Sins of the Fathers

Twilight awoke in a cold void. She couldn't feel anything or even sense which way was up. At first, she thought she was falling but the wind seems to just be howling, not rushing past her. All she saw was darkness surround her and for a moment the darkness seems to consume her. But before she could be completely lost in it, a small light glowed in the distance. It started as a dot but in a matter of seconds, the light was beyond blinding. Twilight had to shut her eyes for a second, to prevent the light from burning into her skull. When she opened up her eyes again, she found herself standing in a large, open field.

"Where am I?" Twilight asked out loud. The wind whipped by her, sending a shiver down her spine.

"You're in a memory." A voice said behind her. Twilight turned around to see Bright Eyes. Twilight immediately try to summon a spell but nothing happened. "Relax, we are sharing a mind link. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't give you the chance to stop it."

"Why are we in a mind link?" Twilight asked. She kept looking around the field, hoping to see if she recognized the area.

"An unfortunate side effect from the spell I cast." Bright Eyes said, walking away from her. "I risked it because I thought you would be dead soon. Alas, I'm stuck with you wandering my memories while I sleep."

At this moment, Twilight watch as a group of young fouls rushed past her, running up the hill. They were shouting and throwing a stuffed ball around. It took a moment for her to realize that it was a group of unicorn foals. She started to follow them and as she got to the top of the hill she saw the group run into a small village. There were several stone houses but seem they were very poorly put together. She saw that the ponies were wearing simple gowns.

"This is..." Twilight started to say before Bright Eyes seem to appear right beside her.

"This is my home village. A place I never wanted to return." Bright Eyes said.

"Why are you showing me this?" Twilight asked, seeing the villagers moving about. "Is this an attempt to get me to understand why ponies should fight or something? Because showing me things in the past is kind of the opposite of progress"

"I'm not showing this for any purpose." Bright Eyes growled. "You're not actually talking to me even. This is a subconscious version of me. Believe me, I wouldn't show this willing if I had the..."

A loud cry of pain cut him off, causing Twilight to turn right back around to see the group of colts had pinned down the littlest colt and were now pushing him into the mud.

"Get off of me, Pot Holder!!!" the small one shouted before being shoved into the mud.

"Oh come on, Bright Eyes!!!" The bigger colt shouted before shoving harder. "You going to start crying now? But I thought you wanted to play." The group laugh at this as he pushed a little hard. "You think just because your mother is my dad's favorite means I should be nice to you. You're lucky I don't drown you now."

With that, he left the small Bright Eyes in the mud, and the group left with a laugh. Twilight watched as the small foal slowly got out of the muck and trot lowly away.

"This is the beginning." Bright Eye said as they watch his young self depart. "In my tribe, you either prove your strength or you show your submission. Of course, I was never one to submit. So every day, I went back to my mother to lick my wounds. Although, she was usually busy with other villagers. Either she was making potions or pleasing them, causing me to heal in the darkness. I would repeat this pattern till one day..."

The area shimmer for a bit and Twilight watched as the days seem to fast forward until a familiar scene started to play out again. The older fouls were again beating on a young Bright Eyes, although this time he looked at least a few years older. The older foul was using a couple of telekinetic spells to push him into the ground.

"When will you learn your place, Bright Eyes?" The head bully, Pot Holder, shouted. He now had a mark of two clay pots. "I'm the future of this tribe and unlike your slut of a mother, I see no reason to keep you." With the last magic pulse, he shoved Bright Eyes into the mud. The group turn their backs and started to walk away. But Twilight wasn't looking at them anymore, she was watching as Bright Eyes rise from the muck. His horn was glowing bright and she watched as he pulled a stone out of the mud.

"Can't be the future if you're a dead pony." The young Bright Eyes mutter before shooting the stone. It flew with ease till it hit Pot Holder in the back of the skull with a sicking smack. Pot Holder fell to the ground almost instantly while his friends jump back. One of them rush over to their fallen leader and started to lift him.

"Pot Holder!!! Come on, get up!" He shouted, shaking the pony but Twilight didn't need to be up close to see that it was pointless. The other one back away slowly and started shaking his head.

"You killed him." He said shakenly. "You... killed him."

"Damn right." The young Bright Eyes said, spitting a glob of mud on the ground. "And if you don't want the same, you better start running." The group trip over themselves getting away, leaving him smiling.

"That should have been my greatest moment." Bright Eyes said. " I bested my foe and proven I wasn't a weakling."

"You murder some pony and you didn't think there would be consequences," Twilight said bluntly.

