> The Shadow in the North > by Dorath > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Ch. 01; The Shadow Rises > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It may have been spring elsewhere, but in the northern reaches of Epona the ice was just beginning to break-up as temperatures started to rise above freezing at night. The bright artic sun shone down on a wide plain, shaded by groves of spruce and pine and awash in heather, cottongrass and wildflowers newly awakened from their icy sleep for a few brief weeks before winter returned. There was no one to gaze upon the grassland’s beauty, or trudge the nearby hills seeking their bounty of ore, lumber, or herbs, for ponies considered Epona’s northlands to be cursed and haunted. Even the hardy griffins and reindeer of Aine and the stubborn yaks of Hippeia avoided these lands, as they had done for over a thousand years. There was a flicker, almost as if the sun had gone out for a moment, and then a city sat upon the plain, the crystalline walls of its buildings glittering dully in the glow of the dome that covered the metropolis, while a blizzard howled outside the barrier. Dark laughter rode on the winds as monstrous shapes began to move through the flying snow. The sound of irate hooves stamping on stone floors echoed throughout the manse, causing HellCaller, demonic voivode exiled into a semi-retirement in Equestria, to look up from the book she was reading in amused annoyance. “I guess Trixie’s date vith Twilight didn’t go so vell,” Kragor sighed, the soulblade’s metallic voice chiming through the library. “I suppose I should go check on her,” ‘Caller grumbled as she rose from her seat. “Trixie is your apprentice,” Kragor replied, “Hey, don’t forget me! I vant to hear vhat happened too!” Heading into the main hall, the pair found Trixie slumped into a chair, her muzzle buried in a goblet of wine, a picnic basket and blanket dumped on the table, and her star-spangled hat and cloak, the pride of the unicorn’s wardrobe, flung carelessly over another chair. Dropping into a seat of her own, ‘Caller simply affixed her glowing eyes upon her apprentice and waited for the weight of her silent gaze to drive the generally voluble illusionist to explain what had happened. Halfway through her second goblet, Trixie finally broke, “It was the divinesdamned deer again!” the showmare exclaimed, slamming her chalice down, wine sloshing over the rim. At her master’s gesture, the mare continued, “Trixie took Twilight Sparkle to the glade next to the triple-oak, not so far into the Everfree Forest as to be truly dangerous, but enough to give our tryst a little thrill … the dell was hock-deep in sweet clover and wildflowers, the Considerate and Adoring Trixie had brough a picnic, we were talking about books and magic … it was all going so well,” she wailed, “And then those fluffy-tailed assassins of joy showed up and ruined everything!” ‘Caller frowned slightly, “I thought relations vith deer had improved?” “Apparently these deer didn’t get the notice,” Trixie grumbled, “They kept going on about how Trixie was a ‘minion of the abomination’ and a ‘despoiler of the Forest’ and … and …,” she collapsed back into her seat with a despairing moan as her teacher reached over and awkwardly patted her shoulder. The next morning saw a still depressed Trixie forcing herself to focus on her training, “Austratir Cayosini,” she incanted, sending her rapier whipping through the air to impale the stump that ‘Caller had chosen as today’s target, “What is the purpose of this invocation?” she asked, Trixie’s curiosity briefly overwhelming her dejection, “Trixie already knows combat spells.” “And this vill give you another,” the demoness replied dryly, “There are times, and opponents, vhere cold steel serves better than spellfire, my apprentice. Besides, vith training you can hit multiple enemies vith a single casting, and even call your blade back to your hand,” she raised an eyebrow at the unicorn, “I thought you, of all ponies, vould appreciate potential for showmanship.” Trixie pursed her lips, but whatever reply she might have made was cut off as, with a thunder of wings, Rainbow Dash dropped from the sky, “Hey, grab your stuff! The Princesses need to see all of us at the Palace right away for a mission, they’re sending a pair of air chariots and everything!” The motely band; seven ponies, one demon accompanied by a sentient sword, and a juvenile dragon, where led into a drawing room, where the solar and lunar alicorns were leaning over a table, examining a map