Author's Notes:

BOOK 1: PART 4: COMMITMENT

“Nice and early,” Captain Marble Falls smiled as they filed out of their unit at 0558. She was wearing heavy combat armor. The guns on the side were unfamiliar and had no magazine slots. They had to be simulated or converted magic rifles for training.

“I must say, you pissed my superiors off. You crushed their tests, with no casualties and you caught us once with our pants down, the other you found a secondary objective.”

“Do we have a word on that object Ma'am?” Arrow asked.

“Nope and I do not expect to get one. However, from the description Captain Nova gave me, we believe it was unexploded ordnance from a Cloudship exercise done around here back about 35 years ago.”

“Are you saying I carried a bomb on my back for 40 miles?” Shadow asked annoyed.

“Yes.” Captain Marble Falls said flatly. “And twice your size. I think It was a 250lb one too. Can't pull, but you trudge on. And good thing it didn't go off. All of you would have been lost. A real big shame considering all six of your skill levels. But, it is now clear of the training ground and won't kill others.”

“When did we catch them off guard?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.

“Scouting the camp,” The Captain replied. “That was our bad, but your gain. We had too many there.”

Captain Marble Falls examined all of them.

“Shadow, get in your power armor. We will provide you with new guns.”

Shadow didn't reply. He just rushed it, tossing his gear in the general direction of his locker. He was back out in two minutes.

“Okay. We are going to be running pretty strict maneuvers. It is all choreographed and you have three days to learn your part. Then we will put it to use against the other Units. The one leading their side is going to be Captain Nova. They will be given specific orders designed around them working as a team. Captain Nova will not be present, but on their coms to give orders. Just like their commander would be doing in real combat.”

“Okay,” Shadow nodded. “But my armor?”

“Going to fuck with them,” Captain Marble Falls smiled. “Below, old pony armor is still being used. Including very, very powerful power armor with amazing E.F.S. mods. You will be simulating that. Make full use of your E.F.S.”

Shadow's smile matched the Captain's.

“Lets head out. You get to join the rest of us in tents and eating field rations. We have it all prepared.”

“Just like old times Captain,” Cardinal Spitfire laughed.

“Better,” Captain Marble Falls beamed.

It was a long flight out. Their camp was set back and out of the way of the planned exercises. It was all wooded clouds with random cloud structures dotting the way as they flew. They got there a little past noon.

“Lieutenant Tuff!” Flags said as they touched down. “It is really good to see you.”

“Same to all of you,” Lieutenant Tuff replied. “You have done an amazing job. More than amazing.”

“So Captain, this is your power team?” A stallion in the same armor and weapons as the Captain said coming up.

“Depends on when Major. Current, yes.”

Each of them saluted and introduced themselves.

“I am Major Windstone Hill. Drop the Hill. I am the major over half of the Wonderbolts, so bring your A game Specialist Cardinal Spitfire. Sergeant Filly Fooler, how do you like that Mark 4 armor?”

“I love it,” Shadow replied. “But this is the first set I have tried Ma'am, so I can not compare it.”

“Every ACS school faces off against Wonderbolts for the final test. They just do not know it,” The Major stated. “We have 15 squads, plus you. Almost all of my Wonderbolts. It is all fun and games. They shoot us, we shoot them. We do our job, but getting hit isn't a big deal.”

“Our job is to look and act like what the scum below look like. Disorganized, bloodthirsty shit heads who act on their own accord, even in a group, to attempt to gain power through violence. You should have gotten a look at that yesterday. Or just act like you were in basic during the first few weeks. Both work.”

“Sounds easy enough,” Arrow said.

“Sergeant Filly Fooler has the easiest, the hardest and the most fun job,” The Major chuckled. “We always run raging raiders hopped up on chems who take a lot of shots to put down. Now we get a real tank alongside a few of them.”

“You won't go down, but you can't show yourself too soon, or too late. We will give you more specific orders when that time comes. We know what orders their officer is giving them. So, lets get you your special weapons and we can start this first run through.”

