Over the moonlit night, the vast and dense forest lays in fire. Dark thick clouds carry embers high and rains ash down to the uncanny forest of Everfree. The embers that aren’t carried up are picked through the wind, landing them on the dry and ample ground, sweltering to become another spark in the wildfire. Such destruction seems unfathomable, an impossibility. Yet, the flames grow ever stronger. The animals that were lucky ran, some were caught in the blast. The bones twisted outside the dead. The fur blackened. The flesh crisped.
Through the fire and smoke, past the twisted bark and corpses, was a large crater. In the center bared a hollow translucent shell of red as still as stone. Ash and embers rained down onto the surface of the shell before bursting into a violent flame that dissolved it, leaving nothing but the haze of smoke.
Ice coated all inner surfaces of the shell with a mist that froze the land itself. Nothing was safe from it, not even flesh. Mason rested in the shell with skin as pale as a ghost. The only thing protecting him from the cold were ragged clothes with a thick cotton coat draped over his figure. No thoughts were in his head as he laid motionless. One would think he was dead if it wasn’t for his breathing lifting his chest ever so slightly.
As the ice cooled inside, the heat roared outside, baring its fangs to the world itself as it spread from tree to tree with a speed unmatched. The haze of smoke and flame rolling thick through the forest. Some burned from the inside out, weeping smoke from the cracks before collapsing. The shell bared the heat for as long as it could, its color darkening as the flames grew closer to the edge of the crater.
With a thick layer of ash forming on the dirt of the crater, the shell began to crack. A spiderweb of fractures spreading across the body of the sphere spewing steam across the crater, launching the layer of ash away from it. Throughout the forest, the shattering of glass could be heard as the shell fell. Shards of blood red taken adrift in the wind, being carried off as the heat consume Mason’s body. The ice that froze the land erupted into steam as the harsh flames hissed in venomous fury.
The heat chewed at Mason’s body, the cotton coat baking him under it. The once dead man now clenched his eyes shut in discomfort. Rolling to his side didn’t help as the ash landed on his exposed skin, singeing it. Mason shook in his rest, a dream flooding into his brain like a parasite. It seeped into him, forcing him to remember.
Mason dreamed of that day. The one his mind tried to forget. The sun shined brightly through a large window into the plain white lunchroom as midday approached. Mason knew of this as he leaned back in his chair. His brown eyes wandered to the clock that rested silently on the wall, only making a tick to interrupt the void of silence. It was currently lunch break. Mason had eaten before he left for work, so all he was doing was blowing away the time so he could go back and continue his work. This job is just a paycheck for him. It’s not his real passion, his real passion is construction. Yet here he is, working at a factory with more buildings than he could count. Mason ran his fingers through his short-spruced hair, the texture feeling like a fine soft cloth; he did what he could to not yawn from boredom.
As if a higher being heard his prayer, Joseph walked into the room, catching Mason’s attention.
Mason smiled and leaned forward. His eyes now heavy from the silence. “Hey man, how are you doing?”
“I’m doing good. Came here to see how you were doing. I just got put on break myself,” Joseph walked up and sat adjacent to Mason.
Mason knew Joseph since he was a child. Their dads knew each other and they used to play as their dads talk and drank. Joseph was gifted in his appearance. A slender face with a narrow chin. His hair and thin goatee being a rich shade of ginger. His body was muscled from the factory and farm work his dad puts him through, making his skin a shade of dark caramel. Joseph had his dad’s eyes, bright green like a field of grass. “Well, at least you have me to talk to. I almost passed out.”
“I can see why,” Joseph said as he motioned around the room. Mason knew they both shared the same boredom with it. The clean white slates with the only clashing color being their dark green jumpsuits irritated both of them. Mason never enjoyed the clean office life that many turned to nowadays. He much preferred to work on a farm scooping shit for the rest of his days than turn into a snob on the computer typing numbers for the rest of his life. The outside life is what he yearned for. Like his dad. They had better lunchrooms to Mason; it carried more personality than this plain one Joseph and him sat in.
Mason’s dad worked in construction, building towers that a lot of his city take for granted. He remembered being inside of that trailer with the fake wood tile wall. There would be the fold out table with the straw bowl bought at a local dollar store. In it would be a multitude of things. Most of the time, it was pretzels, sometimes you would get lucky and get candy. He couldn’t forget the mini-fridge that would hold the beer, soda, and sandwiches. The old fold-out chair with an old man sitting in it. Mason could remember so vividly the smell of dust and smoke. Even though he was only six at the time, it was a defining moment in his childhood, and his life. He wanted to be like his dad. Working hard and building things. Even though he was starting off small right now, he knows very well he can achieve his passion if he tries.
