//------------------------------//
// 23- The Second Reunion 
// Story: The Flames of the Phoenix 
// by FrostTheWolf 
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The Flames of the Phoenix- Reunion




When she was released from her captive state, Applejack did not recall much of what had happened. All that she had remembered was that she had done her chores like any other day in the week as well as do her usual routine. Though, at some point she must’ve blacked out, because she never expected for her to wake up in the changeling kingdom of all places. Everypony else was here too, including her friends, her brother and even Aunt Ember. 

Unfortunately, she didn’t have much time to ask about what happened, how everypony got here in the first place or why every one of the changelings were all brightly colored and one looked almost like a deer with antlers, for Chrysalis had emerged from under a pile of debris and she was furious. Her attention was mostly focused on Ember, for it appeared that she had a bone to pick with her.

“Um, girls?” she now heard Rainbow ask everypony, “Who’s that?”

As Applejack turned her head, the earth pony found herself looking at somepony that she didn’t anticipate. Amaryllis was there, but not hiding herself with a disguise. She was in her true form as the changeling trotted over to join the mancer by the fallen queen. “Well, ah’ll be… Never thought Amaryllis would be here too.”

“W-wait a moment,” she heard Rarity stutter now, “She’s… Amaryllis?! B-but when she came to the b-boutique, s-she was-”

“Sugarcube, ah’m gonna have to stop ya right there,” the earth pony interjected as she turned to look back at the unicorn, “The whole thing is a bit of a long story and this is not exactly the right place to talk about everything-”

“…your refusal to accept the truth has come back to bite you… sister.”

That statement alone was enough for everypony, but none more so than her friends. Especially Rainbow Dash, who was quick to blurt out the first thought that came to her mind, “Woah, slow down! Sister?! Did I hear that right or do I have something in my ears?”

“She’s telling the truth, Dash,” Applejack was quick to answer to try and prevent her friend from blowing things out of proportion, “She told Mac and I everything, though the whole part about ‘sister’ is new to me.”

“T-then what exactly did she tell you?” Fluttershy now asked, her friends now looking at both her and her brother this time.

“Yeah, AJ! What did she say!? Come on, the suspense is killing me!!” Pinkie Pie replied next, who looked to be having a bit of trouble trying to keep herself calm and relaxed. Though, before Applejack had the chance to say anything, her brother decided to take the initiative.

“What she told us was that Ember showed Amaryllis that changelings did not have to steal love from others in order to survive. However, when she tried to share this to the other changelings, they made her an outcast and sent her away,” Big Mac now took a turn to speak in his sisters place, “We know that they share a very close bond with one another, considering they’re-”

“There is no redemption for her.”

Applejack had not heard that voice before, but whatever it was, it had her brother immediately stop speaking. His eyes were wide in fear as the fur on the back of his neck began to stand up, before slowly turning his head back to where Ember and Amaryllis were. The grass on the surface was spreading rapidly as the ground was shaking underneath their hooves, “AJ… did you hear that-?”

“AMA, GET OUT OF THERE!!!”

Just as both members of the Apple Family looked back towards the pyromancer and her partner, the ground had torn open underneath that of the weakened changeling queen. They could only watch in shock and horror as a crimson maw in the shape of a rose swallowed Chrysalis whole. Even though she tried to fight back and resist, the teeth of the beast that caught her was too strong as her front left foreleg was torn from her body and landed several feet near them. A sight that almost had Rarity and Fluttershy faint on the spot.

“What the BUCK is that!?!” Rainbow screamed as every creature was now backing away from the monster that suddenly appeared.

“Ah don’t know, but this doesn’t look good,” Applejack told her, before looking back to Ember. The only one who had not moved since the plant-like beast appeared. She didn’t know if she was frozen in fear or something else, but one thing was for sure. It wasn’t safe here and they needed to leave, “Aunt Ember, come on! We’re going somewhere safe-”

The mancer did run. Though, instead of running away from the monster, she ran towards it. Her eyes were burning with rage as she conjured a lash of flame from her hands and grabbed hold of the plant at the base before being dragged underground.

“Aunt Ember, what are ya doing-!?” she screamed, but her words fell on deaf ears as silence fell everywhere. In an impulsive rush, Applejack galloped towards the hole, only to find nothing but an empty pit, “Ember? EMBER!!!”

“Applejack, come back!” the earth pony heard Twilight speak, concerned for her safety on the off chance that the same monster came back as the alicorn rushed to her friend's side, “Don’t do anything reckless! There’s no telling what-”

“Twilight, my aunt just got dragged by a monster that ate Chrysalis from out of nowhere,” Applejack snapped back, “No way in Tartarus am ah leaving her out there! Just what the hay was that even?!”

