Chapters She wanted nothing more than to be back to normal. If she could even remember what that was. Firo sat on the windowsill with her legs dangling over the edge, and her back pressed against the cold porcelain frame. The tower that she live was one-hundred feet in the air with vines crawling up the side like annoying snakes. She watched as three young filly's chased each other at the edge of the forest. The Everfree Forest was defiantly not free. She knew that more than why she was here.
It pained her to be so alone in this strange form. She did not understand it, but she oddly loved it. The beauty of this hidden creature that she was made no sense. The appendages on her arms, and legs. The new structure of her legs, that had taken a few days to learn how to walk on. She had not an idea to call the creature she was made, and even the Princess did not know. Firo made her way back into the single room of the tower.
Everything look perfect from where she stood, a four-postured set at the right side of the window with an elongated mirror next to it. The other side was plain with a stone wall, and a simple mahogany dresser that stood near by. The finishing touch being the hearth sitting in the back of the room, a crackling fire glowing within.
She ran her hand through her silk soft hair, a habit she found natural, and paced her room once again. Stopping at the mirror, she expected herself for the billionth time since her banishment. Although she has been this way for five years, she was still amazed by the anatomy. Long red hair, soft curves, pink lips, a curved nose with strong, imposing cheek bones, and the lightest color of tan skin that glowed in the blacken tower. Firo was dressed with a dirty wrap tightly bonded to her breasts, and a muddied pair of shorts which lay tight against her thighs.
She used a string, unraveled from her blanket, and tied her long hair back. After a long sigh, Blaze stared back at her cherubic face. It seemed so natural to her, this beauty hidden from the world, if only she could be free. That's what she really wanted, to be able to touch the grass without scorching it's fairness. If she closed her eyes, it was like she was really there. Stupid, she thought. Such a witless thought to have.
Firo opened her eyes to see someone else standing before her in the mirror. A beautiful pegasus with hair orange as a pumpkin, and as soft looking as a filly's blanket. Her coat was a sparkling crystal yellow, gleaming like the night sky. She stomped a hoof on the ground before dissipating into the air leaving nothing behind, but a star shaped cutie-mark that steamed with the red fire that surrounded it. Blaze looked at her own hip, which she assumed to be, and the chanting began again.
Blaze is a blank flank.
Blaze is a blank flank.
Rubbing her temples she paced the room again. How could she do that, cage her up like a bird. Firo is no bird, but she was not a pony either. Not anymore. How she had sobbed for days from the loneliness and guilt that follow her banishment. Now, she had no tears to shed. She learned quickly that crying was not going to help her. Nothing would help.
The sound of a metal grinding against metal ringed in her ears. She stared at the metal door next to the mahogany dresser, as it slowly made its way open. In front of her eyes was the most radiant pony that every lived. Her mane flowed around her in beautiful hues, and her coat was a shining white. She flapped her wings and bowed in attempt for peace.
"I have come, Blaze, to see if you have learned your lesson. The stars show me that your heart is not any longer covered in ice, but I must make sure that is true." Celestia steps forward, her lilac eyes filled with care and honesty. Her eyes are at the same level as Firo's now, but she lowers her head, and pointed her horn just below Firo's wrappings, close to her heart. Celestia presses into her ribs, when suddenly a glowing of gold starts to shine from where the Princess touched her skin.
Firo's heart started to pick up speed, erratically beating in such a way that terrified her. She was both terrified and confused, so she pulled away from Celestia, which made them both cry out from pain. It felt like her entire chest had been ripped out. She stood there, watching the Princess pant on the floor unable to move. Blaze's pain was dulling, and adrenaline started to wiggle its way into her. She moves in a daze, but hurriedly makes her way down the spiraling staircase, magically without a slip. After a while her legs begin to burn at every step she takes.
She saw light coming from the bottom of the staircase. It only took her seconds to make her way outside, where a world she no longer knew was calling for her freedom. She spotted four Pegasusi standing five yards ahead of her. Firo creeped along the side of the tower, her hand scraping against the cold stone. When she was on the other side of the tower, she ran into the woods, and didn't stop. As she took her first step into the Everfree Forest she felt her lungs closing in around her. She gasped, and slowly waded deeper into the forest.
It was quiet, the kind of quiet that makes you hear things on your own. It terrified Firo. A scrape against a tree, the ruffling of a bush, an echo of a sob; when was it going to stop? She spun around at the sound of a leaf crunching. Blaze looked down only to realize that it was her making these sounds. She was making the echoing sobs, the scraping of the tree, a leaf crunching, and the bushes ruffles. That thought helped her, but she knew she wasn't alone. It was an instinct she developed from years of being alone, she could always tell if someone else was near her.
Only one pony could sneak up on her. His black mane and white coat was such a contrast it always made Firo laugh. They were Pony Friends Forever, but neither of them expected forever to end so quickly.
It was cold outside, winter was on its way. All of Canterlot was preparing for it. Some of the ponies would get together in groups to sing at parties, or some would knock on somepony's door and sing to them. Firo still remembered the stallions wearing their striped scarves and winter boots, making their way to work, or wherever it was they went. She didn't know. She was always too young to know anything. Blaze was looking out of the window again, wishing she could play in the snow with the other children. Her mother came out of the kitchen, and laid on the couch next to Firo.
"What's wrong dear?" She stroked Firo's mane with her hoof. "Why do you look so glum? Tell mommy all about it."
Blaze leaps into her mothers arms. She fidgeted until she was in the most comfortable position; her head in between her mothers front legs, her muzzle buried in her mothers neck, and the final touch, her mother stroking her blood colored mane. "The other filly's made fun of me again. They say that I can't play with them because of my blank flank. I ask them nicely to leave me alone, but they won't stop. Then, they started chanting at me." She wipes her muzzle with her small hoof, "I just want them to stop, mommy. Can you please make them stop?"
