Taking to the sky I flew towards the Forgotten City, watching the Storm infused Elder Dragon, or as I had dubbed it the Storm Dragon, violently struggling to move after me. Its crippled arm prevented it from putting any weight beneath it. Even so it slithered across the ground like a serpent, using its remaining limbs to lurch it forward. It’s massive wings could no longer take flight, its leathery wing membrane had been torn too severely and offered nothing but extra appendages to swing. Every inch of the dragon spewed clouds of the Storm, lightning breaking within its eyes and mouth as it snapped wildly after me. All the while Null remained stationary upon its brow, orchestrating his hand movements as if puppeteering the Elder Dragon beneath him.
I flipped myself sideways, rolling hard to the right and just narrowly avoiding the momentous jaws of the Elder Dragon slamming closed on me. My magic flashed, swinging my head in an arcing motion and casted a spell that sliced through the air like a sword. Its impact left nothing more than magical residue upon the dragon’s snout, its scales were still impervious to magic and offered a whole new level of difficulty to me.
From the corner of my eye I saw the mass of the Elder Dragon’s tail come sailing out of the air towards me. My magical sphere encapsulated me just as the tail struck down and spiked the black orb into the ground like a tennis ball. The magic shattered once hitting the ground while the force of the blow sent me bouncing across the fields.
“Insignificant…”
Picking myself off the floor, brushing the sand from my face, my mind racing for how I was going to overcome this. His advantage being the Elder Dragon, coated with magical scales, unbelievable strength, and powered solely by the Storm. My advantage were my friends. Null’s attention was focused solely on me, it didn’t consider any pony else a threat now, and that’s where my advantage was.
I could feel the ground beneath me quaking from the dragon’s haggard steps. The puppet dragon carcass was sluggish and lacked all manner of dragon qualities other than its body. This meant it’s movements were broad, predictable, lacking any defensive style due to it being already dead, but most importantly lacked the fiery will of a Elder Dragon.
As the Storm Dragon towered over me I caught a glimpse at its underbelly, seeing several lesions of missing scales and hide where the Storm festered within. Taking the chance I let loose a stream of fire that impacted the area as the Storm within roared in agony and in turn caused the dragon recoil away nearly toppling over onto its side.
The dragon wasn’t merely used to overwhelm me with size and strength, it acted like a shield to the Storm to be able to get near me without being harmed. A sudden flourish of dark energy sparked from Null’s arm, feeding into the head of the Storm Dragon, before erupting from its jaws in a devastating show of force. The dark energy traced itself through the air, the Storm attempting to direct the blast in my direction, it appeared that the two were not in sync with one another’s efforts to kill me. Dropping into my flash step I bolted across the fields watching the beam of energy swing over head and draw itself through the Forgotten City. The blast had the ruined buildings blown from their foundation, churning up a rock and dirt, hurdling debris throughout the rest of city. Driving my hooves hard into the dirt, I slid across the ground turning back around to face the Storm Dragon as it lumbered after me.
A stunned silence hung over the Twins and the other ponies at the emergence of the thought to be dead Elder Dragon. Watching the small flame of Smolder’s lure the dragon away everypony seemed at a loss to what needed to be done.
“You’ve got to be kidding! Just what the hay is going on?” Spike hollered clawing at his face.
“Is that he Elder Dragon? How can it still be… alive?” Rarity questioned.
“I don’t think it is.” Twilight replied.
“Oh my…” Fluttershy whispered.
Princess Sapphire looked on, feeling the enormity of the situation quickly spiraling out of control, and feeling herself wanting to back down from her bold statement of staying. Sapphire watched as the dragon’s tail swatted Smolder from the sky and knocking him across the field and she felt a fire suddenly burning in her heart.
“Alright! Listen up everypony, we don’t have much time and what I’m about to ask you puts all of us at great risk.” Sapphire began. “I have a plan but it’s going to require everypony’s help to succeed.”
Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Twilight, and Spike all looked to one another for encouragement, nodding their heads in approval of their decision to go for it. The Twins remained silent, complacent to allowing Sapphire to take charge as her attitude became very authoritative and confident.
