Celestia and Luna both walked to the room that was established to the council. They looked around and noticed the empty hallways it was a nice surprise instead of the guards following them around. They looked up at the solid wood door that was in front of them, the solid red oak door stood strong decorated with gold trim and finishing.
"Are you ready?" Celestia asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Luna smiled. Her sister however did not return the gesture. They both pushed open the doors and walked into the bright room, there hoofsteps were silenced by the carpet as they approached the council.
"Ahh princess'es we've been waiting for you."
"Cut the chatter you know why we are here. Did you finish your votes yet?" Celestia asked looking at the head council member dead in the eyes.
"We did and we all agree that the rings should be kept open. They do nothing wrong and even generate revenue for the country." He said.
"You have got to be kidding me. You want to keep these gladiator rings open?" Celestia asked. "You first have the nerve to even allow these things to be open and went behind our backs after telling you flat out no.
"We do, they are making the country a huge amount of profit it's not like anyone of them dies. Even if they did most of them are criminals."
"I don't care about the money the fact is that they are fighting! They are being treated like slaves, they fight to the bone. It's not even like the grand magic games." Luna said backing her sister up. The council however didn't care.
"Shouldn't you be worrying about the dark guilds? The whole reason that you instilled the council was to help manage the country." You said that it should be a majority vote to decide on things as well. We voted nine to zero in favor of keeping the rings open. So long as there are no death's they will stay open, besides you could use them for your guard if you wanted." The head council member smiled.
"You're right...if that is what the council wants then that is what we must agree on." Celestia sighed a few tears hitting the ground.
"Sister you just can't.." Luna was interrupted by Celestia's hoof up to her mouth.
"It's done there is nothing we can do." She said leaving the council's hall, she made sure she slammed the doors shut.
"You can't just let them tell you what to do!" Luna shouted.
"I'm not going to stand by idly and let this happen, we will be doing something about this. They are right though we did agree on this, so we unfortunately have to hold up our agreement." Celestia looked at her younger sister as they walked through the halls. She sighed deeply before looking up at the ceiling. "For now we play there game of keeping these things open." Celestia grinned looking at her sister.
"I see so you do have a plan?" Luna asked raising an eyebrow.
"Not yet, in due time." Celestia giggled as they made it to the throne room.
"You have got to be kidding me. I will not stand for this, how many of your damn opponents do I have to defeat?!" A young cold asked in rage.
"Until you are defeated you worthless slave." A cruel and rather fat pony grinned leaning over.
"So all I am is a tool for defeating ponies and making money for you. Just because you like to watch ponies fight. That gives you the right to treat us like hell, I swear if I ever get out of here Celestia will know of what you are doing." The colt said getting in his masters face. The chains that bolted him to the ground stopped him from getting any closer. The slave master just laughed seeing the expression on his slaves face.
"Celestia is trying everything in her power to get these things banned, the problem is the council won't budge. We pay them enough to keep these things open. Thanks to how our politics work you won't be getting out of here ever! Unless for some odd reason the council ends up retiring or dying." The fat slave master laughed even harder. His fat blue belly jiggled as he rubbed it as he ate a hayburger and hayfries in front of his starving slave.
"I hope that they die, along with you." He whispered as a few tears streamed down his face. His white coat stained a bit as he cried, the chains clinked and jiggled as the pit fighter cried softly.
"Look here all I have to tell you is if you don't win this fight don't come back at all." He spat as he stood up unchaining his slave as a few guards entered the room and began to escort him out of the small dark room. The young colt's and guards hoofsteps echoed on the smooth rock floor, the halls trapped the sound from the roaring fans from above they sounded faint and small. The colt took a few deep breaths as he was sitting now on a bench. He counted down the five minutes until the fight began.
Meanwhile...
"Twilight why are we even going to one of these things? I thought that Celestia wanted your help to discover the dark guilds." Spike said trying to keep up with his alicorn friend.
"Look I know what she said, besides I all ready sent a few members from the guild to scout out and see if the rumors are true." Twilight said with a roll of her eyes. She finally found her seat and looked at the V.I.P spot and sighed. Twilight was starting to get annoyed by all the V.I.P treatment ever since she became a princess. She did have to admit though that the seats were great and the sound of screams from the others spots seemed minuscule to her. Spike didn't even take a second as he sat down and pulled out some popcorn. Twilight giggled as she too sat down looking at her little friend.
"So.....why are we watching a bunch of brutes slug it out? Isn't this a bit barbaric?" Spike asked surprised at where they were. Twilight cleared her throat as she pulled out a book. Spike rolled his eyes. 'Of course it's a book, it's always a book!' Spike thought silently rolling his eyes.
