The Assassins' Ascent

Ezio sat on the seat with Pinkie Pie, who was talking like crazy. "So when me and my friends were walking into the 'Everfree Forest' they saw a bunch of scary looking trees so I sang a song for them." she took a long, big breath, "When I was a little filly and the sun was going do-o-own," Ezio sighed and decided to zone out, looking outside at the scenery. The snowy terrain had disappeared and grass was now all over the landscape, including trees, flowers, and a clear sky. It was strange to him how two different weathers can be so close to each other, but it wasn't the first time he has seen it. The train was surprisingly large on the interior, but seeing it outside, it was small. A large castle had come into view, "Oh dear..." Ezio said. Pinkie Pie stopped singing, "What's the matter?" she said with concern. "Nothing," Ezio lied, "Nothing at all." he continued looking at the white and gold castle that was off in the distance. "Where is this Canterlot?" Ezio asked Pinkie. "See that castle over there?" Ezio nodded, "That's Canterlot!" she said ecstatically, and started humming "At the Gala." Ezio liked the tune for some reason, and started bobbing his head side to side. An hour had passed since ambush, and a few of the ponies were still a bit jumpy. Rainbow Dash appeared and nudged Pinkie, "Why don't you go sit with Fluttershy for a bit? I want to talk to our friend here." Pinkie Pie nodded furiously and rushed to her friend, Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash sat down beside Ezio and eyed him. "I suppose you're here to say something?" Ezio asked her.

"I guess you're not dimwitted after all." She said with a mocking smile.

"If you are going to insult me, make it quick and get to the point."

"Listen, I don't trust you... At all."

"Understandable." Ezio said simply.

"What, that's it? No angry remarks?" She said confusingly.

"Nobody can trust a person like me, it would be dangerous, and wise not to."

"What do you mean a person like me?"

"I have said enough, now let me be." He waved his hand dismissively. Rainbow Dash seemed annoyed by this, she moved of her seat, trotted over to Rarity, and sat down beside her. "Rainbow, dear, you seem upset." Rarity said, trying to comfort her cyan friend.

"It's that dumb humans fault." Rainbow said flatly.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"I don't trust him!"

"I heard that!" Ezio called from behind.

"Nopony was talking to you!" She shouted back angrily.

"Rainbow, calm yourself!" Rarity interrupted.

"He started it!" she said.

"I don't care! I'm finishing it!" Silence filled the train. "Dear Celestia, you are acting like a child." A pony came from a door in front of the train, wearing a red top hat, and a red jacket. "Tickets." he said, all the tickets were held in the air. Ezio realized he didn't have his ticket, "Twilight, where is my ticket?" Twilight shrugged. He searched every pocket and pouch, even the ones where he only put his poisons. "Ticket please." the ticket collector said, having no effect on Ezio's appearance. "I lost my ticket." Ezio said flatly.

"Please stand up, sir." He asked Ezio. Ezio obeyed and stood up, under where he sat, showed the golden ticket. "They're always sitting on it." he said jokingly before continuing to the next pony. "Please be ready to exit the train." the instructor said. All the ponies stood up, grabbed their belongings, and were ready to leave the train. "Hey look, there it is!" Pinkie Pie yelled, pointing her hoof at the castle gates. The train rail wasn't going through the gates of course, it led to a train platform, where few guards stood. The train slowed down, letting an irritating "Screech." Ezio's ears would always feel weird after the noise it made. "I have to admit," he told Twilight, "These trains travel fast."

"Not as fast as teleportation." Ezio looked at her, confused.

Twilight sighed, "Another thing I'll tell you about later, don't humans have magic?"

Ezio looked at her, even more confused. Actually, there was one thing, "Well, I have heard of it, although I have never seen it."

"Would you like to?" Twilight asked. Ezio gestured with his hand 'go ahead', giving Twilight the signal to do it.

"Please exit the train." the instructor interrupted. "Maybe next time." Twilight smiled sheepishly. All the ponies exited the train, Ezio waited for them. "Hey, where's Ezio?" Applejack asked, looking for any tall humans among the crowds. After the crowd disappeared, Ezio came out from the train, then waved to them. The same pony he met before he entered the train appeared beside him. "I warned you not to go on the train." the hooded pony said.

