Fallout Equestria: Shaping Shadow - Book 5
by Mindrop
First published
The final book in the Shaping Shadow series. Shadow returns to the wasteland after years in the Zebra Lands. The Light Bringer has arrived, and the final link my be forged.
The Lightbringer has come to the wasteland, which means Shadow Flare can head home. But home is in the middle of Operation Cauterize. The Pegasus Race is forced to its knees as Little Pip removes the clouds. But the Grand Pegasus Enclave isn't going to give up their high and mighty ideals about the Pegasus Race.
Reunification with Equestria may very well mean a civil war. Cardinal Spitfire is a Wonderbolt, Deke is a cloudship captain, and the rest of the friends Shadow has in the military are serving their rolls. A civil war may spell the end of friendships, and the great loss of lives for the Pegasus Race.
This is the final book in the Shaping Shadow Saga! There is a side story to this story, the Sagas of Shanyisa.
Note: This is on a slow release, not on a schedule.
The Series:
Book 1: Training
Book 2: The Mission
Book 3: Above
Book 4: Below
Book 5: (writing/releasing)
Sagas of Shanyisa: (writing/releasing)
Anthology
Cover made from elements from Lightning5trike, Another from Lightning5trike, and Zvn.
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*Missing or forgotten information? The Fallout Equestria Wiki has Shaping Shadow and anything you might need to know.
Intermission 5
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.
The Light Bringer has come. Shadow must forge the last Link to bring Equestria together. Be he doesn't come alone. And he can't do it alone. Worse, his wife, Cardinal Spitfire, and friends are probably apart of the atrocities the Grand Pegasus Enclave are unleashing on the wasteland with Operation Cauterize.
Author's Notes:
One point I wish to make. Shaping Shadow's canonical works only include the original Fallout Equestria.
Chapter 133 - Shadow
Author's Notes:
BOOK 5: PART 1: REUNIONS
Colonel Cardinal Spitfire cruised over Fillydelphia. Operation Cauterize had just moved to Fillydelphia. The soldiers were hitting the ground for the first time below her. Her job was to provide aerial support and they already had their first job. A sniper was shooting some kind of unknown lightning gun at the deploying troops.
She was now the lead of a fairly fresh Wonderbolt Squad 19, the White Shadows. Pony Patrol was long gone, spread out to other squads in command roles. Her second was Commander Fuchsia Sky. The rest of her team was Lieutenant Commander Bronze Wings, Lieutenant Misty Glow and her inseparable twin, Lieutenant Misty Arc. The final member was Ensign Aegis Blade. He was an up an coming soldier and a risk taker. Colonel Cardinal Spitfire was supposed to calm him down. Outside of the Ensign, her team had at least 2 years in the Wonderbolts.
Commander Fuchsia Sky was in Cardinal Spitfire’s induction class. She was a good commander, it just took a little longer for her. She was also somepony Colonel Spitfire was supposed to nurture and grow, quietly. That was at the command of General Firestorm, the head of the Aerial Combat Battalion and the head of the Wonderbolts.
BOOM!
“Colonel!” Ensign Aegis Blade called over their coms. “The roof! That one! I saw it come from there!”
Ensign Aegis Blade still called her Colonel. He hadn’t broken from the old pattern yet. It was understandable. He had been a Sergeant before becoming a Wonderbolt.
Cardinal Spitfire led them into a wordless bank and then they rolled, turning back to the rooftop. At least her team didn’t need verbal commands for everything. Squad 19 spread out and landed. It was not a very big rooftop. Some mechanical stuff like AC units and vents were present, but nothing noticeable. Aegis Blade pointed her to the spot he had seen the shot come from.
Now it was up to Cardinal Spitfire. But there was nopony visible as she made the announcement. “This is the Wonderbolts of the Grand Pegasus Enclave. Show yourself! I know you have a StealthBuck. Surrender or face our wrath.”
BOOM!
“STEP AWAY FROM THE GUN!” Cardinal Spitfire order as she jumped forward into her shooting stance.
It was hard without seeing them. There wasn’t even the telltale shimmer of a StealthBuck. But she had seen something from where the shot had been made. And she had the sound to identify that they were still on the roof. A bold, but stupid, choice.
Cardinal Spitfire knew what a StealthBucks looked like uncloaking. But what unfolded before her eyes was a cloak being swept aside, leaving the pony under it visible. He was still half covered by it. The Pony didn’t move other that to flip the cloak. The armored pony was in dark blue power armor and around a beautiful anti-machine rifle decorated with lightning bolts.
“One moment,” The distorted voice said. “My target is in sight again. Bastard.”
“I said step away from-” Cardinal Spitfire stopped. Everything froze as she saw the markings on the flank's armor.
BOOM!
“STAND DOWN!” Ensign Aegis Blade yelled jumping forward to his Colonel’s rescue.
“Motherfucking bastard!” The armored sniper yelled from his perch. “You deserve worse than that! I just don’t have time to give it to you.”
“HEY!” The Ensign said with a click as his rifles went off safety.
“Don’t!” The sniper yelled. It wasn’t an order, but a warning soaked in fear. “Don’t move an inch or you will get shot. That goes for the rest of you too. But Simi might want that. So don’t test it.”
“Nah, I’m over here! Watching this bitch they call Stern.”
“Okay, well the fact still stands. Move, and you will either end up very hurt, or dead.”
“Fuck you!” Aegis Blade said stepped forward.
He landed hard as his front legs were swept out from under him with graceful ease. He was obviously pinned despite not being able to see the attacker.
“I warned you,” The sniper chuckled.
Cardinal Spitfire hadn’t moved. She was vaguely aware of the things were happening around her. She was still focused on the insignia on the flank.
“Shad…ow? Is that you?”
The sniper turned around for the first time to look at the Wonderbolts. They were indistinguishable in their armor. There were no markings, ranks, names, or anything. Not even their faces could be seen with the full helmets they wore.
“Shadow Flare is an old name,” He said firmly. “One most ponies have forgotten. If you know it, explain yourself.”
“It’s…me…me…” Was all Cardinal Spitfire could stutter.
The sniper hesitated, weighing the risk back and forth. “Card?”
Cardinal Spitfire struck like lightning. She tackled Shadow in a tight hug. It also rolled them off the building.
“Umm,” Shadow grunted as he kept one hoof on the edge of the old roof. “This is nice, but we are seconds away from falling. And you are chocking me through the armor. Somehow.”
“OH!” Cardinal Spitfire said, letting go. She dropped all the way down to the ground before opening her wings and flipped back up, unleashing her joy among the sounds of the battle unfolding. It was a joy she had long ago lost.
Shadow had his helmet off when she landed and she threw hers off, wrapping him in a hug.
“I always knew,” She breathed. “I never gave up.”
“I was always coming back,” Shadow said, smiling at the love of his life. “But I got chased out of Equestria before I could make it above. Shit happened down here. Your memories kept me alive.”
“No wonder why we could never pick up your trail after Rosemary. We tried once things finally fell back under General Shielded Vengeance's control.”
Shadow shrugged with a grin. “I was going by another name.”
“We left a recall message at Rosemary and Rainbow Dash’s Cave.”
“I checked the cave,” Shadow said. “But I must have been early. The air was still cold from the ice.”
“That was a bad storm. Your family survived fine.”
Shadow sat down hard. For now, he held his tongue.
“The bastard Honey Bee destroyed the data drive once it was locked away in storage. A shit ton happened up here from him. By the time we got control, it was too late.”
“He deserved more than the bullet I just gave him.”
“I’m confused,” Aegis Shield grunted from his position, still pinned.
“Didn’t you pick up anything the Colonel taught you?” Commander Fuchsia Sky quipped. “That’s Recon Team 4. They have been MIA almost a decade now. That’s her husband. You were told to be on a lookout for them. It was the first thing she covered with us.”
“Honey Bee kept dashing around,” Shadow spat. “I took out a few good soldiers trying to hit him from this distance. Its about 2 miles. He didn’t stay still long enough for the bullet to find him.”
“Who is here with you?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.
“My team,” Shadow smirked. “I got entrusted with building a new one. My second is Lieutenant Simi. I also have Master Ukuzwa, Tech Sergeants Bukhali, Sergeant Izala, Specialist Kogata, Specialist Kachi, Corporal Chiha, Corporal Koto, Corporal Kami, Corporal Sumida, Corporal Sensha, and Corporal Nukia. We are Kikosi Kisasi. The Vengeance Squad.”
Several Wonderbolts jumped as they found themselves dangerously close to uncloaking Zebra Warriors. At least one warrior had each of them in their sights. Two were in Zebra Power armor, strapped down with heavy weapons on either side.
Most of the Zebras had Equestrian guns they had reverently took from the outside of Kifopiga. To get Shadow home, they needed guns they could replenish ammunition supplies with. Equestria didn’t have enough Zebra ammunition for their team. Four had the Type 100 sub machine guns, but those fired the same 9mm rounds that was readily available in Equestria.
“Simi, is it anything we need to worry about?”
“Nah,” Simi said uncloaking from the other corner. He was sporting Shadow’s last battle saddle with the DCD shotgun and the 5.56 machine gun. He came trotting over and bowed low to Cardinal Spitfire. “It is an honor to finally meet Mtoaji’s Vrou. In my training, I have heard a lot of stories about your skill. I have no doubt it has only increased tenfold. Especially if you have 5 Wonderbolts under you.”
Simi stood and looked straight at Shadow with a look Shadow was all too familiar with. “Mtoaji, much blood is being spilled as we wait here. The Light Bringer is not here but her forces are. Below is now a three way war for the city. We must make our choice. We can not wait it out here.”
“We need to regroup,” Shadow said, breaking down Soarin’s Lightning. “Our job is done here.”
“Don’t run,” Cardinal Spitfire said, her heart torn. “I can get us a cloudship for pick up.”
“Do it,” Shadow said with a nod. “But that was about our role here. Honey Bee was going to die, and now he has. I still am a Enclave Recon Soldier, am I not?”
Commander Fuchsia Sky answered that. “By our records you still are. Including rank. You are actually still the Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance. I checked as soon as I caught your insignia. Our ID system still identifies you, and recon has never taken on another Command Sergeant Major because that is you. Even if you were MIA.”
Bronze Wings reported in. “Regroup is with the Twilight Sky two clicks south in the open. They know we have others coming with us. We need to get a move on it if we are to get there in time. Especially on hoof.”
“Ha,” Shadow laughed as he stretched his wings. “Already planned ahead for that.”
Corporal Nukia, who was pinning Ensign Aegis Blade, stepped off him and pulled out an talisman. He put it on and white pegasus wings grew off his back.
“They needed my feathers to form them,” Shadow explained with a shiver. “It was a pain, but it was worth it. They are not us or any of the Aerial Combat Units, but they are more than competent fliers.”
Shadow flipped his helmet back on and hopped backwards. It took him off the building and a second later he was joyfully ascending into the sky. Cardinal Spitfire launched to join him. They playfully flitted and floated around as Simi and Fuchsia Sky got their soldiers moving.
They cruised to the meet up point. As they touched down a cloudship blasted through the cloud layer.
“What is that?” Shadow asked.
“It’s the Twilight Sky,” Cardinal Spitfire explained. “A Corvette Class defense cloudship in the Third Fleet. She is one of the cloudships that brought us and a group of ACUs to assault Fillydelphia. They built her from nearly the ground up a year or so after you disappeared.”
Shadow took a very deep breath in. “I was gone a long, long time. It flew by while I lived in Shanyisa. But I never forgot you or my home. Every night in bed was agonizing without you.”
“I know you never forgot,” Cardinal Spitfire assured him. “My bed was just as empty. If you have a team, you were doing something big down there.”
“Eh,” Shadow shrugged. “More of the same old same old.”
“Ha!” Cardinal Spitfire laughed as the Twilight Sky performed a soft landing. “That is a tale I want to hear. Your normal was always fun.”
“Oh, I will tell you soon enough,” Shadow chuckled as they walked up the ramp together.
“Uh,” Cardinal Spitfire hesitated. “Everyone wait here in the Bay. Commander Fuchsia Sky has command. We will need to explain the Zebras.”
Shadow chuckled deeply in joy at the idea of them flipping out over his team. Way too many Pegasi were xenophobes. Still, Zebras were the last thing they were expecting in the wasteland.
Cardinal Spitfire took the lead as she brought him through the narrow hallways and up to the bridge. She knew the ship well. The Twilight Sky was in the air when they got to the bridge.
“Permission to come aboard?” Cardinal Spitfire asked at the door.
The Captain’s chair swiveled around to reveal a worn light blue pegasus with messy orange hair under his cover. A very big rack of ribbons was on his chest. A black eye patch sealed off his left eye, and a gold cuff covered his left ear.
“Always Cardinal,” Deke grinning.
“DEKE!” Cardinal Spitfire squealed. “When Bronze said Twilight Sky, I forgot that meant you as Captain!”
“Please,” Deke scoffed. “Its Commodore, not Captain. I am over the Ebony Grace and the Firecracker as well. And we seriously need to talk about your memory. I just dropped you off a few hours ago!”
Cardinal Spitfire laughed deeply. “I forgot you are holding onto that title. And my mind just got rocked hard.”
Cardinal Spitfire stepped aside so Deke could see Shadow standing in the doorway.
“No,” Deke breathed. He glanced at Cardinal Spitfire’s shining face and then bolted across the area to embrace Shadow.
“I WAS ON A MISSION TRYING TO CONTACT YOU!” Deke exclaimed. “Well, it wasn’t official, but I knew what was going on. But you had left Rosemary!”
“A lot of ghosts were going to kill me,” Shadow said hugging Deke back. “They got to Slice and Thunder. I turned my focus to hurt the wasteland rather than a gun on myself. Then I ended up south, in the Zebra Lands. But what happened to you, Deke? Last I knew you had a left eye and gold cuffs are not regulation.”
“I’m under special circumstances,” Deke replied as he sat back down. His mood shifted to quiet and somber. “The Buttercup took a major hit during a storm. I protected the ponies in the South Cloudsdale District, but we got pretty well crushed. I evacuated all I could, but all of the 14 crew members on board were gravely injured. The Twilight Sky is named for one of the four that died. So is the Ebony Grace and the Firecracker.
“I was broken and bruised, barely conscious, but I got us back. I wore glasses over the years, but the past few months it has just not worked. I’ve lot most of my sight in that eye. And the ear is because we did a hearing bypass after I fractured my head in the blow. Officially, I am on the way out from front line duty. But that got suspended as we organized for Operation Cauterize.”
“But that doesn’t matter right now,” Deke said waving Shadow further into the bridge. “We are in the middle of a battle. Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance, what should we do? We now have a third force attacking Fillydelphia. We were not prepared to face two enemies.”
“Pull back,” Shadow said. “The Light Bringers forces are too strong. She is going to squash us. We need to rethink the wasteland. It isn’t what we believe it is. Assuming the ideas haven’t changed.”
“I believe you said to burn Filly,” Cardinal Spitfire poked. “But no, the ideas haven’t changed much.”
“Filly needs to burn,” Shadow spat. “But we can’t do it. The Light Bringer cleaned up Red Eye for me. He was right, I was coming for him. He just died before I could clean that mistake up.”
“We can get a full report after,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “Deke, Shadow isn’t alone. He was kicked out of Equestria and survived deep in the south. He has a new team.”
“Zebs,” Deke snorted. “As soon as you got aboard my bay officer reported the presence of 10 Zebs-”
“SIMI! UKUZWA!” Shadow yelled.
“Damn it!” Simi said uncloaking just inside the door. “Do you really thing I am going to let my commander go with strangers without back up?”
“Ukuzwa?” Shadow asked firmly, but with more kindness.
She uncloaked on Deke’s left. “An amazing piece of engineering you have here. I see why they elicited much fear. The dragons never stood a chance. Even them you could certainly make prance.”
Shadow sighed. “Deke, Simi is the greatest Zebra warrior of his generation. I had the honor of training him. Ukuzwa is a master magician and seer. Both are critical members of my team.”
Deke looked Ukuzwa up and down. He blurted out his first question. “How did you get those rings on your neck? I see no clasp.”
“It was a difficult journey,” Ukuzwa said with a straight face, looking out the front of the bridge. “We had to start early. Slowly they wound the metal around my neck, tighter and tighter until my coat could not be seen a speck. A brutal process, but one of great success.”
Deke was unsure what to say back. He switched to Shadow. “Well, you said we need to retreat. Let’s sound the retreat.”
The pegasus at the communications station nodded her head. They were ready to transmit Deke's message.
“This is Commodore Derecho, Third Fleet, The Twilight Sky. We just recovered Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare. He has advised us to fall back. His knowledge of the enemy forces and the situation below is beyond what our scouts have gleaned. He is ready to offer a full report to the Council so proper adjustments can be made. The Third Fleet is falling back so that we can regroup and strike properly.”
With the communication line closed, Deke turned to Shadow. “Shadow, what exactly happened? Why did you end up south, and not come back up?”
“I got forced out,” Shadow explained. “We were intentionally cut off in our communications by Honey Bee. And then the others died and I got chased off before the recall message was received.”
“Yeah, but why didn’t you just come banging on the door?”
Shadow sighed, steeling himself. “Our last mission that Honey Bee sent us on, with the promise that we could come back after…we were ordered to kill a group of new Dashites. The papers we found after we did our job identified them as the Pillars of the Community. We murdered them and I killed my sister. Literally. I put the bullet in her that killed her.”
Cardinal Spitfire latched onto Shadow, nuzzling his neck in support. It was all she could do at the shocking news.
“I see,” Deke said, contemplating the news. “That was something I was not aware of. The Pillars of the Community was a big blow to the reunificationists. It proved the dangers below.”
“I doubt anypony was aware,” Shadow said coldly. “It was covered up well. We were outright betrayed and discarded.”
“By a few ponies,” Deke spat. “But not by the Council. I am certain they didn’t know. Or else Honey Bee would have been in real trouble.”
“Commodore!” the ensign at the comm station called. “Incoming message from the Glorious Dawn.”
“Fuck him,” Deke groaned. “Put him through.”
“Captain Derecho!” the pony on the other side yelled. “You will not break in retreat!”
“Fuck you Admiral!” Deke shot back. “I am actually here, with Command Sergeant Major Shadow Flare, and we are picking apart his betrayal. A betrayal that killed or illegally sentenced their unit to banishment. Along with a variety of other orders that were illegal. We need to fall back and track this down before they do the same to us!”
“If you back out from your position, I will make sure you are banished below and then executed!”
“Sorry Admiral, I have Wonderbolts on official Wonderbolt business to ferry. Colonel Cardinal Spitfire must make a report about the Command Sergeant Major’s recovery.”
The comm line was cut at Deke’s nod.
“Alright,” Deke immediately said. “I have ACUs deployed down in that city. I doubt you want me to abandon Golden Dawn and Olive Pit.”
“Shit,” Cardinal Spitfire swore. “I forgot they were deploying here. Move us into position and get the others. We are falling back. Like you said, we have a lot we need to sort out.”
“Colonel,” the Comm station said. “We have a message coming in from General Firestorm.”
“SHADOW! IS THAT YOU!”
“I am here General,” Shadow replied. “Alive and mostly unharmed. Its been close a lot of times.”
“We searched for you! But you disappeared.”
“I only just got your messages,” Shadow replied. “I got forced out of Equestria. I’ve been waiting south in the Zebra Lands for the right time to come back.”
“Did you get kill orders for the Pillars of the Community?” General Firestorm immediately asked.
“Yes, we did,” Shadow reported. “Lieutenant Honey Bee ordered us to kill a large group of Dashites that the Council couldn’t prosecute because of the citizen’s had twisted their wings. I shot my sister in cold blood. After it was done, we realized our mistake and it was too late. We survived as best as we could, but we were down to 3 at that point.
“I eventually had to leave Rosemary or the ghosts would have driven me insane or to commit suicide. Like they did for Slice and Thunder.”
“Shit,” was all that came over the comm system for a while. “We pieced that together, but the data drive was pulled from the computer. We couldn’t recover anything. We did the best we could, but Honey Bee was from a strong family that protected him. We did all we could for you.”
“I know you did,” Shadow said. “I have pieced that together from down here. General, I recommend the ACUs be recalled before they get needlessly torn to shreds. A lot of information needs to be discussed. Their tactics are superior, but they are already out maneuvered and out of their league.”
“The Wonderbolts are coming back,” General Firestorm informed them. “And the Third is pulling out with the ACUs in tow. Some of the Wonderbolts didn’t…agree with your first message across all channels. They fought. Particularly the strike group sent to kill Little Pip.
“Cardinal, Cinnamon is dead. Her team fractured over the situation and she didn’t make it. They were right about to stop Little Pip when they destructed. Rasp and Fountain survived, but Cinnamon is dead. Her second turned on her for hesitating. Rasp won’t talk about it, but I believe she shot that degenerate. Eight of the Twelve died in the fracture of their two squads. They are regrouping at Camp Bullis.
“Shadow, this wasn’t just over you. A group was brainwashed, no, reset by Little Pip after they were captured. We have gotten an interesting look at the situation. I wasn’t able to pull the plug until I got you back. But I am certain others died over it. The ACUs are spread thin, and they are even more likely to not follow the orders.”
“General, Colonel, Command Sergeant Major,” Deke said breaking up the conversation. “Turns out, the ACUs can’t disengage. We need to go in and break them free.”
“Right,” Shadow smiled. “General, we will talk face to face soon. But I have been waiting to get back at that Red Eye fucker for turning on me and trying to kill me. It will be a pleasure to kill his army.”
“Did you set him up in Fillydelphia!” General Firestorm asked over the coms. “Last I knew the Disciples were in Filly and then our scouts and recon reboot confirmed it was Red Eye and a fledgling group.”
“He wasn’t talking like a tyrant,” Shadow fired back. “I have a feeling the slaves I feed stayed slaves. He needed a place to reclaim the wasteland, the Disciples were about to be eliminated. I…whatever. I can explain that shit storm later.”
“We have about 15 minutes,” Deke said. “Go. Cardinal’s room is already in the officer suite.”
“Uh, go?” Shadow asked confused. “Where? Why?”
Deke rolled his eyes and sighed, frustrated. “Cardinal, drag him out of here.”
“What? What is happening?” Shadow asked, not budging.
Deke spoke slowly. “You. Cardinal. Her room. Married. Go.”
“Oh,” Shadow said, finally connecting the dots.
“Go!” Ukuzwa ordered. “Simi, get back with the toon. Make sure they are ready to be a typhoon.”
Simi flipped his cloak on and disappeared. Shadow was being pulled away by Cardinal. Deke was just smiling as it all went down. He rotated back to face out of his bridge. Ukuzwa hadn’t moved. He looked her over again.
“You don’t appear to have a gun,” Deke commented.
“I am not a combatant. Magic is my skill as it might happen. Hexes and Curses I avoid, but it is wise to not make me annoyed.”
“I’m just trying to figure out what is going on inside that striped brain of yours,” Deke replied. “Like why rhyme?”
Ukuzwa rolled her eyes. “Zebs?
“I think I like you,” Deke chuckled. “And it’s the old wartime slang for Zebras. I never thought I would meet one, let alone one that could destroy my ship in the blink of my eye.”
Now it was Ukuzwa’s turn to look Deke up and down and snort. “You are not worth my time.”
“Exactly,” Deke mischievously chuckled.
Five minutes later Shadow came back onto the bridge.
“What!” Deke exclaimed. “I said get busy! Shoo!”
“Cardinal is recovering in the room,” Shadow calmly stated. “She always just...well, we have our secrets.”
Deke let out some evil laughs. “You two better get busy. It’s just not complete with just me and my mini mes. I need yours to really raise terror with them all.”
“Mini mes?” Shadow asked.
Deke turned his chair to full face Shadow. His face had the same, familiar mischievous grin on it. “Yes. Four to be exact. Four half me, half Early Blossom. They truly have blossomed alongside their half siblings. Yeah,” Deke chuckled. “That’s right. I got busy with your sister.”
“I regret my suggestion,” Shadow said with a straight face. “I regret telling them your name.”
“They got to ask me in person,” Deke continued. “Before they contacted me, I got to them. Also, I slept in your bed at the cherry orchard as I saved your family.”
“My first news from home,” Shadow sighed. “And it comes from Deke. Gloating about half sleeping with my sister.”
Cardinal Spitfire joined them in the bridge as if nothing had happened.
“They all turned out cute,” Deke’s First Mate, Crimson Rain, said. “I know, I know. With somepegasus like Deke, how could they? Your sister is cute enough to fix that downside to him. I can personally attest to all of that. We did a routine stop out that way a few months back.”
Deke broke down laughing, unable to hold it in. “I do love you family,” He finally said in between laughs. “They produce some really good cherries and turnips.”
“I have not met them yet,” Cardinal Spitfire assured Shadow. “I know you wanted to introduce me. My family knows. Your family knows only because you went MIA, but I have not met them yet. Your family only knows my name and that you got married. They are diligently waiting for you to introduce me to them.”
“As soon as this is all over,” Shadow assured her.
“Five minutes to rendezvous,” A lieutenant reported.
“We should go then,” Shadow said. “Ukuzwa, make sure Deke doesn’t do anything stupid.”
Ukuzwa just stood there, beside Deke. You couldn’t tell if she heard the order or not.
Shadow was beside Cardinal Spitfire as they jumped out of the Twilight Sky. Simi was leading the others except for Tech Sergeants Bukhali who was staying behind. Her specialty wasn’t fighting. It was technology. She didn’t need to be in the fight and risk an injury or worse.
