_____*Unknown*______
"I had thought I was free, that I could live my life with the past behind me, I never truly believed I was off the hook however, but I had hopes.....they were the hopes of a fool but I wanted them to be true nonetheless."
"What a fool I was, no......people like me are hunted feared and coveted for their abilities, their powers or their intelligence, I tried in vain to protect those that I love, but i failed them, I failed them all because I was a fool, but even though I have lost them, i can still fight.....to avenge them, and to prevent this from EVER happening again."
"So now, as I see my life flash before me, I pray to whatever God or immortal that's listening.......and I pray for forgiveness for what I must do, for they are here, and they will not let me leave with my life, so I will take theirs."
Two bright orange eyes snapped open as several armed figures approached, and a twisted grin formed on my face. "Time to have some fun."
______*Sarah's room, four days earlier, 2:00 PM*______
Sarah sat back on her bed, deep in thought, she was bored, with so much work being done on the farm, they had somehow caught up and even finished the work that would have taken two more months to finish.
Sarah looked out the window and blinked, she actually wished that some of the many trees would spontaneously grow apples so she would have something to do.
She heard a dark chuckle in her mind as she sighed. "You know, for someone so friendly, you sure don't have anyone to hang out with." Insanity mocked.
"Thanks, I just needed that reminder." Sarah said as Insanity appeared as a ghost in front of her bed, his sharp teeth forming a grin. "I'm surprised that you haven't said something to the others about me, after all I DID try to kill your sister." He taunted.
Sarah got off the bed and walked to the center of her room, she looked at Insanity. "Your enjoying my boredom aren't you?" She asked.
Insanity shrugged. "I'm just stating the obvious, your boredom is a coincidence." He replied snidely.
Sarah shook her head and looked at her guitar, she walked over and grabbed it before sitting on the bed, playing the same melody from a week ago.
Insanity listened for a while before speaking. "Why don't you play why others are around?" He asked.
Sarah stopped playing and looked at Insanity, her expression was one of pain and sadness. "Like I told Apple Bloom, I have my reasons." She said evasively.
Insanity walked up to the bed and sat down next to Sarah. "And yet you have no problem playing near me." He pointed out.
"That's different, your always near me." Sarah countered as she stood up and walked to the door, she then heard Insanity speak. "Your growing complacent Sarah." He stated.
The statement alone made her look at the Element of Chaos. "What?" She asked.
Insanity stood and approached her. "If you think for a second that the people who sent you on that assassination are just going to leave you be? then you are a fool." He stated, his voice firm and his tone serious.
"Then I'll deal with it." She replied easily as she walked out of the room, heading for the stairs.
Insanity appearing at the bottom of the stairs made her pause for a second, before she kept on walking. "This may have crossed your mind Sarah, but if you die I lose my host, the best one I've had in a long time I might add." He said as he walked next to her.
"So before you do something stupid like try to take on an army, you might consider getting back into some old habits." Insanity suggested.
Sarah looked at Insanity with a stern glare. "I am NOT becoming that monster again, I don't care what happens, nothing will make that happen." She stated firmly.
Insanity sighed as he returned to Sarah's mind. "I can think of a few things actually." He muttered to himself.
______*Ponyville, two hours later.*______
Sarah was currently walking through the town mindlessly, not really caring about buying anything or going anywhere, she just wanted to find something of interest, but it was difficult to do so in this boring town.
Sarah paused in her walking as she thought on that. 'Do I find this town boring?' She looked around and as she watched the other townspeople go about their days, she blinked and started walking back to the farm. 'I guess I do, nothing of interest.' She thought to herself.
Insanity appeared next to her. "That's why so many strange things happen here, the town is so boring that most wouldn't even realize it right away." He said.
Sarah simply looked at him without saying anything. "If you REALLY want some excitement, why not travel?" He suggested. "New town, new perspective and new tails to chase." He said suggestively as he watched an orange furred mare walk by, he whistled as he looked at Sarah, who did not look amused. "Oh come on, you can't tell me that you don't want some one on one action?" He asked.
Sarah sighed and continued walking without saying anything. "You know, what about that Wave girl?" He asked, Sarah looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Now I KNOW you have the hots for her." He teased.
Gritting her teeth, Sarah flew into the air and landed on a cloud, she heard laughing as Insanity appeared on a nearby cloud laying on his side. "Why the angry face? I'm just saying what your thinking." He said with a grin.
"Why don't you shut up!?" Sarah snapped. "I have enough on my mind without you making it worse!" She said angrily.
Insanity gave a half hearted shrug. "You do have a lot on your mind, but I'm not the problem, the only question is....what exactly is tying you to this place?" He asked.
Sarah looked at the farm and then at Insanity. "It may have slipped your mind, but I have a family that I care about here." She replied.
"True, but why hasn't your beloved sister spoken to you in a week?" Insanity asked curiously, but his tone was condescending.
Sarah growled. "Shut up Insanity." She warned.
Insanity grinned. "Or you'll do what?" He asked. "You can't kill me, and you don't scare me at all." He pointed out.
Sarah looked away and crossed her arms as she hovered. "Besides, with your past?" A dark chuckle came from the ghost. "You'll be lucky to make it to your forties." He said.
Sarah bit her lip and her expression saddened as Insanity spoke. "Think about it, your little sister is feeling the same madness that claimed you." He paused as Sarah looked at him. "Now if you ask me, there might just be some residual madness leaking from you, just enough to corrupt her young mind." He stated.
"I won't let Apple Bloom do what I did, if I need to suffer to ensure she doesn't commit such an act, I'll gladly pay that price." Sarah replied.
