> The Orphan
>  by Dramatic Stories
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1-On the Streets
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


On the Streets






"Go live your life my daughter...Scootaloo..."



My eyes snapped open.  The dream had invaded my mind again for the third night in a row.  Why is this happening?  I know my parents had died some years ago, but I was too young to remember anything.  I know for sure that I am an orphan, because I lived in an orphanage up until about a year ago.  

Sadly, the owner of the orphanage had died of old age, and his widowed wife couldn't keep the payments up.  The place was shut down, and many of us were sent to other orphanages.Oddly, no pony came to me.  I was simply left outside the empty building with the world at my hoof.

That's the whole reason why I live in an alley sleeping under the daily paper every night.  To be honest, it never bothered me that much.  Fresh food was always being thrown away with barely a bite taken out of it.  I'de obviously check for parasites and things like that, but it was better than nothing.

I have friends that care for me, but I'd never asked them to take me in.  I couldn't do it.  I feel guilty just thinking about them having to deal with me, let alone another filly.  I feel as if things are better off this way.

But why am I having these repetitive dreams?  It's been like this for nearly half a week now.  The same dream, the same ending statement, before my eyes shoot open to the bright sun filled sky.

It feels like the dream is connected to me in some way.  I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's as if its a part of me.
Whatever the reason, I would prefer for these dreams to stop.  All they do is confuse me, and give me a splitting headache when I think about it.

Whatever...I think some time with the crusaders will ease my tension a bit.



"Hey Scootaloo!"Applebloom waved her hoof to me from across the street.  I waved back, and crossed the street.

"Hey Applebloom.  How's it goin'?"I asked her.

"Not much.  I was thinking we could do some more crusading!  You in?"

"Sure.  Where's Sweetie Belle?"I asked looking around sugarcube corner.

"Not here.  I saw her being dragged into the fabric store again by Rarity."Of course.

"And I dragged myself out without her noticing..."I recognized the voice that came from behind me.  I turned and saw Sweetie Belle with a tired worn out face.

"Hey Sweetie Belle.  Glad to not see you covered in sewing supplies."I said giving her a friendly hug.

"No kidding.  It's always the same;  'Oh Sweetie Belle, could you be a dear and hold this, and measure that'."Sweetie Belle did her impersonation of Rarity.  Applebloom and I sat there chuckling to ourselves, trying as hard as we could to contain our laughter.  "So what are we doing today?"Sweetie asked.

"Oh I know.  We could try skiing."Applebloom suggested.  I liked the idea but...

"But where are going to find a snow covered mountain in the middle of summer?"I responded.

"...We could try skiing in the winter."Applebloom said in an ironic tone.  We laughed together wiping off tears from our eyes.

"I think we should just hang out today.  Why don't we grab a shake at Sugarcube Corner?"Sweetie Belle asked.

"Sounds good to me."I agreed.

"I could go for a 'day off'."Applebloom agreed.  We turned to make our way toward Sugarcube Corner.  "Aaaand...we're here."Applebloom said immediately.   I had completely forgotten we had that entire conversation at sugarcube corner.  As I looked around, I saw an unfamiliar shop that was nearby.

We walked past it on the way to the diner in the middle of the square, and I got a better view of what was inside.  The shop was littered with weapons.  Swords, bows, daggers, all sorts.

"COOL!"I yelled uncontrollably.

"What Scootaloo?"Applebloom said turning around to face me.  Without responding, I walked into the stoor.  The door hit a bell that rung as I walked in.  The shop seemed to be absent of anypony, before I saw an older pony walk into the room.

It was an elder, brown furred, grey maned stallion.  "Hello there."His voice was deep and sounded very strong.

"Cool store you have here.  Where'd you get all these?"I smiled with curiosity at the shop owner.  He laughed quietly and looked at me.

"It's always the little ones that have the most interest.  I've collected these myself through experience."He said.

"Experience?"I questioned.  "You mean like fighting?  Wait, were you a royal knight, or a warrior that fought dragons and slayed evil goblets?"I asked.

"Oh good heavens no.  I nothing like that.  I simply fought for what was right."He said.  I took myself on a tour of the shop, looking at the longswords and scimitars that were hung on the wall.  Toward the register, a polished dagger was in a display case that attracted me at first sight.

I examined the blade, and noticed a symbol on it.  I looked at it with a confused and curious face.  The sight of this symbol sent shivers down my spine, and made my fur stand up.

"Are you alright?"I heard.  I knew I heard his question, but I couldn't answer.  The blade hypnotized me.  "Snap out of it."I heard.  I blinked, and shook my head.  "What was that about?"The stallion asked.

"I...I don't know.  What it that symbol on the blade?"I asked.

"That...that symbol has a long and dark history to it.  That symbol represents The Order of Assassins."He said.  That name sounded almost too familiar to me.  The Order of Assassins.

"Were you one of them?"I asked.

"You're quite curious aren't you."He responded.  "Do you have a name?"

"Yeah.  Scootaloo."

"Nice to get fully acquainted with you Scootaloo.  My name is Holora (Aw-lah-rah).  And to answer your question...I was an Assassin...in the past."

"I feel like I've seen that symbol before."

"Perhaps you have.  I've come across several ponies who have claimed to have seen this symbol.  Most of them in the end, had a family member in the creed, but didn't know.  Tell me...has your father been away for a long time?  When was the last you saw him?"

"My father..."I found it hard to respond to such a question.  "He's...he's dead."

"Oh...I'm, sorry to hear that."

"I was really young...I'm lucky to have gotten out of that burning house."

"Burning?"Holora questioned.  "Were they...murdered?"He asked.

"Yes...one night some stallions broke in and...I got out as they lit the house alight."I looked up at Holora, who now had a serious look on his face.

"What family do you reign from?"He asked.

"The Jade family."I responded.  Holora gasped quietly.  "What?"

"Scootaloo Jade..."He said.  "You might not want to hear this but...your father was an Assassin."He said.  My mind could have caved in right then and there.

"WHAT!"

"It's true...in fact...I've fought along side him before.  He had just joined the brotherhood the first time I had met him.  He was a good stallion."

"My dad...you've met my father?"

"Yes.  I've met your father.  William Cross Jade was his full name."I could have cried right then knowing I had met someone who had some sort of contact with my father.  Holora walked over to the front door, and flipped the sign over to 'closed'.  "Come with me...and I'll tell you more."
> 2-Shopkeep 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Shopkeep






I cautiously followed Holora to the back of the store.  We went to a storage room that had nothing but a broom and broken weapon parts here and there.  "What's back here?"I asked

"Much..."He simply said.  He pulled a lamp attached to the wall toward himself.  I felt a slight shudder in the floorboards below me, and heard a loud creak of metal.  Suddenly, a piece of the wall moved to the side, revealing a hidden part of the store.  "Follow me."He said.  Holora grabbed the lamp off of the wall, and carried it down with him.  I followed.

"What's down here?"

"Patience.  You will see when we get there."Holora responded.  We walked down the stairs down to a basement like room.  A wooden figure stood in the middle of the room.  It held a piece of white clothing with a hood that would cover one's head.  I walked over to it curiously.  Slowly, I reached my hoof out to feel the thick woven fabric.

"Ah ah ah."I heard.  My hoof retreated immediately.  "Please...do not touch that piece of clothing."

"What is it?"I asked.

"It is a common apparel that an Assassin wears.  The hood hides her face well, and the rest hides many other lethal objects."

"Was this one yours?"I looked at the clothing.  It had a dark red stripe on each leg, as well as a stripe on the hood.

"Yes.  That is why I kept it down here, safe from anyponys hooves.  Before I retired, I had a vision that a lost Assassin would cross my path, and I would train them.  Apparently, the vision wasn't entirely true."

"What do you mean?"I asked.

"Your father was an Assassin...therefor you are part of the brotherhood already.  You were born into the brotherhood.  The reason why my vision was slightly wrong, is because I visioned an Assassin who had little experience.  Not none at all."

"I'm...an Assassin?"I was confused, yet it all sounded too familiar.

"Yes, and no.  Like I said, you were born into the brotherhood, but you don't have any experience or knowledge about our ways, and what we stand for..."

"So..."

"So I will teach you..."Wait, what!  "I will teach you everything that I know.  You are what I have been waiting for Scootaloo...your entire family were born into the brotherhood.  Your father was trained, and his father was trained, and so on...now I think it's time for the new generation to begin."

This was all happening way too fast.  One second, I'm adoring all the interesting weapons and blades, the next, I'm being offered to wield, and learn how to use one.

"Scootaloo Jade..."He said.  I looked up at him.  "Will you allow me to take you into my own hooves as your mentor?"
I took a moment to think about the question.  Yes or No...

"Yes."I responded.

"Then you promise to keep the order a secret between ourselves, and other Assassin's around you?"

"I do."I asked myself why he mentioned he was an Assassin in the first place if he's supposed to keep it a secret.

"Do you swear to remain loyal to the Assassins, the needy, and the innocent?"

"I do."

"Then we shall begin your training as soon as possible...Scootaloo Jade, you will continue your family's Assassin heritage, and you will become a symbol of piece, and justice."He said.  "Finally, you must swear to the oath of the brotherhood...Nothing is true...everything is permitted."

"Nothing is true...everything is permitted."I repeated.  I looked up at Holora, and back up at the hood and clothing.  I could only think of what lies ahead.

He said a few more things, and let me go.  I returned outside, where I looked upon the world with excitement.  Soon, I would be the protecter of my friends, and peers.

"There you are!"I heard the familiar voice of my fellow crusader, Applebloom.  "We were wondering when you were gonna come 'outta there.  You missed Pinkie do another one of her sing alongs!"

"Heh.  Yeah sorry I took so long...you won't believe what happened, I'm gonna be a..."I paused, and remembered what I had said.

"A what Scoots?"Sweetie asked.

"A...uh...A sizzling hot chicken egg if I don't get out of this heat."I wiped the sweat off my forehead.

"Yeah no kiddin', it must be like, a hundred degrees out here or somethin'."Applebloom exaggerated.

"So what did you guys do while I was gone?"I asked.

"Not much.  We had some cupcakes, got some ice cold soda pop, and watched Pinkie do her thing."Applebloom responded.

"You should've been there."Sweetie said.

"Well we still have the rest of the day, let's go."I said.  We laughed, and made our way around Ponyville.
> 3-The Stories and Tales
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Stories and Tales






One Week Later...

I walked into the shop that I had quickly become familiar with to see Holora waiting there for me.  "Right on time."He says.  He closes the store, and we walk downstairs into the basement.  As we walked down the stairs, I broke the silence.

"So...what is it the Assassin's do anyways?"I asked.

"That's what todays lesson is about..."He responded.  "Shall we begin?"

"Sure.  Ready when you are."I said.

"Okay...you might want to get comfortable."That immediately told me to find a seat quickly.  "Our order has been around for generations.  Many ponies who are Assassins had someone in their family who were previously an Assassin."I nodded once.  "What we fight for, is very simple.  We fight for freedom...true freedom."

"But...we have freedom...don't we?"I asked.

"Yes..."He turned to his desk, which had a tarp covering the wall behind it.  He grabbed it with his teeth, and pulled the fabric away.  On the wall, six pictures with names written below them were aligned in a pyramid like shape.  "We do have freedom...but there are others out there who wish to take it away from us."He pointed at the pictures.

"Why?  I don't see any reason in that."I observed the faces of the ponies on the wall.  I easily recognized the leader as Queen Chrysalis.  Another had an "X" written across it.  The name read, "Sombra".

"Exactly.  There is no reason.  They claim they are fighting for freedom and piece...but what they really desire is order, and control.  They call themselves The Templars.  We are their greatest enemy...but they are not our enemies, only our greatest threat."

"Why are they enemies with us...but we're not enemies with them...I'm confused."I scratched my mane.

"Look at it this way.  We seek piece and equality for all.  If there is piece, there are no enemies...so why make some on the way there?  We don't attack a group of Templars on sight, unless we have a reason too.  If they attack us first, then we'll fight them.  If they are threatening to cause chaos, we will fight them."

"I get it...Only fight when you need to."I said.

"You're learning quickly...You think a lot like your father."I blushed a little at the comment.  "Moving on...The Templars have been around for many years, dating back to the early days of Celestia and Luna, back before Nightmare Moon.  The one thing they seek to gain total control, is this."Holora held up a picture of a glowing golden orb.

"What is it?"I asked, looking curiously at the picture.

"It's a piece of Eden.  A piece of ancient technology created by the first civilization.  It's unbelievable power can drive even the most generous ponies mad, that will stop at nothing to obtain its power.  We protect this, and keep it from anyone's hooves.  The Templars could crack the Earth if they wanted to if they ever got a hold of this."

"Why would this even be created?"I asked.

"That I'm afraid, I cannot answer.  All I know is, is that it is our duty to protect it, and those who are at risk.  These days, there are very few Templars left, and even fewer Assassin's."

"So is that why you want to train me?"I asked.

"Yes, that and you were born into the brotherhood."Holora reminded me yet again.  I mouthed "Oh", and continued to listen.  "The Assassin's have nearly become extinct through the last two centuries.  Many branches of the brotherhood vanished from existence."

"Why, how did it happen so quickly?"I asked.

"Many reasons.  We were outnumbered from the beginning.  Plus, not all the Assassins we trusted were actually Assassins...there have been countless times of betrayal, which has led to many deaths.  About seventy five years ago, a templar commander framed an Assassin for murdering innocent civilians.  So now the public had turned against us."

"What about these days?"

"These days...people even hardly know we exist.  They just live by and watch the days go by uninterrupted.  Lately I've been asking myself about the return of the Templar knights.  I'd lie awake all night, thinking of the possibilities."Holora finished.  I sat still unable to think of what to say.  I was literally out of things to say.

"To summarize it all up, The greatest threat to us, is the Templars, who fight to gain order and control.  Over the years, they've killed hundreds of us, but we've killed thousands of them.  Over the course of a thousand years, we've almost vanished from existence.  That is why you are the only one who can restore order.  I have faith in you Scootaloo...truly, I do..."



I somehow endured a change of heart that day...I went from being this little daredevil of a foal, to a maturing filly.  Every time I walk out of his shop, my perspective of the world changes, and my heart grows more attached to The Brotherhood.

The next day, we had started the physical training, which was by far, the hardest part of all the training.  Muscle building, vision, balance.  All sorts of training.  We would go into the Everfree Forest, and he would make me climb trees, and jump from branch to branch.  He had spoken to Zecora about setting up some dummies, which he would have me fight. It seemed a bit all too excessive to me, but I knew it had to be done.

Days of training turned into weeks.  Weeks turned into months, and eventually, an entire year had past.  By then I had grown quite a lot.  My training easily paid off, as my skill and ability increased.  It wasn't long before Holora sent me on my first mission...
> 4-The Welcome
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	
The Welcome






I couldn't believe it had already been a year since I started my training.  I had grown so much since then as of my first growth spurt.  My wing span had just about doubled in size, as well as my height.  However, my flank was still bare, and absent of a Cutie Mark.

