The sun was heading to the horizon, illuminating the city in bright orange-red. The shadows of the buildings were long and deep. Everypony was returning to their homes from work or were preparing for the sweet night. Everything seemed peaceful, except the one little unicorn. He was galloping in tears and barely saw the road in front of him. He tried not to cry but his feelings were just unstoppable.

His run echoed in the thick warm walls of the buildings but there was no pony on the street to comfort him. No pony heard his small cry, as if they all ignored him. Only the sun noticed his pain but its reign was to its end. The celestial body gave its last beams of light and then moved behind the forest of concrete and bricks.

His red mane sadly waved. On his flank, where his cutie mark of a red-orange flame was, there were multiple bruises. His hoof were covered with small wounds, though his sorrow was so great, he didn't feel any hurt.

The young unicorn made a turn and headed straight to an old building, which had yellow signs in front of it, that stated: "Warning! Demolition site!". The workers had returned to their homes, so it was completely empty. The filly stopped just outside it and looked at the locked wooden door. Tears were coming from his big blue eyes, though he was able to notice the shut windows. There was only one way to get inside it.

The filly closed his eyes, suddenly his horn produced a flash and he disappeared.

Sounds of approaching hooves sounded near. Around the corner appeared a brown small unicorn, who was little more chubby and taller, than the yellow one. From the look of his green eyes, a pony could tell, that he was worried. The youngster went in front of the old building and began shouting:

"Phoenix! Phoenix! Where are you? They didn't mean to be rude! Please, come out!"

The yellow pony was sobbing in a corner, next to a window. He remembered the little incident earlier this afternoon. Phoenix wanted to show the winged kids that he'd be able to fly with them high in the sky. He invented mechanical wings that were driven by magic and with the help of his friend Volts, he made his first test of this new machine. It was in front of a big crowd, every filly from the neighborhood was there to see his attempt to reach the blue skies. He had worked hard on this project day and night because it had to be perfect from the first try.

The pegasi from his school were skeptical and some even mocked on his newest creation. However, Phoenix wasn't bothered by their provocative words and kept focused on the task at hoof.

The weather was fine. There was some wind, which could be used to lift him up. The sun gave his blessing and waited to see his attempt before leaving the sky to its sister. Everypony held their breaths, when he began galloping with the steel wings on his back. His horn produced purple light that moved the wings. This was his time to shine. He had enough force for lift off, the wind was blowing in the right direction. The little unicorn jumped in the air and shrugged his legs. Now Phoenix relayed on his creation to gain more speed and altitude. The pegasi were astonished by the sight and many happily cheered for him. It made him feel good, he felt like a star. However, every star has a beginning and an end, his came very shortly.

Like a bad luck, one bolt broke because of the big strain, immobilizing his metal wings. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to wave them again. The unicorn and his invention quickly crashed into the ground. Lush laughter followed. His brown friend was the only, who ran to help him.

"An unicorn, who can fly, eh? More like, who fail perfectly." said one of the winged kids.

"Accept it, the pegasi are the true masters of the sky. You better stick to the ground, where you belong!" another one shouted at him.

"So, will I see you in Cloudsdale? Nope! Ha-ha!"

Their derisive voices stuck in his mind and that saddened him so deeply, that he wanted to run away.

"Don't listen to them." Ringing Volts calmed. "We only have to fix it and will show those pesky pegasi, who is right."

However, his words didn't get to Phoenix's ears and the later began galloping as far away as possible from here. His friend looked surprisingly at his dwindling figure and then went after him. He chased him through half of the city until the runner went inside the abundant building.

Now he was alone in the dark, crying and no friend of his could cheer him up. There was a knocking on the door.

"Please, don't feel bad about the fail test. Come out of there, it's not safe for you!" his friends worried voice still was not enough for him to even consider moving a leg.

"I'm a failure!" Phoenix shouted with torn from pain voice. "Everything, I've created, is an utter unsuccess!"

"No, your inventions are cool, though they break from the first few tests. Despite that, I think you are making progress with each attempt. With my help, we can make amazing gadgets, it's just that we are getting this bad luck lately."

"Leave me alone! I don't want to hear anything about our work!" Phoenix shrugged even more in his little corner.

"Fine! Have it your way!" the brown unicorn put his back on the door and sat. He was unhappy, that his friend would not listen to him. Maybe he needed some time alone to face his demons.

