"Why did it feel like the land got hotter?" Sky asks out of the blue as he sips away at his drink in a fur coat. "Well let's see. What does the Northern Territory have?" Sky says ripping his axe out of a corpse of a pony.

"Try exploring. You can find many citizens in need of help." A soldier behind him said as he gives him a bag of gold.

"I plan to." Sky says keeping the axe as he walks away.

The soldier stares at him as he takes off as his soldiers finished off the bandit group. "Such a dark pony." He said to himself.

Sky yawns as he looks around and drops his empty mug and leans his head down to peer closer. "Better be something soldier. Or I'm coming for you." He said as the snow nips at his feathers.

After about an hour of flying, he hasn't found anything. He groans and flies down and lands on the ground at the top of a hill. "Nothing. Better head to a guild for jobs…" He stops as he perks his ears up and looks to see fire light shaking over the hill. "The heck…?" He asks as he rushes up the hill and stops at the sight of what looks like a camp under attack by heavily clothed ponies and griffons with some dogs. "Finally. Something to pay me." He said cheerfully as he takes out his axe and runs towards the fight, but stops and watches to avoid attacking both.

"Which ones?" He asks himself as he tries to peer closer. "Hum…the attackers probably won't pay me so…help the ones that live here. That will make them grateful and that can translate into payment." Sky says.

All the beings in the area fighting near the edge hear a happy yell and turns to see a pony in winter clothing waving an axe in the air as he cheers before chopping off the head of a heavily clothed and armored pony. "Okay, all those that live here, please leave or take cover." Sky orders as he chops off the head of another pony who was helping the first nearby.

Some of them look to him before they run off and Sky grins as he runs into the fight for those that didn't run and strikes down another right into the neck and gets his axe stuck before ripping it out and strikes onto another that was coming at him with a sword and slices through his stomach and kicks him away.

"Gods I love my life!" Sky cheers and swings and throws at another and hits one straight into his face as they start to run at him. "Come on!" He yells as his hooves glow with magic.

He then heard a loud cry of pain. He frowns as he punches the ground and sends out a magical shockwave that blew everyone away and onto the ground. "Excuse me." He said quickly before running off deeper into the camp and heads toward the large tent where he was sure the cry of pain came from.

Sky runs through the tent flaps and looks to see a large burly pony in some heavy armor standing over a bloody pony in lighter armor. Sky whistles and the large pony still standing look to him and was suddenly grabbed by his armor and was sent flying out of the tent. "Sorry, I'm late. I just flew around and found this place." Sky apologizes as he helps the pony on the ground up.

"Forget about me. My daughter will see to me. Don't let him escape." The stallion instructs.

Sky sighs and looks to the tent flap. "Okay." He said before rushing off out of the tent, but not before catching sight of a white coated mare with dirty blond hair in a braid with a battleaxe.

He frowns a little before running and jumps and flies as he catches sight of the retreating tribe and flies down toward them. "You better stop!" He yells and shoots shadow spears, separating the one he is chasing from the rest.

"You all stay." Sky said to the group as he advances onto the pony. "You're an idiot." He said before spinning and sending out a sea of shadow and makes the rest of the group back off.

"You, me, one on one." Sky says taking out his axe.

The pony growls to himself as he gets up and takes out his broadsword and holds it up before yelling out a battle cry and charges at Sky before Sky dodges to the side and knocks him on the back and sends hums stumbling before he recovers. "All assault. No bite." Sky said frowning.

The pony huffs and rushes toward him but stops short and takes a swipe at him and Sky ducks and moves his axe upward and locks the sword and swings it and sends the sword flying away before sending his axe back and catches part of his armor and makes it break off and away from them. "See. All assault." Sky mocks frowning as he holds out his hoof and sends out a ball of shadow and hits him where he tore off the armor and makes him bend over in pain.

Sky rushes up and throws himself onto him and hits him over the head with his axe and bends the head armor before the pony rolls over and throws him to the side before getting up and holds his sword up.

Sky groans as he gets back up before starting to striking him over and over again as he blocks different ways to find an opening. Sky frowns as he kept striking before suddenly turning himself and hits him with the back of his leg and makes him bend over in pain again and the spins and catches him on another part of the armor before ripping it off. "This is very bad armor." He said backing off as he holds his hoof behind him and charges up his magic.

The pony, seeing this, uses surprising strength to launch himself forward and slams himself into Sky before hitting him on the ground.

Sky groans as he looks up to see the pony hold him down with a hoof as he holds the sword above him before trying to swing down and Sky brings his hoof up and blocks the blade with his magic making a shadow shield. "Huh. So it did come in handy." He said before making the shadow wrap around the sword and makes it fly away off the pony's hooves. "Now get off!" He yells making a shadow blast and sends him flying off of him before trying to get up. 'Time to end this.' Sky thinks before using his shadow magic to throw the sword back at him.

