Canterlot
Earlier that morning
Twilight Sparkle and her remaining friends sat in Doughnut Joe's doughnut shop in Canterlot. After receiving a letter from Princess Celestia yesterday afternoon, she had gathered up all of her friends and the next morning they boarded a train and headed to Canterlot. Since the Princess was in the middle of her court duties, her and her friends were stuck waiting until they were finished.
Pinkie Pie seemed to be the only pony with a high level of enthusiasm, jittering up and down in her booth suffering from a sugar overload from the at least thirty-six doughnuts she had already eaten. Doughnut Joe made his way over to the grils, another dozen doughnuts set atop a pan within his magical grip. The tan coated stallion set it down on their booth table.
"Cheer up, Twilight," he tried to uplift the alicorn, seeing the worried expression that dominated his muzzle. "I'm sure everything is just fine."
"But what if it isn't!?" Twilight threw her hooves into the air. "We haven't heard anything from at all since she left, and she was supposed to arrive today and now Princess Celestia wants us to meet with her. What if something happened? What if their ship crashed? Or the rebels got them when they arrived?"
"Ah'm sure it'll be alright," Applejack comforted her. "It's Rainbow Dash we're talkin' 'bout; ain't nothin' can keep that mare down. 'Sides, Pinkie's Pinkie Sense hasn't shown anythin' yet. So don't ya worry."
"Quite right, dear," Rarity added, taking a sip of her tea. "I'm sure Princess Celestia has some good news and would just like to tell us in person, that's all."
"The princess probably just wants to see you all in person," Doughnut Joe said.
"I guess you're right..." Twilight sighed. "You've been pretty quiet, Fluttershy. Anything on your mind?"
"N-no..." she replied softly. "Well, I-I mean yes. I-I'm just worrying about Rainbow Dash, same as you. She's so far from home, in a country she's never heard of before, and with three stallions she doesn't know."
"She know's that Phantom feller," Applejack said. "Sort-of, Ah guess."
Twilight sighed again, looking towards the wall on the clock. It was almost noon, soon Princess Celestia's court would be over. "By the time we get there, they should be finished," she said, climbing out form the booth. "We best not keep her waiting."
Twilight Sparkle and her friends entered the Canterlot Castle throne room. At the end of the red carpet they were on, sat Princess Celestia, next to her was Princess Luna. On either side of the alicorns, were a pair of Royal Guards. Shining Armor stood at the base of the throne's steps. Twilight shot him a worrying glance, to which he nodded, signaling her 'They're okay'. The lavender alicorn breathed a sigh of relief.
"Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student," Princess Celestia greeted, looking up from her parchment and quill. "I am happy that you could make it."
Twilight stopped in front of the throne and bowed. "We would have been here sooner, Princess Celestia, but I didn't want to interrupt your court."
"An interruption would have been most appreciated. Prince Blueblood was particularly... irritating... this morning."
"He insisted on lowering taxes on the rich, and raising them on the poor," Luna continued. "We... tried... to show him why that system would have problems, but he was insistant."
"Needless to say," Princess Celestia resumed, "I had my guards remove him for disorderly conduct. Now, I assume you are wondering why I called you here?"
Twilight nodded. "Is Rainbow Dash alright?"
Princess Celestia turned to look at her sister, who nodded in confirmation. "My sister has been maintaining a subconscious link with Rainbow Dash ever since she entered her dreams. She has assured me that young Rainbow Dash, and the rest of my Task Force, has arrived safely."
The present elements of harmony breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"As for the reason behind our summoning of you, there was been a development in the Glacien civil war." Twilight's ears fell back against her mane. This doesn't sound good... she worried herself. "I received a letter today which concerns me. It's not from King Centauri, or another Glacien Royal; instead, it's from the leader of the rebels, Nightingales, they call themselves." Princess Celestia levitated out a new piece of parchment from behind the throne. She cleared her throat, "Ahem,
Dear Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Sparkle, of Equestria,
I have received word that you have sent Equestrian Royal Guards to Glacies with the intention of helping to Glaciens in their fight against us. You have just put those four ponies, and the crew of that ship, in grave danger. I regret to tell you that they will likely not survive. It is not me you should worry about for being the cause of this, but instead blame the Glacien Government. They are not to be trusted. They are lying to you.
