Secret of the Frost Kingdom

Spike enjoyed the Library to himself, how great of an idea it was to stack books early this morning by making a deal with Owlicious to help him, while promising Owlicious that he wouldn't do anything mischievous under the owl's watchful eye, and to seal the deal: he gave Owlicious one of his prized gems to keep for the day, and if Spike breaks his promise, the owl can keep the gem, but if he stays true to his promise he will get it back at the end of the day.

Spike lounged in a lawn chair, wearing a pair of sunglasses and a reflecting mirror pointed at him to soak up some of the day's sweet sun. Not a cloud could be seen in the sky, and a slight breeze brushed past Spike, making the Tree Library's branches dance and shift in the pleasant wind.

Spike let out a sigh of laziness, "Today was well planned, no book stacking, no writing the Princess letters, nothing, just a day of doing absolutely nothing..."

The sun was suddenly hidden behind something, getting Spike's attention of the sudden absence of the warm embrace of the sun, sitting up to try to see what was blocking out the sun since there was no clouds in the sky. A shadow fell upon him, and a blast of air shook the branches around the deck, and Spike took off his sunglasses to find Twilight Sparkle back early from her lessons.

"Spike! Quick! Code BT2!" Twilight frantically ran to the door, swinging it wide open as she dashed inside. Spike stood there in disbelief, surprised that she was flying proficiently, and that she was here because of a code BT2, or Biannual Test 2, meaning she was going to bring everything with her to pass whatever test Celestia would give her, usually requiring nothing of what she brings.

Spike rolled his eyes, and sulked inside the Library, Twilight dashing from one cabinets to the other, stuffing her pack full of books, quills, papers, and a bunch of other unnecessary items.

"Spike! What are you doing just standing there? It is important.."

"That you pass Princess Celestia's test, I know Twilight," Spike cut her off, remembering the last time she had a test Twilight was in the same frenzied, anxious state.

"Then help me pack books and other things I need!" She threw a book titled "Incantations for Dumb Ponies" into her pack, quickly running to the next shelf to find another book on the History of Canterlot.

Spike closed the door to the deck behind him, opening his mouth to speak when a yell came from the other side of the door, and a Cyan Pegasus crashed through the door, knocking it clean of its hinges as it imbedded itself into the wall with a dazed Rainbow Dash lying on top.

A low groan originated from the Pegasus, signalling the presence to Twilight, she didn't even flinch when the door jutted out from the wall next to her, "Good Rainbow Dash you're here, more ponies to help me prepare," Twilight ran over the title of the rune casting book, finding it unnecessary and put it back into the shelf.

A rapping on the door made Twilight snap to Spike, "Spike get the door please," She grabbed another book, quickly putting it back in the shelf.

Spike waddled down to the door, and opened the door wide open, revealing Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy with worried looks across there faces. Spike kept a glazed face, ushering them inside, until her walked over to Rarity and whispered, "How long did it take for her to overreact this time?"

"About the same as last time," Rarity still worried that Twilight might go over the edge if some pony doesn't calm her down.

The five of them stood at the entrance of the door as Twilight galloped past them, stopping, and backing up to meet their worried faces, "What?" She realized how hard she was working herself as she rapidly took in and let out brief breaths.

"Twilight, the last time you were given a test by Princess Celestia, you didn't need half the stuff you brought with you to pass your test, we just think that you should just calm down," Rarity glanced back to her friends for support, all of them, including Spike, nodded in agreement.

Rainbow Dash grunted as she got off the door, landing on the ground and dusted herself off, "Yeah, besides I'm not packing all of your stuff Twilight, that's Spike's job!"

"Hey! You don't even know what hard work is!" Spike snapped back to the Cyan Pegasus.

"Lounging in a lawn chair with shades and a sun mirror? That's hard work?" Rainbow Dash trotted next to her friends.

Spike sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "Well... I planned before hand and woke up early to finish my work! That's hard work and planning!"

Rainbow Dash snorted, "Really? I woke up at the crack of dawn to clear out the clouds this morning, then went back to bed thirty minutes after I cleared the sky!"

Spike stuttered, until drooping his head, "Fine... you win..."

All eyes were on her as she enjoyed her victory over Spike's argument, most of them disapproving glares, "What?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

"We're kinds givin' Twilight a pep talk here and you're bein' rude," Applejack snapped, while Rainbow Dash lowered her ears in embarrassment, giving a awkward chuckle, "Oh right.. sorry,"

"I don't know, I mean I appreciate it and everything, it's just.. I don't want to disappoint Princess Celestia,"

Applejack put a hoof around her, "you'll do fine Twi, you always do fine, you just overreact too much, makin it look harder than it really is.."

