Luna raised the sun, it was early morning and Knight Mist, Tal, And Randall were already getting to yell their lungs out at the very young volunteer soldiers. They will try and attempt to hold back due to the age of the trainees but Mist didn't see the point in training future soldiers if you can't go hard on them. Dawn was still asleep, Shadow was already up getting ready to Shining Water then to head to the griffon territory in the southeast to get some answers about the siege. If all goes well Canterlot will have an army large enough to combat the Changeling army under Garren's command.

The others like Seng, Aero, Bladedancer, Cloudfire, Flood, Hail, and Fyn Cour will be aiding in the training of the juveniles. Prior to this day, the RAK division saw growth among those seven and awarded them a rank one level higher. Seng, Hail, Cloudfire, and Aero were promoted to bronze-silver. Bladedancer and Flood were promoted to bronze-gold. Shadow already had a large amount of command over them due to his relationship with the princesses and his superb combat skills as well as the control of life.

Knight Athen's armor was now finished with it's remake. It now had a open area on the sides for the wings of Knight Black Soul. It was cleaned and polished with so much effort that it looked like as if it were new. It was fitted with a holster for the spear on the right side below the wing opening. It covered the cutie mark and a small portion of the lower neck. The spear was also remade. The point was smooth and sharp on one side, a single barb on the other. Wrench reinforced the bottom part of the spearhead to prevent it from falling off of the staff. Shadow is going to teach Soul how to use the spear as he did many years ago.

Luna was resting in the infirmary and she hoisted the sun. She slept by her sister's side. Celestia had her own room while Lancer, Storm, and Tint shared one. Iril and Gandore stopped by frequently to see if the four had any signs of movement. So far their visits were futile, none of them made a move. They knew they were still alive because they would put on stethoscope to their chest and hear a very faint beat. They all wondered when they will wake.

Shadow knew 81 would not be enough, he knew his former teacher well. He knew that Garren with have many forces behind him. Shadow needed to find out what Garren had with him but he didn't know how to. If the scouting division went and they got captured Shadow wouldn't know what to do if they were killed. He needed to find out himself.

Garren was at a beach at Fallen Star with a mirror. The beach was calm waves and the air was moist, the cool air seemed to relax Garren. He stood on the beach silent. He whistled and two Changelings came over dragging a covered rectangular object, on a gesture from Garren they unveiled a door. It was stood up against a nearby boulder, then a few minutes later it opened on it's own. Lacoden walked through the door and joined Garren on the beach.

"It's done." she said. She still had her black hood on.

"How is the other end holding up?" Garren asked.

Lacoden answered,"I had the rest of the Changelings there at the warehouse guard it until it was time. Too bad it's only a one way."

"We will head back to the mainland in a few weeks. We still have to get our three-headed slave."

"He won't be easy to control."

"I am aware of that. We can lure that dog out of it's hole."

"He is not dumb. He will not leave his post for any reason."

"We can get some of the demons within the underworld to use our passage to get out."

"Those demons and monsters within are there for a reason. They shall not be allowed to see daylight. They are far too dangerous."

"We will send those fiends back in once he is out."

"Okay. After that, how long will you plan on having him out?"

"Until we have Equestria in our control."

"How long will that take? Shadow will not be going down easily. By the time we take Equestria it can be overrun with powerful fiends."

"You forget. If they get out before we defeat Shadow and do overrun it, we will be activate the crystal eliminating all of them. He can go back to his place in the underworld once we have done that. Plus, we will have the powers of mercy, love, and life in our possession."

"With all 6 we can rule all we want."

"Yes but there are a few more steps to take before. Are you ready?"

Garren and Lacoden went to the base of the center mountain. They entered and stared into the crystal's shine. The area around them lost color and light.

It was 8 AM and the 81 who volunteered met where scheduled. Knight Mist, Randall, and Tal were in each in charge of 20 leaving 21 left. The other 21 left were left under the command of Bladedancer and Flood. Since they both are still unfamiliar with the training Knight Black Soul will brief them on what to do with the few hours she has until departing with Dawn and Shadow. Shadow will oversee the progress of the training when he returns.

In front of the orphanage, where the first meeting was to be met, all 81 were already there wide awake just chattering among each other.

"Alright everypony line up side by side." ordered Randall. She was wearing her gold-silver armor."I will be in charge of twenty of you so will Knight Tal and Knight Mist. The rest of you will be under the command of Bladedancer and Flood. Any questions?" none made a sound."Good. Knight Mist the floor is yours."

She too was wearing gold-silver armor,"I have been ordered to train you as hard as you can. Most of you may be too young to endure this kind of training. I will be generous and offer a very last chance to get out." none stepped out of place,"None of you have any parents so that means you can't go home and cry. We will be your parents from now on. You all will be treated as adults. Can I get a "Sir yes sir!"?"

