Twilight's face showed complete confusion and small signs that Shadow was starting to learn meant she was about to have a freak out.

Shadow took a deep breath as his eyes looked around the chariot pool and saw several small offices and rooms.

“If you would please follow me I'll expand on the details in one of these offices.” Shadow offered to Twilight as he waved a wing at the doors.

Twilight gave a numb nod as she started to head to the closest door with Shadow following beside her.

Without speaking the two walked to and enter with Twilight heading in first. Shadow closed the door behind him and closed the blinds in the small window.

“Okay, Princess take some deep breaths and calm down. Freaking out isn't going to improve anything.” Shadow offered to his boss as he turned to face her.

Spike hopped of Twilight's back coming to the conclusion that she was going to have an episode.

Twilight quickly took the offered advice that Shadow gave and began the breathing exercises Cadance had taught her. After several deep breaths Twilight felt she'd calmed herself enough to talk with Shadow.

As Twilight was doing her breathing Spike walked over and hopped into the single chair in the room behind a cluttered desk while Shadow stood around with an unamused look in his face.

“What are you talking about Shadow?! Why is this happening?!” Twilight demanded as she began to pace in the small room.

“I was informing you of the available resources, their condition, and how they will be conducting themselves for the upcoming op.” Shadow slowly and calmly told Twilight as his eyes followed her pacing.

“As to why it's happening, no pony present currently has any intel and we probably aren't going to until we get hooves on the ground in Ponyville, go Guard Intel.” Shadow added in the same tone before sliding into annoyance an anger.

Unfortunately the answer she had gotten did little to help calm Twilight down.

“I don't have real experience with this kind thing and don't know what to do! I haven't had any lessons on this! Shadow! Do you have any books or scrolls on what to do?” Twilight started to ramble picking up speed in her pacing.

“Twilight calm down. I'm sure Shadow's going to help you through this and isn't going to lead you down the wrong path.” Spike reassured as he looked through the scrolls lettered across the desk.

“Spike's got that right Princess. I wouldn't do that since I'd probably be the first to suffer because of it.” Shadow confirmed in a tone that was dismissively playful yet carried serious as he gave a smirk to Spike.

Twilight gave a frustrated groan as looked between the two as they gave a snicker.

Before Twilight could ask any questions Shadow spoke up.

“Unfortunately, there isn't anytime time to explain beyond what I've already told you. Dust off is in, three I would guess.” Shadow informed Twilight as his eyes looked up as he guessed how much time had past as he nodded over his shoulder.

“Take a minute to go through what I've told you before coming out. I've got one or two more orders I want to try and get out Princess.” Shadow laid out as he turned to open the door and walk out. Shadow caught a glance as Twilight gave a single half nod.

Shadow let the door close as he walked away towards the pegasus that Twilight would be using.

“Okay here's the plan, I'm going to drop out of the back when we reach Ponyville to find a secure spot for you to follow and land. After that you're going to be on standby for a fast evac if it comes to it, you understand?” Shadow told the chariot pullers as he looked each one in the eyes as he spoke in a tone that let them know they weren't to question.

Before Shadow walked away they gave salutes before carrying on as Shadow headed to talk with the Master Sergeant he had done his inspection with.

The older Sergeant narrowed his eyes at Shadow as he gave him nod before going back to the clip board he was carrying.

“You got that list put together Master Sergeant?” Shadow asked as he came to a stop. Without looking up the annoyed older pegasus nodded as he replied as he tore the top sheet off and passed it to Shadow.

“Yeah, just finished.”

“Thanks.”

Taking the sheet Shadow didn't look over it and simply stuffed in into a pocket in his vest before heading back to the door Twilight was behind.

Shadow stood next to the door at the position at ease. Almost the instant he got to the position Twilight opened the door and walked out with Spike on her back.

Shadow snapped to the position of attention as he shouted out.

“Princess on deck!” His voice cut through the noise of the chariot pool an its effect has near instant.

The gathered ponies stopped what they were doing as quickly and safely as possible before mirroring Shadow and coming to attention.

Twilight was surprised at the call and gave a small jump and was amazed at how the guards reacted.

The guards them saluted Twilight as she took a few steps into the room.

“Carry on!” Shadow yelled out and the inverse of what happened with the call to attention began.

“If you follow me Princess I'll lead you to the chariot we'll be taking.” Shadow politely informed Twilight as he held up a hoof in the direction in wanted to go.

Twilight gave a confused nod before following the gesture. As they walked to the chariot Spike spoke up.

“That was kinda cool!A drago, ah pony could get use to that. Don't you think Twilight?” He commented followed by a quick nervous chuckle as he looked around the large room watching the gathered guards loading up in their chariots.

“Maybe from your point of view Spike but for must guards it's an annoyance.” Shadow commented as he stopped at the back of the chariot to let Twilight on.

As she sat down she heard the first of the chariots start to leave. Before her chariot moved Shadow climbed into the back of the covered chariot.

As he sat down he let a long sigh as the chariot suddenly jerked forward. All three occupants had to brace themselves from sliding on their benches.

After a minute of accelerating two chariots moved into formation behind Twilight's.

Seeing the two chariots Shadow moved to sit on the edge of the bench near the exit. Grabbing a bar above him with a wing he leaned out and looked around the sky.

Shadow looked to the front of chariot in an attempt to check on the other two chariots. From his current spot he could only see one of them.

Clenching his teeth in annoyance Shadow pulled himself back inside before looking over at Twilight and Spike.

