//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: The Hunt 
// Story: Feathers and Chains 
// by Griffonidas 
//------------------------------//

It was night in Canterlot, Luna raised the moon just a few hours ago and the streets were deserted, the bustle of the residents of the great city transformed into a deathly silence, no citizen was out at this hour but there are some that like to creep in the night, where they can´t be seen.

That´s the way you work, nopony has ever seen your face and if they did, they never lived to tell, your profession wasn´t well seen by everypony but you never cared, work its work and someone had to do it, you had a troubled past and when the opportunity appeared you didn´t hesitate by taking it. 

They found you and trained you as an assassin, you knew some other assassins, including your trainers because you trained with them but they weren't the friendly type.

You were silently running and jumping from roof to roof, thanks to your training and that you didn´t have hooves, yes you didn´t have hooves your front legs were those of a bird and your hind legs of a lion, you were a Griffin and were focused on just one thing, complete your mission and get the hell out of there, your destination, some noble’s house, the order, kill the noble, no collateral damage no casualties, the reason, he was secretly selling weapons and slaves to the diamond dogs and one of your boss's client wasn’t happy with that. 

You never doubted the orders you got and if they tell you that someone has to die and give you a good reason, there was no reason to doubt their veracity, the way they communicated the orders to you, were through letters that were left where you could see them.

When you reached to the noble´s house, you saw a two floors house surrounded by a fence and four guards patrolling every side, two earth ponies and two Pegasus, that was an ability you had, as a predator, you can see in the dark and have a sharp sight.

“No casualties just kill him and disappear”. You thought, and with a powerful jump you flew to the house's roof.
You had done this for so long and learned some things that you only learned the hard way, like that the Pegasi can distinguish the sound of a flapping, you knew that and not wanting to alert the guards, you flew using the air currents until you landed on the roof of the noble´s house.

Your natural colors could betray you even under the dim moonlight, another trick of the job,  just some soot and a black bandana on your face, made difficult to the guards to find you, the costumes are a less messy but restricts your movement and in a fight that can cost your life.

Looking for a way to enter into the house, you spotted an open window, poking your head you looked for any enemies, was a little room, some toys, a desk and a bed, on the bed was sleeping a little filly, another reason of why not everyone wanted to do this job, the thought of leaving children without parents to protect, but you never left this bothered you, you always kept your emotions controlled and carefully you approached the door.

Again you poked your head through the door, looking for a potential threat and any indication of where was your target, there was no light in the hall and your informant told you that he would be at home at this time.

“He should be downstairs then”. During your trek to the stairs, all your senses were alert for a trap or ambush, when you reached the stairs there was only one room lit, silently you descended the stairs and went to the room.

The room was an office with bookcases on the sides and a large wooden desk in the center, behind that desk was a pony with gray fur and black mane, he was focused on some papers on his desk and didn´t notice your presence.

After some seconds, he realized that someone was in the room with him and raising his view he saw you but before he could call the guards or grab any weapon he could handle, you pounced over him and stabbed your claws on his neck.

He struggled and kicked trying to separate from you but only make you to tighten your grip, after several seconds, his struggles ceased, you retracted your claws and left him in a pool of his own blood.





Capitan shining armor had been awakened by a guard, who informed him about the murder of a nobleman and was heading to the crime scene, already in the scene he saw the corpse of the noble on the floor, already pale from blood loss.

“What do we have?”. Asked Shining to the medical examiner.

Still checking the body the examiner replied. 
“Mr. Quill, one of the main weapons vendors of His Majesty”.

“Cause of death?”.

Carefully the medical pony examined the wounds.

“Several stab wounds to the neck, if I’m not wrong those wounds were made by a griffon”.

“That blasted assassin, this is his fifth murder”. Said Shining, hitting the ground harshly.

“I don’t know why he´s doing this, but all his targets were powerful nobles and diplomats”.
Shining Armor just sighed and replied.

“I do not know either, but I have to find out, thanks for your help”. Then turned around and returned to the palace and to his office, inside his office were several records of murders, but he just grabbed five, five murders in less than three months, five influent and powerful targets.

He took a seat and started to read the files. “What are you looking for?”. Shining said while he was reading the records for a second time.




On the other side of Canterlot, in a safe house took place a meeting between some ponies and griffins, several of them was arguing angrily.

“How can this be possible!?, We can´t do business knowing that there is a murderer on the loose”. Said one of them. 
“We must seek him and kill him”. Said a griffin.
“For what? For being suspected of murder”.
“You know it's worth the risk” answered the griffin.

