A Hero's Story

Chapters

Chapter 1: New Kid In Town
Chapter 2: You Can't Escape The Past
Chapter 3: A Good Break
Chapter 4: Tears
Intermission: My Real Mom is a Goddess
Chapter 5: The First Attack
The New Years Chapter
Chapter 6: Runaway
Chapter 7 Part 1: Set the World Ablaze
Chapter 7 Part 2: The Ballad of Sorrow and Despair
Chapter 7 Part 2 Turnabout 1: A Mother's Desperation
Chapter 8: WHAT A TWIST
Chapter 9 Part 1: Sacrifice
Chapter 9 Part 2: Fight for Freedom!
Chapter 10: Dawn Of A New Day
Chapter 11: A Time To Say Goodbye
EPILOGUE: We Will Meet Again
READ THE BLOG NAO
Prologue
Intermission: What About Kaitlin?
Final Announcement

Chapter 1: New Kid In Town

I was falling in the portal. I had no clue where I was gonna go, where I could end up.
But it was better than the remains of the earth.
After a while, I fell out of the portal. I saw white figures. Realizing I was above the clouds, I closed my eyes and awaited death. Soon, I felt myself pass through the clouds. They were pretty solid for something made of water vapor. Opening my eyes I saw the ground rushing up to meet me. I was about ready to die. I didn't care. Mom and Dad were dead. My little brother and sister were gone. And I had forced the last thing that kept me happy away.

I was fucking sick of misery.

Closing my eyes, I felt a crack in my left arm. And I felt pain beyond everything I could imagine, but I was alive.
I heard a female, southern accent buzz in my head.
"You okay?"
"...my arm..." I said before blacking out completely.

************PART 1: Welcome to Equestria**********

I woke up In someone's bed.
Opening my eyes, I saw a Blonde girl wearing a cowboy hat, short shorts, and cowboy boots.
"The hell?" I muttered.
She turned around. Her eyes full of concern.
I looked at my arm to see a cast around it.
"Shit." I was surprised I lived from a fall that high. Then I remembered that my powers had helped me survive. In addition to my extreme fighting abilities, flight, light and darkness control, and speed, I had shock resistance and self healing. But then I pretty much shut it all off, trying to kill myself.
Not a good Idea.
By the way, I'm Brandon.
Those concerned eyes stared at me. She held water up to my lips and I drank from the cup, grateful for something to drink.
"Hey." I said awkwardly.
"Howdy!"
"I'm Brandon."
"Ah'm Applejack! Nice to meet ya!"
I know I must've looked fucked up as hell. I mean, How else would I look, crash landing from the goddamn sky?

As if God was keeping me honest, three little kids ran up, single handedly ruining whatever could've happened.
One had red hair and orange eyes and was just adorable
The oldest looking one had purple, messy hair, and wore an orange T-shirt.
The last one wore lots of white and pink and light purple hair.
The little cockblockers were all dirty and all frowned when Applejack started telling them off about disturbing guests.

Ok, so the red haired one was Applebloom
The orange one was Scootaloo
And the last one was Sweetie Bell.
I knew it right then.
I was in fucking Equestria.

**********

Applejack had nursed me back to health. And my arm healed itself too. Lucky me. Along the way around, I saw a sweets shop. Sugar Cube Corner. I was a little hungry. As I walked in I was met with an excited girl with poofy, pink hair. I ordered some cupcakes. (I shuddered, wondering if that could actually happen.) I tried to look for some houses, meeting the rest of the little crew. I wondered why they weren't ponies. I just shrugged it off. Oh well, I thought, If anything ever gets intimate, It won't look wrong. Walking the rest of the way, I ran into Rainbow Dash.
"Hey Brandon." She said with a smile.
"Wassup." I replied.
We talked and hung out for a little bit. It was pretty fun. She showed me all around town. No Cloudsdale. That was, until she saw me fly.
"Why can't I go there?"
"Because you can't fly."
I took that time to float myself off the ground.
Raising an eyebrow, I said, "You sure I can't?"
"Race you."
We took off toward her cloud palace.
Once we got there, I facepalmed.
"What?" she asked.
"I forgot to get a house!"
"Well, you could stay here."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
I fist pumped. Less time for me to waste. I just hoped she wasn't a lesbian, cause she was fucking FIRE.

/)(^3^)(\

Night came, and we were arguing about who got the bed. She wanted me to have it, because I was a guest. But I wanted her to have it because I slept better on the floor.
"How about we share a bed." I said, jokingly.
"Sure!"
It took all I had to keep my jaw up.
She got up and went to the bathroom to change. I just reached into my backpack (I had no clue how I got it, but I wasn't complaining) and pulled out some gym shorts. I put them on.
She walked out. She was wearing her T-shirt with her cutie mark on it's front. She also wore WonderBolts pajamas and socks, and her rainbow colored hair was untouched.
We both climbed in bed. For a while, we both stayed to our own sides when she got close to me. Unable to resist, I hugged her around the waist and let her sleep in my arms. She sighed and settled next to me.
And I realized I actually managed to cuddle with a girl without getting slapped.
Man, life had really picked up since my first week.

Chapter 2: You Can't Escape The Past

"WHAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'ESCAPED'?"
"Um sir, he just activated the portal and left."
"Did he close the portal?"
"It was experimental. Brandon used it's last spark."
"Great. Just great. Like I need more problems. Very well, conquer the remaining worlds before going to his. We''ll need our biggest army to kill him."
"Yes, sir."

*************

I woke up, wondering if I was dreaming. I looked down to see a girl with rainbow colored hair in my arms.
Yep, it wasn't a dream.
"Hey, Rainbow, wake up." I said shaking her.
"Five more minutes..." she replied.
"Not now. We had to meet up with Applejack today, remember?"
She didn't move. I picked her up, and took her into the bathroom. I undressed her (a feat that I never would dream of happening) and put her into the shower. She sprang up, shouting "What was that for?"
I laughed and got in too.

****************

We made our way to Sweet Apple Acres. She wore a Wonderbolts T-shirt and gym shorts. I wore a black T-shirt and my basketball shorts. AJ greeted us. We trained and ran laps like champs. I may have been fast, but Applejack was just as fast, if not, faster. (Keep in mind I had powers on my side.)

The race day came. "May the best win!" I said.
"I intend to." They both said. We took off, cutting through the Acres, all the way to the main city. I was in the lead by a hair, then it was Applejack, then Rainbow Dash.
That was when I saw him. Apocalypse had his sword in his right hand, and a black flame in the other.
I was NOT about to let him torch us all.
Pushing my self even faster, I threw myself in the air. Bringing my foot down in a hard heel drop, I attacked him. He blocked quickly, then punched me in the chest. Stumbling back several feet, I spawned my sword.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked.
"What does it look like?" He smirked.
"If you don't want to tell me, then leave."
"No." And then he charged me. I swung at him, and then our blades clashed. The clash sent down an arc of lightning between the two swords, and the sheer power made people stumble backwards. We fought and swung, then he nailed me. Below the goddamn belt.
I was on the ground. I felt dizzy. And then he kicked me hard in the chest. Again and again. I coughed up blood but he didn't let up. Then he stomped my head into the ground.
"Don't you miss her? She could mend it all. But she's long gone. And you can't save her. Once I'm done killing you, I'll get her too."
Then I heard it: "STOOOOP!"
I looked up. I saw him flying away, like he had been hit.
Then I saw who saved me.
Kaitlin. Thank God.
I grabbed her and hugged her tightly.
"Brandon, you know I'm not here to stay." She said matter-of-factly.
"I know. It's just relieving to see you again." I said.
"Hold still." She put a hand on my forehead. I felt my wounds closing, the blood started to clean itself. She offered me a hand, and I took it. I got up.
"I just remembered that your powers suck when you're feeling down. So I just wanted you to remember, that I you even get a new girlfriend, I still love you. Okay?"
I nodded. Hearing her say that, surprisingly enough, had actually helped. Kaitlin and her golden tongue. She kissed me on the cheek and ran to the open portal. WAIT, I thought, THERE WAS A PORTAL.
Well, shit.
Apocalypse returned from his flight. He looked at me, considered going back for round two, then said, "Another time, my friend." With that he jumped into a portal as well.
AJ caught up to me. "What in tarnation is your problem? Ya don't jus go fly in a ground race, do ya."
I looked down. Kaitlin had given me more bravado, but left me by myself again.

**********

People were already filing out of the place. Pretty much me, AJ, and Rainbow Dash (Who was silent for whatever reason) were left. Applejack wasn't angry, she looked concerned now.
"Ya okay, Sugarcube?"
At that very moment, all my manliness and bravado disappeared and I started bawling like a little kid. I felt warm arms wrap around me. I looked up to see Rainbow holding me. I didn't push her away, I just stood there, in her arms.

After a while I stopped crying. Rainbow Dash let me go.
"Not a word, you two." I said, regaining my composure.
Me and Rainbow made our way to the Cloud palace. It was nighttime. Once we got there, we sat down next to each other.
I looked at her. Time to do something stupid, I thought. I kissed her on the lips. She seemed surprised. I broke the kiss, worried If she was lesbian, which would suck. Then she kissed me. I didn't recoil. Soon, her tongue was In my mouth, and vice versa. I didn't let it on, but I was proud of myself. When we broke the kiss, she looked at me. Then I looked in her rose colored eyes and said, "I love you."
I had to resist the probe in my mind telling me to get it on.
Luckily, I was right to do so.
Because a familiar girl with pink, poofy hair was jumping up and down in the room.

"Hi Dashie! Hi Brandon!"

Chapter 3: A Good Break

After finding Pinkie Pie in my room this morning, you think I'd be more surprised. But no. Instead, me and Rainbow got it all sorted out. She had made a new cupcake. And It wasn't bad. Just another mundane day in Equestria.

*************

Kaitlin couldn't believe it. She had forgotten to give Brandon his phone, and she catches him making out with another girl.

"Can you believe him?" she asked her older brother.

"Actually, Kaitlin, I can." Brian said, "Obviously, you don't even live in the same dimension as him. Therefore, he's gonna have to get a new girl."

"Still..." Kaitlin looked out the window and sang softly a song from her favorite movie when she was a little girl.

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight

Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

She wiped a tear from her cheek.
She missed him so much.

****************

The day was NOT smooth. Me and Rainbow Dash were not talking. Hell, I didn't ever SEE her for the whole day. She probably thought I was cross-dimension cheating or something. (Make sense? No? That's why she's a girl. They never make sense.) Regardless, Applebuck season was coming up, so I head over to Sweet Apple Acres. But Big Macintosh and Applejack had it covered. I traversed around town to see what I could do for some extra dough. Not a cent. So, I took what money I had left, and headed to Sugar Cube Corner for some cupcakes. I bought some from Pinkie's over energetic self. Then I saw it. For the first time, I looked like a true champ, cupcake in one hand, sword in the other.

Why? Because Apocalypse was back for round two. I charged him but he knocked me aside.
"Shut up and listen," he said, not too nice. "I figured it would be nice to warn you, you have three weeks until I get here. I already got the Mirror. Which is your friend's home." And like that, he was gone.
My day had gone from bad to worse.

**************

I got home to find Rainbow Dash, asleep on the bed. Just like her lazy ass. I laid next to her.
"What?" she said, rather rudely.
"I was looking for you," I said.
"Why? Apparently you have someone else to care about,"
"She was my girlfriend," I said truthfully, "But I want YOU. I said. And that won't change."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm serious."
She turned to me, she looked like she had been crying. Women and their bi-polar emotions. For a second we laid there, me holding her hand and looking her in the eye. I kissed her.

***************

Kaitlin was about ready to leave this depressing dump.
"Yo Kaitlin!" Her brother called, "You ready to go?"
"Yeah," Kaitlin replied.
She ran into the kitchen. To be greeted with a shiny active portal.
"Let's go," Her brother said.

Kaitlin smiled.
She was finally going to see him, even if he had a new girlfriend.

