“Sure, I’ve done my fair share of killing in The Wasteland, but every unnecessary loss hurts not only me. It hurts every loved one of the one lost.”

The days I’d spent over the past few years fighting for my country took a toll on me. The days since my homeland died in the fires of magical radiation has taken an even bigger toll. In the past forty years since I helped start this government that’s been dubbed The Grand Pegasus Enclave, I’ve had time to see the error of my ways. I’ve watched every single pony and griffon die; or go through more in their lives than anypony should have to deal with. My own family was no exception to that. With the death of my oldest son at the hooves of his two younger brothers, I’ve lost any respect I had left for The Enclave. Thunderlane is taking everything from me. He’d taken my two younger sons, brainwashed them into following his rule and used them to silence my oldest for good. If it wasn’t for Nightingale, my youngest and only filly, and Lightning Dust, I would’ve flown to Thunderlane’s fortress and annihilated him and his entire family. Though my body probably wouldn’t have been able to make it through the fight. If I still had the power armor Minuette made for me, then I might stand a chance, but that was still locked up in The Lucky Horseshoe.

My wife and my daughter are the ones who convinced me that I had to leave, they’re the ones who told me what I’d need to do if I wanted to fix everything I destroyed over the past fifty years. Ever since the day I formed the Children of the Night. Ever since the day I took on my new name, Night Stalker. Greta was right, and I was a fool for letting my pride take control of me for so long. I let my mind be manipulated by darkness, and because of that if I don’t set things right, The Wasteland below and the Enclave above would be utterly destroyed by that darkness. If my plans work, I’ll be able to set in motion the events that should fix everything and save my family. The question is, will my body last long enough to do what I needed to do?

I opened my eyes and groaned in pain as I felt the scabs over my flanks where my cutie mark used to be, crack and bleed. Right now, my body wasn’t even able to get off this cot Greta’s Doctor put me on when she saved me from that fall. My wings hurt too, but not as bad. I still can’t believe my two younger sons attacked me like that, broke my wings, burned away my cutie mark, and branded me as a Dashite. A program I foolishly started when Scootaloo had that fight with me so many years ago. I could still remember her screams of pain when I made her the first Dashite. Branding on the mark of her mentor and my former friend as a so-called punishment for her defying me. She’d just wanted to have us use the power we had to help the ponies in The Wasteland, and I’d called her foolish for wanting to help dirt ponies. If Greta hadn’t just left the Enclave, if she hadn’t left me, just a few days before, maybe I would have been in a better mindset to hear Scootaloo out.

I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself, I did my best to ignore the pain in my body as I got to my hooves, stumbling a little. I tried to take a step toward the mouth of the cave, but stumbled and nearly fell over, before a figure rushed in and caught me. The talons holding me up tightened then forced me to lay back down on the cot and I heard my old friend’s voice, say, “Dammit Moony, are you trying to kill yourself? You’re not a young buck anymore you know.”

I looked up into Greta’s face and couldn’t help the small smile that pulled at my lips. “When have you ever known me to just lay around when there’s work to be done?”

She rolled her eyes at me and sighed. “You used to be a lot younger and with a lot less injuries back then. You’re lucky I heard about the overthrow of your government when I did and was able to save your worthless ass.”

“I’m still surprised you did. I thought you would’ve let me fall to my death. The last time I saw you it seemed like you’d rather see me dead. What changed?” I asked as I looked back up at her.

“Lapse in judgment. Anyway, what happened up in the clouds that would make your near worshipers kick you out like that and brand you?” she asked stepping away.

As she did, I noticed that she looked a lot different than she had when she’d stormed out of my office all those years ago. The feathers over her chest and head were mostly gray, the same for some of her fur. She had scars covering a good amount of her body and she looked like life hadn’t been easy for her. I did notice however that she still had Joy and Misery strapped to sheathes on her chest.

“I see you’re still good at changing the subject,” she said, pinching the bridge of her beak, “You might’ve given them to me, but Joy and Misery were both made by Minuette. She was a close friend and I miss her quite a lot, same for the rest of the Children.”

“Could’ve fooled me. Last I heard, you’ve been hunting them down,” I said.

She sighed and sat down next to me, she looked like it wasn’t easy for her either. Age was claiming both of us it seemed. “I was angry back then, and yes, I was trying to kill anyone who knew about Falling Shadows. I managed to kill Babs at that dance studio she ran,” she looked sad as she continued, “Didn’t know her son was in the room when I’d done it. I tried finding the others but didn’t have much luck. Now I really wish I would’ve thought things through more.”

“Yeah, I got intel about her dying by your talons too, but what happened to her son? Was he still alive?” I asked.

“He’s alive, I left after I killed her. I thought she knew more about what happened with Falling Shadows, because she was great at keeping secrets. Her son wasn’t my target, and I don’t kill kids,” she replied.

A small smile came to Greta’s beak as she said, “Your entire life was a big secret Moony…Night Stalker…sorry I sometimes forget that you don’t like your old nickname.”

“I think using Night Stalker would be a bad idea now that I’m a Dashite. Unless somepony saw you catch me, I’m guessing that Thunderlane and my sons think I’m dead. I’ll need to find a way to let Nightingale and Lightning know I’m alive and still able to carry out my plans,” I said as I tried to steady myself again.

I couldn’t help a smirk as I said, “I learned some stuff about what Falling Shadows really is. I don’t know how, but Minuette found a way to get a message to me. It had all of her research into the project in it and intel I wasn’t told about while we were working on it.”

“How will Falling Shadows be any use to anypony with Luna dead and the Mark II’s lost?” Greta asked.

“The system wasn’t ever meant to be used on just Luna. That was what Project Stargazer was for and that failed. Minuette used the plans and ideas from that project and the help of our zebra friend to make Falling Shadows. If somepony finds Aquila in that old lab and she takes over their body, she can become the most powerful magic user in all Equestria and after so many years trapped down there, I’m sure she wouldn’t be friendly toward our kind. At the same time, Minuette speculated that the power that would be unlocked when Falling Shadows is activated, would most likely open the deepest darkest levels of Tartarus,” I said wincing as my wings flared with pain.

“Wait back up a bit, how did she tell you any of this? She’s dead,” Greta said.

“I thought so too and maybe she is, but the intel was sent to an old terminal I still had, the intel was sent two weeks ago. Somepony sent it to me and Minuette was the only one who knew the broadcast ID for that terminal. She might still be alive out there, if she is though, I don’t know where she is,” I said.

Pain ran through my chest making me nearly cry out, but I managed to hold it back. I couldn’t tell her…not yet. If she knew, she’d never let me do what I need to. Greta might’ve been angry with me for many years, but from what I could tell, she still cared about me, and those kinds of feelings would only make what I had to do harder. I managed to smile again as I said, “I can’t go over everything yet, I’ll need to heal first and make sure the ponies I need to talk with are still alive. Once I’m healed, I’ll be out of your feathers.”

“If I remember right, you did the leaving last time,” I Joked, “But seeing how you’re talking to me now, I’m guessing you finally found out what happened at Griffonstone.”

She nodded slowly. “Two years ago, my griffons and I took down a group of your Enclave near the Ruins of Las Pegasus. One of them was on Thunderlane’s team that day. After some time, I questioned him, and learned the truth. You had nothing to do with the death of our homeland.”

“I never had my own proof, but I had a feeling he had something to do with it. I think he’s been working against us for some time, maybe even before the bombs fell. I didn’t have time to learn more before I was branded, but if it helps, I’m just as angry as you are for the loss of your old home and the friends we had there,” I said sadly.

“I tried to go back a few years ago, but the place is still too deadly. Although, I was able to visit our old hang out. I wasn’t able to watch the sun set like in the old days, but it was the first time in years I thought about you and I back when we were kids still,” she said sitting down and looking sad.

“Aurora’s Twin Peaks…you know…the last time we both went there together was both the happiest and saddest day of my life,” I said, feeling my heart race a little as I remembered the words I wanted to say to her so badly, but was too scared to utter.

She smiled, “We were both about eighteen I think back then. I wanted to tell you a secret that day, but we both just ended up watching the sunset. It was the day before you joined the military.”

“Yeah, I was going to say something too, but I wimped out,” I said with a laugh.

She shared the laugh, “Well what I wanted to say to you Moony was probably way more embarrassing and taboo than what you had to say I’m sure.”

“Ha! I’m not going to tell you now, I’m an old griffon and the leader of a growing talon company. I’m not a teenager anymore,” she said.

I leaned against the wall to look up at that face I grew up with. What would she have said if I told her how much I’d loved her over the years, how scared I was to let anypony find out that I loved a griffon? True, I fell for Lightning Dust later and I still loved her, but she never made my heart beg for her like Greta did. Maybe it was the fact that we grew up together, or maybe I was just attracted to Griffons being as I grew up around them. Either way, even now, with what was happening to me, I still couldn’t tell her. I couldn’t tell her that she was the only creature I ever wanted in my life and how I wanted to make the Life Bond with her back when we were still young and before I was Night Stalker.

“From now on call me Absent or Absent Moon…Moony is not well known but some know you used to call me that. Night Stalker is dead and needs to stay that way,” I said.

I smiled again. “If we get a chance, let’s go to Aurora’s Twin Peaks again…I’ll find a way to watch the sunset with you, cross my heart.”

I jerked awake looking around in utter confusion as the crystal fell from my chest and onto the cloudy floor. It didn’t fall through the clouds thank the Goddesses, but still I was in a bit of shock and confusion at what just happened. My head pounded as memories not my own flooded into my brain, most of them too confusing for me to even understand. One stuck, the one where I felt as if I was Absent Moon…Night Stalker. It was unlike any memory I’d experienced in a memory orb before. I felt everything, knew everything Night Stalker did during that time in his life, or at least what he was thinking about. I knew a great deal of what happened to him by now when he was branded and thrown out of The Enclave, but I hadn’t known that Greta was the one who saved him. I knew he ended up with her at some point, but she was the one who snatched him from the sky.

The memory was fading now, but that place they talked about, Aurora’s Twin Peaks stuck. Something about it was important, but what? Then it came to me and using my Mark II I searched through my inventory until I found the letter I’d found in the Absent Ruins and pulled it out reading it again…

Sorry I couldn’t stick around here, I have too much work that I need to finish. I’m grateful that you helped me, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have survived that fall. You’ve always been there for me even after so much time and what I did. I’m not sure if you’ve forgiven me or not, either way it was good to see you again my friend. I wouldn’t have left without talking to you first, but time is short and what I have to do can’t wait. I have to correct the sins of my past if ponykind is going to survive. You were right, I was a fool, for so many years I was such a damned fool. Don’t worry though, soon everything will be better. Go back to your family, they need you more than I do. Life is crazy as hell. Don’t let my past destroy what you’ve done over the years.

I left you the sword you gave me, where I’m going I won’t need it, my power armor will serve me just fine just like it always has. I’m also leaving you this memory orb, it’s one of the only ones I was able to get back. I figured you’d enjoy watching it if you ever find a recollector. It’s the one of that night, you know which one I’m talking about. It’s one of my happiest memories, next to the day I met you. If you wish to view it, the password is easy, at least for you. It’s the name of the place where we watched the sunset when we were young.

I have to go, I’m sure The Enclave will be coming for me soon. Don’t worry though, if they find me I’ll make them pay for branding me. I’ll miss you my friend, please live a happy life and forget about me, my world is coming to an end, don’t let yours.

I finished reading and it finally clicked, Greta had given Misery to Night Stalker at some point, that’s why it was in the ruins. He left her one of the memory orbs he had Dwarf Star make for him to give to the only creature in his life he truly loved. He put a passcode on it that only Greta would understand. A memory orb I still hadn’t viewed because I never knew what that passcode was. Now I did, Aurora’s Twin Peaks. It had to be. G…Greta from A.M. Absent Moon. He loved her so much that he wanted her to go back to Crimson Canyon and forget about him, but she never found his letter, she never found the orb or the twin to her sword. I could still see both blades in that memory even as it faded away. Misery I knew all too well because I’d been using the black blade for a while now. I still had it with me, Aura had given it back to me before I left for this mission, she said she couldn’t use Misery right now because she was still a pony. I saw Joy in that memory too. Its blade had been as white as snow, its handle red like blood and it had the same faint blue glow around its edge…Star Metal. It was a set of weapons, Joy and Misery, heads or tails, good and evil, life and death. Whatever happened to Joy? Was it still with Greta’s body, or was it lost somewhere? Maybe The Enclave took it when she died.