They claim to fight for justice, to restore peace and harmony in Glacies. This is not so. They claim that we torture and kill innocent civilians, that we ruthlessly burn villages and attack cities. It is quite the opposite, in fact.
In Glacien culture, there is a class known as 'Caren', it means lacking. Lacking as in somepony is not a true Glacien. Meaning, if you're not a pure-blood unicorn, and you and your entire family was born in Glacies, you're Caren. Caren makes up every class outside of nobility and royalty. Those who are considered Caren are looked down on, beaten, abused, extorted, foalnapped and murdered without a single glance from the king. Caren are not even allowed in the capital city of Aquila except as workers in the castle. The outlying towns and villages are supposed to be run by elected governments, but are run by corrupt guard chiefs instead.
As for me, I am the leader of a group known as Nightingales.
We are an ancient order tasked with the protection of the 'mythical' town of Palmyra, and the secret kept within it's castle. I won't bore you with the legend, I'm sure you're libraries contain the knowledge you seek. As you will learn, two thousand years ago, an ice dragon ruled over this land, his name was Boreas. After then Glaciens overthrew and imprisoned him in granite, much like you and your sister did to Discord. It is said that on the two thousandth anniversary of his imprisonment, if the ice crystal that was used is returned to it's receptor within the stone, he will be freed, and destroy the world. However, what is not said in those texts, is that King Centauri plans to free Boreas, with the hopes that he can control him, and take over the world. Nightingales are sworn to keep this from happening.
Princess Celestia, you are fighting for the wrong side. If King Centauri finds Palmyra, if he gets past us, if he gets the centerpiece jewel of his crown into the stone, Boreas will be released and the world will turn to ice. We can not allow this to happen. I beg you, princesses, help us. Please accept the gift included with this letter as food for thought. Despite what your books may say, Palmyra is very real. We do not have much time. The two thousandth anniversary of Boreas' imprisonment is in six days.
"I had my sister inspect the libraries for more information, and she tells me that the Legend of Palmyra is, unfortunately, a real legend."
Princess Luna nodded. Her eyes and horns lit up with blinding light. Everypony in the room suddenly found themselves in a magical sphere that depicted what the princess had read. "Boreas was an ice dragon that lived thousands of years ago. He is responsible for the ice that covers the region. During his reign, he used the unicorns of the area as his slaves in his home castle of Palmyra. One day, the unicorns decided to rise up. Seeking the help of other elemental dragons like Psyche, Wind, and Lightning, the unicorns received a special crystal, that once they used their collective magic with, along with the other dragons, managed to imprison Boreas in granite. They had hoped that once Boreas was gone, that Glacies would return to it's once fertile self, a state similar to Equestria. This didn't occur, so the legend says that Boreas is still alive within the stone, and controls the weather and spirits of the Palmyra forest."
"Palmyra has never been found. So, over time the story was changed from non-fiction, to legend, and is now mostly regarded as a myth. These Nightingales were the ones to imprison Boreas, and apparently are they only ones convinced of his reality, and are the sworn protectors of the site." The magical sphere disappeared, and Luna returned to her normal self.
Twilight nodded in understanding, taking mental notes of what they said. "Princess Celestia, you said that this Nightingale leader included something with the letter?"
"Yes, this flower." Princess Celestia levitated out a small, pink flower with an emerald green stem from behind her throne, and levitated it in front of Twilight, who accepted it in her own magic.
"What is it?"
"Um, I know," Fluttershy whispered, stepping up to the lavender alicorn. Everypony looked at the yellow pegasus in anticipation, eagerly awaiting the news. This new-found attention ate at Fluttershy's shyness. "I-I-It's a Cherry Blossom."
