//------------------------------// // The End // Story: The Jack of All Trades // by Lord Zalgo //------------------------------// Phoenix sighed as he walked through Ponyville, an uneasy feeling in his stomach. He'd felt it all morning, but the fresh air wasn't helping him as much as he thought it would. He looked up to the cloudy sky and took a deep breath. Until he felt something liquid hit his muzzle. He scraped the small amount of liquid off of his face and looked at it. "...Chocolate?" Phoenix said under his breath in confusion. He looked around to see a large gathering of pink clouds above Sweet Apple Acres. He began to trot towards the Acres, only to see a rainbow blur gather up the clouds and bring down to the ground. He slowed his pace to a quick walk until he saw the girls heading towards him. When they showed no signs of stopping, Phoenix matched their pace and ran with them. "What the hell's going on?" Phoenix asked. "A lot of crazy stuff's happening! We're on our way to the train station to get to Canterlot. The princesses will know what to do." Twilight said. "Right. Sounds like a job for the Elements. Do you think the town's in danger?" Phoenix asked seriously. "...Maybe. We just don't know." Twilight asked, suddenly concerned. "Alright... You guys keep heading to Canterlot, I'll stay behind and evacuate the town if need be." Phoenix instructed. They all nodded and Applejack gave him a quick kiss on the lips as Phoenix began to slow down and the girls continued to gallop to the station. Phoenix ran to the centre of town to see many ponies panicking about the abnormal weather. After nearly fifteen minutes of searching, he caught sight of the mayor and approached her. "Mayor, we need to get everypony together so we can make our next move together and we won't leave anypony." Phoenix said over the commotion. Mayor Mare stopped and thought for a moment or two before replying. "I think that's a good idea, Mr Fortesque. But, what's your plan to get everypony together in one place?" Mayor Mare asked. Phoenix simply pulled out his revolver casually, causing the mayor to recoil in shock and fear. Phoenix fired a shot into the air, causing everypony to stop dead in their tracks and silence fell completely. "Everypony, calm down. We're all going to meet outside town hall to discuss what we should do like civilised, rational ponies. Everypony is to attend. There will be NO stragglers!" Phoenix announced, his voice echoing through the town. Everypony began to move calmly to town square as Phoenix and Mayor Mare began to formulate a plan. Discord's laughter echoed through the chamber of the Elements as Celestia looked around in worry. Moments later, Luna entered the room. "'Tis true, then?" Luna asked with dread. "Yes, Luna. He's back." Celestia replied gravely. "Dost thou think that Twilight Sparkle and her friends will be enough to defeat him?" Luna asked. "I have faith, Luna. What I'm not sure of is where the Elements are. Knowing Discord, he's put them in a crowded place." Celestia said gravely. "No... Would he really put so many innocents at such peril?" Luna asked, praying her sister was wrong. "To remain in control? I wouldn't put it past him. As long as Discord is isolated enough that nopony other than the bearers themselves are too close to the Elements when they activate, we don't have to worry." Celestia said with a hint of unease. "...Then why do we feel such an uneasy feeling inside?" Luna asked. Celestia didn't reply. Silence fell between them. The crowd outside town hall grew larger and larger until every townspony was present. Even Zecora. Mayor Mare and Phoenix stood at the front of the crowd. "Good morning, everypony. We have devised a plan that Mr Fortesque will explain." Mayor Mare said before she walked to the side of the stage as Phoenix took centre stage. "We don't know what's causing the anomalies with the weather, wildlife or nature. My friends left for Canterlot about twenty minutes ago to obtain the Elements of Harmony and track down what's responsible for all of this. However, we can't take any chances. Therefore, we'll partake in a temporary evacuation and relocation. We'll leave the town and wait for the problem to be resolved. Everypony gather your provisions as fast as you can and meet on the outskirts of town. Move, move, move!" Phoenix explained and instructed. Everypony quickly began to move to their respective homes to take their necessities. However, one particular mare flew up to Phoenix as he stepped from the stage. "Phoenix, where's my daughter? Are the kids safe?" Ditzy asked with frantically worried, teary eyes. "They're in Canterlot. They were on a school trip, remember? I sent a message to Cheerilee to keep the kids and herself safe by staying there. Everypony'll be alright, Ditzy. The girls won't let us down." Phoenix said confidently, but calmly. Ditzy seemed to calm down slightly before a young, lavender unicorn began to pull Ditzy towards their house. Phoenix