Shadow trotted up to the meeting point at 0550, everypony was already there. He had spent the morning in his bedroom behind the locked door, exercising his wings. They were crying out to him in the morning after being hidden and unopened since his last great push. It wasn’t good for them, the feathers, the bones, and the muscles.

“Well well well,” Rebel Queen said from the front. “Yah showed up. The great Mtoaji is actually traveling with us. You agree to my one rule?”

Shadow grinned. “No leaving the caravan except at scheduled destination stops. And while traveling, follow your commands. Keep up. Don’t get ahead, don’t fall behind, and don’t step off to take a shit without letting you know.”

“Yeah, you get my one rule,” Rebel Queen smiled.

She wasn’t stupid. She just enjoyed saying it was all one rule.

“You are light,” A mare said. She was carrying stuff on top of her full saddle bags. And all she had for defense was a pistol.

“I have business, that is all,” Shadow replied. “I don’t need stuff to do this business. Just myself.”

Her set up was similar to the others. Of the twelve extra ponies, 6 had rifles. And except for three, they were carry their hauls on their back. Those three had a brahmin carrying their stuff. Two were to guide it, one was the guard in light combat gear. He was wearing one of the sets Shadow had sold Red Tip when he first got to Trottingham.

Rebel Queen and her ‘soldiers’ were all in solid combat gear. Each had a different card painted on their armor. All were hearts. Ace was her second in command, Three was leading one brahmin, and Seven was leading the other. Nine and Jack were packing heavy on the weapons

If Shadow’s jacket was brighter, he would blend right in with their colors. His cloak and undershirt were black. He still needed to secure new armor. For now, he was stuck with the damaged gear. It didn’t look damaged after his expert repair job, but it was still damaged.

Shadow was heavy on the spare ammo. Half of his magazines were loaded with armor piecing rounds, in case the Steel Rangers chose to be a problem. He had the sword, revolver, and both combat knives on him. But Soarin’s Lightning was left home, and so was Mwokozi’s cloak.

Shadow’s bedroll and the simple tent the Star Paladin Warding Blade had given him were all that Shadow appeared to be carrying. They hid his food and spare canteens in his bags.

Shadow certainly didn’t appear to belong. And it had gotten him noticed. They were jealous that he was with them, but that he wasn’t having to haul anything. Despite it being their choice. He got to just carry his stuff and deal with himself alone.

“That’s everypony planned,” Ace said. “All additions are accounted for. Lets move out.”

Ace was bringing up the rear. Nine and Jack were playing it in the middle, to make sure nopony fell behind. They set a good pace for the ponies and the brahmin. It would be a tough journey for Shadow.

They headed south, following the train tracks. Eventually, the tipped over cars came into view. Jack and Ace slipped away to scout it out. It wasn’t occupied. Shadow popped his head in. He saw the bodies he had left. They were just bones and rags, but still there, warding off new occupants.

They made camp not long after that. The brahmin hated carrying the packs. But they were dumb animals that did what they were told.

Shadow had the nicest set up out of the additions. Rebel Queen and her soldiers had similar tents. Black, not steel colored. It lacked insignia like Shadow’s, but the same design. They probably got theirs from Steel Rangers as well. They dealt with them often enough.

Shadow took second watch with Ace and another addition.

“Yah have a nice set up,” Ace said, quietly. “Howd yah get ahole of SR equipment?”

“I ran a special project with Trottingham’s Star Paladin, and I was lacking, well lacking what they said was proper field equipment. So the gave me it and the bed roll.”

“You ran a project with them? What did yah do?”

“Eh,” Shadow hesitated. “Its best left in the past. We did what was needed to be done.”

Ace wasn’t satisfied. “What do you have that a SR doesn’t have?”

Shadow kept watch, never loosing his focus. “Range. And a free rifle. Apparently, they needed their specialists with distance shooting elsewhere.”

“Can’t believe yah worked with em,” Ace added.

“Life doesn’t always let you do what you want. It was mutually beneficial for a number of reasons, so yeah. I joined that proposition.”

After a while, Shadow stepped away and out to a tree where he leaned against, listening. He was pretty sure something was out there. Something that wanted them. But there was nothing tangible, yet.

Day two was no problem. They were still following the tracks. Shadow was more adventurous with how close he played it. For a while he was on their left flank, 50 yards away. Rebel Queen knew, but let him be. She knew he was silently working on their protection.

Shadow took second watch again. Ace was again, heading up second watch.

“Yah saw something,” Ace said quietly to him, halfway through the shift.

“Yeah,” Shadow quietly replied. “But I can’t pin it down. It could just be a fucking jack rabbit. Or well, multiple ones.”

“Not with your intuition,” Ace replied. “Besides, Nine has the same suspicions.”

Shadow let it sit there for a while. “Can I, scout ahead tomorrow?”

“How far ahead?”

“Honestly, no idea. But, if Nine has a concern as well, getting ahead and flank them if something is tracking us…”

“Yeah,” Ace said. “But take Nine with you. Head out now.”

They slipped up to the soldier’s tents.

“Psst!” Ace said. “Nine.”

“What’s up?” Rebel Queen groaned.

“Nine and Mtoaji are gunna run a scouting mission.”

“Mtoaji is tracking something too?” Nine quietly asked.

“Yeah,” Shadow whispered back. “I want to get ahead and flank it. At least it will dispel any false suspicions.”

“Do it,” Rebel Queen ordered. “Leave your tent Mtoaji. We will pack it up.”

They slipped out of the camp and spread out a bit as they made their way down the path they would be following. It was well established, which also meant raiders would prey along it.

Nothing came of it as the light came up. They moved off to the side and set up posts. They were hidden well. If something was following alongside it, they would catch them walking straight at them.

Mid afternoon brought the caravan in sight. And it also brought a shadow sulking off the side. Shadow caught Nine’s eye. He had seen it as well. They stayed down, letting it get closer.

The caravan was passing by them, but the thing didn’t. They stayed down and then it passed right in between them. It was plant thing that was floating along the ground. Shadow’s eyes expressed it all after it had passed. After it was safe, Nine crawled over to Shadow.

“Damn it,” Nine whispered. “That there is a Floater! Its a plant that uses those gas sacks to propel itself on a cushion. And that head, yeah, it likes flesh. Especially fresh blood.”

“Have you dealt with one before?” Shadow asked.

“Nah. They don’t show up often. But that is why we couldn’t see it. We were not looking for a carnivorous plant.”

“Alright,” Shadow said. “It shouldn’t be hard to kill.”

“The gas is flammable,” Nine warned.

“If we set it off, will it kill it?”

“Yeah, I think. But we can’t get too close. Or let it get close to the caravan. We don’t want to spook the brahmin, and the gas doesn’t say close.”

“Yeah,” Shadow groaned. “I am smelling it now. If we can smell it, it can ignite.”

“And the thing spits a poison thing from its tail thing. It burns. I’ve seen the result of survivor of the spit. And worst of all, they don’t usually travel alone.”

“Shit,” Shadow swore. “I can kill it from here. Blast it’s head off with the explosion. We are downwind, so the gas should stay contained and away from the group.”

Nine was unsure. “I don’t see any others. And I have only felt one being around. Lets blast it. But, we should get closer to make sure your shot is good. Lets not take a chance.”

