After finally catching up with their allies, Marshall and Celestia found Wulfric and his people starving and wounded from their recent attack by the Kirin. Wasting no time, the princess ordered her soldiers to spare what rations they had and tend to the wounded before repairing the damaged wagons and escorting the caravan the rest of the way and through the entire journey, Celestia could see how badly the northerners had it by their ragged clothes and poor health. Even their children looked like they were on the verge of starvation.

"Thank you for coming Princess." Said Applejack gratefully while letting her daughter sleep on her lap.

"It was my pleasure Applejack. I'm just glad we were able to make it in time."

Celestia smiled at the young filly asleep on her mothers lap as well as the young buck sleeping on his mothers shoulder. It had been many moons since she last saw the children and was pleased to see how much they had grown, Apple Jewel was as beautiful as her mother and young Beorn was growing to be a fine buck much like his father yet despite the peaceful atmosphere the sun princess could not help but feel the tension coming from her friend who had been staring out the window.

"Wulfric what happened?" She finally asked, breaking the silence.

"We were attacked by Kirin. They came at us out of nowhere, I was wounded but most of my men didn't survive...I've never seen fighting styles like theirs. It's more like they were dancing."

Wulfric could recall the attack clearly as the battle replayed in his head, all around him were his warriors fighting ten Kirin soldiers who fought in a way he had not seen before; a style that seemed more like a dance than any fighting technique and each soldier was strong and swift enough to take on a dozen warriors at once, even their leader was more than a match for him as he weaved past each of his swings with little effort while bashing and cutting at his body like a practice dummy.

The only thing that saved him during that fight was a stone hidden in the snow that tripped up his foe, allowing him to gain the upper hand and subdue him. By the time the battle was over, more than half a dozen of his guards lay dead while others were severely wounded.

"I'm sure you and your people would appreciate a nice hot meal and some rest once we get to Canterlot." Celestia said with a smile to which Wulfric replied.

"Yes. We thank you for your hospitality Celestia."

After weeks of traveling, the caravan finally reached the borders of Equestria where the northerners were immediately given food and shelter by order of the princess while others quickly went about to find work in the city as well as Ponyville. Some refugees took up jobs as merchants and shopkeepers while others were hired by the city guard to help maintain order, the rest immediately signed on to join the now forming royal army for the war that was surely coming now that the northlands had been lost.

While his people were settling in, Wulfric was in an emergency council called by Celestia who seemed troubled by recent events and for a moment their was silence until the princess rose from her seat with a serious expression upon her face. Among the council members were Ember; Lord of the Dragon Lands, Queen Chrysalis of The Changeling Hives and Prince Rutherford of Yak Yakkistan

"I thank you all for coming on such short notice. As you are all aware, King Wulfric and his people were attacked by a mercenary group sent by Blueblood just shortly after fleeing their homeland."

"Pretty ballsy move. Guess the prince really does want a war." Ember interjected while propping her feet up on the table, much to Chrysali's dismay.

"Dragon Lord Ember, please show some respect? This is a council not a bar."

"Keep pushing it bug! It'll give me a reason to squash ya."

"Enough!" Celestia said in a firm tone that silenced their argument before using her magic to create a holographic map of Equestria.

"This matter is serious. With the loss of the northlands, Blueblood has gotten even bolder. Our spies have reported that he's moving his army towards the stronghold on the western border."

"How many troops are under his banner?" Wulfric inquired while focusing on the map.

"Twenty thousand strong and what's worse is that the lords who have joined him are supplying him mercenary groups from across the kingdom, some of whom are the most wanted in Equestria."

"BAH! Yaks will smash puny army!" Prince Rutherford boasted with a thump of his chest that earned him a smirk from the northern king.

"I like your spirit Rutherford but we shouldn't rush in so blindly." Celestia replied before changing the shape of the map to a specific location.

"Our only hope of halting is advance is for our troops stationed at the border to hold him off for as long as possible. The stronghold has a thousand men inside and has enough food and supplies to last them a few months."

"You really think they can hold out against an army that large?" Ember inquired feeling doubtful of her plan and rightly so for even Celestia was not sure if this would work but there was very little choice.

"One can only hope. How soon can each of you ready your armies?"

"Yaks will be ready by next full moon! We fight with pony friends and WIN!!"

Celestia nodded at Rutherfords promise of reinforcements with Chrysalis and Ember also promising to bring their armies within less time as if to compete with the yak prince.

"Celestia, If I may make a suggestion? Why not send a small elite force to harass and slow Bluebloods army? Perhaps we can even get a few of them to join our side." Said the changling queen as she opened her fan to hide a mischievous grin.

"Hm...I'll consider it. For now, council adjourned."

As the leaders left the room one by one, Wulfric spotted Sir Marshall down the hall giving orders to some of the castle guards when he called for him in a somewhat eager tone.

"Marshall. A moment?"

"Of course."

After making sure there were no ears listening in, Wulfric told his friend of the incident between his children and the bandits, to say that Marshall was shocked would be an understatement as the warden scratched his chin trying to process the story he was just told.

