Shining Armor was leading the members of the royal guard in training to the outskirts of the crystal empire. The ponies were greeted by snow and cold winds just past the limit. Not that it mattered much, they had all been warned and were wearing warm uniforms for this training session.


Shining Armor seemed especially excited about this training for some reason.


The party soon reached a snow-covered plain, where a large snow fort stood. The person in charge flew out of the top and met up with Shining.


That person was Spike who was wearing his winter clothes. “They arrive just in time.”


The soldiers-in-training exchange surprised and confused looks as the pony and dragon talk amicably.


Shining Armor clears his throat and goes back to acting serious. “You may wonder why we have come here, the answer is simple. Today we will have a training based on a snowball fight. The objective is for them to practice how to make improvised protection, their aim and teamwork.”


From the looks of the soldiers, they did not fully believe the captain's words.


Spike stepped in front of the white unicorn with a smirk. "The goal of all of you is to defeat Shining and me who will be using that fort." It was evident that he found more fun in this and did little to hide it.


Some soldiers seemed excited to be able to spend time with 'The great savior of the empire, the great Spike' and the leader of the royal guard/prince of the crystal empire. Some soldiers shrugged their shoulders while others didn't seem very happy.


Shining armor addresses the soldiers again. “You have 5 minutes to build snow shelters and prepare ammunition.” He said as seriously as he could.


Spike takes a stopwatch out of his pocket and makes him run.


The unicorn and the dragon share a knowing laugh while the others get to work and start building walls with snow and more.


Those 5 minutes turned out to be more than enough. Before the time was up several decent sized snow forts had been built and a small mountain of snow globes was ready next to each one.


"Are they used to doing these things?" Spike asked surprised at how quickly the ponies work with the snow. It took him all morning to build the fort.


“I don't know…” Shining said just as surprised. From time to time he thinks he sees sharp looks from the soldiers, but lets it go thinking it was just his imagination.


It's a snowball fight, it should be a fun workout. Correct?


Spike and Shining Armor found themselves surrounded by ponies at their barricades with snowballs at the ready. The dragon and the unicorn exchanged a look.


“Very good…” Shining doesn't look too sure about it anymore. “Then the goal for all of you will be to take down Spike and me to take the snow fort. Questions?"


An earth pony raises his hand. "We start now?"


“Um… yes, of course.” As soon as Shining said that he received a snowball in the face from him.


Spike raises his hands. “Wait! Let us i-” The dragon was hit in the face by another snowball with enough force to knock him off his feet.


Spike and Shining wipe their faces. Only to see a huge deluge of snowballs heading their way!


"Gahhh!" They both scream and try to run away. But they are mercilessly mowed down by the soldiers.


The force of the throws was such that the pony and the dragon began to spin in the air and their clothes began to come off being carried away by the currents of icy wind. But this did not matter to the soldiers who continued to mercilessly attack their superior and the hero of the empire.


Spike and Shining Armor were buried in snow to such an extent that none of them was visible. That's when the attacks stopped.


The white unicorn was the first to emerge from the snow mound, having been reduced to a pair of yellow underoos with pink flowers. "Good... job... soldiers... rest..." After dragging those words, Shining fell face-first into the snow.


Spike emerged from the snowdrift shortly after wearing just a pair of Frozen panties and his name neatly embroidered at his waist. “I am free~ I am free~” The little dragon chanted before tripping over its own feet and falling onto Shining Armor.


The soldiers-in-training obeyed the captain's orders. So, after filling the unicorn and dragon's underwear with snow, the soldiers returned to the empire to rest and drink hot chocolate with marshmallows.


From that day on, Shining Armor stopped taking soldiers to train in the snow. Especially since several photographs of what happened began to appear. Whereas Spike…well, not much had changed for him. The little dragon has experience ending up in situations like this.