//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: Family & Friends // Story: The Phoenix King // by Turtlehaus //------------------------------// It took some time to convince Chamomile Tea, Tea's mother, to let her go to the Frozen North with Princess Sapphire; especially on a school night. Even with the long winded speeches given by both Florence and Christie of the many reasons why she should go, Chamomile said that if Tea's father was alright with it, she would be too. During this time Princess Sapphire had written a message to her mother, magically sending it on its way, informing her parents of her return to the Frozen North; whether Tea and the others would be joining her was still in question. With the chariot sure to be dispatched within the hour, it would take the Royal Pegasi Ponies no less than two to three hours to arrive in Manehattan and the inevitable journey back would place them arriving during the late afternoon or early evening. With Dr. Grey being the deciding factor for Tea's journey to the Frozen North, Christie and Florence insisted that Tea write him a telegram right away, instead of waiting for him to come home later that night. With Christie and Florence ponying up the funds for the one hour delivery of the telegram, the Mail Pony arrived to do his rounds and was offered the task. Before any pony could say another word the Mail Pony was off in a shot to fulfill their request. "We're going to go home and pack! Don't you dare leave without us!" Florence declared, eyeing Tea menacingly; Chapel was already out the door and down the hall. "They seemed rather convinced that your father will approve of this." Princess Sapphire remarked with surprise. "That is if Dad is even able to have time to respond. He's usually really busy, especially these last couple of days." Tea replied, looking a little anxious herself. "I do believe your winter coat is stored in the hall closet dear." Chamomile Tea said aloud from the kitchen. Tea didn't hesitate to rush back into the hallway, throwing the door open and digging into the closet. It was apparent that Tea was very much excited to go and thought about packing for the trip as well. Over an hour had passed since the telegram went out, Chamomile trying to gently remind them that Tea's father was very busy and would probably need time to think this over. If not for Tea, Chapel, and Florence holding onto their suitcases, every pony seemed relatively curious to what Dr. Grey's answer would be. "Your father is probably dealing with that one hypochondriac pony again. You know how much time that eats up from your father's day." Chamomile said to Tea, watching Florence and Christie guard the door for even the slightest hint of a letter. "The chariot should be arriving in the next hour or so." Princess Sapphire mentioned, checking the clock. Tea was holding onto the lantern, Smolder's flame still flickering within it. If the time had come for Princess Sapphire to leave, Tea would have to come to terms with having to stay behind and wait until she heard about what happened at some point or another. Chamomile Tea was busy preparing some treats for Princess Sapphire to take back to the Frozen North, it was quite generous considering the portions she was packing but she seemed keen on the idea that all four ponies were going to go. "Come on Mail Pony." Chapel said, staring intensely at the mail slot with Florence leaning in just as close. The door to the apartment suddenly opened, bopping both Chapel and Florence on the nose, causing them to fall backwards onto their flanks; wincing from the stinging pain. Dr. Grey's head popped around the door, cautious to open it any further having felt the thump from the other side. "Why are you two so close to the door?" Dr. Gray asked sounding confused. "Dad!" Tea exclaimed in excitement. Chapel and Florence got out of the way as Dr. Grey entered the apartment. There was Tea's telegram tucked into his shirt pocket, a pencil tucked behind his ear, and his glorious beard slightly disheveled. "I thought you would be working late tonight, dear?" Chamomile Tea asked, surprised to see him as well. "I have Dr. Kelso covering my patients for a few hours." Dr. Grey mentioned, closing the door behind. "I wanted to say goodbye to Tea before she headed out." Florence and Chapel hugged one another in joy. It was apparent that Dr. Grey was okay with Tea going to the Frozen North. Tea quickly rushed over to Princess Sapphire, placing the lantern in her hooves before running over to her Dad to hug him tightly. Dr. Grey couldn't help but laugh at Tea's enthusiasm over this trip she wanted to take, and reciprocated her hug. "Now Tea, sweetheart, you have to promise you're going to take care of yourself while you're gone." Dr. Grey began, laying out his conditions to her. "Of course." Tea said, nodding her head. "Promise that you'll stay out of trouble, and when you get back you'll make up all the work from the classes you'll miss." Dr. Grey continued. "Promise." Tea replied. "Make sure nothing happens