Fairlight

Chapters

Chapter One - Memories of a perfect sky
Chapter Two - The scent of flowers in the rain
Chapter Three - A register of names
Chapter Four - Sands of the Wither World
Chapter Five - Purgatory
Chapter Six - Another day in the Watch
Chapter Seven - Hours before dawn
Chapter Eight - New ideas
Chapter Nine - Stumbling in the dark
Chapter Ten - The end of the road
Chapter Eleven - Shadows on the water
Chapter Twelve - Regret
Chapter Thirteen - The gift
Chapter Fourteen - Explanations from another world
Chapter Fifteen - Family Ties
Chapter Sixteen - The porcelain porch
Chapter Seventeen - An eternity in stone
Chapter Eighteen - Gentle realisations
Chapter Nineteen - In laws
Chapter Twenty - Irremovable stains
Chapter Twenty One - A cabin in the woods
Chapter Twenty Two - Possessions
Chapter Twenty Three - A short way down
Chapter Twenty Four - Sacrifices
Chapter Twenty Five - Unexpected changes
Chapter Twenty Six - Innocence
Chapter Twenty Seven - Into the beyond
Chapter Twenty Eight - Visiting hours
Chapter Twenty Nine - Forbidden fruit
Chapter Thirty - Judgement
Chapter Thirty One - Remnants of another time
Chapter Thirty Two - New Friends
Chapter Thirty Three - Nimbus
Chapter Thirty Four - The empty city
Chapter Thirty Five - Unwelcome guests
Chapter Thirty Six - Land of the eternal herd
Chapter Thirty Seven - The bottle

Chapter One - Memories of a perfect sky

FAIRLIGHT
CHAPTER ONE

Memories of a perfect sky

The sharp clatter of crockery being arranged, mingled with the faint bubbling from the unknown contents of saucepans on the stove. I inhaled deeply, allowing my senses to fully absorb the aroma whilst attempting to determine what it was we were for dinner tonight. I caught a hint of…yes, carrot, turnip, a touch of basil, and something…..something else I couldn’t quite put my hoof on. Celery, that had to be it. Damn it all, I couldn’t stand the bitter tasting stuff. Its stringy stems would catch between my teeth and made me pick at them all night until I attacked them with a severe tooth brushing.

The smell however, was simply delicious. Stretching out my forelegs, followed in turn by my whole body, I sank back into the large comfy settee. It was brand new and had been worth every bit. I relaxed deeper into it, feeling a warm flush of contentment spreading through me from muzzle to tail. I smiled, it just didn’t get any better than this.

My ears twitched as I heard a song begin to accompany the rattling of pans and other indeterminate kitchen items.

“Full of goodness, full of flavour, bring the taste you to savour……..”

I recognised the simple little ditty from the radio. We would often sit together and listen to our set on dark, cold evenings by the hearth. The song was an advert for vegetable stock cubes of all things, but they were her favourite. Her. For some reason, I couldn’t quite seem to remember her name just at the moment. That was ridiculous of course, I mean, she was my wife wasn’t she ? For Celestia’s sake, she was only in the next room ! I shook my head and grumbled to myself. Why did everything seem so….’distant’, tonight ? It was almost as if I was somehow detached from my surroundings, a veritable passenger in my own body, looking out with no real control over what I was doing or what was happening around me.

I had been working hard recently, I theorised. That must be the answer. I certainly wasn’t thinking straight and a combination of the delicious aromas, soft chair and my weariness were leading me to an early bed rather than, Luna forbid, early senility. I chuckled to myself and let out a sigh as I gazed into the fire which snapped and crackled merrily, sending its own enticing scent of wood smoke into the room.

The song ended with a loud drum roll flourish on pan lids, followed by gentle feminine laughter. “Ready for bed already love ?”. A grass green unicorn mare with the deepest yellow eyes poked her head around the door which lead to the kitchen. Cocking her head to one side she fluttered her eyelids at me and laughed. There was a

lilting, musical sound to her voice and her smile made her eyes sparkle and my heart soar. I stuck my tongue out playfully, “Not just yet…”. A sudden silence, what was her name ? “what’s on my favourite chef’s menu tonight ? It smells amazing.”

“Oh, just a few things I found in the cupboard”. Ah, yes, the usual answer. She was an incredibly talented mare and spoiled me with her magical ability to create astounding flavour combinations from ingredients I would have had no idea what to do with.

My attempts at cooking were limited to an extravagant three dishes. These culinary masterpieces however, had been restricted to days when she wanted a break and, I suspected, was feeling brave enough to face consuming one of my creations.

My mother would often tell me I could manage to starve to death with a full larder. What a cheery thought.

“Easy on the bran love, you know what happened last time !”, I quipped.

The mare giggled and disappeared back into the kitchen, the song starting up again. “Full of goodness, full of flavour”. I closed my eyes and joined in “bring the taste for you to savour”.

I laughed out loud, settling back into the settee and felt the world begin to slip away from me….

I hung in an expanse of….nothing. An absolute void, completely empty of light, touch, sound, or any sensation other than a lingering sense of…being. I existed, in that place, at that time and nothing more. My thoughts were hazy and I could feel my consciousness slipping away from me like wisps of smoke in the air. I stretched out a foreleg and felt….nothing. There was no sense of direction, no up, no down and deep inside, I felt as if I should have been in a state of abject terror.

For some reason I can’t describe, I was completely calm. I found myself in a state where I did not feel anything at all, I wasn’t cold or warm nor did I have any sensation of danger. I was….content. I could have stayed like this and floated in the emptiness forever, no concerns, no fear, no anger, no happiness, no joy. No…no……..what was her name ? why the hell couldn’t I remember ?

In my minds eye, I could see her, smiling at me with those beautiful yellow eyes. They were yellow, weren’t they ? Was it just my imagination or was I dreaming all of this ? Oh well, it didn’t matter really anyway. Nothing mattered here, nothing at all, I could simply….go to sleep. Rest. Close my eyes and float silently away on the eternal sea of oblivion.

I winced. A sudden sharp pain across my head made me open my eyes in alarm. I was still in the darkness of the void, still floating in the blackness. But…for some reason, this all seemed wrong, very, very wrong. I shouldn’t be able to feel anything here and yet… there it was. The wave of pain intensified and I gritted my teeth as the burning sensation dragged across my face. I tried to lift my hooves to my head but found myself completely unable to make them respond. Something was preventing me from

moving and I could feel a rising well of fear bubbling up from within me. I needed to move, I had to wake up, but I was trapped both in this black nothingness and, it seemed, inside my own self.

The pain in my head intensified to a level I had never experienced. There was no end to it, every nerve within me burning with white hot agony. I screamed. I could feel my chest heaving, but no sound came forth. The utter wrongness of this assailed me and I could feel reason beginning to slip away as I heaved my body, fighting with all my might against invisible shackles.

I fought, pouring every ounce of remaining strength into my struggle to escape. But escape what ? I couldn’t shout for help, I couldn’t even cry out in pain, and Oh! Celestia, it hurt. It hurt so much, what the hell was happening to me ? I had to escape this, I had to get away….

I tried to take one last deep burning breath, and pushed out with every last drop of strength I had. A mantra I’d heard at the temple of the two when I was a foal, flashed into my mind, ‘Luna, guide me, Luna protect me, your strength is our strength, your wisdom lights the way’. Luna, the princess of the night, the moonlight in the darkness. If ever I needed her guiding light it was now.

I chanted the words in my mind, silently mouthing them. Despite my desperate struggles, I became dimly aware of a strange sensation of pressure on my back, giving me a sudden, and welcome, extra drive to push forward. The feeling intensified but there was no pain or discomfort, it was almost as if someone were behind me, helping to push my body forward, out of the void. The curious part of me wanted to look round and see what the source of the pressure was, but the driving need right then was to move forward. Push ahead, push forward, do this, I had to....

I felt, rather than saw, the blackness move. It pressed in on me, threatening to suffocate me, trap me, and I silently cried in out panic and anger as I lowered my head and charged. My legs steadfastly refused to respond, yet despite this I still had the sensation of movement, the unidentifiable external force urging me onward. And there, ahead, lay a grey tinted light. Not far now, it was so close I could almost reach out and touch it.

I pressed on, feeling myself closing the distance yet still with the otherworldly feeling of standing still. I kept up the chant of the mantra, desperate to try and keep some level of focus and stop my mind from drowning in abject terror.

I struggled closer, so close now, one last effort. This was, I now knew, my last chance to save myself, to save my beloved wife, all other thoughts were meaningless. I gave one final great effort and plunged into the grey light. Behind me I could hear a faint voice, swiftly fading away “Be strong brave one. Be strong. For them…”.

There was a blinding white flash of light, and the sound of a foals laughter….

It was a beautiful day, the sun warmed my coat and the sky was a perfect azure blue. The pegasi has cleared all the clouds for miles around, gifting the land with a clear view of Celestias blessing to the world. I relished the sun, rolling in the grass and breathing in the fresh, clean air. Taking off at a full gallop I charged straight into a copse of inviting trees. The sunlight broke through the canopy and I jumped between the beams of light, laughing with the sheer exuberance of youthful life.

A deep orange butterfly lazily circled my head, landing on the tip of my nose. It tickled. Laughing, I stood on my hind legs with my forelegs held out to either side, imitating the acrobats I had seen the last time the circus had been to our town. One, two, three steps, it wasn’t easy for a four legged creature to balance on two and gravity, along with my own imbalance, started inexorably, to topple me over.

I staggered, trying to catch my balance, focussing on the butterfly right up until the point my hooves landed on…nothing. I fell. I really wished I had wings right now, but wishes weren’t going to arrest my plummet into, Celestia knew what. The world around me transitioned from being a joyful and carefree land of sunshine, to heart jarring terror and helplessness. I plunged downward through branches, bushes and tree limbs. The shattering foliage did little to slow my descent and I cried out as thorns tore at my hide. Everything was a blur and, in all reality, probably had not lasted more than a few seconds, but to my foals mind it seemed to take forever to come to a halt. And halt I did, but not in the way I had thought I would.

I hit the water with a deafening splash and my vision became a watery world of shadows, distant shapes and strange noises. I couldn’t breath, I panicked and my heart raced in my chest. My legs were caught in something and I realised with sudden clarity that I was going to drown and no pony, not even my parents, knew where I was.

I had become lost amongst the trees and I simply hadn’t cared. My parents had been nearby finishing off the last of the picnic and told me not to wander too far. Naturally, I hadn’t listened. What a fool I was and now this was where it would all end. The all too short and pointless life of a foal who hadn’t even managed to live long enough to get his cutie mark.

I sensed my lungs filling with water and the life essence within me slipping away as my struggles weakened. Fear turned to acceptance, Luna and Celestia would take my soul to the next world, it would soon be time for me to sleep. Time to… father ? father is that ? Yes ! Yes, it was ! He was looking at me through the surface of the water, a frightened but resolute look on his face, his forelegs grabbing me and pulling me up. Up towards the sweet, sweet air, the sky, the earth. Oh thank the goddesses, I was going to live !

I broached the surface, gasping for air, pain knifing through my lungs but, something, something, wasn’t right here. The light had gone… it was dark now, but I was aware of being inside. Father ? Mother ? No answer. I was in a room, badly lit from a couple of flickering storm lanterns that hung from hooks in the wooden beamed ceiling. It seemed familiar to me but was oddly hard to make out details. My eyes, strangely, couldn’t focus very well. Actually, make that ‘eye’, my right one didn’t seem to be working at all.

I tried to take a deep breath and clear my head, but a wave of pain and nausea filled me and my lungs felt like they were full of fluid. I coughed, weakly, straining to fill them with life giving air. I managed to take pitifully shallow and rapid breaths, my brief sense of accomplishment crushed by another torrent of hot agony that made me vomit across the floor where I lay.

Sounds assailed me from…somewhere, although in my current muggy, disoriented state, I couldn’t say for certain what it was or where it was coming from. I tried to take stock of my surroundings, I had to remain calm and stay alive. I was of no use to any pony, let alone myself, if I panicked blindly.

I was in a room. Lying on a wooden floor. I was soaking wet, saturated in fact. Well, that was to be expected if I’d just been pulled out of a river I supposed. Ah, wait. That wasn’t water, that was…damn. Blood. My blood to be precise. I still couldn’t see well or move my head, so I decided to make a mental check on the rest of my body.

It wasn’t going to end well. My forelegs seemed to working but my hind legs, my..hind legs. My heart rate soared as I managed to look back at them. The last time I had seen them, they hadn’t been bent that way, what the hell was going on here, what had happened to me? Damn, no time for this now, something was going on around me, I had to do something, had to…stop them. But do what ? I asked myself in a frantic voice, stop who ?

My mind was a disaster of images, sounds, fear and pain. I couldn’t move, I certainly couldn’t stand, but by Luna I was going to try, I had to try. I gritted my teeth and huffed out a fine spray of blood.

“Hey Gates, our buddy’s waking up over here”. I looked up, no easy feat with my good eye near the floor. “Not ready to die yet then eh, big guy ?” A sneering voice said as a large red stallion glowered down at me.

“I think he will be when he see’s what i’ve got in store for our little pet here.” Another male, his words dripping with malice, called from the next room.

“Oh, you’re going to love this one, big guy, you’ll never forget this. Never….”. As he hissed out the last word, a hoof slammed into my neck. The red pony laughed, shrieking with borderline hysteria. He caught himself, took a deep breath and looked me in the eye again. His crimson eyes looking searchingly into mine, he grabbed my head between his hooves, pulling me closer, so close I was breathing in his fetid breath. I glared at back at him, desperately trying to remember as much detail about him as I could.

He was a big bastard, heavy set and sporting a short green mane matted with grease. He had cracked black hooves that were spattered with what, I could probably guess, was my blood. I couldn’t see his cutie mark from where I lay, however there was one feature of his I would never be able to forget and that was his stench. The reek of unwashed equine hung around him in a thick miasma and I was surprised not to see flies buzzing about the stinking creature. His hot fetid breath from what were

doubtless rotting teeth, rolled over me and I tried, fruitlessly, not to inhale his foulness into my body any more than I had to.

He had a strange accent, it wasn’t local, but had a feminine quality that was at odds with his heavy set form. I didn’t know much about him, but one thing I did know was that I hated this pony. I hated him with a vengeance that, strangely, surprised me. I didn’t know what I had done to this sick bastard, though I was sure it must have been
bad, really bad, to warrant this sort of attack. What I didn’t know though, was that what had happened to me was as nothing compared to what was to happen next. No comparison at all.

Shouting and the unmistakable sound of breaking glass could be heard coming from the next room. A scream of pain, mingled with panic sharply pulled my attention to the doorway as a dirty yellow stallion dragged another pony into the room. By the cries, it was a mare, though from my position I couldn’t make out who it was. The paraffin lights offered little to illuminate the room, blood still stinging my remaining eye. Was it always this dark in here ?

The mare screamed in fury at the yellow buck and kicked futilely at him, she was clearly weakened, beaten and at the end of her endurance. He laughed and violently smacked a hoof across her face, a spray of crimson flying from her muzzle and landing on my mouth. The iron tang of blood not my own, trickled down my tongue. The mare looked across at me, the large yellow eyes reflected in the lamp light went wide in shock.

“NO ! Oh goddesses no ! What have you animals done to him, oh Celestia no, no, NO !”

The mare tried to struggle towards me but was slammed to the ground by the big male, driving the breath from her lungs. Both the stallions laughed. “We’ve got a little show planned for you, little piggy” the yellow one called across to me as he pushed his forelegs into the green mares chest. He started to push down, increasing his force inch by merciless inch, all the while grinning at me with his bared teeth. The green mare coughed, flailing her legs, trying to free herself, struggling for breath as his pressure compressed her lungs.

“Sorry darling, I don’t think I quite heard you. Could you try saying that again ?”, he said in low voice.

“You….no, I”

He suddenly released his pressure on her, the mare gasping and coughing beneath him. The yellow male took a single, loud deep breath, leaned his head back and then lunged forward. A loud crack sounded across the room and a warped look of ecstasy crossed the stallions face. The mare cried out, trying to stifle a scream. She belched out streamers of blood, her struggles visibly slowing. All the while that sickening look across her attackers face burned itself into my memory. Mr anger flared white hot and I silently prayed to Luna that I could return the suffering this animal had inflicted on the mare, return it ten fold. I gritted my teeth and gave him a look I hoped he would

remember. One day, Luna willing, I would look down into his eyes and smile that same rictus grin, as I slowly extinguished his existence from the world.

My thoughts or retribution were derailed by the red pony moving behind me. Roughly lifting my head in his hooves, he locked my head and neck so I could see only the mare. “Look well piggy, look well. You’re gonna enjoy this. At least, he is
anyways !” He shrieked out another maniacal laugh as he shoved my useless body with his, probably trying to make himself more comfortable.

My mind raged, I knew this mare, I just couldn’t place her though. Damn it why were my thoughts such a mess, who were these bastards and why couldn’t I fight back ? I wanted to fight, to pull myself up and away from the grip of the pony with the vice like hold on my head, but most of all, as I looked across at the green mare, I wanted to save her.

“Do what you want…. I’ll do..”, she coughed more blood as she struggled for air, her face a torment of emotion, “……….what you want but please, let him go……. Please”.

She pleaded with the two ponies but I knew, knew it was hopeless. She knew it was too. The last grasp for a straw in the unyielding floodwater. The yellow buck smacked her across the face, again, and again, the crack of bone and a wet gurgling sound was all I could hear. The floor vibrated with each impact and, despite my own condition, the blows made me flinch with her. Selfishly, I wished I could block it all out, pretend this wasn’t happening, that it was all just some horrific dream and I would wake up panting in my bed, relieved it could all be washed away with the usual morning shower.

I would remember.

I had to remember, I had to take in every detail, record every moment, every facet of this event. Even if this was the end, I would take the memory of this to Hades and hunt these two down until the end of time. I had to remember the green mare with the yellow eyes.

She coughed again, blood trickling down her muzzle whilst the red pony giggled behind me.

“Go easy Gates, I don’t want her going cold on me”. I could feel him shaking with excitement while he squeezed my head. I wanted to shut it all out, but the mare looked at me with a resigned expression on her face. She gazed lovingly into my eyes while the yellow stallion dragged himself atop her and with a wild, animal like whoop, plunged himself deep into her.

She never flinched, nor cried out but I wanted so badly to cry out for her. Her strength showed in that look and she shared it with me. I wanted to scream, fight, do something, anything to stop these…these ‘things’, from doing what they were doing to her.

I struggled as hard as I could, my forelegs scrabbling for purchase. I couldn’t just lie back and let this happen, “Luna, please, give me strength.” I gurgled through the bubbles of blood.

The red pony made a tutting sound, “Luna ?” he scoffed, “What the fucks she going to do for you eh?, fly in and rescue you ?” He nearly choked laughing on the last words, banging my head off the floor for emphasis.

“You…….. fucking……. vermin” I gasped, “I’ll find you……I’ll kill…….kill you”.

“Yeah, I’m sure you will big guy” he laughed. “You first though”

“After we’ve enjoyed the party first, Mel” the other pony said over his shoulder. He gave one final grunt and shuddered, pulling himself off the mare. His semen splattering across her hind legs and floor.

“My turn at last. By the bitches tits, you take your fucking time”. The one who I now knew as ‘Mel’, slammed my head to the floor, stepping on my face as he walked across the room to the mare. “Whoops!”, he said as he glanced behind him, “Looks like I stepped in something”. He laughed at his own joke.

“Ah, look at the friggin mess, you could’ve tidied up after youself buddy”, they both laughed as the red pony grasped the mares hind legs, turning her violently to one side. “I’m going to enjoy this bitch”, he spoke into her ear. He turned to look at me and smiled, a sickening smile which emphasised his utter contempt for the mare, for me and graphically displayed his knowledge that he had complete control over us. He had won and he knew it.

The mare continued to look into my eye, searchingly, seeming to be trying to lose herself in me.

I could feel tears streaming down my face, there was nothing I could do. The wash of utter despair threatened to engulf me. Nothing I could do, nothing….wait. What was that ? I felt something cold beneath me. Something metallic, long, hard and cold. It had been there all along but I had been so numb that I hadn’t been able to pick it out from all the other sensations my body was trying to make sense of.

I noticed the yellow pony stood to one side, brushing his black sweat soaked mane back from his face, urging on his fellow as he watched him pounding the helpless mare. I moved my agonised body to try and free whatever it was beneath me. More, just a little more effort and it would be loose. I could feel it moving now. I scrabbled with my hooves as quietly as I could until my teeth could manage a purchase on whatever the item was. Right then, I didn’t care, any thought of just what this thing was disappeared in a red haze of pain, hatred and loathing for these vile animals.

I pulled, what I took for a metal rod of some kind, out from beneath me, grabbing it with my hooves. It felt like time was almost standing still and I could see the yellow stallion starting to turn towards me. Colour faded out as I swung the metal rod with the final energy reserves I had managed to gather.

It wasn’t enough. The metal rod struck the yellow stallion in the head, a hook like protrusion stabbing into his face. He screamed, rearing and pulling at the rod with his hooves. The rod clattered to the ground with a metallic clang and I looked up at his torn and ruined face.

“Bastard, bastard, BASTARD !” Gates yelled whilst holding the flap of skin tight against his face and pacing round the room.

“Huh, should have kept your eye on him eh ?” Mel shouted back at Gates. He paused looking down at the mare. “Fuck, looks like this one couldn’t handle a real stallion. Could have waited till I’d fucking well finished shagging her”.

“Never mind the green bitch, look what this cunt did to my face”. Gates yelled back at him, blood dripping past his hoof onto the floor.

“Few stitches will patch that up ya big girls blouse”. Mel shoved the mare dismissively to one side and pushed Gates with his hoof. “You’ll look well hard with a scar. The girls love a tough looking guy. Guess you’ll have to do though, hey ?” He gave a manic laugh and went to the corner of the room, picked up a large metal container and trotted off to the other room.

The yellow pony walked over to me, his amber eyes full of hatred and murder. I looked up at him defiantly, they may have won but at least I’d managed to give that bastard something to remember me by. With any luck, Luna would let me haunt his dreams.

A strong chemical smell hit my nostrils and I could see the red one, Mel, walking around the room pouring the liquid from the can around the floor and walls. He threw the empty can into the corner and took out a lighter.

Gates grabbed my head and looked me in the eye. I had never seen such utter hatred before, never imagined any pony could harbour such utter loathing towards another, “You’re going to burn now, you cunt” he sneered. The effect somewhat ruined by his torn mouth.

“You’re going to have your very own private cremation. Free of charge.”

“Who are you”, I gasped weakly, “Why did you do this ?” He stopped for a moment and looked, I was surprised to see, genuinely amazed I had asked this.

“You fucking with me ? You don’t…..ah….” He leaned forward and tapped my horn. A white hot shot of pain lanced down though my skull making me cry out.

“Hurts don’t it ?”, he smirked. “Fucks with your memory when this thing cops it, piggy”. He coughed, choked, then laughed aloud at some joke I couldn’t understand. Tears streamed down my face, what the hell had they done to me ?

“Come on for fucks sake, this place is ready to go up” Mel shouted to Gates as he trotted to another door. “Leave him will you, he’s already dead.”

The yellow pony picked up the metal rod and looked at it closely. He stared at me while he slowly licked the pointed end which was slick with his blood. The wicked curved barb hung with pieces of flesh from his ruined face.

“Seems appropriate”, he said as he moved towards me, “A fire poker should be used to…stoke a fire”.

The smell of burning wood and fabric hit my nostrils and I could see the flicker of flames from the back room. Yellow firelight wreathed Gates as he reared up on his hind legs, the metal of the poker flashed. “Its nothing personal, piggy. I just wanted to see you squeal”.

The yellow pony dropped, the poker driving down towards my chest. With my ruined eye, I couldn’t see what happened next and was glad of it, although the sensation of my skin giving way as the poker was thrust in to my body was beyond anything I could imagine.

Choking and writhing in a white hot rush of pain, I lashed out at something, anything I could catch hold of to get away from this situation. My frantic flailing only made the yellow one laugh all the louder whilst my fountaining gore dripped from his hooves.

“Gates, move your arse will you”, Mel hissed from the doorway as the other pony took his weight off the makeshift spear. “Yeah” he said in a gasping voice, the effort obviously having taxed him. “Time to get the herd out of Dodge” he muttered, slamming the door shut behind them.

Chapter Two - The scent of flowers in the rain

CHAPTER TWO

The scent of flowers in the rain

Consciousness is definitely overrated as far I’m concerned. I drifted in and out of it like a foal’s yo-yo. A mind reeling sensation of falling into emptiness engulfed me, followed by a hideously gut wrenching lurch back to an all too terrifyingly real present.

The sad broken doll that had once been a precious life lay motionless, several feet across the floor from me. Her once vibrant yellow eyes that had seen sights no pony should ever have had to witness, now closed. Wisps of pale green mane almost mercifully covered most her innocent face from the cold worlds stare. My mind screamed that I should remember her but try as I might, my memories were simply….gone. Gone….My magic ! I could sense that something was missing and now the reality of it hit me, the bastards had done something to block my magic ! In shock, I started to panic, the sudden adrenalin fuelling my struggles and I felt the metal poker shift, tilting with my body as I dug my hooves into the floor.

Free of its wooden sheath, the pokers tip dragged against the floorboards, the vibration adding to the symphony of agonies railing throughout my body. All other thoughts dismissed, the horrors forgotten, I was overwhelmingly possessed by a need, an all encompassing drive, to reach the cracked mirror lying forlorn on the floor just of reach. I had to see what those animals had done to my horn.

I hadn’t realised it yet, but my mind, my sanity, was beginning to slip away from me. My panting grew as I spat foaming bloodied gobbets from the corner of my mouth, my focus locked fully on my intended target. It was so close, not much farther now, a little more effort, one last pull and…………. I looked down.

What looked back at me was not the unicorn from my dream memory. It was a… a ‘thing’, a ravaged image of a creature that was barely recognisable as a pony, cruelly reflecting back at me with its lone remaining eye. The other was a mangled mess of scarlet and black slurry, dripping its warm life essence onto the remains of that damnable mirror.

I let out a pining wail, my horn, oh Luna, why ? This was everything to a unicorn, it was what defined us as who, what, we are. How could they do this to me ?

The broken stump sat there lifeless. A useless nubbin of splintered…..me. I was a unicorn with no magic, like a Pegasus without wings. I was useless, lost and alone, no memories. I was….nothing. They had taken everything I was and destroyed it utterly, I couldn’t even feel anything towards the green mare, but my horn ! I cursed the bastards who had done this, I cursed Equestria, the world, every pony and every thing. Tears ran down my face and I cried out my pain to the empty room.

I barely noticed the hoof touching mine.

The slight pressure brought me back from the brink of complete despair, from my self obsession, to focus upon the object of the feeling on my hoof. Looking down, I followed the slender green leg up to a baleful yellow gaze. ‘Fair…Fa……don’t cry love. Oh….goddess…what have they done to you ? My handsome Fa…..my….’

The green mare was racked with coughing, blood spraying from her muzzle and spattering the broken mirror. I looked into her eyes, trying desperately to remember. Damn my self centered soul to Hades, my cursed horn didn’t matter, not now. I gritted my teeth and squeezed my eye shut. How could I have been so…

“………Love ?..... I’m sorry…I’m so, so sorry…”. Her voice carried a soft musical note that echoed within me, her plaintive words calling out as if to my very soul.

I returned her touch, gently stroking her hoof. “No. What happened here, it wasn’t your fault. Don’t say you’re sorry, please. I… I should have protected you. I failed, I should have been more, been better, pushed myself and now. Now………I’m sorry.” I hung my head. I couldn’t imagine how I looked to her right now, how I had failed her when she needed me. She was, she was, she……

A barrage of memories flooded into my mind. Mixing, churning, image upon image, colours both vibrant and grey, sound, music, voices, shouting, laughter. All as one, I was deluged by the orchestral tidal wave of imagery crashing into me. Disjointed and fractured, whole and complete, they all swirled, threatening to drown me in the past and present. Above it however, a face hovered. A beautiful green mare with lantern yellow eyes, a pale green mane and a cutie mark of the sun rising over a grassy….”MEADOW “! I cried out, all thoughts of myself cast aside.

“Meadow, Luna forgive me….Meadow”. I shook as emotion overtook me. My wife, my dear, dear wife, lay broken and fading away before me.

“Love…”, she hacked a racking cough, wincing in pain as it gradually subsided. She drew a laboured breath and I could tell she was trying all she could to stay conscious.

“Don’t blame yourself. You were always……always….the strong one. So brave….”, she reached up to touch my muzzle with her hoof. Weakness overtook her and I caught her with my own, gently lifting it to my face and nuzzling it. I breathed in her scent, it was like flowers in the rain. A breath of life, of colour and joy in a world that had brought her only cruelty and horror. I felt her brush away a tear from my cheek.

“I… love….Fairl…I”, she shuddered and breathed in rapidly. “Oh, i’m so….so cold…I….” Her eyes widened suddenly and her head lifted to look straight into mine with a look which I will never forget, “I cant die….i cant ! Oh my love I’m so scared, please ! I….”. As quickly as she had rallied, her strength drained from her body and she slumped down across my outstretched foreleg, her head leaning against mine.

“Shhhhhhhhhh…..its alright love, its alright” I whispered into her ear, “Its alright”. I carefully, slowly, rocked her head in my forelegs and sang a lullaby my mother had sung to me when I was a foal, “Hush now, quiet now, its time to lay your sleepy head….”

I felt the quickly cooling warmth of her muzzle against my ear as she breathed out with one long final breath, “Forever….and always, my brave…Fairlight….remember me……please ?”.

I felt the life leave her body. The earthly vessel in this world that was a green mare called Meadow, now a broken and empty shell. Who she was, was no more. She was gone, just like that. So simple to say, so simple that it didn’t seem real at all, like a bad dream or a terrible play you would forget in the light of morning. But this, this was real, all too, too real. The world would carry on without her, foals would still go to school each day. They would fall in love, have foals of their own and, eventually, pass into the next world. The cycle would continue.

Meadow should have lived to have had a chance to grow old, surrounded by her own children and grandfoals. I imagined her knitting by the log fire listening to the radio as the foals played in the garden on a bright summers day. It was an idealistic world, a world filled to the brim with laughter, love and caring. The world of sunshine and rainbows, which I had hoped to have given her. Should have given her. I had failed her.

Now, now it was all gone. Bathed in a sea of the deepest red, framed by the fires of our home, our dreams consumed by violence and hate.

As I held her, even in my grief, I became aware of a faint, oddly warm, glow emanating from her body. A golden glow which, ever so slowly, rose upwards from her broken body, hovering over it as if in silent contemplation of the scene below. I blinked in astonishment and in that instant, it disappeared, a trick of the light. I shivered, a rolling feeling of icy cold passing through me. An odd thought suddenly entered my mind; I’d never got round to buying carpets and this floor was freezing cold, so bitterly cold I could see my breath regardless of the flames now entering the room. I almost laughed. Almost.

The crackling of burning wood and a crash of glass made be look round towards the flames racing up the doorway as they marched hungrily on. Wooden houses, a banquet for any blaze. The fire brigade would be here soon I imagined. My breath caught and I coughed again and again, catching the blood on my foreleg. I didn’t want any making a mess on Meadow’s fur. She was so beautiful, I had always loved her soft green coat and mane.

Oddly, I found the pain had subsided, replaced by chilling cold. Bloodloss, I remembered. Not a good sign, probably shock too. Not good at all, “anyway, not long now”, I pondered.

I glanced down at the spreading dark pool of blood and silently thanked Luna that I would be gone before the flames reached me. I could just make out the flickering of fire light reflected in its surface, it was strangely…calming. I yawned.

Breathing in her scent, I kissed Meadow tenderly on the cheek and snuggled into her, placing a foreleg protectively across her chest. I could not defend her in life but at least I could be with her at the end. She had given me so much. She had given me back my name, given me back who I was.

“Fairlight”, I murmured to myself and smiled. Darkness pressed inexorably in on me. The dancing light of the fire was beginning to dim ever more rapidly and I could sense my life’s flame guttering like a spent candle. It was time now, I would die knowing myself, knowing the name of my dear, beloved mare. Meadow. I couldn’t ask for more.

“Wait for me”, I whispered to her , brushing an errant wisp of hair from her eye. “I’ll be with you…soon”. As carefully as if I were holding a snowflake, I closed her eyes with my hoof. I leaned my head across hers, closed my eyes and sighed out my final breath into the soft mane of the one I loved.

Chapter Three - A register of names

CHAPTER THREE

A register of names

An odd familiarity was the first thing I noticed upon opening my eyes. At first, it didn’t strike me that I felt…absolutely fine. I patted myself gingerly, half closing my eyes as I felt around the area where the fire poker had been thrust through my body, but no, no hole. No blood either and, most blessed relief, no pain. I started when I suddenly realised that both of my eyes were working, and amazing well at that. Better than they ever had in fact. Ah, well, I supposed, this is what the afterlife was going to be like after all. Damned dark though, where’s all the singing ponies, sunshine and rainbows ?

My dark grey coat along with a nondescript black and white striped mane and tail had never been particularly popular with the ladies, but I liked them. My black hooves were kept polished and my coat groomed properly. I was particularly proud of my large dark brown eyes which Meadow had fallen in love with, hey, I had to have at least one redeeming feature didn’t I ? Considering I was dead though, part of me was surprised that I was…well, still me I suppose.

Throughout my life I had been told that when we passed over ‘to the other side’, a subject rarely if ever mentioned in polite conversation, we would join with our ancestors in the Eternal Herd. My folks had never been particularly religious, indeed not many ponies were. Not really that surprising when you had two very real goddesses living in your homeland. Oh, sorry, I should have said ‘Princesses’. We were not supposed to refer to them in that manner as it is considered to be most impolite. Goddesses know why, I don’t !

A maverick thought struck me, where were these ‘all powerful’ alicorns when we needed them ? A small flame of anger flared and was just as quickly expunged as I shook my head in exasperation at my own foolish, selfish thought. Of course I realised that as much as Luna and Celestia were tremendously gifted and powerful, they were still flesh and blood. They had their limitations like any pony and I couldn’t expect them to be everywhere and know everything. I sighed and looked about me for Meadow, she should be here somewhere.

But of Meadow, there was no sign.

A barren landscape of coal black sand, dark hills and a slate grey sky stretched out around me in all directions as far as I could see. The ground had a uniform smoothness which gave little to my weight. There was no sign of any hoof prints around me, no sign of anything at all for that matter. I quickly began to feel incredibly small and isolated There I was in what looked like a vast black desert, the residual smell of burning wood still in my nostrils. With no idea where I was, I fought the rising tide of fear and panic in my heart. I was dead, that was for certain. Good, at least that was one fact I could tick off the mental check list, but what in the name of the goddess was I supposed to do now ?

What did I know about pony heaven and hell ? Not much. Damn it all, I wished I’d paid more attention in class when we talked about these things. Outside of school it was as if the subject of death, the afterlife or anything of that nature, simply didn’t exist. Unless one went the temple of the two sisters, but who ever went there except for weddings and, goddess forgive, funerals ? This sort of thing happened to other ponies, not to me, no sir ! But here I was none the less, no direction in which to go in, no sun to get my bearings by and above all, no Meadow. I had one goal now, to find where she had gone.

“She’s already moved on old boy”

I jumped round in shock at the voice behind me, turning at what was, I later thought, a most impressively fast rate for a four legged being.

I found myself face to face with a scene so bizarre, I took a step back, my mouth open and eyes wide.

A rather bored looking gold coloured stallion with equally golden eyes and the purest white mane, looked up at me from over a pair of half moon glasses on a chain around his neck. What added to the perplexing scene was not only the miraculous appearance of the pony, but that he was also sitting behind a large ornate marble desk. It too, had materialised seemingly out of thin air.

On the desk in front of him was an equally large book with a brass lantern, inkwell, quills and other assorted writing implements. A dull purple glow surrounded his horn as he dipped a quill into the ink.

“Name ?”

“What ?”

“First name ?”

“I……”, I stumbled.

“’I. What’…..”, the pony mumbled as he wrote in the book. “Unusual”.

“No, look, my names not ‘I What’, its….”

“Are you sure ?”, he interrupted in an irritated manner, putting down the quill.

“Yes, I’m sure…”

“Well then Mr Sure, this is all most irregular, you are very lucky we found you here before you faded. Bringing in shades from the Withers is not a task we take likely you know…”

I slammed both my fore hooves on the desk making the golden pony sit back in surprise. He gave a loud huff and I stared down at him narrowing my eyes. “I have a name. My name, is Fairlight. That’s all, just Fairlight. Not ‘I What’, and not bloody well ‘I Sure’”. I banged my hoof on his desk, emphasising each word, “Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear ?”.

Visibly taken aback, the stallion harrumphed, straightened his glasses and took out some correction solution from a desk drawer before writing my name, correctly this time, in the book. “Crystal”, he said in a low voice.

“Now”, I asked regaining my composure, “you know know who I am, so who are you, where am I and what the hell is going on. I would strongly recommend as well my friend that you explain very clearly, where my wife is.”

The unicorn stood up. I very quickly realised that the desk had given me the illusion that the bespectacled clerk was a normal pony like myself. As he unfolded himself from the velvet lined chair, I balked at how wrong I was. He was taller than me, a lot taller. He shook out a pair of huge wings, stretching and then folding them neatly back to his flanks.

Letting his spectacles drop from his nose to dangle from their chain, he pushed his chair back and trotted around the end of the desk until he was standing uncomfortably close.

I had never seen an alicorn before and this one brought back to my mind all the stories of their awe and power. This creature was quite literally glowing with it, a shining aura emanating around him causing me to shield my eyes from the glare.

“You are NOT in any position to make demands of ANYPONY ‘mister’ Fairlight.” He bellowed down at me. “I don’t think you realise just how much trouble you are causing us right now !”

It was like be screamed at by an angry hurricane. Rallying against the audible onslaught, I lowered my head into a fighting stance and glared back at him, “Do you have any idea what I have been through ? What my wife went through ? I want answers and I want them now, so you had better get your arse in gear ‘mister’ Alicorn and tell me what I need to know !”.

“Aethel”
“What was that ?” I asked.
“My name is Aethel. First phalanx, second clerical division of the royal host. Where you are is the Wither World, also known simply as the Withers. A world between worlds if you will.”

Aethel advanced on me, poking me in the chest with his hoof, “You, Mister Fairlight are dead. Deceased, terminated, call it what you will.”

He scratched his ear for a moment in thought before continuing, “Ponies do not normally die violent deaths. You on the other hoof, have, together with your wife”.

“Where…..” I started, only to be interrupted by Aethel raising a hoof and shaking his head. He went on, “She is with the herd now Fairlight.”. He turned back to the desk and spun the oversized ledger so I could read it. Pointing out the entry before mine, I saw the name, ‘Meadow’, a signature and a description of her. Before I could read any more, the golden alicorn slammed the book shut.

“You cannot enter the Eternal Herd, Fairlight.” He spoke with a quiet gentleness that made the breath catch in my throat. This was unexpected. It didn’t sound like good news either and that was an understatement. My blood seemed to freeze in my veins at his words. “I’m sorry”.

“Wh…What do you mean, I cant enter the herd ?” I stammered. I think the shakiness in my voice gave him pause, as he moved forward and momentarily placed a sympathetic hoof on my shoulder. “It is hard to describe to you in terms you may understand. Believe me, this is something Equestria has not experienced since the wars of the three tribes. Violence, hate, killing, rape, murder, nothing has happened like this for an age”.
“Until now” I added.
“Until now” he agreed with a solemn nod. “Fairlight, ponies were never meant to experience what you have and the herd are,” he paused, “concerned.” Aethel shook his mane, “Concerned about letting you join the herd in your current condition”.

“What condition ?” I almost shouted, “I’m damned well dead for fucks sake ! I don’t think I’m going to be making a sudden miraculous recovery from that. It’s a bit more final than a bad case of flu wouldn’t you say ?”

“Don’t be flippant” Aethel admonished me, looking over his shoulder as he walked back behind the desk. “I can see it in your eyes Fairlight”, his voice took on a deep serious timbre.

“There is something within you which cannot be allowed into the herd or it will….corrupt…. us. You must understand.”

“But Meadow !” I said, my voice taking on a note of despair,”I promised I would see her…”

“I understand Fairlight, but you simply cannot enter in your current condition. You must stay here in the Wither world until we can think of some, solution, to the problem”.

“And how long will that take ?” I shouted, “You’ve already said I could fade away here. Goddesses Aethel, haven’t I suffered enough !? Don’t do this to me !”. I cradled my head in my forelegs, this was all simply too much to bear. “Meadow”, I whispered, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what to do.”

“Fairlight., I…”, Aethel began.

I felt it. A fire, not of heat, but of cold, ice cold burning in my chest, building up and up into a raging howling inferno of an anger and ferociousness I have never known. Every synapse in my mind felt like it was burning with fiery ice, my coat prickled in waves from my neck to my tail. Rage, fear, hopelessness, despair, loss. All these emotions, boiled in my heart screaming for release, crying out for me to slip the chain and burn my pain out into this barren landscape.

I turned on the gold coated stallion who backed away from me with a look of abject terror in his wide eyes.

A roaring, blood chilling scream the likes of which I had never heard before, filled the air, rolling like a shockwave across the black sand causing it to ripple outward. Outward, I discovered, from me.

“I want. My. WIFE !” I part croaked, shouted and screamed at the alicorn.

“Goddesses !” He cried out, “Take a look at yourself, look what you have become ! Can’t you see why you cannot be allowed to enter the herd you fool ? If you came to us now, you would poison us all. Poison your precious wife. Meadow is with us, she’s safe. Would you risk her safety by bringing that….that ‘thing’ in with you ?”

I backed away from him and howled up at the dark sky, a long lonely howling cry of utter despair. Around me, small white flakes appeared in the air and slowly began to fall to the ground.

“I’m sorry Fairlight”. Aethels words came from another world now, a world I could no longer be a part of. “You can see now why this must be the way it must be. Forgive us. I hope you find peace”.

I didn’t notice him leave. I could only stare down at the ground between my forelegs, snow falling all around me as tears turned to tiny crystals that rolled down my cheeks. Not only had I witnessed the utter destruction of my life in Equestria, now even my rest with the Eternal Herd, had been denied me. Denied. Refused. Taken. Stolen. Stolen by those two ponies. The big red bastard, and the piss yellow one. They were the ones who had caused this, they were the ones who should be here suffering, not me. Not after what they had done to my beloved Meadow.

I growled. A long low rumbling exhultation of hatred and anger, my muzzle dripping with the anticipation of the deliciously painful deaths I would inflict on these ponies should I manage to somehow, visit my vengeance up their filthy carcases. No...these were not ponies, ponies wouldn’t do those things. They were….vermin. Yes, that was it, vermin. And vermin must be exterminated, killed without delay, destroyed to stop their sickness infecting others. As they had infected me and cursed me to this damned existence in a barren world.

It was then, in that moment of anger, hatred and sorrow, that I pledged to avenge myself upon those two ponies. I had no idea how, but now, I had a direction. A purpose. A purpose that would not be satisfied until I had drenched myself in the blood of those two ponies. I would visit hell itself upon them.

Chapter Four - Sands of the Wither World

CHAPTER FOUR

Sands of the Wither World

I walked on, with no sense of direction in this lifeless place, no notion of time nor distance, it was all I could think to do. My hooves plodded onward seemingly of their own accord and mind, my head sagging low. I would say I was weary but that would be a lie, I didn’t feel any fatigue at all and I most certainly had no clue as to when I had last eaten or drank.

Oddly, the thought of food and drink came to me as a now almost alien experience. Rather explain to me what it was like to fly when I had no wings.

Would a fish have an understand of soaring through the air like a bird ? Mentally, I caught myself, I had heard of flying fish so that probably wasn’t the best analogy I could have conjured up.

In the back of my wandering mind I could feel the cold fury boiling away, reminding me of its existence. I imagined it to be like a small, hard ball of anger, of all the pain and despair I had suffered, waiting to be visited upon the ponies who had sentenced me to this….this….whatever the hell ‘this’ was.

My hooves trudged on. The light here never changed, I wondered how long I had been walking for, hours, days ? Maybe even weeks ? Who could say. I wasn’t tired so I just walked, one leg in front of the other, thud…thud…thud.

The sand crunched lightly to my hoof steps, the only other sound my steady breathing. Come to think of it, did I even need to breath here ? After all, my body was, well, gone I suppose. Burnt to a crisp back in our home. Save someone the trouble of cremating us anyway. I stifled a chuckle as a lump came to my throat.

Thud…thud….thud

The image of a green mare, her pale green mane blowing in the breeze, entered my lonely mind. With little distraction here in the emptiness, I could focus all my attention on memory, recall her every detail. I closed my eyes and let my body find its own path whilst I drowned myself in memories of a summer day….

The day in question had been hot. Too hot for a sensible equestrian citizen to be wearing a woollen coat, yet there I was looking like I was ready for the onset of winter. Already starting to sweat profusely, I took shelter beneath a large oak tree, immediately feeling the relief of its cooling shade.

I pulled out my tunic collar with my hoof, trying desperately to waft some cold air down my front, providing at least some slight relief.

Across the manicured lawn, a group of ponies were setting up a picnic. They were all sat around a large red and white checked rug, with a selection of plates and neatly arranged cutlery. As I watched, the brightly coloured ponies opened their

hampers and placed the food before them; cakes, sandwiches, pies and, I noted with a jealous gaze, a pitcher of what looked like lemonade. The outside of it was frosted, a tiny dribble of the liquid slowly rolling down the outside. I could imagine ice clinking inside, cooling the delicious beverage. Someone there was quite clever with magic to pull that off on a day like today.

Feeling increasingly thirstly, I wondered whether I could be brazen enough to ask for a glass but quickly quashed that thought. It wouldn’t be right, “but”, that little voice said at the back of my mind “surely they wouldn’t mind would they ? I mean, come on, it’s a lot of lemonade to go around and you would be able to speak to them. You know you’d like too, right ?”.

The problem was, I really would like to. Very much indeed. At least, right up until when one of their number, a ludicrously pink pony with an equally wild pink mane, began performing cart wheels around them. She crashed unceremoniously through the group splattering chocolate cake frosting in all directions and raising shouts of outrage from the assembled mares. A particularly large dollop flew into the mane of a elegantly coifed white pony, eliciting a shriek of horror.

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the spectacle and realised my mind had been completely taken off the cloying heat of the day.

Just then, a sudden deep rumbling shook the tree I was sheltering beneath, rustling its leaves. The ponies looked up to the sky, the lavender coloured one quickly levitating the remnants of the crockery and leftovers back into the hampers. Moments later the deluge began. The rain came down in large meaty droplets, hammering the ground and obscuring my sight.

The colourful troupe had now fled for cover and my plans to continue my rounds had been brought to an abrupt halt. I didn’t much care, there was a strange calm beneath the oak, a pleasant smell of grass, soil, bark and leaves mingling with the fresh rain. I looked up, closed my eyes and felt the water dripping though the canopy of leaves onto my face. Standing on my back legs, I raised up my forelegs and whooped aloud, “This is what its all about !” I said to myself, revelling in the wildness of the smells and the sounds surrounding me.

“Feels good doesn’t it ?”

I nearly fell over backwards. Looking round at the intrusion to my display, I came face to face with….a large brimmed straw hat.

A delicate green foreleg appeared and tilted the hat back, revealing a pair of deep yellow eyes and a somewhat sardonic smile.

“I….erm…yes. Yes it does, very good….actually. Um….mmmmm”. Very smooth.

She giggled girlishly, holding her hoof up to her mouth then turned to look out across the field.

“Which one did you have your eye on then ?”, She asked in a disinterested manner.

My mouth opened as I began to speak but no words came out. I must have stood there like a landed fish until I shut it with a snap, “I…what ?!” I asked foalishly.

The mare laughed, stomping her hooves on the ground in glee, “Oh, look, I’m sorry, I just couldn’t resist. I’m in one of those moods today. Don’t you feel it too ? The sun, the blue sky, the rain, so….alive !”.

She turned a beaming smile on me and I looked down at her, feeling as though I were falling into those deep yellow orbs. “Yes. Yes I do” I replied unable to break the gaze.

As the moment passed, the mare turned away from me and I almost expected her to walk away, but then she paused. With a movement that made me start, she turned back to me and grabbed my hoof in hers for a vigorous shake, “MEADOW !” she said in a squeaky voice before clearing her throat and trying again, “Meadow. My name is Meadow, a pleasure to meet you sir. I beg you to forgive my forwardness.”

“Fairlight, Miss Meadow. A pleasure, likewise, to make your acquaintance. Please, there is nothing to forgive. Rather, I would say that you’ve brought a ray of sunshine here with you through the rain storm.” Oh goddesses, that sounded cheesey. I mentally cringed, my self esteem diving for cover behind the settee of helpless libido.

She smiled. A smile that melted my heart and made me feel like I wanted to run around in circles shouting for joy, I had never felt anything like this before in my life.

“Fairlight.” She hummed to herself for a moment, apparently contemplating the name. “I’ve never met a Fairlight before. Sunlight, Moonlight, Light Ray, but no Fairlight.” She looked out across the lawn once more. My heart was racing and my blasted mind a totally befuddled mess. I desperately wanted to say something, anything, to keep the conversation going. Provided it wasn’t another crappy chat up line, I thought I might just be able to pull it off.

“Whats that uniform ?” She asked me suddenly, “If you don’t mind me asking sir ?”. The forward little mare peered closely at my tunic, almost sniffing the material and silver buttons. Come to think of it, I think she actually was ! I could feel my cheeks burning and I was convinced I must have been blushing like a fireflies backside. A whiff of orange blossom caught my nose sending my heart pounding into overdrive.

“I’m with the watch, Miss Meadow ma’am. I’m on attachment to Ponyville until the Autumn.”

“Ah. So, what will you be doing then, Mr Fairlight of the watch ?”

“I’ll be re-assigned Miss. Hopefully back to my home town.”. I looked back to where the ponies had been enjoying their rather short lived picnic and further, to Ponyville in the distance. I could just make out the outlines of the buildings from here. “I do so

like it here though”. I almost whispered the last words and I noticed her peering at me with a quizzical glance.

“I see.” She said quietly. Suddenly perky once more, she picked her hat up and rammed it back on her head, adjusting the bow beneath her chin. “Tell me Mr Fairlight of the watch…..” A wry smile curled her lips, “What would your marefriend think of you chatting with a single lady under a tree in the rain ?”.

“I don’t have a marefriend”.

The green mare turned away, pulling her saddle bag tight and looked ready to plunge out into the rain. I sat down on my haunches. ‘Another chance lost’, I lamented and felt the pit of self pity beckoning me in. Damn it I was useless with mares and once again, I’d buggered the whole thing up.

“I like to come here for my lunch breaks” Meadow said in a nonchalant voice not even looking at me. “I’ll be here tomorrow around the same time. If you’re passing, you can tell me more about the watch. Oh, and I’ll bring some sandwiches with me too, you look like you need a decent diet.”