“I… don’t know,” the alicorn honestly admitted to her, “I had not even seen something like that before, much less speak. But whatever it was, it was terrifying given how ruthless it was.”

Twilight tried to reassure her friend that it would’ve been safer for them to go back with the others, but Applejack herself was not that easy to convince. It wasn’t until the princess of friendship left her alone the earth pony happened to notice Discord walking over to the giant hole in the ground. He wore a dark colored coat now and had a lollipop in his mouth as he groaned at the torn earth, “Really? Now is when he decides to come out of the shadows? Not even being silent, just raze the whole ground and scare the fur off of any fillies that are watching. Geez.”

Slowly, Applejack looked back at the draconequus. Though, it was Applejack that was the first to speak, “Care to explain what ya mean, Discord? Cause ah’m not in the mood for any riddles,” As Discord looked back, Applejack began to glare directly at him, “Who is he?”

“Let me try to answer your question… with another question,” the spirit of chaos replied, “Have you ever heard of the Heart of the Everfree?”

“What the hay’s that? Some kind of thing from the castle or something?” Applejack honestly asked. She had not heard of this ‘heart’ until now, but given that Everfree was in the same sentence, the first thought that came to her mind was that it was some kind of item back at the castle of two sisters.

“Oh, it’s more that just a thing, my little pony,” Discord told her, before tossing the lollipop stick and having it explode into dust, “The Heart of the Everfree is the living beating soul of the forest… and like I told your brother and your friend Twilight, they have a bone to pick with Ember.”



Throughout the years, it had waited patiently. Kept to itself inside the forest that was its domain as time passed by like the seasons. Though, when it comes to those that defile the rules of nature and serve as a threat to the balance, the heart takes it upon themselves to eliminate it before it festers. Kill it at the source before the malfeasance of their intentions spreads like a disease. One that corrupts the very ideal balance that is the circle of life.

The queen of the changelings was no exception to this. The acts that she had committed against the creatures of Equestria as well as her own kind did not go unnoticed. However, she cowered behind a source of protection that could not be broken by any means. It stole the magic of those who dared entered inside and forced any intruders to navigate a maze of uncertainty. No creature that dared entered would be the same if they came out. 

That was… until now. The destruction of the safeguards and the castle that the queen called her home was felt all across the Everfree, and to its heart, served as a call to action. The response was swift and precise, not letting even a moment go to waste. It had patiently waited for this opportunity and was not going to let this chance slip away.

Though, much to the hearts surprise, its actions led to an unexpected reunion.



When she had resurfaced back on solid ground, Ember found herself deep within the darken confines of the Everfree Forest. There were no other creatures running about and the leaves from the trees blocked out the light from the sun. On the ground was the carnivorous rose, dead on the forest floor and forced to cough up the prey that it tried to devour. A former queen, weak and broken beyond measure.

As the queen struggled to regain its senses and opened her eyes, the first thing that she noticed was the missing foreleg that was severed from her body, before seeing the mancer. “Y-you-!”

Swiftly, Ember placed her hand over her mouth, “Listen to me very carefully,” she spoke sternly, her eyes burning with rage, “If you want to live, then be still and do not say anything. You understand?”

In the mind of the changeling, she had many questions echo in her mind. Why would someone that was close with her sister go as far as to save her? What was the monster that tried to kill her? Where were they right now? Yet, she did not have the chance to speak, for the carnivorous flower was dragged away through the darkened enclave as another being made its presence known

It was a darkened timberwolf and it was not like others that would roam the Everfree. It’s head and the body was the color of darkened moss with leaves all around its body while the front paws and what looked to be a spine of wood was along its back. It’s tail was the same carnivorous plant that attempted to devour the changeling and its darkened emerald eyes glowed. As if this wasn’t intimidating enough, there was one more detail that made the changeling stare in fear.

This one… could speak. “Hello, Mother.”

The mancer grit her teeth as she looked at the beast. “Don’t start that shit with me. Because you know damn well that’s not the truth.”

“Is it though?” the beast questioned, “It was from your anger centuries ago that I was born. Because of your fury, I exist… and as time went on, I learned what my purpose was. I am nature itself. The eternal circle of life and death is what I am and it is through my will that the balance is enforced. Your interference with this insect is upsetting the order that I must enforce.”

Ember did not keep her focus off of them for even a moment, her right hand forming a fist, “Being the embodiment of nature incarnate does not make you an executioner, Sylvanos. While it’s true that what you represent is inevitable to all living things, it is not your place to forcefully decide who lives and who dies. Even to those who might deserve it.”

“That’s rather bold of you to say,” Sylvanos growled, “Unlike you, I choose to erase pending threats before they have the chance to act. This queen’s existence is not only a sickness upon the Everfree, but has ignored the pleas of her own kind. Many of her own species had died prematurely because she forced them to starve for the sake of the hive, and that is not even including those that she had murdered herself.”

