//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: First Impressions // Story: Smoldering It Over // by Turtlehaus //------------------------------// For a moment I stood on the riverbank, my gaze settling upon Ponyville just on the horizon. I felt my heart pounding, the gnawing sensation that I should turn back, but the thought of disappointing my ponies kept me focused. Swallowing what was left of my fear, I reared back, digging my hooves deep into the riverbank; gauging my jump across the river. Stamping the ground a few times, backing up to give myself room for error, and quickly decided to back up even more; providing myself a running start. The earth seemed to spin under me kicking off the riverbank. My hooves striking deep into the sand. I approached the edge of the river, taking this leap of faith knowing that there was no turning back, that there was no room for failure on my part, and that I was risking everything and every pony I cared for. In order to save my family, our Kingdom, and our ponies, I would have to steal the Elements of Harmony. I overestimated my jump. I cleared the river with ground to spare. The other side of the riverbank housed millions of different sized pebbles. My landing was less than perfect and far more painful than I had hoped. I found myself face down in a pile of rocks. Through the stinging pain I managed to wipe away the pebbles in bedded in my face. Clapping my hooves together to shake loose some wedged rocks, I glanced over at the river to see my reflection. I approached the edge of the river, seeing my reflection a bit better. I was a Flame Pony. It is what the ponies of Equestria had named us many years ago; it was pretty accurate. It had become rare to hear or see Flame Ponies for last three decades, every pony knew that we kept to ourselves, that our lands were nothing more than volcanic ash and glass, but it was indeed rare to see a Flame Pony beyond its own borders; especially since our banishment. It was most certainly going to be surprising to see a Flame Pony in Ponyville. Checking the sides of my face in the reflection of the water, one could say I was a shade between black and grey. My mane, my hooves, and even my tail flickered like a torch. My eyes were grey like ash, but such features were common among Flame Ponies. I smiled at my own reflection, practicing how I was going to present myself to any pony I came across; hoping that my flames would not be the only thing they concerned themselves with. As I continued to check my face for blemishes and remaining pebbles, a passing fish thought it good fun to leap from the water and splash down in front of me. I instinctively recoiled, backing away from the river’s edge. Even the smallest amounts of water would sting a great deal to a Flame Pony. If we were to be bathed in it, it would not only be unbelievably painful, but it would certainly be the end of any Flame Pony. I thought it best to leave the river, my complexion was clear enough to make a strong first impression, but I still feared that my flames would be all any pony would care to look at. I stepped up from the edge of the river bank, the grassy fields stretched on for a ways, but no clear dirt path was in sight. I marveled at the color of the grass, admiring the wild flowers that spotted the land. It was a breath taking sight to see. Having grown up in a world of grey, the ash ridden fields I called my home, the Ashen Fields were void of any color: black and grey with our flames was all we knew. I lifted my hoof to my face, the flames that danced about my hoof would prove to be a problem, and I felt my options become more and more slim. Deciding to test the waters, figuratively of course, I pressed my hoof into the thick green grass for a few seconds and quickly removed it. The healthy green grass did not start to blaze to my relief, although, my hoof print left a noticeable burnt black ring atop it. Weighing my options, I decided it would be best to try and run across this field in the hopes of minimizing any lasting damage I could possibly do to this green heaven. I started off in a trot, hoping not to be out of breath by the time I reached the limits of Ponyville but as I proceeded I felt the urge to run faster in fear of even leaving one patch of grass a blackened mess. I galloped towards the borders of Ponyville, I saw a sight that both raised my hopes and sent butterflies fluttering about my stomach. It was a large red barn had appeared over the hillside. Along with it was a dirt path that seemed to lead to and away from it. My intense need to reach this path without meeting another pony had me galloping faster. I took great care in leaping over the wooden fence that marked out the acre. I took even greater care to dance around the loose hay that was strewn about. Before long I found myself almost kissing the dirt path that I clambered onto it. I took a few deep breathes to regain my composure, looking back towards the grass fields, I wanted to make sure no small fires were left behind by my making. I was glad to see that i had made no more than a few faint blackened hoof prints leading to this spot. My eyes cycled back towards the barn where I met the eyes of another pony, who stood frozen at the sight of me. At first glance I merely thought pony, but it was a colt, a rather large colt to be exact. Straw like mane, with an actual strand of straw jutting from his mouth, a large wooden beam laced around his neck, and his bright red body seemed to scream Apple Farmer. I felt my knees shake as I tried to summon the courage to talk. I cleared my throat as this colt continued to stare; unfazed and unspoken. "Hello there..." I felt myself mutter. This seemed to be the trigger warning the colt needed. I watched as he proceeded to yell fire at the top of his deep voice and disappeared into the barn. I felt a sudden wave of panic wash over me as I looked around to see which way Ponyville