//------------------------------// // Contract // Story: An Alicorn's War Crimes // by Mysti Kitty //------------------------------// The tavern was quite crowded at this time of night, and a robed Lavender was quite thankful for that. The candlelight was dim, and the voices of ponies masked her hoofsteps--and her anxiously thudding heart. She knew that no pony would question who she was, as she was wearing a dark, shabby cloak that hid her body from the neck down. She appeared to be a tall Unicorn mare. Hopefully. She stepped swiftly, making her way from the door and through the tables. She did her best not to bump anything or anypony, so as not to attract any attention. She caught a few glances here and there, but there were many different kinds of ponies here. Mares, stallions, Pegasi, Unicorns, Earth ponies... Everypony that's trying to forget their war sorrows, she thought. With a suppressed shudder, she made her way through the tables to the other side of the bar. There was a door there. It was a dark, wooden door, with nothing on it except a small sign stating that it did not lead into a bathroom. She knew that this door masked some sort of dark arts, and the ponies in the tavern probably did too. As soon as she got to the door, she bumped it open with a hoof, slid inside, and clicked it shut softly behind her. She exhaled, feeling relief wash over her. She knew that in these times, an Alicorn would be captured on the spot. They'd then be taken to be publicly executed... so she'd heard, anyway. This war had been going on for several months; She hadn't counted. She hadn't cared to count. She'd been gone from home for most of it. She'd left maybe a couple of months after it started. She thought of these things as her hooves led her down a dimly-lit hallway. She was not focused on her surroundings, as she was deep in thought, but she noted that there were tiny blue flames dancing on the walls, acting as the only light sources. She knew how to cast simple spells like that. She'd just hoped that the Unicorn magic here was not mind-probing-- She blinked with a start. Why hadn't she thought of that sooner?! Somepony could already be aware! Quickly she guarded her mind, making sure not to let any stray thoughts freely roam. She now glanced around. The walls were made of some thick stone that seemed to almost be night-sky-blue. It was a long hallway, but once she looked ahead once more, she saw a lone Earth pony stallion sitting at a desk, facing her. She could not see the details in his face, but he looked fit and young. His coat was a mahogany brown, and his mane was even darker. The closer she stepped, she could make out the fact that he had a small pair of glasses at the end of his nose. She soon reached the desk, stopping a good three feet away. She then noticed that he was scribbling in a book, somehow using a quill with his hoof. Before she could study his hoof further, he set the quill down and looked up at her. His eyes were flower-pink, an odd color considering his coat and mane colors. She could not see his Mark, as he was wearing a fine red and brown robe. "I suspect you know where you are," he spoke quietly, but his voice put her on edge. She wasn't sure what it was, but she knew she had to answer fast. "I do," she responded firmly. Perhaps a little too firmly. She hadn't spoken to other ponies in mo-- "Are you here to arrange a contract? Or perhaps you're interested in making a bit of coin...?" He smirked a little, as though he knew something that she did not. "I'm here to get a job," she spoke as she nodded. "Ah... Well. You realize I can't just hire somepony off the street, right?" His voice was getting smoother as he spoke, and she could sense that he was... smug about something? "I do not have credentials available. War took my village." Well, she knew her home was safe, so she was only half lying. "Ah, I see. You're not the first. Then... I do have a couple of assignments I can spare, if you're willing to work without pay until we can trust you," he spoke, as he flipped through the book's pages. She snorted. "Without pay? How am I to--" "Lesson number one. If you are to receive our trust, then you are to do as we say." She could see his grin again. That's what he was so smug about! She narrowed her eyes. "Alright." "Excellent. Now, I need a name before I can properly assign you." Odd. That seems a little too easy. "...Lavender Wind." She could see no harm in giving her real name; None of these ponies knew anything about her tribes. As long as he didn't ask for her age. "Lavender Wind..." he repeated, before nodding and scribbling something down somewhere. "I'll have to select something here... Where do you live now?" "Here, in town." "I find that hard to believe. I've never seen you around before... Whatever the case, you'll be assigned to two ponies, and you must go undetected in a high security area... I believe you won't be able to use magic, either--" "I must be paid something for my troubles then, if it is a high-stake operation!" She was beginning to grow angry with this pony. She could think of no other way to make Bits that wouldn't expose her. He looked up at her, no longer grinning. "Assassins don't consider any situation to be too... difficult, Miss Lavender. If you truly wish to work here--" "I demand that I receive something!" She roared, staring down at him and feeling every single muscle tense up. His eyes went wide, and her heart dropped. She sighed. "I... apologize. I have quite the temper..." She folded her wings, which had apparently flared up with anger, and-- Her eyes went wide too, and the pair stared at each other for several heartbeats. When she saw his pupils begin to register what she was, she thought up a quick spell that she hoped would do what she wanted. Everything happened quickly after that. She fired a small shot from her horn into the stallion's eyes, and he cried out as he lifted his hooves to try to shield them after they'd been