Shadow was attempting to find a reason his mother was in Ponyville but came up blank.

For the corner of his eye he saw Twilight and her friends had stopped talking and looking in the general direction he was.

“I'd have gotten rid of you when you were born failing that beat you more if you were my child Shadow.” The mare replied as she walked closer in a tone full of disdain and anger.

Shadow gave a couple quick blinks to get his mind back on track as he spoke in a tone similar to the mare.

“Ah, good to see you too Aunt Arid. What brings you to Ponyville?” Shadow acknowledge the mare with an earth yellow coat, charcoal mane and tail with jade eyes reflecting the tone in her voice.

“For you but not for me, as for why I'm here it doesn't concern you. Now get away from the Princess and stop annoying her.” Arid snapped at Shadow as she waved her hoof in a go away motion.

Shadow opened his mouth to tell the mare to go way but stopped when he felt a hoof touch near his shoulder. Shadow moved his eyes to see Twilight had moved along side him and was giving a polite smile.

“Sorry to interpret but would you mind explaining what's going on?” Twilight asked with a polite concerned tone as she dropped her hoof.

“Not at all Princess Twilight. This is my Aunt Arid Ire and she's my mom's younger identical twin, hence the confusion.” Shadow explained to Twilight trying to keep the emotions he felt for his aunt out of his voice but was not completely successful.

“It's a pleasure to meet you Arid I'm Twi, Princess Twilight Sparkle.” She introduced herself holding out her hoof for Arid with a nervous smile coming from her small stumble.

Arid's face quickly changed to reflect being acknowledged by Equestria's newest princess with surprise and glee as she bowed.

Twilight gave a nervous chuckle that wasn't heard by Arid as she spoke.

“It's a honor to meet you Princess. I'd like believe my nephew hasn't been causing you any problems but I know that's isn't the case.” Arid replied with a tone that had respect for Twilight but not Shadow.

Twilight didn't pick up on the tone used for Shadow and gave a warm friendly laugh at the remark.

“Please stand you don't have to bow. I have to agree Shadow seems to have a natural talent with causing problems.” Twilight told Arid now holding her hoof to help her back to all four hooves.

Arid stood but didn't take Twilight's hoof not knowing if it was actually acceptable to do so as she spoke.

“Yes, sadly it seems to be his hidden talent.” Arid supplied with disdain in her voice as she looked at Shadow with a glancing glare.

“It looks like he's recently gotten into another one of his pointless fights.” Arid added as she turned her head and gave Shadow a closer look.

“I'd apologize for his sorry and disrespectful appearance but we grew tired of that years ago.” She continued as she saw the dried and faded blood stains along with the fresh stitches.

Twilight was shocked at how Arid was talking about her nephew, so much she wasn't able to voice so but she did hear her friends gasp and whisper among themselves.

“I'll talk with him about bothering his betters an I recommend you let Princess Celestia know so she can discipline him also.” She concluded with a tone and smirk at the thought of Shadow's near future.

Shadow couldn't hold his tongue any longer and as he painfully let his wings flare out he took a deep breath to start his tirade.

Rainbow had a solid idea what Shadow was about to do from his body language and knew he would be sorry for it after and spoke to intervene.

“GUARD! Attent-HUH!” She shouted in her best impression of one of the Drill Sergeants she had during basic.

Acting on ingrained indoctrination Shadow acted on the command and snapped to the position of attention without realizing it.

For several seconds nopony spoke and it was Arid Ire that did so.

“So he can successfully listen, wouldn't have thought it possible.” She commented with a condescending tone as she looked Shadow up and down.

Hearing the comment Shadow clearly clenched his jaw to keep his mouth shut still following the call to attention. Seeing Shadow's reaction Arid continued to push starting with a longing sigh.

“If we'd know about this we would have done it years.” Before she was able to continue Twilight found her voice.

“That's enough! I'll have you know that while Shadow may be a source of problems he has distinguished himself in the line of duty, which is the cause of his current state of appearance. In addition, I will not have anypony say such nasty things about the Captain of my Guard in front of me! If you're going to say anything else concerning him I would think very carefully about your words or I might take personal offense.” Twilight proclaimed in her best attempt to imitate Luna's Canterlot voice as she mimic Celestia posture when she was upset with her before finding about the changelings.

While an not an impressive display for a veteran of any guard it would have rocked a rook to their core. That was happening to Arid Ire as she failed to keep herself composed before the Princess.

She attempted to apologize but was only able to get a rambling of random syllables to form as she lowered her head and backed away.

