The night had past and the morning had arrived with the sun fully risen; snow still trickled down as the last of the great funeral fire burned out slowly with only coals remaining. Most of the rebels slept peacefully, with few awake as guards to keep watch for any trouble. Among those still asleep were Ivor and Applejack, leaning against each other wrapped in the cloak that now belonged to Ivor, Both covered in snow.

Close by, a lone figure approached the two from behind their steps staggered a bit, but they were steady enough to get them a few feet away from the two resting on the bench. The figure drew a deep breath and took a firm hold on the knife gripped with both of their hands and lunged forward, looking to drive the blade into Ivor's back. But before the knife got close enough to touch him, Ivor almost jumped up, spun around, and grabbed the attacker by their wrist and held them at bay but was baffled by how little force was behind the strike. Looking at his attacker, he found it to be a blue mare with a rainbow mane who looked highly malnourished save for an oddly round belly and a near-crazed look in her eyes.

"What in sam hell is going on?" Applejack yelled, jumping up.

"I don't know," Ivor yelled back, still holding the mare back. "She just tried to attack me, doing a shit job of it too." He said before the rainbow-haired mare kicked him in the shin, he only responded with a quick 'ow.'

"Wait...Rainbow Dash?" Applejack asked, getting a good look at the mare. "Dash, what are you doing?"

"Killing this limp dick fucker!" Rainbow Dash growled, trying to push the knife down harder, but it didn't move an inch as Ivor quickly pulled it from her hands and kept a hand on her to keep Rainbow at a distance.

"Rainbow, he's one of the Warborn," Applejack told her, taking Ivor's place and keeping the two separate.

"I heard caribou asshole!" Dash growled, trying to attack Ivor again, but Applejack stopped her.

"Don't bother," Ivor said, stepping forward a bit.

"You want her to kill you?" Applejack asked, confused.

"No, because she's gonna pass out." He said, pointing at the rainbow-haired mare who staggered back a bit with a stumble and would have hit the ground if Applejack hadn't caught her.

"Dash? DASH!?" The farm mare tried to wake her, but she only twitched as if she was having a seizure.

"Let's get her to a doctor," Ivor said, scooping the mare up and both making off to look for help.

-+-+-+-

In Canterlot, Dainn was currently 'preoccupied' in his personal chambers.

He thrust hard into the former elder monarch of Equestria, Celestia, as she let out cries, whimpers, and moans of pain as the barbarian assaulted her from behind. Dainn grabbed her mane and pulled back hard so he could speak right into her ear.

"You know slut; when I get the other alicorn slags here, I'm going to toss you straight to my guards and let them have you until your heart stops beating." The barbarian king growled as he roughly groped her breasts and continued to plow into her.

Celestia was fading in and out of consciousness for some time now but had enough strength to clear her throat and speak.

"Maybe they can actually satisfy a mare, unlike their king." She snickered.

Dainn let out a growl and grabbed her throat, forced her into a prone position, redoubling his efforts at breaking the mattress they were on. He didn't care about either of their satisfactions now; he just wanted to make it hurt as he began to choke her slowly. The former princess of the sun started to struggle as her vision slowly filled with darkness as the Stonehoof chief tightened his grip.

"Useless, unworthy, sow," He growled as he delivered a few more powerful thrusts. "I will make you bear my children so that you can know that you brought forth a new generation of killers and rapists." Dainn gave one last hard and angry thrust releasing inside her. Celestia coughed as he let go of her throat and climbed off of her, and dressed himself in a pair of pants and an open shirt. After he finished, he grabbed her mane and dragged her towards the door leading to the hallway. Pushing the doors open and dropping her in the middle of the hallway, two guards grabbed her and dragged her towards the dungeon. As Dainn walked down the hall, another caribou jogged up behind him, getting his attention.

"My lord, I come bearing news." He called as Dainn never broke stride.

"Then speak, boy." The king said, turning down another hallway. "I've not eaten yet, and nothing will stop me from rectifying that."

"Well, there is terrible news but the good news out ways it," the caribou started before pulling out a few scrolls and began reading. "Our troops at the great wall failed again; Blueblood returned yesterday with a busted leg and a head wound; next is the loss of Cirrus drop, but the high commander says that Vidar was there and traveling with what he identified as the Warborn clan." He continued as Dainn continued on his path to the kitchen.

"I do not hear a lot of good news," Dainn said, reaching the door about to push it open.

"Well, first is that the expedition from the homeland has returned with the relic and just arrived; we have a report of discovery near Appleloosa, we think it might be what you're looking for," the caribou replied.

"Interesting," the king said. "I shall look into it later." He pushed open the door into the kitchen; sitting there, a much younger caribou greeted him and stuffed his face with various foods. The younger caribou was dressed in worn pants and a sleeveless shirt that showed dozens of tattoos from his fingers to the shoulders; His hair was cut into a blackish grey mohawk between two large antlers and a scar above his right eye, but other than that, not a scratch, and sitting beside him was a sword as tall as him. When he looked up from his food and saw Dainn standing there, he smiled and stood from his seat before falling to one knee and bowing his head in a sign of respect.

"And lastly, my lord, Uru has returned as well, my king." The other caribou said as a smirk formed on the king's face.

"Leave us," Dainn commanded and approached the warrior named Uru. Uru stood from his position and, at his full height, was over a head taller than the caribou king. "You've grown, boy."

