Twilight stood on the deck of the longship, inspecting the sails with great interest. "This ship is amazing!" she said excitedly, running her hooves over the mast and the lines. "I never thought a ship of this size could make such good time through the sea!"

The lead reindeer, a young buck named Wind Runner, paused in his trimming of the sails and gently batted Twilight's hoof away from the lines. "Don't touch that one. We'll drown." He smiled in amusement at her fascination, though. "Thank you. I built her myself. and I take charge of her when we're at sea. She's served us well through many voyages."

Twilight bit her lip, staring at the deck. "You mean raids, right?"

Wind Runner grinned proudly. "That's right! She's carried us back to Deerheim with gold, spices, magic items... all sorts of loot. Blood Eagle is the greatest warrior in Deerheim, and nodeer who follows him ever goes poor or hungry."

Twilight opened her mouth to protest, but thought better of it - she should save her arguments for the king, and she had a feeling there would be many of those. Instead she asked, "So you don't mind that I beat him?"

The reindeer all laughed. "Why would we?" asked Wind Runner. "You beat him fair and square. I'm surprised you didn't kill him."

"I would never kill anyone I didn't have to!" gasped Twilight. "Why would I do that when I could take him down without hurting him?"

Wind Runner shrugged. "I'd have killed him, in your position. We know he's not invincible, anyway. He's good, but no match for Twilight Harmony-Bringer."

Twilight blinked. "Twilight Harmony-Bringer?"

"That's what they call you in Deerheim. Everydeer knows about your adventures." He laughed. "Blood Eagle should have known better than to fight you, but he never backs down from a challenge. We all know what you're capable of." He paused thoughtfully for a moment. "Hey, are you married?"

"Huh?" Twilight blinked again in confusion. "Uh, no, I guess I'm not..."

"Want to marry me, then? I'm rich, and I have the loyalty of a dozen strong warrior bucks. And just between you and me, I'm very popular with the does too..."

One of the other reindeer snorted. "Don't listen to him, princess. The only deer who can attest to his sexual prowess are the other bucks who serve under him." He laughed heartily at that. "Get it? Serve under him? Because he..."

"She gets it," snarled Wind Runner. "And you're going to get it in your arse if you don't watch your tongue, and you'll be lucky if it's my cock in there." He brandished his antlers at the other reindeer, who shrank away and nodded in acquiescence.

Twilight walked to the front of the ship and rubbed her nose against the carved prow. "You did an amazing job with all of this woodwork, Wind Runner. You should be very proud of your ship."

"She's not mine, really. Blood Eagle commissioned it, so it's his." He suddenly grinned. "Or rather, it's yours now."

"Mine?"

"Of course. Blood Eagle tried to kill you, and you beat him. If you were a reindeer, you'd have every right to demand his ship as reingild - payment for the attempt on your life. But since you're a foreign warrior, well, nodeer's likely to question you for taking it."

Twilight fell silent for a moment, pondering the ramifications of this. Taking something from someone just because you could beat them up was the antithesis of everything the Magic of Friendship stood for... but on the other hoof, there was a way to make a real difference here.

"Then you should have it, Wind Runner."

Wind Runner looked taken about. "Are you sure, princess?"

Twilight nodded emphatically. "I live in the middle of Equestria – what would I do with a ship? I'm just glad that I could take it away from someone who was going to use it to spread terror and mayhem along Equestria's coast."

Wind Runner shuffled his hooves awkwardly. "That, um, that was sort of my plan."

Twilight fixed Wind Runner with a firm gaze. "I'm here to put a stop to the raids. I don't plan to do that by beating up every single reindeer I meet, but I'll make it happen one way or another. There are other ways to make your fortune as a sailor. If you want this ship, you'll pick one of them."

Wind Runner ruminated on this for several long moments, then nodded solemnly. "I'm a good enough sailor to know when the winds of change are blowing. I can make a decent life as a trader, or carrying passengers. You won't have any more trouble from me, I promise."

The reindeer extended a hoof to Twilight, and she shook it proudly. "I'm glad we could find common ground," she said. "And that we can be friends now!"

"Of course!" he said, smiling brightly. "Whyever would we not be?"

Twilight was too glad to have made an accord to argue, and she chatted happily with Wind Runner as she lay down at the bow of the ship, watching it cut through the water. She continued to lie there as the reindeer went about their duties, guiding the ship through the night.

As night fell and the ship sailed further northwest, the chill air cut through even Twilight's warmest clothing, and she started to shiver. She tried not to show her discomfort to the reindeer, who all seemed perfectly comfortable, but she felt a heavy blanket settle about her shoulders, and looked up to see the reindeer who had spoken up about Wind Runner. She smiled sheepishly and snuggled into the blanket. "Thank you," she said softly. "I hope I didn't get you into any trouble with Wind Runner back there?"

The reindeer shook his head. "Nah, that's how we always talk to each other. Name's Hearth Song, by the way. As long as I obey orders, he's happy. I shouldn't tease him about the bucks - they really are pretty fond of him."

Twilight chuckled. "I can see why - strong, talented reindeer like him. How about you? Are you going to tell me that you're a hit with the does and I should marry you?"

"No, there's only one doe for me," said Hearth Song with a grin. "She's why I signed on with Blood Eagle - I need to earn enough gold to buy her freedom."

"Her freedom? Is she a slave?"

"Not quite - she's a thrall. She owes a lot of reingild, more than she could pay by herself, and her creditor sold her service to a wealthy farmer. She's stuck working for her until she can pay her debt, and at this rate..." Hearth Song sighed heavily. "She'll be a thrall until she's fifty. But if I can earn enough loot under Blood Eagle, I can buy her freedom in a year or two."

Twilight leaned over and brushed her muzzle against Hearth Song's cheek, where she saw a tear clinging to his coat. "I'm so sorry. That must be awful for both of you. I hope you can earn the money you need by working with Wind Runner, without the raiding."

Hearth Song nodded sadly and leaned his large, shaggy head against Twilight's shoulder. "Thank you. I should be able to. It'll take longer, but... to be honest, I never really liked Blood Eagle. I don’t like raiding."

"I think you're making the right decision," said Twilight. "Maybe there's something I can do for you and your fiancée while I'm in Deerheim."

"I hope so. You are as wise as the stories say, Harmony-Bringer. And very beautiful, too. I hope fate brings your true love to you, as it has mine."

