"I must admit, I've found the recounting of your personal history... quite enjoyable so far." Fletcher told Black.
"Oh, yeah." Caboose munched on some popcorn. "If it were a fanfic, it'd get like, a hundred favorites... hint, hint."
"Yeah, well, I'm afraid the good times were over and done with." Black frowned. "From here on out, things start getting dark. Brace yourselves gents, because you're going to learn first-hoof how far a stallion can fall..."
"...Well, I fell from a clock tower, so we can fall very far." Caboose mused, "Oh, and my brothers told me how Twitch jumped from the top of the Crystal Empire castle, and survived, even though he got shot and was practically set on fire-"
"Caboose, I think he meant that metaphorically." Fletcher frowned.
"You mean how the writers can make us survive anything because screw the rules, they're metaphors?" Caboose remarked.
"...As I was saying..." Black frowned. "Things were about to take a turn for the worst... and it all started with me losing one of the few things I'd ever loved..."
Many years ago...
Well over three years had passed since the clash with Dysley.
Just as they predicted, they hadn't heard anything about Project: Bad Dreams since that day, leading them to assume that Dysley's demise had shelved the project permanently. Dysley's death did not go unnoticed by news outlets, as stories upon stories of what happened to him circulated Equestria for a month or two. According to them, Dysley had died in a freak airship accident.
Theories and questions of conspiracies arose, but the Taskforce paid them no mind. All they knew was Dysley was dead and nopony would pick up where he left off... they hoped.
Nonetheless, despite their success, the Forefathers still continued unabated by their losses with their operations and schemes, and Taskforce Omega continued to dismantled each and one of them.
One day, on his way back from a mission involving taking down yet another one of the Forefathers' smuggling operations, Black made a quick detour towards Dodge Junction.
'I wonder how big Shine's gotten since the last time I've seen him?' Black wondered. 'I'll bet White and Silver have their hooves full with the kid...'
Black slipped into Dodge Junction, making his way toward White and Silver's home. As he did, he saw them walking down the street. Not only was Shine with, but Silver was carrying a small blue filly.
'Well, well...' Black smiled. 'White, you old dog, you've done it again.'
"Can I hold her, momma?" Shine asked Silver. "I'll be super-duper careful, I promise!"
"Okay, Shine." Silver chuckled. She gently passed the foal to her son.
"Hi, Mist." Shine smiled, whispering gently. "It's me, Shine. Your big brother, remember?"
'Mist...' Black thought. 'What a lovely name.'
Mist reached out and grabbed Shine's cheek with her hoof.
"Heh-heh, that tickles!" Shine giggled.
"She must really love her big brother." White smiled.
"I love her too." Shine beamed.
"We know you do." SIlver declared.
"And I'm gonna be the best big brother ever." Shine looked into Mist's smiling face. "I promise."
'So Shine's a big brother now.' Black thought. 'It's too bad Shade won't ever know that joy. Unless Belle finds somepony else... and I hope she does. I don't want her pining after me her whole life. That wonderful mare deserves to be happy... And she will be, I know it. Both her and Shade. As long as I know my loved ones are happy and safe, that's more than enough for me.'
A short while after, Black returned to the HQ, smiling widely.
"You're certainly chipper today." Micro noted. "I trust you had a particularly successful mission?"
"That's one way of putting it." Black grinned, handing Micro some notes. "I even brought back some souvenirs."
"Marvelous." Micro smiled. "As always, Black, you never fail to please."
"What can I say?" Black smirked. "It's a gift."
"A gift we all greatly appreciate." Elite joined them.
"Yeah, you've really been on fire lately!" Armory grinned.
"Hey, I can't help it if I'm so good at my job." Black bragged.
"And so modest too." Shadow joked.
"Yep, that's me." Black grinned. "There's nothing that can shake me now!"
"Mind yourself, Black." Elite tutted. "Confidence is a good thing to have, but overconfidence can be an issue. Take it from me, there's always something that comes along to surprise."
"Whatever it is, I can handle it." Black smirked.
"Let's hope you're right, mate." Ballista frowned. "Now, what's next on the agenda, boss?"
"Oh, there are a few things lined up." Elite declared. "There are some leads we need to look into, activities that need investigating... We're going to be very busy..."
"Which is just the way I like it." Black smiled. "Let's just see what tomorrow brings us..."
A few weeks later, Black and Ballista were sent to take down one of the Forefathers' holding facilities in Manehattan. Between the two of them, it was mere exercise taking down the guards and leaving them for the police.
"Woo, another successful day!" Black smirked, as he and Ballista walked back to the rendevouz point, where an airship would pick them up (their usual carriage being in for repairs), deciding to travel through the plains near Dodge Junction as a shortcut.
"You said it, mate." Ballista smiled, slinging a well-used crossbow on his shoulder. "Nothing like thumping slimeballs for your country."
"You're preaching to the choir, big guy." Black grinned. "Though I did get more of them than you."
"In your dreams, mate." Ballista chuckled.
"Keep telling yourself that." Black smirked.
The two shared a good-natured laugh.
"So... Black, it must be nice to be near home again." Ballista declared.
"Oh, it is..." Black shrugged, trying to not reveal his trip weeks earlier, "You know, me, my brother, and our friends used to go on a lot of adventures around here when we were kids."
"Is that a fact? I don't really see how you guys could find adventures in a dry, arid wasteland." Ballista deadpanned.
"Of course a out-of-towner like you would say that." Black scoffed jokingly. "But for Dodge Junctioners like me, it was a treasure trove filled to the brim with stuff to find. You know, we actually found a dead body one time."
"You're kiddin'?" Ballista gaped.
"Nope. I tell ya, as a kid, it was pretty cool." Black smirked. "...Although Big Red ended up throwing up, Cherry and Marshall ended up having nightmares, and White..." He trailed off for a moment, only to regan his train of thought. "Well, either way, we didn't get our cutie marks for finding dead bodies."
