Story of Maverick

Story of Maverick- Chapter 6: Fanning the Flames

The following morning awakened with disappointed voices and dwindled spirits.

“Where’s Silvy?”

“She didn’t show us any magic tricks or even say goodbye,” sniffled Marmalade. Maverick stared out of the window, watching as the gray clouds mirrored his crying eyes. Failsafe let out a frustrated sigh.

“Now those dang Pegasi decide to give us some rain. Next thing you know, they’ll be dumping snow on our heads and demanding food.”

Scarlet Plume looked at the food they had stored, then gave Failsafe a worried look.

“Will we have enough food left over after adding our contribution to the Pegasi’s payment?”

“Ugh. Just barely enough. If we spread our meals out and eat little bits at a time, we might make it through winter all right.”

Failsafe told his brothers and sisters that they had to do as little romping around once winter came around so they can save energy.

“But what’ll we do then?”

“Winter’s so boring. I wish the Pegasus ponies would just stop bringing it,” complained Marmalade.

Things are going from lousy to total dirt clods, thought Maverick as he looked at his family’s downtrodden disposition. Now’s as good a time as any to bring home those potatoes. That’s sure to cheer them all up!

“Ma, can I go outside for a little bit?”

“Maverick, it’s almost time for dinner. Besides, it’s raining outside.”

“It’ll just be for a quick minute, I promise!”

Scarlet gave it a little thought, then granted him permission to go outside.

“Yes! I’m going to bring back something that’ll make you guys smile!”

Maverick galloped over to the tree he hid the pilfered potatoes and started digging. The wet earth made the excavation easier and in no time, his prize was in view. Maverick’s wings flapped with excitement as his face broke out in a big grin.

“Aha!”

“Huh?”

Maverick’s wings shot out with a pomf as he turned around.

Oh horsefeathers, it’s Gold Horn! What the hay is he doing out here? Why right now?

“I knew something was rotten! I knew I was framed and now I have proof!”

Gold Horn shot Maverick with a weak bolt of magic, then proceeded to beat him around with his magic. Maverick tried to run, but Gold Horn tethered his neck to the tree with a rope of pale yellow magic.

“Oh no you don’t, you wretched little bastard. You’re not going anywhere!”

Oh crud, oh crud! He’s going to beat me black and blue! “I-if you hurt me, my big brother will break your neck! A-and my ma—“

“Will be just as furious and disappointed. But I won’t stop there. I’m going to clear my name in this dirt patch!”

Gold Horn went from shack to shack bringing ponies outside until the whole village was gathered around the trapped colt. Scarlet Plume moved to the front of the crowd.

“Wait a minute! What’s going on here, Gold Horn?”

“An excellent question, Ms. Plume. Allow me to shed some light on the situation.”

Gold Horn reminded Everypony of when a number of Russet’s potatoes were stolen and he was saddled with the blame.

“Just moments ago, I caught him red hoofed digging up his loot!”

Failsafe stepped forward, glaring at Gold intensely.

“How do we know he didn’t catch you digging them up? My little brother may take things to rile ponies up, but that’s because he’s a prankster. He ain’t no dirty thief.”

“Yeah!” agreed his siblings.

“’Sides, that colt told me himself that you took ‘em,” Russet stated. “Right after showing me where he left them—and they weren’t anywhere in sight.”

“Why don’t you go home, Gold Horn?” Failsafe suggested as he grabbed the Unicorn’s foreleg.

“Don’t you rough-handle me, you ill-bred dirt pony!”

Gold Horn blasted Failsafe with magic, only to get bucked right into another stallion. Soon, every stallion in Farron was participating in the brawl. In the middle of it was Maverick, sporting an amused grin and giggling at the show. The main punching bag was none other than Gold Horn.

This is awesome, Maverick thought. I’m going to get away, my family’s going to have enough food and there’s a ginormous fight to watch! It’s like the ultimate prank gone right!

His laughter stopped when he heard four sounds: two loud, chilling cracks and two screams of agony. Failsafe’s left hind leg had been stepped on and broken in the scuffle. On the other hand, a stallion snapped off Gold’s horn and was still beating him.

This…this isn’t fun anymore.

“Stop it, this is crazy!”

Scarlet Plume ran into the fray to try and help the battered Unicorn.

“You’re going to kill—“

“Shut up and stay out of this!”

Gold Horn’s attacker struck Scarlet to the ground, then kept hitting the crippled Unicorn.

“Ma!”

Scarlet’s younger children ran up to help their mother, but shrank back out of fear of being trampled.

This isn’t what I wanted at all! What should I do? I have to distract them or something! Or maybe I should just tell them the truth. But if I do that, I’ll end up in Tartarus from how much trouble I’ll be in! But if I don’t, Ma, Failsafe and Gold might be hurt even worse.

“It’s not worth Ma and Failsafe being hurt.”

Maverick began flapping his wings hard and kicking off of the ground.

“Stop! Everypony stop fighting!”

When his cries fell on deaf ears, he kept flapping his wings. Minutes passed and Maverick’s wings started to burn, but he kept trying to fly. Come on, Maverick! Do something that’ll get their attention in a flash!

The young Pegasus kicked off of the ground as he gave one last hard flap. As his wings came down, they released a large burst of bright green flames and launched Maverick into the air. Maverick continued to flap his wings, leaving a trail of fire as he flew around the tree in a squiggly circle. The ponies below had stopped fighting, gazing at the flaming little bat pony flittering over their heads.

“Everypony stop,” he shouted as he touched down. Marmalade pointed to his glowing flanks with awe.

“Maverick, your—“

“I did it.”

“You…did…what?” panted Failsafe.

Maverick then admitted in front of all of Farron that he stole Russet’s potatoes, buried them and pinned the blame on Gold Horn.

“See? All of the potatoes have my teeth marks in them! Gold Horn wouldn’t have to use his teeth because he could have used his magic.”

Scarlet and Failsafe could only sit stunned, staring at Maverick in silent shock.

“You see!” gloated Gold Horn. “I told you I was framed!”

He then passed out.