Blaze

Chapters

Chapter 1.) Enter Blaze
Chapter 2.) What I Remember
Chapter 3.) How About a Proper Introduction?
Chapter 4.) My Reflection
Chapter 5.) The Feather-Works Show
Chapter 6.) Closure
Chapter 7.) The Long Road Home
Chapter 8.) There's No Better Pair Of Hooves I Trust
Chapter 9.) Back From The Dead
Chapter 10.) What In The Blazes?
Chapter 11.) The Calm Before The Storm
Chapter 12.) Canterlot
Chapter 13.) Flashbacks
Chapter 14.) Faded Ivory
Chapter 15.) Royal Duty Calls
Chapter 16.) Blaze, The Alicorn With Clashing Memories
Chapter 17.) The End Of My Lie
Chapter 18.) What Friendship Can And Can't Be
Chapter 19.) 'What If?'
Chapter 20.) The Opposite Side
Chapter 21.) Ivory's Diary
Chapter 22.) Innocent Smile, Unknown Intentions
Chapter 23.) Reunion
Chapter 24.) Revelations
Chapter 25.) All You Had To Do Was Ask

Chapter 1.) Enter Blaze

"I gotta... Keep... Going... Gotta get away... From that... That MONSTER!"

Well, that was what I wanted to think, but I was already gasping for air, and, though I already forgot exactly how long I've been running, I'm not going to be able to go for much longer. My wing is broken, and I'm in too much of a bind to teleport. I mean, not that I can't use magic: I'm sure I could use it if need be, but who knows what it would do to me, what with such an overwhelming fatigue coursing through me.

But, then again, where would I go? To teleport requires a strong mental image of the location, and that little detail right there is what screwed me: I've never been out in Equestria besides my little village. The only place I had a "strong mental image of" was my home, and that was destroyed thanks to that freak of nature!

I wanted to shout as loud as my weakened lungs could, but I can't let that creep find me. Ugh, but I'm in no shape to keep running... I'm going to have to find a place to take refuge, a hiding spot...

Wait a minute. Maybe under that kind of overhang will serve as a brief shelter... The way the ground kinda curves into itself, like being inside a small cliff or something. Perhaps I could rest for just a moment, catch my breath fast enough to make it to whatever next shelter might be nearby. In this forest in the middle of the night in the situation I'm in, that seems like a miracle...

The clouds are getting heavy. It's going to rain soon. Rainy nights have always haunted me with nightmares of my family. It was raining when I left the village that morning, three days ago. That's right. I've been running for about three days now. If I don't find some form of SAFE shelter soon, or at least some kind of food material... I fear for my village's history. Right now, I'm the only pony alive to drag it along. Or so I know of.

But that alone wasn't reason enough to me.

"Let it take me," I said in near-defeat. "I quit... It seems pointless to keep going... Maybe that thing'll put me out of my misery..." I cried inside. To have your whole life taken away from you... "DO YOU HEAR ME MONSTER!? I QUIT!! YOU CAN KILL ME NOW!!"

I couldn't throw my hoof in my mouth fast enough. Now I've got no choice but to keep moving. Damn me and my big mouth! I throw a quick berry in my mouth from a nearby bush, and then take off. (wait, berries!? Too late, too far away now!) Every other step, I catch myself muttering... something... See, I don't even know what I'm saying! Literally!

Focus, Blaze! I remind myself. You have a giant monster hot on your tail. If you wanna live, you can't afford to not pay attention! Hit a tree, trip over a rock, anything! You stall for too long, it's game over for you! I don't know where I'm going, but it definitely can't be worse than that monster!

After a few minutes of more running, my body just wouldn't take anymore. Despite my mental encouragement earlier, I've stumbled and fallen to the ground, due to gelatinous transformations in my joints. And, guess what? I can't pick myself up, either. I can't even feel my legs...

So, as the rain starts to come down, I take a moment to reflect upon these past few days. My village has been obliterated along with all its residents, or as I'm aware of. This huge shadow-looking thing persues me, and I take off running. Three days later, after such a valiant effort, it will have all been for nothing. The brown pony with the flame-hued hair and the colorless eyes will most likely die tonight.

I guess this is where I will be sleeping tonight...

Or more appropriately laying, for the drops have begun to drop and the thunder has begun to thunder. Merciless. My life has been just merciless this past week. The rain hits my belly and sizzles away to nothing in a desperate attempt to cool my internal temperature. The heat has gone to my head as well, as every drop that finds me as its landing pad, a pain shoots up. I suffocate from the heat fast enough, though, as I find my eyelids getting droopy and my fire-colored mane serves as an adequate pillow against the cold, bitter ground. I have found my bed, and I think I'm getting comfortable...

Blaze
By Blazing_Mane01

I find myself being shined on by what I believe to be morning sunrise. So I didn't die through the night? Ehh, oh well... Since I have most of my energy back, I can pick up the pace. I take a quick glance at my immediate environment, and continue my trail.

Something about this morning seems way too cheerful, given the predicament I'm in. This place sounds like it's alive and brimming with all kinds of creatures, which must mean this area of the forest is tranquil. But then that must mean I got away from that shadow! I take in a heavy sigh of relief. I can finally take my time and breathe some fresh air. The rain last night has also left some relatively large puddles on the ground, so I'm not really worried about getting thirsty. I do need to get some solids in my belly soon, though... I quickly begin to regret my tactical decision earlier with the berry bush.

I trot up the side of a small hill when my eyes see what I think is an illusion. I blink them so fast, they might have been able to push me back. Nope, what I am seeing is no illusion. It's a town! And it's right in front of me! My excitement gets the better of me as my pace breaks from a trot to a full-out gallop. It's a good half-mile or so still to go, but I didn't care. Once I can get there, I can get something to eat, a place to shower, and if I'm lucky, a hospital bed so my wing can start healing!

Ten minutes later, I start to walk on cobblestone roads. I've worn out my tired lungs again. I can feel my head spinning a mile a minute, whether it may be from excitement or exhaustion. I'm given a firm greeting by this pink pony who, if I'm not mistaken, smells a bit like candy. A big slap on the back and a welcoming isn't what I needed. In fact, it's not what my wing needed either.

"Good morning, Mr. Pony-I've-Never-Met-Before! I'm excited, are you excited?, 'cuz I'm excited, I've never been so-" Her words flew through her mouth so fast. They only made me dizzier, but I managed to cut her off before my head exploded.

"...Help... I need some... *cough* Some food..."

"Okey-dokey-lokey! Luckily for you, I'm throwing a party in that house right across the street! Come on! Last one to the cupcakes won't get as many! Okay, ready, 3 2 1 GOOO!" She darted into the house she had pointed out before I could extend my hoof to stop her. Thanks for lending me a helping hoof, I wish I could yell at her. But apparently she went in and told the other ponies in there because I managed to get a glimpse at a purple face approaching me at a rapid pace before fatigue once again got the better of me...

Chapter 2.) What I Remember

Mmm... I haven't slept that well in weeks. I wonder how long I was out of it? It must've been a relatively long time, because my wing feels a lot better. I open my eyes to try and see what it looked like. As I expected, it was wrapped in bandages. I was in a hospital.

"Ey y'all! He's wakin' up, now!" The thunderous voice didn't give me any announcement, so I guess it's natural I flip over and land on my broken wing.

"Ouch!! Good God! Hey, how about a little warning before you make my ears fall off!? Or maybe my wing!?" About five other ponies had stormed in before I could finish my point. They all heard every bit of it -- One of them even screeched and ducked behind a table!

"You'll have to forgive her, darling," a white pony with a regal appearance and accent had stepped forward, "she pays an extremely low amount of attention to essential details."

"Beg ya pardon?" the one with the hat said in response.

"Absolutely, darling. You've got it."

"Ah raightly doubt that!

"Enough, both of you!" a surprisingly familiar voice rang from across the room. "Arguing isn't going to help our wounded guest! In fact, you're probably giving him a headache!" It's that purple one! The one I saw before I blacked out! I wonder why I'm so excited to see her?

"Uhh, raight... Sorry, Twi," she hid half her face with her hat as she turned to me. "Sorry 'bout that. No hard feelins, sugarcube."

"Me too, darling. Ugh, what a horrible first impression..."

"Yea, it's, uhh, okay..." I am in a hospital bed, they don't even know who I am (I think), and she's worried about making friends? Are they all like this here?

"Now that that's out of the way," the purple pony approached the bedside with a notepad and quill, "I'm sure we both have questions for each other, so let us waste no more time! Everypony in this town is talking about you, and how you made your appearance. Could you possibly shed some light on the topic of how you got here? Maybe we can help you?"

"Umm, okay sure." I don't see any harm in telling them. "See, it all started like this..."

The sun was high and the warm air felt so refreshing as it brushed against our manes. My friend, Faded Ivory, and I had decided to spend the day fishing at the lake. We'd catch a couple and bring them back to the village for the young fillies and colts running around playing. The thought of the look on their estatic faces was our motivation. We had caught a TON of big fish, small fish, wide fish, scrawny fish -- There was this one fish Ivory had hooked I had to fly in and push 'im to shore!

But anyway, night had quickly settled in and we were both really tired. As a raincloud found its way over our campfire, we both knew that was the sign to retire for the day. When we got settled in, Ivory had said, "I can already see the look on the elder's face when we drag THIS trophy into the village!" I gave a quick laugh, but I was cut off by a yawn. She returned the laugh with slightly more vigor, but having had been her friend for a short twelve years, I knew she was also battling against the Z's.

After a few minutes, she broke the silence with, "You know, Blaze, you've grown up and lived in that place since you can remember. And not once had you ever seen OR heard of any pony civilization outside. I've actually started wondering if you thought we were the only group of ponies in Equestria..." The question had totally caught me off guard. I never paid enough attention to that kind of stuff to think we may be the only of our kind alive! I always figured some ponies were out there somewhere, living pony lives, doing pony things...

I responded to her statement. "You have a point, but I know that's not true. I figured they're out there, and maybe someday we can go out there and meet them."

The look on her face suggested I had said something completely wrong. "That's not exactly what I was getting at. I gathered enough common sense loooonnng ago to figure out our village was one of thousands, maybe millions in the world. No, what I meant was, maybe the elder is hiding something from us? Every time I ask him, he just coughs and says that it's nothing for me to dwell on."

That sounded like a pretty harsh sentence to come out of the elder's lips. I shook my head and said, "He's right. You don't have to find out what's out there when you have all you need to be happy here."

She responded rather quickly. "But I don't have you, Blaze. Not truly. Not the way... I want..." Her ears dropped along with her smile, and she lowered her head.

My mind reeled at what I thought she meant. She... loved me? It took me a few seconds to gather the breath to say something sarcastic, "Then let's start another life, away from home. Just you and me."

At this, a giggle left her mouth, followed by a "Yeah, that's a whole lot better..." She then rolled over and succumbed to her heavy eyelids...

Sunrise hit our tent really early, so we reluctantly got up and prepared the trip home with black rings around our eyes. Ivory hadn't said a word since last night. I wondered if I had put a bigger dent in her life than I thought?

We were almost to the village when the smell of burning wood caught my attention. I looked around in the air frantically for any sign of smoke, but the trees and the thick canopy they form, I couldn't make sense of anything above them. So we continued walking while the smell got stronger and thicker.

I quickly realized this was no ordinary morning bonfire. No, the flame was much bigger than that. My steps burst into a full-out gallop for fear of what I might see. My family. The children. The elder. Every step brought me closer to the tumbling flames.

"NOOOO!!" Ivory had instantly overtaken me and sprinted toward her house, which was being swallowed by the inferno. My house no longer existed, but I still lunged in with hope.

"MOM!! DAD!!" I dug at each plank and straw at record speed... only to find their fried skeletons. My mouth processes this information faster than my mind can, when I say, "Mom... Dad... I'll get them back, I promise..."

I turned to find Faded Ivory feet away from me with distinct glimmer in her eyes. That was enough to tell me that she was also unfortunate in her findings. A crack from a nearby building catches us both off guard as huge planks shot out at us. I evaded the first two, but a third jabbed against my wing, pushing at least three bones out of place. Pain shoots up and off the scale tenfold. I had let out my defeated cry just before a thunderous roar and a shock wave made it seem minor. We then saw what was responsible for these crimes. A shadow stood over 50 feet tall above the elder's house.

With another roar, it throws a massive left hook. I braced myself for impact when Ivory lunged in front of me. The claws of our death tore over half her body away, and the cry that escaped her lips afterwards was unbearable.

I jumped forward and caught her. "I gotcha! Hang on, we can get out of this!"

Ivory choked out, "No! What are you doing!? Get outta here!! Save... *cough cough* Save yourself!!"

"Ivory, don't talk like --"

Our vague discussion was cut off by a RRRAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRR!!!!!!

She squirmed out of my hooves. "GO!! HURRY!! GET AWAY!!"

My heart fractured into a thousand pieces when she spoke. Another swipe of the monstrous hand grabbed her up.

"IVORY, NOOOO!!!"

"JUST GO, DAMN IT!! Don't... worry... about... about me...." Her final sentence struggled to make sense before the creature squeezed the last breath out of her. Not wanting to put her sacrifice in vain, I turned and sprinted from the scene. The crush of her bones brought tears to my eyes as I ran...

"And, well, here I am."

Chapter 3.) How About a Proper Introduction?

I took a quick glance around the room to find all the dropped jaws. I played my cards almost too well. A couple of the ponies even had water running down their faces!

"... ... ...Uhh, well..." the purple pony tried to speak, but she was obviously tongue-tied.

"I prefer you didn't apologize... It's not your fault, it's that... that FREAK!!" I felt my eyes illuminate with the flame of vengence. I noticed all of them gasp and take one step back, even though I was staring at the far wall of the room.

"Whoa, nelly!" the orange pony spoke up. "Now hold your horses raight there, sally. Now that you're here, you're safe. Ya don't have to get all ya feelin's in a jiffy. Calm down."

"I'm inclined to agree," the regal pony followed in the conversation, "Ponyville doesn't pose any threat to its residents. Just relax and take the town in to your heart's content! Ooh! You could stay at my house until you find your own residence! We could get you back into your elegant physique! Oh, and you could teach me how you style your mane! I absolutely adore it how you got it to stay up like fire..."

"Uhh, well --" I tried to respond, but my words were once again pushed aside by somepony else's.

"Uhh, Rarity, do you honestly think your schedule would allow that?" the purple one spoke. "It's okay, I can get a bed fixed up at my place. I live in a library, so if you would like to learn more about magic, then you can --"

"Hey, whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa!" I suddenly barked, "You ponies are inviting me to your places, when I don't even know your names? What is this, an auction?" Everypony jumped back in unison.

The purple pony lifted her head after a few seconds. "Whoops! How could I have forgotten? Well, my name is Twilight Sparkle. Pleasure to meet you!"

"I'm Applejack. Mighty nice to make your acquaintance."

"Rainbow Dash's my name, daredevil stunts' my game! So, uhh... hi."

"And I'm Pinkie Pie!" That mischievious pony bounced up and down while she spoke.

"Yes, and my name is Rarity. We're going to be the best of friends, you and I!"

"The pleasure is all mine," I say. I gaze upon my new friends with careful eyes, and notice that one still seeking cover under the table. "Hey, what's your name?"

"... ... Umm..." She stepped out from her hiding place and barely whispered. "My name is... ..." She said something, but her voice had dropped to the negative decibels before she finished.

"Uhh... What was that?"

"I said... I'm..." Once again, I couldn't make out what she said.

"Miss, if you want me to understand, then you're gonna have to speak up a bit."

"Her name is Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash announced for her.

"Okay. Well, Fluttershy, honor to meet you!" I extended my hoof. She just smiled and looked the other way. That was hint enough to drop the topic there and move on to somepony else, so I return my hoof to my side and looked back to Twilight Sparkle, "So, what were we talking about?"

Two seconds passed before Twilight giggled and continued. "Well, 'Blaze,' I was offering you a place to stay. You're MORE than welcome to brush up on any reading you may want to do during your stay."

"Now hold up just a galdarn minute!" AppleJack raised her hoof. "Twi, you're Celestia's student! You have much moar important things to do than to baeby-sit somepony!"

"And YOU have Sweet Apple Acres to tend to! You can't possibly keep an eye on this guy while bucking apples!"

"Well, shucks, I was maybe hopin' 'e could help round the barn."

"You know, I don't have anything better to do," Rainbow Dash interrupted. "He could hang out with me! Oh, and when his wing gets better, he and I could show off our stunts! It'll be soo awesome!"

"Thank you, Rainbow, but that still takes time out of your practice. The Wonder Bolts aren't going to want to recruit a lazy pony," Twilight stood up. I can't believe they started this stupid argument over where I'll be staying!

"LAZY!? Who are you callin' lazy!? You sit around reading books all day!!"

"Please, stop this. He can stay with... me," Fluttershy said from a distance. "I've got nothing but free time when the animals are playing. Plus another hoof around the garden would help me a lot."

"But Fluttershy! That's just it, who knows how to take better care of animals than you do? He could scare them!"

"Ooh! It's the Argument Game! I wanna play! Okay, he could stay with me!!" Pinkie once again proves she is completely oblivious to negative emotions.

"HEY, WHOA!! GIRLS!!" I throw my hooves in the air trying to get their attention. This has the desired effect, as they all turn and face me. Well, all except one, who has taken refuge under the table again. "Look, I appreciate you all offering a place for me, but you don't need to fight about it, all right? I'm right here, I have an opinion in this too. Here's how it's supposed to work; you all offer, you show me around, I think, I get back to you. So that's what I'll do. Show me around, and THEN I'll make my decision. I mean, once I get out of the hospital, that is."

"Well, yeah..." Twilight shrugged, "Kinda forgot about that."

"Then it's settled!" AppleJack placed herself in between me and the other five ponies. "We'll continue this discussion once 'e starts feelin' better. So out the door with y'all, lickity-split!" She then began to lead them to the exit.

"But Blaze!" Twilight attempted to say something, but the door closed in between us.

Chapter 4.) My Reflection

Three days have passed since I arrived here in Ponyville. My sleep these past days has been nearly nonexistent; for out of fear of what I may see in my dreams, or insomnia, it has been effective. My fatigue has caused my head to spin with questions. What was that shadow? Whose dwelling should I stay in until I can own a proper residence? If ever? Why were those ponies so quick to offer their homes to a complete stranger?

I tried to roll over and force myself some shut-eye. My wing is feeling significantly better, so much so that the doctor says I should be out of here before tonight. Good. I've been dying to get some fresh air.

I guess I actually DID pass out, for the clock tower now rings 2:00. I'm being shoved by who I believe to be the nurse aid. Her calm, gentle voice sooths my tender ears when she speaks;

"All right, Blaze. Time to go."

She has an oddly happy tone following her words. Either she's agreeing with me when I say I need to get some celestial sunlight glistening on my mane, OR she just can't wait to kick me out. She also offers to take off the bandages, and I allow her. It feels a little stiff, so I give it a slight flap, but I quickly regret it. The reaction of the wing made me wince a little. It's still not fully recovered, but I'm sure I can comfortably fly.

I hop out of the thick hospital sheets and land on the tile floor below. Oh, how to walk again! My excitement gets the better of me as I find myself dancing around the room. The nurse has the silliest expression printed on her face, almost as if she could fall over laughing. I confirm this when I cross my eyes at her.

It takes her a good minute before she could stand up and say, "Okay, let's get you out of here."

Not wanting to keep anypony waiting (including myself), I followed. The way to the front door consisted of two flights of stairs and an adequate-size lobby. Ponies in their desks wave, and I give a smile back to them.

Upon opening the main doors, I am flooded by some six colorful friends of mine. Indistinct chatter makes me ask them to take this outside. I mean, after all, we ARE still in the hospital. I wave my last wave to the doctors as they slowly get swallowed by the building's mouth.

"So Blaze! How ya feelin'?" Rainbow Dash started our official conversation.

"Well, I finally qualified to get out," I say with a little sarcasm. This has the desired effect; the majority of the ponies start to giggle to themselves.

