A Future in Peril

Braeburn was lying on a four post bed in the center of a white room. Celestia's personnal doctor, with the help of Pinkie Pie, cleaned and bandaged his wounds.  Sweat raced down his burning forehead.  His body quivered as if winter laid its frozen hand on his bare flesh.  Applejack paced restlessly around the room.  "Is he goin tah be okay," she asked as the doc packed his things.

"I can't tell for sure," he replied.  "He has an acute infection and, from what his body is showing, had a rough journey.  It could be weeks before he wakes up.  Applejack didn't say anything else as the doctor left the room.

"He needs his rest," Celestia said to the others.  "I only want Dusk, Twilight, Luna, and myself to be here watching him.  Everypony else should wait outside, until he wakes up."

The other ponies acknowledged her request, except for Applejack.  "Princess, can I stay?  He's family, and I would appreciate it if I could be here when he wakes up," Applejack asked respectfully.

Celestia thought for a moment, then answered, "I will allow it.  You can stay too."  Applejack looked nervously to the floor. She gave Applejack a reassuring smile.  "He'll be fine.  We'll be keeping a vigil over him until he recovers.  My doctor will be on call in case anything happens."

Applejack looked up and returned the smile.  "Thank yah Celestia."  She walked over to Braeburn's bedside, and took a seat on the maple chair that rested beside her ailing cousin.  Twilight decided to lay beside the warm fireplace, and read an old book she borrowed from the library.  Celestia relocated herself to the decorative rug that adorned the left side of the room.  Dusk and Luna retired to the large sofa beside the window.

Dusk repeatedly tapped his hoof against the sofa.  "I don't like this," he said quietly so that no pony but Luna would hear him.

Luna glanced at him peculiarly.  "What's on thy mind?"

"It's that mark on his side," he replied quietly.  "I've seen it before, but I can't remember where."

Luna placed a comforting hoof in his shoulder.  "I'm sure it's just thy imagination.  Just relax."

Dusk got up from where he sat.  "I think we should wake him," he said louder than he was supposed to.  "Whatever he saw could be a danger to everypony.  It could be weeks before he wakes up, and I don't think we have that long."

Applejack overheard Dusk, and rose from her seat.  "Don't yah dare lay a hoof on mah cousin,"

Dusk made his way towards Braeburn.  "Don't you understand?" he stated.  "What ever attacked him might attack Appleloosa might attack other settlements.  It could attack the cities.  It could even attack Canterlot.  We need to wake him up now!"

Celestia tried to break the tension.  "Please be patient," she pleaded.  "If you wake him up prematurely, he could go into shock.  It could permanently scar him."

"That's a chance I'm willing to take," he said as he lunged towards the bed.

Applejack blocked the alicorn's way.  "I don't care if yer my best friend's husband-tah-be," she said threateningly.  "You stay away from mah cousin, or I'll beat yah down in a heartbeat."  Dusk and Applejack stared each other down, both unwilling to give any ground.

Luna slowly walked to her brother's side.  "Please Crimson," she beseeched.  "Thou art just making things worse."

Crimson looked at his younger sister, then back at the orange pony.  Her eyes were still giving him a murderous look.  He sighed.  "I'm sorry," he said backing down.  "I'm just feeling a bit helpless right now.  I fear for our futures."  He allowed Luna to escort him back to the couch.  They both sat back down, and just stared out at the courtyard below.  Applejack went back to her cousin's side.  She noticed the rag on his head was getting dry, so she started to replace it with a damp one.  A deep silence overtook the room.

The seconds ticked by like hours.  Each movement Braeburn made caught the undivided attention of everypony in the room, but always ended with disappointment.  "Celestia," Twilight said breaking the silence.  "May I have a word with you?"  Celestia walked silently over to her student's side.  Twilight closed the leather bound book she had been reading, and looked up at her mentor.  "I have an idea, but I wanted your permission before I carried it out."

"What is it young one?" Celestia asked.

Twilight rose off the ground.  "I've been studying a new spell that would allow me to play the memories of anypony I cast it on for all to see.  Since the situation is dire, I was wondering if I could use it on Braeburn.  I just learned it, so I don't know what it will do to him."

Celestia pondered her students request for a minute.  I shouldn't allow her to do that, she thought.  It could do damage to his mind if done improperly.  She looked sullenly at the clock.  It had been nearly four hours since they placed Braeburn in the bed.  But that brand.  If it is the symbol of who I think it is, then I fear it is the only way.

