Ten years have passed since the fall of the Stonehoof regime and the rule of the four princesses was restored thanks to the brave efforts of the rebellion lead by Shining Armor of The Crystal Empire and the warrior Wulfric who was now named King In The North and for a time peace reigned once more over the land.

Canterlot Castle

In the courtyards of the castle, a young pegasus colt was sparring with a few of the royal guards while being watched by the two princesses and the legendary knight of the moon; Sir Marshall. Captain of Luna's night guard and lord regent of Canterlot.

"Mind your guard." The captain instructed while noticing the boys mistakes in his fighting style.

It didn't take long for the young squire to be knocked of his feet before being dealt a killing blow and of course he became frustrated as all young squires do after failing a sparring match.

"I lost again..." The boy sighed while laying in the grass as Marshall leaned over him.

"You're still too aggressive in your attacks boy."

As the warden helped the squire, Princess Celestia walked up to clean the dirt on his face and plant a kiss on his cheek saying.

"Still proud of you sweetie."

"Mother!" he protested as she continued to nuzzle him like a foal.

The boy in question was the none other than Celestia's own child Imperius who had dreamed of becoming a legendary knight like his mentor.

"Now go clean up, it's almost time for lunch."

"Yes mother."

As Imperius left Marshall sighed and shook his head with a smirk as the guards cleaned up the training gear before returning to the barracks.

"The boy has spirit." He said proudly while Celestia leaned against him.

"Just like his father." Celestia replied as the boy faded from sight.

"Well I have other duties to attend to."

"As do I your highness."

"Don't be so formal around me Marshall." Celestia told him with a kiss to the lips.

"I am your wife, above all else."

"And a strong wife you are."

Though she had been dethroned and imprisoned, Celestia remained defiant to Dainn Stonehoof until the day of his death but many feared that after the traumatic events she endured that she would not be willing to find a husband, that is until she saw how happy Sir Marshall made her sister, so in the greatest of secrecy the three were wed in the castle walls with only their trusted friends and advisors to bare witness.

The secret however would be made known after the birth of their children. Luna's daughter; Princess Selena who was the older of the siblings and Prince Imperius who's only dream was to be a legend like his father and the heroes of the great war.

Selena was born a unicorn and as expected, she became very adept at using magic and even received lessons from Princess Twilight Sparkle herself.

Unlike her brother, Princess Selena was more fond of books than of swords and poured herself into as many tomes as she could read but she always made time to spend with her family and like any other princess, she found herself surrounded by suitors of noble families that would always send her gifts and ask her on dates but she politely refused each and every one.

Imperius received the same amount of treatment from the daughters of the nobility as they came to watch him practice while their parents discussed politics with the royal family but unlike his sister, he found the experience terrifying since he had no real experience with mares aside from his mothers and the maids who looked after him as a child.

The two siblings met in the hall towards the dining chamber where Imperius was greeted by a barrage of hugs and kisses from his older sister.

"Selena! cut it out!!" He whined while she squeezed him close with a happy smile.

"Oh hush little brother, you know I will do this to you even as you get older."

"And everyone wonders why girls scare me."

Selena became the happiest filly in the world when her little brother was born and loved spending time with him the most even though she knew it annoyed him and as they entered the dining hall, she continued to smother him while he just sulked from the embarrassment.

"Good morning children." Luna said happily to her offspring as they seated themselves at the table.

"Morning mother!"

"Hi mom..."

"Selena stop smothering your brother." Celestia scolded with a smile while prepping her signature pancakes for the siblings when they noticed their father wasn't around.

"Father isn't joining us today?" Imperius asked feeling slightly disappointed.

"Not this time dear. He is making preparations for the visit."

The visit that Celestia was talking about was the annual royal summit between the the allied kingdoms of Canterlot, The Crystal Empire and The northern lands. Each year, the leaders of all four kingdoms would sit down to discuss how to strengthen their alliance and improve the stability of their lands but more than anything, it was a chance for old friends to talk again.

"By the way, King Wulfric will finally be making an appearance this time." Luna said aloud while looking at the reactions on her children's faces.

"The king in the north? Coming here?" Imperius asked in disbelief since he had never actually seen the king.

"Is he anything like the stories?" Selena asked.

"Is he really so strong that he could slice a mountain in two?"

"I heard he mounts the skulls of his enemies on his throne like trophies."

"Now children, that's enough." Luna scolded as they finished their breakfast and made their way to the throne room to prepare for the kings arrival.

Royal Airship Yard

Marshall and a handful of his best knights were stationed at the ship yard to greet the king in the usual royal fashion. Trumpets were prepared, banners were flying high and the lord regent stood at the end of the dock to greet his old friend with an anticipated smile.

"Ship ahoy!" Cried the lookout as he pointed to a large vessel flying a black flag with a wolfs head. It was Wulfrics flagship.

"PRESENT...ARMS!!" Marshall shouted to his men as the ship finally docked and the gangplank was lowered.

The first to step out was none other than Wulfric himself, dressed in plate armor with a bear skin cloak and a golden crown resting between his two antlers which had grown significantly over the past ten years.

"Welcome to Canterlot good king." Marshall said with a bow and a smirk before his old friend gave a small chuckle.

"Is that any way for old friends to greet each other?" Wulfric joked as they both laughed and embraced each other in a firm hug and a pat on the shoulders.

"It's good to see you again my friend."

"Likewise."

The two warriors shook hands and turned to see Applejack and Rainbow Dash departing the ship in royal attire fit for a viking queen along with two children that ran out laughing in excitement.

"Apple jewel, slow down." Applejack called out to a little filly that was running past the guards to see the busy streets of Canterlot while a young buck looked at their armor and weapons with amazement.

