- Knights of Haysead Ch.1:
Thanks to Yoonicorn and space_pony for proofreading and editing
There were an unusual amount of new faces in Ponyville. Of course, the first person to notice was everypony’s favorite party animal. Soon after was a certain Pegasus who noticed a certain grey-coated newcomer.
“Who are they?” there was a crowd beginning to gather around the group of ten ponies at their table at Sugarcube Corner. The three most notable were standing separately from the rest of their party. The first was a Pegasus mare with a dark-blue mane and a short, thin tail. She didn’t exactly look ecstatic about being there. She was quietly conversing with a unicorn to her left. He had a pale, red mane and bore a leather saddlebag with a strange insignia embroidered upon it in bright crimson felt. The third of the group was the one that Dash noticed first. An earth pony with a grey coat and an interesting black-and-white mane was nervously looking through the crowd.
None of those gathered were brave enough to go up to any of these strangers to ask where they were from or what they were doing there. As the out-stander was scanning the group of confused villagers, his eyes locked with Rainbow Dash’s for a split second. They both reared, feeling dizzy.
Twilight Sparkle, who had arrived, like most of the ponies there, after getting news of travelers in town looked over the posse. Something was bothering her. She nudged AppleJack, “That insignia, I know I’ve seen it before!”
The farm pony rolled her eyes, “Twi, Ahm not surprised, you live in a library, fer Pete’s sake! Y’all have seen every logo, insignia, and crest ever drawn up!”
“No…” She paused, squinting at the saddlebags over the ponies’ backs, “I saw these before, back in Canterlot…”
An annoyed yell broke the awkward, almost-silence. “Well, What the hay are you all staring at?!” It was the aforementioned Pegasus. All of the side chatter stopped, even some of her fellow travelers were startled by the sudden spike in volume.
The earth pony stepped forward, hoping to calm her down, “I apologize for my sister’s outburst.” He placed a hoof on her shoulder, her head dropped and she backed up to give her brother space, “We are travelers from The Haysead Swamps, simple… nomads.” Twilight didn’t appreciate his hesitation. “Allow me to introduce my friends. You already met my sister, Grey Wisp, and this,” gesturing to the unicorn, “Is Sly Horn.” As he rounded off the names of each of the rest of his brethren, the respective pony bowed or simply nodded. “… and I am Silent Step, the leader of this party.”
Dash ran up to Silent Step and violently shook his hoof, much to the surprise of the nomad. “Nice to meet ya, I’m Rainbow Dash, how’re you doin’” There was a short stare between the two, Rainbow’s wide smile unable to break Silent Step’s startled expression. The last thing she expected was for him to burst out laughing. She wasn’t sure what to do, so she joined with a confused pseudo-giggle.
Once he had calmed down, Silent Step was able to speak again, “All that time before I made my speech there, I prayed for somepony to introduce themselves and break the tension, I wasn’t expecting that!” He chuckled again.
“I’ll show you guys around the town if you want.” Dash eagerly wanted to get to know Silent Step, he seemed to her like a cool guy to hang out with.
“No, thank you,” Wisp interjected, crashing the Pegasus’s introduction, “I’m sure we can find our way around on our own, besides, we’ll be out of your mane in no time.”
Silent Step wasn’t amused, “Now, don’t be foalish, Wisp, remember what happened in Baltimare. Knowing our area is always an advantage.”
“Advantage?” by this time Twilight had stepped forward, “Advantage over whom… or what?”
“Advantage over getting lost,” Sly Horn was quick to respond. This was the first that she had heard him speak. He had a deep and serious tone, he sounded wise. Wise enough to know when to stop talking. Twilight didn’t like him, she knew he would keep the others from reveling any important information, if they weren’t able to themselves.
Again, a tense stare linked two ponies in the room. Only this time it was Twilight and Sly Horn. Twilight had a feeling Sly Horn didn’t like her either, as if he knew she was trying to pry information out of them.
“Well,” Silent Step again attempting to be the resident mediator spoke up, “I guess we’ll take you up on that offer, Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow Dash squealed with delight. Realizing how ridiculous she looked, she quickly regained her composure, “Alright, then.” The group of newcomers quietly and orderly exited the building, following Rainbow Dash. Twilight watched them leave with a scowl on her face before leaving, herself, to return to the library, she knew she had seen that insignia before.
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The night was un-naturally quiet. Twilight was somehow able to convince Pinkie Pie to refrain from her usual antics regarding new faces in town. Few figures moved in the moonlight. There was a farm assistant out thinking to himself in the fields of Sweet Apple Acres. He was himself a newcomer, having only arrived earlier that week. He heard soft canter approaching he quickly stood and looked around him. A snort came from behind him. He didn’t stop to look, he just ran. He was a draft horse, able to run faster than most others. He frantically ran towards the nearest building, assuming it was safe.
