Derecho nervously winged his way across town to the Virga Tower. He hated the traffic. It might follow the streets, but it was indirect. And so were the streets. But he didn’t have the social standing to be able to cover breaking it or a valid enough reason so he stayed.

Derecho was very happy when he had to break off and descend to the street. He had never been inside Virga tower. They had an observation deck with information about the building and it’s relation to everything in the Enclave. But he, like many others, were rebels and just used the roof. It cost a few bits to enter the observation lounge.

The inside was gorgeous. It was high class. Some very big companies had offices here. Floor 65 was the restaurant. Derecho had to share the elevator. He realized how off he was in his coveralls while they were in suits and fancier clothes.

Derecho stepped out of the elevator and to the side so that the others could go in front. The associate at the front was taking their names for tables, but there was a wait.

“Excuse me Sir,” He said to Derecho. “Are you by chance Derecho?”

“Yes,” Derecho said, blushing a bit as all eyes looked at him, the worker in work clothes.

“Your party is right this way. Follow me.”

Derecho followed him, taking a few deep breaths in to regain his courage. He was led to a table for two by the window. The other seat was empty, but somepegasus had been using it.

“Your waiter will be around shortly,” He said to Derecho.

Derecho thanked him and went to sit down. But he couldn't. Not with the view. He stared. The worst thing in the world to do in a high class place like this. He didn’t care. Couldn’t care.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Derecho snapped out of it and looked to the voice, an old white and graying pegasus in a black dress uniform. He had a million ribbons on his left breast. But he stood strong and proud, causally.

“Hello Sir,” Derecho fumbled.

“I am White Blade,” He said sticking out his hoof to shake. “Retired Major General of the Grand Pegasus Enclave.”

“A pleasure Sir,” Derecho smiled shaking his strong hoof.

“Sit son,” White Blade smiled. “And tell me about yourself. When you are not lost in the view.”

“Sorry,” Derecho said snapping his attention back to White Blade. “I sit up on top often, but seeing it from inside is somehow different. But I always love to watch the sun set. Never rise. To see it rise means I have to be awake. I am not a morning Pegasus.”

“Steel Feather also said you like Cloudships and Weather?”

“Very much so,” Derecho sighed in content. “I got into weather a little to late to be able to make it into a special school, but I learned all I could. And then flying a cloud, with guns, and purpose. There can’t be anything better than serving on a Cloudship.”

White Blade chuckled. “My father would have agree with you. He was devastated when I went to join the army side. I was at least serving, but the family has always been navy. They have served on Cloudships since the war. I was one of the renegades. My brother served a long and illustrious career, but he only made Captain the last few years of service. When I was promoted to Colonel, my father forgave that oversight.”

Derecho was chuckling along with White Blade. He was easy going.

“I don’t know how much I can be of help,” White Blade admitted. “But I have a ship line up for us to tour and you can talk with some of the crew. Specifics will have to be saved for a recruiter, who knows we might be swinging by.”

“It is very much appreciated,” Derecho said beaming “Recruiters are great, but you have the real information as to how it was to serve.”

“At least as an officer,” White Blade added. “My school was a military school. I was going in to be an officer. It was guaranteed for me. I know nothing else. But what about your school? Steel Feather only said you had been working there since you were in school.”

“Yeah,” Derecho said. “My parents died when I was little. I had to care for my baby sister. Our Aunt and Uncle raised us, along with their twins who are the same age as my sister. It was always a strain. I got ahead in grade school, before I could work.”

“I knew the recycling plant had jobs open. So as soon as I was old enough, I got a job on second shift. At that time, they had been running a second shift in the Glass Department. That department now shuts all the way down at 5.”

“So, school went great. I blasted through it, and graduated that year early. I just went right into full time with them. My sister graduates this year. Even now, my entire paycheck goes to my Aunt and Uncle. They have the space so I stay there. I help with their homework and such to.”