Sweetie Belle and Applebloom had changed a lot too, as most fillies our age usually grow quickly.  Sweetie Belle begun to take magic lessons from Twilight, and is quickly getting used to using her horn.  As for Applebloom...we don't see much of her anymore.  Applejack has put her to use a lot more than before, and is now working full time on her families farm.  In fact, she's recently had to leave the Cutie Mark Crusaders.  Not because of her work, but because she's become a Cutie Mark Crusaded.  She got her cutie mark about a month ago, when she saved the south fields of the orchard from floodwaters (using the help of Twilight and Applejack of course).  Her cutie mark is half an apple in the shape of a heart, representing her love for what her family does.

But enough about them, because today, Holora has assigned me my first mission!  Though, he hasn't exactly gone into detail on what I'll be doing...



"Finally.  I've bene waiting for this for a whole year now."I said excitedly.  Holora led me out of the store slowly.  He had a minor accident a while back that left him with walking with a cane.  Bless his old bones.  "So what will I be doing?"I asked.

"Nothing too serious.  We'v just got some supplies to pick up from across town, and these old bones won't be able to do this alone."He said.  I stopped as my smile disappeared into a disappointed face.

"Seriously?"I asked.

"Trust me.  It'll be worth it once we're done."

Holora led me across town to a black smith, where he bought a blade with no handle, and a few nuts and bolts.  "Here..."He gave the blade to me.  I carefully placed it in my saddlebag.  "We need to find a hardware store to get a screwdriver and some measuring tools."I listened carefully, putting the pieces together as I took note of what we were buying.

"Are we making a weapon of some kind?"I asked.

"Yes."

"How come there's no handle for the blade?"I asked curiously.

"You'll see."Holora responded.



After what seemed like forever, we found a hard ware store and bought what we needed.  Some measuring tape, a screwdriver, some little pulley wheels, and some industrial strength string.

We walked out of the hard ware store to find the sky had clouded over.  The streets were for the most part deserted, except for a few ponies making their way home.

"Come on we better get going.  It seems the pegasi are brewing up a storm."Holora said.  As I followed him, I noticed a mare across the street walking into an alley with an alert look on her face.  As I looked into the darkness of the alley, a green flash caught my attention.

"Wait."I said.  I turned, and walked towards the alley.  I peaked around the corner, and looked down towards the back.

"What is i..."I placed a hoof on Holora's muzzle.

"Shh."I said removing the hoof.  A small lamp lit the alley where two figures were standing.  I looked at the taller one, and saw holes throughout her body..."Chrysalis!"I said to myself quietly.  Slowly, I crept into the darkness, and hid myself behind a dumpster.  I could here the two ponies talking.

"Have you found where the element wielders are located?"Chrysalis said.

"Yes your highness.  Three of them live in this town.  Two others live just outside of town, and the third lived in Cloudsdale."I noticed the other mare was actually a changeling, who gave Chrysalis a piece of paper.

"Good.  Well done my little subject.  Soon I will avenge my fallen army, and we will thrive once again as the most powerful race in Equestria!"Chrysalis gave out a short wicked laugh, before another green flash blinded me.  She turned into a pegasus, and flew off.  I quickly made my move.

The changeling had its eyes fixed looking up at the sky.  I quickly tackled him, and shoved him against the wall before he could react.  He squirmed and thrashed in an attempt to free himself.

"Tell me where she's going!"I ordered.  I suddenly felt a hoof grasp my shoulder, and pull me away.

"Scootaloo!"Holora said.  "Stop this instant."The changeling took the opportunity to take off.

"What are you doing, he's going to get away!"I said.  Holora released me, and pulled out a small dart.  He quickly flicked it up towards the changeling.  Suddenly, the changeling stopped in mid flight, and begun flying aimlessly.  After a few seconds, his wings froze, and he fell.

"What?"I asked myself.  "Why did you do that?"I asked.

"You must not be so aggressive.  Your notoriety must not rise even a little, or else your presence will be known, and the Templars will come looking for you."Holora explained.  "You're lucky there was only one.  But for the most part you did well.  You successfully eavesdropped on the Templar leader without making your presence known."

"Chrysalis is looking for my friends.  The..."

"The elements of Harmony."Holora cut me off.  "Yes I know of them, and I know why Chrysalis would want them.  Without them, she doesn't have to worry about the most powerful source of magic eliminating her from existence."

"That piece of paper the changeling gave to her must have been a map of the town or something."I said.

"Possibly.  Let's get to the shop before the weather starts to act up."Holora said.



The door of the shop opened as the bell above the door rung.  "Wait here for a few minutes."Holora went downstairs.
I heard the sound of hammering for a few minutes, and then silence for another five.

The silence was broken by hoofsteps coming up the stairs.  Holora appeared from the back of the store holding an odd looking device.  It looked like a leg brace.  "Here."He took my hoof, and held it out.  Slowly, he slipped the device on, and tightened a strap to a perfect fit.  Once it was secure, he pressed down on it, and a sprung out with a shearing sound.  It popped back in.

"What is it?"I asked.

"A hidden blade.  It's one the Assassin's most well known weapons.  It works like this."He pointed towards a little switch that read, "Safety".  "When the safety is on, it will stay hidden.  But when it is off..."He switched it off.  "It may be able to come out.  It will only come out with your leg is straightened out, and will sheathe when your leg is bent."He showed me, careful not to cut himself.  I smiled with joy.

"You're well on your way to becoming a master Assassin.  I didn't get my first hidden blade after two years of training...but I believe you are ready.  Come down here."He made his way towards the basement again.  I followed.

"The reason I haven't let you down here in a while is because I've been working on a project."I got to the bottom of the stairs, and saw a figure covered up in the middle.  Holora removed the fabric, and uncovered it.

I gasped at the sight of it.  A white piece of hooded clothing with a few stripes of purple here and there that matched the color of my mane.  "You've earned it."Holora said.



I threw the hood over my head, and stood up.  I had never felt so proud of myself before.  I didn't even feel this happy when I learned how to fly.  I felt incredibly honored to be where I am now.  Holora placed a hoof on my shoulder.

"Welcome to the brotherhood Scootaloo."He said.  (<----TOTAL AC3 REFERENCE)

"Nothing is true..."We said together.  "Everything is permitted.  We are Assassins."
> 5-Theft Of The Apple Family
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Theft of the Apple Family






I wiped the sweat off of my forehead as I took a break from my little practice session.  The last dummy left was nearly in pieces by the time I had finished.  It seems I've learned everything I can from these dummies.  I heard hoofsteps coming down the stairs, and saw Holora coming down.

"Good morning."I said.

"You're here early.  What are you doing?"He asked.

"Just putting in a little practice."I responded.

"I don't think those dummies will do you much good.  The real experience will have to teach you now."Holora laughed softly.

"I kind of guessed that myself."

"Well.  As you're here, I thought you might want to give this new weapon a try."Holora unsheathed a few small daggers.  The blades were the smallest a had ever seen.  They were wide, and only about 2 inches long from the top to the even smaller shaft.

"Why are they so...small?"I asked.

"They aren't meant to kill on impact.  They are meant to act as projectiles, ranged weapons.  This is the modified version of what I threw at the changeling a while back."Holora explained.  "Be careful that you do not cut yourself.  They're tipped with a lethal poison."Holora warned me as I picked one up.

Carefully, I turned towards the dummy, and quickly swung my hoof around.  The dart made a high pitched hiss as it sped through the air, striking the straw filled fabric with no effort at all.  "Cool."Was the simplest way I could put it.

*Ring*

I heard the bell ring from upstairs.  "Looks like you'v got costumers."I said.

"I'll be back in a second."Holora made his way towards the stairs before we both heard,

"SCOOT!  YOU HERE?"I immediately recognized the voice of Applebloom.  "Where ARE YA!"

"DOWN HERE, HOLD ON!"I made my way up the stairs with Holora shortly behind.  "What are you doing here Applebloom?"I asked as I leaned in for a hug.

"Fine thank you."She hugged back and quickly released in an urgent way.  "Listen Scoot there's no time for catching up.  There's an issue we have to discuss."I heard her words and perked my ears up.

"What's happened?"I asked.

"Flim and Flam...they're back, and they're at our farm telling us to pack our things and leave.  They claim the land is theirs, and we're trespassin"Applebloom explained.

"What?"

"Applejack and Big Mac called for guards, but they showed up and Flim and Flam's side.  They keep saying we don't own the land, and Flim and Flam wish to buy it.  We don't know what to do!"

"What purpose does this serve them!  This is theft!"I exclaimed.  I rushed out of the shop in anger.  "We need to get there quickly."I said.  Applebloom and Holora came out the store.

"Best of luck girls."He said.  He tipped his hat, and walked back inside.

"Let's go."



We approached the farm within ten minuted of cutting through town.  I looked towards the center where their home and barn was located.  Applejack and Big Mac stood surrounded by guards and Flim and Flam just outside their barn.

"Don't let them see you."Applebloom said.  "I'll go up and act like I don't know what's goin' on and act as a distraction.  You do what you need to do."

With that, I quickly climbed up into a tree, and begun jumping from tree to tree.  I quickly made my way around the farm, and jumped back to the ground behind the barn where I couldn't be seen.  I quickly climbed to the roof of the barn, and crossed over to the other side, where I had a better view of the situation.

Applebloom looked up and saw me from a distance.  I nodded, and she nodded back, and begun walking up to the group of guards.  "What's happening?"She asked like a confused little foal.

"Halt.  State your business!"A guard said pointing his spear towards Applebloom.

"At EASE men, you have no reason to harm my lil' sister!"Applejack exclaimed.

"Oh yes, the little apple pest."Flim said.  "She's one of them."

"Big sis what's happenin'?"Applebloom asked.

"We're just havin' some issues...ain't we Flim, Flam?"Applejack stared at the two brothers angrily

"We'll try this one more time."Flam said.

"You're on private property that does not belong to you."Flim continued

"And we are ordering you to get off our land!"Flam finished.

"And for the last time, it's not YOUR LAND!"Applejack yelled.  A silence came upon them all, as Flim and Flam begun whispering.  I managed to hear the last bits of their conversation.

"Go back into town, and send a message to Canterlot ordering the arrest of the Apple Family."Flim said.  With that, Flam nodded, and left the scene.  I awaited a few minutes until he was out of sight, and looked down at Flim.

I breathed in, and out calming my nerved for what I was about to do.  I counted in my head, staring right at Flim.  "One...", I put one leg on the edge of the roof.  "Two..."I turned the safety off of my hidden blade.  "THREE"I jumped, and watched the world slow down as I inched closer and closer to the unsuspecting stallion.

I stuck my hoof out, and the blade extended as time suddenly came back to speed, and I landed on Flim, killing him on impact.  I heard a number of gasps around me as I removed the blade from Flim's neck.  The blade sheathed, and I switched the safety on.



"Why are you doing this?"I asked.  "Why are you stealing from these ponies?"

"Stealing?  We won this land fair and square from that stupid contest.  None of the ponies may have liked our beverage, but we still won our end of the deal."Flim said, spitting up a few drops of blood.

"You could have taken it then and there, but you left and never took your prize."

"So what?  There came I time where we realized we were better off with this farm than with that stupid machine on wheels.  If we had somewhere to settle, we could have made a bigger model of it.  That model is designed to be mobile, and can't produce as much...it's all about money kid...without bits we wouldn't be able to keep ourselves alive...but I guess it wouldn't have mattered with you around."

Flim slowed his words, and gave one final breath, before his eyes rolled into the back of his head.  I brushed my hoof over his forehead and eyes to close them.



"HALT!"I heard.  "You're under arrest for the murder of Flim...Flim...what's his last name?"The guard whispered.  I removed the vest Flim had on, and found what I had feared.  He wore a necklace that had a red cross hinged on.  It was a piece of jewelry worn by Templars.

I felt hooves grasp me, as the guards pulled me away.  "Why were you helping Templars?"I asked.  The guards stopped pulling me, and looked at each other.

"What Templar."The captain asked.  I released myself from the guards lazy grip, and walked over to Flim.  I took the necklace, and pulled it off of his neck.  I held it towards the captain, who examined it carefully.  "That's Templar alright...kid...how do you know about them?"He asked.

"I'm surprised you don't recognize me..."I said.

"Well...we better report this to Princess Celestia.  Sorry to bother you and your family Apple's...we'll have an investigation done as soon as possible."The captain put the red cross necklace in his pocket, and quickly left.  Two guards, took Flim's body, and threw on a carriage they had came with, and followed.  I turned towards Applebloom and her family.

"You guys alright?"I asked walking over to the Apple Family, slowly taking off my hood.

"I thought I recognized that voice.  Scootaloo what are you doin'?"Applejack asked petting my mane with her hoof.

"My job."I responded.

"So your some kind of 'Assassin' now?"Applejack asked in a sarcastic tone.

"Maybe.  I just happened to so be dressed exactly like one, have amazing abilities, and kill a templar."I said.

"Nice work Scoots."Applebloom walked up to me and gave me a hoofbump.

"Wait...did you two plan this?"Applejack asked.

"YUP!  I was a temporary distraction while Scootaloo did the rest."Applebloom put it simply.

"Interesting...well, I can't wait to tell everypony about how Applebloom saved the farm.  Woo!"Applejack cheered.

"Well, I'd best be going.  Take care Applebloom."I gave her one last hug before turning to leave.

"Going so soon?"Applejack asked.  "I was gonna fix us all some breakfast."

"Thanks AJ but, I gotta get back home.  Duty calls."I responded.

"Well take now ya' here."Applejack waved her hat in the air.  I waved back, and made my way back to the shop.



"So, you've killed your first Templar."Holora said as he stared at the pictures of the known Templars.  I realized that two of them were indeed Flim and Flam, but Flim had been pained over with red paint.  "Not bad at all...but there's still more to go.  I've managed to acquire some of the names of the Templars."Holora said.

"The one you killed was called Flim, and the other that got away is Flam.  Two brothers who seeked a life a drinking...sounds to me like they're from Germaney."Holora said humorously.  "This Griffon is named Gilda...she actually used to have a close relationship with the one you called your idol?"

"Rainbow Dash...yes.  But they've gone separate ways since the last time they saw each other."I responded.

"Right...this particular one, by the name of "Trixie Lulamoon" has been claimed to be an Ex-Templar.  Seems she left the order after a final confrontation with Twilight Sparkle.  If we find her we may be able to retrieve some information on the whereabouts of other Templars."

"I'm way ahead of you."I said.

"Your objective is to not kill her.  Just see if you can get into a friendly conversation with her, and we'll have what we need."

"Okay...I'll go speak to Twilight to see if she knows where Trixie has been."I said.  I made my way up the stairs, and left for Twilight's library.
> 6-The Search for Gilda Begins
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Search for Gilda Begins






I knoked lightly on the door, and opened it.  "Anyone here?"I asked aloud.

"Yes,"Twilight was busy placing books on the shelves.  "What can I do you for?"

"I'd like to have a talk...ask some questions."I responded.

"Oh?  Well, let me finish up here."Twilight put the last books up, and climbed down the ladder she was using.  "Now what would you like to know?"