The pony barely ducks to the side and the sword slices at his neck and makes a small cut and gets back up and looks to see where his sword went and sees it stuck in the shadowed sea still up before glaring at him.

"Sorry. I tend to do overboard things." Sky said teasingly and grins before swinging his hooves and makes shadow chains form and wrap around the pony before he whips his hooves and makes the rest of the armor come off before swinging again and makes a chain wrap around him and tightens it as he pulls slightly. "Now then, you lose." He said chuckling as he pushes him to the ground while keeping a hold on the chain.

The pony growls under his breath. "Heathen." He said and was about to continue when a staff hits the rocky ground, its echo getting everyone's attention.

Sky blinks and looks up to see a heavily robed pony that seems to be stronger than he looks frail. "Wow. The old pony, but heavily muscled type."

"Thank you." The pony said jumping into the shadowed sea and seems to pass right through it as he walks up to them. The sea of shadows dispelling as Sky looked with interest. "You seem to have better strength than this one here." He said as he picked up his staff and pokes the end of it onto the pony's head. "Now then, come. We have much to discuss with what you have done." He said walking away as the group still surrounding them parted ways for the old pony.

Sky raises an eyebrow as he sat on the chained up pony still frowning at him as both tribes seemed to have come together near an old tree that had a cloth hut nearby with strange symbols on it. "So…anypony can tell me what's going on?" He asks as the old pony, he now realized is a shaman, was doing something with a pot with another one.

"They are making a potion for this one here." The warlord leader he saved who is now heavily bandaged said as he looks to the chained pony.

Sky raises an eyebrow down to him. "Really? What for?" He asks tapping his hoof as the shaman kept chanting something.

"You talk too much. You know that?" The white mare from earlier asks.

Sky shrugs. "It's how I cope with problems. How else would I be able to do this?" He said making a shadow tendril move around with the shadows of the tree.

"This is basically what is going to happen. Because of what you did and how you did it, you earn this right." The chief said. "You earn this one as your personal slave." He said hitting the pony under him lightly. "However…he won't be useful to you like this, so our shaman will give him something to make it easier."

Sky blinks confused. "Wait, how is he useless? He's tough and can handle his own."

"Well, the personal slave has to breed foals for the winner." The chief said simply and makes Sky go wide-eyed.

"Wait…what tradition makes you do this?" Sky asks really confused.

"This was a way to combine tribes and keep strong bloodlines in check. He, and soon she, will be a tough pony to live with and bred strong foals as well. After all, how else are you going to lead us?" The chief asks smirking.

"What?!" Sky asks shocked.

The chief nods. "Yes. You will be the new chief after this is complete. Once he is your slave, you will lead our tribe to greatness." He said smiling happily.

"Father, don't speak like that. You are the chief." The white mare says.

The chief looks at her. "My daughter, I can't keep going like this. A new strong leader is needed. He is able to defeat this war chief. That is enough for me to pass on the leadership to him."

"Father, this isn't right. You should still be chief." The mare said.

The chief shows his bandages. "This is me holding out against him." He said pointing to the chained pony. "I can't keep it up. Sooner or later, I might lose or pass on. Who will lead our tribe then?" He asks shrugging. The mare stares at him before sighing and looks down as he leans over to Sky. "Keep it between us. That time might come sooner than you think."

"Wait. If he is to be chief, then that means…" She says in realization.

"Yes…congratulations." The chief said chuckling.

"Father. Please, at least not let that happen." She said worriedly.

The chief smiles gently. "Enjoy it my daughter. You do deserve such a powerful stallion."

"Wait. Does that mean she's…" Sky starts.

"Yes. After this, you will be wed to my daughter Snow Fury." The chief declares happily.

'Escape route! Escape routes!' Sky thinks, looking around frantically.

Snow sighs. "Great." She said facehooving.

"It is ready." The shaman suddenly said as gets a bowl and grabs some of the potions in it before walking over and makes the pony drink forcibly.

Sky gets off the pony as he shakes in the chains and makes them clink against one another before he sees the body start to glow. Sky stares in shock as the body frame starts to shrink and change shape into a more feminine form at the snout and then moves slowly downward as the rest of the tattered armor starts to slip off and fall to the ground as he seems to slip through the straps and bindings as he hears the heavy groaning start becoming higher pitched and more feminine screams before even the chains weren't enough and he slips through them and they dissipated away. Leaving behind a red mare with a brown mane, tail, and fetlocks shivering in slight pain as she curls up and tries to get over the heavy change as she is now half the size and weight of what she was once was.

"That should do it." The shaman said before rounding up his tribe and leaving with most of them with somber expressions.

