Rainbow relaxed in her bed. Applebloom and Scootaloo were off with the sniper team, Applejack went off for some errands, and Daring Do went off to write a book in privacy. It was just Rainbow and her pillow.
Rainbow fell asleep, but was woken up later by a knock on her door. She yawned and got up. She trotted over to the door and opened it. Outside, there was a single dark brown pony with a light brown mane.
"Guten Tag, Rainbov." He introduced. "I am Zeinwolfe."
"I'm Rainbow Dash. Your point?" Rainbow asked, not amused.
"I am here to give you message." He said. "You need to join us, for ve have plans for you."
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Could you explain?"
"Ve are here to purify Canterlot." Zeinwolfe told her. "Free from ze filth of corruption. Please, join us. It vill grant you much luck in ze future."
Rainbow sighed. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Now, run along before I call the guard."
Zeinwolfe backed away from the door. "You have been varned." He told her. "We are halfvay complete. It's a chance to live a long life."
Rainbow slammed the door in Zeinwolfe's face. Zeinwolfe turned around and pulled out a radio. "Ze mare denied. Shall I go to plan B?"
Intro
Twilight knocked on Secret's door. 'Come on out, Secret." She called. "I need to talk to you."
Secret opened the door. "What is it, Twilight?"
"I'm getting worried about those death threats. They seem serious." She began.
Secret placed his hoof over her muzzle. "Shush. Don't worry over silly things like that." He told her. Twilight tried to protest, but Secret continued. "I'm safe. Our only worry is this." He held up the letter with the circle and three triangles.
"Where did that come from?" Twilight asked, taking the letter.
"With the other death threats. Care to read?" Secret asked.
Twilight opened it and looked at the letter. "Dear Captain, tomorrow night, at your watch, an assassin will be targeting Princess Twilight Sparkle." Twilight froze and looked at Secret.
Secret looked up. "An anonymous tip?" He asked.
Twilight did not answer. "Don't worry." Secret said. "We'll protect you."
"Guards, attention!" Secret ordered. The guards in front of Secret snapped to attention. Secret was led to the center front of the squad by his guide.
"In case you didn't hear me, your orders are to defend the princess with your lives." He told the guards.
"Yes, sir!" The guards responded. The squad saluted Secret, who returned the Salute, then trotted out.
Twilight was in the security bunker, where the royalty would hide if Canterlot was attacked. Applejack stayed with her so that Twilight would not be alone.
Secret trotted down the hallway with his guide. The hall was quiet, and Secret had to pretend that nothing was going on.
"It's a little quiet." Secret said. His guide did not answer. "Soldier, I am speaking to you." Still no answer.
Secret stopped moving. "Soldier?" He called. He drew his sword and looked around blindly.
Out of the silence, he heard the sound of a hoofstep right behind him. Gotcha. Secret thought.
Secret turned around and swung his sword at his attacker. The assassin jumped backwards and drew a knife. "Wanna play rough?" Secret asked sarcastically. The attacker growled, and charged at Secret. Secret raised his sword and blocked the attack, parrying the knife out of the assassin's hooves. The assassin gasped, and Secret knocked them backwards and pinned them to the ground.
"Please don't kill me! They made me do it!" A familiar said.
Secret stared in shock. "Rainbow Dash?" He asked. He quickly grabbed the mare and pulled the hood, showing the pegasus's face.
Rainbow looked back at Secret, tears her in eyes. "They were going to kill her..."
"Who?" Secret asked.
"I'm so sorry..." Rainbow pulled out a syringe and stabbed it into Secret's neck, injecting the fluids into his body. Secret let go of the mare, and held his neck, dropping the sword. He stumbled backwards, and fell onto the floor. Rainbow got up and turned her head as a cloaked pony trotted up.
"You did it." The hoarse-voiced stallion said. "I'm glad you were able to pull through. I guess we don't need her anymore?"
Rainbow's eyes widened. "What do you mean?" She asked.
Zeinwolfe trotted around the corner, gun pointed to Daring Do's head. Daring Do had her eyes covered, and a cloth over her mouth.
"Get rid of the trash, Zeinwolfe." The leader ordered. Zeinwolfe cocked the suppressed hoofgun and fired a single bullet into Daring Do's head. The pony fell to the ground, dead.
Rainbow screamed at them. "You said you wouldn't kill her!" She shouted through tears.
"We say a lot of things. Nopony notices them, though." The leader responded. "Now come with us, Rainbow. You're already in too deep."
Rainbow, without protest, followed the two ponies as they left the bodies in the hallway.
A sudden pain filled the stallion's side. "Wake up!" He heard, and so he obeyed.
Secret shot up, gasping and holding his hoof over his heart. "What happened?" He asked. "Am I dead?"
Twilight shook her head. "You're still alive, thankfully." She told him. "What happened?" She asked.
"It was...Rainbow." He said. "Rainbow tried to kill me. And...I...What did she give me?" He sniffed the air, and it smelled strongly of medicines. He was in the hospital.
"She gave you an anesthetic." She told her. "It seemed like you were dead."
Secret rubbed his neck. "So does that mean?..." He turned his head at Twilight. "Where is Rainbow?"
Twilight sighed. "She's with Applejack. She told us everything." Twilight turned her head. "What are we going to do?"
"Rainbow is one of them, right?" He asked.
"Yes." Twilight answered. "Why?"
"I think we have a way to figure out what we're up against." Secret said. "I need to talk to Rainbow."
Secret trotted into the room. Applejack and Rainbow sat on the bed. Rainbow was scared, and did not look up as Secret entered.
"Could I have some privacy?" He asked Applejack. The country mare nodded and trotted out. Secret approached Rainbow. "You didn't kill me." He said.
"I wasn't going to kill you." She answered. "But that guard...I may have offed him."
"So, they think I'm dead?" He asked.
"Yes. Everyone but Twilight, AJ, and me." She said. "And...you have to go into hiding."
"Excuse me?" He asked. "Do you care to explain?"
She sighed. "This morning, a pony came to my door. He offered me to join them, I refused. So, they later came back up with Daring Do. They threatened to kill her. They said that I must kill you while you were supposed to be on guard alone. The guide was not accounted for, and he saw me. I'm sorry that I killed him. They were watching me."
"Who are they? Why are you ignoring the question?" Secret stomped his hoof.
"They're the Circle." She answered. "The Circle is trying to purify Canterlot."