I'm not one for judging time based on the sun, but it took us well into the morning to get back to where Scootaloo was going. She had left the edge of the forest and was marching towards a town that I could only assume she lived in, trotting sadly but determinedly toward the place. I hesitated at the forest edge, watching her go as I pondered my situation. She was surprised to see a "Real Phoenix" as she put it, Implying that they weren't common. In fact, phoenixes may be just a story told to kids here or something. Walking into town after her definitely wouldn't be a good idea, I'd only draw attention to myself before I figure out what the hell is happening.

And so I turned around and walked back into the cover of the forest, reasoning that in town she would be reasonably safe. I had my own problems to work out, and I didn't have time to look out for a kid, especially not one of a species I knew nothing about. I don't know how long I walked in the line but I was reasonably surrounded by trees, I stopped and perched on the root of a tree and looked over myself, desperately trying to remember everything I could about Phoenixes.

From what I could recall, Phoenixes were mythological creatures that possessed incredible regenerative capabilities, even if killed they were known to come back from death from their ashes. There are rumors that they transform into human shapes and other rumors that they can move faster than light. The last one I'm finding hard to believe, but maybe the first one gives me options. Anyhow, moving on, I've heard about their superhuman strength. Such strength that even in a human form they could break free from a nailed-shut and buried coffin in the ground. I'm sure there's more but I just ca-

I winced as a lance of pain shot through my head, causing me to let out a squawk and collapse to the floor. It took me a few moments, but I managed to get back up, Holding a wing up to my head. Was I still hurt? Hells Bells I really need to figure this shit out... I got up and kept walking, Trotting, Whatever the term for a bird walking is. If I could find a proper river maybe I could get something to drink, Heck now that I think about it I haven't had anything to eat or drink in a day or two... Was river water even drinkable? Hell, I really should have read more on Emergency Survival Situations...

Hours Later.

After a while, I just kinda zoned out... Mulling over the events of the past 2 days almost fervently as I tried to make sense of it all. Hell, I was so unfocused on the area around me that I nearly walked straight off of another cliff! I noticed just in time to stop and stumble backward onto my back, Rolling over onto my feet to find that I had found a canyon. Whether or not it was the same canyon as last night, I had no idea. This one seemed less wide, and I could see a broken bridge further along the canyon. Some sort of Castle Ruins across the way seemed to be my best hope of shelter, Too bad it was on the other side of the damn bridge.

I looked pensively at my previously damaged wing, flapping it a few times experimentally. No pain shot through my body so I could probably assume it was at least relatively functional... Ah screw it, maybe there was something I could use in there, at the very least it was a roof to hide under if it started to rain. These cheerful thoughts filled my head as I stepped back a good 8 to 10 feet, clawing the dirt a little bit getting ready to make a run-up.

'Alright, Just don't look down, and keep moving. Speed, Get speed, Let yourself glide like you did from the plane...' I attempted to focus out the background, my gaze locked on what was in front of me. And with a final stamp of my leg, I took off like a shot, far faster than I expected but I ran with it! I flew over the ledge at a solid sprint, my wings snapping out wide as I glided across the gorge with relative ease. I should have known it was going too well however, because when I got to the other end of the gorge I hit the ground belly first and slid a good foot or two before coming to a halt... 'Really hope nobody saw That either...' I grumbled to myself in my head as I stood up, looking up at the looming ruins ahead of me. And, shaking out my ruffled feathers, I started marching towards it.

A few minutes later

I came into the ruins at some sort of throne room, many hallways and doors leading in many different directions. I took note of the fact that this room seemed to lack a ceiling, and I took a glance up at the bright blue sky. I basked in the warmth for a good minute or two before shaking my head again, 'Focus, Find a place for tonight, then see if this place has a library or something...' And with a solid goal in my mind, I started walking.

After a good hundred paces into a hallway though I heard a distinct Click as I felt one of my feet sink a little further than the other. I had about two seconds to feel horror flash through my mind when a simple bolder dropped from the ceiling. Smushing me flat onto the rock floor, and leaving me breathless as I lay there panting. 'Right...' I coughed out. 'Durable as hell...' Experimentally I moved both wings to push against the floor, Heaving with all my might. And to my surprise, the thing rolled backward off of me. I turned and saw a boulder a good 5 feet tall rolling down the hallway I had just come from! I swear I almost laughed, but Instead, I shook myself out and kept moving.

It only took me a few more minutes to find a relatively intact sleeping area, though I made sure to walk on every part of the floor just to make sure it wouldn't try to kill me either. It was a large ornate room full of reddish hues, sun-themed decorations filling the chamber. A large wardrobe in one corner, What looks like a woman's makeup thingamajigger sat on the opposite corner from the wardrobe. There seemed to be a large standing space on a big sun-themed carpet in the middle of the room, and the bed was a queen-sized bed with white and orange hues for its covers. I saw a trunk under the bed and managed to drag it out, and instead of looking in it I used it as a stepstool to get more easily onto the bed.

Now I know I said I'd find shelter and go find a library or something, but I'm not to proud to admit that when I flopped down onto the bed, I passed out hard. It had been a long few days so far and I was sure it wasn't gonna be getting any easier. I just didn't have enough willpower left over to drag myself out of the comfort of the old dusty sheets. And not long after, I drifted off as black filled my vision.

Author's Note

Ho-ly SHIT! This took me SO LONG to get out and I am SO SORRY to all of you who showed this story so much interest and support! I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter and still look forward to the next. It took me a while to figure out where I wanted to take this, and I think you're gonna like what I have in store in the next few chapters ;P
Until next time friends!