Equestria, 10:00 PM.

Ponyville.

Twilight Sparkle looked up from her studies and looked to the snow falling outside. She sighed, knowing that it had been snowing on the day she was brought to New York. She turned and glanced at a black duffel bag, marked with the SHD Phoenix. Attached to the bag was her shoulder tag and SHD Watch. She walked over and brushed away the thin layer of dust that covered the Watch, and sighed. It had been dark for almost a month now, since she returned from Manhattan.

"I wonder how the squad's doing…" she asked herself, sighing at the photo attached to her mirror. Nick Sykes, Logan Johnston, Harper Andrews and Dimitri Rhodevski, along with Anubis and Kestrel, were sitting with Twilight at a table in the Post Office, sipping hot chocolate. Twilight smiled at the photograph, and looked over at her bed.

"I should get some sleep." she said, suppressing a yawn with her hoof. Climbing into bed, she was soon asleep.

================
Griffon Kingdom, 10:00 PM.
Border Fort at King's Valley

The Griffon soldiers watched as the caravan of hay carts approached the gates. Their crossbows were ready and aimed at the travelers, who stopped at the gate.

"State your business." the Griffon Guard asked.

"Traveling." came the reply from the cloaked individual.

"To where?"

"The capital." was the response.

"What is your concern at the capital?"

"Trading and business."

The guard hesitated, then called out.

"Let them through!"

As the carts proceeded through the gate, the cloaked figure smiled underneath his hood.

"We're through, boss." came the voice of the figure sitting next to him.

"Good." came the voice of the first. "How long till we reach the capital?"

"An hour or so."

"Perfect. Make sure our...cargo...is secure."

"On it, boss."

The second figure brushed some hay aside, revealing six oblong crates marked with green skulls and the Biohazard symbol. The figure opened one, revealing a gas canister colored an acid green. The canister had text on the side.

VIRAL CONTAMINATED MATERIAL-MANHATTAN DARK ZONE 06
BIOHAZARD-DO NOT RELEASE-CONTAMINATION LEVEL 04

The figure nodded, sealed the crate again, and sat back down.

"The cargo is secure."

"Good." said the first. "I want them planted on a moment's notice when we arrive."

"Yessir."

===============
As the caravan entered the gates of the Griffon capital, after another security check, the cloaked figures, seven in total, were escorted to a warehouse near the palace. Upon entering, several griffons in modified HAZMAT suits took the crates and placed them in a glass chamber, near several crates of black market weapons. and boxes of ammunition. The first cloaked figure walked up a flight of stairs to an office. On a table lay a map of the capital palace, and several X'd-out locations. The cloaked figure lowered his hood, revealing the face of Aaron Keener.

"It's showtime." he said, drawing an X over the whole map of the palace.

==============

As Keener and his escorts walked up to the palace gates, the guards told them to halt, which they did.

"What is your business in the palace?" A guard asked.

"Diplomatic." Keener said. "The Emperor is expecting us."
The guard nodded and opened the gates. As a Griffon noble joined and walked alongside Keener, he scowled.

"I thought you would be here sooner."

"We got caught up at the border. Trust me, everything will go as planned." Keener replied.

"And what of the royal family?"

"Collateral damage is not my concern." Keener said. "I believe it was your intention to keep them from harm. If they get infected, it's your fault."

"You had better come through on this, Mr. Keener." the griffon said.

"I assure you that my agents will have everything set up perfectly." Keener replied. As they ascended a flight of stairs to a balcony above a ballroom, where a large crowd of griffons was gathered, Keener opened his radio.

"Is the cargo in position at each location?"

"Yessir. Barracks, Ballroom, Quarters, Assembly hall, Dining room, and armory have all been tagged."

"Good. Dispense on my signal." Keener said. As the Griffon noble watched the Emperor take the throne, he nodded to Keener.

"Showtime." Keener said, into the radio, and he and the griffon placed Viral Protection masks onto their faces. Then, the ballroom was suddenly covered in dark green gas. As the assembled griffons began to fall, dead from viral exposure, Keener and his six agents regrouped at the gate. Keener smiled at the green smoke beginning to rise into the sky.

"Let's how this world handles this." Keener said, as he and his group walked back to the warehouse, as the castle descended into chaos.

===================

As Twilight woke up, she saw Spike in front of her, waving a letter in her face.

"It's Celestia. She says it's URGENT."

Twilight took the letter, and began to read.

Dearest Twilight,

I need you and the Elements in Canterlot immediately. A mysterious disease has struck the Griffon lands, killing anyone who is exposed to it. Get here soon, Twilight.

Celestia.

Twilight growled.

"Spike. Get the girls."

Spike nodded and rushed out. Twilight walked over to her duffel bag and tapped her Watch, activating her agent status. She then scowled, and tapped her watch. She watched as her Agent status changed from OFFLINE to ACTIVE. Then, she opened a communications feed to the Post Office.

"Agent Twilight?" Came the voice of Faye Lau. "Is that you?'

"Lau, we've got a problem." Twilight said. "It's a Manhattan-level problem."

"Damn. Give me the details. I'll notify your squad."

"Roger that, commander."