With the Templar's dead, and the apple hidden away with the amulet buried, Connor spends his life on frontier spending his time taking a well needed rest. But alas his help will be needed once more, but not in a way he has ever seen before.
The wind was howling through the frontier, the trees swaying and dancing to the wind that was sinning to them, and the shadows copping their owner. The air was filled with the early mist, and a musk of old wood, the dew on the blades of grass reflected the light given off by the early sun, giving the look of small diamonds. Connor was crouching at the base of a thick branch that was jutting out of the trunk of a withered oak, and down below was a berry bush, and next to it were two deer, a buck and a doe, who mulled about eating from the small shrub unaware of the human above them. Connor sat, waiting for one of the pair to move into place were he could land the most precise strike, for he was not what he used to be.
Connor took a moment to appreciate the peace he was granted with after all he when through, even after all these years he felt like he was still recovering. Connor took in a deep breath and gave a silent exhale, he felt natural out here, in the woods, for its a place most familiar to him, out here it was still and quiet, unlike the big city's, and towns he had visited in his past.
When Connor first walked into Boston he felt a urge, that he never wanted to leave, that this was a place to be, but that all changed, now he can not get near the city without having a small urge to burn it all down. Connor finds his bliss on the homestead, out in the woods, away from, the noise, the crime, the soldiers and about everything else in the city.
Connor looked back down to watch the deer, and he could see that the buck was right under him, and He flicked his wrist and the blade slipped out off its harness Then he jumped.The wind tore around his body then a familiar feeling came to him.the blade dove into the bucks neck as he fell over, the warm blood sprayed around his hand.The deed was done.
He pulled out the blade, then he continued on by cleaning it once he had gathered everything that had value he stood strait, and looked around, then once he had a heading to the east he marched on.His pace was fast scanning for the snare the wind was caring the sweet scent of pines and the sting of dead leafs. As he walked Twigs snapped under is feet, and some snared on his robes until he stopped.
The snare was sprung, and it had a small hare in it, Taking note of his surroundings, large tall oaks stood to his left going on for a distance, and to his right was a cliff face with a cave at the bottom, then he looked up to see it was standing at the least fifty times higher then himself, but it was a sight to see though.
A hare was laying on the ground with the thin wire around its neck, Connor then bent on to on knee over the hare. He flicked out the hidden blade, and started to clean the animal, but even before the blade was touching the hare there was a unnerving growl. Connor turned his gaze away from the hare, and scanned the woods around him.
He turned his head behind himself then he saw what was making the sound.A large black bear stood watching him with small bead like eyes. Connor gingerly turned him self to face the beast, but before he could do anymore it lunged at him. He rolled out of the way as it swung its large paw at him, in response he dove at it with his blade, at the bear, he felt the blade cut into its fat, then he pulled him self a top, and at the same time, was pulling out his tomahawk, he then started to lash at its head and neck cutting into its skin.It roared in pain flicking its self about trying to knock him off.
Then it stood strait up, and proceeded to fall backwards. To avoid injury he jumped off its back and rolled on the ground away from the thrashing animal. Once he was balanced he returned his graze to the bear, it had already rolled onto all fours. It was time to finish this he reached for his pistol.He was not fast enough.It charged him, It then swung its arm at him, and slashed him in the chest his pistol fell from his hand. Connor took a few steps until he fell over, He needed to move.
Connor rolled to left on the ground to avoid a another attack, But to his luck right in front of him was the cave he saw when he came. Connor looked back at the bear it was busy trying to get something out of a satchel that mush have been cut of by it. He saw that it was the one full of venison. Taking his chance, he dashed for the cave.
Connor took only a few steps from the mouth until it became a steep slide, he held his balance as he was going getting faster, and faster, but then his foot struck something, and in reaction Conner lost his footing, and he fell over, and continued to roll down the incline then he hit sold flat ground.
With grunts of pain Connor stood strait, and looked back up, the light was about the size of his thumb, he did not realize how far it was until now, but behind him was nothing, but pitch darkness. He wobbled over to the left with a outstretched hand it was a only two steps when he felt the cold stone wall, and with no other option he started to walk.
Connor was walking, and walking with no scene of direction or even time, he had no idea how long he was walking or where he is going, his only guide was his hand that was sliding along the rough,cold,stone wall. His eyes were adjusting to the dark but it was not enough to see.
"How long is this tunnel ?"Connor muttered to himself, it was eternal. just never coming to a end. Finally he just stopped preset himself on the tunnels side, and slid down to the ground, he was facing in front so when he wakes he knows his direction, and closed his eyes.
=======================
Connor woke to darkness, but it was the sound of something rasping on the walls that was echoing all around him. Using his hand for a guide he stood, but when he stood the scabs from the bear attack started to crack, and bleed, and with some pain he started forward. He walked for a few minutes, then The sound was becoming like one he could not identify, but he was his curiosity at bay, and kept on, but the mysterious noise started to become louder, and louder as he moved farther on, but soon, curiosity started to rise, and kept any other emotions hidden. After another amount of time past on, the sound turned into a scratching, like sound as if something is clawing the walls around him, but then it stopped like cold turkey.
Connor stopped, He started to listen for anything, but nothing came, So with no other option, he started off again. It felt like hours of blind walking never ending, he felt like a blind man walking through a forest, and with no idea of the time or direction, it started to become, unnerving, but then he started seeing a faint glow off in front of him lighting the rock around it, it was about the size of his thumb, and he figured that it was a exit. His pace started to grow faster, and faster, and faster until he was in a run, even when the pain in his chest grew with it. The glow started to become a radiant light, and brighter it became as he ran. He was running hard then the light, then became the feeling of warm sunlight on his body.
Connor found that it was a opening to the cavern,soon the light started to burn his eyes so he covered his face with his arm, and kept moving until he started to feel grass, real grass , then he pulled his arm away from his face, and was squinting against the light. At first everything was bright, and hard to make anything out, then his eyes against the blinding rays. Then everything came to view and...
"what the... " He was on top on a mountain, That he knew, but the land was one like he never seen before, he knew the land form miles around the manner, but this is all new the land was shaped like he has never seen it.
He was standing on a rolling mountain range that went on for as far as possible, then in front were rolling grass lands, and hills, and to the right was a dark looking forest that seemed to have no end, then to the left was, what looked like a small village, and a ocean beyond it, he turned his head strait, and his eyes met a large castle that was breaking the laws of gravity by, hanging on the edge of another mountain range.This was definitely not America.
Connor was to drawn into the new land to feel the pain, or notice the lavender, and cyan ponies only a few feet behind him.
"Hello ?" a woman's voice was recognizable from behind him, Connor snapped back into reality, and turned around. his jaw fell with shock.
"So Twilight, Why are we out here again ?" The cyan Pegasus asked...again
"UGH, for the sixth time rainbow the princess wanted me to investigate the old mine shafts,because she was detecting some strange magic in side of it, and she asked me to investigate, and she cant do it herself because she really busy with Luna at the castle court,and I chose you, because nopony else could come, and the reasons why is A.J has the biggest harvest of the year, Rarity is in Canterlot for the week, Pinkie is babysitting, and Fluttershy hates the dark." She finished with a heavy sigh.
"Relax twi, I'm only pulling your chain to pass the time." Rainbows face was filled with humor, and joy.
"Well, stop it!, this is a very important task we have on are hooves." Twilight scolded her.
"Fine,Fine I'll stop." was the response with rolling eyes.
"Good, and were almost there anyway" It was a stiff statment
The pair walked on in mute silence, The only noise was from the hoovesteps they made, or natures own music. They were walking on the old dusty trail, that started south of Ponyville, and would run to the old mineshaft in the Everfree Mountains, It was abandon due to reasons unknown. Anyway, the other day, There was strange magic pulses coming from the shaft, and Twilight asked by her mentor, was to investigate as said before.
After about five minutes past from the little 'chat' until a fork in the trail became over the two, and a sign sat between the two paths, and on the sign was a arrow that pointed to the left, and under it was written in white paint.
To the mine It was short to the point.
"See? we are close, it will n..." Twilight's face became hard, and strait. "Do you feel that?" She turned to her friend who was floating above her.
"No, the only thing I feel is the wind, why?"Rainbow was confused.
" Its...I don't know, I feel something, Its like a ting inside of me, or something." Twilight started to ponder on what could be happening, then it hit her like a brick.
"It's another impulse, Oh sweet Celestia, we need to get to the mine.right.now!" With that said, she bolted to the left, and up the old trail, and with Rainbow following her from above.
The pair were moving up the trail as fast as possible, and nothing was slowing the two down.
"Come on!, I think its fading," Twilight yelled up to Rainbow.
Soon, The Ponies had found the end of the trail, It opened up to a flat area, were old picks, and boxes were scattered all around, then in front was the back end of the mine, and in front of that was a drop off with a view over looking Ponyville, and all the major land marks.
And then the pulse stopped.
"I am no expert on mineshaft, or caves, but that is not a natural formation is it Twilight" Rainbow looked over at the unicorn for a answer.
"No, Its not natural, It was made by hoof, and the story goes that when this place was first found the walls were covered in diamonds, and rubes of all kind, but back then stuff like that had a very high value,unlike today, anyway so what happened was they started to dig them all out, then one miner started to dig down in hope to find more, and then they started to find more diamonds, and more, and more , and deeper the went, Then it was declared a mine,The Salitare mine, named after the founder, and the miners made a massive fortune off of it, but then after two years when they found this place, every single miner vanished without a trace, nopony as ever came back." Twilight finished with a deep inhale.
"Well, that is not creepy at all" Rainbow said with a sarcastic tone.
"Yea, but it is very int...what is that ?" Her voice became quiet, and rushed.
"What are y.." She was cut off when she saw a...thing walk out, and around the caves mouth.
The strange animal walked out into view, It was tall about five feet, and it was shaped like spike, but it was taller, and it was wearing some kind of robe hiding most of its features, Also it had what looked like a weapon on its back, like some type of crossbow, and a ax at his hip.Plus it was looking over the cliff face, and it had no idea they were there. The excitement of finding a new species grew rapidly, but also a deep fear.
It was only a short time until Rainbow spoke up.
"Hello?" Her voice called out to it.
Her raspy voice echoed slightly of the rocks around them, and then it turned.
=========================
Connor turned around to find the owner of the call, but what he saw made his jaw fell. His eyes must be messing with his mind, or he was in the cavern far to long, because what he saw were two mini colored pastel horses. He was hoping that a human would walk out, or something, but it would not come to be, because he saw that the one to the left witch was like a rainbow was slapped on a horse.spoke, literally, spoke.
"Can you under stand me?" It asked in a rough female voice.
Connor was left empty with nothing to say, but to only stand, and gape at them.
Then the one next to it, and it was a shade of lavender, but the thing that threw him off was what looked like a horn jutting from its head, but it bent over to the rainbow one, and he heard it say.
"I don't think it can talk, and also look at its upper body, its hurt, badly" She whispered.
Then Connor looked down at his chest, and it was covered in blood, and with his hand a shed of crimson. He did not realize how much he was bleeding when he was in the cave due to the darkness.Connor then looked back at the two horses that were standing in front of him.Then once more it spoke, but this time it was the lavender one.
"If you can understand me, nod" its voice was also female, but more smooth than the other.
Connor started to balance the options, He was bleeding severely with no medical treatment in a land he knows nothing of, but this is impossible, this may be fake, a dream, but it looks all to real, and so is the pain. He had not a clue on what he should do, or even could do. So then He came to a conclusion. With nothing to lose...
"Yes" It was all he could say. Twilight held her breath as the creature turned to face them, and then she could study what she figured its face, It had a dark tan skin, and there was no fur over it also, its nose was short, and stubby, then when she tried to study it further, the hood on its head prevented her to do so.
She tore her eyes from its face, and looked it over, and imminently she noticed, four long, bleeding cuts running down its whole upper body, and a claw looking limb over it, also was covered in fresh blood. Then she resumed looking over its features fairly quickly. Then Rainbow called out to it again
“Can you understand me?” The tone in her voice was different than it was just before.
The alien, she now deemed, due its facial expressions, and the robes, and armaments, stood there just gazing at them, and would not give a single response, only looks of shock. So she decided to whisper to Rainbow…
“I don’t think can talk, and look at its chest, its hurt, badly” With that said, the alien started to look over its injury’s for its self, but did it hear her, or only was it just chance?
“Yea, I’m not blind Twi” she whispered in a hushed tone.
The two watched it until it looked back at them, and Twilight thought for a second then decided to talk to it herself this time. “If you can understand me, nod” When she said that, It was as if someone poured anxiety down into her whole body, and it grew every passing second.
It must be thinking she wondered, because it was wearing a face of thought, and ponders. “Yes” Twilight jumped in surprise from the sudden outburst from the alien, and now it was her turn to become speechless, and when she wanted to speak all she did was choked on the word.
=======================
Connor stood, and watched the small horse thing recoil in surprise as he spoke, as if it had never seen anybody like him, and that was becoming more real than before, unless this is just some type of illusion being put on him by the Templar's, and the latter made more sense.
Now if the ladder is true, then he needs to make sure that he does not show that he knows the trick, because this might be a way to get information about the apple, or anything else of dire importance, and he needs to figure out how this happened. So that means realistic reactions, and not killing the two, also- He was cut off from his mind when the Rainbow one talked once more.
“So you can understand me, and talk like we do?” It asked.
”I need to say something to remain unnoticed, quick!” It was the only solution.
“I guess that what it looks like” It was a response, of sorts, but still something to say.
“So, what are you” This time it was the lavender one.
“I am a human” He needed to get out of here before they ask too much. “Do you have a name” It asked again.
“Connor” This time he had an idea, something he has done over, and over. He is going to jump from the Cliff side, and hope it’s a good landing.
“Ok, Con-ur, where are you fr.. WAIT DON’T RUN THAT WAY!” He recognized that voice belonging to the Rainbow one. He had turned, and hide-tailed it out of here, and sprinted for the cliff face. He could see the edge, become closer, and closer, his adrenalin spared like wild fire inside of him. He was getting closer; the distance started to dwindle as he ran, than at the last moment, He leaped in the air, and dived of the edge.
====================
Twilight was shocked, frozen in place, the alien had just jumped from the cliff like a suicidal. “Come on, Twilight!” Rainbow yelled, and then dashed right to the edge.
She followed her, and reached the edge to look over, and he saw the small figure of the alien falling right into the Everfree River, that flowed into the forest its self.
“Rainbow we need to get back to Ponyville, and tell the princess about are discoveries” twilight looked over at her friend.
“Why do you think it jumped” Rainbow asked her unicorn friend.
“I don’t know” This is something she is not used to.
"and Rainbow you know with wounds like that in the forest, he wont last long" She had worry in her voice.
"He?"The Pegasus looked at her.
"He sounded male, anyway lets get away from here"Twilight turned back around, and walked back to the trail.
Connor was lying on his back trying to warm himself in the small rays slicing between the trees above, his robes were soaked, and cold from the water. Connor was in deep thought, he was lost, bleeding, cold, and had no idea what he was going to do at the time being.
With his only choice, he sat up, but his chest yelled with pain, and he ignored it the best he could until he was standing strait. Connor started to study the local surroundings, but the only thing that was in view were trees, and trees, and more trees . From where he was standing there were no land marks that he could identify that he saw from the cliff, and there are no trees he could scale.
That’s all he had on him. Now what he was going to do, was the pressing matter on his mind. Connor made another look around, in front was the river, and behind him the dark eerie forest.
So He turned to the woodland, and started to walk.
========================
“SPIKE” Twilight busted into the Ponyville library calling for her top assistant.
“Wat-whoa thump ” Spike 'was' sleeping on his hidden bed on top of the book selves. Well not any more.
The young dragon stood back up, and started to dust himself off, and looked up to the visitor.
“Ouch, oh Twilight did you need something?” He asked the panting unicorn.
“I need you to send a letter, right, now” Twilight was going to ask what he was doing, but there are more pressing matters.
“Right, got it” Spike ran up the stairs only half-way until…
“I said send a letter, I have already written it” She said calling out to him.
“Oh, right, yea” He was embarrass.
He walked back down, Twilight, using her magic to hand him the scroll, and with a breath of fire the letter disintegrated, and the ashes swirled around, then flew out the open window. Twilight then turned back for the door.
“Hey, Twilight, What was the letter about?” Spike looked up at the doorway.
====================
The forest was humming with strange animals Connor had never heard before, and the wind was rustling the trees, and there leaves, that were a shade of blue instead of the regular green, or even gold and brown like fall. His walk was bringing the memory of what happened, whenever it happened, and it kept him vigilant, with opened eyes, and ears.
Connor would look over his shoulders making sure nothing is following, look to the left, then the right, watching for something that could ambush him, and have a scan in front of him so he knew if something charged head-on. When he heard something off he would stop, and listen. Listen to the forest around him, and when it was clear he would continue on, but softly.
He was so careful, because he is gravely wounded, and he does not want be become more injured, especially in this these woods. Something is wrong about this forest, It is just off in many ways, It’s as if the trees were watching him with hungry eyes. The thing is, it was, and in with its own way.
After about Thirty minutes past scene he had left the river past, and Connor had walked into a small clearing which was a relaxing site, rather than the endless amounts of trees. Connor found a small boulder on the other side a nice place to sit, When he walked up to the rock he sat down to rest, but it didn't last
snap!
Connor snapped his head in every direction, And he saw it, two bright green beading eyes were levitating in the shadow around him, and there was a shuffle of branches to his left.His eyes met Another three pairs of eyes that were staking him. Connor looked back to his right, and the eye were gone, so he turned the opposite direction, and they were gone as well.
He looked back and forth, but they never came back.
"Well,That was odd" Was all that came to mind, but he spoke a bit to early.
As if the words triggered the next chapter of a play, five wolves, looking as if they were covered in wood, leaped from the bushes around him, with snarls, and growls they started to surround him, getting ready to pounce.Connor made a reach for his tomahawk, and then flicked out his wrist blade, and made a attack ready position, trying to watch the pack of five around him.
With out a warning the one behind him leaped for him, he saw it come at the corner of his eye, he spun around, and swung the tomahawk at the wood wolf, It connected between its mouth, and then pulled it down snapping its top jaw into bits. Connor returned to his original attack position, ready for the next one.His chest roared in protest.
He was watching the four left, Leaving a sharp eye on them all.The one to his left reeled back as so the one to his right, Then they pounced at the same time. Connor ducked as one flew above him, and for the other, He came back up, and dove the wrist blade into its neck, when if fell free pushed it off to his left, Where it flopped to the ground in a whimper.
The last three positioned themselves in front of him, And the unexpected happened. The three ran off, and what looked like there tales between there legs. Connor sheathed his weapons, and looked behind himself, and nothing was behind him, only two corpses of the wood wolfs that attacked them, but the air started to become rotten unlike before.
Connor started to feel strange, and misplaced inside, the feeling of grave trouble, he had only felt this way when something massive was going to happen. He looked around, and started to focus on his surroundings paying attention to every detail that others over look.
