Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, to the Mane 6 perspective, are just normal ponies and friends to them, doing their normal everyday lives. Octavia, to her friends perspective, is a very talented pony. And Scootaloo, according to the CMC, is a very loyal member.
But what they don't know, is that these four ponies have a dark secret: they are assassins, keeping Equestria safe from harm. Take to their path as part of their brotherhood(or sisterhoof): The Assassins.
It was just a normal day in Ponyville, Equestria, with ponies doing their normal business. Twilight, the new alicorn princess of Equestria, is just doing her usual reading in her library with Spike, Fluttershy taking care of the animals, Rarity doing her fashionista business, and Applejack doing her apple-bucking.
For Vinyl, she was just listening to her electric music, the music giving her the energy she needed just to perform as a DJ. For the CMC Members Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, it was normal day just to plan to get their cutie marks. But something doesn't feel right. Normally, for the Mane 6, Rainbow Dash must be practicing, and Pinkie Pie must be jumping around in Ponyville. For Vinyl, Octavia didn't came to her room just to argue with her. And for the CMC, Scootaloo must be at the clubhouse. No matter where they search for them, they always come up empty. So they write complaining letters for the Royal Sisters:
Mane 6 Letter:
"Dear Princess Celestia and Luna,
As of today, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie are gone. They aren't in Ponyville, and we search, but to no avail. Please help us princesses! Somehow both of you have the answer.
P.S. Sorry if the letter is short.
By:
The Elements of Harmony"
Vinyl's Letter:
"Dear Princess Celestia and Luna,
Today, my fellow musician and friend, Octavia Melody, is missing. I expected her to argue with me with my loud music, but she didn't come to my room. When I stopped my music, I peek out of my room, hoping to find my friend, but I didn't. I searched the entire room just to search for her, but to no avail. Please help me!
By the awesome DJ:
Vinyl Scratch"
CMC Letter:
"Dear Princess Celestia and Luna:
In this day, our member and friend, Scootaloo, is not in our clubhouse. Normally she would be here with us, planning how to have our cutie marks. But today, she's not here. We are worried about her. Please help us!
By:
Sweetie Belle and Applebloom"
They sent the letter via mail, and waited for a response from the Royal Sisters. They waited and waited, until thankfully, a reply came.
Reply Letter:
"Dear (Mane 6, Vinyl or CMC),
We are truly sorry that we cannot answer your questions of your friends disappearances. However, let us take on the Canterlot Gardens to talk of the formal matter.
By the Royal Princesses:
Celestia and Luna"
After seeing the reply letter, the Mane 6, Vinyl Scratch or DJ Pon-3 and the Cutie Mark Crusaders go to the the Royal Canterlot Garden to discuss what is their current situation, but they didn't know about 4 shadows watching them, and it was in the dead in the night.
-Royal Canterlot Garden-
The Mane 6, Vinyl and the CMC Members with the princesses in the gardens of Canterlot itself.
"Princess, do you know yet where they are know?" Twilight asked her mentor Celestia.
"Sorry my princess student. Me and my sister don't know yet about their whereabouts." Celestia replied to her worried student.
"But I don't understand! Octy should have been in the house all day, practicing with her cello! It's not like her to be that!" Vinyl burst with tears. But she felt a hoof at her back, and when she look up, it was Rarity.
"Don't worry Vinyl dear. We should keep trying to search for them, until we find them."
"-Sniff- Thank you, R..Rarity." The ponies keep on walking at the grand garden.
"I don't like this feeling." Sweetie Belle said, broking the long silence.
"What is it Sweetie dear?" Rarity asked. But before Sweetie Belle could reply to Rarity's concerning question, two hooded mares jump suddenly out of nowhere, startling and confusing the nine ponies currently present. The hooded mares stand up on their hind legs, getting a bipedal look. The first one has a black and red hooded suit, while the second one, probably it's companion, has a rather white and red hooded suit.
"Greeting Sinora Celestia, sinora Luna. It's a good night I presume?" The black hooded mare said with a bit of Latin. The ponies didn't get the 'Sinora' thing, but they stood their ground and Luna answered back.
"Yes it is a good night. However, who are you two? We didn't met each other, or have we?"
"I guess your memories are failing princess. You didn't remember us because we are new, but we have gained the rights to be part of it." The white hooded mare said. However, the Princesses didn't get the mare.
"Let me rephrase. You know us, but because of time, you and your ponies have forgot us in books." The black hooded one said again. The Princesses and the ponies still didn't get her sentence, but the white one suddenly got two bows at the side of her hoof, and she began to strike them together, performing a magnificent tune of melodic sounds. Vinyl got to her head.
'How can this mare could perform such perfect tunes? Only Octavia could do this, unless.....' Vinyl thought in her head. 'No, this is not Octavia. This mare must be another one, who knew that much.' The ponies still have been listening to the melodic tune. However, Applejack was getting in a stance.
"Ah don't know who the buck you guys are, but tell us, what happened to are friends?!"
"Yes tell us! What happened to Vinyl's friend and Scootaloo?!" Sweetie Belle cried with her full volume. However, the hooded mares just stood there, without making any movements, except for the white one who was still playing the melodic tune.
"Okay that's it!" Applejack stance got getting lower and lower. "Here ah come!" She bolted towards the black hooded mare, hoping to buck the mare with full force just to get some answers. However, two more hooded mares, in white and red, suddenly jumped and stopped her attack using daggers on the side of their hooves. One of the mares that stopped was filly-sized.
"Come and near our leader, and we will assassinate you." The second one said in a threatening tone. Applejack eyed-wide as she heard the sentence. However, Luna shouted in her Royal Canterlot Voice.
"GUARDS!" Suddenly, 5 Night Guards come out of nowhere, preparing there battle stance.
"Guards, get the Element of Honesty in safety and deal with these wretches!" Luna ordered her night guards with an authoritative voice. The guards saluted, and flew towards Applejack and the two hooded mares. However, the hooded mare who was playing the tune stopped, noticing the two guards. Immediately, she jumped into the air and threw her bows at them.
"Hah! Like that would-" The guard was cut off by the bow striking his wing, with his companion. The bows were sharp, and they returned to the hooded mare, and she returned to the ground. For the two guards, however, their cut-off wings hurt their minds and soul, and sending them crashing to the ground hard. For the remaining guards, they are now afraid of them.
"WHO ARE YOU?!" Luna demanded in her Royal Canterlot Voice. However, the mares turned back and head away, with the filly throwing something and saying:
The ponies got confused of what the filly said. Who are the Assassins? What are their intentions? Are they trying to get Equestria in harm? For the princesses, they didn't know the answer, but history will tell the story of the long-forgotten Creed.
"Do you know them princess?" Twilight asked her fellow alicorn princess and mentor. Celestia shook her head to the left and right, meaning it's a 'no'.
'Damn! Who are they anyway?' Twilight thought in her head.
-Octavia's House-
The Assassins that appeared in that night in the Canterlot Gardens meet on Octavia's House and put in the name of the Creed as their meeting place. The mares got into a room and unveiled their hoods, revealing the face of four mares.
"Well Octavia, you have quiet the Assassin's traits." The black robed cyan colored mare said.
"Don't worry Rainbow Dash. That mission is only meant for heightening our senses you know." Octavia said.
"You do realize that when we revealed ourselves, the princesses will sure have a search warrant?" The white-robed pink colored mare.
"I agree with Pinkie Pie. Once we revealed ourselves, they will sure search for us." The little robed filly said.
"Maybe I also go for Pinkie Pie as well. Scootaloo, did you warn them about us?" Octavia asked Scootaloo.
"Well I only said 'We are the Assassins' and threw our symbol." Scootaloo replied.
"Oh well that's their only clue. Regardless, we must protect Equestria without being noticed. We must not let our enemy being notified." Rainbow Dash said. The ponies nodded in agreement and soon left to their homes, with Octavia having remove her robes and got pulled into a deep sleep.
