Twilight Sparkle and Crimson walked out of Ponyville to the outskirts of town with a forest in the distance. Twilight smiled and looked over to Crimson. “You seem to be lightening up.”
Crimson looked up at the sky. “This is a… strange feeling. This ‘freedom.’ Not having to watch my back all the time.”
“There’s still so much you can learn from friendship. Even I’m still learning from it.”
Crimson looked at Twilight. “That was a lost term. The only ‘friendship’ I knew was use any pony you can to grow in authority and power.”
Twilight looked at Crimson sympathetically. “It must have been hard.”
“It was seemingly impossible at times. I am glad that life is behind me.”
The road led to a small bridge over a calm river. The road curved up and around a cliff side to a house built inside of a tree. Birdhouses and various wildlife scoured the lands in a calming harmony.
Crimson looked around at the strange lands. “What is this place?”
Twilight turned her head as she walked up the small bridge. “This is Fluttershy’s cottage.”
Crimson observeed a bird landing on the crest of his tail. “These creatures, they are not afraid of us?”
“Fluttershy has a way with animals.” Twilight said as they both arrived at the door. Twilight rose a hoof to knock, then stopped to listen. She leaned to her left, then took a few steps towards the side of the house. “Oh, there she is.” Crimon took a few steps to see what Twilight Sparkle was looking at when he saw the pink mane and tailed yellow pegasus petting small furry creatures ever so gently. “Come on.” Twilight walked towards Fluttershy.
The bird jumped and flew off of Crimson’s tail as he followed not too far behind Twilight. “Do these animals obey her command?”
Twilight looked back to Crimson lightly baffled. “What? No. She’s just… really kind.”
“And being kind controls the animals?”
Twilight smiled and faced forward. “Kindness has its own rewards. You’ll see.”
The animals looked up at the two approaching ponies. Fluttershy turned her head. “Oh, hello.” She said in her soft voice. Twilight and Crimson stopped in front of Fluttershy.
“Fluttershy, you remember Crimson.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Ms. Fluttershy.” Crimson greeted Fluttershy with a bow.
Fluttershy drooped her head and looked away from Crimson. “Hi.” She said in a shy manner.
Crimson turned to Twilight. “Every one of your friends do not trust me.”
“That’s because of the circumstances.” Twilight walked up next to Fluttershy. “It’s okay. Every other pony seems to like him. Give him a chance.”
Twilight looked up at Twilight. “Oh, alright.” She looked up at the heavily armored pony. He stood in a strong and intimidating posture, looking down at the poor, frightened pony. Fluttershy gulped and tried to take a breath. “Do you… Uh… Have any pets?”
“Pets?”
“Yeah, like a small animal you treat with care and affection.”
Crimson shook his head. “I was given no such responsibility where I am from.”
Fluttershy looked away. “Oh.”
An awkward silence erupted as Crimson looked around. “How do you control these creatures?”
“They’re my friends.” A bunny hopped next to Fluttershy. She leaned her head down and lightly nuzzled the furry creature as Crimson watched in astonishment.
Twilight walked up to Crimson. “Like I said, she’s really good with animals.”
Crimson stared at the unusual behavior before him. “I would have to agree. Where I am from, this ‘kindness’ of yours is a sign of great weakness and is snuffed out.”
“Oh my.” Fluttershy looked up at Crimson. “That’s so terrible.”
Another brief awkward silence ensued. “Would you mind telling me how you befriend these animals?”
“Well, it’s not that h-“ Fluttershy stopped in mid-sentence as Crimson lifted his hoof. He looked around in the distance.
Fluttershy and Twilight looked up to see what Crimson was looking at. Both of their eyes widened. “Oh no.” Fluttershy whimpered as the ponies looked upon a raging forest fire. Fluttershy spread her wings and flew toward the fire. Twilight ran to keep up as Crimson stood and watched from Fluttershy’s cottage.
The fire spread and animals fled out of the forest in fear. “EEEEE!” Fluttershy shouted in horror as she spotted a family of bunnies hiding behind a hollowed log trapped in a ring of fire.
Twilight looked in the forest to see what she was looking at. She gasped when she saw the bunnies. “Fluttershy, get ready to help the animals escape! I’ll try to slow the fire down!” Fluttershy noded, then got ready to go into the inferno. Twilight’s horn glowed as she pointed her horn at the fire. A beam of light shot from her horn at the fire, trying to weaken the flames. Fluttershy seizes the opportunity and tried to go into the fire, but got stopped by a wall of intense heat.
“I… I can’t!” Fluttershy hovered in midair above the flames. “It’s just too hot!”
Twilight exerted more strength into her spell to try to tame the flames, but nothing happened. “Eah! I can’t! It’s just too strong!”
Crimson walked up to Twilight. “You are a gifted practitioner.”
