//------------------------------//
// Burning Mare 
// Story: Crimson Mare 
// by Sphinx_Herald 
//------------------------------//

	Nova looks up at the building in front of her. Red and orange flames spill out of the windows and door. She can still see a pony stuck on the second floor as flames make their way toward her. Screams of agony fill the air as the ponies inside burn alive. The scent of burning flesh makes her want to vomit, but she can’t move. Her eyes are stuck on the burning building. Finally she’s able to pull her focus away from the house.
She looks around the rest of the town, all round her buildings are on fire and ponies are screaming. The thick black smoke from the fires block out the sun, leaving the fires themselves as the only light. She looks back at the building and then at the sign in front of it. It reads, Golden Oaks Library.
“This is all your fault!” She looks over at Spike, he is covered in soot, dust and blood. “You killed everybody!” His eyes are filled with anger and pain. Tears cut paths through the soot on his cheeks. He looks back at the library, there is no more screaming only the crackle of the blaze. “You killed Twilight.”
She follows his gaze to the burning tree. You don’t deserve this. Spike falls to the ground and starts crying. No one deserves this… She hears someone walk up behind her. She turns around and sees the princess of the night standing there.
“Quite a foreboding dream,” she says.
“No, it’s just another nightmare.” Luna’s horn begins to glow and the fire begin to die down.
“I assume this is the type of nightmare Twilight wanted me to cure you of?”
“No, she only thought they were nightmares, she never knew what they were of.” She looks back at the library. Even as the flames become smaller and smaller they warp into the shapes of faces. A figure moves through the fire. She quickly looks away. “She would have told Celestia if she knew…”
“These nightmares are troubling indeed. I’m sure my sister could--”
“Afford to not hear of this,” Nova says. “I would rather she doesn’t find out.”
“But--”
“Please don’t tell her. I’m nothing a princess should worry about. It just nightmares.”
"You'd be surprised at how dangerous a nightmare can be."
Oh please, we all know that these are so much more than just a nightmare.
Luna jumps back and looks around frantically. “Who’s there?!”
Of course she can hear him, she’s in my mind. She looks back at the library, a figure is standing in the burning doorframe.
“Who are you?” Luna asks spotting the figure.
“Sorry, Luna. But, he really isn’t someone you should meet.” She forces herself awake.



Nova blinks against the darkness of the cave, half expecting Luna to be hiding in the shadows. Once again the moon is far from setting, still high up in the sky. With a sigh she leans against the wall of the cave, a cool wind blows in from outside. Bastard, taunting a princess. You couldn’t have just stayed quiet.
What fun would that have been?
Nova groans and jumps off of the outcropping she slept on. She lands ungracefully on the ground, she gets back up and brushes herself off. She walks over to a small pile of rocks near the entrance to the cave. Pushing aside a few of the rocks she pulls her saddlebags out from the pile and walk back to the outcropping.
“Time to start facing the music,” she says not afraid anyone will hear her.
So, where are you going to start?
“Dodge.”
The voice chuckles in her head giving her a mild headache. Isn’t that where this all started?
“Not quite, it started when I met you. Dodge was the first place after Canterlot.”
Ah right, that place. It’s going to be nice to visit there again, old memories.
Nova huffs and tries to ignore him. She pulls a small, weathered notebook along with a pencil from the saddlebags.



Nova staggers slightly, almost falling to her face for the third time. She pause for a moment and looks up at the night sky. The moon is about three-quarters of it’s way through the sky. I really hate you.
It wasn’t my fault you woke up this time!
With a groan Nova continues down the path through Ponyville. The signs of the festivities from only a few hours ago are still easily present. Litter that scatters across the square, still a few games that are set up, and the occasional pony still walking about. Nova tries her best to avoid the latter.
I really miss when times were simple.
I don’t think they were ever simple.
Nova sighs and slowly shakes her head. “There were a few, not many, but a few.” The post office comes into sight. The building lacks the decorations that most of the others have, though the brick wall does look a little gloomy in the darkness. She stops at the door and stares at it for a few moments.
After a minute of mental squabbling she comes back to her senses and reaches into her saddlebag. She pulls a single piece of paper places it onto the door. Shifting the saddlebags the her left she turns to the train station.
Before she leaves she looks back up at the moon. “Celestia, give me strength.”



Twilight paces around the table in the main room of the library. Dark bags hang under her eyes. Books are sprawled across the table, open to seemingly random pages. Most talk about something to do with dreams and nightmares.
What does it mean? Why would she be having dreams of a burning Canterlot, Twilight thinks. She looks over at the books, but quickly starts pacing again. What was she so afraid of? I’m sure Luna could have helped with the nightmares. I wonder if she’s okay, she didn’t look so good last night. I would check on her if I knew where she lives. How could I not ask her where she lives?
