"Hello everypony, and welcome back to The Filly and the Thief! Sorry that I was gone for so long. I've been waiting, and waiting to use the computer my family shares (For now) so I could continue this, then I started playing the MLP Gameloft App on a new laptop for a large amount of time. Now that I'm back, I'll try to update as soon as I can, as long as the MLP game doesn't hold me up. Now after this, I've kinda have to get back to Cupid and Zei: Adventures in Equestria for a short amount of time, too. I won't take too long, and please don't pull up any pitchforks (Sees a mob of readers outside the Studio) to kill me. I'm doing my best with both of these stories. Anyway, I also want to recommend an anime called Black Lagoon. It is one of the most bad ass anime I've ever seen, but I wouldn't have began to watch it if it weren't for Pia-Sama's Rouge Diamond story. Check it out, the pacing in it is better then the show, but I wouldn't be watching it if it weren't for The Rouge Diamond. And now, Let's get on with the SHOW!" Battle announced, closing the window and curtains, to block the angry readers.
"Open that window, Battle, and face us like an author!" They yelled, throwing javelins at the window. "Wait! I meant to say "man"!"
"Ah!" Battle opened them, and stuck his head out. "You'll have to come in here, and get me! I'm trying to start this Part/Chapter for all of you! And where did you all get javelins!?"
(All the readers looked at each other, then at the front door into the studio. They busted the door down, coming in to attack Battle.)
"Oh no!" Battle hid under the table, with the mic in his hand. "Again, Let's get on with the show."
Disclaimers: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to Lauren Faust and Hasbro. I own this story, and some of it's characters.
Note: I want to give another speech about something bad I learned recently after this part.
My Little Pony: The Magic of Two - Prologue part 4
The next day since the unnecessary panic in Canterlot, there have been news about the, Quote-on-quote, "Theft" all over the Canter Times, a News company in Canterlot. Everypony was getting it to see the news about Phoenix Burst, and his possible new "Side Kick". Even Twilight Sparkle's family got in on the news.
Twilight Sparkle was in her room, getting ready to see Phoenix Burst for their second day of changing his life, and getting all of Canterlot to trust him, when she wanted to make him something in return for all the trouble they were put through yesterday, and for the apple he bought her.
"I wonder what he would like. I'm not good at art. I could buy him something, but I don't have the bits to get him anything. I'm saving up for something Shining Armor would like. I want to get something for both of them, but I don't have the bits for them. This is kinda difficult." Twilight thought long and hard, pacing around her room.
Because of her; Phoenix Burst was into Starswirl the Bearded. She needed to save her bits for something she wanted to buy for Shining Armor, which she was still thinking about, too. She also didn't have much things with Starswirl, so maybe with the help her mother, they could make him something.
Twilight Sparkle had nodded her head, deciding on what she should do for Phoenix Burst. She went to the door to leave her room when...
"Twilight Sparkle, come down here, please!" Her father, Crescent, called from downstairs.
"Okay, daddy! I'm coming!" She replied, rushing down from her room.
Downstairs, Shining Armor, Twilight Velvet, and Crescent, were waiting for Twilight Sparkle to arrive in their living room. Crescent was holding the news paper in one hoof, Shining Armor was looking down the hallway where Twilight Sparkle would be coming through, and Twilight Velvet was facing a bookshelf.
Twilight Sparkle finally came in, hopping towards her brother.
"Good morning, everypony. What do you need to see me about?" She asked.
Crescent didn't know where to start. Twilight Sparkle looked so innocent, but to make the news for helping a criminal escape the hooves of the Royal Guards made it hard to trust that innocent look. Crescent looked at Twilight Velvet.
She had been keeping something from everypony. She had been like this for six years, since the... Incident. Crescent didn't question it, but it did concern him greatly.
"Daddy? Mommy? Shining? What's wrong?" Twilight Sparkle asked, seeing that none of the said ponies looked happy.
"Sis..." Shining was about to speak, but he was cut off by his father.
"Twilight, have you been... Seeing anypony lately?" Crescent asked.
"Yes, I have, but he doesn't want anypony to-"
"Twilight Sparkle, could the pony you're seeing be Phoenix Burst by any chance?"
Twilight Sparkle was taken back by this. She was worried that she might get in trouble with her family if she told them about Phoenix Burst, but she couldn't just hide him, either.
"Why do you want to know, daddy?" Twilight Sparkle asked, growing nervous.
"Because you and him made the front cover of the Canter Times. You guys were caught on camera at the Canterlot National Park, swinging on the streamers, while getting away from the Royal Guards." Crescent explained, showing Twilight Sparkle the paper.
"Oh no..." Twilight Sparkle took a step back, with tears welling up in her eyes. "That is us, but we weren't stealing. We were-"
"I don't care if you were stealing or not, Twilight Sparkle! I don't want you near that criminal again, do you understand?" Crescent asked strictly.
"What?! I can't just do that to him! I'm his only friend! He's trying to change his ways for the sake of our friendship!" Twilight was on the urge to cry any second.
"This paper doesn't say he is! He is only trouble, and I don't want you with him anymore! He's too dangerous!"
"Crescent-" Twilight Velvet finally stopped looking at the bookshelf, now trying to help everypony in the matter.
"I can't do that to him! He needs my help! He's my only friend, besides big brother!" Twilight Sparkle cried, lowering her ears.
"Little sister, Phoenix Burst is not somepony you should be hanging around with. He's the kind of pony that could get you into big trouble, or even hurt you if you let him." Shining Armor was also on the verge of tears.
"No! He wouldn't do that to me! We made a promise to each other! He is completely honest, and I know he would never hurt me! Because of our promises, I'm going to help him change!"
"Well Phoenix Burst is going to have to find somepony else to help him, because you're friendship is over!" Crescent yelled at his daughter, squeezing the news paper in his hoof.
Twilight Sparkle was only seconds from crying. She could only look at her family, seeing Shining Armor was looking away from her, and their parents were also keeping contact away from her. Twilight Sparkle couldn't stay in there any longer, so she ran outside.
"Twilight Sparkle!" Velvet called out, but her daughter didn't come back.
Twilight Sparkle cried her eyes out, running through Canterlot to reach the Secret Cliff. Everypony that she passed by watched her cry, but didn't call the Royal Guards in suspicion of Twilight being a side kick.
That, and Royal Guards were already all over the city, patrolling.
Twilight Sparkle finally stopped her sobbing at the entrance of the forest, leading to the Secret Cliff. She went in, keeping her mind set on telling Phoenix Burst the bad news, no matter how hard it was for her to do so.
"Understatement of the decade." Twilight replied to the Author.
Hey, hold on a minute! I thought this breaking forth wall joke was only used in... Nevermind.
At the end of the path, sitting at the edge of the cliff was Phoenix Burst, waiting patiently for Twilight to arrive. He was whistling Serah's Theme while waggling his tail. Twilight cleared her throat so it didn't sound so harsh from all the crying. It lead to her coughing madly, while Phoenix Burst kept whistling like he didn't hear anything.
"You're here early, Phoenix." Twilight said when she finally had her voice in check, wiping the tears off her muzzle.
"Twilight Sparkle!" Phoenix got up, and ran to her side. "I've been waiting for you."