He burst through the thankfully unlocked door and quickly slammed it behind him, panting heavily. He only now realized that he had no idea where he was. It was completely black, until that is, a filly, who was woken up by the clatter downstairs came down with a lamp. She pointed it at the intruder, before placing it on the table.
“Green Hoof? What are y’all doing down here?”
“Applebloom!” The frantic farm was relieved it was at least someone that he knew. “Th-There’s something out there, I don’t know what!”
The young farm pony’s eyes quickly widened, “Is it… th- the S- Slenderpony?”
“What? No! That’s just an old legend.”
Two more of the home’s occupants joined the scared ponies downstairs. “What the hay is going on down here? Do y’all have any idea what time it is?”
“Sorry guys, but Green Hoof says there’s something out there.”
“McIntosh, go see what these two’re talkin’ ‘bout.”
The stallion calmly proceeded towards the door, opened it, and looked around outside. “Is there anythin’ out there?” Applebloom asked shakily.
“Nnnnope.”
All eyes quickly turned to the still winded farm assistant. “All I know is that I was chased by somepony or something out there. I’m sorry I woke you up.” The rest of the ponies returned to their beds without another word.
“Damn it, I almost had him!”
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“Thank you for coming, Silent Step.” Twilight held the door open for her guest. “I’m sorry about the short notice.”
“Oh, it was nothing, I’m used to acting on a moment’s notice.”
“What’s that?”
“Nothing…”
Spike brought in a pillow, and Twilight motioned for her guest to sit. “This is my assistant, Spike. Would you like anything to drink?”
“No, thank you.”
Twilight silently observed Silent Step’s every movement, trying to get a feel for his personality. Silent Step was the first to speak up. “Beautiful house you have…”
“Thank you.”
And with that, the silence resumed. Silent Step knew what she was doing. This wasn’t his first rodeo, he had been interrogated before, and knew how to feed false information to a curious cat. “Okay Twilight, we both know why you called me here.” He waited to see her reaction before continuing, “I know you don’t like Sly Horn, and that’s okay. To tell you the truth, most of us don’t really like him that much either.” Twilight’s lack of urge to change the subject told him his ruse was working. “The easiest way to deal with him is to pretend he’s like a parent. Take his advice, but don’t try to get friendly with him, okay?”
“Thank you for that, Silent Step.”
Silent Step stood and began to head for the door, “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go meet up with Rainbow Dash to see something called a Sonic Rainboom…”
Twilight got all the information that she needed. He’s good at creeping around subjects. He’s been interrogated before, he’s experienced, very experienced. She scribbled a few notes on her clipboard before going through her bookshelves. She couldn’t find what she was looking for. The doorbell rang.
“Parcel for you, Ms. Sparkle.” The Mail-Pony held out a book wrapped in brown paper.
“Thank You.” She walked back inside and unwrapped the package. Logos, Insignias, and Crests: A Guide to Global Graphics. “How did this get in the mail, Spike?”
“Hey, I didn’t have anything to do with it!”
Twilight began flipping through the pages of the dusty, old book. She came upon the page with the insignia she was looking for. There was something else, though. Attached to the page was a note.
Pick your battles
This isn’t your concern
There will be blood…
“Silent Step!” She shouted upon reading the note. “I should’ve known he would’ve done something like this!”
“What did he do?” The young dragon didn’t quite share her urgency.
“Silent Step, What does that name tell you about him?”
“Um… he’s not a tap dancer?”
“No, Spike, he’s a thief. This is the insignia of the Khazae, a group of murderous bandits from the Haysead Swamps! A few decades ago, they were responsible for the deaths of half a dozen high ranking royal guard officials! And now they’re in Ponyville!”
“Big Deal, There’s only like, ten of them, we can just ask Princess Celestia to send in the royal guard to take care of them.”
“Spike, those ten are only one party. Once they find their target, they have thousands of assassins that they can send in on a moment’s notice! We have to warn someone about this!”
“I still don’t understand why you’re getting so worked up, Wisp. We haven’t failed the mission yet.” Silent Step’s urgency increased with every passing day. They had been there a week and almost no progress had been made, that farm assistant certainly looked like their guy, but they still weren’t positive.
“How can you not understand?!” Grey Wisp lifted her flank showing the mark of the blood martyr. “It’s not your ass that’s on the line if we fail!”
“When will you two ever shut up?!” Sly Horn lifted his head away from his book, “Arguing isn’t going to help anypony!”
Wisp stood and walked towards the secret entrance, “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go get some real work done!” She walked out from behind the bookcase in the Chasai Curio Shop. Outside was none other than Silent Steps newest, and only for that matter, fan. “Oh shit…”
“Oh, hey Wisp, have you seen Silent Step?”
Grey Wisp took a deep breath and looked towards the blue Pegasus, “Listen, kid, Silent Step isn’t that great. Besides, idolism is unhealthy, especially with his dangerous line of work.”
“Dangerous? Wait, what?!”
“Shit, listen I never said that okay?”