Insanity blinked and then laughed hysterically a moment later, afterwards he looked at Sarah. "And if your madness consumes you?....after all your little personalities are gone, your head may be stable for now, but if push comes to shove, you'll just let go and allow yourself to feel what you felt that day." His expression immediately turned serious. "Or need I remind you of that horror?" He asked.
Sarah looked away and closed her eyes. "Just leave me alone, I don't need you messing with my head anymore." She replied.
"Fine, but don't forget that I'm in here as well, i won't LET you do something stupid." Insanity said before vanishing.
Sarah sighed quietly to herself as she flew towards the farm in silence, her head swimming with doubts and concerns for the future. "Need to focus." She whispered to herself.
_____*at the farm*______
Sarah flew towards the house when she saw something peculiar, two cloaked figured speaking with someone at the door, curious, Sarah flew in quietly and listened in. "Stop playing dumb, we know she lives here." The one one the left said, their voice heavy distorted.
"I told you two already, I don't know where Sarah is, now leave my home!" Granny Smith's voice ordered firmly.
Sarah watched as the two figures looked at each other and then at Granny. "We will return, and next time we will not be as kind." The one on the right said before they vanished into thin air.
Sarah watched in silence as the door shut, she sighed to herself and flew to her window.
"What's wrong? can't go through the front door?" Insanity asked teasingly.
Sarah sighed as she flew into the open room. "I don't need a lecture right now damn it." She replied harshly.
Insanity appeared at the door and gave her a smug grin. "You hide from your family, you hide what your doing from them and you barely leave the room." He shrugged. "I think you could USE a lecture." He added.
Sarah scoffed and walked over to the closet, she looked down and grabbed her guitar, she looked it over and then carried it to her bed and sat down, beginning to play her song.
Insanity for once, said nothing as he returned to Sarah's mind.
______*the next day, 3:00 PM*______
Sarah walked with Applejack as they headed into town with their apple cart, Sarah had a thoughtful look on her face as they walked, and her sister noticed it. "Sarah?" Applejack said.
"Huh?" Sarah muttered, looking at Applejack.
Applejack's expression was one of concern, one that Sarah knew all too well. "What's going on with you?" Applejack asked.
Sarah shook her head dismissively. "It's nothing that I can't handle AJ, trust me on that." She replied.
Applejack slowed her walk to a halt as she looked at her sister. "I trust you Sarah, you know I do but you have been avoiding the entire family, what's wrong?" She asked again, her tone more firm than before.
Sarah examined her sister for a moment before sighing. "Applejack.....how do I put this?" She shook her head sadly. "I'm thinking of leaving Ponyville." She answered.
Applejack's eyes were wide in shock as she stared at Sarah. "B-b-but what about the farm?....and the rest of us? you have family here!" She questioned.
Sarah looked away and started walking. "I know." She replied quietly.
"This has something to do with those robed ponies doesn't it?" Applejack asked.
Sarah looked at Applejack. "No it doesn't but they are concerning regardless." She replied as the two continued their walk.
"Where would you go?" Applejack asked curiously.
Sarah shrugged. "I have no idea, but being here makes me uneasy, too many memories here." She replied.
As the sisters walked by Carrot Top, they paused their conversation until they were once again alone. "Your always welcome here Sarah, don't forget that alright?" Applejack asked.
Sarah nodded and looked up at the sky as she pulled the wagon. "It's times like this that I wonder what it would have been like to grow up as a Pegasus, ever wonder what it would be like if you grew up as something else?" She asked.
"No." Applejack replied truthfully.
Sarah chuckled as they eventually reached the market and began to set up the stand. "You always were proud of who you were AJ, at least, from what I remember." She said quietly as she worked.
Applejack simply worked in silence as she worked with Sarah to set up their apple stand so they could get to work.
Sarah looked around at the ponies around the market, she sighed to herself and went to grab a basket of apples, she nearly jumped when she saw Insanity grinning at her, standing next to the stand. "I'm hurt, I've been with you for so long I though we had a bond?" He asked, faking his emotional turmoil.
Sarah said nothing as she worked. "You know, I'm surprised that you haven't flown the coop knowing that those robed guys are after you." Insanity said calmly.
"But then I realized something.....you must WANT them to find you, give you a real reason to, shall we say, let loose?" He asked, his tone making what he meant quite clear.
Sarah gave Insanity a quick glare to silence him, she then looked at Applejack. "Hey, you alright to manage the stand alone for a while?" She asked. "There's something I need to take care of." She added, her voice kind of strained.
Applejack raised an eyebrow at Sarah's peculiar behaivor, but nodded.
Sarah quickly flew off and found an isolated cloud to stand on, she noticed Insanity appear behind her on an imaginary cloud. "I will only say this once, I am never going to allow myself to turn into that monster again, so stop trying to piss me off!" She snapped, her angry voice nearly a growl.
Insanity merely grinned. "You may as well get used to me little girl." His condescending tone making Sarah even angrier. "I'm going to be around until you die, and don't think suicide is an option." He chuckled darkly as he lowered his head.
"I could just say something you know, I don't think anyone will be very happy about an Element of Chaos running around." Sarah argued.
Insanity looked at Sarah and opened his eyes, his grin grew into a demented one as glowing yellow eyes opened. "Just try it girl, then everyone will think your insane, and then you will face either an insane asylum or you will need to run, either way I win!" He laughed as he vanished into thin air.
Sarah shook her head as her head suddenly felt like it was splitting, she clutched her head as the world around her started spinning and changing colors rapidly until it stopped, she collapsed on the cloud as her breathing became ragged. "N.....not again." She muttered as she let go of her head, she gulped and slowly stood up, she took a deep breath and hovered a little for a moment before flying back to Applejack.
