Prologue: Sacrifices Made

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As the alarm went off on a Saturday morning, it awoke two special ponies who were married. Both lived good lives, the stallion a unicorn lab technician, the mare a school teacher at the Canterlot Elementary School. Both were happy with their lives. They got good pay, so they lived close to the high life with only little time to save money to get what they really wanted. Just a little work, and they got it. Wasn't hard to live where they were.

The stallion was named Silver Bolt. He helped other unicorns create new helpful spells, and test them in the field. On average he got paid enough to own a extraordinary pet called a phoenix. Taking care of one wasn't easy in his case. Every morning he had to walk down to it's cage and feed it a bag of coal, without getting burned by the excitement the phoenix had for the flavored coal imported from the Griffins over seas.

The mare enjoyed the time with the phoenix, it being her only company she had while her husband was at work. Her name was Sunny Skies, and she loved birds. Having the phoenix had it's advantages. Like it guarded the house while they were asleep, and it kept quiet while she read a book to it everyday. She often had the idea of teaching it how to speak, and slowly it learned words like. "Hello!" or "Goodbye" when she entered or left the room. It knew more than that however, and in fact it could speak paragraphs without messing up a word.

When Silver left to go to Equestrian Labs, Sunny grunted as she slowly made her way to the couch. She heavily sighed as she sunk into the brown couch.

"Hey, Delphi!" The phoenix flew out of it's cage, and perched on her foreleg in response.

"Yes master?" It asked with a happy tone to it's voice.

"Can you hand me Daring Doo, and the Crystal Skull?" She asked nicely. "I want to finish that last chapter before the next book comes out."

The bird nodded and flew over to the book case. It searched for a few minutes before returning with the book in it's talons. Delphi dropped the book gently into Sunny's hooves, and she opened to the last chapter.

"Ready?" She asked the bird.

"I am! Please, read!" It begged for her to start.

Sunny chuckled as she pressed her hoof down on the page, then she began to read.

"Daring Doo had finally returned to Manehatten after returning from Africa, and she flew to the university to relay her adventures to her friend..." She started the long chapter. While she read Delphi stood idle, not wanted to disturb her master as she read. Unaware of her world she lived in, Sunny read with joy. After quitting her job to take care of a incoming pony to her family she started, she started to take a more relaxed life up to that point.

"And as she walked down the hall with her sister Dizty they talked about their next adventure...The end!" She closed the book, and gently placed it next to her. "What did you think?

Delphi took a moment to speak, as it took her normally to speak. "Family must be important huh?" She asked. "I wish I knew my mother..."

"I know who it is, it's Celestia's phoenix that's your mother!" Sunny replied. "I got you when you just hatched."

Delphi stood there for a moment before flying right next to Sunny. "What's she like?" She asked. "Is she wise like all phoenix? We live for thousands of years, so we learn a lot!"

Sunny laughed lightly with a nod. "Yes, yes, but most don't learn how to speak Equestrian." Sunny noted. "That's why you're smarter than her. You need to be taught how to speak at an early age, or it'll be hard to learn a new one."

It was nearly lunch time, so Sunny got started fixing up the coal for Delphi. The phoenix was filled with joy as the coal poured out of the bag it once rested in. The bag read Lord Draco's Magicly Flavored Coal: Made in Griffindale. Sunny didn't uinderstand the phoenix-as most birds ate feed or worms- because it ate the flavored coal. Although it made her life even more interesting.

She herself was feeding two in one. A little colt on the way-due in three months- she had two mouths to feed. She liked eating ice-cream, but it didn't sit right for her little one, so she went on to eating cookies. From chocolote chip, to raisn, to apple, cookies was her craving. This being her fist pony she ever had, she was going to spoil the buck out of him. She was glad she was going to have a colt and not a filly for a few reasons, the number one reason is not needing to buy extra tampons, that she was happy about most of all.

As soon as she finished eating the last of her cookies she told Delphi she would go on a walk to visit Silver to see what new spell they've created. Even though she was an earth pony, she had a slight interest in magic. Just seeing magic made her smile. The wonder, work, and practice it must of taken to properly use the spell. Just as she was walking out of the door, the clock on the wall struck three. Only six hours until Silver would clock out of work, so maybe she could catch him on his lunch break he often took around four o'clock in the afternoon.

She made her way to the lab after taking a detour around a large construction zone. And after walking for another four blocks she arrived at the Lab.

After waiting a moment to catch her breath, she walked through the entrance.

"Hello Mrs. Skies, here to see your husband?" The guard asked.

Sunny nodded. "I am, is he busy?"

"Don't think so ma'am, he should be out in a few minutes. They're work'n on a spell that'll change how spells react to new ponies ariving in Equestria for the first time. I hear most unicorns who arrive get the worst when they try to use their magic." The guard said. "Although I maybe a guard, your husband is a good pal'o'mine. Play poker a couple times a month him and I. Tells me cool things."

Sunny sat down on a bench next to the guard. "Well, at least he has friends..." She said jokingly. "How are you anyways?"

"Ah, there isn't anything really going on worthy of me sharing ma'am." The guard said as the doors from the lab opened. "After noon Silver, your wife is here!"

Silver walked out of the door way, and a wave of magic surrounded him before he completely exited. Then when he was ready he rushed over to Sunny. After smiling for a few minutes, and holding onto her stomach, Silver looked up at her.

"How's everything going?" He asked calmly.

"Alright...you?" She asked even softer. "To think we've only got just a few more months..."

"Yeah, times flies huh? Remember when we met in highschool? Oh man our parents freaked when they found out we were dating!" Silver laughed as he sat next to her. He laughed for a few more minutes. "Oh, I got something to tell you, and you may not like it."

"Oh, don't tell me he told you to stay longer?"

"Yeah, we've got a spell that's proving some difficulty in stabilizing. If you know what I'm talking about."

Sunny nudged him lightly. "I know what you mean." She smiled. "And it's alright. You're being paid for extra time you stay after your work time right?"

Silver nodded. "Yeah, but only a couple hundred for the time. I'll be home at three in the morning."

Sunny's ears dropped, and so did her smile. "Why so late?" She asked in a near whisper. "It's the fourth time this week you had to stay this late."

The stallion wrapped his hooves around his wife, and hugged her tight enough to not harm her 'carry on' as he like to call the growing bump on her stomach that would soon to become a baby colt. He sighed when he let go. His eyes looked deeply into Sunny's, meaning he was serious.

"I'll be back in time to get some sleep, and I'll take the day off tomorrow. Just you and me! We could take a train to the beach, and-"

"And I would like to do that, but I don't think your boss would like that. He is Shining Armor."

"AND he'll no longer be here in a few months. Now that he's getting married he's going to be closing down Equestrian Labs, and opening Crystal Labs. Then we can see this new kingdom his wife-to-be has been taking about." He added. "Please, I'll try to make this the last night I stay past midnight." The stallion was almost on his knees, begging.

Sunny knew her husband was a hard worker to the core, and loved helping change the world with every new spell they help create, and stabilize by making magical rules each spell had to follow. The first being: It cannot harm anypony. And the second being will it be useful when Equestria is under attack. She knew a few more rules by heart, but the rest could be found by just asking any unicorn. Having to remember all sixty rules by heart along with reciting the rules a unicorn must follow.

After giving a long sigh, she stood up. A nearby clock struck five, and she looked back at Silver who looked like he was being left.

She smiled lightly. "It's alright, it just mean I'll need to stay up until you get home!"

"Don't push yourself hun!" He called as she walked out the door.

After watching a movie, she looked at her watch she had on her hoof.

"Damn, only ten?" She asked angerly to the watch. The moon was already in the sky, the sun far under the horizon. The moon scared her, like most ponies, as nightmare moon glared from space. It looked as though she was staring right at her, sending a shiver down her spine. Walking on she tried to ignore the watching goddess of the night.

She walked closer to her house. Something caught her eyes, followed by a bright flash of light, marking an explosion. She tried to find out what it was, but guards kept shouting for her to run back to her home. She refused, walking closer to the explosion. Soon did she realize that it was Equestrian Labs that exploded.

A title-wave of sadness covered her like a wet cold blanket. She fell to the ground in shock, her jaw hit the center of the earth, and still kept going. Everything had stopped right there, her life, her reason to be happy, her lover, and her best friend, dead. Crying right where she'd meet Silver to walk him home, she stood there waiting. Silver was a smart pony, he could of seen it coming, and saved himself.

After waiting a couple of hours she started to cry harder, as she held her stomach. She was alone aside from Delphi, but that would soon end. With no more income, she'd haft to sell her, and the house. Move somewhere she can die with her new born foal of starvation. Silver was her life line after she cut her own to take care of Delphi, and her incoming colt.

Slowly, she walked back home. She wanted to take the time to remember Silver. The moment they met, their first date, their wedding, and honeymoon. Leading up to the first months of her pregnatecy. Suddenly a stallion jumped infront of her, a knife in his hold. She backed up slowly, trying to keep her distance, but another pony came from behind.

"Give us your bits!" One ordered. "I know how to use a knife!"

"Please! Don't hurt me! I don't have any bits anymore..." She begged.

"Won't do! You've got that nice necklace whorse! Give it!"

"Please! It's the only thing I have to remind me of my husband!"

The theif laughed. "You think I care about your husband? Give it or I'll tell my friend to cut your stomach open. You look due anyways!"

"No...please, just go, and I'll forget I saw you." She said, her whole body ways shaking.

The two theifs got closer, and their knifes flipped out. "One....last...chance..."

Before she had the chance to reply they jumped her, first cutting her back leg, causing her to cry out in pain, No pony was around, most were still watching the fire that was started from the explosion. She just wanted to go home and cry. Once more she was cut this time deeper but on her stomach. Blood started to flow as she held her stomach tightly, trying to stop the blood from flowing to much.

As the theifs ran off with her necklace, Sunny started to crawl home. She was only two houses away, which gave hope. Phoenix tears could heal any mortal wounds. Delphi could heal her, and save the foal. One house away now, she was starting to feel weak. Her will almost broken from Silver's death. reaching the door step she loosly opened the door. Delphi swiftly flew over.

"Master!" She cried out as she landed next to Sunny who was still bleeding. "What happened!? Where's your love?!" She asked over and over again.

"Please help me! I think he's in danger." She held her stomach tighter, making Delphi realizing it was the foal who was in danger. She looked at the wound for a moment the her head fell slightly.

"M-master...I can't save both of you...Only one...The baby....it's already dying, and you're closer." The phoenix drew closer to Sunny. "Which shall it be?"

"I don't want to lose him!" She cried. "I don't! I don't!! I don't!!!"

Delphi knew one thing from reading in secret while Sunny was out of the house. Often she would see her brother who knew their mother. He told her about a 'last resort' that could save any life that couldn't be normally saved. She would have to sacrifice her immortal soul to save them both. The life force she had was strong enough to bring them both back, and it was the only other way.

"I...I know of a way master....but you will not like it." She said. "I can die for both of you to live. It is my duty to make you happy. First master told me when he got me...to save you if things got two....rough..."

Sunny was starting to lose herself. Her eyes starting to close.

"Master....." The phoenix started to float into the air as spheres of light circled her. A tear hit the ground, but the phoenix felt like she was doing the right thing. When the spheres of light circled into her chest, Delphi flew close to Sunny, who was breathing her last few breaths. She pulled a feather out of her wing, and placed it next to her.

Once the feather was next to her former master, she started to turn into ash that flowed into the wound, closing it up. As this went on a red streak of hair flashed onto Sunny's blond mane. Her breathing regulated, and she went to sleep as a tear slid down her face.

Chapter 1: Six Years Later

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It was a wonder how he was born. Sunny didn't know it would happen at all,but she didn't care. It was her son! Alive and well, but not a normal unicorn she had predicted. Blaze Bolt was born with abnormal abilities most unicorns didn't have, but what alicorns had. Blaze was born with a horn and wings which shocked the doctors who were delivering him. His eyes weren't matching as the left one was a crystal blue color, and the other looked like fire was fazing through it. His mane and tail were a deep firey orange that was warm to the touch. His coat was a copper color.

Aside from that, Blaze tried to act normal, but soon did he find out that different ponies don't get to act normal. During pre-school he learned this when a group of fillies and colts started to beat him up, and call him names. So after that Sunny found that it was time to move to a more calmer town, and not Manehatten after they already moved from Canterlot after Blaze was born.

It Sunny's surprise Blaze had adapted to the move rather quickly, but something kept him from being happy. He wasn't normal, he was a freak. That's how he saw it, but Sunny would always say no matter what, she would always love her son even though he was different. It made him feel a little better, but there was no way ponies would accept him.

Now, Sunny was finishing up paper work to allow Blaze to enter the Ponyville school. Now that he was six they could accept him into the school. Blaze didn't want to, but it wasn't like he had a say in what he did, he just did it without question. She tapped the pen onto the table, and smiled at the school teacher.

"I thank you for this Cheerlee!" Sunny said hugging the teacher. "I knew you'd pull through for me."

The teacher laughed. "It's quite alright, I'm sure after a little while he'll be accepted. This small town is quite accepting to those who wish to be." She said.

"Let me know if you need me to do anything for you in return for this."

"No need Sunny, you're a friend. Friends help friends in need. Of course, are you in need?"

Sunny nodded rapidly. "I am!" She laughed. "Thanks again, I need to get going."

"No problem, I'll see him on Monday!" Cheerlee called out.

"Alright! And hey! Maybe we should talk sometime?" Sunny asked her friend. They met in collage during their first few years. They helped each other study, and went to the same school to help learn how to become a teacher as student-teachers. At first they didn't get along, but then they started to notice how much they like helping students prosper to become the future of Equestria. "To catch up maybe?"

"It's a deal! See you tomorrow!"

Sunny smiled as her mission to enroll Blaze into school was a success, now her only other problem she had to solve. How was she going to get her son there? He didn't like school one bit. The only thing to do was to ask him how he felt about going to a different school.

"NO!" Blaze yelled running up to his room. "I'm a freak! I can't go!"

Sunny sighed. "Please Blaze, you need to be educated!" She called back.

"They'll make fun of me!"

"Not if you stay next to Cheerlee, those bullies won't get close to you." Sunny started to make her climb up the set of stairs. "Do it for me?"

Blaze's head dropped, realizing he wasn't going to get out of this the easy way like he had hoped. "I'll try...mommy." He complied as his mom reached him.

"I know you're different Blaze Bolt, but being different is good. You can lift things into the air, as well as yourself with those awesome wings you have. It's not everyday you can find a unicorn that can fly with firey wings!" She said trying to cheer him up. "Besides why do you care what they say?"

The colt looked up at his mom with confusion. "Why?" He asked. "I don't know...Those words...they hurt when they say it..."

"Do you let those words hurt you?" She asked back. "If they do, just...ugh...I wish your father were here! He'd know what to do in this situation..." She fell next to him with a frown straight across her face.

"What do you think he'd do?" Blaze asked.

Sunny shrugged. "I don't know, that's the problem..." She replied with a long sigh. "I was hardly ever bullied when I was your age. Back when I was your age, I was the one who everypony looked to solve their problems. I remember your father came to me one day asking if I could help him with an as-uh-jerk...yeah a jerk. Anyways...I helped him, and he asked if he could pay me back with a trip to a nearby coffee shop that just opened up."

"You just told me how you met, not how to stop the bullies."

Sunny waved a hoof. "I say find a way to get back at those bullies, without hurting them please. Just, do a small prank. I used to do pranks when I was your age! Yeah, do that!" She laughed for a moment, brightening the mood up a little bit.

After that Blaze went to his room to go play on his Joy- Boy as Sunny prepared dinner. Thoughts races through her head of the night Delphi died to save them. The last words she said before she died after giving her a feather to remind her. She knew about the red stripe in her hair, didn't mind it much at all, in fact she liked it. But the night still haunted her. Dreams where she'd be fooled into thinking her husband did come home from work, and the laboratory didn't explode. Dreams where she'd have those first few years of teaching her son the basics, and throwing a ball with his father.

She stirred the carrots in the pot, and felt a single tear glide like melting butter down her face. She wiped it off, and smiled.

"I've made it this far!" She said cheering herself up.

Dinner pasted by quietly, and soon after that they went to bed.

The alarm went off waking Sunny up from her peaceful slumber. Hazely she sat up out of her bed.

"BLAZE! WAKE UP!" She shouted loudly over the buzzer. She clicked it off, and walked to Blaze's room. "Time for your first day of scho-....What are you doing?" She asked as she saw Blaze trying to open the window.

"Um....going to school?" He said with a dishonest smile.

Sunny walked over to him, and closed the window. After locking it, she looked at Blaze with sympathy. "It's alright to be nervous Blaze, I was too when I went to first grade."

"But you aren't like me!" He said pouting. "You're not a freak..."

"You're not a freak Blaze Bolt! You're different and you're my son!"

Blaze rolled his eyes, walking out the door to his room. Sunny followed and continued to talk to her son.

"Besides I already talked to Cheerlee, and she knows of your situation. If somepony bullies you, just go to her. If they do it again, prank'em!" She jumped ahead of him. "Just not to hard m'kay?"

"Fine..." He grunted.

They had made their way to the school, after eating some eggs and grits, and already kids were looking at Blaze weirdly. He had the feeling of butterflies flying around in his stomach, and his wing moved down to cover his face. Sunny looked at him, then back up.

"It'll be alright hun, you'll be okay." She reassured him. "Just remember what I told you before we left after breakfast. Ignore their awful words."

Blaze nodded, still under the cover of his wing. They slowly approached Cheerlee, whispers clearly heard, and the teacher smiled. After a short talk, Sunny bent down low enough to meet eye to eye with Blaze.

"Don't worry, she'll keep you safe. She's a good friend of mine, so I'm sure she'll take care of any bullies that come your way." She stood back up. "I'll see you after school m'kay?"

"Kay..."

"Come on Blaze, I'll show you to your new desk." Cheerlee said with a light smile.

They walked into the class room after passing more students who continued with whisper. Three student in particular did the same.

"What do ya suppose his name is Sweetie Bell?"

"I don't know, do you Scootaloo?" Sweetie asked.

"I think it's Blaze or something. Came into town a few weeks ago. Heard his name while his mom was yelling for him this morning."

"Can you believe that an Alicorn is going to OUR school?!" Apple Bloom asked, looking from the other side of the door. The filly searched for a cutie mark on the colt's flank, but to her suprise he didn't. She shot back with a smile.