"See I was reading about these old school gladiator rings. I wanted to see a few real fights. They seemed like it would be a good learning experience. Plus, I wanted to see if they are really as brutal as the books describe them." Twilight said looking intently at the ring.
"Shouldn't you know be looking for these dark guilds. You know Celestia and the council wanted you to find?" Spike sighed looking up at his friend.
"Oh please, you of all the dragons are not wanting to take a break?" Twilight asked raising an eyebrow.
"You do have a good point, I guess I do deserve a break." Spike agreed as he kicked back. Twilight just silently facehoofed and sighed putting her focus back into the ring.
In the arena....
"Well would you gentlecolts like to tell me who the hay am I fighting?"
"If you would shut it perhaps the announcer will tell you." A guard coldly stated pushing the colt out.
"Are you folks ready to see a great fight?" The announcer said loudly and excitedly. The crowd responded in unison cheering loudly stamping on the seats making loud echo's through the air. Twilight looked confused as Spike stood up cheering loudly.
"What are you doing, didn't you just say that this was barbaric?" Twilight asked giggling.
"Well after seeing everypony getting so into it I thought I would go along with it." Spike replied standing up cheering. Twilight just giggled looking at her friend.
"That's what I wanted to hear, now let's announce our competitors!" The announcer shouted! The screams were even louder, so much so that people who were not even close to the stadium heard it. "Alllllllllllllll right ladies and gentlecolts!" The screams started to die down almost on que. Twilight noticed how strange it was from suddenly going from a roar that could shake down all the leaves for fall...well down to something so quiet that she even noticed Spike was quiet. The announcer cleared his throat before readying himself to speak. "We decided that saving the best for last wouldn't be a game changer so we're doing it first!" He shouted as the cheers started back up again. He waited before begining to speak again.
"This is crazy they are getting so hyped up about this." Twilight mused looking at the crowd.
"I guess they weren't kidding when they said that they were going to do the best fight first." Spike noted.
"How do you know it really is going to be the best fight?" Twilight asked her ears perking up.
"Don't you listen, he just said it." Spike told her. Twilight just silently facehoofed her self again.
'Great reasoning Spike.' Twilight thought.
"All right in the west entrance the young colt to take the game by storm. You know him and most of you probably love him! His record of 27-0-0 surely says that you will be hopping on the bandwagon in the future! It's Snow Blade!" The announcer shouted his microphone echoed through the ring as the soon awaited and not surprising reaction of shouts started. A few fans even had posters of him saying that they loved him.
"Well it certainly sounds like the crowd likes me." Snow smiled, granted he knew that they liked him for the wrong reason.
"All right and in the east entrance you know him he is as hot as fire. Some might say he is a dragon or a phoenix, only in a ponies body his moves are that hot folks! He has a fighting spirit that can't be matched by any other in the entire league! It's Phoenix Flame! His 25-0-2 record shows he might have a loss though folks. We'll see as the top two fighters in the nation go at it!" The announcer shouted. The crowd went berserk as the final name was announced, Twilight just giggled at Spike who was cheering now too.
'Phoenix Flame what a very....creative name.' Twilight thought with a smirk on her face.
Both Phoenix and Snow walked out into the arena the crowd sat silent as the guards took off the chains off of Snow. Twilight gasped looking at Phoenix's chains. She was shocked that they were magic nullifying chains.
'The other fighter has on regular chains, why is it that he has them on? Maybe they just ran out of regular chains?' Twilight thought now standing up on high alert.
"Well now this should be fun you're the top fighter, how interesting you don't look like a pony who would be undefeated." Phoenix grinned insulting Snow.
"Well you don't look like a pony who should have two ties under their belt. Guess that's why you're number two, looks are deceiving" Snow said giving a backhanded compliment.
"Also folks we have a special visitor today watching the fights. It's Princess Twilight Sparkle!" The announcer said. The crowd went back to a full roar that could be heard from the next town over.
"Well look at that a princess is watching this, and not to mention a guild master." Snow whispered quietly.
"So much for no special treatment..." Twilight sighed.
"Hey I think you forgot to mention my name!" Spike shouted in anger raising a tiny fist.
"Well I guess there will be no holding back then if a princess is watching." Phoenix chuckled.
"I don't enjoy fighting like most of you brutes but I will if I have to." Snow said picking up a sword from the weapons rack.
"Well folks looks like Snow picked his weapon of choice a sword not to mention two of them!" The announcer shouted as he picked up a second one. "What weapon will Phoenix pick up?" He commentated.
