The Carnival of Lights is the first public event hosted by the Ashen Fields that did not include some sort of royal inauguration or restoration effort. In fact, it was a chance to encourage tourism for the kingdom and many of the attractions were specifically designed to help demonstrate how unique flame pony culture could be.
Flame ponies have a unique affinity to being very skilled engineers, architects, and metallurgists. Many of the rides were built directly from the ground up, using the precious metals found right beneath their hooves.A roller coaster, spinning cups, a large saucer that spun you round and round, it was just a few of the many rides promising thrills and your lunch to make an appearance. It was all operated and powered by steam and it offered the same amount of thrills. The parts, technical design, and self methods to power it would marvel some and prove to be fun for others.
Many other booths were featuring exquisite and delicately crafted pieces of jewelry. Mined from the ruins of the Elder Dragon’s treasure hoard deep in the mountain. While other booths offered an array of old flame pony confectionary that had been lost for decades. Yet, the games that were offered encompassed most of the carnival.
Some games revolved around hoof and eye coordination, simple ring tosses or crack shot aim at moving targets. Others offered a more cunning mind to play, from having a basic understanding of geology to win real gems or well crafted fakes to test one’s mettle in both mind and body to win fabulous prizes.
Yet, there have been three large attractions that had generated a lot of press in the past few weeks. The first of which being the newly constructed outdoor amphitheater that had acquired the Manehattan Theatre Group to perform their newest play based on the newest Daring Do book. Near the end of the night there would be an incredible musical experience presented by DJ Pon-3 with the promise of an outstanding firework display to end out the night.
The second attraction on everypony’s to do list was the hot air balloon rides. With a single flame pony being able to provide the fuel needed to keep a balloon aloft, there were dozens upon dozens of hot air balloons ready to take flight over the carnival and offer a breathtaking and up close view of the fireworks.
The third and most anticipated attraction that had every hotel, hospice, and B&B within the Ashen Fields booked solid two months after its announcement were the fabled hot springs of the flame ponies. An old flame pony legend spoke of hot springs near the base of the volcano that offered magical healing and rejuvenation properties. To which a massive undertaking was set forth to build a kind of resort near the ruins of the mountain, to offer these legendary waters to visiting ponies. Needless to say, many ponies who had booked their stay were already camping out a week prior to its grand opening wanting to be the first to try its waters.
Yet, there was one attraction that was on a specific group of pony to do lists. A quaint yet romantic walk through an old mining tunnel that held a massive amount of thermoluminescence stones that were breathtaking to behold and offered a small amount of privacy to young couples for a few precious minutes.
The turn out would possibly be three times the size of Lord Smolder’s coronation and quite possibly be three times the fun. The carnival was set to start early that morning, promising to run for a whole week to ensure everypony from far and wide for a chance to participate. While most of the festivities would be going on, the most sought after attractions would not start until the evening, giving those with plans time to get ready.
I, myself, had woken up extra early this morning to ensure all of my duties were taken care of before preparing for my night out with Sapphire.
“This is how our dynasty ends… in utter embarrassment.” Wick mourned.
“Really, Smolder, you have just the one cloak from your coronation to wear?” Pyre asked.
The Twins, Wick and Pyre Phoenix, my older brothers were standing in my royal chambers watching me frantically dig through empty drawer after drawer for clothes I did not have. I had forgotten to put in a request for actual clothing because my schedule was tight enough as it is, and I had just figured that somepony somewhere would just hand me things to wear for whatever occasion.
“Why do I have so many dressers with nothing in them?” I asked in disbelief.
Once again I found nothing as pulled out the bottom drawer of a dresser in my room.
“It speaks to that empty head of yours.” Wick commented.
“We can take out an urgent edict to the clothing shop for some new clothes,” Pyre offered.
“Stitch Rose Shay is going to be swamped with all these ponies coming in for the carnival. They won’t have time.” I replied hastily checking the same empty drawer again.
“When Lady Sapphire dumps you ten minutes into your date tonight, we will be by the spinning cups laughing at others misfortunes.” Wick remarked.
Pyre ribbed Wick in the side, eyeing him for his insensitive remarks. It was clear the Smolder was not focused on the teasing he was receiving, but more fearful at the prospect of being looked down upon by Sapphire.
Even Wick was beginning to see that Smolder was desperately wanting this to go over well and it almost hurt him to see his brother struggling over something as trivial as a date with a mare.
“Perhaps… you could look through some of father’s old clothing? I’m sure something may fit you.” Wick offered.
I stopped hard from my searching, an intensely hopeful look coming across my face at the idea.
“Do… do we still have that kind of stuff?” I asked.
“I do recall Mr. Papyrus finding a crate of our father’s clothing from when he was about our age. It was in a nearby room where he had found all the hats and paintings of father.” Pyre added.
