A lot of people has been asking for this, and thus I deliver.
This happens three months after the last chapter and is made from the episode "Winter Wrap Up"
The alarm didn't ring for long before a small talon turns it off, Logan literally jumps out from bed and runs over to his father's bedroom. "Dad! Dad, today is the day!" He cries excited and jumps onto the bed, he knows he shouldn't do it as mother kept reminding him that he's too old for such childish behaviors but after have been in this strange world for a couple of months, his timid behavior has been washed away, replaced with curiosity and excitement for what this world has to offer, so he has trouble reigning in his excitement as today will be what his friends call Winter Wrap Up where they will clean up winter in matter of a whole day. And as Gabby would say it: How awesome is that?!
His father moves, slowly and with a hoarse groan, Logan stops jumping around, sensing something is not right and so true that is. His father looks pale, eyes unfocused and he is sweaty.
Logan dreads his father might have caught the flu he dealt with not long ago and asks. "Are you feeling as bad as you look, dad?"
His father chuckles weakly before he covers his head under the duvet.
"…Yeah… looks like it's my turn now…"
Logan is really disappointed his father can't join him at this winter clean up, but it's not like the flu cares about such things. "Will you be alright? Do you want me to stay?"
How thoughtful of Logan, this sense of empathy really fills his heart with pride. "Nah, I'll be fine." Engineer croaks hoarsely, it's not the worse flu and some good rest should fix it. "You go out and have fun." Adding as he doesn't want Logan running around without an adult. "Stick close to Rarity, and do what she tells you, alright?" Logan nod, carefully glides off the bed and on the floor, his son asks. "Can I bring Pyro?"
Ah, yes, Pyro was really excited about this as well, but without him to keep her under control? Well, Engineer is not sure if he fancies the thought of letting an adult fire happy dragon with a mentality of a child run around, especially not when she can get deadly if some random pony pisses her off or worse… trigger her to remember her childhood. He and the others still bear the mental scars from the last time she went off the rails. He has learned to spot the triggers but none of the others know what causes her to snap and he has never told anyone about this, so they won't know what can make her go back to Pyroland and burn everything down.
"Dad, can Pyro join me?" Logan's question snaps his thoughts back to the present. Engineer sighs, he really hopes he does not make the wrong choice. "Okay, but only after—" He coughs. "I have spoken with Rarity…" Logan nods and runs off.
Engineer gets up to make himself some easy breakfast, he has just warmed the water when Rarity walks inside, making a quick glance back to her sister chatting happily with his son outside. She then notices his poor condition. "Oh my, do you need a doctor?" He shakes his head. "Nah, nothing grandmother's soup and a good sleep won't fix." He declines her offer.
She trusts his words on that one, pity Dell has to skip Winter Wrap Up thanks to sickness. "What is it you wish to speak with me about our dear female dragon?" She asks, keeping her distance so she won't end up catching what sickness he has.
Dell grabs the soup and takes a seat on the couch, wrapping the sheet close around his body. "Well, my son would like she join and Pyro too was quite excited about it, but…" He sighs. "You probably already know: Pyro does not exactly think like most." Rarity has taken notice, Pyro has a mentality as a foal mixed with a ferocious protectiveness of a guard dog. A guard dog that can breathe fire. "I noticed, and usually these…ehm quirks of hers is not a problem."
Engineer nods and drinks a bit of the soup. "Nope, but only as long I'm around. Won't be able today…"
Rarity can see that her partner is about to ask her a big favor, and that is keeping Pyro in check. She is willing to help, Pyro might be dangerous but she can be such a sweet dragon and Sungust really likes her. "What should I be aware of?"
He lets out a sigh of relief. "I really appreciate this Rarity." She waves him off. "It's nothing darling." He laughs softly, then explains. "As long you let Pyro do her own thing, she is harmless. You can correct her as long as you don't sound angry or loud, that might ends up angering her. And if she starts to use her fire, remind her about the buildings and if that does not work, use that charm of yours. She's a sucker to puppy eyes." Rarity laughs at that last remark, she won't call it puppy eyes but she does pride herself knowing she can sway most ponies with her charm.