"Hi Phoenix Burst. I-"
"I got here early for our second attempt at trying to convince Canterlot that I've changed. I feel really pumped, and ready to go." Phoenix Burst unintentionally interrupted Twilight Sparkle.
"Yes, I can see that, Phoenix Burst, but I-"
"I was thinking about buying you something before coming here. I didn't really know what, though, and-"
"Phoenix Burst, we can't be friends anymore!" Twilight snapped at him.
Phoenix Burst froze like an ice burg, unable to move, or think, or react to what Twilight had just said. No, literally. He turned into an Ice burg after hearing that.
"C... Can't be friends...? Why...?" He asked when he thawed out, being the only thing he could do at the moment.
"Because everypony in town found out about us, even my family! They don't want me near you, ever again! I tried convincing them that we weren't stealing, and that you were paying for what you stole, but they wouldn't listen!"
"... T-That fast? Dam...! Well we don't have to listen to them. We could go to your place, and show your family that-"
"I can't go against my family, Phoenix Burst! You got me into enough trouble as it is! We can't be friends, okay!?" Twilight screamed at him, laying her head in his chest.
Phoenix Burst was more chest fallen then Twilight was. He was now in tears, too.
His only chance to prove he wants to be good. His only friend. Gone.
"... Okay... I understand..." Phoenix replied, fighting the urge to cry.
"Phoenix Burst, are you about t cry...?"
"... No. I'm not, Twilight. I'm... Too strong for that." Phoenix gently pushed Twilight away from him, and hit his chest. "See? Too strong for tears. Crying is for those who don't have any other options. I don't have options, but I still won't cry, no matter what."
Twilight Sparkle admired the way Phoenix seemed so strong. It hurt her greatly to lose him, and they hadn't even been friends for that long. Knowing somepony for a short amount of time shouldn't have been bringing her to tears, but this was her only friend, and she was going to lose him.
"Will you be okay... Without me?" Twilight asked, biting her lower lip to keep from crying again.
"Y-Yeah. I'm Phoenix Burst; Young... Retired master criminal of Canterlot. Nopony is gonna stop me from doing the things I do best, even if what I do best is what I've retired from." Phoenix Burst acted tough for Twilight, but in truth, he was doing it for himself to make sure he didn't look emotional in front of her.
"You won't cause trouble while I'm gone?" Twilight asked.
"Yep. I'm gonna behave like a good colt while your gone, and this ribbon is going to make sure of that." Phoenix raised his right fore leg, showing Twilight the ribbon they tied on each other.
"Okay..." Twilight looked at hers, too.
Phoenix Burst and Twilight Sparkle held their gaze on the ribbons for a while. They felt their hearts shattering to millions of piece's. The only thing that was going to remain connected to them was those ribbons. It was the only thing that was going to keep them from forgetting each other.
Twilight was the first to put her hoof down, and turn towards the path back to Canterlot.
"I'll... I'll be missing you, Phoenix Burst. I won't forget what we've done together." She said, using her mane to hide the tears streaming down her face.
"... I won't forget you, either, Twilight Sparkle. It was great being with you." Phoenix also turned away, having tears stream down his face, too. "Our time was short, but it will last in my heart forever. It would hard to ever let you go, and it were to happen, it'd be over my dead body."
"Really?"
"... Yes, but that whole "Being in my heart forever" thing? That was way out of character, and so stupid. I'll miss you, but something like that won't fly with me."
That sounded like him all right, and that might have been the last thing Twilight would ever hear from him. Twilight held her mouth with a hoof, keeping her sobbing to herself. She couldn't allow Phoenix Burst to see her like this again.
"... I'm so sorry...!" Twilight cried, before running back to Canterlot.
Twilight didn't look back at Phoenix, letting that be the last time she'd ever look at him. Phoenix Burst made no reply as he sat down. He looked at the ground, fighting his urge to cry, again. He leaned his head down, and took a bite of the grass, to keep the sounds of him sobbing to a minimum.
(Five days later - In Canterlot)
It had been five days since Phoenix Burst and Twilight Sparkle split up, permanently. For those five days, Phoenix Burst hadn't made any effort to show that he'd changed. Twilight Sparkle spent her time reading, and "Playing" with her brother and new foalsitter, Cadence.
Shining Armor knew Cadence for a little while, and he thought that since Twilight Sparkle wasn't being interactive with other ponies, including him, Cadence was hired by Twilight Velvet and Crescent to be her foalsitter. She didn't know anything about the whole Phoenix Burst situation, but that didn't stop her from cheering up her new friend.
Sparkle hadn't said much to anypony since she got back home, after having to be the one to break her friend's heart. She cried in her room while she read her Starswirl the Bearded book that her and Phoenix shared. She never accepted the comfort of her family that she needed, or interacted much with Cadence. She just couldn't deal with it like she promised Phoenix Burst.
Cadence, knowing Twilight Sparkle wasn't going to say much to her, went to her room to try and talk.
"Twilight Sparkle...?" Cadence saw Sparkle on the bed, reading quietly. "Can I ask you something?"
"... Okay." Twilight replied, putting her book down on her pillow, but didn't look at Cadence.
"Me and your brother have been talking, and we wanted to know if you wanted to come help us with the party decorating in the Canterlot National Park."
"I thought the celebration was going to be held next weekend."
"It is, but everypony has volunteered to help with the decorating early. So you want to come?"
Twilight remained quiet, staring at her book. Her cheeks had dry tears, meaning she might have been sobbing earlier without anypony noticing.
"... Okay then. I'll just... Let you read in piece."
Cadence was about to leave the room, even though she didn't get an answer, when Twilight Sparkle decided to speak.
"I'll come." She said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I... I've been sitting here for a while, and I just want to get out now."
"Okay. Let's get Shining Armor, and we can go."
Twilight got out of bed, and headed out the door with Cadence. Downstairs, Shining was pacing around the living room, waiting for the girls.
"Shining Armor, we're ready!" Cadence yelled from the top of the staircase.
"We? So it's just you and me-" Shining silenced himself upon seeing his sister. "Oh! Twily! You're coming with us?"
Twilight only nodded, and walked down the stairs to stand next her brother. Shining wrapped a fore leg around his sister's neck, and brought her close to comfort her. Twilight wiggled out of Shining's grip, and went to the front door.
"Shining Armor, why is she like that?" Cadence asked.
"I... Don't know. We had a little talk with her five days ago, and she ran off. She came back an hour later, sobbing so much. Our mom and dad couldn't calm her down that night, but I managed, somehow. She repeated the words "I hurt him", but that was only when I was with her, not our parents." Shining Armor explained with most of the truth.
Shining Armor couldn't tell Cadence about Twilight Sparkle's relationship with the thief. She wouldn't take it too well, as far as Shining knew.
"Who is "he"?"
"... I don't know. Twilight wouldn't tell me." Shining raised a hoof for Cadence to hold as they head over to Canterlot National Park. "Let's get a move on, shall we?"
"Why Shining Armor..."
Cadence wrapped a fore leg around Shining's, and they went to join Twilight Sparkle.
Meanwhile on Phoenix's side, he was still heartbroken about losing her. He blamed himself for losing her, because it was his fault she got in trouble to begin with.
