Three to three-thirty in the morning. The guard shifts are set up that you would only have to take out three in the back entrance. If you can get them down without raising the alarm, well, I don’t think I have to tell you what happens next.”

“Security on the inside doesn’t exist. It’s assumed that if you get inside, you are one of them,” Faith answered absent mindedly. Creed bases were all like that, the outside security was tight, almost impenetrable, but inside was lax. The idea was, by the time anypony got inside the alarm was already wrung. If that was the case, every member was a weapon in a small enclosed space, or they could all escape. The key here was, to not raise that alarm.

“Exactly, my dear. And, as an added bonus, the master likes to sleep until at least six in the morning. Every morning.”

“So, I guess this is all. We don’t have much to wait for now, do we Faith. In two days time, the Hooftail master will be dead and we’ll only have the Shadowbrands to deal with. What’s your take on it,” Getting in, maybe even killing him would be easy, but everything felt almost too easy. There was a general uneasiness that came with such a perfect opportunity, but Faith tried to push it to the back of her mind. They could do this, she needed to be as confident about it as Scarlet.

“It probably won’t be easy, but everything that comes after will be tougher. If it’s together, no problem,” Since when did Faith start talking like that? Even if it was just bravado, it was so much better to talk about them together. It was just easier.

Chapter 10: End of a Master (Scarlet)

There were only three guards, as Crimson had said. One was flying above in a seemingly erratic pattern, watching the skies above and loopholes around the perimeter. The second was sitting upon a rooftop, observing the whole area they were going to assault. He was a bit frigid, Scarlet could tell from the readings of her heat vision goggles. The third was perched directly in front of the door. She couldn’t tell if he was there for intimidation or decoy.

Faith comes in, kills the rooftop pony without much trouble. The flying one might be a challenge, even with flawless aim. Having no flying pattern is sure to raise a few problems. The doorman should be easy for any of us to take down. Then, we’re in. After that, the master is within our reach.

The clock was ticking. 3:02. The shift would change in 28 minutes. Faith was already closing in on the rooftop pony from behind. Seconds later, his throat was split open by her blade in one clean slice. In less than a minute, the dead pony looked as if nothing ever happened.

My turn. Three bullets were loaded into her rifle, trying to lock herself onto the flying pony. The shots had to be fired successively, to prevent the pony from raising the alarm in case of a miss. Wait for it… She positioned her target, taking a deep breath. The entire mission depended on these three shots. The colt turned just as her first bullet exited the weapon. The two shots that followed, however embedded themselves in the pegasus’ skull and left wing, making him fall limply on a side street. It will be three days until somebody finds that corpse. Now that’s what I call sharpshooting. Her watch vibrated a bit. Twenty five minutes to go.

The timer had accelerated for now. The flying pony’s absence would be noticeable in a matter of seconds. It was Faith’s turn to roll. Scarlet could see her graceful descent down the buildings; through the goggles, this representation of skill and balance looked simply amazing. Scarlet had never seen a show pony before, but imagined Faith would make a great one.

Upon hitting the ground silently, Faith pointed her bracer blade at the remaining guard.Everything was going as expected. The assassin put a hoof to the place Faith’s poisoned dart hit, falling incapacitated only seconds later. Scarlet’s trip down was a bit less problematic. Stairs were commonly used in that part of town.

Reaching the door, where Faith awaited, the orange mare checked for any improvised explosives or traps. Her surprise was that even though she used all of the door disabling techniques she had learned, none seemed to spring or defuse a booby trap. Are the Creed really so ill prepared for an assault? This is too easy. She didn’t want to disturb Faith with that thought. If it seemed natural for her, then that’s the way it was “Clear. We’re good to go.” She opened the door silently, only using a basic improvised lockpick. “Now let’s go end this.”

Creed outposts seemed very impractical. Tight corridors made bottlenecks at every turn where the two would’ve been able to hold off at least fifty intruders, should they have been discovered. The brown mare was first to go in, looking somehow reluctant to advance. The two never knew what would await inside the master’s chambers, but Scarlet was ready. Their objective got closer and closer with every passing hoofstep. The feeling of unease intensified. If killing a Creed master before, why has nobody attempted it before?

Finally, the two were facing their final challenge. A staircase blocked by a door, leading downstairs, further inside the complex. “Into the belly of the beast?” Faith asked. The same feeling Scarlet had beforehand was present in her voice as well. Something was awfully wrong. It was not too late to abort the mission. If this gets us both killed… I’m coming back from the dead to haunt Crimson for the rest of his earthly life.

“Well. It’s now or never. Would you rather go back?” Scarlet looked back at the dark corridor. Faith was in charge of this operation, but she wouldn’t want to waste such a chance, now that it would never arise again. “It’s your choice, Faith.”

The brown pegasus turned towards the door, opening it with a shallow creak. She began descending and Scarlet followed quietly behind, admiring the outpost. Those were the assassin’s quarters, something nobody outside of the Creed had seen. It appeared as if the higher-ups were situated lower down in the complex, as the rooms got more and more luxurious, whilst maintaining the simplest look to it.

Upon reaching the third floor, her companion turned towards her and asked “No matter what happens, if things go bad, you turn and get out, okay?” Scarlet opened her mouth to counteract Faith’s amend but was quickly sealed shut by Faith’s pressed lips. She wasn’t going to argue on something she’d never to. The corridors had a ragged aspect, as if ready to collapse at any time, caving in the whole complex above them.

The look on Faith’s face was of genuine concern and… was it fear? There were only less than thrity feet towards the Hooftail master’s chambers. Her own legs were shaking. If an ambush was to come now, they’d both be dead in a matter of seconds. Scarlet instinctively reached out for Faith’s hoof, grasping it tightly. Words were not in order now. The time for their final showdown was coming.

The door opened slowly under Faith’s hoof. Inside, what seemed like a gallery of armors and disguises was present. Scarlet tried recounting every one of them: The Royal Guard emblem, Luna’s Chosen, one of every TWOS division, including a Conflux Power Armor. Scarlet approached every one of them to examine them closer. Each were maintained in perfect shape… Then there was…

“So, what do you think?” Faith broke the silence with a whisper. The ponyslaughter… All the murders done in his name… Scarlet looked at the bed on the far side of the room. Inside, just as Crimson had told them, was what appeared to be the master of the forsaken Hooftail division. He was sleeping lightly, unaware of the doom that he was about to encounter. Her calm dwindled with every passing second. The thought of Faith being unmoved by this gruesome collection saddened her.

“What do I think?” Her whisper was a bit louder than Faith, rage barely contained. “I think that it is time to put an end to all this.” She gestured theatrically towards all the suits of armor in the room. “If those are what he kept… Faith, imagine how many have died for that slime.” She moved closer to an assassin cape. It looked slightly different than a master’s usually black robes.

Scarlet inspected the sigil closer. It was indeed a master’s cloak, indeed, but it was not of the Hooftail. With her doubts confirmed, she flashed Lore’s emblem imprinted on the cloak towards Faith. “Who do you think this belonged to? Ask yourself that. I don’t think anything about this. I feel it’s time for him to pay for his crimes.”

Faith drew in closer, giving the stallion a quick look. She muttered something to herself, as Scarlet came closer as well. Her partner nudged the sleeping colt as Scarlet drew the bracer blade out of its bracer. In case the old stallion attempted something, she’d be ready to slice his throat before he even drew a hidden blade. “Wake up,” Faith nudged him again. “It’s judgment day and we’re all out of golden tickets.”

As the pony woke up, his face reflected what Scarlet had hoped for: confusion and a sense of insecurity as he glanced over at her. Being measured by the master sickened her, but she had to live with this thought only several more minutes. “You aren’t a part of Hooftail, especially not an elite. Who are you? Did you think you would get in just because you made yourself…”

Faith’s bracer blade cut his last words off. As the stallion grew silent, Scarlet got to see a darker Faith. “You know, it isn’t good to ignore a pony. It’s almost as bad as, say, leaving one member of a division alive.” She was enjoying it. The threats, the horrified expression as the realization finally hit the colt gave Faith a grim smile.

