The sun rose, bringing a new day to Equestria. Demi’s eyes opened to see Fluttershy prepping fresh bandages. Her robes folded nicely beside the bed and her jewelry laid on a table. When Fluttershy noticed Demi was awake, she lightly recoiled in defense.
“You… You were the one who defeated me.” Demi said.
Fluttershy looked around, then pointed to herself. “Who, me?”
“I’m confused. Why would you try to kill me then help me?”
“Oh. Well, I couldn’t just let you lay there hurt like that.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s just mean and insensitive.”
“Insen-” Demi thought to herself as Fluttershy relaxed. “My brother was right. Such a strange place.” She sat up and looked at her bandage.
Fluttershy proceeded to change out Demi’s bandages. Rainbow Dash hovered to the second floor. “Everything okay, Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy looked over to Rainbow Dash. “Oh, yes. Everything’s fine. Her injuries aren’t very bad. I think she was mostly just exhausted and dehydrated.”
Demi looked over to Rainbow Dash. “You survived.”
“Yeah, don’t think your petty trick can stop me.”
“But it almost did.” Demi said.
Rainbow Dash landed and looked at Demi. “So what’s your story?”
“I could ask you the same thing. Why didn’t you kill me when you had the chance?”
Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Meh, not my style.”
“Does no pony in this world have any real courage or valor?”
Fluttershy looked down away from Demi. “I don’t.”
Rainbow Dash crossed her arms offended. “Well I do.”
“I don’t understand how ponies such as yourselves sapped the strength and resolve from my brother. He used to be one of the bravest ponies I knew, even though he was a softie.”
“Are you kidding? He IS a brave and strong pony.” Rainbow said, hovering again.
“A fraction of the pony he once was.”
Rainbow Dash landed in front of Demi. “I’m glad. If he were like you, he wouldn’t be nearly as cool as he is now.”
An awkward silence ensued before Demi looked around. “Where is my brother? I must speak to him.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you do. Listen, I don’t know what your game is, but we won’t let it happen.”
“My game?” Demi stood up. “My life is not a game, weakling.”
“Could have fooled me.”
Applejack walked up to the group. “What’s go’n on around here?”
Rainbow Dash turned around. “Nothing.”
“Darn toot’n nothing.” She tipped her hat, looking over the injured mare. “Ya seem to be in good shape. Come on, Fluttershy. Let’s show her to Crimson.” Demi quickly donned her robes, grabbed her jewelry, then followed the two. Rainbow Dash stared at her as she walked passed.
Applejack and Fluttershy led Demi outside the library where Crimson stood ever vigilant. “He’s been stand’n here all night watch’n the place.” After a brief pause, Applejack put her hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Come on, hun. Let’s leave these two alone for a bit.” Fluttershy nodded and the two went back into the library.
Demi looked at the ground as she walked up to Crimson. “An impressive circle. Are you sure you have the strength to control it?”
“I already am.” Crimson looked at his sister. “It is a proximity ward.”
Demi once again examined the circle. “Why it is. But somethings different.”
“It is a silent alarm instead of a vicious trap. It is much easier to control.” The two stood silently for a moment. “Your mane is a mess.”
Demi looked down embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I haven’t had the opportunity to groom myself.”
“Your apology is not needed.”
“Another trait you picked up in this world. You don’t groom yourself like you used to either.”
“You are correct. However, I have not had the opportunity nor the resources to do such.”
“Am I going to be so unkempt like you if I stay up here?”
“Not if you wish it.”
The two again stood in silence for a moment. “So tell me, why did you leave?”
Crimson looked at his sister. “What do you mean?”
“Why did you leave? Without saying a word, you just vanished.”
“I do not regret my decision.” Crimson continued to look up into the distance. “Do you remember when we last spoke?”
“At the wooden structure near that large land of water?”
Crimson shook his head. “No, before that. It was in my quarters after the ambush of House Razak’s patrol.”
Demi thought to herself for a moment, then shook her head. “That was such a long time ago.”
“I think about it constantly. Day after day, I felt disconnected to what we were lead to believe. I just did not see the logic behind our way of life.”
Demi looked up as she started to remember. “Oh, I remember now. You were saying a lot of traitorous things.” She looked away in shame. “I was forced to tell Scorch about what you said.”
“I know. But even deep into that way of life, you have always been kind to me.”
Demi grinned. “Well, yeah. You were my way into power.”
“Back then, I would have agreed to your thoughts and helped you ascend. Now, I do not think that was the case.”
Demi looked at her brother. “Oh really? Then tell me, what was it?”
Crimson stood silent staring at a specific area in the distance. “Come. It is time we left.”
Demi’s eyes turned white. “I agree.” They phased back to normal and the two started to leave the area.
