Brothers In Blood II

Clayton walked down the halls of the castle alone. He ignored the protests from the royal guard captain behind him. He gritted his teeth as he threw off his helmet. The metal clanged to the ground, sending an echo down the hall. Ignoring the sound, Clayton took a swig from his flask he refilled at the party, the apple liquid burning down his throat. He wiped his mouth with his arm and faced Shining.

“Where did you think you were going?” Shining armor asked, catching his breath.

“Anywhere but here…” Clayton sighed. “Leave me be Shining… I don’t belong here…”

“What are you kidding me?” Shining chuckled baffled at Clayton’s response. “Luna brought you here to surprise Celestia and you don’t appreciate it?” Clayton said something under his breath, causing Shining to cock his head to the side.

“What was that?”

“It’s not the full story!” Clayton yelled. He leaned against one of the marble pillars, taking a sip of the whiskey in his flask.

“I knew it wasn’t…” Clayton went rigid as Applejack walked into the hall, the rest of the elements in tow. “Rainbow ‘n’ ah knew you were hiding something…”

“So spill the beans Clayton!” Rainbow shot. Clayton stood there for a while, not moving. He avoided all eye contact, but knew everyone was looking at him, pleading for answers.

“His planets gone…” said a familiar voice. Everyone shifted their attention to the princess of the night herself. She held a hoof up to stop them from bowing. “We’ve been monitoring Clayton’s planet ever since we sent him back. We actually wanted to surprise our sister one day by bringing back an old friend. But we also monitored his planet for other reasons.”

“Other reasons?” Rainbow asked. “Like what?”

“Like how he and his brothers first arrived on Equestria. At first we just thought it was just one of Twilight’s spells gone wrong. But she didn’t even know. It’s almost like they were summoned here the first time.”

“Maybe king Sombre summoned them...” Shining commented. Luna pondered for a bit.

“That would make sense…” She sighed. “But how was he summoned again if Sombre has no power…”

“Not to interrupt princess,” Applejack intervened. “But what does this have t’do with Clayton’s world being gone?” Luna glanced at Clayton, who hasn’t shifted his gaze from the floor. She sighed as her astral mane grew, surrounding the hall in stars and space. Everyone gasped in astonishment at the whole hall became nothing but space. In front of Luna was a yellow star. Multiple planets orbited around it, slowly moving in real time.

“This is Clayton’s solar system, part of the Milky Way like us, except we’re farther away.” She pointed at a cluster of asteroids. “And this is the remains of Clayton’s planet Sera.” Rarity gasped. Pinkie’s mane went flat at the scene.

“How…” Rainbow began. “How did this happen?” the sound of crunching metal brought everyone’s attention to Clayton. His flask was destroyed in his hand, the cider slowly dripping from between his fingers. He shook in rage.

“Discord…” Clayton growled under his breath. The projection disappeared as Luna’s mane turned back to normal. Everyone was frozen in shock, not leaving their gaze from Clayton. “He’s been haunting me ever since I came back to Sera. And he finally acted. He killed everyone I knew… every damn person on that planet.”

“But Discord died…” Shining mumbled.

“That’s what we all thought…”Clayton growled. He tossed the crushed flask to the floor and stormed off, ignoring his helmet.

“Where are you going?” Applejack asked, trailing behind him.

“Out.” Clayton growled. He ignored the mare following him as he left the castle, walking into Canterlot streets.

CHAPTER VII: DREAMS OF ABSOLUTION

The sun was just setting over the horizon, marking the end of the day. Canterlot was starting to get less and less busy as the nocturnal ponies awoke. Lights from stores were flicking off for the night, owners flipping the signs from open to close. Ponies ignored the large man walking down the streets. They ignored the western pony that was trailing behind him, a look of worry on her face.

“Everything’s closing Clayton,” Applejack finally spoke. “Where’d you think you were going?” Clayton sighed. He stopped in front of the tall golden statue in the center of Canterlot.

“I wasn’t expecting to be followed…” he looked down at the words engraved on the podium. “I needed some air, that’s all…” they both stood in silence, gazing at the statue of Clayton and his brothers.

