It was a beautiful night. It obviously was since Luna always did a fine job turning the day into night. But it was a special night this time; not that kind of special where somepony would have their “friend” over but more like a get-together with old friends, some older than others… or younger… in actual age terms.
“I can’t remember the last time the four of us got together and just… thou wot, sat down and talk'd while having dinner.” Princess Luna remarked.
“I don’t think we’ve ever done that.” Responded Twilight.
“I think we’ve gotten together at some point.” Cadance said.
“Not for dinner, at least not all four of us.” Celestia pointed out.
That’s why all the princesses were together. To have dinner together and talk, like any other normal pony.
“Well I, for one, am glad that we all found time in our busy schedules to come to dinner. I believe it will help us relieve the stress from our daily lives… and nightly in Luna’s case.” Twilight stated. The four princesses were at Twilight’s castle. Cadance had flown in specially just to spend time with her favorite sister-in-law. They all sat out on Twilight’s brand new balcony sipping tea and eating a nice feast. Celestia smiled warmly at the three younger alicorns.
“It’s a beautiful night after all.” Celestia commented while gazing at the sky. Luna blushed and looked up at the night above them.
“Wherefore thank thou dear sister.” Luna replied. Cadance and Twilight also turned their faces skyward. That’s when they saw it. In an instant one of the stars in the night sky dropped from it’s place. It plummeted through the one cloud in the sky and farther down until it slammed into the horizon. A wave of magic spread out from the horizon until it washed over the four alicorns like a wave hitting the beach. Twilight let out a small gasp as the magic seemed to resonate within her very body.
“What was that!?” Twilight shouted and looked to the other princesses. Cadance looked just as confused but Luna’s face was serious. Celestia was still looking at the spot where the star had hit with an even more serious face. Finally after what felt like a lifetime Celestia turned to Luna.
“Shall we go and retrieve it sister?” Luna asked and Celestia nodded. Luna stood from her place and spread her wings.
“Wait,” Celestia said standing from her own seat. “We shall go together.” Twilight looked to Cadance who stood without a word. Twilight looked around at the other princesses slowly before rising herself. Celestia glanced at Cadance then turned to her former student with a frown.
“I’m going.” Twilight said with all the resolve she could muster at the time. Luna also frowned down at the young princess.
“We hast nay idea what we will encounter.”
“I’m the princess of friendship now. If all of you are going then so am I.” Twilight tried to leave no room for argument and simply state the facts of the situation. Twilight turned to her former teacher and gave her a half pleading look. Finally Celestia sighed and nodded.
“If Twilight wishes to go it is not our place to stop her.” With that statement Celestia took to the air. Luna was quick to follow and Twilight was right behind her. All three alicorns looked down at Cadance who still stood on the balcony.
I’m still out of practice flying but I guess this is a matter to be dealt with immediately. Twilight thought. Cadance looked longingly down at the meal before her then took to the air as well. When all the princesses were in the air Celestia turned towards the direction where the star had fallen. Twilight glanced at Luna before following Celestia.
“Where are we going?” Twilight was unfamiliar with the area where the star hit the horizon.
“The Frozen North.” Celestia responded without glancing back.
“But… nopony has ever been to the Frozen North!” Twilight exclaimed. “We have no idea what’ll happen while we’re all gone or for how long.”
“I doubt we’ll be gone for long even with the distance we’ll have to travel.”
Then, Luna’s batpony guards caught up to them, obviously wondering about what was going on. “Princess, is something the matter?” Said one of the guards.
Princess Celestia stopped and hovered in place. “You mean you don’t know what just happened?”
“Forgive me Princess, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Thou didn't feel the wave of magic earlier?” Luna said.
The batpony guards looked at each other and shook their heads.
“The falling star, thou didn't notice it? Or the magic power that radiated when it landed?”
“We saw the star, but we felt no magic Princess, sorry.” Luna looked to Celestia.
“We will be retrieving the star and putting it back where it belongs.” Celestia said in a diplomatic manner. “Please alert the rest of the guards.” The batpony guards nodded and flew back to the castle. They returned with Celestia’s guards in their gleaming gold armor and Cadance’s crystal pony guards. With no guards of her own Twilight felt a little left out. When the six pegasus, six batpony, and six crystal ponies reached them they bowed their heads to their respective princess. With a simple nod from Celestia they were off.
