Take off at 0400 was seamless. They were able to stay high and fast before the dawn. They touched down alongside Shattered Hoof Ridge. Every member of the Inquisitors was becoming an expert fliers.

Shadow had his hat, but that was all. They were relying on their cloaks and the armor covers. They had paid Lace Hem to do a real, professional job on the covers. Heavy duty, but repairable with some basic stitching. They had spares made, just in case.

With such and early start, the city was in sight before the sun began to set. Shadow took a few deep breaths before beginning to lead them to the city. More guards poked their heads out as the got closer. They kept their rifles trained on them, but didn’t open fire.

“YOU! STOP!”

Shadow halted at the order.

“You ain’t Steel Rangers! Speak quickly or we will shoot!”

“Travelers,” Shadow called out. “Explorers heading south.”

“Heavily armed and armored.”

“It’s only five of us. We mean no harm. Just some trade and a place to rest our heads as we pass through. Our caps are clean.”

They were ordered to approach closer. They stood there, waiting patiently as the guards discussed the development.

Shadow overheard one of the guards speak. “They could be the ones Dahlia is looking for. That makes them dangerous.”

“Dahlia? Again?” Shadow groaned loudly. “She won’t leave us alone for some damn reason. Says we are some big threat and citing some Iron Ranger bullshit. She has done nothing but harass us and force us to run and hide. We can’t compete with their weapons and armor, but we have enough for them to covet it. Enough to kill us over.”

Shadow nodded his head three times at their stares. “Yes, they have killed because we happen to have some fancy guns. Just for our guns.”

“Mind your manors,” The guard warned them as he signaled them to enter.

The entire city was boxcars and train cars. There were more ponies than they expected. It was definitely centered around trading.

“Nothing to trade, but we have caps,” Shadow stated over their coms. “Slice, Storm, find the traders and lets see if they have what we need.”

Slice and Storm broke off from the group. They took their helmets off since they would be dealing with ponies face to face.

“I will search out a place for the night,” Nor said.

Shadow gave his approval and Nor headed off, removing his helmet as well.

“Not a chance,” Thunder said, referencing his helmet. “Especially with Dahlia around. I won’t fight in the city unless she forces us to, but still.”

“See if you can poke around about her,” Shadow said. “If asked, you physically can’t take your helmet off.”

Thunder nodded and departed to find some guards to speak to.

Shadow walked down the town’s main street taking it all in.

“Shadow!” Slice called over the coms. “You need to come see who we found!”

“Who?” Shadow asked.

Slice answered by directing Shadow to them. The sign read “Absolutely Everything.” Slice beckoned Shadow inside.

When Shadow met up with them Slice handed him a book, “The Wasteland Survival Guide.”

“Fresh from the printer,” Slice said. “And that is Ditzy Doo.”

“Damn,” Shadow said shaking his head. “How much?”

“That copy is free to every first time customer,” Slice replied.

“Well then” Shadow marveled. “A great treat to bring back.”

“And learn from,” Slice stated. “We could have used a fresh copy when we started.”

“Buy one for each of us,” Shadow stated.

“Right,” Slice nodded. “Storm is picking through things, but Absolutely Everything is probably missing absolutely everything we need. I never thought it would be this difficult to get a simple communicator built!”

“Its because we need our home’s special receivers to read it,” Storm said from where he was. “It adds to the difficulty about four times over. Very troublesome. That and this stuff breaks easily.”

“Any potentials?” Shadow asked.

“Yeah, three,” Storm replied distracted.

Shadow nodded his head and began to check on their ammo stocks. There was no 44 ammo. He was carrying his pistol in his bags.

Thunder walked up to the store and Shadow went out to meet him.

“Dahlia departed earlier this morning,” Thunder reported. “Headed off to Ponyville.”

“Close call,” Shadow replied.

“I still am concerned she will return. I strongly recommend that we avoid here on our return trip. We want to disappear again. Whenever she returns, it is highly likely that she will find out about our visit. And not be happy.”

“Let her fume,” Shadow replied. “But we will avoid the return trip. It should not shock us that she is known or visits. It sounds like this is her job, long patrols and hunting down individuals.”

Nor trotted up to them. “We are getting funny, confused looks. But so far positive. I got us two rooms at the end of a sleeper car. Explaining why we needed to post guard was interesting. But it worked. I paid a little extra for our unique circumstances and to keep it quite.”

“Good,” Shadow nodded.

