Lucky was the last to exit the basements. Diamond Rod closed the wooden-steel door and locked it with a key. Then he turned to the pegasus and the ninja, who was checking the corridor with curious eyes. Three days inside the Cells was too much for her and she was eager to get outside.

"Ms Rose is waiting in the reception. Silver Jack, where do you think you are going?" the unicorn asked with earnest voice. The grey pegasus halted, turned his head around to face his superior and smiled very unconvincingly.

"I'm on my way to the reception." Silver Jack answered. The strong Guardian pierced him with his serious sight and that made Jack feel the shivers down his spine. Rod quickly closed the distance between them and whispered in his ear.

"Wait me in Quarter Key's office."

"What's so important, Rod?" Jack concernedly asked.

"We'll speak there."

Jack nodded and went in the opposite direction of the reception. Then the white unicorn turned to Lucky, who was facing him, as if he was expecting to hear something important from him.

"Quarter Key wants to see you in private."

"Right now?" the blind pegasus sounded tired. After his death-match against the ninja every bone in his body hurt and on many places blue spots revealed, where exactly his new partner hit him. Lucky was not feeling ready for another fight although this one might prove less damaging to his physical form.

"Not gonna be possible at the moment, cause Key was summoned by the commanders. Several recruits never showed up in the barracks last night, so my guess is, he will be looking for them. When his work is done, Key wants to meet with you this evening at the confectionery, alone." Diamond Rod glimpsed at the pony with the black cloth, who was looking the other way, although she was fully aware of their conversation and listened to their every word.

"Alright, I'll be there." Lucky said with a low voice. He still didn't like the notion of meeting Key cause Lucky knew exactly for what it would be all about but there was no way around him. The white unicorn nodded and then he slowly turned around but before making his first step in his direction, the pegasus voice sounded behind him: "One more thing, is it me or the place has become a lot quieter?"

Rod just turned his head head to him and little irritatedly answered:

"When you went inside the Cells, somepony brought the "exciting" news: the Two Princess are giving a statement now about the awful weather. Everypony left as fast as they could to see them in front of the Palace. Of course, the Royal Guards were called out to make sure noting bad happens."

"Seems like a Royal desperate move on their part. Maybe I should tell him about the recruits I met." Lucky thought.

"Yesterdays evening, two rookies escorted me to my home. What was interesting is they simply vanished without a sound. I was few meters away from where they left me and I couldn't hear any hoofsteps coming from them."

"Did they say who they were?" Diamond Rod asked impatiently. He now turned his entire body in the pegasus's direction.

"No, they didn't tell me."

"Interesting... Could there be a possibility of you being mistaken?" the unicorn asked with note of disbelief. "Maybe you didn't hear them leaving away because of the heavy rain?"

"Nonsense, I may not be able to see but my hearing is still very good, even better now than an year ago. I'm utterly sure, that those recruits didn't fly away or used the old fashion walking." Lucky sounded believable but Rod needed more information and maybe some evidence to fully believe him.

Now the strong unicorn had a thoughtful look. No pony said a word and none moved for a few moments, when suddenly Rod broke the silence:

"Do you know where you met them?"

"Central square, in front of the Palace." Lucky immediately answered.

"When?" the unicorn asked almost without waiting for the response of his last question.

"I can't tell you the exact time. However, Quarter Key might. You must ask him the time when I left the Office. Then add my travel time from here to the square, which I think was about 20 minutes. But I can't be absolutely sure."

"Where did hey disappear?"

"I left them in Two Princesses' square, I think, somewhere in front of the statues' north side."

Rod memorized everything Lucky said.  

"Alright. I think this will be enough for now. I'll relay the information to Key, when I go to the Castle. You are free to go. Remember, from now one you are our first witness, so don't try to move out of town." Diamond Rod said.

Lucky only nodded, then the serious unicorn turned backwards and walked away with steady steps. Despite being fully armored, he didn't make loud sounds and soon he disappeared around the corner.

Lucky turned around and began his slow walk to the reception. The ninja came closer to his left side and looked at him with eyes, full with irony.