"Sir yes sir!" they shouted. Something caught Mist's attention.

"One of you said "ma'am"." she walked to the left of the line."It was you wasn't it?" she asked the shaking mare.

"No ma'...I mean.., sir!" she replied.

"You did it again! Until you earn my rank or my respect you will not address me as "sir"! Is that clear?!" she shouted.

"Sir yes sir!"

"Give me 50 laps around the frontier!" The frontier was roughly the size of a medium-sized town adding a few yards on the perimeter. The mare obeyed her orders an started. Mist heard somepony laugh, she walked to the laughing colt. The colt stopped and stood still like a mountain,"What the heck is so damn funny?"

"Sir nothing sir."

"No tell me. I would like a good laugh."

"Sir it's nothing sir!"

"Join her!" she ordered.

The colt started up and said under his breath trying to be unheard,"Damn it."

"What was that?"

"Sir nothing sir."

"Get out of my face! Knight Tal your turn."

"Thank you Knight Mist. Alright the rest of you join them, no flying. If you are caught you will be doing double. Finish before Knight Black Soul arrives!" the rest followed. Knight Tal, Randall, and Mist discussed their brief judgement on them.

"Mist you were very harsh on the first two." said Randall.

Mist replied,"This is easy, once we're at Fallen Star fighting Changelings they will thank me."

"Damn Changelings." said Tal,"They are weak but grow large in numbers. We will have to make sure each one can fight 15."

"Not 15. 25. Aim high, you go high." Randall said cheerfully.

Shadow woke up Dawn, she was in her suite, so they can oversee the beginning of the 81 recruits before they depart. Shadow packed a hoof-sword and hoof-blade for protection. He spoke to Dawn.

"Dawn are you ready?"

"Yes dad."

"Are you certain?"

Dawn groaned,"Yes I'm not a filly anymore."

"If you say so, I'll check on Soul."

As his muzzle went halfway through the door Dawn asked,"How come I didn't get sick?"

"Excuse me?" Shadow turned around.

"You know, sick? When we were immortal we couldn't get sick. I don't remember getting sick at all. Why is that?"

Shadow took a deep breath,"Come sit." He patted the bed."Every time you were sick your mother was there. You don't remember this be-"

"Because you had every memory of mother erased. Is there anyway I can remember her?"

"Possibly. Excaelum may be able to help."

Excaelum was held in the biggest hall the castle had, in the center of the castle. Shadow and Dawn went to him with their stuff. He was asleep.

"Excaelum are you awake?" asked Shadow.

"I've been for awhile."

"Why haven't you- you haven't moved one bit."

"I am afraid." Excaelum didn't seem to realize what he said.

"Why?"

Excaelum caught his tongue,"Nothing. What is it?"

"The golden dragon, she saw your memories after the assault."

"Her name is Chronin." He still had his head down and his eyes closed.

"Is it possible for her to make Dawn remember her lost memories?"

"I know not enough of her power to tell you. I can ask her when she is near."

"Thank you. So, what are you going to do while we are gone?"

"Strengthen my mind, my power."

"We have to leave soon."

Excaelum lifted his sharp head, opened his light-blue eyes, and looked to Shadow,"Take care my friend."

"Thank you." Shadow smiled,"Ready Dawn?"

"Yes. Bye Excaelum."

"Take care of your father." Excaelum replied as they walked away. He put his head back down and closed his eyes.

Shadow and Dawn then went to the infirmary. Luna was beside Celestia.

"Luna are you alright?" Dawn asked, she dropped her things and went to her."You look beat."

"I am." Luna could barely hold her eyelids up.

"Oh Luna." said Shadow,"Go eat something, wash up. We will be here until you are done. Iril!" he called.

Iril was always near the princesses,"Yes Shadow?"

"Can you help Luna? I believe she can use some much needed rest and eat much hungered fruit."

"Of course." Iril walked to Luna,"Come on. They can watch her." Luna had a difficult time moving and she almost fell but Iril caught her,"Easy now."

"Wait I'll go to." said Dawn," Wait here dad."

"Take your time."

Shadow was left alone in the room; Celestia was breathing lightly. He stood by her side for a long time. He stayed alert, aware of his surroundings. He feared Garren may show up and finish her off. Of course that didn't happen. Gandore entered the room.

"How is she doing?" she asked.

"Well. How are the others?"

"Fyn Cour is in there right now checking on them. How are your preparations for your journey?"

"It'll take a few days to get to Shining Water and even more to get to griffon country."

"You have to cross back to here to get there. It is in the southeast is it not."

"Yes it is but I am planning detours to different parts of Equestria so I don't think we will be back anytime soon. Maybe two months, give or take a few weeks."

"Three months?? Are you planning on bringing an army with you on your way back?"

Shadow gave her an odd look,"Would that be a problem Gandore?"

"We need all we can to get that bastard back."

