//------------------------------// // Chapter 8- Sparks And Flames // Story: Reformed Unicorn Group Podcast // by Quoterific //------------------------------// "Thank you so much for coming to the Show, Ember," Starlight welcomed the Dragonlord, "I'm glad you found the time to be with us today!" "Of course. Once Thorax sent me a letter explaining your show, I was interested in being a part of it. We dragons have a bad reputation of being brutish," Ember laughed sheepishly, "But hopefully this will help us show that not all dragons are like that. Definitely after opening the School of Friendship." "Well, hopefully you will help many fears lay to rest with you on our program," Sunset reassured. "Thank you, Starlight," Ember said, not realising her mistake. "It's Sunset," Sunset corrected. "Oh, this again. You ponies have the strangest names. It's all with the sparkly, happy stuff," Ember huffed with annoyance. "You got a problem with that?" Tempest quirked a brow at that. "I mean, standing side by side, Twilight and Starlight looked the same and had marks with strange sparkly stuff on their flanks," Ember stated. "I told you before, but mine is a glimmer," Starlight's eye twitched. "I mean even standing next to Sunset and the blue one there are similarities," Ember pointed at the trio, "You're broken horn kind of makes it obvious for you there, dark purple one." There was dead silence at Ember's remark. "What?" Sunset and Starlight simultaneously shouted, much like Ember's encounter with Twilight. "The blue one has a name, and it's the Great and Powerful Trixie!" Trixie huffed with her cockiness shining through. "And I happen to have a good horn despite it not being there thank you very much!" Tempest snarled at the dragon, her broken horn sparking at the same time. "I'm just saying," Ember made her point, crossing her arms, "You are both unicorns with curly swirly downward hair with a streak running through it. You both have marks of some sparkly thing." "Okay, mine is clearly a sun spilt in half," Sunset pointed at her mark. "And Trixie's here is just some lame cape with a toy wand on it," Ember huffed smoke through her nostrils. "How dare you offend the Great and Powerful Trixie! My talents go beyond your wildest dreams, dragon," Trixie angrily pointed to her flank as well. "So how is that any different?" Ember scratched her head in irritation. "Not this again," Starlight groaned. "Spike even says you're starting to act like Twilight through his letters as well," Ember jabbed a claw to Starlight. "What?!" Starlight shouted, causing to Trixie to snicker. "You go all Twilighting with you have a friendship lesson or test. You even created checklists as well," Ember pointed. "I'm going to have a word with Spike when I get back," Starlight grumbled. "And what about that horn of yours?" Ember turned to Tempest. Starlight tried to signal Ember to cut whilst she was ahead, but it was in vain. Tempest's horn sparked some more. "My horn may be broken, but I'll have you know that it can still pack a punch when I want it to," Tempest warned. Starlight gulped. "Okay. No need to cause a storm in the the studio," Ember mocked. "And for a dragon, you are full of hot air," Tempest hit back. Both were practically face to face at this point. Starlight turned to Trixie with a pleading face, but somehow Trixie got out a bag of popcorn, observing the spectacle with satisfaction. Starlight facehoofed. However, the two suddenly burst out into laughter. "You're not so bad for a dragon, Ember," Tempest admired. "And for a unicorn without a horn, you can be pretty tough with you want to be," Ember smiled. "Aww," Trixie groaned with a bored tone, "And Trixie wanted to see a fight." "Firstly, this was meant to be a chat about how dragons not being so brutish. Secondly, I don't want to pay for property fire damage. Thirdly," Starlight gave a exasperated sigh, "Where did you get the popcorn?" "A true magician never reveals her secrets. Wink," Trixie quipped, giving a wink to her word. Starlight gave in. "We are going to take a break for now," Starlight tried to defuse the atmosphere, "Hopefully we will survive the break."