//------------------------------// // Ch 19: Explanations // Story: My Little Dragon Ball: Icebound // by Tundricwolf //------------------------------// It was the early morning of the next day. The Siblings and the element bearers along with Spike, we’re all sitting at the train station, waiting for the train to arrive. “Jeez! Did we have to get up this early!?” Complained Rainbow Dash. The group had woken up quite early. The train to Canterlot took some hours so they had to get up early in order to get there in later in the evening. “Don’t be like that Dashie.” “Pinkie said. “You can get some sleep on the train.” “And don’t you get enough sleep enough with all your napping?” Spike butted in. The whole group had all seen Rainbow Dash, at various points in time, dozing on clouds multiple times. She often claimed she wasn’t dozing but simply resting her eyes. None of them believed that for even a second but none of them really cared to really argue with her on it. “Look, I just don’t like getting up this early in the morning, ok?” Rainbow said. The other just chuckled. Pinkie, as per usual, jumped up onto Arctic’s shoulder as her excitement flared up. “What do you think the Princesses want to talk about? Think they want us to help plan a party? Oh, or maybe they want us to be a part of super secret spy organization!?” Pinkie said slipping on a skintight black outfit with night vision goggles. “Ah don’t think it’s that Pinkie. Though, ah don’t know what the Princesses wanna talk about.” Applejack said. “Guess we’ll have to find out once we get there.” Twilight said as she let out a small yawn. A few moments later, with loud puffing and the blast of a whistle, the steam loco pulled into the station. The group all scurried onto the train desperate to find some seats and get a bit of sleep in before meeting with the Princesses. After nearing the Canterlot Station, and being awakened by the conductor, the group exited the train and begun to make their way to Canterlot Castle. As the walked, they all could see ponies staring at them. “I say, what are all of them staring at?” Rarity asked as she looked around at the ponies. “Oh, I know! It’s you!” Pinkie said. “Me? Why would they be staring at me?” Rarity asked. “Your face! You makeup! They’re all probably jealous of how sparklerific and dazzling your makeup looks!” Pinkie said as she bounced up and down looking at Rarity’s done up face. Rarity had spent a considerable amount of time putting on make up before getting to the train station. She wanted to look her absolute best and so she used her best makeup which seemed to shine and sparkle in the sunlight. “Oh my. Well, I don’t blame them. Not everypony can look as beautiful as moi.” Rarity said as she began to strut her stuff, trying her best to show off a bit. “I don’t think it’s you they’re staring at Rarity.” Said Tundra, catching Rarity’s attention. Looking to her, Rarity could see Tundra looking over to Arctic and Glacier. The two had uneasy expressions on their faces. She, along with all the others, began to put the pieces together. All of the ponies they walked past were staring at Arctic and Glacier. The ponies of Canterlot were all still quite afraid of the two and while some sat and stared in fear, a few retreated, doing their best to avoid them all together. The mood around the group had dropped quite a bit but after eventually reading the castle, their moods brightened. Entering the castle, the group was escorted to the throne room by a small regiment of guards. After one guard walked in, he announced the arrival of the group and they all walked in. Upon seeing the group, Princess Celestia gave a broad smile, Princess Luna was just observing them, specifically Winter, Glacier, Tundra, and Arctic. Princess Cadence, unable to help herself, rushed down and performed the “Sunshine Dance” with Twilight. The others couldn’t help but smile at that. “I’m glad to see you all made it here safely.” Said Princess Celestia. “Nothing bad happened on your way here did it?” “Well, no, except the fact that ponies still seem to be afraid of me and Arctic.” Glacier said, a bit of bitter sadness seeping from his voice. “Oh my. Well, my little ponies just need time. I’m sure they will warm up to you both quite soon.” Said Princess Celestia, giving them a warm smile. “Now then, first I would like to ask, Tundra, Winter, Glacier, Arctic, how are you four fairing in Ponyville?” Princess Celestia asked. The four siblings told her everything they had been experiencing while in Ponyville. The rather rocky first few days regarding Arctic and Glacier, how the two had become friends with the cmc, how the residents of Ponyville eventually came around with Arctic and Glacier. They even went over how they helped on the Apple family farm, sparring with Rainbow, and Spike teaching Arctic to use his Fire Elemental magic to send letters. “It sounds like you all have had a rather eventful few weeks.” Celestia said. “But that’s not what we wanted to talk about.” Cadence said catching the groups attention. “Arctic, Glacier, Winter, and Tundra, we wanted to learn about where you four came from.” “Where