It had been two years since Flam’s death, And Spike returned to more training for his next mission. The Homestead had also changed, Dinky and Pipsqueak had gone further in their relationship, and a new pony mysteriously appeared out of nowhere. Doctor Whooves, many times had Spike seen him and Ditzy running all over the place, or hopping in the blue box. Plus some small adventures battling the wilderness and other events.
Spike walked up from the basement and walked through the hallways. He made his way to the bedroom and saw White Dove lying in the bed. The old stallion smiled and motioned for Spike to come sit next to him. Spike took a chair and sat in front of his mentor. White Dove coughed furiously before smiling again.
“My student, do you bring news?”
“Yes mentor. It was reported in the paper Flim is now he is a lieutenant in the Royal Guard. I plan to meet with some comrades in Canterlot to get more information before finding him. And ending his life.” Spike explained. White Dove nodded.
“Very well, go. End this Templar’s life.” White Dove pointed at the door before coughing again. Spike got up and walked out of the room, but not before looking at his master once more. See him breathing heavily. Spike smiled before turning to the door and pulling his hood up.
Spike walked through the homestead, waving to some of the ponies he came by, Crafter, Dinky and Pipsqueak. He soon made his way to the frontier town and the train station.
He boarded a train for Canterlot as he set off on his mission. He had gotten into the diner car with quill, ink and paper. He write down a message before quickly blowing it with green fire, scaring some of the few ponies in the train.
As the train stopped in the Canterlot train station, Spike walked through the steam and walked through the street. His target, a local pub.
He walked in, seeing some usual sites as he leaned against a wall and looked for his target. Nothing odd, usual drunk ponies and gangs if friends hanging out and laughing.
Spike soon say his target, a rather large pony in a black hood sitting at a table in the back corner. Spike got off of the wall and slowly made his way towards her. The pony noticing him but not reacting, Spike grabbed a chair and sat down with the two.
“It is nice to see you face to face once again Spike.”
“It’s nice to see you to Luna.” Spike replied.
Alright, allow me to explain. Spike had gotten the idea when he went and burned the walls of Twilight’s that Luna could help with tracking down the Templars. He had asked her to keep this secret from anyone else, and she did. Over all the years of Spike roaming and killing, they stayed in touch.
“So Spike, what information do you seek?” Luna asked.
“Have you heard of someone called Flim?” Spike asked.
“Ah Yes, the new lieutenant in my sisters Guard.”
“A new lieutenant? Yes. But he is also one of the last of the main Templars. Do you have anything against or about him that could be useful?” Luna was slightly shocked by this.
“Well, unfortunately, I cannot do anything to affect Celestia’s Royal Guard. Much like she cannot interfere with my Night Guard. But many of my guards on their night patrols have seen some Royal Guards committing small crimes like theft, or even assaulting some ponies. Many ponies are beginning to lose faith in my sisters guards. Due to the events and complaints from Appaloosa two years ago, and now this.”
“It could be a possible strategy the Templars are trying, losing trust in the guard might lead to fighting against the guard and Celestia. Giving the Templars are clear gateway to power.” Spike said, Luna chuckled.
“You really have grown, mentally and physically over these years.” Spike just laughed and smirked.
“Well, when life chucks crap at you like it did to me. Character is usually developed. But aside from that, do you know who might be whose giving these guards orders?”
“Flim’s second in command is possibly the one who orders these guards to steal or assault. He’s the only one next to Flim that isn’t well known but has very great power.” Luna suggested.
“Do you know where he normally stays?” Spike asked.
“That…guard, is usually seen around the brothel, south of here.” Luna said with disgust.
“Alright, do you have any other leads?” Spike asked.
“That’s all I now so far here, but some of my guards have reported suspiciously heavily armed merchant ships and cargo being hauled into warehouses, North of here.” Luna said. Spike soon stood up.
“Alright, thank you for helping Luna. Hopefully when this is over, we can socialise and catch up.” Spike said. Luna also stood up and offered her hoof out for a hoofshake. Spike smirked and shook her hoof. The two walked out of the pub and headed in opposite directions.
Spike soon learned that he was slowly entering the poorer part of town. The buildings and streets seemed to be more beaten up and paint dried and crumbling off. He then came across what seemed like the brothel, and sat down on a bench to hide himself from the guards and his target.
He soon saw a group of guards all surrounding one formally dressed guard. Spike knew this was his target, but if he got up, the guards would be able to recognize him. He then saw some mares come over to him.
“Oh, hello big boy.” One said.
“Looking for something special?” Another asked.
“I will give you this if you can distract those guards over there.” Spike said as he pulled out a medium size bag of bits. The mares grabbed the bits before they walked over to the guards. The guards quickly fell under the spell of the mares as the two groups started flirting with each other. Spike soon got up and got his hidden blade ready. The formal guard doing a little dance with a mare, giving Spike a chance to strike. As he walked past the guards and mares, he flicked his blade out and quickly stabbed the formal guard in the throat.
