//------------------------------// // Arc 1, Chapter 4: Royal Meeting (A.K.A. Obligatory Explanation Chapter 2) // Story: Assassin's Creed: Beyond // by Tryhard McFatface //------------------------------// I woke well rested, and made my way up the stairs. I could only assume Twilight and Spike were still asleep. I checked a 'clock', I had heard Twilight call it, and it read 5 AM. I can only hope this meeting goes well... I picked up the book on Equestrian history that I was reading yesterday, and turned to the page I ended on. Twilight came down the stairs a few minutes later. "Hey, Altaïr. Did you sleep well?" She trotted over, and I put the book down. "I did, thank you. So, you notified your friends of the meeting when you went out yesterday, correct?" I asked her. She nodded. "Yeah, I told them to show up somewhere around 8:45 though, so we would all be here when the princesses arrived." "Very well. But, before I do anything else..." I started to walk toward the door. Twilight followed. "Where are you going?" She came up beside me. "Follow, and I'll show you." I replied. She just cocked her head, but followed me out the door. She turned around to close the door. When she turned back around, however, I wasn't there anymore. "Wha- Altaïr?! Where did you go?" She looked around frantically, until she heard a rustling in the leaves above her. She looked up and saw my standing on a branch above her. "Huh? How did you get up there that fast?" "Come down, Altaïr! You'll hurt yourself!" Twilight called up to me. I didn't answer, and disappeared behind the leaves. I emerged on top of the tree, overlooking a portion of the town. I could probably get a better view from the larger building in the center of town, but that was for another day. I looked around for a bit, gaining my bearings. Something I noticed was that carts filled with hay would be drawn by frequently. I waited for one to appear, and, sure enough, one appeared after a minute or two. I waited for the cart to be in the right position, and jumped. I heard a gasp come from Twilight at I descended. I landed in the hay. I leaped out, and a very angry Twilight came walking over. The pony drawing the card looked back for a moment, confused, before continuing on his way. "This BETTER not become a common occurrence!" She yelled. I simply stared back at her. "Of course not. I only did it to gain my bearings." I replied. "You could've just asked me!" Twilight snapped back. "As you wish. I apologize for worrying you." I said as I walked past. Twilight sighed, and joined me inside. 8:40 AM, Twilight's Library "It's about time for my friends to be here. Are you ready to meet them, Altaïr?" Twilight walked over to me, and I looked up from my book. "Yes, I'm prepared. How many will be here?" Twilight thought for a moment. "Including me, eight. Nine if you add yourself." Twilight said. I nodded, and turned back to my book. Just then, a white mare, with an elegantly styled purple mane and tail, came through the door. She had a horn atop her head, and spoke with an accent vaguely reminiscent of an Englishman's. "Twilight, darling, it's good to see you!" She embraced Twilight for a brief moment. She then turned and noticed me. She shifted, and started to look uncomfortable. "Uh, who is this?" She asked, trying to sound calm, and failing miserably at it. "Rarity, this is Altaïr, the one I told you about." Twilight smiled, and Rarity forced one. She walked over. "Well, i-it's a pleasure to meet you, Altaïr..." She hesitantly extended a hoof, which I shook. "Ease your nerves Miss Rarity, I have no intention of harming you, or any of your friends." I assured her. She relaxed, and the smile became a bit more genuine. Two more mares entered the room. One of them I recognized as the mare at the apple stand. The other was a cyan color, with wings, a mane every color of the rainbow, and a tail to match. The rainbow one eyed me suspiciously. The orange one just smiled. "Yer the one ah saw at the market the other day, aren't ya?" I nodded. She came over to me. "I'm Applejack. Never caught your name though, stranger." She held out a hoof. "Altaïr. I apologize for startling you that day." I took her hoof, and she shook it with vigor. "It's alright. I just wasn't expectin' it." She walked over to chat with Twilight. The rainbow one introduced herself next. "I'm Rainbow Dash, fastest flier in Equestria!" Not the most humble one, is she? "It's a pleasure." We shook hooves. She steeled her expression. "Any funny business, and I swear it won't be pretty," she snarled at me. I merely stared at her. "I have no quarrel with you, but if you attack me, I will defend myself." She just glared at me before walking off. The pink mare I saw the day I arrived walked through the door about a minute later. She saw me, and dashed over. "Oh, it's you! Mr. Ninja Guy!" She was smiling wider than I thought possible, and she was inches from my face. I nodded, before speaking. "Indeed, but please, call me Altaïr. I am not a ninja." Whatever that is... "Okie Dokie Lokie!" She bounced off. What? Another mare, this one a pale yellow, walked through the door, her face half hidden by her pink mane, with wings at her sides. She was greeted by Twilight, but then the mare saw me, and froze. She shrank down, and hid behind her mane. I walked over, causing her to back off even