"Oh, you think I deserve punishment." Bright Eyes said, his eyes glowing brightly. "Then, how this to your liking?"

The area started to shift again but this time the ground move away like sand and the two now seem to be in some kind of hut. The young Bright Eyes was being stared down by a group of five male stallions behind a long table. The one in the middle of the five, an older stallion that looked like a rough type. There was another unicorn that was kneeling beside him, seeming to be nodding off.

"Does the monster have any last words before the sentencing?" He said, his voice cold and showing no pity.

"Please!!!" The young Bright Eyes cried. Twilight saw as he fell to the floor weeping. "Please, mother! Don't make me go into the woods! I'll be good. I won't fight anymore!!!"

"Silence!!!" The old stallion shouted, slamming his hoof on the table. He nodded to the rest of the council and straighten up. "By the order of this tribal, you are banished into the woods. You shall be shunned by this village and for the rest of your days shall you wander, not wanted or loved."

"MOTHER, PLEASE!!!" The young Bright Eyes scream as two large unicorns appear at his side and wrap ropes around him. They started to drag him out of the hut, with him resisting the whole way. "PLEASE, I'LL BE GOOD!!!"

"Your mother is the only reason you're not being killed now." The older stallion said, putting a hoof on the mare at his side. "I could never upset the sweet fruit in our village. She might give me a new son... to replace the one you took away, monster."

Twilight watched as the two unicorns dragged out of the hut. She turned to see a seething Bright Eyes, ignoring the scene. At first, Twilight thought that he was glaring at the one who banished him. But by following the eye line, she realizes that he was glaring at the mare at his side.

"She just sat there, stone out of her mind." He said, his voice slightly uneven. "I was thrown into the woods to die and she just sat there, drinking her potions and comforting the head of the village. So, tell me young one, was this a sufficient punishment?"

"Bright Eyes, I..." Twilight started but he turned away.

"Don't worry, princess." Bright Eyes said. "I know how this story ends."

🌖🌗🌔

Applejack really hated this plan but it was kinda their only plan. She breathed slowly, allowing the spell to filter out the fog. she hated leaving Twilight in the state she was in, moaning and screaming on occasion, but Starlight said there was nothing she could do. So her making this secure line and possibly get some innocent out of this battlefield, that what she can do. She quickly tied one of the ropes to a lamp post and made sure it was still secure. She was pretty she was heading to the train station. Just a few more blocks and she'll be able to...

She slid to a stop and held her breath. Leaning on a post a few feet in front of her was Bowtie. Her eyes were closed and seem to be meditating. Applejack thought maybe she could slowly slip back and not get spotted.

"I've already sensed you," Bowtie said, cracking her neck. "I've sensed you from your little hiding place in the ground. If I wanted to end you, I would have gone down and be done with it in five minutes. Six, if your princess is awake."

"You plan to turn me over to your boss?" Applejack asked, starting to back up.

"You won't make it," Bowtie said, in a sing-song voice. "Also, again, if I could sense you in your hideout. Why would I not just go there with my "leader" in toll?"

"Well, I may not be the smartest pony." Applejack said, grabbing her rope from behind her. "But I can tell when some pony ain't really stepping in line."

"You are a lot smarter than I expected," Bowtie said, smiling coldly. "I figure now would be the best time to talk to you. My companies are all busy, doing things of their interest. They think I'm patrolling, looking for any more slaves."

"So, what do you want?" Applejack asked, keeping herself prepared. "Is this where you give a speech about joining your side and we could rule the land?"

"Not really my style," Bowtie muttered, stretching and getting up. "We, as earth ponies, already rule this land. The lesser ones have to beg for our help and yet they think they can order us around because we can't fly or float a teacup. I come back to find that not only that every pony has become a weak pathetic mess but my kind is actually being submissive to them. We are warriors that used to bathe in the blood of dragons, not toil in the dirt like some kind of rodent."

"So not only are you crazed pony but you're also a bigot." Applejack said, gritting her teeth slightly. "Now we may be related but talk like that again and I'll..."

"You'll what?" Bowtie said with a slight smirk. "I destroyed you without trying last time and you are also the only one brave enough to go out in this fog. So how about we just sit and have a nice chat? Doesn't that sound nice?"

🌖🌗🌔

The first thing Twilight noticed about this new memory was that the Bright Eyes was at least a year older. He was also covered in the muck and grim, looking underfed and a bit rabid. He had several gashes on his side and was looking a little wobbling. He was clearly on his last leg and was stalking some kind of fancy carriage. He was floating a crude knife and with a magic pulse, broke one of the wheels. It stopped with a hard lurch and Twilight watched as two unicorn guards step out of the carriage.

