Dark Pony Brotherhood

Pink turns to Red, part 2

The next day Pinkie Pie was prancing through town, a new joy in her step as she was going towards her home and workplace of Sugar Cube Corner. She had stayed the night at Lucien’s home, letting him tell her stories of his family and his past, of protecting and being protected by the wonderful Dark Brotherhood. The Dread Father which they served who had given love to his faithful children and servants and dealt death to those would harm them. Of the loving Night Mother and her warm embrace.

Lucien had also told her of his hopes for the future of the Dark Family, as they were all but gone when he arrived in Ponyville. Just the thought of it made her sad for Lucien, who immediately told her that he had already found a new brother and sister and would be happy to count her as another Dark Sister if she did as he had instructed.

Her thoughts went to the night before, and what Lucien’s offer entailed.

…….

"Poor Pinkie Pie, nopony showed you the love you deserved back then did they?"

She couldn't take it anymore. She buried her head into his chest and embraced him as she had one final powerful cry. She felt a little ashamed of herself for being so vulnerable, crying as she was. But the rest of her didn't care, just happy that somepony was showing her kindness even when knowing her dark past.

They were like that for a moment, before Lucien spoke up once more, "do you want a new Family, Pinkie Pie?" he asked her.

She looked up at him.

His voice darkened, but to her it was light and beautiful, "A Father who would be proud of you, a Mother who would love you?" he asked her. "And brothers and sisters, who would care deeply about you, and not only accept but embrace the darkness in your heart?"

Her heart pounded in her chest. She already felt like he was the brother she never had. Strong, loving and supportive. In his hooves she felt safe, and loved.

Her mane poofed back out almost instantly, and her smile was back full force, and she hugged him tightly, "yes, yes I would, I would love a new family more than anything," she said gleefully.

Lucien smiled, and held her close, "there is one thing you must do then, and then I will introduce you to your new family," he promised her.

She looked up to him with all the trust a young sibling could have for their older brother, "Anything."

His dark eyes locked with hers, “You must commit a dark deed for the family in offering to our Father and Mother, you must end the life of somepony close to you, and do so in a manner that nopony will suspect you,” he instructed.

As he spoke, she listened intently, and while the thought of killing somepony was dreadful even to her now, the thought of losing this new family before she had even gotten them was even more dreadful. So she took it in, and smiled after thinking deeply on it, and nodded vigorously. “I’ll do it Luci, I’ll kill somepony for you and the family,” she said.

He smiled at her and kissed her forehead, “then, my little sister, I wish you luck, and may our Night Mother watch over you,” he said.

She smiled more and more, “Luci, can, can I stay here tonight?” she asked. “And, can you tell me about the family?” she asked hopefully.

With a smile, the dark pony agreed, and invited her to sit and listen as he spoke.

……..

She was still thinking deeply when she walked into the front of Sugar Cube Corner.

“Oh Pinkie Pie, thank goodness you’re here,” greeted a frazzled Mrs. Cake.

Pinkie tilted her head, “what’s wrong Mrs. Cake?” she asked.

“Some family business had just come up,” she explained as she helped her husband pack some bags. “We have to go to Trottingham right away,” she told her.

“We need you to watch the store for about a week,” said her husband.

Pinkie Pie smiled and gave a little salute, “absolutely, you can count on me,” she said.

“Thank you Pinkie Pie, we’re going in a few minutes, you’ll see us before you know it,” Mrs. Cake said, grabbing up the bags with her husband, before heading out.

Pinkie Pie grinned as they left, as she started to tremble with excitement. It was all coming together perfectly.

The Cakes were leaving town, and Trottingham was quite a ways away, and nopony would notice they were gone for a real long time. She was being so sneaky and Lucien would be so proud of her once she came back.

As soon as she could, she went into the kitchen, and looked for the large kitchen knife that Mrs. Cake used for dicing onions when the recipe called for it.

She found it and put it into a saddle bag, and went out, moving as fast as she could. If she remembered right, there was a small bit of woods along the road to Trottingham just a little ways out of town. She had to hurry if she was going to beat the Cakes there.

……

She made it, and from the tree line she could see the Cakes coming up the road. They were so close now. Pinkie’s smile grew wide, even as a few tears built up in her eyes. She would miss them, they were dear sweet friends. But she was trading them for a family, and she wouldn’t need them anymore.

She hid herself behind some of the trees on the road, and waited quietly as the hoof falls drew closer, and moved carefully as they passed near the tree. They didn’t stop. They hadn’t heard her. This would be quick. Just a few quick movements and she would have a family again.

She took the kitchen knife from her saddle bags and held it in her teeth.

She sprang from her spot, and brought the knife down on the first of the Cakes.

……..

It happened so fast, and she lost herself in it all.

It was beautiful, the red flying through the air, as it was freed from their bodies, the look in their eyes as life faded from them. It was all so beautiful.

Oh how she would miss these two kind bakers. But the beauty of their deaths alone made it worth it.

She hugged their bodies to her in a final farewell, before pulling them into the woods, at least 50 yards or so. Nopony would ever find them. Not until they could never be recognized again.

