Playing with Fire

Drizzle was walking around the town square looking for more supplies for his tiny project he had in mind for a bit. He was in the clothing store looking for some new items to pick out. When he looked over at the capes section, he paused in thought.

“This looks..Pretty interesting..Maybe I should try it on.”

Drizzle saw an orange and yellow shaded cape with red fur on it. He seemed quite interested in the concept of trying out a new look. He picked out the beautiful cape which wasn’t a feminine looking cape of any kind. The cape seemed to look short but also masculine. As he went up to the cashier mare, he had his purchase rung up and he walked out of the store.

Apate was of course interested in the concept of orange and yellow colors on him. She thought it would fit well on him. His color scheme seemed to balance out those beautiful colors. Apate looked at his cutiemark which was a paint brush surrounded by fire. As she was slowly trotting with him on her shadowy hooves, she looked at his golden mane in admiration of his color schemes.

“My, my, my...Doesn’t orange and yellow fit you pretty well?”

“Well..I always thought it would go well with me despite me not really caring for orange or yellow.”

Apate giggled with her hoof over her mouth. “At least I was here with you today to help you unlike Flusk.”

“Hey, don’t you even dare say that. She is bothering to take care of my children and she gave me some time to think ever since..That day..”

Apate sighed gently and rolled her eyes. “Oh fine, but as I told you before, you know that ponies don’t just get places in life so suddenly and so magically. As a creature of a higher intellect myself, I see that ponies are so naive. Ponies think that if they have faith or some higher power in their lives, it will fulfill some hole in their lives. However, I am a different creature and I know that isn’t how it works as sad as it may be. It’s the truth, sweetheart.”

Drizzle looked down at his hooves on the ground while walking. He was trotting slowly when he came to a stop. “You’re...You’re so right..I was a fool to believe in such ridiculous things. Ponies think rainbows and friendship will solve their issues. Well, they won’t...You only get places in life if you do the work. Even when you do the work, life still has it out for you. So what’s the point in this shit?”

Apate stared at him intently. “Now you get it..Don’t let the naive attitude of simple minded ponies be your guide in life. A mindset like that will only give you a harsh reality to face up to.”

Flusk was trotting to Drizzle’s home to check on him to see how he was doing ever since the tragedy. She walked through his door which seemed to already be open when she found Drizzle sitting on his couch with the television turned off and the lights out. He was staring down at the couch with a bleak depressive look all over his face.

“What do you want?” He asked, harshly.

“I...Came over to..Check on you to see how you were doing. Why are you sitting here in the dark with no form of entertainment on?”

Drizzle rolled his eyes. “Don’t know, I got somewhere to be. Bye.”

He walked out on her to be alone to himself. He was growing colder and colder, day by day. Flusk and her friends started to notice it as well. Flusk often questioned his methods and why he was doing the things that he was doing. Something seemed very off to her and her friends. She couldn’t quite put her hoof on why he was acting so rude though. She completely understood his depression but not in the ways in which he started to act out harshly to others who were completely innocent.

Drizzle was trying on his new cape he had bought which seemed to fit him well. It made him look handsome. Apate soon appeared behind him in the mirror. “Fits you well..Doesn’t it?”

“Maybe it does..Maybe it doesn’t..I mean, I guess so. Heh.”

Apate put her hooves around his shoulders and she softly spoke in his ear. “You know what else you need to really top off this look?”

Drizzle stared at her in curiosity and also confusion. “Um..What else?”

Apate appeared some silver like armor on Drizzle. Shining metal shoes with a touch of black and red rubies on each of the four shoes appeared. She also conjured up some shiny silver neck armor and some silver facial armor along with a tiny piece of silver horn armor which would fit nicely around his horn.

“Go ahead..Try them on. You know you want to.”

Drizzle tried on the armor which Apate had given him through her own powerful magic. He stared in the mirror at himself, noticing how dashing he looked in the outfit. He looked at himself in the mirror for a long time as thoughts came to his mind, very negative and violent thoughts.

He whispered to himself. “This looks beautiful..It makes me feel almost..Powerful. One day..These ponies will witness my ability.”

He laughed to himself. He didn’t laugh out of humor, he laughed in a maniacal tone which seemed very fueled by rage and frustration. He looked back into the mirror. “Oh what a handsome devil you are..”

“Of course you are Drizzle. Everypony is just jealous of your raw abilities. They can never match up to you. Besides, you’re not like those naive ponies..You will soon have it all when you listen to me. Have I ever failed you in bringing up reality? Have I? Hmmm?”

