Sunset Shimmer felt the cool winter air bite into her exposed flesh and pierce through her thick defense the instant she opened the van’s door, quickly wishing she hadn’t.
Applejack whistled and tipped her hat lower to her eyes. “This cold’s really pickin’ up speed. Won’t be long before we need a full winter attire.”
“I’m p-pretty sure we a-already need one…” Fluttershy chattered her teeth as she zipped up her coat.
“Is the place nearby?” Rarity whined. “This cold isn’t good for my hair!”
Sunset didn’t know how High Noon was standing with them in a short sleeved coat. The Assassin turned and pointed to the lone building right at the top of the hill, a few meters from their position. Tall and foreboding, the building was a castle-like manor house built of dark grey stone. Towers and turrets speared toward the sky, and an ornate iron gate stood watch outside the atrium. Somewhere in the distance, Sunset could hear the ocean waves; the structure must have been built close to the seaside, but in the evening light, she couldn’t make out much more than that.
“Right there, kids,” High Noon beckoned the girls. “Come on. It’s warmer inside.”
“It better be...” Rarity muttered before following the rest of the girls up the short incline.
Only when they got closer did Sunset notice two hooded figures on the roof, looking down at them. Sunset was sure she could see the look of surprise on their faces, but then again, she might’ve only been imagining it, seeing as their hoods covered most of their faces.
“Wh-who’re they?” Fluttershy pointed a trembling finger to the roof.
“Just guards, don’t worry,” Velvet explained. “We need people up there to watch the surrounding area for any sign of Templars.”
“Even in this weather?” Rarity continued to pick at her hair, much to the annoyance of Applejack.
“It’s our duty,” High Noon took over, talking to them from the front of the group. “We do it to keep the others safe. Sometimes, sacrifice is necessary to keep the others alive, even if the weather is against you.”
Arriving at the entrance of the bureau, which were a set of metal doors, High Noon waved to two more Assassins inside, who immediately looked to the group he had brought with him.
“Noon, what’s the meaning of this?” one of them, an Assassin with orange hair asked. “You were supposed to bring back Velvet and the Sunset Shimmer girl, not the rest of the school.”
“I know, I know…” High Noon raised both palms up. “Hang on. I’ve obviously got an explanation. You see… uh… well, um…” He leaned over to Velvet and whispered to her. “Kid, help me out here. I’m kinda at a loss for words…”
Velvet sighed and stepped past him. “Wolfgang knows Sunset’s connection to the other girls. If the Templars learn about them, they could very well be in danger as well. If we want to keep Sunset with us and out of Templar hands, then her friends stay as well.”
“But that doesn’t mean we just bring them all here,” the Assassin thrust both his hands forward. “Now they know us Assassins exist!”
“Wreckhouse is right,” the other guard Assassin, a woman with dark blue skin, spoke. “There’s a reason the cops have yet to catch us. They don’t know we exist. If people figure out what we do, that’s it for us.”
“This girl is important, Tangent,” High Noon tried to get his point across. “The Templars need her for something. They cannot be allowed to get to her. That’s why her friends are here. The Templars can’t use them as leverage against her.”
“B-But… ugh…” the one called Wreckhouse placed a hand over his face and shook his head. “Well, too late to do anything about that now. I just hope you know what you’re doing, Noon. You know how… you know how Frigid is now.”
“Oh, I know, don’t you worry,” High Noon clapped his fellow Assassin on the back. “Alright, we’ve got the green light. Follow me.”
The inside of the building had a huge main lobby, filled with potted plants and benches positioned evenly around the entire space. A huge marble staircase in the middle led up to what looked like a single room, while two more staircases, one on each side of the lobby, lead up to what was likely the rest of the bureau. Another door seemed to lead further back into the depths of the building.
They were only halfway up the stairs when another Assassin ran up behind them, catching their attention. She had white hair with green streaks, and Sunset remembered her from the computer screen back at Velvet’s home.
“Velvet!” the Assassin called and grabbed her in a hug. “You’re back!”
“Yeah, good to see you too, Morning Blade,” she shifted to avoid pressure on her arm. “Morning, about the others here…”
“I was going to ask about them, yes,” she released the younger girl and stood up straight. “But I figured High Noon can fill me in later.”
“It’s a long description, Morning,” the Assassin rubbed the back of his head. “Anyway, has there been any news from Dewdrop? Is she alright?”
Morning Blade put a hand to her chin. “Afraid not. We’ve tried contacting her several times, but with no success. But I wouldn’t be too worried, Noon. This isn’t the first time she’s gone AWOL on us.”