Phoenix Burst hadn't gone outside at all. He didn't eat anything, but drank water sometimes. He took showers daily, and washed his outfits and disguise's, even when they were already clean.
Guess he just needed something to do.
He thought about everything Twilight said that day, and how much it hurt him.
"Phoenix Burst, we can't be friends anymore!" He remembered her yelling at him. "Because everypony in town figured us out, even my family! They don't want me near you, ever again! I tried convincing them that you want to change, but they wouldn't listen!"
Those words made Phoenix Burst feel sad, but at the same time... Angry. He wasn't mad at Twilight Sparkle. He could only understand that she was only trying to protect him, while obeying her family, but it still made him burn with anger.
No. The pony he was angry at was himself. He wasn't going to stick a blame flag on his hind quarters, not at all, but he couldn't excuse the fact that his actions lead them to this.
"I can't believe this. I let this happen. I should have known that bring her along was going to cause this. I knew the risks, and I went through with it like I had it all under control. Now look where I stand." Phoenix Burst looked down towards his talons, scratching the floor of his bedroom. "I should have known better. I should have kept Twilight at the Secret Cliff. I should have listened to the Royal Fart- No, wait. If I did that, we would have still been caught. The only thing that would have kept things from turning out this way is keeping Twilight away from town while I paid for the apple. I could have done that, but I didn't, and now I've lost her!"
Phoenix Burst picked up his toothbrush, and threw it across his room towards the bathroom. It landed in his toilet.
"Eww! I shouldn't have done that." Phoenix said, finally getting up after all of his mopping to get his dirty brush. "Twilight Sparkle... We haven't even been friends for that long, and I miss you already. For so long, I thought friendship and family was overrated, and contrived. I didn't like it, but I didn't know why, and I didn't want to know why. For so long, I was alone on the streets, doing things my way, but running away altogether. I thought that... One day, if anypony would ever give me a chance, I would do anything to change my ways. I didn't know where to start, and I didn't want to start on my own. I wanted friends... I wanted to be loved... I wanted to share with somepony... Twilight Sparkle, when I met you, I thought if I made a different approach, and some things that would be considered "Friendly", you'd be my friend. After the first day that we met, I did everything in me to keep us friends... Then I had to slip up by getting you in trouble!"
Phoenix smashed his talons on a wall, cracking it, and hurting his knuckle. He didn't care about the pain, as long as he felt something other then his pain of losing Twilight Sparkle.
"Why do I have these feelings...? Why do I feel this way...? I don't know much about you, but you've made such a big impact on me. Twilight Sparkle... How can I ever forgive myself...?" Phoenix dropped his toothbrush in the sink, and left the bathroom.
(Meanwhile - At the Canterlot National Park)
Shining Armor, Cadence, and Twilight Sparkle had finally made it to the park, ready to help everypony with the party that was going to be held in several weeks. Twilight remained silent throughout the walk there, and had her head leaning on Shining. She didn't cry, or speak, or look at either of the older ponies.
Cadence and Shining were very worried about her, but they knew Twilight wasn't going to respond to much of the things they say.
"Twilight, we're here." Shining said, looking at his sister.
"I can see that." Twilight got off of Shining, and walked forward to see if she could help anypony. "I'm going to see if anypony needs any help."
"... Well, I might need help, Twilight." Cadence implied, rushing in front of Twilight Sparkle. "You can... Help me with the party games. Everypony needs something to do during the party."
"Okay."
Twilight was lighting up, but she still sounded kinda hurt. Maybe all she needed was some time out of her room.
Shining Armor went to help out a Orange furred Unicorn filly with Red and Yellow mane and tail. Her eyes were sort of a Light Teal, and her cutie mark was that of a shimmering sun.
Shining Armor would peek on Twilight and Cadence every so often, to see if his sister was doing okay.
"Hey Twilight, look what I made." Cadence showed said filly her ornament.
It was the sun, with two ladybugs doing a little shake.
"What is it supposed to be, Cadence?" Twilight asked.
"It's a little something I used to think about during my times of feeling sad. It calms me down whenever I need it. It's a little something that goes like this; Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" Cadence put her ornament down, and danced around while singing her chant. "Come on, Twilight! Join in!"
Twilight stared at Cadence like she was crazy, but she had to admit that what she was doing looked fun. Cadence repeated it over and over, until she was finally able to get Twilight Sparkle to try it.
"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake! Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake! Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" Cadence repeated tiredly, even though most of the ponies in the park were watching her now. "Come on, Twilight...!"
"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake." Twilight began to do it, too, and she was actually having fun doing it. "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!"
"Now you're getting it!"
Cadence and Twilight chanted together in perfect sync. Cadence was getting a bit tired of dancing, while Twilight was full of energy. Twilight jumped in the air, onto the table of ornaments during her third time doing the chant, breaking nearly all of the ornaments.
"Twilight Sparkle, are you okay?" Cadence asked worriedly.
"Yeah. I'm okay." Twilight swatted a few broken piece's of party balloons and confetti out of her mane, and got up, thanks to the help of Cadence. "That was so much fun! I wanna do it again sometime, but not now! I think we need to clean this up first."
"Yeah. We do."
"Hey! You're that filly who was with the thief!" A random stallion yelled from behind.
"Wha?"
"Oh yeah! It's her!"
"What does a little filly like you think she's doing here? Where is your new friend?"
"Speaking of that thief and his side kick; where is he, anyway!?"
"Hey, hey, hold on a minute!" Shining Armor ran in from the crowd. "My sister is not a thief, and she is not the actual thief's side kick!"
"Out of the way, brat! Nopony is talking to you!"
"I don't care! That's my sister you all are picking on, and I'll have you know that if it wasn't for her, Phoenix Burst would still be running around, stealing from us!?" Shining implied.
"True, but he could show up anytime to cause trouble like he usually does!"
"That's because you don't know him like I do!" Twilight screamed before running away, sobbing again.
"Twily!"
"I'll go after her, Shining!" Cadence run after Twilight to calm her down.
Twilight used magic to teleport herself somewhere so she could be in peace. Cadence looked all over town, only running into dead ends and ponies staring at her when she shot the door to someplace open. There was only one place she hadn't looked yet, but it was forbidden by order of Princess Celestia herself.
The cliff where that house burned down.
"That's the only place where I haven't looked yet."
Cadence knew that what she was doing was going to get her in trouble with the princess, but she was willing to risk it for Twilight Sparkle. She hurried through the forest, seeing that had small hoofprints that matched the size of Twilight's. It had to be her, it just had to.
At the other end of the forest, Twilight was sitting near the edge of the cliff, sobbing like when she ran off.
"Twilight Sparkle, I found you!"
"Cadence!? N-no! Don't come near me! I don't want anypony here with me right now." Twilight lowered her head onto the soft grass, and put her hooves over it.
"Twilight, I'm only here to help you, okay?" Cadence walked forward, and sat next to Twilight.
Cadence stared at Twilight Sparkle, thinking about how to begin what she had to tell her. It became clear that Shining Armor was hiding the truth about what had happen, but she already knew.
"... So he was your friend, huh?"
"Huh?"
"I said Phoenix Burst is your friend, right?"
"... He "was"." Twilight raised her head, then laid it back down when she folded her hooves to where she could rest her chin on them. "My family told me that we couldn't be friends anymore because he was a criminal."
