Sunny and Sugar were confused as they obediently walked down corridor after corridor within the building. Not that either of them had much choice due to the chains running from their bridles to the Nirik that were escorting them.

Sunny frowned as she gave up trying to track where they were going. Are they trying to confuse us? I’m sure we’ve been down here already.

Eventually, they started walking down a long wood-panelled corridor. Sugar couldn’t help feeling surprised, it looked very out of place compared to the rest of the corridors. It reminded her of some of the studios she’d been to for photo shoots.

They neared a doorway that was being guarded by two Nirik. As they approached, both stood to one side and opened the door, allowing them to be escorted inside.

Sunny and Sugar both gasped as they entered the laboratory. Their eyes darted around the various items of equipment that were scattered around the room.

Eventually, they were brought in front of the platform with the round gateway atop it. The four large cylinders of pink liquid, two on each side, bubbled slowly. The Nirik stopped at the bottom of the ramp that led up and into the gateway. Forcing Sunny and Sugar to do the same and they looked up at it with a mix of awe and confusion.

Unlike when Winters Breath had seen it, no wires were dangling from the gateway. They’d all been tidied away, and any missing parts had been fitted. In some areas, thin metal had even been fitted to cover the inner workings and frame.

Sunny and Sugar both gasped as Twitch suddenly appeared near the top, seemingly tracing a wire. With great agility, he climbed along the thin pipework. Somehow managing to hold on despite how fast he was moving.

Finally, he came to the end of the wire. Unplugging it and plugging it into a port next to the one it had just come from. Then, he dropped from the gateway doing a backflip in the air before landing perfectly on all four paws.

“Impressive, isn’t he,” a voice said.

Sunny gasped as she recognised the voice. Looking upwards she spotted Allura as she looked over the side of her suspended pedestal. However, Allura’s eyes narrowed when saw Sunny wasn’t alone.

Sugar looked up and locked eyes with Allura. Her eyes widened as she felt a chill run through her spine, making her shiver.

Scowling, Allura jumped from the pedestal. Spreading her wings, she glided gracefully down to the platform before glaring at Twitch angrily. “Why does Starscout have a friend with her?!”

Twitch blinked and made squeaking noises at her.

“She what!” Allura growled. “Then, why was she put in the same hut as Starscout?”

Twitch began squeaking angrily back at Allura. His hind paws banging on the floor for emphasis. In the background, Sunny and Sugar looked at each other worriedly.

Allura’s eyes widened, and she snarled in rage, “THEN STARSCOUT SHOULD HAVE...” She caught herself before looking down and taking a deep breath. “Fine,” she spat. “Fortunately for you, we can use this to our advantage. You know what to do with her.”

Twitch growled before smiling and nodding. He hopped towards Sugar before squeaking and pointing to the Nirik that escorted her. He waved a paw, indicating they should follow him.

To Sugar’s horror, the two Nirik nodded and started to follow Twitch as he hopped away. She gave a worried look at Sunny before the chains went taught and she was forced to follow.

Sunny could only watch helplessly as Sugar was escorted from the room. She looked back at Allura and, against her better judgment, scowled at her.

“Don’t you give me that, Starscout,” Allura growled. “You’re supposed to be depressed and feeling hopeless! Clearly, just having a friend nearby has rejuvenated you.” She suddenly smiled invitingly. “However, do not worry about your friend, you’ll be seeing her again shortly. I have a task for you. Nirik, come! Situation Fifty-Five.”

Sunny blinked as her escort Nirik walked forward and up the ramp. She squeaked as the chains went taught and forced her to follow. When they reached the top, Sunny gasped as they attached the chains from her bridle to eyelets in the floor.

“Nirik, Situation Fifty-Six!” Allura commanded.

The Nirik bowed before they started walking away. Leaving Sunny chained to the floor at the top of the ramp.

Wide-eyed and panting, Sunny took a step backwards. However, the chains soon went taught and she could go no further. I…I don’t like this. I’m completely helpless. What’s she going to do with me?

