It was the night after Twilight's first failed and successful training in the Shadow Guard-the lavender alicorn currently still unconscious in the medical area of the mansion this guard called home- and Lone, along with Shade and Mist, were currently in the seedier part of Canterlot, that which is what makes many a noble think commoners are uncultured pigs.

More accurately, the three were in one of the bars, both as they needed some break time from being the leadership of the Shadow Guard and to meet an informant. The name of the bar was unimportant, mainly because it changed every month- as did the owner, but that's another story. The bar itself contained a large crowd of ponies-some missing an eye and a few teeth. For the most part, it was stallions in it, with a few mares in it as well.

"He's late," Shade said, wearing the same clothes she wore when first meeting Twilight, an illusion spell placed on her ears to make them resemble normal pony ears, before taking a sip of her cider.

"He never did say a specific time, Shade," Mist-who looked like a stallion with red skin and yellow hair wearing a white shirt and cargo shorts- said. "Only that he would be here after sunset tonight. Though why the 's' in sunset was capitol, I don't know."

"I think I might," Lone said, the only one without a drink in front of him. "Celestia told me her personal student before Twilight was named Sunset Shimmer, though she never said any more than that she wanted power quickly and fled, only to return just after Twilight's coronation to steal her crown. Twilight pursued and, according to what I've heard, went to an alternate Equis and was able to show Sunset she was being a female dick. Not the exact wording, but still."

"How the tartarus did she go to another world?" Mist asked in disbelief.

"One of Starswirl's mirrors," Lone replied. Even went back a few months later to help Sunset there, if her report's to be believed."

"She's exaggerated before, Lone," Shade said, making sure to not say any names not belonging to the three in case of eavesdroppers. "How do we know that wasn't just a dream she thought to be real?"

"Because Spike was with Twilight on the other side," Lone said.

"And we didn't hear this why?" Shade asked, taking another sip of her drink.

"Celestia's orders. Only reason I know is because Obsidian was able to leak it to me. And the reason you two know is because I couldn't give a shit who knows about this secret long as it doesn't endanger Equis," Lone said. "Speaking of that little adventure, a mare just walked in that resembles the former student. Red and yellow hair, light yellow skin tone, and unicorn wearing a leather jacket over a blue shirt and wearing jeans. Behind her is our intel guy."

"Literally after Sunset," Mist said. "Heh. Clever bastard."

"Shut it, here they come," Shade said as she glanced toward the door into the bar, seeing the two approach. "Hey, you two," she said as they neared and went to pass. "You guys got an ink quill? I need to stab someone's dick."

"Just used mine to do that," the stallion said before chuckling. "Good to see you guys again."

"Same, Specter," Lone said. "So, who's she?" he asked, gesturing to the possibly imitation Sunset Shimmer.

"My marefriend, who I've told about the group," he said as the two sat at the table.

"Name's Sunset Shimmer," she said, confirming her identity.

"I thought you stayed in the human world," Lone said. "Before you ask, friend of Spike's."

Sunset shrugged. "I came back after graduation, but I do still visit my friends from the human world."

"Noted," Lone commented. "So, Specter, what do you got?"

"Nothing much new," he said. "But it is related to the Black Widow."

Shade nearly spit out her drink. "Her?! I thought we took her in a month ago!"

"Tone it down Shade, ponies are looking," Mist muttered.

"No, that's a fair reaction," Specter said. "But yeah, the bitch is back. Just got back from Las Pegasus, and a few vacationers- who I've noted as being in the lower rungs of noble houses, by the way- were killed, and her M.O. is the same as these. Recently bucked and with poison injected into the system via the carotid artery. No DNA, not enough magic trace for identification as to who cleaned up. Well, that and a note on her most recent vic."

"What did it say?" Shade asked.

"'Down with the diarchy'. Keep in mind it said 'diarchy', not triarchy or anything greater than two."

"Then we have two terrorist groups, then," Mist muttered. "Yay."

"Two?" Sunset asked.

"Yeah," Shade asked. "There's this one and another one who wants all nobles and royals dead. They attacked Twilight a few nights ago, but the Ponyville cell was able to stop 'em before she could be killed."

"I already informed Celestia, and Acolyte patrols are going to be increased in the palace."

