//------------------------------//
// Dagger's Kiss 
// Story: Call of Home 
// by Tau22 
//------------------------------//

A silver mare made her way through massive fields, bathed by the last rays of day. The earth ponies who tended to them were nowhere to be seen, undoubtedly resting after a hard day’s work. Her walk was slow, purposeful, her pink eyes kept vigilant watch over her surroundings. She wore crimson, form-fitting armour and a simple straw hat, which hid a short, black mane and a horn.

At her side rested her trusted companion. Almost as long as her torso, the slim blade rested in a simple, black scabbard, ready to be unsheathed at a moment's notice. Its hilt was adorned by a single sapphire, representing Mother Moon. A weapon only a unicorn could wield, due to the dexterity and finesse that only a magical grasp could provide.

Lotus Windrider breathed in the air of her homeland with a mixture of relief and dread. On one hoof, seeing her birthplace again was absolutely wonderful. On the other, the circumstances which had brought her back were alarming at the very least. Had a certain showpony not crossed her path, she wouldn't have even made it. Memories of the events and her travels in general flooded her mind.

Her senses did not dull for even a moment, however, and were able to pick up an old, familiar scent. Sulphur, mixed with the odour of molten metal. She came to a stop and called out with a smile:
"Greetings, Sensei."

The voice that replied was calm like a windless sea, and about as deep:
"I see your sense of smell has not left you," from thin air, a figure appeared. His body was elongated, snake-like, stretching to almost twice her height and covered in emerald scales. The mentor did not stand, rather, he floated above the ground without any visible wings or other aids. His elongated face had a pair of long, white whiskers attached, right beneath two crimson eyes, "nothing could ever get past you, Lotus."

She bowed slightly, then met his gaze again:
"I need such skills to counter your elusiveness."
"Quite," the small dragon's facial features contorted into something which distantly resembled a frown, "you return in the nick of time, I would say."
"Had there not been an attempt on my life, I would still be travelling."
"Let me guess. Item-spirits?"
"How did you...?"
"Neighpon has grown darker since your departure. The answers you seek can be found within the capital. Be on your guard. Royal red is a dangerous colour to wear these days."
"Is your aid out of the question, Sensei?"
"You know well that I am a mentor of the spirit, not of battle. Even if, within this conflict, I am a stranger. The trials ahead are yours to face, my student. Be careful, dear Lotus, and may Mother Moon watch over you."
"Thank you, Sensei."

With that, the serpentine dragon faded once again into nothingness, his scent leaving soon afterwards. Lotus eyed the dirt road under her hooves for a few moments, before resuming her march.





Uma was a veritable fortress. Its central palace was constructed on a hill, surrounded by several layers of defensive walls. Much more than a simple defensible position, the spaces between these walls were rich with life. A metropolis of immense size, hundreds and thousands of ponies could be seen wandering its streets at any point, especially now, when the moon shone in the sky, surrounded by its court of stars.

It was much more than some idle fancy for the night. The moon had been venerated by eastern ponies ever since the clash of sun and moon, during which the sun had scorched the world with its gaze for several days. The return of the moon, then, had been celebrated with incredible enthusiasm. One thing led to another and many previously tiny moon cults suddenly grew in influence without any sign of stopping.

As she made her way through the streets, Lotus wished she could just stop and enjoy herself. To partake in an evening brew, observe one of the many theatrical displays, perhaps wager a few imperial bits in a stacked game of chance. To just glance at the alleys full of colourful lanterns and just enjoy the moment. But her duty remained absolute and her eyes watchful.

At first glance, Uma seemed just like she had left it, little more than a year ago. The buildings were mostly on the small side, the city expanding more in width rather than height. The ponies seemed cheerful enough. But she noticed the nervous glances shot her way as she walked through the city. She noticed the local guard sporting a blue shade of jade instead of crimson. She easily noticed the clumsy attempt at stealth a few of them partook in. Feigning interest, she entered one of the many bars at the side of the road.

