"You are fairly quick, Mr Lucky." Rose complimented, when the pegasus closed the door behind him. Then she noticed the shiny emerald medallion, hanging from his neck. The unicorn gazed at the beautiful object like a filly in front of a candy shop. As if the necklace was calling for her, luring her closer and closer. She couldn't brake from the spell, that consumed her entire attention.

"Are we going?" Lucky asked with little concern in his voice because he noticed something was not right.

Blooming Rose blinked a few times and looked the other way.

"Yes, of course. Let us move on." she sounded not like herself. Rose slowly proceeded to the stairs, followed by Lucky.

"What made her feel awkward? I hope its not my mane." the pegasus thought, while walking beside his client in the pink hallway.

Rose turned her head to him and looked at his mane. Although it was little shaggy, it still kept its green charm from yesterday. Then she looked at his coat, which in her opinion perfectly matched his walking pose. She continued her detailed scan of him and found that Lucky had kind of elegant look, though bit crude at places. The pegasus was emanating a new strength and self-confidence, which Rose didn't notice in their last meeting. But then her big eyes stopped again at the spiral locket and she couldn't break from the sight of the beautiful necklace.

"Pardon me, but I can not hold my curiosity anymore. Where did you get your gorgeous little medallion?" Rose sounded excited, although Lucky didn't share her feelings. He maintained his indifferent look on his face. Something, connected with his ornament, was waking up in the deepest corners of his soul, which Lucky immediately suppressed.

"I should have hid it under the coat. These kinds of questions just bring bad memories of the past. But now I can't leave her question hanging in the air, can I?" he thought.

"I got it on my graduation day from my parents." Lucky said. "And it's not just a bijou, if that's what you are wondering."

"What is it, If it is okay to tell me?" she asked politely.

"A tool for catching runners. The crystal is enchanted with a binding spell."

"Interesting, I never expected that you were a magical pegasus." she giggled.

"And you are right, cause I can't do magic like an unicorn. However, I can sense it and through this medallion, I can channel the spell, using my thoughts. This is something left in my blood from my unicorn parent."

"I see." Rose noted.

The two ponies reached the stairway. Rose went down the stairs, but Lucky stopped in front of the first step. He made dour face and precariously lifted up his right hoof in front of him.

"I hate this stairs! However, I'd better not make a show now. Remember, one step at a time." the pegasus thought.

"Come on, Mr Lucky. The stairway doesn't bite." Rose noticed him, standing in an awkward pose, when she got to the second floor

"What? I'm not afraid!" he exclaimed.

"Then show me!" she teased him with a friendly voice. Then the pegasus made uncertain first step, after which he started moving a bit faster. Lucky rejoined with Rose, who was smiling, without accidents and together they proceeded to the ground floor. It was quiet, only their steps and some voices sounded in the building. Maybe most were all sleeping in this early hour.

When the two got on the first floor, the three ponies, sitting on the sofa in front of a low glass table, ceased their conversation and quickly turned their heads to the newcomers. They watched them carefully, while the two were walking near.

"Good-morning!" the white mare greeted. She had a red mane, which perfectly matched her green eyes.

"Good-morning!" the other two earth ponies said after her. The middle one had a brown fur and an yellow mane. The third was orange looking with extremely long green mane, which was almost covering his entire face.

Rose smiled at them and charmingly greeted too. Only Lucky was silent. They quickly went to the exit door and on their way out, the pegasus overheard the whispers, that came from the three sitting ponies.

"So what you are saying is that the clouds are magically moved on our heads?" the orange one asked.

"It must be the doings of some pranksters." the mare whispered.

"That's what I heard from my guardian friend." the one in the middle said.  

Lucky didn't give any signs, that he heard their conversation and quietly left the building after Rose.

"Magically moved? I would have sensed it. However, the two guardians said that the pegasi couldn't move or disperse them, so maybe there is some truth in their words." he thought.

When he appeared outside, chill wind stroked his face and unprotected parts of his body, making him to shiver. The temperature was lower for what it usually was in this time of the year. The grey clouds were still above the Capital, but fortunately for the ponies below, it was not raining. The yesterday's storm left quite the mark on the city. Every building and street were watery and in some places big puddles prevented anypony from getting to the other side, without getting dirty first.