"What?" The other crusaders asked.

"He don't got ah cutie mark!"

"Oh we can make him a crusader!" Sweetie Bell said jumping up and down.

"Hold on girls, we're not even sure if he's cool about it."

The crusaders looked in unison at the new student, studying him. They noticed his mismatched eyes, his large wings for his body, and something they didn't expect. When Blaze blew into his hair it flowed upwards and stayed up for a short moment. It waved around until he noticed he was being watched. The hair fell, and he hid away behind his wing.

"Think he might be a little shy..." Apple Bloom said as the trio huddled together.

"Well, whatever maybe we'll ask him during lunch!" Sweetie Bell offered the idea.

Scootaloo looked in for a moment, then rejoined the group. "Good idea, at least then we'll get a good chance to talk to him."

The bell rang loudly starting the school day. When all the students entered the class they all glared at Blaze. He felt like the world was looking at him, but when Cheerlee cleared her throat they directed their attention to her.

"Good morning everypony! Today is a special day, we have a new student. His name is Blaze Bolt, please do be kind to him." She said. "Blaze would you like to introduce yourself to the class?"

He shook his head in compliance. "No ma'am, if that's fine."

"Well I'm sure you have something cool to say to the class." She smiled.

"I'm from Canterlot...is that good?" He asked, whispers started up again.

Cheerlee stomped her hoof to quiet the class, even scaring a couple of students. "Anything else?"

"I'm part Phoenix, now please stop..."

Cheerlee lost control of the class, realizing was a bad idea to make Blaze introduces himself. After face-hoofing, she rang a small bell as hard as she could. As soon as the class calmed down she cleared her throat again.

"Well, anyways, I hope you have a good time while you're here Blaze." Blaze nodded, looking around.

He knew it was going to be a by day. And after the bell ran for lunch/recess, he rushed out trying to avoid the ponies who were trying to flood him with questions. Luckily his wings were big enough to propel him up to the top of a large oak tree. He took a moment to if the tree would catch fire from his mane. Smiling seeing how the tree didn't combust, he laid back looking at the unmoving clouds. The serenity of the air that made the leaves move making a harmony that he was sure only he could hear. Something about being part EXTRA magical, and more bird helped him relax.

Ever since he was three he tried flying. After a couple of months he could fly up to ten minutes. From then he slowly got better at flying, hence why he tried to fly out the window. He saw a pony called Rainbow Dash creating a sonic rainboom after the royal wedding. The wave of multicolored light wave made him cry, its was so beautiful. The speed to break the light barrier in a single instance amazed him, and took it as a challenge to go faster.

As shy as he was around letting ponies get near him, he was a tough little colt. He would do all sorts of things,some of which ended up getting in trouble. Most of the time he would get a long talk, but that was it. He wasn't spanked, he was lectured. He didn't like them, but when his mom explained things to him, she would talk about a phoenix who saved her life. Blaze didn't get it most of the time, but he grew to seeing the phoenix as a hero.

After a few moments his thoughts were disrupeted by a few fillies talking. He looked down from his perch to see what was going on the ground below him.

"So, me and Silver Spoon want you girls to get that alicorn for us!"

"And why would we do that?" The pony with the bow asked. "You always tell us what to do!"

"So we can talk to a prince! Oh! Just get him!"

"Nuh-uh! You get him!"

"If you don't I'll tell everypony a rumer they'll believe." The pony with a crown threatened.

Something told him to jump down and introduce himself and tell the truth, but another told him to stay and watch. He was shy yes, but he hated bullies.

"Why do you keep coming to us to do things for you?" A unicorn asked. It was the three ponies who were watching him from the hall. They didn't talk very quiet, because he heard them talk about asking him to join a group of their's.

"Just do it!" The bully shouted.

The three fillies being bullied looked up seeing that he had watched the whole thing go down. It was pointless now to stay in hiding. Everypony wanted to see him, now all it was for him to do now, and show himself. He thought about it for a moment, then nodded, seeing it was the best thing to do.

Blaze jumped off the tree and landing with a pissed look on his face.

"Hello! My name i-"

"I don't care who you are..." Blaze deadpanned. "I heard what you were going to do to my friends...I don't like what you said to them. Say sorry..."

"Why? I don't have too!"

Blaze looked into the bully's eyes with a frown locked onto his face. "Say...sorry...now...Or do you want to mess with alicorn magic?" He threatened.

The bullies looked at each other with worried looks on their faces then sighed. "Sorry..." They said as they walked away.

It took Blaze a moment to turn around and face the ponies he called 'friends', and when he did they smiled at him. With confusion on his face he shook his head.

"I-I don't like bullies...that's why I helped you. Not because we're friends..."

The fillies nodded, but Blaze felt like he had more to say.

"But...since we aren't-"

"YES!" They shouted running up to him. They nearly knocked him over in the process.

"Get off! I can't breath!" He called.

"Thanks for helping us with those two butt heads." The filly with a bow asked. "My name is Apple Bloom!"

"I'm Scootaloo!"

"And I'm Sweetie Bell!"

"Hey, I'm Blaze...so...yeah..." He said realizing he was talking to three fillies. He felt himself tense up, and right as the bell rang, he flew off back inside.

"I think he likes us..." Sweetie Bell said looking at her friends.

"Ya think?" Apple Bloom asked. "You girls can have'em. I've got no time to be messing around with colts."

"And me and Button Mash are a thing,,," Sweetie said softly.

"So that leaves him with me? No way! I want to hang with Rainbow Dash!"

"Come on! You're the only one who can fly in our group!"

"So?"

"You'll make a great match for him!"

"NO! You saw he had a horn! Why don't you get him Sweetie Bell!?"

"I just told you I'm dating Button Mash!" She shouted. "Apple Bloom, help me with this!"

"I'm stay'n out of this..."

Chapter 2: Grown-Up Thoughts

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One thing or another, ideas Blaze had were grown up to the point. He's just about figured out what he was, a Equininix. Due to his fusion with Delphi, he had obtained knowledge the more he grew up. A bird would leave its nest when it could fly, but he didn't. He saw that he was mostly a pony so he grew to their rate, and not a bird's growth rate. Another thing was that those fillies talked to him.

Mares, talked to him, even though he was different. What was this town he had lived in that made things nearly different aside from the strange looks he gets. As he was walking home he had a grin that reached ear to ear. His mom didn't notice that it had wasted the walk home.

"Have a good day Blaze?" She asked, unlocking the door.

He nodded. "Yeah...I've got three new friends..."

Sunny made a sharp inhale, then pushed him inside, closing the door behind them both. After taking a minute to read her son's face, she gasped.

"I can't believe you have a crush on a mare you just met....Look at you...how old do you think you are? Like right now, I know we've talked about this...."

"Twenty four mom." He answered.

"Ah, that's right! So, what's her name?"

"Huh? Oh, it's not like I LIKE like her, but I've got three mares as friends."

"Oh, then what's that look you have on your face while we were walking?" Sunny asked, sitting down. "Surely there's a reason behind that smile you have?"

"They're my first friends...They were being bullied so I stepped in."

Sunny smiled as she leaned back on her chair. "Well that's good that you've made some friends instead of enemies. Trust me, explaining to another mother about why her son is a hybrid of a Phoenix and a pony is too exhausting! So tell me their names!"

"Uh...Apple Bloom...Sweetie Bell, and....Scootaloo. They're what they call themselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders."

"Cute...What else my hero?" Sunny giggled. "I wish to know more."

"That's about it..." Blaze sighed. "They're the three who are one."

"Explain?"

"Apple Bloom is an earth pony, not much in her other than strength. Then there's Sweetie Bell, she's a unicorn, but looks high maintenance. Lastly...Scootaloo, she's a pegasus...Can't fly yet, but is a bullet on her scooter. Call her a tom-colt if you ask me."

"Sounds like an even set of friends you got there. Maybe they can visit you when you aren't hiding away in your room."

Blaze sighed as he sat next to his mom. She looked at him with a smile on her face. "You act like a child when you think like an adult. You cease to amaze me Blaze."

"I amaze myself..." He replied. "So, what's for dinner?"

Sunny shrugged looking into the kitchen. "I was thinking on going out tonight to eat. Maybe Arnies?" She thought for another moment. She didn't have much in the house to eat. She was on a tight budget already, and was running low on bits. Sunny had refused to tell Blaze of the problem to not get him worried. Getting the colt worried was a bad thing, nearly setting the house on fire a few times. Wasn't his falt in her eyes, it was her's.

As young as Blaze was, because he was part bird, his mental age grew faster than his physical age. However he still kept the childish personality he was supposed to have for his age so he could be 'more nornal'. Normal was what he wanted to be more than being different.

"That sounds nice..." Blaze sighed again, looking over to his mom. Something in her eyes told him something was wrong. Fighting the part of him that didn't want to presue it, he spoke. "Something wrong?" He asked.

Sunny forgot about trying not to worry him, this time he did need to know of the problem at hand. "Please don't over react about this Blaze, but I'm running out of bits. We've got maybe two months before we run out of you're father's life insurence money."

Blaze sat up quickly. "What? Is that it?" He asked. "Two months is a long time. I'm sure you can find a job in that time right?"

Sunny's head dropped, and her ears fell behind her head. She had been trying since they moved into Ponyville. There weren't any jobs avaible for her in her field of expertice. Well, none that she liked anyways. There was an opening at a strip club on the west side of town she saw, but she already had a colt to take care of. Then a job opening at the nearby post office, but she didn't know the small town that well enough to get the job. Lastly some DJ was looking for a assisstant, but it was a graveyard shift she didn't want to take. She'd be asleep all day, and up all night. So she wasn't able to be around her son she loved.

"I wish I had more degrees..." Sunny let out a sigh. It had been close to ten years since she'd been in school. Slowly thoughts creeped around her, thoughts of going to those jobs she once didn't want to be a part of. After shaking them away, Blaze gave a smile.

"I think I can help mom. Just leave it to me!" Blaze ran out the door as his mom called for him to return, and explain his words. Although he was too far for her now.

"Celestia, help this colt..." She prayed looking towards the setting sun. It had been the first time he had actually wanted to help her. The thought gave her a smile, and she laid back in her chair. "He's a smart little guy." She said. "He'll be home before nine."

Blaze wasn't going to return until he found a solution to Sunny's problems. One way, or another he was going to get the bits she needed to re-enter school to earn a better degree. He didn't like it when she was sad, something deep down told him to make her happy. As if his inner bird was telling him to find a way to make her happy.

For the few years he'd been alive, he'd grown more mentally, than physically. His rapid mental growth allowed him to understand more grown up things, but some things were still under the shroud of parental guidance. He knew things that surprised his mother when he explained them to her. Even when he made up the name for his new 'race' of pony hybrid. He had a long list of failed names until he came up with Equininix. Pyro-Pony was too much like a super-pony name, and Ponix...Ponix was too cheesy to him.

As much as the town during the day confused him, the night was much worse. He glowed slightly as he walked in the dark along his road. Blaze could feel beats of loud music play from a house on the other side of the road, in his chest the beats made his heart synchronize with the music. His chest hummed with every beat, and soon he walked to it. Bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum, one, two, three, four, and each step caused him to loose track.

He found himself at the edge of town, and lost. Blaze started to feel nervous, as if something was watching him. His eyes scanned the area, but the nearest thing was in a house close by. By the size and shape of the shadow was a pony, small, like a filly or a colt. His faint glow gave him some safety, but it also gave him away. It did too when a pony walked up to him.

"Are you lost?" It asked. The pony who asked him the question was covered in a cloak, but black and white stripes were visible.

"Sort of, yeah." He replied, his voice slightly shaking.

"Do you need help?" She asked. "Because being lost on a night like this will do you no good."

"I guess I could get some help. I want to help my mom though."

The pony removed the cloak, and revealed a zebra with rings round her neck. "Come my little pony, we have much to discuss..."

"Who are you?" Blaze asked. "And how should I trust you?"

"I am Zecora the Zebra, and you can trust me. You can ask Princess Twilight." She said motioning Blaze for him to follow her. "What is your name?"

"Blaze Bolt, and you know the princess?" He asked, running up to catch up with her.

"I do, now, what are you?"

"I'm a Equininix! Made up the name myself."

"And as such, you were the first to name yourself by race, and in this case, you made it so for the future in whole."

"You talk weird..." Blaze commented.

"And you little one. I haven't in my life seen an alicorn like you before. Thankfully I was passing by when Twilight told me to get you. I am honored to meet a pony who hasn't been noted. Has Celestia, or Luna seen you before?"

Blaze shook his head. "Not yet, or that I can remember."

The Zebra looked at the Equininix with soft, but strange eyes, then looked away. "No worry, they haven't seen you yet."

That was the last thing she said as they walked to Golden Oaks Ponyville Library. Blaze didn't know why, but his heart started to sink down into his stomach. She talked in near rhyme with every word she said, and a mixed aura confused him. He didn't understand why he could see aura of other ponies, but it wasn't just sight, he could also feel.

Blaze has learned to ignore the slight glows around ponies, and only really saw the auras was when he was around a stranger that was speaking to him. This time it was Zecora, something about her seemed off, but also right, giving the mixed feeling around her. Like Blaze the Zebra was different, that was the safe feeling, but the unsafe feeling, he didn't understand where it came from.

For now however all he could do was slightly trust this pony that was leading him to Princess Twilight of the Magic of Friendship.

Meanwhile already at Twilight's house, Twilight was talking to Scootaloo. It started a few hours before, right as school ended. Scootaloo had a question if a pony like Blaze was possible, and Twilight prompted to find out. Luckily Twilight ran across Zecora while the Zebra entered town to buy some flowers she needed for a potion. Zecora nodded with a smile at the alicorn's request, and started the search for the strange looking alicorn colt.

"And you're sure you heard him say he was part Phoenix?" Twilight asked for the fourth time.

"Yes! I'm sure! He has a horn and these large wings I haven't seen before!" Scootaloo waved her hooves in the air in annoyance. .

Scootaloo was tired of explaining the same things over and over again to the princess who should've been a thousand times smarter than her. The hybrid colt that joined her class earlier today did have some aspects she really liked. Blaze looked smart by the way he stood, it was almost formal. His words were heavy, but his voice was young. And to add on top of that he had wings he could use to fly on top of trees.

Her thoughts were stopped swiftly when she heard knocks at the door.

"Coming!" Twilight called to the visitors at the door. "Stay here, I'll see who it is. Maybe it's Zecora with that pony you told me about. I asked her if she could get him for me while I spoke to you to find out more information on the topic at hoof."

After a few moments Twilight entered the room with a large smile on her face, and Blaze behind her. Blaze looked over at Scootaloo with surprise. Without Twilight noticing he trotted over to her.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I needed help...to...find out...who you are." She replied as Twilight walked over to the two smaller ponies.

"So," She said with a smile. "Lets find out who you are. If you don't mind Scoots can you go into the main area of the library? I want to ask Blaze a few questions, that's all." Twilight smiled at Blaze for a moment, then looked back at Scootaloo.

"Alright, I see you in a few I guess."

"Don't leave, because I want to talk to both of you when I'm done with him okay?"

Scootaloo nodded, walking away, and Twilight walked up closer to Blaze. "I sent a quick letter to your mom telling her not to worry about you if this takes us more time then I plan. I too want to sleep, but this is more important." She said as a quill and a scroll appeared right in front of her. "So, tell me about yourself Blaze. What do you like, eat, and-" She stopped realizing she was asking her questions too quickly. She realized this when his ears fell behind his head, and he started to hide behind his wings. She cleared her throat and began again. "Let us start over...Um....So, what's your favorite food? I'm is hayburgers and hayfries."

The colt looked from his wing at Twilight who sat in front of him smiling. "I-I like coal mostly, but I can eat most things ponies can. Eggs, hayfries, hayburgers, grits..." He trailed off for a moment, then came back. "That's about it..."

Twilight wrote down: Diet includes: Coal, and regular edibles. "Great, so what's your favorite color?" She was starting slow so he could slowly grow more into the conversation. He was a small colt after all, and unaware of what he was really like inside. So to get there starting slow on easy questions, and easing her way one step at a time closer to finding out what he was like. "I like purple, and pink the most."

Blaze thought about it for a moment. "I guess red...maybe orange too." He shrugged.

Twilight nodded. "Did you know those were Celestia's favorite colors?" She asked.

Blaze replied with his head shaking left to right. "No, I didn't. I don't know much about Princess Celestia, or Luna."

"I guess we can't talk about it later sometime with your mom then." Twilight said. "Anyways, so how long have you been flying? Scootaloo told me you flew up into a tree today and stayed there until you helped with with a couple of bullies."

Again Blaze took a moment to think. He hadn't taken the time to see how long he could fly. Maybe ten minutes, twenty at most. "I guess fifteen minutes...and I started when I was three, I saw a sonic rainboom on my birthday, and I just wanted to fly like that pony who made it."

Twilight chuckled which caused the colt to turn his head slightly in confusion. "That was Rainbow Dash, she's my best friend in the whole world. Believe it or not, she's training me how to fly. I haven't had these for long." She said pointing to her wings. "But so far I can proudly say that I can fly for just as long as you can."

"So you weren't a princess before?" He asked.

Twilight nodded. "Yeah, it's been close to a year now. But I've been getting used to the whole idea of being a princess."

"Is it hard?"

"Not really. I don't have that much to do at the moment. That's why we're talking now." She said. "Okay so next question. Since you're the first hybrid of a phoenix and a pony, I would like to ask you what you think your spicies' name should be?"

"Equininix!" Blaze smile. "I've thought about it for a while, and I like that name more than the other names I thought of..." He frowned in disgust at the last part.

Race:Equininix She wrote on the parchment. "And how long have you thought about the name?"

"A couple of months. I find that I think at a higher lever of thought than most ponies of my age, but I also find that my personality is what defines me."

Twilight was taken back in suprise for a moment. She'd been talking to a pony who thought at the same level as her. He sounded like it too. "W-where are you from, exactly?" She asked.

"Canterlot. I was born there, but moved around a bit. Manehatten, Fillydelphia..."

"You've been to major cities and the capitol, but Celesita hasn't noticed you at all?" Twilight was genuinely surprised at this. Celestia visited most births in Canterlot, but the colt nodded his head in response to her question which brought further question into if she really did visit his birth room. "She saw mine, at least that's what she told me."

