//------------------------------//
// Overwhelming Fire 
// Story: Impossible Numbers' Flashfic Anthology, Volume One 
// by Impossible Numbers 
//------------------------------//

Lakes bubbled and steamed: incoming demons, heralded by hellfire.

Celestia absorbed more heat into her horn as the miner wailed he’d only wanted gemstones.

Three  thousand years ago, she’d coolly salved her sister’s twisted leg. Two  thousand: shouldered an elderly mare while townsfolk poured out of  smoking ruins. One thousand: stood between laughing tyrants and  screaming nations.

Blood simmered behind her smile.

Every  year, more ponies stumbled over darker treasures, ran into deadlier  forests, awakened wilder spirits. Every year, Celestia threw herself  upon a role that was fading like smoke. Now her reflection – already  fragmented – vanished on boiling waters. Equestria would be next.  Irritatingly, she had to do something. Had to. Ought to. Must. She bubbled and steamed. Please! Couldn’t she vanish too!?

Frightened faces surrounded her…

Alas… she wasn’t her reflection.

Within, fury froze over.

Hard as permafrost, surface white and cold, Celestia stood – self-immobilized – before those infernal mines.