The previous bustle of the place died down as soon as she took her first steps inside. The more cautious clients suddenly wished to pay for their drinks, post-haste. Calmly, she walked up to the counter, where a stallion looked at her with a mixture of concern and fear. She said simply:
"Hot water, please."
"C-coming right up."

It was brought without delay and she paid the poor sod a few extra bits. She had a feeling he'd need them.

It didn't take long for a squad of armoured figures to enter the bar. Even the most stubborn patrons rose to leave. Earth ponies to the last, their armour a bright jade. Long, bladed polearms were attached to their sides, ready to be used as discount lances or powerful cutting weapons, depending on what was needed of the soldier at the time. Their leader, distinguished by a golden streak on his helmet, spoke:
"Well, isn't this a strange sight," Lotus shot him a steely look, "a criminal casually walking through Uma? Suicidal tendencies, surely."
"I do not see what I did wrong."
The troopers erupted in chuckles and the commander continued:
"Considering what you are wearing, you are either a grave robber, or a rebel against lord Kabuto's rule," she blinked at the name. It was all-too-familiar, "for your sake, I hope it's the former. Come quietly and you may live to see another night."

Before she answered, she slowly finished her drink, examining her opposition. Five, though that was just here. The city's garrison undoubtedly housed countless more. She swallowed and turned towards the aggressors:
"Allow me to pass and perhaps you might see the end of this one."
Another group chuckle as the owner disappeared through a backdoor:
"Oh, little filly thinks she's tough. Take her away!"

Two of the guards moved, one left, one right. Under her hat, her horn already shone in a pink hue, as she gathered arcane power within her very muscles. They only managed a few steps before the swordsmare struck like lightning, cleaving in a wide arc. The two stared in awe as their weapons fell to the ground, broken and useless, then immediately retreated. The commander was not too happy about the situation and readied his own naginata.
"Blasted unicorn," he nodded at one of his subordinates and the mare immediately galloped outside. No doubt looking for friends, "let's see what you've got!"

She gazed at him with heightened senses. Truly, he was more skilled than the others, but not by much. His charge was more fury than calm, measured intent, many movements redundant and overblown. She had no such issues. With an augmented dash, she circumvented his defences, shattered his weapon, then delivered a powerful kick with her hind legs, sending the pony flying onto a nearby table, which broke on impact. A few teeth lay scattered on the ground.

She locked gazes with the last armed guard in the room and they reached an understanding. After he fainted on the spot, Lotus rushed outside, katana at the ready. The locals were panicking, rushing for the safety of their homes. A bell was ringing above the commotion. The alarm. She could already make out flashes of jade armour in the distance.

She ran through the city's streets, taking every back alley that she could. Eventually, she ended up within a small square, dominated by an equally minor fountain. There was only one exit, but as she took a few steps towards it, several guards moved in to cut her off. More jade armours soon entered the area, until she was outnumbered more than a dozen to one. Another designated captain shouted:
"Give up! You have nowhere to run!"
She bid her katana to float in front of her face as she took them all in. She then responded:
"Except through you."
"Attack, no mercy!"

The battle itself was short and intense, like a spring romance. The guard ponies charged in several waves, always coming from several directions at once. For a moment, Lotus closed her eyes. When she opened them once more, they possessed a faint, ethereal glow. The world around her slowed down.
The unicorn became little more than a blur, dashing, disarming and disposing of her opponents without giving them an opportunity to retaliate. Weapons and jaws alike were shattered as she struck with the ferocity of a monsoon. In a few dozen heartbeats, she stood alone within the square, panting heavily. The fountain was shattered, much like her foes.

A male voice broke the ensuing silence:
"Impressive."
She immediately turned. The pony was calm, collected, wearing light armour similar to her own, with that alarming shade of jade. His coat was dark blue, bordering on black, his mane a light shade of green. A pair of dark blue eyes shone in the dim light of the area. The most worrisome features, however, were the black horn sprouting from his head and the jade scabbard at his side. 

