//------------------------------// // Chapter 101: A Plane to Catch // Story: A Long Way to Fall // by Cinders of War //------------------------------// Morning Blade was the first to push the door open to Sugarcube Corner, scooting to the side as she allowed the pony princess to walk in first. It had been quite some time since she had set foot in this place. It was nice to see the Cakes still running the place. She placed two orders of coffee from Mrs. Cake, who didn't seem to recognize her. Maybe it was the more haggard appearance. Morning didn't deny, she didn't look as young as she used to when she was still in High School. Being an Assassin and suffering such loss was bad on her health. "Thank you," she told the woman before returning to a table by the window, where Twilight Sparkle was busy gazing out at the passing cars on the street. "I still don't get how these work." She turned her head back when Morning sat down across from her. "I don't think we're anywhere close to inventing a car over in Equestria. Thank you." She held the hot cup of coffee in her hands. "What do you use to travel, then?" Morning took a sip from her cup, feeling warmth spread through her insides almost immediately. "Usually just my wings." Twilight patted one of her shoulders. "Though for long distances, we use trains, or sometimes, magic." "Such usefulness, huh, magic?" Morning watched the coffee swirl in her cup as she wobbled it under her fingers. "And trains, you say? You're not far off." "You have trains here too, I presume?" "Of course," Morning chuckled. "Trains are much older than cars, though we still use them today." "You humans sure are interesting..." Twilight sipped her coffee, then recoiled and stuck her tongue out. "Hot!" "That's the idea," Morning Blade continued laughing. "Well..." She reached into her bag and took out her journal. "Are you ready to continue?" "Twilight nodded, her tongue still out. "Go on. I'n lithening." One week later The night had brought in a cold wind as Frigid Night packed the last of their extra blades into the back of Pierce’s van before closing the doors and returning to the vehicle’s side where the others have gathered. Almost all the other Assassins in the bureau had already left earlier this week, heading to Saddle Arabia to help out their brothers and sisters there. All that were left was the Mentor and a few of Frigid’s old friends. Also, their private plane, along with at least a dozen Assassins from the bureau had been shot down over the Saddle Arabian sky by a Templar turret, meaning they would need to take a different route back there. Frigid hoped it wasn’t another plane, but when Mentor Steel Shine returned with the plane tickets, he sighed and helped with loading the gear anyway. Pierce had volunteered his vehicle, since it had the space to carry all of them plus the gear they were bringing for the others, though the hacker himself wasn’t coming along. Dewdrop had tasked him with looking after Velvet Breeze while she was away, and he probably wouldn’t want to risk meeting Mirror Match outside at the same time. “All done, Mentor,” Frigid said as he joined the others. “Good,” she nodded and opened the van’s side door. “Let’s go.” High Noon got into the driver’s seat with Dewdrop seated beside him, while Mentor Steel Shine and Morning Blade got in the back with Frigid. “This is it, Assassins,” the Mentor said as she buckled in. “This is our final push to the palace. We’ve had our little delay with the loss of Airshift and his plane, but I’ve already called ahead. Star Lance will start the push as scheduled.” “But Mentor?” Morning asked as she pulled her coat closer over her. The night was surprisingly colder today. Even Frigid could feel it. “Will they be able to use the artifacts without you? I mean, you’re the only one I’ve seen using the artifacts.” “Anyone can use an artifact, young Morning Blade,” she shifted her coat to reveal her golden sword and its sheath. “What an artifact does is drain its user’s life force. A normal human would die if they used it for even more than a minute, but in case you haven’t seen, I’m a little different from you. I can wield it much more effectively, though I too cannot maintain it for long.” “Fascinating…” Morning Blade breathed as the vehicle began to start. “All buckled up back there?” High Noon shouted behind him. “Dewdrop? Buckle up, please.” At first, Frigid thought she was going to yell at him, but then she smiled almost too happily and buckled in. “Thanks for reminding me, Noon,” she put a hand to his cheek. “You’re such a sweetie! You always take the time to make sure I’m alright.” “Uh… ah… well… safety first, y-you know…” High Noon sputtered and rubbed the back of his head. Dewdrop smirked mockingly. “Sure thing, Noon. Typical answer from you.” “Well, th-the front seats a-are the most dangerous…” High Noon released the brakes and started reverse out of the nearby carpark. “You know, you could f-fly out of the windshield like a c-cannonball if there’s an accident.” Dewdrop was about to snark back when suddenly all their radios crackled to life at once. “It’d still be safer than going to your desired destination.” Frigid recognized the voice immediately, as it wasn’t one he would ever forget, even after everything she did. “Mirror Match,” he breathed. He put a hand to his earpiece. “Mirror, where are you? What’s going on?” “Right behind you, Friggy.” There was the roar of an engine, and a black and green motorcycle swept past the van, stopping in its path and keeping it from leaving the bureau. “Hey!” High Noon quickly jammed the brakes, jolting everyone in the van. “See