One job.

It's just one job. One last job. One last life. One kill. That's all it will take.

Reddling looked down at his hooves, looking at the blood running freely from them as he looked over the hearts on them as chains were bound around them. They seemed half real and half not real at the same time, and yet, He saw himself disappear, and reappearing within another realm.

"Goddesses. Princesses... No. I do not believe they would truly forgive me. Or love me. or do anything. I have to do this." Reddling looked down at the notebook in front of him, just a cover, with some handwritten notes inside the cover. taking a page, Reddling swore to his past self he would never do this again as he began to draw a line.

"Maybe, I can still make this right." Reddling said to himself, shadowstepping into another place, and another time, and looking down at what was happening from on top of a gazebo. With the lighting of this place, he knew he was invisible to the individuals below. It was a bit hard for him to make out who, or what they were. He didn't understand his mission really, nor did he know exactly why he was doing it. It had a familiar feeling to him. One he knew all, all too well.

Seeing Twilight Sparkle run in to see Princess Luna and Celestia, explaining something to them. Seeing that truly, there was no other way. This was the end for Reddling, and for his future. For ever. He knew that he was about to die in his vision as he watched what looked to be tall, anthro ponies moving fast along a rooftop. breathing heavily, Reddling looked down at what was about to occur.

"So many lives. So much blood. So many graves."

Reddling stopped, thinking of Teardrops. Thinking of how many he had killed. How much pain and suffering he had seen in the world. It was just one contract. Just one future. But then the killing got easier. Especially after the first innocent pony that he killed. Then it got really easy. Reddling knew his purpose in life: To kill. It is my job to hunt. To kill. To destroy all life that threatens my homeland, even if they hate me. Even if they kill me. I must do as I am told. I must destroy. I must kill.

But now, all these years later, seeing the death in front of him about to occur, Reddling was not so sure. No longer was he okay with this as he saw time stop. Holding his hoof out and chanting in a forbidden tongue where he was from, for no such things were said there, Reddling stepped down from the gazebo, feeling the world go completely black and white and grey. The void stretched around him, and he made sure to trot over towards the lady standing directly below her as he saw another man appear right beside him and stopping time. There appeared to be some manner of screaming, and Reddling had been quick to sidestep.

Now Reddling had a full view, watching a man, there was no mistaking it, he had read of men in his books. He had read of men in stories. But this man to him seemed more like a machine, bent on murder. Reddling saw two victims, and a man in a red jacket. Fearful, Reddling thought about if such individuals would spare him. Assassins, Reddling knew what assassins did. Assassins kill others. Assassins are evil.

We are what ponies are scared of in the night. We are the cannibals... We are the destroyers. The murderers. Defliers of all life they called us.

But now, Reddling was not so sure anymore. Stepping faster than the void Reddling put a hoof on the lady as he saw a sword drawn, quickly stepping forward twice, and then a third time back on top of the gazebo.

"Mommy-"

Reddling noticed time freeze and he could not move. Then, suddenly, something else happened and the girl's screaming seemed cut short.

"What's happening-"

Reddling heard something warp out, and then there was screaming below. "No more-"

Reddling peered over the side, still keeping his hoof on the woman there. a blade was poised to strike at the woman down below. Soon her life would be over. She would be dead, and another killer would be born. One who would write so much gore over the pain they had caused. Maybe those below him were machines. Maybe they were something else, Maybe they truly were flesh and blood.

It didn't matter to Reddling. Not then. Not now. Never had. never would he had told himself. But having lost everything to everyone, Reddling just couldn't take it anymore. Overcome by the burden of his guilt, Reddling stepped forward three times, feeling himself running dangerously low on mana. Falling into the void, Reddling felt himself fall forever it seemed like, suspending the woman there, hoping the right choices would be made and she would be safe.

Reddling felt himself step back many times, and then spring himself forward with the last of his mana, hoping that he would be able to step back time just enough to prevent the things that were about to happen.

"Just one job. Just a simple contract. A life for a life."

*Reddling fell on the ground, clutching his hooves and looking at the world around him. he knew he would be alone when he showed up. He knew that no one was going to be there. Alone in his room. Hated by all. sitting there with papers and pens and pencils and a keyboard, typing his life away, hoping for something, anything, to change.

They say that you cannot undo the past. Reddling now knew better. Reddling knew, it was possible to change the past. Reddling knew how. Reddling knew what could be done. What had to be done.

Gripping the sorrow in his chest, never having truly understood at such a young age why he would listen to other people, Why he had ever listened to other people. Reddling hoped that he could let go of his pain and suffering. If he could step back now, just undo one action forever and ever, he could change history. Nothing he had written would occur, except the story that mattered. the story he truly wanted.

But everypony told Reddling it was too late for that. Thoughts and ideas create reality.

Reddling had learned through his life and his travels, that the past and future and present, are never as they seem. That our actions have consequences.

Reddling had also learned, that it was never too late for you to do the right thing, if you are willing to do so.

Reddling turned and looked at the walls around him, counting to himself as each voice went silent. Each child he had lost. His wife he could never see. How everything was taken away from him.

When ponies are allowed to kill, this is what happens. He knew this now. Reddling understood his purpose. What he had to "fight" for and what he did not have to "fight" for. With a deep breath, Reddling had his eyes closed as he hoped just maybe one act of redemption would save them all. That maybe, he could let go of his past.

Otherwise, it would never matter what he did or did not do.

Reddling understood now, that when you fight for your life, you suffer. When you are willing to die for another, another shall die for you. To some this was a game. To some this was funny.

To Reddling, it had been a lifetime of dispair, and not one that he wished to continue. Not one he ever wanted to see again. Knowing the darkness and horrors. Knowing the pain he had caused, Reddling was ready to give up. But when given a chance at redemption, he only became more violent, more hurt, more angry, until finally, he could no longer contain his emotions. he began listening to the horrors, whether anymore died or not no longer mattered. Who cared what happened to his soul when everyone else was gone and none of those he truly needed to care about would ever be there. Magic or not, Reddling had been a curious individual. Perhaps, too curious.

There is always time to set things right, however. Always.

Author's Note

Reddling watched Teardrops read the note. waiting for them to speak to him. waiting to hear anypony's voice again. anything. Just even once.

But did he regret it...