Her mother kisses Blaze once on her horn, then on her ear. "My darling, Firo Blaze. You need to be stronger. You mustn't let them push you around. Do not ask them, make them. I am ashamed, daughter. Why can you not be more like your brother and stick up for yourself? We will not always be here to protect you." Her mother stands up and trots off up the stairs. She turns around and says, "if you do not learn now, I will have to use you as the doormat for the front door."
She suppressed the sudden memory. Her mother was her favorite idol, but now Firo realized that she was just as cruel as she was right. She let everypony walk all over her, if only she was more assertive. Maybe then she wouldn't have been banished for something she could never control.
Firo spots something at the edge of the forest. It was a wooden house, fit for one pony at most. She quickened her pace towards the building.
"Blasted Celestia," the words flew out of her mouth as she tripped over a slimy vine. But vines are not slimy, are they? She thinks. Firo looks down to see a green snake climbing up her leg with his beady eyes lock on hers. The scream died right where it began, and the only thing she could do was the only thing she knew how to do. Blaze kicked off the mildew smelling snake and ran for her life. She never ran so fast before in her life, she was out of breath, but she never felt so good.
It was something only few ponies kever really feel; something she's only read about in books. Freedom. The word flowed through her mind, and tranquilized her with peace. She was shocked to discover that she was out of the forest now, and only a few feet away from the cottage. Thinking about the startled reactions from the ponies that may be inside frightened her, but it was worth a shot. After taking a deep breath she knocked on the door, started when she found it was open. She pushed open the door saying, almost to a whisper, "is anypony home?"
There was no answer for a while, making Firo feel a wave of anxiety wash over her. She wondered if Celestia told all the ponies in Equestria who she was, then no one would know what the real story was. Then a beautiful voice spoke from the other side of the door.
"Angel, can you please stop, if you don't mind? Rare, is that you? Let yourself in, I have to put Angel down for a nap." The quiet words were followed by the sound of plates crashing. "Oh, Angel please!" Firo pushed in the door carefully, and took a peek through the open space. Several animals were laying in the cottage, sleeping soundlessly. All except a small white bunny, that jumped around the room. What caught Firo's gaze was the yellow, pink maned pegasus chasing after the small creature. The bunny stopped, looking at Blaze, seeming to be frozen in time. "Oh, Angel, thank you for qu-OH MY!" The pony stared at Firo with fear in her wide eyes.
"Please don't be scared," Firo said opening up the door completely.
"Wh-what are you?" The pony asked.
"I am Firo Blaze, a pony like you, or, I used to be. I'm not a danger to you, or your lovely creatures." The pegusas shrunk down closer to the ground, her pet bunny moved toward Blaze. The bunny, Angel, sniffed the air before Firo, and crinkled his small white nose. He then jumped into her hands, and she holds him gently.
"He likes you. That's odd, he is very hard to please..." Spoken by the yellow pegasus, who flies over with caution.
Firo looks up at the pony, then notices that they are close to the same size, Firo being slightly taller. Celestia and her were the same hight, but somehow, after leaving the forest, she had shrunk. What strange magic that forest holds, she thought. "I'm good with animals, they tend to like me, unlike the ponies. No pony likes me, except Echo..." Both, human and pony, started at the small creature who now slept in Firo's arms.
"Would you... Um... Like to come in?" She asked, looking at Blaze with teal eyes.
"Yes, that would be nice. I didn't catch your name, by the way."
"It's Fluttershy... And my bunny's name is Angel." She explained, rubbing the ground with her hoof.
Blaze smirked and walked into the cottage, "are you expecting a pony to stop by today?" She asked looking around the room, and taking a seat on the couch. The white bunny squirmed in her arms, curled into a ball, then settled in the crook of her left elbow.
"My pony pal Rarity was suppose to come over today. We are going to give each other a makeover, maybe you could join us." Firo thought about joining, but put it out of her mind, she couldn't intrude, and she couldn't stay anyway. She had to keep running, or else Celestia would find her.
"Fluttershy, are you there?" A posh accent spoke out of nowhere. "It's me Rarity, and the rest of the girls are here. Pinkie said she felt something bad was happening near here, are you okay?" Fluttershy, who was standing in front of Blaze, stared at the door with frightened eyes. Firo watched the pony watching the door. I hope she knows that I'm not going to hurt her, or any of them, Blaze thought, but none of them would think that Celestia was the evil one that this "Pinkie" felt.
"I'm fine, and I have a guest over. Now I know she looks, well, not like us, but can you please... Show some kindness?" Fluttershy said, her voice barely audible even in the silence.
"Uh... Sure Shy, whatver you say. You gonna let 'tus in or not?" A southern voice called from the other side of the door. Fluttershy walked over to the cottage door and opened it. Five ponies immediately looked past the light pink maned pony to Firo. They all gasped, and tried to cover it up with coughs of all sorts. All the ponies stepped into the cottage, pretending that they weren't trying to keep away from her. "Shy, who is this?" An orange pony with a blond mane, and greens eyes said in a very southern accent.
"I am Firo Blaze." She said, answering for herself, "I'm not the danger. I was in the Everfree forest when I ran away from it."
"The Everfree forest!" A cyan pegasus said, flying over to Blaze. "You came from there? Alive with the dangerous thing Pinkie said she felt." Firo nods her head. She kept her eyes low, not used to being the center of attention.
