It took Phoenix around an hour to explain everything.
“From what knowledge I have acquired,
none of these events should have transpired.”
The filly slurped up what remained of her stew and shrugged. “Yeah, well, life sucks and then you die.”
“Your pessimism clouds your judgment,
your attitude is in need of adjustment.
And the story you weave
Is very hard to conceive!”
Zecora finished her strange rhyming by smashing her hooves on the table that Phoenix had been using. The filly snorted. “I didn’t think that seeing a sunrise was ever, um, conceivable. I also didn’t think seeing… well, I guess not my parents, but I didn’t think I would ever see them again.”
Zecora shook her head.
“You talk of a world ruled by the Dark Queen,
and yet your attitude is obscene!
You have bruises and doom laced over your body,
and yet your self-treatment is shoddy!
Scootaloo, I asked to explain your tale,
but your proof and your explanations lack detail!”
Phoenix narrowed her eyes and met Zecora’s. “Have you listened to a word I’ve said?”
“You have spun quite the story,
that leaves me nothing but worry.
You truly think this is all fact,
but I can’t be sure if your mind is intact.”
Phoenix narrowed her eyes and snorted. “You’re calling me crazy?!”
“That is not what I said,
though your heart is filled with dread,
You are lacking in sleep, quite clear from the red lines in your eyes,
but until you drop your guise I cannot be certain of the truth spun from some of your lies.”
“But I didn--”
Zecora interrupted before she could continue.
“Do not mistake my conclusion for thinking you are lying,
I can see quite clearly that you were trying,
but in your effort to condense,
your explanation makes no sense.”
“...I explained what I could!” Phoenix shot back. Anger soured through her. She doesn’t even believe me? What does she want, my whole life story from birth to now?!
“Perhaps a good night's rest will do you some good,
you can try again in the morning when you are better understood.
Your heart was not in it as you tried to explain,
it seemed to take a lot out of you just to maintain.
But your mind is quite closed,
you need to leave things more exposed.”
Phoenix groaned. “Are you even gonna help? Do you even believe me?!”
Zecora started walking away, not bothering to glance back.
“Help is my intention,
tomorrow you will have my undivided attention.
I will start working on your potion,
and will set things in motion.”
She felt like fleeing and the more she thought about it, the better the idea seemed. But she said she would help with a potion… at least I got something out of this.
She was going to snuggle into her chair when she paused and looked back at the strange zebra. “Don’t you want payment or something?”
“It is in my best interest to help others,
I’ve got you covered.”
“Why?”
“I do not have time to explain,
now please rest or my efforts here will be in vain.”
“Hmm, don’t have to tell me twice,” she mumbled. The chair she was on was twice her size and was easily the most comfortable “bed” she had slept on in a while. Everything about Zecora’s hut was strange, but looking up and seeing the night’s sky and Luna’s stars did at least make things feel more at home. Even if that home was a nightmare, it was what she was used to.
Sighing and yawning, she gently shut her eyes. Sleep took her quite easily.
“Tia, I sense her,” Luna mumbled. She could sense her own eyes glazing over as the eternal realm became open to her. Something in the dream world was calling for her, something quite familiar.
“How? What about her dream catcher?”
Luna shrugged. “Your lack of dream knowledge is astounding,” Luna said with a giggle.
Celestia looked shocked and then surprised her by smiling. “Was that a jest?!”
“...Maybe. But seeing as you’re still confused, allow me to elaborate. Ponies and indeed all living creatures need to dream at some point. Even if they aren’t consciously aware of them or indeed remember them, dreams are necessary.”
“Why?”
“It’s complicated, but rest assured without proper sleep and the state of dreaming, a pony's stability will quickly falter. Apparently, Phoenix is aware of this. That is my best guess, anyway. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
Luna went to leave but felt a gentle tug on her tail. “Sister, I request you do not make contact with her, regardless of her need. Do not engage with her in her dreams, only observe.”
The lunar princess smiled. “I’m afraid you do not hold control over dreams, dear sister,” she responded as Celestia frowned. “But I will take it into consideration.”
