Assassin's Creed: The Equestrian Guild

'So this is dying.' Ezio thought, not having enough energy to speak out-loud. He had been in his tomb for days, his limbs were stiff from not moving, his mouth dry, his stomach empty. He knew his time had come, and he could accept that. His eyes were heavy and each blink was longer than the last.

'It's time...' He whispered inwardly. Ezio let his muscles relax and his head hang, his consciousness soon taken for the last time. He had succeeded in his mission: To protect The Apple, it was in a secret cavity in the wall behind him. It would have to suffice long enough for the next assassin to take it, less a Templar gets his filthy hands on it.

But that does not mean The Apple wasn't active. It was not only a sacred weapon to some, or a tool to others; It was also the staple between all Realms of Existence, all Planes of Realities, every universe. It served as a message board in most cases, like it did this time. It picked up a request from some other reality, a savior of sorts, the person to save a dying species.

It knew just the person. It decided to give a final gift to its mighty protector. Instead of it's hero passing into the Afterlife, it planned to give him a second go. A new land to explore and save. A new purpose.

It was going to save Ezio Auditore da Firenza.

The Hive, 200 years later.

"My queen, I know it is not my place, but if I may suggest something, I think it would be best to just retreat as far as possible and try and hold there." The Changeling general, Re'naw, bowed to his queen.

"Your input is not necessary General Re. We are holding fine." Queen Chrysalis sat on her throne lazily. "If we were in as much trouble as you think we are, the Forgotten would have risen from his Tomb already!"

"Queen, the ponies are pulling an ultimatum! You either give yourself up and rot in their dungeons for the rest of your life or the Changelings go extinct!" Re'naw explained desperately. "It's either you, or your people. You know not a single Changeling would want you to go, but it's for the entire race's survival..."

"You know I hate it when you're right." Chrysalis sighed deeply. "I honestly hoped the legends of the Forgotten one were true. That he would save us in our time of need. Re, while I'm gone, run our Hive right. Make sure the Changelings live to see their hatchlings." Chrysalis looked once more at the General.

"I'll put together a carriage for transport, My Queen. Just remember that you did the right thing." Re'naw left the throne room and left the soon-to-be dethroned Queen Chrysalis to her thoughts. She thought back to the legend of the Forgotten one that the old queen taught her.

He sleeps in a tomb of dust and bones.

Taken by time

Returned by magic

He will come when we need him most.

He is the Forgotten one.

He is the Hero.

He is the Warrior.

He is the Thief.

He is the Assassin.

His tomb? Right under our noses.

So obvious a Newscale could find it.

Yet so hidden, the best could never.

Some will say he is just a legend, but don't listen to them.

You must always believe, young one.

Always remember.

Remember the Forgotten one.

"It's ready, My Queen." Re'naw called through the door. Chrysalis took one last look around her throne before slowly leaving it.

What she didn't notice, however, was the crack in the fireplace.

Underneath the Throne, 20 minutes earlier.

"Wake up, Ezio. You have rested long enough." A voice echoed in the tomb. Ezio's eyes opened slowly, taking time to adjust to the dim light.

"Weh....Where am I?" He jumped at the sound of his own voice, for so long it's sound was full of strain and pain from the years. But it was now...stronger, some could say rejuvenated. "I can't be in Masyaf, this room is...different." He observed his surroundings. It looked as though he had been moved to a Tomb, unless there was one in Masyaf he had no knowledge of, he was no longer in Syria.

"Your thoughts are true, you are no longer in Masyaf, nor Earth. Where you are is under The Hive." The voice echoed again.

"I am afraid I know nothing of this...'Hive'." Ezio tried to find the source of the voice, but it seemed to be omnipresent.

"It is a vast system of villages completely underground, belonging to the dying species known as Changelings. The Changelings are lead by a queen, Queen Chrysalis. The Apple was contacted by someone here on Equis, you were chosen to save the Changelings." The room seemed to brighten a little. "Your years have been tough on you, you were weak from age, The Apple has changed that: made you younger. You will find your equipment at the end of the path." The voice faded and the room darkened a little.

