Author's Note

The plot thickens...

Another...

The night after the meeting with Celestia...

A lone cloaked pony figure clad in black and grey gear that had been heavily enchanted with noise and lockpicking spells slowly pranced through the lower streets and back allies of the Royal Capital. They snuck through every known place that no creature would ever tell of. They slinked around until they reached a rather bleak alley with nothing but a manhole in it. The pony removed the cover and quickly went down and used magic to seal the entrance once more. They now in the underbelly of Canterlot, the place known as the Unknown. The pony clopped on into the dank dark underground.

Hours went by as they made their way through tunnels of the old sewers until they turned into old passageways that had been carved into the mountain rock long ago. They came to an open area that was let by and encirclement of torchlight. In the center of the chamber was a larger stone table and around it were more cloaked ponies clad in black and grey gear.

"Brothers and sisters we have adjourned," called one of the ponies their voice sounded of many. "We have been asked to take a very specific job."

'What kind of specific job?" another multivoiced pony asked.

"It had better pay well if you convened this meeting about it," another threatened.

"It does," the first nodded solemnly.

"How much?" Another asked.

"Fifty thousand to each of us here as down payments," Came another's voices.

"And another hundred thousand to each upon complexation." the first added, "More if we deliver the property as undamaged as possible."

"What are the details of the job?" another asked.

"To take this," the first pony pulled out a folder and tossed it onto the table scattering pictures to all members.

"These are just pictures of some little unicorn filly," one scoffed. "Have we sunk so low as to become mere baby sitters?" They slammed a hoof on the table outraged.

"Contracts have become much less prevalent in the past few years for many reasons," another spoke up in annoyance with their multi-tone voice. "The fact that our assassins have become almost nonexistent does not help. Yes, they get the jobs done but in doing so after their employment they are somehow the ones that end up dead by somepony else's hoof being hired to protect the next target."

"The Survey Corps," A pony clad in all black dropped the emblem of a white over a blue wing onto the table. "They have become a real nuisance in the past years and only being as old as ten years. They have grown quite large."

"Shadow," the others bowed out of respect.

"You actually managed to take one out! Well, you are the Shadow for a reason," another said with a bit of a drool trailing in their speech patterns.

"Certainly with the group at the time we managed a few. I tore this from their uniform and managed to deal a great amount of damage to them but they somehow teleported away using an unknown magic. If they did not die they would've been soon thanks to my poison. They are quite skilled but still no match for use if we are... prep correctly," Shadow gestured. "Teams of two will be the norm from this point on. Now tell m of this..." he held up a picture of Twilight Sparkle.

"Twilight Sparkle..." One said.

"The princess's new pet project..." Another said.

"The reports verify that she is quite powerful..." motioned another to an image that appeared in the center of the room of what had happened on the day of Twilight's entrance exam. "Even for unicorn standards."

"Only a part of the minor nobility," Another mare added.

"Though she does come from a very extensive line of mages that have served the royal family since the time of Princess Platinum and the Unification," Another added.

"She has an older brother that is going into the academy next year as he has shown to be quite the promising caster himself, quite close in mana level to his baby sister," Another added. "His special talent is defenses and this especially extends into his shield spells."

"Must be a noble with some big plans for their future if they want her so badly they'd be willing to pay the whole circle this much just for one filly as a down payment," Shadow rubbed his chin. "Then again she is the princess's personal student."

"What shall we do Shadow?" Another asked.

"Time frame," Shadow looked at the first pony.

"In the next couple months at the latest," the first explained. "Others wise as soon as plausible."

"Hmm..." the Shadow kept looking over the filly in the picture. "Supplies?"

"The proprietor is willing to provide anything and everything that is needed to make this a success," The first said.

"Acknowledged," Shadow dropped the photo. "Return to them and tell them we accept. Teams of to Another's. Meeting adjourned. Unseen, Untouched, Unheard, Unsmelt, untasted, Unread, Unknown... " heh said bowing as he placed his hooves together.

"Unseen, Untouched, Unheard, Unsmelt, untasted, Unread, Unknown... " The anothers all repeated and bowed. When they looked up the Shadow was gone and they all left through different tunnels from wince they'd come saying nothing.

The Punching Bag, Days after seeing Celestia...

Strawberry Marmalade, Mar, or Marmy as those closest to her called her was currently wiping down tables in her cousin's bar. She had come to Canterlot to meet with Princess Celestia on behalf of her Grandfather as a Response from the Survey Corps. She decided to remain to get some relaxation and to do some routine check-ins with the other safe houses and dens in the city. She was currently working under the guise as a bar mare slash security. Marmy had only been here a few days but every pony and creature already knew not to mess with this unicorn mare.

