As we walked down the road, I still got looks, but not as many. I believe it has to do with Twilight Walking with me. We walked in relative silence, because the curious mare knew she wouldn't get anything out of me until we reached her house. We rounded a corner, and i stopped.
"Twilight." I called. She turned, and walked over to me. She wore a confused look on her face.
"What is it? What's wrong?" She asked me. In truth, nothing, for I hadn't seen any, but still...
"Try to steer clear of guards. I don't know how they will react to my presence, with me carrying these weapons, and I'd rather avoid a-"
"HOLD!"
"-fight." I sighed internally, for I knew that tone. Only a guard would shout like that. I knew it would happen eventually. I turned, and stared at the stallion who had shouted to me. He was semi-muscular, and the way he held himself reeked of arrogance and a swelled ego. His only weapon, a sword. A standard, straight blade, unlike the curved ones I had seen used by guards in the cities. The stallion stepped forward.
"Sir, relieve yourself of all the weapons you carry, and come with me." I stared at him. I could tell he was intimidated by my facial expression, or lack thereof. I was about to reply, but Twilight stepped in before I could say anything.
"And on what charges?!" Twilight half-asked-half-screamed at the guard. The guard gave her a stern look and replied.
"For carrying weapons without a permit or guard position," he stared at her. She wanted to say more, but I took over.
"Don't waste your time. I don't need to reply, you know what I'll say." I stood on my hind legs, confusing the two ponies. By then, a few other guards had come over, as well as a small crowd of civilians. Twilight backed off, she knew what was going to happen.
"Then I'll take you by force!" The guard drew his sword and made a wild slash at my side. I retaliated by dodging the swing, before grabbing his sword leg and twisting. He yelped in pain, and dropped the sword. I pulled the guard in, and gave a swift knee to his jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground, unconscious.
The crowd gasped, and the other guards drew their swords. One such guard made a swing to my leg. I drew my sword, and swatted the blade away before closing the gap, and slamming his temple with the hilt of my sword. The guard fell, leaving two more. The crowd had grown significantly, and were cheering for one of us, I know not who.
Of the two remaining guards, one bolted, obviously to gain reinforcements. I had to finish this, quickly. I struck first this time, striking to the left. He blocked the strike, and I swung again, a vertical slash, which he raised his sword to block. With his lower half exposed, I kicked his underside, standing him up. While he was falling, I grabbed him, and threw him into a wall. The guard was down. I heard shouting, and the stamping of hooves. More guard had arrived. Not wanting to prolong the battle, I bolted.
I ran up a wall, and, I'm not sure how, but I gripped a windowsill, and pulled myself up. I climbed onto the rooftop, and sprinted, still on my hind legs, across the town. Pegasus guards tried to pursue. I ran across the rooftops for a few minutes, Before I spotted a cart, filled with hay, within reach of my jump. I turned back to the guards, who were gaining on my position. I couldn't help but smirk as I leaped off of the roof. I could hear the gasps coming from the guards. When they peered over the edge, I had disappeared. Defeated, the guards flew off. If I'm right, they're going to be out for my arrest. Or my head. I jumped out of the hay. Just then, I hear some shouting coming from my left.
"Altaïr?! Altaïr!" I turned, revealing a livid Twilight sprinting towards me. "That was so stupid of you! You didn't have to do that! You're a wanted stallion now, the guards are looking for you everywhere!" She was definitely furious. I took a defensive step back.
"I was only defending myself! In my homeland, I would've killed them, not disable them!" I matched her tone. She flinched at my emphasis on 'kill'. She sighed, and her expression softened.
"Alright, but we should get you off the streets. Hold still..." Her horn started glowing. Hold a moment, what?!
"What are you-!" I tried to say, bit a white light blinded me, and when I could see again, we were in front of an odd house, to say the least. it was made entirely of a hollowed out tree.
"Welcome to the library!" Twilight exclaimed. She smiled and opened the door. The inside was very leisurely. The walls were lined with shelves, filled to the brim with books. The furniture was made of a material I could not recognize. I stepped inside, and sat on a chair. To my surprise, the chair was soft, and didn't require a cushion to be comfortable sitting in it. It was then I noticed something on Twilight's flank.
"What is that symbol on your flank, Twilight?" I asked her. She turned to me, confused.
"You don't know what a cutie mark is?" Cutie... mark? What...? I shook my head. She looked shocked.
"Well, a cutie mark is a symbol that appears naturally on our flanks whenever we discover our own unique talent... wait, do you not have one?!" She lit her horn, and the bottom of my robe was engulfed in a soft purple aura. Before I could protest, she pulled the robe over my flank, revealing the Assassins' symbol. "Yep, you have one. did you just never notice?" I decided to play along.
"I've worn a robe for about as long as I can remember. I've never had the chance to check, for I was constantly in danger." She raised an eyebrow.
