(AN: Sorry about the long updates but chapter 3 is now here so enjoy. Note the POV change toward the end.)
The house that Princess Celestia arranged for me was fully furnished. Dirge now sat in a chair in front of a television that was just recently developed. He was unbound but I still possessed his weapons.
"So," he said impatiently, "what is it you want me to see?"
I popped the tape in the player and pressed play. As the tape played, I watched his reaction. His face changed from passiveness to anger. The tape ended and I turned off the television.
"How long?" He asked.
"How long what?" I asked.
"How long have you known about this?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"I only found out today brother." I said. "I know everything now and I want to stop the Black Hand. Please," I pleaded, "join me and my cause. We can find Jack and we can stop them together."
Dirge just looked at the ground in anger.
"I need a moment." He said quietly. I walked away from him into the kitchen where the other six were waiting.
"What's going on?" Twilight asked.
"He's angry." I said simply sitting at the kitchen table.
"Were you angry when you found out?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Not as angry as I was shocked that my mentor would lie to me." I said.
"All these people who you two talk about," Applejack said, "who exactly are they?"
"Well," I said, "there's the Council of Four which consists of the two Mercenary leaders Juto and Rocky and the two Assassin leaders Blaze and Cat. Juto and Blaze are in charge of the more advanced groups of Mercenaries and Assassins. Rocky and Cat are in charge of the lower ranks."
The kitchen door opened to reveal Dirge.
"I will join you." He said. "I will help you expose the Black Hand." I stood up and offered my hand to him. He grasped my wrist.
"Possiamo lavorare al buio per servire la luce." I said. May we work in the dark to serve the light.
"Nichts ist wahr, alles ist erlaubt." He said. Nothing is true, everything is permitted.
"Niente è vero, tutto è permesso." I said. Nothing is true, everything is permitted.
"What the hay are you two sayin' over there?" Applejack asked obviously confused. I let go of Dirge's wrist.
"It's an Assassin pledge." I explained.
"I pledged myself to Leo's cause." He said. "I will help him."
"We want to help too." Rarity said.
"Are you sure that's wise?" I asked her. "You will be hunted down just as we will be."
"We were talking earlier," Fluttershy said, "and we decided to help our new friends."
"Yeah!" Pinkie chimed in. "You should always help your friends!" I chuckled lightly.
"Well," he said, "it's late. You should all get some rest."
"Yeah," Dirge said, "I'm beat." I walked with the ponies to the front door where Rarity stopped me.
"Leo," she said, "I would appreciate it if somepony were to see me home." I laughed lightly.
"I'd be happy to." I said. Rarity and I walked together.
"So," she began, "is Ponyville to your liking so far?"
"It's a good place to lay low for a while." I said. "I can get my bearings here and prepare for my assault on Blaze."
"You seem very determined to get back at this Blaze character." She said.
"Not just get back at him," I said, "I'm going to kill him." I looked down at Rarity. Her height was up to my elbows. From that view, I admired the way her mane bounce as she walked.
"I don't like to think about that." She said. "Killing ponies. I did too much of that in the war."
"Yes," I said darkly, "I know. It was a dark six years for all of us even the Black Hand."
"You didn't participate in any battles as I recall." She said almost accusingly.
"I know," I said, "but there were many of us who lost people close to us because of the war."
"Did you lose someone?" She asked.
"A good friend," I said, "her name was Vex."
"Her?" Rarity inquired.
"Oh," I said recoiling, "we weren't an item or anything. We were just good friends in the Assassin's Academy."
"How did she die?" Rarity asked. "If you don't mind my asking."
"They say that she died in a Solar Empire raid. There was no body. Now, I even wonder if the Council was lying about that or anything else." I pondered on that for a moment. Before I knew it, we were on her doorstep.
"Would you like to come in Leo?" She asked. "I can make you some tea if you want." I really shouldn't, I know this. Despite this, for some reason I wanted to do nothing more than remain in her presence.
"Cup of tea wouldn't hurt." I said. I removed my hood and walked in behind her.
"I must say Leo," she said, "you do look rather dashing without the hood." I laughed.
"I'll keep that in mind next time you come to my house." I said.