“Aww, do I scare you, Starscout?” Allura sighed. “You wound me. After all, you did stand up to Opaline and I’m nothing like her!”

Sunny blinked with surprise. How does she know that? Her eyes narrowed. She’s trying to get in my head.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Allura smiled sweetly. “I told you. I’m from another realm. My only wish is to get home. That is what this glorious machine you see before you is for.”

Sunny frowned, she wasn’t sure what to think. Here she was, chained up, muzzled and powerless. However, Allura seemed so honest. She just wants to get home. Wait! No. This is a trap! It has to be. She was trying to break me. She just admitted it!

Allura suddenly grinned as Twitch came hopping into the room. He nodded and held up a paw, giving a tiny thumbs up.

“Get over here you idiot!” Allura growled. “This one-sided conversation is getting tiresome.”

Twitch grunted in annoyance, leaping up onto one of the tables and grabbing something. He barely stopped, immediately continuing over the table and jumping down.

He scurried up the ramp and Sunny squeaked with surprise as he jumped onto her back. Desperately, she started bucking, trying to throw him off.

“STAY STILL!” Allura roared. “Don’t you make me use my purrsuasion on you! Don’t you want that muzzle off?”

Sunny stopped bucking as her eyes widened in surprise. However, she flinched as she felt Twitch patting her on the shoulder.

She spotted his forepaw was holding what appeared to be a remote control. It had a small screen at the top and a series of buttons below that. He placed it up against the box on the back of her bridle and immediately started pressing buttons.

Sunny gasped, there was a click from her muzzle as it released. She opened her mouth, letting it fall from her face. It landed on the floor with a clatter and bounced towards Allura who smiled as she picked it up.

Sunny’s eyes narrowed into a scowl. “Where’s Sugar? What have you done with her? What do you want?”

Allura smirked as she studied the muzzle. “How would you like to never wear this thing again?”

“Where’s Sugar Moonlight?” Sunny demanded. “I’m not silly enough to think I’d get something for nothing. I know you want something.”

Allura blinked before smiling sweetly as she walked towards one of the walls. “How very perceptive of you. I think we’ve much we can discuss. Although, to put your mind at ease...”

Allura nonchalantly pushed down on a leaver with her tail. Sunny gasped as a section of the floor and wall rotated and revealed Sugar.

She was sat inside a clear ovoid-shaped tank which slid into the room. It had multiple pipes attached to the top with a larger drain in the bottom. Sugar was glancing around, looking very worried and confused. When she saw Sunny, her eyes widened. She got up and banged her forehoofs on the tank desperately.

Sunny’s eyes widened before she glared accusingly at Allura. “What have you done to her?”

“Nothing. Yet!” Allura smiled. “You just have control of her fate.”

Sunny snorted as her glare turned into a scowl. “I’m not playing your mind games.”

“Oh, but it’s true,” Allura said sweetly. “If you behave then no harm will come to her. If you don’t then, she’ll get a bath.”

Sunny blinked and looked towards the tank and the multiple pipes at the top. “A bath?”

“Yes, this tank is part of the Ore refining process. A bath in any of the ingredients it mixes would be quite an unpleasant one,” Allura smirked. “So, you had better behave yourself.”

“Behave? As in do what you want?” Sunny growled defensively.

“Oh no, this is where we make a deal,” Allura grinned. “You don’t have to do what I want. You can choose not to, but then nothing will change.”

Sunny frowned. “What do you mean?”

“If you choose not to help me, you’ll put this muzzle back on and both of you will go back to work.”

“Okay, and if I help you?”

“Then you choose what you want, and maybe I’ll give it to you,” Allura smiled. “Within reason of course. I’m not going to let you go!”

Sunny frowned. She closed her eyes in thought and took a deep breath. “Before I decide, what help do you need?”

“Your assistance,” Allura smiled. “Like I’ve said multiple times. My only wish is to return home. I don’t want power or anything like that. However, it seems to get my wish I need your help.”

