Their steps were the only sounds in the long corridor. The building seemed abandoned, though it was the Headquarters of the Royal Guards in Manehatten. Almost every door was shut and the ones, that were opened, revealed empty of life rooms with scrolls left laying on the desks. Kind of unreal for a place, that was the center of authority in this city.

"Feels just like, when I visited you in your cell a week ago." Lucky was not feeling comfortable.

"Do you have a holiday or something?"

"I don't think so."

Foxy glimpsed at him.

"Do you know where they might be?"

"I guess they are in the same room, in which they revealed us the plan. I guess that's the only place, where Nose feels safe to do his work. I wonder, if his apartment is soundproofed too. By the way, why you couldn't sense me, while we dueled?"

"Huh, you wanna know more about my tricks?" she then whispered in his ear. "Have you ever felt like you've been watched, though there was nopony around you?"

"Um, yes?" he sounded a bit confused.

"My super sense works on this principle: If I'm being watched, I'd immediately know. The problem is that you are blind, so in a sense you are my counter. And also, I didn't use my tracking magic because it wouldn't be fair."

"As if super strength was fair from the beginning."

Foxy lifted her hoof above his back and stroke him. Lucky felt as if she cut him in half. Pain went through his entire spine, which was almost intolerable.

"Ops, I only wanted to pat you."

"Your joke, it hurts." he groaned a few times.  

"Don't be such a cryfoal!" she looked at him in a strict manner. "I've been beaten a lot badly than you and I've never said a word."

"Said the pony who was gutted and still lives." he painfully smirked. "Someday, I will have my revenge and you will know how it feels on the receiving end."

"Till that moment, you can only suffer." this time she patted him gently on the shoulder. The two then continued through the corridor to the meeting room.

"Argg, nothing again!" Nose facehoofed.

"You may want to take a short brake. You look too nervous and tired to interrogate her." Quarter Key stood up from his seat and went closer to the cyan earth pony. Nose gave way to him and then sat in the other end of the long table. For the past few minutes the pegasus tried everything he knew about making ponies talk. His attempts were fruitless and after this morning's downfall with Lucky, Nose was feeling like he has lost his edge and frustration began to take over his mind.

"What are you going to do?" Diamond Rod stood beside Quarter and looked down at the shocked beauty. Her blue mane was in a sad condition. Her pink eyes were lifeless, after what she saw. All ponies, who Voyager considered family, were dead and their remains were now laying deep under the sea. Her mind couldn't escape from the image of her love. His face was calm, but she knew that he was scared to death before his final moment. Those eyes that stared back at her. They'd haunt her for the rest of her life.

"I've got nothing. It's not my specialty to interrogate ponies. Maybe a hot chocolate milk will melt her frozen soul."

"Alright. I'll stay here and try to speak with her."

Then the grey unicorn went to the door but before going outside, he turned to his partner.

"Would you like some too?"

"No, bring one for her and Nose." Diamond then pulled a chair and sat next to Voyager. His yellow eyes tried to see through her numb body and learn why she was so silent. When he couldn't hear the Quarter's steps in the empty corridor, Diamond asked her very politely: "Would you tell me your name? Don't be scared of us. You are in very good hooves."

The mare kept staring down the surface of the wooden table. She didn't move, no sounds came from her. The pretty pony barely breathed. Diamond thought for a moment and continued.

"I'm Diamond Rod. I'd like to help you. You are safe here and I promise you that nothing bad will happen to you." his voice was calming. Voyager didn't give any signs that she had heard him.

"Ah, that is it!" the green pegasus jumped on the table and moved closer to her with loud steps. Anger was coming from his red eyes, that pierced her cyan skin like needles. "I've had it with this bucking silence in this bucking mission. I want the truth and I want it now!"

He leaned towards her, touching their foreheads. He greeted his teeth and looked her directly in the eye.

"Do not ignore me!" he shouted.

Then he was quickly pushed from the table. Before he could raise on his hoofs, two legs landed on his back that held him in one place.

