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Description
Swift Wing's short moment of falling seemed like hours. So many things raced through her mind as the canal rose to meet her. She wondered if she judged her aim correctly, and, if she did, would she survive a fall from a ten story building? The questions kept coming until finally, she felt herself crash into the water. She stayed still for a second before opening her eyes. She thrashed around and swam to the surface. Gasping for breath, she paddled to the edge of the canal. She flopped her forelegs onto land.

A pair of hooves appeared in front of her. She looked up to see Cannon Fire. Sea Foam stood by his side. His horn glowed blue as he pulled Swift out of the water. "Yeah," he said. "The first time always knocks it out of you." Swift Wing shot a look at her hooded companions. "You guys are insane, you know that?" Her friends looked at each other, then back at Swift. A small grin appeared on Swift's dripping wet face. "You're just my kind of ponies!" she said, and the three laughed. They shook the water off of themselves. Swift's allies removed their hoods.

"So," asked Swift Wing. "What's the deal with you two? I've never seen anyone fight like you guys. Didn't you mention an order or something?" Sea Foam and Cannon Fire looked at each other and had a silent conversation. They nodded at each other. "We're both members of an ancient order," said Sea Foam. "The Assassins."

"We're dedicated to defending the liberty and freedom in Equestria," said Cannon Fire. "And we fight against those who would take it."

"And who is that?" asked Swift.

"The Templars," said Sea Foam. "An order almost as old as ours. Their only goal is to gain absolute control over everything and everypony."

"And is Celestia somehow involved with them?" asked Swift. A look appeared on the hooded ponies faces. "She's their grand master," said Cannon Fire. Swift Wing pulled a look of her own. "Seriously?" she said. Her friends nodded. "Huh," said Swift. "You know, that actually explains a lot." The three looked at the moon in the night sky. "We should probably head back to the hideout," said Cannon Fire to Sea Foam. She nodded, and turned to Swift Wing. "It's probably best if you come with us," she said.

Swift Wing was about to deny the request, but she noticed something in Sea Foam's expression. Something almost pleading. "Alright," she said to her friends. "Lead the way." Her friends nodded and pulled their hoods up. The three then ran into an alleyway. After twisting around a few abandoned streets, the two Assassins stopped and turned into a narrow alley. Swift Wing raised an eyebrow. "What are you guys doing?" she asked.

"It's easier to travel by rooftop," said Sea Foam. Swift still looked confused. "And how do you plan to get up there without wings or stairs?" she asked. The two Assassins smiled at each other. Suddenly, Cannon Fire lunged at a wall. All four of his hooves landed and pushed upwards off the wall. He hit the neighboring wall and did the same. He continued the action until, finally, he was on the rooftops. Sea Foam smiled at Swift. "Think you can keep up?" she said jokingly before copying Cannon Fire.

The two Assassins glanced down at Swift, who's jaw had dropped. She looked at the parallel walls and gulped. After a moment of hesitation, she attempted the move. She almost made it to the top when she lost her footing. She barely made it to the rooftop, and she grabbed the ledge for dear life. Cannon Fire raced over and used his magic to pull her up.

After taking a moment to catch her breath and to adjust her scarf, Swift turned to her friends. "So," she said. "Where to now?" The Assassins turned their heads to the left. "There," said Sea Foam, who pointed to a nearby tower. She exchanged a smile with Cannon Fire and they both turned to Swift. "Race ya!" yelled Sea Foam. Suddenly, the hooded ponies began to gallop across the rooftops to the tower. Swift Wing barely had time to react. "Hey! No fair!" she called, and with that, she ran after them.

It only took a few seconds for Swift to catch up with her friends, but they made sure she didn't pass them. They galloped across the rooftops, leaping over the gorges created by the alleyways below. The moonlight shined down on them as they streaked through the night sky. Swift lost her footing a few times, but quickly recovered. All three were panting as they neared the tower. Soon, they hopped onto a low rooftop, and then landed on the ground.

All three were out of breath. "I won!" said Swift through her gasps. Sea Foam looked at her. "You wish! I won!" she said. "You're both wrong," said Cannon Fire. "I won!"

