Red Fire

“Thanks for helping me out so much” Fluttershy said, placing the last of the food on a table.

“No problem” Twilight sang, trotting around the dozen brazzers spaced out across the grounds. Her horn’s glow set them ablaze as she passed. Tea kettles hung rustically above each one. Bursts of disjointed music rolled through the air as Octavia tuned her instrument for the weather.

Rarity clapped and cleared her throat. “All right. We’re good out here. Let’s all go in, clean up and change. Luna and Celestia will be here in an hour, but guests should be showing up soon.”

Fluttershy’s main room had become her base of operation since getting the assignment.. Having done a fair amount of catering, Applejack drew up a diagram of where to put everything outside. Invoking a war room, the map still took up the dining table. Notes, receipts, and coffee cups holding it in place. Rounding out the strategic atmosphere: Twilight’s checklist sat on the writing desk nearby, and Pinky’s list of trusted party suppliers was pinned to the wall.

Rarity’s beachhead of femininity took over the other side of the room. Each outfit carefully laid out. Pinky examined her element before putting it on. “Do you really think we’ll need these?”

“I’d rather be on the safe side” Twilight responded “I’ve never seen Zecora so worked up, and when I wrote to Celestia she had the Elements sent to me straight away.”

“I guess it is serious then...” Fluttershy sighed.

“Come on Fluttershy.” Pinky cheered. “You’re the host. You have to set the mood for the party. Lets all get out there and have a great night!”

Mac found the suit a bit stiff. He had intended to be one of the first to show up, but it had taken longer than he thought to dress and he couldn’t exactly run in it either. It looked like most everypony was here already. Still on time though, the Sisters were not here yet. Walking amidst the garden party he searched for Dash. Coming around a corner, a conversation hushed and he noticed a couple of mares watch him from the corner of their eye. Walking past another group of ponies the same thing happened again. He started to feel a self conscious. Was something wrong? Stopping to look himself over. ‘Everything is how it’s supposed to be... I think.’ From behind a bush the flicker of a rainbow tail caught his eye. ‘There she is!”

Rainbow Dash and Rarity were talking when he rounded the hedge behind Dash. Rarity’s eyes went big and she stopped speaking mid sentence. “O’ my. Hello Big Mac” Rarity said in a flutter.

Dash turned around to see what had effected Rarity, only to find herself also taken aback. It had never occurred to her that the bad boy look could be pulled off in formal wear. The suit sat perfectly on Big Mac’s large muscled frame. Giving him an air of both civility and brutality. Refined, and a little dangerous. “Hey there handsome” She took a moment to examine the stallion. “Rarity, I think you outdid yourself.”

“Pinstripes, Never underestimate Pinstripes” She had just let the suit out to fit the doll. While having done the alteration with as much attention as she gave anything else, she had never imagined it would look so good on him. But, she intended to keep that to herself. Instead she made mental notes, as a new stallion’s-line flashed through her head.

The murmur of the party was stifled as trumpets filled the air with a chorus, announcing the arrival of the royal chariot, only to be redoubled as the onlookers cheered. Circling the grounds once to the fanfare, the chariot landed just outside the gate. Fluttershy had literally laid out the red carpet for them, leading from the gate to the seats of honor. A little raised pavilion with it’s own brazier and a good view of the event. The two guards stayed with the chariot as Fluttershy escorted Celestia and Luna to their seats.

Dash was impressed that Fluttershy handled their arrival so calmly. Even making small talk with them. ‘I guess after the incident with Philomena, she’s as desensitized about them as anypony can be.’

After the Sisters were settled, Octavia shifted the music to an energetic piece. Mac’s ears perked up when he recognized melody from the dance lessons he had endured as a colt. “Lets dance. Before the floor gets crowded.” He said eagerly. Taking a few steps towards the cleared area, and looking back for Dash to follow.

