Like only the gods can do
It’s been a while since the last time I could feel the warmth of the summer breeze touch my skin and what a feeling it was. Normally my thick coat stopped me from ever being able to feel such a soft wind. But as the years went on I started to loss my feathers leafing more and more of my skin exposed. Everyone morning getting a little bit older and losing a little more. But today would be different, because today was the day of my rebirth. I could feel my last feather fall as I started to close my eyes and let the fire spread over my body consuming me in its warmth. It was not painful, in fact I have been looking forward to this for the past couple of weeks. I hated looking and feeling like a rotting chicken. The fire continued to spread until eventually I was nothing but Ashe.
Finally as the fire died down, I stood up out of the ashes and stretched my newly formed wings. I will not lie to fill the figure of youth restored to this once old phoenix was quite a delight. To be able to spread my wings and soar through the air was something that I missed terrible as I started to age. I glanced over my new wings to make sure everything was restored property. All my feathers lined up perfectly each one a deep red that gradually turned gold with just a hint of gray at each tip.
This is the first time I ever had another color in my wings, especially gray. But when you have been around as long as I have I guess the years start to catch up to you, Regardless of immortality.
I looked up at the sky that only the god of the sun could produce and realized how long it’s true been. Perhaps today I should go visit my family, it’s been awhile since the last time I’ve been able to see them. Especially my daughter who now resides with the sun god herself.
With the newly found favor of life I walk to the edge of my nest and leap into the air to make my way to the castle in Canterlot. It’s not too far from my home in the forest, one of the only places the ponies haven’t taken over and changed.
It never ceases to amaze me how so many of my family has ended up living side by side with these ponies. I mean it’s not like their a disheveled bunch, at least not like those diamond dogs. But it is rather strange these ponies. They seem to cover every track of life from growing the many plants that decorate the ground beneath me to controlling the weather and skies that I’m so fond of.
My daughter, Philomena even assures me that there a grand batch to play with. Though, to be fair, she always did have a bit of a mischievous streak about her. so she could just like the way the run around trying to catch her. Even when she was just a small check she would often fly down to the nearby town and let the younger fillies try to catch her. She would never let them get to close, just enough to make them think they had a chance before she flow away. To think that now she lives with the one being that’s more internal than we are.
Finally a beautiful white stone city comes into view and I can’t help but be amazed at the site. It looks as if the entire city was carved out the side of the mountain that it’s placed upon. Even from here I was in the skis over the city I could tell that every building, every stone of the entire city was made with the utmost brilliance of craftsmanship.
This serves as a reminder to me and to all those who live in the surrounding wilderness just how powerful these ponies can be. They have accomplished what no other creature code. They have been able to master the varying world that they live in and changed it to suit their needs.
No land that I know of has stayed the same after ponies arrived. Other than my home forest that is. But even that has started to tame. The ponies have a knack for that, they tame the world around them and allow the rest of us to live in it alongside them as long as we show them the proper respect.
I remember witnessing a hydra wander into one of their settlements once. No doubt thinking that it would receive an easy meal. I just sat back and watch as some ponies run around screaming, When suddenly several Pegasie in glimmering golden armor started to fly around the hydra in an attempts to confuse the best. while groups of unicorns started to cast a variety of magical spells. It wasn’t long before the hydra was sent back into the forest that we call home with several new scars for his efforts.
As I fly over the city I see some of the same armored ponies through the streets. You wouldn’t know it by looking at them but they really do pride themselves on their power. From what I have seen over the years they even tend to make the most powerful ponies there leaders. Whether that power be by their own strength or just a great deal of influence. They always look to the strongest of them for guidance.
As I approached the castle I went up to one of the balconies that I knew was just outside the room where my daughter lived. I landed by the windowsill and looked in to see my daughter sitting on a perch. Her head tucked beneath her wing as she slumbered.
It wasn’t long before I noticed the sun god herself sitting at a nearby desk. Her attention on papers that seemed to be littered everywhere as she levitated a quill over the ones closest to her.
She seems to radiate with all the brilliance of the sun itself, a life giving powers that is warm and inviting. Yet any creature that has flown too close to the sun is well aware of the feeling of warmth and joy that you get Only to be reminded of its power and danger as it burns their wings sending them plummeting to the harsh cold ground below. Everyone know of her, and her soft kind voice. But there’s no doubt about it, she is a god in every sense, and when crossed would rain down the power of the sun on anything that would dare attack her ponies.
Seeing that my daughter is currently sleeping I turn around and take flight once again. I instead decides to head down to one of the small villages near my home to visit the newer additions to our family. I don’t really know him that while to be honest. He’s one of my son’s hatchlings or at least he was before a horde of dragons came. Now I hear he lives in a town called Ponyville with the dragon that saved him.
