//------------------------------//
// Chapter 27: General Reluctance 
// Story: Harmony's Creed 
// by Gapeagle 
//------------------------------//

	
Yearling lazily walked over to her coffee brewer. The Animus had been taking its toll on her the past few days and she had reached the end of Octavia's writings. She was disappointed by its end, especially since Octavia did not find the truth. But, eh, not every tale had a happy ending. Yearling yawned and placed her mug next to the brewer. She sleepily pressed some buttons and it began to churn out her precious nectar. So warm....So delightful....So....What?

Yearling dropped her mug and her eye twitched. She was staring at her couch which had someone sitting on it. Someone in 4th Imperial Era robes. Someone with an Assassin insignia on her hood. The robes were lavender. The Assassin had swords and pistols. Old one shot pistols. The worst part was, the Assassin was slightly transparent.

"Oh crap! I'm hallucinating again!" Yearling yelled.

The Assassin blinked at her. "What do you mean?"

"You! Look at you! You are a Bearer from centuries ago! You're dead. There is no way you're here in my room, sitting on my couch!"

"Way to rule out everything." Another voice uttered.

Yearling turned to see the Bearer of Loyalty leaning by her window. She was in a similar state of transparency. The Bearer of Loyalty returned Yearling's stare with a sly wink.

"Well, Loyalty, she is right. We are dead. But, we aren't dead." The Bearer of Magic explained. "We Elements never died, but the bodies of our Bearers did."

"So why are you here in my room!?" Yearling's head was beginning to ache.

"Because we wanted to meet our new friend! Oh oh! What was it that you were drinking? Was it good? Guess not, you spilled it all over the carpet. Who wears trousers like that? What's up with your hair?" A high pitched voice filled the room.

Yearling growled as the Bearer of Laughter bounced around her. She had three spectral Assassins of old in her room. She was going mad! She threw her face in her hand and stomped off to her bedroom. It was too early for this. She was dreaming and she needed to wake up. She slammed the door and sat on her bed. Yearling closed her eyes and sighed. When she reopened them, The Bearer of Magic was standing in front of her.

"Lady Yearling, we need to speak." The Bearer pleaded.

"No! Go away!" She covered herself in her blanket.

"Gah, Magic, just get her up." The Bearer of Loyalty ordered.

"No, Loyalty, we are not here to do such things."

Yearling stopped squirming under the blanket. "Why don't you refer to each other with your names?"

"Lady Yearling, we are. This is Loyalty, that is Laughter, and I'm Magic."

Yearling sat up in bed. The three ethereal Bearers stood watching her. Yearling inspected them with skepticism.

"Are you guys the Elements?"

"Well....Yes and no." Magic shrugged. "We are more of their Bearers' souls. The shards themselves are in some dark case in this building. We do not know where they are. So, we'll ask you."

"I have no idea. I've been in this place for weeks. Never seen the Elements since I found them."

"Rediscover would be a better term, Lady Yearling." Magic told her.

"Ugh, whatever. Oh, look at me! I'm talking with my own hallucinations. Go away already!"

"We aren't hallucinations!" Loyalty spat.

"Then what are ya?"

"Oh! I know!" Laughter squealed ecstatically. "We're zombies!"

Magic raised a brow in confusion. "What in Tartarus is a zombie?"

"It's a dead person that comes back to life and acts like this!" Laughter began to imitate a zombie, sound effects and all.

Loyalty beamed at this. "Awesome! I am so a zombie!" She joined Laughter in the imitation.

Magic sighed in annoyance. "Keep track girls. Alright? Alright. Now...Lady Yearling..."

Yearling cut her off. "We don't say 'Lady' anymore."

"....Then what should I call you?"

"Uhh.....Darin...No...Just Yearling."

"Yearling, we have come to warn you about ourselves." Yearling was about to interrupt, but Magic silenced her with a quick finger. Magic opened her mouth to continue.

Loyalty cut in. "Get us back to the Tree."