looked around to see many ponies already packed and heading towards the edge of Ponyville. Phoenix turned his attention to the mayor as she emerged from her own home. "When everypony arrives at the edge of town, can you lead them to a safe place? I'll keep an eye out and catch up with you." Phoenix said. The mayor hesitated, but nodded and began to follow the ponies out of town. Phoenix watched as many more ponies filed out of their homes, leaving Ponyville for their own safety. Phoenix waited as the crowd go further into the distance before beginning to walk after them. "Leaving the party so soon?" A voice said from behind Phoenix. But, before he could turn around, something touched Phoenix's head and everything went black... "Come on, girls. I'm certain this is what Discord's riddle really meant. If we get back to the library, I have a book that I just know can give us a clue. Ah!" Twilight's voice was cut off by a stampede of horse-like rabbits trampling her. "Good boy, Angel. Mama's so proud." Fluttershy said amusedly. Suddenly the sun left the sky and was replaced by the moon. "Wow, I can see so much better now. Whoa!" Applejack lied before slipping on the ground and ramming into the other girls. "I meant to do that." Applejack lied again. "Discord's turned our dirt roads into soap!" Twilight said angrily after she regained her balance as Discord soap-skated by. "Beautiful, isn't it? This is the new and improved Ponyville, and these are only my first of changes." Discord announced as Pinkie Pie soap-skated past Twilight. "This may look like fun, but it's not." Pinkie said grumpily. "Picture it. The chaos capital of the world." Discord said as he lifted Twilight like she was a doll. "I can't picture anything. It's too dark." Twilight said, not putting up with Discord's nonsense. Discord then dropped her and walked away from her. "Well, wait a few minutes and you'll see it in the beautiful light of day. Or not." Discord said casually. "Ponyville, the chaos capital of the world? Not if I have anything to say about it." Twilight said with determination. "Don't worry, you won't." Fluttershy said mockingly. Phoenix aimlessly wandered the abandoned town like a zombie in search for prey. His environment confused him so, but he paid it no mind as he continued to wander. Occasionally, he heard joyous laughter echo throughout the town and Phoenix had to suppress something within him. Eventually, he came across the library once again and took a few moments to watch the girls stood in front of the library. The girls began to leave in separate directions as Twilight looked down to the ground. Phoenix took another step forward, snapping a twig in the process. Twilight's head shot up to see Phoenix standing there and a smile appeared on her face. "Phoenix! Am I ever glad to see you!" Twilight said as she rushed to him. Phoenix grunted slightly as he looked away before turning back to her. "Why's that, Twilight?" Phoenix asked. "All of our friends are different. Do you have any idea why?" Twilight asked. Phoenix grunted slightly again and his face seemed to contort slightly before returning to normal. Twilight was about to ask what was wrong, but Phoenix spoke first. "Well, look around. Maybe it has something to do with why everything's topsy-turvy." Phoenix said. "Maybe... Maybe it was Discord! Maybe he changed them!" Twilight realised. "Ding-ding-ding! What do we have for her, Johnny?" Phoenix said in an overdramatic voice. Twilight looked at him in surprise before noticing something and realising something else. She finally noticed that Phoenix's eyes were grey instead of the normal sky blue. She realised that Phoenix was trying to keep a straight face and hold in laughter. Looking at the changed stallion, Twilight suddenly felt alone again. Phoenix began to giggle until it became the laughter of a madman. Twilight began to back up as Phoenix laughed with a large, terrifying smile. "Y'know, Twi... I've been trying to learn how to rap lately." Phoenix said, his large smile intact as his pupils began to shrink. "R-really? That's... interesting." Twilight said, still backing away. Phoenix began to match her pace to keep the distance between them the same. "Yeah. Would you like a demonstration?" Phoenix asked. Twilight didn't reply as her gaze was on the library door as she tried to estimate how long it would take to lock herself inside. "I can read your thoughts, Twi~." Phoenix said in a sing-song tone. Twilight's face took on a look of fear as she ran for the door and locked herself in. She sighed until she realised the massive hole in her plan. The massive hole in the wall of the library. Which Phoenix was currently sticking his head through with a murderous look in his eyes and an almost joyous, psychotic smile on his face. "Hey there, neighbour." Phoenix said simply, before Twilight screamed and ran to her room and barricaded herself inside. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Spike in the room with her as she heard Phoenix's voice on the other side of the door. You're gonna die, No one to love you and no one to cry, Alone by yourself on the bed of your death, With the stench of regret on your last dying breath. 'Cause you've chosen the path of a selfish fool, With all your friends' innocent blood on your hooves, The penance you pay for the way you behave, Will be written as plain on the name on your grave! After Phoenix finished spitting his rhymes, Phoenix pulled out a knife from his pocket and used his magic to stab the door. Twilight screamed again as she watched him try to cut through the door. Spike continued to writhe on the floor as more and more letters appeared in the room. Twilight quickly opened one of the scrolls to discover that it was a letter that she'd previously sent to the princess. Against her instincts, Twilight began to skim-read it as Phoenix continued to destroy the door. "Wait... That's it! Discord's trying to distract us from what's important. He knows how powerful our friendships are, and he's trying to keep us from seeing it. Do you remember what I said the first day we arrived in Ponyville? I told you that the future of Equestria didn't rest on me making friends. But the opposite is true! The friendships I've made since I've been here are what saved Equestria from Nightmare Moon. And now they need to save it from Discord!" Twilight announced, while Spike weakly looked at the door in terror. "That's great, Twilight, but, how does that stop HIM?!" Spike screamed. Twilight looked round to see the door in complete disarray with Phoenix still trying to break through. Twilight's horn began to glow as she gulped and rushed forward while Phoenix was distracted and pressed her head to his. Memories began to flood through Phoenix's mind. All the torture throughout his foalhood and misery through the start of his adult life. Twilight knew this and kept Phoenix in place before he could pull away. "Just a little longer, Phoenix!" Twilight said in a strained voice. Not long after she said that, warmer memories began to flow through Phoenix. Visiting Ponyville, meeting Pinkie Pie, moving to Ponyville shortly after, meeting the girls after the Summer Sun Celebration and... Applejack. Just... Applejack. Twilight watched Phoenix worriedly as the spell finished and Phoenix clenched his eyes and stumbled, trying to recover from his sudden dizziness from the spell. As Phoenix opened his eyes again, Twilight rushed forward and threw her forelegs around his neck. His eyes and cutie mark had regained their colour. "W... What the hell happened?" Phoenix asked, weakly. "Discord's changed everypony into a opposite version of themselves. I just found a way to cure you. We've got to find everypony and change them back. Spike, stay here!" Twilight said urgently as she began to run out of the library with Phoenix in tow. "I swear I'll pay for the door." Phoenix said to Twilight as they ran. "The door? You're paying my therapy bill." Twilight replied. Curing the other girls was rather simple. Both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash put up a bit of a fight, but Applejack's lasso skills subdued Fluttershy and Fluttershy carrying Phoenix to grab Rainbow while she was sleeping subdued her. Wasting no time, they headed to the centre of town where Discord had erected a throne for himself. As Phoenix and the girls arrived, Discord was about to drink a glass of chocolate milk. "Chaos is a wonderful, wonderful thing." Discord said to himself. "Not as wonderful as friendship!" Twilight said, having heard him. "Oh, this again?" Discord asked half-heartedly before drinking the glass the chocolate milk was in before throwing the solid shape of chocolate behind him, causing it to explode. Seriously. "That's right. You couldn't break apart our friendship for long." Applejack said confidently. "Oh, Applejack, don't lie to me. I'm the one who made you a liar. Will you ever learn?" Discord said as he used his magic to grab the girls' necklaces and pull the girls closer to him. Phoenix pulled out his revolver and shot him in the leg. Discord screamed as he dropped the girls before snapping his fingers to heal the bloody wound. Before they hit the ground, Twilight used her magic to gently bring them back over to her and Phoenix. "I'll tell you what we've learned Discord. We've learned that friendship isn't always easy. But there's no doubt it's worth fighting for." Twilight announced. Discord went from angry to amused as he began to taunt them once more. "Ugh, gag. Fine, go ahead, try and use your little Elements, "frenemies". Just make it quick. I'm missing some excellent chaos here." Discord said as he teleported back to his throne and took a seat. "All right, ladies, let's show him what friendship can do!" Twilight said as Phoenix was getting ready to watch the show with his front row seat. "Wait-wait-wait!" Pinkie said quickly as she gulped down more chocolate rain. Phoenix and the girls gave her