Sunny scowled. “You still haven’t told me what. What help do you need?”

Allura beamed excitedly. “Ah, getting down to business. Okay, before you is my ticket home. Well, Twitch’s too, I wouldn’t leave him after all the hard work he’s put in.”

Twitch squeaked appreciatively.

“Of course I care you idiot,” Allura snapped before smiling back at Sunny. “The whole point of this Quarry is to mine the fuel for this gateway, Arora Ore. However, before it will work, we need a special ingredient and that’s where you come in!”

Sunny’s eyes widened in horror and she tried to take a step backwards. However, she squeaked as the already taught chains wouldn't let her.

Allura laughed. “Oh, no, no. I’m not feeding you into the machine. We need your magic!”

“My magic?!” Sunny echoed defensively.

“Yes, specifically teleportation. We just need you to fire a teleport beam at the gateway whilst it’s active. Twitch will do the rest.”

Twitch began squeaking, tapping the ground with a paw.

“Oh, stop it you imbecile,” Allura growled. “She doesn’t understand you.”

Twitch growled in annoyance, banging a hind paw on the ground.

“I’m not your translator!” Allura spat back. “You know I don’t understand this stuff. I can’t explain, even if I wanted to.”

Twitch continued squeaking in annoyance, pointing a paw at Allura and wagging it accusingly.

Sunny looked between them with confusion. She glanced towards Sugar who clearly had no idea what was going on at all.

“Okay, okay,” Allura snarled. “Starscout, Twitch says it’s ‘calibration’. Whatever that is. He needs you to fire a teleport beam at the portal whilst it’s active. He’ll do all the complicated stuff, as always. He tells me that it WON’T take all your magic.”

Twitch folded his forelegs, looking more satisfied.

“O...Okay,” Sunny said slowly. “One problem, you’ve taken my powers from me.”

“Which is why I’m not sour about your friend rejuvenating you,” Allura smirked. “We’ll let you have your powers back for this. But! Turn them on me, on us, and she’ll be the one in peril.”

“And these chains?” Sunny scowled as she swished her head and rattled them.

Allura blinked, clearly taken aback. “What about them?”

“If Sugar is your insurance, why keep me chained?” Sunny said sweetly. “If you want me to help you. Let me have my powers and ability to move around so I can.”

“Done,” Allura smiled. “Let’s shake paw and hoof on it.”

Allura held out a paw and started moving towards Sunny. However, Sunny smirked.

“Oh no, that’s just so I can help. I still want something for doing it.”

Allura stopped, her face fell, and she blinked as she lowered the paw. After a moment she chuckled. “Well played, Starscout. Name it.”

Sunny couldn’t help grinning, finally feeling like she was the one on top.

“Okay, first you said about not wearing the muzzle anymore. I’d like that very much, but Sugar doesn’t wear hers either.”

“Done,” Allura smiled.

“Next,” Sunny smirked as Allura’s face fell again. “My powers, I know you’re not going to let me keep them when I’ve done this for you.”

“That’s very astute of you,” Allura nodded.

“But I’ll turn them off. Then you make this bridle thing isolate them again.”

Allura looked at Twitch who looked thoughtfully at Sunny. He squeaked and suddenly bounded up onto her back again, making her squeak with surprise. Taking his remote and placing it at the back of the bridle.

“Twitch says he would like to test that,” Allura sighed as she walked towards Sugar. “He’s going to give you control of them again. Remember what I said about your friend here.”

“You don’t need to remind me,” Sunny muttered uncomfortably.

As Twitch pressed buttons on his remote, Sunny gasped. A surge of energy shot through her body as the connection to her powers was restored. Quickly, she dismissed them, her horn and wings both disappearing in a flash.

Allura looked at Sunny questioningly.

“Take the chains off,” Sunny muttered.

“We’ve not shook on it yet,” Allura reminded. “Let Twitch finish his test.”

Twitch squeaked as he pressed more buttons on his remote.

“He says try your powers,” Allura smiled cordially.

