//------------------------------//
// Sequence 5 
// Story: Pony's Creed 
// by Derpyforever 
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Sequence 5
Shining met up with Braeburn and his 'partner' Flash, or should I say stallion who will notify the other Tempmares if Braeburn didn't kill Shining, at the same café later that afternoon. Ditzy, or to Braeburn and Flash, Derpy, the bar mare Shining was able to score, came with him. Rainbow had her Assassin robes on and was sitting at the other side of the café, staying out of view of the others.
"So, Shining," Braeburn smirked, "did you have fun?"
"Sure did," Shining smiled as Ditzy pretended to have a satisfied look on her face.
"Good... You know Shining, you'll always be my friend... and I can tell you anything right?"
"Of course," Shining said, but noticed Braeburn started to get a little anxious.
"Well, then I'm sorry," Braeburn replied, aiming a gun underneath the table at Shining.
"You can't shoot me," Shining chuckled, "we are in a crowded café, and the moment you pull the trigger, everypony will be thrown in a state of panic."
"You don't think we forgot about that, did you," Braeburn replied. 
"Well, you know the Tempmares will always hold your parents captive," Shining grinned, drawing Flash's attention. 
"How do you know about this," Braeburn demanded, putting the gun against Shining's stomach underneath the table.
"Come on Braeburn, you're better than this," Shining reasoned, while Rainbow got out from her seat, put her hood up, and started weaving in and out amongst the crowd.
"They will kill them if I don't end you," Braeburn said, but Shining saw that his words were starting to get through.
"They will kill them either way," Shining said, "let us help you Braeburn, we'll save them, just lower your gun."
Braeburn thought about this for a moment, then dropped the gun; the moment he did, Flash instantly turned around and pulled out a sword from his armor and held it to Shining's neck and said, "If he didn't end you, then I could."
"I don't suppose I can convince you other wise," Shining replied.
"Nope," Flash smirked.
"Too bad... Now!"
Rainbow, who had snuck up behind Flash, hit him hard in the side of his head, knocking him out. Rainbow activated her hidden balde and made a move towards Flash, until Shining said otherwise.
"We still need him," Shining said, and Rainbow replied by reluctantly putting her blade away and putting Flash hoof around her shoulder, so anypony who happen to look over will just think Flash might have had just a little too much.
"What's going on," Braeburn asked confused, "I thought you said you were going to save my family!"
"We are, but we need this here colt to tell us exactly how to get in," Shining chuckled.
###
Rainbow carried Flash back to the castle followed by Shining, Ditzy, and Braeburn. The moment they entered, they were confronted by Connor, Edward, and a furious Celestia.
"Where the hay were you," Celestia exclaimed, "and why did you bring two Tempmares here?!"
"and a hello to you too, Celestia," Rainbow sarcastically replied, throwing the unconscious Flash to the ground.
"Watch that attitude, Rainbow," Celestia growled, "now somepony better start explaining!"
"Braeburn is on our side now, but the Tempmares have his family," Shining replied, "we are not completely sure, but believe they are being held somewhere in a place called Ponyville and plan on saving them."
"Ponyville? That place is crawling with Tempmares, it's too risky. Besides, you said it yourself, you're not sure if they're there."
"That's why we have him," Shining nodded to Flash, "he'll confirm it."
"You don't think he is just going to give you that kind of information?"
Shining didn't respond as he and Celestia stared at each other, as if having a conversation using silence, until Celestia face went horrified.
"Are you mad, Shining," Celestia exclaimed, "that is not our way!"
"What choice do we have," Shining defended, "if we don't save them tonight, they'll be dead by morning!"
"What is he talking about," Ditzy asked.
Celestia looked at her, judging whether or not to tell her the truth, but sighed and came clean, "torture."
"What," Ditzy exclaimed, staring at Shining with the same horrified expression Celestia did, "No! there has to be another way!"
"What do you suggest then," Shining yelled.
Ditzy opened her mouth, but unable to think of an idea, retreated to just giving a disapproving stare at Shining.
"I'm not proud to say or do it," Shining sighed, "but unless he is willing to just tell us, we're going to have to take action."
"Well what are you going to do then," Celestia asked.
"What ever it takes to break him," Shining replied.
An hour before sundown, Flash was thrown into a hidden area inside the castle's dungeon. Shining and Rainbow didn't want Ditzy to go down with them, saying that Flash, being a Tempmare, could easily twist up Ditzy's mind to convince her to let him go. However, unwilling to sit aside, Ditzy said her mind is not as weak as they think and can keep sight on what is true.
Flash was hung from his front hooves, inches from the ground, and his wings were wrapped tightly by a rope while Shining walked around and around him as the Connor, Edward, Ditzy, and Rainbow watched.