Calmly, Lotus sheathed her blade and walked. The other unicorn mirrored her movements as they kept what remained of the fountain between them. She said:
"I see Kabuto has more competent lackeys."
"I humbly agree, lady Windrider."
"I seem to be at a disadvantage, for I know not who my opponent is."
"To my opponents, I am Razor. I am truly thankful that the whole assassination gambit failed. Falling to such trickery is no way for a warrior like yourself to pass on."
"True enough. I suppose you cannot simply allow me to depart."
"Regrettably, I must slay you," to punctuate his point, he drew his weapon. It was a finely crafted blade, she could see as much even from a distance. Its hilt was fashioned into the shape of a dragon's maw.

Drawing her own sword, she locked gazes with him. The two samurai took a few last breaths, then charged in almost perfect unison. Metal clashed with metal, the sounds of their duel echoing through the alleyways. To an onlooker, it would have almost seemed like a deadly dance.

Parry, sidestep, duck, slash, block, dodge, clash. Both unicorns breathed through gritted teeth, separating before once again closing the distance. Dodging a wide slash, Lotus managed to jump onto the roof of a nearby building. Her opponent was not far behind, landing with a mighty downward stab, which resulted in little more than a damaged roof. Once again, they allowed each other a few breaths, before resuming their waltz.

The moon shone brightly and from below, they looked like a pair of silhouettes, duelling at speeds others could scarcely even comprehend. During another clash, Razor commented:
"The tales of your skill were not exaggerated."
"And I bet they spread tales of yours, as well."

They danced for a few more moments, which to them seemed like hours. Lotus suddenly cried out, as a slash managed to dart between her defences and bit into her side. She retreated, hissing loudly due to the pain:
"L-lucky strike."
"It is only a matter of time now. Surrender and I guarantee lord Kabuto will be merciful."
She shot him a defiant glare:
"Never."
"I would have expected nothing less of you. Allow me, then, to grant you a warrior's death."

He dashed once again, and this time, she knew she couldn't keep up. She mustered her final defence and gritted her teeth, facing the inevitable with defiance. And then, he was suddenly forced to disengage, as a pair of floating daggers assaulted him. A sleek figure darted out of the shadows, her form concealed by a form-fitting, dark blue cloth, complete with a facemask. Only her eyes and horn were visible, golden and pink, respectively. In a high-pitched, cocksure tone, the newcomer spoke:
"Razor, dear, a little bit overenthusiastic, aren't we?"
A hint of anger could be heard from the samurai:
"Stay out of this, kunoichi!"
"Oh, I think not! For one, I don't believe that was a fair fight to begin with. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get a second chance."

She pulled out some sort of orb from a concealed pocket and smashed it against the roof. A cloud of thick smoke filled the air. Razor slashed at it a few times in frustration, to no avail. 

Lotus felt a tug on her shoulder and the kunoichi whispered:
"We need to go, now."
"I will not flee from..."
"Die here, and Neighpon could follow."

The swordsmare met eyes with her would-be rescuer.

When the smoke finally dissipated, Razor was alone. Calmly, he sheathed his blade and bowed slightly in Mother Moon's direction. The kunoichi was right, after all. He would have a proper duel, another time.





She had never run so fast in her life. Led by her ally, they managed to reach the city outskirts in record time, but only stopped galloping once Uma's lights were distant flickers on the horizon. She collapsed against a tree, panting heavily. Her saviour did much the same, but finally managed to say:
"Damn, Lotus. You never were good at keeping a low profile, but this..."
She did not expect the samurai to come closer and spontaneously hug her and say:
"Oh, Cherry, you came in the nick of time. Thank you."
The ninja hugged right back and said:
"Anything for an old friend. How bad is the wound?"

Lotus glanced at it again. It was a rather shallow cut and would have to be treated, but otherwise did not hinder her:
"It will be fine for now."
"If you say so. Now come, we need to get going. I'm sure your father will be relieved to know you are well."
"He is alright, then?" 
"A bit bruised, but yes."
"Oh, you cannot imagine how relieved I am to hear that."
"Good. Let's get going, while Mother Moon watches over us."

