Author's Notes:

BOOK 1: PART 1: LOYALTY

Shadow finally touched hooves in El Nino. He left at dawn and it was almost mid day. It was a long flight and would be a long day. He had no idea how much time the talk with Sky Breaker would be. He had enough bits for lunch, dinner and a stay at the local hostel, but he didn't want to use it. He may not be meant for the farms, but he was a farming pony. Bits were rare and used sparingly.

Shadow also had no idea where the recruiting office was. He had only been in town for Market days. He looked for the closest shop and entered it. It was a boutique.

“Hello Dear!” A friendly voice called. A mare stepped out from behind a rack of dresses. “Welcome to Rarity's Gems. How can I help you.”

“Sorry to bother you,” Shadow said.

“Oh, but it is no bother at all. I am always happy to help anypony. I think I have the perfect dress for you for the upcoming ball.”

“Ball?” Shadow asked, ignoring her mistaking him for a mare.

The mare took a second look at Shadow. “Oh, you must be from out of town. How silly of me. What can I do for you.”

“Yes, I am from the farms Ma'am. Took me all morning to get here,” Shadow said.

“My my, you must be tired.”

Shadow shrugged. “Not really. But I am hoping you can direct me to the Enclave Recruiting office.”

“Have you been here for Market before?”

“Several times,” Shadow nodded.

“Good. It is on the corner of Main street and 1^st Street West. Mark sure you go to the West, not 1^st Street East. The park where the Market happens is the dividing line for this block style city.”

“Thank you,” Shadow said.

“Oh it is no bother,” She smiled. “Just remember 'Rarity's Gems' if you ever are looking for that special gown.”

“I certainly will,” Shadow said smiling.

It was not hard to find the recruiting office with the directions given. He knew enough of the city to easily make it to the Market place. And from there, it was east to spot the Enclave Recruiting Office. Flags were waving, the entire corner of the building was painted with their colors and symbols.

Shadow stepped into the cozy office. It had three desks, but only one was being used. Sky Breaker was sitting at it, with a young colt across from him filling out paperwork.

Sky Breaker stopped what he was doing and looked up. “Hey Shadow! I was wondering when you would finally be able to slip into town.”

“Had to pull in a parsnip harvest basically alone, and then my sister, Early Blossom, cherry harvest right after that.”

“I heard about them.” Sky Breaker replied.

He had to stop talking and go back to work with the colt. Shadow took a seat while they finished up. The paperwork was finished up rather quickly.

“Alright Flash, I will send this off. Either way I will personally deliver their response. It will come in a sealed envelope. I won't know their decision and only you can receive it from me. It will take about two weeks.”

Flash left and Shadow walked over to Sky Breaker.

“Glad to see you Shadow,” Sky Breaker said smiling. “It's time for my lunch break, come on, my treat.”

“Thanks,” Shadow said following Sky Breaker out. Sky Breaker locked the door. The sign on the door listed the hours. 9am-12pm & 1pm-6pm, M-F. Unless otherwise posted.

“Plenty of time to yourself,” Shadow marveled.

“Definitely. And if we had another recruiter, we would have somepony here everyday.”

They walked the streets. Sky Breaker obviously knew where he was going, Shadow followed him, lagging a bit behind.

“It is all so foreign,” Shadow said.

Sky Breaker laughed. “I know. Market doesn't prepare you for actually being in the city, and El Nino is really small. No buildings over three stories tall. Wait until you see a real city like Los Pegasus. Farming to Enclave is a huge transition.”

“I figured,” Shadow replied.

They stopped at a deli and sat down outside. It was a nice day. It didn't take long before the server came over. “Hey Sky Breaker,” She chirped. It was a sweet voice. “Who is with you today?”

“Crepuscule, meet Shadow Flare. He is an old friend, from before I joined the Enclave.”

“Hello,” Shadow smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

“You as well,” Crepuscule smiled back.

“I am assuming its the usual for you Sky?”

“Of course. But wait to put it in until Shadow orders.”

“Alright, I will be back shortly. Just water for you Shadow, or something else?”

“Water please. It was a long flight in.”

In the end, Shadow chose the Shaved Melody. A bunch of vegetables and fruits shaved up and put into a sandwich. It was the same as Sky Breaker.

“You come here often?” Shadow asked.

