"Amber!" Phoenix called.
"I'm just looking Daddy!" Amber returned, her attention fixed on the creature opposite of her from the barrier in front of her. The golden orange unicorn filly couldn't help but wonder about the strange creature outside the barrier.
"Amber Flame! Get away from there now!" Phoenix demanded as he approached his daughter.
"But he's hurt. Look, he's missing a leg." Amber defended.
Phoenix reached Amber and quickly picked her up into his hooves and gently placed her on his back. "Those things don't feel pain, they're evil. All they want is to try to trick you into leaving the city. They will hurt you if you try to help them." Phoenix spoke over his shoulder, his light red mane brushing past amber's muzzle making her sneeze.
"But...." Amber tried holding tighter to her father's yellow fur as he took to the sky.
"Look, sweetie, I'm only looking out for you. The world's not the same." Phoenix returned. There was a moment of silence between the two allowing Phoenix to think of the past once again. The horrible cruel past. He landed near their home gently.
"Daddy?" Amber muttered.
"Yeah sweetheart?" Phoenix replied.
"Are you thinking about mommy again?" Amber asked seeing her father's eye moisten. Phoenix remained silent. Amber hugged his neck trying to make him feel better.
Phoenix dried his eyes. "Is it really that obvious?" Phoenix asked. Amber just smiled. Phoenix could see Lana in Amber's eyes. He really did miss Lana, more than he even let on. Amber was so much like her mother. The green eyes, the warm smile, the beautiful dark blue mane, and most frightening of all, her care for anything living. He felt a slight kick on his back leg and looked down to see Amber looking at him with comical anger.
"You're not supposed to cry daddy!" Amber trailed off and her face softened. "I am."
Amber felt a hoof under her chin guiding her to look up. "Don't worry sweetheart, I'll try my best not to do it again." Phoenix said trying to cheer her up. "C'mon, let's go inside." Opening the door to the small summer home. Phoenix couldn't help but feel relieved that he had purchased this home two years before the incident. Many refugee ponies were stuck living in makeshift tents scattered all about the kingdom. "You hungry?" Phoenix called to Amber after she entered the living room.
"Yeah, what's for dinner?" she called back.
"You know that the carrot fields are all that's left sweetheart." Phoenix re-informed her.
"Oh, right." Amber said quietly.
"Cold, cooked, or fried?" he asked. There was no reply so he assumed she was in her bedroom. He chose just to boil the carrots to spare himself some time. He quickly turned on the burner, filled up a pot of water, collected carrots from the fridge, and began slicing them on the cutting board. Taking a quick look around the kitchen, Phoenix closed all the curtains and locked the door.
“Ahh, so you did remember.” a familiar gruff voice spoke.
“Of course I remembered. Now, did you find any Dranin?” Phoenix asked.
“Why yes, but it was quite hard to get. Some things just aren’t as… available as they used to be. I may have to charge you extra.” Dranin said as he reformed into himself from a garbage can.
“You know what the deal is. I don’t need to explain it to you nor will I allow any modification of the terms.” Phoenix returned angrily.
“Well then, I think I hit a nerve.” Dranin calmly replied.
“Just give it to me.” Phoenix said more softly. Dranin tossed a small paper bag on the table. Phoenix was in the process of checking the bag when the kitchen door opened.
“Want some help daddy?” Amber offered. Her eyes immediately shot to the floor upon realizing who he was speaking to. “Oh, uhh, hi Dranin.” she mumbled.
“Hello little miss fire, and how are you today?” Dranin asked.
“I’m fine.” she replied softly. “I’ll just be in my room if you need me daddy.”
“That’s fine, dinner will be done in a little bit.” after she was gone Phoenix put the pot of water on the burner and gently tossed the carrots in.
“Well?” Dranin uttered. Phoenix sighed and stood in front of the changeling.
“Just do it.” Phoenix said. Just as soon as Phoenix spoke Dranin began to harvest the love inside of Phoenix. He could feel his body grow cold. “One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand.” Phoenix counted before severing Dranin’s connection. “That’s enough.” Phoenix said aloud.
With a disappointed and annoyed look Dranin replied, “Alright, but you’ll need more soon enough.” Dranin changed into a green unicorn with a brown mane. “You’re lucky your daughter’s magic is so powerful. Without her, this nice little pendant would be just another trinket.”
“Yes I know, it allows you to pass through the barrier. Get over it, I was the pony who had her make it in the first place. I think I would know.” Phoenix shot back. “Now go.” Dranin merely grumbled to himself as he left the house to attend to his business. Phoenix returned his attention to the bag. He opened it and grabbed the small glass jar labeled “Incedrin”.
Phoenix realized the steam in the air then and quickly turned around to find the pot boiling over. Phoenix quickly turned off the heat and removed the pot from the burner. He harvested what carrots weren’t burned to the pot and made to plates from it. “Amber, dinners ready.” Phoenix called up the stairs.
“K.” Amber called back. Phoenix reached into a drawer and pulled out a capped needle. Pushing the needle through the rubber cap he filled it to the third tick mark, recapped it, and set it on the table. The door opened again and Amber trotted in with a warm smile on her muzzle. “Mmm, it smells really good.” Phoenix smiled at the compliment as Amber hopped onto her chair.
