Brothers In Blood

     CHAPTER II: THE CITY OF TOWNSVille

     “ANTHONY!” a voice called out in the darkness. “BENJAMIN!” You sprung up, holding the side of your helmet in pain. This is worse than when Clay bran outdated alcohol. You opened your eyes to notice the amount of trees all around you. The blinding moon shone on you. Jeez that thing is like another sun!

     “Where in the hell am I?” you whispered.  You looked around and sprang to your legs when your eyes set on the laying COG beside you. Sweet God the guy gave you a heart attack- wait a minute… “Tony?” the body flinched, curling into the fetal position.

     “Five more minutes mom...” he grunted. Well if it’s going to be like that. You walked around him, picking up your sniper rifle and holstering it onto your back.

     “Anthony. J. Carmine wake your ass up!” you yelled, kicking him in the shin. The noticeable ‘OW!’ made you smile. You have to stop hanging out with Clay. He got up on his knees, rubbing his leg before picking up his Lancer.

     “You got to stop hanging around Clay,  Ben!” he grunted, picking up his supplies. You reloaded your sniper and patted him on his back.

     “Good to see your in one piece lil’ brother.” You smiled under your helmet. You both started looking around, pointing your weapons at bushes or anything that moved. “Any idea where we are?” he shivered as he looked at a large tree, its creepy face sending a shiver down your spine.

     “Um… That creepy woods that everyone tells you not to go into?” You looked at him, causing you both to chuckle. A ear shattering roar made you both point at a shaking bush. You glances through your scope, Anthony doing the same with his Lancer. You both lowered your guns when a small white bunny sprung out of the bush, its facial features shocked to see you both. Wait, do animals have emotions?

     “Aww it’s a cute little bunny!” Anthony exclaimed, jumping you out of your trance. He crouched next to it, petting the back of its ears. The poor bunny looked annoyed out of its mind. “Ain’t he a cute little bunny eh Ben? Can I keep him!” he looked over to you, his pleading eyes can be seen through his helmet.

      “I don’t know Tony...” you sighed. There’s no way you can say no to this kid. “It looks like it’s really agitated by your petting…” He glanced at the bunny, a burning fire in its eyes.

     “Nah Ben. You must be seeing things.” He chuckled. “This thing loves-“ His sentence was cut off as the bunny bit his finger, causing him to scream in pain.

     “Kill it!” he screamed. You raised your gun at the bunny. “Sweet God KILL IT!” he started waving his hand, the not-so-innocent bunny not letting go. You shot a bullet next to it, the loud *POW* causing it to let go. It ran at a speed not even Cole Train could contend. Anthony swore many words, some you haven’t even heard. He picked up his Lancer, spraying in the general direction the bunny went.

     “Anthony calm yourself!” you exclaimed, resting your hand on his shoulder armor. “You’re wasting ammo.” He breathed heavily, glancing over to you. You couldn’t help but chuckle. You warned him about the bunny bro.

     “Here let me patch you up.” Reaching into your back pocket you pulled out a First Aid pack. He held out his bloodied hand. Geez that rabbit had the jaw power of a thousand suns. You put some rubbing alcohol on a cloth and rubbed the wound, ignoring the cries of pain from your brother. He really needs to man up… Great your sounding like Clayton. Wonder where he is… You wrapped a white cloth around his finger and sighed.

     “I’m going after that damn bunny.” Anthony grumbled, getting up off the ground and walking to the direction the bunny went. He can’t be serious.

     “You can’t be serious.” You face palmed, your hand connecting with the metal making a soft *clang*. He stopped and pointed in the direction bunny ran.

     “That bunny has tasted blood!” he yelled. He pointed as his bandaged finger causing you to cringe. It looked better in the shadows. “Plus the bastard almost bit off my damn finger!”

     “I warned you about the bunny bro.” you shrugged. “I told you dawg.” He growled before sprinting after the ‘blood thirsty’ bunny. This kid… you love him to death but... he’s going to kill us all one day.

     It’s been an hour running after your brother, thanking him every time he took a break. I’m so going to the gym after this. The sun started to raise a bit, the orange rays causing the starts to disappear. You got to admit, the night sky was beautiful. Anyways time to go after… Oh crap where’d he go!?

     “Tony?” you called. Your worry disappeared as you noticed him standing at the exit of the scariest forest in history. You ran over to him, catching your breath. “Geez bro don’t disappear on…… me…” down a small hill stood a village, the lights from windows slowly flickering on. A tall building stood- Forget that I don’t have time to explain it’s a damn village! That means people!

     “Is that a town?” Anthony asked excitement in his voice. You chuckled, being as happy as a kid in a chocolate factory.

     “I think it’s a village.” You giggled, patting him on the shoulder. He chuckled himself.

     “Towns, Cities, Villages! There all have one thing!” he exclaimed, running down the hill. “Civilization!” You holstered your Longbow and chased after him, chuckling on the way down. It’s him that keeps this family alive. No matter how many times he messes up, he still keeps us together. You slowed down as you walked into the village with him, both of you catching your breaths from the laughing fit.

