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Bros in Equestria Bonus Story: A Night at the Opera
By MandroidCreated: 19th December 2020 01:16:41 PM
- >Year 1820 in Equestria.
- >The night of the big opera.
- >You and Anon had gotten into the habit of performing this opera once every twenty years or so.
- >You both knew it like the back of your hands before you came here, and what with the names of the characters well...
- >You really couldn't say no.
- >Anon was peeking out of the curtains as the music played and signaled the start of the show.
- >"Big crowd."
- "It's always a big crowd."
- >"Bigger crowd then. I swear, half these ponies are just here because Celestia and Luna are."
- >You rose from your seat and cricked your neck before you threw on your costume, a simple lab coat.
- "Well then, let's give them a story to remember, yeah?"
- >Anon smiled as you head to the curtain. "Knock em dead "Tom"."
- "Remember to be evil this time, "Al"."
- >You walked out into the spotlight as twang of a guitar string started your first part.
- >You fiddled with a screw in your hands as you spoke your lines.
- "My father worked the mines until the day it took his life."
- "It stole him from his only son and it stole him from his wife."
- >You walked to one side of the stage and looked out of the audience.
- "And I swore upon his grave, someday I would make things right."
- >You turned and walked back to the other half of the stage as stage crew wheeled out diagrams of machines.
- "So I learned how to bend steel. I learned how to make it move,"
- "and I watched as it withstood all the hell we put men through."
- >You picked up a metal glove.
- "With hands of iron, there's not a task we couldn't do."
- >You drew some equations Anon and you talked over on the board.
- "They've waited so long for this day,"
- "Someone to take the death away,"
- "No son would ever have to say,"
- "My father worked into his grave."
- >As you drew, magically manipulated props of mechanical men came marching out from backstage, with Anon at the rear.
- >Anon stopped on the opposite side of the stage from you and put one hand in his jacket pocket while the other rested on a cane.
- "Tom, listen to yourself, then listen carefully to me."
- "If you replace the working parts, you get a different machine."
- >A smile parted his lips.
- "The man who turns the wheels, they will follow"
- "Anywhere he leads."
- >Anon walked to the backdrop of the city behind the two of you.
- "We've spent our whole lives searching for a way to make a better world."
- "Giving everything to them, asking nothing in return." he said as he shook his head.
- >He turned to you with a sinister grin. "Well here it is: our chance to take back everything we've earned." he said as he clenched his fist.
- >You continued to draw.
- "They've waited so long for this day"
- >"They've waited so long for this day"
- "Someone to take the death away."
- >"There is no price they wouldn't pay."
- "No son would ever have to say,"
- >"For someone else to lead them"
- "My father worked into his grave."
- >"Don't turn your back on me!"
- >You walked slowly to the window overlooking the city. This was wear your character realized that he had to activate the machines to keep his promise of a better city. A promise you yourself could relate to...
- >You stared at your hands.
- "What will I become with the things I will create?"
- "I never said that men should bow. I never said that men should break."
- "I only want what's best."
- >You lower your head.
- >A blue mare came out from stage right and had the spotlight shown on her.
- "The one I love, she works so hard, she works her hooves until they bleed."
- "Some of the pain that she endures would bring a strong man to his knees."
- >Your face hitches.
- "I only want to help."
- >Anon shook his head on the other end of the stage. "You are a fool."
- "You underestimate the character of man." you say looking back.
- >"They are weaker than you think"
- "You think that they'll surrender if you bind their working hands. But they are strong"
- >"Just wait and see." Anon seethes.
- >You clench your gauntleted hand and walk to the front of the stage
- "We will build cities in a day!"
- >Anon put his hand on his forehead and shook. "Men would cower at the sight."
- "We will build towers to the heavens
- >"Man was not built for such a height"
- "We will be heroes!"
- >"We will BUILD heroes!"
- >Your face fell and you reluctantly reached out a hand to a large metal leaver.
- >Across the bottom of the stage, the lights flickered as machine props behind you sparked to life.
- >You watched the machines "below" you.
- "They've waited so long for this day,"
- "Someone to take the death away,"
- "No son would ever have to say,"
- "My father worked into his grave."
- >You slipped on another gauntlet.