"I surely hope not." Ballista grimaced. "That would have been pretty bucked up. ...How did you get your Cutie Mark, anyway?"
"That's quite a story." Black nodded. "Back when I was about nine or ten, this rich guy named Moneybags and his son, Fresh Mint, rolled into town. Mint didn't waste any time pushing the other kids around."
"Sounds like a real prince." Ballista snorted.
"Yeah, the prince of bullies." Black scowled. "Nopony liked what he was doing, but because his dad was throwing around money left and right, boosting the economy, and even making a successful run for mayor, they refused to do anything about it. They were too afraid to get on his father's bad side. I wanted to give that punk a whupping, but my parents told me not to."
"That is just wrong." Ballista frowned.
"Tell me about." Black seethed. "But one day, Mint was pushing around White. He shoved into the fence so hard, poor White got a cut on his head. Well, that was the last straw for me. While, Red and Cherry got White some medical attention. I went right up to that punk, and challenged him to fight after dark. I slipped out of the house after dark, and faced that brat out by the swimming hole."
"Then what happened?" Ballista asked.
"Well, the kid put up a better fight than I thought." Black admitted. "But I still pounded him into the dirt. He started whining about going to his dad, but I threatened him with even worse if he ever told anypony. So the little wuss ran back home. And at that moment, my Cutie Mark appeared." He pointed out the Mark. "At first, I figured the red moon stood for the blood I spilled, and the eclipse for the fight happening at night. But over time, I realised it was because I was willing to go into dark places to do good. And I've stuck with that ever since."
"I'll bet your family was proud." Ballista smiled.
"White and mom were." Black nodded. "But my ol' dad was never proud of me."
"Oh, yeah?" Ballista frowned. "Why's that?"
"I guess we never really saw eye to eye." Black declared. "He never treated me the same way he treated White. I never held it against White, though. But I did resent the old guy for always treating me like an unwanted stepchild."
"That's rough, mate." Ballista sighed.
"Honestly, I was glad when he died." Black scowled. "Meant I didn't have to deal with his disapproval anymore. It's just a shame mom had to go with him.."
Suddenly, rain began pouring down upon them in a vicious downpour.
"Crikey." Ballista yelped, shaking his wet head. "So much for a dry, arid wasteland! Where the buck did all this rain come from?!"
"You got me." Black shrugged, ignorant of being drenched, "This happens all the time. One moment it's hot and dry, the next..." He gestured to the rain.
"Ugh... of all the days for Armory's carriage to be in the shop." Ballista grumbled. "Now we have to continue walkin' in the rain."
"Come on, this isn't so bad." Black gave a light smirk, "It's only rain... the only thing you would really need to watch out for is the-"
A roaring sound covered Black's words.
"What the bloody hell?" Ballista frowned.
As they turned, they saw a massive torrent of water pouring down a steep incline.
"Flash flood!" Black yelled. "Run!"
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Ballista nodded.
The two ran for their lives, attempting to avoid the deadly flood.
"Over here!" Black led Ballista to a ridge.
Once they reached the ridge, they were above the water, which poured past them.
"Hoo, safe at last." Ballista sighed with relief, as he then looked nervously at the rushing waters. "We are safe, right?"
"Yes. Fortunately, these flash floods don't last too long." Black panted, "Hopefully there is no one down-"
"HELP!"
Black's ears perked, as he heard a familiar voice.
"White?" Black gasped, as he glanced out into the flood.
To his horror, in spite of how heavy the rain was pouring, Black was able to spot a familiar white Pegasus stallion with a light blue Earth Pony mare, the stallion holding onto a rock.
"Oh, crap..." Ballista gaped, seeing what Black saw, "Is that-"
"It's White and Silver! They're both in trouble!" Black screamed, as he made to jump into the water, "We gotta help them!"
"We can't!" Ballista stopped him. "The water's too strong! You'd be putting your life in danger!"
"But we can't just leave them out there!" Black snarled.
"I know, but we need to come up with a pl-" Ballista tried to reason.
"ANYPONY, PLEASE!" Silver's voice pleaded.
"HELP US! I CAN'T HOLD-" White screamed out.
Suddenly, a big wave of water surged forth and slammed into the two, knocking them off the rock.
"WHITE!" Black roared.
"Black, don't-" Ballista started.
Black shoved Ballista aside as he leapt into deadly waves.
"Oh, Faust dammit!" Ballista snarled, slamming his hooves into the ground.
Moments after diving, Black broke through the water's surface, swimming harder than he ever had in his entire life.
"WHITE!" Black yelled, or at least tried, as his snout kept dipping under the water, causing him to cough up water, "WHITE!"
He couldn't see him or SIlver, making him realize that the waves must had caused them to go under. Holding his breath, he dove underwater, hoping to find his brother and his wife, while trying to not get his body caught up in the currents.
'Come on, White, where are you?!' Black panicked, his eye darting left and right to find them.
Feeling his lungs aching for air, Black quickly resurfaced, taking in mouthful of air as the rough currents tossed him back and forth.
"Black!" Ballista called from further down the ridge. "Get back here!"
"Not until I find them!" Black shook his head.
"Use your bleedin' head!" Ballista growled. "You keep this up, you'll either drown or freeze!"
"I don't care!" Black yelled. He took another deep breath, and dropped back beneath the waves.
"He never listens..." Ballista groaned.
Black continued his search through the raging waters. He gazed desperately through the murky liquid, until his saw two figures, lying against a raised lump of rock. His blood, already chilled by the ice-cold waters, practically froze in his veins as he looked upon White and Silver's bodies, unmoving, unstirring.
'No... no...' Black thought. 'Please, no...'
Shaking off his fear, Black grabbed them both and swam to the surface, gasping for air as he breached.