Twilight smiled softly. "Thank you, that's very sweet." She nudged his shoulder with her nose, then yawned loudly. "It's been a very long day, and this blanket is so warm. I'll see you in the morning, alright?"

The reindeer left Twilight alone as they tended the ship, and she gazed out over the sea, deep in thought. These deer were a conundrum, she decided. Wind Runner was violent and aggressive, but seemed very happy to be Twilight's friend, even though he would have killed her without a second thought if he had faced her in battle. And Hearth Song was a sensitive soul, who didn't belong in such violent company at all, yet here he was, willing to kill ponies to win his love's freedom. This was not at all how she imagined these bloodthirsty raiders to act... yet bloodthirsty raiders they were.

The chill in the night air faded as her body heat warmed the blanket, and the rocking motion of the ship and the soft lapping of waves soon lulled her into sleep.

It was mid-afternoon before the longship came within sight of their destination. Twilight spent the morning learning about the ship and getting to know the rest of the crew. Some were eager warriors like Wind Runner, who were all too happy to talk about their battles and show off their scars. Others were more given to the callings of craftsdeer or poets, but sought the gold and fame that came with raiding to achieve their other goals - mostly to win the hearts of does and build stable lives in Deerheim.

As they sailed on, they passed many tiny islands, and Twilight could see figures moving on a few of them. Wind Runner knew the names of all of them, and could tell Twilight a little about their history and customs. The reindeer didn't seem to have different tribes the way ponies did - a reindeer was a reindeer - but the islands were almost like separate kingdoms in the ways they lived their lives.

As the sun began to dip towards the western horizon once more, a much larger island became visible in the distance. "Land ho!" shouted Wind Runner. "That's Reingard, the centre of trade and culture for all of Deerheim! And it's where King Furrypants holds court, for what that's worth."

Twilight paused as she looked towards the island. "You don't seem to think much of King Furrypants, Wind Runner. Why is that? You don't think he's a good king?"

"No, he does alright. He's strong enough, and his wife is the wisest doe who ever drew breath. I just don't think we need a king at all. Jarl Blood Eagle is all the ruler that the island of Goatland needs." He looked back towards Equestria. "Furrypants isn't an immortal goddess like your Princess Celestia. He's just a buck like the rest of us. I'd be glad to have him on my side in a battle, but I don't need him making decisions for me."

Twilight hummed thoughtfully at that. "I don't know what we'd do without Princess Celestia's wise rulership. I've never heard of anypony who doesn't want to be ruled by her, but I suppose things are different here."

The sun was just grazing the horizon as Wind Runner's ship pulled into the harbour at Reingard. She looked out over the town as the reindeer brought it safely against a dock, and found herself... disappointed. She had not quite been expecting the golden spires of Canterlot, or the sparkling splendour of the Crystal Empire, or the underwater paradise of Aquastria, but she had expected more than this.

Reingard, by comparison to those places, was just a drab collection of wooden houses, full of reindeer going about their daily lives. It bustled as busily as Manehattan, though, with the constant calls of merchants from the market square, the laughter of revelers at a dockside drinking house, and the raucous cries of fawns running underhoof, playing and fighting in the streets. Other ships were arriving at the docks, and goods were being unloaded onto wagons pulled by sturdy bucks.

An idle-looking buck who smelled strongly of honey sauntered up the dock as Wind Runner was mooring the ship. "Wind Runner!" he greeted him heartily. "You're back already! Where's the Jarl?"

Wind Runner clapped the new buck on the shoulders. "Shield Biter, old friend, you're not going to believe this. He got taken prisoner by the Shetland ponies."

"Ha! That is hard to believe! But at least you managed to get a slave out of them, I see." He leaned unsteadily towards the ship, leering at Twilight. "A pretty unicorn doe, huh? I'll give you fifty jinglers for her."

Twilight opened her mouth to protest, but words failed her. She stared blankly at Shield Biter, completely at a loss for what to say to someone who thought she could be bought and sold.

Wind Runner, for his part, seemed much more familiar with this sort of situation, and the appropriate response. He lowered his head and charged at Shield Biter, driving him back against the wall of the tavern.

Shield Biter squirmed and struggled, caught between Wind Runner's antlers and the wall. "Don't you dare challenge me, Wind Runner!" he snarled. "You know what I'm capable of!"

"When you're sober, sure," said Wind Runner with a contemptuous snort. "When was that last, five years ago? You're more beer-seeker than berserker these days." He shoved his head harder against Shield Biter, driving his antlers painfully into the drunken buck's chest. "Now apologise to Princess Twilight Sparkle or I'll have reindeer kebab for dinner. Marinated reindeer kebab."

"That's ENOUGH!" shouted Twilight, and lit up her horn. She wrapped both reindeer in her magic, being careful to grab them around their legs while neither of them could maneuver their antlers, and hoisted them into the air, separating them. "Both of you, cool your antlers before I dunk you in the sea!

"Wind Runner, I know you mean well, and I'm touched by your loyalty, but does violence have to be your answer to everything?"

The sailor shrugged helplessly, which of course he was. "It's the only language bucks understand," he protested, but he let his aggressive posture fade and bowed his head to Twilight.

"And you, Mister Shield Biter. I don't know what you had in mind for me, and I don't think I want to know, but I am a free pony! You should be ashamed of thinking you can own another person, and I won't stand for it."

Shield Biter grunted angrily, but was unable to free himself from Twilight's magical grasp. "Fine. I'm sorry I tried to buy you," he mumbled.

Twilight lowered both reindeer to the street. "Now shake hooves. You're obviously friends, and I don't want you being at odds with each other on my account."

Wind Runner rolled his eyes. "What are you, my mother?"

She gave him a bright grin. "No, but I'm the Princess of Friendship, and it's my duty to -"

"Spread the magic of friendship around Equestria and beyond, yeah, we've all heard the stories," said Shield Biter. "Fine, look, Wind Runner, I'm sorry I tried to buy your friend off you, and I'm sorry I threatened you. I guess she's your guest or something, and I should respect that."

"It's okay," replied Wind Runner, taking his friend's hoof and shaking it heartily. "I know things have been hard for you since Bright Hearth died. I shouldn't have called you a drunk. We should spend more time together."

