Brothers In Blood

It was dark. Pitch black even. Why is it always dark in my dreams? You started walking aimlessly, a small chuckled echoing around.

“Maybe because I like the dark…” Who said that?

“Who the fuck’s in my head!” You yelled, a maniacal laughter being your response.

“It doesn’t matter who I am,” The voice chuckled. “It matters who you are! I’ve heard so much about you, Clayton Carmine. How you’ve killed so many of those monsters in cold blood. But you didn’t tell them that did you? Holding secrets from Twilight? Tsk tsk tsk…” Its true… you did hold back on all the Locust you killed. You even lied about the war, saying it was just an agreement went wrong.

“Go fuck yourself.” You grunted, still not able to see who you’re talking to. “Who the fuck are you anyways?”

“Not who, my angered friend…..” the voice whispered, causing you to shiver. “Whaaaaaaat…” The ground, at least you think the ground, started to shake. Pink clouds rose from the floor, leaving a trail to a white castle floating in the pitch black sky. You hesitated, stepping on the pink cloud to see if it was solid.

“I assure you, I wouldn’t want to kill you.” The voice paused, chuckling to itself. “Well not yet…” ascending up the stairs of pink clouds, memories haunted you left and right. Your father joining the war, Benjamin being born. That horrible day… You snapped out of your trance as the voice laughed. You stood in a throne room, curtains ripped and torn off the windows. But that’s not what caught you first.

Sitting on a golden chair was the most messed up motherfucker you’ve ever seen. It was the combination of every animal and then some. A goat horn, a deer horn. Lion paw, eagle claw.

“What fucked up fantasy created you?” You growled. “You look like the combination of every fucked up animal. It’s like every animal fucked each other and you were-“Holy shit the fucker’s got magic.

“If you are wise you would shut up now.” The beast growled, causing you to grin under your helmet. “For I am Discord, The spirit of Chaos. I’ve been watching you, Clayton. It’s interesting what you hold back. Your feelings. Your love for battle, your hatred of the Locust. Some might even say…. You’re pure Chaos.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” you yelled. Discord chuckled, pressing his fingertips together. The ground shook, parting at your feet you clutched to the edge of the ground, trying to pull yourself up. Discord stood in front of you, his face merely an inch from your helmet.

“Oh you’ll see…” He smiled, stepping on one of your hands. “You’ll see…” he stepped on your other hand, causing you to fall into the black abyss.

     ACT III

     CHAPTER VII: TRAINS ARE NOT FAST TRAVEL

     “Wake up Clay.” You groaned, Ben’s slap on your helmet causing you to completely wake up. He chuckled and sat back down, Fluttershy’s shoulders shaking slightly. The floors moving… Why’s the floor moving!

     “Where are we?” you grumbled, glancing over to the window. The scenery moved at an alarming rate, trees passing by in blurs. Discord’s face flashed, causing you to look away.

     “Still on the train…” Rainbow groaned next to you. She leaned on your shoulder, her mane rainbow colored mane covering her face. “Wake me up when we hit Canterlot.” The train cart was empty, only you, Ben, Tony and the main six sitting in different chairs. Even after the party, the town still hated you. Anthony snored loudly, lying on three chairs. He hugged his Snub pistol, not letting it go. You and Ben were the only ones who brought at least a weapon, you Sawed-Off strapped to your leg. Ben reloaded his Longshot, checking the scope every now and then.

     “I still think you should’ve left your weapons at my house…” Twilight sighed, watching Ben clean the scope.

     “How do I know this isn’t all a trap?” You grunted, patting your Sawed-Off. Twilight rolled her eyes, glancing back out the window.

     “Because you’ll be in the presence of Princess Celestia.” She smiled. “The raiser of the Sun and my Mentor.” Now it was your turn to roll your eyes under your helmet.

     “I don’t believe that shit for one minute.” Ben nodded in agreement. “How could one bitch raise the sun?” Twilight went rigid, hearing you call her mentor a bitch.

     “Because she’s a god!” she growled. You glanced over to Ben. He chuckled and went back to cleaning his gun. “Besides, she might be the only one that could send you three back.” The train went silent. Ben leaned his Longshot on his chair, looking out the window. Go back? Back to total chaos? I mean, you’d love to go back to killing Locust; their blood always had this sweet smell. But here… you could start over. You could live in peace. You could…keep your brothers alive.

     “I don’t want to go back…” you mumbled. Ben glanced over to you. Rainbow smiled in her sleep. Applejack and Twilight looked at you questionably.

     “Won’t any of y’friends miss you sugarcube?” You had a lot of friends in the COG. You and Dom always understood each other. Marcus was like an old friend you’ve never had. Baird always repaired your armor. This was frequent. Dizzy had daughters of his own, understanding your protectiveness of your brothers. But your closest friends were your brothers.

     “No…” you sighed, getting out of your thoughts. “They’d understand that I’ve finally moved on…” The room went silent. Twilight coughed, looking dead through your helmet and into your eyes.

     “What about family?” Ben tensed up, looking at Twilight. You clenched the chairs arm rest, looking down at the floor.

     “Just drop the subject Twilight…” Ben mumbled, looking back out the window.

     ‘But this is important!” she exclaimed. “What if we can’t bring you all back? Wouldn’t your parents miss you? Wouldn’t they wonder where you are?”

     “WHY DON’T YOU MIND YOUR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS!” you roared, getting up off your chair. Twilight shrunk back, looking up at you in horror. “Why don’t you learn to shut the fuck up when someone tells you to! Why don’t you just quit while you’re fucking ahead!” Anthony woke up, watching your outburst. You breathed heavily, looking at all the eyes on you. You walked to the back of the train, kicking open doors until you hit the caboose.

