Ever pony took a turn piecing together the bad news. It began with Princess Luna, Twilight, Spike, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy helping to recount the events that had transpired from them being in Castle Char; until now. Beginning with Wingston entering Castle Char looking for their help to assist the Flame Ponies trapped in the mining tunnels of the mountain. How Wingston stayed behind to give them time to escape into the dungeons of Castle Char. Then Princess Celestia picked up the story, continuing to describe Smolder's confrontation with the Mad King, and having insisted on the safety of the Flame Ponies before his own; how he elected to stay behind to give her time to reach them. The story eventually led up to the confrontation with the Mad King in the mines and their missed chance to use the Elements of Harmony due to the collapsing cave. General Hearth remained stoic through it all.
"Then, am I correct in saying that Prince Smolder and Wingston are no longer with us?" General Hearth asked promptly; a noticeable sadness in his tone.
No pony wanted to answer the question. Every pony looked away uncomfortable trying not to be the pony to have to confirm it.
"I'll take that as a yes." General Hearth said with a sigh.
"I am sorry for your loss, General Hearth." Princess Celestia said solemnly.
"I thank you for your condolences, my Lady. If you'll excuse me, I have to inform the other Flame Ponies of this unfortunate news." General Hearth said bowing his head before turning back to inform the other Flame Ponies.
"Unfortunate news? Aren't you even the least bit sad that they're gone?" Spike asked only to have Twilight cover his mouth and pull him back.
"Spike!" Twilight hissed at him.
"It's alright, Ms. Sparkle." General Hearth replied.
"Alright? How is losing two friends alright?" Rainbow Dash asked, seeming dumbfounded by his response.
"Because it needs to be." General Hearth answered resolutely.
"What in the hay is that supposed to mean?" Applejack asked sounding annoyed.
"I need to believe that everything is going to work out. I need these Flame Ponies to believe that there is still hope and not give up entirely without Wingston and Prince Smolder to guide us. That there is still hope for a better life, a better in future... even if it means we'll get there without them." General Hearth said his voice starting to shake.
Every pony watched General Hearth take a deep breath; trying to compose himself. It was obvious that General Hearth was grieving, but his duties and his pride refused to let him show it.
"For now, I need to be the source of their strength. I have to continue what Wingston and Prince Smolder tried to achieve. To keep our Flame Ponies from giving up entirely. That is what they would have wanted." General Hearth said authoritatively.
General Hearth seemed to be trying to convince himself of his own words; looking rather defeated. He shook his head a few times before heading back to the herd of Flame Ponies to deliver the unfortunate news to them.
"It's not fair." Princess Luna remarked.
"Life rarely is." Princess Celestia replied sadly.
Within the walls of Castle Char the Mad King pulled himself up the staircase leading from the dungeons below. Plumes of black smoke swirling in the air around him. His hooves scraping across the stone steps, trying to find traction as he dragged himself into the Main Hall of Castle Char. His breathing labored from the climb and his earlier fight with the wielders of the Elements of Harmony. The fissures on his hide pulsed from orange to red, trying to ignite once more into the inferno, but failed each time. His hide covered in black rock like legions, large deposits of stone hung from his wings and weighed him down immensely.
There was a faint sound of a horn that cut through the silence. It reached the Mad King's ears, causing him to bare his teeth in anger. It was a familiar sound to him, for it belonged to the Royal Army of the Crystal Empire. No sooner did he have to wait before hearing a second horn cut through the silence once more. This horn came from the west, informing the Mad King that Canterlot's Royal Army was approaching. Taking short breaths, the Mad King's rage began to build, looking at the harden rock that littered his body with immense hate.
"I… am… the King!" The Mad King hissed to himself.
Rearing back the Mad King slammed his hooves onto the stone floor, breaking off pieces of rock that had caked his legs. Swinging his wings into the staircase, the Mad King roared in pain as the rocks shattered pieces and exposing some fire beneath it. The Mad King's hide had retreated more, having been scraped off by the legions of stone; causing even more fire to escape from within him.
