This is the story of Headline: A pegasus who tries to mix an ordinary life with a dangerous concern.
Headline: A pegasus who wants to live a regular life, only gets himself into something that he should not have joined up with. This group, the Assassins, have had a mystery locked up with them that Headline finds out about. He also tries his best to live an ordinary life as he falls in love with another pegasus, Fluttershy. He has mixed feelings about how to keep his new friends safe while dealing with a dangerous group. What will Headline do to make sure that Equestria does not fall into the hands of the Assassins?
Most stories start off with a quote of a moment in trouble or in a field filled with beauty and excitement. Other times it is just talking about the details of which a situation is happening or where they are at. Mine is a little different. Why? Because I'm a Colt and a Father. This story is about the life that one of my sons went through. It was a hard lesson for him alongside his brother, who also went through difficult situations. My family is Pegasus' and, six years ago, we had it rough. We, the Pagers, did not have much money. We saved our bits so that our sons could go to school to learn and hopefully find the job they want in the future.
My family, Headline, is one year younger then File, his older brother. My wife, Constantia, and I, Bold, are there parents. Headline is a light gray colt with sharp glasses, Turquoise eyes, and a Black-Orange mane with a few freckles here and there but not too noticeable. File is a dark brown colt with shades and a red mane. My wife, Constantia, is a pink pony with a golden mane, her cutie mark is a picture frame, she also wears a necklace with her sons on it, and a pearl necklace she always wears since I gave it to her when I asked THE question. I, Bold, am a Black colt with a blue mane with a front page as a cutie mark and I wear normal glasses and a suit coat for work. You are probably wondering why I gave you the info about my family. Why not? I'm open to tell these things. Besides, some of these details might be very important in this story, but I will not jump ahead. So let's start the story, six years ago when my youngest son, Headline, was about to complete his first flying lesson at school.
At tryouts, he was a little nervous but was also excited to complete his first flying lesson with the other students. Alongside Headline were two other buddies, Rainbow Dash and Gilda the Griffon. They became good friends and as for File, he had good friends too, like Derpy and Spitfire. Spitfire and File were the same age, except for Derpy who is the same age as Headline. Anyway, it was Headline's turn...
“Alright, Headline you're next!” The teacher said. Headline came to the end of the clouds, suddenly having the urge to step back to get a running start but it was a hop and glide lesson, something simple before flying.
“What's the rule again?” Headline asked.
“Glide as far as you can, and do not try to cheat.” He said. “Others are watching to make sure of that.”
“Understood.” Headline said confidently. Without a second thought and with the “Go” sign showing, he took off and glided away.
“Go, Headline, Go!” Rainbow and Gilda said together. Suddenly all the other Pegasus' were cheering as Headline glided straight and as strong as he could. He was proud of himself as he glided 400 meters close to a gliding record by 50 meters but I don't think anypony was keeping track.
While he was gliding, somepony, who was shy from the beginning, was watching with a smile on her face.
Next was Rainbow Dash, who, without a sign of cockiness, was the strongest flier out of any pony, except for maybe Spitfire. She came up with the biggest warm-up as she made a cracking sound in every bone in her body and waited to start. Do not worry, she was not hurt, just showing off. When the teacher said go, she took off with such speed that she increased it as she started to drop. When she finished, she beat Headline by 25 meters, seeing that she did not break the record either.
“Oh, yeah! I'm one of the best gliders in all of Equestria!” She said with a cocky smile on her face. “You know I can do almost anything.” She said as other Pegasus' were cheering her for her grand finish with a flash of rainbow when she hit the ground.
“Yeah, “almost” being the word.” Gilda said with over-confidence in her own speed and wings.
“Nopony is perfect. Therefore nopony can do everything which is the same as your phrase, Rainbow, saying that you can do almost anything. You can be surprised by how many things you can't do.” Headline said.
“I didn't ask you.” Rainbow said as she returned to the top of the clouds.
“Sorry, but it's the truth.”
“I know.”
“O.k. Gilda, you are next.” The teacher said as Gilda quickly came up to the edge of the cloud. Gilda waited for the “Go” sign but she almost took off before it was time.
“Hey! You don't go until everypony is in position. Otherwise, you could hurt somepony.”
“Alright! Well hurry up then!” Gilda said. With that, she waited impatiently and finally the “Go” sign was given and she took off without a second of delay. She glided very beautifully and landed between Headline and Rainbow's marks.
“Man, looks like I may need practice.” Headline said.
“How could I lose?” Gilda said in shock as she didn't tie or reach Rainbow's mark. “This is not over.”
“Yeah, probably not. Sorry you did not make it to our marks Headline.” Rainbow said with forgiveness.
“That's O.k. I will work better at it tomorrow.” This next Pegasus' will change Headline forever.
“O.k. Next is...Fluttershy, come on up.” Fluttershy walked very nervously up to the edge of the cloud, looked down, lost focus and got really scared.
“Um...teacher...I...don't think...I should go.” Fluttershy said nervously.
“Everyone has to go, Fluttershy. Don't you want to get yours over with?”
“Um...well...No.” She said with certainty.
“Here's a hint, try closing your eyes and glide forward, it worked for me and I'm sure it can work for you.”
“Uh...well...o...k” Once she saw the “Go” sign she closed her eyes, jumped, and fell because she forgot to open her wings. When she hit the ground, she went only 20 meters. Everypony laughed and laughed even Gilda laughed, except for Headline and Rainbow Dash who felt bad for her. Suddenly everypony surrounded her as she came up yelling “Fluttershy, Fluttershy, Fluttershy can hardly fly.” They continuously did that for a few seconds when the teacher broke up the whole thing.
“THAT'S ENOUGH!!!” *Whistle blows* “This class is over, everypony head home!” The Teacher said with a face that said “I can't believe you all did that!” “Are you o.k. Fluttershy?” He asked calmly. Fluttershy was sobbing in such a bad way that it scared her and she felt embarrassed for trying.
“I'm *sniff* not o.k.” Fluttershy is trying to say. Headline is still there watching in such a way that he felt that he should try to help her too.
“I'll help her out teach.” Headline said with sincerity. With that, the teacher left and all that were left was Fluttershy and Headline.
“Hey, I think you did the very best you could.” Headline said trying to cheer her up.
“You're just saying that to make me feel better.” Fluttershy said sadly.
“If I was just saying it to make you feel better I would not be here. I believe that you had the confidence to even jump off the cloud which some Pegasus' I know still fear to do, but you decided to jump without hesitating even after what the teacher said to you. I believe you will be an excellent flier.” Fluttershy suddenly felt warmth and courage from what Headline said to her.
“I also do not care what those Pegasus' say, you keep doing your best and in the end, you could be the one that stands out above the rest.” Fluttershy suddenly smiled and looked at Headline straight in the face.
“Thank you for giving me the confidence to never give up. I will not...um... quit and I...will...try my...um...best to ignore the remarks...of the others.” Fluttershy said nervously with a smile on her face.
“Sorry, I did not introduce myself, I'm Headline Pager.”
“I'm Fluttershy, just Fluttershy.” After that, they shook hooves, hugged, and became good friends after that.
3 years later, nopony really changed. We got older but still look the same, except for me and my wife because well, we are getting older though we are a young family. We came to the dinner table after File had graduated from Pegasus' school. We first talked to Headline before we all had a big conversation with File on what he plans to look for to get his cutie mark.
“So, Headline, how was school?” Constantia said.
“I learned how to earn extra burst of distance and speed by diving then pulling up while gliding.” He said happily.
“How are your buddies?” I said.
“Well, Rainbow Dash had another race against Fluttershy's bullies to defend her honor. So, Fluttershy is gaining her confidence slowly but improving. As for Gilda, well, she is still the boring griffin that I have known for years.”
“How are your grades?” I asked suspiciously.
“Well...actually...um...”
“You are not doing very well are you?”
“Well, I'm doing o.k it's just that...”
“You have been spending time with your buddies instead of studying. Listen son, if you are to graduate next year, you have to start working hard and spend less time with your friends.”
“I know, I know.” He said freely.
“No, you don't know and that is why I'm telling you.”
“Listen, son, we care about you and you know we are trying our best to get you both to graduate. File has but we would like to see you do the same.” Constantia said with a sound of care in her voice.
“O.k. I understand. I will do my best to put my studies back up in front.”
“Glad to hear.” Constantia and I said agreeably. With that, we talked about how my work was doing. I told the family that I got a raise so we would be earning more after working hard at Long Wing Chronicles. Long Wing Chronicles is a local Newspaper facility where we make the newspapers for the local areas of Canterlot and Cloudsdale. 1/3 of the population of Canterlot and Cloudsdale combined, buy and read the Long Wing Chronicles. But because it is for local areas, it is difficult to get it into other big cities in Equestria other then these two cities because it costs more. That's why our family is having a hard time keeping our earnings. 2/3 of the population of the 2 cities read the Cloud Press, which has big business and hits all cities in Equestria.
“Now, File, what do you plan to do with your future?” I said.
“I'm not sure.” File said. “Maybe it will come to me.”
“I think it would be best if you try and look for something that fits what you like to do.” Constantia said happily.
“That's the thing; I do not know where to start.”
“Start by looking for something that was easy that you learned in school.”
“I could try and be a teacher.”
“Did you enjoy how they were teaching that you could do that?” I said.
“Maybe.”
“How about building? You always liked that.” Headline said.
“Probably. I'll try teaching then if that does not work then I will try construction.” After that, File got up and went for a walk outside and went with his buddies Derpy and Spitfire. I looked at Headline and he was a little upset because File was done and he was not. Headline wishes he could go with his buddies right now but realized that he has work to do so he got up and went to his room to study like crazy.
It has been a year and a half later since that day at the dinner table when File graduated, and Headline has now graduated already. File did not get his cutie mark yet because of interference and jobs that he likes being taken. However, they are both now excited and are looking for a job that would fit their personality. One day, it happened to both of them at the same time and it would change the future they would hold, forever.
“C'mon File. Let's go to Sugarcube Corner.” Headline said eagerly.
“I'm not that interested...Hey! Let's go through this back alley.” File said excitedly.
“I'm not that interested.”
“Oh, don't be such a baby.”
“We have been watching you both.” Somepony said from within the back alley.
“Who are you? Show yourself!” Headline said quickly.
“Don't worry, we are not here to hurt you, but recruit you.”
“Show yourself and then we will talk.” File said.
“Well, I can tell you that you do observe, listen, and think before you act. We like that.” The Mysterious voice said finally showing herself from the shadow, wearing a white tunic and hood over her face. “Here is our card. We want you both to come to this back alley tomorrow at Midnight.” She said as she gave the card to File.
“What do you do?” File asked.
“I can't say here but if you are looking for what you will be doing your whole life, it could be here.” She said as she disappeared into the shadows.
“Can we trust what she said?” Headline asked.
“I'm not sure...” He said looking at the card. “But I'm interested.” They quickly came home and talked to us about who they met, which they did not get the name but showed us the card that was given to them. My wife and I did not know if we should trust someone who did not even say who they are. It's odd that they came to our sons after they both graduated.
“We can't stop you from what you want to do, but if you realize something is not right, you come straight home. Do you understand?” I said to them.
“Yes, Father.” My sons said quietly. With that, they went up to bed while I had a conversation with my wife.
“It's the Assassins.” I said.
“Why would they want them?” Constantia asked quietly.
“I don't know, but I fear what will happen to our sons if they accept this.”
“You warned them, so everything should be fine. I believe they will come back if something is not right.”
“I hope so, for our family's sake.” We both went to bed without saying another word.
At midnight, both Headline and File went together to the back alley where they met the Assassin yesterday. Know that both Headline and File don't know that they are the Assassins yet. They stepped into the dark alley and waited a few seconds when finally, she appeared before them the same way as yesterday.
“I guess you accepted the invitation?” She said to make sure.
“Yes, we have decided to join.” File said with a smile on his face.
“Excellent.” She suddenly put her hoof against a brick and pushed it into the building. Suddenly, a door revealed itself. “Please step in.” As soon as both Headline and File walked in, it got pitch black as it closed with Sophia behind them. Then it became an elevator as it went down underground and then the door opened. The room was like a fancy dining room with lots of table and chairs for the Assassins to talk and eat before or after missions.
“Wow, this place is amazing!” Headline said in amazement.