Celestia nodded at Twilight.  "Be careful.  It could ruin his mind, but I trust in your abililities."

Twilight slowly got up, and walked over to the bed.  Applejack saw her coming, and rose to confront her.  "What'cha goin tah do to my cousin?  If it's goin tah hurt him...."

"I'm going to cast a spell on him, so we can view his memories,"  she said truthfully.  Applejack just stared at her.  "I promise I won't hurt him," she added.

Applejack's gaze veered towards Dusk.  He was still staring out the window, completely unaware of what was going on.  Applejack returned her attention to Twilight.  "i trust yah sugar cube," she said.  "I just don't want to be in the room when yah do it.  I don't know if I'll be able to handle watchin what happened to Appleloosa."

"No pony will blame you for not wanting too," Twilight said comfortingly.  "You don't have to be here."

"But what if Dusk...." she started.

"My brother won't do anything," Celestia interrupted.  "I won't let him.  You have my word."

Applejack paused for a moment.  "Alright," she finally said.  "Ah'm goin tah join the others outside.  Call me if something happens."  Celestia nodded.  Applejack slowly made her way out the door to the room where the others waited.

"She has a strong heart," Celestia said.  Twilight nodded in agreement.  Celestia turned her head to her younger siblings.  "Dusk.  Luna.  Please come over here."  The two did as they were told.

"What is it sister," Luna asked.

"We're going to watch what happened to Braeburn.  Please be quiet while Twilight concentrates," Celestia said gently.  Luna and Dusk gave her an odd look, but remained where they stood.  Celestia gestured at Twilight to go ahead.

Twilight nodded, and placed her horn gently on Braeburn's head.  Her horn emitted a soft, purple glow.  A bubble formed above Braeburn's head, projecting his memories with great clarity.  Twilight concentrated, as she sifted through his memories like flour.  The memories of his past passed quickly within the confines of the projection, until she stopped at the one they were looking for.  It showed the bustling settlement of Appleloosa.  The settlers and buffalo were happily going through the day's toils.  Braeburn's attention fell on a particullary beautiful mare in a frilly, blue dress.  Howdy there Miss Flower Braeburn said inside his memory.

Howdy Braeburn.  It's good to...what's that?" she said pointing off into the distance.  The projection turned to show a strange black blot coming towards the settlement.  It grew more massive with each passing second.  The settlers within Braeburn's view looked uncertainly at the unknown object rampaging towards their little settlement.

Get the mares and youngins inside! Sheriff Silverstar ordered somewhere in the distance.  Stallions, get ready!  I don't like this one bit.  Braeburn watched some of the women and children being hastily herded into the salt lick saloon.  The stallions grabbed whatever they could get their hooves on to defend themselves.  Braeburn quickly grabbed a nearby pitchfork, and fell in with the other males behind a row of haybales.  Chief Thunderhooves could be heard somewhere out of Braeburn's view giving orders.  Braeburn watched the buffalo line up in a defensive formation at the edge of town, waiting for the signal to charge.

The small, black wave divided into smaller figures as it closed in on the town.  Their fangs glinted in the sun, as they charged ferally at the town.  A larger one was leading the charge from the air.  It gave a roar that sent chills down down the spines of the ponies watching the memory, as it descended upon the town.

CHARGE! Thunderhooves commanded to his tribe.  The buffalo tribe kicked up a massive cloud of dust, as they charged headlong into the fray.  They met the unknown enemy with brute force, trampling some of the littler one's heads into the dirt.  The buffalo used their massive size to try and push back the attacking force, and it appeared to be working.  Then, the little ones extended their insect-like wings, and took flight, and attacked the buffalo from above.  The buzzing from their wings was deafining.

With no way to defend from the savage air assault, the buffalo were being torn to shreds.  Blood was seen spurting from their wounds, as the black demons bit and stabbed into the buffalo's tough flesh.  They tore viciously at the buffalo's throats and eyes.  The buffalo continued to fight with all their hearts, but to no avail.