I lazily let the winds carried me down from the great city to a small settlement near my home. If the rumors are correct then he should be in the new castle which recently appear in the center of the settlement. It isn’t quite like the other castells as this one seems to resemble that of the tree made of crystal. It is strange, but there is plenty of places for me to perch.
Now that I think about it I left my old ashes all over my nest. I have to smile at myself as I realize that doesn’t give me much room to judge another’s home.
As I land on one of the castells many branches I am delighted to see my young grandson playing in the yard with a small purple dragon. Looking down I can tell that the young phoenix can still barely fly. I decide to just sit and watch instead of going in introducing myself. I’ll have time to introduce myself later when he’s older, I mean it’s not like I won’t be around to see him. Just one more advantage of being a phoenix you get to build the strongest bonds. Meanly because you’re one of the only beings that even get to see your great, great grandchildren.
I stand there watching with the contents smile as a small group of ponies come out of the castle. These ponies in particular are no stranger to me. But then again their no stranger to anyone smarter than a bolder. They were the ones that returned the tree of harmony to its full strength.
Every creator in the forest from the largest ursa, to even the smallest star spider could feel when the tree was restored. Filling the forest with its magic and energy. That magic has made the forest far more docile of late.
The ponies who brought the change became infamies for what they did there. So it was a bit of a surprise to see that they were here in this small town.
I watch as one of the once element bearers strolled over to my grandson and his young dragon. The once wielder, a purple alicorn with a six pointed star for a mark. Started to speak with the young dragon and I could barely make out the words she spoke from where I stood.
“What are you doing out here spike? Everypony is inside” said the Alcorn
“Oh, hey twilight I’m teaching peewee how to fly”
I couldn’t help but crunch up my face in confusion at this. Why would one of the former elements treat this dragon this way? She didn’t act like he was a threat, or try and make him do her will, but acted like he was an equal.
“You know he’s a little young to be flying right” twilight replied
“I know, I just don’t want to mess out of being a phoenix” said the young dragon
“Why would he mass out?” asked Twilight
“While I want to teach him what it means to be a pony. But I think it’s also important for him to be a phoenix to” replied spike
Twilight chuckle a little at that before she responded “spike, part of being a pony is learning how to be yourself and loving others for who they are. The best way for him to be a pony is to be the best phoenix he can.”
Interesting, maybe that’s why so many of my family live with these ponies. I always looked at them like strange and powerful creature that our best to not trifle with less doing so would incur their wrath. But it seems that there might be more to them than all powerful gods and world shaping kings. But whatever they may be, as I look down at the young dragon, the former element of magic and my grandson a warmth spreads over me that feels even more renewing then the flames from my rebirth earlier.
I look down on my grandson and quietly say more to myself than anyone else “You will grow to be a fine phoenix”
The little phoenix looks up at me as I spread my wings and take to the air once again. Soring over the houses that line the city street. Some Ponies gather there little ones and start to make their way inside will others meet up with friends to go out for the night.
As I made my way home I noticed the small cottage of the former element of kindness. She was tending do some small field mouse that had injured one of its lags. Will its family waited patiently for the yellow pony to finish.
I watch them as I fly and think to myself. Perhaps I’ll go back to Philomena’s to find out more about these ponies. They are truly fascinating creatures even to one that’s been around for as long as I have. They’re not like anything else I have ever seen in the forest or even out abroad in my travels.
Normal when some creator was stronger, like a manticore, they would often only think of themselves and would attack just about anything. Will thus that where kind and would think of others would be cut down and trampled of they were not always in hiding.
But this ponies where different. They were strong in so many ways but at the same time have compassion for all life. They may tame the world around them but they never destroy it. Instead choosing to live alongside it and all its creators as friends.
But the sun is setting in the horizon and will soon make way for the moon. If memory serves I still need to clean the ashes of mine out of my nest before the sun is completely gone. Ill save that trip for another time for now it’s time to go home.
~~~~><~~~~
How did I make so much ashes? I know that I am larger than most other phoenixes but it’s not like I let myself go this last couple of years. I got home just in time to clean my nest and I settle down for the night. The cold night air cuts through the forest trees making me glad I have all my feathers back to protect myself.
I settle down into my nest as the soft light of the moon stares down upon me. I look up into the sky I love so much to see the fast beauty of the stars dancing in the cosmos.
I love the night. it’s the one thing I think I love more than the feeling of flying through the skis. Because it has found the balance of not yielding in its ways, will being the most exquisite beauty in the world. It’s a balance like only the gods can do.