"Somepony tried to be too much of a God?" she asked sarcastically. Lucky didn't like her rude tone but kept his feelings away from her. Although he couldn't control the little fear he still had. The pegasus knew almost nothing about her and he was expecting burst of hits at any given moment, when she was close to him.

"What do you mean?" Lucky sounded a bit confused, though he had pretty accurate guess for what it was about. He gritted his teeth because of the rising nervousness.

"Trying to control the weather with your little wings and hoofs and now crying in the corner? Only fools think mother nature can be forced against her will. Ha, you get, what you deserve, I guess." now she sounded quite provocative, which irritated Lucky a lot.

"Why is she continuing her old song? Is there a specific purpose? Or is it because of psychological nature? Either way, I have to deal with her tongue throughout the entire investigation, huh, this will prove a challenge." Lucky thought.

He lowered his head little to the ground and wearily said:

"You look like you are not from Equestria, am I right? Here we expect the weather ponies to ensure comfortable and suitable time for the ponies in this Kingdom. If they fail at the task, then we'll have huge problems. Many ponies may get hurt or even die. But why would you care?"

He unknowingly struck a sensitive spot in her, which made her to distance a little bit from him but instantly returned to her emotionless self. She didn't try to provoke him again or anything in those lines and became fully silent. Her orange eyes

looked straight forward and didn't blink even once.

When the two appeared in front of the entrance of the left hallway, Ms Rose charmingly smiled at them. However, the deep stare of the ninja send her the shivers. She tried to ignore her eyes and concentrate only on Lucky and her beautiful winkers obeyed her will without question. Ms Rose was slightly shocked by his beaten look, but she kept warmly smiling.

"I see you were successful and I have to congratulate on proving my faith in you, Mr Lucky." then she turned her sight to the ninja. "I'm Ms Blooming Rose. Pleasure to have you with us, ..."

"You must be the pony, who paid my bill?" she asked with an ice cold voice, then made a few steps towards the blue unicorn.

"Well... Yes, I am the one." Rose proudly said.

The ninja stood in front of her and bowed down, as if the artist was a Royal member. The beautiful mare looked confusingly at the ex-prisoner.

"I'm grateful." the ninja spoke with a low honest voice. This astonished Rose and Lucky, mostly the last one cause somehow this robber didn't seem to be the thankful type of pony.

"There's more that meets the eye. Or she just pretending?" Lucky thought.

Rose smiled with even more charm and she warmly looked at her interlocutors with her big purple eyes.

"Actually, I have to thank you all for deciding to help me in this troublesome matter. With your help, Mr lucky will be able to accomplish his investigation. Which reminds me to ask you, when are you going to begin your inquiry?"

"Right now. The first place I want to visit is your house. I hope there we can find some clues about the thief." Lucky said.

"In this case, we are a slightly out of time."

Lucky raised an eyebrow. For a second, he thought that the thief had made his first move. He remained calm and slowly moved towards them.

"Why is that? Has the stealer sent his demands?"

Rose gracefully shook her head.

"No, I'm having my monthly meeting with my friends tonight. I'll have to clean and sort everything in my house. And..."

"That means, every little clue, that can help us identify the burglar, will get washed away." Lucky interrupted her with annoyed voice. "You know, you are making it harder and harder. Can't you at least delay your meeting?"

"I can not. The invitations were sent weeks ago. I am really sorry, but this is very important occasion, which many well-known ponies are looking for. There is just no way for me to cancel it, without them suspecting something and as I've said, I do not want rumors spreading about me."

Lucky face-hoofed and sighed. Although his pink towel covered his eyes, Rose could imagined his pissed look.

"One problem after another. This is getting quite interesting but hey, If I fail, I'll have a pretty good reason why..." Lucky thought.

Suddenly he felt somepony putting their leg over his right shoulder and heard something unsuspected.

"I'm pretty fast in finding stuff, so it wont be a problem. Isn't that right, partner?" the ninja confidently said, while hugging Lucky with her right front leg. The pegasus didn't know if he had to fear her or be comforted by her words.

