Author's Note

Just one more day and the Abyss Watchers and Anri will reach Ponyville! Those poor eels never stood a chance.

Linking of Passions

*Four Days Later*

Deep in Sweet Apple Acres Trixie was helping with harvesting the new batch of apples from the trees with Applejack and the Fire Keeper. Trixie was busy lifting the apples from the trees with her magic, on occasion she would give a tree a good buck making the apples fall. One time when watching Applejack was surprised to see she was easily capable of applebucking like the farmer pony was.

For the last few days both Trixie and the Fire Keeper had been working on the farm in exchange for letting the wagon stay on the farm. Meals were provided, Trixie and the Fire Keeper both got extra blankets, and warm bathes every night.

Late at nights Trixie and the Fire Keeper would go to town and show off their magical abilities to Ponyville. To many of the citizens surprise most of what the magical duo could do was something even Twilight couldn’t do. The Fire Keeper had been approached by Twilight several times and by other ponies too, who asked her to teach them what she knew about magic and pyromancy. The Fire Keeper had turned them all down saying, ‘Pyromancy is my specialty. Trixie is thine student. She alone will learn pyromancy from me. Perhaps one day I will teach another, but that’s something one must earn my trust to do.’

Twilight and many others were confused by this. Most had been open to say that Trixie was an evil mare who nearly destroyed the town twice. Once with the ursa minor, and two when she had the Alicorn Amulet. Both Twilight and Applejack were quick to defend Trixie, saying that both incidents weren’t her fault. Later the Fire Keeper would claim that Tixie saved her life when she didn’t have too.

That seemed to simmer down the town's attitude towards Trixie. After the first two days the mayor of Ponyville visited Trixie and the Fire Keeper and asked if they’d perform at a fundraiser, after being recommended by Twilight herself.

Of course Trixie was more than happy to do so and with the Fire Keepers help it would be easy. Until then Trixie and the Fire Keeper practiced their routine which was a magic pyromancy combination, and a story which was going to have performers in it while Trixie and the Fire Keeper told the story and provided effects while some foals would help with the performances.

During the daytime they farmed with Applejack and her family. Apple Jack was more than happy to accept the help when her own friends were too busy. Today for the first time in a while the whole group was together along with the Fire Keeper and Trixie.

Apple Jack kept an eye on the two just in case they had questions or any concerns. Mostly however, it was a way for Applejack to keep an eye on them, in case they got hurt or something happened. Applejack approached the unicorn as she gave a swift kick to a tree, as a flurry of apples fell from it to the basket below.

“Wow, Trixie, that’s some impressive hoofwork ya got.” Applejack said.

Trixie beamed with pride at Applejack’s praise.

“Thank you. Trixie excelled on the rock farm she worked at,” she said proudly flexing her arms.

Applejack whistled impressed, and the Fire Keeper couldn't help but stare as Trixie flexed her arms. She examined her own arms, trying to flex hers to see any muscle tone she had. All her life she lived sheltered from the world, as a Fire Keeper it was her duty to tend the flames at the Firelink Shrine. She never once had to do anything truly physical until she met Trixie. She often relied on her magic to help her do things she needed to do, but for apple farming there was really no way to use her magic or pyromancy to help. Unless Applejack wanted to slash and burn her farm, but it seems unnecessary.

Applejack noticed this while Trixie was busy admiring herself. Applejack took a minute to stop apple bucking and walked up to the Fire Keeper. Applejack stood by the human until she noticed her and quickly pulled her arms to her sides going rather rigid and stiff with a bright blush.

“Yes, miss Applejack?” The Fire Keeper greeted her without so much as a stutter.

Applejack gave her a hearty chuckle pointing to Trixie. “Seeing something ya like?” Applejack said playfully nudging the woman next to her. The Fire Keeper glanced at Trixie where Applejack was pointing.

Trixie saw the two looking at her and gave them both a playful wink and a swivel of her hips. Applejack laughed mimicking her and the Fire Keeper covered her face with both her hands. Trixie and Applejack both laughed nudging the Fire Keeper's sides playfully.

“So, does the Great and Powerful Trixie seem a good choice?” The unicorn asked.