"My, it certainly is beautiful," Rarity remarked. "I would love to have them on my dresses!"
"Ah assume this Nightingale gal got this 'ere Cherry Blossom from where ever she is?" Applejack wondered. "An' isn't that Glacies place completely covered in ice?"
"You're right!" Pinkie yelled. "They must be using their unicorn magic that you told us about last week to grow them in the cold!"
"That would require a lot of energy..." Twilight rubbed her hoof on her chin thoughtfully. "I doubt that they would use precious resources just to make flowers grow to make things look pretty."
"The Legend of Palmyra mentions these flowers," Princess Celestia said. "All of Glacies is covered in ice, and is very cold, except for one place: Palmyra. It's told that the town of Palmyra and it's outlying area have a moderate temperature, grass, and is covered in these Cherry Blossom trees. Why? we don't know."
"Oh oh oh!" Pinkie jumped up and down. "We can figure out for you!" Suddenly, an inspector's hat appeared on her head, and a magnifying glass in her hoof, along with a corncob pipe that blew bubbles in her muzzle. "It'll be like a mystery adventure! And we'll get to solve it and be super-duper-awesome-detectives!"
Applejack facehoofed. "Pinkie, Ah don't think that's what teh princess had in mind fer us."
Princess Celestial held a hoof to her muzzle to suppress her laughter at Pinkie Pie's antics. "Actually, Applejack, that's exactly what I had in mind for you and your friends."
"What!?" the group collectively gasped.
Shining Armor cleared his throat. "Lieutenant Echelon?" he called.
"Yes, sir?" responded the guard to Princess Celestia's left.
"Could you take the Elements of Harmony to the E.A.S. Constellation, please?"
"Aye, sir," the guard saluted, nodded at the girls to follow him, and proceeded to leave the throne room. "The Constellation is the fastest air ship in the Equestrian fleet. We'll get you to Ponyville to grab SOME things, then head to Glacies. We will arrive in about three days."
Glacies
Present time
Phantom, Stryker, and Archer arrived outside the Glacien command tent to the sound of laughter coming within. He pushed his way inside through the flap to see Rainbow Dash sitting in a chair across the map table from Prince Castor. She seemed to be telling a harowing story, judging by her tone and hoof expressions.
"So with all of my awesomeness," she told the prince, "I decided to charge head long into the cave, not once worrying about my safety, and I kicked that snot-nosed dragon in the nose! Wham! I kicked him right on the nose!"
Prince Castor seemed taken aback by her words. "Wow," he gasped, "you actually kicked a dragon in the face?"
"Hehe, yeah... It didn't go so well, though. I don;t even think that dragon felt it. He just swatted me away like I was some bug, into my friends, and into a rock."
"Kicked a dragon... wow... I've never heard any tale like that outside of my text books."
"That's what happens when you mess with my friends. Anypony who's anypony knows not to mess with my friends."
Prince Castor appeared to gulp, before taking notice that Phantom, Stryker, and Archer had walked in. "You must be the others who assisted in my rescue from those... Caren... I can't thank you enough."
"Just happy we found you," Phantom said, holding out a hoof to the prince. "Staff Sergeant Phantom Knight, Equestrian Royal Guard."
Instead of shaking his hoof, the prince merely stared at it with disregard. "I'll assume you'll wish to hear about my capture?" Phantom nodded. "Quite. You can take a seat and I'll use this map to help me explain what happened, and, indicate where I think I was. I was trying my best to keep track of my location."
Phantom took his seat at the head of the map table, with Prince Castor and Rainbow Dash across from each other on the opposite side. Stryker and Archer took seats between the others. As Prince Castor began to recount the day's previous events, Phantom could tell right off the bat that they were being egged on, and details were being stretched. Prince Castor was exaggerating and using wild hoof motions, all the time keeping his main focus on Rainbow Dash.
