//------------------------------// // Calling All Brothers // Story: My Little Pony: The Brothers of Discord // by mr.myxsiple //------------------------------// CHAPTER 18 CALLING ALL BROTHERS A teal, soccer ball-sized sphere exploding and sending out three arcs of magic, Solstice was rather proud of his signal. As flashy as it was, it was also very effective; the whole thing turned made the entire town momentarily turn away from the two disasters that were currently ongoing. New mutterings spread out as the citizens of Ponyville questioned what was going to happen next. "What the hay?" Before Applejack could try to figure out what just happened, a brown blur sped past her in the direction of the explosion. Ironhead didn't even look at her when he passed. She couldn't understand why; the fire was still raging, and the rest of the fields were still in danger. Was he really going to abandon them? "Ironhead!" she cried out chasing after him. "Ironhead, what's gotten into ya?!" Her shout made him dig his hooves into the soil. He screeched to a halt and turned back to her noticing the raging inferno behind her. He looked back to the spot where his brother sent up his signal and then back to her, his mind trying to put it all together. He was torn. His brother needed him, but he couldn't abandon Applejack when she needed him. Panicking, he turned from her to the arcs and then back to her and then back to the arcs. He couldn't decide; what was more important-her or his family? "We can't do this without ya Ironhead." Applejack told him. "What's happenin' here? What's with the fancy light show?" Ironhead hesitated. "It...My brother..." he stammered. "What? How the hay can Scar make that?" Applejack questioned. "M...My...My other brother..." Now Applejack was confused; he had another brother? She thought it was just him, his parents, Ironheart and Scar. What was this about another brother in Ponyville? Wait, those weren't important at the moment. She shook her head and focused on what she knew and what was going on. "Ironhead...we can't do this without ya." He knew she was right, but he couldn't abandon his brother if he needed him. Being torn between her and his family caused him to stammer and turned from her to the arcs once again until he finally gave a loud cry and rushed back to the burning trees. Applejack watched once again as he bucked tree after tree once again surprising her by his strength. The thought of an unknown brother made her feel uneasy. Why would he hide that fact? Could there be more secrets that he hadn't told her? Was there still something about him that he hadn't told her. Ironhead had just uprooted another burning tree with a single buck when he saw Applejack confused and wanting to know the truth. He sighed and shook his head realizing that the jig was up; he could no longer hide things from her. "Applejack...I think it's time you knew..." For a while, they just stared at each other while the flames raged on. "Wh...who are you...?" Applejack asked. The liar sighed once more and turned around to face the burning tree before him. It was one of the bigger, older trees that were present in the field He stood on his hind legs, grabbed the sides of the tree and pulled. Applejack watched in awe as his muscles rippled, the sound of ripping filling the air. "I'm Ironhead...the Strength of Deceit!" With a mighty tug, the tree was completely uprooted from the ground. Ironhead pulled back and flung the tree sideways. It crashed into several other burning trees and knocked them down, bringing them away from the rest of the apple field. Applejack, Big Mac and the pegasus group that was putting the flames out all had their jaws hanging. Ignoring them, Ironhead dashed over and knocked the few remaining trees down. Smoke billowing in the distance and the rest of the apple crop safe, Ironhead turned and ran right out of there passing by Applejack and not making eye contact. She slowly turned and watched him gallop into the distance, her mind trying to put this all together and trying to figure out what he meant. The Strength of Deceit... "...Ironhead...?" The minute he saw it, Scar's instincts kicked in. He, as well as whole family, knew about Solstice's signal and what it meant. Without thinking, he turned away from whatever he was doing and flew as fast he could towards the source of the signal stopping only when his rainbow-maned crush suddenly appeared in front of him. "What the hay Scar; where're you going?" she asked him. He opened his mouth to answer but Rainbow suddenly yelled: "Look out!" Scar and Rainbow dove to the side just as a bolt of lightning went off