“Follow me; I will take you to the Master.” She said as we all followed behind her and all the Assassins in the dining room applauded for the new arrivals. When we entered the chamber, the leader was sitting on a regular wooden chair and a wooden desk taking notes.
“Master, the new arrivals are here.” She said calmly.
“You may leave.” He said.
“Good-luck, word to the wise, speak politely and show respect.” With that, she left and closed the door. There was a sudden pause for a few seconds and then he placed his feather pen down, got out of the chair, and stood in front of his desk.
“What are your names?” He said looking down on them.
“Headline.”
“File.”
“Do you know who we are?” He asked sharply.
“No, we do not.” File said.
“We are Assassins and my name is Zek so you will call me Master or Master Zek, understand?”
“Yes Master.” Headline said. “What do you Assassins do?” Zek did not know what to say, he was in shock, but after that he responded calmly.
“We are not like other Assassins that we have read in the past where we kill others since it is illegal in Equestria to kill whether it is ponies, pegasus, or unicorns.”
“Then, how do you be Assassins without killing?” File said.
“Simple, we attack the pain that different ponies feel whether physical like doctors or mental like psychologists. We attack the source with knowledge and understanding which you both have gone through in the past. All ponies have gone through it but I look for those who have struggled, your family has.”
“How do you know our family?” Headline said suspiciously.
“We are Assassins, we watch and listen. This is our job, this is our goal. Nothing is Sad, Everything is Friendship. That is our motto, to seek peace within everypony that struggles. Anymore questions? He waits a couple minutes before responding back.
“Will we still be able to go home and be with our family?” Headline asked.
“Of course, however, know quickly that once you join, there is no going back. I'm giving you this last chance to walk away.” He waits another few minutes.
“O.k. Welcome to the League of Assassins Headline and File. Come, it is time to get your outfits.” They were taken back outside to the dining room to the back where Zek announced the new arrivals as they went to the back, all the Assassins applauded again like when they arrived for the first time. He unlocked the door, and when they entered, two uniforms were hanging up, waiting for them.
“Did you know we were going to agree?” File asked.
“Assassins.”
“Right. You sensed our anxiety.” So, they picked up the uniforms and started to put them on and when they finished putting the uniforms on, they began to show off.
“I look so much better in this then you.” Headline said.
“Yeah, right!” File said with an obvious look.
“Alright, it looks like you are both done getting them on. They fit you both perfectly. Now take them off, and come back tomorrow for your training which will include battling encase of protection and defense against those who wish to kill you. You never know if somepony is crazy enough to stop you. I'm glad to have two new recruits to become legendary Assassins.” File and Headline went out and said good-bye to the other Assassins and Sophia for the help.
“I can't wait to work with you both, get ready for your future to arrive.” They went into the elevator, got back into the dark alley, and went straight home to inform us about the first day on the job.
Half a year later and my son, Headline, has not seen his friends in a very long time since before he graduated. After all, Headline was trying to focus more on his studies then his friends. I did not mean to push him that hard but he stayed focused and I'm happy about that. However, he suddenly forgot about friendship for a while until he bumped into a familiar face.
“Hmm...What do I need to buy at the market today? Let's see...” He searched quickly in his wallet for the list of things to get when suddenly...
“Oh!”
“Ah!”
“Oh my...I'm so sorry, I...I didn't see you there.” The Pegasus said.
“No, it was my fault.” Headline said. “I wasn't watching where I was going and...” Suddenly, Headline looked at her as if he knew her before.
“Wait.” And just like that, he remembered.
“FLUTTERSHY!” He said out loud. Some of the ponies wondered why Headline yelled like that. “Whoops, sorry about that.”
“Wait, how do you know my...OH, HEADLINE!” Fluttershy said at her loudest volume which was quiet by the way. “I have not seen you in a very long time.”
“Same here. It is so good to see you.” Without thinking, Headline hugged Fluttershy. “Oh, sorry, got too excited again.”
“That's o.k. How have you been doing?” Fluttershy asked.
“Great, just going to the market right now getting food for myself at my own home.”
“Oh! Where do you live exactly?”
“I live in the center of Ponyville now. I'm fascinated by the ponies’ way of life then being stuck up in the clouds all my life. I thought I would rather adapt to how the ponies live down here and meet new friends while I'm at it.”
“Oh, if it's new friends you are looking for...” Fluttershy says excitably. “I can show you some new friends.”
“Awesome, do you have time?”
“Sure, come with me.”
“I need to get some food but I guess that can wait.”
With a soft grasp of Headline's hoof, Fluttershy took Headline around and the first stop was back up in Cloudsdale.
“Who is it?” A voice said within the house.
“It's Fluttershy; I would like to introduce you to an old friend of mine.”
“O.k. So who is...” Suddenly she was shocked. “HEADLINE!” She said happily.
“RAINBOW DASH!! I haven't seen you in ages.” Headline said as they shook hooves and hugged each other.
“Oh, you two met already?...Oh yeah, since the first flying lesson.” Fluttershy remembered.
“That's right Fluttershy, I was friends with her even before then but now that we have met again, we are still friends right?” Headline said politely.
“Of course, my home is your home Headline as well as my other friends.”
“Like Gilda?” Headline said.
“Oh you remembered her, well yeah, I haven't seen her in a while but yeah. No, I also meant my other friends.”
“Like who?”
“Fluttershy, are you showing him around?”
“Yes I am.”
“Then Headline, you will see my other friends soon enough.” Headline shook her hooves one more time before leaving the house of Rainbow Dash. Next, Fluttershy softly grabbed his hoof, and together went back down on soft ground again. Next they trotted over to Sweet Apple Acres. Fluttershy knocked on the door to their house and waited for somepony to answer.
“Who, who's there?” This elderly pony said.
“Oh, hi Granny Smith. Is she here?” Fluttershy asked.
“Oh, of course, just one moment.” They waited a few minutes then she arrived at the door.
“Fluttershy, nice to see ya'. What brings ya' here?” This young pony said.
“This is Headline, an old friend of mine.” Fluttershy said happily.
“Well, hooooowdy Headline.” She said with continuous quick shakes of his hoof. “I'm Applejack, I'm always happy to make new friends.”
“Wellllllll...Itssssss...nice toooooo...meeeeet youuuuu toooooo...” Headline said as he is being shaken up and down. Fluttershy just giggles a little bit. Then Applejack stopped shaking and started asking him some questions.”
“How did ya' meet Fluttershy, Headline?”
“I met her at my first flying lesson about 5 years ago. I gave her some pointers and since then we became good friends.”
“That's good to hear. So, what are y'all going to do next?” Applejack asked.
“Well...” Fluttershy responded. “I have a few more friends Headline has to meet.”
“Who has he met so far?”
“I met Rainbow Dash but I had known her since before my first flying lesson.”
“Oh, odd, she never mentioned ya', Headline.” Applejack said as she scratched her head.
“Really? Probably because she became cocky in her speed.”
“Oh, you do not know the half of it.” Fluttershy and Applejack said agreeably.
“Well, I hope to see ya' again sometime Headline.”
“Same here, bye Applejack.”
“G'bye, Headline.” Fluttershy then bought a few apples for Headline and herself to munch on as they went to the next stop.
“Welcome to Sugarcube Corner.” Fluttershy said as she let him enter first. Though Headline tried to insist to have her go first, he did not want to have a fight with her so he went in and smelled the most delicious items in the shop, Cupcakes.
“Hi there.”
“AAHH” Headline responded as he fell.
“Whoops, did I scare you? Hee hee hee ha ha. I haven't seen you around before.”
“Yes, this is Headline.” Fluttershy responded.
“Hi Headline, I'm Pinkie Pie.”
“Nice to meet you Pinkie Pie. Say, I heard you are the pony to come to if it is about parties.”
“Oh? OH Yeah! I'm TOTALLY the BEST when it comes to parties. You would not regret the offer that comes with it. Wait a minute. You live in Ponyville? Oh dear! I did not do a party for you. I need to hurry and get the equipment and decorations and such and wait where do you live? Pinkie said in almost one breath.
“....uh....in the center of Ponyville in a small white house.” Headline responded.
“...Oh, o.k. Good to know...work work work.” Pinkie Pie said as she is rushing all over the place for equipment. She stopped suddenly.
“Nice to meet you Headline, I'm sure I will be seeing you very soon.”
“How soon?”
“Very, Very soon.” She said with confidence. Fluttershy said good-bye to Pinkie Pie then they went over to a fashion-design store.
“Why am I here?” Headline said worried.
“Oh, don't worry, one of my good friends are here.” She knocked on the door and suddenly a small filly opened the door.
“Hi Sweetie Bell, is your sister here?” Fluttershy said as she rubbed her mane.
“Yeah, right this way!” She said enthusiastically. They walked into a room filled with clothes and a walk-way. On the right side was somepony looking at different styles of shoes that would fit the clothes on a design stall.
“Maybe? No...OH this could...nah.” She said as she kept choosing different shoes.
“Ummm...can I talk to you for a sec?” Fluttershy asked nicely.
“Just give me a moment, dear; I'm in the moment as it were.” She said quickly. “Ahh...perfect. Pink shoes just give that cuteness yet dazzling color to almost anything. Now, what is it Fluttershy?”
“I would like you to meet an old friend of mine.” She looked at him and was amazed as to how he looked.
“Wow, who...who is this handsome Pegasus?” She said in awe. Fluttershy on the other hand was a little shocked at the way she responded.
“This is Headline. We met 5 years ago at our first flying lesson.”
“Hello...I'm...Rarity.” She said trying not to blush.
“I'm Headline, nice to meet you Rarity. I heard you are the best fashion-designer in Ponyville.” She was amazed to hear how great she is and this place she works at.
“I'm...happy...you've heard of me.” She said as she blushed. “I'd like to try an outfit on you if you do not mind?”
“Well, sure.” He was uncertain what to expect. When suddenly he was taken behind a curtain and when he came out, Headline had a suit coat on with a Fedora. Fluttershy was amazed immediately at how great he looked in it and Rarity just felt plain proud.
“Wow, this looks awesome!” Headline said as he looked at himself in a mirror. “I'll take it.” Suddenly Rarity felt so happy to hear that.
“Since you are a friend of mine now, I will give you a discount of that Fedora and suit coat for 35 bits instead of 50 bits.”
“Sounds reasonable, thank you.” Headline purchased the outfit and took them with him. He and Fluttershy waved good-bye to Rarity and went off to the next and final stop which was the library.
“A library?” Headline responded.
“Yeah, it is where our newest friend came to stay after the Nightmare...”
“...Moon incident. I heard about that.” Headline finished. She knocked on the door and waited for a response from somepony then suddenly a small dragon appeared at the front door.
“Oh, hi Fluttershy.” The small dragon said.
“Hello Spike, is Twilight here?”
“Not yet, you can wait in here until she does.” Spike said and politely allowed them both to walk in. As they entered Headline quickly noticed a bed at the top floor. Then he saw the library as it came around in a circle.
“This is nothing; you should see how she tries to organize the books.” Spike said as Headline noticed the books in a pile.
“Fluttershy, good to see you.” A unicorn responded as she entered the library.
“You have not met my old friend.” Fluttershy said immediately.
“Why, hello, I'm Twilight Sparkle.” She said as she shook his hoof gently.
“Nice to meet you, Twilight Sparkle, I'm Headline. Do you live here?”
“Yeah, Princess Celestia allowed me to stay here in Ponyville above the library.”
“Wait, you know Princess Celestia?” Headline said in absolute shock.
“Yeah, I'm her faithful student.”
“St...St...Student??” He could not believe what he is hearing. “In that case, it's not just “nice to meet you, but an honor to meet you Twilight.”
“Oh, do not do that, I just like to fit in.”
“Sorry, I just don't usually meet others who know her.”
“Oh, we all know her.” Fluttershy said.
“How many of you know her?”
“I do, Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow, and Rarity.”
“.....” There was a sudden pause and Headline thought he was going to faint but instead asked a quick question.
“How?”
“We have been known as the Mane 6 who saved Equestria from Nightmare Moon with the power of friendship.” Twilight said.
“So, Fluttershy you were a part of it?”
“Yep.”
“Looks like you did spread your wings and stood above the others.” Suddenly, Fluttershy went into a moment of silence and blushed a bit while remembering when Headline said that to her back in flying school.
“Thank you, Headline.” Fluttershy said happily.
“Well, looks like you two really know each other.” Twilight said with enjoyment and a giggle. Suddenly Fluttershy and Headline tried not to look embarrassed.