"Then… well, I really hope this won't happen but it's best you know."
Rarity titles slightly her head, confused about what got Dell so gloomy but she allows him to speak.
"She might not show it, but Pyro is… she has a very troubled mind. And... and a few things might trigger those past troubles. I pray it won't happen for if it does… not even I can stop her..."
"What happens if one of those triggers happens?" Rarity asks, now troubled of what can cause the sweet Pyro to do something that even disturbs her partner who seems to be very close to Pyro.
Engineer fiddles with the half-empty cup. "Well, doctors are a trigger— that's Pyro at times stares at Medic and why he prefers to keep his distance. Too tight spaces can also be one, but only if she ends up panicking." Fortunately in her dragon form, Pyro is mostly strong enough to destroy whatever is trapping her, so he does not think that will be a problem.
"Quite the strange combination but alright, I will make sure this won't happen." Rarity promises and does inwardly wonder what happen to Pyro that makes such things trigger her? "What should I do if she happens to get triggered. Any signs I should look out for?"
Engineer watches the content of his cup as he replies solemnly. "You won't be in doubt when it happens, without the mask, you will see 'the look'. And if you see the face that looks wrong in so many ways: run and pray she does not find you…"
There Rarity gets scared of what terror that sleeps inside Pyro, she is no longer sure if this is such a good idea.
Dell meets her eyes and smiles weakly. "Maybe it's best she does not join, I shouldn't put such a task onto anyone." Rarity can now see how much Engineer does in order to keep Pyro in check, he spends most of his time keeping her calm and happy, make sure the terror hiding in Pyro does not come out.
Rarity does feel sorry for the dragoness won't be able to join them, but she does not trust herself in making sure Pyro won't snap and do something terrible. According to Dell; no pony will be safe if that happens. "We can always make it up for her."
Engineer nods and after have wished him good health, Rarity leaves and has to explain Sungust that she won't be able to take the huge responsibility his father have when it comes to Pyro. "She requires very special needs, something I cannot offer her. Best she stays in the sooth environment of her cave and we will do something special for her tomorrow." She tells the two kids.
Sweetie Bell titles her head in confusion, asking. "What kind of special needs? Is it because she is a dragon?" and before Rarity can explain, Sungust does. "No, Pyro's mind is special and daddy makes sure she is happy and no one causes her harm."
Sweetie Bell blinks, still confused about all of this. "But… she is a dragon. What can harm her?"
And her big sister explains her. "A lot can, dear. Pyro's mind is… it's a bit fragile." Rarity eyes Sungust and his father's home. "So it's best she stay in the cave as long Engineer is sick." She then calls for them to follow and they head to towns hall where the others are gathering.
Walking into the crowd, Rarity gets her team vest on, the tan in the sign she will be working for the animal team. After have gotten that one on and the band showing she is one of the team leaders, she calls for Sungust and her sister. The two trots over to her. "Now, the two of you can help me with building nests for the birds." The two nods and passes Twilight Sparkle, assigning the new team: All-team Organizer their notes on what they should keep track on. They take off and Spike, being one of these new All-team, trots over to her and the two kids. "Hi Rarity, I have been tasked to make sure you and the others have all the right stuff to build those nests." He explains excitedly, Rarity smiles down to him. "Good to hear Spike, so nice knowing you and the other have everything organized." Spike beams at the praise and runs off to list the soon coming equipment. This gives Rarity time to get the two foals set and right when the branches, straw, hay and ribbons arrive, Spike and another pony organize each into a pile, making it easier for the nest builder. "Okay you two, now here is how we built—" Out from nowhere, a mass of bright red swipes the piles, branches, ribbons, and hay flies everywhere. Shocked Rarity turns her head and to her horror sees Pyro run over to a nearby tree and headbutt it hard enough to make both snow and ice fall off, right onto the two carts waiting for this. The four ponies that was tasked with this all stare at the giddy dragoness, does shrug and thanks her. Pyro gives a thumbs up and runs off, not noticing she took off a good chunk off the tree with her sharp tail tip.
Spike, not seeing the shocked face on Rarity explains her. "I noticed Pyro had forgotten to join, so I told her, figures she can help us removing the snow."