"You, you knew this was going to happen." Ezio picked up the hooded pony, "Who are you?" The mysterious pony chuckled. "I'm trying to help you."

"How can I trust you?"

The pony chuckled again, "You don't." Ezio considered this, it's better than nothing. "Very well then, what shall I call you?"

"Call me Dust." The pony disappeared again, escaping Ezio's grasp, and turning into smoke. The mane six trotted over to Ezio, not seeing what happened to the pony.

"Who was that?" Twilight asked.

"Just a small problem."

"What is that?" Fluttershy decided to speak. Ezio remained quiet.

"You really are a mystery." Rarity said.

"Where are we heading?" Ezio asked.

"We're going to the castle." Twilight said.

"That is what I fear..." Ezio murmured under his breath.

"What was that, dear?" Rarity asked.

"Nothing." This made some of them curious, as for Pinkie Pie, she just accepted it. "Well, shall we?"

"We shall." Rarity said. They continued through a hallway, with guards. As they walked passed them, each one seemed to take a glance at Ezio, keeping their serious mood. The walk seemed like hours, even though they have now reached the end in a minute. Two guards stood in the way, holding gold spears. "Uh, tough security, don't you think?" Twilight said to the guards.

"Princess Celestia has given us orders to tighten security, seeing how there is a new threat to this land." he looked at Ezio.

"Other than that, no weapons beyond this point." said the other guard, glancing at Ezio's weaponry. Ezio stared at him for a moment, then took off his sword (keeping the sheath on), and tossed it in front of the guards hooves. The guard looked at Ezio, then back to the weapon, "You have more than this." Ezio removed his crossbow, and tossed it with the sword. "Turn around, human." Ezio turned, "Please remove your other weapon." Ezio sighed, unstrapped his short blade, and tossed it in the pile. "Everything seems to be in order her, you may proceed." The spears were removed from their path, allowing them to enter Canterlot. As they passed the guards, Ezio looked at one of them. The guard shot a look at him, and it didn't look too friendly. They entered a building, filled with ponies, most of them wearing clothes. It seemed... unnatural to Ezio. The customer was demanding that the ticket administrator behind the desk would give them 'real service'. He immediately realized their kind of type, the rich and fancy peop- ponies, that don't really care about other ponies not superior to them. A unicorn with tuxedo and a light azure mane, moved in front of the complaining customer. "Oh! Fancypants! I didn't see you there!" the administrator said to Fancypants.

"Quite fine, good sir, I was hoping to get a ticket to Ponyville, I have to meet a specific dressmaker there." Fancypants said to him.

"O-of course!" The administrator went to work as he searched through piles of paper, searching for a ticket. He pulled out a ticket that read "Ponyville."

"Here you go! On ticket to Ponyville!"

"Thank you, good sir." Fancypants said before he trotted off, letting the customer continue complaining. Rarity went to see him, it was clear she was happy.

"Um, excuse me, Fancypants?" Rarity said. The unicorn stopped and glanced at her, "Rarity! I was just going to go see you!" He said in delight, "Saves me the trip to Ponyville, anyways, I need a new dress design. The other one that you made was a hit in the stores!"

"How many ponies brought it?" Rarity said, eager to hear his reply.

"Too many to count! In fact, there wasn't a turn where you wouldn't see a yellow dress within the crowd!" This was the part where Rarity would squee in delight. And she did. "If you can pull something off like that again, I'll pay you five thousand bits, in person!"

"F-f-f-f-f-five th-th-th-thousand b-b-b-bits?" Rarity was unable to believe what he just said.

"In person!" Fancypants finished her sentence.

"That's a very generous offer, but I must decline," Rarity said, then looked back at her friends, "I have important matters to attend to!"

"Understandable, my dear." He said, having no problem at all, "My offer still stands, but you may take your time, I wouldn't mind if you sent it in the next three months!"

"Very well then, I shall send it to you after I am done with my business." Rarity said, glad that she can still design something after their business with Discord.