She laughed out loud and with that, galloped off into the rain. As she disappeared from my sight, hidden by the downpour, she looked back at me over her shoulder and called out “And bring a brolly !”.

I grinned like a foal who’d just been given his first nightmare night treats. Abandoning all professionalism and decorum, I dropped to ground and rolled in the wet grass, covering my uniform in muddy, grassy goodness. I didn’t care, nothing could ruin this day for me now. Meadow…..

Chapter Five - Purgatory

CHAPTER FIVE

Purgatory

I coughed up a mouthful of water, black as squid ink. Flailing my legs to try and get a purchase on anything solid, reality slammed back in around me. Luckily, I had not gone far into the…river ? It certainly looked like one, although hard to differentiate from the black sand, black hills, black water and other generalised blackness. The décor was beginning to wear on me. “Somepony seriously needs a word with their designer” I muttered.

I changed direction and began walking along the edge of the river. There was little movement on the water, barely a ripple In fact. I kept a wary eye on it just in case. I’d heard of creatures that would hide beneath the surface of rivers in equestria, pretending to be logs, then leap out and snatch a pony in a whirlwind of teeth and snapping jaws. Ah yes, the good old Everfree Forest, a top holiday destination if ever there was one.

Plodding on, I wondered if I actually could be killed here, but in any case, I didn’t fancy having to face going through that whole experience again. I’d probably still end up here, I cynically thought to myself. Might be a different colour scheme though.

‘Off we go again’, I suppose I could have spoken aloud, I mean, who was going to hear me ? I was in all probability going to go mad here sooner or later, most likely sooner the way things were going. I wondered if I would end up like great uncle Barrel Cracker. He was very fond of drinking was uncle cracker, a bit too fond if I recall correctly. One day, he had convinced himself he was a slice of lime and tried to jump into a glass of gin. Sadly for uncle cracker, it turned out to be the town well. Couldn’t swim poor bugger. Didn’t drown though, Equestria was suffering a drought that year and the well was bone dry. Broke every bone in his body.

Goddesses, this endless walking was giving new meaning to the word ‘monotonous’.

If you were to ask me what I was planning on doing at that moment in time, I would have had to answer truthfully. I had NO idea what so ever. Zero. I simply plodded on, along the bank of the treacle black river.

How much time had passed was no longer of any importance. With no way of gauging it, with no sound, no wind even, it had become a meaningless and forgotten concept. I filled my time with memories of my life, my work in the watch and with Meadow. The more I thought, the more I found…bits…missing. Just a little here and there, probably old age. “Bloody typical”, I thought to myself, ‘ready for the knackers yard now eh Fairlight.?’. I let out a sigh, I had to try and do something, anything to get out of this place but how ? I had no idea where this place was, what it was and certainly not the faintest idea of how to get out. Even IF there was a way out. Maybe this was it for me, maybe I was going to be stuck here plodding along through nothingness forever slowly losing my mind.

Most worryingly for me was my mind was beginning to feel like it was emptying of thoughts like an hourglass, my memories so recently regained now slipping from my mental grasp like soap in a bathtub. After all that had happened, after all that, I gritted my teeth, I was going to lose even my memories ?

A small spark of panic flared up in me and I suddenly had the urge to run, to bolt, screaming and cursing at the world, at Equestria, the princesses, that bloody stupid golden idiot, but most of all….those damnable two. That pair. One red. One yellow.

Without warning my knees buckled, sending me crashing muzzle first into the sand. Coughing mouthfuls of the dry, tasteless grittiness out of my mouth, I realised for the first time since ‘arriving’ here, that I was tired. As much as a relief as you may have thought that would be, to actually experience a physical sensation at last, a niggling thought at the back of my consciousness shouted a warning. Something was wrong. What it was, was a little harder to pinpoint now as bone aching weariness washed over me like a wave of lethargy. Oh Luna, did I feel tired ! I could just close my eyes, right here, right now. Close my eyes and drift off into a land of…..land of…..”oh who cares ?” I whispered to no-one in particular and yawned widely. I slipped away into a deep slumber and was glad of it.

Chapter Six - Another day in the Watch

CHAPTER SIX

Another day in the watch

It was cold, the sky a uniform blanket of slate grey, smothering the city in its oppressive gloom. Thankfully, it wasn’t raining, though the wind was annoying. I shook my newspaper to try and keep the page I was on from flipping back and forth as the breeze caught it.

I’d been stood on the street corner for slightly over two hours waiting for my contact to arrive. He was late, as usual. ‘Jumping Jack’, as he enigmatically called himself, would call at the news stand and buy a paper and a hot bran roll with his morning coffee. When he finished the roll, he would drop the wrapper on the ground as he walked away. That would be my cue to pick it up, frowning at the messy young stallion and throw it in the bin for him. What a public spirited pony I am ! Doing my part for a tidier Equestria. In more ways than one.

I was beginning to worry I’d gotten the day wrong, not like me really, but this was very unlike J.J too. Normally he was an unusually timely pony, probably had something to do with that stopwatch cutie mark he kept trying to hide. Unsuccessfully, I thought to myself with a wry smile.

I looked back at my cutie mark, a grumpy looking.....dog ? cat ? Celestia knew what, I didn’t. Speak Easy, that smart arse, had come up with the transfiguration spell to conceal my identity. I was becoming quite well known in the underworld of Manehatten, a little too well known for my liking and as it turned out, for my safety. Meadow constantly fretted about me, hugging me tightly whenever I had to leave on watch related business. Occasionally, she would hug me so tightly it felt like being beaten by a street thug would be far less life threatening.

I could see the worry in her eyes, that watery, searching look that made me question my career choice. She would never question it for me directly though, she respected my decision and backed me one hundred percent in every endeavour I undertook and, selfishly, I loved her for it. She had only ever once tried to talk me out of the watch. It was early in my career, the first time she had found me in the hospital after I failed to come home one evening.

I had been in the watch since leaving school. I trained hard, pouring all my effort into becoming the best watchman I could be. My father had been Watch Captain at the height of his career and I wanted to serve Equestria as he had, following in his hoof steps. If it wasn’t for the watch, I would never have met Meadow in the first place, that rain soaked day when a bedraggled green mare ran under my tree and into my heart. From then on I dedicated myself to becoming the best watch pony that Equestria had ever seen. At any rate, that’s how Meadow saw me and that was all that mattered.

To hear her trying to persuade me to throw away all my years of training, the monumental effort I had poured into my career, everything, was simply overwhelming.

I shouted at her. Unthinkingly, I yelled and berated her in a rage, explaining that this was my chosen career, this was how I put money on the table, this was all for us, for her, for our future, to make our dreams become a reality.

Was it all for her ? for us ? or was it just for me ? Angry, self centred Watch pony Fairlight.

I will never forget the look on her face. She quailed, backing up with her ears down and tears welling in her eyes. She didn’t shout back at me or run out as I expected her to do. Celestia knows I wouldn’t have blamed her if she had. Instead, she smiled, brushed the tears away and, standing, deftly picked up my hat from the bed side cupboard.

“When I married you Fairlight…” She said in her usual calm manner, “It was to accept you for who you are, just as you accepted me for who I am. I want you so much to be happy and I know this job means a great deal to you. I can see it in your eyes, that…that fire. The passion in your voice when you talk about helping ponies. Its one of the reasons why I fell in love with you.”

I stared at her unmoving, not knowing what to say. She trotted over and plopped my hat on my head, tapping it down with a heavy rap of her hoof. “But”, she said as she took my head in her hooves “I don’t like…like THIS”. She waves at my bandaged body. “Next time”, Meadow continued, “come home to me in one piece ?”. She smiled that special smile and my heart melted. Tears welled in my eyes now and rolled down my cheeks as I clenched them tight shut emotion threatening to boil over. “Oh meadow, I’m a completely arse. Look, i’m sorry, I…”,I sniffed, “…I shouldn’t have shouted at you. I’ve no excuses to give you that would seem right, right now. You know I’m not the brightest pony in the herd and……” A hoof planted itself in my mouth blocking any further attempt at speaking. “Oh shush dafty !” she chuckled.

“I’m going out to buy you some proper food, this hospital stuff is only fit for animals.” And with that, she picked up her saddlebags, throwing them over her side and made for the door. “I expect you to be better soon Fairlight of the Watch.” Meadow winked at me, “We have a foal to make remember ?”. Wiggling her flank at me, Meadow lifted her tail to one side, giving me just the slightest glimpse of….Oh Luna ! “Ow ! bugger”, I squeeked, my head connecting with the bed frame, “dammit”. The door closed slowly, the mares laughter gradually disappearing down the corridor.

Fortunately the rain clouds had started to drift away, not too many weather ponies around Manehatten today it seemed. The rest of the grey clouds, apparently tired of soaking everyone and everything, wandered off to annoy ponies elsewhere. That horrid grey overcast was replaced with a nice tidy blue, sunlight peeking around the corner of one of the taller buildings.

I peeked over the top of my paper just as a white buck with a purple mane and green eyes walked up to the paper stand.

“Morning Gracie”

“Good Morning Mister Trace, well today ?”
“Yeah, not bad, not bad. Usual please flower”

The paper stand mare deftly hoofed over a steaming brown bag then, grasping a coffee pot in her teeth, poured out a cup for her customer.

“Copy of the Enquirer too with that Gracie”

‘Mister Trace’ settled up his bill and quickly consumed his coffee and roll. “Must have some throat on him”, I thought to myself as he gulped the scalding liquid down in mere seconds. The roll went the same way.

As he walked off, he surreptitiously dropped the wrapper by my feet and carried on walking. “Hey buddy !” I called after him, levitating it in my magic, but it was too late. The litterbug had turned a corner and was out of sight. I scrunched up the paper bag and threw it in the waste bin.

“Sorry about that sir”, Grace called to me as I looked after him, “I’ll have a word with him when I see him next”.

I nodded my thanks to her and turned to walk away, straight into another white and purple maned pony. “Oh, what the hell !?” I exclaimed angrily. Half expecting it to be ‘Trace’, I was even more surprised to see a pony who could have been his sister. A gorgeous mare with enchanting eyes looked up at me with an equal look of surprise on her face.

“Oh my, I am SO sorry, I really should have been looking where I was going. I do hope you’re not hurt sir ?”

She must have been from out of town, I wasn’t used to ponies being so polite around here. Manehatten was a city full of individuals, full, for what I had seen, of themselves most of the time.

Gathering my wits, I was surprised by a flower floating over her head and neatly landing in the band on my fedora.

“All better now ?” She smiled at me. I listened for the telltale hint of sarcasm, pleasantly surprised I discovered, to find none. She was as sincere as could be, truly a miracle in Manehatten !

“Thank you Miss”, I blurted as she and her friends trotted past me. They seemed familiar somehow but I couldn’t quite put my hoof on it. That was until a bright pink pony bounced past defying all the laws of gravity, with a chirpy “Cheery bye mister !”.

There was a distinct lack of chocolate cake on her this time, but yes, these were the very same ponies from the picnic area in Ponyville. ‘Small Equestria’ indeed.

I smiled to myself and folded the paper into my coat pocket. Looking around me discreetly, I leant down to scratch my muzzle with my hoof, hiding the small piece of
paper in my mouth. All thoughts of hygiene aside, I called in to the rest rooms of the local ‘Donut Joes’ and spat out the note.

Shire Wharf 2:00Am. Tonight.

I incinerated the paper with a quick burst of magic from my horn and tightened up my coat belt. So, it was going to be tonight. The months of investigation, the late nights, the apologies to a sleepy Meadow for waking her up as I climbed into bed. It was all going to pay off tonight. I leaned back against the stone wall of a tall dark building, feeling its cold seep through my coat. It felt good, our backs had been to the wall for too long and now...now, we were going to put a stop to these scum once and for all.

You can but hope.

The watch building in Manehatten was a modest one, built, it would appear from the outside, by someone who had been made to come up with ‘something’ that would do the job at the lowest possible price. Probably at spear point too. The offices looked ramshackle and the enquiry desk sported years of damage from the kicks of angry detainees. A very neat outline of a particularly large shoe was central on the desk frontage.

A tired cyan mare with a neat short white mane and glasses perched on her nose ruffled papers with a hoof. The other twirling a pencil in a casual display of balance I could only marvel at. Earth ponies ! Always a surprise. She looked up, “You’re back”, came the disinterested remark.

“Nice to be back Shelly”.

“Any news, or am I going to be having yet another all nighter. My foal can’t even remember my face anymore you know !”, the uniformed mare announced, her eyes boring into me.

“Your foal’s in her teens !” I replied feigning exasperation. I looked up dramatically to the ceiling and stretched my forelegs out to either side. I noticed other uniformed ponies looking up from typewriters, some peering around doorways to watch the spectacle. Spars between Sea Shell and myself were almost daily entertainment in the watch.

Shelly waved her forelegs in the air, “That’s not the point !”. She paused, noticing that something was different. Placing her hooves on the desk she leaned forward to me and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper “Wait, don’t tell me. You better not be taking the piss Fairy”.

The watchmare jumped as I banged my hooves on the desktop, a grin spread across my face. “Its ON!!” I shouted. As one the whole office went up, papers, whooping and cries of joy, relief and congratulations filled the air.

“Captain Fairlight ?” A voice hard as steel boomed down from the balcony overlooking the foyer, “When, where ?”

“Two A.M, Shires Wharf” I shouted back up, barely able to contain my excitement. This was finally it !

“My office Fairlight, bring your officers. The rest of you…”, he waved an expansive foreleg at the ponies entering the foyer, “Action plan ‘Haze’ is now in effect, teams to be assembled by oh-eight-hundred. Shake a tail people !”. “Shelly ?”, he shouted down to the desk mare,

“Sir ?”

“Coffee if you please”

“Hey ! I’m not your secretary, Mitre you old…..oh, sod it. Never bloody mind, never listens anyway….”. I was glad I couldn’t make out the words as Shelly began one of her ranting mutterings. She disappeared under the desk and the distinct clatter of crockery echoed around the office along with the loud bustle of the watch gearing up for a long overdue night of action.

“Your’re in for it when you get home Chief”, I quipped. “Probably Fairlight, Goddesses know she’s a rare one, stayed with me when many a mare would have headed for the hills long ago”.

Chief Mitre looked back to Shelly working below as he turned and headed back into his office. “You still with that green filly ?” he asked in a pleasant voice. “Yes sir, we’re very happy, thanks for asking.” I replied.

“Look after her. I’ve met her you know, met her father too, long time ago now. He was a good stallion Fairlight, one of the best I’ve ever met. Meadow takes after him in a lot of ways. Its only by the grace of Celestia she didn’t follow him into the watch.” The chief stopped in front of a black and white picture of a group of young watch ponies. They grinned at the camera, young, fearless and proud. As I had been when I first joined. Now, a few years on and sporting a healthy dose of scars and cynicism in equal measure, I wondered how the ponies in the photo would see equestria now.

Meadow had rarely spoken of her father, what little she had told me did little to help me understand much about him at all. Whenever I broached the subject, her eyes would take on a far away look. I decided to leave the subject until she felt able to talk about it.

Tentatively, I asked, “You knew Chief Apple Pop sir ?”.

Chief Mitre was looked up to by the watch in more ways than one. He stood a good few hooves taller than the rest of us and his sheer size had intimidated more than one villain into surrendering without a fight. Celestia ! Was I jealous of that ! Sure I could hold my own in a fight, its just that I’d rather not go home with loose teeth and broken
ribs on occasion. Mind you, accepting nurse Meadows ministrations was well worth a knock or two. Most of time at least.

The big blue stallion gazed at the picture lost in thought, “Hmm ? Ah, yes….yes I knew him. Pop was a big bugger, not as big as me…”, he thumped his chest with a smirk, “but damn big none the less. He was some pony that we could all have learned a lot from. An awful lot”. Mitre reached up to the photo and a wistful look crossed his face, was that…regret ?

“Sir ? What happened to Pop ? Meadow never told me, she always changes the subject when we touch on it”.

Mitre paused for a moment then turned his head to look at me. “I’m not sure I should be the one to tell you Fairlight. When Meadow stayed with us after….what happened….she snuck into my office and read my report. I found her crying inconsolably afterwards. Look, really, if Meadow hasn’t told you….”, he paused, “ have you not thought, maybe, its because she doesn’t want you to know, or that its too painful for her to talk about ?”

“I have thought about that sir.” I said, looking at the picture, “but, I’d like to know none the less. If you don’t want to tell me, it’s fine. I’ll find out sooner or later either way.”

The Chief of the Watch sank back into his old manticore hide chair. It let out a protesting creak as he leaned back in it and swung his back legs up onto his desk. “Get me one of those will you ?”.

I walked over to a small wooden pot on the shelf and levitated out a long cigar. Placing the end in a cutter, I pushed down on the small plunger snipping the end off neatly. I inhaled the pungent aroma of the tobacco and felt the familiar pang of longing for a smoke of those marvellous creations. Creations that I knew all too well that Meadow would fillet me for smoking.

The chief took the cigar from me and placed it in his mouth, inhaling deeply as I magicked a flame to the end. “Thank you Captain, you’ve done well. Very well. If we pull this off tonight, I think we could be looking at a promotion for you. Oh, and a nice pay rise for you ‘two’. Maybe…..three ?”, he chuckled, peering down his muzzle at me.

“Not yet sir, not for lack of trying either”, I told him a little dejected.

Mitre thumped the desk and blew out a puff of cigar smoke, shaking his silver flecked black mane, “Hah ! That’s the best part ! don’t be in such a rush my young friend. Slow and steady, you know the rest”. “Yes sir”, I managed.

Shelly entered the room with a tray of mugs and oat biscuits, trailing behind her were three watch officers who halted at the door looking apprehensive. I quickly realised why….

“What the buck are you doing with that thing in you mouth you old goat ?!” The mare screamed at him, “Do you know what those things will do to your lungs ? You’re half
ready for the knackers now and you’re still on them ? I thought you’d promised………”

Shelly’s berating continued amid the Chiefs desperate attempts to placate his wife as I closed the office door behind me.

“Captain Fairlight ?” one of the younger officers asked as I turned to look at them. “Should we…you know ?”, he gestured towards the office. “Er, no. No lieutenant, I think we’ll just leave them to, say, thrash it out.” I think I knew what sort of ‘thrashing’ was coming the Chiefs way. I sighed, I would have to ask about Apple Pop another day. Right now, duty called.

“Gentlemen.”
“Sir”, the officers said smartly, saluting as one.
“Lets get moving everyone. We’ve a lot to do.”
So much for the coffee and biscuits I lamented, trotting down the stairs.

Chapter Seven - Hours before dawn

CHAPTER SEVEN

Hours before Dawn

The night was clear, if a little windy. Rain I could stand, but wind ? You try standing out in the dark with cold air blasting through your ears for hours ! I’d taken up station in a musty abandoned tool shack, now used as a dump for damaged and unwanted dockers equipment. I had to watch my footing, nearly crying out in fright when a coil of rope slithered from its hook up in the rafters and brushed against my flank on its way down. An image of a deadly Everfree forest snake, fangs dripping venom, materialised briefly in my imagination. I stamped my hoof down hard on the thing, subconsciously ‘killing’ the snake and re-focussing on the task at hoof.

Sweet Luna, I was bored. We’d been here for hours and nothing, not an iota of movement from the single warehouse on the wharf. Could my contact have had the wrong day ? the wrong time ? I began to question whether I had read the note correctly, oh Goddesses ! Had I blown months of investigative work through carelessness ? “No”, I whispered to myself under my breath, it was not the time to start doubting myself. It was the right day and the right time, though something, something I couldn’t quite put my hoof on, was ringing alarm bells in the back of my head. I pushed the thought away and gave a snort, we were all on edge, I just had to keep focussed and push any intrusive thoughts away. The plan would work.

The teams were assembled in packets across the wharf area, signals would be given by magical flare and the Watches trans-etheral devices, or ‘TED’s as we called them. These were handy little magical articles which slipped over ones head and ear, another concoction of Speak Easy’s ingenious department. Once tuned to the crystals in the other devices, we could hear and speak to one another surprisingly easily. It sure beat the old days of whistles, shouts or screaming at the top of your lungs to one
another. If I ever found out which of Speak Easy’s ponies had invented these, I’d kiss them. Metaphorically of course.

I rubbed my forelegs together for warmth, never taking my eyes away from the window. It was dusty but I daren’t try to rub it clean in case some pony noticed the movement. This night, or rather morning as it was rapidly becoming, had to go without with a hitch.

Moving my hind legs to keep cramp at bay, the minutes ticked by and I resisted the urge to call up the other officers of the watch for reports on any movement. They were good, trained by Mitre himself, I knew these ponies would do their part. We trusted one another with our lives, and we had, on occasion. That was back even when the majority of Manehatten’s reported crimes were nothing more exciting than stolen flowers, apples or Celestia forbid, fashion designs !

A crackle from the TED caught my attention and I pressed a hoof to it, “Fairlight” I whispered. The voice that came back sounded tense, “We’ve got movement. From the river, looks like a barge. No lights, I count four, maybe five on deck. Hard to see in this light Cap’”. Crumble Top was an experienced watch mare, a lieutenant of several years in the Manehatten watch alone. Her violet eyes never missed a trick and the ponies who knew her, had quickly learnt never to try and sneak things past her vigilant gaze. I had always known her as a pony to rely on, her icy calm was infectious with the ponies around her and they trusted her implicitly. Tonight, the strain in her voice was testament to the pressure we were all under. “They’ve got at least one unicorn with them, I can see the glow from here. They’re pulling in to the dock side now. Crumble out.”

The TED went quiet, a few moments went by and the gruff voice of Cloud Spiral crackled, “Affirmative on the movement, counting five ponies here heading towards the main warehouse. Unicorn up front with a lantern, four ponies, possibly earth type. Unknown if armed.”

Another voice, Dawn Rush this time, “No pegasi detected, maintaining perimeter sweep”.

Silence. I had asked for minimal TED communications in case the targets had unicorns who could detect it. “Highly unlikely”, I had been told by the court procurator, “but still, a possibility. As their use is new, unicorns wont necessarily know to look out for their magical wavelength”. I was a little unsure of these new devices, their efficiency however had proved to be exceptional. Still, I wanted to take as few chances as possible. I extended this to the flying squad, Dawn was keeping her squad hidden set up in the cranes and buoys out in the bay. Any flight ran the chance of being detected even against the stars by an eagle eyed pony. If they had pegasi of their own, they would more than likely be using them as scouts to check the wharf before docking. These guys knew what they were doing and to catch them, we had to be one step ahead. Tonight, was that step.

The ticking of my pocket watch felt deafeningly loud as I plucked it out of my pocket. Later than planned, but still, pre-dawn. I could feel the seconds inexorably dragging by, clunking one after the other after the other. A slight shuffle behind me caught my attention. Looking round I saw watch sergeant Heather rubbing the sleep from her eyes, then giving me a nod. She looked as tired as I felt but the fiery blaze of determination in her eyes removed any shred of doubt about her resolve.

I turned back to the window.

Through the gloom, I could make out the windows of the warehouse by the glint of moonlight off the glass. The building was in darkness, not, I suspected, for much longer. Sure enough, the warm yellow glow of a lantern appeared, almost imperceptibly, through the dirty windows nearest the large waterside doors. The light disappeared, reappearing a moment later at another window as the lanterns holder made their way through the cavernous buildings interior.

I activated the TED, “Stand by. Stand by”. I slipped out my truncheon from a coat pocket. The cherry wood heirloom was dented and scratched from years of service, old, but effective. Nicknamed ‘donkey wallopers’ by the watch, I wondered whether my trusty sidearm would have a chance to thump some ‘donkeys’ tonight. I couldn’t help but smile to myself. Behind me, the silken sound of Heather drawing her truncheon was re-assuring, good to know some pony had by back. Meadow would kill me if I came back with more injuries for her to heal. Tonight, I silently prayed to the Goddesses, would go without a hitch. Surprise them and they’d give up without a fight, we’d done it before and everything was in place to ensure it happened again. Of course, things never ‘quite’ went to plan, but improvisation was a skill encouraged within the watch. Mitre knew his ponies well.

I could almost sense the tension building in my officers, the watch ponies with them would be preparing to make their move on the officers command. This was it, finally !

And there…there it was. The now unmistakable silvery blue swirling light, radiating from the windows like a beacon from the beyond. It still filled me with wonder and awe every time I saw it. Catching one still in operation was the trick, and hopefully tonight would be the night. I hit the transmit button on the TED. “This is it ponies ! Officers take charge of your teams. Stick to the plan everyone, comms open, weapons out. We go on three. Three….two….one…..move !”

As one, the well practiced and co-ordinated ponies of the Manehatten Watch moved into action. Even now, after all these years, the sound of dozens of ponies moving almost silently in to engage an opponent was a huge adrenalin rush. Most ponies probably had no idea what was going on right under their noses, and that was the way we liked it. The days of finding lost kittens and birds was over, we had all had to adapt to a new Equestria. One I was determined to keep as safe for every pony as I could.

Our black watch barding whispered as we closed on the building, every member of my squad barely visible in the moonlight but for the occasional glint on a eye or teeth gripping a sidearm.

We stopped by the side entrance to the warehouse, a rusty old steel door scouted earlier by the ‘dock workers’ who we’d sent in to help with ‘maintenance’. The locks had been checked, oiled and working keys found for any locks. Planning for the operation had been meticulous, all we’d had to do was wait for the mouse to walk happily into the trap.

I looked to my watch sergeant, she held the padlock from the door in her teeth and placed it quietly on the ground. “Ready ?” I mouthed silently. She nodded back in response.

I whispered into the TED, “All teams report status.”
“Raven team in position.”
“Eagle team in position,”
“Condor team in position”
“Sparrow team in position”

“Budgie team ready to run interference”

Oh Goddesses, there was always one wasn’t there ? “Y’know”, Dawn had told me, “Ya might think ah’m a bein’ flippant. But y’all remember the name though don’tcha ?”. I remembered the name, Dawn would remember her role. Right now, all pegasi would be preparing to leave their positions and circle the target area keeping lookout for any unknown threats to emerge and to help with co-ordination should it become necessary.

“On three everyone, three…two…one….lets move !”

Yule, the big ex-boxing mare, bucked the steel door open. The oiled hinges swinging open as another pony rolled in a flash bug. The casing split open a moment later. The furious green creature inside, incensed by its sudden rude jolting, defended itself the way all flash bugs do in their time honoured fashion; It blasted out a blinding white light as bright as a thousand suns. As if this wouldn’t be enough to deter a would be attacker, the bug had another defense which it used in combination. Releasing a rapid pulse of flammable gas from glands on its body, the light would ignite it creating a satisfyingly loud ‘pop’.

Multiply this by four and you have what, we hoped, would be a sufficient distraction to any pony in the warehouse giving us enough time to take them down without anyone being harmed.

We charged in. Shouting in unison, all four team poured into the warehouse converging on the now visible group of cloaked figures standing together in a huddle. Staring out at their attackers, they all lowered their forelegs and heads in a fighting stance. This wouldn’t take long, we outnumbered them four to one, a quick tap on the noggin and it would be goodnight Maisie.

Something was off. I didn’t know what the hell it was, but this was…wrong. The other officers of the watch, steeped in the experience years in the watch brings, slowed their rush too. The teams, sensing their leaders change, also slowed but still kept position and alertness. I had a bad feeling about this. I held up a foreleg, halting the watch.

“This is the equestrian watch, you will lay down your arms and surrender. All of you are under arrest. You will be read your rights as dictated by the laws of Princess Celestia.”

Nothing.

Yule took a step forward, lowering her head and snarling at the cloaked ponies. “You heard the captain, take off those cloaks and lower your weapons. Do it ! Or I’ll crack your heads open”. She had a way with words, bless her hooves.

Frustrated with the lack of movement from the group, Yule gripped the corner of one of the ponies cloaks and pulled hard.

With a flurry, the cloak fluttered into the air, revealing a black stallion with a white mane, tail and intense blue eyes. The imposing size of the pony would have been enough to balk any pony, with the exception of Yule of course, if it hadn’t also been for the strange contraption strapped to the earth ponies back and head.

The ethereal light from the swirling magic of the trans-dimensional mirror portal behind him, glinted off the black metal the pony wore. He nodded to his companions and together, they each removed their cloaks revealing more of the devices. Nopony moved, I stood there like a foal, perplexed at what I was seeing. Shaking myself, I took a step forward and opened my mouth to speak. Just as I did so, the light in the mirror flared and a hoof emerged, followed by a tall white pony. When I say tall, I mean huge ! This, yes, a mare…just checking, looked at least double my height. As she stepped gracefully though the mirror, she ducked to allow her horn to pass under the mirrors frame. Celestia, she was amazing, so……tall !

Mentally slapping myself, I took in all I saw. I wasn’t the only one either, every eye in the warehouse was focussed on the spectacle before us. This was going to be some report when I got back to the watch house.

The metal clad ponies spread out, forming a barrier between us and the white mare. Her yellow mane and tail flowed out behind her like a river of flowing gold, a white silk dress covering her cutie mark and flank. Almost regally, she calmly surveyed the scene.

“What is this ?” She asked, or more accurately ‘announced’ to the assembled ponies.

“I’m sorry ma’am” I spoke out in my most polite but authoritative voice, “I must place you all under arrest until enquiries can be completed. If you are innocent of charges, you will be free to go.”

She held up a foreleg and wave her hoof nonchalantly, “Arrest ?”. She let out a girlish chuckle, endearing in any other circumstance. In this one, I felt my blood run cold and I took a stronger grip on the truncheon.

The mare smiled, “I don’t think so, mister…… ?”

“Fairlight, Captain of the Equestrian Watch, Manehatten division”.

“I see….’Captain’…..”, She looked down her sleek, smooth muzzle at me with those azure eyes. “I’m afraid my….employers….will not take kindly to any ‘watch’ interference in our activities. I regret, my dear captain, that we must end our discourse.” She shook her mane. Not a hair out place either, ohhhhhh Celestia !

The mare backed up to the mirror and closed her eyes, raising her head.

“Oh hell…Stop them !” I shouted, but it was too late. A large purple bubble popped into existence around the five. Yule’s bucks proving completely ineffectual against the glowing shield.

“Damn it !” I cursed, nodding to our magic users to prepare a counter spell. We would still take these ponies down, but now, it would just take a little bit longer, that was all. Nothing to worry abou……….

What was the strange noise ? A weird metallic whining sound had started up inside the purple magic bubble. As I peered in, I saw a rotating set of tubes, strapped to the back of one of the ponies, begin to lower. The stallion pointed the open end of the now rapidly spinning tubes at the assembled watch, who stood there perplexed at what they were seeing.

The white mare looked at me with a sad look on her face, “Its been a pleasure meeting you captain…. ‘Fairlight’ wasn’t it ? But sadly, all good things must come to an end. I hope you will forgive me.”

A panicked voice, Dawns, screamed over my TED, the other watch officers heard it too, looking at each other in alarm….”Get out of there ! Get out now !”

The white mares previously seductive look had been replaced with one as dark as the night sky. “Goodbye Captain Fairlight of the Equestrian Watch”

Chapter Eight - New ideas

CHAPTER EIGHT

New ideas

“Shields !” I shouted, the watches magic wielders moving forward and bringing up energy shields of their own with practiced speed, “Bolters forward”. The watch ponies moved up, covered by the unicorn’s shields and levelled their crossbows.

Fire belched and spewed from the surrounded ponies accompanied by a horrible symphony of ear splitting noise the likes of which I had never heard. The scene before me held me in a freezing iron grip of shocked immobility. Whatever the spinning tubes were, flames erupted from the ends, spraying shards of death straight through the shields, though the watch ponies, as if they were nothing more substantial than air itself.

Mares and Stallions, ponies I had called my colleagues, my friends, ponies I had worked with for years, were turned into chunks of flying meat, organs and bone. Most stood stock still in shock, unsure of what to do. This was no magic, this was like nothing any of us had ever seen before. I took stock of the situation and gave my
commands, my heart hammering in my chest, “Retreat, officer get your ponies out of here, now. Bolters lay covering shots”.

Pointless.

The screams of the wounded and dying spread a fear through the watch as effectively as the fire wielded by the white mare’s group. Viscera and crimson flying gore mingled with the shocking white of shattered bone rained down around me.

“SIR !”, a foreleg grabbed my barding and pulled me face to face with watch sergeant Heather, “We need to get out of here !”. The panic was unmistakable in her voice. Order had broken down utterly and ponies were running for the doors, slipping on the gore of their fallen comrades. Wounded friends were kicked and trampled in the headlong rush to get away from the scything death sweeping through the warehouse behind them.

“Get everyone out ! Get them out !” I yelled running for the door. The door that was blocked with panicked watch ponies, all trying to jam themselves though at the same time. I roughly kicked one of the ponies aside, a young stallion, not much more than a colt. He stared at me with eyes wide in terror, “Get a grip of yourself watch pony.”, I pointed a hoof at the rest now looking at me rather than the door. They were all breathing hard, some with dark spots down their sides oozing blood.

“Watch sergeant.”
“Sir”, Heather snapped a salute.
“Get them out. Take them to the assembly area and contact the militia, we’re going to need every pony we can down here.”
“Yes sir”.

Pulling and prodding the ponies into a more orderly evacuation, the experienced sergeant of the Manehatten Watch, filed the ponies through and out into the night. I didn’t doubt that once outside they would run for all they were worth. It didn’t matter though, so long as they were safe.

I turned back and picked up a loaded cross bow that had been dropped in the panicked scramble to escape. I hadn’t used one since basic, but I was still a reasonable shot. Magicking up a bundle of bolts from a quiver, I ran for the cover of some crates. I kept low, I’d quickly seen how little protection these afforded to the weapons wielded in this building tonight, but I had to do something, anything, to take their attention away from my ponies.

Using the stacks of boxes and crates to hide my movement, I snuck around to draw a line of sight on the five ponies. Keeping slightly behind the large mirror, I hoped the shimmer from its eerie surface would help keep me from being spotted. The group was still covered with the mares magical shield, the glow brightest to the front covering her comrades from any retaliation, there hadn’t been many but I could still see the odd spark of a bolt ricocheting off its surface. I could only pray that the shield was weaker at the rear and my bolt may have some hope of penetrating. “Luna, guide me”, I thought to myself as I took aim and squeezed the release lever.

My heart sank as the bolt skipped harmlessly off the shields surface. “Fuck you then”, I muttered as I pulled the quiver open to take another bolt. Maybe I should have thanked Luna that the ponies under the shield hadn’t notice the bolt strike and turned their weapons on me.

All their attention instead, was focussed on cutting down the fleeing watch ponies, sickening grins on their faces whilst they did their grisly work. The bastards were enjoying this, drool dripped from the tube wielding black ponies muzzle, eyes wild with excitement.

Held in my magics grip, I emptied the bolts onto the floor looking for what I prayed would be there. It was. I re-cocked the crossbow and place the faintly glowing green tipped bolt into position and rested it on a box to help steady my aim. These bolts had been developed by our magical research team to combat shields, following previous run-ins with underworld unicorns. Good old Speak Easy, next rounds on me buddy.

I levelled the crossbow at the big bastard, bringing my eye to the sights and trying to control my breathing. I aimed for the bulk of his body, hoping that even some deviation in my aim would hit him and if not kill or incapacitate, at least divert his attention from those still trying to get out. I slowly exhaled and squeezed the release lever. The crossbow bucked as the heavy bolt left on its journey.

The flight of the projectile seemed to take an age to travel towards the shield, all the while I gritted my teeth willing it to strike true. A flare of bright green light appeared for an instant on the shield and disappeared as fast. Abruptly, the roaring, whining noise stopped as, with a cry, the large buck fell to the ground. One of his colleagues moved to aid him whilst the others, the white mare included, turned to face their attacker. Oh crap…that was me !

“There !”, she shouted levelling a foreleg in my direction. “Oh bollocks, time to move !”, I said out loud and ran for the metal gantry steps I’d noticed earlier as I’d move into position.

Metallic ‘pings’ and thuds resounded around me as I ran, splinters flew from the crates stinging my sides and flank. I was glad of my watch training that night. Leaping up the stairs several at a time, I took the corner along the gantry like sombre himself was after me. My rubberised hoof covers gave me exceptional grip on the gantry as well as covering the noise I made. This high up, it was virtually pitch black and the fiery blasts from the weapons the ponies were using was blinding them, helping me avoid a swift and bloody end.

I recalled the floor plan of the warehouse in my mind. There should be an office up here, the door open, ready for....

I tripped on something at the end of the metal gantry, catching myself from heading muzzle first over the railing to the floor below. Looking over my shoulder I found myself looking into the glassy eyes of one of the snipers assigned to provide the rest of us with cover. A neat hole in his forehead had ended his life. No time to mourn him now I thought and pushed at the steel door to the office. Locked. Locked from the
inside ! What the fuck ! There were three snipers assigned to this area, the door was to have been unlocked, what the hell had happened ?

I would worry about that later, if there was a later for me. It was looking decidedly unlikely I would ever get out alive, holes were being blasted through the gantry floor by the wildly firing ponies below, their anger now focussed solely on yours truly. I backed towards the railing and reloaded another infused bolt into the crossbow. Shooting blindly towards the flames, I was rewarded with a shriek from below. “Kill him ! Kill him now you fools, what the hell are we paying you for ?”. She had a nice voice for a homicidal maniac.

The beautiful white mare dropped the shield. Her magic yanked the saddle pack and tube-thing from the big guy, now no longer moving I noticed, and hoisted the whole lot into the air. The open end of the tubes swinging up and towards me as that terrible whine began again. “Oh fuck me fucking sideways !”, I cursed as I fumbled for another bolt.

It was too late. The whining roar lanced fire toward the gantry and cut through it like a hot knife through butter. The steel groaned and I felt it move slightly, giving me a sickening feeling of imminent gravitational pull. Looking frantically around in the flashing orange light, I saw a line of holes in the side of the office wall, the side of the office wall window that was. I shot the last bolt towards the mare and flung the heavy crossbow at the window, shattering it. Fear and adrenalin pumping through me, I ran and leapt, eyes closed tight and crashed though the broken glass into the office beyond.

I didn’t have to wonder what had happened to the snipers any more. The body of one cushioned my fall as I rolled off, shaking the glass from my barding. I was bleeding

from multiple lacerations but that was of little importance when faced with getting back to my team alive.

A lantern sat on the floor, still lit, reflecting a low glint from the padlock on the…inside ? of the office door. In surprise, I looked back at the sniper ponies. Each had a hole in the back of their heads, a corresponding one on the front. Poor bastards, they hadn’t stood a chance, I’d doubt they’d even seen their killer. No sign of any bolts by the wounds, it must have been one of the magical fire weapons. Which meant, my mind racing, that there must be at least one more of these fuckers here somewhere.

A loud rattle reverberated through the room from the far doorway. The frame illuminated by an orange light which flashed in time to the noise beyond.

I sidled up to the door. I sure hoped that the recon-team had oiled the hinges on this one properly. Thankfully, opening it proved to be an easier task than the last one. Whoever had taken out the snipers hadn’t expected anyone to come in through here and had been so pre-occupied making their own cacophony, they hadn’t noticed the crash of my unceremonious arrival.

On the outer balcony, a black cloaked earth pony panned fiery death into the sky, a staggered line of piercing light reflecting from the surrounding structures. I flinched
as a bolt suddenly embedded itself in the door I held open with a loud ‘thunk’. ‘Fantastic’, I thought to myself sarcastically, ‘escape magical murdering ponies to be shot by my own bloody team !’. Pushing the thought aside I drew my combat knife with a silken smooth movement that even my old instructor would have been impressed with.

Hooking my foreleg under her neck I pulled her head back, drawing the blade sharply in and across her throat. She let out a startled cry, a huff of air and her eyes went wide. I couldn’t look at her. There were parts of this job I hated and hurting other ponies was top of the list for me, but taking the life of another ? “I’m sorry” I whispered, feeling her body become heavy and limp. I let her slip to the floor and stepped up to the railing before a voice crackled over my TED, “Cap ? Captain Fairlight is that you ?”

Blaze’s voice blasted through my ear so loud I thought my eardrum was bleeding, “Blaze ? I’m on the outer gantry, west side. Tell your team to stop shooting dammit, its me !”.

“Stand by one”, came the reply. Blaze was Dawn’s second in command of the flying squad.

I went to head down the metal steps and paused. A metallic clinking sound called my attention. I turned to look at the still figure of the mare, her throat open to the night air, steam lifting from the wound. Her eyes stared up to the stars with the same glassy stare I’d seen in the sniper ponies. She didn’t deserve my compassion, I thought callously, her and her damned compatriots had murdered my friends, left them bleeding and dying in a cold, dark, warehouse on an all but forgotten dock side. They didn’t deserve that. Something inside me though….damn it, it was still wrong.

I pulled my gaze away to the device on her back. It was hard to make out but I would have a better look later. Three buckles cinched the pack to her back and I hauled it up and off, taking the connecting cable and bit with it. “Come on Cap, you’re a the last one we gotta haul flank !”.

“Celestia fuck me sideways Blaze”, I yelped in surprise as the light grey pegasus seemed to materialise in front of me, “I nearly shat myself !”.
“All a part of the service sir. Come on now, lets get the flock outta here. Jingo, take the capn’s toys and get back to the station lickety split. Tingles, you grab that side……”

“Whoa hey !” I exclaimed as the two Pegasi grabbed me and hauled me into the air. Oh Celestia, bloody vertigo, I’d have to have words when I got back. Back. Back to….what ? Oh goddesses, no.

“All teams have been pulled out Cap, army boy’s are on scene. They’ll take care-a things.”

“Blaze”, I asked “Where’s Dawn ?”. There was a long pause. I wondered if Blaze hadn’t heard me, then I noticed the glint of starlight in her tear filled eyes. “She didn’t make it Cap.”

I didn’t reply. My mind was a blank, I kept hearing the screams of pain and fear in my mind, kept seeing the flashes from those terrible devices. Ponies I had shaken hooves with only this morning, I would never see again. Except to bury them. I had to get back to the Watch house, had to get back and find out how every pony was, make sure every pony who needed medical help had it, make sure we knew…..knew who we had…lost. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth, flapping wings blowing icy wind onto my sides.

Some pony was responsible for the horror of this night. Some pony had to pay for this, and I would make sure to collect…..in full. “I don’t know who you are yet” I whispered to the night sky as we sailed out over the rooftops heading for the city light of Manehatten, “But I promise you, I will find you…”, we began our descent to the watch house, “And I will kill you”.

Chapter Nine - Stumbling in the dark

CHAPTER NINE

Stumbling in the dark

Gas lamps gave the outside of the old building a serene, if rather macabre look at times, the warm light bathing its architecture added shadows and played on your imagination. On any other night, it was my home from home, the light beckoning me with the promise of safety and familiar companionship within. Tonight however, was not one of those nights.

As I walked in through the door, Blaze and her pegasi took off back to the wharf to help find stragglers and assist the army in whatever way they could. I let them go, maybe I shouldn’t have, but right now, all I cared about was finding out who had made it back and to see about restoring some semblance of order. The ancient oak door gave its familiar squeak as I pushed it open. Inside, stricken ponies lay everywhere, on benches, makeshift beds, not a piece of furniture or floor space had failed to be turned into a sanctuary for a wounded pony. Gangways had been left for the myriad of medical staff who must have been pulled in from all across Manehatten to help.

As we had arrived, an ambulance had taken off, ferrying some of the more seriously wounded to the medical facilities elsewhere in the city. There simply hadn’t been enough ambulances available for this many casualties in so short a time. Even in a city the size of Manehatten, medical emergencies were few and far between, no pony had expected something like this to happen. Could they ? Goddesses, maybe we, no…I, should have planned for such an event. But how the hell was I to know something like this could happen or for that matter, what actually had……

“Fairlight !”

For the umpteenth time that night, I was snapped out of my wandering thoughts and turned my head to see Meadow, her eyes wide in surprise and fear, looking at me from across a hastily constructed bed. The pony lying on the makeshift litter was
moaning softly, a blood soaked bandage across her middle. Meadow put down the pitcher of water she was carrying and hurried around the bed to eye me from nose to tail.

“Thank Celestia you’re alive, I thought…when you didn’t come back with the rest…Oh, I don’t know what I thought ! I….”, tears began welling in her big yellow eyes.

“Its all right love, I’m here, I’m ok. Look, I need to find out what’s happened tonight and get the officers together for a debrief, make sure everyone’s accounted for and taken care of. Something happened tonight, something…. Whoa, shit!” I stretched out my foreleg to steady myself as the room spun away from me.

“Dr. Spindle ! Quill ! Help me, for Celestia’s sake, quickly !”, Meadows voice drifted off to nothing as I sank to my knees, consciousness quickly fading into darkness.

The funny thing about being unconscious, I had found on the odd occasion I had been, was that I didn’t dream. Lights on, lights off, quite literally, it was that fast. This time however, the lights took quite a time to come back on. Shades of grey, shapes in the muggy light mingled with indistinct sound. Nausea pulled at my insides and I emptied my stomach into a bucket strategically placed at the side of the bed. I hated being sick, it made my head spin and it hurt like crazy. But, here I was, alive and….well….alive. Lets just leave it at that for now.

“Doctor, he’s coming to”, said a young mares voice.

“Call Nurse Meadow over if you please, she’ll want to see her husband”.

“Yes Doctor”

I could hear hoof steps approaching the bed. Weakly, I tried to lift my head up to see who it was. I felt like my head was submerged underwater and another wave of nausea passed over me. Luna have mercy, I didn’t want to see Meadow like this.

“I’m here love, don’t worry now, its okay. Its okay…..shhhhh”, a comforting hoof gently stroked my mane and forehead. I barely registered Meadows ministrations as my attention was drawn to a peculiar feeling of ‘pulling’ coming from my side. Lifting my head to look down at what was causing it, the nausea hit me again and I coughed bile into the hastily produced bucket.

“Keep him still for Celestia’s sake !”, snapped an irritated voice.

Meadow pushed me down firmly, wiping the sweat from my face with a damp cloth. The cool water was soothing. I wanted to get up, get out of there, I had to see to things in the watch house, what the hell was going on here ?

“Stay still love, please. For me, okay ?”. Losing myself in those beautiful eyes was a wonderful distraction from the yanking and pulling sensation that continued in earnest further down. Meadow turned to look at whatever it was that was going on, then
turned back to face me. “They’re nearly finished now, it won’t be long. You’re being really brave my big strong watch pony.”

Such a lovely smile, I couldn’t help but smile back weakly in response. By Luna, I was so tired, I could just go to sleep.

“Got it !”, the triumphant cry accompanied a metallic clink. “Just need to sew him up and get some antibiotics into him. He’s going to be okay, Meadow.”

Meadow nodded to the Doctor smiling, then turned back to me, relief flooding her features as tears welled up anew. She pushed her muzzle into my neck and breathed in deeply. “Fairlight, I never want to smell blood on you again. Never, never, never…….”, mumbling into my coat, I reached a foreleg round to her. “I’m sorry

love” I whispered into her ear, “forgive me”. She didn’t answer, only staying where she was while I drifted off into sleeps dark embrace.

Chapter Ten - The end of the road

CHAPTER TEN

The end of the road

Even with the best that Equestrian magical healing could provide, weeks had passed before I had been fit enough to return to the watch house. I had my old rain coat, fedora and sported a snappy goatee beard, a new addition that Meadow had approved of. Eventually !

The familiar building felt oddly unwelcoming to me that morning when I trotted up the steps. Probably my imagination, I wondered, so, putting that line of thought aside, I pushed open the double doors to the foyer. The floor had been scrubbed clean, thank Celestia. Unfortunately for me, the side effect of the strong smelling bleach and pine floor cleaner was an assault on my nose making me sneeze violently.

The ponies at the desks ceased their various tasks and turned to look at the sneezing pony in the doorway. Some new faces in there I noticed, some familiar ones too. The most telling feature was how few of the desks were occupied now, so many of us had been…..lost. Several ponies rushed to up to greet me, their shouts of joy helped lift my heart from the grief of our lost comrades that threatened to overwhelm me.

“Hey every pony the Capn’s back !” Shouted a huge uniformed mare as she grabbed me in her expansive embrace, “Whoops ! Sorry, better watch the wounded warriors ouchies eh ?”. Yule pushed me back with her forelegs and looked me up and down, “Yup, still ugly !”.

“Hey ! You cheeky sod, next time you’re shot I’ll remember that !”, I laughed as more ponies arrived to pat me on the back or shake hooves, happily expressing their relief I was alive and well. The revelry was interrupted by a uniformed mare pushing through the throng and pushing a cup of hot tea into my hooves. “Good to see you back hon’”, Shelly smiled briefly, “Better go see the Chief, he’s waiting in his….” She never got to finish her sentence as a voice boomed down from the balcony, “Captain Fairlight ? My office if you please.”

Shelly gave me an apologetic look as I knocked back the tea in a single gulp turning for the stairs. Trotting up the steps I reached the landing and looked through the chiefs door to see him slowly working at his typewriter. The old bugger had never bothered to employ a secretary to write his reports, instead he insisted on trying to type them himself. It was a painful experience to witness his ham-hoofed attempts and even worse to try to decipher the end product. I suspected Shelly was behind the ‘no secretary’ policy more than her other half. Very protective and jealous mare, Shelly.

I knocked and entered without waiting, the Chief continuing to type….slowly, eventually spinning in his chair to face me. “Good to see you back boy.”, he said in his typical gruff manner. “Chief”, I replied.

Chief Mitre turned in his chair to face the window, parting the blinds with an outstretched hoof. Moments dragged past as he stared out the window, “What happened out there”, he muttered.

“Chief ?” I asked, not quite able to make out his words, it had sounded more like a statement than a question. He spun to face me, reared up and slammed his hooves on the desk. With a hard eyed glare Mitre shouted the next words at me in a way I had never heard from him before, “I said ‘What happened out there’ !? Where the hell are my ponies Captain, why did you hesitate, why didn’t you get out when you had the chance ?”

“Sir, I” I began but was cut off, “You fucked up Captain, you fucked up and ponies were killed. My ponies, your brothers and sisters in the watch, because YOU didn’t keep your shit together !”. I backed up a step under the onslaught, I’d never heard the chief so angry, no, check that…furious.

“I did what I could Chief, you don’t know what it was like in there. I was the pony responsible and I made the call. No pony could have predicted what we would be up against.”, I took a step forward.

“You’re damn right you’re responsible Captain, ponies died, DIED ! on your watch. Do you know how many didn’t come home that night ? Do you have any idea how many of these damned letters I’ve had to write to their families ?”, He waved a hoof towards the typewriter, “how many times do I have to write how sorry I am that their loved ones will never come home again. Goddesses, Fairlight, I’m too old for this shit. Too fucking old by far.”

He looked down at the desk and closed his eyes. I walked up to him and calmed my racing heart, “Chief. Chief, I’m….” He cut me off with a raised hoof, “Your badge.” “I’m sorry, I…Chief ?” I stammered, not quite grasping what the big blue buck had said. “Your badge Fairlight. Please.”