The city in the mountain looked grey and its towering feel was gone. The ponies, who had decided to have a walk, were unhappy with the aftermath of the storm. However, all of them carried on as always and peacefully went on their business.

Lucky didn't need sight to sense the feeling that flew around. He could almost smell it in the air, as if the entire city was scented with a perfume of depression. On their way to the Royal Guard's Office, the two met few ponies, who all were going in the opposite direction. They were silent and thoughtful, as if something strange happened to them and they just couldn't figure what to do.

"This is very odd. Yesterday everypony was full with energy, now the overall mood feels wrong... Has something terrifying happened?" Lucky thought. Rose noticed that something bothered him and curiously asked:

"Why the serious face, Mr Lucky?"

"Something is not right. The city feels almost dreadful and this weird smell..."

"Yes, I sense it too but the situation will quickly change, when the pegasi bring back the sunny days. There is noting to worry about."

"I hope so." the pegasus wanted to believe her but his guts feeling was telling him otherwise. However, he didn't have time for distracting thoughts cause Lucky had to concentrate on the upcoming job, so he suppressed them. In the rest of their walk to the Royal Guards building, neither of them spoke again. Little did they know, that something in the clouds watched them carefully, invisible for everypony on the ground. The creature's eyes plotted against the two and they had a delighted look, when they saw a way to make the two ponies have a very unpleasant and bloody end.

Soon the two reached the Office. The building stood out as a tall wall with lots of windows and ornaments, representing the honor and courage of the Royal Guards. On the roof white statues of armored Guardians with determined eyes looked in the distance. Over the big wooden door,  large marble shield majestically hung from the second floor. It was graved with gold and in its center the cutie marks of the two rulers were skillfully carved. It seemed that the Office's appearance was untouched by the vicious storm and it proudly shined even in this grey atmosphere.  

In front of the entrance, two white pegasi in golden armors stood still like the ones above them. They didn't give any signs of life, even when Rose and Lucky went passed them. First the unicorn entered inside, then the pegasus. Indoors it was a little overcrowded. Ponies, from all types, talked with each other or complained to the Guardians, who without stopping wrote everything important, the citizens had to say. It was a loud environment, too noisy for Lucky's liking, so he tried to isolate himself from the surrounding sounds.

Rose, followed by Lucky, swiftly navigated through the living maze, painted in every color of the rainbow. It was really hard for the blind pegasus to move in this tight situation. On a few occasions he bumped into someponies. They all looked at him with sulky faces but none said anything to him. Lucky apologized and kept walking forward.

"Blasted! I can't make one step without crashing into somepony. The storm must have done a lot of damage or these ponies wouldn't be here. Is it a coincidence that Rose wants to come here, when its so crowded?" Lucky thought.

The two managed to get to the only bureau in the reception, where Quarter Key was writing reports, while listening to three ponies complaining at the same time. The grey unicorn looked tired and bit annoyed from the situation, which was getting out of control pretty rapidly.

When Rose and Lucky approached him, Key thought they were another complaining ponies, who'd rather not wait for the first ones to finish.

"Good-Morning, Mr Quarter Key. Could you have a moment, please?" Rose asked politely with her charming voice.

The old Guardian stopped writing with his mouth and looked at the newcomers. Small smile appeared on his face. The three ponies next to them immediately turned their heads to Rose and their mouths half-opened from the sight.

"That is Ms Rose!" the orange one whispered.

"And she is wearing her favorite dress!" the cyan mare giggled.

"Well, I'm done with these three." Key replied, then turned to the numb ponies: "I've written everything you said and as soon as possible the Royal Guards will assist in your water problems. You may go now. Have a nice day."

The three looked back at Key, nodded and proceeded to the exit.

"Oh, my gosh, my gosh. We were so close to Blooming Rose. Her perfumed is fabulous!" the cyan pony with a white mane said.

"Did you see how she looked at me. She is like a Goddess!" the white male unicorn almost whispered, when he walked near Lucky.

"Huh, I didn't know Ms Rose had such fans. Is she more than just a painter?" the pegasus thought. He then turned his attention to his friend.

"So, did you actually write everything they complained?" Lucky asked.