The two bucks embraced, then parted ways. Wind Runner raised an eyebrow at Twilight. "Is this what you do all day? Stomp around and tell people to make friends or else?"

Twilight smiled awkwardly. "I try to be nicer about it than that, but I guess so?"

"Alright, well, it'll be night soon. We should get you to the castle if you want to meet King Furrypants. And you might want to get dressed up if you don't want anydeer else to think you're a slave."

Twilight looked around, and noticed that quite a few reindeer had stopped to watch their argument, and were now looking at her curiously. "I guess you're right, and I am here to represent Equestria. Just a moment." She dug through her saddlebags - having left her wagon in Shetland, as it was too large for the longship - and pulled out her crown, settling it on her head. She then drew out a long cloak, dripping with diamonds and amethysts, embroidered with her cutie mark and trimmed with the finest quality wool. It was as luxurious and resplendent as it was warm, and it left her free to spread her wings and fly - or prove her alicorn nature.

Wind Runner nodded approvingly. "I'd say you're ready, then. The castle is on that hill there," he said, pointing to a slight rise, on which sat a large wooden structure which Twilight thought rather unprepossessing for a royal castle. "The king loves guests. You'll get along just fine."

Twilight paused for a moment, then cautiously wrapped her front legs around Wind Runner's shoulders. "Thank you for all of your help," she said sincerely. "You've been better to me than I had any right to expect, and... well, you know that I'm trying to turn your kingdom upside down. I just hope that it'll be good for both of our peoples."

Wind Runner patted her shoulder gently. "You're a strong pony, Twilight Sparkle. Deerheim won't be the same once you're done with it, I know that much. And I have a ship now, and that's no small thing. I need to be in Reingard in a few days anyway for the thing, so I’ll sail you back to Equestria whenever you like. I certainly owe you that much."

She released him and smiled, then spread her wings and set off towards the castle. She turned back and waved to him as she soared above the city, and he waved back. "Offer's still open!" he cried with a grin.

As Twilight flew towards the castle, she decided that she had been judging it a little too harshly. The materials may have been unimpressive, but the building was actually rather magnificent. There was a simple wooden palisade around the castle, but it was decorated with flags and banners, and as she drew closer, she could see that some of the logs were carved with designs of reindeer fighting dragons and other monsters.

Rather than fly above the palisade - and risk the wrath of the stern-looking guards standing around it with spears - she landed and introduced herself. The guard she met looked her over briefly, then bowed deeply to her. "It is an honour, Princess," he said gravely. "Please, come with me and I shall announce you to the court."

Twilight took a deep breath as the guard threw open the doors of the throne room. She would never get used to being announced at court as a princess, she thought. At least in the courts of Canterlot and the Crystal Empire, she was a close friend of the local ruler, and felt a little bit at home. Here, she was most definitely a stranger in a strange land.

Like the capital itself, the royal court of Deerheim was far from opulent, but it was noisy. Reindeer bucks stood around tables, some of which were covered with maps or documents, others with cups and plates of food. Two bucks had their antlers locked and were straining against each other, while onlookers cheered and placed bets. Young does wove through the crowd, carrying platters on their backs and doing their best to ignore the bucks' crude remarks. Amidst the crowd, Twilight caught sight of a griffon and several goats, happily conversing with the reindeer.

The guard stomped a hoof loudly against the wooden floor three times, and the room quietened marginally as everydeer turned towards the doors. Twilight bit her lip and did her best to hold her composure as he made his announcement. "Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria!"

The volume of conversation dropped sharply, and every face was now fixed on her. She took a deep breath, held her head up high and spread her wings, the way Celestia and Cadance had taught her when presenting herself at court. She took a step forward, then froze when the guard continued his speech. "Redeemer of Nightmare Moon, and champion of the Long Night!"

A fierce blush rose to Twilight's cheeks, as the entire room fell silent. She did her best to give the room a bright smile, but the attention was more intense than even her coronation had been.

"Victorious over Discord, the pony who ended the Day of Chaos!"

"Please stop," she whispered out of the corner of her mouth, but the guard paid her no heed. A few reindeer began to stomp their hooves in a kind of slow, rhythmic applause between the announcements.

"The Sentinel of Magic, who shepherded all of the world's mystical forces from the ravages of Lord Tirek!"

"Sister to Prince Shining Armor, bastion of the Crystal Empire! Guardian to Great and Honourable Spike, the Brave and Glorious, saviour of the Crystal Empire!"

"Bringer of Harmony, the Princess of Friendship!"

Twilight bit her lip and waited in agony, but no further epithets were forthcoming. She looked around at the sea of fascinated reindeer and smiled weakly. "Er... hi, everydeer. It's... nice to be here?"

A tall reindeer buck strode down the middle of the throne room and bowed deeply before Twilight. His antlers almost touched her face as he lowered his head, and they were the most magnificent specimen she had ever seen, dwarfing Blood Eagle's and any she had seen on the deer of the Everfree Forest. Each antler forked into two branches near his skull, and each branch split in two again and again, giving him a grand total of sixteen points to his crown. Every inch of his antlers was covered in a rich brown velvet, and they curved up and out like a nest of scorpions ready to strike. There was a bright violet ribbon wound between his antlers in an intricate weave. She felt a faint tingle in her horn as his antlers passed near her, almost an echo of what she felt when Tirek had drained her magic.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle!" he boomed as he straightened up. "We have been eagerly expecting you. I am King Furrypants, ruler of Deerheim, and I bid you welcome to my court!"

Twilight bowed deeply in return, keeping her wings spread wide. When she straightened, she got her first good look at the reindeer king aside from his antlers. He was not quite as tall or as broad as Jarl Blood Eagle, but the lines of powerful muscles were clearly visible under his coat. He was younger than she expected the king to be, perhaps only a few years older than her brother. His face bore a wide grin that was honest and friendly, and his eyes were a warm, pleasant blue.

Her gaze was drawn to his antlers again, then down to his attire. Unlike most rulers she had met, he wore no crown other than the one he grew naturally. Instead, he wore a stole of purple wool across his shoulders, and his hindquarters and hind legs were clad in trousers made of a bright white fur that clashed jarringly with his dark brown coat.

"I'm very glad to be here, your majesty," she said, a little taken aback by his great presence. "I hope our two kingdoms can come to an accord while I am a guest in your great hall."

