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.