They flew for about an hour before Twilight could feel the bite of winter on her wings. She glanced down at the ground to see it change from spring to winter before her eyes. She looked around to find she was the only one to notice. Each princess flew with her guards at her sides and was not looking at the ground. With her own sides bare Twilight felt out of place. She felt the same as before she had her title of the princess of friendship. She decided then and there when they returned she would see about getting a couple of guards.
The mountains that had been so distant were now coming closer and closer. Twilight knew almost nothing about the land beyond those mountains and not for lack of trying. Twilight had read practically every book on the Frozen North but almost none mentioned the land beyond it. Those that did mention it all said the same thing that it was an inhospitable land with no pony citizens to speak of. Twilight expected to be freezing for a few hours while searching for the star and then going home empty handed. As Twilight was thinking a mountain came to greet them and Celestia angled herself upwards to climb over it. The other princesses and their guards followed suit. Twilight, still thinking, almost bumped into the mountain. She angled up at the last second and followed the other princesses up the mountain. Soon they crested the peak and could see what lied beyond the mountain. Twilight saw exactly what she was expecting a barren frozen wasteland. Without pausing Celestia flew towards the ground. Twilight and the other princesses followed after her. The guards themselves though hesitated for a few seconds before following after their princesses.
The ground came at them fast and as they neared it Twilight could feel the wind chill her to the bone. They landed with grace on the snow covered ground and looked around at their surroundings. None of them could have predicted what would happen next.
The beast came suddenly and totally without expectation. It burst from the snow suddenly and swiped at one of Celestia’s guards, the force of the impact killing him instantly.
The remaining ponies were immediately aware of the situation and turned to meet the attacker. What they saw resembled an ursa minor but looked different and more developed. They did not have time to get comfortable with just one opponent when two more ursa’s emerged from the snow.
The ice wolves had been tracking the mysterious strangers once they smelled them off in the distance. They had no idea who or what they were exactly except that they could somehow fly. They had never encountered such beings before and they could sense the magic that radiated off the ones with the horns. And then the ursas came and started attacking them. The wolves hung back, their leader deciding to wait a little longer to see what the newcomers did. Caution was required here, they had not encountered any other kind of sentient life but most of the strangers were wearing armor and regalia. Perhaps they could finally find some allies in this harsh and unforgiving wasteland they called home.
The Lupine Nation could use all the allies it could get, it wouldn’t hurt. And then the unthinkable happened as the wolves were watching them.
The strangers started using magic.
The leader of the wolves didn’t hesitate for a moment longer, she ordered her wolves to attack the ursa minors.
Twilight deflected another swipe from the ursa minor. The ponies had formed a defensive circle, with the guards flying and trying to distract the ursa minors while the princesses used magic to incapacitate them. Or at least attempt to, they seemed to be shrugging off some of the magic but the Alicorn princesses were holding back in order to conserve energy for putting the fallen star back in its rightful place.
Then they heard the howls, the howl of timberwolves. That should be impossible. Twilight thought as she turned to focus on the sound. But what she saw were not timberwolves, but they were certainly… wolves of some kind. The situation started becoming confusing when the wolves started attacking the ursa minors. It was made even stranger when the wolves started taking up positions in front of the princesses, as if in defense.
An ursa grabbed a wolf in its mouth and shook it around like a rag doll. The pack members did not take this well and they swarmed the ursa, overwhelming it and eventually bringing it down. The process went on like this for another minute, with the ursa minors falling for the same trap, the next wolves that went in as bait were lucky to evade the jaws of the ursa, unlike the first.
Another ursa minor appeared and started attacking the group, having been woken up from its slumber and being in a really bad mood. The pegasus guards distracted the ursa while the wolves attacked it, striking with precision with years of experience to back up. The ursa roared in anger and swiped once more and it would have hit an unfortunate wolf if not one of the princesses projected a shield to protect it. The ursa, completely outnumbered and outmatched, eventually succumbed to its wounds and fell down to the ground.
The battle was over relatively quicker once the wolves showed up, and once they managed to regroup, the wolves stood in formation facing the princesses. The princesses’ guards did the same, ready for a battle at any time.
Princess Celestia stepped forward, determined to not engage in another battle and take control of the situation before a possible battle did occur. “I do not know why you aided us just now but I thank you.”
A wolf, larger than the others and obviously the leader, stepped forward. When it spoke it had a feminine voice. “My name is Alfhild. I know this might seem sudden but we saved you to learn more from you.”
