//------------------------------// // The Night Falls // Story: Leap of Faith // by A bag of plums //------------------------------// Frigid Night placed his arm out, motioning for Morning Blade and Sunset Shimmer to get behind him. He figured if he could handle this, they wouldn’t even need to fight. Morning Blade was still wounded and he didn’t want her to hurt herself. As for Sunset, if she didn’t need to fight, then it was better to let her stay out of it. The first golem lumbered inside, its faceless head angled at the Assassins and Sunset. Behind it, two more stomped inside. The lead golem raised its arm, and all could see the long, wickedly curved crystal blade that it had in place of a hand. Let’s see what you’ve got… Frigid ran for it, sliding under its arm and kicking up with a shoe blade. His blade connected with the golem, chipping the crystalline material, but otherwise, did nothing to slow the creature. “What?” Frigid said as he rolled to the side, avoiding one of the creature’s feet as it tried to stomp on him. The golem brought its blade arm crashing down next to Frigid, missing him by a hair. Behind, the other two golems advanced, brandishing their blade-like limbs menacingly. Frigid grabbed ahold of the first golem’s arm, using it to swing himself up, kicking it in its featureless face, knocking it back into the others as he hopped back to his feet. Unfortunately, it didn’t stumble like he wanted. The second golem slashed at the air with its bladed arm, sending a wave of dark energy at the Assassins. “Down!” Frigid yelled, before turning and tackling Sunset Shimmer to the floor, just avoiding the beam. The dark energy slash kept going, stopping only at the far wall, cutting through it a decent amount. “Watch out!” Frigid turned around just to see Morning throw herself between him and a crystal golem, locking her katana with the golem’s bladed arm. She held it long enough for Sunset and Frigid to get away, but soon began to crumple under the golem, one hand reaching for her side. “We’ve gotta help!” Sunset ran in, dodging the second golem, cutting sideways with her sword, chipping little fragments off the construct, while Frigid jumped for the third, kicking it back outside the door, the impact jarring his foot. It stabbed for her head, but Sunset had already moved, kicking back with a foot at the second golem while thrusting her sword at the first one’s shoulder. The sword skated off the smooth surface, leaving the creature completely unharmed. Sunset dodged another cut and brought her sword crashing down onto the golem’s arm. The blade made contact with the black crystal surface and shattered, leaving Sunset with a broken hilt. A crack formed in the golem’s surface where the sword had landed. “They’re too resilient for our blades!” Sunset yelled and continued to try to pry the golem off Morning Blade. “There must be something else!” Frigid returned and kicked off the other golem, ramming into the one grappling with his partner, throwing it off her. Morning Blade dropped her sword arm and panted, still gripping her side. Sunset rushed to her aid, tossing her sword hilt aside. Frigid watched both of them and gritted his teeth. Their normal weapons didn’t exactly work very well against these things. He was going to have to change their plans a little. “Morning Blade, Sunset Shimmer,” he called to them as the golems began to stagger forward again. “Get out of here. Get to the van. I’ll hold them as long as I can.” “What?” Morning was aghast. “No, sir, we’re not leaving.” “Just go! We don’t have time,” Frigid kicked at one of the golems, his right shoe blade shattering against the golem’s crystalline surface. “Use the roof exit. Now. I’ll catch up when I can.” Sunset looked to Morning, but the Assassin simply stowed her katana and pulled Sunset along, heading down the hallway towards the staircase. Frigid looked down at his broken shoe blade and scowled at the constructs. “This time, no one else is getting hurt because of me.” Running at the first golem, Frigid stabbed at it with his trident blades, watching his weapons slide off after slightly chipping at its body, dodging under another dark beam as he kicked at the golem’s leg from underneath. As the construct fell, Frigid ran at the second one and tackled it, not stopping until he rammed it into the third one, knocking both back outside. Snow blew around the Assassin, falling on his coat and the crystal golems. The open area gave him more room to fight, but he was also in plain sight for anyone passing by to see. Frigid shook his head. Now wasn’t a good time to worry about civilians. He had to protect Morning and Sunset. The rearmost golem raised its hand, the appendage becoming shrouded in black fog. When the mist cleared, the golem no longer had a blade hand, instead it sported a mace-like limb bristling with spikes. The golem swung down with its mace arm, hitting nothing, but sending a swarm of black crystal spikes flying at Frigid. The Assassin dodged back into the bureau, though not fast enough to avoid one nicking his shoulder, tearing right through the armor. The Assassin said nothing, instead focusing his attention on his attacker. These golems were far more unpredictable than he first expected. He would have to be more careful if he wanted to win this. Frigid slid under another row of spikes, jumping up right before the golem and