When Ebony thought of espionage, she did not think of third-wheeling at clubs with a hopeless romantic and a playboy bartender. Or having the "Cock Tails" steamrolled down her throat like the time Elvira forced her to drink arsenic to build poison immunity.

This is so cliche, she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Dressed up in a tacky maid outfit, she itched at her stiff collar.

Remember, you are a maid by day and a dancer by night.

Ebony struggled to wrangle her hair into a bun, cursing mentally as the hair tie snapped.

One of two downsides of having long, thick hair. The other was people cutting, pulling out strand by strand, or burning it over an open flame. The Dusk family loved their pranks, after all.

She dug out another, preparing herself and stepping into the bustling kitchen. It was packed to the brim with other boys and girls.

Sweaty bodies pushing, pulling, chopping, barking. Calloused, dry hands. Dainty ones rubbed lychee pink.

There are 438 ways I could wreak havoc here. 120 people. 345 different ways to kill them. The chef's knives are 5 feet away on the counter. Bread knives 1 foot away. The cleaver knife an arm's length away. But kitchen scissors are closest, and I have impaled someone with them before-

"Hey! You there!" A raspy voice yelled.

No one here stood a chance against her. She could kill every single one of them without breaking a sweat.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Those dishes need washing. Get yourself a sponge and get the work before I kick your ass out of here and hand it to the princesses on a silver platter."

I prefer platinum. Ebony nodded and grabbed a particularly squishy sponge.

The next few hours came and passed while she laboured over icy cold water and ceramic dishes.

"How are your hands not cold?" The girl next to her inquired, her own hands taking on a bluish undertone.

"I'm from Montisima," Ebony shrugged. "We're used to the cold there."

"Where's that?"

"A small town a few miles east of the Crystal Empire," Ebony replied.

"Cool! I've lived here my whole life."

Montisima was actually much hotter than the Glaciera, the Song family empire's capital. Like its name, the entire city was encased in a giant glacier even further north than the Empire.

After a quick lunch of leftover bread and soup, Ebony switched to cooking. Chopping vegetables was perhaps the hardest. The cleaver was something Ebony stared enviously at. Out of all the weapons, it resembled a battle axe the most.

How I wish I could just try out that knife on these people, she sighed, wondering if her own pathetic chef's knife would be any good at chopping a few fingers without making a mess.

"What?" The boy next to her, Drago, demanded.

Don't gawk at the weapons. Tsk, tsk, Ebony. She could imagine her mother's voice chiding.

"Do you think that...."

Don't talk about murder. Tsk, tsk, Ebony.

"What about it?"

"Do you think we could switch jobs?" Ebony tried, hoping it would work.

"Whatever," Drago shrugged and slammed the bloodstained cleaver into her hand.

The blood smelled so satisfyingly scrumptious, and ten folds tastier than that pathetic...slave food. Even their family's prisoners of war were fed better than "lunch".

Suck it up, Assassin. Ebony blended in perfectly after that. There were a few social norms everyone followed. Everyone kept to themselves, the head chefs had first priority, and no one stabbed each other.

Minus the lack of stabbing, it was actually kind of fun.

"Day shift, get out of here!" The same weakened voice rasped.

A mob of angsty workers yearning to get out flooded the hallways and the little moving space there was originally disappeared. Shouldered against the counter by the crowd, Ebony's instincts turned on. She grabbed the knife and whirled around to face them, extending it.

"What's wrong with you?" Someone demanded.

"Stop taking up space!" A woman complained.

And a few very dirty curses her parents disapproved of were aimed at her.

After the masses exited, Ebony did too, collecting her pitiful payment and retrieving her bag from the storage area. She changed out of her maid uniform into an ice blue dress and black coat.

Canterlot Dance Academy. After tracking Chrissy for a week, she knew that she went here every other day from six to eight.

She needed to find something worth telling the Dusks. Nereza, Specter's half sister was not a patient one.