"Of course not. For the past half and hour they described their problems very thoroughly, many of which don't concern the Royal Guards. Like the seller in the fruit shop, wasn't polite enough or the gardens needed more yellow flowers. I told them that we accept complaints only for important matters but they kept singing the old song. And now look at me, I'm complaining to you." Quarter Key smiled. "So, what can I do for ya?"

"We are here to pay the probation of the pony, known by the name Ninja." Rose calmly said. Her beautiful purple eyes were pointing at the old unicorn. However, his smile disappeared and his blue eyes had a very serious look now.

"This request is not an easy job. The fine is a fat one." he earnestly said. His eyes turned to Lucky to see, if he could get an answer. The white pegasus almost felt the unicorn's staring look that pierced him like a knife.

"I'm willing to pay the amount needed to set her free."

Key raised his left white eyebrow.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Ms Rose? I don't see why somepony like you would want to help such an obnoxious thief." he sounded a tad rude.

"Yes, I'm absolutely certain in my request. I'm doing this because of personal matters, which does not interfere with the laws of this kingdom. I can assure you." she kept her calm like a true princess, which even Lucky started admiring.

"She knows how to play her role, it seems. I can feel Quarter Key being upset at me now. But I don't have time to argue with him. I need to start investigating as soon as possible, If I'm to capture the thief." he thought.

"Before we proceed, I need to note this in the protocol that I do not approve her release, but the law is the law. Come with me to my office, Ms Rose, where I'll prepare the documents." then Key called on of his colleagues to take his place, while he was absent. The old unicorn stood up from his seat and then aimed his hoof in the direction of his office, which was in the opposite way of the Cells. "This way, Ms Rose."

Before the beautiful mare proceeded to the designated place, she turned to Lucky and whispered in his left ear.

"Now would be great to talk with the ninja."

Lucky lowered his head a notch to the ground.

"But If I fail to convince her?" he whispered.

"I'm confident in you, Mr Lucky. You are smart pony, I know you can think of a way to persuade her. Best of luck!" Rose turned to Key, who was monitoring their little conversation with his blue watchful eyes.

"After you, Ms Rose." he said politely and then together they walked out from the reception. Lucky now was alone in the noisy forest of colorful ponies. The blind pegasus looked concerned cause he faced a very difficult task, for which he hadn't prepared.    

"Luck, huh...  Not much in my life. This is gonna be tricky. From now on I'll have to isolate my feelings and proceed with a cold head. I must not fall under her influence again. Time to do my job!" he thought.

Lucky turned to the left and slowly walked to the entrance of the left corridor, which led to the Cells. He remembered exactly how many steps he needed to get to the basement. The hallway was also a busy place with a lot of ponies going back and forward. They were so occupied by their work, none saw the slowly walking pegasus with a pink towel on his head and wearing snuff-color coat. As if he was invisible for their eyes.  

He managed to get to door to the basement, which unlike yesterday was guarded by one white unicorn Guardian in full armor. He was taller and looked stronger than Lucky. His yellow eyes, though motionless, scanned everypony who'd approach him. The pegasus didn't notice him and when Lucky was about to enter, the Guardian used magic on him, which didn't let him move his legs at all.

"Who goes there?" the unicorn asked with a strong voice. "This is an restricted area!"

Lucky quickly turned his head in the direction of the Guardian's voice. His medallion was glowing, indicating magic was used nearby.

"I'm Lucky Eight and I'm going to see the pony called the ninja."

"Lucky Eight? Hey, it's you. You where the pegasus with the biggest smile in the training camp. I almost couldn't recognize you. You look quite different from those days." the unicorn smiled and terminated the spell that held Lucky in one place.

"And you are?" the pegasus asked with unsure voice.

"Phoenix's Just. Don't ya remember me? I was your unicorn partner in the Double Dare training activities."

"Last I remember, Double Dare was only for pegasi because it involved doing fast flying maneuvers, so unicorns didn't participate in the training. And my partner was Metal Eye."

"Metal Eye? I never heard of a pony with such a name. Something definitely happened to your head because Double Dare is for pegasi and unicorns alike. Can't you remember how you and I did the double dragon maneuver, when you lost control on your approach vector and when you were about to hit the ground, I grabbed your back and hurl you upwards? Afterwards we did triple barrow roll very close to the ground and it all ended with a big crash in the mud. We needed 3 days to recover from that training. He-he..." the Guardian sounded honest and confident in his words but it wasn't enough to convince Lucky.

