//-------------------------------------------------------// Of Loss and Love -by DesmondTheMoonPony- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Prologue //-------------------------------------------------------// Prologue Of Loss and Love By: DesmondTheMoonPony Prologue Blaze could not believe it.  He was about to witness The Summer Sun Celebration for the first time.  He had never been more excited in his life.  As his mother and father stepped into the Manehatten Transportation center with him,  he could not believe what he saw.  There were so many ponies running about in a rush trying to get where they needed to be.  He had no idea how hectic it could be. "Come on Blaze.  If we don't hurry, we're going to miss the chariot to Canterlot.  We wouldn't want to miss The Summer Sun Celebration, would we." Interjected his father. "Of course not.  I'm a big pony and big ponies are never late!" Said Blaze with much enthusiasm to say the least. His father smiled and gave him an encouraging nod as the family headed down to their gate.  It was a long walk and Blaze was getting rather tired.  None of them noticed the shady pony that was following them at the time.  Within 15 minutes of walking, they finally reached their gate. "Last call for Chariot 2B for Canterlot!" Booms a loud voice over the intercom. His father just smiled at Blaze. "That's us, son." As they were about to approach their Chariot, the sketchy pony grabbed his father and mother.  The pony appeared to be sweating and he had a knife in his mouth.  All Blaze could do was watch helplessly as the pony threatened his parents. "You listen and you listen good!  You will give me all of your money right bucking now or so help me, I will kill you wear you stand!  Understood!"  Barked the assailant. Blaze was horrified.  He had always known his father to be a rather headstrong stallion, as was his mother.  He would never go down without a fight.  He always tried to instill these ideals into his son.  His son was always told to stick up for himself and others when they are in need.  Sitting by and doing nothing was just as bad as being the instigator in the fight. "I see one problem here.  I have not a single intention of giving this money to you.  I suggest you take your sorry flank and walk back to the ally from which you came.  Equestria has no use for scum like you who think they can just waltz in and threaten innocent ponies.  If you want my money, you're going to have to pry it from my cold, dead, hooves!" Yelled his father. Rage was quite evident in his father's eyes.  He had never seen his father so furious in his entire life.  His mother and him could only stare in shock and disbelief at what they were about to witness. The assailant reached for the father's saddlebags.  He quickly knocked his hoof away and prepared for a fight.  It was over just as quickly as it began.  The mugger grabbed his knife and stabbed the father right in the sides multiple times.  Crimson liquid was pouring from the wounds as he collapsed to the ground as he breathed his last, dying breath. His wife just stood their along their with Blaze in horror as tears began pouring down their faces.  Their beloved husband and father had just been killed before their very eyes and they were helpless to do anything about it. "You monster!  You MOTHER BUCKER!  Go burn in Tartaris!"  The mother's cries were cut off as he did her in the same way he had with her husband. "That'll teach you mule."  Mumbled the mugger. He grabbed their saddle bags and ran before anypony could get a good look at his face.  Blaze was left there kneeling in front of the cold, dead bodies of his parents who cared for him with every fiber of their being. "Mom, Dad, wake up.  Wake up.  WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" His cries were to no avail as ponies slowly began to gather around the scene in shock at what they have witnessed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 14 Years Later It was a slow, quite day at the castle.  Celestia had yet to see anypony come in with any problems that needed to be resolved or any paperwork that needed to be signed.  She decided to try and take a well deserved rest.  As she removed her royal garments and trotted towards her bed, a knock was heard at the door to her chambers. "Who is it?"  Inquired Celestia. "It's Blaze.  I need to talk to you.  It's very important." Celestia welcomed him in.  She had always enjoyed her time with Blaze.  When she had heard about what had happened 14 years ago, she immediately took him in.  He had no other family to go to and surely he would be put into and orphanage to be adopted by faust knows who. "Hello Blaze.  What is it that you need to ask me." Blaze let out and exasperated sigh. "Well here it goes.  Why did you take me in?.  I mean, I'm just a simple Earth pony." Celestia was taken aback by this question.  Surely she wasn't expecting such a touchy subject to come up on such short notice. "You had no one to go to.  I heard about the whole scene on the Equestrian News.  I couldn't just sit by and watch as one of my subjects was to be left on the streets.  I care for everypony.  And besides, Luna, Cadence, and I are the only remaining Alicorns.  It's unnerving to be the last of your kind left.  There is always that nagging voice in the back of your head that wants to make foals so you can have someone to truly care for.  You were left alone with no one to turn to, so I jumped at the opportunity.  I couldn't stand to see anyone like that.  Especially a 4 year old colt.  I raised you like you were one of my own and I must say I believe that you have turned into a wonderful colt................your parents would have been proud." A tear came to Blaze's eye at the thought of his parents.  Everyday for the past 14 years he has had nightmares about that fateful day.  His parents faces and the mugger.  Oh, how he resented him.  He wanted nothing more than to see his head on his mantle.  As Blaze wiped the tear from his eye, he was finally able to allow words to escape from his mouth. "Thank you.  It really means a lot." There was a long pause before Blaze was able to say what he really came to say. "Celestia, you've taken care of my for 14 years of my life and shaped me into the stallion I am today.  I think it's time that I go and live on my own.  I can't keep living off other people.  I have to learn to take care of myself.  You've given me everything that I could ever hope to ask for.  Hell, you even put up with my guitar when I was first learning no matter how bad it sounded.  Because of that, I was finally able to get my cutie mark.  You were like a mother to me all these years, and I can only hope that you will understand." Celestia could only smile at him. "I really have raised you well, haven't I.  I hear there's an opening for a job as a farm hand in Sweet Apple Acres.  It's an apple farm down in Ponyville run be the apple family.  They provide a home for all who work for them.  I'm sure that you will be no exception.  I'll let them know that you will be coming tomorrow, if that's O.K. with you. "Thank you, Celestia!" He lunged at her and gave her the biggest hug he had ever given her.  She gladly returned the favor.  He then galloped out of her chambers to go to his living quarters and pack his things. 'Tomorrow is going to be the start of my new life.'  He thought. Celestia just smiled as she wiped away a tear. "They grow up so fast." Author's Note: Thank you for reading.  It's my first fic so criticism is encouraged, but try to be gentle.  The whole idea sort of came to me while I was day dreaming in biology XD.  Thanks.