"Oh my gosh! You are so interesting, I've never seen something like you in all of my life," a pony in all pink, except her blue eyes, raved at Firo. "Well, living on a rock farm did limit me from meeting new creatures, but oh! We need to throw a party! With streamers, cakes, a chocolate fountain, sparkles, and bobbing apples! Oh, and even may-"
"Pinkie, let's not overwhelm her." A lavender alicorn walked forward, her friends taking a seat on the floor, respecting her. "I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, and I think that we should all consult Princess Celestia. What do you say?"
At this Firo gasped, images of blood, and laughter flooding into her mind. She remembered, but she never believed that she had seen this images. Who's memory is this, are they mine, why does it seem so... Familiar? She thought. "Please don't! You won't believe me, I know you won't, but please keep me away from her! Stay away from her, she isn't who she says she is, I don't even know who, or what, she is. Just that she is dangerous. That's what Pinkie felt! I was in the forest with Celestia and she was trying to, do something to me, but I'm not sure what. It felt like I was having a heart attack."
All the ponies starred at her out burst, then they started laughing, like it was all a joke. She started laughing along, only to try to pretend that it was a joke. "I was just kidding, but I still don't think you should take me to Celestia."
"Why not?" A purple maned pony said with a thick posh accent.
"Because," she thought about her excuse before saying it, "you're a new Princess right?" Her question directed at Twilight.
"Yes, why?" The mares face looking confused.
"Well, to prove yourself to Celestia. To show that you can do magic just as good as she. I was a pony, but something in that forest turned me into this, thing, and trapped me in a tower. If you turn me back, you could prove yourself to all of Equestria." Blaze knew now not to add that Celestia had done all these things. She tightened her right fist in anger.
"I actually think that's a good idea," Twilight said, "what do you think girls?"
Her question was followed with several different voices saying "yes". Firo smirked, no matter how long she waisted her life in that tower, she could still trick people. She didn't feel bad, she was trying only to help them.
A magnificent looking mare with a white coat, purple hair, and blue eyes poked a hoof at Firo. "First, I propose that I redo your look. Rags are not acceptable even if you are not going anywhere, you should still look your best. Dash, Pinkie would you both be darlings, and go to my shop to gather fabrics and other things I need. Fluttershy, you should also go with them; make sure they don't mess up my shop." The rainbow maned pegasus, Dash, Pinkie, and Fluttershy walked out of the cottage with a nod. She turned her attention back to Firo, "now let us clean you up. You are so dirty, love, what has that monster done to you?"
She pulled rushed Firo along with her. Twilight speaks behind them, "I'll watch Fluttershy's animals." Firo put the sleeping bunny down on the floor, which Twilight took right away with her levitation.
"I think we should start scrubbing down, well, everything." The unicorn went on. This is all for the greater good, Blaze, just be happy you got away from that monster , she thought.
Firo sat in a tub, her feet hanging over the edge by a toe. Rarity was sitting behind her, scrubbing Firo's scalp with her hooves. "Now darling, where do you come from? I could tell that you were fibbing, I tell a little white lie every now and then, too." Firo thought to herself, it couldn't hurt to tell the truth, but I'm not sure that she's going to believe me. Blaze, you have two choices: tell the truth, and die informing people, or die without giving a warning to anypony. "Are you comfortable, darling?" Firo pulled her feet to her chest and turned around in the sea of bubbles to face the glowing unicorn. She felt awkward having Rarity being so kind to her, since she had never know kindness unless she was with Echo or her father. She smiled at how much she missed them, then dropped it as she looked at the pensive Rarity.
"You won't believe me, Rarity. You don't know me, or what I've been through, or who I am, so you won't know if I'm telling the truth or not." Firo admitted fearfully.
The mare took a seat on the green stool, next to the tub and crossed her legs looking straight at Firo. "I don't have to know you to trust you, my dear. Tell me everything from the beginning."
Firo sighed, and thought about what to say next. "I was born an alicorn, my mother a pegasus and my father a unicorn. One day I was with my parents in a lone field, we saw this... Rainbow explode in the sky. My father and I were amazed, but my mother acted as usual; distant, and unloving. Then, my heart felt hot and I felt like I was fainting, but I was still aware of what was going on. I looked at the sun that was so prominent in the sky, and I felt connected to it. When I was in my memorized state, I didn't notice I set the field I had just came from on fire. Princess Celestia came, offering me peace. I could tell that this Celestia was an illusion, for I could see straight through her. It all happened so fast, and I was so young. I remember somepony else there, but I only remember hearing yelling. Then there was a bright yellow light, and everything stopped. Celestia, now completely whole, walked up to me, and her eyes shimmered over with this greenish color.
"After that, I can't remember much, except I was turned into this thing. Probably so I would never be able to tell anypony my story in fear they would run from me." Firo looks up at the stunned, white mare. "You probably think I'm crazy."
"Darling," Rarity said, "I believe you. Even though most of what you said doesn't quite add up, I can see the truth in your eyes and that's what matters. Now," she said dumping a bucket of water over Firo's head, "how did you find your way through the Everfree forest?"
"Well, I'm not sure exactly. I just ran, I guess," she shrugged and smoothed her hair out of her face making sure it was parted to the right. "I wasn't in there for long, I couldn't be or Celestia would've killed me or something."
"Dear, I can feel your hatred towards the Princess, but she would not kill you. Not after she went through all the trouble of turning you into, well, this and locking you in a tower. That I am sure of," the white mare used her magic to levitate a towel around Firo's body as she stood from the bathtub. Firo watched as the white mare left the room, leaving Firo to be alone to her thoughts.
It was only a few quiet minuets before Rarity came into the bathroom with two of her friends following her. Fluttershy nudged Firo to sit on the bathroom stool while Pinkie Pie bounced around the room with a large smile on her face. She was singing a song that went, "making cloths for our new friend! Oh, she's our new friend! Not just a pony and not a bug, but a friend! The bestest friend that we don't kn-"
"Pinkie be quiet, please," Rarity said patiently.
