“Bolt the door! Now! Don’t let anypony through!”
Glint stumbled back from the towering wooden door of the barn. Quick glances to all sides checked for any breaches in the wood, or weaknesses of any kind, before he finally convinced himself they were safe. A heavy sigh left him, almost painfully. Drops of blood marked the bale of hay he collapsed upon, reaching up to remove the stifling helmet from his head and watching it fall to the floor. To his right, a familiar face approached.
“Commander, we’re missing some ponies,” Kindle said, looking no better than Glint. “How’ll they get in?”
“If they’re out there with her, then they won’t.”
“What? We’re leaving them out there?”
“That’s the order, Kindle.” Glint wiped sweat and muck from his forehead, unaware of the scornful expression possessing Nightshade.
“That’s Dusk and Indigo out there! I’m leading some of the boys to go ge-”
“It is an order, Kindle!” Glint hushed himself, quickly looking off to the end of the barn before speaking in a quiet tone. “From the vice general. Just... obey the order.”
“To leave our brothers to die? What kind of order is that?”
“The kind you follow, Kindle, for the last time!”
Glint seethed, avoiding Kindle’s desperate stare, who watched for any change in his stern face as the commander abandoned him at the door, crossing the floor of the dim, musty barn, the scent of mold invading his nostrils. He passed the rest of the unit scattered around him. Some nursed their wounds, burns and scrapes, others straightened their equipment or discarded what had been broken, but all averted their gaze when the commander looked upon them. At the far end sat his superior, who merely glanced over his shoulder as Glint approached.
“Sir, we’re secure. The fugitive has no way into the compound.”
“And she has taken the bait?”
“... Yes, sir.”
“Excellent.”
Shield Wall stood from the heavy crate that was his chair, stretching his neck and giving a twist to his spine, watching the muscle flex as an orchestra of cracks and pops drew Glint’s attention to them. Shield Wall locked eyes with him.
“Prison is a nightmare on the body, Glint. Pray you never find yourself there.”
“Every night before bed, sir, but now that we’ve come to Ponyville, what’s our next move? With respect, sir, I can’t keep commanding the forces to fight if they don’t know what they’re fighting for.”
“The goal, then? So be it. You and the Guard have proven yourself more than capable…”
Beside the crate was a saddlebag. Once thrown over Shield Wall’s back, he gestured for Glint to follow him away from the crowd of weary warriors and up to the barn’s scaffolding, leading them alongside a large window looking out over the town of Ponyville. Glint peered out along the cityscape, glistening with the light of street lamps and torches holding back the dark of night, but his attention was stolen by a firm cough.
“Focus, commander.”
“Yes, sir, forgive me.”
Shield Wall held his cocked brow a second longer than Glint was comfortable with, but relented and pulled a thick leather tome from the bag, floating in Shield Wall’s golden aura between them.
“This is a collection of information curated by the late Midnight Gavel, a series of ‘back-up plans’, if you will. This one in particular is our goal.”
Glint gazed upon the aged paper. Swirling characters and symbols were all he could make out among the arcane etchings, but his eyes soon acclimated to the terrible imagery. Shapes of mangled ponies, the depiction of a massive palace, a contorted face missing it’s horn.
“It’s horrifying, sir.”
“Yes, is it not? Gavel put much effort into capturing the despair of the old magic, but the artistry of a traitor is hardly the point. This, you see, is a meticulously crafted copy of the old writings of King Sombra, former monarch of the Crystal Empire. What do you know of it, commander?”
“As much as any other pony, I suppose. Former enemies lost to the frozen wastes, rescued by Princess Twilight and her friends, and ruled over by Princess Cadence and Shining Armor… but why are we in Ponyville?”
Shield Wall slammed the book shut. Glint blinked at the sudden impact, enough to miss Shield Wall approaching the window and gazing over Ponyville, eyes fixed upon the largest structure in the city. A crystal tower that loomed over everything else.
“Princess Twilight’s palace is a treasure trove of lost magic and arcane knowledge. She will have the tools needed to complete the ritual, and with it, the key to controlling the Crystal Palace.”
“A heist, sir?”
