Striving for Perfection

I opened my eyes and there was a ceiling in front of me. Soon, thoughts began to come into my newly awakened consciousness. And along with my thoughts, a headache came to me.

Hangover. Although I drank very little, it was enough to give a result. That's why I only drink alcohol three days a year.

With a sigh, I tried to get up from my bed, but the awakened headache stopped me and sent me back to bed. While the soldiers were restoring a large building, this room was found in it, located far from the main barracks. Of course, when I found out about the presence of a bed in it, I immediately declared the room my own.

I very slowly moved to a sitting position and put my hand on my forehead trying to calm the headache. Now all I have to do is focus on what happened yesterday.

Nothing unusual. I just gave Celestia the initiative and she decided to tell a few stories, not one of which I didn't remember. A little talk about how long our deal will last, which ended in nothing. I want to reserve the right to cancel the deal, and Celestia wants to make it valid for the next couple of years. After all the conversations, I went to my room and went to bed. And here I am. Now it's time to get up and find a place where I'll rest for the next week.

But I don't have any idea where I can spend a week. Even if I use the card, there is nothing useful. Okay, I'll set this for myself as an initial task. I'll figure something out next.

I tried to get up, but the trembling in my legs sent me back to the bed. Fortunately, there is a bedside table next to my bed on which I can put a map of the area. I moved closer to the bedside table and pulled a map out of my coat pocket. Having unfolded the map and put it on the bedside table, I began to peer into it to find at least something.

Several mountains and rivers are located throughout the territory. The station and railways are marked. It is noteworthy that there are practically no railways in the north. Also on the map there are several cities and villages whose name does not mean anything to me. Of course I can go to Canterlot, but what will I do there? Sit in my room and pray that one of the hundreds of books will give me useful information? Or hide under the skirt of Luna because she is supposedly the closest person to me? It doesn't take a genius to figure out that a trip to Canterlot is a bad idea. Manehattan? No just no. Las Pegasus? Let's say it's a parody of Las Vegas. No, I'm not mentally ready for this. We need to choose at least something!

I just poked at Ponyville out of anger. Yes, this will do. A familiar place, a castle in which there were many more books and I popularity among the locals. Full speed ahead!

I folded the map and put it back in my pocket. During the time I was staring at the map, the headache eased a little. Gathering my strength, I slowly stood up and withstood a little shaky, I was able to stand on my feet. I began to slowly work my way to the exit step by step.

The first obstacle is at the door. Now I'm standing only because of willpower, but now I need to turn my attention to the door. Exhaling, I moved my hand to the door handle and tried to turn it. Along with the opening of the door, my knees buckled, which almost made me fall, but fortunately the door handle saved me from falling. Using the handle as a support, I regained my balance again and left the room.

As soon as I left the room, I was met by the second obstacle. Sunlight. As soon as my eyes spotted this bastard, I quickly shielded myself with my hands and hissed. After what seemed like an eternity, my eyes were able to get used to the sun. After making sure that the danger was over, I lowered my hands and continued to go to the exit. After a while, almost falling, I was able to get to the exit door. I opened the door and the sunlight blinded me again.

This time the light was not so painful, so I quickly adapted and left the building. Finally, after going through the pain and blows to pride, I was able to get out of here. No sooner had I celebrated the victory than a whistle was heard to my right, which made me close my ears and wince in pain. I turned my head in the direction from which the whistle came and saw two Minotaurs. One carried a massive two-handed sword on his shoulder and was armored from head to neck. The helmet is missing. To his left stood a fully armored Minotaur who seemed to stop in the middle of the attack and turned to his partner. In the hands of the fully clothed Minotaur were two daggers with terribly thin blades. There was a distance of about thirty feet between me and a promising opponent. While I was standing and trying to get my brain to work, a dialogue began between the partners.

"What the hell are you doing? And where's your helmet?" The muffled voice of the Minotaur in full armor was heard, who had already completely switched his attention to his partner.

"I left my helmet in the camp. In helmet It's stuffy. And don't you think we're doing it wrong? " A Minotaur with a two-handed sword answered.