"Ah, it's a diplomatic visit, then," he replied. "Come, court is almost over, and I was about to join my queen for supper. Won't you be our guest?"

Twilight smiled brightly, and was grateful for the chance to step out of the attention of the entire court. "That sounds wonderful. I've been sailing and flying and riding the train for days. I feel like I've hardly eaten or slept since I first got the message to come here."

"Then you have come to the right castle, princess," said the king, offering her a hoof to guide her. "Nothing that walks in here on four hooves ever leaves hungry or weary." He turned to his court and stomped a hoof sharply three times. "Court is over! Stay the night or go home, but don't bother me about politics until tomorrow! I have a guest to entertain."

Twilight let Furrypants lead her out of the throne room, while the gathered nobles started to disperse and the staff cleaned up after them. She could have sworn she saw some bucks snicker and wink at the king as they departed, but she couldn't fathom why.

The interior of the royal castle was still rather sparse, but it reminded Twilight of the homely atmosphere of Sweet Apple Acres. Furrypants guided her along a hallway and up a wide flight of stairs, then into a suite of rooms that overlooked the harbour. Furrypants gestured grandly to the large windows. "A beautiful sight, isn't it, princess?" he said proudly. "Without the blessing of the sea, we would be stuck on our little islands, instead of being the masters of all we survey!"

Twilight rubbed the back of her neck with her hoof. "Yeah, about that... you said you were expecting me. Do you know why I'm here?"

The king shrugged. "Why do heroes do anything? Glory, fortune, to see what lies beyond the horizon. There is no shortage of danger here, princess, nor opportunities for valour. Do you seek to test your magic against the chill wyrms of the northern glaciers? Or try your wings in the Eternal Storm of the Windigo? Or perhaps you have come to seek for something among my subjects - an apprentice, or a comrade in arms. Or..."

A soft, calm voice came from the bedroom that adjoined the suite's atrium. "Don't be a fool, husband. You know she's here for something much more important than that."

Twilight looked towards the bedroom, and a reindeer doe pushed open the door. She wore a simple golden circlet on her brow, and a purple stole upon her shoulders that matched Furrypants's. She was otherwise unadorned, save for a pair of leather pouches slung over her flanks, which had intricate patterns burned into them. The patterns looked familiar from Twilight's brief reading of the Cervid Eddas, but she couldn't interpret them herself.

The doe walked quickly over to Twilight and grasped her hoof, pressing it against hers as she looked directly into her eyes. Twilight noticed that the doe's eyes were almost exactly the same shade of purple as her own, and she felt a strange sense of depth and wisdom as their gazes met, such as she only ever felt from the other Princesses.

"Twilight Harmony-Bringer. Knowing you would soon come to my halls has filled me with such anticipation, and now, to meet you in the flesh... you are all that my visions showed me and more."

Twilight realised that she was holding her breath, and slowly exhaled, wrenching her gaze away from the doe's. "You, uh... you saw me in a vision? Is that how you knew I was coming?"

"Indeed it is. I am Storm Crow, Queen of Deerheim, and I see you have already met my dear husband. Come, the servants have set our table, and you are weary from your long journey."

Storm Crow led Twilight into their dining parlour, where a modest table had been laid, set for three places. They all sat down and began enjoying a simple but filling meal of spiced hay, roast vegetables, and a small side of lightly grilled fish, which Twilight politely declined. Coast-dwelling ponies like the Shetlanders might supplement their diet with fish, but the idea was just a little unpalatable to an inland pony like Twilight.

"You really did predict my arrival, then?" she asked Storm Crow, as she dined on some delicious honey-glazed carrots. "You were obviously expecting a guest for dinner."

Storm Crow nodded, unable to keep an amused smile from her face. "Indeed I did, princess, though when I say it was in a vision, I do not mean that I saw your face." She looked into Twilight's eyes once again, and Twilight felt the rest of the world retreating from her attention. "I would have remembered seeing such a strong and beautiful countenance. No, I saw what you represent."

Twilight swallowed hard and turned her gaze to her plate, pushing a piece of broccoli around with her hoof. "That's... nice. What did you see?"

Storm Crow's eyes seemed to take on a milky white sheen as she spoke, and her gaze was no longer focused on Twilight, or possibly anything in this world at all. "Conflict. Ponies and reindeer clashing together in blood and strife, yielding no glory, only suffering. Reindeer turned against reindeer as well, our courage turned to cowardice, our hospitality to stinginess and contempt. Eternal night shrouding the land. Our magic fading to nothing."

Twilight exchanged a glance with Furrypants, who nodded solemnly and placed a hoof against Twilight's, bidding her to keep listening.

"And through all of that, hope. A star, shining in the sky at the setting of the sun. The knowledge that disaster had been averted thrice before, and would be again, if we had courage and faith, and trusted in the one with the wisdom to save us all, pony and reindeer alike."

Twilight swallowed hard. "And... you think that's me?"

Storm Crow laughed and rubbed her eyes, and much of the tension flowed out of the room. "I had no idea who it would be, in truth. But I told my husband what I had seen, when the trance left me yesterday morning, and he knew at once that the vision spoke of you."

Furrypants grinned and nodded. "It spoke very clearly of your accomplishments. I enjoy listening to our skalds tell your stories almost as much as I like hearing them tell my own."

Twilight paused for a moment, thinking. "I... I was sent here by the Cutie Map, a magical map that appeared in Friendship Castle after I defeated Tirek. It showed me that there was some friendship problem that needed my help, like with my friends' visit to Griffonstone. I got the call yesterday morning, maybe at the same time as your vision."

"It may be so, princess. My magic is mysterious even to me, but it has never steered me wrong. We will certainly heed your words. Now, tell us - what is your purpose in coming here?"

Twilight took a deep breath, feeling very self-conscious that her journey was heralded in such a fashion. "Well... it's about the raids on Equestria. I ran afoul of Jarl Blood Eagle on the way here..."

"So I heard," said Furrypants with a chuckle. "You arrived in Blood Eagle's boat, without Blood Eagle. No doubt he challenged you and was slain by your hoof?"

Twilight's jaw dropped. "What? No! I would never kill anypony, or deer! No, he attacked Shetland, and I captured him and put him under arrest. He's going to be taken to Canterlot for trial." She pouted sadly, and her mane drooped. "We don't kill people in Equestria. Not if we can help it."