"I need more." The Mad King muttered in anguish.
The horn of the Crystal Empire echoed across the Ashen Fields followed by the horn of Canterlot. Hundreds of armored Soldier Ponies marched in unison with Princess Cadance heading the Royal Army of the Crystal Empire, while Prince Shining Armor led the Royal Army from Canterlot from the opposite end of the fields.
The Royal Army of the Crystal Empire moved into dirt roads of the Ashen Fields, passing through makeshifts homes of rock for Flame Ponies and searching the interiors. The Canterlot Royal Army took a defensive position in front of Castle Char several meters out. Several units of pegasi ponies, being led by the Wonderbolts had taken to the sky to clear away the ashen cloud of the volcano and reduce the amount of volcanic gas seeping out.
Divisions of unicorn Soldier Ponies split up to reduce the fissures in the earth that stemmed from the volcano, and limit the flow of lava that had spilled from the collapsed side of the mountain. The remaining earth Soldier Ponies made safe the Flame Ponies near the base of the old mining mountains, setting up a perimeter around them and having doctor ponies attempt to assist the injured; carefully. Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor met up with Princess Celestia and the rest of the ponies.
"We could see and hear the eruption of the volcano all the way from the Crystal Empire." Princess Cadance said quickly embracing Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Twilight. "We've come to help."
"The amount of ash being spewed from the volcano will endanger many neighboring settlements of ponies. We came as soon as we could, have you been able to contain it in any way?" Shining Armor followed up getting a hug from Twilight.
"The volcano is the least of our problems." Applejack spoke up.
"I don't understand." Shining Armor said looking confused.
"There is much to be said with little time to do so." Princess Celestia remarked.
Princess Celestia took the liberty, sparing every pony else, to inform Princess Cadance and Shining Armor of what had transpired here prior to and after the eruption of the volcano. She quickly went over the details leading up to discovering the Mad King's plan of returning to Equestria by use of a magical mirror. How the Mad King utilized the power of the volcano to escape the Void, and the battles that had taken place here in the efforts to weaken him. She touched on the trapped Flame Ponies in the old mining tunnels, as well as the encounter Princess Luna and the Mane Six had in the mines. It was a lot to take in.
"So where is the Mad King? Shall I send out search parties to uncover whatever rock he may be hiding under?" Shining Armor asked, feeling the desire to flatten this Mad King.
"It may be best to have the Royal Armies escort the Flame Ponies from the Ashen Fields until this is settled." Princess Luna offered; bringing attention to the fear they all seem to share over the return of the Mad King.
"I agree. These Flame Ponies have been through enough already." Princess Cadance replied.
"Inform General Hearth of the evacuation of the Flame Ponies and-" Princess Celestia had stopped short, having turned her attention towards the herds of Flame Ponies.
With every pony turning to see what she was looking at. One by one the Flame Ponies slumped over, their fire disappearing like a candle in the wind. Even General Hearth swayed on the spot for a moment, looking rather ill, before his fire died away causing him to collapse on the ground before them.
"What is happening to them?" Fluttershy asked horrified.
"I'm not sure!" Twilight replied rushing over to General Hearth with Shining Armor and Princess Cadance right behind her,
General Hearth laid still, eyes closed and not a single flame dancing from his mane, hooves, or even his tail. Twilight was hesitant at first but quickly overcame her doubts and touched General Hearth's shoulder with her hoof.
"Twilight!" Shining Armor gasped in surprise.
"He's cold." Twilight said rolling General Hearth onto his side; having not been burned.
"Cold? How can that be?" Princess Cadance asked placing her hoof upon General Hearth's forehead.
The doctor ponies were starting to realize this fact as well, quickly turning Flame Ponies over to examine them better. A few soldiers started to create makeshift fires in attempts to provide heat to the Flame Ponies; unsure of what would be useful.
"What is going on?" Princess Luna asked aloud carefully coddling a flameless filly Flame Pony in her wing.
