Chapters A Flare in the night sky.
Author's Note
Ok, so I've seen a lot of different versions of what a phoenix's powers are considered to be. So I'm going to give you a quick explanation of the version I'm using here.
Characteristics
The phoenix was a powerful being that appeared human. It possessed the ability to incinerate things through touch and was immune to conventional methods of killing; though the phoenix could technically "die", it would resurrect soon after being killed. Upon death, the phoenix would combust and form a pile of ashes. These ashes are poisonous to its mother, Eve, and can be used to kill her.
Powers and abilities
Immortality – The phoenix was long-lived and impervious to things that would kill a human (gunshot, hanging).
Invulnerability – The phoenix has high resilience to standard weapons.
Pyrokinesis – With a single touch, the phoenix was capable of incinerating humans to cinders.
Resurrection – When a phoenix is killed, the death is only temporary as it will rise from the ashes.
And since at the beginning it states that it appeared human, I'm going to assume that it was able to switch between the two. And I'm going to be considering this as a phoenix from the HUMAN world entering the PONY world. So, Philomena is going to basically have the same powers, except for being able to switch between appearing human or not. Hope I was able to clear up any confusion before it happened. Enjoy the story! Also, any feedback on how I can improve on my writing would be GREATLY appreciated! I'm still new at this whole thing and any advice on how to improve is invaluable.
A Flare in the night sky.
I don’t remember the plane crash, I just know it happened. It was a normal day, I had boarded the plane after having spent the weekend in California visiting the beaches and stuff. We took off normally and I eventually nodded off. Then suddenly I was startled awake by a loud ripping noise. Looking to the source of the noise I saw that a few rows ahead of me the plane wall had been torn open. And people were being sucked out. Then I heard a cracking noise come from my window. Looking towards it I had just enough time to mutter “For fuck sake” before the wall exploded open, Launching me out of the plane. The only thing I heard after that was the rushing of the wind, and screaming. Sometimes I heard my own screams, Sometimes I heard others.
The spinning eventually made me pass out. And when I regained consciousness I was still in the sky, though no longer in my seat. But the strangest thing was it was nighttime, and I felt different, VERY different. Not the sort of difference you’d expect to feel while falling to your demise. But the kind of difference that gives you the sensation of not being in your own body. The next thing I did was something that I have absolutely no idea why I did. I spread out my arms and moved my legs together to where they were positioned behind me. And surprisingly? It fucking worked! I felt my arms catch the air, and I started to GLIDE. Which is weird because human arms are like, not meant for flying at all. In an attempt to figure out what the fuck was going on I looked to my left, and what I saw scared the ever-living shit out of me. What I saw wasn’t my arm, but a WING. Specifically a bright GLOWING orange wing with what looked like a yellow set of secondary feathers which were ALSO glowing.
The only thing I could do was scream out the only words I knew to accurately describe what I was feeling.
I’m not gonna lie, I stayed there face down on the mud for a while. Not sure how long to be honest. My face hurt, my ears hurt, my wings hurt, my legs hurt, basically, my everything hurt. Eventually, I heard a noise, a continuous noise that sounded like a kid crying. Ok, now that’s something that warrants investigation, a kid crying in the woods? That’s never good. I may be hurt but a kid is a kid. Pushing my wings against the mud I lifted myself onto my legs. Turning toward the noise I noticed a small filly looking thing standing in front of what looked like a massive gorge. Wow, I could have hit that gorge, guess I got lucky. Though I don’t get why a filly is crying, eh what the hell? Somehow I got transformed into some sort of bird, nothing should seem crazy now.
I was about to call out when suddenly I saw the kid take a few steps back, then do the little hoof kicking thing horses do when they’re about to charge something. With widening eyes I realized what the kid planned to do, and I wasn’t having it, here’s hoping I weigh enough. Flapping my wings is still new to me so I wasn’t able to get very far off the ground but that wasn’t my aim thank the lord. She began running, and I began flying. Our paths intercepted just before she hit the gorge. Pushing my head down so that my beak didn’t pierce her skin or anything I shoved the top of my head into her shoulder. And both of us went rolling. When we stopped I was on the ground, and she was a few feet away from me, staring at me in complete surprise.