"You so did not!" said Swift. Cannon Fire chuckled. "The important part is that we made it here," he said. The three looked at each other and smiled in agreement. They caught their breath, and looked at the large building by the tower. Above its double doors was a sign with a book painted on it and words that read 'Eagle's Quill Library'. Swift Wing raised an eyebrow. "Your super secret order's headquarters is a library?" she asked. "Just wait and see," said Sea Foam. The three walked up to the door and entered.

The interior looked like any other library that Swift had seen before. Several books lined about two dozen shelves. A stallion in a white jacket sat behind a counter. The three walked up to him. "Ah, Sea Foam! Cannon Fire! Good to see you!" he said as they approached. He cast a glance at Swift Wing. Sea Foam followed his gaze. "Don't worry, Bluejay," she said. "She's a friend. No need for secrets." Bluejay nodded. "I take it you're here to report to Feather Duster?" he asked. The Assassins nodded. "Alright, come on," said Bluejay. He led the three to a back room.

In the room's back wall, Swift Wing saw the slight outline of a door. In the center of the stone door was an emblem of sorts. It was in the same shape as the teardrop-like pattern on Sea Foam's horseshoes. In the middle of it was a small protrusion shaped to look like a pony's skull. A small slit rested between the skull's eye sockets. Bluejay nodded to the Assassins and left the room. Cannon Fire trotted up to the door. In one movement, he flicked out his hidden blade and rammed it into the slit.

He twisted it slightly and retracted his blade. The skull suddenly clicked as it divided into three even pieces. A mechanism clattered behind the skull before it reformed. After a few moments, the stone door slid open, revealing a lantern-lit staircase leading down somewhere. "Fancy," said Swift Wing. The three ponies trotted onto the staircase, and the door slid shut behind them.

At the bottom of the long stairway, the ponies found themselves in a large chamber. Paintings and banners lined the tall stone walls. Lanterns illuminated the enormous place. Desks and bookshelves lined the walls. Hooded ponies, which Swift Wing assumed were more Assassins, were wandering the halls. As they passed by different rooms, Swift made a mental map of the base. She saw a room filled with various weapons, a room lined by various armor sets, and even a room filled with more bookshelves like the ones above.

Swift noticed the teardrop symbol that were embroidered on the banners. She assumed that it was the insignia of the Assassins. Eventually, the three arrived at a large room. A roaring fireplace lit up the whole place. By it was a comfortable looking chair, and sitting in it was a relatively old pegasus. She had a yellow coat, an orange mane, and a white cloak. She turned and smiled at the two Assassins. She put down the book she was reading and trotted over to hug the two. "Sea Foam! Cannon Fire! Good to have you back!" she said, greeting them like siblings.

She turned to Sea Foam, and her face grew more serious. "Were you able to recover the Apple?" she asked. Sea Foam sadly shook her head. "Unfortunately not, mentor," she said. "There were too many... complications." She cast a glance over at Swift Wing, who was beginning to feel awkward. The older pegasus followed her fellow Assassin's gaze. "And who is this?" she asked. Sea Foam fully turned to look at Swift. "Feather Duster, this is Swift Wing," she said. "She's... a friend."

The awkward look on Sea Foam's face was becoming more obvious. "What is it you're not telling me?" Feather asked Sea Foam. The blue mare stuttered. Swift Wing saw that Sea Foam was trying to protect her. She was moved. No one had really shown her a kindness like that before, not out of friendship at least. She knew she had to say something. "It was my fault," she said to the Assassin mentor. "I was trying to steal this 'Apple' of yours and I kinda messed up your friend's mission. If you're gonna blame somepony, blame me."

The Assassins stared at her. Feather Duster's expression grew more serious. "You realize that in letting Celestia gain hold of the Apple, you've made our job much more difficult?" She asked. Swift nodded, now becoming nervous. Feather continued. "And not only that, but you may have unintentionally brought Equestria's destruction down upon us all?" Swift nodded again. Feather waved her hoof. "Leave," she said. "You're not welcome here." Swift Wing lowered her head. She slowly turned to leave.

Sea Foam stared at her. She quickly turned to Feather. "She has the sense, mentor." She said quickly, raising her voice ever so slightly. Feather stared at her companion, who nodded in conformation. Feather turned to Swift Wing, who was almost out of the room. "Is she correct?" she called to Swift, who turned back to the Assassins. "You mean that eagle vision, thing?" she asked. "Yeah. Though I only found out about it after I blacked out from touching that Apple thing.

