Storm

Marx stared at the pony before him. Her face was so solemn, he didn’t know if he could take her seriously. She held herself like she was truly here to kill him. Her sword charging up with the deadly energy created by Screw. As the blade raised up, Marx could feel the danger as it cut the air. He had to back away as the sword hit the ground, sizzling as the grass electrified.

“Why?” Marx asked, his sword still up, although defensively.

“I already said why,” Rogue said, although Marx could hear her voice quiver as she said it. Her eyes gave away nothing as she charged forward, something he didn’t know she would do.

“That’s not good enough,” Marx said, moving his sword to block. In front of him, the object in front of him was blurred as she seemed to sidestep and appear next to him. Marx turned just in time to take a hit on his side.

The pain was unbelievable. Marx could feel, hear, and smell the pain as the electricity focused on his side. Jumping away, Marx saw the black mark left by the deadly weapon. When he looked up, Rogue was gone. He couldn’t tell where she was, but something told him to turn around.

It was a good thing he did, because he blocked the strike before he could be hit. When Rogue stepped back from the strike, she blurred again and this time Marx managed to block the attack on his left side.

Rogue wasn’t somepony he’d ever want to fight. On normal jobs, she could be literally next to you and you wouldn’t know. Her steps were silent and the way she moved, it was like a ghost. When she was in combat, she would somehow keep the stealth as she moved faster than others could keep up. Marx couldn’t even keep up without pushing his eyes to the limit.

At this rate, Marx was bound to lose. He knew it would come. One of the five would show up and finish him off, that’s what he predicted. But of the five, he wouldn’t imagine that it’d be Rogue. He’d even be glad to fight Death, at least then he could say a proper goodbye. But fighting Rogue wasn’t a fight, it was an act worse than dying itself.

Marx had to brace himself as another strike on his leg caused him to lose his balance. He used his sword to steady himself, but then Rogue struck again. Marx fell to the side to avoid the swing, the electric blade cutting air. Marx rolled over, grabbing his crossbow from his side. Strapping it on with difficulty, he raised it up in time for Rogue’s next strike.

Rogue could attack fast, and she sure could kill fast, but there was something she was missing. Strength. That was the one and only weakness Marx knew about. She’d always wore down her target if she was forced to fight. Once their endurance wore off, she was in control. Without a sword, Marx knew he’d need to use a different weapon.

Marx raised his crossbow, Rogue’s electric sword arching toward him. Marx turned his hoof, the crossbow becoming the cushioning blow for the attack. As Rogue hit crossbow, Marx felt some of the electricity , although not all of it. He pushed the sword to the side as the force was gone. Her sword was far enough away for Marx to reach forward with the crossbow, the bolt aimed at her face. Marx pulled the trigger.

A blur passed in that moment, as the crossbow hit air, and the electric sword vanishing. Marx fell forward, as the momentum took him. With Rogue disappearing, he limped over and grabbed his sword before she could return. Marx looked around, listening for the sound of something, anything to show him Rogue’s position.

Marx’s ears twitched as the sound of electricity entered them. He ducked just time for Rogue’s swing to miss. Marx turned, his sword getting ready to drive up into Rogue’s chest. And then he hesitated. Rogue had tears flowing down her cheeks. As Marx held the sword in front of him, Rogue jumped back, the opportunity wasted.

“Rogue…” Marx said, his adrenaline lowering.

“You… were ready to kill me back there… weren’t you?” Rogue asked, wiping the tears away.

“I said if you came-,”

“That I’d better be ready to die? Well I thought for a long time about that,” Rogue said, raising her sword.

“Now that you’re not there… it feels like I’ve already died,” Rogue said, her tears starting to come back.

“Why did you come… the truth,” Marx asked.

“Well… I just wanted to see you before this was over. I wanted to say goodbye,” Rogue said, the tears now flowing freely.

“We could have just talked… I still have five more hours,” Marx said, lowering the sword.

“And then what? I find out Mercy got to you? What about Dalen? If I died, I’d want it to be on my own terms,” Rogue said, almost whispering near the end.

“So that’s it,” Marx said.

“What?” Rogue asked, confused.

“You came here to die,” Marx said, the thought coming out of his mouth before entering his head. “That’s why you haven’t done more than you did. If you’d wanted, I’d be dead by now.”

“That’s…” Rogue said, looking away and her voice trailing off.

“If you really feel that way, then I’ll grant you your wish. And maybe you can grant me mine,” Marx said, a smile on his face as he raised his sword.

“You know… you really know how to treat a mare,” Rogue said a smile on her face as well. She wiped her tears as she brought up the sword, the blade starting to radiate even more energy.

“This time, I’m going all out,” Rogue said, her blade sending out sparks. As she held the blade, the air vibrated and the grass reached up toward the electricity. Her mane rose even higher as the electricity caused Marx to be almost blinded by the light. He continued looking however, as she charged forward, a smile on her face.

Marx himself held the sword in an expert position as he also went forward. Rogue was faster, meeting him just as he stepped forward. As they threw their swords forward, the clash caused a shiver through them both as the ground underneath them cracked under the pressure. Just when Marx was winning, from pure strength, there was a third force that rocketed both swords upwards.

Marx was thrown back as he tried to slow his momentum. The crossbow at his side fell out of the strap, hitting the tree behind him. Skidding to a stop into the tree, he saw his sword plunge into the bark right above his head. It was piercing the crossbow down the middle, cracking it and breaking the string. Looking forward, he saw who had caused the third force. Mercy was looking at Marx, his eyes staring into his soul like he owned him. Turning to Rogue, he stopped right above her. Rogue was standing up, she was coughing from the dust in the air. As she looked up to Mercy, her eyes went wide.

Mercy stated, in a mocking tone, “Black Rose, you are on suspension for not obeying the laws. You will be informed when your suspension is lifted. Until then…” Mercy lifted his hoof. Using a fraction of his power, he connected his hoof with her lower jaw. She flew back, landing on her back. She heard a crack in her spine as she fell, right before she passed out from the pain. “stay out of my way,” Mercy finished.

“Mercy!” Marx yelled, his hooves and the rest of his body completely exhausted from today’s events. He couldn’t even lift them as Mercy walked towards him, a look of joy in his face.

“Marx, think I’d forget about you?” Mercy asked.

“Bastard,” Marx said, wondering how he’d die.

“You still have four hours… Only a few ponies actually know where you are, me included, so you should be fine for a while. I’ll give you time to heal up… I want a fair fight when I end that pathetic life of yours,” Mercy said, raising his hoof. “I was just here for Rogue, and Dumbshit over there, but I think he’s learned his lesson.” Mercy motioned towards the pony cowering behind a tree, his bow on his back.

“Do I get compensation for the law breaking?” Marx joked.

“Sleep,” Mercy said, his hoof knocking Marx’s head into the tree. Marx was knocked out immediately, his body slumping to the ground as he finally relaxed. Mercy walked away, wondering how he should punish the other guy.

Nearby, a pair of wings opened and flew to Marx, landing nearby. She dragged Marx to the direction of the hospital, her head shaking the whole time. It’s been a while since she’d seen this kind of damage. Even Rogue was beaten up, although most of that was Marx's fault. Marx was really lucky Rogue liked him, she thought.

Author's Note

Sorry about the wait, I’m used to my editor giving me the final copy, but he hasn’t responded in a long ass time. I’ve been busy with revisions on my other story as well, so I had to look over this again to remember what was happening. Don’t worry, the next chapter is ready, I’m just hoping my editor hasn’t died so he can get back to work.
Next Time: Medical Bills, Join Marx as he dreams of the past, and realizes the future.