Rainbow and I galloped down the stone path through Canterlot towards the castle. To say the guards finding us at my house and demanding an audience with the Princess immediately caught us by surprise would be a massive understatement. So many questions ran through my mind as we approached the castle. Why would she summon both of us? I get Rainbow, but what could she want with me?We tried asking the guards about what was happening, but they said they wouldn't comment further on the situation and from then on they were as silent and serious as statues, even with Rainbow pestering them the whole way there.

There was a kind of an unspoken fear in both of us, but especially her given she's been through this kind of protocol before and knew how serious it was. Even though I have not been through this I understood this was no small thing; we were being summoned unexpectedly and urgently to Canterlot Castle at sundown. Whatever this was it couldn't wait until morning and immediate action on something could be right around the corner. I remember taking a look at the stars and being transported back to my youth. My life has seen things change fast before. I hoped I'd be ready this time if another one was coming.

As we approached the huge front door it opened just in time for us to run through. As Rainbow burst past the royal guards stationed there one of them turned and muttered something to us.

"Counsel room," he uttered to her, and Rainbow continued running though her facial expression showed acknowledgment.

I've been inside this magnificent place once before as you well know, but she knew the way to the counsel room apparently so I was fine to follow two shoulders behind her. The only sound in the massive halls and lonely corridors she ran us through were the sounds of our hooves echoing off the walls. Also different from my last visit to the castle was that there was a certain darkness present this night that certainly wasn't here before. An invisible and almost supernatural mist of dread seemed to have a death grip on the halls of the castle. I have never sensed something so eerie that I sensed then, and it was all the more reason for me to gallop fast and keep up with Rainbow, the only source of light around.

As we came down a hall I saw a wall up in front of us with an opening to left, meaning another corridor was just around that corner, but what was different about this corner is that whispers were coming from down that hall, echoing down from a large room I gathered. We quickly rounded the corner and the two of us came inside a large room with tall stone walls and no windows. We were surrounded by several ponies that all looked as worried and curious as we were. Several banners hung from the walls with various symbols, and I'm not really the guy to ask what they represent other than what I recognized on one to be the likeness of the Sun and the Moon. On one of the walls was a large, detailed map of Equestria and in the middle of the room was a big table-looking thing with a 3D model of Equestria on it.

Standing at the head of one small crowd in the room in front of us and to our left I saw Spitfire, and she was surrounded by what I could only guess were the Wonderbolts. All in all there were about twelve of them, and most of them looked over rather unpleasantly at us - especially me, I met Spitfire's cold eyes for only a moment before she turned them away- though I couldn't tell if that was just because of the mysterious nature of the situation.

"Rainbow!" one of them said, a very light blue stallion, who asked in such a way that reflected a kind of respect and looking-up-to. "Do you know what this is about?"

"I have no idea," she replied, at a loss.

On either side of us there were a few ponies of middle age that I did not recognize; to me they looked like northerners given their heavy clothing and slightly thicker coats of fur. One of them, a grey fleabitten mare, with a white mane looked like a doctor, a fairly young doctor at that, but she seemed to have the Whinnyapolis look to her. A group of five royal guards were there arranged in a line, facing a door on the far side of the room as if waiting for someone - like the Princess - to come through it.

Lastly, there was none other than our team of fliers that arranged the thunderstorm all standing in a huddle together separate from all the other groups, in front and to our right. When Buddy, Clear Skies, and Blossomforth turned their anxious eyes towards us, Thunderlane, Whitewash, and Merry May - who had their backs turned to us - all turned around to get a glimpse of us. Now I was at an utter loss, and I gather Rainbow who stood right beside me was as well. I get Rainbow Dash and maybe the Wonderbolts but why were these ponies here? Why was I here? It got more confusing and mysterious by the second.

All in all, the demeanor of all these ponies was not comforting. The Wonderbolts whispered among themselves with a serious tone that seemed to reflect they didn't know why we were here either but recognized the urgency, suggesting they were in the exact same boat Rainbow and I were. Meanwhile, a silence now hung over my group of "friends" if they could be called that, as each of them looked around uneasily at each other. As scared and wide-eyed as I was, the rest of ponies seemed to be frightened as well, though some of them hid it a lot better than I can. The two people in the room who appeared the least afraid were Rainbow and Spitfire, especially Rainbow. But even they could hide being a little bit nervous.

Rainbow looked around, her eyes narrowed as she addressed the situation. Her ears twitched in every which way, trying to get a clue on the whispers around us.

"Twilight's still not here," she whispered to me. "She's been in Saddle Arabia for the last week or so. I don't know the details but it sounds like she's there to prevent a war between them and Yakyakistan.... tensions got really high really quick."

I don't know anything about Saddle Arabia or Yakyakistan or the apparent peacemaking skills of Rainbow's friends, but I appreciated her sticking by me. She had her shoulder squarely at mine, I took it as a sign that she was looking after me and my lowly status in this room, for which I was so deeply appreciative. Taking a deep breath through my nose I looked around sadly. I noticed the face of the mare who I guessed was a doctor was especially grave; she looked like she was having an anxiety attack herself despite not moving and hardly breathing. I've got a horrible feeling about this. I was about to ask her if she was ok when in the back of the room behind the door we had entered I saw something much more distressing.