"Gotta...gotta get to land..." Black panted, as he looked around, elated to find a small hill sticking out of the water. "Oh thank Faust..."
With some of his remaining strength, he was able to fight the currents and pulled himself and his passengers ashore. Black set White and Silver's body down, as he coughed profusely for a few seconds.
However, he didn't have time to rest as he quickly turned to his brother and sister-in-law, both still not moving.
"Oh no..." Black whispered, as he quickly went over to Silver. He put a hoof to her neck, trying to find a pulse... but there was none. Silver Wind was gone. "Oh Faust... White, I'm sorry." His blood went frigid. "White."
Instantly, Black turned to White, as he put a hoof to his neck... only to find no pulse as well.
"No..." Black shook his head. Hoping to find a pulse elsewhere, he checked his hoof. Still no pulse. "No..." Still ignorant, he checked the other hooves, still not finding a pulse, "No, no, no..."
Black then placed his head on White's chest, hoping to feel a heartbeat... but all he heard was the rain and the raging waters...
"White? White?!" Black called out, his mind still not accepting facts, as he tried shaking him, ignoring how cold (despite him being drenched in water beforehand) he was. "Come on, wake up! Wake up!" He then lit up. "CPR, maybe that will help!"
Black placed his hoof atop his chest and begun quick and rapid chest compressions, counting silently to himself, and when that didn't work, he tried giving him two rescue breaths, and then repeated the process.
Black continued this cycle for what seem like forever... but by the tenth time, it was starting to become clear that his brother was never going to wake up... but Black was trapped in denial.
"Come on, White..." Black panted, his hooves growing tired and sore from the many compressions, but still continuing to do them. "Stay with me... breathe... Breathe!"
Unbeknownst to him, he began pressing harder, his body shuddering and his good eye welling up.
"Come on, White... don't do this! you can't die!" Black growled. "Not like this! Not when you have two beautiful kids that needs you! They need you!" He sniffed, "...I need you..."
White's lack of response only made Black's anguish worst.
"GRR, WAKE UP, FAUST DAMN IT!" Black screamed, slamming his hooves in his chest. "BREATHE! BREATHE! WAKE UP! WAKE UPPPPPP!"
Black slammed his two sore hooves into the ground, as he finally broke down, hugging White's lifeless body close to him, sobbing unashamedly.
"Oh, White!" Black cried between desperate wails. "I'm so-ho-horry! Please don't gooo! I love you, brotherrrr! Don't leave meeee!"
"Black!" Ballista yelled, as his rope dart pulled him through the now calming waters. "Black, are you-"
He stopped as soon as he saw his comrade, bawling over his brother's corpse, with his wife's body not far from him. His heart nearly broke upon such a sight.
"Oh, Black..." Ballista whispered.
"White... please... don't leave me... don't leave me all alone..." Black sobbed.
Ballista let out a heavy sigh as he then pulled out his communicator and activated it.
"Hey, it's me, Ballista." Ballista murmured. "We're going to need some air support..." The voice on the other end spoke a bit. "I'll explain later, but we're kinda caught in the middle of a flood right now. We need air evac asap..." The voice talked a bit more. "Good, see you in a few minutes."
After he closed the communicator, he turned to Black, who was still crying, and with great resignation, Ballista approached Black.
"Black..." Ballista called out to him, but Black didn't respond. "Black. We have to get out of here."
"No!" Black shook his head viciously. "I won't leave my brother!"
"Black, your brother's gone." Ballista frowned, trying to keep a firm glance in face of a heartbreaking sight. "There's nothing more you can do for him."
"No... there has to be something!" Black whimpered. "I can't just leave them here-"
"And we won't. We'll make sure somepony finds their bodies. But we have to go." Ballista declared.
"But... but..." Black protested, his voice failing him.
"I know... but it wil do nopony any good if you stick around here..." Ballista said solemnly, as he placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Please..."
Black glanced at his brother's body one last time, as he gently set him down... and then, to his surprise, Black buried his face into his chest, as he continued to weep...
"I'm sorry, Black..." Ballista sighed. "I really am..."
It was only a matter of minutes when a couple of RDL Pegasus agents came in with a flying carriage to pick up Black and Ballista, leaving the couples' bodies where they left them. Black, before he joined Ballista, adjusted their bodies so that their hooves were touching, as a final sign of respect.
About a half hour later, Ballista and Black arrived back at HQ (wearing heating blankets provided by the agents), where Elite and the others were waiting to greet them.
"Black, Ballista, we came as soon as we heard." Elite frowned. "They said that you two were caught in a flash flood or something."
"What the hell happened over there?" Armory asked. "Are you both okay?"
"I'm fine..." Ballista declared... before frowning sadly at Black, whose face remained in twisted anguish. "Wish I can say the same for Black..."
"What? What happened to Black?" Elite questioned, not liking the look on Black's face.
"...I couldn't save them... I couldn't save them..." Black murmured, his eye still teary.
"It was awful..." Ballista sighed. "We were walking through the plains when it suddenly began raining and then there was this flood. We were safe for the most part, but then... we found White Knight and his wife, hanging for dear life on a rock."
"What?!" Everypony gasped.
"White was there?!" Elite gaped.
"Yes... but then they got swept up in the current, and then Black dived in after them... but... by the time Black got them and brought them to shore... they were both gone." Ballista murmured.
"Oh, Black..." Armory whispered.
"You tried so hard..." Shadow mused.
"Against all odds." Micro added. "Alas, sometimes the odds can't be beaten."
"Rooo..." Titan whined.
"if you want to talk about it, we're right-" Elite started.
"Thanks for the offer." Black cut him off. "But right now, I think I want to be alone."
"If that's what you want, we won't stop you." Elite sighed.
"But you know where we are if you need us, right?" Armory asked.
"Yeah, sure." Black nodded. "Later, guys..."
The others looked on forlornly as Black walked away.