was, but even before I could take a step the colt reappeared with a bucket of water. Just as quickly as he had appeared, he had swung the bucket, throwing the water my way. I panicked. Leaping out of the way, watching the water splash onto the ground. I didn't hesitate to run. I was barely down the dirt path when the sounds of a bell being rung from the barn caught up to me. I could hear a commotion coming from up ahead. Digging my hooves into the dirt path, sliding to a stop, I frantically looked about for a place to hide, but nothing yielded such a place for a Flame Pony. Three more ponies came rounding the corner of the path in a hurry. "Leaping lizards! That there pony is on fire!" Applebloom cried. "Stay back sugar cube! I'll put the poor fella out!" Applejack shouted. In her mouth was another bucket of water. I saw this brilliant gamboge colored pony swing her head back before flicking the bucket towards me. The water sailed up into the air to douse me. I found myself panicking once more, only this time I opened my mouth. Spitting fire into the air I evaporated the water mid flight while the hiss of steam filled the air as the two ponies before me stared in utter shock. I stood frozen in place, as did they; no pony moved or said a word. It was several awkward moments of silence before an elderly pony slowly walked up to us; out of breath from the journey. "Where's the fire?" Granny Smith asked in an elderly southern accent. The old pony’s eyes fell on me. Her old wrinkled face lit up with excitement. "Well butter my back side and call me a biscuit. It's a real live Flame Pony!" Granny Smith declared in surprise. "Flame Pony?" asked Applejack curiously looking over her shoulder at her. "I haven't seen one of them since I was just a filly." Granny Smith explained. The elderly pony slowly approached me. Her eyes straining to see me, leaning in uncomfortably close, as she rubbed the bottom of her chin with her hoof. She looked back at the other two ponies, before pointing at the bucket the mare with the hat had in her mouth. "They don't like water none though. I'm sure this fella would appreciate it, don't you think Applejack?" Granny Smith asked. Applejack looked at me before looking down at her bucket. Quickly putting two and two together she realized what Granny Smith meant. "Sorry about that stranger, when someone yells fire around here you don't take any chances." Applejack said tossing the bucket aside. Before I could say a word the ground began to tremble. The large heavy hooves of the colt back at the barn was charging up the path from the barn. I turned to see the colt with another bucket of water in his mouth. I recoiled once more in fright, but the pony called Applejack rushed past me to cut him off. "Whoa, there Big Mac! Easy! Easy he's not on fire!" Applejack cried holding up her hooves to stop Big McIntosh from throwing the bucket of water. The large colt named Big Mac came to a hard stop in front of Applejack. He looked at her, quite confused by her words before glancing up at me looking very concerned. "Well, Granny Smith says that this here is a Flame Pony, a pony that is 'supposed' to be on fire... I reckon." Applejack continued as Big Mac looked towards the older pony. "Well don't just stand there looking like you seen a ghost! This here is a guest of Sweet Apple Acres! Show him some of our sweet hospitality!" Granny Smith declared, gingerly stomping her hoof on the ground. Big Mac tossed the bucket of water. The water harmlessly splashing into the grass, while he walked past Applejack and myself saying the word 'yup' before heading back down the path the three ponies had come from. "Sorry for the mix up, we don't get many Flame Ponies around these parts, well... none til today in fact." Applejack said apologetically. "Are you really on fire?" Applebloom asked. I turned to see the young filly’s hoof reaching out to touch the flames on my tail but lucky for her, as well as myself, I jumped out of her reach. "Yes." I snapped at her. It wasn't at all how I wanted to sound, but my fear of burning this little filly out-weighed my need to be kind about it. "Applebloom! You should know better than to stick your hoof in an open flame; even if it is a walking talking flame pony." Applejack scolded. "Sorry." said Applebloom backing away from me. "Don't worry your pretty head there sweetie, it's not every day a Flame Pony comes around these parts." Granny Smith chimed in, putting her arm around Applebloom. "You got a name stranger?" Applejack asked, looking my way again. I raised my head proudly, although my eyes looked away in embarrassment. "Smolder... of the Ashen Fields." I replied slowly. "Smolder of the Ashen Fields? Now that there is a mouthful. If it's okay by you, I'm thinking that you can shorten that down a bit, how's Ash sound? It'll be easier for the ponies around here to remember." Applejack suggested giving it some thought. "Sure..." I replied slowly, unsure if that name would stick. "This here is Granny Smith, the little one is Applebloom, the big colt you met earlier is Big McIntosh or Big Mac for short, and I'm Applejack. This here is Sweet Apple Acres." Applejack introduced every pony. She had held out her hoof to me to shake it but I pulled my hoof back shaking my head no. "Oh right, Flame Pony." Applejack mumbled awkwardly. "Enough chit chat, we got ourselves a guest and we got lots of food to eat." Granny Smith said, turning slowly on the spot before slowly making her way back down the path. "Come on mister, you haven't eaten until you've tried one of Sweet Apple Acres very own Apple Pies." Applebloom declared excitedly. “You must be hungry from... where ever it is you came from.” Applejack remarked, following the others down the dirt path. I watched as the three ponies walked off down the dirt path. At first, I was hesitant to follow, but I felt that building a relationship with these ponies would prove useful later