"I know."
"That day, before the day I had that talk with my parents, Phoenix Burst was trying to pay for an apple he stole, with me watching him closely. He wasn't trying to cause trouble like everypony expected him to."
"I know."
"He wanted to change his ways for our friendship, so we tied ribbons on each other, and sealed it with magic, so only we could take them off. Nothing could burn, tear, or pull these off, besides us."
"I know."
"He swore it to me that- wait. How do you know this?"
"I don't. I was just teasing you." Cadence was the only one laughing from that, which made her stop. "But I wasn't joking about knowing why you were hurting so much. I kinda figured it had to do with what your brother explained to me about your talk with your parents. I saw the news paper, and I knew that somehow it was related to why you wouldn't stop crying so much."
"Oh... Are you going to take me back to my family?" Twilight asked.
"Nope. Not unless you want to head back." Cadence rubbed Twilight's back smoothly. "I just to help you feel better, Twilight. Me, your brother, your parents. We're worried about you, Twilight. They only did what had to be done, because if you two had been friends any longer, something bad was going to happen to both of you. You could have been thrown into a dungeon, or worse. Your parents didn't want that, but they might have also felt bad for making you two not be friends anymore, too. Did Phoenix Burst really make you happy?"
"He was one of the most funniest, coolest, and cleverest ponies I've ever met. That day when he was trying to pay for what he stole, he let me ride on his back all over Canterlot, and he told me that he wasn't going to let anything happen to me. We ran around many different places I haven't been too before, and set traps to give us time to get away from everypony, and swung on a streamer. But even with all of Phoenix Burst's strength, he was going to run out of breath, so I had to help him out. My plan worked for us, but when we thought that we had gotten away from trouble, even more guards came to take us, and for the first time since I met Phoenix Burst... He flew." Twilight explained with a small blush, and flowers flouted around her. "It was one of the most amazing things I've ever felt, being in the air like that. He told me he had the power to control fire at will, and since that moment... I believed him."
"So is he like your prince charming?" Cadence asked with a slight giggle.
"No! He's not like that. He doesn't like stuff that's cute, or nice, or charming. I just think of it as him being shy."
"Okay, since you know so much about him; how long have you been friends?"
"... Only about three days."
"That's a pretty short amount of time. Usually when somepony befriends another for only about three days or less, they forget about each other. But somehow I think that's different in your case, and who knows? You might see him again. He might remember you, and want to be your friend again."
"Maybe. Thanks, Cadence." Twilight said, laying her head on Cadence. "Could you... Not tell anypony about this place? I want this cliff to remain private from all of Canterlot."
"Alright, Twily. I won't tell."
Cadence and Twilight accidentally fell asleep in that same spot for a few hours. While they were sleep, somepony in the trees was spying on them in a Black robe. It's only visible parts were it's Pink hooves. It wore two Platinum bracelets on each fore hoof.
It snuck back, and used magic to disappear.
(Two days later - At the Cliff)
Finally a whole week had passed since the friendship of Twilight Sparkle and Phoenix Burst had ended, and that Phoenix Burst had not been seen anywhere at all. Twilight was silently reading a different book at the cliff. She continued to think about Phoenix Burst, and how hurt he was when she told him they couldn't be friends anymore. Thanks to Cadence, she wasn't crying as much anymore, and she grew closer to her family again.
She hoped that one day, she'd see Phoenix Burst once more, and tell him how sorry she was.
"See? Too strong for tears. Crying is for those who don't have any other options. I don't have options, but I still won't cry, no matter what." She remembered him saying, hitting his chest with a prideful look. "Y-Yeah. I'm Phoenix Burst; Young... Retired master criminal of Canterlot. Nopony is gonna stop me from doing the things I do best, even if what I do best is what I've retired from."
"I can tell that I hurt you, Phoenix Burst. I haven't known you for long, but I could tell that you were in pain. If we are ever fated to see each other again... I hope you can forgive me." Twilight said in tears, closing her book, and resting her head on it. "I don't want you to be mad at me, Phoenix. I only did what was right for both of us. I felt terrible coming to you that day, and I couldn't look at you because I got so scared. I wanted to be strong, just like you, and come forward with what I said, but in the end, I did something horrible...!"
Twilight began to sniff a little on her book, getting tears on the cover, and slowly on the pages, too. She missed Phoenix Burst so much. She wanted to find him, and tell him how sorry she was. She couldn't feel happy unless she could see him. But Twilight also had to remember what Cadence told her.
If they were going to see each other again someday, Phoenix Burst might remember her, and might want to do everything in his power to make them friends again.
Which is why she needed to stop crying. Crying wasn't going to get him back. Crying were for those without any other options.
"I have to be strong. I need to stop crying so much." Twilight ceased her sniffs, and raised her head. "If Phoenix Burst ever saw me like this... I don't know what he'd do, but he would do something to stop me from crying. I want to be as strong as he is, and Shining Armor, too."
Twilight Sparkle hastily wiped away her own tears, and got up from sitting for so long. She was not going to cry. She was in pain, but there was going to be no more crying. Twilight was going to find Phoenix Burst, and make things right.
Because of a road block on the usual path to Canterlot, Twilight had taken, and now was exiting through a different path, still in the forest. It was a darker path then the usual, but it would get her to Canterlot all the same.
Twilight picked up her book with her mouth, and walked into the forest. She was determined to make things right, and continue helping Phoenix Burst be trusted by all of Canterlot. She wasn't going to let her family stop her. She wasn't going to let the Princess stop her, if she ever tried to. And she definitely was not going to let anypony in Canterlot stop her.
Upon entering the forest, Twilight spotted somepony in a Black Robe, wearing two Platinum bracelets on each fore hoof, spying on her.
"Phoenix Burst, is that you!?" She yelled, hoping he heard.
The cloaked pony took off towards Canterlot, without responding to Twilight Sparkle.
"W-Wait! Phoenix Burst! Please, don't be angry at me! I'm sorry!" Twilight went after him.
The forest was small, but on the path Twilight Sparkle and the cloaked pony was taking; it was darker because of the thickness of the trees. It was like the Everfree Forest Twilight read about in a book, but smaller and less creepy. Twilight continued to call out to the pony, only to not get a response. The cloaked pony climbed up a tree while Twilight was heading in the other direction opposed to where he was going, and cut some branch's.
"Phoenix Burst, where are you?! Stop running from me!" Twilight cried, finally coming out of the forest.
Twilight could continue forward towards Canterlot, or go back into the forest to see if whoever she saw was actually Phoenix Burst. Go back to where her family was, and deal with getting in trouble again, or find out who was running from her.
"I have to find Phoenix Burst, but if he's in town, then I might run into Shining Armor, Cadence, or my parents at some point. If not him, then maybe the Royal Guards. They're still patrolling at this time of day-" Before Twilight could finish thinking, a few trees fell in the forest, not too far from where Twilight had came out of. "What was that just now!?"
"Ow...!" Twilight heard a voice similar to Phoenix Burst's, but more feminine, yell from inside.
"Oh no!" Twilight ran back to the forest to find him.
Everypony in Canterlot heard the fallen trees in the woods, even Twilight Sparkle's family, and Cadence. Shining Armor was the first to react, running towards the location with everypony following.