Sitting back against the wall, blankly staring straight ahead as though frozen in dread was the stallion from the train station. The operator, the middle aged gray stallion who had assured me there was nothing to worry about as the train shrank into the distance, was sitting there with his hooves on his mane looking like he'd just lost a family member. Something was very wrong. Rainbow must've felt or noticed that I was losing it; she stretched out her good wing across my shoulders, and I relished what I could from the warm feathers while I tried desperately to not look so scared.

"It's alright," she whispered, reflecting a lot more strength in her voice than I will ever have. "If we're under attack, I'll protect you."

Suddeny, the ancient-looking wooden door on the far side of this big room opened loudly and unexpectedly, causing everyone in the room to stiffen in silence. The royal guards formed a line for the Princess to walk down while we all bowed and beheld her as she emerged from the door. I saw only her horn before I lowered my head respectfully with everyone else.

"We don't have time for formalities right now! Rise!" she cried, practically running through the door. Her sister - Princess Luna - an equally huge mare with a nightly coat and mane, followed in fast right behind her. Princess Celestia trotted to the front of the room and stopped, looking around at all of us. When I looked at her, I honestly thought I was looking at myself; her expression reflected the same fear and anxiousness that had a complete hold over me. To see her - a figure to us practically right below the divine - in this humble, terrified way, was so foreign to us and it froze the entire room of ponies in the same feeling. A cold silence gripped the air; we all knew it was something *bad*.

She walked over to a spot in the room a little closer and in front of everyone. After she'd looked at us despairingly she turned her nose towards the ground and visibly fought with herself, almost like she knew she had to take control of the situation, to be the leader, and to not show us any sign of weakness or fear. Her emotions faded into somewhat of a forced poker face, and she brought her head back up with a serious stare at aimed at her guards. Any remaining thought I had about the previous day was gone; now I was consumed with a genuine concern for the ponies of Equestria.

"Where is the Apple family? And Rarity, and Miss Pie? And Fluttershy?" she asked. After a short pause, one of the royal guards spoke up from the line without breaking a straight stare.

"Your Highness, the Apple family is on a business trip to their relatives in the west, one hundred miles from Ponyville and by now somewhere in the middle of nowhere," he said, and Princess Celestia continued to not to give anything away in her expression. "Rarity and Miss Pie are probably in or near Ponyville but Sonic and Rainbow were located first. Fluttershy's whereabouts are currently unknown."

Princess Celestia stared straight into space, deeply mulling over her options. However badly she was fighting it and trying to stay strong as our leader, she was worn down by the weight of whatever she was about to tell us almost to the point of being overwhelmed. In the back of my mind, terrible reminders ran through. Rainbow can't fly...

"And Twilight can't help us," whispered the Princess seemingly to herself though we all heard her. "Even if she can leave by tomorrow morning, which we don't know if she can - we presume she's still working on negotiations - she's still a day a day and half away from helping us by the time we reach her. We don't have that time. She's out of the picture."

"Shall we wait for Miss Rarity and Miss Pie?" asked the royal guard. Once again the Princess went silent, her gaze lost in grave thought.

"No, we'll start without them. They can't help us anyway."

The room went silent once again. Princess Celestia traded a soulful look with her sister, who was standing near the royal guard, while we all waited breathlessly in silence. She took a long breath and stared sternly into the wall on the wall on the other side of the room. "Ponies, we have a dire situation in the Frozen North. It appears the Elements of Harmony... will be of no use to us in addressing this situation. We have spent the last hour in council."

"What happened?" asked Rainbow Dash, brave and eager but with a hint of fear. The Princess looked sadly to the pony in the back of the room - the railroad operator. She took another deep breath, and spoke as though she could barely manage to hear herself say it. Meanwhile, my mind tried to make sense of what she said despite being so afraid. The Frozen North? So Ponyville's not under attack...

"A thousand years ago... I decreed that the old rail line going the alternate route into the Crystal Empire, the one that takes the high mountain pass over the Valley of - well, the narrow valley to the west of the empire, was never to be used again. It seems that," she stuttered, trembling, "it seems that through the years the decree was lost to this generation and when the Crystal Empire was resurrected, without my knowledge the old rail line has been used a few times already in instances of impassible weather on the mainline, including... today."

Oh no...

"W-what?" whispered Rainbow, in disbelief. I felt like my whole inner being was lit on fire with fear and darkness. I knew where this was leading to. "W-why did you decree that rail line was not to be used?"

After a short pause during which distressed thoughts flashed in the Princess' eyes, she replied.

"The valley to the west of the empire that is tucked beneath ranges to south and north is too dangerous to send train traffic through," she continued, as though she knew more about it than she wanted to say.

"I didn't know," muttered the rail operator from behind us, and nearly everyone in the room turned around to see him still drenched in hysterical fear that sent shivers down all of our spines. "I swear I didn't know about the decree," he said, shaking his head despondently. "I swear, for the love of heaven!" he cried, sobbing hysterically.

"What did you do?" asked a frightened mare, realizing the implications of how serious it was. "Don't you have a list of decrees and rules that guide your transportation system?"

"This is not the time to assign blame for the situation. Figuring out how exactly this happened and what we can do in the future to prevent it will come later," asserted the Princess.

At this point I had a horrifying hunch as to where the conversation was headed. I was trying my hardest to keep it together, and to help the Princess in any way I could.

