Twilight had stopped her short shout before Spike and Shadow burst into fits of laughter. Spike was tilting his head back as he laughed and hit the table top with an open palm.

Shadow matched Spike action of tilting his head back as he laughed. Unlike Spike his sense of balance was off from his drinking, because of that he lost his balance and fell backwards with the chair.

When he stopped his fall his glasses her knock crooked as he wrapped his forelegs around his sides as he continued to laugh.

Twilight was taking a deep breath when the two started their laughing and Shadow fell before she continued.

“HOW COULD YOU! WHAT DID YOU GIVE HIM! WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?! THIS IS SERIOUS!” She shouted as she scrambled over to the table to grab Spike.

She hadn't gotten any response other then laughter by the time she plucked Spike out of his chair.

“IS THE LAUGHING A PART OF THE DRUGS?! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS SPIKE?!” She demanded as she looked over Spike for worse symptoms. Spike was able to speak between his laughs after the demand.

“I, I, learned from you Twilight. I watched you use nearly every morning.” He was able to gasp out as he freed a claw to wipe away a tear.

Both Shadow and Spike saw the look of confusion and horror on Twilight's face when she processed what Spike told her.

She tried to speak but was only able to make sputtering noises as she dropped Spike as she tried to get a thought out.

“I mean we found your stash in the cabinet and I've got to saw Princess your stash is primo,” Shadow himself was able to get out between his own laughs, “You've got to tell me where your seller is so I can start seeing'em.”

Twilight's face was quickly loosing its look of horror and being replaced by confusion as she continued to fail at forming a sentence.

“So you want the normal Twilight?” Spike asked using one hand to steady himself against the table and the other to hold his sides.

“WHAT?! I'VE NEVER USED DRUGS?!” Twilight was able to scream out as her head snapped to look at Spike.

After she finished Shadow's laughter intensified and for several seconds that's all that was heard in the library before he tried to speak.

“I, I, can't take it any, anymore! My, my sides hurt too much from laugh, laughing,” Shadow slipped out between his laughs as he clutched his sides, “T, tell her Spike!”

For a second Spike kept up his laughter before he reached up and grabbed a mug off the table.

“Here, here's your morning hit Twilight.” Spike told Twilight with a grin and laughter as he passed the mug to his care taker.

Twilight's face showed nothing but pure confusion as she took the offered mug with her magic and glanced between Spike and Shadow. After bringing the mug to her face she looked inside and took a small sniff as Shadow was slowing his own laughing.

She instantly recognized the contents.

“This is my coffee,” She flatly acknowledged as she looked at Spike, “what did you do to it Shadow?” She wanted him to tell her.

“Me? Nothing, Spike's the one that made it.” He told her as he laughter had died down to chuckle and she eyed him with suspicion.

“Yes, I know that but he would never put anything illegal in it.” Twilight acknowledge as she walked over to place the mug back on the table.

“What are you talking about now?” Shadow asked with a grin on his face as he tilted his head to look over at her.

“The only drug in that sweet delicious brew is completely legal Princess.” He added as his smile grew as he reached up to adjust his glasses.

Twilight narrowed her eyes in thought as they moved between Shadow, Spike and the coffee while she did. As she thought Shadow's grin grew larger as he felt the punchline was about to hit the Princess.

“ARGH! You two were talking about caffeine!” Twilight finally figured out as she tossed her head back in frustration before face palming.

Shadow burst back into fits of mad laughter at her realization for several seconds before he stopped again.

“You lied to me.” Twilight simply stated as she moved to sit down at the table.

“I did no such thing Princess. I simply stated facts that you choice to interpret as you did.” Shadow countered as he got back to his hooves and moved to sit the chair back up.

As he pushed the chair back to the table he saw Twilight open her mouth to counter his argument but it quickly shut as it was apparent she figured that Shadow was right.

“I can't argue that,” she admitted as Shadow sat down, “but that doesn't change the fact that it caused me to, ah, get overly worked up.” She attached as she shifted nervously in her chair. “Or very nice.” She muttered looking at Shadow.

He gave a guilty smile and shrug as he reached for his mug.

“Eh, maybe. One day you'll look back and find this to be as funny as Spike and I did, speaking of which, great job little dude.” Shadow plainly stated as he lifted and tilted his mug in appreciation to the dragon.

Spike gave a nod of his head as he was walking back to the table from the stove with two plates of pancakes.

“Thanks, it was awesome!” He offered as he set a plate down in front of Twilight before sitting down himself with the second.

“Oh, sorry! I didn't get you a plate, let me get you one.” Spike realized getting ready to start on his plate.

