Equestrian Slaughterhouse

Forcing open her eyes, Twilight nearly slipped back into unconsciousness. What she saw scarred her mind. Bodies, some dead, some wishing they were, lied everywhere. Blood flowed onto the battlefield like a crimson river, creating a stench far beyond anything she’d smelled before. Soldiers cried out, stacked upon each other as ragdolls. They begged for mercy, which was responded to with dead silence or the pleas of others. She hoped her brother made it. Twilight forced herself to sit up. Leaning on one hoof, she planted her hind legs firmly on the ground. She cried out in pain. As she fell back to the rugged floor, she saw that she had been shot in her lower leg. Burning fur and exposed flesh ravaged the wound. Is this what they were shooting, she thought. She could hardly sit in comfort, much less stand. Her vision gradually restored itself. She made out the images of two ponies surveying the battlefield.

“Help,” she weakly sputtered. The two colts, as she could see, came into focus. Coffee and Blue. Of course. She scrambled with all the force she could, desperately trying to back away, to no avail. Coffee laughed insanely, Blue also chuckling as the army behind them approached. Twilight’s eyes widened.

“Oh, you little pathetic fuck!” Coffee screamed hysterically. “You really went into this. Look at this, sis! Look what I’ve done! I’ve murdered your followers, I’ve set up new rule with Blue, and on top of it all I get you out of the picture! You’re a miserable little wretch, aren’t you? You thought you were powerful, the next ruler. Let me ask you now, how has friendship really helped you?” Twilight stared back faintly.

“F-friendship is what held me together,” she sputtered. “All these years, I’ve learned to value it, and it’s all that matters in the end.” Coffee gazed blankly at her. He couldn’t laugh, he just kind of sputtered.

“Y-you, a-are you SERIOUS? You, are the definition of stupidity! ‘Friendship is so important’,” he quoted in a mocking tone. “Let me ask you one more question. Where, just where, are your friends now?! WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY NOW?!”

Twilight could care less where her friends were right now. They were all safe at home, wishing her the best. She couldn’t blame them, but they had done nothing to help her. What if Celestia was wrong? She couldn’t ask now, but the thought lingered.

“Look, I’ll give you one more chance. Join us. We’ve already won. It’s like a choice between life and death. And the life you’ll live will be better than your past one. I can guarantee you won’t regret this.” For a moment, Twilight considered it. She pushed it aside quickly. She couldn’t join them, not in the least. They were evil, they were murderers. Rage built up inside her. They had killed so many people, including her mentor. The one who had been there to help her. Whether she had been right or wrong about friendship, she was still a guide, and her murder was wrong. Magic coarsed through her veins. She felt her horn glow, with magic stronger than she had known before. Her brother, still oblivious to this, badgered her further.

“I can’t ask a third time. Come, and join us. I don’t particularly like you, but you can be useful. What is your answer?” He readied his sword. He assumed she wouldn’t do it. He looked at Twilight expectantly as she looked up.

“Nah.” Violet magic burst out of her, throwing Coffee and Blue back violently. Her horn glowed brilliantly. She gritted her teeth, and threw her head back. Coffee looked down as the ground began to split apart and quickly took flight. He saw that the rest of them were not as quick. The entire group fell into a deep abyss, and large thud sounded as they were covered by boulders. He quickly looked to the left, glad to see Blue next to him. Twilight stood across from them, seemingly exhausted.

“Go, I’ve got this.”

“You can’t be serious. She’ll kill you! C’mon, we both gotta get outta here!” Coffee glared at Blue.

“Go.” It must have been the way he said it, as Blue nodded before taking off. He turned back to face Twilight and smirked.

“Feeling good?” Twilight wasn’t about to deal with this.

“Oh, I’m fine. I’m wondering if you are. Do you have any idea why we’re even here?” Coffee was confused.

“Of course I know. I’m here to kill you, and you’re here because you’re too stupid to know otherwise.” Twilight lost it.

“No, we’re here because you couldn’t deal with what became of you! You decided that you couldn’t be rejected by Celestia! You just HAD to fight! You couldn’t accept it! You’re upset with yourself, so you take it out on everyone else. You can’t handle that you weren’t good enough and that what you’ve done was wrong. If the world wouldn’t accept you, you’d have to do something about it. You can’t learn to deal with things maturely! This is your doing!” Coffee walked up to her. He glared at her, and then sent her flying with a sudden hit from his blade hilt.

“What the hell would you know?!” he started as Twilight skidded to the ground and began to stand up. “You’ve never failed a damn thing in your life! You’re used to being accepted! If you were rejected by a leader and mocked at by everyone you know, you would get it! But you haven’t! You’ve followed in your mentor’s steps the whole way, and look where it’s gotten you! I thought that what was happening wasn’t right. I did what I had to! I wasn’t scared to stand up, but you always were! You’re not worth shit! You haven’t got the guts! You’re absolutely worthless!” With that, he flung the blade at her, narrowly missing. Twilight dodged with reflexes she didn’t know she had. She hadn’t wanted to fight, but he wasn’t giving her an option. She turned, leaned on her hind legs, and forced her magic to flow. She tried to pick him up, but he broke free of the violet aura that surrounded him. Before she could counter, he flew for his blade and darted into his sky, lodging it in his mouth. When he didn’t return for a few seconds, she realized what he was doing. He was going to force her into using her wings. She gritted her teeth. She wasn’t quite used to them, only using them for quick, remedial flying. They weren’t combat material. But she wasn’t letting this go. She took off into the cloudy sky, hoping for the best, as Coffee smirked, watching her closely.

