She Will Bring the Fire

by EquestrianJimmy

First published June 30th, 2012 14:44

Fluttershy comes across a dark force destroying the forests of Equestria. She must find out what and who the creature is, and put an end to it's onslaught.

[Work in progress]

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Chapter 1
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She Will Bring the Fire

Chapter 1

She trotted amongst the lush forest, alone. Nothing was on her mind but the sights and smells that accumulated around her. Her pink mane bobbed in the golden rays of the sun as she cantered onward. The air rustled the trees, and sent a few leaves drifting towards the ground. She enjoyed days like these. The flowers shone in the bright sunlight, and the birds sang with her as she made it down the long winding trail. There was a pot of tea on the stove at home, and she had dinner plans with some friends. Ahead was a strong cloud of smoke, Fluttershy hadn’t realized it until she was deep within the smog. Her face contorted and she began coughing, wondering what was occurring. Fluttershy backed up in shock as she saw a large fire blazing through the forest. With little thought, she galloped towards the inferno.
“Oh dear… oh my…” Fluttershy darted her head around, and looked for any creatures in need of help. She came across a chipmunk dashing from the fire, chattering wildly.
“E-excuse me.” The woodland animal stopped in its tracks, and looked up at the yellow pony with wide eyes. The chipmunk’s fur was singed and his tail was burned to the skin.
“Oh… dear… are you alright?” Fluttershy spoke. The chipmunk chattered something incoherently while making body signs.
“I’m sorry.., I didn’t catch that.” He gave a distraught look, and pointed to his now burning home which was fully engulfed in flames. Fluttershy acted quickly, and scooped up the rodent, placing him down in a safe area by a babbling creek. He laid down in exhaustion and sighed.
The forest around Fluttershy began crumbling at her feet. Trees fell, birds screeched and ash floated to the ground. Things had gone to hell quickly. She turned around to go back for more creatures in need of help, and gasped in horror as she saw the remainder of the family trapped within the smoking timber of the tree screeching. She held her breath, and bent her head downward as she sped towards the family in peril. Braving the scorching heat, she quickly picked up the two baby chipmunks and rushed them back to their father. He sat up, held his bawling kids tightly, and gave Fluttershy a look of gratitude.
Fluttershy galloped back to the burning home. A large tree suddenly fell in front of her, the branches scratching at her mane, singing it lightly. In panic, Fluttershy clutched her wings close to her body, and covered her head from any more falling debris. She felt something scrape at her leg. She looked down and found that her front left leg had a large gash in it. She cringed at the blood. Fluttershy pulled her head up, and gasped as she watched as the tree that previously housed the chipmunk family, fall down in flames. Her ears drooped.
“No... No...!” Fluttershy leaped over the burning tree and saw the mother inside, lying on her back, with her paws placed on her chest. Tears began welling in Fluttershy's eyes, as she raced back past to father and his infant sons, crying. The father gave her a saddened nod, as if to say "Thank you for helping, you've done all you could." and tried to calm his children. He knew he had a lot ahead of him
“I-I’m so sorry... I-I…” Fluttershy galloped away from the scene in tears, not noticing the pearlescent pony behind the blaze, eyes gleaming with laughter.

Chapter 2
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She Will Bring the Fire

Chapter 2

“Spike!” Twilight shouted upstairs.
“Coming, Twi!” Spike raced toward her with silverware in hand.
“We’re behind schedule, Spike. Everypony will be here within the hour! Go set up.” Spike shot into the dining room, and quickly placed everything on the table. The clock struck six. Dinner was at seven, and Twilight had a lot to catch up on; she steamed with anxiety.
“The tomatoes for the salad need to be cut, and the quiche needs to go into the oven. Spike! Is the oven heated up?” Spike ran towards Twilight, screeching to a halt at her hooves.
“Yep. 350. Just like you asked.” He gave a proud grin, and saluted.
“We don’t have time for your games, Spike. Now go put this in the oven.” She shoved the quiche at Spike, and turned to look at the clock as he ran off.
“Oh dear… We need to hurry.”