"So, whose place au wanna see first?" AppleJack reminded me of the first thing on my to-do list.

"Uhh... ..." I haven't given this much thought. My mind is a bit slow when comes to planning every single detail. "...You know what? Surprise me."

Twilight Sparkle once again used her adorable giggle and continued with the topic, "You heard him. All right, girls, blindfold him!"

"Wha..? Hey!" I suddenly get deafened by laughter and indistinct yelling. My eyelids adjust to the front of the strap of cloth that is now planted on my face. Okay, yeah I said surprise me, but I never expected them to take it this seriously!

After a few minutes of following their voices and occasionally walking the wrong way to get them worked up, they skid to a stop. I feel hooves undoing a knot on the back of my neck, followed by a blast of cleansing sunlight. My eyes take their sweet time adjusting to a cottage with an amazing garden. Others find my dropped jaw faster than I do, as an anonymous hoof pushes it back shut.

"This is where I live," Fluttershy flew up and hovered above her respective property. "It's on the outskirts of town, so it's the perfect place to raise my friends."

"Uhh, Fluttershy? I'm capable of taking care of myself, thanks," I say in a sarcastic tone.

All the other ponies quickly duck their heads and smile. Fluttershy only blushed and continued, "Oh, no no no, I-I meant the animals!"

I was going to say sorry I understood, when Rarity's regal voice overpowers mine. "But that's not it! We still have five - Well, at least four... - offers to feast your eyes on! We can take you over to Carousel next, if that's okay with you, right darling?" She blinked her eyes so rapidly her eyelash could've flown right off.

"Uhh, fine! Sure! Lead the way!"

Rarity threw her hooves in the air along with a high-pitched scream you'd need dog ears to hear. With the decision unanimous, we headed for Carousel Boutique. I caught Fluttershy sigh out of the corner of my eye as she landed to follow.

Night has fallen by the time I've been introduced to Carousel, Golden Oaks Library, Cloudsdale, Sugar Cube Corners, and Sweet Apple Acres. I made my final decision then that there wasn't one location that fascinated me more, so I wanted to avoid favoritism and make my own bed in the wilderness. All of the ponies had let out their moan of defeat when I departed from the group and headed for a nearby tree.

"It's okay! I'll be here when you decide to look for me!" I waved. This seemed to bring the six back to life as they picked their heads up and left for their respective beds. I make a quick carpet out of leaves and pine needles, the way my dad showed me. My dad. I rolled onto the makeshift bedding and slid my way into a comfortable position.

However, no matter how much I toss and turn, me and sleep refuse to find each other. an hour passes beofre I finally decide to get up. I start to fly, for the hopes of finding a lake or a beach or SOMETHING to ease my mind. Fortunately, there was a lake about a hundred meters away.

My hooves find the ground at the bank where the water washes up on shore. I stare at my reflection in the water, hoping that I could remember more about my village, my family, than their brutal ends. The ripple in the wave caught me off guard. I hadn't even noticed it, but alas, my eyes began to moisten again with tears.

Who was that shadow? Why did it do that to my people? Why did Faded Ivory have to die for me? Why couldn't she let me die with her!? Why can't I remember!?

"Maybe that's what I should've done," I find myself thinking out loud. "I should've just let that monster kill me. That way, I wouldn't've put a dent in these ponies' lives, and our history would've ended..."

The more I think about it, the more I want to throw rocks, scream at the top of my lungs, or dive to the bottom of the lake and never come up. This is rediculous. All the pain, and for WHAT!? So I could live with it the rest of my life!? Why does my life have to ber so horrible!?

I said it before, I'll say it again...

"I quit."

Chapter 5.) The Feather-Works Show

The flames of vengeance burned brightly within me, so much so that it was driving me insane. I grabbed a big boulder with my magic and lifted it over the body I call my own. I was whispering my final words when I heard some rustling in the woods behind me.

"Who's there!?"

My anger has escaped my mouth and forced toward somepony else. The trees shook a little as a shadow walked among their umbrella-shaped heads. Once it made its way into the moonlight, its lavender shade materialized.

"Sorry, Blaze. I was too worried. I was thinking maybe you had gotten cold or something, sleeping directly in Princess Luna's handiwork."

"Oh, well, uhh... Thanks. Sorry I shouted. My mind isn't really going through the most... 'appropriate' thoughts."

Twilight was quick to forgive me. As she walked up to my left, I tossed the boulder to my right. Shorlty after I fixed my vision back on her, she had sat down next to me. "I understand... It's not easy coping with that kind of stuff. About 2 years ago, I almost lost my brother to a changeling attack."

This is news. "Changelings?"

"Oh, it's these stupid little zombie-looking ponies who feed off love and all that happy stuff."

Zombies? Her brother? I could feel something horrible coming up. "Okay, but you didn't lose ANYPONY!! I don't even have an acquaintance from my village! My family - all of them - dead!"

Twilight quickly doubled over. "Whoa!"

"What makes you think nearly losing your brother is ANY comparison to what I've gone through!?"

"I know I know! I-It's just that --"

"JUST SHUT UP!!!" I can't believe my lips just formed those words. My anger is for that shadow, not Twilight. I quickly try to bury my frustration as she stumbles away from me. "No... Sorry, I shouldn't've said that. Please don't be scared."

She regains her hooves' former claim on the ground and responds, "No no, I'm sorry. I should've thought about that before I said anything..."

My eyes went from burning flames to trickling water at the sound of her apology. Out of the corner of my eye, I can make out a blush on her cheeks. I slowly walk back to where I was sitting previously and again sit down and face the lake. Twilight followed. For a short moment, it was silent, but eventually Twilight asked, "You weren't going to do... what I thought you were going to do with that boulder, were you?"

"... I'm afraid I was."

"No!" Two hooves linked around my neck faster than I could process. "You can't die!"

Cut short of breath, I asked, "Twilight? Wha --"

"Not yet! We... We still want to help you!"

Something about the way she said that seemed familiar to me. It's almost as if I heard that same voice before say something similar...

Twelve years ago.

"Ivory?"

Twilight lifted her head with a look on her face. "What did you say?"

"Uhh...? Oh, it's nothing... You reminded me of Faded Ivory."

"Oh... Well, uhh, okay..." She placed her cheek on my neck once more, but I could tell she had a little bit of concern in her expression.

"Don't worry about it," I say. The muscles in my left foreleg find their way around Twilight without my command. I felt the color flow through her cheeks again as she lays one against my neck and sighs. "It's alright."

I look down in the reflection. My figure clearly shows a comfortable Twilight Sparkle, but I can't stop thinking it's Faded Ivory. Her face. Her face resembles Ivory in almost every nook and cranny. A couple minutes pass, and I slowly feel the urge to share a little more about what I remember.

"Hey, wanna know how I got my cutie mark?"

"Sure," Twilight says without moving a muscle.

"Heh," I say, and bring a smile with it. "My cutie mark is a majestic silver feather, shining with magic, burning with intensity. Seriously. It's a burning magic feather. The day I got this, the village was holding its annual Feather-Work Show to celebrate the village's beginning..."

I was the one responsible to infuse the feathers with magic so that at a certain point, they would explode with beautiful lights and designs. The crowd always have loved my amazing fire art.

However, somehow, I infused magic into a feather that was still attached to the airdroper. Yeah... That didn't turn out well. The pony got away from any serious damages, and managed to leave the accident with only a couple blisters and some missing hair. But at that point, he had already been KO'd and we needed another airdroper. Feeling bad about my mistake, I stepped forth.

So I was now in charge with duties "Pyro Artist" and "Airdroper." These two jobs required me to fly 300 feet above the village while setting and throwing feather-works. It demanded a CRAZY amount of focus and skill to circle around in the air, while infusing feathers with my pyrotechnics, WHILE dodging the ones I throw!

Well, one of those times, I missed that last step...

I woke up in the woods that night, with a migrane straight out of Hell. I was famished, so I fixed up a sloppy sandwich of dead grass, leaves, and some bird feathers. It was really satisfying...

Until I imploded.

I stood there, throwing up fire for a few seconds. I just ate one of my feather-works! My entire body was being punished with this insane amount of heat. I could feel it everywhere; I even threw up a couple flames! I realized then that there was a fire inside me! My eyes glew bright red, my mane and tail ignited, and my light brown fur irradiated a blinding illumination. Then all of a sudden, it stopped. Everything just stopped. My body was now glowing with this new energy, and I felt better than I had ever before. Of course, my guts were scorched, but you know... Once the fire settled down, that energy took its outer appearance as my cutie mark.

The last thing I remember from that dawn was Faded Ivory running for me. But, I was on the brink of fainting by then, and it was all blur until I did.

"It was kind of funny, how in essence the same thing happened to both airdropers because of my foolishness," I ended my flashback. Twilight is once again speechless, as she opened her mouth but no audible noise would come out. Her eyes had grown a little as she processed my story.

"... ... Wow!" her lips finally formed. "So you actually have your cutie mark based on your rare combination of the wings and horn!"

"Heheh. If you wanna look at it that way, then sure."

"That's so amazing! So your special attribute as a pony revolves around your abilities! Not just with the feather-works, but as an... An..." I guess she couldn't think of a good name for a pony with both features. I can't blame her; my village tried for years. "...Anyway, the only other ponies I know that have wings and horns are Princesses Celestia and Luna, their niece Cadenza, and the Queen Changeling! Do you have some connection with royalty!?"

"I don't know. I don't remember. Sorry."

Twilight dropped her ears and smile to my answer. She got her hooves off from my neck and assumed a comfortable sitting position facing the water. I could tell she had something on her mind. I confirm this when I start to lift my hoof away when she snaps:

"No, wait!"

"Yes, Twilight?"

"Please, stay here."

She looked like she was going to die if I wandered too far away. My mind thinks of a similar moment almost instantaneously:

"But I don't have you, Blaze. Not truly. Not the way... I want..."

Slowly, my hoof again finds its resting location around Twilight Sparkle. I sit there and stare off into the trees as the moon glistens on our manes. Her reaction is a half-sigh, half-yawn, as we are up VERY late, maybe 3:00 in the morning. She succumbs to drowsiness sooner than I do. As she sleeps, I simply observe her as she breathes, how she turns.

How she smiles.

The way Faded Ivory did.

Chapter 6.) Closure

I found myself walking amongst the cobblestone roads once again early the next morning. The clock tower bells linger in my head well after its seven gongs have been gonged. All my friends wanted to see me today; Rainbow Dash wants to show off some stunts she's been practicing, AppleJack wanted my help with gathering apples for a party, Pinkie wanted help preparing for the actual party, Fluttershy wished to demonstrate an orchestra for me, and Rarity requested I aid her get her latest dresses on the train to Canterlot.

... ... ...Quite the busy schedule I have today! Ugh, but I never have been good at making decisions... Maybe I'll ask Twilight to teleport me to one of them... Wait a minute. Twilight wanted to share something with me as well. The mentioning of her name in my mind recalls what I remember from last night. I may have been dreaming, but it seemed all so real. I remember her barking at me to stay, but after all that seems like a complete blur.

I snap back to reality as I bump into somepony.

"Whoa! Uhh, whoops! Sorry, I was on a snooze cruise, I guess," I say with a slight smile to lighten the mood, and pick up several things that have been scattered around. I look up just soon enough to get a faceful of these bulgeous, turquoise eyes inches away from mine. My first reaction would be to lose my balance and fall back, but I'm used to this pony's self-announcements by now. I now knew how I was going to start the day. I was going to help Pinkie prepare for a party.

"Oh its all fine and dandy! These particular things are gonna get ruined anyway!" Pinkie said, then backed her head away. "Come on, Blaze! The party's gonna be a HIT!" She jumped up into her usual bouncy pace. I rolled my eyes and caught my breath as I braced for some 'fun' work.

Two hours took their sweet time rolling by while games and decor were set up in Sugar Cube Corners. My front hooves have a slight twitch in them from the constant stretching. I know I contain the power of magic, but a good physical workout once in a while does wonders for me, and having been in a hospital for the past few days has left me itching for one. With one task out of my to-do list, I now ponder upon which objective I should accomplish next. But, as usual, my mind can't decide. So, I make a little game out of it.

I mark an 'AJ,' 'R,' 'FS,' 'RD,' and 'TS' on five leaves for their respective initial owners. This is as simple as it sounds: I pick a leaf with my eyes closed. My travels today will depend on the order nature helps me with my decisions.

And the first winner is...!

"Twilight Sparkle."

Wow. What a coincidence. To have what I think was a dream haunting me with fate. I put the letters back and shuffle, somewhat out of fear. However, I pull Twilight's initials a second, and then a third time. My thoughts race with possible introductions. If that wasn't a dream, then how should I react to this? I don't have that kind of emotion for her; I thought I was merely comforting her. But if it WASN'T real, then, oh well, right?

I guess there's only one real way to find out.

For the sake of delaying our meeting as long as possible, I decide to cheat my way as letters "TS" now lay on the ground to my right. My next leaf reads "Rarity."

The short trot to Carousel proves beneficial. I managed to get something in my system that WASN'T cupcakes. The inevitable knock on the upcoming door is denied as once again I fall due to my clumsiness. I was so occupied with watching my hooves that I hadn't noticed the other figure coming out the other side.

"Wahh!" I shouted as I lost my balance and fell over. "Hey, sorry. I'm just not all with it today."

"Oh..." Rarity's pitch and the look on her face suggested she was in a rush. "It's not a problem in the least! I'll just... ... have to clean and fold all the dresses again..." She finished with hanging her head and dropping her ears.

"Here. Let me lend a hoof with that."

Color again rose from her regal cheeks. Guess I gave her some hope? I quickly begin to pick up several dresses and the like to assist.

"Oh, hello Blaze! My my, I hadn't suspected it would be you bumping into me this early."

"Uhh, Rarity? It's nine o'clock."

"I know. Believe me when I say, dear, that THAT is early for an elegant pony such as myself." She gets her smile back and starts to fiddle with the back of her mane. When I snap her back, we get the articles of clothing back in shipping condition at record speed. "Thanks, Blaze. Maybe I can make it on time after all!"

"Hey, what are friends for?"

A giggle leaves her lips as she disappears into the distance. Friends... I again become haunted by memories of my deceased friends.

Of Faded Ivory.

That's it. I'm Golden Oaks bound. Twilight's got to have some memory spell stashed away in her seemingly endless knowledge. I break into a full-out gallop.

The seemingly infinite road to Twilights takes my breath away fast. I knock on the door with what little strength I have left in my front hooves. I would've bucked it open, had it not been opened by some other force. I look down to see a baby dragon.

"Oh, hey dude! Twilight's expecting you. C'mon in!"

He opens the door further for me to enter. I nod respectfully as I pass the little man. He then hastily slams the door shut behind me.

"Easy, bro. You could've woken the dead, had that been any louder."

"Where is she!?"

"Huh?" I get caught off guard by a simple question. "Who?"

"Twilight! She went out late last night and hasn't come back!"

"Whoa whoa wait. You mean you don't know where she is?" I say as my 'dream' finds its way back into my head.

"Uhh, duh. What point have I been trying to point out the past few seconds? She said she had to see you, said that it was urgent, and since then, I haven't seen her anywhere! What did you do to her!?"

That clinches it. That was no dream. "I didn't do anything to her, but I think I might know where to find her. Come on! Hop on!"

The dragon struggles onto my back as I step out and unfold my wings. My hooves leave the ground with a good kick and a flap, and I'm off. If that wasn't a dream, then the last place I remember seeing her was that lake. Careful not to drop the passenger on my back, I locate the body of water. I slow my speed to descend through the thick canopy. Fear shoots up when I land and find where we sat that night.

Because she's still right there, sleeping.

"Twilight!" the dragon panics and jumps off my back.

"It's okay. She's sleeping."

In almost immediate response to my voice, the violet pony began to stir. I fix my poker face on as she picks herself up slowly.

"Blaze?"

"Hey," I wave. I suddenly get a flashback of Ivory again as excitement exposes all of her familiar face. She starts to walk in my direction, completely ignoring the baby dragon in front of her.

"How'd you sleep, Blaze?"

"Uhh..." I am faced with a seemingly simple question, but if I don't answer it correctly, I'll paint the wrong picture for our audience. "...I didn't sleep."

"*impatient sigh* Oh, Blaze. You're going to drop from fatigue if you keep up that kind of schedule." Ivory continues to haunt my thoughts as she speaks.

"Oh, well." I say nonchalantly, trying to scare her maybe. This has the desired effect as she bolts up toward me.

"Don't talk like that!"

"Easy, Twilight! What's gotten into you? That's the second time you flipped out when I said something that suggests my death--"

I get a hoof across the face for that. "Don't say that!!" She's sort of choking now, and she also seems to be fighting tears. I don't get it. This mare has a reputation for being oblivious to personal feelings. Why does she demonstrate them so fluently now?

"Okay, okay! Jeez, the way you worry, you'd think you'd known me for years... ... ..." The sudden consequences of what I said takes almost immediate effect. Faded Ivory.

That's it. I'm going back to the village. I need some closure.

Chapter 7.) The Long Road Home

"Yeah... There's just that mysterious-but-majestic sense that flows in the air when you're around. I never let a mystery go unsolved," Twilight Sparkle got my attention back from another daydream.

"So you're willing to flirt with me?" I couldn't make any sense of what she was trying to say.

"Wait, what?"

"Yeah, flirt. That's what I call it anyway."

Twilight looked equally surprised as scared. "That's not flirting! It's more like --"

"Twilight!..." I barked. This diverted her attention from her rambling for an excuse to my words. This is it. I need to inform her now that "I'm leaving."

"Leaving?" She didn't look to understand OR approve what I just stated. "Leaving where? Back to Ponyville?"

I gave a light chuckle as I shook my head, then gathered my breath and said, "No, Twilight. I'm going back. Back home."

"Back... ... to the village? But that - whatever it was - destroyed it! You want to go back to a place that doesn't even exist anymore!?"

Existence? That rubbed me the wrong way. "THE HELL it doesn't exist anymore!" My rage again fuels the fire within my body to flare, causing my black eyes to illuminate. "And how would you know? Were you there?"

Twilight must've jumped a hundred feet away when I stomped one hoof in her direction. Once I paid attention enough to see her frightened face, my thoughts began to gain focus slowly, and I gradually regained my cool (literally) as my pupils returned to their normal size and color.

"...Sorry," I finally say. "You didn't need to say that..."

Twilight took a second to regain her calm posture, but when she did, she picked herself upright and walked over. "...I know... Sorry..." She puts a hoof up to poke my chest, but I gently deflected it with my own. "Here, let me go with you."

"No, Twi. This is something I gotta do myself. Please don't tell anypony where I'm going. Can you keep this secret?"

Faded Ivory made her reappearance as a face of doubt replaced Twilight's previous gesture. "Umm... I'm not that good with secrets... ..."

"Then tell them I ran away. Don't mention where I went... Okay?"

Tears began to form in her eyes. "... ...Will you... ...come back?"

One brief moment passed while I stared into her purple windows, thinking of the best response to her question. "If I can..." I proceeded cautiously, "...I will. I promise."

We both stood there with puffy cheeks and wide smiles for a while. I felt as if I were saying good-bye to a good friend, a friend I've known and trusted for a long time, a friend - no, a PFF - like Ivory. I finally gather the strength to step away and say, "Go home, Twilight Sparkle. You have work to do." With that, I dash into the trees on the oppisite side of the lake.

I could bearly hear her sigh and say, "...Come on, Spike... Let's go back... ..."

Nightfall came fast as I tried to remember the road I traveled here. The long road home. I brace myself with every step into the thicker shadows. I can't help but think I forgot something back in Ponyville, though I'm pretty sure it's just guilt for not telling the others myself. I wonder if Twilight told them already? I wonder how they reacted?

My steps suddenly froze and I come to a dead stop with my face buried in something hard. My body turned to jello and fell to the dirt. It takes me a good minute to piece together that I've only run into a tree. I really need to focus more on what's going on right now. I pick myself up slowly but steadily and continue my pace.