I leapt towards the both of them in a hurry. “Where is it?”
“I’ll have the guards bring up in a few and see if we have anything viable to work with. If we’re lucky, we’ll just ask the ponies over at the shop to touch it up a bit to better fit you.” Pyre stated.
“But first we need to talk.” Wisp said firmly.
I looked puzzled. “About what?”
“How to conduct oneself around a mare of Sapphire’s stature.” Pyre replied.
My mane flared in embarrassment. “I-I already know…”
“Did you hear that, dear brother? Smolder already knows.” Wick asked in fake surprise.
“Dear me, he must be an expert of the complicated nature of mare subtle hints and the double meanings of their answers.” Pyre replied in equal false surprise.
“Double answers?” I asked nervously.
“If a mare says she’s not hungry, she is most definitely hungry, but will only eat off of your plate so be sure to order enough for two.” Pyre offered an example.
“Why doesn’t she just order something for herself?” I asked.
My brothers just laughed at me.
“You should also remember that mares will always want you to make the first move, but they will know ten minutes in whether or not they want you to make one.” Wick added calming down from his laugh.
“How am I supposed to know if she… if I’m supposed to…” I struggled to understand.
“If you do end up kissing her, make sure to keep your eyes closed and don’t tense up.” Pyre stated.
At this point my mane flared so hard that it fanned back both of my brother’s flames from the force.
“Remember to hold her tight enough to where she feels protected, but not tight enough to feel trapped.” Wick added.
“I’m-I’m not going to…” I mumbled feeling extremely embarrassed.
My brothers just raised a brow to me in curiosity, allowing me the chance to finish my sentence.
“... nevermind.”
“Well we have another five hours before your incredibly awkward date with quite possibly the prettiest princess in all of Equestria. That’s just enough time to make you a gentlecolt in the streets and a mad king in the—“
Pyre slapped a hoof over Wick’s mouth watching me nearly drop into the Phoenix mode from how hot my face had become from Wick’s insinuation.
“Wick will go find that chest full of father’s old clothing while I offer Smolder some delicate advice about this sensitive issue.” Pyre reassured.
Removing his brother’s hoof away from his mouth, Wick halfheartedly chuckled at the idea.
“Try not to confuse him with your flowery words, dear brother. Or we might just become uncles before the year is through.”
Wick headed for the door, ignoring the severity of the heat I was now producing from my glaring embarrassment.
“Calm yourself, little brother. In his own sadistic way, Wick is merely offering you the taste of what many ponies will be insinuating through press and gossip about your current relationship with Lady Sapphire. Deep down he does want this night to go well for you. Just as I do.” Pyre explained.
With my flames becoming a noticeable nervous flicker, I looked at Pyre suspiciously.
“You do?”
Pyre stepped forward placing a firm hoof on my shoulder with a smile.
“We may not have always been so direct with our feelings, Smolder, but we both want what’s best for you. We want you to be happy.”
I smiled nervously at him.
“How… how will I know if Sapphire… likes me?” I asked slowly.
Pyre did his best not to roll his eyes at me.
“What was it that Wingston always used to say to you? Talk, talk, and talk some more?” Pyre asked.
“Yeah, something like that.”
“It’s time to talk to Sapphire about how you feel. Talk as much as you need to and you’ll know how she feels when you’re done talking.”
I swallowed hard. “And…what happens if… she...?”
Pyre gave me a one armed hug, resting his head against mine. “We’ll be by the spinning cups.”
“I’ll just tell him I came down with the flu, food poisoning or something, that the hay cubes were rotten.” Sapphire suggested.
Summer was quick to grasp Lady Sapphire by the face, pulling at her cheeks, and watching her groan in displeasure.
“You’re making me sick just listening to you whine about this.” Summer replied.
Letting go of her face, Sapphire quickly began to massage her cheeks looking very annoyed with Summer but watched as she withdrew a small cartridge of blush. The two mares were currently residing in Sapphire’s guest room, to which she had been staying for the past several months. Most of her things had been packed for her trip home, but a few things left out for her date tonight.”
Tensing herself up, doing her best to keep a straight face, Sapphire allowed Summer to apply some makeup for her. As much of a soldier as she was, Summer had a natural talent with applying makeup for mares. A talent she neither wanted nor cared for, but used it whenever asked.
“Do you think he’s as nervous as I am?” Sapphire asked quietly.
“Petrified.” Summer retorted.
“Seriously?”
“Colts,” Summer began. “Are simple creatures. They all want one thing, they’ll say and do anything to get it, and we make sure that they pay through the nose for us to even consider it.”
Summer’s words were humorous to her. Similar words have been shared with her by her mother several times prior. While it was easy to read the intentions of many noble colts, she found it hard to read Smolder.
“Do you like him?” Sapphire asked.
