Princesses Celestia and Luna looked over the mostly frozen city of Canterlot. The pegasi were finished defrosting Ponyville and had arrived to defrost the city. She saw multiple ponies frozen in ice.
Princess Luna said, “So the windigos did invade.”
Princess Celestia said, “We know they want to break the seven seals.”
“But sister,” Luna said. “Only you can break the fifth one.”
“I know,” Celestia said. “There’s no doubt they will come after me again.”
The two princesses look again at the city.
“So this is what will happen if we allow them to go unchecked, huh?” Luna asked.
Celestia nodded. The two princesses left to meet with Twilight Sparkle and her friends.
Gale Force was in Canterlot’s hospital. He was among several other ponies being treated there.
Cloudchaser, Flitter, Thunderlane, and Star Song were at his bedside.
“What were you thinking?!” Cloudchaser scolded. “You could have been seriously hurt.”
“I had to stop her. She killed Over Cast!” Gale said.
“You couldn't lay a hoof on her.” Cloudchaser said. “And she was battling Celestia and she was enough of a match for her without you charging in like that! You think Over Cast wanted you to die like that?”
Thunderlane said, “Who is Over Cast?”
Gale sighed.
Flitter said, “Over Cast was another member of this team.”
“So where is she now?” Thunderlane said.
“She’s gone,” Gale said. “It’s it’s all her fault! The queen of the windigos killed her.”
Thunderlane said, “That’s horrible.”
Star Song said, “I agree with Cloudchaser. Gale, you could have been killed there.”
The team left Gale Force’s room. They hoped that Gale would recover, and that he would cease his lust for revenge.
In another part of the hospital, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Shining Armor, And Princess Cadence looked at the patients of the hospital. After the invasion, several ponies have to be defrosted and checked for hypothermia and other cold related effects. Several other ponies were at the hospital to be checked for depression and anything related to the changelings feast.
“Are they going to be alright?” Twilight said.
“I don’t know,” Shining Armor said. “Canterlot and Manehatten have the best doctors in Equestria, but the attack was extensive and we have to deal with two invasions.” He looked to his sister and his fiance. “Thanks for snapping me out of it.”
“You’re welcome,” Twilight said.
“You should check on your friends,” Cadence said.
Twilight remembered that Rarity was wounded today, and that the Cutie Mark Crusaders were at the hospital as well. Twilight and Spike left the room.
Silver Spoon was in a different part of the hospital. She was familiar with hospitals since she saw Diamond Dust’s coronation. She wondered, ‘Why couldn't I help her. What’s wrong with me?’
She knew that Diamond Dust could have frozen her easily. And the windigos could have done the same before she could even confront her.
‘There must be something I can do,’ Silver Spoon thought.
Just then she saw Lyra and Bon-Bon enter her room.
“Hey there,” Lyra said.
“Hey,” Silver Spoon said. She noticed that Lyra’s lyre had red strings now. “What are those?”
“Oh, Bon-Bon gave me these strings,” Lyra said.
“The shopkeeper said that they were used for some sort of special spell or something,” Bon-Bon said. “I can’t remember the details.”
The three chatted in Silver Spoon’s room.
A few minutes later, Twilight Sparkle went into the room where Rarity and the Crusaders were kept. Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie were also in the room.
Rarity’s wound was bandaged up. She said, “Ah, Twilight, you’re here.”
“Hey,” Twilight said. “How’s your hoof?”
“It’s fine,” Rarity said.
“The doctor said that her leg will heal in a few days,” Applejack said. She looked at her sister.
Celestia and Luna entered the room.
“Princess,” Twilight said in shock. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve heard about the fillies,” Celestia said.
Luna went to examine the Crusaders. She saw the icy legs, wings and horn on them. She used her horn to further examine them. “Tell me, did they recognize any of you?”
“Not at first, Princess,” Applejack said. “They just attacked us.”
“I don’t get it,” Rainbow Dash said. ‘Why did they side with the windigos?”
“The mind of the subject will desperately struggle to fill in memories where none exist,” Luna said.
The mares were confused by Luna’s words.
Luna said, “Were they carrying anything when you saw them?”
Applejack said, “Apple Bloom had a red sword on her.”
“Sweetie Belle had some scales,” Rarity said.
Rainbow Dash said, “And Scootaloo tried to dice me with some freaky green scythe.”
Twilight remembered something. She said, “I think that these items may have been three of the windigos’ four talismans.”
“You are correct,” Luna said. “The windigos have used them to house their memories, all of them. The memories are sealed inside the talismans and their dreams, their subconscious.”
“So you mean they brainwashed them?” Fluttershy asked.
“But why?” Rarity asked. She remembered that the Crusaders had those talismans when they were statues.
“The talismans attract themselves which ponies to bring strife,” Celestia said. “They are four of the seven seals.”
“Hold on,” Pinkie Pie said, “Where’s the fourth?”
“It stands to reason that the Crown of Conquest is on the head of the windigo queen,” Celestia said. She recalled her fight with Diamond Dust.
“So what do we do?” Applejack said.
“I think I have a way,” Luna said. “I know of a ritual to help you restore their memories, but...”
“But? Pinkie Pie said.
“This ritual is highly dangerous,” Luna said. “If anything goes wrong during or after the ritual, you might be trapped in the talismans along with them.”
“We have to try something!” Applejack said.
Luna said, “The ritual that I’m referring to needs the talismans to reform. And we need somepony who can play a lyre and play it well.”
“What about Lyra?” Pinkie Pie said.
“Come to think of it,” Applejack said. “Her friend got her got some crazy strings I used for the lifeline.”
“Were these strings red, by any chance?” Luna asked.
Applejack nodded.
“Very well,” Luna said. “I shall seek her assistance, but we still need the talismans to reform before we can attempt the ritual.”
Celestia said, “I'll have what’s left of the royal guard move the fillies to the castle. It’s too dangerous to leave them in this hospital any more.”
The group left the room. Applejack and Rarity looked back at the unconscious Crusaders before leaving.
Small red, black, and green spheres of light appeared inside the room and converged. The lights formed certain shapes.
In the skies near Canterlot, Diamond Dust confronted Legion.
Diamond Dust shouted, “I can’t believe it. This plan of yours failed! We lost half of our army, including our so-called servants, and we didn’t freeze Celestia. I quit!”
Legion smirked. He knew the real reasons that Diamond Dust wanted to leave. He knew that she was tired of causing misery, and that Celestia told her about his true leader. He said, “Ah, but you can’t quit.”
“Watch me!” Diamond Dust said. She tried to trot away, but Legion froze her hooves together.
“I told you,” Legion said. “As queen, you will stop our famine, one way or another.”
The ice creeped around Diamond Dust’s hooves.
Legion said, “If you don’t help us break the seven seals, well, I’m certain the hatred you have gained, whether as queen of the windigos or a mere schoolyard bully, shall be delicious.”
Diamond Dust tried to break free of the ice, but the ice continued towards her body.
Legion said, “Besides, even if you do cease to become our queen, nopony would want you back. You betrayed them and they will give you no ounce of sympathy.”
The ice continued to creep until her neck was frozen. Diamond Dust realized that Legions was right. She knew that after all that she’s done, the citizens of Equestria would shun her. She knew that most of the citizens hated her guts. She had no choice.
She let out a heartbroken and defeated, “Fine, you win.”
The ice on her body began to melt.
Legion said, “Excellent.”