They had reached the center of the forest, when yet another falling tree branch pinned Ace to a burning tree by his stomach. The fire had made the end sharp, so it was easy for the branch to go through anypony. Ace screamed in pain. Zecora tried to get the branch out of him, but he stopped her. "No, go get Phoenix." He struggled to say. Zecora, not wanting to waste time, immediately ran off to find Phoenix. Flaming bodies of woodland creatures were dropping left and right. Phoenix was near the outskirts of the town, talking with the same pegasus he had tackled when they were little, when Zecora rushed over. "Phoenix, your father is in the burning forest! If you don't save him now, he may need to be put to rest." Phoenix was surprised. "I gotta go!" The pegasus stepped back. "I know. I'll be here when you return." Phoenix ran into the forest. "Where is he?" He asked Zecora. "Your father is in the center, pinned to a tree. This fire will not stop, so we must arrive quickly!" She ran ahead. "I'm coming, father." Phoenix said to himself, and sped up. They had reached him just in time. "Phoenix! Help!" Ace tried to yell. "Don't talk, it will only make things worse." Phoenix grabbed the end of the branch. "Don't move too much." He warned. As Phoenix pulled on the branch, Ace pushed it away from him. It was hard, but they finally got the branch out. "Come on Zecora, we have to help him out!" Phoenix said, picking up one side of his father. "I am always ready, young one. Let's hurry up and get this done." Zecora picked up the other side, and they both began to walk away from the ring of fire. They had made it out in a matter of minutes. "Hang on, father, we'll get you through this." Phoenix said, pointing in the direction of the hospital. "I can do this on my own..." Ace tried to say, brushing off their hooves. However, when he stood up to walk, he coughed up blood and started to fall. Phoenix and Zecora quickly picked him back up. "I guess I can't." he said.

When they reached the hospital, everyone gasped. "Celestia's combat expert has been hurt!" One pony screamed. "How did this happen?" The nurse asked. "Forest fire." Ace said. "Come with me." The nurse began to walk away. Phoenix and Zecora followed. Ace was put in a room, and did not allow anyone except Phoenix to see him. "You're gonna make it. I promise." Phoenix said, placing a hoof on Ace's stomach, trying not to touch the wounded area. "What if I don't?" Ace asked. "You can't die, father. Not yet." Ace looked up, and said "I'm going to die here, you know that." Another nurse came in. "I'm sorry, but we cannot have visitors in here during this procedure." Phoenix stood up. "I'll see you later, father." He said as he walked out. "Goodbye son." Ace replied. A few weeks later, Phoenix heard a knock at the door. he was reading in his room, and the sudden noise made him lose his place. "It's 3 AM, who could that be?" He thought. He opened the door, and almost dropped the book in the grass. "Hello, son. You were right after all." Ace was there, a smile on his face. Phoenix didn't know what to say. "Son, are you okay?" Ace asked. "Yeah, I'm fine. Does it still hurt?" "A little, but I'll live." Ace hugged his son. He had lived through a flaming branch in the stomach, and he will live through much more.

Phoenix found himself back in the cold, dark forest, the moonlight shining on a wooden cross. Despite what happened around 2 decades ago, the forest still had it's natural beauty. "You lived through so much..." He said, placing a flower down. "...didn't you, father?" Phoenix looked up. Clouds were beginning to appear, and soon, it would start to rain. "Who would've guessed a heart attack would bring down a stallion as mighty as you, father?" He began to walk back to Ponyville, when he stopped and looked back. "Rest in peace, Ace." With that, he walked away, leaving the night clouds to cry over his loss.