Blueblood had made good on his threat to declare war against Equestria. With the help of the noble faction and the Saddle Arabian emperor, the prince rallied many banners to his cause and began marching his armies towards the borders while burning and pillaging any settlements along the way, leaving very few survivors.

News of the invading forces didn't take long to reach Canterlot and a call to arms was sounded. From every corner, Equestria and its allies began signing up for what was surely to be the greatest war since the reign of Dainn Stonehoof.

Many of the new recruits were young ones eager to prove their worth in battle while gaining fame and riches and the rest were veterans of the previous war and saw it only as their duty to help protect the kingdom once again.

"Line up and don't crowd! Every one will get a chance to sign up." Shouted one of the guards as he began to corral the citizens into an organized group while at the head of the line was one of the royal guard captains scribbling down the names of the new recruits.

"And why do you wanna sign up?" He asked the next volunteer in line as was customary when recruiting new soldiers.

"Well sir I come from a long line of soldiers." The citizen replied nervously.

"Same story with everyone here kid. Sign here and we'll get you outfitted for your armor."

The young colt did as was told and proceeded down the line to be given his equipment while the captain continued to write down more names of the seemingly endless citizens eager to sign up but instead of smiling he shook his head and sighed for they didn't know what truly awaited them in this war.

"Look at them, poor young fools." Said an old stallion drinking ale with his friend in a nearby tavern.

"Reminds me of us." Said the other while rubbing his leg.

"Just looking at that line makes my knee ache."

"That arrow injury acting up still?"

"Yup."

The two old stallions were veterans of the previous war who had retired, one was an old pegasus whose wings had become too stiff to even hover above the ground and the other was an earth pony who received a serious leg injury that left him crippled and forced to use a cane to get around and like many veterans of the war, they were avoided by the citizens like they were diseased or dangerous. But there were still those who cared for the old soldiers and did not feel any shame in showing it.

"Here ya go boys. Have another round on the house." The innkeeper said with a smile as he gave the two elders a pint of cider and while some of the other customers understood his generosity, others seemed to be offended by it.

"Oh so they get special treatment just because they got military privileges?" One patron shouted as he looked at the two old stallions.

"Why should they get free stuff when the rest of us work so hard to get by?"

"So you don't think we've worked hard enough do ya?" The old earth pony said sternly as he limped his way to the customer who scoffed at him.

"Tell me kid, were you born after or during the war?"

"After." The customer replied while trying to keep his composure.

"Then the one with the privilege is you. I fought for this kingdom! I bled for it, killed for it, flames of Tartarus! I even broke one of my legs for it in hopes for a brighter future for ungrateful punks like you!!" The old veteran lost his breath for a moment and was helped to a nearby seat by one of the other customers.

"If there's anyone who has privileges kid it's you. You get to walk wherever you want, do whatever you want and eat whatever you want without fear of being killed or persecuted."

As the old stallion calmed down, the owner of the tavern glared angrily at the one who insulted him as he told him something that took him by surprise.

"And he's not getting free drinks just because he's a veteran. He's getting them because he's my dad and I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for him!"

The customer who had complained said nothing as all eyes stared shamefully at him and without another word, he paid for his meal and stormed out of the tavern while the owner attended to his ailing father.

"Pop are you alright?"

"I'm fine my boy. Just out of breath."

The customers resumed to dine as the tension died down when they noticed a squad of northmen walking down the streets fully armed and marching towards the castle.

"They must be King Wulfrics men."

"Back from another scouting mission I bet."

The northerners made their way to the castles main hall where Celestia and Luna had been awaiting vital intelligence regarding the growing conflict on the borders.

"Your majesty. The King in The North sent us with an urgent report, said it's for your ears only." Said the viking at the head of the group who proceeded to kneel before the two monarchs.

The sun princess ordered for the room to be cleared after having her servants bring their guests some refreshments for their long journey.

"What news?" Princess Luna inquired as they began to fill their bellies.

"Prince Blueblood has assembled his armies. The barons who have pledged fealty to him have sent him every knight they have, some have even gone so far as to hire mercenaries."

"And....the other army?" Celestia said in a hushed voice, knowing that even the most secluded rooms still have ears.

The messenger proceeded to look around before approaching the princesses ear and whispered.

"The army of the dead is proceeding towards the empire, they're raiding every unmarked grave and crypt in the north. They're estimated to be at least a thousand strong. More appear every day."

This news troubled both princesses greatly as they had no way of dealing with such power and with the conflict now brewing in the west, it was only a matter of time before Equestria would be facing a war on both fronts.

"How is King Wulfric preparing for all of this?"

"He has assembled the leaders of the four clans for an emergency summit."

