High Moon Ch. 41:

Of Talks and Flames

Back in the temple, Blaze and Cyclone took the time to learn more about each other, having finished the larger batch of plant-growth potion. Since they had nothing else to do until someone came to get the mass-batch of potion, their small talk turned into long conversations, the topics of which ranged from mild interests, odd things the two found curious, all to pass the time. Soon, however, hunger forced the two of them to start fixing themselves up some lunch.

“Wow Clan-Mother,” Cyclone said, walking back towards Blaze’s work table from the small spot where Blaze grew fruit for both potions and consumption, placing a mixture of berries, pears, peaches into the mixing bowl for them to share. “That’s such a romantic story.”

Over the last three or so hours, Blaze had entertained Cyclone with the story of how she and Zecora met Wolf. This was two years after she had left her home country, and a few months before they found High Moon and parted ways with the zebra. Much of the story was Blaze’s thoughts on everything, including what she thought of Wolf when he first met her.

Sure, at first, Wolf was your typical diamond dog, but he saved her and Zecora from becoming the broodmares of his old den. However, he only did this because he could tell that Blaze would make a powerful mate, and had wanted help finding a land to call his own.

In the beginning, the most they could find was hollowed out trees for them to sleep in for the night. During which, Wolf slept lightly, keeping a watch out for the two. Blaze said he would often wake up completely if either mare stirred too hard in their sleep.

Wolf never forced himself on Blaze, always saying that he was waiting for her to be ready accept him as a mate, and he wanted a land to call their home first. However, that changed when the three encountered a manticore.

Wolf had wasted no time charging at the beast, telling Zecora to take Blaze somewhere safe. Of course, the mares were somewhat reluctant to leave Wolf to fight a manticore on his own. They only left after Wolf had roared at them, and the manticore had noticed the two.

But Blaze couldn’t leave Wolf to fight that beast alone. So, she turned back to help Wolf. Not because she owed him her life, but because--deep down--she had actually started to care for the diamond dog.

Wolf had kept them safe, fed them, and always made sure they were in the best of health. In return, all the dog wanted was some companionship. And Blaze had started to come to enjoy spending her time with the gruff dog.

“And now look where we’re at,” Blaze began winding her story down, leaning back in her chair with a content smile on her face as her hands rested on her pregnant belly to slowly rub the child still growing inside.

While the mare was tending to the growing child inside of her, Cyclone had finished placing the last of the fruits in the bowl. Blaze sparked her horn to pick up a dull blueberry that matched the color of her fur and brought it to her lips. “Would it be bad to say that I always wanted him too?”

Right as she was going to take a bite of the fresh pear, Cyclone looked from the delicious smelling fruit, and towards the slightly longing look in Blaze’s eyes. “What do you mean, Clan-Mother?”

Blaze placed her elbow on her work table, and rested her head in her palm while using her magic to continued to feeding herself. “Oh...I don’t know really,” Blaze said, now playing around with two berries as the smile on her face continued to grow with the small hint of a blush. “We all look to be with someone, I guess, it just felt right to be with Wolf. Underneath that tough-acting alpha diamond dog exterior, he really did care for what happened to me and Zecora. He just didn’t know how to show it.”

“But you could see it, right Clan-Mother?” Cyclone asked, cuddling the pear in her hands, and rubbing it as though it was alive. Blaze looked away from the dancing berries and towards the dragoness rubbing the pear. It was then she thought back to yesterday and what Quill said about dragonesses in traditional conditions. “Clan-Mother, is everything alright?”

Blaze quickly hopped out of her thoughts to smile brightly at Cyclone. “Yes dear, I’m fine. Just thinking is all,” Blaze said, waving off the dragoness' worries, and resumed eating the berries instead of playing with them. “Cyclone, I have to ask you something. Have you ever been in love with someone?”

“Clan-Mother!” Cyclone blushed brightly, quickly looking away before nodding her head. “Yeah, I had someone I liked, but...well, I just don’t think they’re interested in me.” Cyclone’s snowy scales stayed stained a bright crimson as she continued to avoid looking at the mare.