"Will see about that." he thought, after that the white pegasus turned his head to Rose and said: "And time starts ticking. We must immediately go there and begin our search."

Then Lucky tried to make his first step to the exit, when the strong ninja prevented him from doing that. Her eyes now had a more serious look and the stallion could feel cold coming from the side she aimed her sight. Her killer-like look frightened Rose a little, although she cleverly hid her fears.

"You didn't forget about my apples, right?"

Lucky frowned but he knew there was no way out of it.

"What apples?" Rose curiously asked.

"Her apples..." the blind pony said, as if he didn't want to be heard. "Ms Rose, I'll need my 100 bits now. I have some quick shopping to do."

"I have only 10 bits left. The rest you will get at my place." Rose opened her purse and took out the last remaining gold coins. Then she put the bits in the only pocket on his coat.

"Let's not waste more time here. It'd be advisable for us not to be seen together. Ms Rose, you may go home and wait us there."

Roses nodded with a smile.

"Of course. My house is located on the Sunshine Street. The yellow one with the big blue windows, that have silver ornaments."

"Got it." Lucky and the ninja said simultaneously, which made them look at each other. The pegasus then managed to get himself out of her grasp and started walking towards the big wooden doors. He looked ready for the upcoming tasks. The other two watched him going to the exit and soon followed him.

"You'll be first to leave, Ms Rose." Lucky said, when he was just in front of the gate. The blue unicorn obeyed him. She opened the door and before going into the open, Rose turned to them said smilingly:

"Welcome to the jungle." then the artist silently left and the door behind her closed on its own.

At first, Lucky had a thoughtful look but suddenly a small smile appeared on his face. The ninja looked at him, wondering what he found funny in Rose's words. Both tacitly stood there for a few minutes, when the pegasus decided the waiting was enough. He pushed the tall gate and went outside, followed by the black clothed pony. No one saw them leaving the building, except the two portraits of the Princesses, which kept looking cheerful at the entrance.

"Silver Jack, let's talk about my sister..." Diamond Rod said, when entering Key's office. However, he was surprised to see that no pony was there. He looked around to check, if Jack was hiding but without positive results. For no apparent reason the very well kept room was colder than the corridor, from which the strong unicorn came. It actually was freezing and there were no traces, that the grey pegasus had been in the office.

Rod frowned.

"Darn flier, where is he now?"

The unicorn then slowly exited the room and went to search for his comrade. If only Rod came a few seconds sooner, maybe he would see his friend losing all motion and disappear into a deep shadow.

It was still cloudy and gray but at least the wind was gone. The street felt rather empty like many in the Capital at the moment. Small noise could be heard from the direction of the Central Square, where most ponies gathered to hear what their favorite rulers had to say.

The two were just outside the tall building.

"Do you know where the grocery market is located?" Lucky asked.

"Of course, isn't it from where i stole the cart full with apples?" she answered ironically. "I forgot to mention, I want them to be just like the ones from the truck."

"Uh-hu... so red or green?" he mockingly asked.

The ninja turned to him and closed her hoof to his nose. She looked threatening but Lucky was not afraid at all.  

"From Sweet Apple Acres." she seriously said, then the assassin pushed his head upwards. Anger went true his heart but its spreading was prevented, so the pegasus wouldn't do anything stupid.

Then the ninja began walking in the direction of the market place, which was located next to the Central Square. Lucky had no choice but to follow her. He was growing to dislike her even more.

She was moving with a fast paced, which was hard for Lucky to keep up. When the distance between them grew significantly, the ninja slowed, so that the pegasus could join her again.

"Come on, my grandmother can walk faster." she loudly said.

Lucky managed to not show his annoyance and tried to look cool.

"When you in my place, I'm gonna say to you the same thing." he said with a low voice but it wasn't enough cause she heard him clearly.

"When I agreed to join you, I didn't imagine carrying you around. Because of you we are losing precious time."

"What?!" Lucky's surprised face turned to his partner. "Ha, at least, I'm not wasting time with stupid apples."

