//------------------------------// // Tradimento // Story: Verità Camminatore // by Mr Foster //------------------------------// “I don’t know what to make of it. It seems the healing enchantment was so powerful, that it has stopped your aging, at least for a little while.” Said the Doctor, his voice slightly muffled by the bird beak mask he wore. “What? So I’m going to live forever, watching my friends die, and I just stay alive?” I asked, my mouth agape. “I didn’t say forever. You aren’t immortal either. You’ll take damage like the rest of us. But for a couple years, I think the max being 10, you’ll look like you’re thirty, and you’ll move on from there. After a while, the progressive aging will bring you back up to speed with your actual age.” Said the Doctor, his accent showing. “It will cause you health problems in your later years, my dear. But not to worry, my traditional remedies will solve that! I even have a lead based cure for syphilis!” “Thank you, medico. Che successo della tua azienda.” I said, and he sighed. “I have no idea what you just said. I told you, I’m Great-Mild western! I’m not inner-equestrian!” He shouted. His mind was going obviously. Too many times trying out his lead-based cure of syphilis. “Until next time, doctor.” Said Artiglio. I looked around, and admired the sheer amazingness of the Mild west. I had always wanted to visit this place. While places like Stalliongrad, and even Germaney were regal everywhere, this place was untamed. While it’s beautiful town of Apploosa was amazing, my job would be out in the surrounding area, places like Trottowa and the small, coliseum town of Bearsalona (The natives to this area named it after a bear demon. Weird.) “Were to get started…” I said to myself silently. “Let’s find a sanctuary first. It was a long trip, and I need a buckin’ bath.” Said Dawn, and I frowned distastefully at his language. “I as well need a bath. It’s been almost 4 months, Verità. I think we all need a bath.” Said Coco. “I guess. The Sanctuary is in Bearsalona, so lets get a move on.” I said, and the Assassins nodded. This is the last length of my journey. “So, this guild is empty, eh?” Asked Artiglio, as we entered the Sanctuary. “I guess. The Mild West was deserted by the guild years ago.” I said. “Well, lets get settled in, shall we? I’m starving, anypony up for spaghetti?” Asked Fire fly, and we all nodded. “At any rate, lets get washed up. We have things to do, places to see, ponies to kill.” Said Dawn, and Artiglio laughed at his joke. “That we do my friend. That we do.” -------- “So, you’re telling me that the WHOLE damn royal family is Tempests?” I asked Dawn, who was quietly eating his Spaghetti. “Yes. How can your ponies stand this merda? It’s terrible.” Said Dawn, quickly getting to the point. “Might just be Fire Fly’s cooking.” Said Artiglio, grinning mischievously. “Hey! I heard that!” Shouted Fire Fly. Dawn and Artiglio laughed, but Coco stayed silent. “Well, dinner was lovely.” Said Artiglio, mockery in his tone. “Yes, it was.” Said Coco silently. “You didn’t even take a bite, darling. Is something troubling you?” Asked Fire Fly, and Coco shook her head. “Alright, I’m off to bed.” Said Dawn, who yawned. “As am I.” Said Fire Fly. All that was left was Coco and I. We sat on separate ends of the tables, regarding eachother, when I immediately knew what was happening. “So, when is it due?” I asked, and Coco sighed. “8 months. Verità, I’m sorry, but this is our last mission together. Artiglio and I want to settle down, have a normal life.” Said Coco, her eyes lowering. “I understand that. This is my last mission anyways. Hopefully, you and Artiglio can live a long and prosperous life.” I said, but then I pondered something else. “Where will you stay?” “Artiglio has family back in PonyVille. His little sister plays the harp, you know.” Added Coco, and I sighed. “Well, let this be our final battles together.” I said, smiling. ------ “Mentiroso grueso, and his family are our targets, as I’ve said before. They will be at the coliseum tonight to watch the wrestling match. Now, we all know the drill. Get in, kill them, and get out.” I said, standing over the table. It had been three months since we were in the Mild west, and we already had our target ready to kill. I had to make it quick, so that Coco could have her final adventure with us, before she had her child. “Alright. Who’s delivering the death blow?” Asked Dawn, who now had his serious scowl on. “All of us. We’re using an experimental weapon, known as a “Satchel Charge” filled with explosive jelly and gun powder, it can be used at long ranges for a powerful detonation.” I said, and they all nodded their head. “Whos planting it, then?” Asked Fire Fly, and I pointed to myself. “Okay, well, let’s do this then.” Said Coco, who was smiling gently. I had slipped