Now, all three of the Assassins stared. "You touched the Apple?" asked Cannon Fire. "With your bare hooves?" continued Sea Foam. Swift Wing nodded, unsure of what to make of their reactions. Feather raised an eyebrow. "And yet you're completely fine," she said. Swift's mind flashed back to the visions she saw. She quickly shooed them away. Feather turned to Sea Foam. "We need to talk," she said. Sea Foam nodded and the two went into another room.

Swift looked at Cannon Fire. He gave her a very slight smile. "You're in a tricky situation," he said. "It could've been much worse."

"Would she have killed me?" asked Swift.

"She very well could have, after all the trouble you apparently caused."

Swift felt a lump in her throat. "It's weird," she said.

"What is?"

"I've never felt so bad about something like this before. I'm sure I've messed up plenty of ponies lives. Why is this time messing with my head?"

"Maybe it's because you nearly doomed Equestria. Maybe it's because you've hurt ponies that would be willing to call you a friend, perhaps even accept you as one of their own."

Swift Wing stared at Cannon Fire. "What are you saying?" she asked. Cannon Fire's smile widened slightly. "I'm just saying you'd make a great addition to the brotherhood. If it were up to me-"

He was cut off by a door opening. Feather Duster and Sea Foam returned to the room. Feather addressed Swift Wing. "Alright. I've been convinced to give you a second chance." Swift's face lit up. Feather continued. "I'm going to allow you to try to fix what you've broken. Are you willing to carry out a series of missions on behalf of the Assassins?" Swift thought it through for a moment, and then nodded. "Yes. I am," she said. Feather's eyes became kinder. A slight smile appeared on her face.

"Excellent," she said.

"So, what is it you want me to do?" asked Swift. Feather reached into her bag and pulled out a small scroll, which she unrolled. "We've just received word that there is a perfect opportunity to strike at our enemies," she said, passing the scroll to Swift. She continued. "A relatively high ranking Templar is hosting a party in the royal gardens. We'd like you and Sea Foam to sneak in and eliminate him while he's distracted. Do you think you're up to the task?" Swift Wing nodded again.

"Very well," continued Feather. She turned to Sea Foam. "From this point on, she'll be your responsibility," she said. Sea Foam nodded. Feather nodded to the three ponies, and then waved for them to leave.

"Are you sure you're up to this?" Sea Foam asked Swift as they left the room. "I hope I am," said Swift. She looked down at her scroll. "Who are you after?" asked Cannon Fire. "A really rich pony named Fancy Pants," said Swift. "I've stolen plenty of gems and gold from his place before. Guys got the whole city kissing his hooves. They'd probably hop in a bonfire if he told them to."

"And that's why he's a threat," said Sea Foam. "With the Templars at his side, he can get away with almost anything. We need to stop him." She turned to Cannon Fire. "Sorry you can't join the fun." Cannon Fire chuckled. "Oh, I've got plenty of things to keep me occupied. Luna's gotten word of some strange things going on in another part of the city. She's assigning me to investigate."

"You work for Luna?" asked Swift.

"I'm a member of her royal guard. I investigate any suspected conspiracies."

"So is she in with the Assassins?"

"She's not one of us, but she's definitely a valuable ally." Swift Wing nodded. Cannon Fire continued. "Anyways, I'd better get going. Good luck to both of you." The three said their goodbyes, and then Cannon Fire was off. Sea Foam turned to Swift. "Come on," she said. "Let's get you suited up."

The two ponies walked into another room that was filled with Assassin supplies. Swift Wing found a set of hooded robes that she found herself attracted to. Sea Foam told her to try it on, which she did. It was a perfect fit. Sea Foam handed Swift a pair of metal horseshoes. Swift noticed the hidden blades attached to them. "They'll do much better than those rusty things you've got on now." said Sea Foam. Swift Wing put on the new blades examined herself in a mirror. She thought she looked nice in her white robes.

Sea Foam grabbed a few things of her own before leading Swift out the door. "Alright," she said as she placed a hoof on Swift's shoulder. "Let's crash a party."

