Fallout Equestria: Shaping Shadow - Book 4

Mags came back out to them with a shirt and pants. They were definitely a few sized too big. But it only mattered long enough to get Mtoaji back to his condominium.

Shadow had pulled his weight, but he was dragging. He wasn’t quitting, but the pain was evident.

“The city is in a big uproar about the whole thing,” Mags said after they got him dressed. “I figured, if they ask, the stuff is for everypony else, to cover up some wounds.”

“Good call,” Rebel Queen said. “Now, lets get him there quickly.”

They got Shadow into his apartment with little trouble. They were given space. They locked the door and focused on getting him taken care of. As they finished with undoing his bags the door was unlocked and Strawberry stepped in.

She squealed as Mags pointed her gun at Strawberry.

“I live here,” Strawberry said, backed against the wall.

“Quiet down Mags,” Shadow groaned. “She does. “That’s her bed behind the privacy screen. They look good.”

Mags lowered her gun.

“Strawberry,” Shadow said. “Go back to your job. They will get me in bed.”

“They have me covered,” Strawberry shot back. “We knew you had taken a hit, and a bad one from what we knew. Its good to see you alive. I can miss work a day or two to make sure you stay that way.”

“We have him,” Rebel Queen said with a smile.

“He needs constant care,” Strawberry said. “And he has done so much for me already. I will. You have stuff to do with the caravan and all. And I think its you who’s caravan guards are raising a riot in the city and the Mayor wants to see you about that.”

“Ugh,” Mags groaned. “I’ll get to it shortly. Please tell me they haven’t cause trouble.”

“Uhh,” Strawberry hesitated. “Two are cooling off in jail for drunken conduct.”

“Oh,” Mags shrugged. “That’s not as bad I was fearing.”

“Otherwise, their presence is just a big stir.”

“Strawberry,” Shadow groaned. “Go back to work. I trust them. They have been caring for me for the past few days.”

“Three and I will stay,” Rebel Queen said. “The couch is comfy enough. Ace, go with Mags and help sort that out. Jack, take the others and get the business done. And you, Strawberry, Three patched him up really well. We have a good grip on medical care. Probably better than the hospital here.”

“Well…” Strawberry hesitated. “I guess…”

“Its fine,” Shadow quietly said. “They will take good care of me. I’ll see you when you are done with your shift. If I’m awake.”

“Al… right,” Strawberry said.

She glanced back one more time as she opened the door. Shadow flashed her a reassuring smile.

“To bed,” Three said, guiding Shadow the last 20 feet.

They pulled off the clothes. He was bleeding again.

Shadow coughed in pain. “There is a bag in the closet. Its got more bandages and such.”

Three retrieved it.

“This is, more than expected,” Three said as he pulled out stuff.

A dozen magical bandages were set on the nightstand. Half a dozen more health potions were added, 8 Rad-aways, 4 RadSafes, and 4 PWTs, without the box. 9 syringes of Med-X were at the bottom. There even was one stitch kit. The last one Shadow had taken with him as he left. It was all the last of the medical supplies he had taken.

“My stock started strong,” Shadow said quietly. “I need to buy more.”

Three was shocked at how casual Shadow was. “This would make most guards drool. Fuck, its making me drool. Half of the meds that were with the whole caravan were in your bags.”

“I just do what I got to do,” Shadow replied.

“Let’s get you wrapped up. Before Strawberry returns. I get the feeling she doesn’t know.”

Shadow chuckled, causing a cough. “Just our little group. Which makes what, 9? That’s it.”

“Then that is how it will stay,” Rebel Queen said confidently.

They changed the bandages. The wound was mostly sealed, but there was still parts inside healing. They would be keeping an eye out for any internal bleeding. What they would do if things went south, that would be determined if it needed to be.

Rebel Queen sat on the edge of Shadow’s bed as he settled into slumber. She watched him sleep. She wasn’t sure what it was about him that had really caught her attention.

Maybe it was his fearlessness. He hadn’t backed down multiple times. The floaters, then in front of the Elder against Dahlia. He knocked the hooves out from one of her Dragoons then, tiny him beat power armor. To top it off, he went into Fillydelphia on a very dangerous mission to contact raiders. He somehow walked out of that, and with them in tow.

