Shadow stood in front of the library for a couple minutes thinking about what to do before acting.

“Meh, screw it. Might as well get this out of the way.” He muttered to himself before heading back inside.

As he walked inside he did a head count to make sure no pony had wandered off some how before locking the door and then heading to the basement.

As he walked down the stairs Shadow attempted to avoid thinking about what Luna was going to do to him as he ran a wing through his mane.

Without any grace or care Shadow flopped down on his apparent permanent temporary bedding.

As the guard gave a sigh Shadow made sure his sunglasses were laid out in the event that he needed them in the morning.

After looking around the basement one last time in the poor lighting Shadow put his head down to sleep and get the encounter with Luna done and over with.

Shadow woke startled and kicking his legs out in a near panic.

Before his eyes could focus they started to search for the source of his current state. With his eyes adjusted to the low light Shadow saw he was still in the library's basement.

As he wiped the sweat from his brow the pegasus was trying to figure out if this was a dream or he he'd actually woken up.

With a flick of his wingtip Shadow sent the sweat in his feathers to the floor next to him as he sat up.

Taking a series of slow deep breaths to calm himself Shadow thought how to figure out where he was.

With a snarl on his face he gave a quick tap to his face with a hoof to see what happened.

The flash of pain through his wound surprised the stallion not expecting that he was actually awake and this was some kind of over complicated trap by Luna.

Rubbing near the wound with a wing Shadow reached out with a hoof to place his sunglasses at his collar before heading upstairs.

As he walked up the stairs Shadow started to think he wasn't going to need the glasses which was a pleasant surprise.

Last night he thought he'd drank enough to cause a hangover to keep up appearances and smiled at knowing he was going to be one of two, maybe three in the library without one.

With a smug satisfied look on his face Shadow quietly pushed the door to the main floor and crept through.

As he walked to the bathroom he saw no pony had left the library and were still passed out on the floor.

Finished with the bathroom Shadow hummed a song in his head as he headed to the kitchen for coffee.

Still humming Shadow opened the can and breathed deep through his nose and was awarded a smile.

Reaching a wing out to grab the scoop with a wingtip and the other to grab the pot Shadow stopped himself when both were in his grip.

'I'm going to hold off on making a pot and just get some for myself.' He thought as he put the pot back with a half frown on his face.

'Ah, didn't we agree to not do this again?' Other Shadow asked in a tone carrying tiredness and confusion.

'We did but I kinda want to see them suffer a little... I mean observe how they respond to waking up with an abnormal condition. Yes, that second one, ignore the first.' Shadow answered as he looked over his shoulder to the elements.

Other Shadow paused a second before answering in a tone that gave Shadow the impression the voice was nodding its head in agreement with a hoof on the chin.

“Yes, of course the second. You can proceed.'

Shadow rolled his eyes as he got a overflowing scoop of grounds before pausing to look at them.

Suppressing a groan and closing his eyes Shadow dumped the grounds onto his tongue.

Almost instantly a grimace spread on his face as he tightened his grip on the empty scoop. Shadow's other wing balled up as he tilted his head as he moved the coffee into his cheeks.

Lifting a hind leg slightly and tensing the muscles straightened his head and opened his eyes as he blow a held breath out thought his nose.

With the bitter grounds now in place Shadow slithered towards the door with a small chuckle to head outside.

With the door giving a soft click Shadow turned to search for Celestia's cursed morning work.

Shadow guessed he had about an hour before the light would be strong enough to wake up Twilight and her friends.

Letting a yawn escape as he rolled his wings in prep to start PT.

Completing the exercises that didn't cause to many problems for his injuries spent the next hour doing his best to stay in top form.

Half way through he stopped to spit out the grounds and take a drink from a nearby lake.

Returning to the library Shadow peered through a window to see if everypony was still asleep or had woken up.

Seeing six sleeping ponies Shadow grinned knowing he hadn't missed his research and headed inside.

Prior to sitting at the table the sweating guard picked up a empty coffee cup to wait for the others to wake up.

When Celestia's light broke through the lights in force and began its creep towards the element Shadow couldn't contain his smirk as he adjusted himself.

He made sure to hold his wings up an out behind him after placing his sunglasses on and putting his chin on his hooves with his elbows near the edge of the table. The empty coffee cup was placed within reach to causally grab.

With his hooves hiding his mouth the pegasus let his smirk grow to its intended size.

As the light passed over the elements they all began to respond.

All six started to move their heads in an attempt to stop the light from reaching their eyes. When that failed hooves or wings were brought up to cover the pain portals.

This also failed to stop the rays of pain from finding targets and the mares groaned in frustration and pain.

As hooves moved to smother faces with pillows Spike bounded down the stairs.

“Hey everypony! What did I miss last night? Anything cool?” Spike asked with curiosity an excitement as he made his way to stand by Twilight.

Shadow had to bite his tongue as his smirk widened as the mares' groans increased at the assault on their ears and head.

