Shadow quickly finds himself alone. Nor is dead, Thunder committed suicide by grenade rather than fall prey to the wasteland. Slice did the same by committing himself to the mercy of the wasteland, with nothing but his own feathers.

Shadow escaped the insanity and ghosts of Rosemary to become Mtoaji, the mender. He accepted the calling of fate, spoken by the seers, and began to cleanse the land of evil, to prepare it for the rejoining. To be the Mender, he created a costume to do the work in. Otherwise he wouldn't be accepted in cities, which were essential for his survival. He was named Black Widow and identified as a mare, something Shadow capitalized on to keep from being found out.

He found a home in Trottingham, and made some friends. He fought with Steel Rangers when Hellhounds were threatening the entire area. And he won two contests in the Trottingham Steel Ranger Expose, the Long Range Shooting Competition and Reactive Rifle Course.

As Black Widow, he took out major raiders gangs like The Pack, The Disciples, The Kings and other small ones. Places like the Lux were destroyed, removing a major hedonistic site that enslaved ponies for the enjoyment of their fellow ponies.

Mistakes were made. Ponies died by Shadow's hoof that should not have. Others died because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, or to keep his cover safe. The battle for his soul was intense. In the end, kindness won. The wasteland was prepared as best as possible for whoever comes next to unify it.

Shadow tried to communicate with above. He left a message in Rainbow Dash's cave. When he checked the cave months later, nothing had been left. When he finally decided to push to get above and test his luck, he was driven away by the Griffon who were hunting him for his head and wings, for the reward the Steel Rangers had ordered because he killed Dahlia.

Shadow's last act was wiping out the Disciples. He left the area in care of a Pony he thought might be the one to heal the land he burned clean. The land he prepared for the rejoining. As thanks, that pony decided to try and take Shadow's head for the reward. That pony was called Red Eye.

Much has been happening above as Shadow fought for his own survival.

Olive Pit is finally in full control of Unit 0 and they have made a dramatic improvement. They are a real unit again, and they proudly earned their silver medic wings. Olive Pit is working to improve Unit 0s training to better encompass the wide breath of injuries they will have to treat compared to their non silver winged medic Brothers. There will be no nearby Field Hospitals to evacuate ACU soldiers to.

Marble Falls is now Colonel over the Aerial Combat Zone of Fort Wind. That includes training the recruits and the rest of the activities at the Squad Barracks. She is being tailored to replace General Red River when his eventual retirement does happen. He wants to ensure that a teacher took over for him. The Council is pleased because she will pass on her knowledge of below to the new recruits. She can still be a Wonderbolt and General over Fort Wind. Her duties as Captain of Squad 12 are not being set aside either.

Cardinal Spitfire has matured into a strong, assertive Wonderbolt who knows when to strike, when not to, and is tactful. She is one of the best when it comes to flying and is working to help create new ways for the Aerial Combat Battalion to deploy itself. Her initiative, ability to problem solve, leadership, and inspirational hope means She will be getting her own command soon enough. Her Sonic "Rainbow" is an explosion of flames in the sky and better than any other Wonderbolt can produce.

Golden Dawn has gone from hot headed NCO light trooper to focused Aerial Combat Battalion Officer. She rocks an Applesnack submachine gun, off the battle saddle, and will continue to use it. Her special somepegaus, Shining Ire, has moved into Wind Hamlet. Golden Dawn has also found out her squadmate and friend, Vengeful Blade, is her younger brother. Her family won the right to not abort the pregnancy, but he was taken without them even being able to see him to a family for adoption. It is rare that a third adoption seal is broken. They had to make sure they two of them were not going to produce a foal together.

Gunmetal has been outfitting the ACBs new Quartermaster skillfully and is assisting in developing new delivery systems for dropping troops from the 3rd Fleet's Corvettes.

Arrow is married to Dipper and creating a new role for special ACUs. Heavier shock units that drop in hot and fast during longer engagements for the ACUs, as direct support and close air support.

The 3rd Fleet is receiving new ships to expand their new directive as the defense fleet, a idea that Little developed. The Buttercup earned them that right. And the training with the Arial Combat Battalion is bolstering their usefulness and will secure more ships for their fleets as the years unfold.

Ruby Snow is now Admiral over the 3rs Fleet and the previous Admiral, Purple Breeze, is now in the 2nd Fleet as Vice Admiral, second in Command of the 2nd Fleet.

Deke is Commander and First Mate on the Buttercup. The ship is repaired and so is he. Deke is forced to wear glasses from his injuries, but his hearing has been repaired. His brains and skill saved many lives from that storm, at the expense of four of his crew.

Deke has become an officer that many Pegasi would jump to fly under. And now he has the responsibility to train new wings and help expand the tactics of the 3rd Fleet. It won't be long before the former trash king has a ship of his own. He has proven his worth is greater than any blood line.

The change in uniforms and ranks is complete. The 3rd Fleet and Aerial Combat Battalions have expanded the lower officer ranks so they can better gauge officers and reward their years of service. The ACBs have new uniforms that reflect their expanded ranking system. They also added the Blue Berets. Not only do they look new and shiny, they have expanded their numbers and are continuing to. The new tactics they are employing with the 3rd Fleet will require a large Battalion. But their requirements for soldier's skill and personal standing will never drop.

When they left messages below, Shadow had already left Rosemary. And he visited the cave days before they left their message. So close, yet so far away.

More was reveled later with the Council and others in attendance. Honey Bee had been confirmed to be covering up something and falsely reported the timing on reports. He had passed a message on for Shadow Flare to Nova on crucial information that answered whether or not he had been shot at on one of his missions. That happened after their official disappearance.

But it was discovered just how much had been covered up on multiple sides. Nova had withheld information from the Scouting missions done years before. Whole missions went unreported because the Council did not approve of Scout Command's ideology on how to handle below. It was not deemed crucial information that they hid. But they also uncovered weapons and technology in their missions, including the very Applesnack gun Golden Dawn uses.

Scout Command is rebooted with Nova as their general and the recon teams are being recreated once again. This time there will be no secrets and lies. They have learned from the past and the ones who have hidden things in the previous missions are ensuring they no longer will be able to.

Honey Bee's punishment has been served. He took the beating from Cardinal Spitfire, he fears her, and he had lost promotions because of the information passed around while the generals and admirals were at Fort Wind, for the uniform and rank changes to the 3rd Fleet and ACBs. Honey Bee is connected to a powerful family, and anything more would rip the Enclave apart. He has learned his lesson, that is what matters.

But that doesn't matter much to Shadow. He has been exiled. The price on his head is keeping him from getting to the doors to the Enclave in the clouds. He now is deep in the Zebra Lands. Shadow has set down roots in the place that saved him from his sprint south. A Zebra Village with a healer, a seer, and a zealous young stallion bent on protecting his home.

He protected the village from an attack of a Zebra "warlord" and then planted his family seeds. An offering of his commitment to build and grow the village into a light for the Zebra Lands. Of what can be. And more important, the villagers will have food for generations.

When the sword is set in stone, It will be sound a new tone.
Home will be given, It is a sign, committed.
Together we must gather, Or forever be scattered.
Listen to the master, And you shall avert all disaster.
Many will block the way, And for that they will pay.
The stone shall relax, When it hears the call of the Light Bringer.
The last link will be ready to shed, Beginning the true mend.
Father against son, Until either side has won.
The final link must be forged in person, Or things will forever worsen.

Book 5 - Grand Pegasus Enclave

Much goes on directly after Shadow sets down roots in Shanyisa . As they build the light, fight for their freedom for the warlords, and build alliances. These stories will be chronicled in The Sagas Of Shanyisa.