But the Star-Spawn, he was something else then. He was precise. He was focused. He was smart, out thinking the beast and then driving home it’s weaknes. She only knew a few who could do the same. And they all were Steel Rangers. Higher up Steel Rangers and real, top notch soldiers. He had said something in front of the Elder about a group, but it didn’t explain his top notch skill. Only his ability to use tactics and work in a group.

Rebel Queen slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her. Three was at the table, looking at the medical stuff Shadow had in his bag.

“This has been bugging me,” Three said, referencing the stitch kit. “I mean, this isn’t normal. We have ours, but they are not sealed like this. This is hermetically sealed. No markings though. A severe lack of markings. No list of what is inside, not even a general description for its intended purpose. And this Med-X, its in a new syringe. Produced recently.”

“What about the rest?” Rebel Queen asked.

“The health potions are old. With this newer equipment, I would have sworn it was made post war, but this is a MoP seal and manufacturing date. And these magical bandages are the same. Old. Well before the spells.”

“These tablets are odd too. These are one time use tablets, sealed against the elements. Not an old school bottle with tablets. They are more precious than that if they are individually packaged. But I have no idea what. Again, no markings.”

“Well,” Rebel Queen shrugged. “We shouldn’t snoop.”

“I won’t. We know he has a really valid reason for secrecy, but its intriguing. Its a riddle with the answer sleeping in that room. And that riddle won’t crack.”

Rebel Queen sat down at the workbench. Shadow’s body suit was still there, partially done. The pattern was there as well.

Three pressed the issue a bit more. “Do you get the feeling that, we got too much information? That he was working hard to hide something more.”

Rebel Queen shrugged as she took a closer look at his work. It was well crafted. Better than some wasteland pony. Better than many of the designers and others who work with cloth. It was better than half of the Steel Ranger scribes who worked with fabric.

“Yeah, he was. But he was forced to be thinking on his hooves, while he bled out or woke up from bleeding out. He wasn’t expecting to have to be unveiling secrets this deep. He was just trying to survive, while giving us as little information as possible.”

Three looked at Shadow’s battle saddle against the wall. “Think the sword actually talks to him?”

Rebel Queen smiled to herself. “Yeah, I do. I absolutely do. Soul Jars wasn’t a ploy. No, he was telling us the full truth on that. And I believe that sword is one. However it works. His sword was probably pissed at us too. He had little choice, but it was a big secret. Can you imagine what our Elder would say?”

“Fuck. We would get in big trouble for letting him walk away with it. That’s not something that is safe to leave in the hooves of others. We saw where that got us with the war.”

Rebel Queen nodded solemnly. “Our Elder would be mad. But yes, I trust him with it. We saw that twice, it was used to save us. He doesn’t draw it lightly. And he risked it, and then he lost that gamble.”

“Yeah,” Three said, fidgeting with the health potion in his hooves. “We won’t let that gamble cost him any more than it already has.”

There was a knock at the door. Three answered it. It was Jack.

“Hey, so the Operators have every rentable place taken up. Mags surrendered one to us. Its a single bed in a small room. We can get four in there. One in the bed, three on the floor.”

“Then,” Rebel Queen sighed. “Three and I will definitely stay here. We have our bedrolls. Its not optimal, but what other options are there? Besides, we can look out for Mtoaji, and really need to stay on top of his healing. He could flop, easily.”

“Alright,” Jack said with a nod. “And Mags Black, Jaborosa who hired them, and a few others are in a big, heated argument. Ace stepped out so I could talk to him about the sleeping arrangements, but it could go either way.”

Rebel Queen stood up. “Three, you know what to do. I’ll go join this discussion. The Operators are clean, and they are going to be staying that way. They need to be polished a bit more, but still. I’ll throw my weight into it the discussion. The Operators need to stay, and they just earned that right against the Star-Spawn. We all know the Talons have done some really shady shit, and we let them walk free.”

It didn’t take long once Rebel Queen joined the talks. The Mayor and the Chief Guard knew she was a Steel Ranger, running equipment for them. It held the weight needed to end the discussion and drop all accusations. Jaborosa was already getting a caravan together, which would take away 4 of them.

