The Age of the Phoenix had come to an end when the Wise King Phoenix had given up his right to rule to his only son Prince Scorch. This marked the beginning of the Age of Light, which would be later known as the Fall of Char, where the newly crowned King Scorch would become the most feared tyrant in Flame Pony history.
The Age of the Phoenix was met with many years of prosperity in the Ashen Fields; marking a century of peace within Flame Pony history. Not since the Dragon Rider Lord Smoke, who quelled the dragon uprising, did the Flame Ponies ever use their fire for war. Having driven the dragons from the Ashen Fields, never to oppress the lives of Flame Ponies again, Lord Smoke became the first King. With the Wise King Phoenix stepping down and the newly crowned King Scorch taking the throne it would seem that the Age of Light would have brought great insight and renaissance to the Flame Ponies. In actuality it brought the darkest chapter of Flame Pony history.
The recollection and negativity of King Scorch, by most ponies, consistently stems from the later years of his rule and deem the earlier years the residual competence of a well-structured kingdom left by the Wise King Phoenix. Rightfully so, the actions of King Scorch in later years would have lasting effects upon all Flame Ponies but his early years of ruling would paint a different picture if certain events, namely the Rise of the Orc, did not come to pass.
Prince Scorch, as a young foal, began his education under the tempering teachings of several brilliant Flame Ponies. Razgar the Thinker, Stanton the Dreamer, Elise the Speaker, and even Rascal the Believer tutored the young Prince. When the young Prince became old enough, he served under General Molten, becoming a soldier pony; as it was customary for the Royal Family to enlist within their own army. Learning battle tactics, military strategy, leadership skills, and completing the grueling Char Hoof Camp to become strong enough to fight off an Owl Bear single hoofed. Prince Scorch was naturally talented in fighting, earning the respect of his fellow comrades, and the admiration of General Molten.
To his teachers, he was considered to be a quick study, to his fellow soldier ponies he was a brave leader, and to his subjects an idol in which all Flame Ponies strove to emulate. All that was left for the young Prince to do, before inheriting the crown, was to find himself a special some pony. During the Age of the Phoenix, several Flame Pony families rose to considerable wealth and influence through trading across Equestria. The House of Hearth, the House of Coal, the House of Tinder and the most respected House of Incandescence had risen to ranks of nobility and political fame. It would be within one of these Houses that Prince Scorch was to find a special some pony to help rule the Ashen Fields, but Prince Scorch already had his heart set on a different pony.
From the entrance of Castle Char, two roads over, a left at the vendor selling caricatures, twelve homes down, a right at the intersection of the main road, and three stores passed the corner of the road preforming pony stood the 'Hot and Smolder Choices' clothing store. Prince Scorch had traveled this route many times since he was a foal, he owned several caricatures, and witnessed the play 'The Call of the Pony' preformed on the street corner at least a few dozen times. His route always ending at a family owned clothing shop, Hot and Smolder Choices, where Prince Scorch had purchased at least thirty different custom made hats to only catch a glimpse of Glow Sunbeam behind the counter.
Ever since the day the young Prince got lost on his way to the bakery, ended up having to stop for directions at a random shop, did the young Prince fall head over hooves for the pretty pony who pointed him in the right way. Glow Sunbeam was a grayish white filly Flame Pony that had fire so yellow that it almost resembled the sun. It was a big contrast to the young Prince's coal black hide and deep red flames. The young Prince would find excuses go back for many years after, each excuse becoming more and more ridiculous than the last but more and more apparent to Mr. and Mrs. Sunbeam. Until the days arrived where the Head Pony of Houses of Hearth, Coal, Tinder and Incandescence made regular visits to Castle Char in hopes of earning favor with the soon to be King. Inviting Prince Scorch over for dinner to formally meet their daughters; assuring him that he would not be disappointed.
Obligated to attend each dinner respectively, Prince Scorch met with several mares that seemed very eager to know his life story. While other mares attempted to impress him with their intelligence, preforming complicated spells or reciting old Flame Pony poetry. In no way were any of these ponies unsuitable for the Prince, each pony would have brought many assets and political power to the throne but none could seize the heart of the Prince who left it back at Hot and Smolder Choices.
With talk of Prince Scorch seeking his special some pony spreading through the Ashen Fields like wild fire, the Flame Ponies were buzzing over whom he was going to choose to be his Princess. The Prince knew whom he wanted but could not find the courage to ask. For Glow Sunbeam had shown little, to no interest, in Scorch, in fact, she almost seemed annoyed with him. What pony wouldn't after having to make thirty hats for one Flame Pony?