"It's the Mad King, he's stealing their fire." Princess Celestia said quickly trying to determine the source of where his power was emanating from.
"He's hurting them!" Rainbow Dash cried in horror.
The earth began to quake under hoof. It shook violently while the volcano roared once again spewing magma into the air. From the crest of the mountain, a thick lava flow collapsed the inner side of the mountain; creating a pyroclastic flow barreling down the front of the mountain towards Castle Char. The Wonderbolts, pegasi and unicorn Solider Ponies turned tail to run from the flow. It crashed down the mountain side, picking up speed as it went, washing over the Ashen Fields.
The pyroclastic cloud started to funnel, the outside edges began turning inwards before focusing in a line streaking towards the castle. The flow collided with the side of Castle Char, throwing pieces of its structure to the wayside and almost like a vacuum it was pulled within its broken walls. Within minutes the pyroclastic flow had disappeared, the volcano went silent, and the shaking had stopped. The entirety of the Ashen Fields had fallen quiet. In the distance, every pony could see a single flame stepping out from Castle Char. The Mad King burning brilliantly once more.
"Is that him?" Shining Armor asked wide eyed; able to feel the heat of his flames from where he stood.
"Luna, Cadance, Shining Armor, to the front line! Twilight you and the others remain with the Flame Ponies!" Princess Celestia ordered spreading out her wings.
Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance took flight; soaring over the two Royal Armies that stood between the Mad King and the dwindling Flame Ponies. Shining Armor beat down his nerves, before charging towards the front line.
"Every pony listen to me!" Shining Armor called out racing through the ranks of Royal Soldier ponies that stood at attention.
"You are ponies of Canterlot and the Crystal Empire. You swore an oath to uphold peace and defend your Kingdoms from outside forces. What we stand against is a heartless King that has tormented his ponies for far too long. You are not to let this Mad King take one step past you! You will not let him hurt these Flame Ponies anymore! You will show him the strength of both the Crystal Empire and Canterlot! You will show him the bonds you have forged through friendship with your kin, you will show him how unbreakable your will is, and you will show him how powerful we stand united! Stand now and fight, so that this madness may end once and for all!" Shining Armor shouted aloud to the Soldier Ponies around him.
The Royal Armies formed up into position, the sound of hundreds of ponies moving in unison, and every Soldier Pony shouting together to signify their understanding. Shining Armor reached the front line of the armies; with Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadance already waiting for him. The Mad King was barely visible in the distance, only the light of his fire made him stand out among the gray wasteland of ash. It appeared that he was strolling towards them, not even slightly concerned that he was waltzing right up to two of the most powerful armies in all of Equestria.
Every pony remained silent, watching the Mad King come closer and closer. Peanut and Cosmic stood at the front line, just behind Shining Armor, they both swallowed hard as the tension began to mount among every pony.
"Nightshade is going to be sore that he missed this." Cosmic whispered to Peanut.
"It's okay to be nervous." Peanut replied.
"Who said I'm nervous?" Cosmic asked defensively.
"No need to be all defensive about it." Peanut whispered back.
"Defensive? I'm not being defensive. You're being defensive. I'm just trying to make small talk while we wait for this slow pony to get here." Cosmic muttered.
"You sound nervous." Peanut pointed out.
"Excuse me if I try to lighten the mood with Mr. Volcano Muncher coming our way." Cosmic hissed; his anxiety beginning to show.
"It's going to be alright, Cosmic, he's going to have to go through me before he gets to any of you ponies." Shining Armor said from over his shoulder. "You can count on that."
"How come he gets to say all the cool stuff?" Cosmic whispered to Peanut.
"Because he's not belly aching like a wee little rabbit." Peanut whispered back.
"You calling me soft?" Cosmic asked.
"Like a marshmallow." Peanut replied.
"You cut me real deep just now Peanut. Cut me real deep." Cosmic murmured.
