//------------------------------//
// The Beginning of the End 
// Story: The Phoenix's Corruption 
// by Novus6 
//------------------------------//


There was an enormous circular room, clearly constructed mostly out of wood. Large, ornate windows dotted its sides, with dull evening light streaming in, casting spots of light on the spacious floor. Plush red seats lined it’s edges, and podiums with microphones set atop of them sat near its center. 

It was almost entirely devoid of people, except for a single Unicorn which sat slumped over in one of the seats. Her glowing horn levitated a pen as she scribbled in an open notebook. Her deep blue eyes focused intently on the page.

The door to the room slowly creaked open. Soft hoofsteps echoed throughout the space, as a blue maned Pegasus with a pink coat and emerald eyes entered. 

“Hey, what are you doing here right now? It’s getting late.” 

“Uh, I’m just working on the assignment Alder gave me.” The Unicorn didn’t look up.

The Pegasus leaned over her shoulder, looking at the notebook with curiosity. “Ha, you know you finished physics class with an A three years ago, right? Also, I’m pretty sure Alder wouldn’t ask you to do anything like that.” They said, chuckling. “Even I don’t understand half of the stuff on that page, Alder most likely wouldn’t understand 90 percent of it.”

“Uh, yeah.” The Unicorn’s eyes, partially obscured by her straight black bangs, remained fixed on the mess of equations that lay in front of her.

The Pegasus’s expression darkened. “Honestly, though. I don’t see why you still treat him like a mentor. Aeternum, you’re the smartest person I’ve ever known. Why let somebody else direct that kind of intelligence? Imagine what you could accomplish if you’d just stop letting everyone else tell you what to do.”

“Let’s just say that this isn’t exactly physics homework.” Aeternum sighed, closing the notebook. She stepped off the seat and slowly started making her way towards the door. “Well, I think I’ve already said too much. Anyways, I’m out.” 

The Pegasus stared at Aeturnum, holding a concerned expression. “I have to admit that I’m worried about you. You’ve been kind of… distant lately.” Their mane fell over their eyes as they turned their head down. “I just wish things could go back to the way they used to be.” The Pegasus’s last sentence came out as barely more than a whisper.

The heavy door closed behind Aeternum as she walked out, not turning to look at the pink Pegasus. The light streaming in from the door cut off, leaving the Pegasus in dim silence.