Assassin’s Creed:
Friendship is Sacred
Chapter 1: “Path to a New World”
“Nothing is true; everything is permitted.”
—Motto of the Assassin Order
Every single fiber in Twilight’s body urged her to keep running, which she and her friends did without question. Running was the only thing keeping them alive at the moment, and they would be dead if they stopped. She had her hand curled tightly around the Element of Magic. She wouldn’t let it go; she wouldn’t let it out of her sight no matter what situation was going on around her. She knew it was much too important to leave it unattended.
They shoved and pushed their way through the crowd, trying to lose their pursuers. Insults and jeers were thrown at them by the men equipped with silver armour and armed with swords and spears. Their target was the Element, yet what they wanted with it was still unknown. Twilight couldn’t let them have it. After all, it was the most powerful piece of the Elements of Harmony, and letting it fall into the wrong hands would have been catastrophic to Equestria.
It just didn’t add up to her. What was so important about the Element of Magic to them that they were willing to kill her and her friends just to get it?
Ponyville, Equestria
The planned meteor shower was just a half-hour away. Princess Luna wanted it as a way to provide entertainment to those nocturnal ponies out at night, and Twilight and Spike had spent the better part of their day gathering supplies for the upcoming show. All they needed to bring were food and drinks. Fluttershy would be bringing a basket, as well as a blanket for them to eat on; Pinkie Pie would be supplying the snacks; and Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Applebloom would be bringing some homemade cider.
So far, everything was set. The bottles of soda and a plate of dandelion sandwiches wrapped in plastic were set on a nearby desk. Twilight looked at them and checked them off her list. She’d told herself that this year wouldn’t include any studying on celestial objects; instead it would be strictly having fun with her friends. They’d be here any time now.
“That’s everything!” She looked over at Spike. “You have what you need?”
“Just a sec,” replied the dragon as he scurried up the stairs, “There are some gems I’ve been saving that I wanna bring along.”
“Just hurry up,” Twilight called up to him, “The others should be here in—”
A knock on the door brought her attention. She trotted over and opened it with her magic, revealing her friends on the other side. Applejack was carrying the bottles of cider in her saddle bag and Fluttershy was carrying the basket and blanket in her mouth. However, only they and Rarity stood at the door. “Where’re Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash?”
“Pinkie was run’n a tad late, so Rainbow volunteered to go and get her,” Applejack answered. Twilight invited them inside; she placed the dandelion sandwiches and soda into the basket.
Rarity looked around the library. “Where’s Spikey?”
“He’s upstairs getting some gems to take along. He should be down in a little bit,” said Twilight. The past few minutes were spent talking about random things such as animals and the upcoming meteor shower when another knock echoed through the room.
The front door opened to Pinkie Pie hopping into the library with Rainbow Dash following closely behind. Pinkie’s saddle bags held the candy, and earlier, she told them she’d bring some entertainment to pass the time while they waited for Luna to begin the meteor shower. “So, are we ready to go?” she asked.
Twilight shook her head. “Not yet. We still have to wait for Spike. I don’t want to leave him behind. Does everyone have what they need?”
Applejack nodded. “I got the cider right here! Big Mac and Applebloom should be on their way to the forest now.”
Pinkie Pie opened her saddle bag and checked inside. She gasped. “I totally didn’t pack enough snacks!”
“What do you mean you didn’t pack enough? You pretty much made off with the Cakes’ entire inventory,” said Rainbow.
The pink pony giggled. “Well, duh, silly! Those were just my emergency ration, in case of real snack-related emergencies.”
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately decided against it. She had known Pinkie Pie long enough not to drag any conversation out too far with her, unless she wanted to slowly lose her sanity. It was almost time for them to go.
In the quiet, a thud was heard across the room. A book had fallen from its place on the shelf; it was the same one that Twilight used to hide the Elements of Harmony, which had now lain scattered across the floor. Using her magic, she picked them up, one by one, back into the book. However, when she reached for the Element of Magic, the aura cast over it was blocked out. She attempted to pick it up again, but yielded the same result.
“Rarity, come help me with this.”
“What’s wrong, darling?” Rarity asked, trotting over.