They moved out, stalking it. Shadow slid up to a tree and was blocked from the view of Nine. He pulled out his revolver and fired.

BANG! BOOM! WHOOSH!

The entire area went up in flames the initial expositions ruptured the other gas sacks. Nine immediately took off after the caravan. He wanted to make sure their other side wasn’t being followed. Shadow held for a moment and then bolted down their flank as well.

Rebel Queen was issuing commands to the caravan. She kept them moving while Ace and Jack fanned out ahead of them all, securing their next move.

Nine took several shots and Shadow dashed to his location. He was backed up behind a tree as three assaulted his location. Their tails rose up, and shot goop from the end. He hugged the tree, his only protection. Blowing them up would be bad for Nine.

He hadn’t seen Shadow yet, so Shadow used the band to launch the Zebra bayonet. It pinned one to a tree along the stalk, dragging it back a foot with the strike. But it wasn’t dead yet.

Shadow jumped into the middle of them with Kifo Herixleta drawn in his mouth. The blade was iced over, concealing the gems. Shadow slashed the stalk of one, rolled out of the way of the other’s shot, sliced off the end sack that was shooting the goop as he roll. He stabbed the head of that one, forcing it to submit to the ice of the blade, leaving it to crack as it froze.

Shadow jumped up, slicing the head of the pinned one in half, ending that fight. But there still was the suffering one he has cut the stalk on. It was more than surviving. It was stalking him with it’s head, and it had a shot drawn up and ready on it’s tale.

Shadow circled it. It was matching his movements. It knew if it struck and missed, it was dead. It was not going to strike until it was certain it would succeed. The longer Shadow faced off against it, the higher the chance it would hit him.

Shadow reared up, pulled the blade back and launched it, end over end. It found it’s home in the tale, splattering toxic goop everywhere. It flinched in pain, giving Shadow all he need. His Enclave combat knife was drawn as he dove forward. He drove the blade up, into it’s flat head. In a savage movement he ripped through it, making sure it’s lower jaw portion was ripped apart. He never even pricked a gas sack.

Shadow rolled out from under it as it fell, dead. Nine poked his head out, in awe.

“Fuck dude, that was, I don’t want to fuck with you. But uh, your blade. Its covered in that toxic goop.”

Shadow pulled out the Zebra combat knife of the tree, dropping the floater to the ground. He sheathed it and looked at Nine.

“Yeah, I was thinking, cleanse by fire.”

“Fire?”

“This gas should burn the goop off of it.”

“You are insane,” Nine said, backing up a bit. “Are you sure you want to put your sword through that?”

“Eh,” Shadow shrugged. “It will be fine. And its the best I have off the top of my head.”

Nine nodded and dashed away. Shadow got himself clear and fired a shot from his revolver. The entire area exploded, ripping the floaters apart and destroying a tree or two. Kifo Herixleta was blasted away, towards the caravan.

“Fuck,” Shadow said, dashing after it.

A scream erupted from the caravan. A mare’s screech. Shadow was there a second later, sliding into the middle. Kifo Herixleta was in the center of the caravan, with it’s blade in the middle of a rock in the ground. The rock had cracked to allow it to enter.

It was fully exposed, for all to see. But it hadn’t hurt anypony.

“Damn,” Rebel Queen said. She trotted over to, but didn’t draw it. “What the fuck is this?”

“A sword,” Shadow replied, going to grab it with his mouth. He was blocked by Rebel Queen’s hoof.

“Yeah, but I have never see or heard of anything like it? And those are gemstones in the blade. In it. And saying it’s gilded is putting it lightly. Plus, the rock.”

Shadow snaked his head past her hoof and snatched it with his mouth. He slid it out of the rock. It shined in the light that was around them. It was unavoidable as he put it away.

“What the hell is that?” Rebel Queen pressed.

Shadow sighed. “Its not from here.”

“Duh,” Rebel Queen spat, annoyed at his attempt to deflect it.

“I got it a long ways from here,” Shadow said. “Kifo Herixleta is not an Equestrian sword. Its a Zebra blade.”

“Enchanted?” Rebel Queen asked.

“Yes,” Nine said. “The blade was ice.”

Rebel Queen still wanted Shadow to answer. “Very enchanted. Which is why I keep the hilt and handle wrapped. It was a gift. And something many down here would kill to take from me.”

“Huh,” Rebel Queen said. “I can see why. I also see that you still used it, despite the risk of it’s exposure. Thank you. It’s secret will be kept. By everypony here. We will get cloth to cover it up again as soon as we can. But your bags hide it well.”

“Thank you,” Shadow replied, tipping his head. “And they do. Its taken some time and effort to position so its has a low profile, but can still be drawn with ease.”

“Yah’ll got that right, that blade doesn’t exist.”

They all swore themselves to secrecy. It was as good as Shadow could get from the additions.

Shadow walked out front with Rebel Queen. They were slow to follow after the sharp disruption in their midst.

“Yah did good,” Rebel Queen said quietly. “Yah did very good. And I appreciate the lengths you took. I assume your weird revolver is the same?”

“Yes,” Shadow said with a nod. “I was given them at the same time. Its a break action. And its got the standard Zebra flames enchantment.”

“Caliber? Its small.”

“Yeah, it is. But it shoots 44 Magnum.”

“I assume that’s really not true. It handles 44, and shoots a Zeb round?”

“Yeah,” Shadow chuckled. “44 Mag is probably what the case came from. Its 44 Zebra. I don’t have rounds with me. They are impossible to find in Equestria.”

“I bet, but don’t they work better, with the enchantment?”

“I…” Shadow was shocked. He hadn’t considered that. “I hadn’t thought about it. I was given the pieces without explanation. But they still hold secrets. It very well may. But I know that typically, revolvers hold enchantments better and stronger than semiautomatic pistols. So there is a chance it can’t tell. Unless, the cartridge itself was enchanted, but that isn’t the case.”

“I know why yah keep it secret. That blade is beautiful. She was something that I know I will never get to see again. Something more beautiful than anything I have ever seen. Again, thank you for not keeping it secret, when it was the best option.”

“Nine’s good at his job,” Shadow replied. “It would have been on my head if he died because I was afraid to use my weapons. I took it along for a reason. I didn’t expect it to be covered it toxic goop at the end, but yeah.”

Rebel Queen chuckled. “Did you blow your sword up to clean it?”

Shadow chuckled. “Yeah. But I never would have guess it was going to head right at the caravan. Or bury itself in a rock. I knew it was tough enough to handle the explosion, but that was new.”

“If each of those gems holds and enchantment, it must be damn near indestructible. Probably could be a legendary magical artifact.”

“Legendary what?” Shadow asked confused.

“Eh, you wouldn’t get pony history I am guessing. Your name and your sword’s name give me that suspicion. You say you are not from here, and that is proof. Yeah, Equestria had some old magical things. Cloaks, wizard staffs, and more secrets pieces from powerful ponies of the past. I assume the Zebras have their own.”

“I… wouldn’t know,” Shadow replied. “I… that never was discussed when I was growing up. What happened to those artifacts? I mean, if this is how things ended up, surely one of them could’ve helped during the war.”

“I don’t know that they weren’t. I don’t have a list. They were kept secret. Outside of their general existence. If they survived, the SRs probably retain their ownership. They do have Unicorns behind the scenes. But, that doesn’t mean them unies are capable of using em.”