The team formed up and they headed off for dinner. Thunder and Shadow didn’t remove their helmets and reserved to eating pre-war food in the hotel room. The ponies were concerned enough to give them extra space and didn’t question them, even when the night watch was obviously posted.

Shadow and Thunder didn’t take watch since they had done their part while in the city. They departed early and headed south along the railroad.

Old Appleloosa came into view and Shadow decided to ignore the threat and pass through. Shadow took the lead as they came to the edge of the city. They were approached at gunpoint and told to stand down.

Shadow ignored them and when pressed, he slashed open the neck of the closest slaver. The outright savagery with no warning or communication kept them from opening fire, but rifles were trained on them as they continued through the city. They were too afraid of what might happen to try anything.

It was one thing to not even talk to the slavers before slicing one open, but it was another to ignore all the metal buildings and cages. Especially what was inside. Ponies of all ages were locked away and many didn’t look healthy.

The worst were the foal cages. Shadow wanted to look away, but he couldn’t turn his gaze. He saw an older foal that wasn’t a pony. It was a zebra. An unexpected sight. Then again, they were headed into the unknown south with who knows what was waiting for them.

Day two ended with them making camp with their backs to some rocks. It was harsh land and was only going to get more rocky and barren as they went further south.

They continued on the next day, finding no evidence of life. They entered what their map called the Macintosh Hills and kept going at a strong pace. The hills got bigger the further south until they blended into mountains.

The Inquisitors barely spoke as they trudged on and into the fifth day. Soon after they began, the area began to brighten up enough so that looking back appeared to be in a great dusty fog. The clouds were barely holding together and soon there was no artificial cloud cover.

They were looking at clear skies. They would see clear stars. The toxicity of the air and ground had changed, but still showed the effects of the fallout.

The clear skies scorched the ground like it was trying to melt the rocks themselves. They had brought out maximum water, but their canteens only held so much. They would need a new source soon. They were already risking dehydration.

Later in the day Nor broke the silence. “I am pretty sure this area was artificially flattened. And that the ridge above us had it’s head cut off. Only reason to do that would be for a military installation. A good location with what, a 500 hundred foot cliff? Otherwise it would be way to much work to justify anything.”

“You are right,” Shadow stumbled. He had to take a drink of water to loosen up his vocal cords. “But the cliff is synthetic, shaped like the rest of the land here. It’s decay has made it look more natural.”

“Odd choice of words,” Nor stated. “Synthetic. I am surprised you know that word.”

“The clouds we farm are technically synthetic soil,” Shadow explained. “A lot we do is synthetic. So we know it and use it.”

“Well, the cliff looks normal to me,” Nor replied. “A good boulder base for one thing. If it wasn’t for everything else being flat I would never guess it was altered terrain.”

“The pillbox there is a good indicator,” Thunder added.

The concrete pill box near the top was difficult to see. A sliver compared to the size of the cliff. It was almost perfectly blended into the stone. At one point it would have been, but time had wiped away its concealment and shifted the stone to make it visible.

“Facing north and this far south, it has to be Zebra,” Thunder continued. “It is a tad early, but lets break for camp. Face it in the morning. At least we are high enough that we are above the clouds. We get the stars and moon.”

They wordlessly set everything up and set watch. There still was nothing to say.

Shadow watched as the sun rose naturally in the morning like it did back home. He was on third watch. A good sunrise was calming to Shadow, but above their heads awaited something unknown and foreign. If it was Zebras, it would be very foreign.

“Two teams,” Shadow said organizing them. “Thunder and I will be first over the top. Stay low, more of sliding over it than popping up. We have no idea what we will be facing. There may be occupants.”

They all nodded and then began to slowly and quietly work their way up. They did their best to avoid the pillbox’s field of view. The top had a nice hold. Shadow and Thunder perched on it, hanging there, before making the final move.

It was a different feeling than flying. There was a pit in Shadow’s stomach and it felt like he was hanging on for dear life, without wings to catch him or any safety measures other than their grip.

Shadow looked at Thunder who nodded. They both pulled themselves up and over, staying low to ground, wings tucked in tight.

Shadow stopped as he saw the plateau in front of him. The others came up and over and found themselves right behind Shadow and Thunder.

The place was littered with bones and armor, preserved by the dry air. They walked forward into the hallow ground, carefully picking their way through the scattered bodies.

“These are pegasi,” Slice said.

“Horrible armor,” Thunder commented. “But what happened here to see this slaughter?”

“The answer lies further in,” Shadow replied. “I see stuff way out there that must hold the clues.”

