Sparity Forever

Editor’s Note: Thank you all, who have given me such positive feedback from Chapter 1! Being my first fic, and being out of practice in story writing for so long, I sure hadn’t expected it :flutteryay: I hope this chapter proves enjoyable as well, and as always, constructive criticism please!

Lastly, a huge thank you to ChainReaction, who continued to praise my work, leading me to work harder on writing this chapter, which is why it is up a day earlier than predicted. Check out his cool vampire fic Feral!

Four hours had passed since Pinkie and Spike had shown up at the Carousel Boutique, and the party pony’s latest work was truly a sight to behold. Streamers, balloons and confetti of all the basic colours of the rainbow were strewn about every possible surface of the boutique, and several plain white plastic tables Rarity had brought out were stacked like dragon jewel-mounds with cakes, cupcakes and pies of vibrant colours and various delicious flavours.
The cakes and cupcakes were thickly layered with icings and small candy toppings, each one an artwork of baking genius, the first bite sure to explode in one’s mouth in a battle of the flavours. On one table stood a magnificent, multi-levelled structure of cylinder-shaped marzipan meringue cakes, each smaller in size and diameter as the mouth-watering tower of pure tastebud ecstasy inched closer toward the ceiling.

The atmosphere was abuzz as well; an oak and brass phonograph sat in the center of the room on a matching oak table specifically sized to hold only the phonograph itself, with the purple unicorn Twilight Sparkle furiously performing The Monkey to a modern rendition of “Ring-a-Ding Baby” a few feet away. A young redheaded yellow filly wearing a large bowtie in her mane stared in confusion at the device on the table, wondering how their friend Vinyl Scratch could possibly have modified such a machine so unrelated from her trademark turntable to play her ‘fresh beats’.

Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo sat hidden beneath one of the plastic tables, debating whether or not parasprite taming would earn them their much desired cutie marks. The pile of colourful cakes atop the table were quickly obliterated, icing splattered about the area, as Pinkie slammed her face down into them, collecting at least five cakes worth as her cheeks puffed like cushions fused to the side of her icing-covered face. A toothless baby alligator wearing a red and yellow polka-dot party hat brushed past Scootaloo’s hoof, shuffling its bloated green belly across the floor, and the two crusaders burst out laughing at the sight. The creature looked up and across the large room with its large, bulbous eyes, and finally locked his eyes on a zebra mare with a black and white striped mane, shaped in a mohalk.

Applejack stood by Rainbow Dash’s side, wrapped in her wing. Their chuckling was drowned by the raw, pulsing bass emanating from the phonograph as they conversed with Zecora, recounting the tale of their first kiss with matching blushes. Big Macintosh trotted by, carrying the sweet and gentle Fluttershy on his back as she nuzzled her face in the back of his mane, her hoofs wrapped around his muscular frame. The large red stallion lifted a delightfully apple-scented cupcake with green frosting up to her, balanced skilfully on the tip of his nose. Fluttershy snatched it in her teeth, giggling lightly as the two gazed adoringly into each other’s eyes briefly.

Yet almost the full duration of the party, Rarity had sat with Spike at the far wall away from the others, talking about simple things like their favourite places in Ponyville, their favourite restaurants, and of course, what they had been doing recently. The white unicorn found it comforting that her young gentledrake hung on every word she uttered, even commenting from time to time showing actual interest. She was both delighted and a little shocked to discover just how mature her little Spikey had shown in words, and began to realise that the apparent age difference was merely visual. This also worried her a little, though she assured herself that it would only pair well with his compassionate personality.

Spike suddenly felt an unsettling sensation in his stomach, followed immediately by a loud belch that forced itself violently from his throat, expelling sparkling green and purple flames. A rolled up, red-ribboned parchment sealed with a gold “C” signet fell to the floor, and the purple drake immediately took it over to Twilight. Ceasing her peppy dance, a purple glow from her horn shut off the phonograph as she read the scroll’s contents aloud to the crowd of ponies, attention focused solely on her.

