//------------------------------// // Harmony’s kidnapping part 3 // Story: Dishonored magic // by Blacklight Brony //------------------------------// (Third person POV) John looked through his scope until he found a cloaked figure with a malicious smile and a knife in his hand. He immediately knew it was a necromancer because of the cloak and dagger. Usually, the necromancers keep to them selves and avoid all confrontation with anyone else unless needed. Which surprised John as he didn’t expect one to be so close to other ponies. “Not dealing with a necromancer.” John said flatly with a neutral look. The people in the arena were wandering what he was doing before he unloaded he gun and popped the chamber. A bullet flew out before John caught the round and put it inside the magazine. He loaded the the gun with something bronze before he slid the action back. He aimed down the scope as his breathing slowed and his gun’s sway began to slow. He concentrated until he had the cross trained on the necromancer’s head. John’s finger slowly squeezed the trigger before... *CRACK* The gun fired with a loud crack and, in an instant, the head of the necromancer blew into chunks as blood and gray matter littered the ground underneath him. All guards began to panic as John unloaded the live rounds before loading the blanks. The arena was shocked that the gun had such destructive power and the possibility to out shine any of their rifles. One thing ran through everyponies mind, don’t get on John’s bad side. John sling the rifle to his back and began to jump from roof to roof until he was across the road from the mansion. John used dark vision to find around fifty six guards in the area alone, not counting the perimeter as that had over sixty alone. “Damn, I won’t be able to clear this place.” John said to himself as he began to come up with a plan. “I may have to destroy some property.” John looked back at the warehouse he came from and smiled. “Or maybe just a warehouse.” John went to the warehouse and noticed that all the people he knocked out were gone from were he left them. John placed all the explosives on the main support beams. The explosives from a small distance won’t do anything, but up close, it can do some serious damage. John ran back to the roof of the house he was previously on before detonated the explosives. The warehouse went up in huge balls of fire because John has no idea that there were any explosive materials inside. “That went better than expected.” John said in surprise. Many of the guards left to see if anyone was alright. There were about twenty-six left in the mansion sense most of them went with medical equipment to heal any injured. “Not what I expected, but I’m not complaining.” John used dark vision again to find seven on the roof, six in the yard, three on the second floor, four on the first, and the last six in the basement. He saw seventeen more in the basement that looked like they were cowering while there was two on the second floor with one laying down and another in a chair with something binding them to the chair. “There’s no way I would be able to take out the guards on the roof without being spotted and going in head first will get me killed.” John looked at his covered hand before taking off the cloth. Celestia has never seen what was on the other side, but caught a glimpse. She changed it to first person and saw the mark given by the Outsider. She recognized it, but was unsure if it was him. “I know you can’t hear me... but I’m sorry for this.” He lifted his hand and used an ability he got in Dunwall, but It would kill anyone in its wake so he never used it. The ability was called Devouring Swarm, but he hated the ability with every fiber of his being. He used the ability as Dunwall rats rose from the ground and attacked the guards, killing them before eating them. Though the mask hid it, John let tears fall from his eyes as the guilt struck while the guards screams of pain reached his ears. “I’m so sorry.” Sorrow laced his voice as he removed his mask letting the world see he hated what he did. He pulled himself together as he put the mask back on. John wrapped his hand in the cloth again to hide the mark. Celestia switched it back to third person as he disappeared in black smoke and appeared on the wall that surrounded the estate. John hit everypony with a sleep bolt which caused them to all fall unconscious. He dropped into a dark section of the yard to avoid detection from the occupants in the second story. To not risk detection, he held out his hand and a tendril shot from his shoulder, grabbing one of the guards, and pulled the guard to his location. He did this until the yard was clear from all the unconscious ponies before sneaking his way into the estate. John felt a silencing spell wash over him as the four guards on the bottom floor came to greet him. All of them had a smirk on their faces that rubbed John the wrong way. “Look who the rat dragged in.” One said, he was right beside him on his left. John dubbed him guard number one. The one to his right was guard number two. The one in front of him was guard number three. The lone unicorn was guard number four and he was to his left as well. He would be describing them by their numbers. “Well, You should’ve not done this.” John paused for a moment and observed his situation. One had a mace with a spike on the top. Two had a long sword with an ornate blade. Three had a couple of daggers in a reverse hold. Four used magic, but had throwing knives. “I’m giving you one chance, leave or stay. Either way, your going to jail.” “Four