the truth about blood flank, hard choices, and our promotions into the n.l.r- part 2

DATE- CLASSIFIED
TIME- IRELLEVANT

Harmony returned to our table after emptying the contents of her stomach and took her seat next to me. "I have no clue what to think anymore, I mean all I thought to be the truth has suddenly become a lie. All I have fought for now means nothing if it means the n.l.r is in fact the right side to be on. I am scared of what the major will say or do to any of us if we do change sides, he is a loyal member of the n.c.e and doesn't take too kind to the n.l.r both you and I know this for a fact." "Everything will be fine Harmony this just means that I have to get word to him somehow now without the n.c.e getting wind of it, strange having to now keep secrets from those we once trusted but this war has now taken a turn none of us ever saw coming, or if we did we wanted to avoid it at all cost. Dinky I trust you more than any other pony to deliver a classified letter to him, if you decide not to due to the turn of events I will whole heartedly understand ok."

To my shock Dinky had joined Black Widow Grey Hoof and all other ponies that had made the choice to join the n.l.r. "Hey what can I say I am the official mail mare of the land am I not? So it makes since that I would take any opportunity I can to make my services available to all in the land right. Of course I'll deliver the message to him, you know I would anyway. Look we all have a choice to make now and I have made mine. Besides we will be granted access to Shattered Hoof Ridge anytime we like isn't that what we have fought and bled for all this time? Only now instead of destroying it we will be able to live there, I mean don't get me wrong the prison from what I have heard is a pretty strong base, but when the nukes fall again I would much rather be underground for the vast majority of them falling wouldn’t you?"

Her question kind of did put me at ease and I made my choice right there on the spot holding Harmony's hoof and joined the n.l.r with her as my second in command which made me feel a hell of a lot better knowing that she would still be right there by my side. "WELL THEN, A TOAST TO THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE N.L.R AND OUR CONTINUEOUS QUEST TWORDS VICTORY!" Buckshot said as we all got used to what had just taken place and got ready to eat. The conversations quickly turned to the things ahead for us all and our first glimpse of the inner workings of Shattered Hoof Ridge, and inevitably to what we would now do with the leader of the n.l.r raiders in the town.

Buckshot and Harmony were chatting back and forth along with Dinky who had a sappy grin on her face anytime I saw her look at him, it was very cute to say the least and I knew just what would end up happening tonight and had no cares in the world. In all honesty a huge weight had been lifted from us all and the atmosphere in the place seemed peaceful to be honest. I allowed myself to get a bit tipsy for the first time since the tequila incident and Harmony who was already all over Dinky and Buckshot motioned for me to join the fun on the makeshift dance floor so I did. Grey Hoof was with Black Widow on the floor already and the place became a huge n.l.r party in an instant, the owners of the diner knowing just what had taken place had no worries and even joined us in the party knowing that now the town was in very safe hooves, and thanked us for being in the town telling us that anytime we needed anything to just let them know. "You may now be in the n.l.r but we can see now that not all the n.l.r is bad and we would be more than willing to help you ponies out with anything you may need in the future. This town is in your debt and we can never re pay what you have done in just being here to keep us all safe, again thank you all."

As we were all having a ball dancing and getting to really know Buckshot and his rangers we didn't notice that new uniforms were being delivered to the diner by a courier pony, along with new ranks for a lot of us. It was Buckshot who made the announcement by tapping on a glass and getting every ponies attention. "AHEM, may I get every ponies attention real quickly then we can get back to chatting and partying. I would like to call a few ponies to the dance floor and recognize them for what they have all done for Equestria, not just for the n.c.e that they fought hard for and made sacrifices for as well. I along with Luna have waited a long time to meet all of you, and I must say I am impressed with how tight knit you all are. You have shown me that being in a military doesn’t diminish ones need for companionship and for friends, not just co workers who you simply work with and have no connections with. No rather you are like a family and now your family has just gotten a lot bigger, we look out for each other and we know that you have friends in the n.c.e and to be honest we have no intentions of fighting any of them in battle. We are focused right now on a joint mission and goal, the eradication of the raiders. All of that aside, with new decisions in life and hard ones at that, come rewards. Harmony, Ruby, Black Widow, Grey Hoof, and Black Velvet please come to the center of the floor. Ruby and Harmony, I know how hard this is for you, and don't worry the major will understand as soon as you tell him everything I have told you all here. BY THE NAME OF PRINCESS LUNA, I HEREBY PROMOTE YOU BOTH TO THE RANK OF COLONEL IN THE ARMY'S OF THE N.L.R, HAIL LUNA AND MAY SHE ONE DAY TAKE HER RIGHTFUL PLACE AS RULER OF ALL EQUESTRIA. Next may I have Captain Grey Hoof come here please? I have known about you for quite some time, and how strict you are to the n.c.e and just as Ruby and Harmony I know this must be tough for you, but I also know how much you have been looking for the right side to be on in all of this knowing that when you found it you would make a perfect leader. Well your time has come major; BY THE NAME OF LUNA AND THE N.L.R I PROMOTE YOU TO THE NEW RANK OF MAJOR, AND GIVE YOU YOUR CHOICE OF COMMAND WITH IN THE N.L.R, CONGRADULATIONS MAJOR I KNOW YOU WILL MAKE US ALL PROUD. Next up will be Black Widow, now I know you had no real rank at all, but that is going to change now, BLACK WIDOW I HEREBY PROMOTE YOU TO THE RANK OF CAPTAIN IN THE N.L.R, AND ALLOW YOU TO CONTINUE TO COMMAND YOUR ELITE UNIT OF BLACK OPS PONIES. Last but certainly not least is Black Velvet, I know that you are pretty much put in charge when Ruby and Harmony are away doing business or in meetings, and that doesn’t go un recognized at all, BY THE NAME OF PRINCESS LUNA I HEREBY PROMOTE YOU TO THE RANK OF 1ST LUTENIT IN THE RANKS OF THE N.L.R, AND I ALSO ALLOW YOU TO CHOSE A PLATOON ALL YOUR OWN TO LEAD, CONGARDULATIONS TO YOU ALL, AND NOW LETS GIVE THESE PONIES A LOUD AND WELL DESERVED HOOF STOMP."