Diving into the mind of the strange filly was relatively simple enough. “She has quite a few more defenses than the average pony; this doesn’t bode well for her mental well being.” She looked around and noted how dark and dreary everything seemed. “Then again, it’s the same for Starlight I suppose.”
Glancing around, she took note of the similar landscape to Ponyville with small sprawling hills and various thatched-roof buildings, but the similarities ended there. War ravaged was the simplest term she could muster, with very few structures still standing. Trees had been burned and grass had whittled away to dust. Most disturbing of all, a mass assortment of shallow graves had been haphazardly set up off in the distance. Just why a filly of all ponies would dream up such a desolate nightmare was still beyond Luna, but she kept digging.
She considered taking flight, but alerting Phoenix to her presence was ill-advised. Shaking that thought aside, she trudged forward and started looking around for any clues. After a few hills, she could sense that a presence was nearing. Bracing herself she charged forward rather quietly, only to deflate almost immediately. The sight before her was as disturbing as it was simple.
The dream, or the focus of the dream, seemed to be nothing but two houses perched side by side. Standing in front of them was none other than Phoenix, but if she noticed the princess, she didn’t budge. The scene also seemed quite a deal more disturbing than their surroundings.
The house on the right was nearly all burnt to ashes, with a few standing walls left. There wasn’t much detail to describe because almost nothing remained. Next to it was a vaguely familiar sight, one that, if she wasn’t mistaken, she had visited in a young filly’s dream.
Scootaloo’s dream. That’s her home, she thought. But rather than looking grey and dull, it exhumed a vibrant coloration that seemed extremely out of place. Everything seemed so alive and inviting, even the princess herself felt like going in, but she held her wishes at bay.
Focus, she told her dream self. You are here for her.
It was then that Luna noticed that the lively house wasn’t exactly static. No. peering just inside, she could hear and indeed see several ponies in the midst of a party, if she wasn’t mistaken. It didn’t take long for the princess to piece together just what was happening. Phoenix was peering into her current reality, to Scootaloo’s happy and cheerful existence.
But if that’s Scootaloo’s home, then what of the rest of this place? What happened here?
She felt tempted to speak up but doubted that Phoenix was in the talking mood. Whether she realized she was dreaming or not likely didn’t even matter. Speculation was likely all she was going to get and if she were a betting mare, she would place good odds, and this Ponyville being Phoenix’s true home.
Of course, that’s not always the case, but it certainly feels like her home. I could sense it in her soul.
But perhaps the greatest tell was Phoenix’s color palette rendered in the dream realm: it was dull and grey.
Princess Luna watched the scene unfold and listened to a giggling filly inside, Scootaloo if she wasn’t mistaken, having a grand old time with her family and friends. But that’s what was so disturbing. There wasn’t some scary monster trying to frighten Phoenix or some silly fear that constantly gnawed at her. Luna saw no boogie mares or phobias made true to scare her to tears. There was nopony chasing the filly and nopony attempting to harm her. She sensed nopony in the darkness and nopony readying to pounce. In fact, if Luna didn’t know any better, Phoenix was likely not fearful of much. A rarity for a filly her age.
The dull grey filly wasn’t attempting to resist some evil monster or showing up at school while wearing embarrassing attire. She wasn’t morning over a lost loved one or even doing much of anything. Phoenix looked as though whatever nightmare she resided in, she had accepted it. At peace with the crazed dream appreciation.
Swallowing her fear, Luna reached out with her magic and sensed a maddening fear grip the filly. A loop that continued to grind at her inner soul. Haunting her, tormenting her beyond rational thought. It wasn’t just an ordinary nightmare, this was her nightmare. This was how Phoenix truly felt about reality. Hopeless and without a trace of happiness.
And it had to stop.
Among the growing laughter and playful antics of her counterpart in the colorful house, Luna bellowed.
“Enough!”
The world around them cracked at the seams, and Scootaloo’s cheerful home quickly dissolved into what it truly was, a vision and nothing more. Its three-dimensional shape flopped in on itself until it was but a shadow of its former self, a flat image of something that didn’t truly exist. It left Luna and Phoenix staring at one another with nothing else to distract them.