- "Men sleep tonight with hands of bone. They will awake with hands of steel."
- "And with these hands we will destroy. And with these hands we will rebuild."
- >You let the fire in your eyes grow as you shout.
- "And we will stand above our city, rising high above the streets."
- "From tops of buildings we will look at all that lies beneath our feet."
- >You stab both your hands into the sky.
- "We will raise our hands above us, cold steel shining in the sun,"
- "And with these hands that will not bleed, my father's battle will be won!"
- >You exited stage right as Anon surveyed the machine army, stopping right in front of a single one with an angry red eye who's glow seemed to grow by the second.
- >He shuddered briefly before he exited stage left, the machine man following him a few paces behind.
- >You re-entered stage right as the backdrop changed to a city street.
- >You mumbled under your breath about the consequences of your actions, letting the audience only hear a word every so often.
- >As you were lost in thought, a carriage passed you and reached stage left just before you did.
- >The lights darkened as the scene changed.
- >You walk back out onto the stage after a quick outfit change, looking over the audience as the scene shifts.
- "What have I done?"
- "Though I did not pull the trigger, I built the gun that he holds in his hand."
- >You look up to the sky.
- "Last night I dreamed I climbed to the top of a mountain of metal and for miles I could see the destruction of man."
- >Your face grows grim as you walk back and forth over the stage.
- "I will not be the father of death."
- >You pull a small photo out of your pocket, caressing it slightly.
- "Darling Emily, everything that I have done, I have done for you, but it's turned out all wrong."
- >The stage lights up as the music swells/
- "Can I take it back? Can I turn off this machine before it destroys everything that I've loved?"
- >You looked over the crowd in horror and rage.
- "I will find a way to make this right!"
- "I will find a way, Emily."
- "I will not be the father of death!"
- >The light on you dimed and instead revealed a cobalt blue mare walking into another set, a letter in her grip.
- >Your darling Emily...
- >"Tom?" she called as she walked inside.
- >The lights grew to reveal a figure rummaging through a desk, it was Anon.
- >Startled by the sound, he turned to look at Emily. A sinister smile crossing his face.
- >He motioned behind Emily, causing a machine to slam the door shut.
- >Emily turned to Anon frightened as he got out from behind the desk.
- >"What are you doing here?"
- >"Let me take you away."
- >"I'm not going anywhere."
- >"He will be nothing when this runs its course."
- >"He will be everything that a man is supposed to be."
- >She moves to the window and looks out over the city, this girl had a nice voice...
- >"If the shadow blocks out the sun..."
- >"There will be Light!" the choir to the side sang.
- >"If it stays 'till the sun is set...
- >"There will be Light!"
- >"If the sun never shows its face again..."
- >"There will be Light!"
- >"No matter how dark the city gets... there will be..."
- >Anon gave a DAMN good evil glare as Emily sang.
- >He turned to the machine and slid his finger across his throat, spurning the robot into action.
- >It clambered towards Emily as Anon glided out the window.
- >Emily tried to follow Anon out the window, but the machine caught her hair.
- >Even as she tried to scream, the machine moved. Ripping a steel blade across her neck and sending a splash of blood across the wall.
- >You walked into the set moments after, crossing over into the room where the grisly murder had taken place.
- >A bright red light pulsing outside the window drew your eyes towards it.
- >Emotions played across your face, drawing a few gasps from the crowd.
- >The machine tossed the still dripping knife into the room before it leapt off the stage.
- >Sirens came from offstage.
- >You knelt down next to Emily, pulling her as close to you as you could, your body silently hitching.
- >Real guards, actual ones from the city, started kicking at the door.
- >You brushed the hair from Emily's face and kissed her forehead as a single tear rolled down your cheek.
- >The door bucked and splintered, rousing you from your mourning.
- >You pocketed the note and slipped to the window.
- >The buzzing sound of spells charging filled the silent concert hall.
- "The robot, didn't you see!? It had a red light behind a blast shield and it killed her!"
- >The guards, to their part, looked to you confused and charged their spells more.
- >Your head sunk as you turned and throw yourself from the window.
- >Gasps of shock came from the crowd as the well practiced guards fired their spells.
- >You grunted as you hit the ground below.
- >Dammit...it was only a few feet but it still hurt...next time Anon plays Tom.
