Efraffa is lost, and Owslar Captain Snapdragon is badly injured. He limps to his death, and finds Lord Frith in a river. Frith, however, has other plans. He uses the river to take Snapdragon to new world beyond the downs, beyond Efraffa, beyond everything he knows to a world ruled not by man, but ponies and, consequently, the arms of a pink and yellow pegasus and her white rabbit with an ulterior motive.