It Came From The Sky

As Nightmare Moon continued to laugh at the crowd, a few pegasi guards began flying up to her; only to be sent flying away when the alicorn summoned a thunder cloud to shock the guards. As Phoenix saw the guards be sent across the room, he was about to fly up to Nightmare Moon. But he reconsidered when he saw Applejack give him a death glare that told him to stay in place. When he looked back at Nightmare Moon, she suddenly turned intoa cloud of purple smoke and flew out the entrence. Phoenix looked back around only to see Rainbow Dash escape from Applejack's grip and fly after Nightmare Moon, and Twilight running out the door as well.

"We should go after Twilight and find out what she knows," Phoenix told Applejack.

"Ah agree, a'll go get the others. You go get Rainbow," Applejack said, worry edged in her voice.

Phoenix flew away from the earth pony and out of town hall. He quickly found Rainbow Dash flying in place outside.

"RAINBOW DASH! COME HERE!" Phoenix shouted at the top of his lungs.

The cyan pegasus turned to Phoenix. "We've got to go after her," Rainbow Dash said eagerly.

"No, we need to know what we're going up against first. And I believe Twilight may know more than any of us."

"Then let's go!" Rainbow said as she started flying towards the Ponyville Library.

"Have yah found her yet Phoenix?" The said pony turned to Applejack's voice. He saw Pinkie Pie and the other two ponies he met that night, Rarity and Fluttershy, accompanying her.

"She's heading towards the library."

As Phoenix, finished the girls ran towards the library; but when Phoenix was about to go after them, he noticed a pony wearing a dark black cloak. The pony was completely covered with the cloak. The pony vanished as soon as Phoenix blinked, leaving him slightly nervous and concerned.

After a short run across Ponyville, Phoenix had arrived at the library. When he walked through the door, he was immediatly crushed as Pinkie came flying backwards towards him.

"Hey Phoenix!" Pinkie said happily to said pony.

"Pinkie...could you get off me...please," Phoenix gasped.

As Pinkie, realised she was sitting on Phoenix, she quickly got off him and helping him up; but before Phoenix could thank Pinkie, Twilight started speaking.

"There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known. Kindness, laughter, generosity, honesty and loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery."

As Twilight continued to talk, Phoenix walked over to Applejack to find out what was going on.

"Psst! Applejack! What's she talking about?" Phoenix wisppered.

"The elements of harmony. Weren't y'all listening?"

"Yeah, I got that. but what are they?"

"All I know is that they might be the only thing that can stop Nightmare Moon."

"There's allways me..." Phoenix muttered under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Let's go find these Helements of Armory."

"It's Elements of Harmony, Phoenix," Applejack said flattly.

"That's what's I said. Now, are you coming or not?" Phoenix said quickly while walking out the door.

"Well, at least we know who isn't going to be honesty," Applejack muttered.

After walking through an empty Ponyville, the group had made it to the entrance of the Everfree Forest. But as they all looked forward, they all stopped in place when they spotted a pony wearing a dark black cloak that covered all the pony.

"Hello...?" Twilight asked nervously.

"I require the presence of Phoenix." The cloaked pony announced in a cold voice that sent a shiver down everponys spine.

"I'm here. What do you want?" Phoenix asked in a voice that sounded more like a demand than a question. He walked in front of the group.

"You six, continue your quest while Phoenix and I have a quick talk."

"Not without Phoenix, creep," Rainbow Dash growled defensively will hovering next to Phoenix.

"It's alright Rainbow, I'll be there to help you girls beat Nightmare Moon. I promise. Now go find the elements," Phoenix said to the six, smiling at them.

"We can't just leave you Phoenix," Rainbow Dash said.

"Yes, you can. Now go save Equestria."

As they all entered the forest, Phoenix's face turned from happy to serious as he looked back towards the cloaked pony.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Phoenix asked sharply.

"I need answers."

"About what?"

"How are you still alive!?"

"What do you mean?"

The cloaked pony began rubbing his temples before speaking again. "I am NOT in the mood to play games with you. Tell me how you surrived the Legion."

When Phoenix heard the word "Legion," it sent a cold shiver down his spine that caused him to tense up. "Are they still alive?" Phoenix asked, slightly nervous.

"I don't know, maybe"

"what do you mean by 'how did I survive?'"

"I don't have much time, so I will make this quick. Tell me what was happening to you before you came here," The cloaked pony said quickly.

"I was in the middle of being stabbed by a legion, then there was a blue light and I was here. Now, what does this hav-"

"That was the day you died Phoenix. Do you see the problem with you standing here?" The cloaked pony interupted in a flat tone.

"So, how am I here then?" Phoenix asked nervously.

"I have no idea, but I could correct the mistake" The cloaked pony said as a scythe appeared beside him." But then again...this is probably the most interesting thing to happen to me in a long time" The pony spoke while scratching its chin.

"What are you going to do then?" Phoenix asked worriedly while staring at the scythe.