Summer reached back into her makeup bag. “Who?”
“Smolder.”
Summer shrugged retrieving an eyelash curler. “Not particularly. He’s really not my type.”
“I meant as a potential suitor for me. You despised all the other ones that were brought before us.” Sapphire explained.
“They,” Summer paused to steady her hoof on Sapphire’s eyelashes. “All saw you as a prize that needed to be won. Which is why I never let them be alone with you.”
“And Smolder?”
Summer stepped back, tossing her eyelash curler back into the bag to see how her work was coming thus far.
“I’ve seen how he treats you, how he speaks to you. He’s honest, considerate, and pretty harmless. I was more concerned that you’d be the one to make the first move on him.” Summer confessed.
Sapphire looked shocked. “I beg your pardon.”
Summer retrieved a lip liner from the bag, narrowing her eyes and lips to focus on doing Sapphire’s with a steady hoof.
“Like I said before, you always fight for what you want, and I was sure you were going to beat a confession out of him sooner or later.”
Unable to retort from having her lips being treated. Sapphire opted to glare annoyingly at her.
“If you’re wondering if I would be okay with him being your special somepony, then I’d say it wasn’t any of my business who you picked since I’m just your bodyguard.” Summer continued.
After rummaging through the bag for some lipstick that she liked, Summer opened her mouth a bit to signal Sapphire to do the same.
“But as your friend, I think you two would make such a sweet wittle couple.”
Sapphire had to laugh, nearly making Summer smear the lipstick. Summer laughed out of surprise, shoving Sapphire gently for startling her.
“Hold still or you’re going to look like a clown!” Summer scolded her.
Sapphire had a hard time not smiling as she settled back down, but Summer was able to work around it.
“So… what would have happened if I didn’t like him?” Summer asked.
With the lipstick applied, Sapphire presses her lips together softly, letting the makeup set for a moment.
“I wouldn’t have him be my special somepony.” Sapphire replied.
Summer seemed a little taken aback with her response.
“But you like him.” Summer retorted.
“If my protector, my friend, did not feel comfortable with a colt I was interested in, I wouldn’t associate with him.”
Summer felt Sapphire take her hooves, gripping them tightly and smiling at her.
“You promised to protect me with your life and I’ve always taken that seriously. Which is why I wanted your blessing before tonight. Because you’re...”
Sapphire paused for a moment, doing her best to summon up some courage to continue.
“You’re like the sister… I always wanted.”
Summer’s fiery orange mane puffed into a cloud of white smoke, giving Sapphire a sudden jolt of surprise. A single tear rolled down the side of Summer’s face, slowly sizzling on her still hot cheek. It was soon followed by dozens more as she nearly collapsed into Sapphire's arms.
“Sapphire…”
Summer’s voice was weak from her crying, but it was filled with such love and affection that Sapphire could feel the weight of it.
“Thank you, for always being there for me.”
I stood in front of a mirror, albeit a regular mirror this time, one incapable of speaking to disembodied voices from another dimension, and stared at the ensemble Wick had procured for me. There was something lost in translation about the contents of the box of clothing my father used to wear in his youth.
“It’s… retro.” Pyre remarked trying his best to put a positive spin on it.
“It's all we got.” Wick corrected.
Upon my head was the Obsidian crown, around my mane was plume of black feathers that glistened in the light of my flames, the cloak looked more like a tapestry that bore swatches of several old allied houses and kingdoms. The suit underneath was bright red with nearly thirty buttons, tassels of gold, and belts galore. Upon my hooves I wore large black horse shoes that were two sizes too big.
“Rarity would have a heart attack if she saw this.” I mumbled.
“It appears that father may have had to endure a great amount of… humility while wearing this I would imagine.” Pyre stated.
“Well, that’s it. You’re salt licked.” Wick shrugged.
I shook off the feather portion of the ensemble, pulling a long cord that unraveled the cloak tied to my neck. I started to turn to them, shaking off the horseshoes while attempting to unbuckle the belts from my coat.
“There has to be something else, anything else!” I insisted.
Wick held up his hooves, showing me that there was nothing left to be done. Pyre tapped his chin, before seemingly having an idea.
“Brother, be a dear and lend Smolder your hoodie.” Pyre requested.
Wick let loose a hard laugh in disbelief. “Surely, you’re joking?”
“Come, come, come now. Our little brother is desperate and your hoodie might just fit him.” Pyre insisted.
“I had to put in a special order for that hoodie and—“
Wick cut himself short after looking towards me. Perhaps it was my pathetic looking face or maybe just him feeling sorry for me but he rolled his eyes and concede.
“I’ll be right back.” Wick mumbled.
Wick returned with an all black hoodie. It looked no different than an ordinary hoodie except that this one was fireproof. Wick was half a head taller than me, but the hoodie fit near perfect with it being only baggy at the cuffs, but it added to the casual look it was meant for.
