"We work in the dark to serve the light. We are Assassins."
These words mark the very existence of the Brotherhood and their mission to preserve the freedom of man from the Templar Order.
The Mane Six, having arrived in France after a mishap with the Element of Magic, are rescued by a member of the Assassin Order. Who are the Assassins and Templars? And why do they have such interest in the Element?
Chapter 1: “Path to a New World” “Nothing is true; everything is permitted.” —Motto of the Assassin Order
Every single fiber in Twilight’s body urged her to keep running, which she and her friends did without question. Running was the only thing keeping them alive at the moment, and they would be dead if they stopped. She had her hand curled tightly around the Element of Magic. She wouldn’t let it go; she wouldn’t let it out of her sight no matter what situation was going on around her. She knew it was much too important to leave it unattended.
They shoved and pushed their way through the crowd, trying to lose their pursuers. Insults and jeers were thrown at them by the men equipped with silver armour and armed with swords and spears. Their target was the Element, yet what they wanted with it was still unknown. Twilight couldn’t let them have it. After all, it was the most powerful piece of the Elements of Harmony, and letting it fall into the wrong hands would have been catastrophic to Equestria.
It just didn’t add up to her. What was so important about the Element of Magic to them that they were willing to kill her and her friends just to get it?
Ponyville, Equestria The planned meteor shower was just a half-hour away. Princess Luna wanted it as a way to provide entertainment to those nocturnal ponies out at night, and Twilight and Spike had spent the better part of their day gathering supplies for the upcoming show. All they needed to bring were food and drinks. Fluttershy would be bringing a basket, as well as a blanket for them to eat on; Pinkie Pie would be supplying the snacks; and Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Applebloom would be bringing some homemade cider.
So far, everything was set. The bottles of soda and a plate of dandelion sandwiches wrapped in plastic were set on a nearby desk. Twilight looked at them and checked them off her list. She’d told herself that this year wouldn’t include any studying on celestial objects; instead it would be strictly having fun with her friends. They’d be here any time now.
“That’s everything!” She looked over at Spike. “You have what you need?”
“Just a sec,” replied the dragon as he scurried up the stairs, “There are some gems I’ve been saving that I wanna bring along.”
“Just hurry up,” Twilight called up to him, “The others should be here in—”
A knock on the door brought her attention. She trotted over and opened it with her magic, revealing her friends on the other side. Applejack was carrying the bottles of cider in her saddle bag and Fluttershy was carrying the basket and blanket in her mouth. However, only they and Rarity stood at the door. “Where’re Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash?”
“Pinkie was run’n a tad late, so Rainbow volunteered to go and get her,” Applejack answered. Twilight invited them inside; she placed the dandelion sandwiches and soda into the basket.
Rarity looked around the library. “Where’s Spikey?”
“He’s upstairs getting some gems to take along. He should be down in a little bit,” said Twilight. The past few minutes were spent talking about random things such as animals and the upcoming meteor shower when another knock echoed through the room.
The front door opened to Pinkie Pie hopping into the library with Rainbow Dash following closely behind. Pinkie’s saddle bags held the candy, and earlier, she told them she’d bring some entertainment to pass the time while they waited for Luna to begin the meteor shower. “So, are we ready to go?” she asked.
Twilight shook her head. “Not yet. We still have to wait for Spike. I don’t want to leave him behind. Does everyone have what they need?”
Applejack nodded. “I got the cider right here! Big Mac and Applebloom should be on their way to the forest now.”
Pinkie Pie opened her saddle bag and checked inside. She gasped. “I totally didn’t pack enough snacks!”
“What do you mean you didn’t pack enough? You pretty much made off with the Cakes’ entire inventory,” said Rainbow.
The pink pony giggled. “Well, duh, silly! Those were just my emergency ration, in case of real snack-related emergencies.”
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately decided against it. She had known Pinkie Pie long enough not to drag any conversation out too far with her, unless she wanted to slowly lose her sanity. It was almost time for them to go.
In the quiet, a thud was heard across the room. A book had fallen from its place on the shelf; it was the same one that Twilight used to hide the Elements of Harmony, which had now lain scattered across the floor. Using her magic, she picked them up, one by one, back into the book. However, when she reached for the Element of Magic, the aura cast over it was blocked out. She attempted to pick it up again, but yielded the same result.
“I’m not so sure, exactly. I think the Element’s rejecting my magic.” Together, the two unicorns attempted to simultaneously lift the Element from the ground. Still, it refused to budge.
It suddenly began to pulsate, glowing streams of golden-yellow light that only got brighter with each passing second. Every attempt made by the unicorns to bring the rogue Element under their control was met with fierce resistance. It seemed like it was absorbing their magic.
A strange energy quickly started to swell within the artifact. Rarity and Twilight could feel it; it wasn’t anything like what they’d felt before. They stepped back as the Element began to float from the ground on its own accord, the light emanating from it glowing increasingly brighter. The energy buildup soon reached maximum capacity, and unable to hold anymore, an unusual bluish light replaced the golden-yellow that surrounded the Element.
It felt unstable.
Fluttershy slowly inched away from the scene. “What’s happening?” They watched with a mix of awe and horror as blue electricity arose from the Element. It whipped around the library, twisting and spinning uncontrollably, until finally it surrounded the six ponies.
Spike, clutching a large bag of gems in his claws, finally descended the stairs. He was dragging the bag behind him. “Alright, everyone, I’m ready to—” He stopped when he witnessed the scene unfolding in front of him. The ponies had been lifted off the ground; a bright blue aura had formed around their bodies, originating from the Element of Magic.
Twilight turned her head and noticed Spike. The baby dragon stood at the base of the steps, looking on with a fearful look on his face. “Quick, Spike! Get Princess Celes—”
In a bright flash, they vanished, along with the Element of Magic. The other five Elements were left scattered across the library floor, and the only remaining of the ponies was Applejack’s hat. Spike stood in his spot, frozen in a complete state of shock at what had just occurred before him.
“Twilight?” he called out, “Rarity? Applejack?” He prayed that this was some type of elaborate joke being played on him. Twilight and others would come out of the kitchen or from upstairs, laughing and teasing him before heading off to watch the meteor shower. “Very funny, guys. I’m not laughing! Hello?”
Unfortunately, no response came. Grabbing a scroll and quill, Spike began writing the letter to Princess Celestia.
Paris, France
1543 The country’s economy had reached its pinnacle ever since its colonisation into the New World. Of course, with the Kingdom being opposed by Britain, Portugal, and Spain at the same time, much of the wealth received was poured into improving its military. The French often anticipated another conflict with Britain, especially over the colonies that’d been erected in the Americas.
Being the personal adviser to the Crown, Gabriel Robert saw to it that the society within the country didn’t crumble. He made sure of it with the Apple; of course, it often came with a price. Having such a valuable Piece of Eden meant the Assassins were constantly on his tail. He had managed to condemn some to public executions for “crimes against the King,” but regardless, he still found himself with an eternal target painted on his forehead.
He sat at his desk, examining the Apple in front of him. This artifact had been used to subdue and capture numerous Assassins that attacked him and his guards over the years, though he knew it couldn’t have been the only Piece of Eden in France. There had to be a number of others scattered across the country, as far as he and his Templar brethren knew. It was only a matter of time before they were able to locate another.
He was taken from his thoughts by a knock on the door. “Entrer.” It opened to one of his guards. “Have you found out where the Assassins are held up?” he asked, already anticipating the answer.
“I’m afraid not, sir, but we did find another artifact.”
“Keep it.” Gabriel tried to wrap his head around the situation. “We cannot move it until we’re certain the Assassins won’t come after it. King Francis keeps denying my request to send the rest of the guardsmen out to arrest them, no matter how much I plead with him. The Assassins have nearly made off with the Apple several times, now, and the next might see them actually doing it.”
“What should I tell the others, then, sir?”
“Just tell them to keep the artifact hidden until further notice. It’d be better not to risk being seen by the Assassins again.”
The guard nodded and exited the room as Gabriel retired back to his desk. The sun looked as if it was beginning to go down. He saw it was nearly time for the guards to change shift. Out of the corner of his eye, the Apple was starting to glow. It was pulsating. It was… interesting; he knew this Apple had the ability to act as a signal, useful for informing that another artifact had appeared.
No doubt about it.
There was another Piece of Eden, and it was right here in Paris.
Chapter 2: “Welcome to France” Am I near an ocean? That was the first thing on Twilight’s mind as she eventually regained consciousness.
She awoke to the calm, serine sound of water openly swaying in the air. Her entire body ached from what happened. The last thing she remembered was the Element of Magic going out of control from whatever happened to it. She was still trying to determine what made it go berserk in the first place.
The soft clang of metal hitting the ground reached her eyes. The Element of Magic rolled into her field of vision before finally coming to a stop. Twilight reached her hand out and grabbed it. “Wait! Hands! Where are my hooves?”
Twilight was in full panic mode now. A thousand questions ran through her mind as she wondered what happened with the Element—and where it had brought, and what it had done to her. She checked herself over, seeing that she wasn’t a unicorn anymore but a tall, hairless primate without a tail. What were they called again? Humans? Bipedal creatures; she knew that much about them. The only part of her that still had fur was the top of her head.
She attempted to stand, though she was staggering the most of time. They felt like jelly; it was a very uncomfortable feeling, and she felt back on her butt when trying to balance. Spike makes this look so easy. Okay, just take your time, Twilight, and try to stand up slowly.
She attempted to stand again, cringing when some of the bones in her legs cracked. It was going better the second time. She used the wall for support to keep her from falling again. So far, so good. Just a little more.
“Twilight? What happened to you? And to us?” That sounded like Rainbow Dash. She twisted her body around to look behind her and saw five more humans, and immediately recognised the one with rainbow-coloured hair. The clothes they had were the same colour as their coats when they were ponies and heavily resembled the ones worn during the pre-Nightmare Moon era.
“Where in tarnation are we?” asked Applejack. She was the only one not having a tough time as compared to the others, thanks to all that time and hard work she’d put in at the farm.
Twilight struggled to turn herself around, using the wall for support. It was hard to accurately determine what was happening to them. The first thing they realised was that an unknown magic had forcibly taken control of the Element, and then they’d found themselves here in a totally different body and species. They looked around to get a grip off their surroundings. On one end of the alley was what looked like a pier of some sorts, with several large ships stationary in the water; the other end led to the sound of a large crowd.
Was it ponies? They doubted that they were Canterlot since it was day time. They had to be in Saddle Arabia, or at least somewhere else in the world. “Wanna take a chance?” Rainbow asked the five of them.
They did not have much of a choice going for them. They headed for the source of the noise, the Element of Magic in Twilight’s hand, and when they finally emerged from the alley, they were greeted not greeted to the sight of ponies, but instead by more humans. There was a huge crowd of them walking across the street in front of them.
“I don’t think we’re in Equestria,” said Fluttershy. She was frightened by this new world, filled with a species that she had never seen before. Were they friendly, or were mean? They were too nervous to find out.
Rarity, on the other hand, seemed vaguely impressed, not by the humans, but by the buildings that surrounded the area. Many of them had beautiful pictures on the sides, painted with such precise accuracy that they almost looked realistic. “Oh my… Whoever did this must have a magnificent taste for design.”
“Why thank you, madam,” said a voice. Nearby, a human stood wearing an artist’s hat and holding a roll of paper in his hands. “It is always a pleasure to meet someone who appreciates my work.”
“Well I must say, you certainly have a special gift for painting,” said Rarity.
The artist flashed a smile. “Well I must admit that I did not paint all of this on my own. I have a team with me, but each and every design came from my own mind. And you, madame, look like a canvas painted beautifully—”
“Okay, we get the idea. It was nice meeting you, really, but we have to go. We’ll see you around!” With that, Twilight pulled Rarity away as the six of them moved through the crowd of humans, eventually finding someplace within the area where they could talk amongst themselves privately.
Rarity glanced at her friends with a look of distaste. “That was rude.”
“Sorry, Rarity, but we need to find out where the Element brought us to before we can do anything else.”
“Twilight’s right,” said Applejack. “For all we know, we could have ended up in some freaky parallel universe or something. Ah jus’ don’t think it’s safe converging with anypony or anythin’ till we have a grip on the situation first.”
Rarity crossed her arms. “I suppose you two are right. But where do you suppose we look to find out where we are?”
“We could check that map over there,” said Pinkie Pie. She was pointing towards a large piece of paper nailed to the side of a building with the words, “Carde de Paris,” written across the top in bold letters. Despite the unknown language, they could still definitely tell it was a map.
A circle with a star inside was placed on one section of the map, which indicated their current location. Twilight thought it was a start for them, but then she saw the words written throughout the rest of the map. She sighed. “I can’t read any of this,” she said, “It’s going to be difficult getting around if we don’t know where we’re going.”
“Well we haven’t tried ask’n somepony,” said Applejack, “There has to be a lot of people here nice enough to give us directions.”
Rainbow Dash turned her gaze to the pink-haired pony-turned-human standing next to her. “What do you think we should do, Fluttershy? You haven’t said a word since we got here.”
Fluttershy averted her eyes to the ground. She never did like being the decision maker. “Well, I don’t know if we should ask. We don’t really know much about them. What if they’re dangerous?”
“They can’t be that dangerous, darling,” said Rarity. She looked around, noticing the many humans casually going about their days. “I’m sure there is somepony we can talk to, like that artist.”
Twilight rolled her eyes. Not that Rarity finding love was a bad thing; it was just the thought of interspecies relations that sounded a tad strange to her. Continuing through the streets, they searched out for anyone who could help them with their dilemma. Twilight kept a tight grip on the Element, making sure not to let go. The last thing she wanted to do was lose it.
The streets were crowded, and it made movement through the large amounts of people difficult. They’d almost gotten separated multiple times, only barely able to stay close with each other. They asked plenty of people around, though the answers they received were not understandable. They kept asking if they were ‘English,’ whatever that was. After a half-hour of searching, they took a break. They found that barely anyone here was too willing to help a group of six “suspicious-looking” strangers with directions.
Pinkie Pie backed up and took a seat on a bench. “I’m tired. Can we get something to eat?”
Applejack shrugged, uncertain of an answer. “I don’t know about that, Pinkie. We don’t even know what type of currency this place uses. Get’n food ‘round these parts is gonna be mighty difficult.”
The girls sighed. They were getting nowhere. “So what should we do now?” asked Rainbow Dash.
No pony was sure how to respond to that. After spending Celestia knows how long in this strange new world, they found that their choices were very limited, almost to the point that virtually every one of their actions were restricted on the basis that it would be doomed to fail. Perhaps there was someone who spoke their language and could give them some assistance.
In their mulling, they noticed a group of humans walking towards them. They were not like the others; they were equipped with silver armour with blue uniforms worn underneath. They seemed like the Royal Guardsmen for this country.
They approached Twilight. “Can we help you?” the former unicorn asked. She immediately regretted talking when one of them unsheathed a sword.
“We’ll be taking that-” he pointed to the Element of Magic with his sword, “-with us, if you don’t mind.”
Twilight and her friends stepped back. She tightened her grip on the artifact. Why would they want it? “No way!”
“You can’t have this?” Rainbow snapped at them, “There’s no way!” In reality, she was scared. Seeing these guys threatening her and friends with weapons was way too much for her.
The guard laughed at her response. “Oh we can’t? Then I guess we’ll have to slice your hand off for it. “Camaradas, les tuer!” They charged at them.
