Fighting in a world of Harmony

The office reeked of hard cider. It seemed the mayor wasn’t too careful of how she drank. The room itself was larger than the small workplaces that the other ponies had to endure. Precious weapons lined the walls, swords and hammers alike. I didn’t see any of these “guns” like the one I had left in the care of Rapid Fire. The mayor obviously hadn’t been as technologically advanced as she made herself out to be.

I saw a couple of chairs set up in the room. One of them sat behind the desk, while one rested in front of it, on my side. The mayor traversed the small room to the seat behind the desk, taking her place as head of the town. I, in turn, made my way to the other seat, comforting myself on the silky velvet.

The large window that looked over the city frightened me. Anypony could just fall out of it if they weren’t careful enough. I kept my thoughts away from heights, focusing more on the discussion that was to be had. We were on bad terms, and the stench of rage hung over the air.

Her desk was cluttered, which was odd, due to her “clean” personality. The nametag read “Chrysanthemum.” Could Chrysanthemum seriously be her name?

“So, umm, Ms. Mayor, why am I up here? All the ponies downstairs seemed to be in a glorious uproar when they realized it was me here and not somepony else.”

Chrys just smirked at me, a look of deceit on her face. “Why, I told them all that you were going to be the one to deliver our great drinks to Manehattan.”

I just stared at her, the grim look on my face showing nothing but animosity. Already, I was planning out the many ways I could trap her and make her do what I wanted. If I pleased, I could even force her to bring this town back to glory. It could be the hotspot for all the rebels…

“Ms. Mayor, I assume you know of the meddling I have done, and of all the dirt I have on you. Is that correct?”

She only nodded her head, standing up to cross the room, standing behind me as she spoke.

“Yes, of course I know what you’ve been doing. I’ve been suspicious of you ever since you’ve entered Manehattan. You obviously won’t tell anypony else of my wrongdoings. That could end in...well, you know...a tragic death in the town. Our glorious hero, struck down by some horrendous monster, no?

“But...I am willing to propose a deal, if you would like to accept. I will revive the city of Manehattan for you. I will give them all food, and make sure that they are not left hungry. All you have to do, is find one single stallion. His name, is Shining Armor…”

My mind blanked out after she spoke his name. I knew that pony. I don’t know how I knew who he was, but memories started to flash through my mind once again.

~~~

“You know what being Captain of the Royal Guard means, correct Shining Armor?”

A royal voice came from my mouth. I couldn’t see who I was, or where I was, but the pony in front of me was addressed as Shining Armor. He was obviously of importance, being Captain of the Royal Guard and all. He spoke up, a gleam of hope in his eyes.

“Yes, your majesty. All I require is a team to lead, and a chance to see my younger sister, Twilight Sparkle, every once in a while. Those are my terms.”

My mouth formed into a smile, a kind voice coming out of it. “And fair terms they are, my subject. I am trusting you with this duty. Now go out and serve Equestria, in all your greatness!”

My hoof went to my forehead in a salute, watching as he walked off with his head held high. As soon as he left and closed the door behind him, another pony burst in. She was an alicorn, her hair a glistening dark-blue color. In the crossbreeze that fed throughout the room, her mane swirled like the stars gleamed.

“Sister, there is trouble! Discord has come once again to wreak havoc on Canterlot! We must go at once! It is unknown how he escaped from his prison...either way, we must huirry, before he destroys the castle!”

My body stood up, rushing to the door-

~~~

And suddenly I was back in reality. The mayor was still standing behind me, and it was as if time itself had stopped for me. My head was pounding now, but I continued to press on for more information, all the while slowly moving my hooves under the table to plant the microphone.

“W-why do you need him, Chrys?”

Her face contorted with anger. “My name is Ms. Mayor to you! And because, his departure of Equestria is well overdue. He leads a rebellion against everything good, and he must be stopped at once. If not, we fear that there may be no chance for a recovery.”

Of course she would say that. She was the evil one here! For a second, I considered the options. I would save a whole city, but at what cost? Could I destroy all that was left of humanity?

“Why should I destroy him? You are the evil one here, Ms. Mayor. Starving a city just so you can sur-”

“It’s called survival of the fittest, you dimwit! I told you that if you destroyed him and his army, I would save the city. Do you not understand what I’m saying? I’m giving you a chance to be a true hero!”

