Shades and Tails

Chapter 4 Before the Fall of Rain

Sarge brought us to a large metal garage style door set into a tall hill. A panel was set into the wall and Sarge typed a code in. Next he scanned his hoof. “Welcome Sergeant Baise Fooler.” Said a computerized mare’s voice. The door slid upward in a loud clang. Inside it looked like any ordinary garage, a workbench on one wall, cabinets and tool sheds set neatly to the sides. They all had locks on them.

“This way,” said Sarge. There was a smaller metal door at the back, another keypad next to it. Another code was inputted and it slid open to reveal the interior of an elevator. Sarge nodded at us as he clicked the button for 10. “Now, as soon as we’re down there, you’ll have to sign documents swearing to secrecy. Your clearance wasn’t technically high enough for this, but I was able to get a few exceptions put in.”

“Of course, sir!” I inclined my head in respect.

It wasn’t long until we reached a small conference room. There were a few official looking ponies, but there was no way in tartarus they intimidated me. Card on the other hoof looked nervous as he took a seat directly next to me, grabbing my hoof under the table for reassurance. I wasn’t the most comforting of ponies though.

“This is simple,” said the first suit, hoofing over a stapled packet of documents to both Card and I. Simple my tail! “You just need to sign here, here, here, here and here. Oh yes, and here.” He flipped through the packet. “Don’t bother reading it.” his voice was gruff.

“What,” I rose an eyebrow, “are we signing our souls away?” the stallion couldn’t tell if I was being serious or not.

“In a sense,” said another of the ponies. He’d been sitting back overlooking this entire meeting like he owned the place. “Your soul would be the last thing we took if you ever compromised the security of this base.”

“Meet Colonel Jack Heartless, commander of this base,” Sarge nodded at the yellow earth pony who’d spoken.

“Good name,” I said smoothly.

“Shadow Bright isn’t such a bad name itself,” Heartless frowned.

I picked up the pen between my teeth, signing my name quickly on each page—twice on the last page. Card was next.

“Now that the dull and gritty is done, how about I take you somewhere?” Heartless grinned. We stood, following him out.

⚪⚪⚪

Before us was a view into a massive training hall. It was a shooting range, a gym, and a track all rolled into one. There were other small things I couldn’t make out, but the ginormous room just reminded me of basic training. Of course, you had to keep up with fitness.

“Mustang Range, the hidden jewel of Appleloosa. We have an extensive training ground here, plus the largest royal armory in all Equestria, second only to Moon Base.”

“Why such large facilities in such a small area, if I may ask, sir? Doesn’t that take up most of the space this base would’ve had available?” Card braved questioning the Colonel.

Heartless waved a hoof, motioning us on. The four of us continuing walking along the platform, slowly, so we could see more of the training hall. “A good question. And I have a good answer. Mustang Town is Appleloosa’s first defense, and Appleloosa is Equstria’s. Our personnel must be properly prepared to face any threat from the south, especially now that bastard centaur, Tirek, has attacked Dodge Junction.

You know, I was great friends with Sheriff Lasso Cloud. He and I grew up together in Dodge. Nopony can find him, and I can bet a fiddle he was taken to be a damned puppet pony.” Heartless snarled.

I gave no reaction to the speech, but Card was grimacing. I’d seen him wince at the word fiddle. We all knew the stallion hadn’t meant the musical instrument.

“I see you don’t much mind what I have to say, do ya Shadow?” Heartless smirked over his shoulder at me. “I think I’ll like you just fine.”

You don’t deserve that praise.

You’re worthless.

Open up, you antisocial wreck.

I worked my jaw, words unable to and not coming out. I was being assaulted by my shadows once again. I knew I had to show strength, be an unmoving fortress. Always suppressing my emotions as best as I could. I had so many weaknesses.

“Heh! Anyway, on official terms, I want you training daily. You have to be ready before the big storm hits, right? Shadow, you better be using that big horn of yours, you got the highest magic scores in boot camp. Oh, and make sure you stop by to see Riggs Bailey, he’ll hook you up with our latest weaponry.” Heartless gave a look to Sarge, “Baise,” he inclined his head, then disappeared down a side corridor through a hatch.

“Sarge?” Card gave him a weary look, “Y-you haven’t spoken since the tour started.”

“Righto,” said Sarge. “Ima take you two downstairs.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked. I’d never heard the stallion speak this way.

“I really don’t like that pony. And when he takes a liking to you,” Sarge shivered, “it’s never a good sign.”

“It doesn’t bother me,” I grunted, rolling my eyes. Yes it does, Shadow Bright.

“Ok,” Sarge nodded, clapping me on the shoulder. “You’re a tough unicorn, you know that?” I rolled my eyes again.

⚪⚪⚪

When we got down to the armory, we were greeted by a cream colored pony with very large antlers. A stag! His coat was the color of eggnog, white chest and stomach, and stripes that swirled over his back and into his small fluffy tail. There were white speckles on his face, and his eyes were green like mistletoe leaves. His short mane was a cappuccino color, light brown, and his bangs curled softly at the end. His cutie mark was of two snowflakes, staggered beside each other—and they were moving! Wiggling back and forth.

“I’ve never met a stag before,” Cardkeeper whistled. I facehooved.

