//------------------------------// // Chapter 70: Of The Light // Story: The Phoenix King // by Turtlehaus //------------------------------// Princess Celestia strode away from Twilight and the others, excusing herself from the festivities, but turning to speak with the flame pony once more. "What is your name, Flame Pony? I've heard the ponies here call you Ash, Sparky, and even Matchstick. What do you call yourself?" Princess Celestia asked. "Smolder. Smolder of the Ashen Fields." Princess Celestia eyed the flame colt with curiosity, smirking at his name. A feeling deep down told her that there was more to this young colt than he let on. "The name suits you." That was Princess Celestia’s first time meeting Smolder. Having since watched his life slowly unfold before her. She could still vividly see the determined yet frightened flame colt that had pleaded for his failing kingdom. Who would then be forced to face his tyrannical father, a vengeful Orc, and a feral Elder Dragon, and maintain the same determined will to do what was necessary to protect those he loved. Now, she could only watch as this flame colt burned in a blaze of white fire trying to stave off the wicked spirit of Nadir. White fire scorched the earth around them. Flames flaring in all directions, burning the dark clouds away from Nadir’s skeleton hand that tried to grasp Smolder through the fire. Slowly Nadir’s fingers tightened around Smolder’s flames, inching closer to reaching him, fighting against the fiery wrath that kept him at bay. “I HAVE SPENT YEARS SEARCHING FOR A POWER TO RESTORE ME. FEEDING OFF THE PATHETIC CREATURES OF THIS WORLD TO MAKE WHOLE THIS CRIPPLED FORM. YOU, SMOLDER, WILL BECOME THE HARBINGER! THE NEW VESSEL FOR MY RETURN!” Powerful winds swept past everypony, with it came the incredible heat from Smolder’s flames. The blinding white light of Smolder’s fire colored the world around them, showing dozens of planets swirling high up into the darkness while revealing the putrid skeletal form of Nadir through its dark shroud. Even with the immense heat, every flame pony was inching forward, braving the darkness that threatened their king. Ray was at the front of the herd, her speed had gotten her ahead of everypony else, but even from this far the fires Smolder threw were scolding. A force dark energy pulsed across the world, slamming into Ray and forcing her back a few precious feet, but digging in her hooves hard to keep herself from losing anymore ground. Her back hooves ended up knocking into another pair, taking a look over her shoulder she found Solar standing behind her. Beside him were Flare and Wisp, trying to push their way forward as well. “We’re right behind you, General.” Wisp groaned. Solar got up alongside Ray, taking his wing and draping it over her back tightly. Lending her his strength, Ray was able to gain ground again with Solar acting as her anchor. With every step the managed to make, Ray could feel the heat becoming more intolerable forcing herself to look away from the sheer heat that blasted her. Opening her eyes away from the flames, Ray could see several more flame ponies that had come just as far to reach Smolder, many she did not recognize, but saw her grandad powering through with them. Coal, General Hearth, Warrick, and Summer were standing close together, helping one another to move forward against the flames. “Smolder!” General Hearth shouted through the flames. The roaring fires that spewed from Smolder deafened all other noises to him. Echoes of the kings that had come pouring out within the fires, their voices shouting above one another, declarations being said, warnings being given, but the cries of all these kings differed from Smolder’s. For theirs had origins of power and pride, while Smolder’s were filled with pain and fear. Princess Celestia had thrown up a power barrier, one that needed her constant concentration to keep the flames from reaching them. Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, and Princess Luna were being shielded by her, unable to step out at the risk of being incinerated by the fires Smolder produced. “What’s happening to him?” Princess Candance asked. A great amount of fear was in her voice. It was a cruel thing for them to be so near and yet so far from him. Everypony could plainly see what the other ponies could not, that these fires were slowly tearing their way through Smolder’s body. “I-I-I don’t know…” Princess Luna replied. Luna looked to her sister but found Celestia’s eyes wide with fear. It was an expression she rarely wore, one that spoke of helplessness and realization. It was then that Princess Luna knew that they were going to lose Smolder all over again, but there wasn’t going to be a chance to save him this time. Wingston had watched from afar, his friend racing towards the darkness once again to face a foe far beyond his means to defeat. Yet, this display of power, this incredible fire that had emerged from him was something different altogether. “Discord,” Wingston spoke up quickly. Discord had drawn his attention away from the breathtaking sight to see Wingston staring up at him with a genuine sense of terror about