Chapter 16: An Afternoon at the Spa

Rarity and Fluttershy were heading into town and I was in tow in Rarity's magic. I was feeling embarrassed at being dragged around. I could not do any chakra moves to escape as I was depleted from building my house with the wood style jutsu. I did not want to use ki to break the magic because I did not want to hurt her. Rarity definitely does not like anything dirty. Here I am, in one of Rarity's clothings she made me and I am covered in dirt from my trench making.

"Um, Rarity, You don't have to use your magic to bring me to the spa. I can easily walk or fly there." I said.

"I know darling, but you have worked very hard so I don't want you to worry about it." Rarity said.

"You do realize I could break this magic field you have me in."

"But you haven't"

"Because I did not want to cause harm to my friend. I will go with you to the spa if you release me from this."

"Do you Pinkie Promise?"

"A promise I make with my pinky finger? How do I do that with your hoof?"

They got confused looks as to what I said. "You have a finger called pinky?"

"Let me give a brief explanation as to what they are technically called." I held out one hand with fingers spread out and used the other hand to point and call out what each one is called and a very brief thing about it. Once done, I could see in Fluttershy's eyes she had a question about one of them.

"Um, could please explain that forth finger of your. You went pretty fast in explaining them when you got to that one. If you don't mind." Fluttershy said.

Here we go (roll eyes) "I went fast for a particular reason. Let me explain it like this. When a stallion loves a mare, the stallion gets her an object to enter matrimony. Mind I ask where you ponies place it?"

"Well, Unicorn ponies get a horn ring and the Earth and Pegasus ponies get a bracelet for a hoof. That does not answer why you call that finger . . ." Rarity said and started to blush. Fluttershy joined in blushing. "I now get why you went a little fast. But you don't have to be shy with us."

"I know you all are my friends, there are still some things I am not comfortable sharing with as they are personal to me. So please, as a friend, don't ask to know what I am hiding. Now can you release me from your magic spell?"

"Well you haven't Pinkie Promise and the one we know was created by Pinkie Pie."

"Care to share with me how to do it as I am new here, remember?"

"But of course just repeat what we say."

They both nodded to each other and say it at the same time, "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

I have finally heard a pony say the Pinkie Promise! Now I get to say it! Good thing they can't read minds. "I Pinkie Promise to go with Rarity and Fluttershy to the spa. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

"Good, now you don't want to know what would happen if you decide to break it." Rarity said as she releases her magic spell on me and I fell to the ground and landed on my feet.

Oh, I know what Pinkie would do if you break this promise. "Shall we get going."

I followed them to the spa and went inside. I recognize the layout from the show and saw two Earth ponies behind the counter, Aloe and Lotus Blossom. They looked the same like on the show. Aloe had a pink coat and blue mane. Lotus had a blue coat and pink mane. They both had the same cutie mark and a white hair band.

"Hello ladies! The usual for Fluttershy and I and I think the deluxe for our friend here Swift Blaze."

"Before we do anything, can you please tell me what that includes?" I asked.

"The deluxe is one hour in our steam room followed by a mud facial. We then give you a massage followed by a seaweed mud bath. Finally a special bath to relax in and finish with hooficure. It's simply luxurious!" Lotus Blossom said.

"It does sound great, but let's skip the mud facial and hooficure. Those are things I have no interest in and don't have hoofs for the second part. Do you have a robe that will fit a human?"

"I am sorry but we only have robes for ponies." Aloe said.

"I was afraid of that. Do you at least have a big enough towel to wrap around my waist?"

"I think we do. We can also wash your clothes so they will be clean when you are done." Lotus said.

"Ok, but I am keeping my boxer underwear on. I am not going to explain why."

They all nodded, but I could feel their eyes looking down there wondering what I am hiding. We were led into the locker rooms by the two ponies. In there, I would be able to undress and Rarity and Fluttershy can put on their personal robes. As I was taking the top part of my gi off, Lotus dropped a big towel off and said, "You can leave your clothes on that bench and my sister will go and get it washed."

"Thank you. I will be ready shortly to go and join the others in the steam room."

Lotus walk away with a big smile on her face. Rarity and Fluttershy was in the next row of lockers getting their robe on. Let get this over with. I sat on the bench and removed my shoes and socks. I then got up and grabbed the towel and wrapped it around my waist. Good, it does wrap nicely around my waist. I pulled the gi pants down while still wearing the towel and stack the clothes onto the bench. I went to the next aisle to join the others before we are led to the steam room.