- >At least your magic immunity helped sell the scene.
- >You rolled over and pushed yourself shakily to your feet as the sirens grew louder and ran off stage.
- -Anon PoV-
- >You were born for this moment.
- >Finally getting to put to use all those "dance lessons" Michael Jackson videos had taught you.
- >As Mous ran offstage, a gaggle of reporters came in to take his place behind you.
- >Above all your heads was a screen, one that was due to go live any moment.
- >You held your cane behind your head with your back to the audience, popping your shoulders and sliding it across in tune with the music.
- >As the drums joined, you began twirling the cane on circles on either side of you, prancing around as the reporters assembled.
- >You glanced up at Luna and Celestia's box seats, they both seemed to be enjoying it. Luna was enraptured by the story despite seeing it over a dozen times and Celestia seemed to be following your cane twirls.
- >It was good to put on a performance for good friends.
- >You strutted in front of the reporters and slammed your can onto the ground.
- "Tonight the streets are red, the lights are blue and blinding."
- "No sign of the "Good Doctor," but the siren's wail and whining Tell us he'll be found."
- >You walk in rhythm to the window behind you and overlook the city.
- " I can almost hear the hounds..."
- >You grinned a bit as the lights of the city flashed.
- >You turned back to reporters, dancing as you walked.
- "What kind of man builds a machine to kill a girl?"
- "No he did not use his hands. "
- "Like a smart man he used a tool."
- "But just the same!..."
- "How can you question who's to blame?"
- >The reporters all took a step forward. "What was her name?" they shouted.
- >You waved a dismissive hand.
- "It doesn't matter. Now listen..."
- >You toss your cane up into the air and spin around on your heels before catching it and hoping in the air.
- "The Good Doctor" has to pay!"
- >A red countdown appeared on the screen over your heads, drawing the reports attention.
- >You bent your head down to whisper to only you and the crowd.
- "When I say he was a monster, when I set fire to his name."
- "It does not matter where you hear it from, whether truth or lies, it gets said all the same!"
- >You glance up at the coundown, stabbing your cane towards the reporters.
- "Whatever's on the table plays!"
- >You glance up back as the countdown as it ticks down to 1 minutes, 46 seconds.
- >The reporters keep blaring questions at you as you slip into the studio.
- >A pane of glass sparates you from the reporters as they flap their gums.
- >The mics weren't on...the cameras weren't rolling...so you spoke to yourself.
- "There is a flame I have been fanning."
- "There is a fire waiting to catch."
- There is a hell that has been building from the moment we first met."
- >58 seconds to air.
- "If there ever was a time, If there ever was a chance, to undo the things I've done and wash these bloodstains from my hands."
- >49 seconds to air
- >Your eyes grew more deranged and excited as seconds ticked away.
- "It has passed and been forgotten."
- "These are the paths that we must take."
- "Cause you and I, Tom, we are men And we can bend and we can break."
- >40 seconds.
- "If you think that you can run."
- "If you think that you can stand."
- "Well you forget who turned this city on. "
- >The automated lights in the studio switch on as you throw you cane up and catch it again.
- "You forget who plugged this city in!"
- >30 seconds to air.
- "They'll not switch it off again."
- You straightened your tie, knocked the wrinkles out of your suit jacket and faced the camera lens.
- "One by one they're tuning in."
- >15 seconds.
- >You looked over the audience as they watched hypnotized by the events unfolding.
- >Just as planned.
- >3 seconds...
- >You clear your throat as the blinking red light goes solid.
- >Your face appears on the screen above the audience, their eyes snapping up to it.
- "Hello, people of the greatest city on the planet."
- "It is my great honor to announce the new telescreen's that will be sending a constant stream of information to you all."
- >Your face grew serious.
- "As you all no doubt know, a murder was commited by my once associate Dr. Thomas Light."
- "I want to assure you all that he will be caught and brought to justice, I will not allow such blatant disregard for the law go unpunished."
- >You grow a small smile.
- "I promise you all, I will make this city safe again."
- >The guards, the reporters, all the city folk looked up at the screen.
- >And they trusted it's words completely.
- -Mous PoV-
- >You sat in a defendants chair as the scene changed.
- >You kept your head low and arms close as the music lightly filled the hall.
