Chains Of Darkness

"So that's all I had to do was sign a piece of paper?" Twilight asked looking at Green. He just nodded and grinned silently.

'I'm filthy rich right now, I have no idea why she would offer so much for him. I would have taken two hundred thousand for him.' Green thought as she watched Twilight leave the office. 'Sad though he was a great money maker but still, this is great.' Green rubbed his hooves at the large sum of money it was thirty thousand bits, the rest would be delivered soon. He began to laugh at the pile in front of him as he stood up and opened a bottle of wine. He poured a glass and sat back in contempt.

"Well let's get a move on." Twilight said looking at Phoenix. He just turned his head away from her. 'Why is he so stubborn!' She silently screamed looking at him. She looked at the papers of ownership, while she didn't believe it was right to own another life she looked back up at Phoenix. "Let's go now slave." Twilight ordered her voice sounding that of a pony with authority. Phoenix quickly gulped hearing the change in her voice and stood up. 'Well that worked better than I expected.' Twilight thought seeing him follow behind her. She heard another set of hoofsteps in front of her. She looked and saw that the other pony Snow was walking with his owner. The owner beating on him even worse than before. Phoenix looked grinding his teeth in rage before breaking the weak cuffs around him. Twilight stood there in shock seeing the cuffs shattered.

"You animal!" Phoenix shouted tackling the fat blue pony down to the ground. The slave owner slammed his head into the concrete, Phoenix looked down at him in rage as he threw a few punches at the pony. The blood began to flow out of his nose and mouth, Phoenix kept swinging before Twilight used her magic to pull him off. She looked at Phoenix his eyes glowing red with rage. "You call us worthless yet all you do is sit back and eat, you let this pony fight and make money for you. You are disgusting, I dearly hope you rot alone you fat buck." Phoenix spat on him before Twilight picked him up in the air. He still tried to swing at the beaten down pony.

"Thanks Phoenix, but he's still going to do it anyway." Snow said as he sat there.

"Run just run away from him." Phoenix said as Twilight put him back on the ground.

"I...I wish I could but it's difficult he has a tracer magic on me. I'm afraid until the law changes I'll be stuck with him." Snow quietly said as a few tears dropped to the ground.

"Twilight come on can't you buy him too or something please!" Phoenix pleaded looking up at his new master. She was caught off guard again looking at how Phoenix was just fighting this colt a few minutes ago, now suddenly wants to save him.

She shook her head before she spoke. "I'm afraid there is nothing I can do right now, I just put all of my personal funds into saving you. I hope I can reason with Celestia or the council to get these things shut down."

"You're a princess you shouldn't have to worry about money!" Phoenix yelled in her face.

"You idiot! Just because I'm a princess doesn't mean I'm all high and mighty, now enough remember your place. If you keep stepping out of line like this I will get rid of you." She said grabbing him by the face. She didn't really know if she could do that to him though. She was just frustrated with how he was acting.

"It's fine Phoenix I have faith in her words." Snow smiled looking at Twilight.

"How she is a pony from out of the ring, they don't care about how we are treated. Did you just hear what she said?" Phoenix asked pointing at a crying Twilight.

"Perhaps you've had your judgment clouded like I once did. There are ponies everywhere who are trying to get these things shut down. Perhaps you can be a strong case to get these things shut down. If you weren't so foolish and looked you can see a pony who is crying because of what she said. So some do care." Snow said looking Phoenix right in the eyes, his blue eyes sparkled in the light from the outside.

"Bu...but...." He mumbled turning around seeing Twilight crying.

"See now, go say you're sorry." Snow said placing a hoof around Phoenix. He looked at Snow like he was crazy before he really thought about it.

Phoenix slowly walked thinking to himself. 'Had I really been this blinded by false rumors from Green?' He cleared his throat looking at Twilight. "Master...I...u-uh look I'm sorry." He mumbled out. His face overcome with a blush. Twilight slapped him across the face lightly.

"Don't call me master, you've called me Twilight a few times. So just because it's formal to call me your master don't. That is an order do I make myself clear?" She asked showing Phoenix the paperwork. He nodded slowly as he was confused at the paperwork Twilight handed him. "Use your magic to burn these documents away." Twilight said looking at Phoenix. He cocked his head like a puppy does when they're confused. "Look I know you've probably gone your whole life being owned, but you're a free pony now." She said warmly.

Phoenix began to tear up as he looked at Twilight. "Than-thank you mas..uhh Twilight." He said as he lit the paper on fire.

"Now I still do want respect and cooperation out of you is that understood?" Twilight asked looking at Phoenix. He gave a swift nod. "Good now say your goodbye's we'll forget about this little incident with his owner. Do keep in mind to control your anger and rage." Twilight told him as she walked to the end of the hall.

