//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Subtly // Story: Elements of Brotherhood // by Fuster Cluck //------------------------------// Artyom awoke to something soft against his skin, but he couldn’t make out what it was. His vision cleared to reveal him spooning with Luna, she must have crawled in with him. He didn’t mind, it has been a long time since he cuddled with anything. He dug his face into her soft fur and said. “Again?” “Sorry, there was no place to sleep, and you seemed so friendly, I didn’t think you’d mind…” Luna replied as her facial expression changed to sadness, realising she was probably about to be kicked out. “I don’t” “What?” “It has been a while since I’ve had a real friend” “What about Dima, Sasha and Dmitry?” “They’re not friends, they are brothers. We live together, drink together, laugh together and fight together, they are the only family I’ve ever known and I would happily die for them. But is has been so long since I’ve had a casual friend, someone just to drink with or play video games. Something less... Serious. I’m always up for something new, someone new.” Luna smiled and nuzzled the underside of his chin. She then shuffled close to him and wrapped her forehooves around him in a gentle embrace. “It’s been a while since I had a friend too” “Guys! Quick!” yelled Rainbow Dash as she burst through the door of the humans’ house. “What is it?” asked Artyom, turning away from his video game. “Trixie has returned, she banished Twilight, put a force field around Ponyville and has started enslaving ponies!” “Who the fuck is Trixie?” “Old rival, it doesn’t matter, quickly grab your weapons and follow me!” The humans nodded and armed up, Artyom turned to Luna as they headed out. “You keep on playing, I doubt this will be much of a challenge.” Luna nodded as the team set out. Everypony on the street kept their distance, some gave them angry looks or even insulted them. Most likely, this was from how they destroyed those nine stallions last night, landing two in critical condition with a broken spine and third degree burns. After a good ten minutes of walking they found town hall, with the mayor caged outside. Dima walked over to the caged mare and kicked the barred door open. The mayor slowly walked out and addressed her rescuers. “Thank you, she’s in there” she pointed a hoof towards town hall. Dima nodded and turned back to his comrades. He motioned his head towards the building and joined them as they approached the front door. They all stacked up beside the double doors. Artyom looked at the old wooden door and turned to Dima, who was at the opposite door. “Fuck subtlety” he said as he motioned to the door. The two soldiers both simultaneously kicked in the wooden door, sending them lying off of their old, loose hinges. Trixie was busy sitting on her throne, commanding her slaves. A large crack got her attention as she saw the two wooden doors smash on the floor and four strange creatures pile through the empty door frame. “Well well well” she said, standing from her throne. “A challenge for the great and powerful Trixie?” Trixie fired a bolt of magic into the nearest biped, causing him to fall on one knee and grunt in pain. Artyom stood up, the magical blast didn’t deter him, it only served to piss him off. “Hey Bitch!” he yelled. “Let’s test your reflexes” Artyom un-slung his OSV-96, aimed at Trixie’s neck and fired. The bullet impacted the weird necklace she was wearing, causing it to burst into a blinding red light and shatter into pieces. Trixie started to recollect herself, what had she done! She started to inspect herself, but she was interrupted. “Hmmm, seemed ineffective” said Artyom as he fired another shot into Trixie’s leg, causing it to burst into bits and paint the wall red. The five elements of harmony that were watching screamed. Dima casually walked towards Trixie and picked her up, he then turned to the ponies. “Is there a hospital nearby?” “Ah’ll show ya” answered Applejack. Dima nodded and the Humans followed the group of ponies. Dmitry was left to tend to Rarity, who was growing woozy of the blood. “What usually helps you in situations like this?” he asked. “A drink” It had been a good hour of drinking and both Dmitry and Rarity were thoroughly drunk. After they defeated Trixie the locals started to warm up to them. “So it’s basically a world that doesn’t exist, yet you can interact with it?” said Rarity. “Yeah” Dmitry said. “Hey you wanna head back to my place and... you know...” “I’d thought you never ask” “GIVE IT TO ME, GIVE IT TO ME NOW!” Rarity screamed. “I WANT IT SO BAD, PLEASE!” They were busy playing Club Penguin and Rarity was eyeing a dress she really wanted in the shop. Artyom had two laptops packed away with his xbox, they were able to get wifi from the orbiting ship, letting them play together (and get internet from 42 years ago). Dmitry showed her how to buy Items in the game, and she thanked him. “Thanks for letting me play this, it’s been fun” “You’re welcome, I’m glad you’re having fun” Dmitry and Rarity smiled, they then pulled each other together and locked lips. Rarity climbed out of bed and looked at Dmitry, who was still laying on the bed. “Hey, don’t mention it to my...” she was interrupted. “Your friends? I was just about to ask the same thing” Rarity nodded as Dmitry stood up and got changed. They both walked downstairs and sat on the sofa as the rest of the group came in. After they delivered Trixie to the hospital and gave them a brief explanation o what happened, they set off to find Twilight in the Everfree forest. They found her in Zecora’s hut along with Shinning Armor and Cadance, who came to comfort her. Shinning sat down on a sofa, followed by his wife. Zecora sat at the table beside Dima, still asking him questions about his kind’s medicine. The rest took a seat where ever they could find it. “Did I ever tell you about that time me and my wife here repelled an invasion all by ourselves?” said Shinning. “No” “Ooh, I guess it would be better to show you, Twilight, if you may” Twilight pressed her horn against her brother’s head and cast a spell. A large projection appeared on the wall, showing the events of the Canterlot wedding. Shinning looked over to Artyom. “So what do you think?” “WHAT DO I THINK!” Artyom fumed. “WHAT THE FUCK DO I THINK??”