It's been about 12 hours since my leave at the lake. Yeah, I know what I forgot... Food. My belly's growling at me, and I'm yawning rather heavily. This forest seems to bring the fatigue in ponies quickly!

Another good hour passes before I suffocate from heat and sweat. This brings back memories of my first trip through here, and I wonder if this is what those ponies call a 'deja vu.' But either way, I should retire for the night. I make a quick roof above my head that consisted of dead grass, leaves, twigs, etc with my magic. My flame-colored aura dies out around the cover and my horn as I find a steady place for the roof to lay. I then position my head on a smooth boulder with an imprint that could serve as a semi-comfortable pillow, and start dreaming faster than I expected...

I was watching the village from the monster's perspective. I screamed in agony at how I pictured it as it laid waste to my home. Giant claws slashed at the wooden buildings, teared at raw pony meat, and even set fire to most it touched. In this nightmare, I was destroying my home! I tried to resist the urge to devastate everything, but the shadow was uncontrollable. The claws had now found their way and closed tightly around a figure of a neon bluish-greenish hue. I knew that color all too well...

And my doppleganger in my nightmare proved it. He was right where I was at the time, broken wing and everything. Faded Ivory had started to say her last words when I wanted to wake up. No, I don't want to see this... but the malevolent yellow eyes were fixed on that blob of white, mint green, and crimson red. I couldn't lower the evil eyelids, nor could I control the claw that now completely closed around Ivory, bones getting crunched to paste.

How selfish I look, running away without glimpsing back...

I relieved myself of that horrible flashback. I must've been out for several hours, because now shots of sunlight broke through the thick canopy like god rays through the clouds. Unfortunately for me now, I'm thinking about the whole incident again, and the newly acquired memory. The first thing I put together is that more lives may be in jeopardy unless I find some hint or a trace of the monster back home. So, I got to get there now. I take off running. But I quickly stop. Because I remembered I have something I didn't have last time...

"Wings!"

I fly through the blanket of branches and leaves until I'm above it all. Oh, how to fly again! However, I let the excitement pass and shoot myself in the direction of my village. It won't be long now...

But I'm stopped by a familiar voice. I thought I was hallucinating, but as I perk my ears up, I instantly recognize who it belongs to. And I hate her for it.

"I thought Twilight told you not to look for me, Rainbow Dash?"

"Hey, whoa! Just what do you think you're doing this deep into the Everfree Forest? This place is dangerous!" Rainbow obviously knows these woods better than I do. Maybe she can help me locate my home ruins?

But the fact that Rainbow is here implies that Twilight broke her promise, which made me kind of angry. As I prepared a response, I could feel the fire reigniting inside me, "I know. That's why I'm going solo. You hear me? Solo! I don't want your help!"

"Hey, I never leave my friends hangin'! I'm the embodiment of loyalty, dude!"

That just popped back into my head. I almost forgot how they were all given some element of friendship or something. They told me while I was recovering in the hospital, but even that is material in an argument such as this one. "Okay, be loyal and listen to me. Go away." I clear my throat and point back toward Ponyville.

"Look bro, you NEED my help. I'm not leaving."

Ugh... I hate it when ponies act oblivious to your words. I turn 180 degrees and fly as fast as I could toward my home. I know there's no point, though; I can't shake Rainbow Dash. She catches up to me with apparent ease.

"Okay, look," I shout over the wind going in my mouth. "You wanna help me!? Keep an eye out for a clearing in the canopy! One of them contains my home ruins! That's where I'm headed!"

"Roger that!" Rainbow lifted her hoof as if she were in a militia. Then she quickly points it past my direction. "Could that be it!?"

I try to focus in on the clearing she's targeted. "Dunno! Let's check!"

And certainly enough, it is.

The first thing I do when I land is find where my house was. Those skeletons are still where they were, proving that this was reality, which only made it worse on my emotions. Dash was still in the air looking around for something or whatnot. Good. Maybe she won't notice the stream of tears that will soon be on my face.

I turn to the location I fleed in at the time of the incident. I still see where I split through that bush to make my getaway. I then make another turn back toward where the shadow was standing. As I kind of expected, Faded Ivory wasn't there.

Amongst all this, the elder's house is the only one that stands strong. Somewhat odd, considering it's practically in the center of the village, and that the monster was standing almost directly over it. I walk in the door to find even more nothing.

"Poor elder, sir... ... You never stood a chance..." I found myself thinking out loud. This must've been the worst on him, since not only is he a sage of sorts, he's also our leader. Having the ponies and homes destroyed would've been enough for him to commit suicide, had he lived through it.

"... ... Well, it's nice to know you still call me 'sir,' Blaze."

Chapter 8.) There's No Better Pair Of Hooves I Trust

All my muscles morphed into stone. My pupils shrank to the size of pinheads. That voice... I know exactly who it is, exactly what to see when I can turn again. However, my legs aren't cooperating; if I tried to move, I'd fall over. I'm frozen.

So I had no choice but to speak without eye contact. "...Elder, sir?"

"Good to see you again, Blaze. Or at least, your back." He chuckled with a wheeze that did not seem familiar. Confirming who I'm talking to reactivates my muscles, and I can finally see my elder after weeks.

But the light brown coat and the aged white mane were stained with several unplesantries, such as wood chips, grass, blood, and wood chips and grass stuck IN blood. I dropped my jaw faster than the speed of light, it seemed. The elder only chuckled again and propped it back into its proper condition.

"Relax, Blaze... I'm not hurt."

"But, sir! We have to clean you up, stat! You could get some wild infection!"

"I'm well aware of the risks, Blaze," my elder spoke with his soothing voice, old yet strong. "Frankly, I couldn't care less about my life... up until five seconds ago, heheh."

"Uhh... ... yes, sir. But you still need to get that examined."

"Oh, I know. Thank you for your worry. But the streams have run dry of water and wet with blood recently... It is most unsanitary."

"Sir, let me and my new friends guide you to my new home in Ponyville." I looked up to note Rainbow Dash observing us closely. As our eyes meet, she nods and lands to introduce herself.

"What's up, dude? Name's Rainbow Dash."

I couldn't help but duck my head at how she said that. How embarrassing! But I guess the elder expected this, because he replied, "The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Rainbow. I'm sure you get this a lot, but your mane is simply amazing."

She turned to the side and said, "You'd be surprised." I think I heard her mumble something under her breath, but I couldn't make it out.

"So, these are your 'friends,' Blaze? You implied there would be more than one."

"Yes, sir, but I didn't specify they would be here. They're most likely back in town."

Rainbow Dash cuts in. "Hey, Blaze! We got company!"

I throw my sights down where her hoof was pointing. My first reflex was to get a hoof in front of the elder for protection, followed by my bearing of my teeth and an intimidating stance. The treetops shook almost violently. I snorted and stomped my free hoof, ready for battle.

Rainbow Dash flew up in the air to get better bearings. Since the elder is only a unicorn, I vowed to stay alongside him on the ground. As she went up, however, I could've sworn she giggled a number...

And now I see why. The figures that shook the trees now materialized from the blanket of shadows of the Everfree. As they shook, I could vaguely hear laughter and indistinct conversation. These figures contained colors of pink, cream, white, orange, and lavender. The incident leaves me in the stupidest pose ever, and possibly a really goofy face. Then I put two and two together, drop my stance, and start laughing. What a mean joke, but I guess I deserved it.

Amongst the laughing, I managed to catch some breath and said, "But, how did you find me?"

Rarity stepped forward. "Why, it was Rainbow Dash, dear,"

AppleJack followed. "We didn't follow ya. Rainbow did, and we followed her."

"But then there's the canopy. How'd you see through that?"

Now it was Fluttershy's turn to speak. "That was my part. I hovered just above the trees enough so I could keep my eyes on you, then I told the others which way you headed."

"She was skeptical," Rainbow had so silently landed and was standing next to me, "but she got it done." I looked back at the yellow pony to find her jumping around, apparently trying to get away from her shadow. I couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"Well, thanks, guys. Now the trip back will seem so much safer."

"Actually, it'll be a lot easier," Twilight announced herself, "because I can just teleport you back."

"Oh yeah, almost forgot about that." I laughed again. "Well, it's great to see you all again. I'm honestly speaking when I say, I never thought I'd see any of you again." I expected Twilight to lose it when I said that, but she was able to keep her ground this time. She did turn her head, on the other hoof...

"Ahh..." The Elder spoke up. "...so THESE must be the friends I've heard so little about! Well, what are you waiting for, Blaze? How about a proper introduction?"

"Of course, sir," I nod to him, "Elder, I would like you to meet..." At this, the ponies lined up single file so the elder could see them all.

"Rainbow Dash, I know you already introduced yourself, so let's start with you. Elder, one of the most, if not, THE most daring stuntspony in Equestria. Not to mention the fastest!" Rainbow saluted.

"Next in line we have AppleJack, a proud owner of Sweet Apple Acres. I consider her the powerhouse of this group, and quite an accomplished apple baker, if I do say so myself." AppleJack tipped her hat.

"And then there's Rarity. She's the stylist in Carousel Boutique. Also very generous." Rarity fluffed her mane and smiled.

"Second to last is -- Wait, second?" I blinked. Next was Pinkie Pie, but there was only Twilight Sparkle after her. I groaned and said, "Where'd you go now, Fluttershy?"

In response to her name, a bush stirred near where the ponies made their entry. Her head poked out, then after a second gave a shy smile and came over. I continued, "Well, this is Fluttershy. Extremely well with animals, extremely kind, and one of the nicest ponies I know. Well, except maybe Ivory..." She blushed and turned her head.

"Now, back to second to last! This is --"

"I'm Pinkie Pie!" The pink mare bounced up, causing me to step back. "~~I'm so excited to meet you, Mr. Elder Sir! Are you excited?, cuz I'm excited, I've never been so excited in my life~~ -- Well, ~~except for that time that Blaze came into town and I was all like, 'Hello, Mr. Pony-I've-Never-Met-Before!' and he was all like, 'Help, I'm dying,' and being the Pinkie Pie I am, I rushed into a party to get him some help from these friends of mine, but he had already passed out and~~ --" Rarity pushed Pinkie's jaw back into a steady position, causing her to bite her tongue. The elder gave a hearty laugh, probably because he thought it was funny. I didn't. I thought it was embarressing.

"Thank you, Rarity..." I said quietly, "And for last we have a student of Princess Celestia herself, a unicorn whose unique ability IS magic, and no doubt the brains of our team. This..." I pointed my hoof in Twilight's direction, who was now also blushing with all my compliments, "...is Twilight Sparkle."

"Well, well, well..." The elder looked amused, "It's very nice to meet you all. I hope to learn all about all of you." He then turned to me and said, "Okay, now that the introduction's been cleared, Twilight Sparkle said something about a... teleportation spell?"

"Absolutely, sir!" Twilight's eyes lit up at the sound of her usefulness. "I can take us all back to Ponyville right now, if you want."

The elder nodded. "I would very much appreciate that, Ms. Sparkle."

Twilight giggled and flicked her hoof in response. "Oh, Twilight will do just fine, sir." Then she looked at me for approval. I only lifted my eyebrow., which I guess she took as an 'okay.' "Okay, well, if everypony would stand around me, please?"

We formed up in a circle around Twilight Sparkle. As I watched her horn begin to radiate magic, I closed my eyes and relaxed my muscles to prepare for the jump through the space-time continuum.

Chapter 9.) Back From The Dead

The travel through a wormhole is a bit stomach-turning unless you're used to it. The stardust, I guess you could call it, buzzes by your ears and your mane as you "drop" toward your destination. Pretty much all you can see around you is a big void of space. It's almost as if you're actually IN space. I mean, I've never been up in space to tell, but this is what I've always thought of it to look like.

My eyes now focus on a wall filled to the brim with different colored blocks of varying widths. A bookshelf. We're in the library. Everypony in the room is dizzy, supposedly due to the teleportation distance and the load that was transferred. Even Twilight, who you would think would be used to this kind of stuff, is collapsed on the ground. Especially Twilight. She seems to have overworked herself a bit.

To my surprise, the elder is the first to reclaim a proper hoofhold on the floor. He then stumbles back a step and says, "Well, that was a learning experience..."

Hearing his voice again gives my muscles strength, as I stand almost immediately. "Yeah, Twilight teleports me everywhere, but that's the first time I've traveled over a mile via."

Now in response to my voice, Twilight begins to assume a standing position. She's still dazed, judging by the way her eyes are having difficulty focusing. She shook her head a good once and replied, "...Sorry about that. I don't have much practice teleporting much further than half a mile." Her voice sounds like she just woke up from a miserable night's sleep. "But then again, when would I need to?"

"You have a point, Ms. Sparkle," my elder continued, "but what's done is done, and we thank you dearly. If need be, ma'am, you can stay here and take it easy. I'm sure you're not the only one who knows where the infirmary is."

By now, the rest of the ponies are back on all fours. Pinkie Pie decided it was her turn. "Oh, of course Twilight's not the only one! I know where it is, everypony here should know where it is, Blaze should know where it is, the doctors should know where it is, the nurses should know where it is..." Again, Rarity's hoof found Pinkie's chin and kept it shut.

The elder only laughed and said, "Well, thank you, Pinkie. If Blaze knows it, then I don't really need anypony else to come along. And Blaze and I have some catching up to do anyway." He raised his hoof around my shoulder. That was a slightly harsh sentence to escape the elder's lips, but I'm sure it hadn't caused any damage to anypony.

AppleJack was next to speak. "All raighty, then. If y'all don't really need mah hooves for anythin' raight now, then Ah got some work to catch up on over at Sweet Apple Acres."

After that, everypony but the elder, Twilight, and myself said a couple words and left the tree building. The three of us stood there, pondering our next actions. Then the elder spoke up, "Okay, I guess we better get going." He also began to leave the building. I followed closely, but a hushed call from Twilight Sparkle made my head turn toward her. She had a look of disgust on her face, most likely from the elder's attitude.

I stepped back into the library to listen to what she wanted only me to hear. "Is he always like that?"

"Hey, give him a chance, Twi," I reply. "He had his home and nearly all his subjects murdered recently. We both know that kind of stuff is hardest on the older ponies. Give him a couple days, let him warm up to life here, okay?"

"Okay," the smile reformed on Twilight's face, the smile I remembered throughout my childhood. "When he's in bed resting, could you come back here? I would like to show you a few things."

"Sounds like a date," I say teasingly, which has the desired effect. "Yeah, sure, I'll get back to you when he's good to go. See ya then." I smile and turn to go back out the door. I catch her as she sighs and drops her head in confusion.

The elder stopped and had waited for me just beside the door out of sight. "Are you finished with your good-byes?"

"Elder, what's wrong with you? You've never risen your voice over a simple matter like this before."

"I'm just a little jittery, Blaze. First, because I need to get cleaned up; second, I need to talk to you." We walked as the conversation continued.

"Okay. What's up?"

"I need to know if you know if there are any survivors other than us."

"I can't say I do, sir."

The elder drooped his ears. "That's very unfortunate. I was hoping since you and Faded Ivory left that night -- Speaking of which --"

"No, sir." I cut him off, because I knew exactly where he was headed and I want to spare myself of those memories as much as possible.

"Oh... I see... ... " his voice dropped to almost a whisper. "...You have my sincerest condolences, Blaze. I understand she was a very dear friend."

"...Yeah," I said quickly.

"Well, uhh, on to my next concern. What was responsible for the attack, do you know?"

"All I could see was a big shadowy looking figure, with claws sharpened to razor quality, eyes of the devil, and stood well over fifty feet tall."

At this, the elder shuddered. "FIFTY FEET? Merciful Celestia, that's like twelve of me stacked on top of each other!"

"You didn't see it?"

The elder quickly said, "No," but it took him some time to explain his side of the story. "I went out looking for you two, when I suddenly got this really horrible cough. I couldn't keep my hooves on solid ground, so I just laid there coughing. After a while, I blacked out. I'm not sure why; it could've been the cough, the tension, or maybe -- I don't know." He turned his head to avoid eye contact for a minute.

I poked his belly with my nose. "Hey, don't dwell on it. Now that we're here, you can start breaking in to a happy life, starting with this building here." I got his eyes to follow mine to a sign with the red cross on it. "We're here."

"Goodness! I didn't think it would take so little time! Well, thank you, Blaze. We can continue this tomorrow."

"Sure. I'll get you a room, throw some bits down, and then you'll get your respective treatment. I'll check on you at first light tomorrow." I said. He smiled, and we went through the glass doors. After a little paperwork, the nurses nodded and escorted the elder to his assigned room. He managed to get the same room and doctors I did, and he questioned me on their ability.

"These ponies will take care of me?"

I reassured him with, "Sir, there's no better pair of hooves I trust."

The glass doors closed between us. The elder turned to go with the nurses as the doors completely closed the air between us. He's in good hooves.

With him now in proper care, I lightly gallop back down to Golden Oaks Library. Twilight wouldn't want to disturb me so late in the day unless it had significant meaning. My pace picks up on its own, and I arrive sooner than I wanted.

I knock. When I do, there's an indistinct talking followed by a very clear "I'm coming!". She wasn't even ready for me!

A couple minutes later, the door opens to reveal a heavy-eyed Twilight Sparkle. "Oh... Hey Blaze. Come on in."

But I was hesitant. "What're you doing, sleeping?"

She nods. "The elder was right. That mass transportation took more out of me than I thought," she said slowly, with distinct fatigue in her voice. "Guess I konked out for a bit."

"It's no big deal," I say as I walk in and observe my surroundings. "I swear, this place seems to grow a little every time I see it."

"Well, it IS a tree, Blaze."

Twilight had a sense of humor after all. I blew a raspberry and she cracked up. I joined in the laughter after a second or two. "Okay, now what did you want to show me?"

"Oh, right," Twilight snapped back to her serious self. "I mostly called you here so I could give you this, but since it's late, why don't I get a bed ready?"

She levitated a dark brown book in front of me until I grabbed it with my own magic. Then she went to get something on the top floor and returned with a bag. I'm paying more attention to what she's doing than her book right now.

The bag had a lock on it which, when she inserted her horn, unlocked and unfolded into a mattress and several sheets varying in thickness. Then she stepped back and waved me over.

"You made that spell?"

"Yep!" She smiled and held her head up high. "For quick, organized preparations for camps or sleepovers. Make yourself at home!"

"Well, that's... very nice of you," I said as I approached the bed. It's a queen-sized mattress, so it'll hold at least two ponies comfortably.

Twilight gave a slight blush as she turned to do something else. "Oh, you're perfectly welcome, Blaze." She then made to the second floor and climbed back into her respective bed. She was a mess. Knowing her, however, she should be better after a good night's sleep.

I roll onto the bed, fix up one of the lighter sheets around me, and tuck it under with my magic. A mattress was much more comfortable than those dead leaves that crumble and itch every time you move. I'm going to fall asleep like a baby, but I remember about the book she picked out. I find it on the floor, and use magic to draw it to me. I open to the first page, and the first thing I saw was a picture of a sea green filly waving and a caption above that read, "Hello!"

She gave me Faded Ivory's diary.

Chapter 10.) What In The Blazes?

The first thing that comes in my mind is 'How the hell did Twilight get Ivory's diary?' I mean, obviously she got it while she was at the village, but I nearly had my eye on her the entire time! And she never left the rest of the herd, nor did she ever use her magic. I wonder...

Then I thought, 'Twilight doesn't necessarily have to be the pony that fetched it...' But the other five were in my line of sight the whole time!

Except Rainbow Dash.

Those sneaky little thieves... I thought that maybe Twilight was expecting me to now say something like 'How did you get this?' or 'Why didn't you get this to me earlier?', but instead I chuckle and say, "Nice catch, Twi."

I heard her turn in her bed at my comment. "Heheh..." She stayed up, anticipating when I would say something, no doubt, because I remember Twilight as a heavy sleeper. She was probably going to make some small talk until she went to sleep now, but I didn't care. Talk away.

Because I wasn't angry. In fact, I was brimming with happiness.

"I've told Princess Celestia all we know about you, Blaze. She sends her sympathies, but she's also a little eager to meet you. Maybe when your elder gets better, we can all go up to Canterlot and introduce you."

