The frost that continued to grow stronger with each passing day and each passing battle, both victories and defeats for both sides, came to its peak and quickly overtook all of the known world into white. A blizzard forced many to remain where they were with a high risk of freezing to death if one were to move through the storm.

Luna's forces reduced greatly after the battle of Cloudsdale had completely ended, the 15,000 pegasi she had charged with diminished to 3,000, leaving her with only 25,000 total left. There was much concern throughout the ponies now that their large pegasi number was reduced to almost nothing, but some were contempt with the losses, arguing that the rest of the campaign will most likely be on the ground. It may or may not be true, either way, they were still outnumbered which did not concern them for their victories shadowed their losses. They did not compare themselves to the Griffons after hearing the news of what is happening on their side, their effort making theirs look like nothing but a skirmish, especially considering their death count of three million. As always, they knew, the Griffons remained in their same outdated tactics which surprisingly has continued to work, pushing the Crystals out of most of their kingdom.

The princess herself remained in her tent, as like most others are to hide from the flying snow, reading the letters that were sent to her. The first one being from her sister explaining that she and much of her Guard have continued to keep holding back the Windigos from furthering in into Equestria, but their magic has blown over and will only last for a week at most. Luna scoffed a bit, knowing that it has been a week already with the blizzard and having one more to deal with is a nuisance to the advance to Yanhoover. She continued to read the letter, reading that reinforcements and much needed supplies were to arrive after the blizzard has gone away. That is something she is grateful to see for the next attack as a complete siege of the city. By now the Crystals have most likely fortified most of the outer city with much needed barricades and anti-troop obstacles as this is in the way of the known safe path towards the Crystal Empire and to Sombra.

Her second letter coming from Canterlot was from Astra reporting that her recovery was going well. Having to send her back to the capital to treat her injuries she was all alone in the front lines with no one to speak to, a first in awhile since she met Aniketos and taking Astra as her personal guard. Luna raised an eyebrow when she saw a second letter from the envelope, one coming from the doctor watching over her guard. While she was recovering from injuries she had taken from the many minor battles she had gone through and the few major ones like Cloudsdale, she had developed a symptom which causes her to have flashbacks to the battles, nightmares, and panic attacks along with her 'fight-or-flight' responses being more active than most regular ponies. It was written that she falls under the list of having an anxiety disorder, but something like this sounds to be much more different than that, maybe even a new symptom that has not be diagnosed.

"Hopefully she recovers," Luna spoke softly, hearing something falling onto the ground. Looking down, she noticed another letter that wasn't open yet. "Oh another, I didn't see that." She levitated it up and opened it, pulling out the letter which was slightly dirty and had dry blood stains on it making her suspicious. Upon reading the first few words she gasped, almost dropping it when she realized it was from her Spartan. She again started to read, making sure that every single word he had written down was read. How he was able to send the letter was something she couldn't understand, but for something like this meant he was going into a battle which he is not sure to survive. Continuing on, the letter had his location and what the Griffons have been doing. The large Griffon army had split in two, one continuing up north towards where the Bug Bears were and the other he is in preparing to storm toward Trottingham after the predicted storm passes.

"So he has the same problem as I have," she looked at the envelope that it came in, "This has to have been sent last week or more." Her heart began to ache, raising the crescent moon necklace that was given to her to be in view. "Oh how I miss you..." She kissed it and let it fall back down hanging around her neck. Being able to see him was always not possible to do as he either doesn't sleep or sleeps in another time than she does.

Her ears twitched from hearing something coming from outside her tent. She stared down towards the flap in case some pony was to walk in with whatever they had. A few more moments passed and she looked back down towards the letter only to be looking towards the flap again from the same sound. Now she grew suspicious, placing the letter down and bringing her sword with her. She walked outside into the storm, feeling the snow hit her and it blocking most of her vision. She walked around her tent, seeing no hoof prints or anything that would show that some pony or something was here. She was back where she was, seeing her tracks from where she started to the ones she stood right now. A gasp came from her as she heard the noise again, this time growing louder to her left. In the distance she watched whatever it was staring down towards her, the pony for sure having a mane similar to hers. Squinting a bit, she saw the pony spread its wings open and turn around to fly away into the blizzard. From a glance of the pony's side, it had a horn too, but surly it couldn't have been an alicorn for she knew it was only her and Tia that were alicorns. She shook the idea out from her head, the only thing in front of her being only snow.

