Author's Notes:

BOOK 1: PART 2: DUTY

They all were up and dressed, waiting for Master Wind to arrive. He was late. Very Late.

“Black Barracks,” A drill sergeant said coming in. “Head to chow.”

They filed out and headed to breakfast. When they got back they assembled at the parade field where Master Wind was standing with another pegasus.

Master Wind shifted a bit uncomfortably. “This is Lieutenant Autumn Leaf. He is here to continue command training.”

Lieutenant Autumn Leaf just smiled a grin that made your mane stand on edge.

“The Lieutenant came just in time. Your Basic Training PT test is today. You are graded with a pass or fail. You know what not to do. And that does not mean PT is over!”

Lieutenant Autumn Leaf took over from there as he directed and pushed them. It was not as bad as the first day by any means, but they were not mentally prepared for another test. Sit Ups, Push Up, Wing Ups, Sprints, and a timed four mile ruck march awaited them called the 2x2. Two on the ground, two in the air. The final test was a 1 mile air sprint.

Lieutenant Autumn Leaf made Master Wind feel easy and soft. Especially when it came to language. He was outright abusive at times.

“He is one tough bastard,” Deke panted as they braked for water before the 2x2.

“He has a lot to prove,” Shadow said.

“No, that isn't approval,” Cardinal Spitfire spoke up. “That is an over achiever and a deadly one. He will get what he wants any way he can.”

Lieutenant Autumn Leaf began calling out orders as they strapped on their packs and began the march. He made it clear it was everypegasus for themselves. They still worked together as much as they dared, giving all the encouragement they could.

Hey! Hey! All the way,

We love to run every day.

If I were General and had my way,

There wouldn't be a fat pegasus in the Enclave today.

Everypegasus would be fit to fight,

Whether you test them day or night.

When I fly to the old drop zone,

Most of the enemy had already gone.

Those that remained weren't fit to fight,

So enemy contact was really light.

We ran the stragglers off the old drop zone,

Everything is quiet and they're all gone

That was the only cadence they got in before Lieutenant Autumn Leaf caught up and nicely ordered them to 'shut the fuck up.'

“What the fuck are we going to do with that maniac?” Cardinal Spitfire angrily asked everypony when they got to their barracks. “We did our PT test and more.”

“And he is not going to be going anywhere anytime soon,” Deke added. “You can tell he is pissed at something. But we all passed.”

“We can survive. Trudge on,” Shadow groaned. “Its unit tactics. He will push us hard and we will do all the better. But he missed the main PT. That saved our asses.”

“Shadow is right,” Golden Dawn piped up. “Trudge on, together.”

“He came out of nowhere,” Olive Pit said. “But where did he really come from?”

“A strong, old military family,” Blue Wings answered. “You stay out of their way. I was in school with at least one of them. A pegasus named Pride. You don't want to know what that family is like.”

“So, we get to deal with a demon set loose upon the clouds,” Olive Pit moaned.

“Don't push against him Shadow Flare,” Cardinal Spitfire warned. “It will end badly for all of us.”

“I won't,” Shadow replied. “This time, I know when to back off. I finally learned that lesson. Late but learned.”

“I doubt he will let you go easily,” Deke warned. “You have a reputation for pushing back and being stubborn. Prepare for a fight.”

Morning was not fun. They were ordered outside to the parade field in full gear. There was no PT of any kind.

“Today is Tactics,” Master Wind announced. “You will have to put your urban and land nav skills to the test as we work on battle tactics on the ground, and later in the sky. But enough about that. You will be outfitted with a special case to chamber, and vests. These will be used for war games to put those tactics to the test. You will face instructors, other soldiers assisting and soon, the other Barracks. Leaders and support weapons will be chosen before each exercise.”

“Prior to this point,” Lieutenant Autumn Leaf said stepping forward. “You have learned to work as a team, and only a team. Now you will finally begin working together as a pair like it should have been from the start. Battle Buddies. They watch your back, you watch theirs. That means you will live and breath next to them. Eat together, Shower, shit and piss together. One watches while the other does their thing.”