“Well, I learned a lot here with you Twilight. I'm going to get going.” Headline said.
“I'm glad to have met you as well Headline. Hope to see you around.” Twilight said a few things to Fluttershy then left with Headline and said good-bye to Twilight.
“Well, Fluttershy, I better get some food before the market closes but thank you for showing me your friends.”
“I'm glad I bumped into you Headline.”
“Same here, Fluttershy.” With that they hugged each other and went their separate ways.
2 months later, after the basic Assassin training, Master Zek wanted to meet with Headline and File about something important.
“Congratulations, you both have completed your basic training and can now become Assassins and learn advance training. Starting tomorrow, you will be taught to the highest level.” Master Zek said proudly.
“Excellent.” File said.
“Yeah...great.” Headline said with a fake smile.
“You o.k. Headline?” File said.
“Yeah, just give me some time to myself.” Quickly, Headline walked outside into the main hall with some of the other Assassins.
“What should I do?” Headline said to himself. “If I stay, I will be learning the best things to keep me and my friends safe, but if I leave, I will abandon the promise made to seek something different. Looks like tomorrow morning will be the choice I make.” He said as he walked back to his house. The very next morning, File, who had his own home in the plains just outside Ponyville, went down to begin training.
“Master, glad to be here.” File said.
“Where is your brother?” Master Zek asked.
“I don't know, he always walks with me but today he didn't...No.”
“Yes, it seems your brother abandoned us and now knows the secrets of the Assassins. He must not be kept alive. I will give you the first mission as an Assassin to eliminate your brother after you have learned your advance training.” Master Zek said with disappointment.
“I thought killing other ponies is against Equestrian law? Besides, you know I can't kill my brother.”
“It's a poor excuse since you don't know how important this is. So, if you don't do this, your parents are next.”
“What? You can't...”
“Yes we can, you both came here with a promise to keep this a secret and...”
“What if he does?”
“That won't happen, he will tell somepony and that could cause trouble for us.”
“Why?”
“You may understand when the time comes, right now, you are to train so do it.” File feeling both angry and sad that Headline did not return, went straight to training. The separation between brothers began as Headline looked for some other job.
“Well that did not go well.” Headline said to himself. “I know I may not last long if I do not disguise myself. They will kill me if I do not escape the Assassins as soon as possible.” Headline went to Rainbow's house which she allowed him to, so that he could plan some way to look for another job without giving attention to himself while the Assassins were around. Of course, Headline did not tell Rainbow Dash why he needed to disguise himself. Then he remembered something.
“Wait, I will use the suit and fedora I bought from Rarity.” Headline said quietly.
“Did you say something Headline?” Rainbow said quickly.
“Oh, nothing.” With that, he went off quickly to his parents’ home to get the outfit since he was starting to no longer want to stay with the Assassins earlier before finishing basic training. He said hello to his parents and went to grab his outfit and went straight back to his own home.
“O.k. Time to put this on.” After a few minutes, he was in his outfit and quickly went out to look for his job.
“Now, think, what would I enjoy? Being an Assassin failed, so let's think, I'm still observant, love to know what goes on, and inform others about it. Let's see...o.k. A mere coincidence but that does not happen every day.” Headline suddenly noticed a wanted poster for another writer/reporter for a newspaper to add to the team.
“Perfect!” Headline said out loud. He quickly galloped inside and went to the front counter.
“What is it?” Said an elder pony who sounded like she did not care.
“I'm here for the writer/reporter job. That is unless it is taken.”
“Noooo, it is nooot.” She said without a care in the world. She quickly dials the manager. “Mr. Ink, you have another pony that wants the job.” Waited shortly for a response and then...
“Alright, bring him upstairs.”
“You may go upstairs now.” She said with no energy what-so-ever. As he climbed up the stairs he saw amazing awards and pictures of the team and about the newspaper. As soon as he opened the door, he saw even more rewards and a pony sitting at a desk, writing up the approval of tomorrow's paper. He is a blue unicorn with a gray mane. A few seconds later he puts down the pen and looks up.
“So, you want to be a part of Equestrian News do you?” He said with a straight face.
“I believe I have what it takes to be a part of this team and to do my job, sir.” Headline said with honesty.
“I believe you, but I have to make sure you really are true to your word.” Mr. Ink said.
“What do you want me to do, sir?”
“Simple, find a juicy story somewhere in Equestria and send it to me. Here is a notebook and pencil. Oh, nice outfit by the way. Wait, I was stupid enough to not even introduce myself, my name is Mr. Ink and you will call me by that name.
“Understood, and my name is Headline.”
“Nice to meet you Headline, if all goes well we will be seeing each other a lot more.”
“Mr. Ink, Mr. Ink.” A pony outside rushed in. “I want to talk about...” Suddenly, the pony saw Mr. Ink talking to Headline.
“Who is this?” The pony said with confusion.
“Oh, hi Keybo. This is Headline. He is going to take a test to join Equestrian news.”
“WHAT?” Keybo said with fury. Keybo is an orange pony with a black-blue mane wearing a sharp vest outfit.
“Now before you get any further upset, I want you to know that I'm asking for another pony because usually a lot of things happen at the same time so we need more then just one reporter, so I'm including another. I thought you knew about the wanted poster.”
“I did, just not this soon.”
“Don't worry about it. You do your job and I'll do mine,” There was a slight pause. Keybo looked at Headline then back at Mr. Ink.
“FINE!” Keybo said as he slammed the door on them. Again, another silent pause and then Mr. Ink started to speak.
“Sorry about that, that was Keybo, he has been with us for a long time. However, I have reason to believe he is what is causing us trouble.” Mr. Ink said sadly.
“Why is that?” Headline asked politely.
“How about this, if you get the job I will tell you more, I do not like to tell these things to non-employees.”
“Understandable.” Headline said agreeably.
“Alright, go out there and find me a story, I will give you a week and then come back within that time. If I like it, I will print and write up that story, if not, I will have to say good-bye.”
“This sounds like a job I would like, I will not give up.”
“Man, if I did not have to do an evaluation for everypony that wants this job, I would have given it to you already. However, I do this to make sure.”
“Alright, I'm off.”
“Good luck Headline!” 1 week later, Headline returned with what is to believe, the great story to put up for Equestrian News.
“Welcome back, I suppose you have something for Mr. Ink.” The elderly pony said with little energy. “Mr. Ink, Headline has returned.”
“Bring him up.” Quickly, Headline went up the stairs and entered the room.
“Well, let's see what you got.” Headline put down the notebook that had a title, plenty of notes and the final story and the pen he wrote with.
“Let's see...what the?” Mr. Ink said in shock. “How did you get into this?” He suddenly noticed a ticket to the Grand-Galloping Gala hidden in the notes.
“Oh, the ticket? One of my friends had it.”
“Your friend must have known somepony very important.”
“Hah, I never bothered asking her.”
“Who?”
“A friend, her name is Fluttershy.”
“Well, anyway, let's see your final draft. You can wait in here and look around or wait outside. Should not take long. In fifteen minutes, He had finished reading the story and asked Headline to come back inside.
“Headline.” Mr. Ink said. “I have never, ever, in my time working here, have seen such incredible writing.”
“So?” Headline said anxiously.
“I have no other choice...” Mr. Ink said quietly. “You got the job!”
“Thank you Mr. Ink, you will not regret...”
“Wait a sec.” Mr. Ink said as he looked up at the door. “Stop eavesdropping Keybo!” Suddenly the door opened and it was Keybo with a face of rage.
“So what are you going to do to me now?” Keybo said angrily.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going to get rid of me now?”
“Of course not, you will still do reports.”
“But mine were the best!”
“I would like you to stop being jealous because I want to treat you both as equals.”
“I...I am not jealous.”
“I do not wish to be any trouble.” Headline said sincerely.
“Stop trying to sound so great!” Keybo said angrily. “You wish to destroy everything that my family has been through?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I'm talking about... oh! Forget it!” As he slammed the door again. Quickly, Headline wanted to ask.
“O.k. What is wrong with Keybo?”
“He is just upset that he might lose everything if I do more work for you instead of him.”
“I hope not.”
“Neither do I. Anyway, you got the job so, starting tomorrow, you will begin your first full assignment. Oh by the way, look at that.” Headline did not even notice but...
“YES, I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!!!” Headline said as he jumped up and down. The cutie mark is a black fedora.
“Glad you got it, so here you go.” Mr. Ink gave Headline a little slip for his fedora that said “Press” on it, so he put it on his fedora and gave him the notebook and pencil he used for the evaluation.
Two months later and Headline has been doing very well in his business. So, he took a day off which Mr. Ink approved of. As he was walking around he was immediately observing that some of the Assassins were on the rooftops, looking for problems and, of course, Headline, who left the Assassins with all the secrets.
“Interesting, they are still looking for me. Good thing I had this disguise.”
“Oh, hi Headline.” A pony said suddenly.
“Shhh, Fluttershy, try not to be too loud.”
“Why?” Headline had to think of an excuse quickly.
“You see, most of the ponies in Ponyville would suddenly crowd me and I would rather try to stay incognito.”
“Hate to be the center of attention huh?” Fluttershy said as she giggled.
“Ha ha, yeah.” Headline started to laugh with her.
“By the way, we got along very well and we have known each other since we were fillies, so I was wondering...uh....uh...” Headline tried to say what he had to as bravely as he could.
“I...was wondering...if I... uh...” Headline trying to let it out.
“Yes?” Fluttershy said patiently.
“I...was wondering...if I could...take you out to...dinner.” Headline said as calmly and slowly as possible. Fluttershy was a little surprised but then she noticed that they have not seen each other in a long time, even before they bumped into each other 8 months ago. So, she definitely wanted to go out with him.
“Sure, I would like to go out with you to dinner.” Fluttershy said happily. Headline, did not think she would want to do it so soon, but he was happy to hear so they agreed to meet at 6:00 p.m. That night at La French hoof, just outside of Canterlot. A few hours later, they both arrived at the restaurant. Fluttershy wore a white dress with blue dress shoes and Headline arrived with a black vest outfit and black dress shoes.
“Good to see you, Fluttershy. You look beautiful by the way.”
“Why, thank you. You look great as well.” Headline opened the door and let Fluttershy in first and then a few hours later, they were done eating and started talking.
“So, what have you been doing lately?” Fluttershy asked.
“Well, as you know I have found my cutie mark, and the job I love which is being a news reporter. Let's see, I also have traveled a lot during my job.”
“Well, what I mean is, you see, it has been a long time since we have seen and talked so, I thought it would be o.k. to ask what you've been doing before you got your job.”
“Ohh, umm, nothing much. Just continuously searching for the job I wanted and seeing my parents.” Headline knows he is lying but does not want her in all this. “What about you?”
“Well, I'm still helping and nurturing the little critters of Ponyville and I've also been busy seeing my friends and chatting with them.” Headline felt so bad not tell the truth about his previous job, but he was afraid if he did, they would target Fluttershy next and he did not want that.
“Well, how was your childhood mostly?” Fluttershy asked.
“O.k. The reason I did not see you a lot after my brother's graduation is because I was very focused about my studies and loss almost my friends and you. I'm sorry about that.”
“Oh, don't worry about it, now that I know the truth to that, I did not have to feel bad about it.”
“Oh yeah, it is late, alright, I'll see you another time.” With that, Headline took Fluttershy back home in Ponyville then flew back near the restaurant and spotted a pony watching him. Headline quickly realized who it was and walked into a dark alley in Canterlot.
“I have not seen you in 2 months, why are you here now?” Headline asked.
“You should know why I'm watching you.” The pony said.
“Well listen, I could not stay...”
“Why? Why not brother?”
“Because I could not see myself doing that for a long time.”
“You do know they are all after you Headline.” File said with worry.
“I know they want to kill me, but they wouldn't out here with others to see me.”
“No, but they are looking to find you and when they do, they will take you, bring you back, and kill you, noticeable or not.”
“They will have to catch me first.”
“Don't act tough. Just please be careful. You know I'm still upset with you for abandoning me and the Assassins.”
“I know, but that is no longer the point. I have a job now so, if you came to warn me, thank you, but I knew this already, so if that is all you want to say, then you can leave now.” Headline said with disappointment.
“Very well, you know I can't protect you for long.”
“When the time comes...” Headline says with a serious face. “I will know what to do.”
After the conversation, File went straight back to the Assassins. He went to report what he had seen that night.
