Shadow looked at the ceiling. He had just woken up. He knew he was in their hospital. He remembered that much. There was medical equipment off to his right in front of a sheet. A sheet was also in front of him. He was nestled in the corner.

“You are awake,” Metal Heart smiled coming over.

“That I am,” Shadow smiled back.

“How do you feel?” She asked.

“About as fine as you could expected,” Shadow moaned. “I have survived drops from two hundred yards with ease, smacked head first into a building during a tight training maneuver at speed you couldn't believe and slammed into giant floor elevators at crippling speeds to fix a jam, but this… I ache all over.”

“Your armor’s shell was barely together,” Metal Heart replied. “And your suit underneath had a ton of holes from bits of metal. You made it despite a lot of small cuts and that head wound.”

“What exactly happened with it?” Shadow asked. “I never really got that. I had a battle to fight, to survive.”

“There were two key strikes,” Metal Heart replied. “The first above your left eye, the second along the base of your mane on your forehead. That is the one that shattered the helmet and drove a sizable shard into your skull. I had to pull it out of the bone. If it was reversed you would be missing your left eye.”

“Damn,” Shadow sighed. “It is the next day, right?”

“Yes,” She replied with a slight chuckle. “Now for the pain, Med-X. Later I will give you a second health potion.”

“My bags have healing potions,” Shadow yawned. “Use those or take them to restock yours.”

“We have enough thanks to you,” She smiled. “We won’t hoard them, but we won’t pass them out at minor injuries. You did a lot for us.”

“We didn’t do…” Shadow didn’t finish as he fell asleep.

Shadow awoke with a fright. Where was his necklace? It was accented by a screeching noise off to his side. He couldn't move and strained even more.

“Relax,” Shadow heard Nor say to him.

Nor was by his side, pushing Shadow gently down as he coached him to relaxing. Shadow felt the force disappear and realized he was being restrained by unicorn magic, for his own good. He looked over to see Metal Heart panting.

“What has you…”

Shadow cut Nor off by latching onto his foreleg.

“Where is it!” He demanded in panic. “Where is my necklace!”

“Right here!” Metal Heart interjected in between pants. “I have it locked up for safekeeping. It is undamaged.”

Shadow relaxed on the bed and groaned in pain. Tensing up like he did caused a lot of pain. He had bandages over most of his body. He saw spots of fresh blood soiling them.

“I really got pattered?” He stated.

“We all did,” Nor smiled. “I am only up to talk with you and make sure you are fine. We all took health potions and we all have spent most of the day in bed. I think Thunder actually did get up to eat and then headed right back to bed.”

“Here,” Metal Heart smiled as she held out his necklace.

Shadow immediately put it on. She obviously didn’t want it on, to keep it safe and out of the way, but she wasn’t going to push it. She needed Shadow to relax.

“Your books made it through fine, again,” Nor chuckled. “Slice made those holders damn solid. But they showed wear. You armor is patching up nicely. All of ours are. But it will be at least two more days. At least.”

A ship’s bell began to sound. Shadow looked at Nor.

“Super Pony attack,” Nor explained. “They have been hitting the city all day in retaliation. The guards are good and have some really nice, new toys to deal with them. Relax. They have this.”

Shadow let out a sigh. “I don’t like it. I feel helpless. I feel exposed.”

“I was prepared for that,” Nor chuckled.

Nor put the revolver on the table next to Shadow's bed, along with two boxes of ammo. The revolver was in it’s holster. He added the combat knife for more assurance.

“Thank,” Shadow smiled.

“Our flight suits are being patch up by the garment gallery,” Nor said. “Do you want them to stitch these up?”

Shadow swiped the arm bands out of Nor’s hoof faster than Nor could react.

“No,” Shadow said focusing on them. They each had some blood stains, and Dream’s had a hole in the center by the red cross. The Cherry only had a slight rip.

“Get me matching thread,” Shadow ordered. “And a needle. I can do these repairs and would not trust them to anypony else. These things are worth more than I can express.”

“Right,” Nor nodded. “Easy enough.”

