The Friend They Lost

Celestia looked at Luna and back at him, "Do you have family?" She asked

"Haha, well I count her as family." Whistling a small tune, and waiting for a moment, they heard a bird calling back. Then diving from the sky a medium sized phoenix flew above their heads and landed on the boys shoulder with a few flaps.

"Is that..."

"A PHOENIX?!" The sisters said together.

"Uhm. Yes? I thought there was lots of them here." He sounded confused as if finding a flaming bird of legend was common.

"Only if you're a dragon!" Luna shouted astonished.

"What?"

"Luna means that dragons live as long as phoenixes, they're legendary! They're practically eternal!"

Starring at the bird on his shoulder with a strange stare, he shrugged. "She isn't THAT special."

The phoenix screeched and sparks flew off its feathers, starting tiny ember fires on the shoulder of his "shirt".

"OKAY, OKAY! SPECIAL BIRD. ETERNAL LEGEND!" He yelled, running around and rolling to put out the fires. Flapping just above him and perching on Celestia's horn, looking at him proudly, she called out.

"Sure, take her side 'cause she called you pretty and legendary. Don't thank the one who feeds you." He mumbled, standing up.

"R-really? Are you sure, because father was once almost burned alive by a family he tried saving. He rescued their nests, but they attacked..." she said, uneasy.

"She's as calm as a fly." Sticking a finger close to her beak, he added, "Just hates me is all."

Smiling at him, Celestia nudged Luna. "Mother and father will love him." Luna nodded excitedly.

"What was that?"

"Don't worry about it, lets get you some food." She told him happily.

Celestia started walking away but Luna took a step and whined. "Ow, ow, ow!" She lifted her hoof and held it closer.

"Are you okay Luna?" The concerned elder sister asked.

"I-it's my ankle.. I think it's sprained." Placing it down and putting some weight on it she picked it up again.

"Hurts that much?" Taking a knee to the ground, the young boy lifted Luna onto his back before either could protest.

"W-what are you doing?" The blue alicorn asked.

"Well," he started, standing up. "We can't have a princess like you walking on it, can we?" He turned and smiled at her, which only made Luna stick her face in his back.

"Hehehe, looks like Luna made a new friend." Celestia giggled, trotting off down the trail and trees.

Following quickly, he laughed and caught up with her, "So you two are really princesses?" He questioned.

"Yep! Our parents are the rulers of Equis. My father, King Eternia rules the night and commands the royal army while our mother, Queen Galaxia rules the day and handles the nations co-existing and future relations."

"Wow... I never thought I lived in a place that was so, populized!" He said, shocked.

"Father raises the moon and is in charge of creating all the planet's. Mother raises the sun and is in charge of creating stars and life... Tia takes over for mother and-"

"-And you take over for your dad. Raising the moon at night?" He finished for her.

Stuffing her face directly into his back she just went, "Mhm." Then went silent.

"Haha, I was wrong. I think father might not like you as much." She held a hoof to her mouth.

"What, why?" He asked a little scared.

"You're going to steal all of Luna's attention, hehe."

Grinning to himself he bumped her side, causing her to look. Taking a small pouch from his pocket, he took out a few rather large seeds. "You wanna feed her?" He asked.

Celestia looked giddy, "Oh could I? I've never fed one before!" Sticking out her wing and holding it out, he got the idea and placed them on her wing tips.

Quickly turning her head, the phoenix licked it's beak and watched intently.

"So what do I do?"

"Haha, she's a tough one. Never liked beak feeding. Here," He picked one out of the pouch and flicked it into the air with his thumb.

Screeching and flaring her wings, she shot through the air and caught the seed in her beak, chomping down strongly.

"Oh wow! She's so fast, her jaws are so powerful. She was a flash and it was gone!" Celestia's eyes were sparkling, she was mesmerized by the phoenixes beauty and grace.

"Oh yeah. She's a natural born killer alright." He stated proudly.

The rest of the way over the small hills and shrubbery, Celestia was flinging bird seeds up for her phoenix friend to eat.

"Don't give them all to her, those are hard to find and she loves them."

Tossing back the pouch and smiling she thanked him, "That was so cool, I can't believe I really just did that! What's her name?"

"I never really thought of one. I just got used to her calls so I never had to name her." Looking at the sun filly he could see her slightly downtrodden. "You're more than welcome to take a crack at it though. She might like it."

Smiling brightly she squee'd and did a small dance. "Are you sure? You don't want to?"

"Go ahead, after having her this long, she deserves one."

Nodding to him, she thought while they reached the tree lines opening. "How about... Flare?" The bird screamed and bent upside down, pecking her muzzle. "Take that as a no.. Hmm, Luna; remember mother's timber wolf? What was her name?"

"Da..bu..t." She mumbled out.

"What was that, future raiser of the moon?" He egged her on.

"Day.. Burst.." Luna yelled from his back and through her hooves.

"That's it! How would you like Day Burst?" She asked the phoenix. She Flared her wings and let flames fly off. "Okay, I'm sorry!" She bent down, looking at the young boy holding her wounded sister with such care, she smiled with such deep happiness; she felt warm inside.

"Give up, Celestia? Haha" He laughed.

"...Philomena..." she said suddenly.

C'awing happily and turning her heat down, Philomena rubbed her cheek against Celestia's.

"You just meet her and she only gets a peck? Where's your loyalty." He laughed.

Celestia giggled and moved her mane out of her eyes to look over the meadow through the trees.

"Mother!" She yelled happily, running through the bushes and jumping, fluttering her wings to get a little air until she was in her fathers hold.

"What's gotten you so excited, Celestia?" Eternia asked, chuckling and putting her down.

"Oh father, mother, Luna and I met somepony!" They exchanged glances and looked back at her.

"Who?" The parents said in unison.

She opened her mouth to speak but realized she never asked his name. "Uhmm... I actually don't know, haha." She rubbed the back of her head and smiled sheepishly.

"I don't exactly have one, you're majesties." The boy interrupted as he walked up to the blanket and sat the tired princess down on it. Slowly laying her on her side, he ripped a tiny piece of his shorts and tied it around her ankle.

They stared at each other confused to the highest degree but not upset. "Then what shall we call you?"