The expression quickly changed, as the old pegasus finally accepted his fate. Two mares, armed to the teeth were determined to kill him in his own chamber. The smile on his face was barely visible, but a cackle escaped him briefly, betraying his state of spirit. “Then you must be Faith. Tell me, how fares your noble “father”?”

This was probably the most Scarlet was going to let any of the two take on this night. She dug her bracer blade in one of the colt’s hooves. A muffled groan escaped the master as blood sprung out of his fresh wound. On second thought, I’m going to enjoy causing him every ounce of suffering one can take. “I’m certain you can go ask him, if you’re really that concerned of his well-being, can’t you?”

The master didn’t even wince, as he apparently blocked out the pain in his bleeding hoof. He maintained his calm even under the shooting plane of her bracer blade “It’s rather funny to think about it.”

“What is?” Faith obviously did not look amused.

“A once great Creed elite, being reduced to this. To taking a pet.” If it weren’t for Faith to have the honor of killing him, Scarlet would have run him through at that exact moment. “Or, are you the pet now?” The master’s calm suddenly sent a shiver down Scarlet’s spine. He knew there was no longer any hope of escape for him. But what about them?

“Once a killer, always a killer,” Faith’s devise was simple and to the point. If it weren’t for Scarlet to know her better, to know she wanted something more, she might have actually believed what her companion had said.

“You’ve renounced your origins. I see you’re now working with the TWOS.” The colt pierced Scarlet with his eyes, drilling her into the very core of her being. “Thought I wouldn’t notice? Her posture, the way she wields the blade. She’s never even had one before. Being in love with the enemy... Your father would be disappointed.”

“I’m working for myself,” the anger in Faith’s eyes was notable, and so was Scarlet’s concern. Any second now, the guards could find their dead mates and sound the alarm. “It’s hard to want to stay a Creed when you realize what’s wrong with the organization. I think father would have been proud of me, of everything, but I guess I won’t be able to discuss it with him for a long time.” Something is wrong… Wrong, wrong, wrong. The unsettling feeling came from the creeping shadows behind them, as if they were being watched by somepony invisible.

“Do you want me to tell him how much you miss him? Maybe you could do that yourself. I doubt any of you will be getting out alive. One question, though. Before you end me, you must have broken in during the guard shift. How can two ponies single hoofedly defeat ten guards?” That was the cue. Ten guards missing from their post. Everything screamed set-up. But why would the Hooftail trade their own master for a couple of operatives? Something just didn’t add up.

“Ten? Sorry to tell you this. There wasn’t a single guard inside. Maybe somepony wanted you dead.” Escape routes… there are no escape routes! Come on Faith, you must’ve figured it out by now. Finish him and let’s run! The dialogue between the two proceeded as Scarlet carefully counted each second of their lives.

“Of all the ways I thought I’d die, an inside job was probably one of the bottom ten I thought would happen. Do what you have to do, girls. You’ll be joining me soon enough.”

“Perhaps… But, it seems fitting, doesn’t it? If anypony would know about killing comrades, it would be you.”

“What seems fitting is an assassin trying to play house,” the master hissed, his malefic grin turning again towards Scarlet. “If you do survive, however unlikely that chance is, how long will it be before you grow bored of your game? How long before she realizes how much blood on your hooves? You are what you will always be, a Creed can never be anything different. Two hundred sixty-five, was it?”

Two hundred and sixty what? An involuntary gasp left her mouth as she tried to cover it with her hooves. She knew the mare besides her was an assassin, but never imagined that her kill count would be so large. She wondered how many of those could’ve been her friends. How many of the two hundred and sixty five could’ve been her? A sole tear left her eyes, while Faith drew her blade away from the master. “This is never going to be just a game that I play, no matter what happens next. I wouldn’t expect you to understand that. though.”

Suddenly Scarlet heard a sound coming from behind. The door was still open, and several pairs of hoofsteps were approaching the master’s room rapidly. “Faith! They’re here!” This was no longer a whisper. She took a quick glimpse at her pistol and pointed it towards the door. “Oh my god, they’re here…”
Suddenly Scarlet heard a sound coming from behind. The door was still open, and several pairs of hoofsteps were approaching the master’s room rapidly. “Faith! They’re here!” This was no longer a whisper. Their cover was blown, and their time running out.

“Yes, Faith, they’re here. What happens next?” The master was living his last moments enjoying the show that had been set. It appeared as if the two had no chance of escape now. She knew it, and by all means, he knew it as well.

“Save me a seat in the lowest level of Tartarus reserved for monsters like us,”

***

Even though my attention was fully focused onto the door, I could hear the sound of Faith’s blade slice through the husk of the master. Gurgling blood sounded his end, and perhaps what appeared to be our final battle. Our captors were sitting behind the door, awaiting a coordinated strike. I could kill a few before they came close, but after that, I had no idea what was going to happen “Oh my god, they’re here…”

The door opened; a powerful voice from behind echoed across the empty armor suits: “They killed the master, bring them down for the glory of Hooftail!” Everything was dark, but my thermal vision depicted them perfectly. An entire detachment, at least forty. Three of them took point and charged towards the door. False move. I guess they tell us in training about the Creed’s accuracy using a blade. But the Creed somehow omits bullet accuracy when instructing their newcomers. All of the initial wave fell shortly to my sharpshooting.

And then, there was Faith again. That beautiful, damned, mare... She rushed forward to meet the advancing onslaught of reinforcements. My mind was a blur; I tend to lose my thoughts during battle. But I recall her turning towards me and saying “If I clear an opening, you run. No buts.” I didn’t know, back then, if she really meant the “love” thing. I know I did. She seemed so keenly set on protecting me, I was almost about to abide by her plan.

But I just wouldn’t listen. The image of another comrade dying for me was excruciating. As Faith dove in the mass of assassins, slicing in every direction, making half a dozen fall under her first swipe, I followed her. Even though my blade expertise was… well, not that expert, I managed to dual wield it along with my pistol band. I never thought this would turn out efficient.

In the heat of the battle, as more and more were joining in the combat, Faith called out again “Scarlet, what are you doing? Get out of here!” That’s probably the last thing I remember, when it hit me. No, not an idea on how to magically escape the complex, though magic would’ve been a solution. One of those damned Creed darts had struck my wing. I must’ve had a death wish, but at least that managed to save Faith’s side. I figure this is what got her out alive.

The poison was quick. In several seconds, half my body was numb. The spread was painful, but quick. The numbness was comforting, shielding me from the battle outside. My conscience dripped into the void, with a storm of daggers raining around me. What was my last thought, you ask?

Have Faith.

Chapter 10: End of a Master (Faith)

One flying aimlessly around the sky above the building, one trying to use a neighboring rooftop as a vantage point, and one painstakingly standing right in front of the door. Honestly, they couldn’t have stood out more if they had all held glowing signs that said, ‘Hey, I’m a Creed’. Once again, that familiar uneasiness had crept over Faith, worrying her that nothing should be this easy.

Hooftail wasn’t an elite division, that much was true, but were they really supposed to be this easy? Basic cover techniques, disguise imperatives, even trap setting, all of these should have been at least partially instilled, or was she just overthinking things again? At least one of them should have been plain clothes, hidden so as to not be noticed, but none of them were. At least one should have been standing around a trap of some kind, but Faith could discern none of them.

As awkward as the chance was, they had to take. By the time another opportunity like this came along who knew how dangerous the situation would have become. Faith readied herself as she silently dropped out of the sky above the pony who had so hopefully taken a position so as to witness anything that might happen to the others. Too bad they weren’t watching him.

A clean slice and he went down, severing his windpipe and jugular in one fluid movement. Quickly, the pony was caught and forcibly propped up against his vantage point. One down, two to go. Twenty seven minutes remained.