Applejack pushed Trixie to the side, and gave her a playful swat with her tail, “Nah she aint need none of your showboating! She obviously wants a mare who’s honest and hardworking.”

Trixie scoffed obnoxiously, “Pfft! As if Trixie isn’t honest and hardworking! Trixie is all that!”

“HAH! Good one Trixie!” Applejack barked in laughter. “Guess you’re a comedian too?”

“Har, har,” Trixie mused.

The Fire Keeper kept her hands over her face, worried her embarrassment would increase should she dare look at either mare. As Applejack and Trixie shared a round of friendly banter, a few new voices chimed into the conversation, and the Fire Keeper sighed and whispered to herself, “I think Trixie looks amazingly beautiful.”

Suddenly the laughing stopped. The Fire Keeper was sure she was being stared at by both ponies in the awkward silence. Daring to take a peek, she was mortified to see several sets of eyes all fixated on her. Applejack and Trixie stared in shock at her, Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy, who was giving her a very sympathetic look, looked like they expected it, and of course there was the CMC’s Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara, and Twilight all glaring at a sniggering Rainbow Dash.

Immediately the Fire Keeper turned tail and scurried off towards a basket full of apples. Picking it up she made her way to the barn. In the distance she heard a burst of laughter, no doubt from Rainbow Dash, followed by the unmistakable sounds of yelling and disapproval.

Entering the barn the Fire keeper walked over to a large metal container. Snaking around it was a large metal stairwell that lead to the top. Peering inside she saw the day's bounty in full. Several thousand apples lay before her in this massive metal container. She gently poured all her apples inside and discarded the basket in a used pile off to the side.

Walking down from the tank she was greeted by a rather irate looking Rarity. The mare was leaning on the doorway with her bangs covering her face partially. She looked like she had much to say but didn’t want to say all of it.

So, she settled for a gentle, and subtle approach.

“Hello darling, how are you holding up?” Rarity asked the woman.

The Fire Keeper sighed shaking her head. “I’ve had worse days than being humiliated by my own actions.”

Rarity huffed, swinging her head to the side and throwing her mane to the other side of her head. *How do ponies do that?* The Fire Keeper asked herself. In fact she had been wondering this for many things ponies did. Holding things with their hooves like they had hands, taking clothes on and off in seconds, their manes, it was all so confusing to her.

“I’ve been holding up well, all things considered, Miss Rarity,” The Fire Keeper said with a polite bow. “How about you?”

Rarity giggled at the politeness the Fire keeper showed, “Darling, we’re friends! No need to bow or call me, “Miss”. Just Rarity is fine, if you insist you can call me as you wish.”

“Very well, Miss Rarity,” The Fire Keeper said again. “I mean no disrespect.”

“Oh, none taken Darling. It’s rather refreshing to hear somepony who has such a refined attitude towards others,” rarity said gesturing to the group behind her working the fields. “My friends, bless their hearts, can be rather uncouth from time to time.”

Rarity turned and glared at Rainbow Dash who flew overhead with a basket of apples, dumped them into the container, and flew away throwing the basket into the pile.

“Some ponies, are just plain rude and barbaric,” Rarity said with seething poison in her mouth as she watched Rainbow fly away.

She sighed and turned her attention back to the woman beside her. “That being said, I was wondering darling, what did you mean by you through, ‘she was beautiful’?”

At first the Fire Keeper was shocked to be called out on her confession. She thought back to Trixie and her eyes. She had never seen such beautiful eyes before, except for one time. She thought back to long ago when she knew Diana, The Ashen One. The woman was powerful, rugged, and above all else she was more beautiful than even Guinevere herself.

Though the Fire Keeper never once laid eyes upon the great Gwenevere, she knew from tales and the fires that her beauty was said to be unmatched. Then again beauty was in the eye of the beholder they say. Until recently, she never once considered how lucky she was to have her eyes and see all the naturally beautiful things she missed out on in her life.

Thinking on Rarity’s question a moment the Fire keeper replied with a smile and a softness to her voice.

“Trixie, is a beautiful mare. Though I feel strange to love someone who isn’t human, but it’s not uncommon from where I hail to do so,” She said to Rarity.