Furrypants shrugged. "It would have been your right. It must have been a great battle. So what did you want to say about the raids?"

"I... isn't it obvious? I want them to stop."

Furrypants seemed taken aback. "Oh. Well... that's impossible."

"But why? Why do you have to prey on ponies who can't defend themselves?"

Storm Crow placed a gentle hoof on Twilight's shoulder, but she shrugged it away, staring at Furrypants angrily.

"For a start, you clearly can defend yourselves, as Blood Eagle found out. And raiding is important to us. We wouldn't have nearly the wealth we do without it. Deerheim doesn't have much arable land or mineral wealth, so what else are we to do? And it's an important part of our young bucks' development - it lets them grow into mighty warriors and earn the gold they need to attract a wife."

"But... but there must be other ways to get all of those things. I know Deerheim is inhospitable, but your people are good traders as well as warriors. We can't go on the way our two peoples have for much longer."

Furrypants pursed his lips in thought for a moment, tapping his hoof against his chin, then shook his head. "No. This is not as simple a thing as you imagine, princess. If nothing else, even if I wanted to stop the raids, I couldn't. How would I enforce such a decsion? By sending warriors to every island, threatening to slay anydeer who broke my edict? The jarls would revolt. The kingdom would be split asunder, every island fighting for itself. You would face just as many raiders, unless they chose to plunder each other instead of you. I would have my hooves full simply keeping Reingard together, were I to make that law."

Twilight slumped back against her seat. Was her quest hopeless already? "Don't they respect you as king, though?"

"Not the way they respect your Princess Celestia. Oh, they know I am a mighty warrior, a great hero, a just ruler, all those good things. My tales are sung by skalds all over Deerheim. And yes, my words carry a lot of weight. But you're talking about changing our way of life completely. We would be... a different people. As well ask your people to give up harmony, as ask us to give up our warrior traditions."

Twilight looked at Storm Crow helplessly. "Is that it, then? Is there nothing I can do?"

Storm Crow reached out cautiously to touch Twilight's hoof, and she didn't shrink away this time. "Do not give up hope just yet, wise hero. You were not sent here in vain, I am sure of it. My husband has said his piece, and his word is law, but I promise you that he and I will both heed your words while you are our guest, and you may stay as long as you wish. If there is a way to bring this accord between our peoples, we will find it."

Furrypants nodded in agreement. "I want to help you, Harmony-Bringer. It would be an insult to your deeds to turn you away. Please, stay as our guest, and perhaps you will perform another of your miracles."

Twilight nodded slowly. "I can't ask for more than that. Thank you for hearing me out, at least. Maybe I'll come up with something in the morning."

Storm Crow tugged a rope hanging by the wall, and a young doe came in to clear away the empty plates. "This is House-Proud, my personal maid. I've asked her to look after you while you are here. I imagine you're more than ready for bed."

Twilight began to shake her head, but a huge yawn escaped her lips. "I guess so. Thank you for your hospitality, I... I don't think I've ever felt this welcome away from Ponyville and Canterlot. I will think about what we've discussed."

She bowed to the king and queen, and then allowed House-Proud to lead her to a guest suite, intending to collapse into the sleep she so desperately needed.

Sleep did not come to her.

Though Twilight was buried in thick woollen blankets, and a fire smouldered in the hearth near the bed, the chill of Deerheim still found a way into her body. Perhaps it was psychological - she was homesick, and distressed by the strange, violent ways of the reindeer.

There had to be a way to get through to them. She had never failed in a mission for Princess Celestia, nor had the map ever sent them on a failed quest. They were such a strange dichotomy, though. King Furrypants seemed to have no compassion for the ponies who were hurt or killed in his people's raids, and yet he was generous and friendly to Twilight now that she was here. Wind Runner was a hot-tempered, ruthless warrior, but he had befriended Twilight without a second thought, even before she granted him his ship, and defended her readily against threats and insults. Hearth Song was a romantic soul, more poet than warrior if Twilight was any judge, and yet he was prepared to kill, rob and enslave ponies to free his beloved.

She tossed and turned and pondered and planned, but neither sleep nor solution came to her. With a frustrated groan, she threw her blankets aside and clambered out of bed. She quickly levitated one of the blankets around her shoulders again as a makeshift cloak as the chill air seeped into her coat.

The door to her suite opened, and House-Proud poked her head inside. "Your highness? Is everything alright?"

Twilight jumped back a little, startled. "I'm just having trouble sleeping, that's all. Everything is very nice, but it's cold, and my coat isn't as thick as yours." She gave the young doe a wry grin. "I suppose you get used to it, living here, but it's all new to me."

House-Proud nodded and smiled softly to Twilight. "I understand, your highness. Shall I bring you some tea? I have a brew that helps her majesty sleep after a stressful day, and it is very warming, too."

"Tea would be lovely. And please, just Twilight is fine."

"Then I'll be right back with that tea, Twilight." House-Proud bobbed her head and slipped away, and Twilight paced around the atrium of her suite, trying to sort out the thoughts roaming around her head.

Before long, House-Proud had returned, bearing a tray on her back with two mugs of tea and a few biscuits. Twilight sat down on a couch and sipped from the mug, warming her hooves against it.

"This is very nice tea. So how long have you been Queen Storm Crow's maid, House-Proud? If you don't mind my asking."

House-Proud chuckled as she set down her mug. "For longer than she's been Queen Storm Crow. My mother was a thrall in her family's house, and we grew up together. We're sisters. Well, half-sisters, anyway."

"Oh, that's nice! No wonder you're so fond of her!" Twilight smiled, then blinked as she worked through what House-Proud had just said. "Wait, that means that your father..."

House-Proud shrugged. "These things happen. But I'm very glad that Storm Crow took me with her when she married Furrypants. She has so many responsibilities now, being queen, and with the duty that her magic lays on her, so having me around to handle the little things makes a big difference."

The mare and the doe chatted and drank their tea, and Twilight began to feel more at home in this strange land. Unfortunately, it didn't make her any more inclined to sleep, although the tea did spread a pleasantly soporific warmth through her body. Just as she was finishing up her mug, a knock sounded at the door.

"That's Storm Crow!" exclaimed House-Proud, and she leapt to her hooves, rushing to the door. She hesitated and turned back to Twilight. "Should I let her in? This is your room, after all."