     You could see Ponyville shrinking in the background, disappearing into the scenery. You clenched the bar railing on the caboose, looking down at the train tracks. You ignored the wind blowing. You ignored the sound of hooves behind you.

     “Fuck off Rainbow I want to be left alone.” You didn’t even turn around, your eyes watering. You haven’t cried in a while, they felt like acid on your scarred face.

     “I know what you’re going through sugarecube.” Applejack responded, staying at the door. You spun around, your rage hidden behind your helmet.

     “Do you!” You yelled. “Do you really know what it feels like losing your parents because of some fucked up war! DO YOU REALLY!”

The explosion outside caused you to wake up. Your curtains were orange. Why were they orange?

“CLAYTON!” your mother called. She barged into your room, your younger brother Benjamin hugging her leg. Tears were rolling down his face, his eyes scared out of his mind. “Help me with your brother we have to go!” you ran out of your bed, ignoring the fact that you’re in pajamas. You picked up your brother, shielding him from an explosion outside. You and your mother ran downstairs, gasping in horror at the beast in front of you. It was grey in colour, its teeth as sharp as blades. It was going to shoot at you when a Lancer revved up and chopped it in half, the blood spraying over you and your mother. You shielded Ben, covering his eyes.

“Maria, Clay. Thank god your alive.” Your father stood in front of you, his COG armor covered in blood. He held out his hand, helping you up.

“Dad whats going on!” you yelled over the loud roar. Bullets echoed from outside, screams from people making your heart sink.

“No time to explain!” he yelled, pointing out the door. “Get your mother and brother out of here! Echo team and I will cover you!” He pushed you outside and into the war ground. Bullets rained from each side, monsters shooting out from the ground. Your neighbourhood was a war ground, dead COG soldiers littered on the floor. A Raven could be seen at the end of the battleground. Colonel Hoffman guided you to it, shooting from cover. You helped your mother on the Raven, letting your brother up as well.

“Who the fuck is that!” a dark figure started walking from the monsters side, black birds blocking the bullets the COG soldiers shot.

“Dad get on!” you yelled, trying to jump off the raven. You father looked over to you one last time, his smile the last thing you saw.

“Take care of your brother Clay.” He yelled, charging at the dark figure. The monster roared and grabbed him by the neck.

“TONY NO!” your mother screamed. The last thing you saw was the monster stabbing your father in the chest, cracking his neck in the process. The raven started to lift off, Hoffman, holding you back from jumping off.

“It’s ok Clayton.” He whispered. “It’s ok… everything’s ok…”

     You backed away from Applejack, looking back outside. You sat with her in the caboose, telling her your story.

     “Do you know how it feels…” you sniffled, wiping away your tears. You took off your helmet a while ago, Applejack saying to just show your feelings. “To know that your brother doesn’t know what his mother ever looked like…”

     “Let me see her!” two COG soldiers held you back at the entrance of the hospital, your strength causing them to call a third. You were in your rookie armor, joining the COG a year ago. It’s been 10 years after your father’s death, his COG tags around your neck.

“Let him in.” Hoffman pushed away the COG soldiers, ushering you to her room. Lying on the hospital bed was your mother, two doctors looking at her lay there. Her stomach was bloated, a small hand stretching on her skin. Benjamin stood beside you, a small stubble on his chin.

“Hitting puberty Ben?” you chuckled, messing up his hair. He groaned, hiding his small smile. “Soon you’ll be in the COG just like me…”

“And push!” a doctor commanded. Your mother grunted, her stomach getting smaller and smaller. The room went silent before the cries of your baby brother echoed around the room. “It’s a boy!” the doctor gave your mother the baby, you and Ben standing next to her. The baby looked at you three, its blue eyes glowing in the light.

“What you going to name it mom?” you smiled, holding your baby brother in your hands. Your mother thought for a second, then smiled.

“Anthony.” Your mother smiled. “Anthony Carmine. After his father.” The room went silent, your mothers’ heart rate monitor noticeably slowing. You gave Ben the baby and looked at your mother.

“Mom…” you whispered. Your mother smiled, her soft blue eyes looking at you.

“Take care… of your brothers…” she whispered. Her heart rate flat lined, doctors pushing you and your brothers out of the way. You left the room, Ben asking you where you’re going. You ran outside and into the stormy weather. You dropped on your knees, clenching your dads COG tags in your hand. Ben stood at the doorway, watching you cry.

Take care of your brothers.

     The train started to slow to a stop, the screeching of the wheels on the rail. You put back on your helmet, sighing to yourself.

          “I’ve been taking care of my brothers ever since…” You sighed, looking at yourSawed-Off. “It’s been hard but…. Well…”

     “Whats the deal with that gun anyways?” Applejack asked, wiping away her tears. You looked down at your gun, two COG tags hanging off the trigger.

     “These tags belong to my father. I went back to the remains of my town…” You sighed and showed her a shotgun shell. “And inside these are the normal gunpowder. And my Mom’s ashes.” Before you could respond Applejack hugged you around the waist.

     “Thanks for listening Applejack…” you sighed, ruffling her mane. She looked at you, her eyes red from crying. She nodded, letting go of your waist and putting back on her hat.

     “If you need someone to talk to sugarcube…” she smiled. “I’m always there.”

     “Just… don’t tell anyone I was crying ok?” you grunted, stretching your arm. “I don’t want people thinking I’m soft.” Applejack chuckled, patting you on the back.

     “I won’t tell no one sugarcube…” she smiled. “Ah promise.”

     But little did you know a rainbow maned pony heard the whole conversation.