Faith watched the skies counting the breaths as she waited. After what felt like an eternity the guard circling wobbled and fell quickly into a side street. That left just one guard and a smaller window. It was all but impossible for the two to kill the one in flight without it being noticeable he wasn’t there anymore. That left one option.

Faith tucked her wings under the pure white cloak and hopped off the roof of the building. Hooves collided with landings, fire escapes, windows, and even a clothesline as she descended. It was a dance down the building, but considerably less conspicuous than a pegasus gliding down. The assassin silently hit the ground, a flurry of hooves and fabric. She could only guarantee another minute and a half before the pony’s absence was detected.

Time to test the potentially explosive present Rose gave me. Faith silently breathed what she hoped would not be her last breath, she never told Scarlet about the possibility of her equipment exploding on her, and let her hoof touch the mechanical release on the inside of the mounted launcher. She felt the familiar twang of the release as the dart left the chamber and sped away. Instantly the new mechanisms replaced the dart with the next one loaded into the cartridge. Rose’s design was faster, more efficient, and hadn’t exploded. Magic penetration couldn’t be verified, but not dying was always a plus.

A few precious seconds later the guard in front of the door swatted at what he must have believed a mosquito. Only once he found the dart did he seem truly worried, but it was already too late. He slumped to the ground within seconds. Seven minutes from start to incapacitation. Not bad. She silently worked to move the guard away from the door and out of any potential viewers while awaiting her partner’s arrival.

Shortly thereafter Faith’s partner joined her outside the door. It was amazing, the way Scarlet could stroll up nonchalantly given the situation the two were in. Faith admired that about the mare, and countless other things. The two stood in silence as the orange pegasus worked at the door, checking for countless types of possible traps. Secretly, Faith hoped she would find, or trip, one or two of them, but the assassin was slowly beginning to understand that couldn’t happen.

“Clear. We’re good to go.” The uneasy feeling in Faith’s throat was reaching an all time high, but there really was no going back now. Half of her was expecting twenty well trained assassins to run them through the second the door opened, the other half was expecting absolutely nothing. It was a strange feeling to know the setup existed and yet not understand why. There had been a dozen chances to take them out already, letting them get to the door served no purpose, “Now let’s go end this.”

The door opened silently to...nothing. Not that it was a tremendous surprise, but not being dead was pleasant nonetheless. Now, if only that uneasy feeling would go away, perhaps if she brought up dinner?

Faith made sure to take point ahead of Scarlet, the tight hallways of the Creed base could only fit two ponies wide if they jammed themselves against the walls. In other words, if a fight broke out, it was easy to get trapped down, but also easy for Faith to block access to the one she wanted to protect.

Low torches flickered as they walked, shadows creeping off corners, doors, and other haphazardly placed equipment, leaving all sorts of imaginary beasts and killers creeping into the two ponies minds. Dangerous four headed hounds trained to dispatch intruders, poisonous lizards, or great winged abominations, they all existed within the confines of Faith’s uneasy mind, brought to light so easily. Too easy, far too easy.

Like most bases Faith had ever been in, the actual base extended downwards into underground basements rather than to the higher floors. She stopped in front of the door leading to the lower levels, pushing the uneasiness out of the way for a moment, “Into the belly of the beast?”

“Well. It’s now or never. Would you rather go back?” It seemed her partner had picked up on Faith’s uneasiness, or maybe they were both equally uneasy with how easy this had been. It was an obvious trap, but this was as close as they would be able to get for the longest time, “It’s your choice, Faith.”

That was the problem, wasn’t it? It was her choice, and she couldn’t bear the thought of walking Scarlet into a trap or of disappointing her expectations. What would the old Faith have done? The old Faith would have seen the trap a mile away, she never would have fallen for it. She would have regrouped, come up with a better...No. Faith was painfully aware of what the old Faith would have done. The door opened lightly under her hoof. The old Faith would certainly have noticed the setup, but she would have walked right in anyway. The old Faith would have taken them down no matter the cost.

New Faith just hoped she didn’t live to regret the choice. Hoofs descended the stairs lightly, one floor, then another, then another. Three floors down, quarters for those of high enough rank. Before exiting into the floor she did one thing both New and Old Faith would have regretted.

“No matter what happens, if things go bad, you turn and get out, okay?” She turned, kissed the mare behind her, and left her no time to argue as they stepped out. The hallway here was much wider, designed with the possibility that many members might be trying to get to and from their rooms at the same time. Likewise, the hallway was lined with scratches, scrapes, burns, and explosion holes, likely the result of whatever training and experimentation the members here tried.

If the alarm was raised now, who knew which members might be in the base at this time. Worst case scenario was both of the remaining elite members plus at least a dozen of their best fighters. It wasn’t a particularly appetizing scenario, but the idea that dozens of members were hiding behind the doors, just waiting to spring an ambush, was far less appetizing. Still, they continued.

A few rooms in an unfamiliar sensation took over, a firm grasp on one of her hooves. It was comforting, in a terrifying way, to know she could be relied on. It didn’t matter now, though. Still no ambushes, still nothing. A completely free path to their master’s room. Perhaps, just perhaps, the information had been on the level. Maybe Hooftail really was this incompetent. Perchance they weren’t going to get skewered. That last one would have been rather nice.

The final door creaked open, while Faith cursed for a quieter door under her breath, to reveal the inside of the master’s room. Ornate, but sparse, grand in the context of a Creed accommodation, deadly and simple. And, of course, tucked away at the back was a large bed with a sleeping pony on it. Could it have been any more perfect? Honestly, no and that was part of the problem.

Within easy reach was the very being that had destroyed everything she had known and, at the same time, given her everything she had never thought about before. But, it was never supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be some kind of a grand battle where she made them witness his execution. This, standing less than a room away from him being completely defenceless, was just too easy. Then again, every pony had a reason. Easy or not, they could accomplish two tasks at once, and make two ponies perfectly happy.

“So, what do you think,” Faith’s hooves ran over a piece of Royal Guard armour ornately displayed in one of the closer corners. He liked souvenirs, the entire room spoke of that. Her whispers were low, but still the figure on the other side of the room jostled slightly in his bed. It didn’t matter, though, this was far from what she had ever expected.

“What do I think,” Scarlet was angry, probably rightly so. There were a fair number of pieces representing TWOS in this pony’s collection. It only seemed right that it triggered some kind of rage. Though, it was always the ones that didn’t have souvenirs that fared the worst. A souvenir was a memory, a record that a pony had been alive. How many didn’t get such an honour, “If those are what he kept… Faith, imagine how many have died for that slime.”

Two hundred and sixty-four at last count. That was her number. She was not without blood on her hooves, no matter how she looked at it. Politicians, militants, innocents, and royals, none had been spared from her blade. As much as it might disgust Scarlet, it was a part of who she was, a part she had no intention of apologizing for.

“Who do you think this belonged to,” Faith was confronted with something she would have preferred not to think of. Her father’s cloak, a massive symbol of power and respect. Scarlet had meant to raise some hatred, but hatred was the last thing she could feel looking at a cloak like that. Sadness and sorrow, a single tear, maybe even a question as to what would happen if the roles were reversed, but she didn’t feel anger, “Ask yourself that. I don’t think anything about this. I feel it’s time for him to pay for his crimes.”

How long had he been dissatisfied? Destroying Lore division, certainly an accomplishment, but not really one you displayed unless it was sanctioned. Who had authorized the killing of her family for a second time, well, she probably already knew the answer. For the time being, it didn’t even matter. She had this for now.

Walking over to the bed she glanced at the old stallion in it. Such a peaceful sleep for a killer, maybe one day she would learn how to have peaceful sleeps, “Two hundred and sixty-five,” Whispered under her breath as she waited for Scarlet to join her before nudging the pony.

“Wake up,” She nudged him again. She just didn’t feel like killing a sleeping pony today, “It’s judgement day and we’re all out of golden tickets.”

The pony under the sheets roused slowly, obviously confused at the sight of the two mares standing over his bed, not that it really mattered. Soon his eyes fell on Scarlet, examining the cloak she wore and ignoring the one he could not understand for the moment, “You aren’t a part of Hooftail, especially not an elite. Who are you? Did you think you would get in just because you made yourself...”