The girls turned and ran as the guards began to give chase. People in the area made way for the girls, allowing them new passage through the streets. Yells and insults were thrown at them in an unknown language. Rainbow Dash longed for her wings so that she could fly and buck every last guard in sight. Without her wings, she felt useless, as did Twilight and Rarity without their magic and Pinkie Pie without her party cannon. Applejack could have possibly given them a chance to fight back if it weren’t for their weapons.
“Hand over the treasure!” Twilight heard one of them shout. They must have been referring to the Element in her hand. But why would they need it? Seeing as she couldn’t use magic in her new body, it was obvious that this world lacked one of any kind, so there was no reason for them to have it, not to mention it being the most powerful artifact known to all of Equestria. It was just far too valuable to let it be taken away.
The girls hoped to lose the guards in the crowd; Rarity could have sworn that more had joined in on the chase. They had a difficult time trying to escape, though in the process they did managed to lose at least three of them. They came across another alley and took the chance to hide. They pressed themselves against the wall as the guards ran by. Thanks to the amount of people, they didn’t seem them. It gave the girls the opportunity to catch their breaths.
“What do we do now?” asked Fluttershy.
Twilight tried to think of a useful solution, but couldn’t. “I don’t know.”
“They seem to really want that Element, Twi,” said Applejack.
“We can’t let them have it.”
“I know we can’t. It’s just strange, is all.” Applejack couldn’t see why’d want it, and she had a hunch that artifacts like it didn’t exist in this world—at least not that she knew off. They called it a treasure, which meant that they had probably heard of it, somehow. “I say we should try to leave the city.”
Rainbow looked at her. “How? We don’t even know where to go.”
“There they are!” At the other end of the alley, a guard stood, pointing his sword at them. “I found them!”
The girls continued to run as the chase resumed, now pursued by a seemingly larger number. Fluttershy tripped; she flipped over onto her back to see one of the guards closing in on her. She inched herself away as he crept closer, a knife drawn in his hand. He lifted it in the air and she closed her eyes.
Five seconds passed, then ten, then fifteen, and they had not yet met her end. She opened one eye to see another man, this one dressed in white robes and armed with an entire arsenal of weaponry around his body, standing with his back turned to her. The guard that’d been chasing her looked at the sky with pain clearly visible on his face. The knife dropped from his hand. He slumped to the ground, and the man in white ropes withdrew what looked by a wrist blade covered in blood from his chest.
“Assassin! Rip him to pieces!”
At those words, the Assassin unsheathed a sword and leapt at the guards. The girls watched as he easily outmaneuvered and dispatched each and every one of them. Blood was spilled with each swing cutting through into raw flesh; his wrist blade pierced into their armour, thrusting into their bodies for a quick kill. He dodged, ducked, jumped, and strafed, and one by one his enemies fell to the ground until the last one stood—the leader of the pack.
He had a spear pointed at the Assassin, though it was obvious he didn’t seem afraid since he could kill from a distance.
Nevertheless, the Assassin proved too much. For each thrust and swing, he missed and became ever more frustrated. Another thrust, and the Assassin grabbed hold of the weapon. He pulled the lead guard in, throwing a fist towards his face before kneeing him in the gut, and forcing him to let go of his weapon. Finally, he moved behind the guard and ran the spear through his back, ending his life.
Throwing the spear to the ground, the Assassin hurried over to the girls. He looked at them innocently with green eyes, the rest of his face hidden behind a half-face mask. “If you want to escape here alive,” he said in an accented voice, “then you’ll follow me.”
He hurried into a nearby alley, stopping to motion them to follow. “Hurry!”
The girls weren’t sure if they could trust him, after what they’d just witnessed. He killed an entire group of armed guards by himself! And now he wanted the six of them to follow him to Celestia knows where.
Voices from other humans echoed throughout the area. They sounded like more guards, which meant they would end up dead if they were seen. Having no option, they followed the Assassin, knowing he probably had more knowledge of the city and where he was going than they did.
This man was quick. He moved like a Jaguar stalking its prey through large grass, easily making his way through the maze-like alley around him. It made it difficult for the six former ponies to follow, but it was a surprise to them that they managed to keep sight of him for this long. Soon they were out of the alley, reaching what had to be a marketplace. The Assassin checked to see if it clear before motioning them to follow him to the right.
“Wait just a minute, mister!” Rainbow Dash said, visibly exhausted. She didn’t like the fact that she was this tired, seeing as the pegasus could fly from Ponyville to Canterlot and back again without breaking a sweat. “We want answers. Just who are you?”
The Assassin turned around and replied, “My name is Benoit D’aramitz, and you six are in grave danger.”
“It’s a little too late to tell us that, don’t you think?” Applejack said. It was obvious that they were in danger after what had just happened. “Jus’ what the hay is go’n here? Who were those guys and why exactly were they chase’n us?”
“I promise that I will explain everything you want to know once we return to the Bureau, but right now we must keep our pace before the Templars are able to find us. They have informants placed throughout the city, so standing in the open isn’t such a good idea.” That was the last thing he said before continuing.
The girls followed before he was able to get far. The last thing they wanted in this situation was to lose their only guide through the city.
Gabriel had cleared the area, leaving only a small number of witnesses to give him and the other guards details on what happened. With the several dead guards laid out in front of him, he saw that the Assassins were making their move. He was told of two more attacks reported in southern Paris, though with of it, he could tell that they were somewhat disorganised.
Maybe he could capitalise on this chance to move the second artifact discreetly, so that he wouldn’t have to worry about the Assassins ambushing him.
“And where did you see him run off to?” he asked a civilian.
“He and those girls ran into that alley,” she confessed, “He was hellbent on trying to get them to safety.”
“I can understand why. Now, get out of here.” He motioned the citizen to leave and called a guard over. Gabriel spoke to him low and monotonously: “Tell the others, now is our chance to move it. Not a moment too late.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure! We may not receive another chance. And hopefully, with this, I’ll be able to convince the King to bolster security across France. The Assassins need to be dealt with as soon as possible.”
The guard nodded and did as ordered, leaving the crime scene. Gabriel took a peek into his pouch. The Apple was still pulsating. There was no denying it: Those girls had Elements of Eden, and he had to act quickly if he wanted to keep the Assassins from using their power.
Chapter 3: “Of Templars, Assassins, and Eden” “You’ll be safe here, my friends. You won’t have to worry about the guards any longer.”
After spending the next half-hour traversing the streets, Benoit had led the girls to a building on the east side of Paris. It wasn’t much; in fact, the windows had been broken and there was no longer a roof on top. The entire building looked like it had been abandoned and rundown for years.
“What is this place?” asked Twilight.
Benoit glanced at her. “This is the Bureau I told you about.”
She tilted her head. “It doesn’t look like much.”
The Assassin chuckled. “We try to keep the place as discreet as possible to keep the Templars from discovering it. Life for Assassins in Paris has been… difficult, as of late. But we try to manage. Now, we really should be getting inside.”
Before he stepped through the door, Rainbow Dash grabbed his arm. “Hold on, there. You promised us some answers.”
Benoit nodded. “Oui, I did. And I know someone who would provide them better than I could.” Continuing through the door, he and the former ponies made their way through the interior of the building before going downstairs into the basement. A massive cavern had been built underneath. Red flags donned with strange black symbols were draped on the walls leading to an area where several more Assassins were resting.
“One more thing,” said Benoit, turning to the girls, “I never got to ask, but your accents show that you are not from here. Where are you really from?”
The girls weren’t ready for that question. They hadn’t thought of a decent story to tell in case a human were to ask. After all, they needed to keep their cover since they weren’t native to this world. Twilight almost came up with something when Pinkie Pie answered, absent mindedly, “We’re from Equestria!”
Everypony face palmed.
Benoit eyed the hyperactive human. “Equestria? I’m sorry, Madame, but I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of this country before. Where is it?”
“It’s, uh…” Applejack tried to develop a good excuse, anything to keep suspicion low, “Over there… in the east.”
“Near Belgium?”
She nodded. “Sure…”
“Interesting…” Benoit made sure to memorise what Applejack said. “I’ll have to visit sometime. I’m sure if six lovely ladies like yourselves are from there, it must be a wonderful place.”
Rarity giggled. “Oh, do go on.”
They walked over to a man sitting at a desk against a wall. Papers and documents had been scattered in front of him as he thoroughly checked each and every one of them, focused as he tried to search for something. Benoit casually walked up and placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. “How is the hunt going, Volodya?”
“Benoit! I see you’ve returned.” The man called Volodya stood up and hugged his fellow Assassin. “How did your reconnaissance go?”
Reaching into his pouch, Benoit took out a document, heading it to his colleague. “I have learned that the Templars have a very special property in their possession, near the Montmartre. They could be ready to move it.”
Volodya checked over the document, eagerly skimming and picking up important details written. “Do you think they’re carrying The Ring?”
“They have to be. Templars never have this much security unless there is a Piece of Eden with them. I suggest sending some of the others to retrieve it before they are able to get away.”
Volodya nodded. “Got it. I’ll make sure they get on it right away.”
In the brief silence, Rainbow let out a fake cough to catch Benoit’s attention.
“Oh, my friend, I would like to introduce you to my guests.” Benoit motioned the friends in front of the Russian. “They say they are from a place called ‘Equestria’, and were being attacked by Gabriel Rousseau’s guards when I found them.”
A smile showed Volodya’s acknowledgment. “Then let me be the first to officially welcome you to Paris. I’m sure you six are—” He stopped mid-sentence when he noticed the crown-like object in Twilight’s hand. Immediately, his expression changed. “Where did you get that?”
“You mean this?” Twilight held up the Element. “We’ve always had this. The Element of Magic’s been in my country’s possession for thousands of years.”
Volodya raised an eyebrow. “Element of Magic? Is that what you call it? You need to hand it over for your own safety.” He reached for it, only to Twilight to hold it out his reach.
“What do you mean?” asked Fluttershy.
Robert replied, the seriousness all too present in his tone, “Your friend is holding a Piece of Eden. It’s why the Templars attacked you in the first place.”
“You’re sure?” asked Benoit. All of this seemed a bit sudden for him, but it did make sense as to why they were targeted in the first place.
Nevertheless, Volodya nodded. “Yes. With five others, they are collectively known as the Elements of Eden, and are said to possess powers beyond even that of the other artifacts. But neither side—Templar nor Assassin—knew where they had ended up. It was widely believed that the Elements simply disappeared. But seeing as you are carrying one, you must know where the other five are, right?”
“I do,” replied Twilight. “But I can’t let you have them. They belong to Equestria.”
Volodya chuckled. “Believe me when I say the Templars will stop at nothing until they have that …” he pointed to the Element,” in their possession. Puppet regimes, conspiracies, invasions; no country is untouchable. Not even yours.” Without another word, he walked into another room, closing the door behind him and leaving everypony with an air of uncertainty.
Rainbow Dash glared in his direction, crossing her arms. “That guy really bugs me.”
“He means well,” said Benoit, turning to his guests, “but he does have a point. As long as the Templars know that an Element of Eden is in the city, it won’t be safe to keep it out in the open anymore. I’ll agree with Volodya. It’d be better to keep it under watch here in the Bureau until all essence of Templar influence has been expelled from the city.”
Twilight looked down at the Element in her hand, unsure of what to do. “I don’t know.”
“I think he’s right, Twi,” said Applejack.
Rainbow looked over at her. “Are you crazy, Applejack? We have no idea for sure this guy’s serious. It could all be a trap.”
“I don’t like leaving it here anymore than ya’ll; but I say it’s better to leave it with these foalk than let’n those Templars fellas get at it.”
Fluttershy, who’d managed stayed silent the entire time, agreed, “I think we should keep it here, also.”
“It could be the right option for us to take, Rainbow Dash,” said Rarity. “If these Templar are how Mister Benoit describes them, then I don’t think any of us or the Element will be safe, especially if we’re being watched everywhere we go.”
Twilight mused over what possible choice to take. She couldn’t trust anypony—or any human—with it. But with the situation she and her friends were faced with, what choice did she have? “Alright.” She was very uncertain as she hesitantly gave the Element over to Benoit. “We’ll leave it here, but just make sure that nothing happens to it.”
Benoit nodded. “You have my word. Francois!” One of the Assassins in the room stood up and hurried over. “Here…” He handed him the Element. “This is very important. Make sure you put this in a safe place.”
“Yes, sir,” the Assassin nodded and did as he was told.
Benoit turned back to the girls. “In the meantime, you six are welcome to stay here for as long as you like. Most likely there are guards and soldiers roaming streets looking for you, so I would not recommend leaving here without a proper escort. At least until your notoriety goes down.”
“Thank ya kindly,” said Applejack.
Their strange day had continued on uneventful, though that was expected since they were confined to an underground cavern (something Rainbow Dash had complained about more than enough times). Like a small child hopped up on caffeine, Pinkie Pie had taken the time to try and make friends with the Assassins, as did Rarity, while the other four alienated themselves with trying to find out their next course of action.
So far, they hadn’t come upon anything they could agree on.
“We got no money for food or shelter,” said Applejack.
“Or a ride out of the city,” Rainbow Dash added.
Twilight’s mind drifted back to the Element of Magic and the otherworldly energy that it let out before bringing them here. She swore that it wasn’t the same magic she had been used to in her lifetime. Something about it just seemed… off; and at times while she was here in the Bureau she would constantly think back to it, questioning if it were even magic at all. “If only we knew what happened to the Element when it started acting weird, maybe we could find ourselves a way back home.”
“I doubt it,” said Applejack. “Like you said, yours and Rarity’s magic powers don’t work in this world. Even if we did found out what was wrong with it, how do you suppose we go about use’n it?”
In the silence, a light bulb went off inside Rainbow Dash’s head. “Hey, remember that other guy with Benoit…”
“Volodya,” Flutershy corrected.
“Yeah him… When he mentioned the Element of Magic being this ‘Piece of Eden’ thing, Benoit seemed to know what it was.”
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Where’re you get’n at, RD?”
“Just think about it for a minute, you guys. If he knows what the Element is, then he has to know what it can do in this world. He can help us back home.”
Twilight replied, “Newsflash, Rainbow Dash: We can’t just go and tell him we’re from another world. I’m pretty sure stuff like that would be unbelievable here. And besides, even if we believed us, you really think he’d just hoof over the Element? It seemed too important to him to leave to anyone, including six strangers he found off the streets.”
“He knows we’ve had the Element since we came here,” Rainbow rebutted.
“And I doubt he’d be will’n to jus’ give it back to us, especially when we’re talk’n about that Volodya guy,” said Applejack. “Remember, whatever value it has in this world, the Templars and Assassins have proven good and well they’re gonna kill each other over it.”
As if on cue, Benoit walked back into the cavern, his weapons donned around his armour and clothing, and headed for the stairs, and at that moment, Twilight had an idea. She stood up and made her way over to the Assassin.
“Where are you going, Twilight?” asked Fluttershy.
“I’m gonna see if I can get more answers out of him,” she replied.
Rainbow crossed her arms. “Good luck with that.”
The sun was beginning to lower behind the horizon. Twilight and Benoit ventured the streets. Not much talking had been done between the two, despite Twilight’s desire to know about more about these Pieces of Eden that was so important in this world. The most she had learned was that there were more of them—a lot more—scattered around the known reaches of the globe.
“You did not have to accompany me, Miss Sparkle. I’m gathering supplies for the coming winter,” said Benoit.
“I just wanted some fresh air, is all,” replied Twilight. She was too nervous about asking about the Element. Would he really tell her what she wanted to know that easily? She doubted it every second she spent with him.
Benoit nodded, seemingly acknowledging her answer. Hopefully he believed her.
