In two days the kirin new year would start and with that the party I had planned with Golden. I was quite excited for it. The last “party” I threw was the one on Ruishou day. And that party had ended when nopony had shown up and I had burned down my kitchen in anger… But this time I knew it would end differently. I trusted when Golden said she would show up. Even if it would just be the two of us, would have a great time celebrating.

But like I said, that would be in two days and for today I wanted to start with the preparations. And that included the shopping. From work I was able to buy some red fabric that I would use later to make some decorations. But I also needed food.

As I walked through the streets on my way to the next store, I floated the shopping list in front of me to double check if I had everything written down.

… ginger, sesame seeds and pemelos citrus fruits… if they have that.

“Why do you talk so negatively about him?”

My ears perked up.

Was that Golden’s voice? I thought.

But In reality, I knew that it was her. I would always recognise her voice. It just surprised me that she sounded so… offended? Angry? She also sounded close.

I peeked around the next corner and indeed, there she stood. Right in front of the shop where I wanted to buy my groceries, talking with another mare, who I didn’t know. The mare was a unicorn, a bit smaller in size and had wine-red fur with a short brown, orange mane.

“It’s not talking negatively about him. It’s just sharing the facts. You seem to spend a lot of time with him, and I want to make sure that you know about something like this”, the mare said to Golden.

The two hadn’t seen me yet. I swiftly ducked back behind the corner. I knew that it was impolite to eavesdrop, but it sounded like they were talking about me…

“You aren't sharing facts right now. You're spreading gossip”, I heard Golden say.

“But everypony else in Maren says that”, the mare defended.

“That doesn’t make it true. Facts are when there is proof that backs up your words.”

I took a quick peek around the corner again. Golden wasn’t raising her voice much. But I knew her well enough to notice the tension in her words.

“But it also doesn’t say that it is wrong. As far as I know, it was Light Blue who was talking about it. He is Spring’s other neighbour. Meaning if you live on the left, Light lives on the right. He saw fire coming out of the kitchen on the day spring had his party. And in his words, it wasn't normal flames. Instead, the were unnaturally blue and red”, the mare explained.

So they were talking about me. And the fire I had caused during the Ruishou party…

“But they firefighters also said that it was strange”, the unicorn continued. “When this kirin came out of the burning house there wasn't a single scratch on him. No bruises, no burned fur and no smoke inhalation. Nopony knows what exactly happened on that day and sure, there isn't any proof or facts, but I still think that when there are so many ponies agreeing on something, then it is worth it to be at least a little bit careful about it. Especially you, Golden, somepony who is so close to Spring and is now heading to one of his parties.”

So, that is what it was all about. I had already known that my kitchen accident was known all over Maren. (It had enough onlookers after all.) But now I knew that they sensed something strange. And of course, they assumed that I had something to do with it. And like they were, they started to gossip about something they assumed. And this time, they were actually right… And now Golden knew about it too. My best and only friend now knew how dangerous I was…

“All of you just assumed you know what happened. Spring has been nothing but friendly and kind the whole time I've known him. Like you said, nopony knows what happened. But also, nopony has actually cared enough to ask him what happened. Your rumours have such a hold on you that you have started to believe them. And now you just have a prejudice towards him without even knowing the real him. Without even knowing the details or the truth.”

Even though her voice didn't carry too much emotion, it still made my heart light up with hope. At least a little bit. Deep inside I still felt the fear i had. I peeked around the corner again and saw that Golden had walked away from the mare now. Leaving her standing there without saying another word.

I took this as a personal sign to go also. I didn’t have my groceries but I could get them tomorrow. I wasn’t in the mood or condition for anything else.

“Thank you for taking me on such short. I felt a little stressed and really could use some calming tea of yours”, Golden said after taking the first sip of her tea.

I just gave a nod and also took a taste of the brew. It was later the same day and the talk between Golden and the mare still were weighed heavily on me.

How much was Golden affected by the words? Did she truly not believe them? I worried.

“Are you alright? You seem a bit distracted.”

Golden’s word ripped me out of my thoughts. Of course, she knew that something was bothering me. She knew me too well after all.

