Phantoms of the Truth

Chapter 15

The Right From Wrong

Choice, not of what you are, but what you choose to be.

The End, only words with meaning, not a wall in your path.

The end had come, it all happened in a flash, one day was bright and filled with life, the next? Nothing but chaos, despair and fear of the massive sphere hurdling towards us. Nothing can stop it, no force could. That’s what I denied.

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Blaze sat on the edge of the cliff above his home as he stared off towards the horizon as he watched the black orb in the distance grow closer, very slow to most, but to a cyborg every detail could be captured as if it were inches from the ground.

He sighed as he tried to think of something, anything! But only one option showed itself, and the answer was sitting there, he could sense it’s presence, nothing like the God he met before but something close.

“You want to know the probability of getting yourself killed?” KAI asked as Blaze took to the sky and flew calmly to the location of the power

“It’s high,” KAI finished “It’s really high,”

“I don’t have any other options KAI, the monarchs failed, I doubt the elements could do anything and I rather not deal with a bunch of girls telling me to wait,” Blaze responded as he knew they would be furious with him, but at this point he didn’t care

“But, what happens if you die?” Serafin asked as he pondered

“Does it matter?” He answered flatly “I’ll be dead either way,”

“Still, what do you think could be causing this?” Serafin asked as he shrugged before his attention was brought to the person now staring back at him from below

He was heavily armoured that gleamed in the light, blue energy pulsed amongst his armour as he spoke, his voice full of authority and venom.

“So, you finally showed up, Blaze Hawk,” He called out as he landed, keeping his eyes on the golden man, his grey cape blowing gently in the wind

“Yea, and who’s askin?” Blaze responded as he laughed slightly

“I am you God, The Demi-God of Balance, Sophix,” He answered, just the word God made Blaze tense up

"Girl's name," Blaze quickly said as he smirked

"What?" Sophix asked in an insulted tone

"Nothing! but anyways, What do you want exactly, if I may ask?” Blaze questioned as he looked up to the meteor and then back

“I want to cleanse this world, you and that nightmare have caused nothing but chaos and I am here to, well, ‘Balance’ the world out again,” He explained as Blaze felt his eye twitch

“You mean you want to destroy this world?” He asked as he nodded like it was the easiest answer “Are you insane!? There are millions if not billions that are innocent and you’re just going to wipe them out!? Heck, I know me and Neckros have made mistakes but we’ve done nothing but help keep this world safe!!”

Blaze then felt his chest explode with pain as he saw the golden knee dig into his chest before sending him flying back into the dirt. Before he could get up however, he felt pressure on his head as a foot pinned him to the ground.

“You DARE to speak to me that way!? I am your God, your master, and you will obey my commands as I see fit!” Sophix yelled as Blaze tried to get his foot off his head but he already took it away

“I am fair so I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself and this pathetic world,” Sophix began, a smirk present under his helmet as he watched Blaze raise to his feet

“If you can destroy the meteor than I’ll leave and never come back, if you don’t, well… you can already guess,” He explained as Blaze thought about it before narrowing his eyes

“Serafin…” Blaze thought as he heard her gasped slightly

“Don’t do it, you know he has something planned!” He snapped but Blaze had already activated his armour

“Sorry about this,” He apologised before focusing on Sophix again “Bring it!”

“Good, but one thing I need to mention, if you don’t manage to destroy it in one hit, the resulting attack will backlash at double the strength, and no outside help either,” He mocked as he clicked his fingers and caused Neckros and Serafin to fling off to the sides

“Ahh, gods dammit! I was having my nap you asshole!” Neckros shouted as he then noticed the entire scenario before teleporting to Serafin “Hey what’s going on?”

After Serafin explained everything to Neckros he began to laugh.

"Hahahaha, that's a girls name!" He mocked as Sophix did his best to ignore him and then turned his sights of Blaze

“Begin.”

Blaze then instantly spread his wings as he flew towards the rock in the sky, he heard a boom as his speed increased. Faster, faster, faster. He needed to hit this with all he had. His hand then rested on his sword as he got near inches from the meteor before leaving a golden trail of light as his sword swept through the front of the rock.