She went to the road, and kicked up the dirt to hide the blood splatter. And she put the knife back into her saddle bag. She felt warm, and proud, like a dark shroud was embracing her even though she knew nopony was with her. It was like the gentle proud embrace which she had sought from her father as a filly.

She shook her head clear of the thoughts, and headed back towards Ponyville, it was already midday.

She thought of how she must look with the blood, and decided it was best if she found a stream or something on the way back.

…….

Lucien walked down the streets of Ponyville a little sleepily. Pinkie Pie had kept him up nearly the whole night asking about the Dark Brotherhood.

He just didn’t have the heart to tell her no. Something about her just made it difficult to tell her no. But as a result, he was just too tired for very much today.

‘Well, perhaps I should take a day to myself anyways,’ he thought to himself.

“Hey, there’s Mr. Lucien, Mr. Lucien!” he heard a young filly call out.

‘My mistake,’ he thought, turning to find Applebloom with two other young fillies of about her age with her. “Applebloom, are these your friends?” he asked her.

“Yup, this here is Sweetie Belle,” she introduced the white unicorn filly. “And Scootaloo,” she introduced the orange Pegasus.

“Nice to meet you,” they both said brightly.

Lucien smiled back at them; “Likewise,” he greeted the younger ponies. “The three of you seem to be best friends, am I right?” he asked them.

They all grinned widely at him, “Sure shootin, we’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders,” proclaimed Applebloom proudly.

The dark pony raised an eyebrow, “Cutie Mark Crusaders?” he asked.

“Yeah, we’re working together to get our cutie marks,” explained Scootaloo. “We keep trying everything we can to see what our talents are,” she said.

Lucien smiled to them, “any luck?” he asked. From what he had learned of Cutie Marks, it wasn’t as easy as trying everything you could. It was as much as finding something you loved and working at it. Like how in his past life he worked hard to become an assassin, learning how to kill, especially with poisons.

Adjusting ratios of ingredients to bring out the best qualities of each. It wasn’t something that came naturally, it required work. But these fillies seemed very resolute in their desires. Maybe with some persuasion, he could get them to help him find some of the rarer things. He could even teach them the basics of alchemy while he was at it. “Perhaps I could help if you want,” he offered.

The three crusaders perked up at the offer, and were listening, “if you three would help me find a few ingredients some time, I could teach you a couple of potions you could make,” he offered them.

They all smiled, “you know how ta make potions Mr. Lucien?” asked Applebloom. “You must be a lot like Zacora,” she said.

“Zacora?” asked the curious Lucien.

“She’s a Zebra, she lives out in the Everfree Forest,” explained Sweetie Belle.

“She’s real good with potions and all that,” added the orange Pegasus.

“I bet she’d have whatever it is yer lookin’ for,” said Applebloom. “She showed me a few things a couple a times,” she said proudly.

He thought for a moment, “Perhaps I should pay her a visit sometime,” he thought aloud. Remembering that the fillies were still there and he had said it aloud. Looking down at them he smiled. “When I do wish to go, would you be kind enough to take me there?” he asked them.

They smiled, glad that an adult would trust them so much, “of course we will,” all three replied.

He smiled, and thought for a moment more, “Well, it was good to see you and your little friends Applebloom, but I’ll be off now,” he said, giving her a nod. She smiled brightly and gave a little wave with her hoof, as did her friends.

“See ya later Mr. Lucien,” she said, running off with the other Cutie Mark Crusaders to do whatever it was they had planned.

Lucien went on his way into town. He wasn’t sure why he was going to town, just something to do he supposed. It was then that something caught his eye. He looked to the newsstand, and looked at the front page story.

It was certainly surprising to see news of it so soon.

“Gruesome isn’t it?” said the Newspony.

Lucien looked up at him, and nodded, handing over a bit, “it sure is,” he said, taking a copy of the paper in his mouth, and started heading him, suppressing a smirk.

He made it home and started to laugh, dropping the paper to the floor, the front page headline was clear as day.

“Brutal Murder in Manehattan”

The story went on to explain how the law enforcement was baffled and how terror was spreading throughout the city with rumors of a murderer on the loose.

Lucien could not help but laugh heartily at the paper and the failings of the law enforcements of the City. Not only had it taken so long for news to spread, but they weren’t on a trail at all if they believed the killer had resided in Manehattan.

Lucien Lachance put the paper on a small end table that had come with the house, and was then alerted by a knock on the door.

He felt some déjà vu as he opened to the door to Pinkie Pie, but this time her face was an ear to ear grin. “I did it,” she said in a whisper.

Lucien invited her inside, “oh? Is that so?” he asked.

“Yes, I killed Mr. and Mrs. Cake, I hid their bodies in the woods, nopony will ever find them,” she said smiling. “Can I meet the family now Brother Luci?” she asked, excited to meet her new family.

Lucien smiled to her, “in a little while, please, tell me all about what you did,” he said.

With a more subdued smile, she went on to tell him everything she had done in every detail she could explain.