“It has been great, but I have always worked for her. But its changing. She won’t need me in that way. So yeah, Cloudships have grown on me over the years. And the idea has popped into my head the past few days.”

“Ah, I see,” White Blade said. “It is unfortunate that your life played out like that. But I heard you are Employee of the Year. Congratulations. That takes a lot.”

“Thank you Sir,” Derecho smiled. “It does take a lot, but I wouldn’t change anything I have ever done. I give it all for my sister. I just don’t need to for her now.”

“You never considered joining when you graduated?”

“That would have taken me away from my sister,” Derecho replied, reserved. “Its hard to explain, but we have a deep relationship and I could not have left her. Protecting and caring for her meant a job I could come home every night and help her with homework, not serving in the military.”

“Understandable,” White Blade replied. “But now that is changing. But if you were to join, you wouldn’t leave for training until right after they graduate, so that they can join right away. You would not be leaving her. And then the next is late fall. Its 16 weeks of training in Basic Training, then its onto specialty school for your job.”

“You won’t be able to make the real engineer and science fields. Those guys were in the specialty schools. You would be too far behind. Then you have soldier, which is a large class. There are several types of direct combat roles, support combat roles, administrative duties, general order workers and others. They always need cooks, laundry guys and quartermasters.”

“Military Police are often forgotten about. That was my first unit. I was a brand new Lieutenant leading a group of experienced Military Police protecting Nellie Air Force Base. Then I was transferred to be the Captain over a Heavy Trooper unit full of soldiers in power armor. I moved two more posts, but my favorite was the Heavy Troopers.”

“So as an officer, you could be over anypegasus?” Derecho asked.

“Sort of,” White Blade replied. “I was limited by training. All officers can lead any troops. That is essential. But the scientists and many of the specific tech and engineer fields stay with officers that know those jobs and can assist and more importantly, understand what is going on and give expert opinions.”

“The naval side has a lot of opportunities for types of soldiers on their ships. Not all of them require tech backgrounds or engineer skills. A lot can be taught. Those stricter fields build upon years of knowledge on the deeper workings of things.”

“You sort glass, but you don’t design the rest that melts down the glass and forms it.”

“No, but I understand,” Derecho replied.

“Understanding is easy, building is another.”

The waiter came and got Derecho’s drink. He kept it simple and went with their special for lunch. Derecho left the engineering aspect out. He was picking up a stigma about where he could go. Derecho could learn almost anything. But for now, that didn’t matter. He didn’t have to prove anything to him, and White Blade was incredibly kind for doing this.”

Derecho listened to story after story, learning the workings of the military from an old general. And he was telling a lot of funny tales about different soldiers in different jobs. He learned more about those jobs than he could if he asked direct questions to a recruiter. It was extremely worthwhile listening to White Blade.

There was an obvious cloud above the talks that Derecho wasn’t from a military family. That fact mattered a lot for most of the officers. If you wanted to get somewhere as an officer, it seemed to heavily lean that way. Nothing White Blade told him about interested Derecho for a career.

Lunch was amazing. It was beyond what Derecho’s pallet could fully enjoy. And it was relaxed. There was no push. No time frame to stick to. He hadn’t had a meal like this in a very long time.

Leaving the Bliss was a lot easier than entering. Derecho wasn’t self conscious with a retired general in uniform by his side. They saw them together, and put Derecho well above some lowly trash worker.

Getting into Mareland was easy because of White Blade. Inside, they were able to open their wings and fly, without the need for a street or to follow a preset path. Derecho felt amazing. Unhindered. It was the best thing he had felt in years.

Derecho certainly wasn’t the best flier. Still, he felt the freedom that any real Pegasus felt when flying. But Derecho knew pegasi who didn’t feel that freedom. Pegasi who had lost touch with their inner self.

They flew into the port, where they were dozens of Cloudships parked side by side. There was no organization to their parking. It was just by numbered bays. The bays were assigned by the air traffic control tower, looming over the entire area.