against one, I like our chances.” Number two said holding a cocky grin. John sighed heavily before kicking number one in the head, knocking him out instantly. The rest didn’t have time to respond as he took out number two by hitting him in the back of the neck. The two attacked with number three going for fast accurate strikes while number four let on an onslaught of magical blasts that burned what it hit, only leaving black burn marks on impact. John dodged each attack with difficulty as they were trained well and were obviously mercenaries that were hired because the rest sucked at fighting. John dodged a stab that came from his left before he felt a sharp pain rip through the right side of his body. He couldn’t deal with it as he ducked to avoid a blast from the unicorn. He continued to dodge at a slower pace before he did something that would make people think he was either insane or a masochist. The dagger that number three had came down for an over head stab, but John blocked it with his arm. Using the same arm, John ripped the dagger from number three’s hand with emmets pain and grabbed his arm to use him as a shield for the attack number four began. The spell hit number three causing pain to shoot through his body and making him go unconscious. With excruciating pain, John rose his left hand and clenched it causing him to teleport in front of the unicorn. Kicking him in the stomach, he went flying before his head to hit the handle on a door in the main room. John ripped the dagger from his arm before checking his side to find the other dagger stuck in his body. With a loud grunt of pain, he pulled the dagger free from his side before he used his only Admir Elixir. The flesh began to mend at a fast pace that would put the best healing spells and potions to shame. John began to question if he should go for his objective and risk reinforcements while having the hostages killed, or if he should take out the reinforcements and free the hostages, but losing some resources that would make this easier. He went to free the other hostages and prevent their deaths and eliminate the reinforcements. He entered the room silently with his crossbow at the ready incase something goes wrong. He found that, out of the six, only three had guns. They were the furthest inside the room so they were his first priority to not make noticeable noise. John took a deep breath in as he examined all the hostages. All of which were mares while some of them were not even eighteen. “Add sexual assault to minors to the list of crimes.” John said with his teeth grinding against each other as his anger flared. John shot the furthest away with a sleep bolt before planting his foot in the face of a guard until the guards head met the ground. John wasted no time in kicking the last gun holding guard in the chest. Sickening cracks echoed through the room as the stallion passed out from shock and the amount of pain in a short time. One got out of his stupor and attacked with an over head swing, only to be stopped by John. With his opportunity getting shorter, John knees the guard in the stomach causing him to clench his stomach in pain. John heard the sound of a sword cutting through air and grabbed the wrist of the stallion that was going to do the same attack as the previous guard. John twisted just arm until he was bent over while John rolled over his back before lightly kicking the last guard in the face. The stallion John kneed got up for a short while before John punched him in the temple, causing that guard to hit the ground unconscious. John switched hands to hold the wrist of the guard he still held. He knees him in the face as a loud crunch cane from his face. John knew for certain that his muzzle was broken. John faces the last conscious guard that was in stunned silence and was shaking in fear. John looked at the hostages and saw most of the older ones covering the younger ones mouths to keep them from yelling. John smile with a way to help them with their decision if John was good or not, but went unnoticed due to the mask he forgot he had on, and it would be entertaining for both parties. John slowly walked to the last guard who lost his voice as he tried to call for help. John jumped into the air, spun sideways, and ended with a kick to the guard’s face. The stallion hit the ground with a loud thud as his limp and unconscious body never noticed it. John walked to the caged mares with searching eyes. He noticed that the rags they wore were like a luxury to them so they could cover up. The mares heard the supernatural assassin sneer at their condition and how they were treated. “Where are Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash?” John asked with his distorted voice scaring the younger ones. John saw this and took offhis mask to show he wasn’t one of them. “I’m here to help, but these ‘guys’,” John said guys with so much venom that the hostages flinch at the word, “took my friends. Can you tell me where they are?” One reclaimed her voice as she spoke up. “I haven’t heard of either. Some of us have been here for the past three years, but I doubt any of us have heard of either of the two.” That one said with an apologetic tone. John sighed as he only had one last chance... the two up stares. “Okay, I have one last place to check, but you’ll have to stay here for a little while. I have to clear the top floor first as their are two up there, but you might make to much noise do my stealthy approach.” Most nodded while the rest had hopeful smiles that made him to the same. John noticed one shivering from how cold it