The Northern Region of the Equestria, (un)officially entitled as the "Union of Communalist Council Republics" or UCCR... Is not your spot for a summer holiday...
The winter, though? Makes the place famous. Infamous, even. Makes you wonder how such a vast, icy place can be populated, or have an organized government...

Doesn't matter, though. The point is, it's populated, and it has it's own government.
And Princess Celestia is absolutely terrified because of it!
Even though they're just about the nicest, most honest and equane ponies you'll ever meet on... Well, just about the whole Northern Hemisphere.

Anyways, Celly and her sisters are going for a diplomatic meeting, and they've decided to send their apprentices ahead...

In their defense, I must state: they had NO IDEA about the events that were to unfold! Honest!