"Don't be stupid! This is not the Royal Guards way. Now sit down and cool your head! Leave the room, if you have to." Diamond sounded very earnest.

"She is toying with us! Pretending that she is in shock!" Nose tried to get up but the pressure from the strong unicorn was too much.

"Yeah, sure. Now get up and go outside!" Diamond backed away from him, ready to jump on him again, if he tried something fishy.

"I'll not leave but I'll be silent." Nose pulled one of the chairs and sat quietly. The white unicorn didn't remove his sight from him until he got to his seat. He breathed slowly and maintained full focus on the task in front of him. Voyager hadn't moved a muscle. She didn't tried to escape even, when they were occupied with internal conflicts.  

Steps sounded from the corridor and soon after, two ponies entered in the room without knocking. Diamond turned to the new guests.

"Took you long enough. For a moment, I thought you two were lost."  

"We had a little obstacle on the road." Lucky smiled unconvincingly.

Foxy looked carefully at the shocked ninja from the entrance. She proceeded with caution cause there was no telling what the survivor of the unfortunate flight was capable of. Was she only pretending to be traumatized by something or was this just a clever disguise? Either way, Tail melted the distance between them and stopped next to her. The earth pony seemed to not notice her presence.

"Somepony you know, Dragon Born?" Diamond asked. His eyes jumped from the black pony to the cyan one, trying to see a connection between them.

When Voyager herd the name, something inside her snapped. She slowly turned her innocent looking eyes at the demonic ninja and silently stared in those big orange circles. Her heart began beating faster. She was starting to revive from her frozen state and the first emotion Voyager felt was fear.

"Dragon Born." she whispered her name and then immediately bowed down on the floor. Her body was a bit shaking, as if she was waiting for her turn on the gibbet.

Diamond and Doggy looked at each other. They were quite surprised from this sudden reaction. The cyan pony closed her eyes and tears began to fall from them.

"Please, may my death be quick." she pleaded with a suffered voice. "I admit to everything. Please, don't torture me!"

For a second, Foxy returned in her homeland, where she was feared by her comrades and enemies. A bomb that could explode at any given time and bring death to anything near her. She was also the personal guard of the leader and his ultimate weapon for mass-destruction. Everypony knew her as a dangerous tool and not as a pony with her own feelings and thoughts.

"Stand up." she ordered coldly.

The cyan pony shakily got on her hoofs. She couldn't look Foxy in the eyes but the later forced her to do so. Tail stared again in those crystal eyes, which had not seen much combat. The black ninja tried to recognize her face but she had no memory of this pathetic excuse for a ninja.

"Your name?" she sounded a lot scary in the ears of the survivor. With each opening of her mouth, she imagined how her sharp white teeth were growing.

"V-Voyager." she answered fearfully.

"Look me in the eye, when I talk to you!" Tail ordered in earnest.

"Y-yes, sir-mam!"

"Where is your clan symbol? Where are you from?"

"I-I am from clan Dragon Claw." Voyager closed her eyes, for which she was hit in the chin, which was not in the liking of the other three ponies in the room.

"Hey! Don't hit her!" Diamond Rod stood up from his seat and went behind Foxy. "Do this again and you won't be hurting anypony for the rest of your life!"

"After I brake your horn!" Tail threatened.

"Yeah, I might be on edge here but even I won't hurt her physically!" Nose joined the defense.

"Ninja, don't do anything stupid. She is willing to talk, so don't go too far with her." Lucky tried to ease the situation.

Foxy found herself surrounded but that didn't mean that she couldn't do what ever her dark soul wanted. She turned her attention to the weak pony in front of her.

"I've never seen you in my clan. I smell a liar and we know what happens to such ponies. Their tongues are cut!"

Foxy closed her masked face to Voyager's, achieving it's primary goal: to bring more fear in her lonely heart. Big salty tears were falling like waterfalls from her suffering eyes.

"No, no! I'm from your clan, my lord. I and several others were hidden from the rest by the mighty leader!"

Foxy raised an eyebrow.

"Hidden, why?"

"We are, I mean were the only pilots, who could fly the air-ship."

