Chapters Chapter 1 Who Am I?
With another boring day of school over, I got off my bus into the cold heavy rain and ran home. I unlocked the door and walked into the empty house; both my parents wouldn’t be home till five so I had some time to myself. I hung my raincoat to dry and I went to my room at the end of the hall. My room was a mess and it always stayed that way. I cleared off my desk and fired up my computer; sure it was old but I could type on it so I never complained. While it whirred and beeped to life I pulled out my sketchbook and flipped through a few scratched out and unfinished drawings until I came to my OC. Like any brony my dream was to be the stallion I had drawn, with light brown fur and a bright orange mane. I smiled until I saw the flank and frowned, still no cutie mark; I could never figure that out. All of a sudden then was a huge lightning strike next to my window.
I jumped and sighed, “If only,” I looked at my clock, it read 2:30 and I realized I had to get to work, “Right I have a fanfic to write.”
I opened Word and typed,
Chapter 1 Who Am I?
I sighed, “Well it’s a start, and now all I need is a story.”
There was another lightning strike and the power went out.
“O c’mon I just got started.” I yelled at the storm.
Just then my computer screen lit up and it said, your destiny awaits you, I tried to move but I couldn’t. I looked over at my OC then everything went white.
…
When I woke up I was looking at a cloudless orange sky. I tried to get up but I fell flat on my back again. I sat up and rubbed the back of my head with my hoof…My hoof?! Questions ran through my head. Where am I? Who am I?
I stared at my hoof, “What am I?”
I turned to see a purple…thing running towards me on four legs. It came up to me; it had light purple fur, a dark purple mane and a horn. A unicorn?
“Are you okay?” She asked
I rubbed my head again, “I guess,” I stood up, this time on four legs.
“Thank Celestia, that’s a relief, I’m Twilight Sparkle by the way, what’s your name?”
My name, I thought for a moment and said, “I don’t know,” I looked around area and then back at my hoof, “To tell the truth I don’t even know what I am.”
Twilight walked in a circle around and said, “From the looks of it you’re an earth pony stallion of about 16 years of age. But where’s your cutie mark?”
I looked at her confused, “My what?”
She pointed to her flank which had a pink six sided star with sparkles around it.
“Everypony gets one when they find their special talent.” She said
“I guess I never earned mine,” I sighed, “Where am I anyway?”
“Oh, you’re in Equestria or to be more specific Ponyville.” She looked over at the sunset, “It’s getting late, and if you want you can stay at my house for the time being.”
“I’ve got nowhere else to go.”
“Great, follow me,” She said and started walking. I looked down at my hooves and tried walking behind Twilight. After a few tries I got my rhythm and continued to follow Twilight.
…
We got to Twilights house which was really a house built inside a tree. We walked in and there was purple and green dragon organizing books…there were books on every wall.
“Hey Twilight what took so long?” He looked at me, “Who is that?”
“He doesn’t know who he is and he doesn’t even have a cutie mark. He staying with us for a while, could you go make him a bed?”
“Sure thing Twilight,” He said and ran upstairs
I walked up to Twilight, “Who was that?”
“Hmm…oh that was my assistant Spike?”
I looked around, “So you live in a library?”
“Yep I’ve got every book you could think of.”
I yawned, “Where am I sleeping?”
“It’s the bed next to mine, c’mon I’ll show you.”
Twilight and Spike fell asleep and I just laid in my bed thinking. So I’m a stallion in a world of talking ponies, pegasi and unicorns, and now I’m staying with Twilight. But who am I? How did I get here? My eyelids felt heavy and I went to sleep.
…
I didn’t know it was possible to get tired from a dream. All around me was black and the only thing I could see was a small piece of paper a few feet in front of me. I walked up to it but when I was about to grab it, it just flew farther away. I tried running after it but that didn’t work with me still getting used to the whole four legged thing. I even tried sneaking up on it but it still flew further. It was hard to tell exactly how long I had been chasing the paper, but the more I chased it the farther away it was from
me. After more chasing and stumbling, I was finally too tired to keep going and I sat down.