"Sounds like a date," I say again, however with less results, just as I expected.

"Ugh... Please stop using that horrible pun."

"Why?"

"Because," she was now sitting up in her bed, "it makes me uncomfortable."

"Sue me." I laugh a quiet laugh as to not wake the baby dragon, but I learned he's a heavier sleeper even than Twilight.

She only groaned louder. "Why would I -- Oh, never mind. But seriously, if she wants to see you, then you have to come."

"I know. Best not upset royalty."

"Which reminds me..." Twilight is now completely out of her bed, making me a little uncomfortable, "I've figured out what they call a pony with wings and a horn. You're an alicorn! You may have some connection to the Princess!"

"Hmph!" I shrug. "I doubt it. Can't say I remember anything of the sort, but that doesn't mean it's not possible."

"Just a friendly warning." Twilight had now jumped down from the top floor to mine, and walked slowly over to my bed as she talked, "So, Blaze... I scrolled through a little bit of that diary... I see what Faded Ivory was like now."

That's not true. "No, Twilight. You can't analyze who Ivory was just by looking at her. No, underneath that sea green coat contained the softest heart I've ever known. She was kind, protective, loyal, generous, and most of all passionate. That outer beauty is just a dust cover of the embodiment of happiness she was."

The purple pony sat at the foot of the bed now, causing me to escape the sheets as well. "Oh... Well, still..."

" 'Well, still,' nothing." I returned hastily, "Pictures don't show your soul, Twilight Sparkle."

She stepped back one hoof, creating a false negative tension in the air. I was now sitting up as well with a slight smile that I thought would even the mood.

Twilight smiled back. "Yeah, sorry. I can't bite my tongue when it comes to this stuff, I swear."

"It's all right. I'm already used to it."

With little else coming to mind at the moment, I decide to lay back down and get some sleep. She picks up my message and goes back to her bed as well. When she was comfortable, she let out a sigh and said, "Good night, Blaze."

I chuckled and replied, "Sweet dreams, Twilight Sparkle."

I woke up that morning due to Rainbow Dash's disconcern for being light on the door. "Twilight!! You gotta help me find Blaze! It's about his --" She cut off as I jumped to cover myself with the sheets. She stood there, staring into my eyes for about a minute before she backed away and said, "Uhh... Never mind. I guess I'll get back to you when you guys are more... decent."

I tilt my head in confusion. 'Decent?' I don't normally wear clothes... Wait, 'we?' I turn my head to Twilight's bed, which was vacant. I then facehoofed, because I then knew what Rainbow Dash meant.

She was sleeping with me.

I get out of the sheets quietly. We walk outside to converse without disturbing Sleeping Beauty.

"What's going on?"

"It's the elder, Blaze! He's gone!"

The words take immediate effect. I instantly break into a full-out gallop. I can't lose the elder, not after all that's happened.

I expected what Rainbow Dash said to mean that the elder is simply missing. He just wasn't in his room at the appropriate time. But as we come within eye sight of the hospital, I learned that missing was an understatement. Captured could be a better word for it. I could only gasp at what I saw...

The hospital no longer stands tall.

"Man, talk about breaking and entering..." are the only words I could form. It's that monster. It got to Ponyville, and it was after the elder. I shudder as I imagine getting ponynapped by a 50-foot shadow.

"I dunno how long the building's been like this! I came to check on the dude when I woke up, and it was like that!" Rainbow explained a little of the crisis in her perspective.

"Damn it! Why didn't anypony do anything!? Why didn't I do anything!?" I blame myself for not hearing the distinct crash it would've made, which only made me angrier at that monster.

"What's going o -- Whoa!" Twilight had woken up and followed us.

"That monster!! I swear, that freak is gonna pay for this!!" I felt my eyes flare with energy.

"Oh my gosh!..." Twilight was speechless at the sight of the continued destruction. No, not just destruction, the whole genocide kept at it, as further examination revealed pancake patties and mutilated limbs of what used to be doctors, nurses, patients, etc. It took her a minute to choke out, "Here, Blaze! It's from Celestia!" and picks up a scroll from the assistant who rode on her back. I grab it with my flame aura, unfold it, and see what they want me to read...

'Twilight Sparkle,

I need you and the other element bearers to meet me outside the Canterlot walls as soon as possible. There's been an attack! The city throne no longer exists, and most of the Royal Guard are K.I.A.. The force at work is still unknown: It looked somewhat like an Ursa, but it was an unnatural hue of darkness, and its eyes
were of pure evil.

Bring Blaze and his elder along with you. Their experience of their village may help to identify this threat. If worse comes to worst, the Elements of Harmony should seal away the evil encased in that monster.

I expect to hear from you immediately!

Princess Celestia'

"Let's go!" I say, wanting to end this before it gets too far out of hoof.

"Rainbow?" Twilight shouted up to her, "Get the others ready to go! We need to go to Canterlot, stat!"

"Aye aye!" Rainbow gave a quick salute and shot herself out towards the closest dwelling, in this case Sugar Cube Corners.

I turned and gazed upon the scene again. "Damn it... ...Well, I'm going now. I can't let any harm befall the elder, if he's still alive!" I started to flap my wings.

"No, wait! That'll only do us more harm than good right now! Let's go together!"

"Twilight, this is my ELDER we're talking about! You don't seriously expect me to just sit here while you all get ready!?"

"That's EXACTLY what I expect!"

I threw my head up and stomped my forelegs, "Damn it, Twilight!!"

"Look, I'm sorry about your elder, okay? He's the only thing you have left, I understand, but that doesn't earn you a head start over us! We NEED to go together, for the safety of numbers!"

Her explanation was helping my mind, but it wasn't putting out the fire. "...Urrgh, all right, but make it snappy." Then I said something I thought my anger would manipulate and replace with something else.

"For Celestia's sake."

Chapter 11.) The Calm Before The Storm

It's all I could do to keep my hooves and wings from traveling for Canterlot. The elder's life is in danger, Celestia herself is also in peril, and these ponies are taking what seems like FOREVER to prepare. I very impatiently pace up and down the sides of the railroad tracks, feeling a flame of anxiety raging away at my insides.

We regroup at the train station. About a half-hour has passed since each pony departed to brace themselves for what could be a long trip, but may also be a gory fight. I'm so relieved - in a sense - by their presence now that I throw my hooves in the air.

"Finally!! What took you all so long!?"

The element bearers all attempted to speak their reasons at once, only making me more frustrated. Everypony seemed determined to get their point through over the others. During this struggle to overtalk one another, I continued to grow hotter. So much so that the fire in me moved from my stomach to another location...

My horn.

I threw my head up towards the sky so nopony would be scathed by my eruption. Nopony except me; I've never experienced this before, and some of the flames trickled back down to dance across my coat. The recoil dug my hooves into the ground, steadfast. I felt my legs turn to stone, my eyes shrink to the size of needle heads, and my teeth were grit so tightly they could fracture any second.

The other ponies shrieked and drew cover from my explosion. It was draining me fast. After a few seconds, the fire completely died out. I stood there, still unable to move except the serious case of twitching that I've now developed, watching the inferno race into the atmosphere and die. Watching it all vanish somehow grants me mobility again, and my belly meets the ground. Following closely was a loss of breath, a cascade of sweat, and calls of worry from six - well, maybe five, knowing Fluttershy - colorful friends of mine.

"What was that all about?" AppleJack wanted to start a conversation.

But all I could do at the moment was try and catch some air through some heavy inhales and groan. I finally managed to say, "Ow..."

"'Ow?'" Rarity found it necessary to mock me.

"Hey, guys," I said in between breaths, "Don't make me... get too hot, okay?"

Twilight put her hoof in. "Wait, you mean you did that involuntarily?"

Now having regained a little energy, I take a standing position. "It just happened. I felt it moving, and that's when I threw my head back. I guess it's because I got too angry."

The others had confused looks posted on their faces. Obviously I didn't play my cards very well, but I didn't even know all my cards so I guess I should've expected this. All traces of confusion left their faces simultaneously, however, as a whoo-whoo wakes everypony up. I shift to my left to find the train approaching the station.

"You... aren't going to do that again... on the train, are you?" Fluttershy poked my back very gently with a hoof.

I shook my head and say, "I promise."

Just as she steps onto the train, the doors begin to close. An overly timid pegasus pony almost instantly does a 180 and jumps back from the closing door and onto my back. Unaware of the situation at the moment, my breath escapes, but only for a second because she's not that heavy. My eyes reel around to the location of the incident, where I see three pink butterflies staring me down. Fluttershy's cutie mark. I glimpse over them to find their bearer looking back with innocent eyes as well. When our eyes meet, she instantly starts to blush and turns her head away.

"Hi, Fluttershy!" I say in an upbeat tone in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Saying that makes her yeep, followed by a slip and she falls off to her left. She picked herself up rather quickly, though, and gave a shy smile back, while making an odd noise that sounded kind of... cuddly. Then she walked off to join the other ponies.

Judging by what the others have said about Canterlot prior to this trip, it's probably going to take another half-hour before we arrive. The element bearers took this time to show each other what they decided to bring along. From the other side of the cart, I can see books, scarfs, food bundles, and unsurprisingly a party cannon. Twilight then takes a second to observe where I am, confirms, then picks up what looks to be a tiara and about five different necklaces with her magic. This catches my attention, as I attempt to see past Rarity, who so perfectly placed herself sideways to block ninety percent of my vision. But much to my relief, Twilight stepped away from the group and started to approach me with the jewelry.

"These," she begins to say while my eyes fix on the accessories, "are the Elements of Harmony, Blaze."

"Wait wait wait, this jewelry is responsible for locking away two of the darkest foes since you all became their bearers?"

"They look flimsy enough, don't they?" Twilight replaced her small smile with a laugh, but quickly re-replaces her smile. "But yes, these are the strongest weapons known to Equestria, as far as Celestia knows."

"Whoa! Okay, point those things somewhere else, then!" I pretend to be scared. My victim bought the bait, as a giggle escaped her mouth.

"No, Blaze, they have to have their respective embodiments wearing them or otherwise they're useless."

"Why?"

"Beats me. They just do..."

Not wanting to dwell on a topic that went nowhere, I change to a slightly different topic. "Hmm... so, how do they work?"

Twilight shrugged. "Well, I don't know exactly how they work, but when the six elements are brought together, they start to emit pulses of pure magic that cleanses or seals away evil."

"Do they need to charge before using this magic? Because if so, then they may be useless if the shadow is still in Canterlot. I doubt he'll let you meditate so you can amplify them."

"They don't take NEARLY as long as you may give them credit for. They only need about ten seconds with us in a particular formation to become 'charged.'"

"Oh, okay..." I yawn. Still drained from that blast, I decide to close our conversation for now. "Well, I'm gonna try and take a cat nap. If I fall asleep, wake me up when we reach Canterlot." I wave as I turn to go to the cart in the back.

"Okay. See you, Blaze." She smiled and waved back.

Chapter 12.) Canterlot

The throne room was completely trashed. The 'Ursa' stood amongst where the princess's chair once did. Staring at me. Neither of us ever blinking. I dared not miss a split second of my demise. For they didn't, and yet their eyes are still open, also gazing unto mine...

A cyan-colored one with a mane of six hues... Stabbed through the left, gashes down her face, stained with blood. Her form was no longer of a pegasus, either, for this monster spared no detail in its brutal work.

A pure white one... was in two different corners of the room. It's once beautiful hair had seen better days, and that's an understatement.

An orange pony's head lay directly in front of me. It no longer owned a body. Nor did it contain its signature hat, which had been burned to a crisp.

A creamy colored one, now white, for she had been petrified. Too much exposure to those piercing eyes begins to enrage ponies, apparently.

A pink body was still stuck on the claws of the creature. No doubt, when it throws its arms up, she'll slide off and take flight, which her soul had a head start on.

And a purple one... Potent as her magic may be, no barrier of any strength could repel the brutality of an 'Ursa.' A tear of hers still streaked across my hoof, she lost consciousness forever while her head lay rested against my hooves. Her first and last kiss... was with me.

They sacrified themselves for me... Again...

"Blaze!"

My body was being pushed to and fro. It lets a moan slide by while my eyelids adjust at a sluggish rate. After about ten seconds of being yelled at and shoved around, I start making sense of my environment. I was in a cabin, and the voices belonged to a couple friends; particularly Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle.

Phew. Thank Celestia that wasn't reality. Now let's just hope it won't be.

Twilight spoke again, "Blaze? Wake up! We've arrived at Canterlot!"

Hearing these words act as a stimulator, as my body lunges upward to a sitting position almost involuntarily. "What!?"

"C'mon! Celestia wants to see you NOW!" Rainbow was her usual impatient self.

Hopping out of the sheets, I land at the foot of the bed a couple feet away from the sky blue pony. Doing so makes her wings flutter back, with a careful expression on her face. "Well, good morning, everypony. Let's go see the princess."

Confirming my message, the two ponies smile and turn to the door leaving the cabin and into the brilliant sun. I followed closely, anxious to both meet the goddess and find my elder. Sunlight meets my eyes mercilessly, and I shift my head for my pupils to adjust further. After I can see without excessive difficulty, I look up to see a white stallion easily two times my size. Brilliant white coat, enchanted mane and tail, horseshoes the shape of our star, wings and horn three times the dimensions of mine... and unfortunately, battle-worn with minor cuts and bruises. I reflexively take a bow, because even though I've never met this pony, I'm sure I know who it is.

"So, you must be..."

The stallion replied with a rather tranquilizing voice, "Indeed, I am. And you must be Blaze! Twilight Sparkle has sent many letters concerning you."

I turn to face the violet pony, who had her head hung slightly low and extra color flowing through her cheeks. I raise one eyebrow at her, questioning her reasons. She catches sight of this, then smiles and stands upright again. Assured, I return to the princess. "...I see."

"I understand we both have been eager to make acquaintances with each other, but maybe we can do that in a less threatening scenario. Thank you for coming, Blaze. I'm sure Twilight has briefed you on the situation?"

"Oh, yeah." I nod. "And now that we're here, I will do everything in my power to aid in the capture of the... the... well, you called it an 'Ursa.'"

Celestia smiled. "Indeed, I did. We can converse after the threat has passed. Again, I apologize for having to finally meet in the state of crisis..."

"Don't sweat it." I winked. I spoke to the princess as if she were any other pony, realizing she may be offended, but she seemed cool with it.

The princess then signaled to our group of seven to follow her. I was directly behind her, but give it a few seconds and Twilight will come barging up the single file line we fell into to walk alongside her teacher. However, it seemed that seeing all the death and destruction zipped everypony's mouths shut. Whole buildings were ripped from their foundation, the majority of the dead ponies had their insides turned out, their head and body separated, their limbs mutilated. Even I shuddered at this gruesome violence.

We were passing the front gates of Canterlot now. Based on the stories my friends have told me about it, it's... ...pretty big. We still have a long walk ahead of us. A walk full of inviting carcasses and rubble. I understand my village was also hit and completely destroyed, but I know just by viewing that Canterlot has suffered much more. For two reasons: the fact that it was a city, and that it wasn't completely destroyed. I feel sorry for the souls who will obviously want to bring it back to life.

Every step of our hooves is welcomed by more and more chaos. ...Wait, that's not quite the right word for it. Chaos makes me think of Discord. No, this is rampage. The deeper we head into the city, the angrier I gradually get. This onslaught has gone on for far too long. And who knows how much destruction it caused before us? This monster cannot be allowed to exist for this. It's utterly unacceptable. That thing shouldn't just get locked away in some dark realm...

"It should go to Hell," I mutter under my breath.

After a long walk - I wasn't keeping track of time, maybe like an hour - we arrive at the castle's front wall. Celestia didn't exaggerate when she wrote the throne room didn't exist. She may as well just said that the castle itself was devastated. The outside pillars have all collapsed, bringing the monument's stone overhang with it. It was a maze to get to the door, especially for the ponies who couldn't fly or refused to fly. Thinking on it now, I actually would've been able to move the majority of it with my magic.

We break the door down, expecting more rubbish strewn all around. Yeah, rubbish is an understatement. No ceiling, no pretty glass I remember hearing about, and you can bearly see the floor under all the rubble. Inside, we find something we all jumped back from. I was so busy observing the destruction, that I forgot we were headed to what was responsible. The shadow was sleeping over the rotunda where the throne chair once was. It's appearance to everypony makes them all shriek, except me; I only tensed my eyebrows and grit my teeth. It's breathing was like an angry growl mixed with a raspy throat, and the odor - blech, the smell of the fire must've concealed it really well.

"Easy, keep it down." I whispered. "Don't wanna wake him up. C'mon, let's go slowly..."

Everypony - even the princess - nodded and followed suit behind me. I guess we all assigned myself the new lead. But, I realized quickly, however, is that on hoof, our approach would be too loud. I lifted my being into a hover. I signal this to the others. Those with wings follow my lead (slowly with required coaxing or otherwise), and the others have sceptical faces of disapproval. I tap my horn in an attempt to say, 'use magic.'

Twilight caught on to this quickly, and a magenta-colored aura began to envelop the latter. One by one, the four ponies started to levitate, followed by faces of shock, disbelief, and one face contained cheery goofiness in its smile. They learned how to move their bodies at their own paces, and follow me.

Slowly but surely, we inch up to the unconscious evil. We were about ten feet away from its head...

When Twilight's spell wore off.

AppleJack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Twilight Sparkle all hit the ground with their chests simultaneously. I squint and toss my head to the side, because it made a good deal of noise. Fortunately, the monster seems unfazed by the thud, and we all let out a sigh of relief. But I quickly take it back, because even though I'm facing away from it...

I heard it's eyes open.

Chapter 13.) Flashbacks

My eyes dialated. I dared not turn around, because what if my dream was true?

I could sense the monster staring at my back. It then made a low-pitched groan that shook the very ground. This caught the rest of the ponies' attention, as I watch them look up simultaneously. A bad case of shivers had developed in my system, and all I wanted to do was scream. So I wanted to make use of it.

"...E-eve-ry p-p-pony..." I shuddered. At the sound of my whispering, the shadow began to stir and make movements with its limbs as if picking itself up. That was the end of the fuse.

"RRUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNN!!!!"

Every mare in the room, except the princess, broke into respective high-pitched screams that could make you go deaf, and full-out gallops toward the busted entrance, Fluttershy with a big head start. Only the princess looked to still be in control of herself. I started to fly after them immediately. During those two seconds, the Ursa began to stand and roar, making the girls shout even more.

Once we were out of and away from the castle a good ways, the shadow finished destroying the structure with a powerful shock wave emitted from its mouth. Celestia shot a glance back just in time to watch the rest of her throne fall. She gasped and turned her head quickly, eyes shut, and continued to run blind for a few seconds before she opened them again.

Then I remember something that completely slipped my mind at the moment.

"The Elder!!"

Everypony looks back at me when I said that. Apparently, they forgot about him, too. I skid to a gradual halt, turn around, and start heading toward the beast.

"No, wait!" Twilight and Celestia said in unison, "It's too dangerous!!"

"Then keep going! I'll catch up with you later!" I shouted back, but I knew they weren't going to buy it. At least not Rainbow Dash.

"Blaze, wait up!" The sky-blue mare yelled back at me. She then shot herself toward me and attempted to cut me off, but I expected that and I'm also pretty agile so I weaved right past her. But we all know Rainbow will be persistent.

Following a series of more dodging the rainbow pony, Celestia herself finally catches up to end my trip. Knowing dishonoring the princess is unacceptable, my legs again slid to a stop, but my mind was three minutes ahead of me.

"Why must you keep going against me!? We're obviously going the same way again!" I turn my head to find the other ponies, some of which were short on breath. I'm also slightly tired.

"I've had enough of your arrogance, Blaze." the princess didn't look very patient. "Your elder is gone now. Accept it, and let's get out of here."

"I'm not quitting until I find his dead body, then!"

"BLAZE!!" Celestia was about to explode. "I can't let you go back there!"

"Why not, princess?"

