//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: The Soul Dies Many Times // Story: Red Dead ReDerption // by CompleteChaos21 //------------------------------// Chapter 10: Cold winds, fuzzy sense of perception, feeling the faint wisp of consciousness, attempting to grasp the light. The musty air began to filter into her senses, she opened her eyes and stared at her hooves. Joan was sitting on a bench her front and back hooves each tied separately into bonds. She was slouched on the splintery bench with a small pudge from her stomach poking out in her duster coat. “Huh, I didn't think I could sit this way.” She said quite nonchalantly. She had seen Dyslex sit like this once but Dyslex was a circus contortionist before joining the gang. Joan looked forward, she was still in Cloparosa, her head was throbbing and she noticed her eyes were derping out more then normally. A familiar snooty voice confidently rose up bleaching the silence in the air with a thick arrogance, “Well, well, well. Seems our prisoner is awake.” From out of the curtain of a nearby building the small battalion of Celestian army soldiers emerged led out by Captain Red bloods. “You know I never really trusted you, just call it a hunch but something was telling me you were bad news.” He whipped around and held his head up towards the moon, “Hehe, seems I was right.” He turned and smiled cocking his head to the right. He ran and got right up in Joan’s face, “So ‘friend’ do you know what the death penalty in Nuevo Equestria is for treason.” Joan looked on the surrounding hill side and found a small glimmering light, she closed her eyes half way and smirked, “I assume you’re gonna tickle me with a feather for an hour and we’ll go play some desert hoofball topped off by story time with milk & cookies.” Captain Redbloods expression became sarcastic and a hint of annoyance rang through his voice, “Ha, ha. Somepony doesn’t know how serious this is.” He cleared his throat and spoke loudly as if he was addressing a crowd of adoring fans. “Now I know what WE are all here for. For your crimes of treason against the Celestian government, I, the dashing Captain Redbloods sentence, Joan Derpston of Trottingham, to death by my hoof.” Joan felt the nerves in her body relax a little bit, her face was masked by a remarked carelessness and she began displaying a ‘couldn’t care less attitude.’ “Ha! On what grounds.” The captain smiled deviously, “For the murder of members of El Caballo’s guards and the assistance in the take over of same fort. For assisting in the escape of rebel leader and mass murderer, Rarity Reyes. For engaging in plans with the rebel faction. Witnesses have also seen you entering the ‘cursed’ house in Hoofington, and we all know what goes on in there.” “My definition of treason must be very different than yours my friend.” Captain Redblood trotted over to Joan’s left side, his horn glowed and his revolver steadily rose towards Joan’s head. “For your crimes against Equestria and her ponies, you shall pay with your blood, and your brains against this poor old bench. Any last words.” She smiled, “The Night will always protect me…” The revolver pressed roughly against Joan’s skull, a familiar cold breeze blew itself into Joan’s mane, and she relaxed and took a deep breath in. Redbloods muttered the words, “Adios para siempre.” Then all was silent. The night wind continued to howl at them. Then… *BANG!* “Ahhhhhhhh! My Horn! My HORN!” Captain Redbloods screamed out in agony. Half of his horn was missing and he stumbled about the opening running his head into walls and poles, screaming profusely. Several more gunshots rang out and a few more ponies fell. “We’re under-” he ran into a wall, “attack! Take c-cover and f-fight.” He slammed his face into several more walls while dodging bullets. The familiar purple curls of Rarity Reyes emerged from the hillside along with her soldiers. “No noble soul will die tonight. Troops, ATTACK!” The line of rebels opened fire upon the confused battalion. Joan threw herself to the ground, she had no way to move and she felt her wings sticking to her body as if they had been sewn there. A celestian army troop ran right by Joan, he stopped and pulled his gun out but a bullet passed through him ending his chance on her life. If she didn’t move she would be an even easier target then Epileps was to alcohol. Joan arched her back, trying her hardest to get her wings to move, but with every bullet that flew around her they would flatten themselves right back to her body. The sounds kept getting closer and louder and the bullets would fly right next to her startling her every single time. A bullet chipped off a small piece of Joan’s hair, her wings then burst off her body and she shot up into the sky spinning around uncontrollably as the bullets continued to glue and unglue her wings to her body. She crashed through the curtain of one of the houses and crashed into a bed. A loud magical surge manifested near Joan and Princess Luna teleported into the room, “Ahh. Joan! I went to get Miss Reyes when I first saw that wretched blooded stallion!” Princess Luna’s horn glowed through her hat and she cut open Joan’s ropes. Gun fire rang about the small village cutting its way into Luna’s voice. “While we were watching they stored your weapons in the house next door.” Joan stood up and shook her whole body, her eyes were more derp then normal but her face was scorned with an unshakable rage. “Lunar-….Luna, can you get me to the house