-Next Day, Twilight's Library-
Twilight was still analyzing the symbol of the so-called 'Assassins'. She was terrified of what they could do, but at the same time was also fascinated about their culture. She was, in her deep thoughts, that these ponies might have a common purpose, but for what? However, her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.
"COMING!" She shouted as she trotted down the stairs towards the door.
'I wonder who will that be?' She thought as she opened the door. However, instead of a regular pony, she saw the same four ponies last night.
"I'm sorry Sinora Twilight. We're sorry to interrupt your pensiero in this time. However, we must talk....privately." The hooded filly said. They entered the library without Twilight saying 'Okay you can come', and Twilight closed the door.
"So, what are you gonna talk to me anyways?" She asked the hooded mares. However, they didn't talk, and one pulled out a golden circular object out of it's robes.
"This is what were gonna talk about." The black hooded mare said. Twilight was confused about it. What is this golden round thing?
"Your probably wondering about this....cosa. This is The Apple, an important artifact that has immense power and knowledge." The hooded filly said with Twilight got her jaws open in shock.
"But...I....I don't know this artifact. The only artifact I know of is the Elements of Harmony. But I have one question for you: What's your intentions.?" Twilight asked the hooded mares. The hooded didn't answer her for about minutes or hours, which makes Twilight pretty mad not being mad. However, a knock on the door got her attention.
"Be right back you guys." Twilight commanded to the hooded mares as she darted towards the door. When she opened the door, it revealed her friends Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity.
"Why hello girls! What's up?" Twilight asked her friends.
"Oh nothing really darling." Rarity answered her friend. Twilight gave her self a chuckle, but a blade got to her neck, shocking her three friends.
"Oh dear. It seems you have been deceived. Come inside, and we will tell you all."
"We?" Applejack asked. But without a word, Twilight was dragged inside.Her friends come full force inside, but seeing Twilight and the same hooded mares last night. Applejack was in full anger.
"Ah don't know what's going on, but Ah'm not gonna waste mah time just to chat with you guys!" She shouted, in her ready-to-buck state. However, the hooded filly stepped in and said:
"Oh don't worry Sinora Applejack. It will be just a single chit-chat with us folks. Now come, we will have to discuss something." The hooded filly arranged them in order, her kin in one place, and Twilight and her friends to another.
"Okay dears. What the buck are you gonna say to us you sick bucks?" Rarity asked in an offended nature. One of the white hooded mare stepped in and said:
"We will only say the only thing that our tenant could do: Nothing is true, everything is permitted." The other hooded mares stepped in and chanted the only phrase the Mane 6 could swallow in their thoughts.
'Nothing is true, Everything is Permitted'
"We also have another thing in mind to say before we say." The black hooded mare said.
"And what is it stranger?" Twilight asked.
"We should have it with the princess, today, tonight." Another white hooded mare said. After saying it, the four ponies jumped out of the library and began to run to the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.
"Hey Twi! Ah don't like those sick bucks going to my farm!" But before Twilight could answer, they could here a voice.
"Gli nella paura della Dottrina!"
'Oh buck.' Twilight thought as she and her friend galloped towards Sweet Apple Acres.
Twilight and her friends tried their best to get to Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack's farm and home. But when they got to the apple orchard, they could see nothing. The 'Assassins' have nothing to do here, but where are they going? Twilight is still thinking about it, when the phrase the hooded mares started playing back into her mind.
'Nothing is true, Everything is Permitted'
'What does that even mean?' Twilight asked herself in her thoughts as she and her friends searched the entire farm for those hooded mares.
-Octavia's House-
"Nice job Pinkie. Your distraction sentence paid off. Now all we need to do is to have a word with the princesses." Rainbow Dash, the Master Assassin, said.
"Well thank you Signor Rainbow Dash. Octavia, Scootaloo, we need to plan for this mission our maestro gave us." Pinkie said. In an instant, Octavia and Scootaloo got to their respective places.
"Okay girls, here's the mission. Know that the Assassin's enemy would want the The Apple, a piece of Eden, and the Elements of Harmony, we must protect them in a single place." Rainbow Dash instructed.
"But one thing signor. You and Pinkie have two of the Elements of Harmony, wouldn't that to be a coincidence?" Octavia asked.
"Don't worry Octavia. When the day the Assassins were created, it's members protected the innocent and kill off bad guys and the Templars. Now, with us four, one of the new generations of Assassins, it's our duty to have our oaths true." Scootaloo said with pride.
"True, but don't forget, the Templars have been in hiding since Nightmare Moon was banished. However, that doesn't mean that Princess Luna is their leader." Pinkie said.
"Then who is their leader?" Octavia asked. There was intense silence to the room, but the Assassins are no strangers to silence. Minutes later, Rainbow Dash spoke up.
"The Templars leader is Princess Celestia. However, a Templar leader and Princess Luna don't mix. There's something off about Luna."
"And what is it?" Scootaloo asked.
"Well, after last night, she usually goes to the dark in the mountain top, gazing the night sky. However, today, she's mostly awake at day and sleepy but energetic at night."
"Does that means she's an Assassin?" Pinkie asked.
"I don't know Pinkie, but we shall know soon when we talk with the princesses, Twilight and the other Elements of Harmony." Rainbow Dash replied.
"Hey, how are we gonna infiltrate Canterlot Castle? It's heavily defended you know." Scootaloo asked and noted at the same time. The other three looked at her with some perspective views. Yes, she's right, the castle is heavily defended. However, there was a solution.
"I know now how to infiltrate the castle girls. Come closer." Rainbow Dash commanded. The three did at what they were commanded and listen to Rainbow's plan.
-Today, Night Time-
Tonight was just a normal night for the Princess of the Night, Luna. She watches and gazed her sights towards the dark sky, dotted by stars. She will always smile at them, knowing that it's her duty. However, an anonymous voice called out.
"Hello there signora Luna. It's another beautiful night isn't it?" Luna turned her head around and saw the same four hooded mares last night.
"You..." She growled. However, a hoof pointed at her by the black hooded mare, supposed to be the leader.
"Don't worry Principessa, it's not our job to kill anypony within our Creed." At the mention of the word 'Creed', Luna gasped.
"Why Principessa, are you a member of the Creed?" One of the white hooded mare asked her. Luna tried to scramble her thoughts, and after a few moments of silence, she answered:
"No. I'm not part of the Creed." The hooded mares, as usual, turned their backs and the black hooded mare said:
"Addios Principessa." And with that, they left.
'My secret...It's time that my sister will know what kind of mare am I.' Luna thought as she flew back to her chamber.
-Minutes Later-
The four Element bearers, Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity got into Canterlot Castle just to discuss what happened last night. When they entered the dining hall, the two princesses, Celestia and Luna, was waiting for them. When they got into their respective seating, they moved into the discussion.
"So what will be our topic for today my student?" Celestia asked Twilight.
"It's about those hooded mares last night. Do you know them by chance?" Twilight asked back.
"No sorry. It's just that they are mysterious." Celestia answered.
"Well, minutes ago, those same hooded mares visits me again." Luna said. She received somewhat some relative gasps.
"What did they do to you dear?" Rarity asked.
"Nothing. They just asked me a question wherein I'm shaken up." Luna replied.
"What was that question sister?" Celestia asked her younger sister.
"Well, one of those hooded mares asked me 'Why Principessa, are you part of the Creed?' That's the only question she gave me." Luna replied. Her sister, who looked at her in a death gaze, suddenly replied.
"Why do they ever want to question even that?"
"Because we have to." A voice anonymously said. They spun their heads around and saw the same hooded mares.
"Why do you have to?" Celestia asked the mares.
"Because we want to know, if you are the leader of the Templars and what's behind that jewel-with-ring around your neck." The black hooded mare said, pointing her hoof at Celestia.
The mentioned names of the 'Templars' ringed in Luna's head. She heard of those words before, but not a question that would put simply her sister as their leader.
'What the buck are they talking about?' Luna thought as she still process information about it. However, Twilight stood up to the defense of her mentor and said:
"Okay enough with this crazy non-sense! How dare you put Princess Celestia as a ruler of this 'Templars' and what is behind you-know-what around the neck of her!"
