//------------------------------// // A Spark and a Fire Part 3 // Story: The Mirror and the Mare // by RefugeInSilence //------------------------------// Midnight Gleam had long since left Silver and I alone after swearing she wouldn’t tell anypony. She sounded sincere when she promised, but Silver still had his doubts although I think his was a more personal reason. “Do you think she’ll keep her word?” I asked, Silver just gave a shrug. “It’s not that I doubt her word Hearth Fire,” He replied calmly, “It’s just how long she’ll be able to keep it, and you know fine well how persistent Flash Lance can be.” “Hmm…” I sighed, he was right Flash Lance is going to be a big problem once he starts sticking his nose in other ponies business there is very little that can stop him. “It’s a shame really…” Silver spoke, “He is a good guy but I think his parent’s close mindedness rubbed off on him too much.” I had the pleasure of meeting Flash’s parents, it wasn’t like they were bad ponies, they were just very…intolerant of ponies like myself or those in same-sex relationships. “…” I remained silent, “Yeah…I know what it’s like to have parents like that, Celestia knows Flash and I have been friends since we were foals.” Silver Wind raised a brow. “Ah…so it’s more than just about keeping it from Flash then?” Silver wondered aloud. “Yeah…” I sighed, “Think about it, your foalhood friend who you consider one of your closest and oldest friends…who also wants to be a mare and is dating your other best friend behind your back. How does that sound to you?” Silver just shook his head, as he just walked by me and nuzzled my neck. “Hmm…I can see the problem.” Silver replied simply, “But the question is…what are we going to do about him?” “I…just don’t know….” I said solemnly. The following days past by slowly, and true to her word Midnight Gleam had managed to keep Flash Lance off my back for the time being. I could tell however he was far from finished from me. Today was going to prove to be interesting as we were having a guest speaker to take over our advanced life skills class, which was a mandatory class everyone had to take here. It wasn’t bad and it was more to help us prepare for future careers and problems we would face in life. “Right today class we have two guest speakers coming into speak with you in regarding…” The tutor hesitated in an attempt to find the right words, “Certain kinds of relationships, that I have heard many of you talk about and in regarding the rumours that have been going around lately.” “Rumours…oh that’s just great.” I thought bitterly. One of the students in the class put their fore hooves in the air and asked if it was anything to do regarding that mare they had seen on campus, but the tutor didn’t answer her. “Alright I would like to introduce Ms Rarity and Cheerilee.” As the tutor introduced them, as they entered the classroom my jaw just dropped. Now don’t get me wrong it’s not that it wasn’t a pleasant surprise, I was more than happy to see Rarity. “Hey Kindling, isn’t that the owner of the boutique that opened up a couple of weeks ago?” Flash Lance asked me. “Uh yeah I think so? Why do you ask?” I answered. “Hmm no reason I just think she’s pretty cute for an older mare.” I just shook my head at his answer. “Now everypony we are here to speak to you about same sex relationships and gender identity.” Cheerilee spoke up; Flash Lance just scoffed and muttered something under his breath. “Now in this day and age it isn’t uncommon to see two ponies of the same gender together as a couple, however some ponies still don’t approve of such relationships and as such can cause strains friendships and family relations.” “Tch, well it’s on their head then all those queers deserve everything they get. It just isn’t natural.” I let out and low annoyed growl at Flash Lance’s outburst. “…” Cheerilee remain silent and both her and Rarity shot him an annoyed look, “…and that sort of attitude isn’t helping anypony.” “Flash…just shut up!” I warned him, which caught the attention of the class. Those who knew me knew it was rare for me to lose my temper or snap at other ponies. “Jeez Kindling don’t tell me you approve of this kind of thing?” Flash asked; surprised I raised my voice to him. “So what if I do?” I snapped back, “Is that a problem?” “…” Flash just remained silent, deciding it was best to keep his mouth shut. “As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, the gender of some ponies should make no difference on if they want a relationship or not.” Cheerilee continued, “There are some ponies that wish to be the opposite gender of what they are born as, these ponies are known as being transgendered.” “Well so what difference does that make?” Flash interrupted her once again, “Ponies like that are not natural and shouldn’t even exist!” The silence that echoed throughout the room was deafening and the only thing that was heard next was the sound of Flash hitting the ground. Everyone just looked at me in shock, and saw I was visibly shaking with rage. Flash just looked at me in disbelief, completely surprised that I had decked him. “Kindling…?” Flash exclaimed. “J-just shut it Flash!” I snapped my voice shaking with each word, “I don’t want to hear anything from your mouth about how you hate ponies like that! Y-you’re nothing more than foolish ignorant pony who just hates something he can’t even understand!” “….seriously Kindling what’s gotten into you?” Flash asked me while he rubbed his cheek. “…I’m sorry Ms Cheerilee, Rarity…I just need a few minutes to myself to calm down before I say something I regret…” I apologised as I stepped out of the room. “It’s alright dear take as much time as you need.” Rarity answered, Everypony just looked at Flash Lance in disbelief, still completely surprised at my outburst at him. Rarity whispered something in Cheerilee’s ear. “I’m just going to check up on her.” Cheerilee just mouthed “her?” under her breath, before coming to a realisation of what Rarity had meant and nodding. I sat alone in an empty classroom I knew that would be empty at this time of the day, I was doing my best to calm myself down after decking Flash Lance square in the jaw. I couldn’t help but think how could I be friends with him with the attitude he has towards mares like myself. “…” I remained silent for a moment before sighing. “What am I going to do?” “Well darling, I suppose telling somepony you trust would help.” A distinctive voice I knew that belonged to Rarity spoke out, “If you would let me I would be more than happy to listen, that is if you would let