Deke entered the bridge. He had just woken up from his night shift.

“Why did you put the breaks on?” He yawned.

“Cherries!” Ruby Snow grinned from the Captain’s chair.

“Oh,” Deke shrugged. “Wait, cherries?”

Deke looked out the front and saw all the cherry trees. They were full and looked ripe.

“Yeah,” Ruby Snow drooled. “I saw them and my mouth started watering. I want fresh cherries and I hope they have some they can sell us. Like a whole barrel.”

“Approaching them will scare the shit out of them,” Deke warned. “Being here in this scares the shit out of them. Shadow told enough stories. And I am pretty sure from our location that the orchard below is his sister's.”

“So you are coming with us?” Little asked as she got up from her seat.

“Go, I’ve got the Buttercup,” Bronze Valve said from his seat at weapons. “It is my shift anyway.”

Bronze Valve was the other bridge officer. A Chief Warrant Officer 4. Not a full officer, but you didn’t tell him that. You wanted him on your bridge. He had all the experience of being a Captain and could easily command a small task force. But moving from Warrant Officer to and Officer position would work against him after his long service. At least in the Third his real value was recognized and used.

They exited out of the nearest top hatch. Unlike the other classes, the corvette was designed to only use her bay to load and unload at port. Everything else was done through top hatches. They picked their way past the main gun battery and then down to the rim deck and passed one of its manual gun placements to the place they could hop off.

They slid behind Deke, forcing him to take point. Deke had them glide in towards the house, landing a few feet away from the steps leading up to the front porch. The porch was full with pegasi who were not happy.

“Good day,” Ruby Snow smiled. “I am Captain Ruby Snow of the Buttercup.”

“Buttercup?” A big stallion asked.

“Yes, her name is Buttercup,” Little said annoyed. “Any more comments about her size or shape? We have heard them all.”

“Forgive her,” Ruby Snow said. “We are out here on a routine run.”

“There is no routine about being this far out,” The stallion stated annoyed.

Deke’s head was in his hoof. “You two are useless out here.”

He turned to the others. “You have a storm coming, right?”

They all just nodded.

“Good,” Deke smiled.

“Not good. It is a danger to our harvests. Its a bad one.”

“That is not good,” Deke admitted. “But what I mean is that we are here to ride that storm. In our Cloudship.”

“Why?”

“To understand the north’s weather better,” Deke replied. “And because it will probably be fun. But the Captain now wants cherries and was wondering if you had any we could buy.”

“Wait, I know you! You were friends with Shadow.”

“Yes!” Deke cried. “It is the right farm! Yes. It’s Deke.”

With Shadow as a common bond they all relaxed.

“I’m Grandma Cherry Tart. Listen close. Park your ship along the road and give us thirty pairs of wings. We will trade you a whole barrel of fresh cherries, ten jars canned and five jams for that.”

“Deal!” Ruby Snow smiled.

“They are going to help out with all the harvests in the area, right?” Deke asked.

“You’re not useless,” Grandma Cherry Tart chuckled.

“I’ll get the ship parked,” Little said.

“No, I will,” Ruby Snow said taking off. “It’s my crew and my job to get those hooves.”

“I’m Cherry Tart,” She said coming down the steps to meet them. “And that is Early Blossom. The rest are my family. What could be here with the harvest. And this is little lady is Shadow Heart.”

Deke looked at the newborn foal. White with a soft cherry mane. Just a single tuft for one so small.”

“She is beautiful,” Deke smiled.

He was stunned as Cherry Tart passed her off to him.

“We told Shadow we would name our foal after him. Flare doesn’t work to start a name, but Shadow does. Shadow was always about his stark coat and then the mane. A reversal.”

“It is a great name,” Deke smiled.

Deke took a second to think. “Wait, how did you two have a foal?”

“Science,” Early Blossom said coming over. “That is why we were at the graduation. Shadow was the donor so Cherry Tart could have a foal.”

