While it is true that war never really changes, ponies change. War changes the mind and body, spirit and character of any pony that she touches. That change is so often for the worse, but now and again, it can be for the better. Be that stallion who comes back strong and proud, knowing that your sacrifice was the right thing to do.

-Captain Grade One Shadow Wing, Commander, Timberwolf Team

Waking up to pain is something everypony experiences in their lives. The pain of sore limbs from hard labor the day before. The pain of waking up alone and longing for another to be there. The pain of knowing that the day will be filled with hardship before it is time to return to bed and do it again. And then there is waking up with a searing pain of the body too powerful to go back to sleep.

That last kind was exactly what Shadow was feeling, and not for the first time in his life. The beeping of a heart rate monitor off to the left of what felt like a soft bed and pillow beneath him was a joyful sound in that it was constant and steady. Knowing that he was safe where he was, Shadow felt no need to do anything. He’d been in much the same state from live fire missions and training ops before, and knew that he was in bed resting for a reason.

Damn, this burns all over. What the heck was I doing? I was called off on a mission...yes. Mission to rescue...Spitfire. It all came rushing back, the memories adding to the pounding in his skull. How they’d infiltrated the fortress. His anger at seeing Tameless holding her. Their frenzied escape through the halls. That final desperate attempt to keep the griffons out. Might as well see the damage.

Opening his eyes, Shadow wasn’t greeted with the emergency ward that Mama Wolf kept in the base, but rather the white walls and railed bed of a hospital. His body was still mostly under the blanket, but that which was visible was completely wrapped in bandages and gauze from the neck down, nearly making him into a mummy. Both of those things were observed and catalogued quickly to make room for the most important thing he saw. Spitfire was sitting in a chair at the end of his bed, a bandage around her left wing. She stood up and smiled as she saw him open his eyes. Oh no, please not now.

“Shadow, you’re awake!”

He coughed several times until his throat was clear enough to speak. “Am I dead?”

Spitfire paused, looking puzzled. “Well does this look like Elysium or Tartarus to you?”

“A little bit of both.”

She frowned and was about to speak again when the door swung open to admit Dive Skyward and Princess Luna. Spitfire jumped up, and then bowed to the princess.

“Thank you young mare. We desire a moment of privacy, please leave us for now.”

“Of course.” Spitfire left the room and shut the door behind her, but Shadow suspected she hadn’t gone far. As soon as the door closed, Dive walked right over to sit down next the the bedside. Princess Luna remained standing where she was.

“We are here to offer our condolences for your suffering, and utmost congratulations on your success. This kingdom owes you a debt of gratitude for all of you have done, Shadow Wing.”

“You crazy, reckless, amazing idiot!” cackled Dive. “You have no idea how glad I am that you’re alive right now. When I heard that you went into a hurricane wall with help so far away, I figured you were dead for sure. Then Vigil told me he’d gotten the area clear, and you stable, and I haven’t been a happier stallion. You really made that mission work. They would have all died without you.”

“Not only that," continued Luna, “but the redoubt contained a wealth of information on the activities, members, and locations of Rex Aguilares, so we will have a much easier time rooting them out and ending their cruelty to the pony race. This should teach them a lesson about the price of abducting our citizens.”

“That’s wonderful news, Princess. Though if I may?” Luna nodded and Shadow continued. “Where are we?”

“Ah, I can answer that,” replied Dive. “And I think you’ll like the answer, when I finally get to it, so hold on. After what you did out there, I brought what you did up to the Princesses, and they agree with me. You’re being awarded the Order of the North Star.” Well, that’s...awesome? But kind of pointless. “Your awards ceremony is at fifteen-hundred on Friday.”

“What?! But...how?”

Luna and Dive Skyward shared a chuckle. “Ok, I think I’ve led you on long enough. Your unit is being declassified. Honestly, the entire Second Cavalry saw you guys beating the tar out of those griffons, and that’s an awful lot of hushing up to do. Yes, that means you have to go get your dress uniform out and all ready for the ceremony, and you need to pin on that pile of ribbons you never bothered with. You’re a captain in the Royal Guard, after all, and you need to look the part.”

“Well, ok then.” The consequences of what Dive had just said were beyond Shadow’s comprehension for the moment. This is gonna change...everything. How I work with Riff...man that’s gonna cause a stupid amount of attention I don’t want. And then there is-- “Wait, what about the Wonderbolts? Is their oath of silence being removed?”

“Of course. I know this is all a bit much, so I’ll just give you the pertinent stuff for now. The unicorn surgeons will come by later today to get all those cuts healed up, and you should be cleared to leave by this evening. Come talk to me once you get out, and we’ll go over everything, ok?”

“Alright Dad, thanks.”

