(Since it's Thanksgiving and this episode was mainly about a bird LOL, I've decided you fans deserve an update for waiting so patiently. For that you have my gratitude and thanks. Happy Thanksgiving!) ;)

The Grand Galloping Gala draws even nearer as the gang wait impatiently for it to arrive. At Fluttershy's cottage she tends another animal incident with a mouse who broke it's leg and sits on a mini wheel chair with a cast wrapped around it's right leg.

"There you go, Mr. Mousey. Now you stay off that leg and do everything I told you. And it will be just like new in no time at all." Fluttershy assured and pushes the mouse to it's family in their hole in the wall. The mouse family was excited to see the father mouse back and the mouse waved it's paw at Fluttershy in appreciation.

"Oh, you're welcome. Happy to be able to help." Fluttershy said happily as the family takes the father back inside after a job well done. Her rabbit Angel was then rushing with a time watch in his paw and looked at it and was surprised to see the time. He then pounces at Fluttershy and caught her attention as he waves the watch rapidly and does signs trying to get her to understand.

"You... found a watch? You... wanna be a watch? You're running! Running out of time? No. You're... late?" after countless wrong shakings from Angel he nods after the last answer and points outside at the clock tower as the bell rings as the hands strike at 4 o'clock. Fluttershy stares blankly in confusion until something snapped her memory.

"[gasp] I'm late for a very important date! The big brunch for Princess Celestia at Sugarcube Corner. Oh, the princess is here in Ponyville for a party and we all promised we'd be there. But I'm not there! Oh, do I look all right? Do I need to bring anything? Maybe I shouldn't go?" Fluttershy said in panic and cowers to the ground in shame just as a fanfare started in the distance.

"Aah! It's starting! I'm missing it!" Fluttershy exclaimed and rushed out the door with Angel wiping his forehead in relief.

"Oh, thanks, Angel." Fluttershy returned and thanked before leaving again as Angel shrugged.

"I mean, if if you hadn't reminded me, I might have not remembered and then... then I wouldn't be there and everypony would be wondering where I was and... Oh, right. I'm late." after again coming back and getting some stomps on the hoof from Angel she leaves once again and this time Angel closes and locks the door with a satisfied grin on his face. But then the door knocks with the knob twisting.

"Oh, okay then. See you later." Fluttershy's voice said at the other side and Angel sighed placing his paw on his face in exhaustion knowing the typical Fluttershy.

-Main music plays-

At Sugarcube Corner two pegasi guards stay at watch by the door to guard Princess Celestia from any harmful threat. Rainbow Dash pops up from behind the door looking at the two with planning eyes. She hops over to get face to face with them.

"So... what do I have to do to get to be one of the Princess's royal guards, anyway?" Dash asked but got no response from the two.

"Is the pay good?" Dash taps on one of the guards' armor but still got silence.

"Hellooo! Anybody home?" Dash flies up to get to eye level with the tall guards as they still stare blankly with out blinking. Dash then began making ridiculous faces to see if they'll do anything but they won't even flinch. She starts wiggling her tongue at them for one last attempt but still has no effect.

"Ooh, you're good. Too good. I'm bored." Dash said and flew back inside.

"Phew. Made it." Fluttershy arrives but as she was about to enter the guards swiftly opened their wings blocking the entrance making Fluttershy gasped in fear.

"Halt!" the left guard ordered in a deep military voice.

"Who goes there?" the right guard demanded.

"[gulp] No one. Never mind. I'll go home." Fluttershy quickly said and backs away. Fortunately though Twilight Sparkle notices the situation by the door.

"It's all right, sirs. She's on the list." Twilight assured and Fluttershy enters.

"Thanks, Twilight." Fluttershy thanked.

"I'm so glad you could make it, Fluttershy. It wouldn't be the same without you." Twilight said. In the kitchen Spike uses his fire breath to cook up some pastries in just seconds.

"How's everypony doing? Good? Good." Mr. Cake chuckled as he takes them out to the visitors including Princess Celestia who sits at a table in the middle as Mrs. Cake brings her some sweets.

"Anything else we can get for you, dearies...? Ooh, I-I mean, esteemed guests." Mrs. Cake corrected nervously.

"Everything is fine, Mr. and Mrs. Cake." Celestia assured.