"Princess... what is going on?" whispered Rainbow. I could feel her anxiety. The Princess turned back around and breathed slowly, her eyes filling with a furious concentration.

No... Don't say it... Please...

"When I tell you what the situation is, e-everyone in this room is to stay calm. Then you may start giving me suggestions as how to address this," she muttered, fighting to stay poised. Please... for the love of the Divine... please say it isn't them...

"Princess..." pressed Spitfire, intensely curious and speaking for everyone in the room was beyond desperate to just hear what the heck was going on. Everyone except me. I was the only one who didn't want to hear it. "Address what?"

"Today..." answered the Princess.

Her voice was choking with regret. We statues listened on breathlessly.

"Today a train traveling to the Crystal Empire was sent down the alternate line over the valley to enter through the western passage," she said, taking a deep sigh. "The train car never made it through. Only the locomotive, with two engineers in critical condition, made it to the Empire after a pegasus flew aboard and stopped it before it crashed into the station there. The missing passenger c-car," she said, stuttering and almost fighting back tears, "had eighteen foals on their way to a music concert in the Crystal Empire."

The information barely processed. In a matter of minutes my life had once again been turned upside down, all leading up to one single set of words delivered by the princess that sent all of my hopes, aspirations, and emotions crashing down to unimaginably unbearable depths. How could I stand to hear a thing like that? I could hardly even imagine it was so painful. The idea of children lost in the wild was something deeply personal to me having been a child lost in the wild myself once. However to hear that Scootaloo herself and the same foals that stole my heart just several hours before were lost in some frozen tundra was beyond devastating.

Rainbow was paralyzed. Shock was sketched all over her expression as it sunk in deeper and deeper until it finally gave way to hysteria. The rest of the room seemed to react similarly, though with more emphasis on the initial sadness rather than shock and the computing errors that seemed to plague Rainbow's mind. There were gasps on all sides of the room, as well as hooves covering mouths.

"Are they alive?" muttered a Wonderbolt. The rest of the room could barely take it. Many of them started crying, but the Princess tried to keep them under control.

"I believe they are," replied the Princess. "Which is why," she started, holding back her own tears once again, "which is why we must not despair at this moment but instead channel all of our efforts into rescuing them. I know this is just terrible to think about..."

"Alright then. I'm leading a team to go get them," asserted Rainbow while the first tear fell from my eye and my legs quivered and shook beneath me. I felt like I was losing my mind. "Let's go."

"Rainbow," whispered the Princess with her head down, as though she was being unreasonable. "You can't fly."

"Doesn't matter," replied Rainbow, more forcefully, struggling to keep it together while more water made it's way from my eyes. Princess looked both saddened and surprised at her, as though she could hardly bare to tell her otherwise. "Where is this valley? We're leaving right now. Come on!"

"Rainbow..." she said once again.

"It doesn't matter!!!" replied Rainbow, seething with building frustration and despair. "It's not even that bad. I can fly through this, no problem..."

"I think it's time to discuss other options," said the Princess, who was getting increasingly worked up as she stared indignantly at her.

"Spitfire, get your team ready. We'll take the train to the northern plains and enter the valley from there," said Rainbow to the fiery Wonderbolt leader, who did not move but instead stared back at her with despondent pity, her mouth open and her eyes fixed on her.

"Rainbow..." muttered the Princess.

"Thunderlane? Blossomforth? You guys ready?" she continued, and I think she barely believed herself at this point. I'm not sure how I was even standing up at that point given how I felt on the inside. Again, what more can I think to describe it with? Nothing I can write down, that's for sure.

"Rainbow," said the Princess, nearing a breaking point.

"Let's go! NOW! Scootaloo needs me!!" cried Rainbow, fighting tears.

"RAINBOW!" bellowed the Princess, and the room fell still. "Come! Speak with me alone!" said the Princess to her, motioning towards the door she came in. There was an intense pause while her invitation hovered, and we all watched in heartbroken silence. The Princess' gaze went from frustrated to a much more compassionate and pleading one. "I beg you."

After looking everyone in the room straight in her tearful eyes with one sweeping glance, she ran towards the door and disappeared with the Princess, leaving us all to ourselves. With my mind slipping into absolute chaos, I felt my legs give out from underneath me and I crashed to the floor and buried my eyes in my left front leg. It felt like it may have been the end for me right then.

It felt like I was floating in some kind of limbo. I didn't feel like I was on Equestria anymore. Everything was black, but I could still think and everything else seemed conscious. I knew because I could still feel this terrible weight dragging me down into the abyss. It felt like I had died, but hadn't gone to heaven, and was stuck there. Why didn't I go with them? Why didn't I trust my feelings? They're lost. Scootaloo and the others are lost!!! It was the most terrible thought that has ever entered my mind. My heart pleaded with itself, trying to find something, anything to ease this pain, but I was drawing a complete blank. The images of those loving faces that comforted so deeply just earlier that day were going to torture me forever.

I couldn't believe it, and the why-me questions started popping up. How can we ever recover from this? I finally meet the mare of my dreams, and then of all this happens. Why does this happen to me? I just don't understand. I waited so long. I finally- Just then, the image of those foals appeared once again in the darkness, but this time as a source of light, smiling as memories on the floating platform, and I once again saw the innocence in their eyes, led by Scootaloo. This isn't about me, I thought to myself as I realized my love for them what really was lighting this miserable inferno inside me. I couldn't indulge in self-pity when I thought of them.