slashed at it with his trident blades, trying to cause at least enough damage to weaken the construct. Surely they must have a weakness. His hidden blades were already starting to wear out, their edges getting chipped and broken the more he attacked. Frigid’s continuous attacks seemed to agitate the golem, making it swing its mace arm at him. He spun around it, just in time to see the spikes stab into the first golem, which staggered back, sending an arm out to steady itself against the wall. The spikes had gone through its front, embedding themselves in its chest. So, you can hurt each other, hmm? All three crystal constructs approached him, arms raised to attack, somewhat like boxers. “Come on then,” Frigid muttered. “Let’s see what you’ve got.” Morning and Sunset scrambled up the stairs to the roof, throwing open the trapdoor and emerging into the snowy twilight. The night was quiet, except for the sounds of battle down at the first floor. “Come on, Sunset,” Morning Blade grabbed the girl’s hand and led her to the back of the building, brushing snow off her nose. “The van’s back here. We’ll have to jump.” “What about Frigid?” Sunset asked as they ran. “We can’t just leave him! High Noon said the same thing before he…” Sunset’s voice trailed off. “Orders are orders,” Morning said resolutely. “He told us to go, we go.” Sunset stopped running, looking at Morning as she searched for the jumping spot. “Morning, how can you say that? Don’t you care about him? We can’t just run off without him.” “He told us to, Sunset. As the acting Mentor, I have to listen to what he says!” “I know you follow rules and orders really well, Morning, but sometimes you’ve got to know when not to do it.” Morning Blade looked between the roof ledge and Sunset a few times. “Al-alright, Sunset. But let’s go get the van and drive it around. We want to have a getaway ready.” “That’s the spirit, Morning,” Sunset patted the Assassin’s shoulder. “So, how are we getting down?” “Down here,” Morning Blade motioned off the ledge with her head. Sunset looked down and saw a pile of dirty old mattresses at the bottom near a rusty dumpster. “You haven’t done this, have you? A leap of faith?” “J-Jumping?” Sunset swallowed hard. “Nope.” “Simple. Just do what I do. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Morning Blade went first, spreading her arms out to the side before leaping slightly, her body sailing through the air, spinning once so that her back was facing down. Then she was bouncing on the mattresses, before pushing herself up and calling Sunset down with a wave. “Well, no sacrifice no victory,” Sunset muttered and did the same, standing with her arms outstretched, thinking back to her third dream. If Emerald could do it, then so can I. Sunset Shimmer kicked off the roof, floating down with gravity as she felt the wind rush against her face. Then almost as if she had already done it a thousand times, Sunset curled forward, flipping herself around, just like Morning Blade had done. Before she knew it, she felt the mattress below her back, not as soft as she had thought it’d be. “Great job, Sunset,” Morning helped her up. “Now let’s go. We gotta get the van and get Frigid!” Then they were off, rushing over to the side where they had last parked the van. Sunset hoped they could make it back in time, but she trusted Frigid. He might not be the nicest of people, but she at least knew he could hold his own in a fight. Frigid Night dodged to the side and pulled the crystal golem’s arm forward, stabbing it through the chest of another one, piercing through its body, sending cracks across snaking across its form. Both his trident blades had broken to the point of becoming ineffective, forcing him to rely on his hands instead. One of the golems swung at Frigid, cutting through his coat. Another one battered away at his exposed side with its club-like fists, knocking the Assassin down. Frigid grunted, feeling the cuts and bruises across his body, but got up again, redirecting the mace construct’s hand at another’s head, cracking it like an egg. He let out a cheer as the construct’s head shattered, falling to the ground along with its body. The golem’s body continued to crawl toward Frigid before grabbing his leg in a death grip. Frigid bent down and scooped up a long crystal fragment, jamming it over and over again into its arm. As the Assassin was breaking the construct’s appendage apart, he felt something sharp pierce into his back, just above his tailbone. He stifled his yell and turned, watching as the bloodstained arm blade came at him again. Kicking the crystal remains off his boot, Frigid side stepped, before jamming his crystal fragment into its head. The golem stumbled back, grabbing for its new horn sticking from its forehead, giving Frigid the time to scramble for two of the dead golem’s fingers. Then the one with the mace hand stumbled over, kicking him across the face, sending the Assassin spinning to the floor. Frigid wiped at his mouth, noticing a new cut across his lip and chin. Frigid Night brought himself back to his feet again, watching as the same golem turned around and began walking inside the bureau, in search of Sunset Shimmer and Morning Blade. “Oh no you don’t!” Frigid ran for it, stabbing the first crystal fragment into the back of the construct’s neck, spearing it deep. The golem turned and swung a mace arm at