- >Extras walked around in a mock trial with and spoke without sound.
- >You were to be depressed over loss here, you had lots of practice doing that.
- >Your voice was kept soft as it was amplified over the audience.
- "Emily, The crowd has gathered here but it is not because of you."
- >You shake your head.
- "Emily, the taste of blood in their mouths, I can't imagine what they'll do."
- "But it doesn't matter what they'll do to me."
- >You shift in your seat a bit
- "Emily, have they forgotten you when they set their sights on me?"
- >You look up at the shadow cast by a noose hanging from the ceiling.
- "They will hang me from the rope tonight."
- "Will you be waiting there for me?"
- "Will our souls remember where we said we'd meet on the way out of this town?"
- >Tears began to well up in the eyes of both you and the audience as the scene hit them.
- "I'm leaving one way or the other, Emily. There's nothing left here for me now."
- >You pulled your head closer.
- "Emily, it's so quiet now. It's like the calm before a storm."
- >You look up at a screen with Anon's face on you.
- "They will punish me for what he did to you. But either way it's all my fault,"
- "'Cause I made the man who laid his hands on you."
- >You shoot your head as you shouted.
- "And I would tear him down, but I feel like a dead man and what can a dead man do?"
- >Smoke came from backstage with the silhouette of Emily shining out.
- >"This is not your fault!" she yelled.
- "I'm leaving one way or the other, Emily."
- >"This is not your fault!"
- "There's nothing left here for me now."
- >The lights intensify on the court as they reach the end.
- "Here comes the blow..."
- "We find the only man who loved her..."
- "We find the only man who'd give his life to see her once again..."
- >"We find this man..."
- >"Not Guilty!"
- "Guilty... I am Guilty!"
- >The sentence had been dealt; not guilty.
- >The judge, jurors and lawyers all left the courtroom, leaving you alone in the defendants stand.
- >As the lights on the set died, lights outside the court windows intensified.
- >Along with shouts of anger and rage.
- >You sat in the stand, simply waiting.
- >A group of guards came and escorted you from the stand out of the courthouse.
- >They paused at the doors and prepared for what was outside.
- >As they swung the doors open, the angry mob outside's screams intensified.
- >It was utter chaos in the city.
- >"Give us the doctor!" they shouted.
- >The guards hurried you along through the crowd.
- >"Give us the rope!"
- >The guards kept the mob away from you as you were pushed into a carriage
- >The mob pounded on the windows of the carriage as it left.
- >"Give us his hands!"
- >"Give us his feet!"
- >You could see the rage in their eyes.
- >"Give us the doctor!"
- >"Give us the rope!"
- >You kept maneuvering through the sea of protesters.
- >"Give us a grave!"
- >"Give us a shovel!"
- >"Give us a marker!"
- >"Give us the doctor!"
- >"Give us the rope!"
- >The carriage slowly made its way to the train station, every stallion, mare and foal in the city slowly marching after you.
- >In the vacant silence of the station, you could hear the dull roar of the crowd as they came closer and closer to the station.
- >In utter apathy, you stepped onto the train right as the doors shut.
- >As the train pulled away, your looked up to the angry face of Anon at the top of the tower you helped build.
- >He screamed and hollered and drove the crowd to new levels of frenzy as he drove you out of this city and took complete control.
- >Thomas Light was gone.
- >Your name tarnished, your work stolen., your love murdered.
- >But the city...
- >The city was still alive.
- >The train picked up and shot you out of the city as fast as it could.
- >Behind you, things changed.
- >A relentless army of robot workers marched out and began to tear down the old city, replacing it with a sleek new modern one.
- >Ponies followed the metal monsters out as they rebuilt the city, standing in awe of what laid before them.
- >No longer would they toil in factories or risk life and limb in mines, the city would now take care of that for them.
- >The single screen that transmitted Anon's face now sent the same picture to hundreds of others, filling the city with his word.
- >His words, his workers, his conviction, turned the city into a steel plated heaven.
- >Years passed.
- > A new generation grew up in the steel city, one that had never been told about the old by the previous generations.
- >Why would they? What point was there in telling everyone about the craphole the city used to be?
- >The people of the old city had been given a gift in the form of a new one, given by a kind man with an endless supply of steel hands.
