//------------------------------//
// Assassins 
// Story: With Blood and Swords 
// by FALG 
//------------------------------//

There was still some time until midnight would come upon us, signaling the attack of the Guardians. So I tried to keep busy training and sparring with Shining.
"You have gotten pretty good at this pal." he complimented.
"Thanks, I hope to be of use when they attack." I said.
"You will, but it shouldn't happen; I'm making extra plans with your father to make sure nopony trespasses our defense."
"Yeah, that's what must happen, that they don't even get to enter."
"Exactly."
"But if they enter, shouldn't a group stay in the center of Ponyville?"
"Huh, now that you mention it. You're right." Shining said, taking a hoof to his chin.
"But we haven't got any more soldiers left to assign there." I remembered.
"I can cast the shield in the South too, so that you take the group to the center." he suggested.
"You think that would work?"
"Maybe, I should ask your father if he thinks that it is a good idea."
"Wait, why is he here anyway? Shouldn't YOU be the one leading the army?"
"I AM leading the army, he is just here to help me plan everything."
"But didn't you plan yourself the defense for Canterlot when you were getting married?"
"Yeah, but I didn't know the threat then, so asking his advice wouldn't have helped too much."
"Good point."

We kept sparring for another while, until he called off the session, to rest a little until the attack.
"I'm going to warm up the soldiers, you can rest now if you wish, but don't take too long. You have to warm up too." said Shining.
"Yea yea, I know." I told him walking away.



I walked around the now empty Ponyville. There were a few soldiers patrolling the place, and some others were practising on their own.
All the time I checked if my retractable blades were working, and occassionally tested them giving some stabs to the air.

Suddenly, I had the feeling somepony was following me, but when I looked back, I saw nopony near. So I just kept walking and eventually heard some rustling noice.
I moved a bit faster and so the rustling did, I stopped in the middle of the street and the rustling stopped too.

Instead of keep walking, I just leaned to a wall and rested a little. The noice was becoming nearer, and it suddenly stopped.

And like it stopped, it sounded instantly higher.
"Got'cha." I whispered and calmly moved to a side.
And the next thing I saw, was a white blur splat to the ground.
"You shouldn't try to be silent when there is complete silence around." I told to the pony that crashed.
"Urgh, is that how you noticed me?" the pony said.
"That, and also your big noises."
The stranger got up, and I saw that a hood was covering the face. The pony took the hood away revealing herself to be Rainbow Dash.

"How do you know all that much about assassins? You aren't one." she asked me.
"Just because I'm not an assassin, it doesn't mean I don't know about them. They are quite an inspiration for me." I explained. "By the way, how come you got assassin robes?"
"Oh, well, remember we told you about Swift?"
"Yeah, what about him?"
"Well, Rarity loved his clothes, and I asked her if she could make me a replica of them."
"Why not use his own robes instead?"
"He... was buried with them." she said sadly.
"Oh, sorry."
"It's okay. Besides, I knew that Rarity would love to replicate those clothes."
"Well, they are kinda cool."
"I know, right?" she laughed.

"Hey, talking about something else. Do you actually know how an assassin fights?" I asked Rainbow.
"Um, Swift taught me a little, which I was eager to learn." she answered.
"I see, care to spar a little?" I suggested.
She looked at me curious.
"Oh you're on, partner!" she said excitedly while fastening her hood again on place.

She barely knew anything about combat. She swung her sword from the same sides, so I made her see that mistake with a parry. I told her to not be repetitive.
She didn't listen and kept doing the same swings as before. So I ducked on one and threw her with a full hip throw, and pulled out one of my retractable blades and placed it near her neck.
"That's one point for me." I joked.
"Since when are we keeping score?" she asked while I let her go.
"Dunno, it adds some challenge doesn't it?"
She looked at me defiant.
"Okay, want to do this interesting? We'll do this interesting!" she yelled excitedly.

We kept practising for some more time, I pointed Rainbow's mistakes everytime I saw one (yes, I know I'm like a know-it-all many times, but only when it comes to combat). It was a relief that Rainbow would help in this battle with a "hit & run" strategies, she really couldn't last in a sword battle for more than half a minute with any kind of Guardian.
"Thanks for the confidence." she said sarcastically.
"Oh, you're quite welcome!" I joked back.