“AHHHHHHH!!!” Blaze screamed as his body ignited into golden light from the whiplash, his body then fell towards the ground but he quickly recovered and unholstered ‘Vengeance’ as he flew back up

He then swung in an ‘X’ motion as he began to scream in pain from the whiplash again. He quickly spun in the air as he stopped and roared as he flew towards the meteor again as he yelled

*BLAZING EDGE, 100 SWORDS*

His body then erupted into flames as about 100 swords spiraled around him as he charged forwards. He then brought two massive swings down as the 50 blades followed and connected with the rock. Then the fire trailed with the attack as it ignited and covered the section in smoke.

The resounding explosion echoed across the plains as the clouds cleared the sky and many from the village looked towards the sounds direction as they saw the smoke explode then implode.

Neckros and Serafin both watched, Neckros grinned like usual and Serafin kept her steely glare as they waited for the smoke to clear.

“Ok, if that didn’t do it, I don’t know what will!” Neckros commented as Serafin nodded before pointing

“Look!” she gasped as they saw a figure, falling towards the ground, Neckros was about to act but saw Sophix disappear and appear in front of the still form of Blaze.

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Blaze’s eyes focused on the figure above him as a golden glow emanated from its palm. Then his world of pain was washed over with seer agony as he tried to scream but couldn’t as his body shot forward and into the ground, uprooting the earth around him.

Blaze could only stare at Sophix as he pushed his foot onto Blaze’s chest as he winced.

“You see why I must do this? You are not suited to protect this world, you can’t do anything without help, heck without that armour you’re nothing but a miserable excuse for a human,” Sophix gloated as he continued

“You only bring chaos and disharmony, that Element cloaks the truth about you, nothing more, now. Go. To. Sleep.” He finished as he kicked Blaze in the head and soon his world turned to black

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Later…

Blaze slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was all his friends looking at him with worry and sadness, something which he was use to. But the other thing was relaxation, his pain was gone, not a single trace remained as he slowly moved himself up.

“I guess I didn’t win,” He asked in disappointment as they all gasped

“Blaze!”

“That’s my name, yes,” He joked as he looked to his side and saw Serafin channelling her horn before stopping and falling to her knees. That made Blaze leap out of bed and help her up, along with Fluttershy.

“You alright?” Blaze asked as she nodded before sitting down as she breath heavily

“I would be asking you that, but it you have been irrelevant, I just used my magic to heal you,” He answered as he looked stunned

“Why did you do that?” Blaze asked in concern but she just looked at him with a smirk

“What are friends for? Isn’t that, right?” She answered as he just sighed before frowning and hitting the wall beside him

“Dammit! I didn’t even get close to destroying it!” He cursed as Dash walked over and pulled him away from the wall

“Chill out, we’ll figure something out,” She reassured as he nodded and then glanced at Neckros who was looking out the window

“What about you, Neckros?” Blaze asked as he kept looking out

“Kick his ass of course,” He answered plainly "I mean its the end of the world and i really~ want to purge something!"

“You know that’s not a good idea,” Twilight countered as he laughed

“Yea and sitting here is? Just admit it, you have no idea how to beat him either, he’s a Demi, what can we do?” Neckros ranted as the room wen silent

“I’m in.” Blaze spoke as the rest just looked at him as Neckros teleported to his side and patted his head

“I knew you’d have my back, buddy!” He cheered as Serafin smacked him on the head as he winced

“Same here, I am a God of fire, in some way, so I can help,” She added

“Don’t forget about me,” KAI chimed as Blaze smiled and nodded but then saw the looks on the other’s faces

“Guys i-“Blaze stopped at the sound of Dash stomping her hoof

“No! you keep doing this, you always just run off, even if you’re near death before, you always do this!” She snapped as Blaze recoiled slightly

“Dash, I wish there was another way but-“He was silenced again as Twilight joined in

“She’s right, no matter what all you do is resort to violence without thinking, he’s more powerful than any of us and you want to fight him!? Maybe we could work this out and-“This time Twilight was cut off from Neckros coughing

“You don’t get it…” Blaze said, his head low “None of you could possibly get it,”

“Get what? You all being thick-headed?” Applejack pointed out as he looked up his face showed only anger