Due to an incident on the first day she was in the public, there weren't many that didn't know who she was at this point. A particularly younger rich noble had sauntered into the Punching Bag on Marmy's first day as he'd heard that though the establishment was in the lowers of Canterlot it was still an upstanding place so naturally, he thought he'd make it his place to do... his business. He made it quite clear to Strawberry Punch that he'd be running things from now on and Punch just remarked, 'Yea we'll see how that goes...'. The stallion started to throw orders left and right and Punch merely told them to play along. They did until he got hoovesie with the staff or one bar mare in particular. Safe to say all he did was grab her flank once and she end up break her forelegs, pulling out every single one of his teeth with one hoof to the face and left him unconscious for several days with a laundry list of other injuries.

No one dared get smart with Marmy from that day forward that was a regular at the Punching Bag. Currently, she was wiping down tables as they got ready to open the bar for the night.

Canterlot Castle Celestia's Room towards the evening hours...

Celestia stood over Spike's crib. Looking down on the little snoring whelping as he sucked on his tail. "Such a sweet boy," She said softly as she leaned down and lightly nuzzled her son. She separated the little drake from his tail and quickly placed a sapphire pacifier to keep him from waking. "There we go, now perhaps I can write a little letter to Levi."

She walked over to her desk and pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment. She dipped and eagle's feather quill in her ink bottle and then started to write'

Dear Levi,

How have you been old friend? I hope this letter finds you well. I have great news for you. I met with your granddaughter Marmalade a few days ago. It was me that sent the coin as you suspected. I wanted to test your Corps timing and I can say I am very impressed. I am also very astonished at Marmalade's abilities but of course, she is your granddaughter and was trained by you personally. She took out a pair of my guards with no hesitation and almost no injuries except for a couple of new horns on their heads. They were green but still, I was more than impressed with her. She told me she would be staying here for a bit and I intend to speak with her again. She also made it known that you wouldn't be accepting a position I wanted to offer you but I had already accepted that would be your most likely choice. In all honesty, the coin was mainly a ploy just to try and get you to come to the city. It's been a good while since we've seen each other and I miss seeing you. In other words, I was trying to get you to visit but I know I could've just asked. So now I am, Would you please come and see me? I do so miss our reading sessions… Oh, speaking of reading I have forgotten to mention this every time I have written you the last few times but I have a little student who loves books and is a little obsessive-compulsive as well. She reminds me of you with this sometimes. I think I mentioned this before but I have also adopted a little drake as my son, he is so cute! Anyways, I wanted to ask you to come and see me. Perhaps spend a few days in the castle, meet Twilight and Spike as well as my niece and nephew. I miss you dearly old friend and wishing you luck in your endeavors.

Sincerely your Friend,
Tia

Celestia placed her quill back into the inkpot and rolled up the parchment into a scroll. She pulled a red ribbon from a draw and tied it around the scroll and then held a stick of gold wax and a candle over the scroll in her magic. She heated the wax stick with the candle and dripped it onto the scroll. Placing the wax and candle on the far side of the desk and then pulled a stamp from the draw and stamped it into the wax. She pulled up the seal to reveal a golden sun.

Celestia held up the scroll in her magic and got up from her desk. Trotting over to the far side of the room she came to a cabinet. Opening the cabinet she pulled out a white candle with a pink flame. She held the scroll up to the flame and it caught fire and in a wisp of air and shimmering smoke flew into the sunset.

"That's done," Celestia stretched her wings and looked to the balcony. "Will, time to get back to work," she walked out and reached out with her magic and lowered the sun and shakily brought up the moon. "I know I am not you mistress but you could be more corporative.," she sighed at the moon. "Just a few more years Luna. I wonder if... we...." she sighed. and walked away.

The in the City near the Sparkle Household...

Cadence trotted through the city's market picking out vegetables from the various stalls and vendors. Twilight Sparkle quietly road on the pink alicorn's back while reading a book. A big bright green bullfrog was resting on her rump with a half-eye lidded stare.

A mare was and notice the largish frog. She stared and the frog stares back then croaked, 'What are looking at bright eyes?' She swore that the frog was glaring at him with the half-lidded eyes and decided to back away while the frog let out another croak, 'Yeah you better run.'

"Michigan, be nice," Twilight scolded the frog who merely slowly blinked in response.

"So what are you reading this time Twilly? Another book that Auntie lent you?" Cadence giggle.