He listen to everything all the sounds, and smells, made clear sense...
boom...boom...BOOM
The ground shook, and rattled like the forest started to grown.
Crack...Thump The sound of trees being snapped, and falling, filled his ear's.
Connor only turned when he saw over the tree tops, birds flying to the sky above, and even tree branches flying in every direction, and it was coming to his direction. Connor was able to take on whole groups of redcoats, and walk away from it, but this was something he could not win without a cannon, and he could tell. Also with his wound. So with speed he ran to the boulder, and took cover behind it to wait for what is to come over him
The ground started to shake, the air was thundering all around him, but the one thing he could hear the loudest was his heart drumming inside of him. It started to become what sounded like a giant walking, and it wouldn't surprise him all to much, because as he was walking, even if it looked impossible, it had to be real, and he has seen somethings many can not think off being possible, and this just added to list.
"When did it become so quiet" Connor Looked over the rock mass to the woods in front, but there was nothing out of the ordinary, only trees.
BOOMTrees went soaring in every direction, and with deadly splinters, shooting out like darts.
Another wood wolf was standing at was a tree line, but know nothing than stumps, and chunks of timber were scattered all around the clearing, looking like a bomb just went off, it looked as if a hundred other wood wolf were combined into one large mass right in front of him.
If Connor tried to fight that thing, he would surly die in seconds, being a assassin, he is trained to fight, also when to live to strike once more. So with the cover of the rock he sneaked into the tree line, and diapered into the shadow.
But the wolves were not the only thing that watched the fight.
. The warm spring day was like any other, the sun was high, with the ocean blue skies behind it, there were no clouds to be seen, it was a perfect spring day, and nopony wanted to miss it. Celestia, her sister Luna, and her captain Shinning Armor were inside, not enjoying this wonderful day, but in a heated conversation with elected officials about the new threat rising in the kingdoms.
“We need guards, all from are kingdoms have been sent off to the front to aid the other villages from the sand demons.” The Zebrecan official’s name was Zulu-marun, or Zulu for short. He was an old shaman from the western dunes, his face was worn, and he looked as if he never sleeps.
“If we send are guards, it would leave us open to an attack.” Armor protested.
“Then what do you suggest we do, let them attack us you know what happened to the king’s sons, and daughter” Once he said it, is eyes looked saddened.
“Well, can the griffins lend aid?” Celestia looked over to the shaman.
“We have tried, but there were…complications between the two kings when they met.” His voice crocked age.
“What if I talk to the griffin emperor, and asked him to send aid.” This time Luna spoke. Her speech improved a great deal over the three years that had passed, from when she was freed from Nightmare Moon.
“That is a very thoughtful proposal, but I dough you could convince him, he has a sharp tong” The old shaman looked at the moon goddess.
“Yes, but a sharp tong will cut its own throat” She gave a hidden smile.
“…” The zebra was silent. “Fine, if you think you could do it, try, but I doubt...” he was cut out by Luna.
“Your doubt is the reason why you could not convince others to aid you in your efforts” all went quiet.
The room was in a state of peace even when, the whole day was spent in talks like this, there was nothing to be heard.
Then Celestia stood...
“Then we have reached a conclusion, my sister shall travel to the griffin kingdom, and speak with is emperor about the aid for the zebrican republic. This meeting is augured.” She gave nod to the group.
==================
“Do you really want to go?” Celestia looked down at her sister. “I could go there myself, and talked to them for you.” Celestia was Locked on her sister, and was very worried for her sister.
“Sister I can take care of myself, you know that, and why do you fear me departure?” Luna had returned Celestias gaze.
“I have my fears, because this is a dark time for us, all of us, and that somepony has a eye on you, waiting in your own shadow.”
“Tia, I know the risk, and I am ready for them, but I need to show this kingdom, are kingdom I am ready for Equestria.” She spoke with mass power.
“You’re right, I shouldn’t worry about you, you are the shadow, and I keep you here too much, I’m sorry.”Celestia spoke with her own truth.
“No need, your worry show’s your love, and care.” Luna gave a smile to her older sister, which was returned.
“Well, let us return to my chamber for some preparations for your trip” Celestia looked up the hall.
“That sounds go- .” Luna was interrupted when a scroll reanimated in between the two of them.
“Oh, who could that be?” Luna looked at the floating scroll.
“It’s from Twilight, I recognize the ribbon…” Celestia Pulled the red velvet ribbon from the scroll, then opened it with her magic.
“What does it say” Luna’s head popped up in the corner of her eye.
“ Dear princess Celestia She read aloud.
Today when I was investigating the abandoned mine, my friend Rainbow Dash, and I, came to see a strange bipedal alien standing at the opening of the cave, we made contact, and it was silent at first, but then it spoke to us. It called its self ‘Con-or’ , and we continued to talk to it, until it jumped off the cliff side, into the river that flows into the Everfree Forest , and it was gone.
I would like to talk to you more face-to-face.
Your pupil
Twilight Sparkle.
Celestia lowered the letter to look at her sister.
“What did she mean by, Alien?” Luna was puzzled.
“I don’t know Lulu, I don’t know” Celestia was confused, a strange alien appearing out of no were, and being able to jump from major heights. It razed many questions inside of her mind
"We must tell the caption what happened, and have him gather the elements" Luna proposed to her older sister.
"Yes, that looks like the best plan to take" Celestia looked away from Luna, and saw a royal guard patrolling the hallway ahead of them. How convenient.
"Guard, come here" He stopped, and looked over at here, then trotted down to her. "What is your name?" She asked.
"Golden Eye" He gave a nod.
"I need you to tell the caption that he is to go to the the courtyard ,and wait until me, or my sister arrives to meat him"
"As you command, your Majesty" With another nod he turned, and trotted down the hall, his hoofsteps echoing in the hall around them.
"As for you Luna, I need you to have a chariot ready in the courtyard" Celestia looked back at her little sister.
"Done" Luna then jumped up with a few beats of her wings, and flew down the hall, and out of site,
Celestia alone, walked down the hall, and with many turns taken, and stairs climbed she finally reached the door that opened into her private study, which Celestia walked in, and sat down in front of her desk. Then she continued by Pulling out a piece of parchment, with a quill and ink pot, and wrote...
Dear Twilight Sparkle
I have received your letter, and will have your brother, and a chariot arriving at your library later today to bring you here. Also I know of your friend Rarity, and she shall be brought to me to wait for you. Also bring your friends with you who will take part to discuss the matter about the alien. I shall await your arrival.
Sincerely your mentor,
Princess Celestia.
Once she finished her name, Celestia rolled up the letter, and sealed it, then with her magic, she sent it off to her pupil. Celestia stood from the desk, and walked out to the courtyard thinking about what the alien in the letter could mean all the way to the royal courtyard. Once there she found Luna, and Shinning waiting for her.
Celestia walked over to them " I suppose Luna has informed you what are plan is?"Celestia looked at the captain.
"Yes she has" He looked to the moon alicorn.
"As soon as the chariot arrives you will be off" Celestia looked to the sky half expecting it to be there.
"Fine, but Luna failed to inform me what is this alien" He looked back to Celestia
"I only know as much as the letter told"
As soon she said it, the golden chariot flew around one of the castle tower's, and then pasted over them, and then landed softly a few yards in front of them. The trio walked up to the golden chariot which was being pulled by four royal guards in full armor. Shinning Armor walked up to it, and opened up the door. In side were two long red velvet benches sitting face to face, and each bench had room seven ponies, fourteen in total. It was magic at its best,
"I'll be back" Shinning said while stepping into the chariot.
They all said there good bye's , and with Celestia's nod the guards made a short run, then took off into the air.
=============
“Oh no, oh no, oh no, I was not ready for this!” Twilight had just read the letter that was sent by Celestia, and was running to and fro around the library looking about, and trying to think of a way to gather everypony in less than forty-five minutes. Then she started to give commands
“Spike, I need you to find Applejack, and get her ASAP.
“Yes ma’am” He gave a salute, and ran out of the door.
Twilight turned her focus to Rainbow dash who was hovering up above looking down at her.
“Rainbow, I am leaving you up to getting Fluttershy, ok?”
“I’m on it” Rainbow zoomed out the window and dashed into the sky with a furry of wing beats, and a fading rainbow behind her.
So that leaves me up to get Pinkie Pie she said to herself, and with that in mind Twilight ran out the door, and strait down to Sugercube Corner.
=====================
“PINKIE PIE!” Twilight knocked furiously on the bakery’s door.
Twilight was trotting in place waiting for the pink mare to answer her calls, but to a slight relief she heard hoofsteps from beyond the door that became louder, and louder. Then the door sprung open.
“Oh Hi Twilight, you know you don’t need to knock it’s a store, but you knew that right, or maybe you didn’t” Her voice was high pinched and screechy. “But that’s not r…Mmmhmhhhmm” She mumbled behind a lavender hoof.
“You need to come with me” She looked at her overly hipper friend.
“Mmmhemmmamm” Nothing was clear on what she said.
“Oh, Sorry” Twilight pulled back her hoof.
“MMhhemmmeemmhmm” She said again. Twilight looked at her with a scowl.
“Oh Right” Pinkie giggled. “I can’t Twilight you know that I have to watch the Cake's foal's” She smiled.
“This is the most in portent thing we ever done, Celestia has called the Elements about a dire matter pinkie” Twilight looked right into the pink mare.
“Well that sound very important, but the cakes trusted me to watch th…”She was cut off once more.
“Will hire a replacement, and have him/her give a note telling what happened” Twilight was desperate.
“Well, all right this does sound super duper important” Pinkie looked at her unicorn friend “but where are we going to get a nanny right now?”
“I…Um” Twilight turned around, and looked about.
“Oh, Lyra , come over here” Twilight called out to the Lime green unicorn who just happened to be walking by.
“Hi Twilight, long time-no see” she was smiling.
“Hey I need you to watch the Cakes foul’s for a bit” Twilight reached into her mane, and pulled out a letter, and a pouch “Here give this to the cakes when they come, and here are some bits for your trouble.
“I, wait what?”Lyra looked at Twilight with confusion.
“No Time, Pinkie lets go” Twilight ran down the steps. Only the steps.
“How can I trust her” Pinkie looked over to Lyra.
“Ugh, Lyra can I trust you” Twilight looked at the unicorn.
“I...Um…I guess…yea” She stuttered.
“There” Twilight was thinking if Pinkie would not agree about Lyra, She would just pick up the mare with her magic, and drag her back to the library.
“Hmmmm” Pinkie was looking at her like somepony would if trying to find a lie in there eyes, then with a snap of atittude “Okay” She smiled at trotted down the stairs.
“Ok Let’s go!” Twilight turned back around and ran to the library with Pinkie bouncing behind her waving back to Lyra who stood watching them leave still trying to grab the whole scene that had played before her.
=====================
“Apple {gasp} jack!” Spike had just ran onto the main property of the apple family’s home, and was calling for the orange farm pony.
“Applejack” he called out once more standing in front of the big red barn.
"Hello?" It was not the voice of Applejack, but it was her little sister Applebloom who was walked from somewhere behind the barn with her bow tied above her head.
“Oh hey Spike its you, what are y'all hipped up about” She spoke with that country accent she had.
“Your…{Gasp} sister…{Gasp} Twilight…Need…{Gasp} Now” He was panting hard from the mile distance run from here to ponyville.
“Applejack is out bucking the apples, and said that she’d be workin all day, and that nopony bother her, about nothin” She looked at the baby dragon.
“Letter…{Gasp] Celestia…Important{Gasp}…Coming to pick up…{gasp}…Thirty minutes” He was still short on breath.
“Princess Celestia?” She almost yelled in shock. “Why didn’t you say it before” Applebloom snapped to the lines of apple trees, and started with a run out to the fields.
“I’ll Wait…here…then” Spike flopped onto his back to catch his breath.
Spike was resting soundly on his back looking to the sky with closed eyes, waiting until he could gather the strength to stand once more, but his peace wouldn’t last long.
"What in tar-nation is goin on, Mah sister is yapping about that you have a letter from Celestia about somthin so very important that it just can't wait" The farmpony was walking to the dragon from the field with a voice of rage and frustration.
Spike without saying a word, nor making a movement, he pulled out the letter that the princess sent to him,and was holding it up above him. A.J trotted over to him, picked the letter from his claw with her mouth, dropped onto the dusty road, and flicked it open with her hoof.
"I swear if this is a prank i will..." Her jaw fell, and her eyes opened wide.
Without another word A.J galloped over to him her head low, and a flick of her muzzle, he flew into the air, and flopped down onto her back, and galloped strait down to ponyville.
"Tell Granny you're takin off the day?" Applebloom stood in the dust.
===================
"Fluttershy!" Rainbow soared over the nature loving pony's home that looked like a tree had grown over the whole thing, and had long green vines growing from on top of the roof, and a mass of bird houses, and other animal holes littered the area around it.
"Fluttershy!" Rainbow called out again.
Without no response from the yellow/pink pegasus, the rainbow mare glided down to the front door of her nature like home, and knocked on the door.
"Hey, Fluttershy, ya in there?"
Silence. Rainbow launched into the air once more, once at a reasonable height, she started to scan the ground below looking for any sign of her friend.
Where is she? Rainbow thought to her self.
She came to stop midair, and looked around the trees, and tall grass that had grown in the area.
"FlutterShy!" She yelled much louder this time.
"o-o-over here" Rainbow hardly heard the hushed voice from Fluttershy, but Fluttershy's voice had a hint of fear in it, but Rainbow could not tell.
Rainbow dash saw the yellow, and pink distinguished from the green, and light brown a small distance away.
She flew over, and landed a bit hard, and ran over to her.
"There you are, why didn't you say something before?" Rainbow looked at her friend who did not move to look at her.
"Um...Rainbow..." She whispered.
" I was looking all over for you" She continued.
"but Rainbow, look" it was a bit louder.
"You where not at your home, or anywhere near it"
"Rainbow Just look!" Her gaze was fixed on something inside of the wood.
"What do you... SWEET CELESTIA!" Rainbow almost launched her self into the air. "Who did it get here!?"
The same alien, same exact one from the mine, was right there laying on the ground, and had a small pool of blood was seeping from underneath it where it lay.
"Fluttershy, I need you to go to Twilight's house, and bring her back here,now"
Connor had been walking for an unknown time like if the forest had no meaning of time be it seconds, nor centuries inside of this forest with equally strange animals, and plants. Connor had a feeling cold inside of him, and was being pulled down with exhaustion. The bear must have hit an organ, because he was still bleeding all down his robes. Most of the time Connor kept his robes on as a reminder of who he was, and what he stood for, but that was years ago.
The wind was howling between the trees, and bushes. Everything had its own sense of darkness, or evil to it even the flowers that bloomed all around, to the tall standing trees, and there leaves were a shade of dark blue not green, red, yellow, or any color of a natural leaf. Soon Connor felt himself leaning left to right without any balance.
Need…to get…out…of here Is mind was weak from the blood loss. He had no way to treat the wounds. If he tore his robes he would be unprotected, and he did not have any medicine.
Connor kept walking, but the farther he traveled he noticed that the wind started to pick up speed, and become louder, and louder. The wind started to become so powerful that it was ripping at his robes, and the trees groaned, but the wind just kept going.
Then the flowing gusts shifted into an area in front of him, and swirled into a sphere picking up leaf, and twigs, and it was so loud the only way he could describe it was it was like the world was screaming at him.
Connor’s only explanation was that the sprits were coming to collect his dying body, and take him to spirit world. It would turn to be something else, because everything stopped into a total stand still the twigs, pebbles, and leafs where help in place, frozen in time.
Connor had seen many, many strange things, but this is going way up there.
In the whole space around him the only thing that was moving was the glowing globe of air that was in front of him. It giving a light glow, and had a strange aura that felt like it was made from raw power that was around it. In the silence the only thing He could hear was his own breathing, and a low hum that was filling the air around him.
“You are different than any other animal I see in my wood” A voice ringed inside of his head, but it made him feel safe, and relaxed.
“I watched you roam the inside of this forest, and saw your memories” The voice was coming from the spirit orb, but it loomed in his self conciseness.
“You are confused; I see your questions buzzing side of your mind like flies over rotten meat” Connor had his share of strange sights, but this is going way up there.
“I give you a chance to ask three of them, take your time” Connor was silent for a few moments not knowing if this is what happens when you die.
“One” Connor breathed slowly. “Who are you?” his words were calm, but soft.
“I have many names, the Immortal, a god, the guardian, the woodland spirit, but for now you could refrain to me as Realm. If it suits you” Realm’s voice was like one of impulsion.
“Two, Where am I” Connor waited for an answer.
“You are in the Everfree forest the biggest woodland and darkest in all of Equestria.” Only one left Connor thought to himself.
“Yes, so chose wisely” So it is inside of his conciseness.
After a few options Connor picked one he needed to know.
“Three, how do I get out of here?”
“If you speak of this wood, you should take this trail” A ray of light from the orb pointed down an untouched trail to his right.
“If you speak of this world, there is none”
“Thank you Realm, spirit of the woods” Connor spoke with grace.
“One thing for you, out of good faith, I am not evil, nor good, I speak not the truth, nor a lie, only what one wishes for, and for you, I believe the best path rest in the one with the ponies, and there rulers Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna, Befriend them, and good fortune will become of you.”
“Thank you once more for your help” Connor looked at the spirit orb.
“Tell them” The wind started to swirl once more, and time started to move again. “The awaking has begun, and the sun will rest for the last time, tell one of them, when it your alone with one” With that said the orb started to spin, and a breeze started to return, then it started to become a massive gust pushing on him.
After a few seconds, Realm evaporated into the mist around Connor. Bits of rocks, and twigs started to rain from above him. Once all was calm again, Connor was still confused on the whole situation.
Pulling himself from his head, Connor turned to his right, and started to walk the pathway that Realm pointed to. After he walked for half-hour he started to feel much more cold, and light headed than before, but a dim light that was shinning ahead of him, and he kept his mind on that ray of hope.
The closer he got to the light, the harder it became to walk, but he needed to push harder, and to keep his mind from his wound he tried to think about this place he was in, and the places he will be in so many wonders in this strange land made Connor want to see what was beyond this cursed wood.
The light started to have its own warmth, but his body still was sinking into the coldness as more blood oozed from his wound.
The light turned out to be a opening, and that made he to speed to the warmth it was bringing, then he was right there…so close…Then everything became white, and blinding.
Then black.
I will watch you, and I will be in the beginning, and the final end.
=============
Twilight was walking in place, waiting eagerly for the other elements to arrive with pinkie pie who was happily bouncing about the library with a smile on her face…as all ways. After a agonizing two minutes A.J had galloped into the library with spike on her back.
“Oh thank Celestia you’re here” Twilight felt a weight being taken from her shoulders.
“I came runnin as soon as I read the letter” Her breath was labored by a small margin, but earth ponies are known for their stamina.
“So now we wait for Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy” Then right on cue, the yellow mare ‘fluttered’ through a opened window.
“Where is Rainbow Dash?” Twilight looked her over, she was pale, and seemed petrified. “What’s wrong you look like you saw a ghost”
“Twilight, Alien, Rainbow watching it, near forest” Her voice was shaken, and her pupils were dilated.