They glided into Bay 47, where there was a Pegasus waiting for them.

“Good day General,” He said as they flapped into a landing. “I am First Sergeant Red Hot. I am the non commissioned officer for the Arkona.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you First Sergeant,” White Blade replied. “This is Derecho, the Pegasus of the hour.”

“Well it is a pleasure to meet you too Derecho,” First Sergeant Red Hot smiled.

“Thank you,” Derecho replied. “It is an honor to be able to tour the Arkona. I know you must be very busy.”

“They bulk of the ship is on a few days of leave,” First Sergeant Red Hot said. “Follow me up the ramp. It is easier with them gone. We are about to head out on patrol, which is why they have off. It won’t be a short patrol.”

“All Sky-Tanks have units that are assigned to them. Some unit is always with us on patrol. That is our job. Because it is the units that are technically doing the patrols, we just work with them. I assume the General went over the army side of things?”

“Thoroughly,” Derecho replied. “They have a lot of responsibilities.”

“Well, we have our own set that differs from them. Here, soldiers are in charge of cooking, cleaning, maintenance, manning the guns and such. The Arkona may not be a Raptor, but she has a good set of guns on her. She has to in order for us to clear the landing spot so we can deploy the units that are with us.”

“That area, that is the general quarters and behind those doors is the cargo hold. You can stick your head in, but lets not disturb it too much. The soldiers have their stuff all set up. Its compact. We have three whole units stuffing themselves inside the Arkona. Unless we need to, the actual Arkona personnel stay out of here.”

“I can see why,” Derecho chuckled. “It has to get pretty rowdy in here at times.”

First Sergeant Red Hot sighed. “And I am the one who has to break it up. Even though they have their own officers, its often my job. Their officers are having to deal with being cooped up as well and often stay hidden.”

“But this, this starts the real job. We don’t get much more room, but here are the Arkona’s general quarters.”

“Nice,” Derecho said as he walked past cubby bunks, three high.

There was more room for less soldiers to share in the lounges and halls. The Arkona also had separate mess hall for the Arkona’s crew. A total of 224 Personnel, including officers, crewed the Arkona.

It took a lot to keep the Arkona in the air and functioning. Many of the workers learned Ship Maintenance, which was easy to get into, rather than being a full engineer. They were overseen by full engineers, who had spent primary school, and often secondary school, studying technology and engineering.

Derecho was seeing a lot that he liked. Everypegasus had battle stations. Few were actually on duty on guns at all times. Battle Stations were your secondary post. Cooking and cleaning didn’t matter in battle. Only survival.

The final place First Sergeant Red Hot brought them to was the bridge. Even as a general, White Blade had never been on a Cloudship bridge. Derecho was in awe at all the stations. Two ponies could be at each one, making sure that everything was secure. Weather, Navigation, Weapons, Systems, Communications, and Pilot.

And it all revolved around the big chair in the center. That is where the action was. That is what mattered. The Captain’s chair.

“Welcome to my bridge!”

They looked to the entrance to the bridge where an old pegasus was standing, wearing a shiny and pressed uniform. But his chest wasn't as impressive as White Blade's. White Blade had three times the decorations as the Captain. The only thing the Captain had that the General didn't was a ship under his name.

“Welcome General, I am happy to have you on my ship. The Arkona is always happy to have such prestigious visitors. I am Captain Steady Wind.”

“I am glad you could accommodate us,” White Blade replied with a smile. “I never have made it onto a Cloudship Bridge before, oddly.”

“Ah, a cloud pounder,” Captain Steady Wind chuckled.

“Military Police and then Heavy Trooper Units. That is what I was always running. I never actually got to do a sky patrol.”

“That is rare,” Captain Steady Wind replied. “But I understand you are here because of this gentlepegasus.”

“Derecho Sir,” Derecho said shaking his hoof. “I work the Glass Department as the youngest Master Sorter in the facility. But my sister is graduating this year, so I don’t have to work to care for her.”