The biggest issue was the name. The Operators were not giving it up. And worse, their symbol was staying. The idea of caravan guards having a shot up heart in crosshair wasn’t going over well. Its was viewed as aggressive and raiderish.

Mags Black and the Operators were working exclusively for Jaborosa. They were technically his employees, but they were retaining their autonomy in those ways. Jaborosa wasn’t thrilled at the start, but he had hired them as the Operators. And their confidence was key. Their symbol was a huge part of their confidence. They needed to stay the Operators. And in the end, they won that too.

Rebel Queen and Three sat quietly, not doing much. Three was still examining the medical equipment. Dinner came and went. They had enough in their packs to not worry about doing anything else.

Strawberry came home after her shift ended. She didn’t cut any time off of her shift.

“Oh, you are still here,” Strawberry said. “I guess that makes sense.”

“You want to care for him,” Rebel Queen said with a smile. “But its not love. Romantic love. What has you so concerned.”

“He saved me, from the Lux. They don’t disclose the information that, we who were born there, are free to leave. I had been forced into dancing, to start. And its not like I had anywhere to go, and certainly no way to safely make it to Trottingham. He got me out. He was kind to me, when nopony else really was.

“I lost my place to stay a few weeks back. The day before you all left, he found out. So, he got me to stay and made me his heir. This, this is what he bought for me. High quality, sturdy, new furniture. And then had the movable screens built so I wasn’t out in the open when I sleep.

“He has been so good to a perfect stranger, when he shouldn’t have been. He made sure we were not strangers, but good friends. I would like to give back, I feel like all I am doing is receiving. But, I guess, he really needs you to care for him. I certainly do not know anything about medicine.”

Strawberry sighed, a heavy weight on her mind. “How bad is it?”

Three shrugged. “Its been a tough fight. He took a big gash along the chest, but he is a hardy one. Its almost sealed up. It probably would be by now if he had been able to get the rest he needed. We couldn’t afford to stay. Now he gets to rest. But its going to scar. And its probably never going to go away. But it never went past his ribs. It gashed some of them though. But yeah, he will walk out of it.”

Strawberry smiled, a lot taken off of her mind. “I knew he was hardy. And something tells me, this isn’t his first major injury.”

“Maybe,” Rebel Queen said. “But I can guarantee it won’t be his last. We are alive because of him. And he fought hard after the injury, somehow. I am certain he will get shot up again. And he will walk away and heal. It doesn’t seem to break his mind. Its just something that happens while on his quests. Its almost like, he knew injury was unavoidable, and welcomes it. A fact and he continues despite it.”

Strawberry stepped into the kitchen. “Do you guys want anything? The cupboards are well stocked. I can make almost anything.”

“We ate,” Three said. “Road food, but it was good food.”

Strawberry poked her head out of the kitchen. “Would soup be good to make for Mtoaji? A light soup?”

Rebel Queen smiled warmly at Strawberry. “That would be great. That would do a lot. He needs to eat something warm, but light.”

Three slept on the floor, at the foot of the bed. He would be there if Shadow needed him. Rebel Queen fell asleep on the couch. It was nice to have a cushion under her. It had been a very stressful few days.

Rebel Queen was heading to the Citadel in the morning. Alone.

She was up early and on her way. She was fine on the walk and was easily let into the Citadel. They knew her well enough. She had done some high value procurements for them over the last year.

Rebel Queen walked into the Quartermaster’s office in the Honesty Wing. The Steel Ranger one. She approached the desk.

“I need something for a friend. I need lightweight combat armor. But its going to have to be small.”

The Quartermaster raised his eyebrow. “You don’t have anypony in your group that is small.”

“Well… its needed elsewhere.”

“Then it stays,” He huffed. “You know the rule. This is the Steel Ranger Quartermaster. Only for Steel Rangers. Go to the pony one. I don’t care what they did.”

“Ah, come on! They lost their armor saving me and my soldiers.”

“NO!” He growled. “You are lucky I let you in here. You are only half Ranger!”

“Fuck you! I am full ranger. Just because my role doesn’t fit in the cookie cutter organization doesn’t mean anything. We are backed by my elder and recognized by the others!”

“Steel Ranger gear is only for Steel Rangers! You know the rule.”