They soon returned to the marketplace. Large crowds of Parisian civilians were buying food and supplies from the various stands scattered around the area, though some merchants were just beginning to pack up and call it a day.
“Bonjour, good sir! I have everything you and your wife could possibly need. What can I offer you?” The merchant directed their attention over to his inventory, which consisted entirely of exotic rugs imported from a variety of places around the known world.
The Assassin blushed (under his mask) at the comment, as did Twilight. “Uh, she is not my wife, Monsieur. We are just friends.”
The merchant bowed apologetically. “Oh, I must be mistaken, then. So, is there anything here that catches your eye?”
Twilight stepped forward, examining the merchandise in front of her, before pointing to one of them. “I kind of like this one, Benoit.”
“An excellent choice, Madam,” said the merchant. “This one was made by a wonderful weaver from India.”
Benoit glanced at the rug and back at the merchant. “How much is it?”
The merchant smiled. “Fifty-Six Hundred francs,” he answered.
Reluctantly Benoit reached into his pouch and pulled out the amount of money, handing it over to the merchant who in turn gave them the rug. Their transactions done, Twilight and her escort continued through the market, purchasing pillows, quilts, and other furnishings. They soon arrived at a merchant selling food.
Twilight was completely speechless at what they sold. She nearly vomited upon seeing a dead pig hanging from the banister by a hook. Fluttershy… wouldn’t like this. She held her hands to her mouth, trying to keep the horrible bile down.
“Is there anything wrong?” asked Benoit. He figured it out when she pointed out the dead animal hanging like a prize. “You are a vegetarian, then? Don’t worry; this place sells more than just meat.”
“Benoit, it’s nice to see you. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” said the food merchant, shaking hands with the Assassins.
“And you, as well, Andre. Too long, in my opinion.”
“What can I do you for?”
The order was prepared, made, and brought out for them; 70 pounds of meat, as well as lettuce, tomatoes, and other vegetables for Twilight and her friends. They left the market with all they had ordered, heading back to the Assassin Bureau. By now, it was practically night with the evening sun hiding behind the horizon and the sky beginning to darken.
As they made their way through once again crowded streets of the city, Twilight decided not to waste any more time. She might not have another chance if she kept her mouth shut. “Uh, Benoit?”
“Yes?”
“There’s something I’d like to ask you.” She breathed slowly, not wanting to make a fool of herself. “About the Element…”
“You want to know its power, don’t you? And how the other Pieces work?”
“How did you know?”
Benoit chuckled. “You’re not very good at being discreet. To tell you the truth, I have no idea how the Elements of Eden work No one has seen them for centuries, after all. But I’ve heard rumors of the powers they hold, especially when together. Powers that surpass that of the Apples, the Staff, the Sword, and even the Ring! What they wield could very well end this miserable war once and for all.”
Twilight looked at Benoit. “Is that why the Templars want it? Because of its power?”
Benoit sighed. “People love power. But power corrupts. No one holds exception; there have been some of our own brothers and sisters who were tainted, and have tried to spread that evil influence throughout the Brotherhood. The Templars wish to use the artifacts to control humanity, but we Assassins seek to the preserve the freedom of man, and so we contain the artifacts to keep them from falling into the wrong hands.”
“What about the Ring? Don’t the Templars have it?”
“Our men should be preparing to retrieve it. Hopefully everything goes without incident. The Templars have large influence within the Monarchy. In the recent years, Assassins had been hunted across France and her territories and publically executed, but with the Ring, we might be able to turn the tide in our favour. And hopefully, sometime soon, France will be liberated.”
Twilight stared regretfully at the Assassin. The Element of Magic meant a lot to her and Equestria, but she never expected it would have this much importance, especially containing the power to decide the outcome of an entire war, one that probably lasted thousands of years.
Eventually they returned to the Assassin Bureau. The moon had taken its place in the now darkened sky, shining over Paris. “Thanks for escorting me, Benoit,” said a half-hearted Twilight, stopping just short of entering the Bureau.
“You sound disheartened,” said the Assassin. “Care to tell what is troubling you?”
“It’s the Element. How am I supposed to decide what to do with it now? After what you told me about it, how can I possibly take it back? This war of yours has probably been going on since before my country was founded, so—”
She stopped when Benoit held his hand up to silence her. “Relax, yourself, Miss Sparkle. The Element is yours, after all. Only you and your friends can decide what to do with it.”
The Assassins “words of wisdom” didn’t help her in deciding. She sighed. “I’m just glad we weren’t spotted by Templars. I don’t think we would’ve survived if we ran into them.”
Benoit chuckled. “You greatly underestimate the skill of an Assassin.”
Suddenly, the Assassin felt an arm wrap around his neck. Against the side of his neck, he felt the cold steel of a knife. “Give me your money and I’ll let you live,” the person behind him said in a low, snake-like voice.
Benoit responded, “Not a chance.” Before the thief could strike the killing blow, Benoit elbowed him in the stomach, pushing him off. He then pushed the thief’s hand upward, thrusting the deadly steel blade into his throat, effectively ending the man’s life. “Peace be upon your soul,” he muttered to the body.
A sharp sting made itself only on the Assassin’s arm. He looked down to see that a newly created tear in his sleeve and a cut on his arm. “Are you alright?” asked Twilight.
Benoit glanced at the scratch on his arm and back at the dead body of the thief. “Yeah, I’m fine. Nothing serious.” He looked back at Twilight and sighed. Grabbing her wrist, he pulled his knife from its sheath and placed it into her hand.
Twilight stared down at the weapon—the same weapon this human used to kill—in utter disbelief. “No! No! No way! I can’t use it! I can’t…” she hesitated, “…kill someone.” The very word sounded absolutely foreign to her, “Especially not a Templar.”
“The Templars shouldn’t be the only ones you should worry about. This city is full of dangers to be on the lookout for. That knife in your hand should be used only in self-defense of your well-being; nothing more.”
Without another word, Benoit stepped into the Bureau, leaving Twilight to her thoughts.
“He said what?” Applejack stared at Twilight in shock from what she’d been told. Aside from Benoit giving her a knife, which the Assassin intended for them to kill with, the Element of Magic was a key to ending a long, bloody war for control of the world. It should’ve been hard to believe a single word of it, but she still found herself believing them. Being the representative of the Element of Honesty, she could spot a lie from miles away.
“That’s what he said.” Twilight was still on edge on deciding.
“So, what should we do?” asked Fluttershy.
Twilight shrugged. “That’s what I keep asking myself.”
“Well we can’t just take the Element and leave,” said Rainbow Dash. Being the Element of Loyalty, her morality was always positive in these situations, despite her earlier arguments to leave the city as quickly as possible. Besides, she figured that if Benoit knew what the Element could do, maybe he could be useful for getting them back to Equestria.
Pinkie Pie, for the first time, couldn’t find anything to say. Normally a reliable friend and hopeful denizen, she was undecided, torn between whether to help the Assassins against the evil Templars or her friends and take the Element back.
Rarity rubbed her eye. “Maybe we should find out tomorrow, darlings. I’m quite tired.”
“Yeah, Rarity’s right,” said Applejack. “I’m beat, too. Hopefully we can find ourselves an answer in the mornin’.”
Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement. “Hopefully.”
They lay back in their spots, and one by one, drifted to sleep. “Hey, Twilight?” Pinkie Pie whispered to her friend.
“Yeah?”
“Do you think we’ll ever get home?”
Twilight opened her mouth, but found nothing to say. She was too uncertain. Would they get home? She wasn’t sure. All she could do was close her eyes and go to sleep.
Chapter 4: “Decisions, Decisions” Several Days Later…
Twilight awoke to yet another day in this strange and dangerous world. The local Assassins were kind enough to escort her and her friends whenever they chose to go out into the city. Luckily their notoriety had been lowered, so no one, not even the guards, recognised them. It was refreshing, going out for fresh air without fear of being chased through the streets. They also had more questions to ask, which the Assassins answered willingly.
Still, despite all that had been answered, there still remained some things that the girls wanted to touch on. As their days came and gone, the debate on what to do—either to stay with the Assassins or take the Element of magic and find another way back to Equestria—had almost come to a close, and it became apparent that they’d have to make a decision soon.
She rubbed her eyes as she woke up from sleep. However, upon waking, she found that she was no longer in the cavern. Instead she found herself in an empty, black void, unable to see anything around her. She stood up and walked forward with her hands held out in front of her, hoping to find at least something.
There was nothing…
Nothing at all…
She was suddenly blinded by a bright light, and when it subsided, a small gold orb floated in front of her. And out of the orb stood a human female, surrounded by a shining gold aura and dressed in unusual clothing.
“Twilight Sparkle, I presume. Am I correct?” Her voice was soft and subtle, yet Godly at the same time.
“Who are you? And how do you know my name?”
“Where I originate, I go by many names. But, you may call me ‘Nirvana’. We have watched you and your race grow for many years.”
Twilight deadpanned. “We?”
“The Ones Who Came Before; the First Civilization…”
It startled the former unicorn, but also made her curious about this meeting. How did she know her name? And how does she know about Equestria? The void was filled with another bright light. Before she knew it, Twilight found herself in her old body, standing in the Ponyville library. It felt good to be a pony again, as she thought.
“Are we back in Equestria?” she asked, hoping the answer was ‘yes’.
“I’m sorry, but no. The artifact has chosen this as your ideal form.” Nirvana was nowhere to be seen, but instead continuing to speak with Twilight from inside her mind. She saw that the remaining Elements of Harmony—Kindness, Generosity, Laughter, Loyalty, and Honesty—were scattered throughout the floor. “You were planning to take the one you have, weren’t you?” The way Nirvana spoke, it did not sound like a question.
“This is all just too much,” Twilight said with subtly. She turned her gaze to the ground as her ears pushed back with regret. “The Elements of Harmony are about just that—Harmony! How can they be connected to a war as old as humanity itself? It just doesn’t make sense.”
The library faded away, and Twilight found herself back in the void with Nirvana looking down at her.
“In time you will understand. But now, you must help protect the artifact from falling into dangerous hands.” A symbol appeared in front of Nirvana as she spoke. “Should its power be abused, the sanctity of your world, and this one, shall be breached, and all hope for peace will be lost. But there are those who seek to prevent this occurrence from happening.”
Twilight recognised the symbol; it was the same as the ones on the flags draped around the cavern. “You’re saying me and my friends…” She looked back up at the being with discern, “We have to join the Assassins?”
No response, instead Nirvana vanished the same bright light.
“Twilight! Wake up!”
Her eyes immediately snapped opened, and she found herself staring at the stone ceiling of the underground Assassin Bureau. The strange meeting with Nirvana was immediately put on her mind the moment she woke, the only thing scaring her being the fact that this person—whoever she was—wanted her to fight in a war; to be a killer. It was something she had no desire for.
She looked to see Applejack kneeling beside her. “You okay, supercube? You were fidget’n someth’n fierce.”
Twilight sat up, trying to focus on anything that could push the crazy meeting with Nirvana from her head. There was little success on that matter, so she tried to ignore it, hoping it would go away in time. “I’m fine. Just a bad dream. How’re the others doing?”
“Everypony’s dandy. We’re try’n ta adjust here. But Twilight, hun…” Applejack’s tone suddenly ever grew more serious, “I think it’s better if we leave. One’a these fellas told me ‘bout what crazy stuff goes on in this city aside from this war, and I think it’s way too dangerous fer us ta stay here anymore.”
“I was considering the same thing, ever since Benoit killed that guy.” Twilight cringed at seeing the thief’s lifeless corpse hit the ground.
“He killed someone? Was it one’a those Templar guys?”
Twilight, sadly, shook her head. “No, it wasn’t, but he would’ve been killed, too, if he hadn’t done it. It was in self-defense, right?”
“I don’t think it matters,” said Applejack. “The point is—with murderers and all those other psycho run’n around Paris—we’re not exactly one hundred percent safe, even with Assassins protect’n us.”
The former unicorn thought about it. Applejack had a point; even with Assassins, they weren’t completely shielded from all dangerous in this world, and she learned in the past that staying in one place for too long was not a great idea.
She stood, the same unsettled feeling showing on her face when a few of the bones in her legs cracked. Being a human was weird, she thought. “Where’re the others?”
Applejack motioned her to follow. They made their way through the Bureau into the next room, which happened to be a library. Twilight marveled at the large amounts of books stacked in the shelves. I’m really gonna miss this place.
They approached the girls, who were sitting in a circle. Benoit stood nearby, leaning against one of the bookcases as he listened to what they had to stay. “What’s going on?” asked Twilight as she and Applejack sat down. “What’s the plan? Do we stay or go?”
“I say we just go,” said Rainbow Dash.
“Aw, but I like it here. The Assassins are cool,” Pinkie Pie stated. This earned a smile from Benoit, though it was hidden under his mask.
“Well if we do decide to leave, we’ll need money if we’re to find some proper Inns to spend the nights at,” Rarity added.
“I can cover you with that,” said Benoit. He reached for the small, cottage bag tied to his belt and tossed it to them. “Currency from a variety of nations; Assassins have to be prepared when traveling afar. Inside should be enough to cover you on your way get back to Equestria.”
Twilight picked up the bag and looked at Benoit. “You’re just giving us this?”
Benoit nodded. “I’ll make sure the Templars believe you’re still in Paris. That way you can travel without interference. Of course, that still means you will need an escort. And we’ll be more than happy to provide.”
“Thanks so much,” said Rarity. “Is there anything we can do to repay you?”
“You need not worry, my friend. Keep the artifacts you have in safe hands. The Templars are influential in their quest for power. They will do all they can to get their hands on them.”
“We promise,” said Twilight.
Benoit walked off. “In the meantime, I’ll have to explain this with Volodya. There is no doubt he won’t be happy with this. You should see if any of the Assassins here will escort you out of the country.”
Applejack nodded and smiled. “Thanks, Benoit.”
They were left in the silence. There was decision was made, but would be a good one, considering all they had known? The Element of Magic might very well assist the Assassins in ending the war if they gave it to them, but at the same time, they’d be giving away the very thing Equestria had safeguarded for years. They had to leave; it was for the best.
“I’m gonna miss these guys,” said Pinkie, “They were so much fun.”
Rarity agreed with her. “I just hope we can slip away without the Templars finding out.”
“Benoit did say we’d have an escort,” said Twilight, “We should be okay.”
The girls stood outside the Bureau, accompanied by two Assassins who would be escorting them away from the city. Adeline held out a map of the country, showing them their plan. She was a young apprentice whom Rarity’d become friends with. “We’ll take you as far as Reims and seek out the Assassins there,” she explained, “They’ll take you to the branch in Italy, and finally towards your home.”
“There sure are a lot of you guys,” said Fluttershy.
“All over the world—we’re everywhere the Templars are.”
The other escort, Francois, along with Benoit, emerged from the Bureau, carrying supplies for the trip.
“Our guys should be causing distractions in the city by now. It’s the perfect chance to get away,” said Benoit. He looked at the two apprentices, “Make sure they get to Reims safe and sound. Our allies there will take care of the rest, okay?”
Francois nodded. “Oui, Master. We’ll guard with them with our lives.”
“I trust that you will. Now, go, before it’s too late.” The apprentices did as told and headed off with the girls. It would be a long walk to Reims, so they decided it’d be best to only stop for emergencies. Before she forgot, however, Applejack turned and called back towards the master Assassin:
“Benoit! Catch!” She reached into her bag and tossed him a bottle.
He read the label on the front; it happened to be a beverage he had never heard of. “Apple… cider…?”