Magic scowled at Loyalty, who simply shrugged in response. Yearling blinked at this. It seemed rather odd to her. She snapped her fingers and pointed at Magic.

"Wait, the Elements are telling me to get them back? Ha! What changed? Ya guys didn't want to go back according to Octavia."

They are stared at her when they heard the name of the Den Master. Magic leaned in and her magenta eyes stared into Yearling's.

"You know Den Master Octavia?" She asked quietly.

"I've read her writings. All of them. Right to her hanging."

"I don't remember that." Magic contemplated.

"She was executed after she was captured. You know, when she got caught in the Archives with Sunset Shimmer."

Magic leaned back and laughed. Laughter giggled and held her sides. Yearling was confused. She had reached the end of the Den Master's writings. They ended with her heading for the gallows. What happened? When Magic was done laughing, she took a deep breath.

"No, she didn't die at the gallows. Right girls?"

Laughter nodded. "Yeah, she visited me in Ponyville afterwards."

Loyalty smiled. "She became part of my crew for some time."

Yearling nodded her head quickly. "Alright, alright. Cut me some slack, how could I have known that?"

The three Bearers deadpanned at her. Then they all simultaneously pointed in the direction of the Animus that was on the other side of the wall. Yearling realized that her previous question was pretty stupid. If some wandering souls from ancient artifacts knew better it must have been obvious. Loyalty stepped up and addressed her.

"That Animus thing is the best chance you have of following Octavia. Follow her through us."

Yearling shrugged. "Why would that help? You guys want to go back in the Tree, why would Octavia have anything to do with that?"

Magic rested a hand on Yearling's shoulder. Yearling was startled with the icy touch of the Bearer. It felt like one was placing a piece of ice down another's spine. It was almost painful. Magic did not seem to notice Yearling's reaction. She simply looked into Yearling's eyes, like she had done so many times with Octavia.

"It would be very hard to explain all that now. We are not connected with our Elements right now. But they sent us here. They sent us to tell you to continue your research on us, along with Den Master Octavia. The more knowledge you accumulate, the better you'll see."

Footsteps could be heard right outside the room. Dr. Caballeron had come for his morning visit. Yearling stood up and became worried.

"Can he see you guys?" She asked.

Loyalty spoke first. "We don't know, but we won't stick around to find out."

Magic nodded in agreement. "This is goodbye for now. Expect us regularly Lad....Er...Yearling. The Elements do not belong here. Keep that in mind."

All three Bearers dissipated right before her eyes. Yearling was still hesitant to believe what she had just witnessed. Even if they were hallucinations, they could have been telling the truth. Octavia lived? Yearling opened the door and walked into the larger room. Caballeron had his tablet out and was writing on it. Yearling slowly walked over to him.

"Good morning, Miss Yearling. I see you spilled your coffee."

"Oh that? Yeah.......My mistake."

"Is everything OK?"

"What? Yes, yes. Just too early that's all."

"Miss Yearling, it's almost ten at the moment. 'Early' is not a word I would use right now." He told her with a smug look.

"Hmph! Well, what's the plan today?"

"The plan? Well, since you are done with Octavia's writings, I would suggest the Animus."

"About Octavia.....Do you think she died at the end of her writings?"

"Uhh.....Of course. After what she did to the Brotherhood, I would expect them to abandon her."

"What if she didn't? What if the Bearers came in and...and rescued her. You know, like movie style."

He shrugged. "Then they did. Miss Yearling, we are here for the Elements, not some Den Master. Now, I have already made some plans of wher..."

She cut him off. "C'mon! You would miss that? You are going to have me enter some random memory again that tells us nothing. No! Octavia is how we are going to learn about the Elements. It's a gut feeling. And you know that my gut feelings are always right."

Caballeron scowled at her. His glasses reflected the light in a way that Yearling could not see his eyes. His jaw was tight, but then slackened. He took his glasses off and looked at her.

"Fine, but just this once. If it does not intrigue me, we shall go back to my way. Is this clear?"

"Like a window. Shall we?" She gestured to the Animus.

