“The Rainbow Refuge!” Twilight announced, as our patrol crested a hill deep within the Everfree Forest.
Down the other side and nestled in a narrow valley was a shallow pool of water, fed by a stream that cascaded down a mossy wall of rocks. Vines draped down from the rim of the granite cliffs, bearing fruits which looked somewhat like peaches.
Where the water splashed down into the crystal clear pool, it appeared to stir up the full spectrum of color, pulsing and glowing with each ripple across the surface. The sandy bottom of the pool didn’t appear to be any more than three feet down.
“What makes it glow?” I asked, as I worked on my bow.
We had found a proper tree limb: straight, without any knots, and with just the right amount of give. The bow string was far more troublesome—I had to wind together strands of fiber from a reed I found near a river. It was a long and tedious process, so I was thankful for a diversion.
“There’s a particularly high concentration of magical energy here,” Twilight explained. “It manifests itself with a brilliant display when the water in the pool is disturbed.”
“Yep, this is it!” Derpy exclaimed. She had been added to our patrol at Lily’s request. I think that she just couldn’t bear the thought of Derpy being out of her sight again. Perfectly understandable.
“This is where you were hiding?” Lily responded.
Derpy nodded vigorously. “I think that the Dogs were worried about the water. They wouldn’t come near it, so I slept up there.” She gestured to a narrow cleft in the rocks, high enough that only a Pegasus could reach it from the pool’s edge.
“Look at all the sweet, juicy fruit!” Pinkie cried, eyes wide as she admired the bounty.
“I ate those, mostly. I tried to save the muffins I brought with me for the nights that I felt especially homesick,” Derpy explained. Lily embraced Derpy with her wings.
“Never again,” Lily sighed.
Of course I was curious as to what happened between them, but I had learned my lesson. Besides, I was so pleased to have made amends with Lily that the details seemed inconsequential to seeing the two of them together again—they hardly ever left each other’s side. I wish I could have known what that felt like, but it was enough for now to vicariously appreciate their bond.
Pinkie finally caught up with the rest of us, and paused for a moment to admire the spectacle as she caught her breath.
Now that she had a captive audience, Twilight did what she loved most—sharing her knowledge. “There are only a few places like this in Equestria. The magic in the water is incredibly concentrated, and rather potent. It’s not just a beautiful landmark, it’s also quite useful.”
“How so?” I asked, as I wove the last strand of fiber into the thread I was working on. I tested it with a yank, and frowned when several of the strands snapped. Thankfully, there were some more reeds growing around the pool that I could use, so I plucked some and began to strip them as Twilight answered my question.
“Well, for one, it can be used as a power source to aid in casting particularly taxing spells. Physical contact with the water is all that’s required to draw upon its properties. It can also rejuvenate weary travelers and even has the capacity to heal wounds!”
“Could we take a teensy little break, then? My hooves could use a little rejuvenation,” Pinkie sighed, gazing longingly at the pool.
Twilight laughed. “I suppose a little break wouldn’t hurt.”
We took lunch around the pool, digging goodies out of the bags that Rarity had packed for us. I continued to labor over the bowstring while we ate. The reeds from the Rainbow Refuge seemed to be more durable than the ones I had been working with earlier, so I was cautiously optimistic about the finished product. Pinkie frolicked behind us in the water, splashing enthusiastically.
“You know, Max, those reeds have been soaking up the magical essence of the water for a long time. I could probably imbue your bow with a helpful spell, once I get back to my books,” Twilight said with a grin.
“I'll take all the help I can get,” I replied between mouthfuls of a baked treat.
“So, that’s a bow, huh? Doesn’t look too dangerous yet,” Lily said with a smirk.
I simply smiled in return. “Just you wait. After I get some practice in, this might even the odds next time we face something big and mean. I don’t exactly have much else going for me, like magic or wings.”
“Well neither do I,” Pinkie Pie cheerfully pointed out as she sat down on the grass beside me, still dripping water, and dumped out the contents of her pack.
“We’ll just have to watch out for each other, then. Us normal folk need to stick together,” I said with a wink, which made the pink pony giggle.