“It’s tasty! Trust me!”
From afar, looking through a telescope, Gabriel could see the girls moving away from the Bureau. Aside from locating the Elements of Eden (which he determined were in the possession of those six elusive females he had been searching the city for), he’d discovered the location of the Assassins’ main hideout in Paris.
This was his perfect chance, he told himself. Once the Elements were retrieved and the girls out of the way, he’d focus on taking out the Assassins for good. He called over to his bodyguard. “Daniel! Inform the guards—tell them to redirect positions over east. We’ve located the fugitives.”
Daniel nodded in compliance and did as told. Gabriel smiled to himself. It was all starting to come together.
So far, the girls and Assassins hadn’t run into trouble. They passed by a few guards along the way, but with their notoriety down, they weren’t recognised; though they did have one asking them about six girls that were hiding somewhere in the city. It was lucky they came up with a decent excuse to keep the amount of suspicion off of them.
They were told that Reims was a few miles away, located near the eastern border of France, but security along the way wouldn’t as tightened as it was in Paris. It’d be a smooth travel if they could keep the heat off them.
Adeline lead the group, while Francois kept them covered from behind. She had an unusual sixth sense when it came to avoiding danger, so she’d tell them whenever something was happening. The girls made sure to stick close to each other, none of them wanting to stray too far and get lost.
They made their way through the small crowd, using the map Adeline had to lead them to where they needed to go. She noted that some guards were beginning to change shift, much earlier than they usually did. It wasn’t even noon yet.
She stopped, which caused the others to halt in their tracks, and looked up at the rooftops surrounding them. “Is something wrong?” asked Rarity.
“Get to cover! Now!” Adeline suddenly ordered. She dove behind cover herself as a loud bang rang out, bellowing through the air. The people made a run for it as the girls and Francois hurried for safety.
Rainbow looked and saw a small hole in the ground, where Adeline was originally standing. “What was that?”
Peering from behind cover, Adeline managed to get a quick glimpse of her enemy before drawing her back, nearly dodging another attack. “Riflemen!” she stated, “We’re facing riflemen.”
Francois cursed to himself. “How did they know we were here? Aren’t the others supposed to be distracting the guards?”
Initially it didn’t make sense, but then Adeline came to a conclusion. “They must have been following us. They knew where to look, which means they also know where the Bureau is.”
“If they knew, then why didn’t they attack?” asked Twilight.
“It’s because of the Element. They refuse to go anywhere near as long as we have possession of it. We need to head back before—”
“Assassins!” They looked behind them to see a cadre of guards running towards their position, swords, spears, and axes drawn for battle. “Seize them! And take the treasure before they get away!”
The two Assassins drew their swords. “Get out of here!” Francois ordered, “We’ll hold them off while you hide! GO!”
The girls ran off, leaving the Assassins to deal with the guards. The sound of metal hitting against metal bellowed as they got farther. After days of successfully hiding from the guards they were finally caught; it was almost surreal, acting as fugitives, having to stay out of sight wherever they went. It was different now—too different. They didn’t have the luxury of an Assassin to escort them and keep them safe, the only ones they had fighting to buy them time.
They needed to keep moving in order to stay ahead. They shoved their way across the crowd. Escaping Paris was out of the question since they would possibly have the entrance blocked to keep them from getting out, and returning to the Bureau was going to prove difficult since their path back was block and they did know of an alternate route.
What proved more problematic was the fact that the guards throughout Paris might have now been placed on high alert. If one spotted them, they would have an entire regiment following in pursuit. They’d have to be careful where they stepped if they wanted to make it out in one piece. But with the streets being like a maze to them, it proved all too difficult for them.
They stopped to rest, looking around to see if a guard had followed. They hoped that Francois and Adeline had been able to dispatch the guards; maybe they were on their way now. After being told about the Assassins’ skills in combat, they had confidence that they’d survive.
“I hope they’re okay,” said Rarity.
“They gotta be. Assassins are pretty tough in combat, right?” Applejack tried her best to look at things positively, but in reality, she wasn’t certain about it. She was told before that Francois and Adeline were apprentices, having only been fighting with the Brotherhood for a couple of months.
“What should we do?” asked Pinkie Pie.
“We should wait here until one of them finds us,” said Twilight. It seemed like the better solution than wandering aimlessly around Paris.
From around the corner, however, a lone guard appeared. “Found you!” His sword drawn, he prowled the girls who backed away. He demanded them hand over the Element, a request that was quickly denied. Angered, the guard quickly advanced towards them.
Then, as suddenly as he appeared, a sword was run through his back. He fell to the ground, dropping his weapon; the one who had killed him was Francois. He was panting, heavily, and holding a bloodied wound on his abdomen. Nevertheless, the girls were more than happy to see him.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
Fluttershy stared on shock at the injured Assassin. “Y-You’re—”
“I’ll be all right,” he reassured her, “We need to hurry and get back to the Bureau. More guards will be on their way soon.”
Chapter 5: “Rescue Party” The past few days followed the same routine: Celestia would wake in the morning and go to raise the sun, and then she’d try to locate Twilight, wherever the young unicorn and her friends had ended up. After receiving the urgent letter from Spike about what happened regarding the Elements of Harmony, Luna had to cancel the meteor shower and accompany her sister to Ponyville.
When they arrived at the library, they saw the Element of Magic was missing, and the remaining ones were left scattered across the floor. Spike had told them about what happened, about the Element of Magic going haywire. There was no magic residue from when it activated nor from Twilight or Rarity, which meant there wasn’t any chance of sensing where they might have been.
Regardless, Celestia still tried to locate them, and she had taken up considerable amounts of energy as a result. “Perhaps you should rest, sister.” Luna walked up to her. She bared a worried look at seeing Celestia like this.
The normally calm and collected alicorn was a mess with baggy eyes, a disheveled mane, and drowsiness from how much energy she lost. “It’s hard to believe that the Element of Magic could do something like this. It doesn’t seem possible.”
“The other Elements have been stored in the vault,” said Luna, “I don’t think we’ll be able to locate the Element of Magic, though—at least not at the capacity we’re working at.” She looked up at her sister. “Why don’t you take a rest? You’ve been at this all day.”
Celestia had to admit it to herself, searching for Twilight and her friends had been running her ragged ever since she found that they went missing. She left for her room. Hopefully, after she had some rest, she’d be able to locate them.
Volodya paced the floor of the cavern. He wasn’t happy that Benoit had decided to let the girls leave Paris with the Element, especially with Gabriel and his Templar subordinates and masters on a global man-hunt for the other Pieces. The mentor of the Russian Assassin branch had sent him to France to assist with finding the Ring, as well as any other artifacts they stumbled upon. This included the Elements, but with them gone, he feared that the Templars might get to them first.
“Are you sure it was a good idea letting them leave with the Element?” He turned to Benoit, who was sitting at a desk. A map was laid out with certain areas circled, being the locations of assets vital to the Templars.
“It had to be done.” No matter how many times Benoit told himself this, there was still a hint of doubt of whether or not it was the right choice.
“What if the Templars go after it?”
“Equestria has been able to keep the Elements of Eden safe for millennia, which is impressive by itself. Since we’ve never seen one up until a few days ago, I doubt the Templars know where to look. If the girls manage to reach Italy without the Templars discovering, they should be okay, especially when under protection from Flavia and Marcello Auditore.”
Volodya stopped pacing and thought about it. The Auditore name was held in high regard within the Order, and mentioning the children of Ezio provided some relief to the Russian. But aside from this, he still couldn’t put his finger on something. “It seems strange, doesn’t it?”
“What does?”
“Equestria…” The Russian Assassin looked at the map. “I mean a country—big or small—near Belgium that we have just now discovered. It’s not even anywhere on the map. We don’t even know what it looks like.”
He had a point; in all his times traveling east, Benoit had never came across a place known as Equestria, nor had he ever heard anyone speaking it. He determined that it was an isolated region somewhere on the Belgian-German border. It made the most sense to him.
The caverns were soon accompanied by the echo of a familiar voice. Volodya and Benoit, as well as the other Assassins, looked over to see Twilight and her friends running into the Bureau. Francois was with them, his arm wrapped around Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy as they carried him. Upon seeing the injured Assassin, he stood and hurried over. “What happened to him?”
“We were on our way out of the city when some guards attacked,” said Rainbow Dash, “They know where the Bureau is.”
This came as shocking news to everyone in the cavern. For years, they believed it was impossible for the Templars to locate them, especially since they were hiding underground. Volodya walked over. “Should we pack up and leave? If they know where we are, it’s only a matter of time before they descend upon us.”
“I don’t think we have to,” said Twilight, “Adeline said that as long as we have the Element of Magic with us, they won’t try to attack.”
“Where is Adeline?”
Francois coughed and answered, “They took her away… to the Bastille. She’ll be executed tomorrow morning. We have to save her.” He attempted to stand on his own, but collapsed. He was tended to by another Assassin, a medic.
“Can you help him?” asked Rarity.
The medic checked over the fallen Francois, taking a look at his injury. The wound had cut deep into his torso, even puncturing a vein. “I don’t know if I can. Give me some time; I’ll see what I can do.” With help from others, she picked him up and carried him to a nearby room.
Volodya watched with contempt as a fellow Assassin was carried away. “Templar мудаки,” he muttered. He had watched countless other comrades die at the hands of the Templars, his mother included, and seeing another only made his blood boil. “I’m surprised they didn’t kill her where she stood.”
“They’re planning to send us a message,” said Benoit, “‘Lay down your arms and surrender the Element or die’.” They’d done this plenty of times before in different countries, to different branches of the Assassins.
The Russian scoffed at this, as he sheathed a sword and holstered a pistol. “They’ll be the ones to die by my blade. The last thing I’ll do is conform to what that сука, Gabriel Robert, says.”
Benoit agreed with his words. He grabbed his sword, and with Volodya, made for the exit, but not before being stopped by the girls. “We want to help,” Applejack told him.
Fluttershy looked at her. “We do?”
“You’re cute,” said Volodya, “but no. This job is not for civilians.”
Rainbow Dash confronted him. “Who says we can’t help. Besides, whatever this Bastille place is, it has to be extremely well-guarded. You two could use some extra help.”
Benoit confirmed it. The Bastille was possibly the most heavily defended fortress in Paris, if not all of France. However, that had only served to drive him away from the idea. “I’m sorry, but he’s right. It’s too dangerous. In addition, if you’re seen, you’ll be captured. You six are too valuable to let happen.”
With that said, Benoit and Volodya walked past them. None of the girls did or said anything to try and stop them. What did they have to say? It was then that Twilight said something that earned her shocked looks from her friends, as well as from the two Assassins they were trying to convince:
“What if we became Assassins?” She had tried her best to keep that idea out of her mind, ever since meeting with Nirvana in that strange dark realm, but now she saw the proposal from the supernatural being was unavoidable. Perhaps—just maybe—she predicted something like this; Twilight couldn’t be too sure. She was still stuck on trying to deduce the real purpose of the Element of Magic, now that she knew it wasn’t even native to her world.
She felt a hand touch her shoulder and looked over to see Rarity beside her. “Are you hearing yourself, dear? The six of us as Assassins? Where did you get such a crazy idea from?”
Volodya looked over at Benoit. The Frenchman was just as surprised as he was at hearing Twilight’s words, but that still didn’t get either to agree. “Outsiders cannot just become Assassins, my friends. It is preceded by years of training before one can be considered a valued member of the Brotherhood.”
“Then make us!” said Rainbow Dash.
Not sure of what to say next, Volodya decided to consult with Benoit. There were many people who had been recruited into the Assassins; even the branch in Russia had recruits in its ranks. Because of this, the Brotherhood was comprised more of those who were considered “outsiders”, as opposed to those born into the Order by their parents. “What do you make of this?”
“I’m not sure,” Benoit responded, “I was hoping you could tell me. Do you think it would be a good idea?”
There wasn’t an immediate answer. Volodya couldn’t quite get his head around it. He recruited many people before; that was a fact, but the situation he was facing was something else entirely.
If only this was simple, he thought.
He thought about it more, wanting to come up with a clearer answer. He glanced over at the girls who were awaiting a decision. “Maybe they can be of some use,” he said.
Making his way back to the table, Volodya picked up and rolled out a map of the Bastille fortress. Thanks to past reconnaissance in the area, he was able to point out many positions of the guards. Marks on the map represented vital areas where they could access it without raising an alarm. Several X’s near the entrance represented the fortress guards that stood on patrol outside, and the lines showed the route that each defender took.
“I noted that the very top of the Bastille has a trapdoor that we could use to get in undetected, but perhaps there is an easier, quicker way.”
“How so?” asked Benoit. He and the girls listened attentively, eager to know what the Russian’s intentions were in this situation.
“Simple: We disguise Miss Twilight and her friends and have them lure the guards stationed at the entrance. Once they are out of the way, you and I will infiltrate the fortress through the front.”
“What about Adeline’s cell? We don’t even know where to look.”
A smile came to Volodya’s face. “Does not mean we can’t ‘persuade’ one of the guards to tell us where they are holding her. Once we’ve set Adeline free, we make our way out and back to the Bureau. It’s as easy as раз, два, три.”
Benoit nodded in acknowledgement. The plan was fool-proof; there was no way it would go wrong, only if someone saw through the disguise. “What do you say, girls?” The Frenchman looked at the Equestrians, “You wanted to help. Are you up for the challenge?”
The girls looked at each other. There was a chance to back out and forget it, and let the two Master Assassins get on with their mission, but none one took it. Adeline helped them try to escape Paris and made sure they stayed unharmed when they were being chased by the guardsmen, just as she had promised; it wouldn’t be right abandoning her like this.
“If it means rescuing Adeline from certain death, then yes. I’m in,” said Rarity.
“Count me in, too,” Rainbow chimed in, as well. The two were followed in suit by their friends, each wanting to help rescue the imprisoned Assassin.
Volodya stared at them with bewilderment. They seemed more than determined to ensure the rescue went off without trouble. He looked over at Benoit, who shared a similar reaction. The Frenchman shrugged nonchalantly. “I guess we’re doing this, my friend,” he said.
The Russian nodded, adding a smirk. “I guess we are.”
The moon shone through the clouds just over the Bastille. It had taken them all day to train the girls in the art of disguise and deception, two things that Volodya was a specialist in. But now, after hours of preparation, they decided that they were ready enough. It was the girls first time being involved with the Assassins in something like this. They weren’t in any real combat, but they knew if something went wrong, they’d be taken prisoner, something far worst when under the Templars.
From the shadows just a little ways off, they could see the entrance was protected by two guards donned in heavily armour and holding spears. Benoit and Volodya would be on alert in case the girls failed to keep their disguise. The last thing they wanted was to be spotted. They knew they wouldn’t last too long against an entire legion of French soldiers raining down on them.
With the girls and what little experience they had, it was going to take more along the lines of luck rather than skill to successfully infiltrate the fortress. Each of them had separate disguises: Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash were dressed up as thieves; Fluttershy was a civilian; and Pinkie Pie and Rarity would be acting out as guardsmen.
Despite his earlier thoughts on Volodya’s plan, Benoit couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. He would be sending the girls out on a possible suicide mission should they be compromised. “You all remember your routines, correct?”
“Don’t worry;” replied Rainbow, “We know what to do.”
“I hope so,” said Volodya, “There’s no doubt you six are still infamous throughout the city. The guards have probably been ordered to attack you on sight, so be sure to keep your identities from being discovered.”
