There are certain issues involved with having Philomena as a pet. Giving the entire palace staff permission to take a swat at the bird if it tries anything? Has solved none of them. The phoenix is still trolling everypony, happily setting off pony tempers (and the occasional fire alarm) without a care in the world. The swats just aren't working.

Maybe a few murders will do the trick.

...or, given that it's Philomena, Celestia might have to go just a little further.

(Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.)

Rated C for Crackfic.

Twilight takes a walk in the woods near Canterlot to clear her mind, when a mischievous little phoenix starts dropping chestnut shells on her head. Quite a familiar mischievous little phoenix.

Somewhat inspired by the song "Evermore" by Alison Krauss, a story to perhaps make its reader smile.

Thanks go to Skywriter, GhostOfHeraclitus, and "Nettle" for pre-reading; and Ziom05 of deviantART for permission to use "Sun Springs" as the cover art.

Philomena is reborn after she dies. Ponies are reborn before they die. But always changed.

It's hard for a bird to understand.

Twilight Sparkle always wrote to Princess Celestia about her lessons in friendship. Sometimes, Celestia wrote back. Even if Twilight didn't know it.

Expanded version of the ninth-place winner in the /fic/ mini write-off "Just Over the Horizon."

Featured on Equestria Daily!

There are many different kinds of immortality. Some achieve immortality through great deeds of heroism. Some do it by discovering a spell custom-made to kick Death in the teeth. There are a select few who are immortal simply because they consistently avoid dying.

But perhaps the rarest breed of immortal is the one who escapes death by dying so suddenly that they come back to life.

The phoenix is one such immortal, and Philomena is one such firebird. But for all the time that she spends in the company of alicorns, Philomena rarely thinks of herself as immortal or ageless. When one defines the passage of time by one's death, immortality can be a difficult label to wear.

But life has a way of reminding us of our labels. Sometimes it uses traumatic events. Sometimes it takes the form of a blessing nobody else can enjoy. And once in a very rare while, life makes us fall in love with somebody we can never stay with.

When the lands were covered by fire and magic, not everything was consumed in quite the same way. Some creatures were spared the immediate horrors of the end of the world just to be warped and twisted by what was left behind. Others got to experience them first hand.

Notes:
Song that inspired this is Balefire by Princess Addictia

Twilight and her friends sure had an awful time at the Grand Galloping Gala, but at least they are doing alright now that they are all there together and they have someone special to keep them company: Princess Celestia!

Original release: August 27th 2011 on Deviant Art

And if you're interested, this existed as a comic first. Link for the start page here: http://aleximusprime.deviantart.com/art/After-the-Gala-Page-1-211665525

If one lives immortal life, they may often find it rife
With events that cause them strife, which may make them want to roar.
This tale is of one such being, who thought life was disagreeing
With her when she lost her sister, who forever she’d adore.
Perhaps another can step in, since she’s lost one she does adore…
Would you like to read some more?

I was inspired to write this when Unique SKD took his own shot at 'going Poe' (said story has since been deleted, unfortunately). It just took me a while to work out the kinks with this one.

My second story in poem form, I followed the trochee as best I could. It wasn’t easy.

Editing and brainstorming provided by Shahrazad
Cover picture by pokerface3699

  The Cycle of Flame defines every phoenix’s life, even those who refuse to fly the path ordinated by the Cloudsong. One such mischievous phoenix has found a home on the edge of the dangerous Dragon Lands. But after an old friend beckons her home, this phoenix meets a creature of myth and legend who gives her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
  The phoenixes know her as Glorious Dawn.
  But the ponies of Equestria know her by a different name...

Entry for EFNW Scribblefest 2017 - Prompt: Growing up wild and forever free

Featured on FimFiction on March 13-16, 2017 with a Hot Tag!

Historian's Note: Believe it or not, this is not set in the Wavelengths Timeline!

Cast: Philomena and Princess Celestia with the Dragon Nation and the Griffon Kingdom

Cover & Section Break Design by Novel Idea
Flame Icon by MisterAibo
Philomena by moongazeponies

Beta Reader & Editor Credits
Ebon Quill - Audio Director & Quest Designer on The Manehattan Project
Tchernobog - AppleDash Fanatic, Special Guest Beta Reader
Little Tinker - Master of Systems at Poniverse & Scripting Engineer on The Manehattan Project
Beltorn - Commenter-at-Large on FimFiction
Painted Heart - Wife of the Author

Word Count: 6,600
Version: 2.6

Set before the Crystal Empire episodes, Equestria is in a state of chaos. When the Mane 6 find a small portal deep within the Everfree Forest, Celestia decides to go in herself, bringing her loyal phoenix Philomena with her. There, she is transported back to the past and the Crystal Empire, finding someone she'd only heard about in legends to help.