Cadance stepped forward this time. “If I may pose a question, we’ve never encountered wolves that can talk. What are you called?”
“Our species are called ice wolves and we’ve never seen anything like… you before.”
“We’re called ponies and I thank you for the assistance but I think we could have handled ourselves.” Twilight said with confidence, but trying not to sound rude.
Alfhild shook her head, but it seemed like she had almost expected the comment. “No, I doubt it. You’re obviously new to this land if you think that. Those ursa will be the very least of your troubles. Tell us why you’re here, if it were up to us, we would be out of here by now if it weren’t for the fact that the mountains are completely impossible to traverse… for now at least.”
Celestia saw no harm in revealing the reason that they were here. “We saw that a star had fallen from the sky, we are here to retrieve it.”
The wolves looked at each other. Finding it hard to believe, at the very least. Such a thing was practically unheard of in their society, retrieving a fallen star? It was impossible… but… these ponies, they had gotten over the mountains where they had failed… maybe they could do it. Alfhild looked at Celestia. “Very well, I can see no immediate harm in your mission. If we can help you with your mission we’ll see if it is within our power. On behalf of the Lupine Nation I would like to extend an invitation for you to stay as guests during your time here… I would advise that you do this.”
“Well, we wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“Oh trust me, we can work things out when we get back to Wolf Bleak and it’s safest for all of us to be there and-” Alfhild stopped suddenly and sniffed the air a little bit. “We should get going now, actually, I smell a storm coming.”
“It’s just a storm.” Twilight said.
“I don’t know what storms are like for you ponies, but the weather here is extremely dangerous and unpredictable. Follow us and keep up if you can!” With that Alfhild bounded off and the rest of her pack followed her. The princesses looked at each other briefly before taking to the skies to follow the wolves with their guards following closely behind.
Chapter 2: Surviving the Storm
The ice wolves could and were moving extremely fast across the tundra. Celestia flew lower so she could talk to Alfhild.
“Don’t you think you might be pushing yourselves a bit hard?” She asked.
“Better than being caught out here in a storm, we need to find shelter and fast.” Alfhild veered to the right. “We don’t have time to outrun this storm, we need to get to one of our cave shelters and hole up there until the danger passes!” Alfhild brought herself to a halt after a minute of running in the same direction. “This is it.” She said, but there was obviously no cave, it was completely flat and the horizon of snow stretched on for miles.
“Um, I hate to break it to you but-” Twilight started to say until Alfhild pushed a hidden button and the ground opened up, revealing the entrance to a cave. “Never mind then.” Twilight finished.
“Hurry! Everyone in!” A few of the wolves stayed up top to usher in the others before entering themselves. “Close the door, hurry!” Wolves quickly pulled the chains and the massive door sealed itself shut. The light was completely gone except for the glow of a crystal in the cave. Twilight walked up to Alfhild.
“What if the storm on the outside somehow triggers the button? From what I saw that device seems to rely on weight.”
“We thought about that, that’s why we have the button protected by a covering to prevent unwanted weight from being dropped on it.” Alfhild gripped a wolf’s shoulder as she turned to address him. “Can we get some lights going on here please?” The wolf nodded and rushed to complete his task. Alfhild looked back to Twilight. “Now, we’re going to be here for a while and the storm is going to hit us in about a minute so I suggest you make yourselves as comfortable as you can. Explore if you like.” Alfhild walked away to direct the rest of her pack members.
Twilight looked about her surroundings. The cave itself was almost absurdly spacious and torches were being lit to allow for better lighting. She wondered how the torches were being lit but then she saw some of the wolves using magic. She didn’t know how they were able to use magic and this lit up her curiosity.
Twilight set her horn alight to give the wolves some more light. The pink light drew the attention of all the wolves. When Twilight saw that all eyes were on her she blushed and looked to the ground. After a few seconds she looked up to see the wolves had gone back to what they were doing. She watched one of the wolves lighting the torches and decided to approach. As she got closer the ice wolf glanced at her. Twilight was unsure of the gender of the wolf but she took her best guess.
“Hello there miss…” The ice wolf turned to her and glared. “I mean sir.” Twilight sheepishly corrected. The wolf shook his head and turned back to the last torch. The torch lit with flames and the ice wolf started to leave. Twilight quickly stepped in his path and he frowned. “Um, excuse me but how can you use magic without a horn?” The wolf glanced up at Twilight’s horn and then looked her in the eye. When he finally spoke his voice was gruff.