A plate of pancakes is placed on a part of the table that isn't covered with books. “Calm down, Twi. You almost kept me up all night with your pacing,” Spike says, making room for a second plate of pancakes.
Twilight stops and looks at him. She blinks a few times then walks over to the table. “Sorry about that. I’m just worried for her. She didn’t look so good last night and that meeting with the princess didn’t make anything better. If anything it raised more questions!”
“She’s a grown mare, I’m sure she’s fine. Besides, wouldn’t anypony be scared if they met a princess?” Spike eats a large section of pancake in one bite.
“Yeah, but it felt like she was afraid Luna would find something out. And Luna told me she felt something unnerving about her as well, just like me and Rarity,” Twilight says. She sits down at the table, and starts cutting into the pancakes.
“She did say she’s from somewhere else, maybe she was afraid Luna would find out.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t explain why she would run. It also doesn’t explain the feeling. A lot of other ponies say they feel it too, something unnerving about her. And they’re all unicorns too, except Luna of course, it has to have something to do with magic.”
“Maybe you’re just overthinking this. She is new to town it might just be that that’s causing the nerves.”
“To only the unicorns? I doubt it. And then there’s the nightmare Luna told me about. The one where Canterlot is burnt to the ground.”
Spike looks up from his plate at Twilight. “Whoa, okay then. Maybe there is something about her, but how can it be magic related, she’s just a pegasus.”
Twilight stands up and heads for the door. “I’m going to go look for her. I have to make sure she’s okay, then I intend to find out what’s going on.”
“How do you plan on finding her?”
“I’ll ask around, it’s not like nopony saw her.”

Twilight sighs as she walks down the path to Rarity’s. Already she had been to the inn, the local apartment buildings, and to the few house in Ponyville being sold. But, Nova was at none of them, no one had even seen her since last night. How can someone just disappear? I really hope she didn’t just leave. Looking up at the midday sun she just sighs again and continues walking.
She knocks on the door to Carousel Boutique hoping that Rarity might know something. A green aura surrounds the door and it slowly swings open. Sweetie Belle sighs once the door is open enough for Twilight to walk through. She beams up at Twilight.
“Good job, you’re getting very good with your magic,” Twilight says petting her on the shoulder.
Sweetie’s smile grows wider. “Thanks, Twilight. I’ve been practicing really hard.”
“I can see that. Uh, I was wondering if your sister is home?”
“Oh, yeah, she’s upstairs. I’ll go get her for you.” Sweetie runs up the stairs. Twilight hears the clopping of little hooves above her followed by the sound of Sweetie knocking on a door. A few moments later she hears Rarity’s hoofsteps coming down the stairs.
“Hello, Twilight. How are you today?”
“Hey, Rarity. I’m a little tired, but nothing too bad.” A raised eyebrow from Rarity prompts her to continue. “I was up last night worrying about Nova. She ran off as soon as she met Luna. I’ve been looking for her all morning, but no one has seen her.”
“Oh my, do you have any idea why she ran?” Rarity asks bring a hoof to her mouth.
“No, no clue, Luna just mentioned something about Nova’s nightmares then she bolted,” Twilight says shaking her head.
“That doesn’t sound too bad. What were her nightmares about?”
“I don’t know about all of them, but Luna said there was one where Nova burnt Canterlot to the ground.”
“Oh dear, now that sounds bad.”
“I just want to find her to see what’s going on, and to make sure she’s okay. She was running on fumes yesterday.”
“Well, I wish you luck with finding her.”
“Thanks, I can use some luck. I don’t suppose you’ve seen her lately?”
“No, I haven’t. Well, asides from when she came here with you.”
“Alright then, I was just wondering. Well, I’m going to keep searching,” Twilight says heading for the door.
“Okay then, bye, Twilight.”
“Bye, Rarity.”
Twilight sighs as the door closes behind her. Of course, another bust. Where can she be staying? She looks back at the surrounding buildings. The pointed roof of the town hall catches her eye. Maybe Mayor Ma-- her thoughts are cut off by high pitched whistle coming from the train station.
Unless she left. With a few flaps of her wings she raises into the sky and starts weaving her way between the clouds. I probably haven’t found her because she’s leaving. I have to catch her before she goes. She sees a column of steam coming up from the other side of the train station along with the back end of a train on the tracks.
She lands panting on the platform. A nearby ponies look at her in confusment, but they all give her friendly smiles. Once she has her breath Twilight walks over to the ticket booth and the pony standing inside.
“Hello, princess. Want another ticket for Canterlot?” he asks.
Twilight smiles at him, but shakes her head. “No, not right now, but I want to know if you’ve seen a red pegasus.”