At the sight of his aunt borderline freaking out Shadow had to physically bite his tongue to hold back his laughter.

When Twilight lifted a fore hoof and hit it against the wooden floor Arid gave a small shirk before turning around and bolting away as fast as her hooves allowed before Twilight had a chance to speak.

When Shadow thought his aunt was out of hearing range he quickly let the laughter he had been holding back break through the dam.

He gave a loud deep mirth filled laugh for nearly a minute before he was able to tone it tone he speak through it.

“I've never been so glad to see gray sand dunes disappear!” Shadow brokenly spoke referring to his aunt's cutie mark.

Afterwards he heard several nervous laughs and shuffling of hooves from the girls. Hearing that Shadow cleared his throat to help get his laughing under control. As he did Applejack asked him a question.

“How could ya own kin talk 'bout you like that? It's just plain wrong.”

“Simple, with her words.” Shadow returned with a flat unsure tone as he relaxed his posture deciding not to answer the second part since he really didn't know how.

Applejack wasn't happy with the answer but figured it was a touchy subject for him and let it rest for now.

Seeing Applejack wasn't going to add anything Rarity spoke up.

“Still darling it is unbecoming of a lady to say such harsh things about a close relative.” She added to added in her attempt to get more details.

Shadow didn't say anything but again simply shrugged his shoulders. Not waiting a weird silence to settle in Rainbow spoke up.

“Sorry bout tricking you but I didn't think you'd want to say something you might be sorry for later.” She told Shadow as she rubbed the back of her head with a hoof looking away from Shadow.

“Meh, it wouldn't have been the first time I blew up at a family member and don't worry about it. You were just trying to help.” Shadow told her not really accepting or rejecting her offered apologize before turning to face Twilight.

“I got to admit, I never thought I'd have a Princess stand up and speak out on my behalf. It was pretty awesome.” Shadow told his boss with gratitude and surprise clear in his words an on his face. When he finished speaking he gave a small nod of his head before going on.

“Also you didn't have to lie to Aunt Arid about me being the Captain of your guard, but thanks.” He told her in a tone and with a look and small smile of longing and disappointment.

“We're going to have to work on your intimidation though, while it works on civvies and rooks, it's not going to work on vets.” Shadow wrapped up with quickly shifting his voice and face to be more upbeat.

Seeing that he had caused Twilight to start blushing he gave a small chuckle to help and try to calm her down which her friends joined in.

Twilight quickly calmed downed and smiled.

“Thank you girls and you too Shadow.” She told them since they meant no harm and were just trying to help her before turning towards to Shadow.

“I wasn't lying Shadow, you are the Captain of my guard. Um, that's if you don't mind and want the position.” Twilight explained to Shadow before realizing that her pegasus guard may not want the position starting in a confident voice before turning into one of embarrassment.

Shadow was again shocked and stunned at what he had just heard. He'd never thought he would reach any where near Captain of the Guard let alone the actually position.

He believed he'd reached as high as he would ever go before being transferred out of the Solar Guard and wouldn't go anywhere in Twilight's.

Shadow ran a hoof through his mane as he thought about the offer.

He didn't know anything about running anything larger then a squad, two if he pushed his luck, and did he really want to deal with the crushing responsibilities of the position?

On the other hoof he could influence Twilight to work on strengthening the areas he thought the guards were severely lacking. There was also also the possible of the massive pay raise, that was very appealing to him.

Running through some of his thoughts and plans through his head probably to fast and not in enough detail he made his choice, for better or worse.

“I'd be honored to be the first Captain of your guard Princess Twilight Sparkle.” Shadow told the alicorn in the most humbled and thankful tone he could without sarcasm. However, Shadow knew he should have bowed as he accepted the offer but figured it would be one of the changes he would push for.

Hearing Shadow take Twilight up on the offer she and her friends began to cheer and celebrate.

Pinkie had pulled party streamers from some where and threw them into the air as she jumped into the air.

“This calls for a PARTY!” She exclaimed somehow managing to float in the air for several seconds before landing back on the platform.

Shadow gave a single loud laugh in agreement before talking.

“To the local pub and or bar! That is where we shall celebrate this great occasion!” Shadow declared with an opening of his wings and pointing in a random direction towards Ponyville.

With his next declaration he would start the first official tradition for his new position, along with it's first unofficial one, regret at creating the first.

“The first rounds on me!”

Author's Notes:

Phew! I was a little worried I wouldn't finish this one on time, I hit a few bumps but I think I worked them out.
Thanks for putting up with me again and giving me and the story your time.