The invite caught her off guard. She hadn’t guessed Mac as much of a dancer. “Sure” Dash chirped. Stepping onto the dance space together, Mac raised up on his hind legs and presented his forelegs to her. When dash responded in kind he pulled her to him and said through a coy smile “Try to keep up with me.”

A witty retort pursed on her lips, but she did not have time to voice it. With a great long sweep he started to lead. She could follow his movements, but only with concentration. Her pegasus frame, many times lighter than that of an earth pony, would make it easy for him to perform some of the more difficult lifts and swings. He hoped she would use her athletic bent to make thing interesting.

“Up” was the only warning she got before being hefted and spun to the other side of him. “Good landing, now lets pick it up.” He said softly. The mischievous grin still on his face. He was pushing her buttons on purpose.

‘Now it’s a challenge!’ Dash was determined not to be outdone. Keeping her movements fluid she followed his lead, adding her own flourishes to the new elements he kept adding to the routine. The two became a whirl of color and motion, taking over a large part on the stone dance floor.

“My word, I never thought those two could dance like that.” Rarity said in wonder to Applejack as she walked up.

“Yep, Granny made him take dancing lessons when he was little. Even won some ribbons for it.”

The music changed again to a slow thoughtful melody. Mac pulled Dash in tight as he switched to a slow swagger of a dance. Still breathing hard, their foreheads pressed together as they sauntered across the stone floor. Dash’s jaw motioned to speak several times before gaining traction “Mac I...”

Weather her train of thought was derailed, or she had completed the sentence he would never know. Everypony there winced in unison as a deafening crash emanated form the nearby forest. Following the racket was a mass of wildlife fleeing the forest. Everypony stopped in their tracks to see what was happening. Though the animals passed through the garden with little actual upset, a dark presence loomed at the forest's edge. There was nothing to see. Yet nopony questioned that something dangerous was there.

Twilight took a high position and yelled above the din. “Quick girls. Line up. We’re ready. Lets make this quick.”

The ruckus had stopped their dance, but they were still holding each other. “Sorry, got called into work” Dash said giving Mac a quick kiss before flying to join the gathering Elements.

He watched her gather with the other girls. The chance to see them in action was too good to turn down. He knew getting too close be be dangerous, for her as well as himself. Distracting them or making the girls have to pull a plow, for fear of hurting bystanders, is the last thing he wanted. A large boulder looked far enough away not to be underhoof, and high enough to provide a view.

Twilight took the front, as the rest of the girls gathered behind her. This was starting to become a routine. They were ready for anything. Yet their nerve were tested when a line of trees was sundered to splinters and a huge creature stepped into the clearing. It walked upright, tall as a house, and had hulking limbs of untold strength.

Twilight realized that Celestia and Luna were just behind her. Having them in the group made her feel better. “What is that?” She asked calmly. Never taking her eyes off the threat.

“He is the antithesis of our mother. A spirit borne of the first-out-of-the-void. It is older than I, but younger than the Elements of Harmony. You have no name for it.”

Twilight nodded. She knew she had just learned something ponies were not normally privy to. Now was not the time to think about that though. The creature had brought its focused upon them and was charging. Gathering her resolve she weaved it into a primitive but powerful spell.

Mac was amazed. He stood starry eyed, watching them from the cover of the large bolder. A part of him chided himself for taking cover while girls faced something so dangerous. He knew in reality that they were much more capable in a fight that he was. Well, as a group anyway. The girls were as beautiful as they were powerful. Levitating into the air, the magical energy glowed softly around them. The beast was charging hard when they released a blinding ray of color at it.

Twilight watch in horror as the energy rolled off the beast like so much water. She thought it slowed him down a little, but not enough for them to avoid his attack. Flailing his arms he knocked the floating girls through the air, scattering them all directions.

Using magic to control her fall, Twilight landed near the Sisters who were using their magics to keep the others from landing too hard. They got a grip on everypony except Dash. She landed hard amongst the serving tables. Nurse Redheart ran to the tumbling rag doll with a first aid bag in grip. She had apparently readied herself for an emergency as soon as the chaos had started.