He stared at her as he started to get used to the idea of her being around. He started to develop more trust in Apate which was actually a horrible choice. Apate always spoke about naive ponies but she played Drizzle so much. She knew that he was naive as well. She was the demon of deceit after all.

He smiled at her with squinted eyes. “You haven’t failed me..You simply opened up my mind and my eyes to this world. Nopony will ever fail me again..”

Drizzle was wearing his new armor into town when he noticed Flusk standing around the corner. She was levitating her paper stacks for her newest book. She needed to get more supplies for her next book and she just had happened to run into Drizzle.

“Hi Drizzle..By the way, how do you feel about getting the kids back today? You sure you’re ready to take up your four children again?”

He sighed calmly. “Yes, I really miss them so much and I know it will be nice for us to talk together face to face instead of over the phone. We all miss her so much and they need their father back. Thank you for taking care of them for me and being a decent friend to me.”

As she hugged him, tiny tears rolled down his eyes and he closed them with a balled up expression. He had felt lonely without the kids but he knew that at his mental state, he wasn’t able to take care of four needy children. Flusk’s friend, Crescent watched over the children as well as Flusk did.

She let go of him slowly. He hid his face from her a bit so she wouldn’t see him sobbing. “I better go back home since Crescent will be dropping them off to my place soon.”

Apate soon appeared next to him. “Oh my, looks like you’re going to have your hooves full again. You know you can’t handle this stress! Flusk and Crescent really figured out that they didn’t have the time or energy to take care of your children. Seems to me that they’re starting to be burdened by you..”

“Maybe...But at least I got some time off..”

Apate wrapped her shadowy hoof around his neck. “Mmmmm...Let’s give it some time, child. Heaven knows that those ponies will try to make you do things you don’t want to do anyways. You should be able to be more free in your choices. How about we start...Right over there..”

Apate pointed to the street around the local grocery store. “Go ahead Drizzle, show them your power.”

Drizzle was nervous but also felt a little mischievous at that moment. Most of his actions were only fueled by pain and jealousy. “Right..Let’s do this..”

Drizzle snuck into the alleyway and a sudden bright orange aura surrounded his horn. This was unusual for him considering his magic was usually purple. He saw a stallion standing in the alleyway who was reading a book. The stallion was waiting on somepony he knew to pick him up so he thought he would kill some time.

Drizzle shot his magical orange aura at the stallion and turned his wings into dust. He formed an evil grin on his face, laughing maniacally. “That’s what you get for being vulnerable!”

Apate laughed with Drizzle. “Doesn’t it just feel good to get back at those stupid little ponies? Oh, they’re so naive! You have to make them pay the price for it! Afterall, most ponies usually trot all over you. Why don’t we change that?”

Drizzle suddenly felt himself losing his sanity and his control. “Let’s make them pay!”

Drizzle suddenly ran through the streets of River Breeze, turning ponies into paper, water, turning their manes into different shapes and colors and even going so far as to blast a stallion with a species transformation spell, turning the stallion into a lizard.

Drizzle laughed at the top of his lungs with a maniacal expression on his face. “Look at them! They’re just so stupid and weak! They couldn’t defend themselves if their life depended on it!”

Flusk started to trot back to his place when she saw Drizzle losing his control and being harsh to the ponies of River Breeze. “Are you kidding me?!”

Flusk ran up to him in anger. “What are you doing? Why are you being an asshole to these ponies?!”

Drizzle grinned at her with an evil expression. She noticed his horn glowing a bright orange. “Oh come on, have a little fun once in a while!”

Flusk soon ran off back home to confront Crescent about the matter. As she walked around her living room, pacing back and forth hastily. “He just..He just decided to be an asshole for no reason! I tried confronting him and all he said to me was that I should have some fun once in a while, who even does that?!”

Crescent stared at Flusk with concern. “Well..Maybe later you should check up on him and confront him. Comfort him to the best of your ability. I would give him a break personally because he just went through a lot and his mind is kind of whacked out right now.Try and calmly talk to him and it should help. Ponies don’t respond to anger, as annoying as it may be to try to calmly talk to somepony who is being a literal asshole.”

“Fine, you’re right Crescent. I’ll just talk to him. I should invite him to the gala! I think that will definitely lift his spirits up! A nice party filled with food, dancing, happy smiles, cheerful music and I know how much he loves a good time. I could even try to get him to meet up with the princesses! Oh, they’re so regal and amazing!”