“w-why did you do that?”
The question wasn't unwarranted, but I had the same one.
"I could ask you the same thing, what the hell were you thinking?" I had better things to worry about other than the fact that this horse was both orange, and talking. This kid just tried to END itself. Though unfortunately me being some sort of bird didn't help on the communication part...
"Oh right, I cant understand you. Guess I should have expected that." I glared at her and gestured toward the gorge with my right-wing which was bent at an odd angle. Then I did the bird equivalent of raising my eyebrow, which is to just slightly close one eye and open the other. Wait a second. Wing, bent at an odd angle. Opening both of my eyes wide I turned my head to my wing, what I meant to say was along the lines of "JESUS WHAT THE HELL DID I DO?" but all that came out was a squawking sound. Reaching to it with my other wing I attempted to put it back to the angle it looked like it was meant to be at. And surprisingly? It worked. I was surprised at first but then I got my first good look at myself. I was covered in mud, yeah but it wasn't hard to figure out the species of bird I am. I'm a fucking phoenix!
Satisfied by the fact that my wing was healing, though flying wasn't gonna be a thing that would happen for an hour at least. I turned back to the kid, Once again performing the gestures trying to figure out what the fuck is going on with her and the gorge. And it finally clicked in her head. Her pupils shrunk into her eyes, and her ears flattened against her head. She seemed ready to run and hide. But I made sure to position myself between her and the gorge, just in case.
Eventually, she cracked. And by cracked I mean completely fucking broke down. She collapsed to the mud crying her eyes out and trying to speak. Though with her crying I couldn't make any of it out. Walking was still awkward but I managed it. I moved over to her and wrapped my wings around her barrel, in an attempt at a hug. She seemed to appreciate it, and we sat there for a while. Not moving a single inch. And eventually, under the night sky, she nodded off. So I spread myself across her like a blanket. Wrapping my wings around her in an attempt to keep her warm. She was slightly bigger than me but I did what I could. And eventually, I fell asleep too.
I woke up first, But I didn't move. It was morning, yet I didn't dare disturb her. Instead, I began to think, about both my circumstances and hers. In my case, I have no fucking clue what's going on. I WAS on a plane on my way to Colorado, On my way home. But then I was in some sort of accident. But something happened, something weird. Like I jumped dimensions or something. If my math is right then we should be somewhere in Utah, but I don't remember Utah having any gorges. But then again I did fail geography. But then again if there were talking horses in Utah I'm pretty sure they would have appeared on the news at some point. Which points to this either being another world, or a different time. Maybe re-incarnation? who the fuck knows. And if I really am a phoenix why did the crash bang up my wing like that? I mean it's pretty much healed now, heck I can hardly tell it was ever hurt. Which the second half makes sense but the first half?
From what I've read phoenixes are pretty damn hard to hurt, even harder to kill. Actually, whenever a phoenix dies they rise from the ashes. So what the hell happened with the wing? Did that happen when I hit the tree? or at some other point before I regained consciousness? Maybe it's something with being fresh out of reincarnation? Ah, shit no way to really tell at this point, Something to look into later. But in the kid's case? Something doesn't add up. Surely her parents would be looking for her? Why haven't they found her? And why the hell was she trying to throw herself into the gorge? What the hell could possibly have happened? Something traumatic for sure, but I've no idea what that could possibly be. All I can do is ask her when she wakes up, oh wait. I can't even do that because I can't even talk to the damn kid. Not only am I in deep shit, so is she presumably. And I don't know what to do. All I know HOW to do is hug her. I cant communicate with her to console her or ask her what happened which means all I can do is give her physical comfort. And a hug is the best thing to do that with.