For once, the princess of dreams felt at a severe disadvantage. The filly did not look at her with awe or comfort and she didn’t see Luna as her personal savior. She looked angry and beyond words.
“What are you doing here!”
Luna tilted her head in curiosity. “I have come to ease your pain, young one.”
“You…” the filly trailed off and shocked Luna by pounding her hooves into the ground. “You have no right being in my head!”
The filly’s mind was already hard at work trying to weed her out. She could sense anger coursing through everywhere and the dream realm was ready to crack at any moment, which would mean Phoenix would wake up.
“Oh? I must admit, I’ve never had that kind of reaction before. But it is my duty to protect my subjects both asleep and awake.”
Phoenix shook her head and snorted. “I’m not your subject.”
Stubborn, quite stubborn, Luna thought.
“I suppose not. But was I wrong to assume you were in pain just moments ago?”
Closing her eyes, the stubborn little filly looked away and shrugged. “That’s not any of your business. I want you to leave.”
“Quite curious that you’ve already deduced that this is a dream. You really are different from Scootaloo. Though her troubles are vastly different.”
Without warning the world around them shifted and changed. The sprawling hills and dead environments vanished and were swiftly replaced with the deep bowels of a strange vehicle. An airship, if she wasn’t mistaken.
Both Phoenix and herself stood off to the side as a vision of a younger Phoenix stood in the middle, talking to a few stallions.
“Scootaloo is it? My name is Arrow and I’ve been instructed to explain the procedure to you, at least the risks of it. There are several, though I’ve no doubt our doctors will explain further.”
Luna watched in fascination, ignoring Phoenix who was no doubt scowling in her direction.
“Hmm, I was told this could help me fly?”
Arrow nodded. “It will do much more than that. Given enough time, your body will adapt to the serum and your strength will increase, you’ll have a quicker response time in battle and a tad bit more adrenaline when needed.”
Scootaloo backed away a bit. “You mean a- anger?” she asked fearfully.
“Anger can be quite the shield when needed, young filly. It will be just one of the side effects of this drug, but there are others. A detailed list can be provided for you, but am I wrong in assuming that I’ve piqued your interest?”
“Huh?”
The stallion chuckled. “I’m asking, do you still want the serum?”
Luna watched the younger filly chew the inside of her lip, no doubt fearful of the strange situation.
“Where does it come from? Who made it?”
Arrow snorted. “That is top secret information. Why you’re lucky we’re even speaking with you about it.”
“You expect me to just trust you on this with no info?”
The stallion stomped his hooves on the rusty floor. “You’re a soldier in our army, young filly. Maybe a young one, but I expect every bit of cooperation from you as I do any soldier! And if you even think of demanding anything from me after what we’re doing for--”
“Enough! Arrow, cool your jets and let me speak to her.”
Everypony glanced over at a strange-looking mare, a unicorn decked out in military garbs. Her horn was clearly detached from her skull and her coat and mane were dirtied and stained.
“What?! But, commander we--”
“Dismissed, Arrow.”
The scene suddenly shifted and changed again. They were eventually drawn into the commander’s private quarters, but curiously they were also not alone. Standing behind the strange commander unicorn was none other than Princess Cadance whose outward appearance had clearly seen better days.
“Scootaloo, I am Commander Amber Night. It is a pleasure to meet you, young one.”
Scootaloo seemed to fidget some but nodded. “Uh, s- same.”
“I and Princess Cadance wish to interview you over the proposed injection of the serum.”
“Um, not to be rude or anything, but I don’t think I want it anymore. T- thanks.”
“Why ever not?” Candance asked in a calm manner. “You seemed very sure of yourself earlier.”
“I- I was taught not to trust things on promises alone. I- if you won’t even tell me where it comes from, then why should I listen?”
The commander and the princess shared a glance with the former nodding.
“A fair point. Under our laws, I shall need a promise that everything we discuss in this room will never be shared with anypony else, under threat of punishment. P- possible execution, is that clear?”