"But I was singing Firo a song! She deserves it! Don't you agree with me Fluttershy?" She stopped bouncing long enough to stare at Fluttershy hiding behind the stool. She mumbled a sound that sounded neither like she was agreeing or disagreeing. "Weeeeeeeeellll, Firo liked my song! Isn't that right, Firo!"
"Uh... Yeah, Pinkie... It sound very musical and stuff." Blaze said looking past Pinkie and at Rarity. She was mesmerized by the needle and thread on the machine. It moved up and down like the waves of the ocean, moving just fast enough to pierce the fabric. The fabric was golden yellow with shining swirls in the details, it looked beautiful and elegant. Just like the mare who was sewing the dress.
"Pinkie, Fluttershy, can you two wait in the living room with Dash and Jack?" Princess Twilight said walking into the bathroom which made Firo feel all the more claustrophobic. Both nodded, Pinkie bounced out of the room smiling with Fluttershy timidly walking behind her. Twilight closed the door with her magic glowing its normal color. She stared at Firo deeply as if she were about to throw something at her, but instead she spoke with a hardened tone. "I don't know how to reach, at this point I don't care. Celestia told me that everyone is a friend no matter who they are and that's what I believe. But I don't like the way you spoke about Celestia earlier. I could hear the anger in you voice and all I want to say is that if you are a threat to our Princess we are going to take you out."
Firo was speechless and refused to look into Twilight's harsh eyes. Then a burst of despiration came from deep inside of her and she blurted, "Princess, believe me! Celestia is not the good, and kind pony that you know and love, she's something else. I'm not sure what, but why would she lock me up in that tower when I was a filly? She said she wanted me to learn my own powers, but never taught me how. Doesn't that seem a little fishy? She would normally teach a filly with overwhelming power, but instead she locked me in a tower, changed my form, and told me to control my power even though I can't even use it."
"This is not my argument," Rarity said turning away from her sewing, "but I might add something that did seem very odd. In the story you told me, you said Princess Celestia came after the rainbow happened and that she wasn't completely visible. You also explained that after wards Celestia had green shimmer over her eyes," she paused for a moment thinking. "Twilight, does that ring any bells? I feel like I'm drawing a blank here."
Twilight gasped suddenly, "Queen Chrysalis!" Firo looked at the horror on the ponies faces as they passed a worried look between one another. Twilight, for a moment, seemed to be moving in and out of focus. As if she was there, but also in another time, perhaps a flashback. Rarity shook her head and gave the saddened Twilight an apologetic look.
Firo was about to let the silence continue, but her curiosity couldn't take it and she asked, "Who's that?" After she had spoken she glanced nervously back and forth between the two mares.
"You've been gone a while, so it is understandable that you haven't heard of our lovely friend." Rarity rolled her eyes and continued, "I have finished your dress. Put it on and we shall all disgust this with the girls in the other room." They both left Firo alone once more.
I wonder if this will ever change , she thought picking up the dress from Rarity's sewing machine. Ponies coming and going, but never actually being there for me, is that it? She rubbed the softness of the new dress as a big tears slid down her cheeks, staining the dress. She hugged the clothing tightly and sobbed silently to herself with no pony to comfort her as always.
It might have been more then an hour later, but to Firo it felt like minuets. The time had passed quickly with the mares telling the horrendous story about Queen Chrysalis in full. All the awful things she did for power, how she trapped Princess Twilight Sparkle, and Princess Cadence. The Queen reminded Firo of her mother and the trials she was put through to find a form of solace from her mother. Mothers were suppose to radiate gentleness and love, but Firo had that tradition taken away from her.
"Firo, if what you witnessed was Queen Chrysalis, which seems to be the most plausible answer, then she holds the key into turning you back into a pony." Princess Twilight gave her theory. Firo balled her hands in her lap and wished Twilight to be right. She wanted so bad to be let back into life. Every inch of her body felt shaken with the thought of being alienated. Sure, the mares that sat around her seemed to accept her, but could everypony be just as accepting? She couldn't no for sure, but she didn't want to find out. Every part of her wanted to be normal again.
"Where is this Queen of Mischief?" Firo asked intrigued to know the answer. If it was true that the Queen held the key to her freedom, then she could finally be accepted and start a life; maybe start a life here in Ponyville.
Princess Twilight huffed at Firo and shook her head in frustration. "I don't know and I don't want to. The farther away from her I am, the more exultant I will be."
"Twilight, dear, we all understand how you feel about the Queen, but this is Firo's future we are talking about." Rarity spoke in a calming voice. "Queen Chrysalis may be the only way to help her."
"What about Princess Celestia?" Applejack suggests.
"That's a crazy-lazy idea!" Pinkie squealed in excitement. "We should shoot for that one, yeah! Oooo, maybe Princess Celestia will let us all turn into a hairless creature. I wonder what it feels like to be hairless. Does anypony here know what it's like to be hairless?"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and answered heavy. "I don't know where, Pinkie, maybe you should ask the only hairless creature in here. That might answer your question."
Pinkie gasped, illusive to Rainbow's sarcasm. "That would answer my question, thanks Dashie! Firo, what's it like to be without hair."
Firo rubbed her arms awkwardly under Pinkies glossy stare. She was filled with a happiness Firo could only dream of. "I have hair, it's just not very dense. Well, except the hairs on my head." Firo's voice got quite when Twilight stared intensely at her.
"Satisfied, Pinkie?" Twilight asked without emotion.
"I have a billio-kajillion more questions I would love to ask! How do you work those things on the end of your hooves separately? And where are your ears? Oooo! What about-" Rainbow Dash shoved a hoof into Pinkies mouth making her next question muffled.
