//------------------------------// // Caught In The FIre // Story: The Pyromanecer // by The Pyromanecer //------------------------------// The sound of wheels grinding to a halt against train tracks echoed across the vast dusty valley of Apploosa. All the ponies proceeded to walk out of their respective cars as ponies walked pass one another. A lone red stallion covered in a tattered cloak jumped up from his slumber and peered out and glanced at all the ponies. His eyes darted from pony to pony seeing who was leaving and was entering. He estimated around 20 passengers on board rather than the previous 7. “Great,” He mumbled to himself in frustration “More passengers, just my luck.” If he wasn’t going to get caught before then he was now. “I thought this was the express train…” There was a click of door locks turning open. The crimson pegasus’ ears perked up as he heard the door start to crack open. He dived for the pile of luggage in amongst the shadows of the cart. The sound of metal clinked and collided with the floor and each other. The hiding stallion peeked through a makeshift eyehole in his pile of luggage. He saw gold and the well groomed white coat that shone in the light from the doorway. It was a mare. But it wasn’t just a mare. It was a Royal Guard. Hopefully just a recruit. So she would make the rookie mistake and not look around and inspect everything. The mare snorted and closed the door leaving a quivering stallion hiding in the junk of others. Not a really heroic way to be caught and sent to jail for. The stallion rose out from the pile and stretched his muscle’s in a dog like fashion cringing as he did so. He chuckled as he loosened up and walked over to a lone horned skull. As he picked it up he gazed into the eye sockets of the dragon skull with solemn eyes. “What am I going to do Cinder? I can’t keep this.” He said. The skull started to glow a soft purple as an echoed warm voice came out. “You could always dye your coat or speak in a different language and just stay from anywhere under Princess Celestia’s reign….it’s either that or risk being caught by the guards.” She said rolling her non-existent eyes. “Yeah, but you know me. It’s always living for the thrill, dancing into danger with fire in my hooves…literally.” He said while putting on Cinder’s glowing skull. It gave out an echoed sigh. “So how are you going to evade the guard’s this time, oh great Pyromanecer?” Cinder deadpanned. “Like always, with style and elegance…and sometimes fire. And love, you don’t have to call me by my show name.” He said as he stretched his wings out. “We could just fly away stealthily” She pointed out “You just want to suck the fun out of everything.” He murmured The train wheels again grinded against the tracks with a shrill shriek. Pyromanecer with caution approached the cart door and peered through its window. No-pony was coming out to the other cart’s door. It was the last cart and this was just a luggage cart after all. He opened it silently even though it wouldn’t matter over the sound of whistles, steam and engines. Pyromanecer flew onto the roof of the luggage cart and kept his body flat down onto the roof and peered above slightly to gaze over the ponies leaving the train. He then looked up to the stop in which they reached. Streets with houses lined along them and with ponies enjoying their days casually greeting all they met. This was definitely the place. Ponyville. One of the most cheery yet danger prone of all places he has been to. It wasn’t his favourite though. His favourite was the deserts Equestria. They were his type of landscapes. It was one of the only few he areas would walk in instead of flying. They were so fitting for him. So wild. So free. So…dangerous. “So my love,” He said gently prodding his mask, or skull depending on which side of the coin you’re on, with his hoof with it glowing in response “What first? Do we do our rounds of entertaining the ponies or do you want to sightsee and visit the Everfree?” The Everfree was Pyromanecer’s 2nd favourite hotspot. It was nice and peaceful…calm…soothing…gentle. Personality traits that he didn’t show too often in front of his audiences. But one that he wished some ponies would see. “How about…We perform…It’s always so fun when we perform. I like it when I get to see the fillies and colts smile…it’s the only heart-warming thing when I’m, well…dead.” She said getting a little bit deep. It is these same moments when Pyromanecer would change from a daring, dangerous pony to his calm and caring form. “Don’t worry my love, Maybe this