Description
Swift Wing's short moment of falling seemed like hours. So many things raced through her mind as the canal rose to meet her. She wondered if she judged her aim correctly, and, if she did, would she survive a fall from a ten story building? The questions kept coming until finally, she felt herself crash into the water. She stayed still for a second before opening her eyes. She thrashed around and swam to the surface. Gasping for breath, she paddled to the edge of the canal. She flopped her forelegs onto land.

A pair of hooves appeared in front of her. She looked up to see Cannon Fire. Sea Foam stood by his side. His horn glowed blue as he pulled Swift out of the water. "Yeah," he said. "The first time always knocks it out of you." Swift Wing shot a look at her hooded companions. "You guys are insane, you know that?" Her friends looked at each other, then back at Swift. A small grin appeared on Swift's dripping wet face. "You're just my kind of ponies!" she said, and the three laughed. They shook the water off of themselves. Swift's allies removed their hoods.

"So," asked Swift Wing. "What's the deal with you two? I've never seen anyone fight like you guys. Didn't you mention an order or something?" Sea Foam and Cannon Fire looked at each other and had a silent conversation. They nodded at each other. "We're both members of an ancient order," said Sea Foam. "The Assassins."

"We're dedicated to defending the liberty and freedom in Equestria," said Cannon Fire. "And we fight against those who would take it."

"And who is that?" asked Swift.

"The Templars," said Sea Foam. "An order almost as old as ours. Their only goal is to gain absolute control over everything and everypony."

"And is Celestia somehow involved with them?" asked Swift. A look appeared on the hooded ponies faces. "She's their grand master," said Cannon Fire. Swift Wing pulled a look of her own. "Seriously?" she said. Her friends nodded. "Huh," said Swift. "You know, that actually explains a lot." The three looked at the moon in the night sky. "We should probably head back to the hideout," said Cannon Fire to Sea Foam. She nodded, and turned to Swift Wing. "It's probably best if you come with us," she said.

Swift Wing was about to deny the request, but she noticed something in Sea Foam's expression. Something almost pleading. "Alright," she said to her friends. "Lead the way." Her friends nodded and pulled their hoods up. The three then ran into an alleyway. After twisting around a few abandoned streets, the two Assassins stopped and turned into a narrow alley. Swift Wing raised an eyebrow. "What are you guys doing?" she asked.

"It's easier to travel by rooftop," said Sea Foam. Swift still looked confused. "And how do you plan to get up there without wings or stairs?" she asked. The two Assassins smiled at each other. Suddenly, Cannon Fire lunged at a wall. All four of his hooves landed and pushed upwards off the wall. He hit the neighboring wall and did the same. He continued the action until, finally, he was on the rooftops. Sea Foam smiled at Swift. "Think you can keep up?" she said jokingly before copying Cannon Fire.

The two Assassins glanced down at Swift, who's jaw had dropped. She looked at the parallel walls and gulped. After a moment of hesitation, she attempted the move. She almost made it to the top when she lost her footing. She barely made it to the rooftop, and she grabbed the ledge for dear life. Cannon Fire raced over and used his magic to pull her up.

After taking a moment to catch her breath and to adjust her scarf, Swift turned to her friends. "So," she said. "Where to now?" The Assassins turned their heads to the left. "There," said Sea Foam, who pointed to a nearby tower. She exchanged a smile with Cannon Fire and they both turned to Swift. "Race ya!" yelled Sea Foam. Suddenly, the hooded ponies began to gallop across the rooftops to the tower. Swift Wing barely had time to react. "Hey! No fair!" she called, and with that, she ran after them.

It only took a few seconds for Swift to catch up with her friends, but they made sure she didn't pass them. They galloped across the rooftops, leaping over the gorges created by the alleyways below. The moonlight shined down on them as they streaked through the night sky. Swift lost her footing a few times, but quickly recovered. All three were panting as they neared the tower. Soon, they hopped onto a low rooftop, and then landed on the ground.

All three were out of breath. "I won!" said Swift through her gasps. Sea Foam looked at her. "You wish! I won!" she said. "You're both wrong," said Cannon Fire. "I won!"

