//------------------------------// // Chapter 21.) Ivory's Diary // Story: Blaze // by Blazing_Mane01 //------------------------------// "C'mon, guys! Train leaves any minute!" Rainbow Dash was at the front of the group of nine ponies, urging us to move faster so we'd catch the train. Everypony was exhausted. Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia were especially sluggish. I couldn't help but laugh as I pictured what they looked like to Faded Ivory. "Chill out, Rainbow. We're here." I say. Rainbow stops flying backward and observes. She was just about to slam into the side of the train, but she panicked and shot herself back from it. Man, I should've kept my mouth shut! That would've been so funny! "Whoa! Thanks, Blaze!" She replied. "No problem." Everypony stepped onto the train. Ivory, Twilight, and I looked back to say good-bye to Princess Celestia, and to wish her good luck with Canterlot. Remembering that the majority of the Royal Guard are dead, I should probably stay and help with reconstruction... "Oh, it's all right, Blaze. Luna and I can take care of this. Go play with your friends!" Celestia said. "All right, Sunnie. See you and mom after a while," I say, head held high. "Okay, good-bye!" The princess waved to us. "Bye!" I wave back as the train engine fires up. The wheels start rolling. As we ride downhill, I watch as what's left of Canterlot disappears from my vision. The events that took place there has left me very tired, and it's all I could do to keep my eyes open. Amongst the drowsiness, I wonder what I'll do, now that my adventure is over... I would really like to meet my mother again. After living a twisted past for ten years, it would be nice to see my real parents. My real friends. I quickly begin to think about the six ponies that came here with me; of Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie... and of Twilight Sparkle. Thank God for them. If it weren't for them, I'd well be dead already. The thought again occurs to me that I have no immediate way to repay them. Being royalty, however, I'm sure I can think of something later... "Blaze, get your head in the window, already." Ivory's voice was barely audible in the wind. I snap back to reality and jerk my head into the train. "Guess I spaced out for a second there. Sorry." I itch the back of my mane with my right forehoof. Applejack looked back from her seat and smiled. "You've had a long day, Blaze. Why don't cha get some shut-eye?" "I think I will. Thanks," I nod. Ivory looks at me with a concerned face as I get up to go to the last car. I smile as I pass her, then open a door to the back, shutting it behind me. "Blaze? Wake up!" My ears perk up, but only for a moment. I am, or at least I was, having a good dream. I itch my nose on the covers, then roll over into a more comfortable position. "Oh, come on, Blaze. It's nice to know you're still lazy to wake up after ten years." I throw myself upright in the bed. Groggy, my voice cracked, "That's because waking up sucks." Ivory gave me a hug. "I understand. Sometimes, I wish I didn't have to wake up, either. But, if I hadn't woken you, you'd probably miss your stop in Ponyville..." I gasp. "I MISSED IT!?" She giggled. "I didn't say that, Blaze. Actually, we're going to pull in soon. Just thought I'd give you three minutes grace, that's all." I patted her back, then nudged her away so I could get out of bed. "Well, thank you, Ivory." She nodded and left the room. As the door closed behind her, I yawned. At this point, I considered laying back down, because I'm still tired... and I may not get much sleep while giving Faded Ivory the 'grand tour' of Ponyville. I thought about it for a moment, then stretched and hopped out of the covers. I can get all the sleep I wanted once I was settled in to a proper dwelling. Now functioning regularly, I ponder upon how I will spend the next three - maybe two by now - minutes I have before we arrive at our destination. With nothing better to do, I guess I could hang out with the girls... Or I could just watch out the window and simply look as everything passes us without a second thought. Mmm... Ehh, I've had enough of those ponies for one day. I walk up to the closed window and pull up the shade with my magic. "...Ponyville..." I think out loud. Why? Ponyville has suffered from the monster elder as well. I mean, not nearly as bad as Canterlot, but they did lose a hospital. Plus, I'm sure there were wounded, so that just makes the whole thing worse on the 'no hospital' situation. AND, they lost the majority of their doctors and nurses. Jeez, I really need to stop thinking about the immediate and start planning things out. I'm no doctor, but I can definitely help with reconstruction. Now that I have nothing else on my mind, wanting to help seems like the best thing I could ever do for myself. I've been selfish for the past week, and now I have a chance to make up for some of it. I smile. I have found a way to repay the six ponies that helped me through this sooner than I thought! For some reason, however, the elder slips back into my mind. He was trying to tell me something before I threw it in his face... I wonder what he wanted to say? I probably wouldn't've listened to him, but still, it would be nice to know. There was a knock at my door. "Hey Blaze, are you decent? Can I come in?" 'Decent?' Who would ask that question? "Yeah, come on in." The door opened, and revealed a purple coat and mane. I only know one pony with those colors. She continued, "Sorry to intrude, Blaze. I just thought you might want to hang on to this in case Ivory happened across it..." I frown in confusion. "Find what?" "You left her diary on the train last time." "Oh, whoops. Yeah, who knows how she'll react if she found it? Heheh..." I shrug and grab the brown book. She smiled. "Do be a good friend, though, and don't read it. Diaries are personal lives. You don't wanna invade Ivory's personal life, do you?" "Hey, don't give me that. You said yourself you also skimmed through it." "Yeah, but I only read the first couple pages." "Uh-huh. Come on, I know how you are when it comes to books, Twilight." She shrugged. "Ehh... Maybe you do, maybe you don't." "Whatever you say, Twilight." I smile. She nods and leaves the room. Without a second thought, I toss the diary onto the bed. As it flew through the air, several pages opened up, and the book landed cover-down. So it was just sitting there, wide open... Kind of tempting, actually. And the temptation got the better of me. I found my legs walking toward the book involuntarily. There was a picture on the page; a picture of Ivory and me -- No, wait, that's the elder. The elder? What was she doing with the elder!? I run over to it and sit down, scrolling through the text on the page. My jaw gapes further and further the more I read... 'The elder of Blaze's 'village.' He's such a paranoid coot, really. I was kinda surprised that he didn't fight when I left him that... gift... This concoction I've brewed will make the plan I've held for so long finally fall in line. Now, all the elder has to do is spoon-feed Blaze the fake memories and carry out the destruction of the village... And in his search for me, Blaze will fall for me... It's perfect. It's foolproof. I just gotta make sure Luna doesn't get to him...'