Rarity does not answer, she is wrenching her brain on how to tell Pyro she should go home without making her accidentally set the whole place on fire.
Rainbow Dash lands on one of the many clouds and starts on the yearly song for this tradition.
"Three months of winter coolness
And awesome holidays"
She looks down and smiles at Pinkie jumping happily as she sings:
"We've kept our hoovsies warm at home
Time off from work to play"
Over near the farm, Applejack watches the frozen ground. "But the food we've stored is running out
And we can't grow in this cold"
Glancing to Fluttershy that sings along with her. "And even if we love the snow, this season is getting old."
Both turns around to Twilight Sparkle trots past them.
"The time has come to welcome spring
And all things warm and green
But it's also time to say goodbye
It's winter we must clean"
She stops when Pyro jumps up beside her, asking in a sing-song tone. "How can I help? I'm new, to this. What does everybody do? How do I help the best I can. I haven't got a clue!" Twilight points with her wing and the dragoness run off with her and Spike close behind.
Ponies are quick to join the yearly song.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!"
Time-Turner joins Lyra and BonBon over at the carts for the snow.
"Let's finish our holiday cheer"
And all three gets over to help by removing snow
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Cause tomorrow spring is here!"
Rainbow Dash flies past several other ponies.
"'Cause tomorrow spring is here!"
She takes the lead while singing.
"Bringing home the southern birds
A Pegasus' job begins"
Two more pegasi fly past her along with Sniper, destroying every cloud they see.
"And clearing all the gloomy skies
To let the sunshine in"
Young Gabby tries to get rid of a cloud but is too small.
"We move the clouds
And we melt the white snow"
Sniper joins her and he helps her get rid of the cloud, both fist bump at a job well done.
Behind them Scout lands on a cloud, watching as the sun appears once again in the sky.
"When the sun comes up
Its warmth and beauty will glow!"
Making the "gem" on his chest really shine.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Let's finish our holiday cheer"
Down on the ground, Demo pulls a cart filled with the materials for the nests, on the cart lies Eyelander, looking mildly bored.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here"
The monster snake's expression does change when Demo tips the cart and the turned sword rolls to the ground along with a bunch of sticks. With the nest materials all over it, the turned sword glares at Demo who laughs at the sight.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here"
Heavy walks past them with a big green vest on, he smiles when Medic joins him, having a tan vest on.
"'Cause tomorrow spring is here!"
Medic walks over to where Fluttershy is chiming a bell.
"Little critters hibernate
Under the snow and ice"
Out from the snow, Tank slowly crawls out.
"We wake up all their sleepy heads
So quietly and nice"
Fluttershy nudges her head to the tortuous in greeting and puts on the propeller so he can join Rainbow Dash.
"We help them gather up their food
Fix their homes below"
Medic takes out a hoofful of seeds, letting both Archimedes, his new girlfriend, and the other doves get something to eat.
"We welcome back the southern birds
So their families can grow~"
Both he and Fluttershy look up when the first southern birds return.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Let's finish our holiday cheer"
Having an All-team west on, Miss Pauling points at some of the trees and the ponies begins to get the snow down.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here"
Satisfied she crosses off her paper, to then get a pile of snow over her. Getting out and looking up she stares somewhat annoyed at Rainbow Dash, laughing at her.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here"
To then get hit by a giant snowball and both turn to the giggling Pyro, before Miss Pauling and Rainbow Dash shrug and return back to work.
"'Cause tomorrow spring is here!"
Over at the apple farm, most of the earth ponies are working hard to get rid of the snow.
Applejack watches over the working ponies.
"No easy task to clear the ground
Plant our tiny seeds"
She eyes her younger sister who drops a few of the seeds.
"With proper care and sunshine
Everyone it feeds"
Applejack covers the seeds with some of the loose ground and lets her sister take a look at the cart filled with seeds.
"Apples, carrots, celery stalks
Colorful flowers too"
Eyeing her sister that starts to sing to
"We must work so very hard
It's just so much to do!"
Apple Bloom then runs down the still snowy fields.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!"