He was cut off by Faith waving her bracer in his face, blade extended, “You know, it isn’t good to ignore a pony. It’s almost as bad as, say, leaving one member of a division alive.” Her heart wasn’t entirely into the threats, but she was picking up steam with every threat she threw his way.

A laugh and a smile, nothing less would befit the final moments of a Creed. He was aware there was likely no escape left, but he would taunt his captors to their grave, “Then you must be Faith. Tell me, how fares your noble ‘father’?” To some degree it was a fair enough question, but still stung. And, before Faith could even come up with a witty comeback, the stallion had a blade embedded in one of his forehooves.

It was grim and without mercy, Scarlet seemed to enjoy the blood dripping out of the now crippled hoof, I’m certain you can go ask him, if you’re really that concerned of his well-being, can’t you?” Every word she said reinforced how much she hated this pony, but Faith wasn’t sure if it was for her sake or just a general hatred of Creed.

Still, even with a bleeding and crippled hoof, the master looked calm and collected. His voice bespoke of his arrogance even through the pain, “It’s rather funny to think about.”

“What is?”

“A once great Creed elite,” He was baiting her and she knew it, but Faith still walked into it, “Being reduced to this. To taking a pet. Or, are you the pet now?”

“Once a killer, always a killer,” She couldn’t use Creed anymore, she no longer felt anything like a Creed, but she was still something and she drove that fact home right across one of his legs, watching the crimson stain spread along his sheets and smiling only a little bit.

“You’ve renounced your origins. I see you’re now working with the TWOS.” He stopped, paused, and almost lewdly stared in Scarlet’s direction. That was, until Faith nudged his wounded leg with an exactly decided look, she’s mine, “Thought I wouldn’t notice? Her posture, the way she wields the blade. She’s never even had one before. Being in love with the enemy... Your father would be disappointed.”

“I’m working for myself,” In a way the words still seemed too new, but she didn’t like being associated with TWOS, Scarlet would have been fine, “It’s hard to want to stay a Creed when you realize what’s wrong with the organization. I think father would have been proud of me, of everything, but I guess I won’t be able to discuss it with him for a long time.”

“Ten? Sorry to tell you this,” Faith finally laughed out. The setup was finally becoming clear, “There wasn’t a single guard inside. Maybe somepony wanted you dead.”

“Of all the ways I thought I’d die, an inside job was probably one of the bottom ten I thought would happen. Do what you have to do, girls. You’ll be joining me soon enough.”

“Perhaps,” Faith eyed the door, anxiously trying to find a second exit out of a one exit room three floors below ground, “But, it seems fitting, doesn’t it? If anypony would know about killing comrades, it would be you.”

“What seems fitting is an assassin trying to play house,” He chuckled evilly again, motioning to Scarlet, “If you do survive, however unlikely that chance is, how long will it be before you grow bored of your game? How long before she realizes how much blood on your hooves? You are what you will always be, a Creed can never be anything different. Two hundred sixty-five, was it?”

Faith gritted her teeth, letting the blade drop away from the Creed master. He was definitely right, but what happened next? Where did Faith go from here, where did Faith and Scarlet go from here? Maybe it wasn’t the best place to be asking those questions, but death was likely a few hoofsteps away, “This is never going to be just a game that I play, no matter what happens next. I wouldn’t expect you to understand that. though.”

Just then, hoofsteps started piling up. They’re welcome had finally been warn out and the master was smiling sadistically while he saw it dawn on Faith’s face. Her partner, the first to speak, “Faith! They’re here!”

“Yes, Faith, they’re here. What happens next?” He was enjoying every one of his last moments, dripping with contempt for the mare he was sure was going to end his life.

“Save me a seat in the lowest level of Tartarus reserved for monsters like us,” It was over in the blink of an eye, she drove the blade home, exliciting the first kill the new weapon would encounter, but certainly not the last, “I’ll be joining you one day.”

“Oh my god, they’re here,” Faith spun around, blood still dripping from her blade as ponies began to show up at the door just in time to witness their master’s death, those few final breaths before he would no longer be a part of this coil.

“They killed the master, bring them down for the glory of Hooftail!” The voice came from the back somewhere, far too calm to be the normal reaction. Faith assumed one of the ponies that had set this up, but she would never be able to be sure.

Three bullets signalled the start and three ponies leading the charge dropped instantly from Scarlet’s accuracy. Faith jumped into action shortly afterwards, dashing ahead of Scarlet and calling back, “If I clear an opening, you run. No buts.”

The rest, as they say dear ponies, is history. Faith launched herself into a cacophony of blades, ponies, and blood. Never had she been so glad Rose forced something on her as she was about the rear bracer blade. It was slightly awkward, but it provided her the defence she needed from behind as well as increasing her ability to actually inflict damage.

She was a flurry of cuts, wings, and destruction. Most of the members in front of her died in nearly two strokes of her blades. Even the elite members just didn’t have the heart to put up their normal skill level. What they did have was numbers, and space.

For every one that went down at least two would take his place, even with forty enemies the pace was slowly wearing her down. Finally, she cleared open her precious path, a few bodies between herself and the approaching horde. It wouldn’t last long, only a few seconds, just long enough for one pony to make her escape. Of course, this mare already had a specially reserved seat waiting for her, but Scarlet had no such ties.

Faith could control the flow of battle, she could instill fear into ponies hearts, she could even best that cloaked pony they called Death, but what she could not do was control Scarlet in any way, unfortunately. As the path quickly closed, filled by another three ponies, the flow of battle had found Scarlet beside Faith, battling neck and neck alongside the mare. She would have almost been proud, if it wasn’t for her righteous fury.

“Scarlet, what are you doing? Get out of here,” Scarlet had skill, and ability. The mare stood neck and neck against the increasingly dangerous onslaught. Every parry of the blade was met with bullet or some equally dangerous attack. The period of advantage, however, was slowly drawing to a close. The oncoming ponies had recovered from the initial shock of their master’s death and had regained their composure. No, they were more dangerous than normal because they had something more important to fight for. They had started fighting for the glory of a blood stained organization.

As the seconds ticked by, ponies became harder and harder to kill. What had taken only two swipes precious seconds ago was now taking more than five. With each pony taking longer to kill it was no longer possible to avoid damage from the warzone. Faith’s sides and hooves were slowly becoming a patchwork of near dodges and bare misses. The precious life fluid was seeping out of every wound, weakening her even more. Seconds, maybe minutes, how much longer could they last? Then, it happened.

The mare she had been unable to watch over in the heat of battle slumped to the ground, a dart embedded in an outstretched wing; the outstretched wing that had been in front of Faith. Scarlet had protected her, she had protected her and was going to die for it. There were no words, no emotions, strong enough for what ran through Faith at that moment. Pain, and battle, ceased to exist. She felt the blade slice deeper into her side, but it didn’t exist. The only thing that existed was that mare, dying, and a pure, unadulterated, guttural rage swelling up from the depths of her soul.

The rage erupted outwards; a scream more primal than the beginnings of life itself. She exploded outwards. Blades, darts, even time itself no longer held any power over her. The first two blades hers crashed into were cut asunder under the pure force of her rage; shortly there after ending the lives of the ponies who had wielded them.

Now, even this underground world, where her strength had been waning, was Faith’s playground. The thirty pounds of assassin’s gear was nothing. She darted, her wings propelling her at impossible speeds and with improbable dexterity. Ceilings, walls, doorways, and ponies, they were all a part of her sky now and she bounded off all of them. Ponies fell in sequence, unable to react to the speed at which their foe exchanged locations. She was going to leave every one of them dead here, no matter what it cost her.

The rage continued to fuel her, drive her, and engulf her. It pushed her past any semblance of a limit in her body, and terrified the ponies who fought against her. “Monster”, “Demon”, “Impossible”, “God of Death”, and even a legendary term were muttered as the tide of battle shifted. Creed were never supposed to be afraid, but fear could not be stopped in the face of such a powerful rage. The last thing in Faith’s world was gone and she would end theirs for it.