I looked at the paper in the distance, panting I looked down and closed my eyes, “Please, I’m lost, I want to know.” I looked up but the paper was still too far away. “Please, I need something to tell me who I am.” I felt a tear go down my face and I said, “I’m scared.” The tear hit the ground and I heard a small tap, I opened my eyes to see that the paper was right in front of me! I carefully grabbed and unfolded it in the fear that it would blow away again.
I read the paper out loud, “Your name is Brilliant Blaze.”
Suddenly all the black was lit up by a gleaming sun above.
I wiped the tears in my eyes, “Thank you.”
I heard a stallion’s voice, “Stop crying and smile, it’s unbefitting.”
“Thank you.” I said again now smiling.
Chapter 2
A Name
"Brilliant Blaze," I sat right up in my bed, the sun was gleaming through the window. I looked over at Twiligtht who was still asleep.
I went over to her bed and shook her awake,"Twilight wake up." I said
"What is it?" She replied, rubbing her eyes.
"I know my name now, it's Brilliant Blaze!" I smiled…that was the first time I ever smiled.
"Well then, good morning Brilliant Blaze." She smiled back.
There was a faint grumbling, I turned to see that Spike was still asleep chewing on his pillow and mumbling something.
I walked over to a mirror, I chuckled at my mane. It was a shade of bright orange with three spikes in the front and the same went for my tail.
"If you want I have a comb you can use," Twilight offered.
"No thanks," I said,"I kinda like it this way." I ran my hoof through it.
"While you're here I can at least show you around town." Twilight said
I said, "I guess I should, I think I may be here awhile."
"Why's that?"
"Well I can only remember yesterday, and I kinda like it here." I smiled
"Then let's get going then," She said, "Spike we're leaving."
"Ugh…" Spike mumbled back.
I laughed as we walked out the door, "Is he always like that?"
"Not all the time, just in the morning." Twilight chuckled
"Now let's see, where to begin?" She said as we walked, "Oh here we are at Sugar cube Corner."
I could smell all the sweets and cake to the point that I almost drooled. While I walked around looking at the sweets I noticed a mare with a poofy pink mane. We made eye contact for a few seconds then suddenly she jumped up and gasped. She ran out of the bakery with logic defying speed.
I looked over at Twilight, "What was that about?" I asked her
She smiled, "It's best I don't say."
I shrugged and we walked out of the bakery.
"Next on our tour is Rarity's boutique." Twilight said
We walked in and a white mare with a curly purple mane was working on a dress, I assumed that was Rarity. She turned towards us, "Hello Twilight what brings you here?" She looked at me, "Who is this?"
"This is Blaze, he plans to stay here in Ponyville and i'm showing him around." Twilight answered
Before I could say something I was being pushed onto a platform by Rarity. Within mere seconds Rarity was taking my measurements for a vest. During this Twilight was watching and snickering.
"You really don't have to do this." I said as pieces of fabric flew around me.
"Nonsense Blaze, you plan to stay here so you should at least have something nice to wear," Rarity said finishing the measurements, "I should have it finished by tomorrow."
I hopped off the platform, "Thanks," I whispered to Twilight, "Quick let's get out of here before she tries to fit me for something else." With that we walked out.
…..
After visiting Sweet Apple Acres and Fluttershy's house, we walked by an old run down building.
"What's that?" I stopped and asked.
"That," Twilight said, "Is the town Forge."
"What happened to it?" I asked
"Well Summer Beard, the blacksmith that ran it suddenly left years and nopony knew how to keep the place running so it was eventually abandoned." She explained
I walked closer almost as if I heard a voice beckoning me to come closer but then I shook it off.
"C'mon," Twilight said, "We still have one place to go."
………
Our tour winded down and we came back to Twilight's house. We walked in and the lights were turned off.