“Crystal,” she replied without thinking.
“The serum comes from myself,” Cadance responded with a slight smile. “My blood to be more specific.”
“Uh, that’s really weird,” Scootaloo said, her voice squeaking nervously.
“I understand your hesitation. But rest assured the procedure is considered safe.”
“But the side effects?”
Princess Cadance sighed and looked down in apparent shame. “They are numerous, but compared to the non-stop onslaught of the false queen’s army, I would consider the benefit a shining beacon in the night. We leave the choice up to you, but I fail to see what denying this serum will gain you in these dark times.”
The scene changed again to the airship’s main bridge. A very disturbing sight of a now-dead stallion sat in what she presumed to be the captain’s chair. His fresh knife wound was bleeding. Luna could barely comprehend that when the Scootaloo vision finished some sort of speech over the intercom, urging everypony to abandon ship. Again, Phoenix said nothing. With the final command of the now acting captain declared, Luna watched as Scootaloo jammed the controls into high gear and jumped out of the window after the deafening crash.
The scene changed one last time to the desolate and abandoned town of Ponyville, with Luna and Phoenix staring one another down.
“Get out of my dream!”
“I’ve dealt with millions of dreams in my time. Countless nightmares, but none so vivid as that. None so disturbing for somepony so young.”
Tears falling down the filly’s eyes, she screamed again. “I said get out!”
“No. I shall not.”
“Yo- y- YOU BITCH! GET OUT!”
“...”
Luna felt speechless. If there were any doubt that something was wrong with the filly’s past, the statement made it perfectly clear.
Finally, the filly broke down in tears. Her anger quickly vanished. “J- just leave me alone. It’s your fault. It’s all your fault…”
“I see. My affliction has only caused suffering, in this world and the next.”
Phoenix screamed, and the dream threatened to break.
The once stoic looking filly was at her hooves, crying her eyes out. Princess Luna could feel the fear all around her, with a singular focus. Herself. She wasn’t just angry with herself, she was downright petrified.
“I know what I must do now. If you truly feel this deeply, then I cannot leave you like this. It would be unwise.”
The filly continued to pant and breath, a clear sign of a mild anxiety attack. No doubt brought on by her presence.
“You really wish for me to leave? Would that help you calm down?”
The crying filly wiped her eyes and looked away. “Just leave,” she mumbled.
“Very well. But when you wake I need you to visit Twilight Sparkle. She will have something for you. Something to protect you. Something you desperately need.”
Scootaloo went to speak again, but Luna held up her hoof. “I know you don’t trust me and for you trust is a rarity. I can sense that in your very soul and I can sense that trust for you has very rarely panned out well. I understand. But you must believe that I have your best intentions at heart. You must trust this, Phoenix!”
The crying, shaking filly looked away. She seemed deep in thought, but it didn’t take her long to respond. “And what if I don’t? What if I never trust you!”
“Then it will only harm you in the end. But as you’ve said, you are not one of my subjects. I can’t force you to take it. But I implore you to.”
Luna had never sensed so much hostility toward her in nearly a thousand years. She was also beginning to suspect just what had gone wrong in Phoenix’s world and it frightened her.
Phoenix gave a stiff nod and pointed up toward the moon. “Fine, just leave now!”
Luna bowed before the filly and nodded. “As you wish.”
The dream broke apart after that at a nearly impossible rate. Princess Luna blinked herself awake and looked around. It was still night out and she was resting in her private quarters. “I better see my sister.”
Phoenix gasped and shot straight up. She felt around her body and sensed a healthy amount of sweat and grime, she felt disgusting. “C-crazy princess. Dammit! My head hurts so bad…” she said, surprising herself by giving out a painful whimper.
She laid back on her makeshift bed and glanced around. It wasn’t even bright out, but she could sense that Zecora had left her hut. She sighed and went to stand but her hooves felt achy and her exhaustion was very apparent. “Am I ever gonna get a good night’s sleep,” she mumbled and then hastily lept back into her couch bed.