“Here’s what we’re going to do.”
“Pinkie Pie and Rarity, this fight isn’t just our own, this involves the Void Walkers as well. I need the two of you to appeal to the Void Walkers, convince them to help us, and if you are able to succeed then the dragon will surely fall.”
Rarity and Pinkie Pie hurried across the fields towards the Forgotten City. Their part in this plan required garnering the help of the Void Walkers, and that meant having to enter the Forgotten City which just so happened to be where Smolder had lured the dragon to keep them out of harm's way.
“Do you think think Princess Saphire’s plan is going to work?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“I’m most certainly hope so. I’m not sure what were to do if it doesn’t.” Rarity replies.
“Why don’t we just asked Princess Celestia?” Pinkie Pie offered.
From a few miles out of the Forgotten City, Princess Celestia led the pack with Rainbow Dash, Daring Do, and Applejack at her back. There was yet another companion that rode atop Princess Celestia’s back, but it was not Wingston. Having spot them from the bleak and black fields with little difficulty, Princess Celestia was already moving to intercept them.
“Is everypony alright? Where are the others?” Princess Celestia asked hastily.
“Princess Sapphire, Twilight, and Spike are with the Twins and safe for the moment, but we are attempting to assist Smolder with a plan that Sapphire came up with.” Rarity informed her.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack were quick to hug Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie before grabbing hold of Rarity being relieved that their friends were alright.
The small creature upon Princess Celestia’s back floated down to Rarity. “What plan?”
“Hello? I… don’t believe we’ve met.” Rarity asked.
Mira narrowed her eyes at Rarity and Pinkie Pie. This wasn’t so much aggravation over them, but their appearance. Pinkie Pie was nothing but smiles, which harkened back to her time before the Storm where she was more bubbly and approachable. On the other hoof, Rarity just oozes radiance, to the few ponies Mira had seen she knew she was beautiful on a whole other level. While most Arcana varied slightly in appearance, more so in personality, they did have their own insecurities and Mira was feeling very attacked just by looking at them.
“This is Mira, an Arcana, and the being Smolder was speaking to within the ruined Void Mirror.” Princess Celestia introduces her.
“Malachi has mentioned the Arcana, but only briefly. Do you happen to know him?” Rarity asked.
Mira scoffed at the question. Her refusal to answer made it clear she didn’t know who she spoke of or cared to.
“We haven’t the time for niceties.Please, detail us with what this plan is.” Princess Celestia stated.
“We’re supposed to be finding the Void Walkers and asking for their help in getting-“ Pinkie Pie began.
“You’re wasting your time with them.” Mira cut her off.
“How- How can you be sure?” Rarity questioned her.
“Turns out the Void Walkers were the ones that let the cat out of the bag about us hiding underground. It looks like they’re out for themselves now.” Applejack told them.
Rarity turned to Pinkie Pie, feeling that their encounter with Malachi had painted a very different picture to what the Void Walkers were.
“We’re still going to try, Princess Celestia. Twilight and the others are going to help Smolder stop the dragon and the evil creature Null. I’m sure that they will need your help more than us.” Rarity explained.
“I cannot in good conscience leave any of you ponies behind.” Princess Celestia remarked.
A blast of wind suddenly swept past everypony, nearly toppling them over as flashes of light brightened the area softly from Smolder’s fire. Their battle was taking place several miles out, but this was the closest anypony had gotten to them thus far.
Daring Do was so awestruck by the sight of the Elder Dragon that she hadn’t even taken out her journal to make any sort note or documentation of it. “It’s incredible…”
“Whatever you colorful ponies are going to do you better do it quick. We need to get to Smolder.” Mira urged them.
“I ain’t going to be much help against this here dragon, Princess Celestia. I’ll head back with Rarity and Pinkie Pie to where we last saw the Void Walkers and see if we can’t get them roped into this here rodeo.” Applejack offered.
Princess Celestia’s feelings over the matter did not change, having another pony join them and break off from the group only cemented her idea of not splitting up.
