Zera the Assassin in a Friendly Environment
I stop the oncoming sword by blocking them at the wrist with my right hand, lowering the power as their wrist hits my paw pads on my hands, then unsheathing my claws on my left and stabbing them into my opponent's neck. I pull my claws out slowly as they start to choke on their own blood. I grab the pendant their wearing and leave.
20 minutes later...
"They're dead. Here." I toss the pendant to my client. "Now our agreed payment."
"That was quick." They give me a bag of credits.
"I'm called the master assassin for a reason." My tail flicks to the side as I sit down and sip some tea.
Hi. My name is Zera. I'm a mercenary and an assassin. I'm also what you call a pantherian. We are humanoid beings that look like panthers. I was born with all black fur and heterochromia. One eye light red and the other a polished purple.
I usually take my three bladed metal claw gauntlets for confrontations, but I felt like taking a risk this time. It was rather boring. I don't wear cloths because they make too much noise, and my fur covers my whole body really well. I sigh and lean back into my chair and stare at the ceiling. I have this well-known policy for anyone who hires me. 'Pay in full or lose your bones.' Pretty self-explanatory. It was almost peaceful till a human came in wearing a business suit and with 15 bodyguards. "Don't trust lil ol me?" I say coyly as I lean farther back into my chair.
"A necessary precaution. I'd like to hire you to kill someone."
"Not taking any contracts at the moment. Also, you need to bring better bodyguards to save yourself from me." I say normally. I proceed to sit upright and drink my tea.
"Not even if I offer 13 billion credits?"
I proceeded to choke on my tea as he said that. "You serious?"
"Yes."
"Alright then. Who am I killing?"
"You aren't even going to ask why?"
"Nope." I just want the credits. I will be able to retire from this job if I can get those. My family and I got separated during a war that took place right in our hometown. With these credits I can retire and search for them.
Later...
The target is in a small cabin in a remote location so it should be weeks before anyone discovers the body. I don't have to clean up for the first time in a while. I put on my claw gauntlets and head inside. Seems like they're asleep. Let's make this quick. I jab the claws into the eye socket to penetrate the brain. Something about that didn't feel right. "Whatever. Nothing can survive the brain being destroyed. I'm sorry. But I must find my family." I search their body and find a crystal. Hopefully this will be accepted as proof.
"Where are you going?"
I spin around and get into a fighting stance. Whoever was in that chair got up and faced me. Now that I get a better look, They're a kitsune...with nine tails. "Fuck..." Their whole attitude is disturbing and off putting. They walk up to me and there isn't even a hint of rage or hate. I keep backing up until I hit a wall. The worst part is that it feels like I should be calm. "Stay back or else." I steel myself and get ready to swipe and my tail fluffs up in response. This hasn't happened in a while but it's still a stupid defense mechanism. They listen and stop.
"I just want to help you. You want to find your family, right?"
"Yeah." I keep my guard up.
"Well, I can help you. But you must do something first."
"And what's that?"
"Make friends."
"I don't need friends. I have help up without them for this long. Why would I need any now?"
"You'll see." They snap their fingers, and I am suddenly surrounded in a black void of sorts.
"I'm dead ain't I?" I know that's what I said but I heard nothing. I close my eyes and just float I guess. When I open my eyes, I'm suddenly in some grass near a pond and its night. Grggl Damn am I hungry. I get up and have a look around. There's a little cottage nearby so I run up to it, making no noise and begin to look at the doorknob. This place must be peaceful if there aren't any locks. I slowly open the door only for it to squeak as loud as possible. That sound is what keeps WD40 up at night.
"H-Hello? Is somepony there?" A feminine voice calls out.
I quickly leave towards the nearby village in search of food. But the streets are filled with ponies, Pegasus, and unicorns talking to each other. Looks like a night festival. I realize that I did something sloppy and left paw prints. I enter the town and stick to the shadows since my fur is black. during my time sneaking around, I keep hearing the phrase, Nightmare moon, and something about the festival.
Then a chariot comes down and a Alicorn with midnight blue coat and mane flies out. They all seem to be happy to see her. I activate my stealth skill and climb into the chariot. The bats? I don't know what they are, but they fly the chariot back to a castle. Once we arrive I quickly leave and begin exploring the castle. The windows have a pattern of that Alicorn I saw and another one that's all white except for the mane with is multicolored. Does this place even have a kitchen? I groan to myself. I reach a big door. This has to be the kitchen, right? I open the door and the white Alicorn from the windows and paintings is sleeping in a bed. I scoff to myself at the lack of guards. I walk up and kneel beside the bed. I poke her and she doesn't wake. My claws unsheathe and I press them against her throat. She still doesn't wake up. I sigh and retract my claws. The usual reaction is freaking out, not staying asleep.
"RAAAAAAA!!"
I turn to see a guard rushing at me with a spear. I grab the spear right as the tip touches my fur. I yank the spear to pull the guard close and punch them in the back of the head. "If you want to execute a sneak attack, don't yell." I pick them up and slam their head into the wall, knocking them out. I then suddenly feel tired.
"Thanks for the advice." The white alicorn says with her horn glowing.
"Well...played..." I pass out.