"Hmm? Oh, of course, go ahead!" Twilight stood up and adjusted the blanket around her shoulders, and bowed when House-Proud ushered Storm Crow and Furrypants into the suite. Both were undressed, except for the purple ribbon still wound into the king's antlers.

"We couldn't help but notice you were still up and about," Storm Crow said to Twilight, while giving House-Proud an affectionate hug. "Are you settling in alright?"

"More or less," said Twilight. "It's always hard being in a new place, and I'm really not used to this cold. House-Proud has been keeping me company, though, so it hasn't been too bad."

Furrypants looked at his wife, who nodded to him. "We were wondering if you'd like to join us in our bed, princess. You would be very warm, and we would welcome your company."

Twilight was a little taken aback, but the king and queen had been nothing but kind to her, so she nodded. "I'd like that," she admitted, shuffling a little closer to Storm Crow. “You don’t mind, do you, House-Proud?”

House-Proud smiled knowingly and began gathering up the mugs. “Not at all, Twilight. I’ll do a bit of tidying up in here, and then I’ll check in on you in the morning.”

Storm Crow led Twilight back down the corridors to the royal chambers. “You honour us so greatly with your presence, Twilight,” she said as she ushered her into the suite. “I am glad you feel at least a little bit at home.” Furrypants walked behind them, and closed the door as the three of them stepped into the bedroom.

The bedroom was not as luxurious as Princess Celestia’s, but the wardrobes were of expensive oak, and a huge Saddle Arabian carpet covered the floor. A large fire roared in a simple stone hearth, and on the wall above the large bed hung a pair of finely crafted throwing axes.

Furrypants trotted over to the bed and drew back the fine cotton sheets and heavy woollen blankets, beckoning to Twilight. She wasted no further time in throwing herself onto the thick mattress and snuggling beneath the covers, feeling the warmth that the two reindeer’s body heat had left in them. “I feel warmer already,” she said, giggling and making herself comfortable.

“The pleasure is all ours, princess,” said Storm Crow as she slipped between the covers. Twilight turned to face her, and was once again transfixed by the reindeer queen’s purple eyes. “I’ve never met anyone with magic as powerful and fascinating as yours,” the queen continued, meeting Twilight’s gaze steadily.

Twilight felt Furrypants climb into bed behind her, and the chill of the Deerheim night was quickly driven away by the warm bulk of the two reindeer. She sighed contently as she listened to Storm Crow. “I hope I can show you more of it while I’m here, then, your majesty. And I’d love to learn more about your magic, too. I know a lot about magic, but visions and prophecy are unusual among unicorns.”

Storm Crow reached up and brushed her hoof against Twilight’s mane. “We will share our knowledge in good time, my comrade in learning. For now, let us be glad that fate has brought us together.”

Twilight smiled and closed her eyes as the queen stroked her hair. “I’m so glad I came to Deerheim,” she murmured, relaxing the way she would when Rarity would brush and groom her mane. “I’ll admit that I was scared at first, but you’ve been such wonderful hosts.”

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a guest like you, princess,” whispered Furrypants in her ear. The reindeer king pressed his body up against Twilight’s back, and wrapped a powerful leg around her barrel, drawing them close together. She felt his antlers brushing against her mane, and a slight tingle went through her body as they made contact with her horn.

Twilight laughed nervously and bit her lip. “Well, this is, um, cosy,” she said, then opened her eyes when she felt a warmth against her neck. Storm Crow was pressing her muzzle against Twilight’s neck, trailing kisses over her coat. “Okay, maybe I’ve, uh… I don’t mean to be rude, but – ”

She cut off abruptly when she felt something hard pressing against her rump, something that definitely wasn’t Furrypants’s leg or hoof. She gave out a panicked yelp and vanished in a burst of purple light.

Twilight stood outside the bedroom door, shivering from the sudden change in temperature. It’s okay, Twilight, she said to herself, as she calmed her breathing the way Princess Cadance once taught her. Nothing disastrous is happening, the reindeer just… thought that I wanted to… they had a very different reason for inviting me to bed than I thought. That’s okay! That’s a thing that people do, and it’s okay.

She steeled her nerves and knocked on the door, which was opened immediately by Furrypants. Storm Crow was sitting up in bed, looking at Twilight with concern.

Twilight cleared her throat awkwardly and focused her gaze on Furrypants’s face. “Hi, uh, your majesty… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disappear like that, I was just…”

“Startled?” asked Furrypants, bowing his head to Twilight. “No, it is we who should apologize, princess. We shouldn’t have been so forward with a guest, especially an ambassador on her first night in Deerheim. I’ll have House-Proud show you back to your room.”

Twilight rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. “No, it’s okay,” she said, giving the reindeer couple an awkward but genuine smile. “I’m not upset or offended or anything. We just had… different ideas of what was going on! And that’s… that’s normal…”

She trailed off as her eyes travelled down Furrypants’s body and were inevitably drawn between his legs. She had seen erect stallions before, of course, but in Ponyville, the custom was to look away politely and pretend not to have seen anything. Furrypants’s erection was much more difficult for her to ignore, not least because she had felt it against her rump a few minutes earlier.

She flared her wings awkwardly and forced her gaze away, looking at Storm Crow instead. “I’d actually like to stay anyway, if that’s alright? Just to sleep and be warm and in good company. We’re friends, right? At least, I want to be your friend, that’s why I’m here and all…”

Storm Crow gave her a gentle smile and beckoned her towards the bed. “Of course, princess. How could we not be friends? Come to bed and we’ll both behave ourselves, I promise.”

Twilight chuckled as she slid into bed with the two reindeer, who both turned their backs to her, letting her share their warmth. She made herself comfortable, nestling her head into the pillow and stretching out her legs.

“I should have asked sooner, princess,” said Furrypants. “Are you promised to another?”

“Huh? Me? Oh, uh… no. Not exactly. I mean, there is somepony who…” Twilight paused for a moment, thinking about her relationship with Flash Sentry. There was definitely something between them in Canterlot High, and she supposed that she would feel jealous if he started dating someone else, but a relationship between them just didn’t make any sense, when they lived in literally different worlds. And she had hardly said two words to the Flash Sentry working for her brother in the Crystal Empire. She had vague plans of pursuing a relationship with him – and had harboured fantasies of being with him in a very similar situation to this one – but her studies and her duties kept her from visiting the Crystal Empire very often, and when she did, spending time with her brother and her pegasister-in-law was more important.

