Summer nears for the Royal Guard's newest class of cadets, including Bearing Gale, who has proven his salt in both the classroom and training ground.

When the Royal Sisters receive a strange message from one of Equestria's long gone scientists, Gale's skills by chance earn him the honor of investigating on the princesses' behalf.

A mission for the princesses? That doesn't even deserve a proper guard? Professional opportunity doesn't get much easier than that. High-minded Gale sets off for the source of the message, in a frozen land to the south. Its inhabitants are hard-hearted, wary of ponies, and Gale won't stop until he's found an answer to satisfy the Royal Sisters- even if it tears apart what his hosts call home.