“Well I really need a shower and I had enough of this hell on Equestria to last me a lifetime. Bellz, use your speed and retrieve the flight cart, here's the map.” Kido handed her the map they used for the mission.

“Right boss.” Bellz saluted her superior and flew off.

“Spike and Applejack. Find where the supplies are kept. See if you can find water, food or anything useful to help the rescued, they look famished.” Kido ordered.

“Right Sarge.” Spike saluted and ran off.

“Yes sir.” Applejack saluted and went after Spike.

“Derpy. You and I will debrief the rescued. You know what to do.” Kido looked to Derpy.

“Got it Wolfboss.” Derpy quickly looked through her back pack and brought out her notebook and pen.

Kido walked towards the beaten and weak rescued slaves. One stallion, three mares. The oldest of the bunch, the male, wasn't past his thirties. But one in particular caught his eye.

“Misses Smoothie? Strawberry Smoothie?” Kido looked towards the young strawberry blonde maned and light red fur mare. She looked to her rescuer confused and scared.

“Yes. Do I know you?” The mare asked.

“No. But I know your daughter, Blueberry. I'm here to bring you back to her.”

“She's alive?” Her face turned to one of astonishment.

“And doing better everyday, I've made sure of that.”

“Oh by Celestia. Thank you.” The young mother approached the wolf and embraced him. Tears in her eyes. After a minute she let go. “I don't mean to sound ungrateful. But who are you?”

“Sargent Kido Badtower...” Kido was interrupted.

“Hey Sarge we found a bunch of stuff.” Spike appeared in a small cart Applejack was pulling with supplies.

“Great job Privates.” Kido praised his friends.

“Wait just a second...” Intervened the male former slave. “Are you all with the Guard? Does that mean Celestia finally revoked Inferos political immunity.”

“No friend, she did not. We are here on our own accord.” Kido replied.

“You're risking war...!” He said in indignation.

“Would you rather still be down in the dungeon!? Have every last of your dignity stripped away! You were right there with us, but you didn't suffer the way the mares did! The way I did. They saved us!!!” Strawberry yelled at the colt.

“I suffered just as much as you!” The colt yelled but then lowered his head in shame. “Some of them... they preferred colts.” Strawberry was shocked and approached the colt in pain, putting a comforting hoof on his back.

“I... I didn't know.”

“It's not like it was easy for me. Or even before I was taken. But were risking war. That was the agreement between the countries. A few suffer so the many shall live.”

“Kind sir if I may.” Kido said. “These are lives we are talking about. You are not just an adult pony. You are a son, perhaps even a father and husband.”

“I am. I have a wife. I have a little stallion. He's the most beautiful thing in the world ” He knew where this was going and started to fall to his knees in sadness.

“Sir, what if it was him that was taken? Does this agreement made in hell sound just to you. To trade the life and dignity of your son, to this evil?”

“Your right. This must be stopped. Thank you.” He changed his tone and force a smile. “So is this your squad of heroes?”

“Yes ladies and gentlecolt, these are my brother and sisters in arms. Private Hooves, Spike, Applejack and Bellz, who is now retrieving our transport.”

“But you and the bat. They allowed you in the guard?” Asked Strawberry.

“I wasn't just allowed mam, I was invited. Me and my band of heroes. We stand for what's right. We stand to fight for freedom, despite the harsh road. The four fair souls who accompany me, are brave, noble and proven worthy of admiration. But they're are also more than that...”

The three Privates looked at each other, feeling proud and happy at how their leader spoke of them. They continued to listen.

“They are also... MY BITCHES.”

“WHAT THE FUCK BOSS!!!?” The three privates yelled.

“Problem?” Kido gave the three a mischievous smile.

After no more than an hour Bellz arrived. Kido and Derpy finished taking a general debriefing of the former slaves, while Applejack and Spike tended to their wounds and fed them properly. While the rescued ate and rested, Kido asked his team to follow and speak in private. They gathered at a small distance away from hearing distance of the rescued.

“All right, I have something important to discuss with you...” Kido began to explain, but Bellz lifted her hand. “Yes Bellz?”

“Is this about how you think we're your bitches?” Bellz asked.

“Well... is it true?” Kido asked with a smile.

“Perhaps.”

“Good gravy! After today I will admit, I do trust you Bellz. But I think you're a slut.” Applejack said.

“I second that.” Derpy said lifting a hoof.

“Kido come on, I think after tonight we earned some respect.” Applejack explained.

“Bitch Please.” Kido said smiling.

“For the love of...” Applejack sighed, giving up on the issue. “Derpy is he always like this?”

“He's real nice in the end. Trolling is his way of expressing affection because he's a jackass.” Derpy said.

“Burned!” Bellz yelled at Kido.