“Well, have you found your brother?” Master Zek asked.
“No, he is really trying to dodge all eyes.” File said.
“It is not like that to happen. It seems he is getting clever. I'm going to pair some of the Assassins together to find him.”
“I don't think that is necessary.”
“Really? Has having one Assassin at a time looking for him helped much? Suddenly, File realizes that the clock really is ticking on Headline. If a non-member of the family saw him, all would be lost for Headline and maybe himself.
“I guess not.” File said with no other answer.
“Glad you agree, choose your partner within a day, and then you and your partner's mission will be to find him and bring him to me.”
Headline walked into work and waited for his next assignment when suddenly, he was stopped by none other than Keybo.
“I guess you want to talk to me.” Headline said quietly.
“Yes, I do, right here, right now.” Keybo said as quietly as he could. They both walked into a room where no pony was in.
“Before you say anything Keybo, my cutie mark tells me that this is the job I can work well at. What about you? What is the cutie mark under that vest of yours?”
“None of your damn business!” He said furiously. “You being a reporter has made you get into things you shouldn't.”
“What do you mean?”
“You will see soon enough. I wonder what would happen to Fluttershy if you keep investigating like this.”
“Leave Fluttershy out of this!!! Are you just jealous because I'm doing very well or something?”
“Why would you care? My point is, stay out of our way, or you will regret it.”
Two months later, business is great and all, and Headline again asked for another date with Fluttershy. She agreed but she wondered why so quickly and Headline would not say. So, they did just that. Same place, same time.
“Listen, I should have told you the truth about what I had been doing before I got my newspaper job, so here it is.” Without a sense of hesitation, unbuttoned his vest and white shirt to show an Assassin mark.
“What is that?” Fluttershy asked.
“This is the mark of an Assassin. I left them 4 months ago, when I did not want to live like that. So, now they are looking for me.”
“Why?”
“Because no one leaves with the secrets of the Assassins and because of that, they will try to find me.”
“What happens if they find you?”
“I can't say. All I can tell you is that you have to watch your back.”
“Is it because I know you.”
“Probably, just...try to watch your back and I'm sorry I did not tell you about this the first time.
“That's o.k. I'm glad you told me, because I now trust you even more. However, can I trust you to tell me every necessary thing from you next time? You can trust me, I also have friends.”
“Alright, as long as your friends are helping you as well, then I promise to tell you everything next time.” With that, Headline again walked her home and Headline went straight home but decided to take a shortcut through a dark alley.
“You are to come with us.” A mysterious voice said.
“So, you found me already?” Headline said.
“Yes, and you must come back to receive your punishment. Unless, you want somepony to disappear and never see again.”
“You leave her out of this! And you know what...Sophia, screw you!” Headline said with high confidence.
“I don't wish to kill you...but we were ordered to if we have to.” Sophia said.
“I don't think so.” Another voice appeared as he dropped in front of Headline.
“Why are you here? Why are you protecting him?” Sophia said.
“Because I care about him more than the Assassins.” He said. Headline quickly took off while the pony went to distract Sophia.
“You will be in a lot of trouble...File.” Sophia said as she recognized the voice. “You will die too if you have a fugitive escape.”
“I don't care, like I said, I care about him more than us.” With that, they fought with Sophia throwing some knives as File dodged them easily since they are fighting in a tiny dark alley. Suddenly they laid traps around each other, but File had more time to do that as he planted a few tiny explosion bombs to her pouch, when he dodged a frontal attack. Sophia also placed sticky bombs that were very sensitive if he moved too much and they both found out they were in a dead end.
“You so much as pick in that pouch, you will be knocked out.” File said.
“And if you move too much, you will be knocked out too.” Sophia said. Suddenly they both moved in to attack, but as they hit each other, the explosion occurred. Headline heard a little explosion and went back in that direction as fast as possible. But, when he got there, they were gone.
One day later, after thinking about what happened yesterday, Headline returned to tell his mother what happened. When he got to his parents’ home, something happened that scared Headline, a lot.
“Mom, you're crying. What happened?” Headline asked quickly.
“Your Father has been found!” Constantia said.
“What are you talking about? He has always been with us.”
“No, the pony who was with you all these years was your step-father, pretending to be your father, his name is Print.”
“WHAT!? Why didn't you tell me.”
“You wouldn't believe me if I tried to, especially at such a young age. I couldn't tell either of you. Where is your brother anyway?”
“Yeah, he disappeared. I came back to tell you this, but I do not know where he is but I intend to find him. Anyway, where is my Father?”
“I heard ponies saying they saw him around Ponyville and Canterlot.”
“Ponyville & Canterlot!? That's going to take time. Maybe I should ask around Ponyville first. Thank you mom!”
“You’re welcome and be careful. I fear the worse if you go too far.”
“Don't worry mom. I plan to find my father.” With that, she hugged his son, and Headline went back outside to look for clues.
“Your father? Are you Headline?” An elderly pony asked.
“Yeah, can you keep this quiet if you know anything?”
“Sure, well, let's see the last time I saw him, it was around Sugarcube corner just yesterday and then he looked like he left toward Canterlot.” Immediately, he thanked the elderly pony and took off toward Canterlot with a ticket on the train and arrived at Canterlot station.
“Excuse me sir, have you seen anyone suspicious ponies arrive here in the past few days.”
“Who's asking?” said a cop pony.
“I'm trying to find my father.”
“Wait...are you Headline? Yeah I saw him; he's a Black pony with blue eyes and a blue mane. He was returning back towards Ponyville not 1 hour ago.
“Are you kidding!? Well, thanks for the scoop. Hold on, did he trot back or take the train?
“Oh, I'm certain he took the trail back. Quickly thanking the cop for the info, followed the trail back to Ponyville.
“What's this? Is this? No, it can't be!” Headline noticed an emblem of the Assassins that was dropped here.
“No assassin would drop this by accident. If this is my father, what is he doing?”
A few days later, Headline was relaxing by taking a simple stroll around the marketplace when suddenly, Twilight bumped into him.
“Hi Twilight, how are...” Suddenly, she looked worried and started to sob.
“Oh no, Twilight, what happened?” Headline said with concern.
“Fluttershy...” Immediately, Headline probably knew what happened but he wanted to make sure.
“What happened?”
“I don't know.” Twilight said with tears in her eyes. “I went to her house to go to the park with me but...”
“...she was not there.”
“Yeah, exactly. She does not disappear like that. She does not even get up that early.” Headline knew where she was taken but, was going to need all the support he could get.
“Alright Twilight, be as brave as you can, act normal, get your 4 other friends and meet me at that back alley over there.” Headline said as he pointed over in the direction towards the walkway.
“Why?”
“Trust me.” After thirty minutes, the others have arrived and also heard the news about Fluttershy disappearing.
“What are we going to do now?” Applejack said as calmly as possible.
“I can't sit around and wait, we must help her.” Rainbow dash replied.
“I, for one, can't let some ponies just take other ponies willy-nilly.” Rarity said with anger.
“I think they need to improve their attitude.” Pinkie said to Twilight.
“Now listen everypony, Headline has this planned, right?” Twilight said with uncertainty.
“Yes, I have a plan, though I'm afraid, they may be one step ahead of my plan already but I have to try.” Headline said with all the confidence he had. “Here.” Headline said as he gave Twilight a device.
“What is it?” Rainbow asked.
“Oh, oh, are we watching a movie?” Pinkie asked randomly.
“Not exactly, that allows you to see what I can see, called a hidden camera.” Headline said as he pointed out the device. “See, I'm wearing it right here, so you can see what's going on with me.”
“Cool!” Rainbow said.
“I like the black.” Rarity said with a fashion mind.
“Why don't we have a hidden microphone or something?” Twilight asked.
“Sorry, but I did not want any of you to get into this mess, for that matter I do not think I will be coming back out of this alive, but I will do what I can to bring Fluttershy back. That is a promise.” The 5 ponies looked at Headline and knew that they can trust Headline completely. Without a moment delay, Headline put on the Assassin uniform and went down into the elevator and reached the main floor. When he arrived, he certainly was not given the welcome wagon.
“Well, you finally arrived.” Master Zek said as he lowered Fluttershy down.
“LEAVE HER ALONE!” Headline yelled out in anger.
“Why should I?”
“She has nothing to do with this!”
“If I let her go now, you will run off with her. You still have to face your punishment before you leave so let's say that this young filly...” he says as he puts a dagger to her throat. “...is leverage to make sure you stay. Now, come into the arena and we will face your punishment there.”
The other Assassins followed them into the arena; it almost looks like a large track.
“You know, my brother would not approve of this.”
“Oh, you mean HIM!?” Master Zek said as he brought File with big scars and torn flesh that have been bandaged.
“WHAT...DID...YOU...DO TO HIM!?” As anger boils up within Headline.
“Well, ever since he “protected” you in that dark alley, Sophia brought him back here and got his punishment.”
“You will regret this!” Headline said without a doubt.
“Now, your punishment should be death, but since I'm feeling generous, you will fight one of my greatest pupils here. You may have faced him before in basic training, remember, Zephyr?”
“Oh yes, I remember him.” Headline said as Zephyr walked in.
“Ha, looks like I get a chance to kill you today.”
“What's the rule, master?” Headline asked.
“You are no longer my master, and the rules are simple, whoever lives, is the winner. In your case, Headline, if you win, she goes free, and if you try to free this beautiful filly while fighting, you will regret that decision with another one's life.”
“O.k, let's do this, Zephyr.” Just like that, the battle started. Headline dodged a frontal sword attack with a back flip and reacted with a quick knife throw that tore his shoulder. Zephyr came back with a few rapid punches and then knocked him to the ground. Headline jumped back up and drew his sword out and with that, a sword fight began but it went quickly with Headline getting cut up and leaving Zephyr still with only a tear in his shoulder.
“Did you really think you could beat a true Assassin, newbie?” Zephyr said all high-and-mighty. Suddenly, he noticed he was in position to drop a smoke bomb and release Fluttershy and get out.
“I think ahead!” Headline said as he threw a smoke bomb and cut the rope that Fluttershy had on her. Suddenly...
“STOP!” A voice yelled out and Headline was immediately cornered by other assassins. “Headline, you broke the rule so I will make sure you stay and finish the battle.” Suddenly some more assassins came and brought in 5 more ponies.
“NO!” Fluttershy and Headline said as it was there friends Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie.
“Now, you leave with Fluttershy, they die. If you fight and win, then they leave. Right now, you make that choice you will be left with the guilty conscious of killing 5 ponies. I suggest you stay and FINISH THE FIGHT!” Master Zek said with rage.
“Fine.” Headline said, realizing that saving her now was not going to fix anything. “I will win girls, I promise.”
“We have our faith in you.” All 6 ponies said. The fight resumed, as Headline can barely stand and so he realized that if he made some weak spot jabs on Zephyr, it might make him sore enough for him to knock him out with his power shots. He immediately went straight forward and threw a throwing knife that was controlled with string, for him to follow and distract him and sure enough, he forgot about Headline coming straight for him. With that, as fast as Headline could, he approached him at various times and angles, hitting every vital spot on his body multiple times. Suddenly, Zephyr was to the point he cannot move, so Headline stood above him.
“I won.” Headline said to Zephyr.
“Not yet.” Master Zek replied back. “If you wish to have your friends go free, you must kill him...now.” It took a few seconds for him to think about it, since he has never killed anypony nor does he intend to. But, if he doesn't, he will lose all his friends.
“I can't kill him.” Headline said.
“You know I will kill her!” Suddenly, File winked at Headline and left alone on the ground, tripped the master without him realizing and quickly File released Fluttershy while Headline freed the other 5 and told them to get behind them. Headline was carrying the k.o'd master on his back to question him when they got out.
“Can you still move File?” Headline asked.
“Yeah, and you?”
“I still have more in me.” Suddenly the Assassins arrived to fight both of them off to get the master back as they made their way towards the elevator.
“GO YOU SIX PONIES! NOW! TO THE ELEVATOR! WE WILL GIVE YOU COVER!” File said.
“DON'T WORRY! WE'LL BE UP IN A MINUTE!” Headline quickly replied.
“NO, I WON'T LEAVE YOU!” Fluttershy responded.
“TRUST ME, LIKE YOU DID WHEN WE FIRST MET!” Headline said. Immediately, Fluttershy remembered that day during there first flying lesson.