"What's going on?" I asked
Suddenly the lights flashed on and everypony shouted, "Surprise!" The pink pony from the bakery was in front of me smiling as wide as she could.
"What's all this?" I asked the pink pony
"I saw you in the bakery and I knew I had never seen you before so you must have been new in town and I know everypony in town so I do what I always do for a new pony in town," She said still smiling, "Throw a party!" She shouted
"Sorry Blaze," Twilight said see ing me in shock, "This is Pinkie Pie the resident party thrower in Ponyville."
"Thank you Pinkie Pie." I smiled
"You are very welcomed." She said hopping away
"Blaze," I heard sompony say, "There you are." I turned to see Rarity walking towards me levitating a box.
"Hey Rarity," I said, "What's that?"
"Well I heard that Pinkie Pie was throwing you a party so decided to finish your vest." She opened the box and levitated the dark brown leather vest over to me.
I slid it on, "It fits perfectly," I said, "Thank you Rarity."
"It's the least I can do for you." Rarity said
"If you'll excuse me," I said, "I've got a party to enjoy."
……
Pinkie Pie threw one heck of a party, it lasted almost all night but eventually the party did die down and the ponies left. Twilight and I had to drag out so she didn't try to throw an after party.
"That was fun and all," I said, "But i'm glad it's finally over." I yawned
"Same here," Twilight said, "Pinkie Pie means well but sometimes she gets carried away."
"I think it's time to hit the hay." I said
I laid on my bed and waited until I knew for sure that Twilight and Spike were fast asleep. I grabbed my vest and went out into the cold night, I had to find out what I heard at the forge.
Chapter 3
The Voice
Nopony was out at night so I ran to the edge of the town where the forge was. I arrived at the same worn down, old building from before. I leaned my ear towards the building hoping to here the voice, but I heard nothing. I waked closer to the door but I still heard nothing. I tried to push the door open, but it wouldn't budge. Frustrated I backed up a few feet, snorted, and charged at the door. The door was weaker than I expected and I busted straight through it. As the dust settled I looked around the building, it was covered with cobwebs and some of the bricks were eroded. It really didn't look like much. Upon the wall was every tool imaginable, some of them rusted or broken in some way. There was a work bench with unfinished projects and rusted pieces of sheets metal. As I looked around I saw something in the corner of my eye, I turned to see a pair of goggles gleaming in the moonlight on a hook. I grabbed them off the hook and examined them in my hooves, they looked brand new, there was absolutely no dust on them! I put them on and the band fit perfectly, I slid them down to my eyes and everything turned a light brown. I slid them back up and left the building.
Thankfully Twilight never knew that I was gone, she and Spike were still asleep. I yawned and took off my vest. I laid on my bed and examined the goggles again. I put them back on and slipped them up to my ears. My eyelids felt heavy and I found myself falling asleep.
……
I had another dream and the goggles carried over into the dream. I took a look around and all I could see was the forge in the distance. I began to run towards it and I heard a voice but it wasn't the same as before.
"I will train you in the art of the forge, and you must follow my every command." said the voice
"I will Summer Beard, I will be your apprentice." I heard a smaller voice
I came up to the building and peered through the window, there was a red stallion with a bright yellow beard and a unicorn colt. Suddenly the dream shifted and now I saw Summer Beard and the same unicorn but older.
"I'm sorry Summer Beard," the unicorn said, "I've been training with you for years yet I have no cutie mark."
"I understand, you must leave to find your destiny," Summer Beard sighed, "I wish you safe travel."
The dream began to fade, "No I want to know more," I shouted at nothing, "What does this mean?"
………
I jolted out of my bed, grabbed my vest and toppled down the stairs. Spike was reading a cookbook while holding a measuring cup with his tail.
"Spike, where's Twilight?" I asked him as I got up.
"She left earlier," He said, not looking away from his book, "Something about demolishing the old forge building."
I ran out hoping I wasn't too late.
………
By the time I got there I was out of breath and could hardly speak. I had enough time to see Rainbow Dash climbing getting ready for a dive, and Twilight and the others hiding behind a bunker.
