Well, dear reader, I've got to say: it all turned out to be pretty good.

Except for one thing.

Wing Noir and Carbon Copy got captured by Mörk.

My quill is still unsteady when I write this. Who knows what they'll do to them? And you know, it is all my fault! Because of me, they got captured.

But I swear, that I'm going to find Noir. I need to, I have to.

He saved me so many times, and now it's my turn to save him.

He's my first friend, my best friend. And I'm not going to lose him.

Oh, by the way, I still owe you an explanation, do I? Well, here goes:

So, when I was standing in that hall, the… half-unicorn-half-dragon-stallion, who teleported me here, walked up to me. His name's Warpath. His body was covered in jet-black scales, except for his head and body. His hind legs have claws, his forelegs hoofs. His mane and tail is blue, and his all-yellow eyes looked old. His horn was black at the tip but turned blue going upward.

He nodded his head to me and then looked at the audience, consisting from a full-blood dragon, a young pegasus and a shaggy-looking unicorn with wings, too small to be able to fly with.

Anyway. He turned back to the audience, and they took a good look at me – without saying a word. Then, turning back to me, Warpath spoke.

"Do you know why you are here?"

Shakily, I shook my head.

"Do you know what is following you?"

This took me off guard. Does he mean..?

"Mörk?" I said, with a small voice. Warpath nodded and turned back to face the other dragon, clearly thinking of what to say next.

"Let me introduce you to the rest of the crew."

He pointed with his hoof at the green pegasus.

"This is Swift Spry. He's our close combat expert."

Swift Spry nodded. His aquamarine spikes wobbled with the motion of his head. His tail was aquamarine too, and so are his eyes. His coat is green. His cutie mark is a blue star with inside a yellow lightning bolt. There was something around his waist… I think it's a belt with a katana sword in it.

Then, he moved on to the dragon. His scales are blue, with white scales on his stomach. He has orange eyes, and some weird inscriptions on his neck. Three rings of strange tokens cover the scales on his neck; I can't see them entirely though, his cloak hides the most of the inscriptions. He also wears pants.

"This is Enerjack Vocalis. He is our swords expert, and a great flyer."

His cloak was open. I could see two smaller swords – I think it's called a tanto – and bigger swords around his cloak. He has also several different knifes and blades over his body in shafts or belts.

He was definitely not somebody you wanted to fight.

Then, he pointed to the alicorn, but before he could continue (and before I could stop myself), I blurted out what I wanted to know the most.

"Where is Wing Noir?"

Warpath looked up, slightly annoyed, but he didn't mention it.

And then came the blow.

"Wing Noir and Carbon Copy, the one who brought you here, were captured by Mörk's followers."

I flinched and staggered backwards. "No…"

Swift Spry raised an eyebrow. "Why do you care so much for that colt?"

My cheeks flushed. Enerjack to him face-palmed.

The alicorn rolled with his eyes. "Give that filly a break, Swift Spry."

He glanced at me. "She doesn't know the first thing ´bout ´im."

Swift Spry huffed. "You don't either."

"Shut up." Warpath said. Not angry, but at a demanding tone, so you had to obey him. He sighed and muttered under his breath.

"Filly, I need you to forget about him. He cannot be trusted, and even if we wanted to, we couldn't save him. We don't know where he is. Carbon Copy…"

He trailed off, thinking.

"Well, we haven't had the scheduled letter from him last night."

Last night? How long have I been out?

"When we came to look for him in the house, we found this."

He levitated a black feather. I picked it up with my magic myself, wrapping it in a dark-bluish-purple-hue. Warpath continued.

"The living room was destroyed. There were clear signs of struggle and fight. We aren't sure whether they have been able to flee – but then, we found the feather. We don't know where it is from. We believe it is from bird, not a pegasus. Nevertheless… I think it is a sign from the cult: we have both, come and get them."

I recognized the feather immediately. When I was reading in the sun in Water Word's back yard, Wing Noir was just sitting about. Then, an owl flew on a branch in the trees nearby him. It was a brown owl, but with black wings. He hooted once, and flew away, leaving one of his feathers behind. It landed in front of Noir. Curiously, he picked it up, and after playing with it for a while, he put it on his hat.

"But… Why?"

And then he explained everything. The cult, Illuminae… their purpose… Wing Noir.

"But, wait a minute," the alicorn interrupted, "Why aren't we trying to find 'em? Carbon is our friend. Besides, he still owes me a drink."

Warpath sighed. "It is too dangerous."

"Ugh. The 'Too Dangerous' cliché? Come on, we can do better than that." Swift Spry said. Enerjack nodded.

Swift pointed at him. "See? Enerjack agrees. And Snipit does too."

My ears perked when I heard the name. "Snipit?"

The alicorn looked up. "Aye?"