“Oh yes… I’m just… thinking about something.”

Golden looked at me and I knew that she knew. I was not not telling her everything.

“You know, you can talk with me about it”, she offered.

“It’s alright”, I just said.

I knew I still had to tell her the truth sooner or later. That kirins can turn into a nirik. That I could turn into a creature of rage and pure fire that is able to burn houses down. But how could I? What would she think of me afterwards?

Maybe it is just better if I pretend this never happened. Forgetting the fact that I saw Golden and that Mare literally talking about the fire I caused. Maybe then I can also hide the fact that I am…

“Another question. Why does your kitchen look so much newer than the rest of your house? It seems to me like this whole room once had a whole renovation.”

I nearly dropped my cup. I looked at Golden and she looked at me, waiting for my answer. I broke under her gaze and stood up. There were still some dirty dishes on the kitchen counter that had to be cleaned. It also allowed me to turn my back towards Golden. Too heavy were her look and my emotions right now.

“Oh, there was a fire once. A little accident. They had to renovate the kitchen afterwards”, I admitted. Again, hiding the truth.

But Golden didn’t let herself fooled. Never EVER have I left the table in the middle of a tea ceremony. This was a no go. And even though I had never told her that, she knew it…

“And how did this fire happen?”, she asked directly.

And that was the straw that broke me. It had no use to hide it anymore. I turned around and looked her with teary eyes.

“I did it! I turned into a nirik and burned all the kitchen down because of anger and hate!”, I yelled.

“You turned into a nirik?”, Golden asked a bit confused.

“Yes! The creatures of fire and emotions I told you about. There actually are no niriks. Or better, all kirins are also niriks. We turn into them when we get angry, offended or stressed! We burst into flame, able to burn everything and everypony! Yes, what the mare said to you today is all true!”

I could smell how I started to smoke. I felt cornered. Cornered by the truth, my own emotions and the fear of losing Golden. My best friend and secret crush. My light of fire in the darkness.

I could barely hold back my tears anymore. Which only made me more stressed.

“What do you mean?”, Golden asked with a surprisingly calm voice.

“I saw you talking today in front of the grocery shop”, I admitted. “I didn’t want to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help myself. Yes, the rumours are true! I started the fire after I hosted the Ruishou party and nopony showed up! I felt angry, alone, sad and that all came up in me. I was filled with rage and my blue and red flames burned the entire kitchen!”

I could feel the first flames tingle around my mane as more tears came out of my eyes. Regardless, Golden stood up and took some careful steps towards me.

“And why didn’t you tell me?”, she wanted to know.

“Because I didn’t want you to be scared of me. That I could burn you in rage. You are everything I have here in Maren. I didn’t want to lose you because you saw me as something dangerous.”

Golden paused briefly before she said: “Do you remember when I told you that you should be loyal to yourself and not let your surroundings change who you really are?”

I gave a nod, unsure where she was going with this.

“Do you see yourself as something that would burn me?”, Golden asked.

…

“I… I don’t know”, I honestly said.

“Well, I do know. You know the danger of your flames, but you would never try to hurt somepony with it. More of the opposite. Just look at yourself right now”, Golden ordered.

I did as she told me. Even though my sight was blurred from the tears in my eyes I still could see how the first flames were dancing on my mane. But I also found myself cowered deep in the corner of the kitchen. Huddled like a scared animal and as far away from Golden as possible. I didn’t even notice that I had ended up there...

“I know that you wouldn’t hurt me. You would do everything in your power to prevent it”, Golden said and took a few more steps towards me. "You don’t scare me, Spring."

And with that I felt my stress vanish. I felt the nirik inside me fully disappear and with that my flames. I fully started to cry now, unable to tell why now. Most likely because of relief, exaustion and joy.

Golden closed the last small gap between us and wrapped me in a hug.

Author's Note

Yes, I know, this whole scenario could have led into a way more interesting drama that could have expanded over multiple chapters. But I don’t want to write the story too long and it already felt like the bond between Spring and Golden were so strong that she wouldn’t leave him for something silly like that.
Anyways, feel free to write a comment what you think.