“Not really, no,” she finished. “There’s somepony I might be, um, courting, but he lives a long way away and we’re not actually dating or anything.”

The three of them lapsed into a comfortable silence, enjoying one another’s quiet warmth and company. Twilight closed her eyes and tried to drift off to sleep, but her heart was still racing. Nobody had ever propositioned her so… intimately before. She had been asked on dates at Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, but of course she had turned them down without a second thought, just as with any other offers of friendship. A few stallions had expressed a vague interest in dating her in Ponyville, but nothing had ever come of it. And while she had danced with Flash Sentry at the Canterlot High Fall Formal…

Well, there was a big difference between that and being caught between a bloodthirsty warrior buck and his mystical queen, who had both been ready to make love to her without any further preamble.

She didn’t mind, really, now that she was calm enough to consider it. They did things differently in Deerheim, and it was her mission to understand those differences and find the common ground between reindeer and ponies that could put a stop to the raids on northern Equestria. Furrypants’s and Storm Crow’s advances had been very unexpected, but they had stopped as soon as Twilight had made her discomfort known. She couldn’t ask for more than that.

Twilight opened her eyes and watched Furrypants, seeing his shoulders rise and fall as he dozed. The antlers adorning his head were a truly impressive sight, and having seen Blood Eagle’s magic at work, she wondered just how powerful the king was. Powerful enough to break through one of her brother’s shields, or deflect her own strongest spells? Powerful enough to challenge Princess Celestia?

The thought made her shiver a little, and she cautiously reached out a hoof to brush against the reindeer king’s flank. Powerful muscles sat beneath the thick layer of fur and fat that protected him from the cold air. She shuffled a little closer to him and draped her leg over his chest, burying her muzzle against his neck. His scent was overpowering, like a stallion wearing too much aftershave, but it spoke of his strength and power in a way that mere words never could. Being so close to such a powerful creature, but one who wasn’t a danger to her or her friends, was… intoxicating.

She tilted her head and pressed her horn against Furrypants’s antlers, conjuring a tiny spark of magic. As she expected, the spark danced across the many points of his antlers before sinking into the velvet, disappearing without a trace. The king gave a low, throaty chuckle. “Testing my power, are you, princess?” he asked, placing his hoof over hers and cradling it against his chest.

“Maybe just a little bit,” she admitted, blushing. She felt his hoof moving up and down her leg, and she cuddled closer to him, enjoying his warm, muscular bulk. “When I fought Blood Eagle, I could feel his antlers absorbing and deflecting my magic, but I got around them, and I think I could have just broken through if I’d tried. With you, I don’t know if I could. I… I don’t know if anypony could.”

Furrypants rolled over to face Twilight, a wide grin on his face. “I have always wanted to raid Canterlot, to test my strength against the most powerful ponies alive. My name would live forever in the epics of my people if I became known as the great reindeer who broke through Shining Armor’s shields and withstood the wrath of the Princess of the Sun.” He chuckled as he slipped a hoof around Twilight’s shoulders. “Or the foolish reindeer who challenged the Sun and lost. Either way, it would be a tale for the ages.”

Twilight shivered again at the thought of Furrypants standing up to Celestia’s magic. “I’d… rather you not raid Canterlot, actually. There are a lot of really nice ponies there, and I wouldn’t want them to get hurt.” She brushed her horn gently against the side of Furrypants’s face. “But I’d love to try my magic against yours while I’m here. It would be a great, um, learning experience.”

Furrypants tilted his head to brush his antlers against her horn again, eliciting a shiver from both of them as their magics flared. He met her gaze, his bright blue eyes fixed on her intently. “Every moment with you is a learning experience, Twilight Sparkle,” he said, his voice low and inviting.

Twilight swallowed hard, her mouth feeling as dry as a desert. She felt her pulse pounding in her ears as she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.

Furrypants curled a second leg around her body and drew them closer together, and she felt the fur of his chest warm against her own. His mouth opened and his tongue brushed against her lips. Hesitantly at first, she opened her own mouth and took his tongue between her lips, sucking on it gently. Her hooves moved up and down his back, tracing out his muscles as they rippled with each movement of his legs.

After what seemed like hours, she broke the kiss, and panted heavily as she tried to catch her breath. Her heart was still pounding frantically, and she gazed at Furrypants in wonder as she tried to process what she had just done. Their bodies were still pressed together tightly, and she could feel his erection pressing hard against her stomach. She opened her mouth, but found herself at a loss for words.

Gentle hooves stroked her back, and a soft voice whispered in her ear. “He’s really something, isn’t he, princess?” said Storm Crow, as she nestled in close to Twilight’s back. “He has that effect on most does.”

“And mares,” Twilight murmured, relaxing a little as Storm Crow broke the tension between her and Furrypants. She planted a soft kiss on the leg that was draped across her shoulders. “That was wonderful, your majesty…”

“Just Furrypants is fine… Twilight?” At Twilight’s nod, Furrypants smiled and caressed her cheek.

“It was wonderful.” He nudged her shoulder and nodded towards Storm Crow. “I think my wife wants some time with you. Go on, I’m not about to vanish.”

Twilight giggled. “Unlike me, you mean?” She leaned forward and kissed Furrypants’s cheek, then rolled onto her right flank to face Storm Crow. A thought suddenly occurred to her, and she pursed her lips nervously. “Hey, uh… it’s okay that I kissed your husband, right? Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I’m even saying that, I would never kiss somepony else’s husband, I’m so sorry, what was I –”

Storm Crow silenced Twilight with a kiss of her own.

Twilight felt Storm Crow’s front legs settle firmly around her shoulders as their lips met. The queen’s scent was not as overpowering as the king’s, and was suggestive of a different sort of power from his, a power born of insight and wisdom, not raw might. It reminded her of the sensation of being around Zecora, with her aura of magic and hidden knowledge.

Storm Crow's lips were gentle but insistent, moving against Twilight's with a quiet intensity. Their eyes never left each other's, and Twilight's heart skipped a beat when she felt one of Storm Crow's hind legs moving between her own. As their bodies twined together, Twilight pressed her tongue against the queen's lips, and was rewarded by feeling them part for her. Her tongue flicked over Storm Crow's teeth inquisitively until she met it with her own.

