"Rainbow Dash, take it off!!!"

"Ugh! Alright! I got it!"

The van jumped and Dash felt herself jump with it. She almost slipped and fell to the ground, if it weren't for Soarin swiftly grabbing her arm to steady her and for her planting a foot in front of her in time. Dash muttered gratitude and obeyed Rarity's command to take off the coat she had been given in the workshop. The rest of the girls observed her outfit.

"Oh! It's so pretty!" Fluttershy claimed.

"I don't see what the big fuss is all about," Fleetfoot claimed.

Well, yeah, you're not the one who's exposing all her leg to the public eye!

Although she surely wouldn't mind. She didn't seem to find anything embarrassing.

They were already on their way to the Pyrite Gala. In the back of the van, all the other girls, clad in their uniform (to their luck), were huddled around Dash and Soarin. Twilight was hovering around the pair connecting the mics and everything they needed to keep in touch with the rest of the group. Applejack and Pinkie were absent, for they were already at the place, and Sunset was driving the vehicle while the group got ready in the back.

The plan basically consisted of sneaking inside the private parts of the building and finding the correct room where the meeting was supposed to happen. Twilight said they would be arriving thirty minutes earlier so they could have a window of opportunity to settle the plan. Of course, there was so much more to it, for it would be naive to assume it would just straight up be that easy to get to them, but they had already settled that days ago and had gone over that uncountable times.

They just needed to arrive.

A couple of blocks away from the place, the car stopped and Dash and Soarin climbed down in a rush to enter the car waiting for them. Before the van's doors closed, they heard a cry from Spitfire: "Good luck!"

The short traject in the car was silent. Dash and Soarin, sitting each at opposite ends of the car, didn't really bother to talk to each other. Dash was, however, glancing occasionally at her companion. Rarity had hidden his navy blue hair under a dark grey wig. She liked better his real hair color. This one made him look kinda boring.

The driver, an ATIDA agent in disguise, parked the car in front of the place were the Gala would be taking place. Dash gawked at the building. She had seen pictures, but it was beautiful! And that wasn't a word she used a lot. But the pillars, the details, and the runes were really quite a sight.

Dash waited for Soarin to exit the car. Rarity had scolded her for fifteen minutes straight about allowing the man to be a gentleman and how she should 'act like a lady', something which seemed to really worry Rarity in this particular Gala. Dash had to constantly remind her she wouldn't be in there for too long. Rarity kept insisting, anyway, about her mannerism during the Gala. In the end, she was kinda right. They wouldn't be there for long, sure, but they couldn't risk anything to get them discovered. In the end, Rarity was the expert on Undercover Missions. There was a reason she did most of them.

So Dash reluctantly accepted the hand Soarin offered her to exit the car and tried her best to relax and put on a smile that didn't look forced. Surprisingly, she managed. Dash linked her arm to Soarin's and both looked over to the place were this Gala would be taking place, watching the other couples and families arriving fashionably late. Dash muttered mentally. With this dress and when they were barely getting out of the winter, she was freaking cold!

"We're going in," Dash whispered to the commlink, trying to ignore the weather. In response, she heard Twilight's voice.

"Be careful," Twilight kindly reminded them as the pair walked over to the entrance.

They went in without much trouble after presenting their fake invites. Seriously? These guys could do so much better with the security of this place. She thought but remained speechless, smiling by her supposed husband's side. She had been warned to try and remain as speechless as possible. Apparently, this place was supposed to be filled with businessmen who tagged their wives along only to: a) boast of the beauty of them, or b) avoid any kind of conflict with the said wife. She liked to think there were exceptions, but since this meant she didn't have to interact with pish-posh people then she was all into it.

The place was as beautiful on the inside as it was on the outside, with the decor to match the vintage appearance of the building. As they followed the way to the main ballroom, Dash noticed the huge marble staircase leading to the second floor. She exchanged a glance with Soarin before the butler told them to head to their left to the gala.

Inside, the place was warmer and the ballroom was elegantly decorated with silvers. The place was packed with people elegantly dressed, from the youngest to the oldest they wore the lastest trends, black being a predominant color among them. However, Dash noticed bolder colors among the youngest and felt relieved at noticing she wasn't the only one wearing a pale color, nor the only one with a huge slit on her skirt. She actually felt much more at ease when she noticed her dress wasn't revealing at all compared to the tiny slices of fabric some women were wearing and didn't seem to mind.

Much more relaxed, Dash claimed: "I think we should avoid any unwanted interaction with people, don't you think?"

"We should."

"So we should focus on figuring a way to the second floor, right?"

"You're right. Though I suppose the main staircase will do just fine."

