The storm was in its peak. So much rain was pouring from the dark clouds, that the city sewers couldn't handle the nonstop bombardment. Big and muddy pools of water formed around the sewer holes and they were slowly growing in size every second. The rain was so thick that the millions of raindrops created a fog, which made it very difficult to see anything beyond fifteen meters. There was no wind but despite that the temperatures were really low. The Capital never before looked so grim and ugly, as if something was trying to take over the city.

It was very humid and unpleasant to travel on hoof but Lucky had no choice. He was standing in front of the Office's big door. The pink towel and the coat were getting wetter by the second. His entire body was being struck by the hard hitting raindrops but the pegasus didn't care at all. Lucky was creating another map in his mind, by which to navigate to his home.

"I have to cross the street from here, then on the other side turn right and continue walking till the next crossroad. Turn left to the Two Princesses Square. My home was on the first street, which connects with the square, on my right side. This should be easy." he thought.

After Lucky was done with his plan to get back home, Lucky listened to his surroundings. The pegasus didn't want to bump into anypony on the street, so he patiently waited for a few seconds. The constant noise from the furious rain made it impossible to hear anything else. Lucky then decided to move and slowly crossed the wide street, which was full with puddles. Every time he stepped on one, the pegasus splattered water beneath his legs. He felt cold going through his hoofs and Lucky started having the chills on his back. His wet mane was clinging on his head like a prostrated octopus.

Despite all this, Lucky continued walking slowly like an automated machine, but the blind pony was far from just a mindless robot. Although, he revealed no emotion, his worry thoughts took his entire attention.

"...A blind pegasus, alone in the dark land of regret and sorrow. How are the wings you have there? Using them as intended?..." the ninja's emotionless voice sounded in his head.

Then, out of the black, a very detailed picture of Quarter Key appeared, honestly smiling at Lucky.

"...In your case, anything, which will get you out of your previous state, is the best option..." the unicorn said with a calm tone. After that, his image became blurry and on its place appeared a beautiful blue unicorn, looking in his soul with her gorgeous eyes. However, her picture was simpler and without many of her natural colors and details, unlike the previous one.

"...if you do not help me, I'll be devastated just like you...Please, you are my only hope!..."  her voice echoed in his mind.

The messages repeated again and again but Lucky was not scared. He attentively analyzed every single sentence, every word and tried to make a meaning out of them.

"A blind pegasus, I am, but hopeless I'm not! I still do not understand why I feel the need to help ponies. Is it because I do not want anypony to suffer like me? But why should I even care about them. its not like they gave a damn, when I lived through my darkest hour, except Metal Eye..." he sighed. "I must think this through, when I get home and not here out in the rain. However, I just can't get rid of these thoughts. Alright, Lucky, think of something nice like... vast green plains with flowers? No, it didn't work... maybe the Royal Castle? Nope, it didn't work, either. What image should I think of to deal with the increasingly annoying thoughts?"

Suddenly in his mind appeared the dark silhouette of the ninja pony. She was sitting still with her orange eyes, staring into the deeps of his soul. Like a vicious timber wolf, the image gazed without blinking even once.

"Woaw... I can feel the chills down to my longest hair. At least my head is clean from my previous thoughts." Lucky made a small smile but then he realized in fright: "By Celestia's beard! I lost track of my steps. I do not know where I am right now. Blasted head!"

Lucky stopped in on place to not go out of course too much. The pegasus was confused in what actions to take. He could go back and try to get on the right path, but it would prove extremely difficult. Or just ask somepony for direction. However, Lucky couldn't hear anypony coming his way and the building around him were as silent as an empty well.  

"I must straighten up! I need no help! I'm gonna get back home by myself!" he thought. He made a very confident face and was ready to take the challenge.

Suddenly his attention turned to the incoming sounds, which came from somewhere in front of him. At first, Lucky couldn't make up what it was, but moments later he recognized them as hoofsteps, which echoed in the surrounding gloomy buildings. Somepony was heading his way with a fast paced.

"Or I can just ask politely for directions..." Lucky thought and waited.

Two silhouettes appeared out of the dark rain fog and they closed the gap between them and Lucky fairly quick. The two ponies walked in almost perfect synchronization, as if they were trained to do so well all their lives.

"Hold! Citizen, what are you doing outside in the rain?" the right one asked, when the two ponies in black suits stopped their march in front of the pegasus. He sounded strict, as if he was in charge around here.

