Menace from The North

"Three thousand years ago, the leaders of the three tribes. Earth Ponies, Pegasi and Unicorn were forced to leave their homeland. The reason? A mysterious snowstorm that seemed to feed off their hatred. They ventured into the unknown, separately, each with their own tribe. But fate had a plan in motion, they each found each other in the new land that they wanted to claim for themselves and such they clashed once more. The snowstorm appeared and their new paradise was thrown into an icy hell." - Starswirl The Bearded

It was a cloudy day in Canterlot. The sky was grey and the clouds were puffed and looked ready to bursting. The wind was blowing, sending a chill into the city. The few ponies that were out wore winter clothing. It would be normal but it's not since it's the month of April there shouldn't be any cold winds or dark clouds.

This was the problem Celestia was discussing with her council this council included the leaders of the Wonderbolt's, Spitfire and Soarin, Princess's Luna, Cadence and Twilight Sparkle, her brother Prince Shining Armor and the captains of the four royal guards. Captain Dusk Wing of Princess Luna's Royal Shadow Guard. Captain Dawn Guard of Princess Celestia's Royal Guard. Captain Storm Heart of Twilight Sparkles Royal Harmony Guard. Captain K. Rystal of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza's Royal Crystal Guard and last but not least Discord who has been made the Headmaster of the Canterlot Academy of The Arcane Arts.

Princess Celestia sat at the front of the round table, her mane gently flowing to the right, she had her sister and Twilight by her right. Cadence and Shining by her left. Discord, who had turned into a brown unicorn pony, sat at the end of the table looking out the window with a bored expression.

"So the bad weather reaches the Crystal Empire as well,are there any other reports Captain Rystal?" Celestia inquired as she turned her gaze to the captain. A stallion with a dark grey coat, dark eyes that held a steely gaze. His mane was white with a touch of grey, it was short and cut just like that of any colt in the military.

"No your highness, other than the strange weather nothing else is a miss." He said with a serious yet calm tone of voice. He was the oldest of the guard captains. Once he served as the captain for the rulers of the Crystal Empire before King Sombra's rule. He was ripped of his rank and his tittle and sent into the dungeons along with those guards who denied to serve the shadow king. But thanks to the heroics of Twilight and her friends, they were freed from their prison. Princess Cadence gave him back his tittle.

Captain Rystal swore to protect her and the kingdom and to never fail like he did all those years ago. "I have maintained the empire on high alert." He finished giving her his report on the subject and settled himself back on his seat.

"I see...Spitfire and Soarin, I know you are thinking as to why I asked the both of you to come here, seeing as how you and the Wonderbolts are the best fliers of Equestria I would like to know why the pegasi have not been able to clear the skies." She asked the mare and stallion. They both gave each other a quick glance.

"Your highness we have tried our best to clear the skies but no matter what we try the clouds just keep coming back. It's like they just- Soarin cut in to finish her sentence "It's like they regenerate, like a wound, but faster. Rainbow Dash of Ponyville even pulled off a Sonic Rainboom, to clear the skies at a larger scale. We thought it would work but the clouds just…spread back and blocked the sky."

Spitfire nodded "Yes…we apologize for our failure, we will keep trying to find a way to resolve this problem. Also…there has been rumors going around Cloudsdale…rumors of Windigos." Everypony in the room looked at Soarin.

Captain Dusk Wing, a pegasus with a navy blue coat, yellow eyes and a cut black mane looked puzzled.

"Windigos? But those are just old legends; nopony has seen them in 3,000 years." His voice was deep and melodic, the sort of voice that everypony couldn't ignore.

Twilight Sparkle cleared her throat "To be precise captain, the reason Windigos have not been seen is because the three races of ponies have been in harmony. As mentioned in Starswirl's personal journal Windigos are spirits that feed off the bitterness and hatred of living beings." She settled in her seat, adjusting her wings a bit.Twilight has been princess for only five years but in her short time she has accomplished much. To mention her greatest achievement was her discovery that pegasi and earth ponies could use magic in their own special ways. "I will do further research after the meeting is over, maybe there is something else causing these weather problems." She gave the captain an assuring smile which made him blush a little bit. Twilight did have that effect on most stallions.