"Oh enough with that defense sentence. I would clearly show you what is behind the 'you-know-what' around the neck of Celestia." The hooded filly said.
"None if I say about it. GUARDS!" Twilight shouted. Suddenly, four armed guards appeared with their body and weapons ready to take down the hooded mares.
"Guards, take down this stupid bucks and chase them if they run!" The guards nodded and readied themselves to charge the hooded mares. However, the hooded mares just stood there, as if nothing happened. The guards galloped themselves towards the hooded mares with their spears, intending to stab them dead.
"DIE YOU BUCKS!" They cried as they are almost there to stab them, but to their surprise, the hooded mares dodged their spears, going sideways. They grab the spears, getting the guards off-guard, and they stabbed them. They dropped to the ground, dead, with a pool of blood. The hooded mares dropped the spears and their attention is brought back towards the ponies.
"Anything else you want to say?" The black hooded mare asked them in a taunting gesture.
"I WILL NOT GET YOUR HOOVES ON THE PRINCESS! GUARDS!" Twilight shouted at the very height of her volume. More guards just showed up, this time with swords.
"HAH! What will you do now?!" Twilight asked them also in a taunting gesture. The filly just come forth, with a weird looking axe and a little dagger.
"I do hope your ready." The black hooded mare said.
"I'm always pronto." The filly answered back as she ran towards the guards. The guards are more than willing to kill a very dirty filly, even though it's innocent. However, the filly dodged two guards ponies and swung towards the third one, using her axe to deflect the sword and using her dagger to his throat. The guard is dead mere seconds later.
'What the....How could a filly...' Twilight was lost in her thoughts as the filly got to her axe and slice off another guard. Another guard tried to charge at her, but the filly just used her axe to deflect again the sword and slice off near it's throat again. The other hooded mares also helped the filly, with the filly circling one of the guards, stabbing him in the next with the dagger, and circling him again and sliced of his head with her axe. The other hooded mares got to expel the guards with their weapons, most notably the daggers at the side of their hooves, except one of the hooded mares which has a bow.
'Oh no....This is not good.' Twilight thought to herself with an overwhelming feeling of doom. The hooded mares step aside their weapons, and the filly said:
"Get out of here Twilight. Our business is with Celestia."
"How do you know even my name?!"
"It doesn't matter. Step aside please."
"NEVER!" Twilight shouted. Her friends also come up to the defense of Celestia, but in this do or dire situation, they realize that these mares have some skills not by magic, but by hoof-to-hoof combat and martial arts, much like Rarity. However, Fluttershy stood forward and asked them:
"What do you want from our leader mare?" As usual, the black hooded stood forward and replied:
"If you want to know us, come with us. If you want to fight us, then it's your last mistake. Our only business here is with Celestia. Just step aside and-" She was cut off by the door opening, and could see Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Vinyl Scratch. They are horrified to see the dead bodies, and the hooded mares before them.
"I....I.....I...." Vinyl was lost in her words, but suddenly, a guard with a cross with red ruby just moved in, with a ready-to-cut sword.
"HA! Some Assassins, I will cut you all!"
"Not if I think about it." The ponies turned their heads and saw one of the white hooded mares stepped in, with her deadly bows ready.
"HA! Your silly bow! What could you do Assassin? Doesn't matter, I WILL KILL YOU!" The guard charged in with full gallop, with his sword ready. However, the hooded mare just stood there, and she just dodged the sword and stabbed the stallion in the neck, resulting in his quick death.
"Riposa in Pace Templar." The mare said, before hiding her weapon back.
'But...But....How could?!' Twilight was also lost in her thoughts but the hooded mare approached Luna, and she offered:
"If you want to join us, just visit us in the dead of night." Luna wide-eyed on this, but the hooded mare approached Vinyl, and said:
"You, come with us. You have something your bloodline has."
"But...But what is it?!" Vinyl demanded.
"You will know soon. Come with us, we will discuss something." The hooded mare, going back to her friends and exiting the castle, with Vinyl nervously and cautiously following them.
"What's the matter with my bloodline?" Vinyl asked the hooded mares as they exit the castle. The mares just stopped and look at her, like it was suspicious.
"Nothing really. Just as what you know, your ancestor is the original creator of our Creed, the Assassins." The reply shock Vinyl, like she was hit a thousand times with lightning. Immediately, she spoke up.
"What are you talking about? How could my ancestor created your 'Creed', and I didn't know about it?!" The hooded mares didn't reply to her, and she was losing her patience.
"JUST TELL ME WILL YOU!!!!!!" She shouted, like she was wasting her breath just to scream. Immediately, one of the hooded mares come forward and replied:
"Vinyl Scratch, or known simply as DJ PON-3, is a very juicy target for the Templars. Knowing you as the descendant of the creator, they will not stop at nothing to kill you. That's why it's a closely guarded for your family, knowing that if you ever find about it, then you will be in a state of depression, trying to figure it out. But we guess it no longer matter."
"Okay, so my ancestor was the creator of the Creed. If that is correct, could you tell me what's the history?"
"To put it simply, not here. Eyes and ears will hear it. Time to go somewhere else safe." The hooded filly said. With that, the hooded mares walked again, with Vinyl close behind them.
-Inside the Castle-
"Ah can't believe that mare could kill a stallion like that!" Applejack shouted, letting all of her hatred out of her body.
"Just calm down Applejack dear. We must understand what happened." Rarity said.
"Calm down?! Ah you crazy?!" Applejack shouted back.
"Calm down Applejack. It might get worse you know." Twilight calmly said to her friend.
"Okay Twi. However, there are some questions in mah head."
"And what's that?"
"Well the questions really are: Who are the Templars? Assassins? Why do they have so much feud with each other? Why do they fight like martial artists?"
"Those are difficult questions to answer Applejack. However, it's a matter of time before we should ever face the Assassins, or the Templars, or both I should say." Twilight said.
"B...B...But, the A..Assassins fighting styles, they surpassed t...the Royal Guards. What are t..they u..up too?" Fluttershy asked.
"I don't know Fluttershy, but we need to ask them, the Assassins, for answers."
"But how are we gonna approach them? After your 'bizarre' reaction to them, I think they will never answer our questions simply by approaching them." Rarity pointed out. Twilight admitted it, Rarity was right. How could they approach the Assassins simply not being killed? There must be another way.
-Outside the Castle-
"So your saying the Assassins works to save the innocent, but kill the evil guys and Templars?" Vinyl asked.
"Your so much to the point Vinyl. However, you must know us more than meets the eye." The black hooded mare said.
"And that would mean?"
"Come. We must go to the CMC Clubhouse to discuss it." The filly said. And with that, they are now trailing off towards the CMC Clubhouse. After some time, they finally reached it. They opened the door, and quickly entered the clubhouse, locking the door and sealing the windows off.
"Okay, so what are we gonna do here?" The hooded mares didn't respond, but lifted off their hoods to reveal their faces, much to Vinyl's shock. One of the 'Assassins' was her long time friend and roommate, Octavia Melody.
"But...But..But Octavia, how could you-"
"Be part of the Creed? To put it simply Vinyl dear, I was actually in the bloodline of Assassins, and that becomes my double life." Vinyl looked at the other Assassins, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and a filly what she heard is Scootaloo.
"Why are you part of the Creed Scootaloo?" Vinyl asked the little school aged filly.
"Well I was recruited by Pinkie herself, and she becomes my mentor. Although I'm part of the CMC, I already have my cutie mark when I finished my first mission." Scootaloo replied.
"And what's your cutie mark?"
"The symbol of the Creed. Sworn in by oath and allegiance to the Brotherhood, because at the time of it's creation it was all male, and later sisters, I become full part of it. Helping the innocent, killing of those who wants to hurt them. It's my, or should I say, our job to do it."
"But, you killed the guards the other night and killed the stallion!" Vinyl exclaimed.