“If you’re heading back to the city then keep heading south from the entrance we just came from. The apple pony knows where it’s at. Follow that road and it will bring you to the Obelisks that reside there. Whether or not the Void Walkers choose to help, you can wait there until the portals open and get out safely.” Mira instructed them.
“Right.” Applejack nodded her head.
Mira pointed towards Princess Celestia. “Princess Prissy here will need to distract the dragon.”
Princess Celestia flushed. “I beg your pardon?”
“Loud mouth and hat pony. You’ll need to be fast to knock Null off the top of the dragon’s head. It will sever his connection with the Storm and the dragon will be less of a threat. Do you think you’re fast enough?”
“Loud mouth? Fast? Do you know who you’re talking to?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“I don’t want to learn your names!” Mira shouted back.
Something similar had been said to Pinkie Pie and Rarity during their time with Malachi. It not only seemed to be a way of coping for the Void Walkers, but the Arcana as well.
“It’s because it makes it harder to say goodbye, right?” Pinkie Pie asked.
Mira recoiled from the question. Her face noticeably more confused if not surprised by Pinkie Pie’s assumption.
“Malachi told us something similar. Having to say goodbye to so many friends… it was just easier to just forget.” Rarity explained.
Mira clenched her fists. Frustration seemed to come over her as Rainbow Dash let it a long drawn out ‘O’ for all to here.
“You’re just pretending to not care so that you sound all tough and cool, right? Well let me tell you something, you’ll need to remember the name Rainbow Dash because I’m going to become a-“
Mira floated forward looking very distressed, almost fearful. “Are you fast enough or not?”
“Of-Of course I am.”
“Because that Storm may not be able to touch Smolder, but it can devour you or any of us in an instant! You have to be fast enough to get close to Null and clear out before the Storm can… can...”
It had become all too clear that Mira’s concern was for Rainbow Dash’s safety, for all their safety. In her own callus way she tried to hide her concern with name calling, but it didn’t mask the fact that what she was asking of Rainbow Dash would put her in harm’s way.
Mira wiped her eyes hissing to herself. “Just be fast enough.”
“You’re looking at a future Wonderbolt. Nothing’s going to catch me.”
Daring Do nudged Rainbow Dash’s with her arm, giving her an approving nod of confidence.
“Even if she gets herself into a spot of trouble, I’ll be there to pull her out of it.” Daring Do reassured her.
Hundreds of flame ponies stood within the Ashen Fields, having been directed by both Academy Leader Flare Fizzle and General Ray Horizon as a matter of grave importance. It was rather difficult for many to drop everything to heed this request, but many had had shown up with crowds more following in a hurry. The bulk of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Soldier ponies were at the front while civilian ponies were still gathering around the back.
Private First Class Cosmic, Private Nightshade, and Specialist Peanut had somehow talked their way into coming to help in the efforts to save Smolder and the others trapped there. Cosmic had asked Goldie Fleece to request them specifically to help in the effort to save their King and for one reason or another Goldie had gotten it done. It came as a surprise to Cosmic, seeing as their relationship was rather new, obviously not a romantic one, but Goldie had done him a rather large favor without asking for anything in return. Upon their arrival, Nightshade had the dubious task of explaining why and how they were in the Ashen Fields to Princess Luna, while Peanut had the opportunity to reacquaint himself with Gleam Fizzle. Cosmic on the other hoof found himself in a rather awkward situation, being that Goldie had her hooves full of preparations and cost expenditure for the work that would be missed due to the need of every flame pony having to present.
With every flame pony beginning to arrive, Cosmic had spotted the opportunity to approach Goldie who herself had seem to finally catch a break from all this. Tiff Pitchstone had brought some of his fresh grape juice to help ease every pony’s troubles a bit, offering Goldie a cup of it with a reassuring smile.
“Ms. Fleece, I never believed I would see your father’s equal to the tasks set before him, but surely you have gone above and beyond these last few weeks. All with a smile.” Tiff complimented.
Taking the cup from Tiff, Goldie smiled weakly at him, having been pushed her own limits from the amount of work she had been doing.
