This story is a sequel to The Phoenix King
The Winter Solstice is fast approaching. A celebration that the Kingdom of the Frozen North holds most dear, marked by festivals and rituals that honor the spirits that are believed to inhabit the Northern Lights. Only this year, it will be Princess Sapphire's turn to commune with the spirits, and have the ancient power of the Frozen North passed down to her through the Great Caribou spirit.
A prince by the name of Lord Acrylic Snowfall from Southern Ice Kingdom has come to ask for Lady Sapphire's hoof in marriage that would unite the two Kingdoms of ice and snow. Yet, something about this new colt has lit a fire under Smolder, but struggles to understand the feelings he has for Princess Sapphire and how it differs from the ones he has for Tea Herbal.
Smolder will have to come to terms with his feelings quickly, as a new evil lurks within the cold of the North, a dark force that desires this ancient power of the Great Caribou. For if this power were to fall into the wrong hooves... it could bring all of Equestria into a second ice age.
Editor: EverfreePony
EverfreePony was generous enough to provide me with a very in depth review, grammatical corrections, structure, pacing, and plethora of other suggestions that have not only improved this first chapter, but also granted me the chance to learn a great deal more about my own writing. You have my gratitude.