They turned around the corner and found themselves in a bigger street that led directly to the Palace. From their position they could see the big colorful crowd in front of the Castle. The noise coming from the hundreds ponies was louder. It seemed like the Princesses were a little late, which was unusual for them.

"Like you are wasting mine. I'd be there, if it wasn't for your sluggishness. Maybe you should have gone with the fancy pony, you know the one that looks at you with deep purple eyes, as if she has a crush on you or something." she glimpsed at him before they went into a smaller street, surrounded by smaller but beautiful houses. He felt a little uncomfortable by her last statement.

"Let's get this straight: I don't trust you and I expect the worst from you, so don't get upset. You and I are stuck together for the rest of this investigation."

"Me upset? You have to be kidding cause I wasn't the one, who lost his cool." she continued to harass him and his patience was getting thinner. Lucky really wanted her to shut up and leave him alone but he knew it would never happen.

They passed nearby a small elegant garden with lots of exotic flowers. Their aroma made Lucky feel peace for the brief moment his companion didn't open her mouth. They reminded him of better times, when he was playful filly, who had no troubles in his little life. However, the not very lasting moment ended by the heavy knocks, that came from the ninja's words.    

"Interesting cutie mark: Purple eight with wings. Your full name is Lucky Eight, am I right? I wonder what made your mommy and daddy choose this name? By the way, where are the old folks? Are they waiting home for you?"

Her voice irritated him to the fullest and when she mention his parents the glass just overflowed. Lucky grabbed her clothing and their faces met just centimeters from each other. The pegasus's expression was furious, not even the pink silk could cover it up. The ninja remained calm and her eyes kept their emotionless look.

"My parents are dead!" the blind one shouted with full force. "Don't you ever dare speak badly about them. Do you understand me?!"

She achieved her goal and invisible smile appeared on her face. Now the ninja knew a lot about him and could actually shield his weaknesses. By harassing him like that, she tested his spirit and in the same time had some twisted fun. The black clothed pony took his hoof and forced hit to let go. The pegasus backed away from her, still angry and looked like he was about to jump on her.

"I'm sorry." she calmly said. Her smile was gone.

"Now you apologize... I've never expected such a thing from you."

Then Lucky quickly took off the pink towel and opened his lifeless brown eyes. The ninja could feel the pain coming from them and the darkness that coat his soul like a cloak.

"This pony has so much anger inside him. I'll use it to shape his inner castle, making sure he wont be an easy pray for my pursuers. If it doesn't work, I'll have to get rid of him after this assignment." she thought without a drop of emotion.

"You want to see my pissed face. Well, here it is. I'll not tolerate your insults any longer. If you have something against me, say it now and be over with it." Lucky said.

She moved a little closer, while gazing at him.

"I'm sorry." she repeated with a strange honest voice, before hitting him in the cheek and trowing him to the wet ground.

Lucky gasped. The strike was really powerful and so swift, the attacker almost knocked his teeth out and this wasn't really her full might. She looked at the weak blind pony with demonic eyes, as if she enjoyed torturing him but this was far from the truth. The ninja felt noting at the moment. Although she caused him great pain, it had to be done to protect him from her past and present.

"Get up!" she ordered with a cold voice.

The pegasus slowly stood up, expecting another blow.

"Why? Why are you doing this? Do you get pleasure in beating a defenseless pony?" he asked with a low but angry voice.

"Here is the problem: I don't team up with weaklings. It is like this: you either toughen up, or you lose the game."

"You think this is a game? You must be mad."

"Life is a big game. Only the best survive. So, are you willing to become stronger or see yourself fade away like the dust on this street."

A sudden wind passed, slightly blowing his green mane. Both were standing still like statues, when Lucky broke the silence:

"I'm not weak!" he sounded confident in his words. Unexpectedly he felt his silk towel landing on his head. He grabbed it and placed it carefully, so that it fully covered his eyes.

"Then prove it." she turned in the direction of the market. "Come, our time is ticking."

