Shadow mercenaries.

The silence grew maddening as the four ponies sat.

"ALRIGHT!" Surge blurted out "I can't take it anymore." and charged out the room

Shadow Blaze's ear twitched

"What was that all about?" Frost looked up from her book

"Don't you know by now? He isn't the one to wait around." Dark Vine whispered

"What are we waiting around for anyway Shadow?"

His ear twitched again

"He's meditating, quiet down"

"Oh"

He grunted "Not anymore..."

"Sorry" Vine said quietly

"We are waiting on a new client. He said he'd be here by now. They didn't want to send the mark over mail. They said they can be intercepted. First time I've heard of it."

"Then why haven't they shone yet?" Frost asked

"Now how would I know that? Just sit here and wait. I'm going out."

"But it's raining out there" Vine warned

Shadow grabbed his old hood and cape off the rack and slammed the door.

The rain pelted the dark unicorn as he walked through town; hardly any stalls were open so he decided to go to the cafe.

"Welcome to the Steamy Mug! What can I get you?" The bartender asked

"Can I get 3 Coffees. To go."

"Yup, That'll be nine bits." he turned around, grabbed some cups, then started a coffee machine

"Seems like prices for coffee beans went up."

"Yeah."

"Here you are sir" He slid the Cups across the table " Have a good night!"

"Yeah." He coldly responded levitating the cups to his side and leaving the cafe

the rain continued like there was no end as he walked back to the cottage at the end of town when a small light green mare walked up next to him "Shadow Blaze I presume?" She whispered

"Follow me." He started to a quick trot

"You're the one we've been waiting on?"

"Yes." They approached a wooden cottage

"get inside." He hurried into the room

Shadow Blaze pulled a table and four chairs over to the middle of the room, placed the coffees down by the two mares

"Now,  what is it that you want, gone?" Shadow Blaze asked

The green mare slid a folder onto the table."These six ponies"

"Quite a big hit you got there, Miss" Frost said

"Indeed."

"We good yet?!?" Surge burst through the doors of the Cottage with a doughnut

"Have a seat Surge" Shadow glared at him

He lowered his head at slowly walked over to the table

The green mare pulled a sack of coins out of her bag "When you finish you will get the rest"

Alright then. Surge I want you to head out to Ponyville tonight. Dark Vine, you and Frost will head out tomorrow morning together and I'll make the journey myself. We'll meet up again sometime tomorrow afternoon"

"Right on!" Surge surrounded his body in electrical magic and took off through the door

"Alright, then we need to get started on preparations on the journey. It'll take about 2 days worth of walking" Frost said

"Good doing business with you Miss, we will meet you in Equestria somewhere. Just send a letter to where we meet next." Shadow led the mare outside as she disappeared into the rainy night.