"I believe you know a mare by the name of Trixie Lulamoon?"I asked.

"Yes...I know Trixie."

"You wouldn't happen to know where she is do you?"

"I'm afraid not...why do you want to know?"Twilight asked curiously.

"...Personal Business."Was my response.

"Oh...well, you could talk to Pinkie Pie.  I think I saw her talking to Trixie the other day around sugar cube corner...you'll find her there at the Cake's shop."Twilight said.

"What would Pinkie want with Trixie?"I thought to myself.  "Well, thanks Twilight."I said making my way towards the door.

"No problem ma'am.  Come back anytime if you need a book."Twilight said in a business-mare like tone.  I quickly made my way across town to Sugarcube Corner.



I walked into the Cake's bakery, and rung the bell up on the counter.  Mrs. Cake appeared in seconds.  "Hello, what can I do you for?"She asked kindly.

"I'd like to know the whereabouts of Pinkie Pie please."I responded.

"One moment...PINKIE!"She suddenly yelled into the other room.

"Yes!"I heard the high pitched voice of Pinkie Pie in the other room.  She quickly walked in and stood next to Mrs. Cake.

"This young filly would like a word with you."Mrs. Cake looked at me.

"Hey Scootaloo!"Pinkie said.  "What's up?"She asked.

"Not much...could I speak to you a moment?"I asked.  "Privately."

"Mhmm!"Pinkie waited until Mrs. Cake left the room.  "What's up?"She asked again.

"Twilight said she saw you talking with Trixie the other day...what was that about?"I asked.

"Oh Trixie.  She came to me for advice for her new business."Pinkie explained.

"New Business?"

"Yep!  She's starting doing magic shows for the little ones."

"Really?"Funny how an Ex-Templar would make a living like that.

"She said since she could no longer entertain the public, because they wouldn't buy it, she would just do shows for foals.  You know, like parties and stuff."Pinkie explained.

"Interesting.  You wouldn't happen to know where she is, or where she might be do you?"I asked.

"Hold on...let me check the party schedule."Pinkie lifted up a clipboard from no where, and read down the paper that was attached, muttering to herself as she did so.  "Ah ha!  She'll be here in about an hour for one of her shows."

"An hour...here?"I asked.

"Yep!  It's the twins second Birthday today, so we're throwing them a big party!"Pinkie exclaimed throwing her hooves in the air, sending the clip board flying out of sight.  I turned to check the clock on the wall.  '12:30'.  Okay, I've got to be back here in an hour.

"Thanks Pinkie.  By the way...how did you know it was me?"I asked.  After all, I was still wearing my hood.

"How could I not recognize you silly!"Pinkie said...then again, it is Pinkie Pie.

"Alright, well, try and help me lay low.  I don't need everypony knowing it's me under these clothes."I said.  "See you in an hour."I walked out of the bakery, and made my way back to Holora's shop.



An hour passes between then and now



I opened up the door that led into the bakery, and heard the sounds a cheerful party around me.  Streamers were flying everywhere as little foals ran around chasing each other aimlessly.  Reminds me of the days I was just a foal...in that orphanage.  I quickly erased the thought from my head.

"Alright everypony, time for the magic show!"Pinkie appeared out of no where with her hooves flailing.  Trixie teleported into view in her usual costume she would wear.  A little cheerful fanfare tune played as little magical fireworks popped around her.  The foals laughed and smiled at the mesmerizing lights.

I noticed a few of the mothers who should have been watching their foals, were watching me instead.  They stared at me with confused faces, whispering to each other while they kept their eyes locked on to me.  I felt a hoof tap me on the shoulder.

"Hey come in here."Pinkie said.  I followed her to the kitchen, where she gave me a place to sit.  "I told Trixie to come back here when she's done, so we can just wait here okay?"Pinkie explained.

"Let her take her time.  I don't want to stir up a commotion at a foals birthday party.  I already got a few of those mares staring at me like I was some sort of alien."I said rolling my eyes.

"Okay.  Can I get you anything?  Maybe a cupcake, or something to drink?"Pinkie offered generously.

"A glass of water would be fine."I said.  Pinkie quickly got a glass and filled it to the brim.

"Here you go."Some of the water spilled on to the floor as she gave it to me.  I quickly drank some of it to quench my thirst from todays heat.

"Thanks Pinkie."

"I'm gonna go check up on the party."Pinkie walked out of the kitchen.  "Hey everypony are we having fun!"I heard Pinkie yell from across the building.

"PINKIE!"I heard a lot of the parents yell in a celebration(ish) tone.  I quietly drank from the glass while I awaited for Trixie to finish.  After about ten minutes, the foals were back to chasing each other, and Trixie and Mrs. Cake walked into the kitchen.

"That was quite a performance.  They loved it.  Thank you again for the show Great and Powerful..."

"Please...don't call me that..."Trixie cut Mrs. Cake off.  "That's a name I'd rather leave in the past."

"Oh well...thank you anyway.  Here's your bits."Mrs. Cake paid Trixie.  "Oh hello again little one...what are you doing in here, the party isn't here."Mrs. Cake said.  Trixie looked at me, and let out a little gasp.

"Trixie Lulamoon?"I asked.  "I'd like to have a word with you in private."

"So many private conversations today."Mrs. Cake walked out of the room.

"Y-y-yes?"Trixie trembled.  I reached into a pocket, and took out a red cross.

"Do you recognize this?"I asked.  Trixie gulped.

"I know what you are, and I know what you're thinking.  But I speak the truth, I'm not one them anymore, I swear it."Trixie explained.

"I understand.  I just wanted to know, since you used to be a Templar, you wouldn't happen to know where the whereabouts of some of the leaders might be do you?"I asked.

"Oh, I haven't heard anything about them in ages.  The last I spoke to one of them, a Griffon named Gilda, I was in Dodge Junction.  She flew south towards the badlands, but that was the last I saw of her."Trixie explained.

"Dodge Junction...is that all you know?"I asked.

"Yes."Trixie responded.

"Thank you for your time."I said, making my way for the door out of the building.  I returned to Holora's shop, and informed him of my next plan.
> 7-The Dodgy Side of Equestria
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Dodgy Side of Equestria






I checked my saddlebags a second time as I watched the train approach the platform I was standing upon.  Holora stood beside me quietly on his cane.  The train came to a screeching halt as the brakes were applied.  It halted, and the whistle blew with a high pitched wail.  The doors on the cars opened up, and a conductor stepped on to the platform.

"ALL ABOARD!  NEXT STOP DODGE JUNCTION!"He called aloud.

"Take good care.  Use your training and abilities to guide you to success."Holora said.  I nodded once, and stepped through the doorway of the car.

"Tickets?"Another conductor was awaiting inside.  I gave him my ticket, and quickly found a seat.  Two other mares boarded shortly after me, taking up two more seats in the car.  With that, the door closed, and the whistle wailed again.

The train shuddered as I looked out the window.  Slowly, the world around me begun to move towards the back of the train.  The whistle wailed a few more times as the train slowly accelerated out of the station.  I watched as we left the station, and eventually, left Ponyville.



*THUD* My eyes snapped open to the train shuddering.  I rubbed my eyes and turned to look outside the windows.  The sky was no longer lit as the moon was high and the stars littered the sky around it.  A canyon flowed underneath the train as it sped on across a long bridge crossing the gorge.

"Seems like we'll be arriving soon"I thought to myself.  Wouldn't you know it, it would only be another ten minutes before we arrived.  The time passed quickly as I gazed upon the seemingly lifeless desert.  I heard the brakes apply on the wheels creating a high pitch screech of metal on metal.  The train slowly slowed, and approached dodge junction.

I pushed the window next to me open, and stuck my head out to look ahead.  The station was directly in front of us, as was the small community of Dodge.  The train gave another short screech as we halted at the platform of the station.  The conductor opened both the doors on our car, and stepped off.  I shortly followed.

The world around me was much different than the one I had left.  Instead of green fields and tall snow covered mountains, the land was covered in sand and so flat it seemed you could see the edge of the earth.

The wooden platform creaked from each step I'd take.  The small station was lit by two dim lanterns on each side of the platform.  The train gave a short whistle as steam hissed from the engine.  The train departed from the station, and begun rolling down the track.  Just like that I was left alone on the platform, watching the train grow smaller and smaller in the distance.



The Following Morning at Sunrise



Scootaloo barged into the Tavern with her hood over her head, immediately getting everypony's attention.  Among their stares, she ignored them, and slowly trotted to the other end of the room, where the bartender was quietly cleaning out a glass mug.  Scootaloo heard a quiet laughter and chuckles from the ponies who were staring at her.  Again, Scootaloo ignored them, and sat down at the bar.  The bartender looked at me.

"Aren't you a little young to be wandering around here all by yourself?"He asked.

"Maybe."I said in a sarcastic tone.  The bartender looked at me with a confused and irritated face.  A stallion with a harsh raspy voice spoke behind her.

"Listen here.  This aint a place for a little filly like you."I turned to see him standing up, and taking a step towards me.  He took a swig of his mug, finishing the last of the liquid, before tossing it aside.  "I suggest you leave before someone gets hurt."He threatened.

"I suggest you sit back down before you get hurt."I said in a calm voice.  "I'm just here looking for somepony."

"Well I think that somepony is trouble."He drew closer to me as he spoke.  I could smell the alcohol on his breath from where I was sitting.

"Now you leave her alone Hank.  She aint botherin' nobody."The bartender spoke up.

"Enough of this."Hank said pushing a chair aside.  "You're obviously looking for trouble."He drunken stallion wobbled a little towards me.  I climbed off of the chair, and stood my ground.

"This is unwise."I said.

"Hank don't do this."One of his peers said.

"Shut up Jenkins.  We're settlin' this the ol' fashioned way.  Don't need none of her big city attitude buckin' things up."Hank drew a knife, and  pointed it at me.  The bartender made a move to subdue Hank.

"No."I said.  "He wants to fight, he'll get one."I moved a chair the bartenders intended path with my hind leg.  Now the stallions and mares in the tavern were staring at us, waiting to see who made the first move.  Knowing my code I swore to, I stayed my blade, awaiting to defend myself.

"Come here!"Hank said aggressively.  He lunged forward, driving the knife towards me clumsily.  I simply swayed to the side as the knife overshot its intended victim, and took his leg hostage in my hooves.  Using one hoof to hold his leg, and used the other to pry the knife out of his hoof.  It was almost like fighting a straw dummy.

I kicked his stomach, and took the knife.  A wave of cheering and whistling sounded through a few of the stallions as Hank held his gut.  "Finished?"I asked.

"Hank stop this immediately."Jenkins said getting up from the table.  He tried to pull Hank away, but Hank shrugged him off, and got up on his hooves.  He looked at me, and realized I had his knife.  He lunged in an attempt to take it back.  With swift movement, I leaped to the right, and left the bar in his path.
*SLAM*
His head hit the bar, and he fell to the floor, dazed and disoriented.  "That's enough."I heard.  I looked towards the entrance of the saloon, and saw a pony wearing a leather vest with a gold star on it.

"Sheriff."The bartender said.

"Explain this mess."The sheriff said.

"We're all witnesses here.  It's safe to say this filly was defending herself."The bartender said.  I turned towards Hank, who was still recovering from the unexpected blow to the head.  The sheriff suddenly heaved him up with the help of who I assumed was the deputy.  The deputy looked at me curiously and said,

"You watch yourself."

Just like that it was over.

"Now you said you were lookin' for someone?"The bartender asked.  I climbed up on a chair, and stood upright, holding up a picture of my intended target.

"I'm looking for a griffon.  I was informed she was seen around here lately."I slowly swiveled the picture so everypony could get a good look at it.  None spoke up.  I sighed.  "Does anyone know a griffon by the name of Gilda?"Upon saying her name, a few eyes widened, and I heard mumbling around the building.  A yellow furred mare stood up.

"I saw her yesterday while I was huntin' for dinner.  She was out with a weird looking creature.  Had a bunch of holes in her legs and wings."She said.  "Saw them out east towards the abandoned mine."

"Thank you."I said.  I grabbed three bits from my pocket a tossed them into her mug.  The 'creature' she described had to be none other than Chrysalis.  She's the only living thing I know of that has swiss cheese for a parent.

As I walked out of the tavern, I wrote down a memento on a piece of paper.  "Head east towards abandoned mineshaft."As I wrote it, I bumped into somepony causing me to drop the paper.

"Sorry."I said, picking up the piece of paper.  "Wasn't lookin...Applebloom?"I looked up, and realized that I had bumped into Applebloom.  "What are you doin' here?"I asked.

"I was about to ask you the same question.  We're here visiting Braeburn after the ordeal at the farm.  Just to make sure he was okay."Applebloom explained.  Applejack walked up from the post office to join the conversation.

"Well look who it is."Applejack said.

"Visiting Braeburn huh?  I thought he lived in Appleloosa?"I asked.

"Well yes he does, but he's been spending some time down here for a while.  We're jumpin' on the train tomorrow with him to go back to Appleloosa."Applejack explained.  "So what in tarnation are you doin' all the way out here?"

"I guess you could call it a business trip."I said.

"Hm.  Doesn't seem like one.  Well we're gonna go grab a drink.  Want to come with?"Applejack offered.

"No thanks."I said.  "I've got work to do."

"Suit yourself."Applebloom said.  "The age for drinkin' alcohol is younger out here, and I get to try my first mug of Apple cider!"Applebloom said in an excited tone.

"I keep tellin' you Applebloom.  It's gonna taste exactly the same as that Apple juice you drink.  You wait."Applejack said.  "Well, see you around scoots."Applejack and Applebloom walked into the tavern, and left me to do my work.

To the East I go.
> 8-Mining For Templars
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Mining For Templars






The sun's intense heat surrounded me as the carriage came to a halt upon a small cave entrance.  I jumped off, and paid the two stallions who had tugged me from Dodge Junction, and peered into the cavern.  Most of the entrance was sealed off with planks of wood, and a sign that read "Condemned".

I gave the planks a knock to get a feel of their current state.  They were quite brittle, and beginning to rot under the boiling rays of the sun.  With one kick, my hoof drove through the planks, gaining access to the cave.  I turned to the carriage, and pulled out a lantern I had bought, and brought along with me.  I lit the lamp using a tinderbox, and made my way into the cave.

Surprisingly, it was much cooler in the cave than outside.  I would think that any heat that would get in would have a hard time getting out, and become trapped.  The stone walls were cool to the touch, and droplets of water fell from the moist ceiling.
I continued down the path, seeing light at the end.

As I neared it, I noticed railway tracks at the bottom of the path running perpendicular from me.  I came out of the small hole that lead me here from the entrance and looked around.  There were torches on the walls, still alight and burning.  I picked one up off of its hold on the wall, and snuffed the flame.  I examined the wood on the piece of wood, and noticed it was quite fresh.

"These torches can't be but a few hours old."I thought to myself.  "Someone had recently been through here."