"Speaking of which. Would you like to make your own military division of unicorns?"

"What?"

"Obviously we're not all pegasi. We need teachers for unicorns and earth ponies as well. I figured you can teach unicorns."

"Do the others know about this?"

"Nope. Just came to me right now. I can ask the others if they want another group for the ground."

"I'll do it."

In the other infirmary room Fyn Cour was checking on the three."Come on boys we can't have you like this forever." she said to the sleeping audience.

"How are they?"

"Soul you scared me. They are doing fine."

Soul walked further into the room by Storm's side,"I trust you will take care of them in my absence."

"Yes. Why wouldn't I?"

One day a little filly was flying through a market to get back home, she made a small turn and hit a sign hanging down and fell. A group of children approached her. One of them approached her, he had a cyan coat and a mane and tail that were a dark teal. He said, "You can't even fly straight you're pathetic." Some bully taunted, the little filly started to cry,"Oh I'm sorry let me help you up." he reached for the crying pegasus and as she reached to help herself up the bully pushed her down,"Hey boys she actually thinks I care about her." Their ugly faces laughed.

"Leave her alone Tornado."

"Storm my little brother. How about you come and make me?"

This Storm was tiny compared to his bulky brother. He was gray-coated. His mane and tail were dark-red. He said to his brother,"Father isn't going to be happy with you bullying other kids around."

"Father? He doesn't care about you. He hits you like he used to hit mother."

Storm flew to his brother and tried to fight him. His brother's friends jumped Storm and left him bruised on the muddy ground. The little girl that Tornado was shoving around went to Storm and asked,"Are you okay? Let me help yo-"

"I don't need your help! Mother said that I am big enough to care of myself and that I didn't need her anymore." Storm flew off, low to the ground. The small filly followed flying weakly but she got closer.

"Wait! Let me....thank you. We can be friends"

Storm pushed the filly down to the ground in front of everypony and said,"No! I don't want a stupid girl like you to be my friend."

"Just asking. It's just me and Storm took care of each other for so long, ever since the day we met."

"Don't worry I won't let anypony hurt him."

"Well I have to leave now. I need to check on our 1st regiment."

"Have a safe journey Soul."

"Thank you, Fyn."

Soul was walking through the hallway where she bumped into Cloudfire, he seemed to be in a rush because he didn't even feel Soul.

"Cloudfire what's wrong?"

"Soul! Ummm.... I am just looking for Shadow. Do you know where he is by any chance?"

"No. What is it?"

"Oh it's just that she asked me to relay a message over to him. Shadow!"

A couple doors down they heard,"In here!"

They both went to the reply.

"Ah Cloudfire." Shadow said. Gandore wasn't there anymore.

"Shadow you may not be happy with this but Dawn said she wants to stay." he replied.

"Why wouldn't I be happ-What? Why?"

"She said Luna needs her here."

"Oh I see. Soul are you still tagging along? I can't stand it if I was the only one going."

"So your daughter calls the shots now?" Soul chuckled,"Of course I'll go, it might be fun."

"Oh haha. Ready to be off then?"

"Yeah."

"Cloudfire stay here."

"But I'm supposed to help Mist."

"Well doesn't that suck." Shadow laughed and left the room and entered the hallway, Soul followed with a smile.

Cloudfire shouted,"That's not funny! She'll kill me!"

He heard a reply,"Say your prayers then!"

Cloudfire turned to Celestia and said in a lower volume,"It's not funny."

Shadow said his goodbyes to Fyn Cour, Dawn, Iril, and Luna. They went to the main entrance to the castle where Dali was waiting. Soul had her things waiting there as well.

"Mailmare what are you doing?" Soul asked.

"Oh. I got confirmation that a group of ponies from Fort Reiner are going to be arriving in a day or two to join."

"That's good, you can be off now."

Shadow and Soul went to the frontier and met up with Mist, Randall, and Tal.

Shadow asked,"How is it going?"

"You are early. Where's your daughter?" Randall answered.

"She's staying."

Mist said,"We are doing fine. I hope you two have a fine journey." Mist turned her attention elsewhere,"These idiots are so slow." Mist caught up with some of the recruits and started yelling at them,"HURRY UP! I'LL BE ON A WALKER BY THE TIME YOU'RE DONE!"

Tal chuckled,"Some farewell."

"I know. You three have some more volunteers coming here." said Soul.

Randall exclaimed,"We got lots of help here anyway."

"We should be off now. The faster we leave the faster we can return." Shadow said.

"Right, bye you two and make sure Mist doesn't kill any of them." Soul said.

Shadow and Black Soul set off for their long journey to Shining Water hoping to return with an army able to take on Garren's.

Author's Notes:

http://mlpforums.com/topic/77951-the-ballad-of-solar-flare-part-1-re-polished-out-now/
This is a fanfic I am helping write. Check it out leave comments, suggestions, and/or questions.