"I thought I was past this, why is it starting up again?" She asked herself.
______*the next day, 8:00 PM.*______
Sarah walked back to the farm slowly on the dark roads, she had spent most of the day with Minutte who was tired of her brother, she then spent the rest of her day with Wave at her house, which was where Sarah was walking home from.
A cool breeze blew through the air and ran through her hair, Sarah chuckled as she looked up at the sky, the moon shining bright as the stars formed constellations.
Ponyville was very quiet at night, the townspeople preferring to stay indoors at this hour instead of being up and about, Sarah however enjoyed this solitude as it allowed her time to herself.
Sarah watched as a couple of stray cats ran between alleyways and the town, as well as a few stray dogs.
Sarah continued walking until she reached the gates to the farm, where she hestitated to enter, she stood still, standing at the border of the farm in silence. "Sarah?" Insanity asked quietly, his usual tone replaced with a calm one.
Sarah looked at Insanity who stood next to her. "I could just leave, right now, go anywhere I want and never look back." She sighed and started walking again. "But then I would have to live with the guilt that I never said goodbye, that my own family didn't know if I left or if I was taken." She looked at Insanity sadly. "I can't do that, no matter what I'm going through." She said.
Insanity said nothing for a moment and then he spoke. "Did I tell you who my first host was? since I came back?" He asked.
Sarah shook her head. "No." She said,
Insanity walked ahead of Sarah and looked at her in the eye. "He was nobody, a homeless man with nothing to lose or gain, I took his body and discarded the rest, and then I came here, I attacked Applejack to test her strength as the Element of Honesty, and then I tried to use one of my many powers on the Element of Laughter and Storm, to see who they truly were." He then vanished into Sarah's mind. "When he avoided my attack, I knew there was something in him he didn't want to be shown, but by then, my host was killed and I was back to finding another, one that was actually capable of holding me." He explained.
"Me?" Sarah asked in disbelief.
"At first I thought that you were just another lunatic, not worth my time, but the madness within you is great, it rivals my own in many ways." Insanity replied. "It must be hard to believe, Element of Insanity and all, but it's true." He added.
Sarah was about to say something when she smelled something on the air.......she sniffed the air again and found that whatever it was, it was burning.
Sarah flew into the air and looked around, her eyes widened as she spotted the farmhouse burning in the distance. "No." She whispered as she flew as fast as she could, determined to save her family from the flames.
Sarah landed in front of the house and ran up to the broken door, she quickly broke it down and ran inside as she coughed from the heavy smoke, she held her right hoof over her eyes and looked around, her eyes straining to see anything, there were piles upon piles of debris strewn across the floor and almost everything was engulfed in flames. "Applejack! Big Macintosh! Apple Bloom! Granny!" She called out desperately.
When she heard nothing, Sarah coughed from the smoke and quickly forced her way past the debris blocking her way up the stairs, she searched frantically for anyone but found no one in the hallway. "Anyone!?" She called out.
Sarah heard a faint coughing coming from her room and she ran the door, she rammed it once, but the door stood firm, she rammed it again, and the wood creaked from the pressure, she braced herself and rammed it once again, only this time the door came off its hinges and Sarah soon found the source of the cough.
Sarah quickly rushed up to the barely conscious Apple Bloom and picked her up, she placed the filly over her back and carried her out of the room.
Sarah coughed loudly and quickened her pace as the ceiling collapsed in the room.
The building was quickly coming apart as Sarah quickly reached the door and exited the house, she managed to get a good ten feet from the door when she collapsed and dropped Apple Bloom.
Sarah breathed heavily and looked back at the house, she braced herself and went to go back inside only for the entrance to collapse and the flames to intensify.
Her eyes widened in fear as she fell to the ground, her face one of fear as she watched her home burn to the ground, she would not have moved at all if it hadn't been for a silent cough to snap her out of her trance.
Sarah looked at Apple Bloom and sighed to herself. 'Don't worry kid, I'll make sure you get help.' She said to herself as she picked up her little sister and flew off towards the hospital.
"Whoever did this won't get away with it, I swear It." She swore quietly.
______*the next day, Ponyville Hospital, 1:00 PM*_______
Sarah angrily paced back and forth in the hospital, she was worried about Apple Bloom for sure, but she was very concerned about where Applejack, Granny and Big Mac were.
Thankfully Apple Bloom's injuries were not fatal, slight bruising, a few burned off patches of fur, multiple shallow cuts and a broken hoof, truth be told she got off lucky, considering the entire roof had collapsed on the house.
Sarah heard doors open and she saw the doctor that had helped Apple Bloom walk out, he walked over to her and spoke. "I covered your sisters cuts with bandages and a healing salve, the fur will come back in time and the bruising will heal within the week, but the hoof was badly broken." He paused a moment to take a breath before speaking. "I've placed it in a cast and she'll be able to walk again In a couple of weeks, but as badly damaged as it was, there is a possibility that she may always feel pain in that hoof." He added.
Sarah took a breath. "Well......what are the chances for that?" She asked.
The doctor sighed and took his glasses off to clean them. "Fifty fifty I am afraid ma'am, so let us hope that we get the better half of that." He replied as he put his glasses back on.
Sarah shook her head as she walked around a little. "How long do you recommend she stay here?" She asked.
"At least a week." The doctor replied.
Sarah looked at the doctor and nodded. "Alright, is she awake?" She asked out of curiosity.
The doctor shook his head. "No, she has been asleep all morning, she should be awake soon though." He replied.