Twilight’s jaw fell open as she looked at Fluttershy, and was clueless on what she was going to do. Wait for her brother, or bring it here? Twilights mind was in a mess of thoughts.
“Fluttershy, come here” Twilight turned to AppleJack “Wait here for when my brother comes, and when he does, and I’m not back tell him were I went, got that?” A.J nodded.
“Good, Fluttershy come here” The mare walked next her, and summing her magic she teleported with a flash.
Twilight and Fluttershy were in front of the nature loving pegasus home.
“Take me to Rainbow and the alien” Fluttershy wobbled her head, and reluctantly started off down a worn trail.
After a few minutes past the pair found Rainbow who had an expression of relief over her face when she saw them.
“It’s over there” Rainbow pointed down an opening in the tree line, and sure enough, there it was face down in the dirt with even more blood around it than before. Twilight looked down at it, and with protest from her friends, she walked up to the alien, and with a hoof pushed it over.
Its face or his face was hairless, and was a copper color with a small protruding noise, his ears were small, and round, his eyes were closed shut. Her eyes moved to the three long gashes across his chest were large amounts of blood was oozing from.
“I think it’s dead Twi” Rainbow spoke from behind her.
“But I can see that he’s breathing” Twilight was watching his chest rise and fall. “Fluttershy, go and fetch some bandages, and wait at your home, me and Rainbow Dash are going to bring it over” Fluttershy took to the sky, and flew to her home.
“Are you sure that’s a good plan Twi” Rainbow was looking at her friend, and was skeptical about the plan.
“Look I have questions, and I can’t ask them if he dies, Celestia wanted to see it also”
“Fine, but can we just teleport him to Fluttershys?” Rainbow was not fond about dragging a blood ridden creature all the way to the animal caretaker.
“I can’t, because if I teleport him, the stress I put onto his body could kill him” She stated matter-of-factually.
“Fine, this better be worth bring covered in blood” She shivered at the thought of fresh blood all over with her back.
Twilight, using her magic, lifted up part of his body, then Rainbow levered him onto her back so his head was limp on her neck. Twilight took the rear, and set his hind-legs over her back. Blood was dripping over Rainbow, and a little on Twilights neck.
The walk was uncomfortable; the small walk took longer with the weight of the Alien with repositioning him on their backs.
==================
Once the trio had arrived at Fluttershys Rainbow Dash’s back, and left wing were matted with fresh blood, and she was about to puke. Twilight on the other hoof was just fine, and dandy.Fluttershy was standing on her front porch with a medical kit on the floor next to her, waiting for them to get to her.
“Fluttershy, help us” Twilight grunted under the weight of the alien.
The cream yellow mare trotted up to them, and had the med-kit hanging from her mouth.
“Oh, Oh put him it down here, I will do my best” Even when she was terrified, she could not stand to see it die.
Twilight and Rainbow set the alien down on the ground so he was on its back.
“I’m going to clean the blood” Rainbow trotted off in a sickly matter.
“We think it’s a male” Twilight bent over, and allowed the alien to slide from her back.
“I think so to, but I am not completely sure though” Fluttershy flicked of the locks on the med-kit, and pulled out a few cotton pads, a bandage roll, and a bottle of disinfecting alcohol. Fluttershy then with the help of Twilight, slowly poured the disinfectant over the cuts, then pressed on the pads, and rapped the pads around the alien’s chest cavity.
In just a few minutes the mares were finished.
“Well that’s better, but I think I’m mentally scared” Rainbow had just returned from a wash in the pond a few yards away.
“Good your back, let’s get to the library, and hope my brother is there. “Twilight looked back at the creature were blood was already staining the bandages.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea to bring this thing to Canterlot, think about it who knows what this thing could do, or what it wants to do” Rainbow was spectacle about this whole situation. To her this thing was a ticking spell bomb just waiting to go off. “I know I have my doubts to, but Celestia wanted to see him and I am curios on what he has to say” Twilight spoke sternly to the rainbow mare.
“I hope your right” She shot a hidden look at her.
“Well come on let’s get moving” All the while Fluttershy was putting back the Medical kit. After a Series of strange movements the alien was once more on the backs of Twilight, and Rainbow Dash, but this time they were side-by-side with him rested over their backs, and with Fluttershy tailing behind them. It was going to be another long walk.
“Where in tar-nation are they?” Applejack was waiting in front of the library with Pinkie Pie bouncing around her with a smile on her face.
“You just need to take a deep breath” Pinkie proceeded to take a massive inhale that could have never been possible even for a dragon “Ahhhhhhhhhhhh” and exhaled like a normal pony would.A.J looked at the Party mare, but decided not to ask about it, and gave a sigh.
“I jus hope they get here soon”
One minute past, then two minutes, four, eight, even when twenty minutes past there was still no sign of her friends. “Hey look a bird” Pinkies voice piped up from behind Applejack.
Applejack followed the pink mares hoof to where a bird was flying over past the sun.
“That ain’t no bird pinkie” What Pinkie though was a bird was really a chariot, more likelythe chariot that was suppose to pick up the group.
They watched as it flew over head, and landed just a few hoofs away, and with the caption of the guard stepping out of it. “Hey you two” He walked up to the pair with a warm smile on his face. “Where are Twilight, and the others?”
“Fluttershy had found the alien, and…” She was cut off by Armor.
“Were did they go?” His face became dead serious.
“Somewhere near Fluttershys” Pinkie said happily.
“Applejack show me where they are, and Pinkie stay here”
“Okie, Dokie, Lokie” Pinkie bounced over to the chariot.
Applejack started in a gallop down the road to the forest home of Fluttershy.
=================
Twilight, Rainbow, and Fluttershy were slowly walking down the dirt trail with the sun high in the sky, and with the alien unconscious on their backs with Fluttershy still behind them.
“How much farther?” Rainbow nagged.
“Another five minutes at the least” Twilight looked up the trail.
“This thing better be thankful for what we are doing for it” Rainbow was aggravated. Very aggravated.
“Wait, is that…is that my brother?” Twilight saw a familiar shape running up to the group with Applejack next to him.
“What are you doing?” He just stopped in front of them.
“I…I was, uh” Twilight was at a loss of words with her brother looking down upon her.
“Yea” He looked down at her.
“Fluttershy had found him bleeding to death, and I came to help with Rainbow, and we helped him as much as we could, and decided that we should bring him to Celestia because she wanted to talk to us about it” That was all she could say under the glare from her brother.
He gave a hardy sigh, and looked at her.
“We will talk later” He then helped with the alien by standing between his sister, and her friend. “Let’s get it back to the Chariot.
“What are you doing?” Twilight looked at her brother who was stepping from under the alien.
“I’m going to get the chariot, and bring it here so we don’t cause a panic if we walk right into town with this thing on our backs” With that said Shinning continued down the trail leaving the mares alone with the alien.
“Well, now what” Rainbow let the alien slide from her back, and so did Twilight.
“I know you’re angry, but stop” Twilight was sick of all the complaining from Rainbow.
“Stop? Stop what, you’re not the one who had blood all over her, or carry this thing around, and for what? Some stupid research”
“Ya’ll need to calm your selves” Applejack stepped in before it became ugly, but it was useless.
“CALM DOWN” the two yelled at her.
“You weren’t carrying a half-dead alien on your back for the past hour!” Rainbow scowled at her friend.
“Hey, you have no right to yell at Applejack like that” Fluttershy stepped in defending her friend.
“Oh and what were you doing, right nothing” She spoke with venom in her voice.
“What is wrong with you?” Twilight looked at Rainbow, then at the teary eyed Fluttershy.
The mares continued to spit vile comments at each other, and were oblivious to the wakening alien that was face first in the dirt behind them.
==============================
Connor was slow to wake, but three female voices that were yelling back and forth with each other forced him to open his eyes.
He looked up were the voices were emanating from, and he saw three small horses that were talking, more like yelling, at each other. When he was looking over them he recognized two from the cave, but the third one was a shade of orange, and its blond mane was tied up with a red band at the bottom in a pony tail fashion, and also had a strange looking hat atop its head. Looking around he noticed yet another small horse, and this one was the brightest yellow, and pink he has ever seen, but it was like he Rainbow one because of the wings placed on its back.
Another ting he noticed was each had a color brand on their flanks. The lavender one had a large star with smaller sparkle like ones scattered around it. The orange one had three bright red apples, and the multi-colored cyan one had a cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt protruding from it. Finally the yellow pink horse had three pink and yellow butterflies in the same position as the orange one’s apples.
Connor put out his arms, and pushed himself from the dirt, he looked down at his chest, and noticed he had clean bandages over were his wounds. Connor looked back at the horses that were still bickering at each other, using his legs he stood strait, but his body was weak, and his knees buckled under him.
He gave a small grunt as his body slumped to the ground, and everything was silent even the horses that can talk, but are now dead silent. Connor was on his hand and knees looked over to the four horses who, In turn were gazing over him with their overly sized eyes.
Connor tried once more, and had successfully stood strait over the horses. Each one was a equal height of three in a half feet tall, and he was about five feet eleven inches.
Connor used one of his rejuvenation methods that the assassins used to gather strength in situations like this, so they could be ready for anything, he could feel his body tensing up, and relaxing giving him a feeling of alertness.
The two sides were locked in place waiting for one to make a move on the other, but it soon became more like a staring contest between the horses, and Connor.
There was a pool of emotions hanging in the air around them being fear, curiosity, frustration, and confusion, all was silent, even the wind was still.
Then there was something from behind him, a shuffling in the wood behind him.
Connor snapped his head behind him, and there stood more ponies, but this time the two closest were clad in gold and iron armor. Behind them was a white coated, sky blue mane horned horse, and beyond him was a chariot resting empty.
The armored ones took a fighting stance in front of him, and he took his own.
The one to his left threw a hoof at his face he blocked it with his wrist, and twisted its leg then he brought his fist to its jaw to which it stumbled back. The second one charged him head on he jumped out of the way as it ran by him. He took another ready position as it charged again, this time he took his knee to its head, and leaped upon it tackling it to the ground.
Connor stood back strait ready for another attack. Then a glow emanated over his hand, and then they snapped together. He tried to pull them apart but to no avail.
“What?” Connor looked up, and saw that the white horned horse had an aura around the horn, his face full of anger.
“I don’t know who, or what you are, but I will not tolerate you beating down my ponies” He started to walk closer to him.
Connor started to pull at his wrists as hard as you could, and very slowly his hands started to move apart from each other.
“Let’s find out” it said with a venomous tone. Then at that moment, Connor felt…something cut into his mind, it was like a mental dagger swimming through is head. Connor was forced to remember major moments in his life, watching them as if he was relieving them. It was first peace, and love, and joy for a few years, then blazing monster killing, and burning everything that he loved. Years later he saw people who were filled with pride, and hope for their own freedom for a new country, but at the same time all he could feel was…regret, guilt, and sadness. He saw the faces of the Templar’s he killed even his father, and their faces he would never forget them.
The mental dagger was pulled from his consciousness, and he was looking face to face with the horse that had his hands locked together. Its face was distorted with fear, anger, and sympathy.
He spoke quietly to him. “Who are you?”
“I am freedom” Connor started to feel weak, and dizzy.
The white horse looked deep into him, as if it was looking for something of great value.
For Connor everything started to fade into darkness once again, and then he slumped to the ground unconscious once more.
===================
Twilight watched as a wisp of energy flowed from her brother’s horn into the head of the alien, and the two stood like that for a time of a few minutes, all the while the guards started to pick themselves up of the ground. Then the strand binding her brother, and the creature broke, Shinning uttered something to him, and it collapsed to the ground. “What happened, what did you do?” Twilight asked him. “I-I looked into his memories” He looked down at alien that was face down in the trail. “What did you see?” Rainbow asked this time. “Let’s get on our way f-first” Shinning had no idea that a living thing could go through so much agony, and pain in one’s own life time, and it made his heart wrench in his chest to even think about it. Armor walked up to the chariot, and opened the door.
The chariot had a few enlarging enchantments on it so it was “smaller on the outside” .Inside there on both sides were two red velvet benches long enough to fit six ponies each, the walls, and doors were made from the same material as the benches, the floor was an oak wood floor gleaming with fresh wax laded over it. Pinkie pie was sitting on the far left side completely oblivious to the pass moments.
========================
After ten minutes the party was on their journey to the city of Canterlot, all the while the alien was tied up, and resting on the right side, slumped over the door.
“So what DID you see after you saw his memories?” Twilight was sitting across from Shinning, and had fluttershy, Rainbow, and A.J.
“Are you sure? What I saw was… disturbing” Shinning took his gaze to ‘Connor’. He learned his name when he looked over his memories.
“Yes, yes I’m sure” Twilight looked at fluttershy who had her head low.
He hesitated, but eventually the words started to flow as he remembered all he witnessed from Connors mind. The faces of the elements were expected ranging from sorrow to disgust as he told the story of this assassin. When he said all that was to be said the chariot was dead silent.
“S-so he is an assassin, but he fought for freedom, and peace of others, but killed for it like a vigilante?” Twilight looked to her brother with her Question.
“It looks that way” He huffed.
It was another ten minutes of silent flying until the chariot rocked giving the sign of arrival. Shinning Armor stood up, and opened up the chariot, and outside were the two royal sisters waiting for them in the gardens of Canterlot Castle.
“What happened?” Celestia looked to the guards that pulled the chariot. Each had a few bruises, and cuts.
“Long story short the alien named “Connor” panicked and attacked the guards on accident, and I can’t blame him due to his past.
“What does thou, I mean you mean by its history?” Luna was much better with her speech, but sometimes still makes a mistake here-and-there.
“That’s an even longer story, and I will explain later” Shinning turned to see the elements exiting the chariot, and the guards carefully pulling out Connor.
“I will take him to the castle medical area, and I shall return later and then will, explain everything to you” Shinning walked to the guards, and moved on into the castle behind the regal sisters.
===================
In the mean time the elements and the royal sisters had retired to the dining hall was their friend Rarity who waited for them. They all ate in silence. Soon after Shinning Armor joined them, and once everpony was finished eating he started to explain once more what he saw in Connors mind.
He finished like last time, but his gaze was fixed on a knot in the wooden table.
Celestia stood over the ponies.
“You all will stay in Canterlot if you wish, and I ask that you retire for the night for it has been a very long day, for all of you” Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie pie had took the chariot back to Ponieville, while the rest were given a room, and were allowed to stay for as long as they wanted.
===================
Twilight was lying in bed her gaze glued to the ceiling that was like a mini dome shape with a large painting of the sun. Her mind was spinning with questions, and was wondering if Connor apparently, could answer them.
She tossed, and turned restless in the large bed trying to get her mind to calm, but no matter what she tried to do she could not sleep. Giving up she got out of bed, and left the room.
Twilight wondered the large dark halls of the castle trying to make up her own answers to questions and continued to do this for two hours until she was lost in the labyrinth of the Castle, and spent another hour trying to find her room. Once she found it her legs were tired, and eyes heavy, she crawled into the bed, and slowly drifted to sleep.
It was all destroyed a wasteland of stone and blood, Canterlot, Ponieville, Cloudsdale, all were in ruins. A ravenous cold flame plagued the land spreading over the mountain range, as if it was devouring the world, and any living thing in its path. Twilight felt alone, scared, and that the world was devastated, that it had ended just like that.
Then she could feel a spark of warmth washing over her, and hope emanating from the frigid flames. Twilight noticed a glow, and looked to the orb that was shedding its warmth, curing the world around it, and stomping out the frozen inferno.
As the celestial body approached, Twilight realized the globe started to become the form of Celestia with here welcoming smile upon her face.
The aurora around her was as bright as the sun, maybe even more so. Twilight slowly started to walk to her mentor that turned to face her.
But as she approached her mentor the light began to fade, smaller and smaller it became until it was a dim glow around Celestia.
As twilight was inches from Celestia, She was pulled away, and everything around twilight became stretched, and pulled out then with a gasp she was standing alone in a black room, but front of her was a large white coffin.
Twilight was still looking at the half-opened coffin, and she was too scared to approach it, but she inched closer and closer without her own mind saying so. Twilight closed her eyes as she continued to move near to it.
Twilight felt her body stop, but she held her breath, and made sure that her eyes remained welded shut; her whole body trembled in fear of what she would see.
As slowly as she could she started to open her eyes. Her heart began to race faster, and faster as she started to see more below her.
Then her eyes snapped open, and she found that she was looking down at Celestia who was pale, and with her eyes softly closed.
“No…No, no, no….NO!” tears welded up and started to flow from her face.
“CELESTIA!”
=============================
“CELESTIA”
Thump
Twilight woke with her body pressed on the cold marble floor, and had a cold sweat all over her body, She stood up from the floor modified from what she saw. Twilight sat in silence for a bit until she stood up, and walked out of the door into the castle.
“Nothing has been right with the Alien ‘Connor’ around” Twilight muttered to herself as she walked down the long marble hall of the castle.
"I wish it never came"
==============
A FEW DAYS LATER
Connor woke with a jot as he was lying upon a small soft welcoming bed, his body was light, but stiff at the same.
Connor slowly sat up from the bed he looked around him. He was alone in a pure white room, to his front were to doors with metal plates in their center of them, and above the door was a dark shinning mirror, his left were mysterious medal box things producing even more peculiar sounds. To the right was a single wooded chest sitting against the wall. Also, there were a few strange bandages sticking to various points over his body with string leading to the strange boxes displaying flashing red, and green lights.
Connor propped himself on his elbows, and took in a sharp breath as a heavy ace of pain emanated from his chest cavity, and he noticed large straps over his cuts. He also noticed he was in nothing, but his old thin wool trousers.
Then memories from the day before, or whenever it was, washed over his mind, remembering everything from the bear to the brawl with the armored ponies before he passed out from that thing white one did, whatever it was it was as if it had pulled every ounce of living energy from within him, and leaves a nasty head ace.
Connor tossed his legs over the bed side, and ripped of the small circular bandages, and stood up. He gave a long stretch before walking over to the chest. Connor bent down, and opened it; in side were his assassin’s robes that had been sown back shut in the chest piece, and the blood had been cleaned off.
In a few moments he stood back strait, and making a few adjustments to make them as comfortable as possible. He looked back into the empty chest, hoping to see his weapons. Disappointed he walked over to the double doors, he pushed forward into them, but it wouldn’t budge. He took a few paces back, and charged it. He succeeded in hurting his arm, and falling to the floor. He walked back to the bed, and looked up to the darkened mirror.
“Hello?” he called to the empty room hoping that maybe their might be someone, or something listing.
==================
“Anything to report?” Celestia looked to the rusty looking earth pony colt who was looking at Connor through the window. “Nothin, He been out cold like dat for the past two days” He spoke with a heavy accent.
“I don’t see why I need to sit he’ya, it never moves, and where could it go? I mean the doors bloody dead locked, he ain’t goin anywhere soon, and I’m the smith for ruddy sake, not one of d’em statues.