“Yeah,” was all Shadow said.

Neither of them had more to say. They still walked side by side for the rest of the day. Shadow didn’t take watch. He needed the sleep. So did Nine.

Nine sat down next to Shadow at breakfast. “Mtoaji, why can’t I shake the feeling that, you are going to attract more trouble?”

“Probably because I have a habit of it,” Shadow quietly replied.

“Habit?” Nine quietly pressed.

“Well, more like it decides to find me. But, fate always favor me too. And it’s given me the skills I need to survive and thrive. Equestria called me here, and it protects me.”

“Why are you afraid of going to Filly alone?”

“Cause, it likes the taste of my blood.”

“Huh,” was all Nine said. He turned to his food and finished in silence.

The last three days were uneventful. They swung south, wide of Ponyville and down to cross over the Toxic Trench, over the train tracks, and then to New Appleloosa.

They spent three whole days in New Appleloosa. Shadow spent his time at an outdoor cafe, watching and listening. Just like he did in Trottingham. This small city had information. It had secrets which could not be kept. You just had to know how to listen. So he spent his time listening.

They lost most of their caravan. Two solo additions and the three with the brahmin continued on with them. It would be a five day trip up to their end point in west Fillydelphia. They would be crossing at a ford, south of the train tracks.

They called the split where the overturned cars were Junction R-7. It was a known Talon Company outpost. An all Griffin mercenary group. It was better to go around and leave them alone then try their luck.

The trip was relaxed until the third day. Again, something was watching them. Nine and Ace knew it as well. Despite their probes, they couldn’t pin down anything solid. The Talons didn’t play the fringes like their watcher was.

“Black Widow?” One of the additions asked.

“No,” Rebel Queen said. “Its not her style.”

“What is her style?”

“Its best left untold,” Rebel Queen said. “But its not her.”

“Talons?”

“Nah,” Shadow said. “They would be more direct. I’m not entirely certain that our watcher has ill will in mind. Its almost as if they just are watching.”

“That Pegasus group the Steel Rangers are hunting?”

“That’s a possibility,” Rebel Queen said. “But I doubt they still are around. They disappeared a long time ago. There were only two confirmed sightings of them, and another time they popped up in New Appleloosa, in between those sightings. They are gone. Dahlia might still be hunting them, but they are gone.”

Shadow was playing wide on their west flank as they moved forward on the last day. They were headed dead north. Shadow felt like he was back in a unit. The way they were taking up their positions as they moved forward were cohesive. It was something he never would have said guards, or even ‘soldiers’ should know. Not without training. It wasn’t the only military thing he had noticed. Especially with their number of additions down.

“Mtoaji,” Ace called. “Bring it in. One mile to go. No need to play it hard core. We are securely in Steel Ranger territory.”

Shadow came in with the others. It wasn’t so much that they were protected, it was more about making sure they didn’t give the Steel Rangers a problem with visitors snooping around places they shouldn’t be. The path was clear.

When Shadow finally saw two guards, in full armor, his heart rate spiked. He had to step a bit to the side and away from the others as he held his breath and forced his body to calm down. He was in control, not fear.

They stopped at the guards. One was a mare, the other a stallion.

“Rebel Queen,” The Mare said. “What have you brought with you.”

“I have five to trade, and one with business in the city.”

“Business?”

Rebel Queen looked at Shadow, and the Steel Ranger’s gaze followed. Shadow didn’t move.

“It’s private business,” Shadow said.

“There isn’t much here for private business,” The Stallion said. His suspicion was clear.

“Its a contact int the city.And a talk.”

Shadow could feel the concealed eyes of the Steel Rangers narrowing. “The rest of the city is a den of thieves and raiders.”

“And?” Shadow asked. “A lot is stolen. There is a lot to gain.”

They had no response to that.

“Come on,” The Mare said. “The trading post is this way. And its in need of new supplies.”

“Oh,” Shadow said, halting them. “Were you guys watching us the past few days?”

“No,” The Mare said. “We would have come outright. We don’t need to sneak around when it comes to traders. Especially for a few days.”

Shadow nodded and began walking east, along the south line of the Steel Ranger territory. They were on the fringes of the city’s suburban forest. Stable-Tec headquarters was to the north. He had a good idea of how to get to the Operators, from the last time they were here. There were only so many central locations gangs could put up good holdings in the city. Even less with the Disciples and Steel Rangers warring against each other.

Rebel Queen left the additions at the trading post. It was still serving its purpose after all of the years. During the war, it had been a small market that served the suburban neighborhoods. Now it served all of the farms in the area.

Rebel Queen and her soldiers were brought into the city more, winding their way to the giant concrete building. It was a two story recruiting office and military post. It held more secrets, because nothing was simple.

They were forced to wait further back. A few paladins came out, along with the Elder.

“I have it,” Rebel Queen grinned while Three pulled out a locked, metal case. “I got you the request. It wasn’t an easy fight, but we secured it.”

Before he could respond, a noise distracted them.

“Prod me one more time and I will snap your neck! And I can even with the suit!”

“Shut up and move!”

Rebel Queen sighed, frustrated. “That would be Mtoaji. But why Dahlia is corralling him here, I have no idea. He had business elsewhere.”

They came around the corner and Shadow saw Rebel Queen and what was obviously the Elder. The building was clearly military, and he instantly knew it held bunkers below. But he doubted an actual stable had been built under it. It was a convenient power play if you were were ableto keep poniesfrom getting too close. And even a good bunker underneath was more than enough to scare off most attackers.

It probably had its own clean water system, hydroponics lab, and firing range. Everything they would need for survival. It just wasn’t build by Stable-Tec or with their trademark door.

“What is going on?” The Elder asked Dahlia.

Shadow got pushed again, without a reason other than to shove him. He steeled his front legs as he brought his rear in from the push. He let his abs do all the work as he contracted in. Before they knew what was happening, he struck, pushing back out and sweeping the legs of the Dragoon who had shoved him.

The Dragoon went down easily. Shadow ended his follow through perpendicular to Dahlia. He did a back spring, avoiding her guns that she trained on him. He landed in a roll and skipped to Rebel Queen’s side.

“STAND DOWN!” The Elder ordered. “What the fuck is going on!”

Shadow ignored him and looked at Rebel Queen. “It was Dahlia tracking us.”

Rebel Queen’s eyes flashed with anger. “Of course it was.”

Rebel Queen looked at the Elder. “Mtoaji here is good at surviving, but is no danger to us.”

“Crusader,” The Elder growled. “Explain yourself.”

Dahlia straightened up. “Mtoaji, as he is known, is the prime suspect for being Black Widow.”

Rebel Queen broke out laughing, unable to stay serious. “Mtoaji is a stallion. Black Widow is a mare.”

“That can be faked,” Dahlia fired back.

“And a confirmed Unicorn,” Rebel Queen finished. “Mtoaji is just a small Earth Pony. You can’t fake that.”

“You have never seen Black Widow,” Dahlia shot back. “And it’s my job to bring her to justice.”

“Neither have you,” Rebel Queen stated. “I got caught up on the news in Trottingham. Just like you did.”

“Mtoaji is still my prime suspect.”

The Elder sighed. “Suspect or not, why did you bring him here?”

“Because Elder, he was snooping around our perimeter.”

