C!verse Post: Phoenixes and Philomena · 3:36am Dec 31st, 2013
Hey again, it's been awhile! Sorry for that, I've been working on a lot of different stories (some MLP some not, oneofwhich i'm actualyl rather proud of, even if it won;t ever see the light of day) and of-course, study. Plus in regards to actual world building posts there's not much more I can do beyond Cadence's bio which, given her massive history, is kind of hard. Still I felt this post needed to be done and it actually does cover a small amount of that history, so here we go!
Phoenixes
Life Cycle
Phoenixes are part elemental and part corporeal entities, living fire magic flows through their entire forms and they posses a unique distinction form the majority of creatures by being as intelligent, or if you ask them, more intelligent than a normal pony as well as partially immortal. Though their intelligence is very dependent on age, young phoenixes are little mroe than magical animals, while elder phoenixes are fully sentient, but very rare.
Phoenixes live relatively long lives before shedding their feather, bursting into flames and becoming ash; after that fact they quickly return to their prime . Phoenixes are special as they have managed to make death a part of their natural life cycle. It is still possible for a phoenix to die naturally, but this is a rare occurrence. Similarly, killing a phoenix is difficult, but far from impossible.
One method is depriving the ashes of air, which is necessary for the rebirth process. Another is to absorb the magical energy from the phoenix, this is especially common amongst other elementals as they feast upon one another for sustenance and territory within their own realm. Destroying the ashes as a pheonix tried to reincarnate is another method , but this can lead to the pheonix exploding and even making a come back regardless.
Due to their semi-immortal nature Pheonixes have to be careful not to overpopulate the material realm, this is not an issue in the fiery planes. When two pheonixes are ready to have eggs they conceive and care for them in the material realm, it is there that they teach them to fly, catch prey and even to an extent to fight before returning them, as the equivalent of teenagers, to their native realm. After that the parents job is done and they leave the siblings to take care of each other, who themselves will eventually split off and go their own way.
Magic
Pheonixes can defend themselves through various means, though these are all dependent on natural power, age and practice and are not universal skills.
A phoenix can travel between the fiery planes of their native realm to the material plane with greater ease than any other elemental creatures. This is due to them being partially corporeal.
They are also capable of breathing fire, converting their corporal form into living flames or increasing their body heat to unbearable level and creating blinding lights. Pheonixes are also capable of letting out might, deafening, cries and creating powerful gusts of heated wind, as well as flying at great speeds, with great maneuverability.
Their talons are quite prized and pieces being extremely durable and sharp and even just the feathers can be used for enchantment and in potions to grant impressive fire power or even to heal and give strength.
Pheonixes are generally indifferent to other creatures, often coming across as haughty and distant, though they are capable of becoming close companions it is a rare thing. They can form contacts or bonds with summoners and spell-casters though can be incredibly useful and versatile familiars, when it suits them.
Culture
Not much is known about Pheonix culture as they are distant and mysterious creatures, it is known that they only spend a small portion of their lives, normally, in the material realm and often have a slightly condescending attitude towards other creatures. They are often messengers, and heralds of of coming events, often being called to areas of great magic or power and they usually try to keep themselves separate from the business of other creatures showing little interest in city's or living in flocks.
Despite this, if one earns the favor of a Pheonix they'd be hard-pressed to find a more reliable companion and they have intervened in the past to help innocents escape disasters. One can usually be found when a necessary forest fires takes place and they tend to gather around extremely hot places, such as volcanoes when in the material realm.
They are respected by the griffons, but actively disliked by dragons, sometimes having been known to be eaten by them. Ponies treat them with a sense of wonder and zebra or other creatures attitudes can vary. Though Saddle Arabians are very fond of pheonixes and this fondness is often returned in in-kind. Phoenixes can be given to very playful behaviour which often comes across as mischievous or outright malicious to other creatures and they live in a very elemental consume elemental world. This is the nature of all elemental beings, as they all live to absorb and consume and scatter one another.