“Well, there is nothing more you can do to take care of her than to join the Enclave military. Protecting her and more from threats above and below. We always need soldiers manning the Cloudships. So many go onto carrying the guns and wearing combat armor, and forget about the fact that the need plenty of hoofpower to get them where they are going.”

“Uh,” Derecho hesitated. “What about being an officer? Like on the bridge.”

“A fine goal,” Captain Steady Wind smiled. “But I have been in the military for 23 years. I just got to Captain three years ago, when I took over the Arkona. I spent 15 years as a First Lieutenant. And my family has been in the military, with a long, illustrious careers, since the start.”

“I spent primary school in the top military school in the Enclave. Officer spots are more available for the cloud pounders, but cloudships, you don’t have the blood for it.”

“Blood?” Derecho asked, cautiously.

“Almost all Cloudship officer come from military families. Every captain of a ship has blood backing his appointment. That’s just the way it is kid.”

“Alright,” Derecho said with a nod.

“I’d rather shoot straight with you now, than give you false hope and you end up in a job you don’t want.”

“Thank you,” Derecho smiled.

“But you can, if you want, try out the Captain’s chair,” Captain Steady Wind said, gesturing to it with his wing.

“Thank you,” Derecho said shaking his head. “But you earned it. I won’t sit in it unless I have earned it. But every officer on this bridge is from a strong military family?”

“No,” Captain Steady Wind replied. “But any officer who lasts longer than ten years on Cloudships, and who have a career ahead of them, are almost entirely military families. They have the stiff feathers it takes to make it. There is no room to promote. Second Lieutenant is starting, then First Lieutenant, and Finally the coveted Captain. Its even harder to become an admiral.”

“So I can see,” Derecho replied. “I can see.”

Derecho took one last look around. “Thank you for everything. This has been an amazing experience and has given me a lot to think about.”

First Sergeant Red Hot led them out. “I know, the Captain is a bit, rigid. He is the best I have served under. But he is right, most of them are from a strong lineage. Those who are not, probably play it off like they are.”

“Second Lieutenant is given to you on graduating Officer School,” First Sergeant Red Hot explained. “First Lieutenant is an easy promotion. Its your time served, and showing good skill with good conduct. When you hit First Lieutenant, then you have to maneuver yourself into the eyes of those who will bring you up with them, or springboard you to the best shot at that coveted Captain’s chair.”

“There are six stations, on the bridge. Each with two chairs. That’s 24 officers on the bridge, plus the captain. And this ship has 48 officers on board while it operates. Nine of them are Second Lieutenants. Six of them were transferred at the request of Captain Steady Wind. And those six are sitting pretty, at the top, edging out even the oldest, more experienced officers.”

Derecho nodded in understanding. It was a tough spot, and with similar skills, it would come down to a hot and heavy popularity contest. It was an unfortunate circumstance of the system. If he was going to join it, he would have to be prepared with a strong mindset going in.

“Well, do you want to see a recruiter?” White Blade asked. “With a General by your side, they will be likely to give you whatever you want.”

“And if I want to get a spot on that bridge?” Derecho asked.

“You will be fighting a lot to get the chance at that spot,” White Blade warned. “I’m sure you could get in, but a stallion coming from a recycling job won’t get you noticed, or far. Employee of the Year is impressive, but it doesn’t show that you have the skills to be a leader.”

“Right,” Derecho nodded. “I think for now, I will pass on that.”

“This may be your only chance,” White Blade cautioned him. “I am not saying I won’t help you…”

“But now is a guarantee,” Derecho finished. “I understand. I will take that chance. I have a family to get home to. And a lot to discuss with them. Its a decision that is about more than me. And I didn’t have any time to prepare. I only found out right before lunch.”

“But thank you so very much. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

“I can see it in your eyes,” White Blade smiled. “It was rare that I had somepegasus like you under my command. Wonder and wanting to be more. Your eyes wanted that chair, but you resisted.”

