//------------------------------// // 24 // Story: Tales of a Brighton Phoenix // by The Stainmore Phoenix //------------------------------// Being allowed to work with friends is always a joy. However, it was still disheartening to be relieved of what made me....well....me. Having to reside in a castle or the in company of others made things almost unbearable for everyone in the castle. I stayed away from the others. If I had to attend dinner, I stayed silent and ate with a calm air of being alone. After that, I would take my dishes to the kitchen and then go back to my room and sit, reading. Hopefully that would help put my mind at ease. It didn't help and even conversations with mom or dad fell flat, often times ending with “I don't need help, I need to be alone”. That did little and tensions began mounting. Mom and Dad were becoming short tempered and so was everyone else. Everyone else except for Flurry and Skyla. They were determined and to anyone who has siblings who want to make them better, they can be rather persistent. Often times, I found myself having to use counter charms and spells to keep them out, but that didn't stop them and half the time, the journal I wrote down how I was feeling was gone. “Damn them,” I hissed. “Don't they understand privacy?!” As a result, I began spending time away from everyone. Going into the Everfree Forest to sit by the lake or any secluded area. However, something caught my eye, a figure would disappear everytime I turned to a 45* angle. “Who's there?!” I demanded. Nothing. I kept myself positioned to catch whoever was spying on me. Soon, the shape showed up again. Butter yellow coat with butterfly cutie mark. “Fluttershy, flutter off,” I huffed. “Feeling incomplete?” the voice asked. It definitely wasn't Fluttershy. It was much more out there, optimistic and somewhat cheerful. I glanced at the figure and got a shock. It looked like a cross between Fluttershy and Nightmare Moon, except for one difference, she had royal guard's armor instead of nightmare armor and her eyes were a soft cream color. “Who are you?” I asked. “Queen Everfree Vineyard,” she said. She moved close and laid down next to me. “Something troubling you?” She asked. Hesitantly, I explained everything. She smiled. “It's hard to give up your duties,” she said. “But your duties don't define you, you and your skills define you.” “I know that,” I said. “But what good am I if I can't use my skills?” “Your still great. Greatness is what you make it,” she said. I sighed, still feeling defeated. “I take it your other jobs were something more,” she said. “They were,” I said. “They were my way of showing society I'm more than just some royal, pampered prince who's nose is always up in the clouds and who looks down on the lesser fortunate ponies.” Everfree Vineyard gave a soft smile. “I want you to take care,” she said. “I'll write to your family to let them know you're safe.” “Don't,” I said. “Tensions...are.....high right now.” “They care for you,” she replied. “I know they do. I'm a mother myself.” I merely looked up at her. “It's true, but surreal at the same time,” she chuckled. “Yeah....I......guess,” I said, not knowing what to make of it. She stayed beside me, trying to cheer me up. It only worked when she said something funny. At last, she spoke. “Do you know who my dear, sweet husband is?” She asked. “No,” I said. “It's Sombra,” she replied. “My grandfather?!” I yelped. “Interesting,” she said. “All I know is that me and him had a daughter-Cadence, and she married a colt named Shining Armor” I explained everything. She nodded softly. “I see,” she said. “I just want to know what your going to do for your time alone” “Wal....” I began but the ground around the lake began to give way, violently. Everfree Vineyard got free in time. I wasn't the lucky little mister. My left rear hoof was caught in the falling rocks and collapsing trees. I gave one last shout of surprise before everything disappeared from sight and all around me was nothing but rocks. The ground, now coming up fast, scared me. I tried, desperately, to stop my fall. That failed and I ended up breaking a leg. All that was left after the last bits of debris crashed down was deafening silence. Looking around after lighting my horn, I saw I was in some sort of cavern. Looking up from where I came, I couldn't see light. Puddles down there reflected the light. I managed to get up and struggle to a relative lone point, some distance from where the cave-in had happened. As I sat down, I heard something. “Who's there?!” I barked. The “something” subsided into nothing. I really wish I had some kind of weapon right now. I tried to look around, but with a broken leg in the way, that was proving to be impossible. After turning back to be in a less damaging position, I heard the something again, closer and words were able to be made out. “Look, it's an Alicorn.” “And a Thestral one at that.” “I hate you two jackasses. He's injured, scared and in need of help and you can only think of what you want to do with him.” “Hey, don't judge us! You want him for something.” “I want him as a friend, smart one. Not some damn maid. Honestly, you two are lazy, conniving and just playing stupid.” I listened a minute more before calling out again. This time, I got a reply. “Hey there, you okay?” “No,” I said. “A broken leg, some cuts and bruises and possibly more injuries.” The figure walked forward. I stared at a medium sized changeling in forest brown colors. His eyes, of a shaded green color, looked on with sympathy. “Come on, we'll get you help,” she said. “Anything left untreated can be fatal.” I thanked her as she braced herself against me to aide me. Her horn lit up a camo brown color and several rapid noises were heard. Some 45 minutes later, as we arrived in a cutting, a swarm of medics were waiting. Once there, the medics swarmed me and had what was broken and the cuts covered in a healing goo. I was then placed on a stretcher and told to stay as still as possible. I sighed and wondered