Lieutenant Autumn Leaf pulled out a piece of paper. “I have my decided buddies here. The Filly Foolers will make the first one.”

Shadow groaned instinctively and regretted it. The Lieutenant was on him immediately screaming in his face as he had to do wing ups. Worse, Cardinal Spitfire was forced to join him. Everypony watched, afraid of the verbal abuse that was being dished out. Shadow resorted to tuning it out in order to survive. Lieutenant Autumn Leaf left them both on the ground gasping for breath as the others formed up with their assigned buddy.

“Sorry,” Shadow gasped.

“Forgiven,” Cardinal Spitfire coughed. “He didn't hear my quiet curse. Neither of us was smart and in control. Fucking Filly Foolers name.”

“We will learn by the end of this,” Shadow said, trying to stand.

“It is our duty,” Cardinal Spitfire continued. “Our duty to be in control. To keep things civil and orderly for the good of all. It may not be what we individually came here for, but it is fundamental to the survival of the Pegasus Race and the core of the Enclave.”

They were sent inside for a quick breakfast before the real training began. Shadow and Cardinal Spitfire were in last.

“Wait,” Shadow halted as they entered. “Look at the others.”

“I don't see anything,” Cardinal Spitfire said surveying everything.

“Exactly,” Shadow said. “He told to do everything together. Everything as one watched over the other.”

“I do not want to get smoked again,” Cardinal Spitfire gulped. “You eat first.”

“Right,” Shadow nodded slowly. “No mistakes.”

Nopony caught on. They were still sorting out the battle buddy change. Cardinal Spitfire gave Shadow a warning kick when Lieutenant Autumn Leaf entered. Shadow was almost done eating, but he ate faster.

“I SAID TO DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER!” The Lieutenant said as he went off.

Cardinal Spitfire held fast as he sent everypony outside for punishment. Trays were left half eaten. He stared at them for a good fifteen seconds before he walked away. Cardinal Spitfire quickly switched out and ate while Shadow took watch.

“Ah! The two who actually learned from their mistake,” Lieutenant Autumn Leaf greeted them as they came out. “NOW ALL OF YOU INSIDE TO CLEAN UP THOSE TRAYS! AND I DON'T MEAN LICK THEM CLEAN! TAKE EVEN A SNIFF AND YOU WON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR THE REST OF THE DAY!”

Shadow and Cardinal Spitfire breathed a sigh of relief as the Lieutenant followed the others into the mess hall. Master Wind was left to watch over them. He stood there attentive, but not moving, like he had trained them to do.

“The Lieutenant is distracted, we can talk quickly,” Cardinal Spitfire said quietly. “Pact. Whatever happened has happened. It is you and me.”

Shadow smiled. “Together we fail or succeed.”

“Together we teach the other. Help round ourselves out. I will help you shoot and lead, you will help me not give up. I can talk, but I lose my never sometimes. Teach me that fucking insane endurance you have and don't forget the agility. I will need that as a Wonderbolt.”

“Deal,” Shadow said as the wrapped their hoof around the other’s, sealing the pact. “Lesson one on agility, think agile. I know, duh. The point is to plan ahead, but be ready for a change at any moment. It takes the right mental stance. We can teach you the physical acrobatics as we go. And you can call me Shadow if you want. If these are our last days, lets make it on a first name basis.”

“I still will call you Filly Fooler in groups, but call me Cardinal. I love my heritage, but my family is so fucking annoying with it. Especially my mother. They won't even call me Cardinal. Always has to have Spitfire.”

“Fair Cardinal. And that sucks. I had the opposite. No one would add the Flare back home, until I was about to leave and fitting in more. Three years to late.”

“That is why you came?”

“No. And yes. I still think this is the best place for me. Where I am destined to be.”

“You Cutie Mark does point to that,” Cardinal Spitfire admitted. She chuckled. “Ever notice how we both have lighting bolts?”

“I never did,” Shadow chuckled. “Now compose. Here they come.”

“MOVE MOVE MOVE!” Was what they heard most of the day.