Derecho smiled sheepishly. “I have a job to do. And I’m not speaking about my job as a sorter. This morning I was put in charge of a high stress, very important operation to update the Glass Department. And update procedures.”

“Its more than a basic management job. I’ll be running a budget, training, hiring, overseeing. I’ll prove I deserve that chair. And then I will take it. I’ll get backing from the recycling plant board and then join. If I decide it is even worth my time.”

“This is a side I didn’t see,” White Blade said, a bit unnerved. “I saw a good, kind kid with ambitions. This is…”

“Cocky?” Derecho asked. “Arrogant?”

White Blade didn’t know how to respond.

Derecho spoke. “My teachers loved me, but I learned early on to hide my aggressive ambitions and learned to do it in silence. Its how I graduated early. Its how I got to be a Line Head. I found out how to choose my goal and set my steps to it. Employee of the Month and such was surprise rewards for hard work. I can’t make it my goal to earn something like that. It only shows that I am achieving my goals.”

“But yeah, its aggressive. I keep it hidden because it unnerves pegasi. Shielding it is easier for them to handle. They don’t deserve to be imposed upon, but as long as they think they are allowing it, its cool.”

“That's,” White Blade stumbled. “I don’t know how to say. Its calculated.”

“You don’t get anywhere in life without making choices,” Derecho replied. “I choose to calculate early and make sure I get where I want to go. The Board of Directors at the plant know I want to make it to Floor Director. The coming operation is my testing time.”

“Well, its,” White Blade said. “It seems likes you know what you are doing. And as concerning as it sounds, we need pegasi like you to get things done. I am sure I will hear more about you Steel Feather.”

Derecho chuckled. “I am hoping you will. And good things.”

They parted ways and Derecho headed back to work. They were wrapping up as he got there. Everything he needed was in his locker.

“That’s a lot,” Candy Crush chuckled. “Your locker actually was used for once.”

Everypegasus in the room laughed.

“The best part, I have to keep this stuff hidden,” Derecho chuckled. “I can’t let my sister and cousins know I’m going to be talking at their school in the morning.”

“You have to hide that?” Candy Crush laughed harder. “How are you going to hide that? Don’t you tell her everything?”

“Nope!” Derecho chuckled, getting a bit serious. “I keep things from her often. She doesn’t know the finances. Those are kept, or supposed to be kept, from Her and the Twins. They might hear about it with some of the talks, but we try not to involve them.”

“I should be able to get this stuff into my room where it will get lost if you poke your head in. I won’t loose it. Or I shouldn’t loose it.”

“You better not,” Candy Crush chuckled. “That’s all they got. And it is dated. The slides, they have one with Featherlight, pulling a block of glass off the line. He couldn't of been on the job more than a year.”

“Featherlight?” Derecho said shocked. “That marks that at over 20 years!”

“Yeah yeah yeah!” Featherlight said coming in. “I know you can handle the dated materials.

“Did you guys just spend the afternoon flipping through the slides?” Derecho asked.

“Well,” Featherlight chuckled. “Once everything was pulled apart, we might have taken an extended break. To see what you were going to be working with.”

“I will be doing that in the morning,” Derecho said getting serious. “Before the fillies and colts get there. I will flip through the materials tonight, in my room. It will be odd, unlike me, but I will get it to pass. They will know a lot has happened. I don’t think I will have a problem with it.”

Derecho loaded it all up and headed out. He was first home, out of everypegasus. He got the stuff in his room safely, where it wouldn’t get lost in the piles. He would be first up and the only one that might be up by the time he left would be his Uncle. The others got up at 7.

Derecho stayed in his room as he quickly read through the materials. His Aunt got home, but was busy with groceries and then cooking dinner. Derecho was more than useless in the kitchen. It was appreciated that he didn’t try and help in there.

Derecho stashed the materials under his pillow as the kids got home. And they were ecstatic.