“I appreciate your kind words, Mr. Pitchstone. When this is all over I’m sure everything will settle down and I’ll only have to worry about tax season rolling around.” Goldie replied.
Cosmic strolled up next to Goldie, feeling his heart already racing in his chest. “Hey… Goldie…”
In the middle of a drink, Goldie glanced over to see Cosmic’s face, her mane flared and her reaction was of panic. Choking on her drink and spraying a mist of grape juice in Cosmic’s face, Goldie backed away coughing while covering her mouth in embarrassment. Tiff cringed at them, feeling the embarrassment of the two.
“I’ll… go get a towel.” Tiff offered.
Cosmic wasn’t drenched like during their first meeting, but the grape mist was rather refreshing in some sort of weird and possibly creepy way to him. Although, Goldie’s horrified face said it all on how she felt about what had happened.
“We… we got to stop meeting like this.” Cosmic joked.
“Cosmic-Cosmic I’m so… so sorry! I-I wasn’t expecting you to be so…” Goldie was stumbling for words. “... so close.”
Wiping his face with his arm, finding that his metal bracers offered little to wipe away the grape juice, and attempting to use his hoof was met with a metal horseshoe. A sharp whistle suddenly rang out as Tiff tossed Goldie a flame resistant towel that Stitch Rose Shay had released a week prior.
“Let me get get that for you.” Goldie offered.
Wiping Cosmic’s face with the towel, Goldie’s face was rather flushed as her mane flared continuously. Cosmic’s heart was already in overdrive just by the mere touch of her hoof through the towel.
“I wanted to say thanks for helping us get permission to come over here.” Cosmic said. “I-I appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it. I wanted to.”
Cosmic paused for a moment. His heart suddenly doing a summersault. “Wanted to what?”
“What?” Goldie asked.
“You-You said you wanted to. Why?”
Goldie had a rather plationic statement ready to go, something about wanting them to be here to help Lord Smolder, their friend, escape the Void, and that it was no big deal seeing as they were friends, but something truthful had slipped out.
“To see you.”
Cosmic’s face turned so red that it almost gave off a glow, while Goldie’s own face burned almost red hot from what she had said. She was now desperately trying to find a way to make her statement less revealing.
“It-It-It has been a while since the party and we had fought-fought- fought all those spiders together and I felt that we really connected…”
Again something truthful had found its way to slip out of her. Cosmic’s ears were pounding from how hard his heart was beating. Taking a rather bold step forward towards Goldie, she immediately discerned his intent and covered her face with the towel to avoid him getting any ideas.
“Mister Bob Cosmic, I would like to take this time to remind you that we are in a public setting among many of our peers that we see everyday and have to socialize with. Any and all public displays will be witnessed by everypony and more so, cause you harm with any sort of physical contact you are attempting to make!” Goldie warned him.
Cosmic stared into her eyes peering from over the towel. Words from long ago, when he and every pony else had first met Smolder in that mountain cave, of how flame ponies had to accept the fact that they couldn’t be like everypony else. How some ponies had a lot of chances to be happy, and how some didn’t even get the one. Cosmic didn’t want to this to be his one.
Cosmic leaned in, kissing her quickly through the towel, feeling her lips just on the other side before pulling back and feeling a cold sweat suddenly break out over his burning face. Goldie seemed frozen in place, staring at Cosmic wide eyed and in almost disbelief.
A sharp whistle cut through the silence, a few ponies hooping and hollering at the two of them. Cosmic swallowed hard, feeling that he might have taken a step too far when Goldie whipped the towel around his neck and pulled him in for a hug. Her arms rested on the towel, while her chin rested on his shoulder, gently swaying back and forth with him.
Cosmic couldn’t help but smile a huge grin. He knew his armor would eventually heat up if he tried to hold her too long, but found himself putting his arms around her and returning the affection.
“I told you they were cute together.” Gleam said.
Peanut and Gleam Fizzle stood off a ways, having watched their whole little affair unfold. Decorated in his armor, Peanut also wore a rather fetching cape, specially made from Stitch Rose Shay and with it he used it to hold Gleam’s hoof.