Finally, she slowed down. Only two remained now, two out of what had to have been at least sixty by the time reinforcements had come, one whose face still remained out of view. The rage and tide of battle was taking its toll now. Her body could no longer handle being pushed past its limits and her breath was as ragged as a childhood favourite doll.

The foremost of the two remaining ponies slumped to the ground, a dagger sticking out of his back. The unknown pony chuckling against the bloodied hallway, “So, this is the kind of pony who could bring fear to even the most hardened pony?”

Faith no longer had the strength to utter a response. She was standing against a situation she couldn’t begin to understand.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m not going to kill you,” The cloaked pony stood aside in the hallway, a pile of bodies the only thing between Faith and the door, “I’d say you’ve earned your reward. You have no idea what you’ve done for my comrade and I.”

It was a female voice, Faith could discern no more than that as it continued, “You get to live, for now. But, you’ll have every Creed in existence after you now. And, I get to rebuild Hooftail to be even stronger.”

“Scarlet?” She managed between ragged gasps for air, her vision slowly blurring from the blood loss and exertion.

“Take her and go. If you get lucky enough, you might have enough time to get her somewhere to counteract the poison,” It was a slim chance, hardly one in ten thousand, but it was enough to drain the remaining rage out of Faith’s hooves. Life had to take priority over death, even the death Faith felt she deserved, “What are you waiting for then? GO.”

Faith needed no more prodding. She was off, perilously drained body beating against time to scramble her precious other half somewhere safe. Faith didn’t want to think of what she would become if Scarlet died.

“I wonder,” Raven, the cloaked pony, mused against the dead bodies lining her new base, “What it will be like the next time we see them.”

Chapter 8: Realizations (Scarlet)

As Faith departed, a feeling of emptiness enlisted across the room. There was nothing to do; the loneliness was hardly bearable again. In less than 24 hours they had gone from friendly rivals to… something more. It was strange and new, Scarlet never got attached easily to somebody outside her group. Yet, there was the situation. And she could never get used to it, even though the reality was crashing down harder and harder with every passing moment. A reality Scarlet was not prepared to admit herself.

I can do perfectly fine without her. Just like I did until now, right? I mean… right? The question remained unanswered. The darkness and the emptiness stung a bit deep down inside. It seemed as if even for a moment, she was back together with someone who understood her, for better or for worse. Maybe… Just maybe, one day it’s going to happen.

She had loads of time to contemplate by herself the meaning of the past day. The floor, the couch, the flight… Everything pointed out the obvious, obvious Scarlet was ready to deny at the time. Where the hell is that message from Conflux? Damn bureaucrats!

She grumpily threw herself on the couch, contemplating the issue at hand. The squishy water pillows reverberated under her weight back and forth, as if following with the stream of her thoughts. “You’re the only one who understands me Bubbles…” Trying to flip over, Scarlet forgot one vital aspect: this was a couch, not a bed. And she had just run out of couch. With a sad whimper, she lifted herself off the floor with a painful grunt, giving Bubbles a displeased look. “You too, Brutus?”

The orange mare turned towards the window. Somewhere, out there, Faith had chosen to spend the night on a cold slum rather than with her. It stung one of her most sensitive chords. Maybe the rats are in fact better company than I am. The thought nearly brought another tear to her eyes.

A knock in the window brought her back to reality. She… she came back! I knew she would! Rushing towards the window, Scarlet let out a squeal of excitement while undoing the deadlock “It’s…” It only took a couple of seconds before her entire figure changed from happiness to utter disgust. “You… Look who the wind dragged in. If it isn’t Ogon 8’s pride and joy.”

The arrogant smile on the other side of the window widened. The deep blue pegasus was hardly visible in the night. It was probably for the better that way. Scarlet was in the mood to punch somepony, and Storm Wrangler’s face always looked like he was always asking for it. “Missed me, Scarlet?”

“You’re like my target practice, Storm. I never miss you,” the mare fired back. The rivalry between the two started even before they had been selected for special training. “What brings your smug flank here? News from HQ?”

“Good news and bad news alike, cutie. May I come in, so we can talk like two grown-ups?” It was a tad too late for Scarlet to tell him that one couldn’t have a discussion with him and asses him as a grown up, the blue stallion slid inside and closed the window behind him. Typical Storm. You give him a chance; he steals all of your private space… “Oh good, you’ve still got your drinking habits,” he gleefully stated while downing the remaining liqueur in the bottle previously sat on the table.

“Why are you here Storm? You said something about news. If I ever wanted to see you again, Id have thrown a party at your place. Along with a couple of grenades while at it. Now, before you open your mouth again, I want the bad news first, then the good news. I’m short on time, and even shorter on temper. The colt always managed to bring out the worst in Scarlet, without too much effort.

“I was hoping you’d be a bit more enthusiastic. It’s been so long since we last met, and you’ve grown quite… wow. A bit of chit chat would have been nice.” With the same unnerving smile, Storm sat on the couch, laying his legs on the pillows. He’s dead. No, wait. I’m going to kill him myself. It took every ounce of self control she had to refrain from touching the modified bracer blade. “Bah. You’re no fun. What was it that you wanted to know?” His smile took a twist for… Scarlet couldn’t tell.

“Bad. News. First.” Scarlet could swear 90 percent of Storm’s brain was merely random access memory. “And get your filthy hooves off Bu… the couch’s pillows. Some ponies still sleep there.” In the meantime, Scarlet was contemplating all the thirty five ways she devised to kill Storm and make it look like an accident. She figured she would settle for a chandelier drop.

“Since you’ve always liked so much to see me suffer, I’ll be very much obliged. Your funding got approved by Conflux. Three thousand five hundred bits in cash. Do whatever you want with them, I’d use them to go buy something pretty.” With those words, he tossed a seemingly heavy bag on the table in front of Scarlet. The blue stallion snickered a bit while raising his hind hooves off the couch, then looking her in the eyes. “ You never did get it, Scarlet… The reason I always tried to compete with you… It was the only way.” His face changed expression, for a first time showing seriousness; Scarlet didn’t notice it. She was already on cloud nine.

“If that’s the bad news, for once, I can say I’m eager for you to open that big mouth of yours once again. Now, can you tell me what the good news is? This could just make my day slightly better than expected.”

The stallion sighed desperately. His point had not made it across. He sat upright, stretching his wings across the couch “Good news… Yeah, maybe two. One would be that we’re getting reinforcements. Ten squads from Ogon and Sora should be arriving tomorrow. We’ll be taking the battle back to the Creed in the open. We won’t be alone anymore and… Oh, Scarlet. You don’t get it, do you? You’ve never changed…”

Scarlet’s film was cut out at “reinforcements”. Ten squads? That’s suicide! Even more, it would be a disaster for her covert mission she was so close to accomplishing. Outnumbered and under gunned, it would be a slaughter. “No… Storm, we can’t let this happen! While the master of the Hooftail still lives we stand no chance against them. Conflux…” Scarlet rushed to her terminal typing out her identification sequence. “Storm, for once in your life could you coop…”

The stallion was near her, not giving her time to think. Everything that followed happened in a blur. His hooves wrapped around her wings and neck, pulling her closer… The kiss was different. Unlike Faith, Storm had a much cruder, wilder approach. His lips; tightly locked with her own. The lust he emanated was almost visible, while his determined tongue explored every corner of Scarlet’s mouth… He was so different from Faith. It felt so good… He felt so much like Blaze.

The memory flash was enough to bring Scarlet back with her hooves on the ground and gave her the required strength to pull away from the kiss. Her cheeks flushed red, even brighter than her orange mane. The mix of feelings followed. She wanted him, but the thought of letting down Faith was stronger. For a second, however, she actually had the impression the kiss was two-sided. “I told you you never understood me, Scarlet. You never saw what was in front of you all the time.” All of the past events played back in her head. The rivalry between her and Storm Wrangler, all the Hooflocker matches she played against Spark Dust, how she always got in even the smallest of competitions with Blaze. Faith taking her up on each and every contest she proposed… Everything had indeed been under her nose all the time.

