Blaze of Glory

Despite the fact that I was riding on the back of a creature that wasn't supposed to exist, I quite enjoyed the next few minutes. I had come to terms with the fact that I had either completely gone insane, or was stuck in some weird dream, so when I saw the fantasy of every six year old in front of my eyes, I took it in stride. There were horses of every color scattered around the town, some with wings, some with horns, and some with neither. Well so much for equality. Could you give that kind of horse vampire fangs at very least? They seemed to be be bottom of the food chain. I mean, no horns, which seems to mean no magic, and no wings? That doesn't seem fair.

Twilight stopped at the edge of town, in front of a giant... tree. Okay dream, you've gotten strange, but that's a meek attempt to break me. She... unlocked the tree, and stepped inside. My first thought was library. The walls of the tree were literally lined with books. Oh, the irony.

It seems I can't escape from my studies even in my dreams. Gee, thanks brain, I get the point, I need to study. She stopped in the middle, and I took that as a sign that I should take wing. I flapped overhead for a while, and finally set upon the top part of a shelf to sit on. I wish these talons would let me sit/stand anywhere, but they were kinda curved. I suppose that was for catching prey.  Magical world of horses, we still had birds of prey. Good to know that. Glad my mind wasn't hell-bent on making the girliest dream it could.

"So uh, make yourself at home." Twilight said awkwardly, glancing at the floor.

"Make myself at home" I parroted, which of course came out in the elusive and annoying language of the twittering idiots.  Speaking of that, how I was supposed to make myself at home, in a tree, as a bird?

Wow, that sounded stupid.

"I'm just gonna go get a friend... be right back." And with that, Twilight disappeared.

Meanwhile, I decided to take a little look around this "tree", explore my surroundings.

There was a staircase off to my left, so I fluttered up that, coming up to what looked like a bedroom. A simple bed, carpet, a few books here and there. There was also a basket with a sheet over it. Attacked to the side looked like a purple... thing. It had green scales attached to the thing, pointing to the side. I flew over and stood on it. It fit well.

It was then my curiosity got the best of me. And you know what they say, curiosity killed the cat. They also forgot to mention that it nearly gave the phoenix a heart attack. I took hold of the sheet with my beak, and with an almighty tug, uncovered something. Something alive. It took me a minute to realize what I was truly looking at.

It was a dragon.

I gave out a surprised squawk that I'm not proud of, and fell off what must be his tail. The dragon woke up. It stretched and yawned, blinked sleepily, and then set it's eyes on what must be prey.

"Morning Twili- Hey, who are you?"

There was a moment where nobody moved.

Then the creature scratched its head.

Oh shit, it was preparing to charge...

RUUUNNNNN FOR YOUR LIFEEEEEEE!!!!!!

That's about the time I realized that trying to run as a bird was about as effective as a fish trying to climb a tree. So I took wing. In retrospect, I probably should have done that in the first place.

"Hey, wait!"

You won't deceive me, monster!

I flapped around, looking for a quick exit. There was none. I was trapped in a tree... with a dragon. I can't imagine what my brain is trying to tell me now. Getting in touch with my feminine side would cause me to be trapped in a tree with my inner demons? Good thing I wasn't intending on getting in touch with my feminine side anyways. But the idea of fighting a dragon was fun. Providing I was human and could hold a sword or something. Be in a great glimmering cave, ready to save a fair maide-

I just realized that a house made of wood might not be the best place to put two different creatures that can use fire.

Well, if I was going down, I was gonna get some hits back on this monster.

I spotted the dragon again, a worried look on his face, watching me circle above him.

Usually when I was facing a dragon, I had a weapon of some sort. And hands. Hands were good. But all I had were these feather dusters attached to my side. And no maiden to save. Heck, I didn't even have a trusty steed. Oh well, all or nothing.

I was going to battle with a giant threat, I needed a heroic war cry, and I like to tell you I rushed into battle screaming something cool that fathers would tell their children for centuries. I'd love to tell you that, but I can't. In reality, my war cry was something more along the lines of:

"AGGHHHHH I'MM TOTALLYYY GONNNAAA DIEEEEE"

I dived.

**********

"So you just found him out in the middle of the forest?"

"Well, to be a bit more accurate, he kinda flew into me beakfirst."

"Oh my goodness, is he okay?"

"To be honest, I don't know. He doesn't act like any phoenix I've ever heard of. Or any creature in the first place. Maybe the crash scrambled his brain."

"Oh my, what do you mean?"

"You'll see soon enough."

Twilight and her accomplice reached the Golden Oaks Library, and Twilight unlocked the door, not knowing what to expect. Well for starters, it wasn't on fire, so that was a good sign. The two ponies wandered upstairs, after seeing the library devoid of all life. Or carcasses. No carcasses was good too.

The other pony blinked twice, not expecting to see the sight that now greeted her eyes.

"Well, looks like your friend met Spike, Twilight."

"And I showed those Diamond Dogs what for, and rescued Rarity all by myself, Twilight and her friends right behind me. Those beasts won't bother her anymore!" Spike was relaxing, laying in Twilight's bed, the phoenix perched on his tail, his head tilted to the side, seemingly drawn in by his story. He turned his head as soon and Twilight entered the room. Spike, not noticing anything, continued to tell his story.

"Sure you got all those events right, Spike?" Twilight spoke, and gave a little laugh when Spike jumped in the air, startled.

"Oh, heh, hey Twilight. I was just uh...  well you see..."

Twilight smiled, shushing him with a flick of her tail.

"Good to see you two got along so fast."

At this point the phoenix turned his head away from Twilight and ducked it down, looking embarrassed.

Spike too, looked a little uncomfortable at this.

"Uh yeah Twilight, friends from the start. Ain't that right, bud?"

The phoenix ignored that and fixed his eyes upon Twilight's friend. It didn't look happy.

*********

There was a moment of tense silence, Twilight's friend was staring right at me, and I was staring right back. Nobody moved for what seemed to be several minutes.

This moment meant everything.

So much was at balance here.

And this moment was holding back a dam of eternal damnation, if I should fail.

That's a lot of responsibility for much-smaller-now shoulders.

Time and space seemed to bend, in awe of the very scene greeting its sight apparatuses.

All was hinging on this very moment, as I glared at the yellow horse thingy.

She blinked.

Hah! Success! I win the staring contest! Now I could finally say I won a staring contest with a pegasus when I was a bird made out of fire. Problem is, if I ever told anybody that, they'd assume I found the world's biggest batch of acid and took it all at once.

Okay, enough fun and games. I flapped over to the edge of the bed, and sunk my talons into the frame, trying to get comfortable, waiting for Twilight to make the introductions.

"Well... okay then. This is the phoenix I was telling you about, Fluttershy."

Well, that would have to do. Curse me for landing such an incompetent translator. My lawyer would hear about this!

There was another long moment of silence. This was getting old fast. I adjusted my talons a few more times, trying to get comfy. I missed feet.

Fluttershy let out a soft "hmm", and outstretched one of her wings. I fluttered over to her wing, and perched on it. It fit perfectly. Well that's one problem solved. She turned her head and gave me a little nuzzle. I sidled over to the edge of the wing closest to her, and relaxed my neck, pressing against her warm yellow fur. I could feel the muscles beneath her coat tense, making something akin to the worlds most comfortable pillow. That was my last thought as the sleep, the kind mistress, took me into her loving embrace.