More Than Friends-Chapter 12-(Mission Failure)

12

>You glance over the boulder, catching a sight of a large camp.
>You turn around and motion the ponies behind to come.
>Shining comes first, poking his head out to see the sights.
>The four others follow, and take cover behind the boulder.
>Damn, this is a pretty big boulder.
>Yeah, no shit, Sherlock.
>It’s called a boulder for a reason, Anon.
>Fuck off, will you.
>”Right, here’s the plan.” You poke out and count the minotaurs.
>”There’s about-“

>Reese sat down with his dinner.
>As usual, a bowl of watered grass.
>He snorted in disgust, but hey, this is food.
>Other mercs took it quite well.
>His friend, Manny, comes up and sits next to him.
>”SSDD, eh, Reese?”
>”Yup.”
>”So, what do you think of-“

>”TWENTY?!”

>A shout rings out from behind him.
>The two, and probably all of the camp turn to the source of the sound.
>He can’t see anything, just a large, conveniently placed boulder.
>Must be the wind.
>He shrugs, and sits back to his meal.
>”The wind is weird today.” Mutters another Manny.

>You gasp and quickly hide.
>The rest of the squad shoots you a deadpan stare.
>You smile and shrug.
>”Come on, we’re not getting our heads chopped off. Anywho, I got a plan.”
>You take a breather.
>No you don’t.
>”You guys stay put. I’ll try to handle it.”
>You shift your gaze to Shining.
>”Let me handle this *this* time, Shining.”
>He nods.
>You take off most of your armor, just to remove the hostility.
>Just your braces and boots.
>You put on a simple hood over, and your gift-jacket.
>For good luck.
>You head out slowly, making your way to the camp.
>The minotaurs have noticed you and start brandishing their weapons.
>Remember Anon, love and tolerance.
>God, that is hard.

>Surprisingly, your path is undisturbed, as the minotaurs form into ranks.
>They slowly form a line for you to follow.
>Soon you face a large, hexagonal tent.
>An orange glow inside tells you someone is inside.
>Then, a large shadow moves inside and moved to the slit that was the entrance.
>A rather small minotaur pops his head out, and motions you in.
>You follow.
>The tent was quite cozy, some books here and there.
>There were few candles lighting the tent, perched on a small table.
>Flanking the two side of it, were chairs.
>The minotaur offers you one of the seats.
>You smile and take it.
>”I bet you are wondering why we are here.” The minotaur speaks.
>You don’t like the sound of that.
>You swallow your spit, and prepare to listen.

>Shining looks out once again, checking on the tent.
>”Relax, Shining, Anon’s is going to be fine. He’s the captain, after all.”
>Shining flinches at the word.
>Captain.
>He was still sore about Anonymous becoming the captain.
>Anonymous told him to live up to his name.
>And he will just do that.
>Shining looked out again, eyeing the minotaurs.
>Last time, he could take out three.
>with his position, he could just-
>”Stallions, new plan.” He announced.

>”And Reese over there, his mother is sick. You see-“ The minotaur got up.
>”We are forced to do such. We are too poor.”
>You stand as well.
>”I sympathize. I’m sure the princess could have provided all you better help- you could have done this in the first place.”
>You hold out a hand.
>He grabs it, and gives a strong shake.
>”Thank you, I’ll make sure-“
>A certain whisper runs through the air, and then strikes a group of huddled minotaurs.
>Then a large, blue explosion sends the beasts sprawled everywhere.
>You turn to the minotaur, who stares back with pure shock.
>He grips on your hand hard.
>”What is this, what are you playing at?”
>Shit.
>You look up to the boulder, spotting Shining.
>Motherfucker.
>He stands proud, while he orders the guards to open fire.
>Your men.
>Before you can shout an order, a fist lands on your face.
>You fly to the ground.
>”What sort of trickery is this, Captain?”
>Fuck.
>Say something.
>You clutch onto your cheek and get to your feet.
>”Wait, this is just a-“
>”We got your back, Anon!” two guards come up to your back.
>”Shit, what the hell’s going on, Smiles?”
>”Shining ordered an attack.” The guard promptly fires a blast to the minotaur in front of you, knocking him out.
>”No! I was just about to-“
>And then, all hell breaks loose.
>In your bowels, that is.
>A hulking, massive minotaur breaks through the trees, weapons drawn, comes charging at you.
>You instantly push Smiles away, before you too, are pushed to the side by the creature’s massive forearms.
>Before you can do anything, the other guard is sliced to pieces.
>You gasp, and so do the guard, before he falls in chunks of flesh.
>The minotaur turns to you.
>”Oh you have got to be kidding me.” You mutter, as you avoid the blows.
>You fire off a few bolts, but that’s just pissing him off.
>Fuck, he’s tall.
>”Smiles, move!” You push the unicorn again, as he back-pedals and fires off his own magic.
>You do your own little dance, as you scurry away from the blades.
>Wait, what the fuck are you doing?
>You got the fucking magic.
>You jump to Smiles, grab him, and teleport away.
>The rest sees you, and follow.

