Equestria's Pyre

Ponyville was extremely busy; refugees were arriving from the desolated cities en mass. Many ponies offered their homes for the survivors. The refugees had nice new quilts, made by the Element of Generosity, Rarity. They were also well fed thanks to contributions by the Apple Family and the Cakes, and several generous ponies in town.

Among these survivors were Greasy Gears, who had recovered somewhat, and Shelly, who came here with her father. Greasy was staying at Sweet Apple Acres, where he'll work til reconstruction starts. Shelly and her father will be in town for the time being.

Shelly's father, Blue Tides, watched as his daughter played with some of the other kids.

"Something wrong sir?" Rarity came up to him.

"Oh... hehe.. nothing...just watching my daughter play..." He turned back to Shelly. She was laughing happily as she chased some other fillies and colts in the field. In Blue's hooves, he cradled a blue conch-like seashell.

"What's that lovely thing? The white unicorn pointed to seashell.

".....The one thing I managed to safe from the fire..... It was a gift from my wife... before Shelly was born...."

"It's very nice..."

"Yes...." Blue looked back to Shelly, "....It's the only thing either of us have left of her...."

Rarity was taken aback but managed to recompose herself. "I'm sorry..."

"......It's fine.... my little seashell..... she understands...I'm just glad I have her...."

Pyre slowly awoke and found she was in a special jacket coated in magic. She was also in a enchanted holding cell. She tried to break free of her bonds, but was unable to. Pyre muttered some unintelligible curses. Outside she heard hoof-steps. One of the walls suddenly became transparent and she saw that Celestia stood on the other side with the Twilight, the Element of Magic.

"Candelle," Celestia began, Pyre being able to hear her through the invisible wall, "Lets talk."

Pyre stared at the Princess with flaming eyes.

"Candelle, you will speak!"

Pyre smiled, "Stop calling me that, and I might..."

Celestia sighed, "Very well. Pyre, what is it that you plan to accomplish?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA," Pyre roared with manic laughter, such that pierced their hearts, "You still don't get it, do you? I told you, Celestia, I will burn all of Equestria," she smiled with sickening glee.

"But why?" Twilight joined in.

More laughter erupted from the demented mare's mouth. "Because I am Pyre; I burn all things. It's my special talent..."

"Your talent is not fire and destruction," Celestia told Pyre, "there are other-"

"DON'T LIE TO ME!!!!!" Pyre shouted at the top of her voice, with a trace of a deep sorrow. Celestia was taken aback; she realized she had struck a chord.

(listen as you read)

"........Fire...," Pyre mumbled, "....Fire... Fire.... where are you, Fire?"

"Fire?" Twilight stepped up, "Who is Fire?" she inquired, seeking to examine Pyre's mind.

"Fire...," she muttered, breathing heavily, "is my friend... my only friend..."

"In what way?"

"He saved me..., from those who tried to hurt me...," Pyre giggled, then suddenly stopped. "He also took away from me the ponies who loved me..." Pyre started to sob, but no tears escaped her eyes. Celestia and Twilight began to understand. The ashen mare chuckled, "It's funny; I can't cry for them anymore..." She smiled, still sobbing, "Like my tears have been burned away..."

Celestia and Twilight watched Pyre as her face contorted into different emotions; she was giggling and sobbing, smiling yet horrified.

"That day," Pyre recalled, "I listened to their screams; the screams of my family as Fire engulfed them..., and the rest of Timberhill..." Pyre shut her eyes tight and shook her head violently, trying to suppress the memories. "When I awoke," she continued, "I saw them; the lifeless husks that used to be used to be my mother, father, and new-born sister..." Pyre winced. "Their charred, smoking remains that stared at me with black, scorched eyes...," she paused, and began to stare into Twilight's eyes. "I still see them..., every time I dream; reliving the nightmare again and again..." Twilight stepped back, trying to escape Pyre's stare that burned into her eyes. Pyre started to smile again, "That's how I got my cutie mark: by incinerating my home and the ones I loved..." She began to laugh, "My talent is Fire. To spread Fire. To burn down EVERYTHING AROUND ME!!!!!!"

Celestria choked up a bit before speaking, "I'm sorry for what happened to you, Pyre, but I will not let you hurt anyone else!"

"You can't stop me," Pyre cackled, "My Fire will break me free, just wait..." Pyre then burst into a hysteric cacophony of crazed laughter not uncommon to that of a pack of hyenas. It swarmed around Twilight and the Princess, and echoed past them throughout the entire camp, striking fear in all who heard it. She suddenly stopped, and froze completely still..

She started to sing, a horrific expression of her insanity...

"O, the World might be frightful~
But Fire is so delightful~
There is no return~
Let it Burn,~
Let it Burn,~
Let it Burn......~"

The Princess took her leave, unable took take any more of Pyre's madness, and Twilight followed shortly. The wall became normal again, Pyre staring into it, as if waiting for them to return...