However, Blaze continued to push on this topic, wanting to see the dragoness be happy with this certain someone. “Cyclone dear,” Blaze pressed on in a sweet and gentle voice that ended Cyclone’s flusterness. When the dragoness looked up to the mare that was oddly acting like a mother to her, Blaze was curling a finger back to herself, motioning for the dragoness to come around the table. “Please come here, I just want to talk.”

“Okay Clan-Mother,” Cyclone mumbled, slowly sliding out of her chair, and creeping around the table. Eventually, Cyclone made the trip around the rectangular table, and stood right in front of Blaze.

The mare motioned for Cyclone to take a seat by her. After Cyclone had sat down in a chair next to the mare, Blaze quickly reached out to take Cyclone’s hands and placed them around on her back, then placing her own hands on Cyclone’s back. This forced Cyclone to bend down slightly against Blaze’s soft and supple breasts, making Cyclone blush from the close contact with Blaze’s fluffy mounds. However, she didn’t object to the affection she was getting from the motherly mare.

Blaze began to gently rock in her chair while she hummed a slow tone. Along with the softness of the melody, Cyclone felt a wave of calmness passing through her from the warmth of Blaze’s fur. It was then Cyclone started to really lean into the mare’s embrace, basking in the warmth radiating from her, sighing in content.

“Cyclone,” Blaze whispered with a soft tone in her voice that further eased Cyclone into her embrace. Cyclone could only best describe it as a wave of comfortness running through her body. Even the mare’s soft hands rubbing her back were like a gentle wind brushing past her.

“Come now,” Blaze continued, moving a hand up towards Cyclone’s head to rub her round-tipped head-spines. It was then that Cyclone gave up with trying to fight the mare’s touch as she nuzzled into her fur. “I know there must be someone that you must have taken a liking to.”

Again, Cyclone’s face became a flustered red, but this time she didn’t stammer for a way out of answering. “Well...I-I do ‘like’ someone here, but they weren’t ready yet,” Cyclone said with sad sigh leaving her lips. She wanted to tell the Blaze about the one that caught her eye, but each time she tried, it would end with her in a stammering mess. “I think they just don’t like me the same way...”

A soft giggle came from Blaze as she moved her hand away from Cyclone’s head-spines to reach underneath Cyclone’s chin, gently moving her head so she could look her in the eyes. “Oh that’s no way to think.” Even with Blaze’s sweet voice, Cyclone still looked like she didn’t believe her. “Believe it or not, I used to think I wouldn’t find someone myself, but look at me now.”

Blaze then moved her hand down to her belly to emphasize her point with her own pregnancy. Cyclone couldn’t help but be slightly envious of Blaze. She was being blessed with being able to bring new life in the world. However, Cyclone knew that she’d get the chance; one day.

“Sure, it took time, but it was worth the wait.” Cyclone looked back up to the bright crimson within Blaze’s eyes. Both orbs were burning with a passionate fire that would nurture her child into this world and give them everything they needed to face it on their own. “The point is Cyclone, don’t push yourself, but don’t let your chance slip away. Understand?”

“Yes Clan-Mother,” Cyclone breath out, laying her head back down on Blaze’s chest, and tightening her grip around Blaze’s back. Again, Cyclone gave into the mare’s warmth with a happy and content sigh escaping her lips. “I understand, I promise I won’t let you down.”

Another soft giggle came from Blaze again as she moved her hands back to Cyclone’s head-spines to gently rub them while her magic reached out to the dragoness' chair to lightly move it back to the table.

“I know you won’t Cyclone,” Blaze started, gesturing for Cyclone to go back to eating. Reluctantly, Cyclone removed herself from Blaze’s compassionate embrace to start eating.

Blaze again sparked her horn to lift two apples out of the stone bowl and moved one over towards Cyclone. “And do you know what most mates like?” she asked with a hint of a slight purr as Cyclone took the apple from her magical grip.