>”What the fuck was that, Shining?!” You slam the stallion to the wall.
>”A guardsman is dead because of you, and we blew our chances!”
>You slam again.
>”WHAT THE FUCK?!”
>He just looks to you in fear, probably more out of the fact that a comrade died.
>”When I told you to live up to your name-“ You point at the mess you just left behind. “I didn’t mean THIS!”
>You drop the stallion.
>You throw the jacket to the ground, and back up.
>”Fuck it, it’s over. Pack up colts, we’re going back.”

>You decide the night is too dangerous to make the trip, so you decide to sleep the problem over.
>However, you make sure to move your own camp someplace safe.
>No fire tonight, too dangerous.
>You sink into your breastplate, holding Twilight’s gift close.
>At least this will ease your conscience a little.
>You think about the guardsman’s family- oh god, what if he had fillies back home?
>And of course, you have to break the news.
>Sleep overtakes you as you sink deeper into your worries.
>You were never ready for this.
>You never asked for this.

>When you come to, you can see the weak sunlight in the forest’s mist.
>From the sound, you can hear the light drizzle at the moment.
>”Captain!” Soarin rushes in.
>You rub your eyes and get up.
>”Ready to move out?”
>Soarin shakes his head wildly.
>”No, not that-“
>You see the look on his face.
>It tells it all.
>”Shining?” You ask, eyes widening.
>Soarin nods silently.

>Shining shot another bolt, and then another.
>”Come on, give me your best shot.” The minotaur chuckles.
>The rain flows into his helmet, wetting his usually puffed mane.
>Shining sighed for air once more.
>He knew it.
>The minotaur knew it.
>Shining was getting tired.
>”Come on!”
>He fires another shot.
>It burns into the gigantic body of the minotaur, but he keeps on coming.
>A blade on each hand, he slowly comes up to Shining.
>Shining sees his reflection on the blade, and gulps.
>He brings up a shield, in a desperate attempt to live.
>His legs won’t budge, he’s too tired.
>At least he took down few others with him.
>The giant raises his weapon, and brings it through the shield with ease.
>Shining can see the smile on his face now.

>As the blade comes down, it twitches, and makes contact.
>Strange, this isn’t flesh, thought the minotaur.
>You hold your arm-guards up, holding the two blades on your forearm.
>Two trails of blood run down your left arm.

>He managed to get through.

>You groan in pain, before jerking your arm upwards.
>Then you ready your magic and-
>Reese blinks in surprise, and look to the offender.
>You stood there, just firing a bolt.
>You grin to the minotaur.
>Your left arm has gone limp.
>”Come on, Reese, pick on someone your size.”
>The minotaur gladly obliges, facing you with his other weapon.
>You bring up your own sword, and hold it steady.
>You got this.

>You are so fucked.

>He comes in a downward swing, and you counter it with an upwards one.
>Your magic infused sword shrieks through the air, before screaming in pain.
>Blasts of energy rip through the air each blow.
>As you go, you are getting more and more on the offensive side.
>You let him no space, and continue attacking.
>You can feel his strength wavering.
>With one, final blow, the two of you separate, each dragging along the muddy arena.
>You instantly get on your feet.
>’Reese’ is slowly getting up.
>Good, he’s weak.
>”Come on, Reese-“ You shoot him a smile. “Do it for mom.”
>That was a bad move.
>The minotaur roars, before charging at you.
>Shit.
>Unwavering and head-strong as always, you also roar and charge.
>You find some elevation and you jump.
>As your arms slowly curve backwards for that final blow, you notice the minotaur raising his blade.
>For his mother, Anon.

>For his mother.

>The steel clash once more, with the largest blast.
>Trees shake, and the rain stops for a second.
>You look down on the defeated minotaur, his sword cut in half.
>He slowly opens his eyes, and stares at you in surprise.
>He blinks.
>You give lend him a hand.
>He blinks again, before taking it.
>”For mother.” You whisper.
>He smiles to you, before getting up.

>Shining stood from his position, fazed.
>There he saw Anon, clutching the beast’s hand.
>Anon bested you again, Shining.
>Rage boiled within him.
>His older brother, his old friend, always over shadowed him.
>Over the studies, over the leadership, over Cadance…
>No, this time, Shining was going to show his full potential to Anonymous.
>He will finish that minotaur and engrave his name to Anon’s mind.

