It was dawn and Frost was ready while Fluttershy still felt sleepy when they had to go, but Frost managed to wake her up with a Stimpack shot that gave Fluttershy the feeling that she could run for days without stopping. She regained her composure and after she locked her house, trotted calmly towards Twilight's castle at Frost's order, while her captor moved uncloaked with the shadows, trying to conserve energy for when he reaches the castle. Ponies greeted Fluttershy as she trotted, not knowing that the shy pegasus was leading a cold-blooded killer right to the doorstep of the beloved Princess of Friendship.

Fluttershy even bumped into the Cutie Mark Crusaders who looked quite cheerful before they saw her and asked something that Frost couldn't hear. The yellow pony's reply seemed to calm down the fillies who had returned to their joyful state and Frost had resumed his following. He could see more and more guards as he was advancing, so he must be getting closer to his goal. If he could prove that this map was psionic in nature, he could find a way to get back to the Koprulu Sector, but first, he had to repair that Medivac that he went through the trouble to fly it out of that floating cloud city.

Fluttershy finally reached the castle when she was slightly pushed by a cloaked Frost trying to get her attention, but she did as best as she could not to look suspicious.

"My sensors have finished mapping the structure, we'll meet in the map room in fifteen minutes after we entered the castle." Frost whispered before he vanished.

The pegasus walked through the entrance which was heavily guarded by both Royal and Crystal Guard, she could even see some Wonderbolts patrolling the skies. Fluttershy was feeling uneasy and started to doubt herself, what if they find Frost and he says that she was his accomplice, what if she panics and destroys the entire operation, this questions started to flood her mind before she finally managed to calm down after she remembered that he managed to remain undetected to her friends and even Discord couldn't find him easily. Fluttershy returned to her calm state and continued her way towards the chamber of the Cutie Map where likely the Princesses and her friends were and perhaps it would be
the most well defended place in all of Ponyville.

Fluttershy knew the halls very well so she arrived quickly to where Frost said to meet and she wondered why he said fifteen minutes to meet inside the most defended room in the castle. After a few moments it dawned on her, she was supposed to clear the room so he could work without being seen. Fluttershy was about to panic again when she stopped herself and tried to form a plan.

After a few moments of thinking she entered the room, the elements and the Princesses along with the former Captain of the guard stood at the table discussing the recent events that may have put the kingdom in danger. Fluttershy made her way quietly to her seat when the rest noticed her and greeted her.

"Fluttershy, we're so glad that you could come. We were discussing what happened in Cloudsdale the other day." welcomed Twilight.

"And we are going through all of the possible scenarios that might happen in the near future, darling." continued Rarity.

"Nonetheless, we must prepare for everything in the days to come. Right now, that criminal could be anywhere along with that strange flying thing that crashed in Cloudsdale and I believe that those two have a connection." said Celestia.

"I share your belief sister, but we must keep a close watch on the Everfree Forest. A few nights ago, I sensed a presence in the dream world that didn't belong in this world. I tried to enter it and I only saw a dispute between two beings, it seems that they decided to settle their scores outside the Dream realm." announced Luna.

"I do think that we should watch over the forests, but now they can strike anywhere, including the Crystal Empire and our daughter is defenseless without the majority of the Crystal Guard." worried Cadance.

"Do not worry, my love. The guards that remained were hoofpicked by myself, they are the best of the best." Shining Armor comforted his wife.

"Umm, excuse me! But what if Cloudsdale gets attacked, I mean, have you seen the guy the other day? His awesomeness has something to it, something dark." said Rainbow Dash.

"Relax, silly. The Wonderbolts are in Cloudsdale, nopony could get past them."

"I doubt it, I think this criminal has somepony working for him. How could he get to Cloudsdale even with the power of flight?" wondered Twilight.

"Maybe that thing that landed there ought to just sprang to life an' left." said Applejack.

"No, that is a machine and machines do not work without somepony pulling the strings." contested Twilight.

Fluttershy was becoming more and more nervous, it's a good thing that they know that she'll never be a suspect to her friends.

"Fluttershy, you're being quiet. I mean, quieter than usual." said Rainbow Dash.

"Oh, umm, I was just wondering that this bad pony might be trapped here and he only seeks a way to return to his home." replied Fluttershy with a hint of truth.

"I don't think so, darling. Have you seen what he's done outside the forest with those scoundrels?" said Rarity.

"Rarity, please. It doesn't matter if he seeks a way home or if he decides to remain here, we must apprehend him immediately. I will not tolerate any form of disharmony in Equestria." announce Celestia.