Everything became quiet. The shadows grew bigger and deeper, until they were the only thing around the yellow pony. The little creature didn't notice the danger around him, that isolated him from the rest of the world. The unicorn shivered from the sudden cold. Phoenix looked up, his pulse raised from the sight of the tall mare. There was a white aura around her body. Her candid eyes stared down on the little frightened pony.

She got closer and sat in front of him. He was frozen like a statue, though he tried his best to move at least one muscle. She silently lifted up her right front hoof and closed it to his eyes. The mare gently wiped his tears.

"Don't cry little pony." her soft voice comforted him. "You are my little prince."

"Who-who are you?" he anxiously asked.

"My name is Shadow Sun and yours?" she said calmly.

"My name is-is Phoenix's Just, though my friend calls me Phoenix. I don't mean to be rude, but are you a ghost?"

If she had a mouth, an evil smile would appear on her black face.

"I'm your guardian spirit. I'll protect you from all harms in this world." suddenly a red medallion, floating in the air, approached his face. "It will help you become the pony, you always dream to be. Take it, my prince. You will never feel pain again."

The red crystal began flashing in bright light, which hurt his eyes. He turned his head away but the locket instantly moved in front of him. He screamed out of fright but no sound came from his mouth.

The unicorn opened his blue eyes. He was sweating and breathing hardly. Phoenix was laying in his bed, facing the red ceiling. The white blanket was on the ground, probably fell, when he was having the nightmare. The big window with the yellow walleye showed that the morning beams were making their first charge in the night sky.

He sat on the side of his comfortable bed and stared the wooden floor. His straight red mane fell down on his left half of his face. His troubled and tired mind tried to take a hold of himself but with each time it was becoming harder. As if somepony had cursed him. The unicorn slowly got off the bed and with uncertain steps went to the bathroom, which was at the end of the long hallway. The corridor was painted in white. The floor was covered with a very expensive carpet, that was colored in  bright blue. There were yellow triangles and circles on it through its entire length.

On his left, he had a good view on the street from the dozens of tall windows. The right side of the corridor was filled with marble busts of famous unicorns, who with one form or another had contributed to the today's scientific and magical progress. They looked loftily at the pony in front of them with cold eyes. The inventor deserved it cause he was yet to reach their heights and maybe even surpass everypony on this silent path to the bathroom.

Phoenix silently opened the door. The room was lined with black and white tiles. The bathtub was on the left, that was hidden behind a pink curtain. On the right was the sink and the toilet. He went in front of the mirror, that hanged on the wall above the wash basin. Phoenix stared in it. The yellow unicorn was dirty. Dark bags had formed below his big blue eyes. His mane was quite unkempt, though majority of it still had a straight shape.

"Sweat Celestia, I look terrible. Maybe I should get a shower."

He turned around to the bathtub and pulled the curtain. Phoenix spun the faucets for the hot and cold water. When it was filled almost entirely, he turned them to the opposite direction. Then without making much noise, the unicorn immersed himself in the comforting bath. Only his head stuck out from the water. It was much needed after working all night and barely having any sleep.

The pony wanted to relax but his mind couldn't find peace. Images from the nightmare still haunted him. He had the feeling that those two white eyes still stared him. However, there was no pony in the bathroom except him.

Ringing Volts was making some delicious sandwiches with fresh flowers, when his colleague entered the kitchen.

"Good-Morning, Phoenix. I didn't expect you to be up so early." said the brown pony, while making another one.

The yellow unicorn sat down on the round table, wetting his refined chair. His friend handed him the plate with his breakfast and looked surprisingly at his watery coat.

"Didn't manage to find the towel?" Volts friendly smiled. "Try my newest delicacy, I'm sure that it will give you strength. I just read the newspaper and it seems the weather in Canterlot got under control. We'll finally be able to see the new place, the one, Mr Wine told us about."

The yellow unicorn was sitting still and didn't give any signs of life. Little drops of water were falling from his mane to the surface of the fine table. Their short lives ended with a splash but their remains began forming a small puddle. Volts knew this dark look on his face. His friend was trying to understand something but it was far from his reach.

The brown unicorn sat on the opposite side with his breakfast in front of him. He took his sandwich with his two hooves and slowly closed it to his mouth. Volts took a bite and began chewing the ambrosial meal. He swallowed and then looked at his friend, whose breakfast was untouched.

"Would you mind telling me, what happened this night?" Volts asked calmly.

Suddenly, his blue eyes had sparks, which pulled him out from his thoughts. He blinked a few times and then noticed the red wood table. Phoenix didn't remember how he got here from the bathroom and confusion sneaked inside his mind.

