The Flower that Survived the Fox's Flames
Everypony knows of the great kingdom of Equestria and it's ruler, Celestia, but the
esteemed Princess doesn't rule all of the lands inhabited by ponies. Far east of that familiar
nation is a mysterious country that is ruled by ponies said to have descended from a dragon:
Neigh Jing. Neigh Jing was created by four legendary creatures. The great blue dragon,
Azuros, created the plants and filled the world with magic. She is also thought to be the
mother of all dragons. Bito, a large shark, used his powers to create rivers, lakes, and keep
the ocean from flooding the fertile earth. Not everyone was satisfied with what had been
created. Myobu, a great white creature that is half fox and half wolf, created animals, fire, and
lightning. What happened next however, was something that the three couldn't have imagined.
Azuros had a daughter, Qili, who was part dragon and part pony, and showed great potential
in using magic; something that only few had been able to use. Qili visited the world that the
three had made. She saw the beautiful forests and tasted the succulent fruits. She rested by
the lakes and ran in the rivers. She even played with the many animals, but everything
seemed so.... empty. She then had the idea of making something that was more like herself.
Someone to play with; to spend time with; a friend. But why have just one friend when you can
have lots of friends? Using her powerful magic she made what we now know are the first
unicorns. The other three were curious as to what Qili had made. They weren't like Azuros'
plants. They could talk, they could move, and they could think. They weren't like the rivers and
streams that Bito had made. They had no set path and they never seemed to stop growing and
expanding. Neither were they like Myobu's animals. They were intelligent and they were
always learning, teaching, and creating. Soon, they built a magnificent empire, the foundation
for which became their magical origins.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
A young yellow unicorn hurried down one of the many busy streets of Neigh Jing. She
dodged street vendors filled with food, papers, souvenirs, and other items they wished to sell.
She stopped at one particular vendor, the owner instantly recognizing her.
“Spot! How great to see you! On your way to the academy I assume?” The old stallion
leaned forward in his chair to get a better look at the mare; his eyes were not as good as they
used to be.
“That's right Uncle Pack Rat, but this time I'm not filling out paperwork or applications!
This is my first day as a scroll keeper!” Spot was elated, and it showed through the large smile
on her face.
“Call me Packy, dear. Everyone else does. But that's great news! Being a scroll keeper
is a great responsibility, and a great honor. You sister also went to try out for that position as
well, yes?”
After hearing Packy's question, Spot's smile was quickly erased and replaced by a
frown, “She...well... she almost killed somepony yesterday during her test. She tried using a
spell that was too complicated for her. An extremely high level Myobu spell. But it went wrong
and started a fire that trapped a group of ponies. I was able to use Bito's Rain to put out the
fire in time, but... needless to say... they chose me over her, and banned her from entering the
academy grounds again. After words she yelled at me, and refused to speak to me again. I
think she blames me for what happened somehow. I don't know what to do about her.”
Packy shook his head, “I see. Well, Fire Petal has always been rash and headstrong.
She no doubt tried to do her best to surpass you and used magic that she wasn't ready
to use . When she failed and her younger sister had to correct her mistakes, it must
have really hurt her. Just give her some time.She'll cool off eventually.”
He finished speaking, leaned back, and noticed that their was a customer behind
Spot. He quickly addressed him, “I'm sorry, sir. I'll be right with you.” He turned to Spot,
“I'll speak with you later, dear. I have business to conduct.”
Spot's smile returned, “Of course Uncle! I'll come by after work, see ya!” She left her
uncle to deal with the customers and trotted off towards her destination: Four Pillars Academy,
the most prestigious academy in all of Neigh Jing, and located in the capital, Neigh Jing City.
She didn't get to go to that school though. Her family was poor, but her parents were able to
get enough money to send her and her sister to a decent school in the valley of Mount
Sleighbaek. After they graduated, the sisters moved to Neigh Jing City where they got jobs
teaching at magic elementary school. After a few years of trying they finally got a chance to
get into Four Pillars.
As she rounded another corner, Spot could start to see the academy. It's the biggest
building in all of Neigh Jing, dwarfed only by the Emperor's Palace. It was built in the
traditional Neigh Jing style with four large pillars representing Azuros, Bito, Myobu, and Qili,
which give the academy its name. Unlike some other pony civilizations, magic and the learning
of magic is one of the most important things in Neigh Jing. Most of the inhabitants were
unicorns and the citizens regarded their ancestors and their past with great respect. Spot
finally reached the main gate of the academy which was decorated with scenes from Neigh
Jing's rich history. There were all sorts of strange creatures, and famous unicorns adorning the
gate dressed in gold with a background of red. She passed through the opening between the
gates and arrived at the first statue, the statue of Qili, and recognized her sister, wearing a
cloak so that no one would notice her. Spot quickly ran up to her, hoping that no one else
would see her.
“Fire Petal? What are you doing here? If the guards or teachers see you, they will
arrest you! You need to leave.”
Spot's sister frowned, “I'm here to apologize Spot. I was irresponsible the other day,
and I want to make it up to you. Meet me at Myobu's shrine outside of the city after work. I
have a surprise for you.”
Spot couldn't believe her ears and hugged Fire Petal tightly, “Thank you sister! I didn't
want you to stay mad at me. I'll definitely be there!”
Fire Petal smiled, “Thank you, Spot. I'll meet you there. I would like to talk more, but I
have to leave before someone sees me.” She trotted away and eventually was lost in the
crowd.