I stood up. "What happened to Shadow?"

"What, that teacher? He was send back to Canterlot. Don't worry, he'll be fine."

I narrowed my eys. "Really?"

"Uhm…"

Enerjack stomped him.

"Snipit? What did you do?"

He grimaced. "Well, I might've… sort of… kinda…"

"Get on with it, man." Swift Spry said. Cries from various sides urged him even further.

"Yeah, get on with it!"

"Okay, okay, okay!" Snipit facehoofed. "Look, I had to get rid of him… No, not that way! Look, I told him to scram when Carbon left. But he didn't want to leave you two, so I told him to go to Celestia for further information. He didn't trust me…"

"Obviously," Swift muttered under his breath; Snipit glared at him,

"He didn't trust me, so he decided to test some of his new spells and pinned me on the wall."

Warpath cocked his eyebrow. Snipit grunted again.

"Look, it wasn't my fault! He was too fast. Anyway, he told me he wouldn't release me until he told me what's going on. So I told him the filly was in danger and we're here to protect them, but he didn't believe me, so I flung a smokebomb at him to distract him so I could get away."

He massaged his temples with his hooves.

"So I caught 'im, an' put 'im unconscious, jus' like I had to. I put 'im into… a safe place, so to say… Not like I was ordered, but I ran away anyway. I guess he went to Celestia after he found Water Word's house in a mess…"

Enerjack grunted. "This whole thing is a mess. Now we have that dude on our tail."

But Warpath just nodded, closed his eyes and thought for a moment. The rest was silent.

"We still have the matter of Carbon Copy," Reminded Swift Spry, to change topics. "What are we going to do?"

Meanwhile, I was still processing all the information I had gotten. I had absolutely no idea how to react, that was for sure. I mean, a cult, trying to kill you? A team, there to protect you? Wing Noir, not knowing who he was anymore? Shadowflame, not knowing if he was all right?

At that moment, I was beginning to feel really tired. All I wanted was to go to sleep… even though I had to face those nightmares. I mean, why does this have to be so complicated?

Then, Warpath opened his eyes and began to speak.

"Our team has been put together, so that in the right situations, she had a team she could rely on."

Everypony (or everydragon) was silent.

"Our team has been through a change, recently. But we are a team, nevertheless, and we have to stay together, at all times."

Agreeing nods from the rest.

"Our prime target, at the moment, is to keep Civviq safe. And we need all the help we can get to do so. Carbon Copy… We can't just run out without any clue as to where he is. But if there is a way that we can save him, I'm sure we will embrace it."

More noises.

"If what Snipit says is true, that the teacher cares enough for them to go after them… I believe he might be of some help."

The noises died down a bit. Unsure looks were exchanged.

"I need to consult the princesses about this matter."

He looked at me again. "Miss Writer, you will be staying here, in this building, until further notice. Spry, bring her to the guest rooms on the second floor.

"One last thing, before I forget. About our team name; do we all agree it should be "The Strikers"?

Nods.

"All right then. Dismissed."

The other three stood up and prepared to go. Swift Spry gestured me to follow him, and so I did.

The building wasn´t big, but I still couldn´t see any windows. We went up the stairs, through another corridor and we stopped in front of a wooden door.

"Here ya go. This is your room for now."

He opened the door. The room was almost exactly the same as I woke up in – except that there now was furnishing; a bed and a closet. Nothing more. Not even a window.

Swift Spry was gone before I could ask him about it. And so I'm here now. Even though I have still no idea what to think about it. It all happened so fast…

To Betelgeuse,

Leader of the Second Division,

Head Mare of Alpha 1,

Supervisor of Actions,

Let me first tell you that we, Our High Lord Mörk and I, are not pleased with your mistake. We have put our trust in you and you have disappointed us.

But since you have a plan, we shall give you another chance. Do not fail, or else punishment will await you.

Kind regards,

Black Heart

Current Leader

Loyal Servant of our Dark Lord Mörk

Hey Civ, this is Noir.

I found this empty notebook in my tent. I took a quill as well, obviously. I don't know why they were there, but they were there, and they aren't there for nothing.

I have seen you done this before, and maybe you'll read this, one day. I don't know what's going to happen, I don't even know what's going on! But I can always tell you everything, and you wouldn't judge me – or so you say – so I'll just pretend I'm writing this to you. Makes it far easier, too.

Anyway, you told me it was good to write it down, so it won't stay inside and curl up to a big ball and explode… maybe it's a bit exaggerated, but it does feel good to write it down. So I'm doing it.

NO, this is NOT a diary. These are LETTERS. Big difference.

So, anyway. Right after this 'Carbon Copy' flashed you away and turned to me, some other ponies came in and started to attack Carbon and me. He stood up for me, but we were outnumbered. It's black after that.

