After walking through the door, Shadow stopped and waiting for Steel Bolt to close the door with his magic. When the door clicked closed and the wood hit together the sounds had an immediate effect.

Both Walker's and Bolt's faces slowly changed from degrees of professionalism. Confusion, disbelief, and uncertainty were clearly seen on their faces as their eyes moved in a manner that reflected that, as well as their voices.

“Did that actually just happen,” Walker asked as he turned his head to face Bolt as he tilted his head to the door.

“Ah, yes? I'm still processing,” Bolt returned as his eyes darted again looking for an answer giving a small chuckle at the end.

“You're not the only one. I'm still trying to figure out if I survived that encounter with Princess Luna,” Shadow admitted looking up towards the ceiling with his eyes.

“I thought you were going to end up in space somewhere, or smashed like a pumpkin, or thrown into a wall. You know something not pleasant,” Bolt offered with some humor added in his voice.

“Those seem pleasant to where my mind was going, and I don't want to talk 'bout it right now before you ask,” Walker returned widening his eyes and rolled them.

“Well, let's walk and talk. I have no desire to upset Princess Celestia, for any reason or amount at the moment, you okay with that,” Bolt informed the former Solar Guard as he turned to walk away from the conference room.

“Yeah, that's a great idea and I agree, don't think I'm on her nice list at the moment. So let's get moving,” Shadow replied as he started to walk down the hallway with Bolt falling in beside him.

As they walked to the barracks Shadow was billeted in they did so in silence. After exiting the building they were in the two walked across courtyards, a small park, and drilling grounds for the Solar Guard.

As they arrived at the barracks Shadow turned to Bolt.

“I'll be done packing and all that in 'bout half an hour or so. So you can take off or do what ever 'til then and I'll meet you back here. Sound good,” Shadow told the accompanying guard before letting out a sigh.

“Oh, no, I'll be waiting here. Again, I'm not going to take any risks that upsets Princess Celestia. I'll be in the lounge waiting for you to get back. After that I'll check to make sure you don't have anything you shouldn't,” Bolt returned as he walked past Shadow and opened the door to the barracks with his magic before tilting his head to tell Shadow to get moving.

Shadow gave a roll of his eyes and a groan of frustration with a smirk as he walked past Bolt to let the Sergeant see.

“Yeah, yeah, I got ya.”

As the two reached the lounge Bolt peeled off to find a spot to wait as Shadow kept walking to reach his room. After going up two flights of stairs and down two hallways he reached his current quarters.

“Well, at least I'm not going to look at these crappy colored halls and carpet any more, plus there,” he talked to himself as pulled off his helmet with his hooves.

After pulling it off he could feel the magically enchantments it provided fade as they began to weaken. Holding the helmet in his left hoof he reached in with his right to grab his keys but failed and they dropped to the worn green carpet.

Shadow let out a sigh as reached to pick them up.

“Need to remember to tell the new boss to have pockets on the uniforms and the ability to use them,” he mumbled to him self as fumbled to get the key into lock.

Walking into his room he tossed his key on the small table near the entrance along with wine bottle as he dropped his service jacket on the floor.

His next action was to sit down pull off the armor he was wearing, as he did the armor's enchantments too began to fade.

With a series of clanks and thuds Shadow tossed the armor against the wall near the table and left it there as he walked down the short hallway and past the door to the shared bathroom.

To his left against was a desk with stationaries and a dresser, a bed took up the far wall with a end table, and on the right has the door to his closet, which he walked straight to.

Opening the door in took a quick look inside to find his saddlebags and duffel bag. He tossed the standard issued green duffel bag on the bed followed by the desert tan saddlebags before looking back in to the closet.

“Now, what stays and what goes,” he again mumbled to himself and gave a sigh as he ran a wingtip through his mane.

He quickly decided that all his uniforms stayed, the Solar Guard uniforms would be useless, he only needed to grab his personalized armor.

'Wow..., that was pretty quick,' he thought to himself as he grabbed the kit bag the armor was in with his hooves and pulled it out and set it on the floor next to the bed. Before moving to the desk he picked up the saddlebags and opened the flaps.

Setting the bags on the floor next to the next, Shadow then took a foreleg and simply swiped the items on top of the desk into the waiting saddlebag. He next opened the two drawers in the desk and took out several books, journals, and small boxes and containers and tossed them into the second bag without much care.

