AN: This is one of my older stories, which was posted in its original form here. Years later I have gone back and done a COMPLETE revision. I think that it is a nice sign of my progress so far. I have included the original at the bottom for comparative purposes. Please let me know what you think.

The One Rule (Revised Edition)

A One Shot By Avalonian Witch

It’s what you have to accept from the beginning. What is pounded into you during training. It is the only rule that is unbreakable. It was one taboo that is forbidden to all in his profession. Those that had the nerve to break it were rarely seen or heard from again.

Now he was dangerously close to breaking that singular rule himself. He had developed an emotional attachment to the target.

The girl was exactly six years, two months, thirteen days, six hours, fifty-four minutes and thirty-seven seconds old. She had a large list of allergies, mostly within the organic-plant family and required regular oxygen treatments to keep her lungs in healthy condition. Had she been dropped off anywhere on Earth for too long a time he wouldn’t have been necessary. She was so delicate.

Maybe if she were someone else he wouldn’t be necessary either. But that would be a different reality. In this year of 2143 PA, however, she was the Princess Xzoiuja. Unfortunately, Princess Xzoiuja was the only remaining heir to the throne of the Martian Colonies. Colonies that many no longer wanted independent.

For this reason alone: he had been hired to assassinate her.

He was the son of assassins and was raised by their assassin. A young and vibrant-looking man. He always thought it silly that he was spoken of in hushed whispers. The best assassin in all eight of the planetary colonies, though of course no one even knew what he looked like. He got a real kick out of it, really. Who would have guessed that behind the blonde hair, blue eyes and lopsided grin was a cold blooded murderer? He didn’t care. Life was a short-length game and it beat bussing tables.

Getting to her had been easier than expected. After the retirement of her first and most favorite bodyguard the position had been quickly secured. Threatened office workers, corrupt bureaucrats and the shady men oft seen in dark alleys had played their part well. He was in his physical prime, friendly, well trained, an excellent marksman, versed in several languages and seemed to have a way with the young girl. His documents showed his massive amounts of experience for someone so young, references just short of perfect.

Slowly but surely he worked his way into the heart of the young girl and those around her. Their time spent together assured a mutual fondness and they became family. But it was time. After two full years he and only one other guard had been allowed to take the girl on an otherwise unescorted walk.

He was simple enough. Not quite as young or agile a discreet snap of the neck had done him off. In the artificially grown forests his body was easily enough disposed of. She was too busy admiring the plastic-based flowers. With all her trust and innocence she had no reason to question. He smiled placidly down at her as he led her further into the woods.

It had been messier than he’d expected. Two shots of his Zygonium blaster had only injured her mortally. Her blood splattered on the white of her dress and the black of his suit. She clung to him for protection though she was old enough to know that it was he who was the aggressor. She burst out in apologies. Had she upset him? Had she made him walk too long or too far? Brushing the stiff silver hair out of her face he asked her in a throaty whisper to close her eyes. She complied.

“Bullets are better than beta-rays, zeta-rays and gamma-rays.” His mentor had always told him. So it was that his little princess died from a simple bullet wound to the head. The sudden suck of oxygen created from the temporary vacuum knocked both of their to their feet. After fifteen-minutes, only one got back up again.

Some period of time later Mars and the other colonies had readily fallen into the hands of planet Terra. The mysterious disappearance of the Martian heir and subsequent political calamity that followed had proven to them that they could not stand alone. Parties were thrown in celebration of the historic unions.

One party in particular was thrown for him. In an apartment paid with blood he sat at the edge of his bed. Lively chatter raged outside, he knew. He had come back to Terra a hero, his pockets heavy with salary. His “coworkers” enjoyed the fruits of his labor numerous times. He had more money than he could ever spend anyway. He had even spent an extra half-million credits just to soundproof his entire apartment. Money like that was meant to be shared among friends!

“Bullets are better…” He murmured idly to himself. All the soundproofing in the world couldn’t block her voice from his mind. Though only months had passed he wasn’t quite so young or vibrant-looking any more.

It wasn’t that it was too much for him. It was that nothing was enough. Nothing was enough to replace her.

Setting his pencil down he gave his trusty gun one last twirl before holding it up to his temple…

After all the merriment had died down only one guest remained to stumble upon the gruesome scene. Only one person ever saw the note before it was hastily destroyed, evidence was a dangerous thing.

“Now I know…why it’s the one rule.”

The One Rule (Original Edition)

It is what you have to accept from the beginning. It is what’s pounded into you during your training. It’s the only rule that is unbreakable, the one taboo that is forbidden even to people of his power. Those that had the nerve to break it were never seen or heard from again.

And now he was dangerously close to breaking that singular rule himself.

He had built an emotional attachment to the target.

The girl was exactly six and three quarter years old. She had been born at 6:54 and 37 Seconds AM in the year 2143, and she was the official heir to the throne of the Martian Colonies. She was also about to be assassinated.

He had been the son of the target of another assassin. That same one took him in and raised him as his own, taught him his art. And now he was known as the best assassin in all eight of the planetary colonies.

Getting to her had been easier than expected. The Princess had been in need of a new bodyguard after the retirement of her first. He worked his way into the heart of the young girl and the other members of the royal family. His fondness towards the Princess grew as well and soon he was considered family to her. It was time. Now after having spent three months cementing his trust-worthiness, he and another bodyguard had been allowed to take the Princess to an otherwise unescorted walk.

The other bodyguard was dealt with simply enough. One simple snap of the neck while the young girl marveled at flowers and trees and done the job, and in her innocence she had no reason to question.

Looking down to her he offered a reassuring smile as she handed him a small artificially grown rose. Taking it he wiped away a tear before she could catch it, and he led her deeper into the dark of the woods.

It had been messier than he had expected. The girl had remained alive after two bullet wounds in the back and had turned to cling to him, asking in a sobbing voice why he was doing what he did. He asked her to close her eyes, which she did, and shot the fatal bullet into her head.

Once he returned back to his headquarters he was received with warm welcomes and congratulations. His pockets were heavy with the salary that had come from killing the girl and his teammates were enjoying the fruits of his labor.

They didn’t notice that he wasn’t at the party for long, they didn’t see him walk into his room, and they didn’t hear the gunshot.

Next morning the newspapers read

“Assassin Of Princess Kimiko Commits Suicide”

AN: Feel free to discuss this with me. I am open to all suggestions and criticisms.