After a few minutes of yawning and trying to think, everything from the dream came back to her. Just the very thought of it all made her shudder in fear. She gulped and glanced over at Zecora’s giant bubbling pot, her eyes incredibly unfocused. She felt tired, probably too tired. She blinked and gasped, backing up in fear.
Clear as day she could see Rumble, just standing there, looking at her. The spunky little pegasus with the grey coat and blueish yet grey looking mane was standing in Zecora’s apartment. Alive. Blinking. Staring.
Her first thought was that perhaps it was that world’s Rumble, for some reason. But the eerie and quiet feeling around the Hut said otherwise. Animals ceased making noises and she could barely hear herself even breathe. What’s more, the creepy looking colt continued to stare, saying and doing absolutely nothing. Phoenix considered screaming at him, but then she thought better of it. There was something wrong with it being some sort of waking nightmare. Why would it simply blink and do nothing else?
I don’t feel anything off about this. I must be crazy but…
“Um, hi,” Phoenix tried.
The colt cleared his throat. “Uh, sup?”
Phoenix took a few deep breaths and tried to calm her nerves, it didn’t very much. “Listen, this is gonna sound weird but you are real, right?”
“Uh-huh. So you’re crazy? Is that why you three are always destroying things in town and covered in tree sap?”
The colt shifted a bit and seemed to snuggle into a similar-looking makeshift bed to her own. She blinked and noted the thick blankets wrapped around his body and thought back to the night before.
Was he there? Was he always there?
“Listen, I’m tired of being sick and I’d appreciate it if you keep it down. I need, ugh, rest. Stupid pony flu.”
Phoenix took a seat and took a very deep breath. “Your name’s Rumble, right?”
The colt went to speak but broke down into a fit of coughs and sneezes. “Ding, ding. Nothing gets by you, Scoots,” he said in a very annoyed sounding tone. Then he yawned and rolled over to face away. “If Zecora comes back, tell her I’m not hungry for her icky stew. Night.”
Phoenix mumbled an okay and looked down at her hooves deep in thought. She considered the option that maybe she hadn’t paid attention, but she was pretty sure she would notice Rumble of all colts laying in a bed, in the same hut! I guess I’ve been distracted though…
Still, a scary thought arose. What if she was cracking and Rumble really wasn’t there. What if it was just another trick from the false queen? What if it was a weird nightmare?!
Her eyes shrinking to pinpricks, she glanced over at Rumble’s sleeping body and started to feel herself hyperventilate. Just like before, his mane and coat looked mangled and bloodied. He was covered in fatal wounds and old stained blood.
It’s not real. It’s not real! she thought in a panic.
Breathing harder and faster, Phoenix did the only thing she could think of, she started to pull on her mane, hard. Pain flooded her body and with it a fresh reminder that she was in control of things and this was reality. Rumble wasn’t dead here and this wasn’t her Rumble. Deep down she knew this to be true. She repeated these thoughts in her head a hundred times, then a thousand times just to get the message across. She imagined his body new and pristine, devoid of any signs of trauma or death. And when that wasn’t enough, she repeated the message again.
This isn’t real! He’s not dead here!
Suddenly, as quickly as it came, it all ceased. Zecora had cracked open the hut’s and a fresh gust of wind washed over everything. Phoenix blinked and glanced over at Rumble’s body and it was like everything had righted itself. Everything was fine.
“Ah, I see you’ve met my other guest,
hopefully, he wasn’t a pest.”
“...I heard that!” Rumble mumbled through one of his pillows.
“Ah, good you’re awake,
forgive me for I made a mistake,” Zecora replied with a giggle.
“Whatever…”
“Um, was he always here?” Phoenix blurted out.
Zecora shook her head and gently shut the door.
“Rumble’s brother brought him here in the middle of the night,
his hastened illness gave them quite the fright.
and I must admit that his sickness has put up quite the fight.”
“Oh,” Phoenix said while nodding. “Um, any luck on my potion thing?”
“I still need more ingredients,
gathering of which is quite tedious.
I’ve yet to finish and I am behind,
But first, you must tell your story, need I remind?”