Mason came from a different background compared to his friend, but they find common ground with hard work. They both grew up in that environment their entire life. So, they both know how to help each other with hard work if needed.
“I never knew why my dad drank beer when he worked. Now I see why. You work a job like this and something always chews at you. The rooms you’re in, the people you’re with, or even the things you do,” Joseph told as he looked around the room. Mason agreed with his friend, the point in drinking for his father was to not explode on those around him, the ones that irritated him the most. His boss was one of those men. “I mean if working in ninety-degree temperatures all day doesn’t make you drink or inhale a gallon of water, I don't know what will.”
“No kidding. It’s only until you grow that you realize why they do such a thing. I know I’m going to want to tomorrow,” Mason pondered.
Joseph cocked his head in perplexed curiosity. “Why is that? Did they schedule you to morning again?” He probed. Mason could only nod as he answered his suspicions.
“Damn,” Joseph scratched the back of his head. “When you have a day off I can get you a drink? I don’t make much but a drink with my bud would be good right now.” He offered.
Mason looked at him for a moment before chuckling. “Okay, we can do that.”
“Good,” Joseph said as he stood from his chair. Walking over to the door, Joseph looked at Mason. “I hope you don’t mind, but I need to do a man’s deed and take a piss,” With a nod, Joseph exited the room.
Mason released a heavy sigh as he leaned back in his chair. His eyes drifted across the room, inspecting everything. It almost became a fruitless venture for entertainment before his eyes drifted down below the table.
Beside a black duffel bag was a smooth orb. The pocket-sized sphere glowed a vibrant shade of twilight as its rays sparkled in the air. Mason almost couldn’t believe it existed as he stared at it wave and change shapes ever so slightly. Like an illusion that his brain tried to play on him. He reached out and encased it in his hand. The warm aura heating his palms. The inside of the glass ball was filled with fog that never ended. Bright and vibrant rays pierced the smoke as it spun in the orb. Never pivoting as the ball was moved and shook.
He felt so relaxed with it in his hands that he found himself drifting asleep before Joseph walked in. “Mason, come on. We have to get back to work.” He announced.
“Sorry, sorry.” Mason said quickly hiding the orb in his green jumpsuit. His heart pounded as he smiled at Joseph.
Joseph gave him a curious look, but paid it no mind as he walked off. Mason sighed in relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He knows he should put it back, but no one has been in here for the entire day except for him and Joseph. He knows Joseph doesn’t carry a duffel bag, he’s sure that Joseph doesn’t even know what a duffel bag is.
Something about the orb seem to whisper to Mason to take it. Though he tried, he couldn’t resist the urge and stood up, walking out of the room with quick pace to continue the rest of the work day.
Hours have passed, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in a beautiful array of orange and purple with hues of blue far up beyond the crest as twilight set in. Below the sky was the facility constantly booming with work. Even in the evening it seems to have no rest. The factory being almost endless in its maze-like layout, being built for making almost anything. In front of this factory were the offices, the head quarters where all the workers enter and leave. Walking from this building was Mason and Joseph, just being freshly released from nine hours of intense work that ached their muscles to an extreme.
As Mason walked with Joseph towards his truck, he could still feel the orb in his newly adorned pants, having took off the jumpsuit when he clocked out.
“So, Mason, what are your days off for this week?” Joseph asked as they approached his old and rusty red truck. Mason remembered the thing, Joseph would come to his house to take him places. He always knew when he arrived as his truck boomed with sound, rattling and blasting from the muffler as he pulled up the driveway.
Mason pondered on this week. He had skimmed through his schedule before leaving for work today. From what he saw, he would be free in two days; on the weekend like many of the schedules before. “Two days. If I don’t have anything important to do, we should be able to hang out.”
Joseph hummed to himself as he leaned against his truck. “Well then, what do you have in mind?” Joseph inquired.
“I was thinking about getting a six pack and drinking, maybe playing games while we hang out,” Mason responded with a tired sigh. “I have Bloodborne, so that should be a fun game to play while getting shit-faced.”
“Well shit, count me in!” Joseph smiled and grabbed Mason’s hand, pulling him in a very brief embrace. “I should be going now, before it gets too late. You know how my dad gets if I come home too late,” He chuckled before getting into his truck.
Mason was surprised to see the sun had lowered all the way as the night settled in. “I understand. It can be frustrating living with family,” Mason waved.
