The Crane, The Fox and The Pheasant; Tale for a Phoenix,
The Beginning of The Storyteller, Part 1
MLPFIM
Remembering the past is painful, but I have to remember it because I don't know how I got to my new home. I do know how it started, it all started one day with a failed interview, if you could call it that.
"Well I don't want to waste my time or yours, I'm not going to bother with you interview." The man had a ten year serves pin on his flannel jacket he looked like he just stepped out of the woods then a man that should be behind a manager's desk. Long gray hair and beard with a face that looked like dry leather.
Ten minutes of my life I can't get back, I bust my but to get down here to blow me off! I thought to myself. "I understand sir." I answered him.
"I mean I'm trying to run my business, if I don't get what I want out of you then there is really no point." He shrugged at me.
We stood up from the desk. This isn't your business it's a corporation's store. I thought again. I shook his hand. "I won't stop trying."
"Well, good day and good luck." He said as I walked out the door he slammed it behind me. I left the building more angry than I ever was. I had hope to find a job but the manager gave me nothing
That would be the last day I would be in my world. Suddenly my world became black and I lost all my senses. I came back to the land of the living when a ray of light shined down on my face. I was being restrained by thick green slime and black crystal. Dark crystalline crystal tubes were imbedded in my body. You think I would feel pain but I did not. The light was obscuring what I could see coming towards me. I could hear murmuring and hushed whispers. "What is it?" One started.
"Why is it here?" Another added.
"What in the bright blue sky of Equestira could it be?" A third said.
"Why did they keep it here?" A fourth asked the others.
"Is it dangerous?" The first one asked.
One voice silence all the others and it was more force full. "It looks weak and it needs help. Cut it free and help it the best you can."
"What if it's dangerous?" The third asked.
"If it is, put it down!" This force full voice said. "Wait, knock it out I think Princess Celestia would be more interested in seeing it. When you are done we're take it to the Princess."
"That's not smart sir." The fourth stated.
"Don't you think the Princess Of the Sun and The Princess Of the Moon couldn't handle themselves?"
Silence.
I heard a clopping noise coming towards me. I saw a pony it was white and he clad with golden armor with blue access, he had a horn coming out of his head. A unicorn? I thought in surprised. I was nervous and my heart was racing, my breathing was ragged.
He looked me over for a moment. His large eyes examined me for a moment and his face adopted on of concern. "OK big fella, I think you're more than just an animal but I have to knock you out so that you we can fix you up. Just calm down." A silver light started to emit from his horn. The light snaked around me and soon I felt myself lose conciseness again.
I woke up in a new room, my wounds were bandaged and I was clothed in simple hospital clothing. It was a white padded room with a door with two way mirror in it's center.
"Hello, is anyone out there?" I called out.
The door slowly opened, a set of white Pegasus in gold armor came in. "Can you understand me?" One asked. There's unicorns why not Pegasus? I thought to myself
I nodded.
"All right then follow us." He told me.
As they turned around and started to leave I stood up and followed. I could
I soon followed that I was in an enormous Castile. We passed another set of guards. "Why isn't that thing on a lead?" The new set asked my chaperons.
"We were ordered to have it come to the throne room. As long as it follows us then we can let it be."
"Your funeral." The other guards shrugged and left.
"Come on." My guards motioned for me to follow.
I could hear other ponies began to whisper and broke talk. Maids, butlers, solders, workers of all kinds, Lords and Ladies, they were all ponies who had multicolored fur and manes. I could see that there weren't just unicorns and Pegasus but normal looking ponies too. I was in a land full of rainbow colored ponies and they were all kinds of magic too. They were similar to the ponies I've seen back home but they were still different.
I looked out one of the large arched windows. I saw the Pegasus start to push clouds around. On the grounds the ordinary ones were working on the guardian and surrounding foliage. I watched as a group of unicorns sipping tea at a table colored auras lifting tea cups to their mouths.
The guards were silent as they led me to what I could only assume was the throne room. I looked around the enormous polished throne room floors and stain glass windows with hanging tapestry and two thorns in the very back that but they were still very prominent. The two took their positions. "Stay here," one guard said to me. "The princess will be with you shortly."
I had tried to talk to them but they remained silent and stood still, just like those Buckingham palace guards.
I noticed a perch, it was gold in color and had a beautiful etching on it. Sitting on that perch was the most spectacular bird. It was a Phoenix, I've seen them in pictures. I know that they were also known as fire birds so it could roast me if I did anything so I stood still. It turned to seemed. It made a strange chortling noise. When it noticed me it took flight and quietly landed on my shoulder. It touched my cheek with it's beak. It was like it was telling me "You'll be OK."
"Hello, there fellow." I said to it aloud.
It gave me a strange look.
I looked at the phoenix for a moment. "Your a girl?"
It chortled in response.
I smiled. "I'm a little scared, do you know anything about the Princess? Are they your friends?" I asked the phoenix.
