Sky Dreamer was certainly glad that Rarity no longer prevented him from going on trade missions. He definitely needed a rest after all that had happened, though he wished he had brought Starsong or Leaf Heart along. Then again, neither of them would be comfortable going to the Everfree Forest, even if it was just to visit Hadya. He was certainly happy that he didn't bring Lucky Shot along, even after all they had done together, he did not trust him around Hadya, or any mare that was single for that matter. He did, however, bring Guardian, who was more than happy to return to the forest, even if it was for just a couple hours.
The airship landed in a clearing in the forest, where a small group of ponies and zebras, belonging to the different tribes of Everfree, was waiting with trade goods, ready for bartering. As Whitegold's merchants began trading, Sky Dreamer left the airship and walked around, Guardian resting on his back. As he walked, he was quick to see Hadya coming to his encounter, happy to see he was alright.
"Hello, Hadya. It's good to see you again."
"It is good to see you as well, friend." Hadya noticed Guardian and approached him, gently petting the eagle's head. "I was afraid you would not be able to come anymore. What happened?"
Sky Dreamer made sure nopony was listening, but to avoid risks he kept his voice down. "I had to do a lot of things for Whitegold. I almost had to kill Rain Cloud when ordered to attack Stormwing to gather information and I had to defend the Wall against...You-Know-Who."
Hadya frowned. "Tricky Note again? She will never stop, it seems." She then noticed something she had not paid attention to since her friend arrived. "Sky Dreamer, you seem unusually calm and, dare I say, happy, yet at the same time I feel you are somehow...Sad. And do not tell me it is because you missed me. What happened?"
Sky Dreamer sat down and sighed. "Do you want the good news first, or the bad ones?"
Hadya held Guardian in her forelegs and sat down in front of Sky Dreamer. "Please, tell me what you think I should know."
"Alright...I had to go to Stalliongrad to see some kind of secret weapon. When I did, the Inquisition caught me. You remember that I killed the Inquisitor who ruined my life after I left the forest?" He waited until Hadya nodded to continue. "Well, I found his son, Dusk Fire...He was my best friend before the war, and so much torture at the hooves of the slavemasters made me forget about him like I forgot about Her. He was furious with me for killing his father, and that's an understatement. I narrowly escaped execution at his hooves, and, just two days ago I found out he will not listen to reason. I talked to his marefriend, an Inquisitor like him, but much kinder. She said that Black Night had manipulated the truth around him, that to Dusk, he was a hero, and all who question him are liars and fools. It pains me...it pains me to know that the war really took my entire past away from me. First my home, then my parents, my freedom, my first friends, my sanity...It is too much, Hadya."
Hadya couldn't help but feel sorry for her friend, and if it wasn't because they were still at risk of being seen by the other ponies, she would have tried to comfort him. "War is truly disgusting, friend. I am not a willing fighter either, you know that. But I can tell that you have suffered more than others, and I know you do not deserve this."
"Yeah, maybe I don't. It's not like I have been the most peaceful of killers either. At least I can still enjoy some of the pleasures in life. Kinda like...Lucky Shot." Sky Dreamer looked at Hadya, expecting a reaction.
Hadya's expression went from sympathetic to a facehoof. "He told you, did he not?"
"He even said you were 'one wild dancer' in the 'Bedroom Tango'."
Hadya shook her head furiously, heat rising to her face. "It was just one time, and I swear, I do not know how he did it! One moment we were talking about you and the next one he-"
"We DON'T have to talk about that right now..." Sky Dreamer quickly looked for a way to change the topic. "So, the good news. I have a butler...a changeling, no less."
Hadya was now confused. "A butler? A changeling? Does that not go against yourself?"
"He wanted to serve me after I released him from prison in exchange for information on Tricky Note...Now if I had a bit for every time I've had to repeat that recently. Anyway, I also found a way to get Leaf Heart out of Earthborn and take her to Manehattan with me."
Hadya smiled. "You mean you and her are finally...?"
Sky Dreamer nodded with a smile. "Yes, we are now living together in Manehattan, with my daughter."
"Congratulations, Sky Dreamer! It seems that life is finally smiling upon you and rewarding you for your sacrifices."
"It will definitely smile upon me when I find Tricky Note and kill her once and for all. But I see your point, yes. I haven't been this happy since I joined Whitegold."
