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// Chapter 73: The Road Ahead 
// Story: The Phoenix King 
// by Turtlehaus 
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It had been almost a week since Wingston had been laid to rest and Smolder had spent much of it in his room. The Twins were attending to his duties as King for the time being, allowing their brother the time he needed to come to terms with it. He had been visited by Prince Rutherford, Princess Sheva, the Duke, Princess Celestia, and even Discord attempting to console the grieving fire king, but they were all met with the same hollow smile he shared with them. 

For everything that was to be said had been said. Everypony knee what Wingston had meant to him, what he had done for him, and not even Tea nor Sapphire could bring Smolder from his quiet seclusion and it began to worry many ponies. 

Each day seemed to bring Smolder further and further away from them. Showing less and less willingness to do anything, having completely closed himself off to everypony and perhaps everything. 



“Luna, what have you discovered from Smolder’s dreams? Have you tried to approach him?” Princess Celestia asked. 

Princess Celestia was having a luncheon with Shining Armor, Lady Cadance, and Princess Luna at a quaint little cafe that had just opened shop in Canterlot. The owners had written to Princess Celestia, hoping she would review one of their drinks, but got three princesses and a prince as well.

It wasn’t just an excuse to get out of her royal duties for a couple of hours, but also the chance to discuss their growing concern for Smolder. 

“My attempts to reach him have been met with extreme difficulty. His magic is out of flux, the Phoenix within Smolder is protecting him by detouring me towards the memories of past kings. I do not think he is any serious danger, but his solitude is greatly unhealthy.” Princess Luna reported.

“We need to get him out of his room. We could throw a carnival, or perhaps some sort of party. Something that will get him to come out.” Princess Cadance suggested.

“Your asking Smolder to not think about Wingston. His only father figure and friend for most of his life. It would be asking any of us to let go of each other. He’s just going to have to work this out on his own.” Shining Armor argued.

“But that doesn’t mean we can’t try and help him. We’re his friends after all.” Princess Luna countered.

“I want to help him get through this as well, but I have no idea what I could possibly say or do that will make any of this better.” Shining Armor said. “Forcing it may just be worse and as his friend I don’t want to be the one who pushes this too far.”

Princess Celestia sighed in defeat. The passing of Wingston had hit her rather hard as well. Their time together had always been business as usual, but for some brief moments they were able to be themselves and open up to one another. 

“Please keep yourselves available if Smolder calls upon any of you for support. I’m forced to reside to the fact that we are unable to much more then be there for him if need be.” Princess Celestia requested.



I sat next to the doorway to the balcony of my room. My eyes were not focused on anything in particular, my thoughts were pouring over every last encounter I had with Wingston up until he left. Wondering where I could have hugged him again, where I could have told him how much he meant to me, where I could have spent another couple minutes with him, and seemed like I had all the time in the world to do these things. 

Every part of me felt heavy, I had no energy to move all that much, and I always felt tired. I could not stop thinking about what our last real conversation had been, having chatted several times about meaningless things, but never having the heart to heart I so craves now.

The jingle of metal reached my ears, the thud of metal against stone soon followed. It was Wingston’s staff prodding the ground, the metal rings dancing around the circular head piece. I turned around in an instant, not believing that it was actually somehow Wingston who had come back to see me.

What I saw was Mira, fiddling with Wingston’s staff, prodding it a few times against the ground to test its durability. Wingston’s staff the only thing Wingston truly owned, the only thing I had to remember him by, and I had brought it in here to keep it safe. Just seeing Mira casually mess with it made my fire burn hot.

“Put it down.” I hissed.

Mira looked over to me, looking rather confused. “What? This thing?”

“Yes, that.”

Mira let it drop from her hand, the metal staff striking the floor before rattling against the stone from the tremors. I felt my fire flare at the carelessness she showed to it.

“Pick it up!” I shouted.

“Put it down, pick it up. What am I your maid?” Mira mocked.

I made a move to grab it myself but Mira’s shadow magic had thrown it back up to her. She carried it high over her head, almost parading around the room with it as if to taunt me.

“Give it back!” I demanded.

“Or what?” 

“Just give it to me!” 

“Ah, did I upset the poor wittle flame pony?”

I made a wild lunge at it, Mira pulled it away at the last moment, continuing to taunt me with it. My fire flared angrily, my flash step sparking for a moment as I lunged again getting my mouth around it and pulling hard to rip it from her. Mira held on tight to it, fighting me and refusing to let go.

“If you want this stupid stick, you’re going to have to take it from me you stupid excuse for a flame pony!” 

Mira and I wrestled with the staff for a time. I hadn’t realized how weak I had become from not eating or getting enough sleep. Mira was able to fend off most of my forceful tugs still refusing to let it go.