They seemed to understand what was being told of them. Fluttershy pulled a hood over her head to keep her pink hair out of sight. They would easily recongnise her if they noticed. The girls went and took their places. Twilight held a pouch in her hand, filled with money. Once she gave the signal, they’d be running while Rarity and Pinkie Pie pretended to chase after them.
“This armour’s heavy,” said Pinkie. Rarity agreed, but they would have to deal with it until after the rescue was complete.
“Okay,” said Twilight, “Everypony ready?”
They nodded, and in a moment’s notice, Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash sprinted out into the open, running down the street in front of the Bastille guards. Fluttershy stepped into the scene. She was murmuring most of the time; her words were almost inaudible as Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow got farther away.
Seeing her hesitance in trying to sell the situation, Rarity and Pinkie Pie decided that now would be the time to start the chase. They ran past Fluttershy, pretending to chase after the other three.
“Halt,” one of the guards ordered, “What seems to be the problem?”
“Thieves,” Pinkie Pie said, putting on the best male voice as she could, “They stole money from this lady. We need help to stop them.”
“We’ve been ordered to stay put here to keep away any trespassers. We can’t help you,” said one of the guards.
“But we can’t catch them alone,” said Rarity.
“Why not…? There are only three. It shouldn’t be too hard, right? Plus, you’re the only ones who have weapons and training. I think you can take them.”
Pinkie Pie tried to think of an excuse; any that would help her. “We’re… new?”
The two guards sighed at hearing this. As if dealing with two incompetent guards was stressful enough, they had to be new. They talked amongst themselves, voicing their displeasure at wanting to help them, but they knew it would not a good thing to let thieves get away. “Alright, fine, we’ll help. But we have to do this quickly so the others don’t find out we’re gone.”
Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie lured the guards from the entrance, all relieved that they managed to do without being compromised. As they abandoned the area, Volodya and Benoit stepped out from the shadows. They made their way through the street towards the entrance of the Bastille.
Benoit stopped and looked after them as they left. “They aren’t very good actors,” he said.
“They managed to get the guards to leave their posts. That’s good enough,” replied Volodya. Together, the Assassins entered the fortress.
Adeline sat in her cell. Her execution was supposed to happen tomorrow morning, over in the town square for everyone to see. Her crime: subversive activities aimed at overthrowing King Louis from the throne and resisting arrest from the Parisian guards—at least that was what the attending the execution would be told. Gabriel Robert wanted as many Assassins dead as possible; she would just be added to the list, just as many of her comrades were.
She had been denied food and water all day, and received harsh treatment from her interrogators. They wanted to make her experience here a miserable one before she would hang from the gallows the next day. But she didn’t care. The girls were safe; she made sure to send Francois after them before she was taken prisoner.
There was a chance they were back at the Bureau, and if they were, they’d be kept safe as long as they stayed there. While they didn’t escape to Reims, she knew her mission was at least half-complete. In the silence, she heard the sound of someone struggling from behind the door outside of her cell.
Suddenly the door was flung open as an unconscious guard was thrown into the room. Two Assassins stormed in. She recognised them; Benoit and Volodya. She was relieved to see that they hadn’t forgotten her. “I’m glad you two came.”
Volodya grabbed a key ring from off a nail in the wall and went over to Adeline’s cell. “In Russia, we have a saying: Everyone lives, or everyone dies. The last thing we let happen is a comrade’s execution at the hands of their captors.”
He opened it and Adeline walked out. There were some scrapes and bruises on her legs and arms, but nothing too serious. She was still able to walk. Benoit grabbed a sword from the unconscious guard and tossed it over.
“Where are the girls? Are they safe?” Adeline asked.
“Right now, they’re distracting the guards,” said Volodya. ”
Hearing this made the apprentice uneasy. “They’re crazy for coming along. What if someone notices them?”
Benoit reassured her: “Don’t worry; we gave them disguises to keep their identities hidden, but it won’t stay like that for long. We need to hurry back outside before they’re compromised.”
The apprentice nodded. It was nice to know the girls hadn’t been injured or killed during their escape. There might have still been a chance to get them out of Paris and over to Italy without arousing suspicion from the guards.
Twilight, Rainbow, and Applejack stood against a wall, spears aimed at them from the two guards they lured away from the Bastille’s entrance. Their plan was going accordingly; Benoit and Volodya should have freed Adeline and fled the fortress by now, but there came the question of how they would escape the new situation they had thrown themselves in.
If the Assassins saw where they’d run off to, there was a chance the two guards in front of them would be taken care of quickly. They just hoped Benoit and Volodya were on their way.
“We’ll take it from here,” said Pinkie Pie, standing between her friends and the two armoured soldiers in front of them.
“We’re taking them back to the Bastille,” said one of the guards.
His words froze the six former ponies. “I’m sure there’s another prison around here that can hold them, right?” asked Rarity. She realised their plan was now taking a turn for the worse.
“Yes, there is, but the Bastille is the closest one, so we’ll be taking them there.” He looked back at the trio of thieves in front of him. “Let’s go.”
“You can’t!” Fluttershy blurted out.
The guards turned their attention to her. Why would a civilian who just got herself robbed care what happens to the thieves? It was then they noticed a thin strand of pink hair in front of her face. One approached her and pulled her hood down, revealing a full head of wavy pink hair. “I know you!” he said. He remembered that one of the fugitives they were meant to be on look out for had pink hair.
The other guard grabbed the hat off Rainbow’s head, revealing her multi-hued hair for all to see. “These are the fugitives! We’ve been tricked!”
Suddenly a voice echoed through the night air, followed by a pair of bells ringing. “Prisoner escape!”
“You six are coming with us,” said guard #1. Thinking fast, Pinkie Pie grabbed a nearby wooden bucket on the floor and swung it against his head. He was knocked out cold almost instantly.
The second guard pointed his spear at her, but before he knew it, Rainbow ran at him and threw her fist, making direct contact with his jaw. She stared in shock at what she had just done, looking at the unconscious guard on the floor. They heard footsteps and turned to see three individuals—Benoit, Volodya, and Adeline—approaching.
They stopped upon seeing the unconscious guard lying on the ground, along with the girls standing over them. The sight’d particularly surprised Volodya. “I see you six have the situation under control.”
“We’re so glad you’re still in one piece, Adeline,” said Twilight.
“The same can be said for you,” the apprentice responded, “Being out here like this is dangerous with your reputations.”
“After what you did for us, there was no way we were leave’n you alone in that place,” said Applejack.
Their reunion was cut short when an arrow hit the ground at their feet. An archer had caught sight of them from a nearby scaffolding, and down the street, a group of Bastille guards were rapidly approaching. Benoit took the spear from Rarity and threw it at the scaffolding. It collapsed; it, along with the archer, plummeted down onto the pursuing guards, blocking their path.
Taking their chance, the group made a run for it. It wasn’t too long before the nine of them managed to shake the guards off their trail, using blind spots and shadows to mask their movements. The rescue had gone off without a hitch.
This was what Gabriel Robert was informed of this morning during reports from the local guards. He didn’t believe that it was possible. The Bastille was possibly one of the most heavily-defended fortresses in the French Empire, guarded by dozens of soldiers. The massive height and stone bricks certainly made it impossible to escape. Prisoner escapes weren’t at all common. Those that attempted it wouldn’t get far before being captured or killed. It truly lived up to its global reputation as an impenetrable fortress.
He asked who it was that managed to pull it off. His reaction was a mix of shock and disbelief after discovering that it was that young Assassin girl he captured yesterday; the same that he was planning to execute this very afternoon.
He wasn’t sure the Assassins would go for something as dangerous as this. It was a fact now that he underestimated them and their willingness to oppose him and his Templar brothers’ influence over France and its territories. With the help of informants and spies, he knew the locations of every Assassin camp in the country. After the damage they suffered over the years, one well-coordinated attack would be more than enough to eliminate their presence in the country. It was an operation he planned for three years, but now he could not see an opportunity—not as long as they had possession of an Element of Eden.
As much he disliked it, he’d have to let them roam free—at least for now until he could find a way to separate them from the Element. Right now, he needed focus on another task at hand. King Francis was tipped off about a potential dissidence that he wanted Gabriel to take care of. As the personal advisor, it was his duty to obey the Crown on any orders given. After all, keeping the royal family in power and out of harm’s way was much more important to the Templars if they wanted to keep influence over France. A Templar-controlled King meant they had unlimited access to everything in the Empire.
“Sir!” Daniel approached him, handing him an envelope. It had the familiar seal wrapped around it. “It’s from the Order.”
Gabriel opened it and read the contents of the letter. It seems the Templar Grand Master had finally received his notice on the Element.
We were very surprised by your report.
The Elements of Eden were thought to be an old rumour started out of context; nothing more than a mere legend. It’s an amazing opportunity that you’ve found it, and in Paris of all places! As one of our top Master Templar, we trust that you’ll be capable enough to retrieve it as you’ve done so many times before.
This could be our only absolute way of being rid of the Assassins for good. Do not let us down.
May the Father of Understanding Guide Us
“Things may have just gotten a bit more difficult for me,” said Gabriel, though he knew it was just business as usual. Aside from being King Francis’ personal adviser, he was in charge of the French Templars, so it was his job to monitor and oversee everything that went on within the country—both concerning important civil matters as well his high membership within the Templar Order.
“What should we do?” asked Daniel.
“The only thing we’re able to do: Wait until the Assassins leave themselves open, and then strike. And after we have the first Element of Eden, locating the other five should be no problem at all.” He motioned Daniel to follow, “Right now, I’ve more important matters the King wants me to see to. I am leaving you in charge of the city guards while I’m gone. Keep tabs on the Assassins, and mark every single move they decide to make. I want detailed reports when I return.”
“As you wish, sir.”
Everything had been quiet since the prison break. The Parisian city guards were back to their usual posts, making sure nothing horrible happened to the people of France. Benoit and Volodya, as well as a few others from the Bureau, had gone out to try and lower the girls’ notoriety, and they noticed the patrols were tightened as they were on the lookout for the six Bastille escapees. The prison break wasn't revealed to the public as to keep prestige of the fortress intact, but this also served to make the French people a bit suspicious of their behavior.
Twilight and her friends couldn’t leave the Bureau under any circumstances the under risk of being recognised by an informant. They were virtually forced into hiding temporarily, though it would not be for nothing. However, the former unicorn saw an opportunity to try and learn more on the Assassins and Templars, becoming more curious about their origins as time passed.
She scanned carefully through the shelves in the Bureau’s library, trying to find one book that would help her. She was sure they had one in here; she just needed to figure out which one it would be.
“Is there anything I can help you find, Miss Twilight?” She turned to see Adeline standing in the doorway. The apprentice had been promoted following her actions in making sure the girls weren’t captured by the Templars. “I never had the chance to properly thank you for rescuing me from the Bastille.”
“It’s the least we could do after what you did for us,” said Twilight, “We couldn’t leave you alone in here. And to answer your question, I’m searching for anything that could give me a history on the Assassins. But there seems to be just one problem I’m facing.”
“And that would be…?”
“I can’t read a single word on any of these.” It was true. Much of the books that graced the library were written in French, with some from Spain and Portugal, to those as far as east as China, Mongolia, and Vietnam. What intrigued Twilight was the large variety of languages the human world seemed to possess. The girls could only read Equestrian, which in this world was called English.
Adeline took a book from the shelf and opened it. “This one might be enough to help you with your search.”
“Thanks so much!” Twilight smiled. She could finally get a better clue on the war between the Assassins and Templars; and as an added bonus, maybe she’d find a good section that would tell her about the Pieces of Eden. Out of excitement, she grabbed the book from Adeline—right before handing it back. “Could you read some of it, please?”
Adeline took the book in her hands and started flipping backwards through the pages. “This book dates back as far as the Third Crusades—over four hundred years ago.” She stopped at a page that showed an Assassin insignia, but this one having a tiny cube placed at the center. “The first recorded branch that we know of so far is the Levantine Assassins, a group that operated in Syria from a fortress called Masyaf.”
On the page, Twilight noticed a particular Assassin standing above the insignia. She had trouble pronouncing the name underneath the picture, but she figured this man must have been important in some way. “Who’s that?”
“That is Altair Ibn-La’Ahad,” said Adeline, “He used to be the Mentor of the Levantine Assassins before Masyaf fell to the Mongols. But before that happened, he made sure to spread the Order to other countries to oppose the Templars in every way possible. Every branch of the Brotherhood, and every skill we’ve ever learned, originated from them.”
This information she received was fascinating, especially learning about the very man that basically made the Order what it was today. This Altair guy must have been legendary to the Assassins. “Is there anything else you could tell me? Maybe on these Pieces of Eden?”
“I don’t know much about the artifacts, I apologise,” said Adeline, “All I know is that they have unimaginable powers that the Templars want. Gabriel Robert has possession of an Apple, and it’s proven difficult us since he has it; but when we retrieve the Ring, things will change. I’m sure of it.”
Meanwhile, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie were somewhat patiently waiting in the main cavern, virtually stuck hiding underground until the Assassins finally returned. They could not go outside under the risk of being spotted by a civilian informant. They still had the events of last night’s rescue mission fresh on their minds, along with the fact that they’d outright attacked French soldiers in the process.
Another Assassin walked into the cavern. His torso was heavily bandaged, and he was staggering with each step he took. He was still experiencing some pain from where the sword had stabbed him. The moment that Pinkie Pie saw him, she hurried over and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s about time you woke up, Sleepy-Head!”
A surge of pain shot through Francois from Pinkie’s hug, causing him to pry her from his waist. “Thank you for the kind gesture, Miss.” He noticed that she, as well as Fluttershy and Rarity, were donned in white robes, much too similar to his. “This is new. The girls we were assigned to protect have been welcomed into the Creed.”
“It happened after we rescued Adeline,” said Fluttershy.
Francois made his way over to her and Rarity. “At least now I know she’s safe. The Templars have a way with making sure escape is impossible for Assassins. The Bastille fortress is one such place. I’m surprised you weren’t caught.”
“We were,” Rarity explained, “until Rainbow and Pinkie knocked the guards unconscious. But that was only after we managed to free Adeline.” Her explanation drew up a small chuckle from the Assassin.
“Where are Miss Rainbow and Miss Applejack, anyway?”
“They said they were getting some fresh air. I hope they get back inside before they’re spotted.”
“You’re all safe now,” said Francois, “I doubt the Templars or King Francis will attack any time soon—not as long as we have the Element of Eden with us. But I have to ask: how did Equestria come across the artifacts? They’ve been lost since God knows how long, and every attempt to try and locate them has been futile. We’ve since regarded them as common myths.”
“Equestria’s had them for a while,” said Pinkie Pie, “I don’t know how long, but I can say we’ve had the Elements of Harmony for ages, even before Princesses Celestia and Luna.”
“They must be your leaders. People from Equestria have strange names.”
“You could say they’re nicknames,” said Fluttershy. Francois seemed to buy it. It did seem like a legitimate answer, after all. “And we have to ask, while we’re all here, why did you join the Assassins?”
Francois only shrugged. He never thought over why he really joined. “Desire for a cause greater than myself, I guess. Living life under King Francis’ reign isn’t an ideal one, especially when your ruler has been influenced by the Templars. I used to be nothing more than a thief, alongside Adeline. We were orphaned from the war between France and Italy and grew up on the streets, so most of what we did during our childhood was learning how to steal without getting caught.
“One day, we were cornered by guards when a heist went wrong. The only things we had to defend ourselves were tiny knives, while they had swords and spears at us. Just when we thought we were dead, out of the blue an Assassin comes along and rescues us. She told us about liberating France of the injustice the Templars were bringing and asked if we wanted to join. We’ve been fighting alongside the French branch for two years and we don’t plan on stopping until we’ve freed the country from the Templar Order.”