They flew at their top speed, enjoying the feel of flying together once again.
Cardinal Spitfire issued her orders. “Twins, strafe the ground in between the ACUs and Little Pip’s forces. Discourage them from fighting. But don’t hit them.”
“Simi will handle that separation,” Shadow added. “Let the Zebras help force that front to hold off on shooting the ACUs. The wastelanders will respond better to the Zebras. We need to engage Red Eye with heavy prejudice.”
“Twins, still make that strafing run and then lock up that front with our ACUs. We can deal with Red Eye. Shadow has more than enough to rip them to shreds in your place.”
Shadow chuckled in glee over their coms.
“We got it,” Simi said. “I am readying us for the split and disengage tactics. But it is Steel Rangers. I am not sure how it will go.”
“Are they tied into our coms!” Cardinal Spitfire protested. “We tied in your com. That was easy. But we couldn’t even see their coms. These are a high priority and very secure network.”
Shadow let out a laugh “My Tech Sergeant made easy work of it. And She never had my system to work off of. I left all of it in Rosemary and just got it back. She is very good.”
“I trust you, but not quite them. Yet. Not cool.”
“They came all this way, leaving their families to cross the great sea of sand to fight in a foreign land for a foreign pegasus. We will be parting after this. I won’t be going to my home there. They are my team. They want to make sure I get to my real home and have a home to go home to. I have done a lot for them. And they just want to reciprocate something. I had fun helping them out of the goodness of my heart.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Cardinal Spitfire said dismissing it. “You ready for this strafing run?”
“They won’t even see it coming,” Shadow replied.
Shadow made up for the twins not being present. He unleashed his minigun, lighting up the entire area with deadly magical laser fire. It was four times stronger than the Novasurge rifles the Wonderbolts were packing.
They flipped around and landed in middle of the ACUs.
“Who is in charge?” Cardinal Spitfire asked. “I am Colonel Spitfire.”
“Her, in the power armor. General Wind Rustler just died of his wounds a minute ago.”
Shadow Flare surged after Cardinal Spitfire. She expertly slid up to the side of the pegasus.
“Golden Dawn!”
“Cardinal!” Golden Dawn exclaimed.
“We are here to get you out.”
“Out?”
“Retreat orders for the 3rd Fleet, ACUs, and all members of the ACBs. We need to regroup and reset. Shadow Flare has some new information for us.”
“SHADOW!”
Shadow just waved at his friend. They never had time to do more as a rocket exploded, forcing them all down.
“Damn rockets. We are pinned by it and can’t get a beat on it. And command has been shredded. I know I am in charge, but that is about it.”
“Got it!” Shadow said dashing away.
Shadow got into a better position. He waited for a second and then saw the glint he was looking for. He unleashed two rocket towards an eighth floor window. A rocket was launched back at them. The first rocket collided with it and the second found it’s home in the rocket snipers.
Minigun fire forced them to all dive out of the way. Red Eye’s forces were stronger than Shadow thought. Shadow came out of the dive and engaged his E.F.S. targeting system. Time slowed as he picked out the target. He locked on with his 7.62x51mm rifle and put down a single round.
The one with a mini gun’s head snapped back in confirmation of the hit. The Zebra rounds were great, but they were not his beloved 7.62 rounds. They were better than the 5.56, but the 7.7mm didn’t have the same feel.
More weapons fire opened up on them. Specialist Kogata and Specialist Kachi slid up to Shadow in their power armor.
“Mtaoji! The Light Bringers Forces are holding their fire. That cease fire is dire. Kachi and I are going to put the hurt on those guys. We won’t stop until there is not one left to issue cries.”
“No you are not,” Shadow said.
They ducked as more fire swept through the area and a few grenades were tossed.
“Fine,” Shadow said. “But I am coming with you.
“Anypony hurt,” A pony asked sliding forward.
Shadow snapped his head to look at him. He recognized his voice. Olive Pit was barely distinguishable under all of his gear. It was definitely him under all the packs and armor. His exterior was soaked in blood.
“You took a bullet,” He said to shadow. “Your chest is bleeding.”
Shadow looked down. His armor had taken several strikes in the same area from the minigun. One had poked all the way through. Blood was indeed drawn.
“Filly loves the taste of my blood,” Shadow shrugged. “Others need your help Olive Pit. More than me. I’ve taken worse. Card, get them out of here while we wreck them.”
Before they could respond Shadow disappeared under Mwokozi’s Cloak. Kogata and Kachi were gone as well.
“Who was that?” Olive Pit asked.
“That was Shadow Flare,” Cardinal Spitfire chided Olive Pit. “Haven’t you been listening to your radio?”
“Do you see this blood on me!” Olive Pit shot back. “None of it is mine! I’m trying to keep these guys pieced together. We are spread thin all across this wasteland and dying in droves. I don’t have time to keep up with that shit! I have to make sure we have supplies to continue to save your asses.”
“You won’t have to save them much longer,” Golden Dawn rebuttaled. “We are regrouping on the Corvettes. Get your Colonel Ass moving these ACUs! Unit 47, with me. Lets show this fuckers what Shock Troopers mean!”
The ACUs began falling back to their rear and then jumping into the air, back on their way to the Corvettes that brought them here. Cardinal Spitfire had Wonderbolt Squad 19 protecting their flank and funneling them. As soon as she was sure it was safe, they formed up on her.
“Shadow, we are out and clear. Your team has retreated as well.”
“I’m getting Golden Dawn out of her mess," Shadow replied. "As usual, she bit off more than she could chew.”
“Giving you cover then.”
Cardinal Spitfire looked all along their enemy lines. She picked out bodies. And then she began to see a trail of ice, fire, and blood. Bodies sliced in two or who had their heads removed.
She spotted Unit 47. They were making a brave defense. Golden Dawn’s Applesnack Submachine Gun ran out of bullets and the others appeared to be out or jammed as well. Cardinal Spitfire almost dove to the rescue, but stopped as movement caught her eye. A blur dashed in between the raiders as they converged on Unit 47. Ponies and griffins toppled after the blur moved on.
Golden Dawn crouched, ready to go into hoof to hoof combat as the last three got to her. They were cocky, but they had never faced Pegasus Shock Troopers before. She never had a chance for them to meet her as their heads fell off their bodies.
“GO!” Shadow ordered from right beside her. “Run! I mean fly! Back to the ships!”
Unit 47 didn’t have to be told twice. They all formed up in the sky and quickly pressed back to the cloudships.
The Twilight Sky was a mess and packed tight. The Ebony Grace had been turned into their medical unit. If you were not hurt, you were on the other two ships. The bay doors closed as soon as they got inside.
“Shit,” Cardinal Spitfire swore in frustration.
“What was that!” Golden Dawn pressed before they got split up. Out of nowhere you zipped over to us and their heads rolled.”
Shadow drew Kifo Herixleta from where it was concealed on his left. “Meet Kifo Herixleta. He is one of the pieces I inherited during the first few missions I was below. Its a rare, special variant of the Zebra swords. An old, powerful artifact. I can easily split your power armor from front to back with a single swipe.
“Its not the only magical thing I inherited or bought. I also have this sound dampener. I can shoot my battle rifle without it making a sound. It was more useful on my solo trips, but even in battle, its a great addition.”
“How are you gripping that?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.
“Oh,” Shadow chuckled. “Along with the sword, I inherited a very rare magical Zebra band that latches onto the sword and a few other Zebra weapons. Normally, the band can’t work through the power armor, but Ukuzwa spent a lot of hours, sweat, and tears boosting it so it could.”
Shadow put Kifo Herixleta away and headed for the bridge. Cardinal Spitfire shrugged at Golden Dawn and followed after him. The ACUs were now in Golden Dawn’s control. She was the senior officer for the group they had been deployed with.
“Deke we need to try and re-balance the troops,” Cardinal Spitfire said entering the bridge.
“Can’t,” Deke stated. “I am already accelerating. Plus, Olive Pit is good at his job. He split them down the center. They are a mess, but the troops are here. We can’t shift them around any better than they are.
“Plus, I have my orders from Admiral Ruby Snow. All 3rd Fleet ships are on recall. Immediate recall for the defense of the Enclave.”
“Sir,” a lieutenant commander at the navigation terminal called. “The Solar is breaking from the Glorious Dawn. It is turning for a pursuit.”
“Let them come,” Deke chuckled. “I have been waiting for this match up. Captain Green won’t find me an easy target this time.”
“Yes Sir!”
“Once we are sure they are following us, we can make a better choice. For now, stay on this course: North!”
“You are injured,” Ukuzwa said from the same spot she had been since entering the bridge.
“Eh,” Shadow said looked at his chest. “Yeah. I took direct minigun fire. Just a little blood. Except for my second to last trip into Filly, its drawn my blood every time. I’ve been shot, stabbed, and blasted with explosives. And not all in the same visits. I figured it would claim more once again since we were in the middle of a war.”
Ukuzwa shook her head. “Mponyaji and I worked so hard to clear you of lead. I still remember the cries you made as you bled. After all that turmoil, you just undid all our toil.”
“I can’t help it,” Shadow sighed as he walked over to stand in front of her. “It’s not like I want to get shot.”
Ukuzwa shook her head at him and then lifted a hoof that had plenty of jewelry on it. She waved it over the wound several times and a bullet popped out. A few move waves and the wound was sealed up.
“Small it might be, but it does not come for free. Watch your back, stay ready for any attack. I only have so much on me. We are far from home and my reality.”
“Yep,” Shadow sighed. “I’ll avoid it as much as possible.”
Ukuzwa’s smile was mischievous under its obvious care.
“Just how often has he gotten himself hurt?” Deke asked her.
“In one battle, he had a powerful warlord quite rattled. Every time he took a clear hit, he came back in a split.”
Shadow groaned. “That battle was bad. My fledgling team fell apart, I didn’t have anywhere near my optimal equipment, and I didn’t have my sword. I got patched up 42 times in the span of 3 days.”
“42!” Cardinal Spitfire blurted. “You took 42 bullets in 3 days!”
“It was a good mix of bullets, broken bones, and knife wounds. By the time we engaged the enemy, we had no choice but to either eliminate them or die. We didn’t bend, but I certainly bled for that win.” Shadow shrugged. “Just my normal stuff.”
“We need to redefine normal for you,” Cardinal Spitfire stated.
“After this war,” Shadow said. “When the enemy lies dead on the floor. When I crush them to the dust of the stars, then peace can truly be ours.”
“Most of his time wasn’t spent fighting,” Ukuzwa explained. “But when it was needed he struck like lightning. Our land is unforgiving, but he gave it no misgiving. In the end, our standard of living was raised. Something for which he has been greatly praised.”
The sky exploded in a flash of light. It ended their conversation as it blinded them. When they could see again, the sun was shining down on the wasteland, unhindered.
“And so it is,” Ukuzwa declared. “The Light Bringer has brought the light.”
Shadow let out a troubled sigh. He knew this would be the end result, he just had wished he had been able to warn them above in time.
“Thousands are now without homes,” Shadow stated. “Most of the farms are wiped out now too. Things just got very real for the Grand Pegasus Race.”
Explosions from Fillydelphia rocked the air itself.
“Sir, the computers are reading that the Glorious Dawn is going down. It took at least one direct strike from something. The Solar is also clearly on our tail.”
“We need someplace to go,” Deke said. “Someplace that doesn’t compromise the ACUs.”
“Set a course for Baltimare,” Shadow said. “I have some friends there who will probably lend us a hoof. Assuming we don’t try and burn them to the ground. Or pillage them. Just friendly relations.”
“I’m down for friendly relations,” Deke said.
“Sir…fire is reigning down from the sky on our troops and cloudships around Fillydelphia.”
“Someone got a hold of a megaspell,” Deke spat. “I don’t care how good they are, and how wrong we might be. That’s dark shit to be playing with.”
“There are times when it is a good thing,” Ukuzwa said. “Good was not what the Zebras decided to bring. But the Enclave’s assault is brutal and unkind. They do not fight with a just mind. Right and wrong can sometimes be bent, especially when your options are spent. The Enclave is spread thin, but even then the other side can not win.
“Blood will soon be spilled, for how else will we all rebuild? The last link is ready to be 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.
“A darker evil than any spell is upon us. Even a dull blade still cuts.”
“Huh?” Deke asked.
Shadow stared out the window. “She is a seer, Deke. She can, at special occasions, see the future. But it is rare and always vague. Deke, how big is the Third Fleet? And how big are the ACUs?”
“Uh, still pretty small. Even with our expansion, we are tiny. A dozenish cloudships and only a few hundred ACUs. Why?”
Shadow’s answer was cold. “Because, the Pegasi are going to war. But not a war on the ground. We have to decide who we are, and how we fit into that world as a whole. Things are not as we were told and everypegasus can now see it. We will be set against each other until we decide. And I doubt the blood sun will not rise.”
Chapter 134 - Baltimare
Author's Notes:
BOOK 5: PART 1: REUNIONS
The Solar was trailing behind the Firecracker. The Ebony Grace was in the middle and all the way at the head of the train was the Twilight Sky. Commodore Deke could have outrun the Solar, but she would have hunted them down at some point. He couldn't lead them to their rendezvous location.
Instead he was baiting her into a chase. Shadow was pretty certain he could get Dry Dock City’s support against the Solar that would blindside the Raptor and protect all the extra lives aboard the three Corvettes. They couldn’t just let the injured loose, meaning the Ebony Grace was out of the fight until the there were no options left.
Baltimare was visible out of the Twilight Sky’s bridge. Shadow was giving the crew commands that brought them to a halt. It wouldn’t be long before the Solar would be on them. To keep her engaged they hadn’t given themselves a lot of extra space.
“This is good,” Shadow said. “Don’t move until we let you know what to do. If the worst happens, dump the ACUs into the southern part of the city to dig in defenses and take the battle out to the sea. But I don’t think it will go that far.”
“I don’t like it,” Deke said. “But I trust you. Go do this. Get us an ally.”
Shadow darted out of the bridge to the top of the Twilight Sky where Wonderbolt Squad 19 was, along with Kikosi Kisasi, his Zebra Squad. They leaped off the front and slowly cruised as one large fan towards the city. It was hard to see in the ruins. You had to know what Dry Dock City looked like to pick it out from the height they were at. And to the city, they looked like the enemy.
General Firestorm was quiet about what was happening. The channels were mostly insecure at the moment as the Enclave reeled from the blow to Operation Cauterize failing. The clouds being ripped out from under them also opened them up to jamming, which was happening. An aggressive move over open channels could bring every military unit down on them. It meant they had to stay low and quiet as they figured out who was making what stance.
The Council was quiet as things failed. Apparently, they were moving to a secure location since the clouds were no longer there to shield them. They would soon announce their next decision, but until then the military was quietly sorting it out among themselves. A lot of independent troop movement was happening between bases.
They coasted over the city and Shadow led them into a slow figure 8 taking them down into the middle of the city. He could already tell where the guards were and they were out in force. They probably had raised the militia, ever since the Twilight Sky came into view.
The two teams landed in a circle, careful to keep their backs to each other as they stared down the rifles of the residents of Dry Dock City. Shadow made a few steps forward to separate himself from the others visually and pulled his helmet off.
“We come in peace!” Shadow announced. “And we come seeking an ally. We are members of a new movement that opposes the traditional stance of the Grand Pegasus Enclave. My name is-”
“Command Sergeant Major Shadow Flare,” An old silver stallion said as he stepped out from behind a guard. “I never expected to see you again.”
“Governor Silver Sifter!” Shadow exclaimed, taking a few steps closer to him. “I assume it is still governor.”
“It is,” Governor Silver Sifter said with a smile. “But what has you here, with them, and with a cloudship?”
“Long story short and sweet, I got booted out of Equestria and forced to stay below all this time. I was in the Zebra Lands.”
Ukuzwa stepped out and over to Shadow’s side. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” She said with a bow. “I understand here is one of the truly good few. My name is Ukuzwa, the mage. I hope that we can start on a fresh page.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Governor Silver Sifter said, smiling at her.
The whole crew relaxed and all of the guards lowered their rifles. Things were not resolved, but the suspense was gone. The Wonderbolts, Kogata, and Kachi removed their helmets as a sign of good faith.
“Governor,” Shadow said, composing himself. “I know this is a big imposition, but we need Dry Dock City’s help. First and foremost, we are being chased by a true Enclave cloudship that wants to rip me and my friends apart. The Captain of the visible ship is a good friend of mine and he has been trading nasty words with the other captain, a big rival. Degenerate was the nicest thing our group was called.
“Give the word, and we set the battle to happen over the sea. But we only have 3 Corvettes. Fast ships geared towards the defense of the Enclave, while he has a Raptor, and it is a new one. The Raptors were the dragon killers of the old war, but they can tear up the ground with ease. It will be a tough thing to win. With the guns in Dry Dock City, we could turn the battle into an ambush and win.
“But that battle doesn’t concern you, and we respect your right to decline.”
“I will need to consult our military adviser,” Governor Silver Sifter said. “It is a risk. But I trust you.”
“I would not endanger this beautiful flower,” Shadow stated. “We could use an ally, at least on the books.”
“There is another matter you wish to ask of us?” Govern Silver Sifter asked.
“Yes,” Shadow said with a more confident nod. “Each of the Corvettes is stuffed with friendly troops. We need to get them back to our allies, but one is carrying a large number of wounded. We pulled them out of Fillydelphia before the Light Bringer dropped whatever it was on Fillydelphia they dropped. If we could leave them here with some of our medics to be tended, it would be very appreciative.”
A pegasus dropped in between Shadow and Ukuzwa. Shadow almost yelled at him except Deke rammed his hoof into his mouth.
“I am Commodore Deke, the Captain over the Twilight Sky. In ten minutes, no matter what happens in these discussions, the Ebony Grace is going to fly over here at full speed. She carries wounded and I can’t risk her being anywhere near us when the Solar attacks us. None of the units on my cloudships will attack you if we have to dump them for the battle. She had to make a sudden jump in acceleration and we are not wasting even a tiny bit with a course change.”
Shadow popped Deke’s hoof out of his mouth. “Shove it Deke. This is tense enough situation, and you are obviously not delicate.”
“You’re are missing an eye,” Governor Silver Sifter said to Deke.
“I lost my sight in it slowly over the years. Same with my ear,” Deke said showing off his ear cuff. “We were protecting a district from a very destructive storm that the Weather Factory unleashed on my fellow Pegasi. We physically combated the storm with our guns, blasting it apart while the non-essential crew warned them below and got them to safety.
“In the end, the 14 of us on board got steam rolled, hard. I saved the ship, but 4 of the crew died protecting their fellow sky brothers and sisters. The Twilight Sky and the Ebony Grace are named for two of the four that sacrificed their lives. It was on a different cloudship, but it was a Corvette like that one. Small.
“My time as a cloudship captain is at its end. The military is taking my command because of my compromised sight. Their decision to go to war below halted my phasing out. I served my race proudly, earning the Humanitarian Service Medal a total of three times over my service. I uncovered two other times where the Pegasus Race was about to take a lot of casualties due to natural disasters, and such. That is the highlight of my career and dedication to the safety of all pony kind.”
“That’s your highlight?” Shadow asked, looking at all the ribbons.
“Hey,” Deke shot back. “I have other proud moments, but they are personal pride, not saving ponies asses. That’s thanks to your influence.”
“Impressive,” Governor Silver Sifter stated. “You are not just some meat head looking for a fight.”
“Well,” Deke hesitated. “Captain Green has had it out for me since the start, and I am totally looking forward to this fight. We have been waiting for the opportunity to do this. He started it. He thinks his military heritage and blood make him entirely superior to me. I have experience, he has blood, and its not been calm between us. I won’t lie about personal gains in this upcoming fight.”
“Damn,” Shadow swore. “I missed a lot.”
“Yeah,” Deke sighed. “You did. I missed you the entire time. But, Sir, my crew is ready to combat a Raptor with a decent chance at winning, but we could use the support. I don’t want to die before Shadow and I can finally hang out outside of the military.”
The conversation halted as The Captain shoved a pony past the Dry Dock City guards. A green haired stallion in an oil and paint covered mechanic suit.
“I came as fast as I could,” The Captain said. “Shadow Flare, it is good to see you once more.”
The Stallion’s head shot up and they locked eyes. Shadow’s rage was tripped as he recognized the familiar face. It took nothing for him to cross the distance between them and back hoof him in the face with his armored hoof.
“I MOURNED YOU!” Shadow screamed. “I FUCKING MOURNED YOU SLICE! YOU COULD HAVE HAD THE DECENCY TO TELL THUNDER AND ME TO NOT WORRY. THAT YOU WERE HEADING HERE!
“Thunder,” Shadow seethed. “He blamed himself for not being able to stop you. Shortly after you left, he pulled the pin on a grenade and blew his head off! He couldn’t bare the idea of committing himself to becoming a wasteland pony. He had honor! You didn’t! I was the last Inquisitor because you ran off in secret!”
“I didn’t mean to come here,” Slice shot back, rubbing in cheek. Blood had been drawn, but Shadow had restrained the power in the strike. He hadn’t wanted to break his face permanently. “I left. I left with nothing. I expected to die. I couldn’t go back to my nothing life. And we had committed treason. Tricked into it or not, we committed treason.
“I couldn’t take the ghosts anymore. They were driving me insane. The damn unicorns were always just out of sight. And fuck, I killed some completely defenseless young ones. I just couldn’t take it and I lost it as I had to go. I deserved to die, so I threw myself into the wasteland.
“I just…don’t remember much. I doubt you understand that feeling. But its like a horrible dream that is all hazy, and when you wake up, you can’t remember anything. Well I woke up here, on the verge of death. And I built a life here. I am truly sorry you had to find out. I didn’t mean any harm. I meant to die. But now I got a wife and foals. I got a life here.”
“I left shortly after you did,” Shadow growled. “I killed Dahlia for you. I killed the Disciples for you. And I got forced out of Equestria, on the run, injured, bleeding out, and I lost track of everything for you. I came too weeks later in the care of some Zebras. I built a temporary life there, but I was always going to go home to my family. You weren’t even going to give them that courtesy!”
“My family is shit! You were lucky. My dad’s a drunk who hated that I existed. My dad can’t even be sure I am his. My mother doesn’t even know if I am his. My sister was always the star because of that fact. They didn’t shed a tear. They already shed them for my existence.”
Shadow was distracted by a little green filly slipped in between the guard’s legs and approaching Ukuzwa while the adults were distracted.
“Um, excuse me. Are you from Kifopiga?” Her voice was sweet and innocent.
“Tear Drop!” Slice barked. “I told you to never to mention that place. That is one of Daddy’s private stories. And you shouldn’t be here.”
Shadow caught sight of tiny wings on her back. She was a Pegasus like her father. That had to have made Slice proud.
“I have visited that place,” Ukuzwa smiled at her. “The grave carved from plagioclase. But your father is right, it is not a place to recite.”
Slice glared at Shadow. “Did you raid Kifopiga?”
“The Zebras reclaimed the supplies stored there,” Shadow replied. “And Ukuzwa needed materials they had stored there to learn the magic she was already gifted with. And right before we came here, we carefully acquired weapons that were more suited to the Equestrian wasteland. They don’t have the 7.7 rounds in enough quality to keep my team moving through multiple engagements.”
“We were always respectful,” Simi said, stepping over to them boldly. “I am Mtoaji’s warrior trainee. He taught me to protect my home. He protected my home. We are his team that protected the free cities he helped us build. We are here to make sure he finally gets home. We knew what we were getting into. Our Zebra weapons were not going to cut it here. But damn, your 5.56 round sucks.”
“I haven’t touched a weapon since I left Rosemary,” Slice said, conceding the point. “That is one line I am never again crossing.”
“Like hell you are,” Shadow growled. “I need you with me. We need to work together to make sure the Enclave falls.” Shadow poked him in the chest. “The only way she survives is if the Enclave crumbles and out of it we raise up a new Pegasus Race, one that works with below. One that is apart of Equestria. The clouds are gone, the Council is regrouping after the disaster with Operation Cauterize, so we have the opportunity to change the outcome of the Pegasus Race. We have the obligation to do that. You have a perspective that no other Enclave Soldier has!
“And yes Slice, you still are an active duty Enclave Soldier. Your MIA status has not stopped any of that. You are still Sergeant Major Apple Slice, Reconnaissance Squad 4. You gear is secure in Rosemary. And you will retrieve it and report for duty!”
“Fuck off!” Slice said turning to leave. He was blocked by the Captain.
“Slice, it has been amazing to have you become a full member of our community.” The Captain’s words were sweet and genuine. They matched his soft smile. “But you will be reporting for duty. The Pegasus Race needs you and your unique position. Dry Dock City needs you to do that. Sweet Waters needs you to do that. Your three foals need you to do that. I haven’t pushed you to ever pick up a gun because I understood things fell apart.
“But you will be reporting for duty. To do what you must for your race. And then you can come back and live here. Or, you can die making sure we don’t become the target of evil minded Pegasi. If you don’t go, you will not be able to stay here.”
Slice glanced over at Governor Silver Sifter who shrugged in agreement with The Captain. He wasn’t going to say a word though. He was just going to silently back The Captain.
“We have a second Cloudship almost on us,” The Captain said. “From what I understand from our coms, you need assistance?”
Deke gave them a 30 second run down of the situation.
