More than just a pet
Slowly but steadily, Celestia’s sun rose in the sky, the sun Princess right on time as always. The night guard passed the baton of the guard to their brothers in white and yellow, the change of the guard coordinated perfectly to greet the new day. Today was an exceptionally jovial one, the halls of the palace buzzed with activity, preparing for the upcoming event. Everyone’s armor was sparkling, gleaming in the morning sunlight, each guard had their chests pumped out proudly for onlookers to see.
Today was the day the new royal guard captain would be appointed, and everyone wanted to be as professional as possible. There was no room for mistakes, and no second chances. For some this was the time to advance in their careers, to earn better pay, and prestige. Some considered this as an honor, a time to serve their country, a call from their motherland.
One of them was missing…
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~DRIIIIIN!!~
Selune Darkeye hated alarm clocks. It didn’t matter that she was now twoenty five years old, the passionate hate still burned strong. She was having a positively fascinating dream about becoming Princess Luna’s personal protege when the dreamscape started shattering.
~DRIIIIIN!!~
She fluttered her eyes open and murmured something incomprehensible, trying to spot the source of the infernal device that woke her up. She was just about to confirm if her vision of Luna was a dream or the real thing! UGH!!!
~DRIIIIIN!!~
From beneath the blanket she extended her hoof and flailed it around until the alarm clock stopped its ringing. She tossed the brown blanket aside and rose from the bed to open the shutters, letting the sunlight enter her room. It was a small apartment in the center of Canterlot, three rooms: bathroom, kitchen, bedroom. Small, but adequate, and affordable since it was near her job. Selune worked as an archivist in one of Princess Luna’s recent projects to organize all documented Equestrian history. As Selune soaked up the heat, she considered herself all in all a lucky mare to have a dark grey coat. She rubbed her horn, shaking her head as she tried to brush off the sleepiness.
Slowly but steadily, she dragged her hooves to the bathroom, throwing some cool water from the sink on her face. As she looked in the mirror she saw her rough maroon mane all jumbled up from her sleep. “Sweet Luna…” she said as she rubbed her eyes once more, looking at the mare in the mirror whose purple eyes desperately tried to stay open. She could reeeeally have used five more minutes of sleep, but she knew that today was an important day. The only bad thing? She couldn’t remember why…
There was something wrong about the mirror, there was something extra on the top left, a square yellow piece of paper. She narrowed her eyes, and brought her face closer to the piece of paper in an attempt to read it.
“Terra… Lionmane…” The name was familiar. He was… a friend, and a member of the solar royal guard. She often saw him on her way to work, during the changing of the Solar and Lunar guard, always in tow with his phoenix, Fenix. Shaking stray thoughts from her head, she continued reading: “Royal Guard… Captain Test. 10:00.” Selune looked at the note a few more seconds before it hit her like a brick in the face. The new Royal Guard captain was going to be appointed today! Her friend was a candidate!
A jolt of lightning hit the unicorn, and an instant caffeine shot in the form of adrenaline was injected in her body as the unicorn’s eyes bolted wide open. A blur of black and red, she dashed through her apartment, wasting no time getting ready. Luckily for her she didn’t have to spend time choosing clothes as she had done so the night before. Sparing a glance at the alarm clock she noticed that it was 09:07.
This was going to be a close call…
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Terra Lionmane was proud of his lineage. His mother Armored Blaze the earth pony, and his father Midnight Shield the batpony, were retired veterans of the Solar and Lunar guard, respectively. Terra had grown up hearing the tales of their achievements, how assassins intent on thwarting peace with the Zebras were brought to justice, how murdering lunatics were successfully incarcerated, and how unicorns researching necromancy were stopped before they could even begin raising a single corpse.
More than anything he was enamored with the tales of knights from literature. His favorite book was the Legend of Artorigus and the Noble Stallions of the Round Table. When his mother asked him again what he wanted to become, the stallion readily replied “Knight,” quoting the oath of the knights of the old code. He gained his cutie mark that day, a 12-point golden star with a round ruby inside it: a symbol of the stellar example he wanted to become, and a heart full of passion.
Today, at the age of twoenty six, came the day he would tested be for the role of Royal Guard Captain. Today was the day his ambition would be realized.
But none of this mattered now…
Nothing mattered to the young earth pony as he sat on his haunches on the floor of his apartment, one not so different than the one his friend Selune lived in. The wind from the open window had scattered many feathers on the floor. These feathers shared the color of Terra’s mane, yellow and red - the colors of fire. The source of the scattered feathers huddled between his hooves, trembling and shaking on his blue coat, seeking comfort and support. Lost, fallen from grace, the phoenix’s heat was low, its heartbeat faint and distant, but he felt comfort knowing another heartbeat was there guiding his own.