"I think one question is good for now," Dash said. "We have more important topics to talk about right now."
"Well, a question a day keeps the chillies away." Pinkie smiled and bounced around the cottage chasing Angel around.
Firo chewed on her lip to settle her nerves. There was a sense of unease floating in the air between the mares and Firo. She went through her limited memory of Celestia and couldn't figure out what was itching the back of her mind. The pieces didn't add up; not completely. What was she not seeing? Yet, it was in front of her the whole time. It was pointed out before and processed, but not thoroughly. The answers to all of their questions seemed to dance in front of them before fleeing out of reach. The crush of time sat heavy on Firo's shoulders, if Celestia found her, no pony knows what would happen to her.
"Do you know of any other pony that could help possibly turn me back?" Firo asked, hopeful.
"Well, there's the Tree of Harmony," Applejack posed.
"I don't think we should try that right away," Twilight mused. "We could try the other Princesses."
Rarity nodded hesitantly. "Yes, we should, but we should also keep Celestia out of this."
Twilight gasped, "no! Rarity that's crazy we have to let her know of any threats."
"Firo isn't a threat, actually I think she's pretty awesome." Rainbow Dash joined in on the conversation.
"I agree with Dash," Applejack said. "Celestia maybe our enemy in this mess. I wish it weren't so, but Twilight, it don't make sense for Firo to be our enemy. Sure we don't know where she came from, but I know honesty when I see it, and I can see it all over her."
"Then you need to get your eyes checked, Jack." Twilight paced back and forth in frustration. "All of you do! You're all just as blind as Fluttershy is with Discord."
Fluttershy whispered from the corner of the room, barely heard over Twilights anger. "I'm not blind with Discord... Um... He just needs a friend..."
"If we need anypony to help us it's going to have to be Celestia. Face it, she's always helped us when we needed her. We can't hide this thing from her." Twilight threw up a hoof at Firo singling her out.
Rarity stomped a hoof on the ground in protest. "Twilight, you need to calm down. There is no reason to this outburst. I understand that your scared of the mystery Firo brings, but it does not condone this type of behavior. And you are the one that needs to get your eyes checked, Twilight. Where was Celestia when you saw the coming of Nightmare moon? Where was Celestia when you were locked in that cave by Queen Chrysalis?"
"Where were you?" Twilight yelled. The room fell silent and no pony moved a muscle. Every one of the mares felt guilty for their own reasons, but Firo had no connection to their feelings. She wanted to get fixed, it was a determination programmed into her brain for the longest time now.
"Princess Twilight," Firo said breaking the silence. "I can tell you have great respect for Celestia, but if we go to her, how can we tell if she's the real one. If it was the real Celestia behind whatever happened to me, then you can no longer trust me. Look at me, do I look like a threat to you? Please tell me. If I do then I'll go out and face this on my own, but for right now I need some sign of solace from you that you will be able to trust me. Please."
Firo pleaded with sad eyes filled with all the pain she's been through. The loneliness of living in a castle isolated from any sign of life, the fear of being forever alone, and the frustration of being turned into something she couldn't dream to understand. She needed Twilight to believe her, she needed it desperately. Firo couldn't imagine what it would do to her heart if she continued to be alienated over and over again. She feared it would take her to her grave.
Twilight seemed lost in thought, thinking about a memory that appeared to change her mind on the whole argument. "Yes. I won't go to Celestia, but we are going to meet up with Princess Cadence and Princess Luna. Before we do that can somepony please bring Zacora here? If you say that Celestia is after you, then she could very well still be in the Everfree forest. We need to get away from here. And Fluttershy, do not tell Discord where you are going. I don't want him messing with our plans." Twilight stared dead on at Firo. "If it turns out that you were our enemy this whole time you will regret your very existence."
I already do , she thought to herself with a nod to Twilight. The answers were still too slippery to catch, but Firo was content to be moving and heading towards a new hope. Why am I the one that has to be caught up in all of this? I was always a kind filly to others, I never told a lie, so what did I do to deserve this? My mother would've said that it was because I was such a pushover, but I can't except that answer. Was I meant to do something great with my life? If so what is it? Firo rubbed her nose to stop the itchy feeling creeping up on it. All she wanted was a normal life with a normal family, now she was in a huge crossfire between friends. It would seem from that, that her hope would be lost from her, but it still clung on with slippery hands. It was starting to let go, but there was no way she was going to let her hope die all together. A small part if her could still be crushed and it was the only sense of normal that she could still feel.
Firo loved that.
Zacora came late in the day with a bag full of potions and other remedies. Even after Twilight had explained the circumstances they where in Zacora wasn't prepared for the surprise that Firo held inside the cottage. Things were a little more settled this time around. All the mares were standing around to watch Zacora fiddle with her new patient. Firo wasn't as enthused as Zacora seemed to be. In fact she was dreading every touch and theory the zebra came up with. The thing she felt worse about was the fact that all the mares were watching her, staring at her like a wild wounded animal. On the contrary, that was exactly what she was; a lost mysterious creature who needed help in order to find the answers she needs.
"What do ya think is wrong with 'er?" Applejack asked.
Zacora shook her head and put her hooves on either side of Firo's face. "I am afraid for this is the beginning that will leave our minds spinning." Firo gave a confused look towards Applejack, who in turn said nothing.
Princess Twilight stepped over to the two. "What does that mean Zacora? That we are all going to get huge headaches dealing with this?"
"'Bout sums it up, Twi." Rainbow said. "I think we should just get Cadence and Luna here. They can help us. I can fly and get them, I am the fast flyer you know." Dash winked at Firo which made her face turn red.
