The Zebra mare nodded. "You have given me your name, I had forgotten I did not do the same." "Well, now that we're all introduced, I assume you wanted to talk about our long term plans?" Discord asked, looking at Frozen. (Writing for a zebra's hard! Why didn't I make her the mute? )
Frozen nodded, and his face grew grave, "the master of this realm is another Windigo," he said, "only older and likely stronger."
Discord looked a little more serious. "That is ill news indeed. What about the other citadels? Perhaps going for the head of the snake right away is a mistake?"
Frozen nodded and sighed, resting his face on the table with his hooves on his head. His age really showed, as did his weariness.
"Uh, you all right there Frozen?" Discord asked, slightly concerned; his special elixir was meant to prevent this sort of thing! Perhaps it needed tweaking for Frozen's... unique physiology... "Perhaps you should get some rest," Xarame offered, almost showing some measure of concern herself. "When the attack comes, we'll need you at your best."
"Thank you, perhaps I should," Frozen said softly. He rose, nodding his head respectfully to Mett, before heading into the other room.
"Good night, sweet Prince!" Discord said, dramatically, as Frozen left. "I had better get back down there; see how the troops are getting on." He looked at Met and Xarame, "Do either of you wish to join me?" Met shook her head and wrote out: 'My power is fairly limited, and I can't lead my swarm; I do not think I would be much use on the front line. I believe Xarame and myself could care for the wounded however, and if you have no objection, we will start setting up a clinic downstairs.' Discord read the note and nodded. "That seems like a fine idea. I will be out in the courtyard if you need me." He donned his disguise, headed out to the balcony, and then glided back down to the courtyard to continue drilling his troops.
Frozen sat upon the bed of the guest chamber, hooves crossed as he gazed at the wall. He sighed deeply, finding his thoughts drifted to Celestia. He remembered the few times he had seen her, how elegant and graceful she was. He chuckled humorlessly, "She doesn't even know you exist Frozen," he said.
After a soft knock at the door, Xarame stepped into the room. "I apologise for the intrusion, but there is something that requires conclusion." She paused, before walking a little further into the room. "I could not help but hear your sigh, I came to fathom the reason why. If there is anything I can do, I feel I have cause to repay you."
"That's very kind," he said, "but unnecessary." Frozen looked up,"But since you asked, it's about a mare, back home. I have admired her, distantly, for many years, but she does not know of my existence. I am just lamenting that, I guess. I can't really tell her how I feel because I am a Windigo and she is an alicorn. Also, while I had my noble status stripped from me, she is princess of equestria."
Xarame nodded, understandingly. "You speak of the Princess Luna, yes? She was well loved, I must confess; even in our land, of sun and sand."
Frozen gave her a half smile, "Her sister Celestia, actually," he said with a soft laugh. "More than that, though, I am saddened by the prospect of having to fight one of my own people."
Xarame recoiled noticeably. "Celestia!? You, you do realise it was she that banished us here?" She shook her head, trying to regain some composure. "I at least can understand your other concern, but it illustrates that you have much yet to learn; Here in this place there are no brothers or kin, such ties are severed to quell the fight left within. This will be the biggest problem your friend faces, I think; building a whole out of pieces that have forgotten how to link."
Frozen's heart sank, "Celestia banished you here? Why, why would she do such a thing? I remember reading about why she banished her sister, though I was born 150 years later, but she had become a threat to her kingdom.. But Xarame..you're a Zebra, a kind one at that..what possible threat could you pose that would warrant your banishment?"
Xarame sighed. "I am not alone in this foul jail; all the Zebra here share my sad tale." She sat down to tell her story: "Around the time of the sisters' feud, dark was the nature of our tribe leader's mood. He, like us all, revered the Moon Sister, and so rose up with a mind to assist her. And so our tribe was engaged in willing revolt; something Celestia was eager to halt. But her Sister must have required all her attention, so she turned to other means to end our contention. Dark was the one she called on for aid, and it seems in response this prison he made. I know not if your Princess knew what fate we would meet, but it seems in years past she does not lament our defeat."
Frozen felt like his heart was a porceilan vase, and that she had just dropped an anvil upon it. An icy tear froze upon his cheek as he felt his heart break, how could she do something like that and then just forget about them? Frozen shook a bit, as his whole perspective began to change. Suddenly he began to wonder if his people had been evil before the feud between the sisters. What was right and what was wrong? His head was spinning and he felt sick.
Xarame shook her head sadly; she felt sympathy for Frozen, but she would not hide the truth, not when the consequences were so dire as this. "I am sorry to be the one to break this news," she said, softly, "But had you talked to the others, you'd soon hear their views. Her actions were wrong, but in her defence I'll say this; Leading is a heavy burden, and I'm sure she did good to counter her remiss." Xarame frowned as she pondered something Frozen had said. "150 years after our imprisonment you were born? How many years have passed since from the world we were torn?"
"One thousand," he said softly "much has changed since you left equestria. Windigos have gone into hiding, the hive are lead by a bitter queen named Chrysalis."
Xarame gaped wordlessly. "A- A thousand?" It was difficult to keep track of time in this realm; she knew she'd been imprisoned for a while, but she had no idea it'd been that long. She stared dumbly at Frozen, still in shock.
Frozen rose and moved over to her. He studied Xarame's face silently, seeing the pain and confusion there. He took her hoof in his and cupped it with the other one, "I am sorry Xarame," he said softly, "I have seen how beautiful your homeland is, I can understand why you would miss it so much.."
