The sun rose above the mountains and gently heated my feathers, and the rest of the small cage that kept me captive. I lifted my eyes at the sun, my spirits lifted a bit by the radiant colors that pushed through the glass window. The looked at the beautiful trees swaying from the growing wind. And, for a second, I felt like the wind was here, and I was outside enjoying this wonderful world. I opened my wings a started to fly, but my head hit the cage and I fell in the cold iron plating at the bottom of it.
The impact fortunately didn't knock me out, but, it it broke my heart that I might not ever feel free like I used to be many years ago. I slowly ascended from the floor and hopped on my perch, a bit dizzy but stable, then looked back at the swaying trees and wilderness again, that was so far away. Far, far away from here, I used to live with my own kind of phoenixes that roamed near the far lands. I was only just a baby, but some pony stole me from the nest, and brought to the marketplace, a rope tied around my little leg that was also wrapped around a large stick. The pony barely fed me, days passed so fast, I seemed as if the sun only came out to drop back down again.
I was finally old enough to fly, I wanted to be free, but the pony still kept me captive for years, only when another white pony with golden armor bought me and carried me to a young princess not far from where I was, then took me to a young princess still in her diapers. In spite of all that I have been through, they put me in a iron cage, and I stood there, bored and alone for days. At least I was fed. Greatly in fact. I also was the center of attention from many pony's, but what was all that for when, at the end of the day, I still can't fly free?
Nothing even made sense.
But, at least I did have a little fun.
Just a few weeks back, the princess held me by the cage and walked me through the city, I guess she wanted me to take a look outside and take a 'breath of fresh air, and, she accidentally let the door cage open. Just fora laugh, I flew out and set some buildings in a blaze, then propped myself on a burned building and snickered. I watched as they put out the fire, then the princess used her bad magic to levitate me back into the metal cage. Then snapped it shut.
I could tell she was mad, she hit me. But I didn't feel the slightest bit sorry. The next morning, she came to me and apologized. But if she is sorry, then please, set me free! But I still am kept captive in the cold walls and iron bars.
I know nothing more than to sit here and gather dust until death. I feel as if a part of me has flown away, looking for others so that it wont be so lonely anymore.
At a certain point in time, I went a bit crazy. I pecked at others that went near me. I drew my feathers and tried to fly, I hit my head again. But that never stopped me. I still tried to burn the metal and wiggle out from the cage, I wanted to fly free again. Why must I suffer this dread? No other pony feels the pain I feel when I sit there in the one spot near the window, set like a statue for people to look at. I'm not a piece of hard stone. I am real, I have feelings, I can breath, and all I want to do, is fly.
While I was set into a fit, one guard pierced me with needle. I fell silent and limp, and also tired. I fell to the bottom of the cage.
I wasn't sure how long I was unconscious, but Celestia was very mad at me. She did not know why I was acting like this.
I wish she knew how I felt. But she doesn't.
She quietly talked to me and left minutes later.
By the next following morning, I saw something that shocked me to the core, It wasn't enough to keep me here alone, and now, the cut down the forest. I see many of the ponies with their horrible magic, and they cut down the beautiful trees. I can even see animals running in fear. Why do they do this? I let out a cry for other animals to try to take action at least, but they are too far to hear me, too far to even be seen. By the hour, all I saw were tree stumps and dying grass.
Why must I suffer?
Now, there was no more animals, and I watch the ponies plan for even more destruction. I watch sadly. I feel dim. I feel like the light I make is going out. The burn that I make is turning brittle. I miss nature. I miss the animals, even the dragons.
As the night sets by, I stood there and thought about my life. It wasn't much. All I did was be fed, taken out a bit, and gotten myself in trouble. I wish I was never here.
The next day, Celestia looked at me with sad eyes.
"I'm sorry." She said.
"I know how you feel, I know what you want."
She used her magic to hold up the cage, and she took me to the front of the large castle. She opened the doors, and I felt the sweet wind against my wings. Then opened the cage, and this time, left it wide open.
I looked back at her with surprised eyes. Why was she doing this? Did she finally figure it out?
As I looked into her eyes, they weld up in tears. And I suddenly came to realization. She was so kind to know how I feel. She did this from the bottom of her heart. I flew out of the cage and landed on her shoulder. I brushed her cheek with my beak and sang. Then looked back up at the sky with my spirits lifted high. And with a great leap of faith, I jumped and spread my wings as far as I can stretch them. I flew around the castle for a while, then out into the outdoors.
"I'll be back soon." I said to myself.