“I know, but I need to know when he wakes” Celestia looked back into the holding cell.
“Oh, it ain’t that I mind sittin here, Jus I don’t trust that silver to run my smith” He said, obliviously irritated.
Celestia looked down to the smith, with an eyebrow raised.
“Look it’s just that… he ain’t all too reliable, even more so with the magic stuff, He almost bloody killed somepony because he had a fitting charm to high on a helm!” He looked down with a sigh.
“Ok them, well I must be off, I have to hold court for the day, but if he wakes, sent a message to me, good day to you Steel” Celestia turned from the watch room, and out the door.
Steel watched her leave before turning back to the alien so called Connor . He looked around he darken room, and daydreamed, and in a few minutes he was asleep his head low on his chest.
THUNK!”
“Bloody ‘ell” Steel woke to the sound of something slamming into a door.
He Looked down from his perch, and saw that Connor was awake, and moving about.
“What’s going on, we heard something” Two royal guards were standing in the door way looking at him. “You go an get the princess he’s awake… why are ya just bloody statndin there, GO!” The two looked at each before running off. Steel looked back to Connor who was standing to the left of the hospital bed.
“Hello?” Connor called up looking right at Steel.
===================
Connor was waiting for a response, or some indication that he was heard, but everything remained still, and silent.
Connor walked back to the bed, and took a seat thinking that whoever, or whatever put him in here would come to check on him, because his bandages were fairly fresh. Connor waited, and waited, but nobody came, but he is a patient man.
FIVE MINUTES LATER Connor was frustrated, he has been waiting for a half-hour waiting for something to happen, but everything remained the way it was before still, and silent.
MORE MINUTES LATER
Connor was pacing around the room looking back, and forth from the double doors just wanting something to happen, but as time dragged on the more irritated he became with his captures, or is this what they want? Is it still the horses? Nothing made sense.
Connor was able to distract himself from the world around him as thought of the different possibilities on what is going on. Were the Templar’s behind it, or was this some never ending dream? The more time went on the more things he thought up.
Click Connor snapped his view to the doors that unlocked.
The doors opened, and two similar looking armored horses walked in, and in between them was a six foot tall, winged, and horned horse that walked in.
Connor looked it over, it was the same color as the room around it, its mane was like oil paint that flowed with its own personal breeze, a sun mark was on its flank, and its presence in whole was one of peace, and love, but there was also a hint of overwhelming power that made it a force best not to anger.
“I know, who you are, what you are, and were you come from, but why you are hear is out of my reach so I hope that we put our past…impressions, behind us.” It spoke with a mother like tone that had a power inside of it also.
“…” Connor was silent, but had a rock solid gaze on the creature, but he needed to say something.
“I don’t know where I’m, nor do I know why I have been sent to this…strange place”
“Is that so?” Judging by its voice it’s a female.
“Yes, and is what you said is true I think I deserve to know who you are” Connor eyed the guards who took a stance directed at him.
“Oh, I am sorry, where are my manners, my name is Princess Celestia ruler of the land of Equestria, and you are in the capital, the city of Canterlot, I hope that had answered a few of your questions, but I must ask how did you get here?” Celestia looked at him with one eye; the other was hidden behind her mane.
Connor held his tough for a minute making a mental recap of everything that had happen then he told his story from the bear, to the cave, to the forest, but he was stopped when he started to talk about Realm from the forest.
“What did it say” The warmth from within her voice was gone replaced with a dead serious tone.
“The awaking has begun again and that the sun would set for the last time” Connor remembered the spirit he talked to.
Celestia’s face be twisted, then she looked to Connor.
“If you say is true” Her voice was low, and strained.
“WHAT!” Luna yelled with the ‘Canterlot Voice’ from behind the one-way-glass window which shattered into hundreds of shards.
“Oh, bloody hell” Steel covered his ear’s trying to dampen the loud ring in his ears. “Ah, what the ‘ell” he muttered under his breath.
Luna gave him no mind as she leapt from where the window used to be, and floated down to the floor crushing more of the larger shards into even smaller pieces, and all the while both of the guards looked at each other reading their faces.
What…the…BUCK
All the while Connor just stood back, because he had a felling something big was going to happen involving this new night blue horse similar to Celestia.
“What do thou mean by ‘your death’?” It look to Connor as if he was the one who would bring the cause of death, just like he has done so many times in the past.
“Luna, calm yourself, remember what I taught you about your anger” Celestia looked to Luna, and spoke with a soft loving tone.
To prove Connor’s theory about Celestia’s words, Luna’s face relaxed, and she gave a sigh.
“I-I am sorry it was just unexpected” Luna looked away from everyone.
“It is alright, you two see if you can find a replacement” Celestia nodded to the now no more secret observation room.
The two guards snapped back into their original statue look, gave a salute, and ran off.
“Steel you are relived from your post, you may return home for the day” She added.
“Wha’ you say” Steel’s head popped over the observation deck.
“You’re relieved of duty for the day” Celestia said a little louder.
“Gah, don’t need to yell” Steel turned around and out of view, while Celestia looked back to Luna.
“So, as you know this is Connor, Connor this is my dear sister, Luna” Celestia looked to Connor, then Luna.
“It is good to see you well” Luna’s voice was not as regal as Celestia’s, but it was still one of great power.
Connor was silent, these horses had saved his life, and even when he was a new animal to this land, dangerous, and maybe lethal they gave him the trust as an old friend would to another. His whole life he could never trust anyone, not even his father.
Father… the word was hallowing…no true meaning to him. It hurt to think about Hathen, the man who was supposed to be his father not a man that tried to kill him. Connor became lost in thought before he realized what he was doing.
“I...I cannot say much for your help, and gratitude, but why is it you came to trust me so?” Connor looked to Celestia for an answer.
“It is only with a kind heart that I do, and with my curiosity also, Now I answered your question I believe it is my turn to ask, As you may not know, but my captain had read your mind which caused you to faint, but he only saw fragments, and blurs, so I ask could your fill the holes?”
Connor once again retracted into is mind, what should he do? They gave him trust he has never been given by them, so was it only far to return it, and tell them his life story? Or just say what they need to know? After a short mental argument with himself he decided to go with the latter.
“My real name is Ratonhnhaké:ton, and my home Kanien'kehá:ka” Connor started, but wondered what to say next.
“I lived a normal life with my mother at the time all was good, until a group of men came, and set ablaze my village almost everyone escaped, but my mother…was…was killed when I could not save her.”Connor moved his gaze from Celestia to the shattered glass on the floor, just like the way he felt the days after.
Broken, shattered, and unifiable.
“Years past and I found this symbol” Connor pointed to the logo on his wrist. “And I found this ancient gild of Assassins and after years of training I was accepted into the brotherhood, From then I learned that the men who Killed my mother were called ‘Templar's’ and my father was their leader.”
“As a assassin I was to protect the freedom of everyone which the Templar's wish to steal, so I hunted down, and killed them…even my father when he tried to kill me” Connor remembered that night, the cannons firing of in the distance, is father, the rage inside of him.
“Wait, you killed your father, how, why?” Celestia asked to him.
“He tried to kill me, like he did my mother, and even when I gave him the chance for reconciliation he turned away” Connor felt the rage boiling inside of him.
“I...I am sorry about that, I truly am” Luna spoke for her sister, with a mournful expression.
“I’m not, he was nothing to me, he never treated me the way even a man would a dog” Connor spoke with venom in is voice. “Even when he treated you the way he did that is no excuse for committing a murder” Celestia spoke out to him.
“You don’t understand” Connor looked away once again.
Celestia looked to Connor feeling the anger that emendated from him, so she decided to change the subject.
“What are you as a species?” Celestia asked Connor for she had never seen something like him, but he was so familiar.
“I am human,may I ask the same” Connor gave a blunt response.
“Me and my sister are what you call Alicorns, half Unicorn, half Pegasus” Luna spoke while looking up to her sister, then to Connor.
Celestia told Connor that she ruled over the land of Equestria with her sister at her side, and then contended to speak about how she raised, and set the sun everyday and her sister took to the night, and the moon. Celestia added on the magic the lands held and the ponies that live within the lands everything from Cutie marks to the mythical creatures that walk the forest, and fly over the mountains.
With every word the two spoke the more Connor felt as if he died, and was sent to a land full of insanity as a punishment for what he has done in the past…But he knew that was just a stupid theory in his head no matter how much he wished it was true.
“Well I believe that we have had enough chit-chat, and you should rest” Celestia looked to the glass that was shattered over the floor her horn lit up, and the glass floated into the air, and it just disappeared.
Connor was intrigued with the display of magic as he walked to the bed that lay in the center of the room. “I shall come to visit tomorrow, and we will speak more then, good day” Celestia turned and walked to the door. “I bid you a farewell” Luna gave a slight nod, and followed her sister out of the room.
Connor stood alone in the room thinking of what had transpired, and he could not have a strait thought they would stray off deep into his conciseness. Finally Connor cleared his mind, slipped into the bed, and fell asleep.
============
LATER THAT NIGHT...
“Your majesty, Princess Luna has arrived” said the guard who walked into her room.
“Let her in please” Celestia walked from her balcony to the front over her bed as Luna walked in.
“Sister” Luna stepped in.
“Hello Lulu, sorry to keep you but there are things I wish to discuss with you first” She looked to the now setting sun from the opened balcony window.
“No need, I have no plans for tonight Tia, what is it you wish to talk about?”
“Its…well…” Celestia gave a sigh. “I know that what Connor said was true, my pupil told me of a recent nightmare she had of my funeral”
"Tia, why is it that everything is pointing to your death, and you keep thinking about it, are you afraid to die?"
“I am not afraid to die, I’m afraid of what will happen after” Celestia walked to the balcony with Luna in tow.
“Do you fear that I cannot hold the kingdom with your absence?”
“No, no just that…” Celestia gave another sigh.
“You are very strong, and I know you will be fine, but what about everypony else, what will happen to them? Everything we strived for, what are parents strived for what will happen to it?”
Luna opened her mouth to protest, but what could she say, so she closed it.
“Do you remember what they did for this peace?’
“It has been so long since the last time I heard the story” Luna was standing next to Celestia as they watched the sun set. “You were just learning to walk when there was a upraise in the north, riots, violent protest, and wars sprang up all over the kingdoms, and when we were too young to understand are parents where terrified if the violence spread to the east. Their worst fears became a reality when a battle raged into the old city of Manehatten, and half the city was destroyed in the fight. Are parents saw it fit to protect the cities instead of war, until a protester from the north came to the old kingdom and started a riot so large, it was heard for miles around. The griffon responsible was captured, and executed in front of the whole city of Trotegem as an example, ordered by are father. Mother was unhappy with the decision but did not fight it. The worst part was the griffon who was executed was the son of the tyrant Saber Claw, in his rage he unleashed the shadow, the spirit who possessed you, but at the same time another monster viler than the tyrant himself called the vale escaped. It plagued the land into utter devastation, and the whole ancient griffon kingdom fell in months. Once the last few griffons from the kingdom died it set its sights on the whole world, and to do that it would destroy the sun and moon. It was called the great awaking. To stop it are parents decided to take action by forging four mythical items to stop it. They were called the robe of Aquae , The Sword Of Ventus, The amulet of magia, and The shield of Terria, but when all four were finished The Vale had taken control over the Sun, and moon, so they hid the elements with their own protectors. The Vale, and are parents meat at were are castle stands, and in a battle of magic the vale was banished into the sprite realm once again, but the sun and moon began to crumble. Are parents together used the Canterlot Spell turning them into sprits, and father melded into moon and pulled it together, mother flew to sun and held its wrath from destroying Equis.
Celestia took a deep breath, and gave a heavy exhale.
“It hurts to think about it sometimes” Luna held in a tear as she looked to the marble floor of the balcony.
“I know it does, but it has kept me going all these years” Celestia pulled the sun behind the mountains as Luna pulled up the moon, and the stood together in silence.
==================
“Did you do as I asked?” The shadow asked the changeling that sat in the black marble room.
“Yessss, The Zebrican hassss been killed” It hissed.
“And, did you frame the griffons?” It asked again.
“Yesss we had placed an armor clad griffon guard with a false memory of killing Him” It looked up with a small smile on its face.
“Good, you have performed well, very well” The shadow moved around the changeling.
“Do you fear me?” It asked the shadow.
“I-I- yessss I do” It looked around frantically.
“Good” The shadow engulfed the bug.
“GAHHH”
“Very, very good”
The shadow left the skeleton of the changeling on the floor as it floated over to a large glass ball that sat in a dark purple pedestal that had the shape of a dragon’s claw holding it. A image of a human asleep in a large bed was inside of it.
“You will be mine Connor, so very soon” The shadow gave a wicked chuckle, as it took a form of a gold glowing woman.
“Well Connor, it looks like you are fully recovered” Celestia walked into the quarantine room with Connor had been staying.
“I have been for the past seven days” Connor followed her with his eyes, but paid him no mind as if he hadn’t said a thing.
“You will be permitted access outside of this room, but I disarray many ponies will except I disarray that they will not greet you as open as I have, so I looked for a solution and I came up with this” Celestia pulled from what look like no were a silver amulet that had bright green gems surrounding it with a perfectly cut diamond in the center.
“What is that” Connor indicated to the amulet that was held up next to the goddess with her magic.
“This is my solution, it will give you the appearance of a pony” She said coolly.
“No” Connor said bluntly.
“Fine” She set it down on the stand that used to be covered in operating tools.
“But until you accept it you will not be allowed to leave” Celestia turned and left Connor alone.
She’s bluffing
THREE DAYS LATER…
Ok, she was not lying Connor said to himself.
“Fine, you win I submit” Connor said to room.
“Good, you only need to where it out side of the castle walls” Celestia appeared out of nowhere in front of him which made him jump a little.
“Then why did you keep me in here if I did not need to use it?” Connor walked to the stand picking up the amulet. “Motivation” Celestia walked to the door with Connor in tow.
Connor Looked past Celestia and saw a large hall like room eight beds like the one in the room behind them on both sides. They had identical metal box’s that were attached to when he first awoke, and each one had a pull over curtain.
The two walked to past them, and through the double doors on the opposite end of the room, and beyond that was a hall way that Connor estimated to be ten feet wide, and fifteen feet tall almost like a closed in street. There were stained glass windows of random colors sinning light into hall giving it an interesting look.
“Follow me” Celestia walked to right down the hall then took a left.
“So I hope you remember everything I taught you?” Celestia looked to Connor, and she noticed he was shorter than her, for she stood at six feet, him only five in a half.
“I have learned Century’s of history and remembered every detail faster than what you have shown me”
“Well then prove it tell me your civilizations history”
Connor spent the next half hour summarizing the stories of Altiar, and Ezio and the long history of the Assassins Brotherhood, and Celestia took in every detail.
“You have a very…bloody history, but one should not judge by their past but the future acts of redemption” Celestia gave a warm smile to Connor.
Connor took it to heart thinking of his father. Connor never forgave his father for what he did, but could he have done better if he was less harsh to him? Connor always had mix emotions to his father when they traveled together he was always furious with him for something but Connor also had a feeling of regret for him.
“Connor?” Celestia looked at him his face was stiff and perplexed with thought.
“What, oh it was nothing let us continue” Connor lied through his teeth, and by Celestia’s face she knew he was lying but she asked nothing of it.
“Here we are” Celestia stopped in front of two massive oak wood doors that had gold plates lining the sides and on the right side was a massive sun like the one Celestia had on here flank, the left had a moon similar to the one on Luna’s. It was the largest door he ever saw.
“Beyond these doors is the great hall where I will announce your presence to the castle maids, guards, chefs, and caretakers”
“Didn’t you say that many would not accept me?” Connor looked up to the Goddess.
“Yes, but this is a smaller group”
Celestia opened the door with a light push of her hoof.
The room was like the inside of an old cathedral from Italy like the ones from Ezio’s time. Large marble floor with massive pillars standing twenty feet high, with more stain glass windows with images telling tales he learned from Celestia. Inside were thirty guards fifteen on either side fully armored, or they kept a solid gaze on the guard across from him. Behind the Guards were an assortment of ponies he guessed to be the other staff. On the far side of the room was a set of marble brick stairs leading up to two large thrones, and to the left he recognized Luna who looked down on everyone from her seat.
At the stairs base were seven more ponies the center most one he remembered was the one who knocked him out, or through Celestia’s view viewing his memorys and to the side of him were the four ponies who saved him with two others. The pair walked down a red velvet carpet that lead to the identical thrones in front of him, as they walked he got stares from the ponies behind the guards, which remanded the same before. Soon Connor was mere feet from his saviors.
“As I have told you this is the group who saved you, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash , and last but not least Applejack” Celestia called them off from left to right.
Connor gave a nod to all of them, and looked over them and not a single word was to be heard.
“That’s it, we save your sorry flank, and all you do is nod, do you have the slightest idea what I did for you and all you could do is NOD!” Rainbow yelled at him.
“Rainbow!” Twilight looked to her friend.
“No, let her say her mind” Connor looked to Rainbow.
“I carried you on my back as you bleed down my spine for your own sake, how did you get like that in the first place” The snarled at him.
“Mauled, mauled by a bear” He said coolly.
“You were what?” Fluttershy squeaked.
“It’s a long story” Connor looked to Flutteshy as she reeled back behind Rarity.
“Well I got a long time so start talking” Rainbow took a step forwarded.
Connor retold his tale of how he ended up here, but instead of saying he was hunting he was gathering assortments from the woods when the bear attacked him witch lead him to run for a cave that turned into a cavern and when he exited the cave he found Rainbow, and Twilight.
“Well that’s puzzling” Luna had walked down from the steps to him.
“I have never heard of something like that before it’s very peculiar” Luna stated.
“Yes it is, but now is not the time; Connor shall use the amulet I gave him to blend in as you seven show him around the city as we discussed” Celestia looked at the party before her.
“Give me a moment” Connor walked to the balcony and looked for something to hold.
Connor balanced himself on the railing, and gave a quick run up the wall grabbing hold of a brick that was jutting from the wall, and then pulled himself up to another brick above the one he held, he got a footing on the wall from under him.
“What are you doing you will kill yourself!” The Elements, Shinning, and the princess where below him on the balcony following him with their eyes.
He continued the pattern until he was standing on the slanted roof of the great hall.
Connor gave a run up the tower that was attached to the hall, and scaled the windows until he reached another balcony, but that would not stop him. He grasped the wood beam that held an unlit lantern. Connor could hear the shouts from the ponies below but once again paid them no mind as he took hold of the rim of the towers roof, and pulled up.
Once on top he was given a bird’s eye view for miles around.
The city of Canterlot was breath taking the houses, and shops were built in the most elegant way possible, he looked over the gold city.
He turned his attention to a sea port down past the valley.
“I am going to need a ship” He said to himself.
“I will return to the sea soon” Connor had not took his ship out for years for there was no point, but now he remembered how much he really missed the open ocean.
“Soon”
“What the in the world are you doing all the way up here?” Rainbow Dash had flown up from the great hall to him.
Connor looked over the world “The view”
"and how will you get down?" She asked.