“That is awesome!” Deke cheered.

Shadow Heart woke up crying. Early Blossom took her from Deke.

“Sorry,” Deke said embarrassed.

“It’s a newborn foal, they cry at everything,” Cherry Tart chuckled. “However, only family knows that Shadow is the donor. Its not something the community will understand. They barely get this farm as it is.”

“Understood,” Deke nodded.

“But come on up,” Cherry Tart smiled. “There is plenty of room on the porch.”

“Have you heard from Shadow?” Early Blossom asked as she rocked Shadow Heart.

“No, not since we parted ways after Basic. But I have been buried in training and then this assignment, well I have not fully passed my practicum for being an officer on a Cloudship.”

“That is a big ship,” Red said.

“That is a baby ship,” Little replied surprised.

“Little, they have never seen one before,” Deke reminded her. “But she is right. The Buttercup is a unique and tiny Cloudship. She isn’t even half the size of a normal one.”

“She is scary enough as it is,” Red stated.

“I would fear her more than most ships,” Little smiled. “The Buttercup might have a calm name, but she is one lean and mean warship. But they only made one of her type, opting for the larger ones.”

“You get the scraps,” Red nodded in understanding.

“Eh, its not all bad,” Little shrugged. “We get to come out here and mess around with the weather. Others in our fleet are out east, helping lay down new farm clouds.”

“That is such a mess,” Red sighed. “Such a big mess. It is a good thing Shadow found out, but a disaster. Especially for us farmers with bushes, shrubs, trees and anything that doesn’t require being replanted yearly.”

“That is what we are working to make as little as possible,” Deke replied. “I haven’t been on this ship a week, so I missed Shadow being connected to this whole mess. But it doesn’t surprise me in the least.”

They chuckled and Ruby Snow came back with Lavender Mist. The Buttercup was on the road and lowering her ramp.

Full introductions were made all around. It was just Red, Yellow, Grandma Cherry Tart, Big Red, and Sweet Cherry for Cherry Tart’s family. Bronze Bell and Parsley Green had come to help out as well.

Everypony else had gone home or stayed home to prepare for the harvest and the reclouding, as they were calling it.

“It is getting late,” Cherry Tart sighed. “You should come with us. There has to be a town meeting happening with you guys flying the Buttercup all around like that. Better to get there and dispel rumors now. And we can get those hooves sorted out.”

“It is times like this upcoming storm where the question becomes every farm for themselves, or calculated risk of losing whole crops because we put all out energy into certain harvests.”

“We can take the ship,” Ruby Snow said.

“Leave it parked,” Red replied. “It will only cause more of a panic if you fly it there.”

“Bronze and I will stay,” Big Red added. “Head out with them Dad.”

Red just nodded in response.

They left Shadow Heart with the mares and took off.

“Damn, you guys can fly for no flight school,” Deke chuckled. “We let the ships do the flying for us. That is our strong suit.”

Cherry Tart laughed with Deke.

There was already a big gathering as they cruised in. They were given wide berth as they realized they were Enclave soldiers.

“Oh come on!” Deke yelled. “Just because we wear a uniform doesn’t make us scary! We still… well most of you don’t have anything other than capes on so that analogy fails. We are just like you!”

“Cherry Tart, Early Blossom,” Lance smiled as he came up to them. “Who did you bring along.”

“That one is Deke, he ran with Shadow in Basic Training.”

“You don’t run with Shadow,” Deke huffed. “Or fly. He runs or flies with you. We are too slow for him.”

Deke couldn’t hold it together over his own joke and broke down laughing.

“Okay, so my humor isn’t appreciated.”

“They just don’t understand it,” Little said with a smirk on her face. “You are a lot to take in.”

“Why thank you,” Deke smiled.

“I am Shadow’s father, Lance.”

Deke shook Lance’s hoof. “It is an honor to meet you sir! A great honor. Your son is an inspiration!”