"Nothing...I want to see what happens. Now you better run along if you want to catch up with those girls."

"You still haven't answered one of my questions...who are you?"

"You will remember one day Phoenix. Now run, you're needed."

Phoenix was about to speak again, but the cloaked pony vanished from sight; leaving Phoenix frustrated at the lack of answers he got. But also relieved that nothing bad had happened to him.

As Phoenix ran through the dark forest, he began having a harder time seeing what was in front of him the deeper he went. But after just missing many trees, he eventually smashed through the middle of one. Phoenix stood up, grunting in pain as he felt a sharp pain in his side, and looked to his side to see a piece of bark from the tree had just stabbed him. Phoenix began trying to pull it out but stopped when the pain became too much.

I hope the girls arn't too far, Phoenix thought as he began walking forward slowly.

Phoneix continued walking through the forest, the pain in his side only got worse. After a few minutes of walking, Phoenix collapsed were he was standing.

Maybe...this is for the best if I give up here. Those girls deserve better than me anyways. I'm nothing but a broken coward. A few tears escaped Phoenix's eyes.

After what felt like a few seconds, Phoenix quickly opened his eyes when he heard someone scream and saw a bright light in the distance. That must be the girls. Sounds like there in trouble!" As Phoenix tried to move out of the small puddle of blood that had formed around him, he stopped when he felt the pain in his side return. I'm sure they will be fine, right? As Phoenix questioned himself, some old memorys of his came to mind. One were ponys were screaming in pain, begging for help as Phoenix did nothing but watch from a distance. He clossed his eyes quickly as a shiver went down his spine when he remembered this.

*No, I will not stand by and watch as others suffer like last time, Phoenix thought. "No, today I show courage instead of cowardice," he spoke aloud as he stood up and began walking forward. "TODAY I DO WHAT I WAS BORN TO DO!" Phoenix shounted as he looked back at his cutie mark; a flaming shield. He ran ran fowards to were he had seen the light flash.*

After running for about a minute, Phoenix had arrived at an old destroyed castle and looked it over. He suddenly heard the sound of something breaking that came from a tower near him, so he ran in that direction. He groaned when he came across a pair of stairs.

*Whoever invented stairs, I really hate them right now. Phoenix thought while slowly walking up the stairs and placing a hoof on his side.*

When Phoenix reached the top, he saw that the doors were already open and as he looked through, he saw all the girls floating in the air with necklaces around them. Except for Twilight who had a tiara. Phoenix smiled slowly when he saw this.

I guess they didn't need me after all.

But as Phoenix continued to watch, he saw that the light around the girls was becoming dimmer. *That can't be good he thought but began getting worried as the girls fell to the floor; Nightmare Moon laughing at them.*

"Prepare die ponies!" Nightmare Moon said to the girls as she fired a blast of magic at them.

Phoenix saw this and ran towards them while his mane and tail slowly became a flowing fire. When Phoenix reached them, he jumped over them and quickly made a small wall of fire that blocked Nightmare Moon's blast. Which created a loud "bang!" as it hit. The girls opened there eyes, and they were all supprised to see Phoenix; but even more supprised at his mane and tail. One of them was about to speak, but they were cut off by Nightmare Moon's voice.

"A fireblood!? But how is that possible? your kind died out ages ago!"

"I survived and through me, they surrive," Phoenix responded simply.

"You look familiar, fireblood." Nightmare Moon said as she looked over Phoenix, but when she saw his cutie mark, her eyes went wide. "Step aside Phoenix and save yourself. it is what I heard your best at after all."

"Not this time."

"Why would you, of all ponies, risk your life to save these girls?"

"Because, they are my friends. And my friends need me to be brave," Phoenix finished a small ball of fire appeared above him that began moving down to his neck. As it reached his neck, it turned into a necklace just like what most of the girls had. Once the necklace was around Phoenix's neck, all the girls and he began to hover in the air again as the bright light returned. After a few seconds, a fiery rainbow was fired at Nightmare Moon that surrounded her until a bright white light was seen.

The light dissapeared and everyone began getting up, except for Phoenix who continued to lay on the ground. As the girls started to celebrating among themselves, Rainbow Dash looked over and saw Phoenix hadn't gotten up yet. So she walked over to him but gasped when she saw a small puddle of blood around Phoenix.

"PHOENIX! can you hear me?" Rainbow Dash said while shaking him.

"hmm...um yeah...did we get her?" Phoenix said weakly.

"Yeah, we got her. now get up."

"Could you do me a massive favor and pull this out of my side please. I can do the rest like last time."

When Phoenix finished, Rainbow Dash placed both her hooves on the wood, causing Phoenix to flinch. But as she pulled as hard as she could, she barely moved it.

"It won't budge, what should I do Phoenix?" Rainbow Dash asked, panicking slightly.

"I don't know, but I think i'm gonna sleep now" Phoenix said quitely as he passed out, but not before he saw the all girls running towards him and a white light glowing behind them. *I guess it's time, Phoenix thought as single tear escaped his eye.*