Brothers' Past

Several days after the birth of the Children of the Shade, Nexus began leading his new family through the thick forest to find a new shelter; unfortunately, they were forced to hide with in a cave to prevent being caught by the light of the rising sun. As they hid within the cavern, Nexus ordered them the start mining to make room for all the others who were forced to stand outside.

“My lord!” a stallion called out from behind. Nexus turned around to see him bowing. “I have some news from the lower tunnels.”

“What is it?” Nexus asked in an irritated tone.

“There was a cave-in and some of the workers were badly injured.”

“Bring them up here; I’ll see what I can do.”

“Yes my lord.” The stallion got up and walked hurriedly back down into the lightless tunnel.

“What is it June?” Nexus asked as he immediately turned around; the mare behind him remained silent from shock from the fact that he knew she was there without even looking. “June!”

“Sorry my lord!” she bowed down to him in fear. “I just wanted to let you know that, this cave might be a good home for our-uh…your, family-“

“What makes you think I want to live here?” Nexus growled at her.

“Well, to be honest, the cave is completely dark and cold as ice in the lower levels, and due to its subtle nature, I doubt any pony would even notice that we have formed it into our own sanctuary.” As she looked up she noticed that Nexus was staring at her with complete rage, and without hesitation she began moving away from him.

“I suppose you may have a point.”

“I’m sorry sir I’ll never suggest something like that again-….wait-“ she quickly stood up and stared at him; when she saw his face she noticed it went from anger to annoyance. “You…you aren’t considering having us live here are you-“

“Twas your idea June, if you did not want it to happen then you should not have suggested it.” Nexus walked away into the lower tunnel leaving June with the others. As she was about to walk away she heard Nexus call for her and she immediately raced into the lower area.

“Yes my lord- What in Tartarus!?” she screamed at the top of her lungs as she saw the bloody mess covering every inch of the cave. “What happened!?”

“I do not know, that is why I called you down here-“

“ME-!?”

“You used to work in a cemetery correct?”

“…Well…Yes I suppose I did.”

“And while you worked there did you not perform autopsies?”

"I did, thank you for-wait…you want me to figure out what killed them?” June asked as she slowly backed away from him.

“That is correct.”

“But why me?”

“Because you’re the only one smart enough out of all the imbeciles to decipher this mystery.”

“Well, I suppose I could try...you think I’m...smart?” she asked at complete random as she looked up at him with a smile on her face.

“Compared to all of them you are... a genius.” June looked away at his words and continued to smiled.

“Well, I suppose I could try to figure out what kill them, it will take some time, but I should be done by tomorrow.”

“Very well, I shall wait until then, and as for the rest of you, you are all to continue working!” Nexus shouted as he turned around; when the echoes of his voice finally died down the sounds of pickaxes clanging on stone started filling the cave. “June, I shall be in my chambers for the rest of the day, if you figure out what caused this, find me there and report to me.” Nexus said, his back to her.

“Yes my lord.” June bowed to him and he walked off. During the early hours of the next day; June approached the door to his room and as she was about to knock on it she heard him from inside telling her to enter. As she entered she saw what the room looked like. It was well fabricated and lit, it had a large bed against the wall opposite from the door, a desk to the right of it and a fire place to the left which Nexus was sitting down in front of in a large comfortable chair. “My Lord-?”

“This better be about the three deaths June.” Nexus scolded her.

“It is my Lord.” She entered the room and closed the door behind her. “My lord, as I was preforming the autopsy I noticed that there were small amounts of magic dust hidden within the blood.”

“So the deaths were caused by magic.”

“Yes, but not just any type of magic, the spell used on them was a forbidden one-“

“A forbidden spell!?” In his outrage and confusion he stood up, the fire next to him growing larger and hotter with his every breath. ”Impossible, me and my sister are the only two capable of using such magic!”

“So, your sister was the cause of their deaths?”

“It could not have been. We are fighting together in this war. Therefore it had to have been someone else.”

“Can you think of any pony else that can use this type of magic?” Nexus sighed loudly with sorrow and annoyance. “Did you think of anything?”

“Yes, and disappointingly the user is someone very close to me. In relation of course, nothing more.”

“Who is it?”

“…My father.”

"Why would your father kill innocent ponies?”

“This I might have an idea about, but what puzzles me more is why he would only kill those three…unless…”
Without a word Nexus moved towards the door; June moved out of the way and he walked out of the room, nervous about his attitude, she followed him. When they reach the tunnel where the three stallions died he stopped; he lowered his horn and, using a powerful amount of magic, he blew down the wall that the three had been mining. When it collapsed, a gust of cold air filled the entire cave sending chills down every pony’s spines.

