//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Up In Flames // Story: Something Magical This Way Comes // by Gingerquill //------------------------------// Chapter 2: Up in flames Flames raged and roared through the town hall, licking their way along balconies and up walls, devouring curtains, tapestries and everything else they could reach, sending angry coloured smoke, billowing from windows and doors and up into the night sky. Illuminated in flickering orange hues, chaos reigned in the normally serene square, as ponies fled this way and that through the night in panic, trying to escape or save their possessions and carry loved ones away from danger. Amidst the havoc and disorder, firefighting teams were gathering and organizing volunteers into pony chains to fetch water from the wells and the river while pegasi urgently flew in search of rain clouds they could empty on the blaze. In the middle of it all, Mayor Mare frantically called instructions, desperate to protect her beloved town. “We need to get the surrounding buildings cleared first,” she told one of the fire fighters, “if the town hall comes down it could fall into one of them and hurt anypony not yet to safety.” The young stallion gave a crisp salute and galloped away as fast as he could in search of volunteers as Twilight landed, her wings flaring as she brought herself to a sharp halt. “Your highness, thank goodness you’re here!” Mayor Mare called. “I came as soon as I heard the bells, what happened?” “We just don’t know. One of the night watch ponies sounded the alarm, but no pony knows where he’s gone now!” Both Mayor and Twilight flinched as the town hall gave an ominous creak and groan as a section of the roof collapsed, spilling flames and sparks upward. “I don’t think that’s important right now Mayor, we need to concentrate on containing the fire and getting everypony safely away from here. You continue directing the fire fighters, I’ll go and help with the evacuation and send any volunteers your way.” “Right.” Mayor Mare agreed with a curt nod, setting about her task with the energy of a pony possessed as she galloped to the growing pony chains, shouting instructions and quickly imposing order. Where to start? Twilight thought to herself, momentarily alone amid the disaster. She reached one hoof up to her chest where the gem still dangled, drawing comfort from finding it there. Closest is as good a place as any. Wasting no more time she quickly galloped to the nearest house to hammer a hoof on the door. “Is there anybody inside?” She called, trying to listen for a response from the other side. She shouted again, fighting to make herself heard over the commotion behind her, and was about to give up when she heard a cry for help from inside. It was a simple spell to force the door open, and she quickly ran inside, searching from room to room. “Hello? Where are you?” She called. “We’re upstairs!” She heard a mare call out to her. “Please help, my filly won’t come out from under her bed!” Quickly climbing the stairs, she followed the sounds of the despairing mother and into a young foal’s room. She found her laying on the floor, desperately reaching under the bed with one hoof. Gently moving the panicking mare out of the way, Twilight lay down to get a look at the young filly. She was hiding in the corner and simply stared at her with wide, frightened eyes, hugging a stuffed toy in terror. “Hey there young one, are you okay?” She asked, smiling and attempting to project an air of confidence that she didn’t really feel. The poor terrified filly said nothing, simply sniffling. “Do you know who I am?” “You’re Princess Twilight.” She whimpered back. “Yes I am. And what’s your name?” She asked quietly, doing her best to be patient and calm for the poor child. “Caramel Twist.” “Well, Caramel Twist, you must be pretty scared. I know I am. But come on close to me and your mother, and I’ll show you a neat trick.” Slowly, encouraged by Twilight and with faltering steps, the young filly came out of her hiding place to be scooped up by her mother, tears of relief gathering in her eyes. “Hey, don’t be scared.” Twilight assured them both. “Have you ever teleported before?” The filly shook her head slowly. With the best warm smile she could conjure, Twilight stepped close to the two of them, and after adding little lighting, a high pitched whine and a short pause for dramatic effect, there was a bright flash. A moment later, the same flash appeared on the far side of the river, and to the shock of the evacuated ponies, there stood Twilight Sparkle with the mother and her filly. Staring in awe and wonder, the two rescued ponies could only gape at Twilight, who looked about, projecting a nonplussed air of quiet confidence. “Told you it was a neat trick.” She smiled at them. “Thank you Princess Twilight!” The filly beamed up at her savior before Twilight teleported