Joseph laughed at him. “Yeah, but you know, you got to love them no matter what. Family is family; you can lose all the friends in the world, but in the end, you still have them,” Joseph said as he started his truck. The roaring boom from the muffler echoed throughout the parking lot and buildings in the back.
“You’re right,” Mason chuckled before walking off. “Make sure you fix that thing before cops get called on you for a drive by.”
“Will do!” Joseph yelled over the booming truck while laughing and driving away.
Crossing the parking lot to his car, Mason thought about the orb. Where did it come from? Who owned it? He did attempt to find out by asking workers in the appropriate division, but none claimed to have owned it, half didn’t even know what the thing was. He’ll just try tomorrow then, as he didn’t feel entirely right taking something that could belong to someone else. However, something in his stomach seemed to just react and take it, he’s not sure what made him do it, but something about the orb seem to speak to him. Like a whisper-turned-chant, it caught his attention and never broke it. Showing him bright colors and vibrant visuals that felt unreal, and yet he is carrying this piece of mysterious geometry in his pocket.
As he got into his car, which was in much better condition than his friend’s truck, he started it up and began driving home. Taking the orb out of his pocket, he sat it in the passenger seat. He admired it when he approached red lights and stop signs as it glowed, though much dimmer than before. He inspected how it acted the entire time he drove home, and by the time he pulled in, it’s almost as if the memory of him driving faded.
Something deep in his stomach seem to turn at that moment. A sense of unsettling motion sat. Mason pocketed the orb and rushed into his house, locking the door behind him. He knew that he had driven all the way here, but now his memory is blank. It was a void of blackness containing nothing he just did. This feeling sinked inside his stomach as a grim reality tried to settle in. Could the orb be taking his memories? It can’t be, Mason couldn’t accept that. He didn’t know what to do with it. Walking into his bedroom, he placed it on his desk as he began pacing around the room trying to piece together the day. Attempting to rebuild the memory that has new gaps forming at every second. His struggles appeared to be in vain, his memories becoming foggier with an almost drunk haze.
The sound of shattering glass on the hard wood floor tore Mason from his maze of thoughts. “What the hell!” He shouted in shock, turning quickly towards where the orb just was to see nothing but glass shards resting on the hardwood floor.
Before he could move, a sudden jolt of pain electrified throughout his body. Mason grasped his head and tried to scream, but nothing came out. Like his lungs had been squished from the inside. He collapsed to the floor, withering in intense pain as he attempted to crawl towards the kitchen, where his phone had been charging the entire day.
When he managed to get into the kitchen to the table where his phone was, he stood, about to grab it until a sudden rush of lightheaded haze hit his brain as it burst with more pain, making him flinch and recoil, smashing against the floor.
“What… What the…!” He tried to push out, but seemed to forget his words. His train of thought derailed and skidded across the runway, his mind melting in on itself. “Come on… come on…!”
Mason tried thinking of anything, anything that could make him focus, but nothing surfaced. He couldn’t even remember his name. He curled into the fetal position, hoping the pain would stop. Tears leaking from his eyes as he struggled, babbling and whining to himself like a baby. He didn’t know what to do, how to speak or move, how to react to the pain, even how to breathe. All he did was focus on the doorway and try to remember. He needed to at least know who he was, for even that slipped his cavity. To assure himself that this is just some skewed dream, that maybe he crashed in the car on the way home. His incessant weeping made it hard for him to focus.
Mason’s eyes widen as he spasmed to move. From the doorway came a blood red fog, its vaporous tendrils leaking into the foundation of his house, inching closer and closer to him. He tried to move, to crawl away from the fog that came closer, but his muscles locked and stuck in position, tense and solid. All he could do was watch. He focused as much as he could on trying to remember as he witnessed the living nightmare heading towards him.
His throat swelled as he struggled speaking. “My name is… my… my name…” Mason’s ragged voice quivered as he saw it come closer. He tried to repeat before the fog engulfed his finger. A cold sensation washed over it before feeling subsided entirely, even the pain burning throughout his body vanished. He shivered as the fog climb higher up his body. Mason could do nothing at what was happening. All he could think was that he was going to die, that he will not live for the next day.
A tear streamed down his cheek as he closed his eyes, weeping. “My name… my name is… I am… Mason,” He managed to wheeze out through his tears before the red abyss engulfed him.
It was brief. All he could remember was the cold. His tears froze on his face. The eyelashes froze solid against his skin, forcing his eyes shut. The long dark abyss dragged him deeper. Into the endless void where it wanted him.
