I dragged myself away from the town, blood pouring down my body and face. My middle right leg, upper left leg, human left leg and right arm were all mangled. D...damn...her. D...damn them...them a...all.

It took nearly an hour but I managed to drag myself into the forest, getting to a safer place but leaving a large blood trail. I kept blacking out at intervals but I finally made it deep enough into the forest that I felt I could finally sleep.

I awoke to a web and thousands of spiders of all species crawling around me. A rare smile graced my face, my kin always had that reaction from me. I tried to stand and winced as pain shot through my body.

I growled. That bitch! She hurt me! She humiliated me! I shook with rage. No longer did I merely want to kill her. No. She must be made an example of. She'll wish I'd have killed her earlier.

But, for now, I need rest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Princess Celestia and Precise Scalpel exchanged worried looks as they looked over Blazing Sapphire's training.

"I don't like this." Celestia shook her head.

"Me neither." Scalpel agreed. "She's pushing herself too hard. The implants still need time to fully...uh..." He lost the word he was looking for. He blinked hard and shook his head, shaking off the tiredness that was threatening to overcome him. "Need time to fully adapt to her body." Celestia gave him a concerned look. "I'm fine, just...haven't been able to sleep lately. I'll be fine."

"If you're sure." Celestia turned her attention back to Blazing. "I wasn't talking about her implants though. This training she's doing...this obsession she's developed with the Spider. It isn't healthy."

"But it is useful." Griffin commented as she landed next to them. "You want that spider thing dead. She wants to kill the spider, problem solved."

"Griffin, that isn't the problem." Celestia said. "Her mind is. She isn't thinking straight."

Griffin laughed. "Good! Thinking straight isn't useful for things like this. In a fight you need to rely on instincts and the environment. She'll be able to do that." She shook her head and directed a predatory grin at Scalpel. "Now, about my pay."

Scalpel sighed. "Fine. We'll do it tonight. Just...let me get some rest first."

Griffin rubbed her claws together, "And I'll get the toys!" She then flew off with a glint in her eye.

Celestia gave Scalpel a worried look, "Are you sure you're okay with doing that with her? It seems like she's forcing you into it."

Scalpel sighed, "That was the deal, Celestia. She saves Blazing with her cybernetics and I have sex with her, something that she's wanted for a long time." He gave a small smile, "Besides I've kind of been wondering what it's like with a Griffin. The rumours make it sound quite...enticing."

"How did you even meet her? She's selfish, mean, annoying and downright violent."

Scalpel gave a small, soft smile. "Would you believe that she saved my life?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blazing's training continued to increase her speed and proficiency with her cybernetic limbs. She soon became an interest to those living outside the castle, those unaware of her 'improvements'. Unknown to her she was quickly becoming popular around Equestria, everyone wanting a glimpse of her, and the story of how she survived, Griffin's cybernetics being kept secret as was one of the terms of her agreement to help Blazing.

As she trained her only thoughts were of revenge. Of how she would make the beast that caused her such pain to suffer. Such thoughts consumed her mind further the more she trained.

The months passed and Blazing continued in her single minded determinedness to train and practice. Every day was training on the Royal Guard's training grounds, with the occasional forced break. All until a day nearly six months after the attack on Canterlot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sun was shining high in the sky and a crisp chill in the air reminded everyone that it was autumn. Most in Equestria were relaxing or spending time working. Blazing Sapphire was not one of these people.

She let out an animalistic snarl as she snapped a dummy in half. "Give me something tougher!" She snapped. As two ponies scampered about dragging a large shield over she began pacing. "Come, on, come on!" She yelled.

As soon as the shield was ready she began pounding into it with vigor. After beating it into a scrap of twisted metal a guard approached her and cleared her throat.

"What is it?" Blazing muttered, wiping sweat from her brow as the same two ponies dragged the beaten down shield away.

"Princess Celestia wishes to speak to you as soon as possible." The guard said before leaving and continuing her duties.

Blazing gave an annoyed groan. "She better not take up too much of my time." She made her way from the grounds to the throne room, finding and knocking out Blueblood along the way.