hit. He stumbled backwards and fell onto his side. Meanwhile, she lunged over the desk, grabbed the book in her magic, and tucked it under a wing. She glanced at him, as he lie still on the ground. She did not have time to check on his condition, so she turned and galloped back to the exit. She cast a glance over her shoulder to confirm his position before taking a breath. She silently opened the door, stepped out back into the bar, and let the door shut softly behind her. The tavern was a bit less full now. She swallowed, trying to ease her nerves before she took the walk through the bar once more. She kept her ears pricked for any sounds of pursuit as she started making her way through the tables. Her heartbeat roared in her ears, though nopony gave her a second glance as she walked past. The walk to the main exit was much shorter than the walk into the bar, but she did not care to note it. She was on the edge of her toes, just waiting for something to spring on her. But nothing did. Nothing even made the move to. She made it to the main exit door without incident. She was in such a rush that she left the building as soon as she got to the door. She didn't dare to glance back. Lavender could feel the soft grass bend beneath her hooves, and the cool breeze of a winter night in her mane. Well, she sort of felt the grass. She stood in a heavily-forested area right near a large estate. She'd have loved to explore the place during the day, but she had work to do, and the moon cast an eerie shadow on everything. She was watching the skies for Pegasi, and the ground for Unicorns. But none seemed apparent. In fact, this place looked deserted, save for a window with obvious fire light shining through. In fact, this place doesn't look heavily guarded at all. She steeled her nerves anyway, and began to walk quietly through the well-trimmed lawn. She still had on her cloak, and she kept her head low as she trotted closer to the mansion. She was wearing some simple metal horseshoes, to hopefully mask her hoofprints. A trot turned into a gallop, as her heartbeat began to race once more. She wasn't sure if she was afraid or excited. She didn't want to be either. She almost was unsure of what she was doing here. Well... This place may have something good. And I tore out that page in that book, so I'm sure that no one will remember this address... That spell should have wiped that pony's recent memory clean. I'm fine. I'll be fine... She kept going with these thoughts, until she nearly ran right into one of the walls. She skidded to a halt just a foot away, then looked up at the rest of the building. There was a balcony far above her, on the second floor. That was her entry. Her heartbeat sped up a little, but she ignored it as she prepared. She used a spell to lift her cloak a little, leaving room for her wings to lift her up onto the balcony. As soon as she set foot on the smooth stone, she realized that there very well could be ponies in the room leading from this balcony's doors. Her heartbeat raced, begging her to turn around and leave at once. But she steeled the rest of her nerves anyways, and took a deep breath. The next couple of minutes flew by in a flash. She remembered opening the doors abruptly, stepping menacingly into a room, a startled gasp or two, a flash of her horn... And now... She stood over a pair of Unicorns. A couple, both with silver manes. Their features did not matter to her... But she found herself staring at them. She was horrified. They lay on their sides, noses touching. She... She couldn't have killed them. They weren't dead... They couldn't be... But she did, and she knew it in her heart. She'd killed this couple merely because they were rich and because somepony wanted them dead. They had to have done something wrong to get in that situation... right? She blinked a couple of times before she fully registered the scene. She'd broken into this estate, killed the owners, and nopony had come running... yet. Though, with the sounds of hoofsteps moving around so frantically earlier... She pricked her ears, as she kept her eyes on the couple. No sounds... No ponies patrolling, no pets coming to investigate... Everything was silent. She wasn't sure if it would be so bad to be captured now. ...No. No, I have to do what I came to do, she thought. She nodded to herself, and swallowed. After checking to be sure that they weren't breathing, she finally stepped away from the couple to investigate the room. It was a study, full of books and quills. There was a beautiful desk on either side of the room, and candles sat on them. She watched the tiny flames warily, as though they were judging her. But her heartbeat, still erratic, reminded her to look around for anything useful. She did so, scanning the bookshelves quickly. There were numerous books, and luckily she had brought along a saddlebag, but she could not take them all. She decided on Equestrian History: Your Guide, Common and Uncommon Spells for the Learning Unicorn... and another one, but she wasn't sure if she should take it. Time was of the essence. Shrugging, she placed Lullabies and Bedtime Tales from All Over! She'd need to know common knowledge if she was to ever fit in around other ponies. She then quickly searched for any Bits she could find. She found a couple of gemstones, but nothing else that would be of use. She put what she had found useful into her saddlebags and opened the doors into the rest of the house. Magic-fueled candles lit the hallways, and she was constantly aware that somepony else could be in the building with her. But she continued her search. She quickly combed through many of the other rooms; She found a few apples, a few ribbons to tie her mane with later, a tightly rolled-up blanket, and Bits. She was most excited about the Bits, however, as she found many in a small porcelain coin bank. She transported these into a pink coinpurse that she had also found. Her heartbeat had finally calmed a