"You should have had a breakfast before entering, but go ahead."

Yearling excitedly hopped onto the Animus. She settled herself into the grooves that were built for her body. The machine became active. She closed her eyes. The sounds of Manehatten were silenced. The feel of her body disappeared. The time period she was living in was changing.





4th Imperial Era

Canterlot, Equestria Empire

"Vinyl? Vinyl! Dammit! Where is that woman?" Twilight yelled from her quarters.

"She left yesterday. I do not think I saw her return." Rarity said as she inspected one of her knives.

"Just when I needed her..." Twilight spat.

The sun was behind the large mountain. It was early morning in the Empire's great capital. Rarity, Twilight, and Fluttershy sat in the Bearer's quarters of the South Canterlot Den. A Den that was very quiet since the disappearance of both Vinyl and Den Master Octavia. Though they knew where Octavia was as Fluttershy told them when she arrived. She told them that Octavia was going to be hanged at noon. They couldn't let this happen.

"I don't see why we must rescue her. Her behavior was atrocious and she questioned our Elements." Rarity observed.

"She was also with that mean woman, Sunset Shimmer." Fluttershy stated.

Twilight shook her head. "Girls, this is Den Master Octavia. We have already lost Minuette to the gallows. Octavia is the only Den Master left in Canterlot. She is irreplaceable to our cause. Rarity, if you do not want to do this for her, then do it for the Brotherhood."

Rarity crossed her arms. "What if I do not want to do this at all?"

"Ha. You don't have a choice. We all shall do this."

Rarity grunted indignantly. "Hmph! Well darling, how are we going to perform such an action?"

Twilight smiled. "We are going to set up a show for the Empire and the Templar. And the main star is going to be Fluttershy."

The Bearer of Kindness stood straight up. Fear and confusion were written all over her face. She did not want to do whatever the Bearer of Magic planned for her. Being a 'main star?' This certainly could not be good. Twilight walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. 

"You'll be fine." She told Fluttershy.

Fluttershy sighed. "What do you want me to do?"

"Grab your bow and quiver."





"You'll have to trust Twilight. She knows what she is doing."

"That's what I'm afraid of." Fluttershy replied.

There was a thin fog over the cobbled streets. Canterlotians did not seem to mind as they wandered about. The Bearer of Kindness made her way through the crowds, making sure that she apologized to every citizen she bumped into. Rarity and Twilight were above her on the rooftops. They were chatting. Probably going over the plan together, without her. Always the usual. 

"Oh, it's fine. You know your part."

"Yes, but I.....So many people...."

"The people will not stay to watch you."

"I guess so."

"Fluttershy!" Twilight called to her.

The Bearer of Kindness looked up. Twilight gestured her to come up on the roof. She easily made her way up to them. Rarity pulled her up the last step to the top. Once she was on the roof, she gazed out into the city. She hadn't been on the Canterlot roofs before, as she always preferred walking in the streets. The view from up here made her gasp. The city seemed endless. The spires and the Grand Royal Palace could be seen in the far distance. Twilight nudged her slightly to remind her of their mission.

"Fluttershy, are you ready?"

"Umm.....I think so?"

"Good, the execution is taking place in the Central Plaza just north of here. Even though the hanging is scheduled for noon, we must get there early to set up. There are already Assassins there waiting for our command. For your command."

"Twilight...Are...Are you sure about this?" Fluttershy stammered.

"Yes. If I wasn't, I would have planned something different." Twilight answered.

The Bearer of Magic turned and made her way to the north. Rarity was already heading that way. Fluttershy sighed and followed. She was still apprehensive about the plan. However, it was her friend Twilight who thought of it. Twilight trusted her with it. That made her proud. She could do this. For Octavia and the Brotherhood. Fluttershy smiled and looked up. The other Bearers were far ahead of her. She squeaked and chased after them. Her arrows bounced in her quiver. 