I relit the torch and placed it back on the wall.  I looked down the tunnel where the tracks curved around out of sight, and back the other direction where they did the same.  As I peered into the poorly lit tunnels, and heard the sound rattling metal.  A yellow glow begun to cover the cave walls, and I realized there was someone coming.

I quickly jumped back into the hole that lead to the entrance, and hid out of sight.  I watched as a small train of mining carts swung by with a pony in the front of it.  I didn't get the chance to get a good look at the cargo as it was going by.  I quickly followed the tracks in the direction the carts were going, and ran down the tunnel.

After a few minutes of chasing the carts, the track suddenly dipped down into descending darkness.  I looked behind me, and saw another light peering down the tunnel.  This was the only chance I've got to continue going.

"Help!"I exclaimed at the stallion riding in the lead car.

"What are you doing down here?"He asked.  He pulled the brakes, and climbed out of the cart.  "I'd ought to take you-"He pulled out a small dagger.  Quickly, I knocked him off his hooves, causing him to drop the blade.  I took the opportunity to pin him to the ground.

"Who are you, and why are you working in an abandoned mineshaft?"I asked as my hidden blade sprung out, barely reaching his neck.

"Uuh..."He hesitated, looking for an answer.  "I...I was forced too."He clearly lied.  I brought my blade closer to his neck.  "Alright!  I'm down here working for a griffin.  Please, don't kill me!"He pleaded.  I retracted my blade, holding his neck tightly, choking him of air.  a few seconds passed, and he lost the battle with consciousness.  I checked him to make sure he was still breathing, and released him from my grip.

I quickly got on to the carts that were still stopped on the tracks, and got in.  After releasing the brakes, the carts slowly drifted forward towards the incline, where the speed picked up as it moved closer.  I saw the tracks dip down as the speed intensely picked up, and the carts begun roaring down the tracks.  I looked behind me, and the saw the other two carts were filled with sulfur and what I assumed were iron deposits.

As I looked forward as the track begun to level out.  Ahead of me, I could see a highly lit open cavern with a lot of space.  As I approached it, I realized there were ponies everywhere, mostly stallions, working and carrying supplies around.

I quickly ducked out of sight into the cart.  I took another peek and saw the tracks came to an end.  I applied the brakes, and the carts begun to slow.  It came to a halt, and a saw a stallion come over to look at the cargo.

Above me on the cave ceiling, there were a few thick stalactites.  I looked ahead of me, and saw a decent crack in the cave wall I could use to climb up.  I quickly looked around to make sure no one was looking.  The stallion checking the cargo turned away, and I jumped out of the cart, and towards the wall.

I quickly jumped up, and begun climbing.  I climbed a good ten to fifteen feet, before I jumped backwards on to a stalactite, which held me firmly.  Below me, the workers continued working without noticing me.

I looked around the room, noticing many different things that would only serve as a purpose to kill.  In one corner, there was a massive furnace, which rocks were tosses into.  Once they were a smoldering liquid, they would be scooped out, and poured into molds to be cooled.  Blacksmiths on another side shaped the metals from the molds, sharpening and strengthening the newly formed blades, before being placed on wooden handles.  Other black smiths were shaping tiny arrows to be placed on shafts, and smaller blades the size of a dagger.

"Why are they doing this?"I asked myself quietly.  "There is no war going on...there is no need for mass production of weapons."I continued to observe their actions, until another train of carts came in.  This time, with a special package.

"Attention!"The griffon riding the middle hopped out as soon as it stopped.  Gilda..."Captain."She said.  One of the stallions walked up to her and saluted.  "What's the situation?"

"Going swiftly.  Why do you ask?"

"As we were coming by to check on things, we found an unconscious worker in the tunnels.  He looked like he had been asphyxiated.  You haven't seen anything suspicious?"She asked.

"Nothing at all.  Except for those carts.  It came in with no sign of a driver on board."The two paused, as Gilda took a moment to look around the room.  She turned to the captain once more.  Though she was speaking quietly, I could still hear most of what she was saying.

"I want a search on everypony here.  We could have a killer trying to interfere with our system."She said.  The captain saluted, and sent a few of the armed ponies around to begin searching.  Gilda returned to the carts, and it moved forward towards the rooms exit where the track split off.  Immediately, more carts came by, and dropped off its cargo.

As the drivers switched, I let go of the stalactite, falling towards the back cart that was directly below me.  With a quiet thud, I attracted the attention of the driver.  "Hm?"He looked back, and saw nothing.  The train begun moving forward as he shrugged it off.

The cart turned towards the exit, and moved up on an incline, where a pulley system tugged the carts up.  It was a good minute before the tracks leveled out again and the train begun to move at a moderate speed.

After a few minutes, I saw the track split, towards another end of the tunnel, where I could see the light of Gilda's train, and the light of the desert in front of it.  I quickly jumped off, and followed the other tracks, where I was certain the train I was chasing was Gilda's.

I saw the train disappear in the sun's bright light as I neared the end of the tunnel.  The sun's light blinded me as my eyes begun to adjust.  Once they did, I could see the tracks going into a building that had many carriages and trollies awaiting to be exported to deliver their cargo.

I quickly entered the building through the train's entrance, and saw the factory was nothing but an assembly line, where  weapons would be given quick touchups, and then they would be placed in crates that would be moved on to the carriages.  I saw Gilda's train stop at a little office towards the top of the factory.  Gilda got out, and walked into the office alone, closing the door behind her.  I quickly looked around, searching for a quicker way up.

I had no choice but to follow the tracks.  I ran up the tracks as the workers looked at me in fear.  Many of the workers were mares, who looked torn and broken.  The environment of the factory was filthy and poorly sanitized.  It became clear to me that these mares were being forced to work here.

I reached the top, where Gilda's office sat quiet, and seemed to be dormant.  I walked slowly to the door, and put my ear to the door.  Nothing could be heard.  I turned the knob, and walked in.  Gilda sat quietly, facing the window with her head on her talons.  I quietly closed the door, and sat down in a seat opposite of her desk.

"I knew you were there."She said.  "I knew you were in that room, staring at me."

"There's no reason for this."I said.

"You think that...but you're very wrong."Gilda turned and stared at me.

"It is you who is wrong."

"If that is the case...then prove me wrong."Gilda pushed the light desk out the way, sending into the wall.  She gave an ear piercing screech that could have broken a window.  I stood my ground, and awaited for her move.  Her razor sharp talons dived towards me, knocking me to the ground.

Her talon wrapped around my neck as she looked into my eyes.  There wasn't a single spark of hesitation in me as my free hoof stuck out, extending the blade hidden in my robe.  I drove it into her neck, sending her towards death.



"Ah well."Gilda said resting in her own blood.  "It was bound to happen anyway.  Still, it was a good run.  You won't be able to stop this.  I've already sent out tons of weapons.  Stopping it now will serve no purpose."

"You think I have no control over what you and your friends are doing.  You may think you've already won.  Well here I am, putting an end to whom you serve."

"You won't be able to put a dent in the Templars.  There's no hope for you...you might as well give up."Gilda gave one last breath as her eyes rolled back.  I slowly pulled the eyelids over her eyes.

"Rest in peace."



I walked out of the office, and looked over the mare's from the railing.  I raised a hoof, gaining their attention.  "You're free to go."I simply said.  The mares tore off their aprons and clothing they were forced to wear, and quickly made their way for the exit.

I waited for all of them to leave the building, before grabbing a few kegs of sulfur.  I poured a trail of sulfur out through the exits, and away from the building, where the mares were walking in all different directions.  I poured the last of the gun powder out, and took out a piece of flint and steel.

I struck the two minerals together, creating a spark which ignited the sulfur.  The flame spread towards the factory, and eventually, the factory erupted in a massive flame.  As I walked away from the now burning building, I pulled out a piece of paper I took off of Gilda's body.

"This can't be right..."I said.  "They're going to attack Ponyville!"
> 9-On The Brink of War
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	
On The Brink of War






I turned the knob on the door leading into Mayor Mare's office, and opened it roughly, immediately getting her attention.

"Mayor Mare!"I said.  She stared at me with an irritated face.

"What is it?"She asked.  "Can't you see I'm busy."Piles of paper were on all sides her desk.

"I'm afraid we're going to be much more busy.  I've learned of something so vile...it's...read this."I gave her the note I took from Gilda.  She read through it quickly as her face slowly turned to a terrified expression.

"When the bell ring's for the twelfth, and last time...Ponyville will fall to the Templars."She looked up at me.  "How did you acquire this?"She asked.

"It's what I do.  Smuggled it off of someone out near Dodge Junction.  Whoever they were, they were making tons of weapons, forcing mares to work for her."I explained.

"What was the outcome of that?"

"Their factory destroyed, and their leader dead.  That's who held that information.  All the mares were set free, but I'm afraid that I was too late to stop any of the weapons from being exported out to the ponies who wish to attack us.  They could be anywhere!"I said.

"It says that the attack begins today.  What time is it?"Mayor Mare looked at the clock behind her on the wall.  It read '11:00'  "Only an hour!"She exclaimed.  "Come with me."We walked out of the room, and headed out of the building.



"Citizens of Ponyville!"I shouted aloud in ponyville square.  "We're all in grave danger.  The Templars await beyond our boundaries with swords drawn, awaiting to attack and take the town."I heard a few quiet gasps in the crowd, followed by mumbling between the ponies.

"Their attack begins at noon, when the bell is rung for the twelfth and last time.  Please return home, gather your belongings, and evacuate with your family.  You may flee Ponyville for the safety of your family and friends, or you may stay and fight the Templars who come to attack.  The choice is yours, but I warn you make it quickly.  At noon, you will not have an easy time getting away.  Please evacuate quickly and collectively."I finished.

The crowd that gathered and stood before me quickly dispersed, and spread around Ponyville.  Sweetie Belle and Rarity happened to be amongst the crowd during my speech, and stayed to have a talk.

"Sweetie Belle.  It's good to see you."I gave Sweetie a welcoming hug.

"It's been a while."She said returning the hug.  "So what's happened?  Why are we being attacked?"

"Our attackers only seek control.  That is all."I said as a response.

"I can stay and fight with you.  You may need an extra pair of hooves."Sweetie offered.

"Thanks Sweetie but...I think it's best if we just get everypony out of harms way."

"It wasn't a question.  Besides, I've been going over to the Apple's farm lately, and she's shown me how to hunt with a bow and arrow.  I'm quite a natural."Sweetie explained.

"Well...wait, why would you need to hunt?"I asked.

"Applejack thinks Winona is better off eating more natural meat more than that store brand stuff."Sweetie explained.

"Ah...well..."I looked around, looking for an elevated building.  "Ah-ha.  Up there."I pointed towards the clock tower.  "You can fire from a bow from up there."

"Good idea...we just have to find a bow, and some arrows."Sweetie said.

"I know where to go."



Play "Homestead" ac 3 soundtrack



I quietly walked into the store that belonged to my mentor.  The weapons that once stood on display along the walls were now gone, leaving an empty drywall to look at.  I spoke in the quietness, breaking the silence.  "Holora...are you here?"

"Yes."I heard.  "Back here."Holora spoke from behind the counter.  I closed the door behind me as Sweetie Belle walked in behind me.

"Follow me."I said.  We walked to the back of the store, where Holora was opening the basement door.  "Holora."I said.  "I take it you've gotten word of the attack?"I asked.

"Yes...what happened out there?"

"Gilda...she used an abandoned mineshaft for cover, and used it's iron deposits to make weapons.  I was well too late to stop any weapons from being sent to the enemy...but I managed to halt the production, and kill Gilda...that's where I snatched a letter describing the attack, when and where it was happening."I explained.

"Hm...So Gilda's dead...now all you have left is Flam, and Chrysalis."Holora said.  "Who's this?"He gestured toward Sweetie Belle.

"This is Sweetie Belle...one of my lifelong friends."I said.  "She requires a bow, and some arrows."

"Helping to defend the town are we?  Let me see what I have down here."Holora slowly walked down the stairs.  Sweetie and I followed him down the basement.  "What wood do you prefer?"Holora asked.

"I've only used a bow made of yew."Sweetie responded.  Holora did not respond, only opened up a chest, and lifted a wooden bow out.

"Here.  This one is modified for battle.  You'll also need these."Holora gave the bow to Sweetie, and reached back inside the chest, and pulled out a quiver holding many arrows.  Sweetie took this as well, and put both items around her back.

"Thank you...do I owe you anything?"She asked.

"Not at all...Scootaloo."Holora said getting my attention.  "You must think.  Use your skill to get as many ponies out for as long as possible.  Do not try and hold the town...only get the helpless out, and find shelter...I'm afraid that...ponies will die today..."Holora explained.  "But do not let that stop you.  Now go, both of you."

"Where will you go?"I asked.  Holora did not answer immediately.

"...I will stay here...down here will they won't find me."He said.  My heart nearly sunk upon hearing his answer as my ears folded back.

"You don't have to stay down here...even if they don't find you, you won't have any food, or water until I return."

"I'll be fine...you and Sweetie need to go immediately.  Time is ticking."Holora pointed towards the door as he sat in a wooden chair holding his cane near him.  Sweetie Belle tugged me, inching me up the stairs.  I followed her, and took one last look at Holora.

Would this be the last time I will ever see him?  I hoped it wasn't.  I got to the top of the stairs, and slowly pushed the door closed.  The more I closed it, the more my heart dropped, and sunk deep into my feelings...
*Clank*
The door closed, and the lock latched on to the door, which now blended with the wall around it.  I held the door, putting my head against it.  "Goodbye."I quietly said under my breath.



*Play "Connor's Life"*



The sound of wooden wheels on the cobblestone road was a noise I would prefer to hear on another day.  Foals whined, their face soaked in tears.  Their mothers held them tightly, comforting as much as possible as their stallions helped haul them to safety, bitter, and angry.

I couldn't help but let a teardrop of my own fall from my eyes.  The clouds that now covered the sky, grew darker and darker.  These clouds slowly let go of their cargo as rain begun to cover the land.  The sight of Ponyville's evacuation influenced the anger within me.  Why must these innocent ponies suffer from the Templars.  Why must the one's who have done nothing, have their lives taken away.

"Scoots..."Sweetie said, gently placing a hoof on my shoulder.  "He'll be okay..."

"It's not that...not just that anyway."I said quietly.  "It's everything.  Seeing the ponies we grew up with...being forced out of their home...our home."

"I know...I'm upset too...but that should be the least of our worries."Sweetie said, as three Canterlot carriages flew above our heads.  They circled around, and landed in front of us.  Shining Armor, and nine other soldiers climbed off, and stood in front of me.

"We're here to help the evacuation."Shining Armor said.

"Thank you."I said.  "Do not worry about the Templars until they get here.  Right now, help any struggling pony or family that needs help.  I am to see everypony get out alive."I explained.

"Of course."Shining Armor turned around, facing the soldiers.  With a swing of a leg, they dispersed, and spread out among the civilians evacuating.  Shining Armor looked upon the undisciplined march to safety.

"Shining!"We both heard.  We turned and saw a familiar purple unicorn running towards Shining Armor.

"Twiliy!"Shining Armor caught Twilight as they embraced in a brief, sorrow hug.  "Twilight...is everyone okay?"

