//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: Resistance // Story: Darkness of Ages - Book 1: Greyhield // by YoungQuillMaster //------------------------------// Chain rattled against stone as the prisoner struggled against his restraints. Blaze snorted, the metal cuffs biting into his ankles and sides. The prison guard walked by, their torch illuminating the blood soaked stone around him. Blaze tried again to light his horn, but as he did a force struck him as the magic absorbing material leeched the magic from him before it could even form a cohesive form. Blaze groaned as his cuts began to bleed once more, the red fluid draining out onto the cold stones below him, his strength draining out with it. He looked up towards the bars in front of his cell, still as far away as they had been. Blaze pulled against his chains, but the only give there was from him as he finally sank to his knees. He gritted his teeth together as the flood of pain washed over hm. From around him he could hear the shouts of pain of ponies in torment, ponies dying in the dark to be dragged off by unfazed guards when they were noticed not eating their food for a few days, letting the rotting smell take full effect in the dungeon. Blaze rose to his hooves and pulled against the chain as the sounds of heavy footfalls echoed through the corridors. The sound of jingling metal made him look up to his cell’s door towards the reptilous guard who used one of his many keys to unlock his door. Accompanied by two reptilous guards, the jail keeper unlocked his restraints before locking another set onto him, allowing him to be moved. The guards waited in silence as he was led by his chains out of his cell. The first guard stepped out in front of him, the other following close behind. Blaze walked for what seemed an eternity before exiting into the stormy courtyard where half a dozen other ponies waited in chain like his, each with two guards flanking them. Blaze was shoved into the line between two other ponies. He looked to either side, seeing if he could recognize any of them, but he finally came to accept that no matter how hard he tried to remember them he couldn’t come up with names. He turned when he heard his name called and found himself being pulled by his chains to a block with a basket in front of it with a reptilous holding a massive axe standing behind it. Several other names were called out, each sounding more like a blurb than a name, with more and more ponies walking up to their blocks, guided by their restraints. Blaze felt the pole of the axe slam into the small of his back, making him fall down, his chin smashing into the block. Blaze took a deep breath, knowing what would happen next as the reptilous heaved the axe high into the air in unison with the others who prepared to mirror his actions on the other ponies that each seemed resigned to their fates. The reptilous swung his axe down, the blade severing Blaze’s head from his neck cleanly, allowing his blood to pour out freely as his head toppled into the basket bellow. The sounds of cries, wails, and other sounds of pure horror and pain echoed in his detached ears his final thoughts on his ultimate failure. He had failed to save Equestria, and it was now in Greyhield’s grasp, the blood of thousands running as freely as rivers and streams across the once pure landscape. Blaze shot up from his place on the stone floor. He took several deep breathes in, trying to calm his rather agitated nerves as he gained his bearings. He was still in the Castle of the Royal Sisters in the Everfree forest, the other ponies around him sleeping for the most part, some already milling about to get some food or water from one of the few wagons that had been pulled in last night while most of them slept. Blaze stood up and stretched and walked around the ponies that still slept in small huddles, their own body heat being the only source of heat in the cold castle. Blaze walked up behind a guard who stood in attention, though Blaze could see the signs of fatigue in his stance. He walked up to stand behind the tired soldier, who noticed him rather quickly. “Sir, you’re up early, shouldn’t you be resting you wounds?” The guard asked in a quiet tone as to not wake up the ponies still sleeping. Blaze shook his head. “There are other who need more rest than me, including you. I’ll take over from here, head back in and get some rest.” Blaze ordered calmly, looking over the landscape for any disturbances. “Sir, Yes sir.” The guard replied and walked back in to get some rest. Blaze rolled his shoulders, relieving some tension built up through the stress of his dream. The forest seemed calm, the sun barely even peeking over the horizon. The animals of the forest were most likely still fast asleep as most of the ponies in the castle, but just because the natural life of the forest was still resting didn’t reflect in the slightest how the reptilous were moving. “Blaze? You’re up early.” The tired voice of Amber said behind him, obviously stifling a yawn. Blaze turned to look at her with a smile. “I’m a guard now, I need to keep ponies safe. Besides, I never was one for sleeping in.” Blaze replied, turning back to his post. “Mind if I join you?” Amber asked as she walked up beside him. Blaze smiled and shook his head. Something about Amber made him feel at ease; it was as if her mere presence made all the evil in the world just disappear, something Blaze was very thankful for. “It’s good to see you and the guys again.” Blaze commented. “You’re the best friends a pony could ask for, really.” “We missed you too. It was kind of boring when you left. I understand that you had to go find your family,” Blaze froze at that phrase, feeling a tad guilty he hadn’t explained anything of what had happened during his absence. “But it felt a bit wrong that you just left out of the blue with almost nothing of a goodbye.” Amber finished. “Sorry about that. The train was fixed rather suddenly and we didn’t want to risk the chance of missing it completely and having to wait for the next one.” Blaze replied. “It’s alright, I understand. So, did you find them between becoming the head trainer of the guard and