******************

I was laying in bed with Rainbow. We were cuddling together and enjoying ourselves.
And who else would show up and ruin it? My ex.
Kaitlin landed in the cloud palace, and Brian appeared shortly after.

"Hi Brandon," Kaitlin's eye twitched with rage, "Glad to see you're having fun."

I hung my head. Why did every perfect moment have to die in a fire in the dumbest way possible?

Chapter 4: Tears

"Uh, Kaitlin," I said, trying not to flip off my rocker "How did you get here?"
"Brian made a portal," she said quickly and kinda rudely.
Brian just grinned like the trolling asshole he was.
Shit, did I forget to describe them?
Anyways, Kaitlin was my age. She had blonde hair and cat ears on top of her head. YOU THINK I'M JOKING? The girl had legit cat ears sprouting from her scalp. It was cuter than you'd think.

Her brother, Brian, was black. And I'm serious. We were both very dark skinned. God dammit I leave things out don't I. Anyways, Kaitlin was 16, I was 16, and Brian was 19 going on 20 (the lucky motherfucker was done with high school).
Me, Rainbow, Kaitlin, and Brian just kinda sat there. I looked out the window of the cloud palace, wondering if anybody else lived. There was so much on my mind, then It all shattered when Kaitlin gave me the note.
"Here, Brandon," she said "Your cousin Robert wanted you to have it." I should have known right then, because he would have called me.

Look, B. I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry about all those years of shit I put you through, teasing you and all that. I just needed to tell you that you were one hell of a cousin, even though you were a dick sometimes. I know I won't see you after I write this, so I'll be blunt. I've been sick for a while and they say I won't make it. But I'm not afraid to die. After Mom, Dad, and Katie I'm just done with It all. So keep this note for me, OK?
- Your little cousin
R-

The note ended. I could feel myself shaking. My mouth was burning. And the paper was already soaked with tears. I looked an Rainbow, at Kaitlin, and at Brian.
I couldn't take their stares.
I burst out of the bed. I ran and jumped out the window and flew as far as I could.
Just to get away. Just so they would leave me alone

*********************

Rainbow Dash was not happy. She was forced to watch her boyfriend, the strongest and most stable guy she knew, just break down and fly out the window. That just pissed her off.
"Why would you just make him cry like that?" She shouted at the blonde girl - her name was.. Kaitlin? - sitting down, unsure of what just happened.
"How should I know? I didn't know his cousin was gonna die and give me a depressing note to give to him!" Kaitlin retorted.
"Obviously, you knew something."
"I didn't! Honest!" Kaitlin raised her hands in protest.
"Like hell you didn't."
The two got up and got ready to throw down. Brian shouted at the top of his lungs, in his best demon voice, "SHUT THE HELL UP! BOTH OF YOU!"
The two shut up and sat down, like little puppies.
Brian loved being the oldest.

********************

I sat down on a cloud. They were softer than the best Tempur-Pedic mattress they had at Mor furniture. So soft, that you were afraid you'd just fall straight through them. But they held you up. under any other circumstances, I would nap here. I would enjoy the night sky around me and the cool air. But right now was different. My vision was filled with tears. I couldn't believe my little cousin, who was WAY tougher than me, had died, at 14. I felt horrible. The last thing I had told him was that he was a dumb asshole, and that he didn't need to breed. That he was a dick, and he should die alone.

I hated myself. I heard the voices for the first time in years.

What's wrong? one said.
Don't cry, child. Just hush. Take revenge. the other said.

Hate and Care.

Or, the reason for my poor life.
I wanted to scream. I didn't want them to take me again. I put my hands over my ears and cried out.

"What's wrong?" a female voice said behind me.
I turned to see a blue haired girl behind me. Her hair, to be exact, was more like a replica of the night sky when lit. A deep blue, with stars as well. Princess Luna.

She sat down next to me.
"Don't get all sad. People still love you." She could read my emotions good. I didn't even notice myself thinking that until she said it.
"It seems just that, everything that could go wrong, is. My world. Everything that made me, ME. Is just being destroyed. Eliminated. I don't even know who I am anymore." I said, about ready to cry a second volley of tears.

She wrapped her arms around me. I stayed there. For a while. When she let go, she looked at me. "You have people that care. And to find you, you just need to look inside yourself. Listen to your heart."

I took in what she said. She kissed me on the forehead. It was a pity kiss. I could tell. But when she left, she left what looked like a sword. I picked it up. It was what appeared to be a sword made from the night sky itself. It was a pure black blade, and the hilt glowed brightly. In the center of the hilt, the symbol seemed to be Celestia's sun symbol and Luna's moon symbol mashed together. I'll call it the equinox, I thought to myself.

********************

I flew back to the house. I told everybody about what had happened. Kaitlin was shitting bricks the entire time. She was laughing, enjoying herself. I went back to sleep.
But my mind wanted to torture me.

**********************

I was surrounded by a mass of bodies. I looked at my hands and wanted to vomit. They were soaked in blood. I looked around. The sky was red. The royal castle was falling down the mountain it stood on. The people screamed. There were bodies flying. Then somebody brought me 6 people and forced them down to their knees.
One by one, they were revealed to me.

Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash.

I went down the line. I looked In Twilight's eyes.
"It could have been different. You could have helped me conquer Equestria. You could have been a hero."

I hit her with all the force I had. I grabbed her by her hair and dragged her. I beat her severely. And then I kicked her in the stomach. Grabbing her hair and neck, I twisted and pulled until her head came off. I moved down the line, executing in a similar fashion.

Once I got to Fluttershy, I lifted her chin and made her look me in the eye. She tried the stare. I just laughed. I began to lick her face and she pushed away. I grabbed her and punched her in the face. She started crying.

"Shut up." I said.

I punched her harder and harder, until all you could hear was her gurgling in her own blood. Then I stabbed her. And she closed her eyes, which were full of tears, and died.

I got to Rainbow Dash. She screamed at me, hit me, cussed me out. I grabbed her arms. Her eyes were full of tears. And I looked her in the eyes the entire time. I beat her about three times as hard as everybody else. Then my beatings went to rage, then anger, then hate, all of which were directed to me. I didn't want to. But I killed them all. She was dead certainly. But then I ripped her apart.

I walked to Apocalypse to get my due from him. He just laughed.
"The joy of murder was your due!" I wanted to kill him. I ran up, and swung at him. He just dodged and then stabbed me in the stomach. He cut left, and right, then I felt a hand ripping things out of me.

*******************

I woke up in a cold sweat. I felt tears leaking out of my eyes. I looked around. The same cloud house. There was a fountain dripping a liquid rainbow. I reached up and touched the cloud wall. It felt so soft, but it was very solid. I smelled perfume. I looked down to see rainbow colored hair. She was sleeping, nuzzled against me. I laid back down and put my arms around her once more.

I could only pray my dream was just a dream and not a vision.

Intermission: My Real Mom is a Goddess

I sighed. Kaitlin was arguing with Rainbow Dash. Brian was out getting food, and the two girls had me tied up and gagged.
What were they arguing about? Who got to use me first. Except, I didn't feel like letting women have their way with my body. So, I got bored, broke the ropes, and flew out the window. I sped like I had Freddy Kreuger, Jason Vorhees, Godzilla, Michael Myers, and Scream on my ass. Flying through the main city with an incredible speed, I ran straight into Fluttershy.
"Shit! What the fu-" Fluttershy was ALREADY tearing up, "I'm sorry, I had no clue it was you."
"No I'm sorry," she replied, softly. "I really should watch where I'm going..."
"I've got you now!" Kaitlin grabbed me from behind and threw me down. Instinctively, I jack knifed to my feet quickly. The three of us broke out into a intense as hell sparring fight. Just another mundane day in Equestria.

************************

Princes Celestia and Princess Luna smiled. They had kept an eye on Brandon ever since his strange appearance out of nowhere. They were impressed with his fighting skill. It was time for a test.

&*********************8

Me, Kaitlin, and Rainbow were just reviewing on our little session. Suddenly, A shroud of night shimmered and out of it came Princess Luna. Simultaneously, Princess Celestia appeared in the BRIGHTEST FUCKING LIGHT EVER. I just sat there, jaw on the floor.

"Come with us." Luna said. I got up, waved bye to Kaitlin and Rainbow, then they took me outta there.

************************

When we got to Canterlot, I was speechless. It was amazing. The halls were roomy. The interior design's main colors seemed to be white and gold. and then they took me to the room.

Luna opened the door. The three of us walked in. Luna, obviously eager to do something asked me, "Wanna spar?"
"Say WHAT now?" I asked.
"Spar with me." I nodded. "'Tia isn't one for fighting. Me, I haven't had to beat someones ass in a while." She laughed. Then she pulled out her blade and charged me with blinding speed. I ducked out of the way, and pulled out my blade, blocking the blow. We clashed and even battled in the air for a little bit. With a shout, I threw her to the ground, but she turned around mid fall and hit the ground feet first.
Celestia got up. "I think I'll try my hand." She thrust her palm towards me and I flew back into a wall. I turned mid-air and jumped off the wall back toward her. I swung and fought her, but she seemed able to predict my attacks like nothing. Thankfully, even though she was stronger, she had little to no experience in swordplay or fighting in general. I got her down pretty quick. I pointed my sword at Luna.
"Charge me, son," She said.
"WAIT, WHA-" I was cut off mid scream by her getting in my face and smacking me. I flew towards the wall. Doing a backflip, my feet hit the wall and I sprung off. I swung downward and the pure inertia I had going on me kept me in the air as we locked blades. I broke it and kicked her in the chest.
"Ow," she said, teasingly, "That hurt,"
"Too bad," I said, "You told me to fight, now I'm fighting." I tossed my sword in the air and caught it in a backhanded grip. She got even FASTER. She sped around me in a circle, confusing me quite quickly. I closed my eyes and concentrated on her power source. The real Luna's power shone like moonlight. I felt her get close. Time slowed down. I jumped back, throwing her off because her slash was a heavy one. She recovered faster than I expected. I blocked her second swipe and flew at her while swinging. She fell to her knees.
"You're pretty good, for a child," She said
"I have a question," I said, "Why did you call me son? You barely know me."
"Do you really want to know?"
"Yes, I do."
At that, she stood up. Tears went down her face as she held her arms out. I understood what this meant.
"Come here!" She said. I ran like a preschooler, tears running down my cheeks as I hugged her. In my best high voice I shouted "Mommy!" I had to laugh. When she let go, I looked in her eyes. "How?" I asked.
"Simple," she replied, "Being immortal more sexually active than Celestia, I've been banned from having children. So, when I got pregnant, I chose your caretaker on Earth, who luckily finished right after me, to give birth to you. It was heart breaking to see you go, but I assured myself that you'd come back. And now you did!" She squealed, pinching my cheeks. God, I forgot about how it felt to have a mom. Even when I did, I always took her for granted. I never expected the world around me to crash and burn around my feet at sixteen. And when I lost her, I felt like a lazy, fat asshole.

But now, I have one. And It felt good. I felt her warmth. The warmth of a mother.

It was good to have family.