"Merda!(shit!)" He stood wobbly, his legs getting used to being active again. After several tries, he managed to fully stand and walk. He was in nothing put a pair of dirty leggings and a wool shirt. He didn't feel anything he did in Masyaf, he didn't feel stiff, he wasn't hungry or thirsty, he felt normal. He was more limber now than he was before, maybe the voice was telling the truth and The Apple had made him younger. "If only I had a torch..." Ezio quickly walked the path, observing the odd writing on the walls.

He walked for some time in silence, judging whether or not this was real. He pinched himself several times and sure enough, it was real. He spotted thin rays of light pouring in from small slits in a far wall. He spotted a desk near the far wall as well, on the desk was every piece of his equipment. His walk became a sprint as he hurried for his armor.

With his Master Assassin's Armor, Ishak's Turkish Kijil, Mehmet's dagger, and the rest of his weapons secure he went to the wall-slits.

"I'll put together a carriage for transport, My Queen. Just remember that you did the right thing." A voice on the other side said, it seemed to be sad. What puzzled Ezio was the buzz in it's voice. He heard a feminine sigh follow the click of a shutting door. He searched for a handle or button but couldn't find one.

"The windows of a new world are fragile, you must be careful not to crack them." The voice had a hint of suggestiveness in it's tone.

'Does it want me to take down the wall?' Ezio scanned his surroundings. 'Bone, bone, cloth, hammer, bone...Martello!(Hammer!)' He picked up the heavy hammer and swung at the wall several times. Solid, solid, solid, and finally a section gave, revealing a lever high on the wall. Ezio took a step back before running forwards and up the wall. He found a hand-hold and tried to reach for the lever. He barely had time to catch the lever with his hook-blade before his hand-hold gave and he was left hanging by the hook.

The lever took several seconds before giving to Ezio's weight and slowly descending. He heard clicking and the slits moved.

"It's ready, My Queen." The same, buzzing voice said sadly. The wall seemed to stop moving until everything was completely quiet. The door clicked closed again before a small panel opened near his feet. He fit his fingers through the opening and pulled it up, giving him enough room to crouch into the new room.

It was much brighter than the previous room, and cleaner. He saw no one in the room with him. "I should be careful, I have no information on these 'Changelings', if they are hostile or not." Ezio said to himself. He quickly moved to the door, his armor cancelling out any noise he could have made. When he opened the door he was met by great confusion.

The room, which was probably a throne room, was dark and Gothic-Styled, while this one reminded him of Venetian but...frillier. He heard several gasps and plates clatter to the floor and turned.

What he saw was...unexpected to say the least. Ezio hid his astonishment at the natives with an emotionless stare. What he saw was not human, nor The Ones Who Came Before, but...ponies. Talking, shaking, magical ponies. One was holding a tray in a green aura that matched her horn while the other whispered quietly. He was being glared at by a pair of larger ponies on thrones. "Non capisco cosa sta succedendo.(I do not understand what is going on.)" Ezio said worriedly. He blinked and found himself being stared at by...insects. Ponies? Insect-Ponies?

"I didn't think he was real..." One of the insect-ponies' eyes got large.

"I told you the stories were true!" Another laughed before dancing in place.

"I am sorry, but what stories? What is this place?" Ezio stared blankly at the insect-ponies.

"This is The Hive!" The excited one answered. "The stories say that The Forgotten One will rise from his Tomb and save us Changelings when we need him most! You fit the description perfectly!"

Ezio raised an eyebrow.

"Please! Let us take you on a small tour of the Palace!" The insect-pony -Changeling- beamed. After a very small tour, the Changelings lead Ezio to a balcony. The Changelings seemed sad, very sad. Ezio even spotted some sobbing.

Royal-Guard Carriage

Queen Chrysalis felt a tear roll down her cheek as she observed the gathering of her subjects behind herself. Then, if by miracle, she spotted the body of a legend. Her jaw dropped and quickly changed to a beaming smile when she saw the Assassin on a high balcony.

"What's got you so happy, Prisoner? Glad that you'll be rotting in the dungeon for the rest of your life?" A Royal-Guard glared.

"Let's just say I won't be there for long." Chrysalis laughed.

"Quiet, Prisoner." The Guard demanded.

