“—making her way to bed. The End. Tune in next week, for ‘The Fire II: Wildfire‘.” The audio from the TV is grainy, as if the VHS tape had degraded.

“Oh, thank Sol!” moans Discord. “That was excruciating. Please let’s just skip to Firestorm.”

Fluttershy looks shocked. “I thought it was wonderful! I loved Masquerade, she reminded me—"

“But it’s sooo boring. I wouldn’t have suggested we watch it if I thought you’d want all the—” He gags. “—backstory.”

Fluttershy turns to her sofa-companion earnestly. “But how can anyone get invested in an adventure if they don’t see them get to enjoy a nice day out first?”

Mismatched yellow eyes narrow. “Look, my dear, if you let me skip this dross, I promise I’ll clean up when we watch ‘Happy Pony Tree Friends’ at yours next week. Deal?”

Fluttershy considers, one hoof to her muzzle. As she does so, unnoticed, a clawed talon detaches and wriggles over to her other hoof, which it shakes vigorously.

“Then it’s settled!” Discord jumps up and, with a click of a paw, a VHS appears on Fluttershy’s lap whose cover displays a scarred, broken-horned unicorn grimacing at a tearful Fizzy. Flames engulf them both, kept at bay by a protective bubble.

‘THE FIRE III: FIRESTORM’

But the pegasus shakes her head, shooing away the detached limb.

“Ugh! Fine…” Discord turns to you. “Just so you know, by ‘cleaning up’, I mean stopping the smoozinator engulfing Equestria.

“Oh, don’t talk to them — you know they don’t like it, and I know perfectly well what you mean, thank you very much.”

With a grumble, Discord restores his detached claw.

Fluttershy gives him a meaningful look, pointing a hoof towards the VHS waiting patiently on the TV stand.

‘THE FIRE II: WILDFIRE’

Not done yet, he bulges his eyes and pouts his toothy pony-face, whose yellow pupils glisten pathetically.

“But it’ll be so bo’wing that it will make poow ole’ me all saddy waddy.”

Her eyes moisten.

“Aw… there, there,” she coos, reaching across to pet him. “I know you find it hard to sit still through the long parts.”

Discord sucks a pawed thumb.

She perseveres. “Part II is an adventure! Firefly and Medley and everypony against an evil, magical fire-monster!”

She frowns as he continues sucking and decides to change tack.

“But I believe you are a big boy—” In a flash, he is toddler sized. ”—err, grown-up draconnequus. That’s why we’re friends, because I am a grown mare and I know you can be one too.”

Eris, Discord’s female form, grins back at her, smiling slily.

“You know what I mean.”

With a sigh, he concedes defeat, returning to normal.

“You’re no fun.”

“Au contraire, Mister — by taking you on, I’m the only fun you have.”

“Touché, Pinkieshy.”

She picks up the VHS tape on the TV stand. On its cover, Firefly and Medley hold hooves next to an extinguished campfire. An empty bucket sits next to the feisty pegasus, who grins at it triumphantly, while Medley is turned to the burning forest behind her, blue eyes wide.

“Those two look so nice. I just know they’ve got so many tales to tell.”

“Yes, aren’t they just awful! I’m glad she d—”

“Discord! No spoilers.”

“—develops her character.” He gives you a wink. “Anyway,” he says, turning back to Fluttershy, “you’ve already seen it twice.”

“No, I mean for them.” She points to you.

“Oh, right. Can I at least tell them about Tempest Shadow?”

“Discord… she's in Firestorm. That’s Part Three!”

“Spoilerific job, my dear.” He winks and she blushes.

The grey head swivels round, eyeing you. “No more spoilers — just a riddle.”

“If you must. But only a little one — they have enough to read as it is.”

***

How to make a fire?

Secondly, dances the fuel a jig,

Lastly, pursues the stygian heat,

'Feed,' calls mother to the air.

Author's Note

Coming 2025!