“Very astute, commander, yes.” A grin spread across Shield Wall’s face. “The darling new princess would never assist us, so we are forced to take what we need through other means. From there, we will infiltrate the empire, at the peak of which sits the Crystal Heart, their ultimate defense and our ultimate objective. Prince Shining Armor is well trained, and he will no doubt bolster security once we successfully rob Twilight’s palace. We must proceed with caution.”
“Of course, sir, but… what do I tell them? The Guard is loyal, but they need to know there’s a plan in place befo-”
“Do you doubt me, commander?”
Glint’s words caught in his throat. The piercing glare of the unicorn dwarfed him, as if pushing his very spirit deeper into his body, drawing a quiver from his hooves. His lips flapped, but Shield Wall closed the gap between them.
“If you doubt my motivations, or your loyalty to me, then you are free to express yourself, regardless of the... consequences.”
“I… I don’t, sir.”
“Correct, and you will be sure to not doubt me as we move forward. Once dawn breaks you will send two scouting parties to survey the palace. We have limited time, and we must act quickly if we are to evade both this fugitive and the Ghost that follows her.”
“The Ghost?” Glint’s eye’s locked onto Shield Wall, ears twitching. “You think the Ghost is here?”
“I know he is here.” Shield Wall could almost feel the energy coming off Glint as he stepped forward.
“Then we should split the guard, half to recon the palace and the other to find him. I’ll lead the hunting party, personally, and I promise th-”
“What did I say about doubts, commander?!” The unicorn’s roar shook the building, forcing Glint’s resolve to crumble with its force, frozen in the face of the pony now looming over him, golden eyes boring into him. “There is a reason I allow him to move about freely, and that is because he is hunting the fugitive, not us! So long as he pursues her, she will be pressured, pressured to make mistakes! Mistakes that I shall take advantage of! Must I spell everything out for you?!”
“I-I… I never thou-”
“Of course not, you buffoon! That is why I am here; to think for you. Our purpose here, since you seem unable to figure it out, is to rescue Equestria from the petty, weak-chinned bureaucracy that infects her, and we will use the power of the Crystal Heart to do just that by taking control of the empire, but not until we allow the Ghost to unmask her for us! That is the plan, commander, or is such simplicity somehow beyond you?”
Glint was silent. Not even his breath could be heard as the thumping in Shield Wall’s mind slowly calmed, speaking again once he felt capable of doing so.
“Commander, you possess something none of your subordinates do. Hatred. Hatred for the Ghost, an enemy of Equestria. One who seeks to disrupt our plans to save our nation. He has brought such pain upon you, yes?”
“Y-Yes, sir,” Glint finally said.
“Yes, he has, and the crown defends him. Your mistress even works with him. How many did you lose?”
“I’m sorry, sir?”
“In Baltimare? How many did the Ghost take from you?”
“Baltimare, we… six, sir. Streak and Glider were the last ones.”
“And what would you give to take your vengeance? Vengeance for your friends?”
Glint clenched his jaw, unprepared for Shield Wall’s soft tone and the visions of black snatching his friends away, returning to his mind. A dampness formed behind his eyes. With a sharp snort, biting his tongue, Glint stood straight, glaring out the window before him.
“I would give everything, sir.”
“Then I do not ask for everything, only your patience and faith. The enemies of Equestria will suffer for their transgressions against us, and you will have your chance at vengeance, Glint. That is a soldier’s promise.”
Glint’s heart finally steadied itself, coming down from its tumultuous rush of emotion, and once his hooves finished shaking was Glint able to stand still, calm. Shield resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the sight of the commander taking a deep breath, holding his composure desperately.
“What are your orders, sir?”
“Reconnaissance must commence at first light, commander,” Shield Wall began. “It is imperative we are not seen until the right time. In the meantime, have that pesky Kindle and two others send missives to the units in the surrounding areas, have them summoned to the Everfree Forest where we can remain hidden. Their support will be absolutely vital, for without the horsepower we will fail in holding the palace from Prince Armor.”
“Are the royals targets, sir?”
“No. The Prince and Princess are to remain unharmed, but their palace and stations are of particular interest to me. I suspect the Crystal Empire has not yet had the time to establish proper defences, and the fledgling nation still lacks a proper administration. A weakness I intend to exploit. No, commander, infiltration will be simple, and usurpation even simpler with all the tools in place. Once we control the palace, the royals will be forced to obey our whims, but they must not be harmed, understood?”