“Want me to help you with flying? Try this.” Headline said as he showed her how to spread her wings out wide. “Do not be afraid to show your wings and stretch them as far out as you can. See?” He said as he helped Fluttershy by stretching out her wings which made her blush. “Now, keep the wings up, bring your legs up to your tummy and let yourself glide.”
“You sure this will work?” Fluttershy said silently.
“Trust me.” Headline said as she immediately took off and glided splendidly.
“I DID IT!”
“Great job Fluttershy!”
“I will trust you...always.” Fluttershy remembered and did exactly as she was told.
“O.k. You better come back!”
“Don't worry, NOW GO!” Immediately, they left and took to the elevator. Fluttershy feeling very worried.
“Don't worry Fluttershy, right now I think he would want us to get out of here and back home just to be safe!” Twilight responded with concern. Fluttershy agreed though would rather wait for Headline and File to arrive. They all immediately went back to their homes until File and Headline came back.
“Well let's hope...” File said with exhaustion. “...they got away safely.”
“Same...here.” Headline replied. They started knocking out or killing any ponies that stood in the way, until Headline lost sight of File and the lights went off and the fighting sounds suddenly stopped.
“File? Where are you?”
“You were warned!” A voice said in the dark.
“What? Where are you?”
“Oh, don't worry you won't be getting away for long!”
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!” A voice yelled. It suddenly became silent and what the enemy did not realize was...
“I just...What? Why are you not responding?” The voice said. ...Headline carried both the Master and File out. Once they escaped, Headline laid both File and the master down at a far distance from the hideout.
“File...File...wake up.” No response as File had been torn apart that you could see the flesh on him. “Don't do this to me...not now!.........DON'T DIE ON ME PLEASE!!!!” Headline yelled. “........NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Headline started to cry and yell at the same time until he heard something.
“What have I done?” Master Zek said.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Headline suddenly yelled, jumped, and hammered Master Zek. “YOU HID FROM US AND YOUR OLDEST SON JUST DIED AND HE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU OR HEARD FROM YOU!!!! THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!!!! YOU KILLED HIM!!!!!” Headline couldn't contain himself and took all the blame on his father.
“So...you knew?”
“Yeah, this is yours.” Headline took out an Assassin emblem and tossed it at him.
“Listen, you have to understand, you should have left me there.”
“Why?”
“Do you think I disappeared because I wanted to? I had no choice. I did not know you before you were born. I just walked around until I heard the news about seeing you all. When you came to join us, I was happy to see my sons. But, this was all planned.
“By who?”
“I really can't say.”
“Who? WHO DAD? WHOOO?”
“I really can't say, but this has been going on longer then before you were born.” Headline decided to listen to this story because he wants to trust his father with what he has to say.
“Listen, 15 years ago, Our family made a terrible deal with another family, the Boxers, when we asked for money.” Now looking back 15 years ago, on a rainy day outside of Ponyville.
“Why of course we can help you.” The boxers said to the pagers. “We are willing to give you protection and money if you do the same by helping us complete some dangerous missions for us.”
“We can do just that.” Bold said to the boxers. Returning to the present time.
“That did not sound so bad. How did it get worse?” Headline asked.
“Before I answer that, I created the Assassins. We went on the missions with my friends and completed these difficult tasks. I became the Master and was able to go home to my family and my wife, but what I did not know much about was that these missions were meant to get rid of us, permanently.” Bold almost did not want to say any more about this in fear of what Headline would do.
“So, why did they get rid of you?”
“Because...” Going back now 13 years ago.
“You killed our families!” The Boxers said.
“You cannot blame me for this! My friends died on these missions, and you assigned me these dangerous missions.” Bold said to them.
“The newspapers have these stories you know, and detectives are looking for the culprits or in your case, culprit.”
“You crooked Bastard!” Bold said.
“Boo-hoo Bold, you lost most of your money to us already and now you have nothing. So, here is the thing, if you tell the public about us and the Assassins, I will hand you over to the authorities and you will lose your pregnant wife.”
“NOOO!”
“But, But, if you work with us as a master puppet and do your job, no one will die. Your name, Bold, is no more. Instead, you will be named Master Zek.” It did not take long for him to make this decision that he would rather have his family live then lose them.
“You give me no choice...You win, Boxers.” Returning to the present time.
“So that's why.” Headline said realizing the truth.
“Exactly, if I told you when you came that I was your father, they would have killed you both, and for that matter, your mother as well and leave me to live.”
“It makes sense. That is why the Assassins wanted us.” In an angry response. “They wanted to use us as servants to make sure that we would not push back. I know his plan now, Zephyr Boxer is not planning to protect Equestria but rule Equestria with an iron hoof.”
“I'm sorry, son.” Bold said.
“I'm sorry I was not able to help you. Come, let's grieve the lost of your eldest son and my older brother.” Headline said as they both sat down on the ground the whole, entire, night grieving for the loss of somepony very dear to them both.
As the sun was rising from the East, some ponies realized that it was Headline and Bold trotting back to Ponyville with sad music to grieve for the loss of a great pony. At first, everypony was happy to see them back, but as they got closer, they noticed File, dead, being pulled in a wagon towards the other end of town at the cemetery. Suddenly, everypony went from happy to sad as they all mourned for the loss of the Pages' family. The mayor came out to meet them both. First though...
“They're back!” Applebloom yelled out.
“Wait.” Applejack said.
“No.” Fluttershy responded. The other 4 ponies were in such shock that Headline did not even say a single word to them, not even Fluttershy. Once Headline and I made it to the cemetery, Princess Celestia and the Mayor started to preach a farewell to File.
“Fillies and Gentlecolts, we are gathered here today for the loss...” The mayor said, trying to grasp herself from crying. “...of a kind and hard-working pony who loved many of us, that he protected us from harm. He was the pony that others had a hard time trying to be. Someone who helps and aids those in need.” She starts to sob. “As many of you...know...” Princess Celestia continued for her. “We are here to bury not just a pony but... a pony who was part of our entire family. We are like one big family here in Ponyville, and losing one is not easy, but... it is life. And so, it is with sorrow and grief that we now bury File of the Pagers' Family.”
With that, they got a tombstone and had him buried in the center of the cemetery, where Headline will be for a long time. Headline still sitting there after 3 hours of the service, is thinking about the guilt he left on having his brother killed.
“It's my fault, Fluttershy.” Headline said with the sense of Fluttershy's approach. “I left him to die in the dark where I could not see a thing, and I could not do anything...WHY!!!!???” Fury awakening inside him. Suddenly, Fluttershy laid her hoof on his shoulder.
“I'm sure you did everything you could...”
“Did I? I left him to die, I could have done something but instead, I panicked.
“Would your brother want you now to think like that?” It took a few seconds for Headline to realize that is true.
“You're right Fluttershy. Thank you for staying beside me.”
“I'm always with you.” Suddenly, Fluttershy kissed him on the cheek and they both left the cemetery, together.
“I promise not to fail and that I will survive this mission.” Headline said.
“Just don't die on me o.k.?”
“I promise.” As they were walking away from the cemetery...
“Sometimes, the best attempt is your second one. In which case, Fluttershy kept me calm once again” Headline said to himself.
3 months later, Headline woke up from his sleep and went straight to the Ponyville station and got a ticket to Canterlot Castle though told not allowed, he had a pass made by Princess Celestia. He got on a private train and went straight to Canterlot castle.
“I wish to speak with Princess Celestia and Luna!” Headline demanded.
“On who's authority?” A guard said at the door.
“This!” As Headline shows a pass left to him, signed by both princesses'.
“Very well. Enter.” The guard said. Headline opened the doors, and stood in the main hall with two doors on opposite ends, both lead to a master bedroom. When the guards at both doors noticed who had entered, they immediately knocked on the doors and informed the princesses that Headline has arrived. Just like that, Headline trotted calmly into the master bedroom where Princess Luna and Celestia are at a table.
“Princess Celestia, Princess Luna.” Headline said to acquaint himself.
“Welcome, we owe you a great debt for figuring out this underground cult.” Princess Luna said.
“As much as I'd like to say it is over...” Headline responds taking a deep breath. “...it is not.” Princess Luna and Celestia did not understand what he meant.
“I've gone over in my head a few months since escaping the Assassin base and with the information I had gathered while I was there during my time with them, I believe we have 6 others who survived other than my father and I.”
“Why did you come to us with this information?” Princess Celestia asked.
“Simple, first off, I do not want this information public since it might cause a panic. Secondly, I came because I need your help to find these escapees and bring them to justice. Well, except for...one.”
“Which one?” Princess Luna responded.
“He was hiding under my very nose the whole time. Ever since I was working as a reporter and ever since I was an assassin. No wonder he kept warning me what I was going to get myself into and I paid the price by having my brother dead! And...And...now he does not want just my family dead, but he wants all of Equestria ruled under him.”
“WHO!?” Princess Celestia said a little louder.
“Zephyr, also known to me first as, Keybo, but that was an undercover name. His real name IS Zephyr Boxer.”
“If you ask me sis...” Princess Luna quietly talking. “...we should aide him. I mean after all, he did his best to know this much and things could get worse with Zephyr trying to take us both down. They will kill us if they get more recruits and strike before we do.”
“I know...” Princess Celestia responded. “But to act harshly, we do not even have a plan.”
“Don't mean to interrupt your “quiet” conversation but I do have a plan.” Headline said as they wondered how he had one already. “Look at the map.” He said as he laid it out.
“Yeah, what is it?” Princess Luna asked.
“Well, as you can see, we have many popular cities but only 5 Assassin hideouts exist. All controlled by Zephyr. One as you know now, in Ponyville. Another in Manehatten, Los Pegasus, Baltimare, and Canterlot.”
“How do you want to take care of this business with the 6 remaining assassins?” Princess Luna said.
“Well, this took 3 months planning, so I would like some of your royal guards to come with me and look at the hideout here in Canterlot, and then I will fly off with a few of your Pegasus guards and go check out the hideout again in Ponyville, just in case one stayed there. While I'm doing that, I would like you both to order a few more Pegasus to check out the 3 other areas Manehatten, Los Pegasus, and Baltimare. I would like you to have them stay put near the hideout and wait until I come to those locations. I will take care of giving orders, if that's o.k with you, because I know the assassins more then anyone else right now.”
“As much, as I like that plan. You want to kill Zephyr?” Princess Celestia said with a sense of worry.
“Listen, this no longer concerns my family but all of Equestria. Like Luna said, it will not take long before Zephyr recruits more assassins to his cause and take over all of Equestria. Zephyr must be killed for justice more than revenge. I have mourned my brother long enough, now I must end it.”
“You are not doing this alone.” A voice said behind Headline.
“Dad! What are you doing here?” He galloped over to hug his father.
“Did you really think I was going to have you control all of this. You need someone to help you in this strategy and has had more experience then you did.”
“Sorry, dad, but I don't want to lose...”
“Don't even think that, this is personal, I have wanted to end this for years before you were even born. I'm going with you whether you like it or not.”
“Very well, where do you want to go to help?” It did not take long before I knew where to be.
“Princesses, with your permission I would like to travel with Headline throughout his journey here.”
“You are granted the permission to allow as many guards as necessary to find these assassins, and Headline, you are allowed to “assassinate” Zephyr.” Princess Celestia said in approval.”
“I second that.” Princess Luna responded.
“Great! I want to deal with Zephyr alone dad. You can take the other 5.”
“Alright, son. Let's get to work.” With that, Headline and I entered the courtyard where lots of the Royal guards were awaiting orders.
Headline stared in awe as he noticed at least 200 royal guards were standing awaiting orders. He asked for a few, not over 200. However, he thought to himself, the more the merrier.
“Hi Headline.” A Guard responded.
“Shining Armor! So good to meet you.” Headline said.
“Same here, how are you Bold?”
“Never better.”
“Hey, Headline, sorry about your loss brother. He was a good friend of mine; I wish to help you in this mission for Equestria and your brother.”
“Thank you, Shining Armor, it means a lot to hear that.”
“Glad, now Headline what is our orders?” Headline had no idea he was going to give orders, but without a long hesitation, he gave direct orders.
“O.k! I'm going to need every guards help in this mission.” Headline said with such a commanding voice. “Know that we are not just doing this to protect our home, or a friend, but for Equestria. These assassins must not take over and rule over us! We will bring justice to these assassins and bring all 6 of them here to Canterlot. I will meet with the one in charge and deal with him. Until then, here is the plan. I am going to send 50 guards to each location. 5 total hideouts, so 50 or more to each location. I want you all in groups of 50 right now. Then I will give further orders.” Just like that without a second delay, they all got into groups of 50, there were a few left over.