in their direction. The scarlet pegasus looked back at the storm cloud as if he just remembered why he was there in the first place. As another group of pegasi flew in and attempted to pushed the storm cloud away, Scar realized that he couldn't just abandon her now when she needed him. He made a promise to her, a rather silly one yes but a promise nonetheless. He wanted to keep it, but Solstice needed him. What should he do? A sudden crack and flash snapped him out of his thoughts. It was hard to think when there was something trying to kill them with lightning every few seconds. "You can't leave; we need everypony we can get working on this." she told him. "Rainbow I-" He didn't know what to say nor what to do for that matter. "I...I have to...No I...You see..." Before he could fully explain himself, another bolt interrupted him, forcing him and Rainbow to dodge again. Annoyed by the cloud, he flew in alone at it and started pushing it away from town. A little while later, he started to feel electricity gathering at the surface. He backed up and flew away just before a bolt shot out and nearly killed him. As another group flew in to continue the effort, Scar turned back towards his brother's signal still feeling torn about what he should do. Rainbow flew up to him wondering what the fuss was all about. "What's going on here Scar? What's with the explosion thing?" "I...well..." He didn't know how to answer her. He just flew off towards the signal but suddenly stopped and flew back towards the cloud. Rainbow noticed his dilemma and flew in next to him. "What's happening Scar?" she asked. He opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted by yet another bolt of lightning. Scar circled the cloud with Rainbow at his tail. "He...needs my help..." Scar said to her. "Who, Ironhead?" Rainbow asked. "I already got a team at Sweet Apple Acres. You don't need to-" "No." he interrupted. "Solstice, my brother." That took her by surprise. "You got another brother here in-" She never got to finish. Distracted by his inability to decide, a bolt of lightning shot out of the cloud, grazing the top of Scar's right wing. He screamed out loud and began to plummet just like Rainbow did a few moments earlier. Like Scar did earlier, Rainbow flew in after him hooves stretched before her ready to catch him before he could splatter against the ground. Halfway there, Scar's eyes shot open. He had just had it with that stupid cloud threatening the town and everpony in it. There was only one way to get it of it, and he didn't like it, but unless he used his powers, the cloud would still be there. He hesitated about using them, but keeping his secret wasn't important as everpony else at the moment. He straightened himself up and checked his wing. It, like Rainbow's, was slightly singed but still usable. He readied himself and suddenly pulled up just a foot before hitting the ground. Rainbow saw him fly upwards and hastily veered to the side. She watched him rise and remembered just why he was called Scarlet Blur. She flew in after him and saw him stop several feet away from the cloud. "EVERYPONY OUT OF MY WAY!" he shouted swinging his hoof. Those within earshot and those trying to push the cloud moved to the side just as Rainbow flew up to him. "Scar. You Ok?" she asked noticing his singed wing. "Just what the hay are you-" "Rainbow." Hearing the seriousness in his voice stopped her. Scar gazed into those magenta eyes he loved, sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. "It's time you knew...who I really am..." Now she was confused. Who he was? She knew who was. He was an awesome flyer and a really good friend, a pony she could trust. Was there more to him that she didn't know? She was about to find out. "I am Scarlet Blur...The Winds of Treachery!" He swung his hooves outwards, and his wings suddenly expanded, growing to around five times their normal size. Rainbow's jaw, as well as everypony else's jaw dropped at the sight. Ignoring them, Scar pulled his massive wings back and gave a mighty flap, sending out a powerful gust of wind. The wind caused Dash to tumble away from him. When she finally stabilized herself, she saw the wind Scar generated slam into the cloud, pushing it several feet back. Not satisfied, the massive-winged colt flew upwards at speeds greater than his usual. He suddenly stopped several miles up and dove down. As he flew, Scar twisted and got into a spin, the same trick Rainbow saw him perform the first time they met. This time however, she saw wind beginning to gather around Scar's body in a spiraling motion. It accumulated quickly, and before the