Fanning Our Flames

by Evowizard25

Gingersnap's Are Kind Of Fragile

Normally, Giddilee would be smiling after a performance. Well, sometimes she would. She hated stealing, but it was all to help her friend. Gingersnap needed her, she’d tell herself. They needed to survive and those ponies wouldn’t miss a few trinkets. It was hard to sleep at night when she started out, but she had been getting better.

Now she only had sleepless nights once a week. The unicorn mare had thrown herself a one mare party for that achievement.

Giddilee was a happy pony. It was in her name:giddy. She loved to make ponies smile and brighten their days. She wasn’t smiling now. If anything, she was afraid now that the show was over. All the ponies had gone back to what they were doing and they had gone about moving their caravan to the outskirts of the town. It didn’t take long to find a place to put it and they were about to retire. “Don’t you think that was a bit much?”

“What?” Gingersnap smirked. “Turning their own attributes on those two infernal mares? Making the three of them out to be insensitive fools before an adoring crowd? Please, I didn’t do anything they already did themselves.”

“But they’re Element Bearers,” Giddilee gulped. “They took down Nightmare Moon and wield power that only Celestia, may she reign forever, has ever held. They’re national heroes.”

Gingersnap laughed. “Heroes they may be, but Sunset Shimmer is still that pathetic little orphan I remember all those years ago. I’m going to show the world that and no one is going to call the Stupendous Gingersnap second rate again!”

Giddilee sighed. Her friend was too boastful for her own good. She opened her mouth to say something but stopped when she saw something. “You’re bleeding.”

A trail of blood was running down her nostrils. Gingersnap growled and used a hoofkerchief that she had stored in her cloak’s hidden pocket to wipe it away. “There. All gone.”

“Have you been taking your medicine?” Giddilee wasn’t liking this one bit.

“It doesn’t matter,” Gingersnap growled. “I’m the Stupendous Gingersnap. I shouldn’t have to take it, besides, I took some not long ago. That feather-brained pegasus just hit me with some strong winds is all.”

“Gingersnap…” Giddilee started, but Gingersnap brushed past her as she stormed inside.

“I’m perfectly fine,Gingersnap.” She grumbled.

Giddilee sighed. ‘Please, please don’t hurt yourself anymore than you already have.’

____________________________________________________________

Gingersnap had always been a proud mare. She had been born into an all unicorn family, specializing in the finer things. Clothes, jewels, the arts, they were the best. She had pulled the short straw of the bunch. Her cutie mark was a gingersnap. It was obvious, but she couldn’t bare it. She was of House Razorsharp. She had to be the best. A lowly cook was not that, so she trained. Trained to be the best. She was.

‘But that orphan girl…’ She couldn’t help but hate her. Sunset Shimmer was given everything on a silver platter. She didn’t work for it. ‘I worked for everything. EVERYTHING! Does anyone do me any favors? Am I a princess? NO!’

It didn’t help that she wasn’t in the best shape at the moment. It was a trivial thing. Not important. She would get past it, just like she got past everything else. So here she was, in a small caravan, looking herself over in a mirror. She grabbed her hat in her hooves and took it off. “Ugh, my mane is a mess.” She put the hat down on the counter and untied her cape. The little bones in her hoof helped out, though they weren’t as nimble as fingers. Still, they did their job.

“Damn featherbrain,” she snorted and grabbed a brush in her hoof. She stroked out the splitends and other imperfections. She always had to be perfect. She was the Stupendous Gingersnap, heir to the House Razorsharp. There was no middle ground here. She would beat this bad hair like she would beat Sunset Shimmer.

In fact, why was she using her hoof like a Mud pony? She was a unicorn. No, she had to relax. She couldn’t use magic right now. She’d need a little medicine first. ‘But not now. I’m fine. I can use a bit more magic.’ She took the comb up in her magic and kept at it. The mare sighed in relief. “Much better.” She finished with a flourish. As she held the brush out, she couldn’t help but feel little pricks of pain stabbing her at the base of her horn. It was worse than before, but she paid it no mind.

Placing it back down on the cupboard, she smirked. “See, I don’t need it. I’m getting better on my own.” Using her magic, she opened up the mirror cupboard to get a few beauty supplies. Her looks needed attending. Ponyville would be watching her best Sunset. She would look her very best while doing so.

The pain was getting worse, but she ignored it. ‘I’m getting better. I’m getting better. I’m getting better.’ She repeated to herself as she powdered her nose and plucked her eyebrows.

‘Getting better.’

‘No, you’re not.’

‘Better and better.’

‘Failure. Family failure.’

“Shut up,” Gingersnap growled. It was just voices. Was it her own voice? She knew they weren’t. Just random thoughts springing up. That always happened when she had a headache. ‘Maybe I should get just one pill. NO! I’m getting better.’