They took Shadow to their makeshift armory. “We are giving you a minigun and my personal favorite, the EMG 76-2.”

“I love the EMG 55-6,” Shadow smiled. “The Captain had me load out with it for my weapons training. The 76-2 will be awesome.”

“I assume she taught you the minigun as well?”

“Yes Ma'am,” Shadow said.

They put the minigun on Shadow's right to make it his primary weapon. Shadow tested his movement with both guns, including some aerial acrobatics.

“Can he keep that up at high speeds?” The Major asked Captain Marble Falls.

“Yeah. He can. He just is shy speed wise. Cardinal Spitfire can hit the speed, but she could not handle that heavy set up. They both have the high agility skills. Every time I test Unit 41, the two of them hang on. I can usually boot Cardinal Spitfire after an hour and a half, but Shadow is way to good at reading me. I just pick up speed and he falls behind.”

“I would say we could get more out of him,” The Major observed. “But I do not think his body can do any more.”

“I flip flop on that, depending on the hour,” The Captain responded. “But now this is interesting. I have never seen him do his acrobatics in power armor.”

Shadow did six back flips in a row and called it quits since he was losing balance.

“Even with giant guns,” Cardinal Spitfire said shaking her head.

“Alright 41,” Captain Marble Falls called. “Let me show you to your tent and then we will set up and begin our dry runs.”

“When you said tent, you meant tent,” Arrow said impressed.

It was a large enough tent that it easily held six cots.

“Yeah, this is a real field tent, not your combat tents you learned in Basic. This and more are what you get behind the lines. But now that you know where it is, off to the tactical tent.”

The tactical tent was much larger. There were simple cloud stools for everypegasus to sit on, except Shadow who would just crush one in his armor. At least the armor locked up into standing so he could relax and even sleep decently in it.

The Major went over their line and basic commands. They knew all the objects and expected timing for each actions. They would get more reactive when it came to the actual test as squads succeeded or failed objectives. The big thing was knowing where the objectives were and what they were expected to do.

They would be retreating since the objective was for the Aerial Combat Units to drop in and secure the line while waiting for soldiers to come in behind them. Their vests would be adjusted so that they each would get three hits before they got a small jolt. Those recharged after a while and even had a reset button.

Shadow was going to be placed at the center and work on holding a very key objective. His agility was going to be a plus, allowing him to shoot up at angles to take out flying trainees.

“Being on this side will be interesting,” Cardinal Spitfire said to Shadow.

“Maybe for you. I just get to shoot with more firepower than they have combined. And I get to watch them be pissed off at not killing me. And then I get to go back and face them.”

“Touche,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “What can that thing really do?”

Shadow stopped, chuckling. “Arrow, stop where you are.”

“Okay, why?”

Both guns opened up. Arrow was on the ground immediately and Shadow just kept the light show going. The lasers were not all on the same point. They were more like a shotgun blast hitting a dozen place at once before switching to another dozen and on and on.

“WE GET IT!” Arrow called out.

Shadow stopped shooting and Cardinal Spitfire joined him in laughing. Flags helped Arrow up and they continued to their destination.

“Blame me,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “I asked for a demonstration.”

“Like that gun Specialist?” Major Windstone asked.

“Yes Sir, I do not think I could handle them bolted to my side, but it looks like fun.”

“It is even more fun with real ammo. The other side you put the ammo and then you have at least 500 rounds. Less than a minute of fun. But totally worth it.”

“The Wonderbolts use miniguns?”

“Not typically, but we are trained to use them, because why not?”

“A lot more goes on with you than anypony realizes.”

Cardinal Spitfire froze.

She was confused with Major Windstone laughing.

“I heard about him getting to Mable Falls before, but damn. He is so lucky his job is in recon. Otherwise he would be in trouble. And being his teammate since the beginning, it has been noted for you. And for your group of friends. For your whole barracks actually. I know even General Red River made a mistake at your graduation because of him.”

“I bet it is really tough dating him too,” The Major said quietly.

“Dating?” Cardinal Spitfire said shaking her head in confusion.