Balcony

"What is the carriage carrying?" Ezio turned to the cheese-legged insect.

"Our Queen. We tried to take Love from the Ponies, but failed. Now they plan to make us extinct. But that's where you come in!" The Changeling explained.

"What do you mean 'take Love from the ponies'? And what am I coming in to?" Ezio then asked.

"Changelings can feed on Love as well as normal digestible foods. Well, not feed on the feeling, feed on the magic it creates. And we need your help to save our people, without you we don't stand a chance against the massive army of Ponies. Will you help us, Assassin?"

Ezio looked out onto the crowd while thinking, he noticed the starved looking creatures, the sick, the crying, the dying, and it made him angry. "What will I have to do?" Ezio asked, leaning on the balcony.

"That is up to the Queen to decide, so you should probably go get her." The Changeling pointed at the carriage.

"It should be easy enough, they are taking they're time." Ezio climbed onto the balcony before watching the carriage magically poof away. "Or....not. Where did they go?" Ezio asked, swallowing hard.

"The went to Equestria, Canterlot specifically." The Changeling answered simply.

"How...how did they disappear?" Ezio took a shaky breath. The Changeling looked confused momentarily before a look of realization flooded his features.

"I almost forgot the you don't know about magic. My bad." The Changeling laughed awkwardly. "My name is Fel'ed by the way."

"Ezio." Ezio went for a hand-shake but the gesture seemed to confuse Fel'ed.

"Psst. Close your paw and bump his hoof." The other Changeling, who was really quiet, whispered. Ezio did just that. "And my name is Utear." The quiet one did the same bump with Ezio.

"How do you expect me to get your queen?" Ezio asked. Fel'ed got an idea.

"Utear and I could take you there!" He beamed. Utear seemed shaken by the suggestion.

"I do not have much of an option. When do we start towards 'Canterlot'?" Ezio turned towards the dispersing, sad crowd.

"We'll go tonight, I can talk Re'naw to lend us a carriage. Until then, you should go explore, talk to some Changelings. Utear will show you around Yuépon, the royal city." Fel'ed turned and trotted into the building. Utear turned slowly to the intimidating Assassin. Unlike most Changeling soldiers, who had their heads tarred to cover their hole-filled manes, Utear kept his mane long.

Mainly so he could hide behind it.

"Uh...hi?" He smiled sheepishly at Ezio. Ezio raised an eyebrow at the odd Changeling before laughing slightly.

"There is no need to fear me...unless you cross me." Ezio laughed at Utear's startled reaction.

"Oh, um, do you want the tour? 'Cause if you don't that's fine, it's up to you." Utear asked behind his buggy mane.

"I will be fine on my own, but thank you for the offer Utear."

Utear lead Ezio to the front door and waved him off. His smile being filled with bewilderment at the Wingless-Assassin's extreme agility and dexterity allowing him to easily climb buildings and roof-run.

"He will do well, but I will do better if you'd let me." Utear turned to the source of the angry voice.

"Niem." Utear said sourly. Niem was a disgrace of a Changeling, the only reason he wasn't in prison was because he's Family of Queen Chrysalis. Spoiled brat is what he was.

"There is no need for hostilities, peon. I just wanted to comment on your 'hero'. You really think an old creature like that will save us? I'd do a much better job, because I'm younger, sexier, and better." Niem flipped his girlish mane.

"He'll show your traitorous ass up any day of the week." Utear spit venomously.

"There is no evidence your accusations, so I'd shut your little mouth before I do it for you." Niem stepped towards Utear, raising a hole-filled leg to strike.

"Try." Utear smiled smugly. "Try, and you'll regret it."

"Fine then." Niem raised his cheese-leg and brought it down fast, only to freeze in fear when he watched a small knife be thrown perfectly through on of the holes in his hoof and stick to the far wall, causing a flower to split in half. "That shot should be impossible..." He muttered.

"Now run along before he decides to not aim for the hole in your hoof, but the hole in your plot." Utear laughed at Niem's fear. Utear turned his head and spotted the assassin on a roof, the assassin nodded to Utear and he nodded back.

'This will work juuuust fine.' Utear thought as he slowly walked into the palace.