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// A game of strategy and piecakes 
// Story: The Journey of Blaze Wing the white parasprite 
// by The One With The Crystal 
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	Blaze was astounded. Princess Cadence was right! Well sort of. At first Shining Armor was totally flipping out because his wife had made a deal with a so called 'criminal'. After the conference ( which had to be rescheduled because some old pony had to push some of Blaze's buttons ) Blaze had to pay a thirty bit fine for terrorizing ponykind and after he payed the fine his punishment would be decided. Though Shining Armor didn't let him go that easily. Blaze flew into the courtyard where Shining Armor was waiting for him. In front of him was a large board and triangle pieces on it.

"What is this?" Blaze asked. "This is a strategy game we use to train new recruits it tells us if they are ready for the fast pace of war or combat. I still don't trust you and you have a long way to go to earn my trust. This is the first step. If you can beat me in this game I MIGHT consider rethinking my thoughts about you." Shining said. His words were tough as rocks. "And if I lose?" Blaze asked sounding cocky. "Then I will keep a Royal Guard member on you at all times." Shining answered without any hesitation. "Then I accept!" Blaze said. "Now what are the rules?"

"Each piece represents a general of an army. You can only move one piece at one time. There are twenty four pieces on each team and once the general has been conquered that person wins. There are spear men who can attack one block away. Archers that can attack two blocks away. Spell casters that can attack four block away, Finally pegusi that can attack two blocks away. Do think you can remember that?" Shining Armor said. Blaze nodded his head. "Then you have the first move." Blaze looked down at the pieces and found a piece that had a spear painted on it. He moved it up a square. Shining instantly moved a pegasus piece forward. Blaze moved an archer behind the spearman. 

Shining moved a unicorn piece slanted left. Blaze moved his spearman up a space. Shining moved his unicorn piece slanted right. "I attack your spearman from four blocks away. You lost one piece." He said. Shining seemed very concentrated on this game, but so was Blaze. They played the game for hours until Shining had half of his army and Blaze had only three pieces. His general, an archer, and a spearman. "Looks like its over for you. The odds of you winning are one in a million. I'm surprised that you made it this far." Shining Armor said. Blaze chucked a little bit. "Whats so funny?" Shining Armor asked. "Its just that........what you said just then........reminded me of a friend I have and he said the exact same thing, but do you want to know what I told him?" Blaze asked as he started to move towards his game pieces. "I can still win with just one!" Blaze said.

It was like lightning! In a blaze of commands and strategy instincts Blaze took out the rest of Shining's army. Shining was left speechless. "Shining buddy if you don't close that mouth of your's your going to be eating flies for dinner." Blaze joked as he flew away. "That kid has some skills. Okay lets see what else he's got." Shining said as he called a guard over. "I want you to follow Blaze around for today. When you think he least expects it ambush him." Shining said. "You want us to hurt the little guy?" the guard asked. "No. Just give him a little rough housing. The traditional welcoming to be precise." Shining said. The guard nodded as he walked off. The traditional welcoming was a term used in the barracks alot. For any 'fresh meat' that joined the ranks they would get ambushed by two royal guard and after that it was a wrestling match. All fun and games. Nopony got hurt too back. The last serious injury that had was a broken back leg, but they have learn from their mistakes and still carry on the tradition. "Sir why do you keep on pushing this parasprite to his limits?" A servant said from out of nowhere. "Jinkens you always sneak up on me no matter what I do. How do you do it?" Shining Armor asked. "Well if I told you it wouldn't be a secret now would it? A slice of cloud cake?" Jinkens asked. Shining Armor gladly took the cake using his magic.

Blaze started to fly close to the ground now. His wings were getting tired and he wanted to land, maybe walk to the kitchen and see what they have. Blaze suddenly realize how distant he was from the others. He stopped to think for a bit. Why am I different from the others? Constantly ran through his mind. He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice a large shadow cover him. Then a punch knocked the wind out of him as he flew a great distance. When Blaze landed he did a whole bunch of rolls down the corridor and finally stopped when he hit a wall. "Did anyone get the number of that cart that hit me?" Blaze said in a daze. His strength was greatly drained and so was his stamina. Click, Click, PING! "Dang it I don't have enough power." Blaze said to himself. A blurred figure suddenly rushed towards Blaze. Blaze didn't have enough time to react so he placed his wings along his body, tucked in his legs, and began to roll.

Blaze has done this many times before to escape from many certain death. The figure missed Blaze by a land slide and hit the wall by accident. Blaze stopped rolling after he turned a corner and found himself facing a dead end. His wings were still tired from the constant flapping so he couldn't fly out. Then Blaze found something that really surprised him. A cupcake made out of a pie! There was a note attached to it. Blaze pulled it off and started to read it.

I know that I'm not in this story, but I couldn't help myself! I made this piecake JUST for you! I hope you enjoy it! Signed, Pinkie Pie

Two things happened in that moment. One, Blaze was totally confused about who this 'Pinkie Pie' was and why did she make him a............piecake? Two, Blaze's hunger for pie resurfaced and he devoured the dessert in one gulp. Slowly Blaze felt a small tingle surge through out his body, then it quickly got out of control as it made him all hyper. "Tooo.......muuuuuch.......suuuugarrrr!" Blaze said even though his body was jumping all around. With a burst of energy Blaze flew throw the air at super sonic speeds. Every thing was just a slow blur to Blaze, as if it was all slowed down. The figure that knocked the breath out of him stood right where he left him. He appeared to be looking for something or someone. "Big guy wants to play rough huh? Well then let go!" Blaze said to himself as he headbutted the figure. 

It was a pony. Not just a pony a Royal Guard pony. That made it a whole lot easier for Blaze to let loose his anger that he held so perfectly well the passed few years. The was only one attack that he could perform at the moment and that was...."Multiple Headbutts!" Blaze screamed at as he attacked repeatedly. Not even giving the pony to regain its balance or breath Blaze kept on attacking without a moments hesitation. Suddenly Blaze's sugar rush ended with a fast and blunt stop. With all of his energy spent he pasted out on the floor. "Shining never did say that Blaze could do this. The little guy actually did a number on me. Well I better get this guy to his room." The guard said as he picked up Blaze with his teeth.