“Transparent, sir, I’ll give the order for a troop rally inside the Everfree. Recon will be sent out at oh-six-hundred hours.” Glint gave a passionate salute before he turned, catching himself on his heel and allowing a single question to escape his lips. “We’ll kill him, right sir? The Ghost?”
“Most spectacularly, so. He will die, and Equestria will be saved.”
That was all the confirmation he needed and Glint was off to meet with the rest of the Night Guard. Shield Wall could hear the orders being passed between them, staring over the railing at the shuffling bat ponies below. A gentle throbbing entered his mind. Pulsations of anger surged through his skull, threatening to overtake what patience he managed to keep so late into the night. Only the image of the Ghost brought him any measure of focus, of peace, as he took a painfully slow breath and sighed.
“If nopony else, he will die.”
--
Rarity trotted gleefully through the open streets of town, humming in the brilliant light of midday. Ponies passed by, waving, sharing pleasantries with her and the two figures beside her. They all smiled back. Many of the residents followed suit in the display of hospitality, with only a few hesitating at the sight of the large gryphon accompanying her. Rarity huffed in response, gently leading Gilda and Silver away, closer to a large building near the center of town, adorned in patterns of pink and powder blue along its round exterior.
“The nerve of some ponies. Gilda, dear, I’m so sorry you had to experience that.”
“Hey, it’s cool, last time I was here, I… well, yeah.”
“Yes, yes, but a little ‘forgive and forget’ goes a long way. Silver, darling, you’ve been rather quiet.”
“Huh? Oh, sorry, just taking in the sights,” he said, gazing around the little town with a wide smile. “This place is amazing. It’s everything I’ve ever hoped home would be. Bright, open, peaceful.”
“I’m shocked you’ve never visited before, though I suppose there isn’t much hero work to be done around here, is there?”
“Clearly.”
Silver scanned the various buildings that lined the city streets, hardly taller than three stories, but each possessing its own unique visage. In his eyes, Ponyville was a palette of vibrant color. A trio of pegasi greeted them from overhead, and some of the stall workers called Rarity out by name, all sharing well-wishes to the trio.
A whizzing bushel of feathers and laughter nearly slapped Silver in the face as it flew past him, followed by the giggles of other foals stampeding through the street around them, chasing the young pegasus wearing an all too familiar garment. The child fluttered about in a long, dark cloak. Her pursuers followed him across the stalls, along the fences, shouting threats and laughing as the young pegasus flipped and rolled with the signature inelegance of a child.
“After her,” one child shouted. “Don’t let the Ghost escape!”
“A ha! Creepy and cantankerous cretins like you will ne- woah!” A stiff breeze yanked the cloak in one direction as she settled on a large crate, nearly toppling her. “Ha ha! Not even mighty winds can stop me from saving Ponyville. The Ghost now rests her sights on you!”
Silver nearly stopped in his tracks, their infectious laughter threatening to take him as the young filly dove for the crowd of make-believe wrong-doers. He was beaming now. It wasn’t until Gilda gave him a quick nudge he returned to his senses. She gave him a look, and spotted the most genuine smile she’d seen since leaving Coltistrano. Rarity, however, merely looked forward with excitement.
“And, voila! The Carousel Boutique, where everything is chic, unique, and magnifique!” Rarity giggled at her own slogan, opening the door for the others to enter. “Gilda, I know you’re not too comfortable with being here, but you’re more than welcome to make yourself at home. Silver, though, needs to join me in my workroom. We have much to discuss.”
They were met by the magenta-colored display room that was Rarity’s boutique, adorned in fine drapery, with looming checkered ceilings above them. Gilda and Silver slowly crossed the display floor to the other end of the room, finding a small kitchen area just beyond the row of fitting rooms, opposite a curiously plain stairway leading up to the second level.
“Upstairs?”
“Yes, dear, just upstairs. Go on, I’ll be with you in a minute.”
Silver looked from Rarity to Gilda before making his way up the clean white staircase. Once he passed out of sight, Gilda peered over to Rarity.
“‘Join me in my workroom’, huh?”
“Oh hush, Gilda, there’s hardly any time for that kind of behavior, is there?”
“No, you’re right,” Gilda said with a wry smirk. “Just kind of funny that your ‘workroom’ is also your bedroom.”
“I-It is not!”
“Uh-huh? Must sleep in the kitchen, then. Bet it’s real cozy next to the oven.”