Her words never come out. She sat in front of Storm like a dummy, unable to reply. She wasn’t sure herself what she wanted him to do. Stay, go, yes, no… The thought that everypony she ever competed with eventually fell in love with her… There still was Faith. She would not let Faith down. “I’m sorry, Storm… I can’t do this. Not now.” Her hooves slowly backed off from the stallion, shaking. Why is it so hard to pull back? You hated him until five minutes ago! Another realization struck her. She was the only one between them who never let go of the rivalry. By her count, it was the third time Storm Wrangler requested a mission just so he could be near her… “We can talk about this some other time. Now please, do us both a favor and… Just go.”

It was cruel and the words nearly brought tears to her eyes, but she knew it was for the greater good. I will not let Faith down. I’ll make her trust me… The azure pegasus turned away, half disappointed, half upset “You bet we’ll talk about it some other time. I just… I just figured you’d be over it. It’s been three years since the accident. It wasn’t your fault, you know?” He really thinks it’s about this, does he. That must be… Scarlet’s mind was blocked for a second. It was actually true. She still blamed herself for the incident. “Very well. Another time, then.”

Before she could reply, the colt was already outside. Alone… Scarlet was alone again. Her whimpers of confusion made way for a few tears. The kiss was so much like him… And so different from hers. It wasn’t possible. Just when she thought she’d be happy did she realize half of the pieces were missing.

That arrogant, obnoxious colt finally made sense now. All the times he tried to spend time with her, even though they had been assigned to different divisions, snide comments every now and then in the mess hall and his random feats of kindness were typical in such a situation. The orange mare banged her head on the terminal’s monitor, making it blink a couple of times.

WELCOME BACK, SORA 501.

It was a good couple of minutes before Scarlet remembered the exact reason for contacting Conflux. Unruly behavior of an Ogon squad commander… No, that’s not it… Reinforcements… RECEIVED COMMUNICATION OF POSSIBLE REINFORCEMENTS ENTERING THE PREMISES OF FAIR-FEATHER. PLEASE CONFIRM.

CONFIRMED. REINFORCEMENT REQUEST 5891 ISSUED BY OGON-8 NINER CONFIRMED TWO HOURS AGO. TEN SQUADS AND A CONFLUX OVERLORD SET TO DEPART FOR THE CITY IN FIVE HOURS.

This was absurd. Are TWOS out of their Celestia-damned minds? Damn Conflux for making me do this. The time to set things right was running out, and trying to appeal to Conflux’s voice of reason was a waste of time. OVERSTATE CLASS-5. REQUEST TO OVERRIDE CURRENT ORDERS. Scarlet’s hooves gently slid across the keyboard entering a complex sequence of numbers and signatures. Being a star in the past had its perks now.

Five minutes of silence. Probably they were checking the code Scarlet let had sent. The deal in the past had a more or less fortunate turnover: after losing her team, Scarlet had chosen to remain under Sora division instead of moving to conflux. The cloaked pony kept his word. Her special code had the authority to overtake almost any order issued by Conflux, issued within reason.

REQUEST APPROVED. DELAYED FOR 72 HOURS. TRANSMISSION TERMINATED. While not nearly enough, 72 hours was something. She had to speed up the timetables. In two days the information she requested would be available and the operation could begin. At last, it was time for her to do something constructive.

Pulling a few books from her shelf, Scarlet was determined to do everything to get herself closer to Faith. I’ll bring myself closer to the Creed… For her. The books contained the whole history of the Creed, background, special cases, etcetera. The books were quite a fortune, some of them being unique. With time, she would show them to Faith as well. Maybe, just maybe, then she would approve her as an equal, and even more. Perhaps more than just as a friend…

***

The next morning got Scarlet to the TWOS armory on the outskirts of Fair-feather. Disguised as a derelict warehouse, it contained most of the high-tech equipment a TWOS operative could need. It was the keeper’s duty to destroy any evidence should the house fall into enemy hands. That was almost the case when Scarlet entered the premises; she scared the poor colt out of his way by coming unannounced. It took a few minutes and a good smack to the head to make her standing point that she was not a Creed.

“For the last time. I am Sora division 501. I gave you my authentification code so you can check in with Conflux. What more do you want?” The message was starting to get across to the terrified agent in charge of the warehouse. “Now take it slowly and tell me. What can you give me along the lines of stealth technology and covert missions?”

Bad choice of words… It took another five minute to calm the poor unicorn down. She had to reveal her modified bracer blade for that. Creed members considered it a profanity to modify a bracer blade in any way than the traditional style, and the contraption she build was too technologically advanced for any Creed member to build. It was a true proof of engineering mastery…except for one. When the warehouse keeper was convinced she was who she said she was, Scarlet asked, him, revealing the remaining pieces from Faith’s bracer blade. “I know this is absurd but… Could you please revert it to its original state and move the add-ons to another device. This meant a lot for somepony, and I want it back the way it was.”

“If that is the case, I will try my best. But it is pretty far gone. I may salvage the bracer blade, but not all of the modifications.” This is going to hurt. The tactical advantage the modifications presented were vital, perhaps even the difference between life and death. Yet Faith had been disappointed in her for doing what she had done. It needed to be fixed, one way or another.

“Do it. And see if you can reactivate any of the old runes. I read something about enchantments being laid on the bracer blade. It’s supposed to… uhh… protect the blade, somehow.” She was putting all her hopes and life on a string, but she was going to master the blade, even if it meant her own death.

“I think it’s doable. For an extra cost.” Isn’t it always? The pony took her to another section of the room. “Here you have everything somepony would dream of regarding stealth technology.” Minutes later, Scarlet’s cart was almost full: A completely new mechanism on which she could attach her modifications, two pistols: one for darts, one for bullets. An aerosol spray with a built-in vaporization mechanism. Bullets and darts, lots of bullets and darts. A couple of gas masks. A couple of pairs of night vision goggles. The rockets and the smokescreens would be pretty useless on a nighttime mission, so Scarlet decided for a small, glass cutting laser.

“Wow. You look like you’re about to assault a fortress.” Not too far from the truth. “That’s going to be 2.5 k bits.” We’re cutting it close here… The Trade Guild usually tolls high on information. Let’s just hope I got enough for the endeavor. Scarlet paid up quickly, before looking in the outfit zone. “Oh, I see you’re interested in a suit as well. Did anything catch your eye?”

That’s when it hit Scarlet. The sweet irony of having to face the Creed master was too good to let it pass by. As a smile appeared on her face, wider and wider, she realized it would also be a chance to impress Faith. A small token of appreciation for you, Faith. “Say… Do you happen to have any cloaks?”

Chapter 8: Realizations (Faith)

Creed safe houses were usually in the slums, hidden amidst decaying buildings and dangerous hideouts. It was the kind of place ponies would never look for them, because they would condition themselves to not see those kinds of areas. No pony wants to look at the run down and the decrepit. No pony wants to have to deal with that kind of thing and Creed loved to feed on that conditioning. However, it seemed Rose was either never informed of this practice, or she had blissfully chosen to ignore it in her selection.

Draymare Road; for a city engulfed in battles and explosives this street seemed to be blissfully unaware of the danger. Small quaint homes, large mansions, and even a couple of apartment buildings, all seemingly no worse for wear. It took a few minutes to locate the building that had been specified by the courier, and Faith immediately began to regret this entire thing.

The last couple days had been, well, awkward was probably the best word even if it didn’t cover the half of it. Indecisiveness was the name of the game and Faith had probably won it ten times over by now. Still, she had received the courier yesterday after a rather jaunty night in a decaying oak tree, she knew she would be dealing with something like this today. A part of her had even wanted to ask Scarlet if she wanted to come along. But, she had decided against it. Oh, how she regretted that decision now.

