Verità Camminatore

by Mr Foster

Un Luogo Sconosciuto

It took us a year to get to Manehatten. While it was a very far journey, longer than from the Everfree to Fillydelphia, we had help from carriages all around. While we still needed to maintain a low profile, it wasn’t hard after the first half of the trip. Tempest influence was scarce in this rainy, cold area of Equestria. We even had to cross through the Horse-shoe straight to get there, which was mostly frozen at this time. It was deep winter by the time we had made it even slightly close to Manehatten, and by the time we actually made it there, it was the summer sun celebration back in Canterlot.

“Maestro, dove si trova il santuario?” asked Artiglio.

“Destra più Avanti.” I said quietly. It was a Sunday afternoon, and it was pouring down rain. All the other ponies, dressed in suits and coats, top hats and monocles, had umbrella’s and such. They looked at us like we were the scum of the street, but one flash of my cold, hard stare, made them think otherwise.

It was much different here than anywhere else. Towering buildings, statues of great Equestrian leaders, a couple of which were Tempests, a couple of which were Assassins. They had a massive clock tower in the middle, which was once a Tempest meeting area. We would have to leave sightseeing for later, because we had work to do.

“Here we are. You may speak in English now; ponies will think it’s weird if you speak a different language here.” I said, and Artiglio nodded. I looked up at the sanctuary. It was like many of the living building in the area, except on the top, it had the Assassin’s symbol, glowing silver chrome.

I opened the door quickly, ushering Artiglio into the house. It wasn’t safe anymore outside, seeing as how I saw a couple tempests slowly approaching our area.

“Hey! We have tresspassers!” Shouted a voice, and the lights in the building came on. Multiple Assassins surrounded us, blades at our throats. I raised my hooves slowly, balancing on my hind legs, and Artiglio did the same.

“Guild?” asked one of the Assassins.

“Luna.” I said, and the Assassins relaxed.

“You scared us! What are you even doing here? We didn’t get any notifications from the guild that we were going to have visitors.” Said one of the Assassins. She was a pretty black mare, with a glowing golden mane. She was obviously the leader of the Assassins at this sanctuary.

“The guild is still up and running?” I asked, and the mare nodded her head.

“Things are a bit shaky over there, but it’s still operational. Now that most of the Tempest scum have been cleared out, we can go back to what we do best.” Said the mare. She stuck out her hoof, and smiled.

“I’m Lama Bianco. Welcome to the Manehatten sanctuary.” She said. I curved my hoof around hers, and shook it.

“Well, Bianco, we have much business to do here.” I said, grinning devilishly.

“So, you’re telling me, that you plan on killing every Tempest in those four cities? E 'un buon piano, for an army of Assassins. This will take a lifetime and a half, Verità.” Said Bianco.

I had told her my story, my plans of clearing out the four cities, starting with PonyVille, and ending with Appleoosa. While I knew it was a far off dream, with a little help, this could be much easier.

“Well, like I said, after I cut off the heads in PonyVille, the bodies died as well. The Tempests either resigned, left, or ended up dead defending their masters.” I said, brushing my mane.

“I see that, but most of Manehatten’s government is Tempest. It would take YEARS for a single pony to kill all of them.” Said Bianco, who was sitting in the soft sofa across from Artiglio and I. We were in a small room, like the one at the PonyVille sanctuary, except that it was quainter. It had a small stone fireplace on the left wall, plus a large amount of candle’s and wood furnishings.

“Well, I could use some help.” I said, I saw some of the Assassins ears perk up.

“A mission? It’s been years, Verità. Most of us are out of shape, rusty. I’m not sure if we can pull this off.” Said Bianco. I waved the thought off.

“Think of this as a comeback run. Think, the Tempests will fear us once again! We won’t be a dwindling enemy anymore. We will prove that we will not tolerate them anymore. We will prove that we can, and will kill them. This will be our return to glory!” I said, and a couple of the Assassins stood up.

