//------------------------------// // Chapter 16.) Blaze, The Alicorn With Clashing Memories // Story: Blaze // by Blazing_Mane01 //------------------------------// 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?"