"Wait, what?! Since when unicorns can fly? You must be joking because what you just described, is what happened to me and my friend Metal Eye, who you should know because he is a Royal Guardian, working in this same building."

"I don't know what hit your head so hard, but what I'm saying is the truth and truth only. I used magic to give myself temporary wings like every unicorn can." the Guardian said.

Lucky was puzzled by his statement. Few were capable of using such magic, which was extremely difficult to perform. The ordinary unicorns had different talents in using their horns' magic. Most of them could perform telekinesis very well or make fireworks and images out of thin air with ease but giving some other creature additional parts was a whole another thing.

"He can't be serious and is probably trying to make me look like an idiot. Maybe this is some sort of a prank by Metal Eye? But then how would he know that I'm gonna come here? I don't have time for this stuff." Lucky thought.

"Alright, let's say I believe your story. Would you now let me in the Cells? I really need to talk to the pony inside." he was insistent and looked like somepony, who was not amused.

"You'll have to tell me why you want to meet with the said pony. Or are ya scared, little cyan feather?"

Lucky shivered, when he heard the last part.

"Did he really call me little cyan feather? How would this Guardian know my filly nickname? Only Metal Eye was supposed to know it and he promised not to tell to anypony." the pegasus thought. Now he had a shocked look.

"From whom did you hear this name?" Lucky asked.

"From you, of course. You told me, when we were colts. In the backyard garden of Mrs Flower Ring, where the purple violets were planted. You asked me not to tell anypony about it. Don't you remember?" the unicorn sounded concerned.

Lucky couldn't believe what he was hearing. Everything the Guardian said was true except him being there. As if Metal Eye was replaced by this pony. The pegasus got a little angry. No pony had the right to know such intimate parts of his life and unashamedly take his real friend's place.

"Stop it right there! Do you think this is funny? Cause it's not! If I hear you saying this horse crap one more time, I swear, I'll inform your superiors about insulting me." Lucky couldn't hold himself and his voice was heard from one end of the hallway to the other. Someponies, who were passing nearby, looked surprisingly at the blind pegasus and the Guardian, who was utterly confused by his sayings.

"I-I... My apologizes. I didn't mean to upset you. I wish now that I could have been alongside you, when you had the horrible accident. But I've been on duty in Manehatten for the past year. I've been so busy that I couldn't have come to see you or write you a letter." he regretted with low voice.  

Lucky was about start shouting again, when he listened to the sorrow in his words. They sounded so real and deep, that the pegasus almost believed in them. However, he knew it was untrue and it only made him angrier.

"Is something wrong, citizen?" the white unicorn asked with a different calm tone.

"Of course, something is wrong, you lying griffon!" Lucky looked furious, which came as surprise to the Guardian.

"What do you mean? I didn't say a word. You silently stood in front of me for a few minutes, when you suddenly shouted something incomprehensible." the Guard looked astonished and quite unaware of what was happening.

Lucky froze in one place, trying to comprehend the situation. The nearby ponies looked at the two with curious eyes and pointed their ears to learn what it was all about.

"What you are saying is impossible! You and I just had an interesting conversation. Isn't that right, Phoenix's Just?" Lucky intruded in the guardian's personal space, showing his pissed off face in front of the unicorn's. The Guardian was little scared by him but he gently pushed him away and calmly said:

"First of all, my name is Diamond Rod. Second, I can confirm, that you just silently stood in front of me, by asking the nearby witnesses."

A grey pegasus with a blue mane came closer to them and said with an husky voice:

"Yeah. I can confirm what the guard said. I watched you both. None of you opened your mouths even once, until your outburst."

Lucky turned his head away. A lot of feelings were going through his soul but shame was not one of them. He couldn't explain it, as if he switched places between two realities. No way in million years would Lucky believe that he imagined the entire thing. The pegasus took a deep breath and then turned his head in the general direction of the two ponies.

"I apologize for my behavior. Some sort of bad memory, I guess." Lucky said through clenched teeth. "It will not happen again."

The armored unicorn smiled.

"Apologies accepted."

Lucky nodded and started walking towards the door that led to the basement, when yet again he was stopped.

"And were do you think you are going? The Cells are restricted." the unicorn said.

Lucky sighed.