him. “Please, send me to Princess Celestia and the others.” Discord seemed rather unsure of this. “I’d be sending you to your doom, if Celestia’s magic is to fail then you would be-“ “I want to be by his side, even if this is to be the end of everything. I want to be with my friend.” Wingston pleaded with him. “Please.” There was little hesitation from Discord this time, a small smile and a nod of understanding before his claws snapped together. Wingston disappeared on the spot and left Discord gazing back at the unbelievable display of fire that lit of this dark world. For all of Smolder’s efforts, Princess Celestia could see that catastrophic toll it placed on him. Every pore of his body expelled one hundred times the amount of fire Smolder normally produced. His cries of agony seemed to be the only way to vocalize what this power was doing to him on the inside out. “THERE IS NO POWER, NO LIGHT, NO FIRE, THAT CAN DEFEAT ME. YOU’RE JUST A LOST LITTLE PONY, PRETENDING TO BE KING, LOOKING FOR THE DEAD, CLINGING TO FALSE HOPE, AND IN THE END YOU WILL DIE JUST LIKE YOUR MOTHER. ALONE AND AFRAID.” “Shut up!” A brilliant flash of light sparked from Smolder in his angry cry, his fire exploding once again as it forced Nadir’s hand back and breaking off a fragments of its fingers. The Kingdom of Naught shook from fron the colliding powers, sending powerful shockwaves across the world. The Duke looked on, hearing the echoes of all the flame pony kings that had come before roar throughout the land. The rage and the power that poured from Smolder had the Duke remembering the beaten and worn out flame pony prince he had first met at the Summit. His callus words to a grieving kid just hours after nearly losing his only father figure, expecting him to be more of a king, had now come back to haunt him seeing this young colt stand up against this horrid creature. A task suited for a much older colt, one with years of experience, a life lived to its fullest, hardened from years of battles fought and won, but not from a kid. “What are you doing, kid?” The Duke muttered. The Twins were battling their way up towards Smolder, fighting against the powerful winds and flames that swept by. The Twins found it difficult to go any further, their own bodies unable to stand the heat Smolder was producing. “He should hear it at least once…” It was the only thought going through Wick’s mind at the moment. His anger of his own stubborn pride had prevented him from telling his own little brother that he cared for him and now it may be too late. “You’re the best out of all of us, Smolder.” Pyre was thinking of similar things, of times where cruelty was given to Smolder instead of compassion, where there words were evil and spiteful rather than kind and gentle. Wick held out his hoof towards his lagging brother, offering him the help he needed to take the next couple of steps. Pyre took hold of his arm, struggling to get up alongside of him when they spotted a rather odd sight. A small orb of magic rested near the epicenter of Smolder’s inferno, and the images of ponies were seen from within. Together the Twins helped each other along, finding Princess Celestia and some of the other royal ponies had managed to shield themselves from the flames. Princess Luna caught sight of the Twins, hurrying to the edge of the shield where they approached. Princess Luna conjured a conjoining sphere at the back where the shield was least affected and merged it into one while bringing the Twins inside. “Are you two alright?” Shining Armor asked. The Twins bodies were almost searing red, they were breathing hard trying to regulate their core temperatures back down to a safe level. “How much further is it to reaching Smolder?” Pyre asked. “We are unable to reach him.” Princess Luna said. “And neither of you will be able to withstand that heat for more than a couple of minutes.” Princess Cadance added. Wick and Pyre fought to catch their breaths. It was clear that Princess Cadance’s words weren’t going to stop them from trying. Before Princess Luna could reinforce their argument a pop was heard as Wingston magically appeared beside Princess Celestia. “Wingston?” Shining Armor questioned. Without a word Wingston rushed to the edge of the shield, pressing his torn wing upon the magical sphere, feeling the immense heat even through her magic. It was hard to see Smolder through the mix of fire and black shadows that lashed across the shield, but Wingston knew that his voice would be enough. “Princess Luna, please allow me the use of your magic so that I may speak with Smolder.” Wingston requested. “Of -of course, but I’m unsure if it will reach him.” Princess Luna placed her hoof upon Wingston’s back, her horn sparking with magic, allowing Wingston to speak in the Royal Canterlot voice to reach Smolder over the wrath of his fire. “Smolder!” Wingston began. “Smolder, listen to me! You have come so far, you have made so many friends, done unimaginable things, and this creature will tear it all away from you if you do not stop it here and now! So I beg of you, please, defeat this evil creature so that we can go home, together.” Flame and shadow swirled against the