Yearling lifted her sunglasses to get a more realistic view at the Manehatten skyline. It had been months since she had been here last and she did not look forward to the welcoming. Satisfied with the inspection, she lowered them back over her eyes and took a bite out of her meaty sandwich.
"It seems like no time has passed at all since I was stuck in the Animus." She mumbled.
"That happens. But time is short now. Octavia's writings have shown you the power of the Elements. It is time to retrieve them and return them to the Tree of Harmony before Ahuizotl creates new Bearers."
"I know, Twilight." Yearling scoffed. "We've been over it a thousand times. Are you always this persistent?"
"She is, darling." Rarity commented. "It took all of us a while to get used to it."
"When you guys are back in the Tree, does that mean you'll be out of my head for good?"
"Yes. Our souls would no longer wander and we would be at peace with Harmony. Until then, deal with us." Twilight stated.
Yearling only responded with a disappointed sigh. Whatever Ahuizotl was planning, it could not wait. She took one more bite before leaving her meal on the table. After dusting her hands of the crumbs, she brought her green hood over her head and left the area.
"Do you remember how you escaped the facility?"
"Not really, Twilight." Yearling answered. "I was kinda in a blur with all you guys swarming my head. Besides, I went out the front door. It'd be stupid to go in the same way."
"She has a point." Rainbow agreed.
"Also, we don't even know where they're hiding the Elements." Yearling added.
"We can sense the Elements." Rarity said. "Though with our far separation, it has waned. We'll know when we are in close proximity."
Yearling stopped in her tracks. Some pedestrians glanced at her because of her sudden abrupt halt. She didn't know where they were, but that did not mean one of the Ahuizotl employees didn't either. She could find one and get him to talk.
"We'll have to see an old friend of mine." Yearling told them.
"Ya guys sure about this?"
"Yes Yearling. The best way to enter is through the front entrance. It may not seem like what an Assassin would do, but I cannot think of another way."
Yearling paused and inspected the entrance to Ahuizotl Industries. The place was far more popular than when she left. The grand entrance was marked by a marble statue of Empress Celestia pointing heroically towards the street in front of the monstrous structure.
"Does this mean that they know of Celestia's true purpose?" Rarity gasped. "This is worse than I feared."
"But they can't access memories without me." Yearling pointed out. "I am the only person the Elements aren't hostile to."
"They could if they keep trying to force it out of them. But that could cost the lives of many people." Twilight explained.
"Then that'd be what they'd do." Yearling spat. "They wouldn't care about lives."
"We should start making our way inside."
Yearling took a deep breath and dug her hands into the pockets of her hoodie. There was a crowd of people going into the building and she forced her way into them. They took notice of her rude behavior but said nothing and went on in. She kept her head low and her eyes peered for anything.
"You know they have cameras, right?" Yearling asked.
"I have caught up with this era's technology." Twilight proudly stated. "These cameras are just as much of an advantage as they are a disadvantage."
"Pfft. Whatever you say. Your life ain't at risk here."
"No, but the world's is."
"Touche."
Yearling felt her eyes tingle and she blinked instinctively. The place became a dim blue and the people around her faded into the bluish shadows. Ahuizotl security was highlighted in red for her to see clearly. The ghosts in her body were letting her use Elemental Vision. It had taken some time for them to become synchronized enough to let her control her own body while they controlled her eyes. That bit of training relieved her greatly at this moment.
She suddenly saw a trail of golden footprints that went up the stairs to another location within the building. Curious, she slowed down and gazed at them.
"What do those imply?" She asked.
"Someone you desperately want to see just went by that way." Twilight answered.
"Doc..." Yearling breathed.
She was about to pursue these tracks when she hesitated and thought for a moment. Would Caballeron work with her? She needed a plan if he didn't. She then turned to the security officer. The holstered pistol on his hip could be seen perfectly in the Vision.
"I need that gun."
"I got this!" Rainbow said confidently.
Yearling felt her limbs start moving without her command. Her face tightened uncontrollably into a devious grin and her movements became firm and full of purpose. Yearling began to push every person between her and the officer out of the way. Her steps became quicker and harder as she approached him. Luckily for her, the Officer was looking the other way, occasionally scratching his itchy nose.
"Rainbow! You can't take him out right here! We don't want the whole building coming after us!" Twilight argued.
"Cool it, egghead. I'm not stupid."
Yearling slowed down as she came close to the officer. Rainbow's precise control made her hand slowly reach the holster. With the skill that only an Assassin could posses, she undid the latch that held the pistol down and slipped the gun carefully out of the holster. The pistol left the holster and she placed it inside the unzipped part of her hoodie.
Rainbow then pulled out a Ahuizotl business card that Yearling had in her pocket and threw it over to a water bottle that rested on a counter, knocking it over. The officer noticed the noise and was distracted by it as Yearling walked away.
The woman was relieved as Rainbow allowed her to have control again. She felt a strong sensation as the Bearer let go. It made her want to shiver.
"Rainbow! You could have compromised us!" Twilight yelled.
"Sheesh! We got a gun. We're good."
"Until he notices he doesn't have one..." Yearling mumbled.
The Elemental Vision took over once more and she followed the footsteps up the stairs. She soon found out that they led straight to the men's room. After she cursed under her breath, she moved on towards the socially restricted room.
"This is the worst so far..." She groaned.
"You know Canterlot had public wash houses where both sexes would clean in the same tub. What's bad about this?" Twilight asked.
"Shut up, barbarian."
"Huh? How rude!" Rarity huffed.
Yearling sighed and was about to enter the room when she remembered something. Where was Pinkie? She paused and mentally asked the question.
"We silenced her for this." Twilight explained. "We didn't want any distractions during this mission."
