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."