Eventually Prince Scorch summoned the courage to approach Glow Sunbeam to invite her and her family to dinner at Castle Char. To which Glow Sunbeam declined immediately and gave him his hat he had ordered the previous day. After this crushing blow Prince Scorch tried again and again to convince her to give him a chance but she refused him every time. Soon the time came where the Wise King Phoenix approached his son, asking if he had chosen a special some pony, to which the Prince declared that he had but his special some pony had refused him. This caused the Wise King Phoenix to laugh, explaining to him that for all his son's accomplishments he would fail to impress a pony. Pointing out to his son that even with all the power to rule over every Flame Pony, that they too do not always get what they want.
In the coming months the Wise King Phoenix had become sick; very sick. Relinquishing the thrown to his son had come earlier than the King had intended but did so without allowing the illness to make the choice for him. Prince Scorch was crowned King in the following days of His Royal Highness Phoenix abdicating his position. In the following month, His Royal Highness Phoenix, King Scorch's father, succumbed to his illness and passed quietly in the night.
Every Flame Pony came to pay their last respects to the once Wise King Phoenix, for when a Flame Pony passes their bodies turn to ash and scattered into the basin of the volcano; to forever burn with the heart of Equestria. It was tradition for the surviving members of the family, in the case the Royal bloodline, to make the journey to the volcano and scatter the ashes together. King Scorch had once made this journey years ago with his father, to say goodbye to his mother, and once more they made the journey together but Scorch would return alone.
Every pony from far and wide expressed their condolences and sympathies to the King. The Houses of Hearth, Coal, Tinder and Incandescence offered their support in these trying times; even Princess Celestia herself came to offer her sympathy on the Wise King Phoenix's passing. Many Flame Ponies commended the strong front King Scorch displayed during the passing of his father, but in reality, Scorch had suffered greatly behind closed doors. It would be another month before the King was seen in any public capacity among his fellow Flame Ponies again.
With His Royal Highness Phoenix gone and King Scorch seated upon the throne, it was clear that the line of Kings would end with him if he did not chose a special some pony. There were attempts to have King Scorch consider going to dinner with one of the mares of the respected Houses, but being the King allowed him to decline such ideas; insisting that there were more pressing matters to be dealt with. Owlbears, Timber Wolves and Spiders were being sighted more often in the following months of King Scorch's rise to the throne. Reports from the mines, as well as the Dark Marsh, of aggressive attacks from these creatures were becoming more and more frequent. Trivial is what many of his Counselor Ponies called it. Unprecedented is what they used to describe King Scorch's lack of a special some pony; 'none' was the word King Scorch used to describe the business these ponies had with his private life.
In the second year under King Scorch's reign, an orc named Grog, from the Far East of Equestria, appeared in the Ashen Fields riding on the back of a giant Queen Spider. The orc would come to be known as the Last Orc by every Flame Pony in time. For Grog declared that dragons driven from the Ashen Fields a century ago had taken their homeland and drove them across the sea. Grog swore vengeance on Flame Ponies for placing his kind in the path of the dragons, believing that Flame Ponies and dragons were still mutual friends. Try as he might, King Scorch couldn't convince Grog of the war Flame Ponies waged against the dragons over a century ago. The Last Orc would not listen, demanding that Flame Ponies leave the Ashen Fields as retribution for his kin. With King Scorch's refusal, the Last Orc had declared war on the Flame Ponies, promising them the same misery and pain his kin had suffered from the dragons.
The influx of Spider attacks increased by almost seventy percent within that year, causing many trade routes to be cut off indefinitely. Flame Ponies and regular ponies alike were all victims of these Spider attacks throughout the year, causing great turmoil and fear in the Ashen Fields. Consulting with the Summit on the events that had been transpiring in the East, King Scorch entertained the idea of a united front against the Last Orc and his Spiders. It was a unanimous decision from all parties. By the third year of King Scorch's rule the amount of Spider attacks had significantly dropped to only twenty percent and the roads were constantly being patrolled by allied ponies.
During the winter of that third year, the Last Orc returned to the Ashen Fields, aided by the cover of nightfall, with an army of Spiders at his back. Grog launched an attack on the Ashen Fields taking every pony by surprise. The horror that Grog brought that night is known to every Flame Pony as the Black Winter, where Flame Ponies were dragged from their homes and were taken deep into the Dark Marsh; some never to be seen again.