“You hunted me for three blocks,” Shadow spat. “You have been stalking us for three days as well. Its pathetic the lengths you are going after me over a suspicion. You still have no evidence in any way. At least none that you have given me.”

“What evidence do you actually have?” The Elder pressed.

“Mtoaji shows up out of nowhere, and proves to be an expert combatant. He wiped out the Hawks in Trottingham, without a second thought and on his own. He won several events at the Trottingham Exposition as well. He will only elude to seeking out something.”

Dahlia’s tone got mean. “For the protection of his home.”

“Fuck you!” Shadow spat. “My business out here is my own to keep. Stay out of it like I stay out of yours.”

“And where is it?”

“You think my parents decided to be mean and name me something foreign for shits and giggles? My name has more meaning than you can understand. I don’t lie when I say I am not from here. There is no point in lying about it when your name isn’t Equestrian.”

Dahlia snorted a laugh. “It’s still avoiding the question.”

Shadow was done with her mocking. “I don’t need your shit. That’s all you do, shit!”

“Hey! I hunt the dark things in the wasteland! Be that pony, or creature. I keep the dark places lit. Have you ever had to hunt down a pack of Hellhounds? Its not easy. Its danger is higher than you could understand.”

Shadow lost himself in laughter. “What, 12 Hellhounds?”

“14,” Dahlia growled.

“Star Paladin Warding Blade, Knight Yellow Quarts, and I just took out twice that, breaking up a large group that had come south and was threatening the whole area. And they were armed. I finished them off with a shot over a mile and a half long, killing their leader.

“And that included plenty of close combat. I slew them with my knife at times. I killed one in hoof to hoof combat. And both of them can attest to it. You may hunt the dark things and do a good job, but that doesn’t mean what you always hunt are the right things.”

“Have you ever killed a Star-Spawn?”

“Enough,” The Elder ordered. “Crusader. I know your job. You directly work for me after all. But enough. Unless he turns his guns against us, leave him be. If Star Paladin Warding Blade finds him a friend, I will not argue against that.”

“I can’t confirm that mission,” Dahlia replied.

“I can,” Rebel Queen growled. “At least the fact that he went on a high profile mission with the Star Paladin. I was in town when he got back. I saw them pass through the gate together. And Trottingham has its gossipers. The threat of the Hellhounds was hot news, along with their massacre.”

The Elder shook his head at Dahlia. “You need to think. Now, he has come to our very doorstep. Something few know specifics on. Let that sink in while you and your team cool off for a few days.”

“Yes Sir,” Dahlia said, saluting.

She kept her head up high, but it was obvious it hurt her as she led her Dragoons into the building.

“Nice, bunker,” Shadow said. “A bit far from Filly to run a strong front out of, but you can easily protect the farmers from here. And that is more important.”

“We have our forward command centers,” The Elder said. “But Dahlia brought up something of interest to me. You have business here. And its not with us or the farmers. I can’t let you leave from here without knowing where you are going.”

Shadow gave an understanding nod. “First, I have a question for Rebel Queen. Or is it Paladin Rebel Queen?”

Rebel Queen sighed. “When did you figure it out? We have never had anypony get close to the idea, let alone guess.”

“Eh, the others are dealing with keeping up and carrying their gear. It was nuances that added up. I wasn’t going to ask, until Dahlia brought me here.

“The biggest hint was that you had the same tents. No big deal since its known you make direct deliveries to them. But the really obvious thing was when I was working with you. It wasn’t guards, we were too military in the formations. Especially how we were handling Dahlia stalking us. It reminded me of the times I worked in our groups. Back when it wasn’t just me out here, searching.”

“Yah,” Rebel Queen replied. “I’m Paladin in rank. We’re procurement specialists. Ace is a Crusader n Jack a Knight. Three is ma Senior Scribe and Seven s still young, Journeyer Scribe. We go out an get what the Contingent needs. Usually, its general goods that are harder to find. This time, we actually were huntin somethin special.

“If we were a group of 8, like ah real Crusader would command, we would be too military an be picked out immediately. I know yah know how information can save yer neck. And that secrets can give you a edge. Just enough info, so that others know yah legit, but after that, need to know.”

“You have your answer,” The Elder said. “What business do you have in the city.”

“Actually,” Shadow grinned. “You can help me out. I need to talk with the Operators.”

“The raider gang?” The Elder asked shocked.

“Yeah,” Shadow said, hesitating. “They recently robbed a caravan. I’m not after specific goods. A business pony, well, I’m being paid a lot to give them a contract to go legitimate. Caravan guards who earn their caps through sweat and labor. With the Disciples big push, they might be willing to jump ship. Abandon their raiding and work for the caps they love so much. Worth a shot, right?”

“That’s a long shot,” Rebel Queen stated, surprised. “But, ifet gurts rid of a gang, why not?”

“That’s my thoughts,” Shadow replied.

“That’s ah big risk on yah head,” Rebel Queen added.

Shadow just replied with a nod.

“I hate saying it,” The Elder began. “I really think they should be prosecuted for their crimes. But that’s death. We know their crimes. If they choose to be caravan guards, I will put my approval for their safe change. But if they walk away from it, and turn back…”

“Death,” Shadow finished. “I’ll convey it strongly to them. Do you have their location?”

“A year ago, they were closer to the Disciples. They survived that battle, and then another right after to take over a hotel. Its the tallest building, on the south side.

“Be careful. A lot of gangs have gone missing this past year. The Kings died mysteriously. The Operators killed the Blades. The Fiends fragmented, half becoming the Red Rebels while the others joined the Disciples.”

“You are loosing your buffer,” Shadow said solemnly. “You had turned them to your advantage, but its disappearing, and fast.”

The Elder just nodded his head.

“Rebel Queen,” Shadow said. “You are departing on the fourth morning, correct?”

“Yep,” She smiled. “Back to NA then Trot. Not sure after that. We’ll know more once we gurt equipment orders.”

Shadow turned to leave. A Knight was assigned to escort him through their territory. He brought him to the edge, and to the best place for Shadow to head out to find the Operators. Shadow only got a short way before he barricaded himself in for the night.

He was in a building with several floors. The only thing still left for the floors above was the elevator shaft. Shadow used it to get his wings a lot of well deserved work. Safe work.

In the morning, He was out and moving though the streets carefully. Things were shifting and the territory lines didn’t always exist as they used to. Shadow played it very safe and found their lines late on the second day. He retreated to hold up in a nearby spot. Night recon was too risky.

A large battle erupted in the middle of the night. To the north. It kept going all night and into the early morning.

Shadow stepped outside and took a deep breath in. The city stunk. The blood spilled was in the air. Shadow steeled himself and moved out. He moved around their lines a bit until he saw the best point of entry.

“Hello,” Shadow called.

The stallion’s rifle was lazily raised at him. He was wearing simple iron armor over a suit. And he had ammo belted around him with a magazine tucked inside.

“I hear you are the Operators,” Shadow continued. “I am here to talk with your leader.”

“You’re heavily armed,” The Stallion said. “What’s to say you are not here to kill her.”

“Have you tried to get around in this city?” Shadow asked. He knew it was a stupid question, but it was rhetorical. “You don’t make it anywhere in this land without being armed. And this city, yeah. No, you can’t be sure. But I didn’t kill you. I am here to talk about a business opportunity. A profitable one.”

He narrowed his eyes at Shadow for a bit. He was intrigued.