Connor looked at her raised a eye brow and took a step off the edge of the roof.
“CONNOR!” Rainbow yelled.
Connor felt the wind rip at his face as is robes flapped behind him as he fell to the waiting pond below, and as it fast approached he made final adjustments and rolled in air then he felt the cool water rush over his body.
“What…was…that” Shinning Armor walked up to the ponds edge as Connor pulled himself up.
“The leap of faith” Connor looked up to the Unicorn.
“I would like a warning next time” Celestia Looked to the soaking Connor.
“Here, ah better” Celestia had pulled the water from Connors robe into a single mass and levitated it back into the pond. Connor watched it float away with wide eyes.
“That was…different” Connor Felt his robes as dry as they were before.
“So, I think you have the right to explore the city as you wish to, but I will have the Elements come with to be your guide, and leave the amulet on until you are back onto the castle grounds” Celestia told them.
Connor slipped his hand into his coat and pulled out the amulet that Celestia had give him, and he held it up in one hand giving it a skeptical look.
“Put it on” Celestia nodded to him with the other ponies watching him.
He held it up with both hands and slowly slipped it over his head.
As soon as it settled on his neck he looked down to his hands as each of his fingers started to reel into his hand that became more of a hoof.
“Oh, this is just wrong” Connor looked to Celestia.
He watched as hair started to grow over his body giving him a coat of light brown fur he started to become shorter and shorter his face started to become elongated into a muzzle, and then he collapsed into all fours. Connor held his eyes shut.
Once he was sure it was over with he spoke.
“Well, how did it go?” He asked.
“Look for yourself” Somepony said.
Connor opened his eyes and walked to the pond and peered down into not his reflection but one of a pony.
He saw a young light brown stallion with large brown eyes that were looking up at this black mohawk that ended in a pony tail which curved over his neck, and his robes were lose and falling from his body.
“How long will I have to stay like this?” Connor started to pull of his robes making him feel exposed to the world.
“As I said before until you are back onto the secure castle grounds” Celestia looked over the new Connor making sure nothing went wrong with the transformation.
“Well let’s make this worth it” Connor looked over his body irritably as Celestia teleported his robes of somewhere.
Celestia took Luna back to the castle for their duties, and Shinning said something about new recruits he needed to take care off, so that left him in the care of the Elements, even he did not need their care just their knowledge.
The seven walked on down past the castle walls into the thriving city of Canterlot. Pinkie was bouncing happily next to Rainbow who was shooting evil glares at Connor while Rarity was striding along with Fluttershy as she was lagging behind with Applejack trying to keep her moving as she was very timid to Connors presence. Twilight seemed to be the only one who didn’t mind who he was by asking him all sorts of random questions.
===============
Finally the seven strode into the busy city and almost imminently Pinkie Pie had spotted the local doughnut store and practically had flown through the window of the building.
“Oh, Applejack you must come and see this outfit it was just smashing” Rarity had pulled the farm pony to the tailor store down the road.
Connor paid them no mind as he watched the ponies walking back and forth going on their lives just like humans it was just over whelming as he stood there just like them.
The remaining members of the group had continued deeper into the city and at some point Fluttershy had took Rainbow to The largest Pet Store in Equestria” leaving Connor alone with Twilight who wanted to visit the Canterlot Library.
“Why do you desire to visit the library so?” Connor asked.
“Let’s say I used to live there a while ago, but when I moved to Ponieville my parents took over the building” Twilight explained to him.
“Oh I forgot we forgot to give you a name, and a cutie mark explanation ”She whispered.
“Um, your name will be…um…Faith yea and your cutie mark…” Twilight looked to the symbol on Connors flank which was the same one he wore on his wristbands.
“Bravery, it stands for bravery” Connor looked to Twilight to see what she had to say.
“That…yea…it will do” Twilight looked up the street to the spiral building.
“Would that be…” Connor was cut off mid sentence.
“Stop, thief!” A vender yelled as a dark blue earth pony had ran the two with a golden locket in his mouth.
Connor looked at Twilight and set it a dead fast sprint after the stallion.
Connor was weaving in and out between the bystanders after the thief keeping a dead solid gaze on him he took a sharp left into a ally as a cart pulled in front of him, and with all his might he leaped over the cart and when he hit the ground he made a strange roll then returned to all fours and continued in pursuit of the bandit.
The two dashed down the alley then they came up to a split and the stallion made a right Connor came to the cross to have the thief tackling him to the ground.
The two were in a tussle until Connor got his for-legs under him and pushed in with all it was worth and he fell to the ground, and as he was standing back up Connor using in leg pinned him against the wall.
“What do want, I was forced to do it please don’t hurt me” His pupils dilated.
“Who sent you, why did he want you to do it” Connor pushed a little harder into his neck
“I don’t know his real name but he called himself Shade he wanted me to join his gild of thieves so to prove him I was worthy I would steal something of great value and meet him at the Drunken Dragon Inn in the lower district of the City” He spoke fast and heavy.
Connor released him.
“Go, and stay away from him I will deal with him”
“Thank you” And he ran down the alley.
===============
Connor returned to Twilight who was waiting at the stall were the locket was stolen from.
“Here” Connor Tossed the locked onto the counter.
“Con- I mean Faith, your back” Twilight looked to him with a small smile.
“Oh, look at that you got it back” The vender looked over the locket.
“Yes and the m- the pony responsible was forced into his action” Connor said to the both of them.
“Who is then, did he say?” Twilight asked him.
“Yes somepony going by Shade”
“Theirs a name I know he has been given us venders a lot of trouble sending his goons all around stealing stuff its aggravating” The Vender spoke as if heard by the wrong ears heard he would be killed.
“Well I have a job to do” Connor turned around but was stopped by Twilight.
“Wait why?” She asked.
“Later, I will meet you at the library when I am done” Connor looked back to her and walked down the street with the task in mind.
Twilight wanted to follow him, but as she stuttered in her thought he had disappeared in the waving crowd, so she turned off to find the rest of her friends.
Twilight first stopped at the animal store/ shelter were Fluttershy was pointing out certain animals to Rainbow dash how lagged behind her.
“Twilight I thought you were at the library with your parents, and where’s C…” Rainbow looked to her lavender friend.
“Faith had some business to do and I would meet up with him later”
“Faith, who are you, Oh” Rainbow’s mind clicked.
“What did he want to do?” She asked.
“I really don’t now but I think he wants to take down Shade” Twilight spoke in a whisper.
“Shade? You mean The Shade the most notorious bandit in Canterlot, the one who runs the Underground?” Rainbow was in haste to say.
“I guess yea”
“Why that sounds dangerous” Fluttershy had joined them.
“I now I don’t know why he wanted to do it he would not say, come on let’s get the others” Twilight had everything planed in her head.
==============
They met up with Rarity who was alone in the tailor shop saying how Applejack had left for Pinkie and once they dragged her out they took off for the bakery.
The trio galloped through the streets until they finally came up to a large white building with a pink slanted roof that had a statue of a doughnut over it.
“GET OUT!” The owner shouted at the pink mare who was sitting in front of the door.
“AND YOU TO!” A orange pony was tossed out the door and landed next to Pinkie.
“All I was doing was eating” Pinkie looked at the Large dark brown stallion behind her.
“You ate EVERTHING is what you did, you even ate the batter!” He slammed the door shut and flipped the Open sign to Close.
That was the only explanation they needed and gathered the two and headed back to the Canterlot library.
============
Connor was stalking the slums of Canterlot.
He was given vile looks and was asked for money by rigged beggars on the streets witch smelt of old sewage.
Connor was looking for the Drunken Dragon that was somewhere and he not dare risk taking off the amulet to scale the buildings to look for it, so time to do it the old fashion way. Connor continued down the trash redden streets and past boarded up buildings covered in graffiti, soon he come to pass a few orphans sitting by a burning metal cylinder.
“Do any of you know where to find the Drunken Dragon Inn?” he walked to the four who looked up to him in despair.
“That way” One pointed down the darken street ahead of him.
He looked at them with a small felling of sparrow.
“Thank you, here” Connor tossed the gold given to him as a reward for returning the locket.
Connor moved onward past the now smiling filly’s, as the farther he went the darker everything started to become, he also took into fact that nopony was around.
After many minutes of roaming he finally had found a sign that was barely hanging from its hinge over a dirty wooden door. The sign had a large green dragon curled up around a large pile of rum barrels while it held a wood mug overflowing with mead and below read.
‘The Drunken Dragon’
Connor walked in everything was shadowy and dingy, There were about twenty-five large round tables each having five very short stools, the floor was a marble tile, marble pillars near the corners eight chandeliers hanged from the ceiling with torches the burned a navy blue giving the room a shade of dark blue.
The drinkers were what looked to him ponies mixed with a bat. Their ears ended in small ruffs, all had wings of thin leathery skin, and most of them had a fang or two curving down over their lower lips with coats similar Luna’s except not as slick looking.
All chatter had stopped that was going on and all eyes turned to him, but Connor gave them no mind as he walked to the circular bar in the center of the room and once he seated himself on a stool that felt like it would break under him the bat ponies returned to their talks.
“What do ya’ need there” The tender walked over to him as Connor looked to his raggedy face. Connor slid a little closer and dropped his voice to a whisper.
“I need to find somepony named Shade”
The bartender reeled his head back slowly.
“Wait here”
He walked to his right and whent in total of 180 degrees around the bar to the exit it. Connor followed with his eyes. He came to a stop at particular table were a mare bat pony sat with two larger male bat ponies sitting across from her.
Connor watched as the tender muttered something to her and he pointed towered him and she looked over to him with an eye brow raised. She stood from her seat with the other two with her as she walked to his general direction.
As soon as she was close enough she stopped next to where he sat.
“So I heard you seek Shade, why?” The mare had a very sweet delicate voice and her body was thin and was a very attractive form.
“I need to have a word with him” Connor looked up to her and turned his gaze to the three buffs behind her.
“To talk with Shade you must prove yourself, and let’s do something different” She looked up to the ponies behind her.
“You three lets show are friend here to a dance” She had a little smirk on her face.
The two ponies behind her gave grunts and chuckles as they walked around the mare and took stances in front of him as he stood up to face them.
The bat ponies around them stood from their tables and formed a large circle around the five of them as the mare backed in front of a few ponies and sat down.
“Let us see what you can do” She gave a chuckle.
Connor stood rooted in the same spot and he watched the body movements of the trio in front of him as they had vile grins on their faces thinking this would be an easy fight.
They had another thing coming, but Connor was in this new form and it would be difficult to fight but he is a fast learner. The first one to attack was the one to the far left started to stride over to him and took a swing at him he easily ducked under the punch and Connor watched his every move he had made. At the same time the mare was taking a fancy to the large amulet that dangled around his neck without Connor noticing.
Connor rolled behind the pony who turned around to face his hoof that made a solid hit to his lower jaw, he reared back with a blood trail running down his muzzle.
“Oh, right then” He turned back to him. “Let’s tussle”
He went to throw a hoof over his head but Connor countered the blow and gave a punch to the pony’s neck, and he fell over chocking from the hit. Then Connor fixed his view to the far right pony in the line who was taking the place of his fallen comrade.
“Think you’re so tough” He said to Connor.
Connor took his stance and watched him as he walked closer and closer to him and took notice he was larger than the other one he had easily defeated.
“I’ll knock that right out of ya” He grunted.
Connor took the first move, he went for a blow to his chest but he slapped his hoof putting Connor of balance, and as he was exposed the pony punched his upper jaw, Connors felt blood splatter on his cheek.
Connor got is hoofing and faced the smiling pony and took a new tactic.
Connor walked up to him again but this time faked a punch to the pony’s head and brought his other leg under him and he swiped him from the floor. He made a deep thud as he hit the old wood floor as he went to stand Connor slammed his head into the floor.
“Well that’s a first” The mare stood and walked over to him looking down at the two defeated ponies.
“Nopony has ever beaten my guards before ever since I did for their loyalty to me” She looked to him with a smile.
“Well you have earned that talk, but first lets clean you up” She gave a nod to blood that was rolling down his face.
She beckoned him to follow her as they walked through the bar with cheers and congrats for the great fight from all the bat ponies as they walked by. She led him to a set of stairs that took them to the rooms for the Inn, but the two continued past them to another set of stairs that took them to a large V.I.P room.
There was a mass of large plush chairs all in various spots in the room that had a large red carpet; there was also a small empty bar to the left of the room, to think about it the entire room was barren, there were torches like the ones from downs stairs placed around the room.
“Come on almost there” She trotted up to a wooden door Connor did not see before when they walked in.
Once she opened the door Connor saw a large plush bed pushed against the wall with nightstands on both sides, and it was facing a large window that had a view of the castle of Canterlot with sun starting to set. Other than that the room was fairly empty except for another chair like the one from out in the V.I.P room sitting next to the window.
“So let’s take care of that-.” She was cut off by Connor.
“I will be fine” He wiped the blood from his muzzle.
“So where is he?” Connor asked the mare as she lay across the bed.
“Whoever said it was a he?” She gave a chuckle.
Connor made the connection almost immediately.
“So why it you just come out of the blue, and then beat down my bodyguards all just to have a chat with me” “I came here to stop your thieving” He stated.
She looked at him then laughed.
“That’s funny you think you can just come up here and stop me over a few words, you would have better luck to just kill me” She continued to chuckle.
“That can be arranged” He spoke with dead seriousness.
Shade stopped laughing and starred at him with a hard gaze and her eyes, her large magnificent eyes, Connor shook his head wondering where the thought came from, but as he tried to look away he found he could only gaze at her beautiful stature.
She rolled over on the bed.
“Come on over I won’t bite…to hard” She giggled.
Connor realized what was happing but then he forgot why he was staling to climb into the bed with her then he lost all his will to hold back…
LATER THAT NIGHT…
Connor snapped up from the bed thinking what had happened.
He walked into the bar, fought the two guards, followed the mare into the room, and…Slept with a thief.
His first reaction was to reach for the amulet, and to his relief it was still wrapped around his neck.
Connor looked up and saw Shade sitting in the chair that was turned in front of the window as she watched the moon in the night time sky.
“You know, tonight I felt something that had never touched my heart for many years, and you did it while under hypnosis how could you make me regret something so easily when it never bothered me before?” Shade spoke softly and sounded broken. Connor slipped out from the bed, and walked to her ignoring the fact that he was just did it with her.
“It means you finally understood why things are the way they are” He looked to the bat pony how was avoiding his eye.
She took a minute to think about what he said before standing from the seat and walked to the edge of the bed and took a breath.
“Ok I will end the guild only when this districted as been restored to the way it should be…they have been the whole reason why I started the guild, steal from the rich give to the poor”
“I give you my word” He looked out to the moon wondering how long he was in here.
“Your word means nothing until its fulfilled, now go” She looked to the floor below her.
Connor wanted to say more but he held his tong and left her alone feeling sorry for her but just continued out the door through the empty room, and bar leavening the inn before he left the street he looked back to the inn.
Connor closed his eyes and left to find his way to the library.
Connor was walking down the now empty streets of Canterlot trying to find his way to the library the moon was slowly rising higher and higher as time passed on. The only sound there was to hear were his hooves clopping on the cobble roads with the candle light from the iron lanterns. He came across signs that kept him on the right track, and after a half-hour of wondering he found the library with a few lights still lit.
He walked up the path to the door and tapped it with his hoof. He stood for a short minute.
“It’s a library you don’t need to knock” A familiar voice came from inside.
The door opened to reveal a White unicorn with double stripped mane of white and lavender; she had sky blue eyes and her cutie mark were sparkles like the ones on Twilight's mark.
“Oh, you must be Twilight s friend” She smiled at him.
“Faith, misses…”
“Sparkler, everypony is in dining room, you came just in time” She turned back inside as he followed.
They walked through pasted the towering book shelves and under stairs, balconies, and walkways to two double doors with opened up to a large living room.
“A home was built into the library for convince of the owner which has always been a past relative of my husband” She explained.
The two walked through the living room that had all sorts of chairs and stands that faced a empty fireplace. They walked to down to a door to the left were chatter could be heard beyond.
Sparkler opened the door to show a large oak wood table with space for ten that sat on top of a elegantly designed rug. The mane-six sat in the center most seats facing each other and to the opposite end to the left of the six sat an ocean blue unicorn with neat mane who was talking with Twilight.
“Faith, your back, we thought you went back to the castle by now” Twilight looked at Connor surprised to see him. “Long night” He looked at the many salad bowls lined down the table.
“What happened to ya’face there” Applejack looked over her shoulder to the gash on his face that started scab over.
“Very long night”
“Well darling you must sit down and tell us what happened” Rarity looked over Pinkie’s Mane.
Connor walked to a chair and took a seat he sighed and looked at the table and recounted every detail from when he left Twilight in the market to the when he took down the bodyguards until Rainbow interrupted.
“Wait you took down Shade’s guards unarmed by yourself?” Rainbow was amazed.
“Yes, so after…” Connor continued to restate the talk he had with Shade both before and after he was subdued but left out what they did.
“So now I need to figure out what is going wrong, and I will speak with Celestia tomorrow”
The night continued with talks about various things and the biggest was how pinkie was kicked out of the bakery.
Connor was sitting in his chair silently listening to all of them but kept his main focus inside his mind thinking about the past couple of days.
He still wondered if everything was real but he gave up fighting it and just decided that the best way to deal with it was ride the river’s flow.
One by one the group became smaller as everpony started to go to bed until it was just him and Twilight moon Twilight’s father.
“Well let’s find you a bed” He inclined as he stood from his seat.
He led him up a flight of stairs and past a few rooms until he opened one of them witch inside Rainbow was snoring away. On the top of what were two beds on top of each other.
Moon bid him a good night and Connor slipped into the bottom bed.
He did not fall asleep imminently but was saying Shades last words.
“Your word means nothing until it’s fulfilled
He said those words seven-times over until he finally fell asleep.
Everything was in a blur the smell of smoke stung the inside of his lungs as he watched animals of all kinds run by him in terror.
He kept walking down the dirt trail that took him to his village but as he got closer everything became very hot and uncomfortable.
He came to the outer walls and fire was crawling on the side of them dancing to the screams of fright and pain beyond them. Connor walked by all the flaming building and past the villagers calling for his mother who was caught under burning beams and splinters.
He walked around the building through a collapsed wall as he ran to his mother and he tried to pull away the wood ignoring his burning hands.
“MOTHER”
He felt someone pull him away as he flailed his arms trying to break away from the man’s grip to help his mother.
“MOTHER” He cried and kicked as he was pulled away.
“MOTHER”
“FAITH WAKE UP” Rainbow yelled as he snapped awake feeling the sweat on his brow if he had one in his pony form. “Your yelling and squirming in your sleep, you all right?” She asked.
“I-I’m fine I just…Need to…” Connor sat from his bed and left rainbow in the room alone.
Connor walked down the stairs into the living room witch moon light poured through the windows on either side of the chimney.
He sat into the chair and peered into the empty fire pit.
There was a sudden flash of light and a faint pop as Luna teleported into the room next to him which he ignored.