*************************

After a while, I got home. It was night, and I felt different. I flew to the cloud palace. Rainbow was in bed. Kaitlin was asleep on the floor. Brian was watching videos on his iPod.
"Dude, when was the last time you slept?" I asked him.
"Around 10 years old," he said.
"You haven't slept for nine and a half years?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"When Dad started beating Kaitlin, I trained myself to stay awake. That way, I would be alert if he did it in the middle of the night."
"You're the craziest motherfucker ever." We laughed. Rainbow woke up.
"Huh....wha..?" She yawned. I got in with her. "I'm back," I whispered in her ear. This was all she needed. She nuzzled next to me, and I laid down and put an arm around her.
"Good night, Darkside," He looked up.
"You haven't called me that in years."
"I know, but it feels so weird to call you Brian."
i probably should explain. Grab some drinks, 'cause this one's long. Basically, everyone has these things called darksides. A darkside being just that, a dark side. Kaitlin and Brian, their dad, was hell bent on making the two of them warriors. That way, their darksides could be harvested and artificially reproduced to make armies. Now, their dad was crazier than Dr. Frankenstein. By that, I mean he always experimented on them. Kaitlin came out with cat ears. Brian was lucky, all he got was a scratch. The two were evenly matched in power, but Kaitlin was always nice and Brian wasn't. That was their dad's problem with her. When their darksides began to be tested in the subconscious, Brian turned black. (When I heard that for the first time I laughed my ass off for days.) And Kaitlin's cat ears became the source of her dark power, turning the color of the ears from white to a deep purple. Kaitlin, because she was nice, was beaten, and even raped twice because her dad wanted to turn her heart to stone, by any means necessary. Brian trained like a fighter. Eventually, Brian's darkside was peeled from his subconscious. Normally, this rips the host's mind apart and kills them. Brian was the first and the last to live. Therefore, I began to call him Darkside. And then Kaitlin. I chose the right time to get my powers. I managed to sneak into her house, and with Darkside's help, get her out before her father killed her, for me and Darkside knew he was dead serious. Darkside stayed behind to fight their father, who went psycho and created a black hole, trapping him and Darkside inside. One year after that, Kaitlin developed a technique that would separate our darksides from us. Thus Apocalypse and Kaitlin's darkside, Katherine (whom we haven't seen in a VERY long time) were born in the outside world. Then, we were fourteen. Now, we're sixteen.

Life sure has changed...

END PART 1

Chapter 5: The First Attack

We all got up at about nine in the morning. We ate breakfast like champs. (Bacon, pancakes, more bacon, more pancakes, and even more bacon. With bacon on the side.) Then we hit the town. We traveled for a little while. We hit up Sugar Cube Corner for some sweets. Then three men in suits with sunglasses walked in.
"What are you doing here?" One asked.
"Buying food. You?" I replied. Then he swung at me. I blocked it. "What the hell,dude? Calm down Agent Smith!" I yelled. The other two proceeded to hold up the sweets shop. I saw Kaitlin and Darkside jump to help the cashier. Pretty soon we were fighting in the store.
"Let's take it outside guys!" I yelled. "Too many people, not enough space!" I threw Smith outside. Then, I kicked him into the air. I waited for him to land. Shrugging, I flew up to catch him. Then I felt the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. I turned to see him charging me. WITH A SWORD. Apparently, Mr. Smith is tired of working for the machines now. Because the fucker would not stop his assault.
"MOMMA'S COMING!" I heard a familiar voice.
"Shit," I said. "That was subtle..."

Luna was flying at Smith like a torpedo. When she got there she screamed, "HOW DARE YOU TOUCH MY SON!" And punched him, right in the kisser. Funny how people change when they're related to you. Smith disintegrated right then. She started to say something, but saw Kaitlin and Darkside struggling. Me and Luna looked at each other, nodded, then went to help.
"Guys! Let me and Luna handle them!" I yelled. They stepped back. I punched him in the mouth then proceeded to pummel the everliving shit outta him. When he was struggling to get up Kaitlin yelled "OH! OH! WHERE YOU AT! WHERE YOU AT! OH SHIT! WOMBO COMBO! GET YO ASS UP!" I started laughing. I remembered that video. Then I turned to help Luna. To see her polishing her sword. My jaw dropped. She laughed.
"In all honesty, I came to get you because 'Tia needed you and your two friends to get a small group and come with me to Canterlot."
I called to Rainbow. Her jaw was on the ground. Obviously me and Luna had impressed her. She snapped out of it and flew to me.
"Could you go get Applejack for me?" I asked. "Tell her to meet us here." She saluted me and then flew off.
"Is that all?" Luna asked.
"I know how strong Applejack is, though I've never seen her fight." I said.
Luna yawned. "Very well, then."
"What's wrong-uh can I call you mom here or no?" I whispered.
"Go ahead." she replied.
"Mom, did you get any sleep last night?"
"Not much." She admitted. "I was scared."
"Why?"
"Because I saw HIM. He got in my head and warned me that he will take away the one person closest to me." She said, hanging her head.
Well, needless to say I shit bricks. I was going to DIE. I hugged my mom. She just looked up, then hugged me back.
"I didn't introduce you to my friends, did I?" I asked. She shook her head, so I introduced them to her.
"How are you two that close already?" Kaitlin asked.
"She's my mom," I said. Kaitlin and Darkside both dropped their right there. But then Rainbow was back, and she was carrying Applejack. Applejack bowed, but Luna simply told her to get up. "I'm not about to be royal in front of my son." she said.
Rainbow and AJ looked at me like I had blew up the farm by looking in that direction. Me and Luna just laughed.
"Applejack, can you fight?" I asked. She nodded.
"Of course!"
"Good. Because we're defending from an invasion."
"What?"
"Yes, invasion. Don't tell anyone. This is only to be discussed with me, Luna, Rainbow, Kaitlin, Darkside, and Celestia. Okay?"
She nodded. Then we got ready to leave.

******************PART 2: Equestian Battlefield**************************

We arrived in shortly after. We elected Darkside to hold AJ because we were flying there. Once we got to the castle, we were greeted by Celestia's emotionless stare. Then she beckoned us into a room. And we sat there, bored out of our goddamn minds, in a WAR MEETING. Luna sat next to me.
"Uh, Luna," I started, "Why are we here if we aren't even a part of the meeting?"
"'Tia wanted us here. That's all I know." She put an arm around me and hugged me. "Don't be scared. She's not going to torch us or anything."
"I hope not."

**********************

The meeting ended. We all sat around the same table. Then a series of events occured that broke me down.
Celestia looked at each of us. Then said.
"Let's be blunt about this,. Kaitlin, Brian. Did you bother to close the portal?" Kaitlin hung her head and Darkside facepalmed.
"We sure as hell didn't..." He said, grimly.
"Are you proud of that?" Celestia said firmly. .
She asked me, "Nephew, do you even care? Are you listening to me?" I looked up.
"Sorry, mind wanders sometimes."
"Are you sure you weren't asleep?" I looked at my shirt. There was a small stain on my shirt from drool.
"Fuckin' A." I muttered.
"What did you say?" She asked sternly.
"Dang it me." I said with a touch of British to make 'me' sound like 'A'
Celestia stood up. "Looks like you need to have your mouth washed." Kaitlin, Rainbow, AJ, and Darkside were laughing their asses off at me. Rainbow and Kaitlin were holding their sides and rolling on the floor. Then Celestia walked up to me, and socked me right in the mouth, which only got more laughs and cheers from the peanut gallery. I hopped up. My mouth burned and I felt a metallic taste in my mouth. As if Luna was reading my mind, she sapped her fingers and we were in the sparring room.
"You ready for round 2?" I asked. She threw herself at me and I just side stepped and slapped her. I was about to hit her for real when the castle shook. I felt a familiar power force. The enemy had sneaked up on us.

Shit.

**********************

I ran to the base of the castle. Apocalypse was leading an army to the castle. Me, Luna, Rainbow, Kaitlin, Darkside, and AJ stood in their way. I counted to three. We charged. I ran straight, grabbing Apocalypse and throwing him away from his back up. I landed next to him.
"Nice one," I said. "Pulling a surprise attack out of your ass huh?" He growled and lunged at me. I sidestepped. He pulled out his sword. I pulled out the one my mom had given me. I lunged at him with Equinox in my right hand. Our blades clashed and The sheer power knocked over trees in the Everfree Forest. I stabbed at him, and he parried my strike and followed up with his own. I blocked it. We jumped, slashed, and kicked. Then he pulled an afterimage trick out of his ass. They spun around me. I tried to use focus. I closed my eyes to predict my foe, but he was prepared for it. His clones all had the same power signature. Then he started dashing from one side to the other. I felt blades slicing through me like a hot knife and butter. Then he stabbed me in the shoulder. I collapsed. He grunted, then laughed as he stood over me.
"Good game."
Then a foot came down on me, and everything went black.

*******************

Luna was freaking out. Her son's life force just hit rock bottom. 'Tia, however, was keeping her at bay. She wanted them to stand strong. The problem was, 'Tia had no idea what it was like to have her child's life just...vanish. Then Luna finally gave up.
"I can't take it." She jumped off the castle, and flew over to Apocalypse. She cut him off as he ran to find his army.
"Where are you going?" She shouted as she landed in front of him. She punched him in the face. Then, she grabbed his head and brought it down to her knee, and then kneed him in the face. She kicked him back, pulled out her sword, and rushed him. He pulled out his sword and they locked blades. She was looking him in the eye, and then they broke apart. She spun and slashed toward his neck, but he blocked the blow. Then they broke into a flurry of slashes, each's sword hitting the other. The final hit knocked the swords out of each other's hands. They got into a fighting position. They punched and kicked at one another. Then they locked fists with each other. Then they broke apart and began to power up.
"This ends NOW." Luna shouted.
"I've let you live long enough!" Apocalypse yelled.
Then they sprang at each other with blinding speed. The two were faster than any eye could track. Each time they hit, a explosion of sound would emerge. Then, Luna grabbed him, spun around, and threw him to the ground. He didn't move.
She picked up her sword, let it disappear, then ran to find her son.

**********************

I woke up, wondering what happened. Then I remembered it. The entire thing. I tried to jack knife to my feet, only to have my bruises and cuts hold me down. They burned. I was scared. Had he won?. I called out, "Mom!" No response. Tears filled my eyes. "Mom!" I cried out again. I started to cry. I knew we lost. "Mom! Where are you? Please..." My voice trailed off. I cried out again. Then a voice called back to me.
"Don't move baby! I'm coming!"
I was never happier to hear a voice in my life. Then my mom ran to me. She cradled me in her arms as I laid there crying. Her calm voice helped me settle. "Shh... Don't cry. Mommy's got you. It's okay. It's gonna be alright."
Soon, I could talk again.
"Did we win?" I asked.
"I beat Apocalypse for you. So, unless his grunts have a second in command, yes we won."
"Okay." I was glad that she was honest. Hell, I was glad I had a mom. A mom I could actually cry next to. One that cared.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I love you to, sweetie." She kissed me on the forehead
Soon, my regeneration started to kick in. I heard Kaitlin. She screamed shouts of praise. I could swear I heard her shout 'We won!' to the people.
"Well," Luna said. "There's your answer."
I started tearing up. We won. We lived. We guaranteed Equestria another day under the rule of the princesses Celestia and Luna. Then Kaitlin and Rainbow found us. Tears were shed.
I told them that I felt bad. Halfway through, I got knocked out for the rest of the battle. They reassured me that I was still a part of the team because I was the genius that planned our positions and predicted the enemy's. Of course I looked at them with my best 'dafuk?' face I could muster up. But they reminded me of the plan me and the princesses thought of.
Well, the meme may be dead along with Earth but damn it all, I planned that shit... LIKE A BOSS.

***************

I stayed for a little bit in Canterlot. We partied and had a good time. It just so happened that today was New Years Eve.
Lucky us, cause Pinkie throws some badass parties

**********************

After getting home. I was tired like a motherfucker. It was only nine thirty. But remember, I got cut up, curb stomped, then partied like a hardcore motherfucker. So naturally, I'm going to be tired. So Kaitlin got her blanket, and me and Rainbow got in bed together. She nuzzled up next to me, and I put my arm around her. I slept with one thought.

I had a family. And that family loves me. Also, Pinkie will be planning the birthday party for all of my children.