"It was our duty to protect each other Vinyl, and that stallion was a Templar, the Creed's long-time foe." Rainbow Dash said back.
"Okay I got one question: Who the buck are the Templars?!" Vinyl asked in frustration.
"The Templars dear, are ponies who wants nothing but power, fame and glory. It's our duty to prevent them to do so." Octavia replied.
"Now come Vinyl! We will have again words with the princess." Pinkie said.
"But the princess will have the guards in a tight security! How are you gonna get in?"
"Easy. Assassin wonder." Scootaloo replied with a smirk.
'Oh well. Maybe I could get answers also from the princesses.' Vinyl thought as the Assassin's got out of the building,hoods at their heads again, and Vinyl trailing with them as they go back towards the castle.
"So why are we going to go back to the castle again?" Vinyl asked the Assassins.
"Oh Vinyl dear. We need some answers, that's all. You think that we will kill all the inhabitants in the castle. Of course no." Octavia replied.
"Well that suppose answers my question." Vinyl said.
"Ah Vinyl, don't get your nervousness have you. You will soon learn what your capable of." Rainbow Dash said.
"And what's that?"
"You will know soon." Scootaloo with a smirk. The four ponies finally got to the point wherein they are now in the Royal Canterlot Gardens undetected by the Royal Guards.
"I suppose you know this place, did you dear?" Octavia asked.
"Well yes. This is the place wherein we first met, without your names being known though." Vinyl replied.
"Exactly Vinyl. However, you should this place also contains a lot of secrets." Pinkie said. Vinyl didn't get why the Canterlot Gardens were special.
"Why is it special anyways?" Vinyl asked.
"It will be known soon. However, we must find it." Rainbow Dash said.
"Find what exactly?"
"Try to find something odd in this gardens. Your senses will come in handy." Scootaloo replied. The Assassins got to work, with Vinyl also doing the same, but it was odd for her working with Assassins, let alone her friend is also like them. She shrugged the feeling of doom with these Assassins and continued her search.
'Let see....Something odd. How am I suppose to see something odd here?' Vinyl thought in her head as she continued. However, her senses kicked in, and her eyes began zooming out as far away as it can.
'W...What the?! How did I see such things immediately?' Vinyl asked herself confusingly, but then her eyes come up with something. It was a bush, but it was attached to something. Her instincts told her just to go near the bush, and her hoof suddenly pulled it. Out of the blue, a large door opened up, with a stairwell leading towards the deep earth.
"Hey guys! I found something!" Vinyl shouted as the Assassins got to her location. When the Assassins got to her spot, they have their faces with satisfaction. They descended the stairs without any question, and when they got to the bottom part of the stairs, it was totally dark.
"Hey! Why is it so dark here?" Vinyl asked.
"Why ask? Your a unicorn right? Use your magic." Scootaloo said. Vinyl just facehoofed herself. She focused her magic and her horn began to glow, almost lighting the place up. In an instant, they could two pathways leading in opposite directions, one in the left and one in the right.
"This pathways seems odd. Why two of them?" Vinyl asked her Assassin companions.
"I don't know why they are hear Vinyl darling. Regardless, we need to split up." Octavia suggested.
"I agree. Okay here's the plan. Me and Octavia will go to the left, while Pinkie and Scootaloo will go to the right. You Vinyl will got to our searching party. Got that?" Rainbow Dash ordered her comrades, while asking Vinyl at the same time.
"I guess..." Vinyl said with some nervousness. And without any other sayings, the parties got to their work.
-Left Searching Party-
The Left Party got to the left corner of the underground mystery, wherein Vinyl was now getting extremely nervous.
'I don't know what we will encounter. Regardless, although I'm nervous, I need to get moving.' Vinyl thought as she and her Assassin companions kept moving. When they got to the end of this left corridor, the Assassins gave it a stoic expression.
"What's with the expression?" Vinyl asked.
"See it for yourself." Rainbow Dash replied. Vinyl stepped in forward, and what she saw was surprising for her, but not for the Assassins. In the room was lots and lots of books, and in the center was a cross with a sun on it's center.
"Just as I thought." Rainbow Dash said.
"Why? What's the matter?" Vinyl asked.
"This contains lots of evidence that our ruler, Princess Celestia, is a Templar herself. We are suspicious of her, but we shrugged it like it was just a theory. But now, it's now true." Rainbow Dash replied. Vinyl got stuck in her mind: How does Celestia becomes a power-hungry Templar? What was her deal with them, and what was her business?
"Why? Why does Celestia became a Templar in the first place?" Vinyl asked.
"That we do not know of Vinyl darling. Regardless, we must keep searching." Octavia replied.
-Right Searching Party-
Pinkie and Scootaloo is now walking in the right corner of the underground mystery. They are wondering what mysteries will await them as they approached the end of the tunnel. When they got there, however, was far more interesting.
'What the....'Scootaloo almost cursed as she and her mentor saw it. It was a very large library, and in the middle, was the Assassin's symbol, with Luna's cutie mark in it's center.
"How did Luna's cutie mark got their?" Scootaloo asked her mentor.
"I don't know my student. Regardless, we must search the entire place. I'm sure that the others in the opposite direction is also searching." Pinkie replied with a smile. And with that, the Assassins got to work, to search the entire place up for something deep is hidden beneath this underground complex.
"Hey Twilight! Where are you going dear?" Rarity asked her lavender colored friend.
"To the Canterlot Gardens for a walk. You could join if you want." Twilight replied.
"We will join you sugarcube." Applejack said. And with that, the Mane 4(because two of them are missing) went towards the Canterlot Gardens, not knowing what will happen next.
-Left Searching Party-
Rainbow Dash, Octavia and Vinyl is starting to search for what it appears to be Princess Celestia's secret Templar home. However, it wasn't an ordinary home. It was a half-home, half-library complex if you could speak. They searched entire shelves of books, returning them just not to cause suspicion.
'Why are we even searching the entire complex? Is there anything important here?' Vinyl asked herself in her mind as she continued searching with the two Assassins. Suddenly, Vinyl found a book which is really interesting.
'Celestia's Diary? What's doing in here?' Vinyl again asked herself in her thought.
"Well, do you find anything Vinyl dear?" Vinyl turned her head and saw Octavia, still with her hood.
"Well yes actually. Hey Rainbow Dash!" The cyan colored pegasus heard it and moved towards Vinyl.
"What you got there?"
"I found Celestia's diary. I don't know why it's here, maybe some safe keeping." Vinyl opened the diary, and the Assassins with her to read the diary. What they found would shook the very world of the ponies
I have been crowned as princess. It's not bad at all to be crowned with my little sister. However, when I was still not crowned, I joined the Templar ranks. I have been a novice, not because I was inexperienced, but I was within the alicorn family. They accepted me, and been having to missions against the Assassins. Although killing other ponies saddened me, it actually also getting my spirits up also because I believed the Templars beliefs.
I have been in a mission, in which I need to kill every Assassin, that I come across an Alicorn Assassin. She said:
"Why did you come here Templar?!"
"I have come to eradicate every Assassin in Equestria, and so I shall!" Without any more word, I attacked the Assassin. She countered my attack by swaying to the side, but I sway my sword to her, but she avoided it. Then, I hit one of her hoof, and she fell to the ground. I trotted next to her, and I said:
"Any last words Assassin?" But she didn't replied, she was knocked out good because of the impact of her head. But before I even kill her, I lifted her hood, just to know the identity of our enemy.
"LULU?!" I cried as I saw my sister's face. An ASSASSIN all along?! It can't be! Although the Templars swore to kill any Assassins, I can't kill my own sister! I will still think this through.
It was another day with my Assassin Sister. To her point, her Templar sister. We are so much apart, and I couldn't feel what's inside me. Somewhere, my mind tells me to kill my sister, as she was, after all, an Assassin. But in my heart, she was my dear sister. I couldn't just kill her! Then suddenly, a voice came out:
"Uh...Where am I?" It was Luna. I hid myself on top of a tree, but she shouted:
"COME FORTH YOU TEMPLAR WRETCH! YOUR VOICE IS LIKE MY SISTER, BUT YOU WILL FEAR MY WRATH!" She had used her Royal Canterlot Voice, but I knew she must know my secret. I quickly got into my face, and uncovered my secret my-know-what. Luna's eyed widened with shock.
