The train stopped and the seven mares stepped out, their hooves knocking quietly against the wooden planks of the platform. Rainbow Dash noticed, to her increasing annoyance, that Trixie was walking somewhat closer to her than she was comfortable with. As surreptitiously as she could, Rainbow gently pushed Trixie away with her back leg and gave her a look that told her to stay away from the Pegasus, or she would not be happy.
High up on a building, Ezio prepared to do the job he was paid to do, ready to fulfil his duty; his eyes glinted dangerously, ready for the kill. Seeing his target nearby, surrounded by the Elements of Harmony, he raised a throwing knife, aiming for the throat… And then he stopped, gently lowering the weapon as his thoughts caught up with him, reason reigning in on his killer instincts. No matter what, Equestria would need defending, and accidentally killing an Element of Harmony while aiming for a different target would destroy every defence plan the princesses had procured, causing catastrophe and possibly... chaos. The very thought of Discord returning without the Elements to protect Equestria made him involuntarily shudder. No, now was not the time to strike; not yet, but soon. Smiling slightly, the assassin turned to the eight others perched alongside him on the roof of the building, eagles waiting for their leader’s commands. Five Changelings and three other assassins who were based in Canterlot looked at their master, awaiting orders.
“You three,” began the Florentail, gesturing to three of the Changelings. “You disguise yourselves and follow them wherever they go and tell me through these,” here he pulled three small microphones and a headset that Axton had set up out of a pouch at his waist. He passed the microphones to the Changelings who gingerly attached them to their throats, careful to make sure they remained hidden and concealed upon their bodies, so as not to attract attention. “You,” Ezio began again, gesturing to the final two Changelings and two assassins. “Head to Blueblood and stay by him. Succeed where I fail, if I fail. Finally, you,” he looked over at the lone assassin left, speaking in an authoritative tone. “Follow me. If things go badly, head to Blueblood’s group and tell them to prepare themselves.” All present company nodded and placed their right hooves on their hearts in the assassins salute before dispersing to their positions, one remaining with his master, eager to please, who turned back to follow his target and her entourage, determination burning in his heart like wildfire.
Twilight led the group through the busy streets of the capital on the mountain, pausing every now and then to look around for their pursuers, wary that they might come under attack at any moment. Trixie was at the centre of the small group, her normal cape and hat tucked away in a saddlebag, making her mildly more inconspicuous than normal, an attempt to hide from the assassins. Rainbow Dash walked behind the assassination target, still thinking over what had happened in the train with a pondering attitude buzzing around her brain like a parasprite. No matter how much she tried to push it away, the same nagging and unnerving thought kept returning, irritating her slightly. Had she enjoyed the kiss, secretly? No, no she hadn’t, definitely not. But had she? Wasn’t it a thrill to break normality, be unique, different... cool? To kiss those she thought of as an enemy? Fury rose inside her quickly and she glared forward. But fate was to torment her yet again, as she stared directly at Trixie’s flank, which swayed a little as the showmare walked in the middle of the group. Her wings threatening to extend without permission, she quickly glanced behind her under the hopeful pretence that she would see something to distract her, something unusual that would take her mind off of the showmare. A unicorn chatting to his friend, a couple Pegasi racing each other through the sky, a unicorn entering an alleyway, a flash of green light and an Earth pony walking out… ‘Hang on’, her thoughts turning to immediate alarm.
“There’s something wrong here,” Rainbow muttered discreetly to Rarity who was on her left. I think that pony there’s a Changeling.” Her eyes darted around inconspicuously, searching for any other would-be Changelings.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it darling,” murmured the fashionista. “Right now we’re heading to see the ‘Prince’.” Her tone sharpened harshly at the final word, and she fell silent again, thinking dark thoughts about that rude excuse for a prince.
“This is absurd!” squawked Blueblood indignantly, tossing his mane back in frustration. “I do not need defending!”
“We have our orders, and we are not going to disobey our Master for anypony,” growled Connor, still hacked off for having all his favourite weapons removed from him and assigned to babysitting the irritating unicorn and supposed heir to the throne. ‘Honestly’ He thought ‘This one whines like a little filly’. He continued with a harsher tone “Not even you. So, with all due respect, shush.” Blueblood muttered darkly, and then proceeded to rest his hoof over a necklace on a chain around his neck, trying to distract himself from this lowlife assassin.
As they approached the castle, Rainbow counted three supposed Changelings following them. No matter whom they seemed to be, there were always three ponies looking at them and talking amongst themselves, making her irritation (and her suspicion) rise even more over the duration of their journey. Maybe she was paranoid, but paranoia was useful in moderation, as Twilight once told her.
A shadow fell across the mare in the middle of the group, encompassing them in a threatening darkness. Everypony nearby looked up in a mixture of fear and curiosity as a white figure swooped down towards the small group…
Ezio leapt off the roof towards the new figure, a lion pouncing towards prey. They collided in the air, landing with the older pony beneath. Ezio gasped as the air was knocked from his lungs by the concrete beneath him and the figure on top of him, its weight almost cracking the Florentail’s ribs; the immense pressure sent lances of pain through his entire body. Almost at once, however, the figure leapt off him, as nimble as a cat and bent down to help the Master Assassin to his hooves.
“My apologies, Master. I did not mean to harm you,” spoke the white robed figure, a mare by the sound of her voice. She lowered her hood and spoke to the group, bowing low to Ezio before continuing. The Elements clustered around the target in a defensive position, ready for a tussle. “I am Aveline de Grandpré, an assassin. And I am here to tell you, Master, that we have been betrayed by none other than that pompous foal of a prince. The group with Blueblood; I believe I am the only one left and I count myself lucky to be alive, for if I had not survived, I would not be standing here now.”
“What do you mean? Are they-” Began Ezio, but the mare interrupted him before he could get another word in edgeways.
“Blueblood betrayed us. I do not know how, but he did. We are in danger in here, we must leave now. Our target is void. Connor... I am sorry, Master. I… I believe he is gone.” She bowed her head, silent once more, and sadness pulsing through her at the loss of her comrades.
“What do you mean,” shouted Trixie, annoyed at the title of being ‘void’. It sounded like some sort of insult! “That Trixie is ‘void’!?”
“She means,” began Ezio, fixing his hood, “that you are no longer a target. If Blueblood had indeed betrayed us, then we have no choice but to leave. Come, now, all of you. We have much to... discuss.” And with those words, the two assassins turned and ran, swift as eagles in flight, without a single backwards glance to see if their former target and her protectors were following them as he had demanded.
“Why did he do it?” muttered Ezio as they ran through the street, towards the train station, rage burning through his veins and his voice like sharpened steel as it cut through the air.
“It is not my place to say, Master, but…” Aveline swallowed nervously with fear in her voice. She worried that her Master might go into a fit of rage at what she was about to say. “I believe that Blueblood is a...” She said the last words in a fearful whisper “Templar.”