“I saw…I saw your dream, it-it was dreadful I’m sorry” Luna sat into the chair across from him.
Connor looked away.
“You have no right to peer into my privet thoughts” He grunted.
“I do, I rule the night so I watch over my subject in their dreams and I came across yours” Luna explained. “You don’t understand what I felt” He looked to her hooves.
“I do, I was in your mind so I felt what you felt and it was unbearable” Her voice dropped. Connor looked up to her before looking away again.
“My father would all ways sing to me when I was troubled” She looked to him slowly.
Once she finished she looked to Connor who had fell asleep in the Chair.
Luna gave a smile before she returned back to her duties of the night.
============
Connor woke to the sun softly gleaming into the room and he watched as dust floated about in the sun’s bright golden rays. Connor sat up from the chair rolling his neck and looked around the empty sitting room expecting Luna to be there but she must have left for she was gone.
Connor stood from the chair and as soon as his hooves touched the floor a massive wind blew over him and the dust started to stop drifting the gold sun slowly started to turn grey. Connor took a few steps before there was a bright flash behind him. He snapped around but winced at the bright aurora surrounding an orb.
“Well we meet again Connor” Every word it spoke it glowed a little brighter.
“I see that you have followed my word and blended into the Equestrian society I ask do you like the princess’s.” It spoke with its elegance
“Yes they have been very kind” Connor remembered the prophecy it told him in the woods.
“Do you wish to save them?”
“Who save who, do you mean the princess”
“Yes…do you wish to save them?” It asked.
Connor stood in silence; does he wish to save them? They have been so kind to him even when he was a strange creature in their kingdom and greeted him with open arms. “Yes” “If you wish to save them you must be willing to do anything, even die if needed” It said.
“For you see the only way to fully vanquish the Vale once and for all a sacrifice must be made in the end” Its voice started to fade as time started to flow once more around him.
Another rush of wind blew over him and it disappeared. The sun’s rays turned to gold and the dust started to swirl around again.
“Oh, there you are I went to wake you but rainbow said you woke up, and said you had a troubling night” Twilight walked in with her mane a little frazzled.
“And I told her I’m fine” Connor said a little annoyed but was thankful for the thought.
“Well all right let’s eat something and we all head to the castle later”
After an hour past the group bid good bye to Twilight’s parents and head down the waking city of Canterlot.
================
“Ah, welcome back what do wish to share with me” Celestia was high on her throne smiling down at the seven.
“Well there is quite a lot in fact Connor can explain it the best” Rainbow stood forward looking to the brown stallion.
Connor sighed and started with when he made up his new name and then the recounted the thief encounter and his journey through the slums before Celestia gave a hard exhale.
“I hoped it would be fixed by now” She muttered.
“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.
“I have sent money to the district mayor to help for a while but it seems all has not been going as well as I hoped” Celestia explained with a mournful tone.
“If you allow me I can look into the problem” Connor volunteered.
“I guess I need the help, yes you can look into the matter later but for now continue” Celestia nodded to Connor. He moved on two when he fought the guards in the Drunken Dragon and the promise he made to shade once again leaving out the hypnotic sequence.
“So it’s worse than I thought they given up hope in me I understand why, so no diplomats, just a agent which you have volunteered for already, well you will find your clothes in your room were you can remove the amulet , and once you are ready we shall speak privately in my chamber”
Connor was lead by a guard who called himself Midnight sky.
He lead him to his very own room, it was a large circular room with a radius of fifteen feet and it had dome shaped roof, it had a large sun to the left, on the right was a moon, with a white tile floor.
The walls had paintings hanging on them with wooden furniture pressed all around the room, and across from him was a balcony.
“Once you are ready I will take you to the princess” Midnight left him.
Connor took of the amulet to where he took his human form and was nude but found his clothes on the bed that faced the balcony.
Once he finished strapping his wrist band he walked the door and followed Midnight.
After walking through the maze of the Castle the duo came up to two large double doors that had a elegant sun painted over it.
“In here” Midnight opened the door were Celestia was sitting on her balcony.
“Princess, Connor has arrived” Midnight then spun around and left him.
“Come” Celestia beckoned him.
Connor walked on to the balcony next to Celestia.
“I felt something earlier this morning what happened, did Realm confront you again?” She asked as she watched the sun slowly rise in front of her.
“Yes, it spoke that there was a way to save you and your sister but there must be a sacrifice to stop the Vale once and for all. “Did it say who?” She asked.
“No it said nothing of who it would be”
“Are you thinking of it being you?”
“No but I if it is I will accept my end with open arms” Connor looked up to the goddess.
“If anypony has to die it will be me for this is all happing because of me and I will die for my subjects I will not have you sacrifice yourself”
Connor was silent as they stood together.
“I will not hesitate to save you or your kingdom for you have shown me such happiness and trust and peace I wish for it to last for as long as I can, I don’t want the same destruction that fell on me fall onto you” Connor remembering all he had lost in the past.
“That was a kind statement but…” Celestia stopped as she saw his face which explained everything she needed to know. The two stood together for a while looking over the land in silence.
“Tomorrow you will look into the situation in the lower district of the city but I warn you I have little power of the mayor’s of the districted, my word is respected but I don’t have command over them, so I dissuade you from doing anything to rash” “I will” Connor looked back into her room.
“You may retire to your chamber, or explore the castle grounds”
Connor sat up from the balcony’s rim and walked into her room to the door.
“Connor… I thank you for your proposition but I tell you they will come after me and Luna and will they not stop until we are out of the way” Celestia spoke softly.
Connor nodded and returned to the hall where Midnight took him back to his room were he layed in bed thinking over the day.
The wind wiped by as he crouched on a fallen tree that was hanging of the cliffs edge he listened to the wind and watched the trees sway back and forth as if in a trance. Connor stood strait holding his balance looking down to the winding rapid below.
Connor took a breath and turned back around and started to walk of the log until a loud screech pierced the air, Connor looked to his left to see a large eagle with its talons open flying toured him watched as it came and cut his chest sending blood spurting out through the air.
Connor lost his balance and fell from the log as he tumbled down to the roaring rapids with large boulders scattered about. He slammed into the frigid water. Connor sunk below the water sinking to the bottom, and his lungs were burning for air but he had no control in his legs or arms all he could do was watch his blood dilute into the water. Connor looked around him and saw a sea serpent speeding at him its jaws agape, he came upon him and snapped him into its jaws.
Connor started to fall in darkness falling and falling and falling until he started to slow down then he came to an utter stop, or so he thought.
Connor sat there looking around. He started to notice a light the size of a pin prick that became brighter and brighter until an outline of an alicorn took form charging him. Connor’s eyes went large as it became faster by the second. In the blink of an eye it flew right through his chest healing his cuts and everything became white.
Connor sat up in a large open prairie, as he looked around he looked over the snake that slithered toured him undetected in the tall grass. He stood up and as his body straitened the snake lunged behind him rapping its self around his neck crushing his throat. He grabbed the constrictor with both hands trying to pull it away to no avail. He choked under the force of the snake.
=============
Connor woke up gasping for air sweating hard as he breathed heavy. He rubbed his neck as he watched the sun from his bed out from the open balcony.
“They called you, Connor” Luna’s voice echoed throughout the room.
Connor Looked to the moon goddess shocked to see her.
“Why do always come to me?”
“Because you have very intriguing dreams in your mind, but what you just dreamed was no dream anyone pony could just have from random”
Connor looked at her confused.
“I can understand your confusion, but it’s a very long story simply there are four mythical objects very important to equestrian history and they are guarded each by their own guardian that choose a hero in times of despair and to call upon you that is mystifying and worrying” Luna explained.
“I still don’t understand, why me, why now, what does it mean?” Connor’s mind was buzzing with questions.
“I did not suspect you to understand it over a few words but unless you want to stay here for the next few years I recommend to just stick with those few words”
“Here” Luna continued. “Imagine Objects that have the power to transform the world, and to keep that power from falling into the wrong hooves there are guardians who prevent the corrupted from touching them unless they are dubbed worthy to wield them”
Connor thought of the pieces of Eden.
“You know this has not happened in over a thousand years since there creation and for it to happen to something that has nothing to do with Equestria is very peculiar” Luna’s face became crunched into thought.
“Well you have important duties I hear from my sister you need to attend to today, so get your rest” Then she vanished through the balcony.
Connor rolled from the bed and got dressed but before he left he stopped in front of the door thinking over what Luna had relayed to him.
Guardians, what guardians, and what could be so important they are guarding, why him, why would they choose him…a human
Connor brushed it off and left the room.
==============
Connor walked down the winding halls of Canterlot getting strange glares and glances from guards, maids, and other castle staff that he passed but gave none a second thought.
“Ah, Connor the Princess has some information for you about your contract” Midnight gave a small smile as he rounded the corner.
Midnight took Connor up to the Main hall were Celestia sat high on her throne with a long warm smile plastered on her face.
“Connor good to see you, come I have a few things to share with you” Celestia walked down the thrones steps.
“First, it looks like some of the blame is being pointed at the district mayor, so you could start an investigation there and there was the thieves but if what you said is true then there is a third wheel taking part in this” Celestia walked along the large court room with Connor at her side.
“Also I have been thinking on how to revel you to the general public and I came up with taking small steps and the first one is let you free run on the roof tops to the slums where you will put the amulet back on and continue the mission” She added.
“Alright, and could I have my weapons returned?” Celestia stopped and looked at him as if he committed right in front of her murder.
“Why would you need them, you will only be traveling through the city to figure out what happens to my efforts to fix the poor district not kill somepony” She hissed.
The rest of time was spent in discussing the plan of his revelation as they walked to the front gate of the castle.
“Well here we are, so you should take the back path to the city then stick to the roof tops all the way to the slums were you will hide your clothes and transform to carry the contract” Celestia explained.
“I’ll be back later on the day if all goes well, if not wait until dawn and I will return with my findings” Connor rolled his shoulders getting ready for the trip.
“Good luck and the elements will remain here in the city for when you come back I will send you off to ponyville” Celestia looked back at him as she walked to the castle.
Connor missed the last part for he set of through the gate up to a dirt path that ran behind a cluster of trees that followed on the side of it all the way down to the city farther down.
=============
“Come on Lyra we are going to be late for Octavia’s performance” Bon-Bon called to the lime green unicorn behind her. “Hang on, hang on just let me finish” Lyra called to her friend.
“Ugh, you stop and look at the book every time we pass it” Bon-Bon pointed to the large dark brown book simply titled ‘Anthropology’
“Fine I just… DID YOU SEE THAT” Lyra had face of utter shock as she pointed up to one of the building’s roof.
“What, what…I don’t see anything” Bon-Bon followed Lyra’s hoof.
“I saw something up there it looked like a human” She stuttered.
Once the word human left her mouth Bon-Bon relaxed and gave a hard sigh.
“Not again…”Bon-Bon sighed again.
“No No this is real I-I-I swear” Lyra choked over her words.
“Like the last seven times…this past month alone” Bon-Bon nagged. “But-but-but…” Lyra sadly closed her eyes and drooped behind Bon-Bon to the theater.
==============
Connor carefully positioned his self behind the pointed roof of the tower he almost fell from hiding from the ponies below him.
Once they walked off he continued to leap from the roof tops to the best of his ability and all the way he caught glimpses of a few ponies who noticed something jumping about, some with worse reaction than others.
The sun was high above him when he reached the edge of the slums.
Connor navigated his way to the designated ally way were he would find a hidden chest to place and hid his clothes. Once there he leaped down to the stingy road below and walked up to an old rusty bin and in side was a large chest.
He pulled of his clothes put them into the chest and stuffed it back into the bin and trotted out from the ally with his medallion hanging around his pony neck. From there he made his way through the streets and back alleys past the sickly ponies he passed on his way to the district hall.
=============
“Hello?” He called as he pushed the rotting door of the hall open to a dusty, dingy, foul smelling hall that made him cringe as he walked in.
“Oh, hello there how may I be of service” A thin dirt covered earth pony walked into the hall he had long messy grey hair, and a dirty blue coat with a scroll cutie mark.
“Yes I have been sent by the princess to discuss the problems the district has been facing lately” Connor took notice to his surroundings.
“Ah yes I received a letter of your arrival…Faith was it, yes…well come to my office and we shall talk there” He smiled and turned around.
“You can refer to me as Mr. Mayor” He said as he took Connor into a very gloomy, nasty room.
He walked into a rectangular room a large book case full of moldy books preset against the left side of the room, and to the right was a large writing desk with quills and parchment scattered over it, in the center were to what he thought to be blue chairs that looked like they would fall apart under the slightest pressure, and finally the Mayors oval desk that had a large candle set of to the side to light his work.
Mayor sat down in the old wood chair that sat behind his desk and with Connors surprise that it did not collapse under his weight.
“So what should we discuss first the sewage leaks, the sickness, or the lack of money given to us by your beloved princess” He spat.
“What do you mean?” Connor asked as he took a seat between the chairs.
“She says she provides, promises medicine, and money but little to none ever comes and ponies die every day as she sits on her royal ass up in the castle” He looked out the large window behind him.
He became silent and looked out the window, but Connor could feel that something was out of place his words make no sense for Celestia told him they have been putting in the largest amount effort to help, a matter of fact the room he stood in felt out of place.
The air was thin and fresh not thick and moldy, also the wood was cracked and looked damp but he could feel solid dry tile flooring, and finally He noticed that one of the books on the shelf was strait and clean not flopped over and covered in grime.
“So what do you propose, or that idiot up there I should say” His voice was slightly different, instead of A wispy dry voice he sounded like a prince for a second or two.
Connor stood up and walked up to the adjacent book and reached up to it.
“Don’t touch that!” He yelled.
“What this?” He pushed the book and then everything became fuzzy and bright and before he could figure out what was happening the room became a shade of white and instead of the poor condition office it became an elegant study room.
Connor turned to face the Mayor but instead of his face he met a small lamp post and everything went black.
Connor woke slowly at first for his vision was in a blur and were ever he was it was dark which made it all the worse. Connor felt sore and groggy and his head was throbbing he rubbed his eyes with his hooves and shook his head slightly but his head ached as he did so.
His vision slowly came to him and once he could see his hoof in front of his own face he looked around the room. It was a dark cobble stone cell with the only light coming from the candle outside of his cell he was curled up slightly on the floor and to his left was a pile of hay that had a rug placed over it, there was a small dingy tray in front of him which had mold covered bread and a pitcher of black water.
He sat up as the blood rushed from his head making his head ace even more so.
“You’re awake!” Connor jumped slightly as someone called from behind him.
He turned around and came face to face with Shade the bat pony from the Dragon who was sitting on a small bench he failed to notice before.
“I was shocked when I saw a group of ponies walking down her dragging you along they seemed a bit shady and they tossed you in” She explained.
“Well how did YOU end up here?” Connor asked turning his body around to face her.
“Somepony leaked and they raided the bar rounded up most of us they dragged them off some were and tossed me in here whatever here is”
“So you don’t know earthier…” Connor looked back up to the cell door.
He walked up to the iron bar door and looked out as far as he could.
To his left it was a long cobble hall with torches placed every so often in front of other cells that went fairly far down until it broke into a turn section going left and right. Connor looked to his right and saw the same thing a hall way of cells that ended in a turn section.
He started to pull his head back when he heard voices echoing in the tunnels and he could see shadows dancing on the walls.
“Get back!” He whispered as he craned his neck to see who was coming as Shade backed up into the corner melting into the darkness.
Connor saw the Mayor who was now plump and clean and was talking with two other strange creatures the Mayor acknowledged as griffins.
“…Knowing how he two griffins rely on the slave trade I have two unique items that could get you a good ransom…” Connor backed away from the door and sat in light.
“Here we are the other one is in there as well take a look” The Mayor stopped in front of the cell door unlocking it for the griffions.
The two walked in looking over him.
“Where is the other, Ah, there you are” The one to the left said with a deep gruff voice who had a grey color and white wing tips and under belly.
He walked to the corner were shade was hiding and dragged her out next to him.
“How much for the both of’em” The second one was a mix of brown and black color with a high voice than the other.
“Well…I say four hundred for the stallion and two for the mare, I’m sure you could have fun with her” He smiled harshly to Shade.
“With that gash on his face I say he is worth only three” The grey one looked to The Mayor.
Connor waited until the other looked back.
“Yea the mare can stay at two but…” Connor brought his hoof down on the second one, but his hoof only made it an inch close to the back of his head before he was pulled back with the force of a dozen horses into the wall.
“Oh feisty, he would do well as a worker, fine we’ll go Three hundred fifty” Said the grey one.
“You have a deal”
Connors mind started to blur and the cell became fuzzy then blackness.
======================
Connor woke again with haste as he looked around.
Both of his hind legs were chained to a wood floor, he was in a slave cart with Shade and a stripped pony. “What happened?” He asked.
“You’re on your way to be a slave for the griffins you dolt” The stripped pony snapped.
He looked up to Shade he looked solemn as the cart rocked back and forth.
“You ok?” He asked.
“I-I’m fine” She stuttered.
He looked back to the iron bard door.
They were moving along a worn dirt path through open ground in unfamiliar territory. Connor sat back down and looked up to shade.
“We are going to do this…I promise we will make it back” He looked into her sad eyes. She looked up at him in silence before looking back to the floor.
===============
“CELESTIA” Twilight ran full fledged into the court room interrupting her conversation with another stallion. “Twilight I told you not to interrupt my court unless it’s an emergency!” She scolded her.
“This IS a emergency, LOOK!” Twilight hoofed the news paper to her mentor.
“Please excuse me” She told the stallion.
“Not a worry princess” He nodded. Celestia walked past Twilight and looked down at the news paper and gasped in shock.
“AN UNKNOWN ROBBERY ATTEMPT” It read.
A older stallion was caught the other day in a attempt to rob the little funds from the lower ward mayor. To the only witness and victim we had a interview with the mayor himself.
“I was in my office at the time when this stallion came walking asking about the crisis we have been facing lately and as soon as my back was turned he attacked me by hitting me with a candle hilt knocking me to floor as he was asking me where the money was”
“Luckily I had an appointment at the same time with another young stallion who walked right in and being the brave stallion he was restrained him, I had the local guard come in and take him away to the Undermax prison”
He had also told the authorities about a guild of bandits who he worked for who were huddled up the local Inn which was raided and the leader taken away with him.
Celestia looked away from the news paper to Twilight.
“I went to the Undermax and he was sold off to slavers” Twilight panted.
Celestia’s jaw dropped.
“What are we going to do!?” Twilight was starting to panic.
“There is nothing I can do he’s a slave now I can’t budge into that he is on own” Celestia dropped the paper.
============
The cart came to halt Connor woke up to the sound of a lot of commotion outside as he looked through the bared door. They were outdoors somewhere and there was a mass of griffin walking back and forth talking to each other some with following stripped ponies like the one with him, as he heard one say…
“…This war has been wonderful for me they bring at least a hundred prisoners a day and I have been making a fortune…”It said walking past the cart.
Connor nudged Shade to wake her, but she had stayed awake for the trip as she slowly looked up to him making him feel sorry for her.