Sarah nodded. "Thanks doctor." She said before walking away. 'You should talk to your sister Sarah, she needs to know your alright.' Insanity advised.
'No can do Insanity, I have something to do.' She told him as she walked.
_____*outside.*_____
Sarah sighed as she looked around, nobody even seemed aware of the fire yet, or if they were they weren't saying anything.
Sarah was about to start walking when she heard a voice near her. "Sarah Apple?" The voice asked, the voice was distorted.
Turning around, Sarah saw a stallion wearing a black cloak standing next to another cloaked stallion. "No." She said calmly.
The stallion on the left approached by a few steps. "You will be coming with us, if you at all care about your family." He threatened.
Sarah growled and stared at him. "If that was a joke, it wasn't funny, now go away, I'm not going anywhere with you freaks!" She snapped angrily.
The one on the right simply shook his head. "We tried to be civil, now we have no choice but to resort to more direct methods." He stated.
Sarah quickly backed up from the pair as they approached her threateningly, one thing she did notice however was that no one nearby seemed to notice. "Why are they ignoring you two?" She quickly asked.
The one on the right was quick to answer that question. "A spell that makes us invisible to their eyes, as well as nullifies sound and touch, in other words." He paused as he vanished into thin air.
Sarah's eyes widened, but she decided to take action at that moment, she rushed the other cloaked stallion and tackled him, he braced himself and withstood the charge, but was caught off guard as she headbutted him and kicked him in the stomach.
She was about to run off when a large net covered her and quickly tightened around her, she tried to break out of it but it had tangled up her hooves and the net was sealed by magic. "Let me out of here you cowards!" She shouted.
The larger of the two stallions simply grasped the net and spoke. "Shut up." He ordered.
The net glowed and almost immediately Sarah felt sleepy, she tried to stay awake but her eyes closed and she fell unconscious.
______*later*______
Sarah groaned quietly as her eyes slowly opened, she felt very weak and groggy, her vision was blurred and she could not move, she blinked a few times and her vision was slightly restored, she could tell that she was still inside the net, and that it was glowing a soft brown. 'Ugh.....this net, what did they do?' She asked herself.
'They knocked you out and kidnapped you, the net is enchanted to put the victim to sleep and then keep them weak, classical kidnapping tool.' Insanity answered.
Sarah waited for some time and her vision returned to her, so she could now see clearly, she immediately noticed that her hooves were bound by rope to prevent movement, she could also tell that she was gagged to keep her quiet, though she didn't need vision to feel the tape over her mouth. 'They couldn't at least use cloth?....tape hurts like hell when you remove it.' She complained mentally.
Insanity chuckled. 'I'll be sure to remember your preference next time you have a wet dream.' He replied with an amused tone.
Sarah still felt weak, but she wasn't groggy anymore, she looked around as best as she could and saw that she was in a wagon of some kind, hidden away from prying eyes no doubt. 'So who do you think those two goons were?' Insanity asked.
Sarah mentally sighed to herself as she realized something when she saw a large machete in the corner. 'Their names are Ferret and Kinto, they work for the organization as kidnapping specialists, I ran into them once before during my......service.' She told him, she then moved her hooves with one slight motion and she undid the rope around her hooves, she then removed the tape from her mouth and pulled two parts of the net apart.
Insanity sighed. "Sarah, there is no way that those idiots would leave the net vulnerable to a physical assault." He mentioned as he appeared on the other side.
'Then you do something.' She said as she stopped pulling on the enchanted net.
Insanity grinned and returned to Sarah's mind, when she felt herself lose control of her hooves she almost panicked, but when her hooves touched the net and it wilted away she grinned. 'Cool' She replied.
Insanity chuckled and receeded into her mind once again, returning full control to Sarah who quickly got herself free of the net and felt her senses fully return to her, she walked over and grabbed the machete and examined it, the blade itself was typical enough, simple design, but the handle was dark brown wood with dark green colored vine patterns. "It's been a while since I had to use one of these." She commented quietly.
Footsteps near the door at the other end of the wagon caused Sarah to quickly hide behind a stack of crates, she peaked out from the dark corner of the room and saw the door open to reveal a dark green furred unicorn stallion with yellow eyes. 'Kinto.' She identified.
Kinto closed the door and walked closer to where Sarah had been kept, she readied her blade to kill him in a moments notice when the door opened again. "Kinto, she isn't going anywhere, not with all the drugs we pumped her full of." Ferret stated.
Sarah blinked. 'I don't feel drugged.' She said mentally.
'Dont complain, I'm keeping them from affecting you until we are safe, fair warning, your probably going to feel horny or sleepy when they take effect.' Insanity replied.
Kinto huffed and walked to the door as it closed, seeing her chance, Sarah advanced carefully and quietly, she hid behind objects and other items until she neared Kinto who had neared the door, in one fell swoop, she covered his mouth and pierced his heart with her blade, his muffled screams didn't reach Ferret as he slumped over.
Sarah felt some blood on her hoof as she let the body drop to the floor with a thud, she looked at her hoof saw that it was bloodstained, she set it on the ground and walked to the door, she opened it carefully and peaked outside, she saw that she was on a large wooden wagon being pulled towards some unknown location, the main cart ahead of her had a small tarp concealing a potential hiding place, Sarah flew up to it and hid inspected it, she grinned and hid inside as she heard Ferret speaking.
Since it was still daytime, Sarah would be at a slight disadvantage, but when Ferret spots his brothers corpse, she would end him.
Ferret came into view as he walked to the wagon, he approached the door and opened it before stepping inside to find his brother.
Sarah immediately flew inside before the door closed, she then hid herself as Ferret searched for Kinto, eventually he neared where the unicorn died, he spotted the blood and quickly rushed to try and save his brother.