The group spread out. They soon forgot about a potential attack.

“Guys,” Storm called over their coms. “I have metal here. As in a giant chunk of metal. Plenty of debris. It looks like a Cloudship crashed.”

“That would explain the giant bone fragment I am standing by,” Nor replied. “It is bigger than me. Crashed Cloudship, battle, this has to be a dragon.”

“I have a unicorn body here,” Shadow informed them. “This was a multi-race assault.”

“Shitty rifles and armor to take into battle,” Thunder replied.

“Keep moving forward,” Shadow ordered, distracted.

More and more bodies were strewn about. The pegasi became rare finds as heavier armor Earth Ponies became the prominent remains. They were cut down in mid charge.

Shadow could see the structure a quarter mile off. It was, at least at one point, heavily protected. These ponies never stood a chance. Still, they charged in like proper soldiers. There were no signs of any retreating or running. None of them had turned their backs.

Shadow came up on a slit trench. It was impossible to see from further back. Inside was armor and weapons Shadow wasn’t familiar with. They were painted with all sorts of things, but all had black and white stripes.

This was a grave for Zebras. Zebras who held the forward line from this trench and cut down most of the charging soldiers. It would have been impossible to see them as they charged this line. But once here, it was evident just how much a single grenade could do. Or a sweep from some of the pony automatic guns.

Shadow lazily jumped over the trench and continued on. There was another trench a couple dozen feet away. In between was mixed bodies. Spears, bayonets, combat knives and sabers were littered around as both sides had clashed in close combat.

“I found the full dragon,” Nor informed them. “And another Cloudships. This one looks like its a Raptor.”

“Keep an eye out for communication equipment,” Storm said. “That ship could have what we need.”

“I wish,” Nor replied. “But this ship is a burned out shell, melted by dragon fire. The cannons are a dead giveaway for it being a Raptor, but even they can’t be repaired.”

“Yeah, that first one we looked at was a patrol or transport ship,” Slice replied. “We still employ the same tactics. Pegasus soldiers begin the fight on wings, pushing the enemy so they have to focus on them while the Cloudships can get in closer with the heavy troops who never would have made it that far, even on wings. It has it’s risks, like you can see.”

Shadow was at the second slit trench. This one had less bodies and was right in front of a small concrete barrier. Behind the barrier was machine gun nests and different types of artillery. Unlike the naval guns, these were on wheels and easily portable. Their conditions varied, but some had been turned around to be used against their owners.

This whole area was solid concrete and only built up a half dozen feet, but it was a massive fortress of pillboxes, machine gun nests, artillery, anti air guns, and mobile cannons. It was all connected by an intricate trench system.

“Shadow, you should come see this,” Thunder called.

Thunder had made it to the concrete base as well. Shadow picked his way over to him. Thunder was next to a pillbox’s slits which were blackened. Thunder knelt down next to the bones of a pony who had two large tanks and a small tank mounted on the top of his armor to rest on it’s back. There was a decayed hose coming off the tanks.

“They were burning the pillbox to flush the Zebras out, or suffocate the ones further back. This looks like a disaster, but it was a well thought out plan. This had to be one of the last battles of the war for them to not pick up the dead. Perhaps the spells fell before this battle, and it was one strong go against the Zebras. Either way, they were ready to take on these pillboxes.”

“They were not ready for the cannons and machine guns,” Shadow replied.

“They didn’t get the air support they needed,” Thunder replied. “On this flank they did, but the dragons got there and complicated things. There is a full unit of pegasi dead on the other side of this pill box. They have the late war armor and weapons.”

“I guess we can not say it failed,” Shadow shrugged. “After all, a lot of ponies made it here.”

“We might have some real gems among these wrecks,” Thunder added.

Shadow nodded and picked his way back towards the center of the fortress. He found a central trench that fed into a larger bunker. It was flanked by slits in the bunker. Most of them were burned out and slits shut up with protective steel flaps. Here, the steel shells of heavy power armor made up the majority of dead.

Shadow approached the door and found more unexpected weapons. Not exactly weapons, but shields. Heavy duty shields that were connected to pony armor. It was their job to advance the mobile bulwarks down the trench to protect those behind them.

It looked like they made it, but they were dead. The main door had been blasted with heavy explosives, but it had not opened. It was fused. Shadow began to hear the click of his equipment warning him of radiation. Balefire.

“Balefire evidence,” Shadow radioed everypony. “They almost penetrated the main fort, but the door is fused shut.”