I thought about Rainbow, the only reason I got through all the tough times when I was foal. I remembered the pain I'd seen her in just a moment ago, with no one to comfort her. Suddenly I had a fierce and desperate desire to be with her, like my own soul depended on it. How could I find her in this strange realm, though? I had to get back to the real world if I could.

"Sonic," I heard her voice say, but in a loving and assuring way. I looked around, and then a hole of light opened in front of me shining behind her. She had a serious expression on her face, and I stood frozen in awe. "You gotta be strong. This is not over. We can still do this."

"Sonic," she called again, but this time it sounded blended with the voice of the Princess. I opened my eyes; I was still on the stone floor in the castle counsel room, but there were four white hooves in front of me. I suddenly felt two hooves on either side of my back from two ponies kneeling beside me, and I looked up and saw the good Princess staring down directly at me with moving pity.

"My son," she said tenderly, as I realized the ponies on either side of me were Thunderlane and Clear Skies, while standing directly behind me was the rest of our team while we all watched her. She stared deeply into my eyes, deeper than anyone other than Rainbow ever has, and I suddenly felt myself doing the unthinkable; calming down. "They are not yet lost."

Gazing into her purple eyes I saw a real hope behind a real maternal love. I didn't realize it then but the rest of the room was immersed in her as well. The Wonderbolts, the doctors, and officials.... They were all starved for some reassurance. Somewhere inside, my descent to total madness stopped; she had got through to me and touched my innermost feelings. At that moment I made a pact with myself. They are not yet lost. That means I must not despair. I have to help her find them. I have to help save them.

"Listen," she pleaded with the rest of us. "We have to get those foals out of that valley," she declared, and it was followed by yet another heavy silence. "If we're going to do that, everypony needs to calm down. You need to calm down, and trust me," she continued before she lowered her head down to me and whispered something so no one else could hear it. "Rainbow knows the plan. She'll be waiting for you outside when we're done. She needs - we all need you to focus now."

"What?" asked Spitfire loudly. The Princess lifted her head and her demeanor changed permanently into one of a strict commander. I had no idea what the Princess and Rainbow had talked about in the next room, and I wasn't sure how long I was out for exactly, but I knew it couldn't been more than a few minutes. I started to wonder where she was, and I still had a strong desire to be with her to help me as I tried to make sense of this situation.

"No one in this room must despair. We can still save those children but I will need your help," she said.

"How?" asked one of the ponies from the north, a stallion with a thick brown coat and a lumberjack sweater.

"How are we supposed to save them without the Elements of Harmony?" asked another pony.

"Yeah? They're the ones that always save the day," repeated another.

"Silence!" cried the Princess, pleading desperately with them. The Princess has a powerful persuasiveness, in part because you feel the benevolence and wisdom in her, despite her emotional pleas and fears that were so evident now. "You are the Wonderbolts! One does not have to be an official member of the Elements of Harmony to be an extraordinary pony. You are the best fliers in Equestria, and you must not fail-"

"We're not," replied Blossomforth.

"You are very talented. Your act in Ponyville was no small accomplishment," she said, turning her desperate but loving eyes towards him and the rest of us. Spitfire rolled her eyes. "More importantly, those foals are *your* family and friends."

I noticed then that Blossomforth and Merry May were both crying behind me.

"Wait, so we have no idea where they are but you want us to go get them?" asked an unseen stallion. Ponies all across the room were suddenly to shout and it was quickly falling into hysteria.

"But where in the valley are they?" asked another Wonderbolt anxiously. His question ignited a slew of voices across the room.

"How do we know they're alive?"

"Can we even survive out there?"

"Who's gonna tell their parents?"

"How are we supposed to know where to look?"

"SILENCE!" yelled the Princess, and the room went quiet again as everyone stopped talking immediately. I remained on the ground looking up at her, trying my best to ignore my emotions and concentrate on what she was saying. "You all need to be quiet and calm if we are to figure a solution. Once again, here's what we know; the passenger car of eighteen foals never made it through to the Empire. The Empire sent a locomotive of engineers back the way they came in, but the car itself was never found on the rails. The conditions at that altitude are too severe to risk any kind of search and rescue and I can tell you from experience that it's highly unlikely that whatever did this is something that would remain at that elevation... therefore they must be in the valley somewhere. At this time, I propose that we send a team of pegasus consisting of the Wonderbolts and the team of fliers from Ponyville, the best fliers we have," she continued, motioning to me and the ones behind me, "into the valley to retrieve them. You are the only chance they have."

"Retrieve them?" asked another Wonderbolt stallion.

"Yes, there would be eighteen of you. That's one foal per pony to carry back," she said, and the ponies in the room from the Wonderbolts to my friends behind me looked uneasily at each other and whispered.

"But what happened to the car?" asked a mare curiously behind Spitfire, who, like the rest of her unit, were in their Wonderbolt uniforms. "Why not take a train through the mountains?"

"Well," said the Princess, hesitantly. "We don't know exactly what happened to the car. It seems likely to me that it was intercepted, by something. The car is nowhere to be found, but it may have slid down the bottom of the valley, because it's nowhere along the tracks. The weather is horrible even at the bottom, but it's more survivable than the higher altitudes."