"I'm sorry. What were you saying, dear Volts?"

"Did you work to late hours? I thought, that you went to bed, when I did."

Phoenix sighed.

"I couldn't sleep, so I went back to the laboratory. I don't know how long I stayed there."

Volts looked at him now with concerned green eyes.

"I told you that you work too hard. Yes, tomorrow is the big day but it's not worth to put yourself in such stress."

"Of course, Volts. I'm gonna listen to you this time and I will get in bed early."

He slowly took his sandwich and began taking little bites. His friend noticed that this wasn't all and asked with a bit more serious tone:

"The last time, you were in such a shape, was the day before our first meeting with the ninja ambassador. You had the same nightmare, didn't you?"

Phoenix looked at his mate with the eyes of a madpony. He felt uncomfortable by its mentioning but the truth had to be put on the table.

"Yes, I couldn't rest because of it. Although this time it was a bit different. The mysterious black mare actually revealed her name. Do you know who Shadow Sun might be?"

Volts thought for a second.

"Hm, I've never heard of anypony called like that. Could she be some kind of a prankster?"

Phoenix shook negatively.

"I don't think she is real. However, something is trying to deliver a massage, which I still don't get it. Interesting, how our lives changed after I found the red medallion in that old basement. Why would anypony leave it there? Why I dream about it all the time?"

"Some things are better left in the unknown." Volts smiled, although Phoenix couldn't break from the feeling, that something was very wrong.

He took another delicious bite from the sandwich but it tasted like nothing in his mouth. The yellow unicorn put his breakfast on the plate, slowly got off his wet chair and turned away.

"Are you not hungry?" Volts asked behind him.

"I lost my appetite. Please, put it in the fridge. I'll finish it later. Oh, you have some bits on your mustache."

He left the room silently and went upstairs. The sounds of his steps, echoed in the corridor. Volts worryingly looked after him for awhile. He was working none stop and that took a toll on his body and mind in a bad way. Maybe that's what the pony in his dream tried to tell him.

The magnificent yellow sun reached the highest peak of its steady climb in the blue sky. The city was full with life. Many ponies were going to have a nice picnic in the large green park, others were doing some work, which couldn't be left unattended. The colors were everywhere, this was a good day. Although one pony was not having much fun. He was sitting behind the desk, looking boringly at the front entrance. In the past five days nothing interesting happened. There was no work to be done. The mission, he participated in, was put to an hold and his hooves were tied to this bureau. The orders came from the highest possible place, from the white pony on the wall, who smiled friendly and at the same time inspired respect.

Half of her face was hidden behind her extra long rainbow mane. Her only visible purple eye looked at him in a mocking kind of way. No, the guardian must be mistaken cause the Princess would never do such a thing. Maybe it was his imagination playing tricks on him. He turned his sight to the opposite side of the room, where the portrait of Princess Luna was. Unlike her bright sister, she was dark blue and wore a dark crow, instead of a golden one. Her cyan eyes felt rather softer than the ones of the Princess of the Sun. Her blue mane had magical stars in it, which made her look even more beautiful and mystic.

It wasn't a secret, the younger ruler was his favorite. He always found comfort, while he admired on her grace. Then the green pegasus stared at the tall wooden door. He sighed heavily.

Suddenly, the gate opened and white light entered inside the reception. A grey pegasus appeared, waving her bright mane in the air. His red eyes couldn't believe that there was a pony on the other side of the room. She began walking in his direction, while holding in her mouth a medium sized package. He noticed the blue postal hat on her head. Was she delivering a message from the secret special somepony or was it the new promotion he hoped to get?

The postmare stood in front of his desk and curiously looked at him with her wacky eyes. He was confused by her yellow balls that seemed to impale his skin in two different places. They stared at each other for a minute, when the green pegasus couldn't take this pressure and shouted:

"Well? Are you gonna give it to me?"

"You don't look like the pegasus in the description. It said that you were supposed to be white, with a green mane." she said smilingly.

"We don't have a pony... wait a second. There was a pegasus, who matches your crude description. He was here six days ago. Is the pony you are looking for called Lucky Eight?"

"Yep, that's the one. Hm, when I think about it, I've actually met him in a jungle, south from Badlands."

He raised his eyebrow.

"You met him?" he closed his face to hers, so close in fact, that his blue curly mane touched her hairs. "Do you happen to know where he could be?"

"No. The last time I saw him was in a southern town." she backed a little, because he was really getting in her personal space.