The buck smiled, taking it in grace, “Aye, not many ponies have, mate.” he had a rich aussie accent.

“Hello there Riggs,” Sarge had a bright smile.

“Oiy! Baise Fooler! I haven't seen you around ’ere in forever, mate!” Riggs was laughing.

“I know!”

“Are these those boys of yours then?” Riggs gestured with his chin to us.

“Yes they are,” Sarge nodded, looking proud.

“Righty then, this way.” We left Sarge behind, and followed the stag to a small locker room.

“All to yourself, this locker room is a bit outta commission, but still useable. Righty, look inside the lockers with your names.”

I opened mine, finding inside a rifle, a glock, a few frags and mines, and two army knives of different sizes with their own leg straps.

“Pretty nice huh?” Riggs was smiling like a colt in a candy shop. But he was smiling about guns. Guess that was a sergeant quartermaster for ya.

I picked up the glock, the first weapon I'd ever been issued. I couldn’t decide if this was a good sign or a bad sign.

“There’s a few rules, but I'd be an arse to get into it straight away. Tell me about yourselves, Heartless has told me a few things but I want it from the source.”

I had to leave my gun behind and shut my locker to follow Riggs out of the room. “Whatever Heartless has to say, he can shove it up his tailhole.”

“Is that so?” Riggs chuckled.

“Yeah, it is.”

“Shadethrower,” Card scolded. “Shade and I are from Manehattan, we grew up together. We’ve always wanted to join the military, just never thought we’d both come so far so quickly. Royal Guard right off the saddle.”

“Right, I heard you two went to Dodge Junction, didn’t ya, flew right off the train. Takes guts, I can tell you that.” Riggs winked.

“There’s no way in Equestria I’d ever sit back and let somepony attack us. I had to do something.” I snapped.

“Aye, that you did. I would’ve done the same in your hooves. Tell me, is it as bad as I heard? I never get much good talkin’ in ’ere.”

“Sure. I don’t think it could’ve been worse. Tirek didn’t just drain their energy and magic. He turned them into puppets.” My voice was cold, and I felt stiff inside.

Card nudged me gently, “You’re fine Shade, you’ll be okay.” He’ll never be okay, my shadows swept around unnoticed beneath him, laughing harshly. I hated them so much.

“Fine let’s just hear the rules and get to the training room.” I grunted.

⚪⚪⚪

Card was looking up toward the ceiling, which was high, high above us. “Whoa, look at that flying course!” There were hoops and rings suspended from the ceiling, but also tunnels, clouds and other types of obstacles you must have had to be a pegasus to understand.

“She’s a beauty,” Riggs barely even glanced up. Card’s wings flapped twice and he had two hooves off the ground when Riggs said, “Ah ah ah. There a few things we need to do first before you can use this facility.”

Card looked put out, “What do we have to do?”

“You have to get a physical done. There needs to be an updated physical on record every month to use Mustang Range.”

“Every month? Are they expecting to keep us here that long?” I scoffed.

“Didn’t you want to be here, Shade?” Card asked me.

“Well yeah…” I glanced to the side.

“Alright, time you meet Dr. Sayaka Weystone.” Riggs gave us both gentle shoves with his antlers.

⚪⚪⚪

“Oiy, Sigh!” Riggs called into the infirmary as the doors slid open. “Where’re you at? I got Baise’s boys ’ere for their physical!”

A side door opened, and a bright purple unicorn mare stepped out. Her blue main was put up in a bun and was glittery and caught the eye. She wore glasses, and a smile that brightened the room. At least it would if I cared.

“Ok, I’ll need your ID’s left in the drawer on that counter over there. Usually each exam is confidential, but I was told to ask if you were comfortable taking it together.” Sayaka rose her brows at us.

“Of course we can!” Card announced.

At the same time I said, “Um sure, I mean if that's not an issue…” Why did I always have to be so awkward? I could feel my cheeks heating up as Card made eye contact with me.

“Ok, follow me.” She led us to a room that looked like a typical checkup room. I sat down next to Card on the exam table and Sayaka closed the door. “I’ll just be asking a few questions and checking your hearing and vision, heart and blood pressure, muscles and reflexes, height and weight, and I'll take a blood sample to run a few tests on and you’ll be good to go.”

“Ok,” I replied laconically.

“Sounds good,” Card added with a nod.

She adjusted her glasses and lifted a clipboard up, looking down at it, “I want you to answer these questions as truthfully as possible. Don’t worry because I’m only here to help you. Alright, first question: Do you have any handicaps or impairments concerning mental health that may hinder any of your duties?”

“Nope,” I said instantly. I’d never told anypony about my shadows, and I never would. It was my burden to bear, and I would bear it alone as I always have.

Card was immediately uncomfortable, “Well, you see…I um…”

“Don’t worry Ace, I'm not here to judge you, I’m not gonna bite. I just want as honest an answer you can give me.”

“I have MPD!” he blurted, his face going from white to red in a second. “Sarge knows about it though, I got through basic training, I—”

I wrapped my arm around him, stopping his nervous babbling. I’d seen his cutie mark change—it was like a slot machine—and I saw that it was on a different personality. Spade, diamond, club. “Hey, you’re okay, she understands. Next question please,” I shot our doctor a murderous look but my voice was calm throughout.

“That’s completely fine with me. Question two…”