Sarah struck immediately, she flew to Ferret quickly and with one swing of the machete, Ferret's head was cut off, blood splattered onto Sarah's face and she landed, she dropped the machete and looked down at her recent victims, she sighed and moved to leave the wagon, a small clatter behind her made Sarah jump as she cautiously searched the room.
Insanity's ghost appeared near a few barrels. "What's with all of this junk?" He asked, referring to the strange plethora of items strewn across the room.
Sarah walked over and kneeled down at what had fallen, she was shocked to discover what it was. "The brothers gathered items from their targets, special ones, the very weapons that made them infamous." She grabbed the object and showed it to Insanity.
Insanity's eyes widened. "Is that what I think it is?" He asked.
Sarah nodded. "The very knife that killed Hilde and Uncle Spud." She replied, the knife was worn, the once shiny metal blade now bloodstained and aging, the handle was black with a red spiral pattern. "Kitchen knives don't come like that." Insanity pointed out.
"My own design." Sarah replied as she grabbed a small leather strap and sheathed her knife in it, she looked at the blood on her face and shook her head. "I'll clean that off later." She said before walking to the door.
As she stepped outside to the bright sun beating down on her, Sarah flew up and spotted an all too familiar building in the distance, it was a gray building made of stone that looked like a prison. "Do you know that place?" Insanity asked.
"Yes, it's the headquarters." Sarah replied as she flew towards it.
"I'm not so sure a frontal assault is wise." Insanity warned.
Sarah grinned. "Who says I'm charging in? I have a plan in mind." She said.
Insanity sighed. "I hope your right." He muttered.
______*Six hours later, nighttime.*______
The night air was chilling now, as opposed to the hot air from the day, Sarah had allowed the drugs in her system to run their course, with Insanity speeding up the process of removing them, she looked down at the headquarters and examined it.
There was a forteen feet high chain link fence surrounding the complex which was at the least eight houses large in width and length, there were at least fifteen guards on each side with seven additional guards for the front entrance, there was ten Pegasi and six Griffons on the roof to act as air support, Sarah noticed that they had many lights around the complex, and four guard towers surrounding the complex, she grinned and walked away from the little ledge she was on.
"Mind filling me in on this plan?" Insanity asked as he materialized next to her.
Sarah looked at the ghost. "We both know you can look into my mind to see my plan, so why are you asking me?" She asked.
"Because I'm a nice guy." Insanity answered.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "I was here once before, I remember how I got away, and knowing the organization, they are more likely to hide the fact that a weakness like the one I used exists, rather than fix it." She said.
Insanity chuckled. "So your using their preference to control information against them?.....I knew I loved you for a reason." He said before vanishing.
"Don't get your hopes up." Sarah said as she approached her destination, the base of one of the towers, she extended her wings and flew over the fence, knowing that there was an alarm spell, she had Insanity make the spell believe that they were an insect.
Once she landed on the ground, Sarah walked up the door of the guard tower, she entered it and looked up, seeing that it was just a spiral staircase up, she flew silently up, when she reached the top, she found two guards searching for movement on the outside.
Sarah waited for them to be looking away from eachother before making her move, she flew to the guard on the left and covered his mouth with her hoof and shoved her knife into his throat, the other guard apparently hear this and tried to run to the alarm, he gasped in pain as Sarah threw the knife at him and it plunged into his heart.
Sarah quickly silenced him for good and retrieved her knife, she then flew down and neared the back entrance, where the loading of supplies happened, she managed to hide behind a stack of crates as a pair of stallions walked by, she waited for a few moments before moving to a large wagon similar to the one she was in before, since there was people everywhere, she needed to be careful. "Alright boys! bring it in!" The foreman shouted.
Sarah grinned at the stroke of luck, she climbed under the wagon and hid herself as the wagon began to move.
The wagon entered a large room filled with crates, barrels and other supplies, but Sarah saw it all as cover, so when the wagon stopped and the amount of people diminished to only four, Sarah left her hiding spot and snuck over to a pile of barrels, she looked out from her cover and saw the four workers conversing, two stallions and two mares, she quickly made her way across the loading area and towards the door to leave.
As Sarah neared the door, it opened and the foreman stepped out. "Alright! let's get this stuff out of here, we're done here." He ordered.
Sarah was thankfully that they were now leaving, so she quickly and quietly ducked inside the door, and made her way through the halls.
Soon enough however, thunder struck outside the building, and a loud voice could be heard. "We got ourselves a wild storm everyone! get candles lit and have someone check on the power!" A commanding voice shouted.
Sarah grinned as she reached a crossroads, she headed down a familiar hallway and Insanity appeared in front of her. "Where are you going?" Insanity asked.
'The power room.' Sarah replied mentally as she quickly moved through the empty halls.
"Where is everyone? you would think with a secret base there would at least be someone in these halls." Insanity asked.
Sarah chuckled, as she hid in a cubby, three Pegasi ran through the hallway to the left and headed towards the power room. "Remember, there's a wild storm here, everyone is bracing for it." She replied quietly as she headed in the same direction as the Pegasi.
Sarah quickly reached a moderately sized room with two doors and a large metal machine, she saw many workers maintaining the machine, she calmly hid and analyzed the room.
'Two guards, one by each door and seven workers walking about, now which room can I do the most damage from?' She asked herself mentally.
Sarah soon heard a thundering crash of lighting nearby, she heard the sound of crashing stone somewhere behind her, glancing over her shoulder, Sarah saw nothing. "Must have been in the hall." She whispered.