The phoenix raised his head as fast as its condition allowed at least, to look up into the earth pony’s red eyes. He opened his beak, chirping weakly at Terra who lowered his head and nuzzled him, offering as much comfort as he could. Fenix looked for his fiery mane, and nuzzled back. He saw Terra’s spiky mane as the plume of a phoenix, to him Terra was a parent, a father standing by in what could be his final moments. Fenix heard low chirps and squeaks, an attempt from Terra to imitate his language, to offer comfort against this new experience.
There was knock at the door, quick and repetitive as if the pony behind the door was in a hurry. “It’s open!” Terra said, lifting his head for a moment before lowering it back to his companion.
After a short, creaking noise the door opened. Selune, wearing a gold and purple dress, saw her friend standing on the floor, still unprepared for the upcoming examination. His lion-styled armor was lying on a mannequin to the side, the golden star with the ruby heart shining in the chestplate. She turned towards the earth pony. “Terra? What are you doing? Why are you still not dressed? Come on, you’re going to miss your test! Today’s the day!” Terra didn’t respond, and simply remained there among the feathers, almost as if he was sleeping. Selune didn’t like scolding her friend from afar, but when she approached him to bring his attention to her she saw it. The naked avian creature fiddling with the earth pony’s mane, seeking comfort in the familiar colors of his kind.
“Is that…” Selune hesitated.
“It’s time… just as you predicted.” Selune remained silent to Terra’s words. She knew what he was talking about: she looked at her cutie mark, a black eye with a white outline, the symbol of her magical mastery of illusionism and divination.
“I…” there was a soft whimper coming from Terra. “I don’t want to lose him!”
Selune saw Terra’s eyes close as if in pain while he pushed his animal companion closer. She pushed his head closer to him, giving him a gentle hug, caressing his mane, trying to calm her friend down.
“He’s going to be fine, Terra. He’s going to get through this, he’s not alone,” Terra wiped his tears with the edge of his hoof. His mane was probably a mess, his apartment didn’t fare any better, “I won’t make it today…” he said with a stern expression, remembering the time.
Selune remained silent for a moment, still hugging him close. She thought of what to say, for there was no easy answer, or question for that matter, that she could give him. After a few moments she asked: “Do you have any regrets?”
The silence was almost tangible at this point. The only other noise in the apartment would be the faint buzz of the city and the almost inaudible squeaks of help from Fenix. Though Terra wasn’t Fenix’s father he didn’t seem to be bothered by this facade. As he looked into Fenix’s fiery eyes the earth pony smiled. “None. Besides, I’m sure if I don’t make it, Shining Armor will. He’s a good friend, as worthy as I am, and maybe more.” Selune released him from the hug, still leaving a hoof on his back.
“I’ve had him since an egg, you know?” He said.
Even though it had been two years, it seemed just yesterday that Terra discovered the ruined phoenix nest in the forests of Baltimare. He’d been gathering ore to forge his armor as a prerequisite to join the Royal Guard. The nest was clearly ruined by dragons, as the dying flames showed him all around. The lone egg had been lucky to survive the wild, let alone be found by the earth pony.
“I know. I remember how you bombarded me questions about how to take care of him, Even though that’s not my area of expertise.” She mumbled the last one, shaking her head a bit. There weren’t a lot of phoenixes in pony society, let alone veterinarians with knowledge on how to take care of them. The books in the archives Selune worked on were rare as well, some even containing more ridiculous methods. She laughed as the memory was brought back to her “So, how’s it going… Nanny? I wouldn’t have expected you to use your newly forged helmet like that!”
At the sound of Terra’s old nickname the two of them laughed, shaking off some of the tension. “Hey what was I supposed to do? Fenix liked the heat! He hatched when I was forging it after all! And that nickname… oh boy. Took me weeks - no months - to get rid of it.” As the laughter died down, a wave of calamity washed over him. “But it was worth it.”
Terra paused once more, “Where is your companion, Selune?”
“Akane? Oh probably outside. She does go scavenging in the night sometimes.” As if Tartarus itself heard her the croaking raven flew through the open window. Selune extended her hoof, allowing the raven to land on it. Akane nibbled her nose, wanting to show her happiness at being reunited with the unicorn, though Selune worried with how often her raven did it that she might get a permanent mark. Still, she didn’t wince in pain, nor did she cower before the bird, which was one of the things that intrigued Akane about the unicorn. She did not flee her sight, neither feared her like a bad omen. Akane had since followed her around, and since then the two of them had formed a strong bond.
After the show of affection, the raven turned its curiosity to the fallen phoenix and Terra observing them with a tilt of her head. Jumping from her hoof to Fenix, she pushed him a bit, trying to incite a reaction, but heard nothing but weak chirps. She looked at the two ponies in the room, curious as to what was going on.