Either way, I couldn’t do much about finding it now, I was tempted to go into the memory orb, but I had work to do and from the light coming in slightly through the windows, morning was approaching. Still, I pulled Misery from my Saddle bags where I’d been keeping it and said softly, “I wish I had both of you. I’m sure you’d love to be reunited with your twin.” I felt silly talking to a sword, but ever since the weapon stopped itself from hurting Aura or me and ripped itself away from Aquila, I’ve felt like the weapon had a bit of its own kind of special magic.

“Too bad you can’t help find Joy,” I said, then almost jumped back as Misery glowed with a black light and I felt it pull to one direction in my magic, “What the fuck?”

I held onto the blade as it pulled me around until it was pointing northeast. When it stopped the black light around the blade flashed white then black then blue and back to black. It did this several times before it finally stopped and went back to looking completely normal. Narrowing my eyes, I pulled up my Pip-Buck and looked at my map. I zoomed out further and further until I had everywhere I’d been in the past few weeks. Following the direction I was facing and going in a straight line I saw that I was facing toward the Twin Cities, no, north of them. I looked back at Misery, “Is Joy in The Crystal Empire?”

The blade hummed in my magical grip flaring white slightly before it went lifeless again. If that wasn’t a hint then I was crazier than I thought, I smiled and closed out of my map then said to Misery, “When this is all over, I’ll have to go there anyway, I’ll see if I can find Joy when we get there.”

Misery Flashed again and I smiled as I put it into its sheath across my back. I stretched and threw my duster on over Misery and started heading into the living room. It was time to save my dad, New Pegasus, then kill myself a Child of the Stars. I was all ready to burst down the halls of this large house to take on all of Stratus when I nearly slammed right into Fairy Glitter. Well, there goes my hero’s entrance.

“Shadow, you’re up early. Good, we have some work to get done before we get started on the rest of the plan,” she said. She looked tired but happy.

“Eating breakfast and still talking, none of us slept much last night, but we’ll be ready for tonight,” she said with a smile, “Follow me to my recording room, we need to get that message out before everypony is up and heading off to work.”

“So…you’re not mad about what I did last night?” I asked as I followed her.

“Oh, I’m furious,” she said, but she really didn’t sound like it, “But it all worked out in the end. Stardust has so many stories from his time in the Stable and it’s wonderful to hear about his life and adventures. You know the stuff I didn’t see or hear while I was keeping an eye on him. Did you know he has a crush on that mutant friend of yours?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I know, we talked about it a few times and she’s not a mutant, she’s just different.”

“She’s psychotic and dangerous if you ask me, but it’s not my place to tell him who he falls in love with,” Fairy Glitter said.

“She’s having a hard time with her mixed DNA, she’s not psychotic…well not normally,” I said.

“I know all about it, I’ve already hacked into that Doctor Gauze’s terminal and pulled up all the data he’s managed to collect on her blood work. I’m no doctor, so I can’t tell you myself what’s making her go crazy, but I sent the intel to Stormy. She thinks she can fix her easily enough,” she said like hacking into a wastelander’s terminal and taking valuable data from it was no big deal.

She looked back at me confused. “Solstice told me what was going on with her a couple weeks back and wanted to know if I could help. So, I did what I do best and got all the intel I could on her and sent it to the right pony to take a look at it. Stormy is a thousand times smarter than that wasteland doctor, I’m sure she’ll figure it out. Speaking of hacking into stuff, I also got some intel not long ago that a doctor in Thunderhead found a cure for Killing joke. I guess it’s a slightly modified treatment from back before the war. So, I have a list of what you’ll need if you want to get Aura back to normal too.”

“Well yeah, of course I would, I was kind of hoping it would wear off after some time just like what happened with me, but this would make it a lot easier,” I said happily.

“I can send the recipe to the Shadow Talons if you like? I’m sure Aura is back there by now. If you’re all expecting to go into a fight soon, she may want her normal body back,” she said as we reached a door.

“That would be amazing!” I said, then looked at the door, “So where are we?”

“The bathroom, Stormy told me that if you need to remove your disguise, that you’d need a shower.”

“Oh yeah,” I said reaching into my saddle bags and pulling out a bottle with a potion Stormy made just for this. “Just need to use this then remove the fake cutie mark and contacts and I’m all good. I thought I needed to stay looking like this until we saved my dad though?”

She chuckled. “I can’t convince ponies to trust you if you don’t look the part dear, now go get washed up. I’m sure you’d love a warm shower after everything you’ve been through. I’ll check on you in a little while. Also let me have your barding and duster, I’ll get them cleaned up for you and fix what I can while you wash up.”

I removed my clothes and gave them to her. She wrinkled her nose a bit as I gave the items to her, making sure to pull Misery out of its sheath before I did. “Ewww, you really need to clean your barding more Shadow.”

I rolled my eyes. “Trust me, I’ve smelled worse,” I shivered, remembering the Dumpster of Death, “Way worse.”

“I’m sure you have,” she said, with one of those assuring smiles you only see on an adult that’s just humoring a young pony’s delusion of grandeur, “I should tell you that even though it’s gross and dangerous down there, there’s always at least a little time to bathe. Us filly’s have to look and smell our best to keep our title of the fairer sex.”

“I don’t know about that. The wasteland doesn’t have as nice of facilities as this. Plus, I think I still have a lingering odor from this one time I had to hide in a dumpster full of rotting corpses,” I replied.

Her face went slightly green and twisted into a look of disgust as, she said, “Use the magnolia body wash on the shelf, that should take care of it. If you’ll excuse me, I need to go get this soaking in something.”

With that I went into the bathroom and got into the shower. It took me a while to get cleaned up. First of all, the potion I had to apply took a while to wash away the special dyes that Stormy used to make me look how I did, second, I had a hard time removing the contacts. The Fake Cutie Mark was easy, it just fell off once I applied the potion. Once that was done, I had to really clean myself, even with the dye gone, I was fucking dirty. It hadn’t been that long since I was in the Ministry, but with everything I’d done in the past day or so, I was surprised I wasn’t gaging at my own smell.

Finishing, I stepped out and noticed I was starting to sink into the floor a bit. I would have panicked but then I realized that the spell was starting to wear off. With a sigh I recast the cloud walker spell and I popped back up onto the seemingly real floor. I thought it would’ve lasted longer, Stormy said it was a twenty-four-to-thirty-hour spell. Maybe, the spell didn’t work as well on me just like the anesthesia spell the doctors at Hidden Sands tried to use on me. Either way I’d have to keep an eye on it. I then took a moment to look in the mirror on the wall as I replayed what happened last night and the flood of information that crystal had put into my head. I wish I had time to go over what was dumped into my brain.

I concentrated a little trying to see if I could pull up anything from that memory dump. I gasped as a quick flash flew through my brain. For a second, I was Night Stalker again, he…I…him…I can’t tell was rutting against Greta on a dark moonless night. Then it was gone and I stepped away from the mirror, “Okay, maybe I don’t want to know everything about him. I don’t need to witness my distant grandfather screwing Aura’s distant grandmother. That’s too messed up even for me.”

Somepony knocked on the door making me jump then it was followed by Fairy Glitter, saying, “Shadow are you done? I have your barding and duster clean, and I patched a couple of holes for you.”

“Yeah,” I said, going over and opening the door. She was on the other side with my stuff neatly folded and laying on her back. Smiling I took them and once again donned my barding and duster. I picked up Misery and sheathed it once again then took in a deep breath and frowned as a strange scent I’d never smelled before hit my nose, “What is that?”

In answer she just chuckled and showed me to another room a few doors down, “I hope you’re ready for this, you’re going to be speaking to most of the population in a few moments.”

I followed her into the room and gasped at the amount of tech that was shoved inside of it. I’d love to name every single thing I saw, but I didn’t know what most of it was. What I did see that I understood was a few terminals, microphones, and a few chairs. The rest were a bunch of blinking lights, dials, switches, what looked like security cameras and a bunch of wires on the floor around the equipment.

“It’s a radio station mostly, but I also have cameras so I can record you while you tell the Enclave what you need to,” she said as she made her way over to a terminal and started entering something, “Sit in the red chair and I’ll tell you what you need to say, I’m just setting this up to broadcast live and record at the same time.”

“So…you want me to sit in this chair?” I asked, indicating it as I walked over, “And talk to hundreds of ponies?”

“That’s the general idea, yes,” Fairy Glitter said, as she finished what she was doing and moved the large camera to face me then walked over and moved a microphone close, “And it’ll be more like Thousands. This will be going out to Nimbus, Stratus, The Twin Cities, and the Crystal Empire…might even get some ponies in The Kingdom. I’m mostly blocking out the Enclave officer channels, but I know a few soldiers who will be willing to listen.”

“I…I’ve never talked in front of so many ponies before though,” I said, feeling a nervous flutter in my stomach.

“Don’t think of it like that. Just think about talking into a camera, only you and I are here. That should help, now I’ve prepared a speech for you to say. Keep to it and we should all be fine,” she said, holding out a stack of cards.

I took them in my magic. “You realize that I’ll sound like a robot if I read something like this, right?”

She shrugged. “The goal here is to get as many of the citizens to listen to you as we can get. Now, I’m going live in, 3…2…”

I took in a deep breath as I looked into the camera then started to read from the cards, “Citizens of The Grand Pegasus Enclave…” I stopped and looked down at the cards again sighed then kept going, “Many of you might know my face, you might know the Duster I wear, some may even know who I am or at least my name. I’m The Courier…”

I didn’t listen, I was too busy looking down at the well-prepared speech she wanted me to give to the pegasi. She said the goal was to get as many on my side as I could, but how was I going to do that? With the words another mare wrote for me? I’m not Fairy Glitter or part of her family, I’m Shadow Star, I’m the Courier. I’m my father’s daughter, my mothers filly, the Granddaughter of Night Stalker himself. If I want them to follow me, to help me, I have to do what I’ve always done. I have to be myself.

With another deep breath I lifted the cards in my magic and looked right into the Camera, feeling the fear and nerves flow away like water as I hardened myself to what had to be done. “I’m sorry about that, but the ponies who want me to get this message out to you all want me to keep my words to a script. If any of you know me even a little, even if you’ve only heard stories about me, then you should know that I play by my own rules.”

“Trust me,” I whispered, then went back to looking at the camera, “Yes I am Shadow Star The Courier, for the past few months you’ve heard the stories about me and sadly a lot of them are probably true. I’ve fought your soldiers, I’ve blown a hole in your clouds not once, not twice, but three times. Twice with a super weapon and once with my own magic,” I forgot that I’d just done it again a week or so ago, but too late to correct myself now.

I kept going. “I’ve destroyed Mill City Tower, took down a few of The Sins, been your enemy for a while now. What most of you may not know is that I didn’t start this fight. Until a few weeks ago when I destroyed Stable 9, I’d never met another pegasus apart from my best friend Stardust. I had no problem with The Enclave or the cloud cover. That was until Winter Frost came down with a group of soldiers and attacked me saying he was looking for my friend. I protected myself and managed to get away from him, but with the help of a mare named Cloak and The Sins, they kept coming after me on orders from your former high council ponies. Back then, I had no memory of who I was or where I’d come from apart from my stable. I’m sure most of you think that’s all there is about me. To most of you, I’m just a stable mare who’s gotten lucky a few too many times. Well, I’m here to tell you that’s wrong.”