There was a bit of silence before Twilight gave a long yawn. "I suggest I call Scootaloo in here." Twilight stood up and walked over into the other room. Blaze himself was starting to fall asleep. The clock was nearing ten, which was a little over an hour he was used to staying up to. Thankfully they returned and began to talk.

"So, I've got a question to ask both of you?" Twilight said after a few minutes. "Scootaloo, what do you think of Blaze? Do you think of him as a special type of pony, or a...different type." She asked trying to avoid the word 'freak' to try not to set Blaze off if he found the word insulting.

The filly thought for a moment looking at Blaze with general interest. "I guess he's cool. I mean who's as young as I am, and can fly!" She said. "I wouldn't think he's bad or good, but what he did for my friends and I, was nice. It's not everyday a pony has the guts to face Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon."

Blaze smiled at the complement. Twilight continued on. "And you Blaze? What do you think of her? Do you think she's equal to your status, or lower?"

"Status doesn't concern me, but if I cared, I'd pick equal. No pony is any better than each other." He replied. "Ponies shouldn't have to worry about another pony being higher up in the social food chain."

Twilight gave a smirk at how intelligent his answer was. "Okay, that's about it. Time for bed. Blaze you're staying here for the night. I'll take you to school in the morning, but Scootaloo, you need to go home to your parents."

Scootaloo nodded, and walked out of the door. Blaze looked over to Twilight.

"Why'd she have to leave?" He asked.

"Because, she has...very concerned parents Blaze. Your mother allowed me to keep you over here for the night. Look, here's her responce to my letter."

Princess Twilight,

Thank you for finding my little one for me, and it's quite alright that he stays at your home over night. I was actually looking for a good time to search for a job.

-Sunny Skies

Blaze put down the note with a long sigh. "Sometimes I question her ideas, but I suppose I can stay here tonight." Twilight led him up to a guest bed that was across the room from her. Soon did he realize how tired he was, and went to sleep.

Chapter 3: Divine Intervention

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"Faster!" Yelled Celestia. "I call you my guard! How come you don't come when I summon you on time?"

The unicorn mare bowed in respects. "I'm sorry princess, but it was on such sort notice. Your summons could of been at a better time. If I could just expl-"

"Enough!" Celestia interrupted. "Your assignment on protecting your charge...um who was it?"

"Time Peace ma'am, it's Time Peace."

"Right, I just got a letter from my former student Twilight, and she told me that there's a new race here in Equestria." Celestia said walking down from her throne. A race that my mother has told me a thousand years ago that would come into this world by a red streaked earth pony. Don't you want to know what race this is?"

The mare nodded to Celestia's question.

"A pony/Phoenix hybrid!" She answered. "Twilight has so thankfully given me a whole list of questions, and answers of his diet, likes and dislikes, even his favorite color. Now, tell me, how important is one's favorite color?"

The mare shrugged. "I-I don't know princess, why?"

"Because, it isn't." Celestia said. A smile grew onto her face as she trotted up back to her throne. "You failed in protecting this earth pony called Time Peace, now..." She rubber her chin with her hoof for a moment. "Yes, you'll protect this colt, but keep your distance. He maybe a colt, but from what I read from Twilight's letter, he thinks as if he were a grown up. You'll start next week as I prepare transport..." Celestia stood up, and looked into the mate's eyes. "Don't fail me again Charm, I hate it when I need to send one of my favorites to become a simple servant."

"I won't princess!" Charm bowed, and ran out the doors.

Twilight rubbed her eyes as she woke up. She'd stayed up for a good deal of the night trying to scan Blaze. A strange force was keeping her from doing so. She knew this force from before, it was death. It was like he was dead, but he breathed, felt, saw, touched. It confused her greatly. The only other time she'd felt this force was wheel she was in the Crystal Kingdom. It was right after she disembarked the friendship train.

She looked over to see if Blaze was still sleeping, but he wasn't there. Without panicking she walked down stairs seeing the colt read a rather large book she'd owned. Twilight looked over his head, and found that he was reading a old spell booK she had as a filly. She smiled, and cleared her throat.

"Good morning Blaze," Twilight said. "How'd you sleep?"

The colt didn't answer, and after a moment she tried moving him. His body fell over sideways, revealing he was sleeping soundly. She rolled her eyes as she walked over to Spike who was cooking eggs for them.

"How'd he get down here? I thought I locked the door." Twilight asked.

"Oh, I did. He asked if we had any beginner's spell books that he could read. I showed him." Spike replied as he flipped the egg.

Twilight looked back at the Equininix then back at Spike. "How long has he been asleep there?"

Spike shrugged. "Heck if I know. It was close to three in the morning when he asked me to find him a book of spells."

Twilight walked over to Blaze trying to wake him up. "Blaze...Blaze...wake up Blaze." She said in a soft tone. The colt lifted his head up slowly, and looked around until he saw Twilight. "Hey, good morning sleepy head." Twilight gave a smile, and turned to Spike. "Spike's making eggs if you'd like some."

Blaze tried for a moment to remember who she was talking about, but nothing came up. His vision was hazy, and had trouble keeping his focus. For a moment he couldn't see at all, but things started to turn in his head and he could think once more. Spike was the dragon he'd talk to last night to find a spell book for him to read, and eggs started to sound good right now.

Blaze gave a slight nod before shutting the book up. He tried using a little bit of magic to lift the book back into the shelf, but it only went about four feet before it dropped. Twilight stood there amazed once more at the alicorn-phoenix that called him self an Equininix. The she picked the book up with her own magic, and placed it back in it's proper home.

"That was a good first try Blaze." Twilight said. "When I was your age all I could do was turn a page."

Blaze shook his head. "It's not my first time princess, but thanks for the complement. I've been at it for a few months now."

Twilight nodded. "Aside from that, you still did a good job. Just two more feet and you would've made it."

"So other than eggs, what else is to eat? I didn't get dinner last night."

"Do you like gems?!" Spike asked from the kitchen. "Rubies are my favorite!"

Blaze shook his head. "No, sorry my draconic friend." He replied.

Blaze took a moment to straighten his feathers on his wings, and walked over to the dining room. He promptly sat down and waited for his meal to arrive. Twilight sat next to him, sitting quietly.

"So," Twilight started. "What's your mom like?"

"She's cool, I guess." Blaze replied. "She has her faults like most do, but she makes it up by playing games with me. She's bad at chess, but don't ask her to play Marenopoly."

Twilight laughed a little bit. "So...so you have a good time with her?"

"Of course, but we moved a lot before we got here. Things shook up before I was born, and my mom hasn't told me much about my dad."

Twilight looked off to the side. "I wonder why..." She said in a rough voice. "My father died a couple of months ago, so I guess we're both bastards."

Blaze nodded. "The first time I heard the proper term of that word used in a sentence."

"I've read my medieval textbooks."

As they talked Spike passed out the plates each with a couple of eggs, and a hay-sausage. After that Blaze got his saddle bags, and walked to school.

Scootaloo sat back in her seat waiting for her friends to arrive in the class room. She'd wanted to talk to them about Blaze. Last night she over heard Twilight's conversation with Blaze, and had mixed feelings. They talked more after she left. Scootaloo spyed on them form more than an hour watching them talk.

She rested her head on the desk trying to get Blaze out of her mind. Blaze had wings, huge for his size, and had a horn. His fire-orange colored mane seemed to have life of it's own, and his coat was a brilliant color orange and yellow. His mismatched eyes mystified her, one eye reflecting life in the color of blue ruby, and the other gave her a clear definition of entropy as it shifted like burning embers in a blazing fire.

She didn't know why she went to school ten minutes before Cheerlee even arrived to greet waiting mothers to drop of the foals. Scootaloo didn't even like school. Blaze was the only pony aside from her friends that was on her mind, but she couldn't understand why he was. Yeah he could fly, do magic, and talk like grown stallion but he was different. His powers were special, but Scootaloo was a normal everyday pegasus. Nothing special about a pegasus but their wings.

Outside Twilight arrived with Blaze as there were about a dozen other ponies dropping off their foals. Blaze was less nervous now that he had a few friends, they were strange to him though. They talked about getting their cutie marks constantly as if they were obsessed over getting them. He too wanted to know what his cutie mark would look like, but it was something in store for the future.

Twilight looked at Blaze while he was in thought, and did another scan on him. With the same results as before, her head dropped, but shot back up when Blaze looked at her.

"You okay Twilight?" He asked with a concerned look on his face. "Tired?"

Twilight shook her head. "I'm fine, don't worry about me. Are you okay me leaving? I need to contact Princess Celestia."

Blaze shrugged with a nod. "Go ahead, I can take care of myself."

Twilight smiled. "Oh, and keep working on that spell. It'll get easier the more you use it. Start small!" Twilight yelled as she trotted off.

Blaze looked back to the school house, and noticed Scootaloo was inside. Without anypony looking he ran to the back, and flew through a nearby window. After clipping his wing he landed inside, and it wasn't long before Scootaloo saw him.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"I can ask the same thing." Blaze replied trying to fix his wing. "Why are you inside before everypony else?"

"I wanted to talk to the other crusaders." Scootaloo replied.

"About?" He drew closer, and sat in the desk next to her's. "I can keep a secret."

Scootaloo shook her head. "That's the problem, it's a secret."

"Ah...So, we can to a trade of secrets then?" He asked.

"What do you mean?"

Blaze thought of a way to explain his words. He stood up, and got infront of her. "I tell you a secret, and you tell me a secret. So if I tell somepony your secret, you can tell ponies my secret." Blaze gave a hopeful smile as Scootaloo thought of his offer.

"I-I guess thats okay..." She said at last. "Tell me your's first."

Blaze nodded. "I don't have a father. Well I do, but he died before I was born. Oddly I sometimes hear a voice that sounds like it could be him. Tells me who's friend or foe, right from wrong, etcetera-etcetera."

Scootaloo didn't expect this coming from him. She thought he could transform into some big-scarry monster that could swollow the world in one bite, but it sounded like it was something he held deep down. "Did you tell your mom this?"

Blaze shook his head. "I don't want her to think I'm crazy, or cry." He replied. "Now you tell me a secret."

Scootaloo thought for a moment then her head dropped. "I was going to talk to the others about allowing you to join us. I was planning a party to celebrate if they said yes."

Blaze's ear dropped. He had felt like he pushed her into saying this. "Oh, sorry then. I'll try to act suprised when or if they say yes."

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. "You WANT to join the CMC?" She asked.

"Why not? Sounds like fun to me." He replied. After a few moments other filles and colts started to enter the room. "I'll talk to you at lunch, yeah?"

She nodded. "Yeah..."

Twilight closed the door swiftly as she ran to Spike who was dusting an empty book shelf.

"Spike! I need you to take a letter for the princess! It's about Blaze."

Spike jumped down rom the latter, and picked up a sheet of paper and a quill pen. "Ready!"

"Princess Celestia, I have to inform you with more information on Blaze. He can use magic at a small scale for now, but I sense that it is growing at a steady pace. Further more I did a full body scan on his aura, magical maxim, body type, and his heart rate: at rest. And what I found was that he is dead, but alive at the same time. I request you send in a team of unicorns to help search for the cause of his abnormally. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

After quadruple checking for spelling errors, Spike sent the letter with his green flame. After a moment Spike looked at Twilight with a look of confusion.

"So he's a zombie?" He asked.

After giving a quick facehoof Twilight shook her head. "I dont even know..."

Chapter 4: First Step to a Long Journey

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Blaze looked to his left then right, waiting for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to come at him. They were playing a game called Zombies, and he was the last one 'living'(not it). He stepped softly as he hid behind a bush to avoid the two fillies in front of him. Then he noitced that the bush was starting to burn. He backed away and slid down a steep hill that eventually came to an end at a hidden cave. He wasn't sure it was there before because he's played with the Cutie Mark Crusaders in the field in front of Ponyville that faced the city of Canterlot on the Two Sister's Mountain.

Scootaloo heard Blaze scream as he fell, and ran to where he started his dissent. Looking back at Apple Bloom who arrived with Sweetie Bell, and barked.

"Go get help! I'll see if I can get him back up. He might be hurt!"

"You sure us? I'm sure Sweetie can use her mag-"

"Go! Hurry!" Scootaloo yelled louder, her voice cracked a few times.

Apple Bloom trotted off with Sweetie Bell mostly because they hadn't seen her like that before. It had only been two weeks since her camping trip with Rainbow Dash, and she still had trouble crossing the bridges around Ponyville. However they both wanted to also get help so they just listened to her.

Scootaloo looked down the hole in the ground a few tears slid down her face. After wiping them she inhaled and jumped into the hole balls first sliding down the long slide.

Blaze felt like the slide was a long one, after counting to himself it lasted almost two minutes. There he saw a temple with a glowing figure on the top of the steps. After looking at the figure it looked like a unicorn. It even waved to him which caught him by suprise. He stated to walk towards to figure, and it started to dull into a cobalt blue coat. It's mane was a black color, and it's eyes were ruby blue.

He smiled and gave Blaze a hug. "Look at you!"

Blaze pulled away and looked at the unicorn with the look of utter confusion written on his face. "W-who are you?"

The unicorn laughed with a low belly laugh. "I'm your father! Look at you stallion! You look so grown up."

"How do you know I'm your son? I'm a freak..." Blaze said. "You aren't a phoenix." He sat down with his head hanging low, and his wings flopped to the sides of him, unfolden.

Silver's ears dropped as he walked carefully up to Blaze. "Oh but you are, Dark Wing."

Blaze looked up at Silver with even greater confusion. "How do you know my real name?! Not even Scootaloo knows that!" Blaze shouted.

Silver backed up, then sat next to Blaze. "Because I gave you that name. It came to me in a dream I had the night we found out you were going to be a colt. I told your mother, and she said it sounded like she'd agree with. You know I watch you two everyday, and that Scootaloo looks like a keeper."

Just then Scootaloo shout out of the slide and flipped a few times until she rolled to the steps of the temple. "I need to go. She can't see me anyways. Only the dead can go here." Silver said standing up. "This is the death gate. If you touch it will judge your actions while you were alive. White is the Summerlands, Red is Tartarus, and green is you're not done yet."

Blaze looked at Silver. "Can I tell mom?"

Silver touched the gate, and turned white while he looked back at Blaze. "No...you can't."

Scootaloo came to her senses and found Blaze crying on the top of the steps. His tears fizzled as they hit the ground. Each one turning into a line of steam. She hazely walked up the stairs, still dazed from her tumble, and approched Blaze.

"Why are you crying." She asked him.

Blaze shook his head. "I...I just saw my dad..."

"And I don't have parents." Scootaloo instantly said her deepest secret she had in her vault of 'Never tell anyone' secrets. Blaze had clearly wanted to keep this a secret to only her, so it was only right to repay what was given. "I won't tell a soul. I promise...I promise..." She said hugging Blaze as he continued to weep uncontrollably.

Blaze looked up at Scootaloo. "S....s-same...here..."

After about ten minutes had passed a flash of blue light entered the room at the bottom of the stairs.

"Arth thou little ponies fine?" Luna asked in a worried tone. "What are thou two doing in such a place this? Arth thou dead? Oh what a sad day."

"We're not dead, we came out of a hole." Scootaloo said. "Can you help us?"

Luna nodded. "I can send you to the surface." She said, then saw Blaze. "He can't come."

Scootaloo looked at Luna with both anger and confusion. "Why?!" She asked.

Luna flew close to him, and Blaze backed up. "I don't under stand..." Luna said. "Touch the doors! Now if you wish to return."

Blaze looked over at Scootaloo. It was like it was saying 'help me', but all she could do was stand there. He touched the door, and orange runes bolted from where his hoof made contact with the door. Luna watched with amazement, seeing this for the first time. Blaze had looked back long enough to see this, and moved his hoof away.

Blaze cleared his throat. "Can...can I go home now?" He asked. "This place gives me the creeps."

Luna's horn lit up as she charged spell, and the next thing they knew, they were on the surface. They looked at each other, then looked for Luna, but she was no where to be seen. Blaze stood up, wiping his tears away, and stared at Scootaloo.

"How come you didn't tell me before?" Blaze asked.

Scootaloo's head dropped. "I it's something I don't want to talk about." She said.

"Then where do you think we are?" Blaze asked. They woke in a forest.

Scootaloo looked around for any symbolism of their location, but she hear rough running waters to her right. "Do you hear that?"

Blaze stopped moving to listen. He heard it too, and began to walk towards the sound, Scootaloo followed close behind.

"I think you're cool." Scootaloo said. "Even though you cried, I still think you are the coolest pony I know." She thought for a moment. "Even more than Rainbow Dash."

Blaze smiled. "Thanks, I think I needed that."

"So, when we get back-"

"We don't tell anypony." He stopped at the edge where the river ran. Water splashed onto him and he jumped back. "Water...it burns?"

Scootaloo looked at the 'burn' the water made on the side of his leg. It had left a black spot on it, but soon it turned orange again. "Did you do that?"

Blaze shrugged. "I think I heal quickly. Which might explain how my wings never stay broken for long." He walked along the river, against the direction of the current. "Lets go up river, maybe somepony will be there."

"What if there isn't?" She asked. "Ponies are looking for us."

"If they can't find us, we can live out here." Blaze joked as he walked. "I like the wilderness. Less noisy than in town during the weekend."

Scootaloo caught up to Blaze as he walked towards a hill. This had been his first time being this long away from his mom, and in the wild. The forest had trees, and flowers of different kinds. Their walk came to an end after about an hour of walking up river to a water fall.

They stood there in awe at the water fall as the mist around them started to frizz up Scootaloo's mane. Blaze chuckled a bit as her hair looked up even. Scootaloo tried to brush it down with her hoof as the colt laughed lightly,

"No!" He said trying to stop her from fix her mane. "You look better like that."

"Oh, Ha-ha." Scootaloo said.

After a moment of scilence Scootaloo started to feel hungry. It had been a while from the last time they ate. It had been clear to Blaze after hearing her stomach the weirdest noice he'd heard before.

"Hungry?" He asked, rubbing his own stomach. "You want some flowers to eat? I saw some that looked like you. Orange with purple stripes."

She nodded, and he got up. To find the flowers he saw a while back on their walk. The sun was about to set soon, so he hurried. He flew around for a few minutes and saw the flowers. After picking a couple dozen of them he made his way back to Scootaloo who had her hooves in the water.