"Well, he is not here, so what are you doing here?" the green pegasus leaned over the desk. He was looking very serious and threatening. "If you were a real postillion, then you might know, where he is and not look for him in the least expected place." he now was standing on the desk, staring angrily at her frighten eyes. "Maybe you are not a postmare but a spy?! That would explain your unexpected arrival and... Woa..."

He leaned forward so much that his legs lost their balance and the pegasus fell flat on his face. Little gold stars circled around his head, when the door opened. A tall, strong white unicorn approached them. He was wearing a golden armor, which made him look even bigger than he actually was.

"I bring a message from Her Highness, Princess Celestia. It's for you, Doggy Nose." then he turned to the grey pegasus and his serious look melted. The unicorn said smilingly: "Hey, Ditzy! Long time no see!"

"You know who she is?" Nose stood up and looked curiously at both.

"Of course, Ditzy Doo and I were classmates from the school in Ponyville. How is the work?"

"Fine, though he has some serious mental problems." she sulkily looked at the other pegasus. "Also, the address, I was given, is the one on your front door, so I'm not mistaken."

"Alright, alright. Take my apologies and please, give me the orders. You can stay here but we are not a hotel, got it?"

The unicorn handed the packaged letter and then with the postmare went to the seats, where they talked about their daily lives. Nose went behind his desk and after making sure no pony watched, he opened the thin package. He pulled the letter that bore the Royal Seal.

"The pegasus, who is called Lucky Eight, will be arriving in the Royal Guards Office in Manehatten. He must be told the details of the mission, code named "Bubbles"." he stopped reading.

"Since when we change the names of the missions?" then he accidentally spotted the cutie mark of the postmare. "No, can't be a coincidence!"

He continued reading.

"He is the candidate for the rescue mission of the agents. Help him with everything you have. Signed, the Commanders' HQ and Princess Celestia."

"So we first track his every move around Equestria, then we assign him to secret missions. Who is this pony and why is he so important?" Nose asked himself. "If only I can get to his files... Wait a moment, he was wearing a towel around his eyes. So, this pony is blind... I guess, the High Command were drunk, when they made their choice for candidate."

The sound of the door's opening immediately took his attention. Two ponies entered the reception. One was white, the other covered in black. The pegasus had closed his eyes, the other was staring at Nose. Her demonic eyes made him shiver for a moment.

"What a perfect timing." the Guardian thought.

Before they could make a step, Ditzy went in front of Lucky and put the package on the ground.

"Hello, again! You have a mail from Ms Rose."

"Thanks."

Then the grey pegasus turned to the sitting Guardian.

"I'm happy that we had a minute to talk but I've got a lot of letters to deliver. Hope to see you soon."

"Me too." said the unicorn.

The mailmare quickly went outside, almost bumping into the massive door.

The ninja took the package from the ground and felt its weight.

"I can safely say, that she paid you the right sum." then she placed it on her back, so that Foxy could move freely with all her four legs. "Although she could have forgotten about your reward."

"Yeah, you would do exactly that. However, ladies have their standards and don't sway from them." there was a very slight note of making fun of her.

"Good-Day, Mr Lucky and... who are you?" Nose approached the two

"Call me only the ninja."

"Ninja? Could she be a spy?" the pegasus said to himself, though he cleverly hid his thoughts behind a smile.

"Pleasant to meet you, Ms Ninja. You two look like you've come a long way from here. Would you like something refreshing?" his politeness even astonished the unicorn, who was watching them from his seat.

"I'd like a glass of cider." Lucky said.

"Apples!"

"Apples?" Nose raised an eyebrow.

"Believe me, when she wants apples, you better give them right away." then Lucky whispered: "You don't want to see her in a bad mood."

Nose's red eyes looked seriously at the pegaus. Was he making fun of him, the Guardian couldn't tell. Although there was something dark in his closed eyes, which made him a little uncomfortable.

"Right, I'll deliver what you want." then Nose turned to his colleague. "Will you show them the way to the meeting room. I have some things to show them there."

"The mission Princess Celestia wrote about in her letter?"

The green pegasus slowly turned around and annoyingly looked at him.

"Yes, we will speak about it, when we are in a safe room. You may never know, how many ears could be listening."

Then he silently went in the right hallway, that led to the small kitchen. The unicorn in golden armor stood up and steadily went for the left one.

"Follow me, please."

The two ponies went after him. Like the reception, the corridor's walls were painted in red and yellow, but the ceiling was colored in white. There were a lot of closed doors. There were no windows in the passage, so only three lamps had the duty to light it all day and night.