A white Pegasus on the head of the table lifted his hoof to notify everyone to be silent, he was the most powerful of them and when everypony were silent he stood up and said. 

“Friends, we are here because we have a mutual enemy, I know nopony wants to get their hands dirty, so my proposal is that we leave this to the royal guard”. 
“And what the royal guard could do where others have failed”. Quickly replied another pony.
“They're going to catch him”.

Everypony exchanged confused glances and after seconds, one asked.
“How?”.
“We will tell them where to find the assassin”. 
“This is ridiculous, how we are going to tell them where to find him, if even we don´t know?”. Coldly said a brown Pegasus.
“Oh but we know, he will try to murder one of us and if we alert the guard, they will be waiting for him”.

Everypony began to consider the plan and then all agreed.
“What we have to do?”.
“This is what we will do…”.




You woke up by the sound of your stomach whining, but you had nothing to eat, since you decided to sleep in different places in order to avoid being tracked you were staying at an diferent inn every night, so you decided to go out and find something to eat.

Outside the tavern, you were on the farthest district from the castle, where was a restaurant that you visited a few times because there was less presence of the guards on the area, on your way to the restaurant, a cart that fell caught your attention and without realizing you bumped with somepony else. 

“Sorry”. You said quickly, without stopping to see who bumped you.
“Wait!”. A female voice replied.

When you turned to see who she was, you were astonished to see soldier griffins in Canterlot, they were two males and one female, examining them more closely you realized that they were imperial guards.

The female who had white feathers, watched you closely and you prepared yourself for any type of confrontation, after a 
while she said.

“I didn´t know there were other griffins here in Canterlot”.
“There are a few, but they aren´t the friendly type but tell me what brings you here miss…?”. 
“Captain Aria of the imperial guard and you are?”.
“Gavin”. You quickly answered, of course that wasn´t your name, you have had different names throughout your life and 
after some time was easy for you to have a false identity.

“So Gavin, we´re on official business of the empire”.
“And could I know what kind of business are?”. You said with a curious expression.
“Sorry Gavin but that's classified, also I don't know you enough”. Aria finished the last sentence with a wink, the other griffins were angry to see their captain flirting with you, with a cough one of them interrupted and told her that they had to leave. 

“Sorry Gabin I have to go, I hope to see you again”.
“Me too”.

When she was leaving, you couldn´t help it and examined her flank, she looked back knowing that she caught you looking and shook her rump, making you to look away blushing.
After they left, your stomach reminded you were was you going and turning around, you went to eat something.




Aria on her way to the castle, for his audience with the princess Celestia, couldn´t take out of her head, the griffin she had just met.

“I recall seeing that griffin before”. But she could not remember where she had seen him, so she dismissed that thought and shrugged.

When they reached the castle gates, two guards stopped them and after identifying them, one of the guards led them to the throne room.

In the throne room there was some nobles, including our conspirators and Princess Celestia who received them with a smile.
“Good to see you here”. 
“We came as soon as we were told”. Replied Aria
“And you are aware of the delicacy of the situation?, it's a griffin we are talking about and it is better that you take care of him”.
“Of course Princess, we will take action on the matter and we will catch him as soon as possible”.
“Seem right but some nobles are afraid for their safety, so I will assign Captain Shinning Armor and several royal guards to you”.
“Thank you Princess”.

When Aria was reunited with Captain Shining and the guards, she began to explain the plan. 
“We will take some soldiers and guard the noble´s houses and I don´t want anyone around the houses or the murderer will not attack”.

Everypony nodded and were with their respective leaders.
Captain Shining approached to Aria and asked.
“Are you sure he´s going to attack?”.




You were on your way to your next target, a pony that destroyed an entire wolf town to keep their lands, lands that are of interest to some clients of your bosses, when you reached to the house, you saw a window on the second floor illuminated, making sure no one was around, you walked to the wall below the window, but before you could climb and kill your target the area suddenly lit up and a Pegasi guard tackled you.

While you and the guard were rolling, you pushed yourself with your hind legs and landing on top of the guard, you hit him as hard as you can, leaving him unconscious.

“Surrender!”. Shouted Captain Shining Armor.

Without thinking twice you tried to fly but a barrier prevented your escape, Captain Shining had put a shield around you.
“Don’t move!”. He shouted again.

Seeing you were surrounded by eight Pegasi guards and two unicorns, you had no other choice than to stay still, before you knew it an unicorn cast a sleep spell and you fell unconscious.