Phoenix chewed the inside of her lips and glanced at Rumble, who had turned over from all the noise. He glanced at both of them and moaned.
“Wh- why is she here anyway?”
“I keep getting headaches and they’re freakin’ annoying.”
“Uh-huh. What, you bash your head on your scooter or somethin’?”
“Scooter…” Phoenix trailed off and thought back to a deep memory, something she felt had been locked away for so long. She vaguely recalled owning a scooter and that her parents had gifted it to her when she was very young. Thinking about it made her feel warm inside, giddy even. But then she shook her head.
Just a foal’s toy, she thought with a snort. She shook her head and cleared her thoughts.
“No. I get them constantly. Zecora said she would help.”
“In time I’m sure I can,
now on to finish my plan.”
“Where’s the other two anyway? Don’t you three do everything together?” Rumble asked.
Phoenix snorted. “Look, I’m not who you think I am.”
Rumble blinked. “Oh?”
“I guess you weren’t in class so you didn’t see me and, uh, Scootaloo.”
“You’re Scootaloo!” he exclaimed. “What are ya, crazy?”
“Appearances can deceive,
though her explanation you will not believe.”
Rumble cracked a smile and leaned back as if he were enjoying the conversation. “Yeah? Are ya a changeling?”
“No. I…” Phoenix paused and glanced up at Zecora with a worried expression.
“This is your story to share,
do not dwell in despair.”
“I came from another world. I traveled through a magical mirror and I ended up here.”
“...What?”
Phoenix scoffed and looked away. “This is stupid! I- I shouldn’t have to explain anything.”
“If you lack the capacity to share,
you will only get despair.
Your story is quite long,
but it will not help to prolong.
Only you hold the key to what lies in your past,
but you explain things far too fast.
Sit down and relax, spare no detail.
From the beginning, please share your tale.”
Rumble nodded. “Yeah, what she said!”
Phoenix, ignoring the comment from the peanut gallery, took a deep breath, and sighed. Then she did it again and a third time. As she tried to think of a good way to explain things, another headache started to grow.
“Fine. I… um,” she took another deep breath and thought back to a long time ago. Phoenix felt a very hot tear fall from her eye.
“Are you crying?!” Rumble asked, sounding alarmed.
“No! S- shut up!”
The colt backed away in fear. “Y- you look like you were,” he pointed out in a low voice.
She tried to speak again but felt that she couldn’t. Painful memories of loss and betrayal started to flow into the forefront of her mind. She tried to bite her tongue as more tears poured out, then she shocked everypony but slamming her hoof onto the floor. “I don’t want to! I don’t wanna think about any of that! I shouldn’t have to! T- they’re my secrets to keep! Okay?!”
Zecora and Rumble’s eyes widened in shock while the former backed up a few paces. Phoenix sniffled and looked away in shame. “I don’t want to share.”
“Uh, okay sure,” Rumble replied very hastily. Then he made a show of turning around in his bed and pretending to fall asleep, not fooling anypony in the process.
“Holding in the pain is not the right way,
you will relive your past every day.
My help will only get you so far,
potions cannot heal your mental scar.”
Phoenix looked back at her bandages and already knew that they were leaking. Anger swelled inside of her, but she knew that there was only one pony to blame.
“What are you cooking anyway?” Phoenix asked, trying to distract herself.
“A magic brew to cure Rumble of his flu.”
“Oh.”
“Knock knock. Am I interrupting?”
Phoenix glanced up at the door and spotted a tall grey stallion pegasus with grey hair. If she didn’t know any better, he almost looked like Rumble’s--
“Hey bro! What’s up?” Rumble asked and broke down into a fit of coughs.
“Not much-- oh, I see you’re awake,” the stallion said while glancing at Phoenix. “The name’s Thunderlane,” he said with a small bow.
Rumble broke down laughing. “Bro, there’s no way she doesn’t know who you are.”
Thunderlane rolled his eyes. “Yes, but I don’t know her,” he pointed out and walked in.
“Um, my name’s Phoenix,” she said slowly.
Rumble quickly flew over and whispered something in his brother’s ear. Phoenix couldn’t make it out, but she could swear she heard the words crazy.
