MARE sat comfortably behind his desk, reading the latest reports sent to him by the Princess. The black ‘Eyes Only’ folder in front of him wasn't particularly interesting. Princess Celestia had recognized her sister’s legal claim to the sovereign territory once controlled by the Griffon Kingdom before Equestria forced them to retract their Great Storm Cloud. The documents detailed colonization procedures, local indoctrination, land distribution , procedures to cover the area with the night shield and all sort of bureaucratic nonsense that MARE couldn't bother to concern himself with.
His mind was on other matters. The Saddle Arabians were once again threatening to drive up the price of their Carouselium and the Changelings were putting pressure on the Caribou. It seemed everyday, MARE woke up and read about some new international crises ready to break the truce and ignite the flames of war.
MARE closed the black folder and piled it on top of the other similar folders that were stacked on the corner of his desk. It was only a matter of time before the ‘Eyes Only’ documents he received each day outnumber the more routine documents. MARE closed his eyes and massaged his brow to try and relieve his stress.
There was also the Nightfeather issue to deal with. Ever since she gave Con Mane his mission, Princess Luna had grown more reclusive. MARE feared that this might be seen as a sign of weakness against the Alicorns by their foreign rivals. The last thing Equestria needed was their chief political ally succumbing to the propaganda of King Gregor or Queen Chrysalis. MARE sighed and wearily lit his favorite pipe.
The intercom on MARE’s desk buzzed to life and Miss Raven’s voice spoke through the speaker. “Signal from Coltlumbia, sir. Coming in through the green scrambler.”
MARE didn't respond to his secretariat and instead immediately put the green receiver phone to his ear. “MARE here.”
“This is Sky Blazer.” spoke the pony on the other end of the line.
“Blazer?” MARE sat up straight and alert. He hadn’t expected to be called personally by an agent of the LIA.
“It’s about Con Mane, sir. We picked up his Homer signal. It’s monitored into the skies surrounding the city of Cloudsdale.”
“Cloudsdale? Nice of him to let us know. Last I heard he was still in Coltumbia.”
“He came in on a private NLR Warship registered to our old friend, Captain Nightfeather.
“Glad he’s making progress. Keep an eye on him for us?”
“Yes, sir. Their flight plans list Nightfeather’s estate as their final destination.”
“Just don’t charge in on him and spoil anything will you? Evidently he’s well on top at the moment.”
The Nightstalker descended down towards the cloud basin with the eternal moon illuminating from behind. The massive ship was as a specter screeching through the night. The ship took rest on a very large airstrip carved out of cloudcrete and then shuttled into an even larger hangar specifically built to house the flying fortress.
Joe watched the entire landing from within the airship’s sitting room. From the window he could see the city of Cloudsdale as any Pegasus should. The silvery cloud streets and buildings collected the moonlight. If Joe didn’t know any better, he would have assumed he was in some sort of snow covered, winter wonderland from a Hearth’s Warming Pageant. Floating on their own clouds high atop the city were actual, working weather factories puffing out various types of clouds from their smoke stacks and liquid rainbows flowing from their spouts. The rainbow rivers cut through the city accumulating in various lakes and fountains. Joe recalled his childhood when he thought to try and sneak a taste of a rainbow that his parents had in stock. Not a wise decision.
Beyond the weather factories was the world famous Cloudiseum. Joe had seen pictures of the Cloudiseum before but never really comprehended the complex size and shape until just then. He longed to see the structure in the beauty of daylight, but then lamented at the thought that that would never happen.
The cabin jostled only minutely as the Nightstalker touched down on the airstrip. Joe waited patiently as the airship was shuttled into the hangar and allowed Spitfire to collect him. She came in still wearing her teasing flight suit, but this time also wore the head piece which completely covered her face save for her muzzle, eyes and mane. Joe couldn’t help but notice that in full uniform, she looked strikingly familiar, but he could not wrap his hooves around why.
“We’ve arrived, Commander.” she said coolly, “Exit the airship and remember: I’ll be watching you from behind.”
“Oh, I’m sure you will.” Joe said with a wink.
“Move!” she commanded like any good CO would.
Joe walked ahead of Spitfire, perfectly aware of the Wing Cannon firmly locked on the back of his head. The tiny turns of the barrel drove Joe towards a large hatched door guarded by two Lunar Guards. The Batponies saluted at Spitfire and turned the hatched to open the door to the outside. Joe was astonished at how high up they actually were and began to appreciate the size of the airship. Below, more guards guided a tall staircase that they wheeled up to the door, allowing Joe to disembark.