Sunny grunted. “Which is why I need the chains off. I need to be able to move, I’ll likely jump in the air when they activate.”

Allura scowled and was about to reply when Twitch squeaked. He grabbed one paw onto Sunny’s bridle and swung to the side of her head.

Sunny gasped and closed one eye in discomfort. However, she resisted the urge to move.

Twitch held his remote towards where the chain was attached to Sunny’s bridle. It disconnected, falling away with a clatter.

Before Sunny could react, Twitch had swung back and over to the other side of her head. She gasped as the second chain fell away.

“Thank you,” Sunny sighed. “Now, please get off my back before I try this.”

Twitch nodded and jumped down. Looking at Allura who scowled angrily at him.

Meanwhile Sunny sighed, she couldn’t feel her powers again so knew the bridle was working. However, she also knew her word wouldn’t be enough for Allura, she had to try.

She closed her eyes as she tried to activate her powers. However, nothing happened. She grunted and grit her teeth as she tried as hard as she could, lowering her head and arching her back as she strained. As she expected, nothing happened.

After a few moments, she let out a deep breath and looked back at Allura. “Satisfied? They’re isolated again, there’s no need for me to have my wings strapped up. I can’t use them if they’re turned off.”

Allura snarled. “Fine, I agree. Can we shake now?”

Sunny narrowed her eyes. “Not yet, these shackles.” She lifted a hoof and pulled at the shackles. “Take them off, both of us. I’ve just shown you, I’m powerless. I’m no threat and neither is Sugar. There’s no need for us to walk around shackled.”

“Yes, there is,” Allura snarled. “You both tried to escape! You tried to fly away, and she galloped halfway along a level! The shackles are warranted so no, you can’t have them off. I’m tired of this now so I’ll tell you what else I’m not allowing.

“You’re both staying in the confinement hut and you’ll both continue to work on Level One. When you’re being taken from your cage to your cart, you’ll both be escorted exactly like you are now. We’re not changing your food or water either.”

Sunny sighed as her ears drooped with disappointment. However, she gasped as she realised something. “Then you’ll let us work without having to follow another cart? No more being chained to the back of the Yak?”

Allura sighed. “Done. Also,” she raised a paw in the air. “I promise, I won’t use my powers of purrsuasion on either of you. Satisfied?”

Sunny smiled and nodded.

Allura let out a deep breath. “You have no idea how much this means to me. So, no more muzzles. Your powers will be isolated after you’ve deactivated them. You remain shackled and stay in the confinement hut. You’ll be escorted to and from your cart. However, you get the freedom to work on Level One alone. Finally, I won’t use my powers on you.”

“And all that goes for both me and Sugar Moonlight,” Sunny smiled brightly as she raised a hoof. “In return, I’ll fire a teleport beam at your portal for as long as you need.”

“Agreed,” Allura walked forward, raising her paw and clasping it around Sunny’s outstretched hoof. They shook paw and hoof up and down before Sunny sighed and looked at Twitch expectantly.

Twitch blinked and looked confused.

“She needs her powers back you idiot,” Allura growled.

Twitch gasped and jumped onto Sunny’s back again. Holding his remote to her bridle he quickly made the required adjustments. Then, he passed it over the straps for her wings, removing them before hopping off.

Sunny took a few steps back from them. Then, closing her eyes, she smiled as she easily reached out to her powers. She jumped a few feet in the air as her horn and wings appeared with a bright flash.

She sighed as she spread her wings and floated down to her hoofs. She flexed her wings gratefully, revelling in the feeling of freedom and smiling contentedly.

“Don’t get too used to that,” Allura growled. “Twitch! Get on with it!”

Twitch stuck his tongue out at Allura before he hopped away. He went down the ramp and towards a large control panel where he started pressing buttons.

Meanwhile, Allura smirked and resumed her position next to a very worried-looking Sugar.

“It’s okay, Sugar,” Sunny reassured. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

Allura chuckled. “Lovely sentiment but I’m afraid she can’t hear you.”

