Shadow rolled his neck with a groan before turning to the two unicorns with a sigh.

“Yelp, let's get this clusterfuck started. Let's talk with the boss.” Shadow commented as he turn to lead the unicorns into Twilight's room which he entered without knocking.

“Princess Twilight have you looked outside yet?” The pegasus asked in a calm professional voice with the Solar guards behind him.

Spike was the first to speak.

“Dude, it's creepy out there.” He remarked pointing a thumb over his shoulder past the window.

“Indeed Spike, so is it safe to assume that you also know what's going on Princess?” Shadow acknowledge with a small nod of his head before asking for an answer again.

“Yes Shadow, it was the first thing I saw after I woke of this ah, I don't know what time it actually is.” Twilight told her guard as she walked over to him as she continued.

“I take that the two behind you are here to inform me of the situation?” To which shoulder gave a half shrug while the two unicorns nodded to confirm.

“Thank you for informing me of the situation you can go back to your duties.” Twilight ordered the guards before glancing over her shoulder to look back out the window.

The two unicorns came to attention and saluted before turning to leave.

“What's next Princess?” Shadow asked as he moved to hold the door open for Twilight and Spike. Twilight paused a second to think before answering.

“Let's head over to the Throne Room, Princess Celestia or Princess Luna should have an answer to what's going on.” Twilight suggested as she and Spike walked through the door.

Closing the door behind him Shadow quickly walked to catch up with the two before speaking.

“I'm pretty sure 'bout this, the sisters don't seem like the type that would pull something this big off without at least informing you Princess.”

Twilight gave the statement some thought and had to agree with Shadow an it worried her but decided not to voice it.

The three moved in silence out of the building with Shadow leading the way searching for possible threats.

Allowing Twilight to pass by him as he looked over the growing crowd outside put a sense of dread in his stomach.

Shadow knew he was in back to peak performance to handle any unruly ponies and it looked like a lot of them were starting to approach Twilight.

Before the look of doubt appeared on his face Shadow set his face into on that should those approaching he would crush them like bugs if they got out of hoof.

As a fancy looking mare spoke to Twilight Shadow did nothing to hide the fact he was looking at through the crowd.

While speaking with the mare that had approached her for answers a unicorn guard interrupted asking her to follow him.

Shadow had to push a few ponies aside as the small group heading towards the throne room. While he did Shadow saw glimpses of the unicorns having to do the same.

Walking through large double doors no pony spoke giving the air a sense of loneliness and fear. Hearing the doors close behind him seemingly louder then normal Shadow was under no illusion what ever the guards told Twilight wasn't going to be positive.

Prior to him starting to think about what it could be the guards dropped the news that the elder alicorns were missing shocking Twilight and Spike.

“Did you check in the closet at the back of the top shelve? That's where I would disappear to hide.” Shadow ask without a clear tone if he was serious or sarcastic looking between the two guards getting looks of confusion.

“How 'bout the roof? Another good hiding spot.” At this point the unicorns started make noises of their confusion.

“Shadow! Stop playing around this is serious!” Twilight told the pegasus with an unpleased stare and tone.

“I am being serious Princess. I've noticed most of the guards around the castle in the day are unicorns and the places I asked about aren't places someone without wings would normally look.” Shadow returned in a voice to let his boss know he took her statement serious and he was too.

Twilight tilted her her slightly to the side as she thought about what she was told and had to agree. Instead of replying her guard Twilight turned to the unicorns.

“Thank you again for informing me, you can return to your duties.” The two unicorns then came to attention and saluted before turning to leave but as they did Shadow yelled out.

“Stand by you two, I've got orders for you.” Shadow barked out to the local guards getting their attention along with Twilight's and Spike's.

“Start sending out recall orders to all active duty guards, Solar and Lunar, and have them report to their barracks and armories to prepare for deployment. When that's done send out notices of possibly activation of reserves. Now you can leave.” Shadow laid out his orders to the two in a tone that was again professional and authoritative as he made it a point to look them in the eyes.

The guards spared a glance at each other before giving one to Shadow and the looking Twilight for an answer.

Twilight's feeling of uncertainty spiked when she realized that the two unicorns weren't going to follow Shadow's orders and looking to her to counterman them.

The princess had read dozens of books on the guard, procedures, chain of command, and related topics but they seemed so far away and useless at the moment now that she was being put on the spot.

Twilight understood that the guards generally followed orders from their respective princess without question but rarely those from another, let allow a guard of any kind.

However, at the moment there were no other princesses, Twilight was the only one.

To her it felt like minutes had past but knew it was only a few seconds before so had her answer.

“Follow the orders that you were given guards and when they're finished report it to me.” Twilight confirmed the order but her voice didn't firmly convey certainty.

Regardless of the tone the two unicorns had orders and moved to carry them out.

Shadow moved and turned his head to face Twilight to talk with her but was interrupted when a third unicorn guard ran between the two leaving and stopped abruptly in front of Twilight.

Without prompting the new guard dropped another developing situation on Princess Twilight, Ponyville was under attack by the Everfree Forest.

