Brothers In Blood II

     "Thanks Zecora for the medicine!” Applebloom waves, the joyful attitude of the filly bringing a smile to Zecora’s face.

     “Yeah, thanks again Zecora.” Scootaloo said, adjusting her position of Clayton’s shoulder. “Fluttershy would kill us if we didn’t get these herbs for her animals.” Zecora only nodded, going back into her shack. The little escort group began walking back to Ponyville, their smiles making the forest less scary.

     “So..” Clayton began. “Mind telling me about this ‘Princess Twilight’ thing?”

CHAPTER IV: RETURN

     The sun was now high in the sky, shining down on the small town of Ponyville. Ponies started their usual mornings; stopping by at Sugarcube Corner or going to work. Fillies were escorted to the schoolhouse by their parents, starting their school mornings. But things were different in the small cottage near the Everfree Forest.

     “Angel bunny you’re sick! Lay down and get some rest… please?” Fluttershy’s cottage was in the mists of a battle between care and uncaring. From pillows to blankets to even the kitchen sink, it was total chaos. “Don’t worry, the fillies will come back with the medicine.”

     Angel looked at Fluttershy, his face looking disgusted. Even when his nose was redder than Big Macintosh himself, the small thermometer still hanging out of his face, he could still make facial expressions. Fluttershy only sighed. “I know you don’t like it but if you want to feel better...”

    The sounds of the small fillies’ approaching the cottage made Fluttershy almost jump for joy. But then she realized Angels face. He wanted out of the cottage. And once that door opens, he’ll bolt out faster than a bullet. She slowly shook her head at Angel, only getting a sly grin from the small rabbit.

     “So you’re saying that due to Twilight solving a spell, she instantly became a princess?” this made Fluttershy and Angel freeze in place. That voice was too familiar. For a second, Fluttershy thought she was hearing things. Maybe they just found a colt? but then, she only answered her own question when the door swung open.

     The light the shone through the door was blocked by a tall figure. The man had one filly resting on his shoulder, having a small conversation with the man. Angel didn’t even move, just staring at the man in shock.

     “Clayton?” Fluttershy whispered in shock. Clayton brought his attention to the almost in tears Fluttershy. He went down on his knees, stretching his arms out to the sides.  The CMC stood to the sides as Fluttershy galloped into Clayton’s arms, ignoring the tears streaming down her cheeks. “I thought you left…”

     “Fate had other plans…” Clayton whispered in Fluttershy’s ear, hugging the mare tightly. The hug lasts longer than expected, the poor fillies standing at the doorway shuffling their hooves on the floor. Angel was still shocked at Clayton’s return, still frozen in time.

     “So… we got the medicine…” Scootaloo coughed, ruining the moment. Fluttershy finally came back to Equestia, quickly letting go of Clayton.

     “O-oh y-yes! Thank you very much!” Fluttershy said awkwardly, hiding her rose cheeked face behind her mane. She took the satchel Zecora gave Applebloom and hurried into the kitchen to make the herbs into tea. Clayton only chuckled softly, getting back up to his knees.

     “So I’m guessing this little guy’s the sick animal?” Clayton grabbed Angel by the fur on his back and lifted him up, examining him like an experiment. “Not so tough now, are you?” Angel smiled and sneezed on Clayton’s helmet, snot and spit splattering on the metal surface. Clayton yelled in disgust, dropping the sick rabbit on the floor. Fluttershy came back in the room only to gasp. Angel was close to the door. Really close.

     “Catch him!” Fluttershy screamed. The fillies sprang into action, blocking the doorway by making a makeshift wall. Angel only chuckled as he hopped on top of each filly and jumped outside.

    Only to get caught mid-air.

     “Where do you think you’re going?” Clayton growled, ignoring the green goo on his helmet. This caused Angel to cover his mouth as he held in his laugh, his little shoulders shaking up and down. “Why I ought a wipe that grin off your face!” Clayton began gripping the bunny with both hands, shaking him as he increased his grip.

     “Clayton no!” Fluttershy turned around from placing the tea on the centre table only to look at him in horror. He looked from Angel to Fluttershy, then back to Angel. He only groaned as he handed the little rabbit to Fluttershy. She only smiled in response, bringing the rabbit to the table. The CMC stood stubbornly at the door, tapping their hooves on the wooden floor.

     “C’mon, I wanna see my sister’s reaction to you!” Sweetie bell said, pointing outside. Fluttershy froze, looking back at Clayton.

     “Y-You’re going already?” Fluttershy stuttered. Clayton nodded as he wiped the snot off his helmet with a towel.

     “Yeah,its what happens when you babysit stubborn fillies like these.”

     “Hey!” Scootaloo shot back. Fluttershy and Clayton chuckled in response.

     “Don’t worry Flutters; I’ll pass by when I have the time.” Clayton bent down and ruffled the mares mane, exposing her reddened cheeks. “And that’s a promise.” He got back up and walked to the door, the fillies in company. Fluttershy stood there in mid bliss, watching the group disappear in the distance.