“We’d better get a move on, if we want to be back in time to help prepare dinner!” Twilight urged us on. We wasted no time in gathering up the bits of our lunch, though Pinkie protested that she hadn’t had enough time to eat. She stuffed her mouth with an entire pasty as we set off down the ravine toward home.
Home. It had been a long time since I knew a place that felt like home.
*****
“Thanks for the help, y’all! Go ahead ‘n ring the bell Pinkie!” Applejack stood back to admire the row of carts, all topped with heaping bowls of Everfree fruit medley, turnip ‘n tater pies, and glasses of tea brewed with the blue flowers that grow wild in the forest. Twilight had to harvest the flowers with magic, lest they make contact and contaminate us with the “poison joke” before we had cooked it out.
Applejack, Twilight, and Pinkie spontaneously broke out into some song about an evil enchantress while we stirred the flowers into the boiling cauldron, reminding me of the in-jokes I used to have with my best friends from high school. I regretted not keeping in touch with them—I decided that I would have to find them again, if I ever took Twilight up on her offer to send me home.
“Come and get it!” Pinkie hollered over the cacophony she made ringing the dinner bell, which sent ponies scurrying from all corners of New Ponyville into the town square. They hurried to find their seats as we wheeled out the carts laden with delights beyond measure.
I helped with the pies, which were cooked to perfection.
After we had delivered the goods to the eager connoisseurs, we made our way back to the table that Rarity, Fluttershy, Lily, and Derpy had reserved for us. I was pleased to note that they had devoured the pie straight away, but tragically, I wasn’t given the opportunity to taste my masterpiece. Oh well.
The jug of joke tea was making its way around, so I decided to fill the void in my heart left by the lack of pie with something hopefully tasty to drink. I poured half a mug and took a swig—it was surprisingly tangy, with an aftertaste like honeysuckle. I didn't feel any funnier though.
“How beautiful,” Rarity gasped suddenly, eyes locked over my shoulder. I twisted around as best I could in my seat to see what all the fuss was about.
“So many phoenixes!” Twilight clapped her hooves. “Incredibly rare to see all together in flight!”
“No way,” I muttered, as I was struck with a recent memory.
I had nearly forgotten about the bird on fire which had distracted me before I slipped and flew into the portal to Equestria. A whole group of them now emerged from the treeline, brilliant dots of light like blazing embers given off by the setting sun.
“I saw one of those,” I told Twilight. “It was in my world, before I came through the portal.”
Twilight seemed perplexed. “Are you certain? Perhaps it would be worthwhile to travel back to where we found you, and check again. If you saw one, then that must mean that the portal is indeed two-way, at least under certain conditions.”
“Has that ever happened before,” I asked. “Can wildlife travel between worlds?”
“I’m not familiar enough with your world to know, but phoenixes are mysterious creatures.” Twilight shrugged her shoulders. “I wonder whether there’s enough residual magic in your world for the phoenix to draw upon.”
I pondered for a moment. “They explode or something, right?”
Twilight chuckled in response.
“Oh, I wish Philomena were still around,” Fluttershy pouted. “She gave me such a scare, but she was really a lovely bird.”
“She’ll turn up,” Twilight consoled her.
“She’s pretty smart,” Pinkie added. “I’m sure that she escaped Canterlot.”
“To answer your question, though,” Twilight smiled. “Yes, Max—something like that. They live for a certain amount of time, which can differ depending on the mood of the phoenix and its living conditions. They begin to age rapidly, until they finally burst into a ball of flames! Shortly thereafter, they are reborn from the pile of ashes, as strong and majestic as ever!”
“Sounds like a lot of wasted energy,” I said.
“You’d think so,” Twilight chuckled. “As I understand it, it’s just like waking up in the morning for them. They emerge from the ashes of their old life, so to speak, both different and the same. Refreshed completely, but with a foundation of memories and experiences that shape them continually, day by day. Phoenixes are an excellent reminder that it’s never too late for a new beginning.”
“Interesting,” I replied softly, considering what Twilight had said as I watched the flaming birds disappear into the rosy sky beyond the forest.
It’s never too late for a new beginning.