The Neighpal Mountains were experiencing a blizzard. The winds howled, sending snow spewing across the cliffs and crevasses. The temperature was dipping far below freezing, and no creature outside would be able to survive the extreme conditions.

Deep in the mountains was a cave. This cave was shielded from the wind and snow, but the creature inside never minded the cold. She was a unicorn, with an icy blue coat and a baby purple mane up in a bun with a layer draping behind her neck. Her name was Sastrugi Snow.

Sastrugi was a powerful unicorn who kept to herself. In fact, it had been moons since she'd seen another pony. However, she didn't care. Sastrugi had always been asocial.

In this cave, she toiled away at reading ancient scrolls. The scrolls detailed spells, some of which hadn't been performed in ages. Sastrugi was a powerful unicorn, able to perform some of the more complex spells.

Her eyes followed the words on this ancient scroll, which had grown worn over time. Her lips pursed as she read the text. It was definitely a complicated spell. She sighed. It was more difficult than any other spell she had done before, but she knew she could pull it off.

Sastrugi closed her eyes, and drawing a deep breath in, began to concentrate. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead as light began to form at the tip of her long horn. Her body strained as she forced this spell, and suddenly there was a beam of light.

Sastrugi stepped back, the light illuminating the dark cave and blinding her for a moment. Eventually, the light faded, and her eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness. Despite the low light, she could feel a presence in the cave with her.

"Where… am I?" A low voice came. Sastrugi could barely make out a large figure standing in front of her, slightly hunched over.

"You're deep within the Neighpal Mountains." Sastrugi Snow responded.

"Neighpal Mountains…" the figure whispered, his voice barely audible, but his tone bitter. "Yes… I have come back. But how?"

"I have brought you back." Sastrugi replied. Despite the powerful presence, Sastrugi felt no fear.

The figure stepped into the light of the candle. A large unicorn, with a gray coat and a jet black mane and tail. He wore a black cloak with a hood over his head, and a large, sharply pointed horn.

"And who are you?" The unicorn asked, his eyes traveling over her.

"I am Sastrugi Snow." Sastrugi answered, her voice bold and unwavering.

The foreboding unicorn took a few steps closer to Sastrugi, his head angled up toward the ceiling of the cave, in hopes of intimidating her. His eyes met with hers in an intense stare, but she never broke eye contact.

"Do you know who I am, Sastrugi?" His voice was gruff, almost a growl, and, being much taller than her, he loomed over her. This unicorn was trying everything he could to scare Sastrugi, to hopefully send her running like a frightened dog with her tail between her legs.

However, Sastrugi did not fear this unicorn. Her head was held high, her hooves flat on the ground, and her icy blue eyes still locked with his.

After all, if she feared him, why would she bring him back?

"I know who you are," Sastrugi responded. "Maledict."

The edges of Maledict's mouth curled upward in a twisted grin. He seemed pleased Sastrugi knew his name, albeit surprised by her lack of reaction. If anypony knew the slightest thing about him, they should fear for their life.

"Do you fear me, Sastrugi?" Maledict questioned, amused.

"No."

"And why is that?"

"I do not fear power." Sastrugi answered, her tone monotonous. Maledict clicked his hooves against the hard cavern floor.

"Certainly. Not surprising for one as powerful as you." He titled his head to the side, gazing at Sastrugi, obviously smitten. "You brought me back. That is no small feat." He stepped closer to her until his face was inches away from hers. His breath smelled of decay. "Tell me. Why bring me back? What is it that you want?"

Sastrugi stared him in the eye. "Eternal winter." She stated. "I want the world to be thrust into a snowstorm that lasts until the end of time."

Maledict chuckled. "What an odd request." He said, dipping his head. "But, a request I can help with." He didn't question it farther, but the surge of light in his eyes was strong. "Join forces with me, Sastrugi Snow. I can give you this snowstorm, and anything else you want."

Sastrugi spared no time to come to her decision. She dipped her head as well, her horn crossing over Maledict's. They mustered all their strength to combine their powers and perform the spell. A small, dark gray cloud began to form at the tips of their horns, growing bigger and bigger as they used more of their power. Eventually, when the spell came to its climax, the cloud burst and radiated throughout the cavern, shooting out of the entrance of the cave.

Maledict and Sastrugi took deep breaths, exhausted from the extremely high level spell. Despite this, a new energy coursed through their veins, one in which they felt each other's power.

Maledict grinned evilly. "That snowstorm should now be ravaging through Equestria." He extended a hoof. "What else can I do for you, my dear?"

Spike threw open the door to the throne room, frantically flying inside. He breathed heavily as he stopped in front of the Princess Twilight.

"Twilight!" He shouted, his eyes wide with worry. "Look outside!"

"I saw!" Twilight responded.

Sure enough, snow was blowing, in the middle of summer. The temperatures were quickly plummeting, and soon, all Equestria's crops would die.

Twilight got to her hooves. "Quickly- we must assemble the girls!" She barked at her guards. They saluted her and took off out of the castle, and Twilight walked up to the windows.

The sky was dark, and the snow was already beginning to accumulate on the ground outside. She gave a heavy sigh— one of exhaustion and fear.

Despite their best efforts to keep evil at bay, something was terribly wrong. She just hoped they could find out why, and put an end to it.