"So, Flash," Shining said, his face showing no emotion, let alone apathy, "I'm just going to ask you straightforward; is Braeburn's family at the Tempmare base in Ponyville?"
"Why would you trust what I have to say," Flash replied, holding the same sort of poker face Shining had.
"Because," Shining hit Flash hard across the face,"I think you'll find that cooperating will become easier and easier as we go along. Now tell us, are they or are they not there?"
Flash spat on the ground then looked backed at Shining, "It's going to take more than that."
"I thought it might," Shining replied, as he continued to hit Flash multiple time across the face. Ditzy watched, wanting to scream, just end it, but held it in as Shining gave one more strike, making Flash's nose bleed.
"Ready to talk," Shining said.
Flash didn't respond, but only spat, blood this time, on Shining.
"So be it," Shining said, wiping it off. He then grabbed his knife from it's holster before stabbing it into one of Flash's front legs, making him let out a yell in pain. Shining took the knife out, then stabbed the other leg followed by another yell. When it was removed, blood started to flow down Flash's side from the two deep cuts near his hooves.
"Tell us," Shining demanded.
"Buck you," Flash glared, but gasped in pain between the words.
Shining flung the tip of his knife across Flash's left cheek. Flash didn't yell, but only grunted once the knife cut underneath his eye.
"You know, we could always take a chance. We don't exactly need the information, so we can just kill you now," Shining said.
"Then why don't you," Flash smirked, "have one less Tempmare to deal with."
"Then again, we do have a few hours before we need to head out," Shining continued before grabbing his gun around the barrel and smashing the tip of Flash's hoof accompanied by an agonizing yell, "so we could keep this up for a while."
"You know when a stallion is bluffing," Flash asked, then pulled up his hind legs to kick Shining in the head before saying, "when he is in control."
Rainbow got up and was about to do the job herself until Shining held up his hoof, signaling her to stay back, before wiping his face upon where he got hit. 
"You sure are a stubborn little bucker aren't you," Shining chuckled, "then how about this, tell us where they are or we will have to harm another."
"Who could you possibly harm that I care about," Flash replied.
"Her," Shining nodded at the door as a white, pegasus Royal Guard brought in a struggling, gagged, and blindfolded mare that had rope tied around her wings. The guard removed the blindfold to reveal two terrified teal eyes of Fluttershy, Flash's ex-marefriend he still had feeling for.
"Don't you dare lay a hoof on here," Flash yelled, shaking the chains and trying to jump at Shining.
"If you tell us, we will let her go, but if you don't," Shining held his knife to Fluttershy's neck, "she'll be leaving another way."
Fluttershy's eyes looked at Flash in horror as Flash glared at Shining. They remained that way for a few seconds, before Flash reluctantly said, "They are at Sweet Apple Acres, Big Mac has them held captive in their barn."
"That's all we needed to know," Shining said, the. removed the gagged from Fluttershy's mouth and letting her go.
"Go Fluttershy, run," Flash pleaded.
"I'm sorry, Flash," Fluttershy replied sadly, as she used her hidden blades to cut the rope off her wings and taking out her rolled up Assassin robes from underneath them, "I truly am sorry."
"Wh-What," Flash stuttered, astonished, then yelled, "Shining! I knew you were bluffing you bucking bas-"
Flash was knocked out by Rainbow, again, then said, "even though he is a Tempmare, I still feel kind of sorry for him. Alright Derpy, bandage him up."
"Alright, just know it might be a while," Ditzy replied, "so you guys might have to wait,"
The rest looked at each other unsurely before Rainbow said, "You see, Derps, about that... you're not coming."
"What?! Why not," Ditzy exclaimed, outraged.
"Well, you've only been training for two weeks and... how can I put this nicely... not really, reliable."
"Reliable," Ditzy flared, "so it's ok for me to eavesdrop on Tempmares, but not on for me to be along side my friends?!"
"Well, Shining was there if something went wrong," Edward explained.
"Aren't you all going to be with me," Ditzy asked, her tone not as enraged, but still had a hint of anger.
"Well, we are going pretty deep into Tempmare territory, and we wouldn't be able to focus if we were worried about you," Connor reasoned.
Ditzy thought for a moment, then said, "you all feel this way?"
Hesitantly, the others nodded as an answer. Ditzy sighed then started to clean Flash's wounds while saying, "Fine, maybe you guys are right. Maybe I'm not ready."
The others looked at each other, feeling slightly guilty, but knew it was for the best.
"So, I guess we'll see you later," Rainbow said as she and the others made for the door, "maybe you'll have enough training next time."
"Whatever," Ditzy brushed off.
"So, yeah... bye... I guess," Rainbow said, before following the others to head to Ponyville.
"I guess I was wrong," Ditzy said as she started to cover up Flash's cuts, "they still treat me like I'm helpless... just like mom and dad."
(To Be Continued...)