It Came From The Sky

Phoenix slowly opened his eyes as he felt the ground he was lying on shaking.

"Stampede!" a mare shounted not far from Phoenix.

Phoenix slowly rolled himself until he was lying on his stomach. As he fully opened his eyes, he looked around he saw that he was lying in the middle of Ponyville by the water fountain with many bottles scattered around him.

How did I get here? And why is the ground shaking? Phoenix thought.

Phoenix walked over to the fountain, and looked at his reflection to see that his coat, mane, and tail were a mess, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Wow, I look worse than yesterday.

Phoenix suddenly heard many ponies cheering as felt the ground stop shaking.

There's one problem gone. I wonder if any of these bottles still have anything left in them, Phoenix thought as he inspected the bottles lying around.

A few hours after the the stampede

Rainbow Dash was flying through Ponyville getting in a quick flight before the celebration Ponyville was having for Applejack. She stopped when she saw Phoenix, lying on the ground next to the water founting, laughing.

"You okay, Phoenix?" Rainbow asked as she cautiously approached said pony.

"Ne'er better lassie," Phoenix said in a strong Scottish accent.

"What happened to you?"

"Ah tried a new bevvy Berry mixed."

"Oookaay. So, why are you speaking weird?"

"Ah dunnae kinn," Phoenix answered as he laughed while Rainbow facehoofed.

"Come on, we better get going before we're late for the celebration."

"Whit celebration lassie?"

"The one for Applejack, and stop calling me 'lassie,'" Rainbow said, irritated.

"Och, whit did she dae?"

"She saved the town from a stapede this morning," Rainbow answered as she lifted Phoenix to his hooves.

"'At explains th' shakin'."

After a slow walk through Ponyville, the pair arrived at town hall to hear Twilight start her speach.

"Welcome, everypony! Today we are here to honor a pony we can always count on to help in matters great and small. A pony whose contributions to-" Twilight said before she was interupted by Rainbow Dash.

"Did you see AppleJack's slick moves out there? What an athlete! This week she's gonna help me with my new flying trick, and I know it's gonna be so awesome." Rainbow said as she pushed her hooves into her face before being shoved to the side by Twilight.

"Exactly. And-" Twilight tried to say, but was cut off by Pinkie Pie.

"This week, I get to run Sugarcube Corner for the first time."

"What does that have to do with Applejack?" Twilight asked.

"Oh. Applejack, one of the best bakers ever, is gonna help me. Applejack makes everything great, so free samples for everypony!" Pinkie said, causing the crowd to cheer.

"Oh-kay, that's great. Now if I could just make a point without being inter-" Twilight said before Fluttershy butted in.

"Twilight?"

"-Rupted" Twilight finished.

"Twilight, I'm sorry, but I just wanted to mention that Applejack is also helping me this week with the official bunny census. It's were we count up all the new baby bunnies that were born this season. She's gonna help me gather them all using her wonder herding skills," Fluttershy finished. She, Pinkie, and Rainbow returned to the crowd after.

"Anyone else?" Twilight asked, annoyed.

"Ah can probably hink ay somethin' tae say," Phoenix said as he walked up to the podium. "Noo, wit was it Applejack did again Magic Butt?"

"What did you just call me?" Twilight said.

"Ah called ye Magic Butt, hae ye got a problem wi' 'at?"

"Why would you call me that? And why are you speaking Scottish?"

"Ah called ye magic butt coz yer butt is magical." As Phoenix finished, some of the crowd giggled quietly, including Rainbow who was holding her muzzle shut.

"Phoenix, off the stage now!" Twilight demanded, as her cheecks got redder by the second.

"Whit ur aw ay ye laughin' abit? Hae ye nae looked at thes mare's flenk afair?"

The giggling in the crowd only got worse as Phoenix finished. As Phoenix heard the crowd he walked up to Twilight and pointed at her flank.

"Swatch at thes an' teel me thes isnae magical."

Those in the crowd who were holding back there laughter let it all out, as Phoenix pointed at Twilight. Deciding she wasn't having any more of this, Twilight shoved Phoenix of the stage knocking him out as he fell face first into the ground.

After a few minutes Phoenix began to wake up to the sound of Twilight talking.

"Was it just me, or did Applejack seem a little-" Phoenix barely heard Twilight say as he heard a constant rining in his ears.

Ow, it feels like I've been kicked in the back of the head.

"Tired?" Rainbow asked Twilight.

"Dizzy?" Fluttershy said.

"Messy? Well, did you see her mane?" Rarity said.

"She seemed fine to me. Woo! Woo!" Pinkie said.

"Would who ever is wooing please, SHUT UP!" Phoenix shouted as he slowly got up.