That following morning, King Scorch met with the Last Orc near the edge of the Dark Marsh to barter for the safe return of his Flame Ponies. The Last Orc demanded that the King beg for their safe return. The King reluctantly complied and begged for his Flame Ponies to return unharmed; kneeling to this Orc. Grog declared the King the weakest of his line, striking the King with his metal mace before refusing to release the ponies. King Scorch called for an emergency meeting of the Summit that day asking for the help in the rescue of his captured ponies. It was decided upon that Princess Celestia would lead a team of her own Royal Soldier ponies into the Dark Marsh, using the cover of nightfall themselves and rescue the captured Flame Ponies from the Last Orc. The next morning, Princess Celestia and her Royal Soldiers emerged from the Dark Marsh with nearly every Flame Pony that had been captured by the Last Orc; nearly.
The faith the Flame Ponies had for their King wavered greatly, not only did he fail to protect them, but he had also allowed the Last Orc to make a fool of him. The Houses of Hearth, Coal, Tinder and Incandescence had withdrawn much of their support of the King, claiming that the once Prince prodigy had made for a weak King. Every Flame Pony began to doubt the validity of their King, when it seemed that the King was alone in the world, a special some pony came to Castle Char to deliver a hat the King had neglected to pick up. Glow Sunbeam's parents were part of the ponies who had been taken during Black Winter. Glow wtinessed the King beg for their safe return, along with every pony else, and watched the Last Orc's cruel response. What she had seen, was the courage to do what was best for his Flame Ponies.
The fourth year of King Scorch's reign, many Counselor Ponies had resigned their positions and even General Molten had lost faith in his King. Believing that these Flame Ponies were remnants of his father's rule, King Scorch set out to find younger Flame Ponies to fill these necessary positions. One Flame Pony in particular was the eldest son Captain Warrick, from House Hearth, whom had been recognized by many of his fellow Soldier Ponies as a hero during the Black Winter. Having found little use for the Council of Ponies, King Scorch dissolved it completely stating that the Counselors were more troubled by whom he dated then the issues at hand.
There was still much criticism over King Scorch's ability to effectively protect and rule the Ashen Fields without a Council. Yet the newly promoted General Hearth fortifying key defenses of the Ashen Fields and roads had every pony starting to feel safe again. General Hearth now spoke directly to the King, no more time wasted discussing it as a committee, and King Scorch approved much of General Hearth's plans to keep the Spiders at bay. King Scorch made decrees without the consent of any pony, declaring that no Flame Pony would leave the safety of the Ashen Fields at night. That roads would be closed before sundown to minimize the Spider attacks. Stating that every strong bodied pony should apply to become a Soldier Pony to help protect their families and friends.
With all the laws in place, the number of attacks on Flame Ponies had dropped to less than ten percent and General Hearth had driven away several large legions of Spiders preventing another Black Winter. Flame Ponies were beginning to have confidence in their King, and in time thoughts of needing a Council left every ponies mind. All except for Glow Sunbeam whom believed that there should be some pony to question the King and offer him advice when needed. Glow Sunbeam had several dinners with the King since personally delivering his hat to him. There were rumors spreading through the Ashen Fields that the mare from 'Hot and Smolder Things' was going to be the new Queen. By the end of that fourth year the Ashen Fields had gotten its Queen.
Although becoming the Queen of the Ashen Fields gave Glow Sunbeam almost equal power over the Flame Ponies, she could not see herself being her husband's adviser; at least not officially. During the spring of the fifth year of King Scorch's rule. Queen Sunbeam happened upon a crippled bat near the edge of the Dark Marsh. A victim of the cruelty of the Last Orc no doubt. Queen Sunbeam brought him back to Castle Char, nursing it back to health. By the time fall came around the bat had learned to read, write and speak the language of ponies. It had learned to walk on its claws and had studied all of Flame Pony history during its stay in Castle Char. As a gift, Queen Sunbeam presented Wingston, who was now able to speak his name, a staff she cut from a tree and carved it to help him walk.
Wingston approached King Scorch that winter, to which he swore his loyalty to the King and Queen, to the Ashen Fields, and to all Flame Ponies that lived there. Stating that the kindness of Flame Ponies gave him a second chance to be something more than just a bat, and would be a reliable King's Adviser. King Scorch was at first apprehensive at the idea, realizing that Glow had intended for Wingston to become his Advisor all along, but the thought of a non-Flame Pony's point of view sounded useful to Scorch. That winter Wingston had become the King's Royal Adviser, while starting in on handling much of the political back lash from the dissolved Council, speaking with delegates of other nations, and playing ambassador when necessary. Wingston had become the voice, the ears, the eyes, and will of the King for any Flame Pony that came to Castle Char looking for help; he was much beloved by the Flame Ponies of the Ashen Fields.