what I mean, Dew?” Dewdrop’s answer was to snarl and kick the passenger side door open, drawing her sword at the same time. When she swung it down at Mirror, the Templar agent simply held up her hand and caught the blade before wrenching it out of Dewdrop’s grip and throwing the weapon to the ground. She pulled out her second sword, only to have the same thing happen. As she reached for her third, Mirror had already stepped off her bike, grabbing the Assassin’s arm and flipping her down on her back. “Do everyone a favor and just stay down,” Mirror muttered through her helmet. “I’m not here to fight you today.” High Noon put the car in parking and stepped out to Dewdrop’s side, pointing his revolver at Mirror’s face. “Get back!” High Noon barked at her. “I already told you what would happen if you shot me again,” Mirror tutted. She then produced a white handkerchief. “Now be a good boy and put the weapons away. I’ve got something to say to your Mentor.” By now, Frigid had followed the Assassin leader out, along with his apprentice following behind. Morning had her new compact pistol behind her back, just in case Mirror pulled anything funny. “What do you want, Mirror?” Frigid asked, stepping in front of the Mentor. “An audience,” Mirror said coolly. “But if you’re not willing to talk this out…” The Templar agent reached into her pocket and pulled out a small black device with a red button on it. “I could always blow this place up. I’ll probably survive. You probably won’t. So what’s it going to be?” High Noon still had his revolver pointed at her, while the others stood still, weighing their options. Finally, Mentor Steel Shine pushed Frigid aside and stepped forward. “It’s fine. High Noon, drop the gun. If it’s just a talk she wants, I will give it to her.” Frigid sighed with relief as High Noon kept his gun and helped Dewdrop up. He knew what would happen if they had gotten into a fight with her, and he didn’t want any of them getting hurt for nothing. “Very good,” Mirror nodded approvingly and put the detonator away. “Now listen to me. Do not go to Masyaf.” “And tell me, Mirror Match,” Steel Shine asked, putting a hand to her chin. “Why this request?” “It’s not a request, it’s a favor for an old friend we both know,” Mirror Match said solemnly. “We both know she wouldn’t want this happening on her final resting place.” “Resting place?” Frigid watched as the Mentor’s face cycled through a few different emotions, finally settling on one of realization. “Her resting place. You knew her? How?” She looked down at her sword and placed a hand on its pommel. “I knew her very well, if you’d believe it. Now as a favor for our mutual friend, I’m asking you to pull all your Assassins out of Masyaf and to stop this quest for the artifacts. This isn’t what she wants from you, or any Mentor.” “Pull all the Assassins out?” Frigid was aghast at her request. “If we do that, then Sombra wins! We can’t allow that, Mirror. You know that.” “Do you think I haven’t thought of that?” Mirror snapped. “This isn’t about King Sombra, it’s about her!” the Templar agent pointed at Mentor Steel Shine. “She’s helping to desecrate the grave of someone I know, and I’m not going to just stand by and let you do it. For the last time, stay away from Masyaf.” Frigid looked between both Mirror and the Mentor. “Whose grave is this? Mentor, what is going on?” “It’s not important right now, Frigid Night,” Steel Shine muttered. “Mirror Match, you know we can’t do that. Especially if it’s you who’s asking. How do we know this isn’t just some ploy to get the artifacts without us in the way?” “You don’t,” Mirror said coldly. “I’ve said my piece. Look, you might think of me as a bad guy, but even I have standards, and what you’re doing is tantamount to robbing the grave of my best friend. What you do is now on your own heads, and I won’t incur any blame for whatever disaster follows because of what you do, Steel Shine.” “It’s Mentor Steel Shine to you, Templar!” Morning Blade stepped forward and lifted her gun to Mirror’s chest. “Who are you to tell us what to do?” “Morning, stand down,” Frigid raised a hand up. “Don’t antagonize her.” Mirror tilted her head to Frigid’s apprentice. “Friggy’s new disciple, are you?” she said cheerily. “Did he also tell you I used to be his apprentice as well? We’re practically sisters, you and I.” “I know about you,” Morning replied, but did as Frigid said, lowering her gun. “I know how you betrayed him and killed the Assassins on that demolition team so many years ago. You’re no sister of mine.” “My, my. Someone’s done their homework. Well I’d love to stay and chat, but you see, I’ve got a party to attend in…” Mirror pulled back her sleeve to check her watch. “Two and a half hours, so I’ll just be going now, and hope that your Mentor doesn’t screw things up for everyone.” “Mirror, wait,” Frigid called after her. “Help us. Help us take down the Templars. With your help, I know we can. Even without the artifacts.” Mirror laughed, high and sweet, before revving the engine on her bike. “Oh, Friggy. Still as much of an optimist as ever. I’m sorry, but I’ve got better things to do than betray my king. Ciao, everyone, and don’t forget my words.” As Mirror sped off on her bike, the Assassins were left in a slowly clearing cloud of exhaust. There was a long moment of silence. “Mentor,” High Noon asked unsurely. “What do we do now?” The Mentor’s voice was resolute. “We can’t let the Templars get the artifacts, and I won’t have us dishonour the memory of the Assassins who have already fallen by retreating. Everyone get back in the van; we have a plane to catch.”