- >And gifts could be taken back.
- >Fear settled in over the city, keeping them silent and safe.
- >Despite all that, rumors started.
- >Rumors that a demon with a single red I would take you away at night if you had even a dissenting word on your lips.
- >Some children grew up hating the city and the machines that had their hands around the necks of the people.
- >There was one boy in particular.
- >His name was Joe.
- -Anon PoV-
- >You stepped out on stage in your Joe outfit.
- >Playing two characters was practically a necessity, Wiley barely got any time.
- >You step out into the light and overlook the city.
- "The city doesn't know what's coming,"
- "She doesn't feel the heat."
- "The city won't know what hit her,"
- "What knocked her out into the streets."
- "The city is thinking that it's over,"
- "and she's already fast asleep."
- "So I'm breaking out of here tonight."
- "I am ready."
- >You walked along the shining city in disgust of what it had become.
- "We're given only what we need,"
- "Only the chance to survive."
- >You glance up at the broadcast tower.
- "And even then, it's a coin toss,"
- "A roll of the dice."
- >You look at the complacent masses of the city.
- "There's gotta be something better,"
- "Something that feels more alive."
- "So I'm breaking out of here tonight."
- "I'm breaking out of here."
- >You chase after a mare a ways ahead of you, trying to convince her of the state the city is in.
- "You've got to feel it girl, Feel the wind pick up."
- >The choir to the side of the stage sung with you.
- "It feels like something's gonna change,"
- >"Something's gonna change."
- "But there's no use putting it in drive if all the wheels are stuck."
- >You grab her shoulder.
- "There's somethin' wrong here."
- >"Something's wrong here."
- "Like this whole city wants to scream, but no one makes a sound."
- >She keeps on ignoring you as she walks into a restaurant.
- "But, you've got to feel it, baby."
- >"Something's wrong here."
- "So I'm going to find out what it is and I'm going to tear it down."
- >You slide up next to the mare and grab her ear to whisper.
- >She may have been ignoring you all night, but you had her attention now.
- "The engine's running, baby."
- "We don't have time for goodbyes."
- "I know you can't come with me."
- "I see that look in your eyes."
- "So kiss me fast cause there's no time to lose."
- "Leave the light on I'll come back for you."
- "When everything is said and done, I swear I'm gonna make it right."
- >You steal a quick kiss, swearing you can hear Luna stiffen a bit.
- "I'm breaking out of here tonight!
- >The girl smiled and rose a hoof to slap you, but you were already gone.
- >You kicked open the door and jumped on your bike to tear into the streets with fire in your blood.
- >As you rode, you screamed out against the silent city.
- >High above, citizens yelled at you to keep your voice down for all of your safety.
- "I'm so tired of giving up."
- "I am so tired of giving in."
- "You wake up knowing things should change, not knowing where to begin."
- "This city won't say where she's going, and she won't speak of where she's been."
- "So I'm breaking out of here tonight..."
- >As you race, the denizens of the city open their windows and lean out, gasping and speaking in timid voices in a chorus of fear.
- >"Don't turn your back on the city." they said.
- >You ignored the voices, you were the only one who hadn't turned his back.
- >You kick the shifter.
- "Say a prayer for all the children still sleeping.
- >You shift to 3rd gear.
- >"Don't turn your back on the city."
- "Say a prayer for all the fathers who still remember."
- >You shift to 4th.
- >"Don't turn your back on the city."
- "Say a prayer for all the girls who've learned to stand up."
- >"Don't turn your back on the city."
- >5th.
- >"Don't turn your back on the city."
- "Say a prayer for all the boys who won't surrender."
- >The lights on the stage and indeed in the entire theatre go out save for the one directly above you.
- "Sometimes I just want to drive until the streets run out."
- "I want to burn until there's nothing left to burn about."
- >Who do you know like that?
- "This city's waiting for a better day."
- "When I get back there will be hell to pay."
- >The lights pulse brighter and brighter.
- "But, if I'm the only one left standing, I will not be afraid to fight."
- "I'm breaking out of here tonight!"
- >You keep racing.
- "I feel a fever coming on me, burning out of control."
- "And I hear nothing but the static."
- "For years now there's been nothing but the static on the radio."
