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.