Shadows in the dark

Chapter 16

Applejack screamed in surprise when she felt her cousin ram himself into her. Knocking her off her hooves. Applejack looked up at the golden stallion with tears coursing down her face. "B-Braeburn! It's me! Cousin Applejack! Don't you recognize me?" Braeburn roared with rage as he slammed both his front hooves down. Applejack gasped and quickly rolled to the side.

"Braeburn! Stop it! It's Applejack! Cousin Applejack! Remember what happened in Appleloosa two years ago?" Applejack pleaded to the corrupted stallion. She mentally questioned herself if this was really her cousin. Aside from the longer mane and slightly muscular body, he had the same eyes and voice. There was no question about it. This is her cousin.

"Quit stallin', mare!" Braeburn snapped. His voice dripping with venom.

"Quit stall-..." Applejack shakely got back on all fours and glared tearfully at her cousin. "What is WRONG with you!?" she screamed. "I'm your cousin Applejack! Get it through your thick skull, will ya? Why are you with those ponies? Why are you acting like this? Why are you dressed like that? And what the fucking hell happened to you these past months!"

Braeburn didn't reply. Instead he charged the confused mare at full speed. Intending on a breaking a bone or two. Applejack quickly jumped out of the way and watched him ram into the dead tree instead. Braeburn howled in agony as blood trailed down his face.

"Brae..." Applejack stared at her cousin as he turned back to face her. Not once in her life would she see her cousin with blood running down his face. Braeburn was never the sort who liked to use violence. Let alone do something to hurt another pony. He was a charming, loving, hardworking stallion who did what he could for the community. He actually hated having to use violence on anything; believing that it wouldn't solve any problems. But now, here he is wearing black battle armor with blood running down his face and a look in his eyes that clearly said "bloody murder".

"Shut up and fight!" Braeburn screamed before started to charge his cousin head on.

"Brae..." Applejack slowly shook her head in denial.

Braeburn ran faster.

"It doesn't have to be like this..." Tears ran down the mare's face silently.

Braeburn licked his teeth in anticipation as he grew closer.

"Cousin...Braeburn..."

Applejack barely had time to react when she felt the stallion suddenly come crashing in against her body. With a force possibly stronger than Big Macintosh, Braeburn rammed his cousin into the dead tree. Its branches shook and a couple dead, wrinkled leaves came floating down lazily. Applejack was laying on her side. Eyes closed and motionless. Braeburn panted as he stared at his cousins body. He nudged her with his hoof before assuring himself that she wouldn't try anything foolish once he turns his back on her.

He walked over to his helmet and placed it back on his head. Casually walking back to town without giving Applejack a second glance. Never seeing the lone tear that streaked down her face. By the time he returned to the square, all of the residents were cramped together after being shoved into a cart big enough to fit an entire small village

"Is that everypony?" Braeburn asked his stallions in an authoritative voice, and not in the jolly one everypony loved.

"Yes, sir!" the stallions replied.

Trixie whimpered and huddled closely to Rarity, who was busy staring at Braeburn in both horror and disgust. This wasn't the Braeburn she remembered from her visit to Appleloosa. The Braeburn she knew was this jolly young stallion who was obsessed with saying Appleloosa really long. She was beginning to wish he'd do that right now. The way he spoke was enough to send a shiver down her spine. And where is Applejack? What did he do to his cousin.