Crescent stared at Flusk with a smirk. “Oh, and what about that one princess you are fond of more so than Regalia? Hmmm. Princess Aphrodite was it?”

Crescent giggled to herself, putting her hoof over her mouth. Flusk stared at her with squinted eyes and a smirk on her face. “How did you even know that?”

“It isn’t very hard to tell considering you have posters of her in your bedroom with hearts all over them. Also, I may have read your diary..”

Flusk lightly smacked Crescent’s arm and laughed. “You little sneak! Besides, I don’t think that I would have a chance with an alicorn. She’s so regal and royal, I don’t think a simple pony like me would have a chance with somepony of such royalty and high status.”

“Never say never, Flusk.”

It was now the night of the gala as Flusk finished off putting her gala outfit together, putting a last touch of a small white feather behind her ear. She was wearing a long dark blue dress with stars speckled about all over it and tall white boots. She smiled at herself in the mirror before her smile turned into a frown and she eyed the door to her bedroom, knowing what she was about to face.

She took a deep breath as she reached the cold air of the night. She already told her friends, Deku, Heart, Crescent, and Reese to meet her at River Breeze square so they could go together to the train. All she needed to do now was try and get Drizzle to come with her.

She showed up at Drizzle’s door and hesitantly looked at his windows, seeing if there was a light on. When she saw one in his bedroom, she gently knocked on the door and waited for a few moments. Eventually, the door threw itself open and Drizzle looked at her annoyed.

“What do you want?” He asked in a cranky tone.

“Well um..The gala is tonight and I have an extra ticket. I want to know if..Maybe you wanted to come?” She smiled sheepishly at him.

He stared at her for a moment before saying his answer. “No.”

“Aw come on, we haven’t done anything together for awhile. Besides, I saw you bought a cape or something earlier when you..Uh…” She paused, rethinking what she was about to say. “Never mind, the point is, I want you to come and so do the others. You need a break to just have some fun. I’m sure it's..What Song would want too.”

His eyes widened at the mention of Song Bliss and he looked away, folding his ears. Flusk mentally hit herself in the head for mentioning Song. It wasn’t exactly helping convince him any further.

“Look, if you come tonight I promise that..I won’t bother you so much anymore. I know I’m..Kind of annoying to you but..I just wanted to spend one night with you and have some fun. Please, just this once. You won’t have to do it again if you don’t want to.” Flusk said, folding her ears and staring sadly at him.

He closed his eyes and breathed a sigh before staring at her again. “Fine, I’ll go.”

“Really?” Her eyes lit up in excitement.

“Yeah, but don’t make so much of a deal out of it. I’ll be right back.”

He shut the door on her as he leaned against the door, almost hitting his head into it. He may as well have hit his head into it..He really wished he didn’t agree to go now.

“So? Don’t go..Nopony is making you go. After all, you should be allowed to make your own decisions, right?” He heard Apate’s soft voice all around him.

“Yes but-”

“Then don’t go. Why should you listen to that pesky little unicorn? All she does is annoy you and constantly interrupt you.”

Drizzle sighed. “If I don’t go now then I won’t go ever. She already thinks I hate her so if I don’t, it’ll just make things worse.”

“Well?..Don’t you hate her?”

He stopped and looked at Apate who now stood behind him, idly smirking.

“No..I don’t.” He answered finally as he turned on her and trotted to his bedroom to get ready.

Eventually, the door opened and Drizzle stepped out wearing a black and white tuxedo with orange trims and an orange bow. He noticed Flusk staring at him in awe as her purple eyes sparkled a bit upon seeing him. He looked at her confused before she suddenly snapped out of it.

“Ahem, sorry.” She smiled sheepishly.

He rolled his eyes and walked alongside her as they made their way to River Breeze square. “Uh..So..Where are we going again?”

“The Gala in Stone Hedge! Well, we’re going to the train station first to meet up with Deku, Reese, Crescent, and Heart first but then we’ll go on the train and head to the castle-”

“Waaaiit!”

Flusk and Drizzle looked behind them to see Honeysuckle and Sea Biscuit galloping to catch up with them. Honeysuckle was wearing a little party dress and Sea Biscuit had a fancy tuxedo on, also wearing a bow like his father. They panted as Flusk and Drizzle stopped.