we came from?” Asked Winter. Celestia nodded her head slightly. “Indeed. Princess Cadence has explained that you four lived somewhere quite far from here.” “That’s right your highness. We lived in a Kingdom called the Blizzard Kingdom.” Tundra said. “We’ve never heard of such a kingdom. Thou art not lying to me, right?” Luna asked glaring at the siblings. “N..no you’re highness.” Stuttered Glacier. “Pray tell, is there a ruler in this kingdom?” Cadence asked. “Yes, there is Princess.” Glacier Answered. “Her name is Queen Snowblossom.” “Queen Snowblossom?” Asked Celestia? “Yes your highness. Do you know her by chance? She’s an Alicorn just like you three.” Arctic asked. The silence was deafening. The Princesses just stared all in various degrees of shock. The element bearers were also shocked. Even Twilight, who had pulled out a quill, ink, and paper to take notes, had stopped and stared. This unnerved the siblings greatly. “Another Alicorn?” Asked Twilight. “T..that can’t be right, can it?” “It’s true, our home is ruled by an Alicorn.” Winter said. “Uh, Princess, do you know who Queen Snowblossom is?” Asked Twilight looking up to Princess Celestia. “Neither my sister nor I have ever heard of this, Queen Snowblossom.” Celestia answered. “Mine sister and I have lived for centuries and have never heard of her.” Luna retorted. “If you would, could you please explain your home for us?” Cadence asked. With a nod, the siblings began explaining things about their home. How it started, how it advanced, the backstory of Queen Snowblossom, at least, what they knew, they even went over the smaller things. Fluttershy perked up when the sibling got into the various animals that live in the kingdom. Animals she had never heard of before. Rainbow dash got excited when she learned that the Kingdom also had something roughly like the Wonderbolts. Applejack was amazed to hear that the kingdom had massive farmlands underground and was curious as to how that worked. Pinkie Pie, who was sitting on Arctic’s shoulder, was already planning on a party to throw once she got to the Blizzard Kingdom. Rarity was imagining the different outfits she could design based around the Kingdom and wanted to go to see the fashion they had, and Twilight was just excited to go read the books they had. The Princesses just sat there. They were amazed and shocked to know that there was an entire kingdom they had no idea even existed, especially the fact that there was another Alicorn that existed. Getting into the Siblings lives there, Luna perked up. Hearing that the siblings had been training with their homes Royal Guard peaked her interest. Being a warrior herself, she had begun sizing the siblings up. They seemed tough, but, then again, she couldn’t see how the four of them were able to battle with Sombra and squeak out a win against the dark King. “If we may,” interrupted Luna, “we would like to see your might for ourselves.” “What do you mean, Luna?” Asked Celestia, looking over to the Alicorn of the Night. “Thou claims to have trained with Royal Guards. But we do not believe that. We wish to see for ourselves how mighty thou are. Come, let us use the training grounds. Prove to us that thou was strong enough to challenge and best the Dark King.” Luna said as she left her throne. The group was confused. Staring at Luna, and the looking to each other, the siblings followed. The element bearers and Princesses Celestia and Cadence followed after them. Reaching the training grounds, multiple guards could be seen training. Straw dummies, hay bales, targets, bows and arrows, and multiple different weaponry lay neatly against nearby walls. Princess Cadence, seeming to glow with sheer happiness plastered across her face ran forward directly towards a stallion. The stallion was big. He was shorter than Big Macintosh but bigger than Applejack. He wore no armor like the other guards, so his battle worn body was on full display. He held multiple scars from his time fighting in the Sombra War. His mane and tail were multi-toned with different shades of blue. His beard was scruffy but seemed to be well taken care off. His voice boomed and held a great sense of authority as he yelled at the other guards, trying to make them push themselves. Upon hearing the sound of a pony galloping toward him, he turned around. Flashing a smile he trotted up to Cadence and hugged her tight and kissed her on the lips. Watching the scene confused the group, but they couldn’t help but smile. Leaning over to Twilight, Applejack asked,” Hey Twi? You’ve lived here fer a while, right? Do yah know who that is?” Twilight, saying nothing, stormed over to the Stallion and Cadence. The stallion noticed twilight and his face lit up. “Twily! I didn’t know you were here. What brings you…” the stallion could finish as Twilight had interrupted him. “So, big brother, when we’re you going to tell me you and Cadence were dating?” Twilight asked. This shocked the others. They never knew twilight had a brother, but to also learn that he was dating a Princess? They all just stared then started looking to each other, questions all popping into their heads.