Rarity's home, from the file that I had read on her, was also known as Carousel Boutique. In the file, it said that three years ago, it burned down due to a gas fire. From what the file said, it was three stories tall after it was rebuilt. The first floor was the actual store, the second floor was the home with a kitchen, living room, etc. The third floor was her bedroom. I found it slightly creepy when I saw pictures of the bedroom in the file.
Inside, it was just as I predicted. It was decorated like it looked in the pictures; mannequins, dress racks, the secluded curtained off part.
"I like what you've done with the place." I said jokingly. Rarity looked at me in surprise.
"Thank you." She said taken aback. "How did you-?"
"I know a lot of things that you wouldn't expect I would." I said. "For instance, I know that your last home burned down three years ago and I know that you played a big part in the Battle of Ghastly Gorge."
She regarded me with a very surprised look as she led me up the stairs to her living room.
"How do you know all of these things about me?" She asked.
"The bearers of the Elements of Harmony are on our Hit-list or the top priority targets. I was recently put on the list but you already knew that."
"So," she said as we entered the living room, "I am a target?"
"I told you not to get involved." I said matter-of-factly. "You can still back out now if you're scared that you will be hunted. Which you will."
"Oh no," she said, "I didn't survive a war just to be killed by some two-bit Assassin. No offense." I admired her determination. "We are not delicate flowers Leo. Now, come into the kitchen and I'll make us some of that tea." I followed her into the kitchen and sat at the table.
It was as I expected, the very same kitchen I saw in the file. Why all this was coming back to me now, I didn't know. Rarity sat across from me at the table.
"So, I'm curious," she began, "how many languages do you know?" I chuckled.
"Three." I said. "I took English and Italian at the academy and I learned German on the side. There are quite a few books on the subject in local bookstores."
"The language we are speaking now, is this English?" She asked. It was a valid question, from what I understood Equestria had few ponies who spoke two languages. I knew Rarity spoke English and a little French.
"That's right." I confirmed.
"And the language that you were talking to Dirge in, that was German?" I laughed.
"No, no," I said, "I spoke Italian while he spoke German."
"Where do all of these languages come from?" She asked as the tea kettle whistled on the stove.
"A continent on Earth called Europe. English from England, Italian from Italy, and German from Germany." I explained. Basic stuff.
"Ah," she said finally getting it, "that makes sense."
"Good to know you're getting it." I said half-jokingly. I watched in slight awe as she made a teapot, two cups, two spoons, a bowl of sugar cubes and some cream levitate to the table in between us.
"Could you teach me some Italian?" She asked. I was surprised at her request.
"Why do you want to learn?" I asked curiosity getting the better of me.
"It just sounds so..." She paused as she struggled for the right word.
"Sophisticated?" I said fishing for the right word. "Romantic?" She blushed a little bit at that.
"Well," she stammered, "yes." She took a sip of her after stirring the sugar and cream into it. I sipped my own tea and chuckled.
"I'd love to teach you some." I said. Her blue eyes seemed to light up. it made my heart skip for some strange reason.
"Oh, wonderful!" She exclaimed. I laughed aloud. I hadn't laughed like that in a while. What is going on? Am I getting soft?
"Well," I began, "let's just start with 'hello'." She leaned forward, listening intently.
I never really thought of myself as a good teacher, despite training plenty of recruits. However, she seemed to take in everything I taught her. By the time we finished the pot of tea, she was already saying "good night" and "good morning" with perfect Italian rhythm. However, to my dismay it was time for us to part ways for the night.
"I'm sorry Rarity," I said, "but I really need to get going. I need to go see if Dirge is okay and such."
"Oh," she said. "I understand." Was that...disappointment? I floundered for a solution to her light despair.
"Uh," I stammered, "maybe we could do this again sometime? I mean, if you still want to learn, I'd be willing to teach you." Her face lit up again and my heart seemed to skip a beat when she looked at me with such joy.
"I would be delighted darling." She said. I smiled at that.
"Me too." I said absentmindedly. Why did I just say that? She blushed.
"I'll see you to the door then." She said. She walked with me to the front door. I found it comforting that she was willing to see me to the door. I was sad to have to leave.
"Buonanotte Rarità." I said bowing to her in respect.
"Buonanotte Leo." She said inclining her head to me.