"Ears in here? He must be quite paranoid." Lucky broke the silence.

"Don't mind him. It's in his nature to be on guard." the unicorn said.

"Fo... I mean ninja, could you describe me how he looks? I want to picture him, when I talk with him."

"He is a green pegasus, with a blue curly mane, red eyes and has a dark mustache."

They got to the stairway. First was the white unicorn, followed by Foxy but Lucky stopped just in front of it. He knew that all Royal Guards Offices were constructed in the same way, so these stairs were the evil sisters of the ones in Canterlot, not that there were good ones. The pegasus was not eager to climb them, cause his mortal enemy was capable of many unfair tricks.

Suddenly, he noticed a hoof on his shoulder.

"I got you, in case you fall. Although I still don't understand your phobia of stairs." Foxy said.

"It's not fear, I feel."  

"Then what is it? You have four legs, you can't get more stable than that." her eyes pointed earnestly at him.

"Four left legs." he sighed. "I'll be fine, I need no help."

"As you wish."

Then Tail went ahead. Lucky began slowly climbing the stairs, while doing his best to not injure himself. The three ponies got to the second floor and continued on the long hallway. The meeting room was the fifth door on the right side. The dark room was big enough to hold ten standing ponies. In the center, were a rectangular table and six chairs around it. There was a single window, that looked at the street. The blind was pulled down, so no light came from it.

The unicorn turned on the light bulb and invited them to move inside.

"Please, take a seat. Nose will be coming shortly." then he left.

The two ponies sat on the chairs next to each other and waited. Foxy had placed the package on the table, next to a small purple vase with two pink flowers in it. Lucky was very silent, which motivated her curiosity.

"Are you nervous?" Foxy asked.

"Maybe a little. For the past four days, I was thinking about Metal Eye. I hope he is alright." Lucky put his hooves on the table. "Have you felt edgy, when the life of your friend is hanging on a thin string?"

She kept staring the yellow wall.

"No." her answer struck him like a hammer.

"If you are done with your chit-chat, we can actually start talking about serious work." Nose entered the room with a plate. He served up the things, they asked for and quickly then shut the door.

"I'd like to hear everything from the start." Lucky said.

"Of course you will hear it but you wont see it. Although I'll show your partner the pictures, we took from our agents." he negligently threw a folder on the table and put the plate aside. Nose sat on the opposite side, so that he could look at both. "What I'm about to reveal is top secret information and mustn't be spread in the general public. Do you understand me?"

Lucky nodded but the ninja was like a statue, who gazed into Nose's soul. The pegasus was very serious about this matter.

"We got an hint from an anonymous pony, about an illegal work of certain inventors." he pulled out a black and white picture, on which were photographed two unicorns in exquisite suits. The photo was taken in a party months ago. "Their names are Phoenix's Just, the pony on the right and Ringing Volts, the one on the left."

"What are they working on?" Lucky asked.

"They are scientist, they work on everything, in which they see potential. The mission, on which agent Metal Eye, codenamed "Puppy", was assigned, was to determine, what exactly they were doing. Here, take a look of this."

"Agent Puppy? I bet, he didn't like the sound of that." Lucky thought.

He pulled out another photo from the green folder and tossed it at the ninja. It showed a steel medallion, with a little triangular shaped crystal in the center. It was hanging on a hanger. The picture seemed to have been taken from a low position.

"A bijou?"

Nose looked at her with his earnest eyes.

"Don't get fooled by its look. It may be a weapon for mass destruction."  

"Didn't my friend tell you, what it is and its purpose?" Lucky asked.

Nose sighed heavily.

"We never got any word from him cause we magically turned him into a puppy, which we cleverly sold to them. There's a miniature camera that takes pictures in periods of time."

"Wow. So, how he sends them?" the white pegasus sounded a bit curious.

"Via the magical collar, he wears." Nose answered. "Surprisingly, the agent didn't take as many pictures as we predicted. This makes us to believe that Metal Eye was caught very shortly after his arrival on the operation site. Here's another one, which we find very interesting."

Tail took it in her hooves and carefully analyzed it. Suddenly, she froze, when her eyes spotted the familiar shaped crystal on a golden chain. It was put behind a showcase, on a small simple pedestal. Nose noticed how Foxy reacted to this photo.

"Anything wrong, Ms Ninja?"

She almost instantly returned to her emotionless state and looked at the green pegasus with the eyes of a demon.  

"No."

"You are fooling yourself, ninja." Nose thought. "I bet you know exactly what it is. Let's play a little game."