“How come you didn’t say anything before?” Applejack asked.

“Doesn’t matter, that’s behind us.” Clayton grunted. He looked around the quiet streets, only to pause at Applejacks gaze.

“It does matter Clayton, we’re your friends.”

“Well maybe I didn’t want to tell you guys because I didn’t want you to get hurt!” Clayton yelled. His voice echoed in the courtyard. “You were all so happy to see me. I thought maybe it’s for the best that you didn’t know.”

“Just because we were happy doesn’t mean you have to hide stuff from us.” Said a familiar voice. Clayton looked up to see Rainbow Dash perched on the golden statue. She flew down and landed in front of Clayton. “We’re your friends. Yes we were happy to see you but don’t think we’re not going to wonder how you got here!”

“Besides, that’s not the real reason why you came out here ain’t it Clay.” Applejack sneered. Clayton avoided eye contact from the mare.

“He said that he needed air Applejack!” Rainbow protested. “I would need air if I was in a meeting.”

“Right,” Applejack agreed. “But he really came out here because he lost his alcohol and went looking for a bar.”

“Guilty as charged…” Clayton sighed. Applejack smiled in victory.

“You know drinking doesn’t wash your troubles away Clayton.” Applejack frowned.

“So far it’s been working…” Clayton snorted.

“This is great! I know a perfect bar in Canterlot.” Rainbow squeed “It even sometimes has the Wonderbolts come. Ohmigosh we should soo see if maybe Spitfire’s there!”

“Oh maybe we could go to a less crowded bar. One that Clayton here can drink in peace.” Applejack smiled. “I know Clayton would rather drink in piece then be swarmed by ponies.”

“I know what bar you’re talking about.” Rainbow pouted. “You just want to go there because they sell Apple Cider and Applejack Daniels.”

“I own the shop too.” Applejack added. “I could give you a discount.” Rainbow took Clayton’s hand and started flying towards her bar, slowly pulling Clayton along.

“Would you rather go to some boring Appaloosa bar?” She looked back at Clayton, a grin plastered on her cyan face. “Or would you rather meet a celebrity?”

“Honestly, if there’s whiskey I don’t really-ACK!” Clayton looked back to see Applejack trying to pull him the opposite way.

“You just want to go to your bar because you want to meet Spitfire!” Applejack protested, pulling with all her might. “Or better yet, you’d rather see Soaring’ again!” Rainbow gasped.

“Girls, I really don’t ca-ACK!”

“I could care less about Soaring’. In fact, he’d rather eat your apple pies than go to a bar!” Clayton growled. Before Applejack could protest, Clayton pulled them both to him. He slung Rainbow on his shoulder and held Applejack around her stomach. He ignored the yelling mares as he walked back to Canterlot, his eyes twitching in annoyance.

“You guys have officially made me sober.”

“Thanks for leading me to my room Shining.” Clayton commented. Shining armor smiled and tossed him the keys.

“I had to anyways.” Shining chuckled. “The night guards have never seen you before, only the statue. They might freak if they saw you.”

“Understandable. Not all the time you see a 6ft shaved Minotaur walking around in a castle.” Clayton and Shining laughed. “You sent Applejack and Rainbow to their rooms?”

“Yeah. They’ll be leaving in the morning, with you I presume.” Shining commented.

“Probably.” Clayton sighed.

“Well I better be going.” Shining sighed. “I have stuff to do in the morning plus Chrys- I mean Cadence might get impatient.”   Clayton and Shining Armor stood in silence, looking back at each other.

“Did you just say Chrysalis?”

“Nope... You must’ve heard something different because I fully said Chrysalis.” Shining’s eyes started to dart around in realization of what he said. He put a hoof behind his head and looked at Clayton sheepishly. “I-I mean Cadence. Their names both sound the same you know…” Clayton watched the stuttering stallion, a look of confusion on his face.

