Finally, out of the medical bay, I thought to myself.
My leg was still a little stiff and it ached when I walked, but if I had to eat anymore Alfalfa puree I would have chewed my leg off just to leave. During my stint in the hospital, I decided the doctors were masochists. They were constantly poking and prodding; they ran more tests on me than a lab rat. That, combined with the sessions with the military shrink meant that I never wanted to see another doctor again. To top it all off, they made sure to discharge me after breakfast; so I had to choke down one last hospital meal before they let me go.
The sky was an azure blue expanse, casting out a beckoning call to me. I began to flap my wings but then stopped. The doctors prescribed a ban on flying for at least two weeks. It really wasn’t the flying part that was the issue, it was the landing. I was warned that a bad landing could re-fracture my leg, and the last thing I wanted to do was end up back in medical. So, despite my desire to get in the air, I was walking to the barracks.
I was lost in my thoughts when a filly rushed past me, pelting in a full on run toward the parade ground.
I panicked. The CBs must have launched an assault on the compound.
“Soldier! Stop!” I shouted at her.
She dug her hooves in the dirt, skidding to a halt and almost fell over with the effort. The filly’s expression was a mixture of confusion and fear.
“Y-yes, sir?” she asked, quickly throwing me a salute.
“Where is the attack, private? Who’s in command of defense?” I demanded, checking the skies for any possible threats.
“Um, no attack, sir!” she replied.
“Wha?” I asked, mirroring her perplexed looked. “Then…where are you running?”
The private took a couple of nervous steps back. “The princesses have just arrived…I wanted to meet them.”
I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. The filly’s hopeful eyes drifted to the parade ground where the royals were arriving. I knew that she wouldn’t be able to get close, especially now that I’d delayed her.
“Well, you wouldn’t be able to actually meet them on the parade grounds,” I explained as gently as I could.
Tears began to well in her ruby eyes; I could see that this was important to her. Judging by her age, she must have been a recent draftee. I was her superior and as a sergeant I was supposed to be stricter on the lower ranks, but it just wasn’t in my nature. Besides, it would be a shame for her not to meet the royals she got volunteered to die for.
“Hey, hey…buck up, private,” I told her with a smile, “I happen to have a luncheon with the princesses this afternoon. If you would like you may join me; you’d be able to talk to them there.”
She started to bounce in excitement at the prospect, and then realization dawned on her face.
“You’re the one that they’re here for aren’t you? The one that is getting the medal?” she asked, straightening up to attention.
I brushed my hoof through my mane, and I could feel my face redden.
“It’s not a one pony show, there were several of us,” I explained, “but, yeah, they are here to give us some sort of commendation.”
The private saluted and began to ring out her words in proper military fashion.
“It would be an honor to attend the banquet with you, sir!” She shouted.
“Easy, Private, um…”
“Silver Lining, sir!”
Fitting with that silver mane. I thought regarding her hair glistening in the sun.
“Okay, Private Silver Lining, meet me outside the reception at 1300 hours,” I said with a smile. “Dismissed.”
The private galloped off toward the fanfare on the parade grounds. As I watched her disappear, I reached down to the dragon scale dangling from my neck and couldn’t help but smile.
“You would have liked her,” I said to no one, “she’s a lot like you, hopeful.”
I felt like crying as I trotted to the barracks; my emotions were getting the better of me. I fought off memories as I pushed the door open and walked over to the bunk that I had been assigned. The building was empty, aside from one pony who was prancing around like he had fleas in his obsidian coat.
“Whoa there Show Off, what’s with all the excitement? You and Famosity got a date tonight or something?”
Show stopped his little happy dance to glare at me.
“We aren’t like that and you know it.”
“Sure…and you guys just go to the supply shed to do inventory together,” I teased.
“Put a bridle in it, Snap Shot!” he fired back. “Princess Luna is going to be at this award ceremony.”
I laughed; the squadron didn’t call him Lunatic for nothing. He was as excited as a foal with a sugar lick to see the princess. He laughed along with me and soon our laughter echoed around the deserted room.
“How’s the leg?” he asked, throwing me my formal uniform.
“Still a bit stiff,” I replied, as I struggled to get my wings through the slits cut in the fabric.