"I must speak with the prisoner inside. She is going to be set free today. Ask Quarter Key regarding her release. So. if you do not mind, leave me alone." he said with a serious voice.

"Well I can't let you in without permission. But if what you say is true, I can make a compromise. Silver Jack will come with you, while I'm at Key's office. Do we have a deal?"

"Sounds reasonable." Lucky replied and then he went inside, without waiting for the grey pegasus to follow him. The Guardians looked at each others' eyes. Then Silver Jack went after Lucky, who was already starting to climb down the stairs.

"What an odd pegasus." Diamond Rod thought, while gazing at the two disappearing ponies.  

In the Cells...

"So, what is it all about?" the grey pony asked.

"A personal matter." Lucky replied. They were going with steady steps, which echoed in the big room. The yellow light turned into red, when they approached the magic walls.

"I can't have imagined what happened earlier. It sounded too real to be something made by my mind. The strange part is these anomalies started appearing from yesterday. I wander, if they are connected somehow. Are they parts of a bigger problem in my subconscious? I must spot, when these things happen and stop getting over myself because of them! Or I might as well end up in the Cells..." Lucky thought.

"Personal, you say? Could you clarify on that?" Silver Jack asked, when the two were near the magical walls, which made sure no pony could enter or leave.

"Nope. But be assured, it's not something that will cause trouble." Lucky said with a serious tone, while standing in front of the border, which separated his free world from the ninja's dark corner. "I'm going in her cell, so you stay here. If she decides to attack me, do not interfere! Got it?"

The grey pegasus looked astonished by his request and rightfully so. The pony inside the prison was dangerous and going alone in her cell was a clear suicide. Jack went in front of Lucky and pointed his hoof directly at his chest.

"Wow, hold it there, partner! You wish for a death sentence or something? No pony is allowed in the prisoner's cage and I'm coming with you to make sure you don't do something stupid. And besides how are going to enter in there, without knowing the combinations of each barrier? "

"I used to be a Royal Guardian, for your information, so I can take care of myself." then Lucky tried to go around him but Silver Jack blocked his path again. His green eyes looked confidently at the pink towel, exactly where Lucky's eyes were. The white pegasus was irritated by this action but his face still maintained the serious look.

"And that doesn't mean you can endanger yourself. I'm coming with you, like it or not." the grey pegasus said.

"Fine. But don't interfere. Got it!"

"Of course." Jack assured.

Silver Jack moved aside to let Lucky get into the Cells. The two were going slowly through the first barrier and when they crossed it, the red luminance turned into blue. Their steps echoed in the basement. The ninja patiently waited for the newcomers to come closer. The prisoner had closed her eyes. She was meditating without a sound. The red light gave her a strange diabolical look, despite her being unusually calm at the moment. When Lucky and Silver Jack were just in front of her cell, the ninja suddenly opened her orange eyes, which scared Jack to his bones. Her stare was so deep, he could almost feel her presence in his mind, analyzing him from inside out. He felt shivers down his spine and immediately looked away from her.

"Those eyes... I've never seen such a demonic gaze in my life. Please, don't do anything stupid!" Jack worried, while looking at the white pegasus, who somehow stayed cool.

"You are here so soon and you bring new friends. Didn't you get the message, the last time we met, blind one? Or are you here for a second beating?" she was trying to intimidate him again but the ninja didn't know, that he created a tall wall, which wouldn't be so easy to break through.  

Lucky was unmoved by the ninja. He knew it wouldn't be easy and there was no place for weaknesses. The blind pegsus had thoughtful look for a few moments, when he replied:

"One drop of water can't make a pool. Two drops can create oceans." Lucky smiled, which surprised her.

"What is this? Having trouble getting to high places?" she ironically said.

"No, what I'm asking is for your help in an important matter." Lucky kept his calm and didn't show signs of falling to her provocations.

"Why I get the feeling I'm the big one, which actually creates the oceans." the ninja stood up and made a few steps closer to the two ponies. She was now only a meter from the barrier. Her masked face was illuminated in bloody red and her body emitted strange dark aura. Silver Jack could feel his heart going nuts, when looking at her. His breathing was becoming more and more uncontrollable.

"My guard is stressed... is she such a frightening sight to look at? Or is he just a coward? I must be careful in my next words, while she is willing to listen." Lucky thought.