“Fine, follow me. But, I’ll keep mah rifle on you. And some distance.”

“Perfectly reasonable choice,” Shadow smiled.

He was given several commands to turn at streets. They passed a few others on the way in, all dressed in a similar fashion. Shadow found himself at the hotel. But he wasn’t going in. Not yet anyway. They had plenty of rifles ready to shoot him if stepped out of line.

The front of the hotel had their symbol. It was on a canvas banner over the door. A scope’s sight, with a heart in the center, with three clean bullet holes, including their blood drips. But unlike the Disciples who had their markings everywhere, they kept it simple, almost sophisticated.

After a few minutes, a Unicorn mare came out. She too was wearing a steel plate body and wrapped in an ammo belt that formed an X on her chest. Under the steel armor was a nice checkered suit. The back part of her golden mane was pulled into a short tail, but she had the main part flipped up and over, accentuating her mane’s natural volume and luster.

“I’m the leader of the Operators, ‘Mags’ Black. What does the likes of you want with me?”

Mags was obviously a play on her avoidance of magazines, opting for an impractical ammo belt.

“I have a business proposition,” Shadow stated. “My name is Mtoaji, and I am representing a respected caravan owner, Jaborosa. He owns The Hive Caravan. He knows about you because you hit one of his recently.”

“The world really only cares about one thing, profit. He should have hired better guards if we hit it.”

Shadow chuckled a smile. “He isn’t mad. He is the one with a business proposition for you.”

“I’m not sure what business we can provide,” Mags stated. “But a profit is a profit. Speak.”

“That’s what I was hoping to hear. I have the full contract in my bags here.”

Shadow pulled out the envelope and she levitated it out of his hoof. She didn’t open it, wanting to hear him speak first.

“My job was only to deliver it,” Shadow said. “But its proposition is clear. You know the caps here are drying up. Fast. Gangs are getting knocked out or absorbed by the Disciples. And it is making it hard to do anything, especially since the Steel Rangers are on the other side, putting pressure on you.

“Jaborosa needs caravan guards. Walk out of here. Leave the raiding ways behind, and earn caps guarding his caravans. He pays well. And you get to be yourself. Mostly. You still carry your guns, you still get to operate for a profit.

“The Steel Ranger Elder here, we ended up having a chat. To get to you I had to talk with him. Not optimal. But he will let you pass. No prosecution if you leave all of the raiding ways behind. Go legit, and never go back. And it won’t be held against you.

“Become the best caravan guards this wasteland has ever seen. Make your profit, swim in the caps. And fuck, if anypony or thing tries to jump the caravan, have your fun killing them. You don’t have to leave that part behind. Because yeah, it can be fun to kill those who want to harm you. Just, don’t take it too far into raider methods. Because if you backslide, one step out of line, its over.”

“Ha!” Mags laughed. “Do you see this place? Do you smell here? Its clean! There are no bodies, there are no piles of shit laying around. We are not savages like the Disciples are. We are highly efficient in our operations. Don’t waste anything. Bullets cost money.

“I’m going to take this inside and talk with my brother and co-conspirator, Dizzy.”

Mags went back inside and Shadow waited outside. He could leave. But he was interested in how it would play out.

Rifle fire opened up nearby, a block or two north of them. Shadow looked at the stallion who brought him in and they dashed off with several others. They saw two dead operators, one had a Disciple standing over the body. The knife was dripping fresh blood.

Shadow shot her in the head without thinking and he dashed forward to where the others were retreating. The Operators took positions on their defensive line and checked their dead comrades.

Shadow skidded into the middle of the street. The six Disciples were visible as they rushed away. They were past 100 yards. Shadow put each down with three shots. He wanted to make sure they were down.

Shadow trotted forward, making sure they were not hiding anywhere. An Operator joined him. They ransacked the Disciples’ bodies of the few caps and the ammo they had. Three had rifles and all had their pistols. But none had much in way of ammunition. All of their crappy knives were taken as well.

They headed back to the hotel. Mags was waiting outside with a stallion and a younger mare.

“So, what did they do this time?”

Another Operator answered. “Jumped two guards. Slashed their throats. He cleanly gunned them down.”

The guns and knives were tossed in a pile at Mags’ feet. The ammo and caps joined them. Shadow took nothing.

“Not bad,” Mags smiled at him. “If you were more concerned with profit, you would make a fine Operator.”

Shadow smirked. “I have my own operation I am running. It just so happens that this contract, well, it worked to my favor to take it. I doubt any others would risk these ruins to find you.”

“Dizzy won’t get to conduct some of her chemistry experiments, but we accept. Anypony who doesn’t want to leave can join the Disciples, or hunt down The Pack. We are taking the name with us.

“You, small pony, are right. Things are no longer profitable here. And this gives us a solid market to reap from. Guarding Caravans isn’t glorious, but neither is this weakening existence. That’s the Disciples’ third attack this week. And that is the first time we have drawn their blood. Or more correctly, you spilled it, so we are still in the red.

Mags smiled at Shadow. “Now, how are you getting back to Trottingham?”

“Its going to be slow,” Shadow warned. “But I am joining a caravan that went from Trottingham to New Appleloosa, and then to the Fillydelphia farmer’s market. They are heading back in the morning. So I was going to have to push to get back. Its following the standard trails.”

Mags smiled coyly. “We may catch up with you then. It wouldn’t be a bad way to get used to a new life. It won’t take us long to pack. We don’t have much left after the Disciples booted us.”

Shadow left them to pack and he moved out. He chose to head south and then run in the open fields. It kept him safer. Nopony could jump him. He could be easily spotted, but it was an acceptable trade off.

Shadow got back late, and bedded down with the other additions outside of the market. He never even bother to set up his tent as he napped until the morning.

“You’re back,” Rebel Queen smiled as she came up to them in the morning. “Well?”

“Business was profitable,” Shadow smiled back. “We might gets some new associates joining us”

Rebel Queen nodded and they began the trek back. All of the additions were empty. They had sold it all. From what Shadow could tell, it was worth it to them. The farms rarely had anything to sell back.

A few hours later, they saw a group milling around in the middle of the road. They didn’t have much. Shadow trotted out ahead, just to be safe.

All together, there were 15. They had looked a lot bigger in the ruins than that. They may have lost some. But 15 would explain why they accepted that change rather quickly. They were being hunted, for sport.

“Looks like we were on time,” Mags smiled. “Because we don’t know these roads like we should. I guess, that will be changing.”

Shadow looked back at the others. They had wisely stopped. Rebel Queen was making her way out to them.

“Are you the additions?” She asked.

“Mags,” Mags smiled. “Mags Black. And these, we are the Operators. This proposition was a lot more profitable than what we could sustain in Fillydelphia. So we are taking the job as caravan guards. I hope us joining you won’t be a problem.”

“Mind your manors,” Rebel Queen replied. “I have one rule. You have to stay with the group and follow my instructions. You can only leave when we get to cities or towns. No leaving in the night. No walking too slow. No moving too fast. You step off to shit, you let me know. Capiche?”

“Simple enough,” Mags replied. “Lets get a move on it.”

New Appleloosa almost shot all of them. Rebel Queen barely got them to stand down. The Operators description was known, and even with the Elder’s stamp of approval, the change didn’t go over well.