"Your Majesty, we'll do our best to track this criminal." said Shining Armor.

"Umm, I want to make a confession." declared Fluttershy getting the attention of everypony at the table.

"What is it Fluttershy?" asked Twilight.

"I just want to say that I have seen the one you regard as an outlaw." Fluttershy answered with as much courage as she could muster, leaving her friends and the Princesses in shock.

"What are you sayin', sugarcube?" worried Applejack.

"I'm saying that when I saw him, he looked so intimidating and scary. I was outside my cottage when it happened, he appeared out of the bushes and as soon as he saw me he ran back into the forest. I think he has a hideout there." lied Fluttershy.

"When did this happen?" asked Luna.

"It happened two days ago." Fluttershy answered.

"We must scour the entire forest, we will find him." declared Shining Armor before everypony disbanded and left the room empty with only Fluttershy in it.

Fluttershy felt relieved that she managed to make everypony leave the room, now she waited for Frost to appear in front of her. He eventually arrived, but not how she expected, he dropped from the ceiling while he was uncloaking startling Fluttershy a bit.

"Now that that's done with, let's get to work. You watch the entrance and I'll see what is with this map." commanded Frost.

Fluttershy stick out her head out of the door so she could see if anypony would come. Nopony was coming, she could hear Frost tinker with the map. She decided to take a peak at what he was doing and saw the map interacting to his presence and started blinking like when there is a friendship problem. Frost used the butt of his rifle to break of a piece, if this map was psionic in nature then he could the tiniest piece, but that wouldn't be enough, he will need psionic energy from different sources so he can create a gateway back to the Koprulu Sector.

"I can feel the psionic energy coursing through my body, it is very weak. I must find something more." Frost said picking up a piece.

"Umm, I don't mean to bother you, but I think that somepony is coming." Fluttershy said nervously.

"We have what we came here for, let's hightail it out of here!" yelled Frost before he put the piece in a pocket and picked up Fluttershy and started sprinting out of the room.

"What are you doing? They'll see us and every guard will come to get you." shouted Fluttershy.

"We have little time, my energy was depleted while I was sneaking inside." replied Frost.

Surprisingly, nopony even saw or heard Frost as he exited the room, but they were really close. He started running in the opposite direction when he almost came face to face with a patrol, he hid behind the wall before he continued to make his escape. After running and avoiding guards for some time, he finally reached the exit which was heavily guarded and decided that the best course of action was to use the little energy he regenerated to sneak past the guardians. When he was about to cloak, Starlight Glimmer appeared behind him and screamed in surprise, thus alerting the entire castle. Frost decided to continue as he planned and ran past the ponies while being invisible, the plan worked and it had bought him some valuable time to get back to Fluttershy's cottage.

Frost took a more secluded route to his temporary home and luckily he wasn't spotted. He put down Fluttershy when he arrived and she looked not too satisfied by the ride.

"That was so intense that I almost fainted a couple of times! Please be more careful next time." she pleaded.

"We still have more work ahead of us so don't get too comfortable." Frost replied.

Fluttershy felt so relaxed to be back with her friends in her home, away from all the scary things that were outside, well, except for one that she herself was sheltering. Frost started examining the piece of the and discovered that it held raw psionic power, but very little of it. He would have to persuade Fluttershy to tell him of other possible sources for him to collect while he was busy repairing the Medivac. This irritated the Ghost a little, but he soon got over it and felt a little relieved that the first step to his gateway was done.

Frost checked if her hostage would have any visitors and then left to start working on the Starship leaving Fluttershy alone in the cottage. She felt so happy that she was again alone with her animal friends even though their time was brief. She wondered what would happen after all this was over, could she return to her normal way of life or was it changed forever by the arrival of Frost. Doubt started plaguing her mind, not knowing to continue to aid her captor or to try to escape his grasp. A quick glance at her friends was all it took for her to return to her normal state and almost forget what she was just thinking, then she remembered that as long as she had her pets and her friends, she would do anything. With this she fell asleep due to the stress and fatigue she experienced today surrounded by her animals. But for Frost the day wasn't over yet, he had to make sure that he wouldn't encounter any of the search parties that were likely sent after the meeting at the castle so he had to be extra cautious when he was repairing his ride.

After hours of working under the constant chance of being caught by Wonderbolt patrols or by the Royal Guard, Frost managed to make some progress and he was almost finished repairing the engine. At this rate he would be ready for take off in no time.

Author's Note

Hey there, I hope you enjoy chapter 9 and thank you for continuing to stay by my side as I write this story for you guys.

Also, we're almost at 1k views, this is a big achievement for me. Thank you all