shield. Eventually, it shifted to where everypony could see Smolder within the flames. Yet, Smolder’s response was horrific. His eyes erupted into flames, his entire body seemed to burn from his own fire, and the scars upon his legs were slowly melting his skin away. Wingston watched his friend cry out in unimaginable pain, realizing the horrible truth that this was going to be end of his friend and that he had just encouraged him to do it. “THIS IS THE END FOR YOU AND ALL YOUR KIND! I WILL TAKE FROM YOU EVERYTHING.” Fear had taken over him, Wingston beat his wing upon the shield trying in vain to stop this from happening. “Smolder!” Wingston cried. Wingston’s voice had reached my ears, the thought of losing him again suddenly swept through me. My anger suddenly poured from me, igniting my fires once again, the Phoenix’s screech tearing through me. I cried out again, sending a blast of fire that drove Nadir back further, and destroying more fragments of his hand. The Mad King looked on, watching his son slowly tear himself apart trying to keep the spirit of Nadir at bay. The painful shrieks of his dying son sent a chill throughout his body. His lips were beginning to snarl, his body shaking, fire flaring from every inch of his body. “... Smolder…” The Mad King whispered. Images of his infant son writhing within his bassinet flashed across his mind, being mixed with the writhing pain his son was currently in. His wailing shrieks of pain were matched by his infant cries waiting for somepony to comfort him. Scorch was biting down so hard upon his teeth that they were beginning to crack, his whole body shaking from the fury his was feeling, but yet he would not move. Within his mind the Elder Dragon Char kept a firm hold upon the Mad King, it’s claws still wedges deeply within him. Scorch struggled to break free, screaming and shouting obscenities at the dragon to be set loose, but it only laughed. Scorch wretched his body so hard within the dragon’s claws that his arm had become slightly dislodged. In response the dragon tightened its grip, one of the claws digging itself deeper into his chest. The Mad King stopped his struggling immediately, barely able to breathe, the will of the Elder Dragon had won out in the end. Turning from the scene of this dark lord bearing down upon his son, the Mad King headed towards the unguarded portal. “JUST GIVE IN TO THE INEVITABLE! YOUR WORLD IS MINE! YOUR FIRE IS MINE! YOU HAVE NO CHANCE! NO CHANCE!” Nadir’s dark energy mounted. Flowing into his arm and restoring the fractured pieces of bone Smolder’s fire had blown away. His hand was beginning to suppress Smolder’s fire, slowly overtaking him by the second. I could feel the power of all the kings that had come before, the reassurance each of their flames had brought, but even through all the pain in knew something was missing. I had seen it through the visions my mother had left for me, every king standing tall, reassuring their heir that their power would be there for them whenever needed. Every father being there for their son when he felt unsure of themselves. I knew none of these ponies. All of their voices spoke to the next that inherited the power of the Phoenix, but there was no voice for me. There was just the horrid taunts and cries of Nadir that reached my ears. I felt fear slipping into my heart, the thought of losing had finally settled into my mind, and I was finally afraid. I felt myself wishing for something I never dreamed of, for something I had always wanted but knew I could never have. To have what every prince had had when they felt scared, when they doubted themselves, when they needed help, and when they felt alone. “I wish you were here, Dad.” The Mad King stopped short. A whole new level of pain shot through me, a second wind of this power exploding forth. Nadir’s arm wavered, struggling to maintain its outstretched hand towards my flames, being pushed back from the ferocity of my flames. Dark energy surrounding the spirit of Nadir sparked with bolts of black lightning. It’s hand unwavering from its attempt to close in around Smolder’s fire. Nadir was able to raise himself, almost kneeling before Smolder, his hand keeping Smolder’s fire at bay. “YOUR LIGHT BELONGS TO ME NOW!” A storm of dark energy erupted from Nadir’s right shoulder. A skeletal arm of Nadir’s spirit suddenly sprouted forth in a violent display of dark energy. “That things got a second arm!” The Duke cried out. Twilight and the others were too far back to reach Smolder in time with the Elements of Harmony. Lord Tundra had one hoof down, beginning to race towards Smolder, wondering if he could reach him in time. The Twins were begging Princess Celestia to drop the shield to have a chance to save their brother. Even Celestia questioned letting her shield drop, but realizing it would spell certain doom for Wingston and the others. “GOODBYE YOU FOOLISH FLAME PONY!” Nadir’s free arm struck down upon Smolder with a earth shattering crash. Princess Celestia focused her magic to keep her shield from breaking. Wingston stared wide eyed at the sight that was before them, which left both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna speechless. I found myself bracing for the impact, I had heard it strike with overwhelming power, but felt nothing from it. I tried hard to bring forth more of the power of the Phoenix, wondering if my fire had somehow stopped it. “Listen well monster…” My eyes shot open, looking up in disbelief. I found my father standing over me, his wings having caught Nadir’s arms from crushing me, and struggling to keep him at bay. “... you will not take him from me!” Raising his wings, my father’s fire mixed with mine drawing strength from my flames as he began to push Nadir’s arm away from us. The sheer agony my father’s face only hardened him, grinding his teeth as molten fire dropped from his mouth. With an almighty thrust, my father’s wings broke Nadir’s fingers from its hand, his fire racing up both of Nadir’s arms before shattering his bones into hundreds of pieces. “WHAT!” Nadir was completely exposed to us. My fire pouring between my father and I, although it seemed as though he was channeling it for me, and keeping it from harming me as it had done before. I was mystified by my father, unable to look away from him, in disbelief at his being here. “From my father!” Scorch bellowed. Fire washed from us like water, my father’s wings flared wide, our power suddenly surging between us. “To his father before!” I raised my wings out just like my father had done, focusing the fire within me as best I could. Feeling the Phoenix’s screech come racing back to our ears. “By the Phoenix of our fire!” My father’s words were powerful, deep, and unyielding. His focus was straight ahead, facing the now crippled Nadir that howled in agony at the loss of his arms. I snapped my attention forward, taking a deep breath knowing what was to come next. My father’s fire swirled with mine, forcing it to behave, keeping it subdued until it was time for it to be unleashed. “We cast you out!” The screech of the phoenix was heard once more, my father throwing his wings forward, directing my fire toward Nadir as I screamed along with the kings of old as it engulfed Nadir in an instant. The sheer blast of our fire enveloped Nadir, sheering away his arms, his ribs, everything was being disintegrated piece by piece in a matter of seconds. Nadir stared at this colt that appeared to be made of pure fire, having come to protect this tiny fire king had suddenly made his realize who it was. Beside both of them was a ghostly image of the flame pony Nadir had consumed years ago, her look of hatred and disgust staring him down as the fires torn him apart. The fire had all but destroyed Nadir’s skull, before the flames began to die away. The Mad King looked towards his son to see him falter before collapsing to the ground from exhaustion. “I WILL NOT BE DENIED MY DESTINY!” The Mad King leapt forward to meet this creature just as the rainbow from the Elements of Harmony struck down around them to shield them from Nadir. Nadir’s skull collided with the Elements of Harmony, bolts of energy sparking from the two spectrums of light and darkness. Nadir’s magic was beginning to constrict against the magic of the Elements of Harmony. Little by little the cracks with the multicolored sphere were appearing. The Mad King conjured a shield to help brace the Elements of Harmony to keep Nadir from getting through. Opening its jaw wide, Nadir’s floating skull roared causing its magic to increase a hundred fold. Focusing its dark essence like a beam, Nadir was slowly shaving away the shield between them. Loud cracks snapped across the magic of the Elements of Harmony, causing it to waver and fade. The Mad King’s efforts to reinforce the shield with his own magic was taking it toll. Bits of the Mad King’s wings were being sheared away by the dark essence of Nadir. Feeding off of his fire, slowly eating away at his wings. Crying out in pain he felt himself being pushed back by Nadir’s might. “EVEN AT THE COST OF YOUR BODY, YOU STILL RESIST THE INEVITABLE. I WILL SHOW YOU THE TRUE POWER OF AN ETERNAL MASTER!” The dark essence around Nadir swelled, pulsing like a heartbeat before contracting back into a sudden blast of dark energy that completely engulfed the shield protecting them. Chunks of the magic shield had blown off with the Mad King’s wings being torn away. A wail of agony escaped the Mad King, digging his hooves deep in the ground to prevent him from being blasted away. In his struggle to keep himself upright his right, there came a sickening snap as his leg had broken under the strain. The Mad King buckled under his broken leg before spewing bits of molten fire from his lips. Coughing and wheezing from the damage his body had endured up until now, he could feel it already coming undone from the inside out. The dark essence of Nadir kept every pony at bay, finding it impossible to approach to aid either of them. Many ponies with magic had provided their own shields as buffer from the raging wind storms that Nadir’s magic had created, but nearly every pony was doing their best from being blown away by its power. Lord Tundra and Lady Frost had created their own magical shield to defend the Duke and Lord Nox. “The Mad King’s body is failing him. It won’t be