***************WARNING: GOREFEST AND CRYPTIC SHIT INBOUND. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

But, a happy ending would suck, because this story is just getting started.
I slept. Peacefully. For an hour. Then I had a dream
I was running. A monster was growling ferociously. Then I got to a cellar. I Turned on the single lightbulb. Then someone lunged at me in the dark. I woke up strapped to a table. Unaware of my surroundings. Then my captor showed up with his pet. And by pet I mean the big ass motherfucker that was chasing me earlier. It looked at me, then grabbed my arm and yanked it. The pain was horrible. It ripped it off and began to chew on my arm. Then my captor came back. With a rusty knife. I wanted to scream. He said, "Mommy's not here now, is she?" I felt tears come out of my eyes as he hacked at my body with the knife. Then he cut slits in my mouth. Then one in my ass. I knew where this was going. I had seen this movie. I started screaming, crying, and pleading. I knew what was going to happen. But first his beast ate my other arm to wash down his midnight snack. He brought two people. One had a slit cut in his mouth. The other didn't, but there was fecal matter coming from his clothes. As he got to work, he sowed my ass to the guy with the slit in his mouth. And he sowed the guy with the fucked up ass to my face.
He had made me the center of the Human Centipede.

I heard a layered voice say something then
It said:

"Fight the lord of Darkness
Should you lose,
The moment that the day and time are the exact same
The sky will go dark
The stars will fall from the sky
Your world will crumble
The worlds will collide
And time will end"

*************************

I woke up in a cold sweat. I got out of the cloud bed, and told Darkside where I was going, In case the girls woke up and decided to get all scared on me.
I flew around. I thanked my mom for the generous moonlight. I could see pretty good out here. But, I wished I could think straight. I wondered what The Human Centipede had to do with me. And then that prophecy. Basically, I had to beat either Apocalypse or, worse yet, Satan, before the moment that the day and time are the same. It probably didn't count year and month, because December 2012 was the last of those days for a thousand years. So If I fail, time ends with a cataclysm? That's not cool.
But...What are ya gonna do?

Someone has to do it.

The New Years Chapter

I woke up, unnerved by my surroundings. I was in a dark room. I could hear snoring, so I figured I was most likely in friendly territory. I raised my hand, creating light in my palm, and scanned my area. I was in a VERY big room. In one side, there was one of those fancy bed curtains, and it was embroidered with a sun. I was in the royal bedroom. I looked around for Mom's bed, but I couldn't find it. So I shut off my light, and looked down. There, curled up in her sleep, was MY MOTHER.
"Mom!" I whispered, "Why am I in your bed?"
She stirred, "Go back to sleep. You were knocked out by the time you got back from the battle. So, I let you sleep in here with me."
"Oh." I laid back down. "Just wondering." I slept, nightmare-free that night.
Morning came.
Someone was shaking me, I turned around to see my mom. She smiled, "Good morning, sunshine."
"Whaa..." I muttered. "Five more minutes..." I drowsily got back in bed.
"Nope, get up." She pushed me on the ground. I woke up instantly from that. "Since you chose to stay in Canterlot for a little, you have to help Mommy get groceries."
"Really?" I asked, exasperated.
"Yes, now go shower."
I went off to my shower.

**************************************************

The grocery stores in Canterlot were just like the stores back home. I EVEN SAW BACON. I squealed like a fangirl at the sight. I haven't had bacon in two years. So, she bought some for me. I checked the date on my phone.
"Is there a time difference between here and Earth?"
"No. Why?"
"Well, today would be New Years Eve."
"I know."
"What are we doing?"
"Nothing. I know you're a big eater. So I figured I'll go buy food."
I looked at her basket, then at mine. No wonder we got so much food. We resolved to go get the rest of my friends and have them eat with us. It was a good idea.

****************************************************

Everyone stayed over in Canterlot. We had food, and Apple Cider, as well as alcohol beverages for the princesses. We ate and drank like pigs, but we had a good time. We all waited and sang songs and the drummers there (AKA Me, Kaitlin, and Darkside) Busted out a cadence on the tables. It was fun. We counted down the last days until the new year. Then once the new year hit, we all crashed wherever we could. We were all tired. I was the first to wake up. I got on one knee and prayed.
"Oh Lord, I thank you. I thank you for allowing me and my friends to survive. I thank you for mending my broken heart, and for giving me my real family. I ask for you to forgive me for my transgressions against you, and that you forgive me for cursing your name. I ask that, in the days to come, you guide me, my friends, and my family here to keep the very spawn of Satan away from our home. I ask all of these in your son, Jesus's name. Amen."
I was met with clapping from Kaitlin, "So you finally prayed."
"Yeah."
"Good job, B."

*******************************************
The worst part of a party: THE CLEANUP.
That is, unless you're royalty. Then you don't have to clean. But I had more pressing matters. While Celestia had a high resistance to toxins (including alcohol), my mother didn't. Guess who was hung over? I had to nurse my own mother to health.
"I'm sorry, sweetie." She said, "I was just one hell of a bad example last night, wasn't I?"
"It doesn't matter. You're my mom. I'm not gonna get all mad because you got drunk." I told her, and it was the truth.
"Thanks, Brandon. That makes me feel better," Luna smiled weakly.
"You should rest though. You may not be drunk anymore, but you're tired. I can tell." She nodded and closed her eyes. In a minute I heard her snoring.

*****************************************

Luna slept for quite a while. Brandon was right. She was very tired. Having a son to worry about takes it's toll. When she woke up, it was night. Thankfully, 'Tia can raise the moon whenever Luna couldn't. She got out of her bed and saw Kaitlin.
"Why is Brandon such a crybaby around you?" Kaitlin asked.
"Simple. While he did travel with you forever, he still needs a mother. One he can talk to, can open up to. You have an older brother. He's like your dad, right?" Kaitlin nodded. "Exactly, you have a parent figure. Brandon doesn't. He also has the weight of the world on him, as well as our fates. Without a mother or a parent to open up to, that can mess you up."
"One more thing," Kaitlin asked, "Are you really his mother?"
Luna was taken aback by her question. She was, but the fact that she had the nerve to ask was rude.
"Yes, I am."
Kaitlin gave her a death stare, then brightened up quickly. "Okay. Just wondering."
Odd girl, she was.

********************************

Me and Rainbow watched the stars. We were sitting atop the mountain that held up the castle, sharing some Coke. (The fact that Equestria had that was amazing on it's own.) Kaitlin flew up to us. I hugged her. Rainbow didn't mind. Hugs are for friends. We watched the stars together.
"Wooooooowww!" Kaitlin said, amazed "I've never seen so many stars!" She jumped up and down.
"Calm down." I said, "We don't need two Pinkie Pies bouncing around here." She just laughed.
She brought out her guitar.
"You still have that?" I asked.
"Yep."
"You haven't broken it?"
"Nope. Do you remember that acoustic version I made for Letter Expirement?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Sing it with me."
"Okay."
We started to sing:

"Love of mine, gone forever
Say goodbye to the sky
Bound by time
Enter the ride
Absently
I will be."

She started to strum in a beautiful acoustic solo. I hadn't heard her play in forever. She played like she always does, full of spirit.
"You're still as good at that as ever."
"Yeah," She nodded.
"Well, you guys ready to head home?" The girls nodded.
"Hold on, let me get my brother." Kaitlin said.
She got him. We said our goodbyes and flew back to the cloud palace.
I looked back.
I had family here.
One day, if the Earth ever returns and I have a choice, I will stay here.

This is my home.

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE! HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD ONE!

Chapter 6: Runaway

It had been almost a month since the first battle. The battle that had started this war between the Equestrians and Apocalypse's army of believers (or as I called them the 'nobodies'). Why? Because Apocalypse did 90% of the fighting. He had armies for show. But the horrors didn't stop there. I was asked to move out of Rainbow's home and live in the castle with my mother and aunt. She (against her character) cried and begged me to stay. I didn't.

That was a bad move to make.

As soon as I left town, Apocalypse began to take the form of many. He even disguised himself as Pinkie and butchered people under the premise of 'making cupcakes'. It was absurd. Then, he released propaganda messages about the princesses' rule. He called them liars and deceitful. He stated that if you joined his army, he would see to it that we would be fairly governed. AND THEY BELIEVED HIM. Five hours after, THE ROYAL GUARD decided to join the 'better cause'. My aunt was furious. She tried to reason, but their minds were made up. They were joining the enemy. And we watched them walk out. Some, believe it or not, were pretty cool. But this was just awful. Our numbers started to dwindle. And eventually, we ended up losing the castle to them. We moved into the city, to everyone's surprise. Pinkie, being the crazy, fourth wall-phasing person she is, decided to throw a private 'welcoming' party for me, my mom, and my aunt. It was just us, and our friends. I knew she was trying to make us feel better, but if she hadn't, things wouldn't have happened. I wouldn't have just finished a funeral for her. Because then IT happened.

Someone went to the enemy.

The party was lively. We were all having a good time. Pinkie had her signature cupcakes out for us to eat, along with this punch. I ate some cupcakes, which tasted like something I had missed: My grandma's pound cake, with frosting. I had some punch, it was really good. It tasted like some cherry, mixed with rainbow sherbet ice cream. I ate and drank, then danced. I had forgotten that I had two left feet. Kaitlin and Rainbow were finally relating, but Kaitlin looked uneasy. Like she had something on her mind.
"What's wrong?" I asked her.
"What? Oh, nothing..." She replied, absent mindedly.
"You sure?"
She gulped, "Actually, I do. I need to ask you and my brother something."
He appeared in his usual, flashy 'creature-of-the-night' way. A shadow shooting up with a loud 'WOOSH!' (Which caused Fluttershy to, well, shit bricks).
"What is is?" He asked, like he had been there forever.
Kaitlin started sweating "Um, I was wondering if I could join his cause..."
Me and Darkside both dropped our jaws. "HIS cause?" I asked.
She nodded.
"Hell no. I wouldn't let you, even if you were safe with him. No way IN HELL am I fighting my baby sis like that." He said, sternly.
She hung her head. "Fine..."
Then something heavy hit my head, and everything went black.

--------------------------Kaitlin------------------------

I couldn't fucking believe it! They just didn't understand. He would free us all. He just needed more followers. I hung my head, to let them think I was defeated. Then, using some magic Twilight had taught me, I picked a moving box up, and hit Brandon on the back of his head. I felt bad, but there was no turning back. I turned and sprinted the other way, bursting through the door. I picked up in flight, I was home free!

"And WHERE do you think you're going?" A voice shouted at me from above.
I looked ahead to see an angry looking Rainbow Dash floating downward slowly. She landed in front of me, her teeth bared, and her rainbow dyed hair flowing in the wind.
"Move!" I said, sick of people in my way.
She shook her head. "You know, I was starting to think you were pretty cool. Maybe we could have hung out, talked shit about those dumbass boyfriends that we both had earlier. But now I know, you're just in it for you." She got in a fighting pose "And I'm gonna stop you."
I laughed, "Do you think you can stop me? FIRE WHEN READY, BITCH!" I screamed. She flew at me, I dodged the punch she threw. Then I grabbed her leg as she was flying past, under the momentum of her flying punch. I threw her to the ground. Grabbing her head, I turned her to look at me.
"Let's see who's gonna beat who?" I said, grinning. I slammed her face back to the ground, then jumped back. She kicked at me. I grabbed her leg, and spun her around. I slammed her in the ground.
"What's wrong? You know he doesn't like weak girls like you." I jumped back again.
This did the trick. She started to glow, then flew at me, her Sonic Rainboom bursting instantly. She swung again. I sighed. I dodged it and waited for her to bounce from a tree for a second blow. She did. I put my fist out and nailed her dead on in the face. Grabbing her shirt, which was soaked with blood from her nose, I held her up. I slammed her face into my knee. Then I threw her to the ground and kicked her in the face.
I'm finally free to set things right.

-------------Brandon----------------

I woke up, unsure of my surroundings at first. Then I remembered: we were at home. I took a head count. Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Luna, Celestia, and Darkside. Where were Kaitlin and Rainbow? I jolted up. They noticed me getting up. Darkside was the first there.
"Where are they?" I asked, feeling a little lightheaded.
"Kaitlin knocked you out, then ran through the door. Rainbow flew after her."
"WHAT THE HELL?" I sat straight up. "She's gonna get killed!"
I ran out the door. Almost Immediately, I saw something that made my heart stop. The trees around were contorted and broken. And laying there, with no sign of life, was Rainbow Dash.
I couldn't think. I ran to her, and picked her up. I rushed back to the house, almost at the breaking point.