"TIA?!"
"Hush now Lulu. I have long day to speak with." I said as I quickly got into the conversation of my secret, and she told hers after that.
"Well that was unexpected. Two princesses, to whom is the Royal Sisters, have different double lives in their past. How strange." Vinyl said when she closed the diary.
"I think we should get it. After all, we didn't created a mess didn't we?" Rainbow Dash said.
"I think I should agree Master." Octavia said. "However, I hope they-" She was cut off by a 'HEY!', and they turned around and saw Pinkie and Scootaloo.
"What's up guys? Found anything yet? We just found this secret vault that leads to here." Scootaloo asked.
"Yes actually. We found Celestia's diary, and confirmed that Celestia is in fact a Templar, but her sister is possibly retired Assassin." Rainbow Dash said.
"I think we should go up now. I don't like being in here forever." Vinyl suggested. We agreements roaring, they head out to the surface, unaware they will come face-to-face again to the Mane 4.
-Surface, Mane 4-
Appplejack, Rarity and Fluttershy is now strolling with a walk in the Royal Canterlot Gardens with Twilight.
"So dear, where are we walking towards from this garden?" Rarity asked.
"Oh nothing it's just that I'm thinking too much." Twilight replied. But they stopped minutes later when they could a hole in the Canterlot Gardens. But what came next actually stunned. Rising from the hole is Vinyl...and the same hooded mares.
"YOU!" Twilight shouted, bringing the attention of both Vinyl and the Assassins.
Vinyl and the Assassins turned their heads when they heard Twilight's shouting at them. Twilight and her friends, in the look of their expressions, were in anger.
"What are you doing here?!" Twilight shouted in anger. However, they never replied. The Mane 4 wanted to charge at them not wanting to reply, but the face of Vinyl with them forced them not to do so.
"What are you doing with them Vinyl dear?" Rarity asked. Vinyl didn't reply, but instead levitated a book with a title 'Celestia's Diary' on it. Twilight couldn't believe it, they are actually holding Celestia's personal diary! Without uttering a word though, Applejack, consumed by her own hatred, started charging towards the ponies, Vinyl in particular. However, they didn't do anything just to stop her.
'It's mah chance!' She thought as she is closing her gap between the hooded mares and herself. However, the black hooded mare said:
"Oh come on now Applejack. Your even cockier than I even remember, and even tried to hurt your friend here. What's up with you?" Applejack, shocked at the statement, stopped just some feet of the hooded mares.
"F..Friends?!" Applejack shouted in shock and confusion, and when she spied on her friends and CMC, they were equally shocked and confused.
"What are you talking about dear?" Rarity asked the hooded mare. However, the mare didn't even answer. However, it was lifting her hoof towards her hood and removed it, revealing her face.
"R...RAINBOW DASH?!" Twilight screamed as she saw her friend's face. The other three also did the same, revealing the face of Pinkie Pie, Octavia and, much to the CMC's horror, Scootaloo.
"What in tarnation?! What's going on here?!" Appplejack cried, wanting to find answers. She never expected to see one, no, two of her friends as the hooded mares. Even more so for Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, they never expected to Scootaloo as one of them. But for Vinyl, she already knew about her friends secret, so it's no big doubt about it right now. Sweetie Belle trotted towards Scootaloo and asked:
"Scootaloo, why are you one of the-?" She was cut off by Scootaloo's obvious answers.
"One of the Assassins. Oh sure that we kill other ponies, but for our enemies only, not everypony else." The CMC was shocked by Scootaloo's answer, but understood what she meant. For Twilight, she was mere curious and angered that they have Celestia's own personal diary.
"Why do you have that?" She asked politely.
"Pardon?"
"I said why do you have that?!" She shouted, pointing her hoof at the diary.
"Oh just nothing. In fact, you might wanna check it out first before you say anything utterly stupid." Vinyl replied. She handed the book to Twilight, who get it furiously and started to read with her friends and the CMC the first page or Day 1 of the diary. What they read was shocking.
'Celestia as a killer?! What the...'Twilight was lost in her words before wanting to get to Day 2, but Vinyl said:
"Try for Day 61." Twilight just flipped the page and as they saw Day 61, it was equally shocking like Day 1, but with more gravity.
'Celestia as a Templar, and Luna as an Assassin?! What in the world did the sisters do?!' Twilight screamed in her thoughts as she flipped the page towards the end, Day 100
I just left the Templar ranks some day ago? I can't really tell, but my sister Luna also decided to quit the Assassin ranks. I just realized how bad my old brothers and sisters ambition where, as Luna told me. But killing each other would be idiotic, so I decided to not log anymore. If anypony read this, just don't, because those memories still burns inside of me.
"Ah can't believe Celestia and Luna has secrets!" Applejack bursted out.
"Do we even need to question Celestia or Luna about it?" Twilight asked her friends.
"Sorry if I may interrupt, but I must asking them. You know, to solidify this one." Rainbow Dash said. As much as she hated it, she was right. If this diary did contain Celestia's secrets, asking her questions wouldn't be that bad, is it? But, because the fair warning '...those memories still burns inside of me.' is written in the book, that means Celestia will be burdened again.
"I...I must consider this first. But still, I can't believe you two are actually Assassins!"
"Twilight, just calm down. Bursting with rage is not gonna help you at all." Pinkie said. For the first time Twilight's mind, Pinkie was right. Rage is not gonna help her, and the fact Pinkie is not in her 'usual' self is now getting in Twilight's nerves.
"Uhm...Twi, what are we gonna do?!" Applejack asked her lavender friend. Twilight pondered for a moment of her decision, being pressured by her orange mared friend. After a lot of time thinking she said:
"We must speak to the Princess."
"But why darling?" Rarity asked.
"Let's just asked them some questions." She replied, and trotted back towards the castle. Her friends just followed with the CMC, but unknown to them, the Assassins are now following as well in the shadows.
As Princess Twilight and her friends entered the castle, the Royal Guards escorted them to the throne room, where they are weary of the Assassins. When they got there, they were greeted by the Royal Sisters, Shining Armor and Princess Cadence.
"Hello my student. How's your....night?" Celestia asked the lavender alicorn.
"Nothing much, except we encountered them again." Twilight answered. The Royal Sisters glanced at each other, while her brother and ex-foalsitter just cocked their heads in confusion.
"'Them?' You mean the Assassins?" Luna asked.
"Yes. In fact, we also have questions with you two, but it's private." Twilight said.
"As in, how private?" Celestia asked.
"Much more privacy than usual." An anonymous voice replied. The ponies are looking at every direction until they look up, seeing Vinyl and four hooded mares. They jumped from their high positions, however managing to land safety. Celestia and Luna recoiled in shock, and as for Shining Armor and Cadence, don't know what to do. For Luna, she is now seeing her old brothers and sisters in the Creed, while for Celestia it's now an 'uh-oh' situation.
"Just close the door please. We must not hear anypony hear our little conversation." The hooded filly said, getting confusion from the Captain of the Royal Guards, and his wife. When Princess said it was totally private, they said 'oh' and left the throne room, closing the door behind them.
"Okay then, what are your questions?" Celestia asked.
"Do you know this?" Twilight asked back, levitating a book. When Celestia saw this, she wide-eyed, and shouted:
"MY DIARY! Where did you find this?!"
"Thanks to them no doubt." Twilight replied, cocking her head towards the Assassins. Luna just stepped in, and said:
"Assassins, I know you are fighting our common enemy, the Templars, but I simply have to ask, who are you four?" The hooded mares sighed and lifted their hoods, revealing their faces, much to the Princesses surprise.
"Surprise surprise eh Princesses? I do hope you have regained your composure because you two are now well.....let's just say not royal." Pinkie said. The Princesses pondered for a moment, before actually regaining their composure.