While Twilight woke Spike after his faint Shadow started to snap out orders to the new guard.

“Assembly a fast response team! Pull what ever guards are on hoof, unis, pegs, legs, I don't care. Have them assembly in the chariot pool, after pulling weapons and armor. They leave in, fifteen. GO!” The unicorn snapped off a rushed salute and bolted out of the room to pass the word without question.

Twilight and Spike were taken back at how quickly and professional Shadow was acting. This wasn't the pegasus they had dealt with the last couple weeks.

“Whoa, dude, what did you do with Shadow?” Spike asked with admiration in his eyes and voice.

“Never had to really act like a guard around you before little dude, that's all.” Shadow coolly answered as he looked at the small dragon.

“It's really cool seeing you act like this.” Spike added giving a thumbs up.

“I agree but I wouldn't use the same words to describe the change.” Twilight interjected with a nod of her head at Shadow before looking over her shoulder to where the last guard disappeared.

“However, I don't think it's going to go over well when this is over and the guards realize they're taking orders from you and not an actually princess.” She added with a down cast voice looking at the floor for a second.

“Yeah, probably and you could always look at it like I speak with your full authority an all the orders are preplanned responses you've come up with for me to use.” Shadow offered to Twilight to help lift her spirits and set her mind at ease.

Twilight gave a smile and a small chuckle in agreement but before she could reply Shadow spoke up again.

“We should go get the Elements of Harmony, 'cause of damn certain they're going to play a part in this somehow.” He suggested to his current princess holding a hoof up pointing back to her room.

“Right.” Was all Twilight said as she used her magic to pick up and place Spike on her back before breaking into a fast jog to retrieve her element with Shadow quickly falling in next to her.

As Twilight pulled her element out she giggled when she remembered Shadow calling it a weird crown tiara combo thingy that needed a clear label.

The memory was quickly pushed out of her mind when Shadow offered a course of action.

“Princess, I recommend that he proceed to the chariot pool and prep for departure to Ponyville.”

“Why can't we take the next train to Ponyville?”

“The most direct route, and quickest, will be flight. It also places us in a more secure position that in addition lessens possible interception and delay.” Shadow rattled off looking down the hallway for threats.

“He's right Twilight and don't we want to help our friends as fast as we can?” Spike added his two bits.

“Okay, you'll have to lead the way Shadow. I'm sure I know the fastest way to the chariot pool.”

With Twilight's agreeing Shadow nodded and without further instruction took of at a pace he felt Twilight wouldn't have a problem keeping.

Before she reached the chariot pool Twilight could hear ponies shouting out orders and request to get what they wanted. Mixed in with the voices were the sounds of metal hitting stone or metal, crates being dropped, and the sounds of metal work.

Listening to the noises Twilight nearly ran into Shadow when he slowed down.

Before she apologized she heard Shadow start to shout out his own orders added to the mix.

At first the mass of ponies didn't seem to acknowledge the orders but Twilight soon realized all Shadow was barking out were calls to clear a both for herself and by extension him.

The guards' training let them move fluidly around the two without problems or saluting.

Twilight started to ask why that was but stopped herself from doing so. She reasoned if Shadow wasn't making a issue of it at the moment she wouldn't either.

With weaving through the seemingly unorganized guards Shadow pushed opened a large wooden door and let Twilight walk through.

Twilight saw half a dozen chariots being checked by guards with a sea of guards standing around checking themselves an each other.

For a minute Twilight simply stood still as she looked over the large area to get an idea what was going on then realized Shadow had walked off.

Looking around she quickly spotted him talking with an older pegasus as they two walked around the chariots.

When they passed in front of her the older pegasus saluted her and continued with was walk while Shadow walked over to her.

When he stopped in front of her he gave a sigh that cut her off and started to talk.

“Well, it could be better but then again it could be worse. I'm satisfied with five of the rides, sixth not at all. They've managed to throw together the equivalent of three squads. I'd want more but that's going to happen. Upside, it's even thirds, downside they're mixed units.” Shadow informed Twilight in the voice that he had been using all day as he point out what he was talking about with a wing.

“If pushed we can put together a forth squad from the drivers, they'll be tired but can be put in support roles, which I recommend. It'll save one of the fresh squads.” He added pointing to the guards.

“I've ordered the Master Sergeant to pass the orders out for our arrival in Ponyville. Squad one will secure town hall, two the hospital, with three as a response team. If you want it tell me now if you want the forth stood up as runners.” Shadow inquired with a tilting nod back to the pegasus having harnesses fixed.

“Lastly, ROE is secure and defend, no offenses moves, non-lethal, assist civvies. You want to mod them?” Shadow inquired before coming to stand next to Twilight.

Twilight has dumbfounding at everything Shadow had just thrown at her and was having difficulty making sense of it, let alone come to an informed decision.

Before she could make any type of response she felt a wing drape over her shoulders. Turning her head to see who it was she saw it was Shadow but she didn't like the shit eating grin on his face.

“Soo, Princess, you ready for your first combat insertion?”

Author's Notes:

Welcome back or maybe just welcome. I know say this almost every week but thanks again for stopping by and giving the story a read.