It was when the timberwolf said those words that the queen’s eyes widened in shock, “H-how-?”

That small comment had the beast's maw form a grin as it stared at her now, “Do you know what pain truly is? It’s more than just a flesh wound or a lost limb that you can never recover. For me, it's hearing the voices of all the souls who cry out in pain and agony before they return to the eternal circle. All the souls that couldn’t be saved. Even though you had that throne, I still heard the cries from there. Your hive was nothing more than a burial ground for the sins you committed against your species and no magic of yours can hide that from me.”

At first, Chrysalis did not notice anything. But as Sylvanos’ eyes began to glow, flowers that took the form of crimson roses sprouted from the ground underneath her that were attached to vines that rose up from the forest floor. As they bloomed, she expected for them to try and lash out at her with sharpened teeth. Though, that was not the torment that the former queen was about to receive.

That came in the form of the voices that echoed through her mind. The cries and suffering of her species buzzing in her brain like a swarm of hornets. Newborn nymphs crying out for her, only to have their pleas go unanswered. She closed her eyes and begged for the voices to stop, but they only grew louder and more intense with each passing moment as Chrysalis tried to cover her ears. 

Yet, as soon as they had begun, the voices ceased. The smell of smoke was now felt on her nostrils as Chrysalis opened her eyes. Fire burned around Ember’s fingers as the vines turned to ash. The sounds died as the burned petals fell to the floor. “Going as far as using Wail Vines to prove your point? How despicable of you.”

Wail Vines were one of few plants that were native to the Everfree Forest. To the unknowing, they appeared as ordinary flowers that were on a vine. However, if one was too close to the plants when they bloomed, the plants will mimic any form of speech and proceed to drown out the thoughts of any creature nearby in a flurry of screams. If Ember had not intervened when she did, it was more than likely that Chrysalis’ ear drums would rupture and that she would go deaf within moments of being exposed.

“You may question my methods, but my resolve still remains,” the beast countered, “The more that you defend her, the more that you just delay the inevitable.”

The mancer just grit her teeth, the flames still burning in her hands as she stared down the timberwolf. Something about all of this was amiss. Even though this was the same Sylvanos that she knows, Ember could not shake off the feeling that there was a hidden meaning to the beast’s words.  Another reason as to why it had chosen now of all times to re-emerge from deep within the Everfree and make its presence known to not just her, but to everyone that she knew. There had to be an explanation for Sylvanos’ actions, for nothing was making sense. 

Yet, it wasn’t like the beast was just going to simply tell her. If anything, Ember knew that it would try to kill them first and tell them while they were bleeding out on the forest floor. Sylvanos was the kind of beast that would ferociously pursue its prey to the bitter end, while doing everything in their power to torment its victims. Let them cling onto whatever little hope they have before ripping it from them in front of their eyes.

For as long as they were in Sylvanos’ domain, there was no such thing as escape. “Very well, mother. Let’s see how long your defiance will last!!”

The pyromancer had little time to act as the beast aimed it’s tail towards them and fired off several seeds towards her and the changeling. Mid flight, the seeds began to change and transform into carnivorous flowers that were smaller than the one on Sylvanos’ tail. In a matter of seconds, Ember had to use her powers to push herself and Chrysalis away to gain some distance. All before channeling fire through an outstretched hand to set them ablaze as they burned to ash.

Of course, that wasn’t enough. She knew that this was only just the beginning. Yet, while she was fighting off the spawns of the forest that Sylvanos had created, a thought occurred to her. Ember knew that the beast was intent on killing Chrysalis, that was for certain. Though, based on how they were fighting, the pyromancer was given the impression that it was somehow testing her. Like it was trying to see if it could not only fight them off, but have no harm come to the changeling he was intent on finishing off.

Quickly thinking to herself, she conjured a burning blaze in her hands before throwing it down in a line in front of her. Within seconds, a giant wall of flames went up that burned brightly. Which provided the mancer an opportunity as she looked towards Chrysalis now, before picking up the changeling in her arms. Much to the former queen’s own surprise. “W-what are you-?”

Ember didn’t say anything, but instead began to run as she looked everywhere around her. The mancer needed a place to hide Chrysalis. Somewhere where Sylvanos won’t be able to easily find her. If she could be able to do that, then Ember could be able to handle the beast without having to worry about the changeling’s safety. For it would be next to impossible to try and fight Sylvanos while keeping her safe from harm at the same time.

Fortunately, she found what she was looking for. A small cave that was secluded from the rest of the forest. Before Ember could get Chrysalis off of her back, she conjured more flames and burned the ground inside thoroughly. Once it was done, she set the changeling down, but not before she had a question. “W-where are you going?! W-won’t that… thing c-come here?”

