Brothers In Blood

     CHAPTER XI: THE BATTLE FOR CANTERLOT

     The train was going faster than usual, making time to Canterlot abit shorter. The only ones on the train were you, Ben and the Elements of Harmony. You held your Lancer in your hands, the metal just shined this morning. Rainbow Dash's cutie mark painted on the handle brought a smile on your face.

     “Whats the big emergency anyways?” Rainbow groaned, lying on the chairs on the train. “I was busy doing something important until Fluttershy started blurting out words faster that Pinkie.”

     “You were busy sleepin’.” Applejack chuckled. “If it weren’t for Fluttershy we’d think you were dead.”

     “This is a serious issue guys..” Ben growled. He didn’t look at any of you, he just kept checking how much bullets he had. “Did it come to anyone’s attention that Clay’s been gone for a week.”

     “N-Now that you mention it…” Fluttershy muttered. “I haven’t seen him in a while. He always comes over for his… Meat.”

     “I thought he was slacking off with Rainbow to avoid work at the barn…” Applejack furrowed her brows at Rainbow.

     “Heck I haven’t even seen him either.” Rainbow shrugged. “Maybe he wen’t on another hunting trip?”

     “Celestia wrote a letter a week ago.” You mumbled. Ben kept looking out the window but everyone’s ears perked up. “She summoned Clay to go to Canterlot; Alone. And he hasn’t been back since…”

     “Maybe Celestia just sent him somewhere!” Twilight protests. “Maybe he’s fine and you guys are just overreacting!” the train started to get darker, thick clouds covering the sun.

     “That’s weird…” Rainbow scratched her head. “I don’t remember rain in the forecast.” That was all you and Ben needed to know. The train started to slow as it arrived at Canterlot’s train station. Before you and Ben could get up Twilight blocked the doorway.

     “Leave your weapons.” She growled. “It was bad enough that Clay got arrested last time. I don’t want that happening again.”

      “You two should listen to her…” Shining Armor stood at the exit of the train station, a smile on his face. He braced for impact as Twilight tackle hugged him. “Why did you bring them in the first place?”

     “We came looking for Clay.” Ben growled, stepping off the train. “You know where he is surfer boy?” Shining Armor gave him a blank stare, not flinching at the nickname.

     “He and Celestia have been working hard on the portal...” A small grin crept on his face. “I’ll lead you to the castle if you’d like.” You nodded, Ben only sighing. But you two never let go of your rifles.

     Shining Armor and two other guards started leading you to the castle, crowds of ponies watching your group. The clouds covering the sky got thicker, a flash of lightning indicating the soon to come rain. The streets were quiet, not a single pony spoke as your group passed. They just gazed at you.

     “Something’s not right…” Ben said under his breath. A drop of rain was followed by multiple others. A clash of lightning reflected off the falling rain. “Good thing I wear a helmet…”

     “How much longer to the castle.” You grunted, clenching your Lancer. “It wasn’t this far before…” Shining Armor stopped, causing everyone to freeze. You all stood in a courtyard, a statue of Celestia standing in the middle. Ponies watched from a distance, guards standing on rooftops.

     “Oh did I say the castle?” Shining Armor chuckled. “I meant your DEATH!” he spun around, his jaw open to bite you.

     *POW*

     “SHINING!” Twilight cried. The lifeless body of Shining Armor knocked you backwards, a large bullet hope in his right eye. Ben stood behind the dead body, his Snub pistol emitting smoke from the barrel. Twilight fell to her knees, poking the dead body as she cried. “BEN WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!”

     “Do ponies usually have green blood?” You asked, pointing at the green blood oozing from the body’s eye. Before and one could say anything the body caught on fire, the fire a greenish color. When it went away everyone gasped, you and Ben pointing your rifles at the black creature.

     “What the fuck is that!” Ben exclaimed, snapping the ponies out of their trance. Before anyone could respond an ear piercing hiss caused you all to cover your ears. You and Ben fell to your knees, screaming loudly.

     “DAMMIT WHAT THE HELL!” you yelled. As sudden as the screech started it disappeared. You all got back up to your feet, you helping up the stunned Twilight. “Twilight you ok?” she kept stuttering something.

     “Repeat that Twi!” Ben growled, pointing his Longbow at the townsfolk that started to surround you, some standing on roofs with the guards. The sky lit up as a bean of green magic shot from the castle. It exploded into a curve, a round green force field surrounding the city. Green fires emitted from some of the townsfolk, turning into those black creatures. They all hissed, their green eyes glowing in the darkness.

     “CHANGELINGS!” Rainbow screamed. A bolt of green energy shot from one of the creatures on the rooftops, the bolt impacting with Celestia’s statue in a giant explosion. Rarity and applejack ran from the statue, you tackling Fluttershy and Twilight out of the way.

     “OPEN FIRE!” Ben roared, quick scoping the changeling’s head off with a loud *POP* “MOW THEM DOWN!” You rose up your Lancer and fired, mowing down the charging Changelings. They came from all sides, causing you to spin in circles. Rainbow shot up in the air, arching around and charging into the Changelings on the roofs. Five Changelings chased her down, firing off green magic bolts. Fluttershy screamed as a Changeling went to tackle hr. You revved up your chainsaw and ran over to Fluttershy, bones and blood spraying in the air as you cut into the creatures back. You sawed it straight in half, its guts spilling out onto the cobblestone floor in front of Fluttershy.

     “We’re surrounded!” you yelled to Ben. He swung out his Gnasher, blowing off body parts of the Changelings that charged him. “And the only actual fighters we have are Rainbow, Applejack and Pinkie! Everyone else is too scared!” Applejack bucked a Changeling that got too close to you, the creature’s rib cage crushed by the blow.

