Fire of the Flame Ponies

''Um, Princess? W-what was that?'' Fluttershy shivered.

Celestia completely ignored her and shouted, ''Shredder! Get out here!''

Twilight's face turned pale.

''Shredder? As in Shredder Boom?!'' she asked nervously.

''Yes,'' Celestia said.

An enormously huge silhouette of a pony about Celestia's size herself flashed against the walls. In a second, an alicorn, female, stepped into view. She looked like the Princess, though not the same color. And what was wrong with her hair? It was... FIRE.

The alicorn laughed maniacally. Her crown glowed.

''What is that thing?'' Applejack asked.

''A Flame Pony,'' Twilight answered. ''They were enemies of the Princess awhile, if you think back into a millenium ago. Flame Ponies have the most potential for discord and fire.''

''Right you are, Twilight Sparkle,'' said the Flame Pony.

''Hey! Don't you dare do anything to us!'' Rainbow Dash zoomed over to her. She was quickly stopped from hitting the enemy by a... Ball of fire?

''Don't think of trying it, Rainbow Dash,'' Shredder said as Rainbow was shot back by the impact of the fire.

''I know, fighting isn't my thing, but I can RIP YOU TO PIECES IF I HAVE TO!!'' Rarity yelled and jumped.

''Rarity, don't!'' Twilight caught Rarity with her magic.

''Oh, it's all right, Twilight Sparkle,'' Shredder Boom said calmly. Her horn lit up a pink aura and she leviatated her crown off her head. ''Is it not clear that my crown exists for a reason, that I have an opportunity to place harmony between ponies?''

''No, because you hate all of us, and you're trying to burn Equestria down to make a home for your Flame Ponies. And that's not going to happen,'' Twilight stood up.

''Who says that's true? How are you sure that's not a rumor?'' Shredder laughed. ''As for you, Celestia, I have decided to make a deal with you. What do you say? Let's make a bet! If your pony friends can figure out how to defeat me with your Elements, I will leave Equestria. If you can't, I get Equestria and you leave Equestria. Deal?''

The two Alicorns shook hooves. ''Deal.''

Shredder Boom vanished with another glow of her horn. Celestia looked at the burn marks Shredder made on the floor when she left. The Princess then turned to the ponies.

''I'm sorry, my little ponies, I didn't realize what I was doing when I agreed to the deal. Now we have no choice but to defeat her. I need you six to wield the Elements of Harmony, before it's too late,'' Celestia said.

''Okay,'' said the six ponies.

''Good luck.''

The six ponies ran out of the Castle. But as soon as they left the property, they tripped. They tripped over a yellow leg? They looked up.

''There's no way you'll get past me,'' the pony said. That pony looked a lot like Shredder Boom, except smaller and had smaller wings and a smaller horn. Its cutie mark was fire, or course... A Flame Pony.

''Hey, we can if we want to,'' Rainbow said.

''You can't-- Oh dear, you didn't get my name yet. I'm Firefringe. You know, Flame Pony, subject of Shredder Boom, blah, blah, blah--'' Firefringe was cut off.

''Stop stalling, Firefridge. Let us go,'' Rainbow said. Firefringe grinned.

''It's Firefringe. Anyway, I will let you get past BUT along the way, you must solve this first.''

Everypony listened closely.

''To get past my path, listen closely and solve this riddle; To continue your adventure, just find your strenth and solve this case. Shredder's wrath brings no fear, but to beat her you must find your life's dear.''

''Um, that's it?'' Twilight asked.

''Yup. Don't hurry.''

''Uh... Thanks...'' Pinkie Pie said.

''Okay, that was akward,'' Applejack said as they left.

''What do you think Firefringe was saying? I mean, 'Shredder's wrath doesn't bring fear, but to defeat her, you must find your life's DEAR?' What the hay is that supposed to mean?!'' Twilight placed her hoof on her forehead. This was usually what she did when she was thinking hard.

''Don't push yourself Twi. It will all make sense if we're all in on it,'' Applejack stated.

''Well... That's true. But... Equestria destroyed? By flame? I really get stressed out when I need to figure these things out to save our homes,'' Twilight said.

Rarity put her hoof on the purple pony's back.

''Now, Twilight, we'd always take our time to help you. I'm sure it'll all make sense when we stick together for the upcoming adventure,'' the pure white unicorn said. She levitated the teacup she dropped and said, ''Why don't we take a little break? It's almost sundown, and we haven't ate since this morning.''

Twilight smiled and helped her set the picnic foods.

Once the whole dinner was set up, Applejack frowned. She said, ''I swear, it feels like we're sitting in front of Shredder Boom herself.''

''It always happens at times like this. But I feel it too, like there's a spirit of flame or something right at our hooftips,'' Twilight replied.

''It's just stress about saving Equestria,'' Rarity commented. ''I think all of us might as well have it after meeting that 'Shredder Boom' an hour ago.''

''I agree,'' Rainbow Dash said. ''But why don't we eat WHILE we discuss it, so we don't go to sleep with an empty stomach?''

''I think we should,'' said Fluttershy.

''Me too!'' Pinkie Pie said. ''You know why? Because I have CUPCAKES for dessert!''

''Why did you bring cupcakes all the way here?'' Rainbow Dash asked.

''Because they go good with the marshmallows I brought!''

''Uh, we'll discuss that AFTER dinner. But we need to focus on the task at hand first. Help yourself, everypony!'' Twilight said.

After everypony was finished, they were full. Very full, but still had room for cupcakes and marshmallows of course.

''Anypony here know how to light a fire?'' Rainbow said.

''I do!'' Twilight said. Her horn glowed in the center of a pile of twigs, and a purple fire as big as AJ's hat appeared.

The ponies cheered. Pinkie shouted, ''CUPCAKES AND MARSHMALLOWS FOR EVERYBODY!''