"Can ah offer ya a drink?" the pair turned to the familiar voice. Wearing a catering uniform, Applejack was standing less than a yard from them balancing a tray with a couple of champagne cups. She turned it to them. "Here, these two are fizzy apple juice. But you won't fit in without a glass."

"Yeah, she's right!" they heard Pinkie's voice. "Their conversations are so boring you need to be buzzy to bear it!"

"They are high-end class people, Thalia," Fleetfoot giggled. "They can be so boring sometimes."

Applejack, Dash and Soarin had to hold back a snicker. Applejack offered them the tray. "We found a way to the second floor in case the main plan fails. It's just by the door over there," Applejack made a subtle gesture to a door leading to the service hall. "When the time comes, we'll tell you."

"Alright, thanks, Poli," Soarin bowed with his head, hiding his lips behind his cup of juice. Applejack bowed back and smirked at Dash.

"Nice dress, by the way."

"F*ck you, Poli."

Applejack snorted and walked away with her tray of champagne. Dash took a sip of her juice, sulking.

"She's just poking fun at you," Soarin tried to reassure her, with a smile. "You look nice."

Dash puffed her cheeks and unlinked her arm from his. "I'll be back," she muttered before walking away. Seeing no other place where to excuse herself, she made her way to the banquet positioned at the side of the ballroom. She got closer and took a small slice of a hot appetizer without being able to shake away the feeling that her cheeks were even warmer.

In the van, parked in an alley behind the building, where there were some catering trucks as well, the rest of the Myths and Wonderbolts were huddled around the computers. Sunset had made her way to the back with Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Spike, Fleetfoot and Spitfire. Twilight and Sunset were busy making sure their connection with the people inside was secure, Rarity and Fluttershy were each stationed at a different screen with the place's cameras, while Spitfire and Fleetfoot were watching Dash's, Soarin's, Applejack's and Pinkie's chest cameras. Spike was waiting by Fluttershy's feet. Simply listening to what the rest was saying.

Spitfire spoke up. "Fluttershy, Rarity, how's it going? Anything yet?"

Fluttershy shook her head. "Nothing out of place yet."

"Indeed, it's been all too calm. It's starting to give me an Ill Omen."

"Don't say that, Rarity!" Sunset shot back.

"The information we were given was that they would be arriving at two and a half," Twilight claimed, glancing at the clock. It said it was barely past two o'clock. "They'll have to stay in there for another good twenty minutes before we spring back into action."

"So they get to hang around for twenty minutes? Lucky..." Rarity commented. Fleetfoot snorted.

"I assure you you're not missing anything else than good food and liquor. Those meetings are all about money, connections, and hypocritical people trying to get some benefit from the situation."

Rarity sighed. "Yeah, I know people in this kind of event often are just looking for personal benefit, but I'm a businesswoman and that means I need to mingle with that kind of people to get my business to grow. It's how it is."

"That's true," Spitfire claimed.

"ANYWAY," Fleetfoot said. "Are we gonna talk about how Soarin and Dash bicker like an old couple? I swear Soarin's a nice guy."

"Fleetfoot, I don't think this is the place to talk about this. And we shouldn't talk about people who aren't present," Spitfire claimed. "Your comment about the sexual tension was enough."

"Pardon me?" Rarity splurted. "Sexual tension?"

"Yup, don't you agree?" Fleetfoot. "Those two obviously like each other but won't admit it."

"I admit I thought about that too," Twilight laughed. She got a weird look from Sunset.

"You?! Out of all people, I would've expected that from Pinkie Pie either than you."

"They would make a lovely couple..." Fluttershy muttered. "Their colors match."

"Rainbow Dash's colors probably match with anyone," Spike laughed.

"If they could get over their differences," Spitfire shook her head. "But that's not our place to intervene, so we better let them be. I'm looking at you, Fleetfoot."

"But there's no fun in that!" Fleetfoot pouted before turning back at her screen. "Plus it seems they're fighting again, they parted ways."

"They WHAT?" Sunset looked over at the screen. "What in the world is going on now?" she turned on the mic to Dash's commlink. "Dash, what's happening now? Why aren't you with Soarin?"

"I'll be there in just a moment, alright? I just... I needed to walk away for a second."

"But what-?"

"Sunset, really, I'm fine. I'm going back in no time, seriously. When have I messed up a mission, uh?"

"We trust you, Darling, we're just worried," Rarity claimed, glancing at the speaker. "Whatever happened in there?"

"Nothing! It's nothing serious. I swear, it's cool, just chill. I'm going back now, alright?"

"Alright... Let us know if something's wrong," Twilight told her before the communication was cut.