"By the order of Princess Celestia, no ponies are to leave the designated emergency centers or their homes! You are to immediately return to safety!" the left one ordered with the same rigorous voice.

Both of them had stern faces and looked at Lucky with almost emotionless blue eyes. However, that was not the case in their hearts, where they feared the current rainy situation. Lucky immediately learned that the two ponies, were no other but members of the Royal Guards. Only they usually had tough voices, who had sore throat all the time, though these ones seemed to sound rather young.

"I was just heading back home but I'm kind of lost at the moment. Could you point me the direction of Two Princess Square?" Lucky asked.

The two Guardians silently looked at each other in a little confusion, then back to the pegasus. A lighting struck far away, revealing some beautiful structures with elegant facades around the three, standing in the rain, ponies. The faces of the ones with the black suits looked scarier, when the lighting bolt shined on them but soon they returned to their normal serious look.  

"Two Princesses Square is in the opposite direction. We are in the Central Square, in front of the Royal Palace." the right pony answered. Another lightening lightened the city and out of the darkness appeared a tall white castle with its many towers. The ruler of this kingdom lived there, governed with wisdom and honor but now it had become an Headquarter for the Royal Guards in this disastrous situation.      

"What? Central Square? I'm way out of path and I do not recall walking for so long. I must have lost perception of time." Lucky thought with a troubled face. One of the Guards understood him and made a step closer to him.

"We can escort you to there, if you want." the left one suggested. Lucky felt kind of relieved. He smiled and positively nodded.

"Follow us, citizen!" then the two Guardians went in the direction of Lucky's home and the pegasus walked behind them with a steady pace.  

"Thank you, fellas. I owe you one." Lucky sincerely thanked but the two guardians kept going silently like machines.

"Not from the talkative, it seems." the pegasus thought. "Maybe I should ask about the awful weather? They should know something about what's going on."

"So, quite the storm we have here. Do you know, when it will to be sunny again?"

He got no answer from them. They just kept walking through the wet streets, full with dirty puddles, not paying attention to what Lucky was asking.

"Is it that serious? Maybe I can get something out of them, if I use this card." he thought.

"By the way, I used to serve in the Royal Guards. I was designated as a scout and you?"

One of the Guardians turned his eyes in the direction of Lucky but then he looked in front of him again. The pony still kept his serious look, despite the rain drops falling out of his wet face.

"We are still recruits." the one on the left said, almost whispering.

"Interesting, recruits were never supposed to perform their duty until they passed their training. Are we short of Guardians or what?" the pegasus thought. "This is going to be easy."  

"So how is the training going? Does the old Fire Chain still teach at the academy?" his voice had some sarcasm, which was enough to spark a response from the two Guardians, who felt a little hot, after hearing the name.

"You know Fire Chain?" the one on the right asked. He looked kind of surprised.

"Of course, I do. He was the pain in the hoof in my last year in the academy. Such fun times they were. Is the legend about him still flying among the recruits?" Lucky made a devil smile cause he knew that he got them by the mane.

The Guardians looked at each other in the eyes then at Lucky, whom pink silk towel had stuck perfectly on his face. Because of the rain his coat was all wet but it successfully protected big part of his body, which stayed dry for the most part. The same couldn't be said for his exposed head and hooves. Water drops fell from his chin and mane like small waterfalls. However, the smile still stayed on, which scared the two Guardians to their last feathers.  

"As I remembered it, whoever passes his test, changes into magical evil horse of war, who reigns fear into the hearts of the ordinary ponies. Or was it that you turn into mindless minion, controlled by the one and only master Chains?"

The two ponies stopped and turned around, now facing the blind pegasus. Their serious faces were gone and now they looked panicky. The rain continued pounding with great force but couldn't wash the fear from their faces.

"Y-You are not the serious, right?" the two guardians asked anxiously. For some reason Lucky felt pleasure scaring them like that.

"Haha... it actually worked!" the pegasus thought with delight.

"Oh yes, I'm damn serious!"  he made a mighty step closer to them, but the two frightened guardians backed slowly away from him. They unconsciously went into a deep puddle. Their entire attention was aimed at the white pegasus, who looked very scary with his diabolical smile and pink towel on his head.

"Nha, just kidding!" Lucky made even bigger smile than before.

The Guardians realized their fears were just a plot of their imagination and quickly turned to their normal selves. Now looking serious and mighty again, perfectly hiding the shame, they silently turned around and continued to the square, where Lucky lived. The pegasus followed them again.

"So you survived his exam?" the one on the left asked, who was looking at the blind pony.