him, but the acting Mentor dropped to his knees, avoiding it and coming back up in front of the golem, pushing his second fragment into its neck, using his other hand to hammer it in deeper. The two pieces met in the middle as cracks formed around its neck. As it raised both arms to attack Frigid, the Assassin slid back and jumped for its head, kicking out with both feet. The force cracked the rest of its neck, sending the golem's head tumbling down it’s body, rolling on the ground, stopping at the wall. The body swung its mace arm once, twice, then fell flat on its chest with a tinkling crash. Frigid turned to the last golem. The black crystal creature was standing a few meters away, quite still. Then, a pool of shadows grew beneath the construct, seeping into the joints like ink. The once-featureless face glimmered, displaying a pair of crimson and green eyes, trailing purple smoke. “Assassin…” Sombra’s voice echoed from the final construct. “I thought three of my golems would settle this loose end, but it seems I have underestimated you. You’ve really become quite an inconvenience for me.” “Well, you’ll learn, Sombra,” Frigid spat, trying his best not to fall. The wound on his back hurt pretty badly. “We Assassins learn how to adapt. You won’t win.” “Very well then,” Sombra’s voice came. “Adapt to this.” The golem held out both its arms, the crystal shifting and melding to form two long, straight blades. Then the golem broke into a thundering run, slashing at Frigid with twice the speed of its previous fellows. The Assassin ducked and weaved around, each time just narrowly missing the blades. He looked around the ground for more shards he could use against the construct, but Sombra was keeping him too busy on his feet to get one. The golem bellowed, the first sound they had made since arriving and spun like a top, cutting away like a buzzsaw, while advancing on the Assassin. Then it stopped, and raised it left blade arm at him. There was a pulse of energy from the golem and suddenly the entire lower arm shot free, flying at Frigid like a giant arrow. Frigid dove out of the way, but even he wasn’t fast enough to prevent it stabbing right through his side, impaling itself into the wall behind him, dangling meat between them. Frigid gasped and fell, the pain blazing across his body as he felt the wound. The projectile had taken out a good portion of his side. “Adapt you say?” the golem stood over him, admiring an arm. “I didn’t see any of that. Perhaps you are not as good as you think you are, Assassin.” “I’m not done… yet…” Frigid reached up and slashed at the golem’s thigh with his broken trident blade. The weapon barely scratched the surface, losing one side of its trident attachment. The golem slashed Frigid across the chest with its remaining arm, tearing through his knife slings, shirt, skin and insides, before raising the stump of its left arm. Dark vapor gathered around it and clung to the base, recreating a working hand. “It would seem my golems are more adaptable than you, Assassin.” The golem stood over Frigid and raised its blade. “Prepare to-” There was the crack of gunfire and the golem staggered, an apple sized hole blown through its chest. “What is the meaning of this?” The crystal construct turned around, just as another gunshot echoed out around the bureau entrance. Its head had bent back, a hole where Sombra’s face had been. A few more shots impacted the construct from the doorway, shattering more of its crystalline body, one arm dropping to the floor. Soon, the entire golem fell face down, defeated as smoke began to evaporate from it, disappearing out into the night sky. Frigid gasped and panted, trying to stand himself up. He had only brought himself to a sitting position, but couldn’t gather enough to get all the way up. All he could do was shift himself so that his back was against the wall, one hand already inspecting the damages to his body. “Frigid!” Morning Blade and Sunset ran through the doorway, dropping down beside him. His partner kept her pistol and looked down at his side. “No no no, what should I do?” “Nothing…” Frigid told them. He knew the outcome. This time, he didn’t have Mirror Match or even a special cloak to get him back up again. “Nothing you can do. Did my best, but… it wasn’t enough…” “No, don’t say that, sir…” Morning Blade pulled off her coat and pressed it to Frigid’s side, trying to stop the blood. “Sunset, get some medical supplies from the cabinet!” “On it,” the girl ran off to the kitchen. “You can’t, Morning,” Frigid pushed at her arm. “Not good enough… You can’t save me. Go. Sombra will be back… You must get… Sunset Shimmer away… from here.” “No, I won’t leave you!” she choked, pressing down her coat harder. “I can’t leave you… We shouldn’t have gone. We should’ve stayed and fought with you. It’s my fault. All my fault…” The acting Mentor lifted a hand and placed it on Morning’s shoulder. He should’ve never doubted her. He should’ve never doubted his friends. Only now did he realize he hadn’t been living his last few years like he should’ve. “It is not your fault, Morning… It is mine. I failed to figure it out sooner. You were all right there in front of me, especially you, Morning. I should’ve seen it… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for pushing… all of you away.” Morning Blade shook her head sadly. “It’s okay, sir. The past is the