"Sir, we have found Rarity!" An earth pony guard from the gate named Sentinel said, as he ran into the Situation room, supporting a pegasus named Deep Cover. Shadowsky looked up, having taken the night shift so that the others could sleep.

"Very well, give me your report, then for Celestia's sake, get some sleep Deep Cover, you look like you got ran over by a dragon." Shadowsky then pulled a sheaf of parchment and a quill over and stood ready to take notes.

"Funny you should say that, Sir, because I almost did. Spike almost stepped on my while I was making my getaway." Shadowsky scribbled furiously, noting that a dragon was present. "They were in Prince Blueblood's mansion, you see, and I saw Blueblood and Spike rutting on her mercilessly. She was not resisting though, but I could see that she was under the effects of some sort of spell. It affected me as well, Sir, but you were right about the training, we may hate it, but it works. I managed to steal the floor-plans to the mansion from the safe, while they were distracted. Sir, I don't know how er are going to get this done, what with an almost fully grown dragon there." Deep Cover wobbled unsteadily as he took a large document from his backpack and handed it to Shadowsky.

"Good, now, Sentinel, take him to his room and make sure he goes to sleep. And Deep Cover, get some sleep, that is an order. I don't want to see you out and about for at least twelve hours." Shadowsky dismissed them, and the poor agent went to get some sleep. He sat back in his chair and mulled the information over, then he spread the floor plans onto the table, his mind all ready formulating a plan. "Pegasi with fast ropes, earth ponies on the ropes, go in through the windows, use sleeping potions to neutralize the dragon, make an example out of Blueblood, wouldn't get any if it weren't for money and the new Caribou regime." he murmured
to himself as he used a pencil to sketch out his plans before the second watch, taken by Princess Celestia, began.

At 0700 hours, Equestrian Standard time, the five gathered around a table in the great hall to enjoy breakfast. Salad and lots of veggies. Celestia bemoaned the absense of cake, but as Luna pointed out, "thou needs to lose weight if we are to get you into fighting shape sister, for when we originally fought our enemies thousands of years ago, your flank was half the size it is currently" Luna slipped into her old language a bit, but the point remained.

Celestia blushed, and Twilight fell on the floor, laughing. Discord and Shadowsky shared a look, attempting to hold back their laughter, before finally giving in. Celestia sighed... knowing her sister was right. Once the laughter had subsided and Celestia had given them all "The stare" for good measure, they finished eating.

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After breakfast, Shadowsky walked them to the armory, and opened a secret cabinet. Inside were Nine swords. Each a different shape, from a hand and a half sword to a Katana. "Here, Take one. Each of you need one."

Luna was the first to go, pulling out a Katana. the graceful curved blade matching Luna's grace and speed. She pulled the blade out of the black wood sheath, the blade hissing like the deadly snake engraved along the blade. The blade flashed with blue magic as the lunar princess swung it, getting a feel for the elegant blade.

Celestia went next, picking up a hand and a half longsword, she drew the blade out of the scabbard, and it flashed forth like the very sun, the razor-keen edge shining in the torchlight.

Shadowsky reached out and pull forth a Viking longsword, the cross-guard had been forged in the shape of two alicorns nose to nose. The blade had runes running down it, spelling out the word Rhumwulf, and Shadowsky's magic flared along the length, forming into black and grey fire.

Twilight reached out and pulled forth a rapier. The thin blade swished out of it's sheath with the speed and power of a mana blast. her purple aura caused dragons to appear along the blade, swirling and breathing purple fire.

Discord was last, and he picked up a hand and a half sword, but this one had a wavy blade, similar to the kris dagger. The blade hissed like lava as he drew it from the sheath, the blade seemed to emit terror and panic, the perfect weapon for Discord. The five sheathed their swords and walked out, back to the situation room.

"Shadowsky, I want to lead these ponies into battle, You and the Princesses need to stay here. I mean no disrespect, but the fact is, I am more expendable than any of you. I fully accept that." Discord said to the prince, who knew that his was coming.

Shadowsky merely saluted Discord, "Give 'em hell from me." The princesses all hugged the former enemy of Equestria.

"Make sure we have a plan." Twilight said, as she buried her muzzle into Discord's uniform.

Luna and Celestia stepped out of the hug and saluted Discord, before sitting down at the table.

"We need to brief your squad." Luna said, obviously holding back tears.

Shadowsky, Luna, and Twilight all walked to the briefing room, but Celestia held Discord back for a moment. "You are no more expendable than one of us, remember why you are doing this, it is not your former actions that you will be judged by, but the actions you take here, what you do now, that is how I will know you, and remember you, but by my own flank, come back alive!" Celesta finished. Discord nodded, taking her words to heart.

Author's Note

Many thanks to The Great Derpsby for the help with names.
If you are wondering what any of these weapons look like, PM me and I will send you links to images :)
The actual saving of private Rarity will resume next chapter.... sorry for the cliffhanger.