Things were quite exciting on the day that the Airship Regale landed in docking bay ninety four of the Canterlot Airship Yards. Not in the sense of the extraordinary, just the usual excitement that a Friday brings to one of the biggest shipping yards in Equestria. Meaning, it was payday, and when a long overdue ship finally makes it to port, there's going to be some excitement to go around.
Amid all the hustle and bustle of ponies rushing to dock the ship and unload it's precious cargo, a blue unicorn and a gryphon disembarked from the ship, making idle chatter between themselves as they moved through the crowd. "So, are you sure that you are really going to be leaving the company now that we're back?" The gryphon said casually.
"Well You," Phoenix paused to readjust his satchel before continuing on down the path. "There's greener pastures for me to come. I don't suppose you remember that I was starting a new career at the Ministry of Practical Chaos, right?"
"Hmm," You replied in a casual way before nodding slightly. "I do remember you brought it up before we left, but are you sure that's the life you want to go after? You could make it far in the world of logistics."
Phoenix continued on to the main office building of the shipping yards, but nodded to the question. "Yeah, I'm sure. It's not that I don't like the work here, but rather it's the politics of the whole thing," he said as he looked up at the dock master's office space, high above the rest of the buildings in the shipyard.
You had the courtisy to at least act like he understood as he followed behind the unicorn. "I suppose I get it," he said with a frown. "But I have to admit, I'd grown rather fond of your company."
Phoenix was surprised to hear the statement, and his face froze in shock as he mulled over the proper response. For most of his life, Phoenix had the power over ponies to make them turn away from him, or use him as a means to an end and nothing more. With that said, he took what You said a little stronger than anypony else would. And You noticed. "Well," He finally said with a half smile. "You are a lot different than I imagined a changeling would be," he responded slowly and quietly. "And, I'm glad we met, despite the circumstances."
You grinned as best as his current body would let him, curving the beak back as he walked next to the unicorn to the office building to collect their payroll. The two of them didn't have to wait too long to collect their checks and headed off to go cash them at a nearby bank, it wasn't until Phoenix started to head home that he asked You if he wished to come over for drinks at his apartment.
He agreed, saying it would be nice to get more relaxed in a private setting before he headed off to whatever his next assignment would be, and the two were soon enough standing in a small studio apartment in the Broken Wing apartment building. "Well, here we are," Phoenix said with bravado as he shut the door behind him. "Make yourself at home."
You nodded, and was soon wrapped in flames as he changed into his natural form. "Thank you kindly Mister Quill, those feathers were starting to itch again."
"Eh, it is what it is," Phoenix replied before flopping onto his couch. "So, do you like spirits? I've got vodka in the freezer."
"No, it's fine," You said as he opened his saddle bag and started to dig around in it. "I've still got some of the bottled love I'd picked up before we left last month." He finally pulled out a small bottle, half filled with a light green colored liquid. He poured some of it out into a nearby glass and began to sip on it lightly.
The two of them sat in silence for a few moments, neither one sure of what to say or do next. Finally, Phoenix took up initiative to clear his throat. "Er, so... what comes next for you? Do you have to report to your queen, or, just keep working for the company?"
You frowned as he picked up a discarded book from the coffee table and flipped through it randomly. "Oh, well, I'm not too sure yet," he said without any emotion to his voice. "Queen Chrysalis had decided to let me do that job out of a show of good will to Celestia, but I don't think she'll want me on that venture for much longer." He paused to take another small sip from his glass, and Phoenix noted that his eyes lit up slightly when he did so. "I mean, the deal between our leaders is so, strange to me. But we don't gain anything on either side by having changelings going out in dirigibles. They have to supply us with so much bottled love, that it's a drain on the hive."
Phoenix was going to say something, even if it was a pointless thing to say on the subject, when a knock came to the door. "Oh no, what now?" You watched as Phoenix slumped across the room and opened the door. He only barely caught the sight of a pegasus mare in the uniform of a telegram company before he heard Phoenix groan out, "Oh, not again," before addressing the pony before him. "So let me guess, you're here because I'd burnt somepony on accident by being in stone for a year too?"
Phoenix, whether by accident or design, stood in such a way that he'd blocked You's view. Even though he tried his best to listen in, the pair spoke far too quietly for him to pick up anything out of the conversation. Finally, after a few moments of talk, Phoenix passed the mare a few bits and shut the door, holding a note in his magic as he shuffled across the room.
"So, not so good news I take it?" You asked in an unsteady tone. Phoenix simply nodded to reply before sitting down on the couch; he let go of the telegram from his magical grip, and picked up the glass of vodka, and was quick to slam it down with gusto. "What happened?"
Phoenix looked at the changeling, and gave a small grin, as if to show he was fine, but he couldn't hide that something was wrong behind the false smile. "Nothing much," he said calmly before pouring himself another shot. "Just a letter from my family."
The unicorn took the shot down, and leaned back in his seat to look up at the ceiling. He remained quiet for while, leaving You to pick up the note and glance over it quickly. It read as followed,
To be delivered to Phoenix Quill in pony.
Phoenix, we have been trying to contact you since you had left without warning. It wasn't until we saw your picture in the paper recently, that we discovered where you were hiding at. Please, return home at once, your mother is ill and wishes to see you one last time before it's too late.
Signed, Polished Shield.
You looked up from the note and saw that Phoenix had yet to move from his position. "What are you going to do now?"
"I think counting the flecks of popcorn dots on the ceiling would be great," Phoenix replied in a monotone voice. "I mean, I don't know, I don't want to go back there, but, I..." he trailed off and began rubbing his head with a hoof before slumping forward in his seat. "What would you do in my position?"
You leaned forward and tapped on the underside of his muzzle as he contemplated the question for a few moments. Finally, he gave a very simple answer. "I'd leave for home."
Phoenix gave a weary smile to his friend and got up from the couch. "I don't know how well you understand family my chitinous friend," he said as he began to walk around the room. "But my family has never been very, supportive of my decisions in life."
"That doesn't matter," You said, before downing the rest of his drink. "The way I view it, is that you have only got one family. If they went out of their way to find you, you probably should do what you can to go home."
"Home," Phoenix muttered to himself as he looked at his glass with a casual look of a pony that had lost interest in much anything at all. He took a small sip, then followed it up with a larger gulp that finished off the drink entierly. "I suppose that would be the right thing. But," he paused. Unsure of what to say, he sat there and leaned back.
Silence filled the room, neither sure of what to say. It took several moments of silence before Phoenix cracked slightly and spent some of his magic to activate the record player, filling the room with the light tickle of a piano. "Home," Phoenix muttered to himself before sitting up and looking the changeling in the eyes. Do you even know why I left?"
"I don't suppose you want to tell me now," You said with as much of a gentle smile as he could muster.
Phoenix thought it over for a moment before shaking his head. "No, I won't. Come on, I need to pack some things."