"And Cadence?" Lone asked.

"Aware of the killings and a bit of the Widow's M.O., but nothing beyond what she does to her victims before she offs 'em," Specter said. "Still, Lone-"

"Permission's granted to take a few to the Empire," Lone said. "I was going to send a few up there due to Flurry Heart's third birthday coming up anyways, along with going up myself with Celestia and Twilight."

"How is Twilight anyway?" Sunset asked. "You said she was attacked."

"Alive and currently at our head quarters, along with getting our brand of training," Lone said, leaving out the unconscious bit. "Only you're going to see her right now is to join the Guard, though, and without approval from Celestia, given your status as her student- paperwork detailing you're 'dropping out', as it were, was never filed, and you're still officially her student."

"I'll put in a good word for ya, babe," Specter said, already knowing Sunset would want to join to help Twilight at the least. "Though I somehow doubt you'll need it."

"Thanks, Spec," she said with a smile. "Though I have to ask: how is it you haven't caught a serial killer yet?"

"Because the Widow's smart," Shade said. "Not even sure they're a mare, to be honest, and given there's one confirmed victim every month for the last eight years at least, that should tell you they're well versed in forensics to the point where the only thing we found was a fake eyelash, which, given the victim there was a mare, is what makes us think it's a mare, but we're not certain."

"If you want to know more, you have to be in the Guard," Lone said. "Still, a pleasure to meet you face to face, Sunset."

"I'd definitely call it interesting," the unicorn replied. "Now if you all will excuse me, I need to piss." Wiht that, she got up, and went to the restroom.

"Didn't need to know that," Mist muttered.

"So, in regards to Twilight," Shade said, "she on the mental barrier shit?"

"Unconscious and being trained by Celestia herself," Lone replied. "Though I don't exactly agree with how that happened-"

"You didn't protest!" Shade exclaimed but making sure it was quiet to avoid further unwanted attention.

"Though I didn't agree with how it happened," Lone continued, shooting a glare at Shade, "it's best done in the dream world anyhow. Helps that Celestia at least knows how to dream walk."

"Yeah, I hea-" Mist began before a shout interrupted him.

"GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF ME!" Sunset yelled before the four saw a pony wearing what was mostly rags being tossed with magic out of the door.

"That was our friend, bitch," another stallion said. "But we're willing to let it pass. All we need is a little fun."

"Oh here we go," Shade muttered before stealing Shade's cider and downing half of the glass.

"Bastard that was mine," she shot at him, only getting a roll of the eyes before a shout of pain was heard, followed shortly after by a bottle being broken.

"Whelp, look like we're in the middle of a bar fight," Mist said just as the noise began to pick up around them and a snowball effect occurred, making just about the entire bar get involved, the only ones not ye tin it being the four at the table. "I didn't have any plans tonight. You guys?"

"Nope," Shade said. "Besides, I need to hit something as an outlet for someone stealing my drink."

"And I need to get some mandatory revenge for Sunset," Specter said as the three got up and joined in on the fight as Lone, who wore his light armor from earlier in the day, brought out a paper back book from his pocket dimension, a relatively low level spell to use, the size of objects which can be stored in there determined by magical strength.

"You guys do that," he said as he opened it. "Need to finish this thing."

This plan was soon interrupted. "Hey, jackplot!" a stallion yelled from in front of him.

"Yes, how can I help you?" Lone asked, not looking away from his book.

"You sure do think you're the best, if you're not fighting us."

"Or I just don't want to be involved with this beyond being here," Lone retorted. "Now please leave, because you aren't wrong either."

"What, a squirt like you?" the stallion shot back, as Lone really wasn't the most muscular pony in the bar. "Don't make me laugh." He then went to grab Lone's book, but the red and black stallion grabbed the stallion's arm and twisted it before pulling his face into the table.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Lone muttered as he ducked, still not taking his eyes off the book just as a bottle from the direction of the bar was thrown in his direction. You know what, I'm sure they got it handled, he thought before teleporting out of the bar to his room in the mansion.

Author's Notes:

No, Sunset, for those who didn't get it, isn't the friend of Twilight's who is in the guards for those who didn't know who, but I did leave a hint.