“That explains this wreckage,” Storm replied. “Yet another useless shell.”

“I am way off to the west of you,” Nor replied. “West as in at the edge of the cliff. I see the remains of a Cloudship or two and several dragons. The Cloudships look like Raptors from the heavy guns strewn about. But they are in good condition from what I can see.”

“Circle back,” Shadow ordered. “We will make it over there soon enough to check them out. Storm, Slice, head back in towards the center. I think it is time ponies breached this fortress.”

The all confirmed and made their way over to Shadow. Slice examined the door.

“Can you cut through it?” Shadow impatiently asked.

“I think so,” Slice replied. “It is worth the effort.”

“Thunder, prepare to use those shields,” Shadow ordered. “We do not know what is on the other side of those doors. Could be turrets or other nasty Zebra surprises. Enough to warrant a strong forward defense like they held.”

Thunder nodded as he complied. It took no effort for Thunder to pull the shield off of the armor it was built onto. He leaned it against his left shoulder, the best place to keep it steady. Nor and Storm took up defensive positions on the side of the trenches from the top. Shadow stacked on Thunder.

Slice was getting frustrated as the door resisted his efforts. Shadow called for a break and they backed away from it to eat lunch. They took meds to protect them from the radiation they knew was coming.

Storm began to help Slice cut through the door. It was fused together tighter than expected. Rosemary’s blast doors were much better quality and a harder angle to work at. It was slow work, but much easier in comparison.

The steel held together until Slice made the final cut. Slice rolled out of the way and Thunder advanced as it shrieked and clanged onto the concrete floor.

They entered the long hallway. It was a eerie feeling walking down such a blank, square hallway. Thunder carried the shield all the way down to where the tunnel made a 90 degree turn to the left.

“Guys, these walls used to have stuff painted on them,” Nor said. “Barely visible anymore, but this is large letters or symbols of some kind.”

“Now what?” Thunder asked.

“We continue into the depths of this place,” Shadow order. “Keep track of your movements on your HUDs. We can easily get lost in here. But this place should have water.”

They opened the door and continued their journey. Their equipment was still ticking from radiation.

“Are you sure anything is alive here?” Slice asked. “Or in here? Not a single body.”

“We can’t take that chance,” Thunder replied. “And you are not the one lugging this shield around.”

“They died at the gate for a reason,” Shadow added.

Now they were at a four way intersection.

“Thunder, take Slice and Storm and chose your path,” Shadow ordered.

“Straight,” Thunder replied as he reset his grip on the shield.

They headed straight and Shadow turned to the left. If he was correct, it would take them towards the front pillbox.

“This feels wrong,” Slice whispered over the coms. “We haven’t found a single body yet or evidence of a fight. Or of life.”

“Something is here,” Thunder grunted. “It was worth all of their lives and I don’t think they got it.”

“Unless they just needed to take this place out,” Slice argued back.

“Then we would have seen more fighting inside,” Shadow said. “Dead or wounded or something. Not just empty, crumbling hallways.”

“Which still have signs, symbols, masks and other things painted on them,” Nor commented.

They came to another split, this time they could only chose left or right. Shadow turned left down the hallway. It wasn’t long before the found a door that led into the pillboxes around the front gate they had entered.

“Here are bodies,” Shadow radioed. “Their armor is scorched and burned. These guys were flamed. Very effective.”

Nor broke off from Shadow and tried to open the pillbox’s slits to see outside. They were fused shut like the front gate had been. He played around with the machine guns that had been hidden inside. There was a reason they were tilted over. The heat from the flamethrowers had softened and warped them. There was no repairing these guns.

“Lets head to the other side,” Shadow said to Nor.

It wasn’t long until they found a stairwell and headed below the tunnels.

“This took a lot of time and energy to make,” Nor marveled. “So much concrete and its probably reinforced with steel.”

“And yet we have no evidence of a bathroom,” Shadow added.

They continued to move forward, taking a turn here or there until they found themselves in a room full of bunk beds. The walls were decorated with masks and other oddities. It was not welcoming at all.

“Found a barrack unit,” Shadow radioed. “And a sink.”

They dropped their guard and walked in. A sludged grunt set them into defensive stances and they saw figures rise up from between the beds.

Shadow opened up immediately, cutting them down. Nor froze for a split second and was charged by the things. They slammed into him, rearing up to kick him, and trying to bit him. Shadow bucked one off Nor and slashed another to pieces.