“I’m going to have to go with Verità on this one, Bianco. We’ve been suffering under the shadow of the Tempests too long. This will be our retaliation.” Said a purple earthpony colt.

“I’m all for it.” Said another pony, a unicorn mare the color of flames.

“As am I.” said another.

“Well, I guess I’ll tell the rest of the guild. I guess we better start training now.” Said Bianco, who promptly stood up. She walked out of the room, and the rest of the Assassins looked at me.

“So, do you actually think this is going to work?” I asked them, and I got many different reactions.

“Personally, I think it will be a great comeback.” Said the Unicorn Mare.

“Suicide mission. But hell, if I’m going to go out, I’m going to go out like a leggenda.” Said the Purple Unicorn colt.

“I think that we will have a fair chance at killing them. I’m sure a couple of us will fall to the blades of the Tempests, but they will be honored after this is finished.” Said the final Assassin. She was a young Pegasus, the color of chocolate, and was obviously taught by a very respectable tutor.

“Well, hopefully, we can pull this off.” I said, and Artiglio just smiled.

“Do you think I’ll get my cutie mark during this trip?” Asked Artiglio, and I nodded.

“Hopefully. You never know if you will become an Assassin, my dear, but I put my money on it.” I said, and he beamed.

“But before we start, I must know your names.” I said to the three assassins before me.

“I’m Dawn.” Said the Purple colt

“Fire Fly.” Said the fiery colored mare.

“My name is Coco. Pleasure to meet you, Signora Verità.” Said the Chocolate colored Pegasi.

“Alright then, È ora di metterci al lavoro.” I said, and all the Assassins nodded.

“Verità, wake up.” I heard Coco say. I looked up, and saw the chocolate colored Pegasus nudging me

“Is it time?” I asked, and the mare nodded.

“Where’s Fire fly? And for that matter, Dawn?” I asked, looking around.

“They’re with Bianco, on the ball room floor. They got through security like pros.” Said Coco.

It was at the grand Manehatten ball, 6 months after I had arrived in the massive city. Marvelous music played downstairs, and I was surprised that I had even fallen asleep.

“When did you get here?” I asked, and Coco blushed.

“My date with Artiglio didn’t last that long.” Said Coco.

I looked down the other side of the roof, and saw Artiglio staring off the edge of the ledge. I stood up, and walked over to the glass dome.

“Artiglio! It’s almost time. Arm yourself!” I shouted to him, and he walked over slowly.

He had a short handled axe in his teeth, the Assassin symbol as the head of the Axe. It glowed chrome in the moonlight, giving him a menacing look in his white robes.

“Molto Bene. I look forward to this.” He said staring down into the ballroom.

The Tempest we were here to kill was a very high officer in the Manehatten Military. I had given the honors to Artiglio, to see if he was truly meant to be a straight forwards assassin, or to be some type of special one.

“As soon as Fire fly gives the signal, you know what to do.” I said, and both Coco and Artiglio nodded.

I looked down into the ballroom, watching Fire fly and Dawn dance around.

Dawn. What a funny thing to name a Colt.

I watched as Bianco walked up to the officer, a Sir “Candle Light” and talk to him, making small talk.

“She’s extracting information. Don’t worry. It’s better to get something out of a kill then just the blood of your enemies.” Explained Coco to Artiglio.

He nodded casually, carefully surveying the area.

Then I saw it. Fire Fly was shining her makeup mirror in our direction. The light flashed across my eyes, and I knew that it was time.

“Alright, Facciamo così.” I said, pulling my hodd over my face.

Artiglio did the same, and so did Coco.

I slammed my hoof down upon the glass, using my horseshoe to smash the glass. I spread my wings and flew down, my rapier in my mouth. Dozens of Assassins burst in from the windows, and the 3 assassins on the ballroom floor quickly pulled their costumes off, pulling their hoods over their faces.

“This is a stickup, femmine!” Shouted Dawn, who was holding a sabre in his levitation grasp.

