//------------------------------// // Chapter 110: Way to Fall // Story: A Long Way to Fall // by Cinders of War //------------------------------// 2 years later The dormitories were dark and quiet in the chill of the Trottingham bureau. Cobalt’s assassination had been easy; the man had almost been begging for them to come kill him. The documents would get to the Mentor soon enough, Morning Blade would see to that. In the meantime, the new Assassin lieutenant had orders from her to carry out. He had accidentally caught Dewdrop and High Noon making out in one of the bureau’s hallways on his way up, but he let them be. Things haven’t been all that great, and it was good to see them getting over their losses together. The door turned on well-oiled hinges and Frigid Night entered the women’s wing soundlessly. The air smelled… wet. Humid and slightly fruit-scented. Abruptly, the light turned on. “You’re here early.” Seated on a piano bench across the room was Keila, clad in nothing but a knotted white t-shirt and a black pair of gym shorts. Her black hair, with its new white segment, hung in damp tendrils to her waist, and a moist towel draped across her shoulders, blending in with the lattice of bandages that crisscrossed her exposed caramel skin. She’s come far from two years ago... Frigid Night thought as Keila uncrossed her slender legs and easily sauntered up to him, bandages rustling with the motion. “I have something to do here, Keila,” he said offhandedly. Keila smirked. “Sure. Something, or someone, am I right?” Frigid Night shook his head and frowned. “I told you, Keila. Morning Blade is simply my partner. Nothing else. And besides, I’m looking for Velvet Breeze. Mentor has an important mission for her. “Hmph. You’re being awfully cold tonight, but I guess it fits your name.” “And you’re not?” he said, raising an eyebrow. “It’s nine degrees out there.” “Nah.” Frigid eyed the white t-shirt. It was soaked with moisture from the towel and Keila’s hair, and it clung to her skin like a wetsuit. “Sure,” he relented. Keila’s one visible eye brightened. Bending down to tighten one of the linens around her leg, she asked, “What do you need to talk to the kid for at this hour anyway? She has training to do in the morning, you know.” “About that…” he began. “I’m here on the Mentor’s orders. The novice needs to set out for Canterlot immediately.” “What for?” A hint of suspicion crept into Keila’s voice like a blade slipping in between a pair of ribs. “A mission. She needs to infiltrate a high school and locate a student called Sunset Shimmer. The school year’s nearly over, so she needs to go as soon as possible.” “I see. And why is this so important that the Mentor herself got involved at the drop of a hat?” “I don’t know,” Frigid Night admitted. “But it might have something to do with the artifacts-” Frigid Night’s breath was knocked out of his lungs as Keila suddenly lunged at him, sandwiching his body between her and the wall. “The artifacts?” Keila hissed. Frigid Night could feel a blush beginning to rise to the surface as Keila’s cool, wet form pressed against his chest. Then he saw the fury in her partially bandaged face and the moment passed. “Yes,” he said, trying unsuccessfully to dislodge her. “Now get off me.” “And you remember what happened the last time we tried to meddle with those things? Hmm?” “Of course I do,” Frigid Night said, still trying to force her off, but she had the superior footing. “But the Mentor wants her to do this. I’m just delivering the message.” “And you don’t see anything wrong with that at all? Sending a kid off to find something like that? Nothing at all?” It took all of Frigid Night’s self-control not to say yes. “If the Mentor wants it done, then we’ve got to follow. She knows best. Now remove yourself, or I will have to do it the hard way.” Keila pushed herself against the wall and off of Frigid Night’s body. His entire front was wet. The Saddle Arabian Assassin inhaled sharply and left the room, stopping only at the door to say one more thing. “Then I pray that you’re right about that, Frigid Night. Because if you’re not, I promise you I will make you wish you had never saved me back at Masyaf.” With those ominous words still hanging in the air long after the speaker was gone, Frigid Night could only sigh and slump down into a chair. Sometimes, he himself wished he hadn’t saved Keila that day. He gazed pensively at the hidden blades on his arms, a final gift from Dust Fencer all those years ago. There was nothing more he could do, but he had to fight on for his fallen friends. He won’t let their sacrifices go to waste. Nothing will go wrong. And on those who I’ve left behind, Rose Petal, Trueshot, Dust Fencer, we will find Sombra and I will make this right. Frigid had a long way to fall, but he figured it was time he began making plans for climbing back up.