“Honeysuckle and Sea Biscuit? What are you doing here?” Flusk asked.

“We’re coming to the gala!” Honeysuckle announced excitedly.

“Uh..I..Don’t have any extra tickets..” Flusk replied nervously as she looked towards Drizzle worriedly.

“Ugh, do I have to do everything myself.” Drizzle grumbled.

Drizzle used his magic to pull the gala tickets from Flusk’s blue mane, holding the two in front of him. His horn glowed a bright orange as he duplicated them to make two more. Flusk gasped as he levitated the other two to the children.

“You can’t just do that! You could get in trouble for duplicating tickets.”

“Do I look like I give a shit? No, I don’t.”

Flusk folded her ears as Drizzle and his family proceeded to make their way to the train station. She silently walked beside them the rest of the way as they met up with the rest of their friends who were also dressed up all formally for the gala. They waved at them as Crescent nodded at Flusk subtly, noticing that she was able to get Drizzle to come.

“So, are we ready to go?” Flusk asked.

Her friends nodded as the train arrived in the station. Deku seemed to be the most interested in the train of the group as he talked about it in detail as they boarded the train.

For the most part, the train ride was of course just Deku explaining his love for trains and talking about specific ones but the conversation changed and the group laughed a few times over funny topics being discussed. Although Flusk wasn’t exactly laughing as much as the others, noticing Drizzle not really taking part in their conversation and just staring at the passing landscape through the window.

He mumbled quietly to himself, talking to Apate. “I still don’t know why you came here.”

“Drizzle...I only want to help you in this large crowd of ponies. You need me.. I am the only creature that understands you. Aren’t I?”

“Well, maybe so. I do feel comforted when you are around me. You give me the truth and you give me knowledge..More than any other pony has. I trust you.” He sighed slowly with a smirk on his face. “Well, as much as I can.”

“You know that I am the only creature that will help you tonight. Besides, most other ponies are absolutely clueless to the ways of life. All of them gathering around for some stupid party. I can’t believe ponies actually believe that a party will make their lives better..How silly.”

Apate stared at him with an evil grin on her face as her eyes and mouth shone a bright neon blue when she noticed that he wasn’t staring at her. After she was done speaking she touched her hoof to his head, gently petting his head. “Now you have more knowledge and I was the only one to tell you the honest truth. Ponies love to lie to you so much. It’s rather...Deceiving.”

Drizzle stared at her in concern and confusion. He thought to himself. “Didn’t she mention at one point…That she was a demon of..Deceit?”

Drizzle of course never fully heard her when she announced who she was. The only thing he remembered after his heart attack was that her name was Apate and she wished to help him. She was the only one to fill him with the truth, or so he thought.

“Well yeah, ponies can be deceiving but I will try my best to be a part of this night. Afterall, they invited me to have some fun, right?”

Apate slowly said in a sarcastic soft tone, a pouty look on her face. “Oh sure they did…”

Drizzle and his friends finally arrived at the gala which took place in Stone Hedge where the royals have lived for many moons. After the ponies on board all walked out onto the red carpet, the crowd looked ahead at the beautiful lights which shone upon each room of the castle. The castle seemed to glow. Drizzle, Flusk, and the rest of their friends stared in awe of the beauty of the castle.

As they entered into the gala, the room seemed so bright compared to the night sky of the outside. It was a very starry night which seemed to make the gala even more captivating due to the beautiful scenery in and outside of the castle.

They suddenly heard beautiful music coming from the center interior of the castle. A smell of sweet cinnamon rolls passed by their noses as they trotted inside. The beautiful lights glowed with an almost very light pink hue with white. Ponies were dancing in the ballroom to classical music.

Drizzle looked surprised and for once, he smiled. Flusk noticed him smile and she felt happy inside because it had been such a difficult challenge to make him even crack a grin.

“Drizzle..I’m happy that you’re enjoying the gala tonight..”

“Well for once, yes. I do find this party entertaining..I guess..”

“You guess?”

He said sheepishly with a forced smile on his face. “It’s nothing..This is great!”

Drizzle made his way over to the punch bowl on a nearby table. He could see ponies dancing and enjoying themselves. He saw his children dancing as well. Lance and Blissful Dots had to stay with their aunt during the gala because they were too young to go. They loved their aunt Gem Paws. Drizzle Dot’s sister was always so caring for foals and pets which is why she was named Gem Paws.

Drizzle was looking around the room, noticing that the music turned into slow dancing music. He soon noticed couples gathering together for a romantic dance.