to our little Tea, Princess Sapphire." Dr. Grey added, looking up at her. "I will look after her personally." Princess Sapphire said reassuringly. "What smells so good, dear?" Dr. Grey asked, sniffing the air. "I was just making some treats for the girls for their trip up North." Chamomile Tea replied. "Have you made anything for lunch?" Dr. Grey asked curiously, stepping into the kitchen. "Nothing for you, if that is what you're asking." Chamomile Tea answered. "Awwww, Cammy, nothing? I'm starving." Dr. Grey groaned. "You told me you were working late so I didn't prepare anything for you." Chamomile Tea told him, slapping his hoof away from the girl's bag of cookies. It was another hour before the chariot had parked itself just outside Tea's apartment complex. A crowd of on looking Manehattan ponies started to gather around to get a better look; wondering who it was for. Traveling down to the lobby, Chamomile Tea and Dr. Grey hugged Tea goodbye, wishing her a safe travel and fun. Florence and Chapel were already boarding the chariot, squealing with delight at the regal way the chariot looked and how they were going to be the guests of a Princess. After a minute long hug for both her parents, Tea picked up her lantern and headed for the chariot with Princess Sapphire following up behind her. Dozens of paparazzi ponies had cameras out, taking as many pictures as they could of Princess Sapphire; while other ponies shrieked in disbelief over the sight of a real Princess being just a few hoofsteps away. "Remember to zip up your jacket when you go out in the snow, dear!" Chamomile Tea shouted from the entrance of the lobby. "Stay away from any colts while you're there! If you come home with a colt I'll disown you!" Dr. Grey shouted to her. "Earl!" Chamomile Tea hissed, elbowing him in his side. "Remember I can make it look like an accident! No pony will ever know the difference at the morgue!" Dr. Grey shouted again. Tea could feel her face flushing. Waving goodbye to her parents from the chariot's window, Princess Sapphire signaled the Royal Pegasi Ponies to take off. The chariot lurched forward, the cries and shrieks of on looking ponies filled the air as the chariot sped off down the street. With a sudden jolt the chariot was airborne, flying past buildings, reaching to the rooftops before clearing the city skyline and out into the open air. "I can't believe it! We're going to the Frozen North!" Chapel shrieked in indescribable joy. "Were your parents alright with you going?" Princess Sapphire asked curiously, not having thought to ask this question. "I told my parents I was staying with Florence for a few days, to study for a midterm." Chapel said, looking quite proud. "I told my parents I was staying with Chapel for a couple of days, to work on a group project." Florence said, looking just as shrewd. "Wouldn't your parents discover that neither of you are where you claimed to be?" Princess Sapphire asked, seeing a flaw in their logic. "That's when we tell them we decided to stay at Tea's place." Florence said to her. "But wouldn't-" Princess Sapphire began again but saw Tea waving her hoof to let it go. "So how long will it take to get to the Frozen North?" Chapel asked curiously, glancing out the window to see the landscape below. "It will take about two to three hours to get there; if the weather remains to be fair. If not, then perhaps four to five." Princess Sapphire replied. "That long?" Florence asked, almost with a whine. "It is much faster than riding the train, hiking up to Yakyakistan, and braving the frozen tundra to reach Castle Fjord." Princess Sapphire reassured her. "Well what are we going to do in the meantime?" Chapel asked. "What do you mean?" Princess Sapphire asked, unsure of what she meant. "What do I mean? What do you normally do when you have a three hour chariot ride?" Chapel asked. "I ponder the questions that the most insightful ponies of our age have posed and try to answer them with my own experiences; applying it to my own philosophical ideals." Princess Sapphire remarked. Every pony fell silent, awkwardly staring at her as if she was about to yell 'gotcha' or just kidding' but the punchline never came. "Let's talk about Dawson from apartment nine-eight-nine." Florence suggested. "Him again?" Tea groaned rolling her eyes. "Come on, Tea, you know Dawson is the hottest colt in your whole building." Chapel stated, prying at her. "But he smells like cheese all the time. Why does he smell that way?" Tea asked, looking bewildered. "I don't know but whenever I'm out grocery shopping I can't help but think of him whenever I'm passing the dairy aisle." Florence remarked dreamily. "Who is this Dawson that smells of cheese, and why is he revered as the hottest?" Princess Sapphire asked curiously. General Hearth, recently retired, who had just been recently reunited with his family, sat inside the parlor of the Sleet Estate with Jewel Kiln, his younger sister and the rest of his siblings. With the inclusion of the Hearth Family all those years ago, the