"Don't worry, My Lady. " One of the guards said, armed with a spear. "It's properly just a rock or..."

Before he could finish, the young Bright Eyes jump out and with a quick slash across the throat, dropped the guard. The second shouted in surprise and quickly brought up his spear.

"You little vermin shit." The guard growled. He quickly swung the butt of his spear and smack Bright Eyes in the face. Due to his weakened state, he was easily knockdown. The guard quickly pinned him down by slamming the blunt end onto him. "I'm going to make you suffer, you piece of..."

"STOP." A voice called from the carriage. Twilight felt something was off about that voice like it was deep underwater or was being muffled somehow. "BRING THE FOAL TO ME."

"Who is that?" Twilight asked as the guard dragged the small Bright Eyes.

"She is the goddess of all below and above. She is the reason for all that breath and to crawl upon this earth. She is Majesty and you are not worthy to gaze on her, even in my memories." Bright Eyes said, not taking his eye off the carriage. The guard threw the young Bright Eyes to the ground. The carriage opens up and a bright light shore out of it, causing Twilight to shield her eyes. Neither the guard nor Bright Eyes reacted to the light, so Twilight assumed that Bright Eyes was blocking out the image.

"WHY DID YOU KILL MY GUARD?" The voice asked. The small Bright Eyes looked up and glared.

"I was hungry and he looked fat enough to feed me for a week." He said with a snare. "What are you going to about it, Bitch?"

The light just chuckled and Twilight watched as the light floated down to him.

"YOU DON'T FEAR ME?" It asked.

"Why should I be?" He said, not looking away.

"I SENSE YOUR POWER. YOUR PURPOSE. YOUR BLOODLUST. DO YOU WISH TO BE BETTER?" It asked. The young Bright Eye look shocked, as did the guard.

"My Queen..." The guard said, a little scared. "This vermin is clearly going to die. Why waste our time with..." Before the guard could finish, a beam of light hit him. The guard dropped to the ground like a pile of rocks. The young Bright Eyes looked shocked and started to back away but a bright glow wrapped around him.

"FIRST LESSON, CHILD." The voice said. "NEVER DISAGREE WITH SOME PONY WHO CAN KILL YOU." The voice said.

"Who are you?" The young Bright Eyes asked, fear in his eyes.

"I AM MAJESTY. She said, the light taking a more pony form. "AND I KNOW JUST WHAT TO DO WITH YOU.

The air suddenly picked up and the scene started shifting, causing Twilight to almost fall over. When the memory settle, it looked like Bright Eyes had aged to his teenage years. He looked a little better but still underfed. He was surrounded by other teens, all of them unicorns, in some kind of classroom. There were large oak tables but also some kind of small fighting ring. In front, of the group was a unicorn with one cloudy eye.

"It's come to my attention that a rumor has been circling about what happens after graduation." The older unicorn said, starting to walk in front of the group. "That you will all get a personal army and bring terror to all who oppose the unicorn race." This brought a soft chuckle. "Let me correct one thing. Only one of you will lead Majesty's Guard. The best of you, who succeeds in tomorrow's trials, will be given the command. It will give you the ability to take our lady orders across this land. But make no mistake, this will be the trial of your lifetime. Go out and enjoy your last time as free unicorns. Because tomorrow, your asses are mine."

He left the recruit, who stayed silent until he was gone. As soon as the door close to the room, almost all of them started cheering. Twilight watch almost all of them cheer and started to celebrate in earnest

"Did you all just hear that, boys!?!" One of the largest ones shouted. "One of us is going to get our own personal hit squad!"

"What are you going to do with them if you get them, Cresent Sun?" one asked him. Twilight watched as the large one jumped onto one of the tables.

"If I become the one to lead her guards to glory, the first thing I would do is go down to the south lands and gut every one of those striped freaks!" He shouted, causing them to cheer. "And then, I'm going to make those dirt pushers worship my fucking hooves while watching the sky dancers rip each other apart for my amusement." The group cheer again and started leaving the room. But Twilight notice that not only was Bright Eyes not following but another unicorn that she thought looked familiar.

"Why aren't you following the mob, Bright Eyes?" She asked, leaning up next to him. "Don't you want to be cozy with the leader of Majesty's Guard?"

"You know, Sparkle." Bright Eyes muttered. "That jackass will probably get to lead because Teacher likes him, while I, the true disciple of Majesty will be denied my rightful place."

