-------At the Hideout-----------------------

After Dave’s announcement and Griefer attack leading from our FAILED (though I consider the survival challenge a success) training plan we headed back to town using Rainbow’s scouting abilities as well as Garrus’s built in GPS in his visor. We brought Rex to Ponyville’s only hospital to where the doctors had said they couldn’t do anything for him…..

That was until Dr. Mareio came through the front door shouting…

“You a sons of a bitches! You do not know the true power of the medicinal practices that I have once taught you! Mamma mia!”

“Um… you’re a doctor?”

Mareio bitch-slapped the doctor right across the face.

“That’s a Doctor Mareio to you! Now shut up and do you’re a job!”

So that’s how Rex got his own hospital room…… and his own suppositories….

After the hospital visit I offered Beard and Garrus to stay at the hideout for the night. Sure enough they agreed, better for me to keep an eye on them. As for everypony else I was convinced that they should take a break from the fact that we just took down a sentient ancient lobster machine.

As for me I wouldn’t, Dave’s projection made me realize how so little time we have to take down Project Purify. So I told the ponies that I would continue working, they tried to convince me to relax but I told them…

“Even if you girls deserve a break it doesn’t mean I should. I’m a true believer of my Training Program!”

The Commander and Garrus behaved well last night and did nothing more than sleep. Applejack and Pinkie came by earlier to introduce them around Ponyville, I’m sure they would keep an eye on them and make sure they aren’t conspirators.

And so here I am… standing…
My chair was still non-existent and I couldn’t rather I SHOULD’NT lean or sit on my desk.

After all, one does not simply touch mahogany.

I used this time to contemplate the things in my mind.

Celestia thought I went rogue? We assassins are known to be shady and secretive but maybe this whole Dave business has gotten both of us over the edge. Maybe the Equestrian Military ponies would prove to be valuable assistance should Ponyville be attacked.
I can trust the Princess...maybe but…
If she doesn’t trust me would that be pointless? Again the answer is simple.

Find out what Project Purify is, kill Dave and Balthazar, get the Apple and save the world.

…I wish it was that easy and when we do have the Apple will it create any problems?

Now this is why I don’t take a break, now I’m confused again and pissed off.

With a sigh of frustration from my thoughts Ace flew inside the hideout and dropped three letters on my desk.

“Hey Ace thank you for the mail,” I said to him as I picked up the mail.

Ace crossed his wings and gave me a stern look, he was annoyed about something but I don`t know what.
He slapped his wing on his head and gave a loud *SWAAK* at me.

“…..OH! You want compensation! Of course Ace here let me get something…” I said as I started to look through a pile of boxes.

From the boxes I pulled out a potato, but it wasn’t an ordinary potato it was a potato…. WITH CHEESE!

The potato flew through the air as I had thrown it and my hidden blade shot out from underneath it, slicing it into fry-like proportions which landed next to Ace who happily gobbled up the treat.

Now looking at the mail I found one from Celestia, Le Duck, and an advertisement for increasing the size of one’s wingboners……. which then got shredded by Ace as he finished his potato.

I first started with Celestia’s Letter:

Dear Shadow Mark,
I was worried that my message would have not reached you in time. And from your lack of reply I assume that something has ‘happened’ so I have sent 3 of my best Equestrian Military personal to make sure that you and the others would be safe.
I don’t like being in the dark Shadow as I am sure you wouldn’t like it too. If it is about Dave please be extremely careful. Dave is…. not normal….
In fact I wouldn’t put it past him if he’s been intercepting our letters. He is that powerful.
Shadow I await your quick response and hope that the Assassins and yourself didn’t experience anything traumatizing… or worse.

-Celestia

I took a quill and still standing from my desk I wrote my reply to her letter.

Dear Princess,
I’m terribly sorry that I couldn’t write to you for what seems like ages.
Before I say anything else I need to tell you something.

I’m not rogue.

I know you’ve sent those 3 to first find me and presuming that if I had let corruption take hold of me I would be filled with bullets right about now. To be honest Princess I’m flattered you would send three Equestrian Military operatives to “see” me especially that Spectrum, Commander Beard.

Sorry if I’m acting a bit rude but it just so happens that during the time you sent them we were fighting a Griefer sent by Dave in the Everfree Forest.
And yes I am talking about Griefers you could go there and see the destruction it did to the forest. Rex is in the hospital with near-death wounds and everyone else is fine.

I’m sure that Twilight will bring you up to date and confirm about what my suspicions for Dave and the rest of the mission include.
-Shadow Mark

I sealed the letter and placed it next to Ace who was taking a small nap on top of my desk, not wanting to disturb him I carefully take the letter from Le Duck and open it.

