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// Chapter I: The Beginning part II 
// Story: The Covenant: Equins Ascension 
// by Zealous Pony 
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June 15, 2542 – Covenant Citadel, Equestria
Nearly one week after their training started the Mane-six had made great progress, or so they thought; Shade had found them harder to teach then she’d expected. Even Rainbow Dash had proven difficult to teach due to her arrogance and lack of self-control. However, as for Shade, she had gotten this far so she couldn't stop now.
As Shade walked down the halls of the Citadel she thought back to when she first joined the Covenant and how she used to be just like Twilight Sparkle and her friends. 
~~~
Two years earlier
Shade has wanted to join the military since she was twelve of course now she’s here planning to join the Special Operations Division at the age of seventeen. She was really excited to be doing this, thou her parents would never have approved of it; she didn’t really care about that now.
Already a week through training and things didn't go quite as expected for Shade; she had already gotten into a fight with one of the other cadets and nearly got herself expelled from her class if hadn't been for another cadet, a mare by name of surprise,  who stood up for her when nopony else would.
Five weeks in: Shade and Surprise had become great friends and they also make an ‘unstoppable team’ as said by one of the officers. Though this only the beginning, both Shade and Surprise knew they were going to accomplish great things someday…       
~~~
Of course, as Shade was lost in past she didn't realize she had made it to the cafeteria, which was until she heard an unusually happy voice coming from none other than Pinkie Pie.
“Hey, hey Shade over here!” Pinkie said in an unusually happy and loud tone making Shade cringe slightly. Probably due to how early it was. “Oh you’re all here already. Good.” Shade said, slightly surprise. “Well ya did tell us all come here didn't ya?” Apple Jack said questioningly.
“Well yes, I did in fact. I need to discuss the training progress you’ve all made in the last week-” Shade said just as she was cut off by Pinkie Pie. “Oh… Oh… Oh… have we done good? Have we-” Pinkie blurted out until Rainbow Dash stuffed a hoof in her mouth. “Uh… Pinkie I think you should let her TALK!” Rainbow dash said, slightly annoyed. 
“Yes. As I was saying all of you have made great progress but still have a long way to go. Remember, you’re only through the first week you've still got fifteen more to go.” As Shade said those last few words she noticed a few surprised looks from the Mane-six. “Don’t worry fifteen weeks will go by in no time!” Shade said reassuringly. However, she knew this was going to be a long four months.  
June 28, 2542 – Covenant Training Camp, Everfree Forest, Equestria
Shade really regretted having to put the Mane-six the next part of their training but it has to be done. “Okay listen up,” Shade announced “this is one of the hardest parts of your training. All you have to do is survive three days in the Everfree Forest using only what I taught you all. Now I know this may sound dangerous and it is but I've taught you all how to survive and I’m confident you’ll all succeed.” Shade finished “Now, any questions?” The six of them all remained silent. 
“No questions? Good.” Shade said rather flatly. “And one more thing; there’s an item I need the six of you to find while you’re out there: an ancient relic long lost to pony kind. Find this and it will be more than enough to suffice.” She added.
As if on cue the Mane-six went into the forest to start their training and hopefully find the lost artifact. “I hope they will come out alright.” Shade thought then went to a small bar to wait for their return as she was heading inside she stared to the sky and sighed.
“Three days… not that long….right?” Shade asked she herself but got an answer from behind her, “You can thrust them Shade they will be fine,” Added the mysterious intruder causing Shade to jump at the answer. “Don’t do that! You know I hate it!” she yelled at the pegasus sitting on the stool at the bar making him giggle quietly, “You sure were always cute when you sound angry and that hasn't changed now has it.” Shade blushed at the compliment and sat next to the intruder in question, a pegasus stallion with a red coat and orange and yellow mane/tail, looking at him. “So, Fire Bolt, why did you come here, anyway? I thought you were a mission.” Shade asked. “I just got back from it; I sure am fast, right?” Fire Bolt winked at her making her roll her eyes.
The two pegasi shared a drink chatting about the events they have been through in the past few weeks before Fire Bolt decided to speak up with a soft tone “I hope you don’t mind if I watch you train them for some time my next mission is in a month.” He chuckled a little before adding, “Maybe I could even say hi to them.” Shade chuckles a bit as well, “Well their training is almost done, and this is their atonement to the SpecOps.”
After a few more drinks the red colt helped the drunken pegasus mare up on all four with a chuckle as he jokingly said “Next time we do a drinking contest I’ll let you win.” Then he chuckled and opened his wings ready to fly up to the sky for his afternoon nap adding, “Don’t push the girls too hard Shade we don’t need vegetables in the units,” As he flew up into the sky. The drunk pegasus mare yelled up to the flying stallion, “Don’t ‘hic’ worry they’ll be ‘hic’ fine~.” 
After making her way to the barrack and walking through its metal door shade tripped on a piece of armor landing on top of the unsuspecting flame mare both of them letting out a soft ‘yelp’ before hitting the ground and shade letting out a ‘hic’ as she said “Sorry Spits didn't see you there,” the mare in question turned to the drunken pegasus as a soft blush covered her face when she noticed who it was before saying “It’s alright chief everypony makes mistakes,” chuckling quietly before helping her commanding officer back to her hooves, then helped Shade to her bed. “Hey spits ‘hic’ I never noticed ‘hic’ how sexy you looked.” 
Spitfire face soon got a red tint to it as blood rushed up to her cheeks from the sudden compliment she just received from, not just shade, but her officer, drunk of all things, before she said with a nervous tone, “S...Shade please you should get some rest now,” Spitfire quickly helped Shade onto her bed, “Yea ‘hic’ sleep…,” Shade quickly drifted off to sleep, completely unaware of the status of her six recruits.