It was five past eleven. The sun was majestically shining in the bright blue sky. The giant, but yet so small fire ball of almost infinite nuclear explosions seemed kind of sad. Its rays didn't have the exact warmth they used to give. It felt cold. The lonely grey mare was sitting like a statue with a gaze, that saw nothing but death. Winter was the season in her heart and this mini ice-age could only be melted by the hot blood of her enemy.

Next to her was Phoenix, who was still recovering from the unnatural short temper of his now sister in arms. To get inside the airport, he had to endure violent pushes and her attitude towards him. As if the inventor was just a tool and not a pony with his own soul. Phoenix was starting to doubt his decision of agreeing to help them. Was what they were doing even moral? These thoughts were scattered in the moment, when the familiar white pegasus approached them, carrying two huge brown sacks and a spear with a steel edge. Metal was out of breath.

"You are awfully late." Foxy pierced him with her fiery eyes, which did not burn hot but icy. Metal thought that his bones were going to freeze from that stare. The guardian put down the load and sat to rest a little. Sunbeams reflected from his gold armor, making him shine like a divine being. Its surface was carefully polished, before he took it. The pegasus seemed more like going to a parade, than to a personal war.

"Somepony is awfully impatient..." he took off his spartan helmet and placed it in front of him. "I went through ice and fire and there isn't a single thank you... Phoenix, I brought you the parts you need in order to modify the ship. However, your sword..." he looked at the ninja. "... of which you spoke off, was not in the archives. I and the guard searched for it everywhere. After spending twenty minutes, looking inside boxes, the pony responsible for the sorting of all evidence and objects went outside to notify his superior of the theft. Huh, to think of how hard was to convince him to let me inside and then to find out that the prize was already taken..."

Foxy was not pleased to hear this news. She stood like an ice sculpture, thinking. No pony dared to move even slightly in this rare moments, when she was deciding their fates.

"The Royal Guard's Office was supposed to be the safest place in here... Seems like a false rumor to me now. We'll go without my weapon. It will be a bit difficult but Justice will be served!" she swiftly turned to the ship and ordered with her emotionless voice: "Everypony, on board!"

Phoenix and Metal looked at each other. Then both followed the grey mare climbing on board with sight. Deep shadows were falling on her, as if the darkness of the void itself wanted to play a role. The power of absolute zero could be felt in the hairs of their coats. Below that thick ice was a nuclear turmoil of unknown proportions. Several supernovas could get inside that dragon heart. The ice wall was barely holding the primal rage from getting out and spreading throughout her body. If that were to happen, then no living thing near her was safe. It was preserved for later, when she's going to face her enemy.

When the red fox tail disappeared behind the railings of the ship, Phoenix pony upped and quietly went to Metal.

"I start to wonder, if what we are doing is the right thing." the yellow unicorn quietly said.

"It isn't. However, she is going to do it regardless of us, so we need to make sure she doesn't throw herself away to the abyss." Metal then looked at him. "I talked to the flight planners and convinced them that I'm going to return the vessel back to its owner. They didn't ask me too many question, maybe because of the armor. They won't stand in our way."

"Does that mean that I won't be able to modify the ship's engine, while on the ground?"

"Yes, you'll have to modify it, while we are in the air or they might become suspicious. Can you do it?"

"I can but if my modification fails, then it would be quite difficult to land without an engine."

"Do not worry about that." Metal smirked, though Phoenix was having trouble of feeling assured. "Come on. Help me with the sacks."

They took the provisions, the only weapon, the tools and the parts for the engine on board and prepared to set sail. Metal went to untie the ropes, that held this wonder of science and magic to become one with the sky. Phoenix started the engine, it purred like a cat. The propeller began slowly turning, creating weak wind behind it. The Equestrian flag began shaking from the vibration of the metal heart. Metal returned on the deck, after he was done with the ropes and raised the ramp. Then the Guardian went at the helm, the unicorn took the two sacks and put them inside the engine bay. All of the weather changing machines were confiscated and the little room had the feel of freedom. He placed them near the staircase and then returned on the main deck.

While the two were preparing for lift off, Foxy stood at the nose, staring south. Somepony would call her ungrateful, that they were doing all the work like good little worker ants. She needed the time of being alone to pull herself from the nuclear winter that was going inside her heart.

After Phoenix checked the condition of the purple balloon, finally the green light was given. Metal carefully began unleashing more of the power of the engine. The small ship lifted off the ground. Soon this bird of revenge directed itself to the blue sky, like a phoenix from the ashes of the old to become the deliverer of death. Fire was its fuel and weapon, the holy anger was the captain and the crew were the unfortunate souls to come on this journey of pure destruction. The airship flew as high as the sun, Foxy thought that she could touch it. However, the ninja knew of the legend of a pegasus, who tried to reach it. It ended with him turning into ashes just before fulfilling his cloud-castle. With dreams shattered, she could only pray for such death.

The fresh green ground was far below them, heaven that Foxy could not reach. Only the hell of the blue ocean enveloped their view. The ship was flying on full throttle. Thankfully there was a tailwind that helped a lot to get out of Canterlot's airspace. They were nearing Ponyville, when Metal cut the engines and that was the sign for the unicorn to prepare for the difficult task at hoof. The craft flew with the help of wind and its own inertia.

"I have to ask you to come with me inside the engine room."

"We'll come."

Then Phoenix went down the stairs. Metal approached the staircase and looked at her. She didn't seem to pay any attention, though that was far from the case. He silently went inside the belly of the wooden bird. The unicorn was pulling out instruments and parts from one of the sacks and carefully arranged them on the floor. He finished with this small task, when her steps sounded above their heads.

"So, what you want to show us?" Metal was intrigued.

Phoenix didn't say at first. He suddenly turned to him and the gray mare. His eyes seemed very bright, was he enjoying it?

"The thing I want to tell you is that this..." he almost ceremonially pointed at the sleeping metal beast, that was painted in pink. "... is one very reliable engine, on which design I've work as a student back at the engineer school. No matter how much punishment you throw at it, this little metal heart will operate without a drop in its performance. However, its drawback is that it can not reach high speeds like many other modern engines. I know how to turn it into a speeding devil, but for a high prize. We'll lose its reliability. The probability of braking or stopping to work, while in mid-air, is above the acceptable norms and the process is irreversible. So, I need you to be completely sure about this decision. Reliability or speed, your choice?"

Foxy glimpsed at the engine and then looked back at the yellow unicorn. There was the feeling of not carrying about this little problem coming from her eyes.

"Stop wasting time and start the modification! This ship will not stop! If that was all, I want not to be disturbed by anypony."

"That's all..." Phoenix's enthusiasm kind of faded away. Then Foxy turned around and quickly went upstairs. This was getting awkwardly bad for this little team of avengers.

"Would you require some assistance?" Metal asked.

"No, I can do it on my own." he sighed sadly. "I hope that she doesn't hate me for what I almost did... Metal Eye, do you hate me for the tortures you had to endure in my little laboratory?"

"I hold some anger towards you but I try to keep it inside. I understand that you were under the medallion's influence and you didn't realize fully what was happening..."

"That's not true. I knew very well what I was doing. When I tortured you or when I pointed the barrel at her or at him, I really wanted to kill them. I liked the smell of death that was coming from their sweat. Now, I just want that nightmare gone. If I could, I'd erase it all from my memory or better, I'd erase it from history and change things for the better."

"Well, we all face our demons and what matters is how we deal with them and what we have learned from them. If we had the power to change time, then why bother with anything, if it's going to be changed anyway? What makes us stronger and wiser is to learn by past mistakes and try not to repeat them."

"I see what you mean, Metal. You better go talk to her. Despite her tough look, she is in a desperate need for a friend."

The white pegasus nodded and then went after Foxy. The inventor turned to the engine and whispered:

"Now, it's you and me, pal." he levitated an instrument from the floor with his horn. Then Phoenix began opening the engine casing. A memory emerged in his head of when he first opened such metal hearts. Just like then, the unicorn felt excitement. This was his thing and finally he could do what his cutie mark had destined him to do.

Phoenix reached for another tool, when his hoof touched something oddly familiar. It was an instrument for killing. His blue eyes looked at the silver bracelet with a barrel attached on it. A sense of horror went through his mind. Then he noticed the dark figure of a pony with big white eyes.

"Hello, Phoenix! I told you that you are mine." the shade said with a very dark voice. Before the unicorn could scream for help, the faint consumed him. Covered entirely in black, the pony tried to resist. It was hopeless. Then the shadow moved inside him, hiding deep in his body. This felt so painful. Fear was all over his face. Phoenix wanted to shout, but the thing inside him would not let him do so. The alien entity whispered in his brain: "Don't even think of calling for help. I pull your strings now. If you obey me, you'll live. Otherwise I will eat your life force and it's really tempting to taste your juice."

"Who-who are you?!" Phoenix asked in his thoughts.

"The one, who freed you from the Shadow Princess." the shade told him with a slight mockery in his voice.

"No, it was Lucky Eight!"

"You think? Ha, I won't shatter your believes, yet! Ha-ha-ha!"

"Please, get out!"

"Oh, no no, it doesn't work like that. I like it in here. It's very comfy and warm..." the shade touched his heart, which Phoenix immediately felt. The darkness was clean of anything resembling good. This demon knew only one thing: death and that was what the unicorn would receive, if he didn't play his game. "You see, I can take your life at any given moment but for the purposes of your mission, you must be alive and well."

"What do you want?" Phoenix tried to stay calm and think rationally.

"I want you to kill Foxy after she has fulfilled her destiny!"

"I-I can't! I couldn't! It's wrong!"

"Wrong?" slow, evil laugh sounded in the unicorn's head. "You have time to think about you moral dilemma. For your information, the choice is already made. And remember, I see and hear everything. Try warning her and you'll be dead before you even speak your first word."

"Why are you doing this? Who are you?" the inventor began to despond.

"I'm the Jester of Flame! And welcome to my world!"

The shadow burst in demonic laughs that echoed inside Phoenix. The unicorn was frozen, scared to the bone. He was doomed to be a slave to this master of ponies. His blue eyes were staring at the lying on the floor bracelet gun, that was loaded with only one pallet. He better not miss...

Meanwhile...

On the main deck, Foxy was again looking in the distance from the nose of the small ship. She was in no mood to talk but Metal really needed to put some sense into her.

"Foxy, can I have a word with you?"

"What is it, Metal?" she asked with a cold voice. The pegasus stood behind her from a safe distance, so that her rear hooves of mightiness would not kick him right in the face.

"I've lost a dear friend and I understand your pain, but you don't see me acting like a heartless evildoer! Is there something I could do for you to ease the pain?" a lot of guts was needed to tell her that and more courage to stand by it. Tail turned around and stared deep into his pink eyes. There was a lot of sympathy and also sincere feelings towards her. They were silent for a moment. A moment of recalling the good memories with the dead one.

"There is one thing." Metal was all ears. "Can you bring him back?"

"I can not. If I could, I'd do it in an instant!"

The mare just silently turned her back to him and looked at the bright sky. Then a hoof landed on her shoulder and forced her to look him in the eyes.

"Foxy, hear me! I'll not let you carry the pain only by yourself! Please, let me help you." his words sounded sincere and commiserative as much as irritating in her ears. She wanted to kick him from her personal space. Oh, yeah! Tail was about to, but then she saw the one creature that gave her purpose in life. Instead of the pony with the blue and purple strips mane, now the one with the green was smiling at her. This illusion made her heart to beat without a rhythm. It was so real and yet, faded so quick.

"Foxy?" Metal sounded very concerned.

Like after a sweet dream, the reality hit her right in the face. It hurt... a lot...

Foxy looked away and whispered:

"Leave me alone."

Metal didn't want to. He steadily backed off, realizing that his presence brought only more harm. The pegasus wanted to hug her and protect her from the sadness. How was this even possible for a warrior like her to be so weak? Couldn't there be a way to shield herself from these emotions? Could there be another, who could fill the wide dark gap?

The stallion just stood there, looking at the mare. Then he gloomily looked down, understanding that she would not let him help her.  His mind couldn't think of anything that could make her at least a little happy. If only she had let him die back in that night, in the hotel, then all of this would have been avoided. Yes, but then Foxy wouldn't have experienced happiness even for a brief moment, she wouldn't have known what love felt like...

Metal slowly turned away, unwilling, without losing sight of her, he began to recede, leaving Foxy in her little hell. The nuclear war and the great winter had a lovely party inside that little heart and the night had not yet come.

After an hour and half, Phoenix was done with the modification. When he appeared from the staircase, the unicorn didn't seem very happy, actually, his face was more of a pony, who just learned that he had a terrible sickness. No pony asked him anything though. The moral of the rest of the crew was barely floating above the danger zone to notice his troubles.

"She is good to start again!" Phoenix unsuccessfully made a little smile. It made him look less happy and more grim.

Metal went at the helm and pushed a button, that brought life into the iron beast. It roared like a bear, then the propeller began turning with a great force. The captain pushed the stick forward, increasing the speed of the craft. They were flying like a rocket, unleashing the maximum power of the engine. The purple balloon was significantly lagging behind the nose. Wind was hitting them like an invisible wall, trying to resist this speeding bullet. With such a speed they'd get to the Portal in no time.

"Foxy, could you point the direction?" Metal shouted from his end of the ship.

The mare lifted her hoof and the helm quickly rotated, changing their course. They were going straight to the Hell Pit on the wings of revenge. Next Chapter: Chapter 36: Rise Of The Leader Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 19 Minutes