“Yeah, at least twice a week,” Sky Breaker said. He took a sip of water before continuing. “Crepuscule is something isn't she?”

“Sky Breaking, are you saying what I think you are saying?” Shadow whispered as he leaned in.

“Nothing official, but I just happened to have the definitive game changer handed to me last night. And just call me Sky.”

“Well, I hope it goes well for you,” Shadow grinned.

“You will get to see shortly,” Sky said beaming. “But let's get back to business. When I saw you the other day. You looked like some of our Aerial Combat Units. Some were stationed at my base and I would watch them practice.

I know Scout and Recon teams are rumored to be around and in their numbers. Recon with your size and agility would be a natural fit. However, we are talking highly competitive slots, but I think you have what it take to not only get one, but be top ten percent. I assume you are as good with your wings as you are without them?”

“I can fly for hours,” Shadow answered. “It isn't as easy to be acrobatic in the air. Ground, you have stops, walls and can turn faster. I have amazing abs. They are the strongest muscles on me. But I can sustain myself well enough in the air.”

“Well, you will probably have no problem with ground combat. In fact you probably will excel in it after the years of farming.”

“Besides, I don't know when to stop once I put my mind to something.”

“Good. I actually already have your papers all filled out, except for your signatures. That is how much confidence I have in you. I have a decent reputation in the Enclave. Nopegasus wants to head here because its kind of a dead spot to recruit from. So I am known for the risky move this early in my career. My name backing you will get you in for sure. From there, it really is all up to you.”

“What about leadership, or mechanical?”

“Honestly, I doubt you would make it as a mechanic. Most mechanics go to a school as the grow up that teach them the cutting edge techniques. Our farm equipment is very different and very basic. But leadership… you are small but as long as you can back yourself, they will respect you. How far that will go I can not say. We have little charm out here compared to the big city pegasi. Respect is better than charm.”

“I rigged my room so my sister spice would stop terrorizing me at night. Set off an alarm in my parent's bedroom.”

“Now that is something the recon teams would find great use for. Or I assume.”

Shadow thought for a second. “What is the difference between them all?”

“Quite a bit. You get picked. You don't actually chose one over the other. Lets start at the beginning. Basic Training. Everypegasus goes. It is 16 weeks long, you learn all you need to. Then it is to specialized school. Most head to Combat School. A more in depth and specialized school for soldiering, weapons qualifications and policing. Soldiers, Light Troopers and Law Enforcement go there. Law Enforcement continue on to another school after.”

“Aerial Combat School is for aerial units that focus all their training on tactics from the air. The Aerial Combat Battalion. They do dogfighting, strafing, bombing and other close air support roles for soldiers. It is kept very quiet and limited spots. That school isn’t done often, only when they need to increase their numbers. Mostly because of retirements. The Wonderbolts fall into the ACBs..”

“Technical School is for mechanics, engineers and scientist. Field Medics go to a separate training and work with Enclave Doctors and hospitals if they are not in the field. Officer School is another training that can be done if you prove you can be trusted with command.”

“Scout and Recon have existed. Rumors say they were not disbanded as the official record says. I do not know of an actual school either went to. The may very well send you to Aerial Combat School to start.”

“The difference between them though, I hear that Recon actually lands on the ground and work within the designated area, whatever the specific job is. Scouts don't touch down. They fly high and pay attention over a larger area, or play aerial support for recon when necessary. But that’s rumor, not fact.”

“When they were official a few years ago, recon was hard to make, but very few want it. Both are hard jobs and not desired by many, despite the prestige. Recon is more prestigious and significantly more dangerous.”

“We have lost quite a few recon teams shortly before I joined, and there were not many to start. That is why they were officially disbanded. Unless the rumors are true.”

“We never hear about that,” Shadow said puzzled.

“Of course not. The Enclave keeps it quiet. Besides, most of them are from the cities. Us farming pegasi don't join. The cities have schools that parents send their fillies and colts to that train them for Enclave roles.”

“And they afford that how?”

“The cities are driven more in commerce and luxury. I use luxury loosely because us farming pegasi live very simple, quiet lives. I miss being on the farm. The bits our families keep, those precious bits, they would be laughed at. A Hundred bits is not that much. An Enclave officer makes four thousand bits a year. I am only a sergeant so I do not make anywhere near that, but I don't pay for food or boarding as a recruiter. I have a budget for that and my boarding is above the office.”