The last item he pulled out of the bottom drawer was a bottle of clear hard liquor which he placed with the books and journals.

The one he did take some care with was a photo book that he carefully placed in the bags before leaving the saddlebags on the floor and walked back over to his armor kit.

Unzipping the bag he reached in started to pull out the pieces and began the process of donning the armor, taking fifteen minutes to make sure that it was properly worn.

After Shadow was content with the armor he walked over to his dresser with the duffel bag, which he proceeded to stuff with his personal items, resulting in him having to pound down the items to allow the bag to be latched closed.

Shadow gave a deep long sigh as he looked over the room to make sure he hadn't forgot anything before moving back to the small table near the door where he grabbed the folder and wine.

Placing the folder and wine with the stationaries before tossing the saddlebags on and securing them. With a small grunt of effort Shadow used his forelegs and head to flip the duffel bag onto his back. After securing the bag he gave it a few small bounces to test the fit. Finding the seating fine he began the walk back to the lounge to meet Steel Bolt.

When Shadow got back to the lounge he found the Sergeant lazily and uninteresting flipping through a magazine.

“You ready to check the room and me Sergeant?” Shadow asked startling the unicorn.

“That was closer to twenty, not thirty, minutes Walker. Why so quick?” Bolt inquired as he got off the couch and stood up.

“Well, I realized that I wouldn't have to pack any of my Solar Guard stuff, and as a result I didn't have to be all nice and neat with my packing,” Shadow returned with a bored tone as he gave the duffel bag a shuffle.

“So you just dumped everything else into your bags without rhyme or reason?” Bolt asked as he paused before speaking and then walking away.

“Yep,” was the simply reply given as Bolt walked away and Shadow sat on his haunches to await the Sergeant's return. Five minutes hadn't past before the unicorn returned.

“I'm not impressed with you just leaving everything you don't need in that room, but I guess it's turned in,” Bolt told Shadow with annoyance clear in his voice.

“That's why we have Privates, Sergeant,” Shadow countered with a playful evil grin as he stood up and looked at Bolt, who just rolled his eyes and groaned.

“Just let me check your bags. Stand still while I work,” Bolt countered as we walked to the side of Shadow before running his magic over the bags.

After several seconds the unicorns magic stopped.

“Well, looks like you check out and you don't have anything on you shouldn't, but two bottles of booze. Really,” Bolt informed Shadow before his voice slipped into curiosity an annoyance.

“Hey, I do what I got to so I can make it through the day, don't judge me,” Shadow replied with annoyance.

“Well, I'm off to hurry up and wait for Princess Twilight at the train station... yeah,” Shadow stated starting upbeat and slowly trailed off to bored and annoyed.

“Please try and not to repeat what happened today. I don't think it would end pleasantly for anyone next time Shadow. Take it easy until the next time we might meet.”

“Yep,” Shadow said over his shoulder as he started to walk towards the nearest exit. Once outside Shadow stopped and thought for a minute if he should try and fly to the train station but decided since he still had plenty time he'd walk.

Talking his time it took him just over forty minutes to arrive at the train station. Along the way he continue to feel the enchantments from his old armor and helmet continue to fade until they disappeared.

At the same time that was occurring he caught several what he classified as nobles or fancy unicorns giving him dirty and suspicious looks. Shadow clenched his jaw and relaxed it several times during his walk to keep his mouth shut.

Outside the train station he thought he'd have to pushed through the crowds but they gave him space once they caught sight of his armor.

Stopping with a sigh in front the arrival and departure board he looked for which track would be heading to Ponyville. With the number in mind in headed to the ticket counter.

After the mandatory wait in line he made it to a clerk.

“Ticket to Ponyville to be put on Princess Twilight's account,” Shadow flatly told the pale blue earth stallion behind the counter.

The stallion gave Shadow a look over with a judging look before shrugging and writing something out and speaking to Shadow.

“We'll be verifying this with the Princess to protect against fraud, you understand, name,” the bored worn voice of the stallion asked.

“Yes, Shadow Walker,” Shadow returned returned holding back a sigh. The earth pony gave a nod and finished writing note and then the ticket before passing the ticket to Shadow.

