Forgotten Invitation (UA Civil War game)

The Horns of War

The city around us was crumbling, but the tension between me and Pony Tsunotori was rising. She was separated from her group, just as I wanted, but now she was cornered—and desperate. Desperation brings out the fight in people, and that's exactly what I was counting on.

She glared at me, her horns twitching as she stood her ground. The fear from earlier had faded. Now, all I could see was resolve.

Me: "Oh, finally growing a spine, huh?"

She didn't answer, just stomped the ground with her hoof, preparing to charge. I could see her calculating the angles, planning her next move. Good. She wasn't backing down. This was going to be fun.

Pony: "You think you can scare me into giving up?"

Her voice was firm, no longer trembling like before.

Me: "Not really. I don't need to scare you, Pony. I just need to win."

Her eyes narrowed, and in an instant, she was in motion. She charged at me with a speed I had underestimated, her horns aimed right for my chest. I dodged to the side, narrowly missing the sharp tips of her horns as they grazed my suit.

Me: "Close, but not close enough."

She didn't give me time to recover. Pony spun on her hooves and came at me again, this time faster, more aggressive. I could see it in her eyes—she was putting everything into this. But I was ready. As she lunged forward, I sidestepped, grabbing one of her horns mid-charge and twisting her off balance.

Her body stumbled, and I used that moment to grab her by the back of her jacket and throw her into the nearest wall. The impact was hard, but not enough to knock her out. She shook her head, recovering quickly.

Me: "You know, if you weren't so stubborn, this could've been over already."

She snorted, lowering her head, preparing to charge again.

Pony: "I'm not letting you win!"

This time, I didn't dodge. I needed her close. I wanted those horns. When she charged, I braced myself and took the hit. Her horns drove into my side, just under my ribs. The sharp pain shot through my body like fire, but I gritted my teeth, keeping my stance firm.

She gasped, probably expecting me to collapse, but I didn't. Instead, I grabbed her horns with both hands and held her there, locked in place. Blood was already starting to soak through my shirt, dripping onto the cracked pavement beneath us.

Me: "Thanks for the help. I've been needing a new weapon."

Before she could react, I twisted her horns, wrenching her head to the side and forcing her to the ground. The pain from the wound was intense, but it was worth it. With a violent yank, I ripped one of her horns free from her head. Pony screamed, her eyes wide with shock and pain as blood dripped down the side of her face.

Me: "You see, Pony..."

I twirled the horn in my hand, testing its weight. It was sharp enough, perfect for what I needed.

Me: "...you just gave me a new toy."

She tried to crawl away, but I wasn't done. I flipped the horn in my grip and slashed it across her arm, leaving a deep, jagged cut. Blood spattered across the ground, but I was careful not to aim for anything fatal. A promise is a promise, after all.

Me: "Don't worry, I'm not gonna kill you. That'd be too easy."

Pony gasped, clutching her bleeding arm, but the fire in her eyes was still there. She wasn't giving up. She tried to push herself up, but I wasn't about to let her regain her footing. I kicked her square in the chest, sending her back down to the ground.

Me: "You're tough, I'll give you that."

She struggled to breathe, her chest heaving as she tried to crawl away from me. But I wasn't letting her off that easy. Not yet.

I crouched down beside her, spinning the horn in my hand again.

Me: "But tough doesn't win fights. Strategy does."

I stabbed the horn into her shoulder, not deep enough to hit anything vital but enough to leave her immobilized. The horn stuck out of her body, a grotesque reminder of the fight we had just had.

Pony let out a cry, her body trembling from the pain. Blood poured from the wound, staining her clothes and pooling beneath her. I watched as her eyes started to glaze over, the shock of the injury beginning to take hold.

Me: "Don't pass out on me now."

I leaned in closer, my voice soft and menacing.

Me: "You need to be awake to remember this. To remember that you were never going to win."

Her breaths were ragged, her body shaking from the pain and blood loss, but she didn't pass out. She was stronger than I thought.

Me: "You'll live. The horn will keep you from bleeding out. Consider that my gift to you."

I stood up, wiping the blood from my hands onto my suit. It didn't matter. The red wouldn't show up against the fabric. That's why I chose this outfit in the first place.

Me: "You should've run when you had the chance."

I turned away, leaving her there, broken and bleeding, but still alive. The sound of her name being announced over the speakers echoed in the distance, signaling her elimination from the game.

Me: "Another one down... and plenty more to go."

As I walked away, I could feel the sting of the wound in my side, but it was a small price to pay. Pony had been a good fight, but in the end, it didn't matter. She wasn't strong enough to win, just like the others wouldn't be.

I smirked to myself, the weight of her horn still in my hand.