Crepuscule came with their food. “Here you two go,” she said sweetly.

“Crepuscule, fell free to decline answering,” Sky Breaker hesitated. “But how much do you make a year?”

“Oh, a bit over two thousand bits a year. Just enough to get by and live quietly.”

Shadow shook his head. “I have never seen more than two hundred bits. On a good Market day, my family will make upwards of that. That covers all the expenses for the year. Bags and ties are the normal expenses. But if a cart breaks, or other farming equipment, it can be disastrous financially.”

“That is why I convinced them to increase the sign on bonus for the farming pegasi in this district. It used to be two hundred bits, I got it raised to eight hundred. Just for this district sadly.”

Shadow sat there in shock.

Sky Breaker continued, “It is just for the farmers. Losing a set of hooves impacts the whole community. The money typically goes to family farm anyway.”

“I have no idea what to do with that many bits, other than give it to my family,” Shadow stuttered.

“Isn't your farm a Homestead?” Sky Breaker asked.

“Yes, why?” Shadow answered.

“There is a Homestead bonus. I could not get it raised, but its an automatic one thousand bits. You are giving up great linage for service. It is not treated lightly. That linage is a huge duty to the Enclave and Pegasus Race.”

“You leaving, it was pride, but a big loss,” Shadow admitted. “Bits can really never come close to compensating for the loss of a set of hooves to the community.”

Sky Breaker laughed. “I know. In a few days I am heading out to my parents to help them bring in their harvest. Family first.”

“Family first,” Shadow confirmed.

Crepuscule came back to th table. “It's ten till one Sky.”

“Thank you Crepuscule.” He gave her the bits owed and left her a tip.

“Before you go,” Sky Breaker spoke up. “Crepuscule, I have been given tickets to the upcoming ball. Would you be my date?”

Crepuscule smiled, “I would love that.” She blushed. “But what do you mean 'given tickets'? They are always bought.”

“The Mayor came by and handed them to me. I am their guest of honor and they want me to speak at the ball.”

“Wow,” Crepuscule sputtered.

“I know,” Sky Breaker said. “I was shocked too. But coming from right here, El Nino being my closest city, they find it an honor. I was able to get tickets for my family as well, so we won't exactly be alone.”

“That is more than fine,” She blushed. “Besides, I want to meet them. You have already meet mine.”

Sky Breaker laughed. “Well they own this place. It wasn't hard to meet them.”

“I will have to get a special dress for the night,” Crepuscule noted. “But you need to get back to the office. You will be late.”

“Rarity's Gems pointed me to the recruiting office when I got to town,” Shadow pitched. “I may not be from here, but it looks like a wonderful place for that special dress. Even though I was mistaken for a mare.”

Sky laughed along with Shadow.

“It is a marvelous boutique,” Crepuscule stated, unsure what else to say from the sales pitch.

“Alright Shadow, I may be the only recruiter, and in a small area with nopegasus coming to join up, but I do need to get back to my post,” Sky Breaker stood up.

Shadow followed suit. “It was wonderful to meet you Crepuscule.”

“The same to you Shadow Flare,” She smiled back.

Back at the office they sat at Sky Breaker's desk. Shadow was nervous. A different nervous than what he experience before an obstacle course, or anything else before. This was a big choice. On one hoof, the community was beginning to find a place for his unique talents, but he still didn't fit in and was not sure he wanted to spend his whole life farming.

“Now, you won't get any sign up bonus until you are excepted. And of course there is no actual guarantee you will be accepted. And I have to hoof deliver the sealed envelope with their choice personally to you, and your hooves alone. I will not know if you are accepted or not.”

“What about harvest?” Shadow asked.

“In this season, recruits do not go to training until three weeks after Market day.”

“What are the other seasons?”

“Just winter and summer. Summer happens a few weeks after all the planting is done. They did model things to fit in with the farms. Unless they open up more training times.”

“Okay,” Shadow nodded.

“I had that same nervous look that you have. The pit in your stomach at making such a huge transition in your life. You are only signing on for five years. Many stay on longer, but it is only five years. They do want your loyalty in ways you wont find out here. Out here we are the exception, they are the rule.”

Shadow took a deep breath in. “Let's do this. It has to be better than my current situation. I am going no where back home. This has to be what I was meant to do.”

