Twilight came to slowly, and when she did, she was unable to move, but she was able to hear two voices, her mind unable to recognize the voices because of what she had just went through.

"You sure that's what it did?" the first voice, a feminine one, asked. "That doesn't fit with their usual. They usually leave victims awake when they kill them, and slowly at that, and since they go after nobles in support of the crown, why not do that to a royal instead of knocking her out for us to rescue her?"

"We did interrupt them before they could do much," the second voice, a male one, replied. "Like Sweetie said, this was the first time we caught them in the act. Every other time, the Order's been able to finish and clear out." A sigh. "Look, I talked with Lone and our guys in the Empire. Nothing up north, but two groups of five were stopped in Canterlot. One going for Celestia was stopped by Lone and the others there, the other group stopped by Luna's guards. That's to say, the other competent guard force. Three captives, all others escaped. Lone'll bring Celestia here around noon tomorrow."

Another sigh. "So, should we get the shit storm umbrellas ready? We all know how mad Celestia will be when she finds out about what happened to Twilight. Especially since you bucking left her!"

"How was I supposed to know that was going to happen!" the voice yelled back, instantly rebooting Twilight's mind, making her groan as she sat up before clutching her side. "Besides, it's not like they'd have much reason to attack here unless it was either suicide or they were sure they could take Celestia down."

A third voice. "Guys, shut it, she's up," it said as she opened her eyes. This voice, Twilight recognized as belonging to one of the more tolerable nobles, his name being Lost Legacy. Twilight didn't know much about him, just that he came from a family of historians and that his great times x grandfather was Celestia's right hand general during the Griffon wars before Luna's banishment. His skin was colored a dark yellow, one similar to faded scrolls, his hair and tail the color of ink. "You okay, Princess?" he asked, as he was sitting next to where the lavender alicorn lay, which was one of the medical beds the hospital had given last year when a bacterial infection from the Everfree infected Ponyville, and the hospital was filled. "Take it easy, you've been out for a day."

This made Twilight's eyes widen. "What? B-but what about the arrival party?"

"I've been handling it, Twi," Spike said as he and Starlight- the former having a Katana in it's scabbard attached to her waist as she wore a simple out fit of exercise pants and a sleeveless t-shirt, showing off her cutie mark.(1) "Kinda easy when it had to be canceled."

"What?" Twilight yelled before clutching her side in pain again.

"Whoa, whoa, take it easy," Lost said as he put his hands on Twilight's shoulders to stop her from falling. "That dagger those guys put in you had a toxin on the edge. Either it wasn't strong enough, or alicorns are just immune to the death portion of it, but it inflamed the nerves in you intestines where you got stabbed, and they're very damned sensitive right now."

"But, yeah, it's cancelled," Spike said as he crossed his arms. "Security reasons. Can't risk those plotholes trying again and being successful with three princesses."

"Spike, what are you talking about?" Twilight asked. "Why does Starlight have a sword?"

"Classified under Celestia's orders and her personal weapon choice for combat," Bon bon, wearing a two piece, black outfit-one reminiscent of the one Twilight wore when she snuck into the Canterlot archives years ago, albeit with leather pads on the forearms, legs, thighs, chest, and shoulders- said as she walked into the room, two short sword across her back. "And trust me, Twilight, Celestia said only she would be allowed to tell you unless it was dire. You're alive, so it's not."

"But I nearly died!"

"So," Bon bon said. "For us, that's a weekly thing, and your an alicorn. It'd take a shit load more to kill you than us." She then sighed. "Still, if it'll keep your mouth quiet until the princess and the Captain get here, I will tell you this: The solar and Lunar guards aren't the only guard that operate in Equestria, and we're willing to do more then them to protect our home."

"Don't forget actually competent," Lost muttered as he helped Twilight up. "Just take it easy for the next few days, Twilight, and you'll be good."

"Okay, why do you do that?" Twilight asked. "You don't call Celestia and Luna by their title."

"And why don't you?" Bon bon asked.

"Because I'm their equal!" Twilight yelled before clutching her side.

"Do I have to knock you out, 'cause I will?" Lost asked.

"Sorry, but still." Twilight asked.