past. You’ve already shown me that there’s a better side to you. I know it now. You’re not cold, Frigid.” Sunset ran back over, carrying a box with the medic cross on it. “Found it. How’s he doing.” “I can’t stop the blood,” Morning looked at her bloodstained coat. “His internal organs have been damaged. I can’t-I don’t know what to do.” “There’s nothing more… you can do for me…” Frigid coughed, dripping blood down his chin. “But… Morning, I’m not a good person… I never will be. I need to tell you both something. It’s about Velvet…” Frigid knew it was wrong to do it, but he had thought it was a good idea. Looking back, it probably was one of the worst ideas he’s ever had. “Your vice principal… I sent Velvet Breeze a message, about her affiliation with the Templars… about her supplying Mahogany Wood with information… on Sunset. I fear… that’s where she’ll be next.” “You what?” Sunset widened her eyes so big that they looked like dinner plates. “I shouldn’t have… I should’ve trusted you, Morning. Once again, I’m sorry… I am cold. I can’t feel what… anyone else feels.” Morning also looked equally shocked, but it didn’t stop her from trying to help her friend. “We can worry about it later. You can’t die, Frigid. We still need you!” “Morning… Morning…” Frigid moved his hand to her cheek, his strength already fading. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay… You can do this without me… You’re stronger… than you know.” The female Assassin took ahold of his hand and squeezed it tightly. “No, you can’t go! We still need you here. I need you, Frigid!” Sunset walked closer and placed a hand on Morning’s shoulder reassuringly. Frigid smiled. He knew that as long as she was around, they could beat Sombra. He believed in her. “Sunset Shimmer…” he called. He continued only when they girl was close enough. “I’m… sorry for the way I treated you and your friends… I know now that you… were right. Friendship can never… be replaced with something else. Can you forgive me…?” The girl nodded. “Of course. I forgive you.” Frigid Night nodded and looked up to the ceiling, his head tired from holding itself up. This is it… “No, Frigid, stay with me,” Morning begged him to hold on, tears welling up in her one eye. “Don’t go.” Then almost as if it were some kind of magic, the ceiling seemed to bend and warp as white-blue light descended down around him, a hole opening up above him. Oh? What’s this? From the hole, someone seemed to emerged, bending down over it, a mauve hand reaching out towards him. “Mirror Match?” Frigid continued to look up at the blinding hole. Was it really her? Morning and Sunset raised their eyebrows and looked up. “Where?” Sunset asked him. “I don’t see her.” “I see her,” Frigid said slowly. He reached his other arm out to her, trying to touch her hand. “She’s calling me.” “No. We’re losing him,” Morning Blade’s hand squeezed harder on Frigid’s. “No, Frigid, please, just wait. We can patch you up. Sunset, the box!” Frigid felt Mirror’s fingers curl around his as she pulled him up towards the bright hole. As he got closer, he could see the pleasant smile on her face as she held him close, her blue eyes absolutely stunning in the light. She pulled him in for a hug and leaned her head against his, both happy to be with each other again. Finally, we are together once more. I’m here, Mirror Match. I’m here… Morning Blade continued to call out Frigid Night’s name, even after his hand had fallen back to his side. She held his other hand firmly, unwilling to let it go unless he opened his eyes and woke up. “No, you can’t go, Frigid! Not yet! Please… Please come back…” Morning Blade tipped forward and placed her head against Frigid’s shoulder, crying into it. “Morning,” Sunset Shimmer looked back out the door, her vision blurring. “We can’t stay here. Someone must’ve heard all this noise.” Morning Blade didn’t seem to hear her, instead continuing to sob into Frigid’s body. “Morning, I don’t know what you must be feeling,” Sunset tried to reason with her. “But we can’t bring him back. He’d want us to go. That’s why he stayed behind.” Morning Blade stood up and wiped at her eye. Then she nodded to Sunset and walked out the door without another word. Sunset took one last look at Frigid’s body before following behind the female Assassin, heading out into the snowy night. Sunset pulled her scarf closer over her mouth as she heard the sound of sirens increase in volume. Then she remembered something important and ran back in, grabbing Frigid’s laptop off the dining table. She took a second to wipe her eyes before continuing on. The two of them went back to the van, climbing in. Morning put the vehicle in gear and drove out onto the silent streets, heading out of the immediate area. Only now did Sunset have the time to think about Frigid. She had hoped for more time to get to know him better, but that wasn’t meant to be. She didn’t like the Templars taking away so many of her new friends, whether they were good people or not. If she knew one thing for certain, she was going to defeat Sombra. The other Assassins had believed in her and so did Emerald Edge. Perhaps it was time to start believing in herself. Then Sunset remembered Frigid’s words to them. They needed to find a safe place to stay, but besides that, they still had a vice principal to save. Sunset just hoped Velvet hadn’t gotten too far of a head start.