M.
Can’t Start a Fyre Without a Spark pt. 3

***

“So alone.” She whispered one more time as the wind and rain began to subside. The vile black storm clouds had finally begun to break apart revealing the deep, majestic blue of the night sky. The radiant moon was high in the sky like a silent sentinel keeping watch over world. Every blade of grass and every leaf of every tree was dotted with drops of rain that mirrored the moonlight, causing every surface to appear as if it was covered in thousands of tiny crystals. ‘Why does everything have to be so pretty,’ Spitfyre wondered in her grief ‘Its not fair.’ She knew that she couldn’t stay with her parents anymore, and that it was time to leave
Spitfyre was beyond exhausted it took every ounce of her strength just to stand. She couldn’t even bare to look at her mother again, let alone say goodbye. The sight of her made her stomach churn and her eyes burn with tears. The best she could manage was a raspy “I love you.” She looked down at her father, who had given his life only to see his wife die and his daughter abandoned. A single teardrop rolled down her cheek and ran down to the end of her muzzle, falling gently onto her beloved father’s face. Spitfyre, in the deepest depths of her mind, hoped that she would see his eyes flutter open and see him to spring back to life. But no such thing happened, as Blaze remained unmoving in the mud. Spitfyre shuddered, forcing back tears as she bent low and kissed him on the forehead, and whispered into his ear.

“No matter what, I still love you.”

***

Blaze had to shield his eyes from the intense light. The first thing he noticed was the pain he had felt earlier was completely gone. ‘Bad sign’. It took several moments but eventually his eyes grew accustom enough to where he could at least make out the shape of some kind of pony. He called out to it in hopes to find out something.

“Celestia?”

The spectral pony was silent and shook it’s head no.

“Am I...dead?” Blaze said with pained words.

The pony again remained silent and only nodded its head no once more.

“If you aren’t Celestia then who--,” Blaze was cut short by a sudden flare of light that caused him to double over in pain. Inside his head he heard a sweet and airy voice began to speak.

“I am something special,” the voice said, “for you see, many old tales tell of the power of friendship and how it can do miraculous things, but there are tales older still that speak of a different kind of magic. There is another deeper stronger power than that of friendship. It is the power of love. For you see Blaze, I am Love.”

Blaze was awestruck as the shimmering pony came fully into his view. Her coat was a pure, snowy white with a glittering white mane that flowed like silk. Her eyes were bright and shone full of life, emanating a light that caused him to cringe and shrink back from its harshness.

The voice inside his head continued “I am the manifestation of this ancient and powerful magic that was called upon when you committed the ultimate selfless act and sacrificed yourself in an attempt to save your daughter.”

Blaze scoffed. “Save her from what? Crystal was the one who saved Spitfyre from the tree...not me. All I did was watch as my wife died and my only kid was left alone... a whole lot of good I did there.”

Love smiled and replied, “It doesn’t matter, you did whatever it took to ensure that your daughter was safe. Even in the face of death you fought for your daughter so that she wouldn’t grow up alone. That, Blaze, is true love. Now... take my hoof.”

Blaze looked dubiously at the offered hoof, remembering what had happened before. “If you’re so powerful then bring my wife back, not me. She was the one who saved Spitfyre.”

Love’s face changed to a pained look and it took a long time to reply. When it finally said something it’s voice was full of sorrow.

“I can’t Blaze, you see in order for my magic to work there has to be a strong bond between both ponies. The love between Crystal and Spitfyre was great to be certain, but its just not enough. Spitfyre loves you more than anything in all of Equestria and deep down so do you. I’m sorry it has to be this way, Blaze, I truly am. But we are running short on time, if we wait any longer you will be well and truly dead. This is your last chance. Take my hoof.”

Blaze took one last look at the hoof and said, “This is going to hurt like hell isn’t it?”

Love smiled, responding, “Ever heard of tough love?”

As Blaze grabbed Love’s hoof, light began to pour into his body. Slowly the smiling pony began to fade away, and all the pain he had felt before came rushing back to him. He felt like he would collapse, but Love gave him strength. Love kept him standing tall, and Love kept him going. A great voice boomed in his head

“ALWAYS LOVE HER!”

Then, once again, Blaze was consumed by darkness.