“Good, so, 250 soldiers...o.k. you 5 can go to any group you want.” Headline said without much care.
“Wait, Headline...” Shining Armor responded. “Let me come and protect you both.”
“Do you have a problem with that dad?”
“Not at all.”
“Very well, come here Shining Armor. Now, listen, I will send you to your locations, you will wait there until the three of us are at your location and then will give further orders. Now, groups from left to right, group 1, head to the Canterlot hideout. Group 2, head to the Ponyville hideout. Group 3, head for the Baltimare hideout. Group 4, head for the Los Pegasus hideout. Finally, Group 5, head for the Manehatten hideout. Remember, be in distance from the hideout so that, encase, the assassins will not see anything suspicious happening and escape. Wait at a safe distance from your hideout and await further orders. That is all, DISMISSED!!!”
“Well done Headline!” Shining Armor. “Why be a reporter? You would do so much better as a Captain.”
“Ha! Thanks but no thanks.” Headline said as he laughed.
“Well dad, let's get going.” Quickly, Shining Armor, Headline, and I went straight to the Canterlot hideout location without anything to stand in our way!
When we arrived, the streets were completely normal. A little bit busy, yet no one knows what is going on or that there are suddenly many guards hiding and surrounding the hideout.
“How does it look?” Shining Armor asked the platoon leader.
“Not much, no one came in or out.” He responded.
“Thank you. Stay here and if anyone gets out that is not us once we go in, ask questions, however, if it is anyone suspicious, do not waste time, arrest him/her.
“Yes sir!” Shining Armor went over to Headline and Bold to explain the situation.
“Well, anything?” Bold asked.
“No one left, but we are going in, quietly. We cannot be seen.”
“That is our job. You, Shining Armor, stay here and do what you need to do if necessary.” Headline responded.
“Yes, sir!” Shining Armor said happily. Quietly and in disguise, Headline went in with his suit coat and fedora, however, without his “press” slip on his hat and without his notepad and pen. I went in as a ragged pony looking for food but stayed quiet as possible.
“...So, you should have seen what happened 3 months ago when Zephyr took File down.” Quickly and in a dark side of the Main hall, they sat and listened to what they said.
“Yeah, I know, I heard about that and I wish I was there.”
“Well...” Headline whispered to his father, “....looks like Zephyr is not here. However, we have 2 of them at this location.”
“Let's wait until they leave. Then block them from entering once they notice the guards everywhere.”
“I've got a better idea.” Headline said as he quietly went to the front door. A great distance, dark, and where they entered. “HELP! HELP! SOMEONE IS TAKING ME AWAY...HEEEEELLLLP!” Headline quickly hid in a different dark place and waited. Pointed at Bold to follow behind them.
“Someone is taking one of ours away. Let's stop them.” Without thinking, they went straight for the front door, ran out, and noticed a lot of guards surrounding them.
“Shit! Let's...” Suddenly Headline pointed a sword at them.
“I don't think so.” Headline responded.
“Crap.” The other pony assassin said. “It's Headline!” Immediately, the guards took the assassins away, back to Canterlot castle for questioning.
“That was a little reckless, son.” I said to Headline.
“You worry too much pops. Besides, they fell for the oldest trick in the book.”
“Well done, Headline!” Shining Armor said happily. “You and Bold caught 2 assassins and now we only have 4 to get.”
“Alright as much as I like having you with us Shining Armor, we must part ways.” Headline said.
“Why?”
“We need to speed things up.” I said.
“The sooner we catch them, the better.”
“Can we trust you to go to Los Pegasus and aide the guards there and capture any assassins there?”
“Yes, I will not fail!” Shining Armor said boldly.
“Good, get going!” I said quickly.
“You are all dismissed, unless there is any of you wishing to come with us to Ponyville.” A few of the guards agreed to come so it felt like good news for more to come. The best thing is that the guards coming are all Pegasus, so they can fly to Ponyville.
“Let's hurry!” And off went the guards, Headline, and I as we flew straight for Ponyville.
“Always expect the worse, everybody!” I said as we took off.
Shining Armor had to think of a way to lure the Assassins out and arrest them without giving away who he is. It was difficult in Las Pegasus, since the roads were extremely busy, making it easy for the assassins to blend in and escape if anything suspicious occurred. So, he had to come up with a way to spot anypony suspicious enough to arrest without making a scene or mistake.
“What have we got?” Shining Armor asked the platoon leader.
“We saw some leave, but none looked suspicious what-so-ever. I think the hideout is hidden in that bar.”
“Thanks, I'm going in. Continue your work.”
“Thank you sir, I will.” Shining Armor went inside with an ordinary outfit instead of his uniform.
“Welcome to Sharp-eye bar.” The bartender said. “What can I get for you?”
“Something strong.”
“Sure thing, how about punch.”
“Oh yeah, sounds good.” While he was drinking, he looked around for any suspicious doors and passageways. He decided to first ask a question.
“Do you know anypony coming and going through here?”
“Some regular customers but no one else.” He then looked at what the bartender did not have and asked him to get some milk to add to his punch since there was not any up front.
“Oh, sure just let me go to the back and get a glass.” The bartender said. A few seconds later as Shining Armor expected, a wall opened, and out came an assassin with his uniform on. He then tried to walk out the door before he got a sword in front of his neck. Some guards were waiting outside the door.
“Are there anymore?” Shining Armor asked.
“Uhh...no...I...” the assassin pony said in agony.
“You so much as call for help and I will immediately slice up your legs that you can't trot!"
“I mean it, there are no more!”
“How do I get in?”
“Push the lightly colored brick in the center.” Quickly, he gave the assassin to the guards and went to the wall and pressed it but saw the bartender in fear on the ground.
“Get up, go home, this bar is closed for the night.”
“Yeah, definitely.” The bartender said and quickly left. Shining Armor walked into the base and looked around and indeed found no one in the base. He quickly came out and ordered all guards to return to Canterlot castle.
“Well, that was interesting.” Shining Armor said. He then was about to go to Ponyville to help when he first thought of meeting an old friend. He then walked over to the best bakery in Trotsville, a small town in Las Pegasus.
“Welcome to the Razzle Dazzle Bakery. What can I get for...” She suddenly realized who it was.
“Why, if it isn't Shining Armor!” She said in a surprise response as she came out from around the counter.
“Razzleberry!” He said as he hugged her.
“You do not write anymore don't you? I mean look at you. I have not heard from you in so long.”
“I'm sorry Razzleberry; I have been busy and such.”
“Just try to keep in contact from now on o.k?”
“Sure thing, so how is your colt friend?” Shining Armor asked.
“Well, I still have not seen him in a while but I hope to see him soon. So tell me what brought you here?”
“I'm on a mission.”
“Celestia's orders I'm sure.”
“No, actually it is from a friend of mine named Headline.”
“Oh yeah, I heard of him, one of the greatest reporters in Equestria. I read the Equestrian News Newspaper you know. I love how he entertains us with what he knows and the truth and effort he puts into it.”
“Wait, he is that popular here in Las Pegasus?” Shining Armor said in shock.
“Oh yeah, many ponies here love his work.”
“I thought it was only in the local area of Ponyville and Canterlot.”
“Nope, Headline probably did not tell you but since he has been writing articles, the manager and Healdine wanted to expand the newspaper further.”
“Can't wait to inform him that. But, did you know his brother was assassinated?”
“No...oh poor kid.” Razzleberry said sadly.
“Yeah, it is part of my mission. We are out here to find the assassins. His brother was one too but was never one of these assassins. Their goal is to take over Equestria.”
“I hope you are able to find them all.” Razzleberry said in support.
“Me too. Headline and Bold, his father, are our only hope. So, I better get going. Nice talking to you.
“Definitely...wait, before you go, here have my famous razzleberry pie on me.”
When Headline, myself, and the guards reached the Ponyville hideout. Headline did not feel comfortable walking in.
“You do not have to go in you know.” I said with care.
“No, I must do this. You can wait with the other guards if you want.” In the end, Bold went with him anyway. When Headline and Bold entered the hideout, it was dark and damp, with no way to get around with light. So, once inside, I took a hidden lamp with me and turned a knob on the lamp to turn on the light. Quickly, and sharply, we both went searching for any Assassins that returned or stayed here. After 1 hour of searching...
“I don't see anyone.” Headline said.
“Neither do I.” Immediately, they both went back outside and informed the guards to return to Canterlot or come with them to Manehatten. This time, 20 of them came with Headline and myself to Manehatten as we flew off in search of the last 3 assassins.
Immediately, we arrived in Manehatten. It did not take long before some of the guards at the hideout were not there. Some of the guards were confused.
“Shining Armor!” Headline yelled.
“Headline.” Shining Armor responded as Bold and Headline landed next to him. “We got a very observant assassin down there. Once the guards got here, another assassin took down half of the guards brought here. I see you brought with you 20 more.”
“They are from the Ponyville hideout. O.k we'll take it from here.” I said. The 20 guards went to the lost stations around the hideout.
“We see you two out there.” One of the assassins yelled out from within the hideout.
“We know who you two are and your little pet, Captain!” Another said in the hideout. Immediately, Headline noticed where they were calling from directly. He noticed a little hole at the top floor of the building.
“Dad, right there!” He told me the location for which they can see us.
“Good observation, Headline! Alright, Shining Armor, you make sure the patrols stay where they should be. We will take it from here and go inside.” As they jumped from one of the buildings, Headline threw a small knife through the hole in the wall to distract the assassins from looking. Headline and I then quickly rushed in by opening the door and closing it silently.
“Well, let’s hope that idea worked.” Headline said with uncertainty.
“Yeah, I'm afraid they may have already known we were coming.”
“Yes, we did.” Said an assassin as he walked in the main hall.
“How many of you are there?” Headline asked.
“More than enough to deal with a traitor and a puppet master.” Another one said. Pretty soon, the assassins took out there sword and got prepared for a fight.
“I'll take that one, the one that called me a traitor.” Headline responded with confidence.
“Careful, don't get cocky.” Bold said as he drew his weapon.
“I never underestimate my opponents.” Headline said as he drew his weapon. Both sides for 5 minutes, waited for someone to make the first strike. It seemed to both sides that they think that if they strike first they will be left open. Headline, being sick of waiting, dropped two smoke pellets. Suddenly, the two assassins were on guard right after that. They started looking around and when the smoke disappeared, so did Headline and Bold.
“We're Assassins and we can't even find them.”
“Have you forgotten?” A voice said in the hall.
“I'm the Master!” Suddenly, Bold, dropped and grabbed an assassin and tossed him into the brick wall.
“What the...” Headline dropped and stabbed the other one in the leg.
“Now, tell us where your leader, Zephyr is? TELL ME!!!!!”
“We both are more loyal then you think, we won't tell you anything...ha..ha..hahahahaha!” Laughing out loud. “Long live Zephyr!” Without a longer hesitation, Headline stabbed him in the heart.
“Now after seeing that...” Bold said in confidence. “Tell us where Zephyr is hiding.”
“That does not scare me, I would rather die than tell you anything.”
“I have a better idea.” Bold said as he picked him up and went outside for the guards to take him away.
“Where is the other one?” Shining Armor responded.
“Unfortunately, Headline killed him to scare this one.”
“The princesses will not be happy about that.”
“Yes, but it was to try and push this one over the edge.”
“Let's hope they don't mind that.” Meanwhile, back in the hall, Headline is still on top of the dead assassin.
“You will pay for this Zephyr........ALL OF IT!!!” Headline yelled in pain remembering everything he did to his friends, father, and brother. “No, I need to think clearly...the fate of Equestria is really important right now. I must focus on saving Equestria before thinking of my personal feelings. Headline silently trotted out though wishing he did not have to kill. Shining Armor returned to Canterlot with the remaining guards. Shining Armor assumed the guards are dead and so he and Headline and Bold went to the final hideout, Baltimare Hideout.
We arrived, went in, no one was there. We told the guards to leave for the mission is over.
“What now?” Shining Armor asked.
“Probably going to head home and try to find Zephyr myself, but first I have to see the Princesses and give the final report.” Headline responded quickly.
“I'm sure you are piecing this all together.” I said to Headline.