“I think she just feels bad for always dousing him with drinks.” Peanut replied.
Gleam leaned onto Peanut’s arm, draped with his cape to allow her to rest her head without worry.
“At least they’re honest with each other. Could you imagine having to talk circles around each other just to find a way to say ‘I like you’?” Gleam asked.
“I thought I was being a little forward when I said it to you.” Peanut replied.
“Nah, you were cute.” Gleam reassured him. “You also have nice strong arms.”
Peanut squeezed Gleam’s hoof a little tighter, letting her know how much affection he had for her in that moment. Gleam lifted her head from his shoulder, looking up at Peanut with a smile.
“I’ve been taking lessons with Ice Ponies on how to control my fire better. Just like how they aren’t spewing out ice all the time. Eventually, they say I’ll be able to have it low enough to not burn any pony.” Gleam informed him.
“Well I hope it’s soon.” Peanut replied. “It’s getting really hard for me to not kiss you.”
“You’ll burn yourself, Peanut.”
“It would be worth it.”
Gleam rocked Peanut a bit, smiling lovingly at him. “I’ll get there. I promise.”
The crowd of flame ponies started to move. Everypony making way for General Horizon and Academy Leader Flare escorting Princess Luna, Princess Cadance, and Shining Armor through the crowds towards the center of the Obelisks. Discord magically appeared in a sudden plume of white smoke that erupted from the ground just as Princess Luna reached the front of the congregation.
With a small show of her power, Princess Luna’s horn shined a dark blue as her wings fanned open to bring the populace of flame ponies to attention. From the position of the sun, as well as the clock Discord had swinging from his claws like a pendulum there was only fifteen minutes left before the portals from around Equestria would be opening.
“Thank you all for coming under such short notice, time is of the essence so we must be brief to what we are here to do!” Princess Luna began.
Princess Luna was currently using her royal canterlot voice to be heard from far and wide. There were already murmurs running through the crowds at to what that might be.
“In about fifteen minutes, several portals across Equestria will become active in the attempt to rescue Lord Smolder, Princess Celestia, Wingston, and many others from the Void. To do this we need your help!”
Now a sudden wave of surprise seemed to pass through every flame pony at this news, considering that almost every pony knew that the King was the only one able to open it.
“During the return of the Mad King, your fire was taken from you, and it is our belief that Smolder shared some his fire with each and every one of you that day. From this we believe that these Obelisks will respond to a joint effort from every flame pony if everyone is willing to give just a bit of their own fire to do it! But this will require almost every flame pony if this is going to work, too few and we run the risk of seriously injuring those willing to help.”
There was a surge in the crowds of flame ponies near the back feeling nervous at the idea of having to put too much into the Obelisks themselves.
“We’ll give as much as we can, our soldiers are willing to give more for those still unsure.” Ray stated.
“We’ll run the risk of having ponies giving it their all and seriously injuring themselves in the process.” Flare countered.
“We’re not going to get another chance at this, we’re not going to have the time to convince every pony individually so we’ll need some pony who’s going to give one hay of a pep talk and have it come in under the time limit.” Shining Armor remarked.
“General Hearth is up at the Frozen North and Wingston is stuck within the Void as well. Our two best options are unavailable, and I am not sure Burning Sand will have any better luck then we do.” Princess Luna commented.
“I’ll do it. How do you do that loud voice thingy?” Ray asked in a huff.
“You’re not going to get any pony out here if you start talking down to them. Many of them are young and sacred. Their fire was taken from them by force once and it might just happen again.” Flare argued.
“We don’t have time for this we need to get them here now!” Ray snapped back.
Discord magically whipped up a microphone in his claw, looking to Princess Luna for confirmation on what to do next. Finding it difficult as it was with barely half the flame ponies, Princess Luna knew that it was going to have to be enough for this to move forward.
“Can I say something?”
Nightshade stepped up from the group of soldier flame ponies. Time was still ticking and Nightshade was definitely not a flame pony, but he was friend to Smolder since nearly the beginning. Nodding to Nightshade, Princess Luna motioned to Discord to give him the mic. There was a loud feedback from the mic that quieted every flame pony as Nightshade faced them ready to speak.