Show was studying himself in the mirror as he strutted back and forth in his “Class A” uniform. He began striking poses in true actor fashion; rehearsing scenes from all the great masterworks. After hitting a notably heroic pose, he saw my reflection in the mirror.
“You’re my wingman, right?” he asked, turning towards me.
“Have you forgotten?” I replied with a laugh, “All that time in fight school and you don’t even remember me.”
I had thought he was joking, but the resolve in his blue eyes quickly silenced my laughter.
“I’m serious; you got my back…in the air or on the ground, right?”
“Of course I do…is something wrong Show?”
My fellow flyer shifted around nervously.
“No,” he said, lying through his teeth, “nothing’s wrong.”
I decided not to press the issue; we had been friends long enough to know that if one of us didn’t want to talk, it was better not to pry.
“Alright, I got your back if something is though.”
Relief flooded over his face at those words.
“Thanks Snap.”
I looked in the mirror at the formal uniform that simply refused to sit right on my back.
“Ugh, I hate wearing this thing,” I said, adjusting the garrison cap that was sitting awkwardly between my ears.
Show laughed at my struggling attempts before taking pity on me.
“Didn’t you have to wear this kind of thing for black tie events and stuff while you were in Trottingham?” He asked, walking over to help me.
My civilian career was based on being a photographer for a Trottingham news rag. In other words, I was a celebrity chaser.
“Black tie? Show, I was a member of the ‘dog team.’ The closest I ever got to having to wear a tux was waiting behind a dumpster for Orange Julius to leave from a sordid liaison at the Bullmore. There’s a reason I hated my job.”
“Oh, sorry…hey!” Show exclaimed, “I did a few shows in Trottingham! Were you ever assigned to get some photos of me?”
I hesitated with my answer; trying to phrase it so that I wouldn’t hurt his ego. He was an actor and a fairly good one, but he wasn’t exactly scandalous enough to get the general public foaming at the mouth for shots. The only time that I had ever actually seen his name on the notice board at the paper was when he was in Canterlot dating one of the Wonderbolts, and that story fizzled out within a couple of weeks. After a moment’s contemplation, I figured out the best way to word it.
“Well, your name never came across my desk. I was usually assigned to the D-List; you were above my pay grade,” I said.
Show seemed satisfied with that answer and brushed some lint off my epaulette.
“Alright, you look presentable enough.” He said looking at me from ears to hoof.
I looked in the mirror and to my surprise; I actually looked good in a dressy outfit.
“Okay,” I said, striking a confident pose, “let’s go.”
“Well, not just yet,” Show said, “we have to get Famosity from the officer’s barracks. She said that she had to fix her hair.”
I rolled my eyes at that statement.
“Well, that will take all day.” And we both burst into laughter as we left the enlisted quarters.
The officers and enlisted were separated at a base tucked this far back in the rear echelon. Which meant our Information Officer would be billeting with other officers of her rank. It was a stupid practice that built a barrier between the officers and enlisted but it was how things had been for thousands of years.
Technically, it was the same up at the front lines, but no one really cared. We were so deep in the cow chips that it covered our rank insignia; so we mixed a little better.
The two of us trotted up to the Mare Officers’ barracks. The proper protocol would be for us to wait until an officer came in or out and then we were to ask them to inform the captain that we had arrived.
I stood and waited, but Show Off, who was never much for protocol, kept on walking.
“Show, we are supposed to wait.” I hissed.
“Everypony’s on the parade grounds; we don’t have time to wait.”
He started banging on the door with a hoof, so hard that I thought he was going to knock it in.
“Famosity!” He shouted at the top of his lungs, “Don’t make me come in there after you!”
Suddenly, the door swung open and a mare with a blond mane stuck her head out. I recognized the major immediately, and gulped. She had a reputation among the troops of being one part temptress, two parts Attila the Hun. The sight of the superior officer got the two of us quickly back into form but it was a little too late.
“What was that Sergeant?” The mare asked, glaring at Show. “You were going to enter the officer’s barracks; the mare officers’ barracks?”
“Ma’am! No ma’am.” We both responded, looking straight ahead.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t have both of you on KP, washing dishes until your hooves fall off!”
The two of us had to bite our lips, and just take the verbal abuse from the officer. I was sure that we would end up peeling potatoes for the next week, but we were saved by an unlikely source.
“There you two are!” a voice chimed in, “Thanks for coming to get me, I had lost track of time.”