I took all the air left in my lungs and yelled, "WAIT!"
Everypony looked up from the bunker and Rainbow Dash had enough time to pull up from her dive. I gave a large sigh. "You. Can't. Destroy. It." I said between breaths.
"Why not Blaze?" Twilight asked coming out of the bunker.
"Yeah Blaze, what gives?" Rainbow Dash asked as she landed.
"You can't destroy it because," I bit my lip, "I heard a voice earlier and then I had a dream about Summer Beard, the old blacksmith," I paused, "I think this is where I'm supposed to be."
"Are you sure?" Twilight asked, "This place needs lots of repairs."
"I am willing to take the commitment." I said
"Well then good luck, blacksmith Blaze." Twilight smiled
………
With the help of some ponies in town the forge was repaired in about a week. When everything was finished there was celebration for the grand reopening of the forge. The mayor said a few words and I was given the scissors to cut the ribbon. I cut the ribbon, Pinkie Pie fired her party cannon and everypony cheered. I noticed a small flash behind me, I turned to see that my cutie mark had appeared, it was a hammer hitting an anvil. I smiled as wide as I could, I was home.
..........
When we rebuilt the forge there was an apartment built upstairs of the forge, made with all living necessities. I got what stuff I had from Twilight, which really wasn't a lot, apart from my vest and goggles all I had was the bed Twilight let me use. I moved the bed in and really didn't bother with anything else. I took off my vest and put it on a stand next to my bed and I laid on my bed. The ceiling and I had a staring contest as I laid there, I smiled with excitement, tomorrow I started my new job in Ponyville! Eventually my eyelids felt heavy and I fell asleep.
.........
My dream was almost the same as before, I saw the forge in the distance. I walked up and suddenly Summer Beard stepped out the door and I froze.
Duh , I thought to myself, He can't see me this is a dream.
Summer Beard looked at the forge and sighed, "I'm sorry, I have to leave." He placed his hoof on the door, "I just hope somepony will take good care of you." He said then walked away.
I stood there and time accelerated rapidly and the forge grew old. It then stopped and I saw Twilight and myself walk by the forge and the same thing happened like before but I still could not hear the voice.
"Why show me this?" I yelled at the darkness, "I've already lived it."
Suddenly the dream faded.
Chapter 4
The First Job
I was awoken from my dream by a knocking on the door. I got up, grabbed my vest, and went downstairs. I opened the door and saw Rainbow Dash standing there.
"Hello Rainbow Dash," I said, "What can I do for you today?"
"Hey Blaze," She replied, "I was wondering if you could make me an awesome suit of armor, aerodynamic and sleek."
I grabbed a pencil and a pad of paper and wrote down what she requested, "A'right Iw see wat I can duw." I said with the pencil still in my mouth.
"What?" Rainbow Dash asked confused.
I spat the pencil out, "Sorry," I smiled, "I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks." Rainbow Dash said and flew off.
I stared at what I wrote down, then giggled with excitement; my first job. Suddenly my smile fell and I sat down.
"What am I going to do?" I asked myself.
I suddenly heard a voice, "If you don't where to go and your mind seems full of clouds, retrace your steps and the path will be found."
"Nice rhyme, but what does it mean?" I asked the voice.
No response.
"If you don't know where to go and your mind seems full of clouds, retrace your steps and the path will be found." I repeated the poem. I sighed and rubbed my hoof through my mane and my goggles fell down over my eyes. Suddenly my mind was clear and it came to me, "Twilight." I smiled lifting my goggles back up.
…….
I got to Twilight's house and knocked on the door and Spike opened the door.
"Blaze," He said, "Twilight was just about to get you." Spike let me in and shouted upstairs , "Twilight, Blaze is here."
Twilight came down the stairs levitating a few books, "Hello Blaze, has business started yet?" She asked.