Mason’s eyes sprang open and he bolted upwards onto his feet. He thought he had surely met his demise, but instead he awoke in an entirely new hell. The crest of his lips cracked opened in awe as he saw the dark clouds rising in the night sky, covering the moon. Ash poured down and singed Mason’s skin. His eyes reflected the light from the large amounts of embers drifting in the wind, over him. Standing inside of a cavernous crater of unreal magnitude, Mason saw the beautiful chaos around him. It felt all too strange and unreal.
Mason slid his sight down to where he laid to see a thick gray cotton coat with a brown high collar to cover the neck in the cold winds. He couldn’t say it was appropriate to wear right now. The air itself seemed to swelter Mason, making his throat dry as the dunes of the desert itself. Grabbing the coat, he slid into it quickly and looked up towards the edge of the crater.
He couldn’t stay in this hole, he had to get out of the heat and find some water. His main concern was surviving before he’d worry on where he was. He scampered his way up towards the edge, not wanting to stay in this hole any longer. The dirt felt soft on his bare feet, he wondered where his shoes went from yesterday. His mind was still hazy from it all. He could only think of his name, never letting go of that thought. Wherever he was, he had to work with himself to confirm his own survival, to trust his instincts.
Grabbing the edge of the crater, he hoisted himself up to the land above. “Holy shit…” Was all he could muster. In front of him where construed and contorted trees of charcoal black. Animals were caught in the uncontrollable colossal flames that blazed brightly throughout the forest. The flames rising high in the sky, covering every inch of it in an ominous gray. The grim smell of smoldering flesh clung to him as he watched the flames bake the earths surface.
Mason quickly ran forward through the flames while shielding his eyes from the embers. He needed to distance himself from this as fast as possible and he needed to move fast. There is no telling how large the wildfire could be.
The woods he ran through were like a maze of twisting paths that turned every step. Large trees were packed close together, making it difficult to keep straight. The roots of these trees wrapped through the earth and jutted out of the ground, making him jump over them, barely preventing himself from tripping. The vines that grew on them were so long that they hung to the ground making his sight short and blind. Every turn he made quickened his heart as it seemed every turn made the path tighter for him to squeeze through.
This place was inhospitable for any life, making him worry on where he was. The most he could do was run and hope he can find something that he can consider safe for him to sleep in. Even if he had to lay against a rock.
Through his quickened paced he was relieved to see something different as he stumbled across a meadow with a large unnatural tree in the center. Part of it was lifted, revealing under its trunk. Its large and thick roots grew around it and formed a natural hiding spot just large enough to fit a person. He decided this would be a good time to breathe and regather his shaken body and mind.
Off in the distance, he could still see the smoke rise high above. He knew that he had to of came here from something unnatural, the dream rang into his head firstly. It felt all too real to him. He just knew that it had to at least be partly real. He couldn’t make sense of it.
As his body began to relax more, his adrenaline had time to wear off. The effects on his body was more severe than he originally noticed. Scratches covered his exposed skin as his muscles ached with a growing passion. His main priority is finding food. A delectable meal such as venison or beef would be high in necessary protein that his body needed, but finding berries or other fruits would help plenty as well. However, water is gloriously more important to his body. Without both, he’ll soon parish to the harsh environment he currently resides in.
Taking a deep breath, Mason closed his eyes and focused on sound. He tried to see if he could hear any water running down a stream, or an animal being particularly loud.
His attempt was fruitless as a loud crack from bark broke his concentration. Looking off in the distance towards the inferno once more, he could hear a loud bend and snap before something fell to the ground. Smoke filled the air in a large gust from above the tree-line.
The forest around him was collapsing at an extraordinary rate. He was not safe where he was, the fire would just spread here too. Jogging passed the unusual tree, he began his search for a stream of water.
As he jogged through the forest, his mind drifted into his thoughts of the dream and his circumstances waking up. He questioned on how he awoke in a crater, or how his dream almost felt connected to it. His stomach felt uneasy to the feeling, one he hadn’t felt in years. He’d only hope it wasn’t true. That it is simply a dream and it would stay that. Though, a new feeling formed in his gut that made him worry. His anxiousness grew thick as his breathing became dry. Something primal formed in him, felt only when he was a child. It seeped to the surface as he wondered if he would find any help. If civilization was where he was. It had to be, Mason thought, how else would he have got here? His concern rested on what made the wildfire and the crater. It was a thick cloud of unanswered questions that felt impossible to answer. All he could do for now is suppress it, he would find people, he needed to reassure himself of that.