Of course, the Tempests being the idioti they are, they charged is, spears and axes in mouth.

“Assassins, attack!” Scream Bianco, who was now charging herself.

I waited until a Tempest got close enough, when I stepped out of the way. He lunged at me, only to fall over. I firmly stomped on his neck, making his spine explode out of his armor. Two more double teamed me, using longswords.

“Face it, assassin, you’re screwed!” Shouted one of them, and I just smiled.

One of them swung his long sword, and I ducked, letting it embed in his partners chest. I then slammed my hidden blade into the first Tempest’s mouth, making his long sword jammed into his mouth.

“Erg!” He shouted.

I started to wiggle the sword, until it tore open the second tempest’s chest, spilling his organs everywhere. I then stabbed the other Templar through the eye, and dropped him.

Through the bloodshed, I saw Artiglio battling 5 Tempest’s at one time. He had his short handled axe in his mouth, and was covered in the blood of three fallen Tempest’s at his feet. I had no idea how he was surviving the attack, but then I saw his idea.

He didn’t stay in one area. He used his small size and speed to his advantage, swinging around them, cutting at their armor quickly, not wasting time with power blows. Using a mixture of his hidden blade and axe, he dispatched the rest of the tempests with ease. Suddenly, several were charging at me.

Merda.

I grabbed a mouthful of throwing knives, and threw them all at the group of Tempests. A couple fell to the knives, but 5 still charged at me. I grabbed my sword, and Artiglio jumped to my aid.

“Pronti?” Asked Artiglio, and I smiled.

“Sempre.” I replied, and we engaged in combat.

I made quick and easy work of the guards with short swords. My rapier slid easily through their chain mail, and pierced their vitals even easier. Artiglio did his volley of brutal attacks, cutting and stabbing away at the Tempests. In a matter of seconds, the Tempests were dead at our hooves.

“He’s getting away!” Screamed Bianco from the crowd, and we saw Candle Light sprinting through the crowd, making his Tempests keep the Assassins from killing him.

“I got this.” Said Artiglio, who then unfolded his bow which he had on his back.

I went onto all fours, giving him something to jump off, and he did what I expected. He knocked back an arrow in his teeth, and jumped off my back. He then pulled the bow taught, and let the arrow fly, right into Candle lights shouder.

“Dispatch the rest of the Tempests! Then we’ll deal with Candle!” I shouted, and all the Assassins went back to destroying the Tempests.

After about 5 more minutes of fighting, the ballroom was slick with blood. at least 50 tempest bodies scattered the floor, bleeding. None of the civilians that we couldn’t prove that were tempests were killed, but if any of them were tempests at one point, they weren’t now. Artiglio walked over to Candle Light, who lay bleeding on the floor.

“You-you’ll never win, Assassino. The Tempest’s will regain control, and you will FALL!” Screamed Candle Light, hysterical with blood loss.

“Save it for the morgue.” Said Artiglio quietly, who then levitated his axe into the air, and brought it down onto his head. A satisfying CRACK let us know that the last tempest in the ballroom was dead.

“Well, we’ve done our work here. Assassins! Bug out and re-assemble at the sanctuary!” Shouted Bianco, and within seconds, the Assassins disappeared.

A/N:
Translations:
Maestro, dove si trova il santuario: Master, where is the sanctuary?
Destra più Avanti: A little bit more
Lama Bianco: Black Blade
E 'un buon piano: It's a good plan.
È ora di metterci al lavoro: Time to get down to work.
Facciamo così: Let's do this
Femmine: Bitches
Merda: Shit
Pronti: Ready?
Sempre: Always.

Wooh. Now that I got that over with, I can get back to writing the story. Addio!

Comments

[alphanator]

I noticed that you used Templar instead of Tempest during that fight scene.

[Mr Foster]

1095774 Thanks for catching that for me
Auto correct on Microsoft word kills me sometimes

[alphanator]

1096376 No problem