It had felt like a few minutes since I was bitten by that…thing…and I could feel myself stirring. My mouth feels so dry. Weird it has only been a few minutes…right? It had to have been, it only makes sense, but what if I was in a coma. I heard my friend say his medically induced coma felt like two days for him, but he was out for almost a year.

I felt something cool on my forehead which made me tighten my eyelids closed. I heard a shocked gasp, which made me open my eyes slowly as everything was just a bright white, till I heard a voice. “It’s ok Mr. Feathers. I will be back soon, I gotta get word to the princesses that you have awakened.” I heard quick hoofsteps and a door, so I knew the pony had ran off to do as she mentioned.

Once my vision cleared up, which took about a minute, I slid myself up and sit up against the pillows. Shortly after I got myself against the pillows I heard the door open and saw Celestia and her sister rush into the room, as well as the nurse from earlier who set a glass of water on the table near me. Luna looked so different now, her mane flowed like Celestia’s and it was purple with white dots like a night sky.

I looked at them and smiled waving, still feeling tired, until I heard Luna. “Blaze, its good to see you finally awaken…we were starting to worry you had permanently gone into a coma!”

I looked at them and carefully got the glass of water gulping it down quickly, with a sigh of relief. I tried to speak but my voice sounded dry, and raspy. “What happened to me? And how long have I been out?”

“You have been out for months…Luna has even tried to enter your dreams, but something blocked her. To block her, it has to be a powerful being…or you didn’t dream at all…” I looked at Celestia in shock and forced myself to roll off the bed to the other side the princesses were on and landed on my hooves.

“I…have to let….Twilight and the girls…know I’m alright!” I stood there panting keeping myself standing on my wobbling legs. I bared my teeth as I remember the slitted bright green eyes. “And find that…THING!” I felt my anger overflowing, and I felt ready to tear that things face off, which I quickly calmed down as I forced my anger deep down and locked it away as I always have, which I let out a calm sigh afterwards.

I felt a hoof on my shoulder and looked over to see Luna who kept a calm and serene tone as she spoke. “I understand you are mad…but you can’t let it control you. It will turn out bad, and I speak from experience…and my sister sent a letter to twilight as soon as we got word you had woken up. She had a simple letter ready for when the moment happened, so she just magically sent it right before we headed here.”

I smiled a bit and nodded which made her recoil surprised I was calm so quick. I cleared my throat to calm the stinging in my throat from talking earlier. “I know…I’m fine now Luna, thank you…and thank you Celestia…” I carefully got back in the bed and lied down. “What attacked me…and how am I still here…she sounded so sure of taking me away….”

“I was wanting to talk with you, so when I knocked on your door, I must have scared your assailant off. I opened the door to see if you were asleep, and I saw you in the middle of the floor, unconscious and twitching. I sent a quickly written letter to Celestia saying you were injured.” I looked at Luna as she seemed to get a concerned or frightened look. “And Within a few seconds my sister had teleported herself, guards, and a medical expert to your room. The medical expert scanned you right away and said…you were attacked by a changeling…”

Changeling? A changeling attacked me? “I guess that explains seeing those dreams again…” I felt my cheeks burning a bit as I thought about the dreams again.

I heard a slight giggle from the door which made my ear twitch, and I raised my head to look past Celestia as she looked back. I saw a bright pink alicorn mare, but she wasn’t as tall as Celestia, or Luna for that matter. She seemed like a normal sized mare, but she was an alicorn.

When she spoke her voice had such a calming quality to it, it made me relax even more. “By the sensation I’m getting, and your blushing face there, those dreams must be about the pony or ponies you love, am I right?” I saw her glance at me as she walked to Celestia’s side, and her question made me shove my face into the pillow and groan, which made the mare giggle. “I am wondering just who the mare or mares are now, but it is good to see you reacting that way. It shows you still have your feelings.”

I raised my head and looked at the new Alicorn. “I-I’m sorry, but…who are you?”

The pink alicorn seemed to blink then smile nervously. “Oh, yes. I’m Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but I prefer to be called Cadence. It is nice to meet you Mr. Feathers.”

