As much as I hate to do it, I'm going to have to delay it until Monday afternoon.

I know I promised you guys an update today, and I tried (I really did). Work, though, has made that all but impossible. Not without rushing and giving up the already-minute quality I try to preserve in my writing. I'll admit it... I got a little over-ambitious with that last announcement.

However, I would like to note that this does not in any way affect my resolution to bring you guys 3 chapters a month. There will be another chapter posted, besides this next one, before June is through.

Still, I has bad feels. As an apology, here, have a teaser:

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"Say," Shawn started, "something seem off to you?"

Pinkie floated, stock still except for her wings, which buzzed away, "What? Besides the fact that the aggressively rebellious daughter of the city's most powerful smuggler was last seen in the bar of its most infamous information dealer? And that both of them have ties to, and motivation to hate, the shadowy criminal overlord that rules its seedy underbelly with an iron hoof? And that the building's upside down?"

Shawn took a moment to mull that over, "Huh... I was actually going to say it's real quiet for an early evening at a bar. And you're the one upside down." A gentle push at the mare's head set her spinning on her axis.

"Wheeeeeeeeee! Now it's right side up! Now it's sideways! Now it's upside down again! Now its sideways the other way!"

The choice of whether to head inside the bar or stick around and listen to the narration of Pinkie's slow spin was an easy one.

Feeling bold, and more than a little tired of retracing his steps, Shawn kicked the swinging wooden door open and stepped in, "Hey, Softy! I need to ask you... a... question..."

It had taken a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dimness of the pub. But now, he could see that his shadow stretched across the length of the dirty, straw-covered floor and came to rest upon the gold-shod hooves of a very surprised captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard.

"Huh..."

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