"Not exactly. I kind of failed big time at end of the test. Luckily, he got distracted and didn't see me tipping the wood." the pegasus answered with pride.

"You basically cheated, right?" the right guardian asked.

"Depends on how you are looking at it. As you know, the final part of the exam tests your courage and self-control. This examination varies from instructor to instructor and I had the worst luck to be tested by Fire Chain, who is notorious for his ability to break even the toughest ponies. I can still remember how my comrades looked at me, when the examiners announced that I were to be in the group, which had to be trialed by Chains."

"What happened?" the left one sounded curious.

Lucky's smile disappeared, when he saw the images of the past and relived them as they happened years ago:

"I was the first one to be subjected on the Chain's trial. He looked at me, smiling like a demon, who was about to feast on a poor soul. Then, without a warning, the instructor used some kind of magic and filled dark, brutal and gory images of my family and friends. They were cut to pieces, bleeding like mountain rivers or burned like coals. These were the most frightening scenes, I've ever seen in my life. They seemed so real, that I was about to cry deeply but somehow I managed not to.

However, Fire Chain did not stop there. He went deeper in my mind and discovered my biggest weakness. All the images of my suffering relatives disappeared and I was left alone in the dark void of my mind. Then I felt pain in my wing joints. I looked at them and I realized with horror that my wings were chopped and were lying on the ground in a blood puddle. Chains nailed my biggest fear and I thought, I was done for. Luckily, Princess Celestia suddenly entered in the examination hall and the old unicorn ceased the test and turned to the Princess to welcome her.

I was breathing uncontrollably, cold sweat flowed down from my body. I needed a hoofhold to stand on and luckily I looked in front of me, where Metal Eye was standing. He just smiled and I could tell from his grey eyes, that my friend was trying to calm me, with a big success. After some moments I heard the unexpected: "Lucky Eight, passed!" What a relief I felt, as if a giant rock fell from my back. I was quite lucky that day..."

"Sir, are you there?" the left Guardian asked concernedly.

Lucky wiped out the serious look and smiled again.

"Yeah, I was just caught in a memory."

"You didn't tell us what went on. You were silent for about a minute..."

"Sorry about that. What happened you ask? In my moment of fail, I was saved by the Princess Celestia. That's how I passed my last exam." the pegasus answered.

"Woaw, saved by the ruler, herself. It must have been an awesome moment!" the one on the right said.

"Kind of... " Lucky noted to himself. "So, where can I learn why we have this awful weather of ours?"

The two Guardians looked at each other again, then the one on the left answered with a low voice, while stepping in another dirty puddle.

"We were ordered not to talk about it but you look like somepony, who can keep a secret. Be warned, if this gets out..."

"Yes, I know. I'll not speak a word about it!" Lucky interrupted him. The pegasus was quite eager to hear what was going on with this situation.

"The clouds over our heads can't be moved by pegasi for some unknown reason. Back at the Castle, our commanders are working with some very powerful unicorns to give the pegasi the ability to move or disperse these clouds, while everypony gathered in the Royal Guards Barracks and prepared for the upcoming operation. Every pegasus was called to participate in this mission, even the recruits. That's why I and my partner here are wearing protective suits, which will shield us from the lightnings." the one on the left almost whispered.

"Yeah every pegasus..." Lucky thought.

The three ponies arrived at the Two Princess Square. In the center two very well sculpted statues of the famous rulers, spread their wings, pointing the sky. The two were facing the opposite directions and both were standing on their rear legs, as if they were about to charge into the unknown. The statues smiled and looked powerful and not even the heavy rain could change their appearance.

Although the square had several sources of light, making it bright for the night, now the lights were off just like every street. The white buildings were dark too and it was extremely difficult to recognize the structures on the other side of the square.

The Guardians stopped just in front of the statues. They turned around and said:

"Here we are. Will you be able to find your home?" the right one asked.

"From which side did we enter the square?"

"From the north side." the one on the left answered.

"I'll be okay. Thanks for asking." Lucky made a small smile.

The two Guardians nodded simultaneously.

"By the way, there is no power in the entire Capital, so you'll not be able to use your oven or to turn on the lights."

"Thanks, I'll have this in mind. Good-Bye and may you have a successful evening!" then Lucky slowly walked to the direction of his home, when he remembered that he didn't know what the time was. The pegasus turned back and asked:

"Hey, would you tell me the exact time?"

However, he got no answer. There was no sound coming from them, only the noise from the rain and the lightnings could be heard.