Famosity walked out of the barracks room dressed in her full formal uniform, with a personal touch. It would be an understatement to say that she looked good. I caught a look at Show’s open-mouthed stare as Famosity stood in between us and the irate major.
“I’m sorry major,” she said apologetically, “We are running late for the ceremony and I told the boys to come and get me if I fell behind. You know me…I tend to go crazy in the powder room.”
The major gave me and my fellow sergeant a sideways glare before nodding to the captain and heading back into her barracks.
Show Off and I let out a sigh of relief; we managed to dodge punishment…barely. Famosity was a bit flighty, but she was a brilliant tactician. She must have picked up on what would have best placated the major in order to get her off our case. She was clever and devious, two traits I’d like an Information Officer to have.
“Thanks for the save, Fam.”
She did a little curtsey, making sure to flaunt the additions to her mane and tail.
The captain had made some striking alterations to her dress uniform. She had added silver trim to the black sleeves and the hem by her haunches. About three inches below her beret, she had tied a small peacock feather in her mane with a much larger one tied to the tip of her tail.
“Those aren’t standard issue.” I said, nodding at the feathers.
She flicked her tail so that the iridescent blue and green reflected in the sun.
“Oh, don’t they just make this outfit? They’re gorgeous aren’t they?”
“Well, yeah,” I said, “but aren’t you worried about someone saying you are out of uniform?”
“But I am in uniform; I just improved it.”
I couldn’t help but smile at her.
“Well, you look nice.” I said.
I looked over at Show Off, whose eyes were fixed on the feather attached to her tail. I gave him a nudge to get him talking again.
“Y-yeah!” He stammered.
Famosity gave us both a nasty look.
“I do not look nice…” She darkly, and both of us stood rigidly at attention.
Abruptly, her mood changed.
“I look fabulous!” she sang out.
“Of course you do!” We both agreed in unison.
All three of us started laughing. I don’t know if it was because we felt safe for the first time in over six months or if it was that we were all worried about going to the eastern front, but laughter seemed to come easier on base.
It was then that Quill walked out of the stallion’s barracks, he was dressed in his own formal attire. Contrary to the Quill I knew from Fort A, this one was the epitome of debonair; he had his mane groomed and styled, his moustache had been trimmed to perfection and his uniform had been pressed. He still wore the slightly too large peak cap left to him by our old lieutenant when he deserted. It had been cleaned, but it still looked worn and scuffed; a reminder of what we had all gone through.
“Hey Sarge!” Show shouted to him as he approached.
Quill’s nostrils flared at pegasus’ comment.
“Sergeant Show Off, I am officially a lieutenant now and you will address me as such.”
“And I still out rank you!” Famosity chimed in.
Quill rolled his eyes at her; she wouldn’t let him forget the fact that she was a higher rank than him while we were stationed at Fort A, even though he was the one calling the shots. When he finally received word that he was going to be promoted to an officer, he was going to finally tell Fam that they were equal. The sergeant had even go so far as to completely write out a lecture for her in his notebook.
Unfortunately for Quill, fate…and the promotions board weren’t on his side. We had all actually received a promotion from high command after our service on the southern front. So where Quill was given the bar that officially made him a lieutenant; Famosity was promoted to captain, which meant that she was still two ranks higher than he was.
“You’ll always be ‘Sarge’ to me, lieutenant sir!” Show stated with an overly dramatic salute.
“Alright,” the new lieutenant said, nodding to the reception hall, “we better go. No point in being late to our own party.”
The four of us followed Quill to where the ceremony was to be taking place, the large reception hall next to command center of the compound. Outside the building there were a group of royal guards waiting to give us our mandatory weapons check.
“Not a bad idea,” Quill grumbled, “I’m not exactly thrilled with the service provided by the royals.”
“Neither am I, lieutenant, but just think of the food afterward,” I whispered.
The princesses had flown in the best chef in Equestria for the banquet, and while I personally hated the fact that we were forgotten or worse, labeled as “expendable”, I wouldn’t want to miss the chance at a free gourmet meal.
My thoughts of good food were interrupted by Famosity drawing on Show with her magic pencil. She had a nasty habit of taking advantage of her talent to decorate the troops with magical sketches of hats, moustaches and all manner of other items. I had found myself a victim to her a couple times; the trick was to keep moving around anytime she had a drawing instrument out.