Blaze watched as she dipped her head in the water.

"I-I got the flowers!" Blaze called from the dry land.

Scootaloo looked back at Blaze as her wet mane covered a small portion of her face. She smiled at him, and got out of the water. He gently placed the flowers in front of her and backed up into a tree to sit down.

She ate a couple and held a few in her mouth as she got close to Blaze. The wind had started to pick up, and she shivered.

"Bad time to take a quick bath I guess." She said after a few minutes. Blaze nodded as he started to fix his feathers. Something Scootaloo saw him do a few times in one day. Usually pegasi pruned their wings in the morning when they woke up, or after a shower. "Why to you prune so much? Is it because you're part bird?"

Blaze looked up towards the water fall and gave it some thought. He nodded lightly, and continued as the wing blew more. He heard Scootaloo shiver, and saw her curled up into a small orange ball. Giving it some thought, he pulled her next to him.

"Don't say anything...I'm only keeping you warm."

Scootaloo smiled as she felt the heat from his body. It was sitting next to a warm fire. Her mane was still wet, but her body was dry next his warm glow.

"I know..." She said. Blaze was clearly blushing, not even hiding it with his other wing. Smiling she rested her head on his shoulder. Blaze's long mane flicked upwards, and he tried to stop it with some success.

Blaze tried to shift his position, but Scootaloo stopped him. "What?" He asked, his face still red.

"Don't move...you're warm..." She said. "I-I don't understand why, but....I feel safe around you."

Blaze raised and eyebrow. "Huh? Me? I'm a monster, you can't be safe around a monster."

Scootaloo punched him lightly. "Don't say that!" She nearly shouted. "You're not a freak, or a monster! You're you, and I am me. Why do you keep calling yourself a freak when you aren't. You're different, that's all..."

Blaze gave a long sigh and closed his eyes. "Can I ask you something?" Blaze looked next to him at Scootaloo. "D-do you like me?"

Scootaloo thought for a moment. "Like....like-like or just like?"

"Like-like..I mean, we've been friends for a little while now, and...we play a lot together. And whenever I'm around you and your friends-"

"Our friends..."

"Okay...our friends...I feel safe...I feel wanted. My whole life, though it hasn't been long, I was always bullied for who and what I am."

Scootaloo hugged Blaze tightly causing his hair to rise again in shock. "Don't worry...I've been wanting to ask you the same thing." She said after what seemed like forever to Blaze. "I feel safe around you, in a good way..."

After Scootaloo spoke Blaze rested his head on Scootaloo's. "So...we're-?"

"Yeah...but nopony can know..."

Oh how they hoped that would be true. Hiding in a set of bushes nearby Sunny Skies, Twilight, and Discord watched them talk. Sunny had tears of joy while Discord and Twilight stood next to her. After asking Discord to find them, Twilight decided it would be best to bring Blaze's mom along to see if he was alright, and clearly he was more than just alright.

"Oh I'm so proud of him!" Sunny said wiping away her tears.

"I don't see how Celestia didn't sense his power when he was born..." Discord said as a circle of magic was in front of his eye, scanning Blaze. "How is he even here?" He looked over at Sunny.

Sunny didn't speak for a moment, which made it clear to Twilight, but not to Discord, that she didn't want to talk about it.

"Sunny, did something happen that made him like this?" He insisted.

Sunny replied with a slight nod, then started to walk away. "I don't want to talk about it..." She flipped her mane back.

Discord tried to follow Sunny, but Twilight stopped him with a magical wall. She shook her head and looked back at Blaze.

"She doesn't want to talk about it Discord, just let it go. Maybe, when she's ready, she'll talk about it." Twilight said softly. "It's clearly a secret she wants kept as long as she allows it."

Discord rubbed his chin. "I suppose you are right Twilight, but don't you want to know as well what happened?"

She nodded with a long sigh. "I do, but sometimes...it's best wait for her to say it."

"Any guesses then?" He asked. "Phoenix magic surrounds him, and his heart."

"I can't think of one..." She replied.

"What now?" The god of chaos asked.

"We'll come back tomorrow to get them. Lets give them some time to be alone."

"Should I watch over them?"

"If you would kindly do so."

Discord bowed towards Twilight. "I'll make it so. I want to take more time scanning him anyways." He snapped, and vanished into thin air.

"Don't do anything stupid Discord...or I'll turn you into stone."

Chapter 5: Blazing Rescue Mission Part 1

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Scootaloo sat under a tree at near the play ground at school with her eyes shut as she tried to relax. She enjoyed the moments she spent under the tree in the shade during the summer. School had started back up, and so many things has changed.

It'd been six months since she started her relationship with Blaze, and so far things were going smoothly. No pony knew that they were together. They had planned to keep it that way for a little while longer, and where going to tell ponies on Harths Warming. For some reason Blaze had told his mother, but Scootaloo didn't care after she heard that she promised to also keep it between them.

She stretched her wings out, and gave a long relieving yawn. Today Blaze was going to visit a doctor who specialized in Hybrids. She thought it may've been a bad business to go into seeing how it is already rare for a pony to cross species mating. Such a business was located in Canterlot, but the reasoning why he left on short notice confused her a little.

"So, I was wondering this Friday we could go the Sugar Cuber Corner to grab a smoothly?" Scootaloo asked. "It's nearing the fall, and they don't sell them again until late spring."

Blaze shook his head with a slight frown across it. "I forgot to tell you I'm not going to school tomorrow. I'm visiting a doctor who knows of my condition." He hugged her tightly. "Can we after I return on Sunday?"

Scootaloo's ears dropped behind her head. "Yeah, cool...it's fine."

Just then there was a small shadow hovering over her. "Huh?" She opened her eyes, and saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. "What do you want?"

"Where's that alicorn you and your friends are around?" Diamond asked.

Scootaloo stood up and started to walk away, but they followed. "He's in Canterlot, why do you want to know?"

"No reason..." Diamond said walking away. Scootaloo raised an eyebrow.

"That was too easy..." She said to herself as she ran to go find the other crusaders.

There must of been a reason why Diamond Taira asked why Blaze wasn't there, and deep down in must of been for a bad reason. After turning in her work she ran out of the school with her friends to their club house.

"Why are we running to the base?" Sweetie Bell asked.

"I think Blaze is in trouble."

"I thought he went to the doctors?" Apple Bloom added.

"He did, but don't you know Diamond's father works there on Fridays?"

"You aren't say'n?"

Scootaloo stopped the group short to the club house. "I am..." She continued. "Cutie Mark Crusaders: Rescue Ponies!"

"Yeah!" The other two chimed in.

"Ah said no Apple Bloom!" Apple Jack said for the tenth time. Apple Bloom asked if they could go to Canterlot to visit Blaze while he was at the doctors. "It's hard enough to believe you after yah lied to me about where y'all were head'n last month to the Everfree."

"Ah come on!" She wined. "I think he's in trouble. Diamond Taira-"

"That rich pony from school?" Apple Jack interrupted. "What about her?"

"Well....ScootalootoldusthatsomethingbadmighthappentoBlazeourcoolsuperawesomefriendwemadelastyearandthatdaywhenwemethedefendedusfromDiamondTairaandSilverSpoon!"

"He did what? Doesn't that little pony know its a bad idea to talk back to those ponies?"

"That's why I need to go to Canterlot with the other Crusaders!"

"I'll talk to Granny Smith, and if she say's we can go,we'll go!"

Apple Bloom squeezed her big sister tightly. "OH thankyouthankyouthankyou!"

"Well, I suppose we can go to Canterlot." Rairty said. "But why again?"

"Because Blaze is in danger!"

"And how is this? Is he ill?"

"No, he defended us from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon!"

"WHAT!??!" Rarity screamed. "We must go save him! But first I need to make a daring rescue mission outfit! Like the one I made Fluttershy, but more....DARING!"

"I don't think we have time for that, the train leaves at four, and it's two thirty now!"

Scootaloo looked around for Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo could fly for maybe a little more than five minutes before she would get tired. Each time she would take a minute to rest and fly again, and after checking every cloud over Ponyville she looked over at the pegasus's cloud house. She gave herself a reassuring nod, and sky jumped up to the cloud.

"Rainbow Dash!" She called from the door. She looked around until the door opened.

"Scoots?" Rainbow Dash asked, shocked completely. "H-How'd you get up here?"

"Forget about that, I need you to take me to Canterlot!" Scootaloo begged. "Please, my friend Blaze in trouble!"

"Woah! Calm down! Now, tell me how he's in trouble, and who this Blaze pony is."

"Can I tell you on the train ride?" She asked. "We've only got a half hour before the train leaves."

Rainbow Dash saw how worried she looked by how urgently she spoke. She gave a smile, and knelled. "Is this Blaze pony more than a friend?" She asked. "I won't tell a soul."

Scootaloo nodded. "Yes, now please, can we go!?"

"Hop on my back! I'll Rainboom there!"

"Thanks Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo said.

"Where's Scootaloo?!" Apple Bloom asked Sweetie Bell as they arrived at the station.

Right as she was about to reply with. "I don't know." A large BOOOOOOOOM! gave them their answer as a jet stream of rainbow colors sped towards them.

Apple Jack's jaw dropped. "Is this really that important to Rainbow Dash?!" She turned to Rarity who could only respond with a slight shrug.

Rainbow Dash landed with a thud that made the wood under them splinter, and crack. Scootaloo opened her eyes as the smoke cleared, and saw her friends at the station.

"I told you ten seconds!" She laughed. "I got the bits for me and Scoots here. What about you two?"

"Granny Smith was polite enough to give me enough of her savings to buy two tickets for me and Apple Bloom." Apple Jack said.

"I don't have any bits, but I'm sure this uncut diamond will do." Rarity added, showing the small diamond. "If not, I can give them two!"

"ALL ABOARD!" The conductor called.

They nodded, and bought the tickets to board the train to Canterlot. Scootaloo gave Rainbow Dash a look of worry, and the larger cyan pegasus wrapped her wing around her.

"Don't worry Scootaloo...we'll save him!"

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight called as she jumped into the train without buying a ticket. The conductor tried to stop her, but Twilight looked at him with total anger. "Not now!"

"What is it Twi?" She asked. "Celestia just sent me a letter saying something has happened at Canterlot involving Blaze, and she isn't sure she can fix it."

"What happened!?" Scootaloo asked running up to the lavender Alicorn. "TELL ME!" She nearly shouted as Twilight looked over at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow nodded without speaking and turned to look out the window.

"Ah think we all need to know Twi." Apple Jack said for her rainbow-maned friend.

Twilight gave a long sigh as the train started to move up to speed. "Blaze Bolt are in the dungeon for using magic to harm."

Scootaloo nearly fainted like Rarity did most often, and it was Rarity who saved her from slamming her head onto the floor.

"What happened?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"From what Sunny has told me through Celestia there was a pony who tried to foalnap Blaze, but before the pony could...Blaze....he...he attacked him with magic. Breaking two ribs, and four other bones from a single magical blast."

"If he was defending himself, how come he was put in the dungeon?" Rairty asked. "It just doesn't make a lick of sense."

"Technically he didn't touch Blaze."

"What'll happen now?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight sat next to Rainbow Dash who was comforting the waking pegasus, and looked down at Scootaloo. "Because he has admitted to thinking as an adult, and has spoken like one, the consequences can range from solar or lunar banishment to death." Twilight sighed with a hopeful smile. "However, we all have seen how he is no danger to Equestria if he is set free."

"So you're saying we need to act as his support during the trial." Rarity asked. "I know my way around the justice system, so I think I can try to pull a few loop holes that can grant us some extra time. To save him of course."

Twilight shook her head. "You can't if you're planning on being his lawyer Rarity. If you truly know what I am talking about."

"I do, but that doesn't mean I can't find out who was behind the attempted foalnapping." Rarity smiled standing up. "As Faust as my witness swear to do my best to find who was in charge."

"It was Diamond Tiara's dad..." Scootaloo said at last.

"What happened?" Twilight asked softly.

"He defended us from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon the day we met him." Sweetie Bell said.

"And he threatened to use his magic if they ever talked to us again." Apple Bloom added.

Twilight knew then it was going to be even harder. Secretly she had a spell that was recording the entire conversation they had on the train. As much as she didn't want to do it, Celestia had ordered her too to use the spell and gather ANY and all evidence on Blaze's case. If Blaze had any chance before she got onto the train to be set free before, surely now it was a much, much lower chance.

Scootaloo on the other hoof had made the plan while they were at their CMC's HQ. If they had to, and surely now they would, break him out of any room he was in. This of course brought question, but it was soon driven away. Scootaloo pulled "We stick together!" and it stopped the questions.

"I'm afraid to tell you that what you just told us won't help. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's Parents are rich." Twilight said walking around the car. "When you have the bits, you can buy anypony, when normally they wouldn't do something."

"Ah think there's more to this than what we're aware of Twilight. Ah mean, what if, now listen, Blaze wasn't really telling the truth about him speak'n like an adult." Apple Jack said. "Ah know this sounds crazy, but what if he's just well read?"

Twilight thought for a moment on the idea of being well read. When she was little she sounded like an adult from all the books she read, and knew every word in the dictonary by the time she was eight. So the possiblity stood firm.

"I suppose you're right about that AJ."

"Darn toot'n Ah know I'm right!" She shouted. "This Blaze pony, no matter who he is or what he is, he helped an Apple!"

"And Apples return the favor!" Apple Bloom said throwing her hoof into the air.

Apple Jack laughed as she rubbed her little sister's mane. "Sure enough!"

Twilight looked out the window she was next to, and gave out a stressful sigh. "Lets hope Blaze is alright. I'm still not sure what's going to happen."

"Princess you must know that my son isn't dangerous! He was just scared..." Sunny said softly.

Celestia shook her head. "If he wasn't dangerous then how come I have a pony in the hospital because of him?"

"I already told you!" Sunny cried. "He was scared, and acted upon his gut to get him out of his situation."

"That's not what I'm hearing from my former student." Celestia stood up, and walked down the steps from her throne. "Blaze Bolt is being charged as an adult because that is what he is. His brain is more developed-"

"But he's still a colt!" Sunny nearly screamed at the princess. "My son isn't dangerous! He's different, and he's being charged for something he did do defend himself!? Princess you must know that Blaze is a kind pony."

"So I've heard...and?"

"Do you really think he would hurt somepony for no reason?" Sunny was nearly on the floor in tears. "Blaze would never hurt anypony!"

Celestia rolled her eyes with a sigh. "It's going to be sunset soon. Go eat dinner, and come back later to speak with my sister. I need time..."

"For?" Luna asked walking out. "Good afternoon sister."

Celestia nodded. "Good afternoon Luna, I was just speaking to Blaze's mother."

"Blaze? What about him?" She asked.

"He's being charged as an adult pony for attacking a pony with magic. The pony who was attacked is in the ICU as of this moment with two ribs that are less than a inch away from impaling his lung."

Luna's eyes narrowed as she inhaled in horror. "I'm sure he had reasoning!"

"That's where we're at an impass Luna. Sunny Skies tells me the same thing."

"Then I shall talk to her." Luna helped Sunny up with a soft, and caring smile. "Come Sunny Skies, we can talk in my quarters alone. GUARD!"

The guards standing behind Luna saluted. "Yes princess?"

"Make sure that no pony interferes with our conversation. We shall not be disturbed by any reason." Luna ordered.

"We shall make it so!" They replied.

Luna motioned for a maid to come over, and whispered into her ear. The maid stood there for as long as Luna whispered into her ear, and replied with a nod.

"Yes, I can princess." She said looking at Sunny. "Excuse me ma'am, but please follow me."

"Princess?" Sunny asked looking at Luna.

"I must do my duty before we can speak Sunny Skies. Once I return from raising the moon, then we can speak. Until then Frost will take you to the room where your son is at so you can see him before tomorrow."

"What happens then?"

"I'm not sure."

Blaze sat in the only corner that wasn't damp. Why he was placed in a wet room, he wasn't sure, but he was glad he was still dry. While he sat alone he thought about how he had made his way into this room in the first place.

"Mom!" Blaze screamed as a group of ponies ran after him. "Help!"

Sunny turned around to see three pegasi bolting after her son. "Blaze no!" She shouted back as she ran up to protect him.

Blaze shot around the corner growing tired. His wings were starting to cramp up from making sharp turns at high speeds, something he wasn't used to doing. A trail of fire kept just enough distance from him and the pegasi who where chasing him. He hid behind a barrel, and shot a ball of fire at the last pegasus that he saw. He screamed in pain as he ran into a wall.

The two other pegasi looked at their partner, then saw where Blaze was hiding. Blaze took off again as they darted over at him. Again he took another sharp right turn right into a guard.

"Help! I'm being attacked!" Blaze said.

"STOP HIM! He used magic to harm! Our friend is hurt!"

"You're coming with me freak!" The guard said.

He had flown so fast he clipped his wing twice, which started the cramps. Blaze heard the door open, and Sunny came running up to him.

"I'm so glad you're alright!" She said hugging him tightly. "Are you okay?"

Blaze nodded with a frown. "I don't like it here. It's wet, and it burns..."

"I'm sure it hurts Blaze." Sunny said taking her hoof out of a puddle. "Why is this room so wet?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, I woke up in here after I fell asleep, and it was wet like it rained in here."

Another pony entered the room. She had glasses on with an eye on her flank. She took a moment to get herself noticed. She had black mane with a brown coat.

"Hello, I'm Seeker, I'll be your lawyer for this case, and I would like to start off saying I saw the whole thing." Her horn lit up, and a sheet of paper flew over to Sunny. "I'm the best of the best, and you're covered by a pony who wishes to not have her name spoken."

"Hi, I'm Sunny Skies, and this is my son Blaze Bolt."

Seeker nodded as she shook her hoof. "Its a pleasure meeting you Sunny, and Blaze." She said with a honest smile.

"So when you said you saw the whole thing, what do you mean?"

"Ah, right...I saw the whole thing. I was walking out of my office when I saw Blaze flying away from those pegasi. I followed him as best as I could while I was invisible. I saw how when he shot that ball of fire the pegasus flew into the wall." She explained. "If anything the wall should be the one in this room." Seeker nearly chuckled at the thought. "My sister Charm has also told me about you Sunny. You're a hard worker."

"I do my best..." Sunny sighed. "So what else?"