Snow looked at Phoenix and laughed. "You know I've always wanted to do that." Snow said pointing at his owner on the ground.

"I couldn't take it, we've all suffered enough, plus it did help that there are no guards around Green's area." Phoenix chuckled before he turned around to leave.

"Wait Phoenix." Snow piped up. He turned around and looked at Snow. "I have faith you're going to free us, also don't cause to much trouble for her." Snow laughed.

"Phoenix grinned as he chuckled too. "Me cause trouble. Yeah right." He said sarcastically. Snow gave him a quick playful punch to the shoulder. "Seriously though I will do everything I can to free you guys." He said before running off to catch up with a waiting Twilight.

"Goodness you two are like a few fillies." Twilight jokingly jabbed. Phoenix just rolled his eyes at her joke. "You were also extremely lucky that there were no guards to see your actions." Twilight scolded.

"It wasn't luck, I've noticed for the past six months where ever Green is there are no guards. It's strange I don't know why Snow and his master would be passing through that area." Phoenix wondered.

"I see so you're very observant of your surroundings." Twilight noted aloud.

"Yep." Phoenix said with a dorky smirk that made Twilight giggle. He scratched his head before looking at her. "What's so funny?" He asked blushing.

"You silly." She said touching his nose playfully. Twilight took note of his amber eyes and how just a few minutes ago they were glowing red with rage. She did admit he had a strong body granted she didn't see most of it hidden in his black clothing. She saw his red hair that moved with the wind as it was rather long and flowed freely. She looked at his white coat with the patches of red in it, at least that's how it looked from his legs well two of them at the very least. "Why is your jacket done so strangely?" Twilight ask with curiosity.

"Are you talking on how the back legs have covering on them?" He asked looking at her. She nodded, Phoenix only chuckled. "I don't know." He shrugged.

"You don't know?!" She asked loudly.

"Well duh I just said that silly." Phoenix chuckled mimicking Twilight.

"You're sooo funny." She said half annoyed. The two kept walking until they were met with Spike which caught Phoenix off guard.

"Whoa, whoa is that a dragon?" Phoenix asked looked at Spike.

"Yes, I am a dragon." Spike said insulted.

Phoenix jumped back and fell a few inches. "Di..did you just speak?"

"Yes, I can talk. Whoa wait you're that fighter from a little bit ago!" Spike shouted as he grabbed his newly claimed poster of Phoenix. "Can I get you to sign this?" Spike asked with his eyes wide.

"Well...uhh." Phoenix didn't know what to say before Twilight gave him a nod. Phoenix looked at the poster, he quickly grabbed the pen and signed it.

"Awesome, thank you!" He shouted with joy, he quickly covered his mouth before he grew louder. Spike quickly snapped out of his trance for a moment. "Not that this is totally awesome or anything, but Twilight why is he with you?" Spike asked looking at her friend.

"Well you see I..I bought him." Twilight admitted a bit of blush came to her face. Spike looked confused as he didn't know what she meant.

"You see, I was well um property to another pony." Phoenix said trying to put it lightly.

"So you were bought for Twilight. Okay I know that not but why?" He asked.

"It's so I could learn more about him." She said in a fast tone. Her blush grew bigger as she looked at Phoenix.

"You're such a nerd Twilight." Spike said rolling his eyes as the three kept walking through the crowded coliseum. Phoenix put his hood up so his face wasn't recognized by the audience.

"I am not, I just like to know a lot."

"Still a nerd."

"Am not!"

"You are still a nerd just admit." Spike said as he followed Twilight.

"I'll have Phoenix punch you." She jokingly said sticking her tongue out.

"Uh never mind about what I said."

"That's what I thought." Twilight said with a voice of triumph. Phoenix just sat quiet not sure what to say between the two. He just followed both of them as they left the coliseum. Phoenix stopped and looked around in awe. Spike and Twilight both looked back at Phoenix.

"Th-this is incredible." Phoenix said touching the grass. Twilight's eyes went wide with shock.

"You...you've never touched grass before!?" She asked her eyes almost popping out of her face.

"Well I have, just never as a free pony, well since I was little." Phoenix said blushing.

Twilight looked at Phoenix and blushed. "Aw how cute you're like a little filly." Twilight said embarrassing Phoenix.

"I am not." He tried to say with a straight face.

"Well let's go guys, I'm sure the guild is wondering where we've been Twi." Spike said trying to be the mature one of the group.

"Right sorry." Twilight said snapping out of her trance of messing with Phoenix. 'How funny he is acting like a little filly. I'll have to note that down as well.' Twilight thought as she quickly kept up pace with Spike.