"Shining Armor!" Cadence yelled.
"Twilight, you better be okay!" Shining said, pushing past a few ponies.
"Shining Armor, wait up!" Crescent stopped helping with the Summer Sun Celebration bounce house that was being decorated by everypony before being blown, to go after his son. "That's the location of the cliff where that house that burned down years ago. Who could be in there? It's forbidden."
Phoenix Burst, upon just sitting in an alley, heard what was happening, but wasn't going to do a thing to help. He wasn't really even listening to much of what everypony was saying. He was still depressed about losing Twilight Sparkle. He wanted to get her back and be friends again, but he was afraid of getting her in trouble like before. That, and he wasn't ready for several years in a prison cell.
"Did you all hear that!?" He heard a mare exclaim from out of the alley.
Phoenix Burst merely cocked his head towards the source of the voice. He didn't seem at all interested in it, though.
"Yes. A tree in that small forest where that cliff broke years ago came down on somepony!"
"I heard a little filly was in there. I saw her on my way to Joe's."
"A little filly, huh?" Phoenix turned away from the ruckus, and folded his talons. "Not any of my business."
Continuing to his mopping, Phoenix Burst rolled to his right side, and closed his eyes. After losing his friend, he began to care little about others, which lead him to never making an appearance to the public. He wanted nothing more then to be by himself. He didn't like it, but it was his own fault for letting it happen.
But if he wanted to be trusted and loved by others, this wasn't the way to do it.
"I can't just be mopping around like this. Twilight wouldn't think I was actually being truthful to her that I was desperate to show everypony that I've changed. At the same time, though... Have I changed? Have things for me changed since she left me?" Phoenix got off his flank, and placed his talons on the ladder handle on it's left side. "Life before meeting Twilight for the first time wasn't that great. I was free from rules, learning, and commitment. On the other hoof, I was trapped. I only had so much freedom, but I was more trapped in that life. When I lost Twilight Sparkle... Did I get it back? Am I trapped again?"
Phoenix Burst looked back towards the ponies that were heading to where that filly was. In his head, he was deciding either to stay in the life of freedom and running away, or to risk being seen by everypony, just to help somepony he didn't have much care for.
"... Dam...!" He muttered through his teeth, climbing up the ladder. "This had better be worth my time!"
Phoenix Burst jumped from roof to roof, heading to the forest, too. Most of the ponies he saw while jumping past them weren't tagging along to help the poor filly. The only one who spotted Phoenix Burst was a colt named Hoity Toity, but he didn't say anything to his family. Phoenix didn't notice that he was spotted, but on the other hoof, it didn't even matter since he was going to be seen by at least half the town.
Most of the Royal Guards were coming to help out, while about ten of them went to report the situation to Princess Celestia.
"Princess, somepony in the forest near the cliff where that house burnt down was nearly crushed by a tree. Ponies say that she's okay, but she has a big hole on her hoof, thanks to a large tree branch impaling her." One of the guards reported.
"... I'll be right there." Celestia replied, facing the window on her right, instead of looking at the guard. "Just tell the other guards to stay with everypony until I get there."
"Yes, Princess." The guards headed out of the throne room, heading back to the location of the forest.
"... I thought I warned everypony not to go in there, anymore... I hope whoever this filly is hadn't seen it, or... Him." Celestia thought, getting up from her throne to look at the cliff. "It's been a little while, but the memory of that night is still fresh in my mind. In time... He will know, too."
Back with everypony at the forest entrance; two medical ponies came with some bandage's from a medical kit they brought, while two others came out of the forest with the filly, covering her in a blanket. Crescent, Twilight Velvet, Cadence, and Shining Armor rushed past the crowd to see who was under the blanket. They had a pretty good idea who it was.
The doctors laid down the filly, and uncovered the blanket, revealing Twilight Sparkle, sobbing while holding her bleeding hoof close to her.
"Oh my goodness!" Twilight Velvet cried.
"Twily!" Shining exclaimed.
"Twilight!" Cadence exclaimed, too.
"Are you her parents?" One of the doctors asked.
"Yes, we are!" Crescent answered. "Is our little girl going to be okay?"
"We hope so, sir. From the wound in her hoof, it doesn't look fatal, but too much blood loss might kill her if we don't treat it soon. We'll do our very best to recover her in tip top shape." The other doctor that revealed Twilight replied, signaling the medical team with the bandage's to come over.
Shining Armor trotted to his sister. He was in tears after looking for her all day.
"Twily, what were you doing out here? Mom and Dad told us not to come here, and you came anyway."
"... I had to... Find Phoenix Burst... I hurt him the day we stopped being friends... I wanted to tell him... How sorry I was... For hurting him."
"Twily... Just don't say anything. We'll get that hoof fixed soon." Cadence rubbed Twilight Sparkle's head, soothing her a bit.
"Twilight, I don't think Phoenix Burst is coming. He hasn't been seen for a whole week-"
"I know he'll show up, Shining! I don't know when, but he'll be here!" Twilight Sparkle angrily cut Shining Armor off.
Phoenix Burst had finally got there, seeing that everypony was blocking his view of who got hurt. He was getting nervous about sawing himself after not coming out to reveal himself to everypony for seven days.
No. He dealt with them for four years. Finally, he made a vow to change his ways for good, and now was the time to prove it to them, and himself. It was now or never.
"Here I go." Phoenix jumped down, landing behind everypony. "Hi there, everypony! Long time no see!"
They all looked back, petrified to see the thief.
"It's the thief! Phoenix Burst has come back!"
"Uh-huh. Hi. 'Scuse me! Coming through!" Phoenix pushed past everypony, reaching the front of the crowd. "I'm not here to make any trouble. I just came because I heard somepony here got-"
Phoenix Burst frozen upon realizing the pony in front of him, being held by Shining Armor, Cadence and her parents, was Twilight Sparkle. She was still sobbing, but once she heard his voice, she calmed down a lot, toughing up against her injury.
"P-Phoenix Burst...? Is that you...?" She asked, trying not to cry again, but also couldn't see or hear him clearly. "I knew you'd come."
"Twilight Sparkle!? How did this-" Phoenix Burst was blocked by three Royal Guards, holding spears in his path. "Look, I don't want any trouble! I just want to help my friend!"
"You're not going to be helping anypony, anytime soon, buster!" One of the guards said, smacking Phoenix with her spear.
"We've been trying to catch you for years, and for you to just come straight into our hooves is like icing on a cake, being hoof-given to us on our birthday. This is almost too good to be true." Another guard added, hitting Phoenix with his spear.
Everypony cheered for the guards that were beating Phoenix mercilessly, while he sat there in pain, reaching out for Twilight Sparkle. Her vision was coming back to her, and she could see what was going on.
"Phoenix...!? Stop it! Don't hurt him!" She yelled, but the pain from her hoof kept her down. "OW! It still hurts!"
Phoenix lifted his head from all the pain he was enduring. He tried crawling towards Twilight Sparkle, since he couldn't stand, thanks to the guards.
"Uh-uh! You're not going anywhere!" The third guard pulled Phoenix back into the circle by his tail.
"Why you...!"
"Stop what you are doing and let him go right this minute!" Princess Celestia yelled from above everypony.