Ignoring his little brother, he nodded. “Nice to meet ya. But I came to check up on Rumble’s progress,” he explained and glanced over at Zecora with a nod.
“The brew for his cure is almost mature.”
“Good, I can’t thank you enough. We were at our wit’s end!”
“It wasn’t that ba--” Rumble tried to get out but suddenly sneezed with a loud enough sounding explosion to wake the entire Everfree. “Ouch.”
Thunderlane took a seat next to Phoenix and waited. “So, are you one of Rumble’s friends from class?”
“Fat chance. Cutie Mark Crusaders means no colts allowed,” Rumble said with a snort.
“That so?” Thunderlane asked while looking at Phoenix.
“H- how the hay should I know? I'm not a crusader... thing.”
“Okay, that does it,” Rumble said and flew right into Phoenix’s face. “What happened to your head? Did you fall on it and forget who you were! You’re Scootaloo! You know, that annoying flightless filly who hangs out--”
Thunderlane suddenly stomped his front hooves, blocking Rumble from getting near Phoenix. “Rumble! What did you call her?!”
“Uh, heh, annoying?”
Thunderlane glared down at him and shook his head.
“Nice try.”
“I didn’t… I mean I--”
“Apologize, now!”
Rumble looked down in shame with his ears flopping down. “...I’m sorry, Scoots. I didn’t mean it,” he mumbled. “Just sick.”
“What you said was quite rude and I can see your values are crude.
But I believe somepony here can dispel all the confusion,
Phoenix if you would please rid us of this illusion.”
“I don’t want to,” she said. Her heart just wasn’t in it. Part of her really did want to admit everything, but all she felt was betrayal and pain. So much so that she could feel more fresh tears.
“You don’t want to what?” Thunderlane asked.
She snorted. “Nothing. Zecora, when will my thing be ready?”
“Your potion will take a great deal of time,
but to neglect your injuries would surely be a crime.
Return to me when you are fully stitched,
that is if your schedule will permit.”
“I don’t need stitches!” she screamed. “I can take care of my own wings!”
Phoenix watched Thunderlane and Rumble share a glance before the former cleared his throat. “Filly, your wing looks like it’s nearing an infection. I’d get it checked out at the hospital ASAP.”
“It would be wise to listen,
face it, you’re not in a good position.
Potions can only go so far,
I would hurry before you end up with a scar.”
Phoenix took a deep breath and stared into Thunderlane’s eyes. Something about him seemed trusting and happy. And she really wasn’t sure why she hadn’t just asked for help by now. “I don’t--”
“FOREVERERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!”
Everypony jumped out of their skin and looked around. A high pitched, squealing voice said the words forever multiple times before slowly fading away. It was then that Phoenix suddenly remembered her dumb promise that was dumb. But it had been a promise.
“That was weird,” Rumble said. “Is anything here normal?”
Thunderlane chuckled and shrugged. “Anyway, what do you say… Phoenix was it?”
Phoenix nodded and felt quite tense. “Fine, but I don’t want anypony asking about how I got hurt. Deal?”
“I’ll be certain not to ask. Now hop on, kid.” Thunderlane exclaimed and leaned down on the floor, beckoning her to climb on.
Without thinking, Phoenix carefully glided into the air and shrugged. “I can fly you know.”
“What? Since when?!” Rumble screamed in shock.
“Great! But further use of your wing may damage it more. Now, I said hop on,” he ordered.
Phoenix landed and looked at Zecora for guidance.
“Trust in others, do not let your feelings be misguided.
Accept the advice that you are provided.
Do not overthink things too much,
go now, and we will be in touch.”
“Okay,” she said, not feeling so sure. With a very heavy sigh, She clambered on top of Thunderlane’s back and wrapped her hooves around his neck, tightly. As strange as the sensation was, she couldn’t help but feel a pleasant, warm feeling radiant around her body. His fuzzy fur and soft body eased her woes only slightly.
“Comfy?” he joked.
“No,” she lied.
“Perfect, now hang on!”