“Yeah… Good night Shining…” Clayton said awkwardly. He ignored the stallion and walked into his room, closing the door behind him. “Awkward…”

The room was like any other room; a bed, a washroom, and a perfect view of Canterlot. The bed was made of two normal sized beds put together to make one for Clayton to fit on. He walked over to the balcony and closed the doors. When he turned around, he noticed his helmet resting on the pillow of the bed, the moonlight reflecting off the lenses. With a sigh, Clayton took off his chest plate and tossed it to the ground, the weight leaving a crack on the wooden floor. Before he moved his helmet, he paused at the bag resting on the side of the bed. A note hung from the outside.

“To Clayton, from Shining Armor.” Clayton read out loud. He reached into the bag just to smile as he pulled out a bottle of whiskey. “You sly bastard…” without hesitation, Clayton popped off the cap and took a long swig. The burn almost threw him off guard before it settled in his stomach.

“Sera’s whiskey was better.” He grumbled as he placed the bottle on the table next to the bed. Without moving the sheets, Clayton lied on the bed and groaned. The bed was as soft as a cloud compared to the usual beds he slept on. Sleep caught up quickly as Clayton was soon out like a light.

“Hello?” the castle was barren, signs of life covered in dust and cobwebs. Curtains were ripped and torn, some even charred. Clayton walked down a hallway, a feeling on unease in his stomach “Where the flying hell is everyone?” a soft giggle caught his attention, he spun around to freeze at the sight before him.

A small human boy stood at the center of the hallway, a smile on his face. Clayton raised a hand only for the kid to run away. He jogged after the small boy, his legs going slower than he thinks. The boy turned around a corner, looking back to see Clayton coming behind him.

“Ben?” Clayton called. The boy giggled and continued to run away. He ran into the throne room and closed the door not so subtlety. Clayton opened the doors only to growl. “Discord.”

“Ah, you finally arrived!” Discord sat on Celestia’s throne. The gold was worn, the normal colour now covered in dust. “Yes I couldn’t renovate, what with it being the future and all.”

“The hell do you want from me…” Clayton growled.

“Oh no Clayton, I’m not here to hurt you. Well not yet at least.” Discord disappeared, reappearing behind Clayton. “I only wanted to ask you a question.”

“So you invade my dreams just for your personal gain?” Clayton swung his arm behind him only to hit air. A chuckle made Clayton spin around to see Discord sitting on Celestia’s throne, a glass of wine in his lion paw.

“So you don’t know…”

“Know what?” Clayton spat. Discord laughed at Clayton’s rage.

“You see Clayton; I am the god of chaos as you may already know.” Discord took a sip of the wine, only to drink the glass. The red liquid fell to the floor. “But I have only a certain type of power.”

“Like dying!” Clayton rushed at Discord, only to be caught in mid charge. Discord waved a finger at him before slamming him against a wall, the force blowing away dust and webs.

“No; like dreams.” Discord chuckled. He walked over to Clayton, a sly grin on his face. Clayton struggled against the wall, his eyes glaring with hatred at Discord. “See I can cause chaos outside; But not in the mind. I don’t have that ability to just go into people’s dreams and ruin them. But I know who can.” He pointed a claw at Celestia’s throne, his grin never leaving his face.

From behind the throne stepped out a mare, her starry mane blowing in an invisible wind. Her coat was a dark sapphire blue. Her wings were tucked against her chest. She glanced at Clayton, only to look to the floor. Clayton glanced at the mare, only to gasp

“Luna?”

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Discord exclaimed. “It took me a while to take over young Luna’s mind, but now she does whatever I please!”

“You bastard! Luna’s innocent. Keep her out of this!” Clayton yelled.

“Well too bad because since you know, now I have to unleash her alter ego on Canterlot.” Discord petted the saddened Luna and smiled. “You’re going to love her; she’s so good with destruction and such. Ta-Ta!”

Clayton woke up to an ear piercing scream. The ground shook beneath him, causing him to fall off his bed. He grabbed his pistol and swung open the door. Guards clad in gold and onyx rushed down the halls, spears in hoof. Shining armor rushed passed him Clayton and paused, looking back.

“Shining, what the hell’s going on?” Clayton yelled. They both jogged to the throne room, an army of soldier’s trailing behind.