As they groaned Spike grew confused as he looked at the six before looking at Shadow.

“Dude, what's going on?” He asked as he waved a hand over the stirring mares.

“Science... Yes, science.” Shadow gave an in smug monotone voice with a quick hidden lick of his bottom lip.

Spike's face still only showed confusion as he raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms and pointed at Shadow.

“That doesn't help at all and kinda creepy. So what did I miss?”

“I'm sure all will be explained in due time young one. Come take your seat by my side. Together we shall do science.” Shadow replied in the same tone as he gestured to the chair next to him with a wing.

Spike wasn't happy with the answer and shrugged as he moved to take the offered seat.

“Yes, now we shall be unstoppable! Muahaha!” Shadow proclaimed as he moved his wing back to it's original postion.

Spike was quite until he started to climb up onto the chair.

“Are you messing with Twilight again? He ask as he looked at the mare in question as she sat up.

“No, I am doing science for work... which just happens to mess with the boss.” Shadow explained as he looked at Spike.

Spike gave a small chuckle at the answer.

“You know one day Twilight is going to get back at you one day in the most boring way possible right?”

“Yeah, but that day isn't today.”

Spike again shrugged as he saw the other mares sat to seat up.

“Why did I let Shadow make me drink so much?” Twilight groaned out as she looked around to see if her friends where here.

“Princess Twilight, it is my duty to inform you that in no way were you or your friends forced to drink anything. You decided to consume so much last night.” Shadow countered in a professional flat voice with amusement at the edges loud enough to be clearly heard past his hooves.

Twilight cringed hearing the information and flattened her ears as she turned to find her guard.

While she looked the princess had to narrow her eyes in a vain attempt to lessen the pain.

“How can you be so chipper this morning? You were drinking with us and you sound fine?” Twilight asked slowly getting to her feet as she searched.

“Well Princess, it's because I was drinking responsibly while on the other hoof you were drinking irresponsibly. And I must say I'm disappointed at your poor behavior.” Shadow voiced trying to sound like his mom when she was upset with his sister.

Hearing what Shadow told her Twilight groaned as she finally found him before slowly walking towards the Table.

“I want to address that point further and why you look like that but I'm in no condition to do so.” Shadow gave a laugh at the reply and head his pose for a second before relaxing.

While Shadow and Twilight had been talking the other elements had sat up and like Twilight flattened their ears and narrowed their eyes to try and lessen their pain.

The other five elements remained quite while they talk and moved to follow Twilight to the table.

“Sweet Celestia, I feel absolutely dreadful.” Rarity fretted as she sat down and saw the mug next to Shadow.

“Shadow darling would you be a dear and let a mare in distress have a tiny sip from your cup?” She inquired doing her best to sound collected and proper.

“Sure you could if it actually had anything in it.” Shadow told Rarity as he pushed the empty mug to the unicorn.

Seeing that the cup was indeed empty she groaned causing her headache to spike.

“How in tarnation did you start your day without any coffee partner?” Applejack asked in annoyance as she looked at the empty pot.

“Simply, I sucked on the grounds.” Shadow offered in a smug informative voice before laughing at his answer and reactions.

The girls groaned and put their head on the table while Shadow laughed.

“Spike would be a life saver and prepare some coffee?” Rarity asked giving the love struck dragon a smile as she fluttered her eyes.

“Of course! I'd do anything for you Rarity!” Spike responded with too much enthusiasm for the elements as he hopped of his chair and went to fulfill the request.

While Spike made coffee the ponies at the table sat in silence, most still trying to lessen their hangovers.

After a few minutes Rainbow lifted her head of the table and looked around the table.

“Who smells?” She asked causing all the mares to try and discretely test to find out if it was them.

With none of them finding it was them they all looked to Shadow.

He sat with a fake innocent smile on his face as he looked around the table with fake confusion to go with the fake innocence.

“I have no idea what any of you are taking about. I took a shower like, when was it? Oh, yeah! Like a week ago so it can't possible be me.” Shadow put out in a way that carried that he wasn't telling a lie an actually hadn't showered.

The expression of confusion, disgust, and outrage were spoken but in muted tones to prevent any pony's hangover from worsening.

“Shadow, I'm ordering you to take a shower right now! No arguement!” Twilight snapped as she pointed in the direction of the shower.

Shadow gave a simply shrug as he moved to get off the chair and do as ordered.

“Order received. FYI, I was waiting to let you make in before me but orders are orders.” Shadow laid out as he walked to the shower.

Before closing the door Shadow turned to look at the table and give them one last bit of information.

“Hope you ladies can hold it cause I'm going to be taking a Los Pegasus shower.”

Author's Notes:

Here's another chapter to another week. Thanks for taking time to read.

New season starts today, HUZZAH!
Now to wait for the new episode, only 12 hours to go if I'm lucky.
One day I'll be able to watch it as it airs and not the day after. Sometimes being forward deployed can really suck, like now. Hope avoiding all the spoilers paid off. Hope we all enjoy the new season!