Watching her from inside a gray cloud throughout the sky, Coffee really wanted to laugh. She struggled about, darting in and out of clouds, becoming more confused each time she came out. He loved it up here. He could even see the castle and the Factory. This was one of his favorite spots, and it was nice to watch over your empire. He looked out at the Factory, which was surrounded by gray clouds as usual. Calmed and relaxed, he turned back, but was cut short by a bright light far behind him. What in the hell, he thought before seeing the rainbow that cut through the gray, and then the group following it. Mesmerized by what was happening, he watched as bodies flew out, falling to the ground. He snapped back to reality. He dived to the ground, catching a Factory guard in time. After letting the colt breathe, he flipped him to the ground.

“The hell is going on?” he asked hurriedly.

“F-factory….gone….capture…” he said between gasps before passing out. Of course! No wonder the battle was too easy; that wasn’t their main force! This is bad, he thought. He darted back to his cloud, glad to see Twilight still disoriented. Coffee breathed a sigh of relief and flew to the castle. That would be their priority, and he couldn’t let that fall. Landing on the balcony, he was greeted by a nervous Blue and a small battalion.

“Well, shit, shit, this is it,” the blue colt paced nervously back and forth.

“Chill out. We won before, don’t you think we could do it again?”

“No, no, we’re out of weapons AND ammo. If we won this, it’d be a miracle.” Coffee sighed.

“Alright, so now we make a stand. Defend this at all costs. The Factory is gone, not good, but it can be rebuilt. Twilight is preoccupied, so we can do this. Who the hell even led them here?”

“Rainbow.” Coffee sighed again.

“Well, bitches will get what bitches deserve.”

Twilight came to her senses. She wasn’t getting out of this like this. Just find the ground, she thought. Flying straight down, she closed her eyes as she felt the air rush past her before hitting the ground. Getting up as quick as possible, she looked off. She was amazed to see the Rainbow Factory raise the flag of her cutie mark, the flag that began the end. Who could’ve….she thought until she noted the rainbow.

“No way….” Twilight sat there, marveling at everything happening. It’s over now, she thought before remembering Coffee had gone. As long as he lived, this wouldn’t end.

Coffee walked into the secret caves under Canterlot, the ones that had imprisoned her sister awhile ago. Admiring what were the crystals, he slid back one with a loud grinding noise, revealing the weapons he had kept back for moments like these. Rifles, traditional weapons, and even a small bomb. Next to these, things he didn’t want to use. What he had used for the little ‘massacre’ as it was called was nothing compared to these. He didn’t even need to make these; just eat ‘em. Picking a few and swallowing them, recoiling at the taste, he looked quickly for a weapon. If he was going down, he was going down honorably. No guns, no bombs. He eyed a smooth, curved dagger carved out of bone and a set of small bone knives that attached to your wrist, able to extend and contract in an instant. Time for a battle, a final stand. This is where we hold them, and this is where there will be one victor. And it sure as hell won’t be them. With that final thought, he walked back up the stairs into the throne room, ready to greet whatever came at him.

Blue prepared himself for whatever was coming at them, slowly readying his scythe. He had split the small army they had left into groups, defending key points of the castle. He turned to face Coffee, who came shambling up the stairs. His eyes faintly glowing red, Blue already knew what was going on. Instead of his usual criticism of the pony’s overuse of the substances, he brushed it aside. If this was the end, then he can do as he pleases. Both pushed all other thoughts aside at the sudden sound of a horn, blown from miles away. Gritting their teeth, they readied their weapons. They knew what that meant. Glass cracked around them in the throne room like a dozen chandeliers smashing. Unit after unit poured in threw the glass window. If they weren’t killed immediately by Blue and Coffee, they ignored them and went on to capture the castle wherever possible. Behind it all, Rainbow flew in, a countenance of determination donned.

“Blue, go help defend. I want to deal with her personally.” He grinned, lost in his own happiness. He felt satisfied. This is where he might die, and he would go down swinging as he may. And it felt good. Blue didn’t even nod, instead taking off to do as ordered. Coffee locked eyes with Rainbow. Thankfully, she wanted the same personal fight Coffee wanted; as her allies backed off as the two approached. Swinging her giant sword, Coffee darted out of the way and leaped above her and swung with his dagger, finding a clash of metal as he dented her armor. Rainbow wasn’t dealing it like this. Kicking him to the floor, she dove in with her sword, narrowly missing as he rolled aside. Quickly readying her self, she found that he had vanished into the crowd of ponies before her. She darted around, looking for him. He leaped up behind her, swiping with his claws, and dashing in for more. Blocking his constant swings with deft sword parries, Rainbow grew tired of his relentless assault. Rage filled Coffee’s eyes, charging her into the side of wall under the broken glass. She never saw the dagger coming. The swing drew blood from her face, and Rainbow fell to the ground, crying out for help. Coffee readied his dagger a final time, right before being pushed into the other side of the room in a violet aura. Coffee sat up, dazed and confused. He shook his head, alert of his surroundings and with shock realized it was over. Twilight had arrived, and the castle was captured, being recognized a final time with a loud cheer from the invaders. Blue was nowhere to be seen. Twilight and a wounded Rainbow stood above him. The sound of hooves alerted all parties.