"What do you mean wrong? You're a mercenary. You get paid to kill. "

"I mean attacking someone from behind is somehow unfair. Don't you think?"

"Let me be clear. We spent a whole month planning the attack, learning the habits of the victim, and even I waited for you to finish the bread before the attack, only for you to rip everything off at the last second. Thank God Speed Arrow is with us and she has already completely figured it out. "

The growing headache forced me to intervene, "Can you discuss your problems somewhere far away? I have a very strong reaction to alcohol and now a hangover is killing me."

For a second, the fully armored Minotaur froze and said emotionlessly addressing his partner, "What did you do with Speed Arrow?"

"I kind of talked to her a little bit and maybe convinced her not to shoot. That's it." Replied the Minotaur with a two-handed sword at the end making an awkward smile.

"You really should go. . ." I started to speak, but was interrupted by a dagger thrown at me.

"You know, sometimes I really am. . . " The armored Minotaur continued talking to his partner, but he was stopped by my answer. I caught a dagger flying at me and threw it at my opponent. But unfortunately, the dagger could not penetrate the enemy's armor and just bounced off it.

The armored Minotaur stopped for a second and then began to look alternately at me and at his partner, "Did you conspire?"

"No, I just want to do it in my own style." A Minotaur with a two-handed sword answered.

The dagger-wielding Minotaur growled and took a step to the side. His partner smiled and took a few steps towards me with a relaxed gait.

"I'm Big Sword! And I came for your soul." He said, slightly shortening the distance and bowing.

"Fuck off." I replied using the first thing my brain could come up with.

"Don't worry, it will be a fair fight. Just you and me." Big continued to speak without paying attention to my answer.

"I refuse. If you're going to attack me, then let's crowd right away." I answered, starting to think a little.

"As you wish." Big said, taking his sword in two hands, and starting to circle around me. Soon he was joined by an unnamed partner.

Thanks to the developed reflex, I got into a fighting stance and began to evaluate my surroundings and opponents. Big moves erratically like a beginner and constantly moves his shoulders as if the armor is not comfortable. But his partner moves smoothly and professionally without paying attention to the armor. Suddenly my ears caught a strange sound. It's as if something is cutting through the air at high speed and approaching.

Arrow!

I turned my head towards the sound and saw an arrow flying at me. I reacted quickly and jumped back, letting the arrow get stuck in the ground. While I was distracted by the arrow, a Minotaur ran up to me with daggers. He delivered a long stabbing blow with one hand, but I easily dodged and prepared for a response. But when I saw the second dagger conveniently aimed at my head, I retreated a few feet. Before I even had time to take a breath, a two-handed sword fell on me from behind, cutting the air. Fortunately, I was fast enough to dodge and gain distance again.

Think, head, think. I need a plan. Can I shoot?

Obeying the first thing my head came up with, I quickly created a magic arrow and sent it to the Minotaur with daggers. The arrow seemed to have absorbed into the armor without harming my target.

Uh, it was awkward.

As an instant retribution, an arrow flew in my direction, from which I easily dodged. Literally five seconds later, another arrow flew at me, but due to the fact that I focused on my opponents, the arrow was able to hit me in the leg. I gritted my teeth trying not to scream and focused on the approaching danger. The Minotaur ran up to me with daggers and struck again with one hand. I instantly dodged his lunge and struck him in the jaw. First, I saw his head move half an inch. And then I felt a huge pain in my knuckles comparable to how I fought with Luna.

No, fighting Luna was more painful.

Using my confusion, he stabbed a second dagger into my right hand. Along with a cry of pain, blood spurted from the wound and my brain finally woke up. A surge of adrenaline allowed me to act quickly and I immediately hit his hand with a dagger despite the pain. The dagger came out of the wound and I was able to jump back calmly to assess the wounds. A small hole more like a needle mark. I grinned and raised my voice.

"Is that all you can do? It looks like you're the weak link in this team. Maybe it's time to give up?" I said pointing my finger at the Minotaur with daggers and openly mocking him.