“Terra, you still have the chance. I can stand by Fenix while you are out, but this chance might never come back,” Selune let her warning linger in the air. She didn’t want her friend to do something he’d regret.
“No…” said Terra, firmly forcing Akane to back up as he brought Fenix closer to his chest once more. “This is Fenix’s first rebirth,”
Terra’s words were cut as Selune interjected. “And I may provide the comfort he seeks to avoid the shock and permanent death, but…” Selune was also interrupted.
“I said no, Selune!” Terra jerked his head towards her, her raven hiding behind her mane. He immediately regretted it, lowering his head at his phoenix again “I’m sorry. I know I’m stubborn but he needs me. You may or may not be able to prevent him from going into shock, and I can’t risk that. Besides…” Terra caressed Fenix gently, watching not to push him, or squeeze him the wrong way. “He’s one of the reasons I came so far.”
Another caress and a comforting smile. “He’s helped me in my training, when I broke my hoof...” he kissed Fenix’s bald head “... he’s fought with me...” another pause, another act of kindness, “... if I’m not here for him what kind of father would I be? I’d be betraying his trust by leaving him now. Besides, what if his ash gets scattered, or he doesn’t make it because I’m not here, or…” Terra was shaken a bit as Selune pushed his shoulder, trying to snap him out of it.
“Hey! I would be here. I would never let him out of my sight! He means much to you, I know, “ this time Selune was more careful while tugging him close to her.
“Thank you,” said Terra. “I imagine Fenix feels like he’s dying right now. It sickens me to the core, not being able to help, not being able to offer the comfort his real parents would give him!” Terra averted his sight. He winced, trying to hold back his tears, trying to hold back his shame for being lacking, but something poked on his chest, and another weak chirp came out of Fenix. Standing next to him, as if to apologize for her previous behavior, Akane was also draping a wing over Fenix, mimicking the ponies’ behavior, judging that this was the right thing to do.
“I think I understand,” said Selune. This might not be the end for Fenix, but to a shocked phoenix an experience like this might be lethal. If he managed to get through this, then perhaps in the coming years his next rebirth would be easier. But as of right now… “It feels like he’s on his deathbed or something, doesn’t it?”
Terra simply nodded at this. “I think… If I was in his spot, I’d like for the ones closest to me to be there.” Selune knew what it was like to be in the dark, suffering the unknown. Her mother, Lumina Oculus. had told her the story of her birth. The magic of her lineage was related to the eyes but her own hadn’t stabilized, resulting in a blackness expanding from her eyes to her white coat. Though her mother was blind, a few words of her father, the pianist known as Azure Melody, were enough to bring memories of the darkness that threatened her birth. It was only through their combined efforts to calm Selune, Lumina’s talents as a seer, and her father’s resources that they were able to reach the northern regions where the Aurora Borealis shone. When the moonlight fell on the Borealis she had finally been able to see, with the moon being the first thing to fall in her line of sight. Her black eyes and part of her coat had cleared, leaving white stripes on it.
“You’re a good friend, Terra,” Selune stated simply as she patted him on the shoulder.
As if her words were a signal Fenix’s form glowed red, making everyone wince and withdraw a bit. As the bird flapped its wings, trying to lift of the ground, the red glow from within his heart intensified. The bird finally burst into flames, its ashes falling to the ground. Gasping, and with bated breath, Selune, Terra, and Akane locked their gazes upon the pile of ash lying before them. A minute passed before they heard a chirp from beneath the flames. Terra’s eyes jolted wide-open as the ashes ignited, revealing the proud form of the phoenix soaring in the middle of the room.
Fenix’s radiance was as intense as Terra remembered it, maybe even more. His brilliant fiery plume burned like the sun, leaving a small trail behind it. The light was almost blinding, but it couldn’t make the earth pony avert his eyes from the beautiful sight before him. The light couldn’t shine brighter than the earth pony’s smile, his gentle laughter building up. Once the glow died down, Fenix proceeded to flap his renewed wings, fully extending his fiery plume as he proudly enjoyed the sensation of flight that was granted to him anew. Terra extended his right hoof, and Fenix’s claws got a hold of it as she landed on it.
Selune just observed the two for a second, her little raven clearly baffled. Akane curiously examined the phoenix, landing on Terra’s hoof and poking around at Fenix’s new brilliant form. She chirped twice, happily acknowledging that this was the same being. Everypony laughed at her reactions.
“Come on Fenix, let’s hear your roar! LOUD AND PROUD!” As if heroes in a comic book, Selune saw the two of them pose. Terra, true to his name, roared like a lion, while Fenix let out a loud, drawn-out and high-pitched cry. As the two of them shared in their laughs, and smiles Selune nuzzled Akane seeking to calm her down.
She couldn’t help but wonder...
Dreams, happiness, joy. They meant nothing if you didn’t have someone to share them with. In sickness and health, one has to stand by his friends.