“Everything is going to be ok, if we are separated I will come for you” He said softly.
“Let’s go” The grey slaver grabbed all of their chains and dragged them from the cart but the stripped pony would not budge.
Connor looked back to him.
“I said let’s go!” He yanked the chain he still stayed.
The griffin climbed up into the cart and grabbed him by the neck and threw him from the cart but he did not get up.
“Tough guy then” He walked up to the pony but Connor walked into his way.
“Move or your next” He sneered but Connor was unfazed.
“Well then looks like you would like a good beating then” He raised his fist but the second slaver stopped him.
“Don’t want to ruin the price further than it is already on it, I will take care of the zebra” He said.
“Fine” He said while pulling out to cuffs and clamping it on Shades and is neck.
“Let’s go” He yanked the two as Connor looked back to the zebra that was being harshly beat by the slaver.
Outside it was like a large convention there were fifteen large stands with different ponies and zebras that were locked up in chains being sold off like an auction.
The slaver walked up to a small table were a very old looking griffin sat writing something down on some parchment in front of him.
“I got two more for you” The grey slaver said gruffly.
“Well I see that…well let’s find a place for you two shall we hmm…ah we have room on seven” He wheezed.
The slavers pulled them along to a large platform were Connor painfully watched as a family of seven zebras were sold in three different pairs. Mother with one of her daughters, the father with one of his son's and two twin sisters were sold off to three different owners
“Next!” Someone yelled.
The slaver pulled him and Shade up to the platform and locked the chain to a large pole in the center of the platform.
“Any takers for ‘em!” The auction griffin shouted
“four hundred for the stallion!” One yelled
“Six for both” Shouted another one.
“Seven hundred for the mare” Called out a third.
“One thousand for the lot of ‘em” called out a fourth
“Any other bids last chance, last chance” The auctioneer said.
“Two thousand for both” Came a loud regal voice.
All the griffins fell silent and looked behind them and created a line opening up to were a very large griffin sat on a small chariot being pulled by two armored guards, he wore a long black cape and a diamond filled crown that looked as expensive as Canterlot.
The crown was large enough to fit him and only him it had diamonds all round the sides and a very large one in the center, the frame was solid gold and the spikes came up into sharp curls.
He was a solid black in color and his left eye had a large pink scar over it both eyes were a brown like color and had had long sharpened talons.
“S-s-sold to are wonderful king Iron-claw!” The auctioneer looked terrified.
“Bring them over” his voice was hollow and cold.
The slaver quickly unhooked them from the pole and dragged them over to him.
“The stallion is very strong and the mare has good stamina…if you know what I mean” The slaver gave a nervous chuckled.
“You think I can’t see that, you are questing my abilities, you think I can’t decide things myself?” He looked down at the slaver very darkly.
“N-N-No no no that’s not what I meant I-I- just…”He stammered.
“Jugged me that’s what you did…hang him for is incompetence” Two guards ran from behind the chariot and garbbed him as he started to plea for his life.
“Any others who what to question your fair king?...None good let him serve as a point to you all, let’s go”
One of the guards hooked the chain to the back of the king’s chariot and they set off down a cobble stone path.
“I have a feeling we will get along just fine all you need to do is follow five simple rules” He looked over his shoulder.
“One never talk back to a overseer or anyone above you”
“Two follow any orders given to you by your master”
“Three you work along other slaves and only work until the day is finished”
“Four never harm another griffin under any circumstances”
“And five the most important never try to escape from your master” He turned his head back to Connor and looked him in the eye.
“Any rule broken has its own punishment the worse the diffidence the more sever of a punishment, as long as you follow your rules then we will be just fine together” He turned back to face onward.
Connor looked back to the auction were the slaver was now hanging from a tree branch by his neck and the guards had flew back behind them.
“Face front” One barked at him.
Connor looked back to the griffins back and moved a little closer to shade. “I’m sorry”
She looked at him in a confused manor.
“This is my fault I should have been more carful you are here because of me if I was not so clumsy he would have never saw my memories and found you out” Connor explained.
“You told them!?” She glared at him.
“No I was unconscious the whole time until the prison but I could have done it more discreetly” Her face relaxed and she looked to the ground.
“It’s ok” She whispered. “I’ll protect you we will make it trust me” he looked down at her. “Faith I…”
“Stop talking!” The guard ordered.
They looked at each other and continued on to…somewhere.
Connor tried to sleep as much as he could as the boat rocked to and fro but the sea outside helps him calm his mind. The king had traveled to the nearby port and had sent them below, and set off for the north on his ship The Majestic that was two days ago.
Connor in his failed attempts to sleep he looked back into the empty cargo hold then to the large chains holding him to the floor.
Shade was curled up on the floor asleep or not he did not know for she has not moved since they were locked up inside of ship she just laid there like she died, but he could see the rise and fall of her chest.
The deck the two were on was empty only a set of stairs leading up to the next deck above them and a lantern hung from the wall next to it.
Connor started to figure out that she has been in the tyrant’s kingdom before and has not so pleasant memories but he never asked about them in fear to worry her further.
So he flopped on the floor and closed his eyes.
==================
Celestia moved over a stack of parchment and quills and stood from her desk.
“Tia are you ok” Luna walked into her study.
“I’m fine…just thinking about a few things, i'm suprised you don't really stay up this eairly” She said slowly.
“You think he will be ok, not many survive the king’s work and none have ever come back” Luna walked up to her sister.
“I have a feeling he will be ok I just wish I could help him but what could I do…what could I do…the amulet” She whispered understanding her sisters worry
“What?”
“The amulet maybe I could…no it wouldn't…but what if I…” Celestia pondered.
Celestia opened her desk and grabbed the strong ox from inside and opened it to were inside were to slots one was empty the other the same amulet that she gave to Connor.
“What is that?” Luna looked over Celestia’s shoulder.
“These are the twin amulets, the legend is that to powerful mages created to identical amulets that gave them magical powers greater than a unicorns magic alone could produce and one of the enchantments was the Scry spell, real time communication, but I never used it” Celestia picked up the amulet with her magic and brought it close to her face looking it over.
Celestia touched the center gem of the amulet with the tip of her hoof and the amulet started to glow and shimmer in her magical grasp
"Did it work?" Luna asked while peering over Celestia's shoulder
"Only one way to find out" She took the amulet close to her lips and whispered "Connor" ==================
“Connor”
Connor raised his head to Shade but she was still curled up with her back to him, so he looked around the deck but it was as empty as before, so he brushed it off and rested his head down.
“Connor” the voice called again he stood strait up and wiped his head around. “Hello?” He called out to the room.
No response until the voice came again from below him.
“Connor it’s me” Connor looked at Shade who was acting like she could not hear it, could she?
Connor are you there? The voice said a little louder.
Connor traced the voice to...
"The amulet?" He said to himself.
Connor sat down and with both of his hoofs awkwardly brought it closer to his face.
If you can hear me touch the center of the amulet you wear He looked at it and hesitated but finally tapped it.
It gave a faint glow as he pulled his hoof away from the amulet.
“Hello, who are you?” Connor said feeling stupid for talking to an non-living object as he looked at Shade who gave no sign of hearing his or the strange voice.
“Connor you need to tell me where are you I don’t know how long this will last”The voice came again sounding familiar.
“I don’t know exactly just on a ship called the Majestic on my way to the north”
“ok, but look I can do only so little…just….your… be careful…to rash… The voice started to fade. “Hello… are you there?” He waited for some time but there was no response.
He asked again if the voice was still there a few more times until be gave up and let the amulet fall back around his neck, gave a sigh.
Connor looked to shade still was in the same spot as before, until one of the crew members came striding down from the upper deck she perked up and looked at the wooden stairs, her face started to loose its color.
“Well you’re a luck one the King wants a little chat with’ya in his cabin” He chuckled as he unlocked her chains and picked her by her neck as she flailed around trying to kick him.
“He is going to have fun with you wants to see if you were worth the price” He chuckled.
Connor stood up and charged him but the chains became a static blue and Connor fell to the floor as electricity surged through is body.
“We won’t be having any of that will we” He sneered.
The chain cuffs became heavy and he was locked to the floor.
“Good boy” He chuckled and dragged of Shade as she still struggled against his grip.
===================
“Tia did it work?” Luna asked her sister.
“I-I think so, but that was harder than I thought” She said wiping the sweat from her brow.
Celestia set the amulet back into the strong box and stowed it away into the desk then turned to her sister.
"Well its getting early and you i should sleep don't worry about him"
"I don't worry about him because i can feel that there is something more to him then we know, I worry about what he will do"
"Well it does not matter he is not in are boarders anymore, well lets get you to bed Lu-Lu"
Celestia lead Luna out from her study and Celestia closed the door behind her and took Luna up to her room and left after she was settled in.
She returned to the court room thinking.
What is he hiding from us?
===================
Connor was sitting alone for what felt like hours until the griffin from before came down with Shade behind her. He locked her up again gave a crooked smile to Connor and left.
“What happened, are you alright?” She looked at him her body shaking slightly.
Her main was a mess, her face was flushed, and her left eye was a little swollen, she was sweating harshly and just shook her head at him and curled back up on the floor.
Connor looked down at her wishing he could comfort her but he could only get a foot close before the chains pulled him back.
He laid down on his side and closed his eyes.
===============
The ship rocked and Connor woke up quickly he heard chatter from the deck above.
“I think we arrived” He said looking up.
“I know” Shade’s voice was quiet and raspy.
A griffin came down the steps and gathered the two of them.
He took them up three different decks all the way to the main top deck were sailors were tying down sails and ropes as a over-watch was barking orders to the sailors.
The ship rose up and sank back down as it sailed over the choppy sea below them.
A massive city was in front of them extending over the water there was a large stone wall behind the port, and from the way Connor stood the city was built in steps each district rising above the others separated by a wall there was four districts, poor, middle, upper, and power, before it ends in a large citadel Connor guessed to be the kings.
“Welcome to Nubis the griffin capital, it’s where you rats will be working now” The griffin holding them said while looking proud.
They stood there was the ship became closer to the city.
Sooner than he hopped Connor and Shade we pulled of the now docked boat which had its own special little port and hauled into another cart.
Connor moved next to Shade and sat next to her trying his best to be a supporter.
They moved along through the poor district that was very similar to the one in Canterlot but here the dead stayed in the street lying on the floor with a rug or something similar over them.
The middle district was much better for the common workers lived there Connor was furious when he saw tax collectors dragging out a family and boarding up the home.
The upper district was full of color and had successful shops and stores were the griffins walked along the streets with big expensive looking attire.
The last district made him sick the griffins walked around with their own maids, butlers, slaves, and even mercenaries that followed them around.
They past the wall into the citadel and Connor was shocked to see slaves of all kinds chained together laboring painfully as overseers wiped them and beat them.
The cart came to a halt and the bared door swung open.
To griffins stood side by side identical to the other, they were just a simple ash grey color and black beady eyes. “You are to work out on the field” The left one said pointing to Connor.
“And you are to be entertainment inside for the king and his guests” The right one pointed to Shade.
The left one grappled Connor and pulled him out and he was taken away and immediately pushed into work while the griffin to the right closed the door and lead the cart [that Connor now saw was pulled by slaves] taken to the citadel.
“Work!” An overseer whipped the ground next to Connor as he set off picking up rock buckets and taking them to a pile were other slaves grinded them down to bricks.
Connor as he worked took in every detail the rope on the buckets the movement of the overseers and how the field was ran and one day get out of this mess.
===================
Twilight was in her parents sitting room with the other Elements Of Harmony for she just finished explaining in detail of the situation.
"I don't know about ya'll but I ain't so sure he's comin back" Applejack was the first to go.
"I have seen him do something in a few hours that my own brother couldn't do in weeks" Twilight responded.
"I have to agree with Applejack, i'm sorry darling but he was sent off with the griffins" Rarity stepped in.
"I say he can kick those griffin's butts he took down two Celestial Guards in a fight no problem" Rainbow punched the air.
"Oh, maybe when he gets back we can throw him a griffin butt kicker party" Pinkie jumped into the air and slowly floated back down to her chair.
"Well I don't know he his very strong but the griffins are pretty mean" Fluttershy peeped.
"The best thing to do rather than bet if he makes it back is hope he makes it back in one piece" Twilight cut back in.
Shade was silent as she sat on the large red silk bed looking out the slightly opened door were the king and seven other griffins sat eating and drinking away the night and sometimes picking out a whore to have.
There were two griffins in the two rooms across from her that get picked the most often during their little parties, and in the room next to her was a very young zebrican slave girl maybe no more than seventeen who was picked the least.
Whenever she is picked she usually used her mind tricks, but do it too often and it becomes detectable, so she is forced to only trick them only two times a week each, but the king he wears this ring that protects him from even the most complex spells known to pony kind.
She spends most of the night in peace listening to the sick talks the griffins make becoming worse the more they drank. One she can’t stand there words she falls back to study the small bland room with only the bed inside.
Shade was deep in her own thoughts until the king said something that took her attention.
“My son, my prince why not indulge yourself with one are friends” He indicated to her door as he spoke to the griffin from across the table.
The table was a long stone dining table with a large cloth covering with six throne like chairs were his officials sat on the length of the table, and on both end was a even larger throne were Iron-Claw would sit looking down the table to a throne smaller than the kings were a griffin she could never see would be in.
“I’m fine father…” The voice was kind and quiet, she was shocked.
“No, I insist” He growled.
“And I say again I’m fine”
“You are to soft be a king” The military commander Vulk who was a nasty scar covered griffin. “Gryffindor, I don’t want to have this talk with you again” Shade could see the rage in his eyes. The griffin from the chair stood up slowly and made his way to her door, and he looked like a softer version of the king himself.
Shade backed away from the door and crawled into the bed until he walked in and closed the door.
“Stay there” He said as he pressed his ear on the door and listened for a second before walking to the bed and sitting down next to her.
Shade didn't now what to think, the prince of the griffin kingdom was sitting next to her looking ashamed. “I wish I could help you, help the slaves, I hate him” Gryffindor was looking down at his claws. “I have dreams that he dies all the time, it might sound absurd, but I think you would understand”
“What are you playing at, are you trying to get me to like you?” Shade furled her brow.
“I can see why you say that, I’m sorry” He stood up from the bed and walked to the door and sat down again.
“What do you want?” Shade glared at him with a skeptical look.
“To leave this place, wait to the king dies, and then fix this place” He stated flatly.
“Why should I believe that you are mister nice guy and you are telling the truth?”
He said nothing and opened the door by a inch and mouthed Listen
“…I swear if his mother was still alive I would have tossed him out into the pit” The king slammed his goblet onto the table. “I think you still should, he has been nothing but troubles ever sense you took him to the trade” Vulk grunted.
“Yes but the throne must be of pure blood, but to divert his insolence I will give you full control of the throne before my passing”
“That is very kind of you sir, thank you” He nodded in agreement as the other griffins gave him ice cold stares. Gryffindor closed the door.
“See, they don’t like who I am, the only one with a right mind”
Shade felt pitiful for him, because he reminded her of…herself.
He stood up after a few minutes of silence past and left the room leaving the door slightly open.
They continued the night talking and boasting for each other until the moon was held high in the sky the king ordered everyone to leave even the slave girls, all except his son, and as soon as the group left for the night he turned to his son with an evil glare.
“What was that, what are playing on me?” He hissed.
“I was not planning anything; you were too reluctant to accept my answer!” Gryffindor snapped back.
“How dare you raise your voice at me?” He grabbed the prince and threw him onto the table.
“For all I did for you, this is how you repaid me?” He shouted.
The prince looked at her, but the king noticed his glance.
“Who’s in there?” The king let go of his son and started looking into the room, Shade backed away from the door. He threw the door opened and looked down at her with hungry eyes.
LATER THAT NIGHT…
Shade was in a cage hanging from a ceiling rolling up in a ball trying to hide from the king’s gaze.
“What to do with you…so many ways to suffer…such good ways to kill you” He was speaking in a slick voice.
“I will leave you to my friend” He stood up from the small chair.
A griffin in a black cowl walked in with a long iron prodder glowing red hot, he was chuckling softly as he approached her. “Help me faith” She whispered.
=================
EARLIER THE NEXT MORNING …
Connor used a small rock and scratched a line into the board next to his roll-out bed.
There were thirty-seven marks on the board, thirty-seven days he labored outside and by night fall tossed into a small cabin with four other slaves wishing Luna would hold the moon late a little longer.
But there was a long beam of sun light pouring in from the three by three inch window above him.
“Wake up!” The high overseer walked past the slave cabins slamming on the doors.
“If you don’t get your nasty hides out here right now I will gladly toss you into the pit!” His voice rang out again.
Connor stayed in the ragged bed as the other slaves scrambled out the door. “Come, don’t be stupid!” One of the slaves tried to get him up but he stayed.
“It’s your funeral” And he left him to his
“One…two…three…four…where is the fifth?” He heard the High overseer grumble outside the cabin.
Connor rolled over to face the wall.
The griffin walked into the small cabin and walked right up to his back and kicked him hard in the spine. “I’m in a good mood so I will give you one last chance to get out of that bed” He sneered. Connor remained in his roll and said not a word.
The Overseer walked up to him a picked him up by the neck.
“Well looks like we got a little rebel, don’t we” he gave a crooked smile.
Connor spit in his eye.
“OH, YOU NO GOOD SON OF A BITCH!” The overseer wiped the spit away.
“You are going to fucking die you little prat!” He dragged Connor out by his neck and tossed him into the dirt.
“Take him!” He pointed at two other overseers, Connor remained still.
They walked up to him chuckling to themselves, and as they moved closer he started to crouch low to the ground looking straight into their eyes.
They came to be a foot in front of him and as one reach out to him he lunged his hoof into his neck.
The griffin covered his neck as he fell over choking, he spun around and grabbed the others head and jumped over him pulling the griffin over his back, slamming him to the ground.
“Get him!” The High overseer shouted.
A few guards came running out from behind a few huts, and cabins, they enclosed him in a circle with their spears pointed at his face, and he looked at the two guards on his sides then the one in front and behind him.
They had a standoff before the two at his sides made an attack at the same time, one brought his spear above his head, so he brought up his hooves and forced it into the others chest as he kicked his spear into the first ones gut.
They both collapsed to the ground, the other two were stood there it all happened so fast, he took the opening and with a few flicks of his wrist he wrenched the spear out from the griffins clutches and started stabbing its owner repeatedly in the chest.
Connor whipped around after the griffin collapsed dead by his own weapon and thrust the spear into the last guard’s neck. All the slaves gave cheers, and hollers as the last one fell.
“You...you think that I’m impressed?” The high overseer stuttered.
He started to make his move up to Connor, but two slaves came up and leaped onto his back pulling him to the floor, then it all became total madness.
All the slaves started to attacking the overseers and guards started to flow from the walls and the citadel, and because many of the slaves were zebrican warriors, the work field turned into a war zone.
Connor took no time to run for the citadel, he need to get to Shade…
“Look, it’s the Elites” One of the warriors shouted as lines of armor clad soldiers came pouring out from their barracks.