"OH MY GOSH! She can change color!" Pinkie exclaimed jumping around the cottage. She was instantly hushed by Twilight.
"Fine, Dash, do get them and be back here so-" Before Twilight could finish Rainbow was out the door and halfway to Canterlot. Firo was amazed, like she always was when she saw how fast pegasi could fly. Twilight let out a frustrated sigh and stared intensely at Firo. "You guys want to hear a story. It when I was called by Princess Celestia to go into that portal. I was instructed to never tell anypony what happened, but seems that what is happening here today has a lot to do with the portal, I might as well." She ordered everypony to take a seat, all except Zacora and Firo; who were now moved onto drinking different remedies.
Princess Twilight started explaining what happened.
A few hours had passed, before Luna and Cadence made it to the Cottage. Firo remember seeing Luna before in her dreams, but she couldn't recall her before that. She's never heard of Cadence before, but she did notice that there was something off about the Princess. There where dark circles under her eyes and her belly was sticking out, but not enough for anypony else to notice. Firo wasn't even sure why she noticed, but the smirk on Zacora's muzzle showed that she knew what Firo was thinking.
The elements of harmony all bowed to their visitors. Everypony exchanged a "hello" and "how are you". Firo sat awkwardly; there were so many ponies in the small cottage that bit was almost overwhelming. She was used to solitude, not parties everyday. Firo's eyes shifted to the two new Princesses on the scene; Luna and Cadence. Cadence seemed to be the only one who was panting from the fly.
"Oh, my! This is..." Cadence said startled. "Um... I was not expecting that."
Twilight motioned for Cadence and Luna to take a seat. Once they did so all the mares were positioned in a circle around Firo ready for an interrogation. Zacora poked Firo with a sharp stick making her jump. A small part of her wished that she hadn't run away. She knew that she had to escape, but this was all so complicated and jumbled that she longed for being alone.
Princess Luna stared at Firo, but seemed to be looking someplace else.
"Princess Luna and Princess Cadence-" Twilight said with a tinge of bitterness in her voice "-thank you for making time to come and meet us to talk about the issue here. Firo Blaze came out of the Everfree Forest sometime today and told us not to trust Princess Celestia."
Cadence gave a confused look. "Why? Princess Celestia has been nothing but kind for as long as I've known her. How could I not trust her just like that?"
Twilight nodded at Firo to get her to tell what she told the elements. Firo went over what happened in the field with Celestia with as much detail possible and how it led to her imprisonment. She stopped to catch her breath in certain places in the story. Firo could feel pressure building in the back of her head while she told her story. She had the feeling as if she was saying something wrong, but she has to do this. Even if it hurts somepony she still has to put an end to Celestia's reign as a Princess. If it turns out not to be Celestia and it is simply an imposter, then Firo will have saved Equestria. Either way madness will be stopped and that is all Firo wishes. When she finished Luna was the first one to speak.
"Listen," Luna kept her eyes on Firo and she immediately knew that they both shared something in common; being a prisoner. "I knew about this... My sister imprisoned me for the monster I had become. However, that doesn't mean I was blind to the world. I could still see and hear the dreams of ponies of Equestria. Sometimes, my mind stretched further than that. I can tell you now that magic can hurt more that it can help in the hooves where it is not meant to be. The more I tried to stop my jealousy the more it turned corrosive and dangerous. I would not have strayed from my room in the Castle had I not thought this was an importance." She stopped and closed her eyes. "My sister seems fine in the eye of the public, but outside of that... She's a monster. Not worse than what I was, but a monster none-the-less."
Princess Twilight shook her head. "That's not possible. I don't believe that she could have hid this for that long. She told me everything, taught me how to correct my spells and she was there when I missed my parents."
Luna opened her eyes and sorrow filled them to the point of over flow. "She may be kind, but she has more secretes that just Firo Blaze. I've seen her best secrete yet... And some ponies have gotten hurt because of it."
"Is that why your neck is bleeding?" Firo announced. She could hardly see it because of how Luna's hair was positioned, but she could see enough of it to know it was there. "What did she do to you?"
Luna looked at Twilight specifically when she talked. "I got in her way when I should have just held my peace."
"What was she doing?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Luna shook her head while Zacora stopped poking at Firo to see what damage was done to the princess. "It is true who did this to you." Zacora said. "You were told to sit and watch a loved one being hit and fought."
Everypony looked at the Princess of the night with compassion. She spoke with a heave voice. "We are here to talk about my sister not myself. Princess Twilight it time you deal with the thought of things not being how they should be. Celestia should be how you remember her, but for some reason she has changed."
Rarity spoke up. "Firo had said that when she was a filly she saw Celestia have glowing green eyes; Like Queen Chrysalis."
Firo saw Cadence tense up. "No, she can't be. That's impossible... Back then she wasn't strong enough to be able to do that. Even so we got rid of her, so then we shouldn't be having this conversation. I don't see how it would be Chrysalis." Her voice snagged on the name.
"If it is not her then I am sad to say that we are very unprepared." Rarity said.
Applejack sighed. "Ah have ta be leavin' now. We are very busy at the farm and they need my help. I say that we all get a good nights rest and continue this tomorrow. This is all very confusing."
Twilight was quickly to reject. "Princess Luna and Princess Cadence got here only a little bit ago. I don't think it would be a good decision for us to quit now."
Rainbow Dash stood and stretched. "I think Jack is right. We all have things that we need to do. Cadence and Luna can both come back or they can stay at your castle for the night. Hey! Why don't we move Firo to your castle? We wont be so cramped while figuring this whole thing out."
Fluttershy gave an unnoticed, "I'm sorry."
"No." Twilight said shaking her head. "Moving her would take too much effort. Ponies would start asking questions that would be difficult to answer."
