Dousing the Flames (Private) [Dead]

[Tartan Lassie]

“No, no! Not like that! Sweet Celestia, do you want to burn your mane off!?”


    Just outside the large Town Hall of Ponyville, a slim blue mare was hurriedly removing a flaming baton from the hooves of a teenage foal. The white-coated colt had carelessly been using his magic to swing it around. Witch Hazel carefully doused the baton in a nearby bucket of water. It sizzled and steamed for a minute before settling back down. Turning back to the young pony, the mare struggled to put on a strict expression. “Now listen. I’ve told you a thousand times before, Trip. This is a hooved skill. You need to train yourself out of using your magic.”


    Witch Hazel wasn’t much older than Trip but when it came to circus skills, she outranked him in experience. “Sorry, Witch Hazel.” He murmured.

“It’s alright. I’m sure it must be hard for a unicorn.” She said, nodding sagely. Being an Earth Pony, she’d never had the problem. “But remember, safety is the most important thing when it comes to circus arts, especially when concerned with fire!” She grinned at him. “Don’t worry. It’ll come with time.” She picked up another baton from an empty bucket and balanced it carefully on one hoof.


    Raising her eyebrows at Trip in a questioning manner, she asked “Are you ready to try again?” When the young stallion nodded, Witch Hazel passed it to him slowly. “From the beginning.” She commanded. Both ponies were in full costume, Witch Hazel in her green and gold saddle and headdress, her tail bandaged, as always. Their circus was on the edge of town but “Flyte” wasn’t making an appearance that night so she’d taken the day off to train Trip in flaming baton usage. The town square was remarkable quiet, most ponies at work or school somewhere else.


    Trip completed the first phase of the act correctly. Witch Hazel reared up and cheered for him. “Hooray! Great job. Now-“ Witch Hazel broke off at the crash and whoosh behind her. She had accidentally kicked the bucket of water over with her back hoof. To her horror, the sound of the crash had thrown Trip off his concentration and he dropped the burning the twirling baton into a nearby bush. Leaping into action, Witch Hazel snatched up the bucket and sprang towards the fire. Realising it was empty, she threw it to frozen Trip. “Run and fetch some water!” When the stallion caught the bucket but still didn’t move, Witch Hazel advanced on him a little. “Now, Trip!” The stallion cantered off and Flyte began to beat the fire with her hooves. They were quite tough, from her days of running with the buffalo herd and the fire was quite small and she couldn’t contain it all herself. Cursing herself for sending Trip away, she glanced desperately around the deserted streets, looking for help.


    Finally, she spotted a green-maned mare emerging from a side street. She called over to her. “Quick! Over here, I need your help to put out this fire!” She waved, hoping the pony would assist.

[~Silly CC~]

Bubbly Beaker had just been dropping off a carton of hoof-made potions to Riddle Bits, a mare barely older than her with a shop busting with business. She was bright and chipper, ready for a new day, but maybe not as ready as she thought.

The flames had burst up in front of her, like a foal's monster from underneath the bed, and she had frozen temporarily before dashing as far away as she could without losing the sight of the purple mare. She heard the shout for help, and Bubbles looked from the fire, to her, to the fire again; she seemed to be asking "Are you crazy?!?" with her eyes! as they frantically darted between the two things.

She wanted to help—she really did—the poor mare, but all she could do was stutter an explanation to the mare. I uh, well—I just—um; don't really...eh...fire... her silky white face turned volcano red, and her ears flattened in embarrassment. She sheepishly grinned, and backed up a few inches on her hooves.

Bubbles looked again at the flames, and gulped. Those flickering lips, licking their stinging chops, wanting to bring her in and burn her to a crisp. Even when the bush was the only thing being eaten by the flames, the poor mare was still covered in a fillyhood fright. She again gulped, frantically watching the purple mare bat her hooves at the fire. It was not a joy to watch; not at all.

[Tartan Lassie]

    The flames sizzled around Flyte’s hooves and she reared up and away from the flames, not wanting to burn herself. The white mare had approached her, but had backed away, switching her gaze rapidly between the fire and Flyte herself. Flyte could clearly see the fear in the unicorn’s eyes. She recognised the symptoms as something often seen in young trapeze-ponies-in-training. It had even happened to Trip just a short while ago when faced with the fire. Controlled by fear.


    Flyte understood fear and she knew it was something that had to be treated delicately. But at that moment, she was stressed out from a day of teaching that seemed to be ending with a potentially very dangerous accident and her temper had just flared up when her hooves had been singed by the flickering flames. So she was a little irrational. What is this silly mare doing? Can’t she see that I need help here! Flyte made a decidedly unmarelike noise and glared at the other pony.


    Finally in a flash of turquoise and white, Trip reappeared, bucket swing between his teeth. She snatched it off him and poured the water on the little push. The fire was doused instantly, but Flyte kept smacking the earth a little longer, her tail lashing furiously. When she finally stopped, she breathed a long slow breath. Then, she turned back to Trip, gesturing to the bucket of batons. “I think that’s enough for now, hmm?” She gave him a little nudge. “Head back to the Big Top. I’ll meet you later.”


    As Trip disappeared off down the street, Flyte turned to the mare, vaguely registering her interesting cutie mark. “What were you doing!? Why didn’t you help me!?” She yelped. She advanced on the unicorn, wanting to take out her annoyance on someone. As she approached, she slowly let off steam and it began to dawn on her that she was being ridiculous. Everypony has fears after all. Flyte was taller than the green-maned mare and she suddenly felt foolish for squaring up to her like she had. Taking a step back, she rubbed her right forelge with her left. “Sorry. I’m sorry.” She spoke more quietly this time. “The fire was my fault, I shouldn’t have shouted at you.” She gave a nervous smile, hoping the mare would understand.

[~Silly CC~]

Bubbles drooped her ears and bit her lip as the earth pony advanced on her, the white unicorn lowered herself more and more onto her haunches, scooting backwards with each front hoof's push. As the mare calmed down, she straightened up, not matching height and rather being below it, and she too took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. The mare just seemed to have been in a situation of great disaster, it was no big deal that she needed to expel steam. The white unicorn gave a quick nod and a small smile as the mare apologized. You're fine, I should've done something to help. It's just... She shivered at the thought of the fire. It expanded in her mind like a forest fire upon dry trees and grass, scaring her into oblivion and frozen stature.

She then shook her head, her choppy locks flipping around her cheeks and glasses, and then she exhaled deeply again. Yechh, it's just...I'm really mortified of fire. It makes me freeze up and I can't say anything intelligible. It's thanks to a little accident with fire a few weeks ago, and now I have this: Bubbles swooshed her short, choppy tail back and forth a few times before looking back to the indigo earth pony. She examined the mare a bit, looking at the frizzy light-to-dark purple mane and blueish coat of this mare, curious as to why she seemed so familiar. Perhaps it had been...? No, she was just being silly.

Hold on... she said, scrutinizing the mare again, then her eyes widening, causing her thick glasses to drop off her nose in surprise. Picking them back up with her bright blue magic, she grinned widely with eagerness. I knew I recognized you! Yup yup, you're from that traveling circus I saw a few years ago. Hah, still had a full tail back then... she looked back and swooshed it again, sheepishly grinning a little at the memories of her tail-loss.

Thing is, I kinda like it... she said, lost in thought for a second. She shook her head again, her glasses sliding down her nose, and then her face went blank. Right, the fire. Again, I'm sorry I didn't help. I was just so...yeah...