Twilight rubbed her bloodshot eyes as she stood in front of what remained of the mirror in the cathedral's bathroom. Hours and hours of crying over the loss of her mentor, Princess Celestia, had left her physically and mentally weak. Her companions, the master thief Archangel and the Griffin twins Max and Jean had been sent by Twilight on a mission to gather supplies and any information that might be useful. The main reason she wanted them gone was because Twilight didn't want them to see her in what she considered a vulnerable state. Looking back into the mirror, Twilight couldn't help but remember Celestia's face, and how her disfigured eye and scar was a part of her because of the loyalty she felt toward the princess. Twilight had fought in the war not just for her friends or for the safety of Equestria; she fought because she didn't want to let down Celestia. Hearing noises from above, Twilight instinctively raised her hood and climbed the spiral staircase to the very top of the tower, where she had set up a headquarters of sort. Finding herself surprisingly pleased to see that is was the two Griffins; Twilight used her magic to lift a large paper bag full of groceries.
"Where's Archangel?" She asked, trying to sound flippant and disinterested. Max, who was carrying a rather large crate, set it down and leant on it, breathing heavily.
"He's still collecting stuff. A lot of what you asked for isn't exactly available at the local market." He said, as Twilight lifted the crate with magic and set it in one of the empty corners. She nodded, opening the crate and pulling out long metal poles.
"What is all that?" Asked Jean, as she started to unload the bags. Casting a spell on the poles, Twilight walked back toward the two and helped.
"Beds, we can't sleep on the floor all the time can we?" Said Twilight, as behind her; the poles connected and fused together in the shape of very simple cot beds, enough for the four of them.
"Good thing that Archangel's contact was able to procure them for us." Said Max, rolling his eyes. Twilight raised an eyebrow at the young Griffin.
"You don't like him do you?" She asked, and Max smiled, shaking his head slightly.
"It's not that. I just remember all of these thefts when I was a guard that we just couldn't explain. Locked rooms with no windows, something in the middle of a guarded area. Never any clue left behind, not even a hair or feather. I have a feeling it was our companion." He explained, and Twilight got the sense of just how dedicated he was to protecting the citizens of the city and doing his duty. They finished unpacking, and Twilight was just about to start training Max in the finer points of stealth when Archangel suddenly burst through the open window, tripping on the windowsill and slamming into the floor, sliding across the wooden floorboards. Jean rushed over to help him up, and Twilight noticed that he looked scared.
"Dusk, you have to help me! A dear friend of mine got caught stealing a loaf of bread to feed her family. We have to save her!" He said in a panicked voice. Max's eyes went wide and he dashed to his sleeping bag, pulling on his white hood and cloak.
"What are you doing? Won't she just get a warning?" Asked Twilight, oblivious to the reason for the distress.
"Damn, I forgot that you haven't been here for a few days. They called a zero tolerance policy on theft. Anyone caught stealing or trading stolen goods is to be hanged by the neck until dead." Said Max, pulling the straps on his daggers sheath. Twilight's eyes went wide with shock at the news.
"You can't be serious!" She exclaimed, as Archangel took long gulps of water from a cup.
"I am dead serious. But what might interest you is that the execution is going to be heralded by Councillor Mercer. He was one of Alistair's personal advisors. Not to mention that he fits your criteria for evil authority figures." Archangel told her, pulling on his own hood and cloak. Twilight didn't need any more convincing, she slipped her hidden blade onto her arm and smiled.
"Here we go; Our first mission as a team. What's the plan?" She asked as the three dived out the window, Twilight being carried by Max. The wind made their voices hard to hear as they glided toward the nearest building.
"She will be held in the dungeons beneath the main guard house. Closest to the entrance though. Guards want to do the least amount of work possible with prisoners." Said Max as they landed. Twilight giggled despite herself. They galloped in the direction of the guard house, occasionally passing a rooftop garden or a ramshackle looking camp. Once they finally reached it, Twilight looked over at Archangel and saw that he was even more scared than he had been in the tower.
"Are you going to be able to do this?" Asked Twilight, concerned for him and his mental state. He nodded once and smiled an obviously fake smile.
"We haven't got much time left; they execute a prisoner every hour now, and it isn't always public." Said Max, his eyes searching for an entrance point. Twilight filled her horn with magic and grabbed the two boys, before teleporting into the building. They found themselves in what appeared to be a broom closet, with barely enough room to fit the three of them in there. After much effort, they managed to get out, slowly making their way through the labyrinth of passages in the prison. The cells were full of Griffins and ponies alike, and Twilight even saw a Minotaur amongst the prisoners. Max took the lead, heading for the entrance to the dungeon, and much to Twilight's hope, Archangel's friend.
"So… teleportation huh?" Said Max, peering around a corner. "Not many unicorns have that ability. You must be special."
"I'm just a regular unicorn assassin. Nothing more Max. Now drop it." Snapped Twilight, irritated that he would ask such a thing in the middle of a mission. None of them talked afterwards. After some time, they reached the cell in which Max assured them that she would be in, only to find it empty. Twilight could see Archangel beginning to panic once again.