“You two are not dating?”

“Personally, I found it best not to risk the team's integrity during all stages of our Basic Training,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “I never said anything to him about anything. We didn't know he was going to end up at ACS.”

“Nothing over leave?”

“Have you read his file? His community frowns so much upon that, even if they blew it all up and destroyed his whole family, he would still find it too shameful to do anything outside of marriage. He holds to his values.”

Cardinal Spitfire began to laugh. “It does not fit his stature.”

“I have not paid much attention to him,” The Major admitted. “But a lot of recruits who run so close and end up on leave together end up doing stuff. Sometimes not smart and getting a foul going.

“Well, now he is going off… somewhere and I am going… somewhere. Here I guess. Shadow thinks all ACUs are being recalled.”

“Interesting choices for your personalities. I hope for your sake it isn't a mistake, but I get the chaos and caution. And he thinks that? Based on what?”

“The training orders coming from Scout Command,” Cardinal Spitfire answered. “He thinks Scouts are going to be formed.”

“Damn. The bastard figured that off a fucking fake order? I would go kick his ass, but I am not in power armor and I would rather not test the rumors I have heard.”

“So we all are becoming Scouts?”

“Just a reshuffling,” Major Windstone assured her. “Some will become Scouts, most will stay ACUs. Scouts are still ACUs. It will be an interesting ordeal, but Colonel Nova has a plan. It does include personal choice.”

“Wait, he is a Colonel now?”

“Yes, but for the purposes of training, it won't be known until after the school and he officially becomes active duty again. He is the best for the job. He threw himself into their arms begging for it, from what I hear.”

“Knowing his history,” Cardinal Spitfire shrugged. “A really good pick. He doesn't want soldiers to die, best to pass on his first hoof knowledge and know they got the best.”

“Alright 41, halt,” Major Windstone said ending their talk. “This cloud building is what they are going to have to take. Two stories, she is all yours to hold. You will not give this up. If they bite, we really get to zap them all. This is the keystone to both of our operations.”

“I can wait in the bottom floor and just walk out of the doorway when the time comes,” Shadow suggested. “Let them get settled in a bit before destroying them.”

“We are all going to die before you come out,” Arrow said sarcastically.

“Actually, I was thinking something opposite,” Shadow chuckled. “There is an objective point for them to get that you will be dealing with further ahead. Let them chase you off and don't fight for the tower. Then as I start going, come back and reinforce me. They will be expecting reinforcements, or should be, but not see me coming at all.”

“Solid plan,” Flags agreed. “And I think they will fall for it.”

“Not a bad one Sergeant,” Major Windstone praised. “Just make sure you all remember your hits and how to use this area. Now, lets roll up forward, letting the Sergeant learn it and see if he has some better ideas.”

“This is it? Chocolate asked. “Just a few tufts of clouds?”

“Yep,” The Major replied.

“Three will post up here, relaxing,” Flags decided. “The other two can stay back a bit in the cover. They come in, shooting, we can run and the other two can give us cover fire. Fight for it if we are given the opportunity to or just roll back.”

“I know what happened when a single instructor came at us one training,” Dipper commented. “We bolted. So sounds good. I will take watch. Chocolate and Cardinal Spitfire are the best shooters, so they should give us cover fire.”

They found the plan agreeable and the Major walked them through everything the rest of the day. They knew every small bump and dip in the clouds by the end.

“We will do a walk through a few times over the next few days, but this will look great,” Major Windstone said as he began to walk back to camp.

“This is like a fun vacation,” Arrow said hopping around. “Like camping with all the fouls we did in our backyard, except for better.”

“You are a handful,” The Major commented.

“Yeah,” Arrow said happily. “I love life.”

“What got a filly like you to serve and be trained to kill and be serious?”

“My Grandfather served,” Arrow replied. “I just saw it as the thing to do.”

“Filly Fooler and Cardinal Spitfire,” Captain Marble Falls said trotting up. “I just got a call concerning your parents. Both of them. And a Judge Gavel you met who is trying to intervene. Still on the line with the lieutenant charging them.”