“You….know who I am?” I carefully sat up as she nodded. “I see…and to answer your question as to whom…I’m not sure if my feelings are true…or…if I only have these feelings because I have been around them almost all the time…”

Cadence was about to say something until a sudden pop was heard from the hall, then the door opened quickly as Fluttershy, Rarity, Dash, AJ, Pinkie, and Twilight, with Spike on her back all ran into the room and to the bedside, as they all looked worried, exhausted, and tired.

Fluttershy jumped into me hugging me as she started to cry, as Twilight started to talk. “We all thought we lost you.” She looked down sniffling a bit and I started stroking Fluttershy’s mane to help her calm down. “whenever a changeling feeds, the pony they feed off of…they usually die, or lose all emotion…and we heard that you may never awaken from your coma…” she looked at me smiling as tears were going down her face, as well as the rest, except Dash who looked on the verge of tears. I just looked at Twilight in shock, as her smile slowly fell.

“Twilight...” I looked down at Fluttershy who was looking up at me with a scared look. I quickly looked at the rest who all looked scared, looking up at the currently flying cyan pegasus.

As soon as I looked at Dash, she brought her hoof to her mouth as her tears started to flow. “he…did he lose his emotions…?” I just lowered my head which made my hair fall over my face.

I smiled a bit, then I heard the girl’s gasp. I raised my head to look at them all again, and I knew…I KNEW the feelings I had for them were real. I just let myself leans back against the pillows and chuckle, which made the girls, and the princesses look at me confused, and shocked. “you have no idea how good it feels to me…knowing that I have others that care about me like this…” I felt my own tears flow down my cheeks, as I continued. “everypony I knew…my friends…my family…they never cared about me…they always USED me…” I let my head fall forward clenching my teeth shut choking back my sobs that tried to come out. “family or friends needed my help, and I always gave it…but when I need help…they couldn’t be bothered…all those attacks…all the times I was beat up…that I was cut up…I could only help myself…” I calmed down and looked at the girls and the princesses, slowly smiling again. “I was so depressed before…so alone….but now I’m not…and I have all of you to thank for that…”

The girls all jumped up and hugged me. it felt nice to know I could count on them, and to think my feelings for them were just because I was around them too much. That was crazy of me to even think that. The group hug soon ended, and the nurse said I needed to get some rest. The girls and the princesses all nodded and said they will see me later, then left. Not long after I felt my eyelids get heavy, and let them close, and let the warm embrace of sleep take me.

When I next woke up, I had gotten out of bed, and stretched forgetting all about before. I just started heading out of the room and down the hall stretching, still waking up. I walked into the castle dining room to see the girls and the princesses sitting at the far end of the long table. I also saw a white stallion with blue mane and tail. As soon as I entered they all looked at me, as the girls and the Celestia seemed shocked, while Luna and Cadence look scared, and the stallion looked shocked than…mad?

The stallion jumped on the table charging at me as a sword appeared in a light purple aura floating along side him. As he jumped for me I jumped to the side, and stumbled waving my…hands?! “whoa, whoa! Calm down!” the stallion just turned as the swing swung through the air for me, which I ducked and rolled away stopping in a knelt position with my left hand flat on the linoleum floor, and took a serious voice staring the stallion down. “I said…STAND DOWN! I AM NOT A THREAT!!!” the stallion looked at me as he was about to charge till a gold beam blasted the sword to sparkling pieces that fell and the stallion was held in a dark purple aura.

I looked back to see Twilight’s horn glowing, and Celestia’s horn had a glow that was fading. Twilight started to speak as her horn’s glow faded. “Shining, calm down! That’s my friend!” I looked at the stallion who I guess was Shining, as the glow that held him was gone, and he looked at me in shock. “Blaze, how are you like that again?” I just looked at her and shook my head with a shrug, before looking at myself to see I was wearing the clothes that I had on from the poison joke incident, which made me sigh in relief.

“Twilight, I have NO idea how I changed…” I walked to the table putting my thumb to my chin, with my finger curling under my mouth in thought. “unless…changelings can change shape right?” Twilight nodded as I looked at myself. “what if that changeling’s bite…let me change form as well…? Maybe not into anything but back and forth?” I let my arm fall to my side and closed my eyes focusing on my pegasus self.

