//------------------------------// // Ressurection // Story: Blazing Dragon // by Zanem-Ji //------------------------------// Sparks gasped to inhale a mouthful of air as she snapped into an upright position. Her vision was blurry as she jerked her head around in an attempt to figure out where she was. She was sitting on a long metal table, surrounded by tools that made her cringe at the sight of them. There were books packed onto shelves that lined the walls. A few desks were in the room, covered with various beakers that were full and empty, and a few jagged chunks of crystals as well. She didn’t like this room. How did she even get in here? It didn’t matter. She needed to leave. She slid off of the table, her legs nearly giving out under her own weight. She took a couple deep breaths, then slowly walked up to the only door she could see. She reached up for the knob, but stopped when she heard somepony yelling on the other side. “I told you at the base of the neck and the left ventricle for 15 seconds!! Why, Rarity?! Why didn’t you do it?!” She recognized it to be Twilight, and pressed her ear up to the door, waiting for Rarity to respond. “You haven’t even done the damn spell on her yourself!! Why in Equestria would I put a crystal in heart and risk killing her?!” “YOU TOLD HER TO DO WHAT?!” Dash’s voice boomed. “WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM, TWILIGHT?!?!” “IT WOULDN’T HAVE KILLED HER PERMANENTLY!!” “BUT IT WOULD’VE DONE IT!! PERIOD!!!” “It probably would've stopped me from doing this...” Fluttershy stated softly. There was a few seconds of silence on the other side of the door. “Ya can’t blame yerself, ‘Shy. Ya had no idea what the hell was goin’ on.” Applejack pointed out in a gentle tone. “That doesn’t matter!” Fluttershy shouted bitterly. “I messed up! AGAIN!” Sparks frowned as she heard Fluttershy break down into tears. What had the gentle Pegasus done that was so wrong?” “You didn’t mess up.” Twilight stated. “Rarity did.” “WHAT?!” Rarity screamed. "Are you kidding me?!" There was the sound of a small fight breaking out. Sparks jumped back as she heard something hit the door with a loud thud. “HEY C’MERE!! KNOCK IT OFF!!” Applejack shouted. “Twilight, please stop!!” Pinkie begged. There were a few more sounds of struggle before it died down. “Ya’ll need tah get a hold on yerselves!” Applejack scolded. “Enough is enough!!” “It’s never enough.” Rarity spat. “We’ve been doing this for almost a century now, and for what?! A dragon who wouldn’t hesitate to kill you right now if he had the opportunity to do so!!” “Shut your fucking mouth!” Twilight barked back. "He's still my brother!!" Heavy silence filled the room once more. “I did this to him…I should’ve been dead decades ago…and I’m not, because he took that thing that was inside me, and sealed it away in his own body.” Sparks heard Twilight's voice start to crack. “And every day, I sit alone and wonder; 'Why the fuck did none of you kill me off? Why did you girls save me? Why must my brother suffer for my mistakes, for my crimes?’ Those are questions that eat away at my soul all the time. And it’s not just Spike that suffers...but all living creatures, because of my sins. So of course, I’m going to do whatever I need to do to stop this, and if that means killing Fluttershy for 15 seconds, then I will!! I have faith in my skills, and in you, my friends." she honed in on Rarity, "You've been around me the most these last few decades, Rarity…I would never have shown you something that would permanently kill Fluttershy. You should know me better than that…” Again, there was more silence. There were a couple ‘clip clop’s of hooves. “You’re right…I should’ve known better…and now…we lost Bright Spark because of my mistake…” Rarity spoke softly. Sparks’ ears perked up. What the hell was she talking about? She was fine! Tired, cold, and confused, but fine. Perhaps she needed to show her. She pushed the door open, “I’m perfectly fine, Master Rarity! See?” All eyes turned to her. Jaws either dropped or hooves went to cover lips. Sparks frowned in confusion, “What?” Rarity stared at her for a few more moments, looking over her body with shock and horror etched into her features. She then snapped her head in Twilight’s direction, “What did you do?” Twilight’s expression didn’t change. It hadn’t since Sparks entered. She looked over her form as well, “It worked again.” Applejack leered at Twilight, “What worked?!” she gasped and leered at Twilight, “Tell me ya didn’t do what Ah think ya did…” Sparks looked back and forth between all the mares, “What’s going on?” Twilight looked back at her, “I’ve infused your corpse with EvenTide