“I see,” The Captain said. “Slice, ready the guns. Commodore, Slice will coordinate with you on the bridge from the south gun. You will be a spotter for us. For targeting assistance, you will need to be right above that gun. Slice knows the systems well.”
“I’m a little iffy on the Corvette’s gun batteries,” Slice warned them.
The Captain continued with his strategy. “I suggest we accelerate the Firecracker and swing her out over the ocean. You will give us the targeting info and bait the Solar in. Then you will fall back in retreat. We can open fire on an unaware Solar and from there, the battle can commence with all three of us working together.”
Deke grinned and bent down to take off into the sky. “I like it!”
The Captain nodded. “It will work. Slice, I trust you understand the full severity of the situation.”
“I do,” Slice nodded. “I will take personal responsibility and keep my hoofs on it all. I won’t miss. It won’t take 10 minutes to have us ready and 20 at most to be dialed in.”
Deke took off and Slice moved out on hoof.
“Take your defensive stations,” The Captain ordered the guards and militia.
All of the guards ran off to their stations, leaving none of them around the Wonderbolts and Zebras. Governor Silver Sifter and the Captain stayed with them.
“Anything we can do?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.
“No,” The Captain replied with the same, soft smile. “We will watch the ambush from the south gun. But this is something we are actually prepared for.”
“We should catch up,” Governor Silver Sifter said. “A lot has changed since last time. You guys did more than you realize you did. The farms are yielding four times more since you helped us with the composting. Fort Strong is ours, permanently. Nor’easter was correct, the Super Ponies just needed a strong organizational structure. They hold Fort Strong. We are one city, but it is easier that way.”
“It is advantageous to hold both,” Shadow added.
“Crystal Kiss and Black Bolt still reside over here with us. Black Bolt has made a wonderful teacher. And Crystal Kiss helped our gardens flourish. She is rather protective of her herb gardens, especially the Rosemary plants she got from you.”
Shadow chuckled with delight. “I told her something about her being the only one who could handle growing them.”
“You were right about that,” The Captain chuckled.
“But that is on the inside of the city,” Governor Silver Sifter continued. “Since we have Super Ponies on our side, things in Baltimare have shifted. The last direct attack on the city was eight months ago. We have been able to push them back. Or, better put, the Super Ponies have been pushing them back to Stable 50.
“We have been sending out recovery team into the cleared blocks before we lose them again. It’s been advantageous, but we can’t eliminate them all. The buffer we have is the best we can maintain. And that does shift periodically.”
“Anything pressing?” Shadow asked. “I can leave a few Aerial Combat Units here to help strengthen your lines and our alliance.”
“Nothing is needed,” The Captain assured them. “It is stable. I doubt you will have the resources after to do anything either. I have heard the brief reports over the radio.”
“We lost a lot of Pegasi,” Shadow sighed. “But most of them were not going to side with us. It was the First Fleet that primarily lost vessels. And most of the soldiers that went below were led by the officers that vote for a full eradication of the wasteland. Sad, but nothing to cry over at this moment. After the war is over, we can mourn the evil that is war.”
“You say that as if there will be a war,” Governor Silver Sifter said. “Are you so sure?”
Shadow looked at Ukuzwa who nodded. “I am a seer. Into the deep I can sometimes peer. When he first arrived, a prophecy I derived.
“When the sword is set in stone, It will 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.”
Shadow explained. “The first half has come true. But that is why my team came. Father against son, until either side has won. The final link must be forged in person, or things will forever worsen.
“I have to make sure that we shed as little blood as we re-forge the link to our pony brothers and sisters. But if our military is how it was when I last was above, we are screwed. It won’t be a simple thing to sort out. The citizens will back me, the soldiers won’t. Unarmed citizens are useless except to waste their blood. And I won’t let that happen.”
“We can help with training,” Governor Silver Sifter said. “And I am sure we can set something up so that we can help train them out of the eye of the others. Right The Captain?”
“I don’t know,” The Captain admitted as he looked up at the Ebony Grace.
She thundered over them at the high-speed Deke had warned them. It was a good thing he warned them. She was low overhead, but not dangerously low. Her engines were huge compared to the size of the Corvettes. Deke had said they were the same engines as the Raptor Class used.
“Governor,” The Captain said once they could talk again. “The thing is, with the clouds gone, the game has changed dramatically for the Grand Pegasus Enclave. They can no longer deny what is below them. That will mess with their politics greatly.
“I can’t miss this opportunity. I am a Pegasus. I fought for Equestria. I trained the greatest Pegasi fighters Equestria has ever seen. Some of them were Shadowbolts, my prouder students went on to form the Blue Beret. And then when it all fell apart; I was here with my whole unit to begin sea raids. I have to go above and make sure the right choice is made. And if be, I will fight and die for the old Equestria that I still love dearly.”
“Sir,” Cardinal Spitfire cautiously said stepping forward. “Did you say you trained the founders of the Blue Berets?”
The Captain looked here over again. He snorted. “Wonderbolts, right?”
Cardinal Spitfire snapped to attention and saluted in the old style, with her hoof. The rest of Squad 19 did as well. “Sir, yes, Sir! Colonel Cardinal Spitfire. We are Wonderbolt Squad 19, Sir. Our nickname is the White Shadows, Sir. After my husband, Shadow Flare, Sir.”
“That’s your wife,” The Captain blurted.
“Yep,” Shadow grinned. “It’s been a long time missing her.”
“Faithful to the day I die,” Cardinal Spitfire said with the same grin. “All that time was worth it now. All the painfully lonely nights have meaning. My stalwart assurance that he would be back has won out.”
“She is a better fighter than me,” Shadow said to The Captain. “At least she was when I left. I know you didn’t get much time with me, only one mission, but she was amazing back then. In Filly, I got to fly beside her once again, and flight as well. She hasn’t slipped. The Squad easily holds up to the Enclave standards of being a Wonderbolt. How they hold up to your standards, I don’t know.”
“Sir,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “Only a few ever taught the Pegasi how to go to war. The Enclave Wonderbolts hold those secrets. We know the Enclave inside and out. We have to in order to keep it from falling apart over all these years. And we know our history, the real history. We know it so we can protect the others.
“That is broken now. With our regroup…I lost a friend who was betrayed. Her second shot her to keep to the old ideals. Four of the twelve made it out alive.
“So I have to ask you, Sir, what is your name? Only a few stallions were recorded as teachers who were of the old breed. The real breed.”
The Captain looked them all over again. He snorted again. “Some of you are more sure of your duty than others.”
“Yes, Sir,” Aegis Blade said, stepping forward. I am Ensign Aegis Blade, Sir. 5 years of service sir. I only just joined the Wonderbolts. Squad 19 is my first assignment, Sir. It has been a difficult transition, Sir. Especially with a Colonel such as Cardinal Spitfire, Sir. She is an idealist, but has the skill over most of the Wonderbolts to back it up, Sir.”
Commander Fuchsia Sky presented herself for inspection. “For the most part, Sir, we have been dealing with a lot of new information thrown at us. I am from the same year as when the Command Sergeant Major was declared MIA. I am well versed in that situation. The others are after that time. And we rarely test for new members.
“As far as I can tell, most of the Wonderbolts hold to a neutral position when it comes to the Enclave. Those who do not have probably been eliminated before it can bite us in the ass, Sir. General Firestorm is also an idealist and she wrote the current update on the History of the Wonderbolts. With her own comments about the developments since the last edition a few decades back, Sir.
“The real question is, Sir, how far will she take things? She wasn’t outright appalled over a recent incident where some Wonderbolts were ‘reeducated’ by the Light Bringer. Dang it, I mean Little Pip, Sir. The Zebras and Shadow Flare only know her as that, Sir.”
“The Captain,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “Shadow Flare’s recovery spawned the recall of the entire Aerial Combat Battalion and Third Fleet. I don’t know the extent of the damage because we have been running from the Solar. We can’t let them know our rally point.
“General Firestorm was furious that the Inquisitors were betrayed under her nose. She and our previous General did everything they could to recover them. We just missed them, but our evidence was that only Shadow Flare survived for unknown reasons.
“She was chomping at the bit to not have to send her battalion into this war. Shadow’s recovery gave her the tangible reason to. She doesn’t like to act without proper information. And at this moment, Shadow has the right information. And now, apparently so does the Sergeant Major. We thought he was dead. Thankfully we never claimed him as KIA. We didn’t have the concrete evidence to do so.”
“That works to our advantage,” The Captain said, thinking. He let out a sigh. “I can’t believe I lived to see the sun again. I can’t miss this opportunity to make a difference. When the shit hit the fan, I never had that opportunity. We got hit with a megaspell to our southeast. I woke up as a ghoul.
“I spent the rest of my life building and then watching over Dry Dock City. Over the years, the rest of my surviving team lost their minds and had to be put down. I thought I would lose mine before I saw the sun shining over my Equestria again.”
The Captain looked the Wonderbolts over again. He didn’t snort this time. “Colonel and Squad 19, I am officially Equestrian Military Reserve Lieutenant General Soarin. I was behind the scenes for everything, teaching. But then they needed me to take this position on Equestria’s first real naval fleet. We simplified things to Captain so that the entire fleet could operate smoothly. The poor Admiral would have been sweating the entire time if I was wearing my full rank.
“And that is how I got my second name. When Dry Dock City was raised from the ruins, and I led it, my soldiers were always reporting to me with Captain. The civilians did it then too, and I put Soarin behind me as everything turned to dust.
“But now, I once again have an Equestria to fight for. A real Equestria, with all three races united.”
“It will be an honor to escort you to our headquarters,” Cardinal Spitfire saluted, again it was with her hoof.
Shadow pulled his throw bag off his back and snapped together Soarin’s Lightning. “Sir, this belongs to you.”
Soarin stretched out his hoof to take it and then stopped, pulling it back slowly. He looked it over.
“She is beautiful,” He nodded. “But no. You recovered her. She is yours. I insist. I will take my battle saddle and dress uniform with me, but I do not intend to fight unless we come down to our last soldier.”
“Thank you,” Shadow said.
“Come, the time has arrived. I see the Solar on the horizon. We need to get to the south gun.”
The followed after The Captain at a quick pace. Slice was on the gun, ready. Most of the adjustments had been made as it pointed into the sky at a steep angle. He gave a nod to them all. Above them was the Twilight Sky. It was parked in perfect synchronization of its front turret to the gun on the ground.
Their coms were patched in to listen on the Bridge.
“Captain Green,” Deke said with way too much enthusiasm. “We have traded some heated words these past two days. And we have traded other words over the years. Are you so certain that this is the answer?”
“I don’t give a shit to how many Corvettes you have. The Solar is the finest Raptor the Grand Pegasus Enclave has. I was given her, not you. I know your name was tossed in that hat. You got passed up because I was the better Captain.
“And despite the setbacks over the past few days, we will come out victorious! You can’t match me, even with your speed. All I have to do is nail your ships with one hit from my main guns and you are done for! You have no armor. I do.”
“You are out matched,” Deke said, bored. “Because it was I who pulled my name out of that hat. I didn’t want the Solar unless I could bring her to the Third Fleet. I could not, so I bowed out before they put me in a position, I didn’t want to be in. Knowing that, if you really wish to press forward, you will find yourself in trouble.”
“I may not be able to see the Ebony Grace-”
“She is in the rear,” Deke interrupted him. “She won’t be joining this fight. She holds our wounded. I won’t risk them.”
“Do you actually think your jump tactics will allow you to infiltrate my ship before I take you out?”
“The ACUs are not a part of this engagement,” Deke calmly stated. “I will be engaging you with my ships in a match of guns on guns. And I will win. I won’t win because I have blood, I will win because I have a plan. I have always had a plan-”
“Plans is all you ever talk about! You were a shit officer on the bridge and you never deserved that Captain’s chair. They were so desperate to get new officers as the Third Fleet expanded that they had to resort to your kind!”
“My kind was actually given my commission by the Council,” Deke replied calmly. “Yes. You heard me right. I had my commission given to me by the Fifth Councilor. That is why you could never see my record. We had to hide it to help ease things over. You are all so blood focused, it wasn’t a fair advantage. Because, like I earned that commission, I was going to earn my own ship.
Slice looked up anxiously at the Twilight Sky. He was waiting for Deke to give him the signal. He was not expecting this long of a verbal exchange.
“Now, I hope you will all forgive me.”
“Excuse me?” Captain Green growled. “Forgive you?”
“Not you jackass. I have no problem with killing the likes of you who puts personal blood above the safety of the very Pegasi he claims to protect. I am speaking to your crew; through your own intercom system I might add. We have full control of that.
“I am sorry that all of you regular soldiers are caught up in this. If I could settle this personally with him, and any of you who think I am a degenerate fuck bag because I have ideals that back the situation below, that I deserves to be branded, castrated, and then brutally raped by the evil ponies below before they eat me. Well, if I could settle this with just them, I would. I am sorry that you have to serve under him. I am sorry that you have to die for the Pegasus Race in this way.”
The Twilight Sky’s first turret opened up with a volley from its 10 inch guns. A few seconds later they exploded against the Solar. The Twilight Sky immediately went in reverse. Deke wasn’t going to miss watching the action, but he had been told to retreat for the ambush to work. Even in reverse, the Twilight Sky was quick.
Slice did a final adjustment and fired the south gun. It was the only gun in Dry Dock City to open fire. A few second later the Solar exploded as it was hit. It was a lot bigger of an explosion than what the three guns the Twilight Sky had brought.
And then Shadow felt a heavy concussive blast hit him from the explosion. A very big difference in the explosions. The south gun was only a 6 inch cannon compared to the Corvette’s 10 inch main guns. The Solar was rent apart by the concussive force of the shell’s detonation. It was all left in a sparkling aura of tiny blue stars.
“Slice?” Shadow calmly asked. “Was that Star Dust?”
“Uh, yeah,” Slice said, not even trying to soften the blow.
“You didn’t know the real details about Star Dust,” Shadow calmly replied. “Not officially. The only three who knew fully what we found was me, Storm, and Nor. All you knew was our opening suspicions about what they were. And that was very vague.”
Slice chuckled. “Once we retook Fort Strong, the Governor made sure everything had been cleared, I know Storm’s codes by heart and unlocked it. I had to make a new cloud key since I left mine in Rosemary.”
“It came in very, very handy for me,” Shadow inserted.
“Well it took nothing for me to unlock that vault. It wasn’t hard to deduce what they really were. I had years to pour through their files. We only had a few hours to recover stuff from Fort Strong. Only The Captain, Governor Silver Sifter, and I knew what Star Dust was as we brought it back over. We decided to not leave it with our Super Pony family.”
“Wise choice,” Shadow admitted.
“And just what was that!” Deke asked as he landed. “That!” He pointed to where the Solar had disappeared from. “That wasn’t a normal shell! I though the plan was to hammer them from the ground and then the Firecracker would move in to strafe while she was distracted. And then Twilight Sky could finish the Solar with our broadsides. I fired explosive rounds to give you the final coordinates! I would have fired armor piercing if I knew you would blow her up in one shot!”
Slice pulled out the shell from the breach of the cannon. He held it up. It was stamped on the side with the blue seven-pointed star.
“Star Dust. One of the few true Equestrian Megaspells. Most of what was exchanged on both sides was at least based on the Zebra spell Balefire. The nasty stuff that turned our wasteland into a real wasteland. Equestria may have shot other spells as well. We don’t know those details.
“But Star Dust wasn’t meant to be like those. It was a spell housed in a canister designed primarily to be shot from a naval canon to eliminate Zebra installations and cities without leaving the same yuck behind.
“To be perfectly clear, this Star Dust is designed to be a visual spell. Point and shoot, hitting what you can see. Obviously, you need distance. But it was designed to pack a punch on the front lines, without endangering our troops.”
“No fair!” Deke said, storming up into Slices face. “Megaspells should never be used!”
“Do you not remember what I said before?” Ukuzwa asked. “I thought you had to be smart to be a commodore.”
Deke narrowed his eyes at her, but he didn’t approach her. He wasn’t willing to test his luck there.
Ukuzwa quoted herself. “There are times when it is a good thing. Good was not what the Zebras decided to bring. But the Enclave’s assault is brutal and unkind. They do not fight with a just mind. Right and wrong can sometimes be bent, especially when your options are spent. The Enclave is spread thin, but even then the other side can not win.
“That same mind came here. They would have destroyed this place these ponies endear. Look around you and see, this is a place that is truly free! Star Dust does not hold any evil in it, only that which the pony has in their pit. There is good inside, and that was something with which Equestria made sure Star Dust was fortified.”
“Fine,” Deke sighed. “I recognize that without it, the strategy was still a long shot. And I think it was more humane for the innocent lives caught up in this. And…Ukuzwa, do you think it is wise to bring some 6s with us. Our fleet will easily be outmatched any I have guns that can fire that. A few of those could level their fleets and protect ours.”
“NO!” Shadow, Slice, and The Captain yelled at the same time. They looked back and forth trying to figure out who should explain.
“I know him best,” Shadow said. “Deke, Star Dust is built on a concussive blast rather than a traditional explosion. That means while the shell can destroy things in its blast radius, and will, it creates a much larger wave that can easily liquefy a pony’s insides much further away than what a regular blast will produce. I know you felt that blast up there.”
Deke nodded.
“The biggest downside is also the biggest advantage. While one shell is powerful, if you put two in close proximity, the effect is amplified by far beyond double. Fourfold at least. It would only take ten of those shells to completely destroy New Cloudsdale. To wipe it off the map.”
Deke’s face fell in terror. He knew New Cloudsdale well. It was his home city.
“I think closer to eight,” Slice added. “Only eight if you place them right. Or three 16-inch shells. Since it is a cloud-based city.”
“Yeah,” Shadow said, confirming what Deke was thinking. “One shell is a lot of power, but a few can level a city with ease. And with no fallout after effects.”
“Tactical use only,” Deke nodded.
“This is still too risky,” Shadow said. “No.”
“Yes,” The Captain said. “Yes. I think the Commodore is correct. We are probably in a tight spot when it comes to the naval aspects. A few of Star Dust’s rounds could even that score. We can’t use it on troops, but ships, those battles will happen away from the cities.”
“Maybe a base or two,” Slice added. “Depending on how things fragment. But yeah. It’s one thing we will have that the Grand Pegasus Enclave wont. It’s our ace up our sleeve.”
“I will take command on the Star Dust project,” The Captain said. “Me and Ukuzwa will.”
“Corporal Chiha and Corporal Koto will join you,” Shadow said. “They are fierce fighters who will defend them to the last if things go wrong.”
“Blow it up,” Corporal Koto nodded.
“No rhyme?” The Captain asked, raising his nonexistent eyebrow.
“My team has mastered the art of short communication,” Shadow clarified. “It’s kept things less confusing as we run around in fights. Especially for me. Simi really has mastered non-rhyming communication, but only because he wanted to.”
“Interesting,” The Captain shrugged. “I was so proud of the Blue Berets, but I hated the war. I watched Equestria turn from light to dark in a shorter span that I ever could imagine. We were so peaceful. The Zebras were too, mostly. Their tribe squabbles were not the cause of the war and they were not ready for what we all got thrust into.”
“Neither side was aware of what was to come,” Ukuzwa stated with a sorrowful note on her tongue. “We were utterly bent to succumb. There was no right or wrong side, we all tasted the same sulfide. We went to draw blood, moving with a scud. In visions and dreams I have watched with tears; I saw both side’s affairs.”
Ukuzwa couldn’t continue as a tear clearly slid form her eye and dropped down off her face. She set the somber mood for a while. A time to reflect on the evils that once were, the evils that still were, and the evils that would come in the name of peace.
Chapter 135 - Return To Fort Wind
Author's Notes:
BOOK 5: PART 1: REUNIONS
They had left behind the injured in the care of two medics and the capable hooves of Dry Dock City. It had been a logistical struggle to land all the ACUs and reorganize them to the three cloudships. Thanks to delegation, Shadow and Cardinal Spitfire didn’t have to do that task. Deke, his two Captains, and Golden Dawn undertook that task. Olive Pit was busy with the final logistics for the wounded.
Shadow got to have a quiet dinner with Cardinal Spitfire, Slice, and Sweet Waters. It was as quiet as it could be with the noise of the count and organization of the ACUs. Sweet Waters was in full support of Slice going with them. He was still reluctant, but she wasn’t.
Shadow also got to do a quick meet and greet with others like Crystal Kiss, Black Bolt, and others he got to know in his initial, short stay. He had forgotten about one special individual living in Dry Dock City, but she wasn’t there when he had visited. Cloudy Snow had made it to Baltimare. She only knew what Black Widow had told her, nothing more. Shadow surviving was a great surprise that she was thrilled to find out.
Wonderbolt Squad 19’s Commander Fuchsia Sky and Lieutenant Commander Bronze Wings undertook a secret mission shortly after the Solar was destroyed. They took all night and arrived in the early dawn. They held off the launch for them. Shadow was pretty sure they made a run to Fort Griffin’s Gate. A tough job, but doable. Either way, it didn’t change their orders.
Slice was on the Firecracker with a small group of ACUs. The Zebras Sergeant Izala, Corporal Sumida, and Corporal Sensha were accompanying them. They were making a beeline for Rosemary. Their job was to recover almost all of the items stored there. With the ACUs, it would take no time at all. Only a few designated things would be left, locked away, like their fallen comrades bodies.
Without wounded to care for, Olive Pit joined them on the Twilight Sky. Golden Dawn’s ACU, Unit 47, was also with them. The Captain had taken residence in Deke’s Captain’s suite. Deke didn’t hesitate to hand it over to such a prestigious pegasus. He didn’t know the full details, but he knew The Captain was called Captain for a very good reason.
At full speed, the Corvettes had made short work of the distance to Fort Wind. It still took them two days, but the Corvettes were amazing for speedy travel.
Shadow was on the small bridge with The Captain, Cardinal Spitfire, Simi, and Ukuzwa as they came into the fort. The rest were in the bay below, ready to deploy. The main Headquarters Base was still there, along with Wind Hamlet, but most of the training grounds had been destroyed. Years worth of trees, foliage, grass, and buildings were gone. The Squad Barracks had survived, but they were already suspended above the Cloud Base.
“We are being directed in to Blue Flight Deck,” A com officer said as they approached from overhead. “The Ebony Grace is being routed to another docking location.”
“Do it,” Deke grunted.
“Sir, another transmission is coming in, for you.”
Deke nodded and it was put through.
Shadow didn’t recognize the voice. “Captain Derecho, we were under the impression that you also had the Firecracker under your authority and with you.”
“The Firecracker is on a special mission to recover valuable items, equipment, and resources that the recon team, the Inquisitors, were forced to bury for security reasons after they were betrayed. It is the utmost importance to the mission that we recover what Shadow Flare couldn’t.
“The Firecracker has a small, but sufficient ACU continent with them for the recovery. They are making a low overhead beeline straight to the location with orders to not engage. They will outrun anything before they ever engage any forces. They will be along shortly.”
“Understood,” was all the pegasus said, ending the communication.
Black, Yellow, Red, and Green Flight Decks were all taken up. The cloudships were parked directly on top of the flight decks, not perpendicular to them. It had to be important to be parked over at the Squad Barracks.
There was a party waiting for them as they touched down. None of the ACU troops would move out of the ship until they got the orders. How Shadow and the others exited the ship mattered because they had several extra surprises. The Captain was shielded behind the Wonderbolts at the moment, but he was in his full Equestrian Military dress uniform, including all of his medals. That also included his Blue Beret and his general’s stars. The unit patch on his beret was back with a gold lightning bolt, flanked by silver wings.
Shadow didn’t have a dress uniform and the Wonderbolts hadn’t brought theirs. Deke was dressed out from head to hoof in his though, including his medals. The only non-regulation item on him was his eye patch. Even his gold ear cuff had been switched out with his nearly invisible clear plastic hook.
They walked down the ramp towards the group in front of it. Shadow Flare didn’t recognize anypony in the front, but all of them had stars on their uniforms or other indication that they were high ranking individuals. He followed Deke’s and Cardinal Spitfire’s lead.
Deke was no help as he immediately broke rank and so did one of the mares. They hugged.
“I was so worried,” She said. “The reports were bad and scattered. I didn’t have confirmation that you were safe.”
“Please,” Deke chuckled. “I am the best cloudship officer Equestria has. It’s going to take more than what they threw at the First Fleet to take me down. We never took any damage. Even against the Solar.”
Deke backed up a bit, but Cardinal Spitfire was the one who continued.
“I present to you, Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare.”
Claps and cheers went up from the officers.
“Shadow, what you need to know right now is that is General Firestorm, Wonderbolt and head of the entire Aerial Combat Battalion. That means the Wonderbolts, the Aerial Combat Units, Scout Command, and the Reconnaissance Teams. She is not in charge of the science missions that have been happening below.
“That is Admiral ‘Little’ Lightning, Third Fleet. The next is Lieutenant General Striker, head of the ACUs. Beside him is Lieutenant General Gunmetal, Fort Wind’s master Quartermaster and she wears those Silver Wings for a damn good reason. I see that Scout Command’s Lieutenant General Misty Thunder is joining us.
“Last, but most concerning, is Colonel Quick Blitz, the pegasus over the Reconnaissance Teams. He falls under Lieutenant General Misty Thunder’s direct command. Recon and Scout have been on a tight leash since the shit storm that marked you as MIA. There were other problems with the previous set of mission as well. I am not sure if I like him, even after all this time”
Colonel Quick Blitz’s wings were out in gentle surrender to that fact. He recognized the situation and the position he had been thrust into.