"That is excellent to hear! I shall await your design, until then, good luck!" He said before trotting out of the building. She stood there, smiling ear to ear, then turned to her friends. They all hugged each other, letting out girly squeals and congratulations. Even to Ezio, five thousand bits sounded like a big deal. Of course it did, it's five thousand bits! "Are we going to continue?" Ezio asked after they were finished their 'group hug'.

"Of course!" Rarity said, trying to keep her elegant tone. They walked out of the building, and outside revealed Canterlot. The place where Ezio first plunged into Equestria. Mares and stallions filled the streets of Canterlot, wearing uniforms that Ezio still thought that it didn't fit them. The same colt that had seen Ezio on the night he arrived saw him again, the young one galloped to Ezio in excitement. "Hey! You're the, the, the, uh, what are you?" He stammered a bit.

"Human." Twilight answered.

"Yeah! Human! You're the human that was jumping across the rooftops!" Sudden gasps and murmuring was heard all over the place.

"I think it's best we get going now." Fluttershy said in a quiet tone. They walked through the streets, everypony stared at them as they passed. This made Fluttershy extremely nervous. They had almost arrived to castle, just a couple more houses and stores, than they'd be at the gates. A unicorn selling jewelry stepped in front of them, "Hello mares and... sir, may I interest you in some jewelry?" he pulled out case showing emerald, sapphire, ruby, and diamond necklaces. "They look lovely!" Rarity said, "But no thank you." The seller frowned, slammed the case shut, and trotted away. "How rude." They continued their walk, trying to avoid as much sellers as possible. Eventually, they arrived at the gates of "Canterlot Castle." Four guards stood by the golden gates, staring at nothing. "Halt!" one of them ordered. They stood still, while the other three investigated them, searching various parts of their body. After inspection he nodded, and the gates opened. "It's been kinda quiet on the way here." Fluttershy said, walking through the gates to the castle. "Yeah, she's right." Rainbow Dash agreed.

"Well then, what should we talk about?" Twilight said. Nobody said a word. "Then we should keep going." They had to climb three flights of stairs, before finally reaching the door. The same large, golden door that Ezio opened and made his escape.

"Do we just wait here, or do we knock?" Applejack asked. "I think we're supposed to-" Twilight spoke but was interrupted by the large doors creaking, and slowly opening. A sudden flash of yellow light hit Ezio in the chest, causing a massive, overwhelming pain. He let out a painful scream, alarming the ponies. "Ezio what happened-" Ezio's scream cut Twilight off, he grasped his chest as hard as he could. He fell to his knees, the pain was too much. "W-w-w-what's h-h-happening?" Fluttershy said, almost on the verge of crying. "It's it's it's-AAAAUUGGHH!!" Ezio tried to speak, but the pain felt like a burning sun. "It should feel like that." A feminine voice said within the castle. "Show yourself!" Ezio demanded, while Twilight's face darkened. A majestic white pony, or unicorn, or pegasus, actually all of them, removed herself from the castle. She had a mane similar to Rainbow Dash's, but it seemed to flow with the wind and sparkle in the light. Her cutie mark was a sun. "Princess?!" Twilight yelled in surprise. "She's your Princess?" Ezio asked, the pain was starting to lower. "Yes, I am the princess, Princess Celestia, the Goddess of the sun." This surprised Ezio, that explains the sun on her flank. A Goddess stood before him, and she was also a royal princess. "I know what you are, human." her tone sounded elegant, and yet ready to kill something at the same time. Her horn glowed a brilliant yellow light, it was brilliant until it caused Ezio more pain. "Celestia, what are you doing?! You're hurting Ezio!" Twilight looked at her mentor, she thought she was a kind pony. "Twilight, you must understand, humans can not be trusted!" Celestia told Twilight, hoping she would understand. "But Ezio was the one that saved us from the bandits!" Ezio was still in pain, the world around him was starting to darken. "Twilight, I mustn't let what happened last time!" All Ezio could now hear was the speaking of muffled ponies, there was so much pain, he fell back, and down the stairs he went. Everything went black.

AUTHORS NOTE:Sorry if this doesn't satisfy you, I really couldn't think of another way to make the next chapter more... exciting. Anyways, feedback is appreciated!