My thoughts were interrupted by a groaning sound from below me. Realizing she was waking up I decided to pretend I was still asleep, see how she reacts. That way I can gauge where I stand with her, and where she stands on how she's feeling. After a few moments I felt her lift her head, she looked back and forth before presumably seeing or feeling me on her back. "So it wasn't a dream then. Hey, wake up! I never thanked you." I lifted my head and opened my eyes, the first sight after doing so was her big, purple? eyes. She seemed to want to get up but she also didn't want to do so with me on her back. After realizing this I slid off of her back and moved to where I was standing in front of her. She stood up and looked at me in complete amazement.
"Wow! I never thought I'd see an actual phoenix! And I especially didn't think I'd meet it by it saving my flank."
Ok so it's confirmed, I'm a phoenix. But that doesn't explain a great many things. Like why the hell she's out here in the first place. But I've got no way of asking her anything right now. Well shit, all I can do is stand and look at her.
"I guess you can't really talk huh?" I shake my head no. "Well thanks for saving me there, I thought it was right. But after trying it and failing, I realize what a big mistake I was about to make. Thanks for saving me back there. I should really get back to town. Oh, and before I leave, I'm Scootaloo." And with that, she turned and started walking in a direction that, presumably, led to a town.
Now hold on a second. Am I really about to let a child escort herself through a possibly dangerous forest all by her lonesome? I may be irresponsible but I'm not THAT irresponsible. So with that, I started walking after her, following her from a distance. I'd fly but I still haven't really figured out how to do that. I'll make sure she gets through the forest at least. After that, I'll take some time to figure this out. And with that final thought, I began weaving through bushes and trees to try and keep her in sight, but myself out of sight.
Author's Note
Not very long I know, I kinda just threw it together at like 3 AM. The beginning sat there for a good while, and I just wanted this chapter finished. That way I had something new to build off of. Had a bit of inspiration this past weekend and managed to pump out a new story and a new chapter for THIS story. Hope you guys enjoy it! I promise I'll try and make the next one longer and smoother.
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
As the sun started to set, I winced as sunlight blared in through the window and pulled the covers over my head again. But as I tucked myself further in I frowned, something felt.... off. So I threw the covers off of my head and sat up, looking around I didn't notice anything in the room with me. I was still in that big sleeping spot with the sun decorations, Nothing had entered the room as far as I could tell. But then I decided to look down, the reason I made that decision being the fact that I was sitting up. Which was something that would be difficult to do as a bird.
I tossed off the blanket and was dumbfounded, like literally speechless. Now I'm gonna be honest, I ignored the hell out of the mixture of genders between my new legs. I did NOT wanna think about that right now. But I did think about my actual legs and the fact that they now ended in hooves. My whole body had taken on the appearance of a pony pegasus! Now I'm not going to lie, I did scream, I screamed rather loudly in fact. I tried to get up but tripped over my new legs and smacked nose first into the ground, and I felt wings on my back flapping wildly. Now normally that would be funny, until the wild flapping sent me careening into the nearest wall.
Pain flashed through my new nervous system as I heard a rather loud and rather graphic Crunch as my wing was mashed between me and the stone wall. Now as I lay there, rather sure I was bleeding onto the floor, I began to think. Why was I suddenly a pegasus when I was a bird earlier? Why had it happened while I was asleep? And why, oh why, did this keep on happening to me?!
I managed to compose myself a while later, okay a long while later. Sunset had long passed, and the moon shone high in the sky. I had managed to figure out how to move around with FOUR legs now and sat frowning at the window trying to take stock of myself. But then I realized something... Why does the moon have a mare marked all over its surface? Okay, that just about confirms that this isn't anywhere near where I came from... Anywho, back to my new configuration. Yes, I had confirmed that I was Both mare and stallion. Now that in and of itself was disturbing, but I had also taken on a rather LARGE wingspan. Well, one of them was long at least, the other was still mangled and bleeding.