Fleetfoot clicked her tongue. "Well, maybe sitting back and watching might end up being more fun than I thought. Let's see what they are capable of."

Sombra arranged the neck of his jacket in front of his mirror, making sure his reflection was spotless like a king's. Satisfied at his appearance, he turned around and walked over at his desk, retrieving any stuff he would need for his meeting. He had managed to threaten the planner of the event to allow him and his men easy access to the second floor, and the cameras would all be turned off by then so they could go on about their business easily. It was hilariously easy to force a man to do whatever he wanted. The poor thing was on his knees begging in two seconds.

Sombra furrowed his brow. He was kind of ticked off because he had done all that effort to please his client, but he pacified himself telling himself it was worth it. Or so he hoped. If it wasn't the case, that man was getting a bullet to the head. If it was, then he would have his arms and Sombra would have his little treasure. Fair deal.

From one of his drawers, he took out a gun, which he slid inside one of the pockets of his coat. Just in case. A man must be prepared for any kind of situation. After the encounter he had had with those little girls that time with the daughter of that Filthy traitor, he doubted things would be as easy for him and his negotiations. He wasn't about to underestimate them. They seemed like stubborn beings. They were surely already after his track, all the dogs following him through a wood of secrets.

He smirked to himself.

Oh, those girls don't know what they're getting themselves into.

Sweethearts, decide wisely the path you'll follow, or you could seriously regret it.

Dash walked back to Soarin after she had effectively had everyone questioning her about being away from him, so she tried to navigate through the crowd without drawing any attention to her persona, for she wasn't interested in engaging in any conversation with these people. Especially since, being on her own, she was forced to talk. At least next to Soarin, she could fake being a submissive young wife who spoke only if told to do so.

She held back a gag at that thought.

I thought we were past that way of thinking already?!

Sighing, Dash excused herself between two tall women to make her way to where she had left her 'husband'. She found him there, indeed.

Only he wasn't alone.

A couple was talking with him. A man, probably in his early thirties, and a woman of great beauty were positioned before him, the woman linked to her companion's arm. Soarin showed no reaction to them, as he was smiling and calmly talking to them. He looked like he knew these people all his life. Dash took note of the white skin of both characters; the long pink hair of the woman and the short blue hair of the man.

Dash cursed under her breath when she recognized them. Fancy Pants, Rarity's friend, and his wife, Fleur de Lis. Just great, the exact two people Rarity had advised them to avoid at the event, for she assured them that 'Fancy Pants is a smart man' that knew Dash's face and could blow their cover.

Let's see how good your disguises are, Rarity.

She tried to relax and put on the best smile she could muster as she walked back to her mate. Soarin noticed her and smiled widely at the people with him.

"Ah, there she comes!" he extended his arm towards her and Dash took his hand with a smile, this time aimed at the pair in front of them. Soarin draped his arms behind her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. Dash played along hugging his waist with one arm. "This is my wife: Periwinkle. Darling, let me introduce you to Mr. Fancy Pants and his wife, Mrs. Fleur de Lis."

"What?!" she heard Rarity's voice through the commlink. "I told you to stay away from them!"

Soarin must have activated his mic. "It's such a pleasure to meet you two!" Not really. Go away.

Fancy Pants did not read her mind and just shot back the smile. "My! The pleasure is ours. I admit I don't recall seeing you two before. Your husband was telling us this was your first Pyrite Gala, right?"

"You're quite right," And the last, I hope. "We've been blessed with an invitation this year."

"Well, I must admit it's nice seeing some new faces," Fleur commented, giggling. "When you've been attending this same Gala each year with the same people, it can get a bit monotonous."

That's one fancy way of saying boring.

"Oh, really?" Soarin replied. "We've actually been expecting the Gala since we got the invitation."

Following the script, I see. Good.

"Try to make them go away!" Dash heard Fleetfoot through the commlink.

"Just be discreet!" Rarity shot too.

But Dash couldn't see any way to make them go away. She hoped Soarin had a plan because this was beginning to be a little awkward for her, and only then she noticed she was gripping Soarin's side with all her strength and he wasn't reacting at all. What is he made of, bricks?

Also, he was an incredibly good liar? Maybe it was because she didn't know him, but he was pretty good at concealing all the typical body signs of lying. His shoulders were relaxed, he was looking at them in the eye, not diverting his gaze to either side, making gestures with the hand that wasn't placed on her bare shoulder, nor was he stuttering as she expected him to nor toying with his clothing. He was holding a normal conversation with them. The pretty boy seemed to have been practicing his skills.