After ckecking her pulse, she was alive, but barely. We got her back. After some pressing, she told us how bad it was. I told her I had some healing medicine.
"But it will hurt." I said.
"Okay." She replied. I gave her something to bite on. I poured the thick medicine on her cuts and bruises. Tears flowed from her eyes. She screamed and twisted uncomfortably. Finally, after what felt like hours, she was healed. I told her to sleep. She did so.

I sat on the roof, crying silently. Why would she do this? I wondered. Why would she just betray us like that? I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. My mom sat next to me.
"She's just confused. She doesn't know what to do." She reassured me.
I nodded. Luna pulled me into a hug, I cried just a little more on her shoulder. Finally, I felt a little better. I wiped my eyes. Luna raised her hand and with it came the moon.
"I may not be a princess, but I'm still in charge of the moon." She said, with a chuckle. We sat there and laughed. We talked about lots of things. My caretakers, as Luna called them, and how they treated me. The family I had there. I felt fresh tears when I talked about my little brother and sister, who were only 7 and 4 when they died. It made me realize how horrible of a brother I was. I never saw them or tried to visit my dad, who had them.
"Well," My mom said, "All you can do now, is to ensure that others don't suffer your fate. Be a hero. Allow others here to be good big brothers and sisters. Give them a chance to act where you failed to." She said.
I nodded. That was a good idea.
"I'll protect this place. With my VERY LIFE."

--------------------------------------------------Kaitlin---------------------

Are you sure you want to do this?
"Yes." I said.
Well then. So be it!
I felt a burning sensation. I realized that he would burn the mark of the beast on my skin. There was no turning back. I looked on my right wrist. There was no mark!
What? He looked at me, I see. You are a being of light. We cannot brand you with the mark. You will be a special case.
I nodded. I was joining the cause.
I didn't need their help anymore.
I wanted this.

And now, I can change the world!

Chapter 7 Part 1: Set the World Ablaze

We moved back in the main city. It was losing that happiness that it had back when I first fell from the sky over 7 months ago. Under different circumstances this would be a time to laugh, but when your best friend basically just told you to fuck off, you're not feeling very jovial. We all said our goodbyes and went home. My mother, Celestia, Rainbow, Darkside, and I were the only ones left.

"Do you wanna go back with her?" my mom asked me.
I nodded, "If it's okay with you."
"Then go ahead." She gave me a hug before her and her sister both flew into the night.
Rainbow took my hand, "You think you can still fly?" she asked jokingly.
"You know I can!" I accepted the challenge. We flew off toward her house, holding hands the entire way, with Darkside trailing us.

Once we got inside, Rainbow went upstairs to put her pajamas on. Darkside picked his leather jacket up off the couch and put it on.
"Where're you going?" I asked.
"A date." he said, grinning.
I smiled "With who?."
"Fluttershy,"
I started laughing, "Dude, NICE!"
"You know she's hot."
"Shut up. I'm fine with Rainbow, thank you."
"Liar. You KNOW you want Fluttershy's tig ol' bitties." he said smugly.
"Point." He had me there. I wanted 'em for sure.
He just laughed, "See ya later, bro!"
"Peace!" I yelled back, throwing up deuces.
"What are you waiting for!" Rainbow yelled from upstairs.
"Nothing!" I yelled back, leaping up the stairs.
I fished my gym shorts out of my backpack and put them on. I climbed in next to her, and she nuzzled up next to me.
"Hey, Rainbow?" I whispered.
"Hm?"
"I'm glad you're okay."
She turned her head to look at me, then smiled. "Me too."
"Goodnight, I love you."
"Love you too."
And I fell asleep, thanks to the party (minus the mishap) I slept well.

But that would be the last bit of good sleep that I would have for a while.

I woke up. The morning, while sunny, had that hint of cool air that I loved. Me and Rainbow went through our morning cleaning deal (shower, brushing teeth, making the bed etc.) Then I went outside to go to the store. Then I felt a familiar pang of energy.
"Brandon..." I heard a voice that was bittersweet to my ears. Bitter, because she was a traitor. But sweet, because I missed her. I put my best rage face on and turned around.
"What do you want?" I said, faking annoyance. She flinched at my words.
"I... I... wanted to warn you about something."
"Well?"
She was kinda shaky, and that made me feel bad "Um, he's coming..."
"What?"
"He's gonna start making me burn cities."
"And?"
"I'm warning you to get the rest of our crew and get out of here..."
"And you want me to just leave everyone else to die? That, I can't do."
"Do you want to die? Look, I understand where you're coming from," She had gotten bold really quick, "But if you want to stay, he's coming fast! You won't get enough people in time."
I cussed under my breath. She was right. "Fine." I turned and walked away.

---------------Kaitlin---------------------

I was scared as hell. I needed to warn him. Fast. With Apocalypse watching me, I didn't know if I could or not. Luckily, Brandon was right where I was gonna land. But when I called him, he sounded pissed off at me. I became nervous. I thought he was going to kill me. He was cross, and that began to piss me off. So I told him straight up. He cussed, meaning that I got him beat. He walked off. But, there was one thing I didn't wanna tell him.

Apocalypse was making ME burn the towns.

----------------Brandon-----------------

I knew Apocalypse wouldn burn this city first, so I procrastinated on it for a couple hours. Then Derpy delivered the mail. (She looks almost normal as a human. I also knew a lot of people with lazy eyes.) But regardless, I read the newspaper.

BREAKING NEWS: Manehatten on fire!
About two hours ago, Manehatten suspiciously caught fire. The estimated dead are over 3,000, with 1,000 injured. The rest had no clue about how it started. The Princesses themselves are investigating the cause for the matter. While they do not know the cause, they do know that it was caused by a power that may be able to transcend magic. More news later.

I was scared, for the people. Then it hit me: Darkside and Fluttershy had flown off to Manehatten.

Not good.

----------Darkside-----------------

Me and Fluttershy were having a good time. She wasn't so shy around me anymore, which would save my ears the trouble of forcing them to hear her. Then I felt a pang of energy I didn't recognize right away.
"Hold on, babe. I think something's happened," I said.
A look of worry appeared on her face, "What's happened."
"That's what I'm about to find out." I closed my eyes to allow them to focus more. Then I snapped them open, my sixth sense, made just for sensing stronger energy and finding it's source, was ready to go. I looked around the room. Red lines stretched as far as I could see, then I looked down. The lines all met right at our table. Luck is a fucking bitch. I was glad we were talking over the check, because the minute I recognized it, shit went down.
A small fire appeared on the table.
"Fluttershy?"
She looked at me.
"Let's get outta here."
"Oh... okay."
We got up, right when we did the table burst into flames. Then it spread. I picked her up, and flew out the door. The place exploded shortly after. I got high in the air, then looked down. A energy circle, with a star in the center that had 7 corners. The rims of the circle were covered in magic letters. And the entire thing was over the town. Then it burst into a large flame. Consuming everything. There was screaming. And I just needed to get outta here.
"We gotta get outta here," Then I looked to my right.
Kaitlin was staring down at the city. And she was glowing. I felt the same energy resonating from her. How had she done it? I had no clue she could use elements at all, let alone to that extent.
But I knew that her heart was evil at that point.
She wasn't the innocent little girl I had raised behind the back of an abusive father.

She was a monster.

--------------------------Kaitlin-----------------------------

I wanted to scream. I tried to tell Apocalypse that I didn't want to burn Manehatten, but all I got for saying that was a knuckle sandwich. Great. So he sent me off. I had nothing on me. So I got there and floated above the city. Unsure of how to cope with this task. If anyone finds out, I thought, I'll be branded a murderer, among other things! I shook those thoughts from my head. Just end it quick, don't get caught. I stared down, then I felt a heating sensation on my left hand. I looked at the back of it. On there, was a shining circle with a star inside. Overreacting at first, I thought it was a pentagram (All you non religious people: The pentagram is a circle with a five angled star inside. This is one of the symbols of the devil.) Then I looked at it closer. There were 7 sides to it. And it was on my left hand. And I would only be damned if it were on my right. I was in the yellow. I put the palm facing the city and let the energy release. A small spark shot to the nearest building. But I needed more. I put my right hand on top of it. The symbol grew to that hand too. Then I shot the energy again. The spark expanded massively. Then the whole place was just swept up in a vortex of fire. I had no fucking clue I could use fire. Maybe this meant I could use other elements too! I was excited to tell Brandon, just for a second, then a heartbreaking thought hit me. I had basically drawn the line and put a wall up. I won't be sharing stories with him any time soon. Then I looked at the city. What had I done? I had killed thousands of people, maybe even more. I began to panic. I couldn't breathe. I burst into tears and cried floating around like a total dumbass. I was evil. I was heartless. I turned my hand to try burning myself. Nothing. This horrible person is just gonna have to live her horrible life.

The last thing I remember from that day, was that feeling of wanting to die.

------------------------Brandon--------------------------------

I was wondering how fast Apocalypse was with this shit. Then I heard a knock on the door. Darkside ran in, a panicked look on his face.
"Manehatten just got set on FUCKING FIRE!" He said, freaked out.
"I know, it was on the news."
"But guess who did it?"
"Apocalypse, probably."
"No."
I looked at him, "Who?"

"Kaitlin."

Chapter 7 Part 2: The Ballad of Sorrow and Despair

I stood there, my jaw on the floor. "She burned Manehattan by HERSELF?" I asked, dumbfounded.
Darkside just nodded. "Yeah, I looked and there she was, just staring at the city."
"You sure it was her? I mean, we DID have that incident two years when Kathrine took her form and started-"
He held up a hand, "I know, but regardless, she's a threat now. You know that we can't spare her. I know now that she was not to be trusted. She must be destroyed at all costs."
I nodded. This sucked.
"Anyways, I'm moving out."
"Why?"
"I'm going to stay with Fluttershy."
"You sure dude? I mean, won't you miss sleeping in the clouds?"
"I never sleep. Ever."
I shrugged, "It's up to you man."
"Don't party too hard bro!" he said with a chuckle.
I laughed. We said our goodbyes and I waved as he took off and flew towards Fluttershy's house. I floated up to Rainbow's cloud house. I walked in the door. She was no where to be seen. I walked all over the house. Finally, I went upstairs and to our room to find her laying in bed. I climbed in next to her. "Glad you're back..." She said with a yawn.
"Good to see you." I replied. She rolled over and stared at the ceiling.
"Do you know if that person that burned Manehattan will come here?"
"No clue." I climbed on top of her. She giggled.
"You wanna do that now?"
"Just a little bit." I kissed her. I broke the kiss, then she threw her arms around me and kissed me. She held me there until we broke the kiss to breathe. We put our foreheads on one another and looked into each other's eyes. As always, those rose colored eyes just seemed to make me melt inside. I loved them almost as much as I loved her. Evacuation wouldn't be necessary as long as we stayed here.

Mom had better plans.

As soon as I was about to get started, Luna straight up cockblocked me.
"Sorry to interrupt Brandon, but we're leaving."
"What?" I asked, "Why?"
"Because you're not just gonna let your friends die, are you? I told them, but you gotta go too."
I sighed. At least it wouldn't get any worse.

Then it hit.

The boom almost made me shit myself. Next thing I did, was look out the window to see the town on fire.
"Never mind. Mom, we probably should get outta here."
With out another word, Luna teleported us to where everybody else was waiting. I looked to see a train to Canterlot.
"It's the only place we can go..." Celestia hung her head.
"Why is that?" I asked.
"Look around.
I looked and saw smoke rising from almost every direction.
"No way... She burned so much in such a small span of time..."
"I am sorry. But this is how it must be..." Celestia teleported us all to Canterlot.