”My faithful student Twilight Sparkle. I am writing to you with a request of dire urgency – many of my Pegasus scouts in the Everfree Forest region have reported sightings of the rogue wizard Phoenix, whom I assume you know favours destructive magics, particularly fire. Shining Armour, with the aid of his bride Cadance, has already set up and is maintaining a forcefield around Canterlot’s perimeter.

To my understanding, he has taught you this spell, and he claims you mastered the spell in mere days. As such, I request that you set up a forcefield around Ponyville, given its close proximity to the forest, as Luna and I will be occupied in focusing our magic to discern the location of the rogue.

Stay vigilant, my young pupil. This should be resolved within the next few days.”

“Ah don’t get it sugarcube,” remarked the orange farmer pony, “Word from Appleoosa is that this Phoenix feller done burned down a whole hive of Changelings.”

“Exactly; he’s very powerful. It’s quite obvious now that he’s headed in our direction, and we need to be prepared.” Twilight replied calmly.

“But that’s just it Twi, ain’t nopony ever actually heard of him harmin’ ponyfolk.”

“That’s true Applejack, but it’s not reason enough not to be cautious.” Applejack simply nodded; no sense in denying the princess’ suspicions.

“Uhm, if you don’t mind me asking…. why is he labelled as a ‘rogue’? I haven’t…. haven’t heard anything about where he came from.” Spoke the yellow Pegasus on Big Mac’s back, her flowing pink mane covering half her face.

“Rogue is his given name, but none know from whence he came. Perhaps you should leave him be, this is all recurrent of how you treated me?” rhymed the zebra alchemist. The room fell silent for a few moments as awkward glances and sheepish grins were exchanged, until Twilight finally spoke up.

“Yes, well despite all the evidence, Princess Celestia seems to believe Phoenix poses some threat, and I have no qualms about carrying out her request.”

Much to everypony’s surprise, the rogue wizard had showed up outside Ponyville before nightfall of that very day. Twilight had trotted off home and set up the forcefield while her friends spread the word, but only six hours had passed when Fluttershy, out in the yard feeding her chickens, spotted a tan colt, only slightly taller than her, with cerulean blue eyes and an unkempt golden mane emerge from within the dark khaki darkness of the Everfree forest. She didn’t believe this was Phoenix at first, due to his unassuming appearance, but now she had noticed his cutie mark – an orange phoenix with wings outstretched. Except she didn’t flee; rather, she approached the magenta forcefield between them, as he did the same. Only a few metres separating them, he smiled a little, which was strangely comforting to her.

“Uh, excuse me, but would you know where I might find Twilight Sparkle?” he spoke calmly, a whisper of nervousness in his voice due to the magical barrier barring his entry. Fluttershy was shocked by how different the unicorn colt seemed compared to rumours she had heard. His voice was a cross between that of Big Mac and Rainbow Dash, though still holding its own unique tone.

Fluttershy snapped out of her train of thought as she realised he had asked specifically for her friend. How did he know her? Had they met before, surely she would have introduced him to her friends. “Uhm,” she started, “how do you know her? Are…. Are you two friends?”

“Not personally, Fluttershy-” the yellow mare jumped a little.

“H-how do you know my name? Who…. Just who are you?”

“Please, calm down. It’s a complicated situation, but I must speak to Twilight as soon as she can spare the time.”

Fluttershy was unsure how to respond. He looked at her with eyes that clearly knew her well, and he talked in such a calm and assuring manner that seemed to be designed to trigger a palliative response from her specific personality.

“Uhm, just…. Just let me go fetch her, stay right here please.” She finally managed. The colt nodded and sat on the soft grass, closing his eyes in a meditative manner.

Fluttershy returned minutes later, followed not only by Twilight, but the rest of her closest friends as well. She floated over to the barrier as the others halted their casual trot immediately upon the sight of the colt sitting on the other side. “Uhm, mister Phoenix? Are you awake” she spoke softly. His eyelids quickly snapped open, and he stood up to greet them, but was quickly interjected by Twilight.

“Phoenix! Why are you here? What do you want?” Twilight seemed a mix of fearful and anxious.