Fancy Pants seemed particularly interested in her. Dash tried to convince herself it was due to her outfit, something which made her feel even more exposed, but soon had to face the facts: he wasn't interested at all in how revealing her skirt was nor in her exposed shoulders or her subtle cleavage. He was examining her features, like trying to solve a puzzle. A puzzle she did not want him to solve anytime soon.

He was good at hiding his examination, for he was maintaining his conversation with Soarin quite smoothly. Dash hoped he noticed too and they could think of a way out.

During the conversation between the two men, the women barely participated, even though both men were constantly trying to include them. It seemed neither of them wanted to be part of it. Unluckily for Dash, Fleur decided she'd rather skip husband time to bond with another female, and so unlinked her arm from her husband's and instead approached Rainbow Dash. Dash tried to smile. She didn't dare to move from the protection of Soarin's arm.

"So, Periwinkle, right?" Fleur smiled kindly at her. "Do you work with Ash Mist in your agency?"

Ah, we settled that one.

"Yes, but I manage the shoots and any public kind of event," she replied. "However, Ash is the President of the Company."

"Oh, that's great! So you're a manager? I'm a model! I know a thing or two about shoots," she giggled.

"See?! I told you to evade them!" Rarity scolded Dash.

"You're so pretty, though!" Fleur went on, taking a good look at Dash. "You would make a lovely model! Have you ever considered modeling?"

"I don't think that's something we're comfortable with," she glanced at Soarin. "Right, darling?"

Soarin nodded. "Despite what it might look like, she's not very interested in pictures. I do agree she's beautiful."

"Well, the beauty of a woman should never be denied!" Fancy added. Dash tried to conceal the blush creeping into her face.

"I think that was a bit unneeded, Darling," she muttered to Soarin, pinching his side. Soarin pressed his lips.

"Oh, let him compliment you!" Fleur giggled. "You make a lovely couple. Don't they, Fancy?"

"Indeed," Fancy agreed.

Soarin and Dash exchanged a glance before looking right back at the couple. At that very moment, the music filling the room and to which some people were dancing changed from classy to tango. Couples started flooding the dancefloor. Fleur and Fancy exchanged smiles. Fleur, smiling widely, took in each hand a hand of Dash and a hand of Soarin and giddily said:

"Join us in the dancefloor, please? We love this tango!"

F*ck no!

Dash let out a nervous laugh. "We, um..." she tried to think of an excuse but could find none. So she just blurted out: "We don't quite feel like it."

"Yeah, I'm not quite a dancer!" Soarin laughed.

"Nonsense!" Fleur insisted. "Come on, it'll be fun!"

"Uh..." Soarin freed his hand and Dash did the same. "Um, alright! Alright! We're right behind you!"

Fleur giggled and took her husband's arm. "Great!"

Not great!

Dash held back a deadly glare until the real married couple dashed away. When they were gone, with the promise they were right behind them, Dash glared at him over her shoulder despite having their arms linked. "Why?!"

"I didn't know your point of view in this one, we never discussed that one!"

"You didn't?" Spitfire sighed. "Well, now go on, we don't want that loud model to make a fuss! You've got time for dancing the song and figure a way to sneak away! They'll be here in less than ten minutes!"

"My King," Sombra heard the voice of his soldier from the front of the vehicle. The copilot was the on speaking. "I'm afraid, my King, that there's been a disturbance in the Gala. We may think it has to do with ATIDA, your Highness."

"What kind of disturbance??"

"Two unknown characters have appeared at the Gala, my King," the man informed him. "I'm afraid we have yet to locate them among the invitations, but our guards think they could be ATIDA agents."

"What do they look like? Perhaps it's those girls I met at the factory."

"Our informers tell us it was a man and a woman, my King. A man of grey hair and whitish skin, and a woman of cyan skin and periwinkle hair."

Sombra furrowed his brow. Those descriptions did not match any of the girls he met that day, and it was only women, so where did this man come from? He guessed this could be some other agents, but he wasn't about to assume he had seen the last of these girls. If not, he would be greatly disappointed in the oh so great special agents of ATIDA.

"Let's keep an eye on them. With some luck for them, they'd be just a rich couple."

"Understood, My King."

"I warn you, Caliope, he can't dance to save his life!"

"Fleetfoot!" Soarin whispered to the mic as he and Dash positioned themselves. Dash held back a laugh.

"You really can't?" she wondered. Soarin blushed.

"I..." he huffed. "Yeah, I can't."

"So you can't lead a tango?"

"I can't lead my tongue, much less you in a tango."