Sunny's face fell and she scowled sourly which earned another chuckle from Allura.

However, Allura’s mood quickly flipped as she scowled towards Twitch. “Hurry up you idiot!” she growled. “You’re so annoying.”

Twitch stuck his tongue out again, this time blowing a raspberry at her.

Allura snarled but her expression softened as a humming sound started.

Sunny gasped as the sound got slowly louder and louder. Then it began rising and falling in pitch as the gateway powered up.

Pink and blue lights began flashing around the gateway from the various components. Meanwhile, the pink liquid in the cylinders on either side of the gateway began to bubble violently. All the while, Twitch adjusted dials, switches and nobs.

Sunny blinked, looking down at her shackles. Feeling worried, she spread her wings and began to hover just off the ground.

Allura’s eyes narrowed as she placed a paw over a lever dangerously.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Sunny reassured. “Just getting ready. I’m not going to let anything happen to Sugar.”

“Good,” Allura spat. “I’m just getting ready too. Don’t worry, Twitch can activate this tank as well if needed!”

Twitch squeaked and there was a flash from the gateway as it suddenly opened. Sunny gasped at the swirling pink and blue vortex within the gateway. It looked so violent and uninviting.

Suddenly, Twitch raised a paw and Allura grinned. “Now!” she shouted. “Do it now!”

“W...Wait, what’s the destination for the teleport?!” Sunny gasped.

“It doesn’t matter!” Allura growled urgently. “Do it! NOW!”

Sunny blinked with surprise. She looked at the wall at the opposite side of the room and used that as a destination point.

She focused on the portal and on her chosen destination. Then, her horn glowed, and she fired a golden orange beam at the portal.

However, it didn’t hit the portal, it stopped short and formed a small ball as the magical energy split apart into hundreds of smaller beams. These tried to streak away from the portal but were pulled back into the centre. Each traced a huge arc in the air which curved around and together made a huge flower shape.

The golden aura of Sunny’s magic swirled around within the vortex, combining with it. Slowly, the pink and blue colours began to combine as well. As they did so, the centre of the vortex started to turn purple.

“That’s it!” Allura shouted, a hint of excitement in her voice. “Keep going! You can do it!”

Sunny grunted as she slowly descended. Landing and leaning forward she grunted in effort and discomfort. Worry and doubt grew in the back of her mind as she remembered who she was dealing with.

“Keep going, Starscout!” Allura shouted. “You’ll still have your magic after this! I promise! I know it’s tough, but… Please, just keep going!”

Sunny grunted, Allura sounded so genuine. However, she reasoned that stopping would only make things worse. Allura could easily pull her leaver and harm Sugar!

Sugar could only watch from her tank as the purple area in the vortex grew larger. No, Sunny! STOP! They’re draining your powers!

She glanced at Allura, her paw still hovering over the lever. She looked up at the pipes in the top of the tank. Then down at the drain below her. WAIT! Sunny’s only letting them do this to rescue me!

Eventually, the swirling vortex was completely purple. Twitch grinned as he watched the dials and gauges excitedly. Finally, he squeaked as he threw his paw in the air.

“That’s it!” Allura shouted excitedly. “Stop, Starscout! STOP!”

Sunny gasped as she cut the beam, she immediately fell to the floor and lay panting heavily.

Allura forgot all about threatening Sugar as she bounded towards the portal. After looking up at it, she smiled with joy before turning towards Twitch. “Twitch! You clever, clever thing! Please tell me what I think I already know!”

Twitch nodded enthusiastically before squeaking and pressing buttons.

Allura grinned. “I know. I know. But it’s working! That means we’re almost home!”

Sunny grunted as she pushed herself into a seating position. “Almost? What do you mean, almost?”

Allura’s smile faded as the humming sound started to reduce. She looked back at the portal as it slowly closed. There was a small flash from the centre as the last of the purple vortex disappeared. She sighed deeply and looked down sorrowfully. “We need more ore.”