“Report on things,” Shadow ordered.

“Well, like I said, the team is healing and armor is being repaired,” Nor began. “But tomorrow Slice plans on beginning the cannon mounting. I think Storm is going to be helping. Thunder just wants to sleep, but will probably help with strategic placements and defenses. None of us are really trained in setting up a fort or instillation. We know it is different. Otherwise, we have no plans.”

“The rest of the situation?” Shadow asked.

Nor sighed. “Everything is back, safe and sound and put away neatly and organized. Twelve were injured and are in here with you. One was from an accident unloading the cannons. There were plenty of minor injuries from all teams including the unloading team. And finally, four ponies died. They didn’t make it out of the fort alive or off the boat. Everything possible was done for them. But it was like Silent, it just drained away.”

The pain of their deaths was worse than the physical pain from his wounds.

“Ease you mind,” Metal Heart soothed. “They were militiaponies. They were trained to protect this city and it’s ponies. Even in an attack like that. They were more than willing to lay down their lives. This is their home and they saved a lot more lives with the stuff that was brought back.”

“I know they knew what they were getting into,” Shadow sighed. “But it still hurts. Where we come from, there is no suffering like this. Death is old age or a freak accident, not bullet wounds and toxic chemicals. We have to defend ourselves, but not like this.”

The pony next to Shadow, behind the curtain spoke up. “I hope when you get back home, you will tell of their heroic deeds. That there is a good way to die by bullets.”

“Most certainly,” Shadow replied. “You all deserve it.”

“I am going to go get that thread and a needle,” Nor said, patting Shadow's hoof. “And then I am heading to bed.”

“Now I need to change your dressings,” Metal Heart said coming back with fresh rolls. “More of them since you opened some wounds and probably tore some stitches.”

“Sorry,” Shadow sighed. “But I do need to test my hooves.”

“You are not getting out of bed,” Metal Heart said firmly.

“I just need to see that I can stand on my own,” Shadow groaned. “That is all.”

Metal Heart sighed. “I was hoping you would be my easiest patient.”

Shadow smirked. “I don’t try to make trouble. It just happens.”

Shadow slowly rolled off the bed and onto his hooves. He was standing easily.

“How does that feel,” Metal Heart asked.

“It hurts,” Shadow panted. “Badly. All over. But it feels right being on my hooves. They are steady. Back home on the farm, we would only have natural remedies. A few stitches, some healing salve and a good bandage. So it was on my hooves as soon as I could. At least to walk around to avoid bed sores and a cough.”

“Lets get you back in bed then and change them there.”

“No,” Shadow insisted. “This is the best position. Do what you need to.”

Metal Heart sighed and began to change out the bandages. It felt weird to be unwrapped and then wrapped up. The only thing he was wearing was the dressings. Shadow had to hold the necklace out of the way as she redid the chest.

“All done,” She announced. “You didn’t pull a stitch, but you have to be careful. Lets get you back in bed and then I will change out your head dressing.”

“By tomorrow evening, do you think I will be back out my own?” Shadow asked. “Taking it easy of course.”

“Maybe,” Metal Heart replied as she checked the head wound. “You are healing well. Very well. I am not used to using healing potions, let alone another drought like I am about to give you.”

“Good,” Shadow sighed. “I hate being tied to a bed and useless. I get I have to heal and rest, but still.”

Metal Heart came back with a healing potion. Shadow downed it in one go. Metal Heart had to check in with the others.

Nor was back soon with thread and a needle. He didn’t stay. The fatigue was written all over his body. Shadow didn’t need much time to stitch the totems up. He tried to sleep after, but he needed a dose of Med-X to chase away the aches plaguing that realm.

Shadow woke early the next morning. Metal Heart was asleep in her room connected to the clinic, but she had a young stallion helping and on watch. He hated staying in bed with nothing to do.

Metal Heart had Shadow up and walking a bit before lunch. She had to clip the now useless stitched.

“You are a hearty pony,” She marveled. “Or Pegasus.”