“I hope you’re right…” He looked almost disappointed for a second before remembering the girls were still here. “Oh, right, let’s move on. The Mentor’ll want to see you. Morning, do you know where Frigid is?”
Morning shrugged. “Knowing him, he’ll either be in his room, his office, or in the Mentor’s office. I’d say your best bet is to check her office first.”
“Well, alright. Just where we’re headed,” he nodded. “You coming with us?”
“Nah. I got some work to do over in the library. I’ll see you around, Noon.” And with that, Morning Blade went back down the stairs and back up another set, disappearing into a side door.
“Come on,” Velvet called her friends. “Let’s get to the Mentor’s office.”
“Gee, this looks like a real large place,” Applejack tilted her head up to look at the high ceiling. “How many Assassins do ya have here anyhow?”
High Noon’s shoulders seemed to slump. “About twenty-five,” he confessed.
“And this is your main base?” Rainbow queried, her forehead creased in puzzlement. “Doesn’t seem like a lot.”
Pinkie Pie suddenly hopped up in front of him and bounced around. “And how many do the Templars have? Is your Mentor just ahead? Is she super awesome?”
Her question was put on hold when the Mentor’s door swung open, revealing a pale yellow-skinned man in a white hood, with what looked like lots of armor all over his body.
“What is the meaning of this?” he yelled, immediately turning his attention to the cowboy Assassin. “We said Velvet and the asset. That was it.”
“W-Well, there were complications, Frigid,” High Noon fumbled. “We found out Wolfgang knows of Sunset’s friends. They could be used as leverage, s-so we brought them here…”
“And now they all know of us, Noon,” Frigid pointed at each one of them. “Civilians. We’re to keep them out of our affairs. It doesn’t matter if they’re targets. One of them here was more than enough. Mentor would agree. She specifically said to only bring the two of them. Oh, and welcome back, Velvet.”
“I couldn’t just leave them there,” High Noon retorted. “They’re just kids, Frigid. They wouldn’t know the first thing about protecting themselves from Templars.”
Frigid placed two fingers on his forehead and rubbed it. “Look, Noon, it doesn’t matter. We can’t be doing this with every civilian out there. This is going against the Creed. Velvet, why didn’t you stop him?”
“She did,” High Noon quickly added in, stopping Velvet as she opened her mouth. “B-But I told her doing this would be safer for them.”
“Of all the-” Frigid broke off and scowled. “You’re supposed to do as you’re told, High Noon. If every Assassin starts making decisions for themselves, where would we be?”
“We might be in a better place,” a woman’s voice said gently, just loud enough to be heard.
Sunset looked past the Assassin lieutenant to see a woman clad in some kind of armor, along with a red tattered cape going down one arm, and a golden sword at her side, tucked away in its gilt sheath. Her hood was off, baring a youthful purple face. But the most striking thing about this newcomer was her hair. Multicolored in various shades of purple and pink, the tumbling locks glittered like gemstones in the hallway’s electric lighting. A sword was belted at her side, the pommel gleaming gold.
“Mentor,” Frigid swiftly turned to her. “High Noon’s brought more than you asked for. Isn’t that against our Creed? He said they’d all be safer here.”
“And he’s right,” the Assassin Mentor said, her voice never rising above a conversational volume. “Whatever the cause, these children are safer here than any other place in the world. Well done, High Noon, though I would like to hear the reason behind your decision as well.”
High Noon looked to Velvet and prepared his speech once more. “Well, Mentor, y-you see, Wolfgang probably knows of their connection to Sunset Shimmer. He could probably use them for leverage to take her from us, so we brought them here as well.”
The Mentor nodded calmly. “You did well, High Noon. I’ll take it from here.”
Frigid looked appalled. “Mentor, but-”
“Not now, Frigid Night. I would speak with them first. Come, children.” The Mentor headed back into her office after beckoning the girls to follow. Sunset brushed past the Assassin lieutenant, taking some small amount of pleasure from his shocked face.
The inside of the Mentor’s room was dominated mostly by bookshelves that were piled high with files and binders, an ornate wooden desk, and a king sized four poster bed.
“I apologize for the lack of sitting space,” she said as she stopped by her desk. “Please, make yourselves comfortable wherever you please.”
“Sweet!” Rainbow Dash immediately went for the bed and sat on it. The others stared at her, but she simply shrugged back. “What? She said wherever we please.”
“It’s fine,” the Assassin Mentor motioned for them to do the same. “You may sit on my bed.”
Sunset elected to sit on the floor, just beside the bed. “So what did you want to speak to us about, uh… I’m sorry, how do we address you?”
Without warning, the Mentor’s sword let out a low hum and began to vibrate in its scabbard, followed shortly by a plume of golden sparks.