- "If you can hear my voice outside these walls, if you can hear me sending out this message tonight, then break the silence, send a signal back."
- "I'm coming, all I need is a little guiding light."
- >The music keeps pounding as you keep riding.
- "...If you can hear me." you add as an afterthought.
- >"Don't turn your back on the city..."
- "If you can hear me...Don't turn your back on the city."
- >You keep riding next to the rails for a while, eventually leading to the slums of the city.
- >Even here, the telescreens were buzzing.
- >You heard footsteps behind you as you stepped off your bike and reached for the knife in your boots.
- >You whirled around to face your potential attacker.
- >It was a grey haired Mous.
- >You were about to speak when he raised a finger and pointed behind you.
- >You turned around to see a single pulsating red light from the alleyway behind you.
- >Mous took a few steps towards you and you him.
- >You recognized this face, the face of the Demon of the City.
- >You felt yourself grow more excited.
- >You stay where you are as you talk to him.
- "I've seen your face in the shadows."
- "I've seen your face in the places I wasn't meant to be."
- "I've heard them whisper about you."
- "I've heard the men in the bars and I've seen the women lock their doors at night."
- "Lock your doors tonight."
- >You take a few steps towards him as he continues you glare past you.
- "They say your eyes are on fire."
- "They say you'd kill a man for walking the wrong side of the line."
- "The wrong side of the line."
- "But men, they say a lot of foolish things and in the end the only words I can find to believe in are mine."
- >You walk towards him as the choir prepares to join you.
- "They say:"
- "This city."
- >"This city."
- "She's been dead."
- >"She's been dead."
- "For years now..."
- >"For years now,"
- "For years now..."
- >"For years now,"
- "So death is,"
- >"So death is,"
- "Not something"
- >"Not something"
- "Not something that scares me."
- >"That scares me... "
- "That scares me ..."
- >You take a step closer.
- "There's worse things."
- >"There's worse things."
- "Than death here.
- >"Than death here."
- "They told me..."
- >"Keep quiet."
- >You thrust your arms into the air.
- "I will not be told where to stand!"
- "I will not be told what to say."
- "Not by man or machine, Not by you, not by anyone tonight!"
- "You're gonna have to do better than fear."
- "You're gonna have to step out of the shadows and fight!"
- >You point a finger at him.
- "And when they see your face again, They will know what it means to have fear dragged out into the light."
- "Drag it out!"
- "They say:"
- "This city."
- >"This city."
- "She's been dead."
- >"She's been dead."
- "For years now..."
- >"For years now,"
- "For years now..."
- >"For years now,"
- "So death is,"
- >"So death is,"
- "Not something"
- >"Not something"
- "Not something that scares me."
- >"That scares me... "
- "That scares me ..."
- "So come on!"
- >"Come on."
- "Come on!"
- "Step into the light!"
- >The machine behind you lurches to life and steps from the shadows.
- >Mous visible tensed as the machine walked forward.
- >You slowly backed away from the bike, getting close to Mous in the alley.
- >The machine never charged up its magical canon in its hand, instead leaning forward with a large blade in it's fist.
- "This city."
- >"This city."
- "She's been dead."
- >"She's been dead."
- "For years now..."
- >"For years now,"
- "For years now..."
- >"For years now,"
- "So death is."
- >"So death is.
- >"Not something.
- "Not something that scares me!"
- >"That scares me."
- "That scares me.
- >"That scares me."
- "There's worse things."
- >"This city."
- "Than death here
- >"She's been dead."
- >"For years now."
- "There's loss and there's silence and sadness!
- >"For years now."
- >Your hands were shaking.
- >"So death is."
- "So come on!"
- >"Not something."
- "Come on!"
- >"That scares me"
- "Just open your mouths and receive it!"
- "That scares me."
- >The machine continues to march forward, making sounds over and over.
- >In time, those sounds resembled speech.
- >"This city."
- >"She's been dead."
- >"For years now."
- >"For years now."
- >"So death is."
- >"Not something."
- >"That scares me"
- >It repeated those words over and over like a mantra.
- >You leaned forward and charged the machine, intent on going down fighting.
- >You slammed into it and rolled along the ground with it.
- >The machine got on top and put its hands around your throat.