Looking back at the room, she saw that everyone in the room including the guards had gone to do something about the damage.
After they were all gone, Sarah quickly took her chance and ran to the room on the left she went inside and saw that it was filled with supplies and tools, she growled and went for the other room, discovering that it was filled with complex machines and tools.
Sarah left the room and looked at the large machine, she grabbed a nearby wrench and sighed. 'I had hoped to be subtle about this, but oh well.' She thought as she swung the wrench at the machines wiring, when it impacted the wiring sparked fiercely, almost electrocuting Sarah before she could avoid it.
The machine exploded and the room turned dark, all light sources removed.
Sarah grinned and flew up to the ceiling as the people came back. "We've been sabotaged! find the one responsible for this now!" One of the guards ordered.
With the power gone, Sarah had only one thing to do, she drew her knife and flew down silently to the unicorn guard, she slit his throat and proceeded to eliminate the magic users, one by one.
The workers panic turned to be in Sarah's favor as she killed them, some tried to flee, only to recieve a knife to the eye, some tried to hide in the side rooms, only for Sarah to pierce their hearts.
Eventually, no one was left alive, Sarah left the power room and discovered the damage from the lightning strike, it was a massive hole in the ceiling that allowed the moon to shine bright into the dark hallway.
Sarah walked forward and stood in the moonlight, she looked at her knife that now shined bright with blood shimmering in the moonlight, she cleaned it off on her hoof and continued walking.
The loud commanding voice from before once again spoke. "What is going on with the power!? find out now!" He boomed.
Sarah soon entered the part of the headquarters she knew better than any other, the Confines. "Sarah, how do you know that your family is here? it really could have been an accident." Insanity asked.
Sarah looked at Insanity. "Because they wouldn't have gone after me if they couldn't follow through with their threats." She whispered as she began to walk the familiar halls.
"What is this place?" Insanity asked.
'Its called the Confines, or as the prisoners call it, The Lab, this is where I was butchered and experimented on, this is where most of my life was spent.' Sarah replied, the anger in her mind at the mere thought of this place actually scared Insanity.
Sarah walked down the halls and soon she spotted a familiar number on the wall. "Eight three b." She shivered.
Insanity was about to ask what was wrong when Sarah held her head and screamed, he could feel the intense pain course through her mind as the world shifted rapidly between reality and some strange orange tinted world.
Sarah looked up and the world stayed consistent for a while, but she knew where she was, or more importantly, when she was.
Insanity was about to ask what she was staring at when he saw it, a little earth pony filly with purple eyes, blonde hair and tan fur was being dragged across the floor screaming, he was speachless as they threw her into a cell and left her there as it was sealed shut, he watched and listened as the young filly cried, he was about to tell Sarah to stop watching when he heard the filly speak.
"How could they?" She asked herself, tears streaming down her face. "I trusted them, and they turned their backs on me, abandoned me to these people." The little filly growled and looked up, her eyes locking with Sarah's. "I'll make them pay, when I get out of here, I'll make them suffer!" She swore, pure hatred in her words.
"Sarah, we need to get moving." Insanity said.
Snapping out of it, Sarah quickly got moving, searching the cells one by one for her family, she passed many cells, and even had to kill a few guards that showed up and got in her way, but Sarah soon reached the last row of cells.
"If they aren't here Sarah, we need to get out of here, the guards might be elsewhere but we will need to be careful regardless." Insanity stated.
Sarah nodded silently and began to walk along the hall, she passed a few griffons, a Minotaur and a familiar unicorn, Sarah stopped and looked at the cell's occupant. "Wave?" Sarah asked.
Sure enough, the purple unicorn mare looked up and spoke. "Sarah?....what are you doing here?" She asked, her voice strained.
Sarah opened the cell door and removed the magic blocking device from Wave's horn. "I'm here to find my family, I think they might be here." She said.
Wave lit her horn, allowing Sarah to get a better look at her, Wave's left eye was black from bruising and both her eyes were bloodshot, her nose was badly damaged along with the rest of her head, her hoofs were shaking and cut all over. "Why did they bring you here?" Sarah asked out of concern.
Wave took a pained breath and looked into Sarah's eyes. "They.....wanted to know, where YOU were, and how to find you." She replied, her voice raspy and dry.
Sarah caught Wave as she almost fell, she then proceeded to carry her along the hall. "Come on, I'll get you out of here, try not to talk too much." She said confidently, but with a gentle tone.
Wave smiled as they slowly walked. "Don't make a promise you can't keep Sarah, what if your family is worse off than me?" She asked painfully.
"Then I'll get you all out." Sarah boasted with a grin.
Wave winced as they walked. "Pl.....please don't make light of this." She begged.
Sarah's expression turned grim and she paused to think, when she started to talk again, she wasn't very enthusiastic about it. "If I can't get you all to safety without a fight, then I'll fight for you all." She replied.
Wave looked at Sarah and took a few more pained breaths. "I....think I heard.....one of the guards." She took another breath. "Questioning your family, asking where you were." She stated.
Sarah nodded and the two reached the last few cells, and Sarah's eyes widened, she set Wave down by the wall and rushed to the cell door, she forced it open and spoke. "Applejack!" She called out.
"Ug......Sarah? no-it's.....a trap." Applejack strained to say.
Sarah heard footsteps nearby and she looked down the hall that she came from, she spotted four armed soldiers led by an earth pony stallion larger than Big Macintosh. "The girl is right Sarah Apple, and you took our bait!" He declared.
Sarah growled as she backed up, she got close to the lock and saw her brother inside, she bashed the flimsy lock off and looked at the stallion. "So what now? you kill me?" She asked.