“You suck! I’m supposed to be able to get what I need from you.”

“But, you see, you don’t actually need it. You want it. And that is a big difference. You won’t be using, so no go. Besides, you carry goods and equipment in your caravan. You have to have armor.”

Rebel Queen rolled her eyes. “For one, it was sold. Two, nothing impressive. Nothing comparable to the armor that was shredded.”

“Well, go buy it yourself. It is a gift after all.”

Star Paladin Warding Blade sauntered in. “I am hoping you can help me out with something special.”

Rebel Queen was forgotten. But she wasn’t going to give up yet.

The Quartermaster smiled at the Star Paladin. “What’s the mission?”

“I need something unmarked, but combat ready. Something that will blend in with wastelanders, but give more than adequate protection.”

“I have a few things in mind. A normal stealth suit won’t do, I assume.”

“Correct. Its too noticeable in crowds. However, the bigger problem is going to be sizing.”

“Ah, a young one. Lucky one. I have an idea or two.”

The Quartermaster began to dig in the back. Warding Blade looked Rebel Queen over. He gave her a short nod and focused back on the Quartermaster.

The Quartermaster came back with a case. He popped it open and slid it around so the Star Paladin could see it. A set of dark maroon combat plates were attached to heavy weave fabric. It was all together in one suit.

“I have two caveats. First, I can have our logo on the chest plate and flank covered in a few minutes if you need that. This is a combat suit we toyed with. The plates are a lightweight, heavy duty ballistic fiber. The suit is reinforced jump suit. Its soft, yet breathable. The outside is a threaded ballistic fibers, allowing it to be woven into shirts, dresses, suits, and other basic clothing.”

“And the second?” Star Paladin Warding Blade asked.

“The second is that its helmet was shattered. We never made that again. Its a project from 40 something years ago. I don’t even think we have this material in stock. We could make more, but it would take a few weeks. Its not easy for the Unicorns to make.”

“A helmet might be too much,” The Star Paladin said. “Low profile is needed. I think it will work. Once the symbol is taken care of. What size is it exactly?”

The Quartermaster held it up. “This is the smallest it comes. I’ve got several other sets, but they are all bigger. A lot bigger. One would easily fit you, and it has the helmet. This was worn by an unusually small knight. And that mission didn’t end well for her. Hence the no helmet.”

“Its a bit big,” The Star Paladin said. “But I think it will work. Are those reinforcers for a battle saddle?”

“Yes, it is. Is that too Steel Ranger?”

“Nah, a cloak will cover those. That will work perfectly.”

“Are you sure you don’t want the symbol weathered off, or painted back to the original?”

“Hmm,” The Star Paladin thought. “I’ve never liked weathering. There is little reason for equipment to show wear like that. Even for lower profile missions. Paint it off entirely. We don’t need it. Its not something I want on the armor.”

The Quartermaster smiled. “Give me five.”

Star Paladin Warding Blade sighed as he leaned against the counter. He looked Rebel Queen over again.

“Something bothering you Knight?”

Rebel Queen gestured towards the back. “Won’t let me get something for a friend. Replacement armor for said friend.”

“Ah, the Star-Spawn?”

“You heard?”

“Oh, yeah. Most haven’t. But its my job to pay attention to things in the greater scheme of the area. I always know when you arrive in our area. The caravan bursting into Trottingham without you wasn’t subtle and with a bunch of reformed raiders, well it made the news. Its not like you are the only one out of all three contingents who has the odd jobs. The others tend to be quieter. And we have our allies in Trottingham. I was caught up quickly.

“I need to head out on a patrol run down that way and double check that other Star-Spawn are not in the area. It won’t be a fun fight if there is, but it needs to be done.”

Rebel Queen raised her eyebrow. “That fucking beast was almost impossible to take down. And yet, you seem confident it will go down easily?”

“I have, training and equipment you don’t have access too. And by now, its all been permanently checked out. I rarely have to come here. I have it all. My office is a mess.”

“Lucky you. I am probably going to have to head to the civilian QM and see if they have what I need. Probably not. I’ll fight here for a bit more. But, I do need to see what I can pick up for wherever we will go next. I have no direct orders. I’m not eager to leave. We haven’t stopped at a contingent outside of work in 8 months.”