“Probably the same way you can use magic with a horn. Magic doesn’t require a focus point, it probably helps, but that doesn’t make it impossible. Now answer my question. Where you come from do all ponies have wings?” Twilight glanced at her wings and then looked back to the wolf.
“No. Some ponies have no wings or horns, they are called earth ponies. Then there are pegasi who have wings but no horn. Finally there are unicorns with horns but no wings.”
“What are you then?”
“I’m an alicorn. There are only the four of us. We are the princesses of the land.” The ice wolf stared at her for another minute before he ‘humphed’ and walked around her. Twilight turned back to the cave to see Celestia and Luna looking around. Cadance was talking to the guard ponies and gesturing at the rest of the residents of the cave. Curious Twilight trotted over to Cadance and the guards. She just missed the meeting though because as she came up to them the guards saluted to Cadance and dispersed around the cave. When Twilight made it to Cadance she smiled at her sister in-law.
“The storm sounds really bad.” Cadance stated and looked to the door of the cave. Standing this close Twilight could hear the storm now. It sounded like the storm was being fueled by the fury of nature itself, enraged by being denied entry as it battered against the doors. Twilight winced when a particularly loud thump sounded from the door causing her to scrunch down her ears.
“Why would the weather ponies allow such a storm?” Twilight asked as she looked back to Cadance. A chuckle sounded behind Twilight and she turned to see Alfhild.
“What are you talking about?” Alfhild asked, walking up to them slowly with a grin on her face, showing her fangs. “That storm is nothing special. They pop up all the time. If you want to stop it feel free to try.” Alfhild pointed to the door with a smirk. Twilight glanced at the door with a slight look of fear before looking back to Alfhild.
“I didn’t mean stop it. I was wondering why your weather team made it in the first place.” Alfhild’s smirk vanished and she looked at Twilight seriously.
“Weather team? What are you talking about, pony?” Alfhild slowly asked with a raised eyebrow.
Twilight looked shocked and asked. “You mean you don’t have a weather team? How do you control the weather?” Alfhild scowled at something and walked a little closer to Twilight.
“No, we don’t. So you ponies are able to not only fly but control the weather?” Twilight flinched back at the slight growl in her voice.
“Well that’s a pegasus’s job. To control and maintain the weather around Equestria.” Alfhild let out a small growl and looked to Twilight’s wings. She looked to Cadance then and finally to Luna and Celestia. Without another word to Twilight Alfhild walked off muttering something to herself. Twilight looked behind her to Cadance who also looked shocked. “Is this place like the Everfree Forest then?” She asked Cadance.
Cadance looked Twilight in the eye and shrugged. “I don’t know Twilight, but whatever is going on I think they might need our help.”
Twilight nodded.“On this we agree.” Twilight walked over to Luna and Celestia who were now inspecting the crystal. Celestia saw Twilight first and when she saw the look on her face she straightened to her full height. Luna saw her just as she was almost on them and mimicked her older sister as she stood tall. Twilight reached the sisters and her face dissolved into a worried look. Celestia relaxed at that.
“What is the matter, Twilight?” Celestia looked down at her student with concern in her eyes. Luna did not relax all the way though.
“What can we do for thou young princess?”
Twilight looked at the sisters. “I think the ice wolves really need our help.” She finished with a sigh.
“What makes thou say this?” Luna asked as concern creeped onto her face.
“They don’t have any weather ponies here.” Twilight pointed to the side towards the door. “That storm out there happened on its own and they can’t do anything about it.” Celestia looked around at the ice wolves then back at Twilight.
“That is quite concerning.” Celestia said and then looked to her sister. Luna nodded to Celestia as if they shared a mental connection. Celestia gave a small nod in reply and looked back to Twilight. “Would you like to help these wolves with their problems?” Twilight looked taken aback for a second but nodded.
“Of course I would.” Twilight said with conviction.
“That’s good, because I would like for you to remember there are duties for all of us to attend back home. That’s why I’m sending you and Cadance back.”
“What? Why?” Surprisingly, the question came from Cadance. Though, Twilight also had a look of disbelief on her face as well.
“Please understand, both of you. There are certain affairs of the state that we need to take care of. I’m trusting the both of you to handle things while Luna and I are here for a little while.”