Sleet family made great strides to make their home more hospitable for them by getting fire proof furniture. Drake Kiln, along with their daughter Lily and their son Henrik sat beside Jewel who still clung to Hearth, while Tinder and Bloom sat on the love seat to Hearth's left with Samson sitting on the floor in front of them. Coal and Scoria sat opposite of Hearth. Scoria was holding Coal's hoof, trying to comfort him, having just experienced such a trying event. "Why is Mom hugging that pony?" Lily asked in a whisper to her father Drake. "He's probably our real Dad." Henrik whispered to her, with a serious tone. Drake bopped Henrik on the head, watching him clutch his head with an audible 'ow', as Lily looked rather worried. "He's your Uncle." Drake said to them. "Really?" Lily asked, looking rather unsure. "Great, another one." Henrik mumbled, not at all excited to hear this. Jewel finally pulled herself away from Hearth, watching him smile warmly at her as she held his hoof in her own. "I really can't believe it's you, Warrick. I just can't." Jewel said in amazement. "He stole Warrick's name!" Samson said aloud, pointing at him. "Your cousin was named after him, this is your uncle, your father's older brother, General Warrick Hearth of the Ashen Fields." Samson's mother Bloom told him. "Retired." Hearth added. "Seriously?" Tinder asked, sounding surprised at the notion of retirement. "So you're the pony Uncle Coal is always telling us about!" Henrik shouted in excitement. "Is it true that you fell a hundred spiders in one blast of fire?" Henrik asked rearing up onto the lip of the couch to speak with him directly. "Is it true that you wrestled with the Serpent of the Dark Marsh with nothing but your teeth?" Samson asked, hurrying over. "What have you been telling them?" Hearth asked, glancing up at Coal. "I was… embellishing some of your old war stories... if only to encourage them." Coal said, looking a bit flustered. "Embellishment is hardly the word." Scoria remarked, with a scoff. "Scoria!" Coal hissed, his mane flaring from embarrassment. "There are a lot of bedtimes and some stories needed to be… expanded upon to fit the requirements of young colts." General Hearth chuckled to himself, feeling a sense of peace wash over him, being surrounded by his family. Feeling the small hooves of Samson and Henrik pressing against his leg, Hearth was more interested to what his family had been doing since they had left the Ashen Fields, but it would seem he was out numbered on whose story they wished to hear first. "I'm not sure where to begin." Hearth said honestly, feeling a bit overwhelmed. "There is just so much to tell." "Start with the story about the Last Orc and how you saved every pony from the army of spiders!" Henrik shouted eagerly. "Settle down, Henrik." Drake said authoritatively. "Yes, sir." Henrik mumbled, sitting back down on the ground. "I'd actually like to get to know my niece and nephews a little better." Hearth remarked with interest. "I'm Samson, I like ice cream!" Samson introduced himself proudly; watching his father Tinder roll his eyes. "I'm Henrik, I also like ice cream!" Henrik jumped in, trying to sound proud too. Hearth glanced over at the little filly in Drake's arms, Lily Kiln was trying to hide behind her mother Jewel to avoid catching his eyes. "This little one is Lily, she's rather shy with every pony." Jewel introduced her. "Does she like ice cream too?" Hearth asked with a smile. "Yes…" Lily mumbled, still trying to hide herself. "You mentioned Ashely earlier," Coal spoke up, finding some courage to speak to his brother. "How is our niece?" "She's married now, has been for quite a while." Hearth began, trying to lean his head out further to catch a glimpse of Lily, but she shied away. "To one of your soldiers, if I remember right?" Tinder asked curiously. "Dart Horizon, yes, he was under my command when they approached me about their intention to marry. I had no ill feelings towards it. Horizon was a strong and loyal colt. I felt that she had made a fine choice." Hearth added, turning to speak to him. "We have another cousin?" Henrik asked in surprise. "Yes, but she is much older then you." Hearth remarked, patting him on the head. "Ashely had a filly, a pegasi named Ray Horizon; she is my granddaughter." "What is she to us then?" Samson asked, trying to work it out in his head. "She would most likely be your first cousin once removed." Jewel stated thinking about it. "What?" Samson and Henrik replied together in confusion. "She's family. That's all you need to know." Coal pointed out. "You must have been so excited Warrick." Bloom spoke up. "Ray has been one of the very few blessings I've had in recent memory." Hearth said lovingly. "I had hoped that she would have followed a much different path for her future, but she has followed in my hoof steps and has become the new General of the Ashen Fields." There was a sudden surprised gasp from every pony in the room at this news. No more so then Henrik and Samson who seemed positively livid