Less than five hours, the airship had arrived at the Refugee Camp, nicknamed by the crew on the ship as the 'Tent Town'. While a bit derogatory, it was a rather accurate descriptor. Nestled in several large plateaus, the large mass of multicolored tents was a near endless sprawl across the dusty place. It almost reminded her of an impoverished and destroyed Pryha; an endless sprawl, covering everything it came into contact and uncaring of the terrain. Milling around this tent city, she caught sight of hundreds, if not thousands of ponies, many of which looked up to watch the airship landing in a gap between two of the plateaus. The spot they landed near was by one of the few proper buildings: several square, mud-brick buildings that, due to the number of guards and the few Wonderbolts milling about, was a barracks.

Speaking of the Wonderbolts, she saw several of them coming up toward the airship as the mooring lines were thrown down and secured to the hard-packed sand of the valley floor. Over their blue and yellow jumpsuits, they wore small, ancient pegasi scale armor breastplates, iron horseshoes with mounted Fighting Claws on their forelegs, and small basinet helmets similar in style to Princess Lunas. However, even despite this, she was able to identify them immediately due to coat and mane colors. There were five in total: Spitfire, Soarin, Fleetfoot, Silver Zoom, and a third mare with an aquamarine coat and two-toned blonde mane she didn't recognize.

As the gangplank was lowered and the Princess, Rainbow Dash, Element Bearers, Shining Armor, and those the officers of the First Maniple exited. The Wonderbolts snapped to attention, and Spitfire said, "Good to see you're back in one piece, your Highness. How was your trip?"

"Quite well, Captain," The Princess replied. "The Griffonians are on board, with troops heading both here and to the northern front. In addition, I have procured aid from the Pryhans, who've dispatched one of their top regiments, along with its equally well-renowned commander."

"And who would that be?" Soarin asked.

With a knowing smile, Luna stepped aside, revealing Rainbow in her full armor. All of the Wonderbolts' eyes widened, and several let out gasps of surprise. Spitfire stepped forward, the unfamiliar mare following close behind. "Rainbow Dash? Are YOU the Pryhan commander?"

"No, it's Miss 'Apples-are-the-best' over here", she said, getting a bit of satisfaction out of the orange mares scowling. "Yes, I'm the Praetor, or Commander, of the Fourteenth Regiment." Turning to Luna, she said, "I have to get my men into our own camp. Give me a few hours, and I'll be ready to talk with you."

She nodded, and the two groups parted. Rainbow lead her officers off, looking for a place to set up camp, while everyone else went into the Tent City. Well, except Spitfire and the mystery mare. Said mare walked up next to her as she walked, looking at her while sizing her up. "So, you're this 'Rainbow Dash' that my Lil' Spits-y keeps bringing up, eh?"

Spitfire had also caught up and blushed at the comment. "Lightning!"

"What?"

"We're in public. We agreed not to do stuff like it in public!"

"You know I don't follow orders well."

"It was your idea, Dusty."

The two of them went back and forth, bickering like an old married couple. One of her officers, a Centurion named Pike Wall, said, "Are Equestrians normally this talkative? I only have the Pink one to go on, and I had a feeling she's an outlier."

"Some of them, Sometimes.", was her reply. Returning her attention to the Wonderbolt mares, she said, "I take it you two are dating?"

"Married with a little ball of energy, actually", Spitfire said, flicking her earing adorned ear.

"I'd love to hear about it," Rainbow said. "But, unfortunately, I got stuff I got to take care of. Maybe tonight? I've brought some additional resources besides the bare necessities, and Pryhan wine is some of the best in the world."

"Sounds good", Lightning said.

Spitfire added, "Yeah. See you then."

The two married mares flew off, leaving Rainbow with her subordinates.

Rainbow stood on the edge of the trench being dug by her men. While a much smaller force than normal, they still were building the standard field encampment: A trench around an earthen wall, studded with premade stakes brought on the storage wagons. Rows of tents, including her own, were arranged inside, ready to accept the Pedes after they finished working. Her men dug the trench, piling the dirt into buckets to use to make the wall. She was simply overseeing things when she heard a voice behind her. One she had hoped to avoid.

"Oh, hey Rainbows!", Said Zephyr Breeze as he scooted his way into her line of sight. "Welcome back!"

"Oh, hey! Hi, Zephyr. Can I help you?", She said. Meanwhile, a mantra echoed through her head: Stay civil. Stay civil. Stay civil.

"I just wanted to check if you were still as in Lo~ove with me. And, I can tell; you still are." By now, he had fully stepped in front of her, right on the edge of the trench. "I gotta say, Rainbows. Lookin' good! Although, it could still use some improvements. I mean, Dra~ab!"

"This is the standard armor and clothing of a Pryhan Praetor. It's against regulations to modify it in any way. If I could, trust me, I would." Stay civil. Stay civil. Stay civil. Stay civil!

He shot his typical shit-eating, arrogant, 'Irresistible' grin her way, making her mime puking. He didn't get the hint, saying, "Oh, come on, Rainbows. I know you can't hold it in behind that wall of 'Regulations' and 'Standards'. Let your true love help you. I can make you look fabulous!"

"Looking 'Fabulous' is for the parade ground and formal events." Stay civil! Stay civil! Stay civil! "Now, I have other matters I need to attend to. Please, go find someone, or something, else to go try and stick your cock in."

She tried to walk off, heading over a gap in the trench to go into the Via Principalis, but Zephyr was right on her tail. "Aww, come on, Rainbows. I know you can't resist me!" Rainbow muttered rather unflattering comments under her breath at him in Demosian, but he still followed her. Unfortunately, she turned back to look at him to start yelling and ended up tripping on a rock. This caused her to fall forward, then backward, sending her into his hooves. "Ah, I knew it!" As she tried to right herself, he wrapped his forelegs around her, using his wings to keep his own balance. "I'm so glad you're finally choosing to admit your feelings for me, Rainbows", he said, batting his eyes.

"Oh, just piss off!", Rainbow said, shoving him off.

Zephyr followed alongside her, and said, "Oh, seriously. I was just messing around! Just let me help you!"

Rainbow stopped and smiled. "Oh, you want to help me?" When he nodded, she smiled wider. She then turned to her left, yelling over to one of her officers. When she came up to her and saluted, Rainbow said, "Get an extra shovel. He wants to help."

The officer smiles, seemingly catching on. She said, "By your command, Praetor."

As she ran off, Rainbow turned to Zephyr, saying, "So, how have you been these past few years?"

"Oh, great! Well, besides the whole changeling part. That's been pretty sucky. So what about you?", he said.

"Oh, you know", she said. "I've been a soldier for a few years, I've been mauled by murderous thugs, been a drug addict, had a son, and gotten married. It's been a rollercoaster ride, really."

"Wait wait wait! Married!?", Zephyr yelled, eyes wide.

Rainbow smirked. "Yeah, married. Quite happily, too. So, I have no real interest in entertaining you." She turned her gaze over to the officer, who was coming back with a shovel. "Ah, thank you." She then shoved the shovel into Zehpyr's hooves, and said, "So, you want to help me? Ok. Help my troops dig the trench."

"B-but I-"

"Now!", she said. He whimpered and slid into the trench, shoveling out a few scoopfuls. "On the other end of the trench, numbnuts! Keep an eye on him. He's a bit of a lazy shit."

Next Chapter: 85~Military Analysis Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 9 Minutes