“Uh… Is that normal?” Rainbow bent closer and asked.
Then Sunset felt it. Something warm welling up within her as the sword continued to jump in its sheath. The feeling was almost that of casting magic from a horn. Something Sunset had left behind a long time ago.
When the lights finally faded and the sword still, the Assassin Mentor placed both hands over it and looked up at Sunset, a look of understanding on her face.
“So that’s why the Templars want you…” she whispered before unbuckling the sheath from her side.
“Mentor, what was that?” Velvet blinked a few times and looked at the golden blade.
“Wooooow!” Pinkie popped her out from behind Rainbow, and then Fluttershy, who shrunk back with a soft squeal. “Does that sword have some kind of power? What is it made of? It that magic?”
“Hold your horses, Pinkie!” Applejack pulled her back down before she could start wrecking the place. “Let her speak at her own time.”
Even the Mentor seemed at a loss for words. “I… I… I need time to think. Velvet, please take them to the canteen. I’m sure you children haven’t had your dinner yet.”
“Yes, Mentor,” she nodded and moved for the door. “Come on, girls. Follow me.”
Once the door was closed behind them, Rainbow Dash stepped up and pulled Sunset back to her and whispered in her ear, though not very quietly. “What do you suppose that was, Sunset? Is it some kinda magical weapon? Maybe it can like, shoot fire or something!”
“Velvet, do you know anything about it?” Sunset tossed the question over.
“I’ve heard the stories,” she replied. “But I haven’t seen any of it myself. From what I heard, the Mentor can wipe out whole armies with it, but at the cost of her own life force.”
“Whole armies?!” Rainbow Dash squished her cheeks together. “That’s sooo awesome! Where can I get one of those?”
The girls continued to chat about the Mentor and her weapon all the way to the canteen. Pushing open a set of double doors, Velvet led the girls into an expansive room, which bore some resemblance of their school’s cafeteria. It even had the part where you move along a line to get your food.
“This is how you Assassins eat?” Rarity examined the worn out blue trays and eating utensils. “I won’t get sick eating this, will I?”
Sunset was still concentrated on what she saw and felt in the Assassin Mentor’s office, not paying attention to anything her friends were saying. She had felt something familiar, reminding her of home. Of Equestria. Could the sword have somehow gained magic properties? Or was it a weapon from Equestria? Even the Mentor struck Sunset as different. She had yet to meet anyone else with hair like that.
“Hello? Sunset? Are ya there? Hello?”
Sunset shook her head and blinked hard before returning to reality. It seemed during her time thinking, she’d already gotten some of the meatloaf the canteen was serving and had found a table to sit at with her friends.
“You alright there, Sunset?” Rarity pointed a fork at her. “Did something happen?”
“No, it’s nothing,” she waved them off. “Just had a lot on my mind is all.”
“Well, howdy, kids,” High Noon walked over with a tray of his own. “Mind if I join you?”
“Oh, sure.” Sunset scooted over a little to make room for the Assassin.
“So…” he looked at the girls eagerly. “What did the Mentor say? Any idea why the Templars are after you?”
“She didn’t exactly say anything, High Noon,” Velvet told him. Instead of the meatloaf, she had gotten a plate of assorted fruit. “But… Something weird happened. Her sword kind of went crazy for a bit. Like, shaking and sparking crazy. Seen anything like that before?”
“Crazy, you say?” High Noon placed a hand under his chin and hummed. “Can’t say I have. The only really crazy thing I’ve seen is Mentor burning out a building full of snipers.”
“We’ll have to wait and see, I suppose,” Rarity went back to her meal. “All we can do now is make assumptions. Nothing concrete. Why don’t we just sit back, relax, and enjoy our dinner?”
“Sounds good to me,” Applejack said as she began slicing her piece of meat into more portions. “By the way, High Noon, Ah’ve been meanin’ to ask ya. How long have ya known my cousin?”
“Aw, hay, he and I used to hang out when we were young back in Appleloosa. I haven’t seen him for years now. How’s he doing?”
Applejack swallowed a mouthful of food. “He’s doin’ good. Still working on that apple farm, if Ah remember right.”
“Yeah, your family always had a thing for apples,” High Noon chuckled, reminiscing the old times. “Makes me wonder if I’d have gone into the business with him if I hadn’t become an Assassin.”
“Um, how did you become an Assassin?” Fluttershy asked politely. “If you don’t mind telling us, that is. Were you as young as Velvet when you joined?”
Sunset leaned closer, eager to hear the story.