The start of the sixth year of King Scorch's reign had marked the birth of his first children, twin colts they loving named Wick and Pyre. The news of the foals spread through the Ashen Fields like wildfire, every Flame Pony rejoiced over the news and threw a celebration on the twin's behalf that lasted two days. Ponies from all over Equestria traveled to the Ashen Fields to catch a glimpse of the twin colts, even the leaders across Equestria flocked to congratulate them; including Princess Celestia. The Flame Ponies had deemed the reign of King Scorch as the Age of Light, declaring that in their darkest hours Scorch had shown them the way. General Hearth had doubled security around the Ashen Fields after the arrival of the twins, taking every precaution for the newborn colts, for the Last Orc would have surely heard the news.
During the summer of the sixth year the Last Orc would make its final move on the Ashen Fields. Emptying the Dark Marsh and the surrounding mountains of Spiders, Grog mounted a full scale assault on the Ashen Fields declaring that this night would mark the end of Flame Ponies forever. General Hearth quickly mobilized the largest offensive Flame Pony army in over a century to defend their home once more. A messenger pony was sent out to request aid from the Crystal Empire and Canterlot of the Last Orc's march on the Ashen Fields. Night turned to day, the fire of the Flame Ponies burned fiercely to stave off the advancing Spiders. King Scorch led the charge himself with General Hearth at his side and his army at his back.
No pony would have guessed the Last Orc's plan, for Grog had used his Spiders as a diversion to sneak into Castle Char and strike at the very heart of the King. Queen Sunbeam coddled her twins in the Royal Chamber, with Wingston at her side, and several Royal Guard ponies stationed outside the door. It would not be enough to keep the Last Orc out. Having bested the guards, Grog entered the Royal Chambers declaring that his kin would be avenged that night.
The events that followed are known to few ponies. History would speak of the Spiders being driven back, that the twins and the Queen were unharmed, and that the Last Orc was never seen or heard from again. For Grog had stormed the Royal Chamber, Wingston placing himself in front of the Orc to defend the Queen was quickly struck down by the Orc with a single swing of his mace. Turning his mace towards the Queen, Grog raised it once more to Queen Sunbeam who shielded her foals. The blow never fell, the Last Orc having been knocked to the ground by the King. Grog struggled beneath the fiery hooves of King Scorch, only to feel the full wrath of his anger. The King bathed the Last Orc in fire, burning away every trace of the Orc; leaving not but the charred remains of a humanoid figure. Queen Sunbeam and Wingston were the only witnesses to the defeat of the Last Orc, and the first witnesses to Scorch becoming the Mad King.
By the winter of the sixith year of King Scorch's reign, there was a noticeable difference in the King's mood. The King had blamed himself for Grog. Believing that if he had been stronger, more decisive in his choices he could have ended the war before it began. Scorch had sent out search parties every day to sweep the mines, comb the Dark Marsh for Spiders, or any creature that would pose a threat and deal with it. Most Flame Ponies believed it was merely a show of force to ensure that no creature would think to try and harm another pony. Wingston on more than occasion tried to console the King's thoughts of on the matter, but the King declined his help. Even Queen Sunbeam had trouble reaching him at times. King Scorch secluded himself for hours at a time, alone with his thoughts and refused to speak to any pony.
By the spring of the ninth year of King Scorch's reign, many ponies wanted repeal the laws that had been set during the time of the Last Orc. Flame Ponies wanted to use the roads at night again, not every Flame Pony wanted to become a Soldier Pony, and the King refused them. Stating that Flame Ponies could not help themselves during the War against the Last Orc, Flame Ponies were made to look like fools, and that a show of strength was needed to be taken seriously again. King Scorch ordered the burning of the over half of the Dark Marsh claiming that it would expand our territory and drive out the creatures lurking there. General Hearth carried out the order, but in doing so it attracted several negative views from the Summit. Many leaders, including Princess Celestia, claimed that peaceful animals were forced from their homes due to this and that Ashen Plains did not have legitimate reason or claim over the Dark Marsh to do such a thing. This was the first time King Scorch uttered the words, "I am the King." as a response.