The world of Fairlight the Watch Captain, began to unravel at that very moment. My heart sank and I couldn’t help but hang my head, why was this happening, I’d done everything I could have done hadn’t I ? I kept replaying the nights events in my mind over and over again, but hindsight, as my mother had always told me, was a wonderful thing indeed. I levitated out my battered leather wallet with the Manehatten Watch badge inside. I opened it up and looked at the name underneath engraved on a little silver strip, ‘Captain Fairlight’. I was so proud of that. My mother and father had been ecstatic when they first saw it. Of course, that was years ago when I was simply ‘Watch pony Fairlight’. I felt like a lead weight was in my gut as I placed it reverently on the Chiefs desk.

He sighed and nodded his head solemnly. “Look Fairlight, I take no pride in this. The commissioner wants some pony to take responsibility for this. I’ve tendered my resignation but she won’t accept it. Tells me I’m ‘Too important to the safety of the citizenry of Manehatten’, apparently. She’s read your report and dismissed it as a flight of fancy, an ‘attempt to excuse your incompetence’, she said.” He cleared his throat, “By the Commissioner’s orders, I will have to officially suspend you pending a full investigation by the Equestrian military police”.

“What !” I shouted, indignation raging in my voice, “The Equestrian military police ? Are you bloody well kidding me ? They couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery Chief, and you know it.”

Chief Mitre gave me an inscrutable gaze and I took a breath to calm my flaring nerves. “Never the less Fairlight, as of today, you are off the watch”. He took my badge and slid it into a desk drawer. “I’m sorry Fairlight, give my regards to Meadow”. And there it was, the thump of the desk drawer closing, sounding the end of my proud career in the watch. It was all over, my world, my career….all gone. It didn’t seem….real. I didn’t even notice I’d walked down the stairs until Shelly put a foreleg round me, “I’m sorry honey. Mitre told me about the commissioner, he tried his best for you, he really did…”. “Shelly, can you come up to my office please ?” The chiefs voice called down interrupting her.

Shelly gave me a small apologetic smile and trotted off to her husbands office.

I stood there dumbfounded, the office carrying on around my as if nothing had happened. For that matter, what actually had just happened ? My career, just like that, was over, because some motherbucking ‘commissioner’ had wanted to publicly execute some pony for the debacle at the wharf. That was it, I was the stooge, the scapegoat for it all. What in Equestria was I going to do now ?

I took a step towards the exit, wondering just how I was going to break the news to Meadow when a voice stopped me in my tracks, “Watch Captain Fairlight ?”. The voice emanated from a large orange pony in a knee length black coat and black glasses. A smart black trilby hat completed the ensemble. My eyes must have been like saucers as I took in the sight, “Er, yes ?” was all I could manage. “Come with me please”, he said and without waiting to see if I would follow, turned and headed for the rear entrance to the watch building.

Still somewhat numb from my meeting with the Chief, I blindly followed the odd stallion who stopped abruptly in front of a dark blue, fully enclosed chariot pulled by two more ponies, pegasi, dressed identically to him. ‘Must be the in fashion’, I wondered, ‘mysterious chic’. At least I still had my sense of humour, much bloody good that was going to do me.

The black clad pony opened the door and waved me inside. Closing it smartly behind himself, he sat down on the bench seat opposite me and I felt the chariot lift off the ground. There were windows in the chariot but there was no way in Equestria I was looking out of them, I’m sure the black coated stallion wouldn’t want to be spending the rest of the morning cleaning puke out of his nice clothes. I waited for him to speak first. I had a long wait too, the implacable creature just sat there until, eventually, I felt the chariot begin to descend.

Another of the black coated clones opened the door and I was motioned outside onto a wide expanse of flat, white carved stone. The sky was a bright blue, contrasting starkly with my newly acquired goon squad. We were somewhere in the mountains. The rock outcropping we were on was clearly a landing area for chariots, several parked up near to us sporting more of the black coated ponies. My nearest one

held out a foreleg, pointing towards a tunnel entrance leading into the side of the very mountain itself. Silently we all walked together, two of them flanking me on either side. Not sure exactly what they expected me to do, but inquisitiveness was overriding any sense of danger I may have had under normal circumstances. Today, normal didn’t seem to mean too much though.

The huge corridor stretched off into the distance, small horseless buggies hummed past me with their passengers of, you guessed it, the generic black coated ponies. I was beginning to long for someone to wear something at least a little different, maybe even just a colourful hanky in their coat pocket. Couldn’t hurt right ?

“In here”, the lead pony said, halting our party and motioning to a white door in the tunnel wall. I reached out to push it open and was surprised as it slid to one side with a snake like hiss. Hesitantly I walked inside, looking around me at the total lack of decoration. Some pony really had a sense of the dramatic here.

A rear door opened and a cerulean blue mare trotted in wearing a lab coat and sporting a wide smile on her face. The slightly comical appearance was accentuated by a huge pair of glasses as thick as bottle bottoms, perched on her nose. Finally, someone not in black ! And smiling too ! Come to think of it, I wasn’t so sure whether that was reassuring or terrifying.

“Ah, Captain Fairlight.” The pony reached out, grabbing my foreleg and shaking my hoof vigorously, “So good to meet you, so good indeed !” The over enthusiastic mare released my hoof as she pulled a sheet off a table at the far end of the room, motioning me to follow her.

“Amazing isn’t it ? Truly remarkable. Deadly yes, but remarkable none the less”.

The lab-pony adjusted her glasses, all the while peering at a large black arrangement on the table in front of her. Walking over, I recognised that damned thing immediately. How could I forget ? This was the device I’d recovered from the pony on the balcony, the pony I had….had…..Celestia, not now…. I shook my head and looked at the mare, opening my mouth to speak just as another of the black coated ponies entered the room.

“I see you’ve met the Doctor already ?”. The mares lilting voice was almost musical in its tone. “Oh, how silly of me !”, the Doctor said in surprise, turning a wide grin on me and bowing dramatically, “Doctor Bunsen at the your service Watch Captain”.

“Fairlight,” I replied, “I’m no longer in the watch, Doctor. Look, I think you two may have the wrong pony here, I don’t have any authority to speak on the watches behalf”.

Ignoring my words, the new arrival to the room removed her glasses and shook her mane out. She was a pink mare with a white and red striped mane, cut fairly short but stylish. Her blue eyes contrasted attractively with the rest of her and she gave me a look that seemed to penetrate my very soul.

“You are here ‘ex’-Captain Fairlight, as the mistress has commanded it be so.”

Oooh ! Mistress eh ? I was starting to see some domination traits, what with all the sinister black outfits, the white décor and now a ‘mistress’. I was half expecting a pony to appear in a rubber mask.

I waited for her to continue, either that or produce a whip and hoof cuffs.

“What do you know of this thing ex-Captain ?”, she asked.

I looked at the device, recalling how the cursed thing had cut down my friends like so much wheat beneath the farmers scythe. My mood instantly soured.

“It kills ponies”, I told her and turned to meet her gaze.

“Yes ?” She replied sounding slightly irritated.

“Its all in my report ma’am” I replied smartly. She looked at me for a moment longer then walked over to the Doctor who was continuing to prod and measure the device. The Doctor steadfastly ignored the other ponies around her, all the while muttering to herself incoherently, lost in her thoughts.

“I know what’s in your report ex-Captain” the pink mare smiled dangerously, “I want to hear what you saw in your own words. Here and now.”

I drew a breath and told her the full story, not leaving out any details, no matter how small. Hours passed as I talked in that sterile white room. Throughout my recollection, she simply stood there, eyes boring into me with that expressionless gaze of hers, taking in every nuance, every tiny detail.

When I had finally finished, she nodded, holding a hoof up to her ear, nodding again. A TED I presumed, inner ear type, a bit more discreet than the cumbersome things the Watch had on offer.

“Thank you, ‘ex’-Captain,” she said with a smile. I was becoming mightily fed up of her calling me that, “you’ve been of great help to us. More than you could know. The mistress thanks you.”

She held up a small black cube with silver sparkles on it and replaced her dark glasses. “Here”, she said smiling, “Open it, a gift for you for all you’ve done”. A feeling of cold dread came over me, but I did as I was instructed. The small box popped open and there was a blinding white flash. The world vanished.

Chapter Eleven - Shadows on the water

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Shadows on the water

A long piercing shriek pierced my ear drums and brought me to my senses in a terrifying shock of water and darkness. Helplessly, I flailed around, desperately trying to gain a purchase in the sand and keep my head above the water. Silver fronds, like thin snakes twisted over and around me, pulling me deeper in. I struggled and bit at the things binding me, noticing to my horror that they weren’t just ‘around’ me, the vile things were actually running through me, the tips of one wriggling this way and that, horribly alive.

Goddesses, this was beyond anything I had ever experienced in my life. Or death even for that matter, I had to get away. I pushed hard with all four legs for all I was worth, the shrieking noise louder and more insistent this time, a mournful cry of a creature the likes of which I had never heard before. And probably never would again If I didn’t get myself out of this. I bit and kicked again and again, feeling the fronds loosen their grip ever so slightly. Encouraged, I drew a deep breath and heaved for all I was worth, by Luna’s good grace, I was doing it !

Euphoria was violently torn away by a fresh batch of silver tendrils shooting out from the black river and renewing their grip on my hind legs. “Get the fuck off me you…” I snarled as I bit at them. They, it, whatever it bloody well was, was not going to take me without a fight. I still had a job to do, a need to complete my duty and nothing was going to keep me from it. I would take revenge for what those scum had done to my beloved and no thing, no pony, would keep me from my destiny, “NO PONY !” I screamed out. My cry resounded with a desperate animal call from within, of anger, fear and hate, all rolled into one. The cry became me and I became it, strength boiling throughout my body, a chill wind swirling around me, freezing the tendrils to ice. I struggled to escape, to get free, the silver lengths shattering around me like fragile glass under my onslaught.

Coming to my hooves, I backed away from the horrible broken mass which was now quickly retreating back into the inky river water. I took several deep breaths, coughing out the last of the water and sand just as the high pitched cry I had heard before assailed me. I turned towards its source and saw, further along the shore, another pony writhing in a mass of the damnable things. I wasn’t going to let this happen, not again, no more deaths, not on my watch. Every pony goes home, even here.

I raced forward, sending a plume of water spraying up into the air from my hooves, solidifying it into ice. The rapidly spreading ice rushed out across the surface of the river, catching up to the writhing mass and its struggling victim suspended above. The
white of the ice stood out in stark relief against the blackness around it, freezing the tendrils holding the pony in its crushing embrace.

For a hideous moment, I thought the stricken pony had frozen too, but a rapid struggle followed by a crash of broken tendrils, sent the pony tumbling downward to land on the ice. It wasted no time and ran towards me at a gallop just as more of the silver snake like things broached the unfrozen water in pursuit. “No you DON’T !” I snarled, rearing on my hind legs and slamming for forelegs down again, sending a fresh wave of sparkling white death into the oncoming mass. The pony, now a blur of legs and steaming coat, rushed past me in a blur. I continued to back away, wary of any pursuit from the churning water. Sure enough….It came.

The surface of the river bulged upwards, black water sloughing off as….some ‘thing’ rose up from its depths. From the burning pits of Tartarus itself, an opaque white snarling mass of teeth and tendrils crashed down onto the ice. Horribly, its putrid surface split open, revealing two watery, pale pink eyes which glared at me with what I could only describe as unadulterated hate. Sickeningly, it slithered forward, using its writhing appendages sprouting from its body to drag the gelatinous mass along the ice. The creature was clearly having trouble though, the ice freezing and breaking off tendrils as fast as new ones could appear. Even so, it came onward, howling and hissing its murderous intent.

I laughed. I laughed at the pathetic nature of the creature, how it could only hunt by stealth, fearful of its prey. A coward. A coward that attacks those weaker than itself, taking away their precious lives in a watery flurry of fear and pain. It didn’t deserve to live.

Without thinking, I drew in a deep breath, feeling the air chilling within my lungs. Drawing on the ethereal power within me, I exhaled. From my muzzle was released a terrible, drawn out blast of blue and white swirling mist, roiling out towards the oncoming creature. A bone chilling cry mingled with the clouds, becoming one with it, eager, feeding it, “Diiiieeee………..”. It was hungry.

Too late, the creature appeared to realise the threat and halted its forward momentum to try to keep out of the fog. The things tendrils caught in the ice, impeding its attempts at escape.

Glittering in the darkness, the blue-white fog billowed around the creature and where it touched, froze the flesh of its body solid. The thing screamed out, gnashing its long teeth in fury and pain, flailing its silver tentacles at the thick cloud in a vain attempt at fighting back. Each frond cracked and shattered the moment it hit the ice, causing the creature to scream all the more.

From deep within me came another, deeper, rumbling laugh and cry, rolling out across the river. The creature stopped its struggling and looked at me with its hideous eyes, it knew now….it was certain. Death itself had come to make its claim.

A moment later, the river creature was an unmoving, solid frozen mass. The sound of water cracking as it froze, faded away and silence fell once more over the featureless

landscape. Featureless, except for the glittering ice feature now resting upon the surface of the black river. I felt jubilant but drained, hanging my head for a moment to try and take stock of what had just happened. My mind turned to take stock of these details just in time to be jolted by a flash of purple lightning searing across my vision.

The icy corpse of the river monster exploded in a billion shining fragments, that splashed back into the water and showered down around me. I whirled to face down the new threat, to find a black pony shaped figure, head lowered in a fighting stance, glowering at the shattered remains in the river. Its nostrils blowing out jets of white vapour, whether in reaction to the bitter cold of the frozen scene before it or part of its own physiology, I couldn’t tell.

The pony like creature raised it head to the sky and let out a long piercing shriek, a noise I recalled from when I first came to at the edge of the water. The pony I had rescued from the river monster stood before me, only….only it wasn’t a pony at all. At any rate, not what you could really ‘call’ a pony. The thing was equine shaped certainly, but black coated and thin. Really thin. I could see every bone of its skeleton, and for a moment, I thought this to actually be an animated skeleton, a frightening reminder of the nature of this land.

The creature had horns too, short pointed ones that extended behind its head like sharpened ears. It regarded me with glowing red eyes, flicking its midnight black tail side to side before shaking its wet, bedraggled mane. The thing let out a whuff of steam from its nostrils and turned to face me. Slowly, tentatively, the pony like being walked towards me, letting out the occasional blast of white steam.

I stood transfixed while the distance closed. Then, as quickly as it had begun, the thing was in front of me, head lowered. It moved its head towards my neck, eyes closed and….sniffed. Stepping back, it pranced sideways on its hooves seemingly unsure as to what to do next. Unsure myself, I stood there and let the creature continue. It didn’t seem to be any threat to me, however I kept the icy feeling of barely controlled rage within me, ready to release at any sign of aggression.

The skeletal pony moved forward and sniffed me again, more confident in its approach. On instinct, I leaned forward emulating its behaviour and sniffed its neck. The creature jumped back in alarm, snapping out huge bat like wings in a display intended, I presumed, to make itself appear bigger than it actually was. I lowered my head and whuffed at the air as I had seen it do when the creature first appeared.

Whatever my emulated display meant to the thing, it seemed to work as it folded its wings and walked towards me, eyes blazing like red coals. Letting out a small whinny, the black coated being nuzzled my neck and pushed itself into me. I wondered at the bony thing and smiled, feeling the coldness inside me begin to lessen, slowly draining until it faded away.

Backing away for a moment and watching me with its quizzical glowing eyes, the pony like ‘being’, I’d have to think of a name for it I guessed, spread its wings open and lunged into the sky. It flew out over the river, banking low and then swooped over my head gliding on those great leathery wings, crying out a loud low howl.

“What the bloody hell was that all about I” I wondered aloud.

“That’s a Thestral, love. Looks like you made a new friend.”

What’s with all the sneaking up on ponies around here ? If I wasn’t dead already, I’d probably have died of a heart attack by now.

On instinct, born of repetition most likely, I span to face……

“Meadow”.

Chapter Twelve - Regret

CHAPTER TWELVE

Regret

“Hello love, I’ve missed you, you know. Really, I…”, I flung my forelegs around her and squeezed her tight. “Oh Goddesses Meadow, you’re alive, thank Celestia, thank Luna. You’re alive !”

Meadow hugged me back then pushed away suddenly. I stood stock still, unsure as to what this meant, what was going on here ?

“Meadow” I began and took a step towards her. She held up a hoof stopping me.

“No. Fairlight, look love I’m sorry to seem cold but I don’t have much time here. The keepers are already pushing things to allow me this much.”

“I don’t understand love, please, I…”, I stammered. Meadow grabbed me and kissed me deeply on the mouth, her warm breath filling me with a heat I had not felt in an age. Breaking away she looked at me with sorrowful eyes and shook her mane. Stomping a hoof down, the trademark Meadow determination was back.

“Fairlight, you’re not meant to be here. We are, but you, you’ve not passed over fully. The herd cant take you as they say you’re, carrying….carrying….’something’.” She shook her head in exasperation, “I don’t know what it is, but look. You need to get out of here. Here, take this.” She levitated a small crystal on a tiny golden chain over my head. I looked down and saw a faint white glow emanating from it. She reached out and lifted my head so she could look straight into my eyes, “Follow the crystals light when it is strongest. It will show you the way.”

“The way to what ? Meadow, I want to be with you, I don’t want to go back !”
Meadow stomped her hoof again.

“You cant ! Its not your time, please Fairlight, they’re calling me back”.

I must have seemed pathetic to her right then, my resolve fragmenting in the flood of emotions I had thought all but dead and gone, “Oh goddesses Meadow, I cant lose you again !”.

“We’ll be together again love, all of us, one day. Just not now.”, Meadow kissed me again briefly and I nuzzled her neck. “Wait…..you said we ? All of us ?” I looked quizzically at her and she gave me a shy smile. Looking down by her side, she spoke softly, “Come on little one, come and meet you daddy”.

I didn’t know what to say, words left me and I just stood staring as a tiny head appeared from behind Meadow, peering up at me with huge round yellow eyes. The tiny grey coated pegasus foal, cautiously stepped around her and looked up at me, pressing into Meadows side for safety.

“Say hello to your daddy, Sparrow.”, Meadow said, nudging the little foal with her head towards me. She stumbled on unsure legs and looked up at me with her big shining eyes, “Daddy ?”.

Tears flowed down my cheeks, unchecked, “Daddy, are you sad ?” came the little voice.

“No, little one”, I told her, “Daddies not sad, daddies happy. Really, really happy”.

I turned to Meadow who gave me a heart melting smile, “How is this….Meadow. Were you…?”

She looked sad for a moment, tears welling in her eyes too, before nodding. “I was a few months, I hadn’t really known for certain. There weren’t many mares I felt I could trust enough to talk to about it. Since Mum died and we’d been trying for so long, I just thought it couldn’t happen and then…..”, she cleared her throat. “I’ve called her Sparrow Song. They were singing in the tree I first met you under, do you remember ?”

“Of course I do love, I couldn’t ever forget that.”

Meadow smiled when Sparrow bumped into my leg and plopped back on her haunches. “Are you coming home with Mummy and me ?” She asked.

I was barely holding myself together right now, I had to keep it together, for them. It was so much to take in, so, so much.

Meadow looked behind her and quickly faced me, fright in her eyes, “Fairlight, we’ve got to go, they’re calling us. Listen, they will be coming for you soon. They don’t like loose ends, I said I’d try to persuade you to surrender, but its not right. If they take you, they’ll strip your memories, your mind. Don’t let them.”

Meadow nudged Sparrow back behind her. “Follow the crystal my love, we’ll be together again some day. We’ll wait for you !”.

Meadows voice became increasingly distant as her image began to shimmer and fade.

“I love you Meadow, I love you too Sparrow. Daddy will see you again soon !” I called to them. The image of Meadow wavered like a heat haze. The last I saw of her were those beautiful yellow eyes looking at me with a longing that gripped my heart. She held up Sparrow who waved at me with her little forelegs, “Bye Daddy ! Come home soon !”. They winked out of existence without even a sound.

I sat down on my rump and gasped in the air, my eyes tight shut against the tears. A shudder ran through me, the tears turning to icy droplets, rolling down my face. Why Goddesses, why couldn’t I be with my family now ?

“Damn this place !” I shouted out, “Haven’t I been through enough !”.

I wished with all my heart that whoever, whatever was keeping me anchored to this place would simply pull the metaphorical plug and let me go. I had a daughter, the daughter Meadow and I had wanted so much and those scum had killed her, taking her tiny life before she had even a chance to draw a breath. The cold ball of anger welled up inside my chest.

I would find those fuckers and rip their living guts out with my bare teeth. I’d watch them squirm and bleed to death, begging me to end it for them and then, when they thought I would send them to the beyond, I would answer……”No”.

Blue mist curled up from my muzzle and snow began to fall around me. This new found power, whatever in Equestria it was, would serve me well. I lifted the tiny crystal, turning around in a circle until it shone the brightest. “I guess this is the way then.” I said to myself, shaking the snow from my mane. I looked back slightly over my shoulder, “You coming then ?”.

A rolling growl and shrill hoot answered me as the Thestral trotted up along side me nudging me with its head.

I nodded to it and headed off in the direction the light was indicating. I spoke aloud to the world in general, “Time for some payback.”

Chapter Thirteen - The gift

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The gift

I yawned expansively, jaw muscles stretching just until the point of discomfort.
”Forelegs next I think”, I murmured to myself as these too were summarily strained out to each side. Pushing out with my hind legs, each suitably limbered, I pulled myself away from the makeshift pillow. Shades was not as uncomfortable as he, or she…it ? would appear. His appearance was quite terrifying really, but like most situations I had found myself in over the years, it was suprising what you could get used to. Maybe even those razor sharp teeth of his, well….perhaps not.

Some time into my early career in the watch, I had visited a young mares home and been assailed by the stench of animal. The bloody things had infested the whole house top to bottom, there were mice in the walls, rabbits under the bed, you name it. The
place was surprisingly clean considering the sheer volume of turds the poor girl had to clean up. I’d noticed the midden as soon I had begun to walk up the path to her front door.

She was stunningly beautiful too, for a tree-hugging pegasus and I could have happily spent the day with her, losing myself in those huge shining eyes of hers. And her voice ? So calm, so peaceful and feminine, I felt as if I could simply float away into blissful happiness. I may have let myself too, if that bloody stinking animal hadn’t ruined everything. If there’s one thing I cant stand, it’s the smell of a wet dog warming up by the fire. There were literally clouds of steam pouring from the reeking things carcase, choking my lungs and sending me flying for the door in a desperate quest for fresh air.

“Oh….my, was it something I said ?”, the yellow mare said, a worried look on her face.

“No miss, I was just a little….claustrophobic that’s all. You have a wonderful home here but I don’t think you need to worry about burglary.” I heaved the sweet, sweet air deep into my lungs whilst the worried young pegasus flapped air over me.

“You don’t think any nasty, scary burglars will try to steal my babies do you ?” She asked, sincerity showing in her large eyes.

I shook my head, “No miss, I think you’re quite safe. You’ve got natural burglar deterrents anyway”. I motioned towards the dog, almost invisible in the cloud of noxious vapour beginning to fill the room.

She giggled, “Poor old Henrietta, she’s not as active as she used to be. Her coats been losing some of its lustre recently.”

“Has it ?!” I squeaked, then caught my breath, “Has it ?”. I coughed, clearing my throat. “Oh dear”.

“Yes, she’s seen a few years I think. I try to make her as comfortable as possible.”

By gassing out any visitors with the mangy old things stinking hide I suspected. The horrible creature probably knew what effect it was having on people. An effect, I noted, that the home owner simply didn’t notice. Years of living with hoards of excreting assorted animals, pest and vermin had doubtless numbed her sense of smell. “Or murdered it”, I thought to myself as I caught another whiff.

I had made my excuses and left, dashing back to the road side to rinse my face in the stream. She had stood in the doorway watching me, curious, but blissfully unaware of the olfactory sledge hammering she had dealt a member of the watch. I wondered if I could draw a gasmask for stores in case of future visits ?

Shades by comparison had a peculiar floral smell, sweet but with a fleeting gentle quality that had me wondering at first if I had really smelt it at all. His hide showed every bone, each taught muscle connecting them, the details of each joint horrifyingly vivid. His light frame made flying or walking a fairly simple matter, however I found that standing up on sand was an art in itself and one I was rather pleased I had slowly gotten the hang of. With a shake, the loose sand fell off me to join its fellows and I poked Shades with a hind hoof, “Oi you lazy bugger, come on. We need to haul flank.”

Shades opened one eye, its burning red inner light had ceased to disturb me long ago. How long had we been walking together now ? I had no way of knowing and I’d long given up trying to keep track. I missed my old pocket watch with a vengeance, its reassuring ticking was almost like a heartbeat of its own. A reminder that mine was, apparently, still tick tocking along with it somewhere. Wistfully, I turned back to my bony companion.

“Hey ! Come on now, I’ve got places to be, people to meet.”. He blinked, fixing me with a particularly hard stare then sniffed the air. I should have remembered to keep well out of the way when Shades got to his hooves. It was almost mechanical, and absolutely fascinating, to see his muscles pulling, the joints turning, wings adjusting and then ultimately, with a huge lurching movement, hauling his bony frame upwards. He staggered sideways for a moment before shaking the sand from his body.

I ducked as a bat like wing snapped out to shake the last of the sand away. A quick groom later, the sleepy Thestral nuzzled a good morning. I laughed, “And a good morning to you too, you old smoothie.” I put my hoof on Shades’ head and gave him a little rub. He gave a rumble and whuffed a blast of steam in happiness.

He was a strange creature, I couldn’t quite work out whether he was intelligent or akin to a kind of clever dog. A clever dog that had teeth like rapiers and could blow things up with its magical lightning type stuff. I didn’t want to think of him in that way, but he was so perplexing – a pony, yet not a pony. “Quite the enigma eh ?”. Shades whinnied and bobbed his head. The glow from the crystal pendant showed the way forward and the two of us set off once again into the expansive unknown emptiness of the Withers.

Days, weeks, months, passed in this manner. Every so often, Shades would fly off without any warning and a while later, return. I had no idea where he was disappearing off to and half wondered if one day, there would just be me, walking on and on into eternity. I mentally slapped myself, I didn’t like that train of thought. There would be an end to this journey sooner or later and, for as long as it lasted, I would take comfort in the presence of the Thestral. Thestral…..hmmm, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t remember anything about them from school. I’ll bet there was a whole section on them in the Ponyville library, the very same one I never bothered to visit when I was stationed there. I sighed, a bit bloody late now.

Lifting up the glowing crystal, I checked my bearing. To keep some sense of direction, I thought of the little white light as pointing ‘North’, helping me retain focus. Not to mention a reminder that somewhere there actually was a North. And a South. Other directions too ! Fancy that. Goddesses, I needed to get out of here, while there was some part of me left to escape, preferably with my faculties all intact.

A crunching thump behind me announced the midday arrival of Shades. He whinnied and stomped his hooves as I carried on walking. He’d catch up, he always did. I let out a sigh, watching the crystal’s glow, did it seem to be a little brighter than usual ? Probably not, I’d thought that before and given up on pursuing the idea. Bloody imagination.

A louder whinny from Shades, gave me pause, what in Equestria was he doing now ? I look behind me just as a large gelatinous blob of...something hideously foul was deposited on my back. “Agh ! Shades ! What the fuck, get if off me !”, I bucked furiously, sending the translucent thing hurtling into the air. The bony Thestral jumped straight up, catching the thing in his sharp, dragon like teeth. He trotted over, pleased with himself and dropped the trophy at my feet before letting out a joyful shriek.

“What ? Yes, well done buddy. You’ve brought me a lovely gift….um, whatever it is.”

I went to walk away but Shades ran in front of me blocking my path, the thing dangling from his mouth once more. He pushed the white blob at my muzzle before dropping it in front of my forelegs. He bobbed his head several times, letting out a blast of steam.

“You…you want me to what, eat….that ?” I asked incredulously. The Thestral nodded again, giving what I could only presume was an encouraging display by the excited wing flapping. Oh great ! Just what I always wanted….

I looked down and sniffed at the thing, “Ewwww !”. Shades opened and shut his mouth several times in emphasis. “Okay, okay !” I closed my eyes, opening them again, slowly refocusing on the blob. Oh bollocks, it was still there. I wasn’t dreaming after all. Well, I hadn’t eaten since coming to this place, I’d survived having tentacles driven through me, drowning and, ah yes, did I mention being dead ? Fan-bloody-tastic.

Compared to that, eating a sand covered, jelly…’thing’, was probably a breeze. Right ?

I picked it up in my teeth and flicked it up, snapping the thing into my mouth for a quick swallow. I stopped, was this thing dead ? Oh goddesses. I stared at Shades who looked on intently. He let out a blast of steam and I shut my eyes tightly, it didn’t look like I was going to get out of this one that easily. Shit, lets get this over with then.

I swallowed.

I nearly choked on the sand which covered the horrible creature, grating the inside of my throat and yet it was still slimy on its way down. Goddesses knew what was going to happen when it got to my stomach, I could barely remember the taste of food, or even water. I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten for that matter but one thing was for certain though, it didn’t taste anything like this.

I bobbed my head to my Thestral companion, “Thanks for that my friend”, I croaked, “delicious”. I fought the urge to throw the contents of my stomach straight back up.

If Thestrals could smile, this one was doing just that. He let out a joyous scream and flew straight up into the air, spiralling up and up until I could barely see him. Then, with a boom of air, he rocketed downward towards me, making me leap back to avoid a collision. I gasped in surprise as he arrested his descent mere feet from the ground with a great flap of his massive wings. Shades trotted up to me and pushed his forehead into mine, releasing a slight blast of steam.

‘Friend’

“Wha….”, I looked around, expecting something to have materialised out of my sight. I had to be honest, this seemed to have been happening a lot to me recently. Well, relatively recently. I think.

‘Fairlight pony. Friend ?’

Okay, this was now officially off the weird chart. The Withers was getting to me more than I had thought and now, now some bizarre echoing, hissing voice was in my head. “Bollocking bloody Celestias damned……”

‘Home ?’

Shades nudged me with his muzzle and everything suddenly clicked into place, “Its you ! You can, speak ? Sort of ?”.

The Thestral bobbed his head, “Light, home ?’ the hissing voice said. How does he do that !? “Yes. I’m trying to get home Shades, the crystal will show me the way’.

He walked away a few steps away from me and turned back with his head on one side, a quizzical look on his bony face. ‘Shades ?’. I grimaced, well I had to call him something didn’t I ? I thought about calling him ‘Shriek’ for a while because pretty much, that was all he said. That or ‘Argh’.

“Yes. Shades is the name I gave you. I don’t know your real name, you can tell me if you like ?”.

“Name ?” He looked confused for a minute then threw back his head and screamed. Planting his hooves forward in the sand for emphasis, the Thestral looked intently at me.

“Look, cant I just call you Shades ? It’s a lot easier for me you know. I cant speak Thestral”. Or scream it either.

Shades shook his mane and let out a snort of air. Pawing the ground for a moment, he winnied, “Shades”.

Chapter Fourteen - Explanations from another world

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Explanations from another world

My companion knelt to take a long drink from the pool we had stumbled across as we trudged ever onward. I didn’t feel thirsty at all myself, and even if I had, the water looked more like quill ink than something you’d find in Equestria. Unless you were in a stationers shop that is. On our journey to, wherever the crystals light was taking us, I’d tried marking time by counting Shade’s bones. I don’t think he much cared either way, the Thestral was a free spirit and would probably grow bored sooner or later, leaving to go his own way.

Speaking of Shades, I wondered where all the other Thestral’s were ? I hadn’t seen anything in this land for weeks, unless you counted that vile creature in the river. He didn’t speak much and when he did it was more often one-word replies. He knew my name and called me friend, that was enough for me.

“Shades..”, the Thestral looked up from his drink, the black liquid dripping from his wickedly sharp teeth,…”Do you know what lies beyond those hills ?”

I motioned towards the black shapes in the distance. The same ones that looked exactly the same size and distance as when I had first arrived here. He stared off at them for a moment before returning to his drinking.

“Beyond”

I had never quite gotten used to Shades’ way of communicating. The words weren’t spoken, they were more ‘thought’ at you, appearing centre stage in your head. He’d have made a killing as a ventriloquist back in Manehatten, I chuckled to myself.

Shades looked up quizzically, “Fairlight ?”.

“Just ignore me shades, I’m just having one of my moments. Anyway, we were talking about the place beyond the hills ?”.

“Beyond”, he hissed, nodding his head in affirmation.

Well that certainly helped clear things up didn’t it ? Letting out a long sigh, I stretched my legs and examined the pendant. The light it gave was bright and clear, a welcome purity in this drab land. The Withers wasn’t on any pony’s holiday destination plans, that was for certain. The chain it was on was of intricate, fine gold links. Quite beautiful in its own way and my only physical link to Meadow, from what seemed like a lifetime ago. In some ways, I suppose it quite literally was.

Shades and I had been walking in silence for some time now, when he stopped and stared intently into the far distance. He let out a low rumbling growl, his wings flexing. “What is it ?”, I asked warily.

Without looking round, the Thestral’s eyes flared like tiny suns, throwing his thoughts at me.

“Run”

I didn’t hesitate this time. Muscles flexing, adrenalin kicking into high gear, I took off into a gallop. Likewise, Shades leapt, leathery wings hammering the still air as he gained height.

“Follow !”, he shrieked into my head and disappeared ahead of me until he was a faint speck in the distance.

“Not so fast !”, I puffed back. Bloody hell fire, what had him so riled up ? I trusted his instincts, after all he was a native of this place, but still, it was difficult to fathom what was going through the creatures head sometimes and this was most definitely one of them. The sand billowed up around my hooves as I galloped on, a spear whistling past my ear, nicking it on the way past before embedding itself in the ground. “Oh shit !” I shouted to myself, increasing speed as another thudded into the sand a few feet away. All I could do was keep running and hope I’d outpace whatever, or whoever was throwing those damned things at me.

The chase didn’t last long. I couldn’t help but admire the cunning of my hunters, when the rope hidden in the black sand shot up and I ploughed into it full tilt. Sand exploded into the air as I crashed and skidded to a halt, some of the damned stuff had got in my eyes partially blinding me too. I was royally screwed this time.

“Hold knave, in the name of the Queen, I command thee to hold !”. The commanding voice boomed out with a most peculiar effect; my legs buckled. For all I tried, I just couldn’t get the damned things to work. Whatever the voice’s origin, it had done its work well. Helplessly, I tried to focus on where it was coming from, only to be met with an array of spear points inches from my muzzle.

Crunching sand announced the arrival of a blindingly white pony in golden armour, burnished until it shone like Celestia’s sun. He was a magnificent image of the knights from my old school history books, his sea green eyes boring into me as I lay helpless at his hooves.

“You are Fairlight of Equestria ?”, It was more an announcement than a question.

“Yes.” I replied.

“You will follow us.” His tone brooked no dissent. Turning away with his two fellows, virtually clones of the one in charge, they were several paces away before realising I hadn’t moved.

“You WILL follow us !”, He bellowed pointing a foreleg at me. I couldn’t help but feel compelled to move as he commanded, even though every part of me was screaming out to do the opposite. Meadows warning replayed in my mind, “they’ll be coming for you. They don’t like loose ends, I said I’d try to persuade you to surrender, but its not right. If they take you, they’ll strip your memories, your mind. Don’t let them !”. Strip my memories ? “To hell with that and to hell with you !” I snarled, holding the crystal to my chest. I would be with Meadow again some day and no pony, or whatever this lot where supposed to be, would stand in my way.

“Art thou a fool mortal pony ? Thy mind must be befuddled to try to think such a way !”. One of the glowing ponies companions sidled up to him, speaking in a low voice. What he said, the head of the not-so-merry band backed away, waving his compatriot towards me.

“Thalio is unused to speaking to ponies from the equestrian plane, mortal. I have agreed to speak in his stead.”, despite the different tone of voice, the unmistakable expectation of obedience was still there.

“I expect you have a name ? I do, it’s Fairlight, not ‘Mortal’. I think ‘Thalio’ mentioned it ?”.

A look of surprise and anger flashed across the ponies face. “I am Helios, I collect souls and return them to the herd. You should have been collected long ago..”, he snorted and shook his golden mane, “..you have been hard to track.”

“Yeah well, considering the situation, I’m glad I have been. Normally try to kebab ‘mortal ponies’ with spears rather than speak with them first, Helios ?” I jibed. Helios bobbed his head in irritation, ears flicking as he looked towards his fellows then back to me.”

“We, that is, the Eternal Herd, cannot have tainted souls wandering the Withers. It is wrong, you are wrong. Don’t you understand, Fairlight, we are trying to help you”.

“You threw a bloody spear at me ! Two of them !” I shouted back, stomping a hoof. This pony was really starting to get my back up.

“The spears were to slow you down, they would not have ‘killed’ you”. I didn’t like the way he emphasised the word “Killed”. He continued, “You are harbouring a dangerous entity Fairlight, we must exorcise it from your spirit so that you can move on. Surely you must see how this is the only choice you have, the right choice.”

I wasn’t convinced. “And just how do you plan on exorcising this ‘entity’ from me eh ?”.

Helios shifted uncomfortably. “You will have your essence cleansed, made pure and clean, flushing out the taint from your soul. You will be reborn and ready to join us, be one with your brothers and sisters in the herd.”

“By wiping my memories away ?” I asked.

“That is one of the effects I fear. The entity taints your being, your memories, who you are and everything about you. To purge it from you, the only way is to cleanse your soul. Your memories are part of who you are, therefore, they are linked with your soul itself. Naturally, cleansing your essence, your soul, will unfortunately wipe your memories clean.”

“Will they return ?” I asked.

Helios paused, giving me a pained look, “No. At least, it is highly unlikely. Your case, Fairlight is rare, very rare indeed. I cannot say what will happen, but we cannot leave you like this, the Queen herself has commanded we collect you.”

The Queen ? “And if I refuse to follow you ?”

“You do not refuse a request from Her Highness, Fairlight. May as well refuse sunlight itself”.

I stomped my hoof, lowering myself into the classic watch fighting stance, “Then I will live on in the night”, I growled.

“You cursed stubborn fool !” Helios shouted at me in fury, “No pony denies the Queen, No pony denies the herd. You are coming with us, NOW !”.

“Go buck yourself”, I smiled, narrowing my eyes. For the briefest moment, Helios looked disconcerted and that was all the opening I needed. I charged him, hooking a foreleg around his neck and pulling the long knife from his scabbard. The blade glowed blue with crackles of lightning along the fuller. I had never seen such a thing, but now was not the time for marvelling at its design. In any case, I had the ponies full attention now.

“We are going to take this nice and slow boys”, I said in my deepest authoritative voice, “drop your weapons. All of you if you please.” I couldn’t resist a suitably menacing grin.

Briefly, I wondered if the ponies would charge me regardless of the peril their comrade was in. They glared angrily at me but thankfully and soundlessly complied, dropping their spears and swords onto the sand before them.

“Now, nice and easy, fuck off the lot of you.”

“You do not command the Eternal Herd !” The one I knew as Thalio bellowed at me in indignation.

“Yeah ? Well your friend here is going to gain some extra ventilation unless you two clear off and leave me be.”

It was a bluff, and a poor one at that. I hoped that the shock of being denied, something these ponies had obviously never expected, would be enough to gain some time for me to make my escape. The flaw with the plan was that as soon as my captive, Helios, was released, there was nothing to stop them returning and finishing what they had started. The next time would no doubt involve a lot more spears and that, I thought to myself with a grimace, would certainly not end well.

What came next surprised not only myself, but all the ponies assembled.

In the struggle with Helios, the crystal pendant had dropped down across his neck. His eyes focussed on the glowing object and he cried out, waving a foreleg frantically, “Hold ! For the Goddesses sake, hold ! Thalio, this one bears Starswirls Beacon !”

There was a long pause whilst every pony stared at the little white crystal. “The what ?” I asked in surprise, looking down at the little white crystal, “You’d better start making some sense here friend.”

“How didst thou come by this mortal ?” Thalio rumbled stepping forward, all concern for his comrade forgotten in his fascination with my pendant.

“None of you concern friend”, I said in as neutral a tone as I could muster.

“Fairlight. This changes things, please, let my brother go. You have my word I, we, will not harm you.” The third pony walked forward, Thalio bowing to him as he did so. Ah ! So this was the head pony here, I was beginning to wonder.

“Artemis, Captain of the fifth cohort of the second legion, Wither world detachment.”

There was no arrogance or expectation of obedience in this one. I almost took a liking to the pony.

“Fairlight, Captain of the Royal Equestrian Watch, Manehatten”, I replied in a no-nonsense voice which seemed to unsettle poor Thalio. “Forgive me Captain Artemis, I think you will appreciate that were the situation reversed, you would be unwilling to release your hostage until our negotiations are complete. You do outnumber me three to one you know, not good odds.”. Artemis smiled and gave a short nod.

“I understand Captain Fairlight.”, he looked towards Helios, “Keep still brother. This one appears to be a pony of his word and a kindred officer of ponies. We will discuss this like stallions of honour”.

‘Oooh, fine words !’ I thought to myself. I felt a little self conscious after that, holding a hostage was not what an officer of the watch should be doing. Right now however, needs must when the Thestral drives.

“Fairlight, my brother has already explained to you who we are and what we do. We have little choice as, by royal decree, we must bring you in to the herd.”. I shook my head but Artemis went on, “You know yourself that here, in the withers, there is no beginning and no end. You cannot live here, there is no life for ponies, only death. We want to bring you home. Please Captain, many of your ponies are here from the watch, they are waiting for you.”

I stood transfixed. What the hell could I say to that ? I dropped the blade and my arms flopped to my sides. My friends in the watch, my ponies who died on that terrible night, here ? waiting to be with me ? By Luna’s radiant moon I wanted to be with them, see them once again. Beg their forgiveness for my failure to protect them. I hardly felt Helios scooch away from me. Artemis however, a pony of his word, stayed where he was.

“Your brothers will welcome you home Fairlight, I beg you, don’t let this terrible place take you.”. The captain was virtually pleading now.

“What about Meadow ?”

“Who ?”, he asked, suddenly looking disconcerted.

“My Wife” I told him, a tear trickling down my cheek. “If I go with you, you will take my memories of her from me ?”

“Yes.”

It felt like I had swallowed a leaden weight as the Captain continued, “ I cannot say whether you will eventually recall her or not once the exorcism has been completed Fairlight, I would, truthfully, tell you if I knew.” Artemis looked down at his hooves, not wanting to meet my eyes, “I’m sorry, there’s no other way.”

“Then the answer Captain Artemis, is no”. I gave him the only reply I could. Meadow was all that kept me sane in this dire land of black sand. Whatever it took, I would find my way back, following her crystals light.

Rubbing his neck, Helios stood up and shook his mane, pushing a few loose hairs back into place. “We’ve tried reasoning with you Fairlight but you just don’t seem to want to listen to reason.” Says the spear throwing pony, “Should you stay here, as you are determined to do, you will fade away until there will be nothing for us to save. It will be too late for you. Nothing can live in Wither world”.

“Thestrals” I said, wondering where the elusive creature had vanished to.

“What about them ?”, Helios asked.

“You said ‘nothing can live in the Wither world’. They do. So your assertion that I cannot survive here is wrong.”

Artemis huffed, “Thestrals are not truly alive as you know it Captain. They are creatures that live ‘between’. They were once ponies like you and me. Some of them…once.”, His eyes took on a distant look as silence fell.

“What of this pendant then ?” I queried, holding up the glowing crystal, “You said it was ‘Starswirls Beacon’ ?”

“Don’t…..”, Helios began, but Artemis stopped him with a hoof on his shoulder, “No brother, I can tell him.” He looked me square in the eyes.

“You know who Starswirl the Bearded is of course ?”, he asked me. I nodded.

“When he still lived, he would travel the planes between life and death, a walker of dreams and a seeker of the deeper knowledge.”

“And he developed this crystal as a way to find his way home ?”, I ventured, marvelling at the tiny creation.

“No.”, Artemis shook his head. “The crystal was a gift. Starswirl found a way to enter the plane of the Eternal Herd, something no living mortal pony had ever accomplished before.” He scratched his ear with a fore hoof and sighed.

“The gift was from a member of the…”

“For the goddesses sake brother, hold thy tongue !”, Thalio shouted. “Thy head will roll !”.

Artemis lowered his head and sighed, “You’re right brother, it is not my place to tell. Forgive me Captain Fairlight. I would tell you if I could. Suffice to say that the crystal you wear around your neck lights the way to the veil.”

“The veil ?” I asked, intrigued. At last I had a name for my destination.

“Yes. The place where the divisions between the Wither world, the mortal and the immortal realms are at their thinnest. Though know this, the veil can only be crossed by one with enormous magical power. A power both from the mortal world and of this world, raw magic.”

My heart sank. Goddesses, I couldn’t sink into despair now. Racking my mind a question came to the fore, “That being the case Artemis, how did Starswirl manage to cross in both directions ? He was a mortal pony !”.

“Yes….yes he was. But Starswirl had tapped into magics unheard of. Primal power which few save the King and Queen had ever known. Do you have that power Fairlight ? That knowledge ?”, Artemis fixed me with a searching look. I think he actually expected me to say “Yes”.

“No. No, I don’t.”, I said dejectedly.

“Then come with us brother. I will take you to Meadow. Even if your memories are gone, you can start afresh and with her love, begin again as you were meant to be.”

My heart ached. I threw my head back and took in a deep breath fighting back the tears, damn you Artemis ! You know just where to strike a pony. Shaking my mane, I held my resolve. I would end this. End it the way Meadow wanted me to.

“Forgive me Captain, as you have your mission, I have mine. Be it a fools errand to which no good will come of it or not. I will follow my orders.”

Artemis looked impressed and smiled appreciatively, “Your Wife’s orders ?” he chuckled.

“My Wife’s orders”, I said with a broad grin. The two of us broke out in laughter and I felt my heart lift, re-invigorating me with new energy.

Helios unbuckled the baldric for the knife I had recently taken from it and tossed it to land at my hooves with a nod.

“Captain Fairlight of the Equestrian Watch. My brother stallion.” Artemis announced, standing straight and tall, “I commend you sir for your integrity and honesty. Gentlemen…..”. Helios and Thalio walked back to stand either side of him.

“Goddess speed you on your journey sir. I pray you complete your mission and return to us one day, victorious.” The three snapped off an impressive salute, which I returned smartly.

“Keep the blade Captain, may it serve you well”, Helios said with a wry smile. “I’m just glad you didn’t try it out on me !”. I blushed, scratching my ear with a hoof in embarrassment.

“Farewell, Captain.” Called Artemis as a white glow of almost blinding white light appeared behind them. As one, they turned and walked away until they were enveloped in the light. The three figures grew smaller and more distant as the glow began to fade, a faint voice calling back barely audible now, “See you again soon, my brother.”

Soundless darkness re-asserted its dominance and I blinked my eyes to re-adjust. I had a renewed sense of purpose, a cool looking knife from the Eternal Herd, an ancient relic from an equestrian hero and a sturdy set of hooves. What more could a pony ask ? With a loud neigh and swish of my tale, I span to aim myself in the direction the crystals glow indicated. “Starswirl you old bugger, I could kiss you.” I laughed aloud to the silent land surrounding me, I settled for a peck on the crystal instead. I wanted to shout a war cry, defiant and challenging, full of mystique and portent. “BOLLOCKS !”, I bellowed with a wild laugh and galloped off as fast my pony legs could take me.

Chapter Fifteen - Family Ties

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Family ties

I galloped until my hooves felt like they would drop off. Although I had a great deal of endurance here in the Withers, it was certainly not without limits and I had all but reached mine for the day.

Carefully, I reached towards the unnaturally cold ball of power within me and released a little, just the barest of caresses. I had been experimenting with my peculiar abilities since I had ‘arrived’ here and discovered, to my relief, that some were almost controllable. Actually, ‘controllable’ might not be the most accurate way to describe this. It was little like wrestling with a cobra, bare hoofed and trying to bend it to your will, all the while hoping to avoid the thing sinking its fangs into you.

I drew in a deep breath, the warm air mingling with the ice cold from deep inside my chest. With a long exhale that far exceeded my actual lung capacity, I breathed out a thick swirling blue fog that hung in the air. I turned full circle, surrounding myself with the deadly miasma. It was really quite beautiful, glittering and sparkling like that, I could have taken a job on the stage with this as a special effects pony.

I had used this the first time, by accident during my sleep shortly after meeting Shades. Thank the Goddess that the friendly creature had not been affected by the lethal fog. Upon waking up that ‘morning’, I’d found the frozen remains of ‘things’ which had wandered into its deadly grasp. Things I certainly wouldn’t have wanted finding me defenceless when I was asleep, far too many tentacles and teeth for my liking.

I settled down, shifting my weight to even out the sand beneath me to something approaching a bed. Luna ! What I wouldn’t give for a bed right now…..

Meadow had taken the news of my suspension well. Surprisingly well considering our plans to have a foal had just come to a crashing halt. My wages were still being paid for now, but the outcome of the investigation was still in doubt. Meadow was confident I would be exonerated, but the way the Chief had torn a strip off me in his office that day, I just didn’t know. The strain began to tell on our relationship as I found the boredom of being out of work intolerable. My grandfather used to tell me, “Idle hooves are discords playground”, he wasn’t wrong.

“Morning love”, Meadow called to me as she prepared breakfast. I mumbled a reply whilst concentrating on the Manehatten Enquirer vacancies page. Meadow popped her head round the door, “Morning love” she said again.

“Morning” I replied, far too loudly. She clicked her tongue at me and vanished back into the kitchen.

Meadow re-appeared a few minutes later with a light breakfast of orange juice and mixed veg. A bowl of toasted oats added a tasty crunch to the ensemble which I ate in silence, reading through the jobs on offer.

“Anything ?”, She asked.
“Nothing” I said irritably, scrunching up the paper, “Not a fucking thing”.
“Don’t swear Fairlight, you know I don’t like that”.
“Whats it matter ? I’m a failure anyway, I may as well act like one.”
“You’re not a failure and you know it”, she looked up at me from her glass of orange, “You’re only suspended remember, not sacked”.
“I may as well be !”, I shouted, throwing the paper across the room. “’I ‘screwed up’ remember ? I killed my friends, left them to die ! Goddess Meadow, I should have died there with them. I shouldn’t be here now, its wrong, all of its wrong…..”
Meadow reached over to me and put her hoof on mine, “Stop this Fairlight, please ! You’re torturing yourself with what happened. You did what you could, I know you, I know you did your best !”.
Cruelly, I smacked her hoof away, “My best ? My best wasn’t good enough ! I’m a disgrace to the watch, my father would be spinning in his grave.”
Meadow hugged the hoof I’d knocked away, wincing, “Your father wouldn’t have wallowed in self pity Fairlight. This isn’t you, this isn’t the Fairlight I married. You need help, look, I’ve had a word with Dr Spindle, he wants to help you love.”

“You’ve done what !?” I yelled, jumping to my hooves.

“Please, Fairlight, you need help, look at yourself. You’re not you anymore”.

My chest was heaving, I was furious, with the damned commissioner, the watch, Equestria, but most of all….myself. I had shouted and yelled at the only pony who I had ever loved, the one who gave me support unconditionally and, Celestia forgive me, I had hurt her.