"Now that's better. Well, I do suppose you two need to explain yourselves about your secrets." Rainbow Dash, apparently the Master Assassin of the Creed, said.
"But, how about the guards? Will they hear us?" Celestia asked the hooded mares.
"I suppose Celestia darling right. We can't let the guards hear us. Is there any places that it's totally secret?" Octavia said.
"Well there is one." Luna replied, much to the ponies surprise.
"Don't you mean..." Scootaloo just eaten her words for the sentence, but Luna eventually just answered her.
"Created my own training ground? Well, it used to be, but now it's just my shadow of my past. If you want to meet us before we became the Royal Sisters, gave us a moment. Come on Tia, let's show them." Luna said. With a nod of approval, their work their magic and teleported to their chambers. Some moments later, they showed up again, but with their previous uniforms.
"This is what we look like before my student." Celestia sighed, taking the ponies, except for Vinyl and the Assassins, by shock. Celestia's old Templar uniform was the typical one, with armor and a very peculiar cross and red ruby in the center. Luna's old Assassin uniform was midnight blue, and having a hood like that of a typical Assassin robe. But what was striking was the black lines from her uniform, getting a smirk from Rainbow Dash.
"So you were a Master Assassin before right Luna?"
"-Sigh- Yes I was, before I retired. Before that, I killed.....let's just say thirty-three Templars." When they heard the Luna killed thirty-three of her enemies. everypony eye-widened. Luna was a very talented killer before her enemies, and therefore she was good at it.
"Thirty-three Templars huh? I must say, it's the highest kill for any Assassins." Rainbow Dash said.
"It was. In fact, I became Master Assassin eight months after I'm a Novice. Since then, I protected anypony from the Templars, before I met my sister as a Templar."
"It was heart-breaker for that day. Knowing that I will kill my sister will be a disaster for me, and I will weep for my sister when I kill her." Celestia said.
"But you almost killed her." Pinkie pointed out.
"It was. Thank for Equestria that I lifted off her hood. If not, then I killed her."
"I think this conversation is delaying our Q & A conversation in here. Come, let's go to my training grounds." Luna said, getting all nods of approval, and started trotting towards Assassin ground, with her sister Templar counterpart and the ponies following her. After they walked from countless staircases, they arrive at the grounds.
"It's magnificent Lulu. Much better." Celestia said to Luna.
"Don't you mention it sister. Even I awed myself with it's beauty. Now come, we have questions to answer." Luna said, and with a nod of approval, the Royal Sisters readied themselves for the upcoming onslaught of questions.
With the Royal Sisters composed themselves with their respective uniforms, the ponies began their questions.
"Okay, who will go first for the questions?" Luna asked the very small crowd of ponies. As usual, Twilight's hoof goes up in the air. Luna pointed at her and she asked:
"How did you became to your respective you-know-what?"
"Back before we are crowned sole Princesses of Equestria. Needless to say, we were quite happy for that actually." Celestia replied. The ponies, except for the Assassins, gasped.
"B...But why? Why do you have pleasure o...of k..killing o..other ponies?" Fluttershy asked in a stutter.
"Because it was our job Fluttershy. We have objectives that we need to accomplish, and we will do it one way or another." Luna replied.
"So your saying that you two will kill your enemy in any cost?" Twilight asked.
"Not actually for the us, Assassins. If you kill with cold blood, you will break intentionally the three tenants of the Creed. If you do, then you will be back to Novice." Luna replied.
"Ah'm sorry if I must interrupt, but what is a Novice?" Applejack asked. It's time for Rainbow Dash to answer.
"Novice is a new Assassin recruited or being born to it."
"She's right. The Novice needs to learn much about the Creed before he/she could go into his/her mission, that includes training. Lot's of it." Luna added.
"What are the benefits of this training dear?" Rarity asked.
"The benefits of the training is that it will enhance your five senses, and you will turn them to your advantage. For example, Fluttershy's audible whispers will be heard by the keen ears of an Assassin. Go try it." Luna said. Fluttershy took a deep breath, and said in her lowest voice:
"How long did you have been in the Creed Princess?"
"If I may remember, some years before I retire. I don't know the exact number, but it was very long perhaps." Luna replied. The ponies gasped. Nopony ever heard about Fluttershy's extremely low voice, but the fact an Assassin could hear it is simply fascinating, but also frightening at the same time.
"Any other questions?" Luna asked the ponies, but there was no hooves raising in the air. However, Rainbow Dash spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Do you know even about The Apple?" Both Luna and Celestia wide-eyed about the question, and their blood ran cold.
"Why princesses? What's so special about this Apple?" Twilight asked.
"The Apple is a very special artifact my dear student. It's older than the Elements of Harmony, and created by the First Civilization. However, this particular artifact is much more dangerous than The Staff and Key." Celestia replied.
"Why?"
"Because it could corrupt and control anyponies mind, and you will not resist it." Luna replied. The ponies eyed-widened in shock. An artifact, so powerful, that it could corrupt anyponies mind within a matter of seconds.
"Why does anypony want that thing?" Twilight asked.
"Nopony knows actually. The Templars believe that if they have it, they will cleanse the land of darkness. For us Assassins, well, it's our duty to protect from anyponies grasp." Celestia replied.
"But, you two before where enemies, despite being sisters. How did you two cope with each other despite having secret agenda's?"
"It's being sisters actually. Our bonds will never break, despite being different, evil or otherwise having other lives." Luna replied.
"So it's like being friends, am I right dear?" Rarity said.
"Yes it's actually quite like that. After we have ascended to the throne when we retire, we hide our agenda's from anypony, even though they are our friends." Celestia said.
"B...But why d..did you h..have t..to hide i..it?" Fluttershy asked.
"We fear that our friends will circulate any information about us once they know." Luna replied.
"But why? They are your friends anyways." Twilight said.
"True, they are our friends, but how about a friends whom you told your secret and tell it to the world behind your back?" Luna replied. The ponies, hearing the reply, exchange within themselves nervous glances. Friends, to whom you told your secret, will tell everypony about it? That's not fare.
"Are there any other questions before we go back up?" Celestia asked. One hoof was raised, and that was Applejack.
"Where are the location of that Staff and Key-something?"
"For the meantime, we don't know. Those two are scattered in Equestria, and we have no idea where they are. The Apple, although it has the map of the other two, it is also scattered. For years, the Templars and Assassins tried to track down this three, even today." Luna replied.
"But why are they, or you two before, would need those three? Sure those three could corrupt ponies, but why have them?" Twilight asked the Royal Sisters.
"Well it's complicated my dear student." Celestia replied.
"As in how complicated?"
"Those three, although could corrupt ponies just as you said, could also save us from certain destruction." Luna added.
"Yeah but for what reason?"
"Because, today is where the world ends, and the only thing that could stop it is the Pieces of Eden." Celestia replied, gaining eye-widened ponies.
"But how is it suppose to save our world when it could corrupt anypony in sight?!" Twilight asked her beloved mentor.
"Because, a Solar Flare, my creation a long time ago for the Sun, is going out of control, and it will destroy this world by burning it alive." Celestia replied. The ponies gasped at this revelation. Celestia own creation will destroy them!
"Why?! Why did this happen?!" Twilight asked her mentor.
"I don't know what happened, but in the meantime, we need to find those artifacts." Celestia said.
"How are we gonna suppose to find them Tia? They are scattered, and we don't have any clue where they are." Luna stated matter-of-factly. Luna was right. Without any clue or findings of the artifacts, they will have a difficult time tracking down the Apple, Staff and Key altogether.
"Until then, we will need to plan this first. Any other questions?" Celestia asked the ponies, and without any other questions, the ponies leave the Assassin Room.
-Ponyville-
The Mane 6, the CMC, Vinyl and Octavia now stroll towards Ponyville, the peaceful town near Canterlot. They approached Twilight's library, her home before she was crowned Princess of Equestria.