     “That house!” He pointed at an abandoned house, its windows smashed open. You nodded, picking up the scared-out-of-her-mind Fluttershy. You tossed Ben your Lancer, him reloading it quickly as he gave you cover fire. You backpedaled into the building, avoiding magic bolts as you shot down Changelings with your Snub Pistol. Applejack led rarity into the building, Rarity giving her a shield to block the bolts. “TWILIGHT WAKE UP! YOUR BROTHERS GONE NOW GET OVER HERE!” Rainbow flew low, picking up the scared Twilight and crashing into the building.

     Ben dove into the building, rolling onto the ground. He glanced over at you, pulling out a frag grenade from one of his pockets. You nodded back, taking the lancer and giving his cover as he tossed the frag grenade into the courtyard.

     “FRAG OUT!” He yelled. The chain on the bolo grenade wrapped around a Changelings neck, a group of Changelings crowding around the chocking creature. A giant explosion sent bits of dirt and blood flying into the house window, you shielding the scared group from the blood. “Told you it was a fucking trap!” Ben pulled out his Longshot, sniping the rooftop snipers. A purple shield glowed around the building, causing him to turn around. Twilight stood on her hooves, her eyes glowing white as tears ran down her cheeks.

     “My brother is not gone!” she screamed. Multiple bolts of magic shot from Twilights horn, passing through the shield and knocking down and stunning the Changelings.

     “More power Twilight!” Ben growled as he checked to see is Fluttershy didn’t pass out. Which she did. “We’re killing these fuckers!”

     “Killing?” Twilight’s eyes went back to normal, the purple shield disappearing. Green bolts of magic rained into the building, you and Ben returning fire. Bodies littered the floor as Twilight finally realised what you guys have been doing. “Have you guys been killing them!?”

     “No shit Twilight!” you ducked under the window ledge, reloading your Lancer. The barrel was red hot, smoke blowing in the air. “What did you think we were doing?”

     “I thought you two were stunning them!” She cried, watching as you murdered the beasts, blood and bone spraying in the air. A crash from behind made you all turn around. Changelings broke through the back door, charging at your group. Applejack left hooked one in the jaw, spinning around and bucking another in the face. A loud snap made her wince as she broke the creatures’ neck. Rainbow flew straight into one, crashing through the wall and into the kitchen. “Not murdering them!”

     “These guns don’t have a stun option!’ you roared, helping out the two. A Changeling grabbed you by the back, biting into your shoulder. You roared in pain, flipping him over onto his back. The chainsaw purred as you shoved it into the Changelings skull, its eyes and brain flying into your helmet. The blood coated the ceiling, you only wiping away the green blood on your visor. “Now help out!”

     Ben sniped a Changeling over your shoulder, the headless body falling limp onto the ground. Rarity stood to her hooves, helping out Ben with the front. The blue magic through her horn pierced through the creatures’ bodies, Rarity ignoring the bloodshed. Primal mode Rarity; Cly might start liking her again.

     “I always told everypony,” she yelled. “Mess up my mane AND I’LL KILL YOU!” Then again maybe not. Pinkie fired out a cake from her party cannon, nailing a Changeling in the face.

     “Pinkie!” You roared over the gun shots, revving up your Lancer as a Changeling went to bite you. The creature charged straight into the blades, sawing through its skull. The Lancer sliced right through the Changeling, its body splitting in half. blood and guts spilled onto your chest. “Get Twilight to forget the whole killing thing!” Pinkie got a devious smile. She picked up Twilight, standing on her hind legs as she positioned the mare at the window.

     “SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!” Pinkie grinned. She spun Twilights tail, her horn glowing as a spray of purple bolts shot down Changelings like a chaingun. The Changelings cried in pain as the bolts ripped through their armor, turning them into Swiss cheese. Not like they weren’t considering their legs are like cheese. The Changelings started to run away, some getting shot down by Ben and Twilight Minigun.

     “We have to get to Canterlot castle!” Ben yelled, reloading his Longshot. “It’s probably where the person operating this show is!” You   all nodded, ignoring the fact that you were all covered in green blood. Good, the sooner we get to the castle the quicker-

     *ZAP*

     The world went into slow motion. A large green bolt of magic exploded on your chest., the bright light the only thing you could see. Ben spun around, looking at your falling body. A tall black figure stood on a rooftop, a woman’s laugh echoing around the courtyard. It flew off to the castle. Your body fell to the ground, a burning sensation in your chest.

     “ANTHONY!” Ben rushed over to you, throwing off his helmet. He bent down on his knees, gazing at your damaged body. Twilight’s eyes started to glow, putting a shield over the house. Your whole body hurt, especially your chest.

     “B-Ben…” you stuttered. Tears started to wet his eyes as he held your hand in a vice grip. “I… I hurt Ben…”

     “It’s ok Tony I got you!’ He cried, wiping away a tear. “FLUTTERSHY! Rainbow wake up Fluttershy!” You could feel your body giving up but you held on, holding onto Ben’s hand. Rarity and applejack looked at you in horror. You couldn’t see the giant hole in your chest, your armor melted open. Your rib cage was exposed, the blood sizzling due to the green embers burning on your chest. You coughed into your helmet, a strange liquid spraying onto your face.

     “Ben..” you barely managed, grasping the side of his face. Memories of spending time with your brothers flashed in front of you. The day Clay left to the war, leaving Ben to take care of you. Ben showing you a picture of your parents. When you and Ben joined. You grabbed the COG tags around your neck, shakily holding it out to Ben. “Take this… To Clay…” he took your COG tags, tears running down his face.

     “Tell him…. I…” you breathed your final breath, your hand slipping of Ben’s grasp. Your body went limp as darkness finally flooded your vision. You were finally in peace...