His story provided some positive mood for the girls. Francois was determined in making sure the Templars were defeated. “That’s incredible,” said Rainbow, “It makes me wonder how Benoit and Volodya were recruited.”
Francois shook his head lightly at that. He knew where the two Master Assassins really came from. “For them, it’s a whole different story,” he stated. The girls listened to what he had to say. “Unlike you and I, they weren’t given the luxury of choice. They were born into this. Their parents were Assassins, and as followed by the Creed, they were initiated upon birth and trained from an early age to fight Templars without hesitation.
“I don’t know how different things would have been if they weren’t born into the Creed. It’s no doubt they’ve been wondering this at times, as well. All they know is that they have a mission, and it’s to prevent the Templars from taking over. They don’t let personal matters get in their way.”
“They’re Assassins from birth?” Rarity thought he wasn’t being serious, but his expression told her otherwise. It was an unbelievable reality, but now she saw why Volodya considered her and her friends outsiders the first time.
“The same rule applies for Templars, as well,” Francois added, “Even though the two of us have been at each other’s throats for centuries, realities of the Pieces of Eden and what has happened throughout history can never go public. Nevertheless, both sides work in the dark, shaping the future of the world under everyone’s noses. History won’t know that we exist, but we have no real desire to be remembered. We think it’s better that way.”
The sun was beginning to go down, causing the sky to glow orange. Benoit and Volodya returned to the Bureau. Tearing away wanted posters and bribing and killing informants, they managed to ensure the girls wouldn't be noticed by the city guards. However, this still left the fact that the Templars knew where they were headquartered. They had to be on alert twenty-four seven due to the fact that there could be an attack when they least expected.
When they returned, they saw Applejack waiting outside the Bureau, leaning against the wall. “Welcome back, you two,” she greeted them.
“What are you doing out here?” asked Benoit.
“Me and R.D. just needed some fresh air. We ain’t used to staying underground like y’all.”
Volodya eyed her. “R.D.?”
“Rainbow Dash,” Applejack told him, “She’s over there.” She pointed towards her friend who was sitting on a bench, just relaxing in the sunset.
“Well, we did manage to lower your notoriety enough, but the guards are still on high alert from the prison break last night. I recommend not doing anything outrageous around them.”
“That should be easy,” said Benoit, “There isn’t anything we can do, aside from waiting for the others to return with the Ring.”
“I hope they can retrieve it this time. It’s been over a week since we sent them out.”
“They will. We’ve trained them well, after all. The only thing we can possibly do is await their return.” Benoit patted the Russian’s shoulder and headed back inside, followed by Applejack. Volodya, on the other hand, turned his attention to Rainbow Dash.
She seemed a bit upset. He went over and sat beside her. For a moment there was silence between them, until he finally broke it: “Homesick?”
“Kind of,” she replied, “I hate the fact that we’re stuck here. But as long as the Element of Magic’s in danger, we have no choice.” She knew they couldn’t just leave Paris while the Templars were waiting for the Element to present itself. It was too dangerous to outright leave with it. “I just miss everypony.”
“Everypony…?”
“Everybody,” Rainbow corrected herself.
“It’s a price,” said Volodya, “though once we have an opening, we’ll get you six out. And maybe then you’ll reach Italy so they can help you.”
“Can’t you guys escort us?”
“We can’t leave the country, especially in the state the French Assassins are in. I left Russia by order of our Mentor to help until they could get back on their feet. The Templars here have many Pieces of Eden with them so it would not be wise to let them operate unchecked. It’s the why we’d originally planned on getting you to Reims and then smuggling you east.”
“I guess I understand,” said Rainbow Dash.
Volodya thought about something for a moment before standing. He stretched his arms out and looked over at Rainbow. “What was one of the things you did back in Equestria?”
Rainbow Dash answered, “I did like to race a lot.”
The Russian nodded. “Da, then let’s have race.”
Rainbow Dash nearly broke into a fit of laughter upon hearing his suggestion. Had he really just challenged her to a race? “You can’t be serious, right? There’s no way you can beat me. I’m one of the fastest alive back home.”
“If so, then prove it,” replied Volodya; “unless you are coward.”
A smile appeared on Rainbow Dash’s face. She agreed. After spending nearly two weeks away from Equestria, it would be nice to have an old fashioned race to help get her mind off of things. She’d defeated countless ponies back home, and beating a human, as she saw, wouldn’t be any different.
Volodya pointed in one direction. “We’ll head for the town square. Just keep going that way until you reach a large fountain.”
Rainbow nodded. “Got it.” They got in the starting position. Dash glanced over at the Russian. He seemed determined. It wouldn’t make much of a difference. “On your mark; get set; GO!”
At that, they took off. Rainbow had the advantage; she was naturally fast, even when in a human body. Her endurance helped keep her from lagging, keeping her a large distance from her Russian competition. Volodya saw he was quickly falling behind, but he didn’t see it as much of a hassle. Assassins were trained to use anything they could to their advantage, including the rooftops.
Rainbow could see a fountain further down the street. That must’ve have been the town square where the end was. It wouldn’t be long now. She took a quick glance behind her to see how Volodya was doing, except when she did, he was no longer there. Where had he gone to?
She then noticed, out of the corner of her eye, something, or someone moving along the rooftops. She could barely believe her own eyes. It was Volodya; she recognised him from his robes, but she tried to decipher how he managed to get up there in the first place. He jumped and leapt through the air with ease as he headed for the fountain.
Rainbow shifted her attention back to the front in time to see herself running into a crowd. It was quite troublesome trying to get through with the amount of people going the opposite direction. She nearly tripped several times as she shoved her way through the crowd before she was finally free, though she was exhausted as she staggered over to the end.
She saw that Volodya had made it there, first; he was sitting on the edge of the fountain. Rainbow paid him no mind as she went over and dumped her head in the water, taking a huge gulp before reemerging. Volodya stood and gave her a pat on the back. He had to admit, she was fast. He never would have won if he hadn’t used the rooftops.
After a few minutes, the two began making their way back for the Bureau. The race had taken a lot out of Rainbow. She wasn’t a pegasus, anymore, so there was no way her endurance and stamina would last very long, especially when she had no wings. She looked up at the rooftops again in curiosity. “How’d you manage to get up there so quick?” she asked Volodya.
“It’s a skill I learned when I was young. They’re easier to access and provide a more efficient mode of travel, so while the guards are busy pushing their way through a busy crowd, I make a clean getaway. Sometimes they follow me, but their armour always slows them down." He laughed for a bit. "Now that you and your friends are part of the Brotherhood, you’ll have a chance to learn it, as well as many other vital techniques.”
Rainbow Dash acknowledged what he said. Going up on the buildings did seem like a better way to avoid someone chasing you. She realised how truly useful it was to the Assassins. Volodya noticed two more Assassins running down the street towards him and Rainbow. One was holding a small jewelry chest in his hand. Upon approaching, one said, with excitement: “Master, we have it!”
Chapter 7 Benoit needed to be extra careful with this. He wasn’t an expert with gunpowder, but he knew packing it into a flintlock pistol was dangerous. Unfortunately, they were in short supply of explosive experts due to continued assaults on Assassins and their contacts throughout the country, which meant he and the others were left scrambling to utilize what little knowledge they had. He often wondered how users and makers of devices as these were able to do this while under constant pressure.
One wrong move would end with him blowing himself, and part of this cavern, to hell. Gabriel and Templar lackeys were probably waiting for any opening they could take advantage of. All he needed in order to complete this task without fail was focus and patience.
From behind, Applejack approached him. She needed something keep her mind off from staying underground. Even though she and her friends were now safe to leave whenever they desired, there was really nothing her to do. Right now, she’d be in the marketplace back at Ponyville selling apples, a job she alternates with Big Mac on a regular basis. “What’cha do’n?” she asked.
Benoit responded: “Something extremely dangerous that shouldn’t be attempted otherwise. I highly suggest you do not stand too close.” Applejack took heed of his warning and took a few steps back. Whatever the Assassin was doing, it did not seem like anything she wanted to mess with.
“So,” he continued, nonchalantly. He wanted someone one to talk to, mainly to take his mind off possibly dying an explosive death, “How are you enjoying you stay in our little underground hideout?”
“To tell you the truth, I don’t like very much. I usually get this feel’n whenever I stay underground for too long.”
“I can relate,” the Assassin said, “I wasn’t too thrilled when the thought of going subterranean passed my mind, either, but since the main headquarters for the French branch is here in Paris, I understood necessity. I’d take living like a mole over being a walking target for the Templars.” He finished one of the pistols and went on to another. “That reminds me, we still have to get you to Italy undetected.”
“You’re still worried about that? I thought you’d forgotten,” said Applejack.
“It just slipped out minds. You and your friends are in good hands, and I’m sure your people are worried about one of the Elements being lost.”
Applejack nodded. “Guess they should be. The Elements of Harmony have kept Equestria safe from harm for years. The last thing we want is for them to fall into the wrong hands.”
“I’m sure,” Benoit acknowledged, “Just promise me one thing: when you do get back, make sure the Templars don’t gain a foothold in your government. Believe me, nothing is worse.”
The farmpony-turned-human gave a playful salute. “You can count on us!”
Benoit returned to filling gunpowder into the pistol, and Applejack noticed a few glass bottles set up next to him. She could see the labels; some of them were fine wines and others drinks like grape and cranberry juice. She reached for a bottle that seemed familiar, seeing the picture of an apple on the label. The top was still closed. “It’s still full,” she said, “You didn’t drink any of the cider I gave you.”
“I kind of forgot it was still there,” replied Benoit, “Perhaps, maybe we can have a drink when—”
The sound of footsteps echoed through the Bureau. Applejack and Benoit looked over at the entrance of the cavern as Volodya and Rainbow Dash, along with two other Assassins, approached them. It seemed that something urgent had come up, one that required their absolute attention. Benoit approached them, asking what had happened.
In response, Volodya opened the small jewelry box in his hand, revealing a ring inside. It had a faint glow with streams of golden light protruding from parts of it. Benoit gazed at the artifact with disbelief. He was certain that it was dream. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Da,” replied the Russian, “We finally retrieve the Ring of Eden.”
Applejack and Rainbow looked on at the glowing artifact. For some reason, they couldn’t take their eyes off it. The Ring had a slight ‘feeling’ to it, one that they weren’t to describe, but for that brief moment, they felt a desire to keep it all to themselves.
Benoit, on the other hand, looked up at his comrades. “How…? How did—?”
“We waited for the right time,” said one of the Assassins, “It took days before we could make our move. We lost Catherine in the process, though.”
A moment of silence took the area. Benoit nodded. “I see. At least we know her sacrifice is not in vain.” He took the box and closed it—Applejack and Rainbow returned their attentions to the Assassins in front of them, both failing to realise their sudden lust for the artifact.
“What should we do with it?” asked Volodya.
“I know some Hermenticist friends over western side of the city,” said Benoit, “They are more than trusted to help keep this safe.”
Volodya nodded. It sounded like a plan. Now that the Templars lost a vital asset for their victory, he could see them beginning to lose influence over the country. Things were looking up for his French brothers and sisters. He could return to his home in Russia, knowing he helped make this possible.
Rainbow and Applejack walked with each other for a bit, as Benoit made a leave from the cavern. “I’m happy for ‘em,” said Applejack. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder about the mysteries of the Ring of Eden. She and Rainbow were curious about it and the powers it might have held.
The two were eventually approached by Twilight and Rarity. Twilight had been busy reading something in a book which was marked with mostly French words, and Rarity had changed her outfit, dying the colours to more fit her tastes. Her robes were a dark velvet colour with a blue sash fashioned around her waist.
“What’cha got there, Twi?” asked Applejack. Twilight told her that she had been reading a language manual, trying to get a hang of speaking French. The concept was confusing to her, but she figured she could manage. Adeline had also offered her help on some occasions.
Rarity spoke up: “Benoit seemed happy when he walked by us. What was in that small jewelry box he was holding?”
“The Assassins managed get that Ring of Eden thing from the Templars,” replied Rainbow.
“That’s wonderful news,” said Rarity, “Guess it seems all that hard work finally paid off for them.”
“I’ll say, though I can’t help but wonder what exactly these Pieces of Eden are capable of.” Rainbow was still mulling over the Ring, still wondering what sort of power could come out of such a small artifact.
“Benoit told me the Templars want to use them for control,” said Twilight, “If I had to guess, I say they’re very powerful, and the Element of Magic is just adding more fuel to the fire.”
Applejack agreed. Even though this would not be a permanent solution since she figured the Templars would grow more desperate as time passed, especially with the Ring out of their possession, keeping hidden was the best thing they could do as of now.
The remaining five Elements of Harmony were locked in a box at the Canterlot castle and kept under constant watch. Occasionally, they would be checked on to see if anything else happened. So far, nothing out of the ordinary had really caught their attention. It was a still a mystery how they lost control over the Element of Magic, and where it took the girls in the process.
At first they believed they were in another part of the world, possibly somewhere in Saddle Arabia or with the Griffons, but now they saw their assumptions were wrong. Twilight and her friends were just completely gone, without so much as a single trace left behind.
Celestia, with Spike hitching a ride on her back, approached the room where the rest of the Elements were being stored, which had two Royal guards standing on either side of it. “Has anything happened yet?”
“Afraid not, Princess,” said one of the guards, “It’s been silent ever since you brought them back to the castle.”
It was not exactly understandable how that could be. Together, the Princess and Spike entered the room. The Elements were contained in a small box set out on a pedestal at the end. Celestia opened it, staring down at the five artifacts. In all the years the Elements of Harmony have existed, they never exhibited such strange and unbeknownst powers.
“I don’t get it,” said Spike, scratching his head, “How come they aren’t working this time? Are they broken?” He had continually wondered what happened to Twilight and the others, where they were, and how they were faring in whatever situation they were in.
Princess Celestia shook her head. “The Elements of Harmony don’t ‘break’, but it is strange how this happened in the first place.” She levitated one of them in front of her eyes, examining every inch of it. It was a complete mystery.
Suddenly, the magic enveloping around the Element disappeared—or, instead it was forcefully cast away. Celestia could feel it. It didn’t seem like anything from this world; in fact, it almost seemed like it was an otherworldly power. It stopped any and all tries to bring it back under her control, and she even felt her energy being drained with each attempt she tried.
Spike recognised the situation. It was like the same as what happened to Twilight before she and the others disappeared. But instead of sharing the same fate, there came a god-like voice echoing throughout the room:
“To discover what happened to those closest to you, I shall provide.”
Streams of golden light emitted from the five Elements, nearly blinding Celestia and Spike. They shielded their eyes as everything around them disappeared, and soon they found themselves standing in what was supposed to be a library. The shelves were lined with old books, and judging by the crude stone ceiling above them, they had to be underground.
“Where are we?” asked Spike, “Doesn’t look like we’re still in the castle.”
They noticed a figure sitting in a chair in the same room. It was holding a small wooden object, which bared a steel barrel and wooden handle, looking at it with bemusement. They couldn’t determine who or what it was; they hadn’t seen this type of creature back in Equestria. Spike wondered how it didn't notice them.
Nevertheless, Celestia stepped forward. Whatever it was, she knew she wouldn’t get answers by just standing around. Hopefully the creature was nice, and if not, she’d have a chance to defend herself. “Excuse me…” she held out her hoof, “Sorry to intrude, I guess, but do you mind telling us where—”
She immediately drew her arm back after it went through its body. Spike was just as freaked out as she waved a hoof in front of its face. “Yep,” said Spike, “We are definitely not in Canterlot anymore.”