Cyclone wiggled in her chair a little from Blaze’s suddenly provocative tone of voice. The once calm stream was now replaced with a growing flame throughout Cyclone’s body, and she didn’t understand where it was coming from. “Wh-what would that be Clan-Mother?”

Slowly, Blaze brought the bright red apple to her lips, only to stop and whisper, “Power.” Blaze then took a large bite out of the apple, sending another shiver down Cyclone’s spine. She still couldn’t understand where this sudden change in Blaze’s voice was coming from. It reminded her of the elder dragonesses from her old dragon clan, especially the ones that craved strength and spoke true wisdom.

All of this was coming from a mare. A mare that had been acting like nothing but a caring mother to everyone. “Cyclone, whoever this one that you ‘like’ is,” Blaze paused to hold back a giggle, for she already had a good feeling of who Cyclone was referring to, but pretended to not know. “I can tell you this, they’re going to want a mate that can give them strong and healthy children.”

“H-how can I do that?” Cyclone asked, unable to move her eyes away from the suddenly dark flame in Blaze’s eyes. They still held the compassion that Cyclone had grown deeply attached to, however, there was now another flame swirling in them that started a flame in Cyclone’s chest. “I-I’m not strong like you, or even Quill and Frost. S-so how can I attract a mate with my power?”

Once again, Blaze giggled, and used her magic to scoot Cyclone’s chair closer. “Dear Cyclone,” she started, rubbing her hand on Cyclone’s leg with the same smile that told Cyclone everything was fine. “It isn’t how much power you have, it’s how you use it.”

“How’s that Clan-Mother?” Cyclone asked, knowing that there were other ways to attract a mate, but wanting to see what the Clan-Mother meant by using her power to do so. “Isn’t it just how much magic I have or something like that?” she continued to ask as she was instinctively rubbing the apple in her lap, laying her head on Blaze’s shoulder for comfort.

Blaze once again took note of the dragoness' maternal act, however, she pushed beyond it since it was naturally in Cyclone’s blood, and there wasn’t much for her to do about it. “Oh no, no, it isn’t just that,” Blaze murmured, moving her hand around to Cyclone’s back to rub her right arm in a motherly move. “It’s more of how you use what you have. Oh how did Quill put it that one time?” she paused to think about a phrase Quill used one time during her training a few weeks ago. “‘Shake whatcha want to bake,’ or something like that.”

Cyclone started to giggle at Blaze trying to use a saying from Quill and how offbeat it sounded coming from Blaze’s mouth. “Y-yes I guess that is what she could have said,” Cyclone giggled out as she brought the apple to her mouth to eat while Blaze continued to use her magic to do so. “So, if I find a way to make what magic I do have look alluring, I’ll be able to attract a mate?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean,” Blaze said with a giggle of her own, now sliding her hand against the side of Cyclone’s soft pink dress. “You have to find some way to make what you have attractive,” Blaze continued, giving Cyclone a quick nuzzle that got the dragoness giggling a little. “That way you’ll appear irresistible, but most importantly, be yourself. Whoever you want your mate to be, they should be able to love you for you. If not, then they are not worth the time.”

“Okay Clan-Mother, thank you,” Cyclone said with a small glimmer of a blush on her face as she never had this kind of talk with anyone, since Veil wasn’t the ‘touchy-feely’ type. “But I don’t know where to begin. The most I can do is light a fire,” she continued with a downward gaze as she huffed a small azure colored flame to prove her point.

Blaze frowned at the depressed look on Cyclone’s face and quickly thought a basic fire training lesson was in order to lift her spirits. “Hey now,” she started, moving her free hand to lift Cyclone’s chin so she could look her in the eyes. “I’ve already told you this Cyclone,” Blaze continued as she rubbed her thumb on Cyclone’s smooth cheek. “Your eyes are too beautiful to have sadness in them.”

Cyclone’s pink hope-filled eyes were forced to become transfixed in Blaze’s own passionate crimson hellfires. Both radiating suns of red light spoked of an experience that Cyclone had only begun to touch and a power that she’d never be able to reach without help. She wanted it, she wanted to know everything Blaze knew, but all she would get was whatever the mare taught her.