“Morons,” Shadow spat. “Taking care of a farm is illegal now?”

“What are your parents doing at your parents?” The Captain asked pointing at them.

“Mine were so close on leave, so a quick surprise visit was planned,” Cardinal Spitfire explained. “On arrival, the farm had some major problems that had just happened. Shadow knew what was wrong-”

“Wait,” Captain Mable Falls said cutting her off. “Filly Fooler went with you.”

“I couldn't leave him in the city,” Cardinal Spitfire declared. “He is terrified of it still. Besides, he met them at graduation.”

“Okay, that makes sense. I remember New Heaven. Continue.”

“Shadow called his local town to ask his father a question. He needed somepony nearby to help irrigate the farm properly, or more than that row of trees would be lost. A row of trees being lost… that will be a major blow to the apples we harvest. And the other farms were probably in the same spot without knowing it. We were looking at totally losing all the trees.”

“Point?” The Captain asked.

“Well… Shadow's parents decided to come out personally to help. Farm to farm. Nothing to do with either of us. His dad was very clear about that when we got a hold of him.”

Shadow tried to clarify things. “He has done some major traveling to help with big projects, to stop diseases and other things. Farmers helping farmers. They couldn't even give us a farm to talk to in between the two, and some irrigation expert needed to come out and teach them. Its a major project and teaching it takes days. Obviously, I didn't have that time with the leave we got.”

“I didn't know about the big trips until the call,” Shadow continued. “He did them in his younger years, before me. I am fourth after all. So I think he has been growing restless a bit. Tough to do with our farms. But to help another farm in a very perilous situation, especially a whole community, then yeah. It is our duty as farmers to feed the pegasi and make sure other farms can do that the best they can. And he is the local irrigation expert, along with his best friend Black.”

“Black must be the one they are really concerned with,” Captain Marble Falls muttered.

“Black standing there disapproving is scary,” Shadow chuckled. “He is well respected in our community for multiple reasons. Judge Gavel we met with to make sure they were taken care of if they did run into, well this.”

They followed Captain Marble Falls who then directed them to a few field phones to use.

“This is Captain Marble Falls here again.”

“Well? What did they say?” An angry stallion asked

Captain Marble Falls looked at Shadow.

“Sergeant Shadow Flare here. How much do you know about farming?” Shadow asked kindly.

“Excuse me?”

“Are you deaf?” Shadow asked. He make sure to say each word slowly. “How much do you know about farming?”

“Getting smart with me will get them in worse trouble.”

“Excuse me?” Shadow said shocked, before getting annoyed. “Did you just threaten me by using my parents as leverage? You do not want to do that. Not at all. Now how much do you know about farming?”

“You grow food in the clouds. What is there to know?” he blew him off.

“Fuck off!” Shadow said getting angry at his attempt to rule by fear. “You think you are all high and mighty because you live up above everything below. My family has been farming the clouds since the war. The fifth to pick up cloud farming. BEFORE, well before, the clouds were sealed up. The clouds you farm are not the ones you walk on in a city. They have to be properly cared for, just like real soil. If you have too much water, rot. Not enough, they die. That is called irrigation. Controlling the water.”

Shadow was let loose. “Now I understand why I have been told that as and Enclave soldier, all I am is a waste of food. YOU ARE A WASTE OF FOOD! How you passed basic I have no idea since you are that dumb. All of your accomplishments are nothing. I know you have to have a pretty bar of ribbons you keep in mint condition to show off.”

“You have no right to even think about passing judgment on any farm. Just because you wear a uniform doesn't make you smart or knowledgeable. All it seems to you is power and telling ponies what to do! Life, real life, doesn't work like that. The pony out there you are afraid of is Black. A senior member of the community. He is well respected for the knowledge and the respect he has earned putting other before himself and his farm. And still being one of the most productive farms in the area. You have no fucking idea what respect is!”

“I grew up working all year around. In all weather just to make sure you can eat. Try bringing in the harvest of fifteen farms in three weeks. And these are not small farms. The apple farm there isn't even half the size of my community's smallest farms. We pulled up more than thirty of those in twenty one days.”