Blazing shoved passed the guards outside the throne room doors and burst into the room. "Celestia." She grunted. "What do you want?"

"Blazing." Celestia said politely. "We need to talk about this...obsession you have with the Spider."

Blazing scoffed, "The Spider? That's what you're calling it?"

Celestia sighed, "What's wrong with calling it that?"

The doors to the throne room opened. "Nothing, it's real cute." Griffin snickered. "It must have took all of your one brain cell to come up with it."

"Griffin." Celestia growled. "What do you want? This is a private meeting."

Griffin gave a grin, "Really? Well, you better make sure no one else enters then."

"GRIFFIN!" Celestia yelled.

"Yes, dear?" Griffin said innocently, looking up.

Celestia let out a growl. "Get. Out."

"Wow. You're really not nice!" Griffin laughed.

"GET OUT!!!" Celestia yelled.

"Alright, alright, I'm gone. Man, don't be such a brat." Griffin approached the door, turning around at the last second. "Oh, kid? I'd say that you're about ready to fight that thing." She then left the room.

"You heard her! I'm ready!" Blazing pounded her front hooves together. "Let me search for it."

"No. Absolutely not!" Celestia said sternly.

Blazing roared as she smashed her hoof through a wall. "Let me search for that freak already!"

"You are not going after the beast!" Celestia scolded.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did your legs get ripped off? No? Then back off!" Blazing snarled. "Why should it wander free?! It'll kill anyone it comes across, you know it! You'll leave them to die?!"

"ENOUGH!!!" Celestia boomed. "LISTEN TO ME, BLAZING!!! I AM NOT YOUR ENEMY!!! I AM NOT TRYING TO ANTAGONIZE YOU!!!" She lowered her voice to a soft, caring tone. "I'm trying to protect you."

Blazing lowered her gaze to the ground. "...I don't need protecting." She muttered before turning around and walking off. "Not any more."

"Blazing." Celestia called out. "That thing can tear through my guards like it's nothing. If..." She paused. "If you can pass a...a challenge then...I suppose you could be specially trained to fight it."

A grin slowly spread across Blazing's face. "When?"

"Tomorrow. I...I need to arrange some things."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day found Blazing and Celestia standing in the training grounds, a small, circular arena had been formed overnight.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Celestia asked carefully, not wanting to kickstart Blazing's anger right before a fight.

Blazing nodded excitedly, "Oh, yeah! I need to prove myself, Celestia. You said he's your best fighter in the Guards, right?"

"Well, there's some debate over Bronze Sword or Shining Armor, but since he's now up in the Crystal Empire we don't know for certain."

"Then let's get this thing started." Blazing growled, walking into the ring.

"Watch your tone around the Princess." A blue coated unicorn with a sword Cutie Mark said as he walked up to Blazing.

Blazing laughed, "Whatever, where's this Sword guy then?"

"Somewhere around four steps in front of you." Celestia said with a small grin before leaving and taking her place outside the ring.

Blazing blinked, turning to the stallion. "You? You're the best fighter?!"

Bronze Sword smirked, "I'm tougher than I look."

Blazing snorted, "Sure, like I care. Let's get this started already."

He nodded, taking his place opposite her, "Fair enough."

"The rules are simple," Celestia announced. "You win by getting your opponent to give up, either vocally or by tapping the ground three times or by knocking them out. There shall be no eye gouging, mane or tail pulling or groin smashing. This is going to be a clean fight." There was a tense pause. "You may begin when ready."

Blazing glared at the Bronze Sword as they circled one another. "What are you waiting for?"

"I don't fight civilians." Bronze Sword said.

"What? Too scared? Don't worry, I'll send you flowers in the hospital." Blazing mocked.

He frowned, "Guess I can make an exception."

Bronze Sword dashed forwards with the intent of ending the fight before it could really begin. He let loose an uppercut, only for Blazing to block it with her foreleg, sending a dull pain through Bronze's leg. She retaliated with a headbutt, knocking Bronze back.

"Come get some, soldier boy!" Blazing yelled, pounding her two front hooves together.

Bronze went on the offensive, throwing a number of blows against Blazing, but she easily dodged and blocked them.