At my question, her apparent rage turned into a gasp, and she then closed her eyes and hung her head. Confused, I tilt my head, and the others are behind me now, also pondering upon what is happening to Princess Celestia.

"...Because..."

She didn't continue. That only made me more impatient, and even angrier. "Because WHAT!?"

"Because..." It looked like may have been on the verge of tears. She sounded like it; she choked over her words that time. I realize now that I must've insulted the princess! I quickly bow extra-low and clean up my tone.

"No, no, don't say it... I'm sorry."

Celestia only shook her head and said in her still-choky voice, "Blaze, you don't have to bow to me..."

"But, Princess Celestia --"

"No, Blaze. I don't want it!" Celestia's face looked slightly wet, and as she turned her head again it sprinkled a little on my face.

"Not from... ... ...my nephew..."

A couple seconds passed, then everypony gasped in unison. Apparently they understood her words faster than I did. It wasn't until Twilight Sparkle said something that my jaw joined everypony else's at the floor.

"That settles it! Blaze! You're an heir of the Royal Family!"

I couldn't think of anything to say. Me, royalty!? But I've been living in that village since my birth!

"Whoa..." my lips eventually formed. "That's... unreal. It's impossible. I was born and raised in my home village!"

"Those must be false memories, then." Twilight continued. "Celestia never lies."

Having regained her strength, the princess stepped in, "You were given life from my sister, Princess Luna."

"But..." I couldn't conceive how I was put in this scenario. "If that's true, then... How'd I end up in the village?"

"Maybe this will help you..." Celestia started to walk toward me. When she stopped, her horn began to radiate a beautiful color of yellow. She then tapped her horn with mine, and I stumbled back and whited out.

"Come on, Ivory! You can do better than that!"

It was me as a young colt running around a yard. A HUGE yard. Faded Ivory was huffing and puffing, trying to catch me.

"No way, Blaze!" she said in between heavy breaths. "You're too fast!... You being royalty... You're stronger than me!"

"Aww, but I'm booorrred..."

She sat down. "Well I'm sorry. Put a simple earth pony with an alicorn? I'll never catch you!"

"Well..." I said as I pondered what to do. "Let's go back to the castle! We can play hide-and-seek!"

An adorable filly Faded Ivory smiled and sighed, "Okay, Blaze. You win."

I took off toward the castle, laughing. Ivory took her sweet time catching up with me. A whole minute had passed by the time she got to the front door. Her sea-green coat was slightly dirty, and her milk-white mane and tail were a little frazzled.

"What took you so long?"

"Stupid yard! Thing's huge!"

"Well, when you're ready, start counting! I'll go hide!"

"All right, all right." I was brimming with energy. I didn't want to wait for Ivory to be her patient self. She then put her hooves over her eyes and began, "One... Two... Three..."

I bolted down the hallways and the aisles, upstairs and downstairs, all while dodging other ponies with royal business. I was proud. I told myself I wasn't going to bump into anypony, but I turned my head while cutting a corner and ran right into my aunt's forelegs. I slammed the back of my head against the tile floor and saw stars for a while.

"Oh! Excuse me, Blaze!" Aunt Sunnie stepped back. I opened my eyelids and unfolded my wings in response. My eyes couldn't focus on the big white stallion. Auntie saw this, giggled, and lent a hoof for assistance.

"Sorry, Aunt Sunnie. I was playin' hide-and-seek with Ivory. I was gonna hide in the ballroom."

"Well, well, is that so?" She smiled and lowered her eyelids just a bit. "Okay, you two have fun, all right?"

"I will, but Faded Ivory's gettin' all sluggish again!" I stomped my hooves lightly on the innocent floor.

"Hmmhmm... Blaze, please remember that she's not like you. She won't be able to play for as long as you can. But, when she goes home for the night, I'll be in my room so if you get lonely or wanna play some more, just drop by!" She tilted her head and winked.

"Wow! Thank you, Aunt Sunnie!"

" 'Sunnie' will do just fine, Blaze. Have fun!"

"Okay!" I bounced and sped past her into the ballroom. I felt her eyes follow me until I passed a corner in the hallway.

Chapter 14.) Faded Ivory

The ballroom is only right up ahead. Pass this turn here, and it's right there. Now, to get into a hiding spot...

I floated around the room, pondering upon where I should settle down for the moment. There are many satisfactory locations, but I need a good one; one where Ivory would never think to look. At that thought, I looked up and saw the beams going across the ceiling. I started to formulate an idea.

I could probably suspend myself from those beams by placing my hooves in distinct shapes etched through them. If need be, I can always use my wings to stay locked in position. A twinkle developed in my eyes as I began to carry out this plan.

"Heheheh..." I mutter to myself. "Up where she can't go is the last place she'd think to search."

As I make final adjustments to my stealthy position, a few other ponies enter the room. One of them was my mommy, Luna, and another pink filly that looks a little older than me. That was my cousin, Cadence. Nopony seems aware that I'm even in here! Heheh, I'm a ninja...

The group then began to discuss some issues and whatnot that I could care less for. They always talk about what they plan to do with gold bits, relationships, career planning, blah blah blah.

"Blaze?"

I perked my ears up. That voice was really far away, somewhere in the castle. Closing in. It's possible it was Faded Ivory, I mean, it sounded a bit like her. But it was really muffled, due to both the castle's walls and the indistinct talking from the others directly below me.

"Blaze!!"

It WAS Faded Ivory! She was getting closer and closer to the ballroom. I hid a smirk of challenge as I tensed up to make absolutely sure I didn't slip now.

There she is. Here we go!

"Blaze? Where'd you run off to now?"

I did my best from cracking up with laughter. Ivory is completely priceless! The look on her face, her impatient trotting pace through the others looking for me, how her head constantly bobbed from side to side causing her white mane to fly in her face...

"Blaze, are you even in here!?"

I started to break a sweat. This is rich! This is too perfect! She is completely baffled as to my whereabouts.

"Come on, Blaze! The Princess Celestia wants to talk to you!"

I gulped. Did she really!? I mean, I just ran into her! Literally! I remained motionless, praying that Sunnie didn't really want to see me, and that it's just another one of Ivory's ploys to draw me out. As I lay in suspense, a drop of sweat trickled down my face and now dangled from my nose. This isn't good. There are ponies below me whom, if it lands on one of them or if they notice it, could bust me for being here right now. But Ivory is almost immediately below me, so maybe I'll get away with it. But that means I'll lose, and I hate losing...

There it goes.

And sure enough, it finds its landing pad as Faded Ivory's flank. Her reaction was a high-pitched squeal, along with flailing hooves and a 180-degree turn. She had one foreleg up to protect herself, it seemed. That was too much for me. I tried to hold it in, but the ensueing laughter burst its way through my practically interlocked lips, causing me to laugh out loud and lose focus of my grip on the beams, therefore falling directly into the crowd.

By the time I opened my eyes to notice I was falling, it was too late to flap my wings. I landed square in the middle of the crowd, causing everypony to flail a 180. It only made my case of laughter worse. Why, even mommy had a look of shock on her face!

"Blaze!!" Ivory's voice cracked, "That was NOT funny!!"

I rolled over, stood up, and threw my right foreleg around Ivory's back, all the while laughing. I just couldn't stop! It was all too perfect! And to make things even funnier, she slapped me!!

I choke out in between laughing, "Ivory, you shoulda seen the look on your face! You were like, 'Waaahh!!' " I imitated her earlier reaction.

"It wasn't funny, Blaze! You embarressed me!"

"Well, you shouldn't've been standing there!" I fall back onto the floor, utterly unable to cease the hilarity of it all. But I was eventually picked up by mother and taken somewhere, but I was too busy laughing to care right now.

That night, I had woken up due to an abrupt noise. It sounded like it came from the forest. It was a growl of some sort, like some kind of angry, hungry animal. I opened my window to glance outside.

Following another roar was a screech from another pony. The creature was probably chasing the poor soul to who knows where. Being the energetic filly I am, I instantly leaped out the window and started to fly to see if I could help. I had a nagging feeling it was somepony I knew. Somepony that I cared for. Somepony who cared for me back. Somepony like Faded Ivory.

The roars and the yelling were approaching rapidly. Stomping through the forest was now audible. The squealing did sound a bit like Ivory, but the wind whistling in my ear prevented me from hearing it clearly.

"Hang on, Ivory! I'm coming!!"

I've never flown so fast before. I felt as if the wind was cutting me. The trees brushed by my figure with such speed that a crash would be fatal. Faded Ivory can't die! Don't die! I'm coming! Tears wanted to form in my eyes, but the velocity at which I was traveling just tore them away, and I was only getting faster and faster.

Then I heard a snap, and then a boom, and I was racing against sound.

I've never traveled this fast before... I had to duck my head so that my face wouldn't peel off. My hooves were stretched straight out in front of me, making an odd whistling sound as they tore through the air. The creature threatening Ivory was getting much closer... I'm not going to be able to slow down fast enough... Which means...

Make it count, Blaze. Make it count...

Aiming at the faint noises I could make out, I flew like an arrow into my enemy's side. I remember hitting it, then being blinded by red for a minute, then tearing through something else and flying in the forest again. The cry that escaped the monster's mouth was only audible for a second, but it was drowned out, followed by a huge thump. The creature must've fell from the collision immediately following.

But I kept going. I couldn't stop. At the moment, it was difficult to see due to the blood in my face. When I cleaned up enough to see, however, all I saw was this fat tree. It was headed straight for me -- No, I was headed straight for it.

WHAM!!!

Chapter 15.) Royal Duty Calls

I woke up in a log cabin. My head is almost completely wrapped in gauze, except over my eyes and horn. I can barely turn my neck enough to see the whole room. And I've got such a headache... And I don't remember exactly how I got it.

I try to lift my hoof to feel my forehead, but it was clamped down onto the bed-like structure. This made me panic a bit, which only made my headache worse. I attempt to take another glance around the building to see if I had company. Nopony was there. So I gave up and laid back. I now ponder upon how I got in this predicament. How did I hit my head? Why am I here? Where is this? Why am I fixed down on this bed? Why can't I remember? I'm only inducing more pain on my head.

And even more questions dawn on me as an old stallion slowly walks into the house. Something about his movements suggests that he doesn't want to cause any harm to me, but he's probably expecting me to be cautious.

"Where am I?"

The old stallion chuckled, "Son, you are safe, that's where you are. And the sooner you rest some more, the sooner you can return to your duties around here."

"What?" So I lived here? That seems kind of unbelievable, but I can't remember anything before... whatever hit me, so I guess I'll go along. "I live here?"

"Yes sir, you do."

"Who are you?" I say without hostility, but rather curiousity.

"You don't remember me? Aww, that's a bummer. Well, I'm the village's elder."

"Elder?" I reply weakly. "Where is this?"

"Ahh, I see you really don't remember anything, huh? Okay. Well, you're in my village. You were born and raised here by your parents, who are over in the next cabin. They're worried sick about you."

"Can I see them? Can you bring them... here?"

"Yes, that can be done. I'll be right back."

With that, the elder turned and exited the doorway. When he was gone, I lay my head back and take a deep breath. Whew. I forgot all about my home village, my parents, my elder, my friends -- My life, pretty much. Remembering by having an old stallion tell you is more painful than you can think, both mentally and physically.

When he returns, he has not two but three other ponies following suit behind him. One of them was a dark blue unicorn stallion, the other a lavender-colored pegasus. The sea green filly below them caught my eye the most, however, for reasons unknown: probably because she's kind of cute. They all have worried expressions on their faces, which melt away to happiness when their eyes met mine. Apparently I had a vacant expression on mine, for my two parents had again dropped their previous gesture and replaced once more with worry.

I don't recognize any of them! Maybe that little girl, I've met before, but those two grown-ups... Who are they!? I can honestly say that I don't know them.

"Mom? Dad?"

They nodded, struggling to hold back what I could only conceive to be fake tears. "Son... ... ... you look horrible." Is all they had to say.

The filly, on the other hand, has walked up to the bedside and stepped up to talk inches away from my broken face. Gazing into her large pupils had me mesmerized for a moment, until she said something.

"Blaze... are you okay?"

My name is Blaze. I am the son of a blue stallion and a purple mare. This youngling here appears to be either a very dear friend or my sister. I live in a village. I don't remember how I hit my head, how long I've been here, or what I do here. I can only hope that I can unravel my past with the help of these four ponies.

"I hit my head," I say sarcastically.

Princess Celstia brakes the connection between her horn and mine, and I snap back to reality. I began to breathe heavy at the new perspective of my story. This all made sense, every bit of it. Even the old lies I have listened to my whole life I still have difficulty believing to be false. The only problem is, neither side has any solid proof.

"So..." I doubted the princess, and I thought something crucial was missing, "if you knew about all this, then why didn't you take me back?"

"Well, the Guards and I never found you until ten years following."

"But you didn't answer my question. Why didn't you reclaim me?"

"At the moment, we hadn't sensed any hostility from the villagers. They appeared to be taking good care of you, and they were enjoying your company. Granted, Luna did NOT like the fact that you were lied to about your family... She wanted to see you so badly, I thought she was serious when she said she'd kill them all to get to you."

"And did she?"

Celestia stepped back, "Uhh, no, she tired herself out from struggling against the Guards."

At that, my blood began to boil. "Well, if I were your son, you'd wanna see me too, wouldn't you?"

"Listen, Blaze. It was for her own good --"

"You listen, Celestia." I was now walking toward her, head slightly low out of anger. "Explain to me exactly how seeing me would be more harm than help. She hasn't seen me for TEN YEARS! If you found out where your son was suddenly being held, you'd be kind of ecstatic, wouldn't you!?"

The princess was backing away from me. "No, please, Blaze, listen --"

"YOU LISTEN!!" I was furious. They had a chance to clean it all up, and none of this tragedy would've ever happened. And Faded Ivory would still be alive. "You had it all under control! It would've been the end of it! But you DIDN'T, did you? NO!! And thanks to you, Faded Ivory is dead! My best friend, my special somepony, GONE! And you're to blame!!"

Celestia was crying now. "No, please don't say that... Faded Ivory is --"

"DON'T YOU SAY A SINGLE WORD ABOUT IVORY!!!" I had erupted inside. Celestia had pushed my fire to the limit. She had no good reason to keep Mother and I separated. She had no good reason to walk away from me in my moment of need. She is responsible for Ivory's death.

"Just let me speak, please!!" Celestia threw her head forward.

I only stared at her.

She stood up straight. "Blaze, Faded Ivory is still alive."

I grit my teeth in response, taking it as a threat. But after looking into her eyes for a moment reveals to me that she's dead serious.

I lower my head. "Then... how do you explain the graphic murder I witnessed of her?"

"Probably just another lie, then. She's safe at..." She paused.

"Safe at... Where?"

She looked in the direction of her throne. At the monster.

"At Canterlot..."

Chapter 16.) Blaze, The Alicorn With Clashing Memories

My heart shattered. If Celestia's words are true, then Ivory could be in any one of three conditions; alive, dying, or dead. I want to fly, fly to her, save her like I did when I was younger, but I haven't the slightest clue of her whereabouts. And Canterlot is huge... I just discovered my lifelong marefriend was out there, only to learn she's waiting for me to save her life.

Celestia notices the water on my face sooner than I do, as she puts out a hoof for comfort. I deflected it gently with my own, unsure whether these tears are of sadness or happiness.

"If she's out there," AppleJack had crept up behind me, put a hoof on my back, and smiled, "we'll find er. I promise."

I step away to face the other five ponies, "You guys'd do that... for me?"

"Absolutely!" Pinkie Pie bounced. "It's like 'Find the Ivory in the rubble!' "

"Heheh." Twilight Sparkle nodded. "You have my word, Blaze."

"She's as good as found when I'm around!" Rainbow Dash stood up on her hind legs, holding her forehooves slightly gracefully in front of her.

"Umm, I... don't... ... ... know..." Fluttershy backed up a couple steps. "It's so... ... big... Are you sure she's here?"

"Nope!" Rarity spoke. "And that's half why we're helping him, the other half..." AppleJack walked back over to the other four (yes four; Fluttershy was confused, therefore excluded), who all then turned toward me and said in harmony,

"Because Blaze is our friend!"

I tensed my cheeks, trying to keep from welling up with more tears. My heart formed back again, fortified ever stronger with the power of pure friendship. The short week that I have spent with these five ponies has been the best seven days of my lied life. Because it wasn't a lie.

"Thank you..." I bowed slowly, then turned to the princess. She nodded, smiling.

"Ready to go, Blaze?" She flapped her wings once.

My face dried instantly as I said, "Whenever you are, Sunnie."

Now it was Celestia's turn to fight tears. Her mane floated in front of her as she turned and charged a jump into her limbs. After a flick of my wings, I followed suit, closely traced by the loyal Rainbow Dash. The others who couldn't fly (or refused to) took off in different directions.

"Mind the Ursa!" I remember abruptly.

Celestia stopped, all ponies catching sight of this and turn their attention. "Wait, Blaze. Maybe we should take care of that first."

It was all I could do to say no, but I knew she was right. Taking out the Ursa would give us all more safety. But there's that chance that Faded Ivory has a clock, an alarm clock, waiting to go off when she dies. Focus, Blaze, I thought. Do you wanna deal with the shadow and risk less time for Ivory, or search now and risk the lives of eight, maybe nine ponies?

"Sounds like we have a date with a monster." I say with confidence. "Let's go, everypony!"

I expected Twilight to sigh from the pun, but she kept a straight face. We regroup and, almost on three, start galloping toward the nonexistent throne.

This is it. The ruined castle walls are only a hundred meters away, we standing united. The monster unleashed a roar at us so strong, Rarity's elegant mane and tail unfurled for a moment. Our hooves dug into the ground during the deafening shock wave. I open my eyes to see the creature walking a very leisure pace toward our beings, a print forming in the rubble as it stomps.

It then grunts and begins to stand on its hind legs, drawing back its right arm. The sight unfreezes me and I shout, "Get back!!"

Everypony snaps back to it and backed up as fast as they dared. The shadow, thankfully, hits a huge dummy of air. Frustrated, it quickly braces its other claw for a one-two haymaker combo.

Expecting this, we all take effective evasive manuvers; Rainbow, AJ, Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, Celestia, and I dashing out and away, Fluttershy however ditching the scene altogether and retreating for a somewhat-still-standing building. The Ursa demonstrates a very sloppy fighting style. I know if I were more his size, I could kick his flank. But obviously...

The shadow threw his head up and growled a growl that shook all of Equestria. It then jumps back, seemingly preparing to ram us all in one swift shot. Giving a huge tell, we all again successfully dodge it. After I get a good hoofhold, I turn my head to see that the monster kept going.

Then I realized that the beast tricked us. It wanted to divert our attention, so it could get a straight shot for Fluttershy.

"FLUTTERSHY!!" I bolt out my body.

The Ursa was preparing a hammer smash down on the foundation, but I managed to jet in between it and the elegant mare. I then turn a sharp left, kick off the ground, and dive horn first into the creature's chest. To my surprise, the beast fell back, landing on the blocks of buildings below with his back with a gigantic thud. That had to hurt. I jerk myself out of the shadow and onto the ground in front of the building containing Fluttershy.

The beast had recovered quick, however. It had taken him a couple seconds to roll over and be on all fours again. After it roared again, he lunged directly at me. Petrified by the shock wave, I couldn't move. I was frozen stiff. I panicked, while I watched the monster slowly raise his two arms again. I closed my eyes, ready to die...

But nothing happened.

I opened them, seeing the beast's claws a few feet away, frozen in place. Its facial expression was holding a look that suggested it were fighting against himself. It then started to make sounds that were almost understandable.

"MMBUUUUUUHHH -- MMMMBUUUUUUUHHH -- BLLLLLEEEEEEEEE --"

What's going on? What is it trying to say?

"BLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZEEEEE!!!! --"

My jaw dropped. How in the hell does this thing know my name? And why is it hesitating to kill me?

"BLLLAAAAAZZZZEE, HHHHHHEEEEE -- HHHHHEEEEEEELLLLLLLLPP MMMMMMMMMMEEEEEE!!!"