I looked over at Fairy Glitter but she was just watching me with something almost like awe on her face so I kept going. “As I said, my name is Shadow Star, but I’m not from Stable 28 or even the New Pegasus area. I’m from The Crystal Empire. I’m the daughter of Grimoire Spell and Nightshade. I’m also the distant granddaughter to Minuette, Lightning Dust, and Night Stalker himself. My line came from Nightingale on my father’s side and Dwarf Star on my mother’s. I got my memories back a few weeks back and I now know who I am. I am not your enemy, I’m one of you, a fellow Enclave citizen who was lost and abandoned when I was young. Thought to be dead to most but in reality, being hidden away to keep me safe from the leaders in the Enclave who wanted to use a power I held for themselves. I am Enclave just like all of you, only I’ve seen the truth about what’s going on in our cities, what they’re hiding from you in The Wasteland and I’ve been fighting to fix the mistakes of my family. I’m here today to tell you that I have come to Stratus, in the city of my father to do what I’ve always done. Fight for the betterment of society.”

I took a moment to let that sink in then kept it up. “A few days ago, Nightshade, my father, was arrested by Strife and Winter Frost and now is scheduled to be executed tomorrow along with an ally of mine who you all know as Greed. Not only did I come home to find that my father is going to be killed for the service he’s provided to better not only The Enclave, but the ponies in The Wasteland. I also come to find Stratus, a jewel in the sky, letting eastern pegasi tell them what to do! Nimbus, Stratus, The Crystal Empire, and The Twin Cities have lasted for two hundred years without their help and now one of our own betrays us all to them? You all are okay with just sitting around and letting them take over? I thought Stratus stood for more than that. I thought Stratus was better than the rest of The Enclave. Where the other cities fight each other and try to rule over one another, Stratus, Nimbus, The Crystal Empire, and The Twin Cities have all worked together. We may not have always gotten along that’s true, but when it comes to protecting our way of life, we’ve always banded together. It’s time to do so again. Pegasi and unicorns of the Western Enclave, let’s show Neighvarro why you aren’t to be fucked with. Tomorrow at the execution, I’m going to go in and save Greed and my father. I only have a couple of ponies helping me right now and we can’t do it alone. Let’s save Nightshade, let’s save Greed, and let’s kick Neighvarro out of our home!”

I was letting all the emotions I’ve had to push down over the past few weeks out. My anger, loss, sorrow, pain, and more filled every word as I gave the speech I didn’t even know I had in me, “I am Shadow Star, I am also The Courier. I’ve put everything I have into protecting those who I love ever since I escaped my stable, but even I’m not strong enough to stop the invasion of Stratus. I know this because I wasn’t strong enough to stop a monster who tried to kill me just last week. My mother, Grimoire Spell is dead. She gave her life to save mine from that monster. So, even if some of you are too scared to fight for somepony you don’t know, or don’t trust, then fight for my father. Somepony who has dedicated his life to protecting you,” I said as I started to feel myself tremble a bit, tears were welling up as I said one last thing. The sadness coming through in my words, as I said, “I can’t lose another parent so soon. Please Stratus, rise-up, and help me save them. Take back our skies and take back our home. If you’re with me, be at the execution tomorrow. When you see me, be ready for a fight. Those who aren’t willing, stay inside. I don’t want any of you to get hurt when the fighting starts. Sure, I’ve done my fair share of killing in The Wasteland, but every unnecessary loss hurts not only me. It hurts every loved one of the ones lost.”

I turned my tear-stained face away from the camera and walked out of the room. I ignored Fairy Glitter trying to say something to me. I ignored the anger still bubbling inside. I ignored everything as I made my way to the kitchen where Stardust and Solstice were eating breakfast laughing at some joke Cascade was telling them. They looked at me as I approached, Solstice looking ready to ask me what was wrong, but I spoke before she could, saying, “I need both of you to come to the training room with me.”

Stardust looked confused as, he said, “But, I thought we had to get stuff set up for the plan.”

“Don’t worry about that, after the speech I just gave, I can’t do more at the moment. Everything else will depend on tonight and tomorrow. We have today to get my magic honed so I can survive what we’re doing tomorrow,” I said as I turned away to head to the training room. Then I stopped and turned back to Solstice. “Get me a set of power armor.”

I grinned. “You two are going to teach me how to use it because I’m gonna make sure I can get my dad’s armor to him tomorrow. Also, Stardust, get your best rifle. I need you to shoot at me…a lot.”

If I could’ve gotten a picture of Cascade, Stardust, and Solstice’s faces at the time, it would’ve been priceless. I started toward the training room again and my friends followed me.

“Okay Dusty, I agree this thing is…restrictive,” I said into a headset Cascade loaned me for today’s breakout.

“Yeah, I know, but your dad is gonna need that if things go south,” Stardust said through the earpiece.

I was in my father’s power armor, the set he kept at home normally. Last night Stardust snuck over to the house and taken it. Without even setting off a single alarm or alerting the spies watching the manner. Luckily, it wasn’t seized. I was impressed, since I didn’t think Stardust even knew what the word stealth meant. I was afraid the armor wouldn’t fit me since my dad was nearly twice my size. Solstice showed me a little trick armor like my dad’s had. It was self-adjusting. Solstice was amazed that I picked up on how to use it so quickly. She said it took weeks if not months to learn how to use power armor correctly. I hadn’t told her that I kept digging into Night Stalker’s memories to help me. I still found that strange. When I needed to, I could normally pull up some random memory from my grandfather. It didn’t always work, and most of the time the memory would fade after a few seconds, but it was useful. Also, anything that I learned from it that had to do with a skill seemed to stick with me to a point.

I was still a little unsteady in this pegasus armor, seeing how the wings had to be locked into place since I didn’t have wings and they kept on throwing off my equilibrium. The helmet was secured to the flanks of the suit, and I was wearing my normal barding and duster under it. If it wasn’t for my Pip-Buck, I would’ve had a hard time using this at all. Thanks to the interface system on my Mark II, I was still able to use the weapons if I needed to. Seeing how I’m a unicorn, I couldn’t wear the helmet, also my disguise was gone, so I had to do something to help hide who and what I was. Unicorns don’t normally wear power armor. Fairy Glitter simply put a captain’s cap over my horn and mane…okay she tried three times. My horn was sharper than most and it tore three hats before she got one that had a more durable fabric. It didn’t help much to hide my identity, but anything that can somewhat hide my face and horn helped.

I was now making my way toward the edge of the inner circle; right were the larger buildings started in Stratus. The gallows were already set up and ponies from all over the city were starting to form a large crowd. I grinned as I saw this because most ponies I passed, didn’t look excited to watch an execution, they looked ready to murder every single Enclave soldier they saw. Muttering between most of them gave me hope that my message was received positively by the population. That helped a great deal because as I made my way closer to where the execution would take place, I was all on my own. If everything went perfectly, I wouldn’t even have to show myself until after my father was released. It wouldn’t happen in a million years with my luck, but if it did, it’d be totally sweet.

“How much longer until they bring my father out?” I asked as I made my way through the crowd, doing my best not to be noticed by the dozens of Enclave Soldiers who were watching the growing crowd.

“Half an hour I think, just try and keep an eye on everything going on. Cascade is ready on his end and Solstice is getting set up now. I’m in position and I have eyes on you,” Stardust replied.

I looked up toward one of the four-story buildings just across the street from the execution platform but couldn’t make out my friend who I knew was ready with his Sniper Rifle. “I can’t even see you, are you using a Stealth Buck?”

“Nah, I have my own ways of hiding when I need to. Move a few paces to your right and get closer, keep yourself close to the building there,” he said.

I did as he said, saying quietly, “You’re sure that rifle will be okay in a setting like this?”

“I wasn’t sure myself at first, but yeah. I may have killed Wrath and taken this rifle from him, but maybe I can put it to better use. Something like this isn’t very practical for this setting, but you work with the tools you have,” Stardust said, sounding a little upset as he brought up Wrath.

“His name was Phantom Shot, and I think he’d like to see his rifle being used to do something good for a change. He never wanted to be a Sin in the first place,” I said, as I got into a position that gave me a good view of the stage but kept me out of sight.

“I read his file when I was Pride, didn’t care much about his past when I was out of my mind, but now…” he said, “Now I’m sorry I killed him. When this is all over, I’m going to find his daughter and apologize for taking him away from her.”

“Yeah, his youngest daughter was. His other daughter who’s about your age is still around. She wasn’t home when Cal killed his family. She was at a friend’s house. After Phantom Shot was arrested, she was put into a foster home and raised by them. She lives in Nimbus from what I’ve learned,” he said.

“Wait, you mean his daughter is still around? Does she know about her father? Also, Cal?” I asked.

“Cal is a new nickname I’ve thought up for Oricalcos because his name is long and I’m a little lazy. Kinda hopin’ it sticks. Anyway I’m not sure, from the reports about Phantom Shot, he wasn’t allowed to contact her. Since The Sins are essentially Dashites who work for special forces in The Enclave, they’re ghosts to most Enclave citizens. She might’ve been told her father was executed or forced to leave The Enclave. Knowing Phantom Shot, he probably found a way to get in contact with her over the years,” Stardust said.

“Her name is Light Heart, she’s a unicorn and attending the magic school in Nimbus,” he said.

I looked back at the stage and took in a deep breath before, saying, “We’ll find her when we can and tell her what happened to her father. Even if she hates us for it, she deserves to know the truth.”

“Yes, she does,” he said, then his voice got firmer as he said, “They’re coming, be ready.”

I looked up and sure enough, a small black transport pulled by a single pegasus was being flown down toward the stage. Following close behind was none other than Winter Frost. He was in a set of pure white power armor with gold trim, his head exposed and a grin like he owned the entire world plastered on his smug face. My horn sparked with red magic for a moment as the anger at him filled me.

“I’ll let Solstice and Cascade know too. Also, check the anger. I saw that flash of red from up here,” Stardust said.

“I’ll do my best, let’s just hope that everything works out the way we planned,” I responded.

“That’d be nice for a change. Being the underdog good guys sucks,” he joked before he switched channels so he could update the others.

I readied the weapons on dad’s power armor, using my E.F.S. Systems to set up a targeting system in my sight. As soon as I did, a trigger bit came out of the armor ready for me to aim and fire. Keeping to the shadows I watched as the transport landed with Winter Frost.

The smarmy phlegm-wad slowly walked up to a microphone that had been ready for him at the edge of the stage. He looked out at the still growing crowd, and said, “Welcome citizens of The Grand Pegasus Enclave, I as you all know by now I am High Council Pony Winter Frost.”

“You’re full of shit!” Somepony yelled from deep in the crowd, making him pause for a moment.

He took a moment to look for the one who spoke, but then shrugged it off, continuing saying, “I know the changes to Stratus have been hard for you all to take, but I promise you that life in this great city will be getting better soon. With the help of our friends in Neighvarro, we’ve been doing everything we can to fix what our last High Council Pony broke.”

As he spoke, the door to the transport was opened and Thundercracker and my father were both escorted out. Greed had some kind of collar around his neck that was emitting a blue glow. For a moment I was wondering what it was for, then I realized it had to be blocking his ability to use his ultimate shield. Still, Thundercracker grinned as he was led toward the gallows and he even winked at a young mare. At least he looked like he was okay, apart from the fact that he was about to be killed. As he was led to the noose, I realized that this was the first time I’d seen Thundercracker out of his combat armor. He looked how I expected him to, blue coat like his face and the ivory mane, tail, and goatee which was new. Where his cutie mark should be, there was a branded Lightning bolt and a cloud. The mark of a Dashite. The scar was old, but it looked like it had to have been painful when it was done.

Dad on the other hoof was beaten so badly it was hard to tell it was him. His face was swollen and full of cuts. Various other lacerations covered his neck, torso, and flanks. In all the time I spent with my father, even when I was a foal, I’d never seen his cutie mark. At least I couldn’t remember seeing it. Now it was on display for all to see and I could see why he was a descendant of Night Stalker. His cutie mark was a full moon, bright against his black coat, with a single grey cloud crossing over the moon. He was also led to the noose to stand next to Thundercracker. It looked like Thundercracker said, “First time?” to my dad but I could barely read his lips from my position.

“Both of these ponies are being executed today for being found guilty of high treason against the Grand Pegasus Enclave,” Winter Frost said, sounding smug.

“Nightshade is a hero! He’d never betray us!” another pony yelled from the crowd.

“Yeah, what proof do you have that he did anything to betray the Enclave!?” a stallion yelled.