“I think it is a wise choice,” Sky Breaker affirmed. “And I say that as an older stallion to a younger one. As a friend and as your hero. I do not say that as a recruiter.”

“Thanks Sky,” Shadow said shaking a bit from the nerves.

Sky Breaker stepped him through all the paperwork, took his picture and prepared it all to go out through their computer system.

“It is getting late,” Sky Breaker said. “I have plenty of room upstairs if you want to spend the night. Two unused flats actually.”

“Thank you Sky,” Shadow said. “But I think the fly back will be good for me. Help me clear my head and process all you said.”

“Have a safe flight,” Sky Breaker said, bidding him farewell.

Shadow stepped out of the recruiting office and breathed deeply. He had just made a big change in his life. And he knew there was no way of understanding all that he was getting into. It was all to foreign to him.

It was very late when he got back to Early Blossom and Cherry Tart's Homestead. There was no candles on when he got there. He slipped into house quietly and went to his room. As he got to his room he stopped. There was plenty of low noises coming from his sister's room at the end of the hall. They were obviously having fun. It probably had been over two weeks since they had been intimate with each other because of the harvests.

Shadow just quietly closed his door and laid down in bed. He was asleep almost instantly. They couldn't be heard from his room. The walls made a huge difference. This was a well build cloud house.

Some days it felt like dawn came too early, and on the days you needed more sleep, you woke up too early. Shadow was up first, so he began to make breakfast. He didn't hear the girls come down.

“Shadow,” Cherry Tart yawned. “You must have gotten back late. Why didn't you spend the night?”

“I needed the flight back to clear my head,” Shadow explained. “Besides, it wasn't that late. You two were still up.”

Both Early Blossom and Cherry Tart blushed.

Shadow smiled. “Relax you two. I live here now. That doesn't mean you should stop or hide it. Or be ashamed of it. And once you are in the bedrooms, nothing can be heard. Only in the hall.”

They both smiled back at Shadow.

“So, did you join up?” Early Blossom asked.

“I put in my application,” Shadow stated. “I wont know for a few weeks if I get accepted. Besides, the next training doesn't start until three weeks after Market.”

“Then you can work all the harvests,” Cherry Tart said happily.

“Yep,” Shadow beamed. “But harvest talks can come later. What needs doing around here?”

“Just the dishes now,” Early Blossom said. “It is really relaxed. Not much upkeep. The major issue is harvest.”

“After Market Day, I will step Early through surveying the land. The full deal. And there should be a meeting tonight,” Cherry Tart added. “That should give us a place to help in the harvest.”

“Not much left to harvest out this far,” Shadow said. “Good intentions do not change the fact that we are just so far away.

“I know,” Cherry Tart admitted. “At least it will show that we want to help. That will make things easier for next year.”

“So what did you two do yesterday if there is nothing to do?” Shadow asked.

“Had lots of sex,” Early Blossom blurted.

“Everywhere but your bed,” Cherry Tart teased.

It probably was more true than actually teasing.

“I was going to inspect the cherry pits in a bit and pick out the best ones,” Cherry Tart informed Shadow. “And teach Early more about farming cherries. Especially tree care. Come with us.”

“We could prepare the clouds to double our crop...” Early Blossom began. “… But we don't think its wise yet. Not until he have more hooves to help.”

“Any plans for that?” Shadow asked.

“Adoption?” Early Blossom said unsure. “But for starters we don't have anypony to adopt.”

“We explored that option over the summer,” Cherry Tart began. “But there really are not many orphans in the Enclave. If something does happen, family and friends immediately step in and take care of them. It is just not an opportunity.”

“We could get a donor. Either randomly or chosen by us, to cover the other half. It is an option. Expensive and we would have to go to a Las Pegasus, but an option. One I am partial to except the price which will run thousands of bits to even start.”

“And we doubt anypony would join us as farm hooves except under dire circumstances. Too many other good farms available, and who has money to pay for help?” Early Blossom added.

“Which is why you are always welcome,” Cherry Tart smiled.

“Yeah, life without you here… well you complete this house,” Early Blossom blushed.

“Thanks you two,” Shadow said. “Minimum sign up time is five years. I know I am not really built for farming, but I will end up back here someday and relax, doing the good, hard labor that is in my blood.”

“You said relax and hard labor in the same sentence,” Cherry Tart giggled. “The sign of a real farming pony. No matter how old or what size.”