Do I know this creature? Help it? How? Why!? It was responsible for the destruction of my - well, the elder's - village and the deaths of all the ponies in it! It may have been a lie, but it was still my home!

"NNGGEEEEEEEEEEETT MMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE OOOOOOOOUUUUUTTTT!!!"

That was the trigger. That was the variable I needed to understand. Flashbacks began to flood my mind...

"Don't worry about what's out there. You have what you need here."

"I went out looking for you early that morning."

"I'm just a little jittery to get cleaned up."

"I can trust these ponies?"

"So these are your 'friends?' "

"If he knows where it is, then I don't really need anypony else."

"The sooner you rest, the sooner you can get back to your duties around here."

"I don't know whether it was from the cough, or the tension -- I don't know."

"Lately, the streams have run dry of water and replaced with blood..."

"Well, it's nice to know you still call me 'sir,' Blaze."

"Elder?"

Chapter 17.) The End Of My Lie

"BLLLLLAAAAAAAAZZZZZEEEEE....." the monster growled again.

I shook my head slowly, and attempted to collect my jaw. "How could you?"

"BLLLAAAAZZZEEEE, PUUUHHHHHH... PUUHHHLLLLLEEEEEEEAAAAASSSSSSSEEEE!!"

"Elder, what were you thinking? You murdered all of your village! You nearly killed me in a hallucination! AND I TRUSTED YOU!!"

"NNNNNNOOOOOOO, PLLLLLEEEEEAAAAASSSSSSSSSEEEEE!!"

The elder still had his claws above me, clenched tightly against each other, ready to smash the guts out of an unfortunate pony. I caught a glimpse of Twilight Sparkle and the others walking slowly up behind the Ursa, wearing their respective jewelry. Knowing that giving any obvious sign will make the elder suspicious, I wink my left eye, then shortly after several times as if something had flown in it. I then turned my attention back to the monster that is my lie.

"Sir! I'm not just gonna let you make amends with us after you've revealed the truth to me! If you think I am, then you got another thing coming!"

"I DON'T WANNA HURT YOU..." his voice has cleared up since he started to experiment with his new voice box.

"So you go killing the whole village I thought was my real life, and make me think Faded Ivory was dead!? Yeah, that makes a shit-ton of sense!"

"BLAZE, LISTEN --"

"YOU listen!!" This was obviously a moment where the fire within me had spiked. "It makes absolutely no sense to abduct me, coax me into a lie that I have a place in your village, have my special somepony living in the same house, and then have it all erased. What were you thinking!? Were you waiting for this moment for so long? Or did you just happen to lose sanity after twelve years!?" My blood had begun to boil with anger. I felt the flame illuminate in my eyes, and I found my hooves moving to the left around the shadow without my command; around to where the Element Bearers were charging their magical finishing blast.

"IT WASN'T LIKE THAT..."

"The fact of the matter is," I was slowly walking toward the other seven ponies, "that you made me feel like I had nothing left in this world. To me, it would be less lonely if you just killed me then and there!" I turned to face him again once I was directly in front of my friends. Based on how the ponies were in formation, they were ready to fire and seal the monster away, but I had my own little treat in store for him. "I don't know how that was supposed to help me in your wicked way of thinking, but at the time, I believed all my REAL family was gone! All dead! Every fucking one of them! And it's ALL YOUR FAULT!! You destroyed all I was manipulated to care for and more! How am I supposed to just... forgive you... and make everything better!?"

At this point, the elder had demonstrated notice of the other ponies behind me, and had started to prepare for an attack of sorts. Little did he know, I felt like I was going to erupt again. The monster roared, attempting to throw us off focus, but my focus wasn't in my mind; it was its own. Knowing he was trying to divert our attention was the extra fuel that I needed to make the fire explode.

So I did just that.

I dug my hooves into the paved ground as best as I could, then shot the inferno into the shadow's stomach. I didn't see what happened, but I visualized what went on due to the noises I could hear; the blast had obviously hit his gut hard and went around his figure, enveloping it in a brilliant yellow-white flame. The elder rampaged on spot, fighting to throw the fires off his midnight-blue coat. The magical blast came from my system for about ten seconds, then ceased so I could note what was happening with my eyes. The flames weren't yellow-white anymore; they were bright blue, a hue it took after charring the shadow from the elder's murderous form. With another monstrous swipe, he successfully threw the majority off of him and into the sky, where it fizzled away to nothing.

I turned my head to the Element Bearers.

"Go for it!!"

When I said this, Twilight's eyes opened, closely followed by everypony elses. Their eyes were illuminated white to the point that their pupils were nonexistent. In sync, they all shot up a different color of the rainbow into the sky, fusing in the stratosphere into a brilliant white beam. It then struck down like lightning onto the elder, creating a cracking sound that could make you go deaf, followed my several more little crackles off of the tainted fur. The monster was impaled by the celestial magic, rendering it immobile; forced to suffer and agonize through the torment the pain must've caused. After a few seconds, the light dispersed completely around the creature, preventing me from seeing whatever was happening inside.

Several seconds passed, then the beam completely exploded off of the monster, blinding my eyes for a brief moment. When I can see again, I note a huge fissure in the ground caused by the thunderous light, and directly above it, the elder's pony form, encased in stone. Finally, my nightmare has ended... But something about the elder's expression makes me feel like he didn't deserve it. I walk up to the sideways-laying statue, observing the cuts, scars, burns, and other imperfections that made him seem ugly, when I start to wonder about his true intentions.

I feel like I'm about to faint; not only from giving up the rest of the lie, but also from the blast. The fact that I'm still standing seems like a miracle to me. At that point, Princess Celestia had walked up to my side and wrapped her left foreleg around me. Her doing so makes me lean up to her, for I fear I may be on the verge of crying. It may be a lie, but I still respected the elder. I hate him, but at the same time still want his company...

"I'm sorry, Blaze..."

I dig my face into Celestia's other foreleg. She understands that while this may be for the better of everything, it won't be a simple matter to recover from the damage caused today. Not only is the majority of Canterlot collapsed on itself, but now, the old Blaze is no more. Nothing now exists from my previous life, except the pain and suffering the monster left in its wake. I'm now forced to restart, again, as a son of the Princess Luna, which may mean that I have to leave behind my new best friends...

"...Let's go find Faded Ivory..." I say.

The princess nods, and gives a gentle nudge to help me focus. I then slowly pull myself away from her and look among the other six ponies, who were also slightly fatigued. When they see me look toward them, they all straighten up, seemingly ready to help this injured soul further. Oh, how much they've sacrificed for me already...

I walk up to them. Once I get directly in front of them, there was only silence; so much so that you could hear a butterfly's wing beat. Twilight Sparkle is the first to speak;

"Blaze..."

I shook my head.

"I'm so sorry..."

We both walk toward each other. She was the first to put her left hoof around the back of my neck, and after a short moment I return the embrace.

Chapter 18.) What Friendship Can And Can't Be

After a short moment, I backed away from Twilight. I needed to get started searching for Ivory, just in case she really did had a time bomb ticking away at her life. I sighed, partially out of exhaustion, the other half due to the large landmass we have to cover...

"Everypony... I'm sorry I had to drag you all into this..." I dropped my ears, feeling guilty perhaps that I've not returned their favors, and knowing possibly that being royalty I may never get the chance later.

"Blaze," Rainbow Dash was the first to reply, "why are you making such a big deal out of it? We told you we were gonna help you, and that's what we're doing!"

Twilight was next, "Hey, what are friends for?"

Hearing that only makes me lower my head further. "Yeah, but you have to agree; there are things that simple friendship can and can't do. I fear I won't be able to repay you."

"Oh, c'mon, Blaze," AppleJack stepped up, "We weren't worried bout you repayin' us. Otherwise, we probly wouldn'ta bothered ta follow you when you left for your village. We don't expect nothin'."

"Yeah! What she said!" Rainbow spoke again.

"The way I see it, Blaze," Twilight continued, "right now I'm helping you for three reasons. One is the fact that you had nothing before you met us; two is because you're in the royal blood line; and three..." she faded out before she finished. She had also dropped her smile and turned slightly to the left, away from the other six ponies. I've heard this before...

"But I don't have you, Blaze. Not truly. Not the way... I want..."

"Twilight!" I said, slightly louder than I intended to.

She makes eye contact with me again, pupils unnoticably shrunken. "Yes, Blaze?"

I give her a serious look. "Finish."

She blushed. "Because... Because you're a good friend!"

I immediately return a sinister smile. Yeah, and she said she wasn't very good at keeping secrets... and she isn't. "Thank you."

But Rarity picked up on the shy romance. "Ooh, I see how it is, Twilight! Feeling a little tongue-tied around our little Blaze here?"

Twilight tried her best to brush off, but to no avail. "No! Rarity, stop it!"

"It's okay, Twilight... You're not the only victim of love, dear. You don't have to be such a drama queen... because that's my job! Trust me, it's easier in the long run to just admit it before you stop seeing him."

"Rarity, please knock it off --"

"Hey, ladies!" I make them brake up, because we still have work to do. "We gotta start searching for Ivory now! Every second we waste could be another second that she's suffering through!"

"Yes, sir!" Twilight snapped back into her cheery tone.

"Okay." I nod. I then turn my attention to the princess, who so patiently observed us. "Princess, do you remember where Ivory was at when the elder attacked?"

She gazed to the left, then to the right. "I can't find it from here, but maybe we can check her reserved house in the eastern part of the city. Or rather, where it would be..."

"The East..." I follow her eyes with mine.

"Let's go," Celestia continued, flapping her wings once. Within a second, she was already at full gallop and 'in front' of the other six ponies, beginning to get a head start before I got into full speed myself. Everypony needed to register the sudden event before they followed.

Finally on the look for Faded Ivory, several thoughts are reeling through my mind. Where is she? How is she? Is she even alive? Will she remember me? Intolerable anxiety tears away at my heart. Keeping a steady pace with the princess, I glance back to find my friends also at full speed; five of them are back several meters, one of them keeping up with us on her wings. Feeling guilty further about not repaying them, I quickly exhale and refocus in front of me. I told myself I'd be able to indirectly help them out later... somehow...

Suddenly, Celestia stops. Unprepared, I slide across the cobblestone into a boulder of rubble about half my size, trip over it, and slam my face into a half-still-standing building. Now, you'd expect me to stop when I hit the wall, right? Nope. The wall went with me, and I continued into a main room of the structure.

But my landing on the ground didn't hurt all that much. Maybe it was because I landed on something soft?

"AHH!! THE MONSTER'S BACK!!"

The high-pitched voice was right next to my ear, so I instantly jumped back in my dizziness. Then once I put two and two together, I knew I landed on another pony! I attempt to focus on the scared Equestrian, but for some reason I can't.

"Wait... Do I know you?"

I tilt my head. I still can't see straight, but her voice seemed familiar.

"Where have I seen you before?"

I clear my throat. "Uhh, I don't know. I can't see you."

"Oh, hang on," the pony went in the back of the room, grabbed what I assumed to be a towel or rag, and returned and wiped my face. The amount of force she put into it made me snicker, and I made several different facial gestures in the process. If I can get her to laugh, I'll know if she's Ivory or not.

And as I expected, she began to giggle. The pitch was slightly lower, but it's her. I found her.

"Ivory!"

"What? What do you want?"

I grabbed the towel and dropped it on the floor. "Ivory, it's me! It's Blaze!"

"Oh, you mean the lost heir to the throne? Don't make me laugh, dear. Everypony in Canterlot knows he died a long time ago."

I gasp. Somehow, Faded Ivory also lived a lie. One different than mine.

"No, Ivory! It really is me!!"

She just looked at me, confused.

I couldn't believe it. Everything was only now falling together and making sense. We were BOTH lied to. Our lives in our prime never existed. We were kept separated, most likely by the elder, and he manipulated our minds further so we thought our lives fell apart. The emotions between us were never real. Faded Ivory never said those thirteen words that drove the majority of my search.

I step back, while I process it all in my mind. The truth. I know I've been lied to, but Celestia may not have healed her yet, or maybe the elder got to her a second time. With this new information, I sew together the ripped strands of my version of the lie:

First of all, to the best of my knowledge the village was real, because I went back to the ruins. Everything that happened there must've been real, except for what involved Ivory, which in my case was pretty much each day.

Then I remember; Princess Celestia hadn't used her heal spell on me at that point. So that means EVERYTHING that happened there... might not have. But if that's true, then where was I all my life? Where did I grow up? Better yet, who the hell am I? Am I Blaze? Am I really Luna's son? I have to be, right? Because that was what I saw during the heal spell...

The more I think about it, the more I notice more and more of my past has been really fucked up. This whole week so far could've been all just a ploy. All this time I've spent with the doctors, the town of Ponyville, the Element Bearers - Was it really fake? Braking my wing? That night with Twilight? Helping with the party? Bumping into Rarity? Going back to the village? Meeting the elder again? Exploding at the train station? Did any of that really happen!?

It had to have, because Celestia and I were in the exact same spot when I learned the truth. Damn it! I can't make sense of it still! Why did the elder have to make it so complicated!?

Then it hit me. What if the elder was also lied to? What if there's a bigger force at work here than I realize? What if the elder was only a pawn of a more monstrous plan?

If so, then we're in some deep shit.

Chapter 19.) 'What If?'

"Uhh... Are you okay?"

I snap back to reality. The new look at the whole plot provides a lot of information, but how much of it is useful? Oh wait, Ivory asked me a seemingly simple question. "Uhh... No, I'm not."

"What's the matter, dear?"

That word isn't very familiar to me. "I, uhh..." I know not all hope is lost for her, but the fact she doesn't even recognize has me on the verge of tears.

"Yes? What is it?"

I threw my hooves on my head and laid on the floor, "Please stop asking me that damn question!!"

Ivory stepped back, "Well, excuse me, sir! Just trying to help some guy who crashed in on --"

"Faded Ivory, it's ME!! BLAZE!! Don't you recognize me!?"

"No, sir. No matter how much you want to believe it, you are not Blaze. And I'm not gonna keeping repeating myself either, so stop saying it. Blaze died when he was much younger."

"IVORY!!"

"I'm not going to tell you again, sir! Blaze is dead! He's been dead for a long time! And he was a very dear friend, so I'm taking a LOT of insult from your little game! So why don't you just go away!"

"But Ivory --"

"I SAID GOOO!!"

"Is everything okay in here?" Princess Celestia couldn't have picked a better time to interupt our conversation.

"No, Princess, it isn't." Ivory continued. "This imposter claims he's your dead nephew!"

Celestia looked at me with a face that said 'let me take care of this.' She sighed, "Oh, really? And what does he have to say for himself?"

I tilted my head. "Who, me?"

"Who do you think you are, trying to fool this heartbroken mare into thinking you're my sister's heir!?"

I stepped back and lowered my jaw simultaneously. "But Princess!! --"

Celestia turned her head toward Ivory now. "I know who he is, young lady," she said in her calm voice, but I noticed a very faint anger, "and I don't approve of how you treated him. Now, it is you who must be punished."

I stood up. "Wait, what?"

Celestia turned her head to me again. "Blaze, you tried your hoof at this issue already. Please allow me to play mine."

I shook my head. What kind of game is Celestia trying to play on us? Who's side is she on? Whatever it is, she's doing a good job confusing me.

"Wait, you BELIEVE HIM?" Faded Ivory backed up further, but she was getting furious. "Celestia, you know Blaze died over ten years ago! How dare you trust this imposter!?"

"First of all," the goddess was slowly approaching the sea green mare, standing straight up at an intimidating height, "you do not question me. Second, his name is Blaze, and he is my nephew; the rumor about his death just spread when we couldn't find him."

Ivory wasn't very quick to accept it, but her eyes shrunk just a little. "Yeah, okay. And why didn't you tell me about this before I cried my heart out!? Celestia, you knew I cared for him! You knew it killed me inside! And you SAW me get rid of all of the emotions forever!! Ten years of being locked up inside... ten years of being mentally sick... for NOTHING!?"

We both cringed from Ivory's confession. I can't speak for the princess, but I got a little emotional myself. She's opening up gradually, but she doesn't want to accept it, not yet. I wish I had some proof to show her to - well obviously, prove - that I truly am that energetic little colt from twelve years ago... And I realize I only have one thing.

Her diary.

I try to recall the words that the few pages I read contained. While Celestia and Ivory continued at it, I attempt to focus on last night, back at Twilight's... Unfortunately, it seems too cloudy. I fight, struggling to remember something, anything, that only we knew...

Then I got an idea. "You shoulda seen the look on your face! You were like, 'Waaahhh!' "

Both girls turn their head toward me, Celestia having a surprised face while Ivory had more of a 'wait, what?' expression.

"What did you just say?"

I begin to laugh, remembering the incident like it was yesterday. "Face it, you were in just the PERFECT spot! It was priceless!"

"It wasn't FUNNY! You embarressed the heck out of me!"

I chuckle even harder in between saying, "Well, you shouldn't've been standing there!!"

"Blaze, shut up. You're not help--"

She cut off, with her jaw slightly ajar. I look up, see the face she's wearing, and laugh just a little more before I serious up.

"Faded Ivory."

She didn't look up at me, probably because she was finally forcing out the lies.

"Ivory, look at me."

She was hesitant, but she lifted her head and stared into my eyes with a moist pair of her own. "...Blaze?"

I sigh. "...Hi."

She was taking baby steps toward me, cautious steps, every other second or so. "... ...Is... is that... you?"

I pick up the towel I threw on the ground earlier with my flame-colored magic, and levitate it in front of her. "Here, maybe you'll see me better if your eyes weren't so wet."

I wait until she grabs it before I drop the spell. She only looked at it, though. Her eyes were shifting between me and the little rag several times...

Then she tossed it across the room, then jumped forward and clamped her hooves together around my neck.

I was slow to return the embrace, but I did. The moisture from her tears brushed against my face as she ran into me, and had left me in a state of shock for a second. Faded Ivory... She's back...

"I've missed you, Ivory." I whisper.

She backed her head away just a bit, so we could make eye contact. She was hesitant to respond, but she eventually said, "I really thought you were dead..."

"Me, too."

"Where have you been all this time? And why didn't you come back?"

I bit my lip. Should I tell her about my twisted past? What will she think? Will she share her own? In the end, I succumbed and confessed;

"Back on that day, twelve years ago, I woke up in the middle of the night to a roar of a big monster thing. Shortly after, I thought I heard you, so I dashed out the window and flew after you. While I was catching up to you, I built up so much speed that I crashed through the monster and kept going. But, I didn't stop, and I slammed into this big tree. A long time later, I woke up in a village, and the elder of this village told me that I was born and raised there. I was manipulated into thinking that I lived a healthy villager's life. But the thing is, you were there, and I spent nearly every day with you. So if you weren't there, then it was nearly all a lie. Hell, I'm still trying to figure out what was true and what was false.

"But anyway, ten years later, we went fishing one night. And when we came back, the village was under attack by a huge shadow monster. All the houses but one fell, everypony I found was already dead, even our fake parents... I ended up braking my wing, and you were... ..."

She backed up a bit, but still held the embrace. "I was what?"

I closed my eyes and lowered my head a bit. "You were ripped apart..."

"Oh, my..." she shivered and drew closer. "Well, I can assure you I'm right here. I'm not gonna get ripped up by any monster any time soon, I promise." Ivory then laid her head on the side of my neck and let out a heavy sigh.

Reflexively, I extend my free foreleg onto her back to comfort her.

Chapter 20.) The Opposite Side

"Princess Celestia?"

I turn my head toward the voice, and Celestia did as well. It came from outside. From a friend in a circle of six that I nearly forgot they were here in the first place. I gasp out of fear.

Twilight! How is she going to take this!?

"Oh, hello, my little ponies. What took you so long?" Celestia replied with her gentle voice.

"Sorry, Princess," the student replied as the six made their way through the crumbled entrance I made earlier. Everypony but AppleJack and Rainbow Dash was out of breath. We didn't run for that long, did we?

Faded Ivory shifted a bit in my foreleg and looked at me, "Who are these ponies?"

