Author's Notes:

BOOK 1: PART 4: COMMITMENT

“Good morning,” Captain Marble Falls said. She was very chipper this morning. “Go eat. Free warm up and then we will hit the course. It is the same one.”

They ate fast and took off to warm up. Shadow did some sprints and then a few wing ups. He looked around for Cardinal Spitfire. She had finished eating first and then disappeared.

Shadow almost fell over as something landed on his back.

“Ready partner?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.

“Wing is feeling fine,” Shadow said looking up at her. “But we might need to switch sides in the formation to rest it. We will see.”

“Nah, I know you have it, I have it, our squad has it.

Shadow walked over to line up with the others. Cardinal Spitfire stayed on his back. It was weird, but not a problem.

“Cardinal Spitfire,” Captain Marble Falls said as she turned her attention to Unit 41. She stood there looking at Cardinal Spitfire and Shadow for a minute before continuing. “Cardinal Spitfire, you have lead.”

“YES!” She said launching herself off of Shadow's back. She did a front flip and landed right in front of the Captain. The Captain didn't look impressed and walked away.

“Stubnose bullet formation,” Cardinal Spitfire happily declared.

“A what?” Arrow said.

“Form up,” Cardinal Spitfire ordered. “Ignoring that Shadow and I are facing you.”

“In more,” Cardinal directed. “More. And there.”

They were right off each other's rear legs.

“That is the bullet. If you were to take two steps back, that would be a SP, or soft point. If we dropped it down to one at the front, then it would be spitzer. The final formation is putting one at the rear, in between the last two. That will make the boat tail.”

“What is up with the names?” Arrow asked.

“All different bullet types,” Shadow explained. “Depending on what you want the bullet to do, they have a shape for it. Below, the wasteland doesn't seem to keep track. What matters if it fits in the gun. For us, it usually won't matter as well. The QM or mission leads will make that call.”

“Back to the stubnose,” Cardinal Spitfire laughed. “Take two steps forward.”

“That gives us barely room to flap,” Chocolate said. “And if one spins out we all go out.”

“Yes,” Cardinal Spitfire admitted. “Trust us and you wont. If Shadow does a pitch fluter, you will elongate until he does it again. Same with me. These will help us adjust to varying winds and patterns.”

“Bullet formations?” Captain Marble Falls said walking over. “Tough, tough formations. Filly Foolers could handle it, but are you sure you are not overstepping things?”

“I hate being compared to them,” Flags groaned.

“I am confident Ma'am,” Cardinal Spitfire chirped. “Very confident.”

She was acting more like Arrow than her usual, focused and serious self.

Cardinal Spitfire turned her attention back to the squad. “One last piece you need to know. Shadow and I may switch lead. If I drop a bit, Shadow will pick it up. There is a good chance you won't notice the change. I can lead from any position. Filly Foolers figured that out. It is an invaluable trick.”

“We learned with them,” Shadow said. “But they went off to other trainings because they wanted to. Even though they were offered this school, they wanted what they joined up for. Silver Bar is becoming a mechanic. But you are all here for a reason. We handled the ground flight course the other day fine. More than fine. On every run except for my error.”

Shadow smiled. “Yes, Squad Filly Foolers was unlike anything anything seen here before. But it was all because of Cardinal Spitfire and our trust in her. We knew that if she made the call, we could do it. Same for here.”

“Lets do this,” Arrow agreed. “Worst thing that happens is that we epically fail! Right Flags?”

Flags sighed. “If you think I can handle it, then I will.”

Cardinal Spitfire smiled and turned around. On her mark, they began to move and then took off. They handled the first few patters fine. Cardinal Spitfire put them into a roll which slipped them through another. Speed was not the focus, which surprised the others.

Shadow called for and elongation and they slipped through. Challenge after challenge they twisted, turned, rolled and zagged, coming out the other side with ease. They had to fight through a tough crosswind. Cardinal Spitfire actually rolled each wing towards and through each other other halfway through, to switch who was taking the beating.

As they slipped through. Shadow pulled up and dropped back. They formed up into the boat tail and took the massive headwind on. Their wind resistance was dropped, making it easier to push through. Once they did, they dropped out formation as they came in to land on the flight deck.

“Interesting move Shadow,” Captain Marble Falls said with an eyebrow raised. “What made you adjust?”