away again. “There, piece of cake.” She said to herself as she reappeared in the town square. She felt warmth spreading through her, and not from the fire. Suddenly, it wasn’t all so hopeless and terrifying. “One down…” “Howdy Twilight!” A cheery drawl called out to her. “Applejack!” Twilight called back, swelling with relief, “what are you doing here?” “What’s it look like we’re doing?” She asked, steadily working a pump on the back of an oversized cart drawn by Big Macintosh. To her side, Applebloom handled a mounted nozzle connected by a hose to a pair of barrels that dwarfed the three of them. “Been a while since we had to break her out, but I always figured it was better to have her and not need her, than need her and not have her. Aim that hose Applebloom and let her rip!” “You gottit sis!” The younger Apple hollered back, and twisting a small leveler on the nozzle, sent a steady stream of water spraying onto the fire. Flames flickered as the spray landed, refusing to die, but the Apple family continued their steady assault on the flames. Seeing her friend rally to the cause, Twilight rushed from building to building with renewed vigor. She began to feel that they were going to win this. That they were going to get through this and the towns folk would be safe. Soon pegasi would return with the first clouds and set about emptying them onto the burning town hall. As every pony pulled together, slowly the fire would begin to come under control. There was a great snap and a crunch from the beleaguered hall. “Everpony get back!” Came a scream. Flame tortured and broken supports finally gave way and with a groan, and the building lurched to one side, slowly tumbling downwards, gaining speed as it toppled towards the Apple family. Applejack screamed at her sibling to run and they dived away. Yet Applebloom got a hoof caught and tangled in the hose, tripping her. Quickly Applejack and Big Mac turned back to save her, but it was too late. The three huddled together in a futile attempt to protect each other as the hall came crashing down, and with a terrible crunch, it halted scant inches above them, a soft lavender glow enveloping the collapsing structure even as it still burnt. “Move!” Twilight called, her eyes ablaze with effort and magic, sparks snapping from her horn as she struggled against the mass of gravity. The three Apples needed no second telling and quickly threw off their shock and wonder to gallop and join the awe struck crowd, marveling at Twilights incredible display of power. But she was in trouble and she knew it. The town hall was rapidly coming apart and it was just too heavy and badly damaged to hold for much longer, yet she dare not set it down for fear it would collapse, spreading the fire to the rest of Ponyville. She then felt a warm bloom on her chest, a warmth that spread through her body and made her feel powerful again. An idea stuck her, desperate and dangerous, but it was all she had. “Get back, all of you get back!” She snarled through gritted teeth, and ignoring the retreating crowd, she drew on this new well of energy to begin heaving the building back upright. Twilight reared upward onto her back legs, mirroring the rise of the hall, as foot by torturous foot it climbed, creaking and snapping every inch of the way, threatening to crumble and cast burning debris everywhere, spreading the flames. Through sheer force of will, she held it together, sweat pouring down her face with the strain, forcing it to stay in one piece until it was once again standing upright. Then with a final gesture, Twilight hammered her hooves into the ground with a magically enhance boom that cracked the ground. The hall matched her movement, coming down on itself, collapsing into a crushed pile of burning rubble in the middle of the town square, sending dust and smoke out in a vast, choking cloud. Twilight smiled grimly, panting with exhaustion. Though she had destroyed Town Hall, she was satisfied at least it wouldn’t fall on any pony and the fire could no longer spread. Finally releasing her magic, she became vaguely aware of cheering erupting all round her. She turned her head to look up at the crowd, and suddenly the world began spinning violently with every movement she made, swimming in and out of focus. A wave of dizziness struck her, and she suddenly found herself struggling to make her legs hold her up, stumbling as they began to turn to jelly while the rest of her seemed to sway heavily. She heard somepony say her name, ask if she was alright, but she couldn’t make out the voice. It sounded muffled, as though spoken through a thick blanket, at the same time it seemed to echo and ring in her ears. Then the ground rushed up to meet her with a dull thump. The last thing she recalled as unconsciousness took her, was smiling contently as her hooves moved, seemingly of their own accord, to cross over her amulet.