“Take some well deserved rest. You could use it. Especially after your battle. I wish it was back at Filly for you.”

Rebel Queen grumbled. “Oh, here is better. There, I am a disappointment. Odd ball. I do the job because I couldn’t be a regular soldier. Do I want to be like those tools? Not really. I found my way for a reason. It was supported by the Elder. But, I didn’t choose Rebel Queen. I was branded it by some peers. Queen was added once I got a few others to join me.”

Star Paladin Warding Blade laughed. “I know you love the name.”

Rebel Queen grinned mischievously. “I do. It has its… nuisances. Its painful parts. But yeah. I certainly can wear it with pride. And do.”

The Quartermaster came back. He showed the armor to Star Paladin Warding Blade for his approval. It was put back into the container and the Star Paladin departed.

The Quartermaster immediately looked at Rebel Queen. “NO! And that is final. Get! Before I have you thrown out.”

Rebel Queen growled at him and walked out. She began to make her way all the way to the regular QM. Far too often she had to go there, even for basic stuff. It depended on who was working the shift. And usually, she couldn’t be picky. She was rarely here overnight. Just quick in and outs.

“Giving up that easy?”

Rebel Queen looked around to see who was talking. It was Star Paladin Warding Blade. He was in the middle of a doorway to some room. And he had obviously been waiting for her.

Rebel Queen sighed. “I was almost thrown out.”

“That’s not like the Rebel I have heard about.”

“Heh, well that Rebel is not like that inside her own halls. I often get kicked pretty hard. They don’t trust me, and that leads to a negative view.”

Star Paladin Warding Blade stepped out and began walking down the hallway. Rebel Queen followed. He was obviously wanting to say more.

“You and your team, you do an amazing job. I know some of the special things you have procured for us here. Unfortunately you fight against idiots who are afraid of a little change. They don’t like that they are not special. I see it far too often. Instead, they tear down the special ones.”

“Yeah, I do get torn into,” Rebel Queen admitted. “And every time I got a higher up backing what I needed, it would only give me more hell for everything else. They also don’t like being strong armed. My contingent can get away with a lot less, because it would get reported to our elder. I’m a respectable black sheep there.”

“Well, you certainly deserve more than you get,” Star Paladin Warding Blade said. “Its why I enjoy being a star paladin. I can do the things that need doing. I get left alone. I don’t ever want to be Elder. Too much responsibility.”

“I don’t blame you,” Rebel Queen replied, stopping.

Rebel Queen was confused. They were outside. Yes, the Star Paladin had taken the lead, but she was heading to the Civilian Quartermaster shop. And he knew that.

“Take this,” The Star Paladin said, setting the case at her hooves.

“What?” Rebel Queen stumbled, trying to catch up.

“I owe Mtoaji a lot. And it was our expedition against the Hellhounds where he took those bullets. He needed new armor. But I guess its a good thing he never had the chance to fix that.”

“But, you, you drew this. You have your miss-”

“No,” Star Paladin Warding Blade said, gently cutting her off. “I was heading over to check in with you about the Star-Spawn. Some details. But, I’ll go into town tomorrow, and the three of us can talk.”

“Okay,” Rebel Queen stuttered. “But wait, you lied, for this?”

Star Paladin Warding Blade grinned. “I never lied. I never told him who it was for, or even that it was for a mission. He assumed everything, like age because of the size. I had no need to correct him.

“I’ve given him gear he needed after our mission together, and I’ve done it with others before him. If they need it and are with me, they get it. I keep trying to hook Mtoaji in, but his mind still seems set. He needs it, and he earned it. And when I heard the QM giving you grief, well lets just say the Senior Scribe and I have our differences.”

“Thanks,” Rebel Queen smiled. “Its really appreciated. I don’t know the last time somepony stuck their neck out for me. Like actually stuck it out. Or supported me of their own free will. Usually they are backed into a corner somehow, or its with a catch.”

“Well, like I said. You do a lot of good for us. You play an important roll. More than most want to admit. And I know you have some stuff in town to do, but you need to come back here and take a break, in the safety of the Citadel.”

“I’ll make sure we do get a break. Thank you.”