For a brief moment, a sound hit Mason’s fragile ears before silencing again. He halted in his steps as he listened. It was faint, so faint that his breathing was louder. The sound of running water entered his ears clear and sharp. He twisted his head quickly to the source before breaking in an all out gallop towards it. His instincts took over as he threw himself forward as quick as he could.
He approached a large and vast river that ran through the dense land. Water as clear as glass passed through, rushing downward for as far as Mason’s eyes could see. He walked to the bank of the river falling on his knees, immediately dipping his cupped palms in the river, taking exorbitant gulps of water. His buds tasted light vanilla and herbs from the water. He didn’t know whether it was good or bad, but he was too desperate to care. He drank over six hand-fulls of water in less than a minute. With a sigh, he leaned back and sat on the dirt.
His world stabled for a moment, allowing for him to think more calmly. The taste of the water clung to his mouth. He wondered what gave the water that taste. It could be a farmer, or someone making spices.
Standing up, Mason considered the prospect of going downstream to see if he could find plants growing on the bank. However, he opted for going upstream in hopes that someone is there. It’s a lead, so to him, it was worth it.
He glanced at the water. His reflection looked back at him as he inspected himself. It had been a fortnight since the last time he had seen his face. It almost seemed alien. He wasn’t as gifted as Joseph in looks, but he tried. His face blocky like a cut statue with his chin flat. His nose was straight and sharp with thin nostrils. The black spruced hair he was so used to was now dry and curled, dipping below his shoulders, and his beard grew thicker than before, covering his face with a coat of hair.
He sighed as he walked upstream. Looking around the forest, taking in the views that covered the landscape, the forest had a claustrophobic and eerie touch that didn’t shake from him, as if at any moment something could attack. The snap of a twig in the distance made him jump and bolt forward for a moment before he forced himself to slow down. He couldn’t help but scratch his arms as sweat laced his forehead in the warm air. Looking up, he saw the moon hang above, the large smoke clouds covering a portion of it. However, what he could see was magnificent. It shined brightly down onto the land, reflecting across the river and kindling the abnormally dark forest.
Mason begin to notice a warm light shining onto the river water. Through his cautious breath, he jogged up before stopping behind an old withered tree. He crouched down low. The light flickered in the night, casting shadows from sticks and plants that painted the ground to the river. Hesitant movements locked Masons legs as he eyes the light. He closed his eyes and sighed, his breath shaky. He hoped that whatever lived here was friendly, the thoughts of hostile tribal men making him reluctant to move.
He lifted his feather legs and moved up passed the trees. A large tree omitting a light from within sat in a small open land. He stood cautiously before walking farther upwards, inspecting the large oak. Thick vines entangling themselves around the large and twisting branches of the tree. Bottles hung from many of the branches by rope. His nose smelling strong herbs as he walked around it. Two large holes revealed the tree to be hollow, inside were a variety of masks and vases. In between both the holes were a wooden door with a mask above, spirit catcher resting on it. Mason walked closer, but the smell of spices became much stronger to an intoxicating level making him back from the tree with a cough.
“First a ball falls out of the sky, then a mysterious man is in front of my eyes,” A woman speaking in rhyme inquired behind Mason. He spun around with wild eyes. He jumped back when he didn’t see another person but a zebra that came to his chest in height. Her appearance was peculiar. Adorning a set of golden ornaments around her ears, neck, and left foreleg. Mohawk of black and white on her head. She looked at him curiously with her deep ocean eyes.
Mason didn’t know how to respond. A talking animal sounded like a fantasy or witchcraft. Yet here one stood, right in front of him. Taking another step back, he thought on whether or not to run.
“Do not fear my presence peculiar one, if it’s danger you feel, there is none,” She mused with a small smile.
Her tongue confused Mason. He was hesitant to do anything. Facing a talking zebra was very unexpected for him, a rhyming one no less. He couldn’t help but stand on edge, like needles piercing his skin.
“What… what do you mean?” Mason questioned through his shaking voice.
She seemed to notice his attitude as she frowned. “The danger that was here fled, for the fire has done nothing but spread,” The zebra walked passed Mason inside of the tree-hut looking over at him to follow.
Wearyingly, Mason followed inside. He could smell the full force of the spices as he visibly recoiled. “The smells to you may be robust, but for me they smell of light blue-leaf dust,” She said. He recovered slightly while looking around the hut. Masks hanging from all angles with various bottles and vases sitting atop shelves. As she walked in the center of the room towards a large iron cauldron filled with thick green bubbling liquid, he could only think how bad this plant must have smelt before being turned to dust.