"Will you shut up for just one second!" Phoenix yelled at the announcer. The announcer took a gasp of offense, the other ponies just laughed at the scene that just unfolded. "A ha I got it!" He shouted kicking over the weapons rack. He pointed to his hooves to the crowd and to Snow.
"You are going to use your hooves? Are you insane no wonder why you don't have a perfect record." Snow sighed.
"For somepony who doesn't like fighting, you sure do like to say stuff about it." Phoenix told Snow with a smirk and wink.
"It looks like Phoenix has opted to go with no weapons....This is odd folks normally he uses hoof weapons." The announcer stated confused, the crowd even started wondering what was going on.
"Why would you not fight with weapons?" Twilight asked herself.
"Maybe he has dragon scales so he hits harder." Spike pipped up looking up at his friend.
"For the one who was listening a moment ago, you sure didn't hear he usually uses hoof weapons." Twilight quoted.
"Oh yeah I totally knew that." Spike brushed off the response.
"Alright folks well this is an odd choice can't say what he is up to. Although the time for wondering has to be put on hold, it looks like the fight is ready to take place!" The announcer yelled happily as a bell rang.
"Well this will be an easy win." Snow thought as he started his assault. He swung with both weapons while hovering above Phoenix. They were simple strikes to see how his opponents took their stances. He noticed Phoenix was now in the air as well.
"Oh folks it looks like both of these pegasus are bringing it to the air! What's going to happen next!"
"Maybe if you shut up you'd see!" Phoenix yelled weaving out of Snow's attacks. Snow took advantage of this and hit Phoenix with the hilt of the sword. Knocking him down to the ground Phoenix smashed into the ground, he looked up and saw Snow coming straight down for him. He quickly rolled out of the way struggling to get out.
"Oh and it looks like that fall took it's toll on Phoenix folks."
"Oh would you shut up I'm just fine." Phoenix rolled his eyes standing up. The crowd roared seeing Phoenix stand up.
"Well I'm impressed, but I'm sure these ponies want to see a real fight." Snow said taunting Phoenix by throwing the sword at him.
"So you want a real fight do ya?" Phoenix grinned. Snow nodded kicking the sword to Phoenix, he kicked it straight back and cracked his neck. He had a big grin as he looked at Snow.
"Take the damn weapon otherwise I'm going to win this in a matter of seconds." Snow sighed.
"No thanks I'll think that this will prove to be more interesting." Phoenix grinned putting his hooves together. The crowds eye's went wide with shock as Phoenix had flames coming off of him.
"What the hay!" The announcer shouted. 'I heard the rumors but to see it in pony is crazy.' He thought standing up.
"You have got to be kidding me Twilight, does he have fire coming off of his hooves? Or am I going even crazier than usual." Spike asked. His eyes popping out of socket almost. Twilight just stood there her mouth agape and eyes just as wide.
"I think all of us are seeing it." Twilight murmured. She had to shake herself out of her trance like state as did most of the crowd. "So it is true that there are more ponies that can use magic, but to see one in a ring like this." Twilight whispered to herself.
"Whoa hold on a second folks, the rules clearly state no magic so I'm afraid that this fight might be as good as over." The announcer said looking still shocked. His heart racing even skipping a few beats it felt like.
"Actually the rules say no unicorn magic." Phoenix corrected.
"He does have a point plus this just looks like it got more fun." Snow chuckled. 'Just what in Equestria is he?' Snow thought picking up his second blade.
"He is right according to the rules it looks like only unicorn magic is banned, so uhhh it looks like the fight can keep going." The announcer said dumbfounded reading through the rule book.
Phoenix laughed as he rushed straight at Snow catching him off guard. Snow grunted as a bit of blood was coughed up from his hit in the stomach. The strange part is he felt the heat of the flames but didn't catch on fire.
"Oh come on weren't you just saying that they want to see a real fight, I'm not even using this magic the way it should be used. That is until you show me you can take a few hits." Phoenix grinned as he threw a few more punches two of them hit Snow sending him sliding a few inches back.
'What does he mean not even using it right, it feels like I'm being punched by a dragon. I can't keep being put on the defensive though.' Snow thought spitting up a bit of blood. He leaped to the air and threw a kick at Phoenix, he blocked the kick but sent him staggering a bit. Snow tripped him up using the blade of sword cutting Phoenix's hoof a bit. He stumbled onto his back, Snow took advantage of this and jumped right onto Phoenix.
"Could this be it?"