“Miss Sparkle, I was hoping you could provide me with some means of entering Canterlot.” She was obviously shocked, but let him continue “There is a forcefield similar to this one preventing my entry, and there is nopony at the gates or within speaking distance for me to request entry.”

“Why do you want to get into Canterlot? Why haven’t the princesses been able to scry your location from such a close distance?”

“They’re searching for me?” he looked genuinely confused.

“Well of course, feats like incinerating an entire changeling hive are hard not to notice.”

“Then why do they have a forcefield up? Is there another changeling invasion?”

Rather than question him as to how he became aware of that event, a full two years behind them, she continued along his line of questions. “You…. don’t even know?”

“Know…. what?”

“That forcefield…. this forcefield, for that matter, were both erected to prevent your entry.”

“Why?”

“The princess considers you a threat.”

“But, I haven’t harmed anypony, only changelings.” Twilight remained silent, a little ashamed. Phoenix continued, “Do…. do you consider me a threat?”

Twilight lowered her head in shame, her ears drooping down “Well, not really…. I hadn’t expected you to be so friendly like this.”

He chuckled a little “Didn’t you learn not to judge others like that after you met Zecora?”

The purple pony jerked her head up, ears erect and eyes widened. “How…. How do you know about that? Who are you?”

“Look, I’m sorry, but can we discuss this in an audience with the princess? I don’t particularly want to have to explain it twice.”

Again with the tone; it was like he spoke in a manner that was intended to earn Twilight’s approval. She turned her head, receiving nods from all her friends. Phoenix looked over at Spike, who was holding Rarity’s hoof as he stood side-by-side with the white unicorn mare.

Smiling, he said warmly “I didn’t know you two were….” They both blushed and smiled sheepishly, breaking eye contact with the tan colt.

“Right…. well, I suppose I could send the princess a letter.” Twilight remarked. “Spike?”

As Celestia’s sun lowered behind the skyline, Luna’s full moon sneaked a thin sliver of luminescent silvery white upon the eastern horizon, beginning its ascent into the sky. The seven friends huddled comfortably on the couch in Fluttershy’s cottage, with Spike lying curled up on Rarity’s lap, the mare herself nuzzling his scaly cranium.

A blinding pale-yellow light appeared in the centre of the room, quickly growing larger and brighter until it dissipated, revealing Princess Celestia floating regally mid-air, now descending slowly to the ground as she retracted her large, magnificent white wings. Spike waking by a gentle nudge of Rarity’s hoof, he swiftly sat up, careful not to scratch his marefriend’s flawless coat with his claws. The princess promptly held up her hoof so as to gesture the seven friends before her not to bow, then proceeded rather seriously “Where’s Phoenix?”

“Outside the barrier near the chicken coops. He hasn’t moved from the spot since he emerged from the Everfree Forest and spoke with us.” Her faithful student responded. Celestia nodded, and they trotted out the back door toward the chicken coops. There, in the same spot as he had been for an hour now, sat the tan unicorn with the golden mane, eyes once again closed in a meditative manner.
Gesturing for the others to stay back, she approached the barrier, and cast her eyes over Phoenix, examining his features and cutie mark.

“You’re Phoenix?” she spoke in a rather commanding voice.

“That’s what everyone has taken to calling me, your highness.” He replied in a servant-like tone, revealing his eyes as he stood up. She looked less serious now, but restrained from her usual gentleness as she continued.

“So why are you here in Ponyville, when supposedly you sought counsel with me?”

“I tried Canterlot, but the forcefield prevented my entry, and there was nopony within earshot to answer my call.”

“If that is true, why was I unable to discern your location with the combined magic of Luna and I?”

“I’m not a pony.” Everypony was shocked, but the princess showed no surprise.

“Hmm. So, what is your real name, and how did you enter our world?”

“My name is Flax, and I’m not entirely sure how I ended up here.”

“You were human, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s likely a minor concussion-induced amnesia, though I’m unsure as to how you are aware of being a human prior to your current form.” Celestia observed his cutie mark once more. “What I’m also curious about is how you got your cutie mark, Flax. Just how long have you been in Equestria?”