“Last time we faced that headwind, there was no way one could shield the other. Now in a formation, we needed our strongest at the tip. We needed a real tip. Cardinal Spitfire is better, so I dropped back, adjusting out formation as a whole to more steam lined and it cut the stress on the others, making the formation as a whole easier to maintain.”

Captain Marble Falls walked away. “First time and you made it. The wind course has nothing more to teach you. We pick up after lunch.”

“Nothing more to teach us? Dipper asked. “I don't feel like it taught me anything?”

“Oh?” Cardinal Spitfire replied. “Think about how we pitch and roller to overcome patters on our own. Patterns that pulled you apart the day before. At hard winds, we shifted to give a break to the side that was getting pounded. You can not do what we did in a two pegasus team. A team must power through, but our Unit didn't fight the wind.”

“She is right,” Chocolate admitted. “It was tough, but not as bad as yesterday.”

“These winds would ground all teams,” Shadow reminded them. “The back half isn't supposed to be beaten. Yes, we did. And so will most of the Units by the day's end. This is ACS. Passing and grounding are two different games. Here it is controlled. We can be rescued and risk of injure is reduced. Outside here, failing will mean injuries, if we are lucky.”

“What will be after lunch?” Flags asked? “You seem to know everything Shadow.”

“No idea. Not a clue.” Shadow shook his head.

“Excuse me,” A corporal asked trotting over to them. “I just got transferred here recently and they sent me to deliver a letter. I think I am turned around. However, I am looking for a Shadow Flare.”

“You are looking at him,” Shadow smiled.

“Oh, then I have a letter for you,” She said extending it.

“Thank you,” Shadow said as he took it.”

The others pointed the Corporal back to the main camp.

“Well?” Arrow asked.

“A letter from home,” Shadow answered. “My Father's name. I am going to read this in the Unit.”

“A nap sounds good,” Flags said. “Unless that is a problem?”

“Not at all,” Shadow said as he began to walk to the unit.

Dear Son,

I am writing on behalf of the family and the community. Community first. They are all impressed as to how well you did. You have taken on such a responsibility and they all look up to you. You words have sparked great discussion about how to better farm. Even one more row of Parsnips from each farm will stack up fast.

Our differences are noted and the word is being spread around. Sky Breaker is working hard to build a stronger relationship between the farms here and the Enclave. We want to do our part. We got him to get the standard textbooks.

We will never let the stories go. They are as much apart of the community as our farms. Even with the textbooks, we will never be able to teach all that is 'required'. We have our foundation and it will not be shaken. We need hooves on the farm, not in the classroom. Black is going over everything and will be presenting a new school program for vote.

It will only make things better. Even being simple farmers, we need to be able to understand and work with ponies outside the community. Our harvests will be strong this year. Things are going well. Several deaths, but nothing that breaks a farm. Grandparents are passing as nature intended.

Your nickname has brought joy to this family and the community as a whole. It is prestigious, despite its start. The meeting house was filled with laughter as Cherry Tart launched into the whole story. It was a good end to a difficult meeting. We had read your letter and been discussing the differences. I also think it helped Early Blossom's and Cherry Tart's image.

Now to family. I am so happy that on their journey, Early Blossom and Cherry Tart were able to visit for the two days. It was good to hear them talk about you and your success. Your value to the community over self is impressive, to all when they heard. But it was agreed that number four, you need to own that with strong self pride. Like having a strong thriving farm that others look up to.

Cherry Tart is pregnant. They would not speak much about the rest of their trip. It makes total sense. I guess they chose a donor off of a list they had. I am a proud father. Confused, but proud. Some times things do not make sense and you just have to go with it.

Dream Catcher is seeing a nice stallion from El Nino. She met him while on a supplies run. He has yet to have the time to make the trip out to the farm, but I went with her the other day to town to meet him. He works at the local clinic and loves to care for ponies.

Dream Catcher has become a very important part of the community as a compassionate and kind healer who is very good at her job. She had learned a lot fast and she travels a lot because of it.

I bought her some medical book things to increase her knowledge and her healing garden now is as big as the barn. It covers all of the front of the house. We now have to follow established paths, which I hate, but this is not like that wheat infestation a few summers back. It is for helping others. It already has helped the family.