Starlight was the one to answer. "Because. . .well, to put it simply and in terms you'll understand, we're her equals. And not because we're royal."

"Look, you have any other questions, you can ask Celestia," Bon bon said. "Spike, find out how they got her there. Everyone else, check the place, make sure there isn't anything else here that could kill us without us knowing who did so."

"Right," the three others said before Lost, Starlight, and Bon bon left the room, leaving Twilight, who now sat in a chair, and Spike.

"Spike, what happened, what's going on?"

"Like she said, Twilight, you'll have to wait until mom's here to ask about that," Spike replied. "But I will say that what I'm a part of, I have been since before we came to Ponyville." He then sighed before picking up a nearby scroll and quill. "So, so that we have a record of it and can tell Celestia to put a warning out, how did they get you into the alleyway. Trust me, this should help stop them. For now, at least."

Twilight sighed. "You sure?"

"Hey, when have I actually lied to you?" Spike asked.

"Fair enough, I guess," the lavender alicorn sighed. "Well, they were able to use a complex illusion spell to replicate a crying filly who said her parents needed help. When I went to pick her up, that's. . .well, you know the rest. Including the whole shadow thing."

Spike sighed as he finished recording. "Yeah, they've been doing that since we've fought them. The shadow walk, we call it. Far as we can tell, there's no dark magic in it."

"Wow," Twilight whispered. "That'd take a lot of magic."

"Exactly," Spike said. "Well, Twi, get some rest, I need to tell the girls you're okay, but will be bedridden for a week. The reason being we'll want to hear what Celestia wants before we. . .enact security protocols. Nothing violent."

That didn't help Twilight as she paled somewhat. "O-okay," she said as Spike got up, scroll in hand, and went to leave. But she did was able to ask, "Can you at least tell me what they're called? The ponies who assaulted me."

"Nope," Spike said, turning his head to look back. "Not even we know their group name. See ya later, Twi."

One day later- castle throne room

"Everything ready?" Bon bon asked the two unicorns.

"Anti-listening spells are up," Lost reported.

"As are intrusion alarm spells," Starlight said. "They want in, we'll know about it, seeing as how us, Twilight, and, in a few minutes, the captain and Celestia will be the only ones in here."

The earth pony nodded. "Good. How's Twilight doing?"

"Well, considering," Lost said. "Scan I did last night while she did shows she'll make a full recovery. Which makes even less damned sense."

"Unless it was meant to be a message," Spike, who leaned on a nearby wall. "That they can touch the alicorns, too. Should we ask him if acolytes should be posted to the cells?"

"I don't see why not," the candy maker replied. "Someone, get Twilight. Harmony knows she'll be asking questions later. May as well staunch 'em where we can."

"On it," Lost said before he went to leave the room.

In silence, a few minutes passed before a small, yellow orb appeared in the room. "Here they come," Spike said.

"No shit," Starlight said just before there was a small flash, causing the ponies to avert their eyes, and Spike to just close them. When the light faded, two ponies stood there. One was alabaster white and wore simple chain mail armor, reminiscent of knight armor colored a dark yellow. Her wing joints were covered by light but magically enhanced plates, and she had two swords at her wait. This was Celestia when she was angry and out for blood.

the other pony was a below average height unicorn stallion colored black and red, his hair and tail being the same but with orange flecks at the edge, giving it a flame look. His horn ended in a pointed tip. He wore light armor little more than light plate and a special undersuit only his guard used, no weapons being visible.

"Princess, Lone," Bon bon said with a nod. "Sorry we had to see each other under these circumstances. Lost's getting Twilight so she can ask her questions."

"Expected, that was I suppose," Celestia sighed. "It is good to see you're still doing well, Sweetie, after I removed the agency."

"Yeah, well, it helps when you can make sweets in a place that loves 'em," she replied. "Still, not the reason we're all here."

"Agreed," Celestia said. "Countermeasures?"

"In place," Sweetie drops said before she pulled out the scroll that had what Spike wrote down, and tossed it to Celestia, who caught it in her hand before placing it on her belt. "That's what we got from two nights ago. Not much, but an improvement."

"Better than nothing," Lone said as he crossed his arms. "I've talked with Opal in the north. She's been getting word from her sources in the castle that Cadence has been leaving the castle and using an illusion to make it look like she stays. Think it's got something to do with why she wasn't attacked?"

