Several days later, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, and Joshy were walking along a beach. They saw a great red ship suspended in the air between two cliffs.
"I say, I wonder how that blinkin' thing got up there, wot?" said Joshy.
"There must be a story behind it," Twilight agreed. "We should go up there and explore the ship. I think the two of us together could carry you and fly up there."
But Fluttershy didn't want to explore the red ship. "Have you two forgotten why we went on this journey? We're supposed to be searching for Veil."
"I don't know," said Twilight. "Veil made it pretty clear that he doesn't want to ever come back."
"Well, I'm goin' to keep on lookin' for him no matter what, if only to get my wand back," said Joshy. "But I don't see any bally harm in takin' a short rest."
Fluttershy realized she was outvoted. "Okay, I guess we can make a quick stop."
As they got closer to the ship, they saw a rope ladder hanging from a hole in the bottom. "This is perfect," said Joshy. "I don't have to fly. I can just climb up. Super wheeze, wot!"
He started to climb, but before he'd gotten three rungs up, a six-clawed paw reached out of the hole and cut the ropes with a knife. Joshy fell back to the ground. "I say! That was not enjoyable at all!" he complained.
"Veil!" Fluttershy cried. "That must be Veil up there!"
"Hold on," Twilight said.
But Fluttershy was already in the sky. "Veil wasn't always bad. He'll change one day, you'll see!"
"Heehee! He'll change! He'll change!" a voice echoed eerily. "Are you fools still following me?"
Veil was climbing out of one of the portholes, trying to get on top of the ship.
"Oh my goodness!" Fluttershy screamed. "Veil, stay still. We can fly you down!"
But Veil didn't listen. He jumped from the roof of the ship to the adjoining clifftop. Then he started climbing down the cliff with squirrel-like agility. Joshy had gotten up and he ran to the bottom of the cliff to intercept the ferret. "It's the end of the line for you, ye young miscreant!"
Veil was a short distance from the ground when he jumped over the hare's head, landing on his feet in the sand. "Stay back!" he yelled, drawing Joshy's wand.
The hare raised his paws placatingly. "Steady on, old chap. You don't know how to use that thing."
"Oh, don't I?" Veil sneered. He tried to do a spell, but he really didn't know any spells and also he was not a wizard. So instead he just poked Joshy in the eye with the wand and ran off down the beach, in a southerly direction.
Twilight and Fluttershy flew over to the wounded hare. "Joshy, is your eye all right?"
"Oh, yeah, it's fine, it's fine. Come on, we've got to catch that flippin' ferret!"
Veil was already out of their sight, but they could clearly see his tracks in the sand. They pursued him until they came to a place where several caves were dug into the side of the cliff. The ferret footprints led into one of the caves.
"Veil, are you in there?" Fluttershy called, zooming into the cave with almost Rainbow Dash-like speed. "Please wait for us!" The other two followed her.
But they saw that the cave was completely empty. "Where is he?" Fluttershy cried. "We saw his tracks leading in here! Where could he have gone!"
"The blighter must've fooled us by steppin' backwards in his own tracks," Joshy said.
A chuckle came from the mouth of the cave. "You're one perceptive beast, William David Truman Joshua Stag Hare- Great seasons, what a stupid name!"
The three friends turned to see Veil rolling a boulder, blocking the cave entrance and trapping them inside.
The ferret's face was a picture of fiendish delight. "Hahaha! Now try and follow me, oafs!"
He could hear the frantic cries from the other side.
"Veil! What have you done!"
"Veil, you don't have to choose evil!"
"Let us out of here, wot wot!"
"Why don't you try moving it with magic, rabbit?" Veil laughed.
"Rabbit? Tchah! You, sirrah, are a cad an' a bounder!"
Veil turned and walked away. "Goodbye and good riddance!"
"Dat was neatly done!"
A big lean ferret wearing a black leather jacket and jeans was standing there, watching Veil and puffing on a cigarette. He had six claws on each paw, just like Veil. He came forward, walking around the young ferret, inspecting him curiously from ear to footpaw. Veil knew instantly that this was his father Swartt.
"Friends o' yours, were dey?" Swartt Sixclaw said.
Veil eyed the other coolly. "Don't have friends- they were my enemies!"
Swartt fixed the young ferret with his piercing gaze. "What's yer name?"
Veil felt he had been waiting for this moment all his life. "They call me Veil Sixclaw the Outcast! And I know who you are- Swartt Sixclaw the Warlord!"
They stood with their eyes locked, staring each other down.
Swartt smiled mirthlessly, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "You're a hard faced brat, ain't ya? Veil- who gave ya a name like dat?"
Before Veil could reply, Starlight Glimmer came splashing up the beach, saying, "I've found a path up to the top of that cliff. We can create the time portal up there."
Swartt turned to follow her. Veil ran after them. "What's a time portal? Are you going back in time? Can I help with anything?"
The Warlord brushed him aside contemptuously. "Stay outta my way, brat, I got enough trouble ta deal with!"
Veil was shocked. "Don't you understand? I'm your son!"
Swartt blew cigarette smoke in his face. "Buzz off, kid."
"You're just like all the rest, aren't you?" Veil said. "You don't want anything to do with me either."
Swartt and Starlight Glimmer started climbing up the cliff face. Veil followed at a distance, barely restraining his tears.