"What!? But Princess-"
"No buts! If he is able to help this filly, then allow him to." Celestia said, eying Phoenix Burst. "We are keeping an eye on you, Phoenix Burst. Don't do anything that could get you in trouble. We won't hesitate to arrest you if you try anything."
Phoenix got up, knowing that talking smart wasn't going to get him anywhere.
"Thanks, P.C. Didn't ask for your help, though." He said, walking forward to Twilight Sparkle.
Shining Armor wasn't taking it lightly. While everypony else obeyed the Princess' order, he stepped up, and blocked Phoenix Burst from going any further.
"Who do you think you are, coming all this way after being absent for an entire week!? Now you come barging here like you're some kind of savior or something! What makes you think you can help my sister, anyway!" He yelled at Phoenix.
"Shining Armor!" Twilight Velvet went to stop her son.
"Hey, kid. I don't want any trouble, alright? She's my friend, and it's my fault we got into this mess. The choice's I made lead us into big trouble, and it even cost us our friendship. I need to make it up to her." Phoenix told Shining, holding the side of his left leg. "Sorry for holding you like this, but those Royal Guards really put a big number of bumps on me."
"Grr...! I'm still not gonna let you-"
"Young colt, let him through!" Celestia barged in from behind Phoenix.
"Princess, I'm pretty sure I don't need you to back me up." Phoenix Burst remarked with a smirk.
"Don't push your luck, thief." Celestia replied in annoyance.
"Didn't think I had much to begin with."
"Quiet."
"Princess, why are you helping this thief?" Shining Armor asked.
"I'm not, but as you can see; your sister needs him. These two may know little about each other, but it seems they have made a big bond with each other. If Phoenix Burst can help your sister, then you should give him a chance, for the sake of their friendship, and for the sake of your sister's life." Celestia answered.
Shining Armor grunted at Phoenix Burst. He didn't trust him with Twilight Sparkle one bit. It was Phoenix's fault for everything that's happened. He couldn't be trusted by anypony. Simple as that.
Shining Armor glanced to his sobbing sister, seeing how much pain she was in judging from her expression.
"Phoenix Burst... I'm so sorry..." Twilight muttered in pain.
Shining Armor then looked at Phoenix Burst, and snatched his leg away.
"Fine. I still don't trust you, but I'll let you through. If she gets hurt anymore then she is now, I will never forgive you."
"I wouldn't ask you to trust me, or forgive if something were to happen, kid. If something happens to her, I will take full responsibility. She's my only friend, and I'm going to make her a-okay, no matter what." Phoenix wiped Shining's tears off his face, then trotted past him to see about Twilight Sparkle. "Twilight Sparkle, it's me; Phoenix Burst. I'm here to help you out."
"Phoenix...? I'm so glad to see you..."
"I'm glad to see you, too, Twilight. Now tell me, where did you hurt yourself?" Phoenix asked, kneeling before his friend.
"Ow... It's my hoof. A tree was coming down on me, and it almost crushed me. I moved out of the way in time, but I fell down a ledge, and had my hoof impale a large branch." Twilight lifted her hoof towards Phoenix Burst, showing him how bad it was. "Ow...! The nerve in my leg isn't completely gone, but when I move it around, it really hurts, Phoenix!"
"I can see that, Twilight." Phoenix carefully took her hoof with his left talon. "Good thing you have me to help you out."
"What are you (Sniff) going to do?" Twilight asked, trying not to cry again.
"Well... This." Phoenix snapped his right talon, causing green fire to appear.
"What are you doing?! You better not hurt my little girl!" Crescent yelled.
"I'm not going to hurt her, I swear. This fire has healing properties, so it won't hurt one bit." Phoenix assured everypony. "I've had to use this on myself on several occasions. You know, because of them (Whistle's) (Points at the Royal Guards)."
Twilight giggled slightly, since the pain in her hoof kept her from laughing too much. Because of it, she was about to cry again. Phoenix loosened his grip on her hoof, so it wouldn't feel as painful.
"Twilight Sparkle, I want you to be strong for me. The fire I'm producing won't hurt, but the regeneration of your skin and muscle will. Trust me, I've bumped into injuries like this a few times, and the pain isn't nice to you one bit." Phoenix explained, adjusting the way he sat to be more comfortable. "If you're going to cry, then I won't stop you. You can let out as much sobs and tears as you want, but I'm going to be right here to hold you until it's over."
"Okay..." Twilight used her hoof that wasn't in pain, with Phoenix Burst's help, to climb up towards his chest to lay on him. "I want to lay on you like this while you do it. Is that okay with you?"
"Um... Sure. Whatever flouts your boat."
Phoenix Burst held Twilight's hoof that wasn't in pain, and slowly leaned his fiery talon towards the hoof that was bleeding. He was hesitating to touch her, because he didn't want to hear her scream in pain. Her crying was painful enough as it was.
"Don't hesitate, Phoenix Burst. You can do it. I trust you to do your part, so please hurry. It's still really painful, but I'm going to be strong for you, and my family." Twilight whispered to only Phoenix.
Phoenix replied with a nod, took a short breath, and laid his talon on the wound. Twilight began to scream from the pain of her flesh being regenerated. It hurt so much, it felt like sticking a hoof into lava, and not taking it out for a long time. Her body trembled, but the comfort of her Crimson friend gave her the strength to push on.
On the other hoof, Phoenix was also trembling. The magic of his flame wasn't doing it, but making his friend scream in pain. He shed a single tear, then laid his head on Twilight's.
"It's almost done, Twilight. Just a few more seconds." He said, intentionally to Twilight, but also to himself to reassure that it was going to be over soon.
"Twily..." Shining Armor whispered, tearing up again.
the sight of his sister sobbing like this also affected Shining Armor. He wasn't going to cry, but he already had tears dripping from his chin. Cadence wiped Shining Armor's tears, and gave him a smile that told him that things were going to be okay. Twilight Velvet was sobbing with her hooves covering her muzzle, while Crescent had his head turned. In fact, most of the ponies there looked away.
Princess Celestia, however, wasn't paying attention to anything that was going on. She stared blankly at Phoenix Burst with a look of her being proud, and angry at him. But in reality, she had nothing to be angry at him about.
"There we go." Phoenix announced, letting go of Twilight Sparkle's previously injured hoof.
Twilight's sobbing had ceased just seconds before Phoenix announced that, and had just been breathing quietly in his embrace. Twilight raised her hoof up for everypony to see, and beamed at it.
"You... Actually did it... It doesn't hurt anymore." Twilight announced, waving it around.
"Yep. Can you stand?" Phoenix asked.
Twilight Sparkle nodded, rolled off of Phoenix Burst, and tapped the ground.
"It's good as new!" Twilight ran to Phoenix, and hugged him. "Thank you, Phoenix Burst!"
Phoenix Burst saw it coming, but did nothing to stop it. He didn't hug her back, but instead rubbed his cheek on Twilight's.
"You're welcome, Twilight..." Phoenix replied, scratching his head.