"Poor blighter..." Ballista sighed.
"Let's hope he makes it through this okay." Shadow added.
"Statistically, the odds are good." Micro admitted.
"If one stallion can beat the odds, it's Black." Elite declared.
"Yeah." Armory nodded. "Just give him some time. He'll make it through this."
Black returned to his quarters, and climbed up onto his bed, curling up into a ball, as he began whimpering once more...
"I never even got to say goodbye..." Black sniffed, "White is gone... and I couldn't do a thing to save him."
For the rest of the night, Black wept for his deceased brother.
Over the next couple of days, Black remained in his quarters. There were no missions for him, so he only came out to eat, silent and his face stuck in perpetual sadness.
"Black, are you okay?" Armory asked, as Black ate his lunch alone.
"No, I'm not." Black turned away. "And I don't think I ever will be again..."
"Black, I-" Armory started.
"Please, just leave me alone." Black muttered. "I just want to be alone..."
Dejected, Armory walked over to the others.
"This isn't good." He sighed.
"Black's loss has left him numb to all other things." Micro remarked.
"We can't let him suffer like that." Shadow declared.
"Rrrooo..." Titan whined.
"But he won't even talk to us." Armory pointed out.
"Then perhaps we can Elite to do so." Micro suggested.
"Worth a shot." Shadow nodded.
The next day, Black was approached by Elite on his way back from breakfast.
"Black, can we talk?" He asked.
"No." Black said bluntly.
"Black, please, you can't keep shutting us out like this." Elite blocked his way.
"Oh, and why not?" Black snarled. "My brother is dead."
"Yes... I can't imagine how you feel right now, Black." Elite sighed, "You performed some of your most noble and selfless acts to ensure White's safety... and now he's gone, taken by a force of nature."
"Yeah, that's some cruel irony, huh?" Black scowled. "I only became the enemy of the state so I could protect him from the Forefathers, but as it turns out, I should had protected him that heartless witch known as Mother Nature."
"I know." Elite sighed. "But there's nothing that can be done about it now. We just have to live with it."
"Not all of us..." Black said coldly.
"You're right." Elite nodded. "But I'll bet you're not the only one missing White."
"Got that right. They actually came out with their orbituary today." Black held up the Dodge Junction Post, one of several newspapers privately delivered to the headquarters. "The funeral's being held in a couple of days."
"So soon?" Ballista joined the conversation. "Guess they were missed more than I thought."
"Of course they were. White was a great stallion..." Black murmured.
"It's truly a tragedy, I know." Elite nodded. "They will surely be missed."
"Sir... might it be possible if I go to this funeral?" Black asked. "I want to pay my final respects to them, a chance to say goodbye..."
"I'm afraid that's out of the question." Elite frowned. "You do recall that you're supposed to be dead?"
"Then I'll put on a stupid cloak or the Dreadnought armor-" Black growled.
"Black, you lived in that town for years. Even with a disguise, there'll be too many ponies there that could identify you." Ballista frowned. "If you get spotted... well, let's say the Forefathers will be the least of our problems."
"But he's my brother!" Black growled. "You can't just-"
"Black." Elite said firmly. "...I'm truly sorry for your loss, Black. But we can't afford to break protocol, not even in this time of grieveance... You are to stay here, and that's an order. Is that clear?"
"...Yes, sir." Black nodded, his eyes glaring viciously at him.
With that, Black stormed past them. As soon as he was out of earshot...
"...That must had been hard for you, Elite." Ballista mused.
"I know." Elite sighed. "But it had to be done. Black's true purpose is yet to be realised."
"I just hope we can forgive ourselves when the time comes..." Ballista added.
As Black stomped off, he was still fuming.
'Of all the times they had to refuse me...' Black snarled, 'Well, too damn bad. It's not like orders ever stopped me before... and they won't now.'
On the day of the funeral, after several days of isolation (especially after his run-in with Elite), Black slipped out of the headquarters. Donning his old cloak, he made his way to Dodge Junction.
'They'll probably think I'm still moping in my quarters.' Black grumbled. 'They should have just locked me away if they didn't want me to go...'
It wasn't before long that Black arrived in Dodge Junction, as light rain poured down on the town. As he made his way to the venue in which the funeral was taking place, he was unaware of another pony who just arrived in town.
"Now entering Dodge Junction station." The conductor announced, as ponies disembark the train, ready to go about their business.
Among them was none other than Pike Redfield.
In the years following Dysley's demise, the Black Sheep has been under heavy scrunity, many of the other agents blaming members of the group for being the ones that led the Taskforce to him. It didn't help that the Black Sheep has failed miserably time and time again to take out Black, whether it was because they were outsmarted, outgunned, or just overpowered.
That didn't sit well with the rest of the Ouroboros, and they made no qualms in letting Pike know how displeased they were.
For that reason, Pike has been focusing his efforts to try and find Black again, hoping to get him by himself and take him down. Fortunately, his efforts bore fruit, as he looked up Black's files from when Obadiah looked him up and learned that he hailed from Dodge Junction.
Furthermore, he was able to recieve the recent edition of the Dodge Junction Post and learned that his brother had recently died. Going on a hunch, Pike had decided to go there by himself, on the hope that he would find Black, and end this once and for all.
'Okay, Black. Let's get this bull-crap done and over with.' Pike grunted to himself as he walked into town.
The funeral was being held on Big Red's homestead. Almost everypony in town was in attendance, set on showing their final respects to their friends and neighbors. Watching from afar where nopony would see him, Black's heart lurched as he looked upon Shine, who had the most anguished look on his face. Mist was too young to understand what was happening, but the melancholy look on her face seemed to suggest that deep down, she had some inkling of what was going on, that a part of her knew she would never see her parents again.
As the attendees took their seats, Black saw the two coffins, moments away from being placed in their graves. His heart lurched worse than ever.