“There all ready for your date with Luna!” she giggle, as she put the final touches on the top hat she was adding to Show’s class A.
Show Off rubbed a hoof feverishly above his head and the hat dissolved as if it had been made of dust.
“You get way too much pleasure out of that,” he stated grimly.
The unicorn didn’t respond except to bat her eyelashes at him, before bouncing happily into the receiption halls. Show, Quill and I hurried to catch up.
In the waiting room, the four of us were taken into separate curtained off areas for a pat down. It was always uncomfortable for me, especially when they had to run their hooves underneath my wings. Though apparently, I wasn’t the only one feeling discomfort.
“Hey! Watch those hooves!” I heard Famosity shout, followed by the sound of somepony getting slapped.
“It’s standard procedure Fam!” Quill shouted from behind his curtain.
“That doesn’t mean she can put her hooves wherever she wants.”
The stallion stopped frisking me and looked to where Famosity’s voice was echoing from.
“Either hurry this up or send the hoovesy mare over here to frisk me,” I said, wanting to get this over with.
He finished checking under my wings and then sent me back out into the room. The other three were waiting for me.
“Ooh, if she messed up my feather I’m going to be mad,” Famosity said, flicking her tail around so that she could get a look at it.
“It’s fine,” Show said with a laugh.
We were led to where the ceremony would be taking place. The four of us were stood on a large stage and told not to move until the princesses arrived. Outside the window we could see the thundering contrails left by the Wonderbolts performance.
“You’d think they would have the best flyers in a unit, not putting on a show,” I stated.
“It’s a morale boost Snap,” Quill said, “and it’s just as important as having actual fighters. Besides they’re too expensive to waste.”
“I guess that’s all we are too, huh. A morale boost in the form of four uniformed idiots.”
“Something like that, sergeant,” The lieutenant explained, “just accept you commendation with dignity, even if the royals did leave us to die on that Faust-forsaken hill.”
The four of us exchanged glances; deep down we all felt the same way. Fort A had been abandoned by high command long before it was abandoned by its soldiers. On our return, Quill had filed a request for an inquiry but the paperwork had been lost in the shuffle. Not that an answer to why we were forgotten really mattered, we had survived by relying on each other and simply being too damn stubborn to let the pony next to us die.
I shook my head to clear it; I had learned a long time ago that if you live in the past, you die in the present.
Per usual, it was Famosity that lightened the mood; she was never comfortable in a silence.
“Well, at least we got something shiny out of the deal!” she yelled to the empty room.
I had to smile; the mint-green mare always had a unique way of viewing the world. Everypony seemed to cheer up after that, at least until the royal guards showed up to inform us of the procedure. After the third briefing, I got fed up with the stallion that was in my face.
“You are lucky you frisked me for weapons earlier,” I said annoyed, “because if I had one, I’d shoot you.”
This brought a snort from the guard, but a smile from my wingman.
“Look, here’s what you do; your name is called you walk up and get your medal,” he said, almost as put out as I was, “you salute and return to the line. Am I clear, Flyboy?”
“Crystal, rent-a-cop. I got it the first time.”
They left us up on stage, like animals on display at the zoo. Ponies began to file into the auditorium from the parade grounds outside. Most were in uniform, but there were a few civilians in the mix. I straightened up the best I could, but all the eyes in the crowd were making me nervous. The royal fanfare was played; Princess Celestia and Princess Luna approached the stage followed by a small procession of their court. My ears perked at the flapping of wings as orange and scarlet bird landed atop the flag pole bearing the Royal Equestrian banner at the back of the procession.
“Huh, a phoenix,” I said to no one in particular, “the royals got some fancy pets.”
“Isn’t she gorgeous?” Famosity murmured.
“Too bad you don’t have one of her feathers for your hair,” Show whispered, back.
A devious smile crept over Famosity’s features.
“You just had to suggest that didn’t you…” I chided him.
Our conversation was cut short as Celestia walked across the stage to begin the presentation ceremony.
The officers were called first, as they received the higher awards. I waited patiently, until my name had been called and slowly approached the princess.
“For services to Equestria above what is demanded of your rank and standing, I award thee the distinguished flyers cross.”
