It Came From The Sky

After what felt like an eternity, Phoenix began slowly opening his eyes, but was immediately suprised. When he saw nothing but darkness. Phoenix looked around and became very worried and concerned that he was standing in endless darkness.

I guess this is it then. At least I went out helping save many lives, Phoenix thought as he smiled to himself.

"You're not dead, well, not yet anyway," the cloaked pony from earlier said as it appeared behind Phoenix.

"You again, where am I and who are you?"

"To answer your first question, this place has been called many things; by many ponies. But the one I think best describes this place is the void. So, we'll go with that."

"Okay, why am I here then?"

"You're here because both life and death can't claim ownership of you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Think of it as a game of tug of war. With life and death on either side, and you being in the middle. But you're stuck in the middle until one side wins."

"Oookaaay, so what do I do while I'm waiting?"

"I dunno...got any cards?"

Meanwhile in Ponyville

"How is he doing, doctor?" A tall white alicorn said to a brown unicorn stallion.

"Well, to be honest princess, we don't know. Shortly after you brought him here, there was a bright light. And now when we try and get any of our equipment near him, it either melts or bursts into flames."

He must of summonded his barrier, Celestia thought. "Oh, I see. Well, keep me updated, I need to speak to this stallion. Are the girls still with him?"

"They all left a while ago, except for two."

"Thank you doctor," Celestia said as she walked past the doctor towards the room Phoenix was in.

As Celestia walked into the room she saw Twilight sitting in a corner surrounded by a few piles of books, and Rainbow Dash sleeping in a chair not far from the bed Phoenix was in. Celestia walked up to the many books around Twilight and began levataing a few towards her. The books she levitated were all medical and biology books, and as Celestia saw this it brought a smile to her face.

"Have you tried looking at medical spells yet, Twilight?" The princess said softly.

When Twilight heard the Princess, she jumped and threw the book she was reading to her side; hitting Rainbow Dash in the face.

"Princess! I thought you and your sister left for Canterlot yesterday!"

"What did you do that for, egghead!" Rainbow Dash shounted.

"Oh, sorry Rainbow," Twilight replied sheepishly.

"It's alright. Oh, hey Princess," Rainbow Dash said casually.

"Good morning my little ponies, where are the others?"

Rainbow started streching. "Applejack's got some applebucking to do. Rarity's got some outfits to finish. Fluttershy's got to look after her animals, and Pinkie needs to help the cakes at Sugar Cube Corner," Rainbow Dash listed.

"I see, do you not need to work?"

"I took a day off."

"Princess, what did you suggest to me?" Twilight interrupted.

"Books on medical spells, but I don't think any of our spells will work on a fireblood," The princess stated sadly.

As Twilight and Rainbow heard Celestia say the word "fireblood," they both looked at each; wide eyed and smiling at each other.

"Princess, what's a fireblood?" Twilight asked.

Celestia walked to the window, clossing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

"I don't know much, but what I do know is that the firebloods were a mighty race of ponyies that had the ability to control fire. It was my sister who would talk to and meet the firebloods, I only met one fireblood before they died out," Celestia said flatly.

"How come I've never come across them in any books before?" Twilight asked.

"If you would like to learn more about the firebloods, you should ask my sister. Or Phoenix when he wakes up, now if you'll excuse me; I have to go," Celestia said before teleporting away.

As Twilight saw Celestia teleport away, she grabbed her saddlebag and left the room while Rainbow Dash walked to the window Celestia was at. But when she got there, she was suprised when she saw a few drops of water on the sill.

Was Celestia crying? Rainbow Dash asked herself.

Back in the void

"Alright, one more time, how am I alive but dead at the same time?" Phoenix asked the cloaked pony.

"For the last time, your Element of Harmony is keeping you alive by acting as an anchor to the living world," the cloaked pony said and rubbed it's temples.

"Okay, but you still haven't told me who you are yet."

"I am someone you once knew, I guess you could say we were best friends at one point."

"Then why don't I remember you, if we were best friends?"

"You did it to protect yourself."

"What do you mean?"

"What do you plan on doing if you get to live Phoenix?" The cloaked pony asked while looking away.

"Why must you always avoid the questions I need most?"

"To protect you."

"WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN!?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't explain this to you. Not until you remember," The pony replied before disapearing.

Back at the hospital

Thirty minutes had past since Celestia and Twilight had left Phoenix's room, and Rainbow Dash still hadn't left. But during these thirty minutes, Rainbow Dash had been trying to piece together what little information she had about Phoenix; but had come up with no answers to her questions yet.

"You're definitely representing your element, Rainbow Dash," a light blue alicorn said while standing at the doorway.

"Huh? Oh, hey Luna," Rainbow said.

"Strange, you do not fear us like the others who coward when we walked in here."

"Well, me and friends did kick your flank last night," Rainbow Dash stated proudly.

Luna rolled her eyes at the statement before speaking again.

"How is he?" Luna said quietly.

"No pony knows, but they're assuming fine."

"Good, where are the others?"

"They all had important stuff to do."

"We see."

There was a long pause after Luna spoke, both ponies unsure what to say.

"Luna, what's a fireblood?" Rainbow asked, breaking the silence.

"What makes you think we know?"

"Your sister said you used to speak to the firebloods."

"She is correct, but I only spoke to one."