"Come on!" Blazing taunted while ducking beneath a blow aimed for her head. "Is that all you have?" Blasts of magic were sidestepped. Bucks were dodged.

Bronze Sword eventually slipped past her guard and landed a blow to her face. Blazing stumbled back before looking up at Bronze with a bloody toothed grin and spat blood on the ground, "Finally."

Blazing went on the offensive, the first blow of the fight ending her fun in toying around. She dashed in and landed a blow across Bronze Sword's face, sending him reeling. Blazing didn't let up for a moment, sending attacks left, right and centre.

Bronze finally managed to get some distance, blood dripping down his face. His eyes widened as he saw Blazing rushing towards him again. His horn lit up and a small bubble shield overestimate him a second before Blazing slammed into in.

Shaking her head she began pounding away at the dome. "You know, I never pegged you for a coward." She grinned as Bronze shook as the effort to maintain the shield grew.

"And you..." He muttered, sweat pouring from his face. "Didn't...have to go...all out."

Blazing paused for a second. "All out? I'm taking this, well, not easy, but I'm not really pushing myself too much."

"What?" Bronze squeaked before Blazing continued her assault.

Blazing slammed her hooves against the shield again and again, causing it to start cracking. Bronze Sword stumbled slightly, sweat pouring heavily down his face. As the shield finally shattered he fell before recovering and beginning to back away. Not giving him time to collect his thoughts Blazing rushed forewords and landed a powerful uppercut to his jaw, knocking Bronze on his back.

As he landed Blazing didn't see Bronze Sword, she saw the Spider. She saw the cause of her pain and suffering. She saw a true monster. Her world turned red as she dived on him and began pounding her hooves into his face again and again and again, blood splattering against her coat and covering her hooves.

Blazing!" Celestia yelled. "That is enough!"

Blazing blinked and stopped. She stared down at Bronze Sword, her vision clearing up, then back up to her bloody hooves. "No. No, no, no, no, no." She muttered, backing away quickly. "I-I-I didn't mean...no, no, no!"

Bronze gave a weak splutter. His face was bloody, the bone shattered to pieces, his lower jaw was at an odd angle.

Blazing just stared at what she had done as Celestia rushed past her, grabbing Bronze Sword and hurriedly carrying him to the castle's Doctors.

Blazing just stared at her hooves, blood slowly dripping from them. "I...I didn't..." Anger flooded her mind. "No! It's not my fault! That spider freak! If it wasn't for that thing...! I'm going to kill it. I swear it. I swear it!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I BESTED YOUR GUARD!!! YOU SAID YOU'D TRAIN ME TO FIGHT IT!!!" Blazing roared as she stood in front of Celestia. The throne room was empty save for the two and a few guards.

"That was before you put Bronze in the hospital! You were out of control!" Celestia growled.

"I was fighting!" She ignored the fact that she cringed internally. "Admit it! You never had any intention of training me!" Blazing snarled. "You saw how strong I am! I can take it!"

"No, you can't!" Celestia yelled. "Only Luna or I can!"

Blazing glared at her, "So that's it, huh?! No one else is worthy enough?! Or do you just want the glory all to yourself?!"

"I want it gone too, Blazing!" Celestia snapped. "I want it out of my life!" She took a deep breath. "But you...you need to relax. Get out of Canterlot for a while. The forest around Foal Mountain are good for clearing the mind, take some guards with you tomorrow and go there." She paused. "And Griffin. Take her too."

Blazing glared at her and was silent for several moments. "...Fine."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Blazing, Griffin and the guards assigned to them travelled through the woods around Foal Mountain the lead guard, a slim, red coated unicorn, began humming.

After a while Blazing got tired of it. "You hum again and I'll rip out your spine." She growled.

The guard gulped as Griffin started laughing. "Kid, chill. Stop and smell the roses every once in a while."

Blazing snorted as they came across a field of roses. "Fine." She sighed. "I just...yesterday...I..."

"Lost control." Griffin finished. "Don't worry, it happens to the best of us." She flashed a grin, "But mostly Celestia, boy the mistakes she's made!"

The lead guard grumbled, "Don't insult the Princess."