“And my parents have worked longer than that. And then they fly a really long way to help a community with major irrigation issues and you want to toss them in jail for treason? I know it is treason because your fellow fuck heads have tried it on me a few times! Why do you think we contacted a judge about making sure they are protected from pinpricks like you!”

“So? Are you going to let pegasi go hungry and cause a real, justifiable problem, or are you going to let the farmers do their job. They know their crops, they know their land, they know how to best take care of it. Stay out of their business.”

“Oh, one more thing. Your stupidity here is why farmers are forgetting things like irrigation. And you know what that means? Dramatically decreasing crop yields. I bet the oat farms around there will produce three times what they are now with proper irrigation.”

“Captain are you there?” The stallion asked deflecting away from Shadow.

“Yes, and I back every word he says,” She said annoyed. “Because I have gotten to know the Sergeant and what family, community and farming means to him and where he comes from.”

“They are doing a massive digging project!” He protested.

“FUCK YOU,” Cardinal Spitfire swore. She had had enough. “That is my family's farm. Look around retard. To grow a tree, you have to foster and grow a sapling. Then you have to dig a big hole, put in fertilizer and then put the tree in. How thin do you think the base clouds are? And it is Specialist Cardinal Spitfire.”

“How do you plant a tree Lieutenant?” Captain Marble Falls asked him.

“We do not find this treason. We will watch to make sure they do not dig too deep.”

“How much is too deep?” Shadow barked.

With no response Shadow continued. “It is eighteen feet! And even then you have not gone through the base clouds or close. That is how you keep everything below, below! How else do you build a building 50 stories tall? Oh right, you are too dumb to know. Can you count to 50?”

“That is enough with the insults! You are a sergeant and I am a lieutenant.”

“Rank means shit if you don't know shit. A sergeant who is smart is way better than an idiot lieutenant like yourself. I-”

“No, not yet Shadow,” Captain Marble Falls said cutting him off. “But this lieutenant is getting dangerously close to making me let you go kick his sorry ass. Because I am a smart Captain. And over the Aerial Combat School. All three of us can make it there in half a day tops if we need to.”

The click of the phone being hung ended things.

“Shadow,” Captain Marble Falls said. She was stuttering with no clear direction.

“Where the fuck did that come from?” Cardinal Spitfire finally asked with little breath left in her lungs.

“YES! That!” Captain Marble Falls gasped.

“You don't fuck with my family,” Shadow stated. His jaw was set and beginning to hurt. “Especially when it comes to doing their duty as farmers. And there is little else that they could give you reason to fuck with them.”

“I have never seen you angry I guess,” Cardinal Spitfire replied confused. “It is… scary.”

“I guess some things did rub off on me,” Shadow said walking away.

“Shadow,” The Captain called running in front of him. “I am going to call General Red River and make sure that things are righted. He gets the farming stuff from researching you and will make sure it is all taken care of.”

“It is that stupidity that is probably killing half the farms in the Enclave,” Shadow growled.

“Noted,” The Captain replied urgently. “I am going to go make that call. If something happens, I will give you real ammo.”

“Shadow?” Cardinal Spitfire said coming up alongside him. “Stupid guns in the way. Lets get out of our armor and go talk privately.”

Shadow didn't argue and followed her lead. They got rid of everything and headed out into the woods.

“I didn't know you have this side,” She said laying down under a tree.

She patted the ground and Shadow laid down beside her.

“How do you feel? She asked quietly

“I don't know,” Shadow replied. “I have seen my father go off once at a community meeting when I was young. It was scary. It was like this. He was protecting a struggling farm on the edge of our community. Those farms often flip flop where they belong. They needed big help and he made a stand against some rumors about that farm. I do not know if they were true or not, but the community finally followed his lead and helped out. Combined from both communities, that farm became a thriving one.”