crystals.” Sparks' eyes went wide, "My corpse? “You mean…I’m…” She stopped as all of her memories flooded her mind. She went on a mission with Rarity, Fluttershy, and a small platoon of fighters. They were attacked by a horde of mutated ponies. A griffin came and nearly killed her and Rarity. Fluttershy lost control of her powers. Twilight appeared. Crystal Manipulation spell. Fluttershy ripped her throat out. Rarity and Twilight were standing over her. Her mother reaching out for her. Sparks shook her head. This wasn’t possible. How could she be dead?, She was standing right here, in front of them. She placed a hoof to her throat. She could feel a thick, fleshy scar on it. She looked at her mentor, “Master Rarity…can I see it?” Rarity didn’t answer. Instead, she let her vision drop to the ground. The others except Dash averted their gazes. “Really? Nopony is gonna do it?” Dash questioned. She looked at Twilight, “You’re the one that made her look like that. Why aren’t you giving her a mirror?” Twilight shot her a glare, “Shut up, Rainbow Dash.” “Fine, I’ll do it.” Dash looked back at the young Unicorn, “Come here, Sparky.” Sparks immediately obeyed, following Dash to her work station. The Pegasus grabbed a thin sheet of metal and held it up in front of her. Sparks gasped as she took in her new, twisted body. Her fur was now a paler shade of orange, the lack of life dulling it significantly. Light lavender crystals jutted from her body, none of them longer than six inches. Small patches of crystalline scales covered the massive scar, the size of it being a blatant testament of her death. There were splotches of dried, crusted blood still splattered all over her neck and face. It was also caked on her coat and mane, and stained her teeth. Her eyes widened as she looked at them in the reflection. They were glazed over, and her pupils were unnaturally dilated. There was also a small ring of light blue surrounding her dull hazel and lavender irises. Another tell-tale sign that her body was no longer alive. “You’re a zombie, Sparky.” Dash stated bluntly. "Twilight turned you into a zombie." Sparks spun around, her glare honed in on Twilight, “What have you done to me?!” Twilight dropped her act of being a hardened pony, “I infused you with EvenTide Crystals. They’re of my own creation. When I was the ruler of Equestria, I made them to give off light, heat, and to communicate with the citizens. But the thing that makes EvenTide crystals unique, is that…they are alive. My element, The Element of Magic, has made them alive. And, when I, um…” “Went bat shit crazy possessed.” Pinkie stated. Twilight rolled her eyes before continuing. “When I held the throne, I used those crystals to create…monsters from them. Or, I could simply infuse a living creature with the crystals, and control them.” Sparks looked back at herself in the reflection, “So…you mean to tell me…that I’m just one of your puppets now?” Twilight quickly shook her head, “No! No, I'm not a mad tyrant anymore Bright Spark…you are in complete control of yourself. I have simply given your body the means to continue living.” Sparks looked back at herself in the sheet metal. She placed a hoof to her neck. No pulse. She looked over at Dash, “Can you touch me?” Dash put the sheet metal down and arched an eyebrow, “What for?” “Please?” Dash sighed and trotted closer to her. She placed a hoof on her body and shivered, “You’re fucking freezing.” Sparks closed her eyes and placed a hoof on her chest. She felt no heartbeat either. She opened her eyes and looked back over at Twilight, “I have no pulse. My eyes are glazed over, and my pupils are dilated as if they are no longer receiving light. My body temperature is extremely low, if not non-existent. My fur and skin are paler in color from the blatant lack of blood flow and…” she paused for about 30 seconds, “I’ve just now realized that I haven’t even been breathing since I woke up. I also have no heartbeat. These are all things that the body does after it dies. I am dead. You haven’t provided me the means to live. You have simply tethered my soul to my corpse!” “Bright Spark-” Sparks wouldn’t hear what she had to say. She broke into a gallop, past the group and out of the door on the other side of the room. She galloped down the hall, ignoring the gasps of shocked soldiers who had seen her be killed. It wasn’t until she finally made it outside that she stopped and plopped down onto her haunches. She wanted to cry, but her lifeless body could no longer produce tears to shed. It didn’t stop her face from scrunching up into a pained, sorrowful expression. She heard a set of hooves trotting softly up to her. She turned to