“What the hay is going on with you guys?”
Wisp gave a sinister look to Rainbow Dash before running off down the road. Dash entered the Curio Shop looking for Silent Step. “Hello? Anypony here?” She leaned up against the bookshelf which moved ever-so-slightly to the left. She looked through the resulting hole. “What the buck?!”
Every head in the hidden room snapped to attention simultaneously. “Rainbow Dash! How did you...? You never should have come here!”
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The plan would be put into action that night. As soon as she saw one of the Khazae, Twilight was going to follow them and see what they were up to. Night came all too soon.
The first one she saw were near the Carousel Boutique, she followed him through the alleyways of Ponyville. He seemed to be making noticeably more turns until twilight could no longer see him. She couldn’t believe it, she had lost him! Before she could even finish mentally scolding herself, she felt cold steel tickle her throat.
“I told you not to intervene!” This voice was deep and scratchy, she had heard all of the Khazae speak, none of them sounded like this.
“Silent Step!”
The voice laughed mockingly, “You really are naïve, aren’t you?”
“Let… me… go!”
“Go home, Twilight Sparkle, this was your final warning.”
And just as it had come, the blade was gone, and so was the assailant. Twilight began to walk home. She would have plenty of time to get herself killed later, right now she would heed the warnings of the Khazae. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she had done something she was going to regret.
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“I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash. Grey Wisp warned you.” There was a definite apologetic look on Silent Step’s face as he spoke.
“Wait, Please… Stop!” Rainbow Dash had never been this scared in her life. She was failing at her attempt to hold back tears.
Sly Horn stood, “I’m going to go find Wisp, she deserves a say in this.”
Silent Step turned to him, “What say? There is only one way to deal with those who know too much.” He was secretly relieved that Sly Horn was being so merciful. He had grown somewhat attached to Rainbow Dash. He was ridiculed or exiled by almost everyone he came in contact with, now he finally had someone who appreciated his work, and he had to kill her. He lowered his blade.
They waited for Sly Horn to come back, but hours passed and it was clear that something went wrong. Silent Step picked his sword up off of the table. “Dash, you have to help us, our only Pegasi are out on patrol. Can I trust you?”
Rainbow Dash lifted her right hoof to a salute, “You can count on me!”
“Alright, if I know Sly Horn, he probably decided to take the rooftops to avoid detection. That’s where you need to look. Here, take this!” He handed her a whistle. “If you find him or, Celestia forbid, a body, blow that whistle and we’ll come find you. If we’re unsuccessful, rendezvous back here at 2300, are we clear?”
In unison, the Khazae saluted, “Yes sir!”
Rainbow Dash took off at high speed out of the front door. While scanning, she had time to think to herself. She didn’t hate Silent Step for almost killing her, after all she was being kind of intrusive. Although, he does trust me enough to let me completely out of his sight with valuable information about his little secret society. She continued looking around the rooftops of Ponyville. She saw Twilight walking around, almost stealthily. What was she doing this late at night? She didn’t have time to think about Twilight, she had to look for Sly Horn.
There on the roof of some building near the center of Ponyville, there was something there. “Oh my God!” Rainbow Dash landed next to a clump of cloth she removed the hood, mask, and muzzle. Sure enough…
The whistle was loud enough to be heard from Canterlot. Silent Step and his men were quickly on their way to the site of the ear-thrashing oscillation. Silent Step was the first there. “Damn it!” He turned to Rainbow Dash, “Listen to me! Go find Wisp, search all night if you have to! I need to know if my sister is okay!”
Rainbow Dash lifted strait off and the rest of the men followed her. Silent Step would find the pony that did this, and he would make sure they never got to brag about it.
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Twilights walk home was interrupted by a high-pitched squeal. She ran towards the disturbance, hoping that she would catch someone red-handed at the site of a murder. She didn’t know how right she was going to be. When she arrived there was a Khazae standing on the roof, about to take off his mask. She had to make sure she saw him before he saw her. Through a very mediocre attempt at parkour, she was able to get on a neighboring rooftop. She looked across the alley just in time to see the big reveal.
“I knew it!” The cry startled Silent Step, and made him turn around.
“What are you doing here?!”
“Witnessing your brutal murder of…”She couldn’t quite see the body, but the break gave her a chance to actually scare herself with such pleasure at the cost of another pony’s life. She jumped to the roof which held Silent Step and the body. A closer look revealed the identity. “Sly Horn?! You killed your own partner?”
“No! you- you don’t understand!” He began backing away from Twilight, who was actually starting to scare him.
“You’re standing right next to the body, what would a jury think?”
“Go away, Twilight, this is none of your concern.”
“You come into my town, scare my friends, threaten to kill me, and on top of that, murder your own partner in cold blood right here on the roof of somepony’s home!, I think this is somewhat of my concern!”
“Please just calm down…” Without looking, he reared off of the roof. All he felt was pain.