“No....I figured it out.” Headline said as he began the story.
“How?” Shining Armor asked with curiosity.
“These past 3 months I have not only been planning to capture the assassins but learn about the history of the Boxers. I looked in the library, with help from Twilight Sparkle and Spike, for “The First Settlers of Ponyville.” I found the book and found a 20 page story about who they were and how they got here. None of the names are important but they were poor to begin with. They struggled and did not have a lot of money. They heard about the Princess and hoped she would help. She was so good and great yet kind, but they realized that she would not help them with their problems. They have been poor ever since they settled in. So, they decided to push up to the top and reign supreme over the Princess and Luna when the time came. So they kept making plans to try to bring down the Princesses' and so far...nothing.
“So, you're saying that the Boxers have been planning a way to take over Equestria since they arrived? What do they plan to do if they succeed?” Bold asked.
“I'm going to have to ask Zephyr about that.” Headline responded. “His plan is to finish what his great-grandfather couldn't....kill the Princesses'. By using the Assassins and telling them to help these ponies when secretly he has told them to assassinate them and they were all innocent ponies. He is doing this to bring fear to Equestria. By doing that, he hopes the Princesses' will stand down and no more killing will happen. That is what I believe anyway.
“Well...let's hope we get him before he recruits more and continues his plan.” Shining Armor.
“I agree. Anyway, I have to give my final report to the Princesses'. I will meet you soon dad, and Shining Armor, it is good to see you.”
The next day, Headline returned to Canterlot castle to inform the princesses' on what has happened.
“Well, how did it go?” Princess Luna asked.
“Didn't some of the guards inform you?”
“They did, but we thought it would be better if we got it from the one in charge.” Princess Celestia responded.
“Very well. In Canterlot, we have captured 2 of the assassins there, no casualties. Being informed of Los Pegasus by Shining Armor, 1 assassin was captured, no casualties. In Ponyville, no assassins, no casualties. Manehatten, 1 assassin was captured, another dead, 20 dead sol...
“Wait, who killed the assassin?” Princess Luna said.
“I did.”
“I thought we informed you to bring them all here?” Princess Celestia said.
“I was in a fit of rage, and lost myself in focus, because I was sick and tired of getting nowhere at finding Zephyr. So, in a fit of rage, I killed him. Please forgive me.”
“It seems we were misunderstood about that situation, we forgive you” Princess Celestia said Happily.
“Thank you. Lastly, Baltimare, no assassins, no casualties. Now, Zephyr still has not been found, I will inform Shining Armor about the situation and have a couple of his guards patrol each city, with your permission of course.”
“Permission granted.” Princess Luna responded. After that, Headline returned to Equestrian news to continue his job, but Zephyr was not there which made Mr. Ink feel off. Headline, however, cannot tell him what has happened.
5 months later, Headline, is still trying to find clues to get himself to Zephyr. However, while he is working, he secretly asks questions about Zephyr to any pony he has not asked. Some got scared to even give an answer, others just wanted him gone without he even answering his question, and others gave some thoughts but no true facts.
“I need someone who knows about him, but where can I find these answers?” Taking a while to think... “I know, I should start with Mr. Ink. He might know where to start.” Quickly, he galloped for Equestrian News HQ and as usual...
“Excuse me, is Mr. Ink Here?”
“Yeah, he is still in his office, like usual, it's almost like he never leaves the place.” said the no caring elderly pony again. Headline went up to the office, entered, and started talking very quickly.
“DoyouhappentoknowanyofKeybo'srelatives?”
“Excuse me, I did not quite catch what you said.” Mr. Ink responded in shock.
“I asked if you happen to know any of Keybo's relatives.” Headline explained calmly.
“Not really, but he did have acquaintances.”
“Really? Who?”
“He did not say. I never asked him who they are.”
“Do you happen to know where he hangs out, outside of work?”
“Hmmmm....Oh yeah, he goes to this place called...uhhh....The Winged Giraffe.”
“Where is that?
“Just on the outskirts of Ponyville. On the trail toward Canterlot.”
“Thanks.” Without a moment’s hesitation, Headline went straight for the bar called “The Winged Giraffe”. As soon as he entered, he pictured it just as he thought it was, a roughen-toughen kind of place with a few hoof fights going on. He decided to walk up to the bar table and talk to the bartender.
“What can I get for you?” This muscular pony said with a low voice.
“I would like some information.” Headline replied with a serious look on his face.
“Well that depends on the information that you are looking for. What kind of information?”
“Disappearance.”
“Now, I probably won't know much about that but I will do my best.”
“I'm looking for someone by the name of Keybo.”
“Keybo....Keybo....OOOOHH!!...I know who you are talking about now.” He said with great confidence in himself. “That newspaper writer that only a few have heard about.”
“Yes, do you know where he is?”
“Sorry, haven't seen him in 3 months.” Feeling disappointed, Headline had no choice but to bring out deeper details.
“Listen, is there a place we can talk privately?”
“Sure, in that corner over there. Hey Debit! You're in charge of the bar for now.” The bartender said as he and Headline went to the corner of the bar.
“Listen, do you happen to know his true identity?”
“I don't know what you are talking about!” He said in confusion.
“I need to find him before something bad happens.”
“How bad?” He asked Headline with curiosity.
“He'll destroy Equestria.”
“HAAAAAAA HA HA HA HA HA!!! THAT IS...huh?” In shock, he watched as Headline unbuttoned part of his shirt to show the Assassin mark.
“It's no joke!” Headline responded in anger.
“Oh, I did not know you...”
“No, you didn't, so I will ask again, where is he?” Suddenly, there was a slight pause and they were just looking at each other for a few seconds when the bartender responded.
“This isn't even a safe place to talk about this. Come into the back with me. I'll tell you everything.” Slowly, they both walked into the back, as Headline quickly installed his blades before he knew. As they entered, the bartender turned around...
“Sit down; I have someone here who can inform you of this matter, a very close friend to Keybo that only he trusts.” He quickly went through another door to go get the friend of his. Meanwhile, Headline sat down and waited. After a couple of minutes, the lights went off in the room and doors were being locked shut. Headline jumped up and brought out his blades.
“I expected you to do this.” Headline said out loud.
“Too bad you will not live to find him.” The bartender yelled in the darkness.
“Looks like there were more assassins then I thought.”
“You really think that those 5 assassins were all that was left of his clan? I don't think so. Now, you are alone, and you have no weapons.”
“That is where you are wrong.” Suddenly Headline stabbed one that was appearing out of the darkness and collapsed on the ground.
“The whole time I was sitting here I had my ears do the talking as I heard 3 assassins try to hide from my eyes but my ears heard everything. Looks like these assassins are not that great after all.” Headline said with high authority as he swoop-kicked one to the ground and stabbed the pony. Another tried to jump on him from behind, but got a blade blocking his attack and Headline k.o'd him with a punch in the face.
“I know you are here!” Headline yelled.
“Impossible.”
“Show yourself, or you are next, because I know where you are. You are too big to hide from me.” Headline sees this small ridge behind some boxes. “It's too easy.” He suddenly throws a knife and cuts the ridge.
“AHHHHHHHHH!!! You B****!!!”
“Naughty, no need for a “foul” mouth.” Pushes him against the wall. “Now, tell me where he is or you are next!”
“I...will...never...”
“Watch your next words...” Headline says as he lifts him by the neck against the wall. “...or they will be your last.”
“O.k....O.k....at....this...time......he...wo....would...be...at....the...PONYVILLE CAFE!” He yelled and then Headline suddenly drops him.
“Seriously!?”
“YES, YES IT'S TRUE!!!”
“You disregarded the true way of an assassin in Equestria and must be humiliated. Take me to him.”
“He...will...”
“Would you like me to do it the hard way?” Headline responded as he clashes his hooves.
“O.k. O.k. I may last longer that way then your way.”
Headline gave him a few moments to rest as he observes him and then he got up and walked over to the cafe with Headline stealthily behind.
“Listen...” Headline said before they left the bar.”
“You are to go and give him the situation report on your assassins. You are not to tell him about me, only about how the patrol is going. Stall him long enough for me to sneak up behind him and end him, so that you may be relieved of your pain.”
“Thank you.” The bartender responded as he got up and opened the door. Headline stealthy followed him, and watched as he waited for the precise moment to strike and from what Headline is seeing, they are having a fury fight. This was Headline's chance so he got as close as he got and...
“Don't think I know you are there....Headline!” Keybo a.k.a. Zephyr said as he threw a knife at him.
“Woah!” Headline responded as he dodged.
“You may leave, Zul! I will deal with you later.” Zul, the bartender, left.
“You knew I was coming.” Headline responded. Suddenly the mane 6 arrived and noticed Headline standing in front of Ponyville Cafe with a strange pony. It did not take long for them to realize who it is. They all went to Pinkie's place to watch high enough yet close enough to hear and watch.
“Of course I knew you were coming. Did you really think you were going to kill me that easily?”
“I guess I should have known better.” Headline realized.
“Yes, you should have.” He responded by unsheathing his blade.
“Before this final battle, I want ask, why did you do all this?” Meanwhile, the mane 6 are listening as quietly as they can, but Fluttershy is feeling edgy and scared.
“Try to relax Fluttershy.” Twilight said quietly.
“Oh..I...I'm...trying...but...I'm scared...” Fluttershy said in fear.”
“I don't think he plans on dying Fluttershy.” Applejack responded with confidence.
“Shhhh. I wanna watch.” Rainbow Dash said in excitement.
“Well...” Zephyr responded sheathing his sword. “...I guess I can tell you before you die.” He tells him as quietly as he can. “You see, I'm sick and tired of living in a world where everypony revolves around love and peace. There is no anger or rage; I want to help by adding those emotions to everypony in Equestria. You already knew my plan but not what would happen if I succeed and now, you know.”
“You were watching me when I was talking wasn't I?”
“You bet I did.”
“You would cause chaos and you would be there to take over and make things worse. You never cared for anypony but yourself. This feud between our families will end and I will be certain that Equestria will be at peace when I'm done with you. You wanted to use us like you did my father. Zephyr Boxer, I will make sure that this time...it ends.” Suddenly Headline in his biggest stance yet, released his blades. This gave the mane 6 the realization that this is going to be a dangerous battle.
“Oh no!” Fluttershy yelped.
“Shhh...We can't let Zephyr know we are here.” Rarity said. “But I do like that outfit that Zephyr is wearing and...OH OH OH! That's the suit Headline bought and Headline is wearing it!” Rarity said in joy.
“I thought we were to be quiet?” Pinkie pie said.
“Right...sorry.” Rarity responded.
“You deal with me?” Zephyr responded in laughter. “Ha..ha...ha...Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! You better hope I don't kill you so quickly if you are that confident.”
“It's not confidence....it's truth. I made a promise to somepony. I would live and I WILL do just that.”
“Oh...now I can't wait to break your PROMISE!!” Zephyr responded as he drew the first attack. Headline thought quickly what to do with his attack, as everything slowed down as Headline, in real time, thought of an idea. He would dodge the attack then throw an immediate smoke bomb to trip him as he would drop to the ground. He then would slice his sword arm to end it.
“AHHHHHH!” Zephyr yelled as he came down on him. Suddenly, Headline dropped a smoke bomb.
“What? I got to get out if I'm to find hi....augh!” A slice missed his arm but got his chest instead.
“Dang! I missed.” Headline responded.
“MY TURN!” Zephyr said as he leaped again but this time his speed increased, to the point where Headline can't see him.
“What the...AUGHHH!!” As Headline got sliced in the chest and his back along with a bit of his front-right leg.
“Please tell me that is not all you have.” Zephyr said as Headline struggled to get back up.
“I...will...not...LOSE!” Headline yelled as he threw knives at him and pinned him against the wall. Headlines charged and as he came in to stab, Zephyr broke free from the knives, jumped over him very quickly and stabbed Headline through the back and out the front before Headline could even get his blade to hit the wall.
“NOOOO!!!!” Fluttershy yelled.
“What?” Zephyr said distracted.
“Don't...drop...your...GUARD!” Headline replied by kicking him to the ground even with the injury. Headline let him get back up and looked at him and had an idea.
“Zephyr.”
“What?”
“Let's end this...here and now. Charge at each other and see who makes the final blow to the death.”
“Hmmm...I was going to kill you slowly, but if you want to die so quickly, I guess I will give you what you want.” Both of them, stood straight back up, looked at each other, and got ready to charge. Headline quickly looked up at where the mane 6 were watching and nodded to them. Suddenly, they both leaped at each other.