"We are gathered here to bid farewell to two remarkable ponies." The town preacher declared. "Let us hear some words from one who knew them best. Mr Barrel-Roll?"
Big Red stepped forward.
"...Red..." Black whispered.
"Ah... Ah really don't know what tah say." Big Red declared, holding his hat to his chest. "When the coroner came and told me that the pony ah knew since Ah was an overweight colt with no prospect in life, and his wife were gone... Ah didn't want ta believe him. Faust, Ah didn't want tah believe it one bit. But there were no changin' the facts... two a' the many important ponies in mah life are now gone."
"And mine..." Black murmured.
"Ya see, White wuz the bestest friend I ever had." Big Red said quietly, "He wuz the nicest, most compassionate, most easy-goin' stallion Ah've ever known. He wuz always ready to help those in need. And nuthin' wuz more important ta him than his friends an' family. In fact, there's barely a pony in this who White hadn't helped at some point or other. He wuz jest that kinda guy."
'Yeah, he was...' Black thought sadly.
"A'course, we didn't know Silver nearly as long." Big Red admitted. "But she wuz a sweet, spunky li'l lady, make no mistake. From the moment Ah first saw her an' White together, Ah knew it wuz meant ta be. An' now, they're even together in death. Almost touchin', ain't it? Almost..."
'Silver, the sister-in-law I never got to know, and never will...' Black frowned.
"...So... what can Ah say that hasn't already bin said about these two great ponies?" Big Red sighed, as he turned to Silver's grave. "Silver Wind was one of the kindest ponies Ah knew, easily one of the most beautiful mares to walk the earth, and a devoted mother ta her two kids, and even more devoted wife ta her husband." He then turned to White, his eyes welling up. "And White... White was truly one in a million. He wasn't just a hard worker, a loyal husband, a loving father, and a noble soldier who fought for his country..."
Black felt his heart ache, seeing his best friend, struggling to hold it in.
"He was the bravest, smartest, kindest stallion Ah've ever known… guess, what Ah am trying to get across is... he was more than mah best friend... he was like a brother ta me... and Ah'm going to spend the rest of mah life missing him and Silver."
Big Red then gave a solemn nod to White's grave...
"Ah love you, brother... and Ah'm sure gonna miss you." Big Red whispered.
Those very words hit Black real deep. A part of him shared the anguish, knowing how much Big Red loved both him and White. In a way, Big Red was like another brother to them...
On the other hoof, Black felt a sense of envy... he felt that he should have been the one to say those words to him. His own brother.
But he couldn't. Because of them. The Taskforce, the Forefathers, Elite, Ballista, Pike... the list went on. He gave up his old life with his brother and his friends so he could protect them... but it was all for nothing.
His brother was dead. And he was alive... if only he could make a deal with Faust...
Big Red returned to his seat by Cherry, who placed a comforting hoof on his shoulder.
"We shall know commend these poniies' bodies to the earth from which we all sprang." The preacher declared.
Two worker stallions started piling dirt over the graves. Shine cried into Cherry's chest, as Big Red let out his own sobs.
'I can't take this anymore...' Black thought, and he turned and fled the scene, his heart heavy with pain and loss.
He made his way to the old swimming hole, where he, White, and their friends had spent many a carefree summer day playing and hanging out together.
Black stood over the edge of the lake, throwing off his cloak, memories of the times he and White had spent together rushing through his head. Days playing out the fields, hanging out with all their friends, eating cherries from the orchards, going on adventures... even the time they rode a mine cart right into the Sheriff's office. Those were happy times, but at the moment, each one felt like a knife to the heart.
'No, please...' Black begged himself, trying to block out the memories. 'Stop it... I don't want to remember...'
Desperate to drown out the memories, Black put on his headphones, and played Rookie's mixtape at full volume, praying that this next song would be some heavy metal or rock. Hell, at this point, Justin Beanber would suffice. If it meant to take him out of his anguish...
Unfortunately, his ears were greeted with the sounds of an acoustic guitar strumming and the humming of a male pony.
In these moments of loss and torment
When the vast skies don't seem to call you
When the weight of this world bears down
And the stars have fallen like tears
I am with you always
From the darkness of night until the morning
I am with you always from life until death takes me
As the song played, more memories of he and his brother flashed by his mind... of him and White hiking through the plains, going camping, even some play-sparring... whenever he was with his brother, he always was so happy...
Monuments built in remembrance of me
But monuments fade, erode, and decay
The memories are all that remain
As far as the east is from the west, remember
I am with you always
From the darkness of night until the morning
I am with you always from life until death takes me
More times of merriment he had with his brother rolled into mind, particularly the times he and White hung at the watering hole or around town with their friends. When they lost their parents, they only had each other to turn to for comfort. While he did not take their death the best, he felt that if he wasn't there, White wouldn't be able to cope. All this time, he thought White needed him...
But he was wrong. It was he who needed him.
White was his rock. His moral compass. All of Black's most noble deeds had risen from his need to protect White. White had helped him to be a better pony, encouraged him to be better. Even after their seperation, Black followed that example. But now, all that was gone.
When hope seems lost down and lowly,
I am here with you always
In Black's mind, flashes of their time serving together in Saddle Arabia flickered into being: Their first mission, standing in the medical unit together, living and working side by side, and of course, the heartwarming moment they searched as they made their way to Reinadh, before everything changed...
Black's eye began welling up as the last loving words he heard from his brother echoed through his mind.
"I'll always love you too, Black... I swear."
I am with you always
From the darkness of night
"RARRRRGH!" Black pulled off the headphones, throwing the tape player onto some grass, as he began sobbing uncontrollably. "Stop it, stop it, stop! I don't want to feel any more! I just want this Faust damn pain to go away! Please, stop tormenting me!"
I am with you always
From the darkness of night
I am with you always
In his rage, Black did the only thing he thought was logical and leapt into the lake, submerged himself in the cold water.