Twilight saw that the blast had taken a toll on the monster. It stood its ground a struck out in every direction, intermittently clawing at its own eyes. It was blinded, at least temporarily. Taking advantage of the creature’s blindness the Sisters and the Elements pulled back to check on their lifeless comrade.

The nightmare that he had woken up to so many times was replaying before his eyes. Mac shook his head violently, that always woke him from the dream. It didn’t work. The towering pile of muscle was still there. His sister was still crying. Mother heavy with foal laid lifeless in the mud. He screamed, but nothing came out; it never did. He smelled the fire. That meant Pa’ was about to kill the monster. That how the dream always went. He would be frozen in fear as his father battled the beast, then watch helplessly as he disappeared into ash. He shook his head again. ‘Why can’t I wake up?’ The beast threatened a lifeless form. ‘Where is Pa’? This is when he showed up.’ Mac willed himself to do something, like he always did in this dream, only this time he wasn’t frozen. He hesitated a moment to buck wildly at the air, to test his free will. Then he rushed at the monster. With every blow that he had never gotten to throw, he struck at the beast. With every scream he never got to voice he willed the monster to die.

They had just gathered when a new sound echoed through the clearing. Horrible cracking and powerful thuds shook the ground, and a heat like an open furnace scorched their backs. Gods and ponies alike turned with apprehension to see what was going on.

The creature was staggered to it’s knees, arms supporting it from falling over. An animated fire, a boiling inferno with many licking flames was attacking the monster. The smell of hot air and burnt flint filled their nostrils. The blows, though violent enough to stagger it, left no damage. The fire was another case. Everywhere it touched left a scorched pot mark.

Fear was in Luna’s eyes as she took a step away. “Eros! Sister, why is the fire of Eros here?”

Applejack shrieked “No, Big Mac!” Tears blinded and terror left her frozen in place.

Suddenly Twilight recognized Big Mac within the heart of the blaze. She leaped to go help her friend in the melee.

”NO CHILD!” boomed Celestia’s voice. The words rippled creation. Twilight's flesh arrested itself at the command. She knew she had just heard the voice of an elder god. Celestia had used no less power to stop her than was used to set the sun in motion.

With her normal caring tone Celestia told her “That fire would rend me to ash. You can not go near it. Only he can extinguish those flames. He must choose between rage and love.”

Twilight was at her wits end. All this, and now riddles? “What do you mean rage or love!”

Applejack spoke up in a steady focused voice. “Passion Twilight. That fire is Passion made physical. Rage makes it burn hotter, enough and it will burn him through. We have to make him snap out of it.” The last few words tested her resolve to calm herself.

Looking again, Twilight could see charred rags hanging from his forelegs. The tips of his mane were smoldering and patches of his coat were burnt off. If what they said was true, he was on the edge already.

The groups attention was snapped back to Rainbow Dash. She had flinched as a moan turned into a cough.

A foul smell filled Dash’s nose and pain racked her body. “Ahh, geez... where am I?” One eye was forcibly opened by a practiced hand. A blinding light filled her vision. The light hurt, but it was a familiar test. She knew she had just crashed, but her senses had yet to fully restore.

Nurse Redheart withdrew the smelling salts and pen-light as Dash winced away from her. “I’ve treated her for worse falls. I think she’ll be ok.”

The desperate sound of Applejack yelling out a plea to her brother raised Dash from her stupor with a startle. Setting up she could see the glowing fury, but her eyes were slow to focus. ‘what is that?’ The thought was answered quickly. The monster swung its great arm with murderous intent. Just as her vision cleared, Mac took the blow. A more casual attack had scattered six grown ponies across a field. Mac hardly took a step. The creature bellowed as a large part of his arm fell away as ash. Looking at her lover she saw the murder in his eyes redouble as the fire that enveloped him burn open a hole on his side.

