My eyes opened slowly looking around. I was laying on the ground of the cell. Slowly, I tried to stand. Leaning upon a wall to stabilize me, I began crying loudly. All of the guards along with Burnout, even the little foals they had with them. They all watched me as I broke down. My will had been broken without them doing anything. All they had to do was stare at this so called hero of legend. This so called young mare trying to get back home. I’m just a tool to the queen, but now I am here. I looked to the side of the cell and to my surprise, sitting there was the Dealer. In his hooves sat a deck of cards he shuffled.”This shall be the only you will ever see me, so listen closely.”

He pulled out three card from the top of the deck and set them onto the table in front of him. “Three cards send you on your way. Three marks guide you home.” The Dealer flipped the card at the right end first. Upon it laid a shield of three colors, a lightning bolt resting upon an outstretched wing. “The First mark, The Survivor. One who is filled with sins. One whose spirit is drowned by guilt.”

The Dealer then flipped the second card over. A snowflake rested upon it. “ The second mark, The Politician. One who tries to keep a broken nation whole. One who is a teacher of many. “

The third and last card was flipped. Upon it lay two lightning bolt which crossed each other like an X. “The Third and final Mark, The Leader. One who who challenges the Survivor and the Politician. One who tries to reclaim the ways of old.”

“Equestria does not need you child, for it moves without you. Remember these Three marks. They shall be your guide home. Return now, to the waking world.” And with that, the dealer, and his table, vanished into thin air.

Burnout opened the gate, and slowly started walking in. He took a few steps before he just stood there, watching me. Just watching what had become of that once brave mare. And then he walked closer.Closer and closer until he hovered over me, more than close enough for me to attack him. But I wouldn’t, I didn’t have it in me anymore. He knew it, I knew it, everyone around us knew it. My will had been shattered. Broken.

" They wanted us to break your will as well Child. But it seems your will has already been broken." Burnout said with joy in his voice. “ Maybe if that Salamander wasn’t so protective of her Inner Fire, she might have lived larger.”

Inner Fire? Why would Blaze defend her fire? Why wouldn’t she use it? Was she protecting something with it? Unless....

Flashback

“So how are Salamander born anyways? Do I need to worry about finding you a stallion when you enter you Estrus cycle?” We had just dealt with Blaze’s father and I had forgot to ask Blaze’s mother about how to tell when Blaze entered Estrus.

Blaze looked at me curiously before she brought a claw to her lips, assuming a thinking position.
“Well first, we molt. A lot! That’s the first clue. The second is we get really emotional. However, I personally lose my thought to speech filter. Next, I..”

“She really doesn’t change much other than more sex talk and rapid molts.” Jonon says as she interrupts Blaze. “Just don’t mess with them when their knocked up. While they can’t fully use their Inner Element, their claws get sharper.” I just started blushing like crazy, my face turning redder than a tomato. Blaze just looks sternly at Jonon and huffs.

“Aww. I wanted to make her blush! I was going to embellish it more! And then have another round with you in front of Jonon!” Blaze said looking at Jonon, wiggling her eye ridges at her.

Now I was blushing more than before, if that was even possible! “I’m....going to go back to talking to the Griffin.” I said as I slowly backed away from Blaze.

“It was just a joke!” Blaze yelled back at me. Jonon just looked at her with stern eyes.

“No it wasn’t. You would have totally done it.”

“Yeah. I totally would have.”

Flashback ends

Oh no… NO!!! I yelled to myself in my mind. NO! It can’t be true! No. NO!! In that one moment, I gave up. I wanted to go home. But not without her body. I shall bury it as far away from this Island as I could. I was suddenly filled with energy, and I couldn’t feel any pain either! I quickly got my hooves underneath me, as stealthy as I could be. With a burst of speed surprising both myself and Burnout, I stood tall. Burnout tried to run, but I had him pinned against the bars of my cage before he had taken more than a few steps. With tears streaming down my face, I practically yelled into his ears.

“Let me go back home!! I will give up. I will give it all up to the Queen. I will let her win! I will stop being the hero of Legend! Just let me take Blaze’s body with me back to Equestria. Please! I beg of you!!”

Burnout just looked at me with a neutral look in his eyes. I didn’t even notice his horn was glowing or that he was holding something large in his magic. He struck me right in the face and I was knocked out cold.

00000

I looked down at the poor hero. I could hear the buzzing from Mix flying over head while the large Cricket well cricket stood beside me shaking his head. I could hear Mouse laughing like a school filly loving how the hero is well a mess right now.

" She has failed then, if her will is already this far gone." Cricket shook his head he didn’t like seeing the hero like this. Mix looked down at her he looked away in disgust. Mouse on the other hoof was extremely giddy. He even went inside the cell with me and before I could stop him. He stomp on the hero’s hind legs, breaking a few bones. Of course, I stopped him with my magic to make sure he couldn’t do that again. The bone he broke though repaired itself right in front of us.

" Hmm it seems she still has much of that magic inside her." Mouse calmly said as he started moving away. Mix sighed softly as he flew away from the others looking back towards me and the others.

" Burnout. I know you sent your daughter to the Minotaurs and Griffins. I think you need to give them more info. I'm going to send them the time and the info. Please keep her alive Burnout. The other two aren't as kind as I am." I nodded as the other two just stared at the broken hero.

I rushed to my office quickly bringing the times of the next caravan heading to the castle. Mix followed me we looked at the times.

" Alright In three more months we are going to be sending them out. Mix, I know you want to be free. But is it wise to betray the Queen?" Mix turned to me, his eyes full of pain.

" Burnout tell me would you enjoy being fitted with a stopwatch. That allows you to see the death of everyone? Even the death of yourself? I am tired of this life and tired of this project that is inside me. Now I am going to take this info to the Minotaurs and Griffins. The Hero needs to get free. Make sure you go with them Burnout. You must get her to them. I can no longer take The Queen’s orders or live like this." I nodded, giving him the info. Mix vanished with what he needed.

I walked out of my office The hero just laid there in her cell. I looked around quickly to see if Mouse or Cricket were nearby, before I facehooved. Mouse and Cricket had left. I calmly went into the cell to stroke the hero with his hoof gently. I looked over all the scars she had now. I looked back out to see The other guards looking at me.

" Get ready to leave in three months.. We need to put up a fight"

I looked back down to the hero then walked back to my office closing the door to let the hero rest. Walking along I spoke to one of my guards.

"Listen I am going to need your help." The guard nodded. " I want you to be standing by her cell stop the three warriors from harming her. " The guard nodded again walking to the cell. I sighed before heading back into the cell and attached the hero's horn to the tube to give her a boost of magic. Then he heads to his office again laying in a bed falling asleep.

Footnote: No level

Negative perk added.

Broken Will: They have done so much to you to break you. Your will has been shattered. As well as your heart. Blaze is dead. While you may one day recover, you will be scarred for life. It causes your special to be weaker.