Later on that day, Blaze followed Lakefeather around the meadow, giving him a tour of the place, especially ancient legend sights, which she seemed the most interested in.

Of course, she did this on the ground, respecting the fact that Blaze couldn’t fly. He had told her many times she could, but she refused, not wanting Blaze to be lonely. With this, it took longer to arrive at certain locations, like an hour or half. And as they walked, pegasi stared at them, and some snickered, “They’re walking like common horses”.

Blaze couldn’t understand why the word “horse” was used in such a tone. What did it mean to them? Was it a bad thing? And why did they always look at him while they spoke that word?

“Ignore them…” Lakefeathersaid, glaring at the steeds, “They’re just being rude”.

Blaze wrinkled his brows, “I don’t understand? Why do they keep calling me a horse? I mean...That’s kind of what we are…”.

Lakefeatherstopped in her tracks, and slowly turned to Blaze, “Calling a pegasus a horse is the worst thing you could do. It’s like...Calling someone, the worst insult from the Landwalkers Territory”. Blaze looked down as he walked, “Oh”. He then looked over at her, “So, what’s the next place you are taking me to?”.

Lakefeathersmiled, “One of my favorite spots! I think you’ll enjoy the story that goes with it”. It took a few minutes more before they started walking up a hill, as they did, Blaze noticed a small trail, like someone has walked here before. When they arrived at the top, there was a small pile of stones packed into the dirt like a small patch of a stone road. It was covered with moss and grass, and looked very old.

Lakefeatherstopped, staring down at it. She glanced back at Blaze as he approached, “What is this?” He asked, staring at her. She smiled, “This, is where Star the Healer built the tribute for Bumblewind”.

Blaze pricked his ears, looking down at the patch of stone. He had heard about the legend of the final battle between Star and Nightwing from the elders, but he never paid close enough attention to them. All he knew that Star and Nightwing fought, and Star won.

He flattened his ears, “Oh….cool”.

“Are you serious?!” Lakefeatherexclaimed, looking over at him with shock. “You are standing in the same spot Star had once stood and all you can say is cool?!”.

Blaze sank down a bit at her sudden outburst, “I’m sorry I don’t know the legend that well!”. He peeked an eye open, “Maybe, you could fill me in? All I know is that Star built the tribute, fought Nightwing and won, I don’t know how”.

Lakefeatherstood there for a moment, motionless. She then smiled, surprisingly, “Well then, allow me to ‘fill you in’”. She then began walking around the patch of stone, “It all started when Nightwing kidnapped the five herds of Anok…”.

For hours, Blaze listened intently and watched Lakefeatheract out battle scenes of the legendary fight. She seemed very fond of it, and more lively than the elders back at home. She gave detail, and even spoke in the deep nicker of a stallion.

Lakefeatherthen landed on the patch of stone, holding a blade of grass between her feathers, “At last the moment had come! Star challenged Nightwing for the very last time, standing on top of the tribute holding Bumblwind’s feather in his black wings.

He stared Nightwing dead in the eye, his starfire coursing through his veins. And with a mighty rear…” Lakefeatherreared back, lifting her wings with the blade of grass in between her wings, “He shouted, ‘FOR BUMBLWIND!’ And lunged himself at Nightwing!”. Lakefeatherflew into the air, dropping the blade of grass, “The fight was ficuous! Starfire flying left and right, shields being thrown up of the stallions to protect themselves!...”.

Blaze almost felt as though he was watching the fight himself as he watched her fly through the air. He never knew such a battle had taken place here, even a supernatural one. He wondered what it would have been like to live in that era, to be fighting for survival against two powerful stallions. One, fighting for domination, and another fighting for peace.

Lakefeathersuddenly landed, breathless from her fight scene, “And just as Nightwing thought he had won, Star fired what starfire he had been given by his enemy, and turned Nightwing into a pile of ash, freeing the souls from The Beyond”.

Blaze cocked his head, “Wait, what do you mean given by his enemy?”.

“Star used Nightwing’s own fire against him” Lakefeatheranswered, “But by doing so, he lost his own”. Blaze flattened his ears, “That’s awful”. Lakefeathersmiled, “Not entirely. Losing his starfire allowed him to be a normal pegasus. He got to lead a normal life, have foals, and pass on to the Golden Meadow with his friends and mate. Immortality isn’t always a good thing”.

“I guess so, I couldn’t imagine living that long”.

“I couldn’t either”.

The sudden sound of wing beats made Blaze prick his ears. He stood and looked beyond Lakefeatherat the partly cloudy sky. He didn’t see anything at first, but when he squinted his eyes, he saw a bright chestnut pegasus with orange and black feathers burst from the cloud layer, and he was coming in fast.

Lakefeatherturned as the pegasus came closer. She cocked her head as the pegasus became better to see, “Foxtail?” She mumbled. Blaze stepped forward to get a closer look, and when he did, he saw that this ‘Foxtail’ was covered in….cuts.

He watched as the steed sped to the ground, landing roughly and tumbling across the grass. He stopped before them and laid still. “Foxtail!” Lakefeathercried, rushing to his side. The stallion was worse than he was far away. It looked like he had been beaten. He was covered with oozing cuts and bruises, and one of his eyes were swollen shut.

Blaze ran to Riverfeather’s side, who was cradling Foxtail’s head in her wings, “Foxtail? Speak! What happened?”. Foxtail moaned, wincing with pain. His mouth opened, but nothing came out for the longest time, “Outcasters….” He rasped before his eyes fluttered shut.

Riverfeather’s eyes widened with panic. She stood and spread her wings, “I’m going to go get Petalroot, I’ll be right back!” She said as she took off into the sky. Blaze began to pant, “W-wait! What do I do?!”.

“Keep Foxtail alive!” Lakefeathershouted over the wind.

Blaze praced in place with panic before kneeling down beside Foxtail. He didn’t know if he was dead or just unconscious, and he didn’t know how to check.

The stallion named Foxtail suddenly sucked in his breath, his eyes widening. Blaze yelped and jumped back, but Foxtail pt one of his wings around Blaze, keeping him in one place, “P-Please-” he coughed, “Listen...He’s coming, he’s angry. He’s bringing his army…” The stallion coughed more aggressively, blood spilling from his mouth “They’re coming, they are all...c-c-coming!”. Blaze’s brows lowered in panic, “W-who’s angry? What’s his name?”.

Foxtail’s eyes suddenly rolled to the back of his head, a raspy breath leaving his body as blood rolled from his mouth. His wing went slack around Blaze’s shoulder and slammed into the grass with a thud.

Blaze began to pant, his sides heaving with fear. He stood and looked back in the direction Lakefeatherhad flown, “HELP! SOMEONE!” He cried, praying someone heard him. He looked back down at the chestnut stallion, who was completely still.

Blaze’s stomach twisted at the steeds last words. And not knowing who was angry struck him with a bolt of fear. Though he may not know who this pegasus was, he knew one thing for sure.

He was out for blood.