//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Death Wish // Story: The Winter Solstice // by Turtlehaus //------------------------------// The emergence of the magma ponies had taken Equestria by storm. An ancient hidden kingdom beneath the ruined volcano of the Ashen Fields with a faction of never before seen magma ponies was sure to be front page news for weeks. It doubled the interest of ponies across Equestria, bringing all sorts of diplomats and capitalistic opportunists to the flame pony kingdom. Although it was quickly established that this new magma pony faction did not share the same warm welcome that the familiar flame ponies had once provided. These magma ponies were fierce, prideful, stubborn, powerful, and deeply ingrained in an absolute monarchy. Any attempts to communicate with the magma ponies were met with silence or the uncomfortable heat their magma produced. Their forces maintained a presence at the sinkhole, preventing any pony from gaining access to the tunnel they had made to reach the fields.  For the time being, the armies of the magma ponies remained near the entrance of the large sinkhole that had formed during their emergence. No flame nor regular pony was allowed access to their kingdom for political or outside visitation of scholarly enthusiasts. The declaration of war had not yet been made, but from the shouting that could be heard from Castle Char it wasn’t a far off possibility.  Behind the closed doors of the throne room, the promise of war had been declared no less than forty-six times by their current monarch, Blight. Needless to say, these declarations were made as threats whenever Blight’s demands for a duel were dismissed.  From the events of last night to the early morning hours the Twins and Smolder had been in discussion with this rival monarch, Blight of Dragon’s Ridge. While mildly experienced in diplomatic affairs, the Twins found it rather difficult to find any common ground, having coined the new magma ponies as being set in the Old Ways.  Just as Princess Celestia had raised the sun over the eastern mountains of the Ashen Fields, the Twins stood on Smolder’s left and right side of the throne. Both taking an ear to whisper their final thoughts on the matter. “You either fight her or marry her.” Wick has whispered.  “I’M NOT MARRYING HER!” My voice echoed around the throne room while Blight smirked at my outburst. “Am I too much mare for you to handle? Only got the coals to melt the heart of an ice princess?” Blight teased.  I had attempted to lunge at her from my throne, feeling both my brothers hold me back from doing so. “It’s obvious you won’t be marrying her, Smolder. So the only option we have left is for you to fight her and win.” Pyre stated.  “Then let me go and I’ll wipe that stupid grin off her face!” I hissed.  “Such a challenge needs to be viewed by their kind, to ensure no pony will question the result.” Wick explained.  I settled down back into my throne as the Twins released their grip on me. I rubbed my hoof across my face, unable to hide how tired I was from being up all night and being frustrated with the stubbornness of this magma princess.  “Blight… of Dragon’s Ridge…” I began slowly.  Blight raised her head, taking notice of how final my tone had become.  “I will accept your challenge under some conditions.” I proposed.  “Which are?” Blight inquired.  “If there is to be one monarch, between you or I, there will be an unrest among our ponies on either outcome. My brother’s have offered an idea that can keep us from using any notion of war as being an acceptable alternative to this challenge before and after the result.” I began.  “Which is?” Blight questioned.  “It would be best to allow our two kingdoms to intermix with one another for a provisional and probationary amount of time. It would be a show of good faith between our two kingdom’s if we considered this duel a customary event from a long time honored tradition.” Pyre continued.  “The details of this can be worked out amongst our own respective elected officials, but to most assuredly ease the transition of a singular monarch moving forward however the results of this fight turn out. We’re obviously leaning towards our brother to win,understandably.” Wick stated.  Blight pondered for a few moments, knowing that she was not surrounded by her own advisors, but felt that they would jump at the opportunity to help with their take over from a political and economical side of things.  “When would you propose the challenge take place?” Blight questioned.  “The end of our Festival of Lights, it will draw all the eyes of Equestria to this fight. Ponies from all over will flock to see the two most powerful figures in each respected Kingdom battle one another for the right to rule. It will provide a much needed exposure for your kin and our restoration efforts.” Pyre stated.  Blight smiled involuntarily, the idea of defeating the king of the flame ponies in front of everypony had sealed the deal on this.  “I accept.” Blight replied. “Under a condition of my own.” Smolder stepped down from his throne, “Which is?” Blight watched the king of flame ponies approach her, there wasn’t much that intimidated her about him. His scars were nothing she hadn’t seen upon herself or others of her kind. His eyes were gray, flames of softer shades of red and yellow. There was nothing fierce about him, but there was something that did give her pause. It was the confidence in which the king had so adamantly refused to accept her challenge. It was as if he already knew he was going to win. “We shall honor our rules for this bout. Rules laid down even before the age of flame ponies, one created by the first age of dragons that had slithered from the depths of Equestria.” Blight said. “Which are?” I asked.  