eyes of all who were watching, Scar became engulfed in a tornado of his own creation. Said tornado suddenly stopped its descent and headed straight for the storm cloud. Rainbow quickly flew to the side but was still blown aside from the massive winds generated. After stabilizing herself once again, she saw Scar, surrounded by his tornado, slam into the storm cloud. The cloud held itself together, but, after being drilled by Scar's, tornado, it vanishing while sending out a few more sparks. His goal finished, Scar dispelled his tornado but kept his wings expanded. Sighing and ignoring the startled gazed directed at him, Scar turned around and flew of in the direction of his brother's signal ready to help in any way he could. As he did so, he passed by Rainbow who looked at his retreating figure wondering just what he said meant. The Winds of Teachery... "...Scar...?" "Eep!" The explosion drew Ash's eyes upwards. There adorning the skyline were three arcs of teal magical energy, his brother's signal. Since they were young, Solstice had developed that signal to call the rest of his brothers. It told them that he needed help and to gather at whatever place he fired it from. "Wh-what was that?" a weak voice said. Ash looked back down and saw Fluttershy peering at the sky from behind a tree; she had apparently hidden herself there when she heard the explosion. "What is that?" she wondered. She looked back at her fellow pegasus staring at the signal as if it meant something to him. "D...do you know what that is Ash?" Ash did know what it was. Pretty soon, Ironhead and Scar would be converging on the spot to assist Solstice in whatever he needed to do. As for Ash, he wouldn't help; he couldn't help. He would deny his brother the help that he needed- Ash gasped, clutched his head and backed up as those thoughts crossed his head. Why should I help him? I...I don't care what happens to him...T...to them... As the thoughts continued, he began trembling and clutching his head tighter and tighter. I don't care...I don't care about them...They...they can die for all I care!...I'm evil...I'm vile...I'm horrible... "Ash?" Worried, Fluttershy approached him warily. She gently extended a hoof towards him. "I'm cruel!" He violently swatted her hoof away and snarled at her. Upon seeing the frightened look on the mare's face, Ash's eyes widened and turned away. Fluttershy saw it again, the pain in his eyes when he knocked her hoof aside. Why did Ash say and do mean things when he would just regret them afterwards? Just what kind of things troubled the poor boy? "I don't...need friends..." he said, his voice shaking with pain. "I don't...want friends...I don't...don't...don't..." "I DON'T DESERVE THEM!" After blurting out one of his biggest secrets, he hastily covered his mouth. His outburst startled Fluttershy. She watched as he sat on his hunches and began whimpering and trembling while clutching his head. In his mind, Ash kept telling himself that he really didn't deserve friends, nor a family, nor anypony else for that matter. He reminded himself that he lived to bring suffering and pain towards others. It was what he was; nopony could ever change that. "Y...you can't say that Ash." Hearing her soft, kind voice made him face her. "Everypony needs a friend, especially ponies who're hurting inside like you. And it doesn't matter if you've done something terrible. I mean...I've done some pretty bad things before...but...but my friends still stuck by me. They helped me in more ways than you can imagine. Don't you want anypony to help you?" Ash was silent for a while. "I...I'm beyond help...You..You can't help me...Nopony can..." "Then...Can I at least try...?" The offer sounded pure and full of good intent. Ash could practically feel the kindness she was offering him, warm, soothing, comforting. Unfortunately, the display caused more thoughts to plague his head. No...I don't deserve her kindness... "Shut up...SHUT UP!" he bellowed at her. "I'm the most evil...the most vile, despicable pony in the world!" he shouted at Fluttershy who noticed the fear and panic in his eyes. "I don't need your friendship! I don't need your kindness! Making others suffer...I'm...happy this way..." He was panting from all the shouting he did. Fluttershy had backed up when he began shouting, but now that he seemed to have calmed down, she slowly approached him. Still wide-eyed, Ash stood his ground ash the mare stopped and looked at him with sorrow and pity in her eyes. She saw his pain and wanted nothing more than to make it go away. "You're...not happy..." Hearing that almost brought him to his breaking