Sky blinks a bit confused as the mare shivers more before slowly looking up at him and seems to look to him for some kind of hope. "Go on. Enjoy yourself." The chief said smiling.

"Father, inside before somepony freezes." Snow reminds.

"Right. Snow, take him and his new slave to his new home." He instructs.

Snow sighs. "Okay. Come follow me." She said walking away as Sky looks to the mare as she slowly gets up and crawls to him and hugs him before he is forced to follow as he hears a throat clearing heard.

"Here. This is where you can stay." Snow said frowning slightly to the mare following Sky as he walks inside. "Keep this one inside the whole time. We would be glad to give you something to her down if needed." She said almost glaring now.

Sky shakes his head as the mare keeps looking to him as she seems to be half his size. "No…I don't think that is needed. She doesn't appear to be wanting to leave." He said as the mare leans her head on him.

"Fine." She said stepping inside and closes the tent flap in the pelt filled tent with a pelt bed and floor with a chest nearby.

Sky looks to the mare and raises an eyebrow. "You need a name."

"Anything." She said happily nuzzling him.

"She can't use her original name. That pony is dead." Snow says setting her battleaxe to the side of her bed.

Sky hums. "Then it has to be something good. What's a good name for this new mare?" He asks out loud.

"Just pick anything…and don't even think about getting in my bed." Snow says harshly.

"I'm not that deprived." Sky said shrugging as she pets the mare who was enjoying it. "Long Cut. No. That sounds like a stallion." He said thinking to himself.

Snow says nothing as she covers herself up as Sky tries to think.

"Hum. Burning Blade?" He asks looking to the mare and she nods and smiles. "Burning Blade it is."

"Well I hope she is ready to do chores as starting tomorrow, I am putting her to work." Snow says.

"With your attitude, I don't doubt that." Sky mumbles as he gets onto another bed before Burning gets into the bed with him and snuggled into him. "So…um…we are basically married, right?" Sky asks Snow.

Snow clicks her tongue. "No, it's not. Not until the marriage ceremony." She mumbles at the end.

"And no way I can get out of it?" Sky asks.

"You leave, we consider you a disgrace and your slave stays with us." Snow said almost happily. "Also, we might kill you if you show up again."

Sky stares at Snow's back at where she was sleeping as he wraps a hoof around Burning. "Then I guess I shouldn't leave."

Snow's smirk fell at that.

"And I would lose my soon to be wife." Sky teases.

Snow glares at she turn her head to him. "You back off."

"So what does the wedding ceremony entail?" Sky asks.

"Wear your best, a wine drinking to commemorate us together, gold bands around our neck to show that we are wed, and then…the night…" Snow trails off.

"Where you tie me down and make me yours?" Sky asks.

Snow goes wide-eyed and turns and stares at him. "What?"

Sky shrugs. "You're tough. I wouldn't mind being the one who is on the bottom for a bit." He said rubbing Burning's back. "Besides, I believe any good leader needs a strong spouse to support him. Now give me the complete story. Who were they and why were you fighting?" Sky asks.

Snow stares at him before sighing and turning back around. "They are a rival tribe training to gain our own for themselves. The bigger tribe you have, the more respect you get and the more say when all the tribes convene together."

"And how many of the northern tribes are there?" Sky ask.

"Ten in all. Could have been nine if they won." Snow said waving a hoof.

"They won't. Did you see them walk away they were like they lost a war?" Sky says.

"We all did. After this, if you so choose to take my father's place, would be to occupy the tribe who left." Snow advises.

"So if they regroup and launch another attack, you can't win?" Sky asks.

"No. Not at the situation we have here." Snow said.

"You're right. They need to appoint a new chief first." Sky says.

"Then you better get busy." Snow said frowning.

"I thought we were sharing a bed yet." Sky jokes.

"Stay away from me." Snow grumbles as she wraps the blankets around herself more.

"Whatever you say, my lovely bride." Sky teases.

Snow groans and covers her head with the blanket.

"So how do you feel?" Sky asks the white mare on top of him.

Snow groans. "Terrible." She said laying her head on his chest.

"At least it is over." Sky says holding her.

Snow huffs. "Not yet." She mumbles pushing his hooves away.

"What do you mean?" Sky asks.

"There is still the matter of you being the future chief and the tribe that has left us. By the way, why we're swinging an old axe such as that one? You can't keep using old weapons unless it's a treasure of great power. You will embarrass us." Snow said.

"I lost it in my fight with…" Sky stops looking over to Burning who was up starting to heat up the fire to make breakfast.

Snow hums. "Then it's time to get a quality weapon. There is a nearby town with a blacksmith that can forge you a proper one."

"Which tribe does it belong to?" Sky asks.

"Horned creatures. Look like deer." Snow said sighs.

"So they are neutral and you mean there is no smith in town?" Sky asks.