I stood there; inches from the royal that had sent us into hell and forgotten us, and I couldn’t say anything. I stood there as she pinned the medal to my uniform; everything I want to tell her, about her playing with lives like they were toys, the sacrifices that we had made, the friends that we had lost, all were simply locked away behind my gritted teeth. I played the dutiful soldier; received my commendation, saluted and returned to my fellows standing at attention in the presence of royalty.
Show Off was the last to be called; he took a deep breath, and strode dutifully across the stage. Then he walked right past Celestia, over to Princess Luna, leaned in and pressed his mouth against hers. A stunned silence fell over the room as the princess’s eye grew wide with the shock of the kiss. It seemed like an eternity passed as we all stood gawking at the spectacle and then the Royal Guard descended on Show, tackling him to the ground.
In the chaos that ensued while Show was wrestling with the guards, I caught a brief glimpse of Famosity next to me. There was anger behind her eyes and I swear that her coat had turned a darker shade of green.
The Royal Guard had finally subdued Show and pulled him to his feet. The guards formed a barrier between my wingman in the princess; making sure he wouldn’t get another chance. The jet black pegasus turned to the hushed ponies in the audience and threw both his hooves in the air.
“YES!” he shouted to the world.
And the crowd of ponies in front of us exploded in jubilant cheers. Show proceeded to walk back to Celestia, and receive his award from the princess as though nothing unusual had happened.
“Why didn’t you stop him?” Quill hissed in my ear, as Show took a bow for the roaring crowd.
“How was I supposed to know he’d do something that stupid?” I said, though secretly I was proud of my friend.
So much for not being scandalous, I thought, as my wingman returned to the line.
“I can die happy now,” he told me, elated.
I regarded his ruffled uniform and the broad smile on his face.
“Yeah, I guess you can. Which is good because I think the Royal Guards want to kill you,” I replied.
He looked over at me with a mile wide grin.
“Worth it.” Show said.
The four of us were dismissed rather rudely by the guards, and we were sent to the officer’s mess for the banquet prepared for us.
There were tables heaped with food, everything looked delicious and the smells emanating from the kitchen had my stomach grumbling.
“That’s him! Sergeant! Sergeant!” A voice shouted from the doorway.
I walked over to the entrance to the mess where Private Silver Lining was bouncing between the cross wings of two Guard Ponies that had been assigned to keep the general public out of the event. Apparently, she had attempted to get in and they were trying to turn her away.
“It’s alright guys, she’s with me.” I told them.
They exchanged glances and for a second I thought they weren’t going to admit the private.
Good, I thought, give me an excuse to deck one of you.
After all of the pomp and circumstance that we had been marched through today, it would feel nice to knock at least one of them out. Fortunately for them, they lowered their wings and let the Private into the mess.
“Thank you again, sir,” The private told me, but she couldn’t hide the anticipation in her voice.
There was something in that excitement that intrigued me.
“Private, why are you so intent on meeting the princess?” I inquired.
The private cocked her head and gave me a look like I was crazy.
“When I was a little filly, she came and visited our village. She was kind and generous, the princess helped out my family when we needed it. She actually cared about us, and I told myself that if I ever got the chance to repay her, I would. That’s why I volunteered as soon as I came of age…last month.”
This shocked me, I was sure that she had to be drafted at that age.
Silver Lining’s attention was diverted as the Princess and her court entered the Mess Hall. She took two nervous steps toward her, and the hesitated.
I could see that she desperately wanted to go talk to her, but was afraid of saying the wrong thing.
“Well, go ahead,” I encouraged her, “if you speak from your heart, she’ll understand.”
The mare gave me a longing look with her crimson eyes and galloped off to the group of ponies crowed around Celestia.
Something about her bothered me. Was it true what she said about the princess, that she cared about her subjects? If it was then why had she left over a hundred of us to rot on that Faust forsaken hill? But if it wasn’t why would a filly with her whole life ahead of her volunteer for military service?
Silver Lining had finished thanking the princess and bowed. She came trotting over to me as if she had just been given the crown jewels to wear for the evening.
“I finally got to thank the princess for what she did for my family. Thank you for helping me Sergeant,” She told me with a smile, “I have to get back to my unit now.”
“Alright Private, if you have to leave,” I gave her a salute, “stay safe.”
“I will try, sir!” She said returning my salute.