“Apart from working with his ex-wife to take over…” Winter Frost started to say, but my father’s voice echoed weakly as he interrupted him.

“Shut up Nightshade,” Winter Frost said, before looking back at the growing crowd, “Apart from working with Grimoire who took control of The Sins…”

He was interrupted again by a stallion. “Who are The Sins? We were always told they weren’t real!”

“Quiet all of you, the next pony to interrupt me will be brought in on charges,” Winter Frost Growled, “Nightshade worked with Grim to try and take down The Enclave as a whole. He killed the last High Council Ponies to put himself in that position.”

“Hey, I thought The Courier and that Stranger killed them,” Thundercracker said, “Yes, that’s right, I remember because we got a full report on it.”

Winter Frost ignored him, saying, “The Stranger that was spoken of, the pony who hides his identity and has killed Enclave Ponies for many years now is none other than Nightshade!”

That quieted them all down. Luckily for me, Fairy Glitter knew that was the biggest part of his charges. Everything that had been brought up on my father had to do with the deaths of The High Council Ponies and his role as The Stranger. I smiled as I watched our plan fall into place. Before Winter Frost could keep speaking, a blur of brown and white landed on the stage with a loud boom. The Stranger stood there with his bandages wrapped around his face and his signature hat shading his bright green eyes. He also bore the black combat armor around his body and the trench coat. Well not he…it was Solstice using the outfit my father had her wear when she was pretending to be him when I came out of the memory orb back in Saints Parish. Thanks to the voice modulator, she was able to use the same voice as my father.

“Are you talking about me Winter Frost, or did the attack back at F&F Tools rattle your brain?” The Stranger asked.

Winter Frost looked stunned to see the stallion who he thought he’d captured standing in front of him. He looked at his guards then back at The Stranger, “This is a trick!”

“Oh really? As you can see, I’m standing right here and the pony you’re trying to charge with my crimes isn’t. He seems rather too indisposed. If you want to punish someone for taking down the High Council, then I’m your culprit. I worked with The Courier to kill the former High Council,” The Stranger said.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” The Stranger said, chuckling, “If any of your soldiers move, let’s just say my sniper will open your third eye.”

A red dot appeared on the ground then moved up to Winter Frost’s head. He froze and growled. “Even if Nightshade isn’t you, he’s still a traitor. He was working with you. He wanted power for himself.”

“NEVER!” Winter Frost growled, then he smiled a little, saying, “I rule the western cities now, even if you want to say Nightshade had nothing to do with their deaths, I won’t believe you.”

“You don’t have to believe me, the citizens of The Enclave do,” The Stranger said as she turned to look at the crowd, “I killed the last High Council because they were plotting against the ponies I work with. I admit that I have killed numerous Enclave ponies before, but I did so to protect you all from the dark dealings going on.” She pointed at Nightshade. “I made sure Nightshade became your new High Council pony because I knew he could lead Stratus, Nimbus, and the ground cities to a better future!” Solstice could really get dramatic when she wanted.

Winter Frost started to laugh, making Solstice stop her fake speech to look at him as he said, “I think it’s about time we end this little charade. Nightshade will die today and so will Greed and The Courier who I know is in the city right now.”

“Shadow look…” Stardust tried to say, but he was cut-off. I tried to look up at what happened but right as I turned a hoof slammed into to the back of my head sending me flying into the wall next to me.

“I wasn’t expecting to find you in power armor Courier,” the voice of Captain Strife said with her icy tone, “I’ll admit it took me longer to figure out where you were. I’m glad to see you could make it to the party.”

I twisted around and blasted a spell at her, but she dodged it and fired a blast of magical energy from her battle saddle. It hit my dad’s armor and sent a jolt through me, but didn’t do much damage. At the same time she attacked, Winter Frost attacked Solstice who managed to duck his blow and take to the air. I saw what was going on now, we’d been caught or set up. I dodged another attack from Strife and ran out of the alley right as the crowd erupted into an angry riot.

Strife tried to chase after me, but I used a barrier spell to block her attack as I yelled at the crowd, “If you want to see Nightshade back in power, now is the time to fight!”

“IF any of you even try to free him, you’ll all be killed!” Winter Frost yelled, then a book hit him in the face. I almost laughed at the shocked look on his face as blood ran out of his nose from the random object being thrown by a random citizen. He growled then shouted, “Soldiers of Neighvarro, kill anypony who resisted!”

As he spoke at least a hundred power armored pegasi flew into sight and opened fire on the enraged crowd. My eyes went wide as I watched ponies die, screams erupted from the crowd as blood flew, parents died protecting their foals, and body parts fell through the clouds. I started to pull on my magic then Strife came in and kicked me in the horn, sending utter agony through my head as my spell backfired. I screamed but managed to keep from passing out from the pain as I rounded on her, took aim with my E.F.S., and bit down on the triggers of my battle saddle to open fire on her. Bright green balls of plasma exploded out of the two mounted guns on the armor and flew toward the power armored mare.

She managed to dodge two of them, but a third clipped her wing. She managed to keep to the skies, but the ability to maintain her altitude looked slightly labored. Then I heard Thundercracker yell, “Look out!”

I ducked as a bullet few past my head, it was so close that a few strands of my mane fell to the clouds. I twisted to see four pegasi in power armor taking aim and behind them Winter Frost was holding my father’s revolver to his head. I felt my heart stop as he smiled around the bit and got ready to fire. Right then, the four pegasi opened fire on me, but I’d already pulled up another barrier and started running toward them with a new spell I’d learned ready to go. I knew I couldn’t get to my dad in time, but somepony else could. I fired the spell not at Winter Frost who looked like he was getting ready to gloat, but at Thundercracker’s collar. The spell wasn’t much, it wouldn’t hurt anypony, but it was like a focused spark grenade. It did what I hoped and shorted out the collar that was blocking the gem imbedded in Greed’s chest from doing its job.

He started to cackle like a mad pony as his body turned into that dense gray material. He launched himself at Winter Frost and just managed to push my father out of the way as the trigger was pulled. I opened fire on the pegasi trying to kill me. Two flew off to take cover, the other two died as their bodies turned into green goo. I watched the bullet fired from Demon Slayer hit Greed’s flank and to my surprise, it sank into him followed by a spray of blood.

“Well damn! That must be some powerful enchantment on that revolver,” Thundercracker said as a mad grin pulled at his hardened face, “I can’t wait till it’s mine!”

Winter Frost took a step back aiming to fire again at Thundercracker, but the cunning pegasus avoided the attack and dove at him. As they fought, I entered S.A.T.S. and took aim at both pegasi who’d taken cover. Right as their heads came up to check on my position, my blast of green energy took them out. I took the chance to run for my father who’d fallen to the ground just off the stage. Another guard landed next to him taking aim with his battle saddle. Before he could fire, a bullet tore half his head and face off followed by a massive ‘BOOM’ from above.

I skidded to a halt, looking up to see Stardust taking aim with a massive rifle. My earpiece beeped, followed by Stardust, saying, “Geeze this thing really kicks, but damn does it do some damage!”

“You okay Dusty? Now I’m really glad you decided to bring Wrath’s AMR.” I said.

“Pfft, with all the work I had to do to fix it, no, it’s mine now. Also, yes, I’m fine. It took me a minute or three to take care of the assholes who attacked me. I’ve got this for now, go help your father and get Thundercracker away from Winter Frost so I can put an end to this,” Stardust said as he took aim at more Enclave soldiers who were flying in to help Winter Frost and took them out with two shots.

“Sure-thing Dusty,” I said, and finally made my way over to my father. I knelt next to him, saying, “Dad, are you okay?”

His face was still swollen, and he looked weak. “I’ll be fine sweetheart, but what in the hell are you doing up here? Who taught you to use power armor?”

“Long story, and this is your armor. I figured you’d want it to help us take back Stratus,” I replied.

“It would definitely help a lot and so would a healing potion if you have one,” he said.

As he spoke, Solstice still dressed as The Stranger landed next to us. “Got them right here for you Nightshade.”

She held out three vials in her muzzle, dad looked her over, then took one, before saying, “Who the hell are you and how did you get that outfit?”

“It’s Solstice, now drink the rest and get into your power armor. I still have a bigger part to play in this plan,” I said as I used my Mark II to open the armor.

“Yes ma’am,” he said, rolling his eyes as he drank another potion, “She’s so bossy, isn’t she?”

Solstice chuckled to herself, saying, “Yeah, but you learn to live with it.”

I rolled my eyes then stepped out of the armor. I quickly hugged my father and kissed his cheek, before saying, “Stay alive, stay safe, and follow Solstice’s lead.”

“What I have to,” I replied, before nodding at Solstice and running toward the stage. There was a camera set up to broadcast the execution to the entire western Enclave. I turned it on as Thundercracker and Winter Frost fought on the other side of the stage.

A moment passed, then my image showed up on the large screen I could just make out in the distance. By way of the fuck it adjustment, I put on my best smile and started phase two of my plan, “Citizens of The Grand Pegasus Enclave, for those of you who didn’t get the privilege of seeing my first broadcast, hi I’m Shadow Star, but you all may know me by another name. I’m The Courier of New Pegasus. Yes, I’m here in Stratus where I just saved the lives of your High Councilor Nightshade who is my father and Greed, who is a former Sin. You’ve all been living your lives under a lie brought on by ponies like Winter Frost and his sister Captain Strife. You’ve been told that my father has betrayed you, that he’s been plotting to have your cities taken over by wastelanders. Sure, it might be true that my father wants to reunite The Wasteland and The Enclave, but not to have your cities taken over. He wants to help fix the wrongs my distant grandfather committed when he had the cloud cover put up and broke away the pegasi and some unicorns from the rest of Equestria. After forty years of ruling you all, Night Stalker wanted to fix what he broke, but some ponies like Winter Frost’s family, didn’t want to lose the control they had over ponies like you. So, they cast him out, branded him a Dashite, and took over for themselves. It’s taken another hundred and sixty years to finally come to this point. It’s time to stop hiding up here in the clouds and ignoring what’s going on below. The leaders of your cities know that there is great evil brewing on the surface, and it’ll come to your cities too if you don’t rise up. It’s time to bring our two lands together, it’s time to fight for what’s right. It’s time to bring Equestria back from the dust and help this land become whole again. So, citizens and soldiers alike, take back your cities, break free of your chains of servitude to The Enclave, and become something better. Fight for Stratus, Fight for Nimbus, fight for the Twin Cities, Fight for The Crystal Empire, and help me fight to protect New Pegasus. If you don’t, then soon Captain Strife and the remaining Seven Sins of Equinity will use your forces to attack a city that has taken in your brothers, your sisters, your colts, and fillies who’ve been branded over the years and protected them. They want to kill those who don’t follow them. So, let’s give them a fight to remember!”

With that all said, I blasted the camera to oblivion and turned toward Winter Frost who was still fighting with Thundercracker, who said, “You know, you sound pretty sexy when you’re all serious like that.”

“I’m flattered Thundercracker, but I think it’s time Winter Frost gets what’s coming to him,” I responded.

“I don’t know Shadow, I’m kind of liking the fight with this one. He’s full of piss and vinegar!” Thundercracker said.

“Thundercracker, we don’t have time to play with him. If you’re up for it, I need you to head to the New Moon and take it back before Strife gets her hooves on it. If we get a Thunderhead on our side, we’ll have the fire power to hold Stratus. Think you can do that?” I asked.

“No, but I’ll let you pick three things inside it to take for yourself. How’s that sound?” I asked.

My father landed next to me looking a lot better and in his power armor. Solstice was with him and out of the Stranger’s outfit. “Thundercracker, if you help me take the New Moon, I’ll make you it’s commander if I have to. I’ll even reinstate you as a citizen of the Enclave. Either way, I’ll need your help.”

Winter Frost took a step back, growling in anger as he looked at the four of us. “You’ll never take the New Moon back, or this city. I have Neighvarro on my side!”

“You three get out of here, I’ll take care of him,” I said, pulling out my mother’s Plasma Rifle.

“I have Stardust,” I said, then popped my neck and took aim with the plasma rifle as Thundercracker flew to my father and Solstice, “Winter Frost, it’s time for your family to die, this is my father’s city, not yours or your twisted leader’s. You’ll serve as a message to him not to fuck with my family!”