Spice Cake's marriage and leaving the house has made things quiet. We miss her, and she is always welcome, but the quiet is saddening. However, Lunar is carrying a foal. It will not be Dream Catcher's first time bringing a foal into their world. She has helped twice and led three more.

I know that your new home is with Early Blossom and Cherry Tart's farm. But know that when you do come home, you will always be welcomed. You are our son, forever. Nothing could take that away.

You are holding strong to your foundation and will not topple while you do. You have already proven you have not budged even a tad and it took you great places. Continue and you will do even more.

We all send our love,

Dad

P.S. I forgot to tell you just how amazing those cloaks are. They kept us warm all winter long and the rain we have gotten, only our hooves are getting wet. I would have ripped a regular cloak a few times, but this shows no sign of those incidences. Thank you again.

Shadow set the letter down. He was smiling and felt content. It was really good to hear from the family. It was a better felling that he expected.

“Good news?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.

“Yes,” Shadow smiled. “Things are going very well at home. My oldest sister Lunar is also pregnant and my younger sister has become an amazing healer. It is going to be a good harvest and they are having heated discussions on how to increase crop yield for the years to come. Among other great things.”

“Do they know all… you know?”

“Only that they visited me,” Shadow said.

“You know we are right here?” Flags pointed out.

“Sorry,” Shadow said.

“Whatever it is, I am glad she finally know,” Flags said angling his hat to better cover his eyes.

Shadow rolled onto his back and just enjoyed the time to relax. He wished there was more to write. Nothing had happened since his last letter. But that didn't meant he didn't mean he couldn't write.

Family,

Nothing else has really changed. I got a your letter and a little free time after we did better than our instructor expected. It was great to hear from you. It was great to hear that the community is still the same, even though they are realizing how things are different outside, and they are not letting it change their foundation.

I will not let them change mine either. I will take good pride in my individual placement. Especially since my battle buddy, Cardinal Spitfire, placed first. And now in my aerial combat training, they have us paired again and we have been tearing up the sky. We can read each other without speaking while we fly at speeds that few can achieve.

I love my new Unit in this school. We are all doing well together. If you can not trust your squadmates, you are in major trouble, like not helping another farm.

I am so happy that Dream is doing all that. I wish I could pull her in for a tight hug. I am thrilled for both Cherry Tart and Lunar Harvest. I can not wait to meet their fouls. I love the miracle of birth and the special time of pregnancy.

And hearing the cloaks have held out so well in their first year is wonderful and highly promising. But it is back to work for me.

Love,

Shadow

P.S. I was promoted to Sergeant.

Captain Marble Falls looked angry when they met her after lunch. Relaxed angry. “Since you all do so well with wind, I had to figure out what to do next. It is back to the reactive city scape. Filly Fooler's lead.”

“His lead?” Cardinal Spitfire said shocked.

“He will need it's lessons most,” The Captain responded. “I have it all set up. I am needed at the wind course.”

“Can you elaborate?” Cardinal Spitfire.

Captain Marble Falls sighed. “It is a direct simulation of the final run below the clouds. The only thing that could be added is bullets and explosives. Captain Nova helped design it from his experience. If he wants to survive, he will need to be able to make the choices on his own. His life and the life of his comrades depend on it.”

Shadow didn't give them a chance to ask any more questions as he took lead, forcing them to follow.

“How much do you know about this whole things?” Flags asked as the touched down at the start.

“Fast, bloody and chaotic,” Shadow said. “Two of six survived and the probability of them killing any of their attackers was next to nothing. They could barely spot any of them and despite their speed, they got cut to pieces. But that was scouts, not a direct landing force.”

The previous courses were not like this was. They often ended up circling around, using most of the course. Shadow kept them in tighter than Flags had. It made the difference, allowing them to pick up more speed. Many of the turns were jolting and tough, but they were now flying for their lives, not just doing it for skill training.

As they came out, Shadow made sure they dove and dodged, weaving them safely back to a good distance where it would be impossible to hit them. They came up and landed next to the Captain.

“Damn it Filly Fooler,” Captain Marble Falls growled. “You survived and with great speed.”

“I would say more than that.”

“Major Winters Breath,” Captain Marble Falls said. “I was not aware you were on your way here.”

“Nor was I until I decided the other day.”

