"This month's peace council is now underway, would those who have something to speak of please decide amongst yourselves who will go first." Celestia said. Immediately after she spoke, several of the rulers began looking at each other. It was the Dragon Lord Ember won the debate of stares as she stood up.

"Who is he?" She asked Celestia while pointing to Emerald, " unless you were planning on telling us you were going to turn another pony into an Alicorn, you haven't even hinted at the idea since Twilight's ascension." a few of the rulers began whispering amongst themselves while others were nodding to Ember's statement. Celestia tapped her hoof on the ground to call for silence and Ember sat down in her seat. Celestia motioned for Emerald to rise and he did so without complaint.

"I am King Emerald of the Draconian Empire" Emerald said while flashing a look at Ember to silence her as she attempted to interrupt him, "I sincerely apologize for my absence from these meetings as I was still recovering from a magical over-exertion." He concluded while looking at Ember. Ember stood up and crossed her arms,

"I am the Dragon Lord, you aren't the Dragon ruler." She said while glaring coldly at Emerald. Emerald calmly looked back at Ember, waiting for her to be done speaking.

"DRACONIAN, not dragon." He said, "your race and mine are two different things." Ember sat down temporarily content with his response. Emerald also sat down after Celestia nodded to him. The other rulers whispered around until Iron Beak stood up,

"Princess Celestia, I want to inform you of an increased number of caravan raids along the boarder. The raider have been Diamond Dogs, not the dragons like we earlier suspected." Iron Beak said before he sat down. Mosaic stood up and looked to Celestia,

"Yes, I understand and I do confirm that Diamond Dogs have been raiding trading caravans. I assure you that we are trying to contain the insurrectionists." Mosaic said calmly as Iron Beak frowned; clearly not believing Mosaics statement. Mosaic sat down and the remaining leaders debated with each other about who would speak next. Koros stood up and cleared her throat,

"I have the same problem as Iron Beak, although, our problems present a future quite bleak." Koros said. After hearing her speak, Emerald grinned devilishly. He looked at the centerpiece of the table, a fruit basket. He picked up an orange with his magic and showed it to Koros.

"Koros, what is this?" Emerald asked with a knowing grin. She looked at the fruit,

"That is an Orange..." Koros said trying to find a rhyme for the fruit. Emerald held back his mirth behind a neutral mask.

"Emerald, you know that there is not a word in Equish that rhymes with orange." Celestia scolded, Emerald merely smiled and put the Orange back into the bowl.Iron Will stood up and looked around at the others present,

"We as the Minotaurs are in need of assistance, the Harpies in the Badlands are crossing the border and into our lands. We simply ask for supplies to build a means of defence." He said. Iron Will sat down and nodded at Celestia.

"I am sorry, but the Gryphons are unable to assist you due to the Diamond Dog 'Insurrectionists'." Iron Beak said, Koros nodding in agreement. Luna stood up,

"Equestria will be able to send supplies to your nation." Luna said with a caring smile.

"As will the Crystal Empire." Cadence said while looking at Shining Armor. Emerald leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table as he pondered his options. He stood up and looked at Mosaic,

"I will be able to assist you in eradicating the insurrectionists," Emerald then looked to Iron Will, "and the Harpies you speak of." Mosaic shook his head,

"We need to crush this rebellion on our own to make an example of our ability to take care of ourselves." Mosaic said with a smile, "thank you for offering your assistance though." Iron Will also shook his head,

"Thank you for offering, but if we rid the Badlands of Harpies, then other Harpies will go into a frenzy. It would be better to just protect ourselves from them." Iron Will said. Emerald nodded in acceptance and sat down. Thorax stood up and fluttered his insect-like wings nervously,

"We would like to ask for some assistance in growing food out in the Badlands so that we don't need to make as many trips into Equestria." Thorax said before he sat down. Celestia smiled,

"Equestria will send farmers to your hive to teach Changelings how to grow and maintain crops." Celestia said. Emerald then looked around, and saw no one was standing up, so he then stood up.

"I just need help uncovering the snow that covers the Empire I assisted in ruling." Emerald said with a shrug. The others, minus Celestia, looked at him with bewildered expressions adorning their faces. The room was silent as others were in shock. "And that's all I have that I would need help with." Emerald said as he sat down. Everyone was silent and he shifted around until he was comfortable.

"What happened?!" Iron Beak asked, "Why is your empire underneath so much snow?!" Emerald shrugged,

"Ask Celestia or Luna, I've been trapped... I don't know where I was, but I was there for a little over ten thousand years." Emerald replied, saying it almost like an afterthought.

"Windigoes." Luna said with a shiver, Emerald frowned; having never heard of the adversaries.

"And what exactly are these Windigoes?" Emerald asked with a raised brow.

"Horrid creatures that prey on the emotions of hatred and malice to strengthen themselves." Thorax replied before he too shivered. "They bring about an everlasting winter if they aren't stopped."

"Thankfully, they have not been seen since over two thousand years ago." Luna said; neglecting the events of the crystalling. Mosaic stood up and prepared to speak...
It was that moment that the windows shattered...

And the room was flooded with darkness...

Author's Note

Two chapters in two days!!! I am very happy that my writers block has been lifted. Also, I will continue to work until I reach a point at which I have no clear objective with the story.