“I’m Private Nightshade, a soldier from Canterlot, and I’m getting married within the year.”
There was a sudden whoop from Cosmic off near the side that made several ponies chuckle.
“Your King, my friend, I would like to invite to my wedding because he’s the reason I have a special somepony in the first place. When I met him, he seemed rather sad, and at first I thought it was because he couldn’t be with the pony he liked. Being a flame pony and all.”
Christie Chapel, Florence Gale, and Tea Herbal were inside Castle Char at the insistence of every pony. None of them wanting these three ponies getting harmed in any way once the portal was open. Tea listened with a sad smile, thinking back to that day when Nightshade had gotten hurt protecting Smolder and how guilty he felt.
“As it turns out, he was worried about all of you. Everything he did, he did for you ponies. Carrying all of your hopes and dreams with him to the Summit, fighting hundreds of spiders, fighting his dad, an Orc, a dragon, and now he’s fighting again… and I can’t help him. I don’t know if I’ve ever been able to help him.”
There was a sadness in Nightshade’s voice, doubt that seemed register quite well with everypony. For everything Smolder had done or tried to do was for their benefit. Even with the battle with the Orc, every pony fought to keep what Smolder had helped bring about, but they had lost him in the process.
“If you ponies give even just a little, open it just a bit, and I promise you I’ll bring him back here myself.” Nightshade said.
A pride of a flame pony runs deep. It was reflected in every action they took. It defines who a flame pony is and what sort of pony they will become. Nightshade’s words registered on a deep, almost primal level of every flame pony. It spoke of loyalty, courage, and selflessness. It was all things Smolder had strived to be, it was what Nightshade swore to do, and it had become the courage they needed.
“But I might need some help getting the rest of them out.” Nightshade concluded.
Princess Luna placed her hoof on Nightshade’s shoulder, beaming at him for his honest and heartfelt words. Princess Cadance and Shining Armor stepping forward to show that they would be helping Nightshade save these ponies. Ray and Flare were quick to follow. In unison the soldier ponies and royal air force cried out in a single voice, a loud guttural grunt that showed that they would help as well.
From the civilian flame ponies at the back, manes were beginning to flare, mixed cries of support were rising in volume. Stomping of hooves rocked the ground, chants were coming from groups of soldiers ponies and fiery war cries were being shouted by others.
With a large wrist watch upon Discord’s arm, the time was nearly knew. “It’s almost time, Princess.”
Taking a step forward to address the flame ponies one last time, Princess Luna raised her wings to give some final words of encouragement.
“When things seem dire, we look to those we can depend upon, and at this moment Smolder is looking to you all.”
The flames of the flame ponies roared together, almost becoming one massive flame spread across the crowds. A force was suddenly drawing their flames towards the Obelisks, gathering their fire between the two pillars, as the green markings began to etch themselves across the sleek black sides.
The sun was just overhead of the jungle. A ray of light shining in from the top of the hidden valley where every jungle pony stood at the edge of the drained lake watching the red markings of their Obelisks begin to creep up the sides. Chieftain Talon, along with his jungle warrior ponies stood at the ready, waiting for the portal to be open. Tier floating beside him, her hands clenched tightly on his shoulder, anxious to what was about to unfold.
On the outskirts of Trottingham, the moon hung was high overhead, with the Obelisks brimming with purple markings waiting for the command to be opened by the Duke. With him were the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers stood at the ready, awaiting for their Commander Arthur Tullius to give the word to march upon this Storm.
“It’s now or never.” The Duke mumbled.
Stepping up to the Obelisks the Duke cleared his throat. “Alright! Let’s get on with it!”
The Obelisks flashed, purple lighting suddenly surging from the pillars as a dark orb appeared within the center of the two.
In the Frozen North, the once avoided White Walk was now teaming with every military branch Lord Tundra could possibly bring before the Obelisks. Lady Frost had tried to reason with him about the technical over preparedness her husband had gone to, but he insisted that it was to get his baby back. The Court Wizard Floe stood out with both Lady Frost and Lord Tundra, feeling his heart racing to get the chance to rescue his sister from the Void.
