"Fate favors the clever."

                                        Nightmare Moon                                                      

Spike walked through the halls of Fillydelphia's underground base. He had the Ursa leather tome coiled in his tail, intent on finding out it's secrets he had decided to get Whooves to look at it. The good Doctor had arrived that morning just before Moondancer's departure to Manehatten. The earth stallion had set up his lab in the Arcanum inside the bases lower floors. Inside the Arcanum ponies ran here and there fixing the lab up as their master directed. In the center of the chaos was Dr. Whooves himself. The Time Lord seemed ecstatic at his new base of operations. Whooves noticed the dragon and trotted up to him with a grin on his face.

"Old chap good to see you," Whooves said with a laugh," What brings you to my humble abode?"

"I'm doing well," Spike glanced around," Getting settled I see."

Whooves beamed with pride," Indeed, this will certainly do." Whooves' expression became serious," Are you sure your alright? Moondancer told me what happened a few days ago."

Spike sighed," I will be fine. I shouldn't be surprised at her reaction my friend but your concern is noted."

Whooves nodded knowingly before looking to the left," Hey be careful with that you git! That's older than you are!"

"Sorry sir."

Whooves sighed before turning back to Spike," Sorry old chap."

"Its quite alright sometimes you to crack the proverbial  whip sometimes. Anyway I need you to look at something."

The dragon presented the tome to Whooves. The Doctor took it and began to examine it. Whooves looked to Spike," Where did you find this?"

"In the commanders office and this was in there as well," Spike said as he showed Whooves the navy blue feather. The Doctor peered at it and clicked his teeth.

"I will get to work on this right away."

"Thank you my friend."

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Goddess I hate dresses," Moondancer grumbled as she and her fellow Shades made their way to Manehatten. The fuchsia unicorn wore a peach sundress and was seated in a carrage drawn by White Shadow and Bastion. Puzzlebox chuckled from his seat across from her. The black stallion was clad in a smart dark grey suit. They were posing as a married couple from Stalliongrad and according to their information papers they were high nobles.

"I think you look ravishing dear," Puzzlebox said with a twinkle in his eye. Puzzlebox was a born actor and a damn good one. He already had the accent of a pony from Stalliongrad down pat. Moondancer galared at him and bared her razor sharp teeth. The stallion held her expression with a smirk. Finally she huffed and looked out the window.

"Oh shut up," the unicorn grumbled. Puxzlebox chuckled again," Oh you'll be fine Spymaster. Besides didn't you have to wear dresses such as this all the time. After all you were a noble."

"Why do you think I became a thief." she said with an eyebrow cocked. In front of the carriage White Shadow began to whistle.

'Here we go,' Moondancer thought before smoothing out her dress and pulling out a makeup compact from her purse. After checking to make sure her makeup was just right she put on a smile. The carriage pulled up to the main gates of Manehatten. A guard walked up to the carriage and peered inside.

"What's yer business?"

Puzzlebox put on an award winning smile," My good stallion my wife and I are from Stalliongrad and are here to visit an old friend of ours in the Inner City. My name is Quick Study and this stunning mare is my wife, Rose Aria."

"Good evening gentlecolt," Moondancer said in a demure tone. The fuchsia mare acted shy and cuddled closer to Puzzlebox," and honey please you flatter me."

"Well my dear you are a mare worth flattering."

Puzzlebox grins then turns back the guard, who was currently trying not to stare at Moondancer. Levitating a leather bound set of papers at the guard, Puzzlebox broke the stallion from his trance," I believe these will suffice to prove who we are."

The guard took the papers and peered at them, included was a credit letter for the toll into the Inner City. The guard took the letter of credit and passed the rest of the papers back to the black unicorn.

"Guards form up they're to go to the Inner City."

With that a troop of guards  led the carriage to the Inner City. Once there they made their way to the Le Grande Apartments in the Artisan District. Outside waited a beautiful grey earth pony mare, her long flowing black mane tied in a lose ponytail. She wore a black pants suit. The carriage stopped in front of the grand skyscraper and Moondancer stepped out, The grey mare trotted up the unicorn with small smile and the two embraced each other.

"Rose its so good to see you."

"Octavia it had been too long," Moondancer said breaking the hug and holding the earth pony at arms length," My dear you haven't aged a day. How is your cello these days?"

"Oh you know how it is," Octavia chuckled. Puzzlebox stepped out of the carriage then and embraced Octavia.

"It's good to see you my friend," he said with a jovial chuckle," I see you've been laying off those blueberry scones."

"And you haven't I see," she responded with a jab at his stomach. That garnered a laugh from the couple. With a clop of her hooves the earth mare turned and began going into the building with Moondancer and Puzzlebox.

"Come my friends you must be tired from your trip. Have your drivers bring your luggage up to the penthouse."

Puzzlebox nodded to his fellow Shades," Will do madam."

It took them only a few minutes to get to the penthouse form the elevator and once inside they all dropped their acts.

"Finally now I can get out of this infernal dress," Moondancer exclaimed as she began undoing the back zipper.

"Shouldn't you wait-" Octavia was cut off as she noticed that the fuchsia mare had on a skintight jumpsuit underneath.

Moondancer sighed with relief and plopped down on the nearest couch with a contented sigh.

"Our lord sends his regards," Puzzlebox said his posture now rigid and his voice devoid of all emotion. Octavia nodded," I see things are going well to the east."

"Very well we have already claimed New Ponyville and Fillydelphia under our banner. We even managed to capture Applejack." Moondancer said as she reclined on the soft, silk cushions.

Octavia's eyes widened at that," You could use her as a gift to Lady Rarity she would have to-"

Moondancer cut her off," Nah Lord Pyrequill wants to use her as a bargaining chip to bring the rest of Earthborn to heel. I think we should just execute her and be done with it. Goddess knows the bitch deserves it."

Octavia's expression turned to that of a pensive one," So how do you plan to get Lady Rarity to agree to an alliance with us?"

Moondancer looked her square in the eye and chuckled darkly," Because our lord owns the one thing more valuable than gold, her heart."

Before Octavia could question the unicorn further the bell rang, prompting the luggage was her.

"Now then I believe we have a ball to prepare for."    

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