"Ah didn't know you four are Assassins." Applejack said to the four Assassins.
"You were quite surprised when you saw our faces behind our hoods." Rainbow Dash said.
"You should have seen your face when you are shocked." Pinkie said, giving a chuckle.
"Now now girls. We need to have our time spent before we could do anything else." Twilight said. They entered the library, with books still in their shelves.
"So dear? What are we gonna do here?" Rarity asked.
"We're just gonna have a little chit-chat with our Assassin friends here." Twilight responded, giving the ponies glances with each other.
"Okay then. What are you gonna have for this conversation?" Octavia asked.
"I don't know. How about you?"
"Do you have anypony suspiciously observing you?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"No why?"
"Templars are known for their spies in observing suspicious ponies here in Equestria. That's why we Assassins doesn't want to be followed too much." Pinkie replied.
"Wait so your saying that we are gonna be spied by those Templar ponies for the rest of our lives?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"As long you are in their suspicious list, you are not." Scootaloo said, giving a reassuring smile to her friends.
"Okay now I have a question." Twilight said.
"What's the question?"
"How long did the Assassins and Templars exist?"
"Before the banishment of Nightmare Moon. We are older than you think." Rainbow Dash said.
"Why do you have black and red clothes while Pinkie, Octavia and Scoots have white and red dear?" Rarity asked.
"My robe will classify me as a Master Assassin. Pinkie, Octavia and Scoots have the white and red robes because they are Novices, or ponies who are in the bid-bridge between Novice and Master Assassin." Rainbow Dash replied again.
"Vinyl, your quite there too much. Is something bothering you?" Octavia asked her DJ friend.
"Not actually. I was just...thinking." Vinyl replied.
"Thinking of what exactly?" Octavia asked again.
"Everytime I'm silent, some voice calling herself Minerva always talk to my head." Vinyl replied. The Assassins eyed-wide, while Twilight, the Mane 4 and the CMC tilted their head in confusion.
"Whose Minerva?" Twilight asked.
"Minerva is an entity who belongs to the First Civilization. Also, she, with others of the Civilization, created the Apple, Staff and Key. Now Vinyl, what did she say?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Are there any other questions for this conversation?" Twilight asked her friends, the CMC and the Assassins as they continue on the conversation.
"How about you? Do you have any questions?" Pinkie asked back to her lavender alicorn friend.
"I have actually." Twilight replied.
"Then was it?"
"How did you four become Assassins anyway?" The Assassins pondered for a moment, and Twilight thinks she got them in the ropes, until:
"Three of us here, as we presented ourselves, actually has Assassin decent. Me, Pinkie and Octavia are those three. Scootaloo, on the other hoof, is recruited by Pinkie here, and she is on the verge of the mid-line of the Creed." Rainbow Dash replied.
"So what your saying is that you, Pinkie and Octavia are naturally born to the Assassins already?" Twilight asked. The only answer she needed was a very delicate nod of affirmation.
"Okay then. Other questions?" Twilight asked, and Sweetie Belle raised her hoof up.
"Okay I got a question for Scootaloo."
"Go ahead Sweetie." Scootaloo said.
"Why are you recruited Scootaloo to the Assassins anyway?"
"Well it's hard actually. To become general, I was attacked when you two are busy doing something while I do something else."
"What happened?"
"I was attacked by some creatures in the Everfree Forest, but before I died, I was rescued by Octavia and Pinkie. They gave me a choice: kill or be killed. I chose that I should defend myself, and I should admit, training is very hard you know." Scootaloo said with a chuckle.
"What's the benefits of this training? That training only purpose is to train ponies like you into killing machines!" Sweetie said.
"You heard Princess Luna a while back, and I will say it again. The benefits of this training is that your five senses will be enhanced, i.e your eyes will have a greater view, ears will pick up even the faintest of sounds, nose could track a scent even in the most dense area and others as well." Scootaloo replied.
"So what happened when you finished the training?" Sweetie asked.
"I got first deployed by the Master Assassin here. I was accompanied by Pinkie herself. The mission was simple, just keep an eye on a particular suspicious pony. Turns out, however, he was Templar, and he has hidden companions with him." Scootaloo replied.
"What happened?"
"We we're forced to fight. I killed the Templars by using my training and natural instincts. Pinkie, on the other hand, well she is just random. When we finished to fight the Templar guards, the stallion charged at us, wanting to kill us. However, we stopped him and killed him, but it was his doing anyways." Scootaloo said.
"So you take pleasure of killing your enemies without mercy?"
"No. I did not take pleasure of killing my enemies without mercy. I mean, if you do that, you will break all three tenants of the Creed itself. Consequences would be, as with the Q and A before, would return to Novice status or, worse of all, being discharged from the Creed itself." Scootaloo replied. "Any other questions?"
"Uhm none." Twilight said.
"Good. The conversation is over. However, I don't think that the Templars will find the Pieces of Eden." Rainbow Dash said.
"What do you mean?"
"Because, our fellow Assassins reported that they are also wanting to have the Elements of Harmony."
After their lengthy conversation with each other, they decided to have a stroll in Ponyville just to refresh their minds from their work, particularly the Assassins.
"So, who actually found your Creed then?" Twilight asked the Assassins when they are still walking.
"Ask Vinyl for you information." Rainbow Dash replied, gesturing to Vinyl.
"What about Vinyl anyway?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Well they did say that my earliest ancestor was the founder of the Creed. That's why they offer me to lead them. But I flatly refuse because I can't leave my DJ-ing." Vinyl replied.
"I know you hate leaving your DJ life. However, it was also a difficult for me also." Octavia said, trying to comfort her friend.
"As in how difficult?" Vinyl asked.
"At first, when I learn about my family's Assassin heritage, I was afraid of losing everything. My life, my friend, including my beloved cello. I pondered for a moment for my decision, but Rainbow Dash here also has an interesting story that she shared with me." Octavia replied, getting the ponies eyeing on Rainbow Dash.
"Do I even need to tell it?" Rainbow Dash asked her fellow Assassin sisters. With a nod of approval, she sighed in defeat and said:
"My family's Assassin heritage was also in my blood, much like Pinkie's, Vinyl's and Octavia's. However, I quickly learn about my past, because one of my ancestors had worked along side with Octavia's ancestor as well. I also learn about the Creed's enemy, so I decided to join the Creed. It was fun actually, and months later, I was a Master Assassin."
"Is it hard to become a Master Assassin?" Twilight asked.
"It was Twilight. For any reasons, the Assassins will wear their hoods, which we are now doing." Rainbow Dash replied.
"For what reasons exactly?"
"So that our enemies will never have our identities revealed. It is top priority, including saving Equestria from the Templars." Octavia replied.
"So your saying that you would need to wear your hoods everywhere, including where you are in vacation?"
"Only in our missions only. But for vacation, no. We do not wear our robes. But it's a distinct disadvantage." Scootaloo replied.
"Why as a disadvantage?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Because if the Templars attacked as an Assassin, you don't have weapons just to defend yourself. However, in due time, we adapted to it, so we could improvise to defend ourselves." Pinkie replied. The ponies pondered in for a moment. If they are in the Assassin's place, it is a disadvantage.
"Also, we have multiple bases here in Equestria. In fact, I heard that in Manehattan, Babs Seed was recruited, almost to the rank of Master Assassin." Scootaloo said.
"WHAT?!" Applejack and Applebloom bursted in unison.
"Yeah that's what I heard." Applebloom, in her part, can't believe it. Her favorite cousin, Babs Seed, fourth member of the Cutie Marks Crusaders, is an Assassin.
"Why she was recruited?" Applebloom asked.
"For that, I do not know. All I know she was recruited and she is almost to Master Assassin." Scootaloo replied.
"But why her?! She was mah favorite cousin!" Applebloom bursted as she cried in tears. But, she felt a hoof, and looking up, she could see Scootaloo.
"There is a reason Applebloom. Unfortunate circumstances could happen, and if that happens, then we have two choices: kill or be killed." Scootaloo said. Wiping a tear off, Applebloom stopped her crying and said:
"Thank you Scootaloo. Your the best."
