Without the light of Glow sustaining him, Null was feeling the full effects of his failing body. Racked with pain and confusion to what had happened, Null did not have the strength to lift himself from the ground. Clawing his hand into the dirt, clutching his chest with his other, Null dragged himself towards the Storm.
Deep within my chest I could feel a warmth, separate from the fire I normally felt surging within me. I could only assume that this was the power that had been shown to be through those memories of the kings of old. It had also been the first and only chance I had been given to see my mother. There was a weight in my heart from our sudden parting, but I knew what needed to be done.
Trying to get my hooves, I found myself falling forward, watching Null reach out to the Storm in desperation. I pulled myself towards Null, earning only his sudden glance from within his shattered helm I saw fear grip him.
“Stay away from me!”
“Null, listen to me...” I began.
Slamming his open hand upon the ground beside him, a sudden blast of dark energy had surrounded him. Markings traced beneath him, ones I was already familiar with, and watched as he disappeared within it.
The Storm had spoken. It had surprised everypony, no more so than Mira who seem petrified by it. The lifeless dragon pulled itself closer to them, attempting to tear away the spikes that still pinned it to the earth. Princess Celestia prepared herself to do battle with this abomination, but noticed something odd occurring near the top of the dragon's head.
A sudden appearance of markings upon the brow of the dragon flared to life. The Storm Dragon buckled from the abrupt force of dark energy that imploded upon its head. Null had appeared atop of the dragon, causing the Storm to suddenly roar in anger at the state in which he had returned. From the eye sockets of the dragon’s head, the Storm leeched its way back into Null, eating away at the silver skin that had covered parts of his body. Null’s wailing shrieks from the pain had snapped Mira from her petrified state, realizing what the Storm, or what Nadir had been planning.
“Every pony listen to me!” Mira shouted.
Princess Celestia, Rainbow Dash, and Daring Do looked to her seeing her face still racked with fear but the tone she used was one of urgency.
“You all need to get back to the portals as quickly as you can! Forget the plans! Forget everything! You all need to leave right now!”
The sheer terror in her voice was unsettling to every pony, especially since the Storm had spoken and appeared to have shaken Mira’s resolve so easily.
“What are we dealing with? What did the Storm mean by you failing?” Princess Celestia asked.
“It’s Nadir, the whole Storm is Nadir!” Mira shouted.
“What’s a Nadir?” Daring Do asked.
“I AM THE GREAT DESTRUCTION OF YOUR UNIVERSE.”
Through the jaws of the dragon, the Storm spoke once again. It’s voice shook Mira to her core. It was so loud, so menacing, and so old that it felt like a being of immense power hidden just beyond a veil of darkness waiting to be released.
Princess Celestia watched Null rise to his feet upon the brow of the dragon, once more a hollow husk. Mira’s hands suddenly gripped Princess Celestia’s arm, turning she could see tears welling in her eyes.
“You promised.” Mira whispered. “Don’t let Nadir destroy your world like he did mine.”
It was clear what Mira wanted from her. Although, Princess Celestia could not bring herself to do it, to destroy Mira and take away the Storm’s only chance of opening the portals. Her hesitation had allowed Null the time needed to make the first move against them. With the Storm surging through him, Null raised his arm which mirrored the dragon’s movements as well.
“Behold the power of an Eternal Master!”
The unbroken arm of the dragon slammed into the ground, a flourish of dark energy poured into the earth. From the dirt, the Echoes that had hounded them through the tunnels began to rise up from the ground. Faces twisted in torment, limbs misshapen to bludgeoning clubs and spikes for arms and legs. Several dozen had quickly turned into several hundred as their numbers continued to climb, a massive army sweeping across the land.
“Your light belongs to me now!”
With a thrust of his arm, Null commanded the Echoes to go forth. Hundreds if not thousands of these Echoes charged across the fields, trampling over one another, trying to sprint towards them as quickly as possible. The Storm Dragon lurched itself forward crushing many of the Echoes beneath it, although it appeared to make little difference as the creatures were suddenly reanimated from the crushed sand.
“Please…” Mira begged.
Princess Celestia could feel the situation becoming more dire by the minute. For a brief moment, she considered what her options were when she spotted something quite unusual. A rather large beetle had suddenly appeared crawling over the scales of the dragon, before another had come into view, and then another. Before long a sudden swarm of beetles had swarmed the fields, rolling giant balls of sand and goo across the massive legion of Echoes. Null turned from his perch upon the brow of the dragon, witnessing the sudden swarm of beetles that were now covering the dragon.