There was a light knock at the door.
“Gah!” Twilight galloped over, and opened the door. Applejack greeted her with a wide grin, and a plate of apple tarts.
“Brought y’all some dessert. Hope A’hm not too early.” Applejack glanced over Twilight’s shoulder to see Spike working franticly in the kitchen.
“No problem, Applejack. We could use some extra help, if you wouldn’t mind.” Twilight smiled nervously.
“Well shoot. Of course Twiligh’ I’d be happy to.” Applejack smirked.
“Good good good.” Twilight’s eye twitched as she pulled her guest inside, and placed her at the counter. “Work on the tomatoes. I’ll put together the rest of the salad. Spike!”
“Yes Twilight?” His voice came from the dining room. Twilight trotted in and saw the table set, with small sandwiches stacked on a big plate in the center.
“Looks good, Spike. Check on the fruit, will ya?”
“The fruit…?” Spike gave a confused look as Twilight dashed back into the kitchen to find Applejack smashing the tomatoes with her hooves.
“No! Applejack, what are you doing?” She caught her with her hooves in the air.
“Ain’t this the way you want it?” Applejack gave a puzzled look, and set her hooves down.
“You’re supposed to cut the tomatoes. Not smash them into a pulp!” Twilight brought her hoof to her face, and sat down.
“Sorry, Twiligh’. Anything else I can do?” Applejack sat down beside her friend, and smiled eagerly.
“No… It’s fine. We can have a salad without tomatoes. No problem.” She was talking to herself. Applejack backed away with caution. Suddenly the oven timer went off. Twilight jumped to her hooves, and raced towards the beeping.
“Spike! Mitts please.” Her assistant rushed over and handed her the oven mitts. Twilight placed them on, reached into the heated furnace, and pulled out the pastry.
“Mmm.. Smells great, Twi.” Spike took a whiff of the air, and licked his lips. Twilight placed the quiche down, and galloped back over to Spike.
“How’s the fruit?” she asked in a panic. He gave a confused look.
“The fruit’s fine, Twi. It’s not going anywhere.” He chuckled. Twilight sighed, and raced over to the salad, and began tossing it.
“We only have a few more minutes!” She screeched in a blind panic. Spike seemed to have everything under control, but Twilight was too high strung at the moment to realize it. Her assistant sauntered over to the quiche and cut it up into seven slices. Making sure not to leave himself out of the delicious pastry Twilight was famous for. The spinach and cheese seemed to ooze out of the shell, as more delectable aromas filled the house.
Spike placed the rest of the food on the large round table, and walked back over to Twilight.
“Hey, Twi.”
“Now now, Spike!” Twilight shouted.
Applejack was watching the two from afar, admiring Spike’s handiwork in keeping calm. Spike took the salad from Twilight’s hooves, making sure it wasn’t too damaged by her frantic mixing. Twilight looked up at him with a shocked expression, but it quickly turned calm when she saw the table fully set.
“Oh, Spike. It looks wonderful!” The green and purple dragon blushed, and smiled.
“Thanks. I was wondering when you would calm down. And look. We have time to spare.” Spike pointed to the clock which read 6:55.
Soon, the clock soon struck seven, as the front door shook with a heavy knock. Spike answered it to see a bouncing Pinkie Pie with a plate of cupcakes, and a distraught Rainbow Dash with some incomprehensible dish.
“Come on in guys!” The two ponies made themselves at home, and started to chat with AJ and Twilight. A few minutes passed, and another knock was heard.
Spike hastily ran to it, and answered with a smile, only to be stunned by Rarity, who’s dress was covered in soot and ash.
“Woah! What happened to you?” He gave his crush a once-over.
“A cooking incident… I leave Sweetie Belle alone to take care of the Pommes duchesse for one measly minute, and she has the whole kitchen up in flames. No worries though. The ash should come out with a little soap.” Rarity grinned, and trotted inside. Time passed. Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes. The food was starting to get cold, and the group was getting worried about Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie piped up, her words running together.
“Where’s Flutters? I know she’s busy with her animal friends and stuff, but I mean come on! You can’t miss a dinner party like this. I wonder what’s keeping her back. Maybe it’s a dragon. She’s scared of those you know? Or-or one of those mean ol’ cockatriceseses…” Twilight planted a hoof to her face, and tried to drown out her hyperactive friend’s monologue of nonsense.
A loud rasping came from the front door.
“Must be Fluttershy. I’ll get it.” Twilight calmly trotted to the door. More knocking assonated from the wood.
“Coming!” Twilight shouted, and opened the door. Fluttershy barked at her friend.
“Twilight! There’s a fire in Whitetail!” Her voice was panicked, and full of fear. Her eyes darted back and forth in nervousness.
“A fire?” The purple unicorn looked at Fluttershy and gasped as she realized the shape she was in. Her soot stained mane, her ash covered fur, and the gash in her leg.
“Come in, come in.” Twilight rushed her friend inside.
“Oh, Twilight! It was awful. I-I was just on a walk, and I didn’t even smell the smoke… and then there was a huge fire! And the chipmunks…” Fluttershy cried softly into her hooves.
Twilight shouted.
“Rainbow! Go upstairs and get me my medical supplies. It’s in the cabinet beside my bed.”
“Gotcha!” Rainbow zipped upstairs and quickly returned with some gauze and a splint. Twilight began tending to Fluttershy’s wound, as her friends gathered around her.
“Now tell us what happened, Fluttershy.” Twilight looked into her eyes, and smiled. Fluttershy sighed deeply.
“I was taking a walk like usual, enjoying the nice summer day. Suddenly I came into a thick fog of smoke, and started coughing. I backed up to see what was going on, and saw a chipmunk running from his home. He told me… well showed me really, his family which was trapped inside a tree on fire. I rushed over to help them, but I could only save the babies.” A tear rolled from her eye. Rarity kneeled down, her soot covered dress catching Fluttershy’s attention.
“You did a very brave thing, darling. You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished.” She smiled.