"So it is an air-ship." Doggy noted. "You had an accident, right? Your ship crashed in the sea. The Royal Guards are busy with collecting the remains and from what I've heard it must be quite big."

"Y-yes." Voyager looked back at the green pegasus. "It's capable of flying across the ocean."

Foxy turned her, so that their eyes would meet again.

"What was your mission?"

"Do you not know, my lord?"

"Well, If I asked then it's isn't because I want you to refresh my memory. I was away from the clans for far too long and far away to keep myself informed with his plans."

"So, you are not here to execute me, for my failure?" there was now a small hope in her eyes that she'd survive this encounter and Voyager hugged it with all her soul and heart.

Tail glimpsed at the two Guardians, who were listening carefully. Lucky went to them and smiled.

"No, she is here on her own will. My partner does not represent the will of your master. I guarantee you that." his voice was comforting and ensuring. There was something in his friendly face that made her feel safe again.

"So, I'm not going to die a slow and painful death?"

"No." Foxy answered. "However, you'll be close to dead, if you do not tell us everything! Start with the goals of your trip here." she closed her hoof to Voyager's scared face.

"I warned you Dragon Born!"

Diamond used his magical horn and directed a purple beam at the ninja. Foxy got down and the energy passed above her. Before the ray could hit Voyager, Doggy Nose managed to push her aside. He then jumped backwards to avoid the concentrated magic, landing on the long wooden table.

The ninja quickly turned around. Diamond fired another one at her and again she cleverly dodged the attack. Foxy jumped in front of him and send her deadly hoof at his face. The unicorn closed his eyes and prepared for the inevitable blow, which never came. Her hoof was merely a millimeter away from his cheek. He looked in her emotionless eyes and thought that time somehow had stopped.

"Don't shoot at me again. Especially from the back." then Tail carefully backed off, without loosing him from sight. "Good thing that you need to look pretty for tonight or I'd gladly make your white face into a red one."

Then she turned to the door and began walking.

"Where are you going?" Nose asked from the middle of the table.

"Out, where I won't cause trouble. I'm the problem here and we should not waste time with me. And don't worry, she will talk now, even if I'm not here."

"And I was the pony with the hot head, eh?" Nose mocked Diamond, who looked like he'd melt a solid rock with his serious face.

Her dark figure disappeared behind the door. Soon after Quarter Key entered inside with a magically held plate, on which were two glasses of chocolate milk. Only by the expression of their faces he learned that the team wasn't working as well as he'd hope so.

"I guess, I have to get three more..." he put the drinks on the table and left again. Everypony was silent for a few minutes.

Voyager looked at Nose, who saved her from the beam, which could have put her to sleep for three hours. He seemed thoughtful. She went to him and bowed. He slowly turned his sight to her and was surprised.

"Thank you." she sounded grateful.

"Um, better awake than sleepy. Time is not what we have in plenty, otherwise I wouldn't have risk myself to help you. That spell doesn't have an easy counter, so... "

"Could we move on with the questions? I'd like to hear what was their goal of coming in Equestria and what happened with your ship." Lucky interrupted.

"Shouldn't you be running to your partner?" Diamond stood next to Lucky, though the later utterly ignored him.

Voyager sat on the floor and breathed deeply.

"My crew and I were only flyers. Our leader would give us the coordinates, to where we needed to transport the ninjas from our clan. We do not know what they are doing in the time they spend on the ground. Everything was kept a secret, even from us."

"And yesterday?" Lucky and Diamond asked simultaneously.

"There was a demon, who murdered everypony on board except me. He was responsible for the explosion, which destroyed half of our ship."

She looked saddened, when the memories of the bloody night emerged from the deeps of her mind, still warm and fresh like a profound wound.

"Demons? There aren't any in Equestria. All are in Tartarus, that's what the book for magical creatures stated." Diamond looked with disbelieve at her. "It must have been some wizard."

"Before getting to any conclusions, I'd rather hear his description." Lucky sat in front of her. "How did he look?"

"It had the shape of a pony but fully covered in black and tentacles were coming from its back."