time round there will be a bigger….crowd…oh no.” He said as he looked around noticing all of the “WANTED” posters with a depiction of Pyromanecer on every single one. “I was wondering when they would put those up.” “This is really bad. We can’t go anywhere. Not in the skies. Not on foot. There’s too much open area. We’d be caught before we even reach the town.” Cinder said sounding very stressed “Never mind that, Look!” He said as he pointed towards the nearest poster. “They got your skull wrong! That’s a cow skull! And my flank isn’t that big!” He said trying to lighten Cinder up earning a small giggle from her. Pyromanecer looked towards the front of the train and the steam billowing out from it. “I have an idea so crazy…It might just work.” He said flying off to the head of the train. “I hate it when you say that.” Cinder’s spirit said. * “See I told you this would work.” Pyromanecer said as he pushed a steam cloud in the air towards Ponyville. By the rate they were going though and by how much time it had taken, they had only reached three quarters to Ponyville. “I have to admit this is a pretty good plan…buuuut there may be one loop-hole in this ‘plan’” Cinder said with an invisible smirk. “Mmmmm? And what is that?” He said as he kept pushing slowly not to raise too much attention. “Well…Doesn’t Ponyville have its own weather team? And if you were caught you wouldn’t stand a chance against ANY Pegasus…Right?” She said. Pyromanecer instantly stopped pushing. “Yes?...” “And now would be a bad time to say that one is heading right for us?” “WHA-!?” Before Pyromanecer could finish what he was saying he was jumped on from above and hit right in the spine and or wings. And before he knew it he was sent plummeting towards the ground twitching in pain and his coat and mane waving in the roaring wind. And then there was a sudden clubbing pain. * Pyromanecer’s eyes started to open drearily as his head tried to process what just happened. But it only made the pain worsen. “E-Excuse me? Mister? A-Are you okay.” A very bubbly voice said. Wait a minute. He swore he’d heard that voice before. “Um are awake? Uh…Hello?” It was nagging at his mind. Pyromanecer pushed himself off the ground with pain in his mind and an echoing voice to rehear. Pyromanecer’s vision started to clear up as he saw what looked like to be a grey Pegasus staring at him. A mare with golden dandelion eyes. “Ditzy Doo? Burn me tooo ashes y-you got a re-ea-al k-kick.” “Oh no, oh no, oh no, I’ so sorry I thought you were just an ordinary cloud.” She said with sincerity in her voice. “Don’t worry…argh…I’m f-fine.” He assured. Pyromanecer tried to at least get onto his forelegs or hind legs but he was having as much difficulty as a newborn foal. Cinder was silent. She had to be. She couldn’t risk giving out herself. That and she was shy with ponies. Ditzy glanced left and right and tried to pick up Pyromanecer but he was much too large. Ditzy nudged Pyromanecer gently as he groggily looked up to her. “Can you walk…?” Pyromanecer endured the pain to fake himself standing. This wasn’t good for him. He needed rest and herbal remedies quick. Where is Zecora when you need her? He thought. “I’m fine…I just need some rest…” He said between gasps of air. “I-I could take you to the hospi-“ Ditzy started. “No!...I mean….No, that won’t…nnngh…be necessary, thank you. I’m fine.” He lied. He needed medical attention. Hopefully he didn’t have any broken, fractured or punctured body parts but the Universe loved proving him wrong, why would it stop now? “Ditzy…I need to ask of you a favour. Please…Don’t tell anyone I was here.” She nodded reassuringly and looked at Pyromanecer and noticed his limping and twitching. She bit her lip not wanting to imagine any of the pain. She brought up her signature bubbly smile. There was nothing better for Pyromanecer than seeing the smiles of ponies. “All I need is some rest…I’ll find a place in the Everfree. But don’t follow me in there, I’m fine really, I just need to find some herbs and I’ll be back up performing in no time.” His ear twitched as he heard the sound of wings beating. “Hey Derpy, was that the last of em’?” the high pitched, tomboyish voice called. There was no doubt about it. It was Rainbow Dash. If there was anything he feared more than Celestia was Rainbow Dash, The Element of Loyalty. Not only was she so fast but she was friends with the prodigy of the Princess, Twilight Sparkle. The bush was his only option to his in. He swiftly pounced into the bushes, unfortunately the one he had chosen had thorns in