He turned his head in anger as tears streamed down his face. “Maybe if she hadn’t died then she would be here. Even if it were to be that her and I were only friends. I could have asked her for a nice dance. I could have chatted with her..”

Apate appeared behind him. “And those ponies really think that love will set them free? Love is just another one of those cliche titles that ponies love to employ because they’re lonely in their own lives. Don’t you worry about them. You’re better than them. You don’t fall for that rainbow filled kissy lovey dovey bullshit that ponies love to make up..”

“R-Right..”

He walked off back into the gala to talk to Flusk.

Meanwhile, Flusk was standing with Crescent, Heart, and Deku as they watched the other couples dance across the marble floor. Flusk didn’t exactly feel upset that she didn’t have somepony to dance with herself but she did consider it a few times.

She suddenly heard somepony clear their throat and she turned around, her jaw dropping at who was behind her.

“I’m surprised to not see a pretty mare like you not on the dance floor right now.” Princess Aphrodite said, smiling softly at Flusk.

Flusk couldn’t believe her eyes as she was practically frozen in place. Crescent was chuckling behind her hoof as Deku and Heart both bowed in respect of the princess.

“I-I..Y-Your highness um..I’m sorry, where are my manners?” Flusk stuttered on her words, bowing to Princess Aphrodite.

“No, no, stand up my dear. You don’t need to bow.”

Flusk stood up again, looking particularly pink in the face from both embarrassment and the fact that she was in the presence of royalty. Not just any royalty though..Princess Aphrodite. A princess she looked up to a lot and admired. She was a very graceful and quiet princess that she practically already stole Flusk’s heart without even doing anything.

“I was wondering if perhaps..I could ask you for a dance?” Princess Aphrodite asked, lending her hoof out to Flusk. “After all, it’s unfair to leave such a beautiful mare waiting without a partner.” She smiled at her mischievously, a look that Flusk had never seen on the princess before.

“O-Of course! I-I would love to!” Flusk answered, almost a little too excited.

Crescent grinned at them both as Princess Aphrodite whisked Flusk away to the dance floor..Perhaps quite literally as the unicorn went flying through the air from the princess’s strength just as Drizzle walked up to the others.

“Wait..Is that..” Drizzle asked before his eyes widened.

“Princess Aphrodite and Flusk? Yup.” Heart replied, grinning.

Drizzle looked across the dance floor and saw Princess Aphrodite’s sister, Princess Regalia almost half laughing at her sister dancing with one of their subjects. She didn’t seem angry by it surprisingly but rather happy for her sister.

Princess Aphrodite and Flusk were currently doing a bit of a spin dance across the floor as both their dresses twirled in the wind. Flusk barely knew how to do this specific dance so she was just following along and trying to comprehend the fact that a princess just asked her to a dance.

“I really did mean it back there that I was surprised you weren’t already dancing with somepony. Your beauty is quite captivating. I suppose that just means I was lucky. As a princess, you can imagine I don’t really get to have much fun out here.”

“W-What?..But you’re a princess. There’s so many ponies I’m sure who would love to be with you.”

“Yes but, that doesn’t mean I get to act on it. That would be unprofessional.”

“Then..Why are you dancing with me?..”

“You’re special.” Princess Aphrodite smirked.

Flusk felt her face warm up at the compliment as she nervously pushed her blue mane out of her face, smiling like an idiot. “But..You don’t even know me.”

“I know more than you would think. However, I think it would be best if you knew me as well. So, may I?..”

Flusk looked at her confused, unsure what she was going to do but nodded. This wasn’t something that happened everyday so she decided to go with it.

Princess Aphrodite wrapped her hooves around Flusk’s waist as she leaned over, pressing her lips to Flusk’s. Flusk immediately blushed as she couldn’t believe what was happening right now. Yet, despite barely being able to comprehend the situation, she closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss letting Princess Aphrodite do so.

Flusk’s friends cheered and screamed for her from the other side of the room as Drizzle just stood there in complete shock. He couldn’t believe that not only did Flusk receive an award for her books but she literally just kissed and danced with royalty she barely even knew up until now.

He announced under his breath in anger with his teeth clenched. “Are you fucking kidding me? She gets to hook up with royalty and get’s a fucking medal for writing a book or two? I tried hard my whole life and I got kicked out, a heart attack, a death, and at one point, my kids living with my other bitch ex girlfriend who ran off with some stallion and cheated on me? Fuck this..”

