The cutie mark crusaders had piled up some dry branches and other stuff that looked like it would burn well. They made sure not to get too close to any trees or bushes as they didn't want the fire to get out of control.
“We're all set” Scootaloo exclaimed grinning in anticipation “You can start the fire now Spike.”
“I really don't like this idea but Ok.” spike said and set the pile of combustible material ablaze.
“So how are we going to put it out? We don't have any water and nopony here is a pegasus who could get a raincloud?” Sweetie Belle asked shyly as she was afraid Scootaloo would make fun of her again.
“Ahhhhhhhhh.... “ came it from the orange filly while she stared into the fast growing fire.
“Y'all have no idea have ya?” Apple Bloom mused.
“Hey am I supposed to do all the thinking? You could have thought about that earlier too” Scootaloo was getting angry while the flames grew even bigger unnoticed by the three arguing fillies.
“Uhhm girls I think we should do something. FAST!” Spike panicked
The three fillies' eyes grew wide as they turned to the fire that was going out of control.

Sweetie Belle was the first to react and stepped forward to extinguish the fire. But as she kicked some dirt into the fire an unexpected dust explosion dashed towards her. Unable to escape the fire's red wrath she tried to protect her face but the fire was too fast and flickered over her beautiful face in the blink of an eye.
Slowly comprehending what had just happened the other two cutie mark crusaders and Spike stood there watching Sweetie Belle sobbing and writhing in pain screaming. Spike was the first to step up to her but when he saw her disfigured face he stepped back in disbelief.
The cute beautiful face of his fillyfriend that he had cherished so much was barely recognizable. It was a mash of exposed red flesh with black burned spots and partially exposed bones.

“The pain was unbearable. Never before had Sweetie Belle been in so much pain. But the pain from the burns subsided slowly being replaced by an even greater pain as she saw spike back away from her. She realized that she must look hideous. Another pain suddenly struck her with the realization that her sister Rarity above all else was unable to cope with things that were not fabulous and perfect. Rarity would never accept her as a sister with a disfigured face. They would be unsisters again.
Unable to cope with this she turned and ran. She didn't exactly know where or why but she had to run. It was her only possibility to cope with this overpowering emotional pain.

As Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Spike watched their friend's emotional breakdown the fire had slowly crawled over toe forest's floor devouring small plants and sticks growing steadily. “C'mon we gotta find her.” Apple Bloom said with tearing eyes. The others didn't add anything to that and got going.

“So Scootaloo have you ever been in love with somepony?” the red haired filly asked her eyes still tearing.
The way the filly spoke told Scootaloo that the situation was really getting to Apple Bloom.
“Yeah. I've been in love with a certain somepony for quite some time now but she'd never like me anyway. Why do you ask?” But Scootaloo cursed herself for that last question. She should rather try to comfort her friend that ask her out. “Oh sorry Apple Bloom I didn't..”
“It's ok Scoots. I've been in love with Sweetie but I'm not so sure now. I mean it's the personality that counts. Applejack has always been telling me that. But is actually her appearance and her cute face that I fell in love with.”
This struck the orange filly hard. She'd always been in love with Apple Bloom since they became friends. It was obvious to her that none of her friends were like and that her friend would never feel the same for her. But that Apple Bloom would be like that, a fillyfooler, and be in love with her other friend was beyond her imagination.
At first this was just hard to comprehend but then emotions began to well up inside of her. Confusion: Why did nopony love her?
Envy: Why wasn't she as beautiful as Sweetie Belle?
And in the end came the anger. She started to feel satisfied that her rival was disfigured.
Shortly after her emotions got the better of her she regretted her thoughts. Nopony deserves such a fate.
Now with Scootaloo being pretty depressed too an awkward silence started to rule as they still searched for Sweetie Belle.

They didn't exactly know where their friend went so they were just walking straight in the direction where she fled. After some time they came to a cave and heard a sobbing from inside.
“Sweetie c'mon we have to get out of the forest and tell somepony that there's a fire.” Apple Bloom said trying not to speak about the injury that had disfigured her friends face.
“Just leave me ...” “Come on we have to hurry. You heard what Apple Bloom said” Scootaloo shouted the anger and frustration welling up inside her again.
Sweetie Belle didn't answer she just stood up and walked outside making sure not to turn her face towards Spike.
The bunch was then surprised by the huge fire that they could see devouring the forest on its way towards them. Without an exchange of words they ran.

Although it was still dark everypony was awake just as busy as during the day only this time their lives were on the line. There was a huge fire in the Everfree forest threatening to consume it along with Ponyville. Pegasi were diligently gathering nimbus clouds to extinguish the fire while Earth ponies and unicorns alike were clear felling trees trying to create a gap big enough to prevent the Flames from progressing further.
The fire was spotted by rainbow Dash and Fluttershy two pegasi that were searching for three fillies an a baby dragon that had gone missing. And as the three fillies were the infamous cutie mark crusaders everypony knew what caused the flaming catastrophe. Despite that nobody said it out loud as they were also worried about their young neighbors and felt sorry for their relatives.

The cutie mark crusaders were running while the forest around them was drowning in flames but they weren't fast enough. The little dragon slowed them down and if that weren't enough Apple Bloom tripped over a branch that had fallen down.
“HURRY UP AND RUN ALREADY!” Scootaloo screamed angrily not watching her tone. She just wanted to survive no matter what. Without further waiting she ran away abandoning her friends.
Sweetie Belle on the contrary was totally calm. She hadn't spoken a word since they had left the cave. The filly just stood there watching Spike helping Apple Bloom.
“Ouch. I think I sprained my ankle. I can't run like this” the yellow filly cried in terror knowing that this was her doom.
“It's ok Sweetie Belle. Run. I'll stay here and help her. The fire won't hurt me.”
Again Sweetie didn't say anything she just obeyed.

The little dragon tried to support Apple Bloom as best as he could but they were far too slow. The forest around them was ablaze and it was getting awfully hot at least for the injured filly.
She cried more and more terrified by the red wrath crawling closer by the second.
When their escape route was blocked by a fallen tree she gave up any hope and effort to get away.
Spike pulled her into a tight hug as the blaze devoured them.

Scootaloo ran faster than she ever did before, giving herself an extra boost with her wings. She had just left her friends behind and for that she hated herself but she wanted to live.
A bloodcurdling scream caught up with her but she continued running. The screams continued also.
Was it her imagination? Was one of her friends really burning to death or was that her conscience?
She didn't know and she didn't want to she just continued running.

Next Chapter: The Aftermath Estimated time remaining: 2 Minutes