The Assassin's Quandary

Section C

Entry 4: Magical Potential of Silen Prime

If my theories are correct, Silen could actually hold the potential to be a hugely powerful unicorn. As we all know, there is a spark of magic in every creature- unicorns do have a more powerful and more obvious spark, yet this does not mean that other creatures have an insignificant amount of magic. Silen could hypothetically tap into the power of Silen Prime to enhance his normal abilities.

I humbly advise that I be allowed to remove the null-magic device from Silen’s hoofcuffs to study his extra potential. I understand that this is dangerous, but I am willing to take the risk.

Your Faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle

Dear Twilight,

I cannot allow you to place yourself in such a dangerous position. Silen is, as far as we know, an amatuer magician, but if what you say is true he may be able to kill you without any training in magic. I am sorry, but this is far too risky.

-Celestia

“This is a dangerous gamble, my dear Twilight.”

“I know.”

“I’m not sure you do.” Rarity’s voice took on a harsher tone. “You aren’t just trusting him with a room. You’re trusting him with your life. You’ve been very generous, giving him a chance, but I fear that the payoff will not outweigh the risk.”

“He needs me as I much as I need him- and trust me, I have looked into every lead we’ve come up with. We need him.”

“What makes you think he’s so reliant on you? Silen may be weak with magic, socially awkward, arguably schizophrenic, and hesitant with a knife, but he’s still incredibly dangerous. If he wants to kill you, those hoofcuffs and guards aren’t going to stop him.”

“Rarity, you don’t understand him like I do. I don’t think anypony does. Silen has a strange mind- one part drives him to do horrible things, but the other is healthy and beautiful and... and friendly! He just doesn’t know it yet because he’s never had anypony to share it with, and the bad part takes over. But I just know that if we help, the good can take over.” Twilight shared a smile with Rarity, who sighed, still unconvinced.

“Promise me one thing, Twilight- Let us check off on him before you spend too much time with him? We just don’t want you to get hurt is all...”

Twilight winked. “I wouldn’t expect anything else from my best friends.”

+~+~+~+~+~+~+

“Soooo...” Silen bounced a small pink ball between his cuffed hooves. “I bounce the ball over that cup, kick it onto the track, wait for it to gain speed, switch the track, and launch it through the hoop?”

“Yup! And put this on!” Pinkie Pie handed him a small fake mustache.

“O...K?”

As Silen played Pinkie’s strange game, Applejack and Rainbow Dash watched from the corner.

“I can’t believe everypony is just letting him in! Have they forgotten that he tried to kill Twilight?” Rainbow Dash said just quietly enough to avoid being heard by Silen.

“Ah know how ya feel. But Twilight asked us to give ‘im a chance. Besides, Pinkie and Fluttershy like him well enough.”

Rainbow Dash looked appalled by her answer. “YOU’RE on his side too? AJ, I thought you were smarter than the rest.” She turned around and crossed her front legs while floating in the air.

“Now Rainbow Dash,” Applejack replied. “All Ah'm sayin’ is that we owe this to Twilight. We let her down when Silen first came, and-”

“And what? You want us to let her down again? Appejack, that guy is trouble. And I can prove it.”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “And just how are ya gonna do that?”

The pegasus looked intensely at Silen. “I’ll find a way.”

+~+~+~+~+~+~+

“It’s just so... bland. No accessories or... or anything! Just plain black!” Rarity stammered as she rushed around an uncomfortable Silen.

“It’s necessary...it helps me...get around without being seen...” Silen fidgeted endlessly, unused to such attention.

“So uninspired! I simply must make you a better piece of attire!” Rarity continued to magically measure and prod Silen.

“It’s fine, really...”

“And we could add a bit of red here! I think you would look marvelous with this trim, and maybe even put a strap there, and, oh, you’ll need pouches and a belt, so let's put that here...” Rarity furiously sketched as she held up pieces of cloth to Silen’s body.

“Really, this is too much... I appreciate it, but there’s no way I can accept your gift.”  Just as Silen was preparing to leave, Rarity jumped in front of him and blocked his path.

“PLEEEAA-SSEE!” She fell to the ground and hugged his legs. “I haven’t been able to create for weeks! You simply must allow me to do this!” Unsure of how to react, Silen simply nodded his head and stood still. Rarity grinned and resumed her place behind a simple desk, speaking softly to herself about the dress.

As Rarity continued to harass Silen, a pair of blue wings fluttered outside the window. Rainbow Dash had been following Silen all day, hoping to find some piece of evidence to convince the other ponies of Silen’s obvious nefariousness.

Nefariousness, thought Rainbow Dash. What a weird word. I hang out with Twilight too much. The thought sent a pang of anger through her. I gotta keep an eye on this guy, or he’ll make another move on her. What frustrated Rainbow Dash the most though, was that she had found absolutely nothing pointing to the conclusion that Silen wasn’t changing in the way Twilight had told her. It was so convincing, a small part of her thought that they could actually be friends- but that was a small part easily silenced by the rest of Rainbow Dash’s mind.

When it became obvious that nothing would be discovered from watching Silen model for Rarity, Rainbow huffed away to talk to Applejack, the one pony that would actually listen to her rants against Silen.

“I just don’t get it. He just waltzes in here and nopony even cares! Am I really the ONLY one who thinks he’s still dangerous?”

“Well...” AJ shifted nervously. “Yeah, you are. Ya see, while I was helpin to fix up a whole in the castle armory...” Rainbow’s expression briefly changed from frustration to confusion.

“Spike accidently lit a keg of powder, and, well, ya know how that goes. Anyhow, Silen volunteered to help out too, and while we were workin, I got to talk to him some. Now, I know it sounds crazy that I would come to trust the would-be killer of one of my best friends just 'cause we plugged up a big hole together, but...I have a thing for honesty, I guess. Elements of Harmony and all that.”

“I can’t believe this! You guys are too soft! Just LETTING him in! Rarity, is making clothes for him, Pinkie is playing games, you’re doing home improvement together...I bet Twilight is even tutoring him or something!”

+~+~+~+~+~+~+

“That’s right, just focus on where you want it to be, not how big it is.”

A large chunk of crystal levitated inches above the ground, held aloft by swirling white and black magic. Silen’s strain was visible; large beads of sweat rolled down his face as he slowly tugged the shard towards a massive sinkhole. Suddenly, just as the shard was nearing the hole, Silen’s legs buckled and he collapsed along with the crystal.

“That was close,” said Twilight as she effortlessly chucked the shard into the abyss. “You just need more practice.” She helped him to a seat and gave him a cup of water. “We better get back soon, or the others will start to think you made off with me,” Twilight said as she rolled her eyes.

+~+~+~+~+~+~+

“Is he in position?”

“Almost. He’s joining the guard. Shining’s massive increase in conscription has made that easy.”

“I love it when they help us.”

“Even better if they think they’re making it harder on us.”

“What has he learned so far?”

“Turns out Twilight knows how to make some good plays.”

“How so?”

“My guy says Twilight is really reaching out to him. Teaching him magic, letting him out of the dungeon...”

“But he’s playing her, right? Just waiting for the perfect moment?”

“My guy says she takes him down to the gem caves underneath Canterlot to give him lessons. I may not be an assassin, but that seems like a pretty prime place to do it.”

“Correct. He could hide the body and be out of there before anypony knew he was gone.”

“In that case, he’s no use anymore. Tell your man to follow them inside and kill them both.”

“Agreed.”

A brief moment of silence. “Any news on stage two?”

The opposite figure opened a small case and displayed its contents to the other figure.

“Got it right here.”

“Beautiful.”