Dash snorted and tried to hide her laughter behind a hand. Seeing so success in this, she pressed her face to his chest and let out as quietly as she could the laughter, her shoulders shaking as Soarin patiently waited for her to compose herself. When she emerged from her laughter, she glanced back up at Soarin, whose cheeks remained of a slight hue of pink. She smiled. "I'll show you how to lead, alright? Then you can take over the dance."

Soarin stared at her for a couple of heartbeats that thumped in Dash's chest. She found herself captivated by the brightness of his eyes. Now that she thought about it, they seemed to have the brightness of a child, the innocence of a toddler and the peace of a newborn. Yet he was tall, built and strong. How could such a combination occur in a single being? He didn't sound like something logical.

As far as Soarin was concerned, however, she was a bundle of energy and stubbornness. She was such a tiny woman, he doubted she was taller than 5' 3", and yet she imposed the presence of a warrior. She was a warrior. A warrior that smirked like a devil and moved like a cat, something which she showed off she stretched to reach his shoulders. She wrapped an arm around them, pressing her body to his and holding his other hand. Soarin applied the little knowledge he had of tango and place his free hand across her back. As promised, she was the one to lead the dance at first.

Her dance... she danced with such confidence in each other movements. She whispered instructions to him so he could follow her. She was... mesmerizing... He could notice the muscles of her back shifting under her silky skin. He could sense each twist of her waist against his torso. She held his gaze with a look he had yet to know from her. A look that was simply and utterly sultry.

When she wrapped her exposed right leg around his calf, he felt his face burning. He gripped her small body. Dash noticed the reaction he provoked from him, but despite what he felt was wiser to do, she didn't mind nor she changed the position of her leg.

He finally could take control of the dance. He was the one leading know. His movements weren't as refined or elegant as hers, but she had the skill to make any of his mistakes go unnoticed. His mind forgot where he was and what he was doing there; the image of this girl had bewitched him...

And if he was completely honest, he didn't mind.

"Now there!" Rarity giggled, watching attentively the camera in which she could see Dash and Soarin dancing. "Out of all the dances of the world, they had to dance the most intimate one possible."

Fleetfooot and Spitfire had moved to Rarity's and Fluttershy's screens, for they had nothing to actually see in their cameras other than the occasional glance of the color of the pair's clothing. Spitfire was honestly watching the cameras looking for something, but she was glancing now and then to the pair as well, a smirk on her face. Instead, Fletfoot was not watching over the cameras. She was spying, simple as that, and was sassy enough not to try to hide it.

"They look so good!" Fleetfoot giggled. "Now, kiss!"

"Oh, my," Fluttershy whispered, embarrassed.

"You better be recording that so we can blackmail her later!" Sunset laughed from her spot. Twilight burst out laughing.

"We can't have them making out right now, Sombra should be arriving anytime now," Spitfire claimed.

Twilight nodded. "It's true, they will be arriving anytime-"

"Now!"

The girls all jumped to Fluttershy's shriek, which made Spike, who had fallen asleep, wake up with a yelp. The group who was the nearest to Fluttershy's screen looked at what Fluttershy was pointing. It was one of the cameras in front of the building. They also had the streets' cameras, but to everyone's surprise, they had turned off a heartbeat ago. Actually, what the girls could see was a man coming out of the copilot seat of a black car and opening the door of the backseat before everything turned black. Fluttershy glanced back at the group.

Spitfire was gripping the back of Rarity's seat. "Sh*t."

Soarin was trying his hardest to focus on his surroundings subtly. He was glancing at the sides while keeping his head pointing towards Rainbow Dash, and Dash did the same thing. Now and then, they would glance back at each other before adverting their eyes, neither knowing the exact reason for that.

Then Soarin noticed something: two men, at the end of the ballroom, staring at them. They were stationed near the tall windows, their features somber. Soarin glance over Dash's head. A third one, near the staff kitchens, dangerously close to where Pinkie was stationed observing them.

"We're being watched."

He was surprised at this statement. Not because he had said it, but because Rainbow Dash had said it along with him. Their smiles never faltering, they met each other's gaze to discuss it.

"There're two at my three o'clock watching us," Dash claimed. Soarin had yet to noticed those two.

"Two at your nine o'clock," Soarin claimed. "One at your seven o'clock."

"So there's five of them, huh..." Dash made a swift movement of her hips before going on. "What makes people uncomfortable or look away?"

"That's an easy one. First month of the Academy," Soarin claimed. He began his list: "Public displays of affection, violence, blood, embarrass-"

He couldn't finish his sentence. Dash stretched her body, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

"OH! MY! GOD!" Rarity screeched. "They kissed!"

"They WHAT?!" Sunset glanced at the screens, gaping. She then shook her head. "No! We don't have time for this!"