Their group got even bigger as they left. Six more joined them, carrying a lot of goods. And the others made purchases in an attempt to gain a better profit. Heading back to Trottingham empty was stupid. The Operators didn’t try playing the caravan profit game. Not yet anyway.

They were a large caravan as they left New Appleloosa. It was a risk being so big. But most of the members were there to guard. That balanced things out in their favor.

Shadow was on second watch. Something was bugging him, again. But he couldn’t pin it down. There was no sign of anything. And that is what was giving him the most trouble. Something was there.

The brahmin snorted and one got to its feet. They smelled it too.

“Hey, whoa,” Three said, trying to calm the brahmin.

Shadow stepped over to Three. They had woken Three, so something was up.

“Mtoaji, what is it?” Three quietly asked Shadow.

“I don’t know,” Shadow whispered back. “But they are sensing it too.”

“We are big,” Three said. “Its not raiders. I’ll wake the others.”

Shadow sat down at the tents with the others. None of them had been on watch.

“What is it?” Rebel Queen asked.

“I don’t know,” Shadow said. “But now the brahmin are spooked.”

“This area, it could be anything,” Ace said. “But most likely, not raiders. We are big, but we are not heavy. Most are armed with rifles thanks to the Operators.”

“Has anypony felt anything watching us?” Three asked. “I know the brahmin haven’t been spooked until now.”

Three had to get up to quiet them as their second brahmin got up.

“Damn animals,” Jack swore. “They have a better sense than we do. The night could be hiding anything. And its not going to go away. If its a creature of the night, its almost done stalking us.”

They all got up and fanned out. The third brahmin got up and ‘mooed’. That woke everypony up. The rest of the Operators were at arms instantly.

“Its alright,” Rebel Queen said quietly, trying to control things. “We don’t know what is up, but we are going to figure it out.”

Mags Black sent a group out to poke around and a few others fell under Nine’s command. Rebel Queen and Shadow headed out with Ace, with Jack took the two guards for the addition’s brahmin with him.

They were a good fifty yards from camp when they stopped to just survey the dark land. They saw nothing.

“Just the usual,” Shadow sighed. “Night, trees, rocks, and stars. Not even scurrying rabbits.”

“Stars?” Rebel Queen gulped, backing up so they were side by side.

“Yeah,” Shadow said. And then it hit him. The stars were not visible here. “Shit.”

“Okay,” Rebel Queen said panting. “I see them. That is definitely a Star-Spawn.”

“That’s a lot of stars,” Shadow whispered back.

“Got anything in that hat of yours?”

“Uh… not anything that will deal a killing blow. Or make a decisive strike. I mean, I left the anti-machine rifle home.”

“You might not make it back.”

“Yeah, I don’t regret not carrying it though. Look, we have numbers on it. I hope its alone. Douse the fires, spread out,drop the brahmin packs, and cut them loose. And just shoot the fucking stars.”

“Good enough for me,” Rebel Queen whispered back.

They calmly got back to the camp. The others had gotten back as well. It wasn’t hard to organize the four pronged attack. The unskilled additions would be the rear prong, just shooting. While the other three squads would be directly assaulting it and trying to pull it in three different directions at once.

“That’s a surprise,” Mags said as Nine and Jack pulled out a rocket launcher and put a minigun on Ace.

“We hold a lot back,” Rebel Queen said quietly. “Better safe than sorry. Mtoaji, I have a plan. You and I are going to be another group. We will try and get behind it.”

Shadow nodded and they split to their decided locations. Their movement was noticed and as the lights were doused, they were struck with a thunderous roar. The force reminded Shadow of the back half of Marble Falls’ wind tracks. Powerful blast that would knock apart most Enclave teams.

The Brahmin were never released as Ace opened up with his minigun. Jack let the first missile go as they moved to flank it. Every group opened fire, except for Rebel Queen and Shadow.

They were trying to get around it. It was impossible to see where exactly it was. The night was to their advantage, barely. The ground explode in front of them as a limb slammed into it. Shadow and Rebel Queen slammed right into it, getting knocked back hard.

Shadow shook his head to stop his vision from splitting. His wings were begging to be unleashed. But they were not in that much trouble, yet.

Shadow saw the limb get picked up. He drew Kifo Herixleta and iced the blade as he dashed under it. Shadow jumped up, ramming the sword skyward. He was a lot closer than he expected and it went all the way to the hilt.

The thing’s roar was terrifying, but conveyed the pain it was feeling. A second rocket was launched, exploding in the sky as it found it’s mark. Ace reloaded their last 500 rounds and let go. They could tell it was turning.

The power and size was impressive. Shadow did several back springs away from the limb. He narrowly avoided a flying tree trunk it had swiped their way. Rebel Queen opened up a dozen yards away, but it had found it’s target. Shadow was all it wanted.

Shadow stared back at it. He knew it was right there. He was trying to see the pattern, not just a mass of sparkles. The real stars had a pattern. This had to have one as well.

It roared again, into the sky, as it tried to use it’s stabbed paw. Shadow saw the mouth for a split second and tracked it. His mind traced the stars like he had done countless times above. Except this time, he was seeing a grand creature that was as deadly as it was beautiful.

He saw the eyes, the ears, the nose and the mouth. And then he saw the head. Shadow forgot to breath as he realized the full scale of it. He saw the definition between the body and the limbs and where the curves ‘folded’ to adjust for how its body was positioned.

Shadow saw the step. It shook the ground and splintered a full grown tree. Shadow closed his eyes and let the wooden shrapnel hit him. He opened his eyes. He lost the profile. Then it shifted and saw what he needed to again.

“MOVE!” Rebel Queen yelled to Shadow. “Mtoaji! Its coming right for you!”

A rocket exploded, but Shadow couldn’t see it’s strike. It was on the backside.

Shadow grinned. He let the thing open it’s mouth and move to bite him. Shadow drew Mwokozi’s revolver and put all six rounds down it’s throat.

It roared back, knocking Shadow away from it’s power. But the rounds did what they needed to. Shadow stood and reloaded. He slammed it shut and all six rounds drove home in it’s left eye. Reload. Shadow put the rounds into it’s ear.

It turned it’s head to face him and swipe at him. Shadow put all six rounds into it’s right eye. It roared but the paw didn’t stop coming.

Shadow was hit, hard. But he was cupped in it’s paw. Which meant he was going to go flying. As he was launched, a claw caught his chest, going right through his armor. It was ripped off of him and he was gashed along his chest.

Shadow sailed straight towards a group of trees. His wings were free and he used them. The gash stopped him from breathing, but he was able to use his wings to make all of the quick, sharp, turns the group of trees required.

Shadow ground to a stop and then face planted. He rolled over and then stumbled up, screaming in agony. They had equally torn each other apart. Shadow fell again. He unzipped a bag to get his med kit. His armored jacket had been ripped off, but his saddlebags were not connected to it. He slammed the Med-X needle into his flank and put it all in him. He would fight with a high.

Shadow pulled out a health potion and stumbled as the Med-X took effect. It could only dull so much pain, but it was hitting his head hard. He forced himself to concentrate. He took things one step at a time. He downed the health potion. Step one down.

Step two was find his revolver. He would be finding a lot of things. Shadow put his hoof out and reached. It finally leaped to his hoof like the sword would. He had never tried it with the revolver. It was not linked in the same way the sword was to the band. But it had worked.

