Rainbow Dash sat with her eyes closed in a cage as a feral fox walked around the cage. "Good… you're doing good. Soon you'll be ready." He said happily.

"Ready for what?" Rainbow asked softly.

"To prepare for your role in the future."

"What? You mean in the fight?"

"That…" the fox replied as he stopped to scratch an itch behind his ear. "And your role in the clans."

"Wait. You mean there's more than one?"

"Yes. The phoenix clan and its sister clan the dragon clan in fact." The fox replied. "To be honest. I wonder… which of you will pick the dragon clan."

Rainbow tilted her head in confusion. "Hold on a sec. Who else is getting the opinion? What's the difference? I need details."

"All good questions." He replied with a nod. "In fact. I won't be surprised if the others are asking the same things." It rubbed his chin. "To answer your questions…"

Scootaloo tilted her head as she flew through several cloud rings. "Well?"

The lizard on her back sighed. "Left at the next ring, and into the cave. Anyway, like I was saying. Your ideal is one of the others. Being a member of the dragon clan will grant you similar gifts as them. While the phoenix clan will make you a member of his family."

"Why did you call them sister clans?" Smolder asked as she juggled balls of electricity. "And how am I doing this?"

"Lightning is very closely related to fire. You'd be surprised how many don't know that. Anyway…" A nearby bird replied. "The two clans come from the same place. Sadly they have yet to become one."

"So… one of us will be able to marry Phoenix?" Spike asked as he rolled a ball of lava along his back.

"Ironically… you're the first guy to bring that up like this." A snake answered as it wrapped around his arm. "But yes. However, we do hope that at least one male of this world would join each clan."

"So there would be two couples to join the clans." Rainbow guessed.

"Correct." The fox agreed before bursting into flames. "So what will it be?"

Phoenix stood at the door to the castle. "They should be done soon…" He sighed before turning to the two birds sitting on the map. "I trust you two know what to do."

Both birds nod.

"Good. Knowing our foes… they will have sent someone to fetch me." He sighed, turning to the door. "So till everyone is in place… I'll have to play along." Opening the door he nodded at the approaching shadow guard. "Pride it is then." Glancing at the night sky he gave an amused huff. "Always one for the theatrics." With that he allowed himself to be chained and carted off.

"What? Is that it?" Discord huffed.

"You sound disappointed, friend." The stallion laughed. "Did you expect something more out of this group?"

"Well… I was hoping for a test."

"Why? They were already accepted. That and Rainbow practically was chomping at the bit to join the fire spirit."

"Well… what about Phoenix? He just let them take him? Really?"

The stallion laughed. "Oh… you'll see what he has planned once the battle begins."

"And how soon will that be? I've been waiting for… a lot of chapters for the action. And weren't we promised some spicy content?"

"Well… the girls still have to get in position. So give it another chapter or two."

"Fine. But it better be worth it… and how long have you been breaking the fourth wall?"

"... this is our… third box of popcorn… so… from the beginning."

"...well plaid."

A short chapter. But the next few may likely be longer... and more... interesting.