Then, I woke up in a tent. Next to my matrass stood a pegasus stallion, I vaguely recognized. He had a grey coat, just like me, and dark-blue hair, as black as the night. His eyes were dark blue as well – but instead of the regular white, the eye-white was black like a shadow.

"Hello, son."

I tried to sit up, but he pushed me down. His hoof felt cold on my forehead.

"Dad?"

His expression was serious, almost gruff – but it had a hint of sadness. I kept staring at him.

"You've got your mother's eyes."

I had gotten really, really angry at that remark. Where had he been? Why didn't he come back?

Many of these questions (among some colorful language) did I flung at him, but he remained stoic. When I was out of breath from cursing and out of tears from crying, he sighed and shook his head.

"Wing Noir. My son. I missed you, you know."

He sighed again and stood up.

"I'm sorry I had to abandon you. But I had to serve a greater cause."

"Greater than mom?" I retorted. He frowned.

"Greater then all of us." And he left the tent.

I hated him, you know. I hated him really much when he left, and I still do. I mean, how could he abandon us when we needed him the most?

Anyway, I tried to follow him to wherever he's going, but he pushed me back.

"No, son. Stay here and wait for me."

So, I found this little book and wrote in it. And I'm going to keep on writing in it until we can talk again.

I really don't know what to write anymore… So, yeah, this was my first letter to you.

I hope I'll see you soon.

Your friend,

Wing Noir.

Log 37, Entry 1

Authorities have loaded me with the task of reforming a prisoner. If I fail to let him adapt to our ways, I have gotten permission to bring them to the Cave. But they trust me, and I will not fail them. I will not fail the Ways of the Shadows.

Log 37, entry 2

Authorities have presented me the prisoner. He… It's my son.

Log 37, entry 3

I haven't thought about my family for a long time. One must not dwell in the past – but now she is dead, and he… he hates me. I don't understand… I found I cannot remember…

Log 37, entry 4

I must guard my son. I cannot tell you how painful and heartbreaking that is, and wonderful and amazing at the same time. Ever since I laid eyes on my son – sleeping – I couldn't shake these… thoughts… off me. I found I missed her, but I do not know why. I cannot remember clearly, only muddy images from the past.

But I must stay loyal to my true leader. And I will make sure he will be loyal too.

Dear Civviq,

My father had come to get me soon after I have finished my first letter. He pulled me up, and with a gruff voice, he said:

"Follow me."

So, without a word, I followed him. Like I said, we were in a camp somewhere in the middle of the forest. It was a big camp; many of those black-colored tents were positioned around multiple fireplaces. My father led me to the biggest fireplace, in the middle of the camp. There was also the biggest tent. He pulled up the flap to let me in.

There, behind a wooden desk, sat a dark-blue mare with black manes and tail. Her eyes are snow white, but just like my father, the outer white is black. All the other ponies that were busy in the camp seemed to have these kind of eyes as well, by the way. As if they were under some sort of spell…

The mare looked at my father. She nodded.

"Thank you, mister Noir. You can return to your duties."

He nodded as well, and after one last look at me, he left the tent. The mare stood up and walked over to me.

"Hello, Wing Noir. My name is Betelgeuse. And I'm in charge here."

I could barely suppress a scowl. Who does she think she is?

She noticed my withhold snarl and laughed. "Oh, you cheeky little thing. Just like your father."

What!? "I'm nothing like my father!" I spat out. She was unfazed by my outburst; she merely rolled her eyes and returned to her desk. I was still fuming when she sat down.

"Oh, you little colt. Soon, you will understand. Mister Noir?" she called out. Father came in the tent again.

"Take your son back to the tent. Make sure he understands our ways, but if he doesn't want to accept us voluntarily, we will have to go to the Cave."

Father nodded and gestured me to come with him.

It was then that I saw Carbon Copy. He was somewhere at the edge of the camp, chained to a tree. I couldn't see him well, but those black-eyes certainly haven't been treating him nicely. They have given him some food and water, however – so they aren't completely barbaric.

I tried to yell, to get his attention – but I failed to do so. Father shushed me before I could say something. Once in our tent, he left me alone with the promise of some food and water. He hasn't returned yet.

Civviq, I don't trust this a bit. I don't know where you are, and I don't know how I got here, but please, be okay. Stay away from here. I'll be okay, I promise. I need to get out of here before they turn me 'black' as well..

I think that's what happened to Father. Maybe he got captured, maybe this isn't him… But I'm not sure.

Civviq, if I keep struggling, they will bring me to that cave-thing. If I have to go there, I might not see you ever again – and I don't want that. But I don't want to be enemies; I want to get out.

If this whole thing really changes me, I'm so sorry if I hurt you in any way. I don't mean to hurt you, I never want to hurt you.

You're my best friend, and you always will be.

Wing Noir