"It's not easy, trust me." Rainbow stated.
"Just go!" Rarity squealed.
Yearling squeaked and opened the door and jumped inside. Fortunately for her, there were no men outside the stalls or using the urinals. She tried to focus her mind. Her heart raced suddenly and began to crawl on the floor to see under the shut doors of the stalls. Caballeron always were the same shoes to work. He had been for years. She would recognize them on sight.
She saw them and gasped. Doc was right in the stall in front of her. His usual grumblings could be deciphered from the other side. Yearling stood up and was about to break open the door before pausing.
"That'd be rude. And I could see his junk...ugh." Yearling faltered.
"Just break it down! Who cares if he is shitting?" Rainbow yelled.
"I do! Rainbow, didn't I teach you proper behavior?" Rarity snapped.
"Shut up! You only taught me to be a snobbish bitch!" Rainbow growled back.
"Rainbow!" Twilight called shockingly.
"Bearers!" Yearling said aloud. "Focus!"
"Uh....hello?" Caballeron weakly ventured.
Yearling sighed and leaned on the stall. "Hey Doc. Wanna talk?"
"Gah!" Caballeron gasped. "It's you. I know that voice! Why are you here? Why are you in the men's room?"
"It's a really long story, bruh. Do you have a private place we could chat?"
"Not really. Your room has been monitored by that secretary, Raven. Well, there is one place..."
"Let me guess, a janitor closet?" Yearling suggested with a roll of her eyes.
"No, my office of course. But we'd have to take the elevator."
"That'd be risky."
"I can only hope that my presence would dissuade any suspicion. There is not much in this place that isn't monitored."
"It's worth a shot. And we' be closer to the Animus."
"This elevator takes forever."
"It needs to go up 76 flights."
"And yet you were on the main floor?"
"I had to check up on Rainbow Dash's section of the Entertainment Center. Make sure everything is up to date."
Yearling wanted to lift her head and look at him, but refrained to and kept leaning on the side of the rising elevator. The camera within the elevator spied at them with its unblinking eye. All she could see was Doc shuffling nervously beside her.
"So how has it been without me? I'm sure you got pretty stuck without someone to be in the Animus." Yearling chuckled to lighten the mood.
"Actually, we've had over 20 people go into the Animus since you left. Only about 6 have ever been able to go in there twice. However, the information we have acquired since then has been valuable, though I believe it wasn't worth the lives of those people."
"What do you know?"
"That the Bearers were more unstable than we anticipated. We have mainly been tracking Twilight and her dealings with the other Bearers. Who knew she was against the Assassins the whole time? It was like watching a TV drama. And also, we have followed Rainbow Dash before she became a Bearer herself. Life on the seas and meeting all sorts of supernatural creatures along the way."
"Anything else?"
"Well, we have gained some intel on the Crystal Heart."
"You say that so casually." Yearling observed.
"This is Ahuizotl Industries, did you really think we didn't know about it? We are this era's Templar. We knew all along."
"Then why do this?"
"Because Mr. Ahuizotl wants to find the Heart. But he needs to find those who bear its parts."
"But...But the Brotherhood is gone."
"Indeed." He nodded. "However, the Templar never died. They cannot die."
"Are you Templar?"
"Only in occupation. I do not hold their principals of Absolute Order any more than you do. I thought I did at one time, but I've gained my senses since."
The elevator stopped with a beep and the doors slid open. Yearling slowly lifted her head to walk out when she was met with a squad of Ahuizotl guards pointing their rifles at her. In the middle of them was a young secretary with rich black hair and large glasses. She had no emotion on her face and her arms were resting behind her in a rather professional manner.
"What are you doing, Raven?" Caballeron demanded.
The secretary ignored him. "Did you really think you could just walk in here unnoticed? We knew you were in Manehatten eight hours and thirteen minutes ago. You are bold, Miss Yearling, but not too bright."
Yearling responded by drawing her pistol out and firing. The wild shot missed the secretary and struck a guard in the shoulder. The guards quickly retaliated by grabbing her arm and throwing her to the ground. The pistol flew out of her hand and was picked up by a very calm Raven.
Yearling's mind began to go mad with the spirits inside her trying to take control, but none could bring the strength to resist the men that were on top of her. Her arms were drawn back and she felt the cuffs snap on her wrists.
the secretary peered down at her with indifference before returning her clam gaze to the doctor. "Dr. Caballeron, you are also in big trouble. You now have an appointment with Mr. Ahuizotl."
A guard took the man's shoulder and led him away down the hall. Yearling was forced to her feet and she stood restrained before the secretary. Raven slowly turned her head to her.
"And you, Assassin." She began harshly. "We know what resides within you. The very ghosts of the Elements. We cannot risk killing you because of this. But you shall not resurrect your dead Brotherhood. We will make sure of that. Guards, return her to her room."
"You bitch!" Yearling spat.
The secretary merely blinked at her without a care and then snapped her long fingers. The guards responded quickly and dragged Yearling down the hall, opposite the way Caballeron went. The voices in here head were panicking. All except one. A strange tingling rushed through her limbs as one Bearer was free again.
"Woo! We're caught! Yeah!" Pinkie cheered.
"Ah crap! Pinkie's out." Rainbow groaned.
"Guys! You aren't helping." Yearling said aloud.
Yearling's eyes darted to the guards who eyed her suspiciously. One tightened his grip on her arm, making her grimace. They, however, did not comment on her random shouting.
They stopped at a door at the end of the hall. One guard performed numerous tasks to just unlock the door. Once it was opened, she was led inside. It was the same room she had been living in before. Although most of the comforts they had given here last time were all gone. No coffee, no couch, no tables. Just one large rectangular device that she knew too well.
"And I thought I'd never see the Animus again..."
~