unamused looks until she got back into formation and growled at Discord. Light suddenly emerged from the Elements as Discord yawned. Suddenly, different coloured rays of light in the shapes of the symbols on each Element radiated from each Element. But, for every light that shone, Phoenix felt stranger and stranger. Discord began to realise that he was in trouble when the energy was being shot as beams from each Element. Twilight opened her eyes as they emitted pure white light before the rainbow beam arced in the sky and began to plummet towards Discord. Discord watched the rainbow in fear, before looking towards Phoenix and beginning to laugh. Phoenix watched as he began to feel weaker and weaker. He finally noticed that some kind of rainbow mist was emerging from his mouth and was going to the Elements. He tried to wrack his brain to figure out what was happening, but he just couldn't concentrate. Suddenly, no more mist came from his mouth. And Phoenix fell to the ground. After the rainbow hit Discord and became a dome over the town, reversing all of the changes, the girls gently landed on the ground. Discord's stone form was frozen in a cruel laughing pose as it fell to the ground. "We did it, girls! We di-... Phoenix?" Twilight stopped as she saw Phoenix laying on the ground. They all gathered around him as Twilight turned him onto his back with her magic. All of them gasped at what they saw. The blank, lifeless eyes of a dead stallion. There was no scream. No sign. He was just... gone. The girls stared in horror, but Fluttershy rushed forward and began to push onto Phoenix's chest with her hooves with rhythmic intervals. "Come on, Phoenix. Breath." Fluttershy pleaded quietly as Applejack knelt by her and began to give Phoenix the kiss of life also with regular intervals. Pinkie Pie was already sobbing along with Rarity while Twilight and Rainbow watched in teary disbelief. Twilight didn't even turn around when Celestia and Luna appeared. "No... It's as we feared." Luna said as tears began to form in her eyes. "What? What's happened?!" Twilight asked urgently. "...The Elements of Harmony feed on harmonious energies from the world around them when they are used. Life itself is a form of harmonious energy. Did you never wonder why you felt so drained after the first time you used the Elements of Harmony against Nightmare Moon?" Celestia explained. When nopony replied, Luna continued the explanation with a sombre look. "The Elements won't feed on their wielders unless they have to. Since there are six of thou, when thou used them against us, they didn't need to take much energy as there was enough in all of thou to fuel them without any damage to thou all... Unfortunately, Phoenix Fortesque was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Luna said as she used her magic to gently shut his eyelids. "...Wrong place at the wrong time? WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME?! Didn't you think to tell us about this?! Why?! Why didn't you?!" Applejack yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please, Applejack. Nopony could have foreseen this. We didn't know where the Elements were. We didn't know Phoenix would be anywhere near you when you would use them. We just... didn't know..." Celestia began to defend herself and Luna, but her voice got steadily weaker and weaker as a single tear began to slither down Celestia's cheek. Applejack rushed forward and began to hit Celestia's chest, causing Celestia to remain still, not even flinching. "Damn you! DAMN YOU!! Why him?! Why hi-hi-him?!" Applejack finally stopped hitting and sobbed into Celestia's chest as Celestia gently wrapped her forelegs and wings around her. The town grew silent, only broken by Applejack's sobbing... A few days later, every Ponyvillian was gathered outside of town hall, dressed in black. In the centre of the crowd, there lay a coffin with Phoenix inside in his black gala suit with a serene look on his lifeless face. In front of the town hall, Cloud stepped forward and began to speak. "Today, we give our attention... our honour... our respect... to the stallion who lays before us. He may have never thought highly of himself, in fact, he once told me that he knew he would die alone. But, he was wrong. He died a hero. And he is surrounded by people willing to give their respect to him. Respect he was certain he would never have. My only wish is that he could have seen how many lives he touched and made better. All the good he's done outweighed the bad things... but, he could never see that for himself. Now, he wouldn't want me to give a teary speech on what I thought of him. Because, deep down... I think we both knew." Cloud sniffed an wiped his tears before turning back to the crowd. "Is there anything anypony would like to say?" Cloud asked. Nopony moved until one little filly walk out from the crowd and up to Cloud's microphone. "Sweetie Belle wrote a song for me to sing to- to him. Ah dedicate this to