From the back of the swarm a large wolf bounded across the fields, steering the direction of the swarm towards the dragon, and nipping at the beetles that would not comply. Fluttershy, Spike, and Twilight were riding atop the wolf, holding of tightly as the speed in which the wolf ran was epic. The bark of the massive wolf rocked Mira’s senses, having believed it to be her old friend Rok coming to save her once again.
The swarm of beetles were already devouring the buffet that the Elder Dragon’s corpse offered to them. Tearing away bits and pieces, using its mighty pincers and acidic bile, the beetles were dismantling the dragon. Null was striking at the unending wave, using the dragon’s massive claws to scratch away the infestation while the Storm struggled to shake them off.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” Rainbow Dash moaned.
“It appears Twilight and the others have succeeded in Princess Sapphire’s plan. We may still have a chance.” Princess Celestia remarked.
With the mother wolf racing across the outside of the fields, still steering the wandering beetles back towards the dragon. Fluttershy leaned closer to the ear of the wolf mother to speak with it further.
“You’re doing wonderfully. Just a bit more and that will be it.” Fluttershy reassured.
“Twilight, isn’t that Princess Celestia over there?” Spike asked.
Twilight and Spike were not very keen on riding atop a near housed wolf, let alone comfortable with its enormous leaps and bounds that it took.
“Have the wolf mother brings us as close as it can to Princess Celestia, we can meet up there and wait for the second part of the plan.” Twilight suggested.
“If you would be so kind, could you bring us to our friends?” Fluttershy requested.
The mother wolf tore across the fields, leaping over the Echoes attempting to fight off the beetles. Charging through hoards of Echoes, trampling then under her mighty paws before coming upon the group of ponies that seemed rather unnerved by the massive size of the wolf.
“Rainbow Dash! Daring Do! Princess Celestia!” Twilight called out.
Sliding off the top of the mother wolf, Twilight and Spike were quick to meet up with their friends while Fluttershy gently floated down to speak with the wolf once more.
“Thank you so very much for all your help. We can handle everything from here. Please say hello to Amarok and your other adorable puppies for us.”
There was a whine from the wolf mother, her worry for her pups put her on edge, but with her task complete she would be reunited again shortly.
Just before leaving the eyes of the wolf mother darted towards the other ponies before catching sight of Mira, who stared longingly at her, but a bit frightened by her presence. The giant wolf suddenly approached Mira, sniffing rather loudly as it drew its snout towards her. Desperately trying to hide behind Princess Celestia’s leg, Mira watched her leap away from the wolf.
Not wanting to have a wolf of that size become so friendly with her, but also needed the space necessary to defend herself and the others if things would become violent between them. Mira stood frozen, her hands clasped together, allowing herself to be sniffed by the wolf mother unsure of what her reaction would be. Surprisingly, the wolf mother whined a rather softly, nudging her nose against Mira to show affection to her.
“I’m sorry…” Mira whispered to her.
With the sudden roar of the Storm, fighting against the swarm of beetles that now covered most of its scales, the wolf backed off quickly before bolting off towards the Valley of Shadows to reunite with her pups. Mira started after the wolf mother but slowed her glide, mystified that there was another wolf of Rok’s kind within the Kingdom of Naught.
“A friend of yours?” Princess Celestia presumed.
“No… not exactly.” Mira mumbled.
“Princess Celestia,” Twilight interjected. “Princess Sapphire has a plan to stop the dragon from-”
“Rarity and Pinkie Pie have already filled us in on Sapphire’s plan. I am glad to see that you were successful in completing your part in it.” Princess Celestia informed her.
“Shouldn’t we be seeing them by now?” Spike asked nervously.
Null withdrew a massive bulk of the Storm, gathering it within his forearm. Driving his fist upon the brow of the dragon, a sudden pulse of the Storm erupted from within dragon’s chest, blowing hundreds of beetles in all directions while leveling a wide berth of the Echoes that surrounded it.
Two streaks of fire emerged from the ranks of Echoes, blazing a trail of fire that headed straight for the dragon.
“Lord Wick, Lord Pyre, your fire is capable of harming the Storm, whatever it is that brought you to that level… to that intensity, I ask that exude it upon the dragon. The ilk of beetles will be a catalyst for your fire, set it aflame and burn it.”
Wick and Pyre raced towards the dragon, hurdling and dodging through the sudden rainfall of beetle and Echo. The level in which Princess Sapphire has asked of them was difficult enough to obtain when focused and stationary, but near impossible while in motion with their minds racing.
Having attempted to destroy Null before with such an attack, it left them severely weakened for the overuse of their fire, and would have surely fallen to the Storm if not for Smolder’s interference.