“Rest well young warrior, for you have earned it.” Princess Luna opened the door to leave. “Oh, but it looks like this young mare has stayed to speak with you. Enjoy yourselves.” The majestic alicorn and the intelligence colonel left, leaving Shadow alone again with Spitfire.

She seemed to be waiting for Shadow to say something, but grew frustrated as he lay there giving her a cold stare.

“Well?!”

“Well what?”

“Well aren’t you going to say anything?”

“What else is there to say? You’ve spoken your peace, as have I. You’re alive, and free, and you can go back to doing your racing thing, making millions of bits and living your dream. And you can do so, knowing that you were right.” Spitfire started to walk closer to Shadow while he was bending over to undo the bandages on his forehooves. When the cloth came free, his hoof was exposed to the air, revealing small rivulets of blood dried onto the surface.

“Now that you’ve been there and seen who I am, you know why they’re red. Their blood, my blood, it really doesn’t matter. I’m still a monster to you, and I would be to anypony who knows the real me. So why are you still here, Spitfire? I’ve given you everything I possibly could have, save for my life. And I came within slivers of doing so. What else could you possibly wa--”

Shadow’s pain-fueled monologue was cut short by Spitfire’s lips meeting his. Utter shock rendered him unable to think, and the bandages left him unable to move, stuck there until she drew her head back, a wide smile on her face.

“No, not everything.”

Getting ready for the ceremony was a special kind of mundane nostalgia. It had taken over an hour of work to get all the dust out of his dress uniform and pin on the pile of medals correctly, and the dress horseshoes were in such bad repair he had to buy new ones. He hadn’t worn that uniform in years, not since he was still officially an active member of the Royal Guard.

If Shadow was expecting the awards ceremony to be like the boring events he’d attended as a young lieutenant, in which some guard pony was decorated for crud he hadn’t earned, he was disappointed. Whoever organized the event had decided to hold it at the front courtyard of the palace, and invite everypony. The place was filled, some pegasi even hovering for space.

Princess Celestia and Luna, Storm Crasher, Wild Wind, Razor Wings, Constant Vigil, Sure Splint, and Argent Fire were all waiting as Shadow was called forward to the steps by Dive Skyward. There was the obligatory reading of why he was earning the medal, but Shadow wasn’t paying attention to it. He knew exactly what he had done. While standing there, he couldn’t allow his eyes to wander, but out of the edge of his vision he could see a blur of orange and yellow. It captured his attention until Dive moved forward and Shadow was forced to turn and face him.

Dive pinned the medal on Shadow’s uniform. The two traded salutes, and then made room for everypony else to give a hoof-shake. That was all, and Shadow was ready to leave when the crowd started cheering for a speech. For lack of anything better, he’d gone up and given some words about how war changes ponies, and to make sure that they return home better for it. They clapped politely, but soon let him leave. He had a team that wanted to spend time swapping stories with him and joke over their close call, a family that wanted him to come home as their son again, and a mare that wanted to get to know him a little better.

Fifteen months later…

Clouds rippled just below as Arc Thrill threw all his might into one more sprint across the field. The sun was just about to come up, and he wanted to have done just a few drills to warm up before the rest of the ‘bolts got to practice. Looking down at that weave in the clouds caused him to almost completely run over Auroria, the other new member to the team. Beside her, Rainbow Dash landed with a chuckle.

“Whoa boy, careful there Arc. Don’t wanna wear yourself out before practice even starts.”

“Awww come on! I’m just getting all warmed up! See? They’re already all here!”

The ‘bolts streaked onto the the field and heaved their begs over to the side. “Yeah, but today is not a good day to be working out early.”

“Aww bull. We’re the Wonderbolts. Always working harder, right?”

“‘Bolts on me!” rang out the customary cry as Spitfire called the team in for their warm up. “It’s Thursday, and you all know what that means! Shadow Wing will be here shortly, so we have a fun day ahead of us!”

Arc Thrill turned to the two mares beside him. “Wait, she can’t seriously mean who I think she means, can she? The Guard captain was was in the news a ways back?”

“You betcha that’s him,” answered Rainbow Dash with a grin. “He’s also Spitfire’s fiance, so don’t get cross with him. Trust me, it doesn’t help. If you’re as eager as you seem, I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

Fine or not, I’m about to find out. A short and pale pegasus shot over the cloud walls and flew onto the field. Bring it on small stuff. Landing in the middle of the Wonderbolts, Shadow Wing was sporting the usual blue shirt, sunglasses and cap of a coach. He cracked his neck and turned to Spitfire.

“You get them all warmed up?”

“Oh they’re ready.” She gave a knowing smile.

“Very well. PUSHUPS! ONE HUNDRED ON MY COUNT! GO!” Aww buck.

Author's Note

I can't believe it's finally done!

For the authors note and a whole bunch of other goodies, check the appendices after this.