was. It may have been a few weeks after the weeper incident, but it was still cold as hell. John looked at the mare with sympathy as he took of his cloak and handed it to her. She took it instantly and wrapped it around her before nuzzling it. “Thank you, we thought she had a cold for the past couple of... days.” The mare trailed off as she saw his void arm. “Lost my arm fighting ten clockwork soldiers during the last Summer Sun Celebration. Also, please be carful because that cloak it a family heirloom.” He get up to leave as he had one last destination in mind. “Before you leave, who are you?” The same mare asked with a confused look. “John Mavericks, adopted son of Princess Celestia and prince of Equestria, but back were I'm from, I'm known as the Anonymous Assassin. Despite my hatred of killing.” John paused as he turned back around and summoned a doppelgänger. “Protect them at all costs.” “Got it.” The doppelgänger responded with a lazy salute, but still intended to do his best as he was an exact copy of John. Back at the arena, ponies saw what looked like a clone of the prince standing in front of the original. All jaws dropped at seeing a near impossible sight as most ponies knew that the Mirror Pool was the only thing capable of pulling that off. “That again!” Twilight yelled in shock and anger. She was still vary pissed at what happened that night when John scared the purple unicorn. Pinkie definitely remembered that night as she saw how much someone can take before blood is spilled. John made his way to where the last two were. He raised his hand before out stretching it as a strong gust of wind destroyed the door. The supernatural assassin raised his crossbow before shooting the last two sleep bolts on the two guards in the room. He found the two he was looking for as a smile grazed his lips before he realized the lack of clothing, but one thing kept him from freeing them. Where was the third guard. He felt a barrel get pressed against the back of his head as he soon found out what happened to the last guard. “What? scared?” The guard asked with arrogance. His tone was gruff and low that reminded him of an old friend. “No, just recalling how many times I’ve been in this situation.” John responded with a neutral tone. Without warning, John forced the gun up as the stallion fired. John turned around and punched the guard in the muzzle as a sickening crack sounded from the guards face before John kneed him in the stomach. While the stallion was stunned, John spun around until his back faced the stallion before bringing the guards elbow to his shoulder, breaking the arm and flipping him over his body. Finally, John punched the stallion one last time as he laid unconscious on the ground. “John! I knew you would rescue us!” Rainbow yelled with an extremely happy smile as well as a small blush from her compromising position. “Please get us out of here.” While John was freeing the two Pegasi, many others watched were covering children’s eyes while blushing. “P-p-princess, can you censor this?” Twilight asked with a mild blush on her face. “Unfortunately, no.” Celestia answered with an intense blush spread across her face. Luna, Celestia, and Nightmare Moon were trying to keep their wings down. “Okay, go to the basement and wait for me to go down stairs. I need to find more evidence to put this guy in for good.” John said as the other two left the room. He searched the entire room and only found plans for an attack on Ponyville. He gripped the paper tightly as it crumbled and threatened to rip in his grasp. “Next time, make sure everyone is unconscious.” Somepony said beside his ear as John felt a searing pain rip through his stomach. He looked down as he stumbled around while trying to keep his balance and found a sword going threw his stomach. He coughed up blood as the blade was removed from his midsection with a sickening squelch. John subconsciously reached for his sword, but he felt nothing but the cloth of his clothes. He fell on his knees before the tip of a sword pushes his body backwards so John could see his killer. Right there was the bastard that tried to sell his friends and put Equestria in fear for years. John sneered at the stallion in front of him with absolute hatred. “Well, Mr. Mavericks, I have a tone of work to do, but your in my way. Unfortunately, Prince, I have to eliminat you.” The stallion said while raising his sword high in the sky. John raised his void arm to attempt to block the attack that would kill him. Void material appeared in his hand before swirling in his palm. He clasped his hand while unknowingly grabbing the handle of a sword. The sound of metal hitting metal echoes throughout the room as John opens his eyes. His eyes widened as he was in a stalemate against his previous executioner. In a blast of strength and adrenaline, John threw the stallion away from him. The stallion fell back as John stumbled back to his feet with blood poring out of his wound. The stallion got back up with fire in his eyes while gritting his teeth in anger. John rushed him as the stallion went to stab him from his desperate attempt to defend himself. John dodged the stab before grabbing his arm and cutting his wings off causing John’s attacker to scream in pain. He was grabbed by the collar of his shirt and thrown into a window which caused it to crack. John got up and blocked an attack at the nick of time as he grabbed his attacker’s shirt before slamming the stallion’s side in to the window. The window cracked as John held the wingless Pegasus by the collar of his shirt over the long drop