"Hey guys, whassup?" Zach Lanson comes in and greets.

"Oh, hi Zach. I'm great. Sorry I'm late. I had to finish taking care of a patient first." Fluttershy explained.

"Oh, you and your Tender Loving Care of little animals. I just know Princess Celestia is gonna love that about you. I mean, I hope she will... I mean, of course she will!" Twilight was starting to twitch and sweat nervously which made Zach sigh knowing where this is going.

"Wow, Twilight. I thought I was the only one who got nervous at social gatherings." Fluttershy admitted.

"Oh, it's not that. I just want the princess to approve of my friends."

"But she's met us all before."

"And read about you in our letters. But this is the first time she spent any real time with you. I want everypony to make a good impression."

"Well, I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. Besides, it's just a casual get-together, right?"

"I wouldn't be so sure." Zach said as he points at Rarity who for some reason is wearing her gala dress and is trying everything she can to avoid everypony from touching it or ruining it.

"Don't touch me! Watch the dress! Careful, you're gonna spill that on me!" Rarity ordered and avoided everyone as much as possible. Mrs. Cake then come over with a platter of apple cupcakes.

"Oh, oh, that looks delicious. What is it? Oh, does it stain?! Keep it away from me!" Rarity ordered and started cowering to the ground shakingly.

"Or... perhaps not that casual." Fluttershy corrected.

"Why is she wearing her gala dress at this occasion, anyway?" Zach asked. Applejack at the meantime was having trouble on what to eat.

"Uh... which is the salad and which is the appetizer again? And which am I supposed to eat first?" Applejack asked as she was about to take a bite out of the salad but changed for the sandwich but again changes to a pastry but still doesn't take a bite.

"Oh, never mind. I'm not hungry." Applejack declared pushing the plates away from her.

"It's okay, Twilight. So our friends' manners aren't perfect. I doubt the princess will even notice." Fluttershy assured until Pinkie Pie is up to her usual hyper attitude and began going around eating everything she sees.

"Cookies, candies and pies, oh my! [pie in the face] Oooh! Chocolate Fountainy goodness! [Head in choclate fountain, choclate hardens and eats it] You gonna eat that?!" Pinkie comes up to Celestia and eats the cupcake Celestia was going to eat without giving an answer but she smiles at the over hyped pink pony anyway. This action made Mrs. Cake gasped horrifyingly and yanks Pinkie by the tail taking her away from the table.

"Hey!" Pinkie exclaimed and Mr. Cake comes over with a new cupcake and tea on a platter.

"A thousand pardons, Your Majesty." Mr. Cake quickly apologized.

"That's quite all right, thank you." Celestia thanked and took a small nibble off her cupcake and took a sip of her tea empty placing it back on the tray.

"Empty teacup at 4 o'clock!" Mrs. Cake pointed.

"Uh, I see it, honey bun!" Mr. Cake said and quickly came over and refilled Celestia's cup.

"Oh, um... thank you." Celestia thanked again.

"Not at all, Your Highness." Mr. Cake assured and she took another full sip only to get another refill from Mrs. Cake.

"Thank you again." Celestia once again thanked.

"Oh, but of course, Your Majesty." Mrs. Cake said as Celestia took another drink she gets another refill until it was a cycle sip, refill, sip, and refill over again. Celestia then made some devious eyes and made a fake sip not making contact with the drink and Mr. Cake fell for it overflowing the cup.

"Gotcha!" Celestia said playfully earning some sheepish grins from the two bakery owners. These cause of events made Twilight groan and cowered under the table looking more shyer the Fluttershy.

"Okay, I kind of see where you're going at, but come on it's the princess, one of the most generous hearts in the world. And look at her, she's practically enjoying herself here. I have yet to see her frown. So, just relax, it's nothing that horrible, right?" Zach asked.

"...Yeah... I guess you're right." Twilight said coming out from the table.

"And what about you, dear? Fluttershy, is it?" Celestia asked turning her attention to Fluttershy across the table.

"Me? Oh yes, Your Highness." Fluttershy confirmed.

"I understand from Twilight Sparkle's letters that you enjoy tending to the needs of woodland creatures."

"Yes, I love to take care of animals."

"As do I. As Princess, I care deeply about all creatures, great and small." Celestia agreed. Suddenly an over exaggerated whooping cough occurred in a cage next to her with red, orange, and yellow feathers popping out from each cough surprising everyone that heard it.

