//------------------------------// // Such is Life // Story: Silver // by BritRecon //------------------------------// Luna looked at me expectantly. "What?" I asked. She had entered the room now, with the door closed fully behind her. Her robes, which I assumed to be royal, fluttered around as she paced around my small hospital room. After her slight pacing of the room, she walked up to the left side of my bed. "I was expecting you to get up," she admitted sheepishly. The princess was much more lighthearted now, and it seemed like she has examined the entire situation properly and thoroughly. "No." I shot her a confused glance. "You just drugged me up. With magic. And drugs. I'm taking a nap." Although I was indeed joking, Luna became slightly panicked. "Come now, Matt. Surely you can get up so we can speed along the rebellion?" Whenever the topic of the rebellion came up, Luna always tensed. As I have noticed. However, Pinkie seemed to not care about the rebellion, or at least didn't show that she did. I couldn't tell if the rebellion was only a sour subject among royalties, or if Pinkie just didn't care about the rebellion as much as anyone else. The room I was in, which I was assuming was a hospital room, was dark gray. The sun gleamed in through the window, and I guessed it to be around midday. I followed the glint of sunshine that slipped past the thick window borders, and it led right up to the door. The light just touched the tip of the handle, brightening up the golden doorknob. There was a sharp knock on the door. Luna tensed up immediately, her back stiffening like a board. Pinkie remained relaxed, and she was happily mumbling to herself about her cookies. Neither Luna nor Pinkie took the initiative to answer the door, so I called out, "Come in!" I felt a hand clamped around my mouth, but I had already talked, so it was of no use if Luna was trying to get me to shut up. The door slowly creaked open, and I swear the glittering light of the sun retracted slightly. As the door opened, I saw a tall man standing there. "Who are you?" I asked. His attire was neat and crisp. With a black suit and a silver tie, this man radiated snobbishness. "Inspector Yataro, with His Highness the King." Even the man's speech was formal. His black hair was matted down, drenched for some seemingly unknown reason. It gleamed slightly, but I took no notice. Luna was the one to answer his introduction, as I had no idea what to make of the man who stood there so orderly. "Yataro, I forbid you from entering this room, no matter the order of the King." Her voice was shaky and worried. It was unusual to see the proud and strong woman fumble around like this. And I just sat in my bed, watching this scene unfold calmly. To be honest, I was itching to get out. A whole new world to explore. I could feel new energy sprout through my body and invigorate me. The man, Yataro, stepped forward. My heart stopped for a moment as I realized what his hair was drenched in. Blood. Luna's hands lighted up, but her hands were snatched up by Yataro. "Honestly, Princess," he chuckled, "you should have recognized me immediately." Luna frowned, attempting to grip that calm demeanor that she had maintained during her first encounter with me. "I can't say that I do. I just know that you're with the King. I don't like anyone with the King," she growled. "I'm an assassin!" he barked. "One of the best. Yataro Rose." I couldn't resist it. "That is the unmanliest name I've ever heard." Yataro's eyes glazed over with a deep, thick red color. He slowly turned towards me. "What did you say?" he calmly asked. Pushing the covers off my body, I was pleased to find that I still had my clothes on. Nice black jeans and a white shirt. I ignored the man momentarily as I walked towards the window. I gripped it firmly and pulled it open. There it was. A whole new world. Yataro cleared his throat with a cough. "I said," he seethed, "what did you say?" I parked myself on the window ledge. "I said that was the unmanliest name I've ever heard. But you heard me. Look, pal, I really don't have time for this. There is an entire world outside," I chirped excitedly. Ignoring my insult, Yataro shook his head and turned to Luna. "He's the bearer of Silver? He's the most idiotic child I've ever met." Luna remained calm at the mention of Silver, but I caught her face contort to one of shook as he did. "On the topic of Silver, however, the King does have some issues. First off, he wants Silver. Second off, he wants you dead. Thirdly, he wants this done today." "Why not just kill me in my sleep? And how did you get in with blood on your hair?" I asked. The man was a horrible assassin. Not only did he tell us he was an assassin, but his bold approach had already steeled my nerves and prepared me for a fight. I was, admittedly, rather curious to hear how he got in. "Everyone in this hospital is dead," he said bluntly. Fuck. Pinkie gasped; I almost forgot she was here. "As for the 'killing in your sleep' part, I'm afraid the King says he wants you alive. And Luna is weak after bringing you over, so it's particularly easy to kill the weakling." Luna shot me a look that plainly read: This would be a great time to attack, wouldn't it? I snapped my sword into my hand. It was its usual form, as Luna had told me, and it was gleaming silver. Flicking my wrist sharply, I maneuvered the sword to a fighting stance. I was surprised to see Yataro chuckle. "I've been in this business for ten years. I highly suggest giving up," he said with an air of authority. I