//------------------------------// // Resolve of a Flickering Candle // Story: Strangely Resilient Ember // by DeliriousCrimson //------------------------------// Pain and fustration. That is what my entire mental experience could have been summed up to for the past hour. I was simply fustrated and in an immense pain.. yet somehow the pain was less important. I was much more mortified by the fact that I couldn't do a single thing against him. He.. was toying with me. I was not even enough to encourage him to use his full power, I could feel it. Sure, I gave him a nasty injury, but what was the point? He completely healed it into nonexistence in mere seconds.. an injury that took my entire reserve of energy to inflict. Gone, just like that. I weakly glanced over at the princesses, each of them being tightly restricted by chains.. all of them sulking immensely into the ground. I.. I have failed them.. Indeed brat. All of the disadvantages in the world stem from a genuine lack of much needed ability. ....! You are weak, so you lost. Its quite simple when you ponder about it. Your incompetent techniques were not enough to faze Tirek and because of this, you're now stuck in a realm of negativity that is literally fueled by the energy of your failure. I believe the term you would use in this situation is "priceless"! Urrg! And just what did you expect me to do against that monster!? He.. his power was incredible! Just.. how in the name of sozin was I supposed to combat that thing, huh Disem!? Is that how you weaklings see it? From my perspective, Tireks power was only great. Not "monstrous" or "incredible". In truth, theres only a handful of beings I can think of with "monstrous" or "incredible" power, and Tirek is definitely not one of them. W-...what!? Are you deaf? I said that Tirek's strength pales in comparison to some beings I have encountered in the past. For example, the Aurora Drake by the name of Raa'zac, she devours atleast three volcanoes a day despite her height of five feet, seven inches. Or the pathogen wielder Mythos, who drove the astral tigers to extinction for devouring his daughter. Or even Ahuizotl, my past contractor who momentarily seized a quarter of Tartarus under his control before escaping, he now suffers from a foolish infatuation with some lowly pony. The list still goes on, brat. I could not believe what he was telling me.. there were other beings out there that could pummel Tirek just as badly as he pummeled me? Th-.. thats impossible! What is the matter? Do you find it hard to wrap your puny little head around it? That here in the world of Equus, you are completely outmatched? "Firebending" or whatever you call it is the equivalent of wielding a feather to the true top contenders of the world. You brat, are so mind numbingly weak that it makes me shudder in anguish. ".......!" It was at that moment.. that I realized how weak and insignificant I truly was. Disem's verbal torment always had a supporting pillar of truth to it.. and it is only now that I realize just how right he was when he called me a "fool" or a "brat" or "weak". It was not his attempt to insult me.. no, he was way above simply insulting anyone, that'd be immature for a being like him. He said it because it was simply fact, I was all sorts of irritatingly weak in a world like this, a world that demanded strength. I was also foolish.. ignorant to the real vastness to its terrifying reaches. And I was a brat for seeing only what I wanted to see.. for retaining the mindset that my abilities were actually anything to gawk at here in Equus.. A sense of true embarrassment showered upon my mind and soon, it was replaced by the realization that the ability to protect was.. well, an ability. And that I lacked that ability simply because I had no power for which to support it. I was.. incapable.. "......" This fustrated me even further. It was enraging to experience this truth! To realize that I can't protect what I believe in because I was simply too weak.. too frail! It sucked.. this immense pain. My body was broken like a twig out there, I could barely even move a muscle now.. curses! Was this the true extent of what I could do? Did my twenty long years of arduos training really only sum up to this? I.. I couldn't catch the eye of the royal family even with the flare blitz.. a move that i've never seen anyone else but me and the old man use.. and my only highlight. But why, why, why!? All that effort I put into the development of my strength..! Yet I was barely ever a match for prince Zuko much less his damn psychopathic sister! I just dont get it! Did they ever go sleepless nights practicing flame manipulation? Were they ever rushed to the hospital because they passed out from a severe drainage of stamina? Did they ever throw themselves into a cave full of venemous scorpion dogs to practice life or death scenarios? And.. gulp.. were they ever viciously murdered despite all this hard work and effort!? Grr, those spoiled brats.. curse them!! .... ...no .. curse me. This profound hatred was not directed towards them.. I had to quit lying to myself. In truth, it was directed towards the weakling who couldn't surpass his own incompetence.. the weakling that even when others needed him most, failed miserably. Yes.. I myself was meant to take the full brunt of this hatred. My eyes developed an irritating itch as I stared up into the rocky ceilings of Tartarus. "A-.. all the disadvantages in the world stem from the severe lack of much needed.. ability, huh?" I weakly muttered, my statement spurring the attention of the princesses. "I.. was weak so I failed you.. princesses, i'm so.." I paused to cough before continuing, ".. so sorry," The princesses gazed at me, their large eyes full of pity. "Kurama.. we do not blam-," began Celestia but was interrupted by the look of genuine anger that found itself onto my face. "Don't.. pity me," I weakly hissed. ".. and don't say anything. Just let me talk.. please," I finished, greatly softening my tone to a plea at the end of my statement. The princesses silently cooperated, as if I was on my death bed and relaying to them my final words. "First let's get something.. straight.." I began. " I do not regret standing up to you Celestia.. atleast not anymore.." this perked her attention as I continued. ".. what I regret is that I.. could not be of any use to you... that I was incompetent and couldn't protect you, Luna, and Cadence," I