"But what would intercept a train full of foals?" asked the frightened voice of Thunderlane from behind me. Princess Celestia's hard expression slipped a hint of fear at the initial question, and I'm sure that everypony in the room who were all watching her intently caught it.

"Well... I don't know for sure," she said, maintaining her commitment to sternness. I'm no expert at reading emotions, but it almost seemed like she was hiding something that we was too afraid to talk about.

"Maybe an ice dragon," said the gruffy stallion in the red lumberjack shirt, and all heads in the room turned towards him. He was a serious-looking stallion, the kind of pony who lived on his own in a log cabin somewhere in the north.

"I-Ice dragon?" asked Blossomforth, her voice shaking.

"Or worse," said the Princess in a whisper that few ponies caught.

"There's ice dragons in that valley that answer to no one but themselves," he said gravely, and fear gripped our silent hearts even harder. "That valley... no one lives there. Just wicked creatures. It's cold, and dark, and snowy. The wind blows all the time. It's a frozen nightmare."

More whispering, followed by more soulful glances at one another. I cringed in pain beyond description to know that's what those kids were experiencing. I had flash backs to my own lonely abandonment, how scared I was then. At least they had each other, I thought, and maybe they were in a cave where it was warmer. But how soon till a dragon or something else ate them?

"Ok... where is this valley, exactly?" asked Thunderlane. I imagine he was shocked to suddenly be relevant in a saving-Equestria discussion.

"It's right here," said the Princess, who's horn lit up a small, narrow light that directed our eyes to the large map of Equestria on the wall. "We are right here," she said, shifting the light to Canterlot Castle which was roughly in the center. We followed her pointing light upwards towards the Crystal Empire along the railway as it made it's way into the Frozen Plains south of the mountains. Then, after it was well north of Whinnyapolis and almost to the empire, it veered off to the west. Situated to the west of the Frozen Plains were two mountain ranges that dipped slightly south of the main ones; they ran east to west, and in the center of them was a small, narrow gap. The mountains seemed to form the image of an eye that was barely open, coming together to form a very narrow entrance on the west side. To the east of the valley was a great ocean. "The valley is right here."

The subject railway line showed it moving off to the west just before entering the northern edge of the Frozen Plains at the foot of the Crystal Mountains, veering west along and up into the northern range looking over the valley to the south. From there it goes over the mountains before making a short way back east into the Crystal Empire.

"It is believed the car was lost in this area," she said, circling with her magic light the area right over the heart of the valley. I noticed on the map the names of all the ranges and locations, but in the area where the valley was, there was an inscription that appeared to be tampered with, scratched out. I made out the words "Valley of" but after that there was nothing. "I will authorize one or two scouts to run through the area, but I don't want much time spent on these tracks - they were more likely taken back to a cave under the mountains.

"Your Highness," said the young mare who looked like a doctor, "we could establish a camp in the Frozen Plains just east of the entrance of the valley, where several doctors and a host of families could hold out where the team could bring the rescued foals."

"Go on," said the Princess, who looked interested.

"While the team heads into the valley to retrieve the lost children, we could build a camp of tents and fires, and set up small medical clinics where we would wait safely for the arrival of the team. That way we can provide the foals and team members with proper medical care immediately rather than try to then take them to a major city hospital. They will likely be suffering from hypothermia and will need food, water, and warmth along with whatever us doctors can do for them. There are very few monsters or creatures in the plains, we should be safe. But we will have to dress very warmly and have many fires to protect us from the icy winds."

"Who are you?" asked a Wonderbolt across the room. I think we were all wondering that question.

"This is Doctor Snowmane," said Princess Celestia. "She is head doctor at the hospital in Whinnyapolis. She is an expert on all things cold and medicine."

"Alright, if we're gonna do this then let's talk about where these foals might be," said Blossomforth, with no ounce of nonsense in her voice. A few ponies seemed surprised by her boldness, and Spitfire raised her eyebrow irritably. "You want us to go in there and get them? Is that it? Like find them ourselves?"

"Yes. They might be, as Mr. Moose suggested, in the cave of an ice dragon," said the Princess. "Search every cave you can find. Look under large pine trees, look in places where it could be warmer. Many of these creatures do not eat their prey right away, but save them for harsher times. Look for the passenger car. We have to try."

"Your Highness, with all due respect," said Spitfire, eyeing our team with suspicion, "this team would just slow us down. I recommend we go by ourselves," she said, though the Princess ignored her as though she didn't even hear her. I'm not sure if she did or not.

"So uh... how cold are we talking exactly?" asked Thunderlane. He directed his question towards the ponies from the north, but the Princess seemed interested as well. Once again, Dr. Snowmane was the smart one.

"Well, the Valley of - well, the valley in question is known for it's frequent blizzards, but again no one really goes in there-" she started, before Thunderlane cut her off.

"Wait a second, what is the deal with the name of this valley? Why can't you say it? What's with this 'valley of' stuff and not finishing the sentence?" he asked her, and the rest of the room's eyes seemed to fall on her while she struggled with herself for an answer. She looked nervously at the Princess, who did not give as much away with her expression, but seemed to nod reluctantly at her.

"Well, the name's not important, but-"

"What?" interrupted Thunderlane. "Just tell us the name if it's not that important!" he said, and after more stuttering she reluctantly relinquished the answer.