Griffin laughed, "I'll insult her all I want, guard!"

He bristled, "The name's Sweet Hope!"

Griffin blinked before giving a shit-eating grin, "Whatever you say, Sweetie."

Sweet Hope just groaned as some of the other guards snickered.

"Oh, Sweetie, usually I don't make guys groan until the third date!" Griffin chuckled. She continued relentlessly teasing Sweet Hope until his face was a deep red.

The group came across a clearing with a lake after trekking through the forest for a few hours. Griffin still teasing Sweet Hope.

"I wonder how long it'll take me to get to this sweet's creamy centre?" Griffin grinned.

Sweet Hope looked away, "Will you quit it already?"

"Sweet Hope, stop complaining, you clearly enjoy it." Blazing snapped as she took a look around. "Griffin, I thought you and Scalpel were a thing?"

Griffin shrugged, "I don't know, maybe? But if I see a cute guy I'm having his flank before Scalpel makes up his mind."

Blazing smirked, "Sounds about right."

Sweet Hope sighed, "Stop talking about me like I'm a piece of meat."

Griffin rolled her eyes, "Sure thing, Sweetie. As soon as I make you squeal."

Sweet Hope opened his mouth to reply when a roar came from the edge of the clearing. The group turned to find a snarling Manticore staring at them.

"W-what?!" Sweet Hope spluttered. "Manticores aren't meant to be around here!"

"Well, why don't you go tell it that?!" Griffin yelled as she took off. "I'll go grab Celestia! Blazing, be careful!" She paused. "And by that, of course I mean SMASH ITS HEAD IN!!!" She flew off towards Canterlot.

Blazing gulped, "Right. Fight that. Why not?"

"Don't worry, ma'am! We'll protect you!" Sweet Hope called as the guards made a wall in front of Blazing.

Only to be knocked away like toys a second later as the Manticore swiped them with its tail before setting its predatory glare on Blazing. Seeing the guards defenceless and weak reminded Blazing of when she was at the mercy of the Spider. Of when she was useless. Anger grew inside her as she stepped in front of the Manticore.

"Alright, fuzz ball, let's dance." Blazing snarled, cracking her neck.

Blazing ducked beneath the Manticore's swipes and gave several quick jabs to the insides of its front legs. The Manticore yelped as it collapsed forwards.

"HOW'D YOU LIKE THAT, HUH?!" Blazing screamed, turning and bucking it in the face.

The Manticore howled as blood exploded from its snout. Eyes narrowing it swiped at Blazing again, this time its claws catching her across her legs. She flinched, but then realised she was in no pain. The Manticore on the other hand was howling as several of its claws had snapped against Blazing's metal limbs.

While the Manticore was preoccupied with its claws Blazing checked her legs and found they hadn't even been scratched. "Just what are these things made of?" She muttered before shaking her head and getting back to the fight.

Blazing leaped towards the still distracted Manticore and slammed her hoof into its cranium with a dull ringing sound. The Manticore, stunned by the blow, swayed from side to side.

Blazing gave off a roar and delivered a powerful uppercut to the beast's jaw, smashing the bone apart, blood and shards of bone flying from its mouth as the Manicore was flipped on its back. Not giving it time to recover Blazing grabbed its tail and ripped it off, eliciting a high-pitched squeal as blood spurted from the stump. Blazing leapt up in the air and brought the stinger of the tail down into the Manticore's chest before tearing the tail down, creating a gaping wound that exposed its organs to the world. Blood oozed from the wound as she threw away the tail and let loose a flurry of punches to the beast's organs, quickly liquefying them. She continued to pound the beast, long after was necessary, blood covering her forelegs and splattered over the rest of her body. With a final roar she grabbed its spine and tore it out.

Blazing stumbled back with the spine in a hoof, panting heavily. As she calmed she realised what she had done to the Manticore, it's dead body surrounded by a pool of its own blood. "Oh...sweet Faust..." She muttered. "That was...that was amazing!" She giggled. "If I can do that to a Manticore, then...that spider freak won't stand a chance!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"No. You are not going after it!" Celestia snapped, instantly shooting down the proposition Blazing had offered as soon as she and Griffin had arrived.