I fired a fully charged blast of dark green plasma at the bastard who tried to kill my father. At the same time, my father, Solstice, and Thundercracker flew away. I also heard Stardust fire his AMR at Winter Frost at the same time I fired my plasma rifle. Finally, we were going to end him.

There was a flash of pink nearly blinding light right as my plasma and Stardust’s bullet hit something that appeared right in front of Winter Frost. I had to squint for a moment because the light was so intense. When I could see again, I felt my legs go weak. Standing just in front of Winter Frost with a translucent pink barrier was Aquila.

Winter Frost glared at her, “It’s about damn time you showed up! That deranged psychopath was about to kill me!”

Aquila barely glanced at me before, saying, “I’ll be with you in a moment Shadow, I’m only here to give a message to this moron.”

Stardust fired another round, but the round just broke apart on the barrier she’d erected. Winter Frost looked into Aquila’s Pink eyes, “What message do you have for me? You work for me and my family monster. Kill The Courier and her friends!”

“I don’t work for you or your grandfather. I work with him and only to reach my goal of unlocking my full power,” she said smugly, “I didn’t come here to save you, I only wanted to make sure you heard your grandfather’s message before you died.”

I blasted a spell at Aquila, but it didn’t do any more damage than Stardust’s rifle had. Aquila pulled out a broadcaster and the voice of that ghoul who I now knew was Thunderlane echoed out of the device. “Winter Frost, this is the third time now that you’ve failed me. I’ve been watching everything from Cirrus, and I can no longer have a failure like you in this family.”

I stopped my attack and watched along with a few other pegasi who started showing up since Aquila appeared. Stardust landed next to me as Winter Frost’s normally smug expression changed to fear. “Grandfather, we haven’t failed, The Courier is right in front of me, with Aquila’s help I can kill her!”

“No Winter, you can’t. Right now we need her alive. If she dies by your hooves, it could kill our ally and we need her to get Falling Shadows working. It’s time for you to suffer the same punishment your father did, so your sister can take over from here on out. Aquila, make sure everypony knows why you don’t mess with the true leaders of The Enclave,” Thunderlane said before cutting off the communicator.

The grin that pulled at Aquilla’s lips twisted her features to match the monster she really was as she started to chuckle within her magical protection, “Oh I’ll do more than that,” she said as she connected to somepony else on her communicator, “Captain Strife, this is an order from The Enclave leader, wipe out any ponies who even dare to defy us. If Stratus must fall to prove our point, so be it.”

The ice bitch’s voice echoed back with only two words that sent a shiver down my spine. “Roger that!”

Aquila looked back at Stardust and I, then said, “Enclave soldiers, you are not to hurt The Courier, but her friend the runaway is fair game. Anypony who takes him out will get a handsome reward from the supreme leader. Same goes for any of the citizens who thought they could take sides with her. I don’t care if you have to burn this entire cloud city.”

I flipped around right as the screaming started. The power armored pegasi around us who had only a few moments ago, been trying to kill Stardust and I, turned their battle saddles on the citizens who had been only watching what was going on. In only a few seconds I watched them open fire on everypony who was still in the clearing. Stallions were turned to dust as they tried to protect their families, mares died pushing their foals toward safety, and even the foals were gunned down as they ran screaming from the orders given by Aquila and Thunderlane.

In less than a minute, the clouds around me were covered in blood and bodies and yet more were still dying, trying to escape the soldiers who were supposed to protect the pegasi of Stratus. Through it all, Aquila laughed, and said, “You see Shadow, no matter how hard you try, no matter how much faith you put into the ponies around you, they will always die.”

I slowly turned my head back to look at the monster who looked so much like my old self, “How…could you do this?”

That mad smile of hers never faltered as more and more died around us. I heard Stardust opening fire on the soldiers next to me as he tried to say something to me, but I’d gone numb to it all. The only thing I could concentrate on was her as she used her magic to take hold of Winter Frost who tried to yell something, but Aquila made sure not a sound could escape his lips.

“I can do this, because I…am…power. That is something that you need to come to terms with because once I get this spell your mother placed over me removed, I’m going to make sure you suffer and then die. Just like…this,” Aquila said, then she turned her head toward Winter Frost, and said sweetly, “Let’s make you match your namesake.”

Her horn flashed and for a moment she let Winter Frost scream in agony, right before his body turned into ice. It started at his hooves and worked its way up his body slowly freezing him until only his eyes were left unfrozen. The look of pain and anger in them found me and I knew right then before his sight was gone forever, that he was blaming me once again for his failure. Then his eyes became cloudy right before they too became nothing but frozen orbs like the rest of his body. Then with a sigh of boredom, Aquila dropped the frozen Winter Frost and he vanished through the clouds.

She looked back at me and winked. “I need to be going, but do enjoy the show. Don’t worry, no pony who works for us will try to hurt you. Wouldn’t want to suffer the same fate as you just yet. Until next time, my annoying little vessel.”

With that she vanished in a flash of pink light. I was left in shock as my father’s city started to die around me. That was until a hoof smacked me in the face followed by Stardust, yelling, “Shadow snap out of it!”

“Yeah, I saw, who cares? He was supposed to die anyway, we can’t worry about her, we need to save the city! Now get over yourself, forget about that bitch for once and help me!” he yelled before pulling his large sniper rifle up again and firing at an Enclave solider who was trying to attack two fillies running for a house.

I shook my head then pulled out Dream Walker and mom’s Plasma rifle. “You’re right, let’s see what we can do.”

“Good, we need to take out any pegasi in power armor who’re attacking the citizens. Try to aim for their visor’s, that’s the best way to take them down. Pegasus power armor isn’t as tough as Steel Ranger armor,” Stardust said.

“I think I can do that,” I said as I entered S.A.T.S. and targeted two headshots at an Enclave solider and opened fire. One hit the second blew through one of the guns on her battle saddle. The plasma rifle on that side exploded at the same time as her head whipped back and her body fell to the clouds. I flipped around and fired at another pegasus who opened fire at me, hitting my armored barding with magical laser blasts until one of my plasma blasts slammed into her wing and she fell to the ground screaming. I was about to take her out when Cascade landed next to her, pointed a beautiful looking pistol that looked a lot like Dream Walker at her head, and put her out of her misery.

“What’re you dimwits doing standing around here like a bunch of dumbass kids at the zoo? We’ve got bigger problems than a few Neighvarro rats,” Cascade said before twisting around to dodge an attack from a stallion. He rolled, popping back up and blasting the pegasus right in the visor.

“What could be worse than soldiers killing any Stratus citizen they can?” Stardust asked, blasting two shots at a pair of pegasi who tried to take out an elderly couple trying to get into a door down the street.

“The New Moon’s taken flight and it’s heading for the inner city, that thing has powerful enough guns that could take out every building there in a matter of minutes,” Cascade yelled before dodging another attack, this time from a pegasus who wasn’t in power armor, but was wearing a military outfit that didn’t match up with what I’d seen in Stratus before. Cascade shocked Stardust and I by doing a backflip. He came down on the other solider, slamming him to the ground, then snapping his neck before looking back at us, “Dumbass.”

“I thought my father and Thundercracker were heading there to take The New Moon back from Captain Strife?” I asked.

“Last I heard they were, but you sent a small force to go after a flying death machine, they’re gonna need help. Also, where’s Solstice? She isn’t answering her com,” he said.

“She…WHAT!?” Cascade yelled, “Why the hell did you let my daughter go toward that monster of a ship!?”

“Like we could stop her,” Stardust said, “Plus, she can take care of herself dad and you know it.”

“I don’t give a damn smartmouth,” he raged before taking in a deep breath, “Can’t fix it now, but I swear if she dies, I’m going to stick my hoof so far up both of your asses that you’ll be smelling the ozone from the bottom of my hooves for weeks.”

I was about to say something about how she would be just fine with Greed by her side, but just then a shadow blocked out the sun overhead. The New Moon flew over us, heading toward the large buildings in the middle of the city. The three of us looked up right as a blast of green energy exploded out of one of the massive canons at the front and vanished from view. A moment later screams and the sounds a breaking glass and the rumble of something falling echoed around us.

It only took a moment for the large Thunderhead to pass us as it started opening fire on Stratus. I was in shock at the massive power of that ship, and I took a step back as, I said, “We need to take that thing down, I really wish I had Solar Flare right now.”

“If you did, you still wouldn’t use it,” Stardust said as he strapped his rifle to his back, “Thundercracker, my sister, and your dad are in there. If you used it, they’d die too.”

“We can do it,” Cascade said as he looked away from the ship, “Don’t worry about the citizens here, I already called in every favor I have with the Stratus Guard. They’ll take down the rest of the hopeful wiseasses who think they can destroy this city.”

I took in a deep breath, then said, “Okay, let’s get up to that thing then and stop Strife once and for all, it’s time to end this.”

“Shadow you fly with me,” Stardust said crouching down so I could climb on to his back, “Dad, cover us and see if you can get any available guards or soldiers to come help us. We’ll need numbers if we want to take down that ship.”

I got onto Stardust right before he took off, following his father. As we flew toward the monster ship, I took another look at the large pistol now holstered on Cascade’s Barding, “Is that a Luna Edition Desert Eagle?”

He smiled. “Sure is, it was awarded to me not long after I retired, it’s named Reaper. I see you have Dream Walker, thought that one was lost.”

“Nah, it was just in a display case at a dance studio for two hundred years,” I said as I holstered Dream Walker and the plasma rifle.

Cascade nodded to me as we flew closer to The New Moon, as we did a few more Pegasi joined us, all in power armor. At first, I thought we were going to be attacked again, until I saw one nod to Cascade. I couldn’t help the small smile pull at my lips, a feeling that grew into a full-on grin as I looked down at the citizens of Stratus below. Some were still running from the attacking Neighvarro soldiers, but most were using their own weapons or magic in the case of a few unicorns I saw, to fight back and/or protect. Then from in the city itself sirens started to go off. A blaring loud high pitch whine that was piercing to my ears. That was soon followed by another blast from The New Moon, but the siren kept on going on, and on, and on. As the sounds grew louder, that place deep in my soul where the memories of Night Stalker seemed to reside pulsed, and my vision started to go dark.

“NO…”I yelled before I felt my body lose hold of Stardust. He yelled something but I never heard it as I felt my mind slipping into the past, the last thing I felt was my body falling through the Stratus sky.

I flew through the sky over Los Pegasus and rage was the only thing I could feel as the flashes of Petal’s death replayed repeatedly in my head. The Damned zebras took her away from me. I’d done everything I could to keep her as far away from the war as I could. I helped her get a job at Stable-Tec. I made sure she was always away from any battle that came near one of their projects. I killed, and fought, and bled to keep my last bit of family safe. I know she wasn’t my blood, her parents weren’t really my own either, but neither was Granny in Griffonstone. Yet when she finally passed, it hurt just as bad as when my parents froze to death in the mountains, using their own bodies to keep the small cave we sheltered in blocked from the storm that eventually killed them. When my adoptive father died last year in that bombing and earlier this year when my adoptive mother died from a strange illness, I vowed I’d do everything to make sure that Petal wouldn’t leave this world until long after I did.

Why do I keep on living when I throw myself into some of the most dangerous situations imaginable and good loving ponies like my sister die? It isn’t fair, I should be the one dead on that battlefield, not her. She was trying to save ponies, she never hurt anyone, she was good. I’m the monster, I’m the darkness, I’m The Night Stalker. I should be the one to die, then maybe everything would get better, or at the very least it’d put an end to all the pain and loss. It’s not like I’m suicidal or anything like that, but I just wish one time, my luck would just run out in a fight and I’d finally find the peace I’ve been looking for. At least in death, I wouldn’t have to worry about The Children, the princesses, the war, or…my feelings for her. At the thought of the only real thing in my life I truly cared about, it came to light that I knew right then that this is what I was fighting for. It didn’t matter that I was with somepony or not, my feelings for Greta never changed, no matter how much I tried to tell myself it was just because I grew up around her and that was all. I’d never tell her that, she’d kill me, same for Lightning who I also did care about very much, but my love for her wasn’t the same as the deep longing I had for that one Griffon.

