Spero stood there motionless, Shocked at the Order his mentor had giving him and his brother.
" Kill each other?" but Spero thought that was absurd, How Could he even think of killing his own brother? Spero looked at his brother and he began to trot to him. He couldn't fight his brother, he just couldn't, let alone kill him. He loved him.
" Your Majesty, Im sorry but I can't do this, I can't kill my Brother!" Spero said pleading.. Night Shade stood silently as his grin turned to a scowl. A stare of disapproval that one would give to a boring toy.
" Please, if you are kind, you won't make us do this!" Spero pleaded with all his heart. In all the time he new the king, he was just and kind. How could he ask this of them now? Spero, Strennus and night shade, along with the servants and the guards, all stood silent.
Strenuss sighed heavily, his breath condensing in the cold night air. Then, he suddenly levitated his new sword out of its sheath and swung it at his little brother cutting him on his right cheek. Spero moved instinctively so that the blade would not strike him deeply. He fell on to his back looking up at Strenuus with shocked disbelief. Strenuus looked down at him contently.
" If you don't take your sword and fight me, I'm going to kill you." Strenuss said with a deadly seriousness. His now cold gaze struck fear into his little brother as the battle was just beginning. Before Spero could protest, Strenuss swung again hitting the ground where Speros hind legs were, kicking up dried yellow grass and snow. Spero rolled back, stood up and unsheathed his sword. His eyes were wide with fear. Strenuss motioned towards Spero and swung again. This time Spero blocked the attack but he didn't counter it with his own attack. At this point the other soldiers were cheering on and Nightshade grinned once again. The two continued the swing and block. Spero stayed on the defensive, trying his best not to fight back.
" What's the matter little brother? Afraid to khurt me? You were always weak and sentimental like that!" Strenuus taunted.
" I don't want to fight you!" Spero Pleading voice cracked.
" Oh Grow up!" Strenuus taunted again. His words cut deep into Speros heart. The two continued their fight. The blood ran down Spero's cheek staining his grey coat red mixed with tears.
suddenly Strenuus horn glowed and Spero's hooves shot out from under him. The young unicorn fell on his back with a thud. Strenuus looked at Nightshade, eyes full of rage and glaring. Night shade nodded his head and Strenuus turned back to look at his little brother on the ground. Spero's eyes pleaded for Strenuus to stop, but his intentions were clear. Strenuus brought his sword up for a strike. Spero's eyes widened with shock and fear. Strenuus charged at Spero, Spero squinted as he knew it was about to be over… everything.
There were gasps as the sound of a sword tearing into flesh resonated in the night. It wasn't long before a red pool of blood stained the snow and grass. Night Shade strained his eyes to peer into the pile of the two brothers. It seemed they were both motionless. Then Spero began to push his brother off of him. his grey coat stained with Strenuss's blood. Strenuus was still breathing but it was labored.
" No… No! Strenuus! I'm sorry!" Spero Couldn't believe it, he had stabbed his own brother in the chest. Strenuus was shaking in pain. He began to cough up blood through his mouth and nose. Spero held him close while sobbing.
" Spero….Make me proud….I love… you.." Strenuus spoke while smiling at him between breaths. His eyes glazed over and he stopped breathing. Spero shook him a little but then knew it was all over. His Brother was dead.
" Bravo Spero! Bravo!" Nightshade said while he trotted up. His servants and guards followed. Spero felt the urge to slaughter the bunch right there, but he knew he wouldn't' get close enough to kill his mentor who had asked this of him and his brother. IT wasn't something he wanted to do but he knew he would have to wait.
" Why?...Why would you do this to us?" Spero,s sorrow was only matched by his anger.
" Because this disgusting little display of 'love" between you two was only a hinderance to your further studies! Your brother only question my means and never understood what end I'm in search of!" Nightshade took Spero's sword from him and began to clean the blood off with snow.
" Besides, What are you angry at me for? All I did was give an order, you are the one who killed your brother. I mean really, did you truly love him? If you did, then why did you value your live over his? Certainly you would have died instead and don't forget, he tried to kill you too!" Nightshade trotted up to Spero. Spero Thought about Nightshade's words. He did just kill Strenuus who tried to kill him. Nightshade was right.
" Love...is a lie." Nightshade whispered into Spero's ear as he returned the clean sword into Spero's sheathe.
"... The same is true for any other sentiment, like friendship." Nightshade began to trot to his chariot once again.
" Take the body away! Oh, and Spero, you are to go back to your room and wait for futher orders!." Nightshade hopped up onto his chariot. He then turned to look at Spero once again.
" You've made me very proud, I'll see to it that your pain is well rewarded." Said Nightshade, He then sat down and his chariot flew up into the clouds. Spero stared out into the night, it was cold and lonely. The Servants began to unceremoniously drag Strauss's body off the field. Blood smeared in the snow as the earth ponies labored to take him to a nearby cart. Once all the ponies were gone spero fell to his haunches and began to scream.
From a cell deep within the Imperial prisons, a single mare sat in her cell. The air was cold and the stone floor was freezing. Her limbs were weak and scarred from the chains that bound her to her prison. She had no window to the outside world and her cell was not light at all. However, she was an old and wise pony. It had been forever since she had seen or felt snow. Still, she knew that not only was it winter but….
" Happy Hearth's warming eve everypony." she whispered. A Faint smile graced her muzzle as she sat alone. Her horn began to emit a soft glow. The frost on the cell door made a good medium for her to draw a wreath.
