Kai sprinted through town as quickly as he could. The thoughts raced through his mind of what he was going to do or what he might say to his brother. His only hope was that Myar had broken free of his madness and came to apologize, but what Spike had said made it was clear he had not.
The castle was in sight, the entire palace still stood tall. No fires, no destruction, nothing. He cautiously walked up the steps of the castle. Pulling the handle revealed it was locked, an eerie silence came from the other side. Kai stepped back down the steps and looked up to see if there was an open window of some sort.
The light from the early sun bared down above the castle, camouflaging the white fur that sat upon one of the many castle roofs.
“Brother!” The voice called out.
Kai looked up, still unable to see where the voice had come from.
‘Show yourself Myar, we can talk peacefully.’
“Can we?” The voice spoke as a powerful blast struck the steps in front of Kai, knocking him backwards to the ground.
As the dust settled, Kai caught a glimpse that made him immediately rise to his feet. Myar stood where the blast had hit, a wickedly foul grin across his face, the black and red horn protruding from his forehead seemed larger than in the Everfree Forest.
‘Where are the others? What of my pony friends?’ Kai growled.
“Don’t worry brother, everyone is safe.” Myar replied as the castle doors swung open.
The firefoxes poured out the door, tossing a tied up Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash to the ground behind Kai. The whites that had filled the eyes of each firefox showed they were no longer in control of themselves. They flew up to the sky, waiting to be given the command to strike.
‘Fluttershy? Rainbow Dash? Are you alright?’ He asked, but gags had been placed in their mouths, preventing them from answering.
“What’s the matter brother? Don’t worry, we won’t harm them as long as you submit.” The white firefox smirked, knowing he would get his way no matter the choice.
“Kai! Don’t listen to him!” Twilight yelled as Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack rushed to his aid.
They were then lifted up into the air by Myar’s magical horn. “You will not interrupt a second time!” Ropes magically formed around them, then they were dropped to the ground next to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash.
“I have all of your friends, all of your family, and all of your kind. Submit, become one and we shall not harm you.”
Kai looked to his tied up friends, then back to Myar. The look of pure sorrow had filled his face as he stared at his brother. He knew that he could not submit to Myar as it would mean doom for all, but the only other option was equally as unpleasant.
‘Brother. I will not submit to your will. If you want my spirit, you’re going to have to take it from me by force.’ Kai replied as heat began to emit from his body. The grass around him began to singe and turn to ashes.
“Fight? Why fight when I can just control you?” Myar asked, his grin turned to a frown. “No! I will not fight, there is no need.”
His words were confusing to Kai, as it seemed like he was arguing with someone else.
“I am in control. I am not to be trifled with!” Myar yelled before bellowing flames from his mouth. “I do not care about your petty conflict, controlling him would be the same victory! Why fight now!”
Kai watched as his brother argued with himself, unsure of what he should do. Twilight managed to remove the gag from her mouth while Myar’s magic waned. “Kai! Do it now! The horn!”
Her words snapped him back to reality, he understood immediately and began racing towards Myar as quickly as he possibly could. Myar turned his attention back to Kai as he leaped into the air onto Myar. Kai’s teeth sunk into the horn as hard as they could. Myar collapsed to the ground under the weight of his brother.
“Get off me you simpleton!” He yelled, a large cracking noise could be heard as Kai pulled on the horn.
Magical light surrounded Myar followed with a blast of energy that sent Kai flying. Kai skidded to a stop in the dirt, still managing to stand on his feet after the full force of that blast. As he opened his eyes he noticed Myar looked very unhappy, more so now than previously.
“You did it!” Twilight yelled.
Kai hadn’t noticed at first, but he felt his teeth still clamping down. Once he unclenched his jaw, the horn fell to the ground, broken at the base.
“I’ve already absorbed the power from your kind, I no longer need my horn! I am more powerful than I ever was!” Heat began to rise from Myar’s body, glowing brighter and brighter every second.
‘Brother! I know you’re in there! You’ve got to fight it!’ Kai called out as he pushed towards Myar. The winds emitting from Myar’s body were strong and scorching, preventing Kai from quickly reaching his brother.
‘It’s me, Kai! Your brother! You looked up to me at one point!’
“Your brother is no longer here! I am going to destroy everyone you love, and then rule this puny world!” The voice Myar once held had become darker, the blinding light spread out from him as if he were the sun itself.
Twilight and the other ponies could only close their eyes for fear they would be blinded. Kai marched forward slowly, knowing his brother was in just as much danger as everyone else.
‘I know you are in there Myar! Don’t let this happen! You can stop this!’
