//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Dancing Flames // Story: Raise You Like a Phoenix // by Gapeagle //------------------------------// "Have you seen Sunset anywhere?" "No, Your Highness. I have not seen Sunset Shimmer anywhere all day." "You lost her?" "I apologize, but she was obviously gone before my shift." "Corporal Armor, I'm disappointed." The Royal Guard was about to cry upon hearing those heartbreaking words from the Princess of Equestria. He shook in his armor, making loud rattling noises that only further flustered the princess. Celestia narrowed her eyes on him, but soon sighed and looked away. "Fine. I believe I know where she is. You stay here and act like she's in her room. Do you understand?" "Yes, Your Highness!" he saluted awkwardly. He's such an odd stallion. I doubt he'll ever marry. Celestia rolled her eyes and left him there, still saluting in all his oddness. With a slightly faster pace than she would normally walk, she went over to the Cave's entrance. It was at the end of a long hallway that lacked any decoration and any signs of use. Not even that maids attended to this isolated part of the palace as cobwebs and dust covered the walls like grey paintings. At the end of this dull and mundane hall was the thick door that led into the Cave. She slowly opened it, checking the corners with caution before opening it all the way to enter. There were definite signs of recent activity. Some books were scattered on the floor, showing that Sunset had been somewhat busy. Her hoofs tried to lightly touch the floor as it was easy for small sounds to echo in the Cave. "Sunset?" she asked the air. "Sunset Shimmer, are you down here?" "Yes! Your Highness, I'm over here!" "'Your Highness?'" Celestia said in genuine surprise. This can't be good. Sunset Shimmer came from running from one part of the basement and slid to a stop before her. She had an odd smile on her face and she was panting slightly. The princess held her mouth agape as she looked about the partly tired student. "What have you been up to?" Celestia asked suspiciously. "Just anything you want me to," was the response. "I came here to study and practice on my techniques. You may smell some things burning, that's because I brought some straw dummies down here. It was only after I burned them that I remembered this place lacked a....a place for the smoke to go." "This is very odd of you. Not the burning part, but you're smiling." She cheerfully replied. "I've just decided to start being your student. You know, start taking this stuff seriously." "Do you want something?" Celestia's tone was still slightly accusing. "No..." "Sunset, I was not born yesterday. You want something and you want it badly enough to try and trick me here and now. A pony does not change so quickly in one night. Even after I offered you my bed, the morning after you went on a rant about how I mistreated you. Now you are here, acting as a completely different pony and you expect me to buy your act?" "Oh come on, I mean it this time. I was just mad on that day, that's all. I mean, you gave me this place and I love it. Your niece is nice and we talked and-" "That's not what she said to me. From Cadance, it sounded like you simply wanted her to leave." "Well, I had to study and-" "She also said you acted strangely after she mentioned how she became an alicorn." "Just a coinciden-" "Sunset, you may be a good thief, but you are a poor liar. Well, you may trick somepony with your sudden change of attitude, but I am not one of them. After a thousand years of ruling, I know very well when I am being lied to." The student only answered with a disapproving frown. Her brows were angrily furrowed and her legs trembled with hate. She first looked Celestia right in the eyes, but her stare dropped shamefully to the floor. A muttered curse let her throat and she uttered nothing more. "What made you do this?" Celestia asked and placed a hoof on the student's shoulder. "I don't know, win your favor? Somethin' like that," she spat. "Sunset, what I'm looking for in you is not you acting like somepony you're not." "That's not what ya told me at the school." "That's because it was necessary for you to behave better to be enrolled. With me, I know you. I can tell when you are acting out of character to gain something. Now, if you do want to change, then go for it. Ignore what I say here. By studying and trying to be better, you will become better. I don't make you study so much because I want you to learn knowledge, but because it keeps you from doing other things, like hurting or stealing. Of course, any pupil of mine shall excel at magic. You already do though, so I won't stress that much during your time here. I am preparing you for a lot." Sunset kept her gaze away from the princess. "Will you make me into an alicorn?" "Here comes the truth," Celestia chuckled to herself. "Ah, my dear, I will not simply grant you alicornhood. Cadance was an exception for many reasons, one of them being her purity of heart. It was clear she was destined for something magnificent. She may be pink and full of sunshine, but she is as tough and determined as ponies come. I have no basis to give you wings or power. You