"Is that what I think it is?" Phoenix asked looking ahead seeing a small town. His eyes stared off into the distance.

"Yes, that's where we are heading, it's a town called Ponyville." Twilight said with a smile still seeing him so amazed with everything.

"I've heard about that place, isn't this where Discord was defeated by the elements of harmony?" Phoenix asked walking a bit faster. His hoofsteps started to sound like they were looping he was in such a hurry. Twilight kept up surprisingly well, Spike was lagging behind the two gasping for breath. Twilight looked back and stopped for a second letting Spike on her back. "Wait he rides you?" Phoenix asked Twilight before adding another note to his question. "Not like that obviously!" He shouted blushing. Twilight also blushed which confused Spike.

"What does that mean?" Spike asked.

"You'll find out when you're older!" Twilight yelled her face turning almost bright red.

"Uh oookay." Spike said still confused.

"As for your question yes he does tag along on my back." Twilight said her blush fading away. Phoenix's however was still there.

"Oh that's cool." He said not thinking. 'Oh god I probably sound like I want to ride her next.' Phoenix thought hovering in the air a bit.

"So anyway care telling me about your magic?" Twilight asked trying to pry for more information.

"Not yet, I'm still warming up to the whole outside of the pit pony thing." Phoenix said turning around looking at Twilight.

"Understandable." She said calmly. 'I don't know why I thought he would just come out of the blue like that.' She scoffed at herself silently.

The group ended up reaching Ponyville rather quickly once Twilight flew with Phoenix. Spike was struggling to hold onto Twilight through the air.

"There it is, the guild hall." Twilight said as they landed in front of the castle. "Well actually my house as well but that is in a separate wing." Twilight said as she had Spike slide off of her. He landed with a soft thump in the dirt.

"Thi..this place is huge!" Phoenix gawked. Twilight was sure he was going to start drooling. She opened the door to snap him out of his trance. "Right sorry." He said taking the subtle hint from Twilight. He followed her in the building closely as they were met with a bunch of cheers.

"Twilight you're back!" The room lit up with excitement as a bunch of ponies welcomed her back. Phoenix looked around and noticed how the room was suddenly silent seeing Phoenix.

"Uh, hi." He said awkwardly.  The first thing that he noticed was a rainbow streak heading right for them. It stopped right in front of Twilight.

"Uh Twi look I know that we are one of the few non unicorn only guilds and all but this, this is just crazy we all ready have ten pegasus." Rainbow said pointing at Phoenix. The room was met with some agreeing nods.  "Not to mention a pit fighter come on, he's probably going to start fighting us at random for fun." Rainbow said. The room was once again met with agreeing nods.

"Oh please you're the one who starts fights around here. Besides he can use magic." Twilight said. The room was met with a roar of laughter at Twilight's remark.

"Yeah right those non alicorn magic users you've read about, they don't exist come on Twi." Rainbow said trying to talk some sense into her friend.

Twilight grinned as she looked back at Phoenix. "Do it." She said calmly, and a little cocky.

Phoenix laughed as he lit both of his hooves on fire. He grinned as he saw the room full of wide stares. "Now wait a second, how do we know you just don't have matches or something. For all we could know is that you just like setting yourself on fire." Rainbow said.

Phoenix just rolled his eyes. "If you don't believe us then blow my fire out. If it from a fire starting source you should be able to put it out." Phoenix told Rainbow.

She laughed as she walked up to Phoenix and blew at the fire. She tried it again to make sure she wasn't seeing things. "Come on it's a small ember how is it not going out?!" She asked frustrated.

"I told you." Twilight said sticking her tongue out.

"Hold up I'll use my wings to put that little fire out." Rainbow said flying up above Phoenix. His smile grew even brighter as Rainbow positioned herself right above his hooves. She started flapping like crazy but nothing happened. She gritted her teeth as she pushed even harder. She looked down at Phoenix and sighed. "How..is that even possible." She said still flapping her wings.

"Like Twilight said it's magic." Spike said standing behind Phoenix.

"This doesn't make any sense..." She sighed.

"Well now everypony I expect you to treat Phoenix Flame just like the rest of you. He is now an official member of Sun's Hope." Twilight said as she stamped something on Phoenix catching him off guard. He quickly jumped surprised from being stamped. There were a few chuckles in the guild hall as they also cheered for their newest member.

"Well it looks like we just got a whole lot stronger. I mean come on a magic using pegasus, what are the odds?" Rarity asked Fluttershy. She just whimpered in fear. "Really Fluttershy he isn't even scary if anything he is quite attractive.

"Bu..bu..but he has magic. Plus he used to be a fighter in the ring." She whispered. Rarity just shrugged it off.