“Who are you?”
She smiled. “My name is Zecora, but no more questions as you are here to fight the flaming aura,” She said, her expression turning stern towards the end with a sharp seriousness.
“What do you mean?”
“You are not the one who fell from the sky? I know when I can see a lie.” Her blunt voice stung Mason as he mused with a neutral expression.
“Is… is that what happened to me?” He asked himself more than her. He knew that he had arrived somehow. But he couldn’t believe it was something like what she said.
“It appears so, if that’s the case, then saving the forest you must go,” She said. Turning to the shelves of bottles, she took a purple one with her mouth and set it inside of a nearby empty box. “Since I told you my name, I think it’s best you do the same,” She quipped as she grabbed spices from another shelve, dropping them in the large cauldron and stirring it with an abnormally large wooden spoon that sat beside the large pot.
“My name…. My name is Mason,” He said slowly. The smells the pot gave off were becoming intoxicating, something about it was off. However, the more she added to it, the finer it became, until the smell seemingly vanished. “What are you doing?”
“The potion that is in that box is the perfect detox. No matter the strength of the fire, it will extinguish its desire.”
Mason looked at her. “What’s its desire?” He asked.
“To spread.” Zecora clarified. She begun adding a rainbow of different plants that changed the liquid into a dark purple color.
“What the hell did I just get myself into…” Mason muttered under his breath, low enough where she couldn’t hear.
Zecora brought the wooden spoon up to her nose and sniffed. After a moment, she smiled and brought several bottles over to the pot, filling each until the box was filled before bringing it to Mason. “Mason, take these potions and use them to quench the flame’s want for destruction.”
Mason looked at Zecora with a questionable expression. “Wait, what are you going to do? You don’t honestly expect me to get rid of a fire that’s consuming a large forest?”
“No, no. You are meant to hold the fire until you are helped in ridding it of its desire.”
“And how do we do that?” He asked.
Zecora looked at him with a smile. “The help of Ponyville, they have always had the will.”
Mason was about to say something else before Zecora interjected. “Mason, go! Go! We can’t talk longer, for the fire only grows stronger!” She opened the hut’s door and ran out. Grabbing the box and stepping outside, he felt a slight change in heat, it warmed his skin more than before. He hoped the flamed hadn’t spread farther.
Zecora quickly made her way down the small dirt trail leading from her house deeper in the woods. Mason hefted himself down the trail, feeling the wind on his skin. The heat almost sung to it. Whispering the flames direction as the winds blew. The farther he went, the hotter it became until he approached a section of the path with the edge ablaze. The flames roaring with intense vanquish as it scorched the nearby trees, consuming them easily. Mason stood in shock at how violent this flame was, never had he seen anything like this. Even in controlled fires. In the distance, he saw the silhouette of Zecora vanish. Even though this clearly wasn’t his world, he felt a urge to help, he had to. He knew that the community who lives here could be the only ones to help him get back home, though he felt a twinge in his mind, for it looked as if modern technology doesn’t exist here.
Mason flinched when fresh ashes touch his skin. As he saw it, his eyes widened. The embers on the ground picked up, gliding in the air and lighting ablaze the other side of the trail. How a windy night can change the danger of a fire, he thought. Setting down the box of filled bottles, Mason took off his coat, wrapping it around his waist before taking off his gray shirt and wrapping it around his head. He knew he was about to jump in the pit with this path. Picking up a bottle, he popped the cork off and could smell the strange aroma. Like that of pine-needles and manure, the smell made him retract his head and spit on the heated ground. His tongue coated in the smell, all he could taste was the foul stench.
Running up to the flame, he hoped it was as potent as its smell as he tossed it. Hearing a smash of broken glass, to his surprise, the flames retracted immediately. The smell vanishing as the flames died down. He had only nine bottles of the stuff, but if he planted them right, he could hold the fire off long enough for help to arrive.
Picking up the box, he ran inside of the flame. The sprawling heat impacting him immediately, but he didn’t care. Traversing the burning chaos of the flame, he knew he had to hit what was the worst. He looked through the peaks of destruction and raining ash, trying to see through the inferno that rained through the forest.