Fluttershy saw me come from around the corner and her face sparkled up as she said, "Oh My!"

Rarity turned her head to see was Fluttershy saw and her face did the same deal. "I can see another reason why you wear clothing Blaze. You look handsome with all those muscles." Rarity said.

What they were looking was my chest that has been under clothing since I have been here. From my training and exercises, I had developed hard pecks and a six-pack abs. There were other muscles around my chest to enhance the look. Even my arm muscles help compliment my chest.

"If you two are done looking, shall we go to the steam room?" I said to break their daze.

They both shook their heads to regain their composure. "Oh, but of course. Follow us Blaze." Rarity said.

I followed them down the corridor to the steam rooms. We went inside and sat on the benches next to the walls. Lotus came in shortly with a bucket of water with a ladle. She went over to the hot rocks and began the process to steam the room up. Fluttershy and Rarity were on a bench on one wall and I was on the next wall.

The girls were busy chatting away about something. I just had my eyes closed and leaned against the wall, enjoying the heat and steam. I bent down and rubbed my lower leg muscles, getting the soreness out of them from some of the training sessions. I then heard Fluttershy say, "Blaze what happened to you!"

I sat up straight looking at them and said, "Just working some sore spots from my training sessions. Nothing to worry about."

"Not that, what happen to your back!"

"What?"

"There are several scars on your back! How did you get them!"

Oh, those. I thought they could not be seen. Guess the steam makes them visible. One early childhood memory I thought I forgot. My face went from happy mood to a sad and angry. "It is nothing Fluttershy. Something that happened a long time ago. Let's just enjoy the rest of the spa."

"Please darling, it is good to share what happen with your friends so you don't have to burden with the memories. What happened that caused you to get those scars on your back." Rarity said.

"I had completely forgotten the memory until you brought it back to the surface. This is one of those I do not wish to share so please drop it." I said as my voice got a little angry.

"We understand and will comply with your wish. If you ever want to talk about it, we are here for you."

"Thank you girls. Let's just finish enjoying the rest of the spa in a happy mood." I put on a happy face to keep them happy also. I was really hoping that memory was really gone forever. Those nightmares are going to return also now.

We finished the time in the steam room and headed to the next part. Rarity and Fluttershy headed over to their mud facial and I was taken to the massage room by Lotus. Once inside, Lotus realized I am bigger than a pony so she pushed two of the massage tables together the long way. "Ok Swift Blaze, hop on up and lay on your stomach. My sister will be in shortly to give you your massage."

Just before Lotus left the room, she lit some of the candles in the room. The fragrance from them was very relaxing. I then heard the door open and close and saw Aloe has entered the room. "Hello Blaze, I will be your masseuse today. Just relax and I will take care of you." Aloe said.

"The candles are already helping with that." I said.

Aloe came over to the table I was on and placed her fore hoofs onto my back. She moved them in circle patterns getting out any knots she finds. Oh man this is really relaxing. I might have to come once a week with them from doing a week of training. My body has never been so relaxed before. "So Blaze, I have never seen your species before. Mind telling me about yourself?" Aloe asked.

I started to tell her about being a human and about some of my abilities I can do. I told her I can show her and her sister another time as my chakra hasn't recovered from making my house. Aloe started to massage my right arm and she said, "I image those hands of yours come very useful in many things."

"They kinda have to because in my world, we had no magic so we had to use our hands to make things to help us live our lives better. The dexterity we have with each finger allowed us to have finer control in holding objects and other things."

"Did you have masseuse where you were from?"

"We did and some humans that went and got massages from them sometimes said they had a magic touch in relieving the tension in their bodies."

"I would love to have experienced that feeling. It must feel luxurious."

"Well I am going to be busy for the next couple weeks, then have to do some training per the Princess request starting next month. Maybe after that I can come and apply for a job as I don't have one yet."

"That sounds lovely. I will inform my sister so we shall expect to see you after your thing for the Princess."

Aloe moved to the left arm and then my legs. All the knots and tension were melting away with her hoofs. I then somehow fell asleep from being so relaxed.

In my mind, not in a meditative state, I was recalling a past memory.

-The Memory-

I was a young child playing with my toys in my room. It was dark out and I had my door closed. I suddenly heard glass break from down the hall. Being a curious child, I opened my door and went down the hallway. I reach the end of the hallway and arrived in the living room. I saw my Mom was sitting on the couch, crying. Her hands were covering her face and I saw some blood dripping.