Twilight tries to stay focused on her magic. “Less talking, more helping!”
Fluttershy looked in horror as the ring of fire closed in on the bunnies. “We have to save them!”
Crimson looked up at the hovering pegasus. “You wish to risk your lives for these animals?”
Twilight’s magic faltered as she struggled to maintain focus. “Can you… Can you help or not?”
Crimson stared into the fire for a moment. Then, he reached his hoof up and took out a trinket from his mane. He reached over and attaches it to Twilight’s mane. “Focus your fire magic into the fire agate. The enchantments I embedded into the gems should enhance your-“
“HURRY!” Fluttershy shouted and she started to bite on her hooves in fear and anticipation.
Crimson looked at the panicking Fluttershy, then back at Twilight. “Twilight Sparkle, try to keep the fire from spreading.” Crimson spread his leathery wings.
Twilight cracked open her eyes and looked at Crimson. “Wh- What are you going to do?”
“Get in the ring.” Crimson jumped into the air as high as he could with a few flaps of his wings, then stretched them out as far as he could. In an instant, he glided fearlessly into the inferno. Fluttershy looked in horror as he gained speed and closed in on the wall of fire. Twilight took a deep breath, and then tried to focus her magic into the fire agate in her mane. The agate lit up, then a burst of blue flame shot out of Twilight’s horn. The recoil of the magic took Twilight by surprise, knocking her off her hooves and making her fall to the ground.
Fluttershy looked at the staggered Twilight. “Twilight!”
“I’m okay.” She got back up on her hooves.
Fluttershy gasped as she watched Crimson move closer to the flames. “He’s almost in the fire!”
Twilight pointed her horn at the fire, then tried to focus her magic again in the agate. Again, the magic recoild and she got knocked on her hind legs. The blue fire shot wildly into the air as Twilight struggled to regain her balance.
“Hurry!” Fluttershy shouted in a quiet tone.
“I’m trying!” Twilight grunted as she finally got back on her front hooves. Using all of her strength, she struggled to point the blue fire into the raging inferno.
Crimson closed in on the fire. He felt the heat intensify as he glided closer and closer to the flames. He took his final breath, collapsed his wings, then closed them over his head. His horn glowed as he got engulfed by an orb of protective flames. Then, he dove head first into the wall. Sweat poured from his brow as he struggled to keep on course. His wings over his face diverted much of the heat from hitting his face and his armor absorbed some of the flames that threatened to burst his coat in flames. Then, his hooves hit the ground and he slid into the middle of the ring of fire. Crimson flapped his wings a couple of times to cool them off, then folded them against his side.
Fluttershy clapped excitedly. “He’s through!”
Twilight Sparkle finally hit her mark. The blue flames hit the outer layer of the fire and caused the ground to glow. The fire ceased to spread, but refused to die down. Twilight collapsed from exhaustion. She panted, trying to catch her breath. “Wow... That thing… packs a punch!” She looked up gasping. “Did it work?”
“I think so.” Fluttershy stared in suspense. “But the fire is getting closer to the bunnies.”
“And to Crimson.” Twilight gulped.
“Twilight!” Twilight Sparkle turned around and looked up to see Rainbow Dash fly down.
“Rainbow!” Twilight exclaimed. Rainbow Dash landed next to Fluttershy and Twilight.
“You two okay?”
“Yes, but Crimson…” Twilight looked back at the flames.
Rainbow Dash looked at the forest fire. “Crimson? That creepy red pony?”
Fluttershy turned around and looked toward Crimson. “He’s in there saving some helpless bunnies.”
Rainbow Dash looked at the fire, then looked behind her. “We’ll get this fire out. Stay here.” Rainbow Dash bolted into the air as more pegasai flew toward the blazing inferno.
Crimson walked to the hollowed log and looks down. “I am here to assist you.” The bunnies just stared at him and shook in fear. He looked up and out toward Fluttershy, who was hovering from a distance. “I guess I should have asked her how to communicate with these creatures.” Crimson looked around at the shrinking ring. His horn glowed as he stood on his hind legs. Then he stomped on the ground as hard as he could. The earth started to crack and open through the ring of fire. Crimson leaned his head back, then whiped his head down toward the ground, shooting fire from his horn hitting the wall of flames.
Twilight finally regained some of her strength and she staggered back on her hooves. Then, a blast of fire shot out of the wall of fire. “What was that?”
“I think it was Crimson.” Fluttershy tried to fly up, but the intense heat stopped her in her tracks.
Crimson put his head on the fallen hollowed log where the bunnies hid in fear and turned it toward the small ditch he made with his earth and fire magic. His horn glowed and the opening sealed up with dirt and rock. The magic made the rock and dirt merge and form a solid lid. He turned around and took a deep breath, then bucked the log, shooting it through the shallow ditch. The fire engulfed the log, charring the bark as it pierces the inferno.