“It is an honor to meet you too,” Lance smiled. “It is always good to meed a friend of Shadow’s. His friends are my friends.”

Cherry Tart ushered them inside and to the front.

“Okay everypony, lets get this meeting started,” Cherry Tart said as she Forced Maple Tree off to the side. “We have to address the Enclave problem first. Okay, that came out wrong.”

“You had your foal?”

“Yes,” Cherry Tart smiled. “Shadow Heart is back home with my mother and family. She has the same perfect white coat Shadow does, but her little mane is a cherry red, not black. It won’t be long before she is bigger than he is.”

Everypony laughed.

“Our guests with us are a Lieutenant Deke, Lieutenant Lighting, Captain Ruby Snow and his wife, Lavender Mist. Lieutenant Deke is a close friend of Shadow's.”

Everypony was impressed with that connection.

“But, why are they here?” Maple Tree asked.

“Because!” Deke said standing to face them all. “Captain Ruby Snow wanted cherries.”

“That’s it!” Maple Tree exclaimed.

“Some others that concerns nopony,’ Cherry Tart said trying to keep control of the room. “But its a good thing. Grandma Cherry Tart was on top of things and made a very good bargain. In place of the agreed upon amount of cherries, they are providing 30 pairs of wings for harvest.”

“You just ordered your soldiers to help with our harvest because you wanted cherries?” Black asked, silencing the room. He didn’t have to stand up, but he did.

Ruby Snow stood up to face him. “I have a wonderful crew. They jumped at the chance to get out and help. If you are a good captain, the crew will gladly do most anything, because they trust you. And they wanted cherries.”

“Fresh cherries, fresh anything, is hard enough to get in the military. And on a Cloudship, its impossible. If you are on a Thunderhead class, maybe, but then you are competing with several thousand other soldiers. Anything fresh goes to the officers.”

“That isn’t fair,” Black stated.

“No it is not,” Ruby Snow agreed with a smile. “But it is the way we are. Our nature is inherently selfish and proud. Thinking we deserve something over others.”

Deke’s laughter cut through the silent room. It was a real, deep, from the gut laugh.

“Captain, these ponies are not like that,” He sobbed. “We are so far from our reality. Shadow Flare made me feel bad about graduating. He said it wasn’t a great moment in his life because it was personal, not like helping with his first harvest, or several other things he listed about here. All of them were helping the community as a whole, not himself.”

“No pride, no selfishness,” Deke stated. “They have an honest, good heart, wanting the best for everypony. Every pony. Shadow made it so the next thing I can be proud of is getting my own ship. But outside of that, its basically what is best for others because of him.”

“And what about marriage?” Little asked with a dash of sass.

“I can see the sparks of lightning,” Deke smirked. “I figure with my luck, its ship, then maybe I can attract a mate who is impressed with it. I am not that impressive.”

Little rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Sure. You have no personality after all.”

“Thank you,” Deke said agreeing with her sarcasm.

“Well I may want cherries, but they are to share,” Ruby Snow said nervously. “Seriously. I would rather give the special treats to those under my command. I get to fly the ship.”

“Come on,” Cherry Tart said, almost whining. “Last harvest, some of you learned how to buck cherries easily. You think we can’t teach these stupid soldiers how to do things proper?”

“I resent being called stupid,” Deke declared. “Even though it is accurate.”

Little rolled her eyes again. “You are absolutely no help. It is pathetic.”

“I am getting something right at least,” Deke chuckled.

“Yes, he is a really good friend of Shadow’s” Cherry Tart stated. “I wouldn't believe it if I hadn’t seen it myself. But come on! Willing hooves to help us with our harvest. With that storm coming, we need it. We can’t be biased.”

“Shadow opened our eyes. Lets keep them open and see what else is out there. And stop fearing the unknown.”

“Well said,” Black replied. “Well said. You are gaining respect in this community, proving your worth twice over in a year.”