"AARRRRRGGGHHHH!" Black screamed, his voice muffled by all the water rushing in. "RAAAAAAAAAAH!"
From the darkness of night
Until the morning
I am with you always
Until life and death takes me
I am with you always
Unbeknownst to Black, Pike was tailing him, having spotted a oddly cloaked figure watching the funeral from a distance. Seeking his chance, Pike had followed him to the lake. Knowing how futile it was to go face to face with him, Pike circled around the lake, taking his place right across where Black was, with a crossbow mounted towards him.
"I hope you enjoy your swim in the middle of the rain, Black." Pike glared. "Now, I can finally finish this, and get those damn Ouroboros off my back, and we can move on with our lives."
After running out of air to scream out, Black resurfaced, having calmed down enough to regain his composure, but it still didn't make the sorrow he felt any less painful.
Black pulled himself out of the lake and sat on the wet grassy knoll, begrudingly pulling the cloak over his body to gain warmth.
'Faust damn it... why did I think that seeing the funeral would make me feel better?' He thought sourly. 'Hell, why did I think coming back here will change anything? White is gone... and he is never coming back...' He sniffed. 'I gotta get out of here. The sooner I do, the sooner I can just forget everything...'
He was unaware that Pike's crossbow was now aiming right at him.
"Sayonara, Black Knight." Pike growled as he was about to pull the trigger.
Suddenly, Black heard sniffling... sniffling that wasn't his own.
Black glanced over to his right, and was surprised to see Shine sitting not far from him, weeping quietly...
"Shine..." Black murmured. 'That poor kid... to have to go through the rest of his life without his father and mother. Just like me and White did... maybe I should...' Black hesitated for a moment. 'No... I shouldn't. I would be risking everything...' He then grunted, 'Then again... I already am doing that... besides... he needs somepony...'
"What the buck are you looking at?" Pike murmured, as he saw Black looking to his right, as he then glanced at where he was looking, only to see Shine.
'Crap, a witness... who is this kid, and why Black's so interested in him?' Pike scowled... only for his scowl to soften. 'Although... he looks like a cute kid... just like Spear was when he was his age... I gotta get a closer look...'
With that thought, Pike left his spot, hoping to get closer to the two.
Back on Black's side of the lake, Black decided to approach him.
"Hey..." Black said quietly, making sure his cloak hid most of his face and body.
Shine stopped his weeping momentarily, as he noticed the cloaked stallion addressing him.
"Oh..." Shine sniffed, "I'm sorry... I didn't know somepony was here."
"No, no, it's fine." Black shrugged, "I just couldn't help but notice a sad colt crying over here... is everything alright?"
"...No, no, it's not." Shine whimpered, "...My mom and dad died a few days ago..."
"Oh..." Black nodded knowingly, as he took a spot next to him. "I'm sorry for your loss... would you like to talk about it?"
"No offense, mister, but I don't feel up for talking." Shine grunted. "I just want to be left alone."
"I know that feeling, kid." Black sighed, "You see... I just lost somepony I know recently too."
"Oh..." Shine frowned in guilt. "...I'm sorry to hear that... who was it? if you don't mind me asking, that is."
"No, it's fine." Black gave a sad smile. "...He was my little brother... and I loved him very much."
"Well, I loved my mom and dad... for all the good it did..." Shine grumbled.
"I know it must hurt." Black sympathisized "To lose somepony you cared so deeply about. A kid like you shouldn't have to go through that."
"Yeah... it's not fair!" Shine growled, wiping his tears. "Why did they have to die?!"
"Trust me, it will do you no good to ask that question." Black sighed. "I asked that same question myself... and I still have no answers."
"I just... I just..." Shine sniffed, as he then pulled out a familiar silver locket. "They haven't been gone for more than a few days... and I already miss them..."
Black immediately recognized the locket, as he then placed a hoof on Shine's shoulder.
"That's natural, kid." Black declared. "To miss somepony you love. And you will always miss them. But you have to stay strong. Not only for your family... but for everypony you care about. That is what your folks would had wanted, right?"
"I guess..." Shine sniffled. "But it's now just me and my baby sister. I don't know how we'll make it without them..."
"You will." Black gave a assuring smile. "If what I heard about your parents is anything to go by, they were truly good ponies. All you have to is just remember all the good times you had together, and how they had loved you. With that, and that locket, it shouldn't be too hard, right?"
"Yeah..." Shine nodded, giving a small smile. "I guess so..."
"The pain will still be there, but it will go away in time." Black sighed. "Just hold on to the memories of the good times and all the love you shared with them. Keep them in your heart, and they will be with you... always..."
"You really think so?" Shine asked.
"I know so." Black nodded. "Keep your chin up, kiddo. If not for yourself, then for the rest of your family."
"I'll try." Shine smiled weakly. "Thanks, mister..."
"My pleasure." Black smiled back, as he stood up, "Now, I would best be off. You be careful on your way home, Shine..."
"I will- hold on..." Shine frowned. "I never told you my-"
The moment he turned to face the cloaked Black, he was already gone.
"Uh... who was that stallion?" Shine mused.
As Black made his way away from the lake, Black let out a harrowing sigh.
"If only I could follow my own advice..." Black mused.
Unbeknownst to him, Pike was hiding nearby a tree, having been listening intently to Black's heartfelt speech, overwhelmed by it to go through with his murderous intent.
'Damn it, Black.' He thought, taking off his glasses to wipe his eyes. 'Why the buck did you have to go and make a speech like that? ...I can't kill you... not after that... not yet at least. I'll let you live for now...' He sniffled a bit as he placed his glasses back on. 'Why do you gotta be such a pansy?'
Pike quickly departed Dodge Junction, his heart no longer into killing for the moment.
'Of course, now I'm going to have to come up with some excuse to tell everyone about why I didn't kill Black again.' Pike thought. 'Eh, I'll just spin them some garbage. They won't know the difference.'