- >You clawed at the metal covering it, looking for a chink in the armor.
- >Your hand found the magic canon in its hand instead.
- >You were able to twist the hand and blast the machine.
- >When you got your eyes open, the machine was several feet away with a smoldering hole in its chest.
- >You grabbed a pipe and prepared to bash its skull in, but Mous stopped you.
- >"I built this. It's mine to destroy." he said.
- >With surprising speed, his right hand shot to Joe's boot and withdrew the knife. With his left hand he grabbed the machine by the jugular-shaped electrical conduit at its throat and sliced. A single swift blow. The eye went dark. The machine was dead.
- >He turned to face you, your labored breaths drowning out the telescreen.
- >"My name is Thomas Light..." he said.
- >He walked over to the lifeless machine and motioned for you to assist him.
- >You both dragged the remains into the alley.
- >Mous sheathed the knife in your boot and examined the machine.
- >With a few deft movements, he pulled the dark green helmet off its head.
- >"Here... try this on."
- >You and Mous needed a plan.
- "This city's sleeping like a soldier trapped inside of an iron lung."
- "Machines can keep you breathing but what happens when you find a new war's begun?"
- "Flip a switch and turn it off, you won't be able to breathe."
- "So either way you're a casualty."
- >You walked around as your mind processed what was happening and your pulse quickened.
- >You clench your fist.
- "I've got this burning like my veins are filled with nothing but gasoline."
- "And with a spark it's gonna be the biggest fire they've ever seen."
- "Cut me down or let me run, Either way it's all gonna burn..."
- "The only way that they'll ever learn."
- >You point to the telescreens.
- "We've got to turn it off, Flip a switch."
- "Light up the night!"
- "There is a city that this darkness can't hide."
- "There are the embers of a fire that's gone out, But I can still feel the heat on my skin."
- "This mess we're in, well you and I, Maybe you and I, We can still make it right."
- "Maybe we can bring back the light."
- >Mous paces around with his hand on his chin.
- >He turns back to you.
- >"At the heart of the city there is a building that looks down over all there is."
- >"And the man in the tower controls it all without raising a single fist."
- >"It's like they gathered up the city, they sold it to the devil and now, It's gone to hell and they wonder how."
- >He walks closer to you.
- >"Well, a friend once told me: Men, they would follow any man who would turn the wheels."
- >"Now the wheels are spinning out of control; what would they do if we held them still?"
- >"If you destroy the working parts, what you'll get is a broken machine."
- >"A beacon of light from a burning screen."
- >"Light it up."
- >"Light up the night."
- >You both clasped your fists and sang together.
- >"There is a city that this darkness can't hide."
- >"There are the embers of a fire that's gone out, But I can still feel the heat on my skin. This mess we're in, well you and I, maybe you and I, We can light up the night."
- >You both made a plan, a simple yet effective plan.
- >You would make your way to the central transmitter and stop the broadcasts, taking out Wiley's eyes.
- >With those out, Mous could re0enter the city and kill wiley.
- >Mous walked into home and handed a bag of explosives to you.
- >"There is a city that this darkness can't hide."
- >"There are the embers of a fire that's gone out, "But I can still feel the heat on my skin. "This mess we're in, well you and I, maybe you and I, We can light up the night."
- >"There is a city that this darkness can't hide."
- >"There is a fire that will burn through the streets of the city, and we will stand in the light."
- >"We will stand in the light, you and I."
- >"You and I."
- >"We can bring back the light."
- >The assassin dead, there was no better time.
- >Mous locked the helmet under your chin and handed you the bag.
- >"Go!" he shouted.
- >You hopped on the bike and sped back to the city.
- >You head the news reports as you passed each telescreen.
- >"Incident as cities edge."
- >"Armed assailant."
- >"Threat to public safety."
- >Ignore it all, just climb.
- >You raced through the streets faster than ever before.
- >The world seemed to ebb around you as you came closer and closer to the imposing spire and the giant telescreen on top of it.
- >You were gonna climb to the top of the world.
- >The street ended and you jumped the curb, launching you into the front steps of the tower.
- >The bike lost traction on the smooth marble and slid across the floor.
- >You were thrown off it just as the bike launched into the air and crashed into the steel doors, erupting into flame.