I looked at her eyes welling with tears, a determined look despite the despair and anguish she was feeling.

“I’m going out”, I announced, grabbing my coat and hat. For a moment the coat caught on the stand and I pulled at it in fury, ripping the sleeve slightly and sending the stand crashing down the hallway. I kicked it petulantly, slamming the door behind me as I left. Meadow let me go.

A strong wind was blowing and the endless Manehatten rain was driving down in earnest. Celestia, don’t they pay for weather ponies here ? I’d sack the damned lot of them, useless fucking idiots. I stopped at the paper stall. Shut, fucking god damned typical ! Everything was turning to shit around me, a tangible reflection of my hopeless situation. I kicked the paper stands shutter and walked on until I reached the ‘don’t walk’ sign. Red, stop. Luna, what a fucking mess…..

The carriage door opened and a trench coated blue stallion hoofed me a cigarette, “I think you need this.”, the Chief said in his usual gruff voice, “Get in”. Inside, he leaned forward and slid the drivers hatch open, “Fumbles, lets roll.”. The carriage lurched forward and we sped off down the dank Manehatten streets. “Theres some pony I want you to meet”, he said.

I sat in silence, taking a deep draw on the sweet tobacco. I’d given these things up years ago, but today, today I needed this. I’m sorry, Meadow.

“Shelly says these’ll kill me some day.” Chief Mitre said as I lit his cigar for him, “You gotta go of something, I say. You never know whats around the corner”.

I hadn’t known what had been around the corner. My team had paid the price for that failure. A hoof smacked me across the jaw, “And you can pack that in right now Captain. I’m not in the mood for bullshit today and I need my officer back. Clear ?”

I nursed my jaw with a hoof, the old bugger had nearly taken it off !, “Yes sir”, I said. No trip to the dentist required thank Celestia.

“Let me ask you something Fairlight,”, the Chiefs eyes bored into me, “Doesn’t anything strike you as odd about that night in the warehouse ?”

“Chief, I’m suspended, I’m not supposed to be talking with any of the watch until the investigation is .....”, A heavy blue foreleg smashed past my ear into the carriages wall, sending splinters flying.

“I don’t give a fuck about any ‘investigation’ Captain, now, are you going to give me my officer back or am I going to throw you out into the street to wallow in you own self pity ?”

The drivers hatch opened and a voice came back, “Everything all right back there boss ?”. “Aye”, the Chief replied, “Having a little language difficulty that’s all. I think we’re understanding each other now though.”, he looked me right in the eyes, “Aren’t we ?”.
“Yes sir !” I said smartly, feeling to my surprise, a little of the ‘old’ me returning.
There was a chuckle from the driver as he slid the hatch closed.

“Now then Captain, I’ve read your report. Several times actually. Some of it simply doesn’t add up though. I need your help to connect the dots and fill in the gaps.”
“Sir”, I replied.
Mitre produced a notebook and pen.

“You deployed the flash bugs ?”. I nodded, “They worked as planned”.
“Their effect on the targets ?”
I paused, my mind racing back to that terrible night.
“Captain ?”, Mitre asked, putting his pad down to look at me.
“None”
“Any idea why not ?”
“Sorry Chief, I don’t. I’ve replayed that nights events over and over a thousand times in my head. I can only suspect that….”, “They had anticipated it ?”, the Chief cut in.
“Yes, sir”.
Mitre reached into a brown case, taking out an evidence envelope, “Here, what do you make of these ?”.

Inside was a concave, oval glass dish, incredibly thin, but with a surprising flexibility. I held it up to the window of the cab with my magic and watched in amazement as it darkened. When I moved it back, the glass became clear once more.

“Is this magical ? I haven’t seen anything like it. Whats it for ?”. As the words left my lips, I realised what it was. Chief Mitre nodded.

“Goddesses, I understand now. Its not Equestrian is it ?”

“No Captain”, Mitre solemnly replied, “Look at the other item”.

The next object to emerge was a hard cased black box with wires protruding from it. By the general shape, it was obvious it went in a ponies ear, a curving strap holding it in place. A long bendable rod with a sponge like textured end, followed the contours of the wearers mouth.

“This is from the same place. Like our TED’s but a different type of magic. If magic at all ?” I pondered.

Mitre took the items back, placing them back into the folder. “Not Equestrian and not magic, at least, not as you and I know it.”

Mitre made a note in his pad and looked out the window before continuing. “Whats your take on the snipers ?”.

I sighed, I’d been dreading this. The dead staring eyes of the ponies were burned into my memory and kept me awake long into the night. Maybe talking about it would help.

“They were dead when I got there Chief. Single shot to the back of the head. No sign of any weapon nearby.”.

“Location of the bodies ?” He asked.

“One on the balcony, two in the office.”

“The door ?”

“Padlocked from the inside.”

The chief flipped a page in his note pad. “The pre-action report from the recon team specifically notes that the padlock on the office door was missing when they arrived. They were the last to leave the warehouse before your teams arrived. So far as we know.”

“The padlock was there chief”

“I know Captain, It was still there when the forensic ponies arrived. After the army had trampled over all the evidence that is.”, Mitre let out a puff of smoke from his cigar, twirling it in his hoof, “Assessment ?”

“Some pony knew we were coming. They were too well prepared. Those light reactive eye covers and TED could have been coincidental, brought as a precautionary measure, but the snipers ? Some pony took them out, quietly from behind with one of those other-world weapons and locked the door from the inside. My guess is the fucker on the landing outside.”

“We recovered her body before the Army arrived”, Mitre explained blowing a smoke ring. He wound the window down to let some of the thick grey cloud out. “We can thank Blaze for that”.

“Sir ? About Dawn, Dawn Rush. She tried to warn us, just before all hell broke loose. I haven’t had a chance to speak to any of her flight, Blaze told me she……she hadn’t made it.”

The Chief reached across and put a comforting hoof on my foreleg. “She didn’t suffer Captain, but yes, her flight was ambushed. That tube like contraption you mentioned in your report ? There was another on the barge, concealed.”

“Celestia !”, I exclaimed, “We recovered it though ?” We had to have had some break in this case, the barge could have held a treasure trove of clues.

“No. The agency cleared it out.”

“What !”, I nearly shouted, “the whole barge ?”.

“Aye”. The big blue stallion tapped his note pad. “The agency goon squad seized the lot. Everything except what you’ve seen in the file here.”

“Luna fuck me, Chief what the hell is going on here ? The agency suits grabbed me after I left your office. After you….”

Mitre sighed and tapped the ash from his cigar out the window of the speeding carriage, “I know. They came and took the weapon you recovered too. What they don’t know is that we’ve been tinkering with some toys of our own. Here...”

He passed me another folder from his case. Photographs. A number of colour plates gave detailed pictures, dimensions and operating instructions for one of the devices, including recommendations on adaptations and improvement. I was impressed, the forensic ponies must have worked quickly to get these before the thing was taken.

“This may interest you too. The mare on the gantry ?”, I nodded, “ We had Speak Easy’s boys look her over.”

The mental image of Speak Easy pawing over the body of the mare I’d killed was not one I’d like to dwell on. But here was the report, autopsy pictures and all.

I suppressed my emotions and read the detailed description of the dissection of a once living creature. I turned to the last page and read the coroners conclusions, circled in red by, I suspected, the Chief.

Conclusion

Name : Unknown
Age : Indeterminate
Gender : Female
Race : Non Equestrian
Type : Earth Pony Appearance

‘Non Equestrian’, was hi-lited and underlined several times. I flicked back through the descriptions of organs, blood type, colouring, even the condition of her teeth.

“Goddesses, Chief”, I breathed, “Who….what….was she ?”.

Chief Mitre fixed me with a level stare, “None of this leaves this carriage Fairlight, do you understand ?”.

“Yes Sir”, I stated.

“Don’t worry about Fumbles, he’s one of us.”, the Chief waved a hoof towards the drivers hatch, “This goes deep Fairlight. Really deep. The portals we’ve found so far have been inactive when we’ve managed to grab one. The magic responds to various factors we haven’t been able to fathom yet but we’ve got our best ponies on the job.”

He took a draw on his cigar.

“There’s a smuggling operation bringing items in from non-equestrian sources, we’ve known that for some time. Your teams have shut down a good number of them, but this takes the game to a whole new level. These…. ‘things’,”, he tapped a hoof on the photo of the strange weaponry, “ups the ante. Whoever is behind this has been bringing in off-world weapons that were never designed for pony use.”

Hang on a minute, I thought, ‘off world ?’. Surely they could have been made by other races here in our world, such as, say Griffins, but the more I thought about it, the more fantastical it became. I didn’t want to start thinking about little green ponies in space suits as well. “But the ones I saw were used by ponies Chief, all too effectively.” I entered.

Chief Mitre nodded, “Initially some had been brought here ready converted, we suspected they were a sort of ‘test batch’. Since then they’ve been coming in, in greater numbers, re-engineered after they arrived in Equestria to fit our anatomy. So, yes, they can be used by ponies.”

I leaned back in my seat, this was so much to take in my mind felt like it was going to explode. He’d seen some before ?

“Fairlight ? The commissioner wanted you off the case, suspended, pending an ‘investigation’. The whole thing was going to be buried and forgotten. I was instructed to throw the book at you, so you’d take the fall. Listen, there’s a reason I let

fly at you the way I did that day. You probably aren’t aware of it, but my office has been bugged.”

“WHAT !?” I shouted in surprise.

“I had Speak Easy run an MET on it and guess where it ended up ?”. A Magical Energy Trace was a method employed by unicorns highly skilled in covert ops to match magical energy signatures to their owners. A sort of unique magic hoof print finder.

“The commissioners office”, I said flatly.

“Good boy”, Mitre smiled. “I think she has something to do with this and is trying to bury the evidence. How the agency fit in I don’t know…yet. This ‘non-equestrian’ mare is another piece of the puzzle”.

I felt the carriage beginning to slow, “But sir, I’m off the force now, so what good is telling me all this ? And, if the commissioner is gunning for me, I don’t stand a chance.”

He smiled knowingly and hoofed me an umbrella, “That’s were you’re wrong Captain. Ah,…We’re here.” The carriage stopped with a slight lurch and Fumbles opened the door, rain blowing into the interior. “Come on my young friend”, Mitre patted my knee, “Lets give our comrades a good send off, eh ?”.

I stepped out of the carriage, magicking the umbrella open. The rows of open graves, coffins and grieving families beckoned. The Equestrian watch’s flag flapped wetly in the downpour. This was my final duty to them as their officer, as their captain. It was time to say goodbye to my friends.

Chapter Sixteen - The porcelain porch

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The porcelain porch

That evening I staggered home after far too many wheat beers. I didn’t drink normally, or smoke for that matter, but the send off for our comrades had been a grand affair and I had indulged myself fully. The watch had really pushed the boat out on this, and well it should have. Equestrians mourn their dead at the funeral, but celebrate their lives afterwards, turning tears into smiles. At least, that was the theory. I was so inebriated I didn’t much care one way or the other. In a fuse of drunken logic, I had turned down the offer of a taxi and tried to find my own way home, which, thank Luna, I actually managed to achieve.

Falling headlong into the porch, I fumbled for my key. Damn it, the Celestia cursed thing was here somewhere. I could feel it in my pocket but for some bizarre reason my alcohol soaked brain couldn’t seem to co-ordinate my hooves to get the bloody thing it out. My magic only made matters worse and I ended up with my coat stuck half over my head.

My pitiful cries for help were answered by a mare opening the door and announcing in a flat tone, “You’re home”.

“Oh thank Luna, i’m stuck. Meadow, help me get my coat off love”. There was no reply. Hell, she was still mad at me. I’d have to make it up to her in the morning, right now I’d have ……

I coughed, “Oh Goddess, I think...I think I’m going to be…Meadow…I…”. I belched loudly, following rapidly up with the contents of my stomach, “Eurgh ! Help ! Meadow…I…cant breath in here. Oh Luna, some went up my nose. Urrrgh……”. My stomach retched over and over, vomit filled my mouth, nose and eyes. I was trapped in a cloth and puke prison, my hind legs sliding helpless on the tiled porch floor. “Meadow ! I….”, she shoved me back out with both forelegs and with a bang, the front door slammed shut. I heard the bolts slide into place and the click of the light.

“MEADOW !” I shouted, coughing on my sick. Was that carrot in there ? Shit, oh bollocks, “Urrrrggh…..”. I was burning hot, covered in sick and the world was spinning around me. There was a horrible feeling of falling and a heavy crack as my head hit the inner porch wall on the way down. Considering how I must have looked and smelt, I was glad unconsciousness followed.

Birds sang a beautiful melody outside the bedroom window, the bloody noisy things. Everything hurt, my head, my eyes, my ears. Oh Goddesses, was I aching. I turned over to find Meadow wasn’t there, the space she normally occupied, cold. Groaning, I rolled out of the soft, comfy bed and headed for the shower, my poor legs nearly giving way as the room lurched slightly. At least I didn’t feel sick any more, thank Celestia.

The warm water felt fantastic on my coat, freshening me up and bringing new life to my tired bones. Some pony, Meadow obviously, must have cleaned me up last night before putting me to bed. Hadn’t she ? I thought I’d been locked in the porch ! Bollocks, I was in so much trouble. Where in Equestria had she gotten to ?

I finished the shower and towelled off, dry out the old ears, a quick flank floss and I was good to go. My rain coat and hat were missing from the stand, no surprise there I supposed. I’d probably have to buy new ones after last night’s escapade. A damned shame too, they’d been my constant companions on many a shift in the watch, but nothing lasts forever. Especially when plastered with your stomach contents. Bugger it all….

I searched the house but of Meadow, there was no sign. Her nurses uniform was still hanging in the wardrobe but her hat and scarf were gone. Perhaps she’d gone shopping and left a note for me ? I checked the fridge door and the coffee table, the usual places for any household missives, but no sign of any note. I sat down, nursing my poor battered head in my hooves, damn you alcohol ! My behaviour in the porch started to come back to me bit by bit. Worse, my behaviour towards Meadow recently began replaying though my mind adding to the agony of the hangover.

Oh Luna, Celestia, what had I done ?

I took my old watch coat out of the cloakroom, knocked back a couple of candied pain killers and headed out the door to find my wife.

Manehatten General Hospital was a huge white complex of buildings, each wing capable of housing hundreds of ponies. Everything from sore fetlocks to mane loss was treated here; quite common knowledge of course. What a lot of the city ponies didn’t know though, was that a lot of watch ponies had been treated here recently too and for reasons a lot more serious than they would ever know. Some would never be able to return to work due their injuries, others, had not returned home at all. I hung my head at the memory of my lost comrades and with heavy hooves, climbed the steps to reception.

A yellow earth pony nurse with a feather cutie mark and white nurses cap trotted up to me. “Hi Fairlight ! How ya doing ? No Meadow ?”, Quill looked past me to the door obviously expecting Meadow to be there.

“No Quill, I don’t know where she is, I thought she might be here.” I said solemnly.

“Ah. You two had a fight ?”

“Yeah, something like that.”, I replied.

Quill nodded, eyes closed, a knowing smile on her face, “Drinking was it ? Came home plastered and she was angry, right ? Woke up and she’s disappeared. Am I in the right ball park ?”

“How did you…. !?”, I exclaimed as Quill laughed and clopped her fore hooves together, “Oh I knew it !”, she squealed, “My tail was twitching when you plodded in and I just knew !”.

“Plodded…. in ?” I muttered.

“Oh yes ! Twitchy tail, itchy nose, you know, they tell me when something’s going to happen ! Or, in your case, has happened !”.

Celestia, my head….. I didn’t have time for this. Quills energy was making my headache worse, if that was even possible.

“Quill….” I began, “Hmmmm ?”, she replied, “I think you ought to see a doctor.”

Chapter Seventeen - An eternity in stone

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

An eternity in stone

The ground was still damp from the previous nights rain as I approached the Manehatten municipal graveyard. Even when it wasn’t raining, the place had a dark and oppressive feel to it. My heart felt leaden in my chest and I was uncertain as to what I would find in this place, “Other than dead ponies”, I sighed quietly under my breath. The stone stairs from this side of the site were large and shallow, designed to help ponies who were young, old or perhaps infirm, reach the level ground at the summit. A healthy climb later, and I was there.

The flag had been taken down, but the clearly new graves and colourful flowers stood out in stark relief from the rest of the drab stone. The ponies of the watch had clubbed together to top up the funeral fund for a little something more than the usual square slab which indicated the final resting place of the fallen. I walked slowly past each one, noting the name and examining the faces of each pony. Luna, there were so many……

I’d seen them put beneath the earth only the day before, but in the shock of the Chiefs revelations and the incessant freezing rain, it had all seem unreal somehow. Now, here was reality before me. No more games, no more laughter, this was it for them. They were gone. I gently stroked a hoof along the top of each grave stone, looking for the one I knew would be there…Dawn Rush.

Her grave stone itself was no different from the rest. She wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Her picture however, rather than the standard ID types of the rest, was a cheeky smiling Dawn, winking at the camera. I couldn’t help but smile, a light chuckle in my throat escaping, “Dawn…….”, I whispered closing my eyes. After a deep breath, I read the inscription,

Watch Lieutenant Dawn Rush
Beloved daughter of Lilly and Carrot
Hero of the Manehatten Watch Flying Squad
Fly proud, Fly True

“Hero of the Manehatten Watch”, I read aloud, “You were that and more Lieutenant.”. I sat back on my haunches, wiping a rogue tear away. “No tears for you eh ? You’d buck me into next week !”. I looked up into the sky, breathing a big sigh. She’d tried to save us that night, save all of us. A hero of the watch indeed. “You better be taking good care of her up there y’here ?” I called up to the heavens, “or I’ll kick your arses into next Thursday !”. I laughed and stood, brushing the muck off my coat.

I had barely registered the crunching of hoof steps on the gravel path beside me.

“Capn’ ? That you ?”, that voice brought back memories.

“Blaze.”, I said turning to look at the sleek pegasus mare standing there in a smart blue watch cloak. The grey pony shook her rust coloured mane and looked towards the grave marker. “Thanks for coming to see her sir. She’d have wanted you to, you know.”

I was lost for words. Blaze and Dawn were, well, there was no other way to say it…. lovers. It was supposed to be a secret, a badly kept one that everyone knew about of course, but the watch regulations…..”No fraternisation between watch ponies”. But, we took that as an advisory rather than actual ‘rules’. They were two of the most liked
ponies in the watch and their little flirtations between each other would bring good natured lectures from the Chief if he ever caught them. We all knew them and we all loved them, our sisters in the watch.

“I couldn’t protect her, Blaze.”, I said to her, hardly able to meet the gaze of her big silver eyes. “She tried to save us…………I’m sorry.”. I hung my head, unsure as to what to say. What could I say ?

Blaze said nothing for a few moments, just standing there, staring at me. I could feel her eyes boring into me, searching my soul, what for, I didn’t know. Answers to what happened ? Why her lover had been taken from her ? I half expected her to buck me, I wouldn’t have blamed her if she had, so I stood, waiting for the blow.

“Do you know how she died ?”, Blaze said turning back to the grave.

I looked up blinking, “…..No.”, I took a deep breath before continuing, “The Chief told me she didn’t suffer though. Blaze, its not a good idea to……”. She interrupted me suddenly, “…She flew in front of me. My Dawn flew in front of those bloody damned fire bug things and….and…”, she choked back a sob. “…She… took a full blast in the chest. I caught her as she fell but there was nothing I could do. Blaze was already gone, the bastards damned near cut her in half. I cant get the sight of her blood out of my mind Cap, it was….do you know what that’s like ? Those bastards took the one reason I had for living and destroyed it. They stole my Dawn and…..”

I went to put a foreleg around Blaze but she back away shaking her head, “Capn’ I…..I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye !”. Tears were falling from her eyes like rain as she stared right at me, “They took her from me !”.

I closed my eyes for a moment before speaking, “Blaze, Dawn loved you. We all knew she did, that’s why she did what she did. If the roles had been reversed, you’d have done the same. Please, don’t beat yourself up over it.”

Blaze reared up and slammed her fore hooves down into the gravel, “That’s just it ! Those things were meant for me ! It should be me under that Equestria damned muck, not her…not her….”. Blaze collapsed to her knees, tears flooding down her muzzle into the freshly dug earth. I watched helplessly as my fellow watch pony poured out
her grief, hugging the mounded soil that blanketed the final resting place of her beloved Dawn.

I moved to put a hoof round her, but it was clear from her body language she wanted to be left alone. Turning away, I solemnly walked away down the row of graves, unable to comfort a friend. In time, when she was ready, she’d share her grief with us all, talk about the good times, the bad times, the happy, the sad, and we’d be there waiting for her. Watch ponies looked after their own.

My legs followed their own course, letting the Fairlight mind wander into places it probably shouldn’t. The Chiefs words rang through my head. Goddesses, whatever was going on, it wasn’t going to end well for Equestria. Just what were we going to do ? Who could we trust ? Being off the watch was bad enough, but the way this was

heading, would there even be a watch to go back to ? I mentally slapped myself, this wasn’t the time to be melodramatic.

Rounding the next row of graves, a green pony in a large straw hat came into view, lying on all fours, her muzzle resting on her outstretched forelegs. I could hear her sobs as I approached, despair etched on her face. She didn’t look up when I knelt beside her. A fresh bunch of marigolds had been placed on the grave before her. It was a neat simple plot, tidy, well kept and with a simple marker,

Chief Officer Apple Pop
Manehatten Watch
“Dad”
I lay there in quiet contemplation next to my wife. I didn’t deserve her and I knew it, a terrible part of me wondered how long it would be until she had simply had enough of her lot in life, of being the wife of a watch pony. The pit opened in front of me and my soul marched blindly on towards the precipice.

“He would have been so proud of you, you know”. Meadows voice was barely a whisper, “Dad was the strength in our family, the one we felt would be there to protect us. Be there, with us, forever.”

I kept silent, Meadow went on. “When I was in high school, Dad was already Watch Chief. We were so proud of him, I think the other fillies and colts were jealous of us because of that and used to tease us. My brother Silver, would stand up to the bullies and face them down. Just like Dad would have.”

She smiled through the tears and reached out to nudge the flowers into a neater pattern.

“He was on a shout to a school fire in the fourth precinct. Arson. Who or why, no pony ever knew. So…pointless. It was late at night and the school should have been empty, the fire department was already there and Dad had gone in with Captain Mitre to have a look around before the forensic team arrived.”

It was hard to imagine the big blue pony as the same rank as myself, and younger too. He looked the sort who’d looked middle aged when he was still a foal. I listened intently though, Meadow had never told me what had happened to her father.

“He and Mitre entered the school library and found…..”, she paused struggling with some inner conflict, “…found a foal. He’d been…he’d had his….”. She took a deep breath, but began to shake. I removed my thick worn watch coat and placed it over her.

“He’d had his tummy cut open.”, Meadow let out a cry of distress, covering her muzzle with a foreleg.

“Meadow…”, I whispered but she waved me off.

“He’d had his organs removed and they were strung up, like streamers, around the bookshelves. Dad and Mitre couldn’t do anything for him, he was….gone.”

My eyes stung, waves of emotion rolled off Meadow and the mental imagery I was receiving had me on the verge of tears myself.

“Mitre thought he heard a noise and went to investigate, Dad went with him. There were no lights in there, only what they could see with their lanterns. In the darkness of the library alcove, they heard a foal crying…..”.

I held my breath involuntarily.

“She wasn’t alone. There was another with her, a tall crimson male. Dad didn’t get a good look at him. He was….doing things to the little foal, Dad…..never said what and Mitre wouldn’t talk about it at all.”

“There was a fight, the big pony shot Mitre with a hoof held crossbow. Dad only had his truncheon on him, he pulled the foal off the table but the other pony….”, Meadow let out a breath, shaking her mane before looking across at me. “He stabbed him. Just like that, in the back as he held the foal. It was like his life meant nothing, nothing at all…just a piece of meat.”

“He was my Dad, Fairlight ! That dirty animal, he stabbed my Dad, he…”

She was coming apart fast. I put a foreleg around her and pulled her in to me while gently resting my head across her neck. She resisted momentarily before she continued.

“When they failed to return to the team in the school yard, the Lieutenant sent in another team to look for them. They found Dad and Mitre, alive but in critical condition. Dad was lying there, still sheltering the foal in his forelegs. The other pony was long gone.”

“Mum woke me and Silver to look for Dad when he didn’t come home. We took a cab to the watch house, they told us about the fire but no pony knew where he was, Mum was hysterical.”

“I ran out into the night and headed for the school. I ran and ran and ran….”

I nuzzled Meadows neck to try and reassure her that I was there for her. I willed my strength to help her through this.

“The ponies at the school told me Dad was at the hospital. They wouldn’t tell me what had happened. The look of their faces….Fairlight, I…I’ll never forget the look on the faces !”, She pushed me away suddenly and hauled herself to her hooves to look down at me.

“I ran all the way to the hospital. The watch ponies offered me a ride there, but I just ran. My mind was a blank, all I could think of was finding Dad, making sure he was okay.” Meadow began to shake again, whether with the cold or her distressed state, I wasn’t certain.

“He was……”, she began. “Oh Fairlight ! He…”. “

I gave Meadow a reassuring smile, “Its alright love, take your time. I’m with you, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Dad was just….lying there. His eyes were open but they were so distant, they’d always been so bright and alive. There were tubes and magical monitors and…...they were sticking into Dad and…..”, Meadow stopped to steady her breathing.

“I tried to hold, to tell him it was going to be okay, but the nurse stopped me from hugging him. He just looked across at me and smiled, Fairlight. Smiled ! After what that monster had done, my Dad smiled at me.”

“The machines made a bleeping noise and the nurse called the doctor, he ran into the room and I pushed to one side. Dad had…stopped breathing. I didn’t know what was happening at the time and tried to stop them from ‘hurting’ my Dad. The nurse went to push me out the room just as Mum crashed through the doors. I’d never seen a look like that on a ponies face before Fairlight, and to be on my own Mothers…..”, Tears started anew.

“The Doctor tried Fairlight, he tried so hard to save Dad, but there was too much damage. I remember the way he looked at Mum, I couldn’t quite hear the words but I could see his lips moving….’I’m sorry’. That was it….’I’m sorry’. Dad was gone. Mum’s screams where deafening, I can still hear her sometimes in my dreams you know ? Crying and screaming out at the world that took her beloved husband. My Dad.”

My heart was aching for her. My Meadow, was this what she thought could happen to me, every time I went out to work ? Goddesses, I never realised. In my narrow minded view on life, I simply saw the watch as a means to an end, a way to help the everyday lives of common ponies and make some money for my family. The strain it put her under…..Luna forgive me….

Meadow wiped her eyes and pushed her muzzle into my neck, breathing in my scent. “She never recovered. Mum was like a ghost after that, Silver and I spent most of our time with family relatives or with Mitre and Shelly. She simply……faded away. Doctors said she died of a broken heart. I…didn’t even think that was possible.”

The beautiful green mare walked several steps away before turning back to me with a determined look in her big yellow eyes, “I don’t want to fade away Fairlight. I don’t want to find you hooked up to hospital monitors and tubes…. dying before my eyes. I wont have it, damn you Captain ! Damn the bloody watch and damn Celestia !”

“Meadow !” I exclaimed at her words, I’d never heard her swear before. It was a taboo in our home and I was careful, usually, to respect her aversion to it.

“I don’t care Fairlight ! You’re mine and I will be damned if I let any pony take you from me !”, she shouted, lowering her front into a fighting stance. I was shocked and, I hate to admit, slightly aroused by her aggressive stance. This was a Meadow I had never seen, a facet of her which, I found oddly exciting.

She advanced on me, a strange look in her eye. Her muzzle nuzzled into my neck before she retreated a step, eyes closed, to inhale the smell of my cloak. “It smells of you.”, she said quietly, “You were wearing this when we met remember ?”. “I remember” I replied, “You were wearing that hat too”. Meadow pushed her hat up on her head and walked away down the gravel path, a slight glance over her shoulder beckoning me to follow her.

As I trotted to catch up to her, she began to canter away. I increased my pace but she broke into a gallop and turned off into the woods. What the hell was she doing !? I galloped after her but she was pulling ahead, damn she was fast. Minutes later I’d lost sight of her and slowed to a trot, then a walk, catching my breath. I was blowing hard. I was built for strength, not speed, Celestia damn it all. What was Meadow playing at ? I leaned against a tree, sweat steaming off my flanks as I tried to slow my racing heart rate.

Something large and blue crashed out of the bushes to my right, bowling me over onto my back in a blur of legs and….wool ? “Too slow my dear” Meadow grinned down at me, my cloak still wrapped around her. “Wha….?”, I began but she pushed me roughly to the ground with her fore hooves. She looked me over with her lantern yellow eyes, searching mine, her pupils wide, steam rising from her body. She huffed a deep breath and pushed her muzzle deep into my chest.

“I don’t want to lose you Fairlight, please. I cant lose you…” Meadow said breathlessly. I licked my lips, the gallop had dried my mouth out, “You wont love. I’ll quit the watch if I have to, I don’t want to see you cry again. Ever”. She lifted her head and suddenly clamped her mouth over mine, her hot breath filling mine, her tongue hungry and desperate.

My forelegs pulled her into the kiss and we lost ourselves in each other for what felt like an age. Finally, she pulled away from me. “No love. I don’t want you to leave the

watch, I don’t want to lose who you are. Just….promise me you’ll be careful. Please ?”

I nodded.

“Mmmmm….” She moaned and she began rubbing her haunches back and forth along my stomach. All the while she looked deep into my eyes. “My Fairlight…..” She sighed and gave me a smile, the smile she gave only to me. She was the one in charge this day, I was her stallion, she was my mare.

Meadows movements increased and she began panting, he muzzle inches from mine, the yellow eyes never leaving my face. With a shudder, she went limp and rested her forehead on mine, all I could see in my field of vision was her eyes. It was like our
very souls were merging in those deep reflective pools, becoming one. Her pants deepened, and I felt her hoof brushing my stomach, reaching down. I gasped.

Meadow smiled, wriggling herself over me until I felt a warmth that left no doubt as to what she desired. “Fairlight….”, she purred, “My Captain.” My beautiful mare kissed me deeply once more before transfixing me with her gaze. “I want you…..”.

I smiled up at her as she lowered herself onto me with a gasp, closing her eyes as she did so. She grabbed me around the chest and squeezed, that soft light green mane lying sensuously across my face.

“I love you Captain Fairlight.” She whispered to me as I gripped her hind legs with a gentle, yet firm embrace. “I love you too, nurse Meadow”. Birds rose from the canopy as her cries resounded throughout the forest.

Chapter Eighteen - Gentle realisations

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Gentle realisations

A warm, soft wetness lapped around my face as I awoke. “Mmmm….Meadow…”, I murmured, gently reaching out and giving her a little squeeze. She hugged me back and nibbled my ear, oh Celestia ! I’d just woken up and the horny little filly was teasing me already. I’d play along, until the investigation was concluded, I had all the time in the world to spend with my loving little filly.

The warm tongue explored my muzzle, them my ears. This was new, and quite erotic in a way I hadn’t expected. “That’s nice….let me…”, I opened one eye slowly and stared straight into a glowing red Thestral’s. “SHIT !” I yelled, pushing the thing off me and jumping to my hooves, “Shades ? What the hell are you doing ?!”. The creatures pointed ears drooped and he let out a sad sounding chirrup.

“Look buddy, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell, but…I don’t, you know, I don’t swing that way. I’m really, really sorry.” Come to think of it, why was I sorry ? I didn’t ask for this kind of attention, maybe he was just being friendly in his own way. In any case, I felt shaken and….sad, somehow. Shades was the only Thestral I’d seen here, there must be more, but where ? Was he alone, like me ? Perhaps he was simply lonely and hoping for some physical comfort from a friend ? I felt like I’d kicked a puppy.

I trotted over to him as he slunk away with his head down. The miserable looking thing looked dejected. “Look Shades, I’m sorry okay ? You startled me and I snapped at you. You’re my friend and…I respect you. I do….really.”

Shades squawked, shaking his mane. Head bowed, he stretched out his wings and advanced on me, forcing me to back up.

“Swing that way ?”, the thought pounded into my head making me wince.
“That’s right, I don’t, you know. I’m not into dudes. Goddesses Shades, not so loud !”
“Dudes ?”

“Guys, Males, Stallions. I’m not gay, look, I like girls, mares, females, you understand ?”

Shades flapped his wings hard, causing huge gusts of wind to buffet me, I shut my eyes against the sand.

When I opened them, Shades was nose to nose with me, eyes blazing red hot.

“Give me”, he said in a tone that brooked no nonsense. “What ?”, I asked him. I didn’t like the way this was going. With an exasperated shriek, the Thestral side stepped until he was virtually side on to me. A bony foreleg shot out and grabbed my hoof.

“Give me”, he said again, gently this time and I closed my eyes as he passed my hoof under his belly. Oh Goddesses, I was starting to freak out, adrenalin was pumping through me unbidden as I thought about escaping this insane creature.

To my horror, the Thestral gently rubbed my hoof between his haunches, letting out a low rumbling sound. Did he look… embarrassed ? “Shades ?”, I asked swallowing, “I don’t understand what you’re trying to…….Oh!”. Poor Shades, imagine having an idiot like me for a companion.

My skeletal partner in the Wither world released my hoof and turned to face me with an expectant look. Finally, dullard that I am, I understood. Shades, the Wither world Thestral….was a girl.

“Oh, bollocks”, I muttered to myself. Shades let out a rattling cry and trotted off ahead of me without a backward glace to see if I was following.

Chapter Nineteen - In laws

CHAPTER NINETEEN

In laws

Another week of incessant trudging brought us to the banks of a large black lake. A more apt description would probably be ‘sea’ but in the Withers, all I could see was inky black water stretching out to ‘somewhere’ and the obligatory hills beyond, naturally.

Shades was starting to act strangely too, she would dance nervously, looking around us and at the sky. She’d stopped flying the last few days too. She was a Thestral of few words, or more than one for that matter, and now even our little wellspring of conversation was dry. What was bothering her, I had no idea. Other than my little gender faux pas of course….whoops.

At first, I wondered if it was another of those globular tentacle-y things that lived in the river, but there was no sign of them here. Bat like birds, shockingly transparent, fluttered across the surface of the water, darting this way and that. I had never seen anything like them before and no idea what they were, although, as I found when Shades jumped in the air and snapped one into her jaws, they were apparently delicious.

She tried tempting me with a still flapping morsel and I politely declined. My stomach may not need filling particularly, but I certainly didn’t want to empty it either.

Shades and I were lying together by the gently lapping waters edge when she lifted her head in alarm. Staring off intently across the lake to something I couldn’t see, she crouched low and pushed into me, “Oof !, Shades, whats going on ? Whats got you so spooked ?”, she didn’t reply.

My eyes had become accustomed to the half-light in the Withers but even so, my ability to pick out details at distance was nothing compared to Shades’. Whatever was out there had her worried, so much so she was hiding between my legs. It wasn’t going to provide much cover when the only cover was black sand and sure enough, a shrieking cry and chittering hit my ears like nails down a chalk board.

Thestrals.

Shades whimpered and pushed harder into me, shaking in fear. “No, No you don’t, come up now. Be strong, I’m here with you, I will protect you from whatever’s out there”. I stood, facing the direction of the cries, nudging my companion to my side, “We face this together”. She chirruped and nudged me with her head, giving a quick snort. “Good girl”, I said and stood ready to accept whatever came our way.

I could see them now, three…no…four of the creatures, soaring, diving and looping their way towards us from the lake. Minutes passed and I was beginning to wonder if the strange party were actually heading our way after all. But sure enough, one of them gave a long high pitched cry and dove at us. I readied myself, feeling the now

familiar grip on the cold rage preparing to be unleashed. I didn’t know whether these were friend or foe, though Shades’ behaviour spoke volumes. It didn’t hurt to be alert and prepared.

A loud thud announced a Thestral landing several yards away from us, quickly followed by the other three, huddling to one side of the larger one. “The boss cometh, eh ?”, I wondered aloud. Shades rattled out a menacing growl.

This thing looked like a creature from a nightmare night special. All bones, leathery wings and teeth. The wickedly sharp incisors glinted menacingly atop the midnight black colouring of the Thestral. The other three, smaller and rather ‘shades’ like in appearance, kept back, snapping their jaws and making the odd growling noise.

I could guess without any problem this time, that the biggest of them was a male. The huge ugly thing emanated testosterone like an open furnace. It tried to walk round me to face Shades, but I turned, matching him step for step. He didn’t like that at all. The Thestral male swung his head towards me and lowered into a fighting stance with a long low hiss. I imitated his stance, “Why don’t you just ssssssssod offffff”.

The Thestral stood up, cocking his head to one side before turning to his menagerie, clicking and shrieking to each other in some language I couldn’t even begin to decipher. This display of jerking neck and wing movements together with various
cries and screams, culminated in the male all but kicking one of the smaller ones towards me. She came forward reluctantly, making a quiet chirruping noise towards Shades who replied in kind. I regarded the creature warily, “I hope you’re not expecting me to speak Thestral, miss. I find all the screaming and clicking murder on my larynx”.

She cocked her head to one side, fiery eyes glowing a deep red-orange before she shook her mane. Words flashed into my mind like a fog horns blast,
“Far Sight demands you return his daughter.”
My eyes must have been like saucers, I’d never heard Shades speak like this. Had she been holding out on me all this time ? Confusion reigned supreme. The Thestral shook her mane once more, “You are to hoof over Far Sights daughter immediately or we will take her by force.” The hissing blast of noise roared through my head, Goddesses I wish these creatures came with a volume control.

Very carefully, I spoke to the eloquent female Thestral, “She is not going anywhere with you, not until I know who you are and what your intentions are. Would you hoof over one of your sisters to a stranger without first knowing she would be safe ?”. The female blinked and her eyes flared brightly for a moment before turning to the male. More clicking, cries and screams culminated in the male lumbering into the air followed by two of the females trailing him out across the lake. I watched them slowly disappear from sight, before checking on Shades. She was hissing menacingly at the departing male. No love lost there it seemed.

Silence fell around me with the slight whisper of the water brushing the sandy shore and the breathing of the two Thestrals as they eyed each other warily. I nearly jumped out of my skin when Shades rushed forward with a happy sounding shriek and embraced the other female. The two howled and cried out in, what I presume was joy, while rolling around in the sand. Soon, the energetic pony like creatures, sand sloughing off their backs and wings, stood once again and nuzzled each other, before turning to face me.

“You are Shadow’s….friend ?”, the female asked me. “Who ? oh, you mean Shades ?”. The newcomer regarded me quizzically and clicked at me, “She is Shadow”. I face hoofed, I’d never even asked Shades…Shadow…her name. I’d just sort of, ‘told’ her who she was. I was hopeless with females, I couldn’t imagine how Meadow had put up with me for so long.

Shadow gave me a sad sidelong glance and pushed into me before speaking with the other Thestral in that nerve grating language of theirs. “Shadow says you are bonded now. This is wrong, she cannot take a mate without her fathers approval. Far Sight will not accept this.”

“Wait a minute !”, I said loudly holding up a hoof. “Rewind that a moment, Miss Thestral, what do you mean ‘bonded’ ?”

“She is your mate…”, there was that word again. I looked across at Shadow who had an expectant look on her face, “I’m a married stallion, I cant just take a ‘mate’ as you put it.”

The odd creature gave me a look you might expect her to give a foal. Or dinner. Possibly both, it was hard to tell with these enigmatic beings. She walked towards me and sniffed my coat, the sensation was peculiar to say the least, the Thestrals nostrils flared as she worked. She’d make a wonderful dust remover, I pondered to myself. I think she must have been able to read minds too as she shot me a glare that could have killed me stone dead. Just as well I already was then….kind of.

“There is no other females scent upon you…..’Pony’”, her words rattled through my head but the derision in them was loud and clear. “I have a name ‘madam’..” I said in my most neutral voice, “..I am Fairlight. May I have the pleasure of yours ?”. The Thestral female dipped her head and let out a jet of steam, “I am called Ember.”

“Thank you Ember”, I said neutrally before sitting on my haunches. I waved the other two towards me, Ember looking warily at me then to Shadow before following my lead.

“Now that we’re sitting comfortably ladies..”, I gave them both my trademark smile, “...perhaps the good lady Ember could explain what is going on ?”

Ember squawked and chattered at Shadow before resignedly starting her story.

“Shadow, is my sister. Her father, Far Sight, wants her to come home. She is…incomplete. You are bonded now and so she is your mate. Far Sight will be angry with you.”

“You keep saying we’re bonded and she’s my mate. I don’t understand, how can this be ?”, I asked her. Ember chattered with Shadow before replying, “Did she not share the Cetean egg with you ?”.

I squeezed my eyes shut as the memory of that vile rubbery thing that Shades, or rather Shadow now, had me share with her. Celestia, that’s what is was……

I nodded to her solemnly, “I didn’t know what it was, or more specifically, what it represented.”. Hopefully she would understand and override Shadow’s behaviour in some way as a prank, a mistake, something that would annul this…..

“Then you are bonded.”, Ember said with finality and nodded her head as if affirming the words.

“WAIT !”, I shouted at her, “I’m already married, this is a mistake !”. Ember tutted at me, asking, “Then where is she ‘Fairlight’ ? I cannot smell her on you. Where is this ‘other’ mate of yours ?”

I shook my mane, it hurt to think of it even now. “She’s dead. Crossed over to the Eternal Herd.” I told her sadly. My heart skipped a beat in surprise when Embers hoof
planted itself on mine. “I understand you. Now you must understand my words. She has gone, you remain. Shadow has joined herself to you as your mate. This cannot be undone.”

I sat there dumbfounded, words impossible to find. “Shadow will stay with you, I will inform father. He will be angry, but what is done is done.” She stood, brushing the sand from her legs.

“Ember, please, wait a moment.” I pleaded.

She paused mid groom and re-settled her wings waiting for me to continue, “Shadow cannot stay with me, I’m on a journey to return home, to Equestria, the mortal world. Shadow is a creature of this world, she cant even communicate properly with me ! Please, there must be something you can do.”

Ember slammed a hoof down in front of her for emphasis. “And yet YOU are here in this world, pony of Equestria. Are you mortal ? The smell of a mortal is not upon you, nor the scent of another mate. Shadow will become more like you as you will become like her, it is the way of Thestrals, it is the way of the Cetean. You and she are the beginning and the end of the cycle. Make your own fate Equestrian, together.”

What the blue blazes was that all about ? I scratched my head in frustration trying make sense of the otherworldly creatures ‘logic’. A blast of wind hit me in the face as she took to the air and headed off across the lake, returning to her family. Leaving me with…..”Shadow ?”, she looked up at me, a bashful flush on her cheeks. Quite a cute

sight if you could see past the battery of lethal teeth. She reached up and licked my muzzle with her long blue tongue. Despite my current state of shock and denial, the
feeling was not unpleasant. I sighed and closed my eyes in sudden resignation. This wasn’t going to go away was it ?

Shadow nuzzled into me with a chirrup and began purring like some gigantic cat. In my mind, I imagined Meadows face, ‘Forgive me love.’ I thought silently to her, ‘This is some seriously weird shit I’m facing right now. And sorry about the swearing.’ I wondered what she’d really think. I rolled over onto my side and closed my eyes, I’d think more about this later. Right now, it was all too much to take in. Shadow snuggled into me and laid her head upon my neck. I reached out and without thinking, placed a protective foreleg across her as I drifted off into fitful sleep.

Chapter Twenty - Irremovable stains

CHAPTER TWENTY

Irremovable stains

The dry cleaners was open late that evening. Bingo, the chirpy owner of the store hoofed me my uniform, freshly pressed and smelling great. He did a good job here and was the choice for watch ponies for cleaning their uniforms. Reasonably priced too.

“Oh, Mister Fairlight sir ?”, Bingo asked me when I put my hoof on the door to leave, “Your coat and hat are here too”. A little foal appeared through the bead curtain with a huge smile on her face, ”Here you go !” she piped up at me.

I took the parcel and mussed her mane with my hoof, she giggled and ran back through the curtain laughing. “She looks just like you, Bingo. You’re one lucky buck”.

The stallion smiled and fidgeted with his orange mane, “Thank you sir, my wife thinks so too. Please, don’t worry about the hat and coat, your wife has already paid for it.”

Goddesses bless her. “My wife says the repair your wife made to the coat is excellent sir.”

That gave me pause. A memory I’d rather forget surfaced briefly, but with a quick shake of the old Fairlight mane, I pushed it away. Works every time ! I waved to Bingo and his daughter, now stood up on his back, waving happily. “Maybe one day……”, I wondered sadly to myself. Meanwhile, life went on.

My pocket began to vibrate with a low hum, thank Luna there were no ponies around this morning to see that. ‘Discreet’, Easy had assured me. I wished I’d tested the blasted thing first. The alleyway behind the grocers was as handy a place to duck into as any and I nipped round, pulling my collar up. The small device looked like a brass stone with three small crystals embedded in its surface. It was vibrating, loudly, with an insistence that got my back up immediately. I pressed the thing to my ear and hissed into it while looking around me in case some pony was looking, “What ?! For Luna’s sake, no pony is supposed to use this during daylight”.

Just in case, for example, the owner was out in the high street collecting their dry-cleaning.

“Fairlight ?”, the Chiefs voice crackled back over the device. Oh bugger it all, the boss.

“Where are you now ?”

“Near Bingo’s Chief.”, I told him, one eye on the end of the alley.

“Stay there, for Celestia’s sake. I’m sending a carriage round for you now. Meadows safe, she’s with us.”

“Chief ? What do you mean Meadows with ‘us’ ? Whats going on ? Chief !?”

The damned thing was silent and shaking did nothing to bring it back to life. My mind was reeling from what Mitre had said, something was going on and it sounded bad. I took comfort in the fact he had told me Meadow was with him, so whatever else was going on, that was of secondary importance.

I leaned against the brickwork, my heart thundering like a steam train. “Deep breaths Fairlight”, I thought to myself, “deep cleansing breaths.” A moment later I was face down in alley mud, spitting blood from where my teeth had broken through my lip with the impact.

Training kicked in and I rolled, tucking my legs under me before springing up and away from the cream earth pony swinging the bat. His eyes narrowed, I took a fighting stance taught in the watch, senses alert for danger from the front and…..aw, shite…there was another one. Too far to be an immediate threat but they’d be on me any second, I’d have to move fast.

The cream pony swung low. My hind legs propelling me up and over the ponies head, I landed behind him, bringing my hooves up for a skull cracking buck to his jaw. Something shiny flashed passed my eye, but in an instant, I’d pulled up my attacker with my hooves around his neck. There was a dull thud and I felt him shudder, then go slack. Blood and air sprayed out of his nose and mouth, spattering my face and foreleg.

Dropping the unmoving body, I charged at the other pony, magicking out the dagger from his comrades side at the same time. The young magenta mares eyes went wide as her own dagger flew towards her. She was fast, youthful reflexes deflecting the blade with a metal shod foreleg. Another blade whirled into her mouth as I crashed into her. She may have been younger than me, but I was heavier and had the experience advantage. Grappling with her for the knife, the blade bit into my foreleg painfully. A quick knee to her stomach drove the air from her lungs and the knife splashed into the mud.

She managed a kick right into the most sensitive part of any stallion. I cried out in pain, loosening my grip just enough for her to jump away and draw yet another dagger. Pulling myself to my hooves, I looked around for something, anything, to use as a weapon. Luna must have been smiling on me. Spotting the fallen dagger, I levitated it out and close to my side. Magic wasn’t really my speciality unfortunately, but it would be effective enough for close in work.

The mare, barely more than a filly, hesitated when she saw the purple glow of my magic.

“Put the knife down kid”, I growled at her, hoping my intimidating posturing would make her realise her mistake in attacking me. She backed up a step, huffing around the knifes hilt. Celestia, she was still going to do this wasn’t she ? I was right, the young mares leg muscles flexed as she charged at me. I barely had time to dodge her first attack when she fell, sliding several feet on her side along the slick muddy ground . “What the…..?“, I looked back to the alleys entrance to see a large cloaked shape blocking out the light. Oh Luna fuck me, look at the size of him !

The shadowy figure transformed into Chief Mitre as he stepped into the alleyway, “Looks like I got her just in time Captain.” He announced, looking at the fallen earth pony. I noticed the unloaded crossbow he held in his hooves.

Behind me I heard the faint sound of more approaching hoof steps. Goddesses, not another one ! Staring into the shaded space….”Bingo ?”. The orange dry-cleaning shop owner wore a black coat now, but his bright fur was unmistakable. So was the crossbow he drew from its depths.

My legs tensed, but Mitre put a hoof on my shoulder stopping me. Bingo lowered the crossbow, squeezing the release, its bolt slamming into the head of the cream earth pony at his feet. It twitched, legs kicking several times before going still. I thought I was going to throw up.

“Bingo, take care of the rest.”, the chief said in a low voice, “Sanitise”.

The orange pony nodded and began dragging the corpses down the alley as Chief Mitre turned to watch the street.

Moments later a carriage arrived, pulled by none other than the Chiefs own driver. Mitre didn’t wait, opening the door himself and we quickly climbed in. “Fumbles, get us out of here. Don’t spare the horses.”, Mitre said in a voice a lot calmer than I thought the situation deserved. Fumbles knew his job, the carriage shot forward and I was all but flung across the cab. Mitre shoved me back into my seat, “Get a grip of yourself Captain ! What in the name of the Goddess is wrong with you ? Going soft ?”.

“No sir !” I said gathering my composure.

“Good. Listen, I know this must be confusing right now”, What ? Really ?!, “But you are in danger Fairlight. You and Meadow.”. He had my full attention now, flippancy aside, Meadow needed me.

“Situation, Chief ?” I asked.

Mitre gave an approving nod, this felt like one of our many briefings in the watch house. The Chief Officer of the Manehatten Watch, took a deep breath before explaining.

“Firstly, Meadow is in a safe house under guard. She’s unharmed, don’t worry.”

Thanks be to the Goddesses for that.

Mitre continued, “We had a tip off that your ‘investigation’ was never going to make it to court. You have too many friends willing to testify In your favour Fairlight, the judge is also very well connected. Connected, I may add, with certain friends of ours.”

“Ours, sir ?”

He waved a foreleg at me, dismissing my question, “The situation is fluid Captain. We don’t know who our enemies are or who our friends are right now. I need you to be calm and rational while we sort this blasted mess out.”

Mitre rubbed his head with a fore hoof, his eyes tightly closed, “Princess H Celestia, Fairlight. I’ve been doing this job too long, ponies fighting other ponies, whats Equestria coming to ? Sometimes…..sometimes I really miss Pop’s guidance.”

He stared off through the window lost in thought. The last few days events had been a rollercoaster from hell I’d wanted to get off. Meadow, my only respite in the chaos was in danger. In danger because of her ties to me, I couldn’t let her down now. I would protect her and we’d move away from Manehatten, somewhere safe where we could raise a foal together. The memory of Bingo’s daughter laughing and waving to me brought a smile to my face, she was so cute ! If I had a daughter like that, I’d give her everything I had, spend all the time I could find, to raise her as a fine Equestrian lady. Meadow may have some input, sure, but I would be her Dad and this was my fantasy, thank you very much.