“I identify as pony,” Shadow chuckled. “To the annoyance of many of the pegasi back home. Separation tactics to survive all these years.”

“Well, down here you have the right idea,” Metal Heart smiled. “We all are one. Despite pegasi being as rare as seeing the real sun. But rest up a bit more. I think after dinner we can let you go. You are hearty and healing twice as fast as anypony else here. And they had less stress on their bodies and less severe wounds.”

Shadow ate dinner in bed, but was released after that. The walk back to his room was slow. There was no need to rush. He wanted to because he was wearing nothing. Nothing to be super concerned about though. Others in the city wore nothing or next to nothing.

His armor was still not repaired fully. Shadow picked up his saddlebags and pulled another health potion out of it. He drank it without a second thought.

Shadow sat down on his bed and casually flipped through his homestead book. Soon, if not already, there would be two additions to the family. He was no longer sure when Cherry Tart or Lunar would give birth.

Shadow retired for the night. In the morning he would catch up with everything. He would be able to think better as well.

The morning did bring a clearer head. His flight suit was not back yet. Shadow took his jacket, hat and cloak. They were more than enough. With revolver and combat knife strapped on, he headed out to find breakfast.

The ponies were too damn kind. They served him quickly and refused payment. He had already paid them in his eyes.

Shadow soon found Slice and Storm. They were organizing the raw materials for the gate cannon.

“Good to see you up,” Storm smiled as they bumped hooves.

“It is good to be up,” Shadow sighed. “Is this the first one?”

“Yes it is,” Slice replied distracted. “I have everything worked out. These things will be able to hold off any mass attacks. And Storm is running a simple communication line to various points all long the wall. They will be able to pick up the phone and talk to each other for better coordination.”

“Sounds great. I will leave you to it for now,” Shadow chuckled.

“At lunch, Thunder and I want to speak with you,” Storm said. “He has a bat shit crazy plan that is worth your ear. He is running around installing machine gun nests and actual hard defensive points along the wall.”

“This will be interesting,” Shadow smiled.

“Good morning everypony,” Sweet Waters greeted them all.

“Sweet Waters,” Shadow smiled at her. “You are up, no bandages, and glowing.”

“A healing potion goes a long way,” She grinned. “And Slice patched me up right to start with.”

“That and I haven’t seen you in three or so days,” Shadow smiled. “But for now, I think I need to check out the farms.”

“I will join you,” Sweet Waters said. “I think they will listen to you. You all earned their respect. But they could use seeing me for support.”

“I wish it didn’t go so far as free breakfast,” Shadow said rolling his eyes.

Sweet Waters giggled. “They won’t harm their business, but they are appreciative. At least indirectly they are helped. The city took in everything, but that was planned. There was really nothing anypony personally needed. The city makes sure of that.”

“That means better equipped guards and better survival for those guards, which makes everything safer. And it also means that the militia will be better armed as well. Medical care is going to be better and cheaper. A win all around.”

“It is really good to hear that,” Shadow replied. “It was a lot of fun making those bastards bleed. But did they make anypony bleed in their attacks on the city?”

“No,” Sweet Waters said. “Our guards are good and their attacks were disorganized. That certainly saved us.”

“Good,” Shadow nodded.

“What exactly happened with the cannon shot?” Sweet Waters asked a minute later. “Slice ignores the question and today was the first time I saw anypony else from your team.”

Shadow shook his head. “Slice didn’t think through the potential consequences. The major one being scaring the shit out of us all. At least if we ran a test run, everypony would have known and not be freaked out. Still, it was a stupid choice that I would have shut down.”

“Why? Isn’t testing them a wise idea?” She asked confused.

“Slice could tell they were ready and safe,” Shadow explained. “And if they were not, he could have fixed them with relative ease. He didn’t need to fire a round. He wanted to. We have had little time to relax and for him to do tinkering. No excuse, but fact.”

“Command Major Sir,” Shadow was greeted. “It is wonderful to see you up.”

Shadow smiled. It was funny to hear them work so hard at addressing him by rank, but never getting it right. It was a kind gesture to call him by his rank, just like they called The Captain by his rank.