"What happen Mommy?" I said.

My father was there, standing, holding a broken bottle of liquor by the neck upside down. He turned towards me and said, "Get back to your room, boy." I did not know at the time, but my father was drunk and they have been arguing. This has been going on for months.

I did not move from where I was standing. "Why is Mommy crying Daddy?" I asked.

The father looked angry and went right up to me and yelled, "GO TO YOUR ROOM!"

I started to cry, still standing where I was. His face looked even angrier. He grabbed my arm and spun me around. Still holding me, he shouts, "STOP YOUR MOTHERFUCKING CRYING!" He raised his arm with the broken bottle and began to swing down at my back. It cuts my shirt and my back. I screamed out in pain.

The pain was so intense, it wakes me up from the memory.

-The Real World-

I woke up on the massage table and screamed out, "NOOOOOOOOO!"

Recalling where I was, I looked around and I see Fluttershy and Rarity were on the other massage tables. Lotus and Aloe was giving them massages. All the ponies were scared from my scream.

"Swift Blaze, what happen?" Fluttershy asked.

"It's nothing, just a nightmare." I said.

"I don't think it is nothing. You were twitching and your face looked like you were in pain. Does it have to do with those scars on your back?" Rarity asked.

"It's nothing. Now drop it."I got up from the table and left the room. I entered the locker room and saw my clothes were neatly folded on the bench. I got dressed and then sat back down on the bench. Why did that memory have to come back? I was happy here with nothing bothering me. Now the memory is back and it is affecting my relationship with my friends. I wish I could forget it ever happen.

I heard the door open and all the girls came in. I heard from Rarity, "Blaze, you in here?"

I did not want to talk with them so I muster what chakra I could get to teleport out of there. I left the spa just as Rarity saw me and then a puff of smoke. I appeared just outside and flew away quickly before the ponies came outside. I did not care where I was going, just could not handle sharing it. I saw some castle ruins poking out of the forest. So here is where the Princesses once ruled over Equestria long time ago. I decided to land there as no pony will find me here.

Inside the ruins, I saw the same layout from episode 2. I went over to where the elements of harmony once were and sat next to them. I buried my face into my knees as I held them close. I started to cry from the painful memory. I hated my father since that day and was lucky for still being alive. That was my darkest day in my life when my father struck at me while drunk.

I did not know how long I was there, but the sun has set and I could hear animals howling outside. The howling got closer so I picked my head up to try to determine the direction. All of a sudden the remains of the front doors burst open and I saw them. It was a big pack of Timberwolves. Just what I need now, blood thirsty animals looking for their next meal. They mess with the wrong human having a bad day. I stood up and stared at them.

"Get out of here if you want to live." I said with a death stare at them.

They all continued to advance in. Looking at me with their green glowing eyes. They began to surround me, their fangs were showing and looked sharp. There were at least 30 of them in the room now, all around me. I looked at everyone of them, seeing none of them backing down.

"Guess you all have signed your death warrants." I said with an evil smile. I began to power up my ki to deal destruction to them. A red glow was around me as I charged up. My anger was raging from my feeling for my father and now having to deal with these animals.

I could not see, but my cutie mark, but it was changing. The white was fading and becoming a black circle. The anger and rage were taking over as I continue to charge up. I no longer cared about balance as I just wanted to be left alone and these wolves have to go.

One of the Timberwolves lunged at me and I quickly grabbed it by its throat. I then used my other hand and sent an energy beam right through its chest. It crumbled into tree limbs and other forest debris. The others were surprised at this, but did not back down. I charged up energy balls into my hand and sent them to the nearest wolves and they started to burn. I started to laugh evilly as I was killing every Timberwolf with a single blast. They kept trying to attack me and I deflected them away and killed them. Suddenly, the remain wolves gather together and I saw them starting to merge. The Mega Timberwolf was now staring at me.

"My, you are a big one. You know what they say, the bigger they are . . . the bigger they explode!" I brought my hands to the front of me, and then to my side as I said these words, "Ka . . . me . . . ha . . . me . . . ha!" I sent the blue energy ball to the creature's head. It was engulfed in the beam and the beam continued going up into the sky. When I finished releasing my ki, the remains of the Mega Timberwolf body had a burn embers at the neck. It's body then crumbled back to forest debris. I then set the rest on fire for the fun of it. I flew out of the room and up to a tower. The rage and anger were still active within me so I went and fired energy shots at everything in that room. Soon, no walls or ceiling was left.