Warrick Hearth and Summer Hearth stood side by side on the front line just behind the royal family, waiting for the portals to be opened. Beside them was their father, Coal Hearth and their uncle General Hearth. Standing beside Warrick was Wendy Sleet, having only allowed Warrick to come out today if she was there beside him. It was a rather nonsensical request, but having here did put his fears at ease. Commander Sleet approached the royal family to inform them of the time.
“My Lord and Lady. It is time.”
Lord Tundra raised his wings, armed with the knowledge that is two sets of the Obelisks were powered by the sun and moon, the flames of a flame pony king would unlock their portal, then surely his power would do the same. The king’s eyes faded to white, being replaced by the northern lights, drawing the very ancient power of the ice ponies from him to power the portals. It took much from Lord Tundra, having him waver for just a moment, before releasing its hold on his power and began to have blue etchings race up the pillars.
Breathing heavily, Lord Tundra stood defiantly in front of the Obelisks, refusing to show weakness to his ice pony soldiers, knowing that their fight against this darkness was just about to begin.
My magic poured from me like water, my fire mixing with its energy and pouring across the field towards the dragon. With a powerful shout I exerted a great amount of my power that swept over the sea of fire I had created and from the flames a fiery fist emerged striking at the chest of the Storm Dragon.
Null staggered from atop the brow of the dragon feeling the Storm within wretch the dragon away from the flames that engulfed its hide. With Null’s hand momentarily removed from the dragon’s head, it was clear that the Storm had even more difficulty in moving it, and needed the guidance of Null to operate at the level I was currently facing it at.
I found myself wavering for a moment, having expended a great amount of my energy and stamina to generate that attack. Most of my magic was unrefined, sloppy, and required more energy than needed at times due to my lack of experience. I needed to let my fire burn for a bit without having to rely on my magic but it was all that was keeping me from being squashed by the Storm Dragon.
“I’m beginning to see the weak embers of your light fading into the darkness. Your strength will fail. You...will fail.”
The wing of the Storm Dragon swung high overhead, slicing horizontally through the air and bringing with it hurricane like winds that brought all manner of rock and sand my way. It immediately blew out the flames I had created and left me struggling to keep myself grounded. The Storm Dragon’s tail swinging back around to crush me.
From overhead a beam of white light struck out like a whip, snagging the dragon’s tail and keeping it from slamming down upon me. The white light flashed into a large magical chain that traced itself all the way to the ground where Princess Celestia was driving in a magical stake to keep it leashed.
“Your tyrannical rule over this realm ends here!” Princess Celestia declared.
The Storm Dragon’s head whipped towards the interference, Null catching sight of Princess Celestia. Her declaration grew fainter and fainter, Her mane contouring to that of fire, and the image of the flame pony mare had drifted into his mind.
“Just hold on…”
Staggering back from the brow of the dragon, Null clutched his head and screamed loudly at the echoes of the past. Beneath him the Storm raged in its anger over his hesitation to strike, struggling to break free of the hold Princess Celestia had over it.
A second beam of light whipped out from Princess Celestia’s horn, lassoing the neck of the Storm Dragon and attempting real it in. Null was no longer puppeteering it’s movements, forcing the Storm to struggle against it alone, roaring in its rage.
From high up above a sudden streak of a rainbow flashed across the sky. Waves of the sound barrier rippling off of Rainbow Dash diving towards the head of the dragon. With her outstretched hooves, Rainbow Dash plowed right into Null’s side, just as the RainBoom erupted sending the Storm Dragon falling onto its side from the blast. Null had been knocked off the head of the dragon, all of Rainbow Dash’s acceleration and force being transferred into him and launched into the ground below creating a sudden explosion from the impact.
Rainbow Dash Tumbled out of the air, dazed from impact, just as a streak of black and white zipped through the air caught her.
“I gotcha.” Daring Do said.