"Kind of," Twilight replied as she flipped through the pages. "It was actually a present for my birthday. She gave me a lot of books. Which I am glad for but some of them we...odd"

"Odd how?" Cadence picked up an apple and looked it over.

"Some of them were about old legends." Twilight flipped a page. "Some of them weren't even from Equestria."

"Oh," Cadence looked at the bananas to find a yellowing bunch. "Did any of them catch your eye?"

"Yep," The filly squeaked.

"Which one was it?" Cadence pick up a bunch of bananas in her magic as was putting it in her back as she left gave some bits to the vendor when she suddenly had a bock resting on her muzzle in front of other eyes with a lavender filly holding it in place while resting against the back of her neck with her magic.

"This one," Twilight pointed with a tiny hoof at the picture of a human.

"The human," Cadence acknowledged as she put her bananas in her saddlebags and set Twilight back on her back. "I remember you turning into a book turtle last time you saw a statue of one," Cadence giggled.

"That was the statue in the castle," Twilight whined with a bit of red in her cheeks.

"I know but you were so cute," Cadence looked at the little filly as the frog stared at the crowd with a slow blink. "But why are you looking up humans if the statue in the garden scared you so much?"

"Cause I want to know about them. They are fascinating. Small eyes, two legs, and appendages similar to dragons that allow them the grasp things. They're like a chimera without the three heads!" Twilight said. "I know I was scared of the statue in the garden but it was the way it stared at me. It was so hard and harsh and judging."

"I see. Will if it interests you then go ahead, " Cadence trotted along

"Yea and," Twilight said as she rubbed her chin. "I think humans are more of a very rare species from a long time ago. It seems that they were more common across many continents at one point."

"What make you say that?" Cadence kept walking.

"Cause the strange thing is this is a book from Abyssinia," She showed her foal sitter the cover of the book. 'Legend of Ole' was written in Abyssinian across the cover. "I have come across human descriptions in a lot of different old books about legends from other countries that the princess has in the library. So many legends across the world. It can only mean they stem from some of the same truths."

Cadence looked to the sky, "It's getting late. We should get you home."

"Thanks for taking us shopping Cady," Twilight hugged the pink mare.

"Your welcome Twilly," She returned Twilight's affections with a nuzzle.

'Thanks for getting me out of the garden,' Michigan croaked.

"Your welcome too Michigan," Cadence looked at the big green bullfrog still sitting on her butt as he slowly blinked.

"Thanks for bringing with you Cady," Twilight now nuzzled her big sister figure.

"He is your familiar Twilly," Cadence explained. "You're bonded together even if you two might not get along all the time. He can't stay away from you and will remain with you until you send him away or he passes on. I know Velvet doesn't care for frogs but you need to spend time with him and try and understand your bond."

"I like Michigan," Twilight patted the frog who just kept staring with a slow mismatched blink. "I wish he would sing more though."

"He'll do it when he wants to Twilly," Cadence shook her head knowing full well that the frog would do that when he wanted to. She then remembered she needs to pick up some cabbage. "Hang on a moment Twilly we need to get to some cabbage." She said noticing a nearby stall that had some fresh. Walking over she began to look over the selection.

A stallion was passing by looking over mares when a pink posture caught his attention. He started scheming and trotted over and adjusted his bow tie, if he had one. He was then stopped by the flat stare of a slow blinking bullfrog.

"What the?" The stallion tilted his head and the bullfrog croak. 'Get closer and see what happens,'

Of course, the stallion retracted and decided not to head the frog's warning and then notice the filly who was distracted by a book. Rolling his eyes he spoke up, "Excuse m-"

"Take a hike," Cadence said without even turning around. "You reek of cheap colon, have nearly twenty years on me, and iI have a clot friend already."

"But I-" He started.

"Michigan," the filly said. "Sick'em."

"You going... too sick a frog on me," The stallion chuckled as he bent over and poked the frog in the eye and he gave a slow blink, one eye after another. "What are you going to do?"

Michigan's eyes came together from facing opposite directions and came to rest on the stallion with a glare.

He croaked, 'I warned you.'

Michigan opened his mouth, "What?' The stallion tilted his head and then felt something hit his hit. Michigan had shot his long sticky tongue into the stallion eyes and when the Stallion realized this, "AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!" He yelled as he ran in circles with a big green frog flailing in the wind.

All the other ponies in the crowd merely stared while their foals laughed at the show..

"I must say I really like Michigan," Cadence giggled as did Twilight.

Little did they know their every move was being watched by masked ponies from every direction from the distant shadows...