"My father sent me out here, being the greatest officer in our military, to help look for Palmyra. We have some leads, but they're deep within this harrowing forest." Phantom rolled his eyes. Wasn't too bad... "So when I arrived at this camp, I took my best guards, and we headed into the forest. At first, we found nothing. But it wasn't too long until we ran into a pack of wolves. Of course, my guards cowered in fear, but I, I stood alone, and made sure the wolves got no where near my guards—"
Done! Phantom mentally protested. Pulling out the Cherry Blossom from his leg pocket with his wing, he set it on the table in front of him, and began to slowly spin it counter clockwise. Phantom leaned back in his chair, continuing to carefully spin the flower. How did you get here?
"How can you be lost? Don't you remember what she said? 'Follow the flowers'?"
"Follow the flowers."
"Follower the flowers..."
Phantom grasped the flower in his wing, and held it near his muzzle. It seemed perfectly healthy given the environment. The smell that emanated from it, sweet. It's texture, soft. It seemed to radiate it's own, dim, soft, light that warmed him. He even took note that the two feathers that grasped the flower, were slightly warmer than his others.
"What are you?" Phantom questioned to himself in a whisper. As intended, no pony hear him. Setting the flower back on the table, he continued to recount the day's notable events.
"You know nothing of this war, Equestrian," the Nightingale's voice echoed in his mind. "We're the good guys. The Glaciens are tricking you. King Centauri wants to free Boreas! He thinks he can control him and conquer the world! We're trying to stop him! Just... ask... your Glacien... friend...
"Glacien... friend..."
Phantom's eyes moved from the flower, to the tan unicorn across from him. Stryker.
Said unicorn appeared to feel Phantom's gaze on him. He glanced back at the pegasus, down at the blossom, searched around the map before focusing on a single point, then glancing back at Phantom; quickly, he turned his attention to the story that Prince Castor was telling.
"I tried to fight back," the prince told, "but they all tackled me at once! I couldn't move! I managed to knock one of them out with a spell before they put a magin inhibitor on my horn."
"That's some tale, Prince Castor," Archer said. "Did you get close to their base?"
The prince shook his head. "Unfortunately not. Not long after they captured me, we got caught in a storm and became lost. They kept mentioning something about flowers. But we don't grow flowers in Glacies, and they've never known to be naturally growing. Except..."
"Except?" Rainbow asked. "Except what?"
"Well, in the Legend of Palmyra, it mentions something. Cherry Blossoms. The legend talks about how Palmyra isn't frozen. How it's a perfect utopia, with flowing grass and is covered by Cherry Blossom trees." He looked at the flower being spun by Phantom. "Cherry Blossoms like that." Now that every pony was looking at him, Phantom stopped spinning the flower in circles and at least pretended to pretend to pay attention. "Every Nightingale we've encountered has had one on them. We haven't been able to confirm the source, but... we think it's Palmyra..." The price looked towards the tent flap. "Captain Cypher?"
A moment later, the unicorn in question entered, bowing to the prince. "Your highness?"
"Captain, I assume you sent word back to my father that I'm alive and well?" The guard nodded in reply. "Very good. Prepare the train, if we leave now we should arrive early afternoon."
"As you wish, your highness." With a final bow, Captain Cypher once more disappeared behind the tent flap, into the dark and cold Glacien night.
Prince Castor cleared his throat, and rose from his chair. "I'm sure my father and mother have been worried." His gaze landed on Rainbow Dash. "It would do me a great pleasure if you would accompany back to Aquila. My father would likely enjoy meeting his son's savior."
"Uhh..." Rainbow Dash gaped, and looked to Phantom for an answer.
The pegasus stallion sighed. "Well... I guess our mission is complete... we did find you, after all. I feel like we could do more staying here, searching for Palmyra."
"Nonsense!" The prince shouted joyfully. "There's nothing more that you could do to aid the search than my guards can."
"Ahem..." Phantom flared his wings, reminding the prince that he had the capability of flight over the unicorns.