long before it crumbles away entirely.” The Duke whispered. Lord Tundra watched Scorch spew molten fire from his lips, the missing legions of his hide revealed the dying flame within him and saw the once powerful flame king brought low. A sudden flash of white fire appeared next to Scorch, Lord Tundra could see Smolder rising to his hooves once again to face Nadir. “Smolder is all that stands against it now.” The Duke mumbled bitterly. Lord Tundra took a step forward, immediately feeling Martha’s hoove take hold of him. Preventing him from doing what he was already planning. “Charles…” “Stay here, Martha. I won’t let them die like this.” A sudden upheaval of magical discharge swept across the land as Twilight and the others were beginning to lose control over the shield. The rainbow stretching out over the land wavered, becoming unstable in its power. Princess Celestia and Wingston could only watch as Smolder’s fire screeched with the echoing sounds of the Phoenix ready to face Nadir. “YOU WILL BECOME THE VESSEL OF MY SOUL, FIRE KING! YOUR POWER WILL RESTORE ME TO MY TRUE FORM AND I WILL FULFIL MY DESTINY!” The magic of the Elements of Harmony had nearly come undone. Nadir’s blazing skull inching forward. Opening its jaw wide as its teeth were bearing down upon the shield straining it even further. Building up the fire within me I knew I was going have to release it all at once if I was going to have any chance of holding Nadir back. Over my shoulder I could feel the fire exploding from my father. I turned to see bits and pieces of his body were being blasted away from the ferocity of his flames and his eyes burning wildly in their sockets. “I already told you…” The Mad King growled. “You will not take him from me!” Leaping forward the magic of my father exploded from his horn, effectively shattering it, as he was knocked back to the ground. The power of his spell struck Nadir with such force that it knocked him back as well and I along with it. Everypony could only watch as the Mad King slowly destroyed himself. With his wings sheared, horn shattered, and body withering away the Mad King struggled to move again. Forcing himself to open his eyes from the pain, he could see Nadir’s socketless eyes locked on him. “YOUR LIGHT HAS NEARLY FADED. YOU ARE MERELY CLINGING TO EMBERS AND ASHES NOW. HOW FOOLISH YOU WERE TO CHALLENGE A GOD!” Bearing down on his teeth, the Mad King could feel his fire dwindling to a flicker now while being forced to watch Nadir laugh at his diminished state. Once again the Mad King watched his son step out in front of him, flaring his fire as it started to screech to a white hot flame again. Nadir’s focus had fallen to Smolder again. “My father gave up everything for me… everything… you’ll never know what kind of power it takes to do something like that.” Nadir’s dark essence wavered in anger. The Mad King could feel the heat of Smolder’s flames wash over him as he brought his fire to its peak. “Even if I was just a mistake.” A overwhelming pain within Scorch’s chest forced him to double over, clutching at it with his one good arm. With his eyes shut from the pain, Scorch could feel something growing within him, a presence that he had not felt in many years. Somewhere deep in the recesses of Scorch’s mind, Smolder’s voice was shouting to him. His infant wails, his frightened pleas, his angry outbursts, but above it all were the ones he could not bear to hear. The words that were not earned, not deserved, words that should never be uttered to a monster that he was. “I forgive you.” “Smolder…” Scorch whispered. From the wails of the Phoenix that screeched from my fire I did not hear my father call my name. I could feel the power of the Phoenix smoldering inside me, almost refusing to allow me to destroy myself with its power. Even so, I could feel it’s fire beginning to mount as Nadir was preparing for his final assault. “IT IS TIME, SMOLDER! YOU WILL BECOME THE HARBINGER OF MY-” Nadir has stopped abruptly, recoiling in what appeared to be from genuine terror. I turned to see my father rising once more. “Listen well, Smolder, for these will be my final words to you.” Scorch began. His withered body had become no more than a husk. The sockets of his eyes barely held the red glow of his eyes and a small flame within his chest was dangerously close to going out. “There has been a saying... passed down from father to son… to remind us of what we are. Four words... that strike fear into the hearts of our enemies... and gives hope to those who have none.” From within my father’s chest a small white flame had replaced the dwindling red flame, white flames were searing over the missing legions of his hide and were beginning to rejuvenate. A small high pitched screeching of fire could be heard growing louder and louder from within him. “ENOUGH! THIS ENDS NOW!” The magic from the Elements of Harmony were straining against the force of Nadir, only seconds from breaking. Fearful of seeing this broken flame pony standing on sheer will alone, Nadir dove towards us. Shattering through the magic of the Elements of Harmony with his jaws wide to consume me. “Scorch…” Glow’s voice floated in. The small