at the idea of having a cousin who commanded such respect and power. "Replace you? How old is she, Warrick?" Scoria asked unable to believe his words. "She will be turning nineteen this fall." Hearth replied with a smile. "She is only eighteen years of age? How did that happen? What qualifies her to take up such a position at such a young age?" Scoria remarked in disbelief. "It is a very long story, going even further back to the Mad King's return." Hearth thought back, trying to find a good place to start telling his story. As Hearth thought, he noticed the sudden hush of every pony in the room at the mention of the Mad King. He could see every pony looking rather pale at the very memory of him. "I would also like to add that the Mad King was defeated and thrown back into the Void." Hearth promptly added, hoping to put every pony at rest. "Are you sure, Warrick?" Bloom asked, sounding very uneasy. "I was there when it happened. He is trapped once more." Hearth said confidently. "How did he escape?" Coal asked, still sounding rather unnerved. "There was a Void Mirror, used by Queen Sunbeam to enter the Void, that the Mad King used to reenter Equestria. His return would have spelled disaster for all, but his son stood to oppose him with the help of both Canterlot and Equestria." Hearth stated, giving some bullet points. "Which of the twins opposed him?" Tinder asked. "Neither, the Mad King was using them to carry out his biddings. It was his youngest son, a colt born nearing the end of the war, Smolder; that fought against him." Hearth replied. "We had no idea that the Mad King had sired another son." Scoria said looking surprised. "He must havr been just a year old when the Mad King was thrown into the Void, his mother, the Queen, left shortly after. Luckily he did grow up with the cruelty of his father, but instead was raised by Wingston." Hearth said, thinking back on such days. "We had heard that the Ashen Fields had a new King, we all figured it was one of the twins. How did Smolder acquire the throne and not his elder brothers?" Coal asked sounding very interested. Hearth paused for a moment. His memory of the Twins were not all good, there were times where their own brand of cruelty had him judging them harshly, but not all the blame could be placed upon them when factoring in the Mad King's demands of them. It wasn't until their selfless act of sacrificing themselves to the Void to prevent Smolder from doing so, had shown Hearth that they truly hadn't become like their father, but instead retained enough love in their hearts to protect what truly mattered to them. "Wick and Pyre were… unfortunate casualties in the battle during the Mad King's return. They were lost to the Void along with the Mad King." Hearth stated, trying to word it the best he could. "Unbelievable." Drake said in disbelief. "That must have been so hard for Smolder." Bloom said sympathetically. "I would very much like to say that with the Mad King's banishment, Smolder's rise to the throne was uneventful, but it was just the beginning of his and all of our problems." Hearth said with a sigh. "There were rumors of Lord Tundra and Lady Frost staying in the Ashen Fields for the sole purpose of fighting a dragon of sorts." Tinder mentioned. "A dragon?" Henrik and Samson asked together in surprise. "It would seem that the Last Orc was not entirely alone. It had a son, a son that looked to finish what his father had started. Raising yet again another army of spiders, one nearly five times the size of the army I had faced many years ago. With it, the Elder Dragon Char, from our ancient lore, was awakened to be used against us in its quest to obliterate us once and for all." Hearth explained. There were horrified looks from all the adult ponies while Samson and Henrik looked absolutely excited to hear this story. "What happened, Uncle Hearth?" Samson asked energetically. "How big was the dragon?" Henrik asked shaking Hearth's leg. "What was your strategy to defend against both spider and dragon, Warrick?" Coal asked, almost as interested in knowing what happened next as his two nephews. "Truth be told, I never saw the dragon." Hearth said, with a chuckle. "What!" Samson and Henrik shouted in disbelief. "The night of Smolder's Coronation, we were beset by the Orc, who had snuck into the castle by means of the old North Tower. Once inside he found Wingston, Burning Sand, Fleece and myself off guard, and attacked us." Hearth explained, looking at all their concerned faces. "Did you win?" Samson asked quickly. "No." Hearth said with a smile. "I didn't." "Did you die?" Henrik asked. Drake bopped Henrik on the head once more, even amongst Hearth's sudden laughter at his question. "I suppose I almost did. I fought the Orc, but I wasn't as quick as I used to be, and it made me pay for it. I woke up in the Infirmary the next day, I remember seeing Ray there, and talking to her about all the things I never go to say, but always meant to." Hearth said, thinking back on it. "What the others?" Coal asked with