“Mmmm..Oh Drizzle. Looks like everypony is doing much better than you and you worked so much harder in life. Still believe in rainbows by this point? You need to get revenge on life when it turns it’s back on you.” Apate said, softly.

Drizzle stomped off angrily through the crowd of ponies dancing. He pushed some ponies out of his way to get through the crowd. He was so angry during this moment and one stallion had gotten in his way. Drizzle roughly pushed the stallion out of his way as the stallion fell to the floor.

“Hey! What’s your deal?!”

Drizzle knew that he could kill that stallion in a second if he wanted to. He studied all the ways that Apate had taught him. Over the course of time, Apate’s presence around Drizzle only sunk into him and slowly made him more powerful over time.

Drizzle shouted at the top of his lungs in a deeper tone as his eyes flashed orange. His orange eyes seemed to glow in the dark room with the lights shining around them.

“None of your fucking business bitch! Get the fuck out of my way and don’t you dare try to get in my way because I will destroy you motherfucker!”

“I didn’t even do anything to you! I was standing here, dancing with my partner!”

Drizzles grinned an evil grin. He was more anger fueled than he had ever been in all his life.

Apate was raising her voice as well. “That’s right! Make him pay for being a shitty little idiot! He stood in the way of you! He blocked you! Make these stupid little fucking niave ponies pay for their crimes!”

As the crowd was already alarmed by his shouting and the sudden conflict, Drizzle’s horn lit up a bright orange and so did his eyes. He shot the stallion with a blast of magic, harming him. The stallion slid across the floor from the magical blast, gripping his rib cage in pain.

As Princess Aphrodite and Flusk were dancing, the princess started to notice the chaos beginning in the crowd as she saw the stallion slide across the floor from the sudden blast of magic. Her eyes filled with concern as she turned back to Flusk.

“Flusk, I’m sorry but I must break this dance for now. There are some ponies who are in need of my assistance.”

“Of course, I understand. I might have a feeling who’s causing this too..I’ll be right back, I promise!” Flusk said as she let go of Princess Aphrodite.

“Please be careful, dear!”

Drizzle ran off out of the gala and Flusk soon ran after him after her romantic moment with Aphrodite was interrupted by the conflict.

“Come back here Drizzle! Don’t run away from me!”

Drizzle stopped short of his chase and abruptly turned back around with his eyes glowing orange. He raised his voice towards her. “What the fuck do you want you shitty little bitch?!”

Flusk gasped, clearly hurt by his sudden surprising words he was using when addressing her. “Oh my fucking god! I came here to help you! You’re being a fucking asshole tonight! I invited you out to-”

Flusk was suddenly stopped short of her words as Drizzle put his hoof over her mouth. “Please, shut the fuck up little girl. You always get shit handed to you so easily when I had to work a million times harder than you to get anywhere in life and I get nothing for it!”

Flusk slapped his hoof off her mouth and screamed at him. “Don’t you fucking touch my mouth or tell me to shut up! I’m not your fucking slave asshole! You were an asshole in the town square and you’re being an asshole now! He didn’t even fucking do shit to you and you decide that you want to almost kill some pony because he got in your way a little bit?! Are you kidding me you fucking asshole?!”

Apate was feeding into Drizzle’s mind as the argument went on. “Fucking slit her throat and kill all the ponies here that think they can step up to you! Fuck her for being so fucking privileged and the rest of the shitty little ponies. Show them your raw fucking ability! Prove yourself to that bitch that you are a force to be wreckin with!”

“Fucking shut the fuck up bitch! I will show you and all of these ponies my raw ability! You will bow the fuck down to me!”

“I’m not bowing to sh--”

Flusk was stopped short of her sentence as her face turned into terror and the ponies watching this unravel were terrified as well. Apate soon appeared so that everypony was able to see her. She stood behind Drizzle as she turned into a cloud of smoke as she entered into him. Drizzle slowly levitated a book above his head, using a transformation spell as a beam of orange light shone down upon him suddenly.

Flusk’s hair was blowing in the wind as it seemed to blow from the sheer force of his magic. Ponies were heard screaming in the background, terrified.

The light shone upon him as a ring of fire surrounded him which suddenly engulfed him in a bright shining ball of fire. The fire surrounding him made a loud noise which seemed like hard wind swirling in which the trees blew along with the strong winds.