defending Canterlot?” Amber pressed. “No, they weren’t there yet.” Blaze replied opting to not tell her what was really going on. “I… I’m not sure there even alive anymore after two days ago. There’s no saying that Greyhield didn’t find them while marching and just up and slaughter them…” Blaze finished his rather haphazard attempt of a cover story. “Don’t say that. There’s no proof for or against it so just got with the better of the two options. Your family’s out there and you’re going to find them.” Amber stated with every confidence. Blaze sighed slowly, feeling weak. If only she knew, but it would be too hard to explain. He looked up to her and gave an attempt at a smile. “Thank you, Amber. You’re wonderful, you know that?” Blaze said, his smile becoming a much more earnest one. “You just say that, but I’m just telling you what I believe, and what you should believe too.” Amber replied a smile on her features as well. Blaze suddenly heard something that caught his attention. “What is it, do you seem something?” Blaze scanned over the forest and saw a familiar black shape. “Stay here, I need to check something. If anything tall and on two legs comes in this direction signal the guards with that bell.” Blaze said quickly before jumping down from the window sill and into the area around the castle. Blaze tightened the strap that held his sword to his side and trotted towards the bridge to get out into the forest. The forest was clam, the trees not even rustling in the wind, the song of the birds completely silent in the early morning air, only the sound of crunching leaves under Blaze’s hooves showing any signs of life. Blaze walked along the path he had followed that one fateful day to get out of the forest. There were no timber wolves, and even if there were, Blaze felt confident he could handle them. “Flint?” Blaze called out as he looked around, using every technique Flint had taught him on noticing the tiniest details to find traps to find signs of a pony being nearby. “Flint? Are you there?” He called again, finding nothing to tell him definitely that his elusive trainer was nearby. “Flint, if you’re here, tell me.” Blaze said, looking carefully at his surrounding, and then up. Suddenly Blaze noticed a dark shape nothing like a pony climbing through the trees. Blaze jumped back as the silhouetted reptilous fell out of the tree and drew his blade out. The reptilous swung its blade in a wide arc, the steel flashing in the little light there was. Blaze on instinct jumped back while using his magic to unsheathed his sword and block the attack. The reptilous snarled at him and drew a dagger out in its other hand and drove it toward Blaze, who quickly reacted and wrapped the hand and blade in a sheath of magic and stopped it midway. “The ponies truly are desperate, aren’t they?” The reptilous remarked. “Sending out a weakened pony with a blade and only half a clue how to use it to find flint, it’s really quite pathetic, even for your kind.” Blaze’s horn grew brighter as he unsheathed the reptilous’ second dagger and shoved it into the boastful reptilous’ throat. “I might not have my uniform on right now, but you shouldn’t judge a book by only seeing its cover.” Blaze retorted. The reptilous only replied with a gurgling roar that even though it was impeded by a knife, still had enough volume to scare off several birds. Blaze looked at the reptilous, whose lips were now curled back into a smile, in confusion. Suddenly the forest came alive in roars that replied to the original, causing Blaze’s eyes to open wider in comprehension. Blaze quickly ripped the dagger back out of the reptilous’ throat while ripping the sword and dagger out of its claws. The reptilous gave one more throaty noise before finally it succumbed to death. Blaze quickly galloped back the trail towards castle, hoping against all hope he could make it back in time to fight, after all, he couldn’t leave anything to chance; his dream might have been more than it seemed. Blaze crossed the bridge, the sound of bells already echoing through the hall along with the sound of guards trotting out from their post and into ranks. Blaze quickly took his position at the head of the charge, his weapons floating around him. “Sir,” One of the soldiers said behind him. Blaze turned to look at the soldier, fully expecting him to say to get back inside, a request he would promptly deny. “Put this on.” The soldier finished, levitating a suit of chainmail from a box that was stowed behind the first gate. Blaze nodded and teleported the simple suit onto his form, allowing the weight of the chain to fall onto him, giving him a greater sense of security. Blaze turned back towards the forest, several reptilous already emerging with their weapons drawn. “Archers, take out the bridge!” Blaze shouted, signaling to the archers on the walls to release their fire arrows at the four posts of the bridge which were covered in oil, sending the posts into a fury of whipping fire that quickly shot across the ropes that were on either side of the wooden planks, making the entire bridge into a raging inferno. The reptilous didn’t seemed concerned, and rightly so as several of their comrades came rushing out of the forest with ragged wooden bridges that were quickly thrown over the gap several reptilous already beginning to charge across them. “Guards!” Blaze shouted, the roars of the reptilous almost defining, “Charge!” Blaze charged towards the closest bridge, his floating arsenal making quick work of the first, rather surprised reptilous. Blaze used his two daggers and began to make work of the bridges supporting ropes. The next reptilous swung his mighty axe down towards Blaze, who quickly jumped back, the axe slamming through two of the planks. Blaze quickly shot one of his swords towards the reptilous who let the sword pierce him, yet it didn’t seem to react as he slid forward on the blade, his claws bared for the strike. Blaze shot his sword out and cut the wrist of the reptilous, making its well aimed attack go to the side. Blaze heaved the axe from its place between the planks and swung it up into the neck of the reptilous. The reptilous spat some of its blood on Blaze’s