The Fall of Equestria

Braeburn stands in front of his leader, he had been called down to his office moments ago. Supposedly he was to be congratulated for his valiant behavior one week ago, but even standing in front of this stallion of honor he did not feel that way. For he had killed Spike, his bullet was the one that ended the dragons existence. But he knew he had to show that he was proud of his actions...or else he would be put down by his fellows. His leader stands in front of a small mahogany desk specifically crafted to his liking, but the room itself is made of plain wood and various bookshelves stand behind Braeburn's leader.

"Do you know why your here Braeburn?"

"Ah'...um not really sir." Braeburn responds in his southern accent.

"Braeburn, you've done a great service to our cause and do you know why?"

Braeburn shakes his head. "No sir." He lies.

The stallion gets up on his four hooves and moves around his desk to Braeburn putting his hoof on his shoulder. "Braeburn the rumors are true not only brave but honest too!" The stallion says with a smile that reaches too far across his face.

Braeburn looks up and down at his leader grasping his features. The stallion has brown skin and dark blue eyes, his face covered with patches of stubble. He wears a checkered lumber jack shirt which is missing a few buttons and his black mane sticks out in spots making him looks as if he had just gotten out of bed. Braeburn swallows.

"Th...thank ya kindly sir."

The brown stallion takes his hoof off of Braeburn's shoulder and goes back to his desk, he sits looking into Braeburn's green eyes. The stallion breathes in. "Tell me Braeburn why did you shoot?"

"Ah' don't understand." Braeburn says looking into the stallions dark blue eyes.

"I mean what gave you the motivation to do it?" The stallion asks.

"Well ya see sir ah'...-" He swallows. "Ah' had two choices, one of them was not shooting and save the...the...heartache of ponies Ah' barely even knew-" The thought of a bullet hitting Spike enters Braeburn's mind. "Or ah' could stay loyal to the...the cause." He spits out the word, "cause" disgusted by its meaning.

The stallion nods, putting his hoof near his mouth contemplating on what to say next. He puts his hoof back on the table.

"Braeburn we all have choices in our life, some tougher than others-" He points to Braeburn with his hoof. "But you Braeburn you were able to make the best decision for us despite the thoughts of what would happen if you killed those guards. So that is why I wish to appoint you as my second in command, now the only question to answer is if you accept my offer."

No...no ah' don't want any part in this madness! Braeburn thinks to himself. "Yes...yes ah' would love to." Braeburn lies putting on a fake smile. The brown stallion smiles again his smile reaching too far across his face again.

"Perfect." The brown stallion says, again going next to Braeburn and putting his hoof on his shoulder again. "You and me Braeburn, we will change the world for the better you and I. Your future ahead is very bright my boy."

Braeburn feels a pang in his heart. "Yeah...yeah it sure is." Again he lied.

                                                                                            ***

"Sir!" A dark green earth pony rushes into Braeburn's new office. Braeburn sits on the wooden floor looking out of a window.

"Yes? May ah' help ya?" Braeburn asks.

The dark green pony takes bows to Braeburn. "Mah', apologies on the short notice, but our leader wants your input."

Braeburn looks away from the window and motions with his hoof for the green pony to rise. Even with his new power over the people of Appleoosa he still preferred to talk to ponies without them bowing all the time. The dark green pony rises.

"Now what does our leader want mah' input on?"

"Well sir-" Braeburn stops him.

"Braeburn is fine, none of that sir stuff."

The green pony nods. "Ok um...Braeburn our leader wants to know if you think that an attack would be necessary."

Braeburn eyes the green pony. "An attack on...where exactly?"

"On Ponyville."

Ponyville! He can't do that, that's where Applejack lives...his family. Braeburn looks away from the green pony and to the floor. Ah' cant possibly attack Ponyville, Ah've already killed one of mah' cousins friends if ah'-

"Um mister Braeburn are you OK? You look a bit pale." The green pony says interrupting his train of thought.

Braeburn puts a hoof to his forehead. "Yes...yes ah'm fine. Its just that...have you ever made a difficult choice in your life?"

"Why do you ask Mr Brae-?"

"ANSWER ME!" Braeburn shouts stamping his hoof on the wooden floor. Braeburn scowls at the green pony.

The green pony gulps. "Y...yes ah' have."

"Good. Now...now tell our...esteemed leader that ah' agree with his plans."

The green pony nods and leaves the room. Braeburn goes back to the window and sits, looking outside. Maybe somehow he could pull some strings to get Applejack out alive. But that still doesn't justify his choice to march on Ponyville killing hundreds and creating broken families. He puts his hoof to his forehead, looking at the various choices he had before. He could've walked away from this whole mess, spared Spike's life...but instead he shot him. And now he could have advised no to attack Ponyville but instead he said yes...and now the consequences would be dire.