Sunny gasped as she realised, the four cylinders were empty. None of the pink liquid was left. “H…How much more?”

Allura looked at Sunny with sorrowful eyes. “A lot, that’s all you need to know.”

Sunny blinked and looked down sadly. Then, she gasped as she spotted her muzzle at Allura’s paws. Glancing back at Allura, she grabbed it with her levitation and pulled it away from her.

Allura laughed. “Don’t worry, Starscout. We have a deal and you’ve done your part. It’s time for me to do mine.”

She walked over towards Sugar. “Once your powers are off and isolated as promised, I’ll let your friend out.”

“And you’ll remove her muzzle?”

Allura nodded. “You should know, that once I’ve made a deal, I keep to it.”

Sunny looked at the muzzle again and smirked. She threw it upwards and fired a beam from her horn. The muzzle exploded and disintegrated.

Allura laughed heartily. “I can tell you enjoyed that. Now, please, we’ve had such a nice conversation. Don’t make me do something you’ll regret.”

Sunny narrowed her eyes before she dismissed her powers. Fully aware she had no idea when she’d be able to use them again.

“I’m glad we have an understanding,” Allura sighed thankfully.

Sunny studied Allura carefully before squeaking in surprise as Twitch leapt onto her back. She resisted the urge to buck him off as he started making his adjustments.

“Don’t think we’ve forgotten,” Allura smirked.

Sunny scowled. “No, just some warning of the sudden back invasion would be nice!”

Allura laughed as Twitch squeaked and jumped down from Sunny’s back, making her grunt.

Smiling, Allura opened a panel below the tank and pulled a lever. Sugar looked wide-eyed as the tank suddenly split apart.

She fell out and tumbled onto the floor, landing in a heap. Groaning, she began getting up before squeaking in fear and laying down again as Allura loomed over her.

“You have a very good friend in Starscout, she looked out for you,” Allura growled. “Stay exactly where you are and let Twitch deal with your muzzle.”

Sugar blinked with confusion as Twitch hopped over. Then, she squeaked with surprise as he jumped onto her back. He put his remote on her bridle and started making adjustments.

Sugar gasped as she felt the muzzle suddenly release and fall from her face. She looked at it with surprise before looking up at Allura worriedly.

Allura smirked as she picked up the muzzle. “You won’t need this anymore.”

Both Sunny and Sugar watched, wide-eyed, as a wintery blast erupted from Allura’s paw. They gasped as the muzzle was encased in ice.

Allura smiled wickedly as she easily crushed the muzzle with her paw. Shattering it into hundreds of pieces which fell to the ground and started melting away.

“There, no more muzzles,” Allura sniffed.

Twitch grinned as he jumped from Sugar’s back and allowed her to stand. She didn’t say anything though as she skittered back from Allura worriedly.

Allura’s eyes narrowed. “Both of you can return to work now. NIRIK!”

Sunny and Sugar gasped as the four Nirik seemingly appeared from nowhere and walked towards them. Each holding a chain in their levitation, ready to escort them away.

Allura gave a nod of respect towards Sunny, “Thank you for your help, Starscout. I won’t forget it...”

However, Allura growled with annoyance as the Nirik all stood, their heads cocked to one side. “Ah, it seems some reprogramming is needed.”

“Reprogramming?” Sunny gasped.

Allura shot Sunny an irritated look, making her gasp and clamp her mouth shut. “Get out of my sight,” Allura growled. “Nirik, Situation One. Escort these two ponies to their cages. Provide a high-security escort.”

The Nirik all nodded and walked forward. Two heading to Sunny and two towards Sugar. They attached chains to their bridles on either side of their heads before leading them away.

As she left, Sunny looked back at Allura. She couldn’t help feeling things had gotten way more complicated.

After being securely locked back in their cages, Sugar gasped as the door to the hut was closed and locked. She looked at Sunny with a mixture of concern and confusion. “S…Sunny! W…What happened? That…That machine looked like it was sucking your magic away!”

Sunny smiled. “I made a deal.”

