I faded into the crowd of overdressed dignitaries that flooded into the manor/fortress.
I coughed, stumbling momentarily, and gasped for breath. In my younger days I would've just climbed the tower and finished this the 'ol fashioned way, but not anymore.
The fading in my coat and the white in my mane weren't the only things old age had given me, now I had medications for everything scratches, burns, and other injuries refused to heal. I had plenty of those.
"Are you okay," a mare asked from beside me, but I shrugged off her offered hoof.
"No. I haven't been okay for a long time," I confessed, panting under my hood. Everything had gotten so much harder, the Brotherhood had fallen apart and my arch nemesis, the captain of the Templars, was eluding my blades even after three centuries of hunting.
"What happened," she asked, gently pushing me to a nearby crate.
"Which are you, a guard or a doctor," I asked, slowly seating myself on the aging wood next to my newfound ally.
"I'm a physiatrist," she answered politely, giving me a mug of water.
"Ah, a doctor for the mind," I drank the fluid in a single, grateful gulp, "I didn't think you would have offices this far away from the Capitol."
She laughed, a light, ethereal sound, "You don't know how long I've been looking for somepony who doesn't think I'm a witch."
"I thought the Tolerance Act fixed all that prejudice against mare doctors," I said, checking the buckles on my bracers. 'These things are older than I am.'
"Yes, it did. Legally anyways, but psychiatry is still a new field out here."
"Thank you," I said as I took one of my many pills.
"I haven't done anything yet," she responded, with a scary emphasis on the 'yet'.
"...and just what were you planning on doing," I inquired, returning the oddly shaped bottle to my pocket.
"You said you haven't been okay for some time, right?"
I nodded cautiously, bracing myself for a fight out of instinct.
"Well, I'm planning on getting you better." She smiled honestly at me and offered me a hoof.
Luna's night skies fade in comparison to that smile. "You want to treat me, at a masquerade ball?"
She shrugged, "where else can I safely get all of your secrets?"
It was hard not to be swept away in her joy and passion. She didn't get too many patients, but those that came to her had a 110% success rate.
She outright beamed at everypony we passed as we slowly made our way to the castle, she didn't mind my slow pace it seemed. I passed the time silently analyzing escape routes and guard posts. I needed to know what weapons they carried, how many there were, and which ones could be convinced to leave their posts. In particular a single Pegasus stood out to me, she was a recent graduate of the Clousdale Academy and was already in command, but that wasn't the first thing I noticed. No, what drew my gaze was her mane. It was simple, short and well kept, but it had all kinds of colors racing through it in single bands.
"I've never seen one like that before..." I thought aloud, subconsciously moving towards the Pegasus. I needed a better look, maybe she was the one.
"Hey, old coot this area's off limits," she shouted, baring her pike in my direction.
"Huh? What was that?" I questioned, playing off of my age, "I'm sorry dear, but I'm a bit deaf on my right side."
She exhaled, visibly relaxing, "Sorry, sir. I thought you might be somepony else."
"Oh, don't worry about that," I pulled her close, sticking a scarab on her armor with a soft click, "happens to me all the time."
She smiled at me, "you're pretty amazing you know that..."
"I've been told that before, but less often these days."
"That's a beautiful blade," she pointed to the short sword swinging idly from my belt, "may I?"
I steadied my shaking hoof, and slowly brought out my father's sword for the captain.
Gracefully she took it, examining it with more precision than a surgeon, "Griffon refined steel...dragon forged." She tapped the blade with her hoof, watching the tiny sparkles flicker into the air like stray snowflakes, "and enchanted. Wow...this has to be the best one I've seen in my life, this baby belongs in a museum somewhere." She skillfully flipped the sword in the air before returning it to my waiting hoof.
I sheathed the blade and started off towards my waiting therapist companion.
"You just raise more and more questions," she told me, wearing a thoughtful frown, "what kind of stallion comes to a party armed?"
"One that has a family heirloom," I answered, continuing down the sparsely populated street.
"You must have had a wealthy family," she pointed out as she trotted next to me, "the way that guard was going on about your sword makes it sound expensive."
"We definitely had enough to live on," I confirmed her observation. "There were a few of us who were roudy, and a bit reckless, but we made it through all right I think." I stopped at a small wooden bridge that connected the separate districts of the city. The stream beneath was shallow and cool. I remembered being thrown into it on many occasions.
"You remembering something," the doctor asked, she was taking notes now, and still in high spirits. Mysteries excited her apparently.
I sank to my haunches, leaning against the bridge and watched the clouds for a couple moments in silence. "Rider, Storm Rider."
The doctor tipped her head like a drunk trying to read a distant menu, "what was that?"
"My name, Storm Rider. What's yours?"
She stood straighter, "Dr. Emerald Darling."
"Well, Darling...it seems we're stuck with each other for a while. Or you could go on," I nodded towards the starting party, "and enjoy yourself with colts your own age."