"Doubt they're connected," Celestia said. "The two of us have been exchanging letters. It's more to get away and pretend to be a pony when she can, a luxury I wish I could share."

"I'll tell 'em it's not related, then," Lone said as Lost returned, helping Twilight along, the opening doors, getting everyone's attention. 'Bout time, Lone thought. Couldn't they have gotten her here before?

"Ah, Twilight," Celestia said before walking over and hugging the other alicorn gently, but the lavender one still flinched a little. "I hope you are doing well."

"Y-yes, considering," she replied. "Princess, why are you wearing armor?"

Celestia pulled back, and put a hand on Twilight's shoulder. "I wear it-"

"Whenever she gets pissed," Lone said, getting looks from the other members of the guard, and an amused smile from Celestia. "What, you all know I'm right."

"Regardless," Celestia said, "I am sorry this happened to you Twilight. If I had known, I would have had them follow you more closely."

"Uh, even though I'm sure I know who you mean," Twilight said, "aren't they part of a group?"

"And the first question is to the name of us," Lost said. "Go figure." He looked to Celestia. "Clear?"

"Yes."

"Okay, then," Lost said, nodding. "Twilight, the five of us- me; Bon bon, or Sweetie Drops, as her actual name is; Starlight; Spike; and our captain, Lone, who is the other stallion here- are part of a group Celestia created about one hundred years ago called the Shadow guard, named as we work from the shadows, usually in small cells, so we don't become public."

"But why not go public?" Twilight asked.

"If we did," Starlight said, "the public would see us as villains. Our weapons? Not for show, and they do cut."

Twilight was about to ask about that before understanding went on her face, and she paled.

"Yeah," Spike said. "I became a part of it and meant to be your personal guard two years before we came here."

"And Celestia came to me last year, as the Ponyville group was down a member, and, well, my magical talent was the same as yours before you became an alicorn," Starlight said. "Only reason you didn't get word of it was because I had proven I was willing to do what the public sees as evil for the good, while you and the other Elements wouldn't be able to do it."

"Th-" Twilight began before Lone cut her off.

"Most of us are chosen from the guard, a few being select civilians," Lone said. "If you were going to ask where we recruit from. Now, can we get to the main reason we're here? I have books to read back in Canterlot?"

Spike chuckled. "Impatient as ever, Lone."

"No, just eager to get to the point," Lone shot back.

"Enough, both of you," Celestia said in a stern voice, turning her head to face the two of them. "Still, Lone, you are right." Celestia then looked back to Twilight. "Twilight, I have been observing you since you became my student, and met-as well as exceeded-my expectations upon your ascension, but I have also been looking at you, not just your abilities, but your choices and you as a pony, since the Shadow guard began."

"Uh, princess," what are you talking about?" Twilight asked.

"Simple. Twilight," Celestia said, "I wish for you to join the shadow guard."

Author's Notes:

I. . . do not know how to phrase this, so I'll just say it. Can you guys spread the word of this story to friends of yours on the site? I ask because, as I'm a part a few Twilight centered groups, this story will fit in one of them, but, I do not want to for spoiler reasons. Once we get to a certain point, it will be added, but I don't want it being even remotely spoiled, even by accident before hand. So, please, spread the word of this story.
1:In this universe, cutie marks are on shoulders
Also, Lone is acting how I would behave here. Yeah, I'm an asshole, but Lone is meant to be me as much as possible. Anyways, I wish to have fun with you guys, and do a contest with you all. In the next five chapters, I will ask five questions, all related to my previous stories, and whoever gets the most correct-if it's a tie, a sixth question for something really vague, but if still, it'll be random from them- will be able to ask me one question for this story's plot. No matter what, I will truthfully answer, the only condition being you must Pinkie promise not to tell. Anyways, first question: of all my current displaced stories, which one deals with but a single universe character being displaced. I.E., how many displaced of mine belong to a universe without another being form another story also coming from that universe. Example and free answer would be Equestria's supreme commander, my only story to deal with the Supreme commander universe. What other story is also like this. Two possible answers. Post in comments, answer will be revealed next chapter.