the direction of it. “It’s you…Dee, right?” The black Vampony nodded, “Yes. You’re Bright Spark, the daughter of the famous Star Blast.” She bowed before her, “It’s an honor to meet you.” Sparks smiled, “And you’re the Apprentice of Miss Fluttershy, so the honor is mine as well.” She outstretched a hoof to her, “I prefer my nickname, Sparks.” The black pony took her hoof as she sat down next to Sparks and sized her up. She let go of her hoof and put hers on her shoulder, “Your body is cold…so it’s true…you really are dead.” Sparks sighed, “Yes…I am.” Dee smiled, “It’s okay…so am I…” Sparks dull eyes widened. She looked up at her, “What??” Dee sat up straight, showing the jagged scar on her chest, “You’re not the only one Master Fluttershy has attacked. She ripped my heart out and chucked it a good 50 hooves away from my body. Miss Twilight infused my heart with an EvenTide crystal shard, then placed my heart back in my body. The crystal makes my heart continue to pump blood, even though it’s dead. The only ponies who know are the other Fallen, and you." she looked into her eyes, "Listen....Master Fluttershy really is a very sweet mare. She's devastated for what she's done to you....but I hope you know it really wasn't her fault.” She placed a hoof over Sparks’ shoulder, “As for Miss Twilight....she isn’t as bad as you may think she is. She really did want to help you.” “Dead Moon?” A voice called out to her. They both looked up to see Twilight walking up to them. Dee rose to her hooves, “Yes, Miss Twilight? Is there anything I can help you with?” Twilight looked over Dee’s shoulder, “I just need a moment with Bright Spark.” Dee nodded, “Yes, Miss Twilight.” The vampony quickly trotted off, leaving the two Unicorns alone. Twilight turned to Sparks, “Bright Spark…I’m sorry for the emotional turmoil you’re suffering from right now. I understand your pain…really, I do…” Sparks leered at her, “How could you understand what I’m going through?” she questioned bitterly. “Look at what you did to me! I’m a fucking zombie!” Twilight frowned at her, “Do you still remember your parents?” Sparks smiled sadly, “Every detail of them…down to the way my dad snorted when he laughed really hard, and how my mom's eyes would sparkle when she got excited." “How about your friends?” “I remember every friend I’ve played games with…and every friend I’ve met, traveled with, and lost to find you all.” “Do you remember all of the joys and sorrows of your life?” Sparks nodded softly. Twilight tilted Sparks’ chin so she would be looking her in the eyes, “Look at me, Bright Spark.” Sparks looked up at her. Her eyes were glazed over, her pupils were like large black holes, and she too had the light blue rings around her dark lavender irises. She had the same eyes as her. She had the eyes of the deceased. Twilight nodded to confirm her thoughts. “How? When?” “I’ve been dead for 37 years. Death by suicide…” “Who performed the necromancy spell to bring you back? Master Rarity?” Twilight shook her head, “Rarity has something I lost years ago; morals when it comes to magic. She would never turn to dark magic, like I have.” Twilight looked out at the barren, dusty landscape. “When I was completely controlled by the Corrupted One…the monster in me must’ve infused my body with EvenTide crystals to insure I’d live. So one day…I could no longer handle the horrors that I had created, and…I hung myself. I felt myself slip away…and then…I was back. But I was no longer breathing, and I could feel myself getting really cold. I hung there for a few hours, and even 'fell asleep' from the boredom. Fluttershy found me and got me down. That’s when she realized that I was dead, and I had to tell my closest friends about the EvenTide crystals in me…” Sparks bit her lip, before reaching out to touch Twilight’s coat. It was soft, and warm. “You said you were cold when you died, and yet, you’re warm. How are you warm, like a living body?” Twilight looked down at her, “Even I do not have a definitive answer to give you when it comes to that.” She gave a small, barely noticeable smile, “Bu...I like to believe that the love of my friends keeps me warm.” Sparks giggled at her statement, “I like the sound of that…” They both gave each other small, friendly smiles, but the heartfelt moment was cut short when Pinkie bounded up to them. “Twilight, we got a problem!!” Twilight arched an eyebrow, “What is it?” Pinkie started bouncing in a panic, “It’s big!! Super, duper big!!” “What is it, Pinkie?!” “It’s Spike! There’s a message an-and a crystal-the griffin-” Pinkie shook her head to get her thoughts in order, “SPIKE’S FOUND US!! He's sending his horde of Hellions here!!"