Birth of the Phoenix Adophus

by Deathm0nger

Lighting the Match

All things have a beginning, a middle of varied lengths, and ultimately an end. But sometimes, after the end is a new beginning: a Continuation. Because if something was ended early, why waste the chance to see it try something else?

I didn’t wake up, but felt my whole body numb and distant. I felt a soft warmth around me, but not the same from that weird… dream I guess it was. I try to remember why I’m so sore, but my head starts to pound and nothing comes to mind. Giving up, I settle for trying to sit up or just roll over. I struggle to move what I believe is my arm, as if i don’t have the right connection. After minutes of trying to do anything, I manage to flex my toes. Waking up more from the sensation of feeling creeping up my aching limbs, I stretch my arms, my hands still feeling numb. Mustering more strength, I sit up and stabilize myself by placing my numb hands between my legs, slowly rotating my neck to remove the stiffness. With a yawn, i straighten my back- hearing the vertebrae pop.

With my hands numb and legs still feeling shaky, I tried to open my eyes but quickly shut them due to a blinding pain, causing me to cry out and fall over, covering them with my arms. The pain was so much, it caused me to involuntary cry as pieces of something flashed across my mind. The only thing I could figure out was that my eyes were damaged somehow, and I must be in some kind of hospital. I must have scared somebody because I could hear them rushing to me. I’m too focused on the pain to hear them talk, but I feel a soft, gentle hand stroke my head and i lean into it, my crying softens as I feel an overwhelming sense of love and caring aimed at me- like a grandmother does to a crying injured child. I felt something soft wipe my eyes and tenderly pick me up, before I felt like i was being carried. I wanted to see who was moving me, but between my eyes and head hurting and the gentle swaying, I found myself drifting off to sleep. Unable to fight it, I rested my head against the woman’s body and fell asleep.

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It was a calm day as I walked around my little cottage on the edge of town, checking on  the many critters staying, checking up on those that had minor injuries, were feeling ill, or hungry. I was making a quick snack for Harry the Bear when Angel Bunny hopped onto the counter. “Hello, Angel. Do you need something?” I smiled, placing Harry’s snack into a bowl for him.

Angel huffed and crossed his arms. “Yes. I want some fresh carrots and berries in a salad. Please….” he relaxed his arms, dropping his attitude.

I giggled to myself because of the cute anger he always showed, “Certainly. But could you take this to Harry, Please? It’s a special snack to thank him for helping with the woodchucks that got caught in that awful storm yesterday.” I smiled as he dramatically sighed before taking the bowl and hopping off the counter and into the living room. Walking to my back door, I pick up a small basket by the door with my hoof, opening the door with my other hoof before flying out into my backyard. With the help of Applejack, i was able to get a small garden started so I wouldn’t have to worry about spending so much bits at the market for food. And with the help of my little critter friends i was able to make it a bit bigger and grow a variety of vegetables and even a few fruit trees!

When I got to the garden, I dropped the basket as a gasp escaped my muzzle. “Oh my…. What happened?” I asked as Seria, a young barn owl that volunteered to watch over the garden landed in front of me.

Seria bowed, her tail feathers drooping. “I am very sorry, Miss Fluttershy. I was watching the Garden all night. And at close to sunrise, I was very tired and fell asleep…. I woke up because I heard a loud noise from the forest. And the berry bush that Mister Angel loved had been ripped apart. I panicked and flew around before I spotted a pack if Timberwolves running deeper into the forest.” She sadly hooted, hanging her head. “I am very very sorry…….”

True to her word, the berry bush was destroyed, only a single branch left standing with a sole berry at the tip. I landed, laying a comforting wing around Seria, softly smiling. “I am not mad at you. I knew that other creatures would steal from our garden, and it’s not your fault. I should have had more than one bush planted, but also you should have came in and told somepony that you were too tired. It doesn’t make your actions mean any less if you ask for help. Ok?” I hugged her, as she perked up, her body firming up from the pep talk. “Now, I have to search for some berries for Angels snack, so could you please ask the squirrels or the groundhogs to help you clean up the broken twigs and put them with the fire wood? Thank you.” Seria eagerly nodded, quickly taking off back to the house. Smiling at the happy owl, I picked up my basket and tried to remember where a berry patch was close to my cottage. Remembering, I lift off the ground, flying towards the edge of the Everfree forest.

Reaching the forest edge, I land and take the path that would lead me to a small clearing with a few berry bushes. A couple minutes of walking led me deeper than I would have liked to go, I just remembered that this group of bushes lie farther in than Zecora’s hut. Holding my wings closer to my body, I quicken my pace trying to be the brave Shy and not the scared Shy. I finally reach a small clearing with berry bushes scattered about. Relaxing at the sight of a more normal part of the Everfree, I start to pick the berries, I have almost filled my basket, more than plenty for Angels salad, and some I might preserve until the bush in my garden re-grows, when I hear a cry of pain on the other side of the clearing. Dropping the basket, I rush to the cry that sounded like it came from a foal. Flying over a batch of briars, I spot a autumn red, almost orange fox pup covering its eyes and crying. “You poor dear! Don’t worry, I’ll help you….” I cooed, gently petting its head. The fox stopped crying as it leaned into my hoof, and I used my wing to wipe its tears away but the pup did not move its forelegs from over its eyes. Concerned about its health, and wondering where its mother is, i pick up the fox pup in my wings and start to fly out of the forest and to Dr. Fauna’s clinic in Ponyville. After clearing the forest and adjusting my flight path, I feel the pup curl up in my wings and rest its head against my chest.