“If I have to keep on fighting then I’ll fight to make sure this world is a better place, for her…and for Lightning,” I said, before spotting the zebras we’d captured and the small force still trying to fight my troops. They couldn’t win now, they had too few, but leading them was a zebra that I knew thanks to Noire. I growled in anger as the overly large and muscular zebra prince charged the line, killing three ponies before I could do anything to stop him.

I dove for the ground spotting Babs toward the back of my troops missing a foreleg, but still yelling curses at the zebras as medical unicorns tried to pull her away from the fight and get her out of her power armor. I activated my com as the ground came rushing up at me. “Amethyst Star, I need to talk to Noire.”

“What? How?” I asked, baffled at how he could do anything with that collar around his neck.

“I’ll explain later, but I kind of gave him permission to go. He said he knows how to stop the attack,” she said.

“Damn it all,” I yelled cutting off the com, “Fine, I guess we’ll see if he can be trusted or not then.”

I slammed into the ground right in front of the attacking Prince and yelled, “Hey motherfucker, I’m going to tear your head off with my bare hooves!”

The bastard started to laugh as the sirens around the city continued to blare and the fire kept on burning away the prosperity…

I walked into the hospital room putting a fake smile on my face. That was what most days were like for me now days, fake smiles, and fake confidence in the war. Sitting on the hospital bed holding a small bundle was Minuette with Amethyst Star in a seat next to her bed. Thunderlane, Noire, and my wife Lightning Dust were already there. I came to the end of the bed, saying, “Well now don’t keep me in suspense, did you have a colt or a filly?”

Minuette gave me that dazzling smile that was one of the few things in this world that could truly make me feel a bit of happiness as she said, “A colt, we decided to name him Dwarf Star.”

“Not today please Thunderlane,” Lightning said as she sat on the other side of Minuette’s bed, a hoof resting protectively over a bump on her own stomach, “Today’s a happy day, something we don’t get very often.”

“I just think it’s wrong for a same sex couple to be having foals at all, I mean who’s going to teach the kid how to be strong with two mothers anyway?” he said.

I rolled my eyes, doing my best not to hit the asshole. “Well, I think it’s great and with two powerful unicorns like yourself, I believe he’s going to be a strong stallion someday.”

Minuette smiled again. “Thunderlane, I don’t care what you think. I’m just happy that I’m finally done with caring this little colt around. The last three months he just kept on kicking me over and over again in the ribs.”

“I just can’t believe I didn’t see that you two were…you know…doing whatever you lesbians do for so long,” Thunderlane said, but he followed it up with a small smile, so I refrained from hitting him…again.

“What we lesbians do? We spend time together, a lot, and have sex,” Minuette said jokingly.

Thunderlane snorted. “I know how babies are made; you don’t need to explain it to me.”

“We got a sperm donor you idiot. Clearly you don’t know how it works,” Minuette said.

“We…just didn’t want anypony to think we were getting distracted while we were working. You know there are rules about couples working together and all that,” Amethyst said shyly.

Minuette started to laugh. “I’m sure The Captain…oh I’m sorry I mean General here knew way before we finally told him.”

I rolled my eyes at the stupid new rank I’d been given after I killed that damned Prince and saved what was left of Las Pegasus, but then smiled again. This time for real. “Yeah, I knew since day one, but I really didn’t care. You two never let it stop you from working hard, and for that it wasn’t worth fussing over. Even with the rules in place, I still started dating Lightning and now we’re married.”

“Yeah, I still don’t see how you get away with that boss,” Babs said as she walked into the room behind me, her metallic leg making a small ‘ping’ with every step.

“BABS!” Minuette said with unwavering joy, “We haven’t seen you since a few weeks after the battle. Where have you been?”

“Long story, I had to…well…just trust me it’s a long story,” she said looking over at me with a pleading look.

I knew what the story was. She found out on the day she was getting that cybernetic leg that she was also pregnant. She stayed away to hide the pregnancy for as long as she could and now her son was only a month old. Only Lightning and I knew about it and the fact that she was retiring from The Children of the Night. I promised her that I wouldn’t tell the others, not until she was ready.

Lightning changed the subject by asking me, “So dear, where’s Greta and Cloudy Nights?”

“Cloudy said she had something to deal with back home. She’s using her leave time, I think her mother passed away. Greta is overseeing the final touches on the chamber under the base,” I said.

“Oh no, I hope Cloudy is okay. I know she said her father was a dick, but she said her mom was always very sweet,” Amethyst said.

“I have no idea, but if she doesn’t check in by tomorrow, I’ll go check on her. She grew up not too far from here,” I said before going over to my wife and giving her a kiss before moving down to look at Dwarf Star, “Well he’s defiantly a strong looking colt, kind of small though huh, who’s his father?”

Amethyst is the one who answered, “No idea, Min and I didn’t want to know, that’s why we used that doner bank that Fluttershy set up. Min decided she wanted to be the one to carry our foal.”

We all laughed, and I looked into the eyes of the little colt. “One day little colt, you’re going to be something special, I just know it.”

“I’m sure he will, he is a descendent of a Child of the Night after all,” Lightning said with a chuckle.

“That he is,” I said as I ran a hoof over my wife’s belly, “And soon we’ll have one of our own.”

Lightning was about to say something when the communicator I always had with me now days went off. I sighed as Lightning said, “Go do your job, we all understand.”

Everypony nodded at me, and I sighed even louder as I headed out of the room. On the way out, I put at hoof on Babs’ large shoulder. “While I’m gone, you should tell them, they deserve to know.”

I ducked into an empty room and answered the communicator. “This is General Night Stalker.”

To my surprise Greta’s voice echoed out of the communicator. “Night Stalker, we’ve got a problem.”

I sighed. “What now? Did one of the workers try to sneak away again with photos? I’ve told you before, if you capture them, destroy the photos and have one of the unicorns wipe their memory.”

“What? I told you I needed one of us there at all times while we finish up this last part of the project,” I said.

“I know and I wouldn’t have left but I got a communication from one of my contacts. You need to get back to The Lucky Horseshoe right now,” she said.

“Because Princess Luna and Golden Blood are heading there right now. From what I heard, Golden Blood found out about Falling Shadows, and he’s trying to get Luna to shut it down,” she said.

“Dammit, that snake!” I yelled before taking in a deep breath, “Fine, I’m on my way. Can you meet me on the roof?”

“I’ll be there in five, see you soon sir,” she said before cutting off communication.

“Boss? Is there anything I can do to help?” I heard Noire say from the door making me nearly jump out of my skin.

“My apologies Night Stalker, but you know us zebras are naturally silent trotters,” he said with a small grin.

“Yeah, I know, but still, I hate it when you do that. Anyway yes, I was just about to come get you. I need you to go to The Lucky Horseshoe and get to the subbasement. Make sure nopony can find that part of the project while I find out what the hell Golden Blood is up to,” I said as I headed past him and out the door.

“You think he has an alternative plan sir?” the zebra said, following behind me.

“It’s Golden Blood, if he’s going to The Lucky Horseshoe with Luna, then I can guarantee you that he has one of his O.I.A. lackies trying to sneak into the lower floors to see just what we’re up to,” I said.

I looked over my shoulder at him. “Kill them, why else would I be sending you instead of somepony else on the team.”

He grinned. “Sometimes I think you only think of me as your personal assassin.”

“No, I see you as one of the few zebras I can trust, one that can get things done. If I needed an assassin, I’d go myself,” I said.

“You do have a point,” he said with a laugh, “I will keep you updated on what I find.”

I felt a hoof slap me, followed by Stardust saying quietly, “Shadow dammit, wake up. Now isn’t the time for you to be going into lala land.”

I jerked my head up looking around. We were in a small space with metal walls and what looked like mops and cleaning supplies. It took a minute, but Stardust’s face came into view. “What the fuck happened?” I asked, rubbing my sore head, “I feel like a stallion used my head for a bucking bag.”

He cursed. “I have no fucking idea. Once minute you were riding on my back as we were flying toward The New Moon, then the next minute you passed out and fell off my back. You’re lucky I was able to catch you.”

I remembered the memories from Night Stalker hitting me like a lead balloon. It wasn’t the first time, but unlike the others, the memories I saw weren’t fading away. That was odd, I was able to use his memories to train myself with the power armor just fine and nothing happened when I did that. The memories themselves faded but the skills stayed. The only other time I passed out like that was right after the crystal spoke to me. Except the memory I saw then also vanished. What was going on?

“Shadow, we don’t have time for you to stare off into space like that, what the fuck happened?” Stardust asked, shaking me a little.

“Shadow that wasn’t nothing, you’re fucking eyes were glowing green when I caught you. You were mumbling about foals and assassins. What did you do? Is it Aquila? Are you messing with magic you can’t control?” he asked, looking more pissed the longer I avoided his question.

“Dusty, I can’t even begin to tell you what’s going on. I don’t even understand it all, just please, let it go and tell me where we are,” I said, doing my best to keep my voice low and calm.

He cursed under his breath then sighed. “Fine, but you will explain this to me when we’re safe and so is Stratus. We made it to The New Moon, my dad is up ahead hiding with some of the soldiers who followed us.”

“How many pegasi are guarding the ship?” I asked as I pulled out Dream Walker just in case we were attacked.

“That’s the weird thing, we haven’t seen a single guard yet. My dad wanted us to keep hidden just in case it’s a trap. We also needed you awake, I couldn’t just leave you passed out in a closet with glowing green eyes,” he said with a cocky grin, “Would’ve been kind of a dick move ya know. Could’ve been fun to prop you up in a mop bucket though.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well, I’m up now and ready to fight. Let’s get this ship taken offline and see if we can find my father, Thundercracker, and Solstice. Now let’s get out of the closet.”

His grin only got wider. “Thought you came out of the closet a long time ago.”

“Oh, ha-ha. It’s your turn this time, I’m just here for moral support,” I said as I opened the door slowly, looking out for any guards.

“You’re mean, I’m telling Aura you were making assumptions about my sexuality,” he teased as he followed me out.

“Go ahead, she’s worse,” I replied as we made our way down a hallway that looked like it was just off a of a large hanger.

“I have no idea why Stormy thought you would’ve been the perfect solider, you talk too much,” I said as I saw Cascade and a few soldiers up a head.

“That right, this is why I’m NOT perfect, just awesome, and good looking,” he said, then waved at his father, “Hey Pops, what’s the hold up?”

I decided to ignore my friend as Cascade turned toward us. I noticed his weapons weren’t even activated. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

“There’s no pony here,” Cascade said looking over at me, “Had the guards go check out the area while you were napping, and they couldn’t find a single pony anywhere on the ship.”

“That’s impossible,” I said, “Who’s attacking the city if no pony is in here?”

“Gotta be somepony in the bridge, at least two. It takes that many to fly one of these things, but more likely three or more,” Cascade said, “Something’s fishy.”

“I agree,” Stardust said, “Shadow stay behind me and my dad. The rest of you go check out the ship again and make sure there really isn’t anypony onboard, we can’t afford to be ambushed.”

“You’ll do as you’re told Private, this is my colt and he’s got more fighting experience than the lot of you. Now move before I give you an ass whoppin’ ya candyass,” Cascade said.

It took a moment but then they all nodded then started spreading out across The New Moon. Once they were gone, Cascade looked at me, and said, “I haven’t seen my daughter or your dad yet. I’m hoping they’re at the bridge trying to stop this thing from destroying all of Stratus.”

“Let’s go find out,” I said and followed them as they made their way to the front of the ship.

It was kind of creepy to be on a ship this large and not have any other pony in sight. The New Moon was many times larger than The Palisade had been and that ship had dozens of ponies running it. How could this thing be flying and shooting and not have a single pony abord? Although, with no pony around, it also made it a lot quicker to reach the large blast doors that had the words ‘Bridge’ over it. We all readied our weapons and prepared to attack anypony who came for us when the speakers on the walls crackled nearly making me shoot them. Then the ghoulish voice of Thunderlane echoed out of them.