Bingo. The orange pony from the dry cleaners, coolly killing a downed pony. The sound of the bolt smashing through his skull. More unwanted memories I’d have to carry with me along with the night at the wharf. I was going to need some serious counselling at some point, either that, or a nice long holiday with my green mare. Hell, why not have both ? A thought came to mind, intruding on my more pleasant ones….Bingo. Who the hell was he ? He wasn’t a watch pony that I’d ever seen but the Chief knew him.

“Chief ?”

“Hmmm….?”, he stirred from his revelry and focussed those world weary eyes on me.

I took a breath, ‘in for bit Fairlight’, I thought, “Chief, just who is Bingo ?”.

Mitre just stared at me, like he was focussed on something on the carriage wall behind my skull, “Bingo. Bingo is……ah ! We’re here….”. The carriage pulled to a halt and the communication hatch slid open.

Fumbles’ purple eyes appeared for a moment then disappeared. “Fumbles, are we here ? Give me a hoof here, the bloody doors stuck.” There was no reply. Mitre stared at me for the shortest of moments, the look conveying more meaning that I wanted right then.

Alarm bells were sounding in the back of my head as the chief pulled out a pair of short-swords and a multi-shot crossbow each from the luggage rack. Suddenly, a pair of cylinders dropped into the compartment through the hatch which snapped shut with a finality that made my heart skip a beat.

“Flash Bugs ! Cover !”, I shouted in warning as the little creatures did what came naturally. I covered my eyes against the flare, but it was still like staring directly into the sun. The blast which followed blew out my ear drums along with both of the carriage doors. Mitre charged out, his crossbow releasing bolt after bolt at….some pony or some thing. My head felt like I’d been hit with a sledgehammer. Pulling myself out of the carriage door, I flicked off the safety and dived out, rolling.

Thank the Goddess for basic training. A bolt clipped my ear and smashed through the open doors glass pane missing me completely. I brought up the crossbow and shot a bolt into the chest of the pony in the tree line who was frantically reloading. These were no watch trained ponies, but they were a threat none the less. I ran for the cover of the trees, leaping over another dead pony, a bolt sticking out of his eye. Mitre’s work.

A hot burning pain bloomed from my side and I felt something tear as I reached the tree line. The cool of the shade and hard cover the trees would offer, gave me a moment to catch my breath and take stock. I was hit, a bolt buried in my flank. I tried to pull the bloodied thing out with my teeth, but it was wedged in there. Fuck it ! Where was the Chief ?

“Little pigs, little pigs, come out come out wherever you are”. A maniacal voice rang through the woods. I waited, putting down the crossbow and took a hard grip on the bolt with my magic.

“Don’t you want to come and play piggies ?”, the voice called, followed by another cackling laugh.

I groaned and huffed, putted all my strength into my horn. With a twist and sharp pull, the damned thing started to come loose. I was panting, but I had to get the bolt free or I’d be no use to any pony.

The bushes parted with a crash and a tan male unicorn appeared, rearing up on his hind legs, “Here you are ! Here you are !”. The insane shouts of the pony attracted another who appeared beside him a moment later, his pupils so widely dilated they were like black holes in his face. “Time to play ?” he shrieked and began pulling a wickedly long knife from his belt.

The tan one wouldn’t be playing with any pony. With a shout of rage and pain, the bolt came free from my flank, gritting my teeth I span it round looking him in the eye, “I think you forgot something, you piece of SHIT !”. I rammed the bolt under his jaw, I felt bone crack and split as it plunged up into his brain. Like a boned fish, he dropped stone dead at his colleagues hooves.

The other pony stared at his fallen companion but…laughed. What in Equestria was it with these guys ? I reached for my crossbow as his blade cleared the scabbard. He was still giggling as the dark blue foreleg snapped his head back and the sword point burst from his throat. Mitre let the pony drop, pulling his weapon free of the downed creature.

“Enemy numbers ?”, he panted.

“Unknown. I took out one in front of the tree line, theres the two here and another dead by the carriage. Four neutralised.”

Mitre nodded, reloading his crossbow, “What are you like for bolts ?”

“I’ve three bolts loaded, plus the four from our friend here.” I gestured down at the pony whose life I’d just ended. Mitre made a quick search of the bodies, uncovering two transparent parcels of white powder. He cut one open with the point of his sword and tasted it with his tongue. “Damn.”, he sighed, “Ryetalin, they’re jacked up on Fizz”.

“Sir ?” I queried.

Mitre motioned me to follow him and quietly began moving through the undergrowth. “Been seeing a lot of cases lately. Brought in by those smugglers using the portals, goes by the name of Fizz on the streets. Comes in initially as packs with the name ‘Ryetalin’ on them. It’s not Equestrian, Captain. Its effects, you’re seeing now first hoof.”

A pony crashed through the undergrowth a few yards in front of us and I put a bolt through its lungs before he had time to scream.

“Come on !” Mitre whispered and we made off uphill through the brush.

A while later we stopped to catch our breath. The Chief and I leaning against a big ash tree, hides steaming with sweat. “Did you see Fumbles ?” he asked me, nostrils flaring with each intake of the cool air.

“No Chief, no sign of him.”

He just nodded, “Got your TED still ?”. I rummaged in my pocket and took the small brass communications device out. Mitre pressed it to his ear, “Blaze….Blaze are you there ?”

“Chief !”, Blazes voice was strained, “The Watch house has been attacked, its those fuckers with the fire weapons. We’ve got ponies down but we’ve held. Agency ponies are here now giving supporting.”

Mitre spat, muttering to himself, “Fucking Agency ponies”. He held the comms device up, “Lieutenant, listen carefully. We’re up near the safehouse. Captain Fairlight and myself have been attacked, looks like an inside job. We need backup, now.”

“Chief, is the Captains wife safe ?”, Blaze asked. I detected a worried note to her voice.

“We’re on our way there now Blaze. Just get your Ponies out here quick !”

There was a muffled noise on the comms device and a different voice emerged. One I remembered all too well. “Chief Mitre ? This is Agent Sweetie, Celestian Bureau of Investigation. Your command has been passed to me, you are to stand down Watch Chief. I repeat, stand down.”

Mitre’s eyes were full of fury and snarled with a wolf like quality I’d never heard, “Do what you damned well please Agent Sweetie, but I….we have to secure the safe house and the Captains wife.”

Agent Sweetie’s voice was its usual monotone self, “Captain Fairlight is to be placed under arrest, Chief Mitre. Agents will be with you shortly to take him into custody. We will remedy the situation with his….wife.”

“There’s no time Sweetie, we need to move NOW !”, he shouted in exasperation.

“Chief Mitre, in the name of Princess Celestia, I order you to stand down !”.

“Agent Sweetie.,,,,?”, Mitres voice was soft and gentle.

“Yes ?”

“Go fuck yourself.”

An unintelligible blast of outrage was cut short by the sound of a scuffle, Blazes voice shouted at us, “We’re heading out Chief, units are diverting, hang on there for the Goddesses sake. ETA thirty minutes !”

A high pitched scream cut through the forest. “Oh Luna ! Meadow !” I shouted and grabbed my crossbow.

Mitre spoke quickly, into the comms unit, the strain telling in his voice, “We don’t have time, Meadows in trouble. Blaze, get your ponies here, we have to move now !”.

There was another scuffle and Blazes voice crackled, “Hang on Chief…..helps coming, just hang on….”, the device went dead.

Brush, brambles and branches ripped and snagged at my coat as I willed myself on. Celestia give me strength, I wasn’t a fast runner but today I felt like the very wind was fighting me. Foam sprayed from my muzzle, my muscles burned, another scream, plaintive on the breeze, but nearer. “I’m coming, Meadow”, I prayed in my mind, “Please, Luna, Celestia, don’t let anything happen to her…..”

The sunlight grew brighter as I drew closer to the edge of the forest, a small log cabin just visible through the undergrowth. I flung myself against a tree, panting, winded…but here. It was torture to not crash straight out into the open and up to the cabin, but if I had, I’d make a lovely target for any pony watching. As it was, I was sure they’d have heard my head long charge through the undergrowth.

I cocked the crossbow and loaded another bolt into place. Watch training kicked in, all other thought now superfluous background noise. Four shots, close range only. Distance to the house, approximately fifty yards. Hostile units…..

Mitre slid up beside me, crossbow at the ready. The big blue buck tapped his hoof to his eyes, ‘how many ?’. I tapped my hoof and circled my knee, ‘six’. Silently, I
continued to observe and sign the tactical information, ‘Two on the roof. One either side of the door. Two patrolling. At least one inside’. I could tell straight away these weren’t watch ponies, what had happened to the assigned guards wouldn’t bear thinking about right now. Now, I had to focus.

Chief Mitre nodded and signed back to me, the message was clear. He would take position and we would move in.

There was a loud crash of pottery breaking from inside the cabin accompanying the sounds of a scuffle. A cry of pain made the hairs on my back stand up, but I couldn’t stop to let the thought of what they were doing to her intrude now. It was time to go to work.

Chapter Twenty One - A cabin in the woods

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

A cabin in the woods

A small flash of sunlight from the Chiefs Heliograph, signalled he was in position. I flicked off the safety and took aim. Another signal and the two ponies on the roof fell, choking out their last breaths in this world. Racking the crossbows mechanism, I clicked another bolt into position. The patrolling pony turned at the sound of the one on the roof falling into the bushes behind the cabin. He lifted his crossbow and stopped in his tracks, a bolt through his chest. Damn it, the crossbow was at maximum effective range already and this guys hide must be tougher than most.

I broke cover, the short sword held low, point forward. He turned just as I reached him, my swords point splitting his hide, sliding through muscle and sinew before finally piercing his heart.

I sidestepped neatly, allowing gravity to pull his still warm corpse from my slick blade. A quick flick and the blood cleared the deadly steel. I moved as silently as a cloud across the sky, low and smooth. I could feel my muscles working beneath my skin, tensing, ready to strike.

A whistle from the side of the house caught the attention of the sentry and I sprung forward, slitting the throat of the guard before he could react. I caught his crossbow before it hit the porch floor but the bolt slid and clattered onto the planking below. The other guard span to face the new threat, pausing in shock as he took in the sight of his comrade falling to the floor, blood fountaining from his throat, his gore dripping from my sword.

It was the last thing he would ever see. His arms twitched as the huge blue earth pony’s forelegs twisted his neck with a sharp snap, silencing him forever. Watching Mitre in action was certainly an education.

The cabins interior was in total darkness, the curtains closed and the lamps extinguished. This wasn’t going to be easy. I’d searched the ponies outside for flash bugs, not finding even one. Mitre signed a tactical move and, reloading the crossbows,
we entered. Once in the darkened hallway, the Chief used his heliograph to see inside the first room before swinging in. Nothing. Next room.

A Fizz’d up Pony, foam flying from his nostrils, charged at us from the darkness screaming like a harpy. I put two bolts into him before he went down.

The third room, nothing. The fourth and last…..

The Chief signed. ‘On three’, I nodded my understanding. We kicked the door open, crossbows sweeping the room. Damn….empty.

There were signs of a violent struggle, broken glass, plates and smaller items were spilled liberally across the floor. I moved over to the upended chair and, in the sliver of light from between the curtains, I could see a dark wet patch glistening. I ran my hoof through it. Blood…blood and green hair. I looked closer, it could have been from any green pony but, goddesses no…. I lifted a long pale green hair, long enough to be from a mane or tail.

“Fairlight ?”, the Chiefs voice from behind me brought me back to my senses. He gestured towards the window, blood and green hair smeared across the bottom of the frame told their own story.

A stifled cry from the front of the house resounded through the cabin. As one, we ran back down the hallway, covering each other as we made the front door. Outside….Meadow, lying on her side at the hooves of a violet pony, sporting a short buzz cut white mane. He seemed familiar but those eyes, purple eyes I’d seen recently….

“Fumbles.” The Chief spat, raising his crossbow, “What the fuck are you doing pony ?”

The violet unicorn grinned at us and sighed out an exaggerated breath. “Whats it look like Chief ? I’m here for my tip”, he laughed and violently kicked Meadow who let out a moan of pain.

“You bastard ! I’ll fucking kill you !”, I screamed at him in fury, my mind a haze of red anger. “Down boy !”, the traitorous unicorn laughed as a bolt slammed into my hind leg, sending me to the ground.

“Keep your dog on a leash Mitre, eh ?” He sneered.

Mitre lowered his crossbow, raising a hoof. “Okay Fumbles, steady now, you’ve got our attention. Let the filly go and we’ll talk.”

“That’s better !”, Fumbles said in a jovial voice. “But not quite good enough…”. Another bolt shot out and struck Mitre in the chest. He fell, the ground shaking as his bulk slammed into it.

“Look….Fumbles….you don’t have to do this…”, the Chief managed, a look of pain crossing his face.

The violet unicorn looked up at the sky and scratched his chin in thought, “You know, I did wonder about that ? But then I thought, nah, you’ve caused me a lot of trouble Chief. My employers are not happy ponies, not happy at all. You’ve caused delays in shipments, cost them, me, money.”

“Is that what this is about ? Money ?!”, I shouted at him. Fumbles rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue. Another bolt slammed into my flank, making me scream aloud as the white hot agony flared through my body.

“For Celestia’s sake Fumbles, you’re a Watch Pony, we’re your brothers. Don’t do this.”
He shook his head, “My employers are not patient ponies Chief, oh, wait, here they are now.”
A sky carriage pulled by two cloaked unicorns landed gracefully near by. Fumbles kept his crossbow trained on us and two ponies, both covered with the same type of cloak as the carriages drivers, walked up to the violet one. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but it didn’t look good for any of us by the sidelong glances we were getting. I looked to Meadow, she was breathing but unconscious.

“Chief…”, I whispered, “..how you keeping up ?”.
He looked at me weakly, the bolt was deeply embedded, probably pressing on his heart by its position. If he didn’t get help soon, it’d be too late.

“Fairlight…..”, he croaked, “….save Meadow….”, his face contorted in pain, “Listen…I don’t think I’m…. going to make it, boy…. Get her out of here, tell Shelly I’m sorry. Can you….can you do that for me ?”.
“Chief for Luna’s sake, hold on the team’s on its way, helps coming”, I told my Chief, trying to sound encouraging. He nodded, closing his eyes with a smile. He didn’t believe me, I could tell.

Fumbles was having a conversation with another occupant of the sky carriage, finally bowing low as the door closed. With a flurry of wings, the carriage took to the air and out over the trees. The violet stallion walked over to Meadow sneering down at her before leaning down and running his tongue slowly up her neck while watching my reaction. “Such a pretty little thing isn’t she ?”, he oozed in that sickly voice of his, “I’ll bet you’ve ploughed this one plenty.”

I snarled at the damnable creature, “Leave her alone you bastard, you’ve done enough.”
“Done enough !?” he cried aloud waving his forelegs in the air in a theatrical display of mockery, “Oh no, Mister Watch pony, I haven’t done nearly enough. You see, we need a…..yes…an example. Ponies are timid creatures by nature, the strong ones rising to the top to lead the rest. Good followers you see ?”. He waved an expansive gesture with a foreleg, “Fear can be used as a tool to keep the others in line, allow our operation here to continue without…..’interference’.”

“You….traitorous dog”, Mitre said, “The watch will find you and….”
Fumbles clopped his hooves together and jigged about with a look of glee, “Oh ! Of course ! Silly me, how could I forget. Must be my age, but then you’d know all about that wouldn’t you Mitre ?”. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, round golden coloured device. My heart sank.

“So trusting…..”, he said softly.

Standing on his hind legs as if to an imaginative audience, Fumbles shouted out, his voice echoing across the forest clearing,

“Oh ponies of the Watch, where fore art thou ? Come hither to the rescue of these three, thy distressed brothers and sister.” He spoke to the device, mimicking the Chiefs voice, “Whats that ? You’re there and the place is empty ? A bomb you say ? Everyone blown to matchwood you say ? Oh my goodness !”

Fumbles shook his mane and fixed us with a look of absolute contempt, “Yes, I’m afraid, dearest Chief Mitre and supporting act….”, he gestured towards me dismissively, “your flying squad will be slightly delayed. Rather than arriving here in, what was it now….’thirty minutes ?’, there will be a slight change to the scheduled destination…..”.

He stood on his hind legs again, forelegs raised up and head back, “….The Afterlife !” he screamed out hysterically.

“You first, cunt….”, Mitre gasped out as he emptied the entire magazine of the crossbow into Fumbles’ chest. The vile creature staggered back, scrabbling at the shafts protruding from him, blood already beginning to trickle down from the wounds. He fell backwards, dead.

I looked to Mitre. The Chiefs eyes were glassy and lifeless, my old boss and mentor, had left to join the Eternal Herd. I magicked up my crossbow and rolled to see the cloaked ponies rushing me. I loosed a shot off at the first and he yelped as the bolt clipped his ear. I tried to cycle the next bolt but the cursed thing was jammed solid. Using it like a cudgel, I swung it at the biggest one of the two, bouncing off him harmlessly.

As their distance closed, I drew my sword. The large pony stopped and produced a long black tube from the depths of his cloak. I’d seen these before, this was one of those scum from the warehouse and now he was going to finish the job. I was staring death in the face when my world exploded in fire and pain. I fell into darkness, the world crumbling in around me. From what sounded like they came from a distant world, I heard the fading voices of the two ponies,

“Celestias tits, Mel, looks like you damn near blew his head off ! Is he still alive ?”

“Still breathing, but not for long I reckon. Come on we’ve got a job to do.”.

“We’ve still got time to have some fun with this cute little filly first, right ?”

“Yeah. By the time we’re done with these two, no pony will ever fuck with the boss ever again.”

Their laughter was the last thing I hear before the darkness swallowed me whole.

Chapter Twenty Two - Possessions

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Possessions

I had to get out of here. This damnable place was starting to pull me back and forth like a foals yoyo, the blasted crystal was shining brighter than ever but the hills it seemed to point me towards looked just as far away as ever. The best part of all of this was that they were on the other side of the lake and there was no way to cross in a straight line. Other than swimming of course, and there wasn’t a chance I was going to even contemplate doing that, not with those tentacle-y round blob things about, I could only hope I could walk around it.

I shuddered at the intrusive memory of the slimy white tentacle creatures touch, not to mention the feeling of them actually worming their way though my body absorbing my very essence. Right, that was it ! I was definitely going to find a way out of here….

‘How’ of course, was the real issue here. Shadow snorted at me, facing toward the hills in the distance, “beyond”. “I know love”, I replied solemnly, “but I’ve no idea how to get there. I don’t have wings like you.” She bobbed her head and preened her wings before nuzzling my neck. She was an affectionate little creature, I had quite taken to her. Not that there was anything actually ‘little about her of course, it just sounded, right somehow….’endearing’. I wasn’t into all this, ‘bonding’ and ‘mate’ thing though, especially as the conniving little Thestral had bamboozled me into it, but as a companion, she fit the bill perfectly.

We followed the shore line for hours before a sudden thought occurred to me. I turned to Shadow, “Shadow, do you know a way to cross this lake ?”. She cocked her head to one side, “Cross ?” she asked. “Yes, a bridge, a boat. Starswirl found a way across and he was a unicorn.”, at least I think he was, falling asleep in classes really helped me when I needed it !

“No. Fairlight….fly ?”

“I cant love, I’m not a Thestral, no wings see ?” I pointed to my flank. Wait a minute….”Oh my goddesses !” I cried out, “wheres my…..”. I scrabbled frantically with my hooves, rolling over to check the other side, it had been there that long that I’d stopped noticing it. I’d been here for so long….when had it….., “Its gone !”. I ran in circles, huffing and snorting, losing myself in my distress. Shadow slammed me to the ground with her forelegs and I sprawled in a heap gasping up at her, “I’m a bloody…..’blank flank !’. Shit, shit, SHIT ! Whats this fucking place going to throw at me next ? Are my frigging ear going to drop off or something ? Luna fuck me fucking sideways !”

I ranted for a good while before shadow finally grew bored of my foalish tantrum and walked away. Moping done, I clambered to my hooves and headed out after her, keeping a good distance out of embarrassment. How do I explain cutie marks and blank-flanks to a Thestral ? I’d been teased mercilessly at school, being the last in our

class to get mine; A spyglass. I thought it was pretty cool but the other foals joked that I’d only gotten that because I’d been looking for a talent for so long, my cutie mark special talent WAS looking for one. My head hurt just thinking about, I wasn’t the brightest foal in the class, but I was a hard worker and eventually, I’d risen to the rank of Captain in the Watch. Bloody foals…..

My revelry ended when I unceremoniously bumped head first into Shadow’s rump. She didn’t even flinch, she was so pre-occupied staring out across the water at something. I followed her gaze but couldn’t see anything at all.

“What it is Shadow ?” I asked her quietly.

“Father”, she replied.

Sure enough a few seconds later a rumbling cry echoed across the water and Far Sight, my new father in law, ugh !, dived down from the sky, swooping right over our heads and causing a spray of water to hit us in the down draft. He pulled up steeply, flaring his massive wings to arrest his descent, twisting until he hovered there facing us. His wings beat rhythmically while he landed vertically, all four legs bending slightly to absorb the impact. It was all very impressive. I glanced at Shadow, heartened that she was stood there straight and proud, unabashed, her red eyes glowing with a fierce fiery glow. Alluring if you liked them thin and terrifying. Oh, and teeth, don’t forget the teeth !

“Looks like Dad’s back”, I said.

Shadows sisters landed behind him, well behind him I noticed. His red eyes glowed like suns in the darkness of the Withers and he raised his head back like a snake ready to strike before snapping it forward, jaws wide. A screaming roar hit me with the force of a hurricane. Shadows wing snapped out and covered me from the worst of it. I’d have to thank her later.

Her intervention did not impress her father, he snapped at her with his sharp teeth, nowhere near to actually connect but enough of a display to impress on her his anger. His daughter snapped right back at him. ‘Oh crap, Shadow, you’re not helping here !’, I thought to myself. I was going to have to do something to get us own of this situation. I pushed Shadow behind me protectively and faced Far Sight, keeping well out of range of those bloody great teeth.

Ember trotted forward to stand by her fathers side. She clicked and cawed and Shadow replied in kind. ‘These Thestrals should come with subtitles’, I wondered sarcastically.

“My Father, Lord Far Sight of the Land Beyond, commands you to return his daughter, Fairlight, Pony of Equestria.”

This was all sounding terribly formal.

“No.” I replied calmly. Ember spoke in the ear splitting language to her father before turning back to me, “My father demands that you return his daughter. The bonding is annulled.”

I turned to Shadow who looked intently into my eyes, “What do you want to do love ? This is your home, its not mine. We’ve had a good time of it you and I. I wont stop you if you want to go back with your family.”

She looked at me for a long time, her eyebrows crinkling slightly and, there, from the corner of her eye, a tiny yellow drop, a flame, trickled down her cheek to drop on the ground. Well done Fairlight, you’ve managed to make a girl from another species cry now. What a bloody hero….

“No”. Shadows response slammed into my head with the subtlety of a brick.

“Speak !” Called Ember.

“She said ‘No’”.

“What !? She cannot ! Her father is the Lord of the Land Beyond !”.

I stood tall and looked at Far Sight as I replied to Embers words, “Regardless of that, she has given you her reply. I don’t know about your world, but in mine, No means No.”

The big Thestral pushed Ember aside and screamed a blast of hot air at me. My eyes burned and I could feel the rage inside me screaming in kind, screaming for release. I knew, without doubt, that I could destroy this creature without breaking a sweat, freeze the flesh from his bones and rip him limb from bloodied limb. My anger swirled up and threatened to overwhelm my self control with its power. I felt myself fall into a fighting stance, my throat vibrating with a rising guttural sound.

My vision was suddenly filled with….Shadows rump ! Her midnight black tail swishing back and forth angrily as she stood right in front of my muzzle, looking up at her father. Rearing on two legs she slammed her forelegs down into the sand, Goddesses ! I could see the glare from her red eyes from here. Shadow took a deep breath and screamed an animal cry that lifted the sand in a ripple which made even her father step back.

“MINE !”

Far Sight roared back at her but there was something in his body language, a quiver of uncertainty…it could have been my imagination of course but….

“MINE !”, Shadow screamed again, louder and with such force my head was pounding. She stomped a hoof, baring her teeth to emphasise her determination.

Even from this angle, I could see her chest heaving, she was breathing hard, but she stood her ground. If her father attacked, she wouldn’t stand a chance, he was nearly twice her size and with teeth like swords. Time seemed to grind to a silent halt. Far Sight simply stood there, unmoving, Ember and her two sisters nickered nervously and squawked, Shadow quietly waited, steam curling up from her nostrils.

The seconds dragged on until Ember stepped forward, breaking the stalemate. She spoke at length with her father before walking over to us, head low, “Father says that he will hear from you, Equestrian”.

Luna, what was I going to say to this creature ? Shadows father loomed over me as I approach him. I wished I’d taken that course on negotiations offered by the Watch now. Why the hell hadn’t I gone on it ? Ah….yes… I remember now. It was Brittles retirement do and I’d had too much to drink, so, I’d called in sick. I hoped to the good Goddesses I wasn’t going to regret this…….

I bowed respectfully. “Lord Far Sight”, I began, “I am not native to your lands nor the Wither world, this is true. I am honoured to be travelling with your daughter on my journey and thankful for your concern for her safety. I am no warrior, but I pledge to you with all my heart and soul, that I will defend her with my life. I will not allow harm to befall her so long as I draw breath.”

Far Sight looked on. I noted that Ember had stopped translating for some reason too. Damn it, here goes…..

“Great Lord Far Sight of the Thestrals, you honour me with your presence and I offer you my greatest respects. I humbly request that my mate and I be allowed to travel your lands to the Beyond so that we may complete our journey.”

The huge Thestral opened his jaws and steam rolled out from between his battery of teeth. A deep thunderous voice rumbled through my brain, making my whole body shiver and knees begin to quake. I breathed in deeply to calm my racing heart and held my ground at the mental onslaught.

“You flatter me Equestrian. You show me respect and respect my daughter. I tell you now, truly, I do not like…..’ponies’….” That explained a lot. “…you do not belong here. Ember tells me that you saved Shadow from a river demon, does she speak true ?”

I nodded.

“Against my wishes, Shadow has pledged herself to you. You have eaten together of the Cetean Egg ?”

Again I nodded.

“What will you do when you reach the Beyond, Equestrian ?”, Far Sights question boomed at me.

“My gracious Lord Far Sight, It is my intent to return to world of mortals”, I replied.

He considered me for a moment and shook his mane, looking intently at Shadow. Somehow, he radiated the feeling of….sadness, of loss. Shadow sensed it too, her head held low. The huge male turned his attention back to me.

“What of my daughter Equestrian ? Will you abandon her when you attain your goal ?”

I looked at Shadow. Despite her bony appearance which would send most ponies heading for the hills in terror, she….there was something about her, something I couldn’t quite put my hoof on. She noticed me looking and gazed up at me with those burning red eyes. Nobility, a strength inside her that I hadnt thought about until now. But there it was, a proud spirit, unbroken and true. She reminded me of……

“My Lord, your daughter is a proud Thestral, of that I know. She has a strength of heart and courage that will weather any storm. If the goddesses will it, if it can be done, I would take her to the mortal world with me. Truly, your daughter will make the choice herself when the times comes. She has her own will, her own destiny. No pony, No Thestral can command the daughter of Far Sight. My mate commands her own life.”

Silence fell between us, you could have heard the proverbial pin drop.

Far sight blinked at me. Turning full circle, he snapped his wings out full stretch before rearing up on his hind legs. I held my breath, unsure as to what would happen next. What did happen was the last thing I expected, the Thestral Lord began to laugh. His chest heaved as his booming laughter shook the sky, the sound making the sand leap around us and send ripples out across the lake. He laughed until he was hoarse, his daughters and I standing there dumbfounded.

“It seems I have found a son at last !” He cried out, stomping his hooves in the sand. His daughters seemed somewhat less than impressed.

“My Lord honours me”, I bowed to the Thestral.

“Yes !...yes, I do Equestrian. Fairlight…yes ?”, he rumbled happily.

I nodded. Far Sight, settled his wings and settled himself into the sand, “Now, Fairlight of Equestria, I will hear your tale. In full.”. The Thestrals daughters and I formed a circle, reminiscent of camping in the hills around Ponyville. I had a feeling this was going to be a long night…

Chapter Twenty Three - A short way down

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

A short way down

I yawned, the big male Thestral had pulled every grain of memory he could from me, examined it and went back for more. I wondered if he were a friendlier version of the memory eating river monster, at least with that I had been able to fight it off. Far Sight was utterly merciless.

Ember and her sisters were curled up next to each other sound asleep. Apparently my story telling was as riveting as ever, I’d need to brush up on that when I put Sparrow to bed at night. Meadow would……..I closed my eyes and clicked my tongue, not now damn it.

Far Sight nodded, thinking his great Thestral thoughts. A quick preen of those huge wings and a snort brought back my attention.

“Fairlight of Equestria, whether my daughter has chosen well or not remains to be seen. Your character pleases me, I am confident that you will protect her with your life if there is the need. It is the Thestral way, and now, it is also your way.”

He stretched out in the sand, adjusting his legs, “I am however, disturbed by this ‘power’ you used to defeat the river demon. How came you by such a destructive force ?”

I answered as honestly as I could, “Truthfully, I have no idea. It just seemed to appear after I arrived in the Withers. Whatever it is, I cant enter the Eternal Herd until its gone.”

“And you still want to enter this… ‘Eternal Herd’ ?”, Far Sight asked.

“I…..”. Did I ? I wanted with all my heart to be with Meadow, with my daughter. Why was I trying to get back to the mortal world after all ? To take revenge on the ponies who murdered me, my wife and unborn foal ? Shouldn’t I be trying to purge myself of this…thing…inside me ? What about Shadow ? She was bonded to me now and as much as I wanted it to be otherwise I….I wasn’t sure any more. If some pony had asked me earlier if I saw the Thestral as nothing more than an otherworldly travelling companion, I would have answered yes, but now….

I looked across at the black coated creature with the fiery eyes who was busy cleaning her coat with light nibbles from those wicked teeth. She noticed my gaze and looked
up at me silently. She’d stayed awake throughout my recollection and drank in every word. Her eyes hot red glow warming my soul in this cold land.

“I don’t know”, was all I could manage. Pathetic, Fairlight…bloody pathetic.

Far sight looked from me, to his daughter and then back to me, nodding slowly. “You will know when the time comes. Do not be in such a rush to join them, my Equestrian friend. Your time will come….in time.”

“Lord Far Sight ?”, he waved a hoof for me to continue, ”Do you remember a pony called Starswirl the Bearded ?”. I described his appearance and the Thestral turned his head to stare out across the water, apparently in thought.

“Yes. I remember. He was an Equestrian, like you. A traveller of worlds, a pony of great power. He was a friend to my father.”

“Do you know how he crossed the lake ? Is there some way Shadow and I can cross it safely ?”

Far Sight bit at his foreleg for a moment before answering me.

“I do not know how he crossed the great lake Equestrian. You, will fly”.

Oh bollocks, not again. I had a horrible feeling this was coming. I hung my head, even the memory of vertigo made my stomach turn somersaults. But if this was the only way, or at least the quickest, it had to be done. We’d come too far to turn back now. To Tartarus with it, lets do this !

I stood, shaking the sand from my coat, mane and tail. “Very well, Lord Far Sight, I thank you for your wisdom”.

“And so you should Equestrian”, he laughed as he too rose to his hooves. His daughters, woken by his movement, similarly stood up and shook off the sand.

I walked over to Shadow and she nuzzled me softly. I noticed some sand caught in a fold on her wing and blew it free. She gave a little shudder and a small chirrup escaped her lips. “Are you ready love ?”, I asked, helping her to her hooves. “Yes”, the little Thestral said pushing into me, “Love”. Oh Celestia ! I heard a deafening neigh from behind me and tentatively turned to find myself muzzle to muzzle with Far Sight. “Wha..!”, I started back but he moved forward with me. “You are my daughters mate…Fairlight…it is only to be expected. However…”, his eyes flared a blinding crimson, “…there are young Thestrals here. Please, keep your displays for when you are….alone.”

I felt my cheeks burning and covered my face with a foreleg. I peeked out to see Shadows sisters giving us side long glances and giggling in that odd clicking, squawking way of their kind. Shadow looked away, a reddish hue to her cheeks. Damn, blast and buggeration ! This was all I needed right now and even worse, I was

starting to feel hot inside, really hot. I had to keep my focus on something else….that was it ! Flying ! Oh…bollocks…..

Chapter Twenty Four - Sacrifices

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Sacrifices

For one gut wrenching moment, I had the alarming thought that I’d have to ride on Far Sights back. The big buck was probably more than capable of carrying me, but instead, the job fell to his daughters. One of them returned later that day with a bundle of ropes, what looked like ropes anyway. Long, white slimy, gooey, Oh Goddesses !, it was one of those water dwelling things wasn’t it ?! I closed my eyes when they passed the ‘ropes’ under me, each sister taking a mouthful of the vile things.

Firmly grasping the ends, they flew into the air in a beating mass of wings with their payload, me, suspended underneath. The feeling of the slimy things against my coat and nethers was indescribable, not to mention the sliding, slipping feeling I had as we lifted off the ground. I closed my eyes and tried to think of something…anything else. This was going to be a long trip.

I was pleasantly surprised when I found that the combination of the cool breeze from the Thestrals wings and the rhythmic bobbing of my makeshift sling, was actually quite therapeutic. I even ventured so far as to open my eyes to look down, barely opening them to begin with, I’ll admit, but soon I was able to take in the sheer expanse of the black lake below me. The peculiar half-light in the Withers gave an ethereal beauty to the scenery around me. I marvelled at the co-ordination of the Thestrals and looked into the distance at Far Sight, circling us. “Recon”, I thought aloud. A muffled chirrup caught my attention and I saw Shadow looking back at me, eyes aglow.

I settled back and looked around at the water. We weren’t as high as I’d thought, the Thestrals were struggling a little with their unusual load. I silently thanked them and smiled.

Watching the water below, the ripples on the surface kept catching the light making them sparkle. I followed them out with my eyes….funny, they almost seemed to be following us. It must have a reaction to the downdraught from the Thestrals wings….Only, these ripples were growing larger, growing…and speeding up.

“Far Sight !” I shouted, “Theres something in the water !”, “Shadow !”.

Sensing danger, the Thestrals strained to gain height with Far Sight diving in and around us. I stared down but the ripples had vanished, thank Luna, looks like it was just my overactive imagination. Far Sight continued to circle, urging his daughters to gain height. The strain was almost palpable, if only there was something I could do to
help them, something, anything, no matter how insignificant, but I was helpless, hanging there suspended beneath these incredible creatures.

I looked ahead to see that the light appeared to be, different, in some fashion. I tried to make my eyes focus, straining to make it out and then, there it was. There was no

doubt.....it was…Land ! Sweet, sweet land ! I felt a huge relief wash through me just as the water exploded upwards in a whirling fountain of water, spikes and teeth.

In the blink of an eye one of the Thestrals was gone. In a bone crunching, sickening blur of teeth, sticky warm blood sprayed over me mixing with the chill black water. Slamming back into the lake below, the strangled cry of fear and pain echoing in my ears heralded the horrifying death of one of Shadow’s sisters. Screeching and clicking, they flew for all they were worth. Though I hung on with my hooves and forelegs as best I could, it was clear I couldn’t last long, they couldn’t last long. I glanced down to see the water getting nearer with every exhausted wing beat. I was dragging them down to their deaths.

Far Light cried out for the loss of a daughter. Rage, hate and loss howled out across the water. The creature beneath broached the surface again, flicking the dismembered Thestral’s remains high into the air before she disappeared down its foul maw. As it slipped back beneath the waves, I caught a glimpse of a translucent white eye, heartless and uncaring….hungry. It would be back, and soon.

I was starting to lose my grip. Shadow looked down at me, “Near Beyond” she thought. Goddesses, the look on her face; fear, anger and determination warred with one another. And fatigue. I looked at her two sisters, they were all reaching the end of their endurance. I offered a prayer to Luna and hung on for dear life.

The monstrous lake creature burst up again, arrowing straight for one of the Thestrals…. Ember. She hadn’t seen it. I heaved on the ropes connecting me to her, making Ember lurch to one side with a squawk of surprise as the white serpent howled past. Far Sight almost barrelled into us, raking the thing with a burst of fire from his mouth. My mouth by comparison, hung open in surprise. I’d seen steam rising from Thestrals nostrils and even their mouths, but fire ? Ah hell, why not. Nothing surprised me here now. Well, maybe a little…

We were dangerously low to the water now and the Thestrals were all but spent. It wasn’t far to the shore but at our rate of decent, we weren’t going to make it. Far Sight pulled along side, encouraging his daughters and made a grab for the dangling rope. I saw the danger before they did, the white haze below the waters surface was rapidly approaching from behind, waves beginning to spread out, closing the distance. With a horrible certainty, I knew that any moment now, one of us would be taken. I recalled a pony saying once, “Your words will come back to haunt you”. I remembered mine, “I pledge to you with all my heart and soul, that I will defend her with my life. I will not allow harm to befall her so long as I draw breath.”

I smiled up at Shadow, her tired eyes going wide in realisation. “Forgive me love” I mouthed and let go of the rope.

The water was as frigid as it could be without being actual ice and it took my breath away. The impact with the surface was bone shaking but thankfully, as I hadn’t fallen that far, I was only under for a second before broaching the surface spluttering. The first thing I saw when I could finally pull myself together, were the serpent’s eyes

several feet away above the water line. Those terrible dead orbs had locked onto their next meal.

I spat out water, desperately clawing for the small ball of anger within me, but in my panic for breath in the freezing lake, I couldn’t find any focus. I wasn’t the best swimmer in Equestria to begin with, but try doing it in near freezing water and you improve fast. For all the effort I was putting in, I was only going to die tired when the thing reached me. A moment later, it dived, then almost instantly, shot upwards once more and angled itself for a tasty meal of Fairlight. I’d stared death in the face before and this time was no different, it just had more teeth.

“You don’t scare me you great toothy turd !” I shouted waving my forelegs at it, “I hope you fucking choke !”.

The serpent hissed out a damp shrieking noise as it dove down on me. Well, this was it. Death number two coming up, for Luna’s sake give me a break…..

I’d reckoned without the fire making abilities of Far Sight however, as a jet of his concentrated fire hit the serpent right in its open maw. There was a horrible noise of crackling flesh and the smell of burnt rubber as the thing writhed, plunging beneath the surface once more. Two of the Thestral sisters gained height but one of them flapped downwards, hovering just above me, a rope held in her mouth. “Fairlight !” shadow thought at me in panic.

What was the stupid mare doing !? “For the Goddesses sake Shadow, get out of here ! Get yours sisters and fly ! Leave me and go !”
“No !”. The thought hammered into my head with all the subtlety of a flying brick. In frustration I gripped the rope and she pulled. Even as I kicked with all my might towards the far shore, it was immediately apparent this wasn’t going to work, but…. it may buy me some time to find that ball of power within me. I could sense it, just out of reach. A slippery bar of soap in the bathtub of my being.

Embers cry’s of warning caught my attention as Shadow heaved again on the rope. In helpless horror, I watched as snapping teeth and spiked fins burst from the water beside me, ripping a thick chunk of flesh from her side. Shadows blood fell on my upturned face like warm rain.

With a heart rending scream, the Thestral fell from the sky and down into the inky waters of the lake. I struck out for the floundering mare, grabbing her around the neck to keep her afloat. She was terrified, blood gushing from her wound, mixing with the water around us. Shadow looked into my eyes with a far away look, “Fairlight ?”. There was no mistaking the weakness in her voice, I was losing her. Goddesses, it was happening again. Again ! I felt a dark pit open in my heart and I stared into it, jumped into it, willing myself deeper. A voice, my own, echoed through my entire being. By
all that was good in this world, to all that was evil, the powers of the day and the night, the light and the dark, give me the strength to throw down my enemy and save this mare. I prayed to whatever gods would listen, to anything that would heed my call. I offered them my life, my very soul.

They answered……..

The small hard ball of ice cold anger had never left. I’d just, misplaced it. It welcomed me, filled me, burned my veins and froze my soul. A cascade of power flooded through me….it was me. I howled in agony and moaned in ecstasy as wings as white as snow burst from my back, my coat turning from its dark grey to the same brilliant white as my newly grown wings.

My mind was a tempest of emotions and animalistic instinct. Several feet away, the creature leapt up at Far Sight to be met with another blast of scorching fire. I took the distraction to grab Shadow and with a strong beat of wings, effortlessly pulled her free from the sucking black liquid. I breathed deeply, drawing in the smells and sounds of battle, mixing it with the burning ice in my heart until it was called forth. It demanded its release and I obeyed. Blue-white fog plumed from my maw, passing over dagger like teeth and down onto the waters surface, freezing it instantly. The ice spread out at an incredible rate, hungrily devouring the black water as it broiled along in every direction.

I landed on the thick white mass and gently lowered the panting Thestral onto its ethereal solidity. I let out a cry of anger and magic, the fog coalescing into a wall surrounding shadows body, protecting her. I watched as it froze solid, the blue-white shimmer, sparkling like silver stars. It pleased me. Now….now I was hungry and my hunger demanded it be sated. I turned my eyes towards my meal and smiled, howling a warning out across the water. It was time for vengeance, it was time….to feed.

Chapter Twenty Five - Unexpected changes

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Unexpected changes

The serpent saw me screaming towards it and dove to avoid my attack. My horn glowed with a deep blue light and an incandescent beam of purest energy lanced down into the water, instantly boiling it to steam. Clouds of scalding vapour rose into the air and I banked steeply to make another pass as the thing thrashed to the surface, letting out a hideously loud cry. With a flap of my wings, I passed over the serpent again and again, the intense beam bringing the ink black lake to a bubbling heat the creature desperately tried to escape from. I laughed aloud at its hopeless struggles to get away, my horn blasting the water into scalding death, corralling it into the oncoming white fog.

The collision was delectable, I felt as much as saw the serpent trying to pull itself onto the ice to escape the boiling water, then realising, too late…it was trapped. The fog surrounded the creature, slowing it movements, turning its innards to solid ice.

I alighted upon the frozen mass, slowly advancing on the vile thing, my head held high, my wings spread wide. A display of power and dominance over my fallen foe. I had mastered it and it knew, I could see it in those pitiless eyes, the realisation that its end had come.

A fierce need for sustenance flared up from inside me and I growled low and hungrily at the serpent. Its eyes followed me as I circled it, thick white mist dripping from between my teeth. I inhaled. A warm sensation filled me, sweet and fulfilling. I closed my eyes and breathed in again, warmer this time, full of energy, full of life. It was…delicious. A taste I had never known before, so….so wonderful ! How had I never experienced this before ?! I breathed in, again and again until I was sated. Shaking my mane as the ecstasy subsided, I opened my eyes and looked at the now empty husk of the lake serpent before me. Its lifeless eyes, dead, in the truest sense of the word.

Part of me was horrified at the sight, at what I had done to another living creature. The other revelled in the destruction of what I had wrought. The damnable beast had wounded my mate, killed one of her sisters. It had dared to attacked me….it deserved death, and I was happy to oblige. I paused, a memory of a glowing pair of red eyes… “My….mate…..”.

An impact on the ice behind me signalled Far Sights arrival, “Equestrian ! Where is my daughter ?!”.

“Follow !” I cried, launching into the air, skimming over the ice until I reached the wall I’d created to protect her. Ember and her sister were already there with Shadow, clicking and whinnying in agitation. I gently reached out and gathered her up in my
forelegs and with a blast of air from my wings, propelled us toward the shore of the Beyond.

Chapter Twenty Six - Innocence

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Innocence

Shadows wounds were severe. Broken bone and torn sinew, muscle…so much blood. Her sisters stood over her, their tears dripping burning red droplets onto her injuries. I had been surprised at first, and alarmed, but Far Sight had stopped me from interfering.

“You are not familiar with our ways, Equestrian. My daughters tears can heal wounds, revive the sick and the weak. You must wait, be strong and believe in her”.

It was easier said than done. I was confused, angry and afraid. I didn’t want to lose Shadow. I couldn’t, not now….

Ember trotted over to her father and spoke to him quietly. There was a sad resignation in the whistles and click that made my heart skip a beat. The large Thestral gave her a brief nuzzle then walked slowly over to me, his head down.

“Equestrian. Fairlight... My daughter says that she and her sister have done all they can. Theres is a poison in her body, something in the serpents bite, which is preventing her wounds from healing. My son, your mate, Shadow, is near death.”

He nudged me with his nose towards the prone figure of Shadow. “Be with her now Fairlight, she will want you by her side when her end comes.”

In a shocked daze, I rose to my hooves. I walked slowly over to my precious companion, my only true friend in this cursed land. The one who had risked everything to rescue me from my own stupid attempt at heroics. Now, she was dying. The little Thestral, bonded to me, mated to me, was losing her fight for life. I should have done more to protect her. I should have been more. I knelt before her and cradled her head in my forelegs as I had done once before, with another beloved mare. It felt like it was so long ago now, yet here I was again, losing some pony else that I…that I….

“Fairlight ?”

She opened her eyes and nuzzled me weakly. “Shadow…..I….”, I began,

“Love ?”
Oh goddesses, why ? Why was this happening again ? I cried out, howled and screamed my pain into that endless damned sky, that unending panorama of hopelessness that trapped me…us…in this hell.

I held her and felt my tears begin to fall. I heard a little gasp from one of the Thestrals nearby but I paid it no heed. I rocked my Shadow, my precious Thestral, as snow silently fell around us, covering her in a soft white shroud for her passing.

I choked back the pain but the tears kept falling, turning to tiny crystals as they dropped onto Shadows mouth and vanished. With each one, she twitched slightly, a tiny movement but one which gave me pause. I looked back at her terrible wound and saw little wisps of steam rising from it, saw bone fusing back together, re-growing, muscle knitting to muscle. Slowly, ever so slowly…yes…there it was…my Goddesses….

I wonder….I groped inside for the feeling of power, of primal fulfilment I had experienced earlier. It was there, waiting for me. Carefully, I teased some of it free, a tiny trickle of sparkling silver light dripping from my maw to hers. Shadows tongue licked at the light and her eyes flickered. It wasn’t enough, she needed more.

Lifting her head, I placed my mouth over hers, filling her with the silvery light. Slowly, her eyes opened and I felt her tongue push into my mouth, brushing against mine, exploring, tasting, hungering.

The steam rising from her wounds increased and I saw from the corner of my eye, the last of her hide stitching itself seamless back together. Her chest rose and fell as her breathing steadied, her strength returning. I relaxed my grip but as I did, her forelegs grabbed me in that bony embrace and she pushed her mouth onto mine, letting out a light rumbling noise from her throat. The sensation was….intense. Heat, and a sweet spicy taste, flooded into my mouth, her moist tongue wrapping itself around mine. I could feel Shadows heart pounding in her chest as she pushed into me.

A loud shrieking and clicking behind us made us jump apart. Shadow looked away, abashed, hiding her face with her hooves.

Ember and her sister pranced around each other, looking on like school foals who’d stumbled across something they shouldn’t have. Far Sight however, was not impressed.

“I have asked you before, Equestrian, to keep your mortal hooves off my daughter when my family can see you !”, he shouted at me so loudly I had to cover my ears with my forelegs. It didn’t help in the slightest. “Perhaps there is something wrong with your hearing ?” He bellowed even louder.

“No sir…”, I managed as nothing more than a squeak.
“WHAT ?”, I didn’t think it possible for his voice to get any louder, but goddesses, was I wrong.
“NO SIR !” I flung back at him as loud as I could.

I nearly yelped in surprise when the huge creature lumbered forward and scooped me up into a hug with those long bony forelegs. A moment later, I was released and he placed a hoof on my shoulder, “Thank you”.

I was taken aback, unsure as to what to say. Plopping back on my haunches I stared into space, while Far Sight headed back to his daughters. Whatever had happened here today, It didn’t matter, Shadow was alive and safe. A pair of slender, if rather knobbly forelegs passed around my neck as a warm muzzle slid up to mine from behind. A sultry red eye, an inch from my own, peered into my soul while her voice entered my heart, “Mine”.

Chapter Twenty Seven - Into the beyond

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Into the Beyond

We had been camped together for several days near the foothills of what the Thestrals had called ‘the Beyond’. Far Sight had explained to me that the area Shadow and I were seeking was still some ways to the north. How he knew which way was north was a mystery to me, this place looked the same whichever direction I went in. The big Thestral had tried to explain but most of it was in some sort of inscrutable logic that I suspected only another Thestral could comprehend. I smiled and thanked him for his explanation.

That evening, (it was by Embers explanation although I’d have to take her word for that too), my clicking and shrieking pony-esq hosts gathered in a circle. Ember trotted over to me and nudged my rump with her nose, “Come Fairlight of Equestria, we are ready now.” Without further explanation she trotted back to the others and resumed her place.

Shadow nudged me into a roughly equidistant position to the others and closed her eyes. I waited, for what I had no idea, whatever it was though, I had been accepted by these enigmatic creatures and I would play my part.

“Fairlight. My son.”

I looked into Far Sights eyes and waited for his words respectfully.

“This day, we mourn our lost daughter, our lost sister. You did not know her as we know her. Wind Sheer was a child of my tribe and a friend to you, a sister to your mate.”, I listened carefully as he continued, “This day, you are of our family, a Thestral, proud and true, strong and fearless. This day I ask you to mourn the passing of our daughter and see her soul to the next world by remembering her life in this. Will you join with us, brother Thestral ?”

“I will”, I said, keeping eye contact with him. He nodded and silence fell upon the five of us.

A low humming emanated from Far sight, rising like a deep tide, powerful and strong. It rolled out across the foothills, echoing its call. Ember lifted her head and let out a long call of her own, tinged with sorrow, mournful in its sombre tone.

Short Stride, the smaller of the Thestral sisters, added a thrumming cry to the other two. The sound pulsed, high and low, drawing up a sense of life, death and simple existence.

Finally, Shadow raised her voice to join her families. High and pure, flowing with joy and happiness, her simple elegant note mingled with the others producing a chorus like no other.

I marvelled at the richness of the sound, there was nothing like this in the whole of Equestria, I felt like I was being lifted up, higher than the tallest mountain, up to the heavens beyond the clouds. Tears filled my eyes and I wept with the sadness of our lost sister, I mourned the passing of my fathers daughter. I laughed at the exuberance of her youth, marvelled in her enjoyment of life. Memories, not my own, flashed through my mind; Far Sight playing with Wind Sheer as a tiny Thestral foal, an older Thestral carrying her on her back teaching her to fly, Shadow rolling with her in the white grass of her home land. The scenes brought sights, sounds and smells I never believed possible.