"I also want to show you some pictures, taken from another operative. In them you'll see the two inventors meeting with ponies, who dress very strangely. We have no record about their identities. Even this agent got caught."

"Was he a defenseless puppy too?" Lucky sounded a little provocative.

Nose smiled, though not in the good kind of way.

"Well, you may say, he was short and maybe little too young for this job but he has a natural talent to be a spy. He actually volunteered for this mission."

Lucky didn't like the sound of that and didn't want to continue to where the conversation was heading. He grabbed the glass and began slowly drinking from the sweet liquid.

Nose pulled the three photos from the folder but he didn't pass them to Foxy. He wanted to make sure that her clothing matched the ones of the unidentified ponies.

"They look practically the same. Hm, so she must be one of them." the pegasus thought. "I want to see the look on your eyes, when you see this babies."

He handed the pictures to her and waited. Her orange eyes moved from one to another but didn't show any emotion at all.

"Oh, you are good. You've quickly learned to hide under your thick outfit but my watchful eyes see through your deception." he thought again.

"Who's on them, ninja?" Lucky asked after he finished with his drink.

"Ninjas from my clan." she said, while still looking at them. "When were these taken?"

"Exactly a week ago." Nose couldn't hold his delight that he was so close to break her deception. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes, there is. That's when we arrived in Manehatten. I can't believe they'd show up so early and so far from their homes."

No detail escaped her sight. She was able to recognize one of the ponies, who seemed to be talking with the two inventors in a park.

"Any friends of yours?" Nose's smile grew bigger.

"They are her enemies." the blind pegasus broke into his moment and ruined it. "What are they doing here? What's their connection with the contrivers?"

"Wait a second, so she knows them. I'd like to know what their names are and from where they come from!" Nose demanded.

"I recognize only one: he is Number One, a very skilled ninja. He represents the will and the authority of the leader of my clan. He wouldn't meet the inventors, if it wasn't for a serious matter."

"Huh, so they mean business. Would you be kind enough to spill the truth?" he pointed at her.

"What truth?" she asked calmly.

"Don't pretend. I saw how you reacted to this photo! You know what this is." he closed the picture to her face. Despite the accusations, Tail stayed cool.

"I see only a beautiful ornament and nothing more."

"Liar!" he shouted.

Suddenly, Nose felt a hoof on his left shoulder. He looked at Lucky, who had leaped forward over the table. His face wasn't exactly happy.

"You don't talk to my partner like that. She told you the truth, so please stop making her the enemy. Let's continue in a peaceful manner." the pegasus sounded, as if he was about to jump on him. Lucky was showing strength, which he carefully hid under his bad condition.

"So be it." Nose admitted defeat, though it wasn't over yet. He calmed for a bit before continuing the briefing. "You see, something is going on there and the authorities can't figure out what exactly. We were preparing another mission, that will finally reveal with what we are dealing. I had to make a list of the best possible candidates for this, but for some reason the High Command has rejected it and chose you to participate in the rescue mission."

"Very interesting. It seems, that the only blind pegasus in Canterlot is the only solution to everypony's problems. Please, go on." Lucky put a hoof in front of his face and listened carefully.

"You have three tasks: find our missing operatives, learn the intentions of the inventors and get out with the evidence, without being noticed. Everything else will be covered by the Royal Guards."

"Do you have a plan in mind?" Foxy asked.

"In matter of fact, I do." Nose smirked. "Tomorrow the inventors are going to have a presentation in their house. They will showcase to an influential audience the latest gadgets and creations they've made. Famous ponies from all over Equestria are going to be there. Two trustworthy Guardians will be attending the event. They'll act like a decoy and will not help you, when you are in trouble. The Royal Guards must look clean and not responsible for the espionage."

"Hm, what do you think, ninja?"

She looked not very excited for this, although her mind had already thought out the possible outcomes.

"We'll do it." she sounded confident enough to convince him.

"From now on, you are the new rising couple from Canterlot, who seeks a good place to live in Manehatten."

"Wait a second, are we actually going to the event?" Lucky sounded very surprised.

"That's the plan." Doggy nodded. "The two unicorns chose wisely their home. It's like a small fortress with only one entrance." he tossed a detail blueprint of the building and the ninja took a good look at it. "When you are inside, you'll hide among the crowd and when the moment is right, you'll begin the part of your assignment."

"Can't we just teleport inside?"

