Brothers In Blood

You held your side, glaring at Chrysalis. Celestia stood by your side, her eyes filled with hate. You all decided that the main 6 should take on Sombre, you Celestia and Ben fighting Chrysalis. Celestia had her own reason to kill Chrysalis, the fact that she was beaten by her made her furious. You just wanted to fight her because she’s been asking for it. But Ben kept saying her voice sounded familiar…

     “I’ll try to be easy on you tough guy.” Chrysalis winked at you, making you breathe heavily so you don’t go charging in.

     “Final boss…” Ben sighed, putting his fists up in front of his face.

     “Let’s go.”

     CHAPTER XIV: THE ART OF MANIPULATION

     Celestia,s horn glowed a bright yellow before discharging a bolt of magic. Chrysalis only smiled as she jumped right over it. You went to punch her but she just ducked, spinning around so her back legs faced you before bucking you right in the chest. You stumbled backwards, ducking as a bolt of magic from Twilight went right over your head. Ben went to kick chrysalis only for her to disappear. She reappeared behind Celestia, blasting her with a bolt of green magic. Celestia recovered instantly, firing multiple bolts at Chrysalis. She dodged them all, inching her way to her before punching upwards right into Celestia’s jaw. She went to meet Celestia halfway in the air only for you to grab her tail and slam her back down.

     Chrysalis got back up, going to buck you in the chest only to be surprised when you catch her hooves. Distracted by you, she didn’t see Ben rushing at her until his fist connected with her chest, sending her sliding on the floor. You went to help up Celestia only to get blasted in the back, your weapons falling to the floor. She teleported in front of you, kicking away your Boltok. Before she could say anything a blast of yellow magic sent her crashing into a pillar, the stone cracking by the impact. Celestial ended her hoof, helping you to your feet. The three of you stood to see Chrysalis barely harmed, a small grin on her face. Her horn started to glow as she cartwheeled to her right side. What made you all shocked was the second Chrysalis that cartwheeled to her left. They both laughed, the bolts of magic from Rarity and Twilight drowning it out.

   The left one lunged over you, her horn pointed at your chest. You caught it in mid charge, spinning in a circle and tossing her in the air. The other one bucked Ben into your chest, the both of your armors clashing in a loud CLANG. The one in the air started flying around, her wings making an annoying buzzing sound. You pushed Ben off you, diving for your Boltok. Before you could shoot however, the flying Chrysalis cloned herself, making another copy. That copy also made another, making three clones. The forth one flew up to join her three clones, all their horns glowing a bright green. They all pointed them at you. Great. Celestia slid over to you and Ben, generating a magical dome around you three as the blinding green ray blasted from their horns.

     “Can’t… Hold it…” Celestia barely managed.

     You and Ben nodded to each other, pointing your Lancer’s at where the ray was. Ben ran left of the dome, you running to the right. You both jumped right out of the magic shield and opened fire at the clones. They all hissed in pain as your bullets ripped them to shreds, their remains turning into green goo. Celestia put down her shield, panting heavily. You walked up to her side, giving her a thumbs up for effort. She only smiled. Before any one you realized, Chrysalis appeared in front of you, her horn glowing a bright green. The world went slow as her horn erupted in magic, the ray slowly flying to you. Ben jumped in front of the bolt, his chest erupting into green flames. Time went back to normal as your brother fell to the floor, not moving.

     "BEN!” you yelled, rushing to your brothers’ side.

     His whole chest armor was destroyed, his skin charred and burnt. His ribs were destroyed, showing his intestines. You held his limp hand in yours, sniffling as you held back tears. Ben’s head moved slowly, glancing at you. The blast destroyed his visor, showing his blue eyes wet with tears. He reached for his neck weakly, pulling off his COG tags. You held his hand tighter, really holding them back.

     “Arrrgh what a waste of magic!” Chrysalis groaned. You ignored her as Ben put his COG tags in your hand, nodding slowly at you.

     “Don’t worry… Clay…” He barely spoke. “You always save the day…. All… ways…” his head fell limp, causing you to actually cry, tears falling down your cheeks like waterfalls.