The two walked outside the town limits into the forest heading north-west - the location of the disturbance Crimson and Demi saw in the distance.
“Just like old times, right brother?”
Crimson nodded. “It has been a while. Ever since the Marchulk Outpost incident, we have been separated.”
“And it’s not like Temethyst was going to keep his promise anyways. We were going to destroy them after the trade. We just… saved them the trouble and wiped them out. And we got what we wanted out of it too.”
“I do not deny the challenge they posed.”
“Oh come now. Stop being so modest. You know we were more than a match for that puny outpost and their pathetic guards.”
“You are correct.” Crimson said with a nod. “At the time, they were nothing but vile pests to be crushed at my hoof.” Demi grinned at Crimson’s reply. “But that was a long time ago. I am a different pony, and no longer the savage, villainous soldier I once was.”
Demi’s grinned vanished and she rolled her eyes. “I bet you miss it - the feeling of power and fear. The feeling of respect and honor. The feeling of purpose.”
Crimson looked at Demi. “If what you have told me is true, that life is no longer yours to live.”
“What? Don’t you trust me?”
Crimson looked ahead as they went through the woods. The conversation came to a halt when the two stopped and looked at a pony in a blue uniform. “Greetings, officer.”
“And to you too, Destroyer.” The officer replied. “I finally found you.”
Demi smiled and looked at her brother trying not to laugh. “They call you ‘Destroyer’? I thought you’ve gone soft.”
Crimson looked at his sister. “It is not what you think.”
“You are surrounded. Surrender and return with us to Vanhoover so that you can stand trial.” Police earth ponies revealed themselves from their hiding places surrounding the two ponies. Demi and Crimson didn't look the least bit shocked, as if they expected it.
“Wow, so many flesh bags.” Demi looked at the police officer. “So tell me, what did my brother do to deserve this?”
“Murder, destruction of private and prestigious property, trespassing…”
“Oh, murder. I knew you couldn’t resist.”
Crimson shook his head. “It is not what you think…”
The officer took a more firm stand. “Surrender and come with us, or we’ll force you to comply!”
Demi started to laugh. “Insolent swin. Do you really think you have a goddess’s hope in hell to walk away from this?”
The officer stared at the two criminals. “So be it. Ponies, detain them!”
Crimson and Demi turned away from each other as the police ponies started to charge at them. Demi lightly turned her head to Crimson. “What do you say? A race?”
Crimson smiled slightly looking back to her. “Very well.” The two went into position as the attackers got closer into range. Crimson stared intently as his approaching prey, his eyes and horn glowing. Then he stomped the ground with his hoof, allowing the earth to draw upon his strength. With the strength of earth empowering his hooves, the police ponies jumped to subdue the red coated pony. He shifted to the side then jerked his hoof from the ground, causing a pillar of stone to come up from the ground, smashing one of the police ponies aside, colliding with the one next to it. More ponies attacked Crimson trying to flank him, but the experienced warrior knew what to expect. He bucked on his hind legs, then jumped at one of the flankers. The attacker jumped to try to tackle him, but Crimson took the low ground, ducking under the lunging attacker. As the pony flew over him, Crimson spun around and pushed up, causing the pony to spiral out of control. In flight, he crashed into the other flanker causing them to both collapse to the ground. He turned to see how his sister was doing to see the ponies on her side in the same condition as his. Demi turned to address Crimson while keeping her focus at the attackers. “I see your life up here hasn’t dulled your fighting skills too much.”
“Just because I have not fought does not mean I do not practice.”
The officer pony stomped his hoof in anger. “That does it. Now I’m mad!” He rose his hoof. “SWAT ponies, prepare to engage the two criminals!” Unicorns, who look like they meant serious business, came from their hiding spots with horns lit. Demi and Crimson’s horns lit up in response to the magical threat as they looked at the surrounding unicorns.
Demi addressed the surrounding unicorns. “By the time this is over, you’ll all perish under our hooves.”
Crimson turned his head at his sister. “No fatalities.”
“What?” Demi drew her attention from the unicorns to her brother. “You must be joking.”
Crimson shook his head. “For you to keep my trust, you must do things my way.”
Demi sighed. “Very well. But you’d better not be as rusty as your previous performance was.”
The officer pony looked at the two chattering on. “Are you done? This isn’t some story where you can talk during a fight.”
Crimson looked at the officer. “This is your final warning. Stand down before you all get hurt.”
Demi turned her head once again at Crimson. “I’m trusting you with those kind of comments?”
The officer pony shook his head. “Enough of this. Attack!”
Simultaneously, the unicorns unleashed an attack at the two surrounded ponies. At the same time, Demi and Crimson were surrounded by erupting fire bursting from the ground. Just as the attacks hit, both of them surround themselves in a single omni-shield made of magic fire. The blasts hit the barrier and it flexed and pulsated with the magical energies hitting the shield. The unicorns stayed focused on their attack.