more. I knelt down to her level. "Do not be afraid. I do not wish to hurt you, or any of your friends. I am Altaïr. Please, tell me your name." She showed her face, and spoke in an almost inaudible voice. "I-I'm Fluttershy..." it was difficult, but I managed to understand her. "It is very nice to meet you, Fluttershy." I dipped my head and stood up. Twilight was smiling at me. A flash of white light emanated from the center of the room. When it died down, there were two mares standing there, with guards on both sides of them. There were ten guards in all. The two mares both had wings, and horns, with crowns adorning their heads. I assumed that these were the princesses. The taller one was white, with a tricolor mane and tail, flowing in an invisible wind. The other, a navy blue, with a royal blue, sparkling mane and tail, also flowing in the nonexistent breeze. The white one smiled warmly, the dark blue one kept a blank expression. The other ponies bowed. The guards glared at me, and brandished their spears. One of them said, "Bow to the princess." I looked over at the one who spoke. We shared a tense moment before the taller princess stepped forward. "That's enough, guards. He doesn't have to bow," The guards looked at her, then back at me, and backed off. The princess turned to the others. "You may rise, my little ponies." They rose. Twilight grinned. "It's good to see you Princess Celestia!" The princess, Celestia, smiled back. "It's good to see you too, Twilight." She turned to me. "So, this is Altaïr, correct?" She asked. I nodded. "Greetings. I am Princess Celestia, and this is Princess Luna, my younger sister." Luna nodded. "It is an honor." I told them. Celestia smiled. "Alright. Give me a moment..." Her horn glowed a golden color, and then it died down. "I've soundproofed the library. Nopony else can hear us now. So, Altaïr, please tell us how you arrived, and what it is you do." I nodded. "If Her Majesty wishes. However, you may not like the answers to some questions, should you have any." Twilight, her friends, and the princesses nodded in understanding. I began my tale. "I was in my library. I had just sealed away the Apple of Eden, one of the relics called Pieces of Eden. The wielder of the Apple can project illusions, control the minds of others, and manipulate others to their will. I sat in my chair, awaiting death's embrace. Before I died, however, a bright flash of light blinded me. I woke in the field beyond this town, rejuvenated. I decided to trek here after gaining my bearings. The rest is known." The girls seemed lost in thought. The princesses' faces were void of any emotion. Celestia spoke up. "Interesting. Altaïr, Could you show us your cutie mark?" I hesitated, but agreed. Celestia took the back of my robe in a golden aura, and lifted it, revealing the Assassins' symbol. Everyone, er, everypony (sans Twilight) was confused now. I decided to elaborate. "This, friends, is the symbol of the Assassins." The guards (and Rainbow Dash) took a defensive stance. The rest of Twilight's friends, and Luna, were shocked, to say the least. Twilight started to look nervous and Celestia remained emotionless. "I understand if you do not fully trust me. However, it is not what you think it is. The Assassins are guardians of peace and freedom. We do not kill because we are hired to do so. We fight the Templars, those who wish to unite the world under their rule." I explained. Everypony calmed down, and Celestia stepped up to me. "I see. Altaïr, would you mind if I projected your memories to those present, so that we may better understand what it was you did?" I nodded slowly. Her horn glowed, and she touched it to my head. Memories began to flash past me, before stopping on one. The memory was projected in front of me, so the others could see. [[Ignore the Ubisoft intro and outro please]] It was strange, watching myself in third person. I turned back to the others, who stared at me in shock. The guards were glaring at me. The princesses did not show emotion. I sighed internally, for I knew this would be their reaction. I decided to speak. "Laa shay'a waqui'n moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine." They were all staring at me now, obviously confused. "Nothing is true, Everything is permitted." A few of them raised their eyebrows. "Why is that? at least something has to be true!" Twilight blurted out. I shook my head. "No matter how much you see to be true, there will always be something to refute that alleged truth. For what is explained, there is always something that came before it. Until the question of 'what came before?' is answered, what you say is true, cannot be." She opened her mouth to argue, but found no words. "Then, why is everything permitted?" Twilight pressed. "Sometimes, to do what is best, we must bend the law. The only way to permanently rid the world of the Templars, is to silence them." The ponies looked as if they wanted to refute that as well, but kept their peace. "However, we do have restrictions. The Assassins' Creed consists of three tenants. One, stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent. Two, hide in plain sight. Three, never compromise the Brotherhood. Breaking any of these tenants could result in severe punishment. I felt around my stomach, and, sure enough, the scar (somehow) was still there. I