Shadow moved towards the fight. It was fierce. They were not giving up. And it was having trouble figuring out what was going on. Damaged eyesight made it difficult for it to run. Shadow stepped onto his cloak. He picked it up. The badge wasn’t on it so He tied it on. That gave his wings some cover.

But his heart stopped beating. There was nothing else around his neck. Nothing. He necklace was gone. The beast had ripped his very life from his neck.

Shadow felt a blood lust rising that he had never felt before. He was done messing around. It was going to die. He opened his wings and then stumbled in bloody agony as his chest ripped open more. There was no flying with his chest. Shadow struggled to his hooves and began to trot forward, back to the battle. Screams were joining the gunfire. Screams were never good.

Shadow could still pick it out. Once you knew what it looked like, it was it was hard to forget. Or, maybe that was just his training, being so well honed. The ACUs required recognizing something at blinding speeds and continuing to read it.

Shadow put a full load into it’s side. It roared into the sky and stamped around to face him. The sword wasn’t in its paw. Shadow fired, reloaded, and yelled a rallying battle cry to get it’s full attention.

He had it and he put six more rounds into it’s snout. As it stamped forward Shadow put six more into it’s left eye. He saw the spark of a flame flicker the hits. Shadow put six into its chest and trotted to the side so it crashed by harmlessly.

Shadow put another six into its butt, right at the only star that mattered in that area. It howled in pain and lost the use of it’s back legs.

Rebel Queen slid up to Shadow. “Mtoaji, how the fuck are you alive?”

“I’m not dead?” Shadow playfully asked. “Got any 44?”

“Uh,” She stuttered. “No?”

“Left saddlebag. I need you to be my loader.”

“Uh,” Rebel Queen muttered as she unzipped the bag.

Shadow broke open the revolver and the cases shot out, surprising Rebel Queen. She recovered and expertly put six rounds in. They began to circle the Star-Spawn as Shadow put round after around, all around it’s body. He was going to make sure it burned. It was at least responding to those shots.

Shadow stopped when he had 24 rounds left. He had circled the thing once again. Most of it’s noises were sad groans, cries of agony as its life slipped away.

Shadow fell against Rebel Queen. He coughed. “My chest is ripped open. But I need to find my necklace. Its my life.”

Rebel Queen was shocked and stammered. “Ah, how big is it?”

“Small. A tiny heart. Half of one. They pair up with my wife’s.”

“Lets get you patched up,” Rebel Queen stammered as she looked around at the flattened land.

“One of my bags has all I need. I took a potion and Med-X already. Just bandage me up.

She dragged Shadow back to their tent and laid him in hers. Three expertly removed Shadow’s battle saddle and saddlebags. Shadow was out of, falling prey to the lack of blood. But that wasn’t what drew their eyes.

Rebel Queen elbowed Three. “Patch him up!”

Three nodded and grabbed Shadow’s saddlebag. Shadow had a stitch kit was in there, along with a set of Magical bandages. Three was happy to see them. They didn’t have a stitch kit with them. The minigun took precedence. That would be changing.

Rebel Queen gathered the others. “We lived. Barely. But we all walked out. It wasn’t pretty.”

“Mtoaji?” Mags asked concerned.

“A nasty gash along the chest, but he walked off being bitch slapped by it. And he has a good chance at walking away in the end. But Mags, I need you to take everypony and head that way. The train tracks are that way. Once you hit them, follow them west. We never had time to release the brahmin. Take them all and just go. Go as long as you can. We will be coming up behind you.”

“I’m staying, with two others. But the Operators have this. My brother is more than competent at leading this.”

Mags didn’t fully trust them after they pulled out a hidden rocket launcher and minigun.

“Alright, then, Mtoaji was screaming about a necklace. His life he called it. Its a small half heart thing.”

“That’s helpful,” Mags said sarcastically. “But we will search it out.”

They got to work. Seven and Jack fanned out as well.

Shadow awoke a little after the sun had begun to force its way though. He coughed up blood.

“Easy, easy,” Three coached. “Take this.”

Shadow couldn’t see straight, but he knew it was a health potion. He grabbed it and Three made sure he didn’t spill it as he downed it. His head was pounding.

“Water,” Shadow panted.

Three passed Shadow one of his canteens and Shadow took a big gulp.

Shadow panted, not laying back down.

“We need to move,” Shadow finally said.

“They already have. All of the civilians and most of the Operators have. Its just us, Mags and two Operators.”

“I need my necklace,” Shadow groaned.

“We are looking for it,” Three said. “Just stay here, I will get Rebel and Mags.”

Shadow was in a lot of pain.

“Hello Mtoaji,” Rebel Queen smiled and sat down in front of him. “We are still looking for your sword and that necklace. Mind, uh, explaining things to us?”

“Huh? Well, I can get the sword back, easy, but the necklace. Its one of a kind. Matches only with my wife’s.”

“Anything else?”

It hit Shadow that he wasn’t wearing anything and his chest was wrapped tightly with bandages. His wings were fully exposed. And he didn’t have anything to fight his way out. It would require words. Careful words.

Shadow groaned a sigh. “Kifopiga.”

“Kite what?” Mags asked.

“Ki-foe-pee-gha,” Shadow said slowly. “Do either of you know it?”

“No,” Rebel Queen said. “What is it?”

“The answer.” Shadow took a deep breath in, through the pain as his chest expanded against the wound and let it out. “Its what matters for me and my home. The Steel Rangers have no fucking clue what it is either.”

“I know they are Steel Rangers,” Mags said. “No secrets. You can speak clearly now.”

“How did you figure it out?” Rebel Queen asked.

Mags shrugged. “Its what I do. Its how we have lived this long. You can’t make a profit if you can’t read the game. It helped the minigun ammo can has their symbol on it. It might have been dark, but I’m not blind.”

“Shit,” Rebel Queen swore. “I forgot about the ammo cans.”

“Dahlia?” Three asked.

“Is a fucking idiot,” Shadow groaned. “She would kill me if she knew. Its just you guys here. Otherwise, I think I am safe. Without you knowing Kifopiga, you can’t help me get what I need to so I can go home and keep it safe.

“Its knowledge you don’t have. Trottingham Contingent doesn’t have it either. I know that for certain. And its knowledge some would hoard.

“I scavenge for caps to survive, but those trips send me all across this forsaken land, looking for it. I’ll pick up work, like that contract delivery or with the Star Paladin, to keep that sack full.

“We can’t survive for long without it. I was blessed and sent out. But time is running short.”

“You took down that Star-Spawn,” Rebel Queen said, still shocked.

Shadow heard a word in his head.

“Where is my revolver?”

Rebel Queen pulled it out of Shadow’s Saddlebags and gave it to him. Shadow took it with the band. They hadn’t seen it before.

“Your name,” Shadow said to the revolver. “Its Nyotaki. Star Killer. I hear you now. It is good to know your name.”

“Okay,” Rebel Queen said leaning back. “I get talking to your gun. Even I’ve done that. But hearing it speak, that’s a whole different thing. And then knowing Zebra, that’s a whole level of weird I can’t even put on a scale.”

Shadow chuckled and then groaned in pain. “I’m not fluent. I know some. Its a whole, big, complicated thing. I know some, but its lost. At least to my home.”

Shadow stood up despite the others vocal disapproval.