     “Holy animals Batman…” You both gasped. The walk into town caused millions of these… painted horse pony things to stare at you.

     “Did we just walk into Crayola’s anus?” you asked, slowing your walk as you noticed some had wings glued onto their backs. Even some had horns! What in the hell! “I swear if this is your imagination Tony I want OUT!”

     “I’m just as surprised as you are Ben!” he chuckled. “I think we walked into a little girl’s private farm ranch, where she paints ponies and glues wings on their backs.” You both parted the sea of ponies like in the bible, looking at all the amazed eyes. Ponies have emotion right? Before you can ask, a giant pink object covered your visor.

    “Himynameispinkiepieandyoumustbewhatwasmakingallthosesoundsintheeverfreeforestbutyouseemharmlessanywaysyoumustbe-“

     “SWEET GOD GET IT OFF!” you screamed, trying to get the pink menace off your helmet. Anthony pointed his Lancer at…Nothing? Where the hell did it go? “What the hell was that?”

      “Whatever it was!” he yelled, looking through the sea of ponies for the attacker. “It was cute… And by my calculations; Cute= EVIL.” The ponies looked at your weapons in amazement. God get these things away we’re looking for something cute. You covered the mouth of your helmet.

     “Ben you ok?” he asked, looking over to you. You shook your head.

     “These ponies…” you gasped. “There so cute… I’m getting a D’aww overload.” He chuckled, not keeping his gave off the ponies. When he’s in the zone, he’s in the ZONE.

     “Umm excuse me tall metal…. Things….” You sighed in relief. Someone actually lives here! You and your brother turned around to see…well nothing. Other from a purple horse with a horn, an orange pony with a nice hat and an all pink…

     “THERE IT IS!” you pointed at the pink menace, you and Anthony both pointing your guns at the seemingly happy pony. Seriously do animals have emotion?? Doesn’t matter the pink menace will not escape!

     “Alright pink ball of death!” Anthony growled. “Hands… err hoofs behind your back! NOW!” You glanced over to your brother.

     “Tony animals can’t understand English.” You sighed. “And before you say our dog understood that’s because he was a-“

     “Okie Dokie Lokie!” the pony smiled, sitting down and putting her hooves behind her back. Wait stop! Rewind! Did that thing just talk? Anthony was as shocked as you were, lowering his Lancer slowly. OK so you weren’t the only one who heard that.

     “Did you just talk?” Anthony said confusion in his voice. You kept a firm grip on your Longbow, not keeping your eyes off the now bouncing talking pony.

     “Of course she can talk.” The purple one smiled. You swung your head over to look at the purple pony. “She’s not a foal. Anyways my names Twilight Sparkle! What’s yours” Anthony rubbed the back of his neck, his grip on his Lancer slowly decreasing.

     “C-Carmine.” He barely managed. “A-Anthony Carmine.” Twilight nodded her head in approval.

     “Nice to meet you Anthony.” She glanced at you, her smile not fading. If your mind wasn’t everywhere you would’ve told her to stop smiling. Oh shit she said something!

     “I’m sorry what?” you responded. Your talking to a pony… If Clay could see you now...

     “What’s your name?” she repeated. You cleared your throat, all moisture disappearing after the pony first talked.

     “Benjamin Carmine.” You responded, shaking your head as you felt weird. I’m talking to a damn animal... Her smile expanded. Oh God it can get bigger.

     “Oh your brothers!” she exclaimed. “I have a brother that works in the royal guard! Actually he’s captain of the royal guard but that’s not important.” You looked around the crowd of ponies before looking back at her.

     “Twilight you seem smart.” You sighed, holstering your sniper. “Any idea where we are?” her smile increased tenfold. Seriously she’s going to break something.

     “Well you’re in Ponyville silly!” she smiled. “The closest town to Canterlot” aced it on the village part. Wait a minute…

     “Ponyville?” Anthony asked. The pink ball of springs clinged herself to Anthony’s helmet, her smile 200x bigger than Twilight’s.

     “Oooh! Are you two new to Ponyville!” she exclaimed “That means I have to make a ‘Welcome ToPonyville’ party!” Before you can say gone she zipped away, leaving a cloud version of her on Anthony’s helmet. He blew it away, waving his hand to brush it away.

     “Never heard of Ponyville partner? “The orange one spoke, her accent reminding you of Dizzy. “You some kind a foreigner?” You raised an eyebrow under your helmet, confused about her question.

     “Maybe we’re on a different part of Sera?” Anthony said under his breath. Twilight perked up.

     “Sera?” she asked. “What’s a Sera?” She did not just ask what planet we’re on…

     “Sera?” you repeated. “The planet we’re standing on. I’m surprised a place like this hasn’t been destroyed by the Locust.” She tilted her head to the side.

     “You must be mistaken.” She chuckled. “This is Equestria.” You stumbled backwards. What?

     “I’m sorry what?” Anthony shook his head, not believing any of this. You couldn’t even believe it. Twilight repeated herself, causing your heart to drop.

     “Anthony…” you said, turning to look at your brother. “We ain’t in Kansas no more…”