The stallion laughed loudly, but once he was done, he spoke. "No, you are going to return to our service! no one stops being an assassin and lives!" He declared.
Sarah glanced over and saw that Wave was gone. "Why me? I'm no one special!" She asked.
"Not special?" The stallion chuckled. "You hold two magical cores and survived for thirteen years without dying to magical overload, you held incredible potential that was revealed after killing your cousin Hilde, and you were able to kill two of my best men with ease." He said, as though reading a biography.
"I'm not going to be your assassin! so you can forget it!" Sarah snapped.
The stallion grinned wickedly. "Are you sure about that? after all your family is on the line here, and let's not forget about your little play thing." He threatened.
Sarah's eyes widened. "You......you would kill an Element of Harmony?......just for an assassin!?" She angrily shouted.
The stallion shrugged. "Why not? what good are some little girls when you could easily eliminate the threat with one swift strike?" He asked.
No one said or did anything for a while, no sound or movement was in that hall for what felt like eternity.
Sarah closed her eyes and thought on her options, which weren't many.
"Come now Sarah Apple, it is an easy decision!" The stallion stated.
A thundering crash of lighting blazes across the sky, releasing a powerful sound that made everyone unable to hear, Sarah's eyes snapped open and she growled. "I'd sooner kill you!" She snapped before vanishing.
"Kill the prisoners!" The stallion ordered.
"Sir, they're gone!" One of the soldiers replied out of shock.
The stallion looked at his soldier. "Find them now! they can't have gone far!" He ordered loudly.
Sarah watched from the shadows as the soldiers split into two groups of two in order to find their escaped prisoners, while the large stallion calmly walked forward as he spoke. "You cannot win Sarah Apple, I command every soul in this complex, and all of my prisoners are thirsty for blood." He declared.
Sarah quietly stalked him as he walked alone, his voice betraying no fear or emotion. "Even if you do kill me, and escape this place alive, you won't be free, your family are targets for the organization now as is your little unicorn friend." He then looked up at the ceiling, directly where Sarah was hiding. "Now come down here and surrender, it will be easier for us both." He stated calmly.
Sarah said nothing as she dropped to the ground, she looked at the stallion with an angry glare. "Some call me monster." She began. "And for the most part they are right, I am a monster with a terrible lust for blood." She stated. "But your are a monster as well, no sane being would threaten innocent lives just for a killer." She then landed on the ground.
"Very dramatic, but you won't be free of us, not in the way you want, that life is far from your reach." He said.
Sarah chuckled. "Perhaps, but at least I'll be free of the organization, one way or another this ends tonight." She said before flying off.
The stallion immediately gave chase, but as he ran his voice boomed through the halls. "Soldiers! Sarah Apple is here in the complex! capture her and the escaped prisoners and bring them to me immediately!" He ordered.
Sarah turned the corner and left the Lab, she flew into a pair of Griffon guards, she unsheathed her knife and slashed the throat of one of the guards, the other one lunged at her and slashed her side, Sarah winced in pain as the griffon then grabbed her shoulders and tried to pierce her chest with his beak.
Thinking fast, Sarah managed to free her right arm and punched him in the beak causing the guard to release a screech of pain, she then thrust her knife up and pierced his neck, she pulled it out and flew off in a hurry as she heard the sound of armored feet approaching.
Sarah quickly flew up a flight of nearby stairs and continued going up, she eventually reached the top of the stairwell and broke the door open to find a small armory, where she was attacked by a pair of kangaroo guards who threw javelins and slashed with scimitars.
Sarah dodged a javelin and threw a nearby throwing axe at one of the guards, it simply dodged the axe but wasn't able to dodge the knife that Sarah has thrown in the direction it dodged, the knife embedded itself into the guards heart and it fell over dead.
Sarah dodged the sword swipe from the other guard and retrieved her knife, the guard quickly lunged and swung viciously at Sarah, she wasn't able to dodge in time and the sword tore a hole in her arm, she cried out in pain as the kangaroo attempted another assault, however Sarah quickly dodged the next attack and she lodged her knife deep into the guards skull.
Sarah panted and winced in pain as she started to feel her injuries, she wasn't able to stop however as she heard multiple sets of armored footsteps rapidly approaching, she ran off towards the other exit, finding a large room with no other way out and two side rooms, the room had tables and maps, as well as armor and weapon racks around the room.
Sarah barricaded the door with some nearby chairs and a small table, she didn't hear the footsteps approaching, but she couldn't be too careful, she sighed and started to walk to one of the side rooms.
As she walked, Sarah allowed herself a moment to reflect. "I had thought I was free." She muttered. "That I could live my life with the past behind me, I never truly believed I was off the hook however, but I had hopes......they were the hopes of a fool but I wanted them to be true nonetheless." She sighed as she leaned against the wall, her injuries catching up with her.
"What a fool I was, no......people like me are hunted feared and coveted for their abilities, their powers or their intelligence, I tried in vain to protect those I love, but I failed them, I failed them all because I was a fool, but even though I lost them, I can still fight......to avenge them, and to prevent this from EVER happening again." She looked at her knife and licked the blood clean.
Sarah then walked to a symbol on the floor and stood on it, she saw her vision change as she saw ghosts of her family and friends, and even her inner personalities. "So now, as I see my life flash before me." She smiled as she saw memories of her past play out before her.
Sarah closed her eyes as she whispered. "I pray to whatever God or immortal that's listening.......and I pray for forgiveness for what I must do, for they are here, and they will not let me leave with my life, so I will take theirs." She heard many armored footsteps come closer.
Sarah's eyes snapped open, they were bright orange and a maniacal grin formed. "Time to have some fun." She said.