"Yes...The rest are right behind me."Twilight pointed behind her to the approaching group of ponies, all familiar to me.

"Good...I hate to push you away, but their's no time to talk."Shining Armor said.  "You have to get moving."

"I understand.  We're heading for Canterlot."Twilight said.

"I'm to understand that's where most ponies are going.  Good luck Twily."Shining Armor said, pulling his sister into another hug.  Twilight let go, and continued walking with the crowd along with the rest of the element bearers.

"Seems to be in good order.  I'll head up the road and see the situation out."Shining Armor said.  I nodded as he begun to walk up the road, away from the town.  As I looked back towards Ponyville, I heard the low tones of the clocktower.

*gong...gong...gong*

The ringing bell of the tower hypnotized me, drawing me closer to the tones.  "Scoots, where are you going?"Sweetie asked behind me.

"I'm going back.  I'll keep them busy while you help the last of the evacuation get out safely."I looked over the ridge we stood on, and saw the end of the line of wagon's and ponies, just beginning to leave the town.

"I'm coming with you."Sweetie said.  I jumped to the ground some three feet below me.

"No...I can't risk you getting hurt."I said.  "Stay here, and help them."I didn't look back at her, only stepped closer to the Ponyville.

"Scoots don't do this."Sweetie said.  I didn't respond, and leap away, and begun to gallop towards the clocktower.  Sweetie watched as I vanished from sight.



*GONG*
The Twelfth, and final ring of the clocktower bell rung out, as I stood below it.  I awaited any sign of the Templars beginning their attack.  The endless howl of the wind was the only sound I could hear...all was still...all was quiet, as I closed my eyes, listening...waiting.

I opened my eyes, and looked across the bridge that stood in front of me.  A stallion stood on the other side of the bridge, staring into my eyes.  It was none other than Flam, the brother of the Templar I had killed not to long ago.

"Where are your friends?"He asked, stepping closer towards me.  I did the same, stepping forward when he did so.

"Gone...safe from your tyranny."I responded.

"Tyranny?"Flam said.  "There is no tyranny here.  Only me, only the Templars."

"Which is why the town has fled.  I will not allow you to lay your hoof on an innocent soul, do you hear me!"I continued to slowly walk towards him, as he inched closer to me.

"This town was a town of peace...we only wanted to keep it that way."Flam lied.

"This town was peaceful...until you threatened to invade.  You speak of keeping Ponyville safe, but you only plan to destroy it.  As sweet as the words sound, you can't cover up your own lies."I shouted.

"You killed my brother...an innocent stallion, who worked by my side."Flam said.

"I killed your brother, a fellow Templar of yours.  I promise you, if you don't stop this now, I will assure you that you'll reunite with your brother soon."

"You're blind...you don't see the true ways of the world.  The world was meant to be the way of the Templars.  The only thing stopping us, are you and your damned Assassin's."Flam said as the anger boiled within me.  I looked deep into his eyes...as a memory suddenly flashed into my eyes.



"Go live your life my daughter...Scootaloo."My father pushed me through the small hole, which I managed to fit through.  I reached back in to try and save my parents from the burning wreckage.

"No Scootaloo, go!"My mother yelled, as she held my hoof.  "You must be strong...you must be brave...go, now!  Before they find you!"

"But-"

"NO Buts!"My father said.  He suddenly gasped.  "I hear someone coming, go!"

I felt a pair of hooves grab me, and pull me away from the opening which was too small for my parents to fit through.  "NO!  NO, LET ME SAVE THEM!"I yelled.  I looked back at the burning house, towards my parents...
*CRASH*
The roof caved in, as the sight of my parents disappeared.  "NOOOOO!"I squirmed out of the strangers hooves, running towards the wreckage.  He quickly caught up with me, and picked me up.

"Stop it!  We need to go!"He said.  "I'm sorry, but we have to go or else they'll find us."I wept heavily, knowing I had lost my parents.

We ran through a dense forest, as yellow lights surrounded the forest around us.  As we were running, I saw a yellow furred stallion appear out of no where.  The stallion who helped me escape gasped.

"AAHG!"He shrieked in pain as the yellow stallion drove a blade into him.  "RUN!"He yelled, before dropping to the floor.  That's exactly what I did...I ran.  I ran so quick not even a pegasus in a dive could catch up.  Before I knew it, I was lost...wandering the country roads.  I walked for days...hungry...thirsty, looking for a safe haven.  That is until I came upon a quiet, desolate town...



The memory seemed to flash by in seconds, as I looked into Flam's face.

"You...it was you..."I said.

"So now you see...I took your parents...your father was a great threat to us...him and some other Assassin...Even today I still search for that old dying lump."Flam must have been referring to Holora.

"You killed my father...my mother..."I said.

"Want to know a little secret?"Flam said, lowering his head towards my ears.  He whispered menacingly into my ears..."Your mother was pregnant...with a little baby filly"My eyes widened...he killed an innocent foal...a foal to soon be my sister.

In uncontrollable rage, I unsheathed my hidden blade, and swung at Flam.  He backed away, and drew a sword.  I locked my blade out, and leaped towards him.

"AHG!"I yelled in pain as he swatted me away with his free hoof.  I landed back, dazed from the sudden and unexpected blow to the head.  "I'll Kill YOU!"I jumped towards him again, catching him off guard.  He quickly moved to his left.  I missed his head as my hoof drove into his shoulder.  I quickly took it out, and dove for his head.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain, and a ring in my ears.  I turned behind me, to see Flam's army of templars, holding muskets and arrows.  I looked at myself, and saw what had happened.  An arrow had been fired from a soldier, landing directly in my right shoulder.

I fell, helplessly on the bridge.  Flam stood over me, as he swung his sword high on the air.  "Now...you'll join your scum of a family."As I braced for defeat, he begun to swing down to end me.  I closed my eyes, awaiting for death.

"AH!"I heard.  I looked up, and Flam was gone.  In my hazy, blurred vision, I saw Flam on the ground, with a stallion on top of him, throwing punch after punch.  I watched as Flam threw him off towards me.  The unknown stallion quickly got up, and picked me up.  I quickly blacked out, and continued to zone in and out of consciousness.

I saw us leaving Ponyville, running towards darkness.  The next thing I knew, trees surrounded us as the strange stallion ran, carrying me on his back.  Again, I blacked out within seconds, yet I could hear everything that was happening.

Quietness surrounded me, as I heard the stallion breathing.  I heard the sound a door opening, then closing.  My vision returned as the stallion finished wrapping my uncovered shoulder in medical tape.  My robe and hood hung on a stand, and my weapons were organized neatly around it.

"Sshh..."The stallion said in the darkness.  He pulled a quilt out, and gently placed it over me.  It had been so long since I had felt such comfort.  "You're hurt, and weak...you must get some rest Scootaloo."

With those words, my eyes slowly shut, and I suddenly left reality...falling into a deep, haunted sleep.
> 10-A Reunion
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


A Reunion






I opened my eyes as the sun beamed through the window of the bedroom I had awakened in.  My hooded robe was neatly placed on a stand nearby, along with my small arsenal of weapons decorated around it.

I slowly climbed out of the bed, and stretched my legs out.  As I walked forward to the door leading out the room, I felt a slight pain in my right shoulder.  The bandage was still there, after that mysterious stallion took me here the night before.  I recalled the events that had happened the day before...I completely regret my actions.  I was disgusted at the way I handled that situation...but I was so angry.

I opened the door, and was welcomed by a spacious living room.  The house seemed to be empty, and silent...until the front door suddenly opened up.  The stallion that had rescued me walked through the door.  In the light, I saw his fur was orange.  In fact, it was a very similar shade of orange to myself.  His mane however, was mostly a dark crimson red.  He hung a hat on a coat rack, and looked up to look at me.

"Well...look who's awake."He said.  "Seems you've had some trouble recently.  Those Templars are a nascence, I'll give you that."He spoke as he trotted over to the kitchen.

"How do you know about the Templars?"I asked him.

"Because, young filly.  I too used to serve in the order.  I was once an Assassin, like you.  As well as your mentor."He spoke.

"You were an Assassin as well?"I said.

"Yes...or though I didn't really fight much after about a year in the creed.  Many of the Templars disappeared, and we weren't needed.  That is, until you showed up.  They've seemed to be sprouting up all over the place."He dug through his cupboard as he spoke.  He stopped digging for a moment, and came out with a few apples.  "Care for one?"He asked.  My stomach grumbled at the sight of the red fruit.  "I'll take that as a yes."He gave the fruit to me.  I quickly took a bite out of it, immediately satisfying the starvation in me.

"So how did you get into the creed?"I asked him.

"I'm not really sure what happened that day.  I remember I was about a year or two older you probably are.  I was at a farmers market with me mother, when this man came running through with another man chasing him.  The man chasing him was wearing a white hood.  He was the Assassin."I listened carefully.

"I wasn't paying attention to where I was going...well, neither was the Templar.  He ran into me, and toppled over.  I realized in the event, he managed to steal a few of our groceries.  Celestia knows why he would do that.  After I noticed that, I yelled at him, and took chase with the hooded man.  My mother called for me to get back, but I didn't listen.  I managed to catch the thief, and knock him down.  I simply snatched up the stolen items, and kicked him in the jaw, where the Assassin caught up, and took him into custody.  I little while later, another one came to our house, saying that my actions had been seen, and they had high hopes for me with such natural skill.  So after that, they trained me, and I became an Assassin."He finished.

"Weird, how some everyday event can turn into something like that."I spoke.

"Yes...so how did you end up in the Creed."He asked.  I gulped slightly at the question.

"Well...I begun training about a year and a half ago...I had found a weapons shop which was owned by my mentor.  In one of the display cases, a hidden blade lied in an expensive safe.  Apparently, the shop owner said I looked familiar, and asked me some questions.  I told him my name, and he said that my father was an Assassin.  That they fought along side each other.  I told him that my family was killed by, who I assumed were these Templars that he spoke of.  After that, he trained me.  So far, I've killed Flim, and Gilda."I said.

"Flim...Flam's brother?"The stallion asked.

"Yes...you know of him?"I asked.

"Know of him...I've been chasing that bastard for as long as I can remember."

"What did he do to you?"I asked.  The stallion let out a shallow sign, as he sat down in a chair in the living room.  I did the same.

"He killed...he killed my wife...and my daughter."He said.  I noticed his eyes turning a bright shade of pink, as a tear wept down his cheek.

"I'm sorry...Flam...I had a vision last night...Flam killed my parents...and my future sister."I spoke.

"'Future', sister?"

"...My mother was pregnant when he killed her."I said.

"Odd...my wife was pregnant at the time as well."He spoke.  Like a wooden club, it suddenly hit me.  I never asked who this stallion was, but for some reason...I felt as if he and I were...connected...in some way.

The similar fur color, the family killed, the existence in the creed...and he knows of my mentor.  I fit the pieces together as my mind raced for questions, all demanding an answer.  With a stern look on my face, I spoke to the stallion.

"Who are you?"I asked.

"Of course, I never properly introduced myself.  My fellow brotherhood called me William...or William Cross Jade."My eyes widened as to whom I had been speaking with this whole time.  This was happening all to quickly...but I knew it was true.  Somehow, he was alive.

"Dad..."I said under my breathe.

"Erm...what was that?"My father...it was actually my father.  I didn't respond, only ran across the room, taking him into my hooves as I hugged him tightly.  "Whoa..."He said.  "What's the sudden change in attitude?"He asked.  I didn't respond, only wept into his shoulder, shedding tears of joy.

"I've missed you so much...I never would have thought I would see the day..."I said.

"Good heavens what are you talking about."William pushed me off, and looked at me with a stern look.

"You don't see it do you..."I said.  "It's me..."With those words, his eyes seemed to shrink, then widen.  "Scootaloo."

"Sc...Scootaloo...my...daughter..."He said.

"Yes..."I pulled him in for another hug.  "Your daughter."He hugged back tightly.

"I've missed you too...how on earth did you survive?"My father asked.

"I was pulled away by a stallion.  He tried to get me to safety, but Flam showed up, and killed him.  I ran as fast I could...until I was lost.  I walked for days, and eventually, I found Ponyville."I explained.  "How did you get out of that burning house?"

"The roof collapsed...but I managed to be in the right place, where the roof completely missed me...but...sadly, the same couldn't be said for your mother.  I climbed up on the half collapsed roof, and leapt away.  I ran as well, towards the everfree forest...where I used the thick forest to hide away until I found that scum...and killed him."He explained.  "But, I found something better...I found you."

"I've missed you...I'm glad I found you..."I said as we held each other in our hooves.  I didn't want to let go.  I couldn't let go.  After all these years...I was reunited with my father.
> 11-The Next Phase
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	
The Next Phase






After a sudden, yet exciting reunion with my father, I could only question what would come next.  Ponyville's population has mostly returned after the small battle was fought.  I am told that most who go in to retrieve their belongings, are forced to stay.  The taxes were raised, and the economy in Ponyville collapsed.

To make matters worse, the Templars carelessness managed to burn down the south side of Ponyville, leaving many homeless.  The fire nearly spread to Sugarcube corner, towards the southeast.  Luckily, the rebellious ponies put the fire out themselves after the Templars gave up.

Flam still lives, and has fled Ponyville in fear of joining his brother.  It was a wise decision.  If he had stayed any longer, he would have been thrown in galloping gorge by the rebels.

Amongst the return of many ponies, they have all been forced to stay in Ponyville under the Templar order.  Now, they have begun to form militia's to rebel against the Templars, and their control over the town.

Two months have passed since my father and I reunited.  Since then, I've let my wound heal up, while he told me of the times he fought the Templars himself.  He also taught me some of what he knew.  Holora had never taught me anything unlike my dad did.

The only thing I have on my mind now, is now that my shoulder is better, and things seem to be in good order, is what will happen next?  I will talk to my father about this this morning.



I sat down in a chair across the living room from my father.  He had just answered a knock at the door, which his conversation with the stranger was short lived.  He sat down with an envelope, and opened it.  A folded piece of paper slipped out, which he grabbed, and immediately begun to read.

"Well, well, well..."He said.  "Seems like one of your friends has found you."He gave me the letter, and I begun reading from it.  I read it carefully.

Dear Scootaloo,
I hope this letter finds you well as I do not trust this address given to me.  If this is not a mare by the name of Scootaloo, please discard this, and move on with your life...
Scootaloo, I am in need of help.  I've learned of your work after I found Applebloom and Sweetie Belle knocking at my door.  I'm sorry to hear about Ponyville, and wish you the best of luck.  To get to my point...
Strange activity has been brewing in this part of the city, where my family and I live.  Armed stallions have begun roaming the streets, carrying swords and hatchets on themselves.  I'm worried that something may happen, and Manehatten may serve the same fate as Ponyville.  Please, either write back, or come help.  I fear that it won't be long before they find out about our contact with you.
Regards,
Babs Seed

I dropped the letter, and walked into the room in which I had been sleeping in.  "Where are you going?"My father called.  He followed me, as I stared at my hooded robe, which had remained untouched for the time I had been here.