bit, and she felt ready to leave. Her hooves took her to the grand front doors, and she looked up at it, marveling at the intricacy carved into the wood. It felt good to be able to relax her nerves for a few spare seconds. But those moments were over soon, and she found her hoof touching the door. She fought the urge to look behind her, at all of the wonders in this home... And she felt a tugging at her heart. She'd never had a home like this. She felt that she never would, either. Can't I just stay here, and live in peace? Surely that old couple would love to have a young pony like myself taking care of their wealth... Oh, what am I saying?! I killed those ponies! The Divines will surely punish me for all of this! I'm stealing, I've committed murder and probably a couple of war crimes... She sighed and pulled the door open. It creaked loudly, but she knew there was nopony around to hear it. How could I be so stupid? Mother, forgive me... If I ever go back home... Divines know I won't for many years, as long as this guilt is on me... She began to hear her mother's lectures in the back of her mind, about how young and reckless she was... But she had already done the deeds. Who knew? Maybe this was a lesson sent by the Divines themselves. She would have plenty of time to ponder it later. The cool breeze beckoned her into the night, though she almost felt as though it was taunting her. She stepped out anyway, and wandered a few feet onto the stone porch. She looked out into the yard, as it was fairly large, and watched the trees ahead of her. Maybe they'd swallow her whole, and she'd be forgiven. Negative thoughts aside, she stepped a few more feet forward, and prepared to close the door magically when she realized she was missing her hind left shoe. She scowled and turned back around, determined to find it. Lavender froze in her tracks, staring wide-eyed at what sat before her. A foal, no older than a year of age, sat on his tiny cloth diaper while gnawing away at her shoe. He blinked up at her, making bubbly sounds. The Alicorn could not move. She couldn't think or speak. She just stared at him, magenta eyes devoid of anything but shock. Several heartbeats later, she felt herself swallow, and the thoughts came rushing to her. Who is this foal?! Where did he come from?! How-How could I have missed that there was a tiny foal just roaming about?! Why is he here, in front of me?! She had to take several deep breaths to stop herself from hyperventilating. She watched him as she tried to smooth her nerves and gather her thoughts. After another couple of minutes, she exhaled and began to think more calmly. This tiny foal must be that couple's child... Were there any baby books? she wondered as she studied him. He had a leaf-green mane, and his coat was sky blue. She couldn't tell for sure in the lighting, but he looked to have amber-colored eyes. He was a Pegasus. Two Unicorn parents... Perhaps he's adopted. No... No, he looks just like them... What do I do? He continued to moisten her shoe as she pondered. Should I kill him? NO! Why would that ever be an option?! She shook her head. I could leave him. I'm sure somepony would come looking for the family. But the risk is great... He could die before anypony would find him. I didn't see any baby books... This must have been their first child... And by the looks of it, he's so young that I wonder if anypony knows that he exists outside of this house yet... "Mamma?" The tiny voice was like ice water, and she found herself blinking in a dazed state before she could focus again on him. His eyes were focused on hers, and he continued to gnaw on the shoe as he mumbled again, "Mamma?" She watched him warily. "...No, little one. I'm not your mother... How could you not know your m--" There are no baby books... Your parents are rich individuals who are probably always busy... "Do you have a nanny?" she asked, lowering her head closer to his. "Nannn," he drooled. She sighed. She may not ever know, but it explained why the foal was exploring the house on his own. Perhaps his nanny, and the house's other staff, had gone home for the winter holidays. Winter. Her ears perked as she realized how cold it must have been to the child, outside. Leaving him alone was no longer an option. "...May I have that back?" She reached her hoof out to the toddler, beckoning for him to place the shoe back on it. He studied her hoof for a few heartbeats, before sloppily placing it back on. She felt the warm saliva squish against her hoof as she put her foot down, fixing the shoe. She grimaced, until the child yawned. She didn't know what she was doing, but she felt something tug at her heart. Maybe the Divines were punishing her. Maybe his parents' spirits were. Either way, she couldn't leave this foal to die. She couldn't leave him without a mother, either. She reached over to him with her magic and placed him on her back, despite his surprised squeaks. He was placed between her shoulders and wings, so that he would not fall off. She kept a bit of her magic still on him, just in case, and tucked her cloak around him. Only his head poked out from under the cloak. She craned her head around, to look at him as best as she could. His eyelids were drooping, as he was visibly tired. He yawned once more before he seemed to start dozing off. She watched him for several more heartbeats, until she looked forward again and sighed. Whether or not she took him to an orphanage or a foster home, she was his caretaker in the meantime. She turned back towards the forest and began her trot. She had originally planned on flying to someplace safe, but the harsh winter winds would do harm to her, and especially to her passenger. No, the forests of Equestria would be her shelter from the weather for now. They would be her home, as they had been for the past several months... She was a stranger in somepony else's land. To top it all off, her kind could be dying while she was leagues away from home.