“Feral ghouls,” Shadow warned the others. “And with the sheer size of this place, I bet there are several units. All in armor and many with weapons still slung over their shoulder.”

“Yeah, we can confirm that,” Thunder replied. “Looking into a main room from the top floor. I see plenty of the things. And our radiation levels have spiked. Clear for free engagement?”

“Cleared,” Shadow replied.

Shadow listened for sounds of their engagement but heard none. Thunder would have opened up with rockets from his position.

“Did you engage?” Shadow asked after a few minutes.

“Plenty,” Thunder replied over broken coms. “They are storming up the catwalks to get to us. You can’t hear us? Not even our rockets?”

“Nope,” Shadow sighed.

“We could use a flame thing right now,” Slice grunted.

“Lets move,” Shadow said to Nor.

“Water,” Nor said from the sink.

They quickly filled their bottles and put PWTs in each one. Their water wasn’t too toxic. The two of them dove further into the belly of the fort and lost contact with the rest of the team. It wasn’t long until they found a communal area filled with dozens of Feral Zebra Ghouls.

“Is that one in power armor?” Nor asked before Shadow opened fire.

“Yeah,” Shadow gulped. “Lets hope it is too dumb to use it.”

Shadow ignored it to see how it would react. It proved to not be the only one in power armor. Thankfully, they showed no signs of being able to use the guns. Shadow cleanly put a round in each of their heads.

“I suggest moving to laser or nova,” Thunder panted over broken coms. “Save the GPER for the armored ones.”

They cleared the common area and found a large kitchen, hospital and a supply depot. Most of the other rooms were housing. The conference room indicated that is had been used for tactical analyses and battle plans. It was well preserved, but they didn’t have time to meander with the feral ghouls on the loose.

“I hate these masks,” Slice said over the coms that were becoming clearer. “And if it isn’t a mask, it is something else painted on the walls that creeps me out and follows you like it has real eyes.”

“Keep your head,” Shadow cautioned. “We can’t afford to let their decorating be the downfall of us.”

“Guys, I’m stuck,” Thunder announced. “Magic of some kind. It is holding me still.”

“Hold on,” Slice replied. “The walls have the same symbol on either side. It must be a spell or ward that halts any non zebras.”

Slice broke up the wall, ending the spell.

“You are lucky it didn’t self destruct,” Thunder replied frustrated.

“How lost are you Shadow?” Storm asked.

“Pretty lost,” Shadow admitted. “Our HUDs are mapping everything, but I lost track of the turns a while back.”

There was nowhere to go but forward.

“Guys,” Shadow whispered over the coms. “Are you in a long hallway with a few figures approaching from way, way down?”

“I was just about to ask you that same thing,” Thunder chuckled.

They dropped their guard a bit and picked the pace up. They met at another central intersection and they bumped hooves in victory.

“Well, its been another long tunnel,” Thunder said looking at their options. “I think we got their main rooms, but we should compare maps. This place may mirror itself for simpler navigation. Still, that leaves us with what I think is forward and back.”

“Nor and I have our left” Shadow nodded. “I think this may lead to the pillbox on the cliff.”

“I hope so,” Nor added. “I won’t feel lost if it is.”

“Have you been able to refill your canteens?” Shadow asked.

“Yes,” Storm nodded. “Just waiting for the PWTs to work their magic.”

They split again and Nor took point. It was another long hallway. However, this one began to dip down. They finally leveled out and saw a door at the end. They slid up to it as quietly as they could.

“I know you are no soldier of mine,” A voice called from inside. “Does fear grip that heart of thine? It should, for this is Kifopiga.”

Shadow looked at Nor. He nodded his head and switched his helmet to project his voice. Nor tapped his helmet to indicate he was still tied into their coms.

Shadow dove into the room like he was back in Basic. Shots rang out. He popped over sideways where he slid under a metal table. Shadow used the slid to get his hooves under him. He vaulted over the table, using his front hooves to finish the vault.

It gave Shadow the sight he needed to see the Zebra Ghoul. A quick roll and then another vault off the door frame and Shadow slid up to the ghoul. He drove his hoof knife all the way into it’s chest and looked the ghoul in the eyes.

“You think a little knife like that will harm the likes of me?” The ghoul chuckled. “With the radiation here it can not be. But I must say, that the door was breached has made for an interesting day.”

“You had no other exits?” Shadow asked as he took a step back.

The ghoul shook his head. “The Balefire made the steel blend, thwarting all attempts for me to mend.”