“Nah, I don’t mind. Thing is, I used to be a Templar.” Smiling at the collective gasp, High Noon continued, “When I first left Appleloosa to look for work, they hired me as a bodyguard. I thought their goal was just and great, but wow, I sure was wrong.”
“Then what happened?” Sunset asked, intrigued by the story.
“Well…” High Noon paused and his smile dropped. “Wolfgang happened. If you didn’t see the news back in the day, that individual was a dangerous killer, wanted for multiple murders across the country. Once the Templars hired people like him, I knew something was wrong. That guy scares the life out of me.” High Noon shivered, remembering his experiences with the killer.
“A killer?” Rarity sat back, aghast. “How on earth did he come work in our school if he was a wanted criminal?”
“The Templars have a really good public relations officer. My guess is that she somehow managed to pull some strings to clear up Wolfgang’s name. Well, continuing where I left off, the Templars soon tried to get rid of me, but I managed to make it home, back to Appleloosa. That was a great time, but it didn’t last long. Soon, they had come looking for me again, and I knew they wouldn’t stop until one of us was dead. To keep the town safe, I did what I had to do. I came straight here and joined the Assassins, and that’s where I am today. Right here.”
“Sounds c-complicated,” Fluttershy said meekly.
“Great story though,” Rainbow nodded. “Maybe you can go back to visit Braeburn sometime. I’m sure he’d be glad to see you.”
High Noon smiled. “Maybe. But I won’t be able to go anytime soon. Not until we win this battle. I promised Braeburn I would return after this is all over. I intend to follow through with that. Uh, don’t tell anyone else my story. Outsiders aren’t supposed to know.”
“Well, Ah’ll be sure to tell him ya said hi the next time Ah see him. Unless ya see him before Ah do,” Applejack placed her utensils down on her now empty plate. “Hoooweeee. That was some real good meatloaf.”
“Really?” High Noon looked over at their plates. “Usually the meatloaf stinks.”
“Oh, and High Noon,” Applejack continued. “Ya said ya remember me? When Ah was younger?”
The cowboy Assassin nodded and smiled excitedly. “Oh yeah, you and your family would show up from time to time to visit Appleloosa. Your granny always brought really good apple pies with her. I remember those pretty well. Then there was you and your brother, uh… Little Mac?”
“Big Mac,” Applejack corrected. “Big Macintosh.”
“Right, my bad. Anyway, you two were probably much too young to remember me, but I do. Hay, I even carried your brother once. A heavy little baby, that one. How many years has it been… More than fifteen, I reckon.”
“Gee, that’s pretty interestin’ how small of a world this is. Ah can’t believe cousin Braeburn is friends with an Assassin. Ah can’t believe ya knew me.”
“Yeah…” High Noon took off his hat and looked at it. “You know, if someone had told me I’d be an Assassin all those years before I left… I would’ve called them crazy. See, the thing is, I’m not what you call brave, or even confident. I don’t know how I became an Assassin, but I do know I’m doing the right thing being here now. I just wonder sometimes if life would be better if I never left Appleloosa.”
“Well, I think being an Assassin is way cooler than being an apple farmer,” Rainbow leaned back and stretched her legs out under the table. “No offense, AJ. You know, when I grow up, I wanna join you guys.”
“Umm… no ya don’t Rainbow,” Applejack frowned.
“Yeah. I do.”
“No, ya don’t.”
“Being an Assassin is scary…” Fluttershy shrunk down a little.
“I’d seriously reconsider,” High Noon interrupted. “The life of an Assassin is no simple path, nor is it a happy one… You lose friends on the way. Sometimes… sometimes the ones you love as well.”
“I’m terribly sorry, High Noon,” Rarity spoke up for Rainbow. “My friend here doesn’t know what she’s saying sometimes.”
“But you guys are still alive,” Rainbow directed her words to High Noon. “I know, I’m sorry that you’ve lost people, but you’re doing things to protect the world! Isn’t that just cool?”
Sunset looked to Velvet for help. The young Assassin turned to the athlete and said, “Most Assassins don’t live past forty. Are you okay with that?”
“Uh, well, uh…” Rainbow sputtered like a fish for a few seconds before sitting herself back down. “Okay, maybe being a pro athlete sounds much better.”
There was a minute of silence before Applejack decided to resume the conversation. “Oh, High Noon. Ya mentioned loved ones. A while ago, ya mentioned someone called, uh, Dewdrop?”
“Oh, Dewdrop?” The cowboy’s eyes widened and began darting over the room. “Yeah, she’s currently missing after a mission to Fillydelphia. I’m… I’m just worried that I won’t see her again. I tried to stop her that night, but she disobeyed orders and left on her own. I realize my mistake. I should’ve gone with her. To keep her safe.”