It was only a few hours later that Pike arrived back at Infinity, making his way to a lounge room to drink away the somber day. However, on his way there, he ran by Loveless.
"Pike, you're back." Loveless declared.
"Nice observation." Pike scoffed.
"I heard that you departed for Dodge Junction, having found a lead regarding Black." Loveless frowned. "Did you encounter him?"
"Short story... no." Pike lied. "The lead turned out to be a dud. Trust me, I searched that hick town up and down, and I couldn't find a trace of him."
"Really?" Loveless frowned. "I had read that brother of his had died and was having a funeral there. You'd think he'd be the type to come and pay his respects..."
"Well, for a guy that slaughtered Reinadh, I highly doubt it." Pike grimaced.
"So you say..." Loveless frowned.
"Yeah, I do say." Pike scowled, not liking the look Loveless was giving him. "What, you don't believe me?"
"Well, you are a consummate liar." Loveless noted.
"You're saying I'm not telling the truth?" Pike growled.
"Of course not." Loveless nodded. "I'm sure you performed to the best of your abilities."
"Well, I did." Pike nodded. "As a loyal agent of the Forefathers, I can do no less."
"Well spoken." Loveless smiled. "You truly are a stallion of integrity. The Forefathers are lucky to have such a noble servant to assist in their goals, regardless of his own."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm a true good samaritan." Pike rolled his eyes. "But don't worry, the next time I see him, Black will finally get what's coming to him."
"Well... I await that result with baited breath." Loveless declared firmly. "I just hope the others will be just as patient."
With that, Loveless rolled away, as Pike, a bit put off by Loveless's words, continued his way to the lounge room.
'I mean it, Black...' Pike thought. 'I spared you today, but tomorrow, you won't be so lucky. You're a more noble stallion than I thought, but that won't save you. I still have a job to do, after all...'
Meanwhile, Black returned to the Taskforce's headquarters. Despite having talked to his nephew for the very first time, he felt lower than low.
'I just really hope that kid will be okay. Me and White had to go through the same thing with our parents, and look how we turned out...' Black grimaced. 'I really hope somepony takes good care of him and that poor little filly...'
Ballista suddenly stepped into Black's way.
"Black, we need to talk." He said firmly.
"Not now, Ballista." Black frowned. "I'm not in the mood."
"Yeah, funerals don't make a guy especially chatty, do they?" Ballista declared.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Black scowled.
"Look Black, I know you went to White and Silver's funeral." Ballista told him.
Black remained silent, as he glared at him.
"Well... do you have anything to say?" Ballista asked.
"...So what if I did?" Black growled. "I held my brother's dead, wet corpse in my hooves, the brother I had to turn my back on just so I could protect him. I wasn't about to let Elite or you or anypony in this damn organization stop me."
"I get that but-" Ballista tried to say, only for Black to cut him off.
"But nothing!" Black snarled. "All I wanted was to say goodbye one last time to my brother, and if Elite couldn't understand that, then buck him! So say what you want about how unprofessional I am or how I nearly jeopardized everything, and tell Elite everything, because I don't give a crap!"
"Black, I'm not going to say any of that." Ballista declared.
"Huh?" Black frowned.
"Look, I knew for a fact that you'd go to the funeral no matter what we did." Ballista nodded, "And while I am a stickler for protocol, I believe you had the right to break protocol this one time."
"Really, and why is that?" Black challenged.
"Because White was your brother, and you loved him more than anything." Ballista gave a small smile. "The bond you two had back when I was your General... well, it was something to behold."
"Yeah, a bond we 'had'." Black growled. "Do you truly want to know what makes White's death hurt so much?"
"I think I might have an idea." Ballista frowned.
"Sure you do." Black scoffed. "...I once had a dream where after stopped the Forefathers, we'd find a way to clear my name... that I would be able to come back to Dodge Junction and tell White everything. To apologize for everything I said to him, everything I did, and spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to him... but with White gone, that dream is dead. White died, thinking me as a monster and I will never get the chance to tell him otherwise..." He felt his body shake in anguish. "That alone is what hurts most..."
"...Let's take a walk." Ballista offered. "I've got something in my office you'll want to hear."
"Doubt it..." Black scoffed. "Then again, it's not anything you have could make me feel any worse than I already do."
Black reluctantly followed Ballista to his office.
"Now, where did I put it...?" Ballista rifled through his desk. "Ah, here we go."
Ballista held up a cassette tape.
"No, don't tell me." Black snorted. "You made your own mixtape?"
"Nope." Ballista put in the tape, and pushed "play", "This little number was recorded only days after our little fiasco with the assassination attempt."
"Yeah... I don't think I ever apologized for kicking for your flanks back then." Black sighed.
"Hmph, I let you win. But that's aside the point." Ballista shrugged, "Now, let's listen..."
As the tape begun playing, Ballista's voice spoke out.
"I understand, Elite. I already got guys out there looking for Black. I'll be out there looking too in a few days. Just gotta hand in a fake transfer, recommend that one guy Sherman, and then don a new disguise... speaking of which, which would you prefer? A blind old stallion begging for alms or... Tootsie from the movie Tootsie?"
"...Are you serious?" Black growled.
"What? I never disguised myself as a mare before." Ballista shrugged. "Unfortunately, I couldn't find a red curly wig on short notice, so I had to go with the former... but again, not the point."
Suddenly, the sound of knocking echoed.
"General Turret, may I speak with you?" White's voice was heard.
"...White?" Black frowned.
"Oh shoot, I gotta call you back." Ballista's voice whispered, as there was a click and then in the voice of General Turret's, "Sure, come on in and take a seat."
Hoof shuffling were made, as the two ponies presumably took a seat.
"So, what can I do for my best soldier today?" Ballista's voice asked.