What we saw depressed us. There was so much violence. People were mugging, raping, and doing whatever else you could do with unlimited freedom. It broke my heart.
"No way..." Celestia dropped to her knees, "This is horrible. How could he have done something so horrible?" She loooked up with teary eyes.
"I have no clue..." I answered. The city was a fucking disaster.
"Well, might as well take the castle." I said, pulling my sword out and walking in that direction.
"How?"
"Simple. We kill every fucker in there, then make a barricade outta the place."
"That's good..."

We killed everyone in there. It was funner than I wanted it to be. Maybe it was just me finally cracking under the pressure. Maybe it was the fact that they took everything I had from me. Maybe it was a combo of the two. Regardless, we killed them all and threw the bodies out the windows. Then we watched the city burn.

"I...forgot about Angel..." Fluttershy stammered, obviously in too much pain to even focus her words. She sank to her knees, her world shattered by the fact that she foolishly forgot about her animals, and started crying. Darkside simply got down on his knees and held her. It was heartbreaking. I looked away, and the smell of the smoke and ashes made me growl silently. He's gonna pay for this, I thought.

Then the reality of it hit everyone else in the face.

Pinkie hair went straight. "Oh no... I forgot about Gummy... And the Cakes..." She started bawling as loud as possible. Somehow, this was the most saddening.

The apple family and the farm were burned down. Applejack immediately thought of Apple Bloom. How she had died without purpose. Applejack took her stetson off, "I don't deserve this..." she threw it across the room. She began to cry.

The library had burned down, and Spike had been sleeping during the burning. Twilight sank to her knees. "Spike... I'm sorry... I'm... so... sorry..." She started to break down in tears.

Rarity's dresses and her business were burnt to the ground, along with Sweetie Belle. Rarity skipped the drama and fell to the floor and curled up crying over the death of her little sister.

Then Rainbow and I looked over to Cloudsdale. The city was crumbling. The screams could almost be heard from over here. "No... It can't be...I was supposed to be a Wonderbolt...I..I.." I grabbed her and held her to me as she broke down, as it dawned on her that the Wonderbolts were most likely dead because of this.

Then I thought of the Crusaders. The three girls had spent all of their lives searching for purpose, and that landed them in the afterlife, awaiting judgement. Hell, Scootaloo couldn't even fly. They died in a fire caused by.. someone I trained. Someone I let go. Someone that I allowed to do this. I should've done something. Instead, I was trying to fuck my girlfriend while the world burned. I was a total dick. Tears flowed out of my eyes. I stood up, after Rainbow had finished crying, and walked out. I needed to think

Once I got to the balcony, I charged a ball of energy in my hand. With a yell, I threw it as far as I could, and listened to them scream. I fell to my knees and started crying.
"Why?" I muttered, "Why can't I hold on to anything? I did everything. I tried so hard to save others, only to have the people I worked to save die right in front of my eyes. I should be dying!" I screamed and pounded the ground. I should have been dying. I should have lost everything. They didn't do anything and they lost what they cared about. Why does the world work like this? I should be among those gone missing or dead. I looked at my hand and saw a knife right there. I pulled out my phone and turned on Blink-182's song "Adam's Song".

I knew I had to tip the scales. I wanted to join them, to make it seem fair. I thought of everything I lost. I didn't want this life anymore.

I never thought I'd die alone
I laughed the loudest who'd have known?

I placed the blade on my wrists.

I trace the cord back to the wall
No wonder it was never plugged in at all

I started sawing, amidst the pain.

I took my time, I hurried up
The choice was mine I didn't think enough

I had stopped feeling the burning sensation. Blood was flowing out of my arm.

I'm too depressed to go on
You'll be sorry when I'm gone

I could barely hear the song at this point. Dark spots danced in my vision. I felt the cold catch up to me. Finally I fell back. Laying on the ground, I stared up at the night sky.

I never conquered, rarely came
16 just held such better days
Days when I still felt alive
We couldn't wait to get outside
The world was wide, too late to try
The tour was over we'd survived
I couldn't wait till I got home
To pass the time in my room alone

The beauty of the night seemed to mock me.

I never thought I'd die alone
Another six months I'll be unknown
Give all my things to all my friends
You'll never step foot in my room again
You'll close it off, board it up
Remember the time that I spilled the cup
Of apple juice in the hall
Please tell mom this is not her fault

"I'm sorry. I failed. I'm a failure. I just wanted to make everyone happy. I was an idiot..."

Then I started slipping. I felt tears roll down my cheeks as death wrapped it's cold embrace around me. I finally felt peaceful. I closed my eyes and let myself go under. It was over. He took everything from me. What was the point?

There isn't a point in going on anymore...

Chapter 7 Part 2 Turnabout 1: A Mother's Desperation

Luna

It was heartbreaking to see everyone crying. I looked to the right to see Brandon leaving the room. I know it must have hurt his spirit, as I know his emotions are effected by the people around him. It still shocked me a little. Oh well, I thought to myself, He'll be fine.

I couldn't have been more wrong

About ten minutes later, he hadn't come back in. This was starting to worry me. I walked outside to check on him.
"B?" I called out, "Are you okay?"
Then I saw him.

He was laying down on his back, in a tiny puddle of blood. He had his iPod in his ears, and a knife in his hand. His eyes were blank. I ran to get him quickly, tears already forming in my eyes. I picked up his body and held it to my chest. I held him in my arms as I ran to the main room. At this point, I was openly crying, the thick tears running down my face. I put him down in front of 'Tia and just stared at her.
"What do you expect me to do?" 'Tia asked me.
"Bring him back..."
"I can't bring back the dead, I can heal the living, but I can't bring the dead back to life."
"BULLSHIT!" I screamed. That made me want to vomit.
"Excuse me?"
I sat down and began to cry even harder. My son just killed himself, months after we were reunited. It wasn't fair. Brian walked over to me. "I have an idea,"
"Well? Let's hear it."
"It's dangerous, but it could work."
He ran off, then came back with a jar. He filled it with Brandon's blood. He made a tube and a bag for the blood inside. Placing the tube inside of what I now noticed as Brandon's slit wrist, he squeezed the blood out of the bag.
"I'm putting blood in his veins. Now, what you need to do is jump start his heart. That way, the wound will close, and his heart will start pumping." Brian said.
It was one hell of idea. I put the electricity in my hands, and slammed it down on his chest.

Nothing.

"Do you want to see him again?" He asked.
"Yes, but I don't wanna hurt him..."
"PUT YOUR ALL INTO IT."
I did as he asked. When I slammed on his chest, I lost all feeling, and my world went dark.

I woke up. My surroundings were nothing but white. Finally, after what felt like hours staring at nothing, I decided to do this like a badass. I choose a direction and started walking. It was dumb at first, then I saw it. A ruined city was just ahead. The buildings were toppled, and crying could be heard. Picking up the pace to a jog, then a full sprint, then flight, I went to the city. Then I looked ahead. A mound of bodies was forming. And at the very top, sitting still, was Brandon. I flew to the top and sat next to him. "Hi!"
He turned to look at me, "Go away, Mom. You shouldn't be here."
"No, not until you come back with me." At least, I hoped this was what it was.
"Here, I won't cause others to lose their loved ones. Equestria doesn't need me to ruin their lives."
"You haven't ruined anyone's life. You're a savior."
"Yeah, a savior that lets others die in his wake."
"No. Let me show you something." I pulled something out from behind my back, it was his teddy bear from pre-school. It was a deep brown, with a missing leg.
"Hey! How'd you get Teddy?" He asked, almost serious.
"I have my ways. Who do you think allowed your caretaker to get this for you?"
"You allowed that to happen?"
"Yep." I nodded.
"What does this have to do with me going back?"
"Simple, Teddy is just as lonely as you are. Take him back, and you will understand." I held Teddy out to him.
"I don't need Teddy, Mom..."
I laughed and held out my hand. He took it and everything around us was washed away by white. I held him to me and whispered "I love you."
"I love you too, Mom."

The whiteness faded away.

We woke up, I did a head count, we were all here. I kissed him on the cheek. He was alive. Barely. Maybe I'll tell him about how bad his condition was over some breakfast after this was over.

I'm proud to have a good son.

Chapter 8: WHAT A TWIST

It had taken us a while to formulate a good plan. We were shot on rations, and our spirits were just as low. Me and Luna tried to lighten up the mood, to no avail. Then Darkside had an epiphany.
"I GOT IT!" He jumped up. We all kinda just looked at him.
"Well, what is it?" I asked, getting impatient.
"Brandon, Luna. Can you track his signature?"
"Who's?" Luna asked.
"Apocalypse."
We nodded in unison. "But why?" I asked.
Darkside facepalmed, "Because we're going to storm his hideout!"
"That is GENIUS." Luna said.
"Although it is very risky..." I added.
"Well? Chop-chop! We haven't got time to lose!" He said in a sing-song tone.
I closed my eyes. I visualized his energy, and followed it to it's source. It was in a unhelpful position. I opened my eyes again.
"Well?" Darkside asked, "Where is it?"
I gulped, "Get ready to catch Fluttershy, because he's in Nightmare Moon's palace, in the Everfree Forest."
As if on cue, Fluttershy almost fainted before Darkside was right next to her.
"Hate to say it 'Shy" Darkside said, "But looks like our best chances are at night..."
Fluttershy fainted. Well, this was good.

------------------------------Kaitlin-------------------------

I was sick of Apocalypse! He was a total dick that cared nothing for his army. I wanted him dead, but because of me burning the towns, of course they won't take me back. What was I going to do? I flew over to Celestia's castle. Then I overheard them speaking. They were going to storm our hideout? I figured a great way was to-
"Going somewhere, missy?" Apocalypse appeared next to me, scaring the shit outta me.
"Um, no..." I replied, unsure of what was about to happen.
"Why are you here?"
"I was going to spy on them..."
He gave me a dead on serious-Pinkie-Pie stare before smiling at me and saying "Oh, well! Carry on!"
He whistled Ride of the Valkyries as he flew off.
"Phew... That was close." I said to myself, as I watched them find us out.

At the meeting for our plans, he announced, "Kaitlin, would you like to share what you overheard?"
"I, um, They found out where we were and they're coming at night..."
He faked shock and said, "Quick! Where's our next hiding place?"
"Actually, sir..." I said, quietly.
"Hm?"
"We should fight them..."
"Go on."
"Because, if we don't, they're gonna keep finding us out..."
"FUCKING GENIUS." He said, loudly. And quite sarcastically.
An ex-Royal Guard member raised his hand, "Uh, they have like four people that can kill us easily."
"You know how it goes, kill what you can, let me handle the rest."
"But haven't they beaten you before?"
Apocalypse flinched, but only for a moment, "It was luck. Nothing more. Also we'll have to show our new guest around, won't we?"
Just then, an old man walked up with grey hair, a gray mustache, and a gray goatee. He wore a brown suit and had a smug look on his face. His eyes were more or less, a reddish color. It was odd.
"Welcome!" Apocalypse said.
"I am glad to be here, my good friend."
"It is good to see you, Discord."
My jaw hit the floor, "DISCORD? Aren't you a draconequus?"
"I am."
"They why isn't your appearance all fucked up?"
"I assumed a human form, it is my easiest form to work in."
"Whatever."
But seriously, Discord? This had gotten out of hand. This was crazy!

This was already outta hand. But it got worse, somehow.

Not good.

The evacuation team for the main city was finally on it's way to Canterlot. Led by the nefarious and infamous Cutie Mark Crusaders. They did what the nice man told them to in case they saw three red flashes in the sky.
"Once you see three red flashes and the hairs on your neck stand up, prepare to evacuate the city." He had told them.
The Crusaders almost had no time, they worked as hard as they could saving the people of the town, Fluttershy's animals, and Gummy all at the same time. Their rewards were fruitful. They managed to survive this far! They needed to find the bad guys that were causing this, and soon.

