Burning Passion

Torch waited anxiously at Celestia’s old, abandoned castle the fallowing day, a good hour before the sun even rose. He only thought about what to say when he meet her.

“Uh… Hi Celestia, been a while?... No, no, too casual… So, how’s the family?... Why did I bring that up?... You’re looking quite young for her age!... Now that’s as smooth as first flight.” He looked to the sky, seeing the sun rise. He nervously swallowed, realizing she was going to arrive any second now. “Oh please, please cancel on me and say you have something else that’s important. Please let there be some monster that needs you to stop it! Oh please let there-” He paused as soon as he saw Celestia land onto the broken roof of the castle. The size difference between the two were very noticeable; he was the size of a mountain to her, and she was like the size of a beetle to him. The two had a stare down.

“... Aren’t you going to say anything?” Celestia asked with a smirk, casually leaning on the broken roof.

“Uh… you’re early.” He simply spoke.

“Yeah.”

“... And alone.”

“Yeah.”

“... And much smaller than I remember.”

“I can say that you’ve gotten quite big since we’ve meet. And you put on quite the pounds.”

“I-I’m not fat! It’s muscles! I’ve been working out!”

“Sure…”

“Uh… h-how long is this gonna last? Shouldn’t you be… you know… be back soon?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that, we have all day to ourselves.”

‘I was afraid of that.’ “W-well… doesn’t it feel… odd, for being this small? Surely, you’re not so easy around me like this.”

“Eh, not really, I’ve dealt with bigger. But if you’re not comfortable, then perhaps I can change myself for you.”

“Uh… w-what do you mean?”

“Simple.” Celestia’s horn glowed as she took her boots off, necklace, and her crown, setting them on the side. In a matter of a few seconds, Celestia began to glow, with her horn glowing it’s yellow, taking in the sun’s energy in. Torch took a few steps back, as Celestia was no longer small, but was actually large enough for the two to literally be face to face with each other. She stretched her wings, cracking a few bones, and letting out a long yawn. “Ahh… that’s the stuff. I’ve almost forgot how it was like being my true self and not a public figure. Wouldn’t you agree?” Torch blinked. He fell to his back, unconscious. Celestia blinked at the sight. “.... Oh, silly Torch, forgetting about about my true nature.”

“And this is the garden.” Celestia spoke, giving her new friend the tour of her castle. It took a while for her parents to calm down and let them realize that Torch, besides his bit rugged looks, was friendly, and scared. Torch followed Celestia all over the castle, practically repeating whatever she said.

“Gawden.” He spoke, looking down and sniffing at the flowers. The dragon took a sniff at some roses, but his nose tingled. A funny feeling came to his nose. “A-A-AHCOO!!!” He let out a sneeze that shot out some flames, instantly burning the flowers down.

“Gesundheit.” Celestia quickly used her wings to die the flames down. “Well, I hope Jasper doesn’t get too angry at this. Hm… think we should play a-”

“TIA!!! LUNCHTIME!!!” Her mother yelled.

“Oh! Lunchtime! I hope we’re having cake!” Celestia trotted ahead, followed by Torch. When they approached to the dining room, Celestia stopped as she saw her mother on the floor, groaning loudly. “M-mommy?” She took a few steps to her mother. Torch followed, standing very close to the two. Then her father entered. He gasped at the sight.

“What did you do!?” He demanded, his voice booming, practically making the room shake.

“N-Nothing! Mommy was like this!”

“Not you! Him! What did that dragon do!?” Torch let out a small whimper and backed away.

“Nothing! Torch was-”

“GET OUT!!! OUT!!!” His horn glowed violently with sparks of electricity. Torch stood, frozen in fear, unsure as what to do. Celestia’s father fired a blast, missing Torch’s front left foot by a few inches. It was enough for the dragon to run away with his tail in between his legs.

“No! Wait! Torch! Come back!” Celestia ran after the escaping dragon.

“Ugh… my head.” Torch groaned, waking up with his vision becoming blurred. All he could see was the silhouette of somepony. “Oh… a weak, small pony is here?”

“Oh, I’m quite the opposite.” Celestia’s voice spoke. Torch’s eyes shot wide open and in focus. Celestia was looking down at him, and over his fallen body. “Quite surprised seeing me at this height? Was it so surprising that you fainted?” She playfully teased.

“I-I did not faint! I was just sleeping.”

“Was the dream about me?”

“Uh… n-no! It was my victories in combat! The thrill of the fight! The-”

“The cute wittle birdies that would nestwe on your head when you were asweep?”

“... I’m not like my old self, Celestia. I’ve changed.”

“I know, you have changed quite a bit, but I know you’re still that little softie I meet all those years ago.” She got off of him and sat right besides him. Torch got up and dusted himself off, trying to not look like a fool and still be ferocious, in case anyone was watching.

“Believe me, I remember how we meet. Does your sister still hate dragons?”

“No, not really. She’s cautious, something I can’t blame her on, and has become friends with Spike.”

“Spike… the little runt that participated in the Gauntlet of fire?”

“Well, that ‘little runt’,” She quoted with the tip of her feathers. “Helped made your daughter the Dragonlord, am I right?” Torch sighed.

“Yes, he did, and I couldn’t be more proud for that.”

“Because he was a bit like you?”

“Pfft! No! Because my daughter can rule the land under own power, which I’m sure will be like mine.”

“And so dragons don’t try to invade Equestria?”

“Yes, yes, also that… Faust only knows what would happen if some of the others would’ve won.”

“I think it’s best if we leave that to our own imaginations.” She stood right up and continued her stretchings. “You know, it’s been a long time since we’ve done this.”

“Speaking to each other? Of course.”

“Not just that. I mean as in a race!”

“A race?”

“Yep. A race between the two of us. Around the world!”

“... I don’t know about that…” Celestia leaned against the side of a mountain, causing an avalanche that, luckily, didn't harm any seen creatures below.

“What’s the matter? Gain too much weight since then? Feeling rather slow? … Chicken?” Torch went wide eyed, then glared at her.

“Nobody calls me chicken.” Celestia smirked and flared her wings.

“Then prove it!” Torch flared his wings.

“Oh, I will! If I win, then you’re the chicken!”

“Fair enough, and if I win, then you’re gonna have to do something for me.” Torch had a curious look on his face.

“... What is it?”

“Oh, it’s a surprise, but that’s when you lose, something I know is going to happen.”

“Like Tartarus! See you in the finish line, princess of chickens.”

“We will see. On your marks. Three…”

“Two…”

“One…”

“GO!!!” They spoke in unison, flaring their wings and flying to the sky! The strength of their wingpower was enough to blow many of the trees away and make a new field. Both the Dragon and the Alicorn were neck to neck in their race as they flew north. However, they flew over the town of Ponyville, and though it was quick, practically everypony in town saw the two giants flying together, side by side. Twilight herself saw it and had a gaping, open mouth with her mind broken on what she saw. Starlight stood next to her, looking more confused.

"Was that Celestia and Torch we just saw?" She simply just asked. "How... is she naturally a giant? Is it a spell? What do you thin it was... Twilight?" She waved her hoof in front of the princess of friendship.

"She... she was naked..." Twilight only stuttered. Starlight just blinked, then rolled her eyes.

"Everypony's naked, Twilight. You and I are a part of it."