Pheonixes rarely get together in flocks, but when they do it is a sight to behold! Fire and light dance through the sky in an elegant ensemble. There are rarely mroe than one thousand pheonixes alive at a time. They are also extremely territorial, when and if they bother to pick a territory or individual, otherwise they travel a great deal. Pheonixes eat and drink, but only in very small amounts and they usually need some magic to get by, though not much and can consume other elementals magical energy.
Philomena
Philomena is currently the oldest pheonix on the face of the planet, and is among the most powerful and skillful when it comes to magic. She was and is Queen Celestia's favored pet and, besides her sister, oldest companion. The phoenix was the mighty alicorns herald as well as her sigil and the two had been with one another since time immemorial.
When the alicorns disappeared Philomena fell into a destructive rage at the loss of her mistress. She scoured the land for years, reducing much of what she came across to ash, before finally determining there was nowhere she could find her mistress nor anyway to save her. Falling into a depression Philomena staked out a territory and made it nearly impossible for other creatures to live near her, filling the area with intense heat and flames and deafening shrieks into the sky.
That was when Cadence appeared, to prove her divinity one of her labors for a local liege was to find and slay the dreaded phoenix, but upon hearing the creatures mournful song Cadence could not bring herself to do it.
When she approached the enraged pheonix it sense something within the mare, namely some of Celestia's magic, feeling this was as close as she would ever get to her lost mistress the pheonix became the would be princess's companion for the next millennium. Of course their relationship was never perfect, Philomena is a tetchy creature and would often disappear for weeks or months at a time, still searching for Celestia. Comparatively, Cadence is always discomforted by the presence of a creature that was so close to her would be creators.
This came to ahead when the princesses returned, initially content to sit on the sidelines Celestia summoned her faithful pet to distract or destroy the soon to be Element Bearers who were making their way to the castle. Celestia did not want her and her sisters fight with Cadence to be interrupted. Cadence's feeling on the situation can be summarized rather easily "You traitorous bird!"
After the would be empresses defeat Philomena returned suitably contrite, as Ceelstia and Luna disappeared into the sky to observe the world, leaving the pheonix alone again. Deciding that 'something' needed to be done Cadence soon ordered that, as punishment, the pheonix would serve as Lighting Dusts assistant and familiar rather than hers. Her flames were enchanted so that the two can communicate in secret, if that ever became necessary and Philomena was instructed to help Lighting Dust, so long as her requests were reasonable.
It is Princess Cadence's hope that these two will be good for one another and that time away form a lap of luxury and with other ponies will improve Philomena's personality. Lighting Dust and Philomena's relationship can be rather easily summarized
"You realise that I hate you." 
Despite the princesses best efforts the two had never gotten along and their brief stint as enemies has not improved matter between them, the two powerful and mischievous personalities often find themselves dead locked against one another. More often than not they will spend time making each others life difficult for their own amusement or bicker, as much as they can given they do not speak each others language. Despite their problems with one another the two are actually rather similar, both being given to a loner attitude, being cagey and somewhat haughty, mischievous and rebellious. Over time these two are likely to grow closer together, coming to truly trust and rely upon one another and their growing circle of friends.
Notes:
So I hope you guys liked this post, and if you have any questions or comments please feel free t leave them, I love feedback!
As it stands i'm currently debating whether phoenixes have an inbuilt natural instinct telling them when they need to breed and recoup their numbers or if other creatures need to take that on, or if they manage it themselves.
Oh and in other news I finished the first, yes, sorry, first chapter of a C!verse fic besides Cutie Mark Chronicles. Oddly enough it could probably stand on it;s own as an extremely short vignette episode when I think about it. It hasn't been edited yet, and i'd rather finish the whole story assuming I don't just treat the prologue as it's own story, but if anyone wants to have a look i'd love some feedback! It will be uploaded onto Gdocs, so if you want to take a look just ask me.
Thanks for reading!
No, but seriously. Start this.
I love the idea of Lightning and Philomena...
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I'm glad you like the idea of Dust and Philomena; I wanted her to have an assistant/pet and those two playing off each other is just too good an opportunity to pass up.
If you're interested there is that prologue for Parasprites in the city, it's 'in-media-res and very much designed to try and introduce new readers to the characters and setting without bogging it down. If you're not that's cool as well.
Thanks for the comment!