I left Carousel Boutique knowing that I was going to like my acquaintance with Rarity.
********* **********
"Leo!" A familiar voice shouted through the darkness. It was female. I looked around to only to see no one.
"Where are you?" I asked.
"Leo!" There is was again. I looked behind me to see a woman in blue Mercenary's clothes.
"Song!" I exclaimed. I ran over to her and grabbed her hand. "What are you doing here?"
"You betrayed me Leo." She said.
"What?" I said taken aback. "I didn't betray you! I-!" She began to fade away. "No! Song!"
"You betrayed us all!" She shouted as she disappeared.
********* **********
I woke up in my bed in my home in Ponyville, the feeling of metal on my neck. I met the eyes of Roman. I gripped the dagger under my pillow.
"Roman," I said, "here to collect the bounty?" Roman smiled broadly. He removed his dagger from my neck.
"Leo, my boy," he said laughing as he stood up straight, "you are too suspicious of those around you." I sat up letting go of the dagger.
"What?" I said. Roman removed his hood to reveal his greying black hair and brown eyes.
"It's time I told you a few things." He said. "I'll be downstairs. When you're ready, I'll be there." He left my bed room and I was left alone in my sunlit bedroom. I stood up and scratched my bare chest. I grabbed a shirt and pair of normal pants. I slipped on my boots and grabbed one of my hidden blades and put it on my wrist.
I walked out of my room, and went down the hallway and down the stairs. I saw Roman sitting in the living room.
"You wanted to talk with me Roman?" I asked.
"Sit down Leo." He commanded delicately. I sat down in a chair across from him.
"What's this about?" I asked. Roman sighed and leaned forward.
"Leo," he said, "now that you know the truth-."
"You know too?" I asked surprised.
"Leo," he said, "I've aways known. You weren't ready to know. That's why I never told you. But enough about that for now." He dismissed it. I obliged despite having more questions. "I want to talk about your father." I raised an eyebrow at such a request.
"My father?" I said. "I didn't even know the man. Why would I care about my father?"
"Choose your words wisely boy." Roman warned. "You are speaking of my brother." I sat silent at that. "Now, I want to explain everything that happened when you were born. It was twenty-six years ago, after your father brought you to me."
********* **********
"Roman," the man that walked into my home said. My brother was exasperated as if he'd been running.
"What's going on?" I asked. He shoved a bundle into my hands.
"I need you to keep him safe." He said. "I need you to teach him everything. Go, now!"
"Wait!" I shouted. "Just what the hell are you talking about?"
"I don't have time to explain Roman!" He shouted. "Take him away from here. Blaze cannot get to him. If he does then our cause will be for nothing. I have to go now. Take care of him brother." He turned and exited my apartment.
For the next six years, I raised him. I raised Leo to be a great child with morals and respect for others. I never saw my brother again. On Leo's sixth birthday, Blaze's personal guard came and took him from me. I fought hard but I couldn't hold them off for long.
One of the guards gave me a message; "If you ever shelter him again, we will take him again. And he will be executed."
For the next ten years, I wallowed in the fact that I had failed my brother. Then, the reactor blew in Manehattan, the outpost that I was stationed at. I was among one of the last people on the tram to safety. The next day, I got a letter that my brother had perished in the fire.
I travelled to Canterlot to give my report to Blaze and there he was. Leo in full Assassin's regalia, standing faithfully beside the man that my brother and I had conspired against for so long. I saw it in his eyes. His memory of me had been completely erased new memories had been implanted in his mind. I only cemented this fact after I approached him after the meeting.
"I'm sorry about your father." I said sympathetically.
"I never knew the man." He said. "Blaze raised me so I never really knew him. It's still a shame though."
Leo had no idea who I really was. The first six years of his life were most likely a blur to him if he didn't have new memories.
I departed to Ponyville and spread the news there and formed my own alliance with the entire outpost who had sworn secrecy until the time we finally struck.
********* **********
I took in Roman's story. Everything about my life had been a lie up to this point anyway, but they still were nothing compared to this. My rage built to a point where there were tears in my eyes.
"When the Doctor told you and showed you what truly happened," he said, "I knew that it was time to prepare for our strike on Canterlot."
I looked up at my uncle. Rage consumed me.
"What do I have to do?" I asked.