me.” “…Flash Lance was the pony I told you about the other week,” I explained, “We’ve been friends since we were foals, but we’ve sort of grown distant from other.” “But with you being how you are, and his attitude towards transgendered and homosexual ponies…” Rarity added. “Yeah…” I replied, “That’s the reason why…and to be honest I’m not sure I want to have anything to do with him anymore…” Rarity took a moment to put together the situation in her head, before deciding how to answer. “Well darling, I can understand that sometimes that some friendships aren’t just meant to be.” She explained, “It’ll hurt I know but sometimes you really just have to let some friendships go…” “I know…” I answered, “I…I just think enough is enough.” In the Classroom Flash Lance sat silent, wondering why Kindling had reacted like that. For as long as they have known each other been close friends, maybe not the best of friends but friends none the less. Flash Lance couldn’t understand why they were drifting apart; he couldn’t help but wonder if his outburst earlier had anything to do with this. “Kindling couldn’t be a coltcuddler could he?” He mused, but shook his head to dismiss the idea. Ever since Kindling Spark had been avoiding him, because to Flash Lance no-pony is that busy all the time it just doesn’t make any sense. “Maybe I’ll ask Silver Wind later…” Flash thought, “He always seems to know what’s going on with Kindling lately.” There was various murmurs throughout the classroom, as Kindling Spark came back into the classroom along with Rarity, Flash Lance just couldn’t help but watch as Kindling just grabbed his things and moved to another seat at the far end of the classroom. Kindling just seemed exhausted and it looked like he had been crying. “Surely I didn’t upset him that much?” Flash Lance thought to himself. He briefly wondered if he could apologise to Kindling after class. Kindling Spark sat down at an empty desk, Cheerilee knew that look upon Kindlings’s face and it was never a good sign to see on any student. The rest of the lesson flew by without further incident, and after class I was led to an unused staffroom along with Rarity and Cheerilee. The teacher of the class, an earth pony called Rainfall Shimmer. “Right Mr Spark, could you please explain what that was all about?” she asked me. “Kindling is going through some rather personal problems,” Rarity answered for me, “What Flash Lance had said struck a nerve with her.” “Her?” Rainfall Shimmer asked with a raised brow, “But Kindling Spark here is clearly a stallion.” “…I-I’m not…” I said meekly, “…I-I’m a mare…my name is Hearth Fire…” Rainfall Shimmer just glanced at me, before deciding what to say. “Ah…I see the rumours where true then…” she said simply, “I was wondering who that mare everyone on campus was talking about.” I explained to Rainfall Shimmer about my situation and about Rarity’s offer to help me transition. “Is this wise Rarity?” Cheerilee asked, “I mean what would her parents say?” I know Cheerilee meant well with her concern, but it still brought up a sore point. “It wouldn’t matter…” I said sadly, “My parents kicked me out nearly two years ago and told me never to come back…they made it clear they want nothing to do with me.” “Then…where have you been staying all this time?” Rainfall asked. “Erm...I-er…” I blushed a little, “I’ve been staying with my coltfriend, Silver Wind.” “Silver Wind? You mean the courier that hangs around with you, Flash Lance and Midnight Gleam after lessons, that Silver Wind?” She asked. I just nodded my head in response. “I trust you’ll keep this between us?” Rarity asked Rainfall, “Of course, you have my word. I wouldn’t dream of outing my student like that.” She answered back. Flash Lance made his way to the campus cafeteria, hoping to find Kindling Spark or Midnight Gleam but couldn’t find either of them. He couldn’t understand why Kindling Spark was avoiding him and that outburst earlier. After looking around for over half an hour Flash Lance finally came across Midnight Gleam but before he could even say anything she had just walked past him with an look of pity and disappointment on her face. “Midnight…Please wait!” Flash called out but it was to no avail, Midnight Gleam just kept walking on leaving Flash Lance all alone with nothing but his thoughts. Flash just kept looking for what seemed hours for Kindling Spark; he needed to know why he reacted like that. Flash Lance decided to pay Silver Wind a visit, Flash knew that Kindling considered Silver Wind to be his best friend and would have some idea where Kindling could be. After reaching Silver Wind’s apartment Flash Lance knocked upon the front door, hoping to Celestia he would be in. To his joy Silver Wind answered the door and gave Flash Lance a quizzical look. “Flash? What are you doing here?” Silver questioned. “Silver have you seen Kindling around?” Flash wasted no time in asking. “I haven’t seen him since this morning. Has something happened?” Silver answered worried. Flash Lance told Silver Wind what had happened earlier that day, and all the while a stern look never left Silver Wind’s face. Silver just shook his head, muttering under his breath of how much an idiot Flash was for his outburst. “Well, you deserved to be decked like that for that outburst Flash.” Silver Wind stated simply, “You should know how Kindling is about stuff like that by now.” “Do you think I don’t know that by now?” Flash shouted, “I say one stupid thing and my oldest friend decks me out of the blue! What do you think I should do smart ass? I’ve been looking all over for him to apologise but he just doesn’t want to be found!” The opening of the apartment door caught both their ears which was followed by a very feminine voice. “Honey I’m home!” The voice called out to Silver. “Well the shit is gonna hit the fan now!” Silver thought to himself, but before he answered I entered the room leaving Flash Lance just slack jawed as the realisation just came upon him. “…F-Flash!” I panicked before turning angry, “You’ve got some nerve showing your face here!” “Honey calm down, Flash came here to apologise to you.” Silver sighed. “Y-you two…are together?!” Flash finally spoke up, “All this time…behind my back! Oh Celestia you’re both coltcuddlers…and that mare…that was…Oh Celestia you’re both sick!” “Get out! Now!” I shouted at Flash Lance, “After what you’ve said and done today I never want to see you ever again! Now get out of our home!” Without a word Flash Lance just got up and left muttering under himself about us being freaks as he slammed the door behind him.