mah sister as well. Ah know she's gonna miss him most of all." Apple Bloom said as she sniffed and held back her tears before Sweetie Belle started the music nearby with a sombre look on her face. The sky was falling and streaked with blood, I heard you calling me then you disappeared into the dust. Up the stairs, into the fire, Up the stairs, into the fire. I need your kiss, but love and duty called you someplace higher, Somewhere up the stairs, into the fire. May your strength give us strength, May your faith give us faith, May your hope give us hope, May your love give us love. May your strength give us strength, May your faith give us faith, May your hope give us hope, May your love give us love. Applejack walked up onto the stage as her sister sang and hugged her tightly, but before Apple Bloom could start to sing again, Applejack looked at the lyric sheet Apple Bloom brought with her and began to sing in her place. You gave your love to see in fields of red and autumn brown, You gave your love to me and lay your young body down. Up the stairs, into the fire, Up the stairs, into the fire. I need you near but love and duty called you someplace higher, Somewhere up the stairs, into the fire. May your strength give us strength, May your faith give us faith, May your hope give us hope, May your love give us love. Suddenly, everypony in the crowd began to sing the chorus along with Applejack. The crowd linked hooves as the sang with more and more passion. May your strength give us strength, May your faith give us faith, May your hope give us hope, May your love give us love. May your strength give us strength, May your faith give us faith, May your hope give us hope, May your love give us love. It was dark, too dark to see, you held me in the light you gave, You lay your hoof on me, Then walked into the darkness of your smoky grave. Up the stairs, into the fire, Up the stairs, into the fire. I need your kiss, but love and duty called you someplace higher, Somewhere up the stairs, into the fire. May your strength give us strength, May your faith give us faith, May your hope give us hope, May your love give us love. May your strength give us strength, May your faith give us faith, May your hope give us hope, May your love give us love. May your strength give us strength, May your faith give us faith, May your hope give us hope, May your love give us love. May your strength give us strength, May your faith give us faith, May your hope give us hope, May your love give us love. May your love give us love... After the service: the girls, Cognito, Octavia, Cloud, Cheerilee and the princesses carried the coffin to Sweet Apple Acres. They took it to the spot where Bloomberg used to be planted where a hole had already been dug. They took one last look at Phoenix and made a silent prayer before sealing the coffin and lowering the coffin into the ground. The princesses used their magic to fill the grave and place Phoenix's tombstone. Everypony began to leave, but Applejack, Pinkie and Cognito remained behind. "We're all gonna miss him, Applejack." Pinkie said, trying to comfort Applejack. "Ah know, sugarcube. But..." Applejack trailed off at the end. "But... what?" Pinkie asked. "It's like we killed him." Applejack said, tearing up again. "Applejack! We didn't kill him! We didn't know what the Elements of Harmony would do." Pinkie argued. "Ah know, Ah know. But, that's just how it feels." Applejack said. She felt a hoof touch both of her shoulders as Pinkie and Cognito had put them there. "I have skimmed through some of your memories of him. May I ask a question?" Cognito asked monotonously. After Applejack nodded, Cognito continued. "Do you think you blaming yourself is what he'd want?" Cognito asked. Applejack looked at him in silence before weakly shaking her head. "He was the closest thing I had to a friend. But, I don't blame you for what happened to him. I calculated 57 likely outcomes, 3 of which you all would have survived, but no one could have ever predicted the events of D-Day." Cognito said, referring to Discord Day. His tone never changed, almost like a machine. But, if one looked hard enough, they would tell that Cognito was experiencing emotion. He just didn't know how to express it. Applejack finally looked at Cognito. "Thank you. And, you don't have to be lonely. You can have us as friends if you like." Applejack said, blatantly trying to smile, but just couldn't. After Cognito agreed, Pinkie volunteered to take him on a tour of Ponyville, leaving Applejack alone. She reached up to her hat and felt the brooch with her hoof before turning away from the grave. "You'll always be the apple of mah eye. Ah... Ah love you, Phoenix... Ah just wish Ah said it while you were still around." Applejack began to walk away at a rather fast pace as tears poured from eyes once again. The wind began to blow as the words on the grave remained undisturbed in the silence. 'Here lies Phoenix Fortesque. Gambler Hero ...Friend'