“Don't worry about it, I'm not to big into breakfast. I'm good with the coffee, plus all the laughing and yelling have made my headache and nausea worse. I need some time for that all to pass.” Shadow told Spike as he got up and moved to refill his empty mug causing the dragon to shrug and start eating.

“So, Princess. What can I except from this welcome party this afternoon?” Shadow asked as he poured his refill.

Twilight quickly explained that Pinkie would setup everything before almost everypony in town showed up to meet him throughout the afternoon. There would be drinks, snacks, lots of introductions, and party cannons.

As she spoke Shadow drank his coffee half paying attention when he realized he wouldn't have to do much other then show up.

After breakfast he let Twilight know he would be downstairs if she needed anything and when she asked what he would be doing Shadow told her writing a couple letters.

As he wrote his letters he eventually heard Pinkie show up and start her preps for the party. By the time he finished with his letters Spike called down to let him know it was time to come upstairs. After finishing addressing his last letter and sealing it he tossed it on the stack and tossed his goggles on top of that before heading upstairs with a groan.

As soon as he walked through the door on the main floor he was greeted by a loud bang followed by falling confetti.

As he pulled a blue paper ribbon off his face he was greeted by a loud 'welcome to ponyville' from the gathered crowd.

He dropped the ribbon and gave a nervous chuckle and wave as he looked over those currently packed into the library before wading into the mass.

Over the next few hours Twilight and her friends, mostly an over enthused Pinkie, introduced the pegasus to the town ponies.

Shadow was surprised he didn't get whiplash from Pinkie dragging him around when she realized she hadn't introduced him to somepony.

Shadow tried to remember who was who or would be useful and or important to him but knew he'd largely fail and would take several meetings to remember actually names and jobs. At least out in the field nearly eveypony had a name tape to identify them.

After a few hours of being snatched up and dragged around the party ended with Twilight waving good bye to the last group leaving.

Shadow gave a sigh of relief as they left as the group left believing the day was over. Before his sigh was finished Pinkie announced it was time to clean up.

Shadow was confused and stomped for several seconds as he watch Twilight joined her friends with the cleaning.

“Hey! Why aren't you helping Shadow?” Rainbow Dashed asked as she stopped with her sweeping to point at him.

“Ah, because I'm wondering why the two users of magic aren't using it?” Shadow offered slashed asked with narrow eyes that matched.

For a second no pony moved or spoke before Twilight and Rarity gave embarrassed and nervous laughs prior to the room lighting up with the colors of their magic as Spike gave a shout of excitement dropping his broom.

The day after the party Shadow spent on his own wandering through Ponyville and the surrounding area to get a better idea of the layout.

As he did he tried to remember name and places but ended up failing as he predicted the day before.

Shadow wasn't impressed when he came to the conclusion that nothing was being done about the Everfree Forest border being unguarded and patrolled. He made a mental note to bring it up with Twilight.

He was also disappointed with the apparent lack of law or military presence in the town itself. Unless both were doing their duties out of uniform. With another mental note he'd make a note to bring it up with the Mayor and Twilight to get an answer.

Aside from his disappointment in professional terms Shadow was disappointed personnel too.

His guess that their wasn't much to do was confirmed in his mind as the town seemed to cater to a simply rural farming community with only a few luxuries.

At the end of his wandering Shadow ended up perched on a lonely cloud above the library wondering what he'd gotten himself into.

After the weekend was over Twilight told Shadow that the day before while he was out she had talk with her friends about him spending time with them. They had set it up that he would spent a couple hours a day with one of them.

Shadow didn't voice how he thought the idea was stupid and pointless and kept his mouth shut, Twilight was his boss now and would do want so wanted. Shadow did tell her he thought it left a massive gap in her protection.

With reluctance he let it drop when Twilight told him she would be in the library while he was out.

After being told of the upcoming week Shadow headed out to work with Pinkie. When Shadow walked into the bakery the Cakes where a bit startled seeing the armored pegasus enter. Before he could tell them good morning Pinkie attacked.

Shadow was shocked at the speed and flexibility the pink earth pony had while moving around the bakery.

By the time Shadow had done his time he has ready to scream from the seemingly endless babel that came from the Element of Laughter.

The next day saw Shadow waking up earlier then normal so he could make it to the Apple Farm on time. When he arrived he was still yawning and walked up to a large red stallion.

“Shadow?”

“Yeah.”

“Big Mac?”

“A'yep.”

“Ready?”

“Nope.”

“Get ready.”

“Yeah.”

Was the short talk between the two while waiting for Applejack to show up with the work list.