Cherry Tart was beaming as they began to lay out the harvest plans. She was still learning how to organize the community for harvest. She had to solidify some families and farms in her mind still. Maple Tree was the community’s master organizer. She may never need to direct a harvest, but it was always better to know and be ready, than fail.

“Wait,” Lance said stopping them. “How will this effect the tax?”

“Tax?” Ruby Snow asked.

“They don’t give it all to the Enclave,” Deke chuckled. “They keep a good amount to live off of, and some to trade and sell.”

“I had not thought about that,” Ruby Snow replied.

“It should just be a private sale,” Cherry Tart stated. “With extra benefit for the community.”

Maple Tree was ready with another concern. “And if they talk?”

“Talk about what?” Little asked with an eyebrow raised.

She got no reply, only uneasy stares.

“You weigh things to you advantage,” Deke grinned. “Don’t you?”

“We can’t produce more food next year if we don’t take care of ourselves,” Black stated.

“They won’t talk,” Ruby Snow assured them. “They can’t talk about anything we are doing right now. Its private. A classified mission, with an unscheduled stop for cherries. But still part of the mission.”

“Its not that type of classified,” Deke added. “The Buttercup is always need to know. And really, nopony needs to know we stopped for cherries. Even if the classified seal is broken, this cherry stop won’t be in the file.”

“Buttercup?” Lance asked.

“Long story,” Little sighed. “Way to long and complicated.”

“Deduct it from your tax,” Ruby Snow order them. “Deduct it and if any problems arise, direct them to me. Third Fleet, Captain Ruby Snow of the Buttercup.”

With that, they confidently went back to organizing the final pieces. Little was taking notes for Ruby so they could send the right soldiers to their places. These ponies were really going to have to rely on them because of the storm.

The four of them would be at the orchard working with Cherry Tart, while the other 30 were to be sent out to other farms. Four were headed to help Buck and another four to help Lance. If they could get their harvest’s in, they could turn two strong farms around to help the others.

It was a wordless flight back and well past dark. The autumn sun loves to hide. The others were still on the porch, just with more blankets.

“That could have gone a whole lot worse,” Cherry Tart said.

“It didn’t go well?” Ruby Snow asked confused.

“It did,” Cherry Tart shrugged. “But there is still unease about your presence. The impending storm is giving you a lot of grace.”

“We will fix that,” Ruby Snow smiled. “Or do everything we can to fix it. I will go prepare the volunteers. And you two should retire as well.”

“Deke, if you want, you can stay in Shadow’s room,” Early Blossom smiled.

Deke chuckled maniacally. “That will be a fun stick to poke Shadow with.”

“Only you,” Grandma Cherry Tart stated. “That bed is Shadow's to christen with his wife. Whenever that will be.”

“I am not with herm!” Deke and Little declared together, facing each each.

“I haven’t even know the brat a week!” Little said recovering first.

“What she said!” Deke shot back. “Wait! Brat! I am not a brat!”

“You act like one,” Little said glaring at Deke.

“Just because I failed on the Lenticular for being smarter than the others doesn’t make me a brat!”

“Ha!” Little laughed. “Could have fooled me.”

“Arrogant, jackass, fool, know it all, contraband, sarcastic, but not brat!”

“I like the spark between you two!” Grandma Cherry Tart declared.

“You aren’t my type,” Little said casually.

“Cause I am too smart,” Deke huffed.

“You wish.”

“Then Captain Ruby is the idiot for letting me fly the damn ship by myself,” Deke said with satisfaction. “With no supervision.”

“We don’t have a choice, brat,” Little said, letting lose her pent of sass. “We can only keep her flying under the three of us so long. Even a half baked officer like you is better than nopony at the wheel. I MEAN PEGASUS! You and your stupid fucking tongue is going to get mine cut out!”

Deke had broken down laughing.

Little wasn’t finished with her rant. “That is part of the reason you will go nowhere. Part.”

“Are you done?” Deke asked getting serious.