Shadow nodded in understanding. “We are bringing back our cloud terminal. I understand that you were not able to properly recover this side’s terminal. It won’t matter in the end. I already pegged Honey Bee center mass from about two miles out with my sniper rifle. That’s how they found me. I was shooting troops as he moved. Fucker had enough time to move with that much distance between us.”
“We had not heard that,” General Firestorm stated. “But I am glad he is gone. He was a blood sucking pest that only caused problems. It was best that he died from sniper fire in the battle. It lessens the blow back we have to deal with.”
“I am ready to debrief you,” Shadow said. “But we have a few things to cover right here, right now, before we proceed.”
“We don’t have much time,” General Firestorm warned. “We have some VIPs joining us. I’ll need you all on deck, combat ready. But they are a few hours out still.”
With an approval nod Shadow continued. “First, is that the Solar was destroyed outside Baltimare. In it is a small city. They can’t help us much, but they are caring for the wounded ACU soldiers. A few medics are with them. But they do make a solid ally, even if it is just on the books. The Inquisitors met them early on-”
“You got shot in the head,” General Firestorm interrupted. “Fractured your helmet.”
“Yeah,” Shadow chuckled. “We kind of fudged some of the report to save that delicate flower. We left quite an impact on them. I knew that with their city defense canons, which we got them, they would be able to help.
“Upon arrival the other day, I make a discovery that I am still a bit shocked at. It turns out that Sergeant Major Apple Slice’s suicidal departure into the wasteland took him to Baltimare. He doesn’t remember much, only that he woke up there. He took absolutely nothing with him. He planned on dying. He is on the Firecracker getting his armor, the rest of our supplies, and our cloud terminal.”
“Good,” Admiral Little said. “We will need all that. And having him as a second voice about the current situation will be invaluable.”
“He has better information than I do,” Shadow explained. “I saw a lot more of Equestria than he did, but then right before I left to force my way up, I got booted from Equestria proper. I was hunted for my wings. I pissed off some very powerful forces.
“I ended up south, in the Zebra lands. I survived with a village, did my usual helping them improve their situation, and came back with Kikosi Kisasi, my new team. It translates as Vengeance Squad. It’s a multilayered meaning. I never would have made it back-”
Shadow narrowed his eyes at Lieutenant General Striker. “SIMI!” Shadow growled.
Simi uncloaked next to Striker. All of the officers jumped in surprise.
“We had this planned out,” Shadow yelled with command as he stormed over. He grabbed his cloak and brought him eye to eye with him. “I trained you! I instructed you so that you became the best Zebra warrior of this age. You know better than this, than these foalish acts! We had a calm plan. Currently I am unsure if you are fit to lead Shanyisa! A commander faces things head on with tact and does not taunt the enemy. This disruptive behavior is not appreciated.”
“Sorry,” Simi gulped. “I did not act with honor and tactfulness. I will do so from here on out.”
Shadow let go and heard two ponies laughing. Two laughs he thought he never would hear again. In the back, out of the way, was Nova and Marble Falls. Nova was missing his injured wing. It finally had been surgically removed.
Shadow smiled at them. “I have some stories to tell you! Honey Bee was nothing. It was an enchanted rifle. I have taken several shots well over a mile with regular guns. I have done a lot that you would not believe.”
Marble Falls smiled kindly at him. “I was expecting a weathered and worn veteran soldier on your return. But it looks like our little Shadow Flare grew up to be a strong commander. I have been telling my recruits about your great improvement over your time with me, but I never expected you to turn into a sniper of the caliber you are stating.”
“Oh,” Shadow chuckled. “I have some real stories to tell you. But it ultimately ends with me becoming the commander of and trainer of Zebra forces. Hence why they are with me. And beside Simi and Ukuzwa there, I have 10 more. Several are on the Firecracker.”
“You brought 12 Zebras with you?” Striker said, shocked and appalled.
“Yeah,” Shadow nodded as he walked back to where he had been in front of the admirals and generals. The others had tactfully uncloaked and moved to be visible. “And don’t worry. Ukuzwa here is a master magician, of the good arts. She created several various talismans. One is a cloud walking talisman; another grows wings on their backs. They are all competent fliers.”
“I can attest to that,” Cardinal Spitfire added.
“Is that all?” An old pegasus, who had also been tucked away in the back, asked.
“General Shielded Vengeance!” Cardinal Spitfire exclaimed. “I never expected to see you here. You retired.”
“And I was enjoying my quiet retirement,” Shielded Vengeance snorted, annoyed. “But the other day, I was attacked, in my home. A team tried to assassinate me. They believed I would cause trouble for a particular military group. They forgot the key reason why they found me a threat. I was a Wonderbolt. All 15 died. Some painfully.”
“You can’t always kill them quickly in a fight like that,” Shadow nodded. “Death isn’t instantaneous as you disable them in hoof to hoof combat.”
“You have obviously seen more than your fair share,” Shielded Vengeance nodded.
“I have. And no, my report is not over. I have one more point. Baltimare’s last secret. Second to last, but for now the last I can share. Admirals and Generals, active or retired, meet Reserve Lieutenant General Soarin, Equestrian Military and Former Equestrian Wonderbolt.”
Wonderbolt Squad 19 split to reveal The Captain who stepped forward. General Firestorm, Shielded Vengeance, and Marble Falls were bowing low.
“It is a deep honor and pleasure to meet you Lieutenant General,” Firestorm said. “Forgive any misjudgments or actions. We have never dealt with any ghouls. Still, we are honored by your presence. I hope we carry on your legacy to a satisfactory level given what we have.”
“I never got the chance to defend Equestria when the spell hit Baltimare,” The Captain declared. “I woke up a while later as a ghoul. By then, the clouds were sealed up. My Equestria was gone. Now the sun shines on it once more, and the Enclave is reeling from their decisions. I am here to fight for the reunification of the three pony races. so Equestria can actually rise from the ashes. The Pegasus Race plays an important part in Equestria, and it is high time that they remember just how important of a role they play. And it is high time for them to ascend and reunite with their pony brethren. Now, rise!”
“General Soarin, we are gathering here to do that,” General Firestorm said, standing proudly. “We have been trying to hold the Pegasus Race together because we didn’t have solid information on below and politics were in play. We did the best we could to protect our families.”
General Firestorm’s face turned into a wicked grin. “Now, the clouds are gone. What protects our families is to unify Equestria. We are willing to die to do that, but we are hoping we won’t have to. Several plans are moving in place, and with the Cloud Terminal recovered, we can release all of the information publicly.
“The Citizens are already leaning towards our side, without knowing there is a military force that backs them. I am more concerned with the soldiers. We have to convince them to break from their comrades and their officers to do what is right for the Pegasus Race and Equestria. That won’t be easy. But we are setting things up to make it as easy as possible. And more importantly, to do it with as little bloodshed as possible.”
“Good,” The Captain said. He looked at Shadow. “I hate to do it, but I guess it is time to reclaim my name.”
“It still holds power behind it,” Shadow smiled. “A power that can rock the Enclave. And as you said, the sun shines on Equestria once again. You said you will fight for the unification of the races once more. The Captain can’t do that, but General Soarin has the authority to do that. The skill and the know how.”
“Wisely put,” he nodded. “Then once more, I shall go by my given name at birth. If only the others could have lived to see this day. We would be a proud and fierce force to contend with.”
“And we are,” Shadow stated. “You remember the Inquisitor’s skill? Well, the ACUs still have them outclassed with ease. And they may not be your Wonderbolts, but they are still the best fighters that the Pegasi can field.”
“We have things to do before the VIPs arrive,” General Firestorm said. “Command Sergeant Major, let’s debrief you for the next hour. And when I say debrief, let’s hear the good, fun tails. We can make the real moves once the VIPs arrive.”
“Oh boy,” Shadow chuckled. “There are so many stories I can tell. Simi, take control of your troops. Ukuzwa, make sure the enchantments are still holding before any of them walk on the clouds. And keep Simi in check. No cloaks here. We are among friends.”
“We have some ACUs open,” Lieutenant General Striker said. “I will get them set up in them. I don’t think I need to be there for story time. I will finish the preparations.”
“Understood,” General Firestorm said. “Quick and Misty will assist you. Neither of them are associated with Shadow, but I know that Gunmetal got an earful from Golden Dawn.”
They saluted and split.
“You did a lot of changes,” Shadow said as they flew to the Wonderbolt’s Unit Building by the Squad Barracks. Nova was forced to ride behind them on a sky chariot.
Fort Wind had shifted to become the headquarters for the Aerial Combat Battalion, and by logical extension, the rally point for the Wonderbolts. They had a large unit built for the main Wonderbolt Squads stationed at Fort Wind, as well as a barrack style unit for visit Squadrons.
General Firestorm explained the changes. “Since you were here, we expanded the troops almost three times their previous size. Scout was officially restarted, so we had to allocate more units to that. Recon took up buildings as well. And yes, the Squad Barracks itself had to be expanded. The Wonderbolts moved out of the Squad Barracks and into our own, large unit. Unit 0 was the first multi-story building built outside of the Squad Barracks. They are the medical unit for the ACUs. We have a separate dining hall allocated to different units and other changes to cope with the expansion. We had to solidify more clouds to build on.”
“Marble Falls,” Shadow called. “You wear 2 stars on your collar. What has you at 2 stars?”
“Oh, not much,” Marble Falls chuckled. “I am just the general over training. Fort Wind is mine. And I am still a Wonderbolt. I am Wonderbolt Squad 5.”
“That is a big upgrade,” Shadow chuckled. “Fitting for you though. Very fitting.”
“General Red River wanted me as his replacement, the Council agreed and I was put in charge of positions to prove I could do it. Having a teacher as General has improved our training regiment.
“Although, I have 1000 soldiers locked up and sitting on their flanks because of the developing situation. Without the clouds, I lost a lot of my training ground. All field exercises had to be halted because we had no fields to do them in. And even if I were to graduate my lead class, I have no places to send them for secondary training. At least, not anyplace that I want to. I refuse to send them out where we might have to shoot them. I won’t give them that sentence.”
They landed and General Firestorm swiped her security card and opened the door.
“Shadow, I will get you a security card. It won’t take me but a minute. Get situated in Room 1 while I do that.”
“Why do I need a card?” Shadow asked. “I am not a Wonderbolt. And this says Wonderbolt Unit. It has your unit symbol all over the front of the building. Tastefully done of course.”
Firestorm was confused. “Because your wife is stationed here and her room is here. That is why. Or is there something I should know?”
“Oh,” Shadow chuckled. Deke and Cardinal Spitfire joined him. “I was married to her for a few short weeks before I went on my mission. We shared a bed only a few times, and each of those were rented beds. I am still not used to it. Even though Deke had me in the officer suite Cardinal Spitfire was using, I am still not used to it.”
The rest of them were relieved. There was a tense moment that they thought something had happened between Cardinal Spitfire and Shadow. And they knew Cardinal Spitfire had held on to their vows.
“If I have a room here, then can I ditch this power armor?” Shadow asked.
“Of course,” Firestorm chuckled. “Cardinal, show him to your room.”
Cardinal took Shadow upstairs and down a hallway to her room. She swiped her card to her room. They had very tight security on all their rooms. As a colonel, she had access to every room, but every swipe was recorded and time stamped. Gunmetal had the entire system locked down.
“You will also be given an 8 digit pin to use in case you lose your card or the reader stops,” Cardinal Spitfire said before she opened the door all the way. “Obviously report a lost card immediately so we can shut it down before it gets used.”
Cardinal Spitfire opened the door and then closed it almost all the way. She was very nervous and freaking out. This was a moment she had wanted for years, but it also had her confused. Shadow planted a kiss on her cheek.
“Show me our room, Card.”
With that Cardinal Spitfire grinned and threw open the door. “My sanctuary!” She declared. “The one place I could cry, and truly miss you. And I cried a lot over the years.”
Shadow took it all in. It was a simple room, but ample space for two pegasi. She had several full bookcases along the walls. His eyes settled on the desk where the glint of polished bronze caught his eye. He walked over to them.
“Why are your medals kept in their boxes?” Shadow asked. “Shouldn’t they be on a rack, ready for your uniform.”
“Because,” Cardinal Spitfire said joining his side. “Those are not mine. They are yours.”
“Oh,” Shadow said, taken aback. “I never saw them. I got a message detailing awards, but that was all.”
“I am sure they are getting you an updated uniform,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “But I do have your old ones.”
“This is enough for now,” Shadow said, stepping out of his power armor.
His flight suit had his Recon Rank on it, but that was enough since it was an informal talk. He did belt on his sword, both combat knives, and his revolver. Old habits died hard.
They finally sat down in the debriefing Room. Shadow was at the head of the table with Cardinal Spitfire on his right. His security card was on the table in from of him. Marble Falls, Nova, Soarin, Firestorm, Fuchsia Sky, Shielded Vengeance, Deke, Little, Gunmetal, and Golden Dawn were all in attendance.
“I would love to test you as a Wonderbolt,” Firestorm said as they settled down. “But we need you as Recon Team 4. 4 was a Wonderbolt Squad, and currently, it is still you. We want to retire it, permanently. And of course, Sergeant Major Slice too. I will have to get used to the idea that he is alive. We got a team below and they discovered you had left, alone. And that the others were most likely dead.
“But we want the fun tales,” Firestorm smirked.
“Fun, right,” Shadow sighed. “I’ll start by catching you up on the Inquisitors. Much of my tale isn’t fun. Storm died in Manehatten, killed by a Manticore. Then we got kill orders for Dashites, who were actually the Pillars of the Community. I was the one who put the bullet in my sister. At least she didn’t die knowing it was me. And it hit her perfectly so she died quickly.
“On our way back to Rosemary was when we hit trouble. Dahlia had her Dragoons, a Steel Ranger squad. She tried to stop us. Nor was our screen to get me and my sister back. Rosemary has a sanitary waste recycler for their hydroponics lab to compost everything. We used it for most of the burials. Silent Wind was left where he died and his armor set to explode. Nor…well, Nor’s story is a long one. Magic is involved. Deep, old magic. He died protecting me so I could bury my sister as best as we could. Their composted bodies are safe in Rosemary and are not coming back at the moment.
“Slice tried to commit suicide by giving himself over to the wasteland, and Thunder blamed himself for not being able to stop him. Among other things and the great sins we committed. Thunder couldn’t bear the idea of everything and he was going to be an Enclave soldier to the end. Rosemary was haunted by the ghosts of the ponies we killed to get it. We cleaned out an entire stable, young and old. Most couldn’t fight, let alone fight us. It was driving us insane. He put a grenade in his mouth and pulled the pin, rather than submit to the wasteland.
“I didn’t last much longer in Rosemary before the ghosts were whispering to me as well as visiting me. So, I went out and hunted. And I had a mission as well. I’ll get to that later. We want fun stories.”
“I’ve killed Hydras, helped multiple farms, and that such. None of those are good.”
Shadow thought for a moment and then grinned. “This one is for real laughs. Thunder, Slice, and I went treasure hunting. This was well after the betrayal, over the winter. We were bored and out of ideas. It’s how we got my sniper rifle, Soarin’s lighting. It’s an enchanted anti-machine rifle built for Pegasi to easily carry in the air. I will have to show you all later. Yes, it was being built for that Soarin right there, but he has graciously left it in my care.
“Anyway, we had to go back into Fillydelphia. Only once it didn’t draw my blood. It loves how I taste. This was not that time. We were going after an arms designer, Walter Arms. He designed a ton of the Equestrian Military’s weapons. From small pistols to the big canons. We were looking for Soarin’s Lightning and its sister rifle, all thanks to a hint Soarin gave me.
“We got there and we stepped into a trap. We were in basic gray combat armor, light rifles on battle saddles. The Kings were there and had us surrounded. They were an interesting raider gang. Vulpes, the leader, thought I was a mare. It saved our flanks. He bartered Slice’s and Thunder’s lives in exchange for me joining his harem as one of his Queens.”
Everypony at the table snickered.
“Oh yeah,” Shadow grinned. “He was cocky, good looking, smooth, but entirely too trusting. I killed him, but it took a few hours for me to get to that. Meanwhile, I had to act like a mare, including a nice, red, sequined dress.”
Shadow let them laugh as he chuckled at the memory.
“Card, the dress is coming back with Slice. I had to keep it for you. It is a beautiful antique and will fit you.”
“I cannot wait to see my husband in it,” Cardinal Spitfire said with an evil grin.
“Anyway, Vulpes had four other queens, and all bought me as a mare because they were told I was a mare. My wings were tucked under the dress, completely hidden because of its high back design. It actually helped the dress fit better with my size.”
More snickers as the others thought about Shadow’s small size.
“As night closed, Vulpes already had a bed for me and everything. I was his queen. I was treated well. I didn’t have to worry about anything. He did try to seduce me that night, in his private chamber. It ended with my big reveal and my knife slitting his throat.
“Thunder and Slice then hunted the Kings to extinction. His first and most loyal queen stabbed me in the shoulder with a sharpened file for hooves. I snapped her neck. I had to kill one of the others as well who wouldn’t bow. He had saved her from slavers, so her loyalty was to him.
“The other two joined us. They had equally been ‘saved’ or trapped into being his Queen. He wasn’t a bad pony when it came to caring for his Queens. And he had rescued two of them from a life of slavery. He wouldn’t force them to do anything either. But still, the choice had been taken from them. And they did not like that.
“We finally broke into the armory, which no one had been able to do. That was all thanks to Slice’s skill. In the end, we had no other choice but to leave the mares with the growing Sanctuary settlement that was below Rosemary. They have settled down there well over the years. But the rest of the adventure with them wasn’t that great. We got some beautiful pieces from the armory and first production models. Nothing that will help us in this war. And recovering Soarin’s Lightning took us elsewhere to where it had been stored.”
Shadow took a sip of water as he thought of the next tale.
“Alright, here is one of my actual military skill. I was living in Trottingham, and entered into the Steel Ranger’s rodeo exposition. The Trottingham Contingent of the Steel Rangers might actually be someone we can ally with.”
“I like the sound of that,” Firestorm said.
“Well, they had this rodeo exposition, and several events were shooting competitions. I entered it at the prodding of a friend. There was this awesome reactive rifle course, that is what it was called. It was one of the most popular competitions and a lot of ponies watched it. We had to move through a course as fast as possible, with as little shots as possible to take down pop up targets. It was slow compared to what you put us through, Falls. I flipped off the wall a time or two and put on a real show.
“I won with the second best time, but negative 2 points. I hit two targets with the shotgun I had mounted above my rifle and then I also showed off by kicking a spent casing that was launched up. It knocked a target down and registered as a hit, without a bullet hitting it, so I went negative two points and won the competition.”
“That’s the Shadow I was trying to forge,” Marble Falls smirked. “Looks like I did.”
“It gets more exciting,” Shadow grinned. “No dress, but I did it while wearing an original Blue Beret uniform. It’s with a friend in Trottingham, safe. I do want it back.
“But the other competition was a long-distance shooting one. I couldn’t use my magic rifle because they would have wanted it and taken it. Instead I got one of the non-magic versions. It’s a lot longer than me, heavy, and kicks almost as hard as I can buck.”
Those who knew the anti-machine rifles laughed.
“I took multiple shots past a mile as we whittled down the competition. This was a huge event. Tons of ponies also watched this event. It was the last one for a reason. A real blast for shooters and those in attendance. They had to wait for the announcer to give scores since most didn’t have binoculars to see that far.
“I was shooting against several expert shooters, most of whom were not Steel Rangers. We fired a total of 72 shots. I beat out the friend who got me to join the competition for the win. He used a 308, I used the 50 cal. I couldn't see from the pain of shot 72. But I won.”
“Damn impressive,” Nova chuckled. “You were not the same Pegasus we sent down. And that is a good thing.”
“I have a request for you Shadow,” General Firestorm said. “I want you to think over the next day or so about how many times you were injured, or things you did on the same levels as the other awards you got. A quick glance at the tally marks, and I have no problem giving you the awards you deserve, but it is clear you never gave up being an Enclave soldier. I want an honest report on those actions. We may need to load you with medals to back your time being gone, but being active.”
The other generals and admirals agreed.
“Understood,” Shadow nodded. “I will.”
Shadow traded a few more stories before they had to stop and prepare for the VIPs.
“Shadow,” General Firestorm said, hanging back. “I want you to wear your power armor. I know Cardinal Spitfire has your old uniforms, but right now, we need power armor.”
“Understood.”
“I am certain you can handle yourself, but this is going to be a difficult VIP meeting.”
Shadow and Cardinal Spitfire just nodded in reply.
Chapter 136 - Conclave
Author's Notes:
BOOK 5: PART 1: REUNIONS
Shadow watched the Lord Clove slowly make its way to the Squad Barracks. It was a slow ship, being a Monitor Class Cloudship. Shadow wasn’t the only one in power armor, waiting for their arrival. Every Wonderbolt currently at the Squad Barracks was there, about 60.
The Lord Clove smoothly came to a stop and lowered her ramp. Out of it came an old, white Pegasus with red tipped feathers. His uniform was spotless, but he was only toting ribbons on his chest.
“Admiral!” an angry pegasus called from the top of the ramp. “What is the meaning of this!”
Ruby Snow looked over his shoulder. “This is the most secure place in the Enclave, Sir. Fort Griffin’s Gate was almost immediately compromised. Here is where the Wonderbolts are gathering. Here is your only safe place.”
“Councilors,” Commander Fuchsia Sky said stepping forward. “I can personally attest to the state of Fort Griffin’s Gate. Commander Bronze Wings also was with me. Unknown enemy soldiers were all over the base. They wore all black, but flew no flag or any form of identification, except that they were Pegasi. We killed them, freeing several of our personnel like the Quartermasters and administration staff. Too many of them died trying to get to the bunkers there as the assault came out of nowhere. And extremely shortly after the clouds were torn away. They had to be waiting for a good moment to strike.”
That explained why the two of them had disappeared. But Shadow wasn’t ready for the idea that Fort Griffins Gate was compromised. The same for a force of black ops Pegasi that we not a part of the Wonderbolts or ACB.
“They probably were the same group that came for me,” Retired General Shielded Vengeance said as he stepped forward. “15 unmarked, masked, black uniformed Pegasi attacked me in my peaceful retirement. I was forced to take my wife here rather than risk my feathers and hers. I am a Wonderbolt, so they were no problem, but they still interrupted us.”
“A little clarity ahead of time would be appreciated,” a mare said as she came down the ramp. “But I think I understand your discretion.”
“Our communications are in disarray,” Ruby Snow replied. “We can’t tell who is friendly, and who isn’t. And the wasteland has tapped into them as well. A pony named DJ-PON3 has been all over our airwaves. We are working to set up secure channels, but I had to work off very little information. And I had to work off of the backup plan. One that I see was also heeded.”
“A few Third Fleet ships are purposefully out on special missions,” Little reported. “Most notably the Firecracker. She is out recovering Recon Team 4’s mission specific parameters, including their cloud terminal.”
“So, Shadow is back,” the mare said, shocked.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Shadow stepped forward, snapping to attention again and throwing up his wing into a salute. “Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare reporting in and ready for duty to protect the Pegasus Race.”
The rest of the Councilors came down the ramp. They didn’t have much of a choice at the moment. The Lord Clove was not capable of handling their extended stay. It was a very cramped ship.
“The Wonderbolt Unit is ready for your stay,” Firestorm said. She was in her full-dress uniform, including her medals. “Follow me and we can get the debrief going.”
Only the three mares on the Council were calm. The others were frustrated and unnerved. Even though only a few Wonderbolts escorted them to the Unit, they were constantly shifting their eyes and glancing at them.
“We have rooms upstairs prepared for you,” General Firestorm said as she let them into the Unit. “Everything is key card enabled and every swipe or manual input is tracked. Nothing can happen without us knowing. We will get you cards momentarily. While we debrief, they will be made.”
They entered the largest meeting room, a lecture hall. At the front of it was a few tables put together with the chairs for the Council. It was as close to the Council Chambers as possible, but a very poor substitute.
Shadow took a seat in the front, along with the other important officers. It was mostly the ones he had met when they landed. Olive Pit and Golden Dawn were present, but they mattered because of the battle. Soarin was cleverly hidden under Mwokozi’s cloak. These seats were designed to handle the weight of power armor.
The mares took the Chief Councilor’s spot, the Fifth Councilor’s spot, and the Sixth Councilor’s spot. There was a clear difference in how they sat than the stallions. Especially the Third Councilor and the Fourth Councilor.
Cardinal Spitfire leaned over to quietly explain everything. “The Second Counselor is economics. The Third is science. The Fourth is army. The Fifth is navy. The Sixth is social. And the seventh is medical. The Chief is almost always held by the former Fourth Council position. Right now, it is held by the former Fifth Councilor, the navy. And they have a heated rivalry. The fact that the Navy is up right now is surprising. I suspect is has something to do with the Third Fleet and piggy backing off Deke’s recent success.”
Shadow just quietly nodded.
The Chief Councilor spoke first. As calm as she looked, she was not happy. “Would somepegasus please explain what happened to our military?”
Shadow immediately stood up. “I have a quick explanation. I wasn’t able to deliver the information until the battle at Fillydelphia had commenced. I had just arrived back from my exile. That is another debrief. In short, the wasteland was stronger than we ever believed. The Steel Rangers are a more formidable force and even the raiders are more problematic, raising their own personal armies, sometimes overnight. Our soldiers have never seen combat, and it probably attributed to a good deal of initial shock.
