//------------------------------// // Sinner // Story: Carolean // by Symphony //------------------------------// ’‘Where to begin...’’ I tapped my hand to the barrel of the musket. The ponies sat down and looked at me. The lavender one must be a scholar of some sort, as she is staring at my every move. The yellow one, who I have learned to be Fluttershy, is staring at my musket, flinching with every tap. ’’I presume I should begin with why the Caroleans were formed...’’ ’‘Wonderful!’’ The lavender pony squeaked and her eyes sparkled in some strange manner. So, now I am about to teach history to a couple of colorful equines, who can talk, and are capable of all sorts of emotions? What did I do to deserve this? Oh right, the war and killing thing... Ah well, we all do mistakes in our lifetimes. But a lifetime of war, followed by a lifetime of colorful ponies? Ugh... Maybe Death can send me to Lucifer instead? ’‘The Carolean army was first founded 1680 by King Charles The Eleventh. He, along with some of his advisors made many reforms. One of those reforms included that every farmer in the lands had to provide the Crown with lodging for a regiment containing a thousand men. That, in time, created the Caroleans.’’ I explained as I sat down. The lavender pony appeared to be thrilled about learning about something she had never heard of before. Fluttershy didn’t seem to like the idea my former king had, but why should I care about a yellow pony? I placed the musket beside me and stroked my hand through my blonde hair. ’’I was drafted into the army by my land in 1687, leaving my wife and child...’’ I sighed. Fluttershy’s lower lip quivered and her eyes started to water. I snortled. I don’t need pity from anyone, even less from talking ponies. What done is done, no going back. ’’I was in the infantry, drawn from the Västerbottens regiment.’’ ’’...Infantry?’’ The lavender one... Okay, I have to know her name, calling her the lavender pony, or the lavender one is getting old. ’‘What’s your name?’’ I asked, scanning her features. ’’Uh...’’ She’s dumbfounded. Great. ’‘My name’s Twilight. Twilight Sparkle.’’ Huh. Makes sense, as to the sparkle-thing on her behind. ’‘Well Twilight Sparkle,’’ I emphasized her name. I had to surpress a laugh as she pouted. ’‘the infantry is the people, or in your case ponies, who charge into the battlefield before the grenadiers and the Generals. We make the way for the rest of the army. No matter what.’’ ’’No matter...’’ Twilight repeated. Well, I am starting to suspect that this pony is stupid. ’‘Look, I have witnessed people being blown to smithereenes by grenades, people being killed and people being executed for stepping out of line. Many of them were my friends, so please allow me to finish.’’ I snapped at her, making her shrink back significantly. Tears were streaming down Fluttershy’s face, making me feel less than good. ’‘When King Charles The Eleventh died, his son, Charles The Twelfth, you may call him Carolus Rex took the throne. Carolus Rex made use of the Caroleans and went into war. I fought in the Battle of Narva that took place in the year 1700, but...’’ I averted my gaze from the ponies. I heard a rustle followed by a sudden pressure to my thigh, making me tense. I looked to see this... Fluttershy having her head on my thigh, staring right into my eyes. I took a deep breath and exhaled in a slow fashion. ’‘The next battle I was partook in, the Battle of Jakobstadt, I... I met my fate...’’ The ponies gasped in unison. ’’I died in a dirty, blood-stained battlefield. I have seen neither my wife nor my son in eight years and I... died, just like that. Just one bullet ended it... all.’’ I lifted my hands to my face and leaned forward. Don’t let the ponies see you cry, don’t let the ponies see you... Oh God, I can’t hold it in anymore. I felt tears trickle down the palms of my hands to drip down to the ground. I felt something wrap itself around me. I moved my hands from my face to see Fluttershy hugging me. No, that is something I don’t need right now; Pity from a colorful pony in a different world. I pushed her away from me and stood up. ’’I don’t need your pity, nor do I deserve it. For all I did in the battlefield, the last thing I deserve is pity.’’ I brushed off some dirt from my blue coat and swung the musket over my shoulders. I took another deep breath and wiped my face with the back of my right hand. ’‘Any questions?’’ ’‘What’s the wooden thing on your back?’’ Twilight crooked her head and stared at my musket. ’‘It’s a flintlock musket.’’ She stared at me in confusion. Ugh... ’‘It’s like... Like a cannon, but on a much smaller scale. Still lethal, though.’’ She started nodding slowly. ’‘Didn’t you say when you came here that you, and a couple of other... ponies were searching for Fluttershy here?’’ I motioned towards the other little pony with my left hand. Twilight gasped and her eyes widened. ’’I have to call off the search for her!’’ Her... horn flickered and started shining. I don’t think I like where this is going... A beam of light shot into the air, while making an alien noise I’ve never heard before. It was almost like... My eyes widened in realization. That was magic. Only those in a pact with the Devil himself can use magic, and this wicked blasphemer just used it right in front of me. ’‘Witch...’’ I growled and walked towards her with heavy steps. She started backing away from me with her ears back. You know what the best cure for dark magics and witches is? Fire. ’’Gu- Gustafv...’’ How dare she use my name? I pull out my sword from my sheath and twirl it in my hand. She stares at the blade in horror. Her horn starts glowing again, surrounding it in a purple... bubble of some sort. That doesn’t matter right now. A purple bubble similair to the one around her horn started forming around me. She was using magic against me. ’‘RELEASE ME, WITCH!’’ I bellowed as my movements were restricted by the blasted aura around me. ’‘Witch..?’’ Twilight questioned. I glared at her, how I wanted to get my hands around her neck right now... ’’Oh! You probably mean about me using magic!’’ No really, genius? ’‘Magic is a natural thing here in our world, almost everything has some sort of innate magic. Fluttershy has magic, but her magic is in her wings so she can fly. Only unicorns, like me can use magic like I’m using it right now.’’ Oh, she expects me to believe that nonsense? ’‘Liar...’’ I spat, thoroughly unamused. She sighed and rolled her eyes. ’‘See the sun?’’ She motioned for the orb in the sky. Of course I see it. It’s shining down right into my eyes. ’‘Are you stupid? Of course I do.’’ She frowned and glared at me, but I matched her stare with my own. ’‘My teacher, Princess Celestia moves it to create the day. Her younger sister, Princess Luna moves the moon to create the night.’’ ...Is she serious? I mean, really? Small, fat horses being capable of moving the sun and the moon? It’s all so clear now. I haven’t gone insane, everything around me has. ’‘And you expect me to believe that nonsense?’’ I crossed my arms and arched an eyebrow. ’‘Actually, I do.’’ Her horn stopped glowing and the aura around me dissappeared, making me drop to the ground. She turned her back against me and started walking away in the opposite direction. Fluttershy looked at me and shook her head. ’’It really is true...’’ She said in a tiny voice, barely audible. I shook my head. This can’t be true... No one, pony or not lies to me. I am going to show that Twilight what happens when you question God and lie like she does. The liar was just about to walk out on a small trail leading back into the forest, I snarled and grabbed my musket, cocked it and raised it to aim at the lavender pony who was about to leave. I start squeezing the trigger in a slow succession, taking slow, deep breaths. ’‘Repent.’’ A/N: Pre-read and edited by fried195! Also, shit has officially hit the fan.