"Phoenix Burst, where have you been all this time? I missed you so much since the day we split up. Ever since that day, I couldn't stop crying, because I thought I hurt your feelings. I came here because I wanted to find you, and tell you how sorry I was. For those seven days, I wasn't being strong, I couldn't contain my tears, and I was distant from everypony. I missed you so much, and I wanted to see you again, even if it was going to get us in trouble." Twilight explained, tearing up again. "When I hurt myself, and when you were healing my wound, I wanted to be strong, like you and Shining Armor. I didn't want to cry, no matter how painful my hoof was getting. I wanted to show you that I could be tough, and hold my tears. But... I couldn't."
"Twilight Sparkle..." Phoenix Burst began to chuckle a bit.
"Why are you laughing?" Twilight asked, letting go of Phoenix.
"Twilight, for the longest time in my life, all I've been doing since that day was sit around, being depressed and sad. I also missed you, but I did nothing but mop, instead of just finding you, and fixing things. In fact, when I heard that you were in trouble a little while ago today, I actually didn't want to come here. I didn't think you'd be in trouble, and I didn't think it'd be worth it. but then I realized that for so long, if I wanted to change my ways, I had to make a move. Sitting around and mopping wasn't going to change anything. I had to do something. So I came here to start things off." Phoenix started scratching the back of his head again in embarrassment. "I wasn't strong. I wasn't doing what I should have been doing, which was stallion up, and face the world around me, even if it meant getting myself in trouble just for sawing face. In fact, I've been crying, too. I couldn't cope with the fact that I couldn't see you anymore."
"You were... Crying?"
"Yeah. I did. I guess we can't be strong all the time. Without you, I didn't know where to start showing everypony that I wanted to change. But at the same time, for these seven days without you, I've been able to think of some things." Phoenix pulled out two bags full of bits by using his magic. "Before I decided to come here, I figured that if I wanted to start showing all of you that I want to be a good pony, I brought this."
Phoenix Burst walked over to two Royal Guards, handing them the bags.
"These belong to you two, right? I want you to have these back." Phoenix said.
"You're joking, right? You are just giving these back?" One of the guards asked.
"No, I'm not joking. and yes, I'm giving these back. All ten bits are in each of these bags. I haven't spent a single bit from these." Phoenix answered, waving the bags in their faces. "You should be happy that I'm being this generous. I'd say something smart and sarcastic, but I don't want to make anypony angry, ya know."
"Well... Thank you." Both of the guards took their bits back, and checked them thoroughly. "Wow. All ten are in here."
"Yep. Now where's the captain? I want to give him his bits, too."
"Actually, we haven't seen him all day. I was going to call for the guards to find him, before all this happened." Princess Celestia replied.
"Oh... Well, I'll just let you hold onto his bits for me. I really want him to have it back." Phoenix Burst handed the captain's bag of bits to Celestia.
"No. I want you to give it to him yourself, Phoenix Burst." Celestia pushed it back towards Phoenix. "But I want to ask you this: do you really want to turn over a new leaf? Are you one hundred percent positive that you are willing to change your ways, and give back everything you have stolen over the years?"
"Yes, I'm sure. With Twilight's help, I think I can do it." Phoenix nodded with his said answer, turning to Twilight's family. "That is, if Twilight's family is willing to let us."
"Us?" Crescent asked.
"Yes. I want to be Twilight Sparkle's friend again, but this time, I want to know if you all are okay with it. I don't want you to be angry with her for something that's my fault. Everything that's happened is my fault, and I want you to know that I'm very sorry for dragging her into this. The day Twilight and I were running away from the Royal Guards, that was when I was trying to pay for the apples I stole that day. The whole thing was just a misunderstanding, but that misunderstanding cost us our friendship. Please don't be angry with her. She did nothing wrong." Phoenix explained, kicking a pebble next to his left back hoof.
"Please, mom. Dad. Shining Armor. He didn't mean to cause any trouble. It just happened. Give him a chance." Twilight added, trotting next to Phoenix Burst.
"Twily..." Shining Armor raised a hoof like he was clinching a fist in frustration.
"I just don't know, you two. You've been a thief for four years, Phoenix Burst. We can't just trust you right here, just because you fixed our daughter's wound." Crescent replied.
"I don't want you to just trust me right here and now. I want to rightfully earn it, from everypony. Ever since the first time I started stealing, I've always felt regret in my chest, and it built up every time I did it. I wanted to stop, but I was afraid of all of you. I was all by myself, running away, and causing trouble. I didn't have anything else but my wits, brain, and magic to avoid you, and to live. When I met Twilight Sparkle in my secret spot over at the cliff, I didn't think she knew who I was, so I tried to take a different approach. I tried being somepony I'm not, and it got me a friend, but I still felt bad, because I wasn't being honest to myself, or her. I kept making mistakes, and it made things harder for me to think, and feel happy. When I lost Twilight Sparkle, my heart snapped, and I didn't want to come out of my home, ever. I guess I needed an excuse to let out all of my frustration, and tears. I didn't care about the world around me anymore, because I actually lost the one pony that made me happy for the first time in my entire life." Phoenix put a talon on his eyes to cover his tears. "I only came back, because I knew that if I was to let you all know that I want to earn your trust, and friendship, I had to stop hiding, and show myself. I knew the risks. I knew (Points at the Royal Guards) they were going to attack me. I knew everypony was going to shout "It's that thief". I knew I was going to be in big trouble, but I came out anyway."
Everypony felt so bad for Phoenix Burst, especially the Royal Guards. Twilight Sparkle hugged Phoenix, seeing as he was about to cry. He hugged her back, while keeping himself in check. She was a bit angry, though, but she could only understand why he did those things, and at least he came out the truth.
Shining Armor stepped forward, and tapped Phoenix's head.
"Hmm?"
"I don't trust you, but I'll be willing to give you a chance, Phoenix Burst. Going through stuff like that is pretty tough, and nopony should have to go through that. If you are telling us the truth, then I'll give a chance to make things right." He said.
"Thanks, Shining. that means a lot to me." Phoenix wiped his tears away, and replied.
"Well, if he trusts you, then it wouldn't be right of me not to give you a chance." Cadence decided, taking a few steps forward.
"Me too." Twilight Velvet added.
"Thanks. That makes me feel a little better." Phoenix replied with a small smirk.
"Does that mean we can be friends again?" Twilight Sparkle asked her parents, hoping for a yes.
"Yes, you may." Princess Celestia allowed, instead of Crescent.
"Princess..."
"Phoenix Burst should be given a chance by all of us. He's made bad choice's in the past, yes, and what he has done was wrong, but we can't hold a grudge on him forever, especially if he is willing to come clean to us and admit his mistakes. Also, I feel that his little friend here should keep an eye on him, in case he does anything sneaky."
"(Gasp) Thank you, Princess Celestia!" Twilight exclaimed in awe.
"Awesome!" Phoenix added, just as happy.
"But-" Crescent was about to interrupt everypony with a protest, until Twilight Velvet stopped him by shoving a hoof in front of him.
Knowing that he was looking at her, Twilight Velvet shook her head, while smiling at their daughter.
"... Fine." Crescent groaned.
Up in the trees in the dark forest, deep within the darkness of a tree, the cloaked pony watched everypony, shaking his head in disapproval. Whatever he/she tried to do, it must have failed. It just sat there, watching Twilight Sparkle and Phoenix Burst talking with each other. Everypony else, except Twilight Sparkle's family, had left.
