Chapter 3: Old Enemies
By Octavia Melody
I instantly felt an increase in temperature as I entered the building. Rarity followed close behind me. The inside was bright and active. Templar guards patrolled the area while clearly overworked steel workers bended and hammered the metal for the locomotive. To the right of us was a large furnace, the reason for the heat of the building. Rods of iron were slowly being heated in its intense flames.
We both hid behind a pile of boxes, containing the Sun knows what. Rarity tapped my shoulder and pointed to the low rafters in the ceiling.
"We could climb up to them to get a better view of this place." She whispered.
I nodded my head in agreement. We both silently approached for the wall. The shoddily crafted walls were easy to climb. Mainly due to the many uneven boards and beams that stuck out of the wall. We tiptoed onto a rafter and observed the surroundings. The entire structure was a single room. On the opposite side was a wooden door, no doubt leading to the chief engineer's room. In the middle of the room sits a metal contraption, barely half-built. This was the train.
I glanced over to Rarity, "Bearer, how are going to destroy the train?"
"Oh, with these!." She reached into her side pouch and pulled out three cherry bombs. "Twilight made them for the mission. Rude of me not to inform you beforehand."
She continued, "Now, since I have the bombs, you should worry about the schematics. Once you have destroyed them, I shall proceed with the train."
Without hesitation, I initiated my trek across the facility. Hopping from rafter to rafter. The guards on ground level were far away enough to not hear my steps. When I arrived right above the chief engineer's room I stop and assess the situation. Below me were two soldiers chatting with themselves right in front of the door. To their left was a pile of metal. To their right was a Royal Guard leaning on a craft table. I am not sure if he was awake or sleeping.
Suddenly a box close by the Royal Guard fell over. The guard grunted loudly and headed over to the box to investigate. The guard leaned over to inspect the box. A white arm flashed at his neck and puled him into the shadows. This was my chance.
I took a deep breath. The chatting Templar were still right under me. I slid off the rafter and plunged towards them. Before they could complete their next sentence, both of them were pinned down into the floor by my blades. I instinctively dragged them into the empty engineer's room. I did not want their bodies to be found. I began to search the room for the schematics. Many pieces of parchment laid over the small table. Designs, failures, redesigns, letters, orders, workers' strike, everything was there. I grabbed a nearby torch, the only light source in the small room, and dropped it on the table. The flames quickly engulfed the designs. I smiled and turned to leave. Once I exited the room, I saw three large black balls being rolled towards the locomotive. My eyes widened at this. I forgot that they were bombs. The noise of such devices would surely alarm every guard in the East District.
BOOM!
The sound deafened my ears. Shards of the locomotive flew in every general direction. I saw steel workers fleeing in terror, Guards rushing towards the offending ruckus, and Rarity sprinting straight to me. She grabbed my hand and together we ran toward the front entrance. Several guards were in the way, but that did not stop us. I chucked a smoke bomb at them. The bomb exploded on the impact of a Templar's face. The white smoke filled the area, causing the guards to cough and gag. Rarity and I held our breath as we ran by them.
We exited the facility. I looked back to see flames spitting out of the roof. Apparently, I had caused a larger fire than what was necessary. It was not my intention to burn down the facility, but it may prove to be for the better.
Rarity and I continued to run. I could faintly hear the shouts of the furious guards that chased us. Though they have no hopes of catching us with their heavy armor. We turned into a thin alleyway and halted to recover our breath.
The Bearer smiled at me, "Couldn't have done better, if I say so myself."
I did not respond. I was usually not social after a mission. My mind was still processing the recent events.
My eyes caught a faint light at the end of the alleyway. The light was beginning to become brighter. The light was getting closer to us. Is it the Guards and soldiers? Is it some common folk out in the early morning? I grabbed the hilt of my daggers just in case.
The light brightened as the torch came into direct view. A hooded figure wielded the torch. The hood was a light blue with a zigzagging yellow line down the middle. The side of the hood possessed a red cross pattée. The insignia of the Templar. All I could see of the figure's face was a wide grin. The figure proceeded to removed the hood from its head. The action revealed spiky orange hair and fiery orange eyes. The face was that of a women.
"Good to see you guys again huh? We knew you would attack the train, so I've been waiting here for you." The women stated. The grin still large as ever.
I glared at her. "Nice meeting you again, Spitfire. How's the Templar been treating you since your betrayal?"
Spitfire chuckled. "Oh, they been paying my friends and me well. They are also much more fun than the Assassin's ever were. But enough chat. I am here to end you Assassins. You destroy our property, we destroy YOU!" She tosses the torch to the ground, drew an Arabian scimitar, and charged at us.
Rarity and I were quick to dodge the Templar's swing. Spitfire continued to swing her blade at us repeatedly. She swung violently at me; I expertly dodged and attempted a counterattack. I lunged with my dagger at her chest. She sidestepped and grabbed my arm, twisting it so that my dagger fell out of my grip. I ripped my arm free and landed a successful left hook on the Templar's face. Spitfire grunted in pain and staggered. Rarity seized this advantage and grabbed Spitfire from behind. The Bearer tightened her grip on the Templar's neck. Spitfire leaned over and flipped Rarity onto her back. Spitfire followed up with her hidden blade and stabbed the Bearer in the side. Blood squirted out and the Bearer's silk robes became tainted in red.
I screamed and threw two throwing knives at the Templar. One landed deep into her thigh and the other into her upper arm. She yelped and fell to the ground grunting. I ignored the wounded Templar and placed Rarity over my shoulder. I started running towards the South Den.
I ran and ran. I did not know how long. My legs never ached with the strain of carrying a woman my size on my shoulder. The adrenaline in my body was pushing me beyond my limits. I noticed the pinkish sky to the east. It appeared dawn was upon us. I continued running at top speed. The Bearer's blood was soaking my own gray robes. I glanced at Rarity's face. Her eyes were closed and her face was pale.
I turned tightly and headed down the mostly empty street. Early risers set foot from their homes and watched in confusion as I ran by. I ran up to the South Den and kicked the door in. Unsurprisingly, at the breaking in of the Den, I found myself at the tip of a sword. A sword belonging to the Bearer of Magic. She looked at me with harsh eyes. Her expression rapidly changed to concern when she saw Rarity swung over my shoulders.
"She's hurt Bearer! We need a doctor!" I pleaded.
Twilight quickly beckoned me inside and closed the door.
~