“Ah it’s about time you made it here, come on in you three, we’ve been waiting. Oh, and you can put your weapons away, no pony is going to attack you,” he said, followed by the large doors opening to reveal a large flight deck or something with at least two dozen seats around it with monitors and terminals all over.

My jaw dropped open when I saw the sight that really captured my attention. At the front of the bridge just in front of the large windows that showed the devastation The New Moon was unleashing upon Stratus, was a pink barrier with a terminal screen showing the dark outline of who had to be Thunderlane and standing next to it was Captain Strife with a smug grin on her face. Below her, just outside the barrier was my dad, Solstice, and Greed who were all looking up at her.

A deep chuckle emanated from the speakers again at the same time as the doors slammed shut behind us, and Thunderlane said, “Welcome Courier, or do you prefer Shadow Star? We haven’t had much time to talk in the past so I figured that we could all meet up here and have a little chat.”

“In time my princess, in time. Now be a good filly and let grandpa talk to the little pony,” he said in a creepy voice.

“Yes sir,” Strife said, before she glared at me then sat down next to the large monitor.

“Cascade, do be quiet or I’ll make you be quiet. I only want to speak to Shadow,” Thunderlane said.

“I’ll make YOU be quiet when I find where you’re hiding you coward and shove my hoof so far up your ass…” Cascade started to yell then a blast of electricity shot out of the darkness in one corner hitting Cascade right in the face. He made an odd squeaking sound before he fell over, his eyes only half open.

“Don’t worry, he’s not dead, but he will be out for a little while. Now the next pony who speaks that isn’t our guest of honor will die,” Thunderlane said, chuckling again, “Now Shadow, do come closer to the barrier, I want to get a good look at you.

“Stop firing on Stratus and then we can talk,” I said, not moving an inch, “I won’t have more ponies dying just so you can pretend like you have more power than you do.”

“Fine, fine, I do know how much you like to pretend like you’re the hero. So, I’ll comply, for now,” he said then turned to Strife, “Go on standby princess.”

“Yes grandfather,” she said, before pushing a button on the terminal next to her.

The ship came to a stop and so did the cannons. Once they were done, Thunderlane said, “There now, please come closer.”

“I know, but I don’t have much of a choice,” I said, before walking past my father, Greed, and Solstice to stand right in front of the pink barrier, “Okay, what do you want and why did you attack Stratus?”

“Right to business I see, I like that about you Shadow, I really do,” he said.

“Shut up and get to the point you sorry excuse for a rotting corpse,” I said.

“Now that’s just rude, you don’t know a thing about me Shadow,” Thunderlane said.

“I know who you are, Thunderlane, and the only way you can still be alive after two hundred years is that you’re a ghoul. Which I find a little funny since The Enclave has a shoot on sight order for all ghouls,” I said.

“We do, though that was Night Stalkers doing, not my own. Honestly, I never had a problem with ghouls when he was still running things. Yeah, some of them were true monsters but a lot of them were just ponies who found a way to immortality, kind of. However, I’m no ghoul, at least not in the same way that you know them,” he said.

“You sound like a ghoul to me Thunderlane, and why else would you be hiding your face in shadows? You don’t want too many ponies in The Enclave to know what you are, that’s why,” I said.

He chuckled louder than to my surprise a light started to slowly illuminate his figure and what I was looking at made no sense to me. What sat on the throne was a Stallion in his fifties, with a dark grey coat, a slightly shaggy icy blue and white mane with yellowish eyes. He looked just like The Thunderlane I saw in Greta’s memory, but where his eyes should’ve been white, they were black, and his coat had a waxy completion to it. It was like he was part ghoul but also a normal pony who just looked sick.

When he spoke his voice still sounded like a ghoul’s but not as raspy as others. “I am one of the very few ponies to survive exposure to the pink cloud. Unlike most ponies who were stuck in Canterlot or went there in later years to explore the old ruins, I didn’t become a full Canterlot ghoul, thanks to a friend of mine who saved me when Greta left me for dead.”

“Yes and no,” he said, getting off his throne and turning a little so I could see that one of his wings was fused to his side while the other was able to lift away from his body. Near the back side of his body, his coat was more patchy and dead looking. “You see, when I was attacked by Greta, she tried to kill me for what I did to her lover Night Stalker. She would’ve finished the job too if I hadn’t told her that I set a trap for my old friend in The Crystal Empire. She knocked me out and threw me toward the castle in Canterlot and left me for dead. My exposure to the pink cloud nearly killed me, but instead I started to change into a ghoul. I was saved by my friend and taken back to The Enclave in secret. For many years I stayed hidden, letting everypony think I died, and I ran The Enclave from the shadows. The doctors figured I would die someday due to the toxic nature of the pink cloud, but instead I just stopped ageing and I kept on living. I’m maimed to be sure, but my mind is still clear, and my power is absolute. I’ve spent the past one hundred and sixty years making sure my family stayed strong and Night Stalkers stayed weak while I worked toward finally activating Falling Shadows. A goal that is finally close at hoof, thanks to your mother and you.”

“Shut up Nightshade, you’re lucky I haven’t killed you already for all the crap you’ve put me through over the past ten years,” Thunderlane yelled, before looking back at me, “I’ve been waiting for you Shadow, for a pony like you to finally be born, one that could help me finish my lifelong quest.”

“Quiet down princess, I can deal with a little name calling,” he said sweetly to her before saying to me, “Shadow, I know that you aren’t ready to help me. I didn’t expect you to. In time however, you will. I know nothing I can say now will convince you of that. That’s because you don’t know the whole truth yet. Once you find it and see what Night Stalker was really up to, along with Minuette, you’ll see that I’m not the bad pony here. I’m the one who will finally bring true peace to this land.”

“With Falling Shadows? You don’t even know what you’ll unleash on Equus when you activate it,” I said.

“Oh, I know more than any of you, trust me on that. It’s you that doesn’t understand what my master can truly do for this world. As I said, you won’t understand until you learn everything. So, under the circumstances, I’m going to make a deal with you,” he said.

“I assure you I’m not,” he said, “Now Shadow, you’ve already helped me in more ways than one, even though you may not have seen it yet. For that, I’ve decided to let you live and your friends and family…well what’s left that is.”

“I’ve never done anything for you,” I said, doing my best to hold back the anger.

“Oh, but you have. You see, thanks to you and your mother keeping Aquila locked up inside your head for so long, she’s no longer a threat to my master. The more she lets anger fuel her, the further from the light she gets. When my master finally escapes his cage, she won’t be able to do what she was sent here to do,” he said.

“If she was a threat to your so-called master who I’m guessing is Mezzanotte, then why did The Children of the Night bring her down in the first place?” I asked.

“Oh, you won’t get all of the secrets to why she was created just yet, but I’ll give you a hint. We needed light magic to help unlock the cage, but that’s all I’m saying. Now let’s get back to this deal,” he said in a happy tone, “I’ll pull all of Neighvarro’s soldiers back, give up Stratus, Nimbus, The Crystal Empire and The Twin Cities for now. I’ll even call off the attack on New Pegasus, if you do two things for me. Sorry, make that three things.”

“First of all, I want you to just keep doing what you’ve been doing. Keep trying to find a way to unlock Falling Shadows. I know you’ll need to if you want to put a stop to it. Leave the rest of The Enclave alone for a while so I can deal with the shit going on back east and last of all, show me you really are the descendant of three of my friends,” he said.

“All of it, but let’s start with the second thing. Why do you care if I do anything with The Enclave? Honestly, I never really gave a shit about any of it until your grandson started trying to kill me,” I said.

“Yes, that was a mistake on my part and a few other ponies. You see, we didn’t know who you were back then, only that you had what we needed. I give you my word that you won’t have any problems with The Enclave for a few months at least if you just step back, I’m even giving you a few of my cities. Oh, and this part of the deal goes for any Enclave member who runs the cities from here on out. The reason I’m doing this is because I have two other pain in the ass stable dwellers to deal with back east right now. Unlike you, they have no idea who really runs The Enclave. If I don’t start putting my effort into stopping them, then it will set my plans back years. So, this treaty is both good for you and for me and I’m giving up a lot to do this,” he said, looking a little more pissed as he said it.

“Fine and the first part? Why do you want me to keep trying to stop Falling Shadows?” I asked.

“That’s my secret and I’m not telling you. If you think you can outsmart me and really stop the project, then fine. Go ahead and try, we’ll just have to see who wins in the end. My biggest reason is more to keep Aquila distracted,” Thunderlane said.

“I thought you two were partners,” Stardust said, stepping to my right side.

“She’s just a tool like she’s always been. She doesn’t like me, and I don’t like her. She thinks I’m working with her because she wants to use me to get her full power from Falling Shadows. That body Grim helped her get won’t be able to deal with it though. The only way she could’ve harnessed her full power is if she was still within your body. I just need her to get the project going, then I’ll let her destroy herself as she tries to get more power and watch as she dies a painful death,” he said, a slight chuckle escaping his lips.

“So, you’re just going to kill her in the end, which will kill me too?” I asked.

“Maybe, maybe not, if I understand the spell correctly. If either of you kill yourselves, it won’t affect the other. I can’t be sure, so if you want to survive, then you should probably find a way to break the spell your mother put on the two of you,” he said.

“She wouldn’t believe you anyway. She doesn’t trust anypony, not even me, but when it comes to you everything you say is just a lie to her. Now do we have a deal, or do you want to see how many of you I can kill before I ask again?” he said.

“I’ve heard too many lies about your death over the years and with your mother working with The Ministry, I can’t be sure she didn’t just make a new version of her daughter. Aquila could’ve still connected with a synth for all I know. I need proof that you are the real Star,” he said, “Walk through the barrier in front of you and use the biometric scanner just below me and The New Moon will stop it’s attack on Stratus.”

“I’m pretty sure a barrier with a bypass spell on it can be tricked by a synth. They’re powerful but not perfect,” I said.

“That’s true, but the bypass spell on this shield is just to prove that you share a genetic code with Minuette. The biometric scanner however is a lot more advanced than the bypass spell is. Synths share 99.9% of the DNA of the pony they were copied from, however there is a small chip within their heads that make sure the body works properly. They may look, feel, and bleed like a normal pony, but they’re still artificial. The scanner knows the slight difference and will know you are a true born pony. It’s coded to only work for the descendants of Night Stalker so your father or your uncle could shut down this Thunderhead, but they can’t pass through the barrier. If you can do both, then I’ll trust that you’re really the daughter of Nightshade and Grimoire,” Thunderlane said.

I glared up at Thunderlane then over at Strife before taking a few steps up to the pink barrier to step through it. When I was on the other side, I put myself close to a small blue gem just under the monitor and let it scan over me. It took a moment then a mares voice said, “DNA genetic match found, General Night Stalker many generations descended. Name match to Enclave database found, last known name ‘Star’ only child of High Councilor Nightshade forty-one years old, status, alive. Also, only daughter of Grimoire Spell, forty years old, status, deceased. Only known relatives still known to be alive, Cloud Striker, forty-seven years old, uncle on father’s side. Fallen Star, sixty-four years old, grandmother on mother’s side. Oricalcos, forty-four years old, uncle on mothers side. Welcome Star, your information has not been updated in twelve years, three months, and seventeen days. Please provide any changes to name if it has been changed and state what you would like to do with The New Moon Thunderhead.”

I was a little baffled at all the information the computer on this thing seemed to know about me and my family, but then I grinned up at Thunderlane as I said, “New Name Shadow Star, my first order is to stop all aggression on Stratus, bring down the barrier around the controls here, and kill Captain Strife,” my smile got wider as the barrier around us went down and the large guns in the room pointed at Strife, “I’ll agree to your deal Thunderlane, but I’m afraid that you won’t’ be getting your great, great whatever granddaughter back. The bitch is going to die.”

Strife looked a little scared as the guns started to hum as the energy in them started to warm up, “Grandpa? What do I do?”

Thunderlane rolled his eyes, saying, “If you kill my granddaughter, there will be no deal, and I will make sure to kill everyone you love. Starting with your griffon lover.”

My eyes went wide, and I said, “Computer or whatever you are, hold up on killing Strife.”

