Hello fans of the story. Here's another chapter for you to hopefully enjoy. I hope to be writing more regularly from now on, so stay tuned for more updates on that. Anywho, onwards!

"You're different to the others, aren't you?" Sweetie Belle commented, standing beside Bullet Dancer. The Pegasus didn't respond, afraid to make a mess of things, as usually happened with social encounters.

"It's okay. I see the way you struggle to control yourself." Sweetie Belle added, smiling a little.

"Thank you Miss Belle." Bullet said, eventually.

"Call me Sweetie, please." For a lower citizen to be allowed to call a higher ranking pony by first name was a rare and great honour.

"Thank you… Sweetie?" Bullet tried again, to be rewarded by a small giggle from the unicorn.

They stood in silence after that, until Sweetie Belle broke the silence. "What are you looking at?"

"I'm not looking at anything. I'm looking for potential attackers." Bullet responded quickly. She could feel the voices coming back, like an itch in the back of her skull, and it made her worry about her promise.

"Are attacks often?"

"None have happened to this ship so far." Sweetie Belle smiled a little, laughing.

"So why do you look for attackers?"

"Just because it's never happened, doesn't mean it won't." Bullet answered, searching for an example. "Like the Princesses disappearing."

Sweetie Belle sighed. "I was 8 or 9 when the Princesses vanished, and at the time I didn't know what was happening. One day I woke up to my sister shouting at her friends. Now she shouts at everyone, and I can't stop her. I haven't even spoken to my friends for 9 years." She looked away a bit. "What was your life like? Before this war, I mean."

Bullet Stood, silent, thinking how best to speak. "I worked with my daddy in his forge. He was a blacksmith for the royal guard, and he taught me." She looked at the unicorn beside her, who nodded for her to continue. "I was 7 when the princesses disappeared, but I didn't know it yet. But my daddy got a lot more orders for armor and weapons. He became too engrossed in his work, so I ran away."

"That's sad to hear." Sweetie Belle said, after a while. The two stood there in silence, the wind blowing gently around them. The air was crisp and clear, perfect for lookout. If only Bullet had been looking out. For now, though, the voices were back.

"Tell her. Tell her your story Bullet. Tell her how you hear that voice in your head that gives you advice. Tell her that you broke your promise, and that you need help. Tell her how much you need someone to listen to you, to care for you, to keep you safe."

"I envy you, you know?" Sweetie said, suddenly. Bullet shook her head a little, and tried to focus on her. "You don't have the problems I do. People always asking to marry me, expecting me to sing for them. I have no real friends, the ones I have now are fake, only with me in fear of being killed otherwise."

Bullet couldn't hold herself back. It had always been her nature to help as much as possible, even if it wasn't for the right causes. "I could help you!" She blurted out, excitedly, immediately regretting it. Sweetie belle raised an eyebrow at her. "How?" She asked, putting Bullet in a tight spot.

"Tell her how you could be her friend, how you could stay close to her and keep her safe." The voices whispered. She nodded. "I could…. I could… I could be a hand-maiden?"

Sweetie Belle mulled it over in her mind, leaving Bullet hoping in silence that her outburst hadn't spoilt her chances at friendship. "That's a really good idea, actually. We'll have to sort it out with your commander, but we should be able to make it work." Sweetie Belle said, walking towards the barracks.

Bullet Dancer followed her, wondering what exactly would happen next.