He picked up his speed as he tried to leave quickly enough so that the guards wouldn’t see him before they realise their commanding officer had just been killed. He just turned a corner when one of the guards yelled to his comrades.
Spike soon made his way back to the better part of Canterlot before heading for the docks. He didn’t notice that as he started to enter the docks, a Pegasus was watching him from the top of a building.
Spike soon found himself at the docks, on a jetty. He saw a merchant ship dock in, which seemed to have more cannons than usual. He watched as the cargo was taken and placed on carts before they set off. Spike soon following them, not noticing the Pegasus still jumping from roof to roof to follow him.
Spike soon found himself watching as the cargo was pushed into a warehouse. Spike thought about how he was going to get in without suspicion, and decided to go onto the rooftops were he could see if there was a possible opening or not.
As Spike climbed the rooftops, he found out that he wasn’t the only one being there. A cyan Pegasus stallion, wearing a red jacket, with a fiery mane and tail. Spike immediately grabbed the pony and interrogated him.
“What the hell are you doing up here?” Spike asked.
“Figuring out why a drake wearing white robes is roaming the docks of Canterlot.” The Pegasus said. Trying to get out of the death grip Spike had around his neck.
“And why do you need to know what I’m doing?” Spike spoke, the Pegasus soon looks at the emblem on Spike as his eye dilates in shock.
“You’re…your one of them…an Assassin.” The Pegasus told him.
“And how do you know what the Assassins are?” Spike asked.
“My ancestors…supported your creed. Please, I want to help you take the Templars down.”
Spike just leaned down more.
“And how do I know to trust you?”
“I can make any bomb you need. I will help you with whatever it is you need to do here. I swear!” the Pegasus said, almost out of air. Spike soon let him go as the Pegasus coughed and breathed deeply.
“Alright. Follow me. And what’s your name?” Spike asked.
“Inferno Blaze.” The pegasus said.
Spike then jumped into some hay. Inferno soon followed after Spike had jumped out of it. The two saw some empty crates stacked on top of each other, which worked like a stairway up to the roof. But the two ponies guarding the door could easily see them.
“Alright. Just wait here.” Spike said as he made his way to another building and climbed to the roof. He instantly pulled out his bow and nocked an arrow. He aimed it at one guard will the other was looking away. Spike fired as the pony went down silently. Before the other could turn and raise the alarm, he was also silenced by an arrow.
Spike then went back to Inferno and gave him the all clear to book it for the roof. The two running and climbing up the crates and onto the roof. They then walked across, looking for a faulty tile in the roof. Until they found on that seemed to be more out of place the other. Spike grabbed it and pulled it off, placing the tile quietly down before looking to see if it was safe to jump. Just below was a lone guard that seemed to be on a smoke break. Spike pulled out a rope dart and prepared to strike. He threw it quickly, hitting the guard off as he was sucking in the smoke, making him accidently swallow his cigarette and started to choke, and the dart in his throat didn’t help. Spike quickly started to pull him up and onto the roof. Spike quickly grabbed the guard before the dart fell out and the guard crashed onto the floor. He flipped the body over onto the roof, smoke emitting from the guards open jaw as the lifeless eyes scanned the clouds.
“Oh…I would make the obvious joke but not today.” Inferno said as Spike pulled the dart out of the body. Spike looked down to see the nearest place they could land without injury or noise. He noticed a large pile of crates below, just high enough for him to jump down. He slowly slid himself into the hole before only just gripping the roof with his fingers. He let go and landed onto the crates, causing a bit of a creak. He went into total silence as he waited for any responses.
“What the hell was that?”
“Probably just a rat or the piles. The piles are so high I swear one’s going to fall on some poor bastard.”
Spike sighed in relief as he gestured Inferno to come down. The Pegasus glided down to the floor as Spike used the crates to climb down to the floor. The two meeting up and moving away from the lights.
“Alright, follow me and keep quiet.” Spike said, inferno nodded and kept quiet.
Spike and Inferno navigated there way paste guards and lights before they looked around the corner and saw the entrance and a bunch of ponies bringing the piles of crates from the harbour. Two ponies talking to each other as the others got to work.
“Is this the last bunch?”
“Yep, the rest have already been given out.”
“Good. Now may I have a look at these products to see if there in top condition?”
“Of Course.” The pony went to one of the new crates and grabbed a crowbar of a worker before opening the crate. The pony dropped the crowbar and pulled out a musket, cleaned and polished.
“Here you are. So, does it fit your standards?” the pony asked. The other checked and looked down the barrel, smiling deviously as he finished his inspection.
“Perfectly.” The two continued their conversation as Spike and Inferno walked away and moved to a safe area to have their own talk.
