//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Ashy's Struggle 
// by ForgottenBliss 
//------------------------------//

	When we finally arrived at Joe's, I ordered a simple glazed donut.  My sister, however, went off and ordered all sorts of donuts.  I was almost done with mine when she got back.
"So," she began, apparently eager for me to get on with the news. "What's the news?"  I took a deep breath and began, telling all of the details from the time I boarded the train to the time we were bombed.  "Oh, geez," my sister gasped, the seriousness of the situation dawning on her.  "I-I uh, I don't know what to say..."  
"You could say, 'Okay, you can go now'?" I suggested.  
"B-but," she protested, a hurt look in her eyes. "We just got together."
"I know," I said, still urging the conversation forward.  "But I have somewhere to be that, and I mean no offense, is more important than sitting around gossiping and seeing the sites with my sister!"
"Fine," she replied.  She obviously felt hurt and I felt bad, truly.  But I really had somewhere to be.
"I'll see you when I'm done," I said over my shoulder.
"Promise?" she said, sounding more excited.  I stopped and turned to look at her, her face showing the same expression as her voice.  
"Promise." I replied firmly.  I then turned around and walked out of the diner.

As I walked up the street towards my boss's building, I had plenty of time to think about the things that had happened.  After careful thinking, I deduced that it must be my sister.  There is no other explanation.  Unless she was killed in action, Shadow is still out there.

I finally entered my boss's office and sat down.  "Ash Mist, my most prized assistant." he said as I came in.  I blushed with embarrassment and pride.  "What seems to be troubling you dear?"  he asked, apparently noticing the distant look in my eyes.
"Huh, what?" I said, confused.  I shook my head and started, "You called me here, sir."
"Ah, yes," he said, remembering that there was an actual reason for my being here.  I breathed a sigh of relief.  Even though I had explained the story to a lot of ponies, I wasn't ready to try to explain it to one more.  "I need you to travel to both the New Lunar Republic and the Solar Empire's headquarters."
"What, why?" I asked, thoroughly confused.
"We need to find out who sent that bomber." he replied indifferently.  I winced slightly at hearing Shadow referred to like that.  But you know it's true, I told myself.  You saw it with your own eyes.
"Yessir," I replied hastily and stepped out quickly.  I knew where I should start, the Solar Empire's HQ was here and so was my sister.  If they refused to hand over information, I knew she would.  With that, I exited the building and began the long walk all the way across town to the Empire's HQ, a.k.a, the Canterlot Castle.