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill her or at least take her as a prisoner to make sure you hold up your end of the deal?” I asked.

She huffed but kept her mouth shut as Thunderlane said, “I am a pony who keeps my word, but as an incentive to let my granddaughter live, I’ll give you one more thing. A scientist in Thunderhead back east found a cure for killing joke. Let her leave and I’ll transmit the recipe to your Mark II. I also won’t launch one of my few megaspells at freedom.”

Finally, I saw true impatience on Thunderlane’s face as he said, “Test me then, kill her and see if I’m really bluffing. Even if I am lying about the megaspell, which I’m not, would you really let the griffon you love stay as a pony? You know that body will only get her killed one day.”

“Grandfather! Are you really going to let her get away with one of our most powerful ship and kill me!?” Captain Strife yelled.

I knew he was right, I just hated to admit it. I truly didn’t care if Aura stayed a pony or not. I loved her no matter what, but Aura wasn’t trained to fight like she was. She would never truly be happy as a pony, even if she was really cute the way she was right now. I knew that we would have to fight more sooner than later, and she wasn’t the kind of griffon to just stay out of a fight, even if it did get her killed. Fairy Glitter told me about the cure too and said she could get it, but there was also a possibility that she wouldn’t be able to get the cure either. When it came to Aura, I couldn’t risk a maybe. So, I sighed again, then said, “She can go, but you better keep your end of the deal.”

“I will,” Thunderlane said before saying to Strife, “Strife, meet me back here as soon as you can, also pull all of our troops out of all of the western cities.”

“Do as your told before I decide to do to you what I did to your brother!” Thunderlane yelled.

She let her head hang before shooting me a nasty glare, then walking past me to head down the steps toward a door she could exit through. As she passed, she stopped for a second whispering to me, “You may have made a deal with my grandfather, but mark my words, you’ll still die. I don’t care what he wants with you or that demon bitch, Aquila. The Sins will still find you, and they will kill you, trust me on that,” then she kept on going.

“Yes, Shadow Star,” the computer’s voice said before the door next to her opened and one of the guns fired near her hooves, blasting Strife out of The New Moon.

I interrupted him. “I didn’t kill her, just wanted to put her in her place. She’s fine, you only said not to kill her, and I didn’t. Now give me what you promised and get your ugly face off my screen.”

The glare he gave me could’ve melted steel, but he just looked away and hit a few buttons on his terminal. A moment later my Pip-Buck dinged, showing a message was sent to it. Once that was done, he said, “There you go, now keep to your end of the deal and we won’t have problems for a while. Trust me, in time we will talk again, and you will help me. Goodbye Shadow Star and let the best Child of The Night win,” then his image was gone.

I let out a sigh of relief then ran down to my father and hugged him tight, then reached over pulling Stardust into the hug too. “I can’t believe it’s over.”

Dad and Stardust hugged me back before my dad pulled away, saying, “It’s not over yet, but at least we’ll have time to fix and rebuild. I’ll have a lot of work ahead of me if I’m to help stop him. I just can’t believe that Thunderlane is really still alive and running The Enclave.”

“I can’t believe he made that crazy deal and let us keep The New Moon,” Solstice said, “This is like one of the best ships they have.”

My dad laughed. “It is one of the best but it’s also nearly impossible for any of The Enclave to use fully.”

I looked over to my dad, asking, “What do you mean? They were using it to destroy the city.”

“Yes, but they hacked into the system and ran it remotely. It’s something that can’t be done easily, and it would’ve only lasted for an hour or so before The New Moon would’ve updated its security system and kicked them out. Though in an hour this thing can do a lot of damage. The only Ponies who can truly control The New Moon is my family,” my dad said.

“It was toward the end of the war, then it became his flag ship when he was taking over all of the cloud cities while he was the pony running The Enclave. When he left, his sons took it over, and later it was docked in Neighvarro for a long time and kept out of our family’s reach to make sure none of us could take power again,” my dad said, then he looked over at the large window at the destruction of Stratus.

I followed his gaze and saw that a lot of the power armored ponies were leaving the city, or what was left of it. Stratus was no longer a beautiful city. It almost looked like most cities in The Wasteland now. I sighed and pulled dad close again. “The Wasteland finds its way into every part of Equus, even up here. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more to stop this from happening.”

“No,” my dad said, and I saw tears starting to fill his eyes, “I wish I would’ve put a stop to everything before I let myself get captured.”

“It’s not your fault my old friend,” I heard Cascade say from the spot where he’d been knocked out. I looked over seeing that he was getting back to his hooves with the help of Solstice, “If I’d listened to you a few months back, maybe we could’ve done more, but I didn’t want to get involved. That was my mistake.”

Dad smiled a little, then as soon as it appeared, he was frowning again. “It’s not your fault Cascade. From what I can tell, Thunderlane’s been planning something for a long time.”

“Dad…Mom…” I said trying to bring up the hard subject of her death, because I just now realized that he didn’t know yet.

“The Enclave has access to all of the M.A.S.E.B.S. towers all over The Wasteland. They saw the fight with you and Aquila and recorded it. He showed me your mother’s death and taunted me about it while he was letting me rot in that cell,” he said as fresh tears fell down his face, “I just wish I could’ve spoken with her one more time before she left this world.”

“She left you a message, I recorded it on my Mark II,” I said, feeling my own tears starting to fall, “Let’s go somewhere private and we can talk, and I’ll play it for you.”

Dad looked around, then shook his head, “Another time. Right now, there’s a lot to do, and if I know you and your friends, I’m sure there’s a lot you need to do too. I need time to prosses her death…and mourn in my own way. Once everything settles down, I’ll come to you, and we can spend some time talking about her and you can play me her final words.”

“Okay Dad,” I said with a sigh, then checked the message on my Mark II. I could see that it was a recipe of some kind. I’d have to show it to Aura, or a doctor, or zebra to figure out what it was. If it worked, then Aura could get back to being her amazing self again. The day hadn’t gone as well as I’d hoped…honestly it was a complete nightmare, but at least my dad was alive and maybe, just maybe, I really could outsmart Thunderlane and Aquila. I’d noticed it for a little while now, but I wasn’t the same mare I was when Aquila was trapped inside of me. I was finding out that I was a lot stronger, and harder than the scared filly who lived in Stable 28. The longer I was free of Aquila, the more I noticed that I was turning into Night Stalker in a way. I still wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. So, I just sighed and continued, saying, “We have a lot of work to do.”

“Damn right we do!” Cascade said, “I’ll get that jackass back for knocking me out.”

“Good to see you’re worked up like always Cascade, because as my first act being reinstated as the leader of Stratus, is to promote you to General. I’m going to need your help and Fairy Glitter’s if we’re going to defend ourselves from The Enclave,” Dad said as he walked up to the biometric scanner, “Sorry Shadow, but I’ll have to take control of The New Moon and get her ready to protect this city. I have a lot more work to do.”

“Wait a sec, I’m retired! I don’t wanna be a damned General!” Cascade said.

“Too late, I don’t trust may ponies General Cascade, but I do trust you and your family. Now stop complaining and get back into the city and start organizing our soldiers to help the citizens,” Dad said.

Cascade looked ready to explode with rage for a moment, then he let out a long sigh, and said, “Fine, but what do you mean The Enclave? I know that Neighvarro pulled away from us, but The Enclave started here in Stratus! We are The Enclave.”

Dad looked back at Cascade, and said, “No it didn’t, that’s always been a lie to make Stratus feel good about itself. Honestly all Stratus is, is the cloud section of former Los Pegasus. It was nicknamed Stratus before the war and was the home of Night Stalker when he was a colt. When he declared The Enclave as being a new nation, he was in Neighvarro, that’s why they’ve always held so much power. From here on out Stratus, Nimbus, The Twin Cities, and The Crystal Empire will no longer be The Grand Pegasus Enclave. We will be known as New Equestria. If any citizen isn’t happy with that and wants to stay part of The Enclave, then they are banished from our lands and everything they own is to be left behind to aid in the repairs of Stratus. Now go my friend, and make sure everypony knows what my first two orders are. I’ll check in with you tonight.”

“You better,” he said, then he looked at Stardust and Solstice, “You two should come with me. I’m gonna need a lot of help and my two children are perfect.”

“Sorry dad, but I’m going back to The Wasteland with Shadow,” Solstice said.

“Yeah, me too. Also, I’ve never lived above the clouds like this and it’s just a little too much. I have a mare I need to make sure I help too,” Stardust said.

“Awww, does my big bro have a little crush on the bat pony?” Solstice teased.

Stardust blushed for a moment, then said, “So what if I do, she’s awesome and cute.”

Cascade looked ready to argue then he sighed again. “You two are too much like your mother. Fine, but you better be safe down there.”

“We will be,” Solstice said, walking over to hug her father, “Tell Mom I love her.”

“Same for me,” Stardust said, also hugging his dad. It was nice to see that he was already getting close to them, even though he only found out about them last night.

“Yeah, yeah, I will,” Cascade said, then glared at me, “Keep my kids out of trouble or I’ll kick your ass,” With that, he flew out of the open door and down toward Stratus.

Before I wouldn’t have told them because I knew that they might try and stop me. Stardust’s plan was still in motion and everypony had to do their part, even me. I just couldn’t let my own plans be stopped, but after today, I saw that I had to start putting more faith in my friends and my family. “I’m going to Spitfire’s Flight Academy.”

“I know, but I have to get there before Aquila moves the thing she hid there while she was controlling my body,” I said.

“What are you talking about?” Dad asked, “The only thing there is the power source for Falling Shadows.”

I grinned. “Yeah, and she also hid a small gem that has a part of her power inside it. You see, she’s not really the key to Falling Shadows, Minuette stored a part of the light magic that made her in a gem. That is the true key that Thunderlane and Aquila need. If I take it, then we can really put a wrench in their plans.”

Stardust sighed, then said, “Okay, then we’ll head there first before heading back to Freedom. We should have just enough time to stop there before we have to put a stop to the Sins and everything else going on there.”

“No, Solstice can drop me off but then she needs to go to New Pegasus and so do you Dusty. We can’t waste any more time than we have to. I’ll be fine at Spitfire’s Flight Academy. I’ll get what I need and make my way to New Pegasus to meet you. I’m also going to get the cure for Wind Thrasher while I’m there too. I’m sure Dr. Gauze is finished with it by now, and even if he hasn’t I’m sure what he has can help Stormy figure something out. Fairy Glitter said something about that last night.” I said.

“Bro, she’ll be fine. Shadow’s one of the strongest ponies I’ve ever met. She’ll be okay,” Solstice said before giving me a hoof bump.

“I agree,” Dad said smiling, “I have faith in you all. Now you should get going, we’ll catch up later. Also, thank you for saving me.”

I’d almost forgotten he was around; he hadn’t said a word the whole time. “Oh, sorry Thundercracker. Kind of forgot you were here.”

“I wasn’t, I went looking around the ship while you all were talking with nasty face. What do you need old Greed to do?” he asked with a huge smile.

“Hey, that’s not fun. I wanna go back to the surface and do something more. Maybe steal some shit, or find myself a nice hot mare, or kill The Sins. You know, fun shit,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for Greed to stay in Stratus right now. Later I’m going to try and get Dashites brought back into the fold. For right now, it’s not a good time,” Dad said.

I sighed, then said, “I guess you can come with me then. That way, Solstice and Stardust can get back to Freedom quicker.”

He smiled wider. “Awesome, a quest for just you and me. This is going to be fun!”

I was already regretting this, but if you’re going to take an overly egocentric pegasus with you, might as well be one that also worked like a flying personal shield. So, I just laughed and said, “Yeah, let’s go fuck some shit up…”

[FOOTNOTE: LEVEL UP!]

NEW PERK ADDED!

Overpowering Will: Most Ponies in The Wasteland lack this perk. Where most ponies would fall or submit to the harsh reality of The Wasteland, you have more Willpower than most. Due to this perk, you will no longer be intimidated by overpowering odds or more powerful ponies. When situations look tough, you won’t run, you’ll kick your enemy in the balls and laugh.

Fallout Equestria: Falling Shadows

by Drako Moon

Chapter 69: Sirens