"So your boy did all that with his bare hands?"

"Yes and that is why I need your help."

"You're not saying I should lock him up are you?" Marshall asked feeling a bit shocked when Wulfric waved off his question.

"No! No of course not! I need you to train him. With your help, he might be able to temper that rage and maybe even control it. Our methods of training would only increase that anger and make him something far more dangerous."

"I see."

Marshall thought about his decision for only a moment and agreed to help train young Beorn despite knowing it would be difficult as many of the new recruits were from noble families in Canterlot who still saw the northerners as nothing but barbarians.

"Leave it to me old friend."

"Thank you Marshall."

The friends sealed their agreement with a firm handshake just before a scout came running through the halls completely out of breath and drenched in sweat.

"L-LORD MARSHALL! LORD MARSHALL!!" The scout shouted frantically just before falling to his knees.

"Easy man! take a breath." Said Wulfric who helped the soldier to stand before noticing the dents and bloodstains on his armor.

"Terrible news my lords! Bluebloods army has crossed the border the fortress guarding it was completely destroyed!"

Both were shocked to hear such news as the scout began to recall the siege of the fort and how he was the only one to survive.

On the western borders of Equestria

It was a typical day for the border guards as the sun rose followed by a gentle morning breeze. The scout had just returned from his patrol with his squadron and went into the mess hall for breakfast, things seemed quite peaceful as the soldiers sat at the table chatting about and enjoying their meals when out of nowhere a horn call was sounded.

"TO ARMS! TO ARMS!! ALL MEN TO THE BATTLEMENTS!!" Cried the lookout in the tower as he rang the warning bell and like clockwork, the entire fortress was up in arms. Soldiers ran to the armor, grabbing their gear in perfect succession from years of practice, archers scrambled to their posts with arrows knocked and the gates were shut as they prepared for a siege.

Out in the distance, A banner baring a gold dragon on a red field appeared as an army of Kirin and Saddle Arabians marched over the horizon and the fields of grass were soon blanketed by armored regiments and war machines.

"Celestia help us, look at them!" One of the archers said nervously as he gazed at the tens of thousands of enemies just across the field.

"Muster your courage men! Remember your duty!" The forts commander shouted while raising his sword and shouting out a mighty battle cry to inspire his troops but all could see that the odds were not in their favor.

Across the field sat Blueblood with his most trusted advisors and wife on a nearby hill overlooking the battlefield. The group were having a small feast with wine as if they were out on an afternoon picnic and that is just how the prince liked it.

"Sire. We are ready to begin the siege" Said one of the officers standing next to Blueblood who smiled with anticipation.

"You have your orders then general."

"Yes sire!"

The war horns soon sounded and the battle was underway. The attack began with the Kirin bringing forth their long range cannons to soften up the fortresses walls and as the machines were being loaded, the defenders could only look on with faces filled with fear as they had no weapons to counter with.

"DOWWWN!!" The commander shouted as the first barrage was fired.

The cannons found their marks and decimated the forts walls with minimal effort, the main tower was sent toppling down after several cannonballs tore into it and resulting collapse crushed many soldiers beneath it but the attack was far from done.

The saddle arabians charged the fort just moments after the first volley while the archers did their best to slow the attack as they began to fire arrows frantically into the oncoming horde. Ladders soon began to pop up on walls of the fort and a battering ram began pounding on the main gate, yet despite the overwhelming numbers the defenders held the enemy at bay much to the princes displeasure.

"Honestly, what is taking those men so long? Can't they handle a single fort?" Blueblood whined while taking a swig from his glass when a thought crept into his mind and a sinister grin crept onto his face.

"Tell the men to fire another barrage and this time focus it on the gate."

"But sir, our men are down there!" One of the captains shouted in protest before being splashed with wine.

"THAT'S AN ORDER!"

"....Yes sir."

The soldiers did as they were ordered and relayed the message to the kirin. The cannons were repositioned and loaded for another barrage that obliterated the gate as well as a great number of their allies yet despite the heavy loss, Blueblood grinned in delight and ordered the entire army to take the fortress.

"YES! Let it all come crashing down! Burn it to the ground!!"

What followed afterwards was a slaughter, the army gave no ground to the soldiers or those dwelling within the fort and within moments the entire structure was reduced to rubble and only one prisoner was captured; The scout who had been on patrol that same day.

The lone soldier was brought before the prince and all around him he could see the mangled corpses of his comrades and the civilians who took shelter in their stronghold.

"You...YOU MONSTER!!" He shouted furiously at the smug prince before getting struck in the stomach by one of his bodyguards.

"Now now, let's not treat our guest so harshly." Blueblood said in his usual arrogant manner as he knelt down to meet the soldier face to face.

"I want you to relay a message to my dear aunts in Canterlot."

He then whispered into the scouts ear with a malicious tone and smile that sent shivers down the soldiers spine.

"Tell them: The true ruler of Equestria is coming home."

End.