Twilight look nervous and confused while Spike looked excited. Before Shadow could ask what was wrong Twilight cut him off.

“What were you thinking?! You could have fallen and then what would you have done?!”

Shadow gave her a look of confusion for a second before he opened his wings up to show her. Twilight opened her mouth to comment but closed it with a flash of embarrassment.

“This is amazing! Isn't it Twilight? I can't wait to tell Rarity all about this! An actually combat, thing! She's going to be so impressed!” Spike told Twilight as he tried to contain his excitement but failed nearly bouncing in his seat.

Hearing that Shadow shook his head before looking out at the chariot.

“To be innocent and naive again.” He spoke with yearning to the wind rushing by him.

During the flight Shadow sat in silence as he scanned to sky and ground around him as he felt the anxiety start to grow.

Twilight thought about talking to him several times but decided against it. She was still trying to get use to the sudden shift and maintenance of his stern professionalism.

When she thought Spike was going to try and talk with the stallion she put a hoof on the dragon's shoulder and shook her head.

Spike was confused at first at Twilight stopping him but when he saw the worry and concern of her face he understood.

This was a serious matter and needed to be treated as such and remained silent.

Without warning the chariot jerked to the right slamming Shadow's back into the wall causing him to clench his teeth as he sucked in a pained breath.

Twilight used her magic to stop Spike from coming off the bench as she lurched to the side of the chariot Shadow was on.

Grabbing the bar above him again Shadow moved to lean out and find out what was happening. He quickly found his answer in the form of a black storm cloud with thorns flow by.

While still leaning out he looked back into the chariot before he started yelling to be heard.

“Brace for more! It's only going to get worse!” Even having to cut through the wind Twilight and Spike heard the authority, confidence, and reassurance in it before looking back outside.

Shadow didn't see Twilight use her magic to encase Spike in a protective bubble as she used her own wings to grab the bars above her.

Over the next several minutes the chariot made sudden and often violent jerks on two of three planes of dimensions. The occasional flash of lighting and accompanying roar of thunder only increase the tension and fear.

Both Twilight's and Spike's eyes were squeezing shut so hard tears started to form in their corners.

After recovery from a sudden jerk to the side it seemed like an explosion went off above the chariot.

Twilight and Spike yelled out in surprise and pain from the thunder that assaulted their ears while the flash of light found no resistance turning the world into blinding light.

Shadow screamed out in frustration an angry as he violently jerk back and pulled himself back into the chariot as his head snapped to the side.

As that happened the chariot abruptly dropped several feet down leaning to one side.

For several seconds the chariot fought to regain control and still maintain course and speed.

Once more Twilight and Spike cried out in surprise and fear before each gave a single small sob.

Shadow's world was rapidly becoming muffled as it became more defined and seemingly slower as he felt his heart pounding in his chest with each beat suffocating his pain.

When Shadow got himself back to the edge of the bench he saw they were finally over Ponyville.

Twisting his head to yell over his shoulder Shadow mentally prepared himself for his next action.

“JUMPING!”

Before the last syllable had left his lips Shadow hurled himself into the whipping winds chest first pulling his wings to his barrel.

Without looking back to check clearance Shadow's wings burst out from his barrel to catch the winds to brake his momentum.

The savage stop was accompanied by the numbness through his wings and back as Shadow had to fight to move his head to look below him.

With no horizontal speed or lift gravity seized Shadow to which he offered no fight.

As he began his fall wings moved and center of gravity shifted to allow the pegasus' head to fall to the ground.

Now aimed head first to the ground an accelerating towards it Shadow gave several powerful beats to increase his speed and decrease is time aloft.

Finally pulling his wings to his side to streamline his eyes were desperately searching for a relative safe landing zone.

Without conscious thought he noticed the area in front of the library look acceptable.

Shifting his wings Shadow changed his plummet to land at his target.

As he dove to the LZ he caught a flash of a shadow resulting in training and instinct taking over.

Ruthlessly fighting physics Shadow executed a cork screw to avoid smashing into a malformed cloud.

In advance of finishing the maneuver Shadow had to bleed off enough speed in an effort to prevent serious injury.

Flaring out his wings Shadow snapped back at the abrupt change of air flow forcing a grunt.

Beating his wings to further slow himself down as his hooves made contact with the ground.

Several beats and steps later Shadow and prior to a complete stop he turned around and opened his wings to appear as large as he could to be easily spotting from the sky.

Taking rapid breaths and eyes scanning the sky the guard quickly found the formation of chariot.

Avoiding the clouds the chariots made a direct approach to Shadow and LZ.

With several long seconds passing the chariots landed on the ground with guards jumping out of the chariots before they stopped to carry out their orders.

With his wings still out Shadow run over to the chariot Twilight was in.

Approaching from behind Shadow saw both Twilight and Spike where still inside and appeared unharmed from first glance.

“Princess! Let's get you inside the library and start to expand on your plans!” Shadow shouted out to get their attention and be heard over the noise from the guards and locals.

Reaching the back of the chariot Shadow clearly saw that both the riders were physical fine but mentally a different.

Speaking with as much reassurance and support he could and not wanting to lie to the two Shadow let them know the truth.

“That was unfortunately the easy part... I'm sorry.”

Author's Notes:

First off let me apologize. I completely derped last week. I saved the chapter but forget to publish it.
That's been corrected and I double checked to make sure I didn't to it again.
Thanks again for putting up with the story and me. I know you don't have to and I appreciate it.