Emotion crashed through me and felt a surge of warmth spreading from my muzzle to my tail. Today I was the son of the Lord of the Beyond, the mate to his daughter. This day, I was a Thestral of the Wither World. I would honour her family and remember her sister. I threw back my head and cried out the lament of my soul into the whirling song of the Thestrals.

Around us, soft white snow began to fall…..

Far Sight yawned expansively, giving a long purring rumble of pleasure while Ember rubbed his shoulders. “You should have Shadow do this for you Fairlight, it loosens the muscles and feels excellent !”

I smiled at Far Sight, glancing over my shoulder at Shadow who was talking with Short Stride.

“I can but ask her, Mr Lord….”, I said. He laughed out loud, making Ember click her tongue in annoyance as she readjusted her fore hooves on his joints.

It was very difficult to tell Thestrals apart, or more accurately I should say, ‘had been’. At first, they all looked the same to me, all bony leathery wings and, well….bones I suppose. The pointy ears and fiery red eyes varied a lot as did the size, teeth and so forth. Little differences added up to being able, at a glance to tell them apart :

Far Sight, huge, massive teeth, long pointy ears like a dragons horns, looks like he could tear a pony apart in seconds. His hide, almost black with battle scars here and there marked out as thin darker lines.

Short Stride, smallest of the Thestrals, sleek blue-black coat and short pointed ears. Her eyes were quite large compared with the others, her teeth short and neatly aligned.

Ember, slightly larger than Short Stride, eldest of the sisters. Same blue-black coat as Short Stride with neat pointed ears. Her eyes had a yellow tinge to them, her teeth longer than Short strides, with a long pair of incisors protruding over her bottom lip.

Finally of course was Shadow. She was roughly somewhere in the middle height wise between her sisters but with an inky black coat like her fathers. There was a slight sheen to her colouration that made her body look almost silken. Her ears were pointed like the others, not curved but straight back in line with her head. Her teeth were short and sharp, like Short Strides though with the addition of several longer ones on either side, visible mostly when she yawned. Her mane and tail where the colour of midnight, a blue so dark it bordered on black. Her eyes shone bright red and lively, vibrant with life, reminding me of the campfires in the mountains when I was a foal.

A truly remarkable race, I’d love to the see the reaction in the watch house if Far Sight walked in one day ! Ah, the watch house, so many memories there. One day, soon, I would return. What reception I received was a concern for another time. Here and now, my concerns felt like a distant memory.

All the Thestrals turned as one, looking to the hills with an expectant air about them. My senses straining I picked out movement coming our way, another Thestral. This one a dark purple colour, slender with short horns, a female. She landed by Far Sight and bowed low, clicking a message to him in Thestral before she turn and flew off the way she came. Far Sight approached me with a concerned look on his face, “Can you fly ?”. I looked back at my bare flank, it was still a difficult concept to grasp, despite having found the ability to ‘change’ a lot easier now. My power, whatever it actually was, responded to emotion predominantly…need, anger, pain, fear. I’d discovered I could sort of, ‘trick’, it into releasing to the point where, like now, I could let the energy flow through me.

It was not an altogether uncomfortable experience, the wings breaking out hurt briefly but a wash of exhilaration dulled it almost immediately. The worst part of all of this was keeping my ‘self’ in charge. Always below the thin veneer of my altered consciousness, was a tempest of uncontrollable rage, pain and Celestia knew what else, waiting for me to release its chains. It was terrifying really, but simultaneously thrilling. What the Thestrals made of it, they were keeping to themselves, my new ‘father’ had expressed some anxiety about it but after having his daughter rescued with its help, his concerns were put to rest.

Shadow rubbed her head along my neck, despite Far Sight’s clicks and whistle of irritation. I gave him an apologetic shrug and he gave a rumbling chuckle in his throat before launching into the sky with Ember and Short Stride. Nice to have in-laws who liked you ! Especially when the alternative was probably being eaten by them. I smiled, not so easy with these choppers. A quick glace at my mate and we took flight together, timing our wing beats with one another, neither one of us ahead of the other as we closed the distance with the rest of the family.

Several hours later I could see, ever so faintly, a line of light on the horizon. It was like a split in the world, a crack in the curtain letting in the morning sunlight. I felt an urge to speed up towards it, to revel in its light giving warmth, Goddesses light at last !

We were high above the hills now, hills that were more like sand dunes in truth. The unending black sand which had slowly, but surely, sapped my will from me as I’d trudged through it, day after meaningless day.

Despite my racing heart and increasing excitement, I kept pace with the Thestrals. They knew this land, they were masters of it and I was still, I supposed, a guest here. As such I would need to follow their customs and laws until I left upon the next step of my journey. A journey I would make with my little Thestral, Shadow. A rush of warmth and calm rippled through my chest and, Meadow forgive me, my nethers. I hoped we could land soon, the cold up here and the wind from the wings down draught was having a decidedly odd effect on me.

We flew on, the white line soon transformed into white hills, white plains and silver, no, crystalline, trees. The light I had seen was not from the sun, but from the very earth itself, shining like the surface of the moon, reflecting on the hooves of the Thestrals as we banked, following the course of a wide black river. It was a mystical and imposing sight, quite beautiful….

We dipped low behind a high series of hills, their sides filled with the light giving crystal forests, every colour in the rainbow sparkling through their branches as we flew by. It was all I could do to concentrate on keeping formation while my sight was constantly being pulled away by the other worldly beauty of the Beyond.

Excitement grew amongst the Thestrals, showing in their increased speed and hooting to one another. Far Sight shrieked out a blasting trumpeting call followed by a gout of flame, the heat of which washed over me despite the distance between us. Mentally I reminded myself to keep in the Thestral Lords good books. Shadow called to her sisters and they hooted back to her in reply. “Home !”, she happily called to me. I suddenly felt a sinking feeling in my heart. Damn it, what the hell was wrong with me ? A quick mane shake dispelled any dark thoughts that my imagination was conjuring up. This was her home, she was born here, raised here, she belonged here. I began to realise a feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time….jealousy.

Large domes of crystals were arrayed neatly on the plain below us and we skimmed low enough to notice their inhabitants rushing out to look at us passing overhead. Hoots and shrieks filled the air as Far Sight gave another trumpeting blast of sound and fire, announcing his return home. We looped a circuit around the Thestral ‘town’ and came in for a landing on the white…grass ? I was about to give it a careful taste until Shadow nudged me with her shoulder, clicking in admonishment. Sorry dear !

A hoard of the skeletal creatures surged up to surround us in a dark tide. They stood out in stark constrast amongst the crystal trees and brilliant white grass. I guessed the colouring was more for camouflage in the black sand of the Withers rather than the Beyond, ‘Says the guy from the land of multi-coloured ponies’, I thought to myself sarcastically. Equestrians were more likely to blend into a foals birthday party than here, probably just as well. I think I was beginning to see walking nightmares as normal. Worse, I think I was beginning to lose my heart to one. Oh Fairlight, you silly colt…

The hubbub was deafening. The Thestrals kept a respectful distance but still created a solid wall of pushing, heaving teeth and glowing eyes. I wish I’d had a camera, it would be a talking point in the canteen all right.

A hushing sound spread out from the far side of the crowd, near a rise which lead to a large crystalline dome. The creatures nearest to it pushed each other out of the way as they moved back, forming a corridor towards the structure. No pony, No Thestral, moved. I didn’t have to wait long to find out what we were waiting for as a group of large Thestrals, covered in wicked spikes, trotted out to take station along the newly created passage. Far sight nickered and moved forward, head held high as he walked, the very picture of nobility.

Ember and Short Stride followed a respectful distance behind him, next, Shadow and myself. I glanced at one of the guards as I walked past him. His eyes bored into mine, white hot orbs, glinting off his….armour ? My Goddesses, it was ! These Thestrals had fashioned armour, from what looked like bones fused with crystals. Strapping of a white, leather material cinched the overlapping plates together. Whatever they were made of though, the effect was impressive. I didn’t notice any weapons among them, that said, I expect when you can incinerate your enemies, a sword just does quite cut it any more. Quite literally.

Each time we passed a pair of the guards, they fell in silently behind us, the creaking of the harness and armour more than a little disconcerting. I didn’t like being cornered and I didn’t like this situation one little bit, it was like being lead to the executioners block. None of this seemed to bother Shadow however, she was most likely used to this, being royalty of sorts. ‘Aim high Fairlight’, I thought insincerely.

A repetitive whisper came from the crowd I noticed. Thestral was a hard language to fathom and one I doubt I had the anatomy to be able to replicate, however certain things could be discerned by listening closely to the pitch, tone, screams and shrieks. What I picked up on had a note which, if I had to put my hoof on my heart, sounded like….anger ? The sound was similar to Far Sights when he had first met me, derisive, threatening. I hadn’t put much thought to it until now as at the time I saw him more as a threat than as anything else. But now, this...this worried me. Fortunately, I didn’t have to worry long at all as silence fell suddenly amongst the Thestrals and we came to a halt.

From the large crystal dome atop the rise, a magnificent deep green Thestral female emerged. Easily as large as Far Sight, with long straight horns either side of her head. Her teeth glistened in the light from the crystal trees lining the rise and I noticed long fangs either side of her mouth, just like another Thestral I knew. I swallowed the lump in my throat….I was about to meet the rest of the in-laws.

The assembled Thestrals, including the guards, went to one knee. Bloody awkward when you’re not used to it I can tell you, but still, I did my best. One of the guards behind me huffed a jet of steam at my back, jabbing me for good measure with an armoured hoof before I realised he wanted me to bow lower.

Hoots, screams and clicks echoed around the assembled Thestrals until a emerald green foreleg stood before me. “Stand”, a regal voice commanded me, “I would look upon this…..creature.” I didn’t know what to think. I’d been referring to Thestrals as ‘creature’s’ myself, but here as I was, referred to in the same manner. I hadn’t meant anything derogatory by it but now it was used to describe me ? I didn’t like it at all.

With little choice in the matter, I raised my head and looked straight ahead. The tall green crea’……’Thestral’…put a fore hoof under my chin and tilted my head this way and that, eyeing me with her glowing eyes. Rather than red, hers burned a brilliant white. I felt my heart leap into my throat. She spoke rapidly to the guards who barged forward, grabbing my forelegs roughly. I didn’t struggle, I’d most likely impale myself on their spikes if I did.

Far Sight clicked and squawked at the female I guessed was his mate, making it quite clear from his gesturing that he protested the rough treatment of his guest. I hoped so anyway, Goddesses knew I could have been the next one for the pot for all I knew of their customs. Fancy an Equestrian tonight dear ? Fairlight a la mode, a delicious accompaniment to any Thestrals banquet hall.

Shadow rushed forward, pointing at the guard and shrieking her protests at, I would guess, was her mother. For her trouble, the green female knocked Shadow flying with a vicious kick. I saw a small spray of blood from her mouth as the blow connected, the young Thestral landing in a heap whimpering. I shoved my guards aside and tried to get to Shadows aid but the armoured thugs were on me before I made even a quarter of the distance. “Get the fuck off me you bastards !”, I yelled, fury building in me.

A Thestral in a white flowing gown hurried to Shadows side, lifting her to her hooves and passing her a clear bottle of red liquid. Thank goodness some pony here had half a heart. The green mare glowered down at me with her pitiless white eyes and I began to feel the chain loosen within me. The guards slammed my head to the ground and I could feel a blade of some sort pushing into my flesh. My anger began to boil out of control and unbidden, a trickle of it began to run through me. I let out a low growl, the ground vibrating beneath me as I looked up at the guards shocked face.

“I said, get the fuck off me !”, I snarled. The blade never left my neck however. This would be a test between how fast I could throw the guard off me and how quick his reflexes would be to slit my throat open. I readied a rush of the power to overcome my enemy, grab Shadow and get the hell out there.

“NO ! Fairlight, Please ! NO !”, Shadows voice pounding into my mind was like being doused with cold water. My anger blinked out in an instant, my breathing returning to normal. I glowered into the guards eyes, he was visibly shaken but keeping his composure enough to steady the blade on my throat.

Pandemonium erupted around me and I was hauled to my hooves, surrounded by guards armed with crystal axes and swords. I hadn’t spotted these earlier characters, the other guards were probably more ceremonial. Their armour looked used, business like, but still constructed from the same materials as their flashier bretheren.

“Fairlight, I ask that you go with the guards for now. I must speak with my Wife about this matter.” Far Sight asked, his tone sounding serious.
“I have a choice ?” I replied flippantly.
“No.”, He stated with absolute finality. The Lord of the Beyond turned away to walk up to the crystal hall as I was dragged off to my guest accommodation.

Chapter Twenty Eight - Visiting hours

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Visiting hours

It was all I ever could have asked for. A roof, four walls, a window and a door. Of course I couldn’t see out of the window as it was so high up and small, I couldn’t reach it without flying up there. Some enterprising fellow had thought of that too as vicious looking spikes were arrayed in the ceiling. The door was, naturally, solid crystal and locked on the outside. One way in and one way out. I was beginning to sympathise with the villains and drunks we threw into the Watch house cells. Most of them tended to be short term lock ups, our busiest period being the nightmare night celebrations. Apple Family brand cider and dandelion wine being the worst culprits for that carry on. The outcome of this situation for me though, was unlikely to be a simple fine of a few bits.

I curled up on the dust covered hard floor, and awaited ‘judgement’ from Far Sights wife. I’d made a, hopefully not, fatal error in judgement by allowing myself to be brought here with Shadow. News of our antics and my rebuttal of Shadows fathers request to send her home, was bound to have had some impact back here regardless of how he now saw me. I foolishly believed that any problems with the Thestrals in this village would have been the responsibility of Far Sight, not his other half. It was all too clear now, too late, just who wore the shoes in this place.

A scratching at the door caught my attention. I sidled over, “Hello ? Is some pony there ?” I whispered. The door creaked open and a guard stood before me, weapon ready and eyes glowing menacingly. He cawed and clicked a message which I took, along with his gesturing, as an order to move to the back of the cell. I complied and he nodded to someone standing just out of sight from where I stood. The guard sidestepped to allow a cloaked figure to enter the cell with me, the heavy door slammed shut behind him with a deafening finality.

My visitor pulled back his hood to reveal a green-red mottled Thestral with a greying mane and beard who lowered himself gingerly, down on his haunches. Without speaking, he produced a long thin crystal pipe from a white satchel around his neck and deftly began packing it with a dark stringy material I presumed was tobacco. After he’d finished he began rummaging for, what I also presumed, was a light of some description.

“Here, let me get that for you.” I said politely, magicking a flame to hover over the bowl. He inhaled several times, his flickering yellow eyes never leaving my face. I felt quite awkward in the silence but politely waited until he was able to take a few good puffs, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips.

“Thank you Equestrian”, he said, rubbing his back with a hoof. “That’s a handy trick you have there.”

“You’re welcome….”, I blinked in surprise, “Hang on ! You ARE a Thestral aren’t you ?”.

He chuckled, blowing a pungent smoke ring up to the ceiling. “You noticed then ? What gave it away ? The teeth ? glowing eyes ? It’s the smell of sulphur isn’t ? Blast, I knew I should have changed my cologne.”

I stared at him, the weirdo-meter had just gone off the charts. I took a deep breath to settle myself down before I started screaming hysterically. With the mere semblance of calm, I sat back on my haunches across from the old buck before I began, “You can speak my language without sending words directly into my head and you’ve obviously not come to lead me off for execution. Yet. I would suggest you’ve come here for a reason and, as I’ve not got any other plans for today, I would welcome any questions you may have for me. So, over to you.” I held out a foreleg for him to continue.

He clopped his fore hooves together in delight, an expansive smile revealing a row of long yellow teeth holding his pipe in place. “Oh you are fun !” he cried, “I can see why the Lady Shadow has claimed you. I think we are going to have a good long chat you and I.”

The old Thestral reached into his bag and produced another pipe. “I don’t mind smoking alone as a rule, my young friend, but I do find company is far more conducive to comfortable discourse, don’t you ?”

He passed me the pipe and after a short amount of work with the tobacco, I had it lit and took in a good mouthful of the curling blue smoke. It was….delightful.

He watched me like a hawk watches a mouse while I relaxed, taking in the thick fragrance from the unusual tobacco.

“Now, friend Equestrian. May I call you Fairlight ?”
“You may”, I said nodding”.
“Good….good. My name, is Star Beard. I am a…priest…of sorts, to our people. I would invite you to my chambers for a more comfortable chat, however the Duchess is a little…..’upset’…with you at present. This will have to do, I’m afraid. When I leave I shall arrange some more comfortable items to be transferred to your….’room’”

He did seem to pause a lot, carefully choosing his words no doubt. It wasn’t hard to work out what he was really wanting to say either. I read in ‘Furious’ and ‘Cell’ into his last few sentences alone.

“Star Beard, please, don’t mince your words with me. I’m not the smartest pony in the watch but I’m no fool either. I would appreciate you being frank and candid with me. As you can see, my situation is not an advantageous one.”

Star Beard smiled and took a deep draw on his pipe, blowing the smoke out the side of his mouth with a hiss.

“Very well, Fairlight. Firstly, I will hear your story, so I ask that you speak candidly with me and I will do what I can to settle matters between you, the Lady Shadow and the Duchess.”

And so, for the second time in what seemed as many days, I told my story. From beginning to end, from when I had first entered the Withers, to my arrival in the Beyond.

By the time we finished, Star Beard was tapping out the ash from his pipe on his hoof. There was a knock on the door and it opened, the guard glancing at us before allowing in another black cloaked Thestral. Star Beard clopped his hooves together, “Ah ! My assistant, excellent ! Time for refreshments !”. His ‘assistant’ brought a hamper out from under their cloak, removing a bottle of some sort of drink and parcels of food. I watched quietly as they were arranged on a woven mat that had been unrolled in front of us.

“Thank you for your story Captain.” Star Beard smiled at me, “I am, frankly, delighted to meet a fellow officer.”

“A fellow officer ?” I asked in surprise. Star Beard chuckled, “So surprising my dear boy ? I may be getting on in years, but the flow of time here in the Withers is very different from your world. I think you already said you’d experienced that, yes ?”

I nodded.

“I, like you, was an officer of ponies once, and….others. A long time ago….”, he trailed off staring past my shoulder. I cleared my throat, “Oh ! Sorry Fairlight, I quite forgot myself for a moment there. Forgive an old goat his memories would you ?”

“Theres nothing to forgive sir, please, continue..” I asked. Star Beard smiled and scratched his nose before continuing.

“Did you notice the banners hanging from the Grand Hall before you were so rudely brought to this cell ?”. I nodded. I had actually, the black banner, purple edged, with a white helmet design hung from poles either side of the entry Far Sight and the ‘Duchess’ walked through before I was unceremoniously deposited in here.

“We, that is the older members of our tribe, were once soldiers in the Legions in Equestria. Poor Far Sights father was killed in the final battle and we, well…lets just say we didn’t pick the winning side, yes ?”

I was beginning to wonder just how long ago this war was which he spoke of. I’d leave that for another day. I wasn’t in the mood for war stories right now, but I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the enigmatic Thestral.

“Sir, may I ask your rank ?”. I asked politely. Star Beard began rummaging for more tobacco before his assistant, clicking to him gently, produced the pouch he’d somehow managed to sit on during our conversation.

“Hmmm ? What rank was I ? Yes….I was…a ‘Storm Colonel’. I was head of over a thousand Thestral assault troops with pony ground support. You should have seen them Captain, they were…magnificent. Truly magnificent.”

“What you see here is but a remnant, a reminder of days long gone. Our numbers are much fewer now than they once were and our people do not…‘reproduce,’ as quickly as other races. Not as fast as ponies at any rate I’ll wager !”. I smiled, nodding.

“Not all Thestrals are born here. Some are though, its hard to describe, ‘created’ ?... when ponies from your world, that is, the mortal world, die and have some sort of regret or trauma that anchors them between the worlds of the living and the next world. You have heard of the Eternal Herd of course ? I think you met one of their more arrogant officials ?”

I nodded.

“The Wither World has a strange ability to, extract, the regrets, the negative emotions, from the deceased and sometimes, they take on a life of their own.”

“As Thestrals” I said quietly.

“As Thestrals”, he nodded sagely, eyes half closed. “Good !” he said suddenly, slapping his leg with a laugh. He leaned across to his assistant speaking conspiratorially but still looking at me with that smile of his, “I like him ! He’s sharp. Not as sharp as me I’ll bet, but you have a brain on you, Watch Captain.”

“Colonel, what can you tell me about the situation with the Lady Shadow and her mother ? I believe this to be at the heart of my current troubles here.”

Star Beard re-adjusted his hind legs, his bones cracking loudly as he did so, “Bugger !” He exclaimed and I couldn’t help but laugh at his exclamation. “Nothing to laugh about Captain, you’ll be old one day too you know.”

“I’m not so sure Colonel, my chances don’t look so good right now.”

“Now stop that right now !”, he commanded in a more authoritative tone. “I wont have defeatism, I wont accept it from a Thestral, nor will I from an Equestrian. That sort of thinking can destroy your chances of victory in battle Captain. You would do well to remember that.”. Star Beard relaxed slightly, “Very well, you want to know about the ‘not quite’ royal family of the tribe of the Beyond ? Then, my dear fellow, I will tell you.”

I stretched my back and the Colonel continued, “The Duchess had four daughters, you have met them already. They were all destined to be married to nobility across the Withers. We, the tribe of the Beyond, are but one of many. Once we were united, but our humbling at the hooves of…..ponies, created a rift which has endured to this day.”

I listened intently, fascinated by the old bucks tale. This wasn’t in any Equestrian history book I had ever read. Well, okay maybe it was but history just wasn’t that interesting at school back then.

“The Lady Shadow was to be married to the Earl of Purple Sands, a small warring fiefdom east of the Beyond. One daughter has, I hear, passed from our world to the next. A shame…so much potential…lost…”, Star Beard was wandering off again. His assistant refilled his bowl of crystalline fruit, making him jump.

“What ! Oh, mmmm. Right, yes, the daughters.”

I smiled at the Colonel while he gathered his thoughts. “Ember and…the other one…what’s-her-name, are betrothed to other tribes who I wont bore you with the details of. Suffice to say that this has been the way of things since the return.”

I presumed ‘The return’ was when the Thestral army ‘returned’ to the Wither World with its tail between its legs after defeat in Equestria.

“Shadows fiancé”, he explained, “is a ‘leader’ of good standing although not of good character I hear. Previous wives have met with, lets say, ‘unfortunate accidents’. As a result of which, Lady Shadow decided to leave the Beyond and seek her fortune elsewhere.”

We both knew where that ended up. I cut in, “But if the Earl is the sort of leader you say he is, why would the Duke and Duchess allow such a betrothal ? From what I have seen of Lord Far Sight, he is very protective of his daughters and would die defending them if he had to.”

“True”, Star Beard went on, “But you have seen yourself who is the true power here. The Duchess is not as, attached, to her daughters as her husband. The power, prestige and land the union would bring, is of primary concern to her. The tribe must survive you see…”

I did see. I hated it, but I could see why the Duchess had made the betrothal. It was a system used in ancient Equestria, these guys just hadnt moved on and were stuck in some tribal warring fief age.

“Colonel Star Beard, may I ask a….difficult question of you ?”.

He popped a berry in his mouth and scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Well of course my dear Fairlight, but that depends on the question. I cant remember as much as I once could you know !”

“I understand sir. Please, I have been told that I am now bonded to Lady Shadow, that we are now mated. Lord Far Sight also said that she was, ‘incomplete’. Can you help me understand what this all means ?”

Star Beard paused, watching me intently. He opened his mouth to speak but snapped it shut a moment later apparently thinking better of it. A minute or two passed as he
thought about my question, then, suddenly shook his head vigorously, “No. I know I said I would answer your questions Captain, but this…. No, I cannot, it is not for me to speak of such things. I’m…”

A slender leg emerged from under the assistants cloak and tenderly picked up the old bucks hoof. A few words in Thestral later, he nodded to the cloaked figure and sighed. “Very well, if that’s what you want”. The assistant nodded, the leg disappearing back under the black fabric.

“Recall what I told you of the origins of Thestrals. Lady Shadow is a true Thestral, born of this world at a time of great magical imbalance here in the Beyond. The imbalance was brought here by a pony of your world, an Equestrian of great power, who befriended our tribe and saved us from extinction.”

“He could travel across time and planes of existence, a truly amazing feat of magic. Far Sights father, before the poor soul died in battle, befriended this pony and requested his aid in saving his tribe.”

“The tribe was in trouble before the war ?” I asked.

“Yes”, the old Thestral replied, “Far Sights father could see how things would end, even before they were manifest. His son, was named after his fathers remarkable ability.”

I nodded. Some of this was over my head but I was managing to grasp some of it.

“When Lady Shadow was born, part of her...’soul’... if you like, was left blank, waiting to be filled. Why and how this occurred is unknown and the pony traveller crossed over to the Eternal Herd long ago. I have tried to speak with him since, however that bloody Clerk Aethel, the horses cock, wont speak with ‘sub-species’.” He spat on the floor, his yellow eyes blazing.

“I…see”, I said quietly. “Colonel, some Thestrals can speak my language. Not like you, but as a sort of telepathy, straight into my mind. Shadow rarely speaks and then, only usually one or two words, is this as a result of the ‘imbalance’ ?”

Star Beard rolled one of the fruit in his hoof, “Have you asked her ?”. “No” I answered. “Well, perhaps you should next time you see her. Have you ever considered she may simply be shy and not a chatterbox, Captain ?”

I looked down at my hooves in embarrassment and felt a blush coming to my cheeks.

“Captain, I must ask you a personal question now, as one officer to another, stallion to stallion…”, Star Beard sounded agitated. The assistant chattered at him urgently but he waved their concern off irritably, determined to continue. “Captain, now you know of Shadows nature, I would ask you to be truthful with me also.”

“Of course Colonel, please…”, I held out a foreleg for him to continue.

“Would you still take her with you, back to your world, or leave her here with her people ?”

I was taken aback. I still hadn’t resolved my emotional conflict between Meadow and my growing feelings for Shadow. I loved Meadow with all my heart but she was with the Herd now. I would see her again some day but Shadow was here, she was in some ways so like her too, I couldn’t understand how I felt. The wounds felt so fresh, I had a daughter in the Eternal Herd I couldn’t see or hold until my life was spent and I had somehow purged myself of this power within me. It wasn’t fair to bring the innocent Shadow into my tumultuous life, but there…there was the selfish Fairlight, the lonely Fairlight, the one who cried out for companionship and warmth. ‘Goddesses, help me’, I begged silently, ‘I need your guidance’.

“Captain ?” Star Beard asked looking concerned.

“Yes. Yes I would Colonel. As I told Lord Far Sight, she is bonded to me as my mate and I would take her to my world should I find a way and should she wish it.”

The old Storm Colonel closed his eyes and smiled, nodding. “Thank you my dear fellow, that means more than you could know.” He reached forward and shook my hoof in both of his, letting out a deep throated laugh.

Chapter Twenty Nine - Forbidden fruit

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Forbidden fruit

The Colonel may have been old in years but was a remarkable story teller. He told me of battles with dragons, manticores and, somewhat troubling for an Equestrian, alicorns. I Smiled at his explanations of divisional manoeuvres and combat tactics, wondering if I could ever use them in the watch. I doubted it though, usually we preferred out targets alive to stand trial. The Colonels foes usually ended up fit for pie filling.

He finally seemed to tire of stories and gave a huge yawn, not bothering to cover his mouth, treating me to a view of his huge teeth. I smiled at him and went to ask my next question but the old soldier beat me to it, “May I trouble you for a light please ?

Thank you. Wondrous thing unicorn magic you know, nothing like the full battle magic of alicorns of course, but an amazing thing in itself.”

“Colonel, please. Can you help me ?”, I blurted out , “I need to know whats going on so I can get out of here with Lady Shadow.”

Star Beard waved a hoof at me and tutted. “Getting a bit ahead of ourselves there my boy. Slow and steady eh ? Don’t want me to pull rank on you, do you ?”

“No Colonel.”

“No Colonel”, he mimicked chuckling to himself again. Suddenly the old man act dropped like a stone and an army officer was staring right back at me. My back went rigid.

“Right then Captain, let us discuss the situation…….and our strategy.”

By the time we had finished discussing matters, the old Colonel had smoked several more pipe fulls of the peculiar tobacco. It was quite smooth and earthy, although one bowl was definitely enough for this pony. It wasn’t a habit encouraged in Equestria, with most of the harvest coming from Saddle Arabia as much as anywhere. ‘Dromedary’ was my brand of choice but Meadow had put a stop to that pungent little pastime and my pipes had been cleaned and put away in the trophy cabinet. A victory for the little green mare.

The cloak wearing assistant, sensing that her mentor’s visit was drawing to a close helped pack some items back into the satchel. My guest held a hoof out when it came to the berries, “I think I’ll leave these for you my boy.”, the officers voice had disappeared and the ancient Thestral, Star Beard was back in play, “I think you’ll find them, lets say…’beneficial’.”

“But Colonel….as I explained, I don’t think I actually need to eat. I’ve barely had anything at all since coming here.” I pointed out.

Star Beard rose to his hooves and stretched, joints creaking as he did so. He rustled his wings and scratched at something on his coat with a hoof.

“You did eat though, didn’t you ?”, He stated, smiling at his assistant before turning back to me, “The lake demon ?”

“What ? I….”, what had I done ? I remembered the feeling of warmth entering me, the joyful, almost ecstatic feeling of being re-energised, of being filled, with….life.

Watching my reaction with those flaring yellow Thestral eyes, Star Beard spoke, “I believe you when you say you don’t understand the changes you have undergone since coming here Fairlight. Please, believe me when I say that I know very little myself and would have told you if I could.”

He reached out and petted the cloaked pony on the head, uttering a low clacking noise to which the figure nodded.

He continued, “I have met others. Like you. A long time ago, even by my standards ! Yes, they existed, allies of ours in our war with the Equestrians. There weren’t many of them I have to say, but their strength in battle was a legend amongst our people. Ice and Fire, a true wonder to behold Fairlight. I suspect you have never seen magical combat before of that scale ?”

“I have seen death in battle before Colonel”, I replied grimly, “Not of the sort that should be present in the mortal world either.”

Star Beard looked at me, his head on one side quizzically, “Really ? Interesting. Should we be able to speak again, I would like to hear more of this. No matter..no matter. Anyway, I’m wandering off topic again.”, he shrugged his shoulder which cracked ominously but seemed to give him some relief, “Your power is fed by absorbing the life energy present in your defeated foes. Dependant upon the amount of energy you take in, it can last you quite a long time.”

He stuck his hoof in his ear and waggled it around, “I’d say that its best thought of as more of a, ‘magical energy reserve’ that you need to top up when it gets low. In the mortal world, you would still need to eat normal food to keep your physical body working of course. The ponies I knew certainly did….I think they did anyway….”. Star Beard removed his hoof and stared at whatever it was he had extracted from his ear.

“WHAT !” I cried, rearing up momentarily, “You’re saying I’m a….a vampire pony ? You cant be serious !”

Star Beard tutted at me, adjusting his satchel, “I never said you were a ‘vampire’ did I ? Look Fairlight, I haven’t got an infallible memory and I would rather not tell you
something that I’m not certain about, rather than make wild guesses. As a Captain in the Watch, I expect you understand what I’m saying yes ?”

“Yes. Yes, I understand”. I replied.

“Good. My boy, things happen which no Thestral, or in your case, no pony, can make mane nor tail of. Your power is not something you should fear, no matter how you came by it, it’s a part of you. I know that ‘Clerk’ Aethel, “, he emphasised the word ‘clerk’ in way I didn’t think possible, “..said you could not cross over because of it, but I think that its more a case of their fear of what you are, rather than ‘physically’ being unable to enter their realm.”

“The best advice I can give you is to learn to master it Captain Fairlight. Remember your training and train yourself again,”, he thumped his chest, “ become the master of your own emotions. That, that is what gives you your strength.”

“Colonel”, I asked, my heart racing as his words hit home, “what ….am I ?”.

He paused and rubbed his bony chin in thought.

“Why my dear Captain, didn’t you already guess ?”

“No sir.”

He chuckled and patted a hoof on my shoulder, “Why…you’re a Wendigo of course !”

He grinned expansively and turned knocking on the cell door. The guard opened it in his now customary manner and I saw what looked like…money ?...being surreptitiously put in the guards hoof and vanishing into a tunic pocket. In my dazed state, I barely noticed the assistant was still in the room as the door began to close, “Star Beard ! Your....”, I began but the Thestrals face popped back in to the room with a toothy grin, did he…did he just ‘wink’ at me !? My goddesses he did ! “Enjoy the berries Watch Captain Fairlight.”, he laughed, and the door slammed shut.

His croaking laughter echoed down the corridor and out of earshot. I was…I didn’t know. I couldn’t be what he said, what…a Wendigo ? A bloody ancient, thing, a monster from Equestrian legend, from the time of the wars of the three kingdoms ? Bollocks, the silly old foal must have bats in his belfry. It suddenly hit me with crystal clarity. Wendigo must be the name for a group of magic users from the time of, whatever war it was, that he was involved in. Rather like the name ‘Equestrian Watch’, or those blasted ‘Agency’ spooks. I’d have to learn more about these when I got back home. Home….I wasn’t even sure if that’s where I wanted to go any more. What was there to go back to ? I was dead to everyone there wasn’t I ? What was going to happen when I tried to go back, my body was a mass of dust now surely ? Goddesses, I was so confused. I felt my emotions roaring through me in a turmoil of

worry and despair….”Oh Meadow, what am I going to do ?”, I groaned covering my head with my hooves, “Shadow…….”.

A foreleg reached out and placed a delicate hoof on my hind leg to comfort me. Unbidden, tears rolled down my face and plopped into the dust on the floor. I must have looked a state, so much for ‘mastering my emotions eh ?’, shit.

The cloaked figure scooched over and pressed into me without a word, the occupants head leaning against my shoulder. A light chirrup emanated from the hoods depths, soothing and calm. A chirrup I recognised.

I turned to face the figure and stretched out both my forelegs, gently lowering the hood to reveal a black coated Thestral.

“Shadow !” I exclaimed, “What in Luna’s name are you doing in here ? Why…”, she pushed a hoof to my mouth and motioned towards the door. I understood her gesture, the guard was likely outside, paid off by Star Beard or not, he would still be close by.

Quietly, she leaned into me and made a light rattling purr, rather like an enormous household cat, but distinctly Thestral, exquisitely feminine. I leaned down to nuzzle
her gently. Luna knows what was going to happen when the door next opened. For now though, nothing else mattered but her.

Shadow and I stayed snuggled together for how long, I couldn’t say. I wondered if she were asleep and I watched her chest rise and fall. I gently stroked her cheek, pleased to see no sign of the blow the Duchess had delivered her. Shadow pushed into me more, a small moaning sound escaping from her lips.

Warmth spread throughout my body from ear tip to tail making me shudder, was it wrong to feel this…happy ? Yes, I suppose it was, but feeling the little Thestral warm against my body, I just didn’t care. A red eye slowly half opened and looked up into my face, the heat in her gaze was intoxicating. Shadow slid her head up my chest and brought her muzzle close to mine. The smell of warm spice from her breath made my heart begin to race. I remembered our first…

A warm tongue snaked out and gave my muzzle a tentative lick. Softly, sensually, her tongue followed the line of my lips before disappearing back into her mouth. I half expected the guard to burst in wondering what the noise was, my heart was hammering so loudly. Whisps of steam wreathed Shadows nose as she rubbed her face along the side of mine. Her teeth felt strange against my face but the unusual sensation was having an effect on me I would never have expected.

Shadow however, did, and she had plans for that evening.

A quick blur of slick black legs and she was facing me, both of us upright on our haunches. It was a position I was used to, but not so….close, to another pony. Here, rather than a pony, sat a Thestral, a being of nightmares, a creature from the darkest recesses of a foals nightmares. Eyes burning like the pits of Tartarus, smoke curling from wicked flesh rending teeth. A beautiful midnight blue mane flowing over a slim

bony frame. In the world of ponies, bony, terrifying and beautiful did not work. It simply couldn’t.

Shadow watched me carefully, taking in every inch like she was committing my entire being to memory. For a moment I wondered if this was because it would be the last time I would see her, perhaps tomorrow, would be my last day in this life. Whatever it was going to be, I would share my time with her now. I owed her so much, I wanted to be with her, my heart ached to be with her.

The Thestral leaned forward, her fore hooves resting on her hind legs while leaning forward, her mouth barely a hairs breadth from mine. Her eyes half closed, I felt mine close involuntarily as her long tongue licked my lips, probing softly. I let her in. Slowly, she moved her mouth against mine, her tongue sliding along my own, moist and gentle yet with a barely restrained excited feel which resonated with my entire body.

She broke the kiss before I lost control and plucked a crystal berry from the bowl with a hoof, carefully placing it between her lips. Her eyes closed and I moved forward to meet her. Carefully, I took the berry with my lips and tongue, squashing it against the roof of my mouth. The cool sugary sweet juice flowed out, a taste I had never experienced before. Shadows mouth closed over mine, her tongue roving freely, lapping at the juice and sharing the flavour with me. Mingling her spicy breath with my own and the sweetness of the fruit.

It was all too much, I could sense a roaring deep inside me, a feeling of uncontrollable lust ready to break free of its bonds and…Goddesses, I wanted it to.

The Thestral unclipped her cloak letting it drop to the floor, her chest heaving and eyes glowing with an intense light which seemed to brighten the room, reflecting a myriad of colours from the crystal walls.

I reached out and threw my forelegs around her, pulling her into another kiss. Long and deep, I tasted her breath, ran my tongue along her teeth, feeling their sharp points and almost longed to feel their bite.

My hooves ran up and down her spine, following its pronounced contours. Shadows folded wings shivered and she pushed away from me, her eyes flaring a deep crimson. Steam rolled out of her mouth and she huffed a blast up into the air from her nostrils before lunging forward, carrying me to the ground.

“Shadow….” I moaned, looking up into her eyes. I was hers now, her bonded mate. She could do what she wanted with me and by the searching hungry look in her eyes, she knew. Her fore hoof ran up and down my chest as she climbed astride me. I moved my legs to accommodate her and she purred in anticipation as her haunches pushed into me, sliding forward and back, looking for something she knew was there.

Stopping suddenly, Shadow lifted her hauches slightly and ran a hoof down my chest to my crotch and found her prize. With a little clicking moan, she briefly lifted off me and pushed herself back and down, slowly, inch by exquisite inch. Her eyes flew open

then she shut them tightly a stifled cry escaping her lips mingled with the now billowing steam. With a final push, Shadows chest heaved and she fell forward,
clamping her mouth over mine, kissing me with an insatiable hunger that I answered with my own.

I grabbed her hips and began to move with her, slowly to begin with, her whimpers driving my excitement to new levels. My heart was soaring in a torrent of joy, pleasure and desire, all mixing into an inexorable flood of primal need.

I let out a guttural cry, white smoke pouring from my mouth, mixing and blending with the steam from my Thestrals. Reflected in the crystal walls, the blazing blue of my eyes with the flare of red from my mates, became a kaleidoscope of glittering colours. My white coat in stark relief against her silken black one, her soft mane hanging down on my chest, our tails swished back and forth, tickling and teasing each other, adding to the mounting crescendo of passion.

Any thoughts of discretion thrown to the winds, Shadow pushed herself down, increasing in tempo, her gasps and moans filling the room. The two of us now encased in the fog, her eyes burning fires in an ethereal ghostly form upon me, feeding, drawing my life into her body. I gave her everything I had, let her take my all
and thrilled in her joy. Shining silver motes of energy lifted from my muzzle, flowing between my sharp teeth and into the hungry mouth of my beloved Thestral mare.

She moved into a kiss as her passion rose to the edge, thrusting her tongue deep into my mouth, taking in the silvery life energy to her body, sharing herself in kind. We were one being, one entity, the world was us and we were the world, the Withers, the Mortal world, even the Heavens themselves. We could take it all.

My whole body was burning, my coat, a white hot coal of radiance as fog and colour rolled and ebbed with our movements. We were flying, rising in animal screams and cries to the white crest on the wave of our love.

Shadows breathing took on a desperate urgency and grabbed me with her fore hooves and thighs as she took a long deep inhalation. Her voice blasted into my mind with a force of utter ecstatic release, “FAIRLIGHT !...”, the crystal walls resounding with her screaming roar mingling with my own cry. The world around me swirled away in a fog of sparkling white fog and intense blue fire.

Chapter Thirty - Judgement

CHAPTER THIRTY

Judgement

I had been dragged from my cosy cell by two hulking armoured Thestrals, my fore legs chained with crystalline hobbles. It was insanely difficult to walk and I stumbled several times only to be roughly dragged to my hooves by a none too gentle guard.

Crowds lined the path to the great hall, howling and screeching at me in a manner which left me in no doubt as to my overall status as a ‘guest’ of the Beyond.

Approaching the hall, several of the banners had been placed to delineate the entrance, probably to impress upon any who entered here that they were in seriously deep manure. As I entered, I looked up at an inscription on the archway, written in a language I couldn’t even begin to understand.

“Hey buddy !”, I tried to get the guards attention, “What does that say above the door ?” He simply ignored me. “Probably ‘shriek, click…click, scream’, eh ?”. A vicious blow from the haft of another guard knocked me to my knees, “Silence Equestrian vermin !”. I looked up shaking my mane, “I think that’s ‘honoured guest’, friend”, I smiled back at him. His glare said it all. I muttered under my breath, “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here….”.

Inside was a lot less impressive than I had expected. Limited building materials had meant that most of the walls, ceiling and seating was all variations on the theme of crystal. Beautiful in its own way, but it began to make me wish I’d been able to bring sunglasses.

The local dignitaries were arrayed at the end of a long midnight blue carpet edged in silver. A massive banner with a large white helmet motif was suspended from the roof behind the four thrones. The two largest held Far Sight and his wife, the ‘Lady Maelstrom’, apparently. The other two held, Ember and Shadow. Short Stride, the youngest, sat on a large cushion next to Ember.

Guards, colourfully robed Thestrals and invited guests, many armed I noticed, were liberally sprinkled between the doors and the dais. I was pushed forward by my thoughtful guards into a kneeling position.

The general murmur was drowned out by a small female in a long white gown, banging a long metal staff on the ground. Whatever it signified in their culture, it had the desired effect as silence fell like a lead tombstone.

Clopping hooves announced the arrival of a bulky red-black male in a purple robe with the same white helmet motif. An air of self-perceived superiority surrounded him and he looked derisively down his muzzle at me. I really didn’t like this fellow ! He clicked and screamed at me, but all I could do was stand and wait dumbly. Whether

this was deliberate to try and undermine any slight standing or credibility I might have, I didn’t know, but whatever he said caused some commotion amongst the Thestrals.

“Wait ! Your Ladyship, I beg your indulgence!…buggeration, where did I put the bloody thing…”, Star Beards chirpy voice calling from the back of the hall made the Thestrals turn in consternation. Pushing his way through he trotted over to me, pulling a brass and gemstone helmet from his satchel. He bowed to the Duchess who glared at him, but allowed him to continue.

“Captain, please wear this. It’s Equestrian so it should work for you, whether its still fully functional after all this time…well, I guess we’ll see ! A little something from my army days….”. He plonked the thing on my head and pressed a combination of the crystals and my hearing popped alarmingly.

The furious Thestral in the purple robe glowered at Star Beard as he trotted away, waving a hoof back at me, a smile on his face.

“May we begin now ?” , he asked.
“Sure thing pal, its your show.” I replied with a cheeky smirk. He wasn’t impressed and harrumphed his displeasure before turning to the Duchess. She rose from her chair and stepped forward to tower down over me, hobbled as I was, held down and unable to rise. On the plus side, I could now understand what the Thestrals were saying without my brain trying to expand outside my skull.

“Equestrian, you are an intruder in our lands and a citizen of our ancient enemy. You have stolen my daughter and done your best to ruin an invaluable alliance with the people of The Purple Sands. One of my daughters is also dead, lost to our people forever, killed…because of YOU !”

“Your majesty….”, I began but was beaten across the head with the guards axe haft.

“SILENCE EQUESTRIAN !”, the purple robed Thestral shouted at me before bowing to the Duchess once more.

“You unmannered…HORSE !”, she screamed at me, now that wasn’t very nice !, “You brazenly appear in my kingdom and display your false betrothal to my daughter like a trophy taken in battle ! This is my kingdom and my laws are those of the Goddess herself !”

Far Sight rose and spoke in a low urgent voice with his wife, pointing to the hobbles on my forelegs and stomping a hoof. The Duchess waved him off and took a step forward as her husband snorted his annoyance behind her.

“I am aware that you ‘saved’ my errant daughter from a river demon, however I cannot ignore the fact that my beloved Wind Sheer would still be with us if you had not kidnapped the Lady Shadow.

Far Sight neighed behind her to be stopped by Ember who shook her head at him.

“The Duke speaks highly of you, he tells me of your fight to save the Lady Shadow from the lake serpent and how you defeated the creature. A feat, I will say, that is laughably improbable for a slab toothed pony !”

There was a general ripple of laughter from the assembly. The white robed pony banged the metal rod into the floor, bringing all attention back to the Duchess.

“Your culpability in the loss of my daughter and the kidnapping of another is irrefutable. I further understand that not only do you belong to our eternal enemy, but you are an officer in their army !”

Shouts of anger and insults filled the hall, and I noticed, to my dismay, that Duchess Maelstrom had a sly grin on her face. The bitch was enjoying this, and my seconds on this plane looked to be rapidly running out.

The Duchess nodded to the Thestral in purple who reared on his hind legs, addressing the assembly, “Noble Thestrals of the Beyond, your Duchess has spoken and the charges have been laid. Do any of you wish to speak before sentence is passed ?”

I closed my eyes, this was it. I felt numb to it all. I wondered what would happen next ? Could I die twice ? Would I simply end up back in the Withers, trudging black sand for the rest of my days. The thought was terrifying. Worse, what was going to
happen to Shadow ? I tried looking up to see her, but was pushed down by the burly guards and my view was now severely restricted to the Duchesses hooves and that bloody fancy carpet.

General shouts and cries of “Horse !”, “Murderer !” and general other niceties where thrown at me. The matter of my guilt had been decided before I’d even said a word in my defence.

A light in my darkness came from Far Sight. He stormed forward and stood facing an incensed Duchess, I managed to glance up as the guards stood back in their surprise. “Wife ! I understand your grief, no one loves their daughters more than you, and I shared the pain of the loss of Wind Sheer. But she died trying to save this pony, she believed in him and honoured his battle to save our Shadow from the river demon. I saw him fight with my own eyes ! He is not what you think, he is a friend, not an enemy.”

“Nonsense ! What is this ?” Maelstrom snapped back at him, “An ally ? Defeated a river demon ? Look at him ! He’s a horse with no teeth ! What did he do, chew the beast to death ?”

“He has magic !”, Far Sight shouted at her angrily, “He saved our daughter from death and you thank him like….like this ?! He is a brother to the Thestrals and a Son to us !”.

In a blind fury, The Duchess snatched a spear from a guard and swung it at her husband, smashing him across the jaw. He staggered back, Ember and Shadow rushing to his side to aid him.

“Shut UP !”, the Duchess shrieked, smoke pouring from her mouth. Droplets of saliva leaked from her maw sending burning rivulets of it onto the purple rug. The smell of burning carpet material was eye watering.

“You DARE to question me ? I am the ruler, husband, my rule is law !”

She advanced on me shaking her mane and snapping her wings out in a display of outright aggression, “See the discord you have sown within my land and my own home !”.

I knew what was coming next, I could have written the script myself, “GUARDS ! Kill him ! Here…now !”. Shadow screamed but was held down by the white robed female. I hoped she would see my smile and know that I would go to whatever end, with her love for me in my heart.

I was surrounded by armoured Thestrals, positively dripping aggression and pent up anger. “All that creaking leather and spikes…’, I said sarcastically, “probably whooping it up every night in the guard house eh ?”. The guards eyes blazed in abject fury, “Damned Equestrian ! I’ll make this slow for you !”, he growled at me.

I managed a side long smile, “Not as slow as I took it with your wife…..”. The axe blade rose, light glinting off its honed crystal edge. My powers wouldn’t help me now, besides, any battle here would likely injure or kill members of Shadows family. As reprehensible as some of them were, I wouldn’t want her to see that.

Far Sight shouted out in protest, his words lost in the shouts of anger from the crowded Thestrals in the hall.

I could just see the axe reaching its zenith, the guards holding me down, the cylinder rolling towards me, splitting open, the outraged squeak from within……

Chapter Thirty One - Remnants of another time

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

Remnants of another time

Star Beard, Shadow and a number of other Thestrals, most in armour, part carried, pulled and pushed me, out a side door of the hall. I couldn’t hear a damned thing and my sight was mostly blue spots thanks to the flash bug.

We were hurtling down corridors at break neck speeds, turning one way then the other. The hall was not that big and by the angle of the downward slope, I calculated that we must be well under the hill behind the village. The air was damp and earthy, a surprise in this place, quite reminiscent of the Manehatten waterfront.

The clatter and creak of armour coupled with the drumming of speeding hooves made me feel like I was like one of those boardwalk celebrities when they were mobbed by fans. In this case, the fans were heavily armed and likely to kill me brutally rather than ask for an autograph. Thank Luna those bloody hobbles were off though.

“In Here !” shouted Star Beard as he threw open a heavy wooden door and we all piled in. Standing near the sharply armoured Thestrals was a danger in itself and I moved quickly away only to be bear hugged by Shadow. I nuzzled her but was then grappled by Star Beard, “Hold you eyes open boy ! Here.” He spoke with an urgent authority which I responded to immediately. He held a hoof under my chin, angling my head up and plopped two large drops of soothing cool liquid into my eyes. Almost instantly my vision began to return to normal and I was able to take stock of my surroundings. And companions.

Star Beards friends were an unlikely group of, by the looks of them, ancient war relics. Their armour bore testimony to numerous battles if the dents and scratches were anything to go by. Old warriors they may be, but in a fight, I didn’t fancy their chances. The armoured guards I had seen were young, strong and fit. Age may have the experience, but youth had the reaction speed, and it was likely things could get
brutal. One thing I’d found out about Thestral culture, was that they don’t tend to go in for diplomacy in a big way.

Star Beard rushed about his room upending chests and pulling out books. The room looked nothing like anything I’d seen in the Wither world since I had arrived, in fact it was decidedly….Equestrian.

In his frantic searching, the old Thestral knocked over a mannequin that was propped in the corner near an astrolabe. “Pick that up for me would you Fairlight, theres a good chap”, he called back over his shoulder. I picked up the mannequin and straightened the embroidered cloak, putting the huge floppy hat back on its head, the embroidered bells tinkling merrily.

I trotted over to a yellowing map of Equestria hanging on the wall. I barely recognised any of the places inscribed on it, Manehatten apparently hadnt even existed when this

was made. Lines and notes were scrawled everywhere like miniature travel plans. Behind me, Shadow trotted around the room in agitation, while the other Thestrals stood by the door like they were expecting an axe to come through at any moment.