“It is wonderful to be up,” Shadow replied. “I never had time the other day to fully check out your process.”

“You said you could improve things and increase our food production,” He replied.

“Increasing it will be easy,” Shadow said examining a tomato plant. “Improving your set up is a whole different thing entirely. I have not had time to check out anything but the dirt. So walk me through everything.”

Dry docks were usually huge. These were even bigger since they were designed around the production of the new line of modern warships, far bigger than Equestria had ever seen. All of the dry docks had ships being built in them, but those had been removed to build the wall. They were not far enough in construction to be useful in any other way.

Not only length was was a major factor, but the width. Each was easily 1,500 feet long and 300 feet wide. 450,000 square feet per dock meant 4,050,000 square feet of farmable land. Just shy of 100 acres. More patches were dug into the concrete as well, including a cranberry bog in one of the rainwater irrigation ditches.

“This operation is impressive,” Shadow marveled. “Very impressive. How long can you sustain the population?”

“We are not at shortages yet,” Mineral Swirl said. He had silently joined them a while ago. “But if you really can increase crop yield, it is worth the try.”

“First question,” Shadow smiled. “How are your seeds for next year’s crop picked?”

Mineral Swirl shrugged. “The oats, we just bag some after separation.”

“Problem number one,” Shadow replied. “Find the best, highest yielding grain heads. You want those good properties to pass on. Five is better than three and will get passed on. Same with the bigger, healthier fruits and rooted plants. It will take the better stuff away that harvest, but it will exponentially pay off.”

“Okay,” Mineral Swirl nodded. “That is new. We had to start fresh all those years back.”

“And you did an amazing jab,” Shadow praised them. “Did and still are. But you do not know the art of compost. That will be fixed.”

“Compost is a type of fertilizer you can make yourself,” Shadow explained. “The plants need minerals to make the fruit and survive. We need the minerals in them to stay alive. But we don’t need them all and we change many of them. So any excrement is power packed with stuff the plants need. And the food waste like peels and uneaten food, breaks down into them again for use.”

“Unlike fertilizer, it is a lot wetter and it smells worse. But you will get used to the smell or if done right, there is no smell. It is simply rotting everything in a way that breaks it down nicely and perfect for what you need. Or better put, what the plants need.”

“This includes any and all organic materials. Natural, untreated wood bits, fire ashes, papers, and any untreated things that breakdown. This includes your liquid and solid bodily wastes. I wasn’t able to plow back home, I am too small.”

Several ponies chuckled.

“It’s okay to laugh at my tiny size,” Shadow told them as he laughed. “I am here because I am one of our best soldiers. You can’t move me, my agility and speed is top notch, and more. I found a mare that loves me for all I am, and is just a faction smaller than me. Although she would probably argue against that.”

They laughed at that.

“Since I wasn’t help pulling, I was used elsewhere, like repairing the equipment and composting. I still was taught everything about farming. Compost needs to be done in bins. I would help, but I should not be doing any heavy lifting right now.”

“We have you covered,” A unicorn chirped.

“What is going to be dumped into the bay?” Mineral Swirl asked.

“The barge will be put out of use,” Sweet Waters shrugged. “For most things. But we did the garbage collecting as well, so we are not out of a job.”

“I will get a list going for what can and can’t be composted,” Shadow added. “There will be plenty of things that can not be composted. Even if you screen everything before putting it in the trash for composting, you still need to screen it before adding it to the bins.”

“I will go get the garbage team,” Sweet Waters told Shadow. “The compost change not only effects them, but we need to not dump anything until things are set up.”

It was hard for Shadow to just oversee the work. Pitching in was ingrained in his muscles. The Unicorns were skilled. That didn’t mean the Earth Ponies were not just as skilled. Several from the maintenance team came to help, including a Unicorn that could weld with his horn. That sped things up drastically.

Shadow was called away for lunch with the Governor. They all could use the break and there was no time schedule.

It wasn’t just Governor Silver Sifter, but The Captain, Salt Waters and Sweet Waters. Shadow was the first one there. He took a seat across from Governor Silver Sifter and The Captain.