"Whoa."

"Ah there he is. Beorn! Come here son." Wulfric called to the boy as he introduced his old friend.

"Marshall this is my son, Beorn."

As Marshall looked at the boy, he could tell he was a spitting image of his father save for the magenta eyes that came from his mother and though he had no wings or magic, Wulfric was proud to have him as a son and so was Rainbow.

"You look like your father when he was young." The warden said to the young buck who looked at his father.

"I don't think so. My eyes are cooler." He joked before having his hair ruffled by his mother who was grinning proudly at her little boy.

"Hm. He's got his mothers ego." Marshall stated before getting a jab in the arm by Rainbow.

The group made their way to the castle while the citizens gathered to greet the heroes of the rebellion as they began to toss flowers onto the street.

"Praise to you Lady Rainbow Dash!" Shouted a pegasus hovering just above as he tossed a rose to her.

"Long live The King in The North!!" shouted a guardsman who was patrolling the streets as they passed on into the castle where they were greeted by the royal family and their personal guard.

"You honor us with your presence King Wulfric." Celestia said in her usual regal manner.

"The honor is mine your highness." Wulfric replied with a warriors salute before entering the castle.

The children went to play in the castle courtyard while their parents discussed the events that had transpired since the end of the war, one of which was the ever growing divide between the royals and the noble faction of Canterlot followed by Prince Bluebloods sudden rise to power the west.

"I'm glad you could answer our summons Wulfric. These are dangerous times." Said Princess Luna as they made their way to the dining hall where a small feast was laid out.

"Indeed. I hear there has been great unrest in Equestria." Wulfric replied while keeping pace with the matriarchs.

"It's more than unrest. The nobles have grown more rebellious since both my sister and I married Sir Marshall, of course it was no surprise given how they reacted to your marriage."

"Ha! Those old farts are just jealous that they can't bag two wives of their own." The chieftain bragged while the servants prepared his plate and poured him some wine.

"Thanks to the treasure he stole, Blueblood has bought some powerful friends in western Equestria. Warlords, barons, royal families of small kingdoms." Said Celestia in a forboding tone.

"I knew we should've gutted that bastard." Rainbow Dash replied angrily before sipping some cider.

"I fear you might be right Rainbow Dash." Celestia replied in agreement as the memories of her nephews betrayal came flooding back. It was at this moment that Wulfric decided to give a toast to help lighten the mood.

"Well until those old farts and that spoiled brat get the balls to fight, I say we make a toast. To peace!"

The others raised their glasses in agreement as they shared the toast and continued to feast before proceeding to the council chamber which held a map of Equestria. Much similar to Princess Twilights.

"So here are the recent events." Luna said as she began the briefing.

"The nobles who have sided with Blueblood have begun arming their troops and have threatened open war if the other princesses and myself do not relinquish our rule over to Blueblood and end the alliance with the northlands.

"We all know that's not an option." Celestia interjected for a moment.

"There's more. We have reports that the kingdom of Saddle Arabia has allied themselves with Blueblood and as we all know, that kingdom practically thrives on slavery."

"Are they open to negotiations?" Wulfric inquired.

"Well...the Saddle Arabian emperor has opted for peace if his daughter were to be wed to my son." Celestia answered with a bit of disdain.

"Now that might be a problem. The boy isn't as flirtacious with women like most colts his age." Luna added as her head slightly sulked from the embarrassment.

"And even if they were to marry, the emperor will still not outlaw slavery in his kingdom."

It was during this discussion that a messenger ran into the council room with a report from The Crystal Empire.

"Princess, Urgent report!" He said sounding a bit worried.

"It's from Prince Shining Armor. Last night one of the viking settlements was burned to the ground. There were no survivors."

"WHAT?!?" Wulfric shouted as he slammed his fists to the table and grabbed the messenger.

"Who attacked the settlement?!? WHO!!?"

"W-we don't know your majesty! The attack came swift and it happened in the middle of a blizzard."

"A blizzard? This time of year?"

Wulfric gently released the guard and gave a quick apology before asking for further details about the attack.

"Was anything taken?"

"No sir. There was no sign of any looting, it seemed the raiders just went and slaughtered the entire village for sport."

"Hmm...Where is the settlement located?"

"Just on the outskirts of the border sir."

"Good. Send a message to Shining Armor and tell him I will personally be investigating this raid."

The messenger did as he was told and left to deliver the message while Wulfric ordered his personal guards to make preparations for the journey north. His wives however had objections to his decision and tried to convince him to send someone else in his place.

"Hon you can't do this! What if something happens to you?" Asked Applejack as her husband continued to ready his armor and sword.

"She's right. This whole thing smells like a trap." Rainbow Dash added before getting a peck on her cheek.

"I'll be fine girls, I promise." He replied with a warm smile.

"If anything goes wrong, We'll bail out right away."

"You better. I don't wanna have to tell our daughter that her father is lying somewhere in a ditch." The farm mare scolded with both hands at her side when her husband suddenly yanked her in by the waist with a mischievous grin.

"You are irresistible when you're angry." He complimented his wife as he held her.

"Don't think flattery will get you out of this mess mister." Applejack replied with a smirk of her own before giving him a proper goodbye kiss which made Rainbow feel a little jealous.

"Hey what am I chopped li-EEK!!"

The Rainbow haired mares question was cut short when her husband gave her flank a hard smack before she too was groped and kissed by her chieftain.

"When I get back, I'll do more~." Wulfric said with a wink.

"I'll be counting on it~." Rainbow Dash grinned before allowing him to leave and though they knew he was a skilled warrior, the girls could not help but shake the feeling that this raid was the start of something dreadful.

End.