"Sorry," Pinkie whispered sadly.

Twilight walked up to Phoenix and slapped him, hard.

"Ow! What was that for Twilight?" Phoenix asked as he rubbed his cheek.

"That was for embarrassing me in front of everypony," Twilight said, angrily, as she walked away.

"Can somepony please explain what I missed?" Phoenix asked after a few seconds.

"What's the last thing you remember?" Rainbow asked.

"Waking up next to a fountain when the ground was shaking, what was happening then by the way?"

"There was a stampede, but Applejack stopped it before anypony got hurt." Rainbow told Phoenix as everypony walked away from town hall.

"Oh, okay then, but how did I get to the town hall?"

"You walked here with me."

"Okay, how did I end up lying here on the ground?"

"Well during your eh...speech to Ponyville about Twilight, she shoved you of the stage.

"Are you sure she didn't kick me off? I'm guessing that I owe her an apology for whatever I said," Phoenix decided as Rainbow nodded in agreement. "Well, I guess i'll go over to the library now, see you around Rainbow. Phoenix said as he walked in the direction of the library.

After a slow walk through Ponyville, Phoenix arrived at the library and knocked on the door. After a few seconds, Spike opened the door.

"Can I help you?" Spike said, forcing himself to be polite.

"Is Twilight home? I need to speak to her."

Spike turned away from Phoenix and shouted inside the library for Twilight.

"Tell him to come up to the balcony if he wants to talk!" Twilight shouted.

Spike opened the door, letting Phoenix inside and pointed to the stairs leading to the balcony. As Phoenix reached the top of the stairs he saw Twilight sitting on the balcony with a few books around her.

"What do want Phoenix?" Twilight said as she flipped a page of the book she was reading.

"I came to apologize, and to ask what I did."

"You don't remember?"

"Nope, all I know is what Rainbow told me after you left."

"What did she tell you?"

"She said I gave a speech to Ponyville about you."

"Yes, more specifically about how magical my butt apparently is," Twilight said as she continued to read her book.

"Oh, well I do apologize for that"

"It's all right, you sounded drunk," Twilight said as she sighed.

"What does drunk mean?"

"How can you not know what drunk mea-" Twilight started, but was interrupted when both ponies heard Rainbow Dash screaming as she crashed into Twilight's balcony.

"Can I help you?" Twilight asked, slightly annoyed.

"I think somepony else needs your help," Rainbow answered.

"Applejack?" Twilight asked flatly.

"Yep," Rainbow replied before she passed out.

"Phoenix, could you help Rainbow while I go have a word with Applejack?"

"Sure."

Phoenix walked over to railing of the balcony, and lifted Rainbow onto his back. With Rainbow securely on Phoenix's back, he walked down the stairs of the library into the main room.

"What happened Phoenix?" Spike asked, concerned.

"Rainbow crashed into the balcony."

"Is she alright?"

"Yes."

"Should we get help?"

"Have you not got something to do instead of pestering me, boy?" Phoenix asked, irritated.

Spike gave Phoenix a death glare before walking away.

I've forgotten how annoying dragons can be, Phoenix thought as he placed Rainbow on one of the sofas in the library.

After waiting a few minutes for Rainbow to wake up, Phoenix decided to look at the many bookshelves around library.

Huh, it looks like these ponies did a better job at preserving important information than my people did, although I do wonder how much of this information is valid, or complete? Phoenix pulled out a random book from a bookshelf that read "Dragons."Interesting, these ponies have little to no knowlage of dragons, Phoenix thought after he quickly flipped through the book. Phoenix continued looking through the many books in the library until he heard Rainbow groan behind him.

"Uuuh, where am I?" Rainbow asked confused.

"Inside Twilight's library," Phoenix said as he walked towards Rainbow.

"Oh yeah. I crashed into the balcony, didn't I."

"Yes, yes you did."

"How long was I out?"

"A few hours."

As Phoenix answered Rainbow, both ponies fell silent as the ground began shaking.

"Again?" Phoenix asked, as Rainbow flew out the library.

"STAMPEDE!" Rainbow shouted after she saw something in the distance coming towards Ponyville.

Phoenix facehoofed when he saw that the stampede was a large group of bunnies.

This is just embarrassing. Is this really what counts for panic now a days, I bet these ponies wouldn't last a minute in my time, Phoenix thought as rubbed his face.

A few minutes after the stampede finished, Twilight walked into town.

"The horror, the horror," a very pale yellow earth pony mare said.

"It was awful," a grayish raspberry earth pony mare said.

"A disaster. A horrible, horrible disaster," a pale magenta earth pony mare said.

"I don't get it." Twilight said.