felt my anger build up in me; I rushed at him. My strong arms rose into the air and I did a little pounce at him, like a tiger would pounce on their prey. But he expertly dodged my swipe and pushed himself behind me. In his hand, he held a large knife. Before I could have a moment to think about what was happening, he charged at me at mach five speed. I was immediately tackled to the ground, and my sword was snatched away from my hands. Yataro was straddling me, putting me in a position where I couldn't reach him. Luckily, my father had taught me an old trick a long time ago. I sat on the ground, staring intently at my father. My elder brother was next to me, sitting cross-legged on the dusty old carpet. "Now, boys," he began, "I used to be a wrestler when I was a kid. I know a couple of moves or two. Would you like to try some?" he asked. My brother and I nodded eagerly, happy to become big and strong men like our father was. He instructed my brother to sit on top of me and straddle me. He did, although rather reluctantly as he didn't want to hurt me. Now that my brother was on top of me, my father looked towards me. "Alright, Matt, are you ready?" he asked. I nodded. "Excellent. Bring your feet up." I struggled to bring them up in the air, but I eventually did. "Now place them on your brother's shoulders," he instructed. I complied and placed my small feet on my brother's shoulders. "And push!" he finished. Again, I complied. With a quick push, I found that I was able to overtake my brother and reverse the position to a point where I was on top of him. "Great job, Matt!" my father told me happily. Remembering my father's words, I swiftly brought up my feet and pushed Yataro to the ground. He was utterly shocked. "What in the hell!" he cried out. I didn't let him finish, as I placed a well-aimed punch to his face. And then another. Quickly, the tables had turned in my favor. I was able to devastate Yataro with several punches. Unfortunately, Yataro wiggled his arm loose and socked me in the head. I crumpled to the floor. He still held my sword in his hand. "Luna!" I cried out. "I would very much appreciate some help here!" Instead of Luna, however, Pinkie rushed to the scene. She held a long staff in her hands. Yataro glared at her. "I suggest you leave, little girl. This isn't your fight." Pinkie laughed. "You may be right, silly. But I'm still going to whoop your ass." Yataro's face contorted into one of extreme anger. It was obvious this mission wasn't going exactly as he had planned. Twirling my sword in his hands, he rushed at Pinkie with devastating speed. Pinkie, however, managed to block his attack with the seemingly metal staff. She pushed the sword away from her staff and then aimed a kick at Yataro's legs. The tall assassin flew backwards, but transitioned to a roll in order to save himself from a jab directed by Pinkie. "Pinkie!" I yelled out. "Try and get the sword!" Pinkie nodded enthusiastically. "Okey dokey lokey!" I couldn't help but watch in amusement as Pinkie lashed at Yataro. Whenever he raised my sword for a blow, Pinkie would block it. Whenever he pierced my sword for an attack, Pinkie side-stepped. And whenever he seemed to have any type of advantage, Pinkie would spike it down. Numerous blows were dealt to Yataro's side, and I could begin to see why Luna chose Pinkie as my guide across this land. From the moment I met her, I had just assumed that she was weak, mainly because she was a fragile female; an unfair stereotype, I know. Luna walked over to Yataro as he was viciously beaten by Pinkie. "Sorry, Yataro. I faked my fear. You've always been a second-rate assassin. We know you used poison gas to kill all the other people in the hospital, and then you smeared their blood on your dusty hair. Pathetic. While Matt may not have been able to do much, being largely inexperienced, Pinkie could have killed you the minute you stepped in, and same for myself. Yet you decided to get cocky, tell us all about Discord's plans, and then get beaten up by a girl who isn't even using her preferred weapon." Two guards burst into the door. "Princess," they saluted. Luna nodded in return. "Kill him." I might not have been in favor of the man who tried to rip me to shreds, but it was an upsetting sight to watch him be carried out. He was crying. A grown man crying. I could see his racketing sobs. He attempted to pry his way out, but the guards held on strong. It was so...odd. The man that had just threatened my life was now being dragged out the door to be executed. Was that life on this planet? No trials, no lawyers, no anything? Perhaps that lingering thought in the back of my head that begged me to go home was the only sane part of my body. And I had put myself on a serious risk to. In the beginning, I had been so close to being killed by him for merely insulting his name. Luckily, I had squirmed out of that one. But was that going to have to be the case for the rest of my life here? Barely sliding by in life-or-death situations.I turned to Luna. "Was that necessary?" I asked. "That man killed everyone inside this hospital," Luna defended with a fierce tone. I dropped it, deciding it better to just not argue. I ran a hand through my hair. "This is just one hell of a mess," I mumbled to myself. Good afternoon, readers. Or morning, or night, whatever the case may be. I hope you liked this chapter! I recommend reading chapter two if you haven't reread the chapter on March 7th, as I have updated it severely. It should assist with the flow of the story. That's all, folks!