“Second squad, engage!” The officer pony ordered as a group of earth ponies started to rush the surrounded defenders. Just as the ponies reached the shield, it exploded, causing a wave of magical energy to burst from the shield and at the attackers. The armored earth ponies were knocked back, but the unicorns stood in a daze.
Crimson and Demi, unharmed by the assault, started their counter-attack against the special weapons and tactics unit of Vanhoover. Like a well oiled machine, Crimson and Demi moved as if they were performing a dance of battle. Demi ducked allowing Crimson to roll over her and unleashed a combined whip of fire, slashing at the earth ponies, sweeping them off the ground and into trees. The unicorns started to break their daze, then got ready to attack again. Crimson grabbed Demi’s front hooves and spun her around, lending her the empowered whip and slashed against the unicorns. In a blink of an eye, half of the officer pony’s special forces units laid incapacitated. He stood there speechless as the two systematically deconstructed the ambush he held for them until they were all unconscious. Demi and Crimson, standing side by side without a blow landed on them, looked at the officer pony.
The officer pony looked shocked at the performance. “How could this be?”
Crimson started to slowly walk up to the officer. “Your ambush has failed.”
Demi walked up beside him. “You were a fool to think your childish tactics stood a chance against us. Be thankful that my brother has shown you mercy in your disgraceful defeat.”
Then, the stomping of a hoof was heard from the outskirts of the battlefield. Crimson, Demi, and the officer turned to look at the onlooker as Scorch stepped from the shadows. “Bravo. Bravo. You two really do work well together.”
Demi and Crimson turned and faced Scorch. Crimson turned his head at the officer pony. “Get your ponies out of here. This place is no longer safe.”
Again, Demi looked at Crimson. “Really, brother? Really?”
Crimson remained silent as the pony officer tired to get his troops out of the area.
A standoff. Demi and Crimson stared intensely at their foe. Scorch stared back into their eyes with focus and intent to kill. Against any other pony, Demi could use her powers to see the outcome of this standoff. Against Scorch, he would use her state of pause to eliminate half of his resistance.
A long and tense silence ensued. Finally, Scorch gave a small grin - more than enough of a tell for Demi and Crimson to act. The two split up as Scorch blasted a pillar of fire between the two, breaking them up. The pillar shifted toward Demi, allowing Crimson to get some footing. Crimson launched a pillar of fire back at Scorch. Scorch flapped his wings and jumped with great height over Crimson’s attack while the pillar shifted to its new target - Crimson. Seeing the advancement of the fiery pillar, Crimson jumped out of the way.
Demi tried a different tactic and went for the earth magic. With her horn and eyes glowing, she stomped her left hoof, then her right, submitting her magic into the ground. Then she bucked back, redirecting the magical energies from an attack from below. Scorch lashed his head at the pillar, destroying it, then dove toward Demi to confront the seer in melee combat. Demi gave a giant wing assisted leap back to gain distance as Scorch charged her. Crimson tried to help her sister by transmitting some of his magic energy into the earth to create a wall of stone in between the rushing Scorch and the defending Demi. With seemingly little effort, Scorch, while in his charge, gave a light leap, spun 180 degrees into the air, landed with his back legs, then whipped his head around with a powerful whip of fire attacking the wall. The wall of stone shattered at the mighty attack causing rocks of various sizes and shapes to blast toward Demi. She was forced to cover her eyes to protect them from debris as Scorch continued his charge with little delay. Before Crimson could intervene, Demi was knocked back from a bull rush from Scorch. He leapt into the air, rose his lethal climbing claws, and was prepared to slash at the helpless pony before a spike of stone launched from the ground at the leaping attacker. With a wide slash, Scorch destroyed the spike, but the delay gave just enough time for Demi to roll out of the way of the fatal attack.
Using her momentum of the roll, she jumped to her hooves, but falterd from a slashing wound in her left shoulder from Scorch’s last attack. Feeling that magic alone won’t win the day, Crimson ran to Demi’s aid as Scorch grinned at the wounded seer. His horn lit up and fire started to spew out before Crimson leapt and hit his brother. The two tumbled before Crimson was thrown by the overpowering pony. He spread his torn wings to try to gain stability only to feel a sting in his torso - another hit by Scorch and his claws. Unable to maintain stability from his injury, he fell to the ground and tumbled on his back. Observing Crimson’s condition, Scorch went in for the kill with a menacing bloodthirsty grin. As he took a step forward, his feet got wrapped up in stone magic from Demi. He turned his head, his eyes and horn lit up, and the stone shackles turned to dust. He started to slowly trot to Demi, who was getting ready for the oncoming attack. Still grinning, he jumped into the air, his horn extending a fire whip. Demi started to raise a flame barrier to absorb the attack only for Scorch to land without using it. With his eyes and horn still glowing, he shifted his focus to the ground. He bucked back, using earth magic instead, causing the ground below Demi to suddenly flip her backward into an uncontrollable tumble.