She tiptoed across a rope and swung on a beam. Rarity and Twilight were going much faster than what she had anticipated. However, this did not bother her. She could keep up with them. Her heightened senses and skills allowed her to run over the roofs with ease. She caught up with the Bearers. They were at the Central Plaza. In the middle of the Plaza was a large wooden scaffold where the hanging would take place. There were five nooses. Octavia was not the only one being hung today. Rarity and Twilight were inspecting the area below. Fluttershy joined them. Though she did not know what they were looking at.

"The Empire has increased the Guards. Look. There are a couple there, some over there, even one on the roof across the street." Twilight told them.

"It must be due to the recent deaths of the nobles." Rarity concluded.

"Or they are expecting us." Fluttershy suggested, but her words reached deaf ears.

"This will just complicate things." The Bearer of Magic complained. "Before we do anything, we must take out the Royal Guards on the roofs."

Rarity nodded and left. Twilight turned to Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy, get into position. There are many Assassins waiting below for your orders. I told them to strictly follow your orders, so do not hesitate to call on them for help. Once you get into position, wait for my signal. Rarity and I shall handle the Guards on the roofs. Go and be safe."

"Wait, what is the signal?"

"You'll know. I think you will like it."





Fluttershy sat on a bench nearby the north Plaza entrance. This was the entrance where Octavia would enter. People were gathering in the Plaza. It was almost noon. She had not heard from Rarity or Twilight since they left. Royal Guards were increasing in number. They lined themselves in front of the gallows. A hooded executioner was tested the lever and floor traps. There was another on the scaffold. It was Empress Luna. She was here to display her Justice. The Bearer of Kindness gulped. The place was not silent though. Common folk chattered merrily and laughed as the execution approached. This was a spectacle to them, Fluttershy thought. It was barbaric and cruel.

The sound of a carriage approached from the north. The Bearer of Kindness looked up to see a prisoner wagon pass by. The wagon had five chained prisoners. One was a woman in gray Assassin robes and a black mask. Fluttershy had seen the mask before but could not pinpoint on who it belonged to. She did know one thing, that this woman was Octavia Melody.

People cheered and shouted as the wagon passed. Some threw tomatoes and other rotten vegetables to show their disgust in the criminals. Royal Guards accompanied the wagon and prevented citizens from getting too close. A necessary precaution. Fluttershy stood up and walked through the crowd, parallel with the wagon. The cheering grew louder as they entered the Central Plaza. The wagon stopped and a Royal Guard opened the wagon's backdoor. 

"Alright ya maggots, get yer hides up. Time for ya to walk." The Guard yelled at them.

The prisoners exited the wagon in a single file line. They were all chained behind the back. Octavia was in the middle of the line. Her robes made her stand out from the other condemned prisoners. They walked towards the gallows in complete silence. 

The people spat insults at the prisoners. Fluttershy could only pity the Den Master. Suddenly a large eagle flew above them all. The eagle was made out of purple arcane energy. Its wings left a faint trail of lavender fire in its wake. This was the signal, Fluttershy thought. She placed two fingers in her mouth and whistled. Men and women in white robes started to gather around her. Some wielded large axes and others crossbows or daggers.

"It's show time."

"It is. Let's do this."

Octavia reached the scaffold and took her place next to a noose. The executioner brought the rope around each of the prisoners' necks. Fluttershy walked forward, her Assassins followed behind her. The people around her took notice and moved out the way. They could tell that a battle was going to happen. The Bearer heard the booming voice of the Lady of Justice.

"Today we attendeth this ceremony to celebrate Justice and Freedom. Thou, the people, deserveth to witness the demise of these traitors, criminals, and murderers. They, the villains that standeth behind Us, hast decided to taketh the path of evil, the path of Injustice! we, the Empire of Equestria, must..."

Empress Luna stopped as she noticed the large group of Assassins before her. Fluttershy was at the head of this small army, her bow in hand. The crowd made a large circle around the Assassins, watching in awe and confusion. Luna simply stared at the Bearer. There was no emotion on her face. The Empress slowly drew her sword. The blade was thin and black. It was an Equestrian estoc. She pointed it at the Bearer. Royal Guards started to march towards them. Fluttershy drew her bow.