“Thanks Sweetheart.” Phoenix replied while following her example and sitting at the table. Seeing Amber waiting on him he smiled and said “Dig in.”
Dinner didn’t last too long. Amber stood and collected both her and her father’s plates. She walked over to the sink and began washing the dishes.
“It’s almost time for your medicine sweetheart.” Phoenix said watching the clock next to the cupboards.
“Heh, heh, heh.” Amber laughed leaving Phoenix only confused.
“What?” Phoenix asked.
“You’ve said sweetheart like five times now.” Amber replied still giggling a little.
“Oh, so it’s illegal now is it?” Phoenix teased.
“No? Hey, knock it off.” Amber said realizing what he was teasing her. She placed the dishes in the drying rack and turned around. She walked over to Phoenix and placed her front, left hoof on the table. “I’m ready.” she sighed loudly and looked away. Phoenix uncapped the needle once again and carefully injected the medicine within it into her leg.
“There, all done.” Phoenix reassured her. Amber hugged him and returned to her room without a word. He could hear faint music coming from it. He decided it would probably be time for bed. He wouldn’t have to worry about her medicine for another week. Too many memories came flooding back to Phoenix as he entered his room and examined the many pictures of his wife. “Adeen, I-i’m sorry.” He felt his heart hurt again. Opening a drawer in the bedside table he removed a small bracelet with a red rose pendant clinging to the chains. Holding it in his hooves he laid in his bed and quickly fell asleep.
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”Come on, hurry. We have to go now!” Phoenix yelled. He sprinted to Amber and immediately took her into his hooves. The massive crowd of ponies rushing around in all directions only added to the havok. “Adeen where are you!” he yelled.
”Mommy!” Amber called from his arms. Phoenix heard a faint scream come from a small cave in the mountainside. He immediately took to the sky frightening Amber further. He flew towards the cave faster than he had ever flown before. He neared the cave and saw a shadowy figure leave and disappear into the nearby woods. He landed gently near the opening and looked inside but couldn't see anything.
“RUN!” a blue stallion yelled sprinting out of the cave scaring even Phoenix. He wasn’t deterred however. He entered the cave to find the only thing he could see was darkness. He felt his hoof touch something soft and wet on the cave floor. He dreaded what it must be. “Please don’t be her.” Phoenix whispered to himself.
"Huh?” Amber asked hearing her father say something.
”Uh, do you remember that light spell mommy taught you.” Phoenix asked. Amber shook her head. “I need you to focus and do that one for me ok?” He said nuzzling her neck. Amber closed her eyes and her horn began to glow slightly at first but it grew stronger as she focused harder. Phoenix looked down at the pony beneath him to recognize exactly who it was. “No. Nu-hu-ho!” Phoenix yelled while beginning to sob uncontrollably.
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“No!” Phoenix yelled jumping out of his blankets. He quickly wiped his wet eyes after realizing it was all just another dream. “Dammit!” he said aloud. “Why does it have to hurt so much.” Phoenix stepped out of his bed and began for the door to get something to drink. Stepping into the hallway he heard the music still playing in Amber’s room. Knocking on the door he called to her “Amber, no more music you need to go to sleep.” There was no response from Amber. He knocked again to no avail. Trying the doorknob he found it to be locked.
*Thud*
Phoenix heard the sound on the other side of the door. “Amber!” He yelled this time. He rushed to his room and pulled a key out of the bedside table and returned to Amber’s door. He fumbled with the key a little before unlocking it. He opened the door to find the room and bed empty. Amber’s candle was on the floor. The window was open blowing a cool breeze into the room. Quickly he flew out the window to see rope hanging out. Phoenix scanned the skies as quickly as possible. There was one earth pony guard wandering the many makeshift tents.
“Excuse me?” Phoenix called from above.
The guard looked up and replied “Yes? What is it?
“Have you seen a small orange filly running around anywhere?” Phoenix asked.
“I did see a small filly running toward the northwest barrier edge, but i couldn’t catch her.” He answered.
Phoenix took off without another word toward the northwest end of the barrier to see what he feared he would see. Amber was at the barrier again watching the creature. “Amber, Stop!” he yelled. He was too far, she couldn’t hear him. He bolted toward her. She exited the barrier. “NO!” he yelled with more fear now than ever before. He could only watch as the creature took her in it’s arms and took to the sky.
Phoenix immediately left the barrier after them. He flew as fast as he possibly could to find that the creature was still gaining more and more distance between them. The Crystal Empire disappeared behind him. The creature had gained so much distance Phoenix couldn’t even see them in the distance.
Hours had gone by and Phoenix was still flying in the same direction. His wings began to collapse under the strain and he knew he had to stop but he didn’t. He flew until he began to plummet to the dirt from exhaustion. He landed hard making him cough violently. Phoenix felt his heart hurt again. More now than it had ever before. He cried until he physically couldn’t any more. He laid on the ground and just stared at the dirt thinking about what had happened.
*Snap*
Phoenix turned his head quickly around to investigate the sound. There was a metal shack next to him. He approached it slowly opened the door. It was pitch black inside. The door closed behind him. There were sounds of hooves all around him. “Who’s there?” he called into the darkness. One of the hoof sounds neared him rapidly and he felt the pony’s hooves buck him in the head knocking him out.