The unbroken arm of the Storm Dragon cut through the air, reaching for them in a vain attempt as Princess Celestia wretched its head hard back from them. With its broken arm giving way to the weight Princess Celestia was forcing it to give, the dragon toppled over with a deafening slam upon the ground. Bursting out of the dragon with the force of a damn springing a leak, the Storm raced across the fields towards Celestia to rid it of her hinderance. The body of the dragon immediately went limp from the Storm’s vacancy and appeared hollowed out by the Storm.
My legs were moving me towards Princess Celestia, trying to intercept the Storm, fearing the worst. At Princess Celestia’s hooves were familiar ruins burning with magic, a black orb suddenly surrounding her before revealing to the Storm that she had vanished. Crashing like waves upon rocks the Storm swept the area where Celestia had been, gnawing at the chains where she had staked the dragon. I looked about, trying to find where Princess Celestia had gone, knowing Mira had assisted in her escape. A flash of white light brightened the sky for a moment, I saw Princess Celestia falling out of the air above the dragon corpse with a dozens of magical stakes raining down with her. Each stake viciously piercing the missing scales of the dragon’s hide, nailing to the ground before clearing the area herself before the Storm could return.
Circling back up to the sky, the Storm twisted itself into a cyclone, arching itself towards the dragon and funneling its way into the dragon’s mouth bringing the deceased puppet back to life. Celestia’s magical stakes kept the dragon pinned to the ground despite its best efforts to raise itself.
Having tried run to help Princess Celestia from the Storm, I had put distance between me and the dragon. Rainbow Dash and Princess Celestia were opposite the dragon now, attempting to reconvene to plan their next assault. I could see the small glow of green near Princess Celestia, my heart slightly lifting knowing that Mira was safe with them for now, but it also brought me some fear knowing that she was what Null needed to escape.
An explosion drew my attention away, Null was flying at me with great speed, arms engulfed in dark flames. Flaring my mane I let loose a blast of fire at him, which he took the full frontal blow, but it did not slow his charge. His fist connected with the side my face, before another below had my had swinging back the other way. My wings instinctively shielded my face after that, taking the brutal blow of each of Null’s punches, completely ignoring my fire that was already engulfing him.
“All I ever did was exist! They hated me for it! Feared me for it! Forced to endure the suffering they inflicted upon me! All I am is what they made me!”
Null cries were not threats or promises of the end. It was his pain that was coming through, his rage that gave him strength, but it also made him vulnerable.
“Tell me Smolder! Tell me that I am wrong! Tell me I am the monster! Tell me how I deserve to die! Then tell me how similar we are!”
Throwing out my wings I forced Null’s arms out to his sides. His hands were coated in that silver skin again, parts of his body were shimmering with silver as well, but his eye from within the helmet burned with such hatred. I stepped in to mount my comeback but felt Null kick me hard in the chest. His hand shot out, taking a sudden hold of my horn when his body suddenly tensed up, my vision beginning to fade away and my eyes rolling back.
It was impossible to keep my magic in check this time, this vision or memory had been so powerful that it overwhelmed me. Hundreds of questions were running through my mind, time still moved when I had visions, Null could be draining my power away right this second and I’m stuck staring into blackness. I felt movement in my arms and legs, I stumbled around in the dark, trying to find any sort of light or something to catch my eyes. Null had been the one to take hold of my horn, so it may have been his way over beating me from this inside, much like how Mira had kept me asleep for three days, but my mental powers had grown since then. At least I had hoped they did, I didn’t feel any smarter, but then again Mira never taught me how to defend against intruders of the mind.
If Null had invaded my mind, he was probably blending into the darkness with ease. Flaring my mane, which seemed rather ridiculous being within my mind and all, I tried to expose him to the light while pacing around. Turning sharply I felt myself run into something, having a small panic attack I leaped away, sparking into my flash step ready to attack.
“It… It can’t be…”
The voice was soft, warm, and rather familiar. Smolder looked upon a tall grayish white alicorn flame pony, with fire so yellow it almost resembled the sun. Her eyes were grey like ash, she seemed so surprised if not horrified to see me. My flames quickly died away, staring at her with such confusion, but in my heart I already knew who it was.
“Mom...”