Fallout: Equestria - Time Can Bring You Down

"You're gonna knock em dead at the Veteran's Ball, honey."

Her husband's words crashed hotly through my ears. And all over, for the first time in years, I felt comfortable. I could've sworn I felt my tear ducts swelling up. When I saw his smile, I could see the love in it. Even in his reflection, the pleasance never left. A small ache started in my chest. I wanted my husband back. I wanted a lot of things back.

"That's the face I fell in love with. And those eyes... don't even get me started." He chuckled, not a care in the world.

I did my best to think of something else. Anything else but Sure Shot and Merry. They were gone. And they were going to stay gone. Staring into the mirror froze everything. Even me. And when time stopped, I heard Stained Glass talking to me.

"That's how it all started. Just an ordinary day in Massachusetts. I shouldn't have taken so much time getting ready. Maybe then I would've had more time with my baby."

I left the mirror and watched her husband take my place, getting ready in all sorts of ways. He started brushing his teeth by levitation. Did the same with him, focusing on his place in the room. Everything was clean and in it's place, nothing like home. That made it easier to lose myself looking at him.

"My love... I miss you, Summer Tides. You were the second best thing to happen to me. The first was when you made us official."

Shit. I felt something stabbing my lungs.

I left the room. Sped away to find a hallway full of nothing but white, clean paint. At least I had room to breathe. I trotted as far away from her husband as possible and ended up between two doorways. In one room, I saw a clean, uniform bedroom. And on the other side, a... crib.

So that was Pane's crib.

That was the life Pane was promised. None of that wasteland slag. I tried not to buckle as I made my way over to see her. She was still just a foal. Younger than a foal, even. She was just a baby. My hoofsteps were dull and dragging while I neared the edge of her crib. I stared again, lost in the memory of my Merry.

"Pane... Mommy's bundle of joy. I'm sorry I couldn't make it. I love you."

I couldn't breathe. I gripped my chest as something alien hit me. I could feel the agony jolting my chest awake. For the first time in years, I felt heartbreak. It made me collapse to my stomach as I curled into myself and grit my teeth. Could barely feel my face when the tears started, rushing warm down my face like laser cutting into my skin. I felt every drop. Every stream.

Barely made it to the end of the memory when the lounger was powered down. Sargeant Chapel kept the others quiet and led me back to the cafeteria. He treated me to ramen and steak.

I tried not to let him see my face. I tried to breathe, drowning in sobs.