They were learning how to move under fire and take cover. How to navigate the immediate battlefield was very important. The other drill sergeants were using lasers pointers to simulate enemy fire. Stay out of the laser was the game. They all were losing.

“I was thinking Cardinal,” Shadow said as he stood watch while she ate. “After this, lets work on that agility. All day you were doing what you could to help me command and navigate things in my head.”

“Sounds exhausting,” She replied. “But lets do it.”

Shadow had to slow down her eating. He didn't need her stomach to turn. Once outside, they started with hoofstands. Shadow held her legs up while she got used to the blood flowing to her head. After a good half hour, he switched to basic dive roles. She knew how to dive, but the roll usually ended up with her slamming her back on the ground. The Clouds were only so soft.

Tactics training continued until they were familiar with controlling the area and clearing buildings safely. They were aware that they were different than the other barracks. They knew that at the very least, they were the only ones using the buddy system to eat, and most likely in the barracks as well.

Most everypony shuffled their sleeping arrangements around so they would be beside, above, or below their buddy. There were a few exceptions, like Shadow and Cardinal Spitfire, who were already matched. They even decided to go to the lengths of setting watch through the night. Two would take watch at the door for a few hours and patrol the whole barracks through the night, armor and saddles ready. Which meant after a scare or two, they had to declare when they were getting up at night.

“This sucks,” Deke said as he slammed into the red cloud wall next to Shadow. Shadow gave cover while their battle buddies darted over to them. Olive Pit had been paired with Deke.

“I took last shift,” Deke continued. “I am so tired.”

“No one is sleeping well,” Cardinal Spitfire replied.

The sound of a simulated explosion on the other side of the wall made them duck. They were in the urban nav course fighting it out against at least Green and Blue. Their radio communication skills were choppy and still new.

Cardinal Spitfire slid to the corner and opened fire. Two Green recruits yelped in shock as their special vests registered them being hit by the training round by giving them a nice jolt of electricity.

“I have a visual on an objective box,” Cardinal Spitfire radioed. “But it is in the center of the square on grid 12C. Over.”

“Roger that Beta,” Golden Dawn said. She was their leader this time. “We will converge on that location and take it. Don't let anypony… Fuck you Filly Fooler! Any PEGASUS get to it.”

“Roger that,” Shadow replied. “Better hurry. It's just four in Beta now. Over.”

“Deke,” Shadow said tapping him. “That building has a door on the front, and window. I think. It is a great place to lay down cover on the square.”

“You will get trapped!” Olive Pit objected.

“Its a risk, but it could be very rewarding,” Cardinal Spitfire stated.

“Halfway out we do a dive roll and then vault sideways in through the doorway. I lead and you follow to know when to make each movement,” Shadow suggested.

“It could work,” Cardinal Spitfire replied. “And we would surprise anypegasus inside so we should be able to clear it.”

“I like your plan,” Deke said. “On your cue, Shadow, we will give you two all the cover fire we can.”

Another simulated explosion boomed on the other side of the square. The still instinctively ducked. Shadow took the moment to dash out as planned. He made it safely and Cardinal Spitfire made it as well, albeit it was a very rough landing inside the building.

Shadow took the window and Cardinal Spitfire worked from the doorway. Green had seen them enter and had them in their sights. Cardinal Spitfire called out their movements and Shadow did a decent job at picking them off. Mostly his shots were just enough to keep their heads down. It wasn't long before reinforcements arrived and the square was taken.

Sirens sounded soon after and all barracks assembled at their insertion point. Red had taken five of the ten points for the victory.

“You got two points,” Master Wind stated. “For the first all Barracks field exercise, that was well done. Red took things by storm. They were not subtle about their movements and took heavy losses. Yellow shied away at their might, and Blue was blindsided by their speed. Trampling pegasi down is not a good overall strategy. Black was the only Barracks to use their wings and their brains to navigate.”

“Next time take objectives even with greater cost,” Lieutenant Autumn Leaf stated. “Losses are to be expected. You played it too safe. You only lost eight and it got you nowhere.”

“Yes Sir,” Shadow said without thinking. He didn't agree, but he wasn't going to disagree by saying nothing.