She did her best to block out the random thoughts, the dizziness, and pain. It didn’t matter how blurred things were getting. She was getting better. She was a unicorn. Magic was hers to command. ‘My magic would never poison me. Preposterous.’ She thought she felt something wet fall down her face. She didn’t pay it any mind. She was lightheaded. Her imagination was getting the best of her.

So Gingersnap closed the cupboard. The glass was strange to her now. There were several wobbly versions of herself. ‘Or just one? No, it’s just a trick of the eyes. I mean, it looks like I’m crying. Heh.” She wiped the ‘tears’ away and frowned. They weren’t clear. They were red as the blood falling from her snout. “That can’t be good….”

‘Good? No good. My magic fine….Hard to think.’

“I am a Razorsharp,” she growled wiping away more blood leaking from the corners of her eyes and nose. Her horn was pulsing, almost like it was trying to drown her in pain. “Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. I am The Stupendous Gingersnap. Stop it!”

‘Can’t stop…’ She peered at the mirror and, for a second, she swore she could see Sunset Shimmer. “STOP IT!” She shattered it with a spell, knocking herself off her hooves with the pain. She laid there for a few moments, growling. “Stronger...I’m stronger….” She gradually pushed herself up. “Just...one dose will do.”

“Gingersnap?!!” Giddilee’s voice spoke up from outside the doorway. “Are you alright? I heard some shouting and crashing.”

“Alright…” Gingersnap shook her head. “Just fell down.” Her vision was unclear. Everything was hard to think about. The most pressing thought was about the pain, but she did her best to ignore it. She took a step closer to the sink and only barely caught herself from falling. She tried to reach for the shattered door, but her foreleg wouldn’t lift that high. “Stupid leg…” So she tried her magic and…

Fell down, spasming on the ground. The unicorn mare couldn’t stop. She could make herself go still for a few seconds, before her horn pulsed again. She opened her mouth in a silent scream.

“GINGERSNAP!” Giddilee smacked into the door. “Ow.” Quickly fumbling with the lock, the mare rushed into the room. She grabbed a syringe out from cabinet with her magic. The blue liquid sloshed around inside as she quickly tore off the cap and plunged it into Gingersnap. The unicorn mare’s breathing went back in order and the bleeding stopped. Giddilee sighed in relief, holding her friend’s head up so she didn’t drown in her blood. “Now that was a close one.”

Gingersnap shakily rose to her hooves. Her friend tried to help her, but she kept pushing her away with her hoof. “Now…” She wiped away the blood from her face with a towel. “I thank you for that, but I think I can take it from here.”

“But you just had another ‘attack’, Gingersnap.” Giddilee’s voice quivered. “You know you have to take your medicine or else stuff like that happens, maybe worse.”

“I’M FINE!” Gingersnap shouted, taking an aggressive step forward. However, this put her off balance and she used the sink to keep herself up. “See? I’m still here. This isn’t going to bring me down.”

“No,” Giddilee sighed. “Not now anyways. You need help. Ever since you broke your horn-”

“Don’t remind me,” Gingersnap didn’t want to think about that incident.

“You’re going to get yourself killed,” Giddilee pleaded. “Just call off the duel, or at least push it to tomorrow.”

“What?” Gingersnap rolled her eyes. “She’ll think I’m scared. That I’m just buying time, because I’m unprepared. I’m ready, Giddilee. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be and I will not appear weak to her.”

“You were spasming on the ground, bleeding out as your own magic was killing you.” Giddilee shot back, narrowing her eyes. She rarely got angry. This was one of the few times she did. “You are in no condition to duel anypony and by Celestia, I’m going to keep you from doing something so stupid...AGAIN!”

Gingersnap blinked in shock. Her friend rarely ever raised her voice, well except for times like this. “Fine. Tomorrow morning. I’m not waiting any longer than that.”

Giddilee smiled and hugged her. “Thank you.”

Gingersnap reluctantly hugged her back. “You’re welcome.” She grumbled.

“Now,” Giddilee pulled herself away. “I think we both need a bath.”

____________________________________________________________________

Lightning Dust snapped another strip of flesh from the pigeon before her. She hated pigeon, but for some reason, they made for great comfort food. Perhaps it was just because they were so common. Of course, given how she was devouring one as she sat on a cloud, there was a slight risk to it. As in, ‘Red Rain’ wasn’t something the more ground based tribes weren’t familiar with. “Who does that mare think she is? Messing with me? I’m more awesome than she’ll ever be.”

“Lightning Dust,” Cloudchaser huffed as she landed beside her. “We’ve done all you asked for and even lapped around Ponyville ten times.”

“Do it again,” she growled, baring her fangs.

“Look, I’m sorry for chuckling.” Cloudchaser grumbled. “It was wrong of me, but you didn’t get hurt and you kind of had that coming.”