“Come on,” Derecho said, shooing them out of the kitchen after they had been kicked out twice. “You know the rule.”

“Keep you out,” Sun Shower jabbed.

“And?” Derecho asked.

“Stay out when mom is cooking,” Winter Low finished.

“Now, what has you so excited?” Derecho asked.

“Uhhhh,” Sun Shower said drawing it out, trying to get Derecho to remember. He had forgotten about their presentation. “Our presentation.”

“Oh, yeah.” Derecho chuckled. “How good did it go?”

“No one got close to us,” Golden Front blurted out. “Mr. Snow was visibly impressed. And nothing impresses him.”

“Did you close or lead with me?” Derecho asked.

“We were called up after lunch,” Sun Shower said. “So we finished with you. Four solid presentations and then you. Two of our other jobs hadn’t been touched this year, so we got a good bump up in their eyes. And even more once we laid yours down.”

Sun Shower let it drop. “Nopegasus could compete with our presentation on your job! Boom!”

“It’s true,” Golden Front asserted. “No pegasus could. We were one of five groups that didn’t have a weather factory job! That scored points.”

“Principle Starlight loved it,” Winter Low jumped in. “She paid full attention to us. That isn’t easy to do. But we led with the two jobs nopegasus was covering.”

“That’s how it goes,” Derecho said.

“But that is us,” Sun Shower said, cutting off their conversation. “What about you?”

Uncle Arcing Gale got home, halting that question as he greeted everypegasus. Sun Shower was the most outgoing and persistent and picked it right back up.

“Well, what about you?”

“Well,” Derecho said, getting everything in order. He was going to play the Employee of the Year card first. “I had a good day, to say the least. For one, I am the Employee of the Year.”

“That’s great!” Aunt Rainbow Jade exclaimed, popping her head out of the kitchen. She had that look in her eyes, saying that the money conversation would come later.

“And my boss told me to use the bonus for myself. To treat myself. So you don’t have to worry about that. I will be taking care of myself.”

“Good,” Uncle Arcing Gale smiled as he sat down in the chair across from Derecho. “But that isn’t it.”

“Well, no,” Derecho replied. “And the other has me concerned.”

Uncle Arcing Gale’s eyebrow raised and Sun Shower’s ears flapped down as their perkiness was zapped away by fear.”

“It’s not bad,” Derecho said rolling his eyes. “I got that project approved that you helped me get ready. But I am leading it. As in me, doing finances, training, logistics, everything. With help, but its all on me. I wasn’t expecting that big responsibility. I was expecting Featherlight our Floor Director to do it. But the board, they want me. They said its my vision and only I see it clearly enough to pull it off.”

“Well that’s great,” Aunt Rainbow Jade smiled, coming over. “You want to be Floor Director. That is how you get to be it.”

“Yeah,” Derecho sighed. “I know that. And it was directly discussed. Its just a lot of pressure.”

Sun Shower put her hoof on Derecho’s shoulder.

“How do I lead them?” Derecho asked. “On this entire project? Floor Director, this, this is way above that.”

“By being who you truly are,” Sun Shower replied. “The loving protector that I see you as. Not some employee. As Deke. My Deke. Give them Deke. Become Deke to the world and show them, unapologetically who you are and what you can do.”

“I will always need you,” Sun Shower said, wiping away a tear. “But now you can focus all the energy you put into Deke, into your life. Redirect Deke to being visible. Unyielding in your devotion. Brazen when you have to be in order to get the job done. A firm pegasus who knows what he wants and how to get it and who isn’t afraid to not apologize for doing what is necessary for it to happen. You don’t destroy pegasi, you build them up as you climb higher. You got me through life. A jerk doesn’t do that. You consider others, but know how to out compete them.”

Derecho took a deep breath in and let it out. He smiled with every part of him at Sun. His little sister was all grown up and now teaching him a thing or two.