“Oh,” Star Paladin Warding Blade said, stopping her. “If you ever wish to change locations of your home contingent, I am sure I can be of some assistance. It doesn’t stop your work, but it might make you happier. You serve all of the contingents well.”

Rebel Queen flashed him as smile and headed out. She would consider it, and speak with the others. It did feel as if they were more than unappreciated at Fillydelphia. Dahlia was practically praised, they were hated behind their backs.

Rebel Queen’s walk back to Trottingham was interesting. She ran into a squad of Steel Rangers working on a group of raiders holed up in a building. She was roped into helping to clear them out of the building. One more allowed them to evenly split their small group into three parts and put the pressure on the Raiders. Two groups to keep their heads down, the third to breach. Once they were taken out, half the Squad escorted Rebel Queen to Trottingham while the others cleaned up after the battle.

When she got back to Mtoaji’s place, Three let her in. Mtoaji was sitting in his cushioned chair, sewing. He was looking good.

Rebel Queen smiled at Shadow. “I procured something special for you. You won’t need that suit.”

“Eh, it was for when I had my jacket. But I’ll probably finish it since its started. What did you procure?”

“I had help,” Rebel Queen clarified. “The Star Paladin said you earned it. Its special combat armor, for a set of missions done ages ago. Its been collecting dust.”

Rebel Queen opened the box on the coffee table. “This was the colors it was made in. The SR symbol was removed. Its a snug fit, normally. I am hoping its not too big, and that your wings balance that out.”

Shadow stood up, grinning. “Let’s find out.”

They helped Shadow into it. It was certainly built for a small pony. But secured and with his wings, it fit fine. Everything was in place like it needed to be. It would hold in combat and perform well at high speeds.

“Thanks,” Shadow smiled. “Its appreciated. I know, I know, you say I earned it. You may say that, but its still an amazing gift to me. Because you didn’t have to help me.”

“Three, is it safe to test it with his battle saddle?”

Three nodded and pulled the saddle over.

“Interesting set up,” Rebel Queen said as they secured it to him.

“A friend did that for me. Before he died. I’ve been here so long, I have had to change gear a few times.”

“A friend?” Three asked.

Shadow sighed. “My two companions died a few months back. I came west, hoping to be able to handle here on my own, better than we could handle the east together. Besides, we had exhausted the resources there. Nothing about Kifopiga. Damn Disciples.”

The saddle fit even better with the armor. It was built for it after all. A different model, but the same in every place it mattered. They got him out of the battle saddle so he could rest.

“Oh, Star Paladin Warding Blade will be in town tomorrow. He wants to talk about the Star-Spawn, just us three.”

“I’ll be fine by then,” Shadow replied. “I think its all stitched up inside. Its going to be a nasty scar… but so is life.”

Three chuckled. “You have done this before, haven’t you?”

“Eh,” Shadow hesitated. “Yeah. I have. I’ve still got some bullets knocking around inside. That wasn’t a pretty fight. Damn Disciples.”

“There are no pretty fights,” Rebel Queen stated.

“Eh, I mean, define pretty. Some of the shit I have done, its tough. Animalistic. Have you ever watched two ponies fight to the death in hoof to hoof combat? There can be a real beauty to it. Before it ends with one bashing the others face into the concrete multiple times.”

“I’ve only ever fought with a gun,” Rebel Queen admitted. “That’s kind of the SR thing.”

“Well,” Shadow replied. “I guess I am going to take this off, and keep it clean. In case my wound opens up. I’ve got that big shirt to wear. But, the real beauty is what I got from the Citadel, over the exposition.”

Shadow tossed the Blue Beret uniform on.

“Wow, that fits you great.”

“Yeah,” Shadow blushed. “But its special. I won’t go out to do work in this. Plus, here is the jacket.”

“That’s a really nice jacket,” Three said. “It fits you perfectly. You are one with that jacket.”

“Well…” Shadow said, building suspense. They hadn’t picked up fully on the uniform. “It should. Because its a Pegasus uniform from the war. The Blue Berets were the elite troopers. Going in before the others, clearing the way for the heavy units to come in.