The Major looked at Shadow thinking.

“Good choice on the armor Captain. I assume it was you.”

“Yes, it was.”

“Sir?” Cardinal Spitfire spoke up. “Have you been below?”

“No,” The Major replied.

“So, you are flying this mission blind.” Cardinal Spitfire stated.

“In way. But I am leading it based off the previous information gathered. Failure is the best teacher. In this case, it was very painful as well. We bled. That is what we are trying to fix. I think we are ready. But there is no one who can lead below the clouds right now. The individual had to back out. We have a few we are approaching.”

Cardinal Spitfire pushed things. “I understand that somepony, some pegasus, else is still active duty and went below the clouds. With Captain Nova.”

The Major looked at Shadow.

“Throw me out to lead, I had to confide with somepony,” Shadow said. “My wingmate and second needed to know why I was being tossed into leadership like I was. So I explained the balance. What would you have me do?”

“Do what you had to do and adapt,” Major Winters Breath finally said. “If she is going to be a Wonderbolt, she will need to learn discretion. But no harm was done. You both are too smart for that. Your squadmates are good too. As to the other, they are indisposed. They have made it clear they will only go below if their hoof is forced. For very understandable reasons.”

“But Shadow, How do you like the power armor?”

“I love it,” Shadow grinned. “So much better than the regular combat armors. It doesn't shift, its lighter and magnifies my movements, as well as protect my limbs. The two gun option is nice.”

“Good. I have a set ready for you. We are ready with that at least.”

“I have him for another 6 weeks,” Captain Marble Falls reminded him.

“Of course,” The Major replied. “You are the master. I lead. I do not teach for a reason. I look forward to the combat section. But I only meant ready with the armor. I need a new lieutenant.”

Major Winters Breath took off. Captain Marble Falls immediately glared at Cardinal Spitfire.

“Discretion,” The Captain said. “That was not discrete. You should not have spoken up in front of others.”

“I wanted to get Shadow more information,” She said holding her ground. “And I do not like him leading it. It is like a blind pegasus leading another blind pegasus. Except the first knows how to read braille and thinks he knows the way to go!”

“Enough,” Shadow said standing in between them. He was afraid of what Cardinal Spitfire might do. She had shifted into a state he had never seen before.

“I know more than you do. And yes, its got its blind moves, but they were worse off when they first sent teams below. I trust the Major with my life, and so should you.”

Cardinal Spitfire jumped when Captain Nova spoke. She had not seen him approach.

“We were truly blind then. The Major has a good plan, a good recon team assembled, with a new lieutenant being settled upon. Shadow Flare will more than be able to handle himself.”

“Thank you Sir,” Shadow said. “I know you never touched down, but that is very encouraging.”

“You look well today Sir,” Captain Marble Falls said.

“I feel much better today dear. Much better.”

Captain Nova looked at Shadow. “I know I never said that. I was a scout, but scouts touched down before recon did. Twenty-two missions I led, seven of those missions our team touched down. Our third mission was the first time Enclave hooves had touched down in almost 200 years. We took soil samples. Lost two good scouts on that mission. Both mares. That was the first Enclave blood spilled below. After that, my squadmates dropped like flies, no matter what armor we wore or what we did. I swear they target mares first.”

“I didn't know that about the other missions,” Captain Marble Falls said.

“Of course not. That would scare ponies and keep them from joining. The Enclave has a lot of mares in it. 35% of all direct combat roles last I checked. Once the real war begins, it won't matter. It only matters for scouts and recon.”

“Even then, the Council doesn't find it sufficient evidence. The do not trust my reports on what order my team died. The only conflicting report for order was the last one… a brand new recruit surviving it along with me. Every other time it was either not stated, or my wingmate backed me. I miss her. She would love you Shadow Flare.”

“Twenty two hot missions with what, another 5 years service prior?” Shadow asked.

“Ten, plus the five years of missions.”

“How many were lost?” Shadow followed up. “We all are going to be some of the first down if it happens while we serve.”

“Twelve recon teams totaling 102 ponies. The nine scout units that were shot out of the sky totaled 162. Another 84 scouts died and in my squads, I lost 68. In five years 416 Enclave soldiers died below the clouds. That is ignoring the 17 that died from radiation and the 42 that died from their wounds later.”