His once glorious stripes were discolored and disfigured. His mane and tale were non existent. Still, he held an air of sharp cleanliness that few could rival. His clothes were tattered and worn, but they were obviously a dress uniform. The uniform’s rank devices were like new. The same was true for the bars he had to showcase awards. Each ‘ribbon’ was a perfectly cut jewel.

Shadow caught the Glyphmark on his flank. Like Cutie Marks, they all were special and unique. There was no mistaking his. A circle; half white, half black.

“Two Toned,” Shadow said. “You survived.”

“Somepony who knows my pony name?” He asked shocked. “Are you one of the maim?”

Shadow shook his head. “I grew up hearing stories of Rainbow Dash and her Shadow. Of all the generals and targets she went to kill, you were the only one to escape her time and time again.”

“Ah,” Two Toned grumbled. “A Pegasus who just wants to kill me for glory and fame. To be like her and make a name.”

“No,” Shadow chuckled. “Not like her. Nopony can be Rainbow Dash. Sure, some like me can be almost as awesome, but still not her. Of all of our stories back home, you are left open ended. I will kill you so that I can tell a new tale when I head back there. The lost story of Rainbow Dash leading this battle and killing you.”

Two Toned laughed. “You bring a surprise, what you say is well synthesized.”

He sat down in the chair beside him. Shadow relaxed and leaned against the wall. “Come now, do not be rude, your friend outside should warrant no solicitude. The air is clean enough, and you are tough. Remove your armor and hear the tale, which has made this place my jail. It is, better than any fairytale. Kifopiga.”

Shadow hesitated but stepped out of his armor to the disapproval of Nor, who stepped into the room.

“Wait outside,” Shadow ordered him. It was a soft order, so Nor hesitated before stepping back out.

“A stallion I did not foresee,” Two Toned said as Shadow sat down. “Proving your eyes give you no guarantee. Even besides one like Rainbow Dash, your size is important balderdash.”

Shadow chuckled and Two Toned continued.

“No doubt your tales go into great detail, about the pony who came like lightning, leaving all our general’s coats whitening. Distance could not deter, the great saboteur.”

Yes,” Shadow nodded. “But it is just her an her Shadow. As in an actual shadow.”

Two Toned let out a chuckle. “Those bastards with her were nasty and cruel, at least I gave one, a vestibule.”

“I was forced to change tactics, and unleash a new bag of tricks. False hopes and lies I spread, in an attempt to make sure she was seeing red. Each time she came, like it was a game. Trap after trap she sprung, but she never was hung. To my joy, the military fell for my ploys. Caution bloomed and peace arrived, for which a full year I was not deprived.”

“You said you killed a Shadow?”

Two Toned nodded. “Shadowbolts, not a Shadow. Encased in black with many gizmos. Second time she came after me, I was again forced to flee. She should have know better after our first meeting, both of us took quite the beating. Hoof against hoof, we drew blood and broke bone until she no longer was alone.”

Shadow raised an eyebrow. “We tell tales of that epic first clash, but even in our most graphic retellings, she doesn’t get injured that badly. You flee when your reinforcements arrive and she prepares to fight them when her Shadow comes in and takes over.”

“It was the bloodiest time of my life, as we worked with both hoof and knife. Nothing was spared, for neither of us was unprepared. Coats were sliced and blood sacrificed. Bones cracked, none left intact. Epic it was not, for there was a plot. Animals we were in the hope of winning, so that we could walk away grinning. Curdled your blood would become, if I truly told you or anyone.”

Shadow nodded in understanding. “What about here though. You said I got a lot correct.”

Two Toned nodded as he thought.

“Kifopiga. It was an interesting battle, one that will make your bones rattle. It was a coincidence that the spells fell during this incidence. I was unaware of those facts until after all the acts. For two years we had prepared, brick upon brick, no expense being spared. We called our brothers from far and wide, and let slip where we had begun to reside.”

“My job was never to fight, no matter what our plight. I was at our home, back near the throne. I planned and organized actions of all size and brought in many a prize. None could match my skill, I had a prophecy to fulfill. That is, until, she came to kill. Forward I was sent, so she would repent.”

“Their military bowed before my might, but it only strengthened each pony’s fight. Soon, we were here, just as we were told by the seer. With this place built, and we set hoof to hilt. We let them know. We let them come. We let them think they had already won.”

“The Pegasi took to their wings, but were forced to land by our machines. Bullets and cannons cut them down, but they never backed down. Stuff of legends was their charge, but their death tole was large. All we had was enchanted and their death wish was granted. Even when the heavy armor dashed out from their ships, their hope was eclipsed.”

