Chapter 12
Blaze woke up to the sound of somepony walking through the leaves. Rainbow Dash was still snuggled next to him. He carefully placed her head on the ground, trying not wake her up. He followed the noise and found Linus walking into camp. “Linus. Where have you been? I havn’t seen you since Luna had me go talk to Rainbow and Twilight.” He said. “I was uhh…taking a little morning walk. I couldn’t sleep after what happened to Twilight. I can’t believe she’s gone.” Linus said.
“Neither can I. I remember the stories they told of her and her friends. The Elements are almost dead...Rainbow is the last one. I wish I could’ve done something about it, but I had no idea what she would do.” Blaze said sadly.
“Hey let’s go back to camp. I need to talk to you and Luna about something.” Linus said carefully.
“It’ll have to wait until after the ceremony. Luna wants all military operations put on hold except for sentries and guards.” He said. “I thought you knew? She made an announcement last night. I heard it before I fell asleep next to the stream.” He said pointing towards where he slept.
“Is that Rainbow Dash? Linus asked, amazed. “Uh yea. Lets not talk about that. I need to wake her up so she can prepare a speech for the ceremony."
They walked over to her. Blaze quietly woke her up. “Hey Rainbow. Today’s the ceremony. You should write your speech before it begins.” he said quietly. She awoke with a soft yawn.
"Oh. Right." she said sleepily. They all walked up to Rainbow’s tent. Rainbow turned to Blaze and gave him a look of gratitude. “Thanks Blaze. I needed somepony last night. Thanks for being there.” She smiled, gave him a hug, and went into her tent.
Linus looked at Blaze with an eyebrow raised. “What? Don’t give me that look!” Blaze said.
“Whatever Blaze. Let’s go see Luna. I want to know what she needs for the ceremony.” Linus said as he rolled his eyes. They arrived at Luna’s tent and entered. She was going over something with Shining Armor when she noticed them.
“Blaze, I’m glad you’re here. Shining Armor has something he would like to say to you.” She said.
“Look Blaze. I’m sorry for last night. I was just really upset and couldn’t find anypony else to blame. I know you couldn’t have done anything to stop her. I just felt like it was your fault since you carried her in and started talking. Plus, I really needed to hit something.” He said apologetically. “I do have a request. Could you fly with Rainbow Dash and carry the casket to where we are going to bury her? I would carry it, but I can’t lift it. I’m not at my usual strength.”
“Shining I would have done the same if I was in your situation. I don’t blame you at all for doing what you did. And I would be honored to do what you have asked.” He replied. Shining Armor gave him a nod and a smile of thanks.
The ceremony was to take place at noon. Everypony showed up except for the sentries. Luna went up to the center and began to speak. “Mares and gentlecolts. We are gathered here to mourn the death and celebrate the life of a courageous mare who sacrificed everything for this armyy.” She continued on about everything she did, from fighting off an Ursa Minor to defeating Discord.
When she was done, Shining Armor came up and gave his speech. “I would just like to say, that although I didn’t stay in touch with her through most of her time in Ponyville, she stayed in my heart. She was one of the smartest mares I had ever known. Her incomparable magic ability, her undying love for her friends, and her bravery.” Blaze didn’t pay much attention at his speech. He was too busy thinking of all the stories that he had heard about Twilight, how she saved Equestria from eternal night, how she defeated an Ursa Minor, and how she caused a havoc of Winter Wrap Up.
Before long it was Rainbow’s turn. “Twilight was one of my closest friends. I first met her on the 1000 summer solstice and after that became friends with her. She helped her friends a lot and was able to convince Fluttershy, a scared, shy little pony, to go up a mountain and get a sleeping dragon to leave Equestria. She was able to get her friends to turn Discord into stone after he made us all the opposite of who we were.
