//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Storm on the Horizon // Story: Assassin's Creed: The Ponyville Chronicles // by RoflNom //------------------------------// As the sun peered through the small windows of the TARDIS, The Doctor yawned and sat up on the mattress he had slept on. He and ShadowCaster had arrived late the previous night and simply set up a pair of mattresses across from each other and fell asleep almost instantly. He looked to his right to see an empty mattress. As looked around he noticed that the door was open just a crack. He stood up and opened the door, only to see ShadowCaster sitting on a stump, sharpening his rapier with a small stone. "Morning, Doctor. Did you sleep well?" ShadowCaster said as he heard the door creak as it opened. "No better than I normally do. How long have you been awake, exactly?" ShadowCaster set down his sword against the stump, stood up, and stretched his forelegs into the air. "Alright, don't ask me how uncomfortable that old mattress was. Anyway, I've only been up for maybe an hour, give or take a few minutes. And before you ask, I've been here the entire time." He turned and pointed to his equipment, "I've just been sitting here, cleaning and sharpening my blades." The Doctor closed and locked the door to the TARDIS, and he and ShadowCaster began to walk down the road that led to Ponyville. "I didn't plan on asking if you were here the entire time. Nopony really seems to know who you are or why you're here, so you should be fine going around town. Though we should still keep alert. Celestia has a tendency to keep an eye on ponies she deems useful or dangerous." "If she does, then she should already know I'm here. But if she does, I should have been arrested by now." Said ShadowCaster, a worried look on his face, "There has to be reason she's left me alone. I'm starting to think visiting Twilight isn't such a good idea. For all we know, Celestia has ordered her to kill or capture me." After several minutes they had arrived in the marketplace, keeping a brisk pace towards the library. "I don't think Celestia is the type of pony to use her student as a way to kill you. I doubt Twilight even knows anything about the war, seeing as it's something kept secret for so long. But, if that is the case, then we should be prepared for anything. Not only is she very skilled when it comes to magic, she also has a very unique assistant." As The Doctor finished talking, they arrived in front of the library. It was still early in the morning, but late enough for most ponies to be awake. "I'm sure I can handle myself just fine, Doctor. I mean, being trained into an assassin is no easy process, and can be very brutal. Just knock on the door already." The Doctor shrugged his shoulder and knocked on the door. "Don't say I didn't warn you, ShadowCaster." At first, there was no answer. The Doctor knocked again, this time the door opened to reveal a small green and purple dragon. "Oh, hey Doctor. Is there something you need?" He said as he smiled at The Doctor. "Hello, Spike. Is Twilight home at the moment? My friend and I need to have a word with her." "Um.. Yeah, she's here. Did something happen?" "Oh, no. Nothing happened, don't worry." The Doctor reassured, "We're just here to have a word with her. It's very important that we talk to her." Spike moved aside to let The Doctor and ShadowCaster inside, and moved up the staircase into another room. "So, Doctor... A dragon?" ShadowCaster asked in an annoyed tone. "I said he was unique, didn't I? Luckily, he's still just an infant. For how long, I'm not entirely sure. By the way, what is your cover-up story?" The Doctor said as he heard the sound of hooves coming down the stairs. As the two stallions looked towards the sound, they saw a very tired looking Twilight at the bottom of the steps. "Oh, hello Doctor. Spike said you needed to talk with me. He also said you had an interesting looking friend with you." As she spoke, she looked behind The Doctor to see a brown pony wearing very familiar looking outfit. She couldn't quite put her hoof on it, but she knew she'd seen them before someplace. Perhaps she had read about it, or possibly seen an illustration in a book. "Uh.. Are you all right?" When Twilight snapped out of her thought, she realized that she had been staring straight at the pony. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that you don't look familiar. Are you from out of town?" Twilight said with an awkward laugh. "Yes, I'm a student from Detrot. I came here under orders from my teacher to learn about you, your friends. and the Elements of Harmony. I hope this isn't an inconvenient time for me to visit." Twilight relaxed a little and grew a bit excited to hear that he was also a student much like herself. She motioned them to the sofa in the room and the three ponies sat down. "Not at all. I'm actually glad to have some company. I was just about to take a break from my studies. I've been reading up on myths and legends of Equestrian fable. By the way, you never introduced yourself." "Oh, right. My name is ShadowCaster." He said with a sheepish grin, "I'm currently studying the events concerning the Elements of Harmony. I've done research on Nightmare Moon, Discord, and many other events. But I had yet to know anything about the mares that control the Elements. The Doctor has been kind enough to show me around town and let me stay in his home until it is time for me to depart." Twilight looked to The Doctor with a smile. "That's very kind of you, Doctor. Even more so, considering you rarely let anypony stay in your home. How did he react to the size of it?" "Better than most, but it still took a couple of hours. He's brighter than most of the ponies around here, and he comprehended the idea of it. For the most part at least. Anywho, I think we should get to business, since ShadowCaster is only staying for a few days at the most." Twilight levitated a few notebooks, quills, and a bottle of ink to the nearby table. "Of course, what did you want to know?" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile in Canterlot "Your Majesty, I have news concerning the assassin in Ponyville!" "Do you now, Captain? What have you discovered?" "It appears that the assassin's ally is that pony that arrived some time ago as if out of thin air. He goes by the name 'The Doctor'." "Good, anything else or is that all?" "Yes, it also seems as if the assassin has paid a visit to your student, Twilight Sparkle. He had apparently been watching her, or at least attempting to do so, since he had arrived." "Oh, has he? This may prove to be problem if the Brotherhood plans to kill her or any of her friends. Even more troublesome if she accidently tells him too much." "Would you like me to arrest him? I can send several Royal Guards to apprehend him." "No, that could draw unwanted suspicion from either the Brotherhood or Twilight Sparkle herself. Get me a quill and paper. I need to send a letter to Twilight." "Right away, your Majesty." -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author's Note: I'm sorry this took so long to get out. I've been busy, but I should have more time to put into this for a bit.