Scootaloo and Gabby joins her
"Let's finish our holiday cheer"
They run over to where the Sweetie Bell and Sungust are and the two forgets about the nest to join their friends as everyone sings:
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here"
They join the adults
"'Cause tomorrow spring is here!"
Right there they all get splashed with the starting to melt snow, covered in the slushy snow, the four girls and one boy look up to Pyro's cheerful face. Logan is the first to recover and leaps around the dragoness as he would towards a happy dog, laughing as every jump she did made the ground shake just a bit which felt funny under his hooves. Gabby quickly joins and got quite a kick out from riding on Pyro's back. Scootalo joins her, although Pyro has to sit still for a moment in order for her to get on her back. Sweetie Bell, Apple Bloom and Logan all leap laughing around Pyro's claws in the form of a snowball fight with the thawing snow.
The game does come to an end when the group did delay the winter clean up the snow and Rarity gets the whole group over to her table.
Hopefully, this will keep both kids and Pyro occupied for the rest of the day. Rarity explains how they should build a nest and they go straight to work. Sweetie Bell and Sungust have already made a few, with her little sister being the one closet to how she made them. Sungust did get the shape right but like his father, he's more practical and thus didn't really bother making it look nice and focused more on it would be useful for the birds.
Checking on the others, Scootaloo's nest doesn't look that interested in the task but it's clear she has done this before, the griffin child is doing a rather good job, although she hasn't yet gotten the idea the branches needs to be wrapped into the hay. And Pyro… well, at least it looks like a nest… a very big, colorful nest.
Rarity winches at the very colorful thing the dragon made, Pyro looks quite proud at her work through and already trying to make a new one. Rarity really can't handle watching such a disaster and with a smile offers. "Do you mind if I eh.. do a few changes?" She asks and moves over to Pyro's nest, before she can though, a claw gets in between and Pyro points out. "I like it like this." In a tone Rarity has heard once before, this is the same tone Pyro used when she told her not to speak around the diamond dogs, so Rarity backs off. "Of course, I am sure the birds are going to like it."
Pyro blinks. "Birds? Oh," and smile sheepishly. "I made it for my doggies."
Sungust laughs softly and tells the dragon. "I know they will love it." Pyro beams at the praise.
Ah, that explains the size, Rarity realizes and tries to suggest. "Maybe the next one should be smaller, birds prefer nests in their size." Pyro nods in agreement and goes back to work, this time she did go smaller, much to Rarity's relief. Well, she thinks, this is going rather well.
After two hours though and many nests later, the children started to get bored, so Rarity lets them run off to help to remove the snow. She did get a hold on Demo and request him to keep an eye on Pyro.
"Sure, I'll keep an eye on the little bugger." He laughs and walks over where he can see the red scales of the firebug. He finds a good spot and takes a seat, watching quite amused Pyro tries to catch snow the children kicked off the trees. Bit weird watch Pyro be so childish when he knows how big of horror she can be on the battlefield, but hey, he's not complaining.
"What this I see, you slacking off?" He hears a teasing remark behind and Demo laughs, turns to Berry Punch walks over to him with a just awoken porcupine on her back. "I wish. Nah, I am keeping an eye out for our second dragon."
Berry nods and after have put down the critter, she joins him. "Is she causing trouble? I heard she really likes to set things on fire." She has no idea. Demo laughs weakly and assures her when Berry Punch asks worriedly. "Will it be safe for the children?"
"Don't worry hun, Pyro likes kids, she won't hurt them." She is practically one herself, which makes her being so deadly more disturbing. Glad that is over, he does not want to deal with a murder pyromania in a dragon form.
Demo notices two other kids walk over to where the others are goofing off but didn't really think much of it, figures they are simply going to join the game.
"My turn!" Scootaloo calls, runs over to Pyro's tail and right as she jumps onto it, the dragoness sends her flying and she lands into the large pile of snow they made. Three seconds after landing, she jumps up from the small hole with a cheer. "That... was... awesome!" and runs over to try again.
Before she can though, the last filly she wants to hear asks snidely. "What are you doing?" She and the rest of her friends turn to Diamond Tiara and her lacky Silver Spoon there asks as she nods to Sungust. "Are you trying to learn to fly?" She snickers. "More like crashing."