"About her...I would truly watch my back if I were you. You never know what a cultist might do, especially one as unstable as her. Just knowing that she took the time to kidnap each of us to see what she did to you gives me an idea of how twisted her plans can be, and just what she is willing to do to see them through."
"I know...I know."
For an hour or so, Hadya and Sky Dreamer kept talking, catching up on events on Hadya's life, but not revealing any harmful secrets. When the trade was over, Sky Dreamer was quick to say good bye and return to the airship with Guardian, the merchants could not notice his absence even for a minute, and Hadya could perfectly understand.
The trip back home was uneventful as always, but Sky Dreamer did not care much about it. Once back in Manehattan, he headed directly to his house, but after Decoy opened the door for him, he saw with surprise that General Fancy Pants himself was waiting for him inside.
"Ah, Sky Dreamer! I have been waiting for you!" the General said.
"General? What are you doing here?" Sky Dreamer asked, the surprise still evident in his face.
"We need to talk...In private, if possible."
Sky Dreamer nodded and walked with him to his office, both of them sitting down to talk. "What is it, General?"
"I am Fancy Pants for the moment." Fancy pants winked, giving Sky Dreamer the signal this talk was too personal to be considered part of work. "Listen, I came as soon as I could. Tomorrow I will be far too busy to talk, and I believe Rarity will try to keep you away from here as much as she can."
"What? Why?"
"Remember the super weapon in Stalliongrad? Our spies report that it is near completion, Moon and Star forcing the slaves to redouble their efforts, more than a couple dying..."
Sky Dreamer was angered by this, and afraid at the same time that the Idol was almost complete. "We are the only ones who know of this, we must put an end to it now that we can!"
"That is precisely why I came. Rarity has decided that House Whitegold will do nothing about this."
"What?!" Sky Dreamer's voice could almost be heard clearly outside the office. "We are just going to give Moon and Star the means to win the war because she says so?!"
"Sky Dreamer, please! We are not in any condition to go on a full-scale assault against Stalliongrad! We will have to hope that this weapon is stopped by the other Houses!"
"And what if they don't have the means to stop it, Fancy Pants?! And even if they do, what about the slaves?!"
"Sky Dreamer, this is precisely why I wanted to tell you before Rarity! I know the slaves' situation troubles you, and trust me, if I could do something about it, I would, but I simply can't! And I don't mean I don't want to, I mean I CAN'T! So please, calm down!"
Sky Dreamer took a few deep breaths to calm down, though it took him more tries than usual. "Sorry, Fancy Pants. So, is this truly how it must go?"
"I'm afraid so, Sky Dreamer. I'm sorry, I know how much you hate Moon and Star and their use of slaves, and I know you must feel terrible knowing you can't do anything about it."
"...Perhaps..." Sky Dreamer put a hoof to his chin, deep in thought. "...Fancy Pants, I need a favor."
"Anything! As long as it doesn't involve fake assaults or something. Speaking of which, I'm sorry Rarity found out, I did my best to hide it."
"It's fine. Look, I want a copy of my reports about the super weapon, and a copy of the ones the spies brought."
The General was intrigued by his request, but he knew Sky Dreamer wasn't easy to convince otherwise. "...I will see what I can do. But may I ask why?"
"You may, but I may not give you an honest answer." Sky Dreamer smirked, finding it amusing how he had used the same tactic he used whenever a journalist or a fellow soldier asked him something.
"...Alright then, I will find a way to deliver them to you tomorrow through one of my trusted bodyguards. I promise I will do my best to keep it a secret from Fleur and Rarity, but you owe me!" The General laughed after trying to sound serious.
Sky Dreamer smiled. "I will keep that in mind, Fancy Pants."
A couple minutes later, Fancy Pants left the office and Decoy led him out of the house. After he was gone, Leaf Heart entered the office, having heard most of the conversation.
"I heard you and Fancy Pants talking, Sky." She approached him and gave him an affectionate nuzzle. "I'm sorry, I know how much you wanted to help the slaves."
Sky Dreamer only smiled. "And I WILL help them."
"Really? What do you have in mind?"
"Besides me and others, there are two certain important ponies that want to stop Moon and Star, and this is the perfect chance to do so."