“I don’t know. One minute I’m in bed the next thing you know it, I hear Twilight’s scream!” they turned around a corner only to duck to the ground. The golden doors of the throne room went flying overhead, crashing through one of the marble walls. Rainbow flew in, looking back at the golden door. Applejack and Rarity rushed over to Clayton, Fluttershy and Pinkie trailing behind.

“We heard Twilight’s scream. What in tar-nations is going on?” Applejack exclaimed.

“Yeah, what’s going on Shining!” Rainbow yelled.

“INCOMING!” a guard yelled. A mare crashed into a pillar, the marble exploding on contact. Everyone rushed over to see Twilight covered in burns and bruises. She looked at Clayton, then to Shining.

“It’s…. Luna…” she weakly said. A laugh from behind turned everyone to the smoke covered throne room. A dark hoof poked out of the smoke, a grey metal horseshoe wrapped around the hood. Two cyan, catlike eyes glowed through the smoke, a white toothy grin making everyone feel unnerving. The figure stepped out of the shadows, only to everyone’s horror.

‘Nightmare Moon…” rainbow and Shining gasped. The mare of nightmares chuckled at everyone’s shock.

“I HAVE RETURNED!” Nightmare’s horn glowed a faint dark blue as a huge ray of magic shot forward, aimed directly at Shining. A green shield appeared in front of the group, blocking the ray of magic. Chrysalis pushed through the guards, her eyes locked on Nightmare Moon.

“Everyone, GET OUT OF HERE!” she yelled. Clayton looked at Nightmare Moon, only to see a single tear fall from her eye.

“She’s still in there…” Clayton whispered.

“CLAYTON LETS GO!” Rainbow tugged at Clayton to move. He reluctantly started to run away. Cadence flew over the shield and blasted a ray at Nightmare Moon, only for it to get blocked.

“My niece dare fight me?” Nightmare Moon teleported over to Cadence, to Cadence’s surprise. Before the princess of love could move out of the way, Nightmare shot a ray out of her horn, the blast colliding with Cadence and sending her crashing to the floor, the impact pushing Chrysalis off guard. “Such heroic nonsense…” she blasted a path through the guards as she walked after Clayton. The hall was getting darker and darker, smoke covering the marble floor.

“Go I’ll hold her off!” Shining yelled. He turned around only to get a swift hoof to the face. He crashed through one of the stain windows. Before gravity could take effect, a yellow aura caught him in mid-air. Clayton looked behind him to see Celestia standing strong, her eyes locked on Nightmare Moon. She moved Shining Armor back into the castle and placed him behind her.

“Luna’s still in there Celestia.” Clayton grunted.

“I know.” Celestia said in a cold tone. She pushed passed Clayton, not leaving her gaze off her sister.

“Sister…” Nightmare Moon smiled.

“You’re no sister of mine…” Celestia growled.

“Ha-ha, you were always the bossy one.” Nightmare gave her sister a toothy grin. “Ruining all the fun and boasting about how much older you are. But I’m not here to fight you, but it will not be the last you see of me.” Before Celestia could react, Nightmare Moon crashed through one of the windows and flew off into the night. Celestia breathed outwards, falling to the ground. She glanced back at the group and sighed.

“How’d she get back to being like that?” she breathed heavily.

“Discord.” Clayton said flatly. Everyone turned their attention to the man. “It all makes sense now. When I arrived in Equestria it was night time. He could use Luna to watch my every move at that time. Then when Zecora gave me that weird drink he lost control. I didn’t hear things people didn’t say.

“But once I arrived in Canterlot, everything went back to being weird. Hallucinations, thinking that the king miss-said something, and eventually, the dreams.”

“Yes, Luna was acting strange that one night.” Celestia confirmed.

“But Discord’s been gone for 5 whole years.” Rainbow added. “ Where could he have gone?” everyone sat in silence. Celestia soon got back up to her hooves.

“Shining, check if everyone’s ok, including Twilight, Cadence and Chrysalis.”  Shining nodded and galloped away. “Everyone else, you’re with me.”

“Where are we going?” Clayton asked.

“To see the last person that ever saw Discord.”