Rarity gasped. “Whatever do you mean darling? Like, you humans mate with, *Gulp* common animals?”

The Fire Keeper giggled, earning a confused mumble from Rarity. “Truth be told, Miss Rarity the answer is both yes, and no.”

Rarity tilted her head at the Fire Keeper’s words clearly unsure of what was being said. So, the Fire Keeper sighed knowing this would be hard to explain. It was one thing to teach pyromancy to another, but the relationships of man and beast were always complicated, and to her own dismay often filled with tragedy.

So, doing what all Fire Keepers do best, she would retell a tale of old that best suited the situation.

“Miss Rarity, there are lots of tales which bare truth behind them. There are songs told through fire, water, light, dark, and air. All of them tell tales of love and tales of woe. Many of these unions are with both human and beast alike,” She said raising her hands and creating a small flame that erupted into a larger one.

“Some say the old lords of the world bred with dragons and created powerful beings. Humans often bred with non humans, sometimes for power, others simply because of their hearts desires.” The woman said flicking her flames to nothing with her fingers.

Rarity looked up at her expectantly. “And what does your heart say to you, darling?”

The Fire Keeper placed her hand over her chest. She then gripped it as though holding her very soul within her hand. A familiar feeling of anxiety and dread befell her as her thoughts dwelled on Trixie, and the Ashen One. She felt a tug at her heart strings, a feeling of love. Sure the Fire Keeper was younger than most Fire Keepers but she was still old enough to have a great understanding of love.

She knew she was in love.

She loved Trixie for who she was. A mare who had no reason to help a naked wandering fool babbling nonsense. Yet, she found herself in Trixie’s care, shared her bed, was fed and clothed by the azure unicorn. In many ways she owed Trixie more than she realized. Yet Trixie never really asked anything in return.

“Thy heart tells me, it tells me to seeketh my heart's desire,” She said. “I owe her so much, but what if she does not feel the same?”

Rarity walked over and sat next to the Fire Keeper who sat on the stairs to the large container with all the apples within it.

“Darling if she truly does love you then it’s good,” Rarity said, picking her words carefully as she tried on. “Is she doesn’t you’ll always have her as a friend.”

“What if Trixie feels it’s too awkward for us to befriend each other after such a confession?”

Rarity looked up. The Fire keeper did too, following Rarity’s gaze to a group of ponies with baskets and a large apple cart. They both laid focus on a particular blue mare walking in the center of the group talking in a haughty manner making everypony laugh.

As they approached Rarity sighed nudging the Fire Keeper. She Nodded towards Trixie and said kindly, “Somehow I don’t think Trixie will give you up as a friend.”

“How art thou sure?”

Rarity winked at the woman playfully. “Call it a mares intuition.”

The Fire Keeper smiled hugging the white unicorn.

“And remember, darling, you can always confide with me on anything.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you,” The Fire Keeper said standing with Rarity.

The two walked out of the barn to join the group. Together again the group went to the barn to drop their apples off and then left together towards the small home on Sweet Apple Acres. After a hearty lunch and many apple based foods later Trixie and the Fire Keeper went back the the wagon to prepare for the night's performance.

Sitting by her wagon was the foals, Silver Spoon, Babs Seed, and a young colt by the name of Button Mash.

Each of them was wearing a costume fashioned after a character they portrayed. Button was a onion knight of Catarina with a longsword over his back and his onion helmet used as a seat.

Babs Seed was a battle cleric of Carim. She had simple steel armor fashioned with black flame steel the Fire Keeper made for her and had a large warhammer that doubled as a sacred chime. The weapon was a long staff, twice the size of Babs, with a large ball at the top end. Around it were four arms and under was a second set of arms each holding a bell, eight in all.

Silver Spoon, who sat beside Button holding his hoof with both of hers, was a priestess of Oolacile. She had a white antiquated blouse and a long skirt with a feather over her left ear. Her had a set of antique spectacles with several smaller lenses that could slip over her spectacles. On her lap was a large bell that was covered in crystal.

The Fire Keeper stopped in her tracks and looked over the three foals with shock. She sensed a familiar darkness among the foals. It was something she was familiar with. Trixie kept walking up to the folks who quickly gathered up around her as she huddled together with them to explain their performance for the night.