“You are right,” Derecho smiled at her. “I will own being Deke. The world shall now know that I am Deke and it will tremble with fear. Because I know what needs to be done and can get it done. I will get it done."

Sun Shower threw herself into Deke and he hugged her as tightly as he could. Deke was all she could call him when their parents died. She hadn’t been able to say Derecho. So when they died, it became more than just a cute name. Deke was her brother, and in many ways, her parents on top of her protector.

Giving him permission to turn that strength to face the world was a powerful act. And it wasn’t separating them as Deke thought it would. He felt closer to Sun than he ever had before. Their changing relationship was only exponentially strengthening their bond.

It was going to take Deke to pull this off. It was going to take Deke to pull off getting a commission in the military. So he was going to do it. He was going to earn that right to take it. But the world was going to feel like they were giving it to him. It was just a kind gesture to offer what was his to him.

“I also talked with a retired General,” Deke said. “A friend of the CEO. I got a tour of a Cloudship this afternoon. The Arkona. Its a lot, but I only want to do one thing. Fly it. If I’m not on a Cloudship, in command, I have better uses for my time.”

“Like what?” Sun Shower asked. “Yeah, show them who is boss at the plant, but go. Do it. Take the helm. I know you can and you want to. Recycling was always just a way to care for me and the family. But its not your heart. You just know how to do a job correctly.”

“Do it,” Uncle Arcing Gale encouraged. “Go, sign up.”

“It’s not that simple,” Derecho stated. “I will be competing again others with a long military lineage. And who went to military schools, to prepare them for this job. They won’t appreciate some random Pegasus coming off the street.”

“I will have to overhaul the recycling facility and get their backing with letters of recommendation to even the playing field. And then I will still have to take strong, aggressive steps to make sure I don’t get lost in the over saturated sea of First Lieutenants. That’s going to be a lot to work against.”

“It won’t take you long to be able to do the job,” Sun Shower said.

Deke smiled at her. “Sun, the Captain I spoke with was quite against normal pegasi being captains. Or even officers. Military blood lines really matter. Yeah, I can, but I will have to do it without stepping on their hooves. Because it took him 20 years to make Captain. 15 sitting as a First Lieutenant.”

“You can do that in five,” Sun Shower shot back.

“Its popularity,” Deke warned. “So yeah. I can do it. I wouldn’t take me long to learn it all. But then I have to not piss them off while catching the eye of some admiral who can pull me out of the sea of regulars.”

“Its… A lot to juggle that isn’t in my control.”

“Somepegasus will notice you,” Sun Shower said confidently. “Go take care of the plant, leave it better than when you started, and then conquer the military. Fly your giant ball of water that can shoot lightning! Somepegasus will have to notice you. And over the next fifteen years, see your real value.”

“I have faith in you. Let it guide you, as your faith in me has guided me all my life, even when I lost my faith.”

Deke swept his sister up in his arms and wings, hugging her tightly, with tears.

“Thanks,” Deke sniffed. “I will. That really means setting my teeth now, for this project.”

“And for your life,” Sun Shower added, wrapping him in her wings. “So that you get what you deserve and need. Promise me you will take care of yourself.”

“I can’t care for you if I’m not taken care of,” Derecho replied. “I will. I always have and I always will. I will always be there for you. Even if that means outliving you in your old age.”

Sun Shower began to chuckle at the thought.

“The two of us, old and cranky, telling pegasi how it was in the good old days and such.”

“You cranky?” Derecho chuckled. “That will be a first. You were a model foal. It was the Twins who caused problems.”

“Blame Golden,” Winter Low huffed. “He is always making a fuss of some kind. I keep my head down because of him. He will drag me into whatever he is doing. Somehow.”

Everypegasus laughed. Golden Front had a nasty habit of getting Winter Low in trouble. Sun Shower often got caught up in it as well. Winter Low was always the quiet one as well. Most of his talking was trying to get out of situations Golden Front tossed him into alongside him.

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