No one said anything till they got to the library. It was agreed that Scootaloo should rest with Spike who curled up in the senter of the room. "So... you going to tell us what the buck happened?" Rainbow snapped. "We saw Scootaloo..." She shivered at the memory. "Then you... what was that?"

"Reberth." Phoenix explained looking at Scootaloo with a sullen expression. "It's a gift as much as a curse of my people." He sighed.

Twilight thought for a moment before gasping in realization. "That's why you said Peewee would understand. Because..."

"Yes. When I die... I am reborn in fire." He sighed. "It's a painful experience. But in return. I am cleansed by the fire. Death and rebirth. The two sides of the spirit of fire." Looking over he saw the girls and Spike where listening closely. With a sigh he smiled. "Normally I'd hold this lesson for a more private time. But considering what you saw..." He paused to hold out his hand with his palm face up. "The spirit of fire is within all living things. It is what drives us. It fulls us... drives our actions and passion. Fire is light. It is life." With that a small flame appeared on his hand. "To connect to the spirit of fire you must understand this. Know that your inner flame will grow and shrink with your passions." He looked over at Spike. "Dragons are seen as masters of this element because unlike others. They have a close tie to it."

"Dose this have anything to do with there greed?" Twilight asked as she took notes.

"Yes. As they give into their greed they grow as does their hunger for more. However..." He said with a smile at Spike. "Those who truly connect with the spirit will not be controlled by greed. Instead will grow to their proper size. At least as big as the spirit deems proper."

The girls giggled as Spike blushed. "So how can I connect to the spirit?" The dragon asked meekly.

"I would say to bathe in fire. But that would require us to go to a less... flammable location." Phoenix replied as he thought for a moment. "Show my your wings." Spike noded and carefully sat up to not disturb Scootaloo and spread his wings showing dark swirls that reached out from the base of his wings. Nodding Phoenix smiled at him. "Looks like the spirit has already excepted you. Just find time to bathe in fire now and then."

"And the rest of us?" Rainbow asked impatiently.

Phoenix thought for a moment. "That would be tough. There are trials that will bond you. But those are advanced lessons... for Rainbow... there is one way. But there's no going back." Rainbow pulled back in shock. Rainbow looked at her friends then at Phoenix before biting her lip. Looking at the others Phoenix smiled softly. "If you girls want I can help each of you connect to the spirits that best suits you." The girls looked at each other for a moment as a silent question was shared between them.

After a few minutes Pinkie asked in her normal energetic toan. "Can we join your herd?" At that everyone looked at her in shock. "What? If we're going to connect with the spirits. Why not just make a herd?"

Phoenix fasepalmed as the girls blushed as they looked from Pinkie to Phoenix then each other. "I... I don't know dear..." Rarity started as she looked at her friends. "That seems like a rather... big step... I mean... we don't know much about him other than what he taught us."

"That goes bothe ways." Phoenix pointed out. "I don't know much about any of you either. However..." He stopped to think for a moment. "Perhaps... it would help with your latter lessons. But..."

"That means we'd have to spend time alone with you." Twilight asked getting a nod from Phoenix. "I see... though I have a feeling you'd like us to take such lessons slowly. Start with the basics." Another nod.

"And by the time we're done with them you'll know what we need to go to the next level. We get it." Rainbow huffed. "Look. I get the entire. Lear slow. Thing but I don't do slow." She paused seeing Phoenix close his eyes to take a deep breath. Sighing she did the same. "Ok... fine. We can take it slowly. But how long till we can learn the good stuff?"

"If you want advanced lessons. You'll need to pass the trials first. And without training. You will likely fail." Phoenix sighed. "Besides. The advanced classes are private for a reason." The girls looked at each other for a moment before looking at Phoenix. "Can we just get back to the lesson? Or should we skip to Q&A?"

"I have one." Rainbow announced quickly. "How will we know if an element boned with us?"

Phoenix thought for a moment. "How should I put this?... you'll hear them?" He said holding out his hand as the small flame danced. "Take the spirit of fire for instance... It is powerful, brave and warm. It can cleans anything it touches. Or destroy it to make way for something new..." As he spoke the girls looked on in wonder. However, none notice Rainbow had stopped paying attention till. "Rainbow would be a potential pick."

"What about me?" Rainbow asked snapping out of her trance.

"Nothing. The girls were just asking about roles in a herd and what I thought about it." He teased with a knowing smile. "But now that you're back. I think it's safe to say I have a few ideas on how the selection will go."

"And how's that?" Twilight asked nervously.

"You'll see. But for know. I need to keep an eye on Scootaloo. So questions will have to..."

"Why?" Applejack interrupted.

"For one. It's the first time a quadrupled went through a rebirth. What makes it worse is her age."

"So... what do you think will happen?" Twilight asked.

"Anything from age change to a full body makeover." Hearing that Twilight and Spike looked to each other with a knowing nod. The other girls mimicking them.

"I think we're all wondering what will happen." Spike said carefully getting up to make room for Phoenix. "That and you should hold her at least." With a nod Phoenix sat between the two and smiled as Scootaloo repositioned herself onto his lap before Spike wrapped his wing around them.

Don't worry. The drama has only just begun.