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// Candles - Formerly Committed 
// Story: TwiDash Prompt Collab 
// by TwiDashCollabs 
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Two pairs of eyes stared at Twilight’s home. What was left of it anyway. The fire had been mostly contained by now and the immediate threat of the entire castle burning down was gone. The outside structure of the castle seemed unaffected, save for a few scorch marks here and there. The inside, Twilight didn’t want to think about what inside looked like. Smoke poured out of every orifice, blotching out the moon in the once clear sky.

Fireponies ran this way and that. Inside and out, checking for any remaining hot spots or hidden fires. Ignoring the two mares huddled under a fire blanket, a protective wing wrapped around each other. After insuring that the two were unharmed, and that no one else was inside they quickly began unrolling hoses to combat the fire.

Twilight and Rainbow sat in silence, neither of them daring to speak, not wanting to confirm what had just happened. So they sat, with an unfocused stare, not wanting to see Twilight’s home in ruin, and yet not being able to look away. Completely oblivious to the outside world they didn’t even notice their friends quickly approaching.

“Twilight! Rainbow! Are ya’ll alright?” Applejack called out as the four mares skidded to a halt in front of Twilight and Rainbow.

Neither Rainbow nor Twilight made any indication that they were aware of the other girls’ presence. They simply sat there. The four looked between each other with concern.

“Oh--Oh my...I think they’re in shock. What do you think happened?”

“Oh! Oh! Maybe the Flim Flam brothers came back and saw Twilight’s super awesome castle and got super jealous so they came up with this eeevil plan to try and swindle Twilight out of her castle but Twilight was way too smart for them so they decided if they can’t have it no one can and burned it to the ground!--” Pinkie paused, taking a huge gulp of air ”--that or fire ants.”

Pinkie’s spiel left everyone, who wasn’t her, now in shock. Even some of the fireponies stopped to gawk at the ranting pink pony. Pinkie just smiled unknowing or uncaring about the stares she was now receiving.

“Pinkie…What in tarnation…?”

Rarity had been silent the entire time, save for a few hectic screams when Pinkie Pie first woke her up and she saw the smoke coming from the castle. He mind playing out every possible scenario as to how this could have happened.

“Twilight, dear. This...this wouldn’t have anything to do with those scented candles I loaned you earlier this evening would it?” She had asked innocently, almost as an afterthought.

Rainbow and Twilight blinked. In unison their heads swiveled to look at Rarity, both faces scarlet. The quickly looked away, briefly glancing at each other, and suddenly found the ground extremely fascinating.

No one had anything else to say.