“As soon as I got reconnected, I was able to advise on a retreat to regroup. I was not aware that they had the ability to clear the clouds or that they had access to a megaspell. It shows their tenacity that they would fire it upon our forces. Especially since their soldiers were physically close to ours in that battle.”
The fourth Councilor grunted. “And what exactly prevented you from getting this information to us earlier?”
“In short, the Inquisitors were betrayed and banished by our commanding officer, a Lieutenant Honey Bee, after we followed his orders. He ordered us to kill a group of Dashites. After we did, we discovered the Council’s seal and permission for the Pillars of the Community to operate below.
“He had severed communications between us and we were left blind and certain we had just committed treason. When I finally decided to make a run for the top, I cleaned up a few loose ends below, and they retaliated in force. I was pushed south, out of Equestria. I couldn’t get above. The griffons made sure of it.
“I lived the past years in the Zebra Lands, surviving there until I could come back. We were able to pick up the radio station from the wasteland, and I coasted there for a while, building that little village up as I waited for the right time to come back. Obviously, I was a tad late. But I am certain I still have kill orders on my head from the Steel Rangers. I killed a good number of them in a single, personal strike.”
“I like hearing that,” The Fourth Councilor said with a nod.
“I gleaned a lot of information in my travels,” Shadow continued. “But I was unaware that another Inquisitor had survived until the other day. Sergeant Major Apple Slice gave up and committed himself to the wasteland for punishment for our crimes. We did a lot of dark things in the name of our safety.
“It chose to do as it willed for both of us. His suicide attempt ended with him in a small, niche community where he actually settled down. He is on his way here. He is picking up the cloud terminal we had so you can verify our reports. We continued to make reports after our communications was severed.”
“It’s just you two?” The Chief Councilor asked.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Shadow said. He took in a deep breath. “It would be a very long debrief. Thunder decided to stay pure, an Enclave soldier. He was not going to break and join the wasteland ponies. He decided to commit an honorable suicide instead. He put a grenade in his mouth and pulled the pin.”
“What drove you to this madness?” The Sixth Councilor asked. It was harsher than she meant it to be.
“Rosemary. Our saving grace as we arrived, was a populated stable. It was full of Unicorns of all ages. We slaughtered them, over a place to rest. We didn’t even hesitate about it, ever. It caught up to us in the end. Just out of eyesight was the ghosts of the dead, staring at us, never giving us rest. Right before I left, I too was hearing them whisper back and forth. So, I had to leave before I went insane.
“I am proud to submit that despite my forced departure, I never gave up any Enclave secrets. No one ever knew I was an Enclave soldier and my wings were effectively hidden throughout my time in the Equestrian Wastes. The Zebra Lands was entirely different, they knew about my wings, but no secrets were given up there.
“Alongside that, I cleaned out the wasteland. I slaughtered hundreds of raiders on my own, even against grave personal injury. I continued to glean as much information out of it as I could, to the very end. I always was coming back to give a report, as soon as I could confirm I was not going to be branded and banished. Or outright killed on sight.
“Sergeant Major Slice can give you solid information on life in the wasteland, and what it means to them. He can help us understand how to successfully adapt and how to integrate.”
“What about how to break their fighting spirit!” The Fourth Councilor barked. “Or what their weaknesses are! Things we need to know!”
“Councilor,” Shadow said slowly. “Have you looked outside? The Enclave doesn’t exist as it once did. Its shield is gone. We no longer can live as we once did. I was a Homestead Farmer so I know most of the farms are gone.
“I know what that actually means. No disrespect meant, but do you? We can’t sustain our population for long without those farms. If we lost even just 20% of our farms we couldn’t sustain our population, even calculating in our military losses, for even a year. And we maybe, at best, maintained 20% of the farms.
“We will have to send pegasi below, soon. And the wasteland ponies have proven they can hold us off to at least a draw. Their only weakness is their fragmentation. They lack unity like we have. We have the superior skill and maneuverability, but they can still bleed us dry because they are living a life of death, and often murder. We haven’t tasted that, they live it. That is their advantage, and something we can’t compensate for.
“We have no choice but to integrate, at least in calculated ways. We must take our military and turn it from aggressive actions, to tasks that reclaim the land, and mold it into the guardian force that makes sure that we don’t get bossed around, raided, or enslaved. We have a duty to protect our race. We have no other options. That is what our duty has become, whether any of us like it or not.”
The Chief Councilor stopped the storm of the Fourth Councilor. “You have thought long and hard on this, haven’t you?”
Shadow nodded slowly. “I have experience gleaned from years of existence below. Sergeant Major Apple Slice may have partially abandoned the Enclave after it abandoned us, but he too has drawn the same conclusion. And like me, he never gave up the secrets of the Enclave. He is as loyal as I am when it comes to protecting the Pegasus Race. He doesn’t want us to fall, so he is back to protect his family.”
“It was an unfortunate set of circumstances,” The Fifth Councilor said. “We did what we could to try and recover the Inquisitors, as I am sure you have heard multiple times by now, but we couldn’t act without more proof early on.”
“I have been brought up to speed,” Shadow said. “I blame no one but Lieutenant Honey Bee.”
The Fifth Councilor grinned. “Then you will be glad to hear he died in Fillydelphia.”
“Of course he did,” Shadow said coyly. “I put that bullet in him from two miles out. I had a team to avenge, and I didn’t have the time to exact what he really deserved for the horrors he placed on us all those months below.”
“That is an act of treason!” The Fourth Councilor yelled, jumping to his hooves.
“You were not even a part of the council when it happened,” The Chief Councilor spat. “I was. Shadow was going to kill Honey Bee and we knew it. It’s good it happened this way. Less of a mess to clean up. Much less of a mess than what he put us through trying to cover his ass after he betrayed them, which you also didn’t have to deal with because you were not on the Council.
“Besides, he had been clearly warned that Shadow would kill him when he got back. I doubt he believed it, but that was another incident you were not aware of because of your rank. At that point, I believe you were still only a Major.”
The Fourth Councilor was fuming, but he shut up and sat down. It was now clear why the Chief Councilor was chief despite her naval background. She was clearly the senior ranking military member when the previous chief councilor retired.
The Second Councilor spoke up. “Shadow Flare, despite the circumstances that just were discussed, we did unanimously decide to uphold your rank and status. Unfortunately, we do not have the capital to pay you for all your years MIA.”
“That is not even a concern of mine,” Shadow chuckled. “I never once thought I deserved a single bit in compensation. I have been very well taken care of since I got back, as expected. Just like I how left it.”
“Are we just going to sit here and ignore this?” The Seventh Councilor asked. “The Grand Pegasus Enclave cannot, shall not, break just because the clouds are gone.”
Cardinal Spitfire grabbed Shadow to force him to sit down, but he already was doing it. The Council was openly deliberating among themselves. Until they called upon somepony else, they needed to be left on their own, while they all just sat and watched.
Shadow quickly saw the divide. I was a 3 – 3 split, with three insisting they continue the previous course and make the wasteland pay; to physically retake locations for the refugees. The Chief Councilor, Fifth Councilor, and Sixth Councilor were in agreement that a new plan was needed. The Fourth Councilor was adamant that they had the strength to do it. The Fifth Councilor kept reminding them the state of the First Fleet, which was now only a single Sky Tank. The one who hadn’t voted and kept things from happening was the Second Councilor. He wasn’t sure what was best for the Grand Pegasus Enclave, economically speaking.
“Councilors,” General Firestorm finally said, standing up. “We will keep you under constant guard for your safety. We have your key cards with room assignments. But at this moment, we have troops we need to sort out. The destruction that happened below wasn’t just to the First and Second Battalions. It was also to the Aerial Combat Battalion, and I have to make sure they are properly sorted and secured. We will be just a call away.”
There was no discussing it. They had to depart while the Council continued to make their choice. It also was evident as they were given their key cards that they were not going anywhere without the Wonderbolts knowing. They were trapped in the building as General Firestorm did what needed to be done. And a huge part of what she had to do was protect them.
When the door closed behind them and clicked as the lock engaged, Soarin uncloaked and General Firestorm was right next to Shadow.
“Well done Command Sergeant Major. I can see that you truly deserve that new team. You must have done quite a lot to become their leader. More than just training some guards and building a few houses. That was spoken like a master.”
“I agree,” Soarin added. “You had authority, confidence, and experience. You didn’t pull any punches, but you didn’t outright sock them either. You put the pressure on them very well. I couldn’t have done any better.”
“Neither could I,” General Firestorm said. “I was nervous when you stood up. I was expecting a disaster. But you nailed it. With them deadlocked in a 3 – 3 – 1 decision, we may have to take the initiative and remove it from them. We didn’t kidnap them, but we are not going to let them ruin our chance for peace.
“The Fifth Councilor was once the Admiral of the Third Fleet, when it was just 6 ships. Then she moved to the Second Fleet, and on up. She was fully aware of what happened as it happened, and she is the perfect balance to the Fourth Councilor.”
“I could see that,” Shadow chuckled. “The Sixth Councilor though, that is a bit of a surprise.”
“She has refugees to deal with,” General Firestorm stated.
Retired General Shielded Vengeance chuckled. “And she is connected to Golden Dawn and Vengeful Blade. I don’t think she will ever forgive herself for that slip up. The time the Council spent watching the jump training put her in alignment with the Fifth Councilor. I knew they had multiple conversations over that short period. I am sure she made it so that Purple Breeze was able to take that Council spot because she could put forth a very solid replacement for the Fifth Councilor.”
“And it all makes me head spin,” Shadow replied with a sigh. “Now what?”
“Now, you get some sleep,” Firestorm said. “It is late. We will make our next choice in the morning. I am waiting for some final word from known allies. The Fifth Councilor has her allies in the Second Fleet. It is not going to be easy. Even with so many cloudships destroyed, we are going to be a small force compared to the Enclave’s Fleet.”
“Has Deke told you his idea for a name?” Shadow asked.
“No,” Firestorm replied.
“Equestrian Pegasus Military.”
“He has grown up. A lot.”
“He has,” Shadow chuckled.
Chapter 137 - Allies
Author's Notes:
BOOK 5: PART 1: REUNIONS
Shadow sat around the table with the others. They were discussing their next moves. The Council hadn’t come to any consensus over the past two days. Even with the information from the Inquisitor’s cloud terminal, they were still locked into a tight 3 – 3 – 1 split. The Second Councilor was still unsure and refusing to give a vote to either side.
That left the fledgling Equestrian Pegasus Military on thin ice. If they tried to seize power, a lot of the military would automatically side against them. Without the known location of the Council, plenty of the military was unwilling to act. The purists were claiming the Council mattered, but that they had to continue the war that was started. They were using the fear of the megaspell used on Fillydelphia to their advantage.
The Citizens were mostly in favor of trying peaceful coexistence. Only the strong military lineages were against it. The idealists with the Pillars of the Community once again rose up. With the Testimonies from Shadow and Slice, it gave them an edge. But they were not wanting to be as military oriented as Shadow and Slice were pushing for. They didn’t know the real dangers.
Until then, the Equestrian Pegasus Military was trying to figure out how to position themselves with their allies and not tip anypegasus off.
“Shadow Flare?” Firestorm spoke up. “Do you remember my question for you to keep in mind was?”
“Uh, yes,” Shadow nodded. “I have the final count.”
“Lay it on me. I think it is time we publicly recognize your feats.”
“I hate some of these,” Shadow warned them. “I have alluded to my calling, and they fall under it. I wasn’t exactly acting for the Grand Pegasus Enclave.”
“Speak,” Ukuzwa snorted. “You were called for who you are, because of you are a true lodestar. Nothing you were then was not you. It was not some potion or brew. Only the outside changed, even if you felt estranged. Yes, some was dark, but it matters how you answer the lark. Truth is what matters, pain you felt, mistakes you made, but you never really changed. I know because you came to my home the same as you left yours.”
“I know,” Shadow sighed. “But some of this, if they knew below, I would be in serious trouble.”
“We will keep it discreet,” Firestorm assured him.
“I assume you calculated in the reports we sent after we were cut off?”
“Yes,” Firestorm said, playing with her pen.
Shadow nodded twice and then finally launched into it. “All of these are with light padded armor and a stupid 5.56 rifle. Sorry Soarin, I hate the pea shooters you gifted us.” Soarin snorted in understanding. “I also used a shotgun, revolver, combat knives, and my sword. I had no standard Enclave gear on me other than the standard issue combat knife.
“After I left, I cleaned out Ponyville by myself. That was a good 80 enemies of the Enclave. Then I cleaned out Trottingham’s well defended power plant after it was taken by raiders. Something like 30 raiders. I killed the Hawks on my own; they were a nasty 40 raiders in Trottingham. That included the troublesome Razor who had a price on her head.
“I went south. I destroyed the Slog. They were not trouble for us, but that was on a promise. Card, you remember the ghoul Pegasus mare in Baltimare we briefly met? Yeah, she was involved in that and she was gone before I slaughtered the others who were the problem.”
Cardinal Spitfire nodded in a wordless reply.
“This one is actually impressive. I killed multiple Hellhounds at all ranges of combat. From out almost two miles, to close combat. They didn’t draw my blood either. I got shot on the armor I was wearing though. It hurt so bad, and I was with two Steel Rangers. A Star Paladin and a young Knight. I couldn’t expose my wings for better healing treatment. They were Trottingham Steel Rangers, but still Steel Rangers.”
“How many Hellhounds?” Firestorm asked.
“My personal, confirmed kills were outwards of a dozen, with more injured or confirmed kills later. It was a long time ago.”
Firestorm nodded for him to continue.
“I killed the evil that was the Lux. That was a lot. 80 guards? Then I blew it. That was both good and dark. I killed a lot of the workers though. A lot were forced into sex for the pleasure of the patrons. They got caught up in the destruction. The Lux was a casino that specialized in the finer debaucheries of life, particularly selling other’s body for whatever the buyer wanted it for.”
Shadow let out a big sigh. “I basically brought down a Star Spawn on my own. With just my revolver actually. That is also impressive. I could only do that because I knew what stars looked like and because of my Silver Wings. We had to recognize patterns at blinding speeds. I found its weak points as it tried to kill me and the others. I almost died because it ripped my chest open. I almost lost my necklace. Fuck, I did lose it for a few hours. Only a few learned I had wings, and they kept it quiet. I know they hold that secret to this day.”
“I went to Manehatten. The Pack was a good 60 strong, at least. And they were one of those top raider gangs. Soldier like. I also killed another two dozen gangs there? Three dozen maybe? All smaller gangs. 10 raiders each, maybe.
“I stupidly tried to kill a foal that was joining the Steel Rangers in my anger. That was not good. I barely escaped their wrath. I had a lot of turmoil as I found myself again. But before I did, I burned down Dodge City, slaughtering all. They were innocent. I knew of no wrongs done by any of them.”
“You went through a lot,” Cardinal Spitfire said, planting a lingering kiss on his cheek. “But you came back as my Shadow.”
“That is what matters,” Ukuzwa affirmed. She was working on not rhyming for the sake of the Pegasi. She still had a clear cadence to how her words flowed. “Your sins are great, but so are your salvations.”
“Back to it,” Firestorm said.
“I had to clean out Ponyville again,” Shadow continued. “That was maybe 40.”
Shadow took a drink of water in preparation for his next adventure. He was grinning about this one. “I was going to make a break for home. So, on my way out, I killed Dahlia. I killed 8 strong, well known Steel Rangers who hunted the Inquisitors and other dark things in the wasteland. I solo hunted and killed a crusader and her team. I took 3 days. I got a note passed to them about how I would kill each member, and I did. Exactly as I said as they ran from me. It was pathetically easy for it being Dahlia. She was a major trouble to the Inquisitors and for me solo. She personally killed Nor’easter.
“Then I killed the Disciples. My scouting missions pegged them as a good 150 strong. I took several horrible wounds, but I killed them in one night. Their sleeping arrangements were compact, but not all were asleep. Not enough anyway.
“Then I destroyed every fucking sky gun in Fillydelphia. Every last one of those pieces of trash. A good thirty were active and working. The Enclave never faced them during Operation Cauterize because of me.
“I did Dahlia, the Disciples, and the sky guns for the Enclave. And the revenge for all the pain and misery they caused me was nice. And yes, each one of the Disciples had drawn my blood. They tried to buy my loyalty.
“Red Eye decided I was a loose end and tried to have me killed. I evaded the griffons and took a few more hits. The griffons were everywhere in the sky and on the ground. When I knew I wasn’t going to be able to go north, I bolted for Kifopiga. I decided to just out fly them. Thanks goes to Marble Falls for that idea. It’s how she always had to ditch me in training.
“I don’t exactly know what happened. One moment I was giving it my all as I bled out. I felt the resistance of the air, and then it was just…gone?”
Marble Falls crawled onto the table in excitement. “Did you do a sonic rainboom!”
“I don’t know,” Shadow shrugged. “Maybe? I was in a lot of pain and running out of blood. I just put everything into my wings. It’s all I felt and then I felt nothing as I shot forward.”
“That sounds like a sonic rainboom,” Firestorm said. “We knew you were a toss-up for that. The goal was to plug you right into the Wonderbolts alongside Cardinal Spitfire as soon as you got back.”
“Can you do it again!” Marble Falls prodded. She was still on her stomach on the table.
“Maybe?” Shadow shrugged. “But why bother? We have more important things to do, and we don’t know for certain.”
“Zebra Lands,” Firestorm said guiding the conversation back on track. “Go.”
“I totally missed the mark of Kifopiga. I woke up in Shanyisa weeks later. Injured, barely able to stand on my feet, I killed a warlord and her dozen warriors that was accosting the small village. I did it with my sword. Then, combat didn’t happen for a while.”
Ukuzwa spoke up. “Over ten separate engagements he led Zebras forward into battle against evil warlords, the equivalent idea to your raiders, but with a zebra flare that even your raiders do not have. Each time, he got hurt. One of those times I patched him up 42 times over 3 days. I was exhausted from healing him.”
“That was painful,” Shadow groaned. “And not from getting shot, beaten, and stabbed. Not all at the same time I must add. It was painful because my team was in complete disarray and if it wasn’t for me, they would have died.”
“There were talks,” Ukuzwa added. “Talks of taking over your land. Like we deserved it. Mtoaji stopped those. He gave us a new start and hope. He most certainly stopped an invasion that you would have to deal with.”
“Got it,” Firestorm nodded. “But, did he ever officially die?”
“You will have to define death,” Ukuzwa said. “For he stands before you today the same pony as he left. No necromantic magic was ever used on him.”
“Did you ever have to restart his heart?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.
“Oh, that’s how you define death?”
“Typically,” Cardinal Spitfire replied.
“Twice. Once just after we found him in the sand, and once in that battle where he kept getting deadly wounds. They were so certain they had killed him every time. I had to stop his heart once to patch him up before it pumped all his blood once.”
“I did not know that,” Shadow said raising an eyebrow. “Either of those.”
“You live. Why does it matter?”
Firestorm explained with a lot of enthusiasm. “Because I can lobby the others to give him the death medal. A soldier that gets to wear the MIA badge, purple heart with lots of stars, and a purple heart with a black strike for dying in the line of duty, yes. That will look awesome to the citizens. And it will make our enemies quake in fear.”
“I don’t like it,” Shadow said. “But do what you think is best. However, going overboard can backfire. Please, just figure out what I deserve and no extra flare. Please.”
“I also think it’s too far,” Marble Falls said. She was once again sitting in her seat.
“No,” Firestorm said. “I think it’s where we need to go. Let’s take advantage of these potentially technicalities and show the citizens that below has been prepared for them through the blood and toil of Shadow Flare. Let’s show the Soldiers that he did it; all of it. We need a living legend to prove that they can do it too. Because he is still here.”
“We will discuss this in private,” Ruby Snow said, ending it there.
They had already pasted his picture everywhere the news was. Slice as well. But Shadow was the one they were mostly parading around. The recovered MIA soldiers. Operation Cauterize did something by returning lost soldiers with extremely valuable information. The citizens saw that the loss of life brought something good back.
A knock came at the door and Deke popped his head in. “Excuse me? I have a question.”
“Come in Commodore,” Ruby Snow smiled. “What is on your mind?”
“I have to prepare,” Deke said. He was nervous and quiet, the exact opposite of his usual self. “I need to prepare myself and my ship. Operation Cauterize is over. My retirement was held back because of the operation, but now, where does that leave me?”
“Deke,” Ruby Snow smiled lovingly. “I never wanted to retire you. I fought to keep you on. You stayed on this long because of me. It was outside politics getting in the way. I have no intention of retiring you unless you can’t do the job. Can you not do the job?”
“Ha!” Deke snorted. “I am the best cloudship captain there is. Those two master the skies on their wings. Impressive. I am the master of the sky with my ship. And I get to carry more guns than they ever could, and bigger ones. Give me any ship and I still will be the best. One eye down doesn’t make a difference.”
“Then we have our answer,” Ruby Snow grinned. “Besides, I don’t need you and Little on the same ship again. As husband and wife…you two would cause a ruckus that I would have trouble containing.”
“You would never have to worry about that, Sir,” Deke said with a sly grin. “I would never just ride on a cloudship. I would lose my mind without something to do. Outside of course, bugging Little for normal marital stuff.”
“Get!” Ruby Snow said, shooing him out. Deke scattered, closing the door behind him with and excited thud. Ruby Snow shook his head. “He is an outright genius, but he doesn’t show it some times.”
Shadow and Cardinal Spitfire chuckled.
“You were not present in Basic Training,” Shadow grinned. “He was a giant pain in the ass, but he was good.”
“He just couldn’t fly to save his life,” Marble Falls chuckled.
“We need to get something moving,” Nova said. “We are playing it cautious up here, but can we do something below? What about Baltimare?”
“We can’t offer anything,” Soarin replied. “We gave you everything we have. We are small, and we don’t have more land that we can offer with the Super Ponies nearby. At least, not something that can be left without heavy guard.
“Right,” Nova said, exhaling hard.
“I have an idea,” Shadow said. “Trottingham. I have some friends and acquaintances there. We can try to see if the Trottingham Steel Rangers can help our refugees. They were the friendliest and truest Steel Rangers. Protecting Equestria came first, then hoarding technology. It’s a shot. A long shot.”
“We really only have long shots,” Shielded Vengeance stated. “It’s an option. I say, dispatch a ship with an ACU or two. Send Squad 19 and Shadow with some of his Zebra team. Let’s try to build a relationship.”
“Slowly approach the Citadel,” Shadow added. “It might work. Besides, I have stuff in Trottingham I want back. Assuming they don’t run us off too hard.”
“You left a lot of stuff,” Cardinal Spitfire chuckled.
“I lived in a lot of places and did a lot of things,” Shadow shot back. “I haven’t even gone over the items down in Shanyisa that I would love to get back.”
Ukuzwa was the only one chuckling. “We did a lot for Mtoaji out of our love. He never thought of us himself as above. I would like him to bring some of those treasures home. For too long he has been on the roam.”
General Firestorm issued her orders. “Striker, get two ACUs on the move. Ruby, what ship can we send?”
“Captain Sunny Swirl and the Radiant Sun will be tactful enough. Besides, they had just gotten to Trottingham when the recall happened.”
“She still has her four ACUs on board,” Striker said. “Or, at least all packed and ready. That is perfect. I’ll get them ready to send off. Shadow, grab who you need and Cardinal Spitfire, you know what to do.”
Shadow grabbed who he needed and then settled into another Cloudship trip. Without Deke, he stayed in the cabin with Cardinal Spitfire. He met Captain Sunny Swirl. She was a beautiful and sweet mare, but Shadow didn’t desire to spend time on the bridge like he had with Deke.
He spent his time filling Cardinal Spitfire in on the specifics of his time away. She had a lot to share as well. It would take them years to fully catch up, if they ever could. But what mattered was that they were trying to share everything, and happy that they could be once again sharing everything.
Shadow withheld the Trottingham stories. He wanted Cardinal Spitfire to get things raw, from their interactions, so she could make her own judgments, independent of his.
It took them all day into past lunch of the next day to arrive. Sunny Swirl was moving them slowly over the city, trying to be as friendly as a giant ship of cloud and steel with guns could be.
Shadow was on the bridge as they came into view of the Citadel. “Captain, we should lower the ramp. Without anyone coming down it should look good.”
The order happened and Shadow was given leeway to give the commands as he brought then as close as he dared. He already noticed one change. The Citadel’s door were closed.
“Card, it’s time to test this friend thing.”
“I trust you,” Cardinal replied with a nod.
They got to the ramp. Ukuzwa was the only one joining them. She was unarmed, Shadow was in his Recon power armor, and Cardinal Spitfire was in her Wonderbolt armor. The goal was with only three, that they could hold off being shot at long enough to talk.
They slowly glided towards the Citadel. As they approached, doors in the top of it opened up and sky guns slid up and out. They were manned as well. But while several tracked them, they didn’t open fire.
“I never saw those before,” Shadow said as he led them into a gentle, descending figure 8.
Three Steel Rangers in shining armor were standing out in the center of the courtyard. They landed softly in front of them.
“What brings the Enclave here!” the center Steel Ranger demanded.
“Negotiations,” Shadow calmly declared. “Things have changed dramatically.”
“Yeah,” one spat. “You now have no clouds to hide behind. You are scared.”