“Shut the fuck up Bellz!” Kido yelled back.

“Is this seriously how you three spend your time when not on a case?” Spike asked.

Kido, Derpy and Bellz looked at each other. “Pretty much.” The three said.

“Enough shenanigans...” Kido tried to get back on track.

“Did you seriously juat say shenanigans?” Bellz said giggling.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP BELLZ!!!” Kido and Derpy yelled at their her.

“Okay, serious time. I need to discuss with you guys my plan for when we go back. The government won't be happy about what we did. So I'd like tell you my plan, the one I've been working on since before I even arrived at Ponyville nearly two months ago.” Kido explained.

The privates remained silent.

“To make a long story short. I'm planning to take over as ruler of Equestria.” Kido said with a dead serious look on his face.

“What in the hay?” Applejack gasped.

“What?” Said Spike.

“I like a man on top.” Bellz expressed.

“Wolfboss I trust you, but are you sure you can?” Derpy asked.

“Yes my dear. I am.” Kido said.

“Kido you can't do this!” Applejack said.

“Applejack, don't you see? You more than anypony know the suffering of the earth ponies. While the pegasus are safe in the sky and the unicorns in Canterlot. The truth is, the earth Ponies are the grand majority that suffer from the agreement made between Canterlot and Inferos.” Kido gave her a look of sincerity. “Do you think the rich and powerful who rule, who are safe from harm, will take action to help those less fortunate?”

Applejack sighed. “No. The earth pony representatives have tried for years. The wealthy only care about staying wealthy.” She looked down, then at Spike, then back at Kido. “Considering what we just did and seeing what you stand for. When the time comes, you will have my support, and I will spread the word about you.”

“Applejack you can't be serious? Sarge I respect and trust you, but this is crazy.” Spike protested.

“Spike I wish there was a better way. You know what Applejack said is true. The earth ponies cries for help have remained unheard.”

“I know, I know....” Spike thought for a moment. “I'll keep an open mind.”

“Thank you my friend.”

“I trust you wolfboss.” Derpy said smiling.

“Thank you my dear. Thank you all.” Kido expressed his deepest gratitude.

“So if your plan works, then what? You rule like a king?” Applejack asked jokingly.

“No. Not like a king.” Kido said..

“What then?”

“Like a BOSS.”

After a few hours, they made it back to Ponyville. They dropped off the rescued at the hospital to have a full check up. The team later arrived at the station. Applejack quickly said her goodbyes and headed home.

“I'm gonna go take a shower.” Bellz said and then pointed at Kido and Spike. “You two should do the same.” She then opened the door to the station and headed upstairs. Derpy followed her inside.

“Spike you can stay for a while if you want.” Kido said.

“It's okay, I gotta let Twilight know I'm alive and well.” Spike said.

“Very well. I hope to see you soon friend.”

“Kido can we talk tomorrow? What happened at the ship. I feel... different.” He said with worry in his face.

“My young friend.” Kido knelt in one knee and put his right hand on his shoulder. “Tomorrow we will pray together. But know that what you did, aided in the saving of ponies and a much needed change for Equestria. What you did... I'm not saying it was easy... but you did what was right. Go with the Goddess my friend.”

“You have got to tell me about the Goddess sometime. She sounds awesome.”

“With pleasure.”

Spike ran off feeling more at ease. Kido started to make his way inside, noticing at that moment that ponies were watching him and Spike. He remembered they are covered in dry blood. Once inside he saw Derpy doing some filing of the notes she took when debriefing the rescued.

“Derpy you can do that later. We all deserve some rest.” Kido said.

“I know. But I was actually killing time waiting for you.” Derpy said as she closed a drawer. She then started to walk towards him.

“About last night?”

Derpy nodded.

“Derpy I think...” He was interrupted.

“Wolfboss. I understand... I'm not pretty. I have goofy eyes. And even though you say you trust me and I try my best to do good by you. It takes a lot of focus for me not to mess up. I appreciate what you did taking the risk of hiring me. But I know you only did it because you felt sorry for me, because of what I told you the day we met at the bridge.” Derpy started to shed some tears. “But what happened last night … thank you... It made me feel special... even if it was only once.”

Kido remained silent. He knelt to be closer to his friends eye level.

“Derpy it's an awful thing to lie my dear.” Derpy gasped and looked at him. “You are so pretty. And the fact that you don't know it, is an admirable trait. Humility. You are not goofy. You're different. So wonderfully different. And I hired you because I trust you. I knew from the moment I saw you, I could trust you.”

Derpy started to shed tears of happines and smiled. Kido put his right hand on her cheek.

“What happened last night. It made me feel special too.”

“Thanks Wolfboss.”

“And on that note.”

“Yeah?”

“I was hoping it wouldn't only happen once.”

“Oh my.”