point. Before she could say another word, he turned around and flew back into the forest as fast as he could. Her eyes, those cyan orbs shining with kindness, were branded into his mind. Just thinking about them and how kind she was caused unfamiliar and unwelcome feelings to boil up inside him. Shaking his head, he continued on intending to get as far away from her as possible. Back at the clearing, Fluttershy continued to stare at the spot where Ash was. When she looked into his eyes, she saw something else other than the pain and regret they usually displayed. She could practically see the darkness gnawing away at him from within, threatening to consume him entirely. The darkness scared her, but the thought of somepony being consumed by it scared her more. Could there still be hope for him? "...Ash..." Solstice took a sip and set the teacup back down. "I must thank you for the tea Twilight." he said to the surprised unicorn mare. "I haven't a had a cup that good in ages." "What did you just do?" Twilight asked noticing the teal light shining through the window. "I assure you it's nothing to worry yourself about." Solstice explained. "What I fired is merely a signal, one I use to call for help." He looked at a nearby clock. "Strange, they should be here by now." "Who-" The door suddenly burst open with a loud bang. Twilight also had to shield herself from a sudden gust of wind that blew through it. Solstice remained calm and watched his two brothers enter the library. "Ironhead? Scar?" Twilight asked astonished. "Twilight?" The newcomers said together. "I see you've met my brothers." Solstice told her. "The Winds of Treachery Scarlet Blur and the Strength of Deceit Ironhead. Now that the proper introductions are finished, we can now get straight to the point." As Twilight's eyes traveled from brother to brother, Scar approached Solstice. "What the hell bro? I thought you had an emergency or something. Why'd you call us here?" "I've found what you've been searching for since you arrived here. Twilight here refuses to tell me, so I called you both to see if we can get through to her." he answered. Both his brothers looked at each other with raised eyebrows. "Scar, Ironhead...this is our chance..." He was right. There were just moments away from reaching the source of the light that was threatening to destroy Ponyville. They could save them, the Apples, Rainbow, everyone in Ponyville. They wouldn't have to go through the same pain they experienced all those years ago. The brothers nodded firmly at each other and turned to Twilight. "The Elements of Harmony Twilight, where are they?" Solstice asked. She backed up as the unicorn approached her slowly with his brothers. "C'mon Twilight, just tell us where they are." Ironhead pleaded. "We've been looking since we got here." "Is that why you asked me about Light?" Twilight asked turning to Scar. "Well...yeah." the latter answered. "Look Twilight, I'm sorry I didn't say anything about this, but we had to lie about who we were to do our job. Just tell us where the Elements are, and we'll get outta your mane." She didn't plan on telling them. The Elements were taken before, and she wasn't going to let that happen again. She looked at Solstice who was gazing at her intently. She really felt a connection with him during the brief time that they had, and now, here he was threatening the town and trying to get the Elements. The Magic of Discord? Just what did he mean by that? Deciding to deal with her emotions later, she stood her ground, ready to protect the Elements. "I won't let you take them." she said as her horn began to glow. "Twilight, wait!" A flash of magic later, she was gone. Solstice sighed and turned to his two brothers. "She should still be in town. Fan out and search for her. She seems rather upset with us, so try to reason with her." he said. The tip of his glowed and created a spiral of teal energy with two long tendrils. The tendrils detached themselves from his horn and entered the heads of Scar and Ironhead. Their eyes momentarily turned teal before reverting to their natural color. Both his brothers nodded and left to find Twilight. Solstice remained in the library for a while thinking about what had just happened. He didn't understand why she was upset when he said that he was looking for the Elements. Whatever the reason, he felt bad for upsetting her and wondered if this would all be settled without conflict. Twilight held the answers he was seeking. Ponyville's fate could rest on what she told them. Thinking of the lives at stake, Solstice teleported into town ready to find the mare that had captured his heart.