--------------------------------Brandon------------------------------------------

"Okay, is that everything?" Darkside said, ready to roll.
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash said.
"Yup, Sure is!" Applejack said.
"Of course." Rarity said.
"All ready to go!" Pinkie said, hair inflated once again as she jumped up and down excitedly.
"Yes..." Fluttershy said, naturally quiet.
"Let's make it happen, Captain!" I said.
Darkside was obviously happy to be in charge.
"Well, let's get the fuck outta here!"
"WAIT," I said, "Where's Luna and Celestia?"
Then Luna appeared. "I'm sorry," She said, "But Celestia is sick, and someone's gotta take care of her."
"Well, that sucks..." Darkside said.
I went back to give my mom a goodbye hug. She kissed me on the forehead.
"Come back safe." She said. I heard laughing and Darkside making his traditional gagging noises behind me.
"I will, Mom," I said.
She let me go. I jogged back to the group as Darkside and Twilight prepared a teleportation spell.
"Dude, you can do magic?" I asked, unsure of how that worked.
"Actually, magic and our light powers are derivatives of each other." Darkside said.
"Well, who would've thought it!" I shrugged.
Then we teleported.
The shit felt weird. Imagine having your body slowly disassembled. Then imagine it traveling at light speed. Now put your body back together. Not very fun. Then we were standing in the Everfree Forest. Fluttershy squeaked. We walked toward the palace. I looked back to see Darkside slip his hand into Fluttershy's. The slick bastard. Then we arrived. It was big. It was scary as hell. We walked inside. I could hear this crazy, but epic song playing. It was time to kick some ass.

We're about to take Equestria back.

Once and for all!

Chapter 9 Part 1: Sacrifice

After Walking for a while, I was getting fed up. "Dude, where are we?" I asked.
"We took a back door route, that way, they're guarding the front and we'll be outta sight." He said.
Then we heard shouting. There was the sound of footsteps. Well, so much for 'outta sight'. I got ready to run. Then I heard a country voice.

"AH'M COMIN' THROUGH!" Soon I was staring a stampede dead in the face. When I saw who was leading it, I didn't even care.

Because the Cutie Mark Crusaders were right there. Followed by Fluttershy's animals. And then The citizens of the various towns! That was easily the most convinent situation. Ever. I called back to my group. They walked up, then once they saw their families, they all cried and ran to hug their brothers, sisters, mothers, and such. The only person not being hugged was Scootaloo. She had a huffy look, as if her pride was shot. She shuffled her hands in her pockets. For a second I thought I saw tears in her eyes. But she noticed my staring, and I just looked away. I felt kinda bad for her. But I assumed she had a family.

The Crusaders saw Darkside, "Hey, you're that nice man that told us about saving the town!"
My jaw dropped. Darkside? Helping CHILDREN? Unspeakable. But there he was hugging the three little girls and laughing. He was one of those guys that are like siblings to EVERYBODY. It made me think of just how close he and Kaitlin were. He would always ruffle her hair and her cat ears would sway with it. He always did the most childish things for her. (Tucked her in, red her bedtime stories. Just for their own personal lulz.) But now it was all gone. She had abandoned us. The thought of having to fight her made me sad. Then the apocalypse prophecy hit me. I had forgotten about it COMPLETELY. We still had time, however. After we got reacquainted, we headed for the center room of the palace. There Apocalypse stood, right next to DISCORD. Discord changed into a human shape. "WELCOME," He said, "To the slaughter..." He finished, licking his lips.

But fate threw me a curveball. Kaitlin landed in front of us, her body glowing with immense energy. She raised a ball of energy at me, ready to kill me. This was the end. Then she winked at me. "Sorry, B, But this one's mine."

She turned around and roundhouse kicked Apocalypse in the mouth. He went flying, and she followed closely. She grabbed his leg, only to have him spin in her grip and kick at her using his free leg. She blocked it, and pulled her sword out. She swung at him, and he pulled his sword out and blocked the blow. They slashed and spun like helions. Finally, they locked blades. She looked him in the eye and shouted, "TODAY, YOU DIE."

She broke the lock. She jumped all around, and slashed. She even did flips and barrel rolls (Shut up, Peppy). Their swords finally went flying in opposite directions. Eventually, they charged at one another. Swinging and kicking, she gained the upper hand. The two stood at a stand off. Finally, Kaitlin raised her right hand. "I'll put my entire being in this one, just to make sure you die."

Apocalypse drew his sword, "Fine then, I'll simply gut you."

They charged each other. Time was slow for us all. A mere second later, Kaitlin was bleeding, and she was hanging with Apocalypse's sword through her midsection. She raised her head, "I'll take you to Hell with me!"

She nailed him in the back of the head with her blast. They flew to opposite sides of the room. Kaitlin was laying there lifelessly. Apocalypse was struggling, but he soon fell limp as well. It scared me. I didn't want her to die. She was still herself. Darkside ran full out to his baby sister's body, and cradled it in his arms. "Oh no..." He said, "Don't you pull this heroic bullshit on me! Get back here! You... can't.." He started crying right there. I felt it in the air. It was in the sound of a crying man. It was in her little puddle of blood she left behind.

Kaitlin was dead.

_________________________

Naturally, I was shocked. I hadn't even talked to her, and she was just gone. That's it. Game-fucking-over. After our sparring, plans to move far away after college, rigging school systems so we could have every class together. It all led up to her. Dead. It was painful. I heard a steady laugh. I looked at Apocalypse. He was standing up. He began to laugh harder until he was mad with hysterics. I felt anger welling up inside me. I attacked him.

I felt nothing. I was nothing. I wanted his head.

I was being consumed by rage.

I could only feel my blinding rage.

I saw no one.

I heard no one.

I snapped myself out of it.

I pulled my light sword out. I swung hard at him. Then I blocked some slashes. I spun and slashed. The smell of Kaitlin's drying blood pushed me to kill him. Why won't you die? I wondered. I stabbed through him. I looked at him. He was shaking.

"I...I...I...r-r-w-w- I. WON'T LOSE. I'LL NEVER DIE."

I saw light explode around him, expanding rapidly. It was wiping everything out. And there he was.

I was staring the Light in the face.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Chapter 9 Part 2: Fight for Freedom!

I was dumbstruck. I stared the Light in the face. It was a being of, naturally, light. It's eyesockets were pure black. The irises were a deep red. It had my body frame, (Thin and tall) but it radiated light in every way. It growled at me, daring me to strike. Wasn't there a old Equestrian story about Celestia and Light? What was it? She tamed it with her raw power, and it fled? Yeah, that's it. I looked in it's eyes, and realized that it was a sentient being empowered by both light AND darkness. Just like me. Except I had a human form. It wasn't held back by the limitations of a human form. That meant one thing: I had to abandon my humanity to defeat it. I sighed, knowing this was it. I walked over to Rainbow. "What are you doing?" She asked.

"Saying goodbye," I pulled her to me and kissed her. "I love you."

"I love you too.." She was already tearing up. I hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry, but it has to be this way..." I held her for just a little while longer. I didn't want to let go. But finally, I mustered up the courage. I looked in her eyes one last time. Those rose colored eyes, I loved them. The last hold on who I was. It was those eyes.

I turned and walked to the light. Spreading my arms, I shouted "You want to end this? COME AT ME BRO!" Then the light consumed me, and I released my human form to accept that power.

_______________________________________

I was floating around in a sea of light. Then I looked ahead and saw Apocalypse. He looked at me, with eyes of hate.

"So," He said, "You finally abandon your human form, huh?"

"Anything to provide freedom for others!" I yelled.

He grinned, "Well, then I'll show you how hopeless your endeavors have been."

He flew at me with blinding speed. I barely had time to block his punch. It sent me back a few feet, but it didn't phase me. I prepared to counter but instead he threw another punch, hitting me square in the mouth. It felt like someone smacked me with a baseball bat. I could taste the metallic sensation of blood. I spat it out. I charged again, only to have him knee me in the gut. I fell to my knees and began to vomit blood. He laughed, "Is this all you have in your non-human form? Pathetic."

He picked me up by my shirt collar. He put his other hand around my neck. Letting go of my collar, he began to punch me in the face repeatedly, until I could see spots in my vision. He threw me. I rolled around before seeing him enter my vision.

"Pathetic. Now you will face a fate worse than the human race." He pulled his sword out and stabbed me through the chest. It stung. My chest was on fire. I couldn't breathe. Then I felt him. He was zapping my energy out of me. It can't end like this. I grabbed the hilt of his sword. I concentrated, and began to pull my energy back into my body. Then I felt a breakthrough. Another familiar energy entered me. I recognized it as Kaitlin's. I felt my wounds and bruises healing, thanks to her healing abilities that came with her energy. I began to laugh.

"Really? I don't think you understand... I AM THE FATE OF THE HUMAN RACE!" I screamed.

I pulled his sword out and lunged at him. I swung it at him, but he was quick at dodging. I faked one direction, then swung in the other. He had no time to dodge. It ran though him, stopping about three inches through.

"Now, we go back."

I teleported us both back to Nightmare Moon's castle. I pulled the sword out of him and jumped back. I charged him, and kicked him in the nuts. I stabbed him through the chest, then roundhoused him in the face. He was on the floor, but he was getting up.

"Let me put my two cents in." Darkside said to me.

I nodded, and let him walk to his sister's murderer. "Ya know, I have a bone to pick with you."
He picked him up, and kneed him in the face.

"Here's for killing Brandon's family,"
He punched the Light, so hard, in fact, that he went flying and steam was rising from Darkside's fist. The Light ran into the wall, HARD.

"And HERE'S FOR KILLING MY BABY SISTER!"
He yelled with the force of a hurricane, his voice layered very similar to G Major. A thunderstorm surrounded them. Darkside raised his hands, and a tornado of FIRE swirled around him. He pointed his palm in that general direction and a storm of fire blasted toward the Light.

I walked out to the Light's position. I watched him lay there, still dazed. "Your time is up." I said.
I raised my arms for the epicness. I made energy swirl in a hurricane. Five swords appeared around me. I felt true light in these. I lowered my hands. The swords pinned themselves in the Light's hands, legs, and forehead. The remaining two slammed at his side. Then I summoned the little neck braces for the Elements of Harmony. I placed them in a circle around him. I had formed a pentagram to imprison him. I raised my right hand. I heard everyone cheering my name.

"You have taken everything from me," I started, "But today, I take it back. Today, the dimensions and their nations no longer have to fear your tyranny. Today, all the worlds and all the nations can shout the words of a famous man, 'free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.'. Today, I avenge my brothers and sisters, mother and father, aunts and uncles. Today," I yelled this out to everybody, "Is the day of FREEDOM!" I slammed my right hand on his forehead. He screamed and writhed. I gripped harder, until finally darkness enveloped me.

________________________

I stood in darkness, staring at him.

"I refuse to lose like this..." He said, weakly. He was fading fast.

I raised my right hand to him, and opened my palm. Suddenly, I saw, standing around me, my friends and my family from Earth. They were smiling at me. I grinned and turned to Apocalypse, no longer the Light, and said, "My friends give me strength to defeat the devil and his wiles. You have lost this."

I fired a blast of pure energy, enveloping him as he screamed. Finally, it was over. My friends and family from Earth stood around me, smiling. They combined into a small flame. I heard a voice saying:

Congratulations, you have diverted not only the prophecy, but saved yourself. I have one last task for you. Keep this flame alive, and you will wake up on Earth, and this will be nothing but a dream. You will live a peaceful life there. Smother the flame, and you will return to Equestria, and live your life there. Your humanity will be restored either way. Remember, there is no turning back when you pick. I will leave you once you choose. But be warned, the grass may always be greener on one side, but there may not be food or water. Be wise hero!

I looked at the flame. It was warm. It was bright. I felt tears in my eyes. I knew what to do.

Chapter 10: Dawn Of A New Day

I smothered the flame. I'm sorry, I thought, But I'm not that Brandon anymore. I felt tired, and I crashed to the ground. I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.