“Wrong,” Shadow replied. “But this is not a discussion to be have with a knight, or even a paladin.”
“You will not pass this courtyard. We will act as messengers.”
“So your windows open into the courtyard too then?” Shadow asked.
They didn’t know what to do with that. It was a secret that was closely guarded. The outside windows were part of the defense, the inside windows were a completely different thing. They never had a chance to figure out what to say before a Steel Ranger came charging out of a door from the Honesty Wing.
“You are out of line!” The center Steel Ranger said to incoming Steel Ranger. “Oh, forgive me, Ma’am, but we were given strict orders.”
The Steel Ranger ignored the three of them and looked Shadow’s group over. Shadow couldn’t see any identifying marks because of the angle she was at compared to them.
“Mtoaji?”
“Who wants to know?” Shadow cautiously asked.
The Steel Ranger pulled her helmet off revealing her monochromatic yellow coat and yellow mane.
“Yellow Quartz!” Shadow said, breaking their formation and walking over to face her.
“It is you,” She smiled, relieved. “Kifopiga?”
“A mission I did that only my allies would understand.” Shadow replied. “Everything else for me being down here was a huge shit storm. I only just got back to Equestria the other day because of it.”
“Stand down, Paladin,” Yellow Quartz ordered. “Everypony, stand down. I want the rangers on the sky guns to dismount. The Elder wishes to speak with Mtoaji, in private.”
Yellow Quartz was smiling as she pointed for them to follow her with her head. Only once she turned could Shadow finally see her trademarked blue shoulder cloak.
“You disappeared and I didn’t get my rematch,” She prodded.
“I’ll give you that rematch,” Shadow fired back. “But this time I’ll beat you with my real gear. And that trick shot I got…well I won’t need it.”
Cardinal Spitfire was wise and kept her mouth shot. It didn’t matter because the conversation ended there.
Yellow Quartz led them into the Honesty Wing and to an elevator. It went to almost the top where they stepped off.
Two Steel Rangers were guarding a pair of doors. They nodded at their approach and let them enter. The door closed behind them. Yellow Quartz was still with them.
An old Earth Pony was looking out of the glass into the courtyard. It was obviously the Elder’s office from the large wooden desk, sitting area, and other high-end things. The Elder just kept looking out of the one-way glass.
“So Mtoaji returns. And in a cloudship.”
Shadow was shocked. He knew that voice.
“Warding Blade?” He still asked.
Elder Warding Blade turned around to face them. He had a smile on his lips. “Now I understand why you couldn’t join. I was quite convinced you really did come from elsewhere. Didn’t Dahlia accuse you of that?”
“No, she accused me of plenty of other stuff though,” Shadow said, rolling his eyes. “Somehow she missed the Enclave.”
“So, what is Kifopiga?”
“An old Zebra war base. My friends above knew about it because of a report. My recon team was betrayed, well after our mission where we found Kifopiga. By the time I met you, it was just me on the team and I was surviving as I tried to figure out how to communicate with above, without jeopardizing anypony. I wasn’t going to let my friends and allies get branded and banished below because I got betrayed. It was an information game, and I was blind and deaf.
“Elder Warding Blade and Yellow Quartz, this is Colonel Cardinal Spitfire, Enclave Wonderbolts. And this is Ukuzwa, a Zebra magician. I got kicked out down south into the Zebra Lands before I could get above. I made some friends there over the years.”
“And what is your name?” Warding Blade asked.
“Right,” Shadow chuckled. “My given name is Shadow Flare. I am the Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance for the Enclave. I was MIA almost a decade, but nopony replaced me. I’ve been fully reinstated.”
“That puts us in a delicate balance,” Warding Blade replied, dropping the smile.
“Yes and no, Sir,” Shadow replied. “I certainly am a lot happier dealing with you than having to deal with the previous Elder. I forget his name. Although, I am surprised. You said you would never become and Elder.”
Warding Blade let out a troubled sighed and turned back to looking out the glass window. You could see the Radiant Sun from the office. “I had no choice. Two years, a Zebra Warlord cut a path north, straight to us. We engaged them in battle south of the city, in the open fields, to avoid putting the city in danger. We won, but we lost of a lot of good knights and paladins doing so. I was the most senior officer by the end of the battle. There was no option. I put Yellow Quartz as my Star Paladin and took over.”
Warding Blade turned around and found Shadow’s head hung, shaking. “Was it a Warlord named Shetani?”
“Yes,” Elder Warding Blade replied, confused.
“Fuck,” Shadow swore. “Ukuzwa, I told them. But they didn’t listen. If I had Kifo Herixleta I would have, but I wasn’t in a good position as the battle ended. I said the sands wouldn’t consume them, but the others were adamant that they would punish her.”
Ukuzwa just shrugged.
“Please explain,” Warding Blade said, barely keeping his cool.
“Instead of being able to go home in the clouds, I got forced south and helped build a fledgling village into a shining city,” Shadow explained. “It went from one, to two, then three, and we built and empire centered on light and kindness. We eliminated several warlords through the process. But one of our allies, Shetani, wanted to run the place. It turned dark. It was a bloody battle.
“In the end, she was left with half of her force, but out of ammunition. Most of them were injured. The vote caste by the tribes ended with banishment to the norther sea of sand. We sent them away with nothing but the bandages on their coats.”
“They were outfitted for serious battle,” Yellow Quartz said. “I took three bullets through my armor from one of their rifles. I was lucky the enchantment didn’t happen. I was already seriously wounded.”
“They must have found a Zebra war installation,” Shadow groaned. Shadow focused on Warding Blade. “The past is the past and I did what I could to stop Shetani. I couldn’t break the law I helped establish.”
“We had no law,” Ukuzwa stated.
“I don’t blame you,” Warding Blade said. “But before we can begin talks, I still have some questions for you.”
“Fire away,” Shadow replied. “I will answer almost everything.”
“I thought over it, long and hard. I fought by your side. I was soon convinced you had wings, but I never thought Enclave. I thought you were a Pegasus hiding from them.”
It wasn’t a question, but Shadow explained as best as he could. “In a way, I was. My friends and allies above had to do things in secret, to try and connect with me. It failed. And do you really think Dahlia would have let me live, even if I was a non-enclave Pegasus? I can tell you the answer is no. I witness them attempting to kill a freshly branded Pegasus.”
“Why the name change?” Warding Blade asked. “Was it just to sell not being a Pegasus?”
“No,” Shadow replied. “Although I believe my name had been compromised, it was more so because I discovered a prophecy, named for me without a doubt. It also contained a name for what Equestria was calling me to be. So I took it as I moved out. Ukuzwa saying it sounds way better than me. It is a Zebra seer prophecy.”
Ukuzwa began to recite the prophecy. “Shadow Flare you will be given, for by a strong desire you shall be driven. Black and white, day and night, your two colors will be such a sight. The split is a sign, that is to be a guideline. One white and black, blessed for life while on the attack. The three pieces of the puzzle, oh so subtle. Speed. Power. Agility.”
“Thus will be your school, that you should be a tool. To protect what you love, from everypony, even those above. You are a gift to all kind, to be a real mastermind.”
“Fate’s eye fell upon your head, even before you had your own bed. To lead your kind to victory, and rewrite history. You will have a duty to impose, beyond your humble abode. A farmer by trade, who shall wield a blade. Your life set to be the link, to save us all from the brink. The change must be forged in blood, or else it will be a dud. You will be sent to start that mend, and bring the separation to an end. Between you and your true heart’s desire is a land full of fire.”
“To quench it shall be your new battle cry, and all who oppose must die. They will spill your blood in hate and force you to lay in wait. When it is the time to rise, you will once again see the sky. All that stands in your way, has had it’s time to play.”
“Your charge is to cleanse the land, so the Pegasi may stay grand. You are the one foretold, Mtoaji. The Mender.”
“That explains the name,” Warding Blade said with a nod.
“I still have one last link to forge,” Shadow sighed. “The one that will bind the Pegasus Race back to Equestria like it is supposed to be. A unified Equestria is why I am here before you. Only then can the Pegasus Race truly stand grand.
“We lost a lot of territory without the clouds. Clouds that were farmed. We have an unknown number of refugees, but there are a lot of them. We are struggling to get an accurate count right now. And worse, we won’t be able to live on our food reserves long.”
“Civil War,” Warding Blade said, obviously torn.
“That is what it looks like,” Shadow nodded. “The Citizens don’t want a conquest war. They now want change. They want to reintegrate with below, but they are unarmed and untrained. Not many in the Military want that, but enough of us do. The battle lines are being drawn. That is why no follow up attacks have happened.
“We need allies on the ground who can take in refugees and help us establish settlements. And that is what we are hoping to do. We are here to establish relationships with the Trottingham Steel Rangers for the eventual rebuilding of Equestria. In peace.”
“We are not exactly the Steel Rangers anymore,” Warding Blade said. “We are now called the Applejack Rangers. No Steel Rangers exist. Our contingent’s armor is not painted with the red accents yet. It’s all after our founder and with the same ideals: Protecting Equestria. And the way I see it, that means the Pegasus Race as well.
“I trust you. You wear the enemy’s uniform, but I fought beside you. Uniforms be damned, prophecy or not, I fought by you. I know that pure heart. I saw you rip to shreds a Hellhound, with a combat knife. And I saw you after the Star Spawn almost killed you.
“WAIT! Has Rebel been keeping a secret from me!”
Shadow slowly shrugged. “She and her crew might know about my wings because they might have had to bandage me up. As well as one or two Operators.”
“They are still going strong,” Warding Blade added. “The Operators have actually gotten bigger and they still work for the Hive Caravan. As to Rebel, she was moved to me shortly after you left.”
“Were you discussing that move with the Fillydelphia Elder when Dahlia was killed in her room?”
“Yes? Why-” Warding Blade stopped and snorted. “She was a jackass who deserved that. I understand she suffered a lot of mental trauma before getting home, as her team was ripped apart.”
“I’m proud of that one,” Shadow admitted. “I told Dahlia in a note how each one would die, and I did it. 8 legendary Steel Rangers killed by me alone. And all because Dahlia ruthlessly hunted me and my friends. She killed my best friend, Nor’easter, while I carried my dead sister on my back after we were tricked into murdering an approved Pegasus mission below. It was a mission of peace to bring healing. I had no idea my sister was with them, let alone going below. So yeah, I still hate Dahlia.”
“That was a lot to take in,” Warding Blade admitted. “And now I understand a lot more.”
“Sir,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “I am still learning stuff. Our friends are still trying to sort out all the information he knows. Shadow is still trying to figure it out. It was traumatic.”
“It was. It’s Cardinal Spitfire, right?”
“Yes Sir. And I also am Shadow’s wife.”
“Ah,” Warding Blade smiled. “He mentioned a wife. I got his necklace chain patched back up by our scribes after the Star Spawn ripped it off his neck. How bad is that scar?”
“I can live with it,” Cardinal Spitfire chuckled. “And all the others he picked up.”
“That is all that matters,” Warding Blade said, joining her laughter.
Warding Blade thought for a moment. It was obvious he was torn over something. He finally faced Shadow head on.
“I can take in 200 refugees, but only if they are farmers and even better if they are families. I can set them up with our farm, and they can work together. It will be less of a strain on everything. And, they won’t need much training, if any at all.
“Wait,” Warding Blade paused. “If you killed Dahlia and were kicked out south, then the Fillydelphia rangers were chasing you!”
“I hate the Fillydelphia Steel Rangers,” Shadow spat. “And I will always hate them. They killed several of our team, one during peace talks. And Dahlia was one of them. And yeah, that price put on my head forced me to go south, rather than north as planned. It kept me from going to the location I needed to go to, to safely get above.”
“If you killed her, and they hunted you, then you killed the Disciples. And then Red Eye came out of nowhere.”
“I killed the Disciples overnight,” Shadow confirmed. “It was pathetically easy despite their size and organization. I spent days preparing for it and scoping them out.
“As to Red Eye, he talked a different game than he played. I thought he was the next one after me. I was to burn and cleanse the wasteland. I was to build the links that would bind the Pegasi and the wasteland. I wasn’t the one who gets to pull them together. I prepared the wounds to be healed and stitched up. I don’t get that honor. And I didn’t have Ukuzwa to point out where I erred in my thinking.
“He was smart when he betrayed me, which was immediately. He wanted the bounty. He said if he didn’t take care of me now, I would come back for his head.
“I doubt the slaves I freed actually got their freedom. But I did the best I could. I told him he could discuss with them how they would do things, if they even wanted to work with him.
Shadow shrugged. “He was right. I was coming for him. We got patches of DJ Pon3’s radio in Shanyisa. Unfortunately, when I got back, Red Eye had already been killed by the Light Bringer. I was looking forward to cutting his head off and mounting it somewhere as a warning.”
“Elder,” Star Paladin Yellow Quartz said. “As Star Paladin, I am asking to be permitted to head back with them. To be our envoy for our new alliance.”
“You can’t walk on the clouds,” Warding Blade said, confused.
“I can stay on a ship, on the metal. Plus, when did Zebras have wings? Or be able to walk on clouds?”
“Can you do that?” Warding Blade asked Ukuzwa.
Ukuzwa nodded and pulled out two talismans and tossed them to Yellow Quartz. “Wear these and you will be free. Even in your armor, you will not be weighty.”
“Those wings come from deep magic that required my feathers,” Shadow explained as he shivered. “Those were dark days for me. She needed fresh wing feathers. Strong ones. We had to plan a time when I could be out of service and rest up, to regrow the feathers. She also, apparently, has a few extras. In the end, it has been absolutely amazing and worthwhile.”
“Then represent us well!” Elder Warding Blade decreed.
Ukuzwa audibly froze, closed her eyes, and took in a deep breath. Her head rolled back. She was being taken over by a raw vision.
"A red hoof, as black cloak, an air filter, a thin red band on a hat...and...wings. The sun. A shining blade. A chain. A cloaked figure standing on a small cloud as the wind sweeps their cloak out, waving in the breeze. The sun shines down on the figure. The stars shine in their praise. The moon gives her love. Yet a chain. Yes, a chain. Iron. A cracked link. If it breaks, the sky detaches and the sun is lost. It must not be allowed to break. Ah, yes! A new link must be built and forged in its place while the old one remains. Then the old one must be shattered because it is weak. Then the black figure can finally rest."
"You won't get used to that," Shadow immediately stated. "And it is always better when she has time to form the prophecy."
Ukuzwa shook her head. "Stop, start, begin a part. That was a horrible vision. But one that needs an immediate decision."
Shadow sighed and walked to the glass. "Warding Blade. I traveled all across this land. Even before I was betrayed, I did some very bad things in the name of good. My heart was pierced, infected. I eventually beat the darkness that infected me. But it was not easy."
"Mtoaji, I fought by your side. Like I said, I have seen the real you. They real you had fun at the exposition. War makes us all do evil things. I have made my mistakes. That is why I loved being a Star Paladin. I got to avoid so much and do more right than the politically correct wrong. Speak."
"I don't need a translation of that vision," Shadow explained. "I don't need it wrapped up nice and neat or with rhymes. She has spoke true words before, things she couldn't know. Things only a seer can see or hear. As you just witnessed. She knows my past, and she judges me on what I have done for her. But she doesn't know the finer details.
"No. I know what it means. It is something I have been growing more and more concerned with. The shadows have arrived at the Enclave. A darker shadow than one of war…or even civil war. The shadow of one with cold blood and who carries a just blade.
"Warding Blade, I survived out here. I made my living, but I did other things. Things not for a living. You heard my first prophecy. That was achieved here. And it was done once again in Shanyisa in a different way. But Equestria is calling me to become it once again. To finish that prophecy. Equestria needs Black Widow to strike the Enclave."
Warding Blade grunted.
" You were Black Widow!" Yellow Quartz exclaimed. "I trusted you. I…Dahlia was right?"
"I lost control towards the end," Shadow said, not turning to look at them. "But the name was an accident. I didn't choose it. I had no need to correct the mistaken sex. The costume was a way I could clean up the filth and still be able to go to towns, to live. It also struck fear in the hearts of raiders whenever I arrived.
“It did what it needed to. I cleaned up this wasteland. I burned it with righteous fire and prepared it for the Light Bringing to come. Do you really think she could do all she did with the way things were a decade ago?"
"No," Shadow said, answering for her. "Xys helped me come to terms with the past and to look to the future."
Warding Blade was next to Shadow before he realized it. "You did a lot of good. Fire isn't always able to be controlled."
"So I keep hearing, and so I have experienced," Shadow replied, coldly. "The number is near a thousand by my hoof alone."
"And yet you stand here with a powerful Zebra as your friend. And you earned that through your heart, being you. And I am sure you did more here in the wasteland than just a burning fire."
"Baltimare looks very favorably on me," Shadow replied. "We did a lot of good there. My recon team that is. When we were at full strength. Near full strength. We were not at full strength long before the Filly Steel Rangers murdered our officer, Lieutenant Silent Wind. In the middle of peace talks with some paladin."
Warding Blade let out a chuckle. "You and Filly have a really bad report."
"You seriously do not know the half of it," Shadow chuckled back. Shadow became somber and serious. "I have the Black Window costume. Well, I have it stored in a secret hidden space in my home in Trottingham. I'll have to go retrieve it. Actually, I can retrieve the caps I have stored too. It can help boost the refugees and make them less of a logistical burden."
"We will see," Warding Blade replied. "I'll accompany you there. However, it may be better to save those for future refugees and cities. The ones you build yourselves."
"It very well may," Shadow nodded. "I rarely ever took anything as Black Widow, as was the goal. But I did raid the Lux, after I wiped them out."
"That's right," Warding Blade growled. "You took the Lux away. I understand why, but I hated losing it as a field resource. That also was a bloody, righteous fire situation."
"It was," Shadow sighed. “And for losing that field resource, I was sorry. But they built up that punishment upon themselves. And they caught up a whole lot of ponies when that time came. It was another dark moment, but fire is fire.”
"We should go get this done then,” Warding Blade said, turning the conversation back to useful things. “You can do soft landings?"
“Of course,” Shadow chuckled. “They wouldn’t be a captain if they couldn’t.”
"Command the cloudship to make a soft Landing on the roof. Just straight forward. We will get on there and take it to Trottingham. I'll cover for you if I need to."
"Thank you," Shadow said, smiling at Warding Blade.
"Somehow, I think it's me who should be thanking you. You did restore the power plant to us."
"My first job as Black Widow," Shadow chuckled.
“You left a nasty impression on those raiders.”
“Exactly,” Shadow chuckled darkly. “They needed to fear the idea of who I was more than me.”
They watched the Radiant Sun move forward after Cardinal Spitfire radioed in the orders. Once she touched her ramp down, they departed. Outside the room a surprise was waiting for them. A certain pony in red and black combat armor was learning against the wall, outside the office.
"So you did return," Rebel Queen chuckled. "I heard that it was you, but I couldn't believe it. Even after I learned you had wings, I was convinced you were not Enclave."
"Then I played my cards right," Shadow chuckled. "It's good to see you."
"So you killed Dahlia and it was you who was chased out of Equestria by the griffins." Rebel Queen chuckled at the irony. "I still can't believe it. So small, but you out flew them with a black blast that tore the sky apart. Talon Company was afraid you would come back and hunt them for their heads and wings. I still think they are afraid of it happening."
"Wait! It was a blast?" Cardinal Spitfire asked.
"I saw what Ditzy Do put down the other day, and I saw what Mtoaji split the sky with. Different colors, same thing."
"You did do a sonic rainboom!" Cardinal Spitfire squealed before hugging him.
"Card, meet Rebel Queen, one of the few ponies who knew I had wings. Only because the Star Spawn I saved them from ripped my chest opened and I required their hooves to keep me alive. And Rebel, meet Cardinal Spitfire, my wife and the reason I was so focused on my necklace."
"I can see why," Rebel Queen chuckled.
"And the last member of this diplomatic party is Ukuzwa, seer and Zebra magician. Don't piss her off. If you think I am good at what I do, it wouldn't be hard for her to destroy the Citadel."
Ukuzwa just shrugged.
"She only uses her powers for good," Shadow affirmed. "But we have to be off. I have to grab stuff from Trottingham."
"I’m not missing out on a cloudship ride," Rebel Queen stated.
"I made her a Star Paladin," Elder Warding Blade explained. "Against normal policy of one Star Paladin, she deserved the boost. And it finally meant that the Trottingham Steel Rangers treated her with the respect due."
"Jackasses," Shadow spat as he followed Warding Blade. "You could never catch a break."
"Neither could your from what I pieced together," Revel Queen shot back.
"Oh, you have no idea," Cardinal Spitfire chuckled. "You didn't see him in Basic Training, or Aerial Combat School. If something went wrong, it happened to him. But he always managed to wiggle out of it."
"And Mtoaji only just returned," Ukuzwa added. "Both Equestria and the Enclave gave him quite the burn."
"I was betrayed, tricked into killing my sister, watched my friends die one by one, two by suicide, and then forced to live in the Zebra Lands once I disappeared from here; where I also went on a crusade to raise up a fledgling village into the shining city it is today, earning the respect and admiration from a shit ton if Zebras.
“All at the cost of multiple injuries and even more of my usual shenanigans that I got caught up in. Including my heart stopping twice, and being patched up 42 times in a single battle. That was not a good day, but that fucking stupid warlord bitch got what was coming to her when I finally skinned her alive and tanned her hide."
"She got what she deserved," Ukuzwa spat. "The punishment was something for herself she reserved."
"Yeah," Shadow said slowly as they stepped onto the roof. "She uh, was worse than the Disciples. And I eliminated them with ease in one night. It took me three days for that warlord. Zebra magic is something you can't forget about. And she had magic. Hexes and curses were everywhere. She was afraid she was going to be killed. And she was right. She just couldn't expect it to come in from above her, past her wards."
"This is a story I have not heard," Cardinal Spitfire stated. "I'm not sure how I feel about it."
"It's not the first pony or Zebra I had skinned," Shadow calmly stated. "And it wasn't the last. The equestrian raiders hold nothing compared to the Zebra Warlords."
Ukuzwa spoke to his defense. "Mtoaji had to prove he was better, or else they would have had the guts to rig him with a fetter. Quake in fear they did, some even attempted the hid. The evil it may seem that transpired, was nothing compared to what had been acquired. Freed our people he did, without needed to be bid. Slaves that fought for dominance they kept, and many more they raped and they crept. They would punish those under their reign, by literally taking a stripe away. Many of those stuck under their hoof, lacked any coat to show as proof. By magic they were kept alive, even if they tried to take a dive. The pain was so immense, that when freed their suicide them immediately commenced."
They stopped at the foot of the ramp. Warding Blade and Yellow Quartz were obviously nervous. Rebel Queen just fixed her crown, having no reservations about the cloudship.
"That punishment seems less harsh now," Warding Blade stated.
They finally board the Radiant Sun and Captain Sunny Swirl met them inside the bay.
"Welcome to the Radiant Sun!" She greeted them. "I am Captain Sunny Swirl. Despite it being a short trip and at low speed, we will be closing the bay door for your safety. But come, let me show you around. A brief tour."
"Wonderful!" Warding Blade replied. "I do look forward to this. Schematics and pictures can't do a real tour justice."
"Well you won’t have these schematics in your records. This design was post sealing up the clouds. I will cover that shortly.
“The Radiant Sun was named for a Pegasus who gave his life to save others from an overpowered storm the Weather Factory released several years ago. Most of the crew was under orders to abandoned ship in an effort to warn those below, as the farming district was in the middle of a dealing with major repairs to all the farms. They had no chance of surviving without the warning. Radiant Sun was one of 14 crew members who stayed on a ship just like this to physically combat the storm with what armament they could. 10 of the crew survived the travesty. I was one who was sent out to warn the unaware citizens.
"This, like the ship Radiant Sun served on, is a Corvette. A defense oriented, fast moving, cloudship designed to patrol the sky for the safety of the Enclave. That is why the main armament is on the top of the ship. A Corvette can cover more distance in the same time frame as a normal cloudship. Her tours are much more effective for defensive purposes.
"We have a significantly lower armament than a Raptor, but our speed, acceleration, and maneuverability is easily twice that of a Raptor. Theoretically, we might be able to win in a battle. But that has not been needed to be tested. Yet.
"Now that we have covered the basics, this is the main bay. From here we can deploy our fast, air focused troops we carry known as the Aerial Combat Units, or even deploy our Wonderbolts. This is also the only way we can bring in supplies.
"Behind the bay, through here, is our ACU barracks. It was originally designed as more storage, but we all prefer working with the ACUs. That wall does open for easier loading because further behind it is the main storage area for supplies."
"Welcome!" An ACU soldier said coming over to them. The area was basically multiple bunks bolted down with some other furniture. "I am Colonel Arrow. Nice to meet you. We knew we were running a diplomatic mission, but we never expected visitors."
"Arrow!" Shadow exclaimed. "I hadn't seen you!"
"Shadow!” Arrow said, elated. “It’s great to see you finally. I had us stay here on the ship, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. I know you had a lot to do with debriefings, and catching up with with Cardinal Spitfire, and all that junk. It was easier with everything going on."
Arrow looked over the three Steel Rangers. "I am so glad we pulled out before deploying here. That would have been a major disaster. Yeah," Arrow chuckled. "We were the team that was supposed to hit Trottingham. Our original source of information said it was small and lightly guarded. Then we found out we were wrong from Shadow's reports. I'd rather make friends than war. But, you should get onto the rest of the tour."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Rebel said as the others walked away.