Twilight's ears dropped down flat against her head, always grateful for Applejack's reassurance in total honesty.

"I agree with Applejack, you always pass your tests Twilight," Fluttershy added,

"Yeah, and if you  don't know how to do something, like flying, you will learn in good time right? It's like when you get one of your books and learn," Rainbow Dash pointed at all of Twilight's books on the winding shelves.

"And even if you're a princess Twilight, you're still our bestest friend ever!" Pinkie Pie chimed,

"With or without wings Twilight, you're still the friend we know and love," Rarity added, making Twilight tear up from all her friends supporting her.

"And besides, we know you'll make Princess Celestia proud!" Spike and the others gathered around her, all with warm smiles.

Twilight wiped a tear from her eye, "Thank you, all of you, you're all the best friends a pony could have.." she cooed, as her friends including Spike came into a group hug, all embracing the friend they all care about.

Canterlot was as bright and sunny as Ponyville, not a cloud hung above the luxurious city, ponies below commuted to one expensive store to the other, and few guards patrolled the streets, something unheard of in the Frost Kingdom. Umbra disliked the blistering heat in his warm cloak, he should have brought a lighter cloak when he came down south.

He kept his black hood pulled over his head, a precaution to keep his identity veiled from wandering eyes. He noticed two guards trotting towards him; he kept a calm head. Like any other bystander, they didn't even take a moment to take a glance.

A evil grin drew across his face, the guards wouldn't look twice even if I walked the grounds with a hoof knife..

He trotted under a archway of a large wall, entering a residential district with high class ponies commuting in their expensive clothes and jewelry.

He stopped in the middle of the square, eying the fountain in front of him and taking out a onyx gem from a pocket in his cloak, toying with it between his two hooves, his smile widening as the gem pulsed green: a dark enchantment that makes it react violently when it comes in contact in a body of water.

He was about to toss the gem into the fountain in front of him, but in the corner of his eye, he noticed a group of familiar mares trotting in the direction of the Royal Palace; the heroines of the Crystal Empire, along with a purple baby dragon riding on the back of the lavender Alicorn.

The element of harmony bearers... His throat became scratchy as a distant memory jolted through him: , the Crystal Heart, The Crystal Princess, the Unicorn of Magic, Victory in reach, the Baby dragon, and Death.

He recoiled from the shock of memories rushing through him, breaking into a sweat and winced in pain, his body feeling possessed, "You feel my pain, yes? That's what they did to me, don't make the same mistake.." and like a rag-doll puppet he collapsed to the ground, limp and his head hammering like an anvil.

He took a rasp breath, his legs shaking as he got to his hooves, several bystanders stood idle watching him. He stuffed the gem back in his pouch under his cloak. He returned burning glares to those who stared at him, quickly dispersing from his fierce gaze.

He glanced back to the Element of Harmony Bearers, they were almost to the palace, he wasn't noticed by them. He looked back to the fountain, deciding the volatile gem would serve its purpose another day.

He looked northward, his red snake like eyes focused on something, as if he was listening to the wind, "I won't fail you.." he whispered to himself, and with a quick teleportation spell, he vanished into thin air.

Princess Celestia remembered how nervous Twilight was the last time she was informed of a test, bringing a unnecessary amount of books, tomes, and other things that weren't required. She waited patiently, knowing she would arrive about now.

The gold doors swung open, and Celestia's calm gaze lifted to the doors, eager to greet her faithful student. But instead of a lavender Alicorn, a white-gray Pegasus wearing a wool lined leather jacket that covered the Pegasus entire body, a pair of flight goggles and a scarf over his face, and carried a mail satchel over his back signaled to Celestia that this was no ordinary messenger: he was from the North, farther than the Crystal Empire.

The messenger stepped forward and moved his flight goggles onto his head, and pulling his scarf down, taking a low bow to the princess, "Your Majesty, message from the Frost Princess Snowfall."

Celestia's ears pricked up to the familiar name: a younger cousin of Cadance that ruled the Frost Kingdom, a frontier kingdom that had rising problems of ponies practicing dark magic, a concern left in the dark by the council, most agreeing that the largest guard legion in all of Equestria, the Frost Guard -also locally known as the Cold Legion- could handle the problem with over 5,000 guards to protect the massive kingdom, stretching all across the North side of the crystal mountains.