She regained her balance to see only a wall of fire rushing toward her. In desperation, she once again put up her flame barrier to absorb the attack. She heard laughing over the sound of the intense flames. The heat from his enhanced magic started to slowly overpower her shield as it started to buckle. Just before she collapsed, the attack suddenly stoped as Crimson attacked from behind. Though a weak attack, he was able to muster enough strength to tackle Scorch with a surprise attack. Scorch just rolled over and kicked him up into the air. While laying on his back, Scorch smashed the ground with his front hooves causing stones to jump from the ground. He kicked them with his hind legs and they hurled themselves toward the weakened and airborne Crimson. The stones shattered into dust on impact, launching Crimson back hard into a tree.
Before Scorch rolled over to get up, he felt the earth below him suddenly drop like a sinkhole. He fell for a second before the earth around him closed, swallowing him up.
With a moment to regroup, Crimson slowly stood to his hooves, then used a foreleg to hold the deep gash in his chest and abdomen. He looked at his sister, who was in her visionary trance - the battlefield around them engulfing itself in fire from the fight. After her eyes turned back, she looked at Crimson trying to catch her breath. “Little brother, we can’t win.”
Crimson nodded and the two started to flee the scene.
Moments later, the ground blasted open, shooting large chunks of rock everywhere. Scorch jumped out of his temporary entrapment. He looked around to see that his prey were no where to be found. He laughed then takes a deep breath. “COWAAARDS!”
The two rushed through the forest as Demi used her magic to cover their tracks as best as possible. Crimson’s wound was deep and got more dangerous the longer it went untreated. Eventually, he collapsed into a tree. He tried to catch his breath as he held his wound. His complexion started to turn pale as he looked down at his blood dripping down his hoof. He looked up at his sister, who too had deep gashes. Though she hid it, he can see that the wounds were a great hindrance and will cause a massive problem very soon. Weighing his options, Crimson leaned against the tree and slid down. Demi turned around to notice Crimson’s diminishing condition.
She limped over to him. “Come on, Little Brother. We have to move.”
“Go…” Crimson panted heavily. “Go on with out me.”
She leaned down and put his hoof over her shoulder. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Though a struggle, she eventually got him to his hooves. “If you die, there’s no hope for me.”
Crimson looked at his sister’s face as she tried to bear his weight. He looked at her dry skin from being engulfed in flames and her long, sweaty mane that blocked the details of her pretty face. “You… You need a grooming. You are a mess.”
Demi tried to smile. “Again with your profound jokes.” Demi’s wing reached forward and brushed back her mane from her face.
Crimson winced in pain. “Find…” His strength left him, and slid from her support. The tree slightly shifted at Crimson’s impact. “Find Princess Twilight Sparkle.” Before Demi could say anything, he lifted his hoof to silence his sister. “Find her and her friends… They will help.”
From the depths of the woods, a pony walked up to the two. “Well now, it seems that I am able to return victorious after all.” The officer pony stood, watching the two battered and beaten ponies. “You two got your asses kicked.”
Demi’s horn glowed with rage. “How dare you speak to me with such insolence!”
The officer lifted his hoof, and the once beaten squad surround Demi and Crimson once more. “This is your last chance. Surrender, or be tried and executed where you filth stand.”
Demi’s horn still glowed as she looked over the situation. She observed the determination in the police officer’s eyes. She noticed the unicorn's willingness to take them both down at a moment’s notice. She looked at her brother’s deteriorating condition. She thought briefly before making her decision. “You will give my brother medical attention at once. Do so, and we shall go with you.”
The officer smiled. “Deal.” Demi’s glowing horn stopped as the officers rushed in to subdue them. At the same time, they started to mend Crimson’s wound.
“Sir, this doesn’t look good.” The medical unicorn said looking at Crimson’s condition.
The detective went over to the subdued warrior. “Explain.”
“There are three lacerations cutting through three, maybe four ribs.” The medical officer looked closer as his horn glowed to illuminate the wound. “There may be some internal damage. I can’t tell until we get to Vanhoover.”
Demi looked furiously at the detective. “If my brother dies, you all die.”
The officer pony lifted his hoof at the mare. “Calm down.” He looked at the medical officer. “Is he good to travel?”
“Do we have a choice?”
“Then let’s hurry.” They patched up Crimson as best as they could and the group and start their painful trip back to the city.