Before long Shadow was bitching about how this reminded him to much of working the mines but did admit he was at least getting a work out in. Big Mac gave small deep laugh while his sister gave the pegasus the stink eye.

Both Apple siblings were surprised that Shadow was able to hold his own with them as they worked the fields. Shadow reminded them he'd spent several years working along side his parents in or around mines when he has younger.

When lunch arrived Shadow bolted to leave the hard work to the earth ponies waving with a gleeful smile.

When Shadow knocked on the door to Fluttershy's cottage the next day he wasn't expecting to stand outside for half an hour before she answered.

The shy and timid pegasus tested Shadow's patience as he learned she was a pushover and doormat. She seemed to agree or say what was needed to prevent strive or avoid troubles.

After Shadow had slapped away an annoying white rabbit he learned the pegasus' kindness was wrapped around tempered steel core that stuck fear in Shadow.

Fluttershy apologized profusely when she realized she was yelling at Shadow, who's answer could have been better.

“It was kinda sexy.”

Fluttershy's face turned beet red as she eeped and dashed off to her cottage where he guess she either fainted or hid..., maybe both. Shadow gave a resigned sigh before talking to himself and walking back to the library.

“I'm going to catch flak for this one day.”

When the white unicorn dressmaker greeted Shadow at the local tea house he was expecting a repeat of his time with Pinkie and wasn't looking forward to it as he still ponder the night before.

The former Solar Guard was surprised on how much information he was able to get from the Element of Generosity and how in touch with reality Rarity was, he had expected mindless babel like Pinkie and a sense of entitlement.

However as they spoke he figured Rarity was somepony working their way up through society by the means available to her and he had judged her wrongly. He wasn't going to admit that to her though Shadow thought to himself as he left.

On the last day of the work week Shadow found himself being tested against Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare wanted to test herself against the former Solar Guard to get a feel for the newcomer.

Over the course of the afternoon the two pegasus found out who was better in several categories.

Rainbow Dash won at speed, agility, weather control, and wing power, while Shadow took g-forces, stamina, strength, and altitude.

After Rainbow's test the two caught their breath on a cloud where she declared the results gave a tie but just barely, she didn't want the new guy to feel to bad after all.

Half way through the week the inhabitants of the library were reorganization the books after dinner when Spike coughed out a jet of flames and letter.

Shadow gave a sigh of relief at the break as Spike took the letter to Twilight. Before he could enjoy it Twilight spoke up.

“Oh, the letter is for you Shadow,” She said as she looked at the address line after taking the letter, “Sorry, usually when Spike gets a letter it's for me.” She added as she floated the letter over to Shadow with some embarrassment.

“Eh, no big.” He gave as he took the letter in his hooves and opened it to read as Spike and Twilight went back to their interpreted task.

Sergeant Shadow Walker,

This letter is to inform you are hereby ordered to report to the Cantorlot Guard Medical Facility for examination no earlier then in two days time but no later then three days time. After reporting you will be required to remain at the facility for approximately four days for said examine. Please plan accordingly for your stay.

Ruler of the Sun,
Princess Celestia

Shadow read the letter three times to make sure he had read it correctly in confusion. Why was he being ordered back to Cantorlot for a medical exam when he could take care of it locally? Also the timing was horrible professionally speaking.

He was currently the only guard Princess Twilight had and he'd gotten orders to leave her side just before a upcoming summit. That screamed wrong to him even if her protection would be covered by one of the other Princess's guard.

In addition, Celestia should know he no longer fell under her command as he'd been discharged from her Solar Guard by herself.

Warning bells were going off in his head at the sheer wrongness he got from the letter and Twilight must have picked up on some of it.

“Is everything okay Shadow?” She asked with genuine concern from across the room.

“Wha? Oh, yeah. It's just a reminder that I've got an upcoming medical appointment, which also reminds me I've got to file a change of address tomorrow.” Shadow informed Twilight as he rolled the letter back up before placing it in one of his pouches.

“It's nice the Princess choose to send the letter to you while you get settled in here.” Twilight commented turning back to her books and humming a song to herself.

As Twilight went back to her task Shadow was growing increasing worried and suspicious at this letter's contents. Celestia knew this would cause him to miss the upcoming Crystal Kingdom Princess summit.

What was Celestia up to?

Author's Notes:

Ah, another week and another chapter.
Sadly, I my not be able to get the next chapter or two up on time.
Don't fear! That doesn't mean I'm not writing, just I may not feel comfortable putting them up while I take care of some quality of life issues.
If I feel the chapters meet my standards still I'll put them up, but if not I'll hold on to them until they do.
Thanks for the time out of your day and hope you enjoyed yourself and hope you come back.
Take care!