As they ran, Lotus asked:
"How did you know where to find me?"
"Sensei alerted me. Had to bust my behind to make it on time."
"And there he was, claiming to be a stranger to the conflict."
Cherry mimicked the dragon's voice perfectly:
"Oh, I was merely observing that the capital looks especially nice on nights such as this one, dear Cherry Petal! Whether you wish to visit, well, that is up to you," she changed back to her regular energetic voice, "you know how he loves technicalities."
"That I do," her mind immediately drifted back to her greatest opponent, "that stallion, Razor..."
"Bit of a creep, but honourable."
"You seem to know him."
"He made a name for himself in the north. His family is honour-bound to serve Kabuto. Though, I feel he'd be the first in the line to stab the fat bastard, given the chance."
"I'd be second, then. What happened to Neighpon, Cherry?"
"I'm sure others could describe the situation better."
"Then let's make haste!"

They galloped through the night, watched over by Mother Moon.





She hadn't expected the resistance to Kabuto's rule to be located so close to his seat of power. Though, truly, perhaps that is why it had been chosen. An old, abandoned fort in the middle of ancient woods. Their every move was undoubtedly watched by sentries.

For the first time in her life, she felt relieved when several figures surrounded them, armed to the teeth. The royal crimson of their armour probably helped in that regard. She identified the leader, a pony with brown coat and a sizeable scar around one of his golden eyes. He screamed:
"Halt, in the name of the Emperor! Identify yourselves!"
"Cherry Petal, in the Emperor's service. And with me is..."
"Purist Lightshield," Lotus took a step forward, smiling, "have you forgotten me in but a short year?"
"Lady Lotus?!"
"One and only, old friend."

Immediately, the soldiers bowed, though Purist remained standing with a warm smile:
"You return sooner than we expected."
"And yet still not a moment too soon, it seems."
"Too true," he turned to the kunoichi, "great work, Cherry."
"Finding her wasn't exactly difficult. 'Lady' Lotus," said with a potent dose of friendly ribbing, "is not exactly known for being discreet."
"I'd simply hate to intrude upon your specialty. In any case," she turned back to the leader, "is the situation as bad as it seems?"
"Worse. Follow me, your father will be overjoyed to see you again."

The old fort was in much better shape than she remembered. Often, as a filly, she would venture into the ruins to play. Her spirit had been adventurous even back then. Royal red patrolled the reinforced walls and the vicinity. Some bowed as the two passed, others did not recognize her as readily.

The inside of the fort was a small maze of tents and other improvised structures. Most ponies there were resting, or simply attending to the fort's daily needs. The two walked to an especially large tent, its entrance flanked by yet more guards. Their armour was far more decorated than that of the other troops, the image of a mighty tornado emblazoned on their helmets and chest plates. She did not know them by name, but their faces were etched into her mind. With surprised glances, they bowed and one spoke:
"Lady Windrider! You have returned!"
"Indeed I have. May I see my father?"
"Of course."

They stepped aside and she nodded to Purist, before entering the tent.

The inside was rather cramped. A lone bed stood in the corner, the rest of space taken up by a small legion of chairs and a large table. A large map of Neighpon rested on it, with many areas highlighted. Most important, however, was the lone stallion looking at it with a frown.

He stood tall, wrapped in an elegant robe of royal crimson. His coat, once white as snow, was a faded gray. His mane, in the past a deep brown, was also showing signs of age. Tired, sky blue eyes scanned the map for a few more seconds, before turning up to look at the newcomer. Immediately, a bright spark of life ignited his gaze.