“Is it over?” asked Applejack. Twilight turned, surprised and glad at the same time. She took a minute to breathe, and then grinned.

“Yes, we’ve won.”

The Mane Six, in all their history, had never taken pity on someone quite as much as they did now. But their pity was a smug one. They stood over Coffee, helpless and surrounded. The remaining army had left, and it was just the seven of them. Rainbow looked at Twilight with a grateful look.

“Could I finish him?” Twilight turned to face her.

“Yes, but wait.” Her calm and alert demeanor had returned, one that a princess must have, she thought to herself. She walked over to Coffee, who looked up at her with a grin.

“Glad to see you’re happy.”

“I couldn’t be happier.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I get to die knowing I’ve done what I can, and that I died doing what I love.”

“You’re hopeless. Why die doing what you love if you can live now? Was this all worth it? Did you get what you wanted? Or are you still empty? Abandoned to die, at the mercy of your captors. Is this how you want to go? It will never be easy to forgive you. You’ve done wrong in so many ways, and it’d be easy to get rid of you. But I’ll ask you a last time: stop this. Come with us. Live. Like what you told me, it’s a simple choice between life and death.” Coffee just looked down.

“You’re right. I could take this. I could lead a new life, learn from my mistakes, and do well to those I’ve wronged. I could end this now, and I would live a happy life as anything I pleased. It’s a good decision, and I know I’m making the right decision.” Twilight nodded eagerly. Had she done it?

“I’ll take that as a yes?” she replied coolly.

“That’s a no,” he glowered. “I haven’t gotten everything I’ve wanted. I’ve gotten the revenge I did want. I’ve ruled along side my best friend over citizens who agreed with what I gave them. I’ve established my place in Equestrian history. I couldn’t ask for more. But there is only one thing that I want.” Twilight looked on desperately.

“Would you join me if I gave it to you?” Coffee looked up excitingly.

“No, no. I could never join YOU if I got this.” Twilight was on the verge of shouting.

“Well, why not?!”

“Because I want you dead. You’re incompetent, a follower, and everything I hate. I may be your brother, but I will never look at you as a sister. I can’t accept what you do, or what you believe. I can’t, no matter how hard I try I can’t. Forgive me for that, but your dead body is the only thing that can satisfy me.” Twilight reeled in shock.

“Do you really want me dead? You can’t accept me? Coffee, there are always people you can’t agree with in life. You don’t have to agree with everyone.”

“No, no. It’s not that I don’t agree with you. I hate you. You enrage me, in everything you do, in the carefree life you’ve led. I can’t stand you. I’ve lost everything once, and you’ve gained everything you could want. I can’t, Twilight, I just can’t.” Twilight sighed.

“So be it. I’ve given you a chance at second life. But I suppose it’s over now, isn’t it?”

“Yes, and I’m glad.” Twilight looked at him with a strong sense of sadness.

“I don’t why I feel bad doing this, but fine. Rainbow. You know what to do.” Rainbow nodded, approaching Coffee with her sword.

“Well, so long,” she spat, and sealed Coffee’s fate with a plunge through his stomach. His body slumped over, blood forming a small pool around him. Twilight looked at him. She couldn’t understand it, but she saw it in his face. A sense of fulfillment and of true clarity and happiness.

“How, brother. How?”

The following weeks were full of confusion. The lifting of the magic left many ponies confused as to what had happened, but they were shown the honest truth. As predicted, they agreed that it was better without Coffee. Twilight and her friends discussed what they’d do with the body. All other villains were transformed, turned into stone, or banished. There was no room for transformation, and encasing a fellow pony, no matter how much he or she was hated, seemed very demoralized. So it was decided that the body would be disposed of outside Equestria. It was a land not many knew about, or cared about for that matter. Disfigured land and shadows made up this strange land, where creatures unknown stirred about. There was never a need for border protection, as these unholy creatures refused to enter the shining nation of Equestria. Of course, his body was put on a small cot as to make it look more like a funeral than a murder. Twilight walked down the path to these shadowy lands. Requesting privacy, she laid the cot down on what appeared to be sand dunes in this part of the realm. She sat there, pondering everything that could go through her head.

“You didn't need to do this. I could’ve saved you,” she said remorsefully, looking down a final time at the body. “But you did this to yourself, and you’ve paid for it well.” She trotted off the scene, leaving behind her guilt and pain, and putting on a new heir of confidence. As she left, a flash of blue lit up the dunes, drawing her attention quickly. She thought best of it, hoping it was the calling of his soul, if he even had one. The body gone, she secretly hoped that he ended up in a better place. A hope that would go unanswered for a year.