"Nothing means more to me than the well-being of all my subjects." Celestia added. Just then something flies up on to the hanging pole in the middle of the cage as it furiously coughs uncontrollably tilting it's head in awkward positions. It appears to be a bird of some sort only it's shedding it's feathers rapidly and it has a couple bald areas which also had an incredibly sick appearance.

"Ah, Philomena, my pet. You're awake. Do say hello to our gracious hosts." Celestia said as it coughs in another sick way.

"Oh... my." Fluttershy muttered disturbingly.

"She is quite a sight, isn't she?" Celestia asked.

"I... I... I've never seen anything like it." Fluttershy stuttered as the bird continues to cough. Just then a guard comes up and whispers in Celestia's ear.

"Really? Well, if I must... I'm sorry, everypony. I'm afraid I have to cut the party short." Celestia announced which almost made Twilight spit out her drink but puts her hoof on it to prevent it from happening.

"The mayor has requested an audience with me. Royal duty calls. Thank you for a wonderful time. It's been a joy getting to know you all better." Celestia declared and made her way out the door with the guards following along and the crowd bowing to her departure. Celestia however forgot her mysterious sick bird in the cage and Fluttershy notices with a worry look on her face.

"Phew. Now I can eat someth'n! I'm starved!" Applejack said and as she was about to take a bite out of something Mr. Cake gathers the food with the table cloth and Applejack moans in disappointment.

"You know he's just taking those leftovers to the kitchen with no problem." Zach assured which lit Applejack's face and zoomed to the kitchen. As all of the guests take their leave Pinkie excitedly does some cart wheels without even looking thus crashing into others.

"Stay right where you are. All I want is a clear path to the exit. NOBODY MOVE and my dress won't get hurt! Stay back! Back, I say!" Rarity ordered as she backs away out the door. Applejack too makes her way out with leftovers she grabbed from the kitchen balancing them on her nose and licked her lips from the tasty smell.

"[sigh] Well, Zach and Spike, I don't know for sure how things went with the princess, but at least no big disasters happened." Twilight declared in relief. But one did happen as Celestia's forgotten bird disappeared from it's cage without a trace. Meanwhile Fluttershy arrives back at her home and it appears she was the one who took the bird Philomena on her back.

"Oh, you poor little thing. How did you ever get in such bad condition? Don't you worry, Philomena. I'll nurse you back to health. As a favor to the princess, who's obviously just far too busy to care for you properly." Fluttershy assumed and places the sick bird on her couch as it continues to wobble it's head awkwardly, cough, and hack wheezingly.

"I'm sure the princess will appreciate the help." Fluttershy said and Philomena again coughs sickly.

"Oh my. We'd better get you to bed right away." Fluttershy said and takes Philomena to a small bed covering her with a blanket.

"There." Fluttershy confirmed and placed a thermometer in Philomena's beak. However she was soon burning up really quickly which made the thermometer rise in temperature. Fluttershy quickly changed this by removing the blanket and placed an ice pack on her head only to find the thermometer's temperature drop in below freezing and sees the bird shiver. She changes back to the old routine again but got the same result. She repeated each routine over and over and over and over again until the thermometer's tip went to the verge of shattering.

"his is far worse than I thought. What you need is some medicine. Stat!" Fluttershy said urgently as she gets another whooping cough from Philomena.

"Here you go, Philomena. This will fix you right up." Fluttershy assured giving Philomena a large pill on a plate. The sick bird sniffed the medicine and stuck her tongue out in disgust from the smell.

"Doctor Fluttershy expected that." Fluttershy said and placed some bird feeder on the plate until it completely covered the pill. Philomena gave a lick to the small pile of bird feeder and immediately chowed down on the food.

"Always works." Fluttershy said proudly but soon found out that Philomena ate everything off the plate except for the pill.

"Uh... Almost always." Fluttershy corrected and got another cough in the face from Philomena.

"There's nothing like home-made soup to cure what ails you." Fluttershy said passing over a bowl of soup to Philmena after blowing it several times. The bird gave a little inspection to the hot liquid and looked away folding her feathers and gave a pouty look.