“I am glad you could make it Command Sergeant Major,” The Governor smiled. “I was afraid you would be in bed a lot longer.”

“I am not going to push myself,” Shadow said taking a drink of water. “But I barely was injured. I still have fragments of at least two bullets in me from Fillydelphia. I was out for two weeks from that ordeal. Health Potions were the only reason I survived and how I patched up so quickly.”

“That is a lot of lead,” The Captain replied.

Shadow nodded. “The mission specs dictated that I should have been left with my armor set to self destruct. Obviously, I didn’t die at the scene like our Lieutenant, but we were on the run and it was a huge risk to the team. I had information on Nesha, the Disciples, and their territory that was irreplaceable, so they fought for my life.”

“And you fought for it well,” The Captain added.

“I don’t give up,” Shadow grinned, remembering Basic Training.

“Hope you didn’t start without us,” Slice said, announcing their arrival. “I would have been here earlier, but I had concrete on my hooves.”

Slice sat down in between Shadow and Sweet Waters.

“Things are going well then?” Shadow asked.

“Eh,” Slice shrugged. “We had to scrap the first attempt. We tried a metal base since we have more available. It wasn’t strong enough to hold the gun in place. So we have to use good old concrete. Just taking time to learn, and invaluable to know in the end.”

“The others guns and pieces are having the rust removed and painted,” Storm added. “So its not a loss in any manor. And we have the cannon locations picked out. The are running the com lines now. That will mean a few clicks and they will all able to speak with each other along the wall.”

“You had a stupid plan?” Shadow asked.

“Yeah, but we can discuss that at another time,” Thunder replied. “We didn’t have this lunch engagement at the time. We have plenty of time.”

Shadow nodded.

“Well, I just wanted to treat you all to lunch for the help you have done and are doing,” Governor Silver Sifter announced. “No matter what happens in the future, this is appreciated more than I, we, can convey.”

“We are enjoying it,” Nor beamed. “We don’t get to do this back home. We are making an impact to ponies that appreciate it. That means a lot to us.”

“You are a shinning light in the wasteland,” Salt Waters added.

“Maybe here,” Shadow sighed. “The rest, well the jury is still out there.”

“You bombed the Disciples,” The Governor stated. “She is bad news. And we heard about that bombing from DJ Pon3 before you even showed up.”

“Was it positive?” Nor asked concerned.

“Generally,” Salt Waters answered. “Jury was out for the Steel Rangers, but it was guessed that they may have done something to deserve it. They had been searching some unknown group for weeks. The Disciples was all positive. Including destruction of factories.”

“It didn’t condemn us having to drop bombs on some resource centers,” Nor sighed.

“My call in the end,” Shadow said. “I told you to hit it. It was a pure military strike against resources. Slave labor or not, it was what she was using to produce arms, weapons and all over evil materials.”

“I probably would have made the same call,” The Captain added. “The realities of war, as bad and insensitive as it sounds and feels.”

“And when we walk out of here, its back to the same,” Shadow said letting out a deep breath. “Hopefully that will turn out to being recalled. But only one communication source, we have no way to tell out here. Packing the terminal system would have been a pain and our outpost is hidden and well protected.”

“But that is not why we are here,” Shadow said finding his joy.

“We didn’t have a topic,” Governor Silver Sifter replied. “We just wanted to express thanks for all that you did for us. From the strike against Fort Strong and recovering the basic supplies, to the cannons and farming. The most impressive and important was rescuing Sweet Waters, intentional or not. Because of it, we were able to do so much more.”

“I can’t express myself about being rescued,” Sweet Waters added with a tear sliding down her cheek.

“I wish there was more we could physically do for you,” Governor Silver Sifter said. “But I know that you guys have more than enough back at your base and just need enough to get back.”

“Do you have any communication equipment?” Storm asked. “Something we could use to reach home? These ships should be big enough for mass communications.”

“Stripped that years ago,” The Captain replied. “One of the things we actually stripped.”