"I'm a master of many skills. What is the job you want me for? What's the catch, little pony?" she said with all her seriousness.

"Mr Lucky, what you are about to hear must not leave this room. Can you promise me this?" Ms Rose voice sounded in Lucky's head, when he half-opened his mouth. "The client doesn't want information about her problem spreading out, so how am I to tell the ninja about the job? Should I try to persuade her without being honest? Although she sounded pretty straight, so..."

"Well? Did you bite your tongue? Come on, be quick and don't waste my time!"

"Crap! She leaves me with one choice... There's no turning back after what I'm about to do. Please, Celestia, give me strength!"

Suddenly Lucky struck Silver Jack with his rear hooves and then jumped inside the ninja's cell. At first Jack didn't realize what was going on, but when his eyes saw Lucky going in the other side of the barrier, he ordered as loud all he could:

"For your own sake, get back in here! She will injure you!"

The white pegasus didn't listen to his orders and warnings. Lucky was just in front of the black suited pony, who secretly smiled under her mask. The tension was all around in the air and long drop of sweat fell from the blind pegasus's neck. Before it even touched the ground, Lucky felt a warm pain in his right cheek and then he found himself flying to the left. His body fell hard to the ground and before he could realize what was happening, the ninja swiftly hit him again in the stomach. Lucky groaned out of pain. However, she was not finished with him. The ninja lifted him up to her level and continued bashing him with full force.

With each strike the pain became greater and greater and Silver Jack watched with fear the horrible beating the defenseless pony received.

"Stop it or I'll call the guards!" he shouted but his words fell on def ears. He stood there, shaking out of terror. Jack was torn in his choices of what to do: the first one was to leave the Cells as quickly as he could and warn the others or get inside her magical cage and try to save Lucky on his own. The time was ticking for him but the panic was to great to even move.

After receiving several hooves in the both cheeks, Lucky was thrown in the direction of Silver Jack. He landed painfully next to the barrier and the Guardian saw a small chance to take him out of the cell. Jack attempted to drag him out but was stopped by the blind one.

"Don't try to save me. Just stay here. I'll be alright!" Lucky was breathing uncontrollably.

"Are you crazy? She is going to kill you!" Jack tried again to drag him to safety but instead he felt a dark touch on his hoof. His eyes quickly looked up, when the black ninja grabbed him and pulled him to the other side of the blue barrier. His face met with her and cold sweat came down from his entire body. Then faster than anypony could blink, he received a hoof in the chin. The strike was so immense in power, that Silver Jack flew backwards into the air and then landed hard on his face. He tried to stand up as fast as he could, when then ninja jumped on his back and he found himself lying on the floor. Then she grabbed his body and lifted him high in the air.

She threw him into Lucky, who was about to stand up. The two collided and fell on the ground with groaning. Jack's head was hurting because of the crash with the blind pony but he managed to see the approaching orange eyes, which were shrouded in black. Those eye were so cold, they had no emotion. The pegasus knew his time had come. "I failed, Princess Celestia." Silver Jack thought, as if these were his final words.    

The ninja silently and slowly moved closer to her prey and there was no force to stop her. She came to Lucky first and analyzed him with her demonic stare. He was breathing deeply and had a torn look. The pegasus's coat was rumpled, his silk towel had almost fell from his head and now it uncovered his left side. Then she saw the green medallion, which was still intact and on Lucky's neck. What surprised her was that she didn't notice the emerald locket before. The ninja stared at it for a few seconds. Somehow it was calling for her and soon it absorbed her entire attention. Unconsciously she stretched her hoof to the pendant, when suddenly Lucky grabbed her and pulled her to him.

The ninja fell down on top of him and their eyes met on the same plain. Lucky knew that another chance like this wouldn't come, so he immediately whispered in her ear about the work he had for her. The ninja, like hypnotized, listened carefully all he had to say.

Silver Jack looked shocked of what was happening. He couldn't hear what Lucky whispered but by just looking at him, Jack knew it was something important. The grey pegasus slowly stood up on his for legs, breathing deeply and without removing their eyes from the two.

Then Lucky finished after a few minutes and waited. His breathing was normalized and he was strangely calm. The ninja silently stood up and backed away from the lying pegasus. Now her orange eyes had a thoughtful look for a few moments, then she blinked and now they returned to their previous emotionless state.