“The world isn’t just some happy-go-lucky-world! There’s never a happy conclusion for anyone! There’s no peaceful way all the time! There’s no way to avoid this! He came to destroy us! Kill us all and without hesitation! Don’t you get that!!!” Blaze roared as they all just stared

“Besides,” He then nodded to Neckros as he began to channel another teleport as Blaze just looked at Dash as he smiled sadly “It’s my fault to begin with, and this time, I don’t think I can escape it,”

And then they were gone…

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Back in the plains…

The wind was calm for the end of the world, Sophix grimaced as he thought his job was done and he could leave the world to suffer, he was wrong. A flash of purple caught his attention and Blaze appeared, along with his friends.

“You are very persistent, I hate that,” Sophix hissed as Serafin and Neckros disappeared into Blaze’s body as he armoured up

“I can’t just stand by and let someone else decide the fate of the world, sure there’s darkness but there’s also light, something you clearly lack,” Blaze answered as Sophix’s armour glowed more intensely

“You want to repeat that? Boy.” He dared but he just shook his head

“No, I want to end this ‘Our’ way, the same rules only this time, you and me,” Blaze explained simply as he slowly un-holstered his swords

“If you wish to die, then you should have just asked and this pain could have been avoided,” He said as he laughed “I do love an audience,”

Blaze turned to see the rest coming towards them but he quickly turned his head.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be the hero you thought I was,” He thought before preparing to fight

“Let this be the end of your evil, Blaze Hawk!” Sophix roared as he charged him at blinding speeds as Blaze tried to brace himself for the onslaught

"Lets Dance." He murmured as he quickly brought his blades up to defend against the glowing fists as he felt the ground beneath him crack

Blaze quickly teleported behind Sophix but realized he was gone, then felt his head scream with pain as he face-planted the dirt. Then Sophix grabbed the back of Blaze's head and proceeded to drag him through the earth. Blaze managed to kick him off, he quickly followed up with a frantic burst of attacks that just bounced off of Sophix as he punched Blaze in the chest as he gasped.

This fight wasn't like the rest, this was a battle with a God. And he was clearly outmatched.

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As the fight dragged out, Blaze mostly loosing, the fight got the attention of a handful of ponies as they watched the fight for their lives display in front of them.

Blaze quickly dodged and threw ‘Vengeance’ towards Sophix as he caught the weapon in his hand and quickly spun and kicked Blaze in the left arm, and with a resounding crack, Blaze yelped as he dropped the weapon and then saw the fist connect with his face, sending him flying.

Blaze slowly got to his feet as he gripped his now limp arm in pain as Sophix taunted him to attack. Blaze obliged and teleported all over the area as he warped just in front of Sophix’s chest as he swung forward, the blade not even scratching the surface as he felt a hand crack him on the back of the head again.

Sophix then grabbed Blaze by the leg and began to smash him violently into the rocky surface. Everyone gasped and yelled as they watched helplessly as Sophix pummeled Blaze like a ragdoll.

Sophix then headbutted the face plate as it cracked and tore it off with ease, revealing Blaze’s beaten upper-face as his eyes widened to the fist cracking him in the nose.

“You are so pathetic, you honestly thought you could beat a God!? Word of advice,” Sophix started before grabbing Blaze’s metal wings and swiftly he tore them in half as Blaze gasped before being kicked to onto his back

“Know your place amongst the ranks,” He finished as Blaze tried to swing his sword at Sophix but his body was too weak to move as Sophix plucked the sword from his grasp

“Now then, I heard you tend to joke about, well here’s one for ya!” He said menacingly as he lifted the Blade up as everyone gasped as he plunged it into Blaze chest, as he coughed up blood

"You're right! this isn't funny, its hysterical!" Sophix joked as he plunged the blade deeper

"That... was... awful," Blaze croaked as Sophix took the remark and began to twist

Sophix then twisted it as Blaze screamed in pain before Sophix left the blade sticking out of his body as he walked away. Blaze’s vision began to fade as he tried to move, only to hear Sophix’s laughter as he watched his vision fade.

"No... god dammit... not yet," Blaze thought as his body went numb as his eyes began to close. Then everything went black…

To Be Continued...