“Star Beard !” I said, but he cut me off in his usual manner, “Quiet Captain, I said I’d pull rank on you and so I am. You are now under my command and will follow my orders at all times, and to the letter. Are we clear ?”

“Yes Sir”.

He smiled, patting my shoulder, “Good lad. Ah ! Look, it was here all the time. Knew I put it somewhere safe.” Trotting over to a large sconce, the old Thestral took down a small crystal on a chain which had been hanging from it. Hey ! That was mine ! I patted my chest and sure enough, the precious beacon in this forsaken land was gone. Celestia, I had never even noticed it had gone.

“Here boy”, Star Beard said, tossing the crystal to me which I caught deftly. Shadow trotted over to me, taking it in her hooves and slipped it over my head with a little smile. I gave her a wink and she blushed stepping back. “How did you manage that trick then Colonel ?”

Star Beard grinned expansively, his yellow eyes flaring momentarily, “Used to be quite the magician in my day. A Thestral among Thestrals !”. The others laughed and the uncomfortable tension in the air lessened noticeably.

“No need to stand by the door everyone, there’s an enchantment on it. That’ll fox them until we can spirit our loving couple here away.”, he chuckled and went back to rummaging through the now ransacked room.

Before long and with no apparent order at all, we were laden with saddlebags, armour and weapons. My crystal was safely around my neck and both Shadow and I sported light armoured barding not unlike my special operations barding in the Watch. Smelled funny though, a bit…fishy. Ah, right…should have guessed. To keep me occupied, I had with me a short sword, cudgel and small selection of flash bugs. “Kept a few from my days in Equestria.”, Star Beard had said, “handy critters, probably believed you ponies thought of them first did you ? Ha ! There’s nothing new under Luna’s moon !”.

When all was ready, Star Beard spoke to me.

“Did you eat the berries Captain ?”, I nodded. “Good, how many ?” he said. “Just the one.”
“Just the one ! I left you the whole bowl !” he said face hoofing.
“I know its just, I…that is we were…”
“Well yes, they can enhance… ‘things’… allegedly.”, he glanced at Shadow and sighed. “Right, get these down you then” and hoofed me another bowl of the things. I peered at the berries and dived in. “Good. That’s that settled.”

“What are they ?” I grimaced, the taste of that many was overpowering. Star Beard tutted at the interruption, “Spirit berries. Gives your inner Wendigo a bit of ‘pep’. You’re going to need it. There’s a bunch more in Shadows saddle bags”.

I was quite fond of Star Beard, I decided. He’s cynical and sarcastic, my kind of pony. Thestral rather.

“Now, Captain Fairlight, you will follow Storm Major Thorn and his troopers, they know the way. Stick together no matter what happens, however, If for some reason you get separated, follow the crystal, it will show you the way to the rendezvous.”

“Why, Star Beard ? Why help me like this ? I cant understand why any Thestral would risk themselves for a pony they don’t even know, defying their own Duchess. I mean who are you, really ?”.

“Why, why why ?”, he mocked nodding his head in rhythm to the words.

“Fairlight, I don’t have time, nor you, to explain everything. What I told you in the cell was the truth. The veteran warriors are here because they remember the old warriors code, you are a fellow officer and officers watch out for each other.”

“But the Duchess !” I said, “You know what she’s like, she’ll probably find out who helped us escape and execute you all !”.

A grey Thestral in battered armour walked up to me and grinned, showing teeth nearly as long as my forelegs. He leaned down and in an exaggerated conspiratorial whisper, half looking at Star Beard, said “I don’t think we have to worry too much about the Duchess, Equestrian. Daddy can still spank her if she gets too out hoof.”

My mouth hung open and Star Beard kicked his armoured colleague playfully as he walked back to his fellows, all of them falling about laughing. I turned to Shadow, “You have some strange relatives love. Oh goddesses, they’re my in laws now too ! I think we may need to be a bit selective who we invite over for celebrations”.

Shadow barged me with her shoulder nickering, treating me to a playful smile. Time to go I think. Star Beard pulled a book on the shelf and a slab of crystal slid silently to one side revealing a dark passage heading down, even further into the hill. We each took a lantern, securing them to the special poles on our packs. The big Thestral taking point, Thorn, called over his shoulder in a commanding tone. “Thestrals of the Goddesses Legion, Lets move out”. The door whispered shut behind us and we set off into the darkness.

Chapter Thirty Two - New Friends

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

New friends

Light. Sweet, sweet light. It wasn’t the sun, but by Luna’s good grace, we reached the end of the tunnel and, as I had suspected, emerged on the other side of the hill to the town. My companions stowed their lanterns and re-adjusted gear before heading off silently into the forest. I followed, Shadow close behind me. There was a sensation of pulling on my tail which made me reach round to adjust whatever it was. What I didn’t expect was to see Shadow gripping my tail in her mouth, it was agonisingly adorable and she smiled shyly, a faint rose colour on her cheeks. I gave her the trademark Fairlight wink and turned back with a foalish grin that must have reached from ear to ear. Her blush was so cute !

A shoulder nudged me from one side, the Thestral female it originated from whispered, “Names Glimmer, Equestrian.”, “Fairlight”, I replied with a nod. She pushed up against me, red eyes a little close for my liking, “Can I give you a piece of advice ?”. I gave a quick nod for her to go on, “Ears”.

“Ears ?” I whispered back. She gave me a knowing little smile and explained, “Nibble her ears, it feels amazing. Seriously.”. “Wha !”, I squeaked and looked back at Shadow who held her head to one side, a questioning look on her face. It was my turn to blush now. Glimmer moved away shaking with laughter before squeaking herself as the Thestral bringing up the rear, gave her a nip on the behind.

The Thestral shrugged and winked at me before resuming her position in the formation. Some time had passed and I noticed that the trees were beginning to thin out. Thorn had noticed it too and raised a hoof, halting the party. He made some gestures with his hooves and the soldiers began removing large white cloaks from their packs which covered our bodies completely, even our tails. Shadow looked unhappy to release her prize and I looked back to the soggy, chewed and crinkled mass that had once been my beloved tail. It was going to take hours to brush that out, I groaned inwardly.

The cloaks made us look like ghosts among the crystal trees and white grass. I didn’t see any path, but the Thestral commander appeared to know the way. I hadn’t seen Star Beard for some time either and guessed the ancient ‘priest’ would be at the rear,
“With the gear”, I muttered to myself, the old watch joke coming to mind. Come to think of it, this expedition was reminiscent of some operations I had been on with the watch. I opened my mind and observed every movement, every sound and smell. These Thestrals were good, very good, but it didn’t hurt to have an extra set of alert senses within your group. I was damned if I’d just be baggage.

We’d been trudging on through the forest for several hours by my reckoning. Despite their age, my Thestral companions didn’t seem to be showing any sign of tiredness or fatigue. In fact, they appeared as fresh and as dauntless as when we first set off. It may have been a strange effect of this plane on its inhabitants and for the most part I hadn’t felt any tiredness since coming here until relatively recently. Sure, I’d slept occasionally, but sleep just wasn’t the same, I didn’t wake with that drowsy sensation you’d have when you’d like a few more hours, or even the expectation of a new day ahead. Here, things simply went on, they happened, in a strange way it was almost like time had stood still and no pony even noticed.

Thorn spread us out among the trees, ostensibly to avoid aerial detection by our pursuers. What struck me as peculiar, was that there was no sign of any pursuit. None at all. Thestrals may not be the most graceful creatures who ever flew, but they could have sent out scouts to track us down long ago. Surely we would have seen at least one, Goddess forbid, but something about this situation was ringing alarm bells with me.

Right on cue, Thorn slid down next to me with barely a sound. “Whats wrong ?” I asked him quietly, not wanting to worry Shadow who had taken to holding onto my tail again. “You can feel it too Equestrian. Cant you.” It wasn’t a question. The old Thestral warrior looked skyward and spoke in a low serious voice, “I’ve avoided pursuit in the past, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. Always, there was some sign of our enemy. Dust rising, wings against the sky, sounds carried on the breeze…something.”

The cloak was beginning to make my mane stick to my neck with sweat and I shook myself for a little relief, “Whats your assessment Storm Major ?”. Thorn pulled his cloak hood back a little and looked me in the eyes, “They’re either letting us go, or we’re heading into a trap of some sort.” I nodded my agreement, it was all far too easy. Under some possible scenario’s I’d run through in my mind as we’d set off from Star Beards sanctuary, I’d imagined the Duchess letting us go simply to be rid of us, others, that we’d cleverly evaded capture, some that they were simply badly disorganised and hadn’t begun looking further than the tunnels yet.

After a process of elimination, the hatred radiating from the Duchess and her desire to see me dead, left me with only one conclusion. She would never allow me to leave the Beyond alive, let alone take her daughter with me. For her to lose face amongst her people was unimaginable. Her forces would doubtless be rallied to pursue me…us…to the gates of hell and beyond if necessary. In short, it was the same conclusion as Thorn’s. We were heading straight into a trap.

“Thoughts Equestrian ?” He asked me. I felt honoured he would consider my opinions and I prayed I wouldn’t disappoint him. “Send forward scouts on hoof to avoid aerial detection. Flankers out within ear shot, rear guard to protect from attack from the rear. I would have crossbows to the centre to protect from strafing runs.”

Thorn nodded, “Interesting, you would centralise your defensive strength ?” He looked back to Shadow and nodded. “She is our most valuable cargo on this mission Equestrian. Do you agree ?”.

“Yes, Storm Major. I do”. He clopped me on the shoulder and smiled, a large scar showing white across his muzzle, “Despite what you may have heard from some of my brothers and sisters, not all ponies ran when the Equestrians Goddess brought the suns light down upon us. Many stayed and fought, died, by our side. These truths are forgotten with time as the old ones leave for the next world. Only the bitterness, the anger and hurt remain. The Thestrals pride has never recovered and with the Duchess leading our people, I doubt it ever will.”, Thorn lowered his head and closed his eyes in thought. Gathering himself to his hooves he stood and signalled to the others with a few light clops of his hooves. “You’re a good pony, Equestrian. You give me hope for my family. Take good care of our Lady Shadow, protect her as a warrior should”.

I nodded and looked him square in the eyes, hoping my determination to see this through would be clear. He smiled and took up his position once more in the formation. I felt a light nudge to my rump and knew Shadow was ready to move on. Little tugs reminded me that I’d really have to get that tail looked at when I got home, a good shampoo and comb through. With any luck, I could convince her to help me groom myself thoroughly. An inappropriate thought popped into my mind and I filed it for later perusal, first off though, we’d have to get out of here in one piece. Ear nibbling would have to come later.

We followed the valleys, avoiding the hills in case we were silhouetted against the skyline, before reaching a small stream of fast flowing black water. The Thestrals stopped to drink and fill water skins. I was so glad I didn’t get the urge to drink that stuff and especially from the white leather skins. I felt embarrassed, ashamed even, at being so prudish about it, but every time I saw the pale material I had flash backs to the shrivelled mass of the lake monster. The monster I had drained of life, at least, I had according to Star Beard. Maybe he was wrong…..Goddesses, I wished he was.

More hours of marching followed and I could feel Shadow starting to flag, if the tugs on my tail were any indication. It looked like the Storm Major had read my mind when he lifted a foreleg and brought us to a halt. One of the lead armoured Thestrals lifted his head, throwing his cloaks hood back, ears twitching. I still couldn’t quite get used to those pointed ear / horn protrusions, they gave the Thestrals an otherworldly look, something I’d seen only in books on the Underworld. Considering my attraction
to Shadow though, I may have been a little hypocritical in that regard, but then, she was special wasn’t she ?

I followed the Thestrals gaze and strained my ears to pick up any sound. There it was, a whistle, faint to my poorer pony audible capabilities, but apparently clear to the lead

scout of our group. Thorn signalled to him who then, in turn, saluted and trotted off in the direction of the sound.

Every pony stood their ground, tense and expectant. Despite the white cloaks, I had an image of the Thestrals as coiled springs, ready to react with lethal and deadly force at a moments notice. I had seen Far Sight in battle and that was impressive enough without the armour and crystal weapons adding to the imagery.

The runner returned, speaking quickly with his commander who issued his orders. The Thestral lifted a small silver whistle and gave several blasts, oddly, not as loud as I would have expected.

The female Thestral, Glimmer, snuck up beside me, leaning her muzzle close to my ear, “The bridge is near. Beyond that is the old encampment, the boundary of our homeland. Tell me, my pony friend….do you fear ghosts ?”

I swallowed and blinked at her, noting her sly smirk under the hood.

“My lady Glimmer..”, that got a shocked snort of steam, “…you’re talking to one.”

Glimmer nickered and pranced away in surprise, turning her head to look at Shadow who nodded to her, affirming what I had said. She backed away from me and kept a wary distance looking decidedly shaken. I grinned and winked back at Shadow who gave a foalish giggle under her breath. “Nibble the ears”, I muttered.

Thorn spoke at length with one of the other officers and signalled us to move on. Shortly, we halted by the edge of a clearing, that sloped down to the only other structure I had seen outside of the village. A magnificent crystal bridge, arched gracefully over the black river. It was imposing yet with a ethereal quality for something so practical. It seemed strange to compare such engineering skill and design to the tent like domed huts of the tribes town.

Our scout was waiting for us at the edge of the clearing, Thorn called me up to him along with another officer. “You know my mind Gentlecolts, our first destination is before us. I would know your minds.” He addressed us all. This was new to me, no officer in the Equestrian Watch would have a discussion like this before going in to possible action. It was quite enlightening and I listened with anticipation.

“Sir”, the scout said, “I would like to take a recon section and scout the edges of the woods down to the riverside, away from the bridge. We cannot see the other side well enough to check if it’s clear of the enemy”.

Enemy ? These Thestrals were treating our escape as a military operation, any opposition now being viewed as hostile. I hoped that an encounter with their own people would not result in a fight if it could be avoided. Sadly, it felt like mine was a forlorn hope.

Discussions continued with each officer giving their recommendation to Thorn. He thanked each and gave his decision, “We will scout the bank first. The centre will hold here, perimeter guards will maintain distance and level of alert.”. He turned to the scout, “Sergeant, remind you team that there is to be no engagement with enemy forces unless attacked first. Stealth and concealment is paramount. Note any positions and report back. Dismissed.”

The Sergeant clapped a hoof to his chest in salute and collected his Thestrals for their own briefing. I was impressed by the organisation and fluidity of the Thestral command, they had a very militaristic and ordered way to their life in general, apparent from the way their town was arranged, to the adherence to orders and rank. Whether this applied to all the Thestrals, young and old, remained to be seen. If I had a chance to speak to Star Beard again, I would happily listen to his stories and record them if possible. Ponies should know of these people.

I watched the scouts disperse and lay next to Thorn as he surveyed the bridge and far bank. He produced a long brass tube from his saddle bag, which he extended out, lifting it to his eye. I had seen telescopes before but only in observatories and on the top of the library in Ponyville. This was a smaller version and by the looks of it, very old. The watch had binoculars nowadays and it was fascinating to see such old time technology still in use.

“Damn it all !”, Thorn hissed, “I cant see properly from this distance and my Goddess cursed eyes aren’t what the once were. Here Captain, what do your Pony eyes see ?”

I took the proffered telescope and adjusted it to my vision. Closing one eye I was able to scan the near bank and bridge approach, there was no sign of life at all. The only visible movement was from the water washing around the bridge supports and the slight fluttering of the remains of cloth banners hanging from skeletal poles on its wing walls. If anything at all, the most remarkable thing was the sign of natural forces at work; the wind, the rushing water. These were first real link to home I had seen since arriving in the Withers.

Black metal sconces lined the parapet of the bridge indicating that this must have been a well used structure at some time in its life, now it was silent testimony of the Thestrals in their heyday. I was about to hoof the telescope back, when a small movement caught my eye, it could be nothing, but I’d better check. Yes, there, just on the other side of the bridge was…something. I rubbed my eye and look again, it was like a black tree, its foliage waving slightly, almost like a mane, in the slight breeze.

“Dear sweet Goddess…..”. Thorn snatched the telescope from me and strained to see, asking, “What ? What is it Equestrian, what do you see ? Fuck my old eyes !”.

“Sir, I….”, I fought to find the words, Thorn looking increasingly concerned. “On the other side of the bridge….”.

I didn’t get to finish as the Recon Sergeant rushed up in a lather, steam pouring from his coat in the exertion of galloping up the hill. “SIR !”, he near shouted, “Its Nimbus sir, those bastards…..they’ve….Goddess…”. Thorn put a hoof on the Sergeants shoulder and looked at me, a look, not of fear but of…anger on his features.

“Take a breath Sergeant, then give me your report…..”.

“Yes, Sir”, the veteran took several deep breaths, snorted out a gout of steam and saluted his commanding officer.

“Sir, the near banks are clear of enemy units, no patrols or activity spotted.”
Thorn nodded.
“The far bank shows signs of recent ground movement, some activity is visible, actively attempting to avoid detection. Estimate around thirty to forty enemy units.”
He paused, gathering himself. I closed my eyes, I could see a pit in front of us and we had no choice but to walk onward to its deadly conclusion.

“Sir….your son, Nimbus, they’ve taken him prisoner. The enemy have…crucified him.”.
Thorn sat there, unmoving. All I could hear was the beating of my heart and the distant rush of the water.
“Thank you Sergeant.”, Thorn said, returning the scouts salute.
“Storm Major, I….”, I began but the Thestral commander cut in, “This changes nothing Captain. Fear is a tool of war and collateral damage is expected. Casualties will be taken, we have known this since we were foals. Go to your mate, now. Be with her until I summon you. We will begin planning our next move within the hour.”

I saluted the old Thestral officer and walked slowly back to Shadow who smiled expectantly. Her expression changed when she saw my face, her eyes dimming giving me a questioning look. “Fairlight ?” she asked. I took her in my forelegs and held her, saying nothing. What in Equestria could I say to her ?

We stayed together, side by side, taking simple comfort from each others company while the Thestral commanders discussed their strategy. My pride felt wounded that I had been left out of the discussions, but I knew from Thorns body language that he
wanted me to spend as much time as I could with Shadow, give her what comfort I could, until it was time to fight. And fight we would, of that I was horrible certain.

Glimmer glided over to me and nudged me with her muzzle, “Come on then, ‘ghost pony’, the boss wants us. Its time.”

Orders were issued and Thestrals moved out into position. I approached Thorn, “Storm Major.”, I saluted. “Captain Fairlight.” He replied levelly.

I came straight out with it, “I request permission to join one of the wing teams.” His eyes blazed brightly, “Denied”.

“Sir !...”
“I said Denied Captain ! Are you questioning my orders ?”
“No Sir !”
Thorn looked away in silence, his mane bristling.
“I’m not here as a witness Storm Major.” I said to him quietly, “Thestrals are risking their lives for Shadow and for me. I’m not a Thestral warrior, but I have my honour as a Captain of the Watch as well. How can I return to my ponies as a coward who wouldn’t fight to defend his mate ?”

Silence fell, I could just make out slight movements between the trees as the white cloaked Thestral assault teams moved silently down the slope either side of the clearing.

Then, standing, the old Thestral stood up and reach out with a hoof. I looked at it in surprise before taking his offer and allowing him to help me up.

Thorns eyes had a distant look, his voice sounding as if he were remembering a time long ago, “There was a pony, a lot like you, who I served with. He was a junior lieutenant in the pony ground forces. He was tasked with defending the Goddesses banner with a colour party of six others.”

“All our forces had been committed to the attack and the colours were safe, we thought, behind the front lines.”

He paused, rubbing his eyes with a fore hoof.

“The Equestrians Goddess rallied her forces and burned us with the fire of a thousand suns. Many of my brothers and sister were reduced to ash before my very eyes. They didn’t even have time to cry out……”

Our pony forces panicked and fled, the beam of light flashing out again and again, cutting down our Thestrals, dragons and ponies alike, turning rivers to steam and trees to charcoal, it……”

The Storm Major swallowed and shook his mane,

“Our forces routed. The ponies fled, pursued by the Equestrians in a full frontal counter attack. Many died, some where taken prisoner, but not many. In their blood rage, the Equestrians cut down any in their path.”

Above us our Goddess fought, but with the Equestrian Goddess’ revitalised forces, she was overwhelmed. I lost sight of her, we all did. You cant imagine what it was like Captain, my friends, my own father……”

I stood with my brothers and fought as our troops ran and flew past us, discarding their weapons in their blind rush to escape the oncoming tide of Equestrian anger. I…saw the young pony stand. He…stood there, holding the banner as you would stand against a gale. His comrades threw down their arms and fled, yet there he stood, proud and defiant, the Goddesses banner in his hooves, flying in the wind, holed by bolts and burned by dragon fire.

He was struck by arrows and bolts again and again. He fell to his knees but never let her banner drop.”

“I tried to reach him as the earth pony knight charged him, but it was all I could do to keep my self alive. He had no weapon, only the banner, he just…just, climbed back to his hooves and stood, holding that precious banner.

“I escaped my attackers and flew to his aid but I was too late. The knight ran him through from chest to tail with a spear, taking our Goddesses banner and galloping back to their lines.”

“When I reached him, he was already dead. I closed his eyes with my own hooves Captain, but one thing I remember so clearly even today, was the smile on his face. He had served his Goddess with honour, served his people and all for what ? I never even knew his name. His body was left on the battlefield and what happened to it, no Thestral knows.

After that last great battle, those of us who had not been killed or fled to the far corners of the world, were captured and banished to the Wither world.”

I stood in silence, looking at the Thestral commander who was now looking out through his telescope.

“You have a part to play Captain and it is not yet that time. I wont have you throwing your life away in some vain attempt at heroics. Your honour is here with your mate, to protect her, to lay down your life for her if you must. That, is a stallions greatest honour.”

“You know your role in all of this and I have promised Storm Colonel Star Beard I will keep you alive long enough for you to do what he has instructed.”

I stared at the churned up grass at his hooves, not able to look him in the face.

“Request denied, Captain.”

“Yes, Sir”.

Chapter Thirty Three - Nimbus

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

Nimbus

Across the river, the Thestrals went to work, every member of their assault teams using their cloaks to maximum effect. The plan had been to cross the river, using the waters black sheen to cover their approach. Once in the trees on the opposite bank, the cloaks would be deployed once more as they approached their targets.

I watched from cover with Thorn while Shadow dozed behind me. Our Thestral comrades stationed around us watched our flanks and rear, crossbows ready to meet any attack from land or sky.

The focus for me however, was on the activities on the other side of the bridge. A series of loud pop’s and flashes from several small crystal huts, were followed by shout and screams which drifted across the river. Shouting from the buildings further inland, were followed by a rush of Thestral re-enforcements heading for the huts under attack.

The enemy had shown themselves but for them, their planned ambush had backfired, and badly. It was hard to see any specific direction or leadership in them, in fact rather than our disciplined and organised Thestral warriors, these appeared to be acting more like a mass of individuals. Regardless of their lack of cohesion however, their numbers were greater than ours and threatened to overwhelm the assault teams should this turn into a pitched battle.

At this distance, it was hard to see specific detail, except I thought that…..I did ! There ! Cloaked and all but invisible against the white foliage, several Thestrals rushed from the first buildings and melted back into the surrounding trees. The generally black appearance of our foe against the snowy landscape made them hard to miss as they poured into the buildings until the ones outside neighed and fumed, unable to see what was going on inside.

Thorn stared intently and whispered, “….now….”. As if on cue, an enormous green ball of fire erupted from inside the building, flames gouting from the windows and door, licking under the eves. The intense light was mixed with an eerie otherworldly ‘darkness’, in a mind reeling display of raw magical energy, the likes Equestria had probably not seen since the last war. And thank Celestia for that! As the second explosion went off from the other hut targeted by our teams, the scream from the Thestrals caught by the merciless fires as they had stood outside was a horrific memory I will never forget. Of those who had been inside, there was no sign.

The remaining Thestrals ran in apparent confusion, blowing hard, unsure as what to do next. With lethal accuracy, bolts flew from their invisible attackers in the trees, putting them down . One of the creatures charged the tree line raising a spear. I could hear his battle cry even from my vantage point, I saw the glint of a weapon being swung, his body crashing lifeless to the ground, a moment before his decapitated head landed next to him. The pressure of fore legs gripping me, made me crane my neck

round to see a dark muzzle pushing hard into my neck, a whimper of terror and loss filling my ears and heart. I nuzzled Shadow, it was all I could do for her for now, she was shaking uncontrollably. I whispered into her ear, “Its alright love, it’ll all be over soon.”, I wasn’t sure I believed my own words. Shadow didn’t answer.

A whistle from the ruins brought Thorn to his hooves. He gave orders to Glimmer who rushed off to pass the word along. We were moving. Thorn brushed himself off and hefted his war axe, “Captain, are you ready ?”.

I took up my crossbow and checked the safety. The huge old thing wasn’t designed for ponies but would serve me well, solid and reliable. Judging by the black wood and steel of its construction, it most likely heralded from the war. My sword, a home grown Thestral creation was made from the same material as their weapons, crystal I had thought until Thorn corrected me; Diamond.

We swept down the wooded slope keeping to the tree line, keeping our cloaks on even now. No sense in taking chances at this stage. I picked our route as best we could but there was a feeling of urgency from Thorn, a sense that despite his outer calm, his son could not wait any longer. Thorn had told me his son would be dead, his body nailed to a cross as a message to him from the Duchess…she was coming and he would be next along with his comrades. This, Glimmer had explained while I had sat with Shadow under the trees, was an ancient tactic of intimidation. It apparently showed a willingness to make an enemy suffer incredible torment, a threat, a promise, that should they be opposed, this would be the fate of their enemy.

Whether this had any effect on the Thestrals, it didn’t show. Not until now. At the bottom of the slope, Thorn rushed headlong for the wing wall of the bridge. He
slowed and then stopped, staring at the water, snorting his impatience, waiting. As I neared the Storm Major wondering what had brought him up short, a Thestral, water cascading from his hide, emerged from the black water like some mythological beast. Red eyes blazing she shook her coat and saluted the Storm Major, “Bridge is clear sir”.

Thorn nodded and charged across the bridge, weapon drawn, heading straight for his son who was now flanked by several of his troops. He slowed to a trot, then a walk as he approached, looking up at his sons face. Why hadn’t they cut him down ? They were just standing there like statues, where they in shock or was there something else I hadn’t seen or understood yet.

My mouth hung open in shock at the sight before me. The young Thestral hung on a crystalline post, suspended by his forelegs by large nails driven through his flesh. His hind legs had been tied behind the terrible object of his pain and humiliation. I noticed in my rising horror, they had been broken first, before being pulled back into their unnatural position. His hide showed signs of a dreadful struggle too, slash wounds, burns and teeth marks. Whatever they had done to him, he hadn’t taken it lying down and had fought his attackers hoof and fang. I nodded to him and whispered a prayer to Luna, may she guide his soul to the next world, this brave warrior of the Beyond.

Thorn slowly walked up to the devastated body of his son, looking into his face…expressionless. He held up a foreleg to touch him, faltered, then put it back down. If any pony else saw the slight quiver as he did so, they didn’t say, the respect and bond they shared with their commander was a deep one.

One of the assault team Thestrals trotted over respectfully nodding, “Sir, its as we feared. They’ve….”

“Father……”. Nimbus’ eye opened a fraction, the green fire in them barely a flicker. “Father….”.

“Water !”, Thorn shouted and I thrust my water skin into his outstretched hoof. He reached forward to sate his sons thirst.

Nimbus groaned piteously but managed to croak a few words to his father, “No…keep away….magm….”, he tried to wet his lips with a dry tongue but choked and I spotted green tears trickle down his cheeks to fall upon the bloodstained grass.

“Sir !”. The Thestral who had tried to report to Thorn a moment ago, stepped up to put a restraining foreleg against his chest, firm but respectful. “It’s a magmine, they’ve rigged him with one, if you touch him, its all over. Please, sir !”

Thorn pushed forward against the pressure momentarily before backing away, a look of agony in his face. He pushed the water skin back at me and nodded gravely, “You are a unicorn are you not Captain ? Have you any experience with such devices ?”

“No Sir. I’ve never heard of them, I assume they are a booby trap of some kind ?”

Thorn nodded, his eyes looking into his sons whose chest rose and fell in short pants.

“Yes. A magical mine…’Magmine’…A cowards weapon. I thought they’d all been destroyed years ago. Apparently not.”

Thorn removed his cloak and unbuckled a crossbow from his harness. “My son, you know what I must do.”

Nimbus attempted a weak nod as the Thestrals near him backed away. Dawning realisation hit me, “Thorn, you cant mean to…for the Goddesses sake…he’s your son !”.

He motioned to Glimmer who stepped between us, physically pushing me back. “Fairlight, this is something he must do. Don’t make it any harder for him than it is already.”

This flew in the face of everything I had ever been taught, to respect, honour and protect lives. To sacrifice mine if need be to save others, the code of the Watch pony. I had never come across anything like this and hoped, somehow, that I had the wrong end of the proverbial stick, that some pony was going to be able to magic up some solution to it.

I cursed myself for not having a better grasp of magic, but with no idea what this thing was or what it could do, I’d be like a foal playing with a box of matches.

Shadow put a hoof on my shoulder and shook her head. Damn it all, she was as bad as the rest of them ! I couldn’t believe they’d just give up on him so quickly, was this some weird Thestral thing of theirs ?

Thorn spoke to his son, “How many did you slay my son ?” he asked. “Four…father…”. The old Thestral nodded and a smile, edged in pain, crossed his lips as he announced to all present, “My son has fallen in battle. He has slain four of his foes single hoofed ! From this day, songs will be sung of his fearsome strength, his deeds of valour, his bravery in death. Remember !”

The Thestrals as one slammed their hooves to their chests, the sound echoing dully around the old encampment. “Remember !” they shouted as one, the cry echoing out across the clearing. Oh Luna…Celestia…cant you do something to help this soul ? Where are you both ? We need you and we’re all alone, here in the darkness….

I watched in stunned silence at the heavy crossbow being levelled by Nimbus’s father, light glinting off its cruelly sharp tip. The wood creaked almost imperceptibly as the safety catch was released. I couldn’t bear to watch yet, when I looked over my shoulder, I saw that Shadow was stood with us, staring intently at the stricken young Thestral. They all were. Nimbus shouted out to his gathered troops, “Behold ! The warrior returns to the halls of his ancestors !”

We all looked up at Nimbus who raised his maw to the sky and howled with the last of his strength. Around me the others cried out, a single note mixing with his, calling to his ancestors warning them he was coming. The sound began to die away and as it did, I saw something I would not have dreamt possible from the grizzled war veteran; a single silvery tear rolled from Thorns eye, disappearing almost as soon as it had appeared.

“Goodbye, my son.”, the final note echoed away into the eternal sky. Thorn’s bolt left his crossbow with a loud ‘thwack’, transfixing Nimbus’ upturned head to the crystal pole. Almost instantly, he was engulfed in a violent green magical fire which doubtless would have incinerated any pony stood nearby when it was activated. Instead, it was a funeral pyre to send a young soul on his final journey. I’d never met Nimbus and although this gave me a strange sort of detachment from what was happening here, it didn’t mean that it didn’t wound some inner part of me as I bore witness to the stallion’s final moments. I fear that if not for me, he would most likely still be alive, a weight I would have to carry with me for the rest of my days.

The Thestral race was enigmatic, so alien to everything I had ever been brought up with in Equestria, that I sometimes felt frighteningly alone. Other times, by contrast, it was almost as if I’d been born here, a Thestral in the body of a pony. Perhaps I was losing myself in this place, becoming one with the people, my own now nothing more than a distant memory, a dream that had happened to another Fairlight. Right now, right here, seeing the green flames crackle and the heat haze shimmering in the strange white light of this land, all I could see was a brave young life, brutally cut short.

We re-filled our water skins and set out towards the final destination for our group, the Veil was not far now. My pendant glowed brightly when I peeked down into my barding, keeping its glow covered to avoid detection. The white cloaks continued to be worn even now. I was increasingly worried about Shadow, she appeared to be retreating more and more into herself lately. She rarely spoke at the best of times, why, I’d never properly understood and had never seemed to find the time, or conviction, to ask her. Maybe I was being cowardly, I don’t know. Its easy to look upon these matters in hindsight and say what I should have done, what I could have done. Right then, I just wanted to comfort her and not burden her with my needless questions.

I would look over my shoulder and smile at her from time to time. She would smile back sadly and when she thought I wasn’t looking, would occasionally hang her head
and drag her hooves. She looked tired, worn and world weary, not like the mare I had first met. The death of Nimbus seemed to have hit home with her more than any pony else, maybe even more than Thorn. Of the commander, he continued on as he had since I first met him, stoic, unyielding. Hooves smartly and purposefully clopping along, he was an elderly Thestral, true, but he was a bold warrior and a soldier you’d proud to fight beside. I hoped that I could be even half the pony he was. Metaphorically speaking, naturally.

Movement in the trees up ahead gave us reason to halt, a runner from the forward scout detachment rushing back to speak to his commander. Words were exchanged and a ripple of excitement ran through our party. Thorn looked back at me, a broad smile on his weathered face. He seemed to have aged a great deal since the tragic events at the bridge, yet now he was bright, re-invigorated and alive with fresh purpose. “We’re here Captain”, was all he said before beckoning me to follow him.

Ahead of us was a sight which would have made any Equestrian historian wet themselves in excitement. A vast, bowl shaped depression in the land, hollowed out of the white landscape itself spread out before us almost to the horizon. The geography in itself was impressive compared to the endless seas of black sand, hills and white crystal forests I had encountered before. However, what filled the bowl was the true jewel of this land. A city of crystal, sparking and glinting in the moonlight, a fairytale picture of palaces, spires, sweeping sky bridges and elegant buildings of every description. Even from this distance, the road network was incredibly clearly defined, laid out like some giant spiders web. It’s lines radiated out from a large central area which, from what I could tell, was a large round flat ‘rise’ of brilliant white crystal.

The city as a whole was simply breathtaking, truly beautiful to behold in all its majesty. I had never seen it’s like before, even in the pictures I’d seen of Canterlot, this was on another level all together. In fact if some pony had told me that this was Canterlot, I wouldn’t have questioned them at all. This was a place that one would naturally find royalty, even deities. I realised that my eyes had been staring and my jaw hanging slack when Glimmer knocked my head good naturedly with a hoof. “Wake up you big foals blouse, we have a ways to go yet you know”. She was right, the city was still a decent few hours walk away from us across open ground and no matter which way we approached it, we would have to cross. There was no choice now, the prize we sought was right before us, waiting. Whether with open arms or with drawn swords, remained to be seen.

We kept to the formation, keeping low and remaining vigilant in the white grass, our weapons ready. We would be exposed, but an advantage was that we could also see clearly around us and would be able to break for the apparent safety of the cities outer suburbs if need be.

The white grass of the open plain began to become sparse the closer we came to the lip of the cities perimeter. The black sand had returned just when I had begun to think of it as a thing of the past. The good old Fairlight wishful thinking kicking back in again !

The white cloaks we wore, were now useless for camouflage and so we stowed them back in our panniers, securing weapons and tightening gear in case we needed to move quickly. The black sand crunched with familiarity beneath my hooves and we broke into a trot, Thorn wanting to spend as little time in the open as possible.

We were making good progress towards the city when one of our lead scouts let out three blasts on his whistle. Thorn paused, standing on his hind legs, lifting a hoof and then making a pumping motion. Glimmer raced past Shadow and I, shouting “Looks like trouble, lets move flank pony !”. She didn’t have to tell me twice, and we raced after her and the other Thestrals, kicking up little puffs of black sand in our wake. As we picked up pace I saw Thorn look skyward and shout back to us, “Don’t stop till we get to the city rendezvous point ! Whatever happens, run like the bitch herself was behind you !”. He took off at a full gallop, damn… he was fast.

I was glad in some ways to have a chance to really open out into a full gallop, my blood pumping hot through my veins, the breeze drying off my sweaty coat. It was a relief to be free of that white cloak too, as much as a necessity as it had been, the sticky thing had become unbearably hot when worn for long periods. I’d been happily surprised to find the Beyond had some form of weather pattern, even if it was only a slight breeze. Unfortunately, it didn’t do much to cool you down when carrying armour, weapons and saddle packs.

Finally, I could run, I may have even shouted in relief if only it hadn’t been for the sudden rush of fear I felt mixing with the adrenalin. Something had spooked Thorn into a full charge, straight for the cover of the city. He’d said something about a city rendezvous…Bollocks ! I didn’t even know where that was ! I was completely dependant upon following these guys.

As we galloped, a faint noise overhead intruded on my hearing and I risked a glance upwards to see what it was. I wished I hadn’t, large sizzling balls of green magical fire, were arcing through the dark sky in our direction. If it was possible to gain any extra acceleration out of the poor old legs, this was the time to do it.

The first one screamed in with a noise like the damned of hell trying to escape into the world of the living. ‘Taking any pony back with them if that thing catches us’, I thought to myself as I locked onto the first buildings which hove into view. The explosion of the green fire was almost an anticlimax, more a ‘wumpf’, than a ‘boom’ as I’d half expected. The flames spewed and splattered in all directions, the heat was so intense where the fire landed, that it melted the black sand to glass at its centre.

More of them came in, almost blotting out the sky until all I could see was a bright green haze all around me. The thumps of the fire balls bursting near me flashed me with waves of searing heat and frighteningly, I could smell burned hair. I saw Glimmer coming up next to me, blowing like an Equestrian steam engine, “Keep running Fairlight,”, she called between pants, “we’re nearly there, keep going.”.

There were burn marks on her armour from the fire, and smoke trailing from her hide where it had caught her. Glimmer’s stoic face showed nothing but grim determination and I drew deep for a little extra speed. More thumps, some close, some far away. I thought I could hear screams carried on the gusts whipped up by the explosions but kept my head down and willed myself on. If those things hit me, I would be an instant pile of ash, my body becoming indivisible from the black sand around it. Oh Goddesses ! Why was I thinking of that now !?

Glimmer and I almost simultaneously leapt the retaining wall of the first structure we saw and turned quickly down a side alley. I had no idea where the rendezvous point was but an educated guess would be the central platform of the city. Any enemy we faced in here would most likely be there already waiting for us and we would have little choice but to meet them. Glimmer galloped around a corner and we were met with a hissing blizzard of arrows seemingly from out of nowhere. “In here !”, she shouted, heading off down another alley, I was hot on her hooves. The clatter of our

passage echoed off the empty buildings, their open windows and doors like the bones of dead creatures staring out at the living one’s running past them. A sudden thought broke through my adrenalin soaked brain, “SHADOW !”, I shouted at Glimmer, “She’s not behind us ! I have to go back, you go on ahead I’ll catch you up.”

Glimmer screamed back at me, “Don’t be a fucking idiot ! She’ll be with the others, we need to get you to the target area.”

“You don’t know she’s with the others, she could be back in the open field, hurt ! For Luna’s sake, Glimmer, I have to go !”

Glimmer lunged for my barding, grabbing it in her teeth and, flaring her wings, she flung both of us through the open doorway of a small building.

She threw me to the ground and kicked me roughly in the chest, “Shut the fuck up pony, just shut the fuck right up ! Do you hear me !”.

I was taken aback by her attack but rose to my hooves, taking to a fighting stance by instinct. “She’s my mate and your Duchesses daughter. I promised her father I would protect her with my life and that’s what I intend to do ! So get out of my way Glimmer, I’m going back for her with or without you.”

Glimmer stomped her hoof, “We don’t have time for this bullshit Equestrian ! Your mate has her orders and she knows this place like the back of her hoof, we all do. Its you we need to worry about, since you’re obviously not the Duchesses ‘precious’ daughter. The good Lady Shadow is far less likely to come to harm than her pony kidnapper, wouldn’t you agree ?”.

“I…”

“Good. Now we’ve got that settled, get your Goddess cursed arse out of here before those fuckers come in here for us.”

We charged back out into the street, taking side alleys more than the main roads. It was clear to me that Glimmer knew this area surprisingly well, even though no pony had lived here in a very long time by the generally abandoned feel to the city. She never slowed, never faltered, the dust whipped up by her thundering hooves catching in my nose. We turned yet another corner as a volley of bolts crashed into us with a sound of hail hitting glass. Glimmer cried out and smashed into the ground at full gallop, sliding to a halt as I twisted to arrest myself from colliding with her. Grasping her barding as she had done with mine, I pulled her with all the strength I could muster into the nearest open door. I took out my crossbow, flicked off the safety and covered the door entrance while I looked over her body. Several crossbow bolts had

hit her flank chest and neck. Glimmers laboured breathing and coughing evidenced at least one of them had penetrated her lungs. Blood foamed from her muzzle and seeped from the terrible wounds on her body. She held her eyes tight closed and let out a low whimper of pain.

Goddesses, what could I do ? I tipped out my pack onto the dusty floor, searching for medical supplies but finding only bandages. I remembered that the team had a medic with them and Luna knew where they were now...there was only one thing for it.

“Glimmer, you’re hurt, look…stay here and don’t move. I’ll draw them away from you and come back with help.” I went to put my cloak over her to keep her warm.

She glanced up at me with a half open eye, wincing with pain as she opened her mouth to speak, “No….just….get out of here, I’m…..not going…to make it.”

“Glimmer look, please just try and hold on”, I started to undo the strapping on her gear, “Here, I’ll loosen your armour so you can breath and I’ll get help for you.”

She reached out and hooked my barding with a foreleg, panting for breath, “Don’t be a…..”, she let out a gasp and coughed droplets of blood onto the dust covered floor, “….bloody hero.…I can feel my ancestors calling my….soul to them now. Get to the centre of the city, remember…remember….what Star Beard told you….my young equestrian….pony.”

More racking coughs hit her and I put my hoof on her chest for her to hold, chancing a peek out the doorway just in time to duck back as a bolt pinged off the frame. I levitated my crossbow up and shot back, quickly reloading as Glimmer pulled me back to her.

“Make me one promise, cute flanks…” she croaked. The fire in her eyes was starting to flicker, with heart breaking certainty, I knew she wouldn’t be able to last much longer. I nodded, “Of course Glimmer.” She smiled, “Sing to my ancestors for me. Let them know….let them…know I’m… coming home”. I could feel tears stinging my eyes and glanced out the door, there was some movement but hard to pinpoint. Glimmer shook violently and gave a stifled cry, “Damn it, come here !”, She pulled on my barding and kissed me full on the mouth, her blood and hot breath taking my breath away.

Weakly, she moved back and snorted blood and steam onto the floor. “I always thought, you had a….cute arse…pony boy. What I wouldn’t do to….you. If that little filly hadn’t stolen….stolen your heart eh ?”
“Glimmer….”, tears rolled down my face. How many mares were going to die in my forelegs ? Goddesses, was I cursed to bring so much pain and death to those around me ?

Her hoof reached out and brushed away the tears, “Go now….run, go save your mate….go…”. I took Glimmers head and kissed her, giving her a nuzzle before I drew back, brushing the soft mane from her eyes, “I’ll never forget you Glimmer, we’ll remember you. Goddess be with you.”

She waved a hoof at the door, “Go !”. I turned to leave, loosing off a bolt towards some movement at the end of the alley, grimly satisfied by the answering scream of pain. I took one last look back into the dark room, “Goodbye Glimmer….” I said and galloped off into the eerie streets of the dead city.

Chapter Thirty Four - The empty city

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

The empty city

Arrows and bolts flew past me as I turned corners at break leg speed, thanking Luna that I was able to get a grip on the gritty street surface. A broken leg here would mean death, rather than a few weeks in a Manehatten hospital being waited on by nurses and, on occasion, Meadow. When was the last time I’d thought of her, her and Sparrow Song ? Now was not the time, damn it, I had to….Shit !

Stepping out of what looked like an old shop frontage, an armoured Thestral appeared in heavy red striped armour. Definitely not one of ours, he saw me and drew a long hafted weapon from his back. With a loud ‘click’, a long scythe blade flicked out and locked into place, white light glinting along its edge. He swung, the blade whooshing by as it sliced the air inches from the top of my head. Thank be to Luna, that I’d flattened my ears when I did, or they’d have parted company from the rest of me. I didn’t fancy losing any body parts in this world like I did in the last. I was rather attached to them and I intended to keep them that way !

My own blade, designed for close in work thrust up and under his swing, straight between the armour plates and into his heart. He barely let out a sound as his still warm corpse slammed into the dusty ground. I took a chance and stole a glance at his armour before moving on. It was red and black painted crystalline armour with a purple bulls head motif where a cutie mark would normally be on a pony. Something niggled at my memory regarding that but I didn’t have time to be thinking about it right now, I had to get moving. Hopefully the others would have better luck and had already reached the centre of the city with Shadow, waiting for me to catch up.

I could see the platform now, long, impossibly wide steps stretching up to its pristine sides. Following the road down, the dread sounds of battle carried to me on the breeze, echoing off the buildings sounding like the ghosts of battles from long ago, doomed to repeat them for all eternity. And there, at the bottom of the steps, a seething mass of black bodies, ducking, jumping, hacking, biting, slashing. Blasts of flame lanced out here and there in the melee as diamond bladed weapons mercilessly sliced through flesh, muscle and bone.

Ear splitting screams, shouts, neighs and snorts grew louder in my ears as I charged in, sword ready and eager. My anger surged forth. My friends needed me, Shadow needed me, their cries and the memory of Glimmers last moments spurred me on to a need for battle, a desperate want for blood, which normally would have terrified me. Now, it excited me and filled me with euphoria. It was all I could do to restrain the cold rage of the Wendigo within me as it howled for release.

I gutted the first Thestral, sliding under him and slashing with my short-sword, his entrails, hot and steaming, spilled onto the ground like rope. He screamed, trying to hold onto his innards with his hooves as I rammed my sword up and into his brain. Another armoured Thestral swung one of those scythe blades at me. I ducked and

took both his legs out in one swing, slashing his throat open as my blade twisted and was brought up into the yielding flesh.

I couldn’t see who was fighting for the tide of red and black armoured Thestrals at the foot of the stairs. Whoever they were fighting was being pushed up towards the summit, my destination. Grimly, I swung, hacked and slashed with the short sword, carving my way towards them, the dead and dying marking my passage.

The steps were becoming treacherous for hooves, the blood soaked slabs slippery with gore. I had to use what purchase I could, to lose my balance would me death. I narrowly avoided being decapitated by the simple fortune of slipping on a Thestral’s entrails allowing a bolt to whistle past where my head had been a split second earlier. I returned the favour, loosing a bolt straight into his open mouth, the shaft not stopping as it exited the back of his head carrying skull fragments and brain matter out over the back of his armour.

My eyes were wide, taking in every scintillating moment of the gruesome spectacle. It was…delicious.

My sword and I became as one being, merging into a whirling, snarling, killing machine. Blood misted in the air and I could taste its rich iron on my tongue, I laughed as I slew my enemy upon the steps, always on the verge of releasing the
power, always but a mere breath away. It was bliss and torture combined. I sated my thirst in the blood of my enemies.

The Thestrals had backed away from me. Unable to reach me for the bodies of their dead and dying comrades, their eyes showed uncertainty and some, tinged with fear. Behind them came a bellow of something huge, huge….and angry. The Thestrals that couldn’t get out of the way in time were knocked flying by a hulking great beast from the pit. Half bull, half something else, the dark blue creature shook its huge horned head, flexing its claws, staring down at its intended victim. Its beady eyes watched me with a hatred born of insanity as the creature lowered its head and bellowed a great blast of noise at me.

I lowered my sword and hung my head, laughing to myself. With a deep breath I looked up from under by brow, “You’re one ugly mother fucker, bully boy. Time for you to meet the butchers block.”

The creature took a half step back, cocking its head in confusion at my words, before grabbing the severed head from a fallen Thestral and throwing it at me. The throw was wild and missed me by a yard, the intention probably being to distract me from the huge axe it now produced from its back, the blade swiftly swinging downwards.

I dodged the blow, jumping up and slicing my blade along the haft and removing several of the minotaurs fingers. The thing howled in rage and pain, charging me with its horns.

There was no way I could dodge in time. Levitating a Thestrals corpse, I slammed it into the things legs, taking them out from under it. The monstrous creature fell and
slid at full tilt towards me. I leapt vertically, landing on its back and span round while grabbing one of the packages from my saddle bag. The minotaur, dazed and winded, started to push itself to its feet. Seizing the moment, I enveloped its head in my magic and slammed its skull against the stone steps again and again. It wasn’t dead, just stunned, but it had been slowed enough for what I did next.

Grabbing the creatures muzzle in my hooves, I wrenched its head back and plunged the pack of flashbug tubes into its steaming mouth and down to its throat. Releasing the minotaurs head, I sent a small spark of flame down to the packaging material setting it alight.

The monstrous creature choked, clawing at its mouth and throat, trying to pull out the burning parcel. I turned my back and walked off up the stairs as the flash bugs went to work. The resultant explosion rained pieces of skull, brain and flesh like a thunderstorm from hell. Reaching down and picking up a fragment of the minotaur’s bloodied skull which still had the horns attached, I turned and tossed it back down the stairs at the hooves of the stunned Thestrals. Slowly, I licked the blade of my sword and smiled at them, “Come my friends, death is waiting for you, will you keep him waiting ?”

One of the Thestrals whinnied and retreated a few paces, the creatures fear was tangible. “Demon !” one of them cried and barged his way down the steps past the
others who, one by one, began to back away. I stood on my hind legs sheathing my sword and picking up a particularly ornate scythe, giving it a test swing. I smiled at the sound it made whistling through the air and swung it up and back, resting it on my shoulders as I turned to the Thestrals below. “COME !” I screamed and moved toward them menacingly…. it was all they needed. They turned and bolted, discarding their weapons as they went. I clicked my tongue, “Looks like I’d better find some new playmates”, I chuckled. I shook my mane and snorted, looking up to the armoured warriors staring at me from the top of the stairs.

Thorn was sat on his haunches trying to stem the flow of blood from a shoulder wound while several other officers surrounded him, bloodied, burnt and utterly spent. Before them, a group of black and red armoured Thestrals had turned to face me. All had stopped fighting to stare wide eyed at the newcomer. I didn’t care, it was time to play and these would make fine playmates for my blade this day. Shouts and screams of fear tantalised me as I cut them down with my scythe, just as a farmer cuts the fields of straw. I sang a wordless, meaningless song of joy and death while my blade did its thirsty work. Most fell, some tried to run, some lay dying, all knew that to oppose me was death. It was as it should be.

“CAPTAIN FAIRLIGHT !”, a voice shouted pausing me as kicked a Thestral from my sword, the creatures blood shining seductively on the blade….

“Captain Fairlight, As your commanding officer, I order you to stand down. NOW !”.

I stood, shaking and gasping for breath in the cold air, my muzzle foaming, eyes staring at the wounded officer. In a daze, I looked down at my hooves. They were
black, black with blood. The scythe blade, dripping with my victims gore, flesh and fur mixed with blood on the haft. My armour, gouged and dented was covered in grey brain matter and blood. How much was mine I had no idea, and yet, I felt….nothing.

“My Goddess Equestrian, I would thank you for our rescue, but, I…I have never seen the like.” Stammered the soldier I recognised as the reconnaissance squad sergeant.

