"What do you mean some paper work got mixed up and now your the assistant captain of Celestia's royal guard?" Twilight asked Tempest. The now assistant captain of Celestia's royal guard Tempest Shadow was visiting her friend today and Flash Sentry was also there.

"Somehow, all the paper work to make me the captain properly got all jumbled up, so now some stallion earth pony who simply goes by the name 'Menace' is the captain over me but he's not as fitly built as I am." Tempest said.

"But how can paper work get mixed up like that? Who would stand to gain something like that?" Flash Sentry asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Tempest Shadow said. "I'm not complaining though. I actually get to be making all the public appearances. The menace dude is not all that social, and prefers to keep to himself. The stallion apparently is a war hero though. So I can't really do anything. All I can do is wait for him to step down so I can be the captain proper. It's no big. At least this way I can do some things for Equestria until this Menace guy has his term done." She explained.

"Still, makes me wonder how the paper work got mixed up. I thought you said Celestia was rigorous with paperwork Twily." Flash Sentry said.

"Like Tempest said: your guess is as good as mine." Twilight said.

Meanwhile...

"This could have ended in so much disaster. It's a good thing I'm here to make sure it didn't." Shade said as he burnt a few papers safely.

"It's whatever. Sometimes you just gotta roll with life's punches." Tempest said.

"You would know all about that huh?" Twilight said.

"True. Menace was also kind enough to let me keep the helmet you gave me. Plus, I also get to interact with you know who." Tempest said.

"You do realize this is my castle and that Spike is guarding the door right?" Twilight asked.

"Um...Twilight...did you forget? Spike is off getting stuff for his date with Sweetie Belle tomorrow." Flash Sentry spoke up.

"That's tomorrow? Wow...I thought that was in two days from now..." Twilight said.

"He mentioned the date happening tomorrow to us yesterday. When basically all of Ponyville heard Apple Bloom scream TWICE over early in the morning." Flash Sentry said.

"Oh right. He did mentioned that before he left to the Apple Family Reunion that was supposed to happen yesterday but instead had to happen today." Twilight said.

"Why was the reunion postponed? I may not be a big fan of reunions but I suppose family is family." Tempest said.

"Button Mash basically dumped Apple Bloom yesterday morning according to what information Applejack had Rainbow Dash tell me." Twilight said.

"And I've made sure the royal guards assigned to Ponyville know that Button Mash is forbidden from stepping foot into Sweet Apple Acres again. Plus, Applejack is helping Apple Bloom fill out a restraining order against Button Mash." Flash Sentry said.

"He must have upset that little girl something fierce." Tempest Shadow said.

"You bet that jerk ass did." A female voice called out. Seems the CMC, Rumble, and Spike were over. "...Sorry to interrupt Apple Bloom wanted to give you something." Diamond Tiara said.

"Here ya go Twilight and Flash." Apple Bloom said, handing out a filled out restraining order.

"You think you have enough guards to handle this? I could get Menace to send down a couple of pegasus soldiers if you need eyes in the sky." Tempest Shadow said.

"Actually the Sonicbolts are keeping an eye from the skies for us." Twilight said.

"Ah right. I forgot they had their HQ here. Seems like only yesterday it was properly authorized." Tempest Shadow said. "Oh wait a second, it WAS yesterday when that got properly authorized." She added before everyone shared in a laugh with her.

"Didn't think you'd actually make that seem so funny." Flash Sentry said.

"Heh...I'm trying." Tempest Shadow said.

"It's good to see you making good progress." Twilight said.

"Hey at least I'm making sure these royal guards are all up to snuff. I gotta get back. See ya around." Tempest Shadow said and left.

"What was she here for?" Scootaloo asked.

"Oh just some paper work got mixed up so now Tempest Shadow is the assitant captain of Celestia's guard.” Twilight said.

"...Mixed up Paperwork? I'll be right back." Scootaloo said and flew off.

"...What's she in a rush for?" Twilight asked. The entire rest of the CMC gang shrugged.

Scootaloo found Shade taking out the trash.

"That trash includes the original paper work that would've made Tempest Shadow Captain, doesn't it?" Scootaloo asked Shade.

"It's nothing personal; I'm just doing my job." Shade said.

"Your doing a lot more then that. That story you told me about the one who was put in charge of the royal guards. Your not just from any old version of Equestria are you Shade? Your from this one, aren't you?" Scootaloo asked.

"...Was it that obvious?" Shade asked.

"I figured you out Shade. Why else go through all these lengths of protecting me? Why else would you make sure a certain pony was made captain of Celestia's royal guard over Tempest Shadow? Why else would you be there as I dragged Ace across the finishline at the last Wonderbolt Cup race?" Scootaloo asked. "There's only one answer to all this that makes sense." She added.

"Then by all means, tell me the answer." Shade said.

"It's all so simple, I can't believe the answer is staring me in the face but I can't deny it any longer. Shade, for some reason around me you act different then you normally do. Like your emotionally attached to me. But that can't be right. The only reason you'd get that emotional with any sort of mission like this I bet is if your charge was someone very special to you." Scootaloo said.

"Figured that much out have you? What else have you figured out?" Shade asked.

"I've figured out who your mother is." Scootaloo said.

"You...you have?!" Shade exclaimed, sweating. Scootaloo went up to Shade and pulled him into a wing hug.

"Stop hiding yourself from your mother. That's an order. Or are you not going to listen to me?" Scootaloo asked.

"Huh? What do you..."

"Don't play dumb Shade. Your smarter then that." Scootaloo interrupted. "I figured it out: Your mother? It's me." She added.

"When? When did you figure it out?" Shade asked.

"I had my suspicions when you told me and my friends your story so easily and your whispering around my praise. But when my big sis told me you were at the last Wonderbolt Cup race to watch it, I knew right then and there, you knew exactly what was going to happen and you wanted to see if for yourself." Scootaloo said. "You wanted to see your own mother doing the kind of thing you've been doing ever since you first took up the monicre of Shade. I may not know who you really are Shade, but I want you to know, future son or not, I'm proud of you." She added.

"...Mom..." Shade said. "...Thank you..." He said.

"I'll keep this to myself for now, okay? And don't call me mom when we're in public. That's an order young man." Scootaloo said. Shade just laughed.

"...Some things haven't changed with you, you know? Even before your my mom, you still make sure I know your my mom and that whatever you say goes." Shade said.

"No more hiding though when we're alone together okay? But other then that, right now I'm not your mother. I'm just Scootaloo." Scootaloo said.

"Of course...Scootaloo." Shade said and the two pegasi hugged. "...Did you figure out who my father is yet?" Shade asked as they hugged.

"Mmm...I have a pretty good feeling." Scootaloo said. "But I don't want to jinx it until we're old enough to marry." She added.

"...That may come sooner then you think..." Shade said.

"Huh?" Scootaloo asked. "Right...forgot. Future." She added. "Wait, what do you mean sooner?" She asked.

"You don't mean you don't know? Acutally of course you wouldn't. I can't believe Aunty Shadow forgot to tell you. Well you'll find out tomorrow at a certain birthday party." Shade said. Scootaloo's eyes went wide.

"Rumble's birthday is tomorrow. I totally forgot! I gotta go grab him a gift like NOW!" Scootaloo said.

"You don't need one." Shade said but was not heard. "...You won't need one because your the one who will be getting a gift from him..." Shade added after Scootaloo could no longer hear him.

Author's Note

I'm just going to let that ending speak for itself.