“Do you remember what mother said to us before she left?” Pyre asked.
Wick tried not to think of it, especially concerning this particular memory, but this one had been engrained into his heart. He could still see the face of his mother silently weeping as she kissed him goodbye before speaking her parting words to them. Snorting at the idea of having to reiterate his mother’s words Wick’s fire flourished into a sudden flurry of flames that seeped over to his brother.
“Just make sure you get clear of the dragon.” Wick replied.
Waves of flames washed over the dragon, seeming impervious to the hard shells of the beetles, as the ilk ignited the caked scales of the dragon. Wick and Pyre separated at the back of the dragon’s tail, spewing their fire up and across its body.
Null watched the fire roar across the dragon’s scales, racing towards him as the beetles carried on about their work without hindrance from the flames. Null raised his hand towards the light, preparing to absorb it as he did before, but felt the dragon suddenly falling down into the earth.
Sick squelching sounds broke through the earth shattering quakes of the world breaking apart. Massive tentacles exploded from the ground. Wrapping themselves around the Storm Dragon as the creature Kana attempted to drag it down into the depths.
Thousands of Echoes were battling hundreds of enormous beetles, a deceased Elder Dragon being puppeteer by a malicious Storm, while the Dark King fought to maintain control over its prize.
“Pinkie Pie and Rarity were able to convince the Void Walkers into helping us!” Twilight rejoiced.
Mira watched the creature Kana slam her tentacles hard upon the back of the dragon crushing beetle and Echo alike as it wrestled with it. Unable to believe that this was actually happening.
“But, where is Princess Sapphire in all this?” Rainbow Dash asked.
I was in the warpath of the Echoes, unable to get my hooves under me. My body was still numb from whatever the Phoenix had done to me. Trying to pick myself up off the ground I suddenly felt a hoof take hold of my arm.
Looking up I saw Sapphire pulling my arm up over her head and helping me back onto my hooves. Leaning against her for support, I stared at her to see her smiling back at me.
“Like I said, Smolder, I’ve got your back.” Sapphire stated.
I couldn’t help but smile at her. I could feel my flames roaring back, my strength beginning to return, and I felt this new power within me. Stepping aside from Sapphire to let myself stand on my own, I quickly took hold of her hoof as she began to pull her arm away.
“Sapphire,” I began.
I didn’t know how to put what I was feeling into words. I never believed I would have ever been given the chance to meet my mother and I almost felt sorry that I did. If only because of how short our meeting was and what I had promised to do. To destroy myself to stop the Storm, to stop Nadir, I knew it would protect everypony else and I was okay with that. Except that the last time I was planning on doing something like this, Sapphire was there.
Sapphire looked at me expectantly, waiting for what I had to say.
She had promised to have my back before the battle with the Orc, she fought by my side during the fight, carried me to safety, defended me from spiders, and begged me not to enter the portal. Having come all this way and to find her still standing with me in the face of unspeakable evil had me close to crying.
“Thanks for not… leaving me.” I whispered.
I was gripping her hoof rather tightly, finding it hard to say these words. It revealed that I had been scared, that I had doubted her, that I was relieved that she was here, but most of all it revealed how much I relied on her. How much I needed her.
“I couldn’t.” Sapphire replied.
Her hoof was now tightly gripping mine. Leaning in closer to me. I could feel her head pressing against mine and hearing her icy mane hiss with my flames.
“You’re… important to me.”
Important. It seemed to come with so many meanings, so many different descriptions to how and why, but for some reason it made me feel extremely happy. I was important enough to Sapphire that she’d sacrifice so much to help me. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Spike, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, had all sacrificed for me because they felt I was important.
Electricity surged through out the air. It brought everypony’s attention towards the sky. Light being casted from the burning Storm Dragon illuminated the source of all the energy.
Four black orbs sparked throughout the Kingdom of Naught, their thunderous boom was heard throughout the land as it brought the Storm to heel.
An unseen force had Null lifted by the chest, the Storm being forcefully taken from the dragon and filtered through him. Shrieking and roaring in its pain, the Storm was being forcefully drawn out by the black orbs. Four enormous portals snapped open revealing the armies of the Ashen Fields, the Jungle Ponies, the Frozen North, and the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers awaiting on the other side. The Storm was being pulled between all four portals, stretching it far and thin, creating a ring around the fields of Ouroboros.
Lord Nox of Mustangia had personally requested to be a part of the effort to save those trapped beyond the portal, wanting to see first hoof at what sort of pony this flame pony king was to merit all this trouble. Duke Wellington offered him the chance to come to Trottingham to be apart of their effort from their portal. Perhaps nothing in his most wildest of dreams could have prepared him for what he saw beyond the portal.