Looking in the sky, passed the fiery haze of the forest, he focused his eyes on the sky for smoke rise. It didn’t take long until he saw a very dark smoke stream rise, darker than any he’d ever seen go up in the sky. Even from where he stood, he could see the ash cascade down to the ground below, like a wall of mottled gray. All that ash came from the smoke stream. He rushed forward, not thinking. As he burst through the heavy flames, he approached the remnants of a tree. It towered over him, casting its large shadow passed him. The smell of burning coal hung thick in the air, he knew this wasn’t an ordinary tree.
Walking closer with the box in hand, he saw a large crack in the oak. Peeking inside, he confirmed his suspicions. Mason could see inside the tree was tons of coal blazing in the natural encasement. He knew this flame could burn for many fortnights if he doesn’t attempt to put out the inner blaze. The crack was no larger than the width of his arm. He had to think of another way to get the bottled extinguisher in there.
Mason jogged around it and looked for any way to get inside, but no luck came. He shook as he rushed around the tree, contemplating on what to do. The deepening ash rising higher every second only added to his worry. A quick thought flew passed his mind. Grabbing a nearby charred branch, he ran it into the crack, splintering the wood and breaking it open. The flames bellowed with a sound that shook Mason. It was a sound of anger, like a disturbed individual pushed by an unknowing man. He barely dodged the smoldering coal and wood chunks that poured from the center of the tree. This was his moment.
Mason ran to the box and quickly grabbed two bottles of the toxic liquid. He held his breath as he opened both and looked to the flame. The ominous crackling gave way to a snap as the large oak began collapsing. Not wanting to waste more time, Mason threw both bottles into it. The sound of smashing glass could be heard in his ears along with a loud roar in anguish as the sizzling liquid put out the coal in an instant.
He stepped back, looking to the sky for confirmation. The dark clouds began changing to a clear and pristine smoke of a putout campfire. For a short moment, he could breathe. In the intense heat, he felt cold and relieved. It was peculiar, but welcoming. The worst fire he saw was gone. Now he needed to ward off a repeat. He grabbed the box and made his way deeper in the forest. Not stopping for any of the other fires.
Mason looked in the sky, a wall of embers rose so high that the moon was hidden. The heart of the fire rested there. He felt the heat intensify as his skin turned red. Oxygen barely pushed through enough for him to take a breath. The smoke became denser to something he had never seen like this before. He questioned what flame this was. One that could burn stronger in the heart.
As Mason approached the spot, his eyes widened, it was the spot he awoke in. The flames rode the violent wind. They twisted and contorted, growing and shrinking. He didn’t know what was happening, when he awoke here, he hadn’t seen anything like this. Now, it is an unimaginable nightmare.
A light glistened brightly in the crater Mason once slept in. He swallowed his saliva, coating his dry throat. Approaching the crater, he looked in. He didn’t expect a fire of such intensity to rest inside. He had awoken in that crater, climbed out and escaped the once early flame. The crater was empty. Yet now he stands on the edge, seeing it filled with wood and ash. His eyes darkened as he saw something in the flame. He fidgeted where he stood as he saw it. Something was here, he thought, something had to have done it.
The flames lit his darkened face. The ones that burned behind him were meaningless distractions. He knew something had to have done this as a message, a signal of sorts. But what could have done something this grand? He questioned.
In the pit, encrusted in the blazing ash was his name. As clear as the date of his birth as it spanned across the entire crater. Whatever left this knew he would come here. He felt like he was being watched, but he didn’t know what was.
Mason knew he needed to set the flames out and hide this discovery from whomever Zecora brings to help with the fire. Setting the box down, he picked up two bottles.
He closed his eyes, muttering a prayer to himself, before popping the corks of the bottles.
Mason threw the first bottle in the center and the second off to the side. As the flames died down, he continued his assault, throwing more and more bottles until he ran out. The inferno that once stood tall and fierce was gone, leaving only the muddy ash in its wake.
He slid down the crater and walked over to where his name was written, he stood over it as the smoke died. He didn’t know what was here with him, but he knew that it had power. He kicked the ash, spreading it across the writing, ridding his name from it entirely.
He took a deep sigh before he climbed out of the crater. His mind was laced with stress and fear over what has happened so quickly. He can only think on what will. The fire around him still spread, consuming the rest of the forest that he couldn’t protect.
He laughed to himself. “I guess it’s up to Zecora now.” Mason sat on the dirt.
As the flames burnt, Mason closed his eyes and felt the heat. He relaxed his muscles. His body tired and worn from the traveling and constant use, his mind ached from all that has happened. He could only wonder what was in store for him. Zecora was an interesting thing. Talking zebra that spoke in rhyme, what else could be here?