________________________________

I opened my eyes. Apocalypse was limp on the ground. I heard the cheers of the towns people. The Elements of Harmony went to their proper owners. And the swords disappeared. I felt that if I needed them, they would come back. Rainbow ran and jumped on me, hugging me tightly. It was the best feeling. Everyone was happy. Even Luna and Celestia (who was mysteriously better from her sickness) felt the need to congratulate me.

"Brandon, my nephew," Celestia started, "I have witnessed with my very eyes your acts of bravery, as well as your loyalty to your friends. You show kindness, generosity, and honesty in your daily efforts to make our world better. You show laughter to even the most hurt or sad. You have shown us that even though the world you came from is cruel and unforgiving, friendship IS indeed magic. We have noticed that you are a personal embodiment to the Elements of Harmony. But, that is not the point I want to make. Your bravery and your fight, as well as you defeating a great adversary has made me make a choice. With your approval, me and your mother can make you one of us. An, as you would put it, god of this world. Therefore making the three of us co-rulers of Equestria."

My jaw hit the floor right there. I felt Rainbow stiffen next to me. I looked at her. She was slightly pale, she was also sweating a little. I realized that she truly loved me, and as much as I wanted this, we both knew that I would have to move to Canterlot. She had found that one guy, and said guy was about to leave her forever?

How could I even put her through that.

I made my mind up. Looking at the princesses, I knelt, "With all due respect, your highness, no. I can't just leave her behind."

"Rise, my son." Luna said. She looked at me in the eyes and smiled. "I felt you would say something like that. Loyalty, honesty, kindness, generosity, laughter, AND The Spark lie within you. Those few words you spoke had a twinge of each in them. I know now that you ARE the Elements of Harmony. Even though Twilight and her friends are as well."

"But can I have one request?" I asked.

"As long as we can do it." Celestia said.

"Can you, well, bring her back?" I asked, pointing at Kaitlin.

The princesses looked at me. "No. It is forbidden to return the dead to life." Celestia said.

I nodded. "It was worth a try..."

Tears welled in my eyes. I blinked them back. I couldn't be crying now, I saved the world! Anyways, I turned and watched the sun rise. It's golden glow seemed to warm me, and for the first time, I realized how tired I was. But regardless, I did my job, now I can enjoy at least a little bit of peace...

Chapter 11: A Time To Say Goodbye

A few days after, we decided to have a funeral service for Kaitlin. I wore a black suit. Darkside wore his normal clothes. We sat for a while, listening to the princesses talk. Finally, they asked people to stand and say a few words. A lot of people got up to say a few words. Some gave condolences. Others gave speeches. What surprised me was when Rainbow went up there.

"Being here," She started, obviously cutting her ego down for this one occasion, "I begin to wonder what could have been different. I feel sometimes, that maybe, if I were a better person to her from the start, she wouldn't have made the choice that she had, and she would be alive right now. I feel really bad about it. I'm sorry..." Rainbow got up from the podium and walked off, obviously done.

Darkside went next, "I've known her forever. I raised her ever since she was a child. I did everything I could. And now to see this, it kills me inside a little. She was my baby sister, and just like that, she was gone. She's never going to be able to enjoy the perks of adult hood now. Maybe I was too hard. Maybe I wasn't hard enough. I just wish..." His voice began to break, "I wish that I could have pulled her aside. I wish that I could have reminded her that I loved her. We only had each other for so long. And now it's... It's..." He burst into tears. He was left in pieces over the whole thing. Fluttershy went up to comfort him. She got him seated. (Imagine a sweet girl like Fluttershy, comforting a crying, 20 year old black guy. Weird shit.)

I was next. I went up. I stood at the podium, gripping it, unsure of what to say. I got my words together, "Kaitlin. She was an amazing person. Even though she was often hardheaded, or she had a quick temper, I always found myself liking her. I loved her company. She was funny, and even nice. She was my best friend in the whole world. And now, this kills me inside to see how far we've come, from stopping crime, to saving dimensions, and yet she's lying here as one of the few noticed causalities of this. She meant so much to me. There was a time when I loved her more than the world itself, and would give the world to be with her forever. And now, she's lying here, dead. I'm broken down inside. And I miss her." I walked off.

Sitting down next to Rainbow, I wiped a tear from my eye secretly. Finally, the princesses gave each of us a sunflower, which was her favorite flower, to us to place in the coffin. Me and Darkside were last. After he sat down, I went up. I planned to play it cool, walk up there, say something to her quietly, put the flower in, and sit down before the atmosphere caused me to break. That plan never works. I went up to put the flower in. Looking into the coffin, I felt compelled to at least reach out and touch her hair. I felt like this could wake her up. Maybe she was in a coma and my touch would knock her out of it. I touched it, and the sensation brought a wave of emotions and memories. Good times, they were gone. The finality hit me in the chest like a hammer. I fell to my knees crying. "I'm so sorry... I wasn't there when you needed me... I'm just, so sorry..." I cried a little more. I felt warm arms pull me close to someone. I smelled the familiar candy scent of Rainbow's perfume. I cried on her shoulder for a few more minutes. When I stood up, I looked at everyone, and I told them, "Thank you, even if you didn't know her. Thanks for coming everyone. That means a lot to me..." I watched them go.

"Well, time to end this whole deal..." Darkside said, crestfallen. I nodded in agreement.

We closed the coffin, and picked it up. When we finally got to the shore aside Canterlot, we set it down. I opened the coffin to say one more thing.

"I can't believe this. You were my best friend. After all the things we went through, from breaking drumsets in jazz band, to fighting demons in the house at midnight, here it ends. It really was fun. Goodbye, Kaitlin. I love you." I leaned down and kissed her forehead.

I summoned her sword, which had moved on to me with her powers. I placed it inside the coffin, and laced her fingers over it. I felt tears come out of my eyes, but I remained silent. Finally, I closed the coffin. I picked it up and placed it in a boat provided by my mother. I set the whole thing on fire, and pushed it out to sea.

It was over.

EPILOGUE: We Will Meet Again

____________________________ 3 Years Later____________________

I put everything behind me on that day. Looking at the horizon from our cloud house, I saw a familiar figure fly up to greet me.

"What's up, Darkside!" I yelled.

He looked panicked, "Something happened. Something bad."

"What?"

"Fluttershy's pregnant."

"That's bad? That's a good thing!"

"I just don't know if I'm ready to be a father. I mean, I raised someone, and look where she is..."

"It wasn't your fault fate decided she had to go. Dude, you were an amazing guy. You cared more about her than anybody ever did. You're more than ready."

"You think?"

"I know." I grinned at him, "Besides, who wouldn't want to have me as an uncle!"

"But you're not even my brother!" He said, smiling.

"So? Nobody knows that!" We both busted up laughing. Even though we had put her behind us, I still missed her laugh. Her smile. But there was no point to that.

"Well, get going. You have a pregnant woman to care for!" I said. He nodded in reply.

"We're gonna meet again, aren't we?"

I nodded.

___________________________________________

I went inside the house again. I sat on the couch and cried silently. That whole scene made me miss her more than I had for the past few years. After a few minutes, I wiped my eyes. I heard someone knocking.

"Uh, B?" It was Rainbow.

"Yeah, Babe?"

She opened the door, "I was wondering, if I signed some papers, could someone live with us?"

I sighed, "Yes, Scootaloo can stay."

"How'd you know?"

"I saw how she looked a little foresaken when nobody was with her on that day."

Scootaloo's head popped in, "Really? You mean it?"

"Of course!" I smiled.

She ran in and hugged me. I hugged her back.

That was the final straw. I too, had a family to look after now. Even though I was a little young, I could manage. Besides, I had a promise to uphold.

Yeah, Darkside. We Will Meet Again.

~END~

READ THE BLOG NAO

Super important blog post is up, you should read it.

Prologue

Run.
All he could do is run. He ran from the dark warrior chasing him. As he ran, he saw the streets he used to live on. Not knowing who or what was alive. He had lost hope.
"Come on Brandon! Just a little more!"
He looked up, to see two friendly faces alongside him.
"Kaitlin... Brian..." He muttered.
"Yeah, bro, just keep running," Brian said with the finality of an older brother.
Then they reached the place. An abandoned warehouse.
"THIS IS IT?" Brandon screamed, dumbfounded, "You brought me to a fucking warehouse to die?"
"No, silly." Kaitlin said, punching him on the shoulder. "Go inside."
They went inside. Brian was programming what looked like a portal.
"Just..a little more... GOT IT!"
The machine hummed and whizzed to life. Sure enough, a portal came to life. Just then, their predator caught them, an army behind him. Laughing, he said "Good game, you three! But now our little game of tag ends."
He walked closer, a sword fading into his hand, shrouded by darkness. Brandon, Brian, and Kaitlin stood their ground, swords appearing in one of all three's hands. The pursuer launched himself at the three. He slashed and kicked until all three were out cold laying there. Then Brandon stood, defiance in his eyes. His sword at the ready.
"Oh fuck no. You're not killing them Apocalypse."
"Try me."
They launched at one another. Their swords clashed and it seemed as if the world was being ripped apart by the two beings.
Slowly, Kaitlin and Brian got up.
"I'm helping him." Kaitlin said quickly. But Brandon had different plans.
"NO. Go, save yourselves! I'll be fine, I promise." Brandon said quickly.
Kaitlin protested. The two argued back and forth.
Brandon grabbed his girlfriend's collar and pulled her to him, kissing her one last time. " I love you."
"Wait wha-" She was cut off by Brandon pushing her into the portal. She reached out to him, crying.
Brandon and Brian nodded at one another.
"Good luck."
"Same to you."
After Brian ran into the portal, Brandon ran to the portal and switched the coordinates. Somewhere. Anywhere. He wiped a tear from his cheek, knowing he would never see her again.
And then he jumped into the portal.

Intermission: What About Kaitlin?

And now, for Kaitlin's conclusion.

________________________________________________________

My eyes shot open, staring at a clear blue sky. I sat up, and looked around. I was surrounded by a field of sunflowers. The air smelled nice. It was warm, but the gentle breeze cooled my skin. I stood up. Looking down at what I was wearing, I was I was wearing a tank top, a miniskirt, knee socks, and a single sleeve on my right arm. I reached up and felt for my bandanna that covered my cat ears. Neither was there. Instead I just felt my smooth hair. I was scared. The last thing I remembered was getting stabbed by Apocalypse. I began to walk, unsure of where I was. Finally, a man stopped me.

"Are you lost?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Well then, follow me."

He grabbed my hand. Usually I would pull away, but now I felt right with him. I had no clue. Finally, we stopped at a pair of pure gold gates. They glowed, and behind them was a city. The streets were nothing but gold. No asphalt. There was a warm sensation coming from below my feet. I looked down, to see a flame under where I was standing. I heard faint screaming from there. People were burning. I wanted to cry. I knew where I was. I knew that I was seriously going to burn in Hell.

Then he turned to me. "It appears that a believer was watching out for you, and he prayed for your placement here. Only once, will I allow this."

The gates opened to me, "Thank you, Lord!" I shouted, tear falling down from my face at this point. I fell at his feet, crying. Partly because I had gotten a free ticket, basically, and partly because he was looking out for me even though I had betrayed him. I regained my composure. I stood up, and walked to the gates.

I'll wait. Forever.

Because then I can see everybody I know here.

This is my story.

And it's still going.

I've got some time here.

Until he shows up.

There's an eternity waiting for me.

I can't afford to stand aside and let time fly.

So please, don't allow time to stand still for me.

I'd like to see him soon.

Final Announcement

A few things...

To start, this is the last update for this story.

Also, watch my profile (click the little watch button at the top of the profile. (<----- Yeah, in case you missed, I was grounded for a while, but now I'm back. Lrn2readmyblogs.)

Follow my Twitter @TheNightRunner4 (<---- Humor, and upcoming stuff! Along with story updates, like my blog.)

And READ THE SEQUEL. IT'S GONNA BE BETTER AND (hopefully) LONGER. That was a problem for some of you.

So, yep, do those things, and your life with my stories will be fruitful and awesome.

Peace
-TSW