“Scouts was the hottest place to go despite the danger. Very difficult with all of the competition. When I say nine shot out of the sky, I mean all went down in essentially one go. In between, they led other missions and were constantly getting new recruits to fill the ranks. We had 15 new Scout Units ready to go when it all stopped. We put a lot of soldiers directly into the line of fire and paid the price for it on almost every mission.”

“Yet all twelve fucking Wonderbolt missions went off without a hitch,” Captain Nova grumbled.

“Twelve Wonderbolt missions?” Cardinal Spitfire asked shaking.

“Oh yeah,” Captain Nova chuckled. “You want Wonderbolts. Yes, they went below the clouds during that time. I do not think they have gone below since. But you need to stop being afraid. It does not back your skills or talk. Stand on your own. Courage is being afraid, but doing what has to be done despite fear.”

“Shadow? Are you afraid?” Captain Nova asked.

“No Sir,” Shadow said. “I am not. Simply because it is out of my control. I know that I am being prepared as best as possible. I am in this until the end. At least one mission below the clouds. Nowhere to go but forward.”

“That is either stupidity, or courage,” Captain Nova observed. “I lead towards the latter. But when are they due to begin combat training?”

Captain Marble Falls looked at her clipboard. “Snow in the morning and then rain in the afternoon tomorrow. The day after, ice. And then combat. We also have crowd control to teach.”

“A pity,” Captain Nova said before moving topics. “Shadow, how is your family with farming. I hear they are far out?”

Shadow related what they do and what they are trying to do with the information he sent them.”

“I like what you have been taught,” Captain Nova announced. “Hold to it like they say and you will only have to worry about luck. A tricky thing luck, but luck will always be your biggest opponent.”

“Thank you sir.”

“I have been watching Unit 41's progress,” Captain Nova said looking at all of them. “You all look better than good. And the luck factor is low.”

Captain Nova walked away.

“I didn't know he was watching,” Captain Marble Falls told them. “He actually is focused and happy. I haven't seen that in a long time.”

Shadow was looking at his guns. “You think this is going to be enough firepower?”

“The Major would be able to answer that,” Captain Marble Falls said. “It sounds like they have a plan and actual mission. And he said he had power armor for you. I would bet my left wing it is unlike any we have. Mission specific.”

“Are you ready to go below the clouds?” Cardinal Spitfire asked the Captain. “Being a Wonderbolt?”

“I am ready to do my duty,” She replied stoically. “And I am way down that list. They need me to teach so that others can go below.”

“Yesterday you faced blistering cold and then blinding rain,” Captain Marble Falls stated. “I bet you are glad I didn't reverse it.”

They all chuckled.

“This morning is ice. Ice grounds everypegasus. It is tricky to fight off small amounts, yet it is something we do not always have the luxury to avoid. Not in an Aerial Combat Unit. So I am going to ice you and then let you work out how to survive to get to safety. This time, it is purely survival based.”

Captain Marble Falls smile. “Somepegasus go!”

A dozen bolted but one from Unit 3 got airborne and hit the track first. In another minute, she was flown back and set down in front of them.

“Good,” The Captain said looking her over. “More than sufficient.”

“What do you see?”

Nopony answer so Shadow spoke up. “2mms on the tip of her wing, at least 5mm on the inside. Each feather has at least 0.5mm of ice. There is 6mm at the joint, blocking the fore…”

“Fuck you Filly Fooler,” Captain Marble Falls cursed. “Get up here and teach. I forgot you lived up north.”

Shadow went on to explain what is okay build up, where to watch out for, including other body parts. The mane freezing to a wing is a major concern. If your eyelids iced, then you had seeing problems. He continued on how to deice your body and wings properly and then how to do it in the air. He also covered where it was acceptable to let ice build up and how much.

“You turn Filly Fooler,” Captain Marble Falls said when Shadow was finished. “Hit the track!”

Shadow took a few running steps and then put on the breaks.

“I SAID GO!”

“One moment,” He said looking himself over and moving his armor.

“GO!”

“I can't. I know my body, not my armor.”

“You can't!” She screamed.

“GOT IT!” Shadow declared. He snapped his wings out all the way. The armor rang out clear and with a sickening sound as it sliced through the air.

Shadow took of as fast as he could and quickly disappeared in the snowstorm. They waited and nothing seemed to happen.