“Boy, you really care about this Dewdrop a lot!” Pinkie popped up beside him from under the table. “Is she your girlfriend?”
“What?” The girls watched as High Noon’s face began changing colors, from his orange complexion to a bright red one. “Oh, no no no no… He he, no, she’s not, nope. Uh… Well, you see, yeah no. She’s not. She’s just a close friend.” He tipped his hat lower to hide his glowing face.
Sunset couldn’t believe how out of place he suddenly looked as an Assassin. It just didn’t match the look of a skilled killer.
“Well, if ya like her, the best thing to do is to just tell her how ya feel about her,” Applejack tried to help out.
“Oh no, I could never do that…” the Assassin’s voice said from behind his hat. “I… I’m afraid I don’t have the courage to do so. Besides… I’m pretty sure she knows…”
“But you two aren’t together?” Rarity suddenly took much more interest in the topic. “Do go on. Why not?”
“I… well… the thing is… I don’t think she’s really into men...”
“Oh…” Rarity sat back down. “You just had to have a complicated relationship, hmm?”
“It’s okay, High Noon,” Applejack patted his shoulder. “Ah’m pretty sure you’ll find someone else out there for ya one day. What’s so interestin’ about this Dewdrop anyhow?”
“A-A lot of things…” High Noon began nervously playing with a coil of rope attached to his belt. “I’ve known her a long time and she’s one of my closest friends… We’ve been through a lot together, I think I’m probably the only one left who understands just how she feels, and… plus… well... s-she’s hot. Like really hot. Umm… Yeah.”
“Well, Ah think it’s best ya still tell her how ya feel anyhow. At least then you’ll have it off your chest. Better now then never.”
“Now then never, huh?” High Noon sighed. “Yeah… I guess you’re right. Don’t want to have another repeat of the past…”
At that moment, another Assassin stopped behind the cowboy, looking down at the girls. Most of her body was lined in bandages, with only one green eye looking back at them.
“Velvet Breeze,” her mouth formed into a thin grin. “It is good to see you again, safe and sound.”
“Hi, Keila,” Velvet smiled back. “It’s good to see you too. How are you holding up?”
“I’m getting by,” she leaned an elbow against High Noon. “We were more worried about you than things here. At least here we only have one troublemaker.”
“Frigid’s no troublemaker,” High Noon sighed and tried to shake Keila off his back, but failed. “He’s just lost and… irritable.”
“Yeah, and that makes him a troublemaker,” Keila’s one eye narrowed. “I don’t even know why the Mentor made him lieutenant. Don’t you agree, Velvet? He’s too volatile to be in charge around here.”
“Um…”
“Nevermind that,” Keila focused on Sunset and her friends. “So this is the fabled Sunset Shimmer and her group of friends that I’ve been hearing about. I’m Keila; nice to meet you.”
She mock-curtseyed and gave them a warm smile. Pinkie was the first to leap up and give her a firm handshake before going on and on about being friends and parties. By the time the rest of the introductions were made, the girls had all finished their food.
“Interesting…” Keila pulled at a loose bandage. “So the Mentor has some idea as to why the Templars are so interested in you.”
“Yeah…” Applejack looked up at a clock on the wall; it now read eight o’clock. “So, uh, how long do we have to be here? Ah mean, do we get to go back home or anythin’?”
“It’s not safe for you back home,” High Noon answered. “For now, it’s best if you stay here.”
“But how long is this gonna take?” Rainbow demanded, causing the Assassin to flinch a little. “I mean we have families and stuff.”
“If you want to keep them safe, then wait it out. If you go back now, you could make yourself and your loved ones a target.”
“Well, uh…” Rainbow Dash sat back and stopped talking.
“He’s right, girls,” Sunset looked at her friends. “You all came here because you wanted to look out for me. I think it’s better that we all stick together.”
“Sunset’s right,” Applejack slammed a fist into her palm. “We chose this. It’s up to us to follow through. We ain’t gonna let anythin’ happen to Sunset or Velvet. That’s what friends are for.”
“Right,” Rainbow patted Sunset on the shoulder reassuringly. “We’re with you, Sunset. No matter what.”
Sunset smiled, glad that her friends had come along with her. “Thanks, girls.”
High Noon watched and chuckled. “You’re a lucky kid, Sunset, to have such good friends.”
And at that moment, Sunset did feel lucky, despite being thrust into a world full of killers and cutthroats; it was comforting knowing that whatever happened, she could count on her friends to be there for her. And as long as they were together, Sunset just knew that they’d be able to pull through, no matter what they faced.
“Yeah,” she said gratefully. “Yeah, I am.”