"Just some very close friends of mine. They took me in when I ran away from the village."

"Heheh, they're pretty cute, Blaze."

That caught me off guard. Was she just saying that to compliment them? "...Did I hear some... 'jealousy' there, Ivory?"

When I said 'jealousy,' Twilight Sparkle turned her head toward us. Her overall posture suggested I hit the nail on the head; she gasped while she shifted, raised a forehoof, and her eyes shrunk a bit as well. Her doing so made Ivory uncomfortable, and she broke the embrace.

I look at Twilight. When we make eye contact, she gulps and puts her forehoof down. Jealousy... I lower my eyes to look at the floor. Did she like me, too? Was she trying to tell me that all along? If she did, it would explain several things...

'Easy, Twilight! What's gotten into you? That's the second time you freaked out when I said something that suggested my death.'

'You weren't going to do... What I thought you were going to do with that boulder, were you?'

'Will you... ... come back?'

'Don't talk like that!'

'No, wait! Please, stay here.'

I put it all together. And all this time, I've been selfish in my search for Faded Ivory that I didn't even notice her feelings for me! I've been putting her aside, like she was just some other pony... And with Ivory here now, who knows what she'll do...?

"Blaze?"

I pick my head up. During my flashbacks, Twilight had walked up and sat about three feet away from me. There were tears beginning to form in her eyes, which made me look away for a second. But I quickly focused on the pony again as I prepared to say... something...

"Twilight... I..." I was tongue-tied. She was gonna have to start the conversation.

"Now that you got what you were looking for," she said, "will you have to leave Ponyville? I mean, you're part of the royal bloodline. You have to stay in Canterlot..."

I suddenly got an idea. "What 'Canterlot?' "

Twilight rose a brow. "Uhh, here? In the general area we're in for a couple miles?"

"Pssst, Twilight. In case you hadn't noticed, the majority of Canterlot is destroyed. Including the royal castle."

She blushed. "Actually, I did notice, but thanks anyway."

"So, naturally with my home in ruins again," I raise my voice slightly in a sarcastic, yet serious tone, "I'm gonna need a place to stay for a while."

Twilight's ears perked up, and a half-smile formed on her face. "Well, you're always welcome in Ponyville!"

"So, uhh... Think you can fix up a bed at your place?"

Her eyes grew at the sound of those words, but she gasped and glanced back at Ivory, who was busy learning the names of the other ponies. She then looked back to me and said, "What about Faded Ivory?"

I think about that for a moment. I'm sure Ivory would be welcomed into Ponyville without a second thought, but she was homeless as well. Plus, with her out of my supervision, she could get into several kinds of trouble. I wonder if she'll even go to Ponyville with me?

Faded Ivory obviously has feelings for me as well. To have me staying over another possible competitor's home could make her throw her hoof in. Heheh, that's exactly what I'd do. If I know her, she may even try to sleep with somepony else to get me jealous for her. After all, that's what it looks like I'm doing...

Then it hit me. I do love Faded Ivory. She loves me, too, as a lover. And that's the problem. Having grown up with her, it wouldn't exactly make me comfortable to live with the girl forever. She's like a sister to me, and for that reason, I can't be her special somepony.

I respond to Twilight's question, "What about her?"

Twilight tilted her head. "What do you mean 'what about her?' She doesn't have a home, either! And based on how you two were snuggling earlier, I'd say she's gonna have some objections..."

I blow a raspberry. "Don't worry about her. She's stronger than you give her credit for."

She tensed up. "That's kind of harsh, Blaze."

"Why? I trust her enough. I mean, I practically grew up with the girl."

"You don't understand." Twilight stepped one hoof forward. "If you just start sleeping at my place, then she's bound to get suspicious of me. She loves you, Blaze. You can't leave her in the dark about these kind of things."

"I know, I know! And I don't intend to. I'm gonna tell her what I think... set her straight... "

She sighed. "No, Blaze. She's gonna get heartbroken again. I can't let you do that to her..."

When she said that, I shot my eyes over to Faded Ivory, who was walking up on Twilight Sparkle. She raised a forehoof to tap her back and said, "And what's your name?"

I gulped as Twilight replied, "Ivory, I am Twilight Sparkle. Pleasure to meet you!"

"A pleasure indeed, Ms. Sparkle."

They shook hooves. During so, Ivory shot me a look that I took as hostile. Maybe Twilight's right. I probably shouldn't shut her out yet, or at least appear to. There's no doubt from her confession that she waited for me her whole life, and then some. I should probably just tell her flat out that it just won't work between us...

And after all that time searching for her, to find out that I can't be her special one...

Chapter 21.) Ivory's Diary

"C'mon, guys! Train leaves any minute!"

Rainbow Dash was at the front of the group of nine ponies, urging us to move faster so we'd catch the train. Everypony was exhausted. Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia were especially sluggish. I couldn't help but laugh as I pictured what they looked like to Faded Ivory.

"Chill out, Rainbow. We're here." I say.

Rainbow stops flying backward and observes. She was just about to slam into the side of the train, but she panicked and shot herself back from it. Man, I should've kept my mouth shut! That would've been so funny!

"Whoa! Thanks, Blaze!" She replied.

"No problem."

Everypony stepped onto the train. Ivory, Twilight, and I looked back to say good-bye to Princess Celestia, and to wish her good luck with Canterlot. Remembering that the majority of the Royal Guard are dead, I should probably stay and help with reconstruction...

"Oh, it's all right, Blaze. Luna and I can take care of this. Go play with your friends!" Celestia said.

"All right, Sunnie. See you and mom after a while," I say, head held high.

"Okay, good-bye!" The princess waved to us.

"Bye!" I wave back as the train engine fires up.

The wheels start rolling. As we ride downhill, I watch as what's left of Canterlot disappears from my vision. The events that took place there has left me very tired, and it's all I could do to keep my eyes open. Amongst the drowsiness, I wonder what I'll do, now that my adventure is over...

I would really like to meet my mother again. After living a twisted past for ten years, it would be nice to see my real parents. My real friends. I quickly begin to think about the six ponies that came here with me; of Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie... and of Twilight Sparkle. Thank God for them. If it weren't for them, I'd well be dead already.

The thought again occurs to me that I have no immediate way to repay them. Being royalty, however, I'm sure I can think of something later...

"Blaze, get your head in the window, already." Ivory's voice was barely audible in the wind.

I snap back to reality and jerk my head into the train. "Guess I spaced out for a second there. Sorry." I itch the back of my mane with my right forehoof.

Applejack looked back from her seat and smiled. "You've had a long day, Blaze. Why don't cha get some shut-eye?"

"I think I will. Thanks," I nod.

Ivory looks at me with a concerned face as I get up to go to the last car. I smile as I pass her, then open a door to the back, shutting it behind me.

"Blaze? Wake up!"

My ears perk up, but only for a moment. I am, or at least I was, having a good dream. I itch my nose on the covers, then roll over into a more comfortable position.

"Oh, come on, Blaze. It's nice to know you're still lazy to wake up after ten years."

I throw myself upright in the bed. Groggy, my voice cracked, "That's because waking up sucks."

Ivory gave me a hug. "I understand. Sometimes, I wish I didn't have to wake up, either. But, if I hadn't woken you, you'd probably miss your stop in Ponyville..."

I gasp. "I MISSED IT!?"

She giggled. "I didn't say that, Blaze. Actually, we're going to pull in soon. Just thought I'd give you three minutes grace, that's all."

I patted her back, then nudged her away so I could get out of bed. "Well, thank you, Ivory."

She nodded and left the room. As the door closed behind her, I yawned. At this point, I considered laying back down, because I'm still tired... and I may not get much sleep while giving Faded Ivory the 'grand tour' of Ponyville. I thought about it for a moment, then stretched and hopped out of the covers. I can get all the sleep I wanted once I was settled in to a proper dwelling.

Now functioning regularly, I ponder upon how I will spend the next three - maybe two by now - minutes I have before we arrive at our destination. With nothing better to do, I guess I could hang out with the girls... Or I could just watch out the window and simply look as everything passes us without a second thought. Mmm... Ehh, I've had enough of those ponies for one day. I walk up to the closed window and pull up the shade with my magic.

"...Ponyville..." I think out loud. Why? Ponyville has suffered from the monster elder as well. I mean, not nearly as bad as Canterlot, but they did lose a hospital. Plus, I'm sure there were wounded, so that just makes the whole thing worse on the 'no hospital' situation. AND, they lost the majority of their doctors and nurses. Jeez, I really need to stop thinking about the immediate and start planning things out. I'm no doctor, but I can definitely help with reconstruction.

Now that I have nothing else on my mind, wanting to help seems like the best thing I could ever do for myself. I've been selfish for the past week, and now I have a chance to make up for some of it. I smile. I have found a way to repay the six ponies that helped me through this sooner than I thought!

For some reason, however, the elder slips back into my mind. He was trying to tell me something before I threw it in his face... I wonder what he wanted to say? I probably wouldn't've listened to him, but still, it would be nice to know.

There was a knock at my door. "Hey Blaze, are you decent? Can I come in?"

'Decent?' Who would ask that question? "Yeah, come on in."

The door opened, and revealed a purple coat and mane. I only know one pony with those colors. She continued, "Sorry to intrude, Blaze. I just thought you might want to hang on to this in case Ivory happened across it..."

I frown in confusion. "Find what?"

"You left her diary on the train last time."

"Oh, whoops. Yeah, who knows how she'll react if she found it? Heheh..." I shrug and grab the brown book.

She smiled. "Do be a good friend, though, and don't read it. Diaries are personal lives. You don't wanna invade Ivory's personal life, do you?"

"Hey, don't give me that. You said yourself you also skimmed through it."

"Yeah, but I only read the first couple pages."

"Uh-huh. Come on, I know how you are when it comes to books, Twilight."

She shrugged. "Ehh... Maybe you do, maybe you don't."

"Whatever you say, Twilight." I smile.

She nods and leaves the room. Without a second thought, I toss the diary onto the bed. As it flew through the air, several pages opened up, and the book landed cover-down. So it was just sitting there, wide open... Kind of tempting, actually.

And the temptation got the better of me. I found my legs walking toward the book involuntarily. There was a picture on the page; a picture of Ivory and me -- No, wait, that's the elder. The elder? What was she doing with the elder!? I run over to it and sit down, scrolling through the text on the page. My jaw gapes further and further the more I read...

'The elder of Blaze's 'village.' He's such a paranoid coot, really. I was kinda surprised that he didn't fight when I left him that... gift... This concoction I've brewed will make the plan I've held for so long finally fall in line. Now, all the elder has to do is spoon-feed Blaze the fake memories and carry out the destruction of the village... And in his search for me, Blaze will fall for me... It's perfect. It's foolproof. I just gotta make sure Luna doesn't get to him...'

Chapter 22.) Innocent Smile, Unknown Intentions

I gulped. And all that time, Ivory truly did want me, but she also wanted to manipulate me into it... She probably thought that I never loved her. Whatever the reason, she lied to me. I shut the book in anger.

All she had to do was ASK! I take some deep breaths. I'm losing my temper... I just couldn't accept it all at once. And now my insides are on fire...

"All because she couldn't just pony up and ask!" I stomped.

The train was stopping. I turn my head quickly toward the window. Once I saw the colorful buildings of Ponyville, the heat began to subside. I smiled. This cheery place is the best place in Equestria, in my opinion.

It's also a pretty good weapon.

Knock knock. "Good morning, sleepyhead. We've arrived at Ponyville!" Ivory said.

I frown, but I keep a cheery tone, "All right, thank you."

"And that's Carousel Boutique." I point at the decorated building.

It's been half an hour since we arrived here. I've already shown Ivory around everywhere else, and Rarity's locale was the only place she hadn't been introduced to. Everypony was following us, but when we arrived at their respective homes, they stayed there, lowering the party of eight to seven, then six, up to where we are now; three. Since Faded Ivory isn't a pegasus, Rainbow Dash pretty much just left without a second thought.

Ivory jumped. "Oh my gosh! I never knew such colors ever existed!"

"Yeah, Rarity does a rediculously great job at fashion design. Ya gotta give her credit." I look back at Rarity, who was following us somewhat closely, and wink at her. In response, she raised a forehoof to her chest and laughed quietly.

"Absolutely! Awesome job, Rarity!" Ivory also congratulated the white pony.

"Well, thank you both! It is rather stressful at times, but it always pays off in the end, which is one of the many things I love about it!"

"Well," I turn back to Faded Ivory, "that's pretty much it. Since you don't have wings, I can't show you Clouds Dale, so... Yeah, that's the 'grand tour' of Ponyville. I'm sure anypony here wouldn't care to have you as a guest until you can get your own dwelling. You got a preference?"

"Mmm..." she looked to the side while she thought, "I think I wanna stay with Applejack. After living in a village my whole life, a farm is probably the next closest scenario."

"All right. Sounds reasonable. "

She smiled. During so, my thoughts wander back to her diary. I return a nervous smile of my own. Who knows what that innocent smile is concealing? She probably thinks that she still has things under control...

"Well, uhh, you remember how to get there, right? You go on ahead. I'm... gonna stop by the hospital, see if I can't help with anything." I shrug. Time to make her suspect she's only now losing control of the 'game.'

She frowned. "Uhh... No, I don't, really..."

Just as I expected. "Oh, come on, Faded Ivory. It's a farm. How hard could it be to miss? Just go that way," I point down one of the crossroads, "you should see it eventually."

"No, don't go! It's scary!" She grabbed ahold of me.

'Scary?' I raise my eyebrow at her. "Scary? Ponyville? Pffft! It's not scary at all; you just need to break into it." I nudge her away.

She sniffled. "Uhh... I guess you're right... I guess I'm just scared for you, that's all. After not having you for ten years, I must not really wanna let you out of my sight."

"Heheh... Well, you're gonna have to let me go now. I wanna check on the hospital's reconstruction, and you have a bed to set up. Look. Sunnie's already setting the sun. You gotta hurry, before it gets really cold out here." I poke her chest lightly with my left forehoof.

She smiled. "Oh, Blaze. You're just as concerned for me as you were ten years ago."

I smile and shrug. "Common courtesy, I guess. Plus common sense..."

"Pffft! All right, I'm going. But what about you? Where are you gonna stay for the night?"

I look off in thought. "Mmm, I dunno. I'll see what I can do with the building first. I'll worry about that once I get to it, I promise. Go, hurry. You're gonna get caught traveling in the moonlight."

"...As much as I dislike your tendency to put things off until the last second, I trust you. Okay, I'm gonna go now..." She turns around and starts to walk.

I wave. "Hey, Ivory, you make it sound as if you're going into a haunted mansion. Relax. You're gonna be fine."

"Okay, Blaze, bye-bye," she calls back.

I turn to walk away as well. But I stopped. I suddenly had this idea... If Ivory's ultimate goal is just to make me fall for her, then maybe I can tease her by actually playing along. I grin to myself and chuckle very quietly. I then turn to face her direction again and call out to her, "I love you!"

She stopped moving for a moment. I could barely see her lower her head in what I could only assume to be happiness. She then picked it up and continued walking.

I watch as she disappears from my line of vision without looking back. I wish I didn't have to lie to her about that... I turn to face down a different crossroad, and begin to run. The road to Twilight's house. I wanna read more of the diary I gave back to her earlier.

knock knock.

"Who's there?"

"It's Blaze. Can I come in?"

The door knob begins to glow with a magenta aura. It opens to reveal a very colorful library, and the proud owner of the residence; Twilight Sparkle. I slowly enter the house.

"Thanks, Twilight. Just stopped by to pick up the diary."

She had a testing look on her face. "...And why do you want it back so bad, you little goofball?"

"Excuse me?" I say, confused.

"Oh, never mind. Hang on, I got it." She turned to look up at the second floor. "Spike?"

The baby dragon materialized at the top of the ladder. "Yes, Twilight?"

"Ivory's diary --"

"I'm on it," Spike began searching without letting her finish.

I chuckle. "Does he always do that?"

"Ehh, not always," she said while finding the package that contained the queen-sized bed.

I laugh slightly louder, but I cut the humor with a serious question. "Hey, did you read through the rest of the diary?"

"No, why?"

I stare at her for a moment before continuing. "Twilight, Faded Ivory is the mastermind behind it all..."

A couple seconds passed, and she broke up laughing. "Mastermind behind what?"

"Twilight!" I catch her attention, offended. "She was responsible for the destruction of my village! She poisoned the elder so he would transform into the Ursa, and the elder manipulated me into thinking she was innocent!"

She snorted.

"It's all in that diary. You don't believe me, take a look for yourself!"

Twilight must've noticed that I was growing impatient with her. "Okay, okay, if it'll make you feel better. Personally, I think it's wrong to go barging into somepony else's personal life, but if you say so..."

"Here it is!" Spike announced from the second floor.

"Thanks, Spike. Hang on, I'm coming right up." She finished getting the bed ready for me, teleported up to her assistant, accepted the diary from the little dragon, and laid on the bed and opened to the first page of the book.

Twenty minutes passed, and she had finished reading Ivory's diary. By then, I was already in the bed, waiting to fall asleep, when she hopped down from the second floor.

"What are you doing?" I ask her as she approaches the bedside.

"Oh! I thought you were asleep! Well, I was gonna wake you up so we can go to Canterlot."

Canterlot? "Okay... and why do you wanna go back to Canterlot so late at night?"

"Blaze, get up," she said quickly. She then picked up a saddlebag and began to put several things in it.

I unwillingly get out of the bed. "I mean, I don't have a problem going with you... Could you at least tell me why you're - well, we're - going?"

She looked at me with a stern face. "Get ready quick.

"We're going to save the elder."

Chapter 23.) Reunion

"Hurry and get out of bed, Blaze. We're gonna go free the elder."

I sat up in the bed. "Are you crazy!? By now, Princess Celestia could've set it under guard, for... ... ...some reason --"

"Blaze, there's a lot of 'what if' possibilities about this matter. What actually matters is, the elder isn't completely guilty. His side of the story will be invaluable to bust Ivory."

Confused, I ask, "Okay, and why can't we just try Ivory for dubious intentions against royalty as it is? As I see it, we already have all the 'evidence' we need."

Twilight looked at the diary, which was hovering above the saddlebag on her back. She then dropped her view to the floor and snickered. "...And here I am, about to hatch some insane plan --"

"No, you're right," I jump out of the covers in front of her, and put a hoof on her 'shoulder.' "The elder's opinion does matter, in this case."

The whole time, she just looked at my hoof. "But you just said --"

"That doesn't mean the elder's opinion isn't useful. He could know some serious shit we never even considered!"

She finally looked up at me, so her purple eyes could meet with a colorless pair of my own. I recall this moment at several different times with me and Faded Ivory, back when. The other pair of eyes used to be blue, not purple. Now that I'm thinking about it, Twilight doesn't resemble Ivory as much as I previously thought. I guess I couldn't stop thinking enough about Ivory to make an actual comparison. Plus who knows what Ivory really is inside? ... ...I mean, her true nature; her actual intentions. With Twilight, it's almost as if I know her in and out already...

I trust her.

Twilight finally said something. "So you wanna go through with this?"

I nod, nearly tapping her horn with mine. "Absolutely."

She backed her head away for a moment. Guess I pulled it just a bit too close with that nod... I step away from her as well. I begin to turn, but stop as I hear sudden movement from the other end of the room. Before I can see, Twilight already had her hooves interlocked around me. Unable to process the incident fast enough, I took a quick breath and held it for a second. Once I pieced together what just happened, I let it out and lifted a forehoof of my own.

I backed up just enough so we could see each other eye to eye again. "And what's this all about, Twilight Sparkle?"

Guess she had to think about it, because she didn't respond right away. "... ...I don't know."

I lifted my eyebrow, figuring she was trying to hide something.

She repeated herself. "Wow... I really don't know!" The odd part is, she was smiling when she said that.

"Pffft," I say as my other forehoof also finds its way around Twilight's neck.

Thinking back on it, this is the first 'official' time I've actually returned an embrace from Twilight. Sure, I may have lifted one forehoof, but something about this time made it seem necessary for me to return it completely.