I looked down, a small tear forming in one of my eyes. I looked back up a her, my mouth in a crumple. “If being a hero means destroying the only hope that Equestria will get any better, then I don’t want to be a hero. Keep your damn town starving, but don’t expect to see any sympathy from me.”

I got up, making my way to do the door.

“And what about Silver Bear, eh? What would happen if he were to, I don’t know, die?”

This stopped me dead in my tracks.  Would she really kill Silver Bear just because I didn’t stop the one force that could save everypony? I turned around, charging straight at her. She didn’t even move, and laughed when I stopped right in front of her.

“Stop laughing, you sack of marbles! If you lay a hoof on Bear, I’ll kill you! You will NOT hurt him!”

“Then I would hope that you will go to Canterlot Castle and destroy my threat, eh?”

I sighed, my head drooping down. I walked out, muttering harsh words under my breath. Walking out of her room that night, I felt more ashamed than I ever had before. I was about to do something that could ruin ponies forever, and all because I was a selfish bastard...why did Bear have to mean so much to me!?

I screamed out, running in one direction. Like I always had, I was running from things again. I had run when I didn’t know how to fight, I had run when I wasn’t brave enough to stand up to my fears, and I had even run when I sent Princess Luna to the moon. I wasn’t going to stop that tre-

Did I just say when I sent Princess Luna to the moon? Where did th-

When the memory started, I didn’t feel anything. All I saw was my body, falling to the earth in a bundle, as I remembered it had so many times before.

~~~

I opened the door, walking into a small library where the alicorn from before was organizing all of the books that were going to be placed into each one of the empty shelves.

“Luna, my sister, you do not have to do this! Please, I implore you to come back to the castle! We do not have to clash, as you have decided we shall. I will give you just as much responsibility as myself, just do not leave me. I could not live without you…”

The alicorn, Luna, stood up, her eyes fierce tigers that sought nothing but destruction. “Sister, I know you mean well, but there isn’t room enough for two Princesses. All of my responsibility is yours, is it not? That is what you believe, so I have given it to you. Now leave me, before I am forced to battle with you yet again.”

My being just sighed, stepping outside, placing a bubble around the treehouse-library...thing. Taking reason from that talk, I was most likely an alicorn as well. I wasn’t controlling myself, just watching the events play out, but I could still think for myself, even in the eyes of the alicorn, who now began to sing a sad song, like a lullaby. When it was over, she began talking to herself.

“Luna, why must I fight with the one I love the most? Can things not heal between us...will things be this way forever? I can only hope that you will stay peaceful.”

She walked off, through the forest I had come through when I first arrived, all the way to a castle, ancient in architecture. Inside, there seemed to be room enough for a Princess. The wide area and precious metals made home for a royal pony, much like Luna. At least...she looked royal.

The decals on the walls shined with an immeasurable pleasure. Sadly, I couldn’t move my head, which would have given me a better glimpse of the beauty this place held. I found myself in a room, a small one that seemed to be an even smaller library. In the center, there stood an altar with a single book. On the cover, all I read was “The Journal.” It was the exact same one I had!

I saw my body open it up, catching a glimpse of the brilliant white coat which I held. My own coat was a light green, and all the ponies around here were practically wearing dust. This was the first clean pony I had seen in a very long time, other than Bear, of course.

An inked quill floated up to the delicate paper, the exquisite handwriting sweeping the page like the winds blowing the leaves around.

“Royal Diary,

What else must I do to prove to Luna that she is equal to me? She has chosen the life of a villain rather than a life of coexisting with myself as a leader. I fear for her, and also fear that I may have no choice but to temporarily banish her. I fear being lonely, and will most likely fail my royal duties unless she turns herself around.

The days have not gotten better for me, either. My illnesses get stronger by the day, the sickness reminding my body that I am sure to die soon. The only one who can help me would be Discord, but we cannot let him out of his stone cell. He would kill us all.

Regards,

Princess Celestia”

A bright light flashed, my reality beginning to come back to me as this “Celestia” faded out.

~~~

My breaths quickened, my eyes opening with shock. Whatever was happening to me, I honestly did not want to figure it out. All I knew was that I was seeing things that nopony was meant to see. I had to go back to Bear.

With wobbly hooves, I tried standing up, yet again, but found myself in a blank area, much like the area I found myself in when I was moved from Baltimare. Fortunately for me, this time I saw a city not ten minutes away from my position.