Greetings from the Pondriatic!

Hello Shadow! How is my favourite nephew doing?
I could tell not that well from the letter you’ve written to me also a drawing by Mareio was enclosed. He would have instantly failed Pony kindergarten easily, HAHA just kidding!

Now this business with Dave, I knew this day would come sooner or later. Shadow, Dave is…. well let’s just say that he’s more deceptive than Balthazar and I would say about 3.7 times more ruthless, he might not seem bad but he is a master of mind-bending, and I'm sure contact with the Apple has changed him to a level even I could not comprehend or relate to.

He is also…. isn’t… bah that’s not important for now, the important thing to remember is that he is obsessed with balance, he will do ANYTHING to become whole once more.

So please Shadow, don’t do anything rash while I’m disabling a warhead over here.
Also send me a letter if Dave has done anything to your or the rest of your team.

- A Duck will always be watching, Le Duck

I laughed at his letter and wrote him how Dave had brought a Griefer over to Equestria and nearly killed us then told us about a party or something. I added in some personal updates as well as my friends and ended with Celestia sending her military ‘assistance’. Finally I restated my thoughts about Dave why he is either trying to kill us, or he's not doing a good job and from the battle at the lake I could tell he can kill us at anytime he wants to.

I put both the letters together and cracked my back.

Standing and writing is not a good combination.

Ace was now soundly asleep with no intention of waking up, but there was still one person that could send these letters.

Spike! To Twilight’s house!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gliding over Ponyville with the wind through my mane never had felt more relaxing than it did before.

I’m sure it was because a Griefer nearly killed me last night that I’m feeling slightly more loving about living.
And also the thought of getting my payback with Dave brightens my mood.

Just as I was gliding over a café I noticed Commander Beard and Garrus sitting at a table with Applejack and Pinkie nowhere in sight.
I landed behind the building and quickly ran to a table with a newspaper and held it to my face, I also made sure to remember my hood was up.
I peered past the newspaper to see Beard drinking a small cup of java and Garrus was doing something with his gun.

I went up from my table and went to one that was closer. Then I got closer and closer until….

“HEY! WHAT’S UP!? WHERE’S THE OTHERS?” I shouted with a fake smile from the chair in front of them.

Commander Beard spilt his coffee and fell out from his dining chair, and Garrus accidentally pulled the trigger of his gun and shot a bullet into the air alerting everyone to shocks and gasps.

“GAH! SHADOW!? How?” Commander Beard lifted himself from the ground and reseated himself into the toppled chair. "Never mind, you have your skills that's a good thing."

“Relax Shadow, those two showed us around town then left to do their own things. I’m sure you can find them after all the things we’ve heard about you from the briefing room,” Garrus said while re-polishing his gun.

“Alright then, so what are you two doing now?” I asked them.

“We’re on our downtime right now. Believe me when I say being a Spectrum isn’t the easiest job in Equestria. We try to enjoy our downtime whenever we can so I thought I could see around town later and maybe… endorse a few stores. While Garrus on the other hand, he’s… um…..”

“Calibrating my gun," Garrus said without taking his eyes off it.

“Guns are boring,” I blankly say.

Garrus stopped calibrations and looked at me with a slight hint of annoyance.

“Oh so you melee everything then? That must save you a lot of bruises.”

I facehoofed, "I have range equipment. Throwing knives, bombs….”

Beard cut me off, “But you must want a better more accurate device to shoot from? I could tell by that fight with the Griefer you could have used some long-range weaponry and avoided a few attacks.”

That is true, throwing knives are good but I might need something else in case I can't reach one…

“So that’s why you go to Equestrian Arms and buy yourself a Magnum XXS Calibar…”

“What about a crossbow?” I rudely cut Garrus off.

He shook his head, “Too big, you will get noticed right away.”

A passing mother and child looked at us and the child noticed Garrus’s sniper rifle on his lap.

“Hey Mommy why is that blue armored pony carrying a metal stick, I want one of those!”

“No you don’t! Don’t look at him!”

She shielded her son and scurried away as far from the café as possible, I gestured my hoof towards Garrus to explain himself.

“Well I’m not an assassin and I love to get noticed by my supporters and fans.”

Commander Beard facehoofed, “Garrus…”

“Eh sorry about that. So like I was saying you should get something smaller and less conspicuous.”

Something less noticeable but not a gun…… AHA! That’s it!

“How about a crossbow bolt? I could get Twilight to modify my blade with a bolt firing option. Hidden and Practical!”

They both nodded and Beard said, “That could work, you could even mod it for different situations.”