Meanwhile in the north

At the great city of Valkenheim, the leaders of the four clans assembled in the great hall of King Wulfric to discuss the growing threat that was the army of the dead and the dreadful blizzard that followed in their wake. Much of the clans people had suffered famine and sickness because of the growing weather conditions and with the armies of Blueblood marching along the border, things seemed to be getting worse for the kingdom.

"My lord our people are suffering! We've lost almost half a years worth of crops and most of the rivers have been frozen over! We can't even fish anymore!" Shouted one of the chieftains over the clamor of voices filling the hall.

"The proper course is clear! We must evacuate the northlands and move south to Equestria!"

"And risk getting caught up in their war? I would sooner freeze to death and join the windigo army!"

"ENOUGH!!" Wulfric shouted with a clang of his sword and the room became instantly quiet. The king sat from his throne and marched to the center of the hall where a map of the northlands and Equestria was placed.

"How is the war going in Equestria?" He asked one of his advisors who stepped forward holding a quill and scroll.

"Prince Bluebloods army continues to march along the borders, they are pillaging any settlements they find. Most of the villages that were destroyed held both equestrians and our own people."

"And the army of the dead?"

"Their movements appeared to have stopped. Seems they are waiting for something and though we have superior numbers I do not recommend facing them in a blizzard sire."

Wulfric shut his eyes for a moment as he began to process his thoughts and tried to decide the best course for his people but each idea seemed to be the lesser of two evils and of course there was his family to consider. After a brief pause, Wulfric took a deep breath as he announced his final decision.

"Send word to all the clans in the north, We make for Equestria with all haste. I want every seed of grain and every last piece of livestock on board a ship at once!"

"Yes sire!"

The announcement to abandon the north was soon given and it came as no surprise that many of the citizens were in protest of their kings decision while others simply gathered their things and began boarding up their houses for the coming winter.

"By order of the king, the lands of the north must be evacuated!" Shouted a soldier standing atop a pedestal.

"We make for the lands of Equestria. Do not burden yourselves with treasures, take only what provisions you need!"

By noon, the entire population of the north was gathered in a mass exodus as the people boarded the ships with their loved ones while others decided to take the long way and journey along the roads. Wulfric and his family were among those few.

The refugee column traveled along the main road with an armed escort lead by the king himself while his wives and children road along in a wagon guarded by their dire wolves. Applejack and Rainbow Dash sat quietly with their children as they listened to the sound of the wheels rolling along the road and the marching of the soldiers guarding the column.

"It'll be great to be back home after so long." Said the farm mare while stroking her daughters head.

"Yeah. I wonder what Twilight's been up to?" Rainbow said in reply as she looked at Beorn who was sound asleep on her lap when their husband appeared in the window.

"How are the children?" He inquired while looking at his little ones.

"Sound asleep hon." Applejack replied with a smile.

"First thing we're gonna do after we settle in, I wanna take the kids on a camping trip."

"Camping? In the middle of a war?"

"War hasn't reached Ponyville yet and with the recent events going on, I wanna make sure I spend as much time with them as possible."

"Wouldn't you rather go on a trip with just us~?" Rainbow teased with a toothy grin to which Wulfric replied.

"Some other time dear."

The couple laughed to themselves for a short moment when an arrow suddenly lodged itself into the side of the wagon as several more came whistling out of the woods killing several civilians and guards.

"AMBUSH! PROTECT THE KING!!"

The caravan was attacked by what appeared to be unicorns in eastern armor yet they appeared to have dragon traits as well and their fighting style was much different than that of the changelings.

"Who are they?!?" A soldier shouted while holding one of them back with his shield.

"Mercenaries by the look of them but I don't recognize their armor!!"

As the fighting raged on outside, Applejack peeked out the window to see the armored assailants and instantly recognized them.

"THOSE GUYS ARE KIRIN!!" The farm mare shouted when one of them sliced the door open with his sword. The children screamed in fright as they clinged to their mothers but as the Kirin warrior raised his sword, Arya and her wolves pounced and began tearing through his armor and wrenching him apart with their jaws.

In the center of the fight was Wulfric hacking away at several more Kirin who had cornered him just a short ways from the caravan.

"This is the one! Take his head!!" Shouted a Kirin dressed in more decorative armor as the group surrounded Wulfric.

The king in the north fought fiercely as the enemy surrounded him until finally only their leader was left. However, Wulfric had sustained a heavy injury and was loosing a fair amount of blood before his men finally found him and carried him back to the caravan for treatment.

"Let us help you sire." Said one of the guards as he helped his king to stand.

"Where's my family?" Wulfric grunted as the pain throbbed in his injury.

"They're safe my lord."

The soldiers then dragged the kirin before their king with a blade to his throat and every fiber of Wulfrics being said that they should just gut him and leave him for the crows but this one had the answers they needed as to who was behind the attack and why.

"Take this one with us. If he tries to escape, break his legs."

End.