“About two or three weeks.” The princess’ eyes widened, and the others all gasped in unison.

“How did you get you cutie mark in such a short time?”

“I’ve known about your world for a long time before becoming like this.” Confidently replied the tan colt.

“Go on….”

“Well your highness, I don’t quite know how to say this….” He took a breath. “In my world, your world exists as an animated cartoon series viewable on television or via the internet.” Celestia remained unsurprised, while the others looked completely dumbfounded.

“And you were a ‘Brony’?”

“Yes, but how did you….”

“This is not the first time a human has arrived in Equestria as a pony.”

“Who were the others?”

“There was only one…. and unfortunately he was not one of your fandom. He showed violence and hatred towards everypony he came across. I followed rumours about an unusually violent pony claiming to be a human, and found him starting bar brawls in Appleloosa. Luckily, I did not need to resort to…. methods…. normally applied to prisoners, as he explained everything after he sobered up during the trip to Canterlot.”

“So you can send me back?”

“Of course. But the human’s description of your fandom leads me to believe that any of you ‘bronies’ would willingly give their life to live here.”

“Well of course, but….”

“You have friends back home, that you will miss dearly?”

“Exactly.”

Celestia giggled. “Perhaps one day we may invite them here.”

Phoenix raised an eyebrow slightly. “Are you…. asking me to stay here?”

“Well the way I see it Flax, if I were to send you back, you would regret it for the rest of your life.”

“So…. I can stay?”

She giggled again. “See, I knew you would prefer it here. Would you like me to set up a room for you at the castle-“

“Uh, thank you princess, but would it be alright if I could live in Ponyville?”

The others were beginning to smile; they felt they knew Phoenix somehow, because he sure knew them. They didn’t understand the whole human-to-pony transformation, and the subsequent arrival in Equestria, but he had proven a gentle creature, and would no doubt put himself forward to protect them should the need arise.
“As you wish, though I must insist I take you to the castle to enlighten Luna and the guards of the situation…. and to talk a little more.” She looked over at Twilight. “Twilight, you may lower the barrier now, and don’t worry, I’ll send word around town that this was a false alarm.”

With a glow of her horn, Twilight released a purplish pulse of light that swiftly extended outwards, shattering the magical barrier like glass. Rarity was the first to speak as Celestia produced a pale yellow glow from her horn, causing her and Phoenix to vanish in a blinding light.
“Well I suppose I should get back to the boutique; Sweetie Bell invited Scootaloo and Applebloom over for the night, and as usual, they’re creating quite a ruckus.”

“FRACKUS!!” Pinkie Pie yelled at the top of her lungs, hopping up and down with her usual huge grin.

“Yes, well….” Rarity raised an eyebrow at the pink party pony. “Good night darlings, I’m off.”

“Hey, Rarity?” interjected Spike as she was about to leave. “Did you want me to help?”

The white mare turned to face him and smiled. “Oh I couldn’t ask you to do that Spikey. Besides, you still need plenty of sleep.”

“Actually Rarity, Spike moved past that stage a couple months back.” Twilight cut in, “He’s still a baby dragon in terms of age, but he’s growing up, that’s for sure.” She gave a reassuring smile to Spike, and winked, nodding her head towards Rarity in an obvious gesture.

“Oh, why not then. Come on Spikey, we’d best get back before they knock over my ponyquins or make capes from my glitter cloth.”

“Man, I’m beat.” Remarked Rainbow Dash, “See you gals in the morning.” She trotted over to Applejack and planted a kiss on her cheek.

“More like midday, Dashie.” Commented the farmer pony, as they trotted off together.

Pinkie hopped up and down on the spot. “We’ll have a party for Phoen- er, I mean Flax, tomorrow arvo okay gals? Twilight, tell the princess to bring him over to Sugarcube Corner by then, okey doke?” The purple unicorn simply nodded, making a mental note to ask Spike to send the letter when he comes back from the boutique in the morning. Pinkie hopped off with Twilight following, and Fluttershy cheerfully floated off to bed.