"Constantly? What exactly did you do? Does it have anything to do with the unique symbol you have as a cutie mark?" I nodded. I doubt the brotherhood exists here, I haven't seen a single informant or assassin, nor any Templars at all. I guess she is entitled to an explanation.
"Indeed. That is the mark of the Assassins' Brotherhood." Twilight's eyes widened, and she started shaking.
"Y-you mean, hired k-killers?" She stammered. I shook my head.
"No, not at all. The Assassins are defenders of peace, and free will. We fight against the Templars, fiends who wish to unite the entire world in their tyrannical clutches. However, I have not seen Assassin nor Templar in this town. I do not believe they exist here. Would you tell me the name of this planet?" She went from scared to relieved, and then confused.
"Uh, the planet Equus? Why...?" I lowered my head. this new information had confirmed my fears.
"Then, Twilight Sparkle, I am not from this planet."
Altair's NOT going to be happy when he meets Princess Celestia and Shining Armor.
5735038
Not to spoil, but boy is Altaïr in for it when he gets to that point... XD (Not so much Celestia as it is Shining though.)
5735052 Y'know... your name reminds me of my predicament.
5735062
Really now?
5735073 Nowadays, I've been trying too hard to please my readers. It really doesn't help that my first fic is a HiE. I'm happy that people like your writing so far, myself included. It doesn't matter what kind of fic the author chooses to write, as long as they have an idea worth believing in. No matter what people say, press on.
If you're having writer's block, take a break and do a free write. Read books, listen to music, play video games, take a walk, that sorta thing. I also heard that you can get random ideas while in the shower or something like that. Alternately, if you drink, (not that I encourage it, but if you do that...) write while drunk, then edit when sober.
I hope that will help you with writing... even though you never asked for it.
5735111
First off, I'm below 21 and American, so alcohol is out, but I do all of the other things you mentioned. It really does help! Also, thank you for being so supportive, it means a lot. Also, I'd very much appreciate if you would steer me in the right direction!
And so, things start to move now...The first contact arc is coming to an end...The story can truly begin momentarily...
You used the accented 'i's. Good job. Grammar and Punctuation seems fine. Keep it up!
...And here you went off the deep end.
Look, I know it`s kind of easy to abuse the fighting system to utterly own the guards throughout the game, but the idea is that you`d be RUNNING AWAY from situations where hostilities are imminent and no gain is to be made from dead bodies.
And let`s not forget the fact that Ponyville is the kinda place where Pinkie Pie casually totes around a cannon. Why would there be such a sudden surfeit of idiotically macho guards all fired up about disarming populace?
Dude, you dropped the ball. Badly. Previous chapter could be salvaged, but this? This is a belletristic trainwreck.
5738514
You can't please everybody, but lets look at this. If he ran, he'd be chased, obviously, and he'd be searched for anyways. Second, the guard attacked him first. While I see your point, I thought what I wrote would be a possibility. If you don't like the story, nobody's forcing you to read it.
5738493
That I'll agree with. I'll get around to editing that soon, if more people agree with you.
5736235
Thanks
5735641
We still have to get through the mandatory explanation chapter though but yes, it begins for real now!
5738900 True.
5738856
You asked for criticism, here it is. Or was it "criticism" as in "give me verbal pats on the back and never ever mention anything negative about my opus because I can`t handle it" kind of "criticism"?
What assassins banked on was never "OMG, we`re the greatest warriors ever". In case you haven`t noticed, Altair himself got knocked down all the way to the bottom AND stabbed by Al-Mualim for acting this way. Their biggest weapon was being inconspicuous. The trailer gave you BIG hints about that - the way Altair is dressed, it`s really hard to tell him apart from monks and scholars. Obviously enough, neither of those two categories ever walked around heavily armed, so here`s a second clue - all that Altair carries is not readily noticeable.
In your particular situation, there is a snag - now ponyAltair is dressed in a way that makes him stand out. However, that does not change the previous point - he`s not carrying his weapons in blatantly obvious way. Guards could notice his unusual clothes, but that`s hardly a reason to bother - Equestria is not exactly the kind of country where you need to worry about unlawfulness too much. The fact he`s with Twilight Sparkle would`ve further reasserted the "not my problem" status to the guards.
It`s not a case of "some like it, some don`t". It`s a huge plot hole and if you expect writing anything worth reading, it has to be amended.
5739984
Good point. Very good point, actually.
5740932
I try. Why bother saying something if you don`t have a good point to go with it? ^_^
5741655
So true!
No, Twilight, those are hit men. You have a lot to learn about murder.
Well, that escalated quickly.
5940893 wait...I thought hitman was a videogame about trying to kill people in as rediculus a way as possible...
I believe it has to do with Twilight Walking with me.
No need for the capital W
Uh, the planet Equus
The planet is spelled Equis