"I have to go..."I said.

"To Manehatten I suppose?"My father asked.

"Yes.  I dear friend to me is in trouble."I took the hooded robe off of the stand, and quickly slipped it on.  Afterwards, I gathered my weapons, and sheathed them on myself, each at a time, carefully placing them in their correct positions.  I heard fumbling behind me, and turned.

My father had opened a wardrobe that had been locked.  I had asked why in the past, but he said it wasn't important.  Just like that, the lock was on the floor, and the doors were open.  Inside, was a piece of clothing, with small patches of orange around it.  My father took it off the hook which held it, and stared at it.  With a sigh, he unraveled the clothing.

I watched as my father transformed before my very eyes, slipping his legs through the four leg holes, and throwing the hood over his head.  He looked up at me, and slowly walked toward me.  "Seems we best get going."He said.  With that, he turned for the front door.

"Wait, where are you going?"I asked.  My father was walking toward Ponyville, while Manehatten was in the opposite direction.

"Into Ponyville...I've got something I need to do before we leave.  It's near sugarcube corner, so we won't have to cut trough the town."My father spoke.  I closed the front door, and followed my father toward Ponyville.



We approached Ponyville, as two Templar guards with swords stood guard from the entrance to town.  "State your business."One said.  My father approached one, while I approached the other.

"This is our business."My father said aloud, as his hidden blade unsheathed, and drove into the guards neck.  I did the same, and the guard dropped to the floor.  "Quick, toss them in the bushes."My father said.  I picked up the heavy body, and heaved him into a nearby bush.  "Good, now we'll circle around this way, the back of the building is right there."He pointed towards a building.

We walked around the back of each building, making sure we were not to be spotted.  We reached his destination in no time at all, and went towards the back door.  He twisted the door knob, and met a resistance.  "Damn...locked."He took out a small dagger with a blade small enough to fit inside the lock.  He twisted, and fiddled with the lock, until he heard a small click.

He turned the door knob a second time, and this time, it opened the door.  "Come on."He said.  He walked in the store from the back entrance, and quietly peaked into the front, where a familiar face was standing behind the counter.

"Holora?"I said aloud.

"Quiet."My father said.  Too late, Holora had turned and looked at me.  I quickly walked up to him, and gave him a brief hug.

"Oh."He said.  "Well, I wasn't expecting visitors."Holora looked over at my father.  "By Celestia's hoof...is it really you?"

"Yes...it's good to see you old friend."My father shook hooves with Holora.

"Still wearing the hood I see...what are you two up to?"Holora asked.

"We were just on our way to manehatten.  A friend of mine is in need of my help."I said.  "What's been happening around here?"I asked.

"Quite a lot actually.  The Templars haven't left there smartest soldiers to hold his place.  Many of the ponies who returned, formed a little rebellion.  In the end, they ended up taking control of this side of the town...that is, before the fire on the south-east.  It nearly spread here."Holora explained.  "So, this is our territory now.  Most ponies come to me for any battle equipment they need."

"Well, that's what I've come here for as well."My father said.  "It's been a while, and most of my blades have gone...rather dull."

"All you had to do was ask."Holora walked to the back of the store, where he opened up the basement.  He walked down, and came back up with in seconds.  A tomahawk was held in his hooves as he came back up.  "Here, will this do?"He asked my father, presenting the hatchet to him.  My father picked it up, and gently waved it around a bit.

"It's perfect."He sheathed the tomahawk in a holster.

"Just like old times?"Holora asked.

"Maybe...with these new weapons I've seen lately.  The Templars have developed a weapon unlike any other.  It uses sulfer, and a long metal tube to launch a metal projectile at the enemy.  They're not very accurate, but when you get hit by one...the injury can me terminal."My father explained.

"You could have just said musket."Holora said, giving a laugh.

"I hate to pull you away, but we really have to get going.  Anything else you need dad?"I asked.

"No.  We best get going."My father spoke.

"Ah ah ah."Holora said, getting our attention once more.  "I'm glad you brought up muskets, because I've got something for you both."Holora reached under the cashier counter, and pulled out two small pistols, along with two new weapon's belts with gun holsters on them.  He tossed them to my father and I.  "Make it an early hearth's warming eve's gift."Holora said.

My father and I equipped the new weapons to ourselves, and thanked Holora.  "We must get going.  Take care old colt."My father said as I opened the front door.

"Who are you calling old?"Holora said as my father quickly followed me.

"Let's get going...I fear the Pegasi are brewing for the winter's first snow."I looked up at the building clouds above us as a breeze with a cold chill behind it swept across my fur.  Winter was approaching our doorstep.
> 12-A Mane Event
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	
A Mane Event





Manehatten



I approached the apartment building that had the address from the letter.  I walked up the staircase up to the second floor, and approached the door with three numbers written on the door.  "204".

"This is the place."I said.  I knocked on the door, and awaited for an answer.  No sounds came from the other side of the door.  Only a silence that washed away the noises of the city around us.  I knocked again, this time with more force, demanding for someone to answer.  Again, no answer.  "...Here."I approached the door on the opposite side, and knocked.  Shortly after, a young mare answered the door.

"Yes?"She said.

"Sorry to bother you...but, do you by chance know what has happened to your neighbors.  I've come answering a letter, and it seems there apartment is abandoned."I spoke.

"A bunch of guards came by this morning and took them away."My heart dropped into my stomach.  "Three fillies, and a mare."She said.

"Do you know where they went?"I asked.

"I saw them hauling them over towards the docks.  You might want to check there."The mare said.

"Thank you for your time."The mare closed the door, and I stood there.  My father made his way for the stairs, but stopped, noticing I wasn't following.

"Well, come along."He said.

"Wait."I said, as I back up into the wall.  I charged the locked door, and burst through it with no effort.

"Good heavens, what in Celestia's name are you doing?"My father said as I begun to observe the damage done to Babs home.  Furniture was turned over, and random objects were lying on the floor, some as a whole, others in pieces.  I looked at a painting that had stayed in place on the wall.  It had a picture of Babs on it.  I quickly took the canvas, and cut around Babs' head.

"Now, we'll have a face to search for."I said.  "You keep a hold of this."I gave the torn canvas to my father.  "I already know what she looks like, so that should help you."I made my way to the doorframe, and quickly walked down the stairs.  My father was close behind as I looked in the sky.  The sound of screeching gulls told me immediately where to find the nearest sea shore.  "Follow me."I ran off toward the sound of screeching gulls.



Much of the docks along the seaside were littered with ponies, fishing, trading, handling cargo from ships, and simply going about their usual day.  "It's going to hours before we find even a possibility of your friends whereabouts."My father spoke.  I looked up and down the cost, and noticed the docks became less and less crowded the further north they went.  Nearby, part of the docks were sealed off by guards.

"No it's not."I begun walking towards the guards in the distance.

"Where are you going?"My father asked.

"Those docks over there are sealed off.  Must be for a reason don't you think?"I said.

"Hm...I suppose we best check it out."I continued walking through the crowd of manehatten ponies, until we reached the guards, where they stood firm and assertive.

"Hold strangers."One said as I approached them slowly.  "State your business here."

"Is there a reason why these part of the docks are closed off."I looked beyond the guards, and saw crates and barrels everywhere.  "I must retrieve some important supplies, and they were dropped off here."I said.

"Yes there is a reason.  One you don't need to know.  Be on your way."The guard spoke harshly.  I turned to my father, who had taken a seat on a nearby bench.  I sat next to him and spoke quietly.

"I have something in mind to get past not just them, but all of them."I spoke quietly towards my father

"Well, go on, let's here it."He replied.

"We knock out these two guards here, nonlethal take downs only.  Afterwards, you take one of their uniforms, and wear it over your robe.  I'll keep myself in these, and you walk me in, as your prisoner."My dad's eyes slightly widened, immediately getting the idea.

"Fake being captured, and have yourself taken straight to your friends, where we-"

"Ambush the foalnappers and free our allies."I cut him off and finished his sentence.  "Let's go."I stood on my hooves, and made my way towards the unsuspecting pair of guards.  My father was close behind.

"I said stay clear of this area.  I don't want to have to get violent you little-"I cut him off, as I leaped forward.  I tackled him, knocking him to ground.  The other guard stuttered from the sudden confusion of the ambush, before being tackled my father.  Both of the guards had been dealt with.



My father placed the trifold hat neatly on his head, before he begun escorting me towards the guards who were patrolling around a few buildings.  A few of them stopped, and stared at my father with a suspicious look.

"Well done soldier."They expressions turned to joy as they spoke to my father, congratulating him on his planned capture.  My father walked up to him.

"Where are the others being held?"He asked.

"In that building there."The guard pointed towards a old wooden building on the docks that were built on the sea.

"Thank you."My father said, before escorting me to the building we had been directed to.  We reached the building, and knocked on the door.  A soldier opened the door, and asked.

"Who's there?"He said.

"I've captured the one you've been looking for."My father spoke.  The soldier immediately stepped aside, letting both of us pass.

"Well done."He spoke as we walked past.  He closed the door up again as we were met by the light of a few candles and lanterns.  I looked towards the center of the room, where three fillies, and a mare were sat tied up to their chairs.  Applebloom gasped at the sight of me having been "Captured".

"They got you too."She said in a low voice.  Another guard came over to tie me up.

"Who's in charge here?"I asked.

"That'd be me."The captain grabbed me, and picked up a rope.

"Then it's your lucky day."I drove my head forward, head butting him in surprise.  He released his grip as my father threw off the jacket and trifold hat.  The guards were quick to react, as they unsheathed swords and knives.  One lunged at me with a sword.  I quickly jumped to the side so the blade would just pass me.  I quickly knocked the sword out of the soldiers hoof, and took it up for myself.

I quickly jumped past the soldier who I had disarmed, and drove the sword through his neck.  The other soldier along side him took a swing but was stopped when I took the sword back from the now dead soldier, and blocked the attack.  I kicked his hind legs knocking him to the ground before I stabbed him, killing him on impact.  I turned to see my father had dealt with the rest of them.

The captain, still alive, lied on the ground with trembling hooves.  "Please...don't kill me."He said.  I took my hoof, and buried it in his muzzle.  "Ah, please stop!"He pleaded.

"How DARE you!"I yelled, beating him to tears.  I stopped after he took three more blows.  "I don't care who you are, or what you do...but under any circumstances...you do NOT, I repeat, do NOT foalnap my friends."My hidden blade unsheathed, resting against his jugular vein in his neck.

"No!"He pleaded.  As he did, I noticed a gold necklace he wore.  I took it with my free hoof, taking it into view.  A red cross lied attached to the linked chains.  I tore it off of his neck as sweat poured from his forehead.

"Sorry...no mercy for Templars."I drove my blade into his neck.



"You obviously had a reason to foalnap these innocent ponies."I said to the dying captain on the floor.  "Was it to find me?  Was it to lure me in, and capture me?"

"We knew they had connections with you some how...We were ordered, by a cheapskate stallion who used to foresee Ponyville, before the rebels started fighting back."The stallion described was obviously Flam.

"They're just fillies...you destroyed their property, leaving their home an absolute wreck.  Was there any reason for that?"I said.

"We were only searching for clues, to how they knew about your whereabouts.  We found nothing, and left.  Flam said he'd pay us, so we did what was asked."

"It seems that money is the only thing people care about these days...and it seems that people like you, have become corrupt by it."I said.

"You're to young to understand...money is everything now...money is power...and some of us need lots of it.  You live in a world controlled by the economy...and because of that...more ponies will become what you call "Corrupt".  Stop imagining your fantasy world child..."The templar begun breathing slower and slower, before giving one last hollow breath.

"Rest In Peace."I brushed my hoof over his eyes, closing them gently.



I felt a hoof grasp my shoulder.  I turned, and looked at my father.  "Come on, we best get going."I stood, and saw he had untied my friends.

"I'm glad you all are safe."I said to them.

"Who were these guys?"Babs asked.

"Templars...my greatest threat...the worlds greatest threat."I replied.  I noticed Sweetie Belle was wide eyed, and seemed to be in a state of hypnosis.

"What's wrong with Sweetie?"I asked.

"She's in shock...mostly because of what happened this morning."Applebloom said.  I walked up to Sweetie Belle, and looked at her.  She only stared with no emotion.  I quickly took her into my hooves, grasping her tightly.  I felt her pulse in a slow, periodic beat, as she slowly returned the hug.

"We need to get going.  I hear more guards coming."My father spoke.  I released Sweetie as she became more aware of what was happening.

"Come on, we need to get somewhere safe quickly."I spoke, as I made my way out of the building.

"Manehatten has an underground tunnel system.  I know all the paths and tricks to get around there.  Follow me."Babs took the lead as we made our way to safety.
> 13-The Revolt
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Revolt






It has been a couple of weeks since the ordeal in Manehatten.  Applebloom and Sweetie Belle returned here with their families, and remain quiet in the south side of Ponyville, where the Templars are failing at taking back control.  Their little raid parties always come to a bloody end with the angry stallions and mares of the rebellion.  It's only a matter of time before the Templars loose central Ponyville.





I wasn't prepared for the exhausted mare, that had suddenly burst through our front door.  Her breathing was heavy, and her legs seemed weak.  "I..."She spoke, completely out of breath.

"Calm down.  Breathe."My father spoke, attempting to calm the mysterious mare down.  She sat on the wooden floor, as her breathing slowed.

"It's Ponyville.  The enemy has attacked us with all the soldiers they have.  We're losing this battle!"

"What?"I said.  I quickly grabbed the pistol given to me by Holora, and placed it in the holster.

"You must help."The Mare pleaded.

"And we will.  We must get going."I made my way for the door quickly.  "Rest easy for a moment."I said to the mare as I walked out of the house.  My father was right behind me, leaving the door open.



We ran across the bridge built over a rushing river, which served as the border for Ponyville.  In the distance, we could see Sugarcube Corner being ravaged by the Templars.  Many ponies ran, while others faught amongst the chaos.  Many of the fleeing ponies, stopped at the sight of my father and I, and suddenly turned back to continue the fight.  I could here the shouts and cries from mares and stallions.

"They're here!"I heard.  "This battle is ours now!"Their shouts of encouragement drove the fight towards the Templar soldiers, who were busy tearing down buildings, and holding mares hostage.

"COME ON!"I shouted as loud as I could, as I sprinted into Sugarcube Corner.  I leaped up in the air, hidden blades unsheathed, and gleaming in the sunlight.  Below me, two unsuspecting soldiers stood back to back as I plunged on them, killing them both.  I held one of their helmets up high, shouting and waving it in the air.  Mares and stallions cheered, as they continued to fight.

Nearby, a group of fillies were huddled in a corner with two soldiers pushing them back.  I quickly ran to their aide, and tackled both of the soldiers, before proceeding to kill them through their confusion.  As I climbed up on my hooves, and I felt a large body strike me, as I was propped up against a wall.  A soldier held me by my neck, attempting to strangle me.  I unsheathed my hidden blade, and went for the kill.
*THUNK*
I watched as the stallion suddenly fell dead.  I looked at his temple on his head, only to find an arrow had penetrated through it.  I looked to my left, and saw Sweetie Belle standing there.  She grabbed my hoof, and pulled me to my hooves.