     “Good riddance.” Chrysalis grunted, waving a hoof at the dead Ben. “I’ve killed the first one and now the second one… That just leaves me and you...” you froze, not even looking at the laughing queen.

     “What… did you say…?” you managed, clenching your teeth together. Chrysalis’, ears perked up, realizing you were actually paying attention to her.

     “I killed the younger one... He was an easy target.” She grinned. “In fact, he died the same was this one did.”

     You clenched your fists, standing up to your feet. Celestia and Chrysalis gasped at your shaking body. You didn’t see the black aurora around you, an indication of pent up anger. Because you had a lot of anger. A LOT OF ANGER. Rage fueled your veins, making them pop on your skin. Ben’s COG tags bent in your hand, the sides, digging into your skin. You turned to face them both, Chrysalis having a small grin on her face.

     “I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!” You roared, cracking all the windows in the room. You lunged at Chrysalis, her barely dodging your quick fist as it collided with the ground. The marble floor exploded by the impact, causing Celestia to just watch. You grabbed Chrysalis by the neck, chucking her across the room.  She passed by the battle with Sombre, all of them pausing and just watching your rage.  Twilight watched in horror, studying your rage. Rainbow and Applejack have seen it before, but not like this.

     Chrysalis broke through a pillar, the rock falling to the floor. She fell to the ground, groaning in pain. You charged right at her, crashing straight into her. The wall behind her broke open as you and Chrysalis both fell to the gardens. Changeling guards went to attack you but froze as you tossed their queen right at the fountain, the beautiful statue exploding by impact, chunks of water and rock spraying in the air.

     A changeling went to attack you but collided with your fist. Its skull crushed inwards, teeth and blood spraying in the air. Five guards went to take you down, their horns pointed downwards at you. You grabbed the first one by the neck, putting your hands into his mouth. You held the top and bottom half of its jaw and pulled, its bottom jaw ripping off. The creature cried in pain as you ripped its head right off, its spine still connected. The green blood oozed out of the headless body, causing the others to wince. You swung the head at another changeling, the spine wrapping around its neck. Before you could execute the poor thing Chrysalis blasted a bolt at your back, making you stumbled forward. You dropped the head and the scared changeling, glaring at Chrysalis.

     “How DARE you hurt my subjects!” she yelled, tears running down her face. Her whole body started to glow, your rage making you just ignore her fury as you stormed up to her. But you stopped in your tracks as her glow finally faded. “Let’s see how you feel when you kill your own kin!”

     Before you stood a COG soldier, a small black horn sticking out from its helmet. Its blue eyes looked directly at you, making you back up. What made it scary was that this wasn’t no ordinary soldier.

      It was Anthony.

     “You wouldn’t hurt me would you?” even the voice matched, making you flinch. “Because I will!” his arms turned into two Lancer’s, there chainsaws revved up.

     You dodged the first swing, the blades ripping up dirt. She swung again, this time causing you to duck and kick her in the chest. Anthony stumbled back, the bug wings propelling him forward as he tried to slice you. You dodged two swings and kneed him in the chest. His arms turned back to normal as he punched you straight in the chest. He swung two times at you head then kicked your knee. You winced as he kicked you in the chest, sending you into a bush. You rolled to the side as the chainsaw arms sliced through the bush, sticks and leaves flying in the air.

     With one swift motion you kicked him in the knee, ducking under the swing from the chainsaw arms and then punching upwards, into his jaw. You walked over to the injured queen and grabbed her by the neck. A hard punch to the face made her shift back to normal, green blood running down her nose. You punched her again, hearing a small cracking sound. Another punch made her spit out blood, her teeth covered in it as she grinned at you. Before you could give the finishing blow, a yellow aurora covered your fist, stopping it in its tracks.

     “Celestia.” You growled, trying to force your fist to move. She stood in front of you, her eyes pleading for you to stop.

     “Don’t kill her Clay,” Celestia gritted her teeth, using more magic as your fist slightly nudged forward. “She’s being manipulated.”

     “Don’t care, she dies.” You growled, using all your strength to end this bitch. Chrysalis chuckled.

     “I’m not being manipulated!’ She laughed. “I’m always like this Celly! Sombre is my king and I am his queen!” Celestia gritted her teeth as your arm nudged forward again.