will have to earn that." Hopefully she takes this well. Hm, why would she wish for something so specific and so suddenly? Upon hearing her own last words, Celestia started to regret the straightforwardness. Her eyes looked upon the frowning student dotingly, but it was clear that Sunset was not feeling any mutual sympathy. "I...I see," she stammered. "I'll take your word for it. I can't be trusted, woop-de-doo!" "Sunset, don't take it personally. If you really do care about earning such responsibility, I may consider it if you truly excel and even surprise me. I will not promise you anything, but I can offer you my time and effort to help you." "Yeah...sure," she uttered. Finally. "Then shall we begin?" "Now, not all magic you shall learn will be combat-based. I simply like starting with it because I know you'll be interested. So, the first magic lessons shall be on pyromnacy." "But I know everything about that. C'mon, Celly, I'm pretty good with fire." "No, you're good at burning things. There is a difference." Celesia's horn glowed and a flame sprouted from the air. Sunset looked at the tranquil flame with mild interest. The fire was a thing orange with wisps of red and yellow. It danced in the air for a little bit before suddenly growing. Celestia's magic manipulated the flame so that it started to swirl about the air like a snake that could fly with ease. It whirled and flew about the Cave. It would even maneuver between Celestia's legs as if it was alive. After doing its tricks, it "sat" on the ground between both of them, seemingly looking at Sunset with flame-made eyes. "The manipulation of fire requires more than emotion," Celestia explained. "It requires a sort of connection with the flames. You see, Sunset, I remember you stating that you knew how burns felt because you are a pyromancer, well that's because you allow the fire to burn you due to your carelessness. Handling fire is a risky business and absolutely needs your utmost attention, not your pure feelings." Sunset looked unconvinced. "How do you know so much about fire?" "How do you think I move the sun?" Celestia asked back. "Oh..." "Now Sunset, pyromancy is not simply about attacking or burning up every object you come across, it's about focusing both your mind and emotions on a single task that requires a tremendous amount of mental energy. As you probably know, teleporting is a precise calculation in your head and if you mess up the calculation, you'll end up in a different location." "You know Celly, if I didn't know this stuff, I wouldn't have been able to cast spells that I do. I know all this already." "Really? Then create a raw flame and make it dance between your legs without burning any hair in your fur coat," Celestia deadpanned. "Fine!" Sunset's magic flared and a flame much like Celestia's appeared. She also made it swirl through the air and likewise made it act like a sort of snake. However, when it met her legs, a fierce yelp flew from her mouth as the flame singed her pale fur, making her jump in the air. Upon receiving the pain, the flame faded away into the air while Celestia's fire still remained "sitting" in its spot. That's what I thought. "Fire doesn't like you, it seems." "Why should I care? Fire is something not alive. It's combustion!" Sunset growled as she looked upon her burned leg. "It's not about the fire itself, it's about you," Celestia summoned a bottle of burn ointment and gave it to her student who promptly took it and applied it to her wound with a muttered curse. "Now ya speaking nonsense, Celly," Sunset said. Celestia patiently continued. "It's a hard subject to explain, even if you read it in a book. This is most likely the main reason they denied you from entering my school. If you can't control your mind and your thoughts, you can't control the fire. Magically controlling a flame with hateful thoughts and raw emotion is the same as pouring a flammable liquid upon a bonfire. It will become a more intense fire. My flame can be sustained peacefully there because I only feed it peaceful and calm thoughts. Yes, I could run it on malevolent feelings, but then it would not stay put where I placed it. Instead, it would try to spread its destructive nature to anything and everything. Pyromancy reveals a lot about the pony who wields it. With how you control fire in such a damaging manner, I can tell that your mean thoughts are sincere." "So what, you're telling me to stop being...angry?" Sunset asked in disappointment. "That's precisely what I'm telling you, the princess chuckled in mild amusement. "That's another reason I gave you the Cave, so that you can meditate and expend your anger out on me so that when you leave here, your magic will not go awry." "I guess... I mean, how are ya gonna get me to be less angry? I don't think you can just shake me up and poof! it all goes away," Sunset shrugged. "But with good friends and companions, it can be done," Celestia noted. "You've already taken the first step by not totally disregarding my proposals. I think another good step will be to learn how to contain yourself from a violent outburst. Best way to train that is to do some more pyromancy. So please, create another flame." Sunset sighed