"Archangel, just relax, we will save your friend. It will be okay." Said Twilight, not needing a pony whose rampant emotions could get them all killed.
"No it won't Dusk, you have no idea. I didn't tell you the whole truth. This pony isn't just my friend… She's my daughter. She is so young, hasn't even got her cutie mark yet." Exclaimed Archangel. Both Twilight and Max looked at him in utter shock.
"Your daughter? Well then why was she stealing?" Asked Max and Archangel only responded with a raised eyebrow. Max shrugged, getting the point. He gestured for the ponies to follow him, and they made their way up the stairs and into the guard house proper, being very careful to check their corners as they did so. At one point, they came across a guard that was blocking their path outside. Twilight, with skill that surprised the others greatly, killed the guard in a swift and silent movement. She stuffed the body into a chest that rested in what Twilight could only assume was the armoury, although it was almost entirely devoid of weapons.
"Cutbacks for the war effort." Explained Max as they lay a blanket over the corpse. Eventually, they found themselves at the top of the guard house, which Max referred to as 'The smokers sanctuary.' Looking down into the streets, they saw a crowd starting to gather in the town square. Without a word to the others, Archangel opened his wings and took off, heading in the direction of the crowd. Twilight called out after him, but knew it was no use. Max suddenly lifted her off the ground and gave chase, despite Archangel's lead. They found him sitting on a roof top that overlooked the square, his wings sat limp against his sides and his shoulders shook. Twilight walked next to him and peered down at the scene.
What she saw made her eyes well up with tears and her hooves shake with uncontrollable rage. In the centre, a wooden gallows had been erected, and suspended underneath were five shapes. Three were griffins, one was a unicorn and the last was the smallest shape; a light blue Pegasus filly dangled by her neck, swaying slightly in the wind. In front of them, pacing up and down the platform was a griffin, clad in the ceremonial robes of a council member. He was middle aged, judging by the slight grey colouring of his beard. Twilight turned to Archangel, as he cried silently. She put her hoof on his shoulder, only to have it batted away.
"I don't need your pity, nor do I want it. What I do want is vengeance. I am going to kill. Them. All." He shouted, getting back to his hooves. Tears were still streaming down his face as he turned to Twilight.
Are you going to help me or not, because I am going down there right now." He said, and Twilight hesitated, looking back down at the gallows and the filly. She nodded, pulling her hood lower over her face. Archangel scowled, opening his wings and leaping off the rooftop with a mighty yell. Twilight gestured to Max and he followed the grief stricken Pegasus, as Twilight poured magic into her horn and looked at the gallows.
What followed was nothing like Twilight had expected; Intense noise and heat, adrenaline coursing through her system as she moved completely on instinct. Her hidden blade glinted in the sunlight, the purple gem casting its colour over the scene. She could hear Archangel's pained screams as he cut down guards with no mercy. Twilight punched a griffin that was flying toward her, sending his head into the ground so hard that it shattered his skull. She looked up to see the council member, cowering behind on of the gallows support beams. She made her way to him slowly, suddenly becoming aware of Max and Archangel beside her. They stood over the griffin, and Twilight smiled with satisfaction when she realised that he had peed himself.
"You.. you can't do this. I am a member of the council, advisor to Prince Alistair himself." Pleaded the griffin. Archangel took a step forward, stamping his hoof on the wood as he did so.
"Does that give you any right to SLAUGHTER CHILDREN!!!!" He yelled, and tried to jump on the griffin, only to be held in place by Twilight's magic.
"For your crimes against the citizens of this great city, we, the warriors for the oppressed, hereby sentence you to death. May your soul never find peace." Said Twilight, finding the need for such a speech.
"It's more mercy than you deserve." Said Archangel, spitting on the griffin. Twilight extended her hidden blade, dragging the council member toward her with magic at the same time. She put her hoof on his chest as she struggled against the magic bonds. With one last look into his eyes, she plunged the blade into his throat, letting his own pulse drain him of every last drop of his blood. She pulled it out and turned to see Archangel cutting his daughter off the gallows and holding her in his arms, tears running down his face as he held her. Max bent down and whispered in Twilight's ear.
"We can't stay here." Twilight nodded, wiping blood off her hooves.
"Just let him have a little longer with her, he needs this." She told him.
That night, Twilight and Max travelled to the slums, where Archangel's daughter, whom Twilight learned was named Fire Orchid, was to be buried. She learned that Archangel was a single parent, the Mother having abandoned them both in favour of a rich socialite. He cared for her the only way he knew how, by showing her how he had survived and teaching her how to do the same. Fire Orchid was buried in the light of the full moon, with Archangel clinging desperately to Twilight for support. She conceded, lowering her hood in respect for both Archangel and the filly. Afterwards, as they solemnly walked back to the cathedral, Archangel suddenly looked at Twilight and said;
"What I said earlier, about killing them all…. It still applies. No matter what, they will all pay for what happened to my baby. I will not let her death be in vain. I will take back this city…. On dead Griffin at a time." He said, and for the first time since Twilight had met him, she was scared. Scared that he would fulfil his promise.
"I'm here for you." She said.