“Twelve laps!” Lightning Dust shouted. “And move the remaining cloud in an oval shape surrounding the town.”

“Oh come on,” Cloudchaser threw up a hoof in exasperation. “I’m your friend. Can’t we just forget about it already? Princess Shimmer is going to mop the floor with her anyways.”

Lightning Dust wickedly grinned. “I know. It’s going to be so epic, which is why you’re going to get the popcorn.”

“Why do I always have to do everything?” Cloudchaser groaned.

“Because I’m your boss,” Lightning said. “Stop being so dramatic. It’s not like I make you guys do all the work like this that often. You know I’m usually the one busting most of these clouds on my own.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Cloudchaser smiled. “Doesn’t mean I can’t complain now and again.” The two chuckled. Lightning and Cloud had become fast friends the moment Lightning moved to town. Of course, Cloudchaser was her only friend up until Nightmare Moon came. It was horrible, but Cloudchaser had to admit that it was nice to see her friend with others.

“HEY!” A vaguely familiar voice from below grabbed their attention.

“What?” Lightning peered over the side of the cloud and narrowed her eyes. It was Gingersnap’s assistant. “What do you want?”

“I wanted to pass on a message,” she yelled. “The duel’s been moved to tomorrow morning.”

“Whatever,” Lightning snorted. “Sunset’s still going to kick her butt.”

“We’ll see,” the mare shouted before running off.

Lightning growled. “We’ll see?” She clamped her jaws around the pigeon’s head and crushed it in one fell swoop. She shook her head, tearing it away and throwing her head back to swallow. “Oh, we’ll see alright.”

Author's Note:

Well, this turned out a bit darker than I thought it would.

I hope you all enjoyed it and please leave a comment. They really help me get these chapters out quicker.

Comments

[Raistlin]

The saddest thing about people like Gingersnap is that, deep down, under all their arrogance and callousness, they despise themselves more than anyone else.

[Dramon Creator]

Gingersnap is destroying herself, using magic that's literally killing her for no other reason besides pride, and it's easy to see why. While she's racist, contemptuous, and arrogant beyond reason, it's clear that Gingersnap's entire life has been a desperate attempt to prove-to her family, Sunset Shimmer, and especially herself-that she's a great unicorn, and her obsession with being the best lead to her making very stupid risks for little to no gain. But despite her many flaws (and there are a lot), the fact that she is a skilled spellcaster in spite of her condition is honestly impressive. The depth added to Gingersnap, and Giddilee tapping into her hidden spine out of genuine care for her, made this chapter pretty spectacular. Can't wait for the next!

[ChangelingNumber32]

I did not expect this story to go in this direction.

I like it.

[predatornc]

well this is a interesting development . Some sort of Incident broke Gingersnaps horn and (this is my guess) because of this her magic is killing her whenever she starts to use it....Please continue on

[howard035]

I'm really torn here. Gingersnap is a racist thief. On the other hand, it now looks like Sunset is going to immolate a cripple.

Also, I like Lightning Dust being a jerk to her subordinates, it reminds us she's not just Rainbow Dash with a different color scheme.

[Festus]

I'm gonna quote Linkara here on my thoughts on Gingersnap.

"There's a difference between having a sympathetic backstory and actually being sympathetic."

I get it. She was raised like shit and is pissed off at Sunset because she was lucky to be adopted by God at a young age. It's the classic "Prodigy vs Practise" argument EVERYONE brings up. But the problem here is that, well, Gingersnap is a grown ass adult.

Diamond Tiara could be justified since she was a kid and only did what her parents are telling her to do. But Gingersnap here is living on her own, is already working, and can make her own decisions. Just because she hates someone and has a sympathetic backstory, doesn't mean she can raise hell and be a dick about it. It's why I can never like Snape or Sasuke. You're supposed to understand their motives, not justify them!

And for Celestia's sake, are you seriously skipping out on your medicine?! You look like you have some MASSIVE mental disorders, and you should NOT ever skip out on medicine because "You think you feel fine". Thankfully, Giddily has some semblance of a conscience.

speaking of Giddily, let me justify why I had to punch that guy in the face. Hey, it helps me sleep better at night! Speaking of which, good job making me question the nature of sealing somepony's destiny just through their name. Makes you wonder.

[Skyeheart]

Woah, I know this universe has a darker flavor but wow, that's extra bitter!

[NobodieZ]

So let me get this straight, Gingersnap's magic is actually killing her? That's surprisingly dark for something that's suppose to be a slice of life story. You're kinda making me wanna feel sorry for her, between her broken horn and self esteem issues brought on by her family's high standards. At least she has Giddilee to keep her from dying a long time ago.

[Honeytongue]

For some reason, Giddie is like a cross between Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie to me. At least in this chapter.

[Metroid Prime]

Lighting Dust actually ate a pigeon!?

Flesh, bone, blood and all!?