it. He tried to contain his screams and whimpered softly and cringed so much that a lone tear started to dwell up in his eye. “Yep!” She said without hesitation. It was a very relaxed tone as if she was just casually taking a break but she still had that trademark personality too. Pyromanecer wasn’t sure if it was good acting or just her normal self, even if she just bucked a stallion down to the ground. “Awesome!” She said as she zoomed off immediately. Ditzy waved with a grin and then looked around. “Okay, it’s clear.” Pyromanecer leaped out screaming in a hush tone with clenched teach. He then started walking around in circles picking off thorns, howling as he did so. Once he was clear of thorns he turned back to Ditzy, who wore a face than looked like she was holding back laughter like her life depended on it. He rolled his eyes. “Go on, laugh.” She did. With enthusiasm. Pyromanecer just sighed, both in relief and embarrassment. He looked up to see that he was only a few paces away from the nearest street. Ditzy’s laughter stopped. Pyromanecer whipped around to see her holding a piece of parchment. With him on it. “Wanted: The Pyromanecer, Charged for suspected murder, attempts of arson and…dark magic?” She had a quivering voice but it was faint. Pyromanecer took the sheet from her hooves slowly. She was frozen staring into his eyes. There was one thing he hated seeing in ponies’ eyes. Fear. Pyromanecer guessed that he shouldn’t wear a skull all the time, but if he did he wouldn’t be able to perform his pyro-kinesis. “I’m a street performer, Ditzy. Ask your daughter. She knows about me than almost anyone in this town.” He clicked his hooves together to summon a small flame from the magic of Cinder’s spirit. It was a very complicated yet rewarding procedure. It is said in some tribes that the Spirit of a dragon is able to interact with the realm of the living. But in Cinder’s case Pyromanecer had done the unspeakable and performed what ponies like Celestia would call, Dark Magic. Pyromanecer preferred the term Ancient Magic, which he used to bond Cinder’s spirit with an object, the closest thing he could find after Cinder died was her skull, he had to perform it fast or else he would have lost her forever. That’s why Pyromanecer was on the run. Running from the lies of Celestia. Pyromanecer had never committed a crime before Celestia had sensed what he had done. “Firebird. It all makes sense now. Dinky. She had a pony friend who would play with fire. She called him Firebird. I thought it was just her imaginary friend…But know I know. That was you wasn’t it?” She said with a worried expression as the flame in front of her burned bright, flickering in the reflection of her eyes. Pyromanecer put the Wanted Poster onto the flame. Instantly, the parchment burnt into embers. Pyromanecer leaned forward, the smell of ash in the air. “Yes.” He plainly said as he extended his wings. “Pyromanecer…” Ditzy said as she moved forward. “Is Dinky safe?” Pyromanecer’s heart sank when ponies asked him the question of safety. “No-one is ever safe, Ditzy,” He said as pulled off his mask and held it down near at chest level “But we always try to make it so.” He looked up at her and put mask on. “Farewell, Ditzy Doo.” He said as he walked off with a slight limp. The lonely grey Pegasus was left there staring with uncertainty. “Goodbye.” * Pyromanecer sat underneath an apple tree on Sweet Apple Acres that was far away from pony eyes. Pyromanecer wasn’t the one for thievery but living a life on the run doesn’t exactly get you paid. Sometimes pefromances would earn him some money, but it’s hard to get a job anywhere. Especially when you have the words “criminal” and “pyromaniac” written on your job application. “Well that could have gone better.” Cinder said with a deprived voice. “Maybe…Well at least I didn’t get sent to Celestia, right?” Pyromanecer admitted “Riiiight.” Cinder said with fake enthusiasm. “What’s with you? You always sounds so tired and depressed.” “Being dead does that to you.” Cinder hinting Pyromanecer for umpteenth time. Silence lingered in the air for a moment as all could be heard was the echoing of cowbells and the sound of rustling leaves in the whispering wind. “I don’t even remember how I died.” “Don’t you?” Pyromanecer exclaimed, visibly shocked. “No!” Cinder retorted back. “Well…Remember when we thought it was that good idea to take a short cut through the Everfree?...” * “Come on Cinder, they’re gaining on us!” Pyromanecer said as he galloped in between the trees trying to evade multiple