"Can you just lay off the Majesty worship?" Sparkle said with an eye roll. "You know that's why Teacher doesn't like you. You never show him any respect, always questioning his orders. Think you know better."

"Because I actually want to win." He said with a growl. "All he wants us to do is die in pointless blood wars. I can lead us to glory if I got the chance."

"Well, my advice is two things, Bright Eyes." She said, sliding closer to him, starting to whisper into his ear "One, get a good night's rest. Because those fools are going to drink themselves into a coma, which gives us an advantage. and the second piece of advice, which I only give to you for special reasons, is you should make friends with some of your enemies. That way they won't see the poison you slip in their drink."

The scene shifted again but more smoothly as Twilight was now in some kind of bar. She saw the one known as Cresent Sun, surrounded by all the other students. It was clear it was the same night, as they seem to chat about what they would do if they get chosen. Cresent raised a glass of some kind of mead.

"Who are we!?!" He shouted.

"WE ARE THE CHOSEN FEW!" They shouted, raising their glasses.

"And who do we answer to!?!" He cried out with his mug raised high.

"WE ANSWER TO NO PONY, ONLY TO OUR MAJESTY!!!" They answer in a roar that shook the walls.

"That's what I like to hear!" He said with a smirk. "and look who joined us." The group turned to see Bright Eyes trotting over to them.

"Bright Eyes!" One of the unicorns to Cresent Sun's side shouted, slightly drunk. "I figure you would stay in your room and you know, tug the bottom horn!"

"Don't listen to them, Bright Eyes!" Cresent Sun shouted out. He patted the stool next to him, after shoving a drunk unicorn off it. "Why don't you sit next to the soon-to-be leader of Majesty's Guard. If you do well enough at tomorrow's trial, I'm might even choose you for second-in-command. We can rid this world of all those who oppose us."

"You would like that?" Bright Eyes said, stepping over the drooling drunk. "For us to ride across the plains and make sweet love with our weapons to any that would dare oppose us? To die on the battlefield with nothing but thousands of corpses surrounding us?"

"Of course!" Cresent Sun boasted. "Is there nothing better than dying for her?"

"Yes." Bright Eyes answer. "Conquer for her. Make her enemy bend the knee and become a force that no living thing in this world has witnessed."

The whole bar went silent as every pony seen to hear what he just said. Then a small giggle filled the bar that soon turned into a tsunami of laughter. Several of them fell off stools while Cresent Sun just shook his head.

"You see, that why you will make a great second in command." He said, patting Bright Eyes on the back. "You have ambition but just need to be held back a bit. We may be powerful but those mudslingers and cloud humpers are too stubborn to see it. They will fight to the death before summiting to us. And let not even get into the Dragons, Yaks, or Griffins. There is nothing left but to wipe them off this land."

"For you maybe." Bright Eyes mutter. This was clearly the wrong thing to say because Cresent Sun responded by smacking him across the bar, much to the enjoyment of the others. A few more fell off their stools, struggling to breathe.

"Okay, I tried to be nice about this." Cresent Sun said, pushing himself away from the table. He was a little wobble but still stands tall over Bright Eyes. " You always thought you were better than us because Her Majesty pulled you out of the gutter. She gave you some food and got you a few new toys. Don't you see that you are nothing more to her than a fucking pet?"

Bright Eyes spat out a wad of blood and gave a wide bloody smile.

"You may think I'm a pet." He said, before spitting another wad of blood. "I would consider myself lucky to be given such a title by her. But you want to know something?"

"What?" Cresent Sun asked, before pinning him to the wall. "What can you possibly tell me that I don't know?"

"I'm going to be the only one to make it to the trial." Bright Eyes groaned, still smiling but struggling to breathe.

"Really?" Cresent Sun said with a smile. "How are you going to do that?"

"Like this." Bright Eyes's horn lit up briefly and a loud whoosh filled the room. A few unicorns looked around confused while others started to get their weapons out. At first, Twilight didn't think anything happened, until one dropped to the ground. He started coughing violently and a few other unicorns follow suit. Cresent Sun went from looking smug to terrified in a matter of seconds. He quickly back away and tried to pull up one of the fallen unicorns.

"WHAT DID YOU DO!?!" He screamed as another unicorn vomit blood and collapsed to the ground. Bright Eyes smirked as he pushed himself back up.

"It's simple." Bight Eyes said, stumbling a bit. "I could have just poisoned your drink but I couldn't guarantee I get you. I could just poison all of the drinks but I find that wasteful. So, I decided to do a little research, and wouldn't you know it? I found a spell that was used by old white mages to switch potions around without opening the bottle. And what is a unicorn but an unopen bottle?"