Seeker cleared her throat. "As of this moment I am in charge of making sure your son isn't seen as an adult in this trial. Clearly he was in danger and did what he could to be protected." She took off her glasses and wiped them off with a napkin she had in her saddle bags. "For now however you can come with me to where you'll be staying while things get in order. After lunch tomorrow Blaze's trail will start, and by dinner he should be free to go."

"Should? Are you saying he could be guilty?" Sunny asked, anger rising up again.

Seeker shook her head. "I'm not saying that he is, but it'll be hard defending him. Unless somepony comes in with evidence he wouldn't hurt another pony on purpose." She opened the door again. "Follow me..."

"I'm not leaving my son alone." Sunny said flatly.

"Then Blaze may come too. Clearly he cannot be here." Seeker walked out of the room with Blaze and Sunny close behind. They passed many guard ponies who were in the middle of changing shifts from day to night.

Blaze was nearly to his breaking point, with everything going on, he felt himself grow warm. Already he was starting his regeneration, it would only be two more days until he turned to ash for a little more than two hours.

Chapter 6: Blazing Rescue Mission Part 2

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The train slowed to a complete stop and the group of ponies set on saving Blaze stood slowly. They didn't want to rush head first into something they didn't fully understand. Twilight too was just beginning to piece together a plan that might work. Scootaloo just wanted to know if Blaze was okay. Deep down her feelings were as clear as day is to night.

She took a moment to take in the Canterlot scene bit by bit. Her mouth hung in awe. It'd changed from the last time she was in the capital of Equestria, and buildings had signs for all sorts of products. Twilight stood smiling, taking in a deep breath, and mouthed the worlds, "I'm home...", before moving on.

It was close to sunset when Twilight looked towards Ponyville. The clock tower in Canterlot had its hands on six thirty-eight, and she could see that no pony was eger to eat. Who wanted to anyways? A friend was in trouble, stress was high, Twilight didn't need magic to know this. Scootaloo was looking at the castle with pure hate, her eyes narrowed, and if she had fangs, they'd be showing.

Twilight stood next to Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack while Rarity was busy window shopping.

"It's been a while huh?" Rainbow Dash asked Twilight. "It only feels like yesterday we were defending this place with our lives."

"Them Changelings really hit us hard...Ah'm surprised we won." Apple Jack stated.

"If it weren't for Twilight, you think Crysilis would of won?"

"With out a doubt...you saw how badly she beat princess Celestia with her magic."

Twilight nodded. "Yes, but we need to hurry." She started to walk ahead. "I suppose I can convice my parents we can stay at their place."

Rainbow Dash flew up next to her. "You think they'll let us?"

Twilight shrugged. "I'm sure they'll like to seem me anyways. So I think we've got a good chance."

"I don't want to walk to far Twilight..." Rarity wined. "I just got my hooves done yesterday."

"Well prepare to get another hoof-a-cure Rarity, It'll be eight before we get to my place. Of course if we hurry..."

"Can't ya teleport us there Twilight?" Apple Jack asked, making a good point.

Twilight shook her head slowly. "I can't teleport all of us at once. Not now anyways, I'm still trying to get used to my new alicorn magic."

"No worries! I can fly Scootaloo there, ten seconds flat!"

"You don't even know where I live!" Twilight noted. "How'll you get there?!"

Rainbow's ears dropped as she laughed slightly. "Hehe...yeah...Lead the way!"

Twilight's eyes rolled as she started to walk towards the castle. Her old home wasn't more than two blocks away from the gates, and she knew that her parents still lived there from the last time they were in Canterlot. That time being Twilight's coronation to become the princess of magic.

"Then what happened Sunny?" Luna asked.

Sunny held the red stripe in her blond mane in her hooves, and sighed in dismay. "The next thing I know is that I wake up with this red stripe in my mane, and my wound was healed. I searched for close to an hour hoping it was all a dream, but Delphi was gone, leaving me this." She pulled a feather out of her saddle bags.

"A phoenix feather?"

Sunny nodded. "Yeah, it's a sign of love for most flying creatures."

Luna nodded. "Indeed, but why did she leave it?"

"I guess so I'll never forget her, but all I can do is think about that night. And what she did for me, and Blaze will stay in my head for the rest of my life." Sunny wiped away the forming tears in her eyes. After taking another moment she took in a deep breath to calm down. "I just wish I could thank her. She saved Blaze, and made him into what he is today. A smart, caring pony."

There was a knock at the door. Luna stopped Sunny from answering the door.

"I shall get it, stay here." Luna stood up and made her way to the door.

Sunny sat there with Blaze sound asleep next to her. She didn't mind that he was asleep, it made it easier to talk to the princess, and because he hadn't slept in nearly a day. But when Luna returned, she returned with a pink alicorn.

"Who's this?" Sunny asked.

The pink alicorn bowed gently as if it were her mastery. "Greetings, I am princess Cadence." The pink alicorn said with an even more gentle smile. It seemed pure, and honest which helped her relax.

"I'm Sunny Skies, but why are you here?"

"That's a good question, and I have the answer Ms. Skies."

"Sunny is fine."

"Alright, so the reasoning behind myself being here is because of something great. As we speak Celestia is talking to her parents about your son. There's a reason why he's dead, but also alive and unable to enter the land of the dead."

"Go on..."

"Sunny, this maybe hard to explain this in a easier way, so I'm sorry if this makes you cry much more then you already have." Cadence sat next to Sunny. "Y-your son, he's....already...dead."

"WHAT!?" Sunny cried, waking up Blaze.

"What's going on?" Blaze asked rubbing his eyes.

"See, Sunny," Luna started. "I lead souls to the doors of death, even while I was on the moon, I had that one duty I took the most pride in doing. I can enter and exit on a whim, and it took me a while to find your son. He's there, with your husband as we speak."

"So how is Blaze alive then!?" Sunny asked.

"That's not Blaze Sunny. That's Delphi."

"Mom?" Blaze asked. "What are they talking about? I'm me!"

Sunny bolted out of the room crying. Blaze looked over at the two princesses in the room.

"WHY THE BUCK IS SHE CRYING!!??" Blaze shouted as he flew into Luna. He hit her with such force that it caused her to fly into a nearby wall. "WHY!? WHY!? WHY!?" Blaze continuously hit the lunar princess until he was held in a yellow magical field. He cried weakly as Celestia entered the room.

"It seems Sunny has found out." She said closing the door behind her.

Luna nodded. "She has indeed sister."

"I think she took it well." Cadence said. "Most would faint hearing that."

Celestia rolled her eyes, and looked over to Blaze who was trying to calm down. His mane was dancing like fire, but was slowly stopping.

"You attacked my sister Blaze, you aren't helping your case."

Blaze snorted. "I don't care...I want to know what's going on."

Luna walked up close to Blaze, and rested her hoof around his next. "Sister, forgive his act against me. He was simply angry like a foal would be if they saw their mother cry out of a room. I think he's more of a colt then a fully grown stallion." She hugged Blaze. "Besides I remember you being this angry at father for making mother cry."

Celestia nodded. "I remember that as well, but there's a pegasus who is in the ICU because of him."

Luna stood up, her eyes narrowed as they met Celestia's eyes. "Sometimes sister, you must learn both sides of a story before you jump to conclusions."

"That's right!" Seeker said walking out of the bathroom. Her mane was wet along with the rest of her body. She wiped her face off with a towel, and cleared her throat.

"How long have you been here?" Cadence asked.

"Long enough to take a shower, and over hear Sunny screaming." She answered. "Hello, my name is Seeker, and I'm his lawyer. I saw what he did, and he didn't break any bones. However he caused the pegasus who's hurt to fly into a wall at high speeds."

Cadence and Luna nearly let out a slight laugh, only to hide it with their hooves covering their faces. Celestia raised an eyebrow.

"You were there as well?"

Seeker nodded. "I watched the whole thing while I was invisible princess." She sat down on a nearby chair. "I ran more than I had wanted to, but I was wanting to know why the pegasus was being chased. I've gathered information that could rival this case, and allow Blaze Bolt to be set free. So you can do so now. I know you've casted a spell to make him unable to leave the castle walls."

Luna shook her head. "I sense no magic on him aside from the phoenix magic."

Celestia drew closer to Seeker as the brown unicorn remained to stay calm. "How do you know this?" She asked.

Seeker winked, and gave a long sigh. "Mother sent me to help this pony."

Celestia and Luna's mouth dropped to the floor. "WHAT!?"

Seeker laughed as a ring of gray fire encompassed her revealing an alicorn the size of two Celestias.

"Can there stop being surprise guests? I'm starting to wonder if this room is secure like you said it was." Cadence said looking at the two surprised alicorns.

"Nothing can enter without us saying so." Celestia said. "Why are you hear Jupiter?"

Jupiter laughed walking around the room to hug her sisters. "I figure I wanted to see how you two were ruling Equestria. OH an the whole thing with Discord, good idea sending the god of chaos to six helpless ponies, and one of them being shy as buck." She scolded. "Celestia this young stallion is innocent, if you refuse to let him go, I do something you won't like one bit."

"I won't let him go until Twilight gets here!" Celestia shouted running up to Jupiter. She got close to her face as Jupiter gave an evil smile. "So try me!"

"Alright!" Jupiter said walking over to Blaze. She held his hoof tightly, and her horn started to glow. "You asked for it Tia..." She sighed as the vanished in a teleport.

"I'M GOING TO GET YOU FOR THIS YOU FAT BITCH!" Celestia's voice echoed throughout Canterlot.

Jupiter ran with Blaze on her back. She was fast as a pegasus flying through the air in a race. She elegantly turned corners, still keeping her speed, and dodging any remaining solar guard that hadn't been replaced with lunar guard. Jupiter kept on running even though no pony was following her. He breathing quickened as she ran faster, deep heavy breaths at every turn until she stopped in front of Sunny sitting on a bench in a park.

"Sunny Skies!" Jupiter said. "You must follow me! You maybe in danger along with your son."

"Why is he in danger?"

"WHERE THE BUCK ARE YOU JUPITER!"

"That's why!" Jupiter hissed. "Follow me, I've got a plan to get to Twilight Sparkle parent's house!"

Sunny stood up, and began to run along side of Jupiter and Blaze. She watched as Jupiter ran ahead and blasted a hole through a bush to keep their pace.

"So what's your plan princess?" Sunny asked the large alicorn.

Jupiter stopped, and pulled them into a empty house.

"My plan is to turn into a form my sister won't expecting to see me in. Then I'll do the same to both of you."

Jupiter thought for a moment, and a gray flame circle encompassed her again. Sunny and Blaze coughed until the smoke cleared revealing a gray pegasus with blond mane.

"Are your eyes-?" Sunny began.

"Something she wouldn't expect me to turn into I said." Jupiter said. "My name is Ditzy!"

"Oh what about me!?" Blaze asked, he looked rather too excited to be turned into something.

"A cat!" Jupiter answered as Blaze floated up into the air. "I love a good tabby cat. So cute as kittens!" She giggled as Blaze started to shrink down into the size of a kitten.

"I'm afraid for what you're about to turn me into..." Sunny said backing up.

"Don't worry Sunny, you're going to be my mare friend."

Sunny stopped, and blinked a few times, still trying to think over what Jupiter said. She lifted her hoof without saying a word she dropped it, and walked up to the mare giving her a dead stare. She inhaled deeply and exhaled with a long sigh.

*THWAP!* Sunny punched Jupiter right in her face. Jupiter winced in pain as she dropped to the ground. Sunny lowered herself down to Jupiter and smiled as if she hadn't punched her.

"I don't like mares," She said turning to pick Blaze up. "Banish me later if need be, but I do not like mares."

Jupiter stood up trying to regain her balance she lost from the blunt force of an angry mother's hoof. "Well noted....owww....You didn't have to hit me that hard."

Sunny rested Blaze on her back, and looked back over to Jupiter. "So, what am I going to be?"

Jupiter blasted Sunny with her magic, and two wings sprouted from her back. Sunny tried to hide the pain by grinding her teeth together, but small bits of her scream escaped her mouth in tiny squeaks. Then her coat started to change color from a light yellow to purple, her mane also changed, matching the red stripe in her mane.

After a few moments Blaze spoke up.

"Are you alright mom?" He asked, his voice small, and light.

Sunny nodded. "I-I'm fine....well, I will be anyways." She cracked her neck. "So, now that we're in our new shapes, what now?"

Jupiter closed her eyes, and looked around for a moment. She opened them up, and Blaze swore he could of seen two white orbs for eyes in the flash of a second.

"She's six blocks away, past two guard patrols." Jupiter looked out the window. "Lets just hope she hasn't convinced Luna to scan me if she finds out I'm a pegasus now."

"Thanks again mom for letting us to stay for the night. We'll leave as soon as everything starts to settle down." Twilight said hugging her mom in a tight embrace.

"Oh think nothing of it hunny." Mrs. Sparkle replied.

Rainbow came down from the top of the stairs, her eyes seemed to show worry. As she approched the group of adults sitting in the living room. Her mane looked discolored as did the rest of her body. Instead of bright colors, she looked nearly drained.

"Ahre you okay Rainbow Dash?" Apple Jack asked. She placed her hoof over her head, and jumped back. "Whoah!"

"Don't worry, I feel fine." Rainbow Dash replied, giving a weak smile. "I just had a long talk with Scoots, and got a little angry."

Twilight scanned Rainbow Dash for any if at all illnesses. Rainbow was just heated up, and would go down over time or quickly with a hard cider.

"She's right," Twilgiht agreed. "She's just mad, but why are you mad?"

"Scoots is in love with Blaze."

Rarity smiled. "How cute..." She said. "Ah young love is the type of love that only remains to be true love. They don't have all those hormones teenaged ponies have."

"You're still nineteen Rarity! You're the youngest out of all of the elements."

"So?" Rarity asked.

"So you can't talk!" Rainbow Dash laughed.

"Does anypony want some cider?" Mr. Sparkle asked as the door shot open with two pegasi and a cat.

The gray pegasus slammed the door shut, and looked around for Twilight. When she found her sitting on the couch, she ran over to her.

"Princess Twilight!" She said. "I've saved Blaze and Sunny!"

"What do you mean? Who are you anyways? I didn't ask anypony to help."

"I know, but I still know that you came here not just to drink a couple bottles of cider."

"How'd-?"

Gray fire engoghed the gray pegasus revealing a large alicorn. "Hi, my name is Jupiter, princess of the solar system." She inrodused herself. "These are Blaze and Sunny." Jupiter pointed her hoof over to the cat, and pegasus. "I've transformed them into different forms to keep them hidden."

"How come she hasn't told me there were more alicorns!?" Twilight asked, waving her hooves in the air. "Wait, why is Blaze a cat then?"

"I love cats!" Jupiter answered. "How far can you teleport?"

"I don't know, maybe two miles at most by myself."

"That isn't good enough! DAMMIT!" Jupiter yelled. "We need to hurry, with my form like this, it won't be long until Celestia finds me again."

"Why is Celestia after you?" Twilight asked.

"Because I got these two out of there before she went on with the case." Jupiter said. "On the other hoof now that we're all here I'm sure you can help me deal with Celestia."

"Sorry princess Jupiter, but Ah'm not break'n any laws." Apple Jack said taking a large gulp of cider.

"I'm with AJ on this princess." Rarity added.

Jupiter rolled her eyes looking over at Rainbow Dash. "And you Loyalty?" She asked.

Rainbow Dash nodded, and Apple Jack spat out a mouthful of cider. Mr. Sparkle knocked her on the head.

"Alcohol abuse isn't allowed in my house ma'am."

"Sorry," She said looking back at Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow are you crazy?"

She shook her head. "No, if this is important to Scootaloo for Blaze to be safe, then I've got no choice." Rainbow walked over to Jupiter from the couch. She had just realize how large she was, being three times her size, Rainbow Dash's legs trembled. "I-I want to help princess Jupiter." She bowed, and Jupiter raised her head.

"I do not rule this land Rainbow Dash, there is no need to bow down to me." Jupiter said softly. "Now, Twilight Sparkle, are you willing to save them, or stay here until we arrive at Ponyville in the morning?"

Twilight felt divided by zero, unable to make a choice she couldn't accept either future. Either she could help Jupiter in to taking Blaze and Sunny back to Ponyville, or staying behind and looking like a bad friend. She could go with them, but doing that would account to breaking every law in Equestria.

She stood there, unable to move. Then her mom walked up to her.

"You should help Twilight." She said, her voice soft like clouds.

Twilight soon accepted into helping Jupiter and Rainbow Dash leading Blaze and his mom back to Ponyville. It came with no trouble to their return to the small town they lived in. Jupiter also taken the disguise of Seeker again, but with a different color scheme. Her coat was white, and her mane was blond.

"I'll remain living with my sister, and her 'husband' for the time being until my sister stops looking for me." She said standing at the door.

Sunny stopped Jupiter from walking out. "I know you turned my son into a cat, and back into his normal form but can I stay as a pegasus?"

"Sure, but do you want your mane back?" She chuckled.

"If I may, I liked the stripe."

Jupiter's horn lit up as Sunny's mane started to glow, and turn back to a lighter blond then it was before.

"I'll be across the street if you need anything Sunny." She said walking out.

Twilight stood up, and stretched her legs. "I suppose I should fly back to Canterlot and tell the others you two made it back safely."

"Thanks again princess. This whole thing was stressful for both of us." Sunny said.

Twilight nodded. "It's my duty as a princess. Come on Rainbow, lets go."

Rainbow whispered in Blaze's ear, and Blaze nodded with a smile. "I will!" He said.

"Alright, see ya bud." She flew out the door with Twilight.

Blaze sat in his spot on the couch, and smiled from ear to ear. "I'm awesome..."

Sunny chuckled flying over to Blaze. "And why are you awesome this time Blaze?" She asked.

"It's a secret...that's all."

Chapter 7: Family is Family

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"Come on Sunny! I know your home!"

Sunny looked out of her window and her mouth dropped to the ground outside. "How'd the buck you'd find me here?!" Sunny shot back around and ran into Blaze on her way down the stairs. Her vision shook for a moment until she regained her stability. "Guess what Blaze!?"

Blaze picked himself up with his wings, while dusting himself off. "Yes, I would like to know why I'm awake before ten on a Saturday..." Blaze sighed. "So who's that?"