“Over here, the smoke is the thickest!” Someone shouted in the distance. Mason opened his heavy eyes and looked off in the direction of the voice.
“I guess Zecora arrived.” He muttered to himself as he stood at full height. From the sky, a four-legged silhouette flew over his location. Mason only stared in shock at what it could be. As it grew closer to the ground, he saw it. A pony with wings that flew over the crater surveying the surroundings. When it spotted Mason, it recoiled.
“I found him! Get Zecora!” The pony shouted. His voice was deep and stern with the smoothness of whiskey. Mason cocked his head at the pony.
“You heard the man, move it!” Another pony farther off in the distance shouted. Her voice was grainy and young, but deep enough to tell it was an adult.
“You stay there and wait for Zecora to arrive, she’ll know what to do with you.” The pony ordered. Flying down, he landed on the heated ground and eyed Mason while he did so.
The fire around them lit his face. He was a faded purple pony with dark blue hair. His muscled body showed he did his work.
Mason sat stern and didn’t move like the peculiar pony said. He admittedly found it humorous that a pony was commanding him to stay, but he followed with his command. The forest still burns, so his worries rested about that, not the pony.
“You can talk, can’t you?” The pony asked.
“Yes, I can. Why do you ask?” Mason replied, tearing his eyes from the flames.
“What started these flames?” The pony ignored his question and continued.
Mason shrugged from tired confusion. “I have no idea, but I know it wasn’t me.”
“How am I to believe that from a creature I haven’t seen before?”
Mason grew a tad annoyed at the interrogating pony. He understood the reasoning, but he wasn’t the one or else he wouldn’t have given Zecora the time of day about it and just ran before she could give chase. “I don’t know what caused the fire. I woke up to the blaze, that’s all I know.” Mason insisted through his agitated tiredness.
Through a short pause, “Fine,” was his answer.
As they waited for Zecora, Mason watched as ponies fell in, pouring water on the scorching flames. Smoke in the back began to stop as air become suddenly humid from the steam. Calmness washed over him for knowing that the forest was now safe from a once sure destruction.
“So, tell me, what’s your name?” Mason asked the stationary pony.
“Why should I tell you?” He looked at Mason with an unsure expression.
“Simple conversation. Better than sitting here bored to tears waiting for someone.” Mason quipped with a shrug.
He thought on it for a moment before sighing with disinterest. “My name is Windhelm, Garnet Windhelm.”
“My name is Mason, Mason Fritz.” He introduced with a light bow.
“Weird name.” Wilhelm remarked.
“Same to you.” Mason retorted with a smirk. They both remained silent for a while as the flames began to die down drastically. The party of flying ponies putting out much of the fire with clouds.
“Wait, you guys can fly and control clouds?” Mason stared off in astonishment.
Windhelm looked at him with a baffling expression. “Yeah, this is basic stuff. Are you a foreigner?”
Mason thought on it for a moment and decided it would be easier to explain it that way. “Yeah, I’m new around here.” Windhelm gave him a look that quickly told Mason he didn’t believe him, but he didn’t say anything about it.
“There she is!” Windhelm said with a smile. Zecora ran from the charred woods towards Mason. Her expression being that of happiness.
“I’m glad you’re alright, I thought I would have lost you on this night.” She said to him with a bright smile.
Mason smirk at her worry. “I’m still alive and breathing. No need to worry about me.”
She frowned at his response, a tinge in her mouth seem to sting as she let it settle. “Running into the fire and embracing its desire. Through the flames and destruction, you found pieces that lead to its retribution. Mason, I must worry, for it was quite a journey. The danger you faced, you could have met your fate.”
A cold shiver ran down his spine to her words like nails digging into his back. The name that rested in the flame told Mason something, that he was being followed. Something was following him and it is leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Whether it be to signal him, or a more ominous message. He knew now that he was facing a danger. Though he was surrounded by a new partner and an ally, he still felt the danger dig into his back. The least he could do was smile at her worry, at least this event was over. “Thank you.”
Zecora smiled at Mason, “Don’t thank me, for it wasn’t me who saved Everfree.”
Mason knew the name of this forest. Its dangerous atmosphere and claustrophobic feel seemed to eerily fit with its name.
“Now that we know you are doing fine and well, let’s head back to the wonderful village of Ponyville.” Zecora began walking towards the road leading out of Everfree. Windhelm followed her and looked over to Mason, who began walking with him after putting his shirt and coat back on. He was finally getting out of this forest, he could finally breathe a new air, something that he couldn’t breathe since he awoke here.