My horn flared with magic, taking a hold of the staff while letting go of it with my mouth. I had a better chance of taking it from her with my magic than I did with brute strength.

“I’m not going to ask you again! Give it to me, Mira!” I shouted angrily.

“Or what?” 

I didn’t want to say something I’d regret, even if I didn’t feel it at the time, and I certainly didn’t want to hurt her. I struggled to pull it away from her, but watched as Mira’s body became engulfed with black fire before ripping it away from me. 

I stumbled to the floor, having lost this tug of war, breathing hard at my exhaustion and feeling myself become overwhelmed with emotions. I felt like a little foal again, like during the times my brothers had taken my rock and I could not get it back. Mira has taken the only thing I had left of Wingston from me and all I could do now was cry.

“It hurts… doesn’t it?” 

I could hear Mira’s voice crack from her own emotions taking over. Looking up at her in pathetic state I could see that she too was beginning to cry.

“Losing… the people you love… and not being able to do anything to stop it. Trying to hold on… to anything… to feel close to them.”

Tears were now running freely down Mira’s face. She clutched the staff in her arms, floating down to me. Sitting in front of me she reached out her hand and placed it on my head to try and comfort me.

“I’m sorry he’s gone, Smolder. But we’re still here, those of us that depend on you, that care about you, that… love…”

Mira dropped the staff. It clattered to the ground as she covered her face with her hands trying to rub away her tears.

“You may still want Wingston around, but we need you, Smolder. This Kingdom needs you, your brothers need you, your friends, you ponies, and I… I need you. Please don’t… leave us too.” 

Wingston was a huge part of my life, a part that spanned my earliest childhood to just a couple days ago. He didn’t have to be there for me, to raise me, to guide me, but he did it because he felt responsible for me. Now I was responsible for everything and everypony in this Kingdom, including my own actions, and I had let myself become too depressed for far too long.

Leaning into Mira, I let my head rest against hers. Feeling her arms wrap around my head and hug me tightly trying to offer me the comfort I needed to let these feelings of pain pass. In a way, they had. I felt disappointed in myself, having worried everypony, but all I needed was some advice from a good friend.

“Thank you, Mira. For reminding me about who I am.”

Mira was still wiping her eyes when she noticed the staff being held out to her by my magic. She was hesitant. Looking to me in surprise.

“Wingston would have wanted you to have this. To keep me in check.” 

Mira was slow to take it from me. 

“My father believed that Wingston would be a worthy Advisor, one who would ensure the future of our Kingdom. So I’m asking you, Mira, will you become my advisor and help me ensure the future of our kingdom?”

Mira took a firm hold of the staff. Beneath the tears I could see a look of confidence and reassurance of the task being asked of her.

“Do I get to hit you with this staff?” Mira asked.

“If I ever do something stupid.” I remarked.

“I wholeheartedly accept this position.” 

Mira was not as charismatic or sociable as Wingston was, although her powers would be her strength and her pain the drive needed to keep this kingdom safe from harm.

Glancing towards the royal chamber doors, I knew I’d be starting the next chapter of my life without Wingston to help me along. 

“I suppose I’ve spent enough time feeling sorry for myself.” I muttered.

“Everyone will happy to see you up and about again.” Mira encouraged me.

Crossing the room to the doors I knew that beyond this threshold was the whole of flame pony civilization, every friend I had, and the support of all my colleagues waiting for me.

Stepping through the doors of my royal chambers I felt my heart begin to race, knowing that from here on out I would be honoring everything Wingston had stood for. Which meant that I would carry Wingston’s teachings and ideals into the future, and that he was trusting me to be the King he always believed me to be.

Reaching the landing of the staircase, just outside the throne room doors I stood at the top step looking out over the Great Hall and seeing all manner of flame and ice pony about. Heads were suddenly turning towards the top the stairs, their eyes upon me with happiness and yet sympathy. I knew they were looking to me for a multitude of reasons, looking to see if their King had overcome this great tragedy. 

With a flourish of my fire, the raise of my wings, I smiled wide for everypony to see. My smile seemed infectious as it spread across the Great Hall, applause had begun, some cheers from others as I descended the staircase.

I felt Mira land upon my back, hitching a ride with her staff resting against her shoulder. She smiled wide for me, knowing that this was our first step in creating the future we had all fought hard for. 

My name is Smolder Phoenix, son of the Mighty King Scorch and the Loving Queen Glow. Younger brother to the fearsome twins Wick and Pyre. I was raised by the Wingston of the Dark Marsh, my friend, my mentor, and my father. This is where his story ended, but mine is just beginning. 


The End