"No, we are being catapulted, none of us are using our wings, that no fun." Gabby explains the two new ponies in her cheerful manner, does gets replaced with a confused frown when the pink pony starts to laugh as if she said something stupid. "What? Did I say something wrong?" She asks the others.
Diamond Tiara steps over to the griffin. "Isn't that rich? A griffin that knows the word 'fun'." and she walks past the griffin, remarking. "My daddy at times deal with griffins and he says they have no sense of humor. So I'm surprised—" she gets somewhat rudely interrupted by the adult dragon who at this moment noticed the tiara on her head. "Ohhh so pretty~!" and the huge dragon from her perspective lifts her off the ground, causing Diamond Tiara to let out a scream of fright, much to the Cutie Mark Crusader's glee.
"Are you a princess?" The dragon asks with a toothy smile, showing how long those fangs are. Diamond Tiara is so terrified that she cannot utter a single word. Not at all expected this one to pay her any mind, this adult dragon never did!
"Can I wear it? I always wanted to feel like a princess." The dragon points out with titled head, did remove some of the scare factors, but not enough for Diamond Tiara to dare decline the dragon's request. "Y-You can t-take it." She speaks with a shaken voice, praying that letting this beast get her tiara will appease it enough not to eat her.
Pyro beams and takes the crown from the princess, did knock her off the hooves. "Whoopes, my bad!" She giggles sheepishly and puts the tiny crown on her head, did not matter the size, now she did feel like a princess and giggle joyfully, even shows Logan the crown. "Now I'm a princess!"
He smiles up to her. "It suits you." Pyro fully agrees and thanks the other princess for letting her get the crown. "Thank you!"
"Y-You welcome." Diamond Tiara can only response, too scared to do her usual bully pattern around the Blank flanks.
Not at all realizing she is scaring the pony she is holding, Pyro points out to the princess. "Princess is good at ice skating, I do not know how to skate so let us go and you can show us!" To then tell the others happily. "The nice princess will teach us to skate!" and leaps to where she spotted a frozen lake, giving Diamond Tiara no choice to argue.
Silver Spoon, startled and horrified that this dragon has taken her friend hostage, demands the Blank flanks and foreigners. "Tell your dragon to let Diamond Tiara go!"
Sweetie Bell gives her the evilest smirk as she says. "What's wrong? I thought she liked the attention." She turns to her friends. "Let's go, I do not want to miss this!" and they run off.
Silver Spoon stands frozen on the spot in disbelief but since she has practically no power over the Blank flanks, she has no other choice than to follow and hopes that dragon hasn't hurt her friend.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders tell Demo on where they are going, so he, along with Berry Punch follow them over to a nearby lake, where they find Pinkie Pie and a few other ponies skating a straight line on the ice.
Getting her attention, Logan asks the pink pony. "What are you doing?"
So Pinkie explains them. "I cut lines in the lakes with my skates. That way, when the rest of the weather team comes here to break the ice, it'll be easy as pie." and goes back to skate again, does stop when Rarity's younger sister asks her. "Do you mind if we skate around a bit? Before the pegasi melt all the ice away." Pinkie fully understands the young ones wish to enjoy the last hours of a good frozen lake. "Sure! Good thing I brought extra skates." Skating past them, she points at the skates she brought. "Take them and let's get skating!" The foals and griffin put on the skates. Pyro helps one of them and Diamond Tiara is the first out on the ice.
At first, the filly does not move, glancing to Pyro that muses sadly. "Aww… does that means you aren't a real princess?" Pinkie Pie has no idea what that's about, only it does help Diamond Tiara over the stage fright and she begins to skate. Proves to be very adept in it too. "Hey, you are really good." Pinkie Pie praises her which Diamond Tiara smiles at. Pinkie then checks on the others.
Sweetie Bell is quite unsure on her hooves and clings to Demo who is nice enough to lend her a hoof. Apple Bloom does stand firm but so much so she's not really getting anywhere. Gabby is having the same problem as Apple Bloom, only she is so excited she is forgetting how to skate and practically flails around on the spot. Sungust and Scootaloo do move, unsure but they do get around.