"Don't you mention it." Scootaloo said with a smile, in which Applebloom return with a smile. They moved along the streets of Ponyville, getting glances from ponies who were curious because of the Assassins. The Assassins did not heed them, only then when they got to Sugarcube Corner then they got inside.
"Okay girls! Who wants some snacks?" Pinkie asked, when she lifted her hood, in which the other Assassins did also.
"None in the moment Pinkie. For us to save the world from potential danger, we must find the Pieces of Eden." Rainbow Dash said.
"I know but, could we have a break first?" Pinkie pleaded.
"It is not recommended." An anonymous, and possibly feminine voice, just popped up. The Assassins and ponies were startled for the moment, before a holographic image of a bipedal creature said.
"Welcome. I suppose your wondering who I am?" The creature asked.
"Yeah, who are you anyways?" Scootaloo asked back.
"I have many names young one. But you can call me Minerva, and I come to deliver a message." Minerva replied.
"What kind of message?" Vinyl asked.
"It will be delivered, when you got to Jupiter's place. But, you must find the missing artifacts just to save your world from impending danger." Minerva replied.
"What kind of danger?" Octavia asked.
"It will be said soon." Minerva said, and soon disappeared. For the Assassins, they know what to do.
"We must find the Pieces of Eden." Rainbow Dash said.
Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were shocked what Rainbow Dash. They are gonna find something like fictious in Equestra!
"Where are you gonna locate the Pieces of Eden when we don't know where it is?" Pinkie asked the Master Assassin.
"The Apple, according to legend, could show a map where are the other Pieces are." Rainbow Dash replied.
"Yeah but one question: How are we gonna suppose the 'map' if we don't have the map for it?" Octavia asked. For the first time in her entire career, Rainbow Dash didn't even think about it. It was the dumbest idea ever, just looking for the Apple without any map or coordinates about it.
'There must be a way somehow.' Rainbow Dash thought as she tries to think of what to do next. For Vinyl, she is just staring the scene, but then a surge of a headache got into her head.
'Hello cipher.'
'Minerva? Why are you here?'
'I will give you the way wherein you will find the Apple. Only then you will have the other two.' And with that, she had a vision wherein where the vault where the Apple was located. Once that was finished, she returns back to reality.
"Girls?"
"Yes Vinyl?" Octavia asked.
"I know where The Apple is located. Follow me." The Assassins where dumbfounded, but since Vinyl is one of them, they joined her towards a specific location, wherein the CMC and the Mane 4 followed her as well. However, they will soon realize where is that vault.
-Moments Later-
"Where are we going Vinyl? Are you sure you know where it is?" Pinkie asked.
"I'm sure of it. Minerva just popped out of my mind and showed me the map." Vinyl replied. The ponies looked at Vinyl, who were now in disbelief.
"We're almost there." Vinyl said, making the ponies back of the task of what they are in now. When they stopped, everypony gasped in disbelief. In front of them, and completely unaware of it, was Twilight's library.
"M...My l..library??!" Twilight asked in disbelief.
"Believe me, the vault is here. However, we need a lot of searching." Vinyl replied. The ponies stood there in shock or in disbelief. Nopony would ever believe that Twilight's home is the hiding place of a mythical artifact, nor the Assassins would ever expect it was there all the time.
"Alright everypony, let's get searching for the entrance of the vault." Vinyl said. The ponies, in a certain moment, refuses to budge, but the Assassins actually obeyed her command, and started searching for the entrance vault. The ponies, realizing that it could be a mess, actually now searched as well.
"Is it hard to find this...vault Vinyl?" Twilight asked the DJ.
"Maybe. Because you need to find the switch to open the vault entrance itself." Vinyl replied. The ponies still keep searching, and in time to time, it becomes even more frutile to search for the vault entrance.
'Where can it be?' Vinyl asked in her head as she also searched for the vault's switch. For Scootaloo, it was frustrating perhaps to find the vault's switch. Suddenly, when she tries to pull out a book, a sudden wall of the library floor opened, revealing a staircase going down to the earth.
"Hey girls! I found it!" Scootaloo cried to the ponies. The Assassins and Vinyl got to her immediately, while the ponies walked cautiously towards her. When Scootaloo revealed the staircase, the ponies were impressed by her. They descend to the earth, and after much going down, they finally reached the vault, in which the Apple is resting.
"Hey Vinyl." Rainbow Dash said.
"What?"
"Let's get it and go out of here." Vinyl, gulping, trotted towards the artifact. She cautiously got her hooves to get the Apple, and when she got it, nothing happened.
'Phew. Nothing.' But that relief will be gone. Out of the blue, the Apple fired a blast wave, sending the ponies unconcious, but they will learn their dark history with the First Civilization.
When the ponies woke up, they stood up from their hooves, but the Assassins and Vinyl took a more bipedal stand, much like Discord. When they are now standing, they look to their surrounding to see any differences. The first difference they could are gold-like light surrounding them, and another thing to note is that it was like heavenly.
"Do you hear me cipher? Can you see me?" The ponies look around to see where is that voice coming from and could see a bipedal creature, and judging by it's appearance it's male and was holographic, much like Minerva's.
"Ah there you are. Good." The ponies watched as he stopped in front of them, with his holographic image before them. Never they witnessed such thing before their life, well except for Minerva's image.
"A strange place of nexus of time. I am not used to the......calculation. It had always been Minerva's domain." The ponies thought for a moment, before gesturing him to continue. But they had questions in their mind.
"I see you still have many questions. Who were we? What became of us? What do we desire from you?" The ponies in their minds were shocked that their questions are known by this....image.
"You will have your answers. Only listen and I will tell you how." The ponies eagerly listen to the image's tale.
"Both before the end and after, we sought to save the world." The ponies wondered what he meant, but holographic images of Celestia's sun and some other planets prove other wise.
"We built vaults within which to work, each dedicated to a different method of salvation." The ponies is now confused of the word 'salvation', but they want to hear more of the image's tale.
"They were placed underground to avoid the war which waged above, and also as a precaution, should we fail in our efforts." The ponies wide-eyed at the word 'war', but which kind of war?
"Each vault's knowledge was transmitted to a single place." The image said, pointing, when the ponies were following, a holographic world, in which a holographic statue was seen, then goes down to see two other images, one's Minerva's and the other one.
"It was our duty-mine, Minerva's and Juno's-to sort and sample all that was collected. We chose those solutions which held the most promise, and devoted ourselves to testing their merits." The ponies now realized that these images are now making sense, but still needs one piece of the puzzle.
"Six we tried in succession, each more encouraging than the last. But none worked. And then the world ended..." The image pushed something, and in turn the ponies saw a vision. These vision saw Luna's moon first, before their planet and Celestia's sun was shown. The sun fired a solar flare, directly towards the planet. On the earth, however, the ponies didn't even believe it. The image show bipedal creatures and ponies starring at the night sky with the aurora borealis, and soon lightning struck a building, prompting both the ponies and creatures to ran like mad. They are panicking, and soon they could see devastation everywhere. Suddenly, after seeing much devastation for quite some time, Jupiter said:
"The earth shook for the days. The fires burned for weeks. And when the ashes had settled, less than ten-thousand of your kind had survived....and far fewer from ours." The ponies shivered as they count the numbers of the surviving bipedal creatures and ponies.
"But we carried on-together. To rebuild. To renew. Listen, you must go there, the place where we labored-labored and lost..." After much explanation, they began to regain conciousness, and they are in Twilight's library. Meeting them, however, was none other than Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
"Your majesties, we have found the Apple." Vinyl said, revealing a golden ball. The princesses wide-eyed at this discovery.
"Good job their...Vinyl. Now, what you all doing when your lying at the floor." Vinyl and the ponies recalled what they had saw, and the princesses digested this information.
"So...your saying that-" Vinyl looked at her, and the ex-Templar knew what it was.
"We must find the rest of the Pieces." Rainbow Dash said.