"Wait, come back," Luna said, moving forward deeper into the blizzard. The thought of keeping close to the campsite was nonexistent, her eyes locked in finding who the pony was that was standing out in the middle of the storm. "It is not safe to be out here! Wait!" She called out. Furthering in, she found herself surrounded in pure white, looking around and realizing that she had wondered too far from where it was to be safe. Her horn glowed, but the light was not able to extend out from the snow which continued to cloud her sights.

"Such a fool." Luna heard, turning and seeing the pony that had vanished reappear. "And I thought only your sister had a big heart to risk her own life for another."

Luna looked towards the alicorn, seeing her black coat and blue mane like hers while wearing a royal attire such like hers. Her dark magic frightened her, for it was already enough dealing with Sombra.

She pulled out her sword and pointed it towards the alicorn. "Who are you? What are you?!" Luna said.

A laugh came from the dark figure, confusing Luna. "Fool, do you not see the resemblance? For I do as I stand before thee in the weather that secedes us from the rest of the world."

"I see nothing that would consider us similar. Your magic is of pure evil, heartless, empty from any kind of empathy!"

Again the laugh silenced Luna. "Poor thing…" With her magic, she surrounded her and Luna in a bubble, hiding them from the harsh weather and allowing Luna to have a clearer look at her. "Perhaps viewing me without the snow will assist the comparison."

It did help the princess of the night with seeing her better, which soon made her heart stop as she noticed more detail. "No…it can't be…" Luna said, moving backwards slowly.

The alicorn slowly walked forward. "I am what is used for all the fighting that you have done in each single battle, the reason why you and your ponies have not lost a single battle since before Cloudsdale. The drive you give everypony and yourself to keep continuing on even though you risk your immortal body." She closed the gap between her as Luna's behind came in contact with the end of the bubble, both their noses almost touching. "The darkness you continue to keep locked down from ever escaping…"

"How did you escape your prison? You were trapped with no possible way of freedom!" said Luna.

"You thought wrong! Now I will take hold of your body and make night last forever!"

Luna attempted to move away but was held down by some unknown magic while the aura from the evil she stared at was being absorbed. "No! Stay out of me!"

Instantly, the princess woke up moving away from the table that had the letters she read. She was breathing quickly, her heart feeling like it would be coming out from her chest, and sweat running down from her forehead. "A dream…just a dream…" She breathed out.

"Your highness," a guard called out before walking into her tent, "The blizzard has moved on, along with the clouds passing on."

Luna looked towards the stallion. "Good." Our reinforcements should be arriving soon. "Keep a look out for any sign of our reinforcements. Since the weather is clear where we are, they are most likely on their way here."

"Yes, your highness." The guard saluted to her before leaving her tent, leaving her by herself once more.

She magically equipped her armor on, along with her sword being placed on her side. Her helmet was yet to be placed on, her eyes looking at what used to be new looking now being reduced to dents and scratches along with the color chipping off showing a mixture of matte gray around. Her armor was the same, looking worn and through all the small skirmishes and large major battles, revealing damage that it had sustained. A sudden flashback occurred in her eyes, showing how the Spartan looked when he first arrived in this world, all battle-damaged and rough looking, like how she looks now. Something a princess such as herself would not be a part of. She shook her head, placing the helmet on and walking out of her tent into the sunny yet cold surroundings.

Around her were the other tents the guards rested in, and after that in the distance a clear view of Yanhoover, along with a harsh defensive front that looked to be punishable even to step foot into. She continued to walk, entering the tent of the wounded ones that groaned in pain while the doctors did their best to ease their pain. For some, they remained silent with their blankets being moved over their head to give them a final rest. She moved away from the tent and continued on, being greeted by some that walked past her with smiles and some offering her their food which she did not wish to take. Entering another tent, she looked towards the captains that suddenly stood at attention upon seeing her. "Any information of General Steel Wing's movements?" Luna asked out, approaching the mapped table. From the look of it, the line did change in their favor.

"Ahem," Captain Green Oak sounded out before approaching the table to Luna, "Sombra's army in combat against General Steel Wing's army have finally been pushed back. His messenger arrived through the blizzard to give us the updated information."

"Through the blizzard? They had a pony go through that storm…"

"It was said to be urgent for you to know in case you decided to move forward with the planned besiegement," he explained.

"I see," she looked towards the map, seeing the line of Neighagra Falls that seemed to never move be moved greatly up towards the Crystal borders. The only exception to it was Yanhoover that had two divisions next to it, being cut off from any aid from the Empire. More up north was most likely Steel Wing's army and down south she knew was hers. Most likely through his travels he had gained his needed reinforcements and supplies, now she waited on her own to arrive. "He knows when to strike then?"