“No, they won’t,” the mancer answered this time, “Sylvanos can only sense us wherever there is life. Since the ground is more than torched, you’ll be hidden from him,” At first, the former queen let out a sigh of relief. That was, until Ember continued where she left off, “As long as you stay here though, you’ll be fine. Just do not come out until I get back. Understand?”

A small nod from Chrysalis was the only thing Ember needed to see before stepping back out into the forest that was Sylvanos’ domain. Now that the queen was out of their reach for the time being, she could fully focus her attention on the beast. With fire burning in her hands, Ember focused her life force and prepared herself. She knew that there was more to Sylvanos’ actions than they were letting on, but there was only method to know for sure.

That method being provocation, “For a being that only attacks when someone intrudes on their territory, this is going too far. Even for you, Sylvanos.”

“One would be a fool to think that my domain is just the Everfree,” she heard them reply as gentle winds blew past her, “I dwell wherever nature dwells.”

“Yet, do you really see it as your responsibility to interfere with the affairs of mortals?” Ember questioned, followed by avoiding another attack as blades that took on the form of leaves tried to cut through her skin and clothes.

“The actions that I take are ones that are necessary to preserve the balance. I seek to root out threats that can end everything that I work to uphold,” She heard again, before a set of jaws snapped from the floor as the beast rose from the ground. Yet, its words were what caught Ember off guard the most, “Unlike you, who has made no effort to stop the frozen soul that is your sworn enemy.”

That statement alone caught the mancer off guard as a few of the grass blades scraped her arms and face as Ember did her best to hold her ground, “You… know about Anivia?”

“Oh I know more than just that, mother,” the beast growled, “I know of the excedian that you tried to take under your wing. Yet, when the frozen soul attacked you, instead of being there for him, you just let them distance yourself from them. Doesn’t that ring a bell?”

“Frost is not like you,” she snapped, “He did not want others to get hurt because Anivia was hunting him. You took what I tried to teach you twisted it to meet your ends-”

“Yet, you did not think that there was a better alternative. You thought that the only way to help him was to abandon him. Just like me-”

In that moment, the pyromancer tossed her composure to the wind. Before Sylvanos could finish, Ember fired off a powerful blast of burning energy from her hands as it hit the beast directly in the face. The flames burned at its wooden head, but the timberwolf just stood still and let it happen. After a few moments, the fire subsided. Though, Ember could only watch as its body began to mend and fix itself.

“He is not like you,” the mancer snarled, knowing that this was the only chance that she had to speak, “You’ve said enough and we both know that nothing will come out of this if we continue to fight any longer.”

“That much is certain, mother.”

Ember could only grit her teeth, before letting out a sigh as she focused her gaze on the beast, “So, why have you decided to re-emerge? And don’t bullshit me. You may have spoken about how Chrysalis needed to pay for what she had done, but I believe you have another reason for going as far as to get my attention specifically with the stunt that you pulled.”

At first, the wolf was silent. Though, after a moment or two, Ember heard what sounded like a laugh echo throughout the Everfree as the beast just looked at her. “As blunt as ever I see? Well, there is another reason. I chose to re-emerge because the threat you chose to ignore is making moves while you are distracted with the affairs of mortals.”

“You mean Anivia?”

“They are only but a small piece,” the timberwolf spoke, before turning around and beginning to walk away from her. Yet, the last of what Sylvanos said would ring in her mind, “It’s the one that you let slip away. For something else is beginning to fill the void that you left behind, and they see them as nothing but a vessel.”



Elsewhere…

The howling winds and shivering cold blew against him as he continued to explore through the mountains. The city of the Crystal Empire had been quiet for some time, yet he chose to keep his distance from them. There was a predator that was hunting him and if he took refuge inside the city, each creature inside would be greatly at risk.

Though, there was something that they were seeking in the depths of the snow. Something that once belonged to a fallen king and that could even the odds against his pursuer.

At least, that’s what he was told.

Have you found it?

The voice was what he saw as a comfort. It startled him at first, but over time, their words guided him since he had no one else to rely on. They called themselves Kaldr, and said that they were someone that watched over his kind for many years. Since they were the only one left, they took it upon themselves to provide aid and assist them.

As he pushed his hands farther into the crevice of the snow, they soon felt their hand touch something, it was curved and sharp. Once they grabbed hold of it, he proceeded to pull it out of the ice. Much to his surprise, what he found was a horn. One that was the color of blood and power could be felt flowing from cracks at the base.

“Is this what you were talking about?” he asked as the excedian rose to their feet, “The horn of the fallen king?”

Why yes it is. Not in the best of shape, I must admit, the voice admitted, But once a few adjustments have been made… the horn of the Umbrum will become our ace in the hole.




End Chapter 23