I suddenly saw a bright flash come from behind me and twisted around with the intent to attack it. It was Princess Celestia, Captain Shining Armor, and the bearer of the Elements of Harmony. An energy ball was in my hand, ready to fire "Leave, Now." I commanded.

"We cannot Swift Blaze. You need to calm down and come with us. Please let us help you with this. We are your friend and don't want to lose you." Twilight Sparkle said.

"You don't know nothing what I went through. None of you can comprehend what happened." I shouted.

"Then tells us. You cannot keep it buried within you. It is destroying yourself." Applejack said.

"No parent should have done this what he did to me." I said as I started to shed some tears.

"What did this human do darling?" Rarity asked.

I shook my head. "No, I don't want to relive that memory again. I never wanted to remember that night."

Rainbow was looking me over and noticed my cutie mark was different. "Hey guys, Blaze's cutie mark look different. It is now just a black circle. How can somepony change their mark?" Rainbow said.

"He said it stood for balance. I think recalling that terrible event has got him unbalance and anger has taken control." Twilight said.

"So he is a danger to us and himself if he is not thinking straight." Shining Armor said.

"I am afraid so. Shining Armor, restrain Swift Blaze." Princess Celestia ordered.

All the girls gasp at the command and pleaded to the Princess to reconsider. Fluttershy was not in the argument the others were having. She started to walk towards me calmly. I saw this and moved my arm with the energy ball pointing it at her. Pinkie saw this and shouted, "Fluttershy, What Are You Thinking! GET AWAY!"

The others started to beg her to get back here. Shining Armor was about to use his magic to fire at me when the Princess put a wing on his shoulder and shook her head no. I then shouted at Fluttershy, "GET AWAY FROM ME!"

Fluttershy stopped where she was and closed her eyes. She then opened the up quickly and was starting to give me the STARE. It struck a nerve in me as I stumble back a bit. She then started to walk forward again. I continued to aim my arm at her. The others remained silent and pray I wasn't going to fire it. Fluttershy the started to speak to me softly, "It's ok Swift Blaze. You can calm down and relax. Nopony is going to hurt you. We want you to come back with us. Please come back to us."

It was like she was talking to my soul calming it down. My cutie mark started to change back. I was starting to tear up in the eyes. I then pointed the arm away from everypony and launched it into a nearby tree, catching it on fire. I then fell to my knees in front of Fluttershy, starting to cry. She started to hug me and said, "Shhh Shhh. It's ok. Let it all out. We are here for you."

The others joined in hugging me as I cried, even Shining Armor joined in the hug. When the crying started to end, they back away and I when to a cross leg sitting position. The other also sat around me. I looked at everyone of them and saw tears were in their eyes. Man, I am really an idiot for running away from my memories. I wiped my tears away and said, "I am sorry everypony for my outburst. This memory is the most dark and painful in my life."

"Are you ready to share it with us darling?" Rarity asked.

"I think I am. Just let me warn you, this is very dark and will probably make some of you sick that this happened. It is also why I don't drink Rainbow Dash. Are you all ready to listen?"

They all nodded and stayed quiet as I told my tale.

"As you know, alcohol is a good way to relax and loosen up after a hard day of work. It is also there for the celebrations. Back on my planet, it was used for another reason on top of those. And that was when humans were depressed. They drink because they were sad about something and the drinking sometimes made it worse. I had to live through one of these."

All the ponies started to feel sad for me. Rainbow had it worst as she was trying to make me drink alcohol that night. "I am sorry for pushing you to drink Blaze. I had no idea." Rainbow said.

"It's ok Rainbow, you could have never known. At that time I had completely forgotten the reason as this happened over 20 years ago. I also don't blame you Rarity and Fluttershy for bringing up the memory." The three nodded accepting I forgave them. "This was back when I was 6 years old, just a little innocent child. I was playing with my toys in my room when I heard the sound of glass breaking. I was a curious kid at the time and left my room to see what it was. In the living room, my Mom was sitting on the couch with her hands on her face, crying and bleeding. My father was standing there, holding a broken bottle of alcohol by the neck. I asked what happened and why Mom was crying. My father was really drunk and angry and was ordering me to my room. I did not like the tone so I started to cry. He then grabbed me with his free hand, spun me around, and then slashed my back with the bottle several times."

All the ponies gaps at this and Shining Armor turned away towards the edge and blew chunks.