Blight smiled. “To the death.” Pyre and Wick both began to argue such terms, providing Blight the concern and fear she knew these brothers would have for their sibling. It had worked before for all the upstart colts of their own noble families seeking to usurp her from her throne. If anything, it would throw their family into an internal struggle with those refusing for the king to go through with it and forfeit his title to her.  “Agreed.” I replied. Blight blinked a few times. Smolder yawned before her, looking exhausted from the events of the night. The Twins were gobsmacked with their brother’s laxidasical response to such a term.  “Smolder-” Pyre began.  “We’ve tried to talk this out, again and again, but we’ve gotten nowhere. Wingston would have already suggested just getting it over with hours ago.” Smolder said in a carefree way.  “Who is this Wingston?” Blight asked.  “You have until the end of the festival to change your mind or we’ll do things your way.” I concluded.  If not for the height difference, the Twins would have thought their father was speaking through Smolder. At least the father they knew before the madness. One who offered an open hoof, but flared the other ready to fight.  Blight scoffed. “You’re so confident that you’ll win? Just like that?” “Just like that.” I replied.  It was Blight’s turn to approach me. There was an air of mystery about her, her horn and wings seemed to be retractable or at least hidden from view. Even without knowledge of what I had done in the past she was adamant that a fight would take place this second to determine the ruler of our two kingdoms. I knew my capabilities, I believed myself to be the flame pony gifted with extraordinary powers through the phoenix flame we held, but even after having witnessed it briefly she showed no fear of what power it truly held.  “I look forward to our duel, Lord Smolder.” Blight said.  She offered her hoof to me. I shook it.  “I wish I could say the-” I could feel the strength of her grip, it was almost monstrous. It truly felt like trying to squeeze a hoof made of steel. What’s more was that I felt the magma from her hooves beginning to burn me. Blight let go of my hoof, smiling to me as if warning me of the difference between flame and magma truly was.  “Having second thoughts already?” Blight asked quietly.  The flames upon my hoof flared white providing me with a powerful grip of my own that forced Blight’s smug smile to fade quickly. We struggled between each other, attempting to over power each other’s hold, but found our arms trembling to do so.  Blight was first to throw my hoof away, annoyed with the stalemate we achieved and turned away in a huff.  “I’ll be staying here for the time being, I can assume you have a room available?” Blight questioned.  “We have a dignitary suite available for your use, my Lady.” Pyre replied.  “You should go tell your-” Smolder yawned abruptly. “... army to relax first. Let them try some of the candied apples.”  “Candied… what?” Blight asked, sounding perplexed.  I rolled my eyes realizing that this is what every pony must have felt when I first arrived in Ponyville.  “With our Lady’s permission, we would like to extend the hospitality of our kingdom to her subjects. As the first of many signs of good faith between our two factions.” Pyre reinterpreted.  “You do that. I’m going to see Sapphire off before I head to bed.” I told my brothers.  “Are you going to kiss her this time?” Wick asked in a serious tone.  “Wait… you haven’t kissed your mate, yet?” Blight asked in surprise.  “Mate?” I questioned her choice of words.  “I would suggest trying to freshen up a bit, although she’s probably used to you looking so disheveled. She does have quite a lot of patience when it comes to your shortcomings.” Pyre mentioned.  “I’m always looking my best when I’m around Sapphire!” I argued.  “Then perhaps her standards are just really low to appreciate your… modest look.” Blight offered.  My brothers had the nerve to laugh at her remark. Even with my cold stare she wore that smug grin that I had been bested by her. “Well since you three seem to be so chummy, I’ll let you two give her the tour of the castle while I say goodbye to Sapphire.” I remarked, turning to leave.  Wick groaned at the realization that they would be deprived of their own sleep to escort this magma pony around. Pyre elbowed Wick in the side to suppress any audible disdain and remind him of their duties to the kingdom. Before anything else could be done or said the doors to the throne room had creaked open from down the corridor. Goldie Fleece was sprinting down to them in a hurry.  “Lord Smolder!”  I put the thoughts of what differences there were between flame and magma pony aside for the moment to address Ms. Fleece’s concerned look.  “What is it, Ms. Fleece?” I asked.  “Lady Sapphire is about to leave.” Goldie said quickly.  