“I’m not so sure, exactly. I think the Element’s rejecting my magic.” Together, the two unicorns attempted to simultaneously lift the Element from the ground. Still, it refused to budge.
It suddenly began to pulsate, glowing streams of golden-yellow light that only got brighter with each passing second. Every attempt made by the unicorns to bring the rogue Element under their control was met with fierce resistance. It seemed like it was absorbing their magic.
A strange energy quickly started to swell within the artifact. Rarity and Twilight could feel it; it wasn’t anything like what they’d felt before. They stepped back as the Element began to float from the ground on its own accord, the light emanating from it glowing increasingly brighter. The energy buildup soon reached maximum capacity, and unable to hold anymore, an unusual bluish light replaced the golden-yellow that surrounded the Element.
It felt unstable.
Fluttershy slowly inched away from the scene. “What’s happening?” They watched with a mix of awe and horror as blue electricity arose from the Element. It whipped around the library, twisting and spinning uncontrollably, until finally it surrounded the six ponies.
Spike, clutching a large bag of gems in his claws, finally descended the stairs. He was dragging the bag behind him. “Alright, everyone, I’m ready to—” He stopped when he witnessed the scene unfolding in front of him. The ponies had been lifted off the ground; a bright blue aura had formed around their bodies, originating from the Element of Magic.
Twilight turned her head and noticed Spike. The baby dragon stood at the base of the steps, looking on with a fearful look on his face. “Quick, Spike! Get Princess Celes—”
In a bright flash, they vanished, along with the Element of Magic. The other five Elements were left scattered across the library floor, and the only remaining of the ponies was Applejack’s hat. Spike stood in his spot, frozen in a complete state of shock at what had just occurred before him.
“Twilight?” he called out, “Rarity? Applejack?” He prayed that this was some type of elaborate joke being played on him. Twilight and others would come out of the kitchen or from upstairs, laughing and teasing him before heading off to watch the meteor shower. “Very funny, guys. I’m not laughing! Hello?”
Unfortunately, no response came. Grabbing a scroll and quill, Spike began writing the letter to Princess Celestia.
Paris, France
1543
The country’s economy had reached its pinnacle ever since its colonisation into the New World. Of course, with the Kingdom being opposed by Britain, Portugal, and Spain at the same time, much of the wealth received was poured into improving its military. The French often anticipated another conflict with Britain, especially over the colonies that’d been erected in the Americas.
Being the personal adviser to the Crown, Gabriel Robert saw to it that the society within the country didn’t crumble. He made sure of it with the Apple; of course, it often came with a price. Having such a valuable Piece of Eden meant the Assassins were constantly on his tail. He had managed to condemn some to public executions for “crimes against the King,” but regardless, he still found himself with an eternal target painted on his forehead.
He sat at his desk, examining the Apple in front of him. This artifact had been used to subdue and capture numerous Assassins that attacked him and his guards over the years, though he knew it couldn’t have been the only Piece of Eden in France. There had to be a number of others scattered across the country, as far as he and his Templar brethren knew. It was only a matter of time before they were able to locate another.
He was taken from his thoughts by a knock on the door. “Entrer.” It opened to one of his guards. “Have you found out where the Assassins are held up?” he asked, already anticipating the answer.
“I’m afraid not, sir, but we did find another artifact.”
“Keep it.” Gabriel tried to wrap his head around the situation. “We cannot move it until we’re certain the Assassins won’t come after it. King Francis keeps denying my request to send the rest of the guardsmen out to arrest them, no matter how much I plead with him. The Assassins have nearly made off with the Apple several times, now, and the next might see them actually doing it.”
“What should I tell the others, then, sir?”
“Just tell them to keep the artifact hidden until further notice. It’d be better not to risk being seen by the Assassins again.”
The guard nodded and exited the room as Gabriel retired back to his desk. The sun looked as if it was beginning to go down. He saw it was nearly time for the guards to change shift. Out of the corner of his eye, the Apple was starting to glow. It was pulsating. It was… interesting; he knew this Apple had the ability to act as a signal, useful for informing that another artifact had appeared.
No doubt about it.
There was another Piece of Eden, and it was right here in Paris.