“FUCK!” Storm swore, standing up so he didn’t slam his hooves onto the table. “Fort Strong never had what I needed. I looked, but came up empty.”

“The Naval Academy might have stuff,” The Captain added. “Dangerous…”

“And the plan we wanted to talk to talk with Shadow about,” Thunder interrupted.

“That is a stretch,” Shadow replied. “Deep into or behind Super Pony territory.”

“It might be worth it,” Storm said, almost begging. “If we could get a hold of that Nova guy or that Marble Falls.”

“How about his wife,” Slice snorted. “Perhaps the most valuable one there.”

“That would be Colonel Nova or Captain Marble Falls,” Shadow replied. “She might be a Wonderbolt, but too connected to me. The other two have weight. Hell, both would lead recovery teams to secure us coming back.”

“We have to make the attempt,” Storm pushed.

Shadow sighed. “Fine. Get me a full report to approve, but you are right. It is worth it. This communications choice is biting me in the ass. The very thing we need to protect home might be the death of us.”

Lunch came, ending the discussion.

“Now, we have the local delicacy,” Governor Silver Sifter smiled. “Something you do not have to try, but is eaten in the wasteland.”

“What is it?” Nor asked poking at a white slab on his plate.

“Radigator,” The Governor replied.

“As in flesh from a previously living creature?” Nor asked to clarify things. He was highly disturbed.

“Yes,” Salt Waters replied. “They live in the watery areas south of us and we hunt them.”

“NOPE!” Nor said pushing the plate as far away as possible. “I am an herbivore, not an omnivore. Plain and simple.”

“I am out,” Shadow said shaking his head. “I am a farm pony. Not going to happen. I love my vegetables too much.”

The idea of eating flesh, cooker or not, was beyond Shadow's imagination and grosser than anything he ever had imagined. Rotting, mushy food would be better.

“I’ll try,” Thunder said, cutting a piece.

Shadow and Nor had to look away. Slice declined even after Thunder said it tasted good. Storm tried it, but that was as far as he went.

“We do what we have to do for survival,” Governor Silver Sifter said. “Not always glorious, but practical.”

“Practical is one thing,” Shadow replied. It was all he could say as shivers overtook him.

Sweet Waters was giggling. The others were smiling at their reactions to the dish.

“Don’t feel bad,” The Captain smiled. “I never have had it. I can’t do it. I can hunt them for the city’s food and have hunted them plenty of times, but it is not something I can eat. Not one bite.”

“I couldn't do it even starving,” Nor said, eyes still half closed.

“Still is an experience,” Shadow smiled. “Odd and gross to me, but an experience to be here with it in front of us. I won’t put that in a report. It would only add to the stereotypical idea that all ponies down here are bloodthirsty savages who eat each other.”

“I don’t recall that,” Storm questioned.

“Right,” Shadow nodded his head. “All of you joined before the expeditions. You only learned about PWTs and the meds. I actually had Nova explaining things, graphically, from his time below and other missions alongside his teams.”

“One story that stuck with me was having your wings cut off and roasted over a fire. All while you sit tied up, watching the ponies eat them and then prepare to eat you the next day.”

They all chuckled at the tale.

“A lot of change for you,” The Captain commented.

Shadow nodded his head. “We are the first team below after the original runs were done several years ago. They were not close to being ready, but we are trained and equipped to survive. Surviving is not meant to be standing there, getting blasted as we shoot back. We are supposed to use cover. It hasn’t proven to be practical quite yet.”

“They need an army for some of what they want us to do, not a recon team. But who wants to send an army in blind? And we are the reason we know they need to send an army to face off against either the Steel Rangers or the Disciples.”

“Can’t we seem to talk about anything else?” Slice asked. “Its all business and glum.”

“Like what?” Sweet Waters asked with a smile.

“Damn,” Slice sighed after a while. “My life is this mission. I have nothing else. I am boring and getting old. I’ve spent my life on what amounts to useless pursuits in the name of protecting us.”

“This isn’t useless,” Shadow replied putting his hoof on Slice’s. “This mission will save lives. Hopefully on all sides.”