"The valley as it is known in the north, is called... the Valley of White Death."

"Oh you know what? That is- that is just great," said Thunderlane angrily. "What a great name to give a valley where a bunch ponies are trying to rescue a bunch of foals. You think that gives us confidence, huh? Who's the idiot who named it that?"

"I am," replied the Princess, her face not budging an inch. Thunderlane's anger was wiped away instantly with horrified shock.

"Did I say idiot?" he said chuckling nervously, retreating his head back into his shoulders with deep embarrassment. The Princess did not seem to care in the slightest.

"This is not important. We must make a decision in fifteen minutes or less and take action. Every minute we lose we risk losing the children."

"Right, not important," whispered Thunderlane besides me, humiliated.

"She's right," said Doctor Snowmane. "The longest a foal can survive the blowing snows of this valley without any cover is two hours at most I would say, though much longer however if they are in an area of cover like a cave."

Now at this point you might be wondering how I was able to follow any of this given my world had been flipped upside down yet again, but the the devastating initial shock had finally started to wear. Rest assured though it was still terrible if not barely manageable. The truth is, as I said, that the Princess had gotten through me and relayed a hope that was in herself to me. It was a small hope, and I was still filled with terror and sadness while I listened, but I was able to at least listen and weigh it in my mind as I took it all in.

Rainbow trusted her, and when the Princess told me that was Rainbow was waiting for me outside and that she needed me now, that was just enough to keep me from losing my sanity... at least for the moment. I listened attentively and tried my best to shove aside my fears. I assessed the situation quickly in my head. The kids have been abducted. They're in the frozen north. It's gonna be really cold. I have to do whatever I can to help. If I can do anything... If you think you're having a hard time taking all this in, think about how I felt.

"Spitfire, you will lead your Wonderbolts and this team of fliers into the valley. You will take the train to the eastern entrance of the valley and then you will enter. Once you are there, you must find the lost children and bring them back to the camp we will establish just outside in the Frozen Plains. Do you understand?" asked the Princess. It did not appear that many of them were giving body language that they assented to go in the first place. They were all terrified. I couldn't really see my own team behind me, but Spitfire sighed.

"Your Highness, with all due respect," she said, turning an unwelcoming expression towards our team, especially at me. "This is the stallion who cost us the reservoir job in Ponyville. Can he really be a help to us?"

This jab hit me particularly hard in a room full of ponies. I don't exactly like the spotlight to begin with, but this was a depressing vote of no confidence from a high ranking pony in front of some of the only relevant ponies in my life outside of Rainbow, whom I needed dearly but wasn't sure I was worthy to stand by her anymore. I sunk my head in humiliation while my ears fell down in embarrassment. Maybe she's right. Without Rainbow, what good will I be? I haven't done anything in my life worth talking about.

"I have serious doubts about that, Captain," replied the Princess, to the visible surprise of Spitfire. I couldn't believe it myself. Spitfire, though, was dead set against me, that had been apparent from the moment she moment she laid eyes on me days before. "I do believe that it was Sonic who registered a 17.7 on the wingpower machine, and he has exceptional flying skills that I myself have witnessed. I believe the team from Ponyville will take this mission more seriously, as it is their friends and family whom you will be rescuing."

Spitfire was visibly unsatisfied with the answer, but she had no choice to accept it. She took a deep breath and seemed to reluctantly submit herself before the Princess' eyes narrowed in her direction.

"And Captain," she continued coldly, drawing Spitfire's eyes back to hers. "You may not question me on this anymore."

The room fell silent as all eyes shifted over to get a glimpse of a humiliated Spitfire, who's embarrassed eyes were now turned away from everyone while she looked at a spot on the floor beside her.

"Yes, your Highness," she muttered.

"It's settled then," said the Princess.

"Your Highness?" asked a terrified Buddy, his first words. "W-what can we expect in this valley?"

When all eyes went nervously to the Princess, her own expression turned back towards the gruffy northerner who she had singled as "Mr. Moose" the old and experienced stallion who's expression looked like it'd been hardened by forty years of tough living. He raised an eyebrow towards the shaking green stallion.

"You're used to moving rain clouds around, and making snow angels. In this territory the weather controls *you*. Few ponies that go into that valley ever make it out. Maybe you folks is the best of the best, maybe you can handle it. But you better be ready for the coldest night of your life. This may be the most dangerous place in Equestria."

There was a long silence.

"Are we gonna even survive this mission? This sounds like a job for the Elements of Harmony," asked a stallion from the Wonderbolts. I couldn't tell if he was brave for being so brutally honest or cowardly in his fear for his own life over the life of eighteen terrified children. In my own heart I started to wonder how much hope there really was. How did I know they were alive? It felt like I was starting to slip back into despair, if not the most afraid I've ever been in my life.

"We don't have the Elements of Harmony," said the Princess, fighting back a lack of confidence that was attempting to surface in her body language. "I know in my heart that they're alive. I ask you all to trust me on this," she said, in a much humbler and pleading tone. The tone in the rest of the room seemed to be moving more towards fear and doubt.

"There is a risk, no doubt about it," said Doctor Snowmane sadly. All heads turned back to the Princess, who's anxiety was getting more and more visible again. Following a silence, Spitfire spoke for her group.

"We will do as the Princess commands."