“I’ll entertain your pestering no further, just make yourself at home, quietly… and I would have you know there are many rooms on the top floor, thank you!”
Gilda’s sharp, gravely laugh was all Rarity could hear as the gryphon watched her flustered attempt to climb the stairs, resisting a powerful urge to turn around and knock some sense into her. The laughter died out as Rarity crested the stairs. She inched her way down the hallway to her workroom, a maelstrom of fabric and thread littering the floor, watching Silver survey his colorful surroundings. A huff escaped her lips as she entered.
“There’s got to be more color in this room alone than I’ve seen in my entire life.” Silver’s comment summoned a smile from her face.
“You should see it in summer. More shades of green than Celestia has years of life, but you’re more for darker colors, yes?”
“‘Color’, singular, I think.”
“But you wear it so well, darling.” Rarity’s magical aura ensnared various implements from around the room, orbiting her.
“Like I wear bruises and knife wounds. You could say I have a sharp eye for fashion.”
“Oh, yes dear, I could not agree more,” Rarity playfully mocked, rolling her eyes at the attempt at humor. “That’s exactly why you’re up here, though. We need to do something about your proclivity for harm.”
“I thought I did well against the Ragged Mare.”
“Silver, I put enough thread in you to stitch a dinner jacket. Your cloak is powerful, true, but it can’t do all the work.”
“Worked well enough for Darrox. Blocking magic, tying ponies up, gliding. The stories about what he could do with this thing… heck, even he didn’t know everything it could do.”
“Yes, well, your darling mentor also never knew the luxury of splinted mail, or at least something more functional than spider’s silk.”
“Darrox was always hardy, even he-… wait, ‘splinted mail’? Like, real armor?”
“Well, of course, I’m not going to send you out there in some frilly ‘Rarity Original’. No, darling, proper protection.”
“Holy smokes. ‘Rarity, the armor-smith’. I never would’ve thought.” Silver’s chuckle earned a withering look from Rarity.
“Cooks and tailors are two ponies you should never mock, Silver. Cooks poison your food, while tailors…”
Silver yelped at the surprise jab of a needle in his side, followed by another sharp sting for Rarity’s own amusement. He jerked away, cradling his midsection, defending it from a feared third attack. She chuckled.
“I’ve had my fair share of experience with more complex orders, Silver, and a lady is always up for a challenge.”
“Clearly.” Not even the fading pain in his flesh could dissuade his warm grin. “And here I thought you wanted me not to be stabbed?”
“I reserve the right when you become bothersome.”
“So, always?”
“Always.”
They didn’t notice how close they stood to each other, not until one of Rarity’s violet hairs fell across Silver’s face, urging them to pull apart. He retreated into the encroaching coil of a measuring tape, pushing his saddlebag from his clothed back. It slid along his body methodically, Rarity’s eyes following all the while.
“Do you have any requests? Something like a symbol or pattern?”
“No, thank you, kind of hard to see against the black.”
“Good. I love the mystique of your look… are you feeling alright?”
“What? Yeah, why?”
“Awake for two days, fighting in between, and everything that happened yesterday. You must’ve been tired.” Her eyes strayed from the animated tape measure, shifting to his. “You look tired.”
“No, I slept great. Plenty of catching up, you know?”
“Silver…”
His grin faded. The flutter in his stomach held his words hostage, almost choking him, only speaking after forcing a long, stuttering breath.
“Abby doesn’t understand. She thinks things can go back to how they were.”
“Have you spoken to her about it? To anyone?”
“Who would I talk to? Mom’s desperate to move on, Gilda has her own love life to worry about, and Gorn… I think it’s best to just leave it alone.”
“You could talk to me. I worry about you, sometimes.”
“I can’t bother you about it. You have your work, your friends, your life. I can handle it, Rarity, honest.”
“Silver, you’re my friend, too. You don’t have to bottle everything up and hope it disappears. I want to help, if I can.”
“But what would I do? It’s not like I can just show up at the estate and say, ‘Hey, Abby, been a while. Let’s talk about how we’re different ponies now and try to salvage everything we lost’.” His rant was accentuated by a mocked performance of himself, a wide, false smile across his face.