“She was smart, brave, cunning, and caring. No pony could take her place. She was more than just my friend. She was also the element of Magic. Without her, most of the ponies we see here with us would not be here. We owe her everything.” Rainbow said as she started to cry. “Twilight…” She stepped off stage, unable to control her sobs. Luna proceeded back to the center. “If you would all join me at the lake.” She said and led the army to the lake behind the camp. Blaze and Rainbow Dash picked up Twilight’s casket and brought it to the grave. As they lowered her in, Blaze noticed Rainbow Dash was crying so much that they were falling into the grave with Twilight.
After the ceremony, everypony went back to their day off. Most were teary eyed by what was said about her. Others kept straight faces. Shining Armor and Cadence left awhile after the others. The only ones left were Rainbow Dash and Blaze. He put a hoof over her shoulder. She was crying. She hadn’t stopped since her speech. He held her in a comforting embrace. “She’s gone…I can’t believe she’s gone… I’m all alone now. At least Shining Armor has Cadence, Luna has her work, and you have Linus. I have nopony.” She said as she weeped into his mane.
“Hey. I’m here. I know what you’re going through. I lost somepony who I thought I would never lose.” He said as he held her.
“Who?” she asked.
He told her about Lily. She was the first pony he had said anything to about her. Rainbow Dash listened to everything he said. He told her about her favorite berries, her favorite books, everything. He stopped when they got to the part on how she died.
“Blaze?” She said as a tear rolled down his cheek.
“I walked into the tent. And a spear had been plunged into her heart. She was only 11 and she became a casualty of war because I took her with me.” Blaze said.
She saw the hurt in his face. She held him close. “I’m sorry. Blaze, like you said, we will avenge them. Chrysalis will pay for everything she has caused.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek. He looked at her. His heart skipped a beat.
“You know, you guys should really get a room.” Linus said behind them.
“Linus!” Blaze exclaimed, surprised that he was there. “Why uhh…why are you here?” Blaze asked. “I thought you left with the others.”
“I did. But Shining came to Luna’s tent and wants to move to attack Ponyville tomorrow. She told me to come get you and Rainbow Dash. I wasn’t interrupting anything was I?” He said, lifting an eyebrow. Blaze and Rainbow Dash rushed past Linus and headed back for Luna’s tent.
“I don’t care if military duties are cancelled! I want everypony to get ready so we can attack Ponyville tomorrow!” Shining yelled at Luna.
“Chrysalis will expect us to attack in retaliation against Twilight. We need to wait and attack when she would least expect it.” Luna tried explaining to him. Blaze and the others rushed into the tent.
“What is this? Are we going to attack Ponyville? Are we going to move forward and move for Canterlot?” Blaze said enthusiastically.
“I would like not to. Chrysalis will be expecting us to make a retaliation attempt. She will be heavily fortifying Ponyville. She wants to end this just as much as we do. This war is making us both very weary. I called you two up here so we could take a vote on what to do.” Luna said as she stared at Blaze.
“I vote yes. For Twilight.” Shining said.
“I say no. Too many lives will be lost for us to be able to defend against a counter-attack from Canterlot.” Luna retorted.
“I have to agree with Luna. I don’t want to see a lot of our soldiers die for something we won’t be able to hold for more than a day.” Linus said.
“I say we attack. Let’s end this once and for all!” Rainbow exclaimed. Blaze was the only one who hadn’t voted yet. He looked at Rainbow and remembered the night Twilight died and what it had done to her.
“I vote yes. It’s about time we avenged our friends and families.” Blaze said.
Luna sighed. “So it’s been determined. We will attack Ponyville tomorrow. I will call everypony together and tell them what is going to happen. I hope you guys are ready for the fight of your lives.” Luna said as she left the tent.
“I hope everything goes as you three want.” Linus said as he followed behind Luna.
“Uh Blaze does he have a thing for Luna?” Rainbow asked. He smiled.
“He would kill me if I told you the answer to that question.” Blaze answered with a wink. “Let’s focus on how we are going to launch this assault. It’s time to take the fight to Chrysalis’ front door.”