I felt a flare of heat pulse through me, which made me open my eyes, and look down at my forelegs, then back at my red feathered wings. I looked at the rest who were just staring at me, which made me laugh nervously and scratch the back of my head. I cleared my throat and looked at everyone. “so…what is there to eat? I am starving!”

It wasn’t long till lunch was brought out, and we all started to eat. The girls and the princesses talked, while I just ate, too focused on the food. I looked at Shining to see him glaring at me, which made me stop eating and stare at him, swallowing nervously. He looked so familiar to me, but I can’t place where I have seen him before. After what felt like minutes of staring I got my glass of cider, and started to take a sip still watching the stallion from my peripheral. His glare is really worrying me.

I heard Cadence ask what Twilight thought of her dating her brother, and gestured to Shining. Then it clicked…Shining…is Twilight’s older brother! I inhaled the last of my cider and dropped the glass onto the table and brought a wing over my mouth coughing and gasping to get my breathing back.

As soon as I got my breathing to normal, I looked at Shining. “you’re Twilight’s brother?!” he nodded. Wait…did Cadence mention something about…oh FUCK! “I…uhh…excuse me!” I slid the chair back and started to run for the door.

I felt myself lift up, and get turned to face Shining as I let my legs and wings just hang limply. I’m going to die….I am dead…it is all over. I closed my eyes waiting to be hit, or impaled, or…torn apart, or whatever. After a moment I heard Shining speak. “me…you…duel.” I opened my eyes and looked at him confused.

“I-I’m sorry, I think I misheard you…” he just replies by pointing at himself, then me, before saying ‘duel’. “why do you want to even duel me?!”

He let me go, as I landed on the floor near him staring at him. “because I can see you need to let out some stress…some anger…I can see that you want to fight…so I’m giving you that chance…”

I just took a step back from him. “I don’t fight without a reason…” I started to walk off till something deep in my mind made me freeze up. He wants to dual me, because of that? No…there is something behind it. Does he want to see if I can protect Twilight and the rest? I lowered my head which made my mane go over my eyes, and I just turned my head a bit, and spoke with no emotion. “but…I suppose I could make an acception…when, and where…?”

“garden dueling grounds…one hour…” I nodded and continued to leave the room, heading for where I was staying and looked through my bag.

3rd person POV Dining room

“Shining, what are you doing?!?!” Twilight screamed at her brother, which made him look up at her.

“Trust me, Twily. He needs this…I also want to see what he can do, and see if I can get a read on him. See how strong he is.” He sighed and looked at Cadence. “I know what you said, but I want to make sure…I would rather have my own read on him…besides, I have a new trick to learn for this fight.” Shining nuzzled Cadence before he got up and left the dining room to do what he said.

Twilight groaned in anger and concern. “I know a reason he isn’t telling us, and if he does what I’m afraid he’s going to do, then I just might seriously hurt him!” Cadence looked at Twilight in shock.

The pink alicorn soon covered her mouth and giggled. “seems Blaze isn’t the only one I have that feeling coming from. I sense it from many of you, although one is different from the rest. It feels more like…what you feel for family.” She saw Twilight, Rarity, Dash, AJ, and Fluttershy all blush, while Pinkie was devouring a cupcake, which made her smile.

Blaze POV

I had gotten everything together, and got my guitar on my back heading for the castle garden. On the way I passed a statue which made me stop and set my saddlebags, and guitar case on a bench. I walked up to the statue, which seemed to be some…chimera looking creature. Griffon like talon and lion paw for its hands, a hoof, and a dragon limb for its legs. Its body was long and thin, like a snake, but seemed to be detailed like it was fur, except its tail was scaly looking, with a cloud like puff hanging on the end. It had one long fang in its mouth which was open in laughter. It gave me the chills looking at it, yet…I had an urge to…touch it…something in the back of my mind was telling me touch it, and it kept telling me to.

I shook my head and backed away from it, quickly getting my saddlebags and guitar on my back and ran down the path. I wanted to get away from that statue, as fast as possible, I didn’t know why, but I had to. I soon reached a big clearing with a white circle in between three sets of bleacher like seats. And a small tower like podium with steps leading to an area with 10 seats in it. Two had designs on them, one a sun, and the other a waning crescent moon. Those must be Celestia’s and Luna’s personal seats.