Cardinal Spitfire put her arm on his shoulder. Shadow was beginning to shake and her touch caused Shadow to sob. “I didn't like it. I didn't like it at all. The scary thing is it was controlled. I knew what I was doing. I was systematically tearing him down. I scared myself, but I couldn't just stop. I had to protect them.”

Cardinal Spitfire pulled him into a hug and just held Shadow as he cried the fear away. He didn't speak for a while after he had run out of tears.

“I do not know what I would do without you,” Shadow said softly. “Your embrace, even just your presence is calming.”

“We made the right call,” She said softly to him. “Because even when things go wrong down below, you have me here.”

Cardinal Spitfire was pushing on his necklace. “And always here as a reminder.”

She kissed him softly on the lips.

“When?” Shadow chuckled.

Cardinal Spitfire rolled her eyes. “You are a magnet of random shit happening. Something is going to happen. At the very least your job is to make something happen. But I will always be here for you. Waiting, loyal to the day I die. You will always come back to find me yours.”

“We should go back,” Shadow sighed.

Cardinal Spitfire kissed him on the lips again. “Are you ready? Really ready and okay?”

“Yeah,” Shadow said getting up.

“Oh, the Major directly asked me if we were dating. I told her no. And the problems I saw with it.”

Shadow chuckled. “Good call. It is technically the truth.”

“She asked if we even did anything. I told her you wouldn't. You didn't. Us as one did.”

“Nice job,” Shadow said kissing her on the lips.

They silently walked back into the camp and found Unit 41 sitting around a legitimate camp fire with the Captain's Squad and the squad Major Windstone led joining them.

“Good to see you in one piece,” Flags nodded. “Retards.”

Shadow let out a sad chuckle. “And now I am starting to feel bad for him. Is it really his fault he is so dumb?”

“That is the Filly Fooler I know and love!” Captain Marble Falls clapped.

“Catch,” Arrow said tossing each of them a random box of field rations.

“You look like you were crying?” Chocolate said concerned.

“I was,” Shadow smiled. “It is not always shameful to cry. We do it for a reason.”

“We have just been sharing stories,” The Major informed them. “I am sure you know some good ones.”

“Don't start this,” Captain Marble Falls groaned.

Shadow and Cardinal Spitfire laughed.

“Yeah, I got stories,” Shadow replied. “These legends… they are about the great Rainbow Dash and her Shadow as they go about killing Zebra generals and other dangerous Zebras. Even a pirate ship.”

Shadow looked at the stunned Wonderbolts.

“I told you not to get him started,” The Captain repeated.

Cardinal Spitfire had fallen over laughing.

“I am serious,” Shadow said. “We have dozens of war legends about Rainbow Dash. Including a nemesis and all the swashbuckling action you could ask for. My home and community is old. War old. They stuck around or were made up later. We don't teach about Rainbow Dash either way. Just fun legends.”

“I warned you,” Captain Marble Falls reiterated.

“Interesting,” Major Windstone said thinking. “Tell us one.”

“Seriously?” Shadow asked. “We tells these to help our minds as we work in the cold weather the northern mountains force in.”

“Come, on,” Cardinal Spitfire poked. “I want to hear the pirate one. I know it is your favorite. Then I can tell Deke I know it and drive him nuts.”

Shadow chuckled. With no objections, he began as requested.

“Okay. Rainbow Dash is in one of her secret hide outs. She is awoken from her dreams of the swashbuckling mission she had just finished. It was The Ministry of Awesome phone that was ringing. She rolls out of bed and grabs it off the desk from the floor.

“RBD, we need your help. A Zebra ship has taken out two unarmed Equestrian Ships. One was carrying medical supplies and medical staff. It is heavily armed with big guns and missile launchers. It is headed to Baltimare. If it makes it into Horseshoe bay, they will destroy the small fleet there and do major damage to the city, killing tens of thousands. We need you to stop it. Can you and your Shadow handle it?”

“Oh course we can. I'm awesome! You called me instead of Applejack for a reason.”

The call ended and Rainbow Dash began her pre-mission victory dance.

She looked at her Shadow and started to chuckle. “I have always wanted to meet pirates! Just… on their side.”

