As the sun set, Matthias and Twilight were sailing over Yakyakistan in the balloon. They could see yaks on the ground below them but they looked like ants.
"We're making good time," Twilight said, trying to sound upbeat. Inwardly she was worried about Pinkie Pie.
"I wish I'd brought my sword with me from Redwall," Matthias said. "Do you think we might have to fight a battle?"
"I don't know," said Twilight. "I have no idea what kind of creatures live up here. I've never been farther north than Yakyakistan, and we're passing over the northern Yakyakistani border right now. There's no telling what we're in for."
"Well, I'm not afraid of anything when I've got you by my side!" Matthias said bravely.
Twilight smiled. "I was just gonna say the same about you."
Now they were flying over snow covered mountains. Matthias pointed over the edge of the basket. "Look! A castle!"
Sure enough, on a high plateau ahead of them, an enormous black castle rested. "Think it's an Abbey like Redwall?" Matthias asked.
"There's only one way to know," Twilight said as she began to bring the balloon down for a landing. "Let's go check it out. We can ask the people there if they know where to find the Flowers of Icetor."
When the balloon reached the ground, they stepped out and Twilight tied it to a tree. Then they went up to the castle and knocked on the door.
After a few moments the door opened and two big black birds stood there. They were rooks. "What do you earthcrawlers want in the domain of General Ironbeak?" one of them demanded.
Twilight curtseyed. "We mean you no harm. I am Princess Twilight Sparkle and my mouse friend is named Matthias. We're looking for the Flowers of Icetor to help our friend."
"The Flowers of Icetor belong to General Ironbeak alone!" the other rook cried.
"We don't tolerate intruders here," the first one said. "Especially not when they come to steal from us."
Twilight started to back away. "Okay. We'll just be on our way. Sorry we bothered you…"
One of the birds blew a sharp blast on a bone whistle that was hanging around his neck and a whole flock of ravens, crows, magpies, and rooks flew out of the castle windows. They surrounded Twilight and Matthias.
"Where do you think you're going?" the bird who had blown the whistle asked.
Twilight chuckled nervously. "You said you didn't like intruders, so we were just leaving…"
"Oh, you won't be leaving. We'll take you to the General, see what he has to say about you."
The birds shepherded Matthias and Twilight inside.