Goddamnit Ebony, can you give me something to work with?

Goddamnit Ebony, I'll give you something instead, ok? A grenade!

Goddamnit Ebony, the grenade's on it's way!

Ebony walked down the streets of Canterlot, finding a beige building with a picture of a ballerina. Above it read "Canterlot Dance Academy", if you could call it that. It was merely 3 small dance studios, a changing area and a shabby waiting room. All had seen better days.

After signing in and slipping into a pair of tights and a black leotard, she retied her hair and entered the dance studio. About 14 girls aged 16 to 18 sat in various stretching positions or tied their pointe shoe ribbons. Amongst them was Chrissy, resting rather comfortably in the splits and chatting away.

"May I join you guys?" Ebony asked, approaching them.

"Oh my gosh sure!" Chrissy beamed. "What's your name?"

"Evangelista, but you can call me Evie," Ebony answered.

"I'm Chrissy. Are you new here?"

"Yes, I moved here from Montisima a few weeks ago. It's a small village near the Empire," Ebony added for good measure.

"Wow! I've lived here my whole life. I've been going to this academy since I was five years old, I'm sure you'll love it!" Chrissy said, standing up and moving to one of the barres. "Madame Belidina is SUPER nice."

Ebony just smiled and took a spot behind Chrissy at the barre.

Be good but not too good. If the teacher asks for demonstrators, raise your hand ONCE.

"You're so good, Evie!" Chrissy complimented her.

"Thank you. Your turns look really nice," Ebony replied.

A small friendship bloomed between them as Chrissy and Ebony traded comments between exercises.

Before she knew it, the class was over.

"Wanna go hang out at a club with me and a few friends?" Chrissy offered.

"Sure," Ebony beamed, too happy. Stop. You look way too excited for a stupid gathering. She thought, catching a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror.

"Yay!" Chrissy linked her arm through her's, unsuspicious and carefree. "Let's go change!"

*****

The Sunset Spectacle was no Starry Nightclub, but it sure came close. The club was swathed in silks of orange, red and yellow. Lit by ornate torches that released flickering flames, it only highlighted the mystery of shadow dancers performing behind the silks.

After 20 minutes, Chrissy finally bounced out of the changing room like an energetic labrador, wearing an iridescent green dress and pumps. Her spiky turquoise bob was held in place by a rainbow butterfly clip.

"You look amazing, Evie! You're so pretty," Chrissy sighed enviously.

Ebony glanced down at her pale blue babydoll and stilettos. She fingered her silver bangles. Chrissy stared at her almost expectantly, eyes ravenous for something.

Right. When a magician girl gives you a compliment, you give one back OR ELSE.

"The rainbow butterfly clip really brings out the amber flecks in your eyes," Ebony blurted out. Shit! That was hazel!

Chrissy looked bewildered for a second, before her gaze melted into a twinkling smile. "Jet! Jet!" She waved frantically, catching a boy's attention.

Jet was tall and well-muscled, with unruly black hair and a mischievous grin. "Hey Chrissy." He stroked her hair a bit and she giggled, slapping his hand lightly.

"If you flirt with me too much, the boss will fire you for sleeping on the job," Chrissy warned playfully.

"It's worth it," Jet shrugged. "I'm gonna head over to the bar and serve some Tequilas before I piss everyone off."

She and Chrissy followed close behind, taking their seats at the bar.

"So, who's this lovely lady?" Jet stared at her intently, flashing her a small smile.

"This is my new friend Evie. I met her at dance today," Chrissy introduced her.

"Evie? That's not your real name," Jet replied.

I can whack him over the head with the gin bottle. I can start a fight. I can slit his throat.

"You're an Evangelista. An Evangelista by and by," Jet said, sliding a few beers across the counter to the group next to them.

"So, what do you like?"

Ebony blinked.

"An Ice Queen suits your austere personality, but you could do with a Princess. I could slip you a Goblet of Fire to thaw your cold heart. Maybe then you'll warm up to me," Jet whispered, leaning over the bar to look at her.