"Really Fluttershy? This was your Brotherhood's plan? It makes Trixie laugh." The Imperial Captain scoffed at the Bearer as her men surrounded the Assassins.

Fluttershy saw the captain out of the corner of her eye. She was focused on Octavia. Her arrow was resting on the string of the bow. She had one shot. The executioner made his way to the lever. Trixie continued to laugh.

"What exactly are you doing? Huh?" Trixie mocked the Bearer.

Fluttershy took a deep breath. "I'm being a distraction!"

The executioner pulled the lever. Fluttershy released the arrow and it flew through the air. Octavia began to fall as the trap door under her opened. The arrow split the rope above her head, causing the Den Master to fall under the scaffold. The Empress growled and addressed her troops.

"This will not stand! Kill them!" She ordered.

The Royal Guards lifted their weapons and charged. The Assassins cheered and charged in return. Common folk fled as the battle commenced. Fluttershy ducked under a sword. She grabbed an arrow from her quiver and stabbed the Guard in the armpit. She pulled it back out and jabbed it in his neck. The Guard fell helplessly on the ground. Assassins chopped down Royal Guards before her. It so far was in the Brotherhood's advantage. The scene began to fill with smoke as Assassins threw smoke bombs everywhere.

"I can't see." Fluttershy uttered.

"Quickly! Let me have your eyes!"

"You know I..."

"Just do it!"

"Fine..."

Her vision became blurry. It soon returned. She could see the entire battle. Assassins and Royal Guards were battling in the dense smoke. The Royal Guards were bright red figures and the Assassins were green. The Element told her everything she needed to know. In front of her, an Assassin deflected a sword and countered with a stab to a Guard's side. Fluttershy extended her hidden blade and stabbed a Guard in the back. A Guard charged at her, but he was blown away by an Assassin's pistol. 

"You can't win this easily!"

Fluttershy turned around and deflected a sword. Trixie backed off and faced the Bearer. The smoke was dissipating. Fluttershy's vision went back to normal. The Imperial Captain snarled at Fluttershy.

"This is what happens when we let you go. You return and give us more pain and suffering! I will not make the mistake of letting you live!"

Trixie charged again. Fluttershy caught the sword in her bow and twisted it out of the captain's hand. Trixie reached for her pistol. Fluttershy tackled the captain. The Bearer grabbed the pistol and fired it off in the sky. Trixie screamed and punched the Bearer, knocking her over. The captain followed up by jumping on Fluttershy and grabbing her neck.

"This is the end of you!"





This will not stand! Kill them!" The Empress shouted.

Twilight teleported onto scaffold. The prisoners hung dead by the rope, except one. The battle in the Plaza raged as Twilight made her way to Octavia. The executioner took notice of the Bearer and grabbed an ax.

"I won't let yo..."

He was silenced as Twilight gutted him with her sword. She then heard the sound of sword fighting next to her. She turned to see Rarity and the Empress fighting. Both displayed their skills at swordplay. Twilight pulled out one of her pistols.

"No, find the Den Master first!"

"You're right."

She ran over to Octavia's noose. She looked down into the trap door. Octavia returned her gaze through the black mask. The Bearer levitated the Den Master up and onto the scaffold. Twilight then hugged her tightly.

"Hold on tight." She told Octavia.

Twilight teleported away from the gallows and onto a rooftop. She laid the Den Master on the stone roof beside two Assassins. The Bearer pointed at Octavia and addressed the two Assassins.

"Take care of her. Get her to a safe spot."

"Yes, Bearer." The Assassins bowed.

"Twilight you bi..." Octavia shouted.

Twilight could not hear the last word as she teleported back into the fray. The Plaza was filled with smoke as the Assassins threw smoke bombs everywhere. The Bearer of Magic found Rarity and Luna again. Luna attacked the Bearer of Generosity with mad vigor. Rarity could only back up and deflect her blows. Twilight pointed a pistol at the Empress. 