Chapter 3
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She Will Bring the Fire

Chapter 3

Her eyes gleamed. The guards lowered their heads and opened the gates for their monarch. Celestia’s coat shone in the setting sun as she entered the palace. Her younger sister greeted her with a smile.
“How art thou, dear sister?”
“I’m fine, Luna. How are you this evening? Ready for your shift?” Her light magenta eyes gleamed with an unknown anticipation.
“We are most lovely this evening, sister. And yes, we are prepared.” Celestia nodded lightly.
“Excellent.” She trotted to her throne, and took a seat as Her mane billowed in the setting sun.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“It’s okay, Fluttershy.” Twilight tried to comfort her friend, while placing the splint and bandage on her wounded leg. “We’ll send a letter to the Princess, telling her of the fire. I’m sure she’ll have her squadron on it, and it will be out in no time.” Fluttershy continued to cry softly into her hooves, as Twilight tended to her wound.
“Woah! The smoke’s really starting to get thick, Twi.” Ranbow flew in from the window with a report. Fluttershy flinched.
“Turn that frown upside down, Fluttershy!” Pinkie bounced over and smiled wide. “Everything will be okie doke. ol’ Twilight will get everything taken care of.” She patted her purple friend on the head. Twilight rolled her eyes.
“Spike, Take a letter.” The purple dragon bounced over with scroll and quill in hand. “Dear Princess Celestia, I would like to report a fire in Whitetail Wood. We will be on the scene in a few minutes to assess the situation. Some help would be greatly appreciated. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.”
“Got it.” Spike inhaled sharply, and sent the note to the Princess.
“We should head out. Fluttershy, would you like to come?” Twilight looked at her friend, and was met with a whimper and shake of her head. “Spike, could you stay back with Fluttershy?”
“Aw… But I wanted to help.” Spike pouted and kicked at the floor beneath his feet in disappointment. Rarity piped up.
“I’d be happy to stay behind, Twilight. Besides, I think Spikey-Wikey would be more of a help than moi.” She giggled, and patted the dragon on the head. He blushed. Twilight trotted over, and smiled.
“That’s very generous of you, Rarity. Okay. Here’s the plan everypony: Spike, You’re on bucket and refill duty with Pinkie Pie. Applejack, you clear any debris that’s in our way. Rainbow, give us an eye in the sky.” She nodded, proud of her fast organization.
“You got it, Twi.” Rainbow zipped out of the Treebary, and towards the woodlands. Spike raced around the house, trying to find any type of bucket. He eventually came up with a few large containers, and some pots from the kitchen. He placed one on his head. He stood and shouted;
“Ready when you are, boss.” Twilight opened the door.
“Let’s move it, ponies!” The group trotted out into the heated evening air. Rarity turned to Fluttershy with a concerned look.
“It’s going to be okay, darling.” Rarity gave her friend a tight hug.
“R-Rarity?”
“What is it, Fluttershy?”
“W-what happened to your dress?” Fluttershy looked up at Rarity with a confused look.
“Oh… A cooking incident. I can’t leave Sweetie in the kitchen alone, or disaster will surely strike.” She chuckled.
“Ah.” Fluttershy’s face returned to her hooves. Rarity caressed her head as she gave her friend another tight hug.
“How’s it looking, Rainbow?” Twilight shouted to the blue Pegasus in the sky.
“Not too good, Twi. Hurry it up!” The group began a quick gallop, excluding Spike who was running behind.
“W-wait up guys!” He panted.
“Sorry, Spike.” Twilight cantered back to the dragon, put him on her back, and continued her gallop towards the woodlands. The ponies eventually trotted into the forest, a thick fog of smoke enveloping them as they entered.
“Well, hay. This is certainly a mess.” Applejack tilted her hat at the sight of the inferno. “Sure is gon’ take a bunch more ponies to get this blaze contained.”
“I think we’ll be fine with a little magic, AJ.” Twilight snickered. “Spike, Pinkie, Go fill up. We have some work to do.” The two grabbed their tools, and headed over to a nearby creek.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Twilight’s Letter landed on Celestia’s lap as the clock struck 8. She picked it up and read it over.
“Luna, would you come here.” Her younger sister trotted over.
“What is it, Sister?” Luna gave a puzzled look.
“There’s a fire in Whitetail. Since this isn’t technically my shift, I’m going to leave this up to you.” She handed her sister the scroll. “I should head to rest. Make sure this gets taken care of.”
“Yes, dear sister.” Luna nodded. Celestia rose from her throne, and retired to her bed chamber, grinning from ear to ear.