“My lord what was that?” June asked in a state of panic.

“It was the souls of a thousand dead soldiers.” Nexus smiled sinisterly as he walked into the newly opened tunnel. When he entered the room his horn lit up and blue flames appeared forming a circle. As they burned, pain and anguish filled screams and groans resonated throughout the room. As he walked deeper into the chamber, his family of soldiers began to enter and follow him. As all the other ponies started roaming around the chamber Nexus continued moving towards the center.

“My lord wait!” June called out as she rushed over to him. “My lord, what is all this? Why didn’t we die like the other three?”

“We didn’t die because my father is weak from using black magic, as for what this is.” Nexus paused and opened a large stone sarcophagus in the dead center of the chamber; as it opened another gust of cold air filled the caves. “This is the crypt of my sweet late mother.” Nexus smiled sinisterly as he stared at the rotting flesh and the decaying bones in the sarcophagus.

“My lord, what are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that it was about time that I paid my respects.” Without hesitation or mercy Nexus raised his horn and using his black magic, set his mother's remains on fire. As they burned he headed to the entry way. “You there.” He called out to the pony keeping guard. “When these fools are done sightseeing, order them to tear this place down and turn it into the main hall.”

“Yes my lord.” The stallion replied as he bowed. When he stood back up Nexus moved past him and went back to his room.

“My lord wait!” June called right as he left and she began to chase after him. “My lord.” She called one more time as she finally caught up with him.

“What is it June?”

“Your father, didn’t you say that he was the one who killed the others?”

“Yes, why?”

“Well, if he killed them for just mining near your mother’s crypt, won’t he do something even worse to you for burning her remains and ordering the rest of it to be torn down?”

“I hope so, or else I would have wasted my magic for no reason.”

“Wait, what?”

“I wanted to summon my father, after everything he has done to me in my life, I want revenge against him, even if it’s the last thing I ever do.

“But my lord, seeing what he did to those three, what if he’s too powerful for you to defeat-“

“Don’t you ever say that!” Nexus snapped at her as he pinned her to a wall. “My father is weak and spineless; he shall never be stronger than me.” June nodded her head in understanding, then afterwards was released. This time as he was about to enter his room he was approached again this time by a stallion he immediately bowed.

“My lord, something is happening outside!”

“What is it now?”

“The skies, something is happening to them.”

“Well…I will admit, I didn’t expect the old stallion to arrive this early.” As he started heading out of the cave he heard whispers coming from the other members, attempting to ignore them he kept walking and eventually arrived at the surface; he then started to approach a mare dressed in a black robe. “Elegy, what’s happening?”

“My lord. I can’t really explain, but the weather is starting to change, it used to be sunny but now the clouds are rolling in, the wind is picking up and-“

“Take the others and enter the caves, I’ll take care of this.” The mare bowed and started guiding the other members into the cave. Once he was alone it started to rain and thunder. “You like to take your time don’t you?” Nexus asked himself; then out of nowhere a bolt of lightning hit the ground. Rising from the flames was a colossal stallion with a coat of gold, mane and tale of pure light, wings that formed a bridge between the light of his tail and the darkness of Nexus' heart. His horn was sharp enough to pierce the heavens. “Hello father.”

“Nexus Black, you arrogant swine.”

“It’s nice to see you as well father.” Nexus replied with a sarcastic smile and a bite in his voice.

“How dare you defile your mother like this, you have gone too far, Child.”

“So you think? I don’t believe I have gone far enough-“

“Silence! Because of your arrogance you are here by stripped of your rights, your powers, and your immortality!”

“Is that so? Very well, but before you may, you must bow to me-“

“I shall do nothing of the sorts-!”

“Well, if you want what is rightfully mine, you will.” Nexus’s father began growing irritated with his arrogance. “I’m waiting father.”

“I shall not bow to you, and because of your arrogance I shall slay thee!”

“Very well, do your worst.” After that his father cloaked himself in a harsh red light and started charging towards him. With little effort Nexus teleported out of his way, stopping to reappear by his father’s side. “You should have known by now father; you cannot defeat me, you never stood a chance and you never will.”

“Face me like a stallion you swine!” Nexus’ father yelled at him as he turned to face him, but by the time he turned, Nexus was already gone.