"Hold it, Your Highness! Drop your sword or I will shoot!"

Luna stopped. She looked over her shoulder. At the sight of Twilight, her hand began to quiver. She flipped her sword about and kept it in her hand. The Empress turned around completely and walked over to Twilight. The Empress's nose was almost touching the barrel of the gun.

"Twilight, is that you?" Luna said in a calm and sweet voice. 

"Sheath your blade, Empress, I will shoot."

"I doubt that. I've ruled for hundreds of years. I have learned the difference between a threat and a bluff."

"Don't take me lightly." Twilight growled.

"Ha! Do you think that I don't know you? Or even remember you?" Luna waved her sword nonchalantly.

Rarity approached from behind the Empress. "Twilight, what is she talking about?"





"This is the end of you!"

The Imperial Captain was strangling the Bearer of Kindness. Fluttershy struggled as Trixie choked her. The Royal Guard began to slam Fluttershy's head into the cobblestone. Suddenly an Assassin tackled Trixie. The Bearer gasped for air. She got up to see Trixie and the Assassin fighting. The captain disarmed the Assassin and took his sword. She then sliced his legs and he fell in agony. Fluttershy grabbed her bow and shot an arrow into Trixie's calf. She screamed, but remained standing. The Bearer angrily walked over to the wounded captain and pushed the embedded arrow until it was completely through the leg. The captain fell over and clutched her leg.

"Go ahead, kill me! I would die for my Empire." Trixie yelled at the Bearer.

Fluttershy whistled. The Assassins immediately stopped fighting. The remaining Royal Guards were too wounded to keep fighting. The Bearer bent over the captain and pointed a finger at her.

"Now Trixie, you shall live. Let this be a warning to you. Never interfere with the Assassins again. This is not your fight. Next time, we will kill you."

Trixie remained silent. Fluttershy smiled and turned to leave. The Assassins watched her walk away before following. Two Assassins picked up and carried off the wounded Brother who saved Fluttershy. The Plaza was now empty except for the dead and wounded Royal Guards. Fluttershy looked back at her Assassins. They all returned her look with smiles and cheers. The mission was accomplished and they did great. She squealed in delight as she found new confidence in her leadership.





"Twilight, what is she talking about?"

"You haven't told them?" Luna asked.

"There's nothing to tell them!" Twilight yelled.

Luna chuckled. "Oh yes there is. Let me guess, you tell them that you were a lonely scholar, making no money and only reading old books?"

"That's what I was!" Twilight snapped.

Luna snapped back. "No it wasn't. And this isn't you. You wouldn't shoot me. My sister took care of you. She taught you how to read and write. She told you to think for yourself! Celestia, my Sister Dearest was the one who raised you and your brother after your parents' deaths. You were no lonely scholar, you were much more. Now, is this what has happened to you? All the time you were gone, this is what you became? I know you're still in there. You wouldn't kill your Aunt Luna. Would you, Princess Twilight?"

"I'm sorry Your Highness." Twilight said quickly.

The Bearer of Magic lowered her pistol and fired the gun into Luna's knee. Luna screamed in pain and fell over. The Empress cursed loudly as she hopelessly tried to stand up. Twilight turned and ran off. She could hear Rarity following her. The Plaza was still filled with the skirmish. The two Bearers exited the Central Plaza. They slowed down and entered an alley.

"Twilight! What was that about?" Rarity demanded.

"Oh, nothing. Just the Empress trying to turn us against each other."

"No it wasn't! Dear, if there was no Applejack, you would take first place as worst liar."

"Fine! I am a princess. What does it matter? I'm still the Bearer of Magic."

"If it didn't matter then why did you keep it a secret?"

Twilight turned and walked away. She didn't want to answer the Bearer of Generosity's question. Twilight climbed up onto the rooftops. She could see other Assassins running to the south. Fluttershy made it through, Twilight thought. Her mind returned to Rarity, who stood next to her. No, She didn't need to answer. She had no time for such a thing. Besides, she had a Den Master to attend to.


~