“Thanks,” was told to the ticket worker as Shadow walked off making his way to the correct platform.

At the platform he found it deserted as we headed to a stone pillar.

There he dropped the duffel bag and saddlebags to the marble floors.

“Hurry up and wait time, yea,” Shadow spoke to no pony as he leaned against the duffle bag with sarcasm and boredom. Letting several seconds pass he started to open his saddlebags to pull out a small book.

The book didn't do to much to pass the time while he waited for his new Princess to show up. Two hours later the platform was still empty as he put the book back into the saddlebag. As he looked up from doing so he saw a brown earth pony mare was walking down the stairs to the platform.

The mare sat on a bench ignoring Shadow while both waited for several minutes in silence before Twilight walked on to the platform.

When she saw Shadow seem looked confused and unsure who see was looking at since the armored pegasus didn't look like Shadow.

Twilight saw a pegasus with a grey coat and a mane and tail of black and red stripes that looked to be need of trimming. The stallions eyes were emerald that showed their determination and tiredness as she saw them look at her, however the eyes were behind a pair of clear tanker goggles

The part that caused Twilight to pause was the armor the stallion was wearing. All see saw was coyote brown cloth but see could see the rigidness of steel hidden under. The plates resembled the standard guard armor around his barrel but had additional plates on the legs and neck.

The princess could also make out unused pockets within reach of mouth or hooves to store items.

As she looked over the bored looking pegasus Twilight cautiously approached him.

“Ah, Sergeant Shadow Walker,” she ask with hesitation causing the pegasus to react.

“Yes, Princess Twilight, who else would be wearing armor waiting for a train to Ponyville,” Shadow replied as he looked at his new princess worth confusion and worry.

“Oh, good, I was worried for a minute that you hadn't shown up,” Twilight answer with an upbeat tune, “and I ah, don't know who else would wait like that for the train,” she finished sheepishly.

“Why do you look so different from earlier,” she asked with curiosity.

“The armor enchantments wore off,” he answered in skeptical voice.

Before either could speak again the train began to pull up along side the platform. With a grinding of steam and hiss of steam the train came to a stop.

“I'm ready to get on board, Princess Twilight are you ready,” Shadow asked as he looked over the train with judging inspecting eyes and stopping the previous conversation.

She was a bit confused at why the Sergeant was looking at the train in such a way and thought about it for a minute.

“Princess Twilight,” Shadow asked in a clear neutral voice to get Twilight's attention.

“Oh, sorry! I got lost in thought. I've got everything I need before we head out,” she responded with a nervous chuckle and shuffle of her hooves.

Shadow gave a nod before turning back to his bags and putting them back on but didn't secure them since he would be shortly dropping them again.

After a quick walk he dropped the duffle off with the luggage handlers, grabbed a receipt, and walked back to his new employer.

Shadow gave a quick glance up and down the platform before heading to the door for a the passenger car. He stuck his head in the car and long down the length of the car and looked it over for several seconds.

Content with its current state he withdrew his head and turned it to Twilight.

“Clear Princess Twilight,” Shadow informed her with a firm professional voice causing her to give another nervous chuckle as she walked to and past her guard.

Shadow waited several seconds before following her not wanting to repeat earlier. Stepping on the car he looked over the car again as he walkover to seat across for Twilight.

“Um, isn't it uncomfortable to sit with all that armor on,” Twilight inquired after several silent seconds.

“Yep, but comfort isn't it's primary purpose, stopping me from becoming a corpse is,” Shadow told her with dark humor clear in his voice causing Twilight to roll her eyes and groan.

“So, anything I need to know about from after I left that little get together,” he quickly added to stop a possible lecture.

“Yep, I'll be visiting Cadence in the Crystal Kingdom soon, but it will be Princess gathering. I'm not going to be able to spend as much time as I would like with my brother and her,” she immediately answer with glee and excitement as she tapped her fore hooves together.

Shadow gave a scream of horror and anger inside is head as he looked blankly at Twilight.

'I hate and despise the cold,' he thought internally but he did let a small groan escape.

Author's Notes:

Got this up before my own personal deadline, and I'm proud of that. Not too much in this chapter I know, I used it to setup and advance. Thanks for the time and read, take it easy.