“Red pegasus... “ he taps his hoof to his chin, “Oh, I saw her walking off not too long ago. Just came back on the train.” Good, she’s still here. Wait, she came back? “I noticed her because she--” he doesn’t get to finish because she flies off again.
Twilight looks down at the ponies walking away from the station. But, there are too many ponies walking in too many directions for her to cover. This isn’t going to work. She’s about to double back when she hears a yelp.
Flying a few streets over she finds a rough circle of ponies. Three ponies stand in the middle. Fluttershy is cowering behind Rainbow Dash, Nova stands opposite to them.
“What’s wrong with you? She only wants to help, you don’t have to rip her head off!” Rainbow shouts.
“I don’t need any help!” Nova shouts back. She stomps her hoof into the ground, wincing slightly.
What’s going on? Twilight flies down to get a better look. Her blood runs cold once she can see them clearly. Nova is bruised and scratched, a particularly deep cut runs across her right shoulder. Her right foreleg is wrapped in bandages as well as one of her wings. The bags on her back are in better condition than her. Fluttershy is weeping softly behind Rainbow, keeping the cyan pegasus between her and Nova.
“Look at you, looks like you’ve just been through a boxing match! Just go ha--”
“I’m going home. Now, get out of my way.”
“Make me!” Rainbow shouts at her, she even takes a step toward Nova.
Nova snorts and goes to walk around, but Rainbow just steps in front of her. She flaps her wings a few times and lifts off the ground, Rainbow does the same. They fly for a few seconds before Nova’s wing gives out and she falls to the ground.
“What’s going on here?” Twilight asks, making her presence known.
“Fluttershy saw how hurt she is and said she should go to the hospital. And then Nova just started yelling at her!”
Twilight looks down at Nova expecting and answer. Nova just glares at Rainbow and uses the distraction to push her way around the pegasus. “I don’t want any help!”
Rainbow whips around to her. “Hey, come bac--” Twilight puts a hoof on her friend’s shoulder.
“Calm down, let me talk to her. You try to calm Fluttershy down.”
Rainbow looks from her to Nova then to Fluttershy, and back to Twilight. With a frustrated sigh she goes to the yellow pegasus. Twilight flies after Nova. She quickly catches up to the pegasus. “So, what was all that about?” Twilight asks as her hooves touch the ground.
“Nothing, I just don’t want any help.” 
Twilight looks at the bandages, but decides not to push any further. “I’ve been looking for you all morning.”
“I was in Dodge Junction.”
Twilight waits for further explanation, but none comes and they end up walking in silence. She’s not clearly not in the mood to talk about last night. “I don’t think you ever told me where you’re from. Before you came back to Equestria, I mean,” Twilight says after a few minutes of silence hoping the change in topic might improve her mood.
“I didn’t,” Nova says. Her voice is different than before, it sounds tired and sad. Twilight looks over at her, idly noting that they’re now outside of Ponyville. She looks the same, red coat, dark red mane, bags under her eyes, but now it looks as though there is no energy left in her. None of the energy for the fight a few minutes ago at least.
“Is something wrong?”
Nova’s eyes go cold and hard again. “No.”
Damn. Twilight looks away, now noticing the trees that stand on the right side of the path. Large rocks poke out of the ground every so often, and a large cliff face is the only thing she can see to her left.
Twilight looks back at Nova. She is trying to stand tall and strong, but she winces every time her right foreleg touches the ground. What is she so afraid to tell me? Well, might as well take the bull by the horns. “Nova, why did you go to Dodge Junction?”
“I was… paying off a debt.”
Twilight blinks a couple of times surprised that Nova gave a straight answer. Debt, what kind of debt involves being beaten? Before Twilight voice her concerns Nova turns to her left and goes into a cave in the cliff face.
She drops her bags onto the ground near the entrance and starts burying them under a pile of rocks. “What is this?” Twilight asks, looking around at the large chamber of the cave.
“My home,” Nova replies placing a final stone on top of the pile.
“Your home?! You’re not living in town? But, this is a cave! You can’t stay here it’s going to get too cold, you need a--”
“Could you please leave?” Nova asks walking to the middle of the chamber.
“No, I can’t just leave you out here--”
“I’ve had a long day. Can you please just let me get some rest?” her voice is once again tired.
“But--”
“Leave.” 
Twilight stares at her. With a defeated sigh Twilight walks to the entrance. “But, I want to see you at the library tomorrow.” Nova nods but doesn’t say anything.
Soon she is standing out in the cool autumn air. She can’t possibly stay in a cave. She looks back down into the cave once more then starts back toward Ponyville. What type of debt is so important that she came back to Equestria? What happened to her in Dodge? I’ll just ask her tomorrow when she comes over. But, why is she staying all the way out here? Might be money problems, she did barely have enough to pay for her lunch when I met her.