"Nope. The building is covered with a material, which prevents magic from entering or exiting it. This a standard procedure with magical laboratories to prevent dangerous theurgic bursts from damaging the surrounding area and injuring anypony in the vicinity of the building."

"And we can't break in from a window cause they'll learn that somepony tried to spy on them. In this case, I'll have to take a shower and buy myself an elegant suit." Lucky thought out loud.

Nose looked at the black pony, who gave him the emotionless stare.

"You too will need to be dressed appropriately. I'm little eager to see how you look underneath your outfit." his voice was a little defiant, which irritated her.

"In your dreams." she said coldly.

Before this would turn into another battle, Lucky swiftly stepped between them.

"She will be okay with her current cloths. We can make the excuse, that she is suffering from a skin disease. The main problem will be the acting. We don't sound and look like two love birds."

"Yeah and I don't do admirable giggles." the ninja darkly said.

"Well, improvise then. Or maybe you should start practicing right now."

"No, the best way will be, if we show ourselves as who we actually are. We'll look and sound believable and won't be noticed by them." Lucky suggestion was to her liking. Foxy never trained to be an actor but to be a professional assassin, who's actions were ending with blades in somepony's throat and not with pretty lies.

The Guardian sighed heavily, admitting yet another defeat.

"Alright, do it as you see fit. However, I want to see good results tomorrow. Don't blew it." he sounded a little annoyed. His red eyes turned to the round clock, it was long past lunch. "Do you have anywhere to rest until tomorrow?"

"No, we don't, though we can go to a hotel." Lucky said.

"Forget about the hotels." Nosed waved negatively his right hoof. "You need to stay hidden until the event. My place is free at the moment. It may be small but has a bathroom and a kitchen. The apartment is just around the corner. Number nineteen, the green building. The key is under the round carpet."

The ninja looked at Lucky, who was thinking at the moment.

"Fine, we'll stay at your place."

"Good! If you don't have any questions, I'd want to have a talk with your ninja partner, alone." Nose earnest eyes pierced her, though Foxy looked like she didn't give two bits.

"I have a question. Why can't you just storm the buildings with ten Guardians and reveal the truth behind their work?"

"If we do that, the general public will see it like an oppressive move by the Government and Princess Celestia. Their authorities and their respect will be undermined severely." Nose looked at the door, reassuring himself that it was shut and then said quietly. "I've heard someponies joking that the Princess is the perfect tyrant and I'd like them to only remain as jokes."

"I see." Lucky stood up from his chair. "If that's all, we'll be leaving."

"Actually, no! Only you will leave this room. The ninja must answer some questions."

Lucky silently turned to Foxy and asked:

"Ninja, do you want to be interrogated like a low-life thief?"

"No."

"You head her. We better get going."

"Hey!" Doggy said indignantly. He also got off his chair and went around the table. "She knows a lot about them. Every bit of information is crucial for the success of this mission."

"Leave her alone or I'll call the Guard, who is waiting outside."

"What? He must be lying." Nose thought.

Suddenly the door opened and the unicorn from earlier entered inside.

"No way! The room has sound isolation, how did he noticed him?" Nose asked himself.

"I hope, I'm not interrupting." the strong pony went in front of the green pegasus. "We just received news from Her Majesty. She'll be arriving in Manehatten to meet diplomats from a distant country."

Nose leaned his head to the right to check on the two civilians but they were gone. Somehow they had silently got out of the room, without being noticed. Then he looked at the table. The package and two apples were also missing. There were no sounds coming from the hallway.  

"So, she is an unicorn, hm. What are they hiding?" he asked himself. "Unfortunately for me, this news will bring only work and that means, I'll have to stay here all night. Huh, so close but so far!"

They reappeared with black smoke on the street, outside the tall Office. The ponies seemed not to notice them and carried on to their duties. Foxy turned to Lucky. She didn't seem very happy.

"I can defend myself. There was no need for you to..."

"I sensed the darkness in your voice. You were going to jump on his plot." Lucky clenched his teeth and closed his face to hers. "I don't want you to cause incidents in there."

Some ponies tuned ears to their little passionate conversation and Foxy noticed that. She gently grabbed his right hoof and prompted him to move alongside her. When they got far away from anypony to hear them, she stopped and turned back to him.

"Yes, you are right. I wanted to punch him in the nose. Although why you defend me from him?"

He smiled.

"Cause I know about your dark past. I protected him from your mighty punches but I mostly did to save you from the pain, which the interrogation would bring."