wisp of fire in his chest reacting to her voice. Closing his eyes the Mad King could see the fragmented shards of his mind spin about. The light being refracted from the shards forced the Elder Dragon to release Scorch. It was slowly piecing itself together, walling off the Great Dragon Char on the other side as a white light fused them in place. The Great Dragon Char clawed at the barrier, unable to break through, being sealed away behind this reflective wall as the words of his departed somepony floated in from the darkness. “Light cannot always reach the darkest of places, causing us to become truly lost, but somepony with a light all their own may just come looking for us. Braving the darkness that swallowed us whole, reminding us that no matter how far we fall, that there is always a way to find our way back.” The finals seams of light fused Scorch’s shattered mind in place, revealing a reflection of not himself, but of Smolder staring back at him. “I hope that his little light can reach you. That his name will help you remember where our story began, and where you should be when it ends.” The reflection of Smolder began to grow, shifting in size and shape, forming into the proud King Scorch once was. Stepping through the pane of his mind, Scorch had found himself at last. “I’ll be waiting for you, my love.” From beneath his black hide his fire reasserted itself, fiery images of his wings exploded from his back as his horn exploded in a lance of fire. Scorch’s flames having been tamed for the briefest of moments and once more standing tall as the Mighty King Scorch. Scorch’s red flames ignited into a white light that was marked by the sudden cry of a Phoenix. A cry full of rage leapt from Scorch’s throat, charging forward to meet Nadir head on. In passing me my father’s arm swept under me, pushing me back and flung himself forward to meet Nadir. Wick and Pyre had raced out of the protective shield of Princess Celestia’s magic towards Smolder having seen Nadir break through the shield. Fearing for their brother’s life and coming to his aid only to have had their father knock him towards them with just moments to spare. Wick and Pyre had just reached Smolder, taking hold of him tightly to protect him as they watched their father leap into the jaws of Nadir. It’s jaw slamming down over Scorch before driving themselves deep into the earth. Only steps away from the massive skull of Nadir, the sons of the Mad King watched in horror at the sight of their father having been consumed by this Eternal Master. Piercing white lights erupted from Nadir’s eye sockets, white fire flaming from his teeth, with cracks began to form around his skull. The roar of fire coming from deep within Nadir, feeling the heat of our father’s fire burning violently inside. “Listen to these words well, monster! For they will be the last you ever hear!” Scorch’s voice echoed across the land. White fire was dissolving Nadir’s teeth, melting the skull from the inside out, it’s horrifying cries of pain were mixed with the roaring flames. “I. Am. The. King!” Scorch’s fire expanded violently. The explosion obliterated the skull of Nadir. It’s horrid cries were  drowned out by by my father’s own declaration. The white fire swept across the world, knocking over pony and stone alike, but burned none. It’s intensity was so great that it bleached the color to a blinding white light that caused many to divert their eyes from the blast. Pyre, Wick and I watched our father dissolve away. The fires of the once Mad King burning what was left of his body. Remnants of his face lingered for only a moment, smiling at us. “Smolder…” My eyes widen hearing his voice. “You were not a mistake.” I saw my father smile. “Dad!” The intensity of the fire dissolved what was left of our father before the blast swept over us and knocked us away. Ponies were picking themselves up off the the ground, rubbing their eyes from the blinding flash of light. It was unclear what had happened, thousands if not millions of small orbs of light flickered and burned around them. It appeared to be pure starlight that drifted about with a large sun of white fire that swirled far off in the distance. Our father’s fire had created a permanent source of light for this world. Wick and Pyre sat beside me, lightly clutching my arms while looking up at the new star of our father’s creation. We watched the blazing sun in silence, coming to terms with having just gotten our father back, only to lose him again. After a time I felt Wick’s hoof squeeze my arm tightly as to give me comfort. “It’s unfortunate that you never got know father like we did, Smolder. But, just for a moment, you got to see what he was truly like. Right at the end.” Pyre said. “It may be hard to accept or even believe, but he loved you, Smolder.” Wick added. “Just as we do.” I felt Wick and Pyre’s hooves touch my shoulders. We stared up at the white swirling star that bathed the realm in light, feeling the familiar warmth of my father’s fire reaching us. The Kingdom of Naught has finally been freed from Nadir’s cruelty, offering it its first moment of peace, and marked the passing of my father, the Phoenix King.