Author's Note

Hi everyone so yeah it’s been a long time since my last update to this long long story short I am now a single man again word of advice never ever have a long distance relationship with someone in another state. The original ending of this chapter I lost so I literally re-wrote the whole thing and finally got it done I’m still not fully impressed with it but I hope you all like it and yes I did make a potential reference to a certain character from Call of Duty can you find it? Other than that please enjoy and leave your comments and or suggestions below

Shadow Ops

Canterlot two and half months after trottinghams Fall

Through the long halls with of Canterlot castle Dusty rose pushed her soon to be future husband the now captain Knuckles, despite having been relieved from the front after trottingham, he still has a ways to go before his injuries had fully healed up, some of his injuries ran deeper then others such as the sword slash in his left thigh that had cut deep to the bone. Not to mention he was having to regain his full eye sight to his right eye. So for a time being he would be held back front the fire of war.

But fate ever changing had brought him and Dusty home to Canterlot, where in a letter from the Lord commander he was to be promoted to Captain for his bravery and outstanding performance in saving the lives of the family he rescued not to mention Equestrias highest military award.

“What do you think he wants from my Rosy?” He asked using Dusty’s nickname, the deep red werewolf mare shrugged as she pushed him towards Ulfrics office.

“I don’t know love, I don’t get to this part of the castle a lot since the war started and becoming a field nurse, hopefully it’s something good and not bad, you’ve already done so much mister and I’m not done helping you yet” Dusty said the last part of her sentence filled with a bit of lust. Knuckles shuddered, knowing what she meant, she was using her nurse uniform for more then medicinal uses since he was brought back home. Granted he enjoyed, and it was nice to be home with the mare he loved the most, but one thing, remained what was it the lord commander wanted from him, the letter he found on his bed when he was in the field hospital had been detailed but was still very vague on what it was that he was being offered.

With a knock on dark red cherry wood door of Ulfrics office, the young captain waited nervously and with a small hint of fear, for who would not be, it was like you were going to be interviewed for a job and not knowing what you were going to be asked.

"Enter" came the voice of Ulfric from with in, grasping the door handle knuckles pushed the door open as Dusty wheeled him into Ulfrics private sanctum.

“Ah captain your here and Miss Rose, I have many good things of your work as a triage nurse, very good things please come in” Ulfric said setting aside his quill. “You have questions I assume to why I requested you in person yes?”

“A little bit sir, I’m....still getting used to the new tank and the responsibilities” Knuckles said nervously

“Relax lad I am not reprimanding your, instead courage and bravery like what you showed at Trottingham is why I called you here” Ulfric said standing and moving to the door

“Come walk with me” Ulfric said opening the door so that Dusty could wheel Knuckles out before following and taking the lead leading them down the twisting and turning hallways of Canterlot castle.

"I know you have many questions captain, and a such i am prepared to answer them, the reason i have promoted you was not due only to your actions in Trottingham, no far from it" Ulfric said "I chose to award you this promotion because I after reading the report and then comparing it to the similar actions of your service record I find someone who despite being a capable soldier and guard has done much for such a short time of service, yet it is my opinion as well as the decision of the princess that I induct you into a special unit of the guard one where your talents will be better suited to ensure that Equestria wins this war"

down three more corridors and through a very worn and ancient looking vault door they descended into the depths of the castle before Ulfric stopped and turned to face Knuckles once more.

"Before i show you what lies beyond, i wish to know of your decisions Captain should you accept or decline, then i shall respect your choice and harbor no ill will or contempt against you" Ulfric said calmly, the choice he had presented to the young thestral captain was for the young stallion a once in a life time opportunity, yet he knew that he could not force someone or somepony to accept what he had offered, no Ulfric believe in freedom for all beings and the right to decide their own future.

"I accept sir" Knuckles said.

“Then by the honor and trust anointed to me by the princesses and the duty to protect all of Equestria unto my dying breath as declared by their mother Queen Faust, I welcome you to the Shadow Corp” Ulfric said opening the final and cleverly hidden door, beyond lay an ancient well preserved training yard and barracks.

“Come captain, there is much to teach you and very little time” Ulfric said ushering the two inside, with a somewhat hesitant pause Knuckles wheeled himself through the dark opening Dusty Rose following quickly behind him. With not but a single sound ulfric closed the passage once more, as numerous torches lining the darkened corridor flared to life, bathing the way forward in a soft golden light.

"What I am about to show you is an order and part of the Royal Guard that few know about and fewer alive are left to remember its creation, when there was a time that our nations survival seemed impossible, so as tasked by Queen faust a now force was created in secret from the best and most noble of ponies to fight in the shadows and wage warfare the lkes the world has never seen. Ulfric said "fear espionage surgical strikes even assassination's and many less then legal ways of achieving results"

"Like what sir?" Knuckles asked, "like kidnappings and abductions?"

"It pains to me to say yes, but the times were different back then Captain and our nations so young and struggling to survive, and to give hope to a nation that many across this world look to for guidance, support and to help defends those who cannot defend themselves."

"B-but sir you aren't going to make Knuckles do any of that right? Right? where does he draw the line on what he can and can't do" dusty said slightly fearing for her colt friend

"Miss Rose, you and knuckles you draw the line when and wherever you need it, if the good captain is having second thoughts, he is free to go, and I will not hold this against him. We are tasked as soldiers to get our hands dirty, and the world stays clean, that is the mission" Ulfric said with a sigh as he faced them. "In the end someone must make the enemy fear the dark"

Knuckles thought long and hard then with every ounce of strength he could find stood shakily on he’s still not fully healed legs he stumbled briefly but caught himself.

“Sir I’ll do it for the Princesses, for equestria and for dusty” he said, Ulfric smiled slightly knowing this stallion would be a proud father to a foal one day and a good husband.

“Then as lord commander of Equestrias forces I well you to the Shadow Corp Captain” the sealed door opening behind Ulfric to reveal an expansive cavern cut deep into the rock of Mount Canter, high vaulted ceilings held massive chandeliers that bathed the cavern in bright golden light as hundreds of ponies from each of the tribes and from all walks of life went about their duties forging weapons and armor practicing and sparring against each other while officers briefed their teams for upcoming missions.

“Your to be assigned to squad theta 6 under Colonel Onyx Bolt report into him when your fully recovered Captain and speak to lieutenant Jade Ace to get kitted out, and make sure you become familiar with your new peers, you’ll be taking on missions deep behind enemy line and even into the heart of the Carribou empire itself so be ready for anything. Understood?” Ulfric asked?

“None sir” came knuckles reply

“Good get some rest and Miss Rose, do be careful with him, he’s a keeper don’t forget that” Ulfric said with a wink turning to head back to his office. And he was right soon Knuckles would be fighting a new kind of war one that had morales and boundaries that were very much unlike those he was accustomed to, and they would test every ounce of his soul and character to the breaking point and war waits for no one.