"Demon you say..." Lucky thought. "Could it be the shade from the stadium? I don't think Blue Circle would go so far, though from what Foxy said about him, he could do anything without a remorse. Or is it something else?"

"Hm, what were you carrying on that ship?" Lucky was fully determent to find the truth.

"Only other ninjas that had their secret mission. The captain knew a little more than that but he is dead." some of her blue hairs fell dismally in front of her face. Her eyes felt quite heavy and Nose knew what that meant.

"You lost a lot of friends, right?"

She silently nodded.

"Here, this will help you a little." the green pegasus handed her one of the glasses. She took it and sipped from the warm milk. It didn't make her feel better in any way, though she appreciated the gesture.

"Where were you going?" Lucky asked after a short pause.

"Here. Our orders were to bring the ninja ground team in the middle of the city. Then we'd land on our usual place: a field, north from here."

"How many flight trips you've made until now?" Diamond asked.

"Exactly twelve in the span of a few years. The most recent one before the last night's was more than weeks ago." she said with a low voice.

"So, they were busy in here. What were they planning?" Nose thought.

"Was there anything unusual happening in your other trips? Do you know why the demon killed your mates and ended your happy flight to here?"

"No, I didn't see anything unusual with the previous travels. Although you need to define unusual. Ninjas usually are the silent types of pony, especially the more experienced ones or the veterans from the war. They'd usually do something strange to us, pilots but it may be perfectly fine for them. I don't know why the demon attacked us. We never trouble the spirits and..."

Nose jumped from the table and stood between her and the others.

"War? Would you clarify on that?"

His big red eyes pointed at hers, which scared her for a moment.

"I don't think I should talk about it." she tried to evade his sight but there was no way to hide.

"Start from the beginning, if you please." he sat in front of her, pushing the other pegasus aside and was all ears. Lucky stood up and turned to the door. He already knew this part of the story and didn't want to listen to it again. Now was a good time to go and find Foxy to tell her about the news. The pegasus never saw her admitting defeat like this and wondered what had changed in her.

"Where do you think you're going?" Diamond asked behind him.

Lucky stopped and turned his head to him. The unicorn saw a small smile on his face.

"Going to the toilet."

In the bright kitchen, Quarter was placing the glasses with the chocolate milks on the silver plate. Suddenly, a pony entered the room. Key knew exactly who it was and wasn't slightly surprised.

"Would you like some hot chocolate milk?"

Foxy silently went to the four big windows and looked outside. The streets were full with colorful ponies, who were enjoying the life with all of its ups and downs. The world outside was a lot different than from the one she came from. Fear and hatred were dominant feelings in her home unlike the love and friendship, that was shown in the daily life of the Equestrian ponies.

"Take this." Quarter Key approached her with a glass of chocolate, which was floating magically in the air.

She glimpsed back at him and reluctantly took it.

"Though you and I have our differences, I'm willing to help with the troubles you are having. If Lucky trusts you so much, then there is some good in you."

"You do not have any idea." Foxy sounded protective. Her orange eyes were looking in the distance. Somewhere, across the vast ocean, an island stood above the waves. Long ago it was the home of honorable warriors but now it was the symbol of despair and death.

"So, are you willing to talk or should I just leave you alone with your thoughts?"

"I feel like I'm stuck between two worlds."

"And you do not know, which you should follow?" Quarter took a sip from his hot drink.

"Something like that but the worlds will soon clash for supremacy." She slowly pulled down her mask and tasted this new drink. "Should have hit him but why didn't I? The unicorn was a threat. He deserved to be punished."

"Look dear, fearing change won't get you anywhere. Your old ways have no place in this land. If you are going to live with us, the Equestrians, then you'll have to change for the better." he placed his glass on the table and continued with a bit more serious tone. "The first time I met you, you were behind the bars for a crime you tried to deny. You injured the ponies, who wanted to stop you and attempted to escape several times. My opinion still stays that you are obnoxious and you do not deserve to be free, despite that your fine was paid. However, I like that you are changing. Your time with Lucky was productive and mutually beneficial for both of you."