"You monster." Cresent Sun growled, and with a flash of light, summon a large battle-ax. "I'm going to gut you like the swine you are."

"Right, just one question." Bright Eyes asked. 'How much have you have to drink?"

Cresent Sun's eyes widen and raised the ax high and for a second, it looks like he was going to bring it down. But a small trail of blood dripped out of his mouth and like a great oak tree, collapsed with a mighty thud. Bright Eyes trot over and turn the dying horse's head to look up at him.

"Teacher...will...kill you." Cresent Sun coughs out as he tries to catch one last breath. Bright Eyes smiled and lean down to him till they were almost faced to face.

"I would like to see him try." Bright Eyes said, with a look of pure fire. Cresent Sun coughed out a final glob of blood onto Bright Eyes's face before finally succumbing to the poison. Bright Eyes smiled as he sat down at the head of the table and pick up a goblet. He took a long swing of wine and look at the chaos he had caused.

"I guess they didn't see the poison I slipped into them." He muttered before starting to laugh. His laughter grew in volume till it seem to echo off the walls. Twilight felt the world start to swirl as the scene changed. Everything came back in focus, with the laughter gone but the look of murderer content still on Bright Eyes's face. He was now bound in iron, with a cap on his horn and his legs in shackles.

"He murdered several of your prospects!" Teacher shouted as Twilight look around at the new scene. It looked like a very exquisite throne room, filled with art showing unicorns as some unstoppable force. She saw at least five guards holding spears on Bright Eyes at all times, despite him being bound.

"THIS IS KNOWN. said a glowing light on a throne that rivaled Celestia's throne in size. "WHAT YOU LACK TO EXPLAIN WAS WHY WE SHOULD PUNISH MY DISCIPLES FOR DOING THE SMART MOVE? HE DISPATCH OF HIS ENEMIES. ARE YOU BLAMING HIM FOR EXPLOITING THEIR WEAKNESS OR FOR YOUR LACK OF INSIGHT TO ENCOURAGE YOUR PUPAL TO WATCH WHAT HE DRINKS?"

For the first time, Twilight watch some pony stand their ground to the blinding light, as Teacher didn't even flinch when Majesty spoke.

"You are blinded by his rage, my queen." He said, starting to circle the imprisoned Bright Eyes. "You believe he will bring us honor but all he will do is lead us to ruins. He only thinks for himself and doesn't consider the larger consequences of his actions. He just eliminate several of our finest warriors, not to mention, several heirs of our allies. When this gets back to the other tribes, it won't just be me calling for his head."

A soft pop filled Twilight's ears, causing her slight discomfort. That when Majesty spoke again but instead of the booming voice that seem to fill her head, a soft voice came out.

"I see your point but not your concern." She said, with a voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not worried about the other tribes. If I were, you wouldn't have been able to recruit from them for this project. You wanted to find the strongest unicorn beside me and we have. I believe this calls for a celebration."

The bright light float down from the throne and with a slight increase of the light, the chains that bounded Bright Eyes fell with a loud clatter. He cracked his neck and turn to Teacher. Teacher looked horrified and was stepping back.

"I can't be a part of this." He muttered. "You will lead us all to the end. He's a mad pony and you can't see it."

"Then leave us." The light said, not seeming to care. "For I will build my empire with him. For he has only one purpose in his life, to serve me to the bitter end."

"She saw my purpose." Bright Eyes said, standing next to Twilight. "She saw my light and she only cared for me, for I was her chosen one. She even granted me my greatest wish." He turned towards the entryway as it became a black void. "She allowed me to go home."

🌖🌗🌔

Rainbow Dash knew how to quickly assess a situation and she knew if this turn into a brawl, she was beyond outclassed in this. There was no cover, no support and if what she read about elemental fighters was true, the clouds could easily be turned on her. So she decided to see what she had to say. She landed on a cloud that was at least a few feet away but didn't take her eyes off Firefly, who was calmly sipping her wine.

"You know," She said as Dash settled down. "If we wanted to get drunk back in my time, we had to drink this murky water that could kill you if not done right. My tribe had it as a right of passage kind of thing. I think I drank three barrels of the stuff. And now here I am, drinking something that was made thousands of years after I was born but is over three hundred years old now. Life is funny like that?" She took another long sip of wine. "Too sweet for my taste." She threw it to the side and didn't even watch as it fell to earth.

"What do you want?" Dash asked. "Because I'm not a wine drinker, more of a cider gal."

"Funny, I'm starting to see how you could be my descendent." Firefly said. "No, I'm here to make a deal."

