The moon was already high up in the sky before they had erected a camp, the evening air chilling them to the bone. Blaze constantly complained about it, but Tricky had grown used to it out in the woods. She actually enjoyed lying in the sleeping bag Blaze had gotten her, watching the moon through the tree branches, breathing in the fresh air.
Blaze sat by the campfire which he was fueling with his unicorn magic. Waves of warmth flowed over Tricky, making her sleepy. Out of the corner of her closing eye, she saw Blaze standing up. His footsteps came closer and soon she hear him whispering:
“I'm going to go look for something to eat ok? I will be back soon darling.”
“Oki doki...” she murmured and drifted off into the welcoming enbrace of sleep.
That was, without any doubt the most bizarre way to wake up, ever, Tricky thought as she was dragging a sniveling Blaze through the meadow towards the distant lights of what she guessed was Ponyville. Her thoughts wandered back to the camp, just before she had woken up.
Blaze was staggering towards the camp, his face twisted in a look of turmoil and confusion. He could just make out the silhouette of a sleeping mare against the dancing light of the bonfire. Tricky.
As he hurried forward the mare shifted in her sleep, her face unmistakeable in the soft glow of the fire. Blaze involuntarily let out a cry of surprise and anguish. He rushed forward, mind racing and heart beating faster and faster, urging him forward.
As Blaze stopped by the mare's side so did his heart. Gasping for air he fell down to his knees, clammed up with all his emotions boiling over in his chest.
“No...No, it can't be.” His eyes filled up with tears, there was no use trying to stop them. He broke down next to the mare, sobbing uncontrollably.
“...Y-You...” The soft, curly mane was unmistakeable. He couldn't stop himself from admiring her calm features, only for a second, before leaning in and longingly kissing her full on the lips.
Tricky's eyes burst open, expression one of extreme confusion and embarrassement. A hoof suddenly smacked into Blazes side, trying to push him away, but Blaze was too powerfull. She twisted her head away, one all too familiar thought passing through her mind:
What the hay?
Blaze looked at her, foggy eyes filling with tears. His voice broke as he spoke.
“But... Why are you acting like this? Aren't you happy to see me? I-... I've missed you so much, I thought you were gone.” Tricky couldn't meet his eyes, the awkward situation made her sink further into her sleepingbag.
“Blaze what are you doing?” Blaze sobbed, his miserable eyes searching for any comfort in Tricky's.
“I-...I thought you'd be happy to see me... Why are you acting this way... I thought you loved me.”
“Blaze, look you're cool and all but this is a little bit...” Her voice died away when Blaze let out a cry. Tricky closed her eyes and lifted the sleepingbag up, trying to shut out Blaze's sudden madness. “Blaze have you been drinking?”
“How can you say that? I would never drink, you know that! You know me, you know how much I care for you. No, I love you.” Tricky lowered the sleepingbag so that she could glance at him, only to see his staring eyes fixing her's. She couldn't look away, he looked so miserable that even now she wanted to comfort him, if he stopped harassing her that was.
She heaved herself out of the sleeping bag, but kept her distance. Blaze approached her, eyes burning with tears and confusion. Tricky noticed something flickering by Blaze's flank.
No, Blaze's flank was flickering.
Blaze was on fire, her eyes didn't lie, even though the last time she'd seen those flames they had disappeared as soon as they had appeared. They were there, shining with the same warmth and power as the bonfire.
Tricky backed up, her back hit a nearby tree, and Blaze was coming up to her. Oh hay no. He seemed to be struggling with himself, stuttering and blinking repeatedly.
“Is there somepony else? Just tell me, please...” He was now pinning Tricky against the tree, she couldn't even swallow. “Tell me please... I need to know... Tell me!” The flames were engulfing him, their heat stinging her skin. She screamed, wailed in agony but Blaze immobilized her towards the tree.
“TELL ME!” His eyes were pale, filled with tears and anger.
“BLAZE! Stop it you're hurting me-aaaiiiiie!!!” Tricky's breaths came in ragged gasps, a whiteness began spreading in her eyesight. All her thoughts vanished as the pain reached her brain. This is it...
A feeling of weightlessness.
A bright light at the end of a cold tunnel.
A searing pain running trough her body.
Peace, spread through her hooves, it was such an surprising feeling, so freeing. It was better than flying.
Combined with the pain... There truely are no words.
The surface of reality trembled.
Peace was gone, as was the light and freedom. Everything around her thickened, a shiver shook her soul. Wherever she was now, something was wrong.
Around her, ticking hands of clocks crawled by like insects, a golden light flickered above her. A rumbling voice roared around her, weakening her very being with its mere force.
Never take life seriously... No one gets out alive anyways... Even in death.
Something grabbed her. She swirled around, a white fog spread around her, disintegrating into the darkness.
Around her, dark creatures roamed, their black smoke shutting out the light and hope she'd felt before. Anger gushed up, sorrow, grudge, greed and fear, all cooking up at once in the presence of those beasts. They hissed at her, shadows circling her like wolves.
Tricky hissed back, trying to keep them at a distance. Their shadows circled her faster and faster, confusing and ridiculing her. The hissings turned into words.
Mine...
Mine...
Take her...
Give it to me...
Let us live...
We want it...
Take her...
Take it from her...
Mine...
Mine...
Like one, they rose up high over what was left of Tricky. United, they became the creature in the forest.
The one called ... The Lunatic.
No eyes. No ears. Only jaws. It hovered over Tricky, a mere insect compared to the devils before her. Déja vu...
Tricky hissed at it, the little light still surrounding her weakened. She looked down, darkness spread like poison over her hooves.
Mine...
Mine...
Take her...
They pulled her towards them, claws like the fiercest griffons. Her light weakened, the corruption spreading over her heart. A pain, more intense and petrifying than fire shot through her very being. She curled up into a ball, body twitching and shaking in god knows what feeling.
Her light vanished. Eyes darkened. Slowly, the light was sucked out of her core, hovering in the air between the shadows and the empty soul.
The surface trembled. The beasts roared in anger.
Not yet... Tricky. Bring her to me.
A light in Tricky's eyes lit up. A ragged gasp shook her ribcage. The small ball of light was sucked back in, the Lunatic hissed and dove down towards its prey. The voice roared in anger, telling it to stop. But it was already too late.
A warm numbness flowed over her. In front of her, Blaze's face swam in and out of view. The world around her was strangely dull.
I think I just died...
The warmth faded and strengthened, making her acknowledge the fire burning engulfing both of them. Blaze stood before her, still staring, heartache flowing out through his eyes. Like nothing had happened.
Still when he spoke his voice was calmer than before, but his shivering lip cut off his voice a couple of times as he whispered:
“I can't hurt you... You're in my blood.” Tricky couldn't help cocking an eyebrow at this weird remark. “Even if you don't love me... I will never stop loving you. I love you Millie.”
Tricky blinked. All thoughts and wonders of death now washed away with the truth of the real world. As Blaze let go of her he fell down, sobs desperately shaking him. The fire vanished with all the hope he had left.
“Hold on... What did you just say?” To her surprise Blaze chuckled.
“You always did have a hearing problem... I love you Millie. Look i even got you these flowers...” He showed her a couple of tattered blue flowers. Tricky recognized them at once and jumped away from them. Blaze started sobbing again, hurt by her reaction. Tricky sighed and face-hoofed.
“Those are Poison Jokes, Blaze!” Reluctantly she grabbed his by his tail and started dragging him towards Ponyville.
There she was now, with the sobbing Blaze on nighttime streets and cursing those damned blue flowers.