Foxy silently took another sip from her milk and looked at the happy faces of the ponies outside.

"You shouldn't resolve issues with aggression."

She looked back at him with her demonic eyes, though the old horn had no fears of her.

"What if I tell you, that I was taught to do just that?"

"Then leave your old manners behind and learn to be a better pony but never forget your past or it will haunt you for the rest of your life."

"Huh, that's why Lucky valued you so much. You can be a good adviser."

"And you a better grey earth pony." he smiled friendly.

She forgot that he mouth mask was not on her face. She quickly turned around and pulled it up. A hoof patted her on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, I won't tell the others." Quarter assured her. "I'll go now. I'm glad that your in good hooves and I hope this conversation helped you."

The grey unicorn turned around, took the plate with the glasses and headed for the door. She nodded behind him and then turned her sight back at the beautiful world. It was so close but so far and only one pony could help her get to the other side. Lucky entered the kitchen and asked:

"Ninja, are you here?"

"Yeah." Tail answered after she finished with her chocolate milk.

"We have a little problem."

Foxy looked at him a little surprised.

In the laboratory...

The yellow unicorn was tweaking one of his creations, which was going to be shown in this evening. It was a bracelet with a short metal barrel. There was a coil inside the tube and two capacitors sticking out from the back. He worked hard all morning on it just to make sure it would not brake in the presentation. There was a lot of work still to be done and their time was melting rather fast.

He left his instruments on the table. Put the bracelet on his right leg and aimed at the white pegasus, who like the pony inside the cage, had his head covered with a black sack. Suddenly, the devil in his soul smiled. It was so tempting to use this deadly invention on a flesh to see what would happen with the victim. Then he aimed his hoof at a small target on the wall, which was painted with red.  

"Bam!" he smirked.

"So, it was supposed to make a 'Bam' sound?" the voice came from behind.

Phoenix turned around and stared in the darkness. He was using only the lamp on the table, which was not enough to illuminate the laboratory. He felt a little nervous because he couldn't recognize, who was stalking him from the shadows.

"Show yourself!"

His eyes moved from one silhouette to another.  

"I will."

A pony in a red-purple ninja cloths appeared from his left. His grey eyes were cold and a little angry. He wasn't looking in a great shape. On some places his cloths were torn, revealing flesh wounds on many places. His scabbard was empty, which was a shame, because no ninja should ever lose their weapons.

"I had to search half the city to finally find where you live. We need to speak now, in private." the ninja looked at the two prisoners. They had pointed their ears in the direction of the unicorn and the ninja.

"Of course." Phoenix left the creation on the table and then the two climbed the stairs and went in the small section of the lab. Phoenix shut the door behind him to make sure that no sounds would reach the two spies.

"Would you answer who are you?" the unicorn asked suspiciously.

"It doesn't matter anymore. I'm here to tell you that the deal is off! Our ship was attacked, I'm the only survivor."

"You mean ambassador One is dead?" Phoenix was surprised to hear the bad news.

"He's probably dead for more than a week. I was tasked to find him in this city. He and his ninjas never showed up at the landing area."

"Will your leader send another ship?"

"Probably not. It was the only one we had and it will be a long time until he sends another expedition here. In the meantime, we need to hide the machines. The attacker will trace my steps and discover this place. So, it has to be done as fast as possible."

"I'll see what I can do but it won't be today."

Suddenly, the red ninja grabbed him and pushed him to the white wall. His grey eyes stared directly at Phoenix's. The unicorn could tell that the assassin was not pleased by the answer. The ninja was afraid of something, which had powers beyond the imagination.

"Then tomorrow. This equipment is too vital for my leader and must not be captured." he sounded very serious.

"Alright, alright. I'll see what can be done. However, I do not promise a thing! Moving the equipment is a delicate process."

The ninja released him and backed off. He seemed to be on edge but the sole survivor knew by experience to never let his guard down. After all, he miraculously survived from yet another certain death and wouldn't count on his luck again.  