“I have cannons to install,” Slice said and walking out of the middle of lunch. He was agitated.

Storm shook his head. “I knew it was getting to him, but we need to get home, now. The stress is too much.”

“Maybe Shadow could head back,” Nor suggested. “He checks the terminal, we leave Slice to his cannons and we tackle the alternative communications system.”

“No,” Shadow replied firmly. “If we split, we will fragment. We have to stay united, together.”

“I agree with Shadow,” The Captain added. “It is your best action. Otherwise you will become us. You don’t want that. Not in your heart of hearts. Not when you have a safe place with loving family to go back to.”

“And it may be some stress, but you all can take a lot more than you think. They would not have sent you otherwise. This was a well thought out mission that they knew would require time. ”

“How about crops?” Governor Silver Sifter asked attempting to change to a happier topic.

“They have done a great job with little guidance,” Shadow smiled. “We are building a compost system which will make healthier, better yielding plants. They will be learning how to irrigate better and we already went over how to pick the better seeds for better planting and therefore better food.”

“I must say,” Shadow continued. “You have plenty of acres and you already produce enough to feed yourselves. But you will notice more food next harvest. A day or two and they will be set up and armed to farm like a pro.”

“That is very good news to hear,” Governor Silver Sifter said relaxing a bit. “Food is a tricky subject here.”

“Food is a tricky subject everywhere,” Shadow replied. “Back home, they think we are tighter than we are. Ponies are afraid of starving, which they should not be. But the system makes it hard to understand that. I would probably side with them if I didn’t farm.”

“Shadow, how small are you exactly?” Sweet Waters asked.

Shadow chuckled. “My father and his best friend are easily half the size of those Super Ponies and could scare them with their disapproving stare and raw, quiet confidence. They are the largest, but even my smallest sister, Early Blossom is bigger than anypony here. Good, strong bodies built for farming.”

“Well, I am leaving out my little sister, Dream Catcher,” Shadow shrugged. “She is three years younger than me. Last I saw her, she was bigger than me and well on her way to being the same size as they are. And she is becoming the local healer.”

Shadow chuckled. “I am really small compared to the ponies in my community, foal sized. Here, not much of a big deal, but there, its laughable. Ironic. It took military training to see and accept it fully, but I am really small and a bit effeminate.”

“And yet he attacked a super pony bare hoofed,” Storm laughed. “First one we ran into. It saw Shadow, so he hoped out and tried to buckle it’s rear legs with a pressure point buck. It failed, and not because of Shadow’s size, but because of it’s strength. It even had concrete blocks on it’s hooves.”

“That is impressive,” Salt Waters laughed. “You attacking a Super Pony like that.”

“What is that look?” Thunder asked.

“I think you are talking about Cinder Block,” Governor Silver Sifter said. “We have had a bounty on his head for thirty years at least. And we can trace him back almost 80 years. Too bad you don’t have proof.”

“It is saved in my suit’s computer,” Shadow stated. “For further review and maybe a report. But we don’t need to add a bounty on top of things.”

“Still, we should confirm the kill,” Thunder added. “Well, that your kill was Cinder Block. We know you killed him. But we should do it so they do not need to worry and can drop the bounty.”

“That beast has been shot a lot,” The Captain stated. “And he is powerful. Not being able to buckle his legs, even in your armor, is Cinder Block strong.”

“I just put a single armor piercing round through his head,” Shadow shrugged. “He fell easy enough.”

“I want to see this,” Governor Silver Sifter stated. “Cinder Block or not, I want to see it.”

“Suit is still under repairs,” Shadow replied. “After that we can take a look.”

“Nopony here can put a round through the head like that,” The Captain added. “I saw you were good, but not that good.”

“I just did all I could to be the best I could,” Shadow shrugged. “It paid off. But it was how I was raised, not a conscious choice. I couldn't let the community down. I couldn’t, can’t, let my teammates down.”

“They are very lucky to have a soldier like you,” Governor Silver Sifter smiled.