"My Aerial Combat School was with Arrow, Cardinal Spitfire, and 3 others to make a team," Shadow explained. "Catching up with them all has been, difficult. Our ACUs are mostly allied for peace and connection below. But not all have been able to get back to our base of operations yet. Some were deployed immediately after the recall for other missions. I don’t know much about those logistics. All I really knows is that it has been a very tense past few days for me. Without adding in anything social like friends."
"I can understand that," Warding Blade replied. "Equestria was certainly reeling from Operation Cauterize. We still are. And you have a war that's about to break out in your military.”
"Quiet and careful movements," Shadow replied. “That is the current game.”
Sunny Swirl continued as they got up to the next level. "This is the main deck. The Corvettes are the second smallest Cloudship, so we don't have many decks. Down that way is more sleeping quarters for personnel and the dining hall. Not much to see there. But this way is the gem. The bridge.
"I would give you a better tour, but by now we have to be almost to Trottingham's city."
Warding Blade grunted in both surprises and agreement as they entered the bridge. It was obviously unlike anything he had seen before. The same went for Yellow Quartz and Rebel Queen.
"This is a tiny bridge," Sunny Swirl stated. "But we still fit 14 Officers on a full shift. We currently are on almost a full shift. We only have one on weather at this moment, instead of a full two.
"And this is my First Mate, Commander Divine Storm."
"An interesting experience to meet you," Commander Divine Storm replied. "I do hope that soon I will find it to be a pleasure."
Warding Blade laughed deeply. "Your sincerity it very appreciated. I have a slight advantage in the meeting department. I at least knew and fought beside Shadow Flare, just under a different name. And, I am honored to be able to walk these halls. We have feared the cloudships of the Enclave for good reason. This short tour only shows me how solid that reason was.
"I also understand this was the lone ship sent to engage Trottingham. I am very happy that engagement never happened. Peace is certainly more preferable than blood. Unfortunately, peace often comes only once blood has been spilled. We are honored to ally ourselves with Pegasi who want peace between our three races."
"Some of my crew are less certain than others," Sunny Swirl stated.
"It's a complicated issue," Rebel Queen chuckled. "I don't blame any Pegasi for that. It's been years of fear and understandable animosity. At least this alliance is starting with one of the strongest forces in the wasteland. A force that had stood strong to protect all ponies since the spells came. A force that has only wanted peace between our sisters in the sky. One that has fought as hard as we could to provide a place for them. And now, one that I'd providing a place for 200 refugees. The maximum number we can sustain at a moment's notice."
A lieutenant at weapons turned around. "200!"
"I’m sorry it can’t be more. It's all we can protect right now," Warding Blade explained. "And since they are going to be going to farms, it has to be those who were farmers. We can't afford to teach them a new skill at this time. It's going to be a strain, but one we can handle."
"I thought these talks were stupid because we had nothing to offer! The Command Sergeant Major must have really impressed you."
"That he did, Sir," Warding Blade smiled. "He stayed true all throughout the time I knew him. I didn't know he was a Pegasus, but that would have complicated things drastically. Still, it was clear he was loyal to death for his home. And I saw him doing amazing things for his home."
"And there she is," a navigator said.
"Hard left!" Shadow ordered. We don't want to go right over the city."
"Show our guest our maneuverability!” Sunny Swirl commanded.
"The gate is at our 75!" Shadow informed them.
The pilot had fun. All forward movement was stopped and the Radian Sun did a full donut before moving off and around the city.
Yellow Quartz was the only one thrown in the move. Rebel Queen was laughing as she helped pick her up. Yellow Quartz was embarrassed.
"I would not have done that without you on board," Sunny Swirl replied, a smile on her lips. "We were trained by one of the best pilots in the Enclave. The lieutenant at the helm was recently transferred to the Radiant Sun after serving under Commodore Derecho.
"The Commodore is the one that beat the storm I mentioned. He lost an ear and his left eye's vision has steadily degraded. I was a new officer under his command when the incident happened. I still can't believe all of what he did. Not just his tenacity, honor, and skill, but he did things with the ship and reading the weather that no one thought was possible."
"Your admiration for him is great," Warding Blade said. "But it seems more than that."
Sunny Swirl's smile held some pain. "I did pine after him, but I knew him before the incident as well. I was not the only one. Admiral Lightning won that game. Commodore Derecho was split for a few years trying to decide. Of course, our duties made it hard to actually see each other most of that time. I think it was the best for us all though. It kept things calmer."
"So," Shadow chuckled. "Deke hadn't mentioned anything really. He has stayed silent about it. I think Ruby Snow said something yesterday, but it’s been quiet when it comes to that front. Everypony is just trying to give me space."
Sunny Swirl’s smile lost its pain. "You made an impact on him. He would not do anything physical because of your impact on him. It drove him nuts. He said something like the great Derecho being calmed. Or something like that."
Shadow chuckled, but the orders for them being taken down to the ground overpowered that.
"Ramp is lowered," Commander Divine Storm reported.
"Let's depart," Sunny Swirl announced. "And yeah, like hell I am staying on my ship! I am taking this opportunity."
"I should have expected that," Shadow stated. "But yes, let's go before the guards decide to storm it. They were not always the brightest. Good guards, but not the brightest."
They almost got shot, but the presence of Elder Warding Blade protected them. They were quickly confused over him calmly exiting a cloudship. Especially with his Star Paladins in tow.
"As you were," Warding Blade ordered them. "Mtoaji and I have business with these others in the city."
Shadow heard the whispers back and forth and he knew it was being reported.
"It's a lot more vacant than I remember," Shadow said as they were let inside the city.
Warding Blade snorted. "The guards must have ordered the residents to go inside. Let's do our business then."
"Bank, then home," Shadow said. "The Bank should be less to carry. I can organize from there."
"Sounds like a plan," Warding Blade nodded.
They walked through the empty street into the main market. Shadow caught the silhouettes of shop owners peeking out as they walked. Some did live in the back of their shops.
Shadow stopped and looked up at the building that held his home. His condominium was on the other side. What caught his eye was a window that was cracked on the ninth floor.
"I see you Red Tip!" Shadow yelled. "Nine up, 18 in from the entrance of the city."
The window opened all the way and Red Tip popped his head out along with his rifle. "Holy shit! You are good. They hired me to watch the market."
"Meet at my place?"
"Uh…sure!"
"I'm going to the bank first."
"The bank is closed. Locked up tight because of that cloudship."
"Well, tell the guards Mtoaji needs to make a withdrawal! I know you have a com unit!"
"Damn, you are good."
The window closed and Shadow chuckled.
"Weapons dealer and friend," Shadow explained. "I beat him in that long-range competition. Barely."
"That explains his location," Cardinal Spitfire chuckled.
Shadow snorted a laugh. "I had to worry about Zebra magic, and zebra snipers, and the king of them all, Zebra invisibility cloaks. Marble Falls taught us well, but I was forced to hone that skill or die."
Shadow led them up the familiar stairs and over to his room. Red Tip was blocking the door. He was obviously waiting for an explanation.
Shadow laid it out as fast as he could. "I was betrayed, lost all contact with above, my friends died because of it, meaning I was alone, trying to find out what was going on above. I killed Dahlia and then I got exiled to the Zebra Lands because I couldn't get above as the Griffons almost killed me. I survived there, building up a small village and keeping it safe. I only just returned, missing everything the Enclave was doing. We are in shambles and on the verge of a war between ourselves. I represent the Equestrian Pegasus Military and we just made an alliance with the Trottingham Applejack Rangers. We are taking care of our citizens, and they are helping us take care of all of Equestria's citizens. By the time I was exiled to the south, I knew we had to change our tactics with dealing with below. I just didn't have time to make that move before the Light Bringer did all her stuff and stopped the Enclave. Are we good?"
Red Tip narrowed his eyes for a minute. "Yeah," He grinned. "We're good now."
Red Tip knocked on the door. "Sonata Concert, it's Red Tip. Can you open up."
The door was gingerly opened up and Strawberry poked her head out. She was confused about all the ponies in the hallway.
"You remember Mtoaji, right?"
"Mtoaji!" She exclaimed, jumping out of the door as she threw it open. She hadn’t seen exactly where he was.
"Over here," Shadow said.
She threw her arms around his neck and then jumped back, angry. "That was not cool how you left! Just a note! A note! No real goodbye!"
"I...” Shadow stuttered. “Look, it was complicated. Very complicated. But it didn't go as planned. I just got back to Equestria several days ago. Also, my real name is Shadow Flare, but I am still known a Mtoaji."
"Let’s leave it at that," Red Tip chuckled. "But he isn't as bad as he is looking right now."
“Duh, I know that. I know the real Mtoaji. No matter what uniform he wears.”
Shadow entered the condominium he had called home. A lot more furniture had been added and a stallion was sitting on the couch with two foals beside him. He nodded courteously, unsure what else to do.
"You settled down," Shadow said.
"I did. I hope you don't mind me using your home."
"Please," Shadow snorted. "I left it in your care to do exactly that. I'm only back to fetch a few things I stashed here. Cardinal, this is Sonata Concert, but I know her as Strawberry. I'll leave it there."
"He rescued me from the Lux and a life of lewd dancing and sex at the bidding of others," Strawberry shamelessly clarify. "My family knows."
"So, typical you stuff?" Cardinal Spitfire asked Shadow.
"Absolutely typical me stuff,” Shadow nodded. “Including how I ended up trying to break her free. Oh, and Cardinal Spitfire is my wife."
"A pleasure to finally meet you," Strawberry said. "I always admired Mtoaji for his stalwart stance and obvious love for you. He wasn't ever going to cross the line. Something I never expected. Something unheard of down here, sadly. When he first met me and decided to help me break free, he paid for me for a night just so I could sleep in the bed he was renting from the Lux, while he took the couch. He paid to keep me from somepony else for the night without anything in return!"
Cardinal Spitfire's grin slid into a smirk. "Oh, I know he would never cross that line or even get close to it. He was raised right…and I am too hot for him to want anypony else. The rest of that sounds like him. So, this is where Shadow called home?"
"For a few months. He bought it instead of renting, and then he paid twice what it was worth to improve the lighting and add more. It was already one of the better lit units. Now with the sun, that doesn’t matter anymore. Mtoaji left it in my care, to be transferred to me and all his holdings with the bank if he went 10 years without returning."
The conversation ended as the heard the floorboards in the bedroom pop out of place. They both immediately headed over, along with Red Tip and Warding Blade.
Shadow already had Black Widow’s suit out and folded up neatly. He was stacking the bricks of caps.
"You robbed the Lux!" Warding Blade exclaimed.
"Yeah," Shadow grunted as he grabbed another one from his stash. "Well after it was blown up. Did you guys ever find Vault 1?"
"No, we never did."
"I didn't have that many caps. Mostly explosives and building supplies. It's an outside entrance off one of the big villas in the north, the high-end area, under bushes."
"And that explains how you blew up the Lux," Warding Blade snorted.
"Well, burning as I had originally planned was going to take more time than I had. I knew you would be coming, and with an army."
"Wait," Red Tip said glancing at the pile of fabric with the hat on top. "You didn't mention you were Black Widow!"
"Oops," Shadow chuckled. "That is another long story that is complicated."
"I know," Warding Blade told Red Tip. "And I also am not holding it against him."
"But," Red Tip stammered. "Magic! Black Widow is a unicorn. Mtoaji is an Earth Pony."
"Pegasus you blind sniper," Shadow shot back as he opened his wings. "A tiny Pegasus cleverly hiding his wings so he wasn't killed by Dahlia for having them...and a slew of other things she wanted to prosecute me for that I never did."
"But," Red Tip stammered again. "You are so strong!"
"Grew up on a farm," Shadow replied. “But all Pegasus. Never a drop of Earth Pony blood. Always cloud dwelling Pegasi.”
Shadow got up and went to the closet. Inside was a lot more clothing than he had ever owned over his entire life. But still hanging there was his black tux and his Blue Beret uniform and jacket. He pulled them out and laid them on the bed.
His anti-machine rifle and his China set were stuffed in the back where he left them. Shadow had forgotten about the stockpile of ammo he had also left. Ammo that would come in handy.
"You have a lot of stuff," Cardinal Spitfire chuckled. "I thought what Slice brought back from Rosemary was a lot."
"And Shanyisa still has some more," Shadow grinned. "I just, acquired the good stuff. Like this. It was old, antique China in perfect condition before the war. Do your really expect me to pass that up!"
"No," Cardinal Spitfire sighed, with a long laugh. "No. And that is why I love you."
"Red Tip, I need the rifle still. It's going to be useful against the power armor troops. The Grand Pegasus Enclave doesn't have many of them, and our large caliber weapons are low in number, but we don't have the advantage of the main weapons stocks. At least, not from what we can tell."
"As long as you are not shooting Steel Rangers and good guys, I'm fine with that. Need ammo?"
"I need whatever I can buy from you."
"I'll go unlock the shop and wrestle up a few guards to help out. Also, the bank is open now."
"Thanks," Shadow mumbled as he tried to figure out how to get all of it back to the ship."
"Fine," Strawberry groaned. "I have extra saddlebags you can use."
"Cool!" Shadow replied. "Also, I need you to come with me to the bank. I don't need this place. I got what I need, the rest is yours."
"I was hoping you wouldn't say that!” Strawberry growled in frustration. “You keep overdoing the nicest things for me! You keep saving me! I can never replay you for any of it!"
"Well..." Shadow said, out of a good response. "Well deal with it! I can't help it. Card, do we need this-"
"I am not fucking living on the ground," Cardinal Spitfire spat. "I am a proud, cloud farming Wonderbolt. Those don’t spell living on the ground. Ever! Besides, I know from Deke's bragging that your sister still has a place for us with plenty of rooms for our own foals."
"Good," Shadow smiled. "I was hoping that was the answer. I’ve had way too much time below the clouds already."
"Also, we are either dying as we fight for freedom and reunification, together, or we are living the rest of our lives as Equestrian Wonderbolts!"
"That room you have is nice," Shadow smirked.
"It is," Cardinal Spitfire nodded.
"I guess this uniform really was for you," Warding Blade said as he picked it up. "I see why you looked so good in it."
"Yeah," Shadow sighed, contently. "I felt right wearing it. You wouldn't happen to have any other artifacts for the Blue Berets, would you?"
"I'll check, for you. For the Equestrian Pegasus Military!"
"Let's get moving this stuff!"
The bank was easy. Shadow left 500 caps in his account. Over the years, they had borrowed from it and it had occurred interest from those times. Shadow didn't have time for long stacks of paperwork. He made the manager of the bank approve the forfeit of the rest of his holdings to Sonata Concert, with Elder Warding Blade and both Star Paladins as witnesses.
Red Tip's store hadn't changed. His battle saddle frames had not been sold either. The counter already had a long line of ammo cans on it. He was ready. And he was grinning.
"I have Armor Piercing 5.56, armor piercing 7.62, Black Tip 308s aka armor piercing, 50 cal. Anything else?"
"44?"
"Right, 44. One moment!" Red Tip was only gone 5 second "All the 44 I have. 62 rounds."
Shadow set three bricks on the counter. "No holding out on me now. I want those Sound Dampeners."
"Shit," Red Tip swore and he leaned over to look at Shadow's rifles. "You remembered all right."
"We have the Aerial Combat Battalion on our side. They can go very quite if they need to. I was one of them before Recon. Come on, I know you have them still."
"I got six I can sell you. I am keeping one for my rifle. And it won me all the long distance competitions since you disappeared."
"I'll be back for the next one. And you are going down."
"We shall see," Red Tip grinned. "But fine. I know you could use them. And I'm just sitting on them. How about a deferred payment?"
"What?" Shadow asked, unsure what that meant.
"Yeah. The way I figured it, when you win this, you are probably going to have some extra guns and ammo you can sell me. And, you guys are going to need those caps you got there as you join us down here. This is the stock I can risk selling you. Ponies are going to be stocking up and I need to be able to run out of something with enough capital to make it over the next few months."
"Deal," Shadow said without needing to think about it. "I will get you enough stock to reimburse you and more! We are in your debt in more ways than one."
"Just make sure you win," Red Tip said. "And make sure you come back. I want to get to know your wife. And, you have some other rematches that are waiting for you."
"I plan on it," Shadow grinned.
Red Tip nodded and they loaded the cans into saddlebags.
"Yo!" Red Tip yelled into the back. "Time for you to help!"
Chief Loch and several other guards came out of the back.
"I understand that you are Black Widow," Lock grinned. "At least I can close that case finally. Go get them. Let's end this bastard 'relationship' and forge a new era!"
The city was back to its usual lively self as they left. They all went straight up into the Radiant Sun. Once the stuff was set down inside, everypony except for Yellow Quartz left. Goodbyes were quickly said and then they were off. They needed to get back as quickly as they could. There was no time to spare.
Chapter 138 - Medals
Author's Notes:
BOOK 5: PART 2: EQUESTRIAN PEGASUS MILITARY
The Radiant Sun slid up to the Squad Barracks. They had requested a short drop off. The ramp softly touched the clouds and the whirl of the engines began their distinct floating idle sound.
General Firestorm was there to meet them, along with many of the upper brass. Especially the retired officers. Cardinal Spitfire was the first one down the ramp.
"He acquired some interesting pieces during his time below," Cardinal Spitfire immediately said. "We also got an ammo supply. Things went…interestingly well."
"Ammo?" Firestorm asked. "How? Why!"
"Apparently Shadow is rich, and the years his caps were in the bank, untouched, made him richer. But actually, he is friends with an arms dealer. He sold us the ammo, all armor piercing rounds, on deferment?"
"Deferment? At what price?"
"Um, well, once this is done and over with, he expects payment back in salable goods like weapons and ammo."
Fire storm's eyes widened in shock. Several things played through her mind. "Initial thought...he doesn't have the authority to barter military equipment. Second thought, we hopefully won't need them all and our stocks are automatically compromised so it was a good choice."
"That was his friend's thoughts. We would not need all of them. And that we have more in storage. We didn't discuss our actual stock, only that we were probably coming up on the short end. Especially for ammo. We are talking several thousand rounds in each of our main calibers, all armor piercing."
"And where is Shadow?"
"Prepping our VIP. Things went surprisingly well. And probably waiting for me to shut up so he can make an entrance."
"Not true!" Shadow shouted back. "I…complicated!"
Cardinal Spitfire snorted. "Stupid Filly Fooler. Nothing is ever simple with him. He has more stories he is holding out on us. Like when he bought a hooker, didn’t do anything with her, and then helped her escape the place she was ‘employed’ at. He bought her for the night so she could sleep in his bed, while he took the couch. She is a sweet pony."
Shadow finally emerged, but not in his armor. He was wearing his neatly pressed blue Beret uniform. The beret was perfectly placed on his head.
"Holy Celestia," Retired Lieutenant General Soarin said in shock. "I haven't seen that uniform in a long time. Very few of them were ever worn, and even fewer wore it nearly as well as he does."
"I think this will work better," Shadow stated. "The first separation from the GPE by the EPM."
"Where did you get that?" Soarin asked, beating the others to the question.
"Years ago. I left it with my stuff in Trottingham. It was in the Quartermaster shop with the Steel Rangers there. I had one set of clothes, and they got all sweaty and dirty before the exposition. I needed something else, but comfortable. This was the only thing that would do and hide my wings. I also have the jacket. They tried to bait me into joining their ranks with more information about the Blue Beret."
"That is amazing," General Shielded Vengeance said, stepping closer. "Deke is the one who keyed us in on the Blue Berets, accidentally, and he is the reason why the ACUs now wear the berets. It's our heritage. I saw pictures, but we never had a uniform to really go off of."
Shadow looked back up the ramp. Ukuzwa was standing there, shaking her head. Shadow sighed and walked back up the ramp.
"I can't do this," Yellow Quartz whispered. "The clouds…"
"You have the Talisman on?"
"Only the cloud walking one. I can't handle wings yet."
"That's fine," Shadow shrugged as he walked to her rear. “Wings are finicky as you learn them. Especially wing boners.”
Before she could ask what he was doing, Shadow bucked her in the flank, hard. It forced Yellow Quartz to stumble forward and then she didn't have a solid footing as the ramp slanted down. She tumbled down in a roll.
Shadow jumped ahead of her and braced her against the roll. He got her to stop right before the end of the ramp. Ukuzwa was smiling mischievously as she helped Yellow Quartz up.
"Officers of the Equestrian Pegasus Military, meet another pony I know pretty well, Star Paladin Yellow Quartz. I personally fought with her against those Hellhounds and can attest to her skill back then, knowing it has only grown. She also was my rival in the Reactive Rifle Course, who I will be giving a rematch as soon as possible. Finally, the Star Paladin is of the order of the Applejack Rangers, the more defensive oriented Steel Rangers. The old Steel Rangers are dead, the Applejack Rangers now protect Equestria. And the Trottingham contingent has assured us of their support."
Shadow smiled at Yellow Quartz. "The Star Paladin requested coming here as an envoy. To represent her contingent. Like my Zebra team, she has a cloud walking talisman on. But unlike the Yellow Quartz I knew; she is suddenly too chicken to do anything. She can stare a Hellhound in the eyes and blow his head off at point blank range, but she can't-"
Shadow expertly ducked as she swiped at him with her hoof. As expected, she was still the same knight he knew. Goading her into her courage and honor mentality was easy. The swipe also forced her to take a step off the ramp.
Yellow Quartz looked down at the clouds under her feet. She stared at them for a while. "Cushy. But not saggy or heavy. Odd. But I can see why you like them. Enough to never live on the ground."
"Hey!" Shadow laughed. "Working with below in mutually beneficial ways and living below are two different things for some of us.”
“Do you want to tell them, or me?"
Shadow gave her a nod.
Yellow Quartz looked at the officers. "Friendly Pegasi, friends of Shadow Flare, I am proud to be the Envoy here for the Trottingham area contingent of the Applejack Rangers. I’m a little scared, but my heartbeat will return to normal soon. But I also am proud to inform you that we at the Citadel can take in 200 refugees with one stipulation."
"Name it," Firestorm immediately said, with a smile showing her relief.
"The only stipulation is that they must be farming ponies. It will be a strain, but we already protect those farms. It's all we can take, and to be less of a burden on all, we can't afford to teach anypony the basics of farming."
"That is absolutely acceptable," Firestorm announced. "We shall begin to assemble the list. Most of our refugees are farmers. But, I have to ask. Why? We barely are together and on the verge of a war in between ourselves, and you are sticking your necks out so far."
"The Elder knows Shadow Flare," Yellow Quartz explained. "He led the team of us three for the Hellhound hunt. He got a very good look at the real Shadow Flare. No flags, no wings, no preconceived notions. He also was over the long-distance shooting competition Shadow won. He needed a sniper, but Shadow Flare was so much more than expected. He was saving me!"
"That would be because of Marble Falls," Shadow chuckled. "Where is she?"
"Dealing with a problem with the recruits,” Firestorm explained. “They don't like being in holding like this. They want to go to war. Most of them are against peace. They joined for the war. It's a problem. But we will certainly organize a time where those friends of yours can brag about your skill. General Marble Falls will want to hear about how much you grew up.
"Now, Star Paladin, let's get your head on straight. Follow me to the Squad Barracks. We have rooms that are open. We will get you set up there. It will mean a solid thing beneath your hooves. This has to be disorienting."
"The wing talisman was worse," Yellow Quartz fired back. "My wings would not fold down, even when pressed down. But please, this is weird. It is worse than I expected it would be."
Soarin, Nova, and Shielded Vengeance were left behind with Shadow and Cardinal Spitfire. The others on board were unloading everything. It was evident that the three of them were growing close. At this point, all three of them were all old, retired generals, two of who were disfigured, and two who were Wonderbolts. They had a lot more in common than many would think of at a glance.
"You look dashing," Nova said. "Shadow, you look better in that than in the Enclave Uniform. It just…it's not that it fits you better, physically, but you are so much more confident in that. No, that doesn’t even fully explain it."
"Thanks,” Shadow blushed. “Elder Warding Blade is investigating if they have any other artifacts. The only problem is that this is a relic. Yes, it's in great condition, but it's not something I can go to war in.”
"No," Shielded Vengeance said, thinking. "But we don't need you to do that. Maybe this will be the face we need plastered on the news. A real, old school Enclave Soldier. And one who can show off the Equestrian Pegasus Military's might. Still with Enclave ranks, still with the awards and decorations, especially that MIA badge, but this uniform instead. The beret is already familiar in the public’s eye. Several years ago we ran a hard campaign about the ACU’s heritage, which is the very uniform you wear."
Soarin grinned. "I would be honored to approve your acceptance into the 1st ESF division. The only one currently, but the division need to be rebuilt somehow."
"And the meaning of the dagger and wings?" Shadow asked.
"They were the swords from the skies. It is amazing what they did. They cut up whole Zebra units with surprise attacks. And they didn't always come in from the air. They often set ambushes and even made a solid number of attacks from the Zebra rears. They were the perfect balance for the Steel Rangers.
"Their motto was De Oppresso Liber, to free the oppressed. Equestria was viewed as the defender. And it did hold a bit of an elitist idea. A touch of the idea that they were freeing the oppressed, regular units, from fighting on the stalwart lines. But it wasn't that bad of an elitist idea. Not like the later one that founded the Enclave."
Nopony reacted to the comment against the Enclave.