     “Your king died years ago.” Celestia said coldly. Everyone went quiet, Chrysalis’ eyes shifting from red to green.

     “W-What?” She stuttered. Celestia only sighed.

     “Years ago there was a war at the Crystal Kingdom. Sombre’s troops verses the Changelings.” You got off of Chrysalis this time, Celestia’s aurora disappearing. “The queen of the Crystal Kingdom was killed. By the king of the Changelings. Furious by this, Sombre raided the changeling cages, massacring all. This enraged the king of the changelings, sending an attack to the crystal kingdom.”

     “No…” Chrysalis whimpered.

     “Sombre and the king fought for days, a fight that had no end.” Celestia looked up at the sky. “Eventually the king died, to Sombre’s victory. But he was scared when a queen was heard from one of his spies.”

     “So that explains why the changelings hissed at posters of Sombre…” you mumbled. “They haven’t forgotten.”

     “No!” Chrysalis cried. “We’ve been together for years! When you banished him I cried, waiting for the right time to get my revenge! I…” her eyes shifted back to green as Celestia rested her horn on her head. After a minute she lifted her head, Chrysalis shedding tears of sorrow.

     “I knew I felt something was lost...” Sombre walked into the gardens, his red cape flowing in the soft wind. He had a small grin on his face when he saw the three of you. “I thought you killed her… but I guess you just freed her mind from my grasp.”

     “What are your real motives here Sombre.” Celestia growled, ignoring the frightened Chrysalis. Sombre only chuckled. “You were my friend and now your evil..”

     “I was no one’s friend!” Sombre hissed. “You drove me into this madness! You can’t rule! You do a horrible job of it!”

     “Is that why you became a tyrant Starswirl!” Sombre flinched by the name. “You were my most trusted friend!”

“I WAS NOT YOUR FRIEND!” Sombre roared. “After you banished… your own sister to the moon, I left. I would not be in the presence of a tyrant queen that would banish her own kin! But then I found it… the fabled Crystal Kingdom… I became king! They became... slaves… People who could do my bidding... so when I return here I would de-throne you!”

     “But you manipulated all my guards and Chrysalis’ army!” Celestia cried. “Just to free Discord! Why free him, you’ve won!” Sombre laughed.

    “No… No my foolish mare this is the beginning.” Sombre smiled at you. “This boy brings chaos wherever he goes. With such chaos it could awaken Discord himself! Free him from his prison! Then my plan will start!”

     “What are you-“ Celestia was cut off by Sombre’s soul piercing eyes.

     “Hypnotizing Discord would be hard...” he grinned. “But once he’s under my control, I will put this would in my image! INTO TOTAL CHAOS!”

     “I won’t allow you to win Sombre!’ Celestia went into a battle position, you joining in. “You will not put this world into chaos!”

     “But you’ve said it yourself Celestia.” Sombre grinned. “I’ve already won.”

     “Not while I’m standing and the Elements of Harmony.” You yelled, grinning under your helmet.

     “No boy…” Sombre chuckled. “I’ve won.”

     From behind Sombre stepped out Twilight, her coat a much darker purple. Her eyes were green and red, a dark smoke blowing in the wind from them. A blue orb appeared next to Sombre, transforming into Rarity, her snow white coat a light grey color. Rainbow smashed into the ground from the sky, her wings flared open as she glared at you. Applejack stepped out from a bush, her mane not tied together and just hanging down. Pinkie appeared from nowhere, her mane straightened instead of poofy. What made you flinch was the hypnotized Fluttershy, her pink mane messed up. It covered one eye, the other staring directly at you. The claw mark was still bleeding, the blood dripping to the floor.

     “But…how…?” Celestia gasped.

     “When you all left, I imprisoned them in a dark aurora, picking into their brain.” Sombre grinned satisfaction. “It was easy… So you’ve lost Celestia. Give up or face your own creations…”

     You lunged at Sombre, ready to punch this fucking in the jaw. Before you could connect, Applejack bucked you right in the chest, the air escaping your lungs. Rainbow flew upwards, uppercutting you into the air. Rarity blasted you in mid-air, sending you crashing down back to earth. EVERYTHING HURTS! YEP… I’m broken.