“One of the Filly Foolers knows what I mean,” The Lieutenant smiled. “Even if she is a pathetic soldier, she thinks she gets.”

“Take some time to relax before dinner,” Master Wind ordered. “After we will begin night combat training.”

The group groaned as they fell out of formation. Master Wind was keeping the Lieutenant on a leash and giving his barracks all he could. He didn't let the Lieutenant smoke them for the groan. It was still his Barrack to control and they were being worked to their limit. Shadow had a feeling he knew the full situation after a spot inspection the day before. The Lieutenant had not been inside their barracks yet, if he even was allowed.

“Admirable job with navigation,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “And even though it was only eight of us, you are learning command.”

“Tactics make command so much easier,” Shadow sighed. “It is a lot more straightforward.”

“All in how you look at it,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “It isn't much different. Switch how you view leadership like you adjust in acrobatics. I want to do acrobatics but…”

“You have improved a lot,” Shadow smiled. “But lets not push because of tonight. We have time.”

In their attempts to get some rest, no one took the unexpected watch. Master Wind woke them with gentle orders to head to dinner.

“Now we get to do this at night,” Shadow said to the others as he stood watch at dinner. They had gotten good at communicating while paying attention on watch.

“We can. Nopony… Fuck! Nopegasi said this would be easy for any of us.” Golden Dawn stated. “You are rubbing off on us in the wrong way. And still you have yet to be correct in your speech once!”

Shadow chuckled. “At this point, I am just going with the flow.”

“Anyway, this should be no different other than learning to do it with less visibility,” Golden Dawn stated so everyone could hear. “We navigated with different weather patterns well enough.”

Night combat was worse than they thought. Being tired made no difference. The night vision gear had no depth perception. The entire night ended up being a lot of bumping into ponies and walls, tripping over everything and nothing, and a lot of long crawls to the cover they thought was closer.

They all were frustrated by the morning, and then had to sleep all day before heading back out the next night. That was their schedule for the week, ending with a night battle.

Master Wind held a hat and Lieutenant Autumn Leaf pulled a name tag out of it.

“Filly Fooler. You are the commander,” The Lieutenant said disappointed.

Shadow took his name tag and put it back on.

“Deke, you are a squad leader,” The Lieutenant droned on. “Golden Dawn, you are a squad leader. Flex, you are a squad leader. And Majesty, you are a squad leader.”

“I want a fifth Squad Leader,” Shadow stated.

“A fifth? You can't handle a fifth,” The Lieutenant said as if he was a small filly.

“Pull one from the hat or let him pick one,” Master Wind said through his teeth.

“And Sharp, You are a a squad leader.”

They drew casings from a hat to determine what gun they carried. Shadow had 8 machine gunners to place. Olive Pit drew one and he was already with Deke. Sharp's battle buddy drew another. The other six were free. He put two in each squad except for Golden Dawn's.

“Golden Dawn,” Shadow began with a reassurance nod from Cardinal Spitfire. “I want you to be light and fast. Scout things out. Move, avoid being seen as much as possible, and only engage if it is your last option. That is why it is just you and Silver Lining for now. That is your show.”

“Deke, I need you to spearhead the assault, flanked by Flex and Sharp. I will stay in the rear along with Majesty. When I need him, Majesty will move to reinforce somepony or flank. I want to hold him in reserve.”

Shadow took a deep breath. “I think the Lieutenant was right last time. We were too meek. We need to be heavier and faster. But I won't accept heavy losses. That is why we will start closer together and then I will have Majesty swing where his team is needed.”

“That is why you need a scout team,” Golden Dawn stated.

“Exactly,” Shadow said. “I bet Red will be coming in from our north due to our location.”

“I will move up that way,” Golden Dawn responded.

“But I think they will have an objective box around V5. Not a far trek, but they will probably stick two others close by as well. Now, anypony else have suggested points of interest for us to check out?”

Shadow listened to the other suggestions. Golden had two points she wanted to check out. The first she could probably get to safely and secure it alone. The second would be deeper in and behind lines when they finally could get to it.