     “Angel, you think I should write a letter to Twilight about Clayton?” she looked over her shoulder to see the rabbit nowhere to be seen. She began looking around the house for the small rabbit before setting her eyes on the opened doorway. “ANGEEEEELLL!!!”

     The town was now springing to life. ponies were now all busy in work, selling or buying to their hearts content. Rarity was standing at the entrance to the Local spa, looking irritated. She looked at her watch and groaned in frustration.

     “Where is Fluttershy? She knew it was our spa day today…” she sighed, looking back at her watch. She finally gave up and walked into the spa alone.

     “Mommy, what’s that?” a young filly was pointing off in the distance. Her mother squinted her eyes to see, only for her jaw to drop. Rarity, looked over her shoulder to see what the commotion was, only for her own jaw to hit the floor.

     “It’s… him.”

     Rainbow was flipping through the newly released Daring Doo comic, her face filled with joy. She shifted slightly on the cloud she was perched on. Behind her, on the same cloud, was other comics, some familiar while others not a much. She ignored the commotion below her, only stuck in her book.

     “Starswirl’s beard… he’s back!” a Pegasus gasped in surprise, looking down from Cloudsdale. Another Pegasus galloped over to see what the stallion was talking about.

     “Is that really him?”

     “Yes, the hero of Equestria…” Rainbow glanced up over her book, giving an annoyed look to the stallions.

     “Aren’t you two supposed to be working?” she poked, going back into her comic book.

     “Well it’s not often a celebrity comes to Ponyville.” The stallion said softly. This caused Rainbow to close her book, glancing over at the stallions.

     “You know I’m one of the Elements of Harmony AND Equestria’s fastest flier?” she shot back. She shifted herself so her head peeps over the edge of the cloud. “So unless its Twilight, this guy’s better….be….Celestia’s teats...”

     “Celestia’s what now?” the stallion called.

     “Clayton…”

     Over the horizon came one man. His armor was a soft blue color, the paint chipped in places. Scratches and dents littered his helmet as he slowly walked into town. Infront of him was a small yellow filly, her bow bouncing in the wind. Resting on his shoulders was two others, an orange Pegasus and a white unicorn. They both had smiles on their faces as they enjoyed the height they were in. no one in the town moved as the man stopped at the edge, gazing at all the ponies that were frozen in town.

     Suddenly, a blur of colors appeared as a cyan Pegasus landed in front of the man, her mane and tail a fury of colors. She looked up at him, her magenta eyes piercing through the helmet like a blade. The fillies stood off in the sidelines as the two had a staring contest. From the crowd, Rarity pushed her way to the front, only to freeze at the scene.

     “Clayton…” she whispered.  Rainbow was on the verge of tears. After five long years, her best friend finally came back. Applejack and Pinkie finally came into the scene, their faces shocked.

     “Clayton…. Y’came back…” Applejack stood in shock. Pinkie started jumping for joy, breaking the serious mood.

     “Yay yay Clayton’s back! We should throw a welcome back party! No I should make a welcome back party! OOO this is gonna be soo fun!” the joyful attitude made everyone chuckle. But before anyone could react, Pinkie wrapped her hooves around Clayton’s waist. He bent down and embraced the hug, this caused Rarity and Applejack to join in, Rainbow being the last to join the hug.

     “I thought I’d never see you again.” She sniffled, still holding back tears. “We thought, we’d never see you again.”

     “Well I’m just full of surprises…” Clayton chuckled.

     “Don’t even leave Clayton…” Clayton froze. He looked off in the distance to see his brother’s graves in Sweet Apple Acres. He looked back at the mares and sighed.

     “Don’t worry...” he said calmly. “I won’t.”

     In the deepest pits under Canterlot is the biggest prison to date. Here, guarded by a hundred of guards, are where villains of pure evil are held until trial or until death.  A young guard started his first day today, patrolling the halls. His partner was more experienced, keeping the young rookie in check.

     “Now always remember, this is where Equestria’s most dangerous are held.” He paused, looking directly at the rookie. “Don’t talk or even get near the prison cells, got that?” the rookie nodded in repose, his navy blue face a pale white.

     “How dangerous is dangerous sir?” he asked, looking at the dark cells. There was no lighting other from the torches illuminating the tunnel. The veteran soon began his walk, the rookie trailing behind.

     “Dangerous as can be son. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you we had Dreadwing here…” the man pointed his head at an empty cell.

     “Dreadwing the terminator?” the rookie gasped.

     “Yep. That merc escaped without any trouble two weeks ago.”  He sighed, staring directly ahead. “But there’s worse things you gotta worry about kid.”

     “Like whom?” the rookie asked. They both stopped infront of a door in a stone wall, two small windows barred up. The veteran fished into a pocket in his suit and produced a chain of keys.

    “The person you and me are escorting to his new cell in sector B7.” He unlocked the tood, the metal making a soft scrap on the floor. As the light shone through the doorway, in the corner was a huddled stallion, his back on the guards. The orange prison uniform broke the pitch black coat and mane the stallion had. “King Sombra.” Sombra looked over his shoulder, a small grin on his face.

     “I’m being escorted to the VIP suite?” he chuckled. “So Celestia does care for me..."