"Come on now. You'd not gonna get better if you don't cooperate. Mmm... See? It's delicious. Good and good for you." Fluttershy said after drinking out of it but Philomena still refuses to drink the soup in the same pouting pose. Fluttershy decided to use a different method to get her to drink it.

"Here come the choo-choo train. Chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga, whoo-whoo!" Fluttershy began making train noises trying to give Philomena the soup but each time she tries to give it to her Philomena turns her head away from each direction the bowl comes which is twisting her head tightly. After all the neck twisting Philomena began spinning back to her normal state which then made her dizzy and collapsed to the bowl head first.

"Oh dear. Don't worry, Philomena. I know what'll make you feel better. Wait right here. I have just the thing." Fluttershy began trotting away to get something as Philomena hacked back down to the soup which made more feathers popped out after the cough. Minutes later as Philomena nibbles on some mouse feeding Fluttershy returns with a green humming bird on her hoof.

"Look, Philomena. I brought a fellow feathered friend by to cheer you up. Hummingway here was sick once too, but he let me help him and got better in no time. Didn't you, boy?" Fluttershy asked and the humming bird nodded with a chirp.

"Say hello to your new friend Philomena." Fluttershy said and hummingway came over on Philomena's back and nuzzled her neck.

"Aw, look. I think he likes you." Fluttershy said as the hummingway flies back to Fluttershy. She then sang a melody in one verse and Hummingway finishes it with it's humming.

"Your turn now, Philomena. Go ahead. You can do it." Fluttershy encouraged and sang the first verse of the melody again waiting for Philomena to finish it with a grin. But she began to look like she was going to throw up and coughed out the mouse food at Fluttershy's face.

"Um... good try?" Fluttershy said wiping the food off her face. Later she takes Philomena to her bathroom with two towels wrapped around her head and waist.

"I know what'll clear up that tickle in your throat. A humidifier." Fluttershy mentioned and turned on the humidifier in the room and in just a matter of seconds the whole room is enshrouded in steam.

"[deep breath] Refreshing. How's that feeling now for you, Philomena? Better?" Fluttershy asked and Philomena too took a deep breath which made Fluttershy grin widely waiting to see if she succeeds. But alas Philomena hacks again making more feathers pop out of her plus taking away Fluttershy's smile.

"Oh... That's okay. I know lots of other ways to take care of you. Don't worry. You're gonna get better. How about... Aromatherapy?" Fluttershy suggested and soon lit the fire place and lit candles around Philomena. The smoke then arrived at Philomena's nose which made her inhale deeply and finally sneezed making more feathers pop out.

"Warm bath?" Fluttershy said filling up the bathtub with Philomena in it. Suddenly though Philomena started absorbing all the water until she's nothing but a swelled up bird which Fluttershy doesn't understand how it happened and also made more feathers pop out.

"Ointment?" Fluttershy mentioned and added ointment on Philomena's head but only made pimples spread around her body and made more feathers pop out once again.

"Scalpel. Surgical tape. Feathers." Fluttershy instructed as she wears a doctor's scope on her head sweating in stress while Angel passes the medical tools to her and wipes the sweat off. As Fluttershy finishes it so happens that she only taped the feathers on Philomena as she continues to hack uncontrollably.

"Oh, Philomena. I thought it would be easy to nurse you back to health. I've tried everything I know. And look at you. You're worse than ever." Fluttershy stated. Just then a knock happened on her door and she slowly reaches to open it but instantly opens revealing Zach and Twilight coming in with bright smiles on their faces.

"Hi, Fluttershy! I just wanted to drop by and say thank you so very much for making such a good impression on the princess today... [gasp]" Twilight's expression turns into shock as she notices Philomena sitting on a lamp table.

"What is Celestia's pet doing here?!" Twilight asked in shock.

"I couldn't leave the poor thing there. She needed my help." Fluttershy said in her defense.

"You mean you took her? Did you even ask for permission?" Zach asked too in shock.

"...No." Fluttershy admitted shamefully.

"Oh no. NonononononoNO! This is bad." Twilight said planting her hoof on her eye in stress.

"How could I just walk away and not do anything?" Fluttershy asked.

"But... but... she doesn't belong to you!" Twilight pointed out.

"I had to do something."

"Without telling anypony?! Without asking permission?!"

"But..." Fluttershy tried to come up with an excuse just as Philomena produced another cough falling off the table.