“But we were not as prepared as we thought, for new technologies they brought. Our advantage disappeared with their new toys, despite all our ploys. Guns that spit lead faster than before, and ones that launched flames greater than a dragon’s roar. We knew our blood would be spilled, but our army was ready and skilled. At last I released the dragons. My heart was filled with glee. It was not so, for they had more below.”

“A ship was about to crash, but it’s cannons let out a loud flash. One broke through the blast door, where below a spell was stored. It did not explode, but rather implode. Balefire filled our air and we were caught in our own snare. None of us was spared, this new body, we all shared.”

“My heart had never been so crushed. I watched from this spot as she led so many to away in a rush. Spared from harm, it looked as if she had dared to come in unarmed. In my throat was caught my wail, for I had forever failed.”

“So,” Shadow hesitated. “If the spell didn’t implode, what was waiting?”

Two Toned’s crooked smile was exponentially concerning due to the maimed face.

“Death. Only thing was death. Behind my doors was a battalion more. Ready and armed for the fight, they would have been a blight. And not just for those in mind, but all of pony kind. Enchanted halls, enchanted walls, with weapons charged, ready to be discharged. Weapons never seen by ponies eye’s, they would have given them quite the surprise.”

“Rainbow Dash led the assault herself, with no weapons?”

Two Toned’s eyes ignited. “No gun, no blade, no armor at all. She wore a dress uniform to this brawl. She knew I was here and that I would not disappear.”

“They died by our hooves and were running out of moves. Hidden from sight, shielded by might, an accident ended our fight and produced our blight. The stars aided their lost cause and set us in bronze.”

Shadow shook his head. “How many of your minds survived the initial Balefire fallout?”

“The only mind that was spared was me. A seer made this and it kept me free,” Two Toned said, pulling out a gilded and jeweled amulet. “Protection wards which served me well, but the stars made sure it only put me in a living hell.”

“You said stars twice now,” Shadow poked.

“The stars are Luna, but against Equestria she turned. Then they freed her from herself and pointed her this way, we soon learned. All from above bodes only ill will, and it even overturned my great skill.”

“The night and stars are evil?” Shadow asked confused.

“I do not expect you to understand. To you, she is a god despite being once banned.”

“We haven’t ever held Luna as a god,” Shadow replied. “Not that I know of. My life has been above all of the wastes in Equestria, in the clouds.”

Two Toned smiled. “So you do come from above, trying to figure out how to save what you love?”

“Yes,” Shadow nodded. “Some pegasi claimed the war was not theirs and when the spells came, took over. The clouds were sealed up for our protection.”

“And now you find your self lacking, having trouble with resource tracking. Not all can be grown, some you must dig to own. A two edged sword you forged with the clouds, and that edge is getting closer and closer despite the shrouds.”

Shadow nodded his head. “And now we are the first real group down to find out what has happened all these years. Who is alive, what changes have happened and to general reconnaissance.”

“But, who are you really? Shadow asked. “Two Toned was given to you by ponies because of your Glyphmark. But what is your real name?”

Two Toned sighed. “Somepony should know, even if it is a foe. Mwokozi I was given, for by a strong desire I was driven. Black and white, day and night, my two colors were such a sight. Their split was a sign, that was to be a guideline. Thus was my school, that I should be a tool. To protect what I love, from everyone, even those above. I was a gift to my kind, a real mastermind.”

“The time has come,” Mwokozi announced standing up. “We shall not carry on. Hope of that is is long foregone.”

Shadow stood up as well. Mwokozi was right. The time to talk was finished. His story about his first meeting with Rainbow Dash was concerning.

Mwokozi pulled out his revolver and set it on the table next to his dusty military cover. He unbelted his sword next. Shadow hadn’t seen that he was wearing a sword. It was obvious and Mwokozi smiled as he definitively set it on the table.

“I am healing well,” Mwokozi chuckled, ignoring a rhyme.

They stood looking at each other, waiting for the right moment. Nor poked his head around the doorway to watch.

Shadow threw the first punch. It was deflected with a strong purpose and ease. Mwokozi was not messing around.

“Do you think that you can win? I was never a has been. Rainbow Dash almost lost, and she felt the cost. To fight me, can it be? One white and black, blessed for life while on the attack.”

Mwokozi threw several strike and Shadow blocked each, taking a few steps back.