"Go ahead," Celestia spoke swiftly, her expression turning somber and commanding.

"A-hem, Regal Sisters, I have been informed by Major Avalanche of the Frostinian Guard that it has come to my attention that a recent occurrence of events have left a caboose decoupled from a train, and upon locating it we found evidence of a struggle: several blast marks from magic and dark magic have left us to speculate that this has been linked to Necromancer sightings in the Crystal Empire. In other words, 1-4 Necromancers have come down south from the Frost Kingdom, and these dark magic users can have drastic repercussions in any major city or town, so I advise to keep a eye out for any activity relating to dark magic and report it to the Frost Guard, we have a special air platoon that can handle it. With best regards and precautions, Princess Snowfall. in any major city or town, so I advise to keep a eye out for any activity relating to dark magic and report it to the Frost Guard, we have a special air platoon that can handle it. With best regards and precautions, Princess Snowfall."

Celestia let out a sigh, "Thank you, please tell your Commanding Officer, Major Avalanche is it? Tell him that I will allow this Air Platoon to search for these Necromancers, dismissed." Celestia waved a hoof, and the messenger bowed, "As you wish your Majesty,"

He turned around and walked back to the golden doors, opening up to reveal a Lavender Alicorn, and a nearby guard announced her presence, "Princess Twilight Sparkle!"

The Messenger took a low bow, but Twilight held up a hoof, "Oh that's not necessary,"

The Messenger shook his head, "It is a custom for Forstinian Guards to respect the presence of any Princess with a bow, but if you would excuse me Princess I'm in a hurry to deliver a message,"

"Oh of course, as you were," She moved aside and the guard nodded and was off to deliver his message. A Frostinian Guard? This far south? Twilight glanced back to the messenger, then back to Celestia, a smile on her face as she welcomed Twilight, "Ah my faithful student! I'm glad you could make it!"

Twilight stepped forward, eager to pass the test Celestia had in store for her, "How have your studies on Friendship been coming?"

"Well as a matter of fact I've had a friendship occurrence not so long ago,"

"Really? Tell me about it."

"Well, when I was given the letter, I kinda freaked out, I mean it was all of a sudden, and it was odd that it was sent by mail," Twilight rubbed the back of her head, princess Celestia interjected, "I sent it by mail because I couldn't get it through to Spike, but please continue,"

"Oh, well I immediately flew home so I could prepare myself for the test, packing everything I could."

"So you have learned how to use your wings?" Celestia seemed eager,

Twilight shook her head, "Well.. sort of, but that's another story, anyways back to what I was saying: so around this time my friends arrived and told me to calm down. I didn't really want to stop preparing but sure enough they reassured me, telling me that I have the confidence, the knowledge, and the will to pass what test you have for me."

Celestia smiled, "So what did you learn?"

"That friends can reassure you when your really stressed out," Twilight nodded, it's the answer she was looking for.

Celestia chuckled, "I'm glad you learned that friends can help you in any time of distress, but now it is time for you to take your test,"

Twilight's stomach felt like it did a back-flip, but she took a deep breath to stay calm, "Alright, I'm ready, what is the test?"

Celestia stood up, spreading her large white wings out wide, "Now that you are an Alicorn, I want you to grow familiar with your new wings; I don't want you to be uncomfortable with a concept so foreign to you, but I know who can help you with this problem,"

Twilight's ears pricked up, curious to know, "Who else could help me other than my friends?"

Celestia smiled, "Your Sister-in-Law, Cadance"

Twilight seem confused, "Wait why Cadance? Wasn't she already a Pegasus anyways?"

Celestia shook her head, "Unlike my sister and myself, Cadance was turned into a Alicorn like yourself, so she can help you get accustomed to being an Alicorn. Now that I think of it, you can probably teach her a few things about using magic that only Unicorns know,"

Twilight rubbed her chin in thought, "So you want me to go to the Crystal Empire and talk to Cadance about this? That's all I have to?"

Celestia nodded, "I don't want to give you a harder test if you aren't familiar with your new appearance,"

Twilight realized she hasn't thought about that and agreed, "OK, ill go to the crystal empire right away, and once I feel confident of my wings, I'll be ready for anything,"

Celestia chuckled, "Always enthusiastic, go with care my faithful student,"

Twilight trotted out of the throne room, eager to see her Sister-in-Law in the Crystal Empire.