"Right, sorry. I'm not used to being around Car— I-I-I mean pegasuses."
"Pegasi..." Phantom growled, knowing full well what the prince was about to call him.
"Yes... pegasi... sorry." Again, the prince looked at Rainbow Dash. "Miss Dash, if you'll step outside, there's something I'd like to tell you."
Rainbow opened her muzzle to speak, but Phantom beat her to it. "We're a team, Prince. We stay together. Where she goes, we go. What she hears, we hear."
"Well I didn't say you couldn't come along, did I?" The prince indicated for Rainbow to follow him through the tent flap.
On the other side, Prince Castor, Rainbow Dash, Phantom, Stryker and Archer all emerged into the night, surrounded by a half circle of guards. It must have been at least every guard in the entire camp! Some stood with torches, illuminating everypony. In the center, Captain Cypher stood with a red velvet pillow in his magic, over top of it was a small red velvet blanket. Prince Castor moved to his side, and directed his attention to the same place as the rest of the guards: Rainbow Dash.
"Miss Dash, I can't thank you enough for what you did. You saved my life. I'm forever in your good graces because of it. Th-This is sudden, I know. But, there's only one way I can think to fully show my appreciation for you. Your bravery, compassion, charisma, loyalty, and... beauty... are all qualities of a position most befitting of you."
"He's not..." Archer gasped.
"He can't... can he?" Stryker groaned in reply.
"Rainbow Dash," Prince Castor bowed to the snow on a knee, along with the rest of his guards.
"He is..." both Archer and Stryker whispered in unison. Rainbow began to go slack-jawed, putting the pieces together. Phantom merely stood to the side, unamused by the pomp and faire.
"As the Prince of Glacies, by the power of my father: King Alpha Centauri; and my mother: Queen Omega Centauri; and the graces of my sister: Princess Adromeda. I, Prince Castor, declare you, Rainbow Dash, a Princess of Glacies!" Captain Cypher used his magic to pull the velvet blanket from the pillow, revealing a brilliant silver tiara, with a sapphire stone centerpiece.
the E.A.S. Constellation
Pinkie Pie woke suddenly from her slumber. She looked around the sleeping cabin as if searching for a strange noise. Her nose began to itch, and try as she might to scratch it, it wouldn't go away. Twilight Sparkle, who was sitting in the corner reading a book by candle light, noticed the distressed earth-pony.
"Something wrong, Pinkie?" Twilight asked.
"My Pinkie Sense is tingling!" Just as she finished her sentence, the pink mare began vibrating in her spot uncontrollably.
"Wha?" Applejack mumbled. "What in tarnation is goin' on?"
"It's my pinkie sense! It's a super-doozy, too! Something absolutely-positively-super-duperific-seriously-incredible is happening!"
"Tell us, dear," Rarity spoke, waking from her sleep. "Is it good or bad?"
"I-I-I-I-I- d-d-d-o-o-o-n-n-n-t-t-t-t-t k-k-k-n-n-n-n-o-o-o-o-w-w-w!!!" Pinkie stopped vibrating, and for a brief moment nothing happened.
"I-I guess it's over?" Fluttershy dared.
"Huh," Pinkie wondered, tapping her barrel. "That wasn't like any doozy I've had befo—" Before Pinkie could finish, her friends watched as she took off like a rocket, bouncing at high speeds off of every surface aboard the ship. Glass broke, wood splittered, fabric was ripped. The ship itself began moving uncontrollably through the skies, banking left, then right, then completing a barrel roll before pulling off a back flip. "Now this is a doozy!" the mare cheered.
"PINKIE!" the passengers and crew of the Constellation managed to yell at the same time, their voice being lost into the ever-growing-cold sky.
Glacies
The Glacien guards errupted in boisterous cheer. "PRINCESS!?" Archer and Stryker yelled, their jaws dropping to the snow.
Phantom face-hoofed. "Celestia help me..."