Phoenix was actually able to take in the surroundings finally after all the comotion, from the outside it looked like it was going to be a lot smaller, but the place was huge. The walls on the interior in here were made out of wood, as were the floors. There was a bar, and several tables with seats through the floor. He noted that there was also a stage, but what caught his eye most of all was a board. He made out the words Request Board. 'Looks like I can make some cash that way.' He thought walking before he was stopped.

Twilight grabbed him by the shoulder and stared at Phoenix's eyes. "So what do you think of the place." She asked with a grin on her face.

"This place is awesome!" He said with a grin. 'I still don't know if I can trust these outsiders though.' Phoenix thought looking around the area. He was still getting stares, some of them more welcoming then others.

"Good to hear, I take it judging by the way you were heading you were looking at the request board am I right?" Twilight asked. He nodded looking at her. "Well that's the way you can make some money, there are tons of jobs on the boards. I would think about forming a team though, to get the higher paying jobs that are more difficult. If not you can always work here and make money as well." Twilight explained.

"Guild master." A pony said looking up at Twilight.

"What is it?" Twilight asked looking at the pony.

"Do you think I'm ready for a job yet?" The young colt asked looking up at Twilight with beaming eyes.

Twilight giggled for a second looking at the colt's face. "Not yet, maybe in a few months you still need more lessons." Twilight said warmly. The colt sighed and made an effort to make sure his aww was heard. He just agreed with her and walked away with some of his friends. She turned her attention back to Phoenix who was waiting right by her side. "Soo anyway there is a room with your name on it, you can choose to live there or in time move out and get your own place. For now your first month of living here is free, after that I'm afraid you'll have to start paying." Twilight said.

Phoenix's awe was starting to wear thin, he didn't know what to say. He looked at Twilight and thanked her, she just told him it was not a big deal. Phoenix was having a silent argument with himself. 'Come on they aren't that bad, you can open up to them somewhat.' 'No, they are not to be trusted, they have never done anything for you. It's time to cut the act and show them your true colors.' "No I have to keep this act up, until I know who I can trust." He said quietly to himself. He was glad Twilight didn't hear it, otherwise he'd have some explaining to do. Phoenix shrugged it off for now, he silently told himself to just ignore his feelings for now. He had to do this for the others he told himself every step.

"The new guy is pretty weird. He's really distant it seems, most of the new ones at least get a drink and meet some of the others. He's going right to the request board."

"Leave him alone I mean could you imagine fighting in a pit?"

"True but I mean he could at least talk to someone other than Twilight."

"How about you guys stop talking about him." Twilight whispered into the two talking ponies ears. They both screamed before jumping back.

"Sorry it won't happen again!" They both said in unison.

"Good, glad to hear. You know the rule if you have something to say, say it to there face or don't at all." Twilight said with a smile as she walked away. 'They do have a point though, it is strange how he was talking to me just fine. Now all of a sudden he is ignoring everypony.' Twilight thought as she walked up to Rarity and Fluttershy. 'Good thing Pinkie isn't here right now.' Twilight sighed with relief.

Phoenix stared at the board before picking up a job. It was a forty thousand bit reward for slaying a few alpha timber wolves. A few of the ponies gasped seeing him pick it up. Twilight's ears perked up hearing all the commotion. She quickly teleported over to see what was going on.

"Phoenix do you care to explain?" Twilight asked blocking his path.

"Care to explain what, you were saying that we can make money by doing jobs."

"Yes, but I also told you to form a team. This is a three pony job, were you planning on going by yourself?" She asked scolding him.

"Yes I was until you were in my way." Phoenix said looking up from the paper to Twilight.

"You what!?" She asked ripping the paper out of his face.

"Well yeah, I mean I can do that job all by myself." Phoenix said gently grabbing the paper back.

"No you can't you don't have a partner." Twilight said as Phoenix flew over her.

"I work a lone."

"Not here you don't. We are all a family."

"Bye, I'll be back in a few days."

"Don't you dare leave."

"I'm not leaving, I'm going to do a job. You told me to behave myself so I am. I think I'll be fine to handle this job by myself." Phoenix grinned looking at Twilight.

Twilight grinded her teeth together as she stomped her hoof. "Rarity you're in charge of the guild until I come back." Twilight said before flying to catch up with Phoenix.

"What are you doing?" Phoenix asked hearing Twilight behind him.

"Coming with you if you wish to be so stubborn I'll break you of it." She grinned.

Phoenix just sighed. He looked at the location on the map. "Umm how do you get to the Everfree Forest?" Phoenix asked blushing.

"Ugh see what I mean. This is why teams work better." Twilight said as she took the lead Phoenix followed behind her.