Don't look at me like that, I'm not a doctor I'm a professor! And even if I were a doctor none of my knowledge would apply to this stupid horse's body. Anywho, I had ended up with what I could only deem as a female face, judging only by that kid's face I saw earlier. When I tried talking, I was able to but It came out in a raspy girl voice. Before I had gone to the window I had observed myself in the makeup thingamajigger and realized that I had a firey mane, like If someone had taken to my head and dyed my hair as If it was burning. What freaked me out was the fact that it flowed on my head despite the lack of wind!
I had an orange pair of eyes, and the sclera of my eyes seemed to fade from orange to black in a sort of sunset with my orange iris acting as the sun. My pupils were long tall slits rather than round giving me a predator-type look, a far cry different from what I had seen on that cute little filly. When I opened my mouth I had pointy teeth and long sharp fangs that hung from my mouth, and as my gaze trailed down my new body, I realized that my tail behaved in much the same way as my mane. And I had a weird collection of feathers tattooed on my ass.
Now, as I sit with my head on the window sill, finally managing to stop screaming AGAIN about how fucking weird I looked, my throat hurt. And though my stomach was yelling at me about food and water, I couldn't bring myself to move at all thanks to the pain in my wing and the exhaustion that trailed behind my eyes. Now that struck me as odd, why was I so fucking exhausted despite having just slept for... Who the hell knows how long? Maybe some sort of drain from the sudden transformation? Possibly from the boulder that landed on me before I initially fell asleep? Or could I still be recovering from the whole fall from the sky thing at the start of this whole ordeal?
"Fuckin stupid piece of shit mother fuckin..." I sat there fuming. Why did this all have to be so difficult? Why had this all happened at all? What the fuck do I do about this stupid fucking wing?! I sighed... "Whatever!" I stood up and started out of the room, doing my best to ignore the agony in my wing as it dragged across the floor. My legs tripped me up now and then as I walked down the hallway. I just started flinging curses, doing my best to focus on the layout of the building.
I don't know how long I roamed like that, fuming so hard I swear I could smell smoke. Until I stumbled across something labeled "Failed Enchantment Experiments". I smiled at that, my mood suddenly improving by a small margin. Something cool like that could take my mind off of this bullshit, So I reared back and gave a quick buck to the door latch. The old rusted thing gave way easily, a small flash of light as some sort of magical lock collapsed. The door swung open and I stormed in, looking about trying to find something cool.
Now there wasn't a whole lot that seemed intact, everything in here was in some way shape, or form rusted, and or crumbled away. Except for one object that seemed to stand the test of time, it was a purple and blue shield with a glowing white crescent moon on the front. It was labeled to be a "Magic Proof Shield", created as an attempt to redirect magical attacks away from regular foot soldiers of whatever time this is from. The shield was labeled as a "Failed Enchantment" because of the failure to redirect enough energy to prevent a lethal buildup of heat in the metal guige on the shield. Resulting in permanent nervous damage and 3rd degree burns in at least 7 test subjects before they were no longer allowed to continue research and development.
Now it wasn't locked behind chains like a few of the other older and more damaged objects in here, so I figured nopony would mind if I... reappropriated such a tool. I took it off of its mount and placed it on my back, wincing as it rubbed against part of my damaged wing, but managing to ignore it after that. I was just about to head back out into the hallway when I heard a massive Crack-BOOM off in the distance.
My head snapped around to the origin point and I found myself galloping towards it, silently cursing myself for running into danger. It took me a good minute to cross the distance, and I even took a shortcut outside and over a wall, and up to the roof. As I approached I started sneaking, peaking down over the broken and damaged roof. Down below I caught sight of a rather large unicorn mare wearing ornate blue armor, her fur a midnight black as she cackled down at a smaller purple-looking unicorn. The larger mare seemed to have wings as well, which made me tilt my head to one side in confusion. And that is when she started talking again...