"This is pretty fun." Sungust speaks as he slowly skates around.
"No, this is scary!" Sweetie Bell cries from her spot by clinging to Demo, already knowing she got enough.
Logan slowly begins to get an understanding of how to move with ice skates, it's a bit like roller skates, except it's more slippery. He helps Apple Bloom, while Pinkie shows Gabby how it is done before moving over to Sweetie Bell, soon all of them are skating around.
Pyro watches from the sideline, looking unsure at the ice. Pinkie must've noticed it and calls out. "The ice is still thick, it won't break if you—" and Pyro leaps out, sliding over the ice as if she's a giant red penguin. He and the others get out of the way last second. Laughing like an excited child, Pyro turns to them while still sliding on her belly. Logan laughs at the whole sight, for that is quite adorable even if Pyro is an adult with some weird problems only father knows about.
Diamond Tiara stares at the scene, then she laughs along with the others, not the mocking one she usually does but a genuine laugh of the amusing sight of an adult dragon sliding awkwardly around with no care in the world.
From the shore, Demo is laughing too at Pyro's childish behavior, does come to an end when someone pokes his shoulder, at first he thinks it's Berry but when he turns he spots a grayish pink mare with several shades of purple hair, she is dressed quite fancily and it looks very expensive. One look and Demo knows this pony is stuck up, she has that look. "What can I do for you, ma'am?" He asks politely but won't continue being if she turns out the way he thinks she is.
"Are you the keeper of that…" The mare turns her gaze to Pyro goofing around on the ice. "dragon." She says in such a tone as if she is talking about a filthy mutt. Yup, Demo already dislike this mare. "I keep an eye one Pyro, but I ain't—"
"BY CELESTIA, DIAMOND TIARA, GET AWAY FROM THAT BEAST THIS INSTANT!" The mare suddenly starts screeching in fright and also makes it ring for Demo's ears.
Stopping her attempt to teach the dragon how to skate, Diamond Tiara winches away by the yell of her mother. Not wanting to disappoint her, she leaves the dragon and returns back to the shore.
Her mother is furious. "What were you doing?!" She demands and removes her skates. "A pony of your stature do not go ice skating, especially not with a dragon!" and before she can get a word in, her mother drags her away. Only stops to tell the one-eyed stallion. "You need to keep that dragon under control!" Her mother sneers at him and Berry Punch, who is deeply frowning. "I do not want my daughter near a creature that can set Ponyville on fire! What if it ate her?! I can't fathom why any reasonable parent would let their children near this beast!"
Demo hates to admit it, but this mare got a point… Pyro can be dangerous but she loves children. Before he can argue though, Pyro suddenly steps over to them and with a simple statement. "You are a bad parent." Demo eyes the firebug confused, barely hearing the offended snort coming from the mare.
"Excuse me? Calling me a bad parent when I am keeping my child safe from a menace such as you!" The mare stomps her hoof and tells him harshly. "I can handle a small dragon but big dragons should be chased out." She turns to Demo. "Last time this one was here, it almost sat a whole house on fire! I don't know why the mayor or the princess even allow such dangerous creatures into our town. It is bad enough with a changeling that can suck out us empty but a dragon that can burn everything down. This is too much! These beasts have to be chased out!"
Demo shoots her a glare. "I don't give bloody fuck of what you think lady, we are going to stay here whatever you like it or not."
She did not like that. "You will hear this from the princesses, mark my words, those beasts will be chained up as they deserve! Come Diamond Tiara." And she walks off with her daughter and her friend close behind.
Demo rolls his eye. "Good riddance." and turns back to the lake, he is quite happy Pinkie did the wise choice in bringing the kids somewhere else so they didn't have to listen to this nonsense. Pyro hasn't moved though and is starting to hum some melody. "What about you join the others?" He asks and claps Pyro on the side, she turns to him and the face that meets him scares him to the core.