"I'm losing the cameras!" Twilight announced, typing furiously her keyboard. "Someone is interfering with the cameras!"

"Sir, I don't understand why you're asking me to-"

"Silence!" the poor technician shrunk at the command of the manager. He felt terrible about doing so, but the terrifying threat of a mysterious man erased any guilt, replacing it with panic that made his heart pound. He tensed his shoulders. "Just... Do as I say. Turn them on in an hour. That'd be all."

The technician stared at him, confused, but gulped and nodded. "Alright, sir..."

Soarin's blood ran all to his face. He was a good actor. He could keep his cool under stress and considered himself a pretty decent liar, although that didn't mean he liked lying. Duty was duty. His job was above anything else he did, and he was determined to do it correctly. But this? This was too much for him.

She was kissing him! And worst of all... He was liking it! He felt terrible about enjoying it, but he really was.

Play along, Soarin, dammit! You're gonna blow our cover!

So he did. He wrapped his arms around her back and returned her kiss. Around them, people kept dancing to the beat of the new tango playing, but he was more focused on the tango his and Dash's lips were dancing. It felt... A little out of duty... Maybe a little more than needed, but he wasn't complaining. Dash pulled away an extra second later, or sooner, he couldn't decide. He didn't know if he wanted the kiss to end or to keep going. His head was a mess, and even when she had pulled away, he couldn't manage to open his eyes.

"They're not looking anymore..."

Soarin opened his eyes to catch hers. She wasn't looking his way, but her head slightly tilted to the side, glancing at her surroundings to where the mysterious guys were. Indeed they weren't looking their way anymore, but Soarin paid little attention to that. He was more interested in what Dash's reaction to the kiss was. Even in that angle, Dash couldn't conceal the pink of her cheeks or the soft bite she was applying to her lower lip, her eyes a little hazy. Soarin wanted to say something. Anything. But he couldn't, and he didn't have any chance anymore.

"Guys! It's time! Time to go on, go go!" they heard Spitfire's voice. At the same time, Soarin saw Pinkie disappear through the door of the ballroom. Neither showing any reaction nor anything alike, Dash linked her arm to Soarin's and they walked towards the door. They waited for a couple of seconds before Pinkie came back, dragging along two butlers.

"I'm telling you, she's wasted and I can't move her an inch. Everyone else is busy, you're the only ones I could think about."

They waited a minute after Pinkie left with the butlers before sneaking their way through the door. Seeing Applejack's built and tall shape, he was sure those poor butlers would have a hard time trying to move her to the back as the plan stated. Outside, the hallway was empty. Dash halted for a second to kick off the heels of her shoes, and Soarin abandoned his jacket and tie at a nearby table. Dash left the heels there. Pinkie Pie would later come to pick their stuff up. Rainbow Dash and Soarin ran towards the main staircase, making sure to check the hall before. Empty.

They ran up the stairs.

Twilight and Sunset were working hard on their screens. Spitfire, who had some knowledge in computers but not even half the skill the pair had, was helping them the best she could. Fluttershy had taken over the screens of Soarin's and Dash's cameras, while Fleetfoot and Rarity were jumping from camera to camera, following Dash and Soarin.

Twilight was turning off the right cameras at the right time and turning them back on so there wouldn't be any recording of Rainbow Dash and Soarin. After a few seconds, she had recovered the cameras that had turned off on their own, but she had decided to remain on her spot even if they had to go back up Soarin and Dash.

The doors of the pilot and co-pilot seats of the van opened. Twilight glanced just enough time to see Applejack and Pinkie climbing in the leather seats.

"How's it going?" Pinkie asked, putting on her belt. Rarity began clasping the chairs to the floor or walls in case they needed to move the van.

Fleetfoot was the one who answered Pinkie's questions: "They are already on the second floor, making their way to the smaller meeting rooms."

"Girls, where to?!" they heard Dash's voice through the speaker.

"Hold on just a minute, guys," Sunset said, not tearing her eyes from the screen. "The thing is the cameras have been intercepted and we haven't been able to recover all of them."

"Which means?" it was Soarin this time. In the cameras, they had stopped running and were stationed in the middle of a hall.

"Which means we have no idea where Sombra is," Fluttershy lamented. Spike whined and placed his snout on her thigh.

Sombra walked into the meeting room. Thankfully, the man was already there. He looked just like he remembered him: black hair, stubble, and brownish skin. He was wearing a simple beige shirt with brown dress pants, an outfit of which slightly insulted Sombra and how much effort he put into his clothing. Anyway, not everyone could have a sense of fashion.