to the ground. The stallion reached behind him and jammed a sword into his stomach which made John flinch, but he led strong as he punched the stallion in the face. The stallion gripped his arm with both hands in complete fear as John found something on the back of his left hand. It was the Outsider’s mark which John knew that the Outsider couldn’t do from experience of asking him to try it. “How did you get that mark?!” John yelled through his distorted voice that made him sound two times more terrifying. “S-s-someone like you. I don’t know his name. He came to me three years ago with the objective to try and kill you, but I did this instead.” She was crying as he felt like this was the end for him. John switched hand before raising his right hand and taking the mark off with a pale blue light linking the two hands. “You don’t deserve to be a Void User.” John said with his glare still fixed on the stallion that trembled in his grasp. “Are... you going to let me go?” Tge stallion’s voice was low and quiet from fear of what this new found judge would do to him. “You revoked your right to live when you started this.” The stallion was terrified from that statement as the occupants in the arena were confused before John dropped the stallion causing him to fall to his earthly death far below. John stumbled back before falling on his ass where he finally began to make his way to the basement where the rest were. The hardest part to watch was when he fell down the stairs which drove the blade that he was stabbed with deeper into him. The second set was much easier as he was able to make it all the way down with his feet producing heavy footsteps. “I-it’s me.” He called as the doppelgänger disappeared in black smoke where he was talking to the two female Pegasi on what he did to get them back. Everypony hopes were up as they heard his voice from the stairwell before he was visible to them. All hope was dashed how ever when they found that he had his own sword lodged in his stomach and was struggling to move and breath. “John!” Everypony yelled in horror as the assassins smiled at them before collapsing. His two Pegasi friends rushed to his side to help him by first pulling out the sword in his midsection that made him let out a bone chilling scream. Rainbow collapsed the sword like how John did when he was ready to fight or was board. She felt something well up in her that she didn’t understand, but knew that it caused her to want to save this man by any means necessary. Fluttershy, reluctantly left John’s side to free the rest of the mares that were trapped in the cold, cloudy basement. John was awake the hole time and smiled that they didn’t leave the other mares there. John’s two friends picked him up by his pits and helped him walk out the mansion where ten guards were waiting for them. “Returned back to your cell. We will not ask again.” The obvious leader said with anger in his tone. John looked at the rest who were terrified at the guards before them which made him know what to do. John removed himself from his friends grips so they could not stop him that easily as his was out numbered and, due to his weakened state, would have to kill them. He held out his hand so that the swirling particles of void material would appear which did. John gripped the material causing it to turn into his new sword from a few minutes prior to this stand off. None of them had time to react as John used blink to teleport in front of one of them before grabbing his shoulder and stabbing him in the chest, killing the guard instantly. John blocked an incoming kick before making the leg bend the wrong way before decapitating the stallion. He parried another guard be grabbing his neck and jamming the blade through the bottom of his skull, killing the him before he hit the ground. He ducked under a horizontal swing before John used the stallion’s left knee to propel himself above the stallion and impaled him. John had six left, but one was killed by an unknown sniper making the others fearful of who that was. John used this to his advantage as he decapitated one before stabbing another in the neck with precision. He was kicked to the ground making his body flare in pain from the impact and that he was still heavily wounded, but was able to fight due to adrenaline. The world froze as he saw the one on his left get decapitated, the one on his right get his throat slit open, and the middle get stabbed in the back as time resumed. When all the bodies fell, he saw the familiar mask of Daud staring at him. “Long time no see.” The assassin said which confirmed John’s hopes as he vary well knew this mysterious figure. John chuckled weakly, but it still got the message through. “Same here old friend.” John responded as the figure held out his hand which John took. “Just repaying you for what you did in gym class all those years ago in Dunwall.” He said with amusement which made John chuckle again with his friend following along. The previous slaves were following in amazement as they never knew of another being that could use John’s powers until then. “Happy to see ya again, John.” “Same here David.” John responded to the obvious human in the gas mask. Most were afraid that this David was evil, but others were amazed that there was another human here to stay. They hoped he was happy to be in Equestria after seeing what John could do, they feared what he could do. David, however, was just happy to see his friend after so long. The void was quiet and lonely without his friend, but he knows that John has changed and, I’m his opinion, for the better.