Her eyes have become incredibly focused, not on him but something he cannot see, which did not belong to that innocent expression she wears, like a child playing with their toy. Still humming, Pyro turns fully to him, and with no warning, she slams her claws right onto him, he hears a loud crack closely followed by the immense pain that Pyro broke his shoulders. He screams in pain, probably not as restrained as most people but even with his high pain tolerance; that hurts like hell!
Berry Punch leaps in fright over the sudden attack. Pyro turns to her, the face of the sinister innocents hasn't changed. Demo tries to get up but he can't thanks to the broken bones. "Get the others!" He shouts and is happy she ran off for right there Pyro breathes out a pillar of fire, melting most the snow.
Pyro watches the fire curiously, slowly she turns back to him and Demo does the wise choice in playing dead, she walks past him still humming and towards where the kids are playing.
This is so bad, what the hell made Pyro go psycho on them?!
Without raising panic among the hard-working ponies, Berry managed to get a hold on all the mercs and make them understand that their adult dragon has gone on a rampage.
"Great… just what we needed." Sniper grumbles and takes to the sky.
The others follow and Miss Pauling sticks around only long enough to thank Berry and requests that no one hears about this, Berry promises she won't but does make her own request. "Please make sure nopony gets hurt."
That Miss Pauling cannot promise, Pyro is unpredictable and completely unable to be reasoned with in that state. All they can hope that they either get her under control or kills her before someone gets hurt.
Sniper spots the firebug walk calmly through the snow and he aims an arrow at her. Pyro looks up at that moment, staring at him with that sinister face of innocents. He shudders for that is just plain creepy. He shoots and much to his surprise Pyro sends it back with a strong breathe of air. He dodges, thinking; 'great, even in this world she has the airblast!'
He reaches for another arrow, Soldier flies past him and skydive right at the dragon.
He hits her square in the head, she reacts on the hit but the face did not change and without any sign or warning, she jerks her head and bites him over the back. Soldier lets out a scream from her long fangs dig deep into his flesh, she then starts to shake him as a dog does to a toy which covers part of the snow with Soldier's blood. Sniper shoots at her again in an attempt to make her let go of Soldier before she kills the guy. The arrow hit her leg but her bigger size saved her from a knockout, she collapses onto the ground, allowing Spy to pull the more than beaten up Soldier out from her jaws. She isn't out though and still not ready to quit this fight.
On the ground, Medic has healed Demo enough for the Scot to be able to move but not fight as he still hasn't fully recovered his magic and can only do mild healing. Spy drags Soldier over to him and Medic begins to work, has to warn the others as he is getting a familiar headache. "I won't be able to heal more."
Spy takes shape of a white pony. "Wonderful." He grumbles and gallops back into the fight, using the form to stay hidden from Pyro who is mostly busy with Heavy and Scout. He gets up behind her and when the chance arrives, he jags an icicle into her hindleg, making her lose her footing and gave Heavy the opportunity to overpower her and force her down to the blood-spattered snow. Her longer neck did allow her more mobility and she bites him over the front hoof, Heavy lets out a cry of pain but does not step away from her. "Now Sniper!" he shouts.
Right there Sniper fires another arrow, this one hit Pyro right in the head and as hoped, that knocked her out.
Heavy steps away from the unconscious dragon, slowly he turns around when Demo speaks. "I have no idea what caused this. One minute I got yelled by some bitch, next Pyro went berserk."
"I don't really care how it started, more we ended it." Sniper points out and with that, he leaves.
Slowly, one by one, they leave Pyro and the destruction their fight has caused, the snow will melt most of the signs away and none of them wants to be around the firebug more for today.
No one in Ponyville got to know about the fight, not even Twilight and her friends. They only heard that the mercs got into an argument there did end with a few of them going to the hospital but Miss Pauling assured them it was nothing to worry about.
The only one who wasn't present but would know of what truly happened is Engineer.
He is more than horrified to hear that Pyro snapped and almost killed the others. "Good thing someone around knew how to fight her." He remarks softly after the others finished up explaining to him what happened.
He looks up from his cup when Spy steps forward with a statement, "You knew about this."