He rapidly made his way to the bottom of the stairs under the stern watchful eyes of the Lunar Guards below. He tested his hoof on the cloud floor with a cautious step just to make extra certain that his wings were still providing him their protection. Spitfire was only a few steps behind him and, as he reached the bottom, he held out a hoof towards the Pegasus.
“Watch your step, Lieutenant.” He said while laying the politeness on extra thick.
Her expression remained firm and in control. She gave her Wing Cannon a light click. “Just keep playing it easy.”
Spitfire led Joe out of the hangar to a cloudfield paved flat. Joe looked to the moonlit sky and saw a small squad of about half a dozen Pegasi flying by in a spearhead formation. A trail of pitch black stormclouds magically materialized behind each flier and the clouds arced with lightning. Joe could tell that each of the Pegasi were mares and that they all wore the same purple and black flight suits as Spitfire. As he watched the airborne spectacle, the Pegasi performed various tricks such as loops and barrel rolls an aileron rolls that curved and commingled with each other to create dazzling cloud trail designs.
“And just who are they up there?” Joe asked.
Spitfire flared her wings, stuck out her chest and smiled proudly. “The New Lunar Republic’s elite aerial acrobatics team. The Shadowbolts!”
“Talented ponies.”
“They should be!” Spitfire flapped her wings and hovered in the air just above Joe with her forelegs on her hips. “I trained them!”
The sight of Spitfire’s strong wings flapping triumphantly and the name Shadowbolt clicked together in Joe’s mind. His eyes lit up with realization.
“Yes, of course. I knew I recognized you from somewhere. Spitfire. You were the captain of the Wonderbolts in Equestria.”
Spitfire lowered herself back down to the cloud. Her face was sour and her eyes shot out poison. “That was before I defected to the NLR and formed the Shadowbolts.”
“But why?” Joe pleaded, “You were a star.”
Spitfire closed her eyes and turned her head away from Joe. “Nightfeather’s promises were too good to pass up.” she said, “I fly in the shadows now. And I like it.”
Joe approached her and wrapped his hoof around her. To his surprise she didn’t protest, but she didn’t warm up to it either. “Well I’d like to hear more about it. Why don’t you and I continue our conversation elsewhere?”
Spitfire drapped the unwelcome hoof off of her and said, “I am afraid you have other more pressing matters to attend to. A mutual friend of ours is here to take you to Nightfeather Manor.”
Spitfire pointed further down the airstrip and Joe could see Nightfeather’s familiar ebony chariot drawn by a pair of Lunar Guards. Standing just outside of the chariot, holding the door open, was the sinister floating figure of Larry.
Joe’s blood froze over. It was only by the prodding of Spitfire’s Wing Cannon that Joe was able to muster the strength to approach the carriage. Joe approached the cloudy, ink-like figure and stared into his menacing, yellow eyes in defiance.
“Where are your manners, Larry? I though you always tipped your hat off to a lady?”
“Innn.” was all the creature said.
“Fine, if you insist.” Joe climbed into the chariot’s red lined interior and Larry slammed the door down hard. Spitfire looked on from the outside amused. “You know, Spitfire, he kills little fillies like you.”
“Little colts, too.” he retorted with a dry smile.
Spitfire watched as the chariot took off to the sky. She watched until it was nothing but a black speck in the purple sky. She then pulled out a small, silver whistle and blew into it hard.
“Shadowbolts! Form up!” She yelled at the top of her lungs. In an instant, all of the Shadowbolts plummeted to the airstrip and they each landed flat on their hooves in a perfectly straight line.
“Routine complete, Squad Leader!” One of the Shadowbolts reported.
“Well?” Spitfire spat with the angry husk of a drill instructor.
“Choreography went off without a hitch. All Shadowbolts in top condition!”
“Very good. You'll get your final briefing tonight. That will be all. Dismissed!”
The Shadowbolts all saluted in unison and galloped away, leaving Spitfire alone. She once again turned and stared off into the direction the chariot flew.
The luxury of the chariot’s premium interior was lost on Con Mane as he sat with his gaze fixated on the moving scenery just above the drawers’ heads. The pale blue clouds illuminated by the eternal moon--the existence of which Joe still couldn’t quite comprehend-- whizzed past the chariot as a shadowy shape emerged from the parting clouds.