"My brother!" Sunny jumped up, and ran down stiars. She flung the door open, so hard in fact it left a whole where the door stop was. Sunny flew head first right into the stallion in front of her house.

"Ooofffff!!!" The stallion cried. "Damn Sunny, I get back from a small TOD, and you mannaged to live on your own? I might say I didn't expect this from you at all..."

"Hello to you too Cloudy!" She hugged her brother in a suffocating hold.

"How long has it been? Five? Six years?"

Sunny shook her head and laughed. "Did you knock your head on something? Cloudy, its been close to ten. How old are you?"

"I look fifty, but I'm really thirty six. Its the stress of war I guess."

"Oh, but first..." Sunny pulled off a cloke she had been wearing. She forgot she had it on when she went to sleep after dealing with a snotty customer. Her wings unfolded, and Cloudy's face turned to total confusion.

His eye twitched. "How-?"

"I'll explain inside, as well about my son." Sunny said, her eyes fell to the ground, and tears started to streamline off her face. Cloudy picked her head up.

"Family is family, no matter who you are. Come on, lets go inside..." He gave a caring smile to his sister.

Cloudy sat back in her chair while he was rubbing his small beard, and he thought for a moment before speaking. "So?"

"Mnnhmm..." Sunny nodded. "Any other questions?"

Cloudy nodded. "One more, and how exactly is my nephew an alicorn-phoenix?"

"I already told you Cloudy." Sunny rubber her temples. "Delphi gave him her soul to save us, and it gave me this cute red stripe in my hair."

"C-can I see him? I mean if he wants to come down, and see his uncle Cloud." He said causally.

Sunny looked up the stairs from the kitchen. She gave it some thought, and stood up. Her head lowered as she looked back at her brother.

"He was affected by Delphi's magic the most of all..." A tear formed in here eye. "Please...don't hate him for what he is."

Sunny walked out of the kitchen, leaving Cloudy alone to ponder. It had been ten long years in services for the griffens as a medical officer, and a general in the Xeris army. The Xeris are powerful and magical deer who gain magic through the nature around them. Their horns will glow in the event of a magical fluctuation that threatens the balance of nature. He'd spent four years in their forest, learning how to tap into such magic, and only learned four spells when he was discharged after an event that nearly cost his life.

Sunny cleared her voice catching Cloudy's attention. He looked over at her, and saw an orange filly behind her. She moved out of between them, and Cloudy nearly fell backwards. After regaining himself, he took a better look.

"Whoah!" He rushed over to Blaze, and grabbed his wings. "How are you so warm?! It's amazing!"

Sunny raised an eyebrow. "What? You don't hate him?"

Cloudy laughed as he shook his head. "Not at all 'sis. He looks cool!" He brushed his hoof through Blaze's mane. "Your mane is like fire!" He took a step back and looked at Sunny. "So what's his race? Surely he's the first. All those medical books I've read don't have any..."

"Equininx..."Blaze said.

"Equininix eh? I like it! So how old are bud? I need to know how to spoil you rotten!" He laughed hugging Blaze.

"I'm nine in four months." He answered.

"Eight then? No biggy. Lets see....Oh! I think I have something now!" Cloudy jumped back to his saddle bags. After a couple of minutes he pulled a necklace out of his bags. He ran back to Blaze, and tied it around his neck. Cloudy took a step back and nodded with a smile. "Thats called the Amulet of Balance. It increases your awareness while also improving your balance. I had a friend who gave it to me, and now it's your's."

Blaze looked at it, and smiled. "Thanks uncle Cloudy." He said. "I like it..."

Clody nodded. "Of course you do Blaze, and what makes it more special is that thing saved my life. Without it, I would of been killed in combat. Oh I need to tell you my awesome stories! I fought a dragon, a-"

"I think you should save that for some other day Cloudy." Sunny said. "You only just met him today."

Cloudy sat back in his chair with a long sad sigh. "I suppose you've got a point..." He looked out the window. "Do you know of a place I can stay for a few nights while I wait for my bits to come in?"

"You can stay here?" Sunny offered. "It'll be nice to catch up more."

"Sounds like a plan!"

As things started to settle down for Blaze he began telling Cloudy of his adventures through Canterlot with two princesses. Cloudy laughed when he heard from Sunny what she had shouted at her older sister. Cloudy hadn't known Celestia yas an older sister, but had deep suspicions about the topic. Things even go funnier when Cloudy began to discripe in deep detail on his last tour before being discharged.

Cloudy was walking through a dark forest, the moon and a unicorn cadet creating his only source of light. Their mission was simple enough, bring a crate of explosives to a cave, and detonate it to stop mutated creatues from harming the magical forest. They weren't far, almost a half of a mile away at this point after walking just a little over ten that day alone. Cloudy was used to the long walks he had to take to get from one place to another, but he found it relaxing where others found it a pain in their hooves. Others would complain, Cloudy however didn't.

A twig snapped under his hoof as he stepped over a log. The cadet nearly flew into the air, scared of the sound because he didn't know where it came from. Cloudy rested his hoof on the cadet's shoulder.

"Easy there kid, that's twenty pounds of the best C4 you have. One screw up and both of us and these trees around us would be off the world map." Cloudy said. "You want to talk? We've been silent this whole time."

"Thank you sir, I've actually had a few things on mind."

"Then speak up!" He said sitting down. "We'll rest for ten then finish the job as we run our happy flanks out of that damn cave."

"How long have you been in service sir? This is my second year." The cadet asked.

"This is number ten, and after this I go home. Visit my sister Sunny and her boyfriend." He rubbed his forelegs to ease the pain in his joints. "I was transferred to these deer after the Griffins. Before that I was Celestia's royal guard. Went everywhere she did for the most part. Oh, how could I be dumb, my name is Cloudy Skies, your's?"

"Guys back at the camp call me Dead Weight..." He said. "But my real name is Heavy Weapons. When I'm done with this, I want to meet back with my pals to take out-"

"Sssh!" Cloudy hissed. "Stop that thing!" He pointed to his horn, and it stopped glowing.

"What is it?"

"Cloudy's eyes narrowed on a bush and stood in between it and his partner. For the moment it was so quiet you could hear the night wind blow, making the trees whisper. Cloudy's ear shot around, and so did he with his sword he cut through a tree and it disolved into a black liquid that soon morphed into a creature with red eyes.

"Stay behind me Heavy!" He shouted.

"Uh, sir we're surrounded by these things!" Cloudy turned and saw that there were indeed six other creatures around him. He kissed his necklace, and lundged himself at the nearest mutant.

After a few cuts the mutant dissolved into thick purple smoke, and started on the next mutant. Heavy even joined in after carefully placing the explosives on the ground. Both of them made quick work of the mutants. Heavy fell to the ground breathing heavely.

"Holy buck..." He huffed. "How'd you know?"

Cloudy lifted up his necklace and smiled. "I do love those deer..." He kissed the nacklace again. "You alright bud?"

"I could be better. One nearly got me." Heavy sat up, and waved his hoof. "How about we finnish this mission?"

Cloudy nodded, and helped Heavy up. "Come on, lets go."

"Cool huh?" Cloudy asked. "We made it out of the cave right as the shit went off."

Sunny held her hoof to her face as the door bell went off. "You can tell me what really happened after I get the door." Sunny shook her head slowly.

She got to the door, and looked through the small looking glass that showed who was on the other side. Sunny looked over at Cloudy, her eyes open wide in shock.

"Go up stairs with Blaze....now."

"Who's at the door?"

"You won't believe me if I told you, now go."

"Who is it?" Cloudy insisted. "Tell me!"

"It's dad..."

Cloudy's eyes opened wide. "What?" He asked pushing Sunny out of the way to see if she was telling the truth. On the other side of the door was indeed their father. "No way...Come on Blaze, I don't think you want to him to know you exist. He'll have a fit."

The door bell rang again. "Go now! Stay up there until I explain these as well." She pulled her cloak over her body, leaving her head open. After waiting a short time for her to hear a door shut, she opened the front door.

"Heeeeey dad..." She gave a fake smile. "How long has it been?"

"More than necessary Sunny Skies!" The old stallion said. "I've been stuck in that old folks home for fifteen years, and you lied about their oat-meal being the best in Equestria! They're shotty a buck! They don't even put raisins in it! How can you eat oat-meal without any bucking raisins? YOU CAN'T!!!"

"Sorry, I thought it was good." Sunny chuckled lightly. "Anyways, how are you dad?"

The old stallion jumped across the room in a single leep, shocking Sunny to no possible end. Her eye twitched.

"I FEEL FINE!" He laughed. "They have some great tonics up in Canterlot! Some increase your muscle mass, bone mass, they restructure your body to make you looking fit as a fiddle!"

Sunny smiled wide. "Well, I'm happy that you're doing fine dad, but why exactly are you here?"

"I heard Cloudy returned to visit you, and heard you have a son."

Sunny started to sweat water falls. "I-I do, and Cloudy is here...but I need to talk to you before I go get them."

He tilted his head. "You ain't a homosexual are you Sunny?" He asked.

Sunny shook her head. "I've....changed, but not in that way..." She said untying her cloak. After it dropped to the hard wood floor, she opened up her wings.

"WHAT THE BUCK!?" The old stallion shouted. "Those must be that new magicy stuff your husband is making! Ain't it!?"

Once again she shook hear head. "No, a princess did this to me. and I told her I wanted to keep them so I can fly with Blaze."

"Now who's Blaze?" He asked. "Is it a boyfriend? You ain't cheating on your husband are ya?"

"No dad! Sunny shouted with a snort. "BLAZE is your grandcolt! And there's something you need to know about what happened!" She got close to her dad with a long frown, she spoke again. "Silver is dead! My phoenix is dead because of my stupid ass-self for getting stabbed. Delphi gave her life to save me, and Blaze. I got this stripe, and Blaze....He's...not a whole pony."

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Blaze is part pony, part phoenix..." Sunny began retelling her story of what happened nine years ago. Every second tears slid down her face, as her father sat there not speaking until she was done. She told him how Silver died, how Delphi died to save them both.

Sunny's father sat next to her in silence for the few moments after he long story, catching him up to this point. "I don't know what to say..."

"Just say you still see me, and not ever see Dusk! After he started smoking weed, you stopped talking to him. When mom changed into the pyco she is now!? Are you?" Sunny asked, her voice cracked.

He shook his head slowly. "No, I'm not speaking to them for reasons that are supposed to be kept to me, and me alone. So far, you told me you've been living with an alicorn phoenix as your son, and all on your own. I actually proud of you..."

"Really?"

"I don't lie to my children..." He sighed. "So can I see him?"

"Yeah, you can, just don't hate him..."

It took a few minutes of short excitement, but things calmed down to what was normal for Blaze and Sunny. It was until dinner did they leave them alone once again. Sunny went to sleep early along with Blaze after dinner. They had a long day of catching up, and telling jokes and stories for them. Sunny was happy now, knowing her father accepted the new her, and Blaze.

Happy Memorial Day EVERYPONY!

Chapter 8: To The End Part 1

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"BLAZE!" A voice shouted in his dream. "DAMMIT BLAZE! WAKE-UP!"

Blaze opened his eyes, and saw a stallion standing over him. His vision was foggy, and he could smell smoke. He studied his mane for a moment, realizing it wasn't him, he looked back at the stallion.

"Oh thank Celestia you're awake!" Sunny rushed into the room.

"Mom, what's going on?" Blaze asked. "I smell smoke."

"Look outside bud!" Cloudy pointed out his window. Blaze looked, and his jaw dropped. "That's right!"

"Why is Ponyville burning?"

"It's not!" A flash of light revealed Luna, she blasted Sunny, and Cloudy, knocking them unconscious.

"What are you doing princess?""

"You're still dreaming Blaze, these ponies aren't your family." Luna's horn glowed, ending the nightmare, and it shifted to the doors of death.

Blaze remembered his moment here with his father before he walked back in. A tear showed Luna he hadn't yet forgotten what happened over a year ago. She nudged him lightly, and smiled.

"I suppose you're wondering why you are here, aren't you?" Luna asked.

"I guess that's on my mind right now. Am I still sleeping?"

She nodded. "Indeed, but this is called an astral-projection." She explained. "You are still in your bed, but you are here as well. I'm using my magic to hold your end as well."

Blaze kicked his hoof off the ground, and felt the rocks slap his hoof. He chuckled, not really knowing why, and gave a long sigh. "So, why exactly am I here?"

"See that?" She pointed her hoof to the door, and saw that there was a crack in it. Blaze looked closer through the crack, but before he got a good look, she pulled him back. "If you wish to go mad, feel free to continue looking. That appeared last night when you went to sleep."

"Did I do this?" Blaze asked, his ears fell behind his head.

"No, you didn't, but I'm afraid somepony is pinning blame on you."

Blaze snorted. "Who would do that? Everypony is used to me, and kinda likes me."

Luna sat down, looking into his eyes. "Blaze, I'm afraid that you are in danger not even my mother can save you from." She said. "There's a dark force at work that once my parents had to face. His name is Ender, and he is the master of darkness. He's granted foes of the elements passage to the realm of the living, and has given power to Somber on many occasion."

Blaze rubbed his chin, and blinked scilently. Thoughts raced around in his head like bullets.

"So, what does this have to do with me?" He asked.

"He's after you..." Luna said. "He's made it clear to us that he only wants to restore balance."

"Are you going to let him?"

Luna sighed. "We have no say in this...However, you can choose whether or not to let him take you." Luna stood up, and her horn started to glow. "If you have any enemies, make peace with them Blaze Bolt. Believe it or not, but they may help you."

Suddenly the doors started to open, suprising Luna enough for her to drop the teleportation spell. A dark figure looked out, and smiled. The doors opened wider now, revealing two unicorns, and behind them were fertile green fields.

"This suprises us...how did you manage to convince her?" Luna asked.

The silver colored unicorn laughed lightly. "Luna, nice to see you again."

"We couldn't help but not overhearing I need some help." The black unicorn said, walking slowly over to Blaze. Their eyes met, and Blaze's eyes opened wide. "Yes, beleive it bud, I'm you."

"What?" Blaze asked. "How?"

"Come on..." The unicorn rolled his eyes. "I age in the summerlands until I don't want to. I'm like you in every way."

"This doesn't make any sense though, how did you two manage to leave?"

"It's for the fate of Equestria Blaze."

"Plus, Scootaloo wouldn't exactly want to lose her only love now would she?" Dark Wing winked. "No worries, I can't talk to anypony other than you, and mom."

"You've yet to answer my question." Luna huffed. "Answer me now."

Silver nodded. "Yes, princess." He said. "But first we must take our leave to Blaze's home."

"Fine..." Luna teleported them all out.

"As you can see, my duty is to protect the dead, and shadows Celestia."

"And my duty is to protect my ponies Ender, why are you here?" She stomped her hoof down on the table.

"Calm down, I've seen the error of my ways, and no longer grant power to those who think they can weild it without going completely mad...A ponies mind is weak, and unstable enough as is." The black alicorn said. His eyes glowed red, and his mane shifted like shadows. "Blaze, I suppose that's his name they call him now eh?"

"Indeed, he's escaped my grasp with the help of my sister, Jupiter."

"Jupiter?!" The shadow laughed so hard the walls started to shake. "That mare? She owes me quite a bit..."

"So, back to Blaze, what do you plan on doing to him? He is only a filly,"

"I understand that, but my sister has agreed with me that he must go to the underworld." Ender placed his cup of tea down after taking a long sip. "I hate to admit, but she's right most of the time about this kind of thing. And this situation has happened more times than you would've thought Celestia. All I ask is permission to take his soul."

"You are more powerful than my mother and father combined, why are you asking me for permission Lord Ender?" Celestia pointed out.

Ender laughed again, but this time it was more of a lighter chuckle. "Life magic surrounds this kingdom, and my sister has made it clear I should at least ask to kill." He smiled, and looked out the window. "Oh my...he's aware of me...and has company with him. Your sister...hisself...his father...yes...indeed." Ender stood up, and his body nearly broke the roof over him.

"Can you at least shrink to my size? I had good ponies work on this roofing."

Ender nodded, and his body shrunk down to the size of Celestia. "Does this suit you?"

She nodded. "It does, now, I need time to think on this..."

"You have three days princess...or I'll forget my sister exists for one more, and kill that hybrid."

"You'll kill him anyways?"

"If need be...balance is needed to be kept in check, or worlds will crumble into dust." Ender's body disolved into the shadows in the room, making his leave.

Celestia fell over the table, and gave a long sigh. "That was painful...just to look at him...is....horrorfiying..."

Blaze awoke from his bed bresthing heavily. He felt like he just ran a marathon in two minutes. His lungs burned, and his stomach cramped. Swiftly he fell off his bed, and began to vomit up chunks. Blaze shook violently as he puked next to his bed, away from his bedroom door.

The door shot open with Sunny screaming Blaze's name. Tears rolled down her face as she stumbled around trying to figure out what was wrong with her son. Along with vomit, blood started to make it's way out of his wimpering mouth. He cried as he puked nothing but stomach acid.

Cloudy came into the room with a needle, and pulled Sunny aside. He uncapped the needle and stuck it in Blaze's back leg. Almost immediately Blaze began to calm down, and his breathing slowed. He shook there for a moment, all of his mussels still contracting, keeping him in a tight ball.

Cloudy gave a sigh of relief, and hugged Blaze tightly. "I just met you...Can't let you die just yet."

Sunny joined the embrace. "Thanks Cloudy..."

Things calmed down, and as Blaze rested with his head on Sunny's side while they were in the living room. Cloudy sat there thinking in the silence until it was broken by the door bell ringing. Cloudy stood up, and answered it.

"Hello-?" He began until he saw that it was princess Luna at the door. He fell to the ground bowing respectively. "Princess Luna, if I may ask why are you here?"

She smiled. "You do not need to bow before me caption Skies...May I come in?"

"Of course!" Cloudy said. "But I wish of you to be as quiet as possible. Blaze was sick not to long ago."

Luna's smile dropped, and was replaced with a caring sadness look. "Oh dear, I shall see that he is well."

Cloudy nodded, and allowed the princess to enter. She walked into the house quietly as she could without knocking something over. She found herself on a love seat, and looked at Blaze as he slept.

"He's dreaming a good dream now Sunny Skies." She said softly. "He loves flying...it makes him feel free."