It was just a few minutes away from the scheduled time to open the portal. Night had already fallen. The moon was now slowly creeping across the sky as the Obelisks flowed from its light.
Sir Arthur Tulius has returned with the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers to aide in the rescue efforts with Duke Wellington and Lord Nox at the front of the ranks.
“Is this flame pony really everything you claim him to be?” Lord Nox asked.
“You believe the truth in all things. Kid’s honest. His actions are honest. His motives are honest. All he hides is his feelings, but his flames give him away every time.” Duke Wellington replied.
“Why does he hide his feelings?”
“Because he’s a kid.” The Duke said.
Lord Nox could hear it in his voice. This flame pony who had taken it upon himself to save entire world after just being given the mantle as king, was still just a kid.
“He ain’t got a mother to tell him no. His father can’t begin to care what happens to him. Brothers are nowhere to be found. Kid needs to know that somepony cares about what happens to him.”
Arthur stepped forward. “Thirty seconds, my Lord.”
Clearing his throat, the Duke knew that the portal would activate on his command, having been powered by the light of the moon alone.
“Alright then, uh, open up!” The Duke shouted.
The Obelisks remained inactive.
“Don’t make me come over there!”
A sudden burst of power ignited the Obelisks into black flames, a black sphere formed between them as it raised itself higher into the air. The Duke did not know what to expect when the portal would open. He wasn’t expecting to see a mountain sized dragon ablaze with an equally large squid attacking it with misshapen creatures and bugs fighting one other when the portal snapped open.
“Sweet Celestia…” Lord Nox mumbled.
“First pony to find me that thick headed son of a mule flame pony gets a knighthood!” The Duke bellowed.
It was obvious that his words were merely a substitute for a more sentimental rally cry, but their purpose was clear.
“Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers!” Sir Arthur Tulius announced.
“Let’s bring this flame king home!” The Duke cries out.
From high up in the mountain, a large opening that offered the hidden jungle village light and warmth had now been used to power the revealed Obelisks at the bottom of the lake. The portal had already snapped open revealing the Kingdom of Naught before them.
Tier floated to the edge of the portal, the whole of Chieftain Talon’s jungle pony army at her back awaiting for her signal to move out. Almost mystified by the prospect of returning to her homeland, the shrieks of the Storm and of the mourning battle had shaken her nostalgia.
“Just say the word.” Talon reassured her.
“Talon, I will not ask you or your ponies to follow me, but I will be going to find my friend.” Tier stated.
“We will follow our heart to the ends of the earth, for we are all family, we are all friends. One tribe. One home.” Talon declared.
With a strong backing by his jungle warrior ponies shouting their support, Talon stepped forward with his staff raised high to signal his army.
“The Heart of the Jungle came to us in our time of need! Today we repay this debt! Fight hard! Be strong! And never turn your back to the enemy!”
Tier clenched her hands tightly, feeling a sudden wave of courage of her own. Desiring to find her friend again and save her from the Storm this time. A sudden explosion of purple light streamed from Tiers head, heralding the resolve in her own strength to bring an end to this fight. Flying with great speed into the Fields of Ouroboros, the jungle ponies charged in after her.
The portal from the Frozen North had opened, revealing not the Storm nor a dragon, or even their missing Princess. Lord Tundra, Lady Frost, and the whole of the Frozen North’s army stood before the Mad King Scorch who looked very pleased at their arrival.
Stepping forward through the portal, Lord Tundra directed his armies to move out with a single thrust of his wing. Commander Sleet acknowledged, directing his armies to cut to the left and right of the Mad King, forking their way around before charging into the fight to recover Princess Sapphire and the other missing ponies.
Within the ranks of Ice pony soldiers were the retired General Hearth, his brother Coal Hearth, his son Warrior Hearth and daughter Summer Hearth. Warrick nor Summer had ever seen the Mad King, his presence alone was enough to give them chills, while Coal could not believe of the state the Mad Kong’s body had deteriorated into.
The eyes of the Mad King never left that of Lord Tundra, knowing that he know stood between him and the rest of Equestria.
“Always such the cold stare, Chuck.” The Mad King quipped. “Still the same limped horned King that whittled away at his ice while the world suffered around him.”
“Scorch?” Lord Tundra asked amusingly. “You look terrible.”
“Funny, you should see what I’ve done to your precious snowflake.” Scorch spat.
Lord Tundra lunged at Scorch, eyes burning brilliantly and magic erupting from his horn, but found Wingston attempting to get between them.