The pegasus was still angry but somehow the rage in him steadily faded away. He hated her more than ever but without realizing, blocks in his heart started forming a small wall. At the moment Lucky just wanted to give up and leave the job unfinished. However, he was a pony of his word, so abandoning it was not an option. Lucky began slowly walking after her, keeping a medium distance from the ninja.

They walked for a minute in total silence. They were almost at their targeted destination, when suddenly the ninja sensed something wrong. Her eyes slowly scanned the surrounding buildings but except beautiful facade, noting else took her attention. Her instincts told her to immediately hide but she couldn't leave the blind pegasus alone, so she decided to pretend, as if noting was happening.  

"What's that medallion you hid under your coat, back in the prison?" she asked, when looking back at Lucky. The ninja used the moment to check their backs, although there was noting special.

The pegasus wasn't in a mood to talk but he didn't want trouble with her.

"It's just an accessory." Lucky lied. The ninja saw through the lie like hot knife to butter. He wanted to keep the locket's magical power in secret. She knew it was more than just an accessory, but she decided to not push him.

"The truth about it will come out eventually." the ninja thought. "Everything looks clear but I get the feeling we are being followed."

The two entered the marketplace, which was pretty much empty. There were only few sellers, who had noting better to do but to wait for customers. Two earth ponies behind a grocery stand ceased their conversation and looked at the newcomers.

"Good-morning, would you like to check our delicious tomatoes and carrots?" the violet mare on the right asked.

"Our vegetables are carefully grown in the farms in the south. We deliver the most nutritious and tasty ones and for a fair price." the cyan stallion proudly claimed.

Lucky and the ninja looked indifferent and kept moving without stopping. The two went to the only wooden stand, that had only apples on it. An orange pony with a cowboy hat was patiently standing. When she saw them coming, her eyes sparkled.

"Howdy, partners. You wanna buy some extraordinary fresh apples?" she asked with an western accent.

The ninja looked at the fruits and she was delighted to see, that those were the one, she tried to steal three days ago.

"From Sweet Apple Acres, right?" the black suited pony asked.

"Yes, mam. My family is proud with our apples, the best you can find in Equestria." the seller smiled.

"How many for 10 bits?" the ninja asked, when looking like wolf at the red juicy fruits.

"Three, exactly. But because you are my first customers, I'll give you one more for one third the price. Do we have a deal?"

"Of course." the ninja turned to the pegasus, who apathetically pulled out the bits from his pocket. The ninja grabbed them from his hoof and paid the sellspony.

"Yeehaa. thanks a lot. Here take these and please come again soon. Have a pleasant day!"

She quickly took the bag and while gazing at the fruits on the stand, she said:

"Before we go, I'd want you to spare a large portion of your apples. I'll come later to buy them later."

"How many are we talking here?" the orange pony looked surprised and excited at the same time.

"Full cart."

"Woaw, a big request. You make my blonde hair shiver but I'll do that. I'll await your return."

The black pony nodded. Then the two continued on their way to Rose's house. They walked for some time and after making sure no pony was watching, the ninja pulled down the mask, that cover half of her face and began eating the yummy apples.

"Was she the pony you tried to steal from?" Lucky asked quietly.

She swallowed a fairly big piece and said with uncaring voice:

"If she was, so what?"

"Didn't you feel anything? Did you look her in the eye, when she said we were her first customers?" Lucky wanted to know, if the ninja had any emotions at all, although he was doubting it. The assassin took another bite from the second apple and when she was done chewing the tasty fruit, she glimpsed at him.

"I was looking at the beautiful apples all the time and she sounded happy. What are you trying to prove, little pegasus?"

Lucky didn't say a word and kept walking in full silence. He lost it before he even began it. Suddenly his stomach vibrated and made this roaring sounds, indicating it needed to be filled with food immediately.

"Somepony didn't have his breakfast?" she derisively said.

The vibrations were growing more violent. Lucky remembered having a meal the day before yesterday and it was a small one. As much as he disliked, the pegasus asked with irritated voice:

"Would you be kind to give me one of the apples. I haven't eaten anything in awhile."