Pyre beamed in approval, Wick seemed mostly annoyed that he had lost his hoodie.
“It definitely says Smolder, I think. Don’t you agree, brother mine?” Pyre asked.
“If you get mustard or something on that hoodie, I… I can be held responsible for my actions, Smolder.” Wick warned.
I was quick to laugh, but even quicker to hug him. From having zero confidence just moments ago, I was now feeling loads better from the feathery nightmare that was my second to last option.
Wick carefully patted me on the back. “Just… have fun tonight, Smolder.”
“Do you think this is too formal?” Sapphire asked.
Sapphire was magically levitating a rather off white dress and then a sunny gold one. Both looked very ravishing, but Summer had to constantly remind her that this was a carnival.
“Are we entertaining a czar or something? You’re eating cotton candy and playing games aimed at four year olds, remember?” Summer questioned.
Tossing the dresses over a chair, Sapphire quickly began rummaging through her wardrobe again. Summer rolled her eyes knowing that this wasn’t going to end anytime soon.
“Perhaps a scarf?” Sapphire asked.
“Great idea! You might get cold later tonight!” Summer agreed sarcastically.
Sapphire narrowed her eyes at her. “You’re not helping…”
“Alright then, let me pick.”
Summer approached the wardrobe, digging through some of her clothing and magically tossing some very high end dresses over her shoulder as if they were old rags. Sapphire magically caught them, gently laying them out on her bed to ensure that they would not get wrinkled.
“Here, wear this.”
Summer emerged with a shawl magically floating before her. It was a grayish white shawl, it offered simplistic elegance, but did not stand out as much as everything else did.
“That’s it?” Sapphire questioned her choice.
“Carnival… it’s a carnival… loud and sticky!” Summer reiterated.
Sapphire carefully took the shawl, looking it over and carefully wrapped it around her. She admired herself in the mirror, seeming at ease with it being her ensemble for the evening.
“How do I look?” Sapphire asked.
“Lovely, but deadly.”
Chuckling to herself, Sapphire twirled in front of the mirror before stopping to really take a long hard look at what she was about to do.
“Why do I still feel so nervous?” Sapphire questioned her own feelings out loud.
She watched in the mirror as Summer strolled up alongside her, bumping her flank against hers with a smile.
“Because you’re about to go out on a date with the colt you love.”
The plan was to meet at the courtyard at around half past midday to allow us a chance to get all of our responsibilities out of the way before the evening. I left my chambers with Wick and Pyre in tow, amusing themselves with what foods to try and what rides to test, and attempting to distract me from my anxiety.
In the courtyard stood Lady Sapphire and Summer Hearth, patiently waiting for us to arrive.
“Uh oh, it appears Lady Sapphire has gone to great lengths to look her best for tonight.” Wick pointed out.
Panic started to set in for me, not knowing if I had taken the easy way out and not tried hard enough to dress the best I could.
“Oh sweet Celestia, he’s wearing a hoodie! That’s one hay of a power move!” Summer hissed.
“Power what?” Sapphire questioned.
“He thinks that you think that he thinks this is just another regular day, but he knows that you know that this isn’t. Which is why he’s thinking he can get away with wearing a hoodie.”
Sapphire simply stared at Summer, unable to pick up any notion of what she was trying to say.
Summer gripped Sapphire’s arm tightly to whisper to her up close.
“He’s going to try and kiss you!”
Sapphire’s body nearly froze over with ice from sheer embarrassment over the idea of it, but forced it back down as they Phoenix brothers arrived.
“Hey… Sapphire.” I mumbled awkwardly.
“Hi.” Sapphire replied quietly.
It was exactly four seconds into their meeting and the awkward tension between them was already apparent to every pony. Pyre kicked the back of Smolder’s leg, trying to signal him to say something else.
“It’s… nice to see you… again.” I said slowly.
Wick rolled his eyes into a hoof palm over my painful awkwardness, but surprisingly it brought Sapphire a huge smile.
“I’ve… I’ve been looking forward to this all day.” Sapphire replied. “I’m hoping we can try some of the food vendors first.”
“Me too!” I blurted out.
Sapphire beamed at me, carefully stepping to the side to let me walk beside her. I swallowed hard, trying to remain calm about it. Together we started off towards the carnival leaving the Twins and Summer behind.
“I do hope that they come to some sort of understanding by the end of the night.” Pyre mentioned.
“Don’t worry, they will.” Summer reassured.
The Twins glanced at Summer, who in turn cleared her throat from nearly revealing privy information about what Lady Sapphire and her spoke of last night.
“Have a wonderful time at the carnival tonight, my Lords.” Summer said with a bow.
“Are you not planning on joining in the festivities?” Pyre questioned.
“I have a previous engagement.” Summer replied.