alongside Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard, “Welcome,” Celestia smiled at the group, “Although I wish we were meeting under better circumstances,” her smile dropped away as the Princess continued, “The Crystal Empire has returned.” Twilight, Trixie, and, oddly, Fluttershy stared in shock, while Spike and the other ponies exchanged confused glances, only for the moment to be interrupted by Kragor, “So … vho is Crystal Empire, and vhere did it go?” “The Crystal Empire was founded long ago by one of the separatist groups that refused to join the Equestrian Republic after the events of the first Hearth’s Warming and Unification of the Three Tribes,” Twilight explained, “It vanished more than a thousand years ago.” “There was a war,” murmured Fluttershy, “One of my ancestors wrote about in her diary; Equestria invaded the Crystal Empire to liberate it from the evil warlock that had enslaved the populace. It … wasn’t going well for the King, then the capital city and all of the villages that weren’t under Equestrian control just … disappeared.” ‘Caller cocked an eyebrow at the timid pegasus, “‘Evil varlock’, vas he?” “Perhaps your Imperium would be more tolerant of such a stallion as a neighbor,” Celestia admitted, “But I believe even you would object to a ruler who reduces his own subjects to slavery, mind-controls his entire military to ensure their loyalty, works whole families to death in his mines, and disappears others into his laboratories.” Rarity frowned slightly, “What about the Empire’s other cities? Did they vanish as well?” “There were none,” Luna replied, “By the time of Sombra’s wicked reign, the Crystal 'Empire' had dwindled to a mere city-state.” Shining looked up from the map at his diarchs, “Do we know what exactly happened to the Empire?” “It was Sombra’s final curse, after ‘Tia and I invaded his sanctum,” the Princes of the Night said, a disgusted frown curling her lips, “Unwilling to accept his defeat, Sombra dragged his nation into the netherworld alongside him.” “And now he has returned?” Trixie asked, “How?” “We don’t know,” admitted Celestia, “All we know for sure is that Sombra and the Crystal Empire have returned, and that he has already taken steps to prevent Luna or I from directly interfering with him again.” Rainbow grinned and threw a few punches, “So, you want us to go and deal with him, right?” “In essence,” Celestia nodded, “We ask that the six of you go to the Crystal Empire and confront Sombra, while Luna and I ready the Royal Guard in case Sombra attacks before you have dealt with him. The Elements of Harmony are already prepared,” she added, setting a small wooden chest on the table, and opening it to reveal six jeweled amulets. Turning to face the others, the white alicorn continued, “Spike, Trixie, HellCaller, we need you to go with them, both to provide additional support and as a ‘wild card’ factor. Sombra relies on mind control and binding spells to ensure obedience, I doubt he is prepared for the inventiveness and ingenuity of those who are actually willing.” “And you vant some extra muscle around to help face someone vho can seal out a pair of godlings?” ‘Caller smirked, “Is that vhat he did last time, use summonings, bindings and compulsions to control his forces?” “Yes,” Luna confirmed, “In addition to the mind-controlled Crystal Legion, he also fielded hosts of summoned demons, snow golems, ensorcelled monsters of the artic and even a pair of spell-bound frost drakes,” she glanced up from the reports she was reading, “And that is just what we know of. He also did … something … to encase the Crystal Empire in a permanent blizzard that not even flights of pegasi could disperse.” “Hay River suffering a blizzard in spring was our first sign that the Crystal Empire had returned, actually,” Celestia added. Rarity leaned over to look at the maps, “You said something about you not being able to interfere?” “Yes,” Celestia replied, “Our scrying has revealed that Sombra has altered the shield around the Crystal Empire so that only a member of the royal bloodline can open it, and I and Luna cannot pass through it at all.” “Fortunately, Sombra forgot, or ignored, that just because he is now king, it doesn’t mean that the descendants of the previous dynasty are not of royal blood,” Luna smirked, “And we hath found such a descendant in a most fortuitous place.” The door opened as Princess Cadance entered, “The train is loading – oh! Twilight!” “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake … clap your hands and do a little shake!” the two mares sang together, while