“Does it hurt knowing that your brother’s jealousy caused all this? That it caused your doom!?” A frenzied laugh came from inside the light.
‘After you were born, I was jealous of you Myar!’ Kai called out as he reached the bottom of the steps, the heat becoming too much even for a firefox, but he still pressed forward.
“W-What?” The voice was soft, not rasped like it had become.
‘I was no longer the sole heir, the only cub. I was jealous that you got so much attention! From our parents, our elders, even others my age!’
“No! Stop!” The heat grew brighter and hotter, the grass turning to ashes around the steps of the castle. The firefoxes that hovered above were being pushed back by the heat itself.
‘It was only after you got older that I realized the jealousy was misplaced! I did everything in my power to impress you, to be a better older brother than I had been!’ Kai reached up and placed his front paws around Myar’s burning body, the crackling of flames could be heard as the two were pressed against each other.
‘Now I see that jealousy runs in our family. You do not have to be envious brother!’
“B-Brother.”
‘It’s all right. I am proud of you. I’ve always been honored to call you brother.’
The heat vanished just as quickly as it began. The magical ropes disintegrated off of the ponies and the other firefoxes fell to the ground as their consciousness returned. The ponies rose to their hooves and looked towards the steps of the castle.
The light slowly faded from the steps of the castle. Two orange furry creatures sat holding one another, tears rolling down their faces.
“Kai?” Said Twilight.
He let his embrace go and turned his head to Twilight. ‘It’s okay.’
Myar resembled Kai almost identically, though a little bit smaller and a white dot on his forehead in place of a horn.
The firefoxes had risen to their feet and bunched together at the bottom of the steps. Kai’s father and mother ran up through the crowd and nuzzled their two sons.
“Y-You’re not mad at me?” Myar said, his voice subtle and calm, tears still dripped down from his eyes.
‘We’re just glad you’re back to normal.’ Replied Myko as she began to cry.
“I-I’m so s-sorry. I’m just s-so sorry.” Myar cried out.
The group of ponies gathered behind the firefoxes, watching with tears in their eyes at the return of Myar. Well, all except Twilight who was examining the horn that was pulled off of Myar’s head.
“Found something interesting, dear Twilight?” A dark voice asked.
The shock caused her to drop the horn and shriek at the same time. She looked behind her to see the large dark blue alicorn standing tall, looking back down on her.
“Princess L-Luna?”
Luna gave a smile to her fellow alicorn before looking towards Kai and his kin. “I am glad to see all has gone well for Kai and his kind.”
“Well, that remains to be seen, but I’m sure if anything comes up Kai will be more than capable of handling it.”
“Don’t be such a pessimist, otherwise you’ll be an exact replica of my sister.” Luna jested, a short giggle coming from the alicorn.
“A replica of Celestia!” Twilight shouted, a glittering light filled her eyes.
Luna rolled her eyes with a large grin. “And what shall we do with that?” She asked.
“Study it, destroy it, place it somewhere so that nobody can ever find it. Something like that, I’d imagine.” Twilight looked to Kai and his family. “So that nopony can ever be hurt again.”
The night had come strong for Ponyville. The wind had chilled the warm summer’s day, along with the heat that kicked up from the brother’s duel. The chill was a normal occurrence in the usually peaceful town.
“Twilight, come on! Everybody is already there! We’re going to be late!”
Spike opened the door to the night, the steps had yet to be fixed from the battle that raged that very morning.
“Go on ahead Spike. I’ve still got to grab my telescope.”
He rolled his eyes at Twilight and rushed out, closing the door behind him.
Spike ran up the hill, the same hill that the ponies had gathered on to watch the meteors fall. This night was different, no meteors to be found. Instead, a large group of furry orange aliens sat upon the hill, waiting to be sent to their new home.
“Go on, give it to her now.” Rarity said as she placed the wrapped present in front of Kai.
He nudged the box over to Princess Luna. Many of the younger firefoxes had been sitting around her, listening to her tales of the night and her experience on the moon.
“Don’t worry little ones, there is nothing- Oh! Kai!” She interrupted herself as she noticed the box he brought over. “Is… Is that for me?”
He nodded with a smile. Luna lifted the box up and pulled the wrapping off. She lifted the present out of the box and raised it up to the moonlight. It was a bow, just like the one she had given to him, except orange with little paw prints decorating the pattern.
“Oh, thank you Kai!” She said, giving him a kiss to the forehead in return. “I shall cherish it always.”
A big smile filled his face as it quickly turned red from embarrassment. The children cheering underneath Luna’s feet. Keeko wandered up with a raise of an eyebrow.
Kai turned to look at Keeko, still blushing profusely. “K-Keeko?”