Snow sighs. "They seem to be. And there is a smith in town. We just need to go there."

"Ok. Let me rephrase that. There is no smith in the tribe?" Sky asks.

Snow shakes her head. "No need as our weapons need to be considered long lasting for many generations. And being with many markings, one blacksmith is needed."

Sky could only facehoof hearing that, confusing Snow.

"What is wrong?" Snow asks looking to him.

"That is so stupid. A smith is essential." Sky says blunt enough to be compared to a mace.

"Don't question my father's choices." Snow said angrily.

"Well I am going to rule, then I make that kind of calls." Sky says, his joking completely absent.

Snow frowns and looks away. "So you are staying?"

"Well, we are married." Sky says his joking tone returning.

Snow lets her head hit his chest as she groans. "Don't lead us to our death."

"Now, what next?" Sky asks taking the opportunity to kiss her.

Snow eeps and pushes him away and frowns. "Now? You are to go to my father and gain the position and lead us as you so put it."

"Ok then. After you eat, can you go to the town and get me the axe you want me to have because I have something in mind." Sky says.

Snow sighs. "I'll see what I can do."

"Oh, and you might want to redo your braid as it has started to come undone from last night." Sky says placing a hoof on her flank.

Snow blushes and hurries to get off of him and starts to fix her mane. "Don't kill us."

"You're killing me with your beauty." Sky says smirking.

Snow growls under her breath as Burning holds up a bowl of some soup of her. "This better not be poison." She said glaring at her before starting to drink.

"So now that we are wed, what am I supposed to do with Burning?" Sky asks.

"She's your slave. She must stay like that as proof of your conquest. The tribe will have to respect you more because of this." Snow said frowning as she kept drinking the soup.

"And when we go off to battle?" Sky asks.

"Unless it is with another tribe, they will give some air of respect, but not all as the one you have bested." Snow advises.

"So when we go fight…what is the name of the tribe that attack and this tribe too?" Sky asks.

"They are the Stronghoof tribe. We are the Hagglethorn tribe." Snow said peeking out of the tent flap.

"Ok, so when we fight them again, should I leave her here?" Sky asks before leaning on Snow.

Snow frowns and pushes him off. "If you want her to survive, yes."

"Very well. See you soon." Sky says before kissing her again.

Snow tries to keep frowning before he pulls away and heads outside and Burning comes up beside her and holds up another bowl for her. "No."

"Also take Burning with you into town. Get her some proper clothes." Sky says peaking his head back in.

Snow groans and holds a hoof to her head. "Fine."

Snow stared, having just returned with Burning by her side as she got Burning a set of winter clothing that matches theirs, but she knew underneath she is wearing some very skimpy clothes for when it will be warmer for her to come out and wear. "What…is this?" Snow asks looking around the chief's tent.

Sky looks to them. "What? This place needed to be better made since it hasn't been touched in how long?" He asks looking to the old chief.

"Since I was put into this position around twenty years ago." He said shrugging.

"Right. So you got the axe?" Sky asks as the tribe was getting ready to wage war, not feasting like what Snow expected.

Snow sighs and puts the furred axe on the large chest with a map over it and shows it has intricate designs and symbols on the blade and handle. "Here. Guessing we are all marching to war?"

"Yes. We are attacking the Stronghoof tribe now." Sky says shocking her.

"But you have already defeated their leader. There is no need to attack them when they respect you this much." Snow said worriedly.

"I aim to conquer them." Sky says freezing her, making her father laugh.

"The rest of the tribe had the same reaction." He says.

"Father, you agree with this and after all, you have taught?" Snow asks still worried.

"What I feel doesn't matter. It is the chief's decision." He says.

Sky walks over to her and gives a small kiss on her cheek. "I'll make sure no one dies. I don't like dying on my watch. Now come on my wife." Sky instructs.

Snow sighs. "We'll follow you."

"There we go. Burning, stay here and look after the home." Sky says.

"Yes, master." Burning said happily.

"To war!" Sky declared holding his axe in the air.

Everyone else cheered as they hold their weapons above them as well as Sky hurries out and most of them follow behind as they kept cheering, leaving Snow, Burning, and her father behind. "Go on daughter. Be with him." He said taking a seat on a nearby pillow.

"You staying with the rest of the noncombatants?" Snow asks.

Her father smiles gently. "I cannot fight anymore daughter. That attack…left a heavy mark on me that I cannot get rid of. I have a feeling I won't see this new tribe and world to the end. Go with him and see that he does, though."

"Father?" Snow asks scared.

Her father looks at her happily. "I'm dying Snow. I cannot survive this wound for long. Not even the academy can save me."

"But…" Snow tries to say.

He shakes his head. "Not everypony can stay my daughter."

"Father." Snow says hugging him as he hugs back.