- >You rolled on your stomach as you slowed yourself, sirens bursting to life around you.
- >You push yourself up and run to the stairs, jump the flames left by the bike.
- >After what seemed like an endless number of stairs, you reached the top of the tower.
- >You kicked the door in and stepped into the night air.
- >Have to act fast.
- >You threw the bag down next to the transmitter, reached inside and grabbed the detonator.
- >You held as tight as you could and ran for the stairs.
- >It took three steps for the bomb to go off and throw you into the air.
- >Mous had almost reached the plaza.
- >He watched the flames erupt from the top of the building and set the sky on fire.
- >As he watched the debris fall to the earth, he saw one piece that could only be a human body.
- >His fears were confirmed as the body landed with a dull thump and he pushed his way through the crowd.
- >As he stood in the center, another explosion shook the ground. Then another and another and another still.
- >In the distance, he saw as the telescreens burst into flame and splintered.
- -Mous PoV-
- >You understood at once.
- >There had been no mistake, this was all part of his plan.
- >A man who had spent his entire life fearing for his control wouldn't be done in by a pack of explosives.
- >You turned your head and caught glimps of a red pulsating light at the edge of the city.
- >Another transmitter.
- >You had stopped nothing.
- >You fell to your knees at the knowledge that you had sent a young boy to die.
- >A voice came over loudspeakers shouting about insurgent forces and commanding the frightened men and women to return home.
- >Red lights sprung up all around you as thousands of mechanical soldiers poured in.
- >At the same time, the stage lights died down and left a single spotlight on you as time seemed to slow.
- "Emily, a crowd has gathered here and once again they fail to see."
- "You can't just set the world at someone else's feet and not get trampled underneath."
- "And I think somehow Joe knew it, he paid the price he thought he had to pay, but Emily, that debt was meant for me..."
- >You tap your fingers on your chest twice.
- "That debt was meant for me."
- >You look up to the sky.
- "This is not the world my father knew."
- "This is not the world, I know, he would have wanted me to build, But I can't undo it now."
- "It's like a train, and all its cars are filled with steel, that I would stop if I knew how."
- "And it is bearing down on me..."
- "So I will stand here with my shoulders square and tall, and when the whistle blows, not falter, but when the crash comes I will fall."
- "With so much steam and steel behind it, I won't slow it down at all."
- >Your head sinks.
- "Oh God..."
- "Oh God..."
- >You look up at the encroaching red lights.
- "Here comes the arm."
- >And now...this part...
- >You hated this part...
- >It always hit close to home...
- >Emily trotted out onto the stage. Christ, she was even blue too.
- >She orbited around you on your knees with a benevolent look about her.
- >"Thomas, Please don't cry for me."
- >"I know you never meant for this."
- >"I love you completely, just remember that. If I should leave you now,"
- >"Then in my final hour, I pray this letter finds you well before it all goes to hell."
- >"He could never cage the world. It's too big for anyone, and soon the dark will pass.
- >" I want so much to be with you but in my heart I know, Tom, the city needs you now. This city needs you now."
- >"This city needs you now!"
- >Your eyes snap open as the choir sings. "THIS CITY!"
- >You look around at the turmoil and destruction.
- >Screams came in every direction as desperate and terrified people ran past.
- >This city needed you now.
- >And not just this one.
- >You looked down at Anon's face and snapped the helmet off him as you stood.
- "Joe, when you see Emily, tell her to wait for me."
- >Your eyes snap forward.
- "'Cause I still have work to do..."
- >With that you turned and walked away.
- >You walked around machines and around terrified citizens.
- >You were going to save this city and all its people one day.
- >Count on it.
- >The lights came back on and illuminated the audience as they practically brought the roof down with their applause.
- >You and Anon joined the other members of the production on the stage and waved at everyp0ny.
- "Next time, you play Light."
- >"Hating our destined role, are we?"
- "Maybe I just don't like being tossed from windows? Not to mention I could work that cane better than you did."
- >Anon laughs "You wish."
- >The applause lasted forever as ponies, nobles, and princesses alike shared their thoughts on the play.
- >You all take each other's hands and hooves and bow, bringing the performance and night to a close.
- (Authors note 8 years late: CUH-RINGE)
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