Chapter 3, emerald wings
His parents where already up by the time he got back to the house, the sounds of their morning routine filling the kitchen "you where up early" his father said as he walked into the kitchen, he gave his son a quick glance "and you're cheeks are flushed, who was it this time? Weave? I bet it was, the mare's always had a liking for you" Blaze took a few seconds to understand the meaning of his father's words.
"DAD THAT'S GROSS, DON'T TALK ABOUT STUFF LIKE THAT!" Blaze shuddered, the idea of his dad talking about sex? Ugh! He still felt sick every time he saw his parents kissing. "And it wasn't anything to do with Weave" he made his way into the kitchen and sat at the table, his mother placed a bowl of oatmeal in front of him. "I've already eaten"
"I know" his mother said, a smile on her face "it's your dirty bowl that you left in the sink" she mussed up his mane, a motherly smile on her face "now eat up, you and you're father have some work to do in the forge and you'll need your strength" At the mention of the forge Blaze began to attack his food with gusto, picking up his spoon and plunging it deep into the oatmeal. As he cowed his way through the assorted oats and fruit his father Nova leaned over to whisper in his wife's ear.
"But we don't have any work to do" he whispered, confused "the forge is shut until I've got the bellows fixed" Rarity gave Nova an exasperated look.
"I know that you fool, but how else was I going to make him eat his breakfast?" she nuzzled Novas cheeks "you're so naive to the ways of us mares"
"That's 'cause you're so manipulative" Nova said, he cheeks slightly pink "sometimes I wake up in the morning and still have no idea what you're going to be like" Rarity smiled and gave Nova a gentle whack on the head with the morning newspaper, Nova smiled back.
"Ow"
"And that's what you get for questioning the wisdom of your wife" Blaze nosily drank the dregs of milk at the bottom of the bowl and set it down on the table. A small moustache of milk lined his lips, which his mother wiped off with the hem of her apron. "I'm never going to teach you any manners"
"You've been working on it for about fifteen years now and you're still not getting anywhere, if it was me I'd give up" Blaze said, he turned his eyes to his father "now come on! We gotta get to work in the forge!" he slid off the chair and dashed across the room "come on dad!" Nova smiled as he saw the foal-like excitement in his sons' eyes.
"Yeah about that..." Nova glanced at Rarity who motioned for him to continue "the forge is out of order until I fix the bellows, so we can't work in it today" Blaze's face fell.
"But you'll fix it right? We can work at some point right?"
"Blaze, if you're really this keen about learning to forge then you should sign up for lessons, I'm sure there must be somepony in this valley who could teach you" Blazes' mane and tail flared slightly, their short hairs standing up and blowing in a nonexistent wind so they looked like burning flames. Blaze was the child of the alicorn prince Nova, and despite having the dominant genes of a Pegasus was still prone to utilising magic if his emotions where strong enough. This current phase that made his hair blow was common enough though, so Nova didn't really react. "I still don't get why you're so against the idea of being taught by another pony, it's not like they're going to teach you the wrong stuff"
"But I want you to teach me dad! I want you to teach me how to make stuff! I saw you're hammer, you made that. I wanna make stuff like that too, I want you to teach me" Nova shook his head, by the Goddess his son was stubborn.
"Blaze, I've taught you everything I know. You know how to reduce the metal to make it stronger; you know how to shape the moulds. I taught you how to hammer the metal into shape and how to correctly cool and reheat it to prevent it from cracking and snapping. I've given you the knowledge and know you've got to put it to use" there was the noise of a chair being pushed back and Nova carried his plates to the sink, he ran the tap and washed them. "I've put in an order for a new skin for the bellows but it'll take at least a week to get here, but when it arrives I'll patch it up and we can get to work" he took a wash cloth and dried the plates, once they were dry he set them down on the drainage board and gave his sun an exasperated sigh "your stubbornness really gets to me sometimes" he went back to the table and picked up a purple envelope "this came for you by the way, it's from twilight" Blaze took the letter and flipped it over, as usual Twilight had used the same purple envelop that she always used, but this time there was a sparkly star on the cover by the name address.