The ground shook as a frozen Shadow dropped down heavily behind the units. He whipped out his wings, sending shards of ice slicing into the ground. The units split as he slowly walked to the Captain.

Ice cracked and fell off in crystal clear chunks as he brought his hoof up to his mouth to remove his mask.

“I love this armor,” He said as he finished breaking off the ice. “This mask is great. The wings are flexible enough that I was able to deice them well enough. Like I said, I love this armor. Only way I could make it through. Can't just fly straight. I dipped, turned, rolled, zagged then zigged, balled myself up and then unrolled. It worked.”

“Damn it Filly Fooler,” Captain Marble Falls said with her head in her hoof. “I should have seen this coming.”

Shadow shrugged. “I barely made it. I am not exactly sure how I made it out. I was thoroughly iced at least three times that should have dropped me.”

“I know you know ice. I iced you hard in basic. Everypegasus else, go get iced out!”

They all dashed off to hit the track.

High pitched, genuine laughter rang out behind them after they were alone.

“Captain and Major,” Captain Marble Falls said.

“You really have a knack at slipping through the crack,” Captain Nova laughed.

“Captain Marble Falls, how long will the others be out there?” Major Winters Breath asked.

“All morning Sir.”

“Shadow, I have never flown with you, let's go.”

Shadow followed his lead and they took off. The Major had different plans as he nodded and slipped into wing position. Shadow began work him through the paces. He had to pull back a lot because the Major was not able to keep up.

Shadow leveled off and the Major slid up besides him.

“That was wonderful flying. Have you thought about the Wonderbolts?”

“I have trained hard, but my top speed still won't hit that marker. Its just not there for me. If I was bigger maybe.”

“You small size is an advantage. You wing strength is high and your small body means low drag.”

“Was there something else you wanted to speak about? If you wanted to see me fly, you had a lot of better opportunities before this random one.”

“You are blowing me away. I have not seen anypegasus push like you do. Come out on top so high, And yet, you don't do it alone, but can. It is more than admirable. General Red River saw things I could not. Still do not. But I do not teach for a reason.”

“Heck, I do not even have a background in this. I was tasked to rebuild the recon teams. I talked a lot with Captain Nova, and Marble Falls was no help. We have been rebuilding over 3 years. Marble Falls was offered my job, including Colonel rank. She told them to fuck off and joined the Wonderbolts.”

Shadow laughed. “I can see that happening.”

“Cardinal Spitfire is right, and I fear that. We just don't have an option.”

“Captain Nova spoke with us after you left. He told us the statistics, and how we have no choice. But he left praise with us all. Besides, Marble Falls makes an amazing teacher.”

“You have only seen that soft side. The other… well she hides a lot.”

The Major did some lazy rolls.

“Shadow, I know your performance, but how are you holding up? The others, I didn't have to worry about them being pushed like you are. You are in training and they are in jobs waiting to be officially ordered to assemble. Two of them are so bored they are working on trivial, useless shit and have been for two years.”

“I am fine. More than fine. I have been getting and sending letters to my family and to the community. They are going to figure out if they can plant more. They do not like the food… concerns that others have. They don't want others to suffer. They are proud of what I have been doing.”

“I am where I am because of them. And I will never forget that. A strong foundation makes a strong house. Forget who you are, and a simple house will never stand. I will end up back home in the end. I am no farming pony by their standards, but I see how I am more. I will just stay away from planting.”

“But two of my sisters are pregnant, the other is seeing somepony from the closest town. When she has the time. She has turned out to be an amazing healer and is kept busy across half the district. As far as I know, my last sister is doing well. Nothing to write about. I missed her wedding.”

“Shadow, what does family mean to you?”

Shadow thought for a few minutes. “I do not know. It means everything. Without it, I would be lost. Same with the community. I am doing this for so much more than I can explain. Not even for me. I made the best move for me within my family and community.”

“I was caught up on the family emergency.”

Shadow let out a sad laugh. “I miss them all. Early Blossom and Cherry Tart have a room, my room. From staying and helping them all the time I did. Whenever my duty is done, that is where I will go home to. It isn't far from my parents and sisters and it still is within the community.”