The Mad King was now visible to every pony. Whispers washed over the ranks, for it was a rare sight indeed to see the Mad King up close. He stopped short, leaving several feet between them and the several hundred Soldier Ponies that stood before him. Every pony could clearly see several legions of hide missing from his body. These legions merely spurted large plumes of fire now, having forcibly scraped away the rock that had been fused to him earlier.
"Welcome! To the Ashen Fields!" The Mad King shouted in a booming voice. His fire surged wildly, whipping through air like ribbons caught in a breeze.
"Now, for introductions. I am not acquainted with the little pink thing or that wingless nonsense standing beside it." The Mad King continued looking at Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor.
"I am Princess Cadance, ruler of the Crystal Kingdom, and this is my husband Prince Shining Armor!" Princess Cadance said aloud with many cheers from the Royal Soldier ponies behind her.
"Silence!" The Mad King roared; effectively getting the Royal Soldier ponies instantly hush.
Turning his gaze, the Mad King's eyes met with Celestia's. There was a seething hatred that stemmed from the Mad King, which only made Princess Celestia's stomach curl. The Mad King's eyes narrowed, focusing on some pony behind Princess Celestia. Glancing over her shoulder she saw Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy stepping out from the ranks of the Royal Soldier ponies.
"I asked you ponies to stay back." Princess Celestia said to them.
The flames of the Mad King jumped at the sight of them, his anger mounting from their earlier battle. Princess Celestia stepped in front of every pony. Spreading out her wings to shield them from the Mad King. Yet, Twilight and every pony continued to stare down the Mad King with such disgust.
"How could you do it?" Twilight asked aloud.
"I'm sorry you're going to have to be more specific." The Mad King replied sounding testy; shrugging his shoulders.
"How could you steal fire from you own Flame Ponies?" Twilight asked again looking very angry with him.
"It's quite simple actually. It honestly wasn't worth my time in the end, the volcano proved to be more useful then whatever my Flame Ponies had to offer." The Mad King replied, seeming rather uninterested with the topic.
"You're a big meanie monster!" Pinkie Pie shouted, kicking dirt his way.
"Yes, we've been over this already." The Mad King said rolling his eyes.
"We're going to stop you; here and now." Applejack said decisively.
"No more ponies are going to get hurt because of you!" Fluttershy scolded him.
"That's right, Mad Stupid! You're going to pay for what you did to Wingston and Matchstick!" Rainbow Dash shouted knocking her hooves together.
"Matchstick?" The Mad King asked with a chuckle; looking rather confused.
"Smolder! You big oaf!" Rarity shouted back in a huff.
"Wait, what happened to Smolder?" Cosmic asked looking towards Shining Armor and back to the Mad King.
"Has something happened to Smolder, Princess Celestia?" Shining Armor asked quickly; looking concerned.
"I killed him." The Mad King said aloud with a smile.
Shining Armor was taken aback. Princess Cadance covered her mouth with her hoof looking towards Princess Celestia to see if it was true. To their horror, Princess Celestia nodded in agreement.
"He's… gone?" Shining Armor asked slowly.
"No, no. no that's not true. He's making that up." Cosmic said shaking his head; sounding hurt and angry at the same time.
"Not only a Mad King, but a liar to boot!" Peanut shouted.
"It makes no difference to me whether or not you believe what I'm telling you. You'll be joining him shortly." The Mad King said shrugging.
"How could you do something like that?" Cosmic asked in disbelief.
"It wasn't easy, let me tell you, something that small is hard to hit." The Mad King joked.
"He was your own son, Scorch!" Princess Luna shouted, becoming rather angry herself.
"Just the first of many mistakes I'm having to fix today." The Mad King stated, flaring his mane wildly.
Princess Celestia flourished her wings, her horn glowing with magic, stepping towards the Mad King to challenge him.
"Every pony stand back. This ends today." Princess Celestia commanded.
"Are you going to try and stop me all by yourself, Celestia?" The Mad King asked curiously; if almost tauntingly.
"It will be easy." Princess Celestia replied coldly.
"You may raise the sun, Celestia, but you do not command its fire!" The Mad King cried spewing flames at her.