what would happen ******* *Shining Armor POV* I'm now starting to feel more concerned for my son. After getting the truth out of his friends and my daughters, I want to just put aside all titles and be with him, father to son. However, his closed off nature made it hard and it started to rub off on me. One night, while with Cadence, she sat on the bed. “Dear,” she said. “Talk to my father. He's the best source we have.” “I'll do it as soon as I can,” I promised, kissing her. “It's hard though, having to tie your self worth to your jobs and not your personality.” “I know,” Cadence replied. “I've known ponies who've done it before. To them, a Cutie Mark is life and if they don't get one before leaving elementary school, they refuse to do anything in society.” “Still,” I replied. “I hope I can break through to him.” “I wish the same,” Cadence sighed. “But Tintin's right, he's stubborn and doesn't listen when he's finally gotten into a rhythm he likes. I've been there, and it's stressful.” I was about to say something when a knock sounded. I unlocked the door and cracked it to see my father in law there. “Sombra?” I asked. “What's up?” “It's your son,” he replied. “I got a letter from my wife saying he fell into a cavern.” “What?!” I nearly broke down. “What's she going to do?” “She's going to mount a rescue,” Sombra said. I heard Cadence give a shaky, almost tear ridden sigh. Sombra said he would also mount a rescue. “I would invite you along,” he told me. “However, Cadence needs you. I'll find him.” “One question,” I asked. “Did your wife say anything.” “Yes, she said he was starting to come to grips with his lot in life,” Sombra said. “Also, he didn't want her to talk to you due to the high stress.” “I see,” I said. “Thank you and I'll thank her when I see her.” Sombra nodded, smiled, kissed Cadence, promised to return with Phoenix and then left.8 ***** *Phoenix POV* Soon, we arrived in a large medical ward. It was just like every other medical ward or hospital I've been in-white and bland. The stretcher was placed on a large metal stand, before I was transferred to the bed next to the stand. Once moved over, a nurse ran off fast. “What's with her?” I asked. “She's gone running off as though she just robbed a bank.” “Your wanted, by our King and Queen,” came the reply. “For what crime?” I asked. “Not for a crime, but because your Dad's been concerned. In fact, your dad isn't here, but your grandfather is,” the Doctor said, entering. “Sombra? Really? I thought he lived on paperwork and “the Book”, not family,” I said, having only ever seen him enthralled in his paperwork. “That doesn't mean I don't care for my family,” he said, entering. “Also, I heard from your friends that you've been tying your selfworth to all your jobs. The more jobs, the better.” “Because,” I said. “That's how I've worked.” “Then, if you'll pardon me, your the biggest sap here,” he said. “Your personality defines you, not your duties. I care for you, as your the most faithful and caring prince I've ever seen. If you weren't, would Blaze go out with you?” “That's a fair point.” I conceded. I took to noticing something about him. Instead of any royal dress or guard's dress, he was there, as plain as plain got. Walking over, he did something I swore would have been out of character, had he not explained, in short, sweet terms, he put family over duty-Pulled me into a loving hug. Then again, he's not a tyrannical dictator hellbent on total domination. He maybe a king, but not every king is evil, so why go along with some crack brained notion? I left that question as I heard him softly sob, not wanting to lose me. “He cares. I've been an ass here. I now need to put this right.” Context time. I have a deep sense of pride and should I hurt someone who cares, and looks out for me, I must put things right or spend days alone, thinking of ways to fix it, even if it puts me in hospital. Reacting appropriately, I returned the embrace. “I don't want you to pass on this young,” Sombra whispered. “Cadence is my only child and to lose somepony she loves would be unbearable for all concerned.” “I...understand,” I replied. Sombra pulled back. “I want some time here, with you,” he said. “I want to get to understand your mindset.” I wanted to protest, but he is my grandfather, as well as a king. However, he was pushing that to the side. “Grandfather?” I asked. “Yes?” he said, glancing at me. “Why aren't you pulling rank?” I asked. “What do you mean?” he asked, confused. “Your a king, I'm a prince,” I said. “You could have pulled rank and ordered me to talk.” “That draws resentment,” he said. “I tried it once with Prince Armor and he just bit my head off every time we were in the same room.” “Oh,” I said. “Yes. After I pushed all aside, we became close,” he said. I nodded, and he continued. “Now, can I ask, what made you assign meaning to your work and not to your personality?” Doesn't waste time, does he. “Well, it's just that....” I paused, “Where I come from, one's self worth is judged by where you work and how many jobs you can hold. The more jobs, the better.” “Isn't that a recipe for disaster?” he asked. “If by that, you mean the fact that my medical condition got to a point where I had to be pull off all other duties,” I said. “Then yes.” He chuckled. “Your just like your dad when he was your age, a sarcastic smart alek,” Sombra said. We talked for hours before the doctors chased him out, saying the usual things about needing medicine, x-rays, examinations and bed rest. I laid down and let the doctors swarm all over me, drawing blood, doing preliminary checks, and so on down the typical doctor's checklist. “Please let this day end. I want tomorrow to bring a new day, a new slate. Renewed faith in those who care.” That night, as I slept after all the rushing around, I heard some footsteps walking up to the door and open it. I could barely see anything. Any light that I had was given off by the medical monitors and the like. The figure turned. I couldn't see the face. “Keep the faith.”