The Fire Keeper simply stood off the side and watched the four ponies discuss their routine. The Fire Keeper looked down at the ground and saw the crystal chime on the floor near her feet. She must have figured Silver Spoon had dropped it on accident when she stood up. Carefully the Fire Keeper knelt down and picked up the crystal chime.

She felt it with her hands and closed her eyes, clutching the chime in her hands. She then heard it. A distant echo of a voice. It called to her, or rather it simply spoke to anyone willing to hear it.

It was like a distant cry for help. It sobbed and begged for someone, anyone. Over and over again in her head she heard the voice, it sounded like a young woman's voice. It was scared and pathetic.

Somewhere among the voice the Fire Keeper heard a distinct scratching noise. It sounded like random scratches, like a person was dragging their nails across the grains in wood. Listening closer the Fire Keeper felt something divine within the chime itself. It was a familiar feeling she once felt when she learned miracles from the handmaiden of Carim named Irina.

After being saved by the Ashen One, Irina of Carim was brought back to the Firelink Shrine and allowed to stay there for as long as she needed. It was during this time while the Ashen One collected the Lords of Cinder to keep the flame of the first flame alive, she herself learned miracles from Irina.

She also learned many sorceries and spells during this time from the various masters the the Ashen One had helped during her travels over Lothric.

This chime felt like it had the power of sorcery and miracles imbued within its crystal shell. Digging deeper into the sounds the Fire Keeper could suddenly feel an agonizing pain threatening to split her head open. It was a throbbing sensation like a hammer was beating at her head over and over again. As she forced herself on she felt the pain in her head increase tenfold until finally she couldn’t take it anymore and she let the feeling within the chime go.

Collapsing on the floor the Fire Keeper found herself surrounded by the four ponies who were huddled but moments ago. Silver Spoon had noticed that the Fire Keeper was holding her chime close to her head and looked like she was struggling with hearing something. The Fire Keeper looked embarrassed and quickly sat up from the ground.

“Sorry, I just tripped,” She said trying to play it off like nothing happened.

Trixie and the others looked concerned at the human. Not sure of what the looks were for the Fire Keeper tried to walk through the group but was stopped when her skirt tugged against the direction she wanted to go.

She looked back to see Trixie holding her with her pink magical aura, and she was clearly not amused with what the Fire Keeper said.

“What’s wrong, Miss Trixie?”

“Don’t you, ‘Miss Trixie’ me!” Trixie snapped back at her. “What the heck was all that about?!”

“What was what about?” The Fire Keeper asked.

Trixie snorted whipping the crystal chime from the Fire keeper’s grip. She dangled the little bell inches from the human who tried reaching for it, but the chime was snatched away before she could ever grab it.

“You were babbling nonsense about, torture, experiments, and then you started talking in tongues.” Trixie snapped, at her in anger.

Silver Spoon and Babs both walked up to the human and sat beside Trixie.

“Yeah, you was going on bout some crazy stuff lady,” Babs said.

Then Button walked up and added, “You then started talking and scribbled something in the dirt.”

The colt pointed to the ground and all the ponies including the Fire Keeper looked down at it. Indeed there was writing there, and it was something the Fire Keeper could read. Examining the writings she quickly determined it was a divine miracle. Old and powerful.

Such power was only used by those who had unwavering faith and strength of spirit. It was a powerful miracle that if used incorrectly could deteriorate and become perverted that it would destroy all around it. Though many couldn’t decipher it she Fire Keeper recognized the miracle as the Divine Pillars of Light, or at least a variation of it.

Such a thing was a divine omen. Quickly the Fire Keeper pushed past Trixie and entered the wagon to collect a quill and parchment. Once she had both she made a hasty return and scribbled down the miracle on the parchment as it slowly began to dissolve in the wind. She finished just as the last of the words disappeared in a dust cloud in the wind.

The Fire Keeper breathed a sigh of relief. She got the miracle down before it was lost. She then took the parchment and read it over. She then sat down beside Trixie who had a miffed look on her face, and rubbed her shoulder which looked slightly bruised. The Fire Keeper immediately scooted closer to the mare and reached for her slightly bruised shoulder, only to have it swatted away by Trixie hoof.

