//------------------------------// // Chapter 73 - Brother // Story: Quest For Harmony // by destinedjagold //------------------------------// Flying unicorns were cutting through the air, firing mana beams at the pegasi who were attacking them with swords and lightning bolts. A brown earth pony on the ground was running as fast as he could towards the dreaded Everfree Forest. On his back was a small purple baby dragon, tightening his hold on the earth pony's neck. All the while, the earth pony jumped left and right to avoid the mana and lightning strikes that erupted on the path before him. As he got closer to the forest, a huge flock of different kinds of birds flew out from the forest, and were quickly flying towards the battle. Above, the flying creatures attacked the unicorns, providing enough distraction for the pegasi ponies to bring them back to the ground. Several unicorns started falling down like rocks from the heavens. Getting closer to the forest, he saw vicious wolves of different races rushed out from the forest. Gold Blitz, startled, skidded to a stop and ran back to town, but he was too slow, and soon, wolves began to...run pass him. He stopped as he realized that the wolves were after the fallen unicorns, and those who were in Ponyville. Turning back to the forest, he saw a yellow pegasus mare coming out from the trees, being aided by a bear. Convinced that the animals will bring him no harm, Gold Blitz continued to run towards the forest. The earth pony then stopped a respectable distance from the mare. He closed his eyes as he took quick breaths to calm himself down. He then took a deep breath and sighed. He lifted his head back and opened his eyes and stared at the mare, who already turned her gaze away. “Fluttershy...” the earth pony began, but the mare kept her gaze away even after the bear left them and headed towards town. “Look, I, uh... I'm sorry...” He sighed as he hung his head low and closed his eyes. The mare turned her eyes on him. Gold Blitz sighed. “What I did to you back there was completely wrong, and I'm sorry. I really really really am...” He lifted his gaze at the mare, who was now facing him with angry yet teary eyes. “I am so sorry, Fluttershy. And, and I hope you can forgive me...” He wanted to hug her but that may be pushing it a bit far. He settled on nodding to her instead before dashing to the forest behind the mare. Fluttershy turned her head and stared at the brown earth pony until he was completely under the shadow of the forest. Her ears drooped as she sat on the ground and began to shed some tears. She doesn't know if she will be able to forgive him. --- Reaching the chamber where Luna is imprisoned, Gold Blitz stood on the raised platform before the princess' gem-like case, while Spike stood behind him. The pony stared at the alicorn's gentle features with doubt in his face and mind. ‘This feels so wrong... I know I've said that I won't be troubling myself with this world's problems but...’ He turned his head back and saw Spike was quietly staring at his feet with both hands behind his back. Two bat-winged pegasi stallions are standing near the stairway, and both were carrying torches to brighten the dark chamber. The earth pony sighed quietly as he returned his gaze on the princess of the moon. ‘I'm going back home. And I'm going to continue my life there, and forget the things that ever happened here.’ He sighed as he closed his eyes and hung his head low. ‘C-could I live with that? I mean, the only reason why I came here—or rather, why I decided to come back, was so I could fix those black clouds from home. And that was it. That was only it. But why?’ He gritted his teeth in annoyance. ‘Darn it! Why do I feel like I need to do something first!? This is the very reason why I don't like to socialize much! I become so attached to the people...and ponies and dragons, that leaving them without helping them dealing with their problems gives me so much guilt!’ He quickly and angrily threw his eyes open and stomped the ground with a hoof mixed with frustration. Spike saw this, and wanted to ask what is troubling the earth pony, but decided against it after the earth pony stomped again and hissed, and stomped and hissed, again and again. Gold Blitz stopped, and panted as he felt his sweat running down from his head. He breathed through his open mouth, which was smiling a bit. ‘It's...kinda weird that a furry creature like myself is sweating. Dogs back home sweat through their noses and tongue...’ He shook his head slightly, making the baby dragon wonder what he was thinking. Neither of them spoke when they went inside the Everfree Forest, and even when they reached the old castle of the alicorn sisters. And now that they're here, neither of them said a word to each other yet. Spike wanted to say goodbye or something else, but he couldn't manage to even make a sound, and he doesn't know why. Though he has a basic idea of what is going on. Gold Blitz did mention that he's going to fix the black clouds. Now that he fixed it, he'll go back home, and probably won't come back ever again. He is not sure if that thought is true, but something inside him is telling him that this is going to be their last time seeing each other. Sighing, he took a few steps towards the earth pony. “G-Gold...?” No answer. The earth pony was quietly breathing while his head was hanging low with closed eyes. Spike took another step forward. Unknown to him that Gold Blitz was busy talking to the voices inside his head. “Gold?” Still no answer. Spike was about to call his name again when the earth pony slowly lifted his head and gaze back at the princess. The spacious chamber became quiet, allowing only the burning fire's noises to echo as it burned the torches that were held by the pegasi stallions. “Spike...” Gold Blitz called, almost a whisper. Spike was startled a bit. He straightened himself, trying to steal himself as well to prepare himself for their farewell. “Tell me... I wish to hear it again...” Spike tilted his head on the side with confusion completely written on his face. “Tell you what?” “Tell me... Who am I to you again?” It was quiet for a while. Spike didn't expect such a question. “Uh... You are like...a...brother to me, Gold...” Spike smiled weakly as he felt his eyes were starting to water. He took a breath to calm himself. “A brother, Gold. That's why I decided to follow you around, and, uh...” he trailed off as he scratched his head. He wanted to add some more to what he was saying but— “A brother...huh...” Gold Blitz thought out loud, still gazing at Luna's calm features. “Back home...I have a brother. Two, in fact, and they mean the world to me... Kronz and I are very close, and we always tell everything to each other.” The earth pony chuckled weakly before continuing, “Xilfer, on the other hand, is very rebellious and independent. He's always with his friends, and no longer spends time at home for us...” The earth pony sighed. “Then again, I couldn't blame him. Our dad ruined our peaceful lives, breaking our peaceful family. It made us drift apart, but we managed to collect each other again but, Xilfer drifted further...” He sighed again. “But even still, I still care for him. I care for them both. That's why I came back to fix my world so they can have a better world to live in.” Spike trembled a bit. He tried to calm himself, but he couldn't. He's going to say goodbye, and the baby dragon isn't sure if he could handle it. Gold Blitz sighed once again. “The three of us are brothers... We used to do a lot of crazy stuff together, but now, it's only me and Kronz...” He turned his head back, and stared at the purple dragon with teary eyes and a small grin on his face. “Strangely, I also consider you as my brother... So before I say goodbye...” He grinned further, confusing the already confused purple dragon. “...wanna do something crazy before I go?”