For a moment, we just stood there, captured in the other's embrace. I slowly remove my right forehoof, place it on her chest, and lightly push her away. "All right, let's go." I head for the door.

Twilight laughed. "You wanna walk? Hey, I guess you can if you want to. I'm not going that way, though."

I tilt my head.

In response, her horn begins to glow. It grew brighter... Brighter...

I finally got it. "Mmm... And why didn't you do this earlier today?"

Twilight grunted, "Load too big.., Two ponies... Much easier..."

"Aha," I raise my head in comprehension, then walk over and place my left forehoof on her back. Slightly nervous, I sigh as I close my eyes, ready to enter the wormhole.

POOF!

I open my eyes to see the ruins of Canterlot in the dusk of night.

My mother does very well in making the night beautiful. Regardless of the scenery, there's something about the dark that makes you wanna sigh and relax. I can't wait to see my mother again.

I was too busy looking at the sky to observe the ruins of Canterlot. Once I looked down, I barely saw the few members of the Royal Guard left alive, along with the princess of the sun. There were also a bunch of other ponies there. Mostly unicorns, since that is the majority of Canterlot's population. They all look to be picking up pieces of large rubble with their magic, attempting to restore the city buildings of Canterlot to their original beauty.

Thinking of magic finally made me look over to find Twilight Sparkle. If I'm not mistaken, she should be right beside me. I glance over my shoulder, but do not immediately find the lavender unicorn.

"Twilight?" I sort of shout in confusion.

"Mmm?"

In response to my call, there was a mumble at my hooves. I look down to find the apparently-weak purple pony and say, "What are you doing on the ground?"

She winced, and tried to pick herself up, but only failed and stumbled back to hit the dirt. Defeated, she slowly tapped her horn.

I tried to interpret what this message meant for exactly .5 seconds. The spell. The spell was too difficult. Not the teleportation part - she does that all the time - the distance must've been enough to make any other pony pass out from exhaustion.

But then again, what normal unicorn could teleport you from Ponyville to Canterlot, a distance of several miles?

I lowered my head to nearly eye level. "Do you need help?"

She turns her head for a moment to think, then looks back up into my eyes and nods.

At that very moment, I grabbed Twilight's left forehoof with my magic and draped it across my neck, so that Twilight would at least be able to stand. Then, I asked, "So where do we go?" In my mind, it seemed like a pretty stupid question, but who's to know for sure, right?

Twilight mumbled, "Let's talk to the princess..."

For reasons unknown to me, the word 'princess' instantly let fear creep out of my conscience. I'm not sure exactly what scares me right now, but "Something tells me that talking to the princess would be a bad idea. Maybe we should go back to where we faught the elder first? See if he had been moved?"

I knew by the way Twilight shifted in place that she wanted to facehoof. "We don't need to tell her that we want to free him, Blaze. We could just ask if we could..." She trailed off.

I perked my ears up completely, just in case I might've missed something. "We could what?"

"Oh, be quiet for a minute, would ya? I'm thinking!"

The sudden hostility, as I call it, made me jerk my head away. "Well, excuse me. I'm just a little uncomfortable being out here in the open like this."

"What, you don't like my company?"

That quickly brought a smile to my face. I exhale in an attempt not to laugh, then catch my breath. "No, I could care less about my company. I mean, Celestia's right there! She sent us home not too long ago! Don't you think she's gonna be kinda suspicious if she finds... us... out here... like, this... ... ..."

Now it was Twilight's turn to laugh. "She should understand. I know the princess."

Again, I try harder to keep from bursting with laughter. "Uhh, Twilight, I don't think you get it--"

"Of course I do! It would seem odd to see an enemy you defeated in it's stone-encased prison," she said sarcastically.

I have to lift my left forehoof to my mouth to keep from laughing now. Twilight has absolutely no idea what I'm talking about! We're conversing about two completely different topics, and making a bit of sense in the process!

She finally noticed that I was holding back from laughter. Though she didn't say anything; she did sigh, however. But I don't think that's hint enough to assume that she finally gets it.

"Can we go now?"

Her question snaps me back to the situation at hand. "Uhh, yea. Sure."

On my foreright, Twilight and I slowly each took one step forward. Toward Canterlot. Toward the Elder.

Toward Celestia.

Author's Note

I wanted to make this chapter long enough so that they would find the elder, but the lag just got too unbearable. Sorry to make you guys wait like that. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 24.) Revelations

Slowly and quietly, I lead Twilight around the ruins as to not disturb the ponies that have congregated toward the center. It's still a little ground to cover before we can actually say we're in Canterlot at all, so it's gonna take a while at this pace. I could care less, though; as long as I don't have to talk to Celestia.

I'm still not sure why I'm scared of talking with Celestia at this time. Maybe it's because I think I'm not a good lier and she may be able to break me easily. Thank Cel -- Umm... uhh... I'm so grateful that Twilight is here for that. But, seeing the condition she's in from the teleportation, the princess would've definitely asked of how she got in such. She'd have to be pretty good to get out of that one...

Thinking again upon the word 'princess' makes me look up to the stars for a brief moment. I wonder if Luna is up there somewhere, commandeering the moon as it travels around Equestria? Man, would it be great to see her again.

Then I fix my eyes back in front of me. We've worked our way up to the back of a wall. A wall that would be a building, had it not been for the Elder. We're temporarily out of vision of everypony in the street area, but Twilight and I have to keep moving.

Suddenly feeling extra cautious about getting caught, I look over to Twilight and motion for her to shh. Then, slowly, I removed her forehoof from my neck and set it steadily on the ground. For the moment, Twilight looked to be hanging on. She had her eyes fixed on me ever since I let her down, so it's obvious that she also doesn't wanna get caught anymore.

I nod to her. Then, I peer off the side of the building to look at the group of ponies. It appears as though we have still gone unnoticed as of yet. Satisfied, I bring my head back into the cover.

"Did they see us?" Twilight asked, in a tone barely above a whisper.

I shake my head. "Nah. It looks as though we're still ghosts here."

"Maybe we should keep it that way."

What? I let my jaw open slightly and raise my eyebrow. "Well, duh."

All she could do was make a face. But her expression quickly went from smug to pain as she let out a somewhat quiet groan.

Acting on reflex, I gasp, and quickly catch my breath AND the unicorn, before she fell to the ground with a thud that may bust us. I caught her well before she hit the ground, but still...

"Guess you aren't ready to stand yet, huh..." I say in a matter-of-fact, yet gentle tone.

She sighs. "No, I put it up as an act, and you fell for it."

"Really?"

"No! Now please, help me back up..."

I smile, and grab her foreleg so that she may use me for a balance once more. Obviously I've got no problem with it. For one; she's not all that heavy. Two; she's helped me a lot more than I've helped her thus far, and it actually feels good to help her this way.

Heheheh, I worded that funny.

Then I stop for a GOOD reason. I think about it, and it makes sense to me. "So, Twilight, please tell me why we're not using magic? It could make this mission a lot quicker."

She grunted. "Because... two reasons. One; I'm obviously not up for the task. Two; the energy explosion from the magic could possibly alert the audience."

"...Hmm. Yeah, makes sense. But who said you were the only one that knew how to teleport?"

"Don't play me for a foal, Blaze. If you knew, then why would you come to my library all those days, asking me to take you places with my magic?"

"Because..." I needed a little bit of time to think of an excuse, "because I needed help with making plans for the day, and you were the pony that organized it for me." I see her post a face of extreme doubt on hers, so I continue, "I'm actually pretty decent with teleportation. I just needed YOUR help to organize my plans for the day. I suck at that."

"Well," Twilight raised an eyebrow, "if you're so good with it, then why don't you use it more often?"

I have to think on that one. Now that I do, she's got a very good point. I did have many opportunities to teleport since my appearance at Ponyville. Such as from the train to the village, or from the cross section in the streets to Golden Oaks Library. I may not be very dependent on magic, but I know for a fact that that doesn't mean that I can't use it at all. "Okay, so I'm more of a physical pony. What's your point?"

"Whatever you say, Blaze."

This rubbed me the wrong way. Quickly, my horn began to glow with my flame aura. I felt Twilight stir in my forehooves as I focused on the scenery that I saw just yesterday.

POOF!

I open my eyes to see the front of Canterlot castle. Or at least, what WOULD be the front of it. Nearly all the walls were either destroyed or toppled over, and the stone pillars that supported the overhang gave way, bringing the top down in front of the entrance. I'm not in the castle, no; Twilight and I are right outside. And if I remember correctly, the Elder should be back toward the building where Fluttershy hid from him during the attack.

The scenery makes me look back down to Twilight. She's still a little weak, but her eyes are open at least. Once we make eye contact, she raises her forehoof to slap me. Being a gentlecolt, I let her.

"Are you crazy!? You want us to get caught!?"

Slowly bringing my face back into her view from the recoil, I chukcle and smile. "Relax, Twilight. They probably didn't hear it. If anything, it was a good distraction, so we have more time to act."

"The Royal Guard can trace magic! Didn't you know that already!?"

I gasp. "Oh shit. We gotta go!"

Practically picking Twilight completely up with my magic, I dash over to the building from yesterday. Good thing it wasn't that very far away. What's better, even, it that the Elder's statue is still there, unfazed. Slightly winded, I set Twilight down gently on the flattest surface nearby.

"Well, we're here," I say steadily. "Now what?"

Twilight has seemed to have obtained a proper hoofhold on the ground below her now. "Well, now, I reverse the spell."

"Wait, you? You sure you can do it?"

"I, uhh... I think so..."

"You are aware, that he was sealed by the Elements of Harmony--"

"I'm fully aware, but I'm the sixth element! It shouldn't be that difficult."

I'll let Twilight win this time. I still don't think it's gonna be as simple as she makes it sounds, but hey, let her do what she wants for now, I guess.

After a moment of observing the statue, Twilight's horn bagan to glow with her magenta-colored aura, dimly at first, then getting brighter and brighter by the second. You could tell from the size and luminous output that her magic was drained from the start, which only heightened my doubt that Twilight could set him free.

A couple minutes passed, and still nothing was happening. Twilight was definitely suffering through the summoning. She looked like her strength was going to give out any second.

Seeing her pain, I stepped in to support her. With my magic stirring, I made the connection between our powers, and quickly began to distribute my stamina to hers. She opened her eyes to look at me for a very brief moment to find me smiling back to her. She then returned a weak smile of her own, then went back to focusing on the statue. After a moment, her horn no longer glew with her magenta aura. It contained my aura instead.

Every second that passed by, the light from the magic grew stronger and stronger, until finally, there was a thunderous crash. The noise - whatever it was - startled both Twilight and I out of the spell, launching us backward a short ways. Having given up the majority of my stamina up for the spell, I was dazed when I hit the ground, but not as long as Twilight was, I'm sure. I need to get up and find her.

Panting heavily, I got up slowly and found where Twilight was launched. On reflex, I hurried over to her side to help her up once more. "You alright?"

Once I turned her over, she let out a soft sigh and her eyes opened gradually. "...Blaze..."

I just continued to look unto her eyes, while I continued to catch my breath.

"...Did it... did it work?"

I look over to the statue, which only had a small crack going down his belly. "I'm not sure."

Her smile turned upside-down as she observed for herself from the ground. Satisfied, she laid her head back down and closed the windows to her soul so that she may rest for air. For some reason, however, her frown once again turned into a smile. Confused, I ask, "What's so funny?"

She opened her eyes again. "Funny? No."

"What?"

Her right forehoof found her way up my left, and motioned for me to come closer. Slowly, I did so, and as I did, her other hoof found the first and linked together. She drew her head up so that she could nuzzle into my neck. "Thank you."

For a short moment, I just stared off into the distance, unsure of how I should react to her embrace this time. I held a vacant expression for the second or so, then let out all my fatigue in one fluent sigh and relaxed. If it weren't for her laying on the ground, I'd hug her back, but hey.

For the moment, the environment was quiet and peaceful. However, the crash we heard not too long ago continued, pulling us both out of our states of trance and back into reality. The crash was coming from the statue. It was braking.

Slowly, more and more cracks formed along his outer stone shell, until finally, it all exploded off of him in a violent burst of light. I had to raise my foreleg to blot out the light, it was pretty intense.

Out of the light, I could barely see the Elder's long foreleg extend, followed by his nose, and his horn, and finally his face. His light brown coat and old white hair materialize from the illumination. Excited, I step up to greet him. Twilight wouldn't let go, however, so I was pinned for now. Not that I couldn't break free, of course; I didn't wanna be rude.

So, the Elder was the first to speak, "I'm... I'm free..."

"Elder sir!"

At my call, the Elder shifted his vision. At the sight of his gentle eyes, Twilight finally willingly let me go, and I dashed over to meet him. Once I was there, he said, "Blaze! Are you the one that got me out of there?"

"Well, uhh... I helped, but it was Twilight Sparkle that actually set you free."

The Elder walked over to Twilight's side. "Is that so? Well thank you, young one. As thanks, please let me help you..." His horn began to glow, enveloping both Twilight and I in his white aura.

After a moment, the fatigue literally left my system completely. When he set us down, I dashed over to the Elder again, who already had Twilight next to him. Once I got to him again, I quickly say, "Thank you, Elder sir!"

"Oh, it's the least I could do. You set me free. You must've had a very good reason why you did, or else you wouldn't've."

"But of course, Elder!"

"Just relax, my son. Take a breather..."

Acknowledging his words, I sat down on the ground. Twilight was reluctant, however, as she seemed to have a question on her mind. My suspicions were confirmed when she asked;

"Wait. Did you just say 'son?'"

Chapter 25.) All You Had To Do Was Ask

"Did you just say 'son?'"

I quickly answered for the Elder, "No, Twilight. I'm sure it was just a form of endearment." I was planning to finish my sentence with a cheery attitude, but the information I suddenly wanted to share quickly brought me down. "I've never met my father..."

For a moment, both ponies had their mouths shut in thought, but I could tell that they both felt sorry for me. Especially the Elder. "...Well, uhh," he said slowly, "I didn't mean anything by it..."

"Oh, no. You're fine. Don't worry about it. I got over it way back then."

Even though I did my best to lighten the mood, the Elder still looked a little dumped on. In fact, he looked more so than he did before I said anything. Back in my fabricated past, seeing the Elder in a bad mood also got me in a bad mood. Not sure why; maybe his attitude is contagious.

"Halt!"

All three of us gasp in unison and look into the distance where the deepish voice came from. But not one of us moved from our spots. We knew running from the Royal Guard would be pointless, anyway.

Behind the three guards came the radiant princess of the sun, Celestia. I did my best to keep my poker face, but my ears just wouldn't perk themselves up. Eventually, my vacant smile followed their lead.

The first pony Celestia stopped to look at was her academic perfectionist of a student, Twilight Sparkle. I'm sure, at that moment, she wanted to explain to the princess what was happening, but Celestia's facial expression prevented her from doing so.

Then she set her sights to the Elder. It was then and there that I realized the Elder had no poker face on at all. He wasn't even trying to resist the evil stare he was exchanging with Celestia. And the princess fared no better.

And finally, her eyes glared unto mine. I couldn't help but lower my head as she looked at me. Her expression was just too scary to make eye contact for too long. As I listened to her steps get closer and closer, I feared for what she may do.

"Blaze."

I couldn't help but raise my head slowly. "Y-yes?"

"What is the meaning of this?"

before I could answer, Twilight bounded up. "Princess Celestia!" She used her magic to fish Ivory's diary out of the saddlepack she wore. "THIS is what's why."

Out of the corner of her eye, Celestia grabbed it with her own magic, as the magenta aura around the book faded into a bright gold. Slowly, she brought the book in front of her and opened it. I dared watch as Celestia flipped page after page of the diary.

"This book is what drove you two to free this monster!?"

I inhaled quickly. I needed to, because there was some kind of snap in my mind and it couldn't process it fast enough. Instantly, I stood up on all fours. "Did you even read through it, Celestia!? It contains critical information that claims Faded Ivory was behind all this! Source seems legit enough to me; after all, it IS her diary. Who would lie in their diary?"

Celestia didn't seem to take very kindly to my attitude. "You think this flimsy pile of paper is enough evidence to support such a horrendous scheme!? Have you ever thought that this diary may be... oh, I don't know... Counterfeit? FAKE!?"

"Well, whoever put the diary together did one hell of a job depicting what Ivory looked like when she was younger, then."

The princess only returned a frown. A rather large frown. It took her a couple seconds to reply, "It doesn't take close observation to note what Ivory looked like in the past. All it would take is merely a little tinkering with the mind. A mental picture. And they only had to imagine the picture there for it TO be. Such spells today are rather complex, and only those with high-level magic known only to the best of unicorns can conjure it correctly..."

Upon hearing the word 'magic,' Twilight's eyes shrunk, and she audibly gasped as if she was scared. I didn't pay much attention to it, until I understood what Celestia meant. But I still didn't play along. "You honestly think Twilight would do such a thing!?"

"Who said a thing about Twilight?" Celestia asked. "I was gonna say this evil stallion here, but now that you mention it, Twilight has been trying to keep a close eye on you, hasn't she? And she IS pretty skilled with magic, so..."

"No, princess! I would never do that, or anything like that!" Twilight had her hooves pressed together in front of her, begging before the princess.

Celestia looked to her out of the corner of her eye. "...Would you?"

Upon hearing those words, Twilight slowly looked down from the princess, and tears began to form in her eyes. As painful as it was to watch, I tried to comfort her. "...Twilight...?"

She sniffled, and gradually made eye contact with me. Her eyes were already red from the tears. "Yes, Blaze?"

To think she was the guilty party was too much for me. So it took me a while to smile and say, "Twilight... You have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide. Please."

At that, she turned away again. "I'm so sorry, Blaze!"

I gasped. I'll honestly say, I did not expect to hear those words come from Twilight's mouth. At least not right now. Noticing my fear, Celestia continued, "Are you okay, Blaze?"

I ducked my head as well, and closed my eyes as tight as I could; whether out of pain or of anger, I wasn't sure. Whatever it was, I answered, "Whose side are you on, princess?"

"Hmm," she grunted as she walked around to my left. "Rather, whose side are you on? You trying to be a nice pony? Or are you following in your evil parents' shadows?"

I gasped once again. "Wait... Luna --"

"That's right, Blaze," She said as she continued to walk around me. "Princss Luna. Whatever happened to her? Wherever did she go? Why wasn't she with me when you first arrived here in Canterlot? Well, that's because... Well, let's just put it nicely. She was a bad girl, and she needed to be punished."

All the sudden realization has left me speechless. I could barely ventilate at the steady pace I was. Celestia, taking my silence for a reply, kept on, "Guards. Send these two to the undergrund caves. Now."

Instantly, two of the Royal Guard rushed behind me and each grabbed one of my forehooves. Two others gathered behind the Elder and repeated the process. "Yes, your Majesty."

But Celestia didn't seem satisfied. "Not him, sirs. It's her that I was referring to." She nudged her head to where Twilight lay motionless on the ground, shocked out of all response. "Simply putting the 'Elder' in the crystal dungeon would be too... 'nice' of me. No, he needs special treatment."

Once more for the fourth time, I gasped in shock. "No! Elder!" I managed to break free from the Royal Guard's grasp and dashed over to him.

"Be strong, Blaze," he said, and nudged me away. "I'm sure we'll meet again." That was all he had to say.

While I processed the meaning of his words, the Guards came back up to pin me down. By this time, the other two Guards had already got hold of Twilight, too, and I was dragged over to her side. I took this short moment to observe that her eyes were still red with tears. The way she looked back at me suggested that she never wanted me to get in trouble, either. I would've made more observations, but one of the forehooves of the Guards found its way into my face.

Blaze

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Very sorry to disappoint you all with the sudden tyrannical Celestia plot. I just love this story too much to end it here! I don't wanna stop writing there!

I mostly wanna keep this story going so I can still have something to do while I'm on FiMfiction! So, more adventure awaits Blaze in the future!

Stay tuned for Blaze: Part Two!