     “Fighting it is...” Sombre sighed. “Try not to destroy MY garden will you? And play nice!”

     You finally got up to your feet, Celestia helping you up. Rainbow shot right at you, sending you both into the castle wall. Celestia went to help but was blasted away by Twilight, a small tear running down her face. You blocked a punch from rainbow and kneed her in the chest, kicking her off you. Fluttershy shot right past you, punching you right in the side of the jaw. Rarity’s horn glowed as she blasted a ray of magic right at you, blasting you through the wall and into a large party room.

     Applejack went to kick your fallen body but you grabbed it before it could connect. You got up to your feet, clenching onto Applejack's leg as you swung it at the charging Rainbow Dash. With a baseball swing that could end the World Series, Rainbow was sent flying high in the air, smashing into the ceiling. Pinkie appeared right in front of you, knife in her maw. The blade slashed you right in the arm, causing you to drop Applejack. She bucked you right in the side, causing you to stumble into Pinkie’s party cannon. The cannon blasted you into the ground, your armor creating sparks as it scratched the ground. A loud blast made you looked out the room’s window to see Twilight and Celestia’s magic collide with each other, the room turning a hue of purple and yellow.

     Speaking of magic, you barely dodged the blue bold of energy from Rarity as it exploded the ground where you once were. Fluttershy charged into your chest, your body sliding backwards by the impact. You went to punch her off just for Rarity to catch your fist. You’ve noticed something about them all. Even though they still hurt like a bitch, it wasn’t their full potential. Applejack broke 3 of your ribs back at the farm. Now, they still hurt but not as much.

     Their holding back.

     Rainbow swung right at you face, the hoof barely colliding with your head as you jerked back.  You kicked Fluttershy off you, blocking a blow from Rainbow and dodging a blast from Rarity. The room turned a bright purple as Twilight was floating in the air, shooting bolts of magic from floating hexes around her. Celestia dodged a few, blocking the last blast. You grinned as you caught Rainbow’s hoof again, this time pulling her in close. With a grunt you threw her at Twilight, both of them colliding in mid-air. With twilight distracted, Celestia charged an attack.

     And shot out the biggest ray of magic you’ve seen today. The bright yellow ray engulfed Twilight, her body disappearing inside the ray. You shielded your eyes, the rest doing the same. It brightened up the cloudy sky, looking like a bolt of lightning.

     “CELESTIA!” You yelled over the blast. “IT’S TWILIGHT! WHAT THE FUCK!” Celestia realized her mistake and stopped the attack, her eyes turning into pin pricks as Twilight fell to the ground.  Her fur was charred, her hair emitting smoke. You and Celestia rushed to the limped body, ignoring the shocked ponies. They went back to normal when they say Twilight get obliterated.

     “T-Twilight…” Celestia whispered, holding her apprentice in her arms. Twilight didn’t move. “No… Please no…”

     The rest of the group crowded around Twilight and Celestia, tears in their eyes. But everyone froze when Twilight finally opened her eyes, looking at her crying mentor. She put a hoof on Celestia’s face, surprising her.

     “Celestia..” Twilight smiled. “You have to teach me how to do that…”

     Fluttershy was bandaging Twilight’s wounds, Twilight obviously out of commission. You all sat in a group, discussing what in god’s green earth just happened. When Celestia stood up you all fell silent.

     “He will pay…” She mumbled. “I will not let that tyrant destroy my ponies and put this place into chaos.” You stood up, clenching Ben’s COG tags in your hand.

     “I won’t let that asshole live for another second. “ You growled, attaching Ben’s COG tags yo your neck. “I’ll fucking make sure he knows the definition of death.”

     “I won’t let him manipulate anymore ponies.” Everyone was surprised when Chrysalis joined the group, giving her glares. “I know I’ve done wrong... But my hate for him is exactly like yours…”

     “I don’t trust you at all…” you sighed. “But we need all the help we can get…” Celestia held her hoof out, Chrysalis putting hers over it. You put your hand on top of hers, everyone following suit. Thunder roared as a flash of lightning brightened up the black sky.

     Today we fight for Freedom. For salvation. For Equestria.

     Or die trying…