A Hidden War

As Twilight stared blankly at the passing countryside, she couldn't help but notice the constant tension in the train car between the assassins and her friends.

While Rarity and Octavia tried to defuse the tension by talking about music and other shared hobbies, Vinyl Scratch was loudly snoring as Rainbow Dash and Applejack glared daggers at Lunar Shade. But Vinyls snoring was interrupted by the slight but forceful nudge Lunar Shade.

"Whazza wha?" Vinyl blearily said.

"I've been meaning to ask, why did you two stand up for me?" Shade asked, a little irritated from the help from her two friends. "I would've been able to handle it."

"Why don't you make her train some new assassins?" Octavia asked the four elders.

"And how would that....."

"Pay for her crime?"

"You mean training these six new recruits wouldn't be a fitting punishment?" Octavia said with a smirk as she pointed to Twilight and her friends.

At that, Quick Draw was about to protest that that wasn't enough, but before he could Freedom Seeker interrupted him.

"Only on the condition that she be demoted to a disciple."

"That seems fair."

"Good."

"And where will she train this six...."

"If we may ask."

"Oh there's this quaint little town I know of."

"I barely know this town. And to top that, I would've taken death over training these six." Shade said as she glared black at the cyan and orange mare scowling at her.

"Don't worry about it, Shade. You'll love Ponyville once we get there." Vinyl said before the train came to a steady halt. "Which is about now."

As the nine mares got out of the train car, Vinyl and Octavia kept Shade back in order to give her a few pointers while they took off their cloaks.

"First off Shade, Ponyville can be a sweet and wonderful town, but can be a little xenophobic from time to time." Octavia said as she removed her various weapons and layers. "So until you get to know them, that means no hood."

Lunar Shade stopped for a moment from removing her gear, only to continue at a slower pace. "But I like my hood. I feel.......safer with it."

"I know you do, Shade." Vinyl cooed as she put a hoof on Lunar Shades shoulder. "But we gotta make sacrifices."

"Can I at least keep my cloak on?"

"Of course you can." Octavia said reassuringly as the three mares exited the train. "Now, I guess it's time to meet our new guild leader."

Octavia, Vinyl, and Lunar Shade saw a yellow muzzled, sky blue coated and black mane stallion talking to Twilight and her friends. When they got a better look, they saw that he had what looked like a yellow outlined phoenix on his flank.

"Oh, hello there. You must be Lunar Shade." The stallion said as he addresses the other two assassins. "My name is Keen Sense. An I guess I'll be your guild leader."

"Nice to meet you." Shade said as she hook hooves with Keen Sense. "I hope we'll be able to get along just fine."

As Lunar Shade and Keen Sense continued to talk, Octavia and Vinyl made their way over to Twilight and her friends to try to settle some issues.

"And what do you two want?" Rainbow Dash said with an accusing tone.

"Look, I know you're cross with Shade for trying to accuse you of disobeying one of our tenants."

"She coulda killed us!" Applejack shouted. "And we haven't don anythin to her."

"She just has a lot to deal with. But once you get to know her, she's pretty awesome." Vinyl said, looking over her shoulder to take a glance at Lunar Shade. "She just needs some time to simmer down."

"But if she has a problem with us, then why doesn't she just tell us what it is?" Twilight asked with a hint of confusion in his voice.

"It's up to her to tell you." Octavia said, a slight hint of concern mixed with sympathy in her voice. "She's lost some things that can't be replaced."

Even though most of Twilights friends didn't hear the concern and sympathy in Octavias voice, Pinkie Pie picked up on it. Before anyone could utter another word, Pinkie had a notepad and took Vinyls hoof before dashing off with her. And for a few silent but awkward filled moments, everyone tried to piece the past couple of seconds together.

"Um, where did she go with Vinyl." Octavia asked, a bit dumbfounded.

"It's Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie." Twilight sighed.

The rest of the day went as well as you would expect with the current tension as the elements of harmony showed Lunar Shade and Keen Sense around town. Surprisingly, they learned that Keen Sense had come from Cloudsdale initially, actually transferring into the weather team since he'd be staying there now. But Lunar Shade still seemed a bit nervous as they walked towards Twilights house, the day already having waned into early evening.

"Well everypony, I'll see you all in the morning." Twilight said as she bid farewell to her friends and guild members. But once everyone had left, the only one that remained was Lunar Shade, staring into the dimming sky. Twilight for a moment wondered if she should let this mare into her home after she had tried to kill her and her friends. 'She's lost some things that can't be replaced.' Octavias words rang in Twilights mind. "Hey Lunar Shade, do you have a place to sleep."

"Until the guild is fully set up, I'll have to look for a nice, concealed alley." Lunar Shade said idly, still staring into the night sky.

"If you want, you could stay here with me."

Lunar Shade hesitated at her response. A part of her wanted to take the offer, but another told her to not in case Twilight has some ulterior motive that could with her in a shallow grave. She was torn between what she should do, until something very old, but very precious to her brought itself to the front of her mind.

"But father, why do we have to share our home?" A small ebony pegasus filly asked a large pegasus stallion.

His dark red coat and deep lavender mane resembled the evening, while his flank had a five pointed star on it.

"Like I said, it's the right thing to do."

"But why? Can't they find another ponies home?"

"Sometimes Lunar Shade, there is only a few that could help, and fewer than that that choose to help. Allowing our new friends into our home doesn't just show them that we're able to help, but it also shows yourself that anypony can be a future friend. Even if they're your enemy."

Snapping out of her blank stare, Lunar Shade turned to Twilight with a hesitant smile.

"I guess I could stay with you."

Twilight smiled warmly at Lunar Shade, beckoning her to join her inside the library. Although Lunar Shade had seen her share of strange things in Equestria and other countries, she still couldn't hold back a curious smile as she gazed at the tree library Twilight called home.

"I've got some spare blankets and pillows for when somepony comes over, but not an extra bed. sorry."

"It's alright, I'm just grateful I have a roof over my head." Lunar Shade said as she settled herself on one of Twilights couches. "But I still thank you for what you are doing." She said as a few pillows and some blankets levitated towards her.

"Goodnight Lunar Shade."

"Goodnight Miss Sparkle."

Twilight moved up to her room to find a lightly snoring, and completely exhausted looking, baby dragon on Twilights bed. She smiled at the sight, gently putting him under her covers with her as she drifted off into sleep.

While downstairs, Lunar Shade shifted a little to get a bit more comfortable as she pulled out some sort of pendant. It was a small sliver of a cloudy diamond, normally not worth much, but this one had a slight greenish blue tint. The tint would remind anyone about the night sky. Lunar Shade just pressed it against her cheek as she closed her eyes.

"Goodnight Father."

As she drifted into a dreamless sleep, she felt a sense of calm overcome her, before finally descending into darkness.