Timberwolves. “Can we fly up yet!?” Yelled an amethyst purple dragon with a crimson belly, who was a pony length apart from Pyromanecer. “Not yet! The canopy is too thick!” He said with a growl. Pyromanecer glanced behind to see a pack of three wimberwolves. He turned around to look back at Cinder. “Can’t you just burn them!?” “I can’t line up a good shot.” She said as her tail almost got bit by a Timberwolf. She used the tip of her tail to whip back at it. The Timberwolf was pounded down into the ground as it tumbled into pieces. There were two left. “One down!” Cinder and Pyromanecer dodged and weaved through the trees. Then they saw it. A light shone through from above. It’s luminosity like a beacon of hope. “I see an opening in the canopy! We’re going to make it!” Pyromanecer said. They neared the canopy they were just about to touch its light. But then again. So was the timberwolf. Pyromanecer extended his wings as he took off in through the canopy of dark leaves and into the fresh, cold air. Pyromanecer flew up to the nearest cloud and breathed in heavily trying to circulate oxygen back into his lungs and blood. His adrenaline started to wear down as he chuckled. “WOO! That was amazing. Let’s not again…heh-heh…Cinder?” Pyromanecer’s eyes dilated as his blood turned cold. “Cinder!?” He looked do to the opening of the canopy. “Oh no…” He dashed down through and landed. No Timberwolves were to be seen. Just two pile of ash. “Cinder!? CINDER!” Pyromanecer cried looking around past the trees. “F-Firebug…” A broken voice called out weakly. Pyromanecer turned around slowly in horror. Laying there before him was a crimpled body of the dragoness he loved so dearly. He beautiful features scarred and mauled. Her chest, the most vulnerable part of a dragon, was ripped with claw marks and bite marks. Her scales glimmered crimson with blood. She was always beautiful to Pyromanecer. But her life was being snatched away from her before his very eyes. Pyromanecer fell to his chest and began hold Cinder in his hooves and wings. “C-Cinder…I…I-I’m so…s-sorry” He began as tears started to build up in his eyes. “F-ire….bug….I just wanted…to say that….” She started. “I love…you…” “Cinder?....No! Cinder you’re going to make…I swear on Faust’s name if you die on me…I’ll…I-I’ll….I’m so sorry Cinder I shouldn’t have left you….” “D-don’t…be…sorry.” She said as her claw touched Pyromanecer’s hoof. Her eyes started to closes as a light shone through the tears in her body. Soon her body was engulfed in a warm light and her body was tearing away in light particles drifting towards into a ball. Pyromanecer’s eyes widened when he saw it. He looked down at the body and saw an empty skeleton, the remains of a dragon’s death. Dragon bone never decays, never rots and never breaks. And then it came to him. An idea. Like most Pyromanecer’s ideas they were crazy and insane. “Forgive me Cinder.” He said as he pulled of her skull and began to chant ancient words long forgotten by the ponies of Equestria. The glowing soul shards turned purple as they moved towards the mask and coated it in a layer of clear purple glass. The glass pulsated with a magical aura, similar to the ones found on unicorn horns. The magical seal then melted into the mask as Pyromanecer finished his chanting. * “And here we are. You are a talking skull, somehow capable of granting the wearer magical fire abilities, and I am a madman who went against the strictest law made by the Royal Sisters.” Pyromanecer said as he gazed out onto the Sunset “Aren’t we the most colourful of couples?” Cinder mockingly said earning a chuckle from Pyromanecer. “You were going to say something else on that day….can you remember?” He said bringing Cinder’s skull to head height in front of him. “I think it was along the lines of ‘Don’t be an idiot’.” “Nasty little thing, aren’t you? I guess that’s why I love you.” He teased as he put her down beside him. “I try my best.” She said as she played along with Pyromanecer’s attitude. The Sun was beginning to set as the sky turned into a purple hue preparing for the oncoming night to take over. The hues of colours along with the smell of fresh wind racing past through pyromanecer made him feel so alive. He almost wished that he could just hold Cinder’s paw and watch the sun disappear. But there was work to be done. Pyromanecer picked Cinder’s skull up and put it on his face. It was just as weird doing it as it was thinking about it. He brushed the grass from his cape and coat and gazed down to see the ponies gather around Trixie’s stage. “Show time.”