"You thought you could take me on Alone little foal?!" She started cackling, Her horn blazing into life as she charged it up with what I'm assuming is magic. "Pity you won't get the chance to regret such actions!"
I didn't even know I moved. I don't know what could have possibly possessed me, and suddenly I was silently pissed at myself for such a stupid choice. I landed between the Cackling Pegacorn thing and the purple unicorn, Spiderwebs spread out in the concrete as one of my legs promptly snapped in two. But I ignored the pain, I brought the shield to bear, quickly strapping it to my right forehoof and bracing my good leg on the ground. And then the blast hit the shield, light blazing from around the protective barrier. I winced as I felt the shield already heating up, I could faintly hear conversation in the background but I ignored it.
I clenched my teeth as agony shot up my leg, I could smell my flesh burning but I ignored that too. I thought I could hear myself bellowing a warcry as my shield did its job, Why oh why had I done this again? Who even was that purple mare? What could have possibly possessed me to do such a thing?!
My thoughts raged on as suddenly a bright light appeared behind me, some sort of rousing speech or whatever hit my ears but I couldn't focus on that now. And the moment the magic assaulting me let up, a light so bright it almost blinded me lanced across at the pegacorn, enveloping her in... Rainbow? I winced as I tried to cover my eyes, my legs failing me as I collapsed onto the concrete... The light let up and my eyes felt heavy, I was faintly aware of a sudden gasp from far more voices than I thought had been here originally... And then all I knew was black.
Author's Note
*Cackles evilly* Hello again my friends! I hope you enjoyed that chapter, I know it was kinda jarring, but I wanted it to be. I was trying to portray our ponified phoenix's displeasure at, and I quote. "Why does this keep happening to me?"
Chapter 5 - Partial Discovery
Author's Note
Okay Okay, Bear with me, please. People are worried that the pegasus is gonna become the main staple for this story. But this is called Flare the Phoenix! not flare the Fire Pegasus. Explanations are coming but I would like the opportunity to explain it with events in the story rather than spoiling it. There is a plan! I promise! I've reworked a few things, and hopefully, this next chapter goes down easier than the last few. It's not very long, and I would definitely appreciate feedback, but I think It turned out okay.
Edit - In my efforts to course correct a little bit, I may have accidentally created a continuity problem in this chapter. I'm pretty sure I've corrected it but please feel free to belittle me If I fuck it up again xD
Enjoy!
Chapter 5 - Partial Discovery
When I woke up again, I didn't have a clue where or what I was. It was like I could feel but everything was wrapped in static, the same deal with my vision. I was able to tell I was outside at least, and judging by the Sun it was around noon. When I checked my memory, I found a big fat blank between last night and now, which made sense of course. Thats what happens when an Idiot still learning their anatomy with absolutely no combat skills jumps in front of a laser beam.
I managed to get myself rolled over after a few moments and caught sight of one of my wings... Left or right? No clue, I am still rebooting parts of my brain... Although It looked scorched and bent, even as I watched it began repairing itself, Albeit slowly. After allowing my body a little bit more time on the mend, I attempted to stand. And as I did I re-acquainted myself with my Phoenix form, seeing as that's the one I'm back in... I wonder what the hell that Pegasi form was all about. God I need to find a book on this shit, I'm a novice with this sorta mythology at best.
Still, Stringing myself up by my bootstraps [figuratively of course] I started moving. Taking in my surroundings put me in the Forest still, again with no clue what had occurred between last night and now... If it WAS even last night. Anywho, putting that aside for now. My body was on the mend, keeping on trend with the Phoenixness... if that's a word, of my new self.