"Yes, your highness. We sent the time of when to strike to assure everything will be done smoothly."

Which would be occur in only a few minutes seeing that sister's sun was almost at its high peak. "Good. Any more information?" She looked at a circled area that the Unicorn Range would be. "Like this for example?"

Green Oak looked down towards it and acknowledged it. "Our scouts have found a much safer way to reach the Crystal borders without having to go through Yanhoover…"

Luna noticed all them feel uneasy. "And…?"

"Well, some of us were thinking of bypassing the city and march forward towards the enemy's capital instead seeing that the enemy in the city are completely surrounded with no way of help. We could negotiate and have them stand down without shedding any blood."

She stared at the captain then back to the map. It was understandable why they would suggest the alternate path, a non-aggressive path that she had forgotten of what made Equestria so great. It would save many lives for both sides if negotiations were done, however the enemy may not accept surrender and continue to defend the captured city. "I understand."

"You do?"

"Aye. Have a messenger quickly send a message to General Steel Wing to hold his army and to report here," ordered Luna.

"Y-yes your highness!" Captain Green Oak replyed. He was about to run out of the tent but was stopped when the same guard that Luna spoke to before arrived. "What is it?"

"The reinforcements have arrived," the guard said.

"Excellent," Luna said. Can't have negotiations without intimidation.

At the border of Yanhoover, much of Sombra's army that remained their stood behind the fort, all demoralized from the constant defeats and retreats they had gone through. Some looking fearful as they stared towards the distance, seeing much of Equestria's army surrounding them, the flags waving along the wind. The battle-hardened guard stood at the front while the rest with their armor being untouched stood behind them. Catapults were in their rows while the cannons were rowed in front, ready to be fired towards the enemy side.

Walking forward was Luna and Steel Wing, staring towards the three enemy commanders of Sombra's army that flew down and approached them. It was a good thing they were pegasi for then they would have no way of crossing their own traps. Both Luna and Steel Wing stopped once they closed enough distance, the silence in the air being a rarity to have in a hostile environment such as this. Two guards came from behind Luna, bring a table in front and another laying down paper and ink to use if any negotiations were to be done.

"Shall we begin?" Asked Luna.

"Don't have much of a choice now," the enemy commander spoke. "General Spear Point of the Crystal Empire," he introduced himself. "And do not worry, I know who you two are. I kinda have to since you have been beating my troops since after the Battle of Canterlot."

"So you understand why we are here like this than meeting each other in combat," said Steel Wing.

Spear Point chuckled. "I am not stupid General." He frowned looking down towards the paper. "Having to surrender is something I would have never gone through if my own commanders did not advise me to do. But before I agree on the demands, what will become of my stallions?" He moved a bit for both Luna and Steel Wing to see them. "As you can tell, they are all tired, distraught, and confused to what is going on. Most already asking to be home than be here." He returned in front of the two. "The glory we had from our King is nothing more than a speck of sand."

Princess Luna cleared her throat. "Your stallions will meet no harm. They will be our prisoners and be marched to Tall Tale where they will remain in prison camps until the war is over. They will not be malnourished or tortured in any way. However, you will be taken straight to Canterlot to face the charges against you, which again you will remain in prison until the war is over. I cannot be certain if you will face death or not upon after the trial."

Spear Point sighed, looking down to the piece of paper which was signed by Luna and Steel Wing. All there was left was his own and the Equestrian Campaign would be officially over. Grabbing the quill by his mouth, he dipped the ink and signed the paper below the two names of the now victors of the unfought battle.

"You are saving many lives upon signing this," Luna spoke.

"I know. Most of what I had left were fresh out of school. Hopefully how many survived will continue on from this war to do what they were destined to do," replied Spear Point. He turned around and waved at those at the fort. Soon after a line of explosion occurred followed by smoke rising after. "Your troops are able to march into the city without harm, your highness."

"Thank you. I will be sure to ask for a non-life-threatening charge on you once the war is over," said Luna. She raised her hoof in the air then brought it down, the army marching forward into a line towards the city. All the commanders watched as the stallions and mares marched passed by, the enemy commanders seeing they were no different than their own but of course, that is how war is. At least now their duty is over, along with many lives not being taken. For both Luna and Steel Wing, it was now time to bring the fight towards Sombra's ground and end this war once and for all.