//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: The Calm before the Storms // by Shieldheart204 //------------------------------// Chapter 5 The train station was mostly deserted, only about ten people were there, and only one was apparently traveling. As the morning Canterlot train stopped, several looked out the window to gaze at the town. But no one got out, the passengers stayed in their seats. "When you get to Canterlot could you say hi to my brother for me?" asked Twilight Sparkle as she hugged Princess Cadence. She paused for a second. "Oh, and please don't tell my brother about you-know-what. I really don't want him to come all the way back here to scold me." "Sure thing," she replied as she turned to look at the amethyst-eyed librarian. "But you have to promise me that you'll take care all right? And promise me that you'll think about you-know-what." Twilight merely nodded, and then did Princess Cadence grab her suitcase and entered the train. She waved goodbye as something caught Twilight's eye. She turned a quick gaze but she saw nothing. Dismissing this disturbance as a leaf, she returned to wave Cadence goodbye. Shield and Hawk Eye also waved goodbye, though their smiles were a little curious. Once the train was gone, Shield sighed heavily. "You can come out now Moon." he said calmly, turning his head afterwards to see a woman appear from thin air. Her body was clad in a dark blue cloak, which was tied together with a silver brooch right above her sternum. The rest of her pale-skinned body was relatively unclothed by comparison. She was wearing a white tank top bearing the black two-headed eagle of the Vanhoover Steel Legion. Her midriff was bare, revealing a well-toned stomach. Her hips were clad in black shorts, and she wore black sneakers. On her feet were two duffle bags marked with a silver raven, although each bag had a different color. There was a large and bulky red bag, a small but rather long bag painted in black. As this woman pulled her hood back she shook her dark blue hair, she scratched the light blue streaks near the center. Holstered to both sides of her hips were two odd pistols, and a steel rapier to her left. She turned to face Shield, disregarding Twilight Sparkle entirely. With a quick slap to his left cheek she jumped on him, wrapping her arms around him. As she jumped the librarian was able to notice that the belt had several small daggers holstered on the back. After this woman finished unlocking her arms she faced Hawk, and immediately hugged her as well. "I missed you so much little pup! But shouldn't you be back in Fenris finishing the school year?" The little girl managed to free herself, taking a deep breath before she answered: "The warden let me go, in fact she's staying in our new safe house." The woman with the blue hair sighed and turned to look at Twilight. "I am sorry for not properly introducing myself miss Twilight Sparkle," she said as she bowed. "I am Commissioner Moondancer of Hollow Shades, Leftenant of Hollow's Ranger Corps." Twilight began to ask this woman how she knew her, but immediately stopped. "Let me guess, Shining never shut up about me?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Moon chuckled. "Guess I don't have to explain myself after all. Good, makes things easier on everyone." "Were you hiding under a cameleloin cloak?" "Yeah, I wanted to see if Shield was still able to..." "Just admit you were hiding from Cadence." snorted Shield as he grabbed the two bags of luggage she had brought. "you might as well ask her to help you fix that enmity you have with Cady." Twilight's ears flickered at this comment. "You're in bad terms with Cadence? How is that even possible?" "Let´s just say that she never was part of our wolf pack. That and I may have gotten her into trouble due to a mischievous past that may or may not have included impersonating her in an attempt to raid Princess Celestia's personal Cake Vault. But if such an event did indeed occur then it was at least twelve years ago, plenty of time for a woman of her stature to just get over this bloody mess." said Moondancer as she veered her eyes to the sky. "So, seeing as though you don't have your handy-dandy DMR I think you got a part of my message." said Shield as he nudged the party to move away from the tracks and grabbed the red duffle bag. "Oh, I got the whole thing. That's why I'm unarmed, same as you." replied the lady. "And where's that apron-wearing oaf? He said he would be here to pick me up!" "Fire's back at the safe house finishing the last details on decoration and security." replied Hawk as she began her cheerful stride. "Maybe you can help us with Ed's nest, seeing as though brother will be too busy trying to train this lady right here." she then pointed her thumb at Twilight, who was walking behind her. This got Moondancer's attention as she grabbed the black duffle and placed it behind her right shoulder. "You serious? Shield's training her? But she's alive and well!" exclaimed Moon as she grinned at Shield. "We haven't started yet, I'm still giving her and her friend a chance to back down." responded Shield calmly as he looked at his phone. He chuckled for a moment before hurriedly typing his answer. "Apparently Amaranthe wants me to tell her what the team build will be." he chuckled. "Cute." "You haven't finished the builds yet?" asked Moon sarcastically. "You lazy sod! You're supposed to hand those by tomorrow!" "Oh, c'mon! Not like you weren't expecting me to not do them. We all know who's going anyways: us, Team Valkyrie and I was thinking of either Hammergeddon or The Ghosts." "And don't forget about me, I'll be going too." replied Twilight as she upped her pace to be on level with Shield. Her words stopped Moon on her tracks. "You? Why the bloody hell would you have to go?" she asked befuddled. "Because the kid who told you about the kidnapping just so happens to be my little brother." said the librarian. "So?" This time it was Twilight's turn to be perplexed. "So? Spike is extremely important to me, and I want to be there to make sure that nothing bad happens to him!" Moondancer seemed to contemplate the answer, but her face showed too much confusion for the student to think that she would be on her side. "I think I get it, but I don't want you getting mauled to death. Unless you get through crash course and somehow impress all of us, I won't let you drop out of that Albatross." She turned to look at Shield. "And I think I speak for all of the Wolf Pack when I say this." "I think we should talk about this later, for now she still has a long way to go." he said, turning his head toward Twilight. "For the meantime could you please call your friend Rarity and tell her she has about an hour to start the physical assessment to see how much work we have ahead of us." he said calmly. "So, what's gonna happen about Hawk? I imagine she's gonna move here with you." asked Moon. "Of course!" intervened thee girl as she happily jumped onto her brother's back. "I'd never leave my brother behind!" "I still have to make arrangements for the transfer, but that's the idea." he added as he tried to hold his sister. "But with her grades I'm sure it'll go smoothly, heck I'm sure her grades will get better." A second later he turned around to the sound of a bird crow. It was Edgar, his right leg was tied with a small message. with another caw the raven landed on his right shoulder. Shield untied the message and quickly read it. "Did you message your friend miss Twilight?" she shook her head. "Well, don't bother. Apparently your seamstress friend is already awaiting our arrival."