Walking through the forest gave me an appreciation for nature if I'm being honest, The scents the sights, all of it was new and I couldn't get enough of it! The plants were weirdly shaped, a bit creepy if I were to see it at night but In the day it wasn't too bad... Weird black vines growing in certain spots that shouldn't really be, you know, where vines grow? Hard to describe but they gave me weird vibes. Heck, even the Animals were bonkers! Stuff I've only seen in movies and such, like that one tiger thing with the different animal bits... Dont remember what it's called but it's cool!
Eventually, when I managed to find my way back to that castle, The sun was setting but this time I didn't intend to go straight to sleep. Instead, I opted to look around and in doing so I managed to find my way into the library! And BOY let me tell you, this place was huge! Torn to shit obviously, but still fucking humungous. I managed to find where the Librarian was supposed to be sitting and found a torn-in-half table with a few books on it. They weren't very important books, just a couple of fiction stories. What I was looking for was in the drawers to the desk, it was old and worn but it was there! A catalog! Luckily it was in the first place I looked, I did NOT wanna go searching through this entire place for what I needed.
Going through the Catalog I found a couple of books referencing the word 'Phoenix' and scurried off to gather them. Of course, I couldn't pick anything up with my hands or anything, but I could knock them to the floor and nose through them! heck, these talons could be used to grasp them If I had to. Anywho, the point is I went and gathered a few books on Phoenixes. This library had quite a few of them. Because of the sheer size or some other reason, I don't know, but I was grateful. Going through a few of them I found out a few things, Usually Phoenix's are lots bigger than I am, sometimes ranging to be pony-sized or bigger. That put me on the Squirt side of things, but anywho. Apparently, the Phoenix has some badass abilities that I haven't even begun to grasp. There's quite a large variance in a Phoenix's power but some are strong enough to bend time in certain ways even. And in some extreme cases, they possess nigh omnipotence?!
I sincerely doubt I got that lucky, but it's quite a nice thing to realize. Maybe... Okay, it's time for theorizing here. My case Is clearly special, right? Obviously Phoenix's aren't usually just spawned into existence from other isekai'd idiots like me. So maybe something went wrong? Thats option A I guess. It would explain being undersized and underpowered... Option B, maybe I got dumped into a young body? Still developing power and size and shit? But is that even how that works?! And Option C, I'm just a shitty little runt phoenix, which would suck.
If I'm being honest... Option B seems more likely, my flight isn't really up to par even when I do manage to get off the ground, and I've only been shown to have a few of the powers mentioned. So maybe I'm still developing them? If so why'd I randomly transform into that Pegasus? Could I consciously do that now or is that something that just... happens? I suppose it's something to try...
So, I tried it. Clearing my head, I focused on the feeling of that Pegasus form. Holding the image in my mind I put some effort behind it, like straining a muscle but instead of a muscle, I strained my mind. I don't know why I did it like that, It just felt... Natural. And, when I opened my eyes again, there I was. Standing on 4 hooves in a pegasi body! I did a little dance in my excitement and tripped over a book, plopping to the ground and instantly finding myself back in the Phoenix form. So, that happened... and now I feel tired, is that what was supposed to happen the first time? what the hell happened with it last time? I didn't even have to try before! Turning my attention back to the books I searched for an answer, and searched... and searched.
I was tired, annoyed, and frankly confused. The perfect mixture for frustration to flourish, and In that frustration I failed to notice the sparks around my talons... Right up until the book I was reading caught fire! Scrambling backwards I panicked, Looking around I found no direct water source or anything, So I just kinda... Threw myself on top of it, wings spread. I didn't expect it to put out the fire, but I figured my fireproof self could keep it contained to that book at least. And I succeeded! Mostly... It didn't spread any further at least. Luckily that wasn't the only book on this stuff, but still... what the hell just happened?
Okay... Slow down, think! uh... Well, I WAS gonna tell myself to think using my name but I've just realized I've BLANKED on it! What the fuck? No name! Not even a letter? oh, you are SHITTING me! I mean, I knew that happened sometimes in the shows but this is bullshit! I can't even insult myself properly! Okay okay okay, deal with that LATER... for now, Firestarting FEET. Thats uh, incredibly dangerous! especially in a forest like the one around the castle.