“But that’s exactly what she wanted.” Rarity’s focus shifted to a rising bolt of black fabric. “Couldn’t you tell how desperate she was to talk to you? How long has it been since you came back from Manehatten? Since you last spoke to her?”
Silence filled the room. He held his gaze on the floor before him, fidgeting whenever Rarity tried to meet his amber eyes.
“You haven’t, have you?”
“A letter, here and there, but I’m not avoiding her.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“Well… it felt like you were.”
“Silver.” Rarity pushed away the floating tools around her, pulling Silver’s face gently to her. “If something is bothering you then you need to talk about it. Either about her, or your home, or that cloak, but whatever it is please don’t neglect yourself. It hurts me to see you like this.”
“Rarity, I’m-”
Her hoof sealed his mouth, pressing firmly against his lips.
“Don’t lie to me, Silver, just promise we’ll talk when this is over.”
Her gloomy eyes threatened to tear down his resolve. With a gentle hoof he took hers and pulled her into a soft, warm hug, rubbing her back, desperately holding back the quiver in his lip.
“I promise.”
“Thank you, Silver.” She stroked his back, closing her eyes. “I just hope I’m wrong, and you’re not hurting as much as I fear.”
“That would be a first,” Silver chuckled.
They leapt at the loud bang from the window beside them. Silver, with powerful forelegs, forced Rarity behind him as he faced down the cyan pegasus screaming outside. She waved her hooves in front of the glass.
“Rarity! Rarity! Get downstairs, there’s a problem at AJ’s!”
The two spared no time in bolting from the room, gathering their things, almost gliding down the stairs, and barreling into the showroom. Silver’s nod urged Gilda’s powerful wings to open. As soon as they were outside she scooped the two ponies up and blasted off toward the sprawling orchard at the edge of town. The cyan pegasus flanked them in the sky peering towards Gilda, nearly losing her balance as the two locked eyes, breaking contact just as quickly as the trip came to a sudden stop. The four landed on the soft earth of Sweet Apple Acres, greeted by a single orange pony with red in her face.
“Rainbow! Ah said get Rarity, not all these jokers. Sorry fer the confusion, you two, but… wait a tick. Gilda?!”
“Uh, yo?” Gilda waved a sheepish claw to the earth pony.
“Landsakes, Rainbow, didya take a pit stop in Griffonstone on the way to Rarity’s?”
“No, no Applejack, these are my friends from out of town.” Rarity gestured toward Gilda and Silver. “You already know Gilda, a story we’ll get to later, and this is S-”
“Aristo,” Silver blurted out.
“Y-Yes, they can help. What’s wrong?”
“Not sure just how much good these two’ll be, there’s a nasty, uh… mess. In the storage barn. Bad mess.”
“Yeah, really bad,” the pegasus, Rainbow, piped up. “Juicy, uh… spill. Not sure it’s a good idea for them to get dirty. You know, cuz of the… dirt.”
“I may be perceptive, but I’m not a psychic. Applejack, would you please tell me what’s happened?”
Applejack pulled Rarity in close, huddled next to Rainbow, whispering between the three as Silver and Gilda looked on. They shared a look.
“Okay, featherface, how bad do you think it is?”
“Five bits says a body. Maybe two, by the smell of it.”
“Ragged Mare said the Night Guard were stopping by. Must’ve thought they were safe here instead of an outpost.”
“Yup,” Gilda punctuated. “Judging by the barbecue she left in Canterlot, I don’t blame them. Wanna sneak around the back?”
“No, these are Rarity’s friends. Let her handle them.”
Gilda watched, fidgeting as she eyes the cyan pegasus intently. Her feathers ruffled along her neck.
“Are you okay?” Silver placed a hoof on her shoulder.
“Remember all the talk about ‘no friends’ I had last year? When we met?”
“I remember. You said… oh.”
“Yeah, ‘oh’.”
“Everything going to be okay between you two?”
“We’ve made up, doesn’t mean some things aren’t a little tender, y’know?”
“Yeah, yeah I know.”
Silver’s gaze shifted to Rarity, focused entirely on her silent conversation with the other two. The hushed murmuring eventually died out, freeing the unicorn to return to the dup on the sidelines, still keeping her low tone as she spoke.
“So, don’t be alarmed, but Applejack here has found the bodies of Night Guard out in the north orchard, and there’s signs of a break-in at the barn.”
“Called it,” Gilda said.
