Canterlot Castle Gardens, 7:00PM
I came upon my two pupils, who were conversing with each other. I overheard Rainbow say "Shouldn't he be here by now?" I took this as my cue to step forward.
"I'm impressed that neither of you left." They wheeled around to see me standing there, two strange objects in my possession. "You will need patience in the future, should you follow through with this." Spear was standing there, as if expecting something. Rainbow was a bit more vocal.
"Where have you been, we've been waiting for am hour!" She tried to hide her annoyance, but it was easy to detect. I set the objects down and turned to face her.
"I understand your annoyance, Rainbow, but you need to learn." She stared at me, confused. "I was late on purpose. I wanted to test your patience." I turned to Piercing Spear as Rainbow sat there, not-so-silently muttering to herself.
"Well done." I said simply. He nodded. I turned back to Rainbow Dash. "Dash, get up. You're going to spar with Piercing Spear." She sat up and smirked. "Don't be overconfident. That will lead to recklessness, and, in a combat situation, defeat." She sank back down a bit, and stood up.
Both of them took their preferred stances. Rainbow, predictably, took on a more offensive style, as I had seen her do at our training sessions. It was evident that Spear had been practicing diligently, developing his style. His stance was much more effective, tailored to a balanced fighting style. Despite this, he still let some nervousness show. This should be interesting. Dash's stance provides no easy method of defense, which should make it easy for Spear to get through, but will he have the confidence to attack?
"The first to fall loses. Are you both ready?" They nodded simultaneously, never looking away from one another. "Good. Now, begin!" Dash made the first move, lunging forward for a jab aimed at Spear's muzzle, he was barely able to swat it away. Dash followed with a strike at his midsection, which he was not prepared for. The blow sent him staggering backwards, and Dash pressed her advantage, pressuring him to block every strike, not letting him counter.
"Dodge, Spear!" I semi-yelled at him. He heard me, and managed to duck a strike. He took the opportunity, and landed a blow to her stomach. She winced in pain, and stumbled backwards. She glared at me, and I returned the favor. Spear saw his chance, and by the time she was able to turn her attention back to her opponent, he was already upon her.
His first shot connected with her face, and she reeled back. Spear tried to maintain the advantage, but Dash was quick to recover. The two exchanged punches and kicks for a while. Some connected, but most were blocked. Without any dodging.
"Ugh..." Another easily avoidable blow landed on Spear's face. "Dodge!!!" I yelled, louder this time. They paused for a second, stunned that I had raised my voice, but quickly got back to fighting, and they began dodging attacks as well as blocking them, drastically lowering the number of hits they both took.
Eventually, Spear got the upper hand. They were both tired, that much was evident, but when Dash tried to break away and catch her breath, Spear caught her with a powerful kick to the side. She could not recover, and fell on her back. Dash groaned as she sat up, defeated. Spear was panting heavily, but I knew he was smiling on the inside.
"Well done, both of you." I helped Dash to her hooves. "I believe you are ready to begin your proper training." Both of them looked at me, confused.
"Proper training...? Aren't you... already... training us?" Spear asked between breaths. I nodded.
"Yes, but it is time you two learned the ways of an Assassin." Dash's eyes widened, and Spear looked at me, curious, but with a hint of fear shining through. "I refrained from telling you until you were alone, Spear. The Assassins were a brotherhood from my homeland, formed to protect our race from the Templars, who wish to control us all." Spear could only nod as he took this in.
"Now, I want to begin anew." I picked up the two hidden blades. "Put these on." They hastily did so, but I had to tell Dash to flip hers around. "Now, flick your hoof." They both jumped when the blade sprang out of its hiding place.
"W-wow..." Spear said, astonished. Dash could only stare at it.
"Does this mean..." Dash trailed off. I nodded.
"First, however, you must learn our Creed." They looked up.
"Creed?" Spear asked. I nodded again.
"The Creed consists of three tenants you must never break. One, stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent. Two, hide in plain sight. Three, never compromise the Brotherhood. The maxim of this Creed however, is our philosophy. Nothing is true, everything is permitted." Spear stared in stunned silence, and Dash just stared. "Do you swear to follow this Creed, whatever the cost?"
"I do." They said in unison.
"Good. Now, my brother and sister, you are Assassins. The New Brotherhood begins with you." They smiled, and I smiled too.