She looked away because of the little embarrassing feeling, that began crawling in her hearth. In the past few days, Tail got to know him a lot better and with that an unknown sensation was starting to grow in her. However, Foxy furiously tried to not acknowledge its existence. This kingdom, this beautiful place, where emotions were literally in the air, had poisoned her cold soul, which she needed to survive in the grey world of the clans. For one pony to become a ninja, he or she had to know death at first hoof and stay mentally intact. By attempting to remove emotion in the young ponies, the clanners aimed to produce the deadliest weapons on this world. However, even their finest warriors were not immune to feelings.

Now, she was beginning to have strange little impulses, when he stands in front of her demonic eyes. They scared her. Foxy was slowly but gloriously losing her icy way.

"Foxy, are you worried that the ponies from your clan are so close?" he asked with a low voice.

She turned her head to him. Her eyes showed no fright, only determination to hit the life in the cheek.

"No, they don't stand on the way of this mission. They are probably back in their territory. It's not in their nature to overstay  near a foreign major city. After hearing everything, are you worried about the whole thing?"

Lucky looked at the ground.

"I am. I have no idea how we are going to accomplish the mission. However, Princess Celestia believes we can do it, so we will."

"I wasn't mentioned in the message, so..."

"Yeah, but without you, I'd be still kicking pebbles and cursing my fate in Canterlot." he interrupted her. "You've given back my life and saved me many times. For that I'm forever grateful."

Tail smiled and somehow Lucky noticed that, as if their souls were magically linked. The pegasus face was friendly looking again, though a little dirty from the long trip.

"By the way, what did you see in that photo?"

"I'll tell you, when we get inside the Guardian's apartment. You know, too many ears could be listening at the moment."

"Well, then Ms Spy lets get to the safe house!"

The two disappeared behind the corner, heading straight for the green residential building with the small garden, that was in front of it.

Meanwhile, in a forest, far away...

Two ponies in black outfits appeared from behind the bush. One was taller but both were equally strong-looking. They were holding in their mouth two long blades. Their brown eyes carefully scanned the area for the intruder. This place was forbidden and only few ponies could pass through this section of the forest.

"Where did he go?" the pony on the left asked quietly.

"He was just in front of us. I smell trickery!" the right one sounded tougher for his shorter figure.

There were only green trees and grass. No pony was in sight.

"Fascinating plots, you two have!" the dark voice came from behind.

They almost instantly turned around to face the violator of this secret place. In front of them stood a pony, who was wearing a distinguishable white outfit. His blue eyes were full with madness, which he controlled with a strong hoof. He was not in an attacking pose, despite the fact, that the two black ninjas aimed their swords at him.

"White Shadow!" they exclaimed simultaneously.

The calm master ninja stared at them like a demon.

"Look, that's the handle of the Legendary Clawed Sword!" the pony on the right noticed.

"So, Dragon Born has met her master. Everypony from her clan wondered about her ultimate fate." an evil smile appeared on his face. "Our luck shines on us. We are going to become legendary, after we are done with you! What would you say, brother?"  

"We'll become double legendary. I like the sound of that!" the right one answered.

"Why are you facing in the wrong direction?" Blue said behind them.

The two ponies didn't move cause they felt the sharp tentacles, pressing on their necks. While they were having they dreamy talk, the skilled ninja moved behind them without being noticed. He got them by the balls.

"Crap!" the one on the left tried to look behind but was too scared to move.

"Brother, I think we are in a bad situation!"

"You sure are! Now, who wanted to kill me?" Circle pressed a little more into their flesh. "You two must be new. Although its not common for the guardians of the portal to put their inexperienced in charge of the guard-duty. From the look of your swords, you two must be from clan Tiger. That will also explain, why you can't keep your mouths shut."

"Please, we didn't mean to disrespect, master ninja! We were just testing you, isn't that right, bro?"

"Ye-Yeah! What he said!" the one on the right looked like he was about to shit himself from fear.

"Test? I love tests! I've always wondered how long a pony can stand on his legs, when his throat is cut. Would you like to participate?" his voice sounded so crazy and dark, that they only prayed for a quick death. "Now, when I have you under my control, I'd like you to lead me to your leader. I have important information for him, that concerns the entire ninja world. If you are good ponies, I'll let you go to your mommies. Understood?"

"Y-yes, sir!" they answered.

"A friendly tip, never challenge a master ninja again, if you want to live to see your children's fillies."

He removed the tentacles from their necks and lordly ordered:

"Move!"

Next Chapter: Chapter 18: The Afternoon Was Hot Estimated time remaining: 10 Hours, 30 Minutes