"Well, sir, the thing is..." White sighed heavily. "...I am here to resign. I don't want to be part of the RDL anymore."
Black's eyes widened at the declaration.
"What?!" Ballista's voice gaped, "But why? You're a soldier with a exemplary track record and one of the best on the force! Why in Equestria would you want to leave?"
"I...I just can't take it anymore." White explained, his voice seeming to quiver. "I joined the RDL so I could save ponies and protect Equestria... but ever since Saddle Arabia... I don't think I have it in me to continue serving. The last thing I want is to hold all of you back..."
"White, I know better than most how harrowing the life of a soldier is." Ballista's voice declared. "The horrors I've seen on the battlefield... but trust me, they will pass. It's nothing to-"
"It's not about that. Not at all..." White's voice interrupted. "It's about... Black."
'I'm the reason he left the RDL?' Black bowed his head in shame. 'Way to go, bozo...'
"What does Black have to do with you leaving?" Ballista asked in the tape, "He's gone."
"That's the thing..." White voice began cracking. "Ever since the assassination attempt, every day I wake up, I keep going over what happened with Black in my mind repeatedly. And all the days since we joined the RDL. I keep asking myself... where did I go wrong? When did Black become this stallion? Why didn't I see the signs? Why didn't I say something? Maybe if I had... he and Rookie would still be alive..."
"White..." Black murmured.
"Cadet Blue was a terrible loss." Ballista's voice admitted. "But there was nothing that could be done about Black. The guy was a complete psycho."
Black glared at Ballista and was about to say something... but White beat him to it.
"Don't you say a word against him! You didn't know him!" White roared, causing both present Ballista and Black to jump, as White seemed to had slammed his hoof on the table, "He was my brother!"
There was heavy panting... only to be followed by a small whimper.
"...I'm... I'm sorry... I shouldn't have snapped at you, sir." White's voice apologized.
"No... no, I should had been more sensitive." Ballista's voice replied.
"...It's just... everypony around me has been telling me that I did the world a service in killing my brother. That I should be given a medal... but honestly, I feel like I betrayed my own brother... and now... everytime I put on this armor, I just remember how I made him fall out that window. His blood is on my hoof." White then let out a small sob. "I... I just want to go home..."
"White... I didn't think you would be this choked up over this..." Ballista's voice admitted. "I mean... don't you hate him? Black made you murder those poor ponies in cold blood."
"Hate?" White's voice repeated, sniffling a bit. "No... the love I have for my brother is too strong to be replaced by hate."
"Is that right?" Ballista asked skeptically within the tape.
"Yes..." White's voice declared. "No matter what happened between us, no matter what terrible things Black did, I still love him... and I always will. Nothing will ever change that. But I feel that I don't leave now... then maybe it will... I just to hold on to the good memories I had left of him, and I won't be able to find them here... so... please... let me go home..."
"I see...." Ballista's voice sighed. "And there's no way I can change your mind?"
"None at all." White's voice said fiercely.
"Very well then." Ballista's voice said curtly. "If that is your choice, then so be it. Consider yourself honorably discharged, soldier."
"Thank you, General." White's voice declared. "For everything."
"Thank you for the dedicated service." Ballista's voice replied. "I always said I needed more soldiers like you."
"There are more like me out there." White's voice said humbly. "So much more."
"You were a loyal, patriotic and compassionate soldier." Ballista's voice declared. "And forgiving, too. Not many would be so determined not to hate Black after everything that happened."
"Well, he's my brother... and no amount of bloodshed will change that..." White's voice declared.
"You'll always love him?" Ballista's voice asked.
"Always." White's voice declared. "...From life until death takes me..."
The tape came to an end.
"You heard all that, right?" Ballista smiled. "Your brother never thought you were a monster. He was hurt... disappointed... confused... but he never hated you. And I don't think that has ever changed."
Black stood there in silence, unsure of what to feel.
"Feel a little better now?" Ballista asked.
"Yeah, sure." Black said quietly. "...Thanks, Ballista."
"Any time, mate." Ballista smiled.
"I'll just... be going now, okay?" Black asked.
"Yeah, sure." Ballista nodded. "Go ahead."
Black walked out into the corridor, in more anguish than ever.
'He didn't hate me, even after all the pain I caused him.' He thought. 'But he still left the RDL because of me... and it doesn't change the fact that he still believed that I did all those awful things for some statement... wherever you are now White, I hope you can forgive me...'
The present...
"So you were there when it happened." Fletcher frowned. "I can see why you'd be so traumatised by that event..."
"But at least your pals were there for you." Caboose smiled.
"I wish I could say that was enough." Black sighed. "But it wasn't. ...do you mind if we call it a day on the story-telling? I can tell you what comes next tomorrow. I don't think I'm quite ready to relive that stuff all in one day."
"Of course." Fletcher nodded. "Take all the time you need."
"Works for me." Caboose shrugged. "I'm getting a little tired myself... but won't ponies wonder where we are?"
"Don't you worry, you two." Elite declared. "I had already have ponies covering for you in Canterlot. And your wives have been notified that you are simply being consulted for some Royal Guard matters."
"Well, you guys thought of everything." Fletcher smirked.
"Oh, we're good that way." Elite smiled.
"Even I can see that." Caboose grinned.
"Just make yourselves at home." Elite smiled.
"I don't know I'll be able to sleep with such a tale on my mind, but I'll try." Fletcher declared. "Good night, Black. Pleasant dreams."
"Yeah, have a good one." Caboose nodded.
"Thanks, guys." Black smiled, as he departed for his quarters.
"I never imagined Black's story could be so harrowing." Fletcher admitted.
"Yeah." Caboose nodded. "I almost don't want to hear the rest of it."
"But we must." Fletcher declared. "In order to understand our new teammate."
"Okay, sure." Caboose sighed. "But I don't have to like it. But I have to know... where the buck did he get a new eye?"