"I'm guessing I'm going to get the whole join the dark side speech?" Dash said, trying to look relaxed but knowing she was failing horribly. "Because I got to tell you, already happen. And unlike you, they were trying to tempt me with my dream job. So unless you have an all-season pass for Las Pegasus with a special pony on the side, I'm going to have to say no."

Firefly chuckled and pull out a chunk of cloud from underneath her. She started to mold the cloud into it was a small ball. she tossed it into the air and let it drift back to her hoof.

"You know, when I lead the armies of the pegasus, I always looked out to the horizon and wonder what lands could we conquer. I mean, we could blanket the lands with snow, bake the cities with the sunlight or drown their armies in mud. And I come to find is you have perverted the process for the mud rackers and the horn heads. Could anything be more disgraceful?"

"I could think of a few things," Dash said, trying not to show any emotions. But she noticed Firefly's eyes light up a bit.

"Aww, did I touch a sore feather?" She said with a smile. "Is that special pony not like us? Did some pony spend too much time playing in the dirt?"

"Nice try. You aren't going to play any mind games with me." Dash started to steady herself. Firefly smiled and lean forward a bit.

"Now I didn't see any stallions with you when we attack the tower. So I'm going to guess maybe one of the others we fight. Was it the freak princess that Bright Eyes carved?" Firefly said with a coy smile. "No, you don't take me as a submissive one. You want a nice challenge but one you can win eventually. So that takes out the pretty unicorn. I'm guessing it's one of the mud rackers."

"I'm serious, shut up." Dash growled. She knew it was a mistake the second she said. Firefly's eyes lit up like a match.

"Oh... I see." She said with a wicked smile. "🎶Some pony got a crush on a dirt mare.🎶"

"Look, are you just here to make me angry or are you going to get to your point?"

"Simple, child." Firefly said, catching the cloud ball and drifting closer to Dash. "Help me defeat Bright Eyes and I will spare one of your "friends"."

"What?" Rainbow Dash was a little surprise. "Did you flub a landing and hit your head? Why in the name of Celestia would I help you?"

"Come on, you have to realize how helpless your situation is." Firefly said, gently floating behind her. "We cut off an entire city in a day and pretty sure we killed or subdue any real threat. It is only a matter of time, a couple of weeks tops before we rule this land and put us on the proper path to rule this realm. But I refuse to be led by some broken child whose mommy issues are getting seriously tiring." Dash watched as Firefly grinds her teeth in rage. "So, if you want your little fling to last another day, join me in overthrowing him and I will spare you and one of your choosing. Really impressed me and I might make you a general in my army. Do we have a deal?" She stuck out a hoof to shake.

Dash looked at the hoof and back up at the confident smirk of Firefly. Looking deep enough, she could almost see the face she saw in the mirror every day. But Rainbow Dash had seen this face in almost bully she had faced and knew exactly what to say.

"No thanks," Dash said, waving the hoof away. "I can tell when a pony is hedging their bets. Which means you either fear or don't trust Bright Eyes. And that is a crack in the team. If there is one thing I learned over the years and that if you don't have your teammates back, then they don't have yours. And that is where my friend and I will succeed. Because we may not be stronger than you but as long as my friends are by my side, I will always win."

The rage seemed to light up Firefly's eyes and in a second, the cloud ball shape into a dagger and was pressed against Dash's throat. She closed her eyes and waited for the feeling of life to slip away. It might have been a second or an hour but eventually, Dash felt the icy blade left of her throat.

"No, you will die after I drain the life from the mud pony you love so much." Firefly said in a growl. "For you see, there is a reason your friendship will never defeat me." Rainbow Dash was about to say something but notice a glimmer of light in the distance. Dash saw Firefly going on to monologue and realize she had a chance to get a message. But she only had one chance and she hope that whoever was watching her would understand.

🌖🌗🌔

"What do you see, Drizzle?" Scout Misty asked Drizzle who was watching the large green fog cloud with his lucky binoculars.

"What?" Drizzle asked, paying too much attention to the fog to really listen to his partner.

"I was asking you what do you see," Misty asked slightly annoyed.

"I'm getting so sick of that question." Drizzle moan with an eye roll.

"Hey, you have the binoculars. I can't see anything. I'm not going to just sit here and play with my wings..."

"Not my fault you lost yours." Drizzle said, returning to watching. "But like the last three hours, I don't see any..." He stop when he saw a small blue pegasus. "Wait. Get command on the shard."

Misty quickly pull out a crystal shard and with a quick swipe, the floating head of Spitfire appeared.

