Twilight awakened to the sun shinning in her face, as she fluttered her eyes she saw the ice covered floor bordering the warmth that surrounded her. as she looked up she saw a sight she had prayed was just a nightmare she had. but as she tried to wink what dream may still lingered in her mind it became harsh reality. it was no nightmare.

Twilight slowly got up, she looked around taking in her surroundings, they were still in the train station, but it was morning now. the sun was where it was supposed to be at that time. Twilight was groggy, her side was sore and hooves were freezing. she's been undressed from her winter gear and was now shivering from the cold.

"Oh your awake."

Twilight looked up and saw, sitting in a waiting bench was Nyx, with a sandwich on a plate and a cup of hot tea, she levitated it towards Luna, laying next to the lantern, she was shivering and from the looks of it, 'Borrowed' Twilight's winter gear.

"I'm sorry we didn't have anything in your size, Princess Luna." Nyx said passing the tea to Luna.

Luna sniffed the tea, though she immediately drank greedily, it was obvious whatever effect the ice had, if the pony was freed abruptly they would be dehydrated, hungry, and cold.

Luna shuttered in response, it didn't feel that cold, but to her it felt below zero. "t-t-t-t-thank Y-y-y-you, I-i-i-it's q-q-quite Alright-t-t-t."

Twilight slowly got up and sat down near the lanterns, unlike firefly lanterns, these use oil and fire, but they also keep a pony warm at night if used correctly especially with the correct enchantments.

after a few minutes, Luna finally was able to stop shivering, she cleared her throat a bit as she poured more tea. Twilight was about to protest, they needed to conserve their food. but Princess Luna was very Dehydrated, and she needed it more at the moment.

"Princess Luna, Did you raise the sun?"

Luna only nodded as she sipped the tea, though she still drank quite a bit at a time. proper etiquette was taking back seat to survival and the need to warm up.

"I had to. if I didn't Equestria would freeze." Luna said as she took another drink. "I am sorry you must be needed all this food and here I am gorging myself."

Nyx pushed the bag of food to Luna. "No it's alright. Twilight and I are on our way to Hollow Shades to find the Tomb Saddle Tor. we think whatever's causing this might be there, or at least some way to stop it."

"then you do need the food." Luna said about to put the sandwich she was about to eat down.

Twilight however levitated it back up to her. "it's fine, Princess. your the first pony we were able to free from the ice successfully, and you look like you need it. so please eat."

Luna said nothing and ate and drank as much as she could without getting sick. Twilight fixed herself her own sandwich and tea, but also took food stocks. in a way, Luna was right, they needed the food. but they were also in canterlot. they can restock here.

"Saddle Tor, you are going to the tomb of the Knights of Harmony?" Luna asked. nibbling on a sandwich.

Nyx nodded. "it's the only lead we've got."

"Then you are on the correct path." Luna began, taking another sandwich, feeling regret as she dwindled what food Twilight and Nyx, could be the only hope Equestria, had. "this morning.... No.... yesterday morning." Luna was trying to set her mind straight on the time frame, eventually straightening herself out. "my sister and I noticed the ice on the ground, we saw it start to encase Canterlot. but it's when the ground and ponies began to freeze over and loose color that we knew."

"Queen Ryugu was returning." Twilight finished. "by why now? don't equestia's bad guys like to wait a thousand years before coming back? Queen Ryugu was the first Alicorn to rule. that was WAY longer then that."

Luna set down the tea cup and handed it back to Nyx, to the filly's surprise it was completely empty not even a drop. immediately she began to brew more with no complaints to stop from anypony.

"it is true," Luna Began. "but Ryugu has been locked in a Pocket Dimension by magic and a pony soul. it is not easy to break such a seal. but to do so takes time, energy. but something must have aroused her to begin to be able to feed on Equestria again."

"I've studied spells and spell locks that used fractions of a Pony's Soul. only way to undo or break them is with help from another outside the realm she's in." Twilight theorized, who would do this, and Why? what would they possibly gain by killing Equestria itself?