stood on my hind legs, and pulled up my robe, revealing the scar Al Mualim gave me when he stabbed me, after I failed to retrieve the treasure from Solomon's Temple. The Twilight and her friends gasped, and Luna's eyes widened slightly. "What tenant did you break, i-if you don't mind me asking..." Fluttershy spoke, just loud enough to hear. "All of them. Soon after that day, I changed. I became wiser, and I became a better man." A few of them raised an eyebrow. I understood why. "Where I am from, we refer to males as men, and females as women." A collective 'oh' rang out through the room. Celestia whispered to Luna, whose eyes widened. "Sister, are you sure that would be wise?" She said aloud. We turned to look at her. "I'm certain it will be fine, Lulu." Celestia replied. Lulu...? "Altaïr?" Celestia said. I turned. "I would like to test your potential in open combat. Would you care to spar with my guards?" I thought for a moment. "How many?" I asked. "All of them, if you wish." She said. I nodded. "Very well. I accept." The other princess was taken aback by my answer. She walked over to Celestia. Celestia smiled, and beckoned for us to come outside. We got situated. Twilight and her friends looked worried, as did Luna. Celestia sat there calmly. The guards sported cocky grins at the took their positions. I stood on my hind legs, and took a stance, confusing those present, including Celestia, if only for a brief moment. "You know the rules. No weapons, no magic, no flying. Altaïr wins of he defeats all of you. Is this clear?" Celestia spoke. A few ponies had gathered to watch as well, by then. "Yes, princess!" The guards yelled in reply. I nodded. "Alright. Begin!" Celestia announced. One of the guards charged head-on. I spun around him, and kicked him in the back of his head, sending him flying. He hit the ground, and didn't get up. This shocked the spectators, especially That cyan mare, Rainbow Dash, and Princess Luna. The guards froze for a brief moment, before getting angry. Two more charged on either side, in an attempt to throw me off. I jumped backwards, and the charging guards skidded to a halt. Before they could attack again, I grabbed one and threw him into the trunk of the library, knocking him out. the other tried to strike me with a left hook. I grabbed the offending leg, took his head in my other hoof, and struck a knee to his face. He collapsed. Seven to go. I went on the offensive, grabbing a guard from the semicircle around me and throwing him into another. Before any of the guards could react, I grabbed the two fallen guards and slammed their heads into the ground. The crowd was growing larger, and they were cheering very loudly. I noticed a guard take a swing at me out of the corner of my eye. I ducked, causing the attack to brush over my head. Before he could recover, I hit him under his jaw, sending him onto his back. He was trying to get back up, so I hit him again. His neck whipped around, and he was out of the fight. I turned to the remaining four. Their previous confidence was replaced by nervousness. one of them tried to charge at me. I dodged and brought an elbow down on his back. He fell, but was still conscious. I let him rise high enough for me to be able to get a clean strike on him. I struck the back of his neck, and he fell again, this time having lost consciousness. Two charged at me this time. I knelt down, and extended my forelegs, tripping them. One of them got up faster than the other, so I grabbed the one still attempting to rise, and threw him into the standing guard. Their heads collided, and they fell to the ground, not moving. The final guard surrendered. I turned around to walk away. As I did so, he tried to attack me from behind. I heard hooves, and numerous gasps. I spun around to see a hoof flying at my face. I barely had time to block it. "How dishonorable." I said as I violently twisted his leg. He cried out, and I hit him in the gut with my free hoof. He gasped, and I dropped him. He fell to the ground, writhing in pain. The crowd roared as I stood over the ten fallen guards. Celestia waved her hoof, and everypony quieted down. "Altaïr, I'm impressed. You've taken down ten of my guards, without taking so much as a single hit. Well done." I nodded. "Thank you, Your Highness." She giggled at my words. "Please, call me Celestia." She turned to the crowd. "Thank you my little ponies. You may return to your previous tasks." Their disappointment was evident as they dispersed. "Altaïr, I'm afraid me and my sister must take our leave. We appreciate you taking the time to explain." I nodded. There was a bright flash, and the princesses and their guards were gone. Twilight and four of her friends started whispering about something, and the cyan mare shot over. "That was AWESOME! Where did you learn to fight like that?!" I shook my head. "We all have our secrets." I stated. She flapped off, a bit depressed. "Although..." She turned around. "I could teach you some of what I know, if you are confident you can do it." She flew back up to me at blinding speed. "YES! Yes, I'll do it!" She shot off into the sky, and did a few aerial techniques before flying down to me. "So, what time do you want to meet?" I thought for a moment. "Is eight in the morning reasonable?" She nodded enthusiastically before flying off. A mentor never rests...