The Royal Soldier ponies were already on the defense, over thirty unicorn ponies jumped in, working together to create a barrier around Princess Celestia and the others. The flames impacted the barrier being forced back and outwards into the open air, leaving every pony unscathed.
"You're alone in this fight!" Princess Luna exclaimed stepping forward.
"You can't take on all of us!" Princess Cadance shouted stepping forward as well.
Every pony watched the Mad King draw a deep breath. From the legions missing in his hide, ash began to spill out like sand from him. Piles of ash were accumulating around him, his flames grew darker with every passing moment; the heat he was generating was becoming distorting every ponies view. Every Soldier Pony stared in utter shock at this spectacle. The ash trailing from his body had stopped, the Mad King stared down the Princesses that opposed him; malice dancing in his piercing red eyes.
"I am the King." He whispered.
Leaping into the air, his wings fanning, the Mad King quickly soaring over the Princesses, the Mane Six, and Shining Armor; not to mention the battalions of Soldier Ponies that stood at their backs. The Mad King let loose his attack, reproducing the pyroclastic cloud from his mouth and showering it up the ranks of the Royal Soldier ponies. The unicorns were quick to react, producing magical shields to cover the area as the Mad King passed over. The Royal Soldier ponies retreated from the spot; scattering to either side as the searing hot flow of the cloud stated to slide off the ample shielding.
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna took charge of the fight. Combing their magic, they created shock wave that pushed the pyroclastic cloud towards the emptiness of the Ashen Fields. From the ash cloud high up above, the Mad King soared down landing in the middle of the Royal Soldier ponies that had run from his attack. A single swipe of his wing sent at least a dozen ponies sprawling through the air, while turning to spew fire in the opposite direction causing many Soldier Ponies to scatter. Every Soldier Pony looked on in fear, the Mad King's horn exploding with light causing the ground to splinter around them; jutted rock pillars started to spring up all around them. Opening his wings, engulfing himself in flame, the Mad King roared causing a fiery shock wave to throw every Soldier Pony away from him violently.
Several shots of magic impacted the Mad King, knocking him to the ground. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance and Shining Armor went on the attack. A vicious fire spewed from the Mad King mouth in their direction; rising to his hooves to meet them. Princess Cadance and Princess Luna nimbly dodged the flames; firing off a few more magical spells impacting the Mad King's chest. Having staggered the Mad King, Princess Celestia and Shining Armor focused a heavy blast of magic that sent the Mad King flying off his hooves and skidding across the field. Raising himself from the ground, his anger mounting once more, the cry of the Mad King shook the Ashen Fields. His fire spewed from every legion and fissure of his hide before charging the ponies head on.
Wick and Pyre reached north edge of the Ashen Fields, where the mountain had collapsed creating a small rock like dam that separated the Ashen Fields from the lands to the north. Having taken the dungeon tunnels earlier, they had successfully navigated their way out of the tunnels before the series of cave-ins that had followed. Wick was already clambering up some rocks before noticing Pyre gazing back out towards Castle Char; magic and flames blinking in the distance.
"We must leave and leave quickly, brother." Wick urged him.
Pyre did not move. He continued to gaze out over the Fields, continuing to watch the spurts of fire near the east where the battle was still taking place.
"It is over Pyre, father will not forgive us for our defeat at Smolder's hooves; let alone allowing this to unfold." Wick stated leaping back down towards his brother.
"When did Smolder become stronger than us?" Pyre asked in a sort of curious tone.
"Cheap shots do not account for skill, brother." Wick said hotly; still mad about losing his bout with Smolder.
"He left us to face father on his own, knowing he would destroyed." Pyre continued glancing towards Wick.
"That is his choice, a foolish one at that." Wick replied.
"What if we had been there with him? Perhaps we could have taken him down together." Pyre said looking back out towards the battle.
"Father has absorbed the wrath of the volcano. There is no power greater than nature, brother. Father commands the very fires that dwell in the mountain now. Not even Smolder can hope to stand against father now." Wick disagreed with him.
