Chapter 15: Old Friends and New Friends

Storm couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. Dash was now at the hospital, waiting for her wounds to heal. The two were in the same situation they had been when they first met, except in opposite places.

Shadow stayed faithfully by Rainbow's side while she recuperated, not minding the few injuries he had sustained, including the partial reopening of his shoulder wound. She had suffered a dislocated wing and several fractured bones, but was in the clear soon enough. The sudden arrival of Colonel Gallop's air brigade, and Colonel Crystal's guard legion had turned the tide of the battle, and had saved many lives.

Of the about three hundred changeling troops (one hundred of which were the hidden shock troopers) two hundred were taken prisoner, fifty escaped, twenty were critically injured, and thirty were killed in action.

Of the original Equestrian task force of three hundred, one hundred sustained minor injuries, thirty-four sustained critical injuries, and twenty-two were killed in action, four being militia Ponyvillians. The remainder survived with no notable harm, beyond post traumatic stress disorder, and other mental effects that stem from the horrors of war.

Rainbow was tired and stressed. She slept most of the time, and Shadow sat quietly in the corner of the room, only speaking to her when she addressed him in a hoarse, quiet voice. Finally, by the fourth day of her stay, she was beginning to regain strength.

Watching her sleep quietly, Shadow decided now was the time. Leaving a note, he left as the morning sun slowly came up over the horizon, smothering the room in orange light. Storm hesitated as he placed his note on the table beside her bed. She looked innocent and weak in her current state. Part of Shadow wanted to stay. He knew otherwise, however.

Shadow marched directly to the military base, now apparently declared a fully operational military base. After standard admittance procedures, Shadow entered the base. It looked the same as it did before the battle; rings of tents, blocks of tents and rows of tents, all organized in an orderly fashion around the one, large command tent.

Shadow stood outside the command tent, hesitating. He hadn't seen him in so long… would he remember him?

Letting out a deep breath, Shadow pulled the flap up. The tent was rearranged, with a large table with a map strewn across it being directly in the centre of the tent. A group of officers huddled around it, apparently discussing something.

"Permission to enter, sir!"

A familiar colt turned around and stared at Storm for a moment. Shadow recognized him instantly, but it took a moment for Storm to register with him.

"Granted…" the colt murmured slowly, before questioning, "Shadow?"

Dropping his salute, Shadow smirked. With a cheer, the stallion burst forward, grabbing hold of Shadow. Dragging him back to the table, the stallion beamed.

"Metal, Crystal, this is Captain Shadow Storm; best darn flyer this side of Equestria."

Shadow smiled and noted, "Colonel Gallant Gallop... that'll take some getting used to!"

The reunion was happy, but the events of the battle were far too obvious and important, and dampened the mood.

Shadow's smile faded, and he asked, "So what happened? Last I knew, you were M.I.A."

Gallop's smiled faded as well, as he began to explain:

"I was captured… while on an air combat patrol. I was sent to a Chrysalid POW camp… I spent Celestia knows how long there, before a large shipment of fresh prisoners came in. I saw my chance, and incited a riot. We outnumbered the guards and took control. From then on, it was just a matter of time until the RAF came for us."

Shadow noted everything, and responded cheerfully, "That's amazing. It's hard to believe you got so lucky. Sounds like something out of a book."

Gallop replied, "I know eh? It's crazy."

Shadow talked for a few more minutes with Gallop, and exchanged his contact information with him. After doing so, he bid him farewell. As he walked among the olive drab tents, Shadow felt his heart lighten a bit.

Returning to the hospital as the sun fully began to light the area, he stopped outside Rainbow Dash's hospital room, taking a moment to compose himself and clear his mind.

Walking in, he found Dash, awake and hungry. As he entered, she let a faint glimmer of a smile cross her face, but indicated for Shadow to get her some food. Without a word, Storm did as she asked, returning swiftly with a tray of fried vegetables. The mare ate ravenously, having been sleeping the past four days.

Finishing her meal, she sat up, sated. For fifteen minutes she just sat there, smirking, staring blankly at the door. Sighing, Dash suddenly became very serious and looked at Shadow.

"I have a lot of questions... about the battle..."

Storm's heart jumped into his throat as he nodded. He knew what she would ask.

"What was... the meaning... of the uh... uh..." Dash stuttered.

"Kiss..." Shadow finished nervously.

"Yeah. I uh..."

"I wanted to ask the same thing prior to the battle..."

"Oh that... oh," Rainbow remarked in an odd tone.

Shadow swore his heart would emerge in his mouth, as he asked, "So... what exactly is this... are we uh... involved...?

Rainbow cocked her head to the side, and awkwardly responded, "Are we?"

A short silence ensued. Both of their pulses raced.

"I think so..." Shadow stated after a while.

"Me too," Rainbow agreed quickly with a slight laugh.

Another silence followed, but was soon over. Shadow specifically changed the subject, making sure to discuss other topics and issues.

A knock interrupted the conversation. Turning to the doorway, Shadow saw a familiar captain standing there, and once again snapped to attention. This time, he sat back down, attempting to suppress his reflexes.

Spitfire stood sheepishly in the doorway, and asked, "Am I interrupting?"

Shadow frowned, but replied, "No, what is it?"

Spitfire took a few steps into the room, and stared at the ground. After kicking her hooves around anxiously for a few seconds she finally spoke.

"I want to apologize. My behaviour has been unprofessional and I'm sincerely sorry. Do you accept my apology?"

Shadow hesitated for a moment, before straightening himself and saluting.

"Yes ma'am," he responded.

Spitfire smiled before slowly leaving the room. Shadow sat for a moment, an eyebrow raised in contemplation.

"That was surprisingly... civil of her," Rainbow noted.

"My thoughts exactly."

The next few hours were marked by excitement, as Dash was due for release from the hospital the next morning. After lengthy discussions about the battle, the Wonderbolts, Gallant and Spitfire, Storm found him watching Rainbow sleep quietly in the hospital bed.

As he nodded off to sleep on a nearby pillow, he pondered about everything that had happened to him in the past few days. He smiled, as a realization dawned upon him.

'I promised Dash that no harm would come to her... and I fulfilled it..."