I went to the closest set of bleachers and sat on the bottom part setting the guitar case next to me, and opening it. I was looking at the guitar, and I was gonna pull it out, till I heard hoofsteps from behind me, looking back to see all 6 of the girls, Spike, and Cadence. They were all talking to each other while Spike was eating a big Emerald.

When they noticed me, Dash was the first to speak. “hey Blaze. I didn’t know you played guitar.”

I looked at my guitar and chuckled nervously. “I haven’t played in years…but I thought I should get into playing again…” I shrugged and looked at them. “just something to waste time.”

Rarity walked up to me and gave the biggest pleading eyes I ever saw. “could you play something for us, Darling?” I nodded and smiled a bit as they all got comfy in a seat as I turned to my elven self connecting the guitar to a small amp I pulled out of my saddlebag.

I got in a comfortable position and set my iPhone in its portable speaker as I started the instrumental version of a song, playing the guitar cover, closing my eyes as I sang the song.

There's no use to try and suppress
It's always there reminding
The one wound that never forgets
Open and undying
Always alive, always inside

And no one comes out the same
Love always leaves a mark
The scars give it all away
Burned in your heart
Love will leave a mark

Twisting, tearing apart
Holding me together
Changing every thought
Haunting me forever
Always inside

And no one comes out the same
Love always leaves a mark
The scars give it all away
Love will leave a mark

With every tear in every sound
Consumed with fire that never burns out
Finding a way through the dark
Love will leave a mark

And no one comes out the same
Love always leaves a mark
The scars give it all away
Love will leave a mark

With every tear in every sound
Consumed with a fire that never burns out
Finding a way through the dark
Love will leave a mark
Love will leave a mark

When I finished I looked at my ‘audience’ as they started to stomp their hooves, and cheer, which made my face heat up and rub the back of my head. “it wasn’t that good. Like I said I’m really rusty…” I set my guitar back in its case closing it.

Dash flew over and got face to face with me putting her hooves on my cheeks to make me look at her. “that was AWESOME Blaze! You HAVE to play for us again sometime!” she was pulled back by a dark lavender aura.

I looked at Rarity to see her horn had a glow on it. “oh, yes. You definitely need to play again, that was just incredible.” She put a hoof to her forhead. “such a talent would make any mare swoon for you darling. Just like we all ha-” I saw her eyes go wide as she quickly covered her mouth as she started to blush, as well as Twilight, AJ, Fluttershy, and Dash, who all turned to look at Rarity with angry or worried looks.

I could just blink in confusion from her reaction, but shrugged it off as we all started to talk about what has happened, but I didn’t pay too much attention. All I caught was ‘winter-wrap up’, ‘running of the leaves’, ‘dresses and modeling for somepony’, and something about…’diamond dogs’? I should probably learn to pay more attention but…that will be another day…

I turned my head after hearing Celestia and Luna’s voices in the distance. I could see the statue again…was it always facing this direction…and that close? I shook my head and saw the princesses talking to each other while Shining was walking over beside Celestia, with a glare focused on me. for some reason I felt myself glare back at him, and stand up.

When he got close to me, his horn started glowing, and made a flash of light purple light which made me raise my hand. When I lowered it I stumbled back at what I was seeing. Standing in front of me was…a human, with blue hair, wearing a white loose shirt, tan pants with gilded kneecaps, and armored boots, with a blue cape with a shield design on it, just like his cutie mark.

“what do you think? Took me a while to get it right, and learn to walk…gotta say that grabbing things is much more…simple with these…sausage linked hoof…things.” I could see Shining smirk at me as he opened and closed his right hand. I was gonna correct him but he contonued. “don’t hold back, Luna is gonna use a spell that will split our concuisness from our bodies, and set them in a replicated version of these bodies in a dome that will encompass the whole dueling circle. We can attack with the intent of killing, because we wont risk any bodily harm…pain is still existent, but when the duel ends, it will be gone, and we will have NO scars or anything.”