Uru chuckled. "You said 'return to me a giant or return as ashes' if I remember correctly."

"That I did," Dainn said, walking around the mountain of a warrior to inspect him. "And you have arrived at the best of time, lad."

"I live to serve the Stonehoof, my lord," Uru said with a slight bow of his head. "How may I assist you?"

"My forces have been suffering as of late," Dainn started as he picked up a loaf of bread and broke it in half. "I want you to gather a force of our strongest and deal with the pestilence that has begun ravaging my new kingdom."

"Of course, sir," Uru answered. "I assume a reward will be presented to me at the end of this extermination?"

"Naturally, speak what you would like," Dainn answered, taking a large bite of bread. Uru thought for a moment scratching his chin.

"I think three things will suffice," Uru said, holding up three fingers. "I want a patch of land that starts at the mountains and reaches the sea; I'd like the title prince effective immediately," Uru spoke, still holding up one finger.

"Consider it done, prince Uru," Dainn said, taking another bite of bread and grabbing a piece of fish jerky. "What else?" He asked, continuing to try and scrounge up a half-decent breakfast.

"The witch's daughter," The taller caribou answered. "She is of breeding age, and I want her as mine."

Dainn thought for a moment, then nodded. "You may have her," he said. "But I need you to get someone for me first."

"Simply name them, and I will bring them to you, my king."

"The runt has been let out of his cage; I need him back in one," Dainn said.

"Vidar? HA!" Uru laughed, moving to pick up is Claymore. "He could barely hold a knife when I last saw him; getting him back will be like fetching water from a stream." Before he reached his sword, Dainn grabbed him and threw him against the wall, pointing a finger in his face with a stern expression.

"Do not take this task lightly," Dainn growled at him. "He is the one creature in this world who could ruin everything I have built, and my plan is coming to fruition, so try with all your incompetence not to cock it up."

Uru was quiet for a moment before kneeling to the ground again, hanging his head in shame. "Yes, my king, I apologize." He said as Dainn sighed before stepping away and grabbing Uru's blade.

"Never hang your head like that boy," The king said, offering the blade to him. "I will not have my own blood look so weak even in front of me." Dainn smiled.

Uru lifted his head and took his sword. "I will bring Vidar to you along with the heads of all the leaders of this little 'resistance' as well...father."

"Good lad," Dainn said, patting Uru's shoulder and walking out of the kitchen.

Outside in the hall was another caribou leaning against a column, picking at his fingernails with a knife. He was dressed in armor made of bones and leather with a skull over his face as a sort of mask. His axes looked to be carved out of bones and a kind of black steel; his arms, legs, midsection, and neck were covered in bandages that seemed dirty and gross but perfectly intact as if just put on. As Dainn stepped into the hall, the caribou quickly put his knife away and followed Dainn as he made his way towards the throne room.

"Lord Dainn, you're looking well," He began as the king didn't even address him. "I couldn't help but overhear you were speaking with brother Uru, and I was wondering if that offer was exclusive or if say one was to bring you Vidar instead?" Dainn stopped in his tracks and turned to face the caribou.

"And you think you can do better than Uru?" Dainn asked, raising a brow.

"Uru is a brute who believes that he can make a stone bleed," He replied. "I am 'bloodbath' Brandt the sword of this empire...failure is not in my vocabulary." Dainn walked up and looked him in the eye.

"I was there as your mother brought you into this world," He started. "You were so impatient that not only did you come two months early, you clawed your way out of her stomach, and she became your first kill." Dainn continued as he grabbed Brandt's wrist and ripped the bandages on his forearms, revealing more scars than the arm, some long healed, others still slowly leaking blood. "You are a creature of pain and blood; you seek death knowing it won't come, so you have no fear...and why you are so feared."

"I do not hear a no, my king," Brandt said as his off-hand began to twitch and tap against his left leg.

Dainn chuckled. "Bring Vidar to me, and you may have anything you like just short of the throne."

Brandt smiled, pulling his arm back, and rushed off to God's only know where. Dainn sighed and shook his head as he began making his way to the throne room again in hopes of seeing if the messenger from earlier was correct about what they had brought him. As he entered, he was greeted by a half-dozen caribou around a small cart with a tarp over it they had used to wheel something into the throne room.

"You all have me in a decent mood today, so let's see what you have," Dainn said as he approached the cart and threw the cover off.

What was beneath the cover was a small pedestal that held a display case with a crystal about a foot and a half long that glowed red hot at a pointed end. The crystal seemed to hum with energy, almost as if it may shatter the very case it sat it. Dainn smirked before snapping his fingers a few times, and two of his royal guards came in.

"Get these fine men food, drink, and all the pleasurable company they can handle; they have brought me one step closer to my goal," Dainn commanded as he removed the case and grabbed the crystal. He could feel the power he held; all the pieces were on the board. He only needed to play a little longer for them to fall into place.

Author's Note

So been a while, but I finally found time to finish this chapter. I should have a little more free time in the next few weeks with school ending, but we'll see.

But now I want a little help.

I want to know if you guys want to see the next chapter be on the resistance, a chapter of Uru or Brandt, or a chapter on a few OCs' I have yet to work into the story, or maybe some of the side characters I already have in the story.

Comment what you'd like, and after, say, two weeks of this chapter being up, I'll decide based on what feedback I get.