“AHHHHHHHH!!!!”
“AHHHHHHHH!!!!” Suddenly, the blades reached each other and sliced but what happened?
Ch. 27: He knew what he was doing. Starting a new life.
All ponies that were watching the battle other than the mane 6 were nervous to watch these two fight in such a public place but did not want to see Headline lose.
“Ha...” Headline replied. “Looks like....ugh..” Suddenly, he collapsed and hit the ground.
“I win.” Zephyr replied to Headline's last words.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Fluttershy yelled as she flew out of Pinkie's place and flew very quickly towards Headline.
“NO, DON'T!” Rainbow Dash replied as she blocks Fluttershy. “He will kill you too.” Zephyr walked over to Headline, who is not moving nor breathing, put his ear to his chest and listened to the final heart beats.
“Looks like, little filly, you will have to find another colt friend.” Zephyr said with a victorious smirk. “Now I will kill his father and then, slowly, his mother and everything will be mine...and the princesses will d...what?” A blade appeared around his neck.
“What did you say about the princesses?” A voice said behind Zephyr.
“Who's there?” Zephyr said without plunging forward.
“If you wanted to kill me...” Suddenly in joy Fluttershy noticed...
“...you should have stabbed my heart instead of listening to it.”
“HEADLINE!!” The mane 6 yelled as I came in and felt relief just when I thought I saw my son dead.
“Impossible.” Zephyr said in anger.
“Expect the unexpected. Isn't that what you told me? Zephyr!?” All ponies, gave a sigh of relief as I quickly looked at all the ponies looking at him, thankful that he was alive.
“See Zephyr?” Headline says as he forces him to look around. “See all these ponies? As long as I have my friends here with me, I will never...EVER...give up.”
“Friends...mean nothing.” Zephyr said immediately.
“Careful...time for you to humiliate yourself. Confess your plan to Equestria and then, you may rest in peace.”
“I...don't plan to die.” Suddenly grabbing his sword, he quickly tried to stab him but Headline grabbed his arm and twisted it. “AGHHH!”
“NOW!” Realizing that he can no longer win this fight, he decides to make his final confession.
“LISTEN UP!!!” Zephyr yelled at the top of his lungs. “My plan was to give ponies more emotions then just love and peace. I wanted everypony to feel pain and anger, but then came Headline and his family to stop it all from happening. Think about it, peace and love without any negative emotions can cause more harm than good. For fury helps to make you feel better about yourself and give you the power to move forward, anger that you failed and promise to do better. That sort of thing. Then Headline and his father came along, and destroyed that plan. I come before you as I failed to help you all and help take control of Equestria with equal emotions and more. Long live the Assassins!!! Just as Headline was about to slice his neck, he looked at Fluttershy and his friends.
“What are you waiting for? KILL ME!!!” Zephyr shouted.
“NOOOOOOOOO!” Headline said as he punched his face. “I'm not like you. I will not kill you.” Headline bent down to silently chat with him. “Why are you doing what your great-grandfather did? Princess Celestia and Luna can help you. They look at the individual, not the history of one family. Think about this. This is not what you truly want. You just want the help you deserve, but you didn't want that because you were focused on completing what your great-grandfather, grandfather, and your father couldn't do. I believe you should open up and ask for help. Trust me. It will help you and I want you to think about it.” Headline looked up at Celestia and Luna. “He's yours.” Headline looked at Zephyr before he was taken away. “I hope we can be friends.” Just like that, Princess Celestia and Luna grabbed Zephyr and dragged him away.
“HEADLINE!!!” Fluttershy responded as she trotted over to him and lay down next to him. “No...NOOO...NOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
“My son....it can't be. I have now lost my last son.” With Fluttershy crying over Headline, his friends and I were also sobbing and crying for the death of Headline and the good things he had done for us. As Zephyr was being taken away, he saw Headline dead with his friends surrounding him and then pictured himself with the group and what Headline had told him.
“Wait!” Zephyr said. “I can save him.”
"Are you sure?" Princess Celestia responded in shock.
"Please!" Zephyr said as if he's pleading. "Give me this chance to undo my misjudged and terrible deeds."
“Very well. I will give you this chance.” Princess Celestia said sharply.
“Trust me. You have my word.” With that, Princess Luna and Celestia escorted him back to Headline.
“What is he doing?” Fluttershy said angrily.
“Move.” Zephyr said.”
“What? I won't...”
“Don't worry Fluttershy.” Princess Luna said. “He knows what he is doing.” Immediately, Zephyr used something secret that he never showed anyone. As Zephyr put his hooves to Headline's heart, he began to use healing magic.
“What in tar-nation?” Applejack responded.
“Quiet, I think he might be concentrating.” Rarity said with hope in her voice.
“It's not working.” Zephyr said. “I'm sorry.” Everyone frowned but Fluttershy was not determined to quit.
“May I help?” Fluttershy asked. Zephyr nodded and had her hooves on top of his heart and Zephyr's hooves over Fluttershy's. Suddenly, a giant spark ignited inside Headline and both Fluttershy and Zephyr both pushed together and then a giant shock boom around Headline. Zephyr was flown back and the others except Fluttershy who stood her ground with Headline. She fell on top of him. Then suddenly...
“Fluttershy, I can't breathe......*slap*” Fluttershy in shock got up and quickly slapped him. This was something he was not surprised to have happened.
“Oh...I was just...HEADLINE!!!” She jumped back on Headline and sobbed with tears of joy instead of sorrow.
“Ow...ow ow ow ow.” Headline said in pain. “Thank you for caring about me but...ow...would you please let me up and...I did deserve that.” Headline got back up. “I kept things in riddles and yet kept you in the dark; I should have told you my plan from the beginning. I guess this really is not going well between us.”
“No...I like you because you are kind and good...a pony I have always liked.” Fluttershy responded with a smile.
“I'm just glad to hear you are safe...son.” I responded back.
“Dad!” Headline said happily. Both Headline and I hugged each other for a few seconds. Headline turned to all the ponies that were watching and noticed they all applauded with joy that he saved Equestria from harm. As for the other 5 friends, well they are happy too.
“There was no way I could have come back that time. What happened?” Headline asked Fluttershy.
“Why don't you ask him?” She said as she pointed towards Zephyr.
“You saved me? Thank you.” Headline said happily.
“Happy to help.” Zephyr said. “Fluttershy helped me as well. I couldn't have done it without your filly friend.” Headline and Fluttershy both embarrassed.
“I do want to know how you came back.” Applejack responded in shock.
“Yeah, how can somepony who got stabbed in the back survive such an attack like that? You died, came back, and died again, and came back. Ahhhhhhhh...so it is possible to explode twice!” Pinkie responded happily.
“I wouldn't try that with this.” Headline said excitedly as he took out a vial.
“What is that?” Twilight asked.
“Nothing I have ever seen before...wait a minute.” I said as I examined the vial. “How did you complete this? I was finishing this but could not find the solution. What was it?”
“When I saw your notes in our house...yes, I noticed the key to your chest...anyway, I looked and saw this ingredient list for something called “The Living Dead.” The missing ingredient you were missing, Dad, was simply...ice.”
“Ice?” I wondered.
“Yeah, with ice, you can be frozen, yet dead. Yet, it still does not show that you are freezing to death. You are being frozen on the inside and not the outside. Therefore, what Zephyr did not realize was that as he got close, he was not curious as to why my heat was disappearing so quickly. I was freezing inside which froze my heart, but only for a little bit.”
“That explains how you got behind me.” Zephyr said in shock.
“When did you drink it?” Rarity asked.
“Simple, after I said that Zephyr dropped his guard I quickly took out the vial and drank a quarter of it.”
“How did you know how much to take?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“See, the vial contains a lot of power to it. If I drank the entire vial, I would most surely die after a chance to come back to life once to fulfill whatever I was doing. That's why I only took a quarter of the vial, yet that still was strong.”
“That is way beyond anything I ever seen.” Twilight said.
“That is why I'm going to get rid of it.” Headline said as he squeezed and smashed the vial to pieces on the ground. “This must not go into the wrong hands...o.k. That sounded cliché but it is true. If this got to somepony, they may try to improve on it. I say, we all should live one life.”
“I second that.” Rarity said.
“I believe Zephyr wants to discuss something with both Headline and Bold.” Princess Luna said.
“I know I do not deserve forgiveness from the both of you but I thought about what you said Headline and I agree. I think I need to think about my future and put away the past. Revenge would not solve anything. I'm sorry I killed your brother and I'm sorry about holding you hostage Bold, it was wrong of me. So, can you be my first friends? Headline gave an angry look toward Zephyr. Came up directly to his face. "I will never EVER forgive you for killing my brother!" Headline said furiously. Zephyr just frowned in sadness. "However..." Headline said happily, "...everypony deserves a second chance. Yes, I will forgive you on the fact you need another chance." "Same here." I said. We all deserve a second chance." Zephyr was happy to hear that and quickly apologized to everypony including Headline's friends. Hugging all of Headline's friends, we all trotted back to our home for a celebration. Zephyr went to File's tomb to say sorry to him. Headline went over with him.
“So Headline and Zephyr, what did you both learn?” Headline immediately stepped up to everypony and said, “I learned that violence does not solve all the problems in this world and that I should look for peace through agreement and not violence.” Zephyr stepped up and said, “I learned that I should not follow someone else's dreams and fulfill my own destiny in life. It is time to put the past behind me and move towards a more prosperous future.”
“I think you will both do just fine.” Princess Luna responded Happily. With that, everyone walked back towards the center of Ponyville.
“So, Headline, what do you plan to...whoa!” Twilight responded in shock as Headline kissed Fluttershy on the way home. My wife, Constantia, was overjoyed to see me home again. She kissed Headline so many times, it embarrassed him, but made Fluttershy giggle.
“Finally, I can give that party I promised earlier for you, Headline!” Pinkie responded excitedly. “Let's get this party started!” With that, all of Headline's friends were playing games, eating, dancing, and just having a swell time except...
“Oh c'mon Headline! The party just started!” Pinkie yelled in excitement. Headline did not even respond as he fell asleep, yet the party still went on for the rest of the day.
“Let him rest, I think he has had a hard 3 months.” Twilight responded.
“Too bad, I was about to pull a prank on him.” Rainbow Dash said.
“Well, at least everything is back to normal and Equestria is safe.” Applejack said.
“I must say, those assassin outfits did look fashionable.” Rarity exclaimed in awe.
“Gummy! Stop drinking all the punch!” Pinkie pie yelled as Gummy went into the bowl of punch.
“Opal is having too much fun with Tank I think.” Rarity giggled as Opal tries to claw Tank.
“Well, at least Angel is...oh...ummm...Angel...don't sleep on Headline's head.” Angel just ignores the comment and fell asleep. “Well, at least it is not disturbing Headline.” All the girls and guys just laughed and watched as Headline just dreams for a better future.
“That was one month ago. Now, he still works as one of the best reporters in Equestria, spends time with Fluttershy, and still goes to his brother's grave every day to talk to him. That is the end of the story.”
“Ohhh...come on Uncle Bold.”
“Yeah, I thought there was more to this story.
“Sorry, my nephews, Pen and Paper, but that is all there...”
“Hi Dad. Man your door needs work, it's all creaky sounding.”
“HEADLINE!!!”
“Heeeey, there are my cousins...Oh...man you are both heavy to pick up, since when did you all grow up?”
“Very funny cuz.”
“Well it is late my nephews and you need to head home to your parents.”
“Awww...do we have to?”
“Sorry cousins but it is late and I don't need to get a letter from your mom, telling me that I let my cousins stay without permission. C'mon, time to go home.”
“Promise you will tell us your reporting stories?”
“Dad.”
“What?”
“You did not tell them my reporting stories?”
“Well, they wanted to hear about your exciting adventure then tell them about your reports, but when I tried to, they wanted to hear the rest of the story.”
“O.k. Pen and Paper, next time you come over, I will tell you.”
“YAY! Good night Headline. Good night Uncle Bold.”
“Good night Pen and Paper.”
“Now, why did you come over Headline?”
“Well, what do you think of this?”
“...Wow. You are moving up in the future. Is this something she wouldn't mind doing?”
“We've known each other for six years. This is her choice. I will agree either way. However, in my mind...I believe this is something we can do...together.