“A…A deal?” Sugar blinked. “But, that tank thing. The way Allura held her paw over that leaver. You did what you did to save me! Why?!”

Sunny’s smile broadened. “You’re my friend, Sugar. I wasn’t going to let anything happen to you.”

“B…But you have friends,” Sugar gasped. “Y…You…”

Sunny couldn’t help chuckling. “Stop, let me explain what was happening. I made a deal with Allura, but your safety wasn’t part of it. She needed me to use my powers, so you were her insurance.”

Sugar blinked and she gasped in realisation. “So, if you tried anything to hurt them…”

“They’d hurt you,” Sunny nodded. “I wasn’t going to let that happen.”

“So, what’s this deal?” Sugar asked worriedly.

“Allura needed me to help them. That machine, it’s a gateway, their way home.”

“Their way home?”

“Allura and Twitch, they’re from another world. Sort of like the Night Market is in another world. The gateway needed calibrating, or something, and they needed a teleportation spell to do it.”

Sugar blinked. “And you gave them it. Why?”

“Because I was hoping they’d leave and we’d all be free,” Sunny admitted before sighing. “But, it doesn’t seem that way. They need more of the Ore.”

Sugar looked at Sunny worriedly. “You said you made a deal. What deal?”

Sunny grinned. “Well, mostly what you can see. No more muzzles! My powers are isolated, but now they’re turned off so no more wings getting uncomfortable at night. And, no more being stuck behind the Yak!”

“Well, I suppose helping them can’t really hurt. Especially as it’s made things more comfortable for us.” Sugar smiled happily before frowning. “Wait, what about these shackles?”

Sunny shook her head. “I tried but Allura wouldn’t allow it. She’s not going to force thoughts on us though.”

“But what about the ones she’s already given you?”

“They’re gone,” Sunny beamed. “You helped me overcome them.”

Sugar blinked with surprise before smiling. “So, what now? We’re back in here early.”

“I think Allura’s got to change all the Nirik’s Situation things,” Sunny pondered. “I wish I could talk to my friends and tell them what’s happened.”

“Well, if it’s a waiting game, there is something we could do,” Sugar smirked.

She sat against the bars and raised her hoofs. “We can finally play with the rhyme! Let’s see how fast we can go!”

Sunny beamed as she sat down and raised her hoofs. She clapped them against Sugars before they both started reciting the rhyme and clapping their hoofs.

Later, Misty, Hitch, and Zipp all frowned as they looked through their binoculars as they sat in the hide. All three were watching as Sunny and Sugar were making their way along Level One, pulling their cart.

“Sitrep,” Zipp said into her phone. “Sunny and Sugar Moonlight appear to be under less security than before. They have no muzzles and can carry out their work freely without being escorted by the Yak. However, they are still shackled, and they were escorted from their hut to their cart like previously.”

“Sunny’s powers,” Misty said suddenly. “They’re not active anymore. Her horn and wings aren’t present.”

“Good spot,” Zipp smiled. “Something has clearly happened whilst they were in that building. Sunny may have information about Allura that could be vital to our rescue plan. The reasons why they were taken from the building to their hut and then eventually put back to work remain a mystery.”

She closed her phone, stopping the recording.

“So, lots of reasons for you to get into the Confinement area tonight, Misty,” Zipp frowned. “The plan is solid now.”

“All you have to do is implement it,” Hitch agreed. “You’ve got this, Misty.”

Misty took a deep breath. “Y...Yeah, I think so. No! I know so! I can do it! Agh, but it’s ages until nightfall and I’ll get all nervous again.”

“Don’t worry,” Hitch smiled. “We’ll give you as many pep talks as you need.”

“For sure,” Zipp winked.

Author's Note

So I've been agonising over the rhyme that Sunny and Sugar could use for their game.

I'm rubbish with poetry and rhyming and I decided not to use a well known one for copyright reasons. However, the one I envisaged them using was A Sailor went to Sea. The movements of the equivalent hand clapping game would work, despite the bars that are between them.

Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.