Discord stood up and walked to the stained-glass window. "It could be Windigos." Princess Luna looked towards Discord, with a careful look. "And how does though inquire that the culprits behind these abnormal weather conditions are the windigos Discord?" She has been giving Discord a careful study ever since he has turned over a new leaf, she still did not trust him completely.

He chuckled and turned, his eyes showing a spark of mischief as always. "My dear Luna, we all know that just because something has not been seen in 3 millennium does not mean they no longer exist, I mean, look at me! I have been imprisoned in stone for over 2,000 years and I exist, don't I?" He walked over behind Celestia. "Now Celestia, I have turned over a new leaf and all, if you send me out there I could find you an answer but it will take me some time and I will need someone to take over my duties at the academy.If you trust me that is." He said as he poofed up a hot tea kettle and poured it into a cup.

Celestia smiled a bit. "Alright, I trust you, you may go to investigate but please, try not to turn the world upside down or make it rain chocolate no matter how much Pinkie Pie loves it." She still found it amusing how the pink party pony loved it so much.

Discord smiled brightly and appeared at the door wearing a traveling outfit; he looked like he was going on a safari. "Very well! I will try my best! Now then, au revoir!" He disappeared in a yellow flash that left behind confetti.

Luna sighed and placed her hoof on her forehead "Always looking to make a fool's exit, Tia...are you sure he can be trusted with this task?" Celestia looked towards her sister and smiled. "I trust him, and I think he is our best chance of finding an answer. Now, Captain Storm Heart, you are the youngest of the captains, I hope everything is well, you look as though you don't want to be here."

She asked the unicorn stallion, he indeed was the youngest; he had a deep honey gold coat, teal blue eyes and a dark brown mane that unlike the rest of the guards his was loose and well kept. He blushed a bit. "I uh, no your highness I am just fine, just...a bit nervous is all. Nothing to worry about." Twilight smiled and giggled slightly. "He is doing just fine Princess; I have to report that nothing odd is happening in Ponyville at the moment. Captain Storm Heart has made sure everyone is safe and sound."

This only made the young captain blush harder, the other captains getting a chuckle from the scene. Princess Cadence giggled. "Aww he's blushing come on now everypony let's ease off the young captain. I remember when a certain stallion got his position as youngest captain of the royal guard, he was so nervous he couldn't stop shaking." She looked at Shining Armor who blushed slightly. "Guilty as charged, don't worry, you will get used to the job. Now then, your highness, is the meeting done? Me, Cadence and the captain must return to Empire"

Celestia nodded. "Yes I have other matters to attend to as well." She stood along with Luna, everyone else resumed seated until she and Luna left. Everypony then stood and left the meeting room.

After the meeting, Twilight Sparkle along with her Captain, walked down the long white marbled hall, it was decorated with lavish silks on the ceiling and huge stained glass windows. Gold lined the columns of the hall. Storm Heart still looked baffled at the size of the Royal Palace.

"Still impressed I see. I know when I first walked down these halls; I had the very same look as you do now." Storm Heart only blushed again, making the princess giggle. "You are very shy, you sort of remind me of Fluttershy. But you are also very well organized although you and Spike share the trait of loving to sleep and eat snacks."

That made the captain chuckled nervously. "I uh…well I can't deny I have a lazy side. I…do have to ask again…why did you choose me to be the captain of your royal guard. I mean, you could have chosen someone older with more experience."

He always asked this to her, Storm Heart was a good pony but very doubtful of himself.

"I chose you because I know you can do the job right and because you have a good heart. So no more doubting yourself alright? That's an order captain." Storm Heart blushed again but nodded. "Yes ma'am, now uh do you have anything for me to do?"

Twilight stopped for a moment  "I have to find Clover the Clever's journal.Captain, I need your help to find it in the Canterlot Historical Vault." Storm Heart nodded but was a bit confused "If you don't mind me asking your highness, why do you need the book?" He asked as he followed Twilight by her side.

She looked at him with a soft smile but there was some worry in her look...as if she was hoping that the answer she had in mind was not true. "To review some cold history captain." And with that she and Storm Heart walked down the corridor of the castle and stood at the doors of the Canterlot Historical Vault.