Luna gave a small smirk. "I've been around long enough to have seen and learned many spells. Plus, one of my gifts is getting around unnoticed by all the ponies of Equestria. I know your talent is magic, Princess Twilight, however you are only beginning to learn about spells."
Twilight sighed making it obvious she didn't want Firo anywhere near her. "Fine, we will meet tomorrow at the castle to talk more about this. Cadence, Luna are you two going to stay at my castle?"
Luna nodded without hesitation. Cadence didn't answer as quickly. "I can, but I might have to leave to take care of something. I asked Shinning Armor to take care of the kingdom, but you know how he is Twilight." She laughed a little and so did Twilight. Everypony else sat confused.
Rarity nodded to her friends and bowed to the princesses. "Well, I must go to work on dresses for Twilight's celebration party. Time flies, it seems like it was just yesterday that Twilight was made into a princess." She stopped to relish in the memories. "See you later girls." With that she left.
Along with her Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkie Pie said their goodbyes and left. Zacora stayed to poke at Firo and Luna, which both tried to push the zebra away to no avail. Fluttershy looked awkwardly at the five, but didn't say anything. She was thinking to say something but was too shy to raise her voice. Firo knew how she felt. She hoped that Fluttershy was never treated the same way for her shyness.
Cadence stood and stretched. "I'm going to head off the your castle now. Zacora, would you like me to escort you to your home?"
The zebra nodded and the two both said a farewell before they took off.
Twilight looked at Fluttershy with seriousness. "Fluttershy, no matter what you can not tell Discord about this. If he knows then he might go to Princess Celestia herself and ask her questions that might make this situation even more complicated. Understand?" Twilight was satisfied with a small squeak from Fluttershy before she abruptly left without saying much more.
Luna thanked Fluttershy for letting them stay in her house to talk about the uncomfortable topic. Firo continued to sit awkwardly and figured out where she fit in all of this. None of this would've happened if it wasn't for her. "Come on Firo, let us go to Princess Brat's castle." Both Fluttershy and Firo laughed. "Hold onto me." Firo did as she was told, but said goodbye to Fluttershy before she did.
When she grabbed hold of Luna she watched Fluttershy gasp and look around for a little bit before she called for her animals to come out of their hiding. Luna walked forward and Firo was shocked when they walked through the door. It hit her when they left the cottage that everything was black and white. Absolutely no color to be seen. The sky was pitch black with stars that moved constantly around a large moon straight above. Firo felt safe in this place of darkness; it was solitude at its finest.
The silence stretched between them until they reached Ponyville. Luna filled the gaps. "When I was younger I could manipulate my surroundings and hide from view. It was not strong back then and I would find myself visible in places I wasn't suppose to be. My father created a spell to give my gift the power it needed to really work. With that spell I could listen to the troubles of the kingdom. I will admit that it got stronger as I grew older, but it was my own slice of peace nonetheless."
Firo wasn't sure what to say so she remained silent. She watched as gray ponies went about their business. None of them seemed to even have a clue that they were there. Firo wondered how often Luna did this, so she asked. "Do you do this a lot?"
Luna nodded. "Sometimes it's the only thing that helps clear my mind. Celestia tends to clutter it when she's in a mood and I'm sure you know what that is like."
"I know that well. I really wish that none of that happened. Right now, I would be working and doing something important, useful. The way I am, I'm afraid that I'm causing more trouble then actually doing any good."
"That could very well be true."
Firo's heart sank. "Oh... Nice pick-me-up."
"I was not finished. That could be true, but if you never let yourself come to light no pony would ever be able to figure out about my sister."
"Couldn't you have told anypony?" Firo questioned.
Luna sighed. "Celestia put a spell on me after I came back to Equestria. She said it was to protect anything bad from happening again, however it was for her own good. When you put a spell on somepony, you either need their consent or need to have a lot of power. I said yes, because I trusted my sisters judgement. She used a lot of magic, but not as much as she would have had she forced it on me. When she did it I was not allowed to speak the secretes that she held. There was a loophole that I found out about; if somepony else knew her secrete, then was I allowed to speak of it. You are the key to letting all of Equestria know of what my sister has become. Do not, for any reason, loose hope in what you are doing."
Firo felt comfort in Luna's words. They had reached Princess Twilight's castle and she was put back by it. The castle was in the shape of a tree. Not what she expected from the princess, but she guessed it was what made the Princess comfortable. Twilight was leaving the castle in a hustle with Rainbow Dash flying above in a hurry. There expressions were light and happy, something Firo thought impossible after the day they had. As her and Luna settled inside of the castle Firo thought about what she saw. She thought, how can a pony be happy after such a complicated day? All of a sudden it clicked inside of her: All complications will be solved as long as your able to smile through them.
"Luna? How long has Celestia been acting this strange?" Firo asked from the other side of the room.
She answered somberly. "Longer than you know."
Cadence showed up a little later with an expression of concern on her face. Firo kept a watchful eye on Cadences stomach. It bulged out, but not enough for anypony to take any real notice to unless they made it a point to pay attention. Firo had to pay attention to any minor details or the cause she fought for would be lost. Cadence looked over at Firo painful, almost with pity in her eyes, but for who was the pity directed toward; Firo or herself?
The mare went straight into the guestroom Luna chose to stay in. After minuets passing Firo went to the room and stood outside of the closed door. She could hear the undertones of back and forth conversation. Unsatisfied she put her ear lightly up against the door and waited for the inaudible voices to become heard. Sniffing and sobbing was the first sound she heard.
Luna was the first one to speak. “Cadence this is a beautiful thing to happen to us mares in a certain time in our life. You should be celebrating.”