There was an unspoken feeling in the room that everypony was wondering; was the Princess reconsidering this mission? Were the foals really worth it? In my own heart my answer was made up. Of course they were. I was going after them with or without these ponies. But my confidence in myself and my ability to provide meaningful contribution was what I doubted. As the Princess stared at the floor, breathing heavily for several seconds, we waited for a confirmation. Everyone in the room knew how serious this was.

The Princess looked up to face the horrified, doubting ponies and she couldn't hold back her own tears anymore.

"Those kids are out there. They're alone. Think of how scared they are. Think of what I must tell their parents," she said, choking up once again. When she said this, the Princess of Equestria reduced to a shamble of tears, everyone in the room including me began to tear up. "Think of their families. The lives of our children matter. I tell you that I know they're alive, and you *must* trust me on that. I cannot leave them in that valley to die. Will you?"

By turning the subject back to the children, it seemed she had won over her subjects again, at least the group I was with. The Princess had spoken. Amidst the cries and snuffles in the room, the ponies had made up their mind. We were going to go into the valley. We could not let this happen.

"Prepare to leave," said Spitfire to the Wonderbolts. "Soarin' and Fleetfoot, lead them out at the Princess' command."

"You have twenty minutes before you must board the train that will take you north. My sister will accompany you there. I will organize the efforts to establish a camp outside of the valley in the Frozen Plains," declared the Princess, succumbing to her sadness. She was now looking at everyone gratefully, like she owed us all for this situation, like it was her fault but it was up to us to save it. "Ponies..." she continued, "you cannot despair. You *must* not. The power of friendship lives not just in the hearts of the elements, but in anyone who seeks it. I know that the Elements have been crucial the past few years, but this is your chance to show the real worth in ordinary ponies. Do you understand?"

Spitfire nodded to her lieutenants, and one by one, Soarin' and Fleetfoot turned and slowly made their way out of the room, followed just as slowly by the reluctant members of the Wonderbolts with Spitfire exiting last, bringing up the rear. A rescue mission was officially underway. My gaze was frozen. Somewhere I realized I had a burning need to see Rainbow again. Though I was still laying belly-down on the stone floor I turned my head back towards the door, hoping she was there, but she wasn't.

As the rest of the ponies began to leave, the sobering reality, that eighteen foals -including our beloved Scootaloo - were lost in the northern tundras, started to sink in. Half an hour ago I thought my biggest problem was my past and it's impediment to a dream-come-true with the mare I love, a reflection of my general unworthiness. Now my biggest problem was the thought of losing Scootaloo. And maybe myself. Yet one question lingered on my mind. What role did Rainbow play in all of this?

I was walking towards the door, thinking about how I got here. How quickly all of this went down, and what it meant. How could Rainbow come with us without the ability to fly? I didn't feel like I could do it without her. What if I didn't survive? Rainbow isn't going to come with us, is she? She can't.... what am I supposed to do? The Princess had said she'd be waiting for me, that she "knew the plan". I had to find her and try to make sense of this. I needed her reassurance. But then again, she'd been through so much the last few days, and part of that was my doing. I needed her more than anything but I wasn't sure if that was best for her given everything, and that's what was truly depressing.

As I moved towards the door I looked back at the map on the wall and saw the Valley of White Death in the northwest corner. That same strange spiritual feeling from earlier seemed to envelop me again, an inexplicable feeling of that seemed to transcend the world around me but I didn't know what to make of it. I barely knew what to make of anything. I could hardly process it all. My life had been full of unexpected changes, I've been thrust into situations I never wanted before; I thought I'd be used to it by now. This though I could barely handle, just so much fear and sadness. I knew that I was to get through this, even to just to play a role and not to break down at the spot, I needed to rely on what's gotten me through everything else thus far. For all that happened, for all that Rainbow knew I was and was not, she still looked at me with more love than any creature Equestria ever has.

"Sonic!" called the Princess. I halted at the door, and turned my head back around to see her walking towards me. Now that she was no longer in decision making mode and the rest of the ponies were leaving, her emotions ran freer again. She was as miserable as anyone, if not moreso. "Leave us," she said to the royal guards and the other few ponies left, who dispersed through the back doors at her command. As much as her eyes were filled with pity for me, I couldn't help but feel the same for her. "Sonic," she stared, after the rest of the ponies. "I-I," she continued, stuttering. She was having difficulty choosing the right words, I hoped my expression would let her know that she had nothing to worry about, and that whatever she could say wouldn't offend me. "If you don't want to go out there, then I understand."

"Why wouldn't I?" I asked, genuinely curious as to why she would ask me this but not the others. Once again, she seemed to struggle to give an answer, which I took pity in as I waited patiently for an answer.

"You haven't had the easiest life, I understand that. A lot of ponies have failed you, Sonic. Me included," she said, looking shamefully to the side. "As Princess, I-I do my best to ensure that all my subjects are taken care of, you know... happy, sheltered, friendly... that's why I was happy to give you that home in Ponyville. But even with my sister, and Twilight... there's still just so many ponies in Equestria, it's just- it's just hard to keep track," she muttered, stuttering. She was having difficulty looking me, but then forced herself to do it, and I saw the sincerity in her. "I know that's not an excuse, so I just wanted to say that... I'm sorry. I'm also sorry that the ponies under my rule have not treated you the way they should have."