“I’m up,” Shadow said. “A bit shaky, but yeah. I’m a farmer. We get hurt, and as soon as we can get back to doing what we can. No down time for minor shit.”

“I can get surviving,” Rebel Queen said shaking her head. “But you got bitch slapped by it’s paw.”

“Nah,” Shadow said, waving it off with a wing. That gesture confused the others. “Its so big the wind resistance is massive. It scooped me up and tossed me at high speed. I would have been fine, but it’s claw caught me.”

Shadow slowly walked over to the sparkling mound. It was much harder to see in the light.

“Its got a pattern to the stars,” Shadow said. “I’m not sure if its the same for all, but once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it. Its how I shot it in the mouth, then the eyes, the ear, up the snout, down the butt. Like the butt butt part.”

“You shot it in its shitter?” Mags asked.

Shadow chuckled quietly. “Yeah. It wasn’t happy.”

Shadow stood at it’s head. “Where did my jacket and clothes go?”

“We recovered them over there,” Mags said, pointing. “But a search of the area didn’t reveal the necklace.”

Shadow stretched out his foreleg and concentrated. After a minute he relaxed. “The sword is in its paw. It stepped down on it, ramming it inside. Where is my long combat knife?”

Three came back with both knives.

“This one,” Shadow said, grabbing it with the band.

“What is it?” Mags asked. “How do you hold it I mean.”

“A rare piece,” Shadow said, sighing as the memories flooded back. “The only one we knew of. Its from the sword. But it also latches onto the revolver and this Zebra bayonet combat knife.”

“That explains the hole in the guard,” Mags said.

“Yep,” Shadow nodded. “It fits on all standard Zebra infantry guns. They loved to have a long blade for combat. Equestria wasn’t raised with blades the same way. So their combat knives were short and their skills, lacking.

“I’d love to say this band is why they were so much better, but no one had the bands. It was a rare item, that was more like a myth and a legend to the average soldier. A way to hold the sword on your hoof, well its only doable with Zebra magic.”

Shadow sliced open the paw of the Star-Spawn. It didn’t move. It was dead. Shadow dug the blade in further and sliced more back. He stuck the knife in the ground and called to Kifo Herixleta. It slid out with a pop.

“There you are,” Shadow smiled to it. “It is good to have you back. Do you know where my necklace is?”

Shadow could feel how annoyed Kifo Herixleta was about their exposure. Shadow was working to play the Zebra homeland angle. The more he made it look like Mtoaji was really a foreigner from the south, the less they would be looking at his wings.

“What did it say?” Rebel Queen asked.

“Eh,” Shadow shrugged, groaning from the pain. “Its pissed off we got found out.”

“It’s pissed?” Rebel Queen asked, very concerned for Shadow’s mental health.

Shadow capitalized off of that concern. “Yeah. You haven’t heard of soul jars before?”

“A what jar?” Mags asked. Shadow could see the caps in her eyes.

“More Zebra magic. Kifo Herixleta is old. Ancient. Given to those chosen by the seers when it was first forged. The very essence of a master swordszebra was placed inside the center gem. From there, it can instruct and guide each and every generation it is passed onto. It knows who it will be given to and only speaks to those who were chosen. Otherwise its a piece of steel and none of it works. The sword would rather die than fight for someone else. And it will.”

“Makes sense,” Mags said. She was accepting it faster than the Steel Rangers. And they had seen Kifo Herixleta’s beauty the week before.

Shadow heard Kifo Herixleta just say ‘paw.’ “Oh, have you guys checked the paw that hit me?”

“I don’t know which paw that was,” Rebel Queen said. “But soul jar?”

“A powerful, dark, art. Immortality in a way. It locks away a piece of the soul and thus sealing the individual to that item. Gemstones are a lot easier to fuse than any other material. And if the item is forged with the stone, they are one.

“Its a dark art. For good reasons. And, Unicorns can do it. Or have in the past. I’m sure you Steel Rangers have some items that have souls in them. Probably from before the war. But, the thing is useless without a wielder or partner. It just collects dust.”

Shadow smirked at them. “Still, don’t think that its… friendly. That depends on the soul used.”

“Well,” Rebel Queen said, trying to get her bearing. “Uh, paw?”

“That one,” Shadow said, pointing with Kifo Herixleta. A bit of goop fell off of it when he pointed. “Yeah, I know, we need to clean you off.”

It took four of them to move the paw. They began to pry apart the toes, avoiding the invisible crawls.

“There!” Shadow exclaimed, dashing in.

He pulled on it. The chain broke. He dove back in. There was cloth stuck in between the fur and the claw. Shadow has to brush it away until he found the pendent. The chain was shattered into three pieces, but he had the precious pendent.

He stumbled back and fell, writhing in pain. “Worth it,” Shadow groaned as they got him back to the tents. Shadow downed the last health potion he had with him and they gave him Med-X to sooth him.

Shadow awoke at dinner time. He groaned as he sat up. “We need to get to moving. Bone pickers will be coming for the body. Its not safe. I can move.”

Rebel Queen shook her head at him. “We have some things to take care of first. We took your sword to a steam nearby. The wraps are gone, again, but she is clean. And looking nice. We didn’t put her into the scabbard yet. We figured, you would know how to best do that. There has to be some ceremony with that style blade.”

“Yeah, there is,” Shadow groaned. “What else?”

“Well, all your clothes are torn to shreds. The broach survived, but the rest… You didn’t have a spare. And if you want to keep your wings secret, that wont happen.”

“Fuck,” Shadow groaned.

“Yeah, well, I have another question,” Rebel Queen continued. “You have seen the stars?”

“Yeah,” Shadow sighed. “I miss looking up at them every night. I miss tracing their designs in the sky. If you head south enough, you will find, the clouds are gone. Here, it is forsaken. Blocked from the stars and moon.”

“You said your necklace is your life. Is that a soul item?”

“No,” Shadow replied. “It just holds every memory I have of her. Every smell. Every unique and special thing that is her.”

“Are you part Zebra?”

Shadow’s eyes went wide. He had never expected that question to be asked.

“I’m all pony,” Shadow replied. “All pure blooded pony.”

“If you went above?”

“We know what happens if we go above,” Shadow slowly replied. “Death. They don’t hold the answer for us either. They don’t know what Kifopiga is.”

“Ace,” Rebel Queen called. “How much of a risk is it if we were to take him to the Citadel. Can we get in and get clothing, hiding his wings under that cloak of his?”

“That’s a big risk,” Ace said.

“Send me in,” Mags said. “I go into Trottingham, buy a shirt, and come back out to you guys. Me zipping in and out won’t be noticed like you will be.”

“That works,” Shadow said, standing up.

His footing was solid. He belted on his sword and picked up Kifo Herixleta. He had been carefully washed and honorably taken care of. He showed no sign of any wear. The same glint of a well oiled blade was still evident. Shadow routinely wiped it down with oil, but it was still holding after the battle. It was a magnificent blade.

Shadow crossed the blade across his body, slid it along, guiding the blade and aligning it before slipping it into it’s sheath in full ceremony. He did it slow so that they could see.

Shadow carried his weight fine. The health potion right after being struck had done a lot of immediate repair, saving his life and speeding his recovery. Three was an expert with the stitches and dressing wounds for travel.

Next Chapter: Chapter 125 - Recovery and Recuperation Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 31 Minutes