With that, she turned on her hooves and left the mess hall, and I was left with more question than answers. I looked over at the one place that I knew I could find answers; the princess that was now conversing with several officers. I wasn’t sure how to confront Princess Celestia; I began to get the same feelings in my gut that I would have approaching the enemy in battle. I took a breath to steel myself and then steadily inched forward.
“Your majesty,” I interrupted, “may I have a word with you?”
The group of officers all stared at me as if I were crazy, but the princess simply nodded.
“Alone…” I emphasized, indicating the officers.
“Of course,” the princess replied, “excuse me gentlemen.”
I lead the princess to an isolated corner of the mess, where we would be less likely to be overheard by anypony.
“Private Silver Lining speaks very highly of you, your highness. I would like to know why. She says that you cared for your subjects, but you know the story of how we got these medals. If you cared about us so much why were we forgotten?”
The princess sat for a moment in silence, when she finally spoke there was sorrow in her voice.
“You were not forgotten,” she said softly, “at least not by me.”
I wasn’t quite sure I should believe her, but looked at me with apologetic eyes; eyes that bore such sincerity that I was willing to hear her out.
“I was told that everything was quiet on the southern front, that supplies weren’t needed. It is now that I realize that I was being deliberately being misinformed.”
“Then why has my commanding officer’s request for investigation…”
“Because I am conducting my own investigation. Unfortunately, there are still those who are opposed to the war; I’m afraid that there may be some that will go as far as sacrificing my army in order to do so. I am sorry, I truly am, but thanks to your friends and your survival, we now know that there are those in the military that are working to sabotage the war effort.”
I wasn’t quite sure what to say, if all of the things she was saying were true, then that meant that there were ponies that were conspiring against the crown.
“Your highness, if there is anything we can do…” I started, but the princess raised her hoof.
“You have done enough, Sergeant. What you and your fellow soldiers fought through was incredible and I would not ask any more from you.”
“It is my duty as a soldier, and my honor as a citizen of Equestria.”
“Thank you, Sergeant,” she said bowing, “I am impressed by your service, but must return to the matters at hand.”
I saluted, and the princess left to go talk with some other officers; I didn’t really know what to do. I had hated the royals for so long after we escaped from hill six, now it seemed that my hatred was misplaced. I guess I just needed someone to blame; a pony that I could fault so that I could feel better.
Show Off was standing by a table in the mess, a huge pile food in front of him. A hoof print was visible on the side of his face, I couldn’t tell if it was from when the royal guards tackled him or from a pony he scorned. I trotted over to share what I had learned.
“Show, listen I need to talk to you.” I told him, seriously.
The pegasus seemed to still be on cloud nine from his escapade at the medal ceremony.
“Yeah, what’s up?” He asked with a smile.
“Well…”
A large shadow loomed over us; I looked up to find myself face to face with Princess Luna. I snapped a quick salute, and then the princess walked right past me and up to Show Off.
“We were impressed by thy bravado earlier today,” she addressed him, using the royal “we”.
Show just stood there at attention as she knelt down and gave him a swift kiss on the cheek, I could see him blushing under his black coat.
“Thou shalt be in our prayers,” she whispered in his ear.
For a moment I thought Show Off was going to pass out; I could see his knees buckling. Then the princess turned, and after running her tail under his muzzle left the two of us alone. I decided to leave Show staring euphorically at the princess’s retreating back. I wouldn’t ruin his mood with news of conspiracy and espionage.
Famosity walked past us, a red and orange tail feather dangling from her mane in stark contrast to the blue and green streaks in her hair.
“Um…where’s Celestia’s bird?” I asked Show.
I got no reply; Show Off seemed to be in his own little world. I considered his blank expression, and decided that I could have a better conversation with a table lamp.
Heading over to the buffet table, I loaded up a plate with food and walked over to a table by a window. The brilliant blue sky seemed to be calling to me but I couldn’t fly until my leg was fully healed. Reaching into my uniform, I pulled out the dragon scale with the initials scratched into it.
I’m finally out of the medical bay, I thought, but I’m still grounded.
The good food turned bitter in my mouth as I thought about what lay before us, a tour on the eastern front with some pony pulling the strings of our fate.
“What am I going to do?” I asked the dragon scale.
It just sat there glistening hopefully in the sunlight.
Make sure to check out the Companion: Risk and Reward