"What is it, Scout?" Spitfire asked.

"I've spotted Rainbow Dash on the northwestern side of the fog cloud, about a foot from the fog." Drizzle reported.

"Has she tried to get any further?" Spitfire asked.

"Negative, commander. Looks like she is being prevented by another pegasus." He reported, adjusting to get a clear view.

"Describe them."

"Orange coat with a red mane. It looks like wings on fire as her mark." Drizzle commented. "I don't recognize the mark or anything. Should we approach and assist Rainbow Dash with... Wait." Drizzle focus more n Dash and saw her lips were moving very deliberately and slowly. "I think she trying to contact us but I can't read lips." Misty perk up and snatch the binoculars.

"I can. My mother was deaf and taught me in case of emergency." She said as she settled on Dash. She started muttering for a moment. "She is saying: "Hostage situation. Several injuries including Starlight and Twilight. many are missing. Flash twice if understand." Misty tilted the binoculars a couple of times, hoping she saw it. It must have worked because she saw Dash start a new message.

"Now she is saying: "Trying to make a plan to get the injury and innocent out. Will try to give you a head up." Misty turns to see the floating head of Spitfire with a deeply concerned look.

"If they are holding hostages, that means it not a mindless beast. It's some pony or thing with a plan. But if that pegasus is a part of this, I feel like this is going to get complic ated quickly. Is she saying anything else?" Spitfire asked. Misty turn back but saw that Dash was slipping back into the fog. But the other one was looking right at her. She thought maybe it was a coincidence until the pegasi started to move her lips.

"I can see you. Bye Bye" Misty repeated. She was a bit confused until the pegasi lift a hoof in the air. She saw ice starting to form into a javelin. "There is no way..."

The first ice spear came flying at them, cutting Misty shoulder deep. She felt the skin freeze almost in a second and felt like she dive into the coldest lake. Drizzle cried out in shock as another one just barely miss him.

"WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!" Misty shouted, diving into the clouds in a hope of cover. "I REPEAT, WE ARE UNDER ATTACK."

"She using ice spears!" Drizzle shouted, holding the shard as he nose-dived into a cloud. "How can she do that!?! That practice has been banished for over five hundred years." Misty was going to tell him to stop talking but suddenly felt the wind starting to turn. The clouds were starting to twist and didn't take a weather mare to know what was coming next. The clouds form a funnel and she watch as a twister hook headed right for them.

"Drizzle, go to the right." She shouted over the roar of the wind. "We need to divide her attention. She can't hit both of us!" She watch as Drizzle started to turn farther left and she swing to the right. She look behind her as a large tornado funnel started to bear down on her. She pushed herself in hopes to outrun the attack but knew it was hopeless. But at least Drizzle would get out alive. She looked to see a funnel was right on his tail, making her realize too late that enemy. " The little prick was summoning a multi-funnel tornado. How can we stop this?"

The wind was starting to rip at her and she knew it was only a matter of time before she would succumb to the force and she was going to fight it to the bitter end. She felt herself falter and knew it was the end. She was about to close her eyes when a large shadow suddenly drape over her.

"Now not the time to surrender, little pony." A booming voice that seems to shake her. "Not when General Green Scale and company have arrived." She felt herself get picked up and the wind being blocked around her. She looked up to see a large green dragon with an eyepatch grinning down at her. She sighed and before she could pass out from the exhaustion and pain manage to mutter one last thing.

"About time we got some help."

🌖🌗🌔

Twilight felt the scene shift and spin until it settle on a somewhat familiar area. Although it was now dark and the ponies that were once standing in authority were now laying in what she could assume was some kind of love pile, they were back in the very hut that a young Bright Eyes was banished. It smelled of alcohol, herbs, and other things that Twilight would rather not think about it. She also saw the younger Bright Eyes sitting in the dark while her guide stood next to her, unmoved.

"Before I was going to create her Guard, I had one request." Bright Eyes said, a small smirk forming. "I wanted to visit the village that once banish me."

At this, the younger Bright Eyes step into the moonlight and stood over the mare in the pile. It took a moment for Twilight to recognize the older version of Bright Eyes's mother. She twitches and her eyes open slowly until she looks up to see her older son.

"She was shocked silent by my new present." Bright Eyes said, pridefully.

"Bright?" His mother said, getting up quickly. "Bright, my child. Is that you?" Twilight watched as the younger Bright Eyes was standing stoic and trying to not emote but she swore she saw a small twitch in his eyes.

"Or maybe she was ashamed for how she betrayed me." Bright Eyes said.