The two fillies whispered to each other and quietly snuck away, dragging Button with them. Once they were gone the Fire Keeper looked back to see Silver Spoon wink at her and rounded the corner to the Sweet Apple Acres barn.

Alone at last the Fire keeper reached for Trixie again. Trixie didn’t move, but that could have been because her back was to the Fire Keeper and simply didn’t see her reaching. In either case the Fire keeper touched Trixie’s back and gently rubbed her fingers against the mares spine.

Trixie shivered visibly as the woman dragged her fingers up Trixie’s back and then back down just above her tail. Trixie sighed contently but quickly pushed the Fire keeper away after remembering she was still angry at her. She pushed back with her rump and made a brisk pace into her wagon and shut the door behind her.

The Fire Keeper followed and reached for the door and gently opened it. Peering inside she saw, Trixie had taken refuge under the bed covers. Shaking her head, the Fire Keeper walked inside and closed the door behind her. She slowly walked over and gently rubbed the giant lump under the covers which stirred at her touch.

Feeling bad for hurting Trixie, the woman attempted to negotiate with Trixie. She leaned over the covers and whispered gently at them.

“Trixie, art thou alright? How’s the arm?”

“Go away.” Trixie’s voice said sternly from under the covers.

The Fire Keeper gently rubbed the lump again. SHe ran her hands in small circular motions hoping to put Trixie at ease.

“I’m sorry, Miss Trixie,” She said laying beside the mare. “Twas not my intention to hurt you.”

To that Trixie’s nose poked out just enough for her mouth to show and replied, ‘Yet you did and now the Great and Powerful Trixie’s body has been defiled.” Trixie then threw the blankets aside and showed her bruised shoulder. “How can Trixie perform in all her significance when her body is wrecked and bruised?” She asked in a harsh scolding tone.

The Fire keeper shook her head in agreement with Trixie. She caressed Trixie’s mane with her hands, brushing aside a lock of hair from the mare's face making Trixie blush as she leaned closer to her face. Only inches separated their noses and Trixie was positively flustered at the closeness her friend was.

The Fire Keeper leaned closer and whispered something as a white glow emitted from her hands. She gently touched Trixie’s shoulder, right above the bruise, and slid it down covering the bruised area with her hand.

Trixie flinched expecting to feel a sharp pain, but to her surprise there was no pain. Instead she felt a warmth flow through her. A similar feeling of taking a shot of alcohol and it leaves a warm feeling in your throat and belly, minus the harsh tense feeling before hand.

Trixie not feeling any pain allowed the woman to continue her work. After spending two minutes in place the Fire keeper stopped her chant and removed her hand, as it lost its radiant glow and the bruise on Trixie’s shoulder was gone.

“There, all better now,” The Fire Keeper said kissing where the bruise was.

Trixie stiffened and let out a soft moan as the Fire Keeper’s lips touched her soft fur and skin. Trixie rubbed her shoulder where the Fire Keeper kissed her feeling utterly embarrassed from the intimate contact.

The Fire Keeper was just about get up when she felt herself being pulled back down by the familiar feeling of Trixie’s magic. To her surprise Trixie had pulled her down and locked lips with her. The Fire Keeper quickly separated from Trixie and looked into the mare's eyes.

She felt her heart beating fast threatening to burst from her chest at any given moment. Trixie too felt like her chest would burst from her heart. Neither wanted to look away but both didn’t want to stare awkwardly either. TO quell this awkwardness the Fire Keeper made a daring move.

She leaned into Trixie and gently pushed her over pressing her hands against Trixie’s shoulders. This effectively pinned her to the bed under the Fire Keepers weight, not that Trixie made any attempt to struggle free. The Fire Keeper then slowly reached for her skirt and undid the clips holding it and slipped it off.

She then undid her boots and pulled them off and discarded them to the side of the bed along with her hat and cape. Trixie watched feeling her cheeks burning red as the woman continued to disrobe herself. Trixie watched as the skirt flew to the side of the bed, revealing the Fire Keeper’s soft flawless skin of her legs.