"I ask again, brother dear, when did Smolder become stronger than us? We stand here ready to abandon everything, even him now, when he refused to abandon us." Pyre asked, seemingly at war with himself.
"Do not mistake stupidity for courage, brother. Smolder was a fool, and met a fools end." Wick replied.
"They call it a fool's gambit for a reason, Wick. The chance of winning is slim to none, but if Smolder had succeeded in defeating father, what then?" Pyre asked curiously.
"I don't deal in what-ifs, Pyre." Wick remarked flatly.
"Are we strong enough to turn back now? To help him?" Pyre asked, feeling compelled to start heading back.
"You want to go back?" Wick asked in disbelief.
"I want to know how Smolder became so strong among such weak ponies." Pyre replied with interest.
"Going back will only get us killed, brother. This is our only chance to leave with our lives." Wick warned him.
Pyre stared out over the Ashen Fields one last time, lowering his head, he nodded in agreement and turned to climb up over the rocks. Wick watched Pyre disappear over the ledge, but he felt himself looking back out over the Fields beginning to wonder the very same thing. Seeing the magic and flames flicker in the distance, beginning to wonder what-if as well.
"It was just cheap shot." Wick said conclusively.
Wick leaped up onto the rock, getting help from his brother before the Twins disappeared into the north.
Wingston had been crossing the Ashen Fields for a while now. His crippled wing did not allow him to fly anymore, subjecting him to walk on two claws, and having to use a staff to help support him; it just annoyed him. His legs were never meant to be used so frequently. Being a bat he only ever used them to hang upside down, but the world seemed so much different with things the wrong way up.
The front of his rags had been badly burned, yet the rags had provided substantial resistance to the Mad King's fire; only for that one blast. It was all but cinders now. What had really hurt him was slamming into the stone wall from the force of the blast; it had raddled the bats in his belfry. It also gave him a good knock to the head and fractured a bone is his leg; causing him to limp even more now. His legs sloshed through the ash riddled field, his staff cutting a path for him to walk through; the rock statue of a Flame Pony still several meters away.
Wingston struggled to get over parts of the terrain. Several jutted rocks caused him to climb over with great difficulty, with large fissures in the earth caused him to take the long way round, and even areas where dirt had become glass caused him to slip once or twice. Still Wingston hobbled on.
"Here we are." Wingston mumbled walking up next to the rock statue. He knocked his staff against it a few times to see if there would be any response; there was none.
He took a few more jabs at it with his staff, but nothing came out of it.
Wingston took notice of a long trail of scorched earth that led up to the rock statue of the Flame Pony. Taking careful notice of the displaced earth the force of the attack had punched through to get to Smolder. Scooping up some dirt in his long fingers Wingston carefully examined the rock statue.
"I believed you dead, Smolder." Wingston said placing his hand upon the rock; Winston felt warmth come from it.
He touched the ground he stood upon and found it to be at much cooler temperature. Raising his staff Wingston tried chipping away at the statue to find it to be of no avail.
"We both know now that's not true." Wingston mumbled.
With a few more whacks with his staff, circling the rock statue, wiping away the dirt that lingered upon it and inspecting it carefully, Wingston could see no means of breaking it open. Knocking upon it several times, but finding that there was no reply from the rock. Patting the rock gingerly, Wingston, used the rock pony for support, lowering himself to the ground; sitting at the base of the rock statue. Laying his staff beside him, Wingston leaned back against the rock statue with an exasperated sigh of relief as he closed his eyes.
"Molten earth." Wingston said simply.
There was a minute of silence between Wingston and the rock.
"It's only a guess really, but if I had to explain it I would say that your father, unknowingly, super heated the earth and caking you in a shell of volcanic rock. He must believe that he had robbed you of your fire." Wingston said nursing his injured leg; it pained him.
"So my question, Smolder, is what's keeping you in there?" Wingston asked curiously looking up at the rock statue.