next door.” Luna looked out the window Joan had crashed through, “I can, but it could be dangerous.” She looked directly into Joan’s eyes, “alright get close to me.” Joan put a hoof on Luna’s wing, she powered up magic in her horn and the glow surrounded Joan, she felt her body being swooped up and vacuumed into the house next door, Joan raised her hoof up ready to punch anything wearing a Celestian Army uniform. But no one was in the house, Joan shifted her shoulders down but still punched the chest that was in front of her with a vigorous lack of enthusiasm. The chest popped open and Joan’s satchel and weapons were jammed into it. She grabbed her things and shot out of the small house and into the tense open courtyard. She barrel rolled behind a wall and popped up from the right side, she quickly disposed of an enemy and rolled around to the tree he was hiding behind. A few gunshots popped behind her and she dashed for cover, dirt flew up as she darted from her spot. Joan began to concentrate, her eyes began to dart furiously in different directions, she felt the world slow down and the clear perception of the area invaded her senses. She whipped around the corner and took out the 4 ponies that had been firing at her earlier. A few Rebels rounded there way around the largest building in Cloparosa, a courthouse. Red Bloods was hiding inside. “Joan, fantastic work darling, a real red devil among shooters. Now we must get this man, he may know where Schizo could be.” Rarity Reyes said with her head held up, she turned towards her soldiers, her stylish poncho swaying with her movements. “And his is the right hoof to our enemies cause, we sever the hand and the monster will bleed.” She looked at the rest of the soldiers who had joined near by. Princess Luna sat back while Miss Reyes gave her rousing speech, a magnanimous orator she most certainly was. As she sat back watching 3 robed ponies entered the town and ran straight towards her, bowing when they reached her feet. “The Moon hath returned, and I stand before you.” “What great joy it brings to be with the Night Mother.” “My Princess, my leader I am here to serve you!” The three ponies where kneeled before the night colored alicorn. She simply rested a calm hoof on their shoulders, they looked towards her joyously. One of them peeped out once more, “Princess we will serve your night in this life and the next!” Luna looked towards the moon that she could no longer raise and her eyes narrowed in towards the 3 Lunar Republic members. “The Nightmare awaits its true return, my plans and visions I have been creating.” She looked compassionately towards the three, “You will not be here for when MY night truly returns, but when I return there will be a ‘New’ Lunar Republic, one that your children will run to.” She gave a cold glance back to her moon, her horn glowed lightly and a small breeze blew into the clearing. “My sister’s reign in the Solar Empire won’t last much longer. Even the sun will set upon her rule!” Joan looked back from the crowed wondering what Luna was doing, she hadn’t heard anything. “Luna, we have uncovered many important things about the government in Los Pegasus.” “Good tell, Joan, what she needs to know.” “And now, the Enemy cowers instead of facing the justice he rightfully deserves. Now we go, Joan take the reins and go forth into the helm. He has caused you a deal of pain today.” Joan walked towards the door, you could hear from it coming the sounds of panic from a single soul. Joan jumped up and kicked the door in, Red Bloods was cowering in the corner. Joan trotted up to him and shoved her new double barrel into his face. “Where is she you cowered!?” “Where is who?” Red Bloods said fearfully but with a tone of panicked hilarity. Joan grabbed him and threw him across the room, he landed with a thud. “Schizo! WHERE IS SHE YOU OPULENT PRICK!” Joan yelled, spitting out profusely, her furiousness displayed with her spazy body motions. “Now why would I tell you?” He smiled as he felt he had won for some reason. Joan violently punched him across the face with her hoof. A small dribble of blood pooled out of Red Bloods muzzle. “Where. Is. She.” He didn’t answer but continued to smile at her. She relinquished two more strong punches on him. “Joan! We have some news you should here.” One of the robed LR members spoke up, he pulled his cloak back, it was Light Chaser. “We have evidence to say that Schizo is residing in the Palace of the Sun in Los Pegasus. With Colonel Trixande.” Joan looked at Red Bloods, she then dropped him to the ground. She looked around the courthouse at the Rebels gathered around. “He’s all yours, he has been causing problems for you much longer than he has for me.” Joan walked from the room, Rarity Reyes followed quickly as the shouts and screams of Red Bloods built up from the beating he was most likely receiving, and just a body he would soon become. “Joan, the battle is almost over, our war almost done. It seems that our fabulous destinies have crossed yet again. Los Pegasus will be on alert now for any of the rebels. Before we mount our real attack on the final stronghold. A secret gem awaits us. I think if we send the Lunar Republic members to scout out possible weak points and attack areas that we could have an upper hand. And maybe even spread some rumors or panic among the citizens.” She placed a hoof on Joan’s shoulder. “We will march in a glitter of diamonds on the last enemy that shall be destroyed. Soon…soon we attack!”