finished. Celestia was now listening intently, the other princesses also paying close attention. "I will admit though.. my villainous act was inexcusable. But.. I had no choice.. you knew that this would happen.. that I was too weak. Yet, like a fool.. I even threatened you.. and then proceeded to fail miserably as you had foreseen," I coughed out. To this, Celestia widened her eyes and opened her mouth to speak.. to lie and tell me that this was not the case. "Dont." I interrupted before she could speak. ".. for my sake do not deny it," I finished. This made it so that she slowly closed her mouth and looked on.. her expression being that of concern for the man who once threatened her life. "These three days in Equestria were.. weird to me.." I weakly stated, the princesses looking on intently. "The weird creatures.. the strange culture.. Twilight and her annoying friends.. the dazzling palace.. the snot-nosed nobles.. the weird princesses.." I paused to turn my head towards Celestia, Luna, and Cadence. ".. but what has been the weirdest to me in this place.. are my own feelings," I weakly admitted. To this, the three princesses took to mild expressions of perplexion as I began to open my trembling mouth once again. ".. I enjoy it all.. Ponyville.. Canterlot.. its citizens.. the strange joy that spreads all throughout this kingdom.. I both envy it and find it refreshing. So much that I even shunned and disregarded the majority of my life and decided to stay here.. because I gave up on the past and began to focus on the present.. I might regret this, I know.." I heartily explained despite my condition. ".. over at my home.. I pretended to live life happily.. no.. I was convinced I was living life happily.. training and helping my father on the field.. or eating my mothers delicious home cooking. But when I look back at it now, what I see is an empty young man who did not care much for the world.. who had no special feelings for his parents.. his friends.. even his government. All for the simple fact that the young man never knew what a real community felt like," I paused, letting a smile cross my face. ".. But this short time in Equestria has been both the worst and best time of my life.. this place is so pure and ridiculous. Its citizens can genuinely coexist without ulterior motive or greed or hatred and envy.. sure it does happen.. but these ugly feelings are not the pillars that support their society. The pillars are an actual sense of comradeship and the simple joy of all things life has to offer.." I took a moment to gaze at the princesses who were absorbed into my words. "..to be honest I find this a little cringe worthy. Yes.. too sappy and chummy, but as time flew on.. the empty young man was quickly filled with a very very annoying urge.. he did not fully understand why he felt this way.. but he knew that this community was fragile and because of this, he felt that he shouldn't just watch if it was ever threatened," I said as I weakly rolled over to my side. I then planted my right hand on the ground and attempted to lift myself off of it, tremors of incredible pain shooting into my beaten physique. "Aagh!!" I painfully gasped as I supplied effort to my agonizing attempt to get off the ground and soon, I had succeeded in resting on one knee. The princesses watched on in worry as I then attempted to get up on two feet, my eyes clentching tightly due to the immense pain. However, I once again succeeded and I found my panting self on two wobbly legs. "But.. when that man decided to act on his new beliefs, he failed because he was too simply too weak," I stated between weak breaths. I then began to limp towards the princesses, my eyes becoming heavy as pain shook my form. "Kurama!" yelled Luna in concern. "Im fine.." I hoarsedly assured her as I continued my pained, wobbly stride. After a few moments I found my sweating self before Celestia whose eyes were wide with concern and confusion. I stared deeply into her eyes as a profound sense of empathy found its way into my mind. "Celestia.. your kingdom is absurd.. to live this happily in a world this dangerous... its completely unthinkable. Sooner or later this won't be able to go on anymore.. c'mon, just how many times has some villain or whatever almost ended this peaceful environment?" I asked, the white alicorn before me sulking in response.. as I thought, this must've indeed been quite the heavy concern on her mind. I then let a smile reign dominantly over my bloodied cheeks. "But.. i've grown fond of this place, so this won't be an issue for long.." I began, this beckoning Celestia to perk her head up and gaze at me in bewilderment. She watched as I bit my thumb and allowed blood to seep out of it. Then to her complete surprise, I rubbed a straight bloodied line through my marked chest, my smile persisting. ".. for I, Kurama Li Feng, vow to get so earth-shattering strong that no intelligent evil would dare target Equestria for as long as I live in it." I vowed, her eyes immediately widening at my oath, Luna and Cadence reacting in similar fashions. "Kurama.." muttered Celestia in surprise as she studied every ounce of determination on my face. I hardened my expression and stared into her eyes.. my conviction seeming to be fully carried across if her now perked up ears and dumb founded expression was any way to judge. "All I ask of you Celestia.. is that you sit tight and watch the candle flicker.. and not just you, but Cadence, Luna, and even Twilight.. because that small candle fire will one day expand into a mighty forest fire.. I swear it. This is the place that took me in when I had nowhere else to go.. please allow me to be its sword," I finished, my wobbly legs finally giving out on me. I slowly collapsed next to the princesses.. my hearing and sight quickly beginning to go numb. I sure talked big.. but easier said than done. As to how I was gonna live up to this, I did not have the slightest idea. But I refuse to remain this way. For now however, I needed.. rest.. yes, I needed just a little bit of shut-eye.. that would do me good. I stared up at the princesses who surrounded me.. their expressions full of concern as I drifted off into a deep void, my ears deaf as to what it was they were saying to me so frantically. My eyes too, began to blur their image and my consciousness began to slip away. With a small scowl, I closed my eyes and began to tread into a deep darkness. "......." Idiotic brat..