"We're winning this one."She said.  "Not only that, but it seems you and your father have encouraged the rebels to take back the entire town!"

"Then let it be."I begun to run after the retreating Templar soldiers.  "TO ARMS!  TAKE BACK PONYVILLE!"I shouted.  Ponies ran along side me, as we stampeded towards Central Ponyville.  A small group of Templars soldiers stopped in our path, and lowered their muskets.  Many ponies were their already, and tackled them before they could fire.  The rebels took their weapons and muskets from them, and continued to stampede into the Templars territory.

The further we ran, the more Templars were there, and the more Templars fell the ground.  I pulled myself out of the stampede, and climbed a small pillar on a wall, so that I may see over the heads of the stampede.  I saw one mare, a pegasus, stop as well and turn to me.

"Are you Scootaloo?"She asked.  I nodded once.  The mare stuck her hoof out.  "The name's Silver Lining.  I'm the leader of the rebellion."I took her hoof and shook it.

"You have done well to take back and hold south Ponyville from the Templars."I spoke, watching as the stampeding ponies continued on.

"Thank you.  I've received some information from a few spies that returned to me this morning.  The Templars attacked to get it back, but it was too late.  It seems, a certain queen Chrysalis is in Ponyville right now.  And she leaves for Baltimare tomorrow when the sun is high."Silver explained.

"Do you know the whereabouts of where she may be?"I asked.

"My guess, is Mayor Mare's office.  It's elevated, so she can see the entire town from the window.  That's the first place I would look."

"Thank you Silver...I'll help with the revolt as much as I can, but I must go find Chrysalis."I spoke, as I begun to climb off the pillar.  Silver tipped her hat, and followed me as I chased the stampede that had passed.

We were quick to catch up when the Templars begun to fight back.  The rebels had been pushed back slightly, but not by much.  With no mercy, I charged a line of Templars.  They directed their muskets toward me, and lowered the long metallic tubes down toward me.  I looked to my right, and saw a soldier lunging for me.  I quickly disarmed him, and pulled him towards me.  I held him between me and the line of muskets aimed at me.  I felt his body tense up, and loosen as each musket fire.

I dropped his limp, and lifeless body, and ran towards the line of soldiers.  They backed up, taking a few steps back as I leaped into the air.  I used the long barrels of the muskets to use as leverage, and pushed up to jump over their heads.  As they turned to defend themselves, I continued running towards the building where the Mayor would do any of her work.

Three soldiers stood in my way at the doorway of the building.  I quickly took care of two with my hidden blade.  The third one, beaten and bloody ran off, knowing he had no way of beating me.

I pushed the doors.  Locked.  I stepped back, and with force I charged the door, bucking it down as the momentum carried through and tore the door down.  More guards awaited inside as I walked inside.  As they surrounded me, I untucked a black ball from a pouch on my equipment belt.  As she drew closer, I threw it down.  With a high pitches bang, smoke exploded out from the device.  The stunned soldiers coughed and sputtered as I ran out of the smoke cloud.

In front of me, a flight of stairs curled around the outside wall that led up to the Mayor's office.  I quickly climbed vertically, knowing there would be no time to climb the entire flight.  The guards found their way out of the smoke, and begun running up the stairs as I neared the top.

After about thirty seconds of vertical climbing, I reached the top floor.  The door leading into the office was in front of me.  I charged it, running at full speed, getting ready to draw my blade.  The door opened easily as I struck it.  I walked inside, only to find it was empty.  The window on the other side had been shattered.  I heard the soldiers behind me as I looked out of the window.  My lucky day...a loose pile of hay was right below me.

"You have no where to go, and Chryssis' long gone."A soldier said.  I let my body fall freely out of the window.  I heard the cry of an eagle as gravity pulled me down.  I landed in the pile of loose hay, and checked myself for injury.  Knowing that I was safe, I climbed out, and looked around.

I noticed a distinct change around me.  The shouting of the battle had quieted down as the cries begun to turn to cheers.  I looked towards my left, and saw Silver Lining approaching me.  "Silver...what's come of this?"I asked.

"Seems we were a bit too late.  Chrysalis ordered a full retreat.  She left not ten minutes ago."Silver spoke.

"Towards Baltimare?"I asked.

"Yes."

"Get a wagon ready quickly.  I'd like some assistance in chasing her down."

"Ma'm?"Silver said raising an eyebrow.  I only gave a smile, and said...

"We're ending this today."
> 14-Baltimare and The Raging Sea
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Baltimare and The Raging Sea






The wagon we had taken from Ponyville came to a halt in front of the docks on the coast of Baltimare.  We were never able to catch up to Chrysalis in time, though we knew we closed the gap.  In the distance, we saw a warship fleeing off of the coast.

"That's got to be her."I said, pointing out towards the horizon.  The harbormaster stood nearby, marking maps and charts in a thick book.  I walked up to him, immediately catching his attention.  "Who boarded that vessel out there?"I pointed towards the ship that was noticeably larger than the rest of the trade ships around.

"A bunch of soldiers and their leader."The harbormaster replied.

"We require a ship fast enough to catch them."I spoke.

"Say no more."The harbormaster stood up, and walked towards a medium sized ship nearby on the next dock over.  We followed him towards the ship.  "Say hello to the EWS (Equestrian Warship) Wonderbolt.  She's named after the stunt team for her outstanding speed and maneuverability."

"Has she performed in battle?"I asked, approaching the gangplank.

"Served in the Griffon War as one of the three flagships."

"How much do we pay?"I asked.

"Now, I recognize that clothing you're wearing.  Both of you in fact."The Harbormaster looked at my father, who stood beside me.  "I've been helping the Assassin's for some time now.  You should get going, if you want to catch her in time.  A crew is on stand-by.  Just say the word, and we'll prep you for departure."The Harbormaster smiled, as I stepped on the gangplank with my right hoof...



The anchor was cut loose as the sails were dropped.  The ship begun to move forward out of the dock it had been sitting afloat in for so long.  The captain of the ship gripped the wheel, as The Wonderbolt made her way into open water.  "Full Sail!"The captain shouted out.  More sails were dropped from the masts and rigging, as the speed increased.

"Chrysalis headed north toward Fillydelphia and Manehatten."I spoke.

"Set a course up the coast!"The captain ordered.  "The Wonderbolt flies again!"The crew gave a loud "HOORAH!"In celebration, as the ship sped on, piercing the water with ease.  To the north of us, dark clouds were covering the horizon.

"Seems we have storms ahead of us."My father spoke.

"Aye...if our intended target goes through it, it'll slow them right down.  This ship can maintain her speed through the toughest of gales.  We'll catch them in no time."
> 15-Pursuit
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Pursuit






*CRACK*

Thunder boomed and cracked loudly as the ship rolled up and down the massive waves.  Dark clouds blocked out the sun from above as a torrential downpour of the sharp stinging rain poured down from above.  The captain seemed to be in all places at once, barking orders while navigating the ship through the waves and wind.  I watched as he approached my father and I as we hung to the railing of the ship.

"We're approaching Fillydelphia.  Keep a close eye out for that bloody ship."He immediately walked away, and continued his barrage of orders.  My father continued to stare out into the waves that rocked the ship.  As I stared with him, I noticed the end of a wake not to far ahead.  The rest of the wake disappeared over a massive wave to the left of us.

"SHIP SIGHTED!"I suddenly heard from above.  "MAN-O-WAR!"Everypony's eyes looked upwards at the stallion in the crows nest, who pointed towards the northwest.  We all looked towards the left as a wave passed to the left of us.  As it passed, the tops of of three masts came into view.  As the ocean lowered, the entire ship could be seen.  The massive ship had three decks of guns and swivels.

"WEAPONS READY!"The captain shouted.  Below us on the gundeck, the portholes were pulled up, and cannons were loaded and pushed forward.

"Captain!"I shouted, gaining the captain's attention.  "I need Chrysalis alive!"

"Aye.  Load chain shot!  Prepare to board!"The cannons were pulled back in momentarily, and pushed back out ready to fire a barrage of chains toward the ship.

"CAPTAIN!  SHE'S MAKING READY TO FIRE!"The spotter in the crows nest yelled.

"DOWN!"The captain yelled.  In the distance, I heard many pops and cracks from the cannons being fired.  The next, I heard the sound of splashes.  I looked up, and realized a wave had moved in between us, and stopped the cannons from doing any damage.  "MAKE READY TO FIRE!"The captain took ahold of the wheel as the ship moved closer, turning slightly to the right.  The cannons now pointed directly at the ship.

The captain raised his hoof high in the air, as another wave passed.  The second it cleared, he threw his hoof down.  "FIRE!"He yelled.  The whole ship trembled as the cannons blasted their cargo up into the air.  In the distance, I heard the ship fire at us.

"DOWN!"I yelled instinctively.  My father and I ducked as high pitched whistles sped past us along with the sound of splintering wood.  I looked back to see the chain shots had done their job, destroying much of their masts.

"Fire a few smoke shots!"The captain yelled.  Three cannons were fired, and a line of smoke was drawn from the cannons to Chrysalis' ship.  "Move in!  Prepare to Board!"The captain yelled.  Chrysalis' ship was engulfed in smoke as we swung to the left toward the man-o-war.

As we neared, the crew took boarding hooks and small anchors, and tossed them across into the smoke.  They then begun pulling after they felt the hooks had landed on the Man-O-War securely, pulling the ship closer.  The Wonderbolt's sails were raised as we entered the smoke.

The entire ship heaved as we collided with the Man-O-War.  Our crew shouted as they jumped on to the side of the massive ship, and begun the short climb up the side of the hull.  I followed, as well as my father as we made our way to the top deck.

As I got on my hooves, I realized I could hardly see through the thick smoke.  Through the haze, I saw a bright green flash illuminate the smoke.  The next, I saw my father's head appear through the smoke.  I looked back in pure confusion.  I was sure my father was following me.  My father reached the top deck, and climbed on his hooves.

I looked back in realization, and immediately stabbed the impostor.  The second my blade penetrated the false body, another green flash illuminated the air as the body changed back to a changeling.  "They're changelings!"I said to my father.

"Stay together, do not loose sight of each other."My father stood beside me as he drew his tomahawk, and slowly crept through the smoke with me.  Suddenly, the buzz of an insect's wings could be heard.  The smoke suddenly cleared as the wind and rain of the storm pushed the thick cover away.  Changelings surrounded us as the crew charged in with their cutlasses high.

A changeling jumped toward me, hissing loudly and aggressively.  My hidden blade unsheathed as I let the doomed changeling fly into the blade.  I pushed him off of my blade with ease, as I took stance beside my father.  "ATTACK!"I yelled as the crew and changelings suddenly collided together.

My father and I ran into the brawl with no mercy, and begun cutting down changelings as though they were paper.  As I came back to back with my father once more, I spoke loudly through the storm and the fighting.

"WE'VE GOT TO GET BELOW DECKS!"I yelled.  My father nodded as the ship suddenly trembled, and the stern blew apart, opening an entrance to the decks below.  "NOW'S OUR CHANCE!"I ran toward the hole that had been ripped in the deck, and jumped in.

Below decks, cannon balls were rolling about on the wooden floor.  A few cannons lied on their side from the blast that ripped through the deck.  It seemed this gundeck was completely empty, not a soul in sight.  "Stay quiet, and follow me."I whispered.  My father nodded, and followed me as we crept through the gundeck, eventually reaching a hatch that led to the second gundeck.  I opened it up, and was met by a rush of changelings, and the buzz of a beehive.

Changelings sprung from the hatch, and from the portholes.  "Ambush!"I yelled.  My father looked at me, and suddenly pushed me down toward the hatch.  I lost my hoofing, not expecting the shove, as I fell over.  I expected to hit the floor, but instead, I landed on a group of changelings.  I looked up, and realized he pushed me through the hatch.  "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"I yelled.

"GO!  I'LL HOLD THEM OFF!"My father yelled as he pushed away the attacking changelings.

"DAMMIT, THIS IS NO TIME TO BE A HERO!  LET'S GO!"I ordered.  My father looked at me as the changelings continued pouncing, and he continued defending.  He gave one last look, before slamming the hatch closed.  "Dammit dad..."I said, as I heard the hatch being locked.  I shook my head, and got on my hooves.  On the other side of this gundeck, Chrysalis stood with five rather large changelings standing around her.  They growled and snarled like wild dogs defending their territory.

"Give up, before I put an end to all of them."I spoke so Chrysalis could hear me clearly.

"And I offer you the same."She replied.  "Or you, and the elements of harmony will suffer."

"If you do not lay down your arms, then I'll have to take them from you."I threatened.  Chrysalis only stared at me as she slowly waved a hoof toward me.

"Kill her."She spoke.  The five guarding changelings, who looked more like trolls than an insect, took a step toward me.  Two of them held large hatchets almost as big as I.

"So be it."I stepped forward, and unsheathed a broadsword that had rested in my holster.  I gave the blade a small kiss, before pointing it towards the five changelings and their queen.  "COME ON!"I stepped forward, and swung.

The changeling expected me to go for his head or torso, and moved his massive axe to cover his chest.  I swung the blade down past his chest, and struck his foot.  The changeling immediately cried with pain, as it dropped the hatchet, and held what was left of his foot.  With his defense now gone, I swung again, and drove the sword through his thick fleshy neck.  His arms went limp as his body fell to the ground.  Chrysalis snarled at me.  "I said kill her!"She whined.

The second troll took his axe, and swung it over his head.  It came down from directly above me.  I jumped to the side, allowing the axe to impale the wooden floor.  I swung my sword, cutting the handle from the heavy hatchet blade, which separated with ease.  I jumped as the changeling looked at the splintered handle in confusion, and landed on the back of his neck.  I took my hidden blade, and punched his neck, letting the blade stab him multiple times.  It groaned in pain, before falling to the floor, landing with a thud.

I heard a third changeling grumble behind me, as it picked up the dropped axe from his fallen comrade.  I noticed a fourth one on the other side of me.   I looked at the one wielding the axe, and stuck my tongue out, taunting him to come closer.  He did exactly what I hoped, and took a step closer to me, as well as the fourth changeling behind me.  In anger, it swung the axe over its head.  I rolled out of the way as it neared, and immediately heard a changeling give a bloody cry in pain.  I looked back, and saw the axe had sliced through the fourth changeling's entire knee.  It feel helplessly, and I took the chance to end his suffering.  I jumped on him, and drove my broadsword through his neck.  I turned to the other one who picked up the axe again, and threw the sword.  It flew straight and true, penetrating his chest.  He fell forwards, crushing the broadsword under its massive bodyweight, making it impossible to retrieve.

The fifth and final changeling stepped forward.  These guards were obviously not the smartest of the hive.  As it stepped toward me, I took out a poison dart, and threw it into its eyes as I walked past it casually.  It held its face in pain as I approached Chrysalis.  She looked at me with envious eyes, and slowly clapped.

