The Fallen Star Returns

Shining Armor made his way on top of a hill with the rest of his guards behind him. He could barely see in the snow storm but he spotted their destination. The tallest mountain, which is surrounded by the smaller ones, making it almost impossible to climb. The entrance was at the top, however there was a secret passage way marked on the map. It leaded to a small canyon where a door was hidden which can be opened by a simple spell.

As the rest of the group climbed up on the hill, Shining turned around to check their status. The snow storm was rough and he wanted to make sure everypony was all right. Thanks to their equipment the storm didn't affect them as much as he feared. He brought 3 other ponies with him, 2 pegasi and an other unicorn. They were the best the Royal Guard had to offer and Shining Armor held them in high regard.

"So, this is the place, right Captain?" Lightning Chaser jumped next to him and looked at the mountain. He was a young, brash pegasus, who always took pleasure in annoying his older brother, Cloud Blitz.

"Afraid that your acrophobia will keep you from reaching the top?" Blitz started the banter, exceptionally. He was a smart tactician with deadly precision, who was the next best candidate for Captain of the Guard, after Shining Armor leaves for the Crystal Empire.

"Out of all the pegasi of the Royal Guard, you think, I'm the one who is afraid of heights? And I thought you knew me well." Lightning answered as if he was heartbroken by his brother's poking question.

"If you two stopped this pointless banter we should move on. I don't think either of you wants to freeze to death." the remaining unicorn rudely interrupted the two pegasi. His name was Steel Prism, a unicorn whose skills in the art of magic is to be reckoned with. He was a by-the-book officer, who took his duties very seriously, sometimes too seriously. Shining Armor didn't really like his attitude, but his skills were required to successfully complete this mission.

"Why do you always have to be so grumpy?" Lightning Chaser wanted to provoke Prism, but that was next to impossible.

"Because there must be a pony around, who understands what is at stake." came the sharp answer.

"I think all of us knows what we have to do here, but you are right. We should keep moving. The canyon is not far from here, and once we are inside we can get away from this horrendous storm." Shining Armor quickly stopped the conversation before it got any worse. All of them stopped, and made their way towards the canyon.

The four guards continued their way across the snowfield. Even their gear couldn't fully protect them from the ongoing blizzard. They wore goggles, which allowed them to see in the storm, but it snowed densely, that they could only see as far as their nose. The field wasn't huge, but they were slowed down quite a bit. After a one hour long trotting they have finally found shelter between the cliffs.

"Well, this was rather exhausting." Lightning Chaser took down his goggles and hood "Hopefully the weather is better inside."

"Don't count on it. This place was designed to hold a dangerous criminal, so don't expect a warm welcome." Cloud Blitz responded.

"Captain, are you going to share the location of the entrance with us any time soon?" Prism asked, impatiently.

"There is information on the map." Shining Armor stated as he got the map out of his backpack "It says that the storm is here for a reason. To keep out intruders."

"So much fuss just to keep one pony locked up. The Princess could have just banished him like she did with Nightmare Moon." Lightning started to look around the canyon. The cliffs were covered with a thick layer of ice, which almost made them look like crystals. He could see his clear reflection as he looked at the walls. "I gotta say, this place looks really nice. Minus the giant, freezing blizzard of death outside."

"Yes! I think we should all sit down here, and enjoy this nice scenery, while a crazy lunatic blows a hole in the mountain and escapes." Steel Prism said loudly, with a very bad sense of sarcasm.

"Why can't you just relax for a change?" Lightning was started to get irritated by Prism's wooden attitude.

"I'm going to relax when my work is done!" the officer stood before the pegasus, and looked at him as if he is going to punch him in the face.

"Both of you, stand down! We are a team, and we can't do this if we are divided!" Shining Armor stepped between the two arguing guards. He never allowed disobedience under his command, and he found the reason for this argument pretty childish. "Now, apologize to each other."

"This feels like a bad family... " Lightning started, but Shining gave him a threatening look, as if he was about to slap him.

"Okay, I'm sorry, I should have focused more on the task at hoof."

"And I apologize for my insulting remark."

"Good, now that we have this behind us let's find that entrance." Blitz stepped forward, and they continued their way deeper into the canyon.

It was a long and uneventful trip. The entire place looked like a giant, endless corridor, which was surrounded by ice walls. Along the path all of them took a closer look at how the ice formed through the ages. Even Prism had to admit that it looked stunning. After a half hour long walk they have finally reached a dead end.

"This is the place. Now we just have to detect the entrance with a spell. Prism if you help me we can find it twice as fast." Shining Armor stopped and took out the map again. The spell, which locates the door was on the back of it.

"Understood." Steel Prism responded and went next to the captain to see how the spell works. It was a surprisingly simple one so it didn't take them much time to learn how to use it.

As the search went on the two brothers sat down next to the wall for a little rest. They didn't show it, but they were nervous about the mission.

"What do you think we will find in there?" Lightning Chaser asked his older brother.

"How am I supposed to know? I wasn't the one Celestia summoned, so I know as much as you do."

"Well, I figured you would at least have an idea, since you were always the smart one."

"What is this? You admit I'm the smart pony in our family?" Blitz was surprised by what his brother said, but he knew that Lightning is going to deny it the next time he opens his mouth.

"Did I just said that? Anyways don't let it get to your head. I'm still faster."

"But I'm smarter and more handsome." Blitz made a comeback in hopes of sparking off a little argument.

"Excuse me. I was the one who got on well with the mares at school, if I remember correctly."

"And I'm the one who still has a marefriend." Cloud Blitz delivered the finishing blow. He just wanted to get a little payback for the years of annoyance that his little brother made.

"Just... shut up." Lightning admitted defeat, and ended the conversation. From the looks of it the others have found the entrance, so it was pointless to continue a battle, which he have already lost.

"I think I have found it." Steel Prism stated loudly, so everypony can hear him. The entrance was marked by runes, which were glowing blue when the searching spell was casted on them.

"Now we just have to remove that thick layer of ice and we are inside." Shining Armor stood next to Prism, and took a look at the runes. "Typical seal runes. They won't be a problem."

"I can blast this ice away in a fraction of a second." Prism stepped forward, already charging up his spell.

"Go ahead. Nopony here is going to stop you." said Lightning Chaser, who just joined them. Though he didn't have much time to check the entrance, because Prism fired his spell at it, without a warning. It was so bright he thought he will be blind after looking at it.

The spell melted the ice slowly and smoothly. If it would have been a blast, then the whole canyon would have fallen on the top of their heads. Luckily, Steel Prism was always thorough with his work. After he finished, he sat down in front of the door, and started mumbling to himself, while his horn was glowing.

"Next time, warn us before you try to make us blind." Lightning complained, but Shining Armor cut him off.

"Let him concentrate now. He needs peace to undo the seal."

It took Prism a few minutes to finish. When he did the runes faded away, and they could hear a ticking noise from the other side of the door. After the noise ceased the door slowly started to open. The cranky mechanics made the process very loud, that the team feared it might start an avalanche. Thankfully it didn't come to that and the entrance was opened in front of them. They coughed as a stuffy wind hit them from the cave.

"Well, this is it. Let's not waste any more time here, and wrap this mission up." Shining Armor took the lead and entered the cave. The others followed him immediately.

"Hey, do you want to know what I think we are going to find in there?" Blitz poked his brother.

"If you would be so kind, yes." Lightning was annoyed that Blitz didn't tell him before, but he knew that his brother was saving it for the dramatic effect.

"One of Princess Celestia's greatest secrets."