It took all of them to stop Dash when she tried to bolt to Mac. As they drug her to the ground she screamed his name. The cry wrenched the hearts of everypony there.

A shrill sound pierced Mac’s consciousness. Looking to see if it was another threat, he saw a flourish of rainbow colors. It was Dash, she was moving, reaching for him, calling his name... He became aware of a second sound. His sisters voice “Remember father... snap out of it...” He shuddered as he realized what was happening. The dream faded, and the dream stayed. He wasn’t a colt protecting his family. He was a stallion venting half a lifetime's anger. Applejack was still crying, but Mother was nowhere around. She hadn’t been for twelve years. He could see the fire covering him; he could feel it burning away at him. It didn’t hurt, rather it was empowering. He inhaled the flames lapping around him and focused on the beast. Striking out, he left a trail of ash in his wake. He had a primordial element coursing through his veins. Even Celestia would cower at him right now. He took another swing that the beast, reveling in how the beast burned simple because he willed it to burn. A deaths head smile spread across his face; the creature suffered because he wanted it to suffer. Mac jolted, his own callous thoughts disgusted him. Still, the fire was exhilarating, intoxicating, it reminded him of his time with Rainbow. His eyes went wide as he froze in a moment of revelation. ‘This is how Pa’... If I let the fire take me, I’ll never see Rainbow again.’

With a blink the fire extinguished and Mac fell limp to the ground. “Go to him” Luna called out. Dash didn’t let her finish the sentence before she had crossed the field. The air roared and trembled as she shot across the field. She almost boomed despite the short distance. The monster was intending to exact revenge on the lifeless pony. Dash foiled his plan, dragging Mac a good distance away as she reached him.

The force of being drug across the ground roused Mac from his stupor. Opening his eyes he looked up to see Dash standing over him. He smiled when their eyes met. “I’ll be ok... your turn” Sleep called him more than he could resist and he went unconscious again. Yet somehow, even though the sleep, he knew dash was right there.

His breathing was strong, and the vein on his neck told her his heart was beating evenly. Dash looked to the wounded monster as it limped towards her. She stood straddling Mac like a mother protecting her foal. Her face held a look of determination that spoke of why you never backed an animal into a corner.

Rainbow Dash’s Element lit up, pulsing like a heartbeat. All the other Elements started to follow sympathetically. Dim at first, but quickly matching Loyalty’s rhythm and intensity. Twilight was caught off guard. Her’s had always been the Element to lead.

A heartbeat rang in their ears, but it was not their own. Feeling their Elements start to stir within them. The girls rushed to circle the monster, without a word they took position, by instinct.

Twilight felt something familiar going on between Dash and Mac. She reached out gently with her magic. An unimaginable amount of magic was being circulated between the two. She had seen this before, but where? ‘The wedding! When Cadence transferred love to my brother!’ She knew this was going to be a lot of extra power, in what way already the most powerful magic still performed in creation. ‘It’s going to take all I got to hold this together.’

She was glad she braced herself. As soon as the last Element had readied, Loyalty burst into streams of lightning. The bolts reached out to the other Elements, turning the pulsing gems into more lightning sources. It was all Twilight could do to shape the energy. Chains of white light shackled the monster. Arcs of elemental wind and fire jumped and danced from one girl to the next. Then reached out and licked at the creature, evaporating trails of flesh in their wake. In just a few seconds the only trace of the creature was the burn mark left where it had stood.

Convinced the creature was destroyed, Dash relaxed and all the elements faded to their inactive state. Looking down she saw a subtle smile on Mac's face, he was still alive. She was glad to see Celestia and Redheart running to her. The nurse started applying first aid, as Celestia used her magic. “He will be ok. Just take good care of him.” Celestia pronounced.

A sudden silence registered to them. Looking over to where the party had been, they realized that Octavia had just now stopped playing.

“You kept playing through all that?” Luna asked.

“Of course I did. It was my job”