Philomena

Philomena is Princess Celestia's pet phoenix. She is introduced and a central character in A Bird in the Hoof. Philomena's name is of Greek origin, meaning "Powerful love".

Name
The name's English spelling is Philomena, though on the show's storyboard by Sabrina Alberghetti it shows up as "Philemena". One of Hasbro's online coloring pages, a question on Hasbro's My Little Pony Facebook page, and a tweet by Hasbro's My Little Pony Twitter account spell the name "Philomeena". The 2012 My Little Pony trading cards use "Philomena" and list it as a trademark.

Depiction in the series
"She is quite a sight, isn't she?"

- Princess Celestia referring to Philomena

Philomena appears in A Bird in the Hoof, introduced at the party held at Sugarcube Corner in honor of Princess Celestia's visit. Fluttershy, worried at the sickly state of the bird, takes Philomena without telling anyone so that she can heal her. Throughout the episode, Fluttershy tries desperately to heal Philomena, but she has never seen a bird quite like it and all her attempted treatments seem to make its condition worse. The bird eventually escapes, leading Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle into a chase around Ponyville to catch her. Eventually they find her, but when she loses her last feather, she bursts into flames. After Fluttershy cries at the sight of the ashes and Celestia arrives, Philomena rises again, renewed.

"I'm afraid mischievous little Philomena here took the occasion to have a little fun with you, Fluttershy. Say you're sorry, young lady."

- Princess Celestia scolding Philomena

Princess Celestia explains to Fluttershy that Philomena, like all phoenixes, plucks all her feathers and burns into ashes at the end of her life cycle, only to rise from the ashes and renew herself. Soon after, Rainbow Dash gets Philomena to tickle the Royal guards on the nose as a prank; when they successfully make the guards laugh, they share a high five.

Other depictions
Philomena appears in comic book issue #1 on page 3, in her pre-renewal state.

Gallery

 * Philomena image gallery