“Help!” The Elites slaughtered anypony in their path.
Connor stopped in his tracks and looked out to the field, then looked back to the citadel.
What do you want Connor to do? ONLY THE ONE YOU PICK SURVIVES!!! think about it.
If you don’t like the outcome I will write a chapter with the other choice
Connor stood in the midst of a violent battle, Zebrican prisoners were bashing, stabbing, and biting any griffin that got to close. The griffins took to the offence by crudely using their talons, ripping and pouncing on the zebras.
“Help us!” One of the rebels yelled over the chaos.
Connor looked around him, then looking up the citadel all the way to the top.
“YEEAHHH!” A guard charged him with a spear in his grip.
Connor took a stance, waiting for the enemy to get closer.
It was as if time started to slow, Connor leaped into the air and brought his hooves down onto the spear, snapping it two, he then pushed with his for-legs, rapping them around the attackers neck, and pulled up flipping the griffin over his back, then started to beat him in his head.
“Help!” The zebra yelled again.
Connor was at a loss, but when he saw the gates to the citadel were open with guards pulling in and out, he decided…to keep his promise to Shade.
==================
“So…you thought that you could just sit and listen on personal conversations, you know that’s incredibly rude” The King was sitting in front of the iron bar cage, were a beat bat pony was curled up shivering.
“I know you were listening, so no point in lying…I just want to know what you heard” He hissed. Shade looked up at the king and shivered under his piercing gaze.
“I-I did…I didn’t hear anything…” She stuttered.
“STOP LYING, I KNOW THAT YOU LISTENED IN ON US!” He yelled lunging at the cage, Shade sunk deeper into her hooves.
He let go of the cage, and signaled the cage-keeper who walked up to the cage with a whip in his claw, he opened the cage and Shade tried to hide from him.
“please…” she muttered.
“Then tell me the truth!”
“I did” She cried.
The king simply nodded to the cage-keeper.
He trudged up to the cowering pony and started to whip her.
The room was filled with her screams, blood curdling screams.
After a full minute of the whip cracking, and painful screams, the king raised a claw and the Cage-keeper stopped his torture and exited the cage.
The King rubbed his beak and gave a sigh as he looked down at the crying pony.
“Just tell me, the truth and this will all stop” He grapped the cage with a claw.
“I did, I did tell you the truth!” She yelped.
The king sighed once again, and stepped down from the cage.
“Beat her until she talks” he grumbled. The king turned around and made his way for the door, but a soldier came charging through them.
“My liege” He bowed. “The Slaves sir, they are killing the overseers, there in a riot!” He stuttered.
The king stood looking down at the griffin before calling the Keeper over to him, and he took the whip, and whipped the soldier.
“And you did not stay to FIGHT!” he yelled and whipped him again.
The King threw the whip back at the Keeper and turned to the bat pony, who shriveled up into a ball when he looked back. “You get a break, but when I’m done, I will feed you their heads!” He stomped out of the room.
====================
Connor ran up to the gate and was hiding behind a small crate watching fresh troops run from the citadel, and wounded be brought inside. He looked up the wall, it was made from some kind of rock, and was tipped with spiked bars.
Connor looked back to the griffins studied a guard who had a bloody bandage wrapped around his left eye and dirty wrappings around his chest as he slumped past the gate. Connor watched him until he passed by.
“If only…” Connor was cut when the amulet around his neck started to burn his neck.
“GAH!” It felt like the amulet was burrowing into his body.
In a flash, Connor dropped to his knees.
When he opened his eyes and looked down to see a pair of claws.
Connor raised a eye brow, but it was like he had a bandage over his eye. Connor looked over his new body seeing that he was the same guard who had walked through the gate moments before. He gave a sly smile.
===============
“Hey , need help over here” Connor called out to a group of other wounded who came to his aid.
Connor had acted as wounded, laying against one of the slave huts.
“Come on, come on” One said pulling him up and helped him up.
“Shit hit the fan” The other grumbled.
“Yea, and they still can’t get the one who started it all, he just keeps getting away!” The other said.
The trio made it close to the gate line were it looked as if more guards were pulling out than charging into the fray. Connor kept his head pointed to the ground trying to keep as little of his face visible, so no one would realize that the same griffin walked through the gate line twice.
“Almost there, just hold it together” The griffin said fixing his grip on Connor.
They soon past through the grand black steel doors the blocked the entry, inside from what he could see the middle of the floor was a red carpet that had diamond perfect pictures of the Griffin insignia sown into it, the sides were some kind of tile that looked like grain but on further inspection, it looked like gravel in-cased in harden glass.
The sides of the walls there were massive black marble statues of the king all looking down upon them; he had a broad sword under his claws that rested crossed over each on top of the handle. He had a stern evil look edged into his face. In front of them The hall split in two one going left the other to the right, and when they came up to it the turned to the right, with a similar corridor to the one they walked trough, but there were soldiers, guards, and over-seers, all wounded and propped up on the walls while nurses cared for their wounds.
He was dragged to the far end of the corridor were it broke off to his left, the two guards set him down next to a soldier whose face was obscured by a mass of bandages.
A nurse spotted him and came to check him.
“The bandage over your eye needs to be replaced, but you seem alright…I guess that makes you one of the lucky ones” She mumbled while pulling out a white rolled up bandage strap.
“Call if it starts to burn or itch, it might be infected” The nurse put the unused bandage back into her sack and moved on. Connor looked over his shoulder down the hall where it was empty, except for the statue, and it ended in a curved stairwell that moved up to the left. Connor looked back to all the other wounded, looking back and forth between all of the griffins. Some were still with heads low, and others were groaning and twitching a few, all fairly banged up.
As Connor continued to look down the hall, he saw something that put a hole in his stomach, for the griffin he was imitating was looking directly at him. They had a quick staring contest before the griffin looked to the one next to him, and muttered something before he too looked at him in shock.
Connor instantly dropped his head and looked at the floor under him, not daring to even move to look back at the guard. He took a breath and took a short glance to see that the other was waving for a nurse. Connors eyed widened, and he looked over his shoulder again down the deserted hall.
Connor waited and watched as the guard waved his claw and took the attention of a nearby nurse, she walked up to him and kneeled down next to him, and that gave Connor the time for him to make his move.
Connor took his only chance and slipped silently around the corner and slowly started to push himself down the hall, and tucked up behind one of the statues right before the a nurse poked her head around the corner to see down the hall. The nurse panned her head and once she was sure that the hall was still she turned around and made her leave. Connor looked around the corner and swiftly made his way down the hall right up to the base of the stairwell.
The Stair well was the same length of the hall but narrowed slightly the farther up it when, as it slowly curved to the left it was lit from raw iron chandeliers that help six candles each.
Connor took one step before he could her a pair of voices coming from up above, He instinctively lunged into the shadows. The voices became louder, and he identified them as two male guards.
“…Wait, he whipped you when you warned him about the slaves?” One said.
“Yea back in the Black Room where he’s holding that one pony, he took the whip from the Keeper and got me right in the neck!” The other said.
“You mean that whore he bought at the trade, Ha, right in front of her too!”
“Oh shut up, the last time you where even close to a girl she beat your feathery ass into the ground!” The voice protested. They were close enough were Connor could see their shadows dancing on the floor.
“Well what was I supposed to do, yea so I went too far, I still had my morality, I was not about to hit a girl!” The one defended himself.
“Oh I remember that night like it was yesterday…Gilda was her name right, yea that’s it!”
“Oh just shove it up your…”
“Hey come on, we need to hurry up or we are going to miss the fun!” The voice cut out the others.
Connor looked to see the two at the base of the stair well the one the closest to him was a solid dark cream color, and the other was dirt color with a light grey head. The one to the far left glared harshly at the Cream colored one before the shuffled down the hall and round the corner.
Connor pulled away from the statue and made his way up the stairs thinking over what the guards said.
Shades in the Black room, were could that be? Connor prayed to the spirits that she was alive.
Connor was rushing farther up the stairs when it stopped on a landing were he came up to a fairly large cast iron door, it had two griffins facing each other on the sides, and in the center was a kite shield with cross spears behind it, there were no handles or knobs.
Connor walked up to the door and using his claw pushed the door open just enough to see inside without being seen. The room was a large library with curved bookshelves that lined the walls and around ten feet tall each and was filled with tomes of knowledge. The floor was one massive carpet, that had a diamond shape pattern, in some were red, others black. In the center was a large rectangular pine wood table that had scrolls, books, and other kinds of literature were scattered over it. On the left most side a large unlit chimney made from red brick that crawled all the way up to the ceiling. On the wall to the right a large stain glass window that showered the room with a assortment of colors.
Connor turned around and moved back up the stairs coming across other different landing all the looking the same as the previous one below, he came to see a small kitchen, dining hall, and many of the other doors would not budge.
Connor made it up thirteen landings after the library level, until the stair well ended, Connor took the last steps up and came to a short hall that had paintings of regal looking griffins, and each had a large pedestal with a large banquet of flowers. The floor was made from a checker floor tile pattern, there were pillars that separated the portraits that reached all the way to the ceiling and formed a low arch that had familiar chandeliers dangling from the arches.
The reached out then cut to the right, and Connor silently walked hugging the right side of the hall right up to the corner and peered around it. The Hall was similar to the one see was in except the left was three massive opened arched windows that had sunlight pouring into the hall. There was a mass of the king personal guard.
Connor reared back in shock, muscles tensing up, his body striating out ready to fight the attacker, but it never came, with no direct threat he tried to pull whatever was clouding his vision and figure out what happened. He ran his hooves over his head and felt a smooth fabric over his head trying to find a way to take off the object.
He soon was able to find a opening under his chin were he stuck a hoof and not easily pulled the fabric from over his face and once he could see again, he turned around to find the culprit no sooner did he realize what he was wearing, it was his robes.
Connor looked from head to hoof, there where his robes clean and fixed, but he was unarmed, his gear, tools, and weapons were stripped away, except his hands. Connor reached for the amulet that was still on his neck that felt like it was never there.
As soon as the jewelry left his poniefied neck, he had put it into a satchel with his hand; he felt nothing of the transformation.
Connor set his hand agents the wall and peered over the corner again, watching the guards who stood feet apart facing forwarded, Connor whistled drawing their attention.
“Hello, who’s there?” Connor waited and listened as the one of the guards walked towards him.
“Who’s over h-GWAK!” Connor speared his neck, pulled the griffin around corner and pressed his knee down onto his neck.
“Falcon, are you alright?” Connor twisted his knee and stood up from the body. “Hey I’m talking to you!” the other guard was coming his way.
“Seriously Falcon, we would get in some deep…HO SH-‘” Connor grabbed the guard and snapped his neck in one fluid motion.
Connor reached down and picked up the guards pike and walked down the hall with the weapon gripped tight in his hands, he past a pair of iron doors covered in spinning, and winding gold streaks. It was held to the walls with five black metal hinges for either door, the door itself reached almost to the ceiling before arcing and coming back down melding into the floor.
Why does every castle need such big doors? Connor walked on past it to the considerably smaller black doors.
Connor reached down and opened the door slightly and peered into the room through the crack. It was pitch black except for a single light that shone down over an iron cage and next to it was a fire pit with a handful of sharpened bars. Connor looked back into the cage and a saw a figure curled up inside of the cage.
Connor took a step back and yanked the door open and walked in, his weapon at the ready.
“YEEAAAaaa…” There was a war cry behind him that slowly died out, as Connor turned around to face his attacker.
A griffin with a black hood over his head and only armed with a whip in his claws; he was backing away from him slowly trying to get away from him, but Connor lunged forward with his weapon
“Keys…now!” He pressed the weapon to his neck, he dropped the whip and handed him a bronze key ring with a shaking claw.
“Go...” The griffin shook his head vigorously and ran for his life out the door.
Connor snatched up the keys and rushed to the cage were a familiar bat pony who was shaking slightly, and was covered in burn marks, whip lashes, and other signs of abuse.
Connor walked up to the cage and looked down at the mare, she looked awful, any longer without help, she would have died, easily.
“Shade, I’m here” She moved not a muscle. “I kept my promise, I’m getting you out of here” Connor watched her tail flick just barely, at least he was getting some kind of response from her.
Connor opened the cage with the keys and reached down to pick her up, but as soon as his hand touched her, she tensed up and started to shake violently.
“It’s going to ok, just calm yourself” He lightly pressed his hand under her neck, she was still tense but was less shaken by his touch.
Connor pulled the mare from the bottom of the cold metal floor and set her on his shoulders, once he was comfortable he made his way to the door. Connor peered out of the door making sure the coast was clear, once he was confident the hall was empty, he started down the hall to the stairwell. He was half way there before there was a loud crashing sound followed by the massive doors swing open.
Connor set the mare down on the floor next to his feet, as a dozen or so, guards came rushing out and surrounding him with spears, pikes, and axes all at the ready. They all had some kind of armor equipped ranging from plain chainmail all the way to full body plate armor. Connor took notice to the uneasiness each of them had with shaky claws, or jittery legs but there held their positions.
“So you are the one who has been causing all this trouble, yes?” Connor took a stance watching every single one of the guards.
“Obviously you are something else, so tell me, what are you really?” Connor looked around at the guards and could not see the owner of the voice.
“Come on, don’t be shy” Connor could recognize the voice as the kings almost instantly, but were was he?
“Show yourself cowered, I will find you!” Connor shouted.
“Oh now I’m scared” There were two guards that separated to make a opening for another figure. “Coming here was a big mistake, and I’m sorry to say, you won’t be coming back out” The King himself walked into the circle.
“So before you die, is there anything you want to say?” He smirked.
“I will not be the one dying today, and you will not be alone” Connor glared down at the griffin.
“Threatening me is not the best way to get on anyone’s good side, so I recommend you SHUT UP!” The king pulled his hand back to hit Connor.
His claw barely made it half way to the human before Connor had grabbed his claw twisted his arm and dropped the king to his knees.
“AHH, DAMN YOU, KILL IT…KILL IT!” The King raged.
Connor let the griffin tyrant go, and took a stance as a few of the guards came marching forwarded, there was a brave soul who charged him solo, but was stopped when Connor ducked out of the way. Connor grasped the spear the guard was holding to, twisted around and pulled it from his grip, swinging at his legs throwing the poor griffin to the floor before being priced through the chest with his own weapon.
“Stop standing around and KILL IT ALREADY!” The king retreated behind the great doors.
Connor pulled the weapon from the corps, and took a defensive position next to the mare, ready to take on the challengers.
There were ten griffin soldiers holding now a full circle around Connor, and the unconscious bat pony below him. Most of them were armed with pikes, but a few had spears and shorthanded blades at the ready. Nothing he has not dealt with before.
This was going to be a interesting fight, there was no backing down, nor support if the situation became too hot to handle, he was surrounded and his life and the young mare he swore to protect, were at danger, this meant he had to kill…all of them.
Connor hardened his grip on the weapon, and started to pick out the sheep in the group, the easy prey, the first to die. As he studied his opponents, he to notice that the higher ranked and more trained of the group had thicker and more decretive armor as expected. So, he turned his focus, to the chainmail dawned griffin as his first, who was armed with a sword.
In a swift leap he took the spear above his head, and forced it down onto the soldier who looked up with an expression the assassin has seen hundreds of times before. The face of fear, shock, anger, sadness, even regret, he has seen it all. The griffin brought his sword up to try and block the attack in some way, but Connor swung the spear around and strike on the side of his exposed neck with the staff piece of the weapon.
The soldier yelped and was taken back a few steps, as he recovered. In retaliation the griffin to Connors rear charged with a shortened pike, Connor dodged the attack with a side-step, before he slashed the griffin’s legs. The armored attacker tumbled to the ground giving a loud screech. The chainmail griffin jumped over his comrade to attack the assassin, but was met with a cold spear tip in his chest and crumpled to the floor as well as his companion, whose legs were sliced open.
“You basterd!” One griffin yelled.
Two down and out of the equation, so that leaves eight more still standing. Connor recovered a sword that the dispatched griffin had dropped. The blade was roughly fifteen inches, and the pommel was a quarter of a hand to short, but he could use it.
Connor flipped the sword around in his hand so the actual blade segment was facing the opposite direction of the griffin soldiers. The fight returned to the standoff it started with, Connor waiting in the center of the eight griffins waiting for a chance to strike, or one of them to lose their nerve and strike him. Eventually it came to just that.
The griffin that came to attack him was slightly more armored than the first, it was a mix of plates of his chest and center and a thick binding around his neck, thighs, and legs. He brought with him a bronze tipped spear.
With a war cry, he charged, but Connor dodged the attack like last time and kicked the griffin causing him to crash into his brother-at-arms across from his original point. Connor took his opening and stabbing him behind his neck. The griffin gargled, and choked when he removed the blade, Connor pushed him down and sunk the sword into the others neck from the right shoulder. There was another griffin to the right, and with a rapid movement, he opened his wind pipe for all to see.
Just like that, Connor dwindled the griffin ranks down to only five. It seemed to Connor like he was simply beating down a bunch of school yard bullies, because you look like you’re bigger and tougher than the rest, means nothing if you simply impose it. These griffins were trained to use their weapons, and wear the armor, but they are nothing more than animals with fake teeth.
The floor beneath his feat, and the griffin’s claws/paws started to be covered in a very thin layer of dark crimson. Two of the five dropped their weapons and ran, cowardly or smart? To Connor he was the living proof that death had a face and that fear is one of the strongest emotional forces to be had.
“ What are you…” One of the remaining three asked, he could not tell which, for two of them had a helm visor covering their faces, and he could see the other in who was in light chain armor.
Connor did not say a word to any of them; he just stood at a ready position with the blade in his hand not willing to let a single ounce of his guard drop. He kept a eagle’s eye gaze locked onto them from under his slightly blood stained hood.
The griffins in response did the same as he, and readied themselves for the next onslaught that was sure to follow. The tension that was hanging in the air became ever more pressing onto the trio that faced the lone warrior.
Connor made his move and slashed at the middle most griffin who leaped backwards to save himself, but opened the soldiers that once stood at his sides. With a sharp kick, the light armored combatant to his left went tumbling away from the other two higher ranked fighters.
The griffin to his front charged with his pike at the ready and the other to his right started a wide swing with his weapon. With timing far too close to comfort, Connor jumped out of the rang of both griffins rolled, and tackled the charging opponent forcing his weapon deep into the others chest, in shock the griffin did not respond to Connor taking hold of him and thrusting the cold steel into his spine.
Connor swiftly pulled out the blade and turned to the final griffin soldier who had bravely stood up to this point. He gathered himself and weakly took his stance, his body shaking and quivering from the adrenaline and nerves.
The griffin lunged with his final cry before Connor retaliated, disarmed, and stabbed him through the ribs. He collapsed slightly and looked up to him with a weak surrendering gesture, but in return Connor sent the blade deeper giving the poor soul a quick and honorable death.
The assassin pulled out the sword and threw it to the floor with a metallic clang and few drops of crimson. He returned to Shade who had curled into a fetal position during the fight. With gentle arms he picked up the poor battered mare and looked to the sealed doors.