I just nodded, as Luna directed us to sit in two smaller circles that were across from each other from the big dueling ring. Shining sat in his circle, and taking his cape off, with a sword in his lap, as I set up my music player, and the portable speaker to the amp and looked at Twilight. “Twi, when the fight starts I want you to click this center button, ok?” she nodded and I smiled a bit at her heading to my circle and sat in it closing my eyes.

I soon felt a sharp pull, which made my eyes snap open, but I was standing, and everything looked brighter, yet…not as colorful. Is this how it is to see the world outside of your body? Its so…dull…literally. I soon remembered what was happening and I pulled out my sword and looked at shining who was doing the same thing holding his sword out with both his hands. I rose my blade up to where it was even with my eyes, the tip of the blade pointed at Shining, and I turned to face my blade raising my left hand up and placing the back of it against the flat of the blade, as my hair hid my eyes. I secretly had a gap to watch shining from the corner of my eyes, through my hair watching his feet closely.

I saw him turn his right foot, which tempted me to charge at him. I set my sword behind me sliding the tip along the ground, which I grabbed the hilt with my second hand as I got near Shining, and swung it up for him. He moved his blade down to block mine, but the dirt, and rubble that came up with my swing went into his face disorienting him. I jumped up and spun kicking him in the side sending him stumbling away as I spun my sword and held it over my right shoulder going down my back perfectly vertical, with my left hand out at Shining.

It didn’t take him long to reorient himself and charge at me, with a yell. When he was close he went for a horizontal slash, and I moved and twisted my hand to catch the hilt of his sword as I swung my blade down at him. He stepped to the side and spun making me release his sword, and went for a slash from the other side. I jumped back with a quick parry so only the side of my jacket got hit. I started to pant, as Shining was slightly panting as well.

I clamped my teeth together and slid a foot back as I charged at him as fast as I could leaning forward in my run. I went to slash for him seeing him raise his sword to block, but I quickly spun my blade to where I held the blade backwards and jumped past Shining’s right side sending my blade across his cheek. I slid to a stop turning my head to look at him with my back to him, and my sword going up the back of my arm, to block him, if he was charging me.

I saw him turn around, showing a cut from the side of his lip going all the way to below his right ear. I turned around to where my side faced him, pointing my blade at him. “come on, Shiney boy…I expected a captain to have more fight in him.” I could see him bare his teeth for a moment before he charged me and started an onslaught of swings, which set me on the defensive, stepping backwards, as I parried and blocked his attacks.

At one swing I saw his arm flinch, and I turned my blade pointing my blade at his shoulder and lunged my blade forward piercing through his left shoulder, but his smirk told me he wanted that as his blade was heading for my neck. I let my sword go, letting myself fall to the side as I turned so I was falling back, for his blade to nick my neck. I jumped back and rolled, jumping mid roll into a flip landing in a crouched position panting, as he pulled my sword from his shoulder wielding mine and his.

I just bared my teeth and stood up standing sideways to him with my closer hand extended to him with my hand flat, and my farther arm held a fist even with my chest as I watched him closely. I saw him charge me, and I lowered my head closing my eyes, feeling his steps through the ground, and hearing the wind whistle by the metal of the blades. I heard him swing my blade which was in his left, so I moved my hand catching it by the base of the blade, and went to punch his stomach, but feeling his foot slide, to turn to evade, I froze my fist, opened it, and rose it palm up, into his chin and sent him flying up into the air, feeling my sword slip from his grasp.

I opened my eyes, and jumped going into a spin as I grabbed the hilt of my blade in my left hand and started to turn so I could do a spinning slash horizontally, and yelled as I slashed down at shinning, seeing the gleam of light at one turn of my vision past him. I knew it was his sword, as I spun myself faster with a loud yell and slashes down on him, as I felt a sharp pain go into my gut, and through my left shoulder.

When I hit the ground laying face down, I felt my hands were empty. I weakly turned my head to see Shining with my sword having gone through his shoulder, and was now sticking through his chest. I could just roll over to show his blade through me and smirked as we spoke in unison. “looks like….it’s a draw…my friend…” we looked at each other and laughed, till I felt a lurch and I opened my eyes to see everything looking normal again and felt my body to feel no wounds or aches.