Taking a few deep breaths she tries to calm her thoughts. There’s a lot of questions and she doesn’t want to answer any of them. I’ll just let her rest… But why did I leave her? She stops in her tracks. How can she just leave someone who is clearly hurt? Nova needs someone there, might not want someone, but she needs someone. Twilight turns back to the cave. A large plume of black smoke billows out of the opening. 
“What the?” Twilight flashes back to her short memory of the cave. She doesn’t remember seeing anything that could burn, or really anything at all save for Nova’s bag. Twilight walks back to the cave. There is too much smoke coming from the cave for a normal fire. A growing sense of unease creeps down the back of her neck. Once she is at the mouth of the cave she can make out two distinct sounds coming from within, the crackle of fire, and crying.
Turning into the cave, a blast of hot air stings at her eyes. She closes her eyes for a few seconds before opening them. A orange glow comes from chamber inside, flames dance past the entrance. Twilight casts a protective bubble around herself and ventures back inside. Even from inside her shield she can feel the heat of the fire.
The crying becomes louder and with it comes another wave of heat. Twilight reaches the main chamber, trying her best not to flinch away from the fire. She almost drops her spell once she's fully inside.
Nova is lying in the center of the room crying into her arms, seemingly oblivious to the flames that surround her. Fire burns along her wings and down her back. Twilight almost runs over to her until she realizes that the fire is not hurting the pegasus. In fact, the fire is coming from her.
“Nova!” Twilight finally calls out.
The pegasus looks up, her eyes red and bloodshot, though it could be the fire giving them those colors. She lets out a little whimper and whips her arm across her muzzle. Then she sits up straight trying to look as strong as she can, and slowly the flames around her die down. Soon Twilight no longer needs the shield and she drops it, bearing the leftover heat on her own. “What? I thought I asked you to leave,” Nova says, focusing her golden eyes on Twilight.
“What was that?!”
“What was what?”
“You can’t just pretend that didn’t happen. Y-you were on fire, this whole cave was on fire.”
“Nothing happened,” Nova says. She walks over to an outcropping and jumps up onto it. She lies down with her back to Twilight.
For a moment Twilight struggles to find words. “Nova, how… how did you do that?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t try to pass it off as nothing. We… we have to tell Celestia, maybe she’ll know someth-- Ah!” With more speed that what should be possible in her state Nova pins Twilight to the cave wall. Small wisps of steam and smoke snake up from where Nova’s arm presses down on Twilight's throat. The heat burns into her throat making it feel like it’s on fire. Twilight tries to say something, but Nova presses harder on her throat.
“No one is going to tell the princess anything!” she shouts, her eyes now shimmering a goldish-orange. Twilight tries to pry Nova off her, but only manages to stop Nova from crushing her throat any further. The foreleg burns hotter making Twilight want to scream if she were able to breath.
Twilight focuses her magic in an attempt to free herself. But, before she can do anything Nova’s eye go wide. She gasps and drops Twilight to the ground. She backs up into one of the corners, keeping her eyes off Twilight.
With a gasp Twilight fills her lung with fresh, although still fairly hot, air. She touches her throat, painful but no permanent damage. “I’m sorry,” Nova says, from the sound of her voice she’s on the verge of a breakdown, if she hadn’t reached it already. Twilight looks up to find the crimson mare cowering in the corner. “I didn’t mean it.”
Twilight gets up, she looks between the exit and Nova a few times. She takes a step toward Nova. “Stay away from me, I don’t want to hurt anyone else,” the last part is barely over a whisper. Twilight stops, but she doesn’t leave. I can’t just leave her, I don’t know what’s going on but I know she needs help with… whatever that was.
They sit in partial silence. Nova doesn’t move from the corner, she looks like she’s going to cry, but never does. Twilight uses her magic to heal her throat. “Nova, what’s going on?” she asks once her throat is healed.
Nova just sits there looking at her own hooves. She doesn’t make any move for a minute and Twilight starts considering about asking again. “Please don’t tell the princess,” Nova finally says, making Twilight jump slightly. “Please, I just… need time.”
“But, the princesses can help.”
“That’s the problem,” Nova says to herself a flame ripples over her wing. She thinks for a moment, "I promise I'll tell you what I can tomorrow so long as you don't tell the princesses."
Twilight pauses and think over the offer. Finally some answers! But, she won't be able to tell either princess. “Okay then, I promise I won’t tell the princesses.”
“I’ll answer what I can at Lore’s place.” Twilight doesn’t bother questioning the thought of going to his place, being too overwhelmed with current questions. She simply nods.