Even Cadence left to attend to the decorating of the Hearth's Warming Tree with everypony else. She thought her part of helping Twilight with her sadness was done, for now.
Shining Armor and Crescent, more or less, lightly scolded Phoenix Burst, while Twilight Sparkle and Velvet were trying to keep them from getting into a big tussle.
The guys were building a small bond with the former thief, especially Shining Armor. Keyword is small. Shining was growing a bit lighter towards Phoenix Burst. Crescent, however, still didn't like him that much. He was okay with letting Phoenix hanging out with his daughter, but not close enough to where he could be trusted. Maybe overtime Crescent would accept Phoenix Burst, just not now.
Twilight Velvet just remained quiet, staring at Phoenix Burst. It was the first time ever that she met him in person, yet something felt familiar about him.
"Mommy, why are you staring at Phoenix?" Twilight Sparkle asked.
"Oh, just thinking. I didn't think I was even looking at him." Velvet answered before checking her daughter's hoof. "It really is healed from the looks of it... Does it still hurt?"
"No. Phoenix Burst healed it completely." Twilight Sparkle swung her hoof side to side to show that it was all better.
"Hey you two. What are you doing? C'mon over." Phoenix called the mare over to join the guys, waving to them.
"Coming!" Twilight replied, coming over to play.
The cloaked pony from inside the tree had enough watching. It pulled back the leaves it was peeking out of, and ran away.
"So you are alive... I thought you..." It stopped what it was saying, remembering something. "No... It can't be."
The mysterious figure faded into the darkness, leaving to trace of it ever being there. The way it said those last words seemed to be out of grief and pain. Whoever it was, knew Phoenix Burst.
"And that's the end of this part/chapter... Yeah, this was a bit of a jumble mess, if you ask me. I am so sorry this took so long. I was procrastinating a lot because of the MLP Gameloft app. My entire save data/progress/whatever you want to call it, was erased, so I had to start all over again. Yay... So anyway, because of my procrastinating, I've only been getting this chapter done little by little, causing me to lose focus on what to put in next during the events that occurred. Now like I said before the chapter started, i wanted to give another speech about the whole Adam Smith thing. I kinda lost thought on what I was going to say, but I want to do one thing first, and that's making a mean joke about King Sombra. I've been watching Modern War Negro a little, and I came up with a joke from one of his trolling videos. So here it is...!" Battle announced, using his body to block the door because of the readers. "What is up with you, hidin' in them clouds like you a stalking creeper or somethin'. N****, I wouldn't be scared of you if you were my worst nightmare, and that's saying a lot since I usually have nightmares. Man... I'd poke some holes in a blanket, and put it over you body to make you look like a ghost, creeping up on ponies like a little b****. N****, stop acting like you scary or somethin' like some kind of kindergarten monster, you big pussy! You tryin' to scare older ponies with smoke screen? Man... My gym shorts, tied to a scarecrow's face, while looking through somepony's window with a creepy smile and a note saying "Hello" is scarier then you! N****, stop being a blimp's passing gas, and actually do some terrorizin', ya goofy son of a b****!"
"Stop making fun of Sombra, you jerk!"
"Yeah! Some of us really think he's cool!"
"Uh-huh. And he's the one out of all of the villains in the show to barely make an appearance. I'm surprised we even remember him, since he got no real character development at all. He's like Flash Sentry, only Sombra had less screen time then Flash did, and Flash first appeared in a movie." Battle said after getting up, and used a broom to seal the door handles.
"Shut up, you jerk!"
"Stop being so cruel to King Sombra and Flash Sentry!"
"I'm not being- Arrr...! Okay, I'm sorry for making fun of him. He's okay, but like I said; he had no development. And seriously, all he did was travel using clouds, and attacked with crystals. That's not very threatening, but he actually contributed to the whole event of The Crystal Empire part 1 and 2. Sombra was the appointed villain in those episodes, whilst Flash was only in Equestria Girls as the love interest, but even then it was pointless, seeing as it wasn't developed at all. Don't get me wrong, I really liked that movie, and Rainbow Rocks, but Flash is one of my biggest problems, aside from Sunset Shimmer's genericness in the first movie (I mean, seriously. She was such a generic villain, it wasn't even funny.), and the Dazzling's actual point behind their plan in Rainbow Rocks. It just seemed like Flash was put in there last second. The reason I'm even saying this is because of somepony's review I saw. It made me think back to some things in both movies that needed to be thought about. Still, they are better movies then the previous gen movies. Urrrrgh..! Makes me cringe just thinking about them."
"Well, you have a point, maybe a few, but that doesn't give you the right to criticize Sombra! Like every other character in the Friendship is Magic universe, he has a place in the mix, even if undeveloped. He has a place in our hearts, just like the rest of the gang, and that's what makes him memorable." A reader confessed, ceasing his bashing of the door into the studio.
"Right. Even if he only had about less then five minutes of screen time, with all the fans of My Little Pony continuing to make fan art, music, or whatever with him in them, Sombra will continue to be a part of our hearts." Another reader continued as she, along with the rest of the readers, stopped bashing the door.
"Yeah. So he's an okay former ruler, no matter what you say. And Flash Sentry deserves respect, too. He's could be a good guy, if he was also developed more. Maybe in Season 5 the writers will give him and Sunset Shimmer an appearance, some lines of dialogue, some development. they might even bring back The Great and Powerful Trixie, too!" Yet another reader added to the mix.
(All of the readers cheered King Sombra, Trixie, Sunset Shimmer, and Flash Sentry's names multiple times, while Battle stared at the door, dumbfounded.)
"Um... Okay. Whatever flouts your boats, guys. Anyway, this is getting carried away, so I'm not going to give the speech. Just look up Adam Smith on the search bar up there on your top right of the screen (Points at the search bar). To make things short, some people on youtube really hurt his feelings, and he couldn't take it, causing him to walk onto some train tracks, and was ran over by a train. When I heard about it, I was pretty pissed off, but as long as you just ignore what people say about your work, or what you like, or just anything in general, things will be okay. People like the ones Adam had to deal with just like to type in things, because, well, it's the internet. some of the things people say can really help you, and others can really hurt you. It is up to you to decide wither to fuel those hurtful people, or ignore them. The decision is on you, so if you decide to reply to those who hurt you, then you're only allowing them to hurt you even more because you are fueling them. Some of us just have to let it go. Just block those people or somethin', am I right?" Battle told all the readers, unblocking the door, and opening it to tell it to them.
"He's right..."
"Yeah. Poor Adam."
"Oh. And one more thing; that speech y'all gave was pretty g**. Just sayin'." Battle had to blurt out, getting the readers angry again. "Uh...! Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this chapter, and I'll get started on the next soon. I also have this story on FIMfiction, but it's not published yet. I edit these chapter's there while reading through them, to find any errors, misspellings, or anything else. Happy New Year to all of you, and now, Thanks and BYE!"
I gave the disclaimer during the beginning of the chapter, but I just want to do it again for the new years.
Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to Lauren Faust and Hasbro. I own this story, and some of it's characters. The Rouge Diamond belongs to Pia-Sama. Black Lagoon belongs to Funimation. and other things I also don't own. If you wish to send me OC requests, I'll accept only up to three, and not for this story, but the next one after this.