"As I said, it wasn't pretty and something no parent should do to a child. I was crying out in pain now. My Mom saw this and mother instinct took over. She pushed him out of the way into the coffee table, picked me up, grabbed the car keys, and left the house. She took me to the hospital as I was bleeding pretty good and in lots of pain. Once there, I was taken to the emergency room so they could save my life. I was put under so I could no longer feel the pain while they went to work. When I woke up, I know now it was a few days later, I looked around and saw my Mom was by my bed with bandages on her head and face. She was happy I woke up. I tried to sit up, but the pain was intense. She told me not to get up as some of the cuts hit my spine. I could still move my arms, but my legs I could not move at the moment. I still had feeling in them so that was a good sign that I had a chance to walk again. My father was arrested and charged with assault and attempted murder. He was found guilty by the weapon in his hand, the injuries to my Mom and me, and my Mom's testimony. He was sentenced 25 to life with no chance of early parole."

They are all happy to hear that he was found guilty and that I survived.

"I spent the next two years in the hospital regaining control of my legs and building my strength back up. I had nightmares of that night while in the hospital for the first year. I would wake up with a scream and start to cry myself back to sleep. Once I was out, we left the state so we don't have to be anywhere near my father again. I joined several martial art classes because I never wanted to be defenceless again. I trained hard, kept my studies up in school and vow to never be like my father."

"Thank you for sharing that Swift Blaze. You were correct that is a very dark point in your life. How do you feel now that you have shared it?" Princess Celestia asked.

"I feel a great burden has left my heart and mind. I feel, at peace."

"That is good to hear. I hope you never have to act that way again."

"Don't jinx me Princess. Saying stuff like that normally means trouble will come."

All the ponies started to laugh and I joined in. But the Princess and I know that I have seen future events and will keep an eye out for them. We all stood up and when I did, I actually flew up pretty high.

"What was that Blaze?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"The only thing I can think of is because I just rid of the emotional baggage that has been weighing me down for the past 20 years and never notice it was there. I feel lighter and stronger."

"How did you come to that conclusion?" Twilight asked.

"I have actually seen that kind of training from the show where I got my ki power from. At different points in their training, the Z-fighters would wear weighted down clothing or train in a room where they can change the gravity pull to strengthen their muscles and ki. The way I feel right now is my body is so light, I must have been training under 10G. That is ten times the normal pull of gravity."

"That is what I need to increase my training!" Rainbow Dash said in an excited voice.

"That will help you, but you need to work into each weight level until it feels natural to how you feel now. If you do too much weight, you can injure yourself badly."

Rainbow nodded with a big grin still on her face. I turned to everypony else. "Now then shall we get back? I am starving after dealing with no lunch, the emotional baggage, and killing over 30 Timberwolves."

"YOU KILLED THIRTY TIMBERWOLVES!" they all shouted.

"It was that or they eat me. I did not want to be eaten. I took you found me from my ki blast. Why did you think I was firing them off?"

"Where are their bodies?" Fluttershy asked while the scared look was back on her face.

I don't get how she is afraid of almost everything and then be brave enough to walk up to me with an energy ball in hand and give me that dreadful STARE. I never want to experience that again. "I am sorry for killing them Fluttershy. I tried to get them to leave me alone so they wouldn't get hurt. There bodies are in that fire down there in the great hall ruins." I said while pointing.

They all looked and saw the remains of embers in a big pile down there. "You don't need to be sorry Blaze. Timberwolves have never been nice to any pony. I am just glad you were not injured." Fluttershy said. The others nodded.

"Seeing Princess Celestia and Shining Armor are going back to Canterlot, how about I carry any pony who wants it back to Ponyville via flight, even you Rainbow Dash so you can feel Mach 2 or higher." I said.

"I actually think teleporting will be safer instead of flying." Twilight said.

"Ok, my teleport method or yours Twilight?"

"Has your chakra built up enough to take us all?"

"It has and I think I can get everypony without holding onto each other."

"When did you think of that?"

"Just now. Need to think of the area around me and what I want to teleport to bring with me. Before, it was anything I was in contact with. Goodbye Princess Celestia. See you next month Shining Armor. I expect you are not going to hold back because of this sob story you heard."

"I am actually going to push you harder than any recruit I have ever trained." Shining Armor said.

"Bring it." I replied.

Princess Celestia used her magic and she and Shining Armor vanished in a bright light.

"You girls ready to travel on Blaze's Teleport Jutsu?" I asked. The girls giggled and nodded. I am glad everypony is happy again. I gather my chakra and teleport everypony back to Ponyville.