Chapter 3: Winter
“My lord,” a guard clad in silver heavy full-body armor as he burst into a rather large, highly decorated throne hall.
“What is it, Flynn,” said an alicorn who sat in the throne. This was Prince John Winter, Prince of the Kingdom of Solstice. He was the oldest being in existence, dating back to the time of the Alicorn Faust herself, and was patron god of life, knowledge, and logic. He was tall, taller than even Princess Celestia. His coat was pure white, and his mane and tail light shades of grey. He wore a crown but no other regalia, instead wearing a blue, fur-lined cloak with the White Tree of Solstice emblazoned on the back. He bore an eight-point star in two shades of blue as a cutie mark, and had blue eye that matched the darker shade of the blues.
“A message has come through the Contract Seal,” said Flynn as he struck the pose normal of a Solstice guard.
“What,” Winter said as he rose from his throne. “Who’s it from?”
“Princess Twilight Sparkle, my Prince,” said Flynn as he levitated the scroll from his satchel.
Winter grabbed the scroll with his magic and brought it before him. He examined it carefully, then slowly broke the seal and unrolled it.
Dear Prince Winter,
I need your help. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have been kidnapped. I know it is hard to believe, considering that they are powerful alicorns, but I have seen the evidence.
I believe the strange shadow creature that's lurking in the forest is what kidnapped them, and Cadence seems to be the only one able to harm it.
Please, help me. We're in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters.
Please, hurry.
Your former student,
Princess Twilight Sparkle
Winter lowered the letter, knowing what had to be done.
“My lord is something wrong,” asked Flynn.
Winter turned to Flynn. “Recall Field Marshal Stormcry, and prepare the armies.”
“Why,” asked Flynn.
“Blackness has returned,” Winter said before disappearing in a flash of light.
Meanwhile, in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters…
“Why can’t ya tell us who ya called,” asked Applejack.
“I told you, he’s an old friend,” said Twilight defiantly.
“With all due respect, maybe it would be best if you told us,” said Rarity.
“If she doesn’t want to say, then she doesn’t want to say,” said Cadence.
“Right,” Spike said with a nod.
They had been arguing like this from the moment Twilight had sent the message for help. Cadence and Spike were still on her side, but her other friends weren’t as trusting, and the circumstances weren’t helping at all.
As Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to make a fairly inappropriate comment, a blinding flash of blue light appeared in the hall, disorienting everypony for a few seconds.
Twilight was the first to recover, and looked around to see who or what had caused the flash. After a moment, her eyes came to rest on the chest of a tall alicorn in a blue cloak with white fur trim, with a white tree emblazoned on the back. She looked up into his deep blue eyes, knowing who this mystical alicorn was.
“Hello,” he said with a bow, “It has been too long.”
Twilight leapt into the stallion’s chest, feeling the muscles hidden beneath the smooth fur. She wrapped her forehooves around him.
“It has been to long Winter,” said Twilight, sobbing with joy.
“Now, now,” Winter said as her lifted her head with one of his forehooves, “Don’t cry. It’s not very regal, isn’t it.”
Twilight nodded but continued sobbing anyway. This went on for some time. In that time, the other ponies recovered and beheld the great alicorn that Twilight was hugging. They could not decide what was more shocking: the alicorn, or the fact that Twilight was hugging him.
After a while, Twilight calmed down, let go of the stallion, and turned to her friends.
“This is Prince Winter,” Twilight said. “He was one of my teachers when I was a filly, back when Celestia began training me.”
The other ponies and Spike were all stunned, except Cadence, who looked quite thoughtful. The thoughts going through all of their heads was ‘Twilight had another teacher?’ or ‘Who is Prince Winter?’ or ‘Where did that alicorn come from? And why haven’t we heard of him before?’
“It is nice to see you, Prince Winter,” said Cadence.
“Same to you, Cadence,” Winter said. “Sorry about the delays, but the shipment of wine should arrive in a few hours.”
“Good,” Cadence said. “I was wondering where it was.”
Winter nodded before his expression became serious. “Your letter said that Celestia and Luna had been kidnapped, and there is some kind of shadow being lurking in the forest.”
Twilight nodded. “If it weren’t for Cadence, that thing would’ve got me too.”
Winter began pacing. “What did Cadence do to drive off the shadow?”
“I used my magic,” Cadence said.
“Hmmm,” Winter said. “Your magic is based on love, correct?” Cadence nodded before Winter turned his attention to Twilight. “Did you attack it?”
“I tried to,” said Twilight, “But my magic went right through it.”
“Then it’s as I feared,” Winter said, “Long ago, before the coming of Celestia and Luna, a being of shadow, known only as Blackness, ravaged Equus. For centuries, his reign of terror left Equus in ruins. I kept my ponies in Solstice, but my hoof was forced when he dared to attack my kingdom.” Winter took a moment to catch his breath before he continued, “After exhausting every resource at my disposal, I used the Element of Love, the Seventh Element of Harmony, to attack Blackness. It was effective, and I managed to banish Blackness from Equus. Unfortunately, it seems he’s returned to finish what he started.”
“And what is that,” asked Twilight.
“Winter turned to Twilight, a grim look on his face. “To conquer all of Equus, and do so by any means necessary.”