"I'll need to tell my partner about the change of plans. Meanwhile, take this outfit off you and go take a bath. If you are staying with us, then you need to look clean and civilized. That's the only way to hide among us. I'll ask Volts to attend to your wounds, if this is okay with you."

The earth pony didn't like the idea but for the sake of his mission, he'd do it. He took off his mask and dropped it on the floor. Phoenix smirked. He finally saw a ninja's true face and frankly, he didn't look too different from the Equestrian ponies.

Back at the Office...

"What are we going to do then?" Foxy had a troubled look on her eyes.

"I guess, we continue with the mission with extra caution. Our shadowy friend may be very near us. Is there a possibility that this is the Blue's doing?"

"No, he can't fly." Tail looked back at the closed door to make sure that they were alone. They no longer were in the big kitchen. The room was a lot smaller and was furnished with only one desk and a closet. The walls were painted in yellow. The windows faced the small garden, which was surrounded by tall walls. "Why would it attack the ship? How did it know about their arrival?"

"No idea but I get the impression that we've played a dangerous game. Somepony has manipulated us so perfectly, that even Discord would admire on the plan's execution. However, there is not enough information to make any conclusion of what are the goals of the master of puppets."

"You know what. The whole story with the Guardian of the Temple kind of stinks. He helped you stop Shadow Sun but then left you against the odds with a dragon. Kind of fishy, if you ask me."

"Do you mean that he just used me and when I was not useful anymore, the shade made sure that I'd not live to tell anypony about what happened in the jungle?" he suddenly facehoofed. "Argg, how didn't I see this!"

Foxy placed her hoof on his right shoulder.

"Don't blame yourself. We were outplayed by a tactician and the last thing we want is to show weakness."

Lucky sighed.

"If he was the mastermind, then it makes sense why we ended up in the jungle. However, why did it try to kill us before that? What's his agenda?"

"We won't achieve anything by theorizing." Foxy looked directly at Lucky. "What ever his plans are, we need to continue with our tasks. The piece of Shadow Sun's medallion will lead us in the right direction."

"I agree. He is connected with Her and thus with the medallion." he looked thoughtfully at the floor. "However, should we tell the others? I know that it could bring a lot of fears but this is not a matter for only two ponies."

"Are you out of your mind? You told me that spreading the information about a super powerful being, that wants to kill us all, among the other ponies will result in mass panic. I don't trust the Guardians to be silent about it."

"Yeah, you are right." then he turned around. "If only the Princess would guide us in this moment."

Foxy went to his right side and looked at his concerned face.

"You do not need a higher life form to decide your path."

"Yeah, but sometimes we're forced by destiny's will."

She was a little surprised to hear this from him.

"Since when you believe in destiny?"

Suddenly, a smile appeared on his face and looked at her.

"I don't. But this little adventure of ours reveals some evidence of something beyond our imagination, which holds our futures."

"Then let's show this power, who is the real boss of our fates!" Foxy patted him and then went to the door. Lucky confidently followed her.

"Then it's decided. Voyager will stay in Nose's apartment for the time being." Diamond finally agreed.

"It's the safest place in Manehatten." the green pegasus noted. "The only place where even the Royal Guards can't spy on me."

"Are you feeling threatened or something?" Quarter Key sounded a bit astonished. "If they live so far from our continent and their only means of transport was destroyed, then there's noting to worry about."

Nose gave him a serious look.

"Let's just say, that I like to be cautious. Also she will be a hoof away, if I have some more questions about the clans."

Steps sounded near them. Lucky and Foxy approached the three ponies, who were standing in the corridor, in front of the closed door. Doggy and Rod glimpsed frowny at the them.

"A lot of stuff, you two didn't tell us." Nose said.

"And?" Foxy appeared to be carefree.

"And?!" Diamond exclaimed. "Your clan had a war, in which you participated. The picture now has colors. The ninjas, who have been conducting their negotiations with the inventors are probably seeking better weapons for your next conflict. Equestria has a strict policy not to get involved with the matters of the other kingdoms, unless they asked for our help via the official channels. This infamous operation must be stopped!"

Nose approached Foxy, while looking her directly in the eye. Not many ponies were capable of this but this pegasus showed that he wasn't afraid of her.

"We learned that you were the personal weapon of your leader and followed his every order to the mark. Tell us, why should we trust that you are on our side."

"Because I'm no longer with my clan." she was straight but this was not enough for the Guard.

"Why you left your clan? What is the reason of your change of heart? Where is the evidence that you will not betray us?"

"Because I won't. I'm no longer a tool."

"Then why don't you show your face to us? Drop the mask and reveal your true self!"

Foxy stamped with such a force, that she almost made a hole in the wooden floor. Tail stood tall and mighty in front of the green pegasus, who seemed to shrink in size. Her demonic eyes stared down on him like a colossus. He couldn't stand up to her. She was like a Goddess compared to him.

"You do not want to see what really lies behind my black cloths." her voice sounded very dark.

Nose gulped.

"I'll not be questioned by you anymore!"

She lifted up her right hoof but before she could strike him with the force of a dragon, Lucky grabbed it in the air.

"Ninja, forget about him. Let him think what he wants."

Nose gritted his teeth.

"Bring it on! I'm not afraid of a mare!"

A blow came quite shortly, which send the pegasus flying across the hallway. This happened so fast that the two unicorns had no idea what happened, until Nose's body hit the floor with a hurtle. Quickly their horns produced magical sparks and green chains appeared around the ninja's dark figure.

"And there goes the team..." Quarter disappointedly said, while looking at Nose's motionless body. "Diamond, go check him!"

The white unicorn carefully went to the unconscious pegasus. The first thing he saw was the mark, where she hit him on the face. Doggy was still breathing, though barely.

"He'll be alright, I guess. Frankly he really needed the nap." Diamond looked back at Quarter, who was not in a mood for jokes. "I'll ask Voyager to help him. She may know how to perform first aid."

"If you trust her, then do it." then the old unicorn turned to the black ninja. "What should I do with you?"

"What ever you want. He got what he deserved."

"Maybe but this was not the way to act in this situation." Quarter said coldly. "You are lucky that we need you for this mission or I'd have already sent you in your cage, where you belong. You two are going back to Nose's apartment and stay there, until it's time for you to go to the event."

He released her from the spells and turned to Lucky.

"You are responsible for her behavior. If this happens again, you'll go to the cells after the mission, instead of her. Did I make myself clear?"

"Yes." Lucky said shamefully. Then they turned to the stairway and silently began walking, when Quarter said behind them.

"Ms Dragon, you disappointed me again. Think carefully about what we've talked. Let this be the last time you resolve an issue with violence." he then turned to the other unicorn. "I'll go around the city. If you need me, send me a telepathic notice."

The old horn headed for the staircase and soon his hoofs ceased to sound through the corridor.

Voyager took a quick look on Nose. She wasn't a qualified medic but knew how to help wounded ponies. This was something she had to learn, when being a part of a team of pilots.

"What do you think?" Diamond asked.

"He will be fine but the mark will stay for at least a weak." she looked up at him. Her beautiful face seemed a little concerned. "I'd want to look for him, until he wakes up."

"Alright. I'll carry him to the sofa in the kitchen, where we'll put him to rest." then Diamond used his horn and magically lifted the pegasus in the air. She looked at his calm face and hoped that he'd be okay. Doggy was her savior today and Voyager didn't want to see him in more pain.

Maybe this was the beginning of a new better life.

When Lucky and Foxy were outside of the Royal Office, she turned to him.

"Do you know the way back?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"I'll be back soon." suddenly Tail disappeared, leaving a small black cloud of smoke.

Lucky stood there hopelessly, unable to follow his partner. He could do only one thing at this point. The pegasus went in the direction of the green building, hoping that she would not do anything more stupid. Maybe Foxy needed some fresh air, after the embarrassing fiasco, although he didn't understand what was really going on inside her head. Was she changing to quick or was there something else? Next Chapter: Chapter 23: The Big Failure Estimated time remaining: 8 Hours, 36 Minutes