"Princess Luna, is there a possibility you can free Princess Celestia?" Nyx asked. fidgeting her hooves, her bruised hoof now fully healed and free of the bandage.

"I think I can. I'm not One Hundred Percent, but I am certain I can. though I fear she may need more warmth and food then I did." Luna said, already she knew it be way more then the two had. "But I promise you will be restocked from the royal pantry itself!"

Nyx stick her tongue out. "blech, Please. no fancy food!"

Luna giggled. "do not worry little Nyx." she leaned over to her and whispered. "I don't care much for the stuff either, nore does my sister. besides. we got Twinkies!"

"YEEESS!" Nyx shouted happily. "Twinkies are awesome!"

Twilight giggled and had her own sandwich and tea. "uhm, Princess. I could probably enchant your royal attire to ward off the ice for you?"

At that moment Luna looked at herself, realizing she robbed the unicorn's winter gear, as cute as she looked with small winter booties, winter saddle, and purple scarf, she immediately blushed and returned the stolen items.

"I beg your apologies, it was no way for me to act."

Twilight giggled and put her gear on, feeling the snuggly warmth of her boots, oddly enough she and Luna had the same hoof size.... that or Luna shrank recently.

"It's quite alright, Princess Luna. you were freezing." Twilight said as she finished her sandwiches and tea.

returning to where Celestia was, Luna looked over her sister. the grey has moved up her legs and were now at her chest. life beginning to leave her eyes, Luna's ears wilted as her horn began to glow.

"she's so far gone now." Luna's eyes began to tear. "but not beyond hope!" Luna began to scowl as her horn glowed brighter. "I'll need your assistance to help Celestia warm up immediately."

Nyx looked at Celestia then tapped her chin with her booties covered hoof. "Wait, she's like a battery right now. if we take her out now the cold will kill her!"

"Nyx is right!" Luna said. "please get all the blankets, lanterns, and any other warmth you can find!"

Twilight then gave Nyx the key the conductor pony gave her. "here go to the locker room and see if maybe something else is in there too."

Without a word Nyx galloped off, once again using her wings as leverage to make herself lighter on her hooves. she returned with every blanket, lantern, and even food she could carry in a trip. then she went to the locker room and searched for the locker number engraved on the key.

"38-B, 38-B.... uhm..."

she looked around before reaching near the end, the filly chirped as she found the locker. "38-B! found you! PLEASE have something inside!"

She inserted and turned the key, making the locker happily open what secrets it held. inside lay a thermos for hot cocoa, a heat lamp, some noodles, 300 bits, and a hunting Knife, no doubt the train staff weren't allowed to carry a weapon while doing work, and the knife looked to be a present for somepony, his colt maybe? he did however say to help themselves to it, and a Hunting Knife may come in handy. Nyx went up to a Desk and took a quill and parchment, quickly writing a letter.

"Dear, Mr. Conductor pony

thank you for letting us use your stuff. we are going to free Princess Celestia with Luna's help, We're also taking the Hunting Knife, I understand if you'd get mad, but I can't help but feel we'll need it. I will return it to you when we're done, and if anything should happen to it, I'll buy you a new one. And we may need the bits for food and supplies too, but I'll try and pay you back.

Sincerely,

Nyx and Twilight Sparkle."

Finishing the Parchment, Nyx rolled it into a scroll and set it inside the locker. after taking everything inside she left the key hanging from the side before gliding back to the platform.

"I found a space heater!"

Luna smiled. "WELL DONE, NYX! please turn it on and we'll have Celestia freed immediately!"

------

Like Luna before her, Celestia sprawled and flailed as she fell on the floor of the Train Station. the princess of the sun shivered and looked around, the Space Heater worked amazingly well, they took their shelter once again in the waiting area of the station, Celestia shivering as she drank and ate. though either due to how close to death or due to her size, Celestia ate more ravenously. no sandwich or pie survived.