“Shadow, I have my own family. A wife and two colts. When I became an officer, my wife didn't sign back up. She didn't so we could all stay together. That was the goal until I was thrown onto this assignment and have been traveling so much. I get home when I can and even though it is stressful at times, I am not blamed. But it is hard. I miss them.”

“Still, I don't find identity in my family like you do. It makes it so you do things we thought impossible. Slicing up a twister, flying iced out, surviving day one. I just do not get it. I can't grasp it, but I can see and do all I can to help you with it. It isn't going to be an easy mission. A long one.”

“I didn't sign up for easy,” Shadow said. “I signed up to do what I am best at.”

“That has turned out to be a lot of things.”

“Isn't that better for recon?”

“Much, much better. But it would also make a lot of good jobs. You could probably get to Wonderbolts. Recon will only help that. I am glad I am not qualified for this mission. I know I would not make it. But I know that I am just a standard soldier, who was able to make it as an officer. I am not special, like the recon team.”

“We have armor that will make the Mark 4 seem like paper. We have newly designed weapons and all that you need for survival. And there is this program, E.F.S.”

“Captain Marble Falls already got me rolling on that.”

“Excellent. She has predicted my orders phenomenally. I wish I could get her to lead this fucking mission. It would be over a lot faster because of the soldier she is. You two are more alike than I can tell you.”

“We are friends. That has been openly defined between us.”

“Good, very good. But we got off where I was trying to head. Family is everything, but what about your family goals?”

“You have had us in training and hard training since the start. And separate goals… different schools… I have been told to plan and go for it. Things can work out, including stations.”

“What school did she end up at?”

“Does it matter? And you and I know that I am really not at ACS. This is all recon training.”

“You have a point about the training difference. We did… that leadership thing. You need a training device, like every other soldier. We are putting that to ACS since it was happening. But, are you going to at least give it a try with whoever it is?”

“Well… at this point… both sides are undecided. It is kind of hard to make a move when we are at separate schools and separate jobs after. I know I will not be going to a normal station, and soon after, will go below. She… will be normal. It makes it hard when there is no way to be together if we were together.”

“Good point, but I do not see either of you failing. I know what you were like with Cardinal Spitfire as your battle buddy. I know whoever she is, she has a strong head too. It can work, and you will not be down there for life.”

“The problem is our friendship. If we gamble and lose, the friendship is mixed up in that. I love her too much to do that to her.”

“Do you love her too much to make sure that it doesn't happen? Either way, its going to hurt. Lose the friendship, or live with regret?”

“Never thought of it that way.”

“Family means a lot to you.”

“And that would make her family.”

“Just to think about. If you start to crack, speak up.”

Shadow chuckled. “Captain Marble Falls will find out first. And probably sort me out quickly. She did the other day, but that is a story long gone and a lesson well learned.”

“We should get back. We have been out here a while and I know it is a flight.”

Shadow laughed. “Even with your speed, the flight deck is only five minutes that way!”

“Damn. I never was good at navigation.”

“Black Barracks. They made sure we had no weak points.”

“Yes, they did that very, very well.”

They turned and picked the pace. Shadow wanted to get his hooves on solid ground. And then think about the conversation. Shadow recognized the annoyingly familiar pegasus talking next to Captain Marble Falls. He left the major behind, flipped up and dead dropped.

Lieutenant Autumn Leaf jumped as Shadow came out of nowhere and appeared right next to the Captain and in his face.

“Whoops, a little too close,” Shadow said stepping back. “Still learning that.”

The Captain couldn't stop laughing.

“Alright Filly Fooler,” She said getting a grip on things. “Lunch and then prepare for combat training. And practice that aiming more. You were in motion so it was not straight down. ”

The others were in the mess hall eating.

“There you are!” Cardinal Spitfire smiled.

“The Major took me out for a flight, or well I took him. He is slow. He could not make it in ACS. It is a good thing he won't be groundside. Preparing a mission and leading it are not the same.”

“What did you talk about?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.

“Me. Me mostly. Just getting to know me. It has not been easy on me and he has not had the time to get to know me. He does think that in a few years, I might be able to make it as a Wonderbolt.”

“You are fast and an aerial acrobat,” Arrow pointed out.

“Are you fast enough, or can you become fast enough?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.

“Potentially. For now, recon.”

“Ready for combat?” Flags asked.

“More than ready,” Shadow smiled.