The Assassin's Quandary

Wait for it. A guard stood less than 5 feet from me. Wait. I wanted to run. My hiding place behind a cart was mediocre at best and I had made noise near the entrance to the castle, so they would be on the watch for anything suspicious.

The guard had been standing in the doorway for many minutes, and I doubted I could stay hidden if another patrol passed by me. Wait. I couldn’t wait much longer. Wait. Finally, the guard was called by a friend to chat. Now. I leapt from my hiding place and into the doorway, carefully peering through the keyhole. The room was mercifully empty and I crept inside, silently closing the door behind me. I was frustrated by the difficulty I was having. This was supposed to be easy, especially considering the fact that it was the tenth time...or was it eleventh? Twelfth even?

Snap out of it. Go through the window in the corner of the room. I made my way onto the ledge and shuffled towards the next window. This had to be the tenth time. Unless you counted the bandits, but they had wanted to kill ME, so that doesn’t count, does it? Maybe there was more. Focus.

The next window was pretty far away, and I was worried that my cloak would flutter if the wind blew, attracting the eye of a guard. I wanted to get back inside as soon as possible, except...

The room I wanted to enter was inhabited by several ponies. The orange earth pony and the cyan pegasus. They’re trouble. They were both friends of the one I was here for. The pegasus is the most dangerous one of all of them except for the target, and the orange one had immense skill with a lasso. Stepping in this room would be very risky. I cracked open the window, cringing when it creaked. Luckily, they didn’t notice.

“So what do you figure we’re here for?”

“ Probably just one of Twilight’s egghead study-sessions with the Princess.”

Twilight. A name. The first step to failure.

Snap. Out. Of. It.

“Hey now! Twilight's no egghead! And ah would suggest that you watch what ya say about the Princess.”

“Whaaa-tever. I just wonder why she dragged all of us here.”

Suddenly, a beautiful white unicorn burst into the room. She had a magnificent purple mane that gracefully bounced when she walked.

“I’m not complaining. I’ll take any opportunity for a trip to Canterlot! I won’t question the generosity of our good friend, especially considering these lavish suites she arranged for us!”

Before long a yellow pegasus and a pink earth pony had entered the room. I recognized them from the pictures I had been given. The yellow one was generally shy but was able to stand up for her friends, and while the pink one would be easily distracted, she apparently had some strange powers of prescience and was equally able to defend her friend. “Great,” I whispered. “She has 5 additional bodyguards, and these ones have something personal to defend.”

Now! While the pink one is singing!

I jumped through the window, which creaked open loudly. Shortly after landing on top of the chandelier, I checked to see if anyone had noticed. The pink one’s song had luckily been loud enough to cover the sound of my leap into the room. They continued to laugh and talk and sing; I was suddenly overcome with sadness and envy. I wanted to stay, to witness the laughter even if I couldn't take part in it... Onwards. Too late for that.

I looked around the room for a way to continue quietly, and noticed a dumbwaiter that was barely large enough to fit inside. It was not spacious, but it would do. Watch out.

“Rainbow Dash, would you be a dear and close that window? It’s absolutely frigid in here.” Watch out for the pegasus.

“Ugh, fine. I don’t see why you can’t just magic it closed...” Go. Now. She’s coming. The only escape was the top of a bookcase on the side of the room, 15 feet away. I could make the jump, but the ledge was so small, and it was in a bright spot, and...

No other option. Go.

It was almost an unconscious decision. At one moment I was atop the chandelier, and the next I was on the bookcase, pushing myself against the wall. So bright here. Next move was to get to the dumbwaiter. I heard a slam as the pegasus- Rainbow Dash- closed the window. Running out of time.

I withdrew a small piece of clockwork from my cloak, flipping a small switch as I sized up the ponies. The pink one, she would just play with it. The orange one or cyan one (Rainbow Dash) would stomp on it, and the yellow one, if the files I had been given were correct, would pick it up and make friends. The white one, though, would be perfect. I threw the small contraption at the unicorn and readied myself for another jump.

“Oooahhh! A mouse!” She dashed across the room with my small machine in tow. The other ponies chased after her with the intent to do just as I had thought. I blocked out their yelling, hoping that I didn’t pick up any more names.

The dumbwaiter shaft was just large enough to fit in. It was a hellish climb to the final floor, but it was my final destination. The floor that she was on. Twilight. Forget her name.

Go.

There were many more guards on this floor, as it was home to the Princess herself. Patrols were much more frequent, and hiding places more sparse, but my close proximity to my target and my eagerness to be done with it all quickened me.

I was a shadow in the corridor.

Before long I arrived at the door to Celestia’s private library. Celestia. That was a name I couldn’t ignore. Even peering through the keyhole I could see her magnificence, her beauty, her subtle but modest regality. Her mane shone so brightly, but not with light that I always try to avoid, not with the light of accusation but rather one of beauty. The patrol will be here soon. Get inside and hide. The door slid open easily. It was sad to me that they felt so secure that they allowed their doors to go unlocked. That I could simply walk inside and take the life of Twilight.

Twilight. I crept behind a bookcase, positioning myself such that the fireplace would blind those looking at me without revealing my position. I was regrettably good at my job.

I had purposely been averting my gaze from the lavender unicorn that stood beside the princess. Even from the corner of my eye I could see the way she looked at the Princess, with such admiration and confidence. The way I am sure I would have looked at a teacher, if I had ever been graced by one. My teacher would have  been kind and loving, not unlike the princess herself...It’s almost time. Stay alert.

“...But why? And why bring my friends? Is something wrong? Do we need the Elements again?”

“Nothing quite like that. There is, however, something very wrong. Twilight Sparkle, I think somepony may be trying to kill you.”

Heart stopped.

Too late to turn back. Finish it.

“Kill me? What for? Why? Wha-”

Twilight collapsed to the floor, moaning softly.

Celestia softly stroked Twilight with a hoof. “I know that this is all a big shock for you. This is why I wanted you to bring your friends.” She magically grasped Twilight and lifted her to eye level. “Twilight, I will do absolutely everything in my power to protect you. You will have guards stationed outside of every door, as well as an escort between rooms. You are welcome in my castle until we resolve this.” She set her on her feet, and Twilight stood on her own- shakily, but indepently.

“Ca-Can w-we stay here for a while?”

Celestia looked at her and I realized what the two really had. Celestia was more than a teacher, and Twilight was more than a pupil. Indeed, Twilight was probably closer to Celestia then she was to her own mother.

Twilight began to ask more questions. She was inquisitive, as I’m sure I would be if not for my profession. She was beautiful, not like the white unicorn, but in a more quiet, subtle way. She was modest despite her lofty position. I’m too damn perceptive to do this. I know too much. This one, this one is gonna hurt.

Get ready. They began to leave. Now! No more chances! I saw her walking out the door, knowing that this was my best opportunity to strike. I withdrew my knife from my cloak and held my breath, waiting for the perfect moment...