The manor was made made out of petrified storm cloud and was constructed to more closely resemble a castle than a mansion. Two towers flanked the main building, which was at least five floors tall and was shaped like a spiral. It was clear that it was inspired by traditional Pegasopolan design and, having studied a little of Pegasopolan architecture, Joe figured that the shape was supposed to resemble a tornado of some kind. The main building branched off into smaller, more traditionally designed housings which were still opulently decorated with a Pegasus’ ideas of symbols of wealth: liquid rainbow fountains that pooled into ponds before flowing from the ledge of the cloud and dissipating in the open air, another rainbow in its finished, manufactured state that arched above the manor to connect the two towers and a lightning bolt magically frozen in time serving as the centerpiece for his courtyard.
Joe thought he had gotten used to the nippier temperatures of Cloudsdale, but as the manor came into view, he found himself clutching his jacket tightly to his body. The chariot landed in the circular driveway that sat in front of the entrance of the manor. On the far side of the driveway, several more chariots of various make and model were parked in a row. Just as Larry opened the chariot door and politely motioned Joe to step out, the large, antique, wooden double doors and the mansion flew open, and Nightfeather trotted casually down the steps dressed in formal uniform.
“Ah, welcome to Nightfeather Manor, Mr. Mane!” Nightfeather roared in a friendly tone. He approached Joe and patted him on the back. Joe kept his calm and allowed Nightfeather his gloating. “Tell me,” he continued, “What did you think of my lieutenant and her Shadowbolts?”
Joe looked up at Nightfeather and smiled. “Certainly better trained than their CO.”
Nightfeather’s smile turned to a scowl. His upper lip curled as if he had just taken a sip of soured juice. He turned to Larry and commanded him with an equally sour voice. “Show Mr. Mane to his quarters, please? I’m afraid I won’t be joining you for a while. Some other guests have arrived that I must entertain. Enjoy your stay.”
Larry bowed and hissed and then commanded some nearby Lunar Guards to flank Joe. Joe was then led not through the front door but to one of the tall towers. The door immediately led to a spiral staircase that into the dank underground (undercloud?) chasms. The guards continued to prod Joe with their pointy, leathery wings until they arrived at the dimly lit dungeon at the bottom. The air was dank and thick and Joe could hear the faint echoes of dripping water, which he realized was probably condensation from the cloud.
The cells were small, each containing only a single small cloud levitating to the side-- Joe figured they must be used for beds-- and a basin filled with stagnant water. The door to each cell was an iron door magically fastened into the cloudcrete walls, which were carved to resemble uniform grey bricks. A window on each door was fastened with rusty iron bars. Joe silently applauded Nightfeather for his appreciation for old fashioned dungeons.
Larry shoved Joe into one of the cells and the metal door screamed in agony as it scraped across the cloudcrete. Joe looked around. The walls were solid stone. Some wooden support beams ran across the ceiling and there were tiny holes at the base of the wall that must have been made by Cloudsdale’s equivalent of rats. At the very least, there were no convenient air ducts for Joe to climb through. He peered through the iron bars. Larry had long slithered away and across from Joe’s cell stood a single Lunar Guard. He stood in stationary attention and his glowing, Batpony eyes did not waver from Joe’s door even slightly. Joe sighed and layed down on the cloud bed, his hooves pillowing head head, and mindlessly wiggled one of his hind hooves. He glanced at his watch and confirmed that the signal in his horseshoe was still transmitting and that it was penetrating the walls. He sighed in frustration and just stared at the stone ceiling.
Meanwhile, at Cloudsdale Weather Patrol Outpost Thunder Sigma, located just a few miles north of the city limits, two Pegasi sat in a dark room, leaned back lazily into their chairs nursing fresh cups of steaming coffee. The circular screen in front of them casted a faint green light on their faces. Through his sunglasses, one of the Pegasi kept his sights on the green bar that moved clockwise around the circle. The steady motion was hypnotic and made his eyes heavy. The only thing that kept him awake was the fact that whenever the line moved over four o’clock, a yellow dot appeared and emitted a sharp chirp.
The Pony next him turned his head and broke the silence. “Sky?”
“What’s wrong, Agent Ambush?” Sky Blazer responded to his rookie partner.
“The Homer has been steady for a long while now. Con Mane must be in the manor by now. Maybe we should just drop in on him?”
Sky allowed the rookie to mull on the question for a few moments before answering. “He’ll shout if he needs us.” Sky Blazer took a long swig of coffee leaned back even further in his chair and just stared at the ceiling.