" He doesn't know that it does not match his description. Twilight thought as she look back at the scene. " Maybe his magic is failing him."

"Child, is it really you?" The mare asked, bringing a hoof to his face. The young Bright Eyes flinch as if he were hit and the mare's eyes started to water. "Please, don't be angry. I tried to stop them. I did everything I could to stop them."

"She just stood there, amongst those who banish me to die." Bright Eyes growled as he survey the scene.

"I made them pay." His mother said in a harsh whisper. "I poison them when I couldn't find you. They beg for the antidote like when you beg for mercy but I show them none. You can come back! We will welcome you with open hooves. These elders would do anything for me and I have missed you so much!" At this, his mother wrap the young stallion in a hug and started to softly sob. Twilight noticed that the face of the sleeping stallion kept shifting to the elder that banishes Bright Eyes to stranges. It seems what he remembers happening and the actual memory was clashing in his head. She looked to see the young stallion was returning the hug. She watched as he pushed her mane to the side and lean to her ear.

"You abandon me." The young Bright Eyes said, with his teeth grinding and tears streaming from his eyes. His horn glow bright and a loud thud noise awoke the entire room. Her eyes went wide and she tried to hold onto her son as something was pushing her away. It was only when she lost her grip and was pushed into the air that she realized she was impaled on her son's weapon. She looked at him with pleading eyes as she raised into the air. The first stallion to fully awaken saw this scene and reacted with a scream.

"Guards! Guards! There is a psycho in the tent!" The witness shouted. This was a mistake as young Bright Eyes quickly looked to him and with a guttural roar, toss his injured mother to the side. He swung his weapon with a speed that if Twilight hadn't witnessed herself, would have thought was another edit in his memory. As the blade slice through the stallion's throat, Twilight watched as the face of the stallion changed for a second turn into the head elder that banish Bright Eyes. As he dropped dead, it fad back to his real face. The rest of the stallions started to rush for an exit but the young Bright Eyes summon a wall of fire with a swing of his halbert. The fire blocked their exit and force them to back into a corner.

"Who are you!?!" One of the stallions shouted as they realise there was no escape.

"I am your retribution!!!" Both Bright Eyes shouted as it seem he was now reliving the night.

"WE DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU." They seem to all cry out. But it was all in vain as he dived at the and with a fury of swings and swipes, reduce them to nothing but piles of limbs. Twilight turned away, becoming sick by the violence to only see Bright Eyes's mother was dragging herself away. She had produced a potion and applied it to her wound that was slowly knitting it together but not fast enough as she was leaving a blood trail.

"Mother, where do you think you're going?" The young Bright Eyes shouted, cover in so much blood, it dripped off him as he had just stepped out of a shower. "We still go some useful pieces! I can make you a new stallion. Just tell me what parts you like and we'll go from there. What do you say?"

She continues to crawl away, causing the young Bright Eyes to leap across the room to prevent her from getting any farther.

"Now mother, I understand you are a little upset but that no reason to ruin this little reunion." He said, putting his blade to her throat. "I mean, it wasn't for your heartlessness, I won't be the pony I am today. So, any last word of mercy that you should have said that day?"

Twilight watched as the gleeful smile on Bright Eyes morphed in a tear-stricken face and rage growing as the younger Bright Eyes had clearly not enjoyed the violence.

"Say it!!!" The younger one cried in rage. "Call me the monster that you banish! Just say it!" He plunged the blade back into her and lift her in the air. She looked down as her last breath was fast approaching and Twilight saw the look of sorrow.

"I'm sorry." She said with a gasp of pain.

"What?" The young Bright Eyes asked, the fury was slowly leaking away.

"I'm sorry. I was supposed to protect you. I thought I paid for that failure when I couldn't find you." She said, her struggling to catch her breath. "But I'd never call you a monster and I never will. So, I'm sorry. You need to know that I'm sorry, Bright Eyes. I'm... so... sorry." And with that, she went limp. The bloody, young Bright Eyes drop the body and rush to her side.

"I never shed a tear for her." Bright Eyes said stone face as Twilight watch the younger cradle his mother's corpse. "I felt such joy that I had finally killed the whore."

"Mother! come back!" The young Bright Eyes cried. "Mommy, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. Please stop playing! I swear I'll be good. Just come back!"

"And I would soon bathe in the blood of the rest of them." Bright Eyes said, turning away from the scene. "For it was the greatest day of my life." Twilight looked back at the sobbing mess that they were leaving behind and for the first time, wish she was seeing through Bright Eyes's eyes.