"Why not?!" Blazing yelled. "You saw what I did to that Manticore!"

"Let go of this revenge fantasy, Blazing Sapphire!" Celestia demanded as she tended to the unconscious guards.

"Why shouldn't she get revenge?" Griffin quipped.

"You know full well why!" Celestia growled, the tension that had been growing between herself and Griffin reaching breaking point.

"Oh, just let her let off some steam!"

"You know, I'm starting to realise why you have no friends." Celestia said, narrowing her eyes.

Griffin snorted, "Friends are a waste of both space and time. You can only rely on yourself and that one other in the world you really connect with." She grinned. "I found my other, can you say the same?"

"If you believe that it's no wonder you're so jaded and selfish!" Celestia yelled, ignoring the question.

"I may be selfish, but at least I'm not ignorant to the rest of the world!" Griffin snapped. "Not all of your ponies are perfect, you idiotic buffoon!"

"My ponies may not be perfect, but they're more well behaved than you!"

"Oh, open your eyes, Celestia! Your precious ponies are bigoted morons! They hate and fear anything new or different!"

"At least they're not a group of warmongering bandits and murderers!" Celestia growled.

Griffin gave a short, hard laugh, "Oh, now you're insulting my people?" Her eyes hardened. "Bitch, you don't get to talk trash about my people. Not after the crap you've put us through!" Griffin paused and smirked. "Tell me one thing you've done to benefit the world, not just your ponies!"

"I raise and lower the sun every day! I made it so Discord was reformed! I formed the Council of Leadership! I did everything a good leader should!"

"You may be a Princess but you better damn well stop pretending to be a leader! You're a freak, Celestia! Everything special about you came from a genetic anomaly!" Griffin growled darkly.

Celestia shoved Griffin back, "And I suppose you're much better suited for the job, right?" She spat.

Griffin chuckled bitterly, "I'm not going around pretending to be a goddess! You think you're special because you can move the sun?! Newsflash! Others have done it before you and will do so after you die!"

"I have brought about an age of peace for my ponies! What have you done but hide away from the world?!

Griffin bristled, "I have been making technological advancements that will still be used long after I'm gone! Meanwhile you shall fade into myth like the relic you are, fatty."

Celestia let out a low growl, "Don't push me, Griffin!"

Griffin gave a cocky grin, "Nah, I think I will push you, you great, fat sunbutt!" She mocked. "I'm not afraid of you, you're nothing but a bag of hot air!"

Celestia got in Griffin's face, snarling. "Oh, really? Then what are you..." She trailed off as she realised the two of them were alone. "W-where did Blazing go?!"

Griffin gave a small smirk and whispered, "Good luck, kiddo."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I glared at the town, the stone walls that had been erected in the six months since my failed attack on my target, the guard increase that had appeared after my failed hunt, the patrols that constantly went around the town. But now I'm finally fully healed she'll pay! She'll pay with her life!

"You!" Someone behind me growled. I turned and saw my pet. Ah, so she did survive! I noted the metal legs. Interesting. "I finally found you, you freak!" She glared at me with such intensity! "Now I'll kill you for what you did to me!"

I began laughing. Oh, how cute, the brat thinks she can kill her superior! How pathetic.

"Stop laughing at me, you bastard!" She yelled, swinging a hoof at me with a speed that surprised me. I quickly blocked with my arm, barely catching the blow, before shoving her back.

Well, well, well. It seems that she's grown a pair since I last saw her. ...Time to put her in her place.

Author's Note

Okay, wow, this took forever. This originally supposed to be a quick 1,000-1,500 word chapter to show what Blazing's gone through in a montage style. ...Yeah...it exploded. And...took nearly a month to do...

Well, I've been working on the story plot while writing this, and trust me, the next chapter is going to be...good. Hopefully.

Yeah, I've never really done 3rd person before, or a real fighting scene.

Oh! Talking of fight scenes, yes. Blazing is overpowered compared to other ponies. And to those of you thinking that the Manticore fight was too quick, just think. Punch a lamppost. Did that hurt like a bitch? Now imagine if the lamppost could move and had a grudge against you.

Anyway, until next time!