Time almost seemed to slow down as Mochi, Flight, Scootaloo, and Kaylee stood there on the surface of the dome, holding their breath and watching as the two guards approached. One false move—one sound too loud, one step out of place—and the entire mission would be ruined and they would be caught, subject to the whims of the Bureau.

Scootaloo looked up at the guards, who were still more than a dozen metres away. Then, she looked at the ground, and she thought for a moment before looking back at Mochi and Flight, who were also standing around Kaylee with their hooves on her back. "Guys, we need to get down," she whispered urgently.

"Why?" Mochi asked, nervously looking over her shoulder at the approaching guards. "We should prob'ly keep the movin' around to a minimum, or else they're gonna hear us with all the shuffling."

"Look down," Scootaloo mouthed, pointing towards the dome with a hoof. All three of her companions did as she said, and all three of them were taken aback at the dark, pony-shaped shadows that lingered on the dome alongside them.

"Holy crap," Flight whispered in shock. "How haven't we been noticed so far?"

"I mean, you probably have to be pretty close to see them," Kaylee whispered. "Considering not even we had noticed yet..."

"Shh," Mochi shushed, motioning downward with a hoof. "Just get down!"

The four of them ducked down, trying not to make too much noise as they crouched in positions that they knew they'd be able to hold for a bit, just in case the guards decided to stick around. Although the dome's panels creaked ever so slightly with the shift of their weight, the sound was masked enough by the guards' approaching hoofsteps that there was no way they could have heard it. And, from how they just kept trotting and talking, that appeared to be the case.

"...so I guess I was wondering whether you'd heard anything... I dunno. Anything related to that," one of the guards said. He had paused a couple metres away, with the other guard alongside, and Scootaloo had to squint to see them with how the sun reflected off the silver streaks along their uniforms.

"Nah, I haven't. You said these ponies are at large? And in the area?" The other guard raised an eyebrow. "How come I haven't heard about this?"

"They're keeping it on the down-low, for some reason," the first guard replied. "I think they don't want to worry ponies. These ponies at large... they're part of the rebellion, or at least that's what the Captain said."

"Aureate above... yeah, I can understand why. Don't want a bomb scare, and then the news would probably get out to the rebels and so we wouldn't be able to nab them. Gotcha."

"Exactly. But I'm telling you because I'm supposed to be on the lookout here, but, well, you know. You can't exactly skip a tenth anniversary."

The other guard nodded. "Yeah, I get it. Back when me and Mariah were still together... well, anyway... yeah, I can cover this. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Thanks, bro," the first guard said, punching his comrade lightly on the shoulder. "I owe ya one."

"You owe me like twelve at this point," the other guard replied, rolling his eyes. He turned to watch the first guard trot away, not turning away until he was out of sight down the dome. Then, the guard sighed. That's when he turned towards the four ponies crouched against the dome, staring right in their direction.

"Ugh... yeah, there's no way I'm going to see any of these crazy wanted criminals in the next few hours. Better make the best of this as I can, I guess." With another sigh, the guard sat down and settled in before closing his eyes.

Scootaloo let out a breath of relief.