Trixie blushed deeply as she stared at the happily bouncing and wiggling librarian. “Thank you, Cadance,” Celestia said, “I was just about to tell everyone that you and Captain Armor would be accompanying them.” “Vait, you’re of Crystal Empire royal lineage?” ‘Caller ‘Caller asked, her voice heavy with suspicion, “Isn’t that rather convenient?” “I found it unlikely as well,” admitted the pink alicorn, “It’s been several dozen generations since the Empire disappeared, and yet I, of all ponies, share the royal blood? Enough to get past Sombra’s magic? But Aunties ‘Tia and Luna assure me that it’s true.” The demoness shrugged, “Having a pretext for invasion does usually make things go over smoother vith neighboring nations,” she conceded. “Hey, wait just one second, what’s this about us bein’ a darn invasion?” Applejack protested, as Spike and most of the other ponies stared at ‘Caller in shock. ‘Caller gave them all a fanged grin, “Ve’re going into a sovereign nation to overthrow its ruler and put Equestrian princess on throne … vhat vould you call it?” “Thou art mistaken, HellCaller,” Luna disagreed, “With Sombra’s defeat all those centuries ago, the Crystal Empire became part of Equestria by right of conquest. If anything, he is now a usurper and rebel against Our rightful rule.” “This is more than just a military action,” Celestia said sternly, interrupting 'Caller's derisive sneer, “The crystal ponies have been displaced over a millennium from anything they once knew, as well as suffering only Faust knows what abuses under Sombra’s reign. They will need somepony strong in love and compassion to help them through their recovery and the difficult days ahead,” she gave Cadance a warm smile, full of faith in her niece, “Now, the weather disruptions caused by Sombra’s tempest are already making going north by airship inadvisable, so you’ll be taking a high-speed Guard train. Once you reach Hay River, you will have to proceed from there on hoof.” “We don’t know how much worse the storms will get,” Shining added, “But I hope we’ll reach Hay River in four days. Once we resupply … according to these old maps, Hay River was only two days’ journey from the capital, but with a constant blizzard to fight through, it could easily take twice as long, if not more.” “Once you breach Sombra’s barrier, you will still have another task before you can face him,” Luna warned, drawing a frustrated groan from Rainbow. Cadance’s brown wrinkled in confusion, “What task, Auntie?” “Unlike during our last confrontation, this time we hath the benefit of remnants of lore the crystal ponies had long kept secret, as well as some initial scrying before Sombra fully sealed his barrier against us,” the Princess of the Night explained, “Somewhere within the city, Sombra has hidden the Crystal Heart, an artifact that magnifies and spreads both emotions and magic, and once served as the spiritual center of the Crystal Empire. It is likely that he corrupted its purpose to strengthen his vile hold over the Empire, but if you can combine it with the Elements of Harmony, ‘Tia and I believe you will be able to free the Crystal Empire from Sombra’s hold and end his threat forever.” “Now, you should go and finish any preparations you might have, if the train crews are already loading, then they should be ready to leave within the hour,” Celestia instructed, “And may Faust and all the divines go with you.” > Ch. 02; Setting Out > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “So, that is ‘high-speed’ train? It looks rather … small.” Pinkie nodded, “Even the Friendship Express is bigger … and why is it the ‘Express’, anyway? The main line from Canterlot takes half the time.” “Compared to the passenger lines, it’s much smaller,” Shining agreed, “Engine, tender, dining and pantry car, an extended sleeper car and a caboose, with a crew of four working two-pony shifts. It’s not pretty, or very comfortable, but these Guard trains are fast and tough, and we shouldn’t need to stop for coal or water until we get to Hay River.” “Hey, there’s a ram on the front!” Rainbow, who had wandered off, called back. “Oh, I’ve read about that!” Twilight said happily, as the group joined the pegasus before the locomotive, “It’s for pushing through snow drifts without having to slow the train.” “Too bad tha rail line doesn’t go all tha way ta tha Crystal Empire,” laughed Applejack, “Tha train may be small, but I bet old Sombra would have quite tha turn if’n it came roaring out of tha night, all belchin’ steam an’ it’s lamps glowin’ like tha eyes of Tartarus, ta slam inta