The fire surrounding him soon set the grass on fire which in turn created a stream of fire that led into the gala. Fire was seen everywhere as it burned the walls and tapestries of the castle. The ball of fire that was once surrounding him seemed to die down.

The light started to die down which was once covering his new form from the overpowering brightness. Flusk and the ponies were in shock. Screams were heard from the raging fire that was taking place and Flusk looked at him in shock.

What was once a normal stallion with golden hair and green eyes was now a fiery maned stallion. His hair took the form of fire which seemed to magically flow by itself. He grew much taller in size, around the size of an alicorn princess. His horn had suddenly grown sharp as he opened his eyes, his bright orange iris’s glowed in the dark. He had light green sclera to go along with them. His magical armor was suddenly conjured up onto his body.

As he set fire to the castle by blasting it with his magic which took the form of a fireball, Flusk stared in absolute horror and shock of what she was witnessing. She couldn’t believe that her once normal friend had suddenly lost complete control. He was seen going insane by blasting ponies with his magic and killing or injuring the ponies one by one. Several of the innocent mares and stallions had died due to the magical blasts.

Drizzle Dot’s children were only staring in horror as they ran off to go to the only place they knew. They ran up to Heartstring’s and Flusk, hiding behind them.

“What is happening to our father?! What is happening?!”

Tears streamed down their face as they noticed their very own father going completely insane like he was a stranger to them. Flusk started to sob as well with his children as she saw him losing control and doing the worst possible things to the ponies in the gala. The princesses were only seen trying to protect any of the ponies that they could as they were being pushed back by his powerful magic.

“Protect them sister! Don’t let him go!” Princess Regalia yelled over the screams of other ponies.

“We need to go, now!” Heart shouted.

“But..He’s..” Flusk started but didn’t finish her sentence as she watched Drizzle.

Drizzle threw a wave of fire at ponies who were quite close to them as Flusk, Drizzle’s children, and her friends all ducked behind a pillar, avoiding the fire. He laughed maniacally, staring down at all the helpless ponies below with glee.

“Drizzle, stop! Why are you doing this?” Flusk called out from behind the pillar.

“Drizzle, ey?..Drizzle is gone. I am Solar Dots and I will set fire to your world! You will pay..All of you will pay!”

Solar Dots shouted as fire exploded out of his mouth and into the crowd of ponies below. Princess Aphrodite and Princess Regalia were trying their hardest to deflect his attacks away from the ponies but it was no use as ponies began burning alive, screams of pain echoing across the castle.

“Heart’s right, we have to go now. If not for us, for Honeysuckle and Sea Biscuit. We can’t let them get injured by his fire.” Crescent said.

“You’re right..We have to get them out of here.” Flusk replied sadly.

Crescent heaved Sea Biscuit onto her back and Flusk took Honeysuckle. The group began galloping away through shattered glass and other obstacles such as overturned tables and sometimes even dead pony bodies. When they came across one, Crescent and Flusk made sure to tell the children to look away or cover their eyes so they wouldn’t witness them.

Eventually they made it into the castle gardens outside with a few other ponies who were attempting to make an escape. They trudged through mud and blood of both dead and injured ponies. Flusk’s white boots at this point were covered in dirt and stained with blood, along with the end of her dress being shredded from being caught on things and burned slightly.

They were at the end of the castle grounds at this point when they heard Solar’s voice all around them.

“Oooohh..Fluussk. I wasn’t finished dealing with you yet. Come over here before I dismember another pony. In fact, I wouldn’t mind killing one of your friends..That would be a real treat!”

Flusk stopped, looking back at the castle that was engulfed in flames and panicked a little. She didn’t want anymore ponies to die but she also didn’t want to face the pony who was once her best friend..Now a murderer who was responsible for many ponies deaths tonight.

“Flusk, don’t listen to him. We need to go. We can’t save everypony, even if we wanted to. Besides, the princesses are in there. I’m sure they’ll stop him.” Deku said.

“That’s..Not what bothers me the most.”

“Flusk, look out!” Heart shouted.

Flusk looked to her right as a blast of Solar’s fire magic was heading straight for her. She threw Honeysuckle off her as the blast hit her right in her side. She screamed out in pain as the magic burned right through her dress and onto her coat as she slid across the grass. Tears formed in her eyes from the pain as she hesitantly looked at her side. She had a nasty burn across her cutie mark and her side and it burned..It burned really badly.

“Flusk!” Deku shouted, galloping towards her.