She nodded and chortled again in response.
"Are they nice?"
She seemed to smile and chortled.
I was still shaking but I couldn't stop. "May I tell you as story Ms. Phoenix? That always helps me relaxes."
She nodded happily.
“I don’t know what story to tell.” I said absently mindedly.
Ms. Phoenix nodded and started to pick at her wing then she tapped me on the head. It was like it was saying. You know you have a story in there.
I felt better, just a little. "OK Ms. Phoenix, I remember a story my Great Uncle use to tell me and my brother, it’s called The Crane, The Fox and The Pheasant.”
Once long ago there was a Fox, he had worked hard all his life and heard a modest living. He had always dreamed of joining high society. The only problem is you need to be introduced into high society by one of it's own, and in his home there was no one more prominent in high society then Crane. But Fox had no chance to impress such a prominent figure as him.
It was on that day the Fox was walking home from the market he decide to walk through park. He noticed a Pheasant sitting on a park bench. He looked miserable and his cloths were in tatters. The Fox felt for the Pheasant and decide to help him out, it was only right.
"What is the problem good fellow." The Fox asked him.
The Pheasant looked at him. "Not well good sir, I came to the city for a vacation, they I got beaten and robbed. I used what little money I had to ask my family to come and get me. I have no place to stay or no more money for food. My family will be mad at me for falling so far."
"Now, now good fellow," The Fox started. "They will be happy that you are still alive and well. As for food and lodging, come stay with me until your family comes for you."
The Pheasant was surprised at what the Fox was offering him. "I have no money!" He cried.
"None need, you need help and I am willing to help." He reassured the Pheasant.
Happy the Pheasant got up. "How can I repay you?"
"None is needed, but if you really wish to then when some one else need it help them." The Fox told his new house guest.
Ms. Phoenix pushed me a little with her beak.
"Oh, you're wondering if there are really like that in my world." I asked her.
Ms. Phoenix nodded.
"No, animals are not like that. They are not sentient but this is a fable my Great Uncle use to tell me and my brother when he baby-sat us." I looked at the polished marble floor. "He passed away fifteen years ago. I miss him a lot, he was a good man."
Ms. Phoenix pushed me in the cheek with her beak.
"Right, I guess you want to hear the story." So I started again.
The Pheasant found out that his family would be there for him in a fortnight and the fox was very happy to have him there. The Pheasant was a good house guest. He was more than willing to help the Fox around the house with any task he could.
They eat their meals together but not in silence. They talked about many things and soon the conversations turned to what the most wish for. "I wish to be a part of high society." The Fox stated.
"Why?" The Pheasant asked. "You are much better than many I've seen in High society."
"I guess that is true my friend but unlike most that wanted to join high society I wanted to join so that I can help other. I wished to become a real pillar of the community.” He told the Pheasant.
“Admirable Goal but you can still help other even if you are not apart of High society. Just like you are now.”
“True, but I can help more with other’s help. That’s all I really want.” The Fox sighed.
“Then what is stopping you?” The Pheasant asked.
“You need a introduction and the only one that can do that is The Crane and he is very particular about things.”
“Well I wish you luck with that.”
“What is your dream?” The Fox asked.
“I do not know,” He answered. “I guess I have time to think of it now.”
“Everyone needs to have a dream and have the ability to walk towards it.”
And so the two worked and ate dinner together enjoying each other's company.
They were becoming good friends.
I started to walk around the throne room trying to remember the rest of the story. “My Great Uncle use to tell me this story when he watched after my brother and me.” I looked at Ms. Phoenix.
She only chortled at me.
“He was a good man,” I told her.
She looked at me.
“He was a veteran of a war, not sure which one, he had retired form a successful business, that he started. He had a family, grand kids, great grand kids and all that stuff.”
Ms. Phoenix leaned closer to me made a low chirp.
I smiled as I remembered him.The funny hunched over man that reminded me sort of like Stan Lee. “He treated us like we were his only grand kids, he was always happy to see us and teach us. I just wish I could remember the rest of the story.”
Ms. Phoenix tapped my head with one of her wings. It was like she was saying. “Just relax and you’ll get it.”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “I think I remember how it went.”
Near the end of the Fortnight the Pheasant came running up to the Fox. “Good friend Fox,” The Pheasant was existed. “My family have sent word, they will be here on Friday, they want you to have dinner with us. To reward you for your kindness.”
“I told you it was not need.”
“Oh, but they instead on it.” The Pheasant said.
The Fox smiled. “Very well my friend, but while I am thinking of dinner I need to go to the market and pick some food up.”
Later that night the Fox was shopping alone. Walking down the street the. “Help! Help! Oh, some one help.” A voice called for help.
The Fox rushed to the aide of the voice’s owner. He quickly dispatched the and sent the packing. The Fox found soon found the one calling for help was no other then the Crane. His fine suit was torn and dirty, much like it’s owner.