>Anon.

>The scabby lad that once loved oranges, how he had changed.
>I also have changed, Shining thought.
>So with his last ounce of energy, he charged up a powerful bolt.
>Enough to blow the two away.
>He fires.

>You smile, and then turn to Shining.
>He must be-
>OH SHIT WHAT THE FUCK
>You instinctively swing your sword up, deflecting the bolt.
>It shoots up to the cliffs above you.
>”SHINING WHAT THE FUCK, HE’S COOL!” You shout.
>Then you hear it.
>”Fuck me.” You mutter, as several hundred boulders come crashing down.

>Shining looked up.
>There were hundreds of boulders.
>His face went pale.
>After his accident, Shining refused to near any boulder.
>He was visibly sweating last night.
>As the boulders came crashing onto him, he froze.
>It was happening again.
>No, he cannot lose more.
>He clenches his eyes shut, and waits for the crunch.
>…
>Nothing’s there.

>You groan again, holding two of your arms up.
>You *were*, after all, the best telekinetic student.
>You hold the boulders with your magic, surrounding each with your own aura.
>”Shining!” You shout. “I got this!”
>Then you feel it.
>The wound on your arm; looks like it was deeper than you thought.
>”Goddamit!” You go slightly limp and fall on your knees.
>Your left arm is shaking uncontrollably.
>You can feel the cut bones crushing under the weight.
>Shining stares quietly, before realizing and coming to your side.
>”Anonymous! I’m so sorry!” He tries to help, but he shouts and falls to the ground.
>Figures, he’s drained.
>You glance over to the minotaur, as he tries to hold a boulder up.
>”No!” You shout. “Go, your family needs you, Reese.”
>Reese stares at you silently, reading your sad smile.
>He nods, before going away.
>You look down on your fellow guardsman.
>You smile.

>You know what to do.

>”You ready, Mister Sparkle?”
>You speak, voice already shaking too.
>His eyes go wide and he looks to you.

>”Don’t call me that, Annie.”
>He smiles weakly.
>Your right arm is starting to shake as well.
>”Well, fuck you too.” You reply.
>Shiny pauses.

>”Are we best friends?” He asks.

>You grit your teeth, and close your eyes.

>”The best.”

>”Shining.” You call to him, as you reach into your shirt.
>You pull out your necklace, and pass it over to your brother.

>”Now, remember the plan- do your ‘Shining Armor’ thing.”
>He staggers a little.
>”I’m not sure, Anon, what if-“
>He eyes the necklace sadly.
>”Fuck the ‘if’s and fuck her too.”
>You smile again.

>”Cadance.” You whisper.

>”Remember, I’m the best fucking wingman you can get.”
>You wink.
>Shiny is silent.
>You take a breath.

>Time to get this done.

>You fix your tie, your hair, and your sleeves.
>Looking like a true gentleman, you take a deep breath and…

>You push Shining away with your last energy.

>As he skids away, you stand, looking smug with your smile.
>Rocks collide all around you, making splashes.
>Small ones land first.
>The rocks give way to the sunlight, shining to you.
>You take a breath, and see it again.

>Kick the fucking door open.
>Armor shuffles nervously behind you.
>”WHAT’S UP, PARTY PEOPLE?” You shout to the surprised party guests.
>Perhaps, doing the ‘Good cop, Bad cop’ pick up trick won’t work in a posh Canterlot dinner party.
>Only a certain white princess laughs on the far end.
>You turn to your sorry friend, giving him a nod.
>-
>She pouts at you, before you slowly back away.
>As you leave, Armor is pelted with her words.
>Celestia save that little fucker.
>You start moving about aimlessly, before you’re pulled aside by a certain pony.
>”Anon!” She calls to you, before giving you a warm hug.
>You return the hug, feeling her wings.
>You lean closer and whisper-
>”You want to get out of here?” You ask.

>You smile widely again, before the stone touch your shoulders.
>The larger one slowly descends on your head, and forces you down.
>You take a deeper breath, as the winds get stronger.
>Cadance.
>Treat her right, okay, Shining?
>Humans don’t belong anywhere anyway.

>Shining gets to his feet, dazed.
>He was being helped up by the rest of the squad.
>Soarin comes up, and punches the stallion on the cheek.
>”Where’s Anon?!” He shouts, but the questions fall deaf.
>Shining silently gaze over the stones, and then to the sky.
>He then looks at the half-locket around his neck.

>The rain does little to hide his own.