"Well done...it seems you've defeated the stupidity that dwells within those trolls of changelings.  Now...let's finish this...you and I."She spoke slyly.

"That is the only thing I'll agree on with you."I replied, as I stood with empty hooves.  Chrysalis unsheathed a sword of her own, and pointed it toward me.  She swung towards me with control and skill.  My hidden blade unsheathed, and blocked the incoming attack.  I grabbed her hoof that held the sword, and pulled it toward me, throwing her past me.  She landed with a thud.

"Omf..."I jumped toward her for the kill.  As I neared her, my blade unsheathed, and she rolled out of the way, and climbed back on her hooves.  My hidden blade penetrated the wood deeply.  I attempted to pull it out, but it wouldn't budge, though the wood it was engraved in was loose, and could splinter.  Chrysalis took her sword, and took her time to prepare to kill me while I was occupied.  "Now...to end this."I shook my hoof furiously, trying to get the blade free.

Chrysalis swung around, and my hoof came free just in time.  The sound of splintering wood came with it.  I took my now freed hoof, and put it between myself and her sword.  The sword she swung hit the wood that covered the blade, shattering it, and cutting the blade right out of the device.  I watched as the blade fell slowly, landing on the wooden floor with a metallic ring.

"Haahahaa..."Chrysalis laughed wickedly.  "You have nothing left...I win."Chrysalis pointed her sword towards me, preparing to end it.

"I have something you'll never have...not even in your own dreams."I spoke, as I watched her point the tip of the sword to my neck.  "That one thing takes patience, commitment, and a good heart...you have none of those..."I sat on the wood helpless as blood dripped from my nose.  "That one thing...is skill."Upon hearing those words, Chrysalis' eyes widened.  As she swung for the kill, I swung my leg around, taking out her hooves from under her.

"AH!"She yelped as she landed on her back.  I caught the sword before it could land, and held it toward Chrysalis.  I wasted no time in doing what I intended to do.  I plunged the sword down through her chest.  She immediately coughed up blood, as the color in her eyes begun to fade.



"The Templars loose."I spoke to the dying insect on the floor.  She held her chest tightly, and looked up at me in anger.

"You're wrong...the Templars...will always rise.  No matter how many times you defeat them, the next generation will come to fight."

"The same goes for the Assassin's.  Just look what happened with me...it only took a year for me to develop from a filly, to a fighter.  The Assassin's will always be here no matter what...we are the guardians."I spoke.

"We're not even fighting for the same reasons...used to be we'd fight for that stupid apple."Chrysalis spoke.  "Nopony knows where the hell it went...but even the Templars were glad it was gone...all it did was corrupt the individual who held it into enslaving their own brothers and sisters.  Even I cannot hold such a power."Chrysalis spoke humbly.

"Then why did you fight...why did you put so much effort in for nothing?"

"Revenge...the Elements of Harmony nearly killed me...but I survived sadly...it would have been better off for my entire colony to die...but I was left with hundreds of changelings to feed...to care for...but...now it seems you've fixed that for me."

"Revenge is never the answer...Forgiveness would have given you much more than you could ever dream of."I spoke.

"Then why don't you forgive the one Templar that remains..."She spoke of Flam.

"You can only forgive the forgivable.  He murdered my mother and my sister...and nearly my father!"I exclaimed in anger.  "ALL BY YOUR COMMAND!"

"Your father was the only thing in our way...but we were wrong...you survived...as did your father...and we paid the price for letting you live."Chrysalis coughed up a decent amount of blood.  The color in her eyes now faded completely.  Her head dropped to the floor.  I closed her eyes gently.

"May the afterlife serve you well...Rest In Peace."



Play "Homestead" AC3 soundtrack here



*CRACK*
A sudden loud crack of thunder brought me back to reality.  Suddenly, the ceiling above me collapsed.  I ran to the side, and jumped for the porthole where a cannon lied on its side.  As the floor collapsed, I flew through the opening, and landed in the water.  I quickly swam to the Wonderbolt, and climbed up the side of the hull as it begun to sail away.

"C'mon."The captain pulled me up as I looked around for my father.

"Where's my father?"I asked frantically.  The captain only gave me a look of realization, and looked back at the ship.  I looked at the ship too, which was engulfed in flames.  "What the hell happened?"I asked.

"Lightning struck."The captain spoke.

"We have to go back.  My father's still on that ship!"I stared at the burning ship, and realized there was movement on the top deck.  The captain immediately gave me a spyglass, which I quickly looked through.  I could see my father running through the fire toward the bow of the ship.

"Please...please hurry."I said under my breath.  My heart pounded as my stomach churned.  I watched as he jumped off the side of the ship...
*BOOM*
Time seem to slow down...I dropped the spyglass, letting it shatter on the deck.  The explosion from the gunpowder engulfed the ship, and begun to spread out.  I watched as my father jumped in the air as it happened.  The fire came closer and closer...until I could see the orange flames and smoke engulf my father before he could hit the water.  My heart seemed to literally tear in half, as it sunk down to the darkest pit within me.

"NO!"I shouted.  Time seemed to resume back to normal as I watched the explosion trail my father.  I jumped into the water without hesitation, and swam towards the burning ship, which now slowly disappeared beneath the waves.

"What are you doing!"I heard the captain shout.  I ignored him, and continued to swim toward the wreckage.  I saw a white piece of clothing slowly drifting away from the fire.  I swam toward it in hope.  It seemed like a lifetime for me to finally reach it.

I grabbed the piece of clothing...only to find that nopony was wearing it.  "No...no not now."I spoke aloud.  "DAD!"I cried.  I gasped for air, and dived underwater.  I couldn't see anything underwater...the storm made impossible for light to reach the water.

I resurfaced, completely filled with anger and sadness.  I could only stare at the piece of clothing that floated gently in the water...the same hood that my father was just wearing.  I took it, and held it tightly in my hooves as I felt its soaked fabric.  I could still smell the scent of my father on it...but it was quickly being washed off through the water.

A rope suddenly dropped from above, as the Wonderbolt slowly drifted nearby.  I held the rope, and let the crew pull me in.  The captain pulled me aboard as I held the hood in my hooves.  As I lied on the deck, staring into the white fabric, I noticed many of the crew members gently removing any hats and bandannas they had on.

"Father..."Tears swelled up in my eyes I cried into the fabric.  The waves of the storm had calmed, as the storm begun to pass.  As I sat in pain, holding what was left of my father...I felt a warmth come over me.  I looked up, and saw a break in the clouds.  Sunlight cracked through the clouds, and lit up the entire ship as we begun to sail.

I stared as I accepted my father's fate.  He was gone...for good this time.
> 16-A Liberated Town
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


A Liberated Town





Two Days Later...




The wagon pulled up in front of the familiar weapons shop that remained in one piece after the revolt to take back the town.  The atmosphere of the town never seemed more alive than it ever had.  Mares cheered and danced in celebration, while their stallions celebrated by having a drink.  The townsfolk never seemed so happy in all the days I've lived here.

The wagon driver opened the door to let me out.  I climbed out, and let my hooves touch the solid ground.  I carried my father's hooded robe in my saddlebag after the ship docked in Fillydeplhia.  In the time that I have fought against the Templars, none of the wounds could have even come close to how much loosing my father hurt me.

I tipped the driver, and approached the store as he drove off, and into Ponyville.  The bell above the door silently rang as I walked into the store.  The weapons of war still decorated the walls like they had been for so long.  Yet it all seemed so quiet...

"Holora?"I called.  There was no answer.  I walked in, letting the door close behind me, and quickly made my way for the back room, where the door to the basement was wide open.  "Are you down there?"I called again, and again no answer.

I slowly walked down the stairs, hearing the creaks of the wood below me.  The room came into my view, as well as the different weapons and training dummies...but there was something that didn't belong.  On the other side of the room, opposite the staircase, there was an elder stallion...sitting limp in a chair holding a piece of paper.

"Holora..."I quickly trotted over to his lifeless body.  I took off his hat that covered the majority of his face, and gently placed it in his lap.  Again, I felt a tear form in my eye as I took the letter out of his hoof.  I sat on the floor next to him, and silently read to myself.

To Scootaloo,
If you are reading this...it means I have perished before you could make it back in time.  I know you are still young, but you mustn't mourn over my death.  My old bones have simply had enough...and it was my time anyway.
Eventually, you will be the last Assassin left in this world...and it is up to you to train more, and restore our order, so if the Templars ever return...we'll be ready.  By my order, I am placing you in the position of Master Assassin.  I leave this shop, and my business to you.  Take good care of the place.
Use your skill and all your training to defeat the Templars for good.  I believe in you Scootaloo...and many others do as well.  You will succeed, and the Templars will fall...and when they do...the world will be at a true state of peace.
Sincerely,
Your mentor, Holora



I stood beside Applebloom and Sweetie Belle as the funeral service did it's work for my father and Holora.  I took out my father's hooded robe as I looked into the empty casket where his body would have been.  I neatly placed it in the casket in the shape a body, its sleeves crossed over the chest.  Holora's casket was next to my father's, with his lifeless body resting peace fully on his back.

"We are gathered here today, to recognize two great lives, that have recently ended for various reasons.  William Cross Jade...the father of Scootaloo Jade, and the husband of Meadow Jade."A stallion said wearing a black vest stood at an alter.  "And here, we have Holora Nightshade, a stallion of great courage, who earned his peaceful death."

I felt tears form in my eyes again, as the funeral service begun to close, and lower the caskets into the ground.  "Let them carry on through the afterlife in peace, and together as brothers.  Rest In Peace William.  Rest In Peace Holora."The funeral service begun to shovel dirt to fill in the holes as I slowly walked away.

"Scoots, where you going?"I heard Applebloom ask.  I stopped, and without looking back, I spoke.

"I'm going to find Flam...and Kill him."

"How will you find him?"Sweetie Belle asked.  "He could be anywhere by now."I brief moment of silence washed over before I spoke again.

"I know where he is..."I spoke in slight anger, "I'm going to Canterlot."
> 17-Where the Road Ends
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Where the Road Ends






The train came to a halt as it slowed along side the platform of Canterlot's train station.  I slowly walked out the opening doors, and on to the crowded platform of mares and stallions.  The clear sunlit sky warmed the air as a gently soothing breeze across my fur.  It felt like peace...the first time I had felt such peace in a long time.  But I knew it was not over...not yet at least.

The streets were bustling with life.  Ponies wandering, shopping, eating...it was incredible.  The city life was far different than Ponyville life.  Ponies were much more accustomed to higher standards here than Ponyville.  Instead of the fresh country air and quiet land you live with in Ponyville, Canterlot is much more busier, louder and much more populated.  Sadly, the day to come here and observe the massive city will have to wait another day...

A building lied on the outskirts of the market.   A sign hung above the door that read "White Tail Inn".  Somehow...I knew he was beyond the doors leading into the tavern.

I pushed open the doors, and walked in.  Inside was a small crowd of ponies who quietly kept to themselves, drinking their ales and ciders.  I scanned the building slowly, and saw a separate room to my right.  Inside was just another table and a few chairs...as well as a drunken yellow furred stallion who drunk carelessly.  I walked up to him, grabbing a chair, and sat on the opposite side of the table.  He stared at me with envious eyes.

"Not surprising...seeing you still alive."He spoke.  "It's all a lost cause...what you fight for."

"And what you fight for isn't?  The world has moved on from both of us..."I spoke.  "Nopony cares about another's opinion...the Assassin's were never fighting...they were always defending."

"Defending nothing, if not something worthless."

"No...freedom is priceless...freedom is something you will never be able to purchase for a price.  Freedom is something you establish...freedom is something you earn."

"Freedom is chaos!  If you have freedom, you have freedom to kill, to steal, to destroy, all without consequences."Flam stood up, throwing the chair aside.  Other ponies turned their gaze toward us.  I stood up as well.

"Theirs a difference between freedom, and anarchy.  What we had years ago, before the Templars rose from the shadows...that was true freedom...though some tried to take it away, they were always put down.  Ponies had the free will to do whatever they pleased...but it doesn't mean that you can get away with all of it.  You will never understand freedom..."I fought the urge to end him so quickly.

"...There's one Assassin left in this world...and one Templar..."Flam spoke, taking a step toward me.  I took my hoof, and placed it on the pistol that rested hidden in its holster.  "But there can only be one."

Flam suddenly took out a knife, and swung at me quickly.  I felt a sharp pain in my right shoulder as I tried to dodge his swing.  The end of the blade caught my leg as he swung.  I took the gun out of the holster, and held it next to my waist.  I wasted no time in squeezing the trigger...
*POP*
"AHG!"Flam shrieked in pain.  Ponies who sat, calmly watching us suddenly stood up in terror.  I had one shot in the pistol, and fired it into the only pony who deserved to die in such a gruesome way.  As Flam held his wound on his chest, I dropped the pistol, letting it fall to the floor.

"Rest in Peace..."I spoke as I took the knife Flam dropped.  "You Bastard."I drove the knife up, and through his neck...I held it for a few seconds, as he continued to fight for life with the blade buried in his flesh.  His eyes stared at me, before rolling back into his head.  I tore the knife out...and let his body drop to the floor.
> Epilogue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Epilogue






I read somewhere, that being an Orphaned filly meant you were destined to have a life of misfortune, and bad luck.  Though some of it proved right for me...I'd say it's nothing but a myth.

The first few years of my life were spend living behind a dumpster alone.  I thought my life was pointless, and meaningless...but that all proved wrong one day when I found an elder stallion who owned a shop...there, I learned of my families heritage, and continued what my father had started so long ago.

I went from a filly, running around with boundless energy, to a matured mare in just two years time.  Along the way, I learned so much about life...and met my own father, who I thought had been killed when I was a foal.  Though he lie at the bottom of the ocean, he still lives in my heart...it's as if he speaks to me everyday.

I've continued running the store my mentor, now passed, had left me.  Business is doing incredibly well, especially with all the curious fillies and colts who found the store the same way I did.  It reminds me of the day I found the same shop.

Among the business, I've met a young stallion who begun helping me around the store.  My feelings grow stronger for him everyday, and I feel one day, we may have a foal of our own...in fact, just last week...he proposed to me...and I accepted it with all my heart.

Among my heritage, I've also continued the order of Assassin's.  Sweetie Belle now comes in a few days a week, and trains with me.  I've asked Rarity to sew up a hood of her own for the future.  Applebloom on the other hand, is in fact, opening her own farm on the other side of Ponyville.  It's still a part of Sweet Apple Acres, but Applejack had given Applebloom permissions to run it on her own.

It seemed like so long ago, we were all blank flanks, running around getting into all sorts of shenanigans.  Now...we've all grown, and leading happy joyous lives...And there's one more thing...my cutie mark.  When I returned to Ponyville, I noticed it on my flank.  The symbol of the Assassin's seemed to shimmer on my flank.

I was born a regular foal with a heritage...orphaned, forced to live on the streets...trained, and became a fighter...and now...I'm who I couldn't be happier to be.  That's my story...so far...now, I can only wait for the rest of it to be written.


The End