“I have”. Thorn stood, his attendant fussing over him, applying bandages and attempting to put a poultice to his wounds. “Battle fever, blood rage, we had many names for it. Warriors lusted for it but few achieved it. Thestral warriors could enter a blood rage but it was mostly common in Equestrians. Ponies.”

“What ! Ponies ?” The Sergeant spluttered in surprise.
“Yes”, Thorn sounded thrilled yet also a little…envious, “Have you not seen it this day with your very own eyes sergeant? You may not believe my words but see ! The proof lies before you, at our pony comrades hooves.”

The Sergeant observed the carnage and looked at me with a look of wariness and even a tinge of fear. With a shake of his mane he sheathed his sword, “I don’t mind saying Equestrian, you scare the shit out of me, let alone the enemy. I’m bloody glad you’re on our side.”

Thorn gave a mirthless laugh, wincing as his shoulder shook. The Thestral medic tutted at him and reset the bandages. “Glimmer ?” The commander asked. I shook my head, “She was still alive when I left her, but not….”, I drew a ragged breath, “She died saving me. She was a true warrior Storm Major, I promised her we would honour her when this is all over.”

“We will Captain….we will. She was…a good friend. Tell me Captain Fairlight of the Manehatten Watch….”, Thorn gave me an intent look, leaning his foreleg on his thigh, “A Thestral warrior likes to leave a memory, a piece of advice for future generations, that will be passed down from mother to daughter, father to son. Did Glimmer tell you anything that you will be able to pass on to your foals ?”

I nodded.
“Yes ?”, he asked me.
“Ears”, I mumbled.

“Sorry Captain, I cant hear you very well. Can you say that again ?”
“Ears.”

“Ears ? What about them ?”
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Nibbling the ears ‘apparently’ drives mares crazy”.

I blushed and shuffled my hooves in the heat of embarrassment. There was a long, silent pause as the warriors before me absorbed the words, looking at each other in wonder. Like a bubble bursting, the moment was over, the Storm Major, injury forgotten, threw back his head and roared with laughter, his comrades joining him. The joyful sound echoing across the cityscape spread out around us and I couldn’t help buy raise a smile, Glimmers ancestors didn’t know what was going to hit them.

Chapter Thirty Five - Unwelcome guests

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

Unwelcome guests

We climbed cautiously to the top of the platform, Thorn walking slowly with the aid of one of his troops. There wasn’t one of them who hadn’t been wounded but they’d insisted on reaching the top before pausing for anything other than life saving medical aid. The poultices they had applied to the more serious of their wounds was a pungent blend of what appeared to be mushrooms or fungi of some kind. It stank to the high
heavens but worked amazingly well, stemming blood loss quickly and covering the wound in a rubbery seal preventing any dirt ingress. I’d dipped a hoof in some when the medic offered a little to me in case I’d been hurt and I’d gladly dabbed some onto the patchwork of cuts and burns I never realised I’d had until now.

It was amazing, an instant relief from pain and a cooling sensation that had me marvelling at some of the creations here in the Withers. Considering how barren the whole land seemed to be, there must be resources here which could be farmed. Like those handy white blob things that they made leather straps from, I wondered. My coat shivered at the thought !

“Commander ?”, I asked politely as we climbed the stairs, “Is Shadow nearby or is she with another party ?”.

The old Thestral gauged me with one of his fiery eyes and spoke levelly, “No Captain, I fear the Lady Shadow is not with us. We lost sight of a lot of our people in the city.” He rubbed his eyes with a foreleg, “It would appear we have been betrayed, my friend. Our route here, our plans, were known only to a select few and we had precious little time to concoct them. All of our preparations were drawn up quickly in case of need, although there was always the chance that the Duchess would have allowed you to leave.”

I doubted that, the old bitch was power crazed. I’d seen it in the way she attacked any pony, even her own family, to assert her dominance. I’d thought at the time that maybe that was the ‘Thestral Way’, and that really, I shouldn’t be judging them. After all, I was the outsider here whichever way you looked at it. ‘When in Roam’ and all that shtick. At least, that was until she struck Shadow, so maybe….nah, she was just a bitch, I decided. Personally, I’d love to return the sentiments to her before I left. Once I’d found my Shadow of course, and I could only pray to the Goddesses that she was nearby waiting for me and would appear once she heard the sound of battle die away.

I gritted my teeth and climbed, I had to have faith we would find her and we’d leave together.

Painfully slowly, we broached the top of the plateau. It stretched out before us sparkling white, pure, unbroken and radiating the feeling of a sleeping, hidden power, faint but alluring. This place was incredible, there were no signs of flagstones as I’d expected, nor seams of any kind. It was a structure wrought of magic, immensely powerful magic, the type written about in books that foals would read and marvel at.

The light from its surface reflected off our coats and we had to allow our eyes a moment to adjust to its glare. Looking up I saw…the moon, the equestrian moon, shining like a massive light house in the dark seas of the sky. A thought popped into my head and I took out my pendant. To my shock its bright light was now almost blinding, and it lifted out of my hoof to float towards the celestial orb. The little golden chain, thankfully, anchored the crystal to my neck and I went to place it back into my barding.

“Great Goddess……” came a voice thick with wonder next to me. It was the recon sergeant, “…What is that ?”.

I held out the crystal for him to see, his eyes burning just as brightly as the others moved toward me in wonder. “It’s a beacon, a guide of sorts I suppose, It’s guided me all the way here. With your help, all of you. I nodded to them. In all the time I’d been with these people, they had never questioned why they were doing what they were doing. The enormity of it was staggering, they had betrayed their ruler, fought and killed their own people….their own…

Thorn spoke to the Sergeant, “I saw it in Star Beards quarters, it glows when held in a certain direction. To here apparently. Useful, if this is your only destination.”

The Sergeant gazed at the crystal for a moment longer then walked away to sit on his haunches for a scratch. ‘Very pony like’, I thought. I could even overlook the teeth now.

“Sir, who are the ones who attacked us, they don’t look like they’re from your tribe. The purple mark on the armour, the minotaur…?”

Thorn sighed and nodded. “They’re the Earls soldiers”.

“My Goddesses,” I suddenly realised what had been nagging at me since my first encounter with the one in the city below, “the Earl of the Purple Sands. Shadows betrothed”.

One of our party stood up, gazing up at the moon intently. “You’re going to be meeting him sooner than you think Equestrian. To arms warriors of the Beyond, we’ve got company !”

Shading my eyes against the moons brightness, I could just make out the flapping shapes approaching. There must have been hundreds of them and they were getting closer. I felt a hoof on my shoulder and Thorn appeared, “Listen Captain, you are the one they want but we are now equally hated in the eyes of our Duchess. I don’t know if any of us will leave here alive now. I sincerely wish I could have brought you both here safely and I feel I have failed you.”

“No Thorn, you are the bravest and most noble warrior I have ever met, Pony or Thestral. You and your team have sacrificed your lives for a Pony you’d never met before, you’ve done what no other could have done to get us to this point. Whatever happens next, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

I took his hoof in mine and gave a single shake, “Thank you Storm Major Thorn, it has been an honour serving with you.”

The scarred commander of the Thestrals looked surprised and smiled a toothy grin, his white scar showing vivid against his skin, “And I thank you Watch Captain Fairlight, for this final chance at glory for my kin.”

He rose on his hind legs and the Thestral warriors fanned out, weapons ready. “Brothers and Sisters, we may die this day but our spirits will go to the land of our ancestors who will welcome us all as true warriors of the Goddess. Honour to you all, Warriors of the Beyond !”. He let out a howling roar, followed by the others; a fanfare of defiance to the approaching mass. My little pony voice had nowhere near the strength and power of my comrades but I added it to theirs. This Equestrian would fight by their side and stain his blade with the blood his enemies. I thanked Luna that Shadow wasn’t here to witness what would be surely coming, but prayed that she was safe. I missed her terribly but I knew too, that whether in this world or the next, I would see her again. Soon, I would be with my family, one way or another and all of us would be as one. I would have a lot of explaining to do to Meadow, oh Goddesses I was in for it !

The sergeant clopped me on the rump, laughing and raising his axe, “You smile Equestrian, good ! You are a true Thestral warrior now, happy are those who fight by their brothers side.”

“….And their sisters !” called another voice from further back in the formation. I laughed aloud, I had never felt comradeship, friendship, like this since….home. Friendship truly was magic.

With a blast of wind and the shudder of hooves landing on the plateau, a good distance from us, the Earls troops readied themselves for battle. Arrayed in ranks

several deep, Blood red banners emblazoned with the purple bulls head flapping lazily over the heads of standard bearers, they stood in silenced, waiting.

I adjusted my barding, scythe glittering in the moonlight, my brothers and sisters with me by my side. We too waited for what was to come. With the crack of a whip, a Thestral driven sky chariot swooped low over the plateau and above our heads giving me a clear view of the being within. As it passed by a pair of yellow eyes in a huge bulls face stared down with undisguised hatred. Dressed in what looked like furs, the minotaur cried out a hideous bellow which was echoed by his troops who began banging their spears on the ground in unison. It was quite impressive, if a little theatrical, but I had the impression it was more to psych themselves up for battle rather than to intimidate us. If that had been their intention however, it had failed hopelessly judging by the smirk on Thorn’s face.

The sky chariot swept over us and banked, landing in a clatter of hooves and creaking wood. The chariot itself looked like it had originated from Equestria judging by its design, with modifications to accommodate the bulk of the gargantuan thing inside; the Earl I guessed. He pulled himself out of his conveyance which quickly took to the air, landing far back behind his massed troops, well out of crossbow bolt range. Perish the thought we’d damage the upholstery…

The Earl’s cloak caught the wind and flew out, revealing the massive musculature of the minotaur beneath. His horns, polished to a near mirror finish, shone brightly, their lethal points could doubtless disembowel a pony effortlessly. By the looks of his cloak, he’d managed to do that more than once already. The macabre thing was an assemblage of Thestral and pony hides, sewn into a grotesque robe of his defeated enemies. Cutie marks, faded and old were still quite visible. I felt a pang of hunger in my chest, pain for my fellow ponies, but something more….a desire for vengeance.

The Early lifted his cloak and inhaled of the hides deeply, eyes closed in pleasure, a gratuitous display of intimidation which failed to have the slightest noticeable effect on Thorns team. A voice rang out, “Time for some more of your bullshit your Earlship ?”, sniggers and laughter rang out from the Thestrals. I noticed even some of the Earls troops chuckle.

The great beast bared its teeth, scanning the line of Thestrals one by one until its eyes caught mine. With a snort from those giant nostrils of his, the Earl howled his words at me. “YOU !”, he pointed a brown clawed digit at me, “Where is my betrothed you cursed thief pony ?”

I took a step forward and looked him in the eye, “Don’t you know Earl ? My, my, you really are careless aren’t you ?!”. I don’t know when I’d started delighting in antagonising my opponents, especially one’s with hooves that could crack a ponies head like an egg, but it had the desired effect. My comrades sniggered and the Earls face turned scarlet. “WHERE IS SHE ? I WILL NOT ASK AGAIN PONY”, the words were like a sonic attack on my ears. I thought I’d become immune to the denizens of the Withers and their ability to speak deafeningly into my poor old brain.

The translation thing in my ear had done sterling service, but I half expected it to explode with this hairy clowns deafening racket.

I opened my mouth to speak, my grip on the scythe tightening. This beast was coiling like a spring ready to release and I knew with deadly certainty, if I didn’t meet his charge, my hide would end up as patches on that Goddess damned cloak.

Before I had a chance to speak, there was a loud commotion from behind the Earls warriors, drawing every pony’s attention. Momentarily forgotten, the Earl turned his back to me and I had to refrain from seizing the opportunity to attack. Maybe, somehow…we could all just walk away from this. ‘Some hope’, I thought to myself sarcastically as the huge form of a deep green Thestral mare rose over the plateau followed by the familiar shape of Far sight and, bringing up the rear, an enclosed sky carriage that landed next to them. All very dramatic, I pondered, but even so an icy chill tingled down my spine. Events were reaching their zenith but I was damned if I
was going to be carried along helplessly like a leaf on the river. For now though, I waited for the Duchess to speak.

“Hold, my most gracious Earl, please, I beg you stay your hoof !” She shouted breathlessly. The Earl stood where he was and rumbled his reply, “The thief is here Duchess, he has stolen my betrothed. Where is she ?”

The Duchess gave a startled snort, “Yes…but before that my lord Earl, there is the matter of the treaty…”

The Earls face darkened “THERE WILL BE NO TREATY , FEMALE, UNLESS YOU FULFILL YOUR SIDE OF THE AGREEMENT !”. Goddesses ! That noise !

The Duchess recoiled from his bellowed words but quickly regained her composure. “But my Lord Earl, I have fulfilled our agreement. Here…..”, she held out a hoof to the carriage door which a cloaked Thestral opened. My heart skipped a beat and I felt a wave of cold realisation flush through me. A slender black leg emerged from the carriage. Muzzled, and wings bound, hobbled to prevent escape, Shadow followed, stumbling onto the white flat stone of the plateau.

I felt a huge pulling sensation deep inside my chest, all the while choking back my desire to call her name. I didn’t want her to see this.

“…here is your gift from the people of the Beyond !”. The Duchess smiled expansively and spoke once more to the Minotaur who continued to glower at the new arrival, “Now my Lord Earl, the treaty…?”. The minotaur leaned down, sniffing at Shadow and growled low, “She stinks of the….pony. She has been tainted and is useless to me now. There will be no trade agreement.”

“WHAT !!” She screamed, grabbing at Shadow roughly and pulling her muzzle towards her, she stared into her eyes. Shadow looked back, unmoving. Her mother released her and with a gasp of shock shouted her rage in a gout of steam,
“You…filthy little whore!…you’ve lain with that stinking, filthy….HORSE !”. There was that word again, by Luna, I didn’t like this mare and I didn’t like where this was leading either. She was a vicious Thestral who even her husband had little sway with.

Maelstrom turned to me, grabbing her daughter around the throat. Far Sight rumbled low, steam pouring from his muzzle as he advanced towards his wife. “She’s ruined now…you…you filth ! All those years of planning, grooming….ruined….damn you to the deepest circles of hell !”

The Duchess was incandescent with rage, all reason and sanity disappearing like the steam whisping from her maw. She smiled, shaking as the insanity took her,

“Well….well my dear sweet one…sweet, sweet shadow….I hope we meet again in ‘pleasanter’ times. You can go to be with your sister now…..”. A flash of sparkling diamond filled my vision as the Duchess took a dagger to Shadows throat. I screamed in fury and charged at the same time my vision turned white, a jet of flame like a surgeons scalpel, burning across the Duchesses chest and foreleg. The knife clattered to the ground and was kicked away by Far Sight, flames and smoke licking up the side of his muzzle. “You go too far wife !”, he said in barely controlled fury.

Shadow was quickly collected by two cloaked ponies and had her bonds removed, she was shaking in fright and, knowing Shadow, a healthy dose of anger.

“PITIFUL”. The Early turned his back to the scene behind him, the Duchess crying In outrage and shame while her husband put a protective wing around her. He looked over to me and nodded slowly. Shadow broke free of her assistant looking about her frantically before she saw me. Her nostrils flared and she prepared to come full gallop just as another cloaked pony stepped before her and she stopped suddenly. The two spoke and Shadows face looked towards me in desperation before nodding and walking slowly, head down, back to the sky carriage.

“NOW….PONY. WE WILL FINISH THIS CHARADE. YOU HUMILIATE ME AND I ANNIHILATE YOU !” The Earls furious words made the dust dance around him.

“Oh dear”, I smiled, “I don’t think so.” Thorn shouted to me, “Now Captain ! Your moment is hear, seize your glory !”. If a pony had shouted that to me at any other time, I would probably have cringed in embarrassment, but, as my old mentor once told me, it was all about timing. Timing and context. I breathed in several times, calming my heart, gently sensing for the cold anger inside. Like a frightened cat it backed away into the dark and for an instant, I feared I wouldn’t be able to achieve my goal. I

breathed slowly, all the while easing the storm inside, holding out an invisible hoof to it, teasing it, promising it all it wanted to fulfil its needs. ‘Come’, I thought, ‘a banquet await us, will you let me feast alone ?’

I felt a movement, virtually imperceptible, but I could feel the restraints I’d put on it relinquish their grasp. Slowly, the tiny icy feeling sent questing tendrils out to my consciousness, ‘Come’, I said to it in the darkness, ‘let us be one again, we are halves of one whole are we not ? Join me in the symphony now and bring our foe to the feast of death.’

A bare whisper, ‘yes’. Again a moment later, stronger, ‘…yes’. The cold wall burst free of its restraints and flooded through me sending a rush of ice and fire through my body that made me gasp out loud….”YES !“.

I cried out, my heart soaring on a wave of euphoria and anger. Cold, black vengeance, retribution for the fallen, it was all waiting for me. My rattling cry of pain and despair howled out across the plateau, my wings bursting forth from my back and snapping out to show their magnificent, terrible beauty to the world. I growled low and loud, the thick white mist beginning to pour like liquid cloud from my teeth. My vision became tinged in blue, vision becoming impossibly clear. Every detail of my surroundings, every smell, every sound, the tiniest of movements, were as an open book to my senses. My hooves were the bringers of thunder, my teeth would rend, my fire would burn. There was time to kill……

The minotaur dragged a giant axe from its back as it yelled a terrible battle cry and charged me, horns down. With a single beat of my wings I flew up into the dark sky, my white coat and blue mane shining brightly in the moonlight. I hissed my defiance and swept down, plumes of white cloud shrouding my flanks making me appear like a comet from the heavens howling down to earth. The Minotaur swung his mighty axe but I was too quick for his lumbering frame and I released a blast of blue fire from my horn straight for his chest. Surprisingly fast for such a monster, he twisted and my attack glanced across his chest flensing his flesh and drawing a shout of pain.

“COWARD !”, he bellowed, stopping and lowering his axe to the ground. “YOU FLY WITH YOUR MAGIC. YOU HAVE NO HONOUR.” I came to a halt, my wings beating steadily. He was wrong. I was no coward, I was a pony of Equestria, a captain in the service of their royal highnesses. I would kill this animal, claim my mate and return home. We all would return home. Except…..him.

I called to the Earl with my Wendigo voice, cold and otherworldly, “Very well…….”.

“By the Goddesses arse, Fairlight, dont do it !, its what he wants. Take the bastard out with you power.” Thorn shouted up at me from below. I understood, victory was victory no matter how you achieved it. I flew down to him and recovered my scythe, turning to my commander as he regarded me with wide eyes. “The ends justify the means eh, sir ?” I hissed, feeling the weight of the scythe in my magical grip. He looked at me, tears and a far away look in his old eyes, I could almost see the images of the Pony Lieutenant, banner in hoof, his son, nailed to pieces of crystalline wood.

“No Captain. Not always……”. I nodded and turned my face to the minotaur, my blue eyes reflected in the blade of his axe. The creature laughed expansively, “FOOL ! You cannot defeat me ! I have been in over a hundred battles !”. “Oh don’t worry

bully”, I retorted, “you cant lose all the time”. He screamed in a red haze of fury and ran at me full tilt, swinging the axe like it weighed no more than a feather. I deflected it with the scythe and span, cutting up and round, slicing through the vile creatures thigh and side. His axe swept down, cleaving through my flank, a trail of silvery blood pouring down my leg.

We circled each other, everything and every pony else forgotten, our sole focus on cutting down the other. I felt the exhilaration of combat sizzling through me, almost but never quite overwhelming my conscious mind. I was floating in a sea of calm, dead calm, the waters around me surging and boiling, white wind flowing and crying out for release. Inside the eye of the storm, I controlled it all, worked the flow of power and anger, the conductor of an orchestra of destruction, I was the bringer of woe, maker of windows and the harbinger of death. I cried out into the storm and the wind flew free.

The Minotaur lifted his axe above his head and brought it down with a bone splitting strike that would have cleaved me in two. Whirling around him, my scythe flashed and struck, blood blossoming where it drew back to strike once more. Unstoppable, the Earl snarled and tried to grab my mane, screaming in pain as his fingers froze when they barely brushed my body. Incensed with pain and fury, he lowered his head and charged, horns glinting with deadly purpose. I barely dodged his attack, his horns grazing my foreleg, drawing forth more shining blood. Even as his horn froze in shining blue ice, he swept the great axe at me and I pulled out all my speed to block the heavy weapon away from me. The blade nicked a piece of flesh from my rump and I gritted my teeth against the pain, dropping the scythe and pulling the short-sword from its sheath. The hulking creature, blood streaming from its many wounds threw his ruined weapon on the ground and ran at me, bloodied clawed arms outstretched, screaming his hate and bloodlust as he came.

I stood my ground, waiting for the right moment. He was almost on me as I arrowed the sword straight into his throat. Staggering off target he reached up and yanked the sword free, tossing it like a toy across the white ground towards the watching Thestrals.

He gagged, choking on his own blood and turned to glare at me with his cold hard bullish eyes. I took up my scythe, power seething through me in a cascade. It was beyond ecstasy, the end was near now, so near I could taste it. And I would, I would drink deep this day,

“Oh Earl….” I hissed, the cold of the north winds in my voice, mist dripping, steaming onto the plateau’s solid ground, “…No more running…no more games….time to play.”

I took my fighting stance as he came at me, a final rush that would leave one of lifeless at the dead centre of the city of ghosts.

Time slowed and I took in every movement of his muscles, the steam blasting from his nostrils, the blood seeping from his wounds. The claws, several broken away by the frozen touch of my body, reached for me. His mind was gone, any thought of the
injuries he would receive in grappling me meant nothing to him now, only my death at his claws. I waited, reaching out with my magic, bringing the scythe to my hooves.

With an animalistic cry, time snapped back on track and the Earl of Purple Sands stumbled to a halt. A line of blood spilled from his neck to his waist. The life sparked in his eyes then went out, the two halves of his body slipping wetly to the now blood slicked ground. I dropped the scythe from my hooves and stood over the defeated enemy. My breath slowed, I closed my eyes and opened my mist dripping maw, breathing in the delectable aroma…. it was time to feed.

Silence fell across the city like a shroud. I sat back on my haunches, my hunger satisfied. After what felt like hours, I opened my eyes and looked upon the shrivelled ruin of the Earl of Purple Sands. Lifting the scythe, I cut the thong holding the cloak to his remains and brought it up so I could take a closer look at it. I was right, cutie marks, old and worn. Dark red, purple, black and green tinged Thestral hides
contributed to this abomination before me. I rolled it up and held it in the air with my magic before incinerating it with a pulse of blue fire. The cloak burned filling the air with the stink of hair and skin, sending black smoke up into the sky, covering the face of the moon.

I lifted my head to look to the symbol of the Goddess, “Luna, princess of the night, goddess of our dreams, hear my prayer…..your children are coming home.” Tears stung my eyes and blue fire rolled down my face. A light nuzzle against my neck brought me back, to look into my lovers eyes. Shadow smiled shyly and licked my nose. I leaned into her and spread a wing across her back, feeling her warmth against my hide.

A familiar voice echoed out across the vastness of the plateau from behind the Duchess who was still weeping into her husbands chest as he cradled her. A broken doll she may be at present, but I had no doubt that the stern Thestral inside would return some day. Hopefully, her children and husband would help her to become more, to be a better ruler.

“This is nice isn’t it ? Everyone here then I take it ?”, a cloaked Thestral emerged from the covered sky carriage and trotted over with Ember who kept several steps behind him and her head down. I looked at Star Beard and smiled, “Impeccable timing my friend.”

“Well..hmmmm…not really, I was quite tired galloping about after everyone you know and, well, I may have had a little snooze in the carriage….um.”

Thorn trotted over with his Thestrals, the Earls troops may have been invisible for all the attention they paid them. “You old donkey fart !, I thought you’d finally been done in. Thank the Goddess you’re alive.”

Star Beard clopped hooves with the Storm Major and pulled him into an embrace. “I missed you too my son.”. Bloody hell, just how old was Star Beard ?! I remembered

him explaining how time was different between here and the mortal world, but somewhere between fighting wars, he’d fathered Storm Major Thorn and, quite a bit later judging by the age difference, the Duchess. I wondered just how many of the tribe the randy old sod had spawned. Wait a minute, that means…..If Shadow is my mate, then she’s the daughter of the Duchess which makes him….

“Well hello grandson…”, Star Beard said nudging me with his nose. “Long time no see ! Hope you’ve been taking good care of my Granddaughter”. Okay make that Grandfather-in-law then.

“Star Beard….” I began, but he stopped me with a raised hoof and spoke to both the commander and myself, “We have guests, fillies and gentlecolts, and we must attend. It would be rude not to now wouldn’t it ?”.

Star Beard nudged Shadow and myself into following him out in front of the confused looking soldiers from Purple Sands. Their commander dead before them, they looked
to have lost their will to fight as well as any idea as to what to do now. With a flourish, the old Thestral unclipped his cloak, revealing another underneath. I recognised it from the secret room beneath the hill. It was a floor length dark blue cloak, a little mouldy looking but serviceable. Silver crescents and stars were sewn into it and, oddly, brass bells, which tinkled as he straightened himself out. He fussed a moment longer, pulling out a huge blue hat in the same style as the cloak, complete with bells, from the depths of his saddle bag and plopped it on his head. Ember fussed with his garments until she was satisfied. He smiled and nodded to her and she backed away coyly.

Clearing his throat, Star Beard addressed the massed warriors “Thestrals of the Purple Sands, who speaks for you now that your Earl has been defeated in honourable combat ?”

A tall Thestral in black and red striped armour and several white stripes on his helmet stepped forward, “I do. I am Captain Light Step of the tribe of the Purple Sands.”

“Do you speak for all your people Captain ?” Star Beard asked.

“I can. The Earl is dead and his only heir is also slain.”. I nodded as the Thestral dipped his head in my direction.

“Captain, the ancient agreements of our peoples still bind us. By the laws of the Goddess, your tribe now belongs to this warrior.”, I nearly fell over backwards when Star Beard pointed his hoof at me.

“But….Elder”, he stuttered, “He is not a Thestral, nor even a pony….I…do not know what he is. How can he lead us…such a…..demon ?”.

“A demon ?!”, Star Bear laughed and clopped the Captain on the shoulder, “Oh come on now my dear fellow, don’t you know a Wendigo when you see one ?”

Thestrals broke out in shocked mutterings and nervous movements all around me. Goddesses, I hated being the centre of attention and I could feel myself blushing slightly. How that looked on a white ‘demonic’ being with a blue mane and tail, not to mention leaking white fog everywhere, was any ponies guess.

I certainly had an effect on the Thestrals here though.

“They are extinct ! How can you say this one is a warrior of the Goddess when none of them have been seen since the Return ? My people….”

“…Your people will know when they see a Wendigo Captain, as you did when he slew your despicable Earl. Where were you looking when the blue fire burned the sky, when the breath of the princess of the night caressed the ground. You have heard the war cry of our ancestors here today and you still say they are…extinct !?”

“I…Elder…I’m sorry, its all….”

Star Beard put a hoof on the stricken Captain, “I know my boy, in truth I couldn’t believe it myself at first, but here he is before you. Speak with him now…go.”

The Captain nervously stepped up to me, eyes full of uncertainty, fear and a touch of pride. “My Lord…” he began.

I stomped a hoof, making him wince, “I am not your Lord, Captain”, my voice flowed from my maw like wind gusting across a glacier, “You are a Thestral, proud and strong, a warrior of the Goddess. Hold your head high my brother.”, The Captain stared up at me, his eyes wide, “I have fulfilled the terms of the agreement with the tribe of the Beyond. From this day, I decree that both tribes will be as one, whole as they once were and shall be again. Be as one under the moon of the Goddess.”

Silence.

“I am leaving this land my brothers and sisters, I cannot say if I can return or not, but know this. All of you share a bond with me now, forged in the heat of battle, we fought and bled upon the land of the ancestors.”

“LORD FAR SIGHT !” I called and the great Thestral landed beside me shaking his large mane. “Your warriors await your orders, my father. Now, I must beg your leave.” Far sight stared at me intently for a moment before smiling and giving me a sly wink with those big red eyes of his. With a sweep of his great wings, he turn to speak to the Captain, Thorn walking over to join him. I walked away with Shadow

and Star Beard, leaving the old soldiers to discuss the future of the two tribes. Whether things would last, whether they would be able to put centuries of division
aside and forge a new future together, was in their hooves. I quietly prayed to Luna it would be so.

We followed Star Beard past the milling Thestrals, old rivalries forgotten, weapons left on the ground to talk to new friends. We passed the huddled form of the Duchess and headed down the steps behind her. She gave a terrified cry and scuttled away from us, from me, with a foreleg over her face, “…Demon !...” she hissed, “…to think my daughter….with you….demon !....back to the pit with you…demon….”.

Star Beard craned his head round sadly and spoke to me, “Don’t worry about her my young friend, I will see she is tended to. Its all been a little too much for the poor girl.”

I glanced back to the Duchess who squeaked when she noticed me looking at her and covered her face with a wing. I hoped Star Beard knew what he was doing, the Duchess looked like she needed a little more than simply “tending to”.

We were lead into a large building with a crescent moon carved on the door lintel. No pony had been in here for a long time, our hoof prints were the only ones visible in the dust on the solid floor. The building itself was built, like the rest of the city, in that solid white crystal giving the feeling of being inside a cube of ice, but without the chill. I’d noticed on my breakneck journey through the empty streets, a distinct lack of doors or glass for the windows, in fact furniture of any kind. Almost as if the city was a blueprint, a plan for something that never truly happened. There was certainly no sign of decay, wear or life of any description. There was one pony who I knew held the key to this mystery and he was a few feet in front of me wearing a relic from equestrian history.

“Star Beard”, I asked, “or should I call you Starswirl the Bearded ?”, you knew what was going to happen today didn’t you ?”.

He stopped in his tracks. Without turning he spoke, “My dear boy, I’m not a pony you know, I’d have thought you’d know that by now. The glowing eyes and teeth are a bit of a give away.”. His voice was level and had an almost dangerous note to it compared to his usual manner of speaking.

I pressed on regardless, “The cloak, the hat, the secret room full of Equestrian artefacts in a world like this ? How old are you, what, like a thousand years or more ?” I wanted answers before I left this place, probably forever.

“You have a right to ask questions Fairlight, Equestrians have always been…’inquisitive’, but I cannot answer them all. I have my….reasons, why I can’t. A promise to a friend, from long ago.” He slowly turned to face me, “But you my pony friend, will have to bear in mind that no pony, not even the Goddesses can know everything. That friend of mine I mentioned, he tried, spent the best part of his life searching for answers to magic, to life, even to death, finding some but not all that he

desired to know. His passion for knowledge slowly consumed him until one day, he simply stopped. He realised that sometimes, the answers are not always ones we should, or want to, hear. And so, he came to us here in the Wither world. He spent many years helping our people, teaching them, helping them to become more than the brutish, warlike animals we were. There is still a lot to do but I am old, Fairlight, as you said, very old.”

“The cloak and hat belonged to your ‘friend’ ?”

Star Beard nodded. “Yes Fairlight, they belonged to him. Oh, I dare say that he had more than one set of clothes, but now, sadly, he is no longer with us, so it falls to his….protégé to follow in his hoof steps. My adopted name is in homage to him, to help us remember what he did for us.”.

“But you’re not a unicorn !” I blurted, regretting my thoughtless words the moment they left my mouth.

Star Beard looked past me into a memory only he could see, “No, I’m a Thestral, like the rest of my people. However, we all have a magic within us Fairlight, be you a unicorn, Pegasus, earth pony, Thestral or even, yes, a minotaur. Aren’t you taught that any more in your world ?”

“I’d….forgotten.”, I hung my head in shame, “I’m sorry Star Beard, I shouldn’t have pushed you for answers and now, I’ve made you remember painful memories.”

Star Beard shook his mane and looked puzzled, “Painful ? Goodness me no ! If my mentor hadn’t have come here, I’d never have had the chance to wear such an amazing cloak and hat !” He suddenly pranced around the empty room making the bells jingle and tinkle, striking ludicrous poses. Shadow laughed, I looked into her face as she held her hoof to her mouth, eyes sparkling with mirth. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing with her at the old Thestrals antics. Star Beard was a little strange and secretive, but I knew in my heart that he was the best chance we had of getting out of here and I would put my trust in him completely.

Chapter Thirty Six - Land of the eternal herd

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

Land of the Eternal Herd

We sat together by a small black stone font set in the centre of one of the empty buildings rooms. It was a place with a peculiar sense of calm. Niggling at the back of my mind, I sensed a subtle background thrum of magic, similar to that on the plateau, but here it was more…personal somehow.

Ember, the most eloquent of Shadow’s sisters was so quiet I had almost forgotten she was with us. She silently passed around a woven basket full of the plump crystal berries. What caused me some consternation, however, was that the once talkative Thestral female now avoided eye contact with me, turning her head away if I even glanced in her direction. “Eat”, said Star Beard to Shadow and I, taking a particularly juicy one for himself. I’d already ‘eaten’ earlier of course, but I could still feel the warm tingle of magic from the berries lifting my reserves.

A sudden worry popped into my mind, “Star Beard, Thorn told me he believed we’d been betrayed. The ambush had certainly been well prepared long before we got here. We’re fortunate to be alive..”, I put a hoof on Shadows and smiled at her, “..all of us.”

Star Beard smiled at us both and nodded in his usual knowing manner, “Sometimes, ties of family can make us do the strangest things, make the worst of choices.”, I saw him looking at Ember who turned her head away in embarrassment, or was it shame ? “Love, even if unrequited, is a powerful force.”

Shadow nuzzled her sister’s neck and they spoke in low voices to each other for a moment before Ember gingerly moved closer to snuggle into shadows side.

Star Beard watched them quietly and smiled, “She loves you, you know.” I watched them for a while before answering, “I know”.

We sat in silenced for a while longer before Star Beard stood and walked to the font. He began to mumble words in a language I had never heard before, standing on his hind legs and holding his hooves out across its surface. A silver fog gradually began to rise from it as he lifted his fore legs high as if in prayer. Even with my magical translation device, I couldn’t understand his words. Listening to them, they were
something different to what I would even describe as ‘language’, this was more like magic, raw magic….given voice. My horn tingled and itched, a sure sign of a large magic field building up nearby. The font suddenly threw out a beam of red light, blue and yellow spirals of energy travelling up the outside of it, illuminating the room.

Star Beard spoke into the light and nodded. He continued to do this for several minutes before bowing to the light as it winked out of existence in complete silence. Shadow and Ember were fast asleep, oblivious of the peculiar spectacle before them.

The mysterious old Thestral sat back down before me and smiled a sad smile.

“Colonel ?” I asked quietly, trying not to wake the sleeping mares.

He fiddled with his satchel for moment before speaking, “The preparations are complete my boy. You leave here tonight.”

I sat up on my haunches, eyes wide. So, this was it, I was to say finally say goodbye to this world, to leave for my own. Back to the land of mortals, Equestria. I was suddenly filled with excitement and fear in equal measure.

“What of Shadow ?”
“She will meet you there.”, he replied simply, looking down at the floor contemplatively.

“We aren’t going together ?” I asked.

My question unanswered, the old Thestral clambered to his hooves while fidgeting with his hat. “Come Fairlight, There’s some pony here who’s waiting to speak to you.” Without another word, he walked out of the room in a tinkle of little bells. I felt a strange resistance as I stood up, like something was anchoring me to the floor, but a good push and I was trotting after Star Beard.

“In here my boy”, he gestured to a side chamber which glowed with a slight golden warm glow, it was….inviting. I felt a hot need to enter the light, it was so….warm. In a moment’s hesitation, I opened my mouth to speak but Star Beard, had already gone back to the room with the font. Shaking my mane and gathering myself, I entered cautiously. Inside….By the Goddess ! I looked around myself in complete astonishment, this couldn’t be real, I’d have to have been eating something. Agh ! Those damned berries, the old goat had probably sent me on some tribal drug induced ‘spirit journey’ like those zebra shamen I’d heard of. But by Celestia, this was so real ! The tall field of wheat, heavy and ready for harvest, trees laden with lush red apples. I was in heaven, this was it, the Eternal Herd, only….. When I looked back, there in the dark room was Star Beard, Shadow and Ember, lying by the font as I expected yet also with them, a very….’Fairlight’ looking body.

My heart felt like it was in my throat. I’d moved on, at last I was here where I’d been so desperate to reach, but I could still feel a…bond, a faint tugging, pulling my gaze towards….Shadow. The beautiful ethereal creature, the Thestral who had stayed by
my side throughout my trials in the Withers, did I really want to leave her ? Did I even have a choice ? Goddesses I was so confused.

“She really is quite beautiful isn’t she ? Once you get past the initial impulse to run away screaming in terror.”

I knew that voice, soft and delicate, strong yet feminine. “Meadow !” I cried and flung my forelegs around my beloved wife, “Oh Goddesses I’ve missed you so much, but I’m here now. Its all okay ! We’re with the Eternal Herd and no pony will ever tear us apart. You, me, Sparrow, it going to be….” She planted a hoof in my mouth with her

slender green fore leg. “Love, please, we haven’t got a great deal of time. The Goddess has intervened on your behalf to allow us to be here, together, before you….”, she choked back a sob and pulled her face into mine, kissing me deeply on the mouth.

It ended all too quickly. “Its alright love, I don’t want to go back, I’m meant to be with you, I always was.”

She shook her head sadly, “You don’t understand Fairlight, my darling stallion.” She stroked my chest slowly, “Your life is still tied to the mortal world, even now, it calls you back. You cannot resist its call, it is….the way of world. We will see each other again, but you must fulfil your destiny first.”

“To Hades with destiny, I want to be with you. I’ve already been through death and the hell of the Wither World, I’ve fulfilled my bloody destiny.”

Meadow shook her head and spoke quietly, “Wait here, there’s something I must do.”

She trotted off into the next room and up to Shadow. I watched spellbound as, incredibly, another Shadow, rose from her body, blinking and looking around her in as much shock as I was in. The two spoke briefly and the Thestral mare nodded in agreement then, together, trotted into the corn field to face me. “Oh bollocks…..” I muttered.

“Fairlight ! You promised me about that swearing !”, Meadow laughed and nudged Shadow playfully. “Sorry love…” I answered.

“She doesn’t speak much does she ?” Meadow said to me while eyeing Shadow. “Meadow, whose being rude now ?” I said in mock indignation. Meadow clicked her tongue, “Oh shush you. Shadow and I are going for a chat now. You stay here and no eaves dropping either.”

I sat in the wheat and plucked a stalk, holding the thing in my mouth the way I’d seen farm ponies do in Ponyville. I couldn’t see the appeal. A childish giggle made me turn round, no pony there ? “You look funny !”, I looked down to see where the little voice was coming from and saw a tiny grey Pegasus foal smiling up at me, “Hello Daddy. Are you coming home with us today ?”. Damn it, I was tearing up again. I picked her up in my hooves and swept her into the air, “Maybe if I had wings and could….FLY !” I shouted and Sparrow squealed in delight as she flapped her tiny wings, “I can fly daddy ! Wheeee !”. She shrieked, giggled and whooped as she ‘flew’ atop the wheat. I laughed with her and gave a cuddle before putting her down.

“Whose that scary lady with mummy ? She looks like a skellington”. Sparrow stood on her back legs, her front hooves either side of her mouth with an intent stare adding to the spectacle, “Look at me, I’m a big scary black monster thing, look at my big pointy teeth…..arrrrrrrr”.

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud and Sparrow, encouraged by my reaction, continued to stomp around me making growling sounds. “Sparrow ! come now, you’re being rude, Shadow isn’t a pony, she’s a Thestral”.

“Fes..trul”, she attempted.
“No…Thes….trull…Thhhhhh”.
“Ffffff….”, the look of exaggerated concentration was adorable.

“Oh forget it !”, I laughed and lay down on my back amongst the golden stalks of wheat. Sparrow laughed and jumped about me, her tiny wings buzzing like a bee’s on a summers day. Finally, jumping on my chest, she snuggled down into my fur, “You are coming home though daddy ?”

“Yes love”, I said mussing her mane, “I wont be too long. Will you be a good girl until I see you next ?” She just stuck her tongue out and I tapped her on the head with my hoof, “Naughty !”. We both giggled and waited for the chatting mares to come back.

I must have been dozing for a while because when I opened my eyes, two pairs of eyes filled my vision. “Wha…!”, I squeaked and nearly choked on the stalk in my mouth.

Meadow smiled and turned to Shadow, “He’s so cute when he’s surprised. You’ll have to try it some time.” I lay there unsure as to just what was happening, “Sparrow !” I said suddenly. “….is back with my parents playing house. You on the other hoof are going to stay there mister and listen to us girls for a minute.”

I sighed as she put a hoof on my chest pushing me back down with a broad smile.
“Yes miss”, I sighed.
“Good boy !” Meadow said playfully, chuckling.

“Shadow and I have been talking, she does become quite chatty when she gets going you know. And, she’s told me all about your ‘adventures’ together…”, Oh Goddesses, “…and what adventures they were !”. I cringed. “Well, who can blame you for losing control in that cell when you thought you were going to be executed ? Tut,Tut, Fairlight !”.

I could feel my face burning, “Meadow, I’m sorry, oh Goddesses….I’m so...so…”. “Pity I wasn’t there with you two….”, she pondered, her eyes searching mine, “could have made things a little more….’interesting’. I liked the part with the berries too, maybe we can try that out some time.”

“Meadow, please, I don’t know what’s going on”, I blurted, “…I’m dreaming or having a nightmare, oh Goddesses !” I was in a panic and struggled to get away but shadow held me down on one side and Meadow on the other. “The Goddess knows what you’ve been up to Fairlight and now, I do too. We both do.” The mares nodded to each other in perfect harmony. “I want you to show me….” Meadow purred seductively and deftly produced a red berry from the wicker basket that they’d pilfered from the other room. Straddling me, the green mare placed it in her mouth

and moved toward mine, her lantern yellow eyes left me in no doubt as to what this pony expected from me. As a dutiful sort of fellow, I was more than happy to oblige.

Chapter Thirty Seven - The bottle

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

The bottle

I awoke happy but tired, a warm fuggy feeling running through me. The room was in darkness, other than for two oil lanterns near the peacefully dozing Thestrals. A light pressure across my chest proved to be Shadow, who was snuggled in tightly against me, her warmth pleasant and comforting.

I looked up to see Star Beard leaning with his back against the wall, eyeing me curiously. “Back with us my boy ?”, he murmured quietly, so as not to disturb the others. “Mmmm, I must have nodded off….”, I said yawning widely. I ran my hoof gently down Shadows foreleg, for all her leathery black appearance, she was surprisingly soft. She let out a throaty rumble of contentment and snuggled into me a little more.

“Nodded off ? I supposed you were dreaming then ?” He continued.

I managed a glance at the door I’d passed through into the beautiful golden wheat fields to be with Meadow, Sparrow and Shadow. I could still feel the warmth of the sun on my muzzle, the smell of Meadow on my hide, the taste of the berries, and a background spiciness, lingering in my mouth. On a tide of sated need, I felt like I was blissfully floating along and without a care in the world, was it was wrong to feel this happy ? Goddesses, let all dreams be like this. I didn’t know how to respond to the old fellow so simply nodded.

“For a dream, you certainly seemed to take your time in the other room. I was surprised with all the noise you three were making, that you didn’t wake poor Ember. I didn’t know where to put myself !”

I nearly jumped in shock at his words, though concerned about disturbing Shadow, I caught myself and tried to settle my racing heart. “How….?”

He sniggered and pulled his satchel over to begin rummaging through the contents, “This place, this city, is where the gap between realms is, as I think you already know, at its thinnest. It makes for easier transition from one to the other, if one knows how to do it and certain…’conditions’…are met, naturally.”

“Condition’s ?” I asked.

“Well, you wouldn’t want to be trotting along one day, say, for a dinner date with a lovely lady and then suddenly, ‘poof !’ you’ve blundered into the Wither World. That could really spoil the mood !”. Sometimes that old Thestral…

Star Beards face darkened and his voice took on a sombre tone, “This place, this…city, was built here for that reason. It was once a staging post for armies, the
large platform up there, was constructed to be that size for a reason. The city was a plan which was never realised….and maybe…maybe its just as well.”

His eyes took on that now familiar far away look. Shaking himself suddenly, he turned to me, then took a deep breath and stood. “Come on Fairlight, my Pony friend, lets get going.”

I went to wake Shadow but Star Beard stopped me, “No. Let the girl rest, you’ve quite taken it out of her you know. This is something only for you.”

I slowly pulled myself away from the young Thestral, placing her foreleg back down by her side and leaned in to gently kiss her cheek. Letting out a soft moan, she wriggled in her sleep before settling back down once more. I walked slowly after the cloaked Star Beard and out into a courtyard lit only by the light of the moon. In the centre was a small circular dais made of the same white crystal like material as the platform. The old Thestral silently passed me a small bottle of silvery liquid in a nondescript glass bottle. I was surprised at first as there was a distinct lack of materials here in the Withers, so I assumed it to be another leftover from his mentor.

“Right then, come on, get that down you there’s a good fellow”, he encouraged when he saw me examining the contents.

Uncorking the bottle I drank it down in one gulp. There wasn’t a lot in it really and it didn’t taste of much of anything either. Probably a Thestral ‘pick me up’ of some kind. I had a disturbing thought all of a sudden, “Star Beard, what are we doing here ?”, but as I spoke, I felt a pulling sensation, soft at first but quite noticeable. “What the… ?”

“Quick Fairlight ! Up on the top now, we don’t have much time.”, Star Beard pushed me up the short flight of steps to the top and bid me lay down. The pulling feeling came again, more insistent this time, the cold feeling of fear shocked me and I looked up at the old Thestral, my eyes going wide, “What have you done ?”

“I’m sorry Fairlight, but this really is the only way. You cannot survive in both worlds, so for one to live, the other must….die. You must be one. Do you understand ?”

I understood but Goddesses, the cold….Pain racked through me in a howling torrent of agony that made me cry out. In the distance I could hear the cries of Thestrals joining mine. Star Beard held my head and looked into my eyes, small flaming tears rolling down his cheeks, “I’m sorry my boy, please, forgive me. If only I could have sent you via the portal, but it simply doesn’t work that way….”

I was panting for breath now, burning fear and pain mingled with that great pull from...elsewhere… like a deafening heart beat, strong and demanding. I cried out as another tide of pain flowed from my head to my tail, surging and relentless.

“Your brothers and sisters are singing you to the next world, Fairlight. Shadow will join you soon. Be strong my boy…”

He held my head in his hooves and rocked me as I had done with Meadow….so long ago….it was like I could still feel her in my forelegs, smell her sweet feminine scent. The burning smell of the wood, crash of broken glass....heat, fire and the sensation of floating. I had to let go…it was so easy and yet at the same time, the hardest thing I

could ever imagine doing. It was all so alien, I was terrified and wanted to run….to escape. But where to ? The pulling sensation caught me again and there was a loud cracking sound, like a rubber band snapping and I was instantly flying, rushing through images and sounds of…my life ?

Meadow, Chief Mitre, Dawn, Glimmer, their faces talking to me, smiling, encouraging, whirling around in a blur of colour. And then, everything stopped. The brief roller coaster ride of Fairlight’s life had come to the end of the track. All around was total silence in the black emptiness. I was alone, lost and afraid with only my conscious thoughts to keep me company.

I could hear my mother, my father, meadow….

“Fairlight”

I opened my eyes and looked about me…nothing. Goddesses help me…..

“Love, listen to your heart, you have to let go.”

“No….” I said, “No…..”

“You have to, to be together again, all of us….you have to let go….”

“I’m afraid…I’m so scared…I want to go home…”

“I know love, it’s all right to be afraid, I was at first. We’ll all be waiting for you, but you need to go back for now, Shadow is waiting for you. We’ll be together again soon, waiting in the golden wheat fields, the sun on your back and blue skies up above, its all there for when you come back to us. Go to Shadow now, she’s waiting for you.”

“Meadow……I love you so much…”

“I know, I love you too my brave Fairlight. Sparrow and I will be here waiting for you, but some pony else needs you now. Ponies shouldn’t be alone my love, go to her now….”

“….Shadow…” My Thestral mare, I had to go to her, she needed me. I couldn’t leave her alone in the mortal world, how could she survive not knowing anything about it ?

She’d be like I was in the Withers when I arrived there, scared and afraid…I had to reach her…I had to try…

There was deep booming sound that shook my very core, and a voice, a different one this time. It was distant, but somehow sounded incredibly close, like some pony was talking though cotton wool into my ear, “Captain Fairlight ? Come to us now, come home…”

Another voice, “Mistress, its useless. Please, you’re taxing yourself too much, we cant put you at risk for just one pony.”

The first voice, strained with effort, “The strength of all is lessened by the loss of one. If there is even the slightest spark left, we must try to fan the flames of life.”

“But Mistress, I’m begging you, you’ve been trying to revive this one for days. Its hopeless, just let him go, please just let him go.”

“NO !”, the first voice shouted angrily, “We will not abandon a pony to the herd without trying our all first. Do you forget so easily how you came to be here ? If we had left you, when the slightest spark was dying out, you would have crossed over. Would you have gladly left than stand at our side, as you do now ?”

“No Mistress, I’m sorry…I spoke out of line. Its not my place…”

“My child, you have a mind, a life and a soul of a kind pony. We would know your thoughts as we would know your heart. Keeping everything hidden inside is the way to allowing darkness to enter. This one, this single pony, has something inside him that could help us bring balance back to our land. Help us, to bring him….home.”

“Mistress…..”, the voice was sobbing now, “I fear for your safety…you know how I…that I….”

The first voice was gentler, understanding, “Shhhhh, quiet now little one, we know, we have seen your dreams.”

I floated there listening, I couldn’t help but feel that I was intruding on something that was, well, special. There was a warmth here with these two and I was drawn towards them.

“Mistress, did you see ?!”, a third voice said on the other side of me, excitedly.

“Yes. We see. We have done all we can, the rest is up to our good Captain.” The first voice sounded pleased, satisfied but weary. The voice gave a sudden gasp.

“Mistress ? Quickly, catch her !”, there was a soft thump and a commotion of hoof steps and furniture being dragged around. “Take her to her rooms, she’s at the end of her endurance. Take some food and drink for her as well, for when she awakes.”

Several other voices spoke in agreement and there was the sound of a door opening and more ponies helping the owner of the first voice from, wherever, I was.

With each moment, I was becoming more aware of myself, but still felt strangely ‘distant’. There was a bone weary tiredness and aching running through me, sensations I hadn’t experienced since before I’d arrived in the Wither world. My eyes were heavy and the light blinding as I tried to open them. I clawed my way back to
consciousness but it was so hard, I felt I just wanted to sleep. The waves of fatigue eventually took me and I drifted away into a blissful haze of rest. Next to me a voice spoke quietly, “You’d better be worth all this ‘Watch Captain’. If anything happens to the Mistress, I’ll send you back to the underworld myself and this time….this time

you won’t be returning.” I vaguely heard the hoof steps retreating and thought sarcastically to myself, “Its good to be home”.

END OF BOOK ONE