Sunny smiled with a nod. "Delphi loved it when I let her outside. Of course she never wanted to leave. She loved me as if I were her mother." Sunny nuzzled Blaze gently. "Blaze is alot like her in more than just one way...The only thing that's different is his blue eye. Got it from his father I suppose..."

Cloudy gave Luna a glass of water, which she had politely accepted with her magic. After taking a sip, she frowned.

"How troubling was it to see him sick?"

Sunny's ears dropped, along with her smile. "I was worried when he started puking up blood...I thought he was dying..."

"I don't think he'll be able to regenerate like most phoenixs do. It what keeps his form stable I suppose..." Luna sighed. "I'm guessing why I am here, huh?"

Sunny and Cloudy nodded. "I was beginning to wonder princess, why are you here?"

"This won't be easy, but...I'm...I'm afraid...a great foe is after your son. He claims that is all he is after...but my sister and I can't trust him." Luna closed her eyes. "Silver, Dark...come on out..."

As if on cue, two shadowy figures manifested in the room, and with Luna's magic they became solid. Sunny dropped to the floor in shock, this woke up Blaze. Sunny began to cry as Silver and Dark Wing approached her.

"H-h-how?!" Sunny cried. "How are you here?"

Silver tried to hug Sunny, but his hooves passed though her. "Sshhhh...It's okay Sunny." He said. "Luna asked me to help Blaze."

"You mean us?" Dark asked. "Sup me?"

Blaze rolled his eyes, and weakly shifted himself upright. "Oh ha-ha..."

"What's wrong with him?" Silver asked.

"He was sick, I fixed him right up!" Cloudy said proudly.

"Oh, your Cloudy right?"

"Sure am! Nice to meet ya ghost Silver!" Cloudy gave out a light chuckle.

"So, can I get a rundown on why two ghosts, and a princess is in my living room?" Sunny asked. "And who is this foe you're talking about?"

Luna stood up, and walked towards the center of the room Suddely her horn began to glow a brilliant blue. An image appeared on the floor of a demonic looking pony with glowing red eyes. Next to him was a better looking pony. It was white with blue eyes, and it had large majestic wings.

"The black one is named Lord Ender, and the white one is named Lady Trinity. They are the twins of balance, and they are the keepers of balance. It is Lord Ender we presume is the only threat as of this moment. However that does not mean Lady Trinity isn't after him as well." She explained, looking over at Blaze and Sunny. "Blaze, I'm sorry for your fate. For what I see about this. It is best to just give up.

Blaze shook his head. "I won't! I'll beat him....for...Scootaloo."

Luna smiled, and held Blazes head under his chin. "I once felt love for a pony who was lower than myself, and I ended up destroying King Somber to save him because of the love I had for him." Luna gave a weak chuckle as she looked away. "I hope you too beat who threatens your life."

"So, how come when I woke up I was over come by sickness?" Blaze asked. "Because I don't think I can fight him now."

"First time astral-projections always cause some disconfort in the stomach area. The sickness only lasts as long as ten minutes." She answered. "I now must take my leave." A swirling light started to encompass Luna as she flashed away in a instant.

Ender swirlled back into existance into front of a large castle. He snorted while he grew back to his normal size, and Ender was huge. His body was the size of fully grown wyvern. Once he stopped growing he picked up a bolder with a gray-ish aura, and threw it miles away behind him.

"TRINITY!" His voice echoed across the land, shaking nearby mountains, and created massive landslides.

In a swirl of white magic a white alicorn appeared into existence in front of Ender. It opened it's eyes, and gave a meaningful smile.

"Brother...so nice to see you." She walked forward to Ender. He stepped back, and sorted again. "Are you mad at me brother?"

"I am...Why did you let this hapoen!?" Another bolder few away from them, exploding on impact. "You could of stopped this Trinity!"

The alicorn stood there, still smiling. "I know brother, but all creatures deserve to live their lives in peace."

Ender stompped his hoof, shaking the earth under them. "Peace is a lie Trinity!" He shouted.

Trinity shook her head, and her holy smile dropped. "It is my duty to-"

"It is your duty to help keep the balance of nature Trinity!" Ender shouted. "Allowing an immortal to give its soul to another is not allowed!"

Trinity walked closer to Ender, her usual holy light that glowed off of her was now gone. Her glared at her brother angerly. "Who made the rules of life Ender? I did, you didn't..."

"I don't care! Balance is gone now! For this moment you have more power than I!"

"And look, I haven't destroyed you...yet."

"What are you saying Trinity?" Ender asked, his stance becoming more aggressive. "Are you challenging me?"

"No Ender, I'm saying that you should watch what you say." She said, turning away towards the castle. "I shall take my leave to do my duty as giver of life." She paused for a moment. "A pony calls...What does it mean to wake up?"

Chapter 9: To The End Part 2

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DAMMIT, Why won't he wake up!?"

Blaze opened his eyes with a long yawn, and looked around. He'd forgotten today was his birth day. Next to him, sleeping peacefully was Scootaloo. She snored quietly which, in Blaze's eyes, made her look even cuter. It'd been two days since he'd found out an almighty god of darkness named Lord Ender had set his eyes on him.

"Make peace with your enemies, believe it or not, they might help you."

He carefully rested Scootaloo's head on the soft green grass, and stretched out his wings. After flexing them a few times he jumped to the top of the large oak tree sitting on a hill on the outskirts of Ponyville. It was known as the Lonely Oak. From it Blaze could see all of Ponyville covered in Canterlot's shadow.

"Why?" Blaze looked up to the sky and raised his hoof towards it. "Why me?"

"I loved master...that's why." Blaze shot his head around and saw a feather transform into a small phoenix.

"Delphi?" Blaze asked.

"Yes, I am Delphi, pet of your mother." The phoenix flew up next to him and sighed heavely. "Master was so nice to me. She tought me to speak Equestrian, read it, and gave me a home no normal phoenix had."

"Really?" He asked. "Ma never told me much about you. Other than-"

"That night, I know..." Delphi looked towards Ponyville. "I loved master, like she was my mother. In some ways, she was. She sung to me, gave me snacks, let me read with her, and told me when you were born, we could play together. You'd come to know me as your big sister." The phoenix gave a chuckle. "I looked forward to it everyday. I watched her as her body grew as you did inside of her. Not quite ready to see the world."

Blaze looked at his wings, and then to Delphi. "So, why'd you do it?"

"I swore an oath to your father. An oath I would take pride in doing if it ever happened."

"Being?"

Delphi shook her head. "I didn't want to do it...I never thought I had to do it..."

"Tell me!" Blaze pushed.

"Let me...show you?"

"How?"

"First, close your eyes."

Blaze nodded, and closed his eyes. Soon he felt wind rush past him like a tornado. His ears started to pop which made him grunt in pain. The wind stopped blowing almost in a instant. Blaze felt dizzy, almost wanting to throw up again.

"You can open your eyes now."

He nodded, and opened his eyes. "Whaoh!" He exclaimed. Upon opening his eyes he realized he wasn't on the tree anymore, but in a different realm. Stars scattered across his whole field of vision, and he saw he was walking on a bridge made of pure light. Blaze couldn't believe his eyes at first, but then he started to see moments of his past through ethereal glass windows.

He watched one that showed the day when he was turned into a tabby cat. He chuckled at his fate, and walked around in awe. The next one he ran across was the day he was lost in the woods with Scootaloo. His past self blushing as Scootaloo nudged closer to him to stay warm. That's when he saw something in the bushes. He brought his head closer to the winodw though time, so close his nose touched it, and it zoomed where his nose touched it. He grinned and touched the spot again and it became clearer. Watching from the bushes were three creatures. One was mixed up, the other two were ponies. Zoom-clear-zoom-clear, until he got close enough to see that it was Twilight, Sunny, and a creature known to everypony as Discord, god of chaos.

His face tensed up, Blaze could feel anger surdging from his chest. He felt so angery that a moment like that was seen, by his mother no less. A moment where they knew that they were in love, and the moment he felt the happiest. He turned around back to Delphi who was resting her wings on the bridge.

"Show me what you were trying to show me...I want to leave this place." Blaze said, walking over to Delphi.

Delphi gave a quick nod before lifting off. She told Blaze to follow her down the path. He watched even more events take place, but ignored most of them. They stopped in front of a frame that showed Blaze the day.

It started when Sunny was being mugged. Blaze watched in horror as she cried out in pain. She did this while crawling back to her house. Her forleg was over her stomach as Delphi began to die. It happened also fast, and caused Blaze to break down. Delphi landed next to him.

"Tell master I'm sorry, for everything, for everyday I caused pain to her, and misfortune to you. I did what I had to do to save you both."

Blaze blinked and ended up back next to Scootaloo again. He stretched again, waking her. She rubbed her eyes as she saw Blaze walking up to the small, but steep incline in front of the tree facing the west. It was close to sunset, and the air was starting to cool as it blew over the green fields.

"Hey, you alright?" Scootaloo asked, rubbing her nose in Blaze's mane.

He shook his head slowly, still looking away. "No, and I don't think you'll be able to help either." He replied with a heavy tone in his voice.

Scootaloo sighed. "Alright, but, do you want to talk about it?"

"I saw my hero's death...and I don't like it."

Scootaloo took a small step back. "I'm-I'm sorry you saw that then Blaze." She replied. "Hey, how old are we?"

"I'm nine, you?"

Scootaloo blushed and covered her mouth trying not laugh. "You're nine?! I'm ten...hehe."

"Aw, that ain't bad Scoots. Just means we aren't the same age." Blaze smiled.

"But sister, we must help him!" Jupiter hovered around Uranus. "All of us could! I can fly to Applelosa!"

"No! Dammit Jupe, you know our duty is to protect ponies from afar. We can't just jump in, and everypony won't freak out. You know Celestia's rule would be challenged, or questioned. It would look like we've been hiding and helping her."

"But- Ponies have changed! They wouldn't!"

Uranus shook her head. "I'm not helping, and that's that. Now either get back to work helping Sunny move those boxes, or just get out of my site."

"Uranus, this could give us a chance!"

"A chance for what? For Celestia to find us, banish us, WHAT!? From what you've told me, Celestia doesn't deserve our help, and it isn't our responsibility to help a hybrid destroy a god. Ender is nothing to mess with...Now, leave me be...I've got to talk to my husband about our plans next week."

Uranus left the room as Jupiter slumped over onto the floor. Giving out a sigh of discontent she looked for something else to get her sister off her mind. Across the road lived Blaze and his mother. Living with them was a medical officer that hasn't been off duty long. She knew he was helpful, but wasn't sure now.

Jupiter was well over two thousand years old, and two hundred years older than Celestia. Being the oldest out of the other siblings, she thought she could of convinced them to help Blaze. There would be somepony who would help a pony who's only wishes is to be normal. To live a normal life, as a normal pegasus, or unicorn, it was all he wanted. Now he had to face a god that was more powerful than any sub-god, or demigod, combined. It wasn't fair for him to go though all of this, and she planned to help make it better. The only problem was, just how was she going to do it.

Sunny came into the room dropping a few boxes. She stood back up, and saw Jupiter looked like she was trapped in dismay. She approached her with caution.

"Princess, are you alright?"

"I am...At least for the moment." She replied, lifting the boxes with her magic, and stacking them on top of one another. "I can't seem to find help for your son."

Sunny gave a weak smile, and hugged the princess. "It's alright, I'm sure he doesn't need help anyways." Sunny replied. "He's got my husband, and my real son." Sunny chuckled lightly, then frowned. "I know it sounds like I don't care about this, but I really do. I don't want to be left alone. I already lost my husband, and Delphi, I don't want to lose him too. However, I know Blaze has locked potential that just needs a key to unlock what he needs to beat Ender."

Jupiter nodded. "I have an idea...but I'm not sure if its safe for his small body."

"What is it?"

"I can give him all of my magic. You could, everypony can...but I don't think he could hold it all for long."

"I wasn't aware that one could offer magic to another pony."

"You can, but its dangerous...one wrong move, and the recipient could violently explode wiping out the entire country side in a instant."

Sunny's eyes opened wide in shock. "Is it THAT unstable?"

Jupiter didn't answer, but she stood up. She looked over at Sunny, and sighed. "Lets get back to work Sunny..."

"Answer me!"

"YES! If shit goes wrong, Blaze could wipe out the entire world let another the country side! I scanned him, he has more magic than Celestia, no doubt, but adding on my magic....The blast could...it would reach...the moon."

"WHAT!? So, your plan could help him, but destroy the whole world in the process."

"If your son isn't able to hold onto the magic, but I'm not giving it to him." Jupiter said. "Now, lets get back to work."

"I thank you for seeing me Lady Trinity, Ender is going to attack my kingdom tomorrow."

Trinity bowed with a smile. "I wish that we would've met on better circumstances Celestia."

"As do I, but about Blaze Bolt."

Trinity nodded and an image of Blaze appeared in front of them. "As of this moment, Blaze's soul is within his heart, chained by Delphi's magic. Even one touch by Ender's claw could break those chains, but thankfully his magic is direct. He'll need to touch his heart to do this." Trinity pointed her hoof at his heart. "Once this happens his magical essence will rejoin the world, and cycle around with it."

Celestia rubbed her chin with her hoof as she thought. "How much of a chance does Blaze have in defeating Ender?"

"None..." She replied flatly.

"Now that't no fair..."

"I understand your concept of being fair, but our concept is different. Fair is being just in action, and reaction. I also know that Blaze has the ability to beat him, but he is too young to understand his true power." Trinity explained, standing up. "I thank you for this visit Celestia." Trinity bowed as she vanished in teleport.

Celestia wasn't exactly wanting this to happen. It ment more trouble, and brought danger. After thinking for close to ten minutes she grabbed her quill and a scroll floated over to her. She frowned as she began to write a letter to Twilight.

Dear Twilight,
I'm afraid I have some grave news to share. As if this moment Ender is prepairing his attack towards Blaze Bolt. I wish for you to help protect him. I'm sure you will not fail. Use to elements on Blaze. There is something about him that I sense. Something most ponies, even you do not have.
-Celestia

The letter was sent away in green flames, and it would only be moments later did she think she heard Twilight scream out in fear. A slight smile washed over her as she set the sun.

"Luna! Your turn!" Celestia yelled over to her sister's tower.

"I am on it!" Luna flew away.

Chapter 10: End To It All/To The End Part 3

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"BLAZE BOLT!! Your time has come!" The earth under the group of ponies standing around Blaze atop the same mountain Fluttershy scolded a dragon.

Fluttershy pounced behind a rock crying. Rarity tried to calm her down, but even Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack were shaking in their proverbial boots. Twilight stood, shaking herself, in front of Blaze with her crown on top of her head. The rest of their elements still in the Tree of Harmony. Twilight knew that for the elements to work that only one element is needed to use their power.

"Twilight, I'm scared..." Blaze said hiding under his wing.

Twilight rubbed his head trying to give him some comfort. "I think we all are bud..." She replied.

"Twilight!" Called a voice. She looked up, and saw four alicorns flying towards them.

"Huh?" Blaze and the rest joined Twilight, and saw the alicorns as well.

"Say hello to my best!" Jupiter waved her hoof over to the other three alicorns. "This is Mara princess of the sands of Saddle Arabia and the planet Mars, this is Pluto prince of death and the planet Pluto, and this is Neptune princess of the Sea and the planet Neptune."

"Greetings, we've heard you needed our help." Neptune smiled. "My magic is yours."

"Sister, is this the princess of magic?" Pluto asked.

"Yes, a lot has changed in five hundred years brother."

"Was he banished?" Twilight asked.

"No, I spend years torturing the souls of the evil. Thanks to you six, I can resume my fun with king Somber."

"Don't mind him, he enjoys pain.." Mara said rolling her eyes. She focused on Blaze and smiled. "Aren't you cute?"

"I'm taken..." Blaze said. "So, why are you here Jupiter?"

"I've come to save your flank again Blaze!"

A lightning bolt descended from the sky, impacting the cliff below them, a shadow stood from the crater.

"Looks like we're on time too!"

"Don't get in my way, or you'll feel pain beyond normal." Ender said

"Pain?" Pluto's ears perked up, and he began to smile. "Did you say, pain? I love pain...I love it when souls cry for mercy! Oh mercy, MERCY! Ah-hahahahahha!" Pluto jumped ahead, blasting Ender with all of his magic. "DIE MOTHER FUCKER! DIE! SCREAM!"

Ender grunted as he grew larger, almost as tall as the mountain they stood on, but this didn't stop Pluto from his hysteria. He laughed as the god grunted, trying to shake away the ash-gray alicorn. Soon though he finally slapped Pluto, and his body shot to the ground. Pluto continued to laugh as he passed out.

"Is he really like that?" Twilight asked, generally confused on Pluto's mentality.

"Years in tartarus do a number on his brain. Just be lucky he wasn't after you..." Neptune said, as magical armor flashed over her. "You dare harm my brother!?"

Lord Ender laughed, his voice shook the mountain with every exhale. "You challenge me? Your pitiful brother hardy touched me!"

Neptune's eyes flashed blue, and she bolted head on. When Ender went to block, Neptune turned into water, and back again, thrusting her spear into his eye. Ender lashed back in pain as he pulled the spear out. It turned into water as soon as Neptune retreated to the others.

"This is bullshit..." Rainbow Dash grunted. She shot upwards, and did a sonic rainboom. The wave pushed back Ender to his side.

"Damn you ponies! You anger me more than you should've!" He pointed his finger at Rainbow Dash, and a dark orb surrounded her. "Because I'm only after Blaze, I shall spare your lives if you choose to leave, now!"

"No way!" Fluttershy said, flying up to Ender. She glared into his eyes with a long frown. "You threaten my friends, and my friend's friend? I don't like your attitude Mr. Ender!" She whittled, and a ominous roar echoed. Ender turned around and saw a large army of all kinds of creatures. Fluttershy began to scream louder than she ever before. All the ponies fell to the ground covering their ears as at least two dozen dragons flew over head, breathing fire on the god.

Ender started to laugh again. "Animals? Really all you've got is a tiny ground of animals? Tisk-tisk-tisk...I thought you were kind too...you die first!" Ender grabbed Fluttershy and threw her into the face of the cliff. Fluttershy began to cry in pain, and that's when Twilight began to surrounded them all in a shield. "You think that'll save you?"

"Yes, but not from you..." Twilight smiled.

"HOW DARE YOU HURT MY FRIEND FLUTTERSHY!?"

"Who said that?" Ender asked.