Nyx opened the bags filled with the stuff she got from the conductor's locker and passed Celestia the thermas. "Here. it's Hot cocoa. the thermos is enchanted so it's always----"

Celestia immediately snatched the thermos and chugged the contents down. ignoring the searing heat of the cocoa inside. after a couple more sandwiches, Celestia slowed down, panting from the heat and realizing her behavior.

"Warm." Nyx finished.

"Oh, I'm sorry Nyx. please. I did not mean to let myself go like that." Celestia said, her ears wilting. "I couldn't control myself...."

Twilight smiled and offered another sandwich, the last sandwich. "it's okay Princess Celestia. you were so far gone. you were almost all grey. from what we learned of Princess Luna, the effects of being so abruptly freed like that made you weak, dehydrated, and basic survival instincts took control."

Celestia took the sandwich, though she ate more normally she was not one bit filled up. "Great, now I'm going to loose every bit of success I had not gaining weight this year."

Luna stifled a giggle and rolled her eyes. "at any rate. Twilight and Nyx here are on a journey to Saddle Tor."

Celestia paused in mid bite of her sandwich, darting glances at the two. "So it is as we feared, Ryugu is back."

Luna nodded in agreement. "And since you and I have quickly dwindled their food stores, we'll need to resupply them."

Celestia smiled. "Of course. the Royal Pantry should have plenty of food. though may I ask what is wrong with the food in the shops?"

Nyx pulled out what was once a fresh meal of hayburgers, hayfries, and onion rings. all of which look rotted. "it's rotted. anything outside or from the other shops covered in ice rots in a day."

"it's a good thing the pantry was enchanted for such a crises." Luna stated.

Taking one final gulp of the hot cocoa Celestia got up and tested her magic, like Luna she wasn't at full power but that won't stop her.

"Uhm.... can we at least get some more hot cocoa while we're there?" Nyx asked as she looked at the empty thermos, only to jump by Celestia's loud belch. "EEK!"

Luna fell back and laughed, despite the dire situation, the site of Celestia belching like a drunkard on Cocoa was enough to lighten the mood.

------

Upon Entering the royal pantry they find the room is quite warm with refrigerators and food stored everywhere the enchantment on the room preventing the ice from taking over the entire room.

"I see, it is unfortunate your friends fell victim to this as well." Celestia said as she began to make new meals for her student and Nyx after she and Luna's feeding frenzy. "are you sure you were not able to free them?"

Twilight shook her head, helping make some sandwiches. "I didn't try. they were all grey and... I don't know what would happen if I freed them in that state. for you and Luna you still had your colors. but look at what happened to you when we did free you?"

Celestia nodded. "You made the right choice. if they were that far gone, freeing them would have killed them outright."

"So, Princess Celestia, what do you know about the Knights of Harmony?" Nyx asked, helping Luna make hot cocoa, though smacking Celestia's nose away whenever she playfully tried to steal a sip.

"hehe, well from what I understand it was no Myth, when Luna and I were your age we went to Saddle Tor.... it was beautiful then even for a tomb. but it had it's dangers too." Celestia said mixing some new brew of tea and filling their saddlebags with teabags and some boxes of Twinkies.

"What kind of dangers?" Twilight asked slowly and cautiously as though a dangerous pack hunting carnivore with vicious claws just entered the kitchen.

"Alas, I cannot say," Celestia sighed as she sneaked a Chocolate bar to nibble on. "all I can say is there will be a test for you. but if you find the armor, take care when you put it on. the effects are immediate."

"E-Effects?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, all magical items have affect abilities. from what my sister and I learned the effects are cosmetic, but drastic." Luna said as she placed more healthy foods like apples, carrots, and some fresh sandwiches in the saddlebags, even getting some new bags for them.

"This is a lot of stuff." Nyx noted looking at all the food and other new supplies they had. "makes me wish we had magic pockets and bags. 'Need to carry a gigantic sword around equestria? stick it in your magic pocket!' 'or maybe you need to carry a device bigger then your average pony? In the Magic bag it goes!'"

Twilight Giggled. "Well we were told there is an airship we could take."

Celestia's ears perked. "The Elegance?"

"Oh, You know of it?" Twilight asked tilting her head.