They rest of the day went well. Slice had two concrete instillations made. They would mount the cannons on them after they dried. The compost bins were made and the first bits were dumped in. They were having to change up the waste disposal system to separate the liquids and solids before each could begin to be made usable.

The end of the day found Shadow standing at the end of the flight deck, staring down Fort Strong. Ponies had died over it, and it was again under Super Pony control. It looked like nothing had happened, that it was useless. Their blood meant nothing from a glance.

The resources were amazing find and worth it, but still, four died and others injured. Somehow, Shadow had tricked himself into thinking their blood would not be drawn.

“Still stuck on it?” The Captain asked coming up behind Shadow.

Shadow had anticipated his arrival. “Pony blood was spilled and it is back in their control. I had tricked myself…”

It was left unsaid as The Captain joined his side. They just stared at Fort Strong.

“I have two things to asked you,” The Captain finally said. “The first, Wonderbolts were mentioned.”

“Right,” Shadow said, still mesmerized by the fort. “The Enclave reinstated them after the clouds were sealed up. Top notch fliers and performers. The best in the Enclave. I could join their ranks, but I went here. Fate called me to the Equestrian Wasteland.”

“I had special training by one. They are better, faster, than what you were to do with the bombing. Scarier. I never got more information, but I got the implications. They are very quiet and secretive.”

“I am not surprised they were reinstated,” The Captain replied. “I feel slighted, but not surprised to hear it happened.”

“Slighted?” Shadow asked, never taking his eyes off Fort Strong.

“The Captain is all I am known as. Before, I was known as Soarin. A Wonderbolt. The war changed things. I didn’t join the Shadowbolts. Fleetfoot and I spent our time teaching pegasi in aerial combat roles. Both of us saw limited time on the front lines as well, but we were teachers.”

“I took on the role here as Captain over the pegasi team here. They needed somepony with a strong, well known name to take it up. To boost moral on a brand new style of warfare.”

“A gunsmith in Fillydelphia, Walter Arms, was building a custom rifle for me and Spitfire. He designed several models that got used in the war, but left production to other companies. I lost touch with Spitfire as the war took us to different roles. I had hoped their presentation to us here would rekindle that connection, but it never came.”

“She did not join the Enclave,” Shadow assured him. “I would know. She had family and its charted out. My wife is Cardinal Spitfire. A direct descendant. She made her own way without the help from her name. And she is a Wonderbolt, what she wanted. But Spitfire never knowingly stayed.”

“That would explain why we lost touch,” The Captain replied. “It was not a good time to be pregnant and I do not know who the father would have been.”

“I never saw the chart,” Shadow replied. “But she didn’t join them above. But why do you go by The Captain?”

“Because after everything, Soarin wasn’t left. My very self is altered. My team, half gone from the beginning. We started the settlement. It grew in size, and it was easiest to just be The Captain, not Soarin. Captain is how I was almost always addressed. At that time, I was leading the settlement. Once it was big enough, I stepped down to just leading the guard. The ‘The’ ended up tacked on the front and I never pushed to remove it.”

“That is understandable,” Shadow replied. “I do not blame you.”

“You are the only pony alive who knows that secret. Like you said several days ago, we are pegasi and we understand each other. We trust each other because of our backgrounds.”

“It is that much more comforting. And it will stay with me until my grave,” Shadow replied. “But you had another thing?”

“Yes. We look across the water at Fort Strong. It looks like nothing has changed, but we know we gutted it. I always had a suspicion that our mission had a darker side. Equestria had figured out the Balefire Megaspell and was working on making it portable, like the Zebras had. Was there…”

The Captain didn’t finish the question.

“We never found Balefire eggs, shells, spells or any evidence of Balefire,” Shadow stated.

“Would you tell me if you had?” The Captain asked.

“No,” Shadow replied. “But if they were there, and in danger of being exposed, well we brought the naval cannon shells here for a reason. We would have moved them as well or made sure they were so secure that time itself could not unlock them.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 46 - Communicating Strong Estimated time remaining: 7 Hours, 11 Minutes