that shield of his,” the group exchanged grins and some chuckles at the thought, when they were interrupted by a polite cough. “Mares, gentlecolts,” said one of the engineers, “We’re ready for boarding.” “Huh, goin’ ta be a mite cramped,” Applejack remarked, as she tossed her packs onto one of the bunks that lined the car. “Not ‘very comfortable’ indeed,” Rarity sniffed as the train got underway with a lurch and a blast of the steam whistle, “Still, we’ve endured worse,” the unicorn glance at the tiny bathroom at the back of the car with a shudder, “I suppose.” “We only have to put up with it for a few days,” Cadance reassured the fashionista, “Although we will have to be mindful of cabin fever and keeping our tempers in these close quarters.” “Not to vorry, Princess,” ‘Caller grinned, “After a few hours trudging through a blizzard, ve’ll all vish ve vere right back here, bored, cramped and varm.” Time soon began to drag; there was only so much information available for them to review about Sombra and the Crystal Empire, and most of the party were experienced travelers, so the exchange of survival tips had resolved quickly, while what few books had been brought were soon read, along with any other literature they could get their hands on. **** “I see that coiner in Appleoosa has been convicted,” observed Rarity, glancing up from the newspaper she had gotten somewhere, “There’s also an editorial piece about Luna ‘fondly remembering the hanging of counterfeiters’ and how it ‘shows the barbaric savagery of our benighted ancestors’,” she added with a small frown, “I’m sure that particular word choice went over well with the Princess.” “Hanging is good,” ‘Caller remarked from where she lay, stretched out on her bunk, “Ve used to hang counterfeiters back home.” “I’m pretty sure I’m going to regret asking this,” Cadance sighed, “But what does your Imperium do with coiners now?” “After var vith Hammerdeep, ve decided to adopt dwarves’ method,” the demoness replied, “If they vant coins so badly, they can be fuel for smelters.” “I was right, I do regret asking,” Cadance sighed, turning slightly green, as the demoness smirked at her. Applejack titled her hat back as she glanced up from her own bunk, “Hey, Rares, where did ya get a paper anyway?” “From one of the crew,” the fashionista replied, “Unfortunately, they’ve already done the crossword,” she sighed. “Um, Rarity? Can I have the funny pages when you’re done?” “But of course, Fluttershy, darling.” **** Conversations, while initially bright and eager, eventually became desultory, and then just odd. **** “I’m telling you; it makes perfect sense!” “‘Caller, Luna is not a fetch!” Twilight sighed in exasperation. “Then vhy did she change appearance so much from vhen you first saw her?” the demoness challenged, “Vhy did she suddenly have problems vith ‘Royal Canterlot Voice’ vhen she spoke perfectly fine before? Vhy did no one see her for a year?” “Actually,” Cadance interjected, “I saw Auntie Luna several times during her initial year back. And we, well, the entire Palace actually, learned that Luna drops back into the Royal Canterlot Voice when she is … um … excited. Yes, let’s go with excited.” Trixie raised a curious eyebrow at the Princess, “Excited?” “Auntie Luna was alone for a thousand years,” Cadance replied, “And a mare does have her needs, after all, and Luna has a very healthy appetite ….” “Oh my divines,” wailed Twilight, as she buried her muzzle in her hands, “We are not having this discussion!” “I could stand to hear some more,” Rainbow declared. “I said this discussion is over!” “Vhat about ---” “Discussion. Over!” **** And, really, there was only so many games of Eye Spy, or Go Fish, that one could endure, while Pinkie’s attempt to start a game of strip poker was loudly shouted down (much to Spike’s, Pinkie’s, and ‘Caller’s disappointment). When the train finally pulled into Hay River, after several hours of plowing through the drifts that covered the rails, there was nearly a stampede as everyone rushed to get off. “Fresh air!” Rainbow exclaimed happily, immediately taking to the sky to hover above her friends. “And it’s snowing!” Pinkie declared happily, spinning around as she tried to catch snowflakes on her tongue. Seeing everyone’s’ bemused looks, the hyperactive pony only shrugged, “I know it’s been snowing for like the past day, but now I’m outside to enjoy it.” A unicorn mare trudged up to the group, “Hello! I’m Borgmester Chimebrook, what you would call the mayor,” she said, “Welcome to Hay River. You’re the detachment from the Palace?” the mayor