“It doesn’t seem we’re in this world, either,” said Celestia. She tried to grasp onto the situation. Now wasn’t the time to panic with what they were faced with. That strange voice told them it would show what happened to the six missing ponies, so this must have been a clue as to where they might have been.
The figure in front of them continued to examine the object in its hands. “How do humans manage to build these things?” Spike noted that it was a female from its voice, but he also noticed that it sounded familiar.
Another human walked into the library, and immediately the one sitting in the chair looked up. “Miss Applejack, do you have the time?” Celestia and Spike had been taken off-guard, left with shock looks on their face. They could not believe the one in front of them was Applejack.
“Sure thing, Benoit. And like I said before, you don’t have to go ‘round call’n me ‘Miss’ all the time. Jus’ call me Applejack.” She stood, setting the object down on the shelf behind her.
“Highly suggest you don't hold that pistol unless you know how to use it.”
“I’m wondering what that stuff you put in it was.”
“Gunpowder; highly sensitive, highly explosive. It’s not something to just mess with without consequences. Anyway, if you could, I’d like to talk to you and Miss Fluttershy about something.”
Applejack nodded and left the room with the other human, and once they did, another bright light enveloped Celestia and Spike again. When it subsided, they found themselves back in Canterlot. The Elements of Harmony lay neatly in the storage box on the pedestal in front of them, like they hadn’t been touch.
“That… could not have been Applejack,” said Spike, though as much as Princess Celestia couldn’t believe, the evidence had been shown right in front of her, clear as day.
“At least we know where they are,” she said, “It’s nice to know they’re okay.”
“That guy,” Spike continued, “Benoit-or-something, he mentioned Fluttershy. If she’s there, then the others are, too, right?”
“I sure hope so.” Celestia went over the situation in her head. “We know where they’re located now and that they’re all right. Now all we have to do is find a way to bring them back.” She looked down at the Elements of Harmony, still very much confused over how it’d easily cast away her magic. “Whatever power they have doesn’t seem to originate from our world. It has to be something else.”
“What do you think it was?”
Celestia tried to search through her mind for an answer, but came with nothing. “If only I knew.”
The French countryside somewhat reminded Applejack of Sweet Apple Acres. It was mostly due to the wide open spaces in the fields where she usually frolicked when she was younger. She was out here with Fluttershy, the two donned in their Assassin attire and equipped with swords for self-defense, though they hoped to Celestia they wouldn’t have to use them. It was pure luck they managed to reach this place without any guards or informants recognising them.
They came across a small cottage out in the open, and in the distance, Applejack noticed an elderly man sitting in a wooden chair, just basking in the morning sun. She glanced over at Fluttershy. “That must be him.” Earlier they’d been told by Benoit to meet with this man. Whoever he was, the Assassins emphasized his importance.
She motioned the timid girl to follow. The man opened his eyes and looked up as they approached him. “Bonjoir,” he greeted them, “Can I help you?”
“Are you René?” asked Fluttershy.
The man nodded. “I am. May I ask why you’re here?”
“The Assassins told us to come meet you,” said Applejack.
René nodded, smile appearing on his face. “Assassins, eh?” It’d been a long while since he heard them. He and the Assassin Order maintained a good relationship since they last encountered, though it was unexpected that they sent two of their own to meet him. Judging by their robes, he determined that they were recruits rather than skilled operatives.
He invited them into his home. The inside was cozy with paintings and artifacts gracing the room. René sat down another chair and glanced over at the two girls standing in the middle of the room. Another person soon entered; it was a young man. “Here you are, father,” he said, handing René a small cup of tea.
René nodded to him as he left and turned his attention back to Fluttershy and Applejack. “So, what is it the Assassins sent you here for?”
“We were told that you used to fight as an archer in the French military,” replied Applejack.
“One of the best in the army,” said René, “I even still have my bow.” He pointed over towards a wooden bow hanging on a nearby wall. “That thing has saved my life on more than one occasion, when I was left wandering aimlessly through the Italian countryside.”
“That’s a… nice story,” said Fluttershy.
René took a sip of his tea. “So you two have come here to learn archery on behalf of the Assassins?” They nodded. The old man regarded it. He hadn’t the chance to use his bow in years; he would’ve considered himself a tad rusty. Nevertheless, when it came to the Assassins, he couldn’t say no. “All righty, then, I’ll help you two learn the skills.”
“Really?” Applejack responded, “Just like that?”
“How else do you expect me to respond, Madame?” René stood and walked over to retrieve his bow. “Besides, I have friends still fighting with the Assassin Order, and so I find it difficult to turn down those who fight for such a noble cause.” He motioned them to follow and led them out into the backyard. It was a massive fenced area. A small garden was laid out in front of them; to their left were a few chopped up pieces of tree bark lying on the ground and to their right were bull’s-eyes nailed to wooden planks sticking out of the ground.
The setup was a personal training spot where René used to develop his archery skills. Now that he barely picked up his bow nowadays, it just sat there at mercy to the elements. “Here…” he tossed his bow to Applejack, “I’m heading inside to fetch some arrows to use. Take a look around if you like.”
They waited as René headed inside his cottage. The soothing environment, away from the guards and the constant feeling of being watched, was relaxing for them after what they had been forced to go through. A few blue birds flew overhead. “This place is so peaceful,” said Fluttershy.
“I know,” Applejack agreed, “Reminds me of home.”
“Do you think we’ll ever get back?”
“O’course we will. We jus’ gotta figure out how these dang Pieces of Eden work, first, and then we’ll have a better chance of understand’n what went wrong with the Element.”
“Was there anything else the Assassins told us?”
“Only stuff we already know,” said Applejack, “Although…”
“What?”
“Yesterday, Volodya told me someth’n ‘bout a ‘First Civilization’.” Before she could go into detail of the conversation, René returned outside with a quiver filled with arrows. He tossed one to Applejack.
“I can tell you two have never fired a shot before, so let me warn you,” he started off, “This stuff is dangerous when not handled properly. You can easily main or kill anyone within your line of sight, so it’s best to use it when you have a clear shot to hit a target.”
The talk of killing someone was not something the girls wanted to hear, but they had to ignore to keep up the disguise. Applejack handed over the bow; René got it ready, placing the arrow in position as he aimed at one of the bull’s-eyes. After reeling it back, he let go.
The arrow sailed through the air, hitting just below the middle of the bull’s-eye’s target. Applejack and Fluttershy stared with a mix of awe and amazement. “I’m a bit rusty,” said René, “I haven’t trained with my bow in seven years.”
“Still a great shot,” replied Applejack. She was handed the bow again, along with an arrow, and directed by the old man to go ahead. She tried to imitate what was shown to her, setting the arrow up in the bow. It was difficult. Unicorn guards in Equestria were normally the ones who operated bows and arrows and crossbows with their magic.
The entire concept of using a bow and arrow was alien to her. She inadvertently dropped it the first time for not holding it right in her hands, something she still wasn’t used to despite being a human for the past couple of weeks. René showed them firsthand out to hold it, grabbing the end of the arrow in between his index and middle fingers. “You have to get a firm grip on it, otherwise it won’t launch correctly,” he told them, “That’s what gets people injured.”
Applejack took the bow in her hands again, doing exactly how he did it. She used her index and middle fingers to grasp the arrow and pulled it back. She closed an eye and she aimed, and once she was sure of a decent shot, she let go. Her arrow hit the target, but two lines below René’s.
“That’s good,” the old archer said, “I can see a lot of potential in you.” He turned his attention to Fluttershy, handing her the bow and an arrow. “Just do exactly as your friend did.”
Fluttershy grasped the arrow and aimed, reeling it and the bow string back. She wanted to try and hit as near to the center as she could, but ended up losing her grip and dropping it to the ground. She needed to keep a grip on it; trying again, she pulled back the arrow and let go, letting it sail.
She missed. The arrow had flown past the targets setups, instead hitting the grass outside the fence. “Well at least you can shoot far,” said René, “We’ll work on it.” He went over and retrieved the three arrows from the planks. “Listen; you need to think of the bow as more than just a regular tool.”
He walked over to them, taking the bow back in his hands. “When becoming an archer, the bow and the arrows you carry are the things that can and will decide the fates of everything around you—from the life of one person to the death of another. You cannot lose focus.”
“You’re put’n an awful lot of pressure on us, René,” said Applejack.
“I understand, and I’m sorry. In truth, it wasn’t easy the first few times. But you need to realise that everything I did over the years, especially during my time in the war, was out of necessity, not desire. I had to do whatever I could in order to keep myself safe. I won’t lie, though. You’ll be faced tough situations often since you’re actively fighting the Templars.”
“Guess that had to be expected from ‘em. Benoit and Volodya told us they pretty much run the entire country.”
René replied as his expression became grimmer. “Much more than just France, mon ami, but Italy, the British Empire, Portugal; hell, our brothers and sisters in China and Japan have almost all been completely annihilated!”
Applejack glanced at him. “Brothers? Sisters?” She knew only Assassins referred to their comrades by these words. “You’re an Assassin, too, aren’t you?”
René replied, “Was an Assassin. I parted with the Creed almost ten years ago.”
“Why’d you leave?”
“I’d rather not dwell it.” The events concerning his departure from the Assassins were something René had no desire to remember. He believed that it was better to forget it, hoping that whatever pain he felt would simply vanish. Regardless, of how hard he tried, though, he always seemed to be reminded of in one form or another. “Just be careful in your journey. As you may already know, the Pieces of Eden are powerful artifacts. At the same time, with unlimited power such as this in your hands, it’s easily to become corrupted by the influence they carry.”
Applejack and Fluttershy acknowledged him and his words. Though they had a new desire to know what was bothering the former Assassin, they knew it would not be right to keep pressing him about it, especially since it was something that he wanted to forget. Whatever the case may have been, it was better to keep from mentioning it any further.
The rest of their training continued without a hitch. They would still need a lot of work, René figured, since it seemed like they hadn’t held a weapon their entire lives. He just hoped they would have the necessary willpower to continue when they had to face their first Templar.
There wasn’t much difficultly for Volodya when jumping onto the balcony. In his youth, he went through daily training, which included developing his evasion skills such as this. Leaping off a stack of crates, he grabbed onto the ledge and pulled himself up.
“Think you can try?” he asked, looking down at Rainbow Dash.
“I think so. Doesn’t look hard,” was her reply. Ever since her race with Volodya, she had been trying with his help to learn how to climb onto rooftops. Like he said, it was a useful when avoiding the guards, something she could utilize if she was ever caught.
“It’s much harder than it looks, my friend. You’re fast, so getting a good running start should be a piece of cake for you. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Rainbow Dash exhaled. She looked at the crates in front of her. She needed to do what Volodya had done: just run, jump, and then grab onto the ledge once she was close enough. The Russian was waiting for her on the balcony, arms crossed as he observed.
Eventually after a few minutes, Rainbow made a sprint for the crates. She ran as fast as her legs could possibly take her. She stepped onto the first crate, and then the other, and made a jump for the balcony, holding her arm out to make a grab for it.
She missed entirely, instead hitting face-first into the wall right underneath. She winced in pain on the ground, holding her forehead. “Are you okay?” she heard Volodya call from above. “You’re not bleeding, are you?”
She held her hand in front of her face, seeing no blood. “I’m good. Just in a lot of pain.”
Volodya jumped down. “Maybe we should take a break until you’re better.” He helped her up and noticed a big bruise on her head, obviously caused when she hit her face on the wall.
“How’d you manage to get up there?” asked Rainbow.
“Simple: I got a running start, jumped off the crates, and grabbed onto the ledge once I was close enough. Perhaps your jump isn’t as strong as we’d hoped.”
“Think we can try it again?”
Volodya decided against it. “Not until you’re checked on by a medic. It wouldn’t be wise to continue training when faced with a possible concussion.”
Despite wanting to give it another go, Rainbow knew he was right. She wouldn’t get anywhere under threat of an injury. She’d learned this plenty of times before, especially after flying. “I… guess you’re right.”
“Don’t worry, though. You and your friends still have much to learn. Once the medic clears you, we can continue.”
Rainbow Dash gave a nod. The moment the medic said she was all right, though, she’d be back to training on climbing rooftops. Volodya could bet on that.
Orleans, France The carriage finally slowed to a stop at its destination. Daniel gazed at the stone structure from his seat, and at that moment, a feeling of nervousness became to overtake him. The High Order and its members—especially the Templar Grand Master—were a very hard bunch to please. They didn’t take bad news well, and unfortunately, the contents of the letter in his hand bared a reference to the Ring of Eden, which they were supposed have handed over by now.
Tipping the handler, Daniel got off and went inside. The main Templar base in France was located in Orleans. The city was devoid of Assassins, which made it the ideal for the Templars to set this place up as their primary city. He made his way through the building; thanks to his visit here multiple times, he knew where to go without getting lost. The inside was like a maze, most likely to confuse any intruder that tried to break in.
He eventually came across a large chamber where five men sat at a wooden table at the other end of the room. The moon shone in from the skyline above, casting light down on the Frenchman as if he were standing in the middle of a spotlight. This only made him much more nervous as he faced his superiors.
“High Order, Grand Master.” He bowed his head at the gentleman sitting in the middle, wanting to show as much respect to them as possible before presenting the bad news, “I understand you were expecting Gabriel, but he was sent off on important business for the King, so I thought it best to step in for him.”
“A terrible time for it, but unavoidable nonetheless,” replied one of the Templar Masters, “He needs to keep the Crown loyal to the Templar cause, so we see his absence as understandable. We called him here to discuss the Ring of Eden. It was supposed to be delivered to us last week for shipment to our brothers over in Spain. Why haven’t we received it?”
“We have had some trouble with the Assassins.” Daniel tried his best not to grow nervous amidst the collective stares from the High Order. “Despite our best efforts against them and their allies, they’re proving to be quite a pain in our sides. We’ve had to delay delivery on multiple occasions because of continued assaults on our guard details.”
“I guess we shouldn’t have expected any less from them, but I trust the artifact is still safe under your possession.”
Daniel exhaled. He was hoping they wouldn’t ask about it. The Ring of Eden was one of the single most important artifacts the Templars had ever discovered, next to the Elements of Eden, of course. Though, he couldn’t lie to them; doing so would most likely bring serious repercussions for him in the long run. “The Ring… has been lost. The Assassins had stolen it a few days ago. The men told me it was a surprise attack—”
He was interrupted. “With the Apple in your possession, as well as the other artifacts you have found throughout the country, you should have been able to drive them back with ease. But instead you come here with excuses.”
“Gabriel still has the Apple with him, and we couldn’t risk revealing the location of any of the other artifacts.”
The Grand Master intervened. “It doesn’t matter. The point is we’ve lost the Ring of Eden.” His statement was quick and to the point. In all his years serving with the Templars, he realised that petty bickering would get them nowhere in their mission, especially in the crisis they were facing. It was how Cesare Borgia lost control and died; he wouldn’t allow the same happening to anyone under his command. They were simply too far ahead for that to happen now.
“And what about the Element?” he asked, wanting to change the subject, “The one Gabriel claims is in the city?”
“Still with the Assassins,” Daniel answered, “which is another reason why we’ve had to take careful steps regarding the other artifacts. We have as much control over France and her New World colonies as we want. One slip up could cost us dearly.”