Celestia smiled. "of course, she's Docked near the Palace. you have my authority to take command of her if you like."

"thank you Princess!" Twilight Chirped.

"Soooo....." Nyx tapped her hooves together. "Are you gonna come with us?"

"No Child, we are needed here to defend Canterlot in case of any more threats. Ryugu may have been powerful, but she still had an army, please keep that in mind, Twilight Sparkle. what you face is not the trials of Nightmare Moon, Discord, or King Sombra. this enemy will lash out, violently." Luna said setting the now hefty bag of food down to the floor.

"H-How bad is she?" Twilight asked slowly. her ears twitching from the horrors stirring in her brain.

"she was dangerous not just for her ability to drain a pony of their life force, but also of her sheer strength. Twilight, you will need to fight her." Celestia said. her horn glowing as they seem to be conjuring something.

"B-But I'm not a fighter!" Twilight stammered.

"Twilight, You do remember I tought you self defense, and offensive spells didn't I?" Celestia said with a reassuring hug. "never sell yourself short. even in training you knew how to handle yourself."

Twilight sighed.

"Alright this is all we can spare. we do not know if the other ponies of the city will have the same affect as we did when returning to normal." Luna said lifting the bags and escorting them to the Elegance.

At that point, the magic Celestia was charging finally dispersed, Twilight found herself adorn in light Armor, Silver with gold and ruby lining. with her cutie mark on the chest shield, chain mail between the boots and gauntlets, and a helmet no different from royal guards but smaller and made for a mare. on her side a silver short sword is sheathed with a purple hilt and indigo lining for the blade.

"Princess?"

"You'll encounter many dangers twilight. I don't want you going against them without some kind of protection. spells won't be enough against an enemy like this." Celestia said as she helped load the Elegance with the supplies.

The Elegance was a small airship, it used turbine fans and air jets for propulsion and ascension. being shaped like a flat pill with a arrow shaped bow, and stern. it's white and gold plating made it a site to see with dragon motifs painted on her.

"Oh it's beautiful." Nyx said before she too is cast in armor, hers however is deep dark blue with purple lining details. it was like Twilight's but had her cutie mark on the chest shield instead. the pocket knife now turned into a curved dagger complimenting her coat and mane. "oh it's beautiful! I hope I don't mess it up."

Luna smiles and looks to her sister. "it's actually the same armor my sister and I wore at your age. although I preferred the crossbow. the knife you had allowed me to transfigure it into a dagger."

"Usually I'd say giving a filly Armor and weapons was bad, however you are both on an important mission, If Ryugu MUST be stopped. what ever happens, you must find the Armor of the Crusader of harmony, Equip it and stop this menace. do you understand your mission?" Celestia asked.

"Yes princess Celestia!" the two ponies chimed.

"I must ask, the Knights of Harmony, are they related to the Elements of Harmony in any way?" Twilight asked as she began to undo the secure ropes holding the Elegance docked to the airship docks.

"We believe they were the first to utilize the virtues that became the elements of Harmony." Luna said assisting in the preparations. "though at that time, Laughter was referred to as Joy, and I do believe Magic was wisdom. and Honesty at the time was honor. but as to whether this created the Elements of Harmony I do not know. Celestia and I found the elements long ago. even we do not know where they came from."

"It's too much of a coincidence." Twilight said tying the final restraint.

"Your correct to have your suspicions." Luna said.

"it's time. we wish you luck, Twilight. and thank you for freeing my sister, and myself. it seems we're ever indebted to you again." Celestia smiled.

Twilight giggled. "Well maybe you shouldn't get in such situations your highness it makes you look bad?"

"Oh?" Celestia's face was enough to make Luna fall to the ground laughing.

"Perhaps you are right." Celestia giggled. "Good luck Twilight Sparkle, goodbye Nyx. I pray your able to end this menace with little harm. but take my heeds with great thought."

"Will do!" Twilight chimed as she took helm of the Elegance.

the Airship began it's departure. making it's heading to the North East, towards Hollow Shades.