//------------------------------// // Bearer Chapter: Loyalty // Story: Harmony's Creed // by Gapeagle //------------------------------// Bearer Chapter: Loyalty 4th Imperial Era Manehatten, Equestrian Empire The scene constructed itself. The blue hexagons and triangles formed the large city of Manehatten. Short and tall square buildings rose out of the ground. The Grand Statue of Celestia formed out of air in the Manehatten Bay. Folks walking here and there popped out of nothing. A short Assassin in cyan robes appeared on a rooftop. Rain started to fall on her. She did not seem too excited about her current condition. The rain pelted the ancient gloomy city. There was no wind, nor lightning. The rain seemed peaceful. Too peaceful for the Bearer of Loyalty. The Bearer paced back and forth on a high flat rooftop. Loyalty's wrath pumped through her veins. She needed this. She wanted this. Her cyan robes kept most of the rain off of her. Her colorful sashes held many small weapons ranging from knives to smoke bombs. She grunted in impatience. Why wouldn't that Templar leave the building? Did he know she was there? She playfully extended her hidden blade and brought it back. She repeated this for some time. Her leather boots left the ground as she hopped in place. This messed up her rainbow colored hair; however, she did not care about that. She looked out into the bay. The Ragnarok, her ship, was anchored a few hundred meters off the coast. Her crew was waiting for her return. She sighed and rested her hands on the pommels of her twin swords on her back. The pommels were comfortable. They seemed to sooth the Bearer with their touch. However, the Bearer was still in a sour mood. "This sucks." The Bearer said to herself. "Does it? Loyalty is patient. Wait. Your prey shall be here soon." "I know, I know. It's just not fun sitting out in the rain. And I bet the crew is getting annoyed." "A little rain should not put out their fire." The Bearer rolled her eyes. She looked back down at the street. The tight alleys and roads were mostly empty. The common folk never risked getting their hair or clothes wet. "Whimps..." Suddenly a sound reached the Bearer's ears. It did not come from where she had hoped, but instead to the north. It sounded like yelling. "I likey." The Bearer sprinted toward the sound. Despite her size, the Assassin flew across the buildings. Hopping from roof to roof and running over the many ropes that connected the Manehatten rooftops. The sounds were becoming louder. She could distinguish several voices among the grunts and yells. It seemed like a fight. The Bearer loved fights. She slid down a slanted roof and landed firmly on the cobblestone street. The conflict was extremely close. She peeked around a corner to see a group of Royal Guards pummeling a girl. The Bearer spat in disgust and cleared her throat. "Hey, bullies! Look over here!" She waved. The Guards stopped punching and stared at her. "Nothing to fear random citizen in distress! Your friendly Rainbow Dash has come to save you!" "Is that.....The Spectrum guys?" A Guard asked in a worried tone. "I think it is mate." "I thought she would be taller..." Rainbow Dash's confident pose faltered at this. Her eye started to twitch. Short? Did they just call me short? They'll pay. Empire or not, they'll pay. She drew her swords, which glowed a faint orange. "Rainbow....Is this necessary?" "OF COURSE IT IS!" She yelled. The Guards and the girl looked around to see what she was yelling at. They were unsuccessful and returned their gaze at the Bearer. Rainbow Dash was shaking in anger. "I'm not short!" One of the Guards raised a brow. "Really? I think this girl here is tal-" The Guard was cut off as his head was cut cleanly off by the Bearer. The others dropped their weapons and ran away due to the show of immense speed they had just witnessed. Rainbow's blades were now glowing red. Steam from the rain droplets gently floated above the hot blades. The Guard's headless corpse was still standing. The Bearer gently pushed the body and it tumbled to the ground. The girl sat on her haunches and stared at the Bearer in fright. "Oh, don't look at me like that! I saved your live. Be grateful." The Bearer told the girl. The girl didn't speak. She simply blew her light purple and pink hair out of her eyes. "Did I save a mute?" Rainbow said harshly. "Cool it Rainbow!" "Oh really? Of all the people to tell me to cool down it's you!" The Bearer screamed at her swords. The girl piped up with a Manehatten accent. "Are....are you insane?" "Yup....grateful." The Bearer responded sarcastically. "Why were the Guards beatin' you?" The girl showed the Bearer some pieces of bread. "I stole it. I stole it from the nobles." "That's it? I should've cut them all up for that!" "huh, maybe." "What's your name girl?" "Babs Seed....It's Babs Seed." "Well, Babs Seed, I am Rainbow Dash, Bearer of Loyalty, and Captain of the Ragnarok." "What?" "You must have a reason to hate Empire and their goons. Would you like to join my crew and be an Assassin?" Rainbow Dash asked. Her spill was well rehearsed. "You sound like a cheap merchant..." Babs Seed stared at the Bearer with a perplexed look. Some woman just saved my life and now wants me to join some pirate crusade? What in Celestia's reign... "No." The thief answered. Rainbow jumped back. "What? I just saved your life, brat! What's wrong with you?" The thief shrugged. "I guess she has no Loyalty." "I guess not." Rainbow said to no one. The Bearer turned around and stomped off. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks. She then faced Babs Seed again. "I know. I'll show you something so awesome, you jus' can't NOT join the Brotherhood after watching it." The thief grinned mockingly. "Show me, chump!" The Bearer of Loyalty stood on the same roof as before with Babs Seed. The thief had her arms crossed and looked skeptical. Rainbow Dash beamed with enthusiasm. "In any minute, a Templar scumbag is gonna come through those doors. When he does, you'll see something twenty times cooler than anything you've seen in your life." "You said that about ten minutes ago. And I think the Guards were right. I am taller than you." Babs replied. The Bearer snarled at her. Her hand reached for the pommel of her sword, but she was forced to stop. "Be careful Rainbow..." "Just shut up!" Rainbow yelled to the air. "Who in the Sun's name are you talking to?" The thief asked in utter confusion. "You shut up also!" The Bearer pointed a stern finger at the girl. "Alright.....So defensive." "Haha! Here the Templar comes! Get low." The Bearer became prone and watched the streets below. "Him? That's the guy I stole from. He sent the Guards on me." Babs hissed. Down below the two was a Templar officer minding his own business. The officer was well dressed and did not seem to mind the rain harming his garments. He walked with a golden cane and wore a Templar ring on his right ring finger. The man was not fat like most Manehatten nobles, but was fit and young. He was young enough that one could tell he was either born with wealth or used illegal methods to obtain it. The Bearer leaped off the roof and landed firmly on the street in front of the officer. The Templar instantly noticed her and froze in fear. The Bearer giggled. "Well, go get a head start." She casually told the Templar. The Templar turned and ran. He dropped his cane and his large coat. His legs carried him far down the tight street. Rainbow looked up at Babs. "Now, this is the awesome part. I'm gonna kill this guy in ten seconds flat. You can count it yourself. Begin......NOW!" "One...." The Bearer then sprinted down the street. Leaving Babs to follow her. Rainbow's speed allowed her to gain on the Templar in almost an instant. She climbed onto the roofs and continued her pursuit up there. Hopping from roof to roof. Swinging on signs and somersaulting over pipes. The people below her screamed as they saw a blurry spectrum sweep over their town. The Bearer tiptoed over a thin wire. She hopped onto a window and jumped backwards to the other side of the street. The Templar officer ran with all his might, but the Bearer seemed to be behind him at every moment. Rainbow continued to run along the rooftops, dodging rooftop furniture and thieves who rested on the flats of Manehatten. "Two....Three..." Rainbow Dash darted above the streets. Her heart pumped wildly with the excitement. She dodged a chimney and rolled over a railing. She leaped and grabbed onto a board suspended by a crane. With little effort, she swung herself onto another roof. The Templar was still in sight. She was doing well. "Four.....Five...." The Bearer reached and drew her blades out. The swords glowed with heat. Loyalty needed to be shown. Justice shall reach those who deserve it. The Fires were aglow. A trail of steam followed her as the rain was vaporized upon touching the blades. "Get him." The prey glowed yellow. His every footstep left an impression on the street. The common folk faded into a dark blue aura that surrounded the Bearer. Bright red Guards and soldiers could be seen in the crowd. The Bearer saw these men and made a note to avoid them. "Nothing slows me down." The Templar quickly changed directions and headed down an alley. Rainbow Dash was on the wrong side of the street. After a quick curse she leaped onto the other side and then jumped down onto the street. Some bystanders gasped and moved out of her way. The Bearer sprinted on the cobblestone. She shoved common folk out of her way and charged toward the officer. "Six.....Seven...." The blades became hotter. They smelled Templar blood. I'm ready. Rainbow jumped over and fountain and slid under a large table being carried by two men. The Assassin soon recovered and carried on at top speed. Her eyes searched the surrounding area for any good routes. She found a pile of crates on the side of a building. "Eight...." She once again took to the roofs. "Jump that! Over that! Quick!" The Bearer swiftly threw herself along the sides of the square buildings. The Bearer continued by jumping horizontally along the walls. It was not an easy feat, but it was nothing more than practice to Rainbow. "Nine....." The Templar ran into a woman and fell over. Rainbow saw her opportunity and leaped onto the streets. She charged at the Templar. The officer pulled out his rapier and prepared to fight. "Ten!" Without hesitation, Rainbow Dash gutted the officer with both of her swords. "Toasty." The smell of burnt flesh emitted from the officer. He gasped for air and smoothly slid off the blades. The swords cooled down and she sheathed them. Her work was done. Rainbow stood over the dead officer. The common folk screamed and ran away for their lives. Babs Seed finally reached the Assassin and gaped in awe. "You...you really...." "Yup. I did." "We did." "I'll accept that offer." The thief said quickly. Rainbow smiled. "I knew you would, Sister. Just one thing, how's your sea legs?"