“For now,” Little said casually. She was distracting herself by examining her hoof. She needed a hooficure, but there were no definitely no spas around.

“I like that difference,” Deke declared. “It’s got its uses. The Captain can see it. Right Captain?”

“He left while ago,” Little said. “Brat.”

Deke held his hoof up to start his turn but froze. He had no response. “Damn Cloudships have taken away all my good comebacks!”

“Then you truly have nothing,” Little chuckled. “I guess you really do have to have a ship of your own to get a lady. Half baked if she chooses you. Assuming you can somehow, bluff your brattiness to being a captain. I highly doubt you can.”

“I’ll make captain before you,” Deke confidently declared.

“You will be lucky to make captain in you life. Did nopegasus inform you of just how limited and coveted those positions are?”

“It seems we are at an impasse,” Deke stated.

“No, you are just out of ammo,” Little yawned, to accentuate her fake boredom.

“I get to stay with kind ponies,” Deke grinned.

“I get to not have you on the Buttercup,” Little smiled evilly. “I am the real winner.”

Early Blossom spoke up. “And you Lieutenant Lighting, and the Captain, and Lavender Mist, are to have breakfast with us, bright and early. I guess, dark and early technically.”

“Then I should retire, and prepare to outshine that brat,” Little said with a curtsy. “It won’t be hard.”

Deke was flustered for not having any comebacks.

“I like her,” Grandma Cherry Tart declared when Little had left. “You two go well together.

Deke just huffed.

“Lets show you to Shadow’s room,” Early Blossom smiled.

“Shit!” Deke swore. “I need a change of clothes, and my room is next to hers. I am going to have to be tactful to make sure she doesn’t catch me.”

Deke was away before they could respond. He slipped into the ship but the jig was up. Little was waiting in the hallway.

She chuckled. “The brat forgot clothes.”

Deke rolled his eyes and ignored every other taunt she gave. He paused at the door and slipped back in to swipe the Basic Training picture book off his nightstand. Perhaps there would be time to show it off, if they had not seen it yet.

Early Blossom and Cherry Tart led Deke to Shadow's room. He followed them inside.

“This is a nice room,” Deke said. “I am shocked. I didn’t expect this large of houses or nice of a set up.”

“Ours is ridiculously big,” Early Blossom chuckled. “Somepony comes from an enormous family and overcompensated.”

Deke chuckled with her.

“But,” Early Blossom continued. “Houses out here are social and more important than the land in ways. If you don’t have a solid house that can handle a farm family, your farm suffers.”

Deke turned back to them from looking at the room and saw them staring at him. The door had been closed and Cherry Tart was holding up a slip of paper. Deke cautiously crept up and took it from her.

“Why does this have my name and ID on it?” Deke asked hesitantly. “And Olive Pit’s. And says “suggestions?”

“Shadow wrote that,” Cherry Tart stated.

“Duh, only his writing is this bad. Its scribbled on our graduation books. Good words, bad letter.”

“Shadow was the donor for Shadow Heart,” Cherry Tart said. “Early Blossom can’t use Shadow’s… extra.”

Deke chuckled at the idea of innocent Shadow having to make a donation. It was a funny idea.

“Oh,” Deke said when it hit him.

“That would be a problem,” Deke stumbled.

Early Blossom sighed defeated.

“No! I mean, his and you no,” Deke scrambled. “I would, yes, absolutely! A thousand times fuck yeah! How could I deny his request? And you asking.”

Deke’s mind obviously slipped elsewhere. “Mini mees running around. He he he. The terror we could cause.”

“As scary as this is becoming,” Early Blossom said, pausing. “I can see why he suggested you.”

“Mini half mees running around, for my best friend, hell yeah,” Deke smiled. “I don’t even need to meet the little terrors to enjoy it. Do you want a filly or colt? Because I can choose.”

“You are full of yourself,” Cherry Tart said cracking up.