"Please, Mr. Rider, one patient at a time," she sat across from me and glanced at me over her notebook and floating pencil. "Care to tell me a little about yourself, what's your story?"
I really considered telling her what was actually weighing down my soul. What I've borne for almost three centuries, but the last time I confided in another pony...
"Revenge," I decided after long contemplation.
"I'm sorry....?"
"My story, it's one of revenge mostly. A few other elements of course, but the overlaying drive would be revenge." I elaborated, leaning heavily against my wooden support.
"Alright then..." Emerald muttered, scratching away for a while against the glowing scroll she held in her magic.
'She's too young for this kind of severity, it's crazy that she would even be here. Talking to me is just a waste of her youth, she could be marrying one of the nobles at the party and getting a family and fortune. Instead she's wasting her time and talents on a sick, old stallion reaching the end of his road.' I studied her for a while, expecting to see the red cross of the Templars, but nothing was there. No ring, no blade, nothing.
"So...," she asked, gently clearing her throat, "why the hood and robes. I'm sure there's a lot more comfortable things on the market."
I felt a grim smile pull at the corner of my cracked lips, "you ask a lot of questions, don't you?"
She smiled proudly, "it's my job, Storm. Without information I can't help ponies feel better."
"And my choice of apparel is medically relevant?"
She giggled, "you never know."
"The cowl came from my father's wardrobe, there's been varying pieces and enchantments added over the years," I explained, I couldn't help but smile. Even with my road ending and the Templar rat still alive there was something magical about talking here, next to this peaceful stream.
I pulled a stray gemstone from my belt and started carving. It was a little idiosyncrasy I picked up in Saddle Arabia when I befriended the sultan's grandfather...Wow, I'm really old.
"So...where did you grow up, what did you do as a foal?" Emerald asked at length, interrupting my wondering thoughts.
"There was a lot of work to do at home, and father was very strict about physical and mental training so we were mostly educated at home. I finished out my later years at...well, the school used to be right over there; actually." I pointed to a small park with a memorial fountain. I didn't know they took down the schoolhouse.
"I assume the graduating class of 400." Emerald said with that thoughtful smile she always has.
"You flatterer," I laughed, "Class of 390." I showed her the horseshoe to prove it.
"how old are you...?" Emerald thought aloud, mystified as if I had turned into one of the Immortals right in front of her.
"Too old," I groaned as I forced myself to my hooves, "shall we join the party, milady?"
She beamed, giggling, "all you're missing is a..."
"A single rose," I asked offering her the flower I'd made out of a spare emerald.
Emerald gasped, "oh, it's beautiful."
"Like someone I know," I said as I fastened it to her collar with care.
"Shall we dance, Storm?" Emerald offered, gesturing to the wide courtyard.
My attention was locked on to the staircase that I knew he would have to descend, 'When he gives the speech, then I'll strike.' "Maybe something to drink first," I offered guiding Emerald towards the refreshments and away from the crowd and guards.
"Okay, I guess we can do that," she agreed, a hinting of concern dragging down her smile, "besides, it'll give us more time to discuss business..."
We arrived at the white tablecloth covered tables in short order, the stallion behind them was busy mixing drinks, and didn't care to eavesdrop. But I wasn't going to take any chances.
"Emerald," I motioned for her to move closer, "do you care for me?"
"Of course," she backed off searching what she could see of my face under my hood.
"I can't bring myself to hurt you, but things are going to happen tonight. I'm sorry, but I'm going to do something that's...very scary, and when you hear thunder I want you to run okay?" I pressed my sheath into her shaking hooves, "I want you to take this to Rosie's Bar in Ponyville, ask for Mr. and Mrs. Apple. They'll explain everything, tell them that the wolf has howled his last. Can I trust you to do that?"
"Go to Rosie's Bar in Ponyville and tell the Apples that the wolf has howled his last." She gave me a long, sad stare that would haunt my dreams for years, "what are you going to do?"
I took a shot of the strongest liquor I could find and downed it, "Who, me? I'm going to retire."
The pompous snake waltzed onto the landing and started his address, "I have to go, if I live I'll find you again, okay?"
"What?" Emerald demanded as I vanished into the swirling crowd of ponies and colors.
I worked my way to the front of the crowd, right next to the rails they had set up for the event.
"Ponies of Equestria, I have a special treat for you all," he shouted above the dull roar of conversation and speculation in the sea before him. "May I present the infamous assassin, Storm Rider."
My eyes went wide in shock, how could he have known?
His gaze locked onto my frozen one, "any last words, street rat?"
A cold sweat poured down my neck, the guards were closing in, and time slowed to a grinding halt like a carriage when you slam on the brakes.
Thunder rang through the palace, ponies screamed and ran for cover, and the old stallion collapsed mortally wounded to the marble....
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