"it's about my tutoring" he said, placing the envelope back on the table "the text books I ordered must have arrived, I'll go pick them up" Blaze went out to the hall way and picked up his flank pack, for the second time in three hours he was going back to town, more work then he normally did.
"You study like one of Celestias prize students and you've got muscles like a blacksmith" his mother said, following him to the door "but when it comes to girls you're just like you're father sometimes"
"Hey! I'm way cooler with mares then dad ever was, at least I don't get sweaty when one of them says hello!"
"I heard that!" Novas voice came from the kitchen.
"Just be back before dark ok?" His mother mussed his hair again, an affectionate smile on her face as ever.
"It's just some textbooks mum, I won't be long"
"That's what you said about getting cupcakes from sugar cube corner, and when me and your father had to come and get you we found Aurora hoof feeding you sweets" his mother said, Blaze blushed.
"She insisted ok? It wasn't my fault" Blaze opened the door and stepped out into the sunlight, Rarity couldn't help but love the way the flames in his mane and tail caught the sunlight 'just like his father' Blaze opened his wings and took to the sky, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"I remember when I used to fly like that" Nova said, coming to stand by Rarity.
"I remember when you got touchy after sex"
"A bit off topic don't you think?"
"The kids out of the house now get up those stairs"
"Yes ma'm" Nova swiftly made his way up the stairs, followed closely behind Rarity.
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Blaze landed outside of Twilights library silently, gliding into a rolling stop that brought him straight to Twilights front door. "Miss Sparkle" he knocked on the door, liking the sound his hoof made as it hit the solid oak of the door.
"One minute" a voice said from inside. There was a scraping noise, followed by a muffled crashing and the sound of tearing paper "come in Blaze" Blaze opened the door to find Twilight sparkle, his tutor, lying on the floor buried under a pile of books. "A bit of help would be nice" she said, her face red with embarrassment.
"I warned you to give these books a rest" he told her as he dug through the pile with his hooves and wings.
"Oh be quiet Blaze" Blaze offered her a hoof and pulled Twilight from the mound, easily pulling her to her hooves. Twilight dusted herself off and gave her mane and tail a quick shake, when she was done she fixed Blaze with a warm smile. "It's good to see you again Blaze, shall we continue from where we left off?"
"Sure, ancient history if I remember correctly" which he knew he did.
"Of course, take a seat" Twilight indicated to two chairs on the other side of the avalanche of books, Blaze nodded and picked his way through, followed closely behind be Twilight. When they reached the desk Blaze sat himself down in his accustomed place, the small wooden chair on the right. Twilight sat herself in the stuffed arm chair opposite him and levitated a heavy book from the shelves behind her without turning around 'show off, we can't all have magic'. "So then" Twilight flipped through the pages of the book, coughing as dust drifted from it. "Here we go, the battle of iron forge. When did the battle take place?"
"In the year one hundred and sixteen A.D.W."
"Correct, the commander was?"
"Commander Nova, a royal prince of Canterlot and brother to the princesses Luna and Celestia" Blaze liked that name, Nova; his father was named after that commander. 'The starflights have always fought in the name of Equestria' his father had once told him 'so no matter what they say Blaze, you've got a warriors heart, and don't you forget it"
"Who's the mare you're going to give that necklace to?" Twilight asked, raising her eyes from the book. Blaze was taken aback 'how did she know'
"What necklace? What are you on about?" Twilight smiled and pointed towards her horn with a hoof.
"I'm a unicorn Blaze, don't try your games on me" Twilight set the book on the desk and leant forward, a rueful smile on her face "so, who is she?"
"Sweet cream" Blaze murmured, he could feel blood rushing to his cheeks.
"Fluttershies daughter?" Twilight leant back into her chair and steepled her hooves, staring at him intently, Blaze began to feel uncomfortable.
"Well I'm just going to go" he said awkwardly "thank you for this brief lesson Miss Sparkle" he'd only been there for five minutes.
"Text books are on the table by the door" she said, Blaze made a quick grab for them and stuffed them into his flank pack. "Good luck" Twilight called out as the door closed behind him. 'Thanks Miss Sparkle, I'm probably going to need it'