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…