THEY NEED OUR HELP!  EVERYPONY...ATTACK!  DON'T LET EM INTO THE TOWN! Silverstar ordered as he charged in with a dirty shovel.  The small band of stallions raced to aid their buffalo friends.  They met the creatures with a ferocity that would have scared an Ursa Major.  Braeburn jumped on top of one of the buffalo, and used his pitchfork to stab three of the buzzing pests.  The demons regrouped behind their larger leader, and converged against the brave stallions.  Braeburn turned to see Silverstar dispatching a few of the buzzing demons

Hold fast! Silverstar screamed.  He smashed in the skull of one of the wounded demons.  One of them tried to attack Silverstar from his right, but he knocked it down in one deft movement.  He brought the shovel down hard onto its head.  Brains seeped out of the hole his blow left.  What's the matter?  Can't stand against a true westerner?" he yelled brazenly.

The shout caught the attention of the larger demon.  It bellowed as it rushed at Sheriff Silverstar.  It raised its massive hoof into the air, and swatted at Silverstar.  It made contact, and sent him flying to the ground.  Silverstar! Braeburn shouted.  The black demon heard Braeburn's cries, and smacked him in the side of the face.  Braeburn rolled a few feet in front of Silverstar.

The bigger, black demon stood tall over the earth ponies.  The wind seemed to be unnaturally swirling behind the behemoth.  Braeburn watched, as it picked up Silverstar in its twisted hoof.  It pulled the hilt of a sword from the belt that hung around its massive shoulder, but it didn't have a blade.  What's the matter?  Mommy don't like it when yah play with sharp objects? Silverstar said mockingly.  The wind roared, as it curved around the hilt.  The wind twisted and turned, until it formed a massive blade where the steel would have been.  The creature raised the wind sword high in the sky, and brought it down on Silverstar's neck, causing blood to spray on Braeburn's face.  His body fell to the ground.  It twitched and convulsed for a few moments, before it froze in stillness forever.

The sheriff's head was still in the clutches of the black figure, forever frozen in fear and horror.  It sniffed at the head and took a huge bite out of it, chewing the remains loudly.  Braeburn winced as he heard the cracking of bone between the demon's sharp.  The towering figure threw what remained of Silverstar's head over its shoulder, and proceeded towards Braeburn.  Braeburn grabbed his pitchfork, and stabbed at the menacing figure.  It grabbed the pitchfork and, with one deft movement, split it in two.  It picked Braeburn up just as it did for Silverstar.  It stared curiously at the struggling earth pony.  It lifted its sword, and began to bring it down towards his neck.  Enough Vortex! a disembodied voice commanded.  The howling blade stopped inches away from his neck.

Braeburn was thrown to the ground.  His vision blurred, as the demon placed its hoof on the side of Braeburn's head to prevent him from running away.  Two figures came into view.  One looked the same as the large demon, but seemed to be female and more slender.  The other was a black alicorn.  His purple and black mane flew carelessly in the wind.  I have plans for this one. he stated.  He stared intently at Braeburn with unnerving, purple eyes.

I know you'll be watching this Celestia, he said to Braeburn.

Who are you...? Braeburn said before being punched by the demon.  His vision went blurry for a moment.

Thank you my son, he said to the towering figure.  As I was saying, know this my dear Tia.  What you are about to witness will be the fate of your entire kingdom.  I'm going to enjoy every last second of it.  He nodded towards the distance.  Atomic Vortex picked Braeburn up off the ground.  As he did, Braeburn caught a glimpse of the corpses that litterd the town.  It seemed Braeburn was the only survivor of the carnage.  His vision swirled, as Atomic Vortex turned his head towards the saloon.  The smaller demons were lighting torches and placing  kindling at the base of the building.  The cries of terror from the mares and fillies filled the air.

Stop! There are mares and fillies in there! Braeburn begged.

The black alicorn cackled.  His cold eyes met Braeburn's.  I know.  He nodded once more towards the little creatures.  They used the torches to light the kindling.  The fire grew in a matter of seconds.  It hungrily climbed the walls of the saloon.  Pillars of smoke reached towards the sky.  The screams inside grew frantic.  One of the mares jumped out of the window.  Her entire body was engulfed in the flames.  She hysterically ran around in circles, before dropping to the ground whimpering in pain.  Braeburn was forced to watch, until the saloon became an ash pile.  The alicorn came into view once again.  Would you kindly deliver my message to Ponyville? he said sinisterly to Braeburn.

Wh...what message, he replied.

The alicorn's horn began to glow a horrendous black.  The one I'm going to painfully burn onto your side, he said.  He lowered his head towards Braeburn.

NO! PLEASE! STOP! Braeburn pleaded.  His head shook, as he desperatly tried to free himself.  His struggling grunts were replaced with screams of pain.  Everypony in the room watched in horror as the memory faded to black.