looked them over uncertainly, her eyes widening at the sight of Spike (half buried in the snow), and ‘Caller (idly flipping a long-bladed dagger in one hand and looking at the town as if she was considering the best way to sack it), before finally falling on Cadance, “Y-your Highness!” she stammered, “If we had been informed you were coming, we would have prepared a proper greeting!” “It’s alright, Borgmester,” Cadance reassured the fluster civil servant, “We’re trying to keep this mission quiet, after all. Now, Captain Armor and Lady Fluttershy have determined what additional supplies and materiel we’ll need to requisition from your town, so if you would talk with them, and then we’ll be out of your mane as soon as we can.” “… of course, you Highness,” Chimebrook said with a pained smile – getting reimbursements from the bureaucracy in Canterlot was unlikely to be quick, or easy, and she was the one who would be bearing the weight of her townsponies’ aggravation while they waited – “I’ll gather some ponies and we’ll get right on it.” The party was gathering the last of their things, including a small sled to carry Spike and some more supplies, when howls broke out at the town’s edge. As Twilight and her friends raced through Hay River, she could see anxious ponies peeking out their windows, while others, presumably part of the local militia, stumbled out their doors, awkwardly trying to hold spears or light hunting bows while strapping on their boiled leather cuirasses. As they reached Hay River’s northern periphery, the gathered ponies (and drake, and demon) saw a gang of hulking bipeds, covered in shaggy white fur, step out of the snow, their nose sniffing the air and squat snouts wrinkling to display mouths filled with fangs as the wind increased, pelting everyone with sleet. “Ahh, look at the scary monsters,” Pinkie giggled, “Who’s a big scary monster? You are! Yes, you are!” “Pinkie, could ya not foaltalk at tha monsters?” groaned Applejack. “It ain’t professional.” “A moment, please,” Cadance asked, “They may well just be frightened and desperate from the snows,” spreading her wings, the princess was just able to rise above the ground in the driving winds, as her aura flared, “Be at peace,” she said, magic filling her words, “I know you are frightened by the snows, that you are hungry because the storms have covered up the plants and driven away the animals, but the ponies of this town are not your enemies, not your prey. The forests and fields are not buried yet, you can gather food there, just leave the towns alone, Summer will return, you just have to be patient.” The bulky simian-like creatures stopped in their tracks, gibbering and snarling at each other, while a few even shuffled their feet and started turning away, only for the whole troop to lunge forward with savage shrieks as the storm howled louder. “It was worth a try, Cadey,” Shining comforted his wife, “HellCaller! Rainbow! Applejack! Forward with me!” As the heavily armored members of the party advanced, the shaggy bipeds charged, fangs and claws outstretched. Yet, even as the initial rush was thrown back by the ponies’ (and demon’s) heavy panoply and Shining’s and ‘Caller’s spells, more simianoids poured in from the sides, seeming to appear out of the blowing snows. One band of three bipeds descended upon Trixie, who regarded them with amusement, “Trixie is here! No, no, Trixie is over here!” she called as the brutes flailed ineffectually at her illusionary doubles, “Here Trixie is!” the showmare crowed as she brandished a wand and sprayed the simianoids with fire, throwing them wailing back into the snow. “They’re afraid of fire!” Spike shouted, spewing out a stream of dragonfire that sent almost a dozen of the bipeds fleeing, their shaggy fur ablaze. Inspired by the drake’s and unicorn’s efforts, Twilight, Rarity and Cadance added their own fire spells to Trixie’s and Spike’s, while Shining threw up a magical shield to keep the simianoids back on one side, while Fluttershy raised the snow into an icy wall on the other. With their front restricted to a single arc, occupied by the Equestrian’s best warriors, and beset by spells and dragonfire, the snow beasts’ attack faltered, only to shatter entirely as the Hay River militia finally arrived, smashing into the troop’s flank, and sending the simianoids fleeing en masse. As the group treated their injuries, Applejack had time to wonder “What were those varmints, anyway?” “Yetis,” one of the militiaponies replied, “We usually only see them in the depths of the worst winters … and I don’t