The building itself was large, at least twenty stories. Large, Faith could deal with, but everything else just compounded the problem. Apparently, when Rose Breaker did something, she did it in a way that defied logic. In under five days she had managed to acquire an entire floor of this building and convert it. How she did it, or why she thought this would make an effective safe house were beyond consideration.

Please let this be some kind of elaborate hoax. Please, please, please. After the last few days Faith had expected something that might remind her of what she was used to. She had expected to at least shake off some of those awkward feelings, but this hardly seemed like it was going to end like that.

The key fit perfectly, not that she should have doubted that it could, into the door of her apartment, or floor, or whatever other ridiculous word could be dredged up to describe it. Literally, there was only one door on the entire floor, pretty much assaulting you the second you got out of the stairs. Thank Celestia it wasn’t the top floor at least, but it was still ridiculous.

The inside wasn’t much different, totally opposite of a Creed safe house and, yet, completely Faith. It was spartan by even the most conservative standards; a few chairs adorning a little island from a kitchen, a couch and chair around a little table, and a bed, oh how wonderful a sight an actual bed could be. Everything screamed normalcy, at least at first, but this was an entire floor. Tucked into small out of the way or hidden rooms lay countless little treasure troves.

A complete grow room stocked with herbs and plants from every corner of Equestria, even some that didn’t grow in Equestria at all. A stock room with racks and holders for countless types and styles of weapons. Even a library slash training room was present. But, it was the little touches that managed to impress Faith the most. A fridge stocked with only instant meals and a few emulsifiers and mixing agents, considered perfectly for Faith’s copious cooking talents.

There, sitting in the middle of this amazing chaos, as if by the hooves of the divine themselves, was a little mannequin in Faith’s size sporting the various implements now recrafted for her and a sporty little letter hanging from it. The letter first, equipment later. She tore the letter open and proceeded to plop herself down on the couch to read it, thoughts of Scarlet and her own couch immediately driving into her mind as she read.To Justy

Equestria’s Number One Assassin and Filly-Fooler,

Rose, I am so going to get back at you for that one day. The blush lightened her face, perhaps it was a good thing Scarlet wasn’t here. There could be no telling how awkward having her read this letter could be.

By the time you’re reading this, I trust you’ve already had ample time to take a look around your new place. I know it isn’t the traditional Creed accommodations, but I couldn’t stop myself. Besides, you can’t very well bring that mare of yours back to a rundown shack in the middle of the badlands. Besides that, tailor the place to fit the job. Creed would never look for a Creed in an upscale place.

She has a point with that one. Rose always has a damn point. She could almost feel the insistence on tea rise in her throat. Creed wouldn’t be looking for her in an upscale building, they would be expecting a trained assassin living in a dump. Still, the part about bringing Scarlet back here stuck. Was that the kind of thing she should be doing?

Some things you might not have noticed yet, Justy. I made sure to give you a fully stocked closet, plenty of options to choose from, because I don’t think wearing a Creed cloak is going to go over well everywhere. I added in a few dresses as well,

You will never get me in a dress, killers don’t wear dresses.

You really need to wear more dresses, you would look cute, no matter what you think.

Gah! Stop reading my mind!

And, I’m not reading your mind,

Yes you are.

I just know you well enough to know your reaction. If you want to attract her you might actually put some effort in. Killer greys and dishevelled mane will only get you so far.

Low blow.

In either case, there should also be a lockbox with some spending cash for you. Eat out, go out on a date, etc. Just promise me you won’t try to cook. Now, look down, there should be a little book there I left as a gift for you.

Faith lowered the letter and looked at the small table in front of the couch she rested on. There was indeed a book there. Gah! How does she do that?! Upon closer inspection of the book, it turned out to be something Faith had only seen once or twice in her life.

When certain organizations were dangerous enough, or the leader wasn’t the only trouble, sometimes kill orders would be issued en mass for the entire organization. When that happened the kill orders were grouped together and put into a book. The book was usually green in colour with a completely inconspicuous design. The kind you could stick on a library shelf without anypony ever taking note of the one extra book.

This one was a little different than the common design. The blue cover and binding matched with Faith’s mane nearly perfectly, and the back cover was embossed with Rose’s personal seal, that perfect set of twin roses crossed in an X form. It was obviously a forgery or, more accurately, Rose’s own take on the traditional design put together with whatever knowledge she had gathered. Inside the pages were mock kill orders for every single influential member Hooftail and Shadowbrand. On each kill order stood a little bounty amount on the top right, Rose’s way of pretending she was still doing business with this whole ordeal. Of course, the combined bounties she had posted could bankrupt a small principality, so it was doubtful there were actually ponies willing to pay her that much. Still, Rose always looked after Faith’s best interests.

I know it isn’t much, but I figured it might help you on the right track Justy.

Now, on to those items I had made for you. I might have gone a little overboard there.

Overboard was an understatement. The items on the mannequin looked like something, well, honestly it was something she had never seen the likes of before.

They are, of course, custom made by a couple of my dear friends who do some of the best metalwork in Equestria, in my opinion. I think they must have thought I was crazy when I asked them to make such simple designs. The engravings on them were their doing as well, I suppose they wanted a bit of a flair for it, but they do hold the magic charges far better than my normal runes. As always, as long as the magic lasts, the blade is immune to damage or wear, it should also be able to cut through just about anything. I also added a little something extra, I tried making a charge that would allow it to also cut through magic, but it is my first attempt so I can’t be sure it will work as well.

The launcher, that one was fun. I swear, I’ve never seen Flare that interested in a design. In the end, I couldn’t talk her out of modifying it, but I think you’ll enjoy the surprise. I tried the same new charge on it, if you are lucky the darts might be able to penetrate basic spells. If you aren’t, well, they might explode when you fire them.

Seriously? I have to deal with a potentially exploding dart launcher? Faith wasn’t as bothered by the possibility, Rose often knew what she was doing. There was probably only a small chance of explosions and the modifications more than made up for the added danger. The device had been slightly modified to enhance loading times. Instead of having to load in individual darts, it would now accept cartridges preloaded with six darts. She could design the cartridges in advance and cut loading down to a few seconds. It would be tremendously more efficient, despite the potential for exploding. Besides, the potential ability to penetrate magic barriers certainly piqued her interest.

I still can’t believe you haven’t had any rear bracers since that incident, but I made sure to remedy that as well. A second blade, for your rear hoof, and something a little special. I know, I didn’t have to do it, but I like to take care of my investments.

There it was again, Rose trying to pad her excuse properly. She probably had made some deals, something to give reason to her extravagant backing of one mare. Who knew what kind of ponies would pay Rose for this. As for the special bracer, it was little more than a metal band for her rear left hoof. It had the same engravings, little decorative waving lines, as the rest of the pieces, but whatever special traits it had were all in the magic Rose had designed for it. Whatever that was.

Finally, and yes, I do know I shouldn’t have done this.

But, I modified your traditional cloak. No more assassin grey and no more Creed insignia. In honour of your first solo hiring I thought you deserved your own insignia. No offence, but if Rose Breaker is spending the money to hire an assassin, she certainly isn’t hiring just another Creed lapdog.

Ouch, that kind of hurt. Okay, it didn’t hurt nearly as much as the low blow from before, but there was a bit of pride to be had in being a Creed. If she didn’t have that, what did she have? She glanced at the cloak, a pure white to offset the normal Creed greys with a clearly visible mark on the back. The mark was perfect, there were no words left besides that. The normal owl that had once represented Lore division stood, wings spread proudly, gripping a grand looking sword in its talons, the word Retribution clearly scrawled across the blade. All of this was set against a twilight moon in the most ridiculously appropriate colour imaginable, a scarlet red.

Only you could lecture me with an image from miles away.

I do hope you like what I designed. I wanted you to look forward, because there is always a forward. If you succeed in this mission, then you could have a future as a soloist. But, enough about that. Let’s talk about that marefriend of yours.