"You so did not!" said Swift. Cannon Fire chuckled. "The important part is that we made it here," he said. The three looked at each other and smiled in agreement. They caught their breath, and looked at the large building by the tower. Above its double doors was a sign with a book painted on it and words that read 'Eagle's Quill Library'. Swift Wing raised an eyebrow. "Your super secret order's headquarters is a library?" she asked. "Just wait and see," said Sea Foam. The three walked up to the door and entered.

The interior looked like any other library that Swift had seen before. Several books lined about two dozen shelves. A stallion in a white jacket sat behind a counter. The three walked up to him. "Ah, Sea Foam! Cannon Fire! Good to see you!" he said as they approached. He cast a glance at Swift Wing. Sea Foam followed his gaze. "Don't worry, Bluejay," she said. "She's a friend. No need for secrets." Bluejay nodded. "I take it you're here to report to Feather Duster?" he asked. The Assassins nodded. "Alright, come on," said Bluejay. He led the three to a back room.

In the room's back wall, Swift Wing saw the slight outline of a door. In the center of the stone door was an emblem of sorts. It was in the same shape as the teardrop-like pattern on Sea Foam's horseshoes. In the middle of it was a small protrusion shaped to look like a pony's skull. A small slit rested between the skull's eye sockets. Bluejay nodded to the Assassins and left the room. Cannon Fire trotted up to the door. In one movement, he flicked out his hidden blade and rammed it into the slit.

He twisted it slightly and retracted his blade. The skull suddenly clicked as it divided into three even pieces. A mechanism clattered behind the skull before it reformed. After a few moments, the stone door slid open, revealing a lantern-lit staircase leading down somewhere. "Fancy," said Swift Wing. The three ponies trotted onto the staircase, and the door slid shut behind them.

At the bottom of the long stairway, the ponies found themselves in a large chamber. Paintings and banners lined the tall stone walls. Lanterns illuminated the enormous place. Desks and bookshelves lined the walls. Hooded ponies, which Swift Wing assumed were more Assassins, were wandering the halls. As they passed by different rooms, Swift made a mental map of the base. She saw a room filled with various weapons, a room lined by various armor sets, and even a room filled with more bookshelves like the ones above.

Swift noticed the teardrop symbol that were embroidered on the banners. She assumed that it was the insignia of the Assassins. Eventually, the three arrived at a large room. A roaring fireplace lit up the whole place. By it was a comfortable looking chair, and sitting in it was a relatively old pegasus. She had a yellow coat, an orange mane, and a white cloak. She turned and smiled at the two Assassins. She put down the book she was reading and trotted over to hug the two. "Sea Foam! Cannon Fire! Good to have you back!" she said, greeting them like siblings.

She turned to Sea Foam, and her face grew more serious. "Were you able to recover the Apple?" she asked. Sea Foam sadly shook her head. "Unfortunately not, mentor," she said. "There were too many... complications." She cast a glance over at Swift Wing, who was beginning to feel awkward. The older pegasus followed her fellow Assassin's gaze. "And who is this?" she asked. Sea Foam fully turned to look at Swift. "Feather Duster, this is Swift Wing," she said. "She's... a friend."

The awkward look on Sea Foam's face was becoming more obvious. "What is it you're not telling me?" Feather asked Sea Foam. The blue mare stuttered. Swift Wing saw that Sea Foam was trying to protect her. She was moved. No one had really shown her a kindness like that before, not out of friendship at least. She knew she had to say something. "It was my fault," she said to the Assassin mentor. "I was trying to steal this 'Apple' of yours and I kinda messed up your friend's mission. If you're gonna blame somepony, blame me."

The Assassins stared at her. Feather Duster's expression grew more serious. "You realize that in letting Celestia gain hold of the Apple, you've made our job much more difficult?" She asked. Swift nodded, now becoming nervous. Feather continued. "And not only that, but you may have unintentionally brought Equestria's destruction down upon us all?" Swift nodded again. Feather waved her hoof. "Leave," she said. "You're not welcome here." Swift Wing lowered her head. She slowly turned to leave.

Sea Foam stared at her. She quickly turned to Feather. "She has the sense, mentor." She said quickly, raising her voice ever so slightly. Feather stared at her companion, who nodded in conformation. Feather turned to Swift Wing, who was almost out of the room. "Is she correct?" she called to Swift, who turned back to the Assassins. "You mean that eagle vision, thing?" she asked. "Yeah. Though I only found out about it after I blacked out from touching that Apple thing.