"What was it called?"

Luna moved towards the bed Phoenix was lying in and started stroking his hoof.

"I spoke to a stallion named Phoenix."

"How? You've been on the moon for a thousand years, right?"

"Indeed. Perhaps we can get an explanation when he wakes." As Luna finished, she moved to Phoenix's ear and wispered something to him.

When Luna finished wispering in Phoenix's ear, she teleported away; leaving Rainbow Dash alone once again.

A few hours had passed since Luna had left, and it was starting to get dark outside. Rainbow Dash still hadn't left Phoenix, so one of the nurses decided to ask her to go home.

"Excuse me miss, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave for the night."

"What time is it?" Rainbow Dash asked tiredly.

"Nearly midnight."

When Rainbow Dash heard this, she stood up and walked out the door. The nurse closed it as she left.

Back in the void

Phoenix had been alone in the void for what felt like forever and was starting to feel like he was going crazy. But Phoenix was suddenly startled when the cloaked pony appeared in front of him.

"Your back?" Phoenix asked, suprised.

"Yes, with good and bad news. What do you want to hear first?"

"The good news."

"You might be getting out of here very soon."

"What's the bad news?"

"You need to give a good enough reason why you should get to live."

"Oh, well, I don't know," Phoenix said sadly while rubbing the back of his hoof.

"Really, come on Phoenix!"

"I'm needed for the elements of harmony to work."

The cloaked pony put a hoof to the side of his head, and after a few seconds began shaking it.

Phoenix was begining to panic now, he couldn't think of anything. But suddenly, he heard a voice in his head: wake up Phoenix, your friends need you. As Phoenix heard this voice, he instantly reconised it as being Luna's. He felt stupid for not thinking of his friends.

"My friends need me."

"Good, that's the type of thinking you're going to need."

"So, can I go?"

"Yes Phoenix. Until we meet again," the cloaked pony said as it bowed at Phoenix.

Back at the hospital

Phoenix opened his eyes slowly, and was happy to see furniture around him instead of nothing but darkness. But as he looked towards the door, he saw a white earth pony mare. She was shaking while looking terrified.

"Excuse me, but could I get drink? You have no idea, how long I have been trying to get one."

The mare responded by dropping the tray she had in her mouth and ran out the door, leaving Phoenix confused.

"Is there something on my face?" Phoenix asked aloud while feeling his face.

Phoenix got out of bed, and walked out of his room down a dark corridor, but was stopped when a stallion wearing a blue jacket grabbed his shoulder and tried to stop him.

"Where do you think you're going?" The stallion said aggresively.

"Where ever I want,"

"Sir, I'm going to have ask you to come with me."

Phoenix looked around, but stopped when he saw a sign that said: Hospital. And as he saw that word, he immediatly burst into flames; knocking the stallion back slightly.

"Get away from me you butchers! You're not taking any of my organs!" Phoenix shounted as he flew out the front doors of the hospital and into the night sky.

Phoenix flew towards Ponyville as fast as he could, but was having some difficulty because of how dark it was.

Whoever sent me to a hospital is getting there coat burned off when I find them, Phoenix thought angrily.

Phoenix landed in Ponyville by a well, and as he looked around, he noticed a big building that looked very out of place. He walked up to the building and saw a sign next to the door that read: "The Drunken Berry Inn."

I wonder if Berry can offer me a place for the night? And maybe a drink too if i'm lucky, Phoenix thought to himself as he walked in.

As Phoenix walked in, he saw that the building was completely empty, except for Berry who was drying some glasses. But once she saw Phoenix, Berry dropped the glass she was drying; letting it smash on the ground.

"You're supposed to be dead!" Berry said, wide eyed.

"Who told you that?" Phoenix asked as he sat down on one of the stools by the counter Berry was at.

"Everyone! They all said you died saving Ponyville!"

"Well I didn't, but I did come close."

"Where have you been?"

"The hospital, how long has it been?"

"A day"

"That's not a bad time for nearly dying, could I get a drink?"

"Huh? Oh Yeah, of course."

"Do my friends think i'm dead?" Phoenix asked worryingly.

"I don't know, maybe," Berry answered as she gave Phoenix a drink.

"Would you mind if I stayed here for the night?" Phoenix asked as he finished his drink.

"I'll let you stay for a few days, but after that you're gonna have to pay me."

"Understood. So, were am I sleeping?"

"This way," Berry said as she walked towards a staircase.

As both ponies reached the top of the spiral staircase, Berry began walking up to the first room on the left in the corridor they were in.

"Alright, this is your room, do you have any questions?" Berry asked as she handed Phoenix a key.

"Yes, were is your toilet?"

"Downstairs."

"Alright then, see you in the morning Berry," Phoenix said as he walked into his room.

The room was quite small, but not small enough to feel cramped. It only held a few pieces of furniture that included a wardrobe, a small desk and a bed. Phoenix began walking to the small window next to his bed, and stared out towards the night sky, and after a few minutes he noticed a pegasus sitting on a cloud looking sad.

Looks like Ponyville has a night owl, I wonder who it is. Phoenix thought as he walked to his bed and tucked himself in.

But as Phoenix clossed his eyes, he falied to notice that he wasn't alone in his room. "Good night Phoenix, please try to remember me," the cloaked pony said before dissapearing from sight.