“I see you eyes are not what they used to be,” Shadow laughed. “Just as you are, so is me.”

They traded several more blows. Shadow forced Mwokozi to take an unwanted step to the side.

Shadow continued. “Black and white, day and night, my two colors are such a sight. You Glyphmark is a sign, so is mine. The three pieces of the puzzle, oh so subtle. Speed. Power. Agility.”

The hope faded from Mwokozi’s eyes. Shadow was laying claim to his pride. His everything. The fear that his blessing had been passed on had taken root long, long ago. Now it was sealed.

Shadow threw out an easy combination they had learned in Basic.

“A warning I give,” Mwokozi said steeling himself. “A full life combative. It was not for your kind, for it was a mark against ponykind!”

With that Mwokozi stepped in hard and feigned a punch. Shadow read it before it happened and skipped in, slamming his forehead into Mwokozi’s eye. Mwokozi stepped back, into a buck. Shadow couldn’t slip aside and was bucked back.

Shadow rolled back onto his feet, wiped the blood from his nose off and moved in with new purpose. Mwokozi stepped back to avoid the strikes and then struck. Shadow's rear hoof was trapped and Mwokozi cracked it with a perfect blow.

The pain was fierce, but death was a worse fate. Shadow could not lose. Mwokozi didn’t calculate for Shadow’s agility. Shadow landed several quick blows, almost buckling Mwokozi’s rear leg.

Mwokozi was able to override the strike and kick Shadow in the face. Shadow stumbled back, holding his eye. Mwokozi followed through and was right at Shadow’s throat, but Shadow wasn’t there. Shadow landed on the other side and bucked Mwokozi like he had bucked Cardinal Spitfire in Basic. Shadow heard his bone crack more under the strain of the kick.

Mwokozi rolled on the ground. He tried to stand but Shadow reared up over him and drove his hoof into his head. Shadow reared up a second time and slammed another hoof into his head. The third time Mwokozi’s head bounced off the concrete floor. The fourth meant there was nothing left.

Nor visibly shivered as Shadow looked over at him. Shadow looked back at Mwokozi and pulled the band he wore on his right hoof off. Shadow had seen it latch onto the revolver when he removed it before the fight.

Shadow also reverently removed Mwokozi’s ribbon bar and rank devices. Mwokozi had kept them in mint condition and Shadow liked how they shined. Perhaps he could display them on his dress uniform. He had earned them in blood, and Nor was there to testify.

As Shadow finished removing the pieces, the jeweled amulet slid out from under his shirt. Shadow looked it over. There was a symbol etched onto the front diamond and the ruby on the back had another symbol. He removed it. Perhaps their Zebra book could shed some more specific light on it’s meaning.

The revolver was empty. The cylinder did not flip out, The gun broke open using a hinge. When the gun was open it was easy to put in the rounds. The cylinder carried the standard six bullet design. The spent cases were ejected by the action of breaking the revolver open, tossing them out so you could easily reload.

But it was not designed to be used by a mouthpiece. It was designed for the band. The band would snap them together at the handle and then the hammer could be worked to shoot the rounds. The hammer was the trigger and it was not easy to pull back. It would take some work to get the technique down.

Shadow pulled out a box of 44 Magnums and they fit. It wasn’t a perfect fit, but the cylinder appeared to be designed to take the 44 Magnum round, and maybe a few others. It was, after all, an enchanted pistol for a powerful general.

The sword was a clean, straight saber in perfect condition. Gilded and jeweled with Amethyst, it’s blade a minimalistic design with some gold foiling and a few gems set in the blade itself. It was a sight to behold. It was well oiled and showed no signs of rust. The blade was well balanced for both mouth use and the band. Shadow hadn’t noticed until he went to draw the sword that the band was no longer lose. It fit him like it was made for him.

Shadow sheathed the sword and slipped it into his bag. He was happy the belt was included. They were a matching pair and the belt had gems, probably enchanted, and matched the sword well. He placed Mwokozi’s cover in the bag as well, after dusting it off.

Shadow pulled his revolver out of his bag and removed it from the holster. He unloaded it for extra safety. Mwokozi’s revolver fit in nicely and Shadow fixed it onto his armor’s left forehoof. Shadow had expected it to work through his armor, but it didn’t. He put it all away for safekeeping.

Shadow looked around. He was finally ready to leave. Anything of value had been stripped. Nor was patiently waiting and hadn’t said a word.

Next Chapter: Chapter 50 - Aftermath Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 29 Minutes