Lotus rushed towards him. An army wouldn't have stopped her then, as she flung herself into the stallion's eager, loving embrace. They stood there for a few moments in complete silence. Lotus almost wished the moment would last forever. Alas, that was not meant to be. Tenno Windrider spoke, joy evident in his voice:
"Dearest Lotus... I thought I might never see you again."
"Yet here I am," she looked up with a smile, but it soon faded. His face carried a deep scar she did not remember, "you are wounded."
"Had Teshin not deflected the blow, it would have been far worse. It was the nature of the would-be assassin that alarmed me the most."
"Let me take a wild guess. Tsukumogami?"
He gazed into her eyes again. One look was enough to learn all he needed to know:
"So they were sent after you, as well. Blasted Kabuto," in an uncharacteristic fit of rage, he kicked into one of the chairs and sent it flying across the tent, "and his sorcerer!"
"Sorcerer? Father, what exactly is going on in Neighpon right now?"





"It all began a few months after you left. Returning from travels to the west similar to yours, lord Kabuto was said to have brought back a mysterious stranger. I did not pay such rumours much heed at the time. I knew that Kabuto was ambitious, but he had never before had the resources necessary to openly oppose our rule.

Then, strange occurrences began. Convoys found plundered. Villages ransacked. Most suspiciously, only those of Kabuto's enemies or competitors. Yet there were never any signs of attackers and I dared not accuse a noble without any proof. Then came the first deaths and the attempt on my own life. 

I saw the thing, then. A blade flying in the air, held by a shadowy, phantasmal figure. It struck with deadly precision, but left only this scar. The puzzle pieces fell in place. This mysterious stranger was whispered of as a sorcerer, a unicorn of immense power. Somehow able to command item-spirits and pit them against Kabuto's enemies.

Kabuto's forces grew in strength tenfold over the coming months. Due to subsequent conquests, or due to fear alone, our allies slowly dwindled. Only a few nobles now stand with us, while we remain here. In a trap of our own making.

That may all change soon."





The large tent suddenly felt very full. Figures in decorated armour stood around the map, discussing battle plans and strategies. Lotus did not pay it too much attention. She possessed the swift thinking of a warrior, not the calm, collected genius of a strategist. She sneaked a glance at her wound. Bandaged up and healing, though still undeniably there. She then turned to one pony who stood out among the crowd, Cherry Petal, who was busy informing the assembled commanders:
"With the information the scouts have provided, we have been able to pinpoint the location of the sorcerer's den. This is our chance to put an end to their foul magic."

One of the generals almost shouted, such was her excitement:
"Would storming the place in force be possible? Trap him like the rat he is!"
"Neigh," another, senior commander spoke up, "a large force would draw attention. The magus could flee at the first sign of danger. We need the precision of a dagger, not a sledgehammer!"

Their bickering intensified, before a single, commanding word washed over them:
"Silence," immediately, they complied, as the emperor looked towards the map, "we cannot risk that the stranger will withdraw. A team of assassins shall be formed, small enough to pass undetected through enemy territory. Once the deed is done," he moved closer to the map, indicating with his front hooves, "groups of riders will be sent out, declaring the sorcerer's death. Kabuto's rule stands on crutches of fear. Once they are removed, his reign will crumble. Our allies shall flock back and united, we shall recapture Uma," a murmur spread through the generals as they nodded, one by one, "now only one matter remains. How many assassins should be sent?"

Silence ensued, as they all contemplated the issue. For Lotus, the solution was clear:
"Two ponies," the assembly turned towards her, listening intently, "Cherry Petal and myself. We can cover ground quickly and discreetly, then strike at the enemy's heart and rid us of this fiend once and for all."

A murmur spread through the assembled strategists. Cherry nodded, obviously enthused by the idea. It came down to a single vote, as it usually did. Father and daughter met gazes. Tenno knew that look all too well. A determined, fierce gaze, unstoppable by anything short of a monsoon. His lips curled into a bitter smile as he spoke:
"Very well. It shall be so. You will leave with the first rays of morning. For now, rest. You have a long journey ahead of you."





Morning came after a restless night and bathed Neighpon in its warmth. The pair assembled at the gates of the fort.

After receiving a few final words of caution, the two assassins set out on their mission, the wind itself howling at their side.