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Organised by
RogerDodger
Word limit
400–750
Blazing Innferno
Sunset Shimmer clicked her silver lighter and watched the small fire dance before her eyes. She was getting better at using these new hands of hers, but so much of this world was still unfamiliar. She closed the lid to snuff out the flame before opening it again to start the cycle anew, as she had been doing for longer than she’d care to admit.
With another click, a new fire ignited and provided a small circle of light around her. Sunset was very proficient at using fire magic, back in Equestria. It took a unicorn of great skill and even greater control to conjure fire. Her talents earned her a brilliant sun cutie mark as well as the attention of Princess Celestia. It made her special. It made her unique.
In this world, however, anyone could start a fire with just a flick of their fingers. Creating a flame was nothing impressive.
Sunset tightened her grip on the lighter as she closed it. She carefully let out a breath before opening it back up. Another click, another flame.
Sunset used the light of the fire to look around her hotel room, even if it was too dim to illuminate the entire space. Fully-furnished, amenities included, room service on call whenever she wanted it—all rented for an extended stay.
It was amazing how far a sack of gold bits could go in this world.
As nice as the bed and furniture were, she found an odd comfort simply sitting on the floor in the dark with her lighter keeping her company. She shifted on the cushion underneath her and looked back at the little fire. It made things feel… cozy.
Sunset gazed into the fire and flickers of the past started to invade her mind.
A little filly, standing before the proctors at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. They said they’d never seen a filly as young as she was performing magic like she could. When word spread about the prodigy that would be attending, the Princess herself walked up to her and asked if she’d like to be her personal student. It had been the most exciting moment of her life. It was a dream come true.
The flame flickered, and so did the memory.
A little filly, studying teleportation and levitation while continuing to practice her fire magic. After the day’s lesson, they would retire together to the Princess’s private study and read by the light of her fireplace. Sometimes, she’d wake up on one of those cushions without realizing she ever fell asleep. She’d find that the Princess had draped a blanket over her while she slept. She never wanted to leave that room.
Another flicker, and the memory changed again.
A little filly, awkwardly smiling at her while the Princess explained that she was taking on another student. This little pony in front of her had amazed the proctors with her magical ability and earned her cutie mark right there in front of them. The Princess was saying something about the two of them being friends, but those words were distant.
Wasn’t she enough? Why did the Princess need another student? She was supposed to be the Princess’s prized pupil.
She was supposed to be special…
Sunset shook the thoughts from her head. The lighter clicked loudly as she snapped it closed, enveloping her in darkness. She let herself regain control of her breathing before opening her eyes again.
Sunset picked up the lighter and a nearby glass bottle before walking to the door, where her suitcases were patiently waiting for her. Another click, and a small fire appeared before her. She carefully lit the rag hanging out of the top of the bottle until she had a healthy flame and closed her lighter.
She took one last look at the lavish hotel room before throwing the bottle into the middle of the room.
This time, the fire she made was impressive. Not just anyone would be able to make a fire like that. This time, she had complete control of what was happening around her, and she was never going to give up control again.
Sunset was already carrying her suitcases down the hall by the time the fire alarm and sprinklers started up. It didn’t matter. As far as she was concerned, the only room that mattered had gone up in smoke a long time ago.
With another click, a new fire ignited and provided a small circle of light around her. Sunset was very proficient at using fire magic, back in Equestria. It took a unicorn of great skill and even greater control to conjure fire. Her talents earned her a brilliant sun cutie mark as well as the attention of Princess Celestia. It made her special. It made her unique.
In this world, however, anyone could start a fire with just a flick of their fingers. Creating a flame was nothing impressive.
Sunset tightened her grip on the lighter as she closed it. She carefully let out a breath before opening it back up. Another click, another flame.
Sunset used the light of the fire to look around her hotel room, even if it was too dim to illuminate the entire space. Fully-furnished, amenities included, room service on call whenever she wanted it—all rented for an extended stay.
It was amazing how far a sack of gold bits could go in this world.
As nice as the bed and furniture were, she found an odd comfort simply sitting on the floor in the dark with her lighter keeping her company. She shifted on the cushion underneath her and looked back at the little fire. It made things feel… cozy.
Sunset gazed into the fire and flickers of the past started to invade her mind.
A little filly, standing before the proctors at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. They said they’d never seen a filly as young as she was performing magic like she could. When word spread about the prodigy that would be attending, the Princess herself walked up to her and asked if she’d like to be her personal student. It had been the most exciting moment of her life. It was a dream come true.
The flame flickered, and so did the memory.
A little filly, studying teleportation and levitation while continuing to practice her fire magic. After the day’s lesson, they would retire together to the Princess’s private study and read by the light of her fireplace. Sometimes, she’d wake up on one of those cushions without realizing she ever fell asleep. She’d find that the Princess had draped a blanket over her while she slept. She never wanted to leave that room.
Another flicker, and the memory changed again.
A little filly, awkwardly smiling at her while the Princess explained that she was taking on another student. This little pony in front of her had amazed the proctors with her magical ability and earned her cutie mark right there in front of them. The Princess was saying something about the two of them being friends, but those words were distant.
Wasn’t she enough? Why did the Princess need another student? She was supposed to be the Princess’s prized pupil.
She was supposed to be special…
Sunset shook the thoughts from her head. The lighter clicked loudly as she snapped it closed, enveloping her in darkness. She let herself regain control of her breathing before opening her eyes again.
Sunset picked up the lighter and a nearby glass bottle before walking to the door, where her suitcases were patiently waiting for her. Another click, and a small fire appeared before her. She carefully lit the rag hanging out of the top of the bottle until she had a healthy flame and closed her lighter.
She took one last look at the lavish hotel room before throwing the bottle into the middle of the room.
This time, the fire she made was impressive. Not just anyone would be able to make a fire like that. This time, she had complete control of what was happening around her, and she was never going to give up control again.
Sunset was already carrying her suitcases down the hall by the time the fire alarm and sprinklers started up. It didn’t matter. As far as she was concerned, the only room that mattered had gone up in smoke a long time ago.