The Riddle

Dear Twilight,

the letter I sent was of negligible importance. It was actually directed at Spike, and was written partly in jest. I foresaw the migration having an effect on him, and tried to nudge you all into talking it through. I did not foresee him running off on a whim, but there is no cause to apologize for what you did. I did encourage you to take decisions into your own hooves, and I am proud that you did.

To address the main issue: you are not wrong. Phoenixes are indeed a flaw in our conception of the universe. I shall not reveal to you the reasons for why I didn’t tell you about them, though you can be assured that it was intended on my part.

You have been asking for my advice, so here is some. Do not hurt the phoenix. Do not neglect the phoenix. Do not stop the phoenix if she tries to fly away. Do not keep her in a cage. Tell the same to Spike as well as anyone else who watches over her.

I know that this is not what you were hoping for, but it is all I will give. Beyond that, I will not tell you what to do. You can attempt to bring the phoenix back to her parents, or you can keep her by your side, as long as she wishes to stay with you. What matters is that you do not force her into doing either.

Some of what I know might be of help to you in deciding whether you want to research them further; however, let me emphsize again that I am not giving advice. There is no pact or law that can stop you, but there is reason for caution. We do not know the scope of the phoenixes’ abilities, nor their intelligence or intentions. We do not know how they do magic, and we do not know how they come back from the dead, or why their number isn’t steadily increasing if they are in fact immortal. Everything you decide to do, you will do based on your own judgment.

And to answer the question which I’m sure you have: it is no coincidence that I keep a phoenix by my side. But Philomena is not a pet. Were she to leave, I would not dream of stopping her.

Oh, there was also a recommendation for Rarity in the lost letter. Tell her to try out “Forgotten Secrets” by Firequill. It is the best romance novel that I have read in the last 100 years, and I suspect she will find it much to her liking.

Looking forward to your response,

Princess Celestia

Twilight’s eyes flickered back upwards as she reached the end of the letter. The part about Peewee had been highlighted, the ink radiating in a blazing red. The princess must have used a spell for that specifically, which was not something Twilight had ever seen done before.

Do not keep her in a cage. Well, it was a ‘him’, but they hadn’t been doing that. Do not hurt the phoenix. That much was obvious. Tell that to Spike aswell as anyone else... good, she would do that. Do not stop the phoenix if she tries to fly away. Or in other words, Peewee wasn’t a pet, he was a guest. Do not neglect the phoenix. Only, what did that include? She should ask for a clarification.

It was clear that the warning extended beyond Peewee, though, and that she was to take it just as seriously.

Dangerous...

A shiver ran over her neck as the pieces slowly fell into place, the decision lying before her.