"Yeah I just got my first order." I replied
She smiled, "I was reorganizing my books when I found a few books about blacksmiths and I even found a book written by Summer Beard."
She placed the book in front of me, "The Art of the Forge, by Summer Beard." I read out loud, "This is just what I need," I smiled, "Thanks Twilight."
I placed the book in my vest, "I'll return it when i'm done." I said as I walked out.
"You're welcome." Twilight replied.
I returned to the forge and placed the book on my work bench. I opened it to the first chapter and read out loud, "The fire in the forge must always be lit, it acts as the heart of building." I continued to read and found instructions on lighting the fire. I found a bag of coal and the flint and steel. I dumped the coal in and struck the flint and steel. Sparks flew and the fire slowly lit.
"Step 1, done." I said
I then turned in the book to suits of armor. Turns out there was specifications for everything on a suit of armor. I turned to pegasi mare and was about to start when I realized I didn't have anything to place the armor on. I rubbed my chin and thought then an idea struck.
"Rarity." I said and I left the forge and ran to the boutique.
………
I came to Rarity's boutique and knocked on the door.
"Come in." I heard Rarity say from inside.
I opened the door and she was levitating fabric and stencils around her as she worked at her sewing machine.
She looked up and said, "Well hello Blaze, I see the vest I made is working for you. What can I do for you?" She asked.
"I was wondering if you had any extra mannequins I could use, I need to build a suit of armor." I said
She chuckled, "Rainbow Dash?"
I nodded.
"Hang on I think I have an extra one in the back." She said, still levitating the objects.
She returned with a wooden mannequin, "Will this do?" She asked
"That's perfect Rarity." I smiled
She disassembled the mannequin and put it all in a saddle bag. I put it on and dragged it all out the door and thanked Rarity.
…….
I was able to reassemble the mannequin with only a few minor problems. I immediately got to work on the helmet, I heated up a piece of sheet metal then formed it by hitting on the anvil with a hammer. I finished the helmet then placed it in a bucket of cold water and placed it on the mannequin.
I finished the rest of the armor in no time at all. I lifted my goggles, my face covered in soot, and smiled. Now came the next challenge, finding Rainbow Dash.
………
I asked around Ponyville and thankfully somepony saw Rainbow Dash napping in a tree near Sweet Apple Acres. I was able to find her with no problem and sure enough she was napping in a tree.
"Hey Rainbow Dash." I shouted to her
I must have surprised her because she wobbled and almost fell out of the tree. She regained her balance on the branch, "Blaze you startled me, why did you interrupt my nap?" She asked and landed on the ground
I pulled off the saddle bag, "I finished your suit of armor." I pulled the armor out and let Rainbow Dash try it on, she did a few stunts in the air then hovered next to me.
"Thanks so much Blaze," She nudged me on the shoulder, "Hey the others are getting together at Surgarcube Corner, c'mon we can show them the sweet suit of armor you made."
"Alright," I said and we walked to Surgarcube Corner.
.........
Rainbow Dash and I entered Surgarcube Corner and found the rest of the gang sitting at a table.
"Guys check out the sweet suit of armor Blaze made for me." Rainbow Dash said showing it off
"Wow, Blaze it looks great." Twilight said
"It was all thanks to that book you gave to me," I replied, then turned to Rarity, "And Rarity, I'll make sure to get that mannequin to you tomorrow." I said
"That's allright Blaze you can keep the mannequin," Rarity said, "Judging by the fantastic job you did with that suit of armor, you are going to be very busy."
My stomach growled at me, "Sorry," I smiled, "I worked so hard I forgot about lunch."
They all laughed and Applejack said, "Then how 'bout we buy you lunch."
"That's alright, you don't have to do that." I said
"That's what friends do," Rainbow Dash said, "And consider it payment for the suit of armor."
"I never really had friends," I frowned
Twilight walked over to me, "Then allow us to be the first." She said and they all came around for a group hug
........
I went to sleep with a smile on my face, I had a purpose, a job, and now I have friends.