Sombra approached the man, who was sitting in one of the vintage chairs in the middle of the room. He had brought over his own group of protection, consisting of men who shared a similar appearance as him. The man stood up and offered him a handshake.

"Well, if it isn't the fearsome King Sombra!" the man claimed, showing a grin.

"Pay your respects to the King, peasant," one of his soldiers instructed from Sombra's left. Sombra lifted one gloved hand and gave him a sign to make him understand it was alright. Sombra approached the man and shook his hand once.

"Mr. Caballeron, am I right?"

"Dr. Caballeron, but it's alright," the man replied. "I see your mates are pretty picky."

"They're my soldiers, they're loyal to me," Sombra didn't take a seat. "What you call 'picky', I call loyalty."

"Figures," Dr. Caballeron sat down, like inviting him to do the same. Sombra didn't accept the subtle invitation.

"I shall be brief. I'm afraid I have some business I need to deal with and I cannot stay for too long. Please, show it to me."

Caballeron shrugged and stood up. He took a suitcase one of his men carried and placed it in a coffee table separating him from the King. He opened it.

Inside a glass case, a tiny hourglass with a gold string that was meant to use as a wrist ornament sat. It was one beautiful piece, ornamented with gold and precious gems. Caballeron slid it closer to Sombra.

"I don't quite understand what the big fuss is about this tiny hourglass."

Sombra had to hold back a smirk. You have no idea the power you've been carrying in this tiny hourglass, fool.

"That's not of your interest," Sombra pompously claimed. One of his soldiers walked over to the table and tried to catch the glass case, but Caballeron closed the suitcase before he could.

"Not so fast, my friend. Where's my part?" Caballeron wondered. Sombra held back a sigh of frustration. This man was really beginning to make him lose his patience.

"Were you expecting me to walk into a place occupied by hundreds of people with a dozen arms? One of my men is waiting for you outside in a truck that will follow you to wherever you desire."

Caballeron made a face of dissatisfaction. "What assures me you're not lying to me?"

"Are you insulting the King, fool?" the soldier growled again. Sombra made him calm down once again.

"As I've said a million times before, I am a man of my word. I can accompany you to the truck so you can rest assured."

Caballeron was reluctant, eyeing him suspiciously. Sombra just held his gaze with his own inexpressive gaze, trying his very best to not let any of the irritation he was feeling show. After a few minutes like this, Caballeron retired his hand from the suitcase.

"Alright. Take it."

He tried not to show his eagerness to get the suitcase. His soldier waited for Caballeron to open it right back and take the glass case, giving it to the King with a bow of his head. Sombra took the case and examined the hourglass. Perfect.

"It's a deal, Dr. Caballeron. If you could follow me to-"

Sombra got interrupted by a gunshot. He didn't show any reaction to it, merely even a surprised glance at the door. A voice told him not to be surprised. He was expecting them to show up after all! He was glad they did, if not he would've been highly disappointed. They were officially actively chasing his tail.

His soldiers calmly turned around and pointed their guns to the door, waiting. Sombra turned as well, making sure to keep his glass case on his hand. Behind him, Caballeron was beginning to freak out.

"What was that?!"

His question was answered when something hit the wooden door. The white door, beautifully ornamented with flower runes, slightly cracked at the impact of said thing. He heard a thump at the impact on the floor.

He heard steps coming closer to the door. The guns of all soldiers unlocked all at the same time, but Sombra stopped them before they could try anything.

"Allow me to have some fun, alright?" he smirked. The door opened, and Sombra noticed first the soldier he had left stationed outside completely blacked out in front of the door. Then he noticed the pair. A man and a woman. The man was tall and intimidating, with defined features and slightly almond-shaped emerald eyes, while the woman was shorter but built for someone of her height, holding the small gun his soldier had previously carried, her eyes ice-cold. An interesting pair.

The man walked over the man laying on the ground and proceeded to offer his hand for the woman to walk over him. She took it. They walked in together, not intimidated at all by the obvious difference in quantities. Sombra thought it was almost arrogant of them to think they could best more than a dozen armed men. Sombra smirked.

"Foolish children, whatever do you think you're doing?" he wondered, facing the pair.

"Stopping this, of course," the man replied.

"You're not running away a second time," claimed the woman. Sombra raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, so you are one of the girls from that time. Good. I can't quite recall your hair, but you do look familiar up-close."

"Make this easier for us, alright, buddy?" the woman raised the gun. "Give up."

Sombra chuckled. "You honestly think I would?"

She shrugged. "I had to try."

Sombra stepped closer to her. They didn't move from their spots, but he could sense the alert of the man as he got closer to his companion. He took another step, expecting more reaction, but got none this time. He went on: "Little girl, listen closely. You haven't seen the end of me, and most surely you won't see me give up so easily. Let's get that in your brain, alright?"