Spot smiled and nodded. She watched her sister leave before turning and entering the
school.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
When Spot left the academy, she was literally jumping for joy. Her first day as scroll
keeper was great. She had met many great students, and made new friends with many of her
coworkers. And now, she was on her way to Myobu's shrine to meet her sister. Nothing could
bring her down today. The shrine was outside of the city in the surrounding forests. They were
known to hold many mystical animals, the most common of which is a strange bird with an
even stranger song. Those who follow its song normally find themselves lost in the
forest, much to the bird's delight. Other strange creatures include frogs that can read
minds, salamanders that can really burst into flames, and crickets that bring
good luck. The path she was about to take was heavily traveled and cleared of trees,
so she didn't need to worry about coming across anything like that. It started to get
dark when she neared the shrine, but the lack of light made what awaited her more
magnificent.
The shrine was empty of other patrons and decorated with hundreds of paper lanterns
in various colors that cast their light on the jade wolves and foxes that guarded the steps. The
jade shone through the dark and cast an eerily beautiful green light around it. The gold ,too,
shone in the light becoming more and less brilliant as the lanterns swayed in the breeze. At
the entrance of the shrine sat Fire Petal at an elegantly set table. Spot couldn't hold herself
back and raced up the steps to hug her sister.
Fire Petal struggled to get out of her clutches and finally managed to. She gasped for
air, and asked between breaths of air, “Do... you like... your surprise?”
Spot looked around, and smiled, “Of course I do! A feast set out here in the beauty of
nature? I think it's great!” She sat at the table across from her sister, and picked up a peach
from a bowl of fruit. “It's great to have you talking to me again.... eh?” A fireball brushed past
Spot's head, singeing part of her mane. She jumped away from the table and blurted, “What
was that for Fire Petal? I thought you weren't mad at me anymore?”
Fire Petal was covered in a fiery aura and magical energy emanated from her, “You
were supposed to die from that first spell, but it doesn't matter. I'll get rid of you soon.” Fire
Petal fired another blast of flame at her sister, who jumped out of the way of the flames.
Spot flipped the table over, spilling the food on the ground, and hid behind one of
the pillars, calling out from its safety, “Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to kill me?”
Fire Petal growled, “It's because you're always upstaging me! You're better than me at
everything! It makes me furious!” Fire Petal approached the pillar, the fire around her growing
hotter with each step. “I am the older sister! You're supposed to follow in MY hoovesteps! But
instead I have to settle for playing second fiddle to the second born. It's humiliating!” She
ignited the pillar Spot was hiding behind, scorching part of her coat.
Spot started running. She hopped over the fence and into the forest, hoping to lose her
sister.She ran and ran, but the heat kept rising. She knew her sister could flamewalk, a spell
that lets the user run faster and set the ground aflame with each step. It was only a matter of
time before she was caught. The only solution was to fight back. Spot stopped, turned around,
and closed her eyes. Her horn sparked with magic, and her body was enveloped in an orb of
water. Fire licked around her, but she was safe inside the bubble. However, everything around
her was burning and the forest was being destroyed. She focused all of her energy and the
orb of water exploded causing the flames around her to fizzle out. She opened her eyes to
see Fire Petal standing before her, a tall pillar of flame emanating from her body. “I won't lose
to you this time Spot. I will finally be better than you.”
“I still don't understand!” Spot cried while dodging another fireball, “You're my sister!”
Flame Petal flared, “You may see me as a sister, but I only see you as a stumbling
block, a nuisance, and an enemy! If these flames aren't enough to kill you, I'll have to use a
spell more powerful than anything you've ever seen!” With that, Flame Petal revealed a scroll
she had been carrying. It held the seal of Myobu, the patron of fire.
Spot was unable to cry, her tears being dried up by the intense heat of the flames,
but her voice was still shaky and hesitant, “Please sister! This isn't like you!”
Fire Petal shook her head, “This is who I am, Spot. You were just too arrogant to care
about your weaker sister. But now you are weaker than me.” She opened the scroll and a
surge of magical energy burst forth into the blazing mare's body. The fire around her body
grew hotter and hotter until it burned white. After what seemed like an eternity, the flames
surged from her body after Spot who could only sit and watch. She closed her eyes and turned
away waiting for the fire to consume her; but instead of heat, she could feel cold. Spot opened
her eyes to see a great white wolf blocking the flames from reaching her. The flames
eventually died down, and Fire Petal collapsed on the ground. Her body drained of all magic.
The white wolf padded over to her, sniffing the motionless, smoldering body. He shook his
head, and turned his attention to Spot.
“Hello, daughter of Qili. I rushed over as soon as I felt my shrine being destroyed, only
to find that two unicorns were fighting. Who was that one? To have used an ancient scroll so
recklessly is not normal for a citizen of Neigh Jing.” Spot heard his question, but couldn't
speak. All she could do is cry, and hold her sister in her hooves. The wolf watched, but did not
interrupt her. After Spot had started to dry her tears the wolf commented, “She will not die
young one. She may have used all of her magic, but given a few days, she will recover. Now I
will ask again. Who is that unicorn?”
Spot wiped her eyes and looked up at the wolf, “She is my sister, Fire Petal. She...
she... tried to kill me just now...”
The wolf looked shocked, “You must have made her very angry for her to do that.”
Spot looked back at her sister, “I didn't mean to. She said she was angry that I
was better than her at everything, but I still don't understand how she could be so mad at me.”
The wolf's ears perked, “Better than her? You mean to say that your magic surpasses
even the brilliant, though admittedly suicidal, display of magic I just witnessed?” Spot nodded,
and the wolf smiled, “How would you like to come with me? I have need of a unicorn with
magic like yours.”
Spot was amazed. A creature of his greatness needed her? She was about to accept
when she remembered her sister, “What about her? I need to get her some help.”
The wolf was quick to answer, “The shrine officials will be on their way. They'll be able
to take care of her.” He lowered his body for her to climb on her back. She hesitated, then
climbed up.
“As long as you say so. Thank you, Myobu.”
The wolf launched into the air with a smirk on his face, “Right. Myobu.”