The only problem was that the city was in ruins. All around, from what I saw, the city had exploded! All of the buildings were on the ground in pieces, and the metal was either melted on the ground or badly charred. Ashes floated down from the air, making me slightly choke. The city seemed abandoned, and definitely inhabitable.

No matter what it looked like, it didn’t really stop me from walking my way into it. If I was sent here after that awful mirage, then something important had to be lurking around inside.

The groans of the city merged in with my fear, creeping up like a sinister monster behind me. The howls and hisses of the decimated pipes burst around me. My eyes were half shut, me not wanting to experience the world around me. I continued forward, stumbling upon the largest building I had seen during my time in equestria. The pink glow that surrounded it reminded me of the bubble I had seen around the library in my last vision.

Trying to step inside was a burden enough to me. The bubble seemed to keep me out, pushing me back further with each small push. A hiss behind me caused me to freeze, my eyes shutting tightly.

“Come now, my dear pony. Your dessstiny awaits. We will decide on your death after you tell usss why you’re here.”

I turned around, my eyes still sealed shut. I didn’t bother opening them. I just crept forward, a scaly skin brushing against my coat. I jumped back, squealing in fear. A scaly arm wrapped around my shoulders, leading me on through the dark I saw.

When we finally stopped, I managed to pry my eyes open long enough to gag. On the floor, bodies were strewn about. Cut into, each one of the pony’s bodies was missing their crucial organs. Looking around, I noticed a lot of creatures sitting around a table, chewing on what appeared to be the livers of the dead ponies. The largest of them all slithered over to me, his fetid breath sending shivers down my spine.

“And what isss your name, my dear pony?”

I was half frozen, as earlier, but I still found a way to answer him, probably out of fear. “My n-name is Sodapop, mister. Are you going to k-kill me?”

All the beasts just laughed, the hisses forcing me to cower back. They all stopped, the slippery creature speaking again. “Now, now, Ssssodapop, we will only kill you if we sssee fit to. Why are you here today?”

“I have come in search of means to live. I believe I’m far from home, and I need to eat something.”

For some reason, I wasn’t scared anymore. I took that moment to search around, ym eyes locking on a sharp blade nearly inches from my hooves. I looked back up at the large monster, looking him straight in his eyes, slit in the centers.

“And when you stopped me, I was pretty sure I found one.”

I bucked my front hooves, hitting him in the face. I took the split second to grab the blade in my teeth, swinging it to my side, cutting the creature in the throat. A green liquid poured out. When it hit the floor, I heard a sibilation, looking down to see the floor melting underneath the goo.

The rest of the beasts quickly began to advance on me, their movements sideways and their eyes fixed on my chest.I backed up, straight into a corner. When they got close enough, I lunged, jumping onto one of their backs and bringing the knife to his throat, slitting it ferociously.

My mind was set to kill. When another one lunged out to bite me, I jumped up, onto its head,stabbing the brand deep into his skull. Looking up, I saw three more  of these slippery bastards, all moving onto me. They surrounded me, their fangs jabbing for a piece of my flesh. I just reached my hoof out, grabbing the blade and plunging it deep into the mouth of one of the monsters, jumping up from my position to flip backwards and take the knife back in my nuzzle.

The green acid-like substance was all over the floor, only a thin line of metal standing between me and the two slithering creatures. I had blood covering my face, a crazy grin spreading as the knife gleamed in what sunlight was let into this hole. I slightly wondered how the blade hadn’t melted yet, but at the moment, it was best not to question it.

With one fell swing of my head, the knife flew out of my mouth and straight through the eyes of both creatures, planting itself in the wall. I brought my head down, my mane covering my eyes as I smiled with a brave look in my stance. I walked over, crossing the melted line set into the floor. I stepped over each hole, grabbing the knife in the wall.

I assumed that they wouldn’t be needing anything in this cave, so I began to search.  They didn’t have much, save the blood they kept from all of their previous kills. It seems that they had never met a pony as amazing at fighting as I was.

I looked in the mirror on the far wall, my mind screaming at me. I had just killed a large band of creatures, which was supposed to be good. I might have just saved a ton of ponies from death. That didn’t excuse the fact that I was covered in blood, and my hooves hurt from stepping in that acid. I looked down, and the hair of my coat near my hooves had all been washed away, and now they were howling at me to get some ice on them.

I saw a bed on the other side of the room. Excusing the rancid smell of this place I was in, I took a seat on the bed, my eyes slipping shut. I was going to fall asleep when I heard the fearful sound of water trickling into the cave.