“I understand. You make an excellent point, Daniel. Attacking without regard of what would not be the smartest of moves we’ve ever made, and we know when it comes to the artifacts, the Assassins are always reluctant to use them. The last time they did, they’re precious Mentor went into self-exile.”
Daniel could remember quite well from what he’d been told about the incident, which was the sole reason why the Assassins started losing control over France in the first place. “But that doesn’t mean we should attack, does it?”
“Of course not. As I said, it wouldn’t be the wisest of moves if we did so,” said the Grand Master, “When Gabriel returns from wherever he was sent, remind him that he is responsible for retrieving the Ring and the Element, as well as preventing any more artifacts from falling to the Assassins. As far as we are concerned, we can’t afford to lose leverage. We are so close to our goal.”
Daniel acknowledged them. He saw no other option, and whenever the High Order spoke, their orders were to be carried out regardless of whatever situation you were in. He stepped out of the room, making his way back outside into the night. He wondered how on Earth they were supposed to retrieve the Ring from the Assassins. Since they had it, as well as the Elements, in their possession, they were virtually untouchable.
It was only a matter of time before the Templars of France would decline.
Rainbow dash took a running start. She was focused on it; a few days of rigorous training were coming down to this moment. Volodya waited patiently for her on the platform above, wanting to see how she progressed thus far. There was really no doubt that everything she put herself through would pay off for her after this moment.
Rainbow jumped onto the stack of crates set up in front of her. It was a graceful step, much easier than what she went through previously. Perhaps she’d finally managed to overcome this challenge, she believed. She leapt off the top crate and found herself sailing towards the platform. She held out her arm to grab it and—
She missed it just by a few millimeters. However, before she began to drop to the ground, she felt something grab her by her arm. She looked up and saw Volodya; he was keeping her from plummeting to the concrete below. He pulled her up to the platform. “That was a close one,” he said, “although you’re making excellent progress in climbing. Perhaps on the next try you’ll get it.”
Rainbow sat on the edge of the platform, just happy that she didn’t smash into the side of the wall like last time. She and Volodya had spent the consecutive days training her on climbing onto the rooftops. She still didn’t have the hang of, she found herself improving with each day. “This is difficult.”
Volodya scoffed at her words. “Just wait until the real shit kicks in. You’ll think this is child’s play.” He jumped off the platform to the ground below, followed by Rainbow Dash.
“So, what’re you planning to do now that you got the Ring?” asked Rainbow.
“The Ring of Eden was the only reason the Mentor sent me to France in the first place. I guess now that it’s been retrieved, I can head back to Russia. I’ve always wondered how everything has changed since I first left. I haven’t seen my home in almost four years.”
“What was life like before you joined the Assassins?”
Volodya looked at her. “What life? I’ve been an Assassin ever since I was born. I didn’t have a choice unlike you or your friends. I was born to a mother and father who were fighting for the Brotherhood, and so I was automatically qualified for the job. But I see it as more of a blessing rather than a burden. Knowing that I’m undermining every attempt of the Templars to establish dominance over Europe is more than I need to keep going.”
Rainbow Dash nodded, understanding his words, though she was more worried about the fact that he and Benoit were made Assassins immediately after birth. To her, it didn’t seem quite right, even if it was for a good cause, but she knew there was nothing she could do when dealing with the traditions of the Creed or its members.
The door opened as they were about to head back into the Bureau, with Benoit standing on the other side. “Volodya, do you have a second?” he asked. Volodya nodded, and Rainbow Dash headed inside, leaving the Russian with his French counterpart. “We’ve found another artifact,” Benoit informed him. He had sent a scouting party out earlier, hoping to find whatever they could relating to where the Templars might have stored the other Pieces of Eden.
“Are you sure?” asked Volodya, “Which one is it?”
“But that’s just it. We don’t know what it is. Our scouts weren’t able to get a clear enough look during reconnaissance. But we do know where it’s located. It’s been locked up inside Bastille fortress.”
Volodya never thought he’d have to return there, after rescuing Adeline from the threat of execution. Guard patrols there would most likely be tightened after the escape, an unfortunate occurrence that would provide more difficulty for them if they weren’t careful. The heist would have to involve careful planning in order to get it right. “Right then; I’ll go tell the others to prepare.”
“One more minute, mon ami.” Benoit stopped him just short of going back into the small building. “There is another thing I wanted to discuss with you, about our new recruits.”
“You mean the Equestrians? What about them?”
“We’ve been training them for past week and a half,” Benoit explained, “I think that maybe it’s time to let them out into the field, to see how well they can fare with us in battle.”
Volodya’s given expression showed that he was unsure of this decision. On one hand, Benoit was correct. They’d spent the better part of the week training them in things such as combat and deception, but that still left a hint of uncertainty of what would happen if they did follow through.
It was obvious that they had no combat experience whatsoever, which would be gained by partaking in operations such as this, but the girls just didn’t seem like the fighting type, especially the shy one with pink hair. He was not entirely sure whether or not he wanted to go along with it. “What if they are confronted by a guard? Running and hiding isn’t going to be a permanent solution.”
“That’s why we trained them in combat. We know they’ll have to use their skills eventually. If they do get caught, they’ll have to put them to use.” He put a hand on Volodya’s shoulder. “We’ll be sure to keep an eye on them, to make sure they don’t get into any trouble.”
Volodya took a moment to think about it. The girls had been a huge help during their first “visit” to the Bastille, but how would a second raid go about for them? Surely it would not be the same as the last; they wouldn’t be used as distractions this time. They’d actually have to infiltrate the fortress, which obviously was not an easy task, even for experienced Assassins such as himself and Benoit. They were lucky to have gotten away the first time.
But keeping the Pieces of Eden out of the hands of the Templars required every Assassin they could muster, which also included the ones they’d recruited. From his years of experience, he saw it as a necessary step. They walked back inside and down into the cavern. “Listen, everyone!” The Assassins turned their attention to the Russian.
“We’ve found another Piece of Eden. The Templars have it locked up and under heavy security.”
“Where might it be?” asked Francois, “Surely they have it stored where we aren’t able to get to it easily.”
Benoit stepped forward and answered: “Somewhere in the Bastille, most likely kept in the armory. We’ll have to infiltrate the fortress to get it.”
The girls were left somewhat speechless at the news. To hear that another Piece of Eden was being held in the Bastille, after they barely survived their first “visit” was enough to drain the colour from their skins. “We really have to go back?” Rainbow asked.
“Sadly, yes, and the patrols are sure to be tighter due to Adeline’s escape. Simply luring the guards with disguises won’t do much this time. We’ll have to create a bigger distraction to get their attention.”
“And how do you suppose we do that?” asked Adeline.
“I seem to recall there being a guard tower just a little ways north of the fortress,” one of the other Assassins pointed out, “It isn’t as heavily guarded as the Bastille is. In fact, there are only a few guards stationed the last time I checked. We can detonate a few barrels of gunpowder.”
“Then that should be sufficient enough to distract the guards long enough for us to get in. But we’ll also have to keep a few operatives on point to keep them busy while we sneak in.” Francois and another Assassin volunteered, vowing to keep the Templar guards out of the way while the others carried out the heist.
For Benoit, the plan seemed to be coming together. Many of the guards in front of the fortress would be more focused on the fallen guard tower than the artifact they have in their possession. They wouldn’t expect the Assassins to voluntarily break in again, which also meant a much greater chance the artifact would be left under little watch.
The plan was extensive. While Francois and his partner provided them with the distraction, surrounding archers would be taken out individually, and Applejack and Fluttershy would be kept on the lookout. Meanwhile, while the others made sure to steer any guard patrols away, Benoit and Volodya, along with Rainbow Dash and Twilight would infiltrate the fortress from the top.
Volodya and Benoit still remembered the interior of the Bastille from when they rescued Adeline. It wouldn’t be too difficult to navigate their way through, and with the Assassins catching them off-guard, they’d most likely escape without a scratch.
Everyone still wondered what the artifact might have been. Some wondered if was the Sword, or maybe the Shard; others pondered what it might have been the missing Shroud of Eden. In any case, whichever Piece of Eden it might have been, they would find out soon enough. And with it, they would find themselves one step closer to regaining control over France.
Hours later… Nighttime provided excellent cover for the Assassins as they moved through the streets. Avoiding guard patrols was relatively easy—almost too easy—not having to worry about dropping what they were doing in order to fight. They needed to avoid confrontation as much as possible; for fear that another patrol would most likely be signaled should a skirmish suddenly break out.
Francois was on his way headed over towards the guard tower and the others had taken their positions. Applejack and Fluttershy were nervous, anxious. This was their first operation, and even they realised that anything could go wrong, which would most likely cost them their lives in the process. They had to put as much faith in their Assassin friends as possible.
Benoit, Volodya, Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie were headed for the fortress. There were roaming guard patrols stationed around the place, growing and growing in number as they slowly approached the Bastille. They had to stick to the shadows around them to avoid being spotted; at least until the tower was set aflame.
“We’re going to have to climb up.” Volodya pointed to the top of the Bastille. The side was adorned with slabs from the stone that made up the fortress, which they could use to climb up. “Rarity and Pinkie Pie; you two will have to distract any guard that is left. Remember, speed and stealth.”
Rarity exhaled and pulled the hood over her head. Their actions here would have a profound effect on the Assassins and their operations throughout France. She hoped that, along with Pinkie and their friends, they would make this mission a success, one that would have a lasting effect in the long run.
Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated looking at the Bastille. It was like a huge monolith, and she would have to climb it. Hopefully her lessons with Volodya paid off. A sudden explosion rang out through the sky, making the Assassins jump out of their skins. Most of the guard patrols around the fortress were drawn to a burning tower in the distance. They immediately recognised it as a watch point they used for spotting suspicious activity in the area.
Just as planned, many of the guards ventured out towards the tower. They could not afford to lose it to possible dissidents, especially those with efficient-enough firepower to challenge the French Crown.
“That’s our cue,” said an Assassin. She climbed up the building in front of him, where an archer had been positioned. She waited for the archer to approach her position, and once he was close, he reached up, plunging her hidden blade into his abdomen, and pulled him off the roof.
The archer fell to the ground, landing right in front of Applejack and Fluttershy. The two looked on in disbelief; a dead body right in front of them. And at that they suddenly came to the conclusion that they might have to take someone’s life as well, if it came down to it.
“Girls…” The Assassin motioned them from above, “Come on! We need to get into position. Climb up here!”
Scared and hesitant, Applejack and Fluttershy began to carefully ascend the side of the building onto the roof. They could see the entrance of the Bastille from where they were. The front entrance was closed; most likely locked from the other side. Most of the guards had left, only leaving two behind, similar to how it was when they first approached the place. They could see their friends, as well as Benoit and Volodya, getting closer to the fortress.
Benoit glanced over at Rarity and Pinkie Pie and gave them a nod. Together, the two made their way over to another position near the entrance. If anything they would need to draw the two guards away just like they did last time. Rarity gave a whistle, hoping to lure the guards over to her and Pinkie.
She began growing frustrated when they didn’t move. “I don’t think they heard me,” she told Pinkie Pie, “We’ll have to try another—”
Pinkie Pie threw a wooden bucket over, striking one of the guards in the head. He let out a yelp in pain as he and his comrade readied their spears for a possible confrontation. “Come out, cowards. Where are you hiding?”
Rarity and Pinkie Pie withdrew as the guards left their position, allowing the others to sneak by them. They made their way over to the side of the fortress and began their ascension, scaling the structure. Training with Volodya on climbing building had given Rainbow more versatility as she made her way up the bricks that comprised the fortress. She was almost as fast as the two Assassins in front of her.
They climbed managed to climb onto the roof at the end. There were no archers in sight, possibly because the guards didn’t think anyone would try to sneak into the fortress again. Trying to attack the Bastille was suicidal, after all.
“A little help, please?” Twilight was struggling to climb onto the roof. Rainbow hurried over and helped her friend up. “That sure was an exercise. I’m surprised you could do this.”
“I’ve had some training with Volodya.” Rainbow and Twilight saw the Assassins open a trap door leading into the fortress. They motioned them to follow before jumping in. They found themselves in a guard room. Luckily there weren’t any soldiers around, which made infiltration that much easier.
Benoit hurried over towards a door, listening out for anyone on the other side. He heard a few soldiers passing and thought it best to wait until they were gone. As they waited, Twilight noticed a small leather-bound book on a nearby table. She went over and picked it up. It didn’t have a title on it. “What do you think it is?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“I think it’s a journal.” Twilight placed it in her pouch, “We can take a look at it once we get back to the cavern.”
Rainbow agreed, just as Volodya bought their attention. The group ventured out of the guard room and began making their way through the fortress, making sure to avoid anything that might give away their position. With a fortress full to the brim with soldiers, the last thing they wanted was to get caught.
“We’ll have to split up and cover more ground,” said Benoit, “We’ll meet back at the entrance if anything goes wrong.”
They acknowledged the order. Twilight headed out with Volodya and went one route, while Benoit and Rainbow Dash took another. They figured the Piece of Eden would be stored in any place where guard presence was heavy, most likely somewhere near the armory.
They kept their swords drawn in the case that they’d be pull into battle, though Rainbow hoped she wouldn’t have to use it. She couldn’t go through the act of actually killing someone. They descended down a flight of stairs and took cover behind a stack of crates, just narrowly avoiding a passing squad of soldiers before continuing.
“How many guys are in here?” asked Rainbow.
Benoit answered, “Possibly a few dozen on patrol, at the most. We’ll have to time our movements carefully to get past all of them without raising an alarm.” Having spent a lot of his years specializing in infiltration and sabotage, he knew what to do in this particular situation.
"So where might the armory be located?"
"Should be on this floor. We just need to keep looking."
He and Rainbow continued through the interior of the fortress, avoiding any and all guards that stood in between them and the armory. A few times, however, they’d nearly gotten caught, but were luckily ignored before any of the soldiers had their chance to inspect. Within a half-hour, they found themselves at the armory. It wasn’t guard, which was considering how the Bastille usually was with keeping important things safe and secured.
The two Assassins trekked over towards the armory door, staying on the lookout in case a patrol were suddenly come from around the corner. They approached it; Benoit pulled out a knife and pick and stuff it into the key hole.
“What’re you doing?” asked Rainbow.
“Lock picking,” said the Master Assassin, “It’s a really nifty skill to learn.” He managed to find the pressure points within the lock, which finally opened the door. Rainbow Dash looked on in amazement. She would have to try and learn it after she had gotten the hang of climbing.
Benoit pushed the door open, and the duo found themselves in a room full of a variety of weapons, ranging from swords to rifles. There were enough weapons here to arm a small military; it was unbelievable that there were other fortresses like this across the country.
They noticed a small crate on the far-end of the armory. Benoit informed Rainbow to take one of the rifles, deciding that they might be able to make use of one later, before making his way over to the crate, figuring that it must have been storing the artifact. As Rainbow grabbed a rifle and strapped it around her torso, Benoit used his sword to pry open the crate. He looked inside. “What the…?”
“What’s wrong? Did you find it?”
“Quite the opposite,” said Benoit. “It doesn’t seem there was an artifact to begin with. The crate is empty.”
Rainbow went over to check. There wasn’t anything, except a few thin pieces of clothes. “So it wasn’t in the armory. Maybe Twilight and Volodya had better luck than us.”
“Here’s hoping they did. We can wait for them at the entrance.” They turned to leave, but only to see a guard standing at the armory door.
“Assassins in the armory!” he yelled, drawing his sword, “Seize them!” Rainbow and Benoit could hear the sound of an entire squad of French troops converging on their position. They were surrounded.