“One last thing,” Shadow said wrapping things up. “Remember to use fliers to pop straight up for a quick recon and then drop back down. Fast enough to catch major movements, not fast enough to be seen. Oh, and remember our work with the commutation and codes.”

“Not bad,” Cardinal Spitfire said as they watched the others form up at their insertion point.

Master Wind gave the countdown but let the sirens do the final job. Deke's squad sprinted into the cityscape.

“Captain, objective sighted,” Deke radioed a short while later. “It is on the opposite side of the square but on top of the building. Easy to miss. Sending someone up.”

“Hold that Lieutenant,” Shadow ordered. “Lieutenant Flex, send one up. I don't want Lieutenant Deke's position given away.”

“Somepegasus is moving on the far side of the square,” Their flier said. “At least one squad is moving north, and at least one squad to the square. We also have visitors on my flank. I think it's Yellow. Nopegasus knows we are here.”

“On it Captain,” Sharp said. “Circling to take it.”

“Captain. We stumbled upon an objective,” Lieutenant Golden Dawn reported. “Hidden, but we could secure it. Three marks south where I predicted at V8.”

“Well done Lieutenant,” Shadow praised. “Play?”

“Heading towards primary target still, Captain,” Golden Dawn replied.

The sound of their laser mods firing began, a good way off and with screams of pain as recruits took hits.

“Captain, picking off Green with a sniper,” Deke reported. “They have no idea where the objective is.”

“Yellow is right on our flank Captain. Lieutenant Flex can't report he is so close.”

“Prepare for them to come. Make them come to you. Lieutenant Deke, be ready to send half of your squad to hold Lieutenant Flex's other flank.”

More combat erupted off to their side.

“Send us in,” Lieutenant Majesty pushed.

“Not yet,” Shadow replied. He was apprehensive to play his trump card yet. Not until they got word from their flank.

“Captain, two down,” Lieutenant Flex reported. “But we have 6 of theirs hit with us, and we believe we hit at least two more.”

“Bravo Lieutenant,” Shadow replied. “Hold there for now. Lieutenant Majesty, move out to pick up the far flank with Lieutenant Sharp. Lets take that objective and be prepared to meet Green face to face. They have to be reacting to our presence. Stay quiet and let them come. I will be with Lieutenant Deke's squad.”

“Captain, we got the objective,” Lieutenant Sharp responded as Lieutenant Majesty moved out. “A quick dash to there and back while Yellow attacked. I don't think we were spotted.”

“Excellent!” Shadow exclaimed. “Two of three objectives! Well done all!”

“Two of three?” Lieutenant Majesty asked.

“There are five Barracks going for 10 objectives,” Shadow said. “If we take three, we have the upper hoof. Somepony will need to fight for four. I know Red took five last time, but if we rob them of one, we can win this.”

“Captain,” Golden Dawn said. “Red is north. Thank goodness it was just us. They have a heavy force heading south towards you. And I hear more off to the middle. Moving to secondary Objective.”

“Copy that,” Shadow said. “Play that really careful Lieutenant and good job.”

Shadow switched tactics. They no longer needed to be at the square.

“Lieutenant Deke and Lieutenant Flex, we are moving to form up on Lieutenant Majesty's flank. We are going to be committed to battle in a few minutes so lets move and take strong positions.”

Deke made several orders to his squad. He was moving some to take to the roofs at their next position.

“Captain,” Flex said catching up to them. “Yellow is moving to attack again. I guess they will be surprised to find no resistance.”

“Good,” Shadow responded. “Any advantage is an advantage.”

Battle erupted on what had to be Yellow and Green's front. Even more of an advantage.

“Captain,” Sharp said. “We almost opened fire, but held off. The Green Squad didn't see us as they moved south to engage Yellow.”

“Then lets change it up,” Shadow said. “M8 was a popular pick. Diamond shape with Lieutenant Deke in the rear. We move out as soon as we get organized. I will move to point with Lieutenant Majesty.”

Shadow was leaving his squad leaders control of their squad's actions. Before, commanders who they now designated as Captain, had given a lot of individual, micro management orders. Shadow was borrowing from home, with how his community organized harvests.