"I think I understand the balance," Shadow replied. "Plus, they literally came in from the sky to save the other units. It's what we do in the ACUs in support of the regular Enclave soldiers."
"So I understand," Soarin nodded. "A tactic that will prove invaluable if we go to war."
Firestorm found them in the same spot. "Command Sergeant Major, I need you to be ready for a late afternoon briefing, about 3 hours from now. You will tell the Council the agreement with the Applejack Rangers."
“Firestorm, Dear,” Nova said with a sly smile. “We have decided that Shadow should wear this uniform. Perhaps it will be the new uniform of the Equestrian Pegasus Military.”
“Fine,” Firestorm nodded. “Let’s go for it. The Council meeting will be a good test. Shadow, tell the Council of the aid given, but don’t let them know we are about to break off.”
Shadow nodded and repeated what he believed she meant. "Tell them of the alliance I forged with old friends below and that most importantly, they can protect 200 farmers. And," Shadow said, hesitating. "And tell them we are assembling the candidates and moving on the relocation of our refugees before they make a try at it alone."
"Nothing more," Firestorm said. "Oh, you will probably have to explain the uniform. And I have a set of more Medals after our deliberations on your brief reports. It is technically up to you whether you wear the set you were approved of before you disappear, or add new ones you were approved to wear. The Council did get a memo sent to them about it."
"I will be ready," Shadow stated.
“One last thing,” Firestorm said as Shadow and Cardinal Spitfire began to leave. “You will be the only one in the room, but we will be watching. We have a hidden camera and the room is bugged. We will be actively monitoring the briefing.”
“I didn’t expect any less,” Shadow winked.
Shadow and Cardinal Spitfire got to their room. It was now crowded with several boxes and bags.
“I now understand why you think I brought a lot back,” Shadow chuckled. “It wasn’t a lot when I was down there. I had to live there, somehow.”
Shadow opened up Kifo Herixleta’s beautiful case. He retired the sword there, for the moment. He didn’t need it for the upcoming meeting. It had been almost a decade since it had been in its beautiful case.
Shadow pulled the uniform off so they could attach everything. He was distracted as Cardinal Spitfire hugged a naked him.
“You know,” She said coyly. “I have been thinking about what Elder Warding Blade said.” Cardinal Spitfire stopped talking as she traced his chest’s scar. “I do like it. If you came back without your scars, I don’t know I could believe you when you say you did everything those medals represent.”
Shadow faced his wife with a kind smile. “I have to get ready for the meeting.”
“We have time,” Cardinal Spitfire shot back, a hungry look in her eyes. “And we have years to make up for. Now, go put on that red sequin dress you mentioned the other day. I want to see you in it.”
“I saved it for you to wear!” Shadow replied, resisting her ploy.
“So? I am okay with sharing it.”
Shadow took a deep breath in and sighed. He wanted a distraction. He wanted his wife. But he needed to be ready for the briefing. Cardinal Spitfire won that battle. Shadow slipped into the dress.
“That is awesome,” Cardinal Spitfire giggled.
“I stuffed my pistol and my combat knife under my wings,” Shadow added. “It was not comfortable.”
“And now?” Cardinal Spitfire prodded.
“It’s not bad. Better than I thought it would be. It’s not something I would ever be caught in public wearing, but it’s got its perks.”
Cardinal Spitfire lunged at Shadow. He couldn’t do anything since his wings were pinned up under the dress. Cardinal Spitfire was done waiting.
It wasn’t long until Cardinal Spitfire was laying on the bed in a content bliss. Shadow was sitting at the desk. They would need another desk for him to work at, but she had the room to slide another desk in. He had a stack of papers under several boxes holding medals. He was barely though reading his original awards. Shadow had to admit, when they were written up, all official, he certainly deserved them. It was odd since he was the one doing those action, and he never hesitated on any of them; but the obvious choice also came with more admiration and dedication than he realized.
In the end, Shadow chose to pin on only his original awards since that was all he had time to review. His Command Sergeant Major stripe pins went on the collar. He put on his MIA badge and then above it, he fixed Mwokozi’s jeweled ‘ribbon’ bar above the MIA badge. His Silver Wings looked marvelous against the blue uniform.
Shadow Flare met General Firestorm outside the lecture hall.
“I know you can do this,” She immediately said. “But if this is played wrong, we get on the bad side with the Council and that becomes a problem. Our enemy is getting bolder with their organization tactics. We don’t have much time.”
Firestorm smiled at Shadow. “I love it. The uniform looks great. You certainly wear it very well. I was kind of hoping you would wear all the medals.”
“I didn’t have time to look them all through,” Shadow replied. “So I stuck with what I knew.”
“And uh, what is above the MIA badge?”
“Remember Kifopiga? Well, I killed the Zebra Empire’s top general in hoof to hoof combat. He still had his mind after all those years. This was his awards bar. In Shanyisa I have the rest of his medals and awards, but I pulled these off the uniform he was wearing when I killed him. The Zebras confirmed my right to wear it.”
“I like it,” Firestorm nodded. “It is a good addition. It not only has meaning, but it has an air of mystery. The foreignness of the ribbons will help make thing unique and separate.”
Shadow faced the doors. Wonderbolts in their armor were on either side of the door. He swiped his card and pushed the door open.
The Chief Councilor looked at him. “Ah, Command Sergeant Major, we heard you were preparing a briefing for us.”
“It had better be worth the interruption,” The Fourth Councilor growled.
Shadow calmly walked down to the front and stood at ease before them.
“No salute?” The Fourth Councilor quipped.
“I am a Command Sergeant Major,” Shadow calmly replied. “The Command Sergeant Major over Reconnaissance. I act with respect to those few in authority over me, but I salute who I please, when I please.”
The Fifth Councilor snorted a laugh at Shadow’s fearlessness. It shut up the Fourth Councilor long enough for the Chief Councilor to get them back on track.
“Command Sergeant Major, you seem to be missing several awards. Awards we upheld the other day. All but the two Purple Heart with Black Stripe.”
“Yes Councilor, I am,” Shadow nodded. “I have not had time to review them all and the statements for what I did to earn them. It was all a big stack of papers and boxes of medals and devices. I wasn’t ready for it. For now, I went with what I knew. I have been busy. That is why I am before you right now.
“And one quick side note, thank you for not approving the Purple Heart with Black Stripe. I just relayed what happened and answered the questions. My heart may have officially stopped twice, but I do stand before you today. And I stand before you without the use of any of the dark magic arts.”
“You also stand before us in a different uniform,” The Chief Counselor stated. “Tell me, what is this. It looks great on you, but it is not regulation. Well the beret actually is.”
Shadow grinning slyly. The game started here. He had to play it perfectly.
“It is not Enclave regulations, but this is nearly full regs for the Equestrian Sky Force. I was lucky enough to acquire this antique uniform during my stay in Trottingham. I needed another set of clothing, and options my size are usually mare’s clothing. But nopony down there wants a Pegasus uniform. I still hid my wings with ease, and it came with the beret I am wearing. I also got the flight jacket that goes with this uniform, but it is not apart of the full dress uniform. It is just like the Wonderbolt’s jackets.
“I competed in the Steel Ranger’s Exposition in this uniform. The exposition was a bunch of contests, mostly centered around farming and rodeo things. I was competing in two shooting competitions, and I won both. There were the Reactive Rifle Course and the Long-Distance Shooting Competition.
“Not standard for this uniform is obviously the Enclave medals, rank collar pins, my silver wings, and the MIA badge. Above my MIA badge is also a set of jewels I won the right to wear. During the Inquisitors’ mission to Kifopiga, we fought at least a full battalion of feral ghouls locked up in a major Zebra base in the south mountains. We received the Silver Star for our actions. I also personally killed the Zebra’s high general, Mwokozi, known to Equestria as Two Toned. He was the only non-feral ghoul and I had to match his expertise and years of study in hoof to hoof combat with my own. I almost died, but I prevailed. This jeweled bar was the one he wore that day. It is just like our ribbon bars, except the Zebras used jewels. I took it and several other items of importance as my...reward. I figure it would be something I could wear exactly as I am today.”
“I agree,” The Fifth Councilor stated. “That is something you certainly earned. But that fight was not in the reports, if I remember correctly.”
“That entire mission was weird,” Shadow explained. “The report was actually immediate feedback. One of our only real time exchanges. Our plan was a full report with maps, but we never got back above to be able to give more than a cursory report over the terminal. It didn’t actually matter for the Enclave at the time. It still doesn’t.”
“Regardless of its value, it was an amazing mission,” The Chief Councilor stated.
“Why are you here?” The Fourth Councilor groaned impatiently. “I’m not impressed by some uniform you are not supposed to be wearing.”
“Yes, the briefing,” Shadow nodded. “I only just got back from a trip to Trottingham. It was where I had other things stored, like this uniform. But the trip was not just to recover some material possessions, no matter how valuable or rare they might be.
“I went there in search of some old friends from my stay there. One who I knew as Star Paladin Warding Blade, is now the Elder. What was once the Steel Ranger’s Trottingham Contingent, is now the Applejack Ranger’s Trottingham Contingent. The Applejack Rangers is a branch that was in response to a recent incident inside the Steel Rangers themselves.
“Their focus has shifted. The Trottingham Steel Rangers were already well focused on the defense of the ponies in their circle of influence. It’s why I destroyed all those Hellhounds on a mission with, the now elder, Warding Blade. Because they were protecting us all, I needed to get rid of them, and they needed my long-distance shooting skills. I killed more up close than I did at long range.
“The Applejack Rangers are now there to protect all of the residents in Equestria. To allow them to live in peace without the threat of invaders, raiders, Hellhounds, and other dangerous creatures. And the Elder in Trottingham believes that also extends into the sky, into caring for Pegasi as well.
“They understood immediately what no clouds meant for us: a lot of refugees and mostly from farms. And that is what we have. They have offered to take in 200 refugees. They just need them to be farmers so they don’t put as much stress on the farms they will be staying at. They are ready to aid us as much as possible.”
“And what should we do with this?” the Second Councilor asked before anypony else could say anything.
Shadow immediately answered. “We are preparing to take a final count of the refugees and sort out who can go below. Either we give these refugees hope that things will get better, or they will risk going down on their own. Not all will want to take the risk, but we can minimize the danger to our citizens by utilizing this generous offer. The citizens have to be getting restless and concerned, especially the refugees. They lost everything, and they will take risks if we don’t provide them with valid assurance and a proper solution to their situation.
“Their lives are on hold. I was born and raised a farmer, Turnip Homestead. I love farming. I’ll die in my old age on my sister’s Homestead. But I also love protecting my home. I understand what these refugees are going through; to lose everything, to go from busy serving their fellow Pegasi by raising food, to sitting on their hooves with nothing to do and taking up space and resources. It is the exact opposite to them.
“This solution helps solve that,” Shadow declared. “We don’t have any other options.”
The Fourth Councilor slammed his hoof down on the table. “We are not! I repeat, not! Begging them for aid. We are not going to grovel or stoop that low.”
“It was an offer out of kindness,” Shadow calmly shot back. “They recognize our current conundrum. It was an offer given out of friendship. One derived of the trust I earned from my time with them. It isn’t bowing to them or groveling. It is an honorable way for us to help our citizens.”
The Council once again launched into a loud argument on multiple subjects that were more or less related to the briefing. Shadow respectfully stood there as they argued.
“Enough!” The Second Councilor ordered. "This is involving me and the citizens. This has to do with the resources and economics of our citizens. This isn’t even social. I know the massive strain on our food that this means. And we are forced to have many of them housed in other pegasi’s homes because we can’t provide even that for them. I say we move forward with the plan. Unless you six all vote against me, you can't stop me."
"You will regret this," The fourth councilor hissed.
"I would rather regret it and face those consequences than regret not trying."
“Vote if you want, but I side with the Second Councilor,” The Sixth Councilor stated. “This is what is socially best for them. Plain and simple. Command Sergeant Major, please proceed with the plans.”
“I will go tend to them immediately,” Shadow said with a dip of his head.
“Still no salute!” The Fourth Councilor protested as Shadow walked away.
Shadow turned around and proudly walked over to the table in front of him. “You dare to ask me to salute you, and then scream, yell, and rant to the other Councilors? You have no honor or respect. I have seen honor and respect on the battlefield. I have seen it in Zebras, Ghouls, Ponies, and Unicorns. I have exemplified it in the worst conditions you can’t even image. You get no salute because of that.”
The Fourth Councilor stood up but Shadow shot him down before he could speak back.
“Might I remind you that I have kill more dangerous and skilled Ponies, Zebras, and Hellhounds with my bare hooves. You don’t scare me. You don’t even give me a second thought in preparation. I don’t even understand how one as yourself could even look like they had councilor material in them. You are not a leader.”
Shadow turned on his heals in perfect military fashion and walked out.
Outside the hall General Firestorm met him, grinning. “That was impressive. And almost stupid. But you earned the respect of the other six by how you handled him. It was amazing. You knocked him off his pedestal and into his place. Regaining what he once had will be difficult for him. Your threat was impressive, but a dangerous gamble.”
“I lost nothing by stating the facts,” Shadow replied calmly. “He already hated me.”
“That is most likely true,” Firestorm admitted. “On the real note, we are halfway through the list. We are going to pull from multiple cities for moral purposes. We need you to immediately declare it though.”
Shadow nodded.
“That uniform will do, but I want the rest of the medals on it.”
“I will be back shortly,” Shadow replied.
“Head to Unit 0. We have taken over one of their seminar training rooms. It was already clear and large enough to easily convert.”
“Understood,” Shadow said as he went back to the room.
“Well,” Cardinal Spitfire asked as he entered. She was still on the bed, and it looked like she was just covered by a hastily rolled on sheet.
“The Second Councilor asserted his position and that this was an economic issue. The Sixth Councilor added her approval, which meant they couldn’t have the 6 votes they needed if they wanted to overrule him. I have to put the rest of my medals on in order to tape the public announcement.
“The Council did agree on my awards. Which makes it a very odd mix of for and against many policies right now. They are currently useless.”
“It can take too long sometimes to get things done through them,” Cardinal Spitfire said, troubled.
She joined Shadow’s side, without even barracks wear on, and they began to put everything together. Shadow would have to read the official award letters after, but he had a duty to wear them. A duty to look as strong as he could to the citizens. If they saw a weak Pegasus, they would never believe in the option available.
They had been given a bunch of devices to pin on the medals and ribbons. They covered both devices worn on the award, and devices to cover multiple awards given. It was a headache deciding how to apply several of them.
Shadow already had:
• Pegasus Defense Medal Top Barracks Stripe with “4” device.
• Defense Meritorious Service Award
• Purple Heart x 2
• Bronze Star with Valor
• Silver Star x 2
The end results of their decisions from the reports had him also juggling: 3 Humanitarian Service Medals, 1 Council Unit Citation, 8 Defense Meritorious Service Medals, 11 Purple Hearts, 10 Bronze Stars, 3 Bronze Stars with Valor, Legion of Meritorious Service, 14 Silver Stars, 3 Distinguished Service Crosses, and the Order of the Wings, number 791. He also was given a Marksmanship Badge for Expert Rifle. It was a broach that had crossed rifles suspended below it.
“It’s all too much,” Shadow groaned into his hooves. “Way too much.”
“I know,” Cardinal Spitfire chuckled. “But you underwent multiple missions on your own, killing dozens of raiders and Enclave enemies each time. Those times fit the qualifications for these awards and decorations. It wasn’t approved without reason. And I wouldn’t surprise if General Firestorm gets one of them upgraded to the Enclave Wings of Honor. It’s just a lot to push right now.”
“I don’t understand the humanitarian awards,” Shadow sighed. His head was still on the desk in defeat. “I don’t recall any actions like that.”
“Well, we can find them in this stack later and then you can take them off if you want.”
“How do I even represent 4 Bronze Stars with Valor and all the regular Bronze Stars?”
Cardinal Spitfire made the executive decision for Shadow. “We will just put 3 V devices on and we can sort it out later.”
“Thank goodness you only wear one of the medals. Without the star devices, I wouldn’t be able to stand up straight.”
Cardinal Spitfire let out a laugh. It was true. “You know, some of these are really important. And not just for the citizens. The Legion of Meritorious Service takes time to earn, if you even care. And Deke is the only one I know with the Order Of The Wings. He is 790, one before you. That is impressive.”
“Ugh,” Shadow groaned, confused and defeated. He had a massive headache from the cursory glance.
Cardinal Spitfire put all the award stars and other devices on his medals for Shadow. He was too overwhelmed to do it himself. Besides, he needed to focus on the announcement he would be giving, in front of a camera. That was enough pressure.
Cardinal Spitfire got dressed in a dress uniform with her ribbon bar, and then they headed to Unit 0, together.
“I was getting worried,” General Firestorm said as they entered.
“You overloaded his simple brain,” Cardinal Spitfire stated. It wasn’t a joke. “Shadow is fine with awards, but he definitely feels like you just dumped them on him. Well, you technically did because it was making up for years.”
“Well they look good,” Firestorm said. “They look like an Enclave soldier who has been fighting for his life and race for nearly a decade. And all solo action.”
Shadow shrugged with a sad sigh. “Yeah, I hear you, but it’s still a lot to take in. I just did what I needed to do to survive, and such.”
“You basically spent all those years in combat. Action after action. You hold the record for most combat awards in the Enclave because of it. I wasn’t the only general or admiral approving this list. And we had others consulting. We also talked with Simi about the Zebra engagements. He has no concept of medals or awards. So trust us on this. And trust that the Council only approved ones they believed you were worthy of.”
Shadow let out a chuckled. “I know they denied your Purple Hearts with Black Stripe request.”
General Firestorm shrugged. “It was a stretch. I put that in as a consideration with the two instances. It was up to them with that, and they said no.”
“Alright,” Shadow said shaking his head. The medals on his chest clinked lightly together. “I am ready.”
“We can re-shoot if we need to,” General Firestorm added. “This isn’t live.”
“I won’t need it,” Shadow shot back.
Shadow was directed where to look. It wasn’t directly at a camera. Most of them were just off center to catch his medals and awards.
“Citizens of the Grand Pegasus Enclave. I am Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance, Shadow Flare, Enclave Military. I was one of the recently recovered MIA soldiers. But I am now back after years below. Years spent not just surviving, but acting in the interest of the Enclave. Years spent getting to know the wasteland.
“With the clouds gone, we no longer have our shield. And worse, we lost a lot of farms and communities. I urge you, do not venture below. There is a lot of turmoil, and Pegasi are not being trusted right now. We did just attack most of the cities below.
“However, we are not just sitting here. We are actively solving the problems that arose. At least I am not sitting still, and neither are my friends. I have just come back from the field once again. This time, my mission below was to reestablish contact with several old friends.
“Those friendships from my time below have netted us a big reward. A strong group known as the Applejack Rangers has opened their doors to us. Its limited, but they are willing to support and protect 200 Pegasus Ponies. That is their upper limit. We didn’t ask for this. We asked for open talks; a relationship. They decided to offer more. A lot more than we ever thought possible.
“There is one caveat. A small one. The 200 Pegasi must be farmers. They will be staying and working on farms with real soil. It’s going to be a strain, so they need individuals trained in farming. At least, as trained as we can provide. I can attest to the differences in farming the soil. But we are survivors! We can overcome this!
“The Economic Councilor has approved of the mission. We are setting up to transfer the various refugees to this new, hopefully temporary, home. The opportunity will be presented throughout the majority of the Enclave cities. We will spread it out as fairly as possible.
“Everything has changed. That is the fact of the situation. We will have to find a new way to live. I didn’t make that rule. I didn’t ask it to happen. But it has happened.
“I am not dumb. I recognize the sacrifice this will mean. I also can attest to the opportunity it presents. These are good, hard working ponies, just like you have always been. I was a farmer before I joined the military. A Homestead Farmer from the illustrious Turnip Homestead. I joined so I could protect my family and the farms I loved. Part of surviving below meant farming the soil for the food I needed to survive. I will go back to farming after I can no longer protect you, to live out my old years on my family’s Homestead.
“I know how tough it is for you to sit and do nothing. Living below comes with its risks. But life comes with its own risks, no matter where you live. And these ponies and the Applejack Rangers are prepared to minimize that risk as much as possible.”
“Do not come looking to join this. We will select you. We know who you are. And fear not, if you are selected you can decline. This is not compulsory.
“But I challenge you to not just try something new, but to look at your duty to the Pegasus Race. The duty of providing for them. It’s not a light task to undertake. It will require a strong heart and mind. Do not think that taking this opportunity means you are betraying your race in any way. It means you are willing to go that extra step for them!
“If I had stayed on my family’s farm, I would not have gotten the honor of serving all of you. That is something I have always been proud of. Every day of my life. I never would have met my wife, who stayed faithful to me all the years, despite my Missing In Action status, and despite the Enclave’s inability to track me down.
“A lot went wrong, and we didn’t have teams readily available to respond to my team’s situation. Once they were able to come to our rescue, I had already been forced to move for survival. It was a tough struggle, but it had its good moments.
“One of those good moments is the recovery of this original uniform. I stand before you wearing not the Grand Pegasus Enclave’s dress uniform, but the dress uniform of the Equestrian Sky Force. They served in the great war. They were a one hundred percent sky born Pegasi military unit that changed how the war was fought. They were the foundation for the Aerial Combat Battalion, and that includes the Enclave’s Wonderbolts.
“It is an honor to stand here and wear it, because I am an Aerial Combat Battalion soldier. I always will be an ACB soldier. This uniform honors the solider I am, as well all those who came before me, and all those who serve beside me!
Shadow knew he was beaming as they cut the cameras.
“You were not kidding,” Firestorm clapped. “You didn’t need a second take or even an edit.”
“A lot will not take the opportunity,” Shadow stated. “I estimate half will decline it.”
“Why do you say that?” Cardinal Spitfire asked. “That was a rousing speech.”
“Card, think about my community. Think about your community. What my parents did in your community all those years ago strengthened the foundation of the farms themselves. The cloud layer could get ripped away and the farmers wouldn’t have felt a thing. Most of the places that lost their farms were the weaker communities. Weaker communities means weaker minds and hearts.”
“You know your parents didn’t just do that for our community, right?”
“Catch me up,” Shadow said.
“They also were tasked with a major reboot of the South Cloudsdale District after it fell apart. Along with several other Homesteads. That’s who Deke was protecting from the storm that injured him. They were totally exposed and unprepared for a storm of that magnitude. They all got to safety because of him and his quick thinking.
“That’s also where he got his Order Of The Wings from, and other high medals. I only know that from talking to him over the years. After all, he loves your family. And that was another circumstance entirely. The north-”
“Iced them over,” Shadow interrupted. “I had to break through that ice to try and etch that message in the cave wall. I almost died doing that.”
“And we learned about Kifopiga from the story you told them,” Firestorm added. “When we checked out the cave, that is how we learned the bigger details and history of it.”
“Good,” Shadow smiled. “Now, I think I just want food and bed. It’s been a stressful day.”
“Please,” Firestorm said, gesturing them towards the door. “You are doing a lot more than expected of you.”
“I am the Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance,” Shadow Flare replied. “When I left, that meant something. I was supposed to be the spearhead rebuilding the recon units. Giving speeches and encouraging others is what I am supposed to be doing. Dumping the medals on me was the biggest stress today.”
They were halfway through their meal when Arrow and Dipper sat down with them.
Arrow was ready to talk before she sat down. “Shadow, did you know I married Dipper?”
“I do not,” Shadow grinned. “Congratulations.”
Dipper’s smile got mischievous. “It’s been a real ride.”
“But you got to ride it,” Shadow fired back. Shadow got quiet and somber. “I have not had time to catch up, and I have been afraid to. What happened to Chocolate and Flags?”
“Flags is a Major, in Scout Command,” Arrow said. “We rarely see him. He could still be on patrol, but I expect he would have at least stopped by to see or Dipper. Chocolate went the teacher route, and he is dealing with the recruit insurrection at the main base.”
“Fun,” Shadow chuckled. “I heard they were having problems.”
Dipper shook his head. “Whole units have been locked into their barracks and they are all under heavy guard. Hot weapons at all times. General Marble Falls is trying to keep them out of the potential war, for their safety. She is their commanding officer after all. But they are a hotheaded group that joined to kill.”
“Great,” Shadow groaned as he rolled his eyes. “That is exactly what we need in the Military.”
“But they just don’t get it,” Dipper stated. “Despite Marble Falls’ best efforts, these groups just don’t get it.”
Another pony sat down at the table. It was Slice. “I forgot how much I like this food. It beats the pre-war stuff. Baltimare was only just learning to cook with the spices you got Crystal Kiss to start growing. I guess I did miss something above.”
Shadow chuckled. “How have you been?”
“Eh,” Slice shrugged. “I’ve been better. Just keeping my head down. For now. I know they will come for me. They already grill me once a day about something. But I see they decked you out.”
Shadow’s head was once again in his hoof.
“He still feels it is overboard,” Cardinal Spitfire explained, pulling Shadow in for a side hug. “They had to catch up on years of service across Equestria and beyond. But he still isn’t happy.”
Dinner finished quietly, but nicely. It was good to be among friends, even quietly. When they got back to the room, Shadow had to unpin everything from his uniform. He was hanging it up, for now. The medals would have pulled on the fabric if he hung them up together. He doubted he would need the uniform for a while.
It felt good to have Cardinal Spitfire snuggle up to him. She didn’t care about the medals. She understood. She just wanted him for who he was.