"You hurt her, and hurt my other friends as well. I don't like you anymore Lord Ender..." Discord said as his body shifted into existence. He grew to match Ender's size, a stern frown across his face. He looked down at Fluttershy, and a tear fell across his face. Back to Fluttershy, his vision now on Ender. "I...hate...YOU!"

Discord punched Ender in the throat so hard you could hear a snap. Ender fell to the ground as Discord continued to punch him. This was until Ender began to pick up the other god by his throat. He whispered something into Discord's ear before throwing him a good distance away.

Ender glared down at the remaining ponies and smiled. "At least you're giving me somewhat of a challenge, but if you could, get out of my way!"

"NEVER!" Jupiter stomped her hoof into the ground. "I'll fight until my last breath!"

"Us too!" Everypony said in unison, but Blaze.

Blaze didn't know why everypony was trying to help him. He was just a colt, not as young as he was, but during his years here he found himself to be thankful for the new friends he's made. A smile grew on his face. Friendship, that's why, he'd figured it out only seconds ago, but knew it all along. It was friendship that got him away from Celestia, it was friendship that brought Scootaloo closer to him.

Blaze stood up, and matched in front of the rest of the group. "Blaze no!" Twilight said. "We've got this!"

He looked back and smiled. "Use them, now..."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"Use the elements...not on him, but me."

"You don't know what it'll do to you!" Jupiter said running up to him. "Look we've got this! Look he's starting to look weak!"

Blaze's horn lit up, and moved Jupiter to the back of the group. "Twilight, do as I say."

"But Fluttershy..."

"I-I'm alright..." Fluttershy said crawling up to them. Her wings looked like they'd been through hell and back. "We...need to help...him."

Twilight nodded, and activated the elements. One-by-one the mane six flew into the air. Once they started to glow their colors, Twilight pointed her hoof at Blaze.

"I hope you know what you're doing."

Blaze shook his head with a smile. "Beats going out by him." He looked up to Ender and narrowed his eyes. "I'm not going down without a fight Lord Ender!"

Ender nodded, and a blade impacted the ground in front of Blaze. "Then fight me Blaze Bolt, Prince of Forever, and Immortals."

"No need for titles Ender!" Blaze laughed pulling the blade out of the ground. "Twilight, now!"

I am Blaze Bolt, I am nine years old, I killed a god, not alone however. Blaze flew upwards as a trail of fire and swirled colors of the rainbow towards Ender. He screamed as he flew, but it wasn't in fear, it was his battle cry. I am Blaze Bolt! I am nine years old, and I killed a god! He flew around and cut Ender's ears off in one swing. My Blade is called the Shining Beacon! It serves as a beacon of hope, life, and happiness. I wield it with friendship in my right hoof, and I hold my shield in my left. It doesn't protect me, instead it protects Scootaloo! One-by-one the god cried out in pain as his legs were sliced off.

Blaze landed back on the mountain as his mane flicked about wildly. He looked down at Ender who was starting to regenerate his limbs.

"I give you one chance to leave Lord Ender....Admit defeat by my hoof, and I shall spare thee!"

"ENOUGH! " Blaze's sword vanished, as did the world around him.

When Blaze awoke in a different world, not the starry plane, or Equestria. He stood up on nothing which caused him to panic. Blaze looked around for anyone, but all he saw was a white alicorn standing in front of him. It's eyes where blue as the ocean, and glowed white. A pale gray aura surrounded the deity.

"Blaze Bolt..." It said to him. "I give you only two options, so choose wisely. You can return to Equestria as a unicorn or pegasus, but not your form now. Or you may stay here, to remain immortal until time stops moving. "

"Why? Why must I choose? I've beaten Ender, I should remain how I am in Equestria!" Blaze asked.

The alicorn smiled. "Because young one, this is your chance to become normal. Isn't this what you've wished for the time you've been alive?"

Blaze nodded. "Yes, but I've come to accept who I am! I like myself, because I am the only one that is me. If I return I won't be me anymore. Being me, its a right!"

"So you wish to return to Equestria as an Equininix, Blaze Bolt?"

"I do!"

"Fine, as a reward for showing that you are as powerful as I or my brother, you shall remain as an Equininix. However...You must spare my brother."

Blaze raised his hoof with a smile at the white alicorn. "I will."

"Twilight! Tell me why he isn't waking up!" Scootaloo shouted as she cried over Blaze's chest in the Canterlot Hospital. "TELL ME!"

Twilight took a step back wincing. "I...I don't know Scootaloo..."

"It's been six months...I don't get it." Sunny said wiping away a few tears of her own.

"As I see it, he used the elements to enhance his natural magic limit to that of a god." Jupiter said.

Everypony stopped moving as Blaze began to move in his sleep.

"You think?" Neptune asked.

"Blaze Bolt!" Scootaloo shouted. "WAKE THE BUCK UP NOW!"

Blaze shot upwards, head butting Scootaloo with his horn. He looked around the room realizing he wasn't on the mountain cliff side anymore while he rubbed his head.

"How did I get here?" He asked after a few minutes.

"You've been out for six months Blaze, we had to put you on life support while you were in your coma." Twilight explained. "Welcome back!" She smiled.

"Don't do something like that again, or you can look for anyother mare friend!" Scootaloo said angerly, but her frown was replaced with a lighter smile. "But I'm glad you're back..."

"Can we have a party now?!" Pinkie Pie asked. "I've kept his cake in the deep freeze for this moment."

"Lets give him some time to rest Pinkie." Apple Jack said.

"So, is it over?" He asked.

"Yeah..."

Before I part from this world, I accept my defeat, and will never threaten to attack this world again. I shall find a different soul to balance the world with. Tell him, he is a great warrior Twilight Sparkle.

"That's it..."

"I see...so, now what?"

"We look forward, but every now and then glance back to that day when you nearly killed a god in order to protect yourself and your friends." Celestia said walking into the room. "Blaze, I wish to apologize for my actions against you."

Blaze waved his hoof. "Forget about it princess."

"Then lets go to the castle, we shall have the first victory feast in one thousand years!"

Chapter 11: The Real End

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Blaze woke up, his head pounding as he felt himself in the grip of something strong. He heard Scootaloo cry out which brought him to the realization that Ender hadn't yet been defeated. It was though it had been all a dream, a rouse, a trick. Around him were the planetcorns, and the elements. They all looked bruised, or broken. Discord was the only one standing, or was he?

He looked down, and saw that Blaze was awake, and grabbed him. Blaze lost the air from the grip Discord held him with as he picked him up. Ender wasn't far behind crushing everything in his path.

"You're okay, good..." Discord said. "You passed out for close to an hour. I had to use a great deal of magic to set a sheild powerful enough to hold Ender back. Are you hurt anywhere?"

Blaze put his hoof to his head and rubbed it slowly. "What happened? How'd I pass out?"

Discord sped up, and looked back. "After the elements used their powers on you you managed to knock out Ended with your sword you made out of thin air. However he recovered quickly, and in five minutes he was after you. I flew in just in time before he touched your heart."

Blaze held his chest tightly, and frowned. "Why is this happening to me? I never ment for this to happen..."

Discord sighed and began to slow down as they approached the castle of the two sisters. "Your friend upset the balance of nature by giving you it's soul." Discord explained as he landed.

"Why are we here? I thought only princess Twilight and the elements were only allowed here?" Blaze asked looking around the ruined castle.

"I needed to take you away from the others before they got worse. They just wouldn't stop fighting. I just don't see how they like you..."

"Same here..."

"Hey! I've changed...for...Fluttershy..."

"You love her or something?" Blaze smiled devilishly.

Discord blushed angerly. "I do not! She's just a friend I care about the most. That Rainbow Dash isn't as nice, and Twilight doesn't trust me. And don't let me get started on Apple Jack..."

"So, what now Discord?"

"Ended won't be able to find us for a short while. Until then I am to protect you until either I'm dead or he's dead."

"So why are you protecting me then? Your life is on the line, yet, you stand to do as you're told?"

Discord frowned. "I don't want to go in that prison again...being stoned for a millennia sounds great, but it ain't. You hear everything but you can't speak, you wish to live, yet you're trapped in stone watching time fly. Dogs piss on you, birds shit on you...princesses mock you....I don't want to go through it again. I was blessed with Fluttershy in helping me see that with friendship, you can truely live." Discord slumped over. "I should have more power, but Celestia doesn't trust me with my full power. If I had it, this would end in a microsecond..."

Blaze Sat down next to the god and smiled. "But could you stay the way you are now with that power? I hear power corrupts the mind."

"It does...see when I was little, Celestia and Luna were my family, and when I defeated a powerful unicorn that threatened the world with his necrodic powers, I absorbed his energy, enhancing my own. I was driven mad, the voices of the dead whispered in my head, and I started to find enjoyment playing with pony's lives." A low rumble shook the ground, and Discord stood up with two balls of purple magic appeared in his paw and claw. "Maybe we can be friends after this ends Blaze Bolt?"

"Yeah!" Blaze said running up next to him. His horn lit up as he smiled. "So as friends, we either win, or die together!"

Discord looked at Blaze with a light, honest smile. "You sure you wish to fight with me?"

"Two are better than one." Blaze smiled as his sword reappeared in the ground next to him.

"I like your blade...where in Equestria did you get it?"

"This sword is made out of the souls of myself, and my father. My father being the blade because his magic is strong, and myself being the hilt because I should only handle myself."

"You are wise then..."

"Blaze Bolt! Where are you?!" Ender's voice echoed.

"Over here you over grown toothless moron!" Blaze mocked. "I'll fight you, and your sister if need be!"

"Calm down Blaze...you musn't get over worked. It'll throw off your aim." Discord hissed.

Blaze's stance became more aggressive and his eyes narrowed. "I've got my mind straight...Which watch it!" Out of the blue that was the sky Luna landed in of them.

"Luna what on earth are you doing here?"

Luna turned around, and Discord had realized it wasn't Luna. What they were looking at was her counter part, Nightmare Moon.

The alicorn smiled evily at Blaze, then at Discord, then back at Blaze Before she relaxed. Once she relaxed Ended was standing over them, his left ear was still regenerating as his right had just finished. His breathing was fast, and blew out of his nose creating a large gust.

"Now would be the time to tell us if you're on our side Nightmare Spirit!" Discord said as a chaotic blade manifested into his claw.

"Friend or foe the God wonders....I am no friend, but not a foe. I've watched this young one from the day he was born, and have seen that he does not deserve to die for something he'd not done. I'll fight, but I do not swear he'll be safe from me."

"Then fight!" Discord said bolting towards Ender.

The God wieved around, dodging magical spears that were thrown at him. One nearly hit Blaze if wasn't for Nightmare. She nodded at him, and Blaze joined. Around him was a dark blue sphere that covered his front while his flank remained unprotected. He slashed Ender's eye, causing the Lord to fall backwards.

The Dark God screamed in pain as his eye began to bleed a dark liquid. Blaze felt a little sick, but he continued to fly around the God, cutting him on his sides. Ender had enough, and threw his fist into the side of Discord. The god of chaos impacted the ground with a loud cry in pain. Blaze flew over to him as Nightmare distracted Ender.

"Are you okay?" Blaze asked, helping Discord up.

"I'll be fine in a minute. Broke a rib, or several..." Discord gasped. "Go help Nightmare, she needs it."

"I'm male asshole!" The spirit shouted in anger as she dodged an attack.

"My apologies..." Discord chuckled. "I didn't know..."

"DIE!" Ender shouted firing a beam of dark energy towards Blaze and Discord.

Blaze flipped around and blocked the attack with his sword, most of it anyways. The unblocked energy hit Blaze in the chest, causing the hybrid to loss his breath. For some reason he felt like he was dying. Looking down he saw a hole in his chest, and his jaw dropped.

He fell to his knees as tears rolled down his face. "No....no....no...S-c-coo-ta-l....o..o..." Blaze fell to the side gasping for air. He cried in pain as he slowly died. However he didn't know why he wasn't dead yet. A hole in his chest would've killed him instantly, yet he was still alive.

Discord jumped in front of Blaze and directed the next blast away towards the castle. Blaze continued to cry in pain as he bled out. "HELP!" He cried over and over. "I...I don't...want....to-to-to-to...die...." His life started to flash before his eyes as he cried.

The first moment was when he moved into Ponyville, it was when things started to turn around for him. His life began to get better, and met his first few friends. The days he'd laughed with them when they failed in getting their cutie marks. The next moment was the day he met his father, he cried, but didn't understand why. That was the day he'd fallen in love with Scootaloo, and that night they'd slept together under a tree near a water fall. Lastly was the day he was arrested for hurting a pony he didn't really hurt. He'd remembered himself as a cat.

Blaze looked down at the hole in his chest again, and saw he was slowly turning gray as Discord screamed in anger and rage.

"YOU HURT FLUTTERSHY! YOU HURT MY FRIENDS! AND MOSTLY YOU HURT BLAZE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE!!!!! DIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!" A large purple orb of magic started to hover over his claw. "You pissed me off!" He dropped it over Ender's face.

And as the smoke cleared Blaze was now completely gray, and breaking apart. He held his hoof towards the sky as his last tear glid across his face. Then his body turned to ash. Discord and Nightmare watched as his body decayed into ash, and Discord bowed his head.

Looking back Discord saw Ender struggling to get up. Most of the dark god's body was gone, but his magic was repairing his form. Slowly Discord walked over to his reshaping body with a long frown over his head.

"Any last words Ender?" Discord asked as another ball of energy formed over his head.

"You really shouldn't ask that question when I've got a spear!" Ender threw another spear into Discord's chest, and the ball of energy faded away.

Nightmare began to run towards Ender, but Ender waved his hand and Nightmare diapered, mostly back to the nightmare realm. Ender regenerated his legs first so he could begin to walk towards Blaze's ash pile. The Lord began to chuckle loudly, shaking the ground.

"BLAZE! NO!" Out from the bushes Scootaloo cried as she ran towards the pile of ash. She fell to the ground, crying as Ended stopped laughing to watch the mare cry.

"He is dead, which means my job is done...Ah-hahahaha! Yet, he put up a valiant fight, I must say that. I maybe the Lord of death and shadows, but I have a sense of honor." Ender said turning away.

Right as Ended opened a dark portal the wind began to blow violently. He faced the direction from which it was blowing, and saw the ashes begin to rise. One-by-one the ashes began to take the shape of Blaze. First his body, then his wings, next was his horn, and lastly his color. The body slowly descended to the ground.

"How is that possible!" Ender shouted in rage. He picked up a spear and threw it at Blaze, but it shot in a different direction. Ender continued to throw his spears at Blaze, but none of them hit.

At last Blaze touched the ground, and opened his eyes. He smiled, and looked over at Scootaloo, who was now gazing at him. He leaned in and kissed Scootaloo on the lips. Scootaloo's eyes rolled up, and she fell to the ground, now unconscious. He laughed as he looked over to Ender.

He stepped forward, and a burst of flame rose from the ground. Another step, more fire, another step, and more fire until he was less than two feet away from Ender. He spat on the ground in front of him, and looked Ender in the eye.

"Run..." His voice sounded low, but it echoed in Ender's head. "Run as fast as your legs will carry you."

"Why should I listen to you?" Oh how he'd regretted asking, and not running. Blaze's sword flew into his hoof, and he cut Ender's head clean off.

"That's why..." He said bucking the body and head into the portal. It vanished in the blink of an eye, and Blaze walked over to Discord who was bleeding from his lower chest.

"I...I'm surprised...you could do that." Discord chuckled. "But it seems I am dying, for nothing..."

Blaze shook his head, and cried over the wound. Each tear sizzled on the wound, and it wasn't long before it was gone. Discord held his paw over his wound with his jaw hanging low.

"Phoenix tears eh?" Discord asked. "Are you really a pony or a phoenix Blaze?"

"Both...Now how about we grab Scoots over here, and head back. We've got a story to tell."

"And then I reformed, and sliced his head off." Blaze said triumphantly.

Celestia was just as shocked as the rest of the ponies, and planetcorns. Her eyes where wide, but focused on Blaze and Discord as they told their tale of the fight.

"I must say I'm rather shocked you came back alive Blaze. My parents nearly died trying to fight him." She said.

"And how are the elements?"

"Fluttershy took the most hurt, but she'll be in tip top shape by the end of the year. Luckily her wounds weren't as bad as what happened to you two." Celestia replied.

"How'd?"

"You like her the most don't you Discord?" Celestia asked. "It's not like I didn't know you didn't like the rest of the elements. Twilight still writes to me about you every week in the middle of her reports."

"Can I go check on her?" Discord asked.

"She's in room number 435."

Discord teleported away leaving Celestia with Sunny, Cloudy, and Blaze with the rest of the planetcorns. They continued to talk, and the siblings made peace. It got to a point where Celestia had gifted them with the option to stay in Equestria. They all gladly accepted it, and left as well.

Over the time Celestia sent Blaze home with his mother and his uncle. They celebrated his victory over at Sugar Cube Corner. However as they partied, Blaze stepped out to get some air.

Blaze sighed as he stretched his wings when he heard somepony exit the building. It was Scootaloo, and Blaze had just remembered he'd kissed her before lopping Ender's head off. The mare walked over to him, and sat there, quiet for a few moments. They watched the sunset again, and Scootaloo slid in between Blaze's wing and his body.

"Hey..." She said at last. "So, about the other day, when I thought you were dead, and you kissed me?" She asked.

Blaze sighed. "I...did you hate it?"

Scootaloo shook her head. "No, not really. In fact I sort of enjoyed it. I felt my heart race with energy, and I felt lifted."

It was quiet again, the sun was now almost under the horizon. Sunny watched from the other side of the road behind a house after sneaking around them. She smiled, and walked away.

"My little colt isn't so little anymore..." She cried. "He's a stallion..."

End...Really this time. Thanks for reading!

Left With A Feather

by Silver Octave

Prologue: Sacrifices Made

Chapter 1: Six Years Later

Chapter 2: Grown-Up Thoughts

Chapter 3: Divine Intervention

Chapter 4: First Step to a Long Journey

Chapter 5: Blazing Rescue Mission Part 1

Chapter 6: Blazing Rescue Mission Part 2

Chapter 7: Family is Family

Chapter 8: To The End Part 1

Chapter 9: To The End Part 2

Chapter 10: End To It All/To The End Part 3

Chapter 11: The Real End