The ninja stopped, took one of the untouched apples and with a powerful strike she cut it into two. Then she tossed the smaller piece to him, which he almost dropped to the wet ground. When he realized it wasn't want he wanted, he turned his heat angrily at her.

"I asked you for an apple, not just a bite from it."

"If you want the whole, try to take it from me?"

Lucky sighed. He ate the little piece and went after her, at least his stomach was briefly satisfied. She saw that he kept a quite the distance from her, so she slowed down her pace. Lucky didn't try to compensate for her change in speed and when she was next to him, the ninja slowly waved the other piece from the apple in front of his face.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Catch the apple. That is, if you still hungry."

Lucky was totally not in a mood for her silly challenge, but he feared she wold kick his face hard, if he didn't play the game.

"Come on, everpony play the game. Don't shy." she provoked him.

Suddenly the pegasus used his head to take the fruit from her hoof, but was too slow.

"So easy, I can do this whole day and be amused by your futile attempts."

Lucky gritted his teeth. He wish she would stop being such a jerk and bully but there was no escaping her. The ninja again waved the piece in front of him. He was getting annoyed pretty fast but then a spark lighted his mind. The pegasus intentionally made grumpier face.

"Why should I play your stupid game? Get your hoof out of my way!" he said with dark voice.

"Well then, let me enjoy this juicy apple."

She was about to take a bite, when Lucky was about to give a powerful blow to her cheek. However, the ninja anticipated this move and blocked his incoming hoof with her own, with the one that held the second piece of the apple. Then Lucky tried to bump his body into her, when he tasted an extraordinary delicious apple in his mouth. He froze, not realizing what happened. Then he got pushed back and the pegasus found himself sitting on the ground.

She smiled, when looking at him. Lucky instantly took a bite from the juicy apple and started chewing. The ninja eat the remaining piece, which she held in her left hoof. Lucky finished eating and stood up. He looked surprised but inside him he felt really good for some reason.

"See, not that hard. I hope you liked it." the ninja said with a new friendly voice. Then she put the her mask in front of her mouth, only her eyes remained uncovered.

"What just happened, I do not know. However, victory does taste sweet." Lucky thought. A small smile uncertainly appeared on his face for a short moments, before he felt her hooves on his coat. She pulled him to herself. Their heads we close to one another.

"Next time I'll strike your open flank. Learn to attack properly." she now sounded darkly.

"What a wicked personality. I get the feeling, she is more than just crazy..." he thought.

"By the way, is this the home of the fancy pony?" she pointed at the yellow house with the beautiful big windows.

"You tell me, I can't see, remember?" Lucky said sarcastically.

The ninja released him and then went to the door with the silver ornaments, which were shaped like hearts. She knocked a few times. It swiftly opened and Rose appeared in the entrance.

"Welcome all, again." she cheerfully greeted, but when the unicorn saw Lucky in worse shape, Rose became concerned for him. "What happened to you now, Mr Lucky? Are you alright?"    

The pegasus looked down, trying to not go back a few minutes ago.

"Short but very boring story. Let's get to the chase: would you show us where you last put the letter? It'd be better, if we started from there."

"Of course, I will. Please, come in quickly. I would like to not be seen with you, when standing in front of my house." Rose moved away from the door.

"Don't worry. Almost everypony is at the Central Square. We may be the only ponies on this street." Lucky said, when entering her home.

"Yes, almost." the ninja thought. She looked back at the surrounding area. Lot's of gorgeous architecture but no sight from the thing that was following them. The neighborhood was quite stylish, setting it apart from the rest. These were the houses of one of the most well known ponies in Equestria. Flowers were planted in white marble planters around every door. It had a unique aristocratic feel, which couldn't be mistaken by anypony.

The not so silent assassin could feel the pursuer being near. Was he really good or her senses just imagined things, she did not care. Her guts told her to watch out and that's what she was going to do.

The ninja then turned away and passed through the wooden door, which closed the moment she was inside. Next Chapter: Chapter 8: Ghost Chase Estimated time remaining: 15 Hours, 26 Minutes