Music Inspired Oneshots: An Equestrian Epic

Inspired by the song From Highest Remembrance

Two ponies stood in the rain.

They had been standing in the rain for hours now, neither wanting to move, for moving would spell death. One stood on a raised dais, his platted armor shining silver in the moonlight piercing through the thin clouds, and his Yari looking pristine, and an emblem on his helmet showing he was of the rank of Shogun. The other stood on ascending stairs, his armor showing several places where it had been bitten into by weapons, and his Katana dripping with blood.

Behind the pony lay several dead ponies, who had been guarding the one standing on the dais while he enjoyed tea at his favorite tea house, which had no roof to speak of save for near the walls. They had been problematic, for they were the shoguns finest warriors, but the pony was greater, able to kill them quickly before climbing onto the steps and waiting.

Neither of them had moved after that, and to the unaware it may have seemed like they were just staring at each other out of mutual hatred. But to those who caught a glimpse of their eyes, they could see that they were indeed doing battle, but within their minds.

As the echo of blades rang out from within their minds, they also split part of their minds away, thinking of different things about the other as their blades crossed within.

The shogun still couldn’t believe that this pony now stood before him with his blade drawn, for he had once been his most trusted of advisors, a stallion near and dear to his heart who had supported him throughout his long reign as shogun. But he had stepped out of line, embarrassing him in front of the rest of his army, and for that he was made an example of, which had led to this moment.

Sure, he knew his choice of punishment had been harsh, but he had never once entertained the thought that his most prized advisor would turn on him, not once, and now, he was paying for that mistake, most likely with his life.

The pony also couldn’t believe he was here, but he knew his blade was not yet done spilling blood today, and would not be satisfied till it bit into the shogun it had once served. He remembered why the shogun had turned on him, for he had spoken out against his shogun when he had proposed a battle plan against one of their greatest enemies, one which would cost hundreds upon thousands of innocent lives.

His words had angered the shogun, for him speaking out against his plan he had embarrassed the shogun, and the shogun had decided to make an example of him…by disemboweling his wife and son, and then spearing his unborn daughter on a pike outside his gate as a reminder of what happens to those who displease there shogun.

When he had done that, the pony who had once been his most trusted had flown into a rage, killing those who the shogun had used to do the dead before hunting the shogun down, and now they were here, standing still as the rain fell around them.

Finally, the pony spoke, breaking of their internal battle as his words traveled to the ears of the shogun. “I will give you this once chance, admit that you were wrong, and I shall let you take your life to save whatever honor you have left.”

The shogun snorted, “Come now, you and I both know I shall never do that, this can end one way…and one way only.”

With those last words said, the shogun moved, charging forward with his Yari pointed at the pony, moving with great speed as he gave a mighty roar of challenge. The pony however did not move, waiting till the shoguns Yari was nearly at his throat before darting to the side and then forward, his blade cutting through the air as the shogun flew past him before stopping ten paces behind.

The pony waited, his breath flowing out his nostrils as the shogun just stood there, and then he heard it, a faint gurgle and then the sound of a body hitting the water soaked stone, the pony turning to see the shogun lying dead on the ground as his blood flowed with the water out of the road beyond.

The pony stood there for a moment longer, and then sheathed his katana, walking toward the door before stopping beside the shoguns body, his head lowering a bit as single tear fell, and he spoke his final words to him.

“I am sorry…father…”