“O-okay Clan-Mother,” Cyclone said with a bright smile as she took hold of Blaze’s hand with her own and nuzzled into the mare’s hand.

Blaze smiled when Cyclone’s sadness in her eyes was replaced with a brighter ray of joy that truly displayed how Cyclone should be. “Good, now, how about we work on making your small wisp of flame into a burning sun?” Blaze asked rhetorically, motioning for Cyclone to sit up from her seat with her.

However, the two didn’t get any further as Blaze quickly wrapped her arms around Cyclone’s shoulders, again trapping her in a warm embrace. Cyclone didn’t mind though, she enjoyed Blaze’s warm body closely holding hers. It made her feel welcomed, as though she belonged to something much more.

Once Cyclone started to lean into the embrace, Blaze moved her head towards the dragoness’ shoulder to rest her chin on it. “Lily tells me that you were able to create a landscape in your mind,” Blaze said in a faint whisper as she started a slow rocking motion. A moment passed as Cyclone was finding more than just comfort in Blaze’s loving embrace. However, soon she was able to merely nod her head in response. “Good, do you think you can do that for me Cyclone?”

“Yes, Clan-Mother,” Cyclone answered with with a calm sigh, closing her eyes, and again trying to picture the calm scenery of her hill. However, something felt different. Something felt...warmer from the hill. She couldn’t see it, however, she could just ‘feel’ the difference, and it felt wonderful.

Cyclone had never felt more at peace than this moment; she was wrapped in Blaze’s warm embrace, and had the tranquil heat from the hill strengthening her. She was so lost in this that she didn’t feel Blaze taking hold of her hands and lifting them up and away from them. “Okay now,” Blaze began in the same motherly tone of voice that kept Cyclone completely calm. “I want you to draw upon your fire Cyclone. Don’t fear something that is a part of who you are. Embrace it Cyclone, become one with who you are.”

Slowly, with each breath drawn, a small ember of bluish-white flames sparked above Cyclone’s opened hands, growing with each heartbeat. “That’s it Cyclone. Continue to allow your flame to grow just like that.”

It was easy for Cyclone to listen to Blaze’s words, so easy that it seemed like there was nothing but the voice and her fire. Now, keeping her breathing even and steady, the small embers of blue light started to grow and become more focused.

Blaze marveled Cyclone’s divine and blooming flame of blue and pure white. Granted that it didn’t have the same power as hers did when she was younger, or the same potential that Quill’s did. Cyclone’s flame was something else. It was not meant to light the way for others, it wasn’t meant to fight off any dangers. It only had one purpose: to nurture.

“Oh Cyclone,” Blaze started with a bright smile that showed a fang or two from her. Just being around such a tender flame was enough to start pulling upon the dragon’s soul dwelling within her along with the dragon instincts that were embedded within the soul. “It’s beautiful, your flame, your passion. It’s burning so brightly.”

Blaze moved her hands off of Cyclone’s wrists and moved them to the sides of the wisping flames to help her maintain control over it. Gradually, small embers of red started to swirl around, and in, the small orb of sky colored flames.

“Open your eyes dear,” Blaze said once she was sure that she was able to help Cyclone keep control of her fire. Even still, with the wisps of crimson, the sky colored flame looked to be a thing of dreams, keeping Cyclone’s nurturing spirit within it. “You out of everyone deserves to see such a beautiful fire that you have.”

Again, it took great effort for Cyclone to heed Blaze’s instructions as she slowly opened her eyes to take sight of her fire. However, at first, Cyclone skook a little, as the flicker of blues and white reminded her of when her and Veil’s house burned down, but Blaze was able to put an end to this.

“Do not fear your fire, Cyclone,” Blaze whispered, again with the same soft tone of a mother, and the slow rocking that allowed Cyclone to be at peace. “This is who you are, it is a part of you. Don’t fear yourself, my dear sweet Cyclone. You’ll be swallowed whole by yourself if you do this.” Slowly, Cyclone started to calm down from her sudden flash of memories, however she still had a look of fear in her eyes.