“Humph!” A murmur she made as she flicked her tail in his face, then began to walk away.
“W-Wait!” He yelled as he chased after her. Luna and the cubs laughing as he scurried off.
“Aren’t those two just the cutest?” Rarity said to Fluttershy as they watched the interaction.
Fluttershy simply nodded, but the voice behind them replied. ‘No.’
The two ponies were startled by the firefox that stood menacingly behind them.
‘That Kai is a troublemaker. I swear, my daughter has lost her senses.’ Jericko said.
‘Aw, c’mon!’ Kai’s father replied as he placed a paw around Jericko’s back. ‘Don’t be like that! We’ll be in-laws soon!’
Jericko groaned as the two ponies giggled to each other.
Twilight had finally arrived, carrying a telescope with her magic. She began to set up in front of the firefoxes and ponies that sat on the hill, just as she had when they first met Kai.
“Yay! Twilight’s here! That means we will begin soon! Doesn’t that just make you want to explode with happiness!?” Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she squeezed an uncomfortable looking Myar.
“Uhm, yes, it does.” He replied in a muttered voice.
“Going to the moon is really exciting, you’re going to love it there! I’ve been there once though I don’t think it was canon, but I’ve got my own cannon so I can make everywhere a party! So I just know you’re going to love it as much as I love throwing parties! It’s so exciting!” Pinkie spewed the words out of her mouth so quickly that Myar could barely understand her meanings, but appreciated her enthusiasm.
“Pinkie, give the little guy a break. He’s already been traumatized enough.” Applejack added, shoving an apple into her mouth.
Twilight clapped her hooves together to get the attention of both firefoxes and ponies. “Alright everybody, if you would please settle down. We can begin if you are ready, Princess Luna.”
Luna gave her a nod and headed to the front of the firefoxes. She cast a spell that lit up a light blue beam that lead directly to the moon itself. “One at a time, please.”
One of the firefoxes stepped forward, the first to head to their new home. As it stepped into the blue light, they were lifted up slowly into the sky, and transported safely to the moon.
Twilight looked through the telescope to see the other end of the beam. She waited to see if the firefox had arrived. Upon its arrival, a small red flash lit up for a moment, detailing that it was safe for the others to step through.
“Okay, we’re good to go.” Twilight said with a smile. “Next!”
The ponies gathered around wishing their goodbyes to the firefoxes. They had gotten to know them fairly well in the short span of time, making it a teary goodbye for most. Rainbow and Artimas bowed graciously to one another, while Fluttershy cried immensely with Roshk. It was not forever that they were saying goodbye, but it felt as if it were.
The firefoxes stepped into the beam one by one until it was just Myar, Keeko and Kai remaining. Keeko hugged Kai before stepping into the beam and floating up into the sky, mouthing words to him in their native tongue. A nod and a smile was all he returned.
‘Alright Myar, I’ll be right behind you. Don’t worry.’ Kai placed his paw on Myar’s head.
“I know brother. I just wish I had more time to get to know these ponies like you did.” He replied in a saddened tone, his eyes faced the ground.
“Don’t not fear little one. I will make sure that we will visit you soon. You have my word.” Princess Luna said, her voice commanding his attention. “After all, you’re the only one that speaks our language.”
Tears filled his eyes as he looked up at the noble pony. He nodded with a smile before running into the beam and floating away.
‘One left.’ Kai said as he looked to his pony friends.
The eight gathered around him, giving him one last hug goodbye.
“Ahm gonna miss you partner, you take good care of your family.” Said Applejack.
“And don’t forget to write! Or forget to learn to write!” Added Pinkie Pie.
“Don’t go sleeping on any tables!” Spike teased.
As Kai walked over to the beam he turned back to face them.
‘I look forward to the next time we meet. Please, do not make us wait too long.’
The ponies sat there, some with tears in their eyes. Kai backed up into the beam and began to be lifted into the air.
“Goodbye Kai!” “We’ll miss you!” “We love you!” Came from the ponies as they watched him float up.
‘Goodbye my…’ He stopped himself from using the telepathy. Instead, he yelled as best he could.
“FAM-UH-LEE!”
After he vanished out of sight, the light beam disappeared. Twilight rushed to the telescope to see if they had made it safely. One final bright orange burst of light appeared on the moon. She looked back to the group and nodded.
They had one big group hug as Luna stared at them with a smile.
“Hey! You’re just as much a part of this!” Pinkie Pie yelled as she ran over and nuzzled against Luna, the others rushing to do the same.
Luna lowered her head to be closer to them before saying anything. “Family.”
“Family!” They all yelled out in unison.