“Yes, rather disturbing how normal this has become for us.” Rarity gave them a sheepish look. “Regardless, they’ve asked us to look into the situation. I’ve convinced Applejack to give us some space while we investigate. Shall we?”
Rarity led the party toward the towering wooden barn at the border of the north orchard, not noticing Silver reach into his coin purse and toss five glinting coins to Gilda, smirking in response, until the sudden scent of decay wafted toward her in the breeze. A claw grasped her beek.
“Guh, jeeze,” she groaned.
“You said it, darling,” Rarity said through a white cloth.
“Well, uh, Applejack,” Silver said. “Could we have a moment to look at the scene? I promise we won’t damage anything.”
“It’d be hard to hurt it anymore than it is, but knock yourself out. Barn door’s open and the two poor fools are just over yonder… and Rarity, I'm still calling the guard. Can’t let Applebloom come home to see this.”
Rarity acknowledged Applejack with a dainty hoof. She stepped beside Silver and Gilda, joining their path to the barn, scanning for any detail. Silver quickened his pace and pried open the barn door. True to Applejack’s word, the interior was a wreck.
“I won’t lie to you, darling, I’m not sure what we’ll find in this mess.”
“I’m scared to agree, but we should try. Gilda, could you help Rarity search for clues? I’m going to examine the bodies.”
Rarity nodded, and Silver made his way toward the treeline. The view above him was a calming one, red orbs glistening in the sunlight, bouncing on branchin in the wind. The clouds of vibrant green they hung from shaded the path he walked. Sunlight peeked through, here and there, even upon the grizzly scene before him. There were mangled bits upon the dirt, none particularly whole.
“This must be the scene, and… yep, that’s a leg.”
His eyes traveled from limb to limb, eventually finding the largest lump of flesh, half melted and dressed in destroyed black armor. He whispered thanks upon discovering the corpses still possessed their heads. Their eyes were blank. Silver leaned down to inspect one and the many small creases along the forehead, the curl in the mouth’s corner.
“They were afraid. She must’ve gotten them, too.”
Following the puddles of melted muck leading away from the body, Silver spied a darker patch of baark upon one of the towering apple trees. Upon closer inspection it, too, had been eaten away by the magical substance, though not as much. He made sure the coast was clear before pulling the cloak from his bag and swiped the trunk with practiced form, freeing the dead bark and placing it within a cloth. He returned his attention to the crime scene, but even his perceptive eyes struggled to find anything among the carnage he’d not already seen, save the small pattern upon one of their tarnished saddlebags. A shield and spears. Silver winced at the sight.
“Yo, nerd. Barn’s a bust. Nothing but broken wood and the smell of a locker room.”
“An apt description, Gilda, and a pity, at that. Just once, I wish our adversaries would lea-”
Rarity halted in her tracks at the sight of the carnage. Her white cloth returned to cover her mouth, and her dignity, as she quickly turned from the scene. “Please tell me you’re finished, Silver?”
“Yeah, I am. Nothing new here. Well, except for the fact I can’t tell whose legs belong to who.” His words caused Rarity to gag.
“Dead end, then?” Gilda asked, leading the group away and out of the orchard.
“Maybe, unless Rarity’s expert source can shed some light on the case. Are we able to meet with them?”
“Yes, darling, she’s just on the other side of town. The large tower, there.”
Silver stopped in his tracks, eyes locked on the looming crystal structure dwarfing the rest of Ponyville. He recognized it.
“Twilight? Shining Armor’s sister is your contact?”
“Well, yes, she’s the most academically gifted unicorn I know. There's no problem, is there?”
“She’ll recognize me. We used to know each other, back before I disappeared.”
“Dude, seriously, that’s what you’re hung up on? We’re chasing some psycho melty lady and an army of trained assassins and you’re worried about embarrassing yourself in front of the bookworm?” Gilda’s incredulous expression snatched the voice from Silver’s throat.
“N-No, just… if they connect her to us, to me, they might come after her.”
“She’s a princess, darling, and the one who defeated Tirek. Nopony’s so foolish as to threaten her, and if we want answers there’s nopony better to ask.”
Silver swallowed what weak words he had left, electing to nod at Rarity’s statement and making his way down the field and back into town. Gilda and Rarity exchanged a glance, wordlessly, before hurrying behind the argent pony.