and her magic made another floating flame. She held it there without much interest and awaited further orders from the princess. "Ahem, how are you doing, Sunset?" Celestia asked motherly. "Huh? What kind of question is that?" the student responded. "Keep the flame going. Ahem, how was your morning?" "Good I guess..." "I'm glad." "What's the point of this?" the student frowned, making the flame glow brighter. Do not be impatient with her. "Stay calm, please. This is an exercise. Let us have a quiet conversation and sustain our flames." "Oh..." Sunset nodded. "I'm not suppose to get angry or sour am I?" "Nope," Celestia shook her head slowly. "Well then, I guess my day's been going swell. I did get to snatch some muffins from the kitchen, right under the chef's snout," Sunset boasted. "Good to see you're still using your talents," Celestia giggled. "Oh, did you hear what Raven did?" "Your secretary? Nah, nothing." "Well, I told her to accept of reject a whole bunch of petitions. I mean, I could have done it myself, but I didn't. Well, anyway, she accepted some of the most bizarre of petitions. We have fourteen new holidays to celebrate, including 'Drunk Day' and 'Hearth's Warming Eve Eve Eve Eve's Eve.' Not only that, but now sodas are banned in some cities. The things ponies would demand of me are hilarious." "Drunk Day?" Sunset chuckled. "I'll participate." "You're underaged." "Well, you can change the law for one night, can't you Princess of Equestria?" "Hehe, I could, but that would be awful. Imagine a whole bunch of drunk teenagers..." "Sounds like every Friday night." "Huh?" Celestia raised a brow, making her flame jerk to the left, which reminded her of their exercise. She decided to change the subject. "Did you know that I used to be the biggest party mare in Equestria? When I had been established as Equestria's ruler, I did not take it as seriously as I should have. Well, I was still mature and all, but the power that had been bestowed on me was so sudden and intoxicating that I went along with the feasts and banquets. You may not know this, but ponies back then were absolutely insane when they partied. It's only now that the noble ponies come to make such mundane parties like the Grand Galloping Gala." "Sounds like fun," Sunset nodded. "It's hard to imagine you getting down on the dance floor." "I was never a great dancer," Celestia laughed. "Not with those four left hooves," Sunset remarked mockingly. "Have you ever gone dancing?" Sunset hesitated at the question, making her flame move about. "I uhh...not really. I've never been anywhere formal, if that's what you're asking." "But you've gone to parties, right?" "I was never invited to them, but yeah. I've been in clubs and stuff, but I've only gone there to steal something or another. This one club owner had beaten up this kid for some reason and that kid wanted me to make him pay up. So I stole his bits and gave them to the kid." "Ponies come to you for aid?" "Only some," she said, making the flame move more and more to each side. "When I say that I'm good at stealing, I mean it. Any magic vault, safe, or fortress I can break in." "It is remarkable. I believe you since you got into my magic vault twice. You're still a young mare; who in Equestria taught you how to be such a skilled burglar?" Sunset's flame faded a little and she lowered her eyes. "A pegasus stallion named Wing Beat." "Interesting. May I meet this fellow?" "Pshaw! Heck no! He's not the kinda guy to keep tabs on. It's been like a year since I last saw him." "Do you know anything about him?" Celestia said calmly. "Nothing really. He's a Royal Guard vet. I think he served in Cloudsdale. That's all I know really," she uttered as her flame continued to dwindle. "And yet he taught you such skills?" Celestia probed. "Was there a reason for him teaching you?" With that last question, the flame died out completely, indicating that Sunset lost focus and gave in to some driving nervousness. The student gulped and continued to look down at the floor. This made the princess sigh and her fire was snuffed out as well. "You do not need to answer that until you are ready. The last thing I should do is to pry information from you. However, I will advise that it may help you if you reveal it all to me. It will help us both go forward." "Some other time," Sunset barely muttered. "Do you want to continue?" "Naw, I'll stay down here. You can go do princess-y things," she told the ruler. "See you later then," Celestia smiled and turned to leave. The princess walked through the entrance and shut the large door behind her. She could hear Sunset speak to herself on the other side, but did not try to listen in. Instead, she summoned a notepad and a pencil along with it. Wing Beat, eh? That is certainly a name I must remember. If he was a Royal Guard, there must be documents on him and his time in the military. What do they say today? I should "dig" up some information. With a smile, she wrote the name down and dismissed the writing materials in a flash. "Luna, dear sister, I would say today is successful. I've learned more about this mysterious pony. I hope you're watching, because I shall not make the same mistakes that I did with you."