Faith let out a loud groan. The one thing she didn’t want to think about right now. Marefriend, more like incredibly awkward acquaintance. Faith really didn’t know how to categorize the two. She knew there was more there, but how much more? She wasn’t even sure how much was required to qualify for something like caring. Was she qualified to be upset if Scarlet died, if she got hurt, if she slept with somepony? Was she even qualified to think about those possibilities? Could she do something like ask the mare over?

Just kidding. But, I got you thinking about it, didn’t I? Thinking is good, it means it actually means something.

Oh, I hate you. I hate you so much Rose. She was lying. It did actually feel good to think those things, but there was still the part of her mind that told her those thoughts were foolish and useless. That was the same part that was infinitely convinced that Scarlet could never have feelings for a Creed, former or not. What had happened, it was just a fluke of accidental emotions, right?

Keep thinking, you’ll figure it out.

Keep Safe Justy,

Rose Breaker

Equestria’s Number One Everything Else

You always did have to think like that Rose. Faith laid back on the couch, staring at the letter for moments to come, as if she expected it to give up the secrets to its author’s mind reading prowess. But, really, she just didn’t know what to do next. She thought about the difficulties and the options, about caring and invitations, about hatred and jealousy. Her initial goal of extracting revenge seemed more or less a distant memory, holding only second place to the torrent of her emotions. Were emotions supposed to be this hard?

“Poisons!” She jolted herself out of her heavy thoughts, forcing thought back to a more suitable topic for a killer. That was right, Scarlet had expressed interest in getting her hooves on some Creed poisons. It was perhaps the most disjointed segway ever, but all of a sudden Faith had a purpose again. A purpose was undoubtedly better than staring at a ceiling and trying to determine why you couldn’t stop thinking about somepony. Besides, Faith had the perfect supplies to fulfill that request.

A quick flight around the apartment provided all the tools and materials she would need for something extra special.

Arrowroot bark. Lashbane. Collar leaves. These were all combined and mashed into the mortar she had obtained, forming a small paste. The paste was then dropped into a small glass jar along with small amounts of hexbane, chaos tree leaves, and ashe buds. Once she was satisfied with the mixture, Faith added in a small amount of one of the vials of acid and set it over a strong flame in a distilling setup.

It was amazing. The mare could light a sandwich on fire, but a complex mixture like this was done with expert precision. It was all a matter of concentration, mixing something like this required to be done perfectly, sandwiches were a pastime.

It would be two hours of distilling, then another three of setting. The end result was a poison unlike poisons. Depending who you talked to, it was either the most effective thing in Equestria, or a pathetically failed experiment. Fear. The concept was simple enough, a tincture, that when ingested by any means, usually inhaled as a smoke, could invoke a desired emotion in the target. In this case, that emotion would be fear, pure unadulterated fear. Those exposed would fear anything and everything to the extent of begging for death from a butterfly. The ingredients were quite rare and hard to get your hooves on, but Faith thought the end result was impressive enough for Scarlet.

She watched the concoction distill and let her mind slip again. She imagined being thanked by the mare for her hard work. Maybe she would earn a kiss on the cheek? Then she could maybe suggest a meal, like lunch, after which maybe she really could invite Scarlet back and...

No, no, no. I need to find something to do. Her mind had slipped back into that state, she needed to get out. She needed something to distract herself. She needed to get out, she had five hours of time to kill and sitting around seemed useless. Besides, there was an entire closet full of viable disguises for her now.

“No, no,” Faith let out a huge laugh as she threw yet another one of Rose’s cruel jokes into a pile, “Definitely not.” She stood, with yet another of the dresses on for a few seconds, trying desperately to not tear it off and throw it in the pile. It soon joined the pile despite her best efforts.

“Do mares seriously wear something like that?” She settled for a more or less conservative sweatered shirt and, despite knowing it was completely pointless, a set of more or less tailored leggings for the rear. Seriously, ponies who didn’t wear clothes were crazy. It just wasn’t natural to not.

*************

Caffeine. In small quantities an effective stimulant. In larger quantities produces psychological effects and heart arrhythmia. If mixed with hollowood sap the psychological effects can be enhanced without giving away any taste, to the point that the subject becomes unusually receptive after two glasses. Lethal dose begins at 1340µg with higher dosages required for those who have developed higher resistances from ingesting it for long periods of time. Recommended lethal dose at 1700µg.

It was an old comforting habit to analyze the substances she ingested. Faith’s distraction of choice had, of course, been a coffee shop where she could settle her nerves over a cup of poison. It was funny to think about how many times she had been scolded for drinking a type of poison, especially one that could be used as effectively as coffee. But, it was one of the few pleasures she had allowed herself as a Creed.

As a Creed. It felt like a distant memory now. Every day, every minute of every day, Faith was slowly beginning to think of herself less as a Creed and more as something else. The problem was, she wasn’t sure what that something else was. Part of her was determined to be a solo assassin, one who could take whatever job she wanted. Part of her just wanted to die with her comrades. Part of her wanted to find that happiness Nicoli talked about, and an ever growing part of her was obsessed with that perfect mare. That part no longer cared about anything else, the rest didn’t seem to matter in those eyes.

It was becoming more and more obvious that Faith would have done just about anything for that mare, but she couldn’t understand why entirely, “Can I buy a gorgeous mare another drink?” Love, even like, was a foreign concept. It wasn’t supposed to apply to killers, it wasn’t supposed to be possible for them. It wasn’t strange that she didn’t know what to do with it at all.

“No, thank you. I’m taken.” Faith hadn’t even thought, not even the slightest. The colt standing on the other end of the table hadn’t registered, and his words had only hit against her subconscious as her mind was furiously struggling with reality. She did, though, snap back to reality as she realized what she had just said.

I’m taken? Why would I say something stupid like that? I’m not taken. Am I? She started blushing furiously, then realized that there was no reason to, and blushed even harder, “Whatever colt that would leave you all by yourself like this has to be the luckiest one who doesn’t deserve you.”

It’s not a colt, and she doesn’t have a clue. It felt good, not being hit on by a random colt, but the imaginary relationship. To pretend like maybe she could understand what she was becoming, like maybe she could find that answer in Scarlet, or like Scarlet would actually be there like that. It was a nice imaginary world that would probably only last as long as she was in that cafe. But, as long as she was in it, Faith wasn’t an assassin, she was just a normal pony who was actually cared for and she cared for others. No, she cared for her special somepony.

This was the first time she had ever made the mistake of enjoying her own cover, “Yeah, she is pretty lucky.” It was going to hurt later. It was going to hurt a lot later when she had to give up that fake little cover.

“That figures,” The colt was laughing. He had stopped trying to hit on her, but he was still being friendly. Normal ponies did that sort of thing, right, “I never have a shot with the good ones. She’s still one hell of a lucky mare, though.”

“Maybe I’m the lucky one,” Cover, this was a cover. She needed to pull out the details. What was her next stop? Where was the next place to continue it, “She might as well have saved my life.”

“Really, this isn’t one of those, I’d be lost without her love kind of things?” Damn, a cardinal rule of creating a cover, you don’t pull details from your own life. It makes the cover too real, but it was already too real. It was such a wonderful feeling, a wonderful feeling that was going to sting like buck later.

“Yes, and no,” Faith smiled genuinely, thinking about the past and even the future, “If I hadn’t have met her, I’d probably have been killed or wound up killing myself. Meeting her changed everything.”

“Damn, that really does sound impressive. You must have a real keeper there,” The colt sat another cup of coffee down on the table in front of Faith, “No tricks or hidden agendas, consider it a congratulations for finding such an amazing pony. I hope to find mine one day.”

“Yeah, thank you.” Only, she’s not really mine. Only, she probably wouldn’t ever be. Damn, it was starting to sting already. The colt was already gone, and she fully intended to take the cup of poison back to her new home. There she could drown herself in it slowly, and then perhaps drown herself literally. Part cover, part real feelings, all pain when she realized it was completely fake.

Still there was one thing she was determined with. The next time she had the opportunity, one thing would not remain unsaid. What am I to you?