concern. "We had all survived the attack. A gift of Savanah Sun from Princess Sheva to Smolder had helped us through the worst of it. I'm sorry to say that my injuries were so severe at the time that I could not lead our armies, or even wake up for that matter." Hearth explained, much to the sad groans coming from Samson and Henrik. "We had no idea, Warrick." Jewel said sympathetically. "When I had finally awoken, the battle had been won, and the Orc had been slain. Amongst the injured ponies I lay next to, they told me of the events that had occurred, the power of the Elder Dragon, and the bravery of my granddaughter, who had led them into that fight." Hearth said with a smile. "She was named your successor during your absence then?" Scoria asked, trying to put two and two together. "It was Smolder's decision to allow Ray the opportunity to command. Smolder was always a very good judge of character, especially after the friends he brought to help save us again and again. There were so many stories, so many different ponies telling me of how she had stepped up and really brought them together to face this threat. In the end, I couldn't help but realize that I wasn't meant for this sort of thing anymore. That like Smolder, it was time for some pony else to lead our Kingdom to the future it so desperately fought for. So I stepped down, in front of every pony, declaring Ray my successor." Hearth said, sounding very at peace with it. "Does that mean that Ray fought in the battle, then?" Henrik asked suddenly. "She did." Hearth replied. "So we can ask her what happened, and get the whole story!" Samson shouted in excitement. "What happened to the dragon, Hearth, surely you must know that much?" Bloom asked, looking interested. "From what I've been told, Smolder opened a portal to the Void, one so large it could have swallowed Castle Char and then some. The Dragon was pulled into it… along with Smolder." Hearth said, sounding rather dismayed. "The King was pulled with it?" Coal asked in utter shock. "I-I-I don't know all the details. I came here with the ponies Smolder trusted to help him save his home, to save all of us, and I know that they are doing everything they can to save him." Hearth stated. "Can he be saved? I thought that once a pony was thrown into the Void it is impossible to return?" Tinder asked looking confused. "They are attempting to find out more about the Void, so that they can open the Void again and get him out. I believe that is what their plan is." Hearth said, not looking too sure. "A risk like that is unacceptable. The possibility of the Mad King or even something worse coming through is too high of a risk to place upon Equestria." Scoria stated, not liking that idea at all. "Surely you don't mean to leave the King trapped in such a horrid place for all eternity now do you?" Bloom asked in surprise. "If it meant that Equestria was safeguarded, then yes, it is a small price to pay when measured up to the countless lives that could be lost." Scoria replied. "If there was a way to safely get the King out, it is worth trying, isn't it?" Tinder asked. "Nothing like this has ever been attempted before, it is hard to say if there is a safe way of doing it." Coal spoke up. "Smolder." Hearth said simply. "What?" Coal asked, looking to him. "He always wanted to be called Smolder. He never liked it when any pony called him 'my King' or 'my Lord', he always insisted on being called Smolder." Hearth explained. "What does that have to do with anything?" Scoria asked, not making heads or tails of his words. "These ponies are not here to save a King, they are here to save their friend Smolder. A friend who has placed himself second to every little problem that his Kingdom has faced, and has been rewarded with pain and loss. I don't think it's a question of 'if' we should get him out, but 'why' we should." Hearth explained. "So, for a friend, every pony in Equestria should be put at risk? Why?" Scoria asked. "Because he is family." Hearth replied. "A friend is not-" Scoria began but Hearth continued on. "Much like here, in the House of Sleet, who has accepted you as family, Smolder had accepted every Flame Pony in his Kingdom, every pony that has offered him their friendship as his family. Smolder has made a lot of friends, friends that consider him family, and these are the very same ponies that are convening here in the Frozen North to find a way to bring him home." Hearth explained. It was apparent that every pony knew what Hearth was getting at. That a friend need not be family to be family, that love, compassion, and loyalty was enough to bring ponies together and consider themselves to be a family. "Uncle Hearth is good at talking." Lily said aloud. This eased the tension of the room, having nearly every pony laugh out loud. Remembering the long boring lectures Hearth had given most of them in times before, and how long winded he was then. It didn't change the fact that Hearth was right, that family was a good enough reason to do something so crazy as to open the Void.