Now, all three of the Assassins stared. "You touched the Apple?" asked Cannon Fire. "With your bare hooves?" continued Sea Foam. Swift Wing nodded, unsure of what to make of their reactions. Feather raised an eyebrow. "And yet you're completely fine," she said. Swift's mind flashed back to the visions she saw. She quickly shooed them away. Feather turned to Sea Foam. "We need to talk," she said. Sea Foam nodded and the two went into another room.

Swift looked at Cannon Fire. He gave her a very slight smile. "You're in a tricky situation," he said. "It could've been much worse."

"Would she have killed me?" asked Swift.

"She very well could have, after all the trouble you apparently caused."

Swift felt a lump in her throat. "It's weird," she said.

"What is?"

"I've never felt so bad about something like this before. I'm sure I've messed up plenty of ponies lives. Why is this time messing with my head?"

"Maybe it's because you nearly doomed Equestria. Maybe it's because you've hurt ponies that would be willing to call you a friend, perhaps even accept you as one of their own."

Swift Wing stared at Cannon Fire. "What are you saying?" she asked. Cannon Fire's smile widened slightly. "I'm just saying you'd make a great addition to the brotherhood. If it were up to me-"

He was cut off by a door opening. Feather Duster and Sea Foam returned to the room. Feather addressed Swift Wing. "Alright. I've been convinced to give you a second chance." Swift's face lit up. Feather continued. "I'm going to allow you to try to fix what you've broken. Are you willing to carry out a series of missions on behalf of the Assassins?" Swift thought it through for a moment, and then nodded. "Yes. I am," she said. Feather's eyes became kinder. A slight smile appeared on her face.

"Excellent," she said.

"So, what is it you want me to do?" asked Swift. Feather reached into her bag and pulled out a small scroll, which she unrolled. "We've just received word that there is a perfect opportunity to strike at our enemies," she said, passing the scroll to Swift. She continued. "A relatively high ranking Templar is hosting a party in the royal gardens. We'd like you and Sea Foam to sneak in and eliminate him while he's distracted. Do you think you're up to the task?" Swift Wing nodded again.

"Very well," continued Feather. She turned to Sea Foam. "From this point on, she'll be your responsibility," she said. Sea Foam nodded. Feather nodded to the three ponies, and then waved for them to leave.

"Are you sure you're up to this?" Sea Foam asked Swift as they left the room. "I hope I am," said Swift. She looked down at her scroll. "Who are you after?" asked Cannon Fire. "A really rich pony named Fancy Pants," said Swift. "I've stolen plenty of gems and gold from his place before. Guys got the whole city kissing his hooves. They'd probably hop in a bonfire if he told them to."

"And that's why he's a threat," said Sea Foam. "With the Templars at his side, he can get away with almost anything. We need to stop him." She turned to Cannon Fire. "Sorry you can't join the fun." Cannon Fire chuckled. "Oh, I've got plenty of things to keep me occupied. Luna's gotten word of some strange things going on in another part of the city. She's assigning me to investigate."

"You work for Luna?" asked Swift.

"I'm a member of her royal guard. I investigate any suspected conspiracies."

"So is she in with the Assassins?"

"She's not one of us, but she's definitely a valuable ally." Swift Wing nodded. Cannon Fire continued. "Anyways, I'd better get going. Good luck to both of you." The three said their goodbyes, and then Cannon Fire was off. Sea Foam turned to Swift. "Come on," she said. "Let's get you suited up."

The two ponies walked into another room that was filled with Assassin supplies. Swift Wing found a set of hooded robes that she found herself attracted to. Sea Foam told her to try it on, which she did. It was a perfect fit. Sea Foam handed Swift a pair of metal horseshoes. Swift noticed the hidden blades attached to them. "They'll do much better than those rusty things you've got on now." said Sea Foam. Swift Wing put on the new blades examined herself in a mirror. She thought she looked nice in her white robes.

Sea Foam grabbed a few things of her own before leading Swift out the door. "Alright," she said as she placed a hoof on Swift's shoulder. "Let's crash a party."