The woman shrugged. "Very well, as you wish."

Sombra chuckled. "Seems like I'll have to teach you a lesson."

Before his eyes, he witnessed yet again an amazing phenomenon: when his shadows rushed forwards, the woman zipped out of the way, not before grabbing her companion's arm to drag him out of the way. He chuckled. So it was that girl. Why the wig, then? Did the other wear wigs as well? And what about the man? He wasn't with them last time... Well, last time there were seven of them, so maybe they weren't a specific squad.

I've got to think that through with my pillow, later.

The woman halted, closer to the armed men accompanying him, and shoved the gun she had taken from his men outside into the man's chest. He didn't show any effect to the super speed. One of his soldiers fired his gun at her, but in yet another display of amazing speed, she moved out of the way. This time, she stopped in front of his soldier and kicked him in the gut, and he wheezed while bending over to grab his stomach. The man fell to one of his knees with a groan.

A flurry of bullets was fired. Time stopped. In front of his eyes, thanks to his magic, Sombra witnessed how the woman caught every single bullet between her fingers and dropped them on the floor. Her only injury? A slight graze on her thumb that looked like a paper cut.

He had to admit, that was impressive.

The doors burst open. In came three women: one he recognized, the one with the long pink hair, and two he had no idea where they came from. Probably from the same hole than the man. Behind them came a green dog that would be adorable if it weren't from that menacing growl. The group was now of five (he doubted whether to count the dog or not), a much more reasonable quantity against the dozen of men he had with him. A bit of a daredevil quantity, but at least they now had some chance.

Sombra glanced towards the camera, on the corner of the room. He glared when he noticed it was on. With a simple movement of his mind, he rushed forwards a tentacle of magic with crushed it. Caballeron and his men flinched. They had tried to approach the door as cautiously as possible but failed to escape the room. Bits and pieces of the camera flew all across the room, one of them landing straight into the eye of one of his own men.

"My apologies," he muttered, and his man brushed it off with a gesture of his hand.

It was a matter of seconds before the whole room minus the three cowards that were trying to sneak away was engaged in a fight. Gunshots were fired, but miraculously, none was wounded because of them. Other kinds of wounds did rise, like bruises, cuts, scrapes, and concussions, but no bullet wounds. One of his men got a nosebleed after being punched. Sombra watched with a certain alarm that his men were slowly reducing in quantity, and judged this to be a wise moment to retreat. Sombra swatted away the woman with the orange hair with a tentacle of shadows before summoning every bit of shadows in the room.

That was partly the problem with his magic. Although powerful, it had established limits during the day, for he couldn't summon half the shadows he could summon at night. The night was his natural habitat. The day was harder to tame, but he had practiced restlessly to achieve it. He had learned to find the darkness in the most unpredictable places. He had learned to seek the energy from the shadows of insects, as well as some other quite useful abilities his dark magic offered to play with.

His eyes flickered to his right.

The woman with the periwinkle hair was approaching using her superspeed. Time seemed to stop once again. Dark magic was quite useful to combat this kind of unnatural skills. He had to admit, if it weren't because his shadows helped him, he probably wouldn't notice her approaching, even if it only happened for a moment. That was enough. Instead of tackling him as she had likely planned to, she ran into a wall of shadows that imprisoned her, wrapping around her frame and gripping her arms tight to her body almost reaching the ceiling. He guided a tentacle to wrap around her like a cobra.

He heard the gunshot just in time. He barely dodged the bullet that zipped past where his head previously was. He lost his focus on his shadows. The woman, gasping for air, fell. The man dropped the gun he had just fired to catch her. She was standing the next second. He noticed how the trio he had just made business with ran off, but the woman with the white hair quickly gave chase.

Sombra got up and arranged his clothes. "You know what? I've had enough fun for today."

And he disappeared behind a cloud of shadows. Before he vanished away, however, he saw the frustration growing into the pair's eyes.

Author's Note

It's finally here!

I apologize deeply for the long wait. As I've told you on this blog post, I've suffered the loss of my father on the 14th of December. Finding my inspiration and will to write again has been quite a process as you can guess, but here we are!

One more part to go for this arc and we're done. I wanted to end it here but the mission ended up taking longer than I planned, so I cut the last couple of scenes off into the next part, which I guess is going to bit shorter.

I hope you've enjoyed this arc so far! I really want to know what you think about the story so far, so don't be afraid to leave a comment. I love to read your opinions.

Anyway, that'd be all for today!

Until next time!

-Midday Giggle