"I don't drink," Ebony muttered.

"Aw, it's your first time? You scared?" Jet teased.

"Don't worry, Jet chooses the perfect cocktails," Chrissy comforted her. "It's his talent. Along with flirting," she whispered.

"It's no surprise he's a player," Ebony said too loudly.

"Oh ho! So you think I mess around?" Jet sprinkled a handful of mint leaves onto a frothy green drink that he handed to Chrissy. "Well, we can play a serious game too. So, what's it gonna be?"

"I'm sorry, I said I don't drink," Ebony replied.

"Please, girl." Jet slid a white drink into her hands. "A Princess for a princess."

"I'm no princess. I'm a queen," Ebony retorted leaned into him.

"Come on, just have a drink," Chrissy almost begged her.

"I don't trust you." Ebony gently pushed the drink away.

A small crowd had gathered, wondering how it was going to play out. "Drink drink drink drink drink drink!" A group was chanting, shoving the drink back into Ebony's hands.

"I said I don't-"

"What, you fifteen? We won't tell," a man chimed in.

"A drink for a kiss!" A woman proposed.

Magicians always succumb to peer pressure. Just drink the goddamn "Cock Tail".

Ebony took a deep breath and chugged the entire thing. It was slightly piney, very creamy and sweet. Too sweet for her liking.

In a matter of seconds, the drink was gone, and she felt lightheaded.

"Where's that kiss, Evangelista?" Jet asked.

Chrissy was shifting from foot to foot, looking extremely uncomfortable.

Before Ebony could object, Jet pulled her in for one. Just go along with it. Pretend you like it.

"Perfect," Jet pulled away. Ebony immediately mouthed "sorry" to Chrissy. She couldn't risk severing their friendship.

After a moment of silence, they started chatting again. Ebony paid close attention to every word, picking up a few things here and there.

"How's Sombra been doing? I haven't seen him in forever," Chrissy exclaimed.

"Yeah, he spends all his time cooped up in the castle, probably hooking up with Princess Luna," Jet replied.

"Well, tell him to come visit soon, ok? What's he been so busy with, anyways?" Chrissy asked.

"I'm not supposed to tell people, but war developments," Jet leaned in to tell the girls.

War? WAR?!

"What do you mean?" Ebony asked.

"Equestria is going to war with the Dusks. We've already started preparing. They're spreading the word now, so try to help out in any way you can," Jet advised them.

That's when Ebony noticed the posters on the walls, advising young men and women to join the military. This was her chance! She could join, find out their tactics and send them to Nereza!

"But it's ages 18 and up," Jet finished.

Ebony growled internally. "Are you going to join?"

"Yes, I'm old enough," Jet said, pouring a bit of rum into a glass. "Girls, don't feel bad. There are still other ways to help out. You could help make weapons or sort armor-"

Perfect.

*********

Stumbling into her apartment and falling onto the table for support, Ebony cursed the malicious "Cock Tail" that poisoned her system.

A strangely bulky letter with the Dusk family crest greeted her.

Godammit Ebony,

Just freaking send us something already!!

The grenade is triggered to go off in 2 hours unless you give us SOMETHING useful. So, you might want to hand over that information.

Cruelest regards,

Nereza Dusk (and don't you dare call me Specter's half sister again).

Ebony stood there in shock for one minute, eyeing the silver purple grenade, which seemed to wink at her cheekily in the light.

Then, in a flourish of motions, she snatched a piece of parchment and got a pen, transcribing all her newfound information onto it.

"Even crueler regards, Ebony Song," Ebony finished. She then took her mini LetterPort, slipped the letter in and sent it.

Late that night, a purple-silver grenade landed on the outskirts of Canterlot, causing a bang and a majestic puff of smoke.

No one but Ebony was there to see it.

Hey guys! What did you think of the Ebony chapter? Please remember to vote and comment if you enjoyed it.