"I know you had good intentions, but you have got to return Princess's pet!" Twilight urged.

"But..." Fluttershy tried to find the words as Philomena comes up taking a deep breath as if she's going to cough again but hasn't done so as she just stands there frozen.

"What... no cough this time? Alright." Zach muttered.

"[sigh] You're right. Okay, let's..." Fluttershy gave in just as Philomena finally coughed.

"Oh, there it is." Zach confirmed.

"...go." Fluttershy finished. So they grabbed a basket and loaded Philomena in it on Fluttershy's back so the authorities don't see her.

"If we hurry, we can put her back before anypony even realizes she's missing. [gasp]" Twilight gasped as she opened the door only to find two royal guards with serious looks on their faces as Twilight bites her bottom lip in horror.

"Oh, [clears throat] afternoon officers. How may we help you?" Zach tried to act caual who too was in a bit of shock.

"We were told we could find Zachary Lanson and Twilight Sparkle here." one of the guards said ignoring Zach's question.

"We regret to inform you, two, that the royal pet has gone missing." the other guard announced.

"Really? You don't say! [nervous chuckle]" Twilight tries her best not to act suspicious in front of the two. Just then Philomena made a cough in the basket and Twilight quickly took action making some fake coughs of her own. But Philomena coughed again and Twilight does her best to act like she's coughing and lightly kicks Fluttershy signaling for a little support. So the two with Zach joining in started doing fake excessive coughing which made the two guards look at each other in worry.

"It's that dry night air." Twilight said dryly pretending to have a dry throat.

"But it's daytime." Fluttershy pointed out.

"Well... day air's even drier. You guards better be on your way if you're gonna find the princess's missing pet. Philomena, was it? Thank you ever so much for keeping me in the loop. BYE!" Twilight pushed the guards out the door and slams the door panting in the process. She then slowly looks out the window to see if the guards are leaving and sees clear view of the two walking away.

"Phew... What are you doing?!" Twilight notices Fluttershy walking for the door.

"Going to return Philomena, remember?" Fluttershy reminded.

"We can't now!" Twilight stated blocking the door.

"Why not?"

"You have no idea what the princess is gonna do if she finds you're the one who took her pet, do you?!"

"Do you?" Zach and Fluttershy asked in unison with a furrowed eyebrow.

"Well... no. But it can't be anything good. She might banish you from Equestria. Or throw you in a dungeon. Or banish you and then throw you in a dungeon in the place that she banishes you to." Twilight predicted.

"You really think the princess would do that?" Fluttershy asked in disbelief.

"Okay. Granted that probably won't happen, but do you wanna take any chances?" Twilight asked.

"But I told you before, this is Princess Celestia. When's the last time she's ever been upset enough to punish someone that harshly?" Zach asked.

"1000 years ago." Twilight reminded.

"Oh... right... But that was still 1000 years ago and it was against a threat. And since then, she's never done any punishment like that. Besides, she's like a mother to me, I don't think she would do anything like that ever again, unless she has to."

"Never the less, it's a little too risky. Not to mention this is her pet we're talking about. So, please, let's be cautious about it."

"Oh, alright. But how are we going to return Philomena without being spotted?"

"All that really matters to me is that poor little Philomena here gets well." Fluttershy said with Philomena popping out of the basket still coughing.

"That's very noble of you. I'll write to you when you're banished. Unless I'm banished too somewhere there's no post office. Then you'll have to write to me. Deal?" Twilight asked.

"Please, Twilight. You just have to help me get Philomena healthy and then we can return her to the Princess. And everything will be fine."

"Did you give her any kind of medicine?"

"I tried to, but she wouldn't take it."

"[groan] Then you have to MAKE her take it. You can't be such a pushover, Fluttershy! You need to show this patient who's the boss. Make her straighten up and fly right!"

"She can't fly."

"No excuses!" Twilight said as she grabs the pill and opens Philomena's mouth and drops the pill in it making her eat it.

"Done. Okay, what else?" Twilight asked.

"Uh... well, she keeps pulling her feathers off. The ones that haven't fallen out yet from all her coughing, I mean." Fluttershy said.

"Have you tried taking her temperature?" Zach asked.

"Yes, but each time I put a blanket or ice pack on her, she seems to rise or drop to extreme temperatures." Fluttershy answered.