END MUSIC IF NEEDED

I looked at Shining who had reverted to a pony, and was walking over to me. I decided to change into my pony self and walked over to him, meeting him in the center. He had a blank stare, as I kept the same blank look, till we both smiled at one another and shook as the girls, Cadence, and Spike were cheering.

“you know shining, this was my first actual fight…other than a school fight years ago.” I saw his face change to one of complete shock, than he smiled.

I heard him give a slight chuckle. “you could have fooled me Blaze. You fought like you had a purpose.”

“oh, I had a purpose…” I smirked at Shining. “to show you, that I can be trusted…and so that you will know, that I have the strength to protect the ones I care about…” I looked to the girls and smiled.

“you really care about them…don’t you?” I looked at Shining surprised.

I felt my face heat up, but I smiled. “with everything I have…Captain Armor…” this time it was my turn to see him look shocked. “before you ask, I heard about you from Fleet and Swift…I wasn’t sure if it was you, but seeing your skills in combat…and with a form you didn’t fully understand…I knew you were Captain Armor…”

We all headed over to the bleachers where the princesses had met with the others, and we all headed back inside the castle. I had one last look at the statue, and I felt like…it was looking right back at me…and…is that a crack on the lions paw? Was that there before?! Eh, who cares…

As we entered the castle I saw a clock saying it was close to dinner time. We all decided to stay for dinner, then leave for Ponyville after, since the sun would be setting just as we get there, if we caught the train on time. After dinner, we started to leave, but Luna told me that she, and Celestia wished to speak with me at a later date about something important. I just nodded, and said my farewells to Luna, Celestia, Cadence, and Armor, then hurried to catch up with the others.

It was a quiet ride home, as everyone looked tired. Even Pinkie, looked slightly tired…for her that is…she still trotted around, but the usual Pinkie would be bouncing and hopping. So I knew that even SHE was tired. When we got to Ponyville, the sun was just setting, just as predicted. We all said our farewells, then me and Twilight started to head for the library, with Spike curled up and snoring on my back. It didn’t feel that long of a walk since what felt like just a minute of walking we were entering the library.

We headed upstairs as we entered Twilight's room. she soon levitated spike off my back, and into his bed. I looked at her and saw her yawn. She spoke soon after she finished yawning. “I’m glad you’re ok, and back home b\Blaze. I really missed you.” She walked up to me and she kissed me.

Twilight is kissing me…she is actually KISSING me! I felt my face grow hotter by the second, but I just closed my eyes and pressed into the kiss, just letting my feelings and instinct take over. After what felt like a minute or two, we pulled apart and looked at one another. “sweet dreams Twilight.”

I started to leave her room, till I heard Twilight say something then stop, which made me look back. “I…you don’t have to but….your room is down the hall and…well…” I could see her cheek turn pink as she looked away. “you…could sleep in here tonight if you want…”

It felt like my face was on fire, but I couldn’t help but smile. “I’d like that Twi.” I don’t know what was going on, but I blame the exhaustion from today’s events, and the energy I put into the duel. I was soon in bed with Twilight, as she snuggled up to me nuzzling into my chest. We soon fell asleep, in each others hooves, smiling as the warm embrace we were in, lulled us both into the best sleep we ever had.

Author's Note

he isn't going to be doing an authors note i think...

*SLAM*

i hope you all enjoy the chapter, also im not mad at you pinkie, i just need to cool off from all this BS i'm going through...I apologize about snapping at you before...

YAY!!!

*THUD*

alright i get it, you're happy. now i have to go get some sleep, i have been up for many moons to write this, and i *YAWN* need to finally sleep...

okey dokey! nighty lighty...ight....? i almost lost it from worrying about him! so, does that mean i am going to snap soon? i hope not...i hate becoming...IT!!!

OH! i forgot to mention...do NOT think this mean Blaze and Twilight are an item.....yet...unless it seems like a decent time for it to happen...what do you readers think?
postpone relationship stuff till AFTER the gala, or do the relationship stuff from here?
comment your choice, and WIN A PRIZE!!!! maybe...