As if in response, a two-handed sword came down on me from behind. Once again, Big turned out to be too slow and I dodged without any problems. This time I jumped on his sword as if on a crossbar and ignoring the pain began to strike at his open head. He staggered back a few yards under the pressure of my blows and almost fell, but was able to keep his balance. I wanted to continue the offensive, but another arrow from which I barely dodged said its word. At the last moment, I tried to shoot the disoriented Big with a rune. One second. Two. Three.

Luna said that wounds of blood vessels can stop the flow of magic to certain parts of the body. It looks like that's exactly what happened.

There was a short lull again, which allowed me to keep an eye on the opponents. Only now I noticed that their armor is not solid. Their armor is more like separate parts and plates connected to each other. When moving, the seemingly solid armor shows small gaps in protection. Even say more if look very closely, you can see the straps fastening the parts together.

My chance!

I took the initiative and, trying to ignore the pain in my leg, started moving towards the Minotaur with daggers. During my run to the enemy, I heard an arrow and quickly reacted to it. I caught an arrow in the air and turned around and threw it straight into Big's eye. I turned around and made a final dash for the Minotaur with daggers. I instantly grabbed his hands and pulled with such force that the straps holding this part of the armor just tore. Part of the armor that protected his arms fell apart, allowing me to attack. I grabbed his arm and pulled it forward to hit it with my elbow. There was a loud crunch followed by the cry of the Minotaur. Taking advantage of his confusion, I pushed him away using my good leg. He staggered away from me and grabbed his broken arm.

Suddenly, a shout was heard from behind: "I will avenge you, bro!"

I turned around and saw Big rushing at me with an arrow sticking out of his eye, raising his sword high. It's amazing that this jerk is alive. I immediately took advantage of his openness and hit him on the open head, causing several splashes of blood. He didn't react to the single blow in any way and swung his two-handed sword. I easily dodged his blow and began to carry out a series of blows to his face.

While I was struck, footsteps were heard from behind. The next second, I felt a dagger thrust into my left hand. I hissed, trying to contain the pain and hurriedly retreated. Looking up again, I saw both Minotaurs standing side by side and giving some kind of signal. Before I could gather my strength, an arrow flew out of nowhere and plunged into the ground. Immediately after the arrow landed, a wall of smoke rose in front of me. I coughed and lost concentration on enemy.

Soon the smoke cleared and with it the Minotaurs came out of my field of vision. I turned from side to side a couple of times, but I didn't see anyone.

They escaped. Bastards.

I sighed and pulled the dagger out of my hand. Thanks to the thin blade, I didn't get severe wounds, but it still hurts. After the dagger, I pulled the arrow out of my leg and threw it to the ground. I'm scared to see what kind of wound she left. The adrenaline had already worn off and the pain began to become unbearable. I started limping to the warehouse because there were some medical supplies there.

After a while I was able to hobble to the warehouse and opening the door, I was able to enter it. Among the strictly laid out armor and guns, I saw something that looked like a first aid kit. When I opened it, I saw nothing but bandages. Everything else has already rotted and fallen into disrepair. I took a bandage and started bandaging my wounds on my arms and legs. After wrapping up the wounds, I put the remaining bandages in my pocket. Just in case. And walked out of the vault. As soon as I came out of the vault, a thought popped into my head.

What now? I can't let a mercenaries just come after me and I can't pray that I'll get lucky next time. And I can't go kill Blueblood right away. Not only is this a deal breaker with Celestia, but I'm also the main suspect. There's only one thing left for me. Become a fucking detective.

I sighed in disappointment and began to inspect the battlefield. My eyes caught on the dagger that was recently thrust into my hand. Picking him up from the ground, I began to rotate him in my hands to get the blood off him and find something useful. Twirling the dagger in my hands, I found a barely noticeable inscription on the hilt. Made in Manehattan hammer workshop.

Great, I have a plan of action. Come to Manehattan, find this office, ideally find out who owns the weapon and then get to the organization where he works. Further on the situation.

I took the dagger in one hand so as not to lose it and headed to the train station to take a ticket to Manehattan.