By the winter of the tenth year of King Scorch's reign, he had cut all ties with the allied Kingdoms. Claiming that their efforts during the war was insignificant at best and accused them of allowing Spiders to cross freely into their lands. Much to the dismay of Wingston who had attempted to salvage those ties to little effect, and even Queen Sunbeam personally apologized to each Kingdom for her husband's inexcusable behavior. The Flame Ponies of the Ashen Fields were becoming increasingly concerned on how the King was handling things, the House of Hearth, Coal, Tinder, and Incandescence started to rally against the King's decision to cut ties for such ludicrous reasons. The King responded by removing their titles, their property, and burned all their possessions to the ground for defying him. After that every pony refused to speak out against the King, once more living in fear. King Scorch decreed that the land north of the Ashen Fields were now under his rule, a part of Equestria that had remained neutral and was home to small villages of ponies. It was here that the Scorch was nearing the Mad King as history remembers him, when he ordered the removal of all non-Flame Ponies from the area.
News had reached Canterlot of King Scorch's occupation and relocation of the ponies living to the north of the Ashen Fields. Princess Celestia took it upon herself to confront King Scorch personally on this matter. It was this encounter that King Scorch would forever be lost in his own self-hatred, having allowed his anger and hate to eat away at his heart, and allowed his madness to take over. For when Princess Celestia arrived at Castle Char to confront him, King Scorch commanded for the capture of Princess Celestia for conspiring against Flame Ponies and allowing the Last Orc to breed an army of Spiders capable of collapsing his kingdom. The Solider Flame Ponies were no match for Princess Celestia's power, their fire could not subdue her, and she escaped declaring that King Scorch had gone too far and would pay for his crimes.
This began to the Summer War against the Summit and the Ashen Fields. A blockade was set up near every major road and minor road that led in and out of the Ashen Fields. Soldier Flame Ponies were forced into war once more. Those that refused were brought before the King and convinced otherwise. Land was slowly won by Flame Ponies, wild fires proved effective in forcing ponies to give up ground and the Flame Pegasi kept the air space around the Ashen Field dry so that rain would not be used against them. The Summit had nicknamed Scorch the Mad King, many ponies had their own reason of why he was called that; all were good reasons. It was at this time that Queen Sunbeam had given King Scorch another son, but he had refused to see or name him.
That Fall, the Flame Pony Soldiers were inching ever closer to the Crystal Kingdom and Ponyville. There were rumors that the Mad King had a plan to cover all of Equestria in fire; making his rule absolute. Wingston was the one who had leaked the plan, and it was Wingston that plotted to overthrow the Mad King. In fear of the Mad King succeeding with his plan, Wingston told Queen Sunbeam of the King's secret, having betrayed the confidant the King placed upon him, and urging her to seek help. Queen Sunbeam slipped away in the middle of the night, approaching Princess Celestia in Canterlot with news of the Mad King's plan. Explaining that being here put her foals in danger of her husband's wrath, trying to earn her trust that Scorch had destroyed. Princess Celestia agreed to help on the condition that Flame Ponies would end their march on Equestria, and pay for their crimes when Glow would ascend to power in place of the Mad King. Queen Sunbeam agreed.
That night would be known as the Banishment of the Mad King in Flame Pony history. For Queen Sunbeam tricked the Mad King out from the castle which allowed Princess Celestia the opportunity to use with the Elements of Harmony banishing the Mad King into the Void for all of eternity. With the Mad King gone. Princess Celestia declared the banishment of Flame Ponies; to forever remain with their Ashen Fields never to trouble any pony ever again. Queen Sunbeam, in her grief, agreed to such terms offering her deepest apologies.
The Age of Light was soon renamed the Fall of Char by Flame Ponies in the coming years. Queen Sunbeam could not resolve her grief, insisting that there was still a part of the old King Scorch somewhere within the Mad King. Wingston reluctantly decided to help her, uncovering a mirror in the dungeons deep under Castle Char that acted as a doorway to the Void. Having said goodbye to her foals, Queen Sunbeam asked Wingston to look after them; especially the little one before stepping into the Void. It was the last time any pony ever saw Queen Sunbeam. The lives of Flame Ponies had fallen far since the days of the Wise King Phoenix, wondering where things had gone so wrong, and if there was a time in which it could have been stopped. All that remained of the Age of Light were two Twin colts, Wick and Pyre that declared themselves the Wardens of Castle Char. Along with a small fire colt named Smolder, the youngest son of the Mad King, whom every Flame Pony saw try to eat rocks.