The yellow sun was barely above the horizon. The rock formations in the distance met this day in total silence. The wilderness, though still cold from the night, was heating up with each second. The morning wind was pushing some dead bushes in the direction of the railway. There were few random dried trees, which stood like ghosts from a much more colorful past. Life was hard in this place and for the not so observant eye, it was dead. However, this was far from the truth. Little mammals, lizards, snakes and bugs called this desert their home, in which a mistake meant a certain death.

It was very quiet. Somewhere in the distance, a herd of bisons galloped to the small town of Appleloosa. Their presence could be sensed by miles away. While they were traveling, the enormous natives of this lands left a long dust tail and their hooves shook the ground like an earthquake.

Like a thunder in a bright sky, the sound of engines disturbed the peaceful land. A single airship flew above the desert. It was a small one. Dozens of ropes connected the purple painted balloon with the wooden ship. The Equestrian flag, that used to be on the nose, was taken down. The three portholes were shut and a heavy curtain was placed in front of them. The main deck, on which the helm was located, was empty and thus making the ship appear abandoned. Although these unusual things were not what would catch the eye of bystanders. The first thing they'd see, would be the three hanging ponies overboard. One little purple filly and two white pegasi were slowly swayed from the wind. They were all unconscious. Their wings and legs were tied. The captives looked like sacks of potatoes from the ground. The only thing that held them from certain death was the yellow ropes around each left leg.

Their hoofs, manes and tails were pointing the earth below, as if they were keeping it from falling on their heads. A very pitiful picture this was. Only a very sick mind would put them in such danger and that was just a small portion of what his corrupted soul was capable of.

The ninja grabbed Phoenix on the collar of his brown coat and pulled him closer.

"We should turn east immediately!" he seemed very minatory. His grey eyes brought only cold in the soul of inventor. Although the latter used his darkness in his heart to confront him for the second time in this short journey.  

"This is the last time I repeat my self!" he quickly removed the hooves from himself and fearlessly looked him in the eye. "We can't get to your native land. We are lucky to have this small airship. Taking this vessel in the middle of the night was hard without raising suspicion. Good thing that the owner was fond of science and my deception worked. However, he'd want his airship back in a day or two, which is not enough time to fly to your island and get back. This ship is not as fast as your previous ride, you know. The engines would probably die in the middle of the ocean."

"Alright, you made your point. Maybe after we deal with the spies, we'll capture a ship that is capable of long flights."

"Count us out. We are not pirates or something like that. Do not ask us for our help, when the Royal Guards are on your tail."

"Believe me, they'll be the ones, who will run to hills like cowards." he sounded too confident for his own good. The earth pony then looked at his right hoof. It was horseshoed and colorless paste filled the holes, where Foxy pierced him. "How long will I need to wait for them to heal, doc?"

"Darnit, ninja! I'm an inventor, not a doctor!" Volts protested. "The paste will act like glue and help you heal your hooves faster. It may take a several days or weeks. However, I'm amazed that you are able to use them without much pain. Those holes were deep and I feared that she might have damaged your legs too much."

"I live with pain all the time. I've gotten used to it."

"Right." Phoenix glimpsed back at the unconscious mare, who was suspended from the ceiling. Her front legs were tied with yellow ropes and her rear ones were chained with hardened steel. She looked quite peaceful despite holding utter chaos inside her. Foxy reminded him of the dark Princess from his dreams. Was Phoenix fulfilling a predetermined destiny? He couldn't tell. Everything went wrong after the first captured spy. The worsened condition of his health, the ruined deal and the terrific nightmares, they all added up and started to confuse his brilliant mind to the point of madness. Could he be saved from his little hell? Or is his soul condemned to root in a Goddessforsaken place?

The yellow unicorn stepped closer to the prisoner. His blue eyes stared at her, as if looking for some answers. The veteran sensed what the inventor intended to do and quickly moved in front of him.

"Don't you even think of waking her. She will cause you only trouble." he was completely honest and serious. Despite that, the unicorn dismissed the warning.

"I do not underestimate her. However, we need to know, who is their boss and what is his agenda. I want to know why has she, a ninja from your own clan, scuttled from your army. I assure you, I've made all possible precautions."

"With Dragon Born there are never enough safeguards. She is extremely strong and is enchanted with magic. She will escape in the moment she sees a weakness. After that it will get bloody." the earth pony moved closer to Phoenix and said with a quieter voice: "I assure you."

"Information is survival. If we do not know what their motives and goals are then how can we protect ourselves or the machines from more harm? Maybe she has something to do with the destruction of your ship?"

"She can not fly..." the ninja looked back at her, then suddenly he had an insight. "Unless she used her friend the pegasus... Let me interrogate her. We should be able to speak in one language."

Phoenix thought for a second, in which he got to the conclusion that he might be a better choice for the job.

"Alright, you'll do it. But we will not leave you alone with her."

"Absolutely. Watch for any suspicious moves. Use that paralyzing magic on her again, if things get out of hoof."

The unicorn nodded.

Then the earth pony concentrated and warily approached Foxy. He didn't feel fear. The pony stood on two legs and hit her with all his might in the stomach. Tail opened her big orange eyes and stared at her torturer. She was not exactly happy to see their faces.

"Good-morning, Dragon Born." the ninja greeted with an evil grin.

"It will be your last one unfortunately." her dark voice struck fear in the hearts of the inventors but not in the pony in front of her. His heart was dead to any emotion except anger. She tried to free herself from the ropes and chains but stopped, when the brown earth pony shook his head and almost burst in laughs.

"Do not attempt to set your plot free. If you do it, your comrades will fall like chicks from a high nest to their deaths. So, if I were you, I'd think again before trying to escape."

Foxy looked up, where the ropes disappeared behind two holes in the ceiling. She could feel the weight of two or three ponies.

"Delaying the inevitable, eh? Do not worry, I'll make you suffer soon enough."

"Stop with the threats, if you are not in the position to actually make them real. Now, you'll answer a few questions and I may consider painlessly killing the others."

She leaned her head to the right and mockingly asked him:

"Why should I tell you anything, when I do not know a thing about you. You could start with your real name."

"If you so desperately want to know, who your killer will be, then here it is. I'm called Bad Luck."

"A pitiful name for a pony, who'll get sliced to peaces."

The ninja didn't shiver from the dark thought, which was a real possibility, if Foxy decided that her comrades' lives were worth to be thrown.

"Keep dreaming." the strong stallion moved his sight from her eyes to her tummy and then to her legs. She seemed delicious in the black outfit of hers. The pose she was in would suggest other things, if the circumstances were different. Bad Luck moved a little closer to her and whispered in her ear. "You do not know how many bad things I can do to you at this moment. Some of which will be too disturbing for the two observers."

She kept looking straight, analyzing the room. The engine bay was cramped and noisy. Only one ladder lead to the upper deck, which was in front of her. On her left there were machines with tremendous power to change entire ecosystems. Their black rods were pulled out and stacked in front of them. Two sacks full with stuff were laying near the engine. There was barely room for fancy moves.

The two unicorns were standing near the stairway. In the yellow one's eyes, she saw an intelligent soul but behind it there was this little demon, who was pulling the strings. The brown unicorn seemed troubled. He felt not quite in his place.

"...So what do you think?" he asked quietly.

"Sorry, wasn't listening to your mumble."

"You'll experience it. I'll promise you." he backed away and became a lot more serious: "Tell me who sent you!"

"No pony. Now my turn: how many of you are here?"

"Not good enough answer!" Bad Luck slapped her hard with the edge of the horseshoe. This only made her angrier. "Who is your boss?"

"My boss is Lucky Eight." she answered in a provocative way. The earth pony hit her again but this time in the stomach, then swiftly she received a blow in the cheek. The mare gave no sounds. While the ninja tortured her, Volts couldn't look at their direction. It was too barbaric, too violent for his mind. He was disgusted by this and wanted to go outside. Phoenix was the other opposite. The yellow unicorn was secretly enjoying the torture. When Volts looked at him, the inventor could feel the dark feelings of his friend. Was this what they imagined to do, when they were small? What was the purpose of it all?

The brown unicorn turned away and went to the staircase. Before he could reach it, Phoenix laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Where are you going? I'll need you, if she tries to escape."

"I'm sorry, Phoenix. I need to breath some fresh air." he proceeded forward and climbed the stairs. Phoenix stood frozen there with a hoof left hanging in the air. He snapped out of it, when the ninja ordered loudly:

"Bring her partner here!"

He turned his head and questioningly looked at him.

"For what purpose?"

"I'll show you. It will make them talk!" the little madness was coming from his grey eyes and by the sound of his voice, Phoenix hesitated. He wondered what the veteran was going to do. Dark thoughts filled his mind, which disgusted even him. Little did he know that they were generated by the little demon. It grinned and laughed inside him, though no pony could see him or hear.

"I'll ask Volts to bring him. Be right back." the unicorn slowly went to the stairs, looked at them again and then quickly disappeared.

"Would you like to share your plan?" Foxy asked.

"And give away the surprise? Not in a thousand years." his evil grin was obnoxious and unreal. She could sense that he acted like that to only intimidate her. Was Bad Luck out of ideas how to get information out of her? She couldn't tell. Maybe he was scared of her and was trying to make himself look fearless.

"You sound tough, when I'm stuck here. I wonder how long you'll keep your cool, when I'm free?"

"I feel no fear from the likes of you. After what I've been through, I'll accept death, when the time comes. Until then I'll serve the leader and fight for the clan."

"Would you like to tell me about your past experiences?"

"Huh, interested in my past, I see." he ceased grinning and a smile took place on his scarred face. "Our paths crossed in the fight for Moon Light. It was the battle that brought the Moon Shade Clan to their knees. I was part of the twenty ponies attack group, which was assigned to lead the charge with the notorious Dragon Born. The general told us that it was an honor to serve with you, but actually we were the ones, who got the short straw. We knew that most of us won't make it to the end."

"I remember, it was when I confronted White Shadow for the second time. The unit was completely annihilated. Let me guess, you were the only survivor?"

"Oh yeah! I would have died there and finally be set free from these chains. I was wounded and the shade ninja prepared to finish me, when you appeared out of the chaos and cut his throat. After that you continued your rampage through the field, where you clashed with White Shadow."

"So, I owe you a death? It will be arranged." her eyes of a huntress pierced his flesh.

"I like your attitude. So much strength in it. Your thirst for blood is admirable." his evil smile suddenly grew bigger. "I really want to see your spirit crushed after what I'm about do to you. However, your partner must be here to witness this."

"Try me!"

Bad Luck smirked. He looked more like a madpony than a warrior and that worried her.

Meanwhile...

The ropes vibrated for a few seconds, awakening the white pegasus. At first, there was confusion and then realization of his ill situation. Metal Eye looked down and his guts froze from the sight. They were high above the wilderness, traveling slowly at an unknown direction. The pony tried to move his limbs and wings but without success.

"The fliers' worst nightmare." he quietly noted. "At least the view is lovely."

He looked at his little spy friend. The filly was still unconsciously hanging from a rope that connected with his. He was tied just like him.

"Better sleep and not look down. You'd probably be scared to death." then he turned his head to the left and saw another pony, who Metal least expected to be in this journey.

"Lucky, is that really you?! Hey wake up buddy!"

His voice was high enough to wake the pegusus but not the little unicorn. Lucky was stripped of his suit and even his towel was removed from his eyes. His ears began turning like antennas, scanning for his surroundings. The wind that stroke his mane was enough for him to realize that he was high in the air, though Lucky couldn't understand why the gravity changed.

"Hey, I'm here. It's me, Metal Eye."

"Where are we?" the blind pony asked sleepily.

"Above ground, I'd say around eight hundred meters, while hanging on ropes. You know, I wasn't expecting to see you here."

When Lucky heard the bad news, his heart had trouble beating normally.

"Well, I and my partner were supposed to be your rescuers."

"Yeah, I see how much that plan succeeded. Did the HQ get our photos?"

"Yep. They have it all but still wouldn't want to commit to a strike operation. Something about general public would see it as an act of tyranny from Princess Celestia."

"Huh, Doggy Nose told you the same crap? Figures..." he smiled. "Although why he sent a blind pony to help us? I'd would have chosen far better candidates. No offense, Lucky!"

"None taken. It wasn't him, who ordered us to participate in the mission. It was her Majesty herself."

Metal raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Then She made an awful choice. And who is your partner?"

"You'll know her, when she kicks their flanks."

"You sound confident. I like that. I'd like to see those evil-doers go down but you are another liability, which I'll have to carry. I don't think that we'll be able to escape from this." he looked at the yellow ground. Hills and rocky formations came and went with each passing moment. The only thing that was a constant was the earth itself.

"Did they brake your spirit? The Metal Eye I know would look at every danger with a big grin. You may have expected a real cavalry but I and my friend are here to make sure that we all safely get back home! Also I'm glad to hear you after almost three weeks." Lucky words were full with positive feelings, something Metal Eye really needed to hear after the hell in the inventors' laboratory.

"Thanks, Lucky. I'm happy to see you too!" then his pink eyes looked up at the ship. It seemed that no pony was listening to their conversation and proceeded with quieter voice: "Here's the thing: Phoenix's Just is mad and I mean really crazy! He has constructed doomsday machines. The madpony also has an obsession over a red tricorn medallion. His partner, though, is surprisingly polite and even good-hearted. Maybe he is not completely committed to their cause, which we could use against them."

"Yeah, I did get the impression that he is not utterly evil from my first meet with him."

"The problem is that he didn't make too much contact with us, so I couldn't learn more about him." there was a short pause, in which they listened to the high voices of the ponies inside the engine bay. They couldn't learn about what they were talking but from the tone it was not connected with great destinations for a vacation. Metal then proceeded with quieter voice: "Lucky, I know that the time may not be right, but it's not a coincidence that you are here."

"What do you mean?" he asked worryingly.

"An year ago, just after your accident, you were standing in the middle of the field, changed into a monster. The moment I looked back at the laying pegasus on the other side of the plain, you disappeared without giving any explanation what happened."

Lucky wanted to hide behind his baggy mane.

"Metal, it's a little complicated..."

"The Lucky I know is probably laying in his bed, cursing his fate. I don't see how it is possible for a miserable pony, who has lost his faith in himself, to come to my rescue. So, are you the other one, Lucky from an year ago?"

Those words struck deep in the blind pegasus. They were sad but true. More than a week ago he was nothing more than just a pathetic pile of meat that kept living, However, things changed for the better and he was no longer an hopeless pony.

"Metal, I'm the friend you know from our childhood. I've come a short but a meaningful way, in which I've endured quite a lot of stuff. I am the one and only Lucky Eight, reborn from the ashes of my past self."

Metal Eye smiled warmly and almost made himself cry.

"Hm, you do sound like you are back."

"Yeah and it's good to be back." Lucky smiled happily.

"But this doesn't mean you can get away so easily. I'd like to know what happened to you and about your sudden appearance an year ago." he gave the serious look, which embarrassed Lucky.

"Can it wait after I rescue your flank? Kind of busy at the moment."

Suddenly there was a creak of planks from the upper deck. Both kept perfect silence and listened to the sounds. Somepony was going to the nose of the airship. Volts leaned against the red railing and stared in the distance. The green fields and forests were far back. They were like a dark line on the horizon. He wanted to leave this ship and head back home, away from the madness. In his dreams, Volts never thought that he'd take part in an action, which he may regret to the rest of his life. The spies saw too much and the unicorn knew that it was too big of a risk to have them breathing. He guessed what their fates were. The thought of it made him feel sick. If only there was another way...

The yellow unicorn appeared from the staircase. He stopped and looked at his friend. There was a small feel of guilt of forcing him to come on this short trip. Phoenix needed him. Volts was his pillar, on which he could stand and look for advice. But lately he used him mostly as a servant, which was an utter insult to their friendship. He would make up for it after their work, until then Volts was doomed to be the water boy.

"Volts, would you bring the pegasus, named Lucky Eight, if that's his real name."

The brown unicorn looked at the dusty ground and sighed.

"Of course." before Phoenix could get inside the engine bay his friend warned him: "Do not leave him out of sight. He seems too dangerous and I do not trust him."

"I will." then the unicorn slowly went back inside.

Lucky was surrounded by a pink aura and was levitated to the main deck. Metal Eye watched him how he disappeared behind the wooden wall, only hoping that nothing bad would happen to him.

When his hooves touched the deck, the unicorn released him from the spell, though there was still one problem, which held him tight. He could barely move his legs with those ropes around them. Volts used his horn again and lanyards began to untie.

"Don't think of trying to knock me out. I used to practice some martial arts and I have a brown belt." the unicorn sounded pretty believable, though Lucky had no intentions to use this moment to escape.

"I'll have it in mind. Hey, would happen to know what will become of us?"

His green eyes impaled the pegasus's face. This question was like a sudden sea storm. He expected it but wasn't ready for it.

"I... do not know. You may have to ask the ninja."

"Do you know where we are heading?" Lucky calmly asked.

"Please, stop with the questions. I'll won't be able to answer them." like Metal Eye said, this pony was very polite. Lucky needed to approach him from a different angle.

"What you do here is bad and I mean like thousands will die, if you continue your work."

"Nonsense!" Volts exclaimed. "I and my partner are not mass murderers!"

"You will be, if these inventions of yours make it to the hooves of the Clanners. There's no telling what will happen then."

Volts removed all ropes from his legs and then civilly showed him the way to the staircase, while trying not to listen to the pegasus.

"Look, this is about saving innocent lives. You can help me or ignore my warnings. You choose!"

The unicorn was silent and showed no signs that he heard anything. Lucky sighed heavily and followed his guard. Things were not going as planed, though he didn't loose hope yet.

When they appeared from the stairs, Bad Luck moved away, so that Foxy could have a line of sight with her partner. He looked in their eyes and noticed a slight connection between them. Out of a sudden, another idea emerged from his dark imagination. "Why torture her, when I can bend the weaker pegasus. I wonder how she would react, when I kill her boyfriend." The earth pony went to Lucky, who was now facing Foxy.

"I've changed my mind. You will suffer, instead of her!" without a warning, he hit him in the back. Lucky collapsed on the ground. Foxy showed no compassion, no emotion. Bad Luck smiled. He stamped the pegasus with his front legs. The steel horseshoes almost broke one of his ribs. A cry sounded through the ship that muffled the noise from the engines. Metal heard it and knew that was his friend. He felt so useless and couldn't stand the painful scream.

Again Tail seemed to be unmoved by the suffering of her partner. She carefully hid the growing anger.

Bad Luck sneeringly looked down at his prey. Although he seemed crazy, there was no hate in him. He only did what he knew best and that was make every enemy of his clan suffer. He was more like a machine, than a being with a tainted soul.

"So, you deny your relation with him, eh? You'd not mind, if I did this." he stepped on Lucky's back and pressed hard. The pain was excruciating, as if the earth pony was trying to make a hole in him. After a few moments of torture, Bad Luck backed away to let the pegasus breath. He then went to Foxy and looked her directly in the eye. The hatred towards him was too big to be hidden behind her mask. "Ah, the blood stare. Finally, I'm getting under your skin. Let's see, if I can get to your heart."

Before he turned away, she vanished, leaving a cloud of smoke at her previous position. One of the ropes quickly twitched up and disappeared in a hole in the ceiling. The dragon ninja materialized next to Lucky. Foxy swiftly took his hoof and before the others could react, both teleported away. They left their torturers in total confusion. Bad Luck feared this moment. however, there was not time for panicking.

"Where is the medallion, which summons the shade?!"

Lucky and Tail came to the main deck, near the railings. She quickly freed his wings, then grabbed him and lifted him above her head.

"Hey, what's the big deal?"

"Save them!" then Foxy hurled him overboard. Lucky felt not so ready for this task but he had no choice. The pegasus retracted his wings and began gaining more speed.

Foxy turned around to see her opponents. The old friend, the shade, with a backup of two unicorns stood in front of the stairway.

"Surrender!" Phoenix shouted.

"Yes, you should."

Foxy jumped to the side, dodging the colorful beams, that struck the railing. Black tentacles flew towards her. She had only a split second to react. Tail rolled forward on her landing and then jumped again. She spiraled in the air like a beautiful goddess of war. The spears missed her completely.

"Volts, make the ground slippery!"

A green aura covered the ground, where she was going to land. The wooden surface suddenly became like a thick ice of a lake in the middle of winter. Foxy corrected her angle of approach. All of her legs simultaneously touched the floor. Her balance was perfect and she slid to her attackers. The shade pony sent another wave of tentacles, which moved on the surface of the deck. When they were in front of her, five black spikes rose to impale her stomach. She kicked mightily with all four hooves and jumped over this obstacle. Her movement had an unheard grace. Foxy evaded their attacks with the beauty of her skills. There couldn't be a pony, who wouldn't admire on this demon of death.

Phoenix prepared the paralyzing spell. He looked in her huntress's eyes and felt like a prey. Those big orange circles filled the inventors' hearts with fear. That's what a real warrior looked like in close.

She touched down on the unicorn in the middle, which happened to be the yellow one. Tail knocked him on the floor and with a swift movement was able to take out Volts with her rear legs. Now the only threat was the shadow. It threw kunais at a point black range. Foxy leaned to the left. The blades that were aimed at her center missed their target. Only one managed to lick her right shoulder. The red line was visible on her grey coat before the hole in her black outfit was closed. She made an attempt to hit the shadow but it kissed the ground and moved away from the ninja.

The minion reshaped itself behind the rudder. Its lifeless white eyes stared at her, anticipating her next move. Volts tried to get up but was struck by a powerful kick in the face. His body collapsed on the floor and didn't move. It was only Foxy and the shade now and no pony would interfere them. Although one question boggled her mind: where was Bad Luck?

In the mean time, Lucky was falling like a projectile from space. The wind blew past his ears, making it almost impossible to hear the filly's scream.

"Don't look down!" Metal advised. He tried to stay calm but with every passing moment his fear grew bigger. "Lucky is coming!"

"Metal, guide me to you!" their only savior yelled. His feelings were in total turmoil. He was afraid not to lose his friend but also feared about his partner. Lucky had to stay focused on the task, despite the difficulties.

"We are on your left! The ground is getting closer!"

Lucky corrected his flight path and missed them by a few degrees.

"LITTLE TO THE RIGHT!"

The desert was dangerously close and the blind pegasus had only a few seconds to save them. Metal closed his eyes, the filly continued to scream with all of his breath. Lucky was relaying on every sense and instinct but also on blind luck. There was no room for error cause he had only one attempt at doing this. He aimed at them and then brandished once with his wings, thus sending himself forward with even greater speed. Lucky felt how time slowed down. His inner altimeter was alarming. His guts shrank up. He held his breath and put his hooves in front of him. His green tail and mane wildly shook from the wind. He was like a speeding bullet in the bright sky, chasing it's holy target.

Suddenly his hooves touched something. It was Metal Eye's rear legs. Lucky grabbed them and then flapped his wings as fast as he could. They were a few meters from the sands, when their flight path drastically changed and now they aimed for the heavens. Metal looked at the ground and sighed with relief that they were not going to die this day.

"Thanks, buddy! I knew I could count on you!"

"It's not over. Foxy still on the ship! I can't hold you forever, so I'll drop you near the river bank. Please guide me!"

Lucky made a one hundred and eighty degree turn and head in the direction of the ship. His heart was working on high speeds and would only calm, when he would see her safe.

There was an awkward silence on board the ship. None moved from their stances. Only the sound of the working engine disturbed the stressful situation.

Then Foxy made a step towards the stairway. Her path was blocked by three tentacles, which made a sharp turn and flew towards her. Their sharp edges could pierce a bear and kill it in an instant. She quickly moved to the left and while doing so, Tail pulled out her deadly claws and with one swoop, the ninja cut the spears. They fell on the deck and died with a violent spams.

Then she vanished into the thin air, leaving only a trail of black smoke. The dragon born appeared behind her adversary and swung at him. The shadow anticipated this move and evaded the attack by losing its shape and becoming one with the floor. She then stamped with such a force, that her hooves made holes just above the engine. However, the shade successfully dodge her and went to the nose of the ship.

From there it reshaped again and threw four knifes at her. The ninja parried them with her claws, then she charged him with a fierce battle cry. The black minion stood his ground. If it wasn't under the control of a master pony, it would run away from the sight of the warrior mare. Her gallop left small holes in the planks, where her nails made contact with them. She performed the flying kick just a meter from him. The shade summoned a dark wall, which absorbed the strike. Then Foxy began cutting it like a tiger. With each swing, her claws chewed through the shield like it was made out of cardboard.

When the ninja created a a hole in his defense a spear flew from him and impaled her left shoulder. Without showing any pain, she cut its stem and then straight punch the shadow in the head. Her claws impaled his face. If they weren't from a dragon, then they would not do any damage to this magical minion. Unfortunately for it, she killed the shadow with only one punch. It's black body broke to many pieces that fell on the floor. A black smoke came out of them and soon they disappeared out of existence. Only her hoof remained in the air.

Then there were steps behind her. She turned around to see Bad Luck with a black rod in his mouth. His grey eyes showed his readiness for the duel of his life. They silently stared at each other, until the earth pony made the first move. He charge her position and swung his metal stick at her. Tail snatched it and pulled it out of his mouth. She almost broke his teeth. The rod was thrown overboard. The mare grinned in an dark manner. Bad Luck felt like his time came and he had to face his destiny like a warrior.

The stallion got up on two legs and began sending a series of fast strikes. Foxy dodged every blow, then she grabbed his right hoof and twisted it. There was the sound of snapping of bones. Bad Luck leaned over the railings, breathing deeply. He angrily looked at her calm orange eyes.

"So fast, just like in the war."

"And you are slower than an average warrior. Are you drinking too much?"

"Maybe. You'd be like me, if you were living in the heart of the insanity and not in a palace, only to get dirty, when our leader commanded it."

"I had my shares of suffering. I lost everypony, who I deemed friends. Let the past go and live in the present."

He shook head.

"There is no present for the likes of me, only death can guarantee me peace." Bad Luck turned at her and shouted with all his strength: "Death, here I come!"

He attempted to jump on her. Foxy kicked him with her rear legs, thus sending him overboard. He went flying straight down to the river. A smile appeared on his scared face. Finally his veteran soul could rest after a life of misery. He kept looking at the zeppelin that was getting smaller and smaller. It was an honor to be defeated by a ninja of her statute.

Lucky carefully dropped the tied ponies on the dusty ground, when Metal Eye noticed the falling ninja.

"Somepony will hit the water!"

"Who is it?" Lucky heart started pumping even harder from the dark thought.

"I think it's a brow earth pony. Is that your partner?"

"No." then the blind pegasus listened for the splash, which came shortly. Everypony was dejected from the death of the enemy. He was a living being too and didn't deserve such fate. Lucky silently began untying them, hoping that Foxy was okay.

"Ouch. That's a very long way down, judging by the fountain!" Tail noted to herself. "It's time to bring this boat around!"

She looked in the direction of the two inventors. For her surprise, Phoenix was up and was pointing the gun at her. There was the loud shot, which ended with blood sprays from her chest. The pain came deep inside her and it was the worst thing she ever felt. Foxy wanted to move but her body didn't let her. Frozen in one place, the mare was an easy target for the unicorn. He armed his bracelet gun and prepared to shoot again.

Sudden anger took over her mind and she really wanted to kill him. However, the second gunfire sealed the deal. Foxy was quickly losing focus and shook like a drunken griffon. Her vision blurred and soon she lost perspective of what was happening. The mare collapsed on the floor. Quickly a red pool formed around her. She was bleeding very badly and maybe her regeneration was not quite up to the task of dealing with the stopping power of the gun.  

The two shots came with a delay to the ponies on the ground.

"Are those lightnings?"

"The sky is clear of any clouds. I guess they came from the ship."

"Foxy!" Lucky spread his wings and was about to take off, when Metal Eye stopped him.

"The ship is turning around. Maybe your partner did it?"

The airship steadily headed towards the three ponies. In a few minutes it landed next to them. They went to the starboard. The ramp was lowered. Metal and Spy Fully were shocked to see the inventor pointing his lethal weapon at them. Only Lucky wasn't aware of the situation.

"Foxy, I'm glad that you are safe!" he felt a relief, though for a short moment.

"Foxy Tail, what a beautiful name. Pity that she died so young."

Suddenly, the black world of the blind pony became even darker. His heart couldn't beat properly 'cause of the sadness. He tried to deny the gloomy feelings. "There is no way she is dead! He must be lying! Foxy is the toughest being on the planet. She can't perish like this!" He felt as if a giant stone fell on his back. The pegasus couldn't react to anything, even when the weapon, that killed his close friend was swung in front of him.

"Move your plot to the rest of the group!" Phoenix ordered.

"No, I-I need to see her! She is not..."

The unicorn osculate the gun at his chin.

"Maybe you'll carry her corpse to her grave. The others, do not make a step or he'll end up like her!"

Metal Eye sat down and looked at his friend. His partner meant a lot to him and this sad pony couldn't hold his feelings. "Was she his special somepony? I'm so sorry, Lucky." Metal didn't have the guts to say it out loud, so he just looked away and closed his eyes.

Phoenix and the pegasus climbed the ramp. The unicorn stopped him, when he saw Volts near her lifeless body. The brown pony looked up at them. In his green eyes there was grief. He never wanted to take anypony's life or participate in such an act but now his hooves were stained with her blood, literally.

"She is dead, Phoenix." his voice hit Lucky's head like a hammer. For a moment he almost fainted. "Where is the ninja?"

"He fell off board. An eye for an eye, I'd say." Phoenix then pushed the blind pony forward.

Volts helped him get to her. Lucky sat next to the body, gently turned her over, so that she was laying on her back. He moved a hoof over her heart area. There was no beating. His soul just lost a part of itself. Two long tears dropped from his watered eyes.

Volts understood the pain he was going through. He didn't want to be in his way, so the unicorn slowly backed away. Lucky grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

"Wake up, Foxy! I know you can hear me! Please!"

"She is far from here now. I made sure that those two shots pierced her heart. By the look of the wounds, I'd say the pallets also managed to damage other internal organs. I don't think her powers to regenerate can save her. Huh, fascinating, isn't it?" Phoenix smirked. For some reason, the pegasus's misfortune gave him a lot pleasure.

"How could you be so cold!" Volts angrily stood in front of him. "No pony had to die. What are we doing here? We should forget about our dealings with the ninjas and stop before it's too late!"

"You must be joking. It is already too late. Now we have to bury the truth of what happened here or live the rest of our lives in prison or on the moon."

"Are you mad? What are you going to do?" Volts seemed very disturbed by the notion of his colleague.

"Dig a grave for the dead, of course."

Volts couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked back at the pegasus. Lucky was holding her in his hooves. His tears landed on her dark costume and disappeared inside the clothing. The unicorn was torn. He didn't want to live in jail but he didn't want to be a murderer. Everything confused him and he just moved away, trying to get his head calm after all what happened.

"I'm sorry, Foxy." Lucky whispered. "You and Metal Eye are my best friends. However, you are more than friend. You were my savior, who brought me back to life. You were my eyes and my mentor. I grew to like you a lot, more than I should have. I'll miss you forever, my dear partner."

Lucky shakily pulled her mouth mask. He was breathing slowly. His mouth got closer to hers. There was the kiss. It was a short but an honest one. All of his feelings in one little act of love.

Lucky softly withdrew his lips. He felt odd, as if his mouth dried. Maybe it was just his imagination. It was well know that deep sad feelings or grief could make anypony's head make up things out of the thin air. It was a mechanism that tried to take the attention of the pony and redirect it to something else, so that he'd not think of the source of his misery all the time.

"Come on! Get on your hooves and drag these shovels." Phoenix dropped the instruments on the deck. He was completely gone to the little hell that dictated his actions. Lucky carefully placed her on the floor. He stood up, his face showed mixed feelings but one was the most prominent: anger.

"I'll not gonna dig my own grave! She died fighting, so will I!"

"Are you challenging me to a duel? Ha, you won't survive a minute against me! Though, I'll grand you this wish. It will be amusing than anything else."

"You are on!"

"Would you prefer a gun with a silver bracelet or steel one?"

The sun was high in the sky, shining in its full glory. There was no wind, no clouds to interfere the upcoming duel. The river rustled. The mountains and the rocky formations watched silently how the two prepared to end their lives. The dusty ground was hot and was going to become even more torrid after the celestial nuclear fireball would give up it's throne.

The two faced each other on the dried field. They were far from the river and the ship. The observers were sitting left of Lucky. Foxy's body was put to lay next to Metal Eye. Her head was turned at the duelists. Phoenix saw a poetic irony in this. Even the dead were going watch how he was going to humiliate him.

Volts went to his sick friend and tried to reason with him.

"Phoenix..." he began with quiet voice. "Can't you see that he has no chance against you? He is blind and won't even be able to fire a shot at you. This is totally crazy. You'll murder him like his friend!"

Phoenix stared in his eyes and smiled.

"If his wishes to rejoin with his partner, then I won't stay in the way of his destiny."

Volts grabbed him on the collar of his brow coat. He wished that this was only a bad dream.

"You are making a mistake, Phoenix! Snap out of it! Don't you feel how wrong this is? Does life mean anything to you?"

"It means a lot, actually. I'm sorry that you don't understand my position and yours as well. Years from now, you'll be thanking me that you could sleep in a comfortable bed in your own house. Please, move aside!"

Volts released him. The cold reality just slapped him in the face. He was perplexed, scared and so weak. The unicorn joined the unhappy public. Metal Eye watched how the two prepared for the inevitable in absolute silence. He was not ready to see his buddy's death. He'd have thrown himself in the fire, if only his limbs and wings were not tied again.

Suddenly he felt a gentle jog.

"What is it, Spy Filly?"

"What's going on?" the little unicorn had a purple towel around his eyes, so that he'd not be able to interfere the fight with magic. If he couldn't see where he needs to land those spells, then his horn was almost useless.

"Nothing."

"Is your lucky charm going to die?"

Metal Eye gulped bitterly. He knew the answer, despite trying to deny it.

"I do not know. Maybe his luck will smile on him."

"Would the public be a little understandable and be quiet!" Phoenix shouted. "Now, do you have any last words before we begin?"

"None." Lucky despondently answered.

"Then may the best pony win!"

Total silence fell on the earth. Two ponies frozen in their positions. Both wanting one thing: to win. The blue eyes stared in those dead brown ones. He saw only the fun from the act of the kill. The other saw nothing. Lucky looked inside his soul, searching for the best thing to do. The pegasus wanted to revenge her but he wouldn't allow it to cloud his mind. The thing in common between them was the complete concentration.

Their hairs shook from the sudden wind. A bell tolled somewhere in the distance, from Appleloosa. The ground was getting unpleasantly hot. The air between them was full with tension, almost hard to breath in there. Their heartbeats slowed down, preparing for the moment. There was the final bell, suddenly everything, which was still, lighting fast turned into motion.

Lucky jumped high in the air with long spread wings. Phoenix quickly zeroed in. The barrel followed the climbing pegasus with absolute precision. But he couldn't pull the trigger. Those cyan feathers underneath his wings reminded him of the ones from his dream. Lucky looked like the pony, who saved him from the nightmares. He hesitated for a second, before the demon pulled the strings. Yellow line pierced Lucky's left wing, just when he threw his gun to the ground. The weapon landed a meter in front of Volts, who looked at it numbly.

The white angel lost his balance and fell to the ground on his back. He tried to to stand up. A futile attempt, that cost him his right wing. Bright red stained his wings and fur. Now he was fouled with the his own and her blood. Phoenix enjoyed how the pegasus struggled to use his wings. He then began walking towards him. Another ball entered the barrel and the gun was ready to deliver the final blow.

Metal Eye tried to get out of the ropes. He couldn't stand to watch anymore. By chance, his eyes stumbled across red metal balls that were laying next to Foxy. He then saw her wide open eyes that watched the duel without blinking. He got a little scared after noticing that they were alive.

"Stuck to the ground, are we? Can't use the things that define you. Are you feeling hopeless? Does Shadow Sun whisper your name?"

"So, you are under Her control?" he asked painfully.

"What control? What are you talking about?!" he scornfully looked down at his victim.

"You said Shadow Sun. You must know who she is. The Goddess of Darkness controls you via the medallion. You must take it off, if you want to be free!"

"The medallion has nothing to do with your fairy princess. You just tried to postpone you death." he aimed the gun at Lucky's heart and smiled like a devil. "Nice dueling you. May you have pleasant dreams."

There was a shot. Remarkably Lucky was not dead. Phoenix felt a burning pain his leg. He couldn't move it at all. His mind couldn't understand what happened and slowly he turned to his partner. Volts was aiming a gun at him. The mustached pony seemed afraid.

"Why, Volts?" he asked quietly.

"I aimed for your gun." answered with a shaking voice. Lucky saw an opportunity there and swiftly grabbed it by the tail. He jumped on the unicorn, thus knocking him on the ground, where the white pony sat on him and began sending blow after blow. Phoenix didn't resist. He was too shocked to see his friend betraying him like this. With each hit to the face, Foxy understood more and more Lucky's feelings. He struck with the rage of hundred suns.

She slowly stood up, still weak after her short death and went to them. Metal Eye followed her with sight, still couldn't believe she rose from the dead like that. Lucky was about to send another hoof in his beaten face, when the claws prevented him to do so.

"Let him go. He'll pay the prize in jail."

"Foxy! Y-you are alive?"

"Barely but alive." she smiled. Suddenly Lucky hugged her. She answered the gesture and finally the barriers between them melted away. What a relief it was for both. The second padlock unlocked and fell from her outfit. It disappeared shortly after the touch down.

"I thought you were gone for good."

"Uhm, I ain't no weakling, remember?"

"Hey!" Metal Eye shouted from behind. "We are tied in here. Would love some help!"

Volts came closer to them and using his telekinesis, took off the locket from his friend. Phoenix wanted to stop him but he was so powerless. The crystal enchantment touched the earth and then a hoof landed on it. Many peaces flew to all sides, finally the corruption and power medallion was no more. The yellow pony closed his eyes, admitting utter defeat but also victory over the demon, who followed the fate of the pendant.

"And there goes our lead." Foxy noted.

"I don't think we were supposed to have it. I'm pretty sure Princess Celestia knew that from the beginning."

Phoenix sat, while trying not to use his wounded leg. He mournfully looked at the ground.

"Volts, I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry that I didn't stop us sooner." he then turned to the captives. After one spell, they were free. Metal Eye approached them and said ex cathedra:

"With the right given to me by the Royal Government, I arrest you for torturing, attempts at murder and illegal dealings! We'll confiscate the ship and will turn you in the nearest town."

Volts sat next to his friend without a fight and agreed to his fate.

"Everything will be alright, Phoenix. I can see our future turning for the better."

"In jail? Then I hope you are right..."

"Mr Guardian, spy or who ever you are, would let me treat everypony's wounds? I kind of know first aid."

"Alright but no tricks!" then Metal turned to the duo: "And about you: I'd like to know how you just revived like no pony's business!"

Lucky smiled.

"She is dragon born!" suddenly he received a friendly punch from her. "Alright, she just has a tough personality!"

"So, these claws are real?" Metal pointed at them.

"As real as I am." Foxy answered. Then she pulled them inside her hooves, which Metal found completely gross.

"Awesome!" the filly admired. "Can you make fire from your breath?"

"Sure." she exhaled a purple flame in Lucky's face. Tail was careful not to injure him, only to make him a little more colored. The little spy giggled, when he saw the black pissed face.

"Ha-ha, so funny I forgot to laugh."

Foxy washed him with her outfit and looked at those lifeless eyes. She felt ready to go the next step. He was too. But before that, they had to get out of this place. Soon after Volts took care of their wounds, the group headed to the airship. None of them noticed the two white eyes that watched the entire thing from the only dried tree on the field.

"Good, very good. Everything is proceeding flawlessly. Only one medallion to go and The Big Boss won't ever touch this planet again."

Then the shadow moved inside a crack in the ground, leaving this field of fates.

Though the heroes played their part in destiny, others prepared to storm the lair of the dragon. Will they achieve their goal? Will they survive the clash with the monster? Well, that's for another chapter... Next Chapter: Episode 3: Chapter 25: Past And Present Estimated time remaining: 7 Hours, 29 Minutes