think we’ve ever seen them in numbers like this before.” “I was getting through to them,” Cadance sighed, “I know I was! But then they ….” Fluttershy put a comforting hand on the alicorn’s shoulder, “Luna did say that Sombra enthralled the creatures of the artic to make them fight for him,” she murmured, “They’re his slaves just as much as the crystal ponies.” “Yes …,” the Princess wrapped Fluttershy in a quick hug, drawing a small “eep” from the pegasus, “And we’re going to free them all!” she declared fiercely, her eyes blazing. > Ch. 03; Over The Snows > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The wind howled, blowing sheets of snow across the rolling white expanse of the north, the emptiness broken by scattered stands of conifers, already deeply covered in snow, and the band of multicolored people slowly trudging along in the fading light. The past two days marching from Hay River had been miserable, although some bore it better than others, and tempers were fraying further with each frozen step. “Will you keep moving?!” Rainbow demanded, half shouting to be heard over the wind, as Rarity stopped to dig the snow out from under her scarf. “I am trying to not freeze, darling,” the fashionista replied, glaring at Rainbow. Applejack turned to face the others, “We need ta get undercover while we can still see enough ta make camp,” she declared, one hand clamped on her hat, “Twi’, could ya an’ Fluttershy conjure up some walls out of tha snow? It’ll be right nice ta be out of this wind.” The incessant wailing eased as the snow flowed and hardened into a pair of curving ice walls, creating a bubble of calm in the storm, “Oh, that’s much better,” Cadance sighed in relief, “I’m not sure how much more of that howling my poor ears could take.” The others nodded as they set up the camp, while several apologies were made for the day’s short tempers. Later, as they huddled around the fire, Pinkie frowned out at the blizzard wailing beyond their shelter, “Hey, Dashie, I know Sombra-Snooty is messing with the weather, but can you at least feel anything? That storm feels like something a Grievouswind might hunt in.” Rainbow blinked, before turning her focus upon the tempest, “There’s … something wrong with the weather, and it does feel hungry … and sad, too? But it’s different from what we saw back in Hippeia … it’s more diffused and doesn’t have any drive to it.” “So, no Grievouswind yet, but it sure as shootin’ sounds like fertile ground for one ta grow from,” sighed Applejack, “As if we didn’t have enough problems already.” “So, the Inquisitive and Apprehensive Trixie wonders just what a Grievouswind is?” “A Grievouswind is a stormfront that has been corrupted by wild magic and given the desire to kill,” Twilight replied, “They’re rare even in the deserts of Hippeia, but I suppose one could form here … at least theoretically.” “And on that cheery note, let’s get dinner going,” suggested Shining. “I know it gets cold in the Northern Marches, but I never realized just how bad it could be,” Twilight murmured, pulling her cloak closer about her, “And the snow doesn’t have the … friendly feel that it does back in Ponyville.” “Wild Weather often seems hostile when you’re used to proper, controlled, weather,” Shining replied, “I’d have thought somepony so well-travelled would have noticed it before now,” he added, smirking at his little sister as they stood watch together. “Yes, I did notice,” Twilight grumbled, punching him in the shoulder, “And all the magic Rainbow sensed in the storm isn’t helping things … but this is worse, I think.” The stallion smiled at her, then his muzzle dropped into a considering frown, “Actually it is getting colder … Twiley, go check on the others, I’m going to walk the perimeter.” Nodding, Twilight ducked into the first tent, her horn glowing slightly to reveal the sleeping figures within. Satisfied, she moved to the second tent, wincing as the cold bit at exposed skin. Straightening, Twilight’s gaze fell upon a shape crouched over Trixie’s and Spike’s sleeping forms. Glowing eyes turned towards the librarian as a fang-filled muzzle, fur peeling with frostbite, snarled soundlessly as icy claws hovered above the sleepers! The crack of a thunderbolt swallowed Twilight’s cry as a bolt of lightning smashed the arctic horror through the tent walls and left it lying, shattered, on the snow. The echoes of her spell casting, and Shining’s shout of alarm, dragged the others stumbling to their feet as more frozen corpses stepped from the ice walls that sheltered the camp. A trio of arrows shot out