“But, an entire sentient race that we know nothing about!” Twilight said. “We could learn so much from each other!”
Celestia smiled and wrapped a wing around the younger princess. “I know you want to study them and their culture Twilight, but please trust me on this. It’ll only be for a short while. Besides, what about your friends back in Ponyville? Won’t they miss you?”
Twilight gasped, her eyes wide in realization. In her excitement to study another sentient species she had completely forgotten about her friends. “You’re right, Princess Celestia!” Twilight got a determined look on her face. “I’ll do it.”
“The reasoning makes perfect sense to me, as well.” Cadance added.
“Thank you, both of you.” Celestia released Twilight from the embrace of her wings and looked around the cave until her gaze settled on who she was looking for. “I will need to talk to Alfhild and tell her of our plans. Hopefully this storm will not last much longer.”
The other princesses nodded as Celestia walked up to the large wolf. In the heat of the moment, ironic considering how cold the weather was, Celestia took the time to take in the detail of Alfhild. The wolf was larger than the others, of course. Her coat was shaggy and gray but had a streak of red running from the snout all the way to her tail. “Excuse me, Alfhild, may I have a word with you for a few moments?”
The wolf in question, who had been giving directions, waved another wolf away with her paw and turned to face Celestia. “Yes, I suppose so.”
“Two of us shall be heading back to Equestria. My sister and I shall remain here to learn more about you and your people.”
“That is acceptable, I suppose. But I have never heard of Equestria. I’m assuming that that is where you’re all from?”
“It is… huh, funny how that didn’t come up.”
“Fighting ursas and running from a snowstorm has a habit of making you think of your immediate survival.”
Celestia giggled. “Yes, I suppose it does.”
“We shall speak again later. I will need some time to get this cave explored. I’m required to know the locations of all our shelters but we haven’t used this one in an extremely long time so I want to make sure it’s still safe. Who knows what may or may not lurk in here.” Alfhild looked at the door, sensing that the storm was starting to die down slightly. “If there’s one good thing about the storms it’s that while they may be dangerous at least they’re short. I wouldn’t give this one more than a few more minutes. Now, if there’s nothing else?…”
Celestia took the hint that Alfhild wanted to work in peace, or at least, try to concentrate on her task. “No. Nothing else. Thank you for your time and understanding.” Celestia said. Alfhild shrugged and idly waved her off.
When Celestia made it back to the others Twilight was the first to speak. “Well, how’d it go?”
“Alfhild was perfectly fine with Luna and I staying behind and the two of you going back. She also said that she wouldn’t give this storm more than few minutes before it’s safe to go outside. I would make sure you are all ready to depart by that time.” Everyone nodded in compliance.
Sure enough the storm did eventually pass. But the two minutes that led up to it were boring… very boring. The cave was safe, at least, or so Alfhild had assured Celestia when they left.
With everyone outside Twilight was the first to approach Celestia. “Princess, Cadance and I shall keep in touch with you via letter…. Have a good time here.” Twilight finished with a brief nuzzle before taking off, Cadance and two guards following right behind her.
After watching the four of them depart, Celestia turned back to Alfhild, who seemed to be a little impatient. Seemed being the key word here, as Celestia was unable to tell if she was impatient or not, having not had enough time to study their facial expressions and other mannerisms. “Well, I trust everything is in order then?” Celestia asked.
“Yes. I am eager to head back to Wolf Bleak.” She happily said. Ah, eagerness then. Not impatience. Celestia idly thought as the pack took off and the rest of the ponies followed after them.
It was a good hour before they got close to the city. The ponies knew they were close because they could see it in the distance since they had a bird’s-eye view, the wolves because of years of experience.
The frequency of the storms on the journey there, however, was disconcerting to the two alicorns. Celestia and Luna were unsure if it would’ve been easier to have made it here simply by going forward and casting spells to ignore any of the elements. Indeed, Alfhild had made them give seemingly wide berths in an area while she was leading them only for a storm to be seen in the far distance minutes later. However, they did not want to offend the wolves, those that had lived in these in lands for who knew how long? They knew the land better than anyone.
And so it was that they came upon the city that the entire party stopped as Alfhild turned to the princesses. Celestia and Luna landed gently in front of the wolf. “You will need to wait here for a few minutes while I go make some preparations.” Alfhild said as she turned to head into the city. “Until then, welcome to Wolf Bleak, the capital of the Lupine Nation.”