“What’s wrong father, too scared to face me?” Nexus taunted him from behind, his father turned around again and Nexus disappeared once more.

“Stop running and face me!”

“Why would I do that?” Nexus asked as he reappeared in front of him. “It’s more fun to hide than it is to fight.” He continued, his father turned around and saw a second him, and during his confusion, Nexus continue making clones of himself that taunted him, telling him that he’ll never beat him. “Father.” One of the many clones said, his father turned around and saw a single clone step forward.

“You spineless coward! Where is the real you-!”

“Oh, I’m as real as they come-“

“Then stand and fight me-!”

“And why would I do that? If I run, I can survive longer-“

“It does nothing but waste your breath-!”

“Actually father, it wastes yours, for you see, your time has come.” Then out of nowhere one of his many clones rushed up to him and using its magic slashed his side causing him to fall to the ground. As he attempted to get back up another clone jumped onto his back and slashed at his spine.

“What kind of pony would send an imposter to attack!?” his father yelled at him as he struggled to get up.

“The kind of pony who shows no mercy.” He stomped his hoof on the ground signaling all his clones to turn into a black smoke and fad into his father’s shadow, and as his father stood up, Nexus did the same. His father looked around thinking he fled again, but a moment later his chest started expanding and Nexus jumped out of it holding on to several of his ribs; and from all the pain, his father collapsed onto the ground once more. “I must admit father, I did not expect you to survive that-“

“You…arrogant swine, what kind of stallion are you? You don’t even...attack with your own might-” His father wheezed as he started coughing up blood.

“Silence swine, I have had enough of your arrogance, and because of that I shall slay thee on the spot.”

“You wouldn’t dare-“

“I would. Father, you are here by stripped of all you own, your pride.” Nexus paused as he used his magic to cut off his horn. “Your Alicorn powers.” He stomped his hoof and two of his clones appeared one either side of him, forcibly ripping his wings off. “Your immortality!” he reached his head into his father’s chest and grabbed his heart with his teeth and ripped it out of him, he used his magic to levitate his father’s heart and took a signal bite out of it before throwing it into the dense brush of the forest.
“And you are hereby stripped of your life!” he raised his horn; he swung it creating a slash in the air, when it disappeared his father’s neck began bleeding, and as he toppled downward his head fell off and laid on the cold wet forest ground. Nexus stood there admiring the body of his late father. It began glowing with a light bright enough to cut through any shadow; the light began fading away after a minute and when it was gone, his father’s body had vanished, leaving nothing but a glowing yellow orb, no bigger than an acorn, behind in its place. As he looked at the orb he began laughing loudly. “At last, I won! I have defeated you father!” as he laughed he took the orb. Using a spell he placed it on a chain and started wearing it as if it was some sort of jewelry. As he placed the chain around his neck his laughter slowly died down. “From this day forward father, you serve me.” He turned around and started heading back into the cave, but before he could enter he heard a voice calling to him from the behind.

“Brother, how could you do something this cruel?” a female voice asked him. He turned around and saw a mare and a stallion standing side by side with each other.

“Brother, sister, I was wondering when I’d see you again.” He smiled arrogantly at them.

“Brother, why would you do this?” his sister asked him with slight sorrow in her voice.

“Why? Because I grew tired of that stallion, he has been getting on my nerves for too long and I thought now would be the best time to put him out of his misery-“

“Return his soul to us brother!” Nexus’ brother yelled at him. Nexus growled at him.

“Hasn’t any pony told you it’s impolite to interrupt?”

“We are not playing games with you Nexus, return his soul to us and we shall allow you to live-“

“And why would I do that, Purity!” Nexus snapped at him. “Why would I give up something I worked so hard to obtain, why would I sacrifice everything just to please you?”

“Because you have no right to his soul, now return it to us-“

“Forgive me brother but I grow sick of hearing you command me.” He raised his horn and a ball of flame started growing over his head, he shot it into the air and it exploded sending down thousands of smaller fireballs that rained over his siblings. The two teleported out of harm’s way and remained concealed until the rain of fire had ceased. As they hid Nexus started to laugh loudly. “Do you fools think you can really hide from me?” Nexus turned his head and his eyes flashed with a dim black light causing a ring of black aura to appear in front of him. As it began to raise, his sister Widow started to become apparent and the aura began to hold her in the air by her neck. “Widow, my dearest sister, did you really think you could hide from me in plain sight?”

“Brother…please!” she wheezed as she was raised higher into the air.