"Strange, I didn't hear them leaving or flying away, so they must be here..." Lucky thought.

"Excuse me, could you tell me the time?" he asked louder.

Again no answer was given.

"Darn it, where are those two? I'd better get back home. I don't want to stay in the rain any second more." he thought, after that the pegasus went to the building, where his apartment was. Lucky was correct in his assumption. The two recruits were standing in front of the two statues but frozen in one place. Their hearts were not beating and noting showed they were alive a moment ago. They became the new silent sculptures in the square. However, they moment to shine was taken away by a mysterious mist that consumed them fully and soon after only their shadows were what remained from them.

Lucky entered in the ground floor, witch was murky like a black cat, though it made no difference for him. He left dirt after his every step to the stairs and water constantly fell down from his body.

"Hm, I'm leaving traces. They'll know who brought the filth in the building and maybe force me to clean everything myself... Ah, what ever, they can bill me, for all I care." he thought.

Then Lucky silently climbed the stairs to the third floor, opened the door for his apartment and entered inside. He closed the door, without locking it. The pegasus took off his wet coat and put it on the hanger next to the broken mirror. After that he entered the small living room, pulled a chair and sat in front of the table. Lucky then removed the pink towel from his head and put it on the dusty surface. The pony felt uncomfortable because of how much water his fur had soaked and he had no clean towel to wipe with.

Lucky opened his brown eyes, then looked up to the wall, where a picture of him and his family stood. The three ponies on the image smiled joyfully at him. His father had spread his wings to hug his loved ones. His mother was charmingly looking at their only son. Her horn was flashing cause she used magic to take the picture. And the little pony with the green mane in  the middle looked directly at the lens, with the biggest smile he could make. At the time, when this picture was taken, he had never thought that something horrible would happen to him.

Lucky then moved his sight to the next picture, in which only he was photoed in front of the academy. He was wearing a golden armor and a green medallion hung from his neck. The white pegasus looked confident and ready to do his duty for the kingdom. However, something small in his eyes revealed deep sadness, which he tried to hide in that moment.  

Lucky perfectly imagined them in his head but then he quickly removed them from his mind because they brought only sad feelings.

"What a strange day." he was thinking. "First, the baths, then in the Office and last in the square. The unexpected job offering and this weird storm... on the day, on which I want to start again. Seems like signs for disaster or just a coincidence? Either way, I must make up my mind regarding the Ms Rose's request. She sounded like a wealthy pony, so she'd pay dearly for accomplished job, but her story doesn't feel right at all. How is the imprisoned ninja gonna help in this case? One thing is sure, I don't trust Ms Rose. Too manipulative for my taste. However, I'm starting to get curious of how deep the rabbit hole goes...But it may be too dangerous... Dangerous, something I laughed at, when I served in the Royal Guards. If I want to recover from my bad position, I should not turn my back on stuff like this. I must stand proud like my father before me and face the danger like a Royal Guardian... It's decided then."

Lucky stood up and went to his bedroom with a grim face. There he opened a closet, on the bottom of which there was a small unlocked case. The pegasus opened it and there were a small book, a photo album and a medallion. He grabbed the small medallion, which had a thin silver chain. It had a spiral form and the entire thing was made of emerald. The medallion was a gift from his parents, when he graduated from the academy. The special thing about it was that the locket was enchanted with a binding spell, which could prove useful, when chasing a suspect or preventing somepony from moving too far from the wearer of the necklace.

Lucky touched the crystal and he remembered the sad news, when he got it from his collegues. But he had overcome the dark feelings then and now only the memory of the moment remained in his mind. The pegasus put the medallion on his neck and then closed the closet.

"I should rest for now, tomorrow will be a busy day. I'll need to be in prime condition." he thought. Then Lucky went to his bed and lay down on it. Immediately the covers became wet, although he didn't care.The pegasus curled up on his bed, holding the medallion in his right hoof.

Outside the storm was still raging, but the pony was safe in his little room. That just made the rain to become angrier and more ferocious but still unable to reach him.

At first, he couldn't go to sleep but a few hours later, the pegasus relaxed and soon went deep in the world of the dreams...

In the dream...

Lucky soared the blue sky with spread wings. It was a pleasant warm day. Plains with extraordinary flowers stretched to where the eyes could see. Birds were joyfully singing and flying around and cute animals happily played around the flowers. Very enjoyable aroma floated in the air. The pegasus looked at the beautiful scenery and big smile appeared on his face. This was paradise, but not for long.