Engineer does not reply, much to the annoyance but also slight amusement of the spy. "Never thought you knew how to keep secrets." He smirks darkly and leaves the house. Slowly the others leave as well, only one not moving is Miss Pauling, she stares at him in slight disbelief which did somewhat confuses him. "What?"
"You know who she is?" Miss Pauling asks, she thought information about Pyro's past burned down along with the first asylum that housed Pyro. The other place she where found the insane woman; the doctors didn't even have a name on her.
Engineer watches her quietly for a long time and when he does speak it is only with a single word: "Yes."
and no matter how much she asks, he wouldn't say more. Disappointed, Miss Pauling is forced to admit defeat that only Dell Conagher will ever know the past of their pyromania.
**Next day**
Engineer walks alone into Pyro's cave, carrying a basket with that nest she made along with a few sweets. The diamond dogs let him inside and he walks into her personal cave. Here he finds Pyro drawing, and she shows no signs of what occurred yesterday.
Her memory is not as good as it used to be...
Pyro turns around and smiles seeing him. When he shows her the treats she goes all cheerful and while she gives the nest to some of the diamond dogs Engineer takes a seat beside her and after a moment of watching the dogs tear the nest apart; he asks. "How are you feeling?"
"Good." Pyro replies with a smile. "It was really fun yesterday, I hope I will see the princess again."
Engineer smiles weakly at this, it does fade when she says in a surprisingly mature tone. "Although I doubt it." Which made him asks without really meaning for a proper answer. "What makes you say that?"
"Because her mother is like mine."
This catches him off guard, Engineer stares at Pyro with wide eyes, Pyro notices this and asks confused. "Why are you looking at me like that?" He both want and not want her to remember, fears what it will do to her now innocent mind. "Do… Do you remember your mother?"
Pyro looks away, she is quiet for a moment. "I know she was bad..." She mumbles like a child that knew they were caught doing something they weren't supposed to do.
Engineer knows it might be a bad idea but he decides to push a bit further. "Do you know what happened to her?"
Pyro's face changes, no longer having this childish innocent, her gaze is hard and cold. "I burned her to ash and enjoyed every second of it." Then the serious expression is gone and she returns back to her drawing. "When do you think the flowers will be back? I really want to make a flower wreath."
He does not reply to her for a moment, too shocked to know there is still some of the old her deep inside. Only when he realizes she has changed the topic, he replies. "In a couple of weeks and there should be some flowers for you." Pyro smiles.
They sit quietly for a while, him watching her draw while she hums some random melody. Pyro does stop, no longer can ignore this sadness looming over her friend. "Dell, why are you sad?" She asks him, not sure why but she decided to use his real name.
He smiles weakly and looks away. "It's nothing." But Pyro is not buying it, her mind may be broken but from time to time, she can make Balloonicorn pull out her darker side. "Bullshit, you are sad and it's about me, you have that face." She just is not sure why he is sad about her. She's fine.
Letting out a sigh, Engineer figures she won't get saner than this. "Do you remember me? From before the War Games?" He once asked her this question. Back when he discovered who really was behind that gas mask, but back then, she didn't even recognize him, too deeply trapped in her imaginary world.
Pyro blinks, not sure what he means, her attention is however taken away from him when Ballonicorn speaks. 'Be careful, those memories hold a lot of pain and anger.' She eyes her once only companion, then back to Engineer, she wishes she knew that answer to that question but even if she does not remember much before the War Games, she knows that thinking about it will rot away her beloved imaginary world, into something dark and scary.
She lowers her head. "No… I do not want to go there… every time I do, Pyroland rots…" Engineer puts gently a hand on her head, giving her that smile that makes her feel comfortable. "Don't worry about it. That past is not important anyway." She smiles, yes her past scares her but when looking at Dell, listening to his voice; that always makes her feel welcome. "I feel like you have always been part of my life. Does that make any sense?"
"Yeah, it does." Engineer smiles, his old friend might be lost but not truly gone and that's good enough for him. "It does Keahi." Not her birth name but one she chose and he has done nothing than respected her wishes.
I was planning on making a One-Shot about Engineer's past and how he met Pyro, but every time I tried to write it, the story didn't turn well and I always ended up scrapping it. Maybe someday I will get it right.