on. There wasn't much choice in the matter anyways as I followed them a few steps back to ensure that I would not bump into any of them if they stopped short for any reason. As we grew closer to the house, I could already smell the delicious baked goods wafting through the air, and my stomach rumbled in anticipation. The very thought of food almost had me bouncing down the road after them, although my mind began to wander back to the ponies at home, and I quickly lost my appetite again. Only by the smell of the Apple Pies did my stomach beat out my guilt. It was a moral defeat but I did not care when I came to look upon the picnic table filled with all sorts of wondrous treats. "Let see here..." Applejack began. The wooden furniture the food was placed upon, as well as the benches they were meant to sit on didn't seem 'appropriate' for me and I decided to politely sit down on the ground. "Don't trouble yourself, I am used to eating without a table or chair." I said. In truth, there wasn't much need for furniture for the food we Flame Ponies ate. It was just roots and herbs from their neighboring marsh. Flame Ponies learned quickly what was edible and what was just a root. Apples were a rare delicacy indeed to Flame Ponies, and I wasn't above eating it off the ground. "I don't see another way of getting you to sit with us without turning this into one big bon fire." Applejack admitted. She took a slice of Apple Pie, dropped it on a plate and brought it over to me. She watched as my eyes lit up from the very sight of it, and watched how earnestly I ate it. "That good huh?" Applejack asked. "I've never tasted anything so delicious in all my life." I replied back appreciatively. "Well that is a mighty fine compliment, thank you." Applejack beamed. I couldn't help myself, I devoured that slice of Apple Pie as if it were my last meal, I savored every bite, savored the smell, and I had to restrain myself from licking the plate. "Hey Applejack!" A voice from the sky rang out. I look towards the sky, as did Applejack, to see a rainbow colored pony come soaring down from the clouds before her. "I was just passing by when I smelled some of those tasty Apple P-that pony is on fire!" Rainbow Dash cut herself off as her eyes darted to me. Before Applejack could speak a word Rainbow Dash exploded from her spot into the air, taking a large puffy cloud from the sky and moved it above my head. "Don't worry dude! I'll save you!" Rainbow Dash yelled, preparing to pounce upon the cloud. It all happened so quickly, while I was busy licking the plate thinking no pony was looking, Rainbow Dash had begun to bounce on the cloud causing rain to fall, but Applejack beat her to the punch as she threw her lasso around me and pulled me to safety with one hard tug. I landed a few feet away from Applejack, I was rather surprised she managed to pull that off but noticed the lasso had caught fire and began to burn away. "Rainbow Dash, just stop for one apple bucking second and come down here!" Applejack shouted, stamping her hoof down. "Applejack that pony is still-" Rainbow Dash began, pointing towards me "He's a Flame Pony Rainbow Dash. He's supposed to be on fire." Applejack explained, cutting her off. Rainbow Dash's mouth fell open. Her eyes darted from Applejack to me and then back to Applejack. "Are you serious?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Yup." Big Mac said aloud walking out from inside the house carrying a tray of cups filled with cider. "That is the second coolest thing I have seen all day today!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "What was the first thing?" Applejack asked curiously. "Me of course." Rainbow Dash replied, pointing at herself. I got to my hooves, wiping the dust from my backside, looking down as the ruined lasso still burning in the dirt. "I'm sorry about your rope Applejack." I said. "Hey, don't worry about it Ash. I've got plenty more rope up in the barn." Applejack replied. "Yeah, sorry about trying to douse you dude. But you got to admit, having a pony on fire is just crazy, am I right?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Well it’s not normal around these parts I'll give you that." Applejack said. "So you got a name Matchstick?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Smolder of the Ashen Fields." I said. Applejack waved her hoof at me, signaling me to try the nickname she had offered me earlier and I thought it best if I tried it. "Or... you can call me Ash for short." I added. "Whatever you say, Matchstick." Rainbow Dash said, rolling her eyes. Rainbow Dash walked a few circles around me, looking at me from all angles before sitting herself down in front of me with a rather excited but curious look. "So what kinds of stuff can a Flame Pony do? Can you breathe fire like a dragon?" Rainbow Dash asked curiously. "Well..." I began. "He did that earlier when I made the same mistake of trying to pour water on him." Applejack chimed in. "You are literally the second coolest thing I've seen today." Rainbow Dash declared. "What was the first?" I asked. "Me of course." Rainbow Dash answered. "Of course." I agreed watching Applejack roll her eyes. "Look every pony, I appreciate the food..." As I said these words my eyes became fixated on the rest of the Apple Pie but was quickly drawn away from it by their curious looks. "But I really need to get to Ponyville, so if I can-" "Hey no problem Matchstick, Applejack and I can escort you into town." Rainbow Dash interrupted. "Sure we will, it will help to have us there to ward off any other pony that may try and pour more water on you." Applejack insisted. "I... can't argue with that." I said, seeing as that was a high possibility. "Then it's settled! To Ponyville!" Rainbow Dash yelled, pointing her hoof in its direction. "But is it alright if I have a quick bite before we head off? I skipped lunch today." Rainbow Dash asked as Applejack nodded in agreement.