Neither do I, Phoenix thought as he flew over to Fluttershy.

"Oh my. Oh...please stop, little bunnies. Oh no! Please, let's go home. Oh my goodness," Fluttershy fretted as she tried to gather up the bunnies around Ponyville.

"Have you got this?" Phoenix asked.

Fluttershy nodded as she ran after the many bunnies. Phoenix looked towards Twilight, and saw that she walking away. He flew after her.

"Twilight wait up."

"What do you want Phoenix?" Twilight asked as she continued walking.

"I want to know what's going on."

"It's Applejack, she wont stop applebucking to rest, and as you can see it's causing problems for everpony."

"Have you tried reasoning with her?"

"Of course I have!

"Whoa, calm down."

"Sorry. Could you please use that calming wave thing on her like you did to me last night?"

"If I did, it would kill me"

"How would it kill you?"

"The more magic I use, the weaker I become. it would be too much for me."

"Wait, how can you use mag-" Twilight started before she was cutt of once again.

"Ask your questions later, lets help Applejack first," Phoenix said as ran forward a few steps before stopping and turning around. "Where does Applejack live?"

"This way," Twilight said as she ran towards Sweet Apple Acres.

"Must...keep...buckin'...just a few more. Must finish harvestin'," Apple said as she bucked a tree.

"All right, Applejack. Your applebucking hasn't just caused you problems, it's over-propelled pegasus', practically poisoned plenty of ponies, and terrorized bushels of brand new bouncing baby bunnies. I don't care what you say, you. Need. Help," Twilight said.

"Wait, she did what?" Phoenix asked, confused.

"Ha! No, I don't. Look, I did it. I harvested the entire Sweet Apple Acres without your help. How d'ya like them apples?" Applejack said, proudly.

"Um, how do you like them apples?" a big red stallion said as he pointed at the many apple trees still to be harvested.

"Where'd all the apple...?" Applejack mumbled as she fainted.

"Applejack, Applejack," Twilight said as she stood over Applejack.

"Huh?" Applejack said as she opened her eyes.

"Oh, good, you're okay. Now Applejack, I completely respect the Apple Family ways. You're always there to help anypony in need, so maybe you can put a little of your stubborn pride aside and allow your friends to help you."

Applejack looked at the trees that needed to be harvested, and gulped at the sight. "Okay, Twilight."

"I am not taking "no" for an answer--what?" Twilight answered suprised.

"Yes, Twilight. Yes, please. I could really use your help," Applejack begged.

"I'll go get the others," Phoeni said as he flew off into town.

As Phoenix arrived back with the rest of the girls, they all got to work quickly. Phoenix, Rainbow and Twilight helped Applejack buck the apple trees while Fluttershy, Pinkie and Rarity carried the fallen apples away. After a few hours, the group finished and Twilight began writting a letter.

"How's that letter coming along?" Phoenix asked Twilight.

"Pretty good, would you like to hear it?"

"Sure."

"Dear Princess Celestia,

My friend Applejack is the best friend a pony could have, and she's always there to help any pony. The only trouble is, when she needs help, she finds it hard to accept it, so while frienship is about giving of ourselves to friends, it's also about accepting what our friends have to offer.

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

"How about y'all take a little break? I got some fine apple juice waitin' for ya!" Applejack said as passed out her drinks. "Girls, I can't thank you enough for this help. I was acting a bit stubborn."

"A bit?" Twilight said.

"Okay. A mite stubborn, and I'm awful sorry. Now, I know the town gave me the prized pony award, but the real reward is having you six as my friends."

"Phew! That applebucking sure made me hungry," Rainbow said.

"And I've gott he perfect treat," Spike announced as he walked over, holding green muffins.

"Eeew...Spike, I threw those all away. Where'd you get them?" Pinkie asked.

"From the trash."

"EW!" all the girls said at once.

"Just a little nibble? Come on."

"EW! Gross!" all the girls said as they walked away.

Phoenix turned around to where Spike was standing and turned the muffins he was holding into ash. He then walked towards the girls not saying a word to Spike who stood in place looking at the pile of ash.

After saying goodbye to his friends, Phoenix slowly walked through Ponyille thinking to himself.

Well, this was quite the day I hope things calm down tomorrow.

As Phoenix finished his thought, he arrived at the Drunken Berry and walked in. But when he did, he was suprised when he saw Berry sleeping on one of the tables. A key near her head was resting.

I guess I'll lock up tonight, Phoenix thought as he locked the front door and switched off the lights before he walked up to his room. As Phoenix entered his room he looked out his window to see what looked like the pony he saw two nights ago sitting on a cloud.

Just like Fireheart, Phoenix thought as he got into bed with a smile on his face.