Cadence spoke between sobs. “No, Luna, you don’t… understand. This is a horrible thing… to happen… What if… This can’t be… Zacora said…” she stopped long enough for Firo to know she was putting herself together to be comprehendible. “Zacora told me that the only known hope will come to save us all. But that implies that something bad will happen before then. Luna what we are doing could very well start a chain reaction that could put everypony in danger. What if we are making a mistake? Then everything we know is turned upside down before we can figure out what it is we need to do.”
Luna replied rationally. “It is going to be alright if you let it be. Look at right now, nothing you know is turned upside down as of now. In the future, I am not pleased to admit, that yes unplanned events will turn sour, but that will come in time. For now you need to remain as calm as you can possibly be. Don’t tell anypony else about what Zacora had said to you, it will only cause greater strife. I believe you are capable of doing this, because you are filled with love, Princess Cadence, and since you are filled with love you can push away your fears.”
“Thank you, Luna, but what you’re saying only eases me a little. I’m still apprehensive about this whole thing. I want to know who are only hope is.” Cadence paused. “Could it be Firo? We don’t know much about her… Do you think?”
Luna sighed with a tired breath. “I wish I could tell you the answer, but I lack the insight of what you seek. Perhaps the only way to get your answer is by waiting for future event to unfold. We will all see who is going to give Equestria hope in due time. Cadence I understand that you are very nervous, but you must be calm in these times. All the ponies outside of these walls need your assurance that you are able to be serine in the worst of situations. It gives the ponies of Equestria some reassurance.”
Cadence stayed silent for quite some time before she spoke again. “Okay, I will try my hardest to think rationally on the upcoming events. Than-”
Firo walked away before she heard Cadence finish her sentence. She was already around the corner and down the hall to the library before Firo heard Cadence leave the room. She closed the door to the library and marvels at all the books. There were books lining the entire cylinder room with two long ladders reaching to the top. Firo jumped when she saw something move out of the shadows towards her.
Firo’s mouth dropped when she saw it was a baby dragon. She knew better then to assume it was a baby right away, since dragons age differently then ponies do. Their growth rate is either slower or faster, depending on the type of dragon.
The Dragon stood and gaped at Firo, frozen in fear. Firo felt a ping inside of her chest where her heart sat heavy. She knew that she would have to get used to being started at in fear and discrimination, but it didn’t make the expressions any easier to take.
“Uh… um… Y-you aren’t supposed to be here…” The Dragon said in a skittish tone.
Firo questioned what he meant. “In where? Here or the castle in general?”
“The Castle… If you don’t l-leave not I’m going to have to force you to leave…”
Firo felt even more confused. Didn’t Twilight tell him that I was coming? I think that’s a really hard detail to miss. “Well, Twilight let me stay here with Princesses Luna and Cadence. We’re here because of… well… That’s not too hard to figure out.” She said motioning towards her form.
“How did you get out of the other dimension?” The Dragon asked confused.
Firo brows furred together with utter confusion. “What are you…?” Then she remembered Twilight explaining about the portal to another world with creatures that walked on two legs and didn’t have magic or wings; creatures like Firo. “No, I was never in that other world. I was born and raised in Equestria.”
“That’s strange… Well, what happened to you?”
Firo shrugged and motioned towards the sitting area in the center of the library. They each choose a seat close enough to one another without being too close. “Can I ask what your name is?” Firo asked.
“Uh, sure, my name is Spike,” he said with a question behind his voice. “What’s your name?”
“My name is Firo Blaze.” She paused, thinking about what she should tell him. “Well, it’s a long story. The short version would be that I escaped a tower that I was being held prisoner by Princess Celestia.” Firo cringed at the memories. “And I also found out that she could possibly be somepony by the name of ‘Queen Chrysalis’.”
Spike’s eyes went wide. “That’s not possible! She-”
“Yes, they explained to me why it isn’t possible. We are in the dark about our enemy and no pony has a clue about the danger Equestria may be in.”
Spike nodded slowly. “So… Where’s the real Celestia?”
Firo felt a chill go down her spine. Where would the real Princess be? She thought. Of course, that is if this isn't the real Celestia we're dealing with. “Spike, what kind of books do you have around her that could inform me on the history of Equestria? Perhaps, all of the challenges it had to have undergone and the enemies it faced.”
Spike shook his head. “There could be one like that, but I don’t know. I’d have to look through a lot of books before I’d find it that is if there’s one actually here, and that’d take a lot of time.”
“I can help you look for it. There’s no place that needs my immediate attention right now.”
“Okay, well, over here is where most of the history junk is.” Spike pointed to a section of the library. “I can start at the top and you can start at the bottom.”
Nothing more needed to be said; they both understood what they had to do. Spike climbed the ladder and started to skim through the books. Firo sat cross-legged on the floor and picked up a book with a title that read Dragons Migration . She flipped through the pages as she discovered new things about the world she never knew before. Spike fell asleep next to her as he read Navigating the Stars while she stroked his back.
In the middle of her reading her mind started to wonder into the dangerous presence of anxiety. She feared, like Cadence, what would conflict in the upcoming events. This was all so sudden that none of them understood how to process it all correctly. To understand the future a pony must understand the present, she read in her book. The passage put her mind at ease for the time being. Her mind demanded for it to be put to rest, but she wanted to find what she was looking for even if it meant being exhausted and cranky in the morning.
She closed yet another book with no luck and rubbed the tiredness out of her eyes. What if there is no explanation in any of these books? Her mind fought with itself. Please, let there be some kind of answer for all of this. I need to find something to be able to prove myself to Twilight. She needs to know I’m on her side that I’m not the enemy. Why is she so upset about me? I’m not the enemy… I wouldn’t hurt a fly…
Then she fell asleep.