"Apples, I want apples right now and when we finish, you'll pay me a cart full with fresh apples!" she demanded.

Lucky sat on the ground and nodded:

"You have yourself a deal!" he stretched his hoof to her. The ninja bumped it with her own.

"Don't think that we are equals, blind one. A friendly advise: don't cross me. The ponies, who did just that, are not among the living." she sounded threatening but Lucky was unmoved. He painfully smiled, knowing his mission was successful, though leaving him with a lot of bruises.

The ninja closed her eyes and sat on the floor in a meditating pose. The dark aura around her was gone and she looked peaceful. "What just happened?" Silver Jack asked himself, while looking at the covered in black pony. Then his eyes moved to the white pegasus, who was standing like a statue.  

Lucky's smile disappeared, when her last words echoed in his mind. "Is she a killer or just bluffing? There have been no murders in Equestria for centuries, as far as I know. Am I wrong? I must be cautious with her and not be on her bad side. What if the ninja decides to leave? Casting a binding spell on her, won't make things prettier. I hope, Ms Rose's faith in her is not proven wrong." Lucky thought.

Suddenly he felt a hoof on his shoulder and then quickly realized it was Silver, who was standing next to him.

"Are you alright?" the grey pegasus asked quietly. His eyes were still pointed at her.

"I'll be fine." Lucky said, while he was fixing his towel and coat.

"I don't know what you said to her, but you saved our lives. You have my thanks." Jack smiled.

"I only told her the truth and don't thank me. I said to stay back and not interfere." he looked serious, not the response Jack was expecting from him.

"Well, excuse me. But I wasn't the one who jumped into her cell. What did you expect to happen? Have a pleasant conversation about flowers?" Silver Jack ironically said.

Lucky listened to him silently and gave no answer to his questions. There was no doubt that what he did was extremely dangerous, but he had little hope, that she would let him speak and avoid being beaten like this. The pegasus learned his lesson the hard way. The ninja was a strange beast. Even Lucky was unsure, if she was still a pony or something else.  

Hoofsteps echoed inside the stone basement. A white unicorn appeared on the stairs and approached the barriers.

"Your story is checked... what are you all doing in her cell? What happened in here?" Diamond Rod had a troubled look.

"Noting special. We just had a little incident but we are all alright! You know how slippery the floor is sometimes." Jack smiled.

The unicorn didn't buy it but since they were alive in there, he could close his eyes on this one. He then turned his attention to the black suited pony.

"You are free to go ninja. Somepony paid your probation but know this: you will not receive your weapons, until you passed your one month trial, in which you'll be monitored for bad behaviors and if you break the laws again, you'll be arrested and put in jail. Am I clear?

The ninja stood up and walked to the red barrier. She suddenly opened her eyes, gazing at Diamond Rod, who looked mighty in his golden armor.

"I understand." she answered.

The white unicorn's horn sparkled and every barrier changed its color to blue.

"Everypony, please, leave the Cells." he asked.

At first the ninja hesitated to move but she then passed through the magical walls with new confidence, followed by Lucky and Silver Jack.

"Why you helped me?" the white pegasus whispered.

"You still saved my live, so that makes us even now?" Jack looked with friendly eyes at the blind pony.

"If you say so."

"Huh, why does he think I saved him? I do not know why she ceased her attacks and abruptly change her attitude towards us. Where did all of her aggression go?" Lucky thought.

When the ninja stepped out of the last barrier, she felt lightened for some reason. Her ex-prison terrified her and she was glad it was behind her now. She walked to the stairs more lively than ever in her life.  

"One month? Ha, I can live without my blades. At least, now I have purpose to breath under the sun. Was it a coincidence the blind pony came to me, when I mostly needed an escape from my reality? He can't be one of the Dragon Claw's minions, so I'm still hidden in this city. However, I must not let my guard down. Let's see where the snake lurks in the grass." she thought on her way to the exit.

Everypony silently left the blue lighted basement, when two white eyes appeared out of the thin air. They seemed unhappy and quite mad of what happened in here. Then they disappeared without a trace into the unknown. Next Chapter: Chapter 6: Mask N' Knifes Estimated time remaining: 15 Hours, 54 Minutes