“Do all you ponies want to fucking die or what?” Solar asked in anger. “All you have to do is let me kill her and I’ll let you run free. I can’t say if you’ll survive my fire though.”

“You’re not killing her, not on my watch.” Deku replied, gritting his teeth and standing in front of Flusk.

“I’ll ask this again..Do you want to die?” Solar asked, creepily smiling at him.

“D-Deku..P-Please..You have t-to go..Get the others out of h-here..” Flusk stuttered, uncomfortably moving her side a little due to the unbearable pain.

“No, I’m not going anywhere. I’ve always viewed you as family..As a little sister. Family doesn’t leave family. I’ll battle him until I can’t anymore. As long as it means you’re safe.”

“D-Deku..T-This is crazy..P-Please go..”

“No.” Deku said firmly.

“Oh well, your funeral I guess.” Solar’s mane suddenly crackled and waved faster behind him. “I enjoy killing all you pathetic fools anyhow.”

Solar began shooting blasts and waves of fire at Deku as he galloped away, directing them elsewhere and away from his friends and Flusk. Flusk winced as she attempted to get up but wasn’t able to due to her injury. Crescent rushed over and pulled Flusk away from Deku and Solar’s fight.

“D-Deku!” Flusk cried out.

The rest of their friends watched sadly, unable to do anything without being injured or killed themselves. Heart had both her hooves covering Honeysuckle and Sea Biscuit’s eyes to protect them from seeing this.

Deku for the most part was dodging Solar’s attacks and sending small blasts at him when he had an opening or a chance. However, it seemed to be no use as they barely affected him at all. It was like throwing small pebbles at him. Solar’s attacks however were very dangerous and any wrong move that Deku made could easily kill him.

“What are you all doing standing there?! You have to go while I have him distracted!” Deku yelled.

“We’re not leaving without you.” Crescent said.

“Well you have to before it’s too la- Woah!”

Deku was suddenly grabbed by Solar’s magic and levitated into the air. The magic was quite hot to the touch and it burned Deku’s tail and mane a little as he was floated right in front of Solar. His eyes widened as he struggled at his magic, trying to escape.

“I’ve grown tired of your stupid games. If you can’t even hit me, what’s the point in even keeping you alive..”

A deafening crunch noise sounded throughout the gardens as Flusk gasped in horror, along with the rest of their friends. Blood poured out of Deku’s chest as a gigantic hole from Solar’s hoof punching through it was quite visible. Deku immediately began coughing up blood as he collapsed to the ground and Solar laughed heartlessly, having no remorse for what he just did.

“See? I have true power..You have nothing.”

Blood continued to spurt out of Deku’s wound as he coughed up more blood. It wouldn’t be long before he died and he knew it too. He shakily moved his head towards Flusk, giving her one last sad smile.

“Take care of yourself..Sis…”

Deku’s head suddenly fell to the ground and his eyes clouded as he went limp..No longer moving.

Flusk burst into loud sobs as she reached out for him. Her side hurt so badly but she didn’t care. Her friend, her brother, he just died in front of her and there was nothing she could do. Crescent restrained her from trying to get to Deku’s body as she too cried. Not as hard but there were definite streams of tears falling down her face.

“Flusk, we have to go. I’m sorry but we have to. We cannot lose another pony..” Crescent said.

However, Flusk didn’t move. She was staring at Deku’s limp body that was lying in a puddle of blood and then the castle that was still engulfed in flames. She could see many corpses littered everywhere outside. And..Princess Aphrodite and Princess Regalia..Were they okay? She didn’t know. All she knew was she had a heavy pain in her heart that would never go away and a burning sensation from Solar’s blast earlier.

“Flusk, please, we have to go!” Heart yelled.

Flusk finally shut her eyes tightly as she forced herself on to Heart’s back. Heart adjusted Flusk on her back a little more with her wings as Crescent picked up both Solar’s children.

Heart took off into the sky as Flusk clung to her back, sobbing hard. She had never felt so much pain before in all her life and it wasn’t just physical pain. She had lost two friends tonight..One who had left this world forever and the other still lived and caused even greater pain to the ponies around him.

Flusk’s white feather in her mane slowly drifted away in the wind behind her. It landed in a blood puddle and softly floated on top of the surface. Then, a blue hoof stepped hard on it, splashing the blood puddle a little.

Flusk’s and Drizzle’s friendship was gone..Quite like the feather that had been crushed, so was Flusk’s heart.