“They were the breakout unit for the pegasi, and then they kept getting better. Pegasi served. Pegasi fought in the air. But the Blue Berets were the best. Only purebred Pegasi from the clouds could join. Only purebreds could survive dropping out of the sky onto Zebra lines, slicing their way into them and making sure the charge across the open ground could be made. Or going in and hitting a specific target. The were fast and furious, carry a good armament. The were the stuff of legends.”

“How do you know that?” Rebel Queen asked.

“Oh, the proctor guy over history at the Citadel let me look. I wore this to all my events. I won them in this. I feel right in this. And he tried to hook me in more by letting me see the history files about these guys. But I knew what he was up to and didn’t join.”

Three and Rebel Queen chuckled.

“Well,” Rebel Queen said. “Its definitely you. But tomorrow, we should have you wear the new armor. I couldn’t have gotten it without the Star Paladin’s help.”

“I think we should stay in,” Shadow replied. “I’ll cook up a nice lunch for us. It will be more comfortable and private here. And I will stress less. Oh, and Star Paladin Warding Blade absolutely doesn’t know, not even a hint. And I ran a complex mission with him.”

Rebel Queen shot Shadow a wink. “He knows all he needs to know.”

There was a knock at the door. Rebel Queen looked at Shadow and what he was wearing. He was covered, but in the Pegasus uniform.

“I competed in this,” Shadow reminded her.

Rebel Queen opened the door. Jaborosa was there.

“Ah, is Mtoaji available?”

“Jaborosa,” Shadow said. “Come on it.”

“Ah,” Jaborosa grinned. “You are up on your hooves! And you are wearing that blue uniform. It looks wonderful on you. You won your competitions because of that uniform. I was there at all of them. I understand its kept private, safe.”

Shadow laughed. “They say the clothes don’t make the pony, but it definitely gave me the outward confidence to swagger in and win. Otherwise, I would have been boring, all business.”

“Ah! Yes! Business. I have for you, the rest of the agreed upon amount by the contract. You successfully delivered it. And I was surprised they joined up with you right away.”

“Damn,” Shadow said as he shook his head with a smile. “It was getting tight for them. The Disciples were hunting them for sport! They killed two guards while they were deliberating the contract. I gunned all 7 down. So, we got revenge, but they had to leave, or die fighting in a useless war. They chose the right path. And its good to hear they are keeping their name, their spirit, their essence.”

“That was a tricky subject,” Jaborosa admitted. “But thanks to Rebel Queen here, we got it all sorted out. I am surprised to find you and your friend here.”

“They’ve been helping me patch up. It was a nasty wound. I would have died, without there help. I still hurt.”

Rebel Queen laughed. “We would have died without you.”

“Well, I will leave you to heal. I just wanted to drop the check off. I wanted you too know that I do make good on my deals and that I wasn’t holding out, hoping you would die so I didn’t have to pay out.”

“Oh, I know you are not that kind of businesspony. I know you are smarter than that. I took the contract because I could tell what kind of pony you were. But thank you.”

“We should get lunch again, soon.”

“We should,” Shadow smiled. “I have stuff to sort out before I can make any plans. I have plans to make before I make small plans like that.”

“Well, you know where my business is. I am almost always around.”

Jaborosa closed the door behind himself. Rebel Queen had taken the envelope from Jaborosa. She popped the seal, looking at Shadow. He shrugged.

“Damn,” Rebel Queen swore. “He paid you that much, to drop a contract off at some raiders. No wonder why you said yes.”

Shadow chuckled quietly. “That was the other part. I was given caps up front as well.”

“Damn,” Three swore. “I wish our payouts were like this. Fuck. Usually its just a couple hundred on us. Even trading and selling. Well, our primary goal is to help our contingent and the others, so we loose money in the long run. But still.”

Shadow sat back down. “Rebel Queen. Do you have a place to stay in the city?”

“Well, not exactly. We have a small, one bedroom. But the Operators took out what was left. So if we could stay a day or two, it would be appreciated.”

“Yeah,” Shadow smiled. “No problem. I don’t think we can fit many more in here, but yeah. We can make it work. No worries.”

“Well, its only going to be a day or two more. We will be getting in some rest and relaxation in the Citadel. Maybe the day after tomorrow. Star Paladin Warding Blade extended that invitation, and we have no plans right now. No doubt, we will get our next mission from them. But it will be a good break.”