“Thank you,” The bird gasped. “Those ruffians thrashed me greatly. I am a very important person you know.”
The Fox helped the Crane up. “I am glad that I was here to help.”
The Crane gave the Fox a smile. “Such a fine law abiding young man, say do you have any plans for tonight? I would live to treat you to dinner.”
Just as the Fox dream he was given a golden opportunity but then he remembered the Pheasant. “I would hate to turn you down good Crane but...”
The Crane saw the Fox’s groceries. “Ah yes, You just picked up those groceries and don’t want them to go to waste.” The Crane said waving his feathery hand at him.
“Well sir...” The Fox said.
“Ah yes, Say no more, why don’t you go home and put them away. You can come to my dinner party this Friday,” The Crane pulled a pen and paper and scribbled something down on it he passed it to the Fox. “This is the address, I do hope to see you.”
Ms. Phoenix broke in and gave me a little chirp.
I smiled. “I guess he does have a big decision to make.” I joked.
Ms Phoenix seemed to give me a smile. She made a slight rumble in her throat.
“Just so you know he made the wrong one, at least in this humble man’s opinion. Because when Friday came and after he saw the Pheasant off to meet his family. The Fox went to his to the Address the Crane gave him. But it did not go the way he planned,” I smiled. “In more way than one Ms. Phoenix.”
The Fox sat at the Crane’s luxurious table and with all the other guest. It was certainly not like dinners he was use to. Everyone sat at the elongated table the Crane at the head. They ate not form normal plates but long neck bottles with deep reservoirs. They were perfect for the Crane to eat from but none of his other guest. As the other guest watched the Crane eat alone, He would talk about this and that the guest would only nodded and murmured in agreement. The Fox was not happy, he know high society parties would have some boring aspects to them but this was unbearable. He could not eat, he could not talk to his host, he could not talk to the guest. The Fox kept thinking about the talks he had the Pheasant and the good time he had. It was then the Fox realized that he made a mistake.
He carefully stood up from the table. “I am sorry Crane, it has been a marvelous party but I must be going.” He apologized.
“Going, why would you be going? What is more important than this?” The Crane asked.
“Well I had an a previous dinner date with a good friend. But seeing as you are so important I did not want to make you think I was not anything but gracious so I had to come even for a little bit but I must go, thank you again.” The Fox left.
He went to the park hoping that the Pheasant would be there but sadly he was not. The Fox sat down on the bench and thought about his mistake. How could I turn down a friend, now I lost him forever. The Fox thought.
Just then the Pheasant came running up to him. “Fox, I am glad you are here I was worried I was late.”
The Fox smiled. “I thought I was late.”
The Pheasant smiled back. “Then lets here no more of this and now it is time for you to meet my family.”
It was to the Fox’s amazement that the Pheasant what he appeared to be. When he met the Pheasant's family they were very wealthy.
“Brother! Why are you dressed in those cloths?” The Pheasant’s sister said to him.
“I had to My friend the Fox might not have recognized me any other way.” He told her.
“Well get dressed mother and father want to see him.” She told her brother.
The Fox was led to a parlor where an elder Pheasants were waiting. “Fox, our son has told us much about you.” The Pheasant’s father said shaking the Fox’s hand.
“Yes, thank you for helping our son. He told us you wish to join High Society.” The Pheasant’s Mother said.
“True Mrs. Pheasant but not for the reason you think.” The Fox started.
“Oh, we know why you want to join and it just so happens that I could use a fellow like you to help me with my charity. What do you say?” The Pheasant’s father said.
“Thank you very much sir.” The Fox said shaking his hand.
And so the Fox’s dream came true and he not only became a pillar in his communities but many others and all thanks to his friend the Pheasant family.
What happened to the Crane? Well he fell on hard time and soon he lost everything. Alone and miserable on the street the Crane felt alone with no one. That is when a familiar hand reached out, it was the Fox.
“Why?,” The Crane asked. “Why are you helping me?”
“Well that is simple, That’s what you do for a friend. You help them up when they are down. I am more than happy to help you, come along. You can stay with me until you get on your feet.” The Fox smile at the Crane.
“Thank you friend.” The Crane told the Fox with a smile and the two walk home.
The story was done and I felt better Ms. Phoenix was happy too. “Thank you very much for being her to here my story Ms. Phoenix. I feel much better.”
Ms. Phoenix chirped at me and rubbed against my cheek.
“At least I have one friend here.” I smiled.
Ms. Phoenix sat on my shoulder and she rubbed my cheek. I had told her a story and I was feeling better.
“Interesting." A singsong voice projected into the room.
Author's Note
I do not own the right to My Little Pony; Friendship is Magic, it is the property of Hasbro. The story were also inspired a Story that was told to me by a great uncle that is no longer here. I this is my attempt to make sure a piece of him will be around still.
