Almost instantly Shadow heard the girls behind him gasp in shock at the tone and words snapped at the elder ruler of Equestria.

He wanted to turn around to look at their faces but having Celestia staring down at him prevented him from doing so. Instead he returned the stare and locked eyes with her in defiance.

Shadow knew she could smash him like a small storm cloud but held the stare.

'This is sadly becoming familiar isn't it?' Other Shadow calmly remarked as Shadow felt his wings creep out to try and become intimating, even though he knew it wouldn't be.

For several tense seconds no pony made a sound or moved as the two stared until Cadance cleared her throat and spoke.

“Sergeant would you please explain why you're sneaking around my castle and scaring Twilight?” She asked attempting to get both an answer and break the tension.

Shadow turned his head to face Cadance but kept his eyes locked with Celestia as he spoke.

“I wanted to see how far I could make it into the castle, how close I could get to a Princess, and test the local Guard.” Shadow plainly explained to the Princess who raised an eyebrow in response.

“I've got to say the Guard unit here seems to be at the level I would expect,” Shadow added with a small shrug of a shoulder and Cadance smiling with pride, “which is incompetent.”

The local alicorn ruler's smile quickly faded, which he didn't see, and Shadow saw a slight narrowing of Celestia's eyes.

“So that explains how I made it so far and how screwed this place is anything ever happens.” Shadow added breaking eye contact as he blinked and look down to the floor out of ingrained habit with a dismissive tone.

When he looked up he was looking at Cadance and she clearly wasn't impressed or happy at what she had been told. Seeing that Shadow decided to look at the third alicorn in front of him to see how angry see was.

Luna was biting her lower lip trying to stop her from, something, Shadow couldn't decide until he saw some humor mixed with angry in her eyes. When Luna saw Shadow was looking at her see quickly broke eye contact and turned away.

“Was it something I said?” Shadow asked with a confused tone with a smile to match.

More gasps and groans came from behind him and this time he turned to see the looks of horror and shock on the Elements face's.

“Princess Celestia, Cadance I'm so sorry! I apologize for Shadow's actions!” Twilight quickly interjected as she stepped to Shadow's side as she gave him a dirty look.

“Don't apologize to them,” Shadow quickly retorted with an offended tone, “I'm stating the truth, an unpleasant one, but it's true.” Shadow added before turning back to the three older alicorns anger, fear and panic creeping into his mind.

“I'm tired of being 'awarded' for doing my job. So, before any of you Princesses get all high and mighty, let me drop some truths on y'all.” Shadow spoke over Celestia, who wasn't able to, with a sarcasm and angry voice going into rant mode.

As he started to walk in a circle he would with each fact point a wingtip at a different princess, pointing at all four.

“One, I was able to enter the city, castle, and this hallway possible unseen and not being challenged once by anypony! Two, I was able get both in striking range of not one or two or three but FOUR! Rulers of Equestria!” Shadow started speaking with his pace quickening with each word as he walked around in a circle.

“Three, I was able to actually strike one of them before being challenged, number four ties in with the fact no guard has yet to investigate a scream from her! If the three of you hadn't shown up I could have removed the Elements of FUCKING Harmony and just disappeared!” Shadow added before waving a hoof over at where the Elements were standing.

“So everypony here who can't can see any of that can just FUCK OFF!” Shadow finished with as he came to a stop.

When he finished his rant his chest was heaving with deep fast breaths with a wild look in his eyes as he stopped moving.

Once again all the mares present were shocked and stunned at Shadow's rant, voice, body, and movements. As everypony stood in silence a guard finally showed up.

As the guard walked over Shadow turned to walked away and as the guard went to speak Shadow walked by him.

“Get the fuck out of my way.” Shadow snapped as he shoved the orange coated pegasus to the floor as he stomped off.

As Shadow walked away no pony tried to stop him or called out to him to come back.

For nearly an hour the former Solar Guard wandered the palace aimlessly with a dazed and confused look on his face while his eyes stared hollowly into the distance.

At the end of that hour Shadow found himself leaning back against a railing on a high balcony.

After several minutes of staring blankly at a spot on the stone floor Shadow leaned his head back to look at the sky as physical exhaustion washed over him.

The sun had recently set and the moon had began its silent vigil over the night. Soon the aurora could been seem appearing in the sky beside the stars.

It all seemed so peaceful and serene to Shadow, unlike how it felt at the moment.

Before he could get to deep into his thoughts and feeling he heard a soft knock come from the door leading to the balcony.

Lifting his head enough to look down his muzzle at the door he saw Luna giving a nervous smile and wave through the cracked door.

Shadow lifted an eyebrow in confusion as he looked at her with hollow eyes.

“We, we request to join you on thy balcony. Doust thou accept?” Luna asked with a uneven and nervous voice as she avoided eye contact with Shadow.

He gave a slow blink before lowering his head back against the rail before answering.

“Couldn't stop you, but sure.” Shadow let Luna know with a voice carrying weight and exhaustion through the night air.

Soon he heard Luna push the door and walked through after a short pause as Shadow failed to render proper respected, which she seemed to ignore.

Luna stopped next to Shadow and sat down near him and placed a tray with bottles and glasses in it between the two of them. Shadow took a deep breath before he asked Luna a question.

“So, how bad was, is it?” Was the short inquire with the same tone used when Luna first appeared as she poured a glass of red wine.

“Quite bad. Our sister spoke rather quickly of removing you from thy position, with our niece agreeing, shortly after thy leaving.” Luna started to respond pausing to take a sip of her wine.

“We were surprised when young Twilight Sparkle spoke in thy defense, even though it appears she doesn't necessarily agree with the manner thine presented.” Luna added as she set down her glass before using her magic to grab the clear bottle on the tray.