By the time Storm Crow broke the kiss, Twilight found herself gasping for breath. She rubbed her legs against hers and grinned nervously. "I... guess you don't mind, then?"

Storm Crow laughed merrily, still gazing at Twilight with her bright purple eyes. "You would not be the first lover we shared, Twilight," she murmured, stroking the pony's shoulder with a front hoof, "although there have not been many. And I care little for how Furrypants spends his time on his voyages. He is loyal to me and he obeys me in my castle, and that is all I ask of him."

Furrypants cuddled closer to Twilight, resting his chin on her shoulder. "If my queen hadn't been so fascinated with you, I would have had to beg her to let me court you," he said, chuckling softly. "It would have driven me mad if she had refused, to watch you walk these halls and be forbidden from offering you my bed. But her word is law in this castle."

The reindeer's ways continued to surprise Twilight, and she doubted she would have had the same attitude towards a spouse of her own, but it clearly worked for this couple. "That's... rather beautiful, actually," she said, with a touch of wonder in her voice. "I think you are two very lucky reindeer, to have such a strong marriage, and to have each other."

"We are lucky," agreed Storm Crow. She shifted her leg deeper between Twilight's hind legs, and began to move it slowly back and forth. "But we would be even luckier if we had you."

Twilight let out a sharp gasp as she felt Storm Crow's fur brushing against her labia. She bit down hard on her lip, and she squeezed her legs together, trapping the queen's leg between them. "Oh... oh my," was all she managed to get out. Her left wing curled out to its full reach, and she felt her right twitching, straining against the mattress underneath it.

Storm Crow smiled sweetly and looked deep into Twilight's eyes again. "Too much, my little pony?" she asked, her tone playful, but she halted her movements for the moment. Furrypants remained silent, running his hooves sensually over Twilight's back and rump.

Twilight shook her head and slowly drew her legs apart again. "No, it's good... it's so good," she said, managing to catch her breath. "It's so much better than... than..."

"A solo voyage?" suggested Furrypants wickedly. He drew his wide tongue along the underside of her muzzle, while Storm Crow resumed stroking her intimately.

Twilight began to blush brightly through her coat. "Yeah, that," she admitted. She masturbated as much as any mare - so she presumed - but this felt so different, there was simply no comparing the two sensations. She closed her eyes for a moment, relaxing against Furrypants's embrace, moving her legs wider for Storm Crow's attentions.

Storm Crow drew her leg back with tantalizing slowness, and the tips of her fur glistened with moisture. "I think you're ready for my husband now, Twilight," she murmured in her ear. "If this is what you want. It's not too late to say no."

Twilight shook her head. "No! I mean, yes. I mean... I want this." An almost manic laugh escaped her lips. "I want this so badly! You're both so amazing, and I never want this night to end..."

Furrypants placed one front hoof on her right shoulder and the other on her exposed left flank, just
above her outstretched wing. He gently guided her hind legs to form a right angle to her body, as if she were standing, and pressed his body closely against hers.

Twilight's chest heaved with short, nervous breaths, and her eyes were beginning to water. Storm Crow looked concerned, but Twilight shook her head. "It's okay, I'm not crying, I'm just excited... and nervous, I guess... is this going to hurt?"

Storm Crow leaned forward and kissed Twilight's lips softly. "Maybe a little, dear princess," she admitted. "My husband has never been called a gentle reindeer. But we will take care of you, that I promise."

"I've never been with a pony before, either, so I don't know how this will turn out," said Furrypants. "But that makes it another learning experience! Are you ready?"

Twilight took a deep breath, then nodded.

Furrypants gripped Twilight's shoulder and flank tightly with his front hooves, and pressed forward with his lower body. She felt his body shifting against hers, and his hard shaft probing along her rump and legs, until it found its way between her labia.

She whinnied at the unexpected rush of pleasure as Furrypants thrust into her, pressing the tight muscles of her passage apart. He moved slowly at first, and she gradually grew accustomed to feeling him inside her, in a place that had been hers alone until this night. She gazed at Storm Crow raptly, tears still welling in her eyes, but her mouth bore an expression of simple delight.

Storm Crow stroked her cheek and neck soothingly. "You're doing well, love," she whispered. "Just relax and enjoy it. You don't need to do anything else." She put a hoof over the one Furrypants had laid on her flank, balancing his forceful might with her gentle patience.

Furrypants gave a deep grunt and tightened his grip on Twilight as he pushed himself deeper into her. He began to breathe more heavily, throwing his full reindeer might into his thrusts. A pale blue light began to shimmer along his antlers, flaring with every thrust.

Twilight let out a cry of pain, and wrapped her front legs tightly around Storm Crow's barrel. "Don't stop!" she whimpered, gazing up at the queen desperately. "Don't let him stop, please, it's so good..."

Storm Crow pressed Twilight's head against her chest, burying her muzzle in her fur. "He won't, I promise," she assured her. She stroked the back of Twilight's head with her hooves, kissing her neck over and over again.

Furrypants pressed his hooves painfully hard into Twilight's shoulder and flank, and was rewarded by a frantic fluttering of her wing. He locked his powerful jaws onto the back of her mane, letting out a lowing cry of possessiveness and lust. He drove himself into her body ever harder, his fur pressing firmly against her rump, his breath coming in hot, rapid gasps against her neck.

Twilight squirmed against the powerful jaws and hooves holding her, and as Furrypants yanked her head roughly from Storm Crow's grasp, a long, drawn-out whinny escaped her lips. Her eyes rolled back in her head and her hips shook violently, her body spasming against the king. She clutched Storm Crow frantically as she whinnied and moaned, and finally collapsed against her with a deep sigh of exhaustion and contentment.

She felt Furrypants thrusting into her for a few more moments before he let out a great grunt and held himself tightly against her for several seconds. His hooves gripped her flanks painfully hard, but she was beyond caring about pain. Soon, she felt him withdrawing from her, and his grip softened, turning to a warm embrace. "Thank you, princess," he whispered in her ear. "Never have I made love to two such incredible creatures."

Storm Crow kissed Twilight's forehead as she settled down into the blankets. "We are beyond honoured to have shared you, Twilight," she murmured.

Twilight tried to think of some way to express her feelings, her gratitude and pleasure and amazement, but nothing seemed right. She merely smiled contentedly to her new lovers as exhaustion dragged into the realm of sweet dreams.