with a “twang,” thumping into the undead – to no visible effect. Applejack’s maul rang like a bell as she knocked one of the icy horrors backward, “It’s like tryin’ ta chop a frozen log!” the farmer called out. Spike, still groggy as he staggered from his bedroll, exhaled a long tongue of flame at the undead – only to fall back with a yelp as they pushed heedlessly through the blaze. “Fire doesn’t work on them!” shouted Rarity, her horn flaring as she conjured a thunderbolt of her own, her rapier flashing as she warded off one of the corpses. “Jivntir Llonnair,” HellCaller incanted, her spell causing webs of cracks to spread across the horde of undead, before she shattered one completely with a swing of her soulblade. “‘Caller’s spell has weakened them!” Rainbow Dash cheered, her own swords tearing through another arctic monster. Encouraged, the Equestrians and their allies fell upon the undead; physical weapons and spells shattered the now brittle frozen bodies, while icy talons tore living flesh in turn and spilt blood steamed in the night. Eventually, the band stood triumphant among the fragmented remains of their attackers, “An’ jus’ who was supposed ta be on watch?” Applejack demanded crossly as the wind howled outside their shelter and the numbing cold faded from now throbbing injuries. As Twilight and Shining stiffed, Fluttershy spoke up from where she and Cadance were tending the wounded, aided by Pinkie and Trixie, “Applejack! They were watching!” she admonished the farmpony. “It doesn’t matter how well ponies are watching when the baddies can go through the ice like a fish through water,” Pinkie Pie added, “Hmm … icefish ….” “It’s almost morning,” Shining said as Applejack mumbled an apology, “Let’s just have some breakfast and get packed up.” :Why be thou suffering such pitiful creatures when thou couldst be helping rule over them?: ‘Caller looked up from where she was gathering her gear, :Did you hear that, Kragor?: :Hear vhat?: :Nothing … never mind.: The new day proved even worse than the previous, aching muscles screamed, while noses dripped then froze and eyelashes iced over as the band staggered through the buffeting winds, barely able to see a hundred paces through the constant storm. “Does anypony even know if we are going the right direction in all of this?” Trixie asked, the howling winds making her simple question sound peevish. “We’re on the same track as we started,” Rainbow replied, shoot a glare at the unicorn, “Pegasi know which way is north.” “Keep your eyes open for a glow in the distance,” Cadance suggested, trying to head off another argument, “Auntie ‘Tia and Luna said that the Capital was surrounded by a magic shield that kept the weather out.” “Oh, you mean like that glow?” Pinkie asked, pointing up to where a dim red glow bled through the clouds. As the group stopped to look, a rasping roar cut through the tempest. “I don’t think that’s a magic shield ….,” Spike declared, reaching out to nervously grip Twilight’s robes in one claw. “Shields up!” ordered Shining, “Everyone keep an eye on the sky!” “I don’t suppose anyone knows what that might be?” Rarity asked nervously as the group pulled into a defensive circle. “Umm, I think it might have been a dragon,” suggested Fluttershy. ‘Caller’s bark of laughter was almost swallowed up by the storm, “Fighting a dragon in middle of a blizzard? I think I’ve heard this story before.” “Trixie would love to hear about it, when we are not all in danger!” Trixie snapped as another roar cut through the tempest. With a thunder of beating wings, the roiling clouds parted for a moment, revealing the drake as it flew above them; longer than five riding lizards standing nose to tail, its blue grey scales would have blended in perfectly with the blizzard – but for the dull red glow that edged them all. With a shriek like quenching metal, steam billowed from the dragon’s jaws, rebounding from the ponies’ shields the superheated vapor ravaged the icefield as the wyrm flew over the group and disappeared back into the storm. “What the Tartarus kind of dragon is that?!” Rainbow demanded as she kept her bow aimed out into the gale, trying to track the creature by the sound of its beating wings. “It looks like a frost drake,” Fluttershy replied, “But nothing I’ve read explains the light around its scales or the steam-breath.” “She looks like a frost drake,” Spike corrected the pegasus absently, squinting after the vanished dragon, “She’s a she.” The screaming hiss of another steam blast, once more turned aside by readied spell shields, heralded the