The flames upon my back flared, and I felt myself freezing up at this realization. I felt a sudden prod from none other than Blight’s hoof looking at me expectantly. “Aren’t you going to see your special somepony off?” I didn’t respond, nor did I question her own motives for it, but I knew I didn’t want Sapphire to leave yet. I rushed from the room leaving not, but a trail of my flame lingering in the air from the speed in which I ran. As Smolder’s flames disappeared from the threshold of the throne room doors the Twins approached both Blight and Goldie who had watched after him.  “Quite considerate to find reason to encourage our brother to go see off his special somepony, after having just threatened to kill him.” Wick pointed out.  “Come again?” Goldie asked, looking surprised.  “If your brother dies during our duel, at least his feelings will have been known to his special somepony.” Blight replied.  “Who’s going to die?” Goldie queried again.  “You are confident you can defeat our brother?” Pyre asked curiously.  “I’m confident that I will be free either way…” Blight mumbled quietly.  “Careful with that suitcase, Bleak!” Summer scolded. Bleak was haphazardly trying to cram the suitcase with the last small compartment of the carriage's luggage area, hoping to Celestia that this was the last of it. “There! All set!” Bleak declared triumphantly. Summer inspected the luggage area, noticing the pressure from the otherside of the latch. She narrowed her eyes at him, while he warned her of opening when they reached their destination. “Have a safe trip, okay?” Bleak warned her. “It’s a carriage ride, Bleak.” Summer replied. “It’s not dangerous.”  “There could be a loose bolt or even a crack in the framework and next thing you know you’re falling miles out of the sky.” Bleak said with moderate concern. Summer chuffed at the idea of it. She felt Bleak’s hoof touch her chin, allowing him to direct her attention to him as he kissed her without much hesitation. For a few moments Summer Hearth had forgotten her oath and royal duty and was absorbed in the moment of embracing her special pony.  “Send me a letter when you land, yeah?” Bleak whispered to her. The back of the carriage provided enough privacy to steal one more kiss from him.  “Already missing me? No side mare in the wing?” Summer teased. “After last night… I want to make sure you don’t have any colts in your stable.” Bleak mumbled. The two of them smiled wide at each other, knowing exactly what the other was thinking and found themselves lost in their own feelings. “She’s been propositioned multiple times, but has always turned down even the most noble of colts.” Sapphire stated from around the side of the carriage. Summer was quick to shove Bleak away from her, her flames flaring wildly at the notion of having been caught.  “While I don’t mean to pry, we are only a few feet apart and it is difficult not to eavesdrop when waiting to board the carriage.” Sapphire pointed out.  “Yes! Of course! Right away, my Lady!” Summer said quickly. Summer looked towards Bleak who was on his haunches from the initial shove. He smiled and mouthed to her three words that made her snowy cheeks flush a deep red. She threw him a quick kiss, a small cinder floating towards him that fizzled in his hood as he caught it.  Hurrying around the carriage, Summer found her Princess patiently waiting for her and doing her best to not look at her as to not cause her any more embarrassment. “Apologies, my Lady.” Summer said quickly.  Sapphire gently touched Summer’s arm with her hoof and gave her a wink. Summer flushed immediately and pushed her hoof away causing Sapphire to giggle. “So where’s your colt?” Summer questioned her. Sapphire straightened up and confidently replied to her. “Lord Smolder is most likely resting from a long night of negotiations with that Magma Pony. We’re leaving early to not inconvenience him anymore than we already have.” “Uh huh.” Summer said unconvinced.  “Besides, my parents have been expecting us since yesterday and we will be concerned if we don’t arrive by tonight.” Princess Sapphire added. “You’re not even worried about leaving King Hot Saddle with another Princess?” Summer questioned. Sapphire narrowed her eyes at her, displeased at what she was insinuating. “I trust that Lord Smolder will be the most upstanding gentlecolt with her and that he will be most dismayed that she had ruined our night.” Sapphire replied. “Yeah! How did that go? Did you squeeze an answer out of him?” Summer asked quickly. “Well, you see the uh- well we were trying to uh-“ Sapphire was struggling to explain what had happened when an all too familiar voice rang out. “Sapphire!” Summer watched her princess nearly jump out of her skin while simultaneously having her face turn near purple at her name being called by her special some pony. In an impressive show of fiery speed, the King of the flame ponies streaked from the stairs of castle Char and slid to a flourishing stop before them. With a sudden whip of his wings the flames that propelled him had vanished in an instant. Sensing the tension between the two, Summer was kind enough to leave them for a moment to provide a small window of privacy. Climbing into the carriage, Summer sat furthest away from the door, pretending to be interested in what was out the window, but she glanced back at them occasionally. “L-L-Lord Smolder, I assumed you would have been too tired to see us off.” Sapphire began nervously. “We’ve only just squared things away.” I replied. “Good news I hope?” Sapphire asked. “We’re going to fight to the death, the winner gets to rule over both kingdoms.” I answered quickly.  “Wait what?” Sapphire asked in surprise.  Summer moved to her window in the carriage to listen in on this fight to the death. “Look, it's not important right now.” I stated. “How is a fight to the death not important? Such barbaric means of dictating one’s right to rule is frowned upon by—“ “I love you.” Summer’s hoof had covered her mouth in disbelief, her eyes burning a hole in the back of Sapphire’s head waiting for her response to the King’s confession. Sapphire had lost all train of thought over the fight to the death and stared wide eyed at her flame pony who looked absolutely serious about his statement. “I wanted to say it last night. Before that, it was four weeks ago when we had stolen ice cream from the royal snack bar, and a month earlier when we were sculpting rocks.” I confessed.  I stepped toward her, carefully taking her hoof in mine. “I’ve been wanting to say it for a while now, I’ve mostly afraid of how your Dad will probably freeze me solid when he finds out, but I don’t care anymore.” I rattled on. My lack of sleep had helped break down some of my own mental barriers that kept me from getting the words out. I was tired, tired from all the intrusive thoughts and my own fears holding me back. I was pretty much nose to nose with her now. Feeling her tremble right along with me. “I love you, Sapphire Flurry.” I said softly to her. “Please… don’t leave.” Sapphire’s face was almost purple from how deeply she blushed. I found myself leaning in without much thought, feeling her lips meeting mine as I kissed my special somepony.  “Presenting their Majesties! Lord Tundra and Lady Frost, King and Queen of the Frozen North!” Bleak’s voice echoed in my ears. Freezing winds swept through my legs. I could feel death’s icy stare upon me. I pulled away to  look over to see Lord Tundra glaring at me. His eyes burning an icy blue. Summer was hissing profusely at Bleak who had announced their arrival, badgering him for being so inconsiderate and having no tact for what was going on. Bleak in turn argued under his breath that he was just trying to warn us of their presence. While I saw death in the eyes of Sapphire’s father, her mother Lady Frost was ecstatic over the prospect of my confession.  “Oh Charles, isn’t this wonderful? I knew that our little Sapphire was spending so much time here for more personal reasons.” Lady Frost boasted. Lady Frost took a hold of Lord Tundra’s arm, holding it tightly over her excitement of it all. It also acted as a barrier between Lord Tundra and myself to which I was thankful for.  Lord Tundra did not reply. He merely stared at me with his burning blue eyes; practically statuesque.  “W-we were just about to set off, your majesty.” Summer remarked. Lord Tundra’s eyes broke from me for a second to glance at Summer. It was enough to have her slide as far back into the carriage as she could, knowing that she was not helping the situation. “Your father was so worried when you didn’t arrive yesterday, and insisted we come down to fetch you properly.” Lady Frost said in a motherly tone.  “Say goodbye to his majesty, Sapphire.” Lord Tundra commanded.  “Okay then.” Sapphire replied. I felt her arm slide around my shoulder, pulling me in for a kiss that had me nearly standing on only my forelegs. She kissed me deeply, holding me tightly, and held it for far longer than I thought she would push it in front of her father.  She parted slowly from me, nuzzling her nose against mine and drawing her hoof gently across my face. “Goodbye,” Sapphire whispered to me. “My love.” Sapphire didn’t acknowledge the cold glare her father gave her, but grinned seeing her mother’s shrewd smile she wore over her boldness.  “Thank you so much for taking such good care of our Sapphire, Smolder darling.” Lady Frost said gratefully. “I do hope you will come visit us for our Winter Solstice.” I could feel my face burning hot from the kiss I had shared with Sapphire, unable to keep myself from smiling over it. I could only nod yes to her. “Come along, sweetheart. We have much to do.” Lady Frost noted. Lady Frost ushered Sapphire to the carriage, lending her a hoof to climb inside while Bleak held the door open for Lady Frost. Lord Tundra followed up behind to help her inside of the carriage and immediately closed the door behind her much to everyones surprise. “Charles?” Lady Frost questioned him. “Allow me a little time to speak to his majesty about the... implications of such a budding relationship. I trust that you will have words for Sapphire as well in this matter.” Lord Tundra remarked from the carriage window.  “Quite right, we shall be expecting you tonight then dear.” Lady Frost agreed. Much to Sapphire’s shock of her mother’s agreement to this, she could see the wild look in her father’s eyes as he turned to face Smolder once again. Before Sapphire could protest, Lord Tundra ordered the carriage to move as the pegasi ice ponies followed his command without question. Up and away the carriage flew, leaving not but a chilling breeze in its wake. Bleak had the good sense to remove himself quickly from the scene, knowing his place was needed near the Dark Marsh for patrols with the next hour.  Lord Tundra stepped towards me. I felt myself take half a step back, feeling true fear wash over me at the icy gaze he had for me. “So,” Lord Tundra began in an icy voice. “Haven't had your fill of Mad Kings yet, have you?”