Sensing this, Blaze moved to nuzzle her cheek against Cyclone’s, and started to croon the same soft melody to she used to calm any of the younger members, and sometimes Wolf, in time of stress. “This flame is a part of you, sweet Cyclone, this is who you truly are.” Blaze paused for a moment to again whisper some more of the soft melody in Cyclone’s ear. “Look deep within yourself Cyclone, see who you are.”

Driven by Blaze’s calm words, Cyclone started to look within the flame, and saw the pure embodiment of herself. Soon, the sky colored flame appeared to be the most wonderful thing Cyclone had ever witnessed...and it was hers. “Oh Clan-Mother, it’s beautiful!” she cheered with a bright and wide smile on her face.

Cyclone couldn’t believe that the small flame, only large enough to take the space between her palms, was hers. With Blaze’s help, Cyclone brought the flame closer towards her chest to feel its soft warmth. “It feels so warm, Clan-Mother.”

“That’s because it’s yours, Cyclone,” Blaze said, continuing the gentle swaying, and resuming her humming so Cyclone could marvel her own flame for a few moments longer. She even sparked her horn to use her magic to dim the lit torches so the only light was coming from Cyclone’s flame. “Nurture it Cyclone, cuddle it from anything that would try to harm it, and let it thrive.”

As Blaze spoke these words, the flame in Cyclone’s hands started to grow larger and brighter. By way of instinct, Cyclone moved the flame away from her chest, and held it outwards as it continued to expand to near twice it original size. Now the blue and white flame was floating above the space over both Cyclone’s hands.

Cyclone’s mouth was agape at the sight of her tender flame burning so bright and large in front of her. However, she could now clearly see the wisps of red and black mixed with her flame, and knew that Blaze was helping her. “See Cyclone,” Blaze began, still using her magic to help Cyclone with maintaining the larger orb of fire. “This is the ability of your flame; to nurture. With the help of others, you can achieve something so great, and in return, you instinctively care for the other’s magic.”

Cyclone quickly snapped out of her daze to nuzzle against Blaze’s cheek while she again brought the flame closer to her again to feel the warmth of her and Blaze’s fire. “Th-thank you Clan-Mother, thank you so much. I would have never been able to do this without you.”

“No, you did this yourself, Cyclone,” Blaze said, returning the nuzzle, and planting a soft kiss on Cyclone’s cheek. “I only helped, the rest was all you.” Cyclone took in a deep breath and let out a long content sigh as she leaned against Blaze. Soon, together, the two started to end the manifestation azure flames.

Blaze continued to hold Cyclone in her arms as she finished the soft melody her own mother used to hum to her when she was little. All the while, Cyclone remained happily in Blaze’s protective hold as she thought of using what Blaze taught her today.

The mare didn’t have to speak any words, or even tell her want to do next. All that Cyclone needed was a gentle hand to help guide her in the right direction to get her started. And now, a flame of curiosity blazed throughout Cyclone as she wondered what else she could to with her nurturing magic.

“Clan-Mother,” Cyclone started, turning her head upwards toward Blaze to look in her shining crimson eyes. “I-I want to know more.” Cyclone then rested her head on Blaze’s chest with a happy and content sigh leaving her lips. The darkened room was once again filled with softness of Blaze humming before being broken by Cyclone whispering; “I want to know what my flame can do.”

“That was wonderful, Cyclone dear,” Blaze said as she moved her arms underneath Cyclone’s breasts. It didn’t matter that Cyclone wasn’t as strong as the others, what mattered was that she had the will strong enough to help tend to others. “We can continue if you are ready.”

“Oh yes Clan-Mother,” Cyclone cheered, not from the prospect of learning more of her fire’s capabilities, but from being able to spend more time learning from the mare. Cyclone couldn’t wait to see what other potential her flame had, and she had all day to spend it with Blaze.

Which they did.