dragon’s return as it overflew the little company again, only to vanish back into the storm dripping blood from retaliatory arrows and spells. Not even a minute later, the drake attacked again – this time dropping down from directly above the group before flying off into the tempest – but the ponies' shields held firm, “But for how long?” Twilight wondered, “Keeping out a gas –never mind all of the radiant heat – is more difficult than it looks, and Rarity and Trixie are already starting to struggle with maintaining their portions of the shield.” “I don’t think I like this kind of hide-and-seek game,” Pinkie grumbled as she reloaded her crossbow. “I have a spell that should bring dragon down,” ‘Caller offered, “But even if it vorks, it von’t make her any less dangerous.” “No, but it will make us a lot more dangerous,” Shining replied, “Do it.” The demoness nodded, her attention focused out in the blizzard, “There!” she pointed as the drake breeched the clouds, “Altiui Siteli!” With a startled bellow the dragon plummeted from the sky, sending up a cloud of steam and powder as she tore a gouge through the snowfield, “Now, while she’s still recoverin’!” Applejack shouted, waving the rest of the band forward. Even as the group rushed forward, the drake’s tail lashed out from within the haze. Rainbow flew over the attack, her wings beating furiously, but Shining and HellCaller were both knocked sprawling. Even as the pair struggled back to their feet in the snow, blood dripping from beneath their armor, the storm lit with the glow of multiple auras as Rarity, Cadance and Trixie cast protective abjurations and illusions, while Twilight called a bolt of lightning from the sky – causing the frost drake to rear in pain, her flailing wings scattering the fog that had concealed her. Pinkie and Rainbow fired at the dragon, but once again their shots failed to bite deep. Spreading out into a wide arc, the band closed in, weapons at the ready, the drake’s head shot forth, viper swift, only for her fangs to rebound as Shining raised another shield. “Queelak!” ‘Caller called out, filling her companions with unnatural speed as they descended on the dragon; her side sounded like a drum as Applejack beat on it with her maul, as Pinkie, Trixie, and Rarity disappeared in puffs of smoke to reappear behind the drake and harry her with spells and blades. Meanwhile, Rainbow, Shining and ‘Caller hewed away at the frost wyrm’s head and shoulders, as Cadance, Fluttershy and Twilight rained spells upon the drake. The dragon, roaring in anger, unleashed another blast of boiling vapor – but a bolt of green flames leapt out from the snows where Spike stood unnoticed, disrupting the steam as it coalesced and dazzling the drake. Shaking her head, the dragon flared her wings, driving most of her attackers stumbling back. But even as the frost drake gained a temporary respite from physical assaults, she was wrapped in a column of purple and white flames, while a shower of lightning bolts and arcane blasts fell upon her. The ponies and their Tartarean ally rushed back to the fray, weapons swinging and spells blazing, but even as they pushed every advantage numbers, skill, and magic could give them against the frost wyrm, she lashed out in turn with fangs, talons, battering wings and crushing tail. Dragon scales, while famous for their durability, could not protect the drake entirely from the group’s assault, nor was armor and spellcraft fully proof against her own attacks, and soon the snow was liberally spattered with steaming blood, as the blizzard raged and laughed about them. Finally, the frost dragon collapsed, her sides heaving as she bled out her life on the snow. Fixing one, surprisingly clear, eye on the group she wheezed, “Si mi duulo sva annyo.” “What did she say?” Pinkie asked as the ponies, demoness, and young drake gathered near the dying dragon. “‘I am finally free’,” replied Spike quietly, as the wyrm’s breathing faltered, and then finally stopped forever, “What was wrong with her?” “A curse, I’d vager,” ‘Caller replied, “Something keep her under control, maybe?” “Let’s leave her in peace,” Cadance suggested, leading the group away across the battle-scarred snowpack, as the storm began covering the fallen dragon in a blanket of fresh snow. Huddled together against the gale, the group began to treat their wounds when, with a roar, the ground tore open beneath their feet! A sudden downdraft combined with the cascading snow and ice to drive the pegasi and alicorn into the fissure alongside their companions as darkness swallowed them all.