Many feelings stirred in me at hearing this confession. Many days in my youth when I was alone out there I wondered about the benevolent ruler I'd heard about, appointed by the Divine. I wondered if she knew what happened to me or if she bore any responsibility for it. Though I didn't know much about her nor did I place too much emphasis on her, because she was not the one who left a permanent mark on my heart like Rainbow had. Now I knew that there was another in Equestria who cared for me even if we didn't know each other on a personal level, and I didn't hold her responsible at all. Seeing the real sorrow in her eyes was proof enough of her filial love for her subjects. The benevolent ruler I'd heard about was real after all. It saddened me to see her so full of self-doubt and apologizing to me like this, but on the other hand I was reassured and comforted to know that someone else in Equestria didn't hate me. I wish there was something I could do for either of us to feel better, but I know that wasn't happening.

On a base level I also knew what she was suggesting. Beneath it all I could see she was apologizing because she feared the thought of me dying out there, and missing out on redemption in her eyes. I sensed that was the case earlier in the evening as the witnesses described the conditions in the valley, and yes, it was incomprehensibly depressing, but I decided I wasn't going to think about that if I could and instead just try to focus on playing my role in a rescue squad, taking orders from Spitfire and getting a foal back to it's parents. Getting Scootaloo back to Rainbow Dash. Inside, however, I doubted my ability to do that, especially if Rainbow couldn't come with me. It terrified me. It seemed that self-doubt was something both the Princess and I definitely had in common.

"It's not like any of this is your fault," I reassured her.

"It seems I've failed more than just you," she replied, and her guilt became even more apparent in her expression. "They don't think they can complete this mission, I could see it in their eyes. Just like I see it in your eyes."

My mouth slowly dropped. I couldn't hide it.

"Tonight, I have to tell the parents of those foals what's going on," she finished, after which she closed her eyes and tilted her head away in utter torment.

Now I found myself in awkward situation as I stood there across from her, watching her break down. Here I was tempted to feel bad for myself, and now I felt much worse for her, the divinely appointed Princess of Equestria, than anyone. Being princess is a lot harder than it looks, that much was clear to me for the first time. She had proven beyond any doubt that she deeply cared for all of us, and that's what made it so painful for me to watch her like this. I didn't want to just keep standing there staring at her doing nothing, I wanted to comfort her somehow, and I knew I craved her comfort as well.

Not knowing what else to do I walked forward and despite her being a lot taller than me I found a way to make a hug work by putting my head against her chest, and I felt her leg wrap around my shoulder. It still felt a little strange, but it was well worth it. I never thought the Princess would be taking in such an emotional hug with her lowest of subjects, and it was relieving to feel her maternal embrace.

It felt like an eternity, but eventually I withdrew myself and gazed upward at her. I didn't want to the hug to end but I knew I had to go be going soon and my heart craved a meeting with another mare even more strongly.

"What did you mean when you said that Rainbow knew the plan, that she was waiting? Is she coming with us?" I asked.

"Rainbow, as you know, cannot fly. Her options at this point appear limited," she said wearily, and it struck me hard; my prospects took a strong dip that she no doubt picked up on. "However," she continued, and I saw a glimmer of something appear in her eye, "as you well know, Rainbow Dash will never be denied. It's who she is, she never gives up or concedes defeat, even in injury."

"What are you suggesting?" I asked curiously. "That she's going to walk out there?"

"My heart tells me that she has some role to play in this. For the record, I am not going to throw her in jail to keep her away from you. I can offer her much advice to let you and the others act in her stead, but you know how well she listens in situations like this," she added, managing a faint smile that I returned. I wondered what this could mean for the mission, for myself, and for her. She was all I could think about. That made me less prepared for what the Princess said next. "She loves you very, very much Sonic."

My eyes were drawn to her immediately. She had told me something I can't deny that I needed desperately, what Rainbow herself had confirmed, but somehow I still needed it so badly, which was annoying. Part of me said it was silly, part of me said it wasn't. I looked into the Princess' eyes. They seemed so honest. I wanted to believe it so badly. Even if it wasn't true, even if Rainbow didn't love me, I would never stop loving her.

"It is exceptionally rare that I have encountered something this strong from both sides. If I achieved anything in my private conversation with her, it is the knowledge that her love for you and for the filly Scootaloo is stronger than anybody including myself thought was possible from her. It cannot be understated."

I didn't really know what to say. On one hand this was all I ever wanted to hear in life. It was the kind of thing I went to sleep dreaming about for years, but telling myself that realistically it was just a fantasy that was a waste of time to entertain, and yet here I was hearing it from the wisest of all ponies. But on the other hand, it reinforced to me just how much was at stake here.

"You must help lead out there, Sonic," she said as I stared wondrously at her. "You doubt yourself, but you have a beautiful and pure heart. I believe in you, and your beloved Rainbow Dash most certainly believes in you. She is waiting for at the Canterlot train station with my sister and the rest of the team."

Unable to stand there any longer and trying to hide my swelling eyes, I bowed my head before her long and softly so that she might know how much I appreciated her, and so I could exit the building and find Rainbow before I left into the frozen wilderness. The reality of my situation was setting in, and though everything felt numb, each hoof lifted off the ground. I was still alive after all. As I passed the door and approached the hallway, she called out to me one last time.

"Sonic," she said, and I turned my head back around. "Please be careful."