Who went where was decided in meetings, but each farm used the extra hooves how they saw fit. Each farm knew how best to bring in that year's harvest. Likewise, his squad leaders knew what was happening directly with them. He focused on his squad being just his lieutenant.

Several battles were erupting all over, causing confusion as few knew what was going on and where it was happening.

“Captain, Red and Blue are hitting each other hard over an objective at L12,” Lieutenant Golden Dawn radioed. “It is a well placed objective. I recommend moving me to M8. I will be there faster than you and can scope things out.”

“Do it Lieutenant,” Shadow ordered. “But lets avoid a direct meeting if possible, I want to keep you free.”

Battle erupted dead ahead as they neared their target.

“Lieutenant Deke, swing down to Sharp's flank,” Shadow ordered. “It is time we rolled back out to probe the area.”

“Fuck Captain” Lieutenant Majesty said. “It is in the middle again. Not too big of a large road, but exposed. And it is a long one cutting through a lot of the map.”

Shadow and Cardinal Spitfire moved up to the edge to get a look.

“I say send Sharp across,” Cardinal Spitfire spoke for the first time since the exercise had started. “A quick dash while we cover them.”

Shadow radioed the command. Sharp's squad made it without incident. A firefight erupted further out in front of them. Sharp moved his squad to primarily defend against it.

“Cardinal Spitfire, get that objective and meet up with Lieutenant Sharp,” Shadow ordered.

She made it without incident.

“Three objectives,” Shadow stated. “Lets go win this thing with the fourth. We know where Red and Blue are fighting for one. Shadow led the other three squads across in one go. Lieutenant Sharp immediately moved his squad to engage the firefight. He cleared the several surviving recruits with ease.

“It was Lieutenant Golden Dawn,” Lieutenant Sharp informed them. “Our scouts are down.”

“They did and amazing job,” Shadow said. “Move on out to the next objective at L12.”

Shadow lost half his Barracks taking the next objective. But they robbed Red from obtaining it. Blue only had a few left who they caught in retreat and dispatched with only one of their comrades down.

Taking the objective ended the exercise. Blue had two, red and three and Green had managed to capture an uncontested objective before Yellow wiped them all out. Yellow was in no fighting shape after the engagement with Green.

“Well done Filly Fooler,” Master Wind greeted them on return. “I had my doubts, but it worked.”

“You got lucky finding that one with your scouts,” Lieutenant Autumn Leaf said annoyed.

“A find is a find,” Shadow replied back.

“Engaging Yellow and Green would have been smarter,” The Lieutenant continued.

“They were no threat and it would have cost us the third objective. That Blue Squad would have taken it. Credit goes to my scouts for that.”

“Sorry we got pinned,” Golden Dawn said.

“This is war. Combat,” Shadow stated. “Casualties will happen. You gave us a ton of information and took an objective on your own. And still yet, you kept Blue distracted enough for us to nab the third and then get revenge. You got us three of the four objectives. That is more than good enough for me.”

“In real combat you won't have troops to split like that,” Lieutenant Autumn Leaf chastised.

“But I will be able to use information from scouts and recon teams,” Shadow shot back. “And hopefully a good commander would send them in advanced of our position to tell me what I need to know. Any advantage is an advantage.”

“Go get a few hours sleep,” Master Wind said ending any further discussion. “Don't run shifts. Everypegasus get some sleep. It will be a full PT day and obstacle courses. The day after begins aerial training.”

They all confirmed with a unified 'Yes Sir!' before beginning the trek back to the barracks.

“Nice job Filly Fooler!” Deke said as they got in the barracks. “You did well. Much better than expected. We got that lucky objective, but you also got us a better grasp on commanding a whole unit.”

“Thanks” Shadow yawned. “This victory was more all of yours than mine. I barely fired. And then only from a strong defensive position at that last engagement.”

“If we had lost you, it would have been chaos,” Golden Dawn said from her bed. “No matter who is commander, losing the commander is always a big deal. Now turn those damn lights off!”