The hours flew by as Blaze tested Cyclone’s aptitude with her fire-magic. Of course, in light of how nervous Cyclone was when she took the greed test the other day, Blaze thought to make it as lighthearted as she could.

First up was target practice with some leftover fish. Blaze knew that if the fish were to stay any longer, they would end up spoiling, and get someone sick. So, she thought that Cyclone’s nurturing and purifying flame would do the trick of safely and quickly cooking them.

It took Cyclone a moment to get all of them, but Cyclone was able to perfectly hit and cook them. After praising the dragoness for her achievement, Blaze noted that if Quill had tried that she would have turned the whole fish into ash, and thereby wasting them.

Next up was seeing how concentrated Cyclone could get her flame to be before she needed help. Blaze had her do this because she needed to see how much control Cyclone had on her own and to see if she would be able to raise the force of her nurturing heat.

Cyclone surpassed her expectations when she was able to get her fireball so small that the only color in the flame was a pure, hot white. That’s when Cyclone started to quickly lose control again as the flame began to fluctuate in size, causing Cyclone to freak out for a moment.

However, Blaze was quick to end Cyclone’s worries as her magic overcame the dragoness’ with ease, and safely dispelled it. Blaze quickly held onto Cyclone’s weight as the young dragoness started to collapse after the buildup of fire-magic was dispelled. With the dragoness safely in her arms, Blaze used her magic to keep the arcane doors open so the heat would vent out towards the city ruins.

Sparking her horn again, Blaze brought over her chair and the bowl of fruit, and sat down to begin feed Cyclone. “Cyclone dear,” Blaze cooed as she kept Cyclone resting much of her upper body in her lap while her legs were stretched out in the chair she was previously sitting in.

“That was wonderful, you were wonderful,” she continued as she used her magic to move a strawberry to Cyclone’s mouth, continuing to gently move her hands along Cyclone’s body and head-spines.

Cyclone slowly opened her mouth to accept the sweet smelling fruit, and began to softly chew it while Blaze levitated another strawberry for herself. The two then resumed eating their lunch while the room was still being dimly lit by a few fire-stone torches.

“Dear, you are a real natural, you know that?” Blaze asked after finishing her strawberry and started to float a few blueberries over to them from the bowl. “I couldn’t be any more proud of you right now than I am.”

Cyclone again took the berry in her mouth, this time with a bit more vigor as she felt her energy coming back faster the longer Blaze praised her for what she could do. “Th-thank you Clan-Mother,” she started with a happy smile while her voice still was weak from the shouting she did when she nearly lost control of her magic again.

She had feared that there would be a more fatal repeat of her old home, however, Blaze was thankfully standing right behind her, and was able to sooth all of her worries with that calm melody.

“I-I don’t know what would have happened if you weren’t here,” Cyclone continued, forcing her hands to move to take Blaze’s left hand that was placed right below her chest. “I’m s-so glad that we could have this time together, Clan-Mother,” she finished with a tired sigh as her eyelids started to become heavier.

However, right before Cyclone’s hope filled pink eyes could close, she managed to pull enough strength to whisper, “I-I l-love you...Mother.” It wasn’t long after that when Cyclone’s eyes closed shut as she drifted off to sleep.

All Blaze could do was smile down at the dragoness as she slipped her hand from Cyclone’s and used it to gently rub her cheeks. It mattered not that both Cyclone and Veil had been there less than a full week, Blaze already felt the same motherly connection she had with the twins and Frost.

Even though she was pregnant with her first child, all of the younger members of High Moon felt like her own, and Blaze was going to care for and protect them as such.

“And I love you too my sweet dragoness,” Blaze whispered, as she continued to rub Cyclone’s soft, and smooth cheeks in her hand. It was then the black dragon markings started to emerge on her body as both her pony and dragon maternal instincts began making themselves known.

“Sleep peacefully. I won’t allow anything to harm you.” Blaze quietly giggled when a soft smile started to grow on Cyclone’s face as if she could hear her words in her dreams. “I’ll care for all of you. My dear sweet children.”