Okay let's take a step back and look at this objectively, So my powers are activating sporadically, sometimes requiring effort while other times NOT requiring ANY effort... which is dangerous. I'm effectively a RUNT and very volatile with absolutely no control... Yupp, screams child to me. That fuckin stinks, God knows how difficult BIRD puberty is gonna be. And... Wait, How would puberty even work with this shit? Cuz when I'm in Phoenix form I'm at least MOSTLY sure I'm a male, but when I'm shifted I land in some weird mash-up of the two. What the hell is pony puberty even like?! Grrr I'm getting a headache! Wait a second, is that the sun?
Looking up through a hole in the old and worn ceiling I could see light streaming through... I had been here since the start of the night period, and looking back I've triggered at least 2 powers in the same night, 3 if you count regenerating my injuries... I can feel the fatigue now that I look for it, but it's like it's not as important as it should be... That could be dangerous If I don't pay attention to that. Either way, It looks like my body is tired, and so is my brain... Maybe I should go back to that comfy room and take a nap?
Before getting up to go to sleep, I spent a few moments cleaning up my mess. I swept the burnt-up book to one side and stacked the other books I had gathered into a neat pile. And then, after another 10-minute search [god I need a map] I tracked down the room I slept in the other night, and clambered onto the bed, passing out nearly instantly.
Chapter 6 - JournalEntryOne
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. I hummed to myself as I beat my wings rhythmically. I couldn't really explain how flying was If I tried... even thinking about It I make a few wrong flaps... It's sort of like breathing I guess, instinct mostly. I was keeping low, just above the forest canopy. I was moving at a decent tilt from what I could gather, the wind in my face felt GOOD. I wanted to angle up and cheer as I took to the skies! But I held myself back, the last thing I needed to do was announce my presence more than I already had, I was on my way to the town where I had seen the kid walk off towards the last I saw her... I figured she'd be the less difficult thing to scratch off my To-Do list.
My idea was simple, though my Pegasi form was still a bit difficult for me to hold for long periods, I didn't plan on staying long. Pop in for a glance, make sure she was alright, and disappear again. It's not like I was worried or anything! No, I just wanted to make sure she had improved some at least. Didn't want to end up having to knock her back to solid ground again. Then I could get back to the big problems, political and Biological. Plus, while I was there I could use a few of these Coin things I swiped from the castle ruins to buy some food.
I carried a bag of them in one talon as I flew, I didn't know how much food was gonna cost around here so I brought twenty just in case. 'Might get me a bit of bread if I'm lucky...' Gah! Grumbling thoughts aside! The town was on the horizon, meaning I had guessed the direction correctly. I circled around and landed at the edge of the forest, Figuring it'd be a decent place to transform and walk up... And so that's exactly what I did. When I landed I pictured the Pegasi Mare thing I had been, Every detail, every muscle... Jeez, Shapeshifters must have it HARD if they have to do it to such detail...
I felt the magic and a lance of pain as my body reconfigured itself, and when I opened my eyes I was once more the strange-looking Pegasi mare. Though a bit different than the first form, I had changed it a bit since I used it the first couple of times just in case those mares in the fight recognize the pegasi. This one was less... Firey? I had shifted the mane to a more blackened hair rather than flowing fire. I managed to whiten the black sclera, and for safe measure, I deepened the orange of my coat to a more reddish orange than It was before. Though there wasn't Jack I could change about the mark on my flank for some reason... Like, It HAD to be that way... down to the Millimeter of the design.
Anywho, I was less Firey and off-putting, I'd also lost the fangs. I'd even managed to practice speaking! I couldn't get over the raspy girl voice, but I suppose I'd get used to it with time... I lifted a wing, tucked the bag beneath it, and then began trotting into town.