“Beg all you want my sister, in the end it shall only prove futile.” Nexus smiled as his magic began tightening around her throat preventing her from brining more air into her lungs

“Release her!” Purity yelled, Nexus turned around and there was a flash of intense light that blinded Nexus long enough for Purity to free his sister.

“Do not think this will stop me brother!” Nexus yelled as he started looking around in every direction waiting for his vision to come back.

“I did not expect that to stop you brother, I just expected it to slow you down!” Purity approached him; he held his horn high and it started glowing with a green light that he placed over him, as he backed away the light began fading into Nexus and restoring his sight.

“There you are!” Nexus smiled sinisterly at them; he slashed his horn expected to send out a wave of magic attempting to attack them, but nothing happened. “What have you done to me…?” Nexus growled at him.

“I placed an anti-magic spell on you, you are now forbidden to use magic of any type.” Purity told him, he started walking towards him to reclaim his father’s soul, but as he got close he started hearing singing coming from all around him. As Nexus’ siblings looked around trying to find the source of the singing he slowly turned around and walked to the edge of the forest, he sat there and began talking to himself. “Sister, I was wondering when you’d finally show yourself.”

“Forgive me brother, I was busy.” A mare replied as she appeared out of nowhere behind him.

“With what exactly?” Nexus asked as he stood up and at random the mare placed her hoof on his horn and his body flash with a black light allowing him to use his magic once more.

“I was learning how to cure you of your curse.” She smiled at him and then continued singing. Nexus turned around and saw that his other two siblings were still trying to find the source of the sound.

“You two are incompetent.” Nexus growled at them; and as they turned around they saw Nexus standing with their sister.

“Siren, what are you doing here, you were banished!” Purity yelled at her.

“Forgive me brother, but I just wanted to play with you.” Siren smiled at him as she started snuggling up against Nexus.

“Return to your chambers sister, this fight does not concern you!”

“As a matter of fact it does, Nexus summoned me here.”

“Nexus! You know she was banished, why would you awaken her!?” Purity yelled as he turned to his brother.

“Because I desired to make the playing fields more stable; I wanted the fight to be fair.” Just then, Siren turned into dust and coated Nexus. As Purity charged at them Nexus leaped out of the dust cloud and stabbed him in his heart using his horn, Purity fell to the ground in pain and Nexus walked over to him and stared down at him. “I will admit brother, that was pathetic, I was hoping you’d put up more of a fight.” He turned around and faced the cloud of dust that began turning back into his sister. “Siren, deal with the other one for me will you?”

“Of course my big brother.” She smiled, then teleported behind Widow. Before she could react Siren began to sing. Her voice began to manipulate the plants around her causing them to grow faster and trap Widow in a cage made of the roots of trees. “Don’t try to escape Sis, I enchanted the plants to pull you back in if you tried to.” Siren then laughed at her as she walked back over to Nexus who walked over to her.

“Well done sister.” Nexus congratulated her.

“Aww, thanks brother, it was nothing.” she replied. Nexus then walked over to Widow who cowered in fear of him.

“Widow, you have disgraced me, you challenged me and you refused to put up a fight-“

“What are you going to do to me!?” Widow yelled at him out of fear.

“I’m going to do the one thing I should have done at your birth.” He waved his horn and a wave of magic went over her almost knocking her off her hooves, when she regained her balance her body started turning in to ash.

“Widow!” Purity screamed as he attempted to attack but was unable to use his magic.

“Don’t think I forgot about you brother.” Nexus smiled at him, he turned around and walked over to him. “I remembered the spell you used on me, so I did the same thing to you-“

“You monster-!”

“Is that any way to talk to your king?” Nexus asked. He placed his hoof at his brother’s shadow and it started growing until his brother fell into it. He began thrashing in an attempt to get out but was constantly dragged down. “Enjoy the darkness brother, for you shall be spending the rest of eternity in that pit.” Nexus smiled sinisterly at him, he stomped his hoof on the ground and the shadow began closing, and when it did, it trapped his brother within it for the rest of eternity.

“Well done brother.” Siren congratulated him as she started to head back into the forest.

“Sister, before you leave, there is something I want you to have.”

“What is it?” she asked as she stopped and turned around to face him. He raised his horn and using his magic he casted as spell that broke that shackles she was wearing.

“I wanted to give you... your freedom.” Nexus smiled at her. She looked down at her hooves and grinned before she bowed to him.

“Thank you brother, I am forever in your debt.” She stood back up and raced back into the forest, singing before she disappeared into the foliage.