This chapter contains depictions of graphic violence, as well as mild language. Albeit it is not nearly as detailed as other stories, if you are disturbed, disgusted or alarmed in any way by the aforementioned gore, or offended by harsh language, no matter the severity of either topic, I suggest you continue with caution.
That was much more fun than I expected... I ran over the rooftops, thinking about the past few minutes. The fool, he had no idea. Heh, I guess I'm better at this than I thought. Still, they're making my job too easy. I leaped off of the building I was standing on as I neared the Equestrian camp. I was instantly greeted by a certain cyan-colored mare.
"Altaïr, you're safe!" She flew over to me with blinding speed. "We're doing well on the front. We've managed to drive them back!" She paused. "W-where's Spear? He's ok, right? Right?!" Worry overtook her features. I let my head droop slightly.
"Piercing Spear fell in battle." She stared at me in shock for a second, before collapsing into a seated position. She began to sob. Sorrow quickly turned to anger.
"Damn it! Why did it have to be him!" She struck the ground as her tears fell. "I... I'll kill them! Every last one of them!" She stood and turned. I put a hoof on her shoulder.
"Dash, be reasonable. No matter how skilled you are, it would be suicide to blindly charge into a horde of shape-shifting aggressors that won't hesitate to kill you." She stared at me with pained eyes, before closing her eyes and nodding. She wiped a tear from her eye.
"Alright then." I said. "Now, could you call the other Assassins back? I have important information for the Brotherhood only."
She nodded slowly, and wiped a tear from her eye. "O-ok..." She flew off back towards the front line. I grinned. idiot.
Eventually, she returned, the other Assassins in tow. I addressed them.
"I assume you're wondering why I called you back here?" They all nodded. "Well, I've called you here to give you a farewell." They were taken aback by this statement. Dash spoke up.
"Wait, you're leaving? After what just happened to us? To the Brotherhood?!" I shook my head.
"Oh no, I'm not the one who's leaving." I grinned. "You are."
One Assassin tried to speak. "Wha-" I dashed forward. Before any of them could react, I had lodged my blade in his throat. He stared at me in shock and pain, before collapsing.
"Altaïr! What are you doing?!" i looked back at her, a smile on my face.
"Something I've wanted to do for a long time." I replied calmly. The remaining Assassins stepped back, fearful for their lives, as they should be. I said nothing more as I drew my sword. Or rather, his sword. I charged.
The Assassins offered little resistance. Dash only stared in fear. I beheaded one, blood spilling from the stump where his head once laid. Another attempted to attack me. I swung the sword backhandedly, slicing the attacker in two. Blood, intestines, and other internal organs spilled out of the body. the bloodbath continued without pause, and I enjoyed every second of it.
Soon, only one Assassin remained. The Equestrian military was too afraid to attack me. In the midst of the bodies, standing in the blood of her fallen brothers, was Rainbow Dash. She broke the silence.
"Why?"
"Haven't you figured it out yet?"
"...No. You can't be one of them!" In response, I changed to my Piercing Spear disguise. She stared at me in a mix of rage, fear, and overwhelming sorrow.
"Who are you?" She asked a final question.
"Don't you recognize me, Rainbow Dash?" I put on a hurt face. "It's me, your brother, Piercing Spear!" I grinned evilly as realization set in. She stepped back slowly, before taking off into the sky. I decided not to pursue her. We'll catch her soon.
The changeling army swarmed the camp at that moment. The Equestrians were too occupied by the slaughter of the Assassins to organize. The changelings tore through them, leaving not a single pony alive. I reveled in the sight of it all. Not once did that smile leave my face.
Elsewhere
"Welcome back to the living world, Altaïr." A female voice stirred me from my slumber. I looked around quickly, immediately noticing that my legs were restrained.
"Who are you?!" I shouted angrily. She laughed heartily.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm the changeling queen, Queen Chrysalis!" She exclaimed, obviously pleased with herself. "And soon to be empress of Equestria." She added, taunting me. I felt my anger growing. I tried to move, but a searing pain in my chest caused me to collapse back down. She laughed at me, amused.
"Still so full of vigor! Of course, that will change in time." She smiled.
"You will never take Equestria. We won't let you!" I stated. She laughed again.
"Altaïr, if you refer to the Assassins, they are dead. Deception did a remarkable job dealing with them." My anger peaked. "Aw, are you angry?" She got right up close to my face. "Did you really think you could make a difference in this war?" Words died in my throat. I hung my head, defeated. "There you go!" She grinned.
"Well, I'll leave you to it. Guards, escort him to his 'chambers'." She flashed one more taunting look at me before leaving. As I was taken to my cell, one mocking thought repeated itself in my head. I failed...
Outside of Canterlot
I flew as fast as I could back to Canterlot. I could barely fly straight with all of the thoughts racing through my mind at once. Spear is a changeling, the Assassins are gone... What happened to Altaïr?! That last one scared me the most. But nothing could compare to what I saw when the mountain city of Canterlot came into view.
The city was bathed in green light from all of the blasts going off within it. I flew in closer. I saw guards, prisoners, being executed. Civilians being herded like mindless animals. The blood of both sides ran through the streets, bodies laying lifelessly in the blood of their brothers and sisters. It was horrifying.
Then I was seen.
They came at me like a whirlwind of black and green, dozens of them attacking me at once. I did the only thing I could do. Fight.
I dashed about within the swarm, making swift but deadly punctures at key points on each one I passed, causing them to drop instantly. I knew that I couldn't keep this up forever, though. So I waited for my opening. I stabbed a changeling, its blood spraying onto my leg. It fell lifelessly to the ground, revealing an empty route out of the bugs' death trap. I took that opportunity to escape, and the changelings decided not to follow. My retreat was not without guilt. I just left hundreds, maybe thousands to die... I thought as I flew to Ponyville. The small town fared no better than the capital. I was almost completely destroyed. The realization hit me like a train.
"No... damn it!" I swore as I struck the ground repeatedly. Again, the tears fell. A feeling of helplessness began to surface. It's over. They've won. I quickly suppressed those thoughts. No. I won't let it end like this. As long as I'm still standing, they will not win!
???
"Requiescat in pace, Altaïr."