The armored soldiers charged at Sarah who immediately vanished before their eyes, a strange aura emerging in the room.
Sarah swung her knife down on one of the unaware guards and her knife glowed orange, it pierced the Minotaurs helmet as though it were paper and he collapsed to the ground.
The other guards quickly attacked Sarah, she easily dodged the halberds and the sword as she slid across the floor, her grin never leaving her, one of the Minotaurs charged and swung its massive halberd down on her, and in an unexpected move, she allowed it to impact with her, the blade tearing into her right shoulder.
Sarah looked up at the minotaur and grinned. "You are going to have to do a lot better than that to kill me." She taunted as she grabbed the halberd with her left hoof and easily lifted it out, even with the soldier attempted to force it down.
Sarah laughed and vanished from sight, and just as quickly the same halberd cut the minotuars head clean off, she then launched at one of the guards, who swung her sword at Sarah In an attempt to kill her.
Sarah simply moved around her so quickly the female griffon didn't have a chance to react as Sarah stabbed her in the back of the head, blood splattering onto her face.
Finally Sarah turned to face the last guard, who readied himself for combat, she raised her knife and licked the blood off, letting out a soft moan of pleasure, and to the guards horror, Sarah's wounds healed themselves almost instantly.
She then let out a mad chuckle as she proceeded to kill the last guard brutally.
Sarah looked around at the death she caused, and grinned. "Time to deal with the rest of them." She said,
Insanity chuckled. "Yes.....use my power, wipe these wannabes out, slaughter them!" He laughed maniacally.
_____*an hour later*_____
Sarah smiled to herself as she watched the complex explode from her vantage point in the sky, she was perched on a cloud right now, her glowing orange eyes the only things lighting up this dark night. "Your family escaped, they are rattled, but they'll be alright." Insanity said as he appeared next to Sarah.
"Wave is alright, she took a beating but she is stronger than she looks." Insanity added calmly.
Sarah said nothing as she watched the flames. "You don't even care do you?" He asked curiously.
"I fucking care." Sarah said as she stood up and looked at Insanity, her eyes back to normal. "The whole point of this was to keep my family safe, but after tonight....." She sighed. "There is no way that I can go back, someone like me has no place in a peaceful town like Ponyville."
Insanity watched as Sarah hovered, he returned to her mind. "I'm going back home, and then I'm leaving, the orginization is still out there, and my family won't be safe until I'm gone." She began to fly back home, knowing the way.
"What will you say to them? they are your family Sarah and they will want you to stay." Insanity pointed out.
Sarah smiled. "I know, but i won't stay, not until I learn to control my bloodlust." She replied.
Insanity sighed to himself. "Did I ever tell you why I came back? my true reason for returning to Equestria whenever I found a worthy host?" He asked.
Sarah shook her head. "No, why?" She asked as she flew.
Insanity was silent for a time, but he soon spoke. "I'll tell you tomorrow." He promised quietly.
______*meanwhile, Las Pegasus.*_______
The stormy night continued in the city, and looking out towards it all, stood Omu Sarto, an earth pony stallion with brown hair and golden brown fur, he had one yellow eye and one green eye, no tail or cutie mark, he was well built and slightly taller than most stallions, the most defining feature about him was a knife scar across his left eye, the green one.
Officially he was a business man who dealt with transportation and exotic goods, his true business however was that of smuggling, slavery, the acquisition of power artifacts, and even arms dealing.
As he looked out to the stormy night from his window, he heard footsteps coming closer to his office door, he glanced back and saw a lanky kangaroo male enter the room, he seemed to be out of breath. "Terrance." He said, his voice smooth and calm, giving the impression of a refined person. "Didn't you learn how to knock before entering the room?" He asked calmly.
Terrance nodded rapidly. "O-o-of course sir, I uh.....I'm sorry." He said.
Omu turned around sat down on his chair. "I thought I told you not to come speak with me until you found something out about the Orginization?" He asked.
Terrance nodded and nervously twiddled with his fingers. "You did sir." He gulped. "That's why I'm here, their headquarters sir.......its been destroyed." He replied quickly.
Omu blinked at the news, he then smiled as he stood up. "This is perfect, by any chance do you know how it happened?" He asked.
Terrance nodded as he pulled out a folder. "It was done by this woman sir.......she did it alone." He said as he set the folder on the desk carefully.
Omu took the folder and opened it, finding an entire section based on a Pegasus mare called Sarah Apple, he chuckled. "I see, thank you Terrance, but if you would, I have a new assignment for you, one that will not be as exhausting as your previous one." He said as he walked to his bookcase.
Terrance nervously walked over to his employer as Omu pulled a book, the bookcase slid to the side and revealed a six feet long two feet wide chest, it was made of obsidian and had blue glyphs surrounding it, they glowed and danced along the surface of it.
Omu then muttered some incoherent words and the chest opened up to reveal a long stone staff with strange markings and a dark blue orb as the head.
"What is this?" Terrance asked curiously.
Omu looked at Terrance. "It is an ancient artifact called the Staff of Entropy, you are to study it and learn everything there is to know about it." He said.
"But sir.......I'm not an archeologist, I work with technology.....not artifacts." Terrance argued.
Omu nodded. "Exactly, this staff is not entirely magical, it has old technology built into it, so I leave this with you." He walked behind his desk as Terrance looked at him. "You begin tomorrow Terrance, remember, do not fail me." He stated.
After Terrance left the room, Omu chuckled as he looked at the folder. "Sarah Apple......I simply must meet you, and our mutual friend." He grinned as he set the folder aside and looked outside.
"Insanity, you finally found your match."