***

Blaze awoke with a gasp as air filled his lungs. The cold mud had soaked through his coat leaving him stiff and chilled to the bone. He tried moving just the slightest bit. By Celestia he hurt. Every inch of every muscle and bone in his body ached with exhaustion, but he was alive. Welcome back, Blaze, he thought to himself. He tried to stand, but all he could manage was to configure himself into an awkward sitting position. He immediately scanned his surroundings for Spitfyre. As soon as he laid eyes on his wife he regretted it. He turned away in horror, he felt light-headed, and his stomach rolled. He remembered her final words to him.
“I HATE YOU!” she had screamed at him. He felt hot tears well up in eyes but he blinked them away. Spitfyre first. He tried calling out to her but when he opened his mouth but no sound came out. He was experiencing an odd sense of déjà vu.
Spitfire was missing again, panic began rising inside him. What if something else happened.... What if I’m too late... What-if.......
He squinted his eyes aided by the moonlight. With each passing moment his heart sank he had just about given up when he noticed the limping form of a bright yellow filly; all the aches and pains he had felt meant nothing anymore. It was replaced by pure elation. He staggered, unsure, to his feet and when he felt steady enough and started out after his daughter. However he hesitated for a moment. Blaze turned to his wife. He couldn't think of anything wise, loving, or kind to say to her. He limped over to Crystal, her final words to him echoing in his head. He fought against the urge to back away to simply leave and do nothing. He ground his teeth forcing himself to remain composed. he bent over and nuzzled her cheek. “I’ll make this right,” he finally breathed. “I swear it.” he took a deep breath and kissed her on the muzzle. Blaze got up took one last look at his wife and with a heavy heart again took off after Spitfyre.
It was slow going at first; his wobbly legs wouldn’t go where he tried to place them, but after a while he managed to get down a walk, and pretty soon a brisk trot, and then a full on gallop. The sheer joy of living and the simple pleasure of being alive had finally hit him. His heart didn’t feel so heavy and his mind not so burdened. He had a second chance, he was going to live and Spitfyre was going to live. The sensation he felt at that moment was better than flying, a hundred times better than flying. He was going to see his daughter grow up. Blaze could barely contain himself. He closed in so quickly that the poor yellow filly never saw it coming.

***

It had been hard for Spitfyre to say goodbye to her family. Her eyes were puffy and swollen from the crying and every step was filled with pain and grief. She didn’t know where she would go. Perhaps some nice pony will take me i- Her thoughts were interrupted suddenly when she felt herself lifted off the ground by some mysterious force, and she felt somepony’s hooves tighten around her. At first she was terrified that somepony was trying to filly-nap her, but she turned around to face this “mysterious force” only to see the beaming face of her father. She opened her mouth in shock to say something, but she gave up. Blaze just squeezed her harder. Finally she managed to squeak out from her father’s crushing hug
“Daddy, why did you leave me?”
Blaze looked at her with a sad smile his eyes wet with tears of joy. “I'm so sorry. So sorry...” Blaze could no longer hold himself together tears rolled freely down his face as he embraced his daughter “I’m never leaving you again” he said at last when he managed to steam the flow of joyful tears.
That was all she needed to hear. She gave him a huge hug in return. They stood there for a long time not saying anything just being glad that the other was alive. Eventually Spitfyre got up the courage to ask her “real question.”

“Dad, what about Mom...” she said in a broken voice. At the mention of her mother, her eyes began to fill with tears. Blaze saw this and gently wiped away the tears with his hoof.

“Look, sweetheart, you gotta be strong. What your mother did for you was her doing and it wasn’t your fault. sometimes you just have to grow up, and face what life gives you. It’s not always pretty, and It’s not always fair, but you have to be strong. It’s what she would want. It’s what I want for you. So no more tears alright?”

Spitfyre looked at her father’s face for reassurance. She swallowed her tears and put on a brave face.

“No more tears. I promise.” she said, trying to sound bold.

“One more thing.” Blaze said as reached up to his disheveled mane and pulled off his old flight goggles. “If you’re going to be a grown-up pony then you’re going to need these.”

Spitfyre felt the weight of the goggles on her head. They were far to big for her tiny head and immediately slipped down around her neck. She felt herself getting choked up but quickly crushed the thought of crying. No more tears. She made a pact with her father, and the the moon and all of the stars were all witness. I WILL be a strong pony.

That night, the two battered ponies walked home side-by side. Spitfyre’s goggles swung low on her neck. Blaze had offered to carry her home, but she refused. She walked differently now; she held her head high. Her eyes were no longer wet. Instead the tears had been replaced by fire, the will and determination to do more than just live, and she knew that tonight wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning.