The mysterious night had spread its skirts all over the sky dome. The moon was high, gloriously reflecting the sunlight onto the world below. She was in the peak of her short reign. There were no clouds, the wind was mild. A lonely mechanical bird was soaring, the herald of destruction that followed behind it's mighty propeller. A single lamp was illuminating the upper deck, powered by the metal beast's heart. Metal Eye was at the helm. He and Phoenix were going to pilot it in shifts. The unicorn was in the engine bay, resting, and the lone ninja at the nose, looking at the white celestial body. She remembered when as a filly, she'd go on the roof of the palace and look at the great Luna, whose gentle light brought some peace in her mind. As you are well aware, dear reader, Foxy didn't have the best childhood. Born because of a curse and not love, she was a scary little pony, who had the power of the dragon. Despite her being the clans best ninja, no pony wanted to be near her, afraid that she might consume them in flames. Indeed, Foxy was an outcast among her clan mates. After the monstrosities of the recent war, she had enough of pain and death. Why couldn't destiny grant her this simple wish: to live in harmony and peace?  

Now, on a voyage of holy retribution, she was going to get back home, the one from which her hooves tried to escape. It was going to welcome her with warm feasts, as promised it was going to be in red.

"Lucky, why you had to die?" Tail asked the moon. Metal Eye heard her clearly as the day from the helm. How he wanted to embrace her and share the pain for his lost friend. But the lone warrior knew not of such beautiful acts, in which true feelings were on the top. Metal had to do something that could distract her from the suffering.    

"So, how big is this portal?" he raised his voice, so that she could hear him from the other end and the small noise of the engine.

"Not enough for a whole ship to get through, so we are going on hoof." she coldly answered, without looking back at him.

"Is it guarded?"

"Yes, by the Guardians of the Portal."

"Are they hostile?"

"Yes and no. If you are coming with evil intentions, then you'll be met with hostility. We won't have a problem with them because I know them."

"You do? Would you share your history with them?" Eye smirked. He was finally getting some success after a long day of silence and fail attempts to communicate with this crushed heart. Foxy sighed and turned around. Her orange eyes were winter itself. But behind that curtain was an inferno, ready to burn everything around her. From her looks, she was not exactly interested in this conversation.

"I know what you are trying to do, master spy."

Metal raised an eye brow, trying to make a funny face.

"You do?"

"You want to learn more about the clans, so that you can report to your precious Princesses." Tail approached the helm with a creepy gait. Her red fox-like tail was waving darkly. The pegasus was really thinking of ways to dodge her attacks, if there were any. When she was in front of the helm, Foxy place her hooves on the rudder and whispered: "Thank you for trying to help me. But everything you do will be in vain."

"Huh, I don't give up so easily!"

She went next to him and sat.

"When I was a little, the leader sent me to the most elite ninja schools, where I had to learn to be the best at what I was born to do."

"Would you care to tell me what that is?" he glimpsed at her. She only silently stared at him for a few moments. The answer was clear.

"He asked many schools and many didn't give him permission. One invitation came from the unlikeliest sources. The new Master of the Guardians knew my mother and was intrigued of my gifts, so he wanted to meet me. Master Triple Spirit took me under his horn and showed me an ancient technique, which can stop every enemy on his track, without even using a weapon. I trained four months with him, before the leader brought me back to the clan. He never told me why my study was interrupted, though I sensed that he didn't like what the old pony was spreading."

"What was it?"

"Love and tolerance. Peace and unity, something the leader was and is not fond of..."  

"Sounds like a great pony!" he smiled.

"But a fool. He lives a dream world, in which he sees every clan living in peace, something many do not want. His teachings barely got out from the Guardian circle because they live so isolated from the clans." she looked at the pegasus, who was busy steering the ship. Tail knocked on his golden armor, while asking: "You think this will protect you from all pointy objects? The only things missing are some shiny jewels and makeup!"

"It's a standard Royal Guard armor. It let's me maneuver, while protecting the most important parts of the body. I could have taken the full body armor, but then I'd be a brick in the air, wouldn't I?"

She placed her hoof on his unprotected neck and said with a dark voice:

"One cut in here will stop you right on the spot. This is no armor, but a parade costume. You should have never come with me... What will Spy Filly think, after you've been gone for weeks, never to return?"

"He knows where we are going. And interesting enough, he understood quite well." Metal turned to her with his serious pink eyes. "I know the risks of coming with you. If something happens to me, then Quarter Key will become his mentor. I've prepared everything to ensure that Spy lives a happy life."

"I see now why you were late... You shouldn't have told anypony else about this."

"I had to. I believe that truth must always be preserved. We are not on a holiday after all."

Both slowly turned their heads forward. Metal corrected their course, while Foxy was thinking. The night wind gently stroke their manes. Luckily, the engine was working without an error. The moon was above the balloon, but it's soft light was all around them. The land below them seemed to be colored in every nuance of the blue. Nature looked dead but it was a clever deception, meant to fool the unworthy, who dared to travel in the night on hoof. It seemed peaceful. The only noise source was the machine. Many beastly eyes looked up at the sky. Mainly predators, who were still hungry from their last meal, wanted to check the wooden bird. The ponies did not have to worry. They were high enough to be protected by most night hunters.

Then, the question came...

"Metal, how are you holding up after the loss?"

For just a second, he froze still and then turned to her with a friendly face. It was a lie, 'cause behind it, tears wanted to fall like a waterfall.

"I'd lie, if I say that I'm well. Losing a long time friend like Lucky has made a deep cut into my soul. Life can be cruel and forgiving, the only thing we have to do is to carry on. Look, Tail, I know that your pain is great, you were his mate after all, but couldn't you just say no to death and look in the future? You never know what it can bring..."

"It will never bring perfection. Started rough and ugly to become something beautiful and honest. No pony can replace him and for that Lupi Do must die!"

As if her short red mane turned more bloody. Feather did not like her attitude at all.

"Well, before you grant us all the death wish, for once look at the bright side of life."

She glimpsed at him and wanted to hit him real hard.

"Bright side of life? There isn't such a thing in my world. Everything I held dear is gone and the only thing that keeps me going is vengeance itself."

"Oh, really?" Metal let go of the rudder, completely turned to her and pointed at her heart. "Is this what he would want you to do? Did he forbid you to pursue happiness after he is gone? The world doesn't turn around like you think. Everything finds balance and you must too. What will happen after you kill the leader? Will your lust for killing and revenge be satisfied? Or do you have to bring more destruction to the lives of everypony around you?"

"My anger is saved only for the leader and no pony else. If they choose to stand in my way, then I'll deal with them as I see fit. This also goes for you, Metal." Foxy stood up and went forward to the staircase, with a gait of an unstoppable force.

"We are not done!" Metal shouted behind her. The pegasus jumped in the air and landed just in front of her face. Their eyes were on equal plains again. "What if this is a plot to destroy you? You and Lucky stopped the Shadow Princess from consuming our world. Then Lucky dies and now we are entering dangerous territory without back up or anything to ensure our safe return. Think about it for a second."

She was silent. Could he be right? Was she just a puppet, controlled by the secret master? Lucky warned her of the shade, that seemed to be nowhere and in the same time so near. But her blindness, the anger, put the magical curtain in front of her sight and she was not able to see the truth.

"Out of my way." she said with a quiet voice.

Metal frowned but he didn't want to start a fight. He reluctantly backed off and let her pass. Her steps on the wooden floor were like thunders of war drums, playing the final march before battle. Her grey figure disappeared in the deck below.  The armored pegasus had nothing else to do except to return to his post. He felt that instead of coming closer to her, now a giant abyss divided them. He could always use his wings and fly to the other side but there was something sinister, waiting for him to get in its trap. Maybe tomorrow would shine on the darkness and show the safest route to her soul.

A single light bulb made sure that the engine room was well lit. Phoenix was lying on his right side, cuddled almost into a ball. A green blanket covered his body. He seemed asleep, despite the noise from the engine. Foxy went to the other side of the room and sat down in a position for meditation. She needed to be rested 'cause the next day was going to be tiresome. They had to gallop all the way to the Draconicus, where the strong evil leader was living in his luxurious palace. It would roughly take them two and a half days to get there, maybe they could sprint all night to shorten the time for them to arrive at the famous Blood Portal.

She glimpsed at the sleeping unicorn, before Tail closed her eyes and began meditating. Unfortunately this mare could not sleep and the closest she got to that was her trustful meditation, which she learned by the old Master Triple. There was only blackness in her mind. Total silence. She concentrated on her energies and began manipulating them in her favor.

While the ninja was going in deeper and deeper, Phoenix was doing the same but with another problem.

"I love how you hid the bracelet gun behind the engine. You really made sure that they'd not find it. Only don't forget to retrieve it for your dirty deed. He-he."

The demon's voice was quite irritating, despite that, Phoenix stayed cool and thought logically.

"If you can hear my thoughts, then I must be able to hear yours as well. Tapping into my brain form the inside must work both ways."

"No,no,no,no. It doesn't work like that. No matter how hard you try, you'll never be able to read my thoughts. And that's the beauty of it. I can see, hear and smell everything you sense."

"There is always a way and I'm going to find it!" Phoenix boldly said. The Jester began giggling and then burst into wild mocking laughs. The unicorn was not hurt but encouraged to search harder for a salution to get this annoying fiend out of his rightful body.

"This is way out of your league, my little battery. You can not begin to understand the forces at play, so don't try to stick out and look, 'cause the blade will surely cut your head off."

"I don't fear your threats, demon!"

"Brave you are, indeed. Stupid too. Ha-ha-ha!"

"Why you want to kill Foxy Tail? What has she done to you?" he asked with some anger in his thoughts.

"Oh, come on now. Do you think that I'll give you information that easily?" the mockery was really getting on Phoenix's nerves. "You have to work for it. Let's play a game, shall we? You try to guess the truth and I'll tell you, if you are wrong or correct? Deal?"

The yellow unicorn tried to calm and think logically again.

"She has done something to you?"

"Cold." Jester answered.

"Some relative or friend of Foxy has done bad things to you?"

"Warmer." when he answered, Phoenixes temperature unnaturally raised by a few degrees, which was a little uncomfortable for the inventor.

"So, somepony in the past did not like you... Foxy doesn't seem to be afraid of an old enemy. That means she doesn't know you or expect you to come back for revenge. It must have happened long time ago..."

"Warmer and warmer!" the unicorn began to sweat, despite inside the engine room was a bit chilly. "Come on, use those amazing braincells of yours!"

"Cursed outfit, she had one but now she doesn't wear it... Can it be inherit? But by whom? Her father or mother? Too many possibilities... Let's try something else." suddenly he realized something bad. "You've killed Lucky Eight!"

"Technically, yes but it wasn't me, who threw does blades."

"What did he do to you? It doesn't make sense to kill him, unless... you want Foxy to think that somepony else killed him and sent her on this crusade... But why?"

"You are clever. However, you will never know the truth. Actually, forget what I just said. I might tell you the whole story, if you do your part."

In the unicorn's mind appeared an evil white grin with dragon fangs. Out of a sudden, Phoenix felt very cold. Chills went though his body from bottom to top. The second realization came...

"You are connected with Shadow Sun!" he said with a bit scared voice in his mind.

"I used to work for her. She is nice, when you get to know Her, but there can be only one ruler, one master to conquer the world!"

"Oh, dear Celestia!" he exclaimed.

"Yes, yes and yes. The imagery are shocking, ain't they?" the sinister voice inside him turned even more darker. Then it burst in another satanic laugh, that chilled the unicorn to the bone. He wanted to scream, the fiend did not let him to make even one sound.

In the ninja's meditation...

Nothing existed in her imagination. She was sitting with wide opened eyes, staring at the nothingness. She did not move an inch, like an absolute ice-sculpture. Tail was bringing harmony or at least trying to do so to her spirit. Foxy couldn't enter in battle with a ruined equilibrium or her techniques and moves would not be quite accurate and as fast as a lightening. The picture was was dull at first, but she found sense in the black painted sphere. This was the state of her mind and heart. The light, that brought many colors was nowhere to be seen, it probably died with the only source.

She closed her sorrowful eyes and concentrated. Long time passed, it felt almost like eternity. Time in here didn't work like in the real life. It could get really slow or really fast, depending on the pony, who had full control over it.

Suddenly there was a whiff that shook the individual red hairs of her mane. It was very weak and it brought warmth. It did not came from the hell fires below the ice-age. Something else was there, in that state of mind.

The mare slowly opened her orange eyes. In their reflection was visible the happy blue sky. The darkness gave a way to a green heaven, where little cute animals ran freely, birds were playing their lovely songs and grass was as fresh as the nearby river. How did she come to this realm? Foxy wondered for a moment, then stood up and looked around. What a peaceful place this was. All kinds of gorgeous flowers made an extraordinary carpet. It would be a sin, if somepony started dancing on these natural beauties. Bees diligently worked to collect the bloom. Their Z-sounds, combined with everything else, made one adorable symphony of perfection and comeliness.

The only thing missing was the one.

Some of the little animals approached her. They wanted to play with Foxy but her cold stare quickly scared them off. She did not deserve this heaven. Tail let the only thing that made sense in her hard life go. How could she dream of such wonders? Wait, wasn't this a meditation?

The ninja tried to wake up from this dream of lies but couldn't. This was not normal. The warrior in her immediately told her to be on her guard. She carefully began walking to the only rock on the colorful field and glued to it's warm surface. Her eyes began scanning the area. There was no threat to be seen. She made a three sixty, when suddenly a white pegasus appeared out of nowhere next to the apple tree. He had a green mane and brown eyes. He was starring at her. Was this a bad attempt of her imagination to bring something lost forever?

The wind shook the grass, the flowers and their manes. He smiled. She didn't. Then out of a sudden he appeared next to her. She was ready to defend herself. The pegasus showed no intents to harm her. Only smiled at her face. They stood like statues, looking at each other. Her eyes began to moister and soon the first salty drops found their splashing ends at the ground below. Foxy wanted him to be true, not a ghost, who was haunting her.

He then pointed with his right hoof at the sky. She slowly looked up. Then her eyes were bombarded by billions of lights. The great cosmos, full with dust, stars and galaxies. Tail saw so much, but so little actually went inside her head. There was life, there was death. The circle continued. Worlds appeared and disappeared. Some lived longer, others only a moment. The universe, the final limit of everything. So many possibilities, so many lives, so much pain and equally much happiness.

She looked back at him, when Lucky began to fade to black. Foxy tried to grab him. Her hoof went through the air, not even close to catching him. He was now one with all and all was him. Then everything crumbled into million shattered pieces. The noise from the falling glass was intolerable. Tail screamed, but her cry was suppressed by the millions of voices.

Foxy opened her eyes. She was lying on her tummy. The engine was still tirelessly working, Phoenix was at his spot. The light from the single bulb was protecting them from the complete darkness. The mare was breathing hard, all sweaty. She sat again in her pose for meditation and thought for a second. The memory of the dream was as white as the day. What was the meaning of it? What was the ghost trying to say to her? These question kept her awake through the most of the night. She was desperately trying to find the answers. Why couldn't he just speak?

Meanwhile, on the other side of the portal, twenty two armed to the teeth ninjas were resting for the big day. Traitors and deserters they all were. Many called them terrorists, murderers of innocents. They called themselves fighters for freedom. Made up by all the clans, this group's only goal was to bring down every clan to their knees. They thought that their purifying flames were the cure for the poison that was sucking the life out of the once proud ninjas.

Their biggest mission was to turn the capital of the Dragon Claw Clan into a majestic inferno, where every sinner was going to burn. What an ambition, which could really become a reality. They had it all covered. Their plan was almost flawless. Their dedication - superb. Everypony here was a skilled warrior, who'd not hesitate at nothing. They were ready to die for their cause with the whole island in flames.

One pony, the one with the eyepatch on the left side, who was wearing green ninja cloths with gold strips, came to his brothers in evil deeds and said proudly:

"Rest now, my brethren. The tomorrow will come in a few hours. Everypony will know who the Fire Snakes are!" he said with his rough voice.

They lifted their hooves in the air and shouted as one. Then the brown unicorn turned away with a big grin on his face. In his grey eye there was only vengeance and madness. Finally he was going to show those so called noble ninjas how a real battle was done. In his heart there was no room for sorrow for the fillies and colts that were going to perish. He would so enjoy to see this great city becoming one giant barbeque. None were going to be spared. They were all guilty by participating in the war, which brought only pain and lunatics.

There was a noise. The unicorn quickly turned around and for his amusement, an unexpected figure was standing in the middle of his warriors, all alone.

"Well, well. White Shadow. What an honor to visit us. How was the exile?"

"Quite interesting. Thanks for asking." Blue Circle fearlessly looked around. Every ninja prepared their weapons. Things were getting hotter. "Impressive gang, you've formed. You must be very proud of yourselves... for bunch of cowards, who burn the homes of defenseless ponies."

"We do what we think is best for everypony. Be our guest, won't you, and state your business of coming here! You have ten seconds."

The white ninja, surrounded by bad ponies, began to sniggle. They didn't like his reaction at all.

"I didn't hear anything funny."

"But I see!"

Out of a sudden twenty two tentacles came out of the white pony, who then turned black. The dark sharp spears stopped just at the throats of each arsonist. They would not make the slightest move. The attack came so fast, that it caught everypony with their pants down. The source of these deadly snakes was laughing like a maniac. It was the only sound in the night forest. The ninjas looked in fear at this mad pony. He could take their lives without a problem. However, Blue needed them for his goals.

"Fire Snakes, eh? You did not live up to your names. From now on you are my personal pleasure mares! Who ever dares to run or resist me will die an awful death. Did I make myself clear?"

"You can rot in Tartarus!" the one-eyed unicorn said without a drop of fright in his voice.

Circle concentrated on him and smiled like a devil. Despite that his shadow form showed no emotions, they all felt the dark urges behind the mask.

"You seem very brave. You must be the leader of these losers. What is your name?" his voice was full with provocation, but it did not to affect the unicorn, who looked more like a great strategist, than a bandit.

"I can't believe that you don't remember me. The battle at Stone Village? I was going to be your opponent, when an arrow pierced my eye." he smirked and proudly stated his name: "General Mighty Zap of the elite Tiger Clan forces."

Blue squint and stared at him.

"I'm sorry. I tend to forget ponies, who are spineless. Did we drink tea together afterwards?"

"Crazier than I thought. What now? Will you bring us to the clans to have us all executed?"

Circle made a thoughtful expression.

"I could do that. The reward for your heads might be a significant one. However, I need you to do something special. I'll let you do the stuff, you do best, but your fires won't target civilian houses. Your objectives will be the barracks, the palace and one place that is hidden to all common knowledge."

"That complicates things. They are the best guarded places in the capital. And that secret place..." Zap leaned his head a little to the left, as if he was trying to see the real Blue behind that black figure. "What's your game, White Shadow? Are you planning a revenge?"

"I wish for my reasons and plans to remain secrets. You do your part and I do mine. I'll distract the guards long enough for you to light those targets. After that we part on our ways. Got it?"

The general was not glad to hear of these changes of his plan. He only needed a moment to assess his position.

"I'll obey you for now but don't expect help, if thing get ugly."

Blue happily smiled and pulled the tentacles to himself. He ceased the shadow technique.

"Yey for diplomacy! Now we can become friends!" he sounded cheerful and carefree, which scared those terrorist even more. They were also confused of his constantly changing behavior. Only the general watched him carefully. Zap needed to find out what Blue was planning and get rid of him because this powerful pony could ruin his plans in just a blink of an eye.

Blue turned around and said:

"Don't look for me. I'll be around. Proceed as you have planed. I'll meet you, when thing start to become interesting." then out of his white cloths came out a single tentacle, which almost instantaneously was sent to a group of ex-dragon ponies. One of them panicked, the others jumped out of the way of the shadow. It wrapped around a sandwich that was lying on the grass and pulled the yummy dinner to Circle.

"You do not mind, if have some of your food, right?" he asked politely.

Everypony, except the general, silently shook head.

"Then see ya tomorrow and have sweet dreams!" he waved to say good-bye. No pony answered him.

Then the lone ninja began walking at the darkness. Every warrior followed him with sight and when his white tail was gone, the second in command turned to the general.

"What are we going to do now that White Shadow is here?"

"We play along, until we find the right moment to stab him in the back." Zap coldly answered.

"But-but, he almost killed us all!" his subordinate exclaimed. "He is too powerful for us!"

"That was only a bluff." the brown unicorn seriously looked directly in his eye. "He is not able to kill twenty two ponies simultaneously."

"How do you know that?" the earth pony was surprised.

"If he was a bit younger, he could do it. However, ponies like him, who are blessed with great powers, also suffer from its corruption. White Shadow, like the leader before him, will soon die, not physically but mentally and he knows that. With the final moment nearing, his powers decline. Why would he ask of our help, if he is so legendary and mighty? I get the feeling that he is going to sacrifice himself and drag us with him to the pit. So, we need to be careful with him. Also, if he managed to find us, that means we have a hole in the ship. Give the warriors only two hours of rest, then we must change our position."

"As you wish, general!" the ninja saluted and left him alone.

Zap then turned away and looked up at the old night. The chilly air foreboded the inevitable tragedies. Things were starting to get very complicated by the hour. Next Chapter: Chapter 38: Parallel Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 44 Minutes