Rainbow Dash quickly tossed on the gear she would need.

“Are you ready Shadow?” She asked her Shadow.

They took off, and put all the speed they could muster to the flight.

“What was that?” She asked her Shadow as they neared Horseshoe Bay.

“Good eyes,” She said looking where it pointed.

The ship was getting dangerously close to the bay.

They pushed on, and when they were above it, they dove. Suddenly Rainbow Dash dropped strait down from 500 yards, cracking the deck. Her Shadow slipped right behind her and through the cracks. Their presence was noticed immediately. Rainbow Dash had to roll of the way of heavy Zebra fire.

She popped out of hiding and fired her foreleg dart gun, taking down three with a shot to their necks. She popped a grenade and casually kicked it around a corner where more Zebras were coming. It gave her the second she need to rearm her gun before she was stormed from all sides.

As some came out of a hatch, She jumped; drop kicking them back where they had come from. She dodged and weaved as more came at her with swords. She struck at them with her bladed hooves, gutting them with a quick slash before avoiding the next one.

Below her, her Shadow was doing the same. But it didn't need blades, she was one. Out of nowhere she sprung, easily slicing Zebras in half before disappearing to find her next victim.

Rainbow Dash had killed most of the Zebras on the ship and she was still topside. The First Mate opened fire with a pistol but Rainbow Dash was more than ready. As she dove, she grabbed a sword.

The First Mate tossed on his cloak, hiding him from pony eyes. But Rainbow Dash was too awesome. She tossed a knife and it ripped the cloak off the First Mate, pinning it to a gun turret behind him and ending it's effect. Without a loaded gun, the First Mate charged with his sword and Rainbow Dash met him head on with a smile on her face.

The First Mate stabbed and Rainbow Dash stepped to the side as if nothing had happened. They traded blow after blow in a dance of death. Rainbow dash parried another strike and then finally she stopped messing around and thrust her sword deep into the First Mate's chest.

“You never stood a chance. I'm Awesome,” Rainbow Dash chuckled before pulling the sword out.

She dashed to the bridge where she quickly killed two Zebras with the sword and then had to face the Captain.

“You are going to pay for this!” The Captain spat.

“Nope. I am too awesome.” Rainbow Dash chuckled.

Right before the Captain charged, his head slid off and Shadow found himself looking at his Shadow.

“You took away the fun,” Rainbow Dash whined. “But we do have a job to do.”

Rainbow Dash pulled out a Pirate hat from her pocket and put it on. “At least I get to add 'become a pirate' to my Book of Awesome.”

“We should probably bring this into Baltimare. The supplies below are probably really needed. Like the bombs you found.”

Rainbow Dash looked at her Shadow.

“Oh, they set bombs. Well we can't stay at this heading.”

Rainbow Dashes casually turned the ship around as fast as the ship could and set it to full speed. She bucked off the controls so it could not be reversed. They jumped out of the bridge and flew away as fast as they could. The ship exploded and they watched as it was torn in two and sank.

“I know. If I hadn't broken the deck for you to slip through, it never would have split into two chunks. Which was way more awesome to watch! Lets head back. All this awesomeness makes me want to take a nap.”

“And I have to tell them the mission is done. Work before napping,” Rainbow Dash said annoyed.

“The end,” Shadow announced.

“You told that to fillies and colts?” One of the Wonderbolts asked shocked.

“Well, not the gory stuff,” Shadow shrugged. “The story changes each time a bit too. I forgot the Captain's name, so I left the Captain on the bridge. Whether it is wooden or some new warship changes depending on who tells the story and who they are telling it to.”

“There are a few things that never change. She is awesome and always says it, it always starts in a hidden lair, makes the comment about Applejack, the ship is headed for Horseshoe Bay, she cracks the deck so her Shadow could go below. She gets into at least one awesome sword fight and then the ship blows up. Sometimes she does it, other times the Zebras set bombs.”

“Inventive,” Major Windstone concurred.

“Thanks,” Shadow replied. “I could’ve made it go much longer, but I know it is getting late.”