“Good, I’ll head over to Twilight’s place and tell her about this idea. I’m sure by then Mareio would have fixed Rex.”

“Mareio is handy, without him I’m sure that besides Rex a lot of ponies like me and Garrus would be already dead.”

“Say, how did you meet Mareio?” I asked them with a quizzical look.

“Classified.” Garrus said.

Figures…

I got up from the table and casually trotted over to Twilight’s tree a few blocks from here.

“I still say he should have chosen the gun…”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Classified, of course. I seriously hope they aren’t acting this out, otherwise they would be pretty good Templars.
Pretty dead as well.

But in today’s world the line between ally and foe is too faded. I should stop these paranoid thoughts, after all it wouldn’t matter once Dave is dead.

Then I would have a clear head…. I hope.

Still at least I’m probably going to get a new invention from Twilight soon. Speaking of Twilight…

I stopped in front of Twilight’s tree house and raised a hoof to the door to knock.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

Damn it! I knew Dave was lying!

I broke through the door into the house and with a heroic cry I shouted, “Don’t worry Twilight! I will…. I…”

Her whole library was a mess, piles and piles of books littered the floor covering up any piece of furniture in between the room. I saw Twilight with her mane frazzled while frantically reading through a book.

“No not this one, I need to know. I NEED TO KNOW!” she shouted as she threw the book towards me.

I caught it in the air with my hoof and said, “Twilight what happened here? Where’s Spike?”

“Learning learning, need to read about Griefers need to find the truth… the truth the truth MUST BE HERE!” she dived into a pile of books and began to rummage through them.

“TWILIGHT!” I grabbed her and retrained her, “Calm down, I know what you must be going through. When I learned that was a real Griefer I couldn’t believe it either! Twilight, listen to me.”

She stared into my eyes without a word.

“I need you sane, WE need you sane. Otherwise how would our team function? I’m busy enough as it is and I’m sure that Applejack must’ve had a hard time making sure you girls are safe while I’m away killing myself or some other reason. As I said in the beginning my goal is to keep you Assassins safe at all costs. I don't want you to be hurt, physically or emotionally. I'm the leader and I should bear the burdens of my fellow friends.
Everypony who died in Ponitaly, I’m the one to blame for their deaths,” I solemnly said.

"Shadow it's not your..."

“Twilight… it’s okay, we may never know why we can only just observe and act. After all how would life be interesting if we knew everything? That’s what the Princess has been doing this time and without the Templars Equestria would be a true paradise for everypony but just like us Celestia doesn't know everything and if she did then what? Consider that Twi.
Now, let’s clean up this mess and organize your books.”

I held my hoof to her and helped her up.

“Thanks Shadow.”

“Anytime.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As we cleaned up the room I heard Spike shout again from inside the house.

“Where is he?” I asked as I shoved a pile of books onto a shelf.

“Spike’s in the washroom, he still has another day to go through Mareio’s ‘treatment’,” she levitated a book onto a neat pile.

Poor guy, guess those letters will be delayed.

I was about to give Twilight my letters and the plan for the Hidden Crossbolt when I tripped on a book lying on the ground. It flipped to a page and my eyes landed on the words.

“Oh Edzeo, how can you overcome this task?”

“Like this…” he revealed not two but a third hidden blade.

“Impressive,” the sultry woman admired his ‘third’ blade with ecstasy.

I facehoofed but continued reading.

Edzeo plunged all three blades into the hole, he thrusted them further and further making sure they were all in securely. He pushed them back and forth rubbing them from inside the hole; the heat was tremendous from Edzeo’s pushing strength.

“Come on! I need to go faster!”

Faster and faster he thrust his blades into the hole making each impact with the side rattle the cage.

The heat grew too intense for the mare and she passed out just as Edzeo finished with one last thrust.

From the cage lock in front of him burned out from his lock picking strategy, had broken apart and now Edzeo can explore the mysterious cavern of the ‘Prance Tunnel’.

I immediately closed the book.

NO PONY SHOULD READ THIS, IT’S TOO SUBLIMINAL!

I lifted my chest robe pocket and saw a pile of ash, I remembered that it was the past subliminal book I secretly took from Twilight to avoid her to exposure.

Guess the Griefer fried it….. excellent.

I stuffed the book into my coat so it would never see the light of day until I throw it into a fire.

“Oh Twilight when Spike is feeling better could you get him to send these letters?” I hoofed her letters and she nodded.

“Also I was wondering if you could make something for me. A modification for my hidden blade?”

“Maybe Shadow, what is it?”

“A Hidden CrossBolt, cause a gun would blast my hoof off,” I smiled.