“Confidence is key,” Deke said getting serious. “Little was right. It is cutthroat and difficult to get a spot as a captain. Officers can spend twenty years on the bridge, covering all the stations at one point or another, but they never get to promote past First Lieutenant. It is a dead end and I knowingly entered it. Few hold out past ten on a bridge. By then, you know if you have a shot or not.”

“Well you made it along with Shadow to top Barrack in your class,” Early Blossom smiled. “So you have to be good.”

“Glad you agree with me,” Deke grinned.

“Thank you for agreeing to help us,” Cherry Tart smiled. “Shadow said you wouldn't hesitate to say yes. Generosity and loyalty are important qualities for a captain to have.”

“I am surprised we even got to talk,” Deke stated. “I never expected to visit here. So this has been an amazing trip already. Even better to help both of you. Besides, this is one thing Little can’t do.”

“Lets keep this between us,” Early Blossom asked, her eyes conveying shame.

“Relax,” Deke said waving it off with his wing. “Things might be different out here, but you can’t let what other ponies think affect how you see yourself. Communities like yours are unique and much better than mine was.”

“But something like this, you can’t let their ideas stop you. They will just flow around you and you will join in theirs as your values match back up. Its just a small rock in the great stream of your community. At least you can easily see your rocks. I grew up with rapids. Calmer waters would have been nice.”

“We need to let you go to bed, and let this sink in,” Early Blossom said smiling again. “Thank you.”

She paused at the door. “If we had thought it through, we would have given you the cherries just for saying yes. But now you are committed.”

“Ha!” Deke snorted. “I want to see what this farming is all about. Shadow made it sound hard. Cardinal Spitfire backed him. Olive Pit never did any of the farming at his home, despite their role as olive farmers. We didn’t push that oddity.”

“You are way out of your league,” Cherry Tart laughed. “Way out. All of you are.”

They closed the door and walked to their room. Grandma Cherry Tart came out of the bathroom as they passed by. Cherry Tart stopped.

“Grandma,” She said sweetly. “Why are you pushing at them like that? That direct. That isn’t you?”

“Because dear,” Grandma Cherry Tart smiled. “It is fun. And they are not family, so I don’t have to worry about repercussions.”

The three of them giggled and split.

Early Blossom smiled at Shadow Heart. She was quietly sleeping, all bundled up, in her bed besides theirs. Cherry Tart grew up sleeping in her parent's room for a solid year or more. They said it bonded the foal with it’s parents better than a crib in another room.

She was so cute and well behaved. Shadow may have been the donor, but it was her daughter. All hers.

Cherry Tart kissed Early Blossom on the cheek and dragged her under the covers to cuddle together for warmth. Not that they didn’t cuddle up every night.

“Deke is interesting,” Cherry Tart sighed. “A good match, but interesting.”

Early Blossom sighed contently. “I am so glad we got a chance to meet him before asking. Brief since we jumped him early, but we got a good picture. He is perfect. I want him as my donor. Hell, I would want him as my donor if there wasn’t science to do it.”

“Hey!” Cherry Tart exclaimed quietly. “You are not supposed to be attracted to him.”

“Come on, that swagger of his,” Early Blossom finished with a sigh. “It can’t beat you, ever.”

“You would like it if Shadow had to donate without science?”

“As long as I could watch and make sure you experienced the joy of making a foal completely. Just like if it was us two alone.”

“You need to sleep and screw your head on straight,” Cherry Tart said bringing Early Blossom in for a passionate kiss. “But that would be a pretty amazing experience. Especially since the science is so stale and uneventful.”

Cherry Tart held in a yelp of pleasure. “We have family here,” She whispered. “And we don’t want to wake up Heart.”

“Just a little fun,” Early Blossom pleaded. “It is your fault, wanting to ask him right before bed. You knew it would turn me on.”

It was Early Blossom’s turn to hold in a yelp before she let it wash over her.

Next Chapter: Chapter 55 - Back to Zero Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 48 Minutes