"Took to long." Phoenix said looking at Snow's confused look before headbutting him. Snow reeled back in pain as his eyes started watering from being hit in the nose. He felt more blood flow out now, he heard the drops hitting the ground slowly. He struggled to his hooves as he charged Phoenix with a should charge. Phoenix took it with blunt force before punching Snow in the wing.
"Oh and it looks like Phoenix just dealt a huge blow to Snow!" The crowd gasped as did Twilight and Spike.
"Just like I thought your record shows, but why do you have two ties?" Snow asked coughing on the ground. He began wheezing for air.
"I didn't want to have a flawless record duh." Phoenix thought as he held his side as he began to fall to the ground.
"This looks like it might be it folks is it going to end in a tie?" Phoenix struggled to get up but he did slowly. "Wait a second it looks like Phoenix might be the winner. It looks like it as Snow seems to be struggling with even moving on the ground! That's it the winner is Phoenix!" The crowd was met with a mixed array of emotions of happiness and excitement, some were sad about Snow receiving his first lost. Twilight however teleported right down into the arena after enough waiting.
"What's this it looks like the Princess Twilight is in the arena." The crowd went silent after a few minutes. She ignored the stares as she walked with Phoenix into the locker room.
"What do you want, an autograph or somethin?" Phoenix quipped looking at Twilight at who had been following him.
"Watch your tone with her." A guard pipped up although there was some fear in his voice.
"No what I want to know is about your strange magic, I've noticed a few others with magic similar to yours." Twilight peered into Phoenix's eyes. He just stood up and walked away.
"Well here's all I can tell you, it's that until you own me you won't know a secret. It's in my contract so I'm not telling you a thing, even if I could I have better things to do then to be questioned by a princess." Phoenix spat as he walked. He went into the changing room he lit his fist in flame once again. He punched the locker sending it flying into a wall. 'Stupid little prissy princess wants to ask me questions. Funny how none of them give a damn until now.' Phoenix thought sitting there quivering in rage.
"What was that about?" Twilight asked herself. A small echo followed by a small chuckle.
"Please do excuse my prized fighter. He was just following our contract, which he just broke by showing those powers."
"Who are you?" Twilight asked the light green pony in front of her.
"Me well I'm Green Leaf, the pleasure is mine Princess Sparkle." He said kneeling before her, he took her hoof and kissed it gently. Twilight shivered out of the weird feeling before pulling her hoof away. "As for his weird behavior you see most of these slaves despise the outside ponies....Especially the princesses." Green said looking at Twilight.
"I don't get it aren't they criminals?" Twilight thought.
"While most of them are some ponies are captured and forced to be here. As for my Phoenix I have no idea what happened he was arrested and instead of serving time he chose the option. He always goes on about being innocent. While he was proven innocent a few months ago he still has to serve in the ring under my orders. Unlike the others who are slaves who are captured and do whatever their masters tell them ponies like him are an odd case. You see while he does belong to me I see him as nothing more than profit so I have him train all day every day. He is not a slave, but he is also not free." Green told Twilight who seemed to be studying him.
"I see so why don't you let him go if he was proven innocent?" Twilight asked.
"See that's the thing is he is to much of a profit, so the court and I agreed that he will be under my control for the rest of our lives. All I have to do is give 15% of the profit to them. It's great honestly." He laughed lighting a cigar. He puffed out the smoke and chuckled while doing it.
'He is sick so is this so called court system, I ought to shut this whole thing down surely the council and Celestia must know about these conditions.' Twilight thought.
"I'm ready to leave whenever you are." Phoenix said looking at Green.
"Oh I'm ready, you're going to be begging me to stop with your punishment. I'm going to break your body, mind, and soul" Green said.
'I can't let this happen we could use a pony like this at the guild. While I can't save them all right now I can at the very least save Phoenix. I'll also get my answers and get a strong ally in the process.' Twilight thought before she cleared her throat.
"How much?" She asked. Green stopped before turning around confused.
"How much what?" Green asked.
"How much for the ownership of Phoenix?" Twilight asked.
"Please like you have enough for this worthless pile of scrap." Green said.
"Twelve thousand bits." Twilight said. Green just laughed before turning around.
'I will get to know your secrets dammit.' Twilight thought grinding her teeth.
"Fine one million bits." Twilight said with a cold expression.
"Di-did you....you just say one million?" Green asked. Twilight nodded.
'She can't be serious why is she doing this?' Phoenix thought looking at Twilight.
"You have a deal!" Green said as he handed the paperwork over to Twilight. "Now let's go talk business. Phoenix get packed you're moving." Green said. 'Court system be damned with this much money I won't have to worry about another thing again. I can still make money off the other four of these idiots too, this is great.' Green thought walking with Twilight.
"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.