“So there stashing arms here.” Spike said.
“What for?” Inferno asked.
“Not sure, but either way. It’s not good, we need to destroy these arms.” Spike said.
“I could place some fire bombs around the place, then light it and fly through the roof.” Inferno said, Spike nodded.
“Alright, I’ll look out if any guards spot you” Spike said.
The two nodded and got to work. Inferno set up some fire bombs as Spike knocked out any nearby guards and hid the knocked out ponies from view. Soon Inferno had set up multiple bombs all around the warehouse. And was ready to light the fuse and escape before the place burned to the ground.
“Alright Spike, I’m ready. But how are you going to get out?” Inferno asked.
“I’ll have to go through the front door. When you here a boom, light the fuse and fly to the nearby roof’s.” Spike said.
“A boom? What are you planning?” Inferno asked.
“Just taking out management.” Spike said.
“Well, take these to help. They’re tripwire bombs. Perfect for traps. Setting some of these up might do the job for you.” Inferno said as he pulled out three bombs and lines of wire.
“Thanks, this will help.” Spike said as he Left Inferno and made his way to the front entrance. He looked around and saw some guards lazing around the new crates and an office building on the catwalks on the other side of the warehouse, with just one guard.
Spike easily climbed onto the catwalks and quickly threw a throwing knife at the guard, which slumped over instantly. Spike rushed towards the building, picking up the body and placing it further down the catwalk. Spike heard the two ponies from earlier talking inside as he set up a tripwire bomb just at the door. He then climbed back onto the floor and stuck closely to the shadows on the wall before he reached the two main doors and a smaller door just closer to Spike. Spike leaned up close and hid behind the door.
Outside, two guards where guarding the main doors while another two stood in front of the smaller door, the two pairs just chatting and laughing. But a knocking was heard from the smaller door. The two looked at each other before one opened the door and looked inside.
“Yeah? What is-“The guard was soon pulled in quickly and the door slammed down. The remaining guard panicked and called the other two over for help.
Spike chucked the body down as he didn’t have much time left, some of the other guards already alerted to the noise he made. He quickly set up the tripwire and made a run for safer cover.
“Okay, on three. We break the door in. here we go. One. Two. Three!” The three guards outside barged through the door, just before they were all blown to bits or sent into the sky like ragdolls form the tripwire.
The other guards all jumped up and grabbed there muskets and quickly ran to find out what happened.
Meanwhile Inferno heard of the explosion and lit the fuse. Before quickly flying out of the warehouse and to the building opposite of it. Looking down waiting for Spike.
Spike saw the guards and the flames in the back, he had to leave now. He quickly made a dash for the door as the guards pointed him out to his comrades. Spike dodged the cartridges that just missed his head and made it out the door, quickly closing it behind him. Spike grabbed one of the muskets that the previous guard had dropped and used it to close the door in, so the guards couldn’t escape. He Ran towards the building and began to climb.
The guards inside ran for the door and tried to bash through, but it only resulted in them getting bounced back. The firebombs had spread rapidly and most of the warehouse was in flames and the fires grew closer to the guards who were bashing brains just to open the door. Once one of them pointed it out, they ran for the main office since the doors open manually from there.
The two ponies were having an important talk when they saw the guards running around like headless chickens. Then when the guards all started to run for the office, one of the ponies had enough and wanted answers. He got up and walked for the door and opened it.
“What are you idiots do-“
A huge explosion cut him off as the explosion separated the catwalks from the building and turned into a ramp. The building itself blew most of the wall apart and sent the pony flying across the room into the other. The building slowly but surely falling down to the ground, rubble spread all over. A lot of guards were on the catwalk as they ether were killed from the explosion, flying guards or eventually falling straight into the pile of stone rubble. The remaining searching for the rubble and the button, not noticing the crates behind them completely on fire and slowly approaching them.
Meanwhile Spike had finally climbed to the top of the building, Inferno waiting for him.
“So, what do you think they were doing?” Inferno asked.
“Probably just a weapon supply for Templar activities here.” Spike said.
“So now what will you do?” Inferno asked.
“I must rest. For tomorrow, I need to finish my job here and return back to my homestead” Spike said.
“Alright, well, I hope to see you around. If you or your order need any help, give me a call. I can give your order any bomb around.” Inferno said. Spike nodded before the two parted, Inferno flying away as Spike jumped some rooftops before returning to the streets.
Spike soon found an inn and entered, heading immediately for the bench. A bartender soon approached him.
“What can I get you?”
“A place to sleep for the night.” Spike said as he placed some bits on the counter.
“Ah, I see.” The bartender said as he took the bits and then gave Spike a key.
“Upstairs, first on the right.”
“Thanks” Spike said as he walked upstairs towards his living courters for the night. He entered and immediately laid on the bed and got some rest as Luna’s moon took over the sky.