“Uh, didn't think she could or would do that.” Shadow commented as he saw Luna pour the liquid into the empty glass.

“As we thought.” Luna offered as she did the glass to Shadow.

He gave a small weak shake of his head as he spoke.

“Still on duty.”

“We are aware, 'tis water.” Luna cleared up for Shadow before he weakly lift a fore hoof to take the glass from Luna's magic.

“Thanks.” Shadow softly offered sitting up before draining the glass. As he lowered the glass he gave a hollow humorless laugh and smile.

“Never thought I'd be served by a Princess, thanks for that.” Shadow told Luna as the glass came to a rest on the floor near him before looking at Luna.

Luna seemed puzzled an embarrassed by the comment before she sipped from her glass again to hide her face from Shadow.

After a prolonged sip Luna lower her glass.

“Thou shan't become accustomed to the act, are we clear?” She stated with a tone that reminded Shadow of the snobby nobles that didn't match the warm playful smile presented. Shadow gave a chuckle in response as he leaned back again.

“Wouldn't dream of it Princess.”

“We shall be checking to ensure thou doesn't.” Luna replied which Shadow gave another weak smile before opening his mouth to speak but closed it before he spoke.

'Smart move dude. Pretty sure she'll just remove us from existence, but bringing up her walking into a happy fun time dream would have killed. Literally, I think.' Other Shadow spoke up sounded as his counterpart with his tone.

Luna didn't notice the pause Shadow gave and continued to speak.

“Currently Twilight is still speaking with our sister and niece. 'Tis of you still we do not know. There are other matters we have gathered here to discuss.” Luna informed Shadow as she lifted her glass with magic again.

“As such we are required to return and speak with our sister in private.” Luna tacked on before sipping at her wine again.

“Why are out here talking with me then?” Shadow asked as she drank.

“When we left after raising the Moon for a small break we saw thou here alone.” She answered as she sat the glass down.

“After that we had drinks retrieved, we proceeded here to share with thou,” Luna started to expand before hesitating, “and to check on thou state. We are, familiar with how a, a argument with out sister can leave a pony feeling.” Luna finished explaining to Shadow with a remorseful and knowing voice avoiding looking at Shadow before standing.

“We wish thou a good night Sergeant.” Luna offered Shadow as she used her magic to gather all the items she had brought with her. As she left Shadow made sure to not be watching her, not wanting to know if so remembered what happened the last time he watch her walk or get caught in general.

“You too Princess.” Shadow returned with a nod of his head knowing it wasn't the proper way to respond when a Princess left.

A few minutes after Luna had left Shadow finally stood up. The movements of his limbs was slow and jerky as his exhaustion had grown.

After getting to his hooves Shadow slowly moved through the ornate hallways looking for Twilight or somepony that knew were she was and check in. However, all Shadow wanted to do was find a warm dark corner and pass out after the events of the day.

Not covering a massive yawn as he turned a corner he spotted a crystal unicorn before his eyes closed.

“Where's Princess Twilight.” Shadow demanded before his yawn had finished.

The unicorn gave Shadow the information he demanded with resentment clear in his voice, which Shadow waved off as he walked away.

As Shadow moved towards Twilight's room he yawned several more times before his arrival after getting lost several times after he passed through the kitchen for a oat bag.

On the door to Twilight's room Shadow found a note tacked to it. Not bothering to take the note down he read it where it hung, well more like skimmed.

It let him know she wasn't to be disturbed until the morning and they would talk at breakfast. Giving a frustrated sigh he turned to walk to his room.

Stopping after a step he realized he had no idea where or if he did have a room. To compound the problem he didn't know where or if there was a barracks where he could crash.

With a defeated sigh Shadow started walking again down towards the farthest door and opened it up.

As he walked he he saw it was a room that hadn't been unpacked and setup, it was just boxes and cloth tarp.

'So technically it could be any type of room.' Other Shadow quipped out through a yawn.

Walking over to the largest box with a tarp Shadow collapse on the floor next to it before using his fore hooves to pull the tarp of the box to cover himself.

Within a minute Shadow passed out.

Shadow was startled awake by the yelling of a mare nearby and gave a jerking kick with his legs.

Another yell told him it was Twilight yelling and needed help.

Shadow tried to get to his hooves using his wings but was stopped by the tarp draped over his wings. After realizing he couldn't use his wings Shadow used his hooves and mouth to toss the tarp off his back.

Throwing the door open Shadow took off towards the only exit he knew in the hallway.

Quickly seeing the Element Bearers in front of him Shadow jumped into the air before launching himself forward with his wings to close the distance.

However the results weren't what he expected, while he did go forward he immediately tumbled to the floor and started a rough tumble.

Shadow hadn't taken into account his body hadn't recovered from the events of the day and his wings gave resulting in his fall.

The first tumble had his head bounce hard off the floor leaving him dazed during and afterwards.

By the time he recovered and caught up with Twilight and her friends they were all staring at a large ornate mirror in confusion.

“What's going on?!” Shadow demanded looking over the room with hazy vision for the source of alarm while he waited for a answer.

“Some scoundrel has stolen Twilight's crown and disappeared through that mirror!” Rarity answered point at the object.

Shadow dropped his head and gave sigh of frustration, defeat, and resignation before speaking and lifting his head to the ceiling.

“I fucking called it!”

Author's Notes:

Pew!Pew! Got the chapter up a little late but before my own deadline. I blame MGSV, I refused to let a mission beat me and lost track of time.

FYI, I make no promises or the like about next week's chapter going up on time. I've been called up to duty once again. I've got to head out and take care of things.

Because as we all know, war, war never changes...

Thanks for stopping by again and giving a read! I know you can spend your time somewhere else and really appreciate it. See you back hopefully.