//------------------------------// // Headquarters // Story: A New Recruit // by KeyScalesTheAssassin //------------------------------// Arrowhead looked at Key Scales as she slept. Her black mane fell over her eyes in waves, and little strands jutted out here and there. Some were stuck to her face with blood, hardened now, from the fight. Occasionally she murmured sounds or screamed some unintelligible thing. Once she had screamed his name. When this happened he had walked over to her, stroking her mane and quieting her until she breathed easy again. He assumed she was having a nightmare at times like that. He had to admit she looked peaceful while she slept, but she didn't look like the Key Scales he knew. The Key Scales he had known through the years wore a look of anger or determination more often than a look of peace. He'd known her for a long time and fortunately she hardly ever looked angry when she was around him or Leaf Runner, her close friend and roommate. He watched her closely to make sure the medicine wasn't having any side effects. He'd given her some medicine salts last night but often the first time you took it, or if you took too much, you would pass out, having terrible nightmares and reliving your worst fears until you woke up. You had to wake on your own and couldn't be woken by another pony; that was one of the medicine's side effects. He knew Key Scales had been through some events in her past that weren't exactly all cupcakes and balloons. She was reliving them in her mind, and there was nothing he could do about it but try to calm her while she slept. She murmured something again and he stood from his chair, walking over to her. He smoothed her mane with his hoof and talked to her, "Key Scales...shh... shh... You're okay... It's just a dream..." Her eyes suddenly flicked open and she sat upright quickly, screaming, "ARROW! MOM! LEAF RUNNER! DON'T LEAVE ME..." Her voice dropped to a quiet whisper and she fell back, realizing Arrowhead was in the room with her. "I... I'm sorry you had to see that Arrow... My dreams were, well... graphic to say the least.. worse then normal. Do you know why?" He just patted her head, "It was the medicine. I should've warned you." He stepped back and gestured to the room they were in. "Welcome to Headquarters. I've got you a meeting with the leader of this order. I'm kind of an.. Honorary Assassin, you could say? You see, I'm a mercenary. You always ask me what I do and what do I say to you?" He looked at her expectantly. "You say 'I travel for glory!' and then you strike a ridiculous pose." She replied. "Yes, I do that. For effect. Now, 'Glory' is really bits. Heh, I get payed to kick ass and protect people. I sneak around, shoot some arrows, It's a fantastic life. A while back though, the Leader of these Assassins ran into a little snag while I was on a job and I helped him. He took me back here and I told him my story. He thought I was honorable, and asked me to join the Brotherhood, so I did for a time. Even got this get-up." He twirled around in his outfit before posing and speaking, "Look: I'M FABULOUS!" It was so out of character, Key Scales burst out laughing but then winced. "My leg." She lifted the blanket off herself and saw her leg, bandaged up, a clean dressing on it. Arrowhead stepped closer before speaking, "Oh yeah, I took the liberty of cleaning up your wound. Rushing Dusk, that's the stallion that was with us last night, was going to patch it up, but I figured you'd be more okay with your best friend healing you then a complete stranger. Here drink this, but only drink a little bit, and your wound will heal quicker. It helps your nerves and helps your body repair wounds. Our doctor will patch that up better too if the medicine doesn't work for some reason. No scars." She looked at him with disbelief as he handed her a silver bottle and she sipped it a bit. It was bitter and she coughed, but her leg felt different afterwards. "Anyways, I joined the order for a while and was the leader's right-hand man for a time, but I preferred my mercenary work. They let me stay here when I need to and I help them with orders from time to time. After we came here I explained your predicament to Voltai Umbra. He's the leader here, so you should remember that name, Scales. I told him your story and he wants you to become an Assassin." Key Scales was hesitant, thinking of her long friendship with him. She smiled widely before standing up and pulling her friend into a hug. "Thank you Arrow. I've felt outta place for a long time, you know that. Thank you so much. You don't know how much this means to me." He blushed slightly. She pulled back, still a bit wobbly but better then she had been the night before. She grinned wildly, then she stopped, looking around herself. "So, what is this room? It's pretty." The room was beautiful. Black wood made up everything and it was a very cozy, if not worn, room. There was a black dresser, the mirror above it gleaming silver like the knobs of the dresser. A black desk sat in the corner with an ornate lamp, and writing quills were placed orderly atop it. A bookshelf was next to the door, stacked with fantasy stories and informational books alike. The bed was big enough for two ponies, but had a singular black pillow to go with the silver and black sheets currently in a heap due to her sleeping on them. There was a slightly open door that led to a bathroom, and a closet next to that. A window was placed on the opposing wall at eye level, thick black curtains draw over it. "Well, This is your new home, if you become an Assassin. You have to go through training. I will mentor you since I know how antisocial you are. And Initiation, but don't worry, it only hurts for a little while and then, 'Poof! You are an Assassin.' The living embodiment of Honor, Dignity, Sacrifice, and some really sweet outfits. Seriously, you can blend in with any crowd, do anything, go anywhere, be who you want to, love who you want to, and all towards working for good of the world. No one knows you exist, though you save people on a day to day basis. It's a great life... I'd take it, but then again.." He pulled a brown bag out of his pocket, shaking it. Key Scales could hear a rattling of bits from inside. "I get to kill... For bits. I get to kill ponies. For. Bits. I HAVE THE BEST LIFE!" He laughed and hid the bag again. "Now, we'd better get you a bit cleaned up. You've been sleeping for most of the day." Key Scales was slightly frightened by her friend's crazed outburst, but she trusted him through and through. They stepped into the adjoining room from the wooden one into a black and white bathroom, silver accents on everything. "You took some of that medicine, so let's see your wound." He tugged at the bandage on her leg, and it fell to the floor. Inside, Key Scale's dried blood stained the bandage against the stark white tile. Arrowhead picked it up and threw it away. Her leg was in perfect condition, despite the gash left on it. She was in shock. Last time she'd seen her leg, blood had been spewing from it onto stones back in Ponyville. Now there wasn't even a bump. "Arrowhead, what the hoof was in that medicine?" He looked back seriously and spoke. "I have no idea. It's been in the Order for hundreds of years, however. Some mineral thing. It works with nerves and tissue in our bodies to heal faster. " He left the bathroom and she followed. He walked to the door. "Now, you should get cleaned up and perhaps straighten your mane a bit. When you're ready, I'll be waiting in the room across the hall. It's where I stay when I visit. " She returned to the bathroom, still admiring it's worn beauty. Turning on the shower faucet she closed the door and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were still vibrant as always and her horn stuck out from between the black depths of her mane, but something was different. She gave a small yelp, realizing there was still blood in her mane, and drops of it had trailed down her muzzle to dry. She quickly stepped into the shower, lifting a bar of soap with her magic and scrubbing her face as quickly and effectively as she could without getting bubbles in her eyes. She scrubbed and scrubbed herself, watching the soapy red water run down the drain. She sat back on her haunches and let the water run over her. It was still bubbly and red, but soon enough was clear. She realized her life was never going to be the same. It would be okay though, she'd still have Arrow. Maybe she could even get a message to Leaf Runner. Her friend was a sweetheart and would be worrying by now. She stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel and drying her mane. Purple magic floated over the towel and her mane until it stopped dripping. Staring at the silver rimmed mirror she was pleased to see the lack of blood. She started to tug at her mane with her magic to make it lay down a bit but then she gave up. She was as ready as she'd ever be to meet this "Voltai." She walked across the hall and knocked on a brown door with an arrowhead on it. "Arrow, can we go? I'm ready." He stepped outside. "Follow me. Keep your head up, don't frown and be yourself." He smiled. They turned and walked down the hallway.