Suddenly black smoke appeared high in the air and after that a red fire consumed the green plains. The sky turned red. Lucky watched with horror how everything below him turned into ashes. It stank of burned meat and flowers.

Then Lucky lost control over his wings and started falling to the inferno. He tried to scream but no sound came from his mouth. The pegasus tried to flip his wings but they didn't respond to his commands. Lucky was like a meteor about to hit the ground with a great force but instead of smashing like rock, a giant black mouth appeared below him. It opened, revealing big, sharp white teeth. Lucky fell in it and the mouth closed. He continued falling into the darkness. An evil mare laugh echoed around him and at the same time a bell tolled loudly. Lucky was scared to death all the way to the keen spears, which impaled his back and wings.

Lucky abruptly jumped from his place on the floor and sat on the bed. He was breathing deeply and cold sweat flowed on his back. Suddenly the pegasus heard somepony knocking on the door.

"Just another nightmare." he calmed himself.

Lucky quickly shook his head, normalized his breathing and slowly went for the door.

He opened it and Ms Rose appeared in front of the doorstep. She looked fabulous as always, wearing a fashionable dress and was eager to hear the pegasus's decision.

"Good-Morning, Mr Lucky." she greeted with a smile. "Oh, dear. You look, as if a train passed through you. I hope there aren't any problems, right?"

"It's noting, really." he answered with a low voice. His mane was a mess and his fur badly need some brushing.

"So, I'd like to hear your decision. Are you willing to help me?"

"I decided to take your job. However, I do not guaranty that I'll successfully finish it." he said with a serious tone. When she heard the wonderful news, Rose's smile became bigger and her eyes started glowing with joy.

"Thank you, very much, Mr Lucky. You just do not know how much happiness you bring to my soul." she honestly thanked.

"Save your prayers for later. Now we have job to do. Have you talked with ninja? If she is going to help me in this investigation, we need to know her stand on the matter. And I'm telling this right now, I will not be the one to convince her to join the party."

Rose felt awkward.

"Well, I haven't spoken with her. I was thinking, that you might persuade her to take the job..."

"And you thought wrong." Lucky noted with little grudge in his voice. Ms Rose looked a little sad, for not thinking out the whole thing before she came here. Maybe the fear, when she heard the noises back in the Office, prevented her from meeting with the secretive pony.

"I bet she wont do it!" he sighed. "It looks like the honor is mine... but I might make a profit out of it." Lucky thought.

"Alright, I'll talk with her but this will cost extra: 100 bits." he said insistently.

The beautiful unicorn looked up at Lucky with a smile.

"You have a deal, Mr Lucky."

Lucky got confused for a moment.

"Hm, no bargaining? I thought she'd make me lower the price. Maybe she doesn't want to be seen with the ninja and is willing to pay big." the pegasus thought.

"Okay, after we've got this covered, the next problem comes: somepony must pay her probation. And I suspect it will be me."

"You are incorrect. I'll come with you to the Royal Guard's Office and pay the fine myself, while you are persuading her to help us." Rose said.

"So she is not afraid to show in the open. That means, Ms Rose feels safe but this will change, when the thief starts with his demands..." Lucky thought. "It will be better for her not to get seen near the Office for obvious reasons."

"I should pay the fine, it will be too risky for you to be near the building." Lucky said.

"Are you suggesting, that I've been followed? I have learned the Spell of the Hunted and I'd know, if somepony is behind my tail." Ms Rose said with pride. Her horn flashed for a second to scan again and she was delighted that nopony was following her.

"Spells can be countered, you know?" Lucky sounded more serious. "Alright, If you wish to come, I'll not argue with you. Now excuse me, while I get ready." then he attempted to close the door but was stop by her hoof.

"It's not polite to leave a lady alone outside." she said with polite voice.

"In this case, it's better not to get inside. Believe me!" he removed her hoof and shut the door, after that he locked it, so she couldn't enter. Ms Rose was astonished by his actions but the unicorn understood that the pegasus wanted privacy and patiently waited in the corridor.

Lucky quickly brush his mane, put the silk towel on his head, put on the almost dry coat and he was about to unlock the door, when he realized the medallion was not on him.

"It must have fallen off me, when I woke up." Lucky thought. He went to the bedroom and after a careful search, the pegasus found the it lying on the floor. The pony put it on his neck and then went to the door. He opened it and left the apartment. Next Chapter: Chapter 5: Black And Orange Estimated time remaining: 16 Hours, 21 Minutes