The town was rather cheery! Every pony trotting to and fro, always talking always moving. However, when I went to ask for directions. I realized with a bit of horror, That though I could understand every word of their sentences... I couldn't seem to make the same sounds they were! Sorta like with the writing... I could read it but I couldn't write the same way. A few of them looked at me rather leerily, but one of them seemed to understand the problem. They pointed at their mouth and then tapped their hoof, then rather exaggeratively tilted their head. Ah, Charades. The perfect fill-in!
I pulled the bag from my wing, tapped it, then pointed at my belly. And tilted my head as exaggeratively as they did. Tho their friends giggled the mare I was chatting with made an exaggerated "oh!" sound and then pointed down a street.
"Head down that road, take two lefts and a right! you'll find the best place in town!"
I politely dipped my head to her in thanks and then moved on. Though I was already sweating from the effort of holding the Pegasi form, it was still a manageable strain. It's sort of like taking an extra long walk. I made my way down the street, Took two lefts, and then a right. And standing in front of me was a big... 'Jeez, that looks like a gingerbread house...' Though, I supposed if I wanted food then that's the place to go. As I trotted up, there was a big sign emblazoned SugarCube Corner!! 'a bakery then, Perhaps I could get them to just gimme some bread? Not like I'm rolling in dough here...'
Sugurcube Corner was a cozy place, very sugary and sweet! And the pink mare at the coun- I froze. The pink mare at the counter was familiar... I've never seen her before, but I SWEAR I met her... I shook it off quickly, stuffing the feeling down. I trotted up to her and she very excitedly opened up with a greeting.
'Oh... Dear... LORD... My worst nightmare... AN EXTROVERT!! Quickly! Think of a reply you dumb bird!' Oh, wait... Charades time. I tapped my ear and nodded, but tapped my mouth and shook my head no. Luckily Pinkie must be the fucking GOD of charades or something because she understood perfectly.
"OH! you can't speak? Oh oh! Don't you worry about it, new friend! I'm PERFECT with all kinds of wacky forms of communication! How else could I make as many friends as I do on a daily basis?!"
'Well isn't that just... Revolting.' I wasn't able to fathom talking to so many people at once, I could handle being in a busy town but actively ENGAGING with as many as possible? Never gonna happen. Anywho, I'm hungry. I placed my bag of bits on the counter and pointed at my belly, hoping she'd get the idea and just hoof me over a menu or something. But instead, she launched into a tangent about how many different kinds of sweets and cakes and sweets and 'Holy Mother of Stars just give me a menu PLEASE'. Eventually, she stopped talking long enough for me to just tap the bag and shrug. To which she smiled!
"Surprise you? well okay then! OOO! We still need to have your welcome to Ponyville party! Here, Fill this out while I bake ya something sweet!"
And she slid a form out onto the table and... 'Wait where the hell did she go?' I look both ways... She was just gone? okay? looking at the form I expected some sort of rating system like "Rate five stars" or "Tip me!" or something... but It was a Friendship form? 'What the....' It was literally a form asking for my name, and gender along with several things relating to food preferences, fears, that sorta of thing... 'Well... I suppose there's no harm in telling her a little about myself.' So as she got to work I took the form over to a table along with a quill and started writing.
Author's Note
This chapter involved a bit more of me using '_' to try and improve the quality of Current/Present thoughts. Trying to make it smooth, but It may have turned out jankier than I meant. I am TERRIFIED of trying to write Pinkie and carry her energy into anything because I am horrified by the thought of ANYONE being that outgoing. But I suppose I've gotta give it a shot. Please keep In mind that I am heavily relying on the fact that I've read this three times at 3 AM in order to spellcheck myself with grammar and stuff because I have no editor or anything. The next chapter is gonna be about as long as this, and then I'll try to start making them a bit longer. Feel free to shout at me If I make any glaring mistakes or any sort of pet peeve you have. Otherwise? Enjoy!
PS - Pun totally intended