Trixie unable to control herself felt a strange urge to touch the soft hairless skin. She rubbed the woman's thighs with her hooves, making her jolt upright and yelp. Trixie recoiled thinking she hurt her friend but was met with a dissatisfied frown on the Fire Keeper’s face.

“Wh-what?” Trixie stuttered. “What did Trixie do?”

The Fire Keeper’s face softened as she reached for Trixie soft hooves in her hands. She then guided Trixie’s hooves back to her thighs and gently rubbed the hooves in circular motions around her hips, even guiding TRixie’s hooves across her buns.

Trixie felt embarrassed doing this but made no attempt to retract her hooves. Instead she took charge and started rubbing the woman's thighs on her own leaving the Fire Keeper to tend to Trixie. The woman leaned down lowering her body onto Trixie, straddling her, and used her hands to grope Trixie’s soft chest fur.

She held firmly to Trixie and slowly began to rub her body against Trixie. A feeling of wetness came over her panties as she continued to rub against Trixie. Though embarrassed and paralyzed from the feeling of their bodies rubbing against each other, Trixie still found the strength to pull the Fire Keeper into a passionate kiss as her own body became wet from the stimulation. There was a tense build up as the two quickly separated before either could release.

They threw themselves at opposite sides of the bed and lay there panting and covered in sweat. On a hot day like today, in a heat filled wagon, such acts would build up lots of heat. The profuse sweat over their bodies cooled them down as Trixie opened a window and a breeze blew through cooling them at the touch.

It was still noon and the sun was brightly shining over Sweet Apple Acres. The scent of sweet apple nectar filled the air around the two as the reached with hand and hoof, holding each other. Trixie rolled over and scooted closer to the Fire Keeper and leaned into her back and whispered to her, “What did we just do?” She asked worried.

The Fire Keeper rolled over to face Trixie and kissed her on the lips once and said, “We just linked our fires together. A sacred pact of passion and love. Trixie?”

“Ye-yes?”

“Will you do me the honor and be my one and true flame?”

Trixie didn’t answer at first. Seconds dragged on and as they did the Fire keeper feared the worst. She felt her heart sink and a heavy weighed feeling overcame her as Trixie stared at her in disbelief. Just when she was about to give up and retract her confession, Trixie kissed her twice and then pulled her head against the woman's soft breast and snuggled them.

“Yes, I would love to be your fire.”

Happiness filled the Fire Keeper as she grabbed Trixie and fondled the mares buns with her hands. Trixie returned the gesture in full kissing the woman with fiery passion. From the window a white mare was watching with keen interest, but when things got really raunchy she snuck away and closed the window to give the two some privacy.

“Well done darling, told you she’d say yes.” Rarity said walking away to meet with her friends. “I wonder if Starlight is still single?”

Deep in Ghastly gorge the Moray Eels fled back to their caves. Several of their kind lay dead on piles. Many were missing their heads having been cleanly cut off. One eel struggled to get back to its cave but was cut down by a powerful greatsword belonging to one of the Abyss watchers.

As the eel died the hundred watchers gathered around Anri who stood among them, blood covered from the eels he wiped off a part of the skin that lodged itself in the under part of his armor. He then pulled out a pair of binoculars and just at the end of the gorge was their destination. Ponyville, just beyond the small section of Whitetail Woods. It would be easy.

Anri didn't like killing the ponies of Equestria. They weren't fighters. They barely fought as it was even against their most powerful enemies. Never once had it been known that the armies of Canterlot even killed in over two thousand years. He felt it was unfair but he knew if the Abyss was allowed a foothold in the world it would lead to disaster.

Putting his binos away Anri looked out over the gorge and drew his sword and raised it towards the sun and proclaimed, "There it is my followers! Ponyville! I know many of you feel this is wrong for us to do, killing innocent ponies."

Many of the watchers nodded at this statement.

"But rest assured we do this for the greater good. Let's not forget the Crystal Empire, our greatest failure." Anri said sheathing his sword.

He then turned and continued the march to Ponyville followed closely by the Abyss Watchers.

"We do this for the better of the world. Long may the sun shine, and guide us in our darkest moments."