“No, my Lord! He has not harmed your daughter! To this I swear!”
Lord Tundra stood face to face with the Mad King. Even with his power mounting, the flames of the Mad King were beginning to make Lord Tundra sweat.
“Why are you defending this abomination of a pony, Wingston? He doesn’t deserve such mercy.” Lord Tundra questioned.
“There is little time to explain, my Lord. I urge to find Princess Sapphire as quickly as you can before she does anything more reckless than she already has.” Wingston urged.
“Yes, run to your wailing infant, Chuck.” The Mad King said. “Leave Martha to do all your fighting for you.”
Lady Frost shifted uncomfortably at her name being spoken by Scorch, but Lord Tundra refuses to budge even though his heart was racing anxiously for the safety of his daughter.
“I would have made it quick, Scorch, painless even, but Martha wouldn’t be so kind.”
The Mad King took a step forward, nearly nose to nose with the Lord Tundra now.
“You were always a coward. Never knew what it meant to be a King. You’ve never been in a real battle. Oh! But I’m forgetting, my son had to force your hand by involving your precious daughter in that fight.”
Lord Tundra didn’t respond. Unfortunately what Scorch had said was true. Conflict was rare for Lord Tundra and that sad truth of it was that if Sapphire had decided to come home he would have never offered to help fight the Elder Dragon.
“The only thing you’ve ever did that was remotely worth a damn was sire that wailing filly you called a princess and you've already lost her to my son.”
Lord Tundra began to move but felt his Queen take hold of his arm. Standing at his side and glaring at Scorch.
“I wonder what Lady Sunbeam would think after seeing you the way you are now? Perhaps we’ll never know seeing as you’ve destroyed everything you ever remotely gave a damn about.”
The Mad King snorted disdainfully. Lady Frost pulled on Lord Tundra’s arm away from the Mad King to join the others. Her words seemed to have rattled Scorch as his flames flared viciously, but refused to look either of them in the face anymore.
“Wingston?” Lord Tundra asked aloud.
Wingston had remained by Scorch’s side watching the two of them walk away. Looking up at Scorch who refused to even acknowledge him anymore, Wingston felt that his presence would be better served elsewhere.
"Please Wingston, do not trouble yourself with him anymore. Smolder needs you more then he ever will." Lady Frost insisted.
"Go. Wingston." The Mad King spat. "Bother somepony else with your inane babbling for once."
"Is this the command of the King I once served the conscious of the father who can't bear to hear the truth any longer?" Wingston asked.
"Believe what you like, I have no need of you."
The Mad King stepped away from Wingston, heading towards the open portal. It wasn’t certain if Scorch could survive the subarctic temperatures of the Frozen North in the current state of his body, but it would be give him access to Equestria once again. Wingston took a hobbled step after his friend in the attempt to reach him one final time.
“You tasked me with ensuring the future of your kingdom and it's ponies. When you accepted me as your Royal Adviser and as your friend. Every moment of my life has been spent trying to fulfill this, to carry out your wish, because I believed in the future that you wanted to build. I had almost lost sight of it, coming so close to despair, but your son gave me hope. I put all of my effort into raising him, guiding him down the path that had been once walked by another, knowing that it would be filled with such hardship and obstacles, but never doubting his ability to succeed."
The Mad King did not give any pause to Wingston's words.
"It was because he was so much like you that it scared even me into believing that I could have given rise to another Mad King someday, but after today I realize that my fears were misplaced. For I had thought that you had succumb to the darkness freely, that the pain you carried was solely yours, but never did I imagine it was for another. Many ponies never knew who you were deep down, Scorch, perhaps I'm the only one left who really does. Everything Smolder has done, everything you had done, comes from the very reason you are the way your are now. He was being kind.”
It was enough to get the Mad King to stop. He even turned to look at Wingston who bowed low to him before turning and leaving the Mad King.
“If you would be so kind, my Lord and Lady, to bring me to Lord Smolder.”
Lord Tundra offered Wingston his wing, lifting him up into his back before giving Scorch one last look of contempt. Lord Tundra and Lady Frost seemed rather confused by Wingston's parting words, wondering how the word 'kind' described the Mad King at all. They took to the skies to regroup with the other leaving Scorch staring after them.
The Mad King could feel the word echo within him. Just the idea of it made him angry, but this anger was not one of rage but shame. Turning back towards the portal, Scorch found himself staring at his own reflection again, the young proud pony he once was glaring back at him. Looking down at himself he could see his massive dragon claws clutching him, binding him tightly in its grip. Looking back at his reflection he could see its mouth begin to move.
"What have you done?"