my way under the bleachers. The place was filled with popcorn and fallen wine bottles, so it was quiet hard to navigate. The crowd was going insane at the sight of the two bulls trying to destroy each other, which meant more popcorn flinging around. “Dolce Celestia, is there no end to their madness?” I asked myself quietly as I walked underneath the bench where the Grueso family was sitting. I could hear them rambling on about their Tempest plans for the city and such, and I sighed. Dreams that will never come true. I slammed the block of explosive jelly and gunpowder to the bottom of the bench, and attached the long string to it. I quickly finished the process of fusing it, and then kicked out the small, weak stack of bricks that served as a wall to the mesas and deserts outside. I then dropped the fuse down, were Coco grabbed it. I then sprinted away, going out a different entrance. Sure, I was hassled by a couple drunks looking for a tail lifting puttana, but I got off easy otherwise. I ran around the coliseum, all the way to the vantage point which was about 500 yards away. “Where is Coco?” asked Artiglio, who was laying on the side of the red sand dune. “She isn’t here yet?” I asked, looking around. “Nah. We thought she was with you.” Said Fire Fly. I looked around, realizing there was another one of us missing. “Where is Dawn?” I asked, looking around. Artiglio must have put the two and two together, and he stood up. “Merda! We must go!” He shouted, running over the dune. I followed him, running towards the coliseum at top speed. The fuse was left there, along with a few specks of blood. Artiglio looked at the blood, and silently sighed. Then, we heard screaming. “Everypony get away!” I heard Coco shout, and I immediately took action. I lit the fuse, letting it burn away quickly. It exploded, and gave me a clear entrance to the coliseum. Artiglio and I scaled the wall, and then climbed into the bleachers. Dawn was standing there, a gun to Coco’s head. “Dawn! What the hell are you doing?” Shouted Artiglio, rage boiling inside of him. Dawn just laughed manically. “I can’t believe you never saw it! In Manehatten, I was the one who tipped the mayor off at the parade, making him bring extra security! I shot Verità, thinking she wouldn’t have the healing rainbow mix behind her. And now, I kill Coco.” Said Dawn, his head cocking to the side. “Dawn! Don’t do it!” I shouted, and he just smiled. “Artiglio! I-I love you!” Shouted Coco and Dawn laughed. “And with that, the princess dies.” Said Dawn, the action on his levitating gun pulling back. “NO!” Shouted Artiglio, who then ran down the bleachers, jumping at Dawn. “Too late,” Said Dawn, as he pulled the trigger. Time slowed down. Artiglio was lunging at Dawns neck, as the barrel of the gun lit up. I saw the bullet fly out, and slowly pierce Coco’s skull. Artiglio landed on Dawn, and proceeded to stab him until he looked like sausage. (Don’t ask me how I know that. Pegasi eat some crazy stuff up in cloudsdale.) Coco fell down, her head blown open. Artiglio walked over to her, tears streaming down his face. “My child… my love,” He said through tears, stroking Coco’s bloody mane. I walked over tears forming inside my eyes as well. It hurt to see both of those assassins go out like that. One a traitor, one a mother. I walked over to Artiglio, and put my hoof on his shoulder, as he cradled his dead love. “Don’t. Touch. Me.” Said Artiglio quietly, and I raised my hoof. He turned around, rage burning in his eyes. “This is your fault, Verità. YOURS! You let him into our ranks! This is your fault! You killed her! You killed her! YOU KILLED HER! I HATE YOU!” He shouted into my face, and then punched me. I fell to the ground, holding my nose, as he jumped on top of me, continuing to punch me. “I WILL KILL YOU! I WILL MURDER YOU! I HATE YOU! I WILL DESTROY YOU!” He screamed into my face, as he brought I his hoofs down upon my head. I felt the pitter patter of tears dropping down upon my face. I’m sorry. He got up, tears still streaming down his face, and walked out of the coliseum. I still lay there, tears streaming down my face, mixing with the blood of the multiple cuts on my face. I heard somepony walk over, and I looked up, to see Fire Fly standing over me. “C’mon, let’s get you somewhere safe.” She said, lowering her hoof to me. I took it and we walked out of the coliseum. With that, he stood up, and teleported off, never to be seen again. I realized we had been betrayed by our own. What if Fire Fly was one too? Was Artiglio on it the whole time? Thoughts spun through my head like a tornado, and I sighed. Fire Fly stood behind me, looking at me in deep thought. “What will you do now?” she asked, and I turned to her. “Return to the only place I know I’ll fit in.” I said, and with that, I spread my wings, and flew away.