face before finally tumbling off the side of the bridge. Blaze levitated the axe out of the falling reptilous and chopped the bridge on one of the main beams, causing it to begin to fall as the axe shot straight through and fell down, clattering against the rocks as it toppled down the cliff face. Blaze jumped back onto the solid ground as the bridge began to sag precariously. One of the reptilous quickly slid up beside it and held the two joints together as one of his comrades vaulted over him and charged on as the reptilous directly behind him slid up beside him and jammed its two daggers into the bridge, the blades going straight through, before pulling them out and threading a rather sturdy rope through the hole and tying both ends together, securing the bridge once again. While Blaze still gaped in awe of the efficiency of their quick repair job, the first reptilous arrived, its duel sword plunging straight down towards his body. Blaze sent his two daggers into the reptilous’ throat and cranium while using his two swords to divert the sword away. Blaze shot a bolt of fire at the rope, catching it on fire, only to have the reptilous that passed it step on it intentionally and put it out within a few passes. Blaze swung his sword at the newt reptilous, who simply jumped over the attack and landed behind him, killing two of the guards with its sword and spear. Blaze bucked the reptilous in the back of the head while ripping its spear from its grasp and slamming it into the next reptilous, sending it straight through and into the chest of the one behind it. Blaze sliced his sword across the reptilous throat and planted his second sword soundly into its back. Blaze again focused his attention completely on the advancing reptilous and noticed that there was no more reptilous waiting to cross the bridge except those already on it. Blaze took it as a blessing that this was probably just more of a raid to keep the ponies guessing instead of an actual attack to end it all right there. Blaze lifted his sword from the reptilous back and took the sword it was holding and sent them towards the reptilous line. The first pierced straight through the leading reptilous’ chest, the second slammed into the next’s leg, and the last sliced right by the rope holding the bridge together. Blaze watched as the bridge teetered, cracked, and split down the seam and toppled into the chasm bellow, sending all of the reptilous on it down. Blaze looked over the edge of the cliff, but quickly shot backwards, standing on his hind legs for a second before flipping back onto his hooves as a blade shot out towards him. Blaze pulled the blade up and then span it around and sent it straight back, gaining a painful roar as the reptilous had its very own blade end its existence. Blaze again peered over the edge and saw the broken forms of the reptilous scattered on the gully floor. Blaze turned around and charged to get to the next bridge, only to find the ponies around him celebrating a quick victory. Blaze looked around and realized quickly that there were no more bridges left spanning the gap between the forest and the castle. Blaze sighed in relief; they had successfully defended the ponies of Equestria, a point that made him feel quite a bit better about Canterlot. He sheathed his sword and planted the other weapons in the earth, not feeling the need to keep them around. Blaze trotted back to the castle, a smile across his muzzle as he entered through the main doors, only to notice something off, namely the lack of happy ponies who realized the battle was over and wanted to see their sons, husbands, and fathers again. He drew his blade again as he inched down the short corridor to the main room. “Blaze!” His name rang out from the hall beyond, causing him to gallop in quickly. He then saw a lone reptilous with his sword drawn standing in the middle of the room, the ponies all huddled together, trying to stay as far from the beast as possible. Blaze lifted his blade and pointed it at the reptilous. “Drop. Your. Weapon.” Blaze emphasized each word, his horn flaring. The reptilous gave a throaty laugh; it could be called a laugh being more of a roar of enjoyment. “I’m afraid not, puny pony.” The reptilous replied before giving a mighty roar. Blaze then charged the reptilous and swung his sword out at the beast as the sounds of claws scrapping against stone sounded about him as other reptilous came out, ready to finish their fight with the ponies forever. Blaze locked blades with the beast, his horn growing all the brighter as he charged his spell with the sounds of the guards charging inside echoed through the building. Blaze shot a ball of fire at the reptilous the size of a wagon that engulfed the beast and stayed around it for several second as the roars of pain filled the air, making everything and everypony stop dead in their tracks. The reptilous was then released a charged mess from the flames, falling to the ground in front of Blaze. Blaze then slammed his sword into the small of the beast’s back, warranting one last agonizing roar from it. Blaze turned towards the horde of reptilous and stunned guards, his sword sliding out of the burnt carcass. Blaze eyed every one of the reptilous, his anger flaring inside of him. “Leave now.” Blaze said in almost a whisper, but the reptilous just stayed in place, unsure of what to do at the sight of their completely black comrade. A sudden surge of anger rushed through Blaze, the fires of his rage sweeping through his veins like fire through a forest, growing more and more powerful every second. “Leave!” Blaze roared, his voice shifting to more of the Royal Canterlot voice. “NOW!” With that the reptilous scattered, leaving the ruins as fast as they could as Blaze’s mane began to stir in the nonexistent wind and began to shift to a black. Blaze took a quick breath in, and his mane quickly settled down and turned back to pure white. The ponies around him, however, didn’t seem quite so easily calmed. Blaze looked around for a few second at the horrified or awestricken expression, then turned and walked out towards the lookout areas, not wanting to stay in their mystified looks for too long.