Twilight and Fluttershy saw a log shoot out of the wall of fire just as the ring collapsed in on itself, engulfing the trapped pony. The log smoked as it came to a stop away from the flames. Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle rushed to the smoldering log. They saw the rocks sealing the log creating a shelter from the fire. Twilight’s horn glowed as she cracked open the middle of the log. Fluttershy almost faints from the excitement as she saw all of the bunnies hop out relatively unharmed. “He did it!”
“It’s okay.” Fluttershy landed and comforted the scared bunnies. “You’re safe now.” The bunnies huddled close to Fluttershy as she cradled them, then they all look back into the fire.
Twilight looked at the fire that engulfed where the bunnies were. “Can you see him?”
Fluttershy looked at the flames as well. “No.” The two just watched and waited, hoping for a miracle. Minutes pass and nothing happened. Finally, the pegasai get their rain clouds over the fire and start to pour rain down to extinguish the flames.
Twilight’s eyes start to water as hope started to wane. “No.” Twilight whispered to herself.
The ground lightly shook and started to crumble on itself. Then a small sinkhole hit as the ground crumbled around it. Twilight, Fluttershy, and the family of bunnies looked at the hole, wondering what it is. Then, an armored clawed hoof reached up from the hole and on the ledge. Then a second one. Then Crimson’s head slowly rose as he lifts himself from the hole.
Twilight’s eyes popped in astonishment. “CRIMSON!”
“He’s alive!” Fluttershy quietly exclaimed as Twilight jumped up and ran to the ledge. She grabbed his front hooves and helped him out of the hole. He finally crawled out of the hole and the two collapsed to the ground.
“How… How did you do that?” Twilight asked, trying to catch her breath.
Crimson laid on his back and panted from exhaustion. “An earth spell… Dissolves earth and rock… And turns it to sand.” He rolled over and stood up. “Since I could not… go over the fire… I went under the flames.” He extended a hoof and helped Twilight up.
Twilight accepted Crimson’s help and stood up. “Good thinking.”
Fluttershy looked at bunnies’ savior. “Are you okay?”
“I have sustained worse.” Crimson replied in pride.
Crimson looked at Fluttershy, who was consoling the bunny family. He walked up to them. “Are they injured?”
Fluttershy looked down at the family and briefly looked them over. “No, they’re all okay.” She looked up at Crimson. “Thank you.”
Crimson bowed as Twilight walked up next to him. “Here.” She lifted her hoof and took out the enchanted trinket in her mane. Crimson took the trinket and puts it back in his mane. “That thing is amazing.” She took a closer look at Crimson. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look like you’re burnt.”
“I am okay.” Crimson looked at the diminishing wall of fire as rain pours down over the flames. “It would seem that you stopped the fire from spreading.”
“Your trinket saved Ponyville.”
“I am glad it helped.”
Crimson, Fluttershy, and Twilight Sparkle watched the pegasai fight the fire for over an hour. Afterwards, Rainbow Dash landed next to the three. Crimson stood up at Rainbow Dash’s arrival. “Phew, we have the fire under control.”
“I’m glad.” Twilight replied. Rainbow Dash stared at Crimson. “Oh, sorry. Rainbow Dash, this is Crimson.”
Crimson bows. “It is a great honor to mee-“
“Yeah, yeah.” Rainbow Dash said, cutting Crimson off. She diverted her gaze from Crimson and looked at Twilight and Fluttershy. “What happened?”
Twilight steped up. “I don’t know. The fire just popped out of nowhere.”
“And Crimson saved a family of bunnies.” Fluttershy added.
“Oh whooptie doo.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
“Hey, if it wasn’t for Crimson and his enchanted jewelry, the fire could have spread and could have destroyed Ponyville.”
Rainbow Dash slowly glared at Crimson. “What’s your game, Destroyer?”
“Rainbow!” Twilight snapped.
Crimson lifted his head. “I understand your disdain.”
“Yeah, I bet you do.” Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and hovered in midair.
Crimson observed Rainbow Dash. “You ponies are amazing.”
“Whu?” Rainbow Dash asked in confusion.
“Your powers… You can completely defy gravity, and you can summon water from your sky.”
“You mean ‘fly?’” Rainbow Dash looked at Crimson’s wings. “You have wings. So use’em.”
“Is that how you are defying gravity?” Crimson gently moved his wings.
“It’s called ‘flying!’” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
Fluttershy stood beside Crimson and looked up at Rainbow Dash. “Oh, Rainbow Dash. Give him a chance.”
Twilight took Crimson’s side as well. “He’s not as bad as everypony made him out to be.”
Rainbow Dash looked at the votes of confidence at the stranger. “Fine. See ya guys.” Rainbow Dash shot up into the air.
Crimson watched Rainbow Dash fly with ease as she vanished from his sight. “Simply amazing.”