"Maybe it's the lack of feathers that's not balancing her temperature right. If she is sick, then we must figure something out to stop the feathers from popping out each time she coughs." Zach pointed out which gave Twilight an idea. They put Philomena back in her cage with a large cloth over it with the bird squawking struggling to get out.

"It's for your own good, Philomena, I promise. Please, just relax and try to get some sleep." Fluttershy said. Twilight then notices the bowl of soup and sniffs it.

"What's this soup over here? Smells delicious." Twilight asked.

"I made it for Philomena. But she wouldn't eat it." Fluttershy answered.

"Oh, she'll eat it, all right." Twilight assured with a devious smile.

"Be careful. She might try to run." Zach warned. Twilight comes over and removes the cloth and slowly opens the cage door. Philomena takes this opportunity and charges out the cage screeching escaping the small prison.

"Crud!" Zach shouted trying to dive for the strayed bird but misses her landing on the ground inches from her.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Twilight exclaimed.

"No! Philomena! Come back!" Fluttershy called and soon the three were on a wild goose chase. They chased the pesky bird down the park where they chased her around a tree running in circles. When they went fast enough to lose track Philomena was able to outsmart the three on top of the tree and made a run for it. As the the three realized that they lost her again they resumed their search. In town the two guards from earlier go across town showing the citizens a sketch of Philomena to see if they seen her. Luckily so far another citizen shook his head claiming he hadn't seen her without seeing Philomena climbing across the hanging flag ropes. The three then came across a mysterious figure reading a newspaper at a bench and when the newspaper lowers it reveals a rather familiar bird like presence with a big mustache. The ponies then began bird movements to see if the stranger had seen Philomena but it shrugged and went back to reading the newspaper. The three looked at each other and Zach approaches to inspect one more time lowering the newspaper and removed the mustache revealing that it was Philomena. After realizing she's been caught again she makes another run for it with the three not too far behind. They chased her down the town sneaking behind the two guards so they won't get caught. They then cornered her in a row of empty houses and chased her down a house but she somehow appears in another as they rush to each door hoping to catch the bird and coming out in different doors. Twilight then sees Philomena poking out of one of the doors and rushes for it only to find herself crashing into Zach and Fluttershy while the pet escapes again. The three rushed and looked for the bird near town hall only to pass by the hiding bird behind a pole and runs off just as the two guards walked by and placed the sketch of her on the pole. She then returns to it and wrote a big shaggy mustache and unibrow on it for fun before leaving only for Zach to come across it with a raised eyebrow at it in confusion. The three rushed down the streets still searching for the missing pet hoping to find her soon.

"What are you two doing? Are you having a race? Oh, can I play? 1 2 3 GO!" Dash appears above them and zooms off with the running three still looking for Philomena. They then come across the rest of the group enjoying themselves by the fountain.

"Excuse me!" Fluttershy said lifting Pinkie off the ground with her back while she chews on a cupcake.

"Hi!" Pinkie greeted through a mouth full.

"Beg your pardon!" Twilight said lifting Rarity off the ground with her forehooves searching from underneath as well.

"Put me down!" Rarity demanded and Twilight did so dropping Rarity back to the ground.

"What in tarnation?!" Applejack exclaimed surprisingly.

"Sorry, but we've gotta find-" Twilight tried to explain but was cut off by another voice.

"The princess's pet bird!" one of the guards shouted looking up. The group then look up at the fountain and sees Philomena with nearly all feathers gone atop the pony statue.

"Philomena, come down from there! You'll hurt yourself!" Fluttershy ordered worriedly. Suddenly the final feather pops out from Philomena's tail and she started extreme rattled coughing and faints on top of the statue looking she was dead. However she repeats the dramatic act but this time falling off the fountain.

"I'll catch you!" Fluttershy called running as fast as she could to Philomena's falling destination. She makes the hop for it ready to save her but then something unexpected happened. Philomena literally just burst into flames without any explanation which made Fluttershy gasp in horror. As she landed she only managed to save the remaining ashes of burnt bird on her hooves. The rest of the group gasped in total shock at this unexpected turn of events. Fluttershy looks at the ashes as they slip through the cracks of her hooves and started whimpering ready to cry at her failure.

"What is going on here?" Celestia arrives demanding an explanation as the group and guards bowed before her.

"Zachary, Twilight?" Celestia questioned turning her attention to her students catching their attention.

"Yes, Your Majesty, there's been a terrible accident." Twilight announced shamefully.

"It's all my fault." Fluttershy convinced.

"No, Princess. Fluttershy didn't know any better. It was my fault."

"I'm the one who did it."

"But you were only trying to help."

"Some help I was."

"Will ya let me do this? She'll go easier on me."

"But it's my fault!"

"No, it's my fault!"

"No, it's my fault! Wait, what are we talking about?" Pinkie joins losing track of the conversation.

"Okay, stop it! I don't think that happened by accident." Zach announced.

"Wha... what do you mean?" Fluttershy asked confusingly.

"Call me crazy, but... Why do I sense life from the ashes?" Zach asked.

"What!? What are you talking about? Those are ashes, they can't be alive." Twilight pointed out.

"Then how come I'm sensing that she's still alive anyway?"

"Because she is alive, my faithful student." Celestia said in a more calmer tone approaching the ashes.

"Princess, what are you talking about? What's going on?" Twilight asked in total confusion.

"Oh, stop fooling around, Philomena. You're scaring everypony." Celestia said to the ashes. All of a sudden the ashes started moving and rose to the sky surprising the group as they gasped in awe. As soon as the ashes formed in midair spining in circles it shined as bright as the sun revealing an incredible sight as a red and orange fiery feathered phoenix making the group gasp in awe as it flies around with fire sparks following from behind.

"I don't understand! What is that thing? What happened to Philomena?" Fluttershy asked in worry.

"This is Philomena. She's quite a sight, as I said. But nothing unusual for a phoenix. Isn't that right, Philomena?" Celestia asked and got a healthy bird cry from her as an answer.

"A... A phoenix?" Fluttershy asked in a state of confusion and surprise.

"A phoenix is a majestic and magical bird. While it appears healthy and happy most of the time, every so often it must renew itself by shedding all of its feathers and bursting into flame. [silently] Rather melodramatic, if you ask me. [loud again] It then rises from the ashes, fresh as a daisy. All just a normal part of the life cycle of a phoenix. I'm afraid, mischievous little Philomena here took the occasion to have a little fun with you, Fluttershy. Say you're sorry, young lady." Celestia ordered and Philomena made an embarrassed 'I'm sorry' sound to Fluttershy.

"So... aren't you gonna banish me? Or throw me in a dungeon? Or banish me and then throw me in a dungeon in the place that you banish me to?" Fluttershy asked getting surprised looks from the others.

"Of course not, my little pony. Where on Earth would you get such an idea?" Celestia asked. Zach and Fluttershy looked at Twilight seeing a guilty look from her.

"I guess I have some imagination." Fluttershy said making Twilight smile thankfully.

"Fluttershy really did do everything she could to try to take care of Philomena for you." Twilight added happily.

"And I do appreciate that your heart was in the right place, child. But all you had to do was ask me and I could have told you Philomena was a phoenix and saved you all this trouble." Celestia said.

"I know. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. Next time I'll ask before taking matters into my own hooves." Fluttershy declared.

"Should I write you a letter about that lesson, Princess?" Twilight asked curiously.

"No, that's quite all right. I think I can remember." Celestia assured.

"If that is what you want. But I'm going to write it down anyway and keep it just in case you do forget. Almost like how you forgot Philomena after the party, right?" Zach teased with a sly grin which made an embarrassed blush from Celestia.

"Oh. [giggles] That's one mistake I'll never make again." Celestia promised as Philomena takes off to the air with the guards bringing her bird cage. Suddenly Fluttershy felt something landed on her right ear and sees it was one of Philomena's fiery feathers as another apology gift.

"It's beautiful. Thank you, Philomena. No hard feelings." Fluttershy assured thankfully. Dash looked at the two guards next to the cage and came up with a great plan. She flies up to Philomena whispering something into her ear and nods in agreement. She flies on top of her cage and she rubs her feather wings on the two guards' noses making them squinch their noses a little and they shortly broke out into a laugh. Philomena flies up and high fives Dash in congratulations for a succeeded plan. Then everypony started laughing gleefully to see a great bird rise up to become something much more and for a more brighter day.