Red Fire

Rainbow Dash had went to bed early, but was a long time falling asleep. The bed was cold and lonely. Thoughts kept returning to the big red pony that had become her new lover. She was second guessing herself and she hated it. Now the alarm was going off, and the Sun had not yet risen. Her first inclination was to pitch the alarm out the window onto the earth far below. “I need a shower.” She groaned out loud to herself.

The shower, mostly had the effect she was looking for. She was awake now. But the previous day still played through her mind. There was a hard day’s flying ahead of her. Not to mention more paperwork than she would care to see in a year, let alone in a day. Throwing a saddlebag full of documents on her back she left her house and flew off to take care of the morning weather before heading to towards Cloudsdale. ‘I just need to fly for a bit’ she assured herself. ‘Everything makes more sense with air under your wings.’

It had turned cold overnight. The wind was numbing. Her lungs ached to breath it in. On the ground it was still dark. But above the clouds, dawn was just breaking. Tall heavy clouds had rolled in over night. At her altitude the cold air was fantastically clear. She could see for a hundred miles in any direction. The sideways light of the dawning sun highlighted the towering clouds. Making a dream-scape she could have spent hours playing in. ‘I don’t have time to clear all this out.’ She thought to herself. Deciding to save time and take a little poetic license with the day’s weather, she spread the thick clouds into an even overcast and set them to raining. ‘They’ll deplete themselves by lunch. It’ll be a cold wet morning. Then when everypony goes to lunch, the sky will be clear and blue! It’s a good tease for spring.’

With the weather out of the way, it was off to cloudsdale to register her team with the weather factory. Next to Canterlot to file the spring weather plan with the Court. Then back to cloudsdale to submit any royal addendum to the factory. Finally to ponyville to hand the complete dossier to the mayor. It was a whirlwind day, but she prided herself on getting it all done in 10 hours. The mayor asked her to drop off one last thing to Twilight. Which was convenient enough, since that’s where she needed to go anyway.

Just has planned the afternoon was sunny and tepidly warm. She decided to walk the short distance and give her wings a much needed rest. Besides it was great walking weather. Doors and windows were open, everypony letting in the fresh air. Twilight’s library was no exception. As she approached, Twilight was tending to something on the other side of the open doorway.

“Hay Twilight” Dash yelled out

Twilight looked up with a smile “I didn’t expect to see you too today. Did you get everything done for winter wrap up like you planned?”

“Yep, last leg is to give you this.” Dash gestured with her head to the saddlebag she was wearing.

“Great! Come on inside, I just put on some tea.” Twilight left her task by the door, and went out of sight.

Following her, Dash stepped into the library. “I also need you to cast that no-foal spell on me again.” she said loud enough to be sure Twilight heard her, not quite sure where she had went off to.

An unexpected and familiar voice returned “Twilight, you never told me you can cast that. Save me the trouble and cast it on me too” It was Rarity.

Dash realized that the whole group was sitting around a small table looking over papers and enjoying an afternoon tea. She froze for a moment in embarrassment, but caught herself and played it off as a casual thing to ask for. “Yea, I asked her cast it on me last year when I was seeing that one pegasus. What are you girls up to?”

“We’re makn’ sure Twilight has everything she needs for the schedule.” Applejack replied. She paused for a moment and flashed a wicked smile. “Now you know Dash. Big Mac wants a family. Two or three foals running around the farm. Keep that in mind before you go getn’ used to that spell.”

Every jaw in the room dropped as the groups gaze traced from Applejack to Dash. There was a moment of quiet, then total cacophony as Twilight, Pinky, Rarity, and Fluttershy all performed their own freakout, congratulations, then followed quickly with a flurry of questions.

Applejack snickered at the commotion before coming to poor Dash’s rescue. “Alright girls. Leave her alone. You can pick her brain about it later one on one. I think you’re scaring her all ganged up like that.”

The group quieted as Twilight spoke up. “She’s right. Give a pony her space. She’ll tell us what she wants. Now let me go get that book with the no-foal spell in it. Everypony that want in, line up nose to tail. I have to touch your side.” It took awhile, but she found the book she was looking for “Foaling and Magic”. Levitating it in front of her she quickly found the spell. “I’ll cast it on myself first just so I can be sure I do it properly.” Looking over top the book, she realized that all five of them had lined up. “Well I guess we all have our personal lives”

Pinke grinned and nodded. While Fluttershy mumbled something at the floor.

An azure sphere formed at the tip of Twilight’s horn. Bending her neck around she touched her own flank and stopped the spell. Meditating for a moment she announced “Yep, that’s correct” Her horn once again lit up and she carefully touched each of the girls on their flank. “There, you’re all good for ten months.”

The informal line broke up as they returned to the makeshift workspace. Dash delivered her papers to Twilight, and the group began up mull over the task ahead.

The group finished up their business, and the conversations turned casual. Fluttershy had somehow been assigned “homework” a few weeks ago by Celestia. She was to host a per-spring garden party. Celestia and Luna were both going to be there. She was typically nervous about the ordeal. But, she had most of the details already firm in her mind. She wasn’t going to have to play hostess, so much has spruce up her grounds and have warm drinks and cold food. Fluttershy had even got Octavia to play for the evening. All the girls were excited about the event, it was just 2 days away now.

The afternoon turned into evening and Applejack realized the sky was starting to darken. “Well, I best be going. About supper time.” She announced “Dash do me a favor a rustle up Big Mac on your way.”

“Sure thing” Dash chirped back. “I’ll see you girls later. Thanks for the snack earlier Twilight!”

The two took their leave of the group at the same time. Closing the door as they left. Dash looked at Applejack “So we’re cool, right?”

Applejack hugged her friend. “I told ya I an’t mad... Just a little nervous”

Dash perked up “Good!” her smile faded into a look of deep thought. “Two or three foals? Really?”

Applejack nodded her head as she spoke. “O yea. He would be happy with a whole slew of little ones.”

Dash laughed and shook her head. “I have some good racing years ahead of me before I turn into a brood mare! But a family? I.. think that would be nice.” She paused in disbelief of what she had just said. “One day. Maybe. Anyway, I’ll catch up with you at the house. I’m going to go hunt down Mac.”

Dash flared her wings and leaped into the air. Her powerful